Fast Five Jeff Yates: Catching the “big air”

Meet Jeff Yates, a local to the Coeur d’Alene area since the mid-’70s. He grew up going to Bryan and Harding elementary schools, then Lakes Jr. High, finishing high school as a Viking at Coeur d’Alene High School.

Soccer was his passion throughout. After high school he played at Spokane Community College as a goalkeeper. He was also fortunate enough to represent Idaho as a goalkeeper in the Junior Olympic program.

He also skied until he was 16, then was introduced to snowboarding. As a young man, he competed as a snowboarder all over the Northwest as an amateur. Things went really well as a competitor. At about 19 years old, Jeff met (locally famous skiers) Bob Legasa and Dan Herbie. This is when he started to travel with a big air exhibition ski/snowboard team.

At 20 years of age, he got his big break. Jeff had the opportunity to take his snowboarding to the next level, as he represented Volvo on the big stage. The Volvo Ski Show had a world tour for skiers and snowboarders who put on big air exhibitions around the world. This team’s travels included the U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, Norway and a handful of other amazing countries.

Throughout his summers, he managed to stay sideways on the board by finding the love for wakeboarding. Jeff and his good buddy Jeremy Deming represented Nautique Boats, Liquid Force and Krown Wakeboards, putting on wakeboard camps, clinics and contests all over the Northwest. It was an amazing opportunity to spend every day doing what he loved. Their company was called Let’s Ride, and they shared their love of wakeboarding with all of the Northwest.

Jeff participated in several other action sports in his off time. Mountain biking, racing motocross, road biking, kayaking, surfing. Jeff even completed a couple of Ironman Triathlons back in his day, with a respectable finish time, as he laughingly put it.

As his athletic career came to an end, he transitioned into sales. He has worked for several boat manufacturers as a product specialist. Then he had the chance to work for an amazing company, Wyndham Vacation Group. This allowed him to not only spend some time in Coeur d’Alene, but also gave him the opportunity to spend a handful of years in the Seattle area.

About 10 years ago, Jeff decided to set most passions aside and take up the sport of kiteboarding. He took a year off of work and spent much time trying to figure out the sport down in Hood River, Ore. This is where he met some really incredible friends. He does spend a lot of time kiting on the northern shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, but his favorite local spot is the Sandpoint City Beach.

Now that he’s in his 50s, he enjoys his days working hard at Parker Subaru, kiteboarding, foiling, biking or surfing behind his Axis t23 boat with good friends.

Career and community involvement: “I am a sales representative at Parker Subaru for six-plus years. I take a lot of pride in not only having one of the highest customer service ratings, but also being the top product specialist consistently year after year. I am so fortunate to have lived in this community my entire life. I have so many friends and family that have helped me get to where I am today. Friends and family referring their friends and family is what sets my numbers apart. I’m also very prideful of taking extraordinary care of the customers new to our community. My job is not just selling someone a vehicle - I am a problem-solver. With this other centered attitude I make the sales and buying process enjoyable. The team that surrounds me is incredible. I’m very proud representing the Parker family. This family does so much for our customers, employees and community.”

Family: “I am truly blessed. My mother Karen and father Dexter are two of the most incredible parents a kid could ever have. My brother Eli is married with two awesome children of their own. I feel I’m a pretty cool uncle. My brother and father are second- and third- generation of the Yates Funeral Home, here in Coeur d’Alene. As for my personal life, I have the most amazing girlfriend named Ashley. She is simply incredible and challenges me to be the best person possible every day. I still wonder how I got so lucky.”

1. So what exactly is kiteboarding, and what goes through your mind when you do it?

“I would have to say it’s a cross between sailing and wakeboarding. I’m not sure how to describe the sport. When I’m out there, the only thing going through my mind is what’s going on at that moment. There’s something about living in the moment that lets you escape from everything else in life. One of my favorite things about kiteboarding is the fact I can do it alone. There is an amazing community of riders, but when you’re out there on the water by yourself there is a sense of freedom that I cannot describe.”

2. What is one of the craziest stunts/tricks you’ve ever pulled off?

“I would say the craziest part of my sport is how much air you can catch. A 40-plus-foot air the length of a football field is not unheard of. I try to focus on having a sense of style more than being crazy. Although I do crash a lot more than most.”

3. Where are some of the most exciting or exotic places you’ve kiteboarded?

“My favorite place to ride is the Hood River corridor, down in Oregon. I love to be on the side of the river in the warm sun, living out of my Sprinter van and hanging out with friends with a steady wind at my back. As for exotic, my good buddy Joe Hamilton took me to Maui for my 50th birthday. It was an awesome experience. Kitesurfing warm winds and having a chance to kitesurf big waves is an experience I will never forget. Another favorite is a small town off the Oregon coast called Manzanita. The Oregon coast has so many cool spots to offer a kitesurfer and only a half day’s drive from home.”

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

“I actually have a floral degree. I used to design flowers. My mom and I owned a flower shop called Lazy Daisy back in the day. It was kind of the natural business with my dad owning a funeral home next door.”

5. What animal would best describe you and why?

“I would have to say an osprey. I think it would be amazing to be able to fly. I love to be in the air. Whether on a snowboard or kiteboard, I like big air. I love the mountains, rivers, lakes and I love to eat fish. If I’m not on the water or in the mountains, you can usually find me at Syringa Japanese Cafe eating fresh fish.”