Kitesoul Magazine N°2 October-November 2014 English Edition

THE N째1 Kite Magazine in Italy

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Riders_Matchu Lopes/ Tom Court - Photo_Mario Entero /Toby Bromwich

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R E L AT E D WAV E & F R E E S T Y L E B O A R D

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N O R T H K I T E B OA R D I N G .C O M – MMXIV – ›CRAFTED WITH PRIDE‹

# N O R T H K I T E B OA R D I N G

Editor Roberta Pala roberta.pala@kitesoul.com Wave Thecnique Editor Mitu Monteiro Freestyle Thecnique Editor Alberto Rondina Thecnical Expert Renato Casati Photo & Video Maurizio Cinti Design Giuseppe Esposito

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2014 TWO-MONTHLY

Texsts Renato Casati, Noè Font, Mitu Monteiro, Paula Novotna, Mario Rodwald, Alberto Rondina,

ROBERTA PALA Editor

Photos Alexander Baranescu, John Bilderback, Toby Bromwich, Gilles Calvet, Renato Casati, Pedro Centra, Glen Duffus, Lance Koudele, Jason Lombard, Jody McDonald, Marc Metzler, Allen Mozo, Francesco Pacienza, Lukas Prudky, Natasa Silec, Sarah Son, Dave White, Stephen Whitesell Cover: Rider: Alberto Rondina Photo: Jason Lombard Publisher and advertising VISU Media Via Cavour, 20 24030 Ambivere (BG) Amministratore Unico Federico Sugoni fs@kitesoul.com Registration Tribunale di Bergamo n°10/2014 del 15/04/2014.

Periodicità bimestrale Copyright Kitesoul Magazine All content is copyright of Kitesoul Magazine / Visu Media Srl.

RENATO “DR. KITE” CASATI Technical Expert

Sports photographer since 1997, kiteboarder since 2001, she has worked for the most exponential kite magazines for the last 15 years.

A free and wild soul, she has left the luxuries of town living for a life in contact with nature: a sea and wave lover.

Nowadays you can find her on the shores of Capo Mannu, Sardinia, one of the most beautiful spots of the Mediterranean Sea.

RRD Wave team rider. Kiteboarder since 2000, he has been PKRA athlete and judge.

He’s a professional sportswriter for several technical magazines. He lives between Como Lake and Sardinia, but he spends every winter in the waves of Cabo-Verde.

MAURIZIO CINTI Film-maker Movie buff and keen photographer. He’s a skater, snowboarder and wakeboarder, but he actually burns with passion for kiteboarding. He started off with freestyle a few years ago, but nowadays he’s more into chasing big and powerful waves. This is what he loves the most.

FEDERICO SUGONI Publisher

MITU MONTEIRO Technical Editor-Wave Riding

He’s a manager and a businessman.

He fell in love with kiteboarding almost 10 years ago in the wild and amazing North Shore of Oahu (Hawaii). Aside from kiteboarding there is only one other important thing in his life: his baby daughter.

He comes from Sal. Official F-one and Manera rider.

2008 KPWT World Champion and three-time Vice World Champion. He started to surf and windsurf as a kid and but he definitively fell in love with kitesurf as soon as he discovered it.

ALBERTO RONDINA Technical Editor-Freestyle He’s the best Italian rider of the competitive kiting world.

Cabrinha, Neil Pryde and GoPro official team rider and four-time Italian Champion. Alberto has won the 2001 edition of the European Championship and third place in the 2012 PKRA World Championship.

GIUSEPPE ESPOSITO Art director Kiter since he was in the baby pram, he is a rider for RRD Italia and studies Comunciation Design at Politecnico di Milano.

With this assignment, he finally has been able to put together his two passions: kite and design.

KITESOUL MAGAZINE from kiters to kiters

Rider: Abel Lago Foto: Dave White

EDITORIAL A restoring sleep after a long and tiring journey. It is here, when you are still lost in the universe of the unconscious, without knowing where you are or why that our senses are awakened.

The clear and unmistakable scent of the sea, the increasing thunderous sound of waves predicts a swell that will make our day unforgettable; the sun creeping through the windows, the whistling of the wind on the roof and trees; and the awareness of being in the only place where is worth being: at the heart of your passions. It is from this place that Soul Riders from all over the world, have decided to join our adventure. A few months of life for KiteSoul and already so many confirmations ... many international pro riders are collaborating with us. We feel proud and really happy to have a place in the international kiteboarding scene.

Our aim is to keep on testing material, so in the next issue we will be able to present the new market innovations, tested directly in the field from all levels riders. Videos, photos and reviews to help you understand and select the new 2015 material.

In this issue we have given particular importance, like usual, to events, dreamlike trips and the precious teaching of our two “gurus”, Alberto Rondina for freestyle and Mitu Monteiro for wave riding. Very important is also the part dedicated to the knowledge of the material, a prerequisite for the perfect trimming of our kite: Renato Casati will take us into the world of kite lines, the connection between us and our kite...

The world of kiteboarding is not only made of spectacular manoeuvres and ocean waves, it is also and above all, passion, and an immense love for nature and the sea. For this purpose we met a man who did of his passion his reason for living, board shaping his work, and the ocean his “office.”

The interview with Californian shaper John Amundson, now Hawaiian by adoption, is a journey into emotions and dream ... I got lost inside his answers. I could almost feel his feelings as if they were my own, his soul overflowing into his words ... that’s why we decided to dedicate such a large part of our magazine to him: so that everyone could feel his emotions, and understand that true happiness lies in living the life you want, driven by a constant passion and love for your work, always chasing the realization of your dreams…

Roberta Pala

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Portfolio

Itw

Craig Cunningham

Events PKRA

Wave Technique

Events

Kite Tour Europe

Floater

Trip

Chilling in the DR

Freestyle moves Back Mobe

Freestyle and style Grabs

Tech

The lines

Itw

John Amundson

14 PORTFOLIO Sam Medysky

RIDER: Sam Medysky FOTO: Alexander Baranescu

KITEBOARDER OF THE YEAR

16 PORTFOLIO Kai Lenny

RIDER: Kai Lenny FOTO: Stephen Whitesell

18 PORTFOLIO Christophe Tack

RIDER: Christophe Tack FOTO: Lukas Prudky

20 PORTFOLIO Mitu Monteiro

RIDER: Mitu Monteiro FOTO: Gilles Calvet/Fone

22 PORTFOLIO Pedro Henrique

RIDER: Pedro Henrique FOTO: Natasa Silec for Best Kiteboarding

24 PORTFOLIO Niccolò Porcella

RIDER: Niccolò Porcella FOTO: Quincy Dein

26 EVENTS Kitesurf Tour

KITE TOUR EUROPE

HANG LOOSE BEACH GIZZERIA, ITALY 24-27 JULY 2014

The final stop of the European Kite Tour, which declared the freestyle European champions for 2014, took place at Hang Loose Beach in Gizzeria, undiscussed host of the most important and better organized events of the Italian territory. A busy week, which confirmed Mario Rodwald and Paula Novotna, back from a long recovery after an injury, as freestyle European Champions.

Text: Mario Rodwald, Paula NovotnĂ , Roberta Pala Photo: Marc Metzler e Francesco Pacienza

28 EVENTS Kitesurf Tour

The Hang Loose Beach guys of Lamezia, Italy, have once again proven themselves to be great organizers. An amused and entertaining audience, late parties into the night, not to mention the support given to the riders of the European tour, the real stars of this Italian event. In the freestyle quarter the battle was intense, especially in the men’s division, where the local rider Gianmaria Coccoluto won the single elimination, catching the defending champion Mario Rodwald off-guard. In the double elimination however Mario, also thanks to stronger wind conditions, managed to regain first position, winning his third European Freestyle Champion title. In the women’s board, Paula Novotna, back from a long recovery after an injury, won the single as well as the double elimination, leaving the Italian Francesca Bagnoli, who fought to the last breath, in second position,. In the Course Racing, the young Olivier Bridge, has dominated almost every race, winning the races over the 2013 world champion, Florian Gruber and the Italian Riccardo Leccese. There was also enough time and wind to be able to dispute the Twin Tip Racing competition: Florian Gruber took first place after four races.

See you next year!

30 EVENTS Kitesurf Tour

32 EVENTS Kitesurf Tour

We asked the two 2014 freestyle Kite Tour Europe champions to share their experience with us Mario Rodwald Long ago before I competed at the first European Championship five years ago I had been dreaming about the title. The first two years I got close to first place, but only close. One time it

also happend here in Lamezia where this years competition took place. A famous sports men once said “Second is the first looser�, I never shared this point of view although it sometimes feels like it. This is why coming second in the Singles was not the best start mentally.

The Italian locals like Gianmaria Coccoluto really surprised me by landing a variation of doubles and other moves I

rarely see. Although I managed a good semifinal landing a KGB5 and Frontmobe5 I couldnt pull it off in the finals of the Singles. Apparently the wind good was with me and the next days the shirokko kicked in despite the bad weather forecast. 25-30 knots from the other direction and lots of power in my 9 meter Vegas! Sander Bos was on fire and fought his way back up to third place. This time I set my foucus

different, no pressure and only focus on the fun in every single trick. Every heat I could improve my riding landing Double Hinterberger 3, Double S Bend passes, Frontmobe 5s and my first tutsi roll. Paula Novotna showed an incredible performance landing mobes and S-Mobes and winning a solid first European Title! I am very stoked about my third title and want to thank my family, friends and sponsors.

34 EVENTS Kitesurf Tour

Paula NovotnĂĄ This year I decided to join the European Tour in Italy, Gizzeria and it was really worth it. Such a nice week on a warm lovely place! It was my first competition after my knee injury what kept me away from kiting for more than half year. Surprisingly I managed to win and get the title of the European Champion 2014! I am really happy

and proud, thanks to my family, sponsors and friends without them I could not have done it! We had a really good wind, different conditions for singles and doubles. Singles were in light wind and choppy water and doubles in strong and gusty wind with flat water. The conditions were the same for everybody but in the end it showed who is the best. I can’t complain about

the organization either about the Hang Loose beach club where we were staying! Really lovely place and good job from the organization crew! The parties were also really nice, summer vibe and lot’s of Italians around, it was fun!

I definitely wanna come back again! I am happy with my win and title and let’s see if I can win again next year! :) Go check out my movie from this com-

petition on vimeo: The blond is back. https://vimeo.com/103319082

36 EVENTS Kitesurf Tour

FREESTYLE MANS 1 – Rodwald M. (GER) European Champion 2 – Coccoluto G.(ITA) 3 – Bos S. (NL)

WOMEN 1 – Novotnà P. (CZ) European Champion 2 – Bagnoli F. (ITA) 3 – Yuri R. (UK)

FORMULA RACE MANS 1 - Bridge O. (UK) 2 - Gruber F. (FR) 3 - Leccese R. (ITA)

TTRace 1 – Gruber F. (GER) 2 – Atte Kappel (S) 3 – Merla G. (ITA)

WOMEN 1 – Kalinina E. (RUS) 2 – Berz A. (SUI) 3 - Sysoeva T. (RUS)

38 EVENTS Pkra

PKRA

The summer of PKRA is usually that of the historic stops: Fuerteventura and Germany, just to name a few. On top of this and, after six long years, an old PKRA “friend” came back strongly to make itself heard. In fact, after the calendar had already been fixed, the organizers decided to include one other historic stop: Tarifa!! We can almost say that European kiteboarding was born there. There will be a lot of other news in the coming months for sure. Richard Branson, the Virgin tycoon, has decided to invest in the PKRA and this can only be good news for the promotion and development of our sport.

Text: Noè Font e Roberta Pala Photo: Toby Bromwich

40 EVENTS Pkra

Three different stops and three different weather conditions. Fuerteventura, with its strong and gusty winds; Germany, with low temperatures and its distinctive conditions and Tarifa, with the uncertainty of the West (Poniente) or the Eastern wind (Levante), which can make a substantial difference from one day to another.

Fuerteventura with its strong winds, saw victorious the female protagonist Gisela Pulido, who once again, proved herself to be the number one opponent of the current leader Winkowska. In the

men’s division, the young Liam Whaley, back from a long recovery after an injury, gave a hard time to the number one, Christophe Tack.

The biggest surprise came from the German stop, with the victory of Aaron Hadlow, who came back strongly and immediately raised to the top with a sensational trial. The happiness showed on the podium in Germany by the multiple world champion was overwhelming. In the female quarter, Karolina Winkowska won again, gaining a few more valuable points over

42 EVENTS Pkra

Gisela Pulido.

At the unexpected stop of Tarifa, finally back after several years, we assisted at the big return of the Big Air competition, with old style mega-jumps and an enthusiastic crowd, great performances by Gisela Pulido and Ariel Corniel who won the contest. Another spectacular event has been the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada, a world record breaking kitesurfing event aiming to support three charities, with the largest number of riders at the same time on the water for over a mile. Spain has

smashed the previous record, raising it to 352 riders! Tarifa has been the most exciting stop, all done on a grand scale! We have asked the World Champion Junior, Noah Font, to tell us something about the return of this historic milestone.

44 EVENTS Pkra

PKRA Tarifa 2014 Noè Font

The PKRA World tour came back to Tarifa, the European Kiteboarding mecca after 6 years. This time the contest got place in the new “BEST Pro-center” right in “Los Lances” beach. And from August 28th to September 7th top riders form all over the world visited Tarifa to fight once again for the World Title.

The battle this year is really tight in both categories on the men Christophe Tack is leading followed by Liam Whaley and Aaron Hadlow on second and third and for the women no big surprises as Karolina and Gisela are fighting for the title again.

Right before the start of the PKRA event, Richard Branson and Gisela Pulido organized a Guinness World Record. The record consisted on the most number of kiteboarders within one mile on the water and there is no other place better than Tarifa to find such a big amount of kiteboarders. In the end the record got 352 riders.

Tarifa known by its wind consistency allowed us to run the entire event without troubles. For the first time ever we ran the Big air discipline which is all about jumping high and impressing the

crowd, and luckily Tarifa delivered the gods with strong “Levante” from 2525kts so we put together a big show.

Ariel Corniel from the DR was clearly on it pulling a double “kung fu” pass during the final but not forget Liam Whaley, Reno Romeu and Posito Martinez were also performing impressive big airs and kite loops for the crowd.

For the freestyle the Spanish riders got an opportunity to win a wildcard for the main event going through a Trials format for only Spanish competitors and Maxi Gomez local from Tarifa and Julia Castro for the women took the win.

Back to the normal trials for the freestyle we had “Levante” winds for 11/9m kites. For the men twenty-‐six riders fighting for 12 spots on the main event and ten riders for five spots on the women, so a day full of action was promised. After a no wind day break the Single eliminations for the main event were meant to start. Forecast was looking good with a change of the wind direction from “Levante” to “Poniente” all the riders were looking forward for the start. In the first round we had impressive heats with no big surprises as all the top riders made it through. You

46 EVENTS Pkra

ri Zoon coming back from his injury had to battle against Aaron Hadlow the winner on the stop before, and he proved that he’s back on it putting one of the best heats of the event so far.

Another big surprise was Paul Serin making it through against Reno Romeu on the second round. The first heat for the semifinals was Neto against Da Silva, both Brazilian riders who were ripping it pulling many double handle passes but in the end Da Silva won over by 1 point difference. After that we saw Zoon, Whaley and Tack make it through to the semifinals as well.

First semifinal was Da Silva against Zoon, they booth put together one of the best shows ever on the PKRA

world tour with BJ7 and 317 along with many other high level maneuvers. In total Da silva had 39/50 points. On the other side Whaley against Tack they both scored another huge heat with BJ7, Slim7 and 2XSbend3 with a total score of almost 40 and Tack won over Whaley by 0.5 difference. On the ladies side Pulido, Kajiya, Lammerts and Windkowska made it to the quarterfinals. The wind was pumping W “Poniente” side onshore. Pulido won over Kajiya with a really huge advantage, pulling tricks like 315 and toesideroll’s.

And Windkowska vs Lammerts was also a great show, even though Lammerts is improving a lot this year and performing many high level maneuvers it wasn’t enough to beat world champ Karolina. For the Double Elimination Aaron Haldow performed an amazing climb up from the last place

to 5th as Youri Zoon who ended up 4th afterwards stopped him. We saw also Forest Bakker ending up in 7th position and also Liam Whaley climbed up from 3rd to 2nd with another amazing performance stomping massive tricks. For the women Gisela Pulido lost his heat against Kajiya so she felt one position taking 3rd place. And then Karolina won over Bruna bringing home her 5th gold this year. The event in tarifa saw the highest level ever on a PKRA event; many riders pushed the scores further up and landing 7’s on every heat. Here we see the progression of the sport and how the level increases by the time. Christophe Tack the winner of the event pulled a new trick on the final (Double whirly 5) and opened a new category on the judging format.

Germania Freestyle Men 1st Aaron Hadlow (UK) 2nd Liam Whaley (ES) 3rd Marc Jacobs (NZ) 4th Christophe Tack (BE)

Germania Freestyle Women 1st Karolina Winkowska (PL) 2nd Gisela Pulido (ES) 3rd Bruna Kajiya (BR) 4th Annelous Lammerts (NL)

48 EVENTS Pkra

RESULT

Fuerteventura Freestyle Men 1st Liam Whaley (ES) 2nd Christophe Tack (BE) 3rd Reno Romeu (BRA) 4th Aaron Hadlow (UK) Fuerteventura Freestyle Women 1st Gisela Pulido (ES) 2nd Karolina Winkowska (PL) 3rd Annelous Lammerts (NL) 4th Bruna Kajiya (BR) Fuerteventura Slalom Men 1st Julian Kerneur (FR) 2nd Oswald Smith (RSA) 3rd Paul Serin (FRA) 4th Maximilian Gomez (ESP) Fuerteventura Slalom Women 1st Annelous Lammerts (NL) 2nd Bibiana Magaji (SVK) 3rd Manuela Jungo (SUI) 4th Julia Castro (ESP)

Germania Slalom Men 1st Bryan Lake (US) 2nd Julian Kerneur (FR) 3rd Florian Gruber (DE) 4th Jannis Maus (DE)

Germania Slalom Women 1st Katja Roose (NL) 2nd Annelous Lammerts (NL) 3rd Christine Boenniger (DE) 4th Bibiana Magaji (SVK) Tarifa Freestyle Men 1st Christophe Tack (BE) 2nd Liam Whaley (ES) 3rd Eudazio Da Silva (BR) 4th Youri Zoon (NL)

Tarifa Freestyle Women 1st Karolina Winkowska (PL) 2nd Bruna Kajiya (BR) 3rd Gisela Pulido (ES) 4th Annelous Lammerts (NL)

Tarifa Big Air Men 1st Ariel Corniel (DR) 2nd Liam Whaley (ES) 3rd Felix Martinez (DO) 4th Reno Romeu (BR)

Tarifa Big Air Women 1st Gisela Pulido (NL) 2nd Sabrina Lutz (DE) 3rd Annelous Lammerts (NL) 4th Celine Rodenas (FR)

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SURFING ELEMENTS ion-products.com

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Trip Chilling in the Dr

Text: Alberto Rondina Photo: Jason Lombard, Sarah Son

CHILLING IN THE DR

I like warm weather, I like palmtrees, I like kickers, I gotta love Cabarete!

I was so bummed when the PKRA took off the calendar the stop in Cabarete this year, but I still wanted to go there at some point. I’ve been there twice to compete a while back and I remembered I had a great time down there. The wind comes up usually in the afternoon, its rarely stronger then 20-25knots, its super warm and there’s an amazing variety of conditons to ride in. When Susi invited me to one of her Mai Tai’s event I just couldn’t say no!

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Trip Chilling in the Dr

Encuentro

Kite beach Bozo beach

CABARETE’S SPOT

I

could describe it like a Brazil away from Brazil: its cheap to live there, its windy all the time, its warm, people are chilled out, wind comes from the right, there’s beach break, but also reef outside in some places, and there the awesome La Boca rivermouth for flat water.

When you see a lot of

empty and half ruined hotels and villages you realized that, thats where lots of people where going on vacation, maybe windsurfing or surfing, before new places worldwide where discovered, like Brazil. Its a bit sad, cause the place is just awesome!

Susi’s parents have a little accomodation place right in the middle of

La Boca

cabarete. You enter from the main street where there’s chaos, moto taxi everywhere and pubs, and inside is peacefull and relaxed!

We woke up early morning with the jetleg from Europe and got to have a swim in the sea where the water is basically same temperature as outside.

Cabarete town is only

a few km long, but you can find everything you need, supermarkets, hotels, nice restaurants (lots of italian places) little chiringuito and of course kite and windsurf centers and schools.

The main bay where the town is based is called Bozo beach. The wind everywhere comes cross on-shore from the right, and in bozo beach, the

reef is far outside, with waves whenever there’s a little swell, and it stays choppy inside all the way untill the beach, where the shore break can be pretty big and fun to play with!

If you look downwind of Bozo Beach, you can see a small rocky point and then a second bay starts, that’s Kite Beach. In Kite Beach, the reef is much

closer to the beach, so the waves are way closer and it stays more flat in the inside, with less shorebreak too.

The classic thing to do from Kite Beach, is a downwinder to Encuetro, the famous waves spot, where heaps of videos where filmed at the beginning of kiteboarding.

I remember lots of sections from Andre Phillip,

54 Trip Chilling in the Dr

Susi and other Cabrinha riders, hitting kickers at that spot. Its only a couple km downwind, so its fun to ride some waves all the way down there, where the coast has a little bend, where some proper right handers are building.

Moto taxi are super

cheap, so after having a session there, you can pack up you gear, get a moto to drive back home!

We did it a few times with the Mai Tai crew, and it was good fun helping and seeing people going downwind for their first time, in such a beautiful surrouding.

Its funny cause all my previous times there I never went to La Boca.

I was always focusing on the competition and didn’t have much time to stay there after the event was finished, so I never had a chance. When I got there for my first time this year, it blew my

mind. The set up of the river mount is just perfectly shaped with the direction of the wind. You have a good 2-300 m run along the river, with butter flat water on your right foot. Then you can work your way back up going left.

La Boca is like the oppo-

site set up of Cumbuco and Caiupe, where you go downwind to the spot and then you gotta drive back up. La Boca is about 8-10km upwind and I think it works sweet, to have a good session there, or two, and then when you getting tired of it and you wanna go

home, you just hit the sea and go downwind home.

I did it easily 6-7times in 2 weeks time, it was just perfect!

The main difference from Cauipe tho was that almost nobody was there and Susi and Dre buildt a sick rail set up too!

I’ve been going to the

56

Trip Chilling in the Dr

Cable a few times lately, but I had never hit a rail kiting. It was sick, doing some freestyle flat water tricks and then hitting a rail now and then. Especially with guys like Andre and Susi showing me the way, was goodtime!

The Mai Tai event was also super cool. Meeting all these enterpreteurs that are basically having fun together, chilling on the beach, kiting, having a good time, while talk-

ing about business possibilities, founding and start up ideas.

I was there only 2 weeks, but I felt like I did some many different things and check out so many cool places. One day, after a kite session in the morning, Susi took us for a horse riding sesh back in the hills. We ended up galopping in dirty roads, passing thru rivers and having a swim at midnight in a river under a

58

Trip Chilling in the Dr

super bright sky full of stars. We went surfing a few mornings in Encuentro, its nice and glassy there and there’s nothing better then starting the day with a good surf.

I was totally recharge and relaxed after this trip and I cant wait to go back to the DR again.

Thanks Susi for all your help, and showing me all what Cabarete has to offer! Thanks Andre, Jason, Alex, Jana, the “dream team” for the goodtimes!

Definitely be back soon ;)

Ciao, Alby

C 60 ITW Craig Cunningham

RAIG UNNIN

A Canadian guy, who challenges world’s crazie a teammates and a friend group with which s passion.

I was rather surprised from Craig’s interview, m ever thought about him like a real “bad, wild bo In Craig’s answers we can found all his burning p ding, in all his forms, but specially for parks and t wakestyle; friendship is like a blessing in his li home, for few days every year, just to stay with erful moment, faraway from the big parties, frenzy…that’s how I’ve imagined it…

And his big wish about a “private” lagoon, a c have fun and to realize his dreams together wit

Itw: Roberta Pala Photo: Toby Bromwich and Lance Koudele

NGHAM

est rails and kickers; sharing this amazing

maybe because I’ve oy”… passion for kiteboarthe most aggressive ife, and, the journey h his parents…a chefrom pre-challenge

custom-cut park , to th his friends…

62

ITW Craig Cunningham

CRAIG CUNNINGHAM Home spot: Port Dover, Canada Sponsor: North, Ion, Rockstar, Makulo Years kiting: 8 years Favourite Spot: Cape Hatteras, USA Wall of Fame: 2012 Triple S Rookie of the Year Other sports: I enjoy all sports and just like to try and do something everyday.

Dream: To keep on living the dream, traveling and creating quality content and gear!

KS_Your choice in kiteboarding style.

CC_It may sound cheesy but I love the slogan from North “True Kiteboarding!” This is because I enjoy all aspects of the sport and although I’m focused in the park/wakestyle riding I try to stay at a decent level in all areas of kiteboarding.

KS_ What’s your most important source of amusement, of adrenaline?

CC_I love to hit rails, boxes, kickers and all that no matter what type of board I’m riding. Wake, snow, skate, kite to me it’s all about having fun and pushing your level a little each session. Building stuff that gets your adrenaline going like the double up to flat tubes in Hood River is what keeps me feeling alive!

“I LOVE TO HIT RAILS, BOXES, KICKERS AND ALL THAT NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF BOARD I’M RIDING. ”

64 ITW Craig Cunningham

KS_You come from Canada, what about kitesurf spots in your country?

CC_Believe it or not we have some sick spots in Canada. West Coast has Squamish and East Coast Magdaline Islands and I’m from the Great Lakes which offer a lot of good choices for flat water riding.

KS_When did you start kitesurfing?

CC_I learned in 2006 when the bow kite crazy was getting underway.

KS_ Craig, tomorrow I’m going to have my first rail session...could you give me some tips?

CC_Be confident and make sure your comfortable riding downwind un-hooked. If you have a chance to try first

at the cable this really helps. But the main thing you want to think about is keeping your body weight centered and a little forward. Most people slip out backwards heelside and by moving your weight forward you can counter this motion.

KS_ Would you like to tell us something about your private life, your family, your friend... and, you know...a girlfriend?

CC_I’ve met so many people through kiteboarding and a lot of my best friends are now people I travel the world with. The NA Blend crew is always a tight knit crew. Sam Medysky, Eric Rienstra and myself have been through a lot of ups and downs together. I also

have been dating someone you may know who also is able to travel with me a lot. Colleen Carroll, without her ability to be on the road most of the year like me it would be really hard and we’re both pretty grateful to be able to travel together even though the boys may get to her and vice versa every now and then! Then family, well I definitely don’t get to see them enough… maybe less than a month in the last year combined but home always still feels like home and I really enjoy my time in Canada with my family more and more these past years. It’s almost like a vacation going home now if you know what I mean. (yes I’know this feeling…;-)

66

ITW Craig Cunningham

KS_ What’s your favourite world event, and why do you think it’s the best one?

CC_Triple S Invitational. All the best wakestyle/park riders in the world are here and the Real Slider park is the most legit park in the world. Throw in legendary parties and a fat prize purse and really for me there is no other choice.

KS_ What about your relationship with North Kiteboarding and the team?

CC_Well North has been really good to me since I signed with them just over two years ago. They give me a lot of freedom to do what I want and trust me to make sure we have lots of quality content on the wakestyle/park side of things alongside Tom Court and Colle-

en Carroll. We’ve also added Aaron Hadlow to the team recently and we now have a fun little crew of good friends at NKB. With Aaron and Tom we’ve really been able to push for and help develop a lot new products for 2015 and I’m super happy with what we’ve got in store for the coming year! The new Vegas is completely redesigned and has settings that give Aaron what he wants in a kite while at the same time being able to tune it for the rest of team and a third settings for what your average consumer would want. This kite paired with our new wakestyle bar, Gambler and Pop boots is a setup I have nothing to complain about anymore.

KS_Speaking about your style, in some ways it could be defined “dangerous”.

Did you have a “most amazing” crash?

CC_On the team shoot in Hood River this year I took a hard backside edge on a big gap over the double up flat tubes. Midway through the rotation I grabbed the bar but it then slipped out of my hands which stopped my rotation. From about 4m up I took a heavy crash backwards and went black for a few seconds. When I came back I could see stars everywhere and realized I couldn’t breathe anymore. For about the next 30 seconds I was trying to stay calm waiting for my lungs to fill back up with air. That was the worst one in a while though.

68

ITW Craig Cunningham

“WITHOUT WATER AND BE PRETTY LOST.” KS_What are your favourite conditions and gears to have a “perfect” session?

CC_11m Vegas, Wakestyle Bar, 142 Gambler, Pop Boots and Ion Hummer Harness. 20 knots, flat water, kicker and a couple rails.

KS_ What did you enjoy, during the last Russia Rail Master and BeeCamp Master?

CC_The park, it’s the biggest in the world, the locals, they’re all super chill and are shredding really hard and the parties, the Russians sure know how to rage!

KS_ What’s your life’s “dream trip”?

CC_Well I feel lucky enough to say that if I look back on the last few years I’ve

been on a lot of “trip of my dreams” type trips! I’m really looking forward to a place where we can have a private kite park somewhere where we could build anything we want, anytime. An NA Blend lagoon in Brazil filled with the gnarliest features is really the dream for me! Bi-level pools, big gaps, steep walls, the possibilities are endless with a kite.

KS_Our magazine is called Kitesoul, because we are sure that our soul has been somewhat filled up by this sport.

What’s your feeling while you are in the ocean, during a competition or during a sunset free ride session?

CC_I just love to be riding! Preferably in the water, it’s what gets me out of bed in the morning and keeps driving

D MY BOARDS I THINK I’D

me forward each day. Without water and my boards I think I’d be pretty lost.

It’s taken me to parts of the world I never thought I’d see and introduced me to people and experiences I never thought I’d have. The best sessions aren’t when I throw the best tricks or go the biggest but more often than not it’s when I take a minute to looks around while going upwind and notice how crazy it is to be where I am in the world at this point. Just taking in the the scenery!

70 WAVE TECHNIQUE Floater

Text: Mitu Monteiro Photo: Gilles Calvet/Fone

Mitu Monteiro

FLOATER

72 WAVE TECHNIQUE Floater

The floater is a m and experience in

manouver which displays our confidence To carry it out in fact you must be able to reach the n the waves critical section of the wave and surf it!

Some tips to perform it:

After having done the bottom turn you have to get the right timing to go up towards the surf before it breaks.

At this stage we won’t do the top turn, but we put our board on the foam of the surf in order to carry out the floater. According to the wave the floater will be performed on the tube or on the surf.

The complexity of this manouver consists on be able to keep standing on the board while the wave under it is breaking.

In fact you could loose your balance since the foam is ever moving.

Another moment in which your balance will be put to the test is at the end of the floater when is the time to descend on the wave again. A trick to gain stability is to pinch from the bar the front hand and open it outwards. Also it is of some help bend both knees .

In some occasions , once on the surf, it could happen that this latter is already breaking. In this case to avoid that the foam will spit you out you should put on a little holly and jump directly on the foam.

The flouter should be performed for no more than few seconds, otherwise the possibilities to loose one’s balance will increase. My tip is to start descending after 2/3 seconds.

74 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

GRABS

CRaIL NOSE SEATBELT

Grabs are the essence of boardsports which really allow riders to define their style. A grab is performed when a rider grabs the board in various locations with their hand. They are getting more and more important also in competition, where they show how much control the rider has, handling the kite with one hand and grabbing the board with the other hand. Every person is doing even the same grab in a different way, that’s also why they are very cool to see.

NUCLEAR

TAIL

Back hand

*

Front HAND all grabs inside the following pages are made starboard tack

Text: Alberto Rondina Photo: Roberta Pala

MUTE

INDY

TAIL

MELON INDY

STALEFISH ROAST BEEF MUTE

RIDING DIRECTIONS

CRaIL NOSE SEATBELT

MELON

STALEFISH ROAST BEEF

NUCLEAR RIDING DIRECTIONS

76 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

CRAIL Rear hand, front toeside grab, back leg is boned out.

78 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

INDY Rear hand, toeside grab, between feet.

80 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

MELON Lead hand, heelside grab, between feet, front leg is boned out.

82 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

Mute Lead hand, toeside grab, between feet.

84 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

NOSE Lead hand, grabbed on tip of the board.

NUCLEAR Rear hand, front heelside grab, back leg boned out.

86 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

ROAST BEe Rear hand, heelside grab, between feet, through legs.

eF

88 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

Seatbelt Rear hand grabs the nose of the board across the riders body.

90 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

Stalefish Rear hand, heelside grab, between feet.

h

92 FREESTYLE AND STYLE Grabs

TAIL Rear hand, grabbed on tail of board.

94 ITW John Amundson

John Am

A life closely connected to the Ocean… a job, a reason to live. In memories of colors of nature and the smells of the on the Ohau’s North Shore…a

‌a man who has turned his passion into his grandparents, with the help of the ocean, this man has shaped his future and the majesty of its waves‌

ITW Roberta Pala Photo John Bilderback, Glen Duffus, Allen Mozo, Pedro Centra, Jody McDonald

mundson

96 ITW John Amundson

“My father was a surfer and lifeguard, which naturally led to my love of the ocean at a very early age”

KS_Hi John, why don’t you including where you are fro mething about your job…

JA_I was born in Southern C first 18 years. Most of my fa nection with the ocean thro fishing. My father was a surf turally led to my love of the I grew up at the beach wit occasionally traveling to pla At 15 years old I shaped m hobby was a perfect match modest source of income. M cial connection to Hawaii (t Waikiki) and as a kid this lov ced me. At 18 years old, I m Oahu with a pocket full of ca surfboard. I have since (28 y a brand, raised a family, and around the ocean.

u tell us a little about you, om, where you live, and so-

California where I spent my amily has had a special conough surfing, sailing, diving, fer and lifeguard, which nae ocean at a very early age. th my parents in California aces like Mexico and Hawaii. my first surfboard. This new for me and soon became a My Grandparents had a spethey met and fell in love in ve of Hawaii heavily influenmoved to the north shore of ash, my shaping tools, and a years) build a business and d led a clean lifestyle based

98 ITW John Amundson

KS_There is a strong con mily and the ocean: How m in which you grew up influ job and lifestyle?

JA_My grandfather was a sa world and competed in sev California to Hawaii. I would responsible for my curiosity for adventure. As I mentione had a big influence on my c made my home (Hawaii). As going to their home (in Calif ring old school Hawaiian m player and seeing Tahitian on the walls. My father was love of the ocean. As a chi Mexico in the VW van and w Beach in California. I feel ver family I have and the influe upon me.

“My Grandparents had a special connection to Hawaii�

nnection between your famuch has the environment uenced your choice of your

ailor who sailed around the veral Trans Pac races from d have to say he is directly y of the world and the need ed earlier, my grandparents choice of where I eventually s a child I clearly remember fornia), walking in and heamusic playing on the record inspired Gauguin paintings s directly responsible for my ild I remember surf trips to weekend trips to San Onofre ry fortunate to have had the ences they have showered

100 ITW John Amundson

“When I feel the power of the ocean and realize my own mortality, it gives me the best feeling and a sense of nirvana...�

KS_You are a shaper and a rider. Whats your ideal session in the ocean, you know, the best condition that gives you the most amazing feelings?

JA_I have always loved being scared and challenged to overcome my fears. For that reason, I have always been attracted to larger waves. When I feel the power of the ocean and realize my own mortality, it gives me the best feeling and a sense of nirvana. The most perfect day in the ocean……… That would be a good surf session in the morning and a kite session in the afternoon when the wind comes up. My surf perfect surf session would be at Sunset Beach, 20 feet on the wave face, and 3 people out (me, my son, and my daughter in law). Later on, my perfect kite session would be at my favorite side off right hander at about the same size (20). That session would be me, Rio, Keahi, Konrad, Dan, and a few other close friends.

KS_Strapped or strapless?

JA_For me, I absolutely love both styles of kite surfing. I tend to like strapless on the smaller days and strapped

102 ITW John Amundson

on the larger days and sup ger days I am able to get fa straps. I went through a sho sure to ride those larger day mistake. On the larger days am going fast, straps keep and allow me to maintain c through surface chop. The are the smaller days when I more of a surfing speed and to have these two distinct them both.

KS_How much and in what on the North Shore in the la JA_This is a very interestin here to the north shore it wa of the water. Some would re as the wild west, guns drugs remember not seeing a poli ver worried about driving o ding my early years in Calif rules and regulations, the no te opposite and I loved the the extremity of the place. and you had to be tough a there is more of safer and “s the water but in the water it

per windy days. On the larar more performance out of ort period where I felt presys strapless, that was a big or mega windy days when I me connected to my board control at a very high speed days I like to ride strapless I can ride at a slower speed, d style. We are so fortunate styles of riding, I embrace

t direction has life changed ast years? ng question. When I moved as VERY extreme in and out efer to the “old” north shore s, crime and not much law. I ice officer for years and neover the speed limit. Spenfornia I dealt with so many orth shore was the complee freedom, excitement, and It was a pretty heavy place and smart to survive. Today socially evolved” feel out of t is just as extreme as

104 ITW John Amundson

the day I moved here. The north shore has mellowed out considerably but one thing remains, you must have respect in and out of the water or you will surely get a taste of the old wild west.

KS_�Soul life� to dream readers, a year in Hawaii, season to season...

JA_My life from year to year consists of play, work, and travel. Living on the north shore allows me to be in the water consistently riding and testing new surf, kite, tow, SUP designs. I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home where I have my prototyping workshop. I can go out and test new designs, take that feedback right back into the workshop (with sand still on my feet) and re-design based on that feedback. I spend quite a bit of time testing ! During the off season I usually take one or two surf/kitesurf trips as well as a few trade shows for my SUP board line.

106 ITW John Amundson

KS_John, please tell us so tion of the technical equip struction...

JA_For my entire career m struction has remained nea ne foam core with a polyes nish. Over those years con come and gone but the poly ard construction has remain and surfboard builders lau structions�. About 20 years board building technologies world, this was, and is, know Sandwich construction sta with a thin layer of high den to the outside and finished Initially this was not very a fers but over time gained tra growth of surfing led to a n ded surfboard consumer. T struction methods, far too m

“Over the 30 years or so of designing and shaping custom boards, I have the experience to apply to any given customer..”

omething about the evolupment and the way of con-

mainstream surfboard conarly the same, a polyurethaster resin and fiberglass finstruction techniques have yester/polyurethane surfboned. For many years surfers ughed at “alternative cons ago some of the windsurf s seeped over into the surf wn as sandwich construction. arts with a Styrofoam core nsity foam vacuum bagged d with an epoxy lamination. accepted by “hardcore” suraction. This traction and the newer and more open-minToday there are many conmany to mention. One big

108 ITW John Amundson

change in manufacturing has been the use of CAD designing (computer aided designing). After we agree on design, I design the new board on my CAD software.

This software allows me to make changes to any part of the board including outline, rocker, bottom shape, deck shape, and rails. After designing I cut the 3D design using my CNC machine. I built this machine about 5 years ago, it is one of the most accurate CNC machines in the world. After machining I spend about 30 minutes fine tuning the foam core. Before CNC machines surfboards where shape completely by hand. This was more like sculpting, more of an art and less scientific.

KS_The added value of custom made board...

JA_Let me start out by saying that I produce both custom and production boards and both have their place in the world. Personally, I am convinced a custom board is usually the best value. When I build a custom board I have direct contact with that specific customer and spend time understanding their physical size, ability level, and wind and wave conditions. I also take into consideration what they have ridden and what they are riding now, understanding their likes and dis-likes in those designs. Instead of selling them on what I have in stock, I am building a board specifically for them. This does not mean a production board will not work well for any particular customer, it just means that the chances are much better getting exactly what the customer wants and needs from a custom design.

110 ITW John Amundson

KS_How long does it take to build a surfboard?

JA_It usually takes three weeks from my first dialogue with my customer to the delivery of their new surfboard.

KS_We’d like to learn something about the manufacture of a surfboard...what are the criteria to be used, as appropriate? We could image, for example, the various waves conditions, the wave riding style and the weight of kiters...

JA_When working with a customer I like to get as much information as possible like physical size, wind and wave conditions, likes and dislikes, previous experiences on other boards. The more information I can gather the more I can visualize what I will design for them. Over the 30 years or so of designing and shaping custom boards, I have the experience to apply to any given customer. For example: A 110 kilo guy who rides in lighter wind e-mails me telling me he cannot find a board that works for him. Instantly I think about all the roughly 110 kilo guys I have built boards for, I can start with the designs we made in the past and directly transfer that experience to my new 110k customer.

KS_What kind of “shape” is John’s life going to take?

What about your family, your friends...

JA_I have custom designed and shaped my life to where I am today. I am very happy. It has taken allot of work to get here and takes allot to keep it. I have made bad

112 ITW John Amundson

“The ocean has always been my best friend and has given me so much...”

decisions in the past but h from these decisions. The ke decisions possible. I have an ble woman that keeps me in friends. I learn from everyo myself with those who inspir The future… I don’t know ex but I am excited for it!

KS_Our magazine is calle your vibrations, your emoti ocean. What’ s your relation JA_I have always felt a spec an and nature. My most pu are those when I am totally thinking which allows me to fear and insecurities. This ge an on big days. I can be out and totally connected wher may have been analyzing a has always been my best f much.

have learned great lessons ey to life is making the best n amazing family, an incredin check, and the worlds best one but choose to surround re me to be a better person. xactly what the future holds,

ed KiteSoul, tell us about ions during a session in the nship with Mother Nature? cial connection with the oceure moments here on earth y connected to my intuitive o have fun while overcoming enerally happens in the oceon a big day feeling perfect re an hour earlier (on land) I and questioning. The ocean friend and has given me so

114 FREESTYLE MOVES Backmobe

FREESTYLE MOVES

BACKMOBE ALBERTO RONDINA For me its one of those tricks It took my a while to get it solid, but since then I just love it and I can throw it down in any conditions, switch or regular.

Going full speed and going for a big backmobe with the kite low is one of the best feelings for me!

Text: Alberto Rondina Photo: Roberta Pala

116 FREESTYLE MOVES Backmobe

ALBY’S BACKMOBE

1

Keep your kite at 45°, or lower and get ready to edge hard.

The take off is the most important part of the trick, you’ll get all the momentum going from the pop and spin that you are doing in this first part.

2

Watch with your head over your front shoulder to start the back rotation. You gotta try and do more then 180° in the take off. Stretch your legs to get the biggest pop you can!

3

The kite will fly forward in the window and you’ll feel the slack in your lines. So push your whole body and board towards the kite

FREESTYLE MOVES

4

Keep your bar close to your hip, leave your front head and get ready to pass the bar behind your back.

5

Grab the bar with the other hand and finish your last 180 before landing heelside!

Smile, you gotta feel proud of you!

118 TECH Lines

LINES LINES ARE THE HEART OF YOUR KITE, BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM? WHAT ABOUT LINE EXTENSIONS? AND THE PIGTAIL? DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TRIM YOUR LINES? WHAT LINE LENGTH DO YOU USE? HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR SESSION JUST BY TRIMMING YOUR LINES? DO YOU WANNA TRY OUR COOL TEST? Text and Photo: Renato Casati

Lines, often improperly called “ropes”, are made of highly resistant material (dyneema, spectra, etc.) With the highest impact strength: in jargon we talk about tensile strength exceeding 250kg each. The diameter is in the order of 1.3 To 1.7Mm; the larger the diameter, the greater its wind resistance will be.

Rigidity, intrinsic in the material’s characteristics, is essential for improving the rotating speed of the kite. More rigid lines get in tension as soon as you activate the command bar of the kite, making it more re-

sponsive. Often, people buy new kites hoping to increase their speed during surfing: it would be easier to buy stiffer lines and/or reduce their length.

The length, is the first thing you should consider when kiting. At the moment we are accustomed to using lines 20-25m long; but did you know that lou wainman, the “father” of modern kiting, 15 years ago pulled his best tricks (modern riders still struggle closing some of his tricks!), With a 7m two line kite? Seb cattelan, on the other hand, held

the hang time world record for 5 years and won several races using 4050m line.

Changing the length of the lines basically means altering the size of your wind window. Short lines = a smaller wind window and long lines = a larger wind window.

A larger wind window means having more power as the kite will pass through a larger power zone during diving but it will do so slower. This is because the kite has to fly through a larger area before reaching the zenith. You will also experience gre-

RIEPILOGO Lines lenght in mt:

15

VELOCITÀ ALA:

TOP

23 MEDIO

30 LOW

LOW END: LOW MEDIO TOP HANG TIME/LIFT: LOW MEDIO TOP GUSTY/LIGHT WIND:

LOW

MEDIO

TOP

UPWIND: LOW MEDIO TOP BAR LENGHT in cm:

ater upwind angles because your kite will travel further to the edge of the wind window.

Test A fun thing to do in your spare time would be to buy sets of 5m lines (easily found in most kite shops or dedicated websites). Usually these are called “extensions” because they are sold as “accessories”. Whatever, just get a few sets from somewhere! Remove the lines from your toolbar and attach the 5m set and try riding with it, add another 5m and go back to the water. The point of

40-45

the test is to figure out and compare how much you jump, how reactive your kite is during surfing, how much upwind, and how many tricks you can close: basically everything you usually do with your standard lines.

Then add another 5m line and so on. The idea is to try your kite starting from 5m all the way up to 50m of line! Not only will you have fun doing this but you will also see your kite from a different perspective (closer and bigger or smaller and far away). Pictures with short lines look sooo cool!!!! Surfing with 15m

45-55

55-60

lines is wicked and doing a hang time with 40m lines comes close to your dream of flying! Until you trim your line length, you have no idea on how much you can restyle your “old kite”.

Examples An extremely useful application for your extensions is to surf waves during side-off or off-shore conditions. It is usually quite hard to catch a wave when the wind is offshore due to unfavourable angles of wave/ upwind, even when you have enough kite power.

I have personally noted

120 TECH Lines

how adding 5-10m extensions, radically increases your wind window, giving you unthinkable upwind angles compared with standard lines. The result is catching a wave every 3 minutes rather than one every 20.

Another interesting idea would be to use long lines when you are underpowered: let’s say you are riding your 10, but VENTO

you are having problems going upwind... You don’t have a 12...Darn! Well just add 5-10m extensions and it will be like going out with an 11 or a 12, try it!

Again: you are doing freestyle with your smallest kite, but it is too reactive... When you rotate the kite immediately goes into kiteloop and ...Well you know how it feels to

badly land a kiteloop… just add 5m extension to increase the reaction time of the kite, this way it will be more controllable and manoeuvrable.

Last but not least: you like surfing waves but going out with your 12 scares you a bit? Set up your 9 with long lines and you are done! Try it!

Kite trimming You should periodically check the length of your lines and pigtails.

The lines, with wear and tear, tent to overstretch and this can affect the way your kite flies. It’s true that many manufacturers sell low-stretch lines, thanks to the invention of tougher materials; however this simply means that modern lines stretch 5cm instead of 20cm... Well, that’s already quite something!

Choose your lines carefully because some lines (usually front-lines) might overstretch after a few hours of use and this will negatively affect the performance of your kite.

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

PHOTO 3

If one back-line overstretches, your kite will lean more left or right (depending on the line) and you will feel as if you have to pull more with one arm vs. The other.

So remember to check the lines as soon as you notice your kite flies weird!

No knots!

Any involuntary knot in one of the lines or extensions must be immediately removed because it can weaken the line up to 50% of its tensing load so, the risk of breaking a line in that point, is a lot higher... Having to perform a self-rescue is not always a pleasant experience!!

Neutral, more or less power?

If you know how to connect your kite lines and pigtails properly, means that you have understood how a kite actually works. Unfortunately the majority of kiters don’t know that, in order for the kite to fly properly, it must be periodically

122 TECH Lines

trimmed; just like a violin should be periodically tuned!

There are four lines which connect the kite to the bar, and these have a variety of names: rear-front lines, internal-external lines, directional-de-power lines, left-right and centre lines. The most common way to call your lines is to divide them into rear and front lines The rear lines are connected to the external pigtails: rear lines are usually coloured red and blue or red and black (red is always left, whilst the right line could come in several colours).

The front lines start from the depower strap and are connected to the bridle system in the “middle� of your kite (on the leading edge). Depending on the model and brand, these lines can start out as one single line and then split into two. Before launching your kite you should know which trim should be used for that particular session. A

PHOTO 4

PHOTO 5

different trim will affect how your kite flies and how much power it will deliver.

An important, although pretty obvious, thing to consider is that the kite

is tuned for production using a calibrated bar (all 4 lines, both rear and front, equal length when de-power adjuster is 100% released and bar sheeted 100%). So re-

Important!

Trim your lines on the beach or an even surface. Make sure to trim your lines with de-power fully released and the bar sheeted all the way in. Both front lines and back lines should be in full tension and have the same length. Only with this is mind, you can start playing with your trim.

Example 1 neutral: all the knots are at the same height. This means that the kite will fly in neutral position (standard manufacturer setting, photo 4).

member to connect both rear lines (and front lines) to the same knot on the pigtail. It does not matter if rear lines are connected to one knot and the front lines to another

as long as both rear are attached to the same know and both front to the same knot.

Example 2 more power: connect your front lines to the first knot (closest knot to you) compared to your rear lines, photo 5. The basic idea is to adjust the angle of attack of the kite (aoa) relative to the wind, to control the amount of wind impacting the kite surface (this can be achieved by either shortening the back lines or lengthening the front lines). This trim

124 TECH Lines

you have to trim your kite so that, with the bar all sheeted in, it doesn’t stall. This operation may sound difficult but it takes no longer than a minute, on the good side you will experience maximum power and speed, depending on wind conditions.

PHOTO 6

is recommended when you are underpowered and you don’t have a bigger kite to use or when you want a more reactive kite.

The difference is measured in centimetres or inches. Remember not to go overboard with your trim, because it is true that the power increases, but at the same time you will lose manoeuvra-

bility, to the point where your kite will stop flying.

This is called point of collapse where your kite will simply stall: if you pull the bar, the kite will fall backwards instead of flying. This has to do with the aerodynamics of kite flying (basically how the wind impacts the upper and lower surface of your wing). Before starting your kite session,

Example 3 less power: connect your front lines to the highest knot (closest to the kite, photo 7) compared with your rear lines. This trim will be extra to pulling the depower strap: the flatter the kite means that less wind is impacting the kite surface - decreasing the amount of pull of the kite. Once again remember not to go overboard with it (remember that to depower the kite you can also use the depower strap). Saying this we have more margin compared with the “more power” situation: the depower strap can be 20 to 60cm long, so you can shorten your front lines quite a lot. However if

you have done it correctly, you need to create tension in the pigtails and verify that the knots are at the same height.

Even a few centimetres difference can greatly affect how your kite flies, obliging you to pull more on one side of the bar or the other.

FOTO 7

Attachment points on the leading edge Recently, to avoid lines from twisting around the knots when rotating, most kites offer multiple attachment points on the le. Close to each attaching knot you will find

you exaggerate the kite will lose reactivity and will be impossible to turn.

A helpful tip would be to make three knots on the front pigtail: this way, depending on the intensity

of the wind, you can decide how to set up your kite ad hoc.

Remember to connect either rear lines, or front lines, to the same knot on the pigtail. To check

126 TECH Lines

a plus sign = more power; an equal sign = medium power and a minus sign = less power. Basically kite manufacturers have made things easier for us, just look at the previous paragraph to understand how to use these knots to improve the performance of your kite.

Remember that this is just a rule of thumb. There are kites which fly bet-

ter with a specific set up (either all on + or -) so go easy with it, and remember that trimming is a very personal thing, you need to “feel” where your kite flies better.

Also remember that the same trim can “feel” very different according to wind intensity and if your lines stretch. If you attach your “trimmed” bar to another kite, once again, it might need some extra

adjustments. So always check your trim before each session: it only takes one minute but you will gain a lot by doing so.

The “must” here is to experiment each day a little more. This way you can really get the best out of your equipment rather than using your kite at 50% of its potential.

Manera

Renato “DrKite” Casati Technical Expert RRD’s Wave team rider. Kitesurfer since 2000, athlete and judge in the PKRA and KPWT circuit. For the last 12 hears he has given his contributions to several magazines. He lives between Como Lake, Sardinia, not to mention the waves of Caboverde...

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