Kitesoul Magazine #8 English Edition

EVENTS

F-One International Dealers Meeting 2016

ITW Aaron Hadlow

TEST

Woo Hang Time - Big Air Test

WHERE THERE’S A WAVE THERE’S A WAY THE NEW NEO

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B O A

R D I

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WAVE /F R E ERIDE

RE LAT E D P R O D U C TS

P R O S U R F

WAM

W HI P C SC

PROGRESSION Q

S I Z E S 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12

Quality commitment in every detail.

WWW.NORTHKITEBOARDING.COM

Another big step ahead for our most successful kite in the range.

RELIGION is synonymous of WAVE in the international kite language, and since its first introduction this kite has changed in every version together with the evolution of this discipline. Actually we can say that this kite has greatly contributed to improve the level of many stoked riders thanks to its phenomenal performance characteristic. A bullet proof construction, mixing the body construction between 40% heavy duty Dacron fabrics and 60% lightweight canopy. A unique mix used only in the Religion kites still today, creating a superior crash resistance and a huge lifetime extender.

The new MK6 has been redesigned in sizes 8 and smaller based on the huge positive feedback received on the MK5 larger sizes, 12-10.5 and 9. These new design is based on more swept-back wingtips, creating a more stable kite that floats better both in total lack of wind or on the opposite, under extreme strong gusts.

This new design, allows also a bigger range of use, both on the hi and low end of the kite, extending the possibility of use practically to any day anywhere. More power, better lift during jumps and an enormous, progressive de-power that will stop the kite power exactely when you need it. Simply a throttle in your hands, gearing up your rides when you need power and completely release it when you use your created speed on the wave. Neutral, powerful and silly fast when willing to get out of troubles on wave sections that close out or when you totally need that extra bost to move to the next section.

A perfect kite both in onshore and totally offshore conditions, tested in literally anywhere you could take it.

pink/cyan

SIZES: 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10.5 / 12

POP 5’4” Freestyle Supershortboard

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’2”

yellow/orange

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’2”

Cyan/Red

POP LTD 5’4” Freestyle/wave Supershortboard

MINIMAXI-K 5’4” Minisimmons

WW AV AE VE

MK6

rider: colin heckroodt - Ph: svetlana romantsova

RELIGION RELIGION ” The best just got better! ”

FOLLOW US ON:

www.robertoriccidesigns.com

KITESURFBOARDS SURFBOARDS KITE

BALENA-K 5’7” Speciality oversize

ASSOPIGLIATUTTO-K 5’8” Hybrid Small waves Quad

CHIATTA-K 5’8” Small waves Thuster

HUEVO-K 5’5” Surf / Freestyle Thruster

C.O.T.A.N. 5’6” Speciality PRO Shortboard

BARRACUDA-K 5’10” Strapped-in-special Thruster

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’6”- 5’7” - 5’9” - 6’1”

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’8” - 6’0”

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’8” - 6’0”

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’2” - 5’6” - 5’8”

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’7”

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’5” - 5’9”

ALSO AVAILABLE IN 5’5” - 5’9”

collection collection

SALEROSA-K 5’10” PRO Quad

MAQUINA-K 5’11” PRO Thruster

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 2015 - NOVEMBER 2015 TWO-MONTHLY

Texts Keahi de Aboitiz, Alex Caizerques, Renato Casati, Stefano Gigli, Alberto Rondina, Jana Schader, Gabi Steindl, Reo Stevens, Federico Sugoni Photos James Boulding, Toby Bromwich,, Alex Caizerques, Renato Casati, Quincy Dein, Daniel Kajavala, Lance Koudele, Andre Magarao, Nicola Meotti, Borys Radchenko, Axel Reese, Svetlana Romantsova, Alberto Rondina, Jana Schader, Reo Stevens, Antonietta Vacoli, Jason Wolco Cover: Rider Mitu Monteiro Photo Rou Chater Publisher and advertising VISU Media Via Cavour, 20 24030 Ambivere (BG) Manager Federico Sugoni fs@kitesoul.com Registration Tribunale di Bergamo n°10/2014 del 15/04/2014.

Two-monthly

FEDERICO SUGONI Publisher

ROBERTA PALA Editor

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’s responsible for the 2014 launching of KiteSoul Magazine.

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.

MAURIZIO CINTI Film-maker

GIUSEPPE ESPOSITO Art director

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

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.

Kiter since he was in the baby pram, he is a rider for RRD Italia and he have a Bachelor in 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 Feel The Flow

MITU MONTEIRO Technical Editor-Wave Riding

ALBERTO RONDINA Technical Editor-Freestyle

RENATO “DR. KITE” CASATI Technical Expert

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.

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.

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.

ELENA FOICO Professional translator Professional translator and Kiteboarder since 2001.

In 2004 she decided to leave her career in the UK to teach kitesurfing full time. Throughout the years she has translated several kitesurfing manuals, teaching aids and articles. Born in the mountains but passionate about the sea, she has found the perfect tool to have fun pretty much everywhere!

EDITORIAL Rider Reo Stevens | Photo Jason Wolcott/LEWHS

30 days, 10 flight, over 40.000km, more than

example, and guess what? We’ve just come back

200.000 steps and a lot of kitesurfing!There are

from there, more precisely from “Le Morne” at the

very busy periods of the year for the Kitesoul Ma-

international F-One dealers meeting.

gazine staff, but none compare to the 30 days

Our host, Raphael Salles and his team have gree-

between August and September…here is what we

ted us warmly, making us feel part of the big F-O-

did this month:

ne family. During these wonderful days we have

When talking about kitesurfing most people think

been able to discover all the secrets behind their

about travelling to exotic places like Mauritius for

wide range of products (in all color and sizes),

including the new line of Manera’s wetsuits and

We should not forget that this time of the year is

harnesses. Unfortunately the so renowned One-

also dedicated to the arrival of new products and

Eye spot did not delight us with its usual super

the starting of international trade shows. To re-

favourable conditions, nevertheless the F-One

main up to date we have decided to sneak a peek,

champion Mitu (cover) has astounded us as usual

first in S. Peter Ording and then straight to the

with his strapless world-class style…

2015 Florida’s Surf Expo, where Jessica Winkler,

Going back to August we’ve been lucky enough

together with our editor, has interviewed athletes

to watch and interview the freestyle champion

and experts in the field, to discover all the 2016

Aaron Hadlow, giving all its best at Lake Garda

news, which you can see on our YouTube channel.

(North of Italy). The 5-time freestyle champion

In this issue we will make you travel a bit too! We

has showed us all his strength and will power and

have decided to show you two very special spots:

told us about his comeback to the competitive

Pipa ‘s beach (Brasil), together with Axel Reese

world which he was missing and that was always

and Silvaplana’s Lake with Alberto Rondina and

running in his veins… in fact a few days after our

Jana Schader. We couldn’t have found two more

interview, Aaron won the VKWC stop in S.Peter

different spots: the hot Brazilian beach versus the

Ording (Germany), which was also our next stop!

fresh Swiss Alps. Both with breath-taking views

During this hot August we also went to Sardinia

and perfect conditions to make both wave and

(Italy) for a comparative big air kitesurfing test,

freestyle lovers happy!

unique amongst its kind. Our “techie” Renato Ca-

If instead you just want to improve your strapless

sati, with the help of WOO Sports, compared 12

freestyle style or your unhooked riding, you can

kites in terms of lift and hang-time… and you can

follow our wave clinic with Keahi de Aboitiz or

see all the technical data in this issue. We also

freestyle clinic with Alberto Rondina. For all ri-

must compliment him for his second position in

ders instead we recommend you read the article

the world WOO ranking: 44 years and still flying

of Gabi Steindl, North rider, which has given us

at 15,4m and hanging for 11.4 seconds! Well done

some very interesting tips.

Renato!!

The las surprise for this issue is our new iOS app,

We have therefore decided to dedicate a few pa-

recently launched, to read our magazine comfor-

ges to the big air and the search for the longest

tably from your i-Phone or i-Pad. All you have to

hang-time, those high jumps which make us scre-

do is go to your App store and download Kitesoul

am with joy (or fear?!). The big air, the beginning

Magazine!

of our sport, is making a huge comeback and you can know all about it here.

Roberta Pala | Federico Sugoni

SUMMARY

Portfolio

Events:

F-ONE Internatidonal Dealers Meeting 2016, Mauritius

Itw:

Aaron Hadlow

Spot Guide: Pipa - Barsil

Strapless Moves: Indy Glide

Trip:

Madagascar, on track of Addikt

R&D:

Behind the test “go fly a kite Charlie Brown”

Spot:

Silvaplana, Swiss Surrealism

SUMMARY

Technique:

Airtstyle, part 2

Test:

Woo Air Time - Big Air test

Test:

(Super) Sonic, the (R) Evolution! A breacking record kite wooo!

Tips:

Handover of Kite / Kiteswap in air between two riders

Freestyle Tech: Unhooking Pop

12 PORTFOLIO

Brandon Scheid AWSI Rider of the year

LIQUID FORCE AWSI BRAND OF THE YEAR BRANDON SCHEID AWSI RIDER OF THE YEAR

RIDER: Brandon Scheid AWSI Rider of the year PHOTO: Photo Lance Koudele/ Courtesy Liquid Force

14 PORTFOLIO

Collleen Carroll

RIDER: Colleen Carroll PHOTO: Lance Koudele

AWSI FEMALE KITEBOARDER OF THE YEAR

16 PORTFOLIO

Abel Lago

RIDER: Abel Lago PHOTO: Svetlana Romantsova/Courtesy RRD

18 PORTFOLIO

Sam Medysky

RIDER: Sam Medysky PHOTO: Andre Magarao

20 PORTFOLIO

Greta Menardo

RIDER: Greta Menardo PHOTO: Daniel Kajavala/Courtesy Switch Kiteboarding

22 PORTFOLIO

Jesse Richman

RIDER: Jesse Richman PHOTO: Quincy Dein

24 NEWS

IKA Events 2015 GOLDCUP AUSTRALIA - KITEFOIL GOLD CUP – 8 – 12 October – Townsville - Australia

VKWC events 2015 TBC Hainan Kitesurf World Championships 2015 *Planned in November, China, 21 to 26 nov TBC Cape Town Kitesurf World Championships 2015, *Planned in December, South Africa, 4 to 13 dic

•

Further information available on www.vkwc.com

26

MEETING F-One International Dealer Meeting 2016 - Le Morne, Mauritius

2016

F-ONE INTERNATIONAL DEALERS MEETING LE MORNE, MAURITIUS

Eight years have gone by since I attended the last F-On e meeting so when I packed my bags I was thrilled to take part to this new adventure‌

Text Roberta Pala | Photo Mitu Monteiro e Roberta Pala

28

L

MEETING F-One International Dealer Meeting 2016 - Le Morne, Mauritius

uca Marcis, Italian F-One dealer, invited me to the F-One meeting where I was able to

test the new Bandit (which has arrived to its 9th edition), the brand new Mitu Monteiro surfboards, a wide range of freestyle boards, the new hydrofoil boards, and the super performing Diablo, the new foil kite which will be used by Maxime Nocher, 2015 Formula Kite World Champion, in the last stop of the Foil Cup. Last but not least I was able to test their wide range of S.U.P. boards, and the new line of Manera accessories, wetsuits, harnesses and bags.

I got off the plane in Port Louis at dawn, where my taxi driver was already waiting for me. We immediately set off towards Le Morne amongst colonial houses, traditional villages with girls in typical white and red uniform and tropical vegetation.

I soon arrived at the meeting place, the Riu hotel at Le Morne, where Julie, the marketing communication manager of the company greeted me with a nice warm hug. It is very nice but common

30

MEETING F-One International Dealer Meeting 2016 - Le Morne, Mauritius

"The B andi t 9th edi ti o n, i s sti l l the be st del ta shape ki te o ut the re�

in this world when you e-meet people that turn out to be very nice in real life too! Julie was responsible for exhibiting the new 2016 collection and coordinating the water tests. She is certainly a milestone of the company, very attentive to the media’s needs; she has helped us connecting with several people who, I am sure, I will be in touch with in the future. She is also a dynamic water-woman, happy to ride waves at 6am on the Little Reef with the new F-One S.U.P. boards.

The garden in front of our rooms was filled with kites and boards, there was a tree made of bars and a bed of S.U.P. boards. Mitu Monteiro introduced me to Raphael Salles, the founder of F-One; I never met him personally, although I saw and photographed him many times in Pronta Preta (Sal-Cape Verde) when he was testing his own equipment. I was also able to meet the entire F-One team of designers and testers: once again crazy-active people, very attentive to their customer’s needs. A nice surprise was meeting Micka Fernandez (F-One rider) again after almost 10 years and 15 from our first encounter. The Italian F-One team finally joined me early in the afternoon; the conditions were ideal for testing the 9sqm, but unfortunately not all spots were rideable. It was too late for One Eye and the other reef passes were closed due to the lack of available rescue boats; so Luca, Fritz, Alessandro and Daniele decided to surf at Little Reef and Manawa for the day… me and Francesco instead decided to stay on the beach, contemplating our new Manera’s harness and soft wetsuit.

The main meeting actually started the following day with the presentation of the new S.U.P. boards and of the entire F-One team. Raphael explained

32

MEETING F-One International Dealer Meeting 2016 - Le Morne, Mauritius

to us the development of the brand throughout the years. The strength of F-One has always been that of employing excellent riders as testers and designers, to have a more direct feedback on the various models and designs. On top of this the company has always used the same factories for consistency of materials (15 years for kites and 5-6 years for S.U.P. boards). All S.U.P boards, except one, are hand-made, and all the boards have a similar width (27 or 24 cm), only the length changes. A nice anecdote is the fact that all boards are named after real wave spots surfed

by F-One riders in the last 15 years. The new kite pump was also quite amazing with two inflating speeds and, last but not least, a wide collection of paddles with varied carbon percentages.

Finally I was also able to test some of the new material in the water. I was eager to test the new Mitu Pro Model, available in 4 sizes (5’4”, 5’6”, 5’8” and 5’10”). It was hard to improve on a board which last year was already a best seller but the company decided to work hard on the large sizes by reducing the concave slightly around the fins to make the board easier and more progressive in the turns and while carving. The two smaller sizes instead benefit from a bit more rocker on the tail to achieve more manoeuvrability during tight turns and more control in the chop. The Mitu surfboard is actually suitable for different surfing styles (pure wave riding/strapless freestyle), as well as beginner or advanced riders. The Signature boards instead are designed for pure surfing and equipped with a Quattro fin set up. This year, they have a new progressive rocker which conveys more stability and control especially during bottom turns in big waves. Used to strong winds

I am not perhaps the best tester for the Bandit 10sqm, anyway I decide to test the Mitu Pro surfboard 5’6” and 5’10”, I am regular so I approach Little Reef backside, thankfully I am far away from the shore and I can happily say I had a lot of fun on and inside (ups) the waves…

The second day of the meeting was dedicated to the presentation of the foil and hydrofoil collection, a long project which involved board designers, the search for the perfect factory, but most importantly, the goal of creating a board which anyone could use. The company had to work hard on creating a stable board, so much needed by beginners. The hydrofoil mania is taking a strong hold, it is not hard to see people with hydrofoils around, especially beginners.

Other sports are also taking an interest in this

new technology (Kayaking, Windsurfing, S.U.P. boarding, etc.). The F-One hydrofoil board has a very simple and fast connection device, and the board is available in three sizes. Very important for its development has been the contribution of Maxime Nocher, Formula Kite World Champion (currently lying second in the Foil World Cup circuit) and that of Romain Castel, young rider and Long Distance Youth champion. To complete the project, F-One decided to release its first foil kite:

ders has managed to create a winning foil kite in

the Diablo! This kite managed to get on top of

a very short space of time: the kite is stable, and

the league, winning several competitions, in the

easy to use even by beginners (Ed. Many at the

hands of Maxime Nocher. It was a must for the

meeting had never even tried a foil before). A fast

company to create a competitive foil kite to be

but already substantial success.

used by their champion during international ra-

Water tests: unfortunately this second day did

ces. The designer, Robert Graham, with the help

not delight us with strong winds and the forecast

of Gin Gliders and past world-champion paragli-

for the following two days did not look bright ei-

34

MEETING F-One International Dealer Meeting 2016 - Le Morne, Mauritius

ther in terms of waves or wind.

and X10D: “Our wetsuits need to be warm, flexi-

On the third day of meeting, Julien Salles, Rapha-

ble and comfortable”. The technology consists in

el’s son, introduced to the entire media communi-

gluing and blind-stitching two neoprene panels

ty the new Manera collection of harnesses, bags

together, then overtopping it with an ultra-stretch

and also wetsuits. The wetsuits are the main in-

tape to make the seams 100% waterproof.

novation this year: super-quality products of hi-

Julien then went on presenting the new line of

gh-technological design. The factory is situated

harnesses, the EXO, developed in cooperation

in France, very close to the Manera’s offices in

with a Human Kinetics Science Laboratory. The

Montpellier, which means that the product can be

harnesses have been structurally improved, with

tested and modified on the same day. All wetsuits

riding comfort, durability and also look in mind.

have been designed with kiteboarding in mind, so

The Manera EXO harnesses optimize load distri-

warm but flexible enough to allow perfect mobi-

bution, thanks to a brand new technology: the

lity. Manera uses an exclusive software, unique

EDF (Energy Dispersion Frame): the hexagonal

in the neoprene industry, merging 3D design and

structure, built with various stiffness and volu-

exclusive pattern making technologies, to bring

me degrees transfers the load over a much wider

the highest level of fit. The material used are the

area, distributing pressure more evenly. Perso-

most flexible around, Tripl3X Neoprene Magma

nally the harness for me was a perfect fit; I noti-

"T h e Mi t u surf boa rd is actual l y s u i t a b l e f or diff e re nt s urfi ng styl es ( p u r e w av e riding/ stra pl ess freestyl e), as w el l as be ginne r or advanced r id er s�

"A l l w etsui ts have been desi gned w i th ki tebo ardi ng i n mi nd, so w arm but fl exi bl e eno ug h to al l o w perfect mo bi l i ty�

36

MEETING F-One International Dealer Meeting 2016 - Le Morne, Mauritius

ced that it immediately adapted well to my shape and the feeling was that of not having a harness at all: very useful when using large kites, which are usually quite deleterious for your lumbar muscles. The buckle system for closing the harness is also innovative and functional, preventing upward slip.

Thankfully the presentation of the new Bandit happened on Sunday, the day when the wind finally decided to make its comeback, and we were finally able to test small sizes as well (5-6sqm).

Inside the reef the chop was picking up quite high, but One Eye yet working at its full potential (around 1.5m). Nevertheless Raphael, Mitu and Micka did not waste even one second of it and managed to test all new equipment. Unfortunately One Eye was not big enough to take photos on the reef from the boat.

The Bandit 9th edition, is still the best delta shape kite out there. F-One is the only brand which has never produced other shapes. They have decided to stick with this one best-seller kite, and improve it every year, rather than developing a completely new and different product. The small sizes are the most tested if we are talking about wave riding, the middle sizes are more directed to the freestyle user, whilst the large sizes (12sqm) are

" I The F-One hydro fo i l bo ard has a very si mpl e and fast co nnecti o n devi ce, and the bo ard i s avai l abl e i n three si zes ."

“A ni ce anec d ot e i s the fact th at al l bo ards are n am ed after real w a ve spo ts surfed b y F-One ri ders i n the l ast 1 5 year s”

the most used by freeriders. Stability is the most sought after characteristic by the final user and the team has decided to put all their efforts in making the Bandit very stable. The bar is simple yet very functional, they have put a new pulley on the front lines and an even more efficient safety release system. Next year F-One will also make a larger chicken loop, to help freestyle riders, hook back in during their tricks; and most probably the side floaters will also undergo major changes.

Back to the water tests: with very strong wind I decided to test the Mitu Pro Model 5’6” and the Bandit 6sqm. The kite has a very good control even at high speeds, the feedback on the bar felt great and the kite very manoeuvrable. Unfortunately Little Reef was way too little, so I spent about an hour battling with the chop inside the bay before choosing to close my session and watch the Freestyler Antoine Fermon, kitelooping to the stars, way overpowered on its 9sqm Bandit.

The last day, Monday, F-One decided to present its wide collection of boards: bidirectional boards like the Trax HRD carbon series and the Trax HRD Lite Tech, also available in the Girly version with different colours. The Acid HRD carbon series, the Pro New School, the Acid Lite Tech, the Acid Next

38

MEETING F-One International Dealer Meeting 2016 - Le Morne, Mauritius

Generation, designed for young riders, and once

pany, and most importantly the opportunity to

again the Girly version. I liked very much the fact

know from the inside, a company which has been

that the Girly version had different colours but

in the kiteboarding world for so many years and

maintained the size. Usually girly’s boards tend

that nevertheless has managed to preserve a

to be much smaller than the standard 133 x 42

very familiar atmosphere with an organised and

or 132 x 40, but not this time, which is good, as

super close-knit team. Everybody knows that a

not all girls are small and skinny. Marie Switala,

good team is more likely to make great products!

the beautiful, blonde F-One freestyle rider has showed to all of us what these boards can do. The collection still includes the Spicy (Wakestyle), the Next (freeride), also available in the LW version for the light wind days, and the Unix (freestyle/ freeride).

Monday again we went back to light winds (12sqm and 14sqm). I was surprised about the fact that even in the large sizes, the Bandit did not feel “heavy” on my arms or back; this for me was quite a positive surprise given that I am quite spoilt by the conditions of my home spot and I never ride kites bigger than 9sqm. A nice freeride session in the bay before admiring Mitu’s freestyle strapless show, the stylish Micka and the powerful Antoine.

The end of the week arrived too fast and it was already time to leave this beautiful island. Raphael, Micka, Julien and other F-One riders stayed on an extra day to pack all equipment. As usual the Italian team showed themselves up: first by “kidnapping” for a joke two pretty holiday reps, and then by hiding all harnesses just before the final presentation. So on this last day, amongst laughter and jokes about “les italiens les italiens”, we took the last formal group “selfie” and off we went on our taxi back to the airport. It has been an incredible experience, thanks to the beautiful scenarios offered by this beautiful island, the equipment so generously offered by the com-

“the Di abl o ! Thi s ki te managed to get o n to p o f the l eague, w i nni ng several co mpeti ti o ns�

I would like to thank F-One for the invitation.

Raphael, Julien, Julie, Fabien, Micka, Maxime, Maria, Mitu, Antoine, Romain for the hospitality and cooperation. Again a big thanks to Luca Marcis, F-One Italian dealer and my travel buddies Fritz, Daniele, Alessandro and Francesco.

See you soon guys!

Antonietta Vacoli/Courtesy Easykite

ITW Federico Sugoni | Photo Toby Bromwich, Borys Radchenko e

40 ITW Aaron Hadlow

ITW

42

ITW Aaron Hadlow

KS_ This is not your first trip to Italy, you have seen different conditions and landscapes, tell me about it…

AH_I have been to Italy a couple of times before but never to this area, in Lake Garda. So for me to come to this was quite different from anything else I have seen before, because you are in a lake, surrounded by land in the middle of Europe, and still, you’re getting wind every day, and pretty good wind. It is just pretty surreal to be riding out here with the big mountains in the background, and is such a crazy scenery, that is just cool to be out on the water. It’s very different because usually I am at the beach, with the sand, the salt and the blue sky behind it; instead here, you got the fresh water, you are launching your kite in super unique places off the boat or in a tunnel to get out to the beach, because there is really not much space on the land next to the water. I really liked the fresh water feeling and it is super refreshing. So to come here to Lake Garda, for me was really good fun.

KS_ You have spent some time away from competition, but you have returned big style, what can you tell me about this time away from the PKRA tour?

AH_In 2010 I stopped competing for a few years in the end. At the time it was just for me to take a break. The tour was not going as well as I thought it was going to go; so I decided that it was the right time for me to have a bit of a break and take a fresh look on kiteboarding and what I actually wanted to do. During the time in which I had two years off from competition, I was actually hoping that the competition would improve, that there would be more tour stops and the point system would maybe change, and it wouldn’t be the same format. And actually all of this changed in 2012, so that’s when I decided I wanted to go back competing again. However when I started pushing to start competing again, I got my knee injury; when I was training to come back. So in 2012 I also missed out which in the end meant 3 years in total in which I was unable to compete. During this time I think I just kind of had a different focus, more on videos, more on free-riding, more on the Wakestyle

THE LEVEL IS INCREDIBLE WHICH IS WHY EVEN BEING UP IN THE TOP AND FIGHTING TO WIN THE TOUR IS A REALLY GOOD FEELING.

44

ITW Aaron Hadlow

IT IS JUST PRETTY SURREAL TO BE RIDING OUT HERE WITH THE BIG MOUNTAINS IN THE BACKGROUND, AND IS SUCH A CRAZY SCENERY, THAT IS JUST COOL TO BE OUT ON THE WATER

stuff, riding in different conditions and also working with a brand, learning about products and building new products which was also a very cool project. But all the time I was missing the competitive edge and wanting to compete and improve my level and that’s something I always had from a young age. So in 2013, even though I wasn’t 100% fit from my knee, I decided to go into the event in Leucate and give it a go; I just kind of threw myself in the deep end and gave it a chance. During this event I made it to the finals and ended up in third place; and this gave me back the feeling for competing again, I got that bug back again. I also thought the new scoring system was working pretty well, which is why I decided to continue through that, and last year was my full on season where I finished up third; and this year I am currently lying second. I am gradually getting back to the top. The difference now is that competition is so much closer as the level is really, really high. There’s 6 or 8 guys coming to these events, out of all the 24 riders that are always coming, and at least 8 of these guys could win any of these competitions. The level is incredible which is why even being up in the top and fighting to win the tour is a really good feeling.

KS_ Has something changed in your body and training after many years of being at the top?

AH_Since I started competing ‘till now, so much has changed for sure: both in my body and the way I ride; and surely the sport has developed. Back in the days I was just competing, having a lot of fun with friends, and it was just a totally different atmosphere. I was not training off the water, I was just going and was super enthusiastic to be training as hard as possible and not caring so much about

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ITW Aaron Hadlow

my body but, you know, everything was fine whilst I was young. I could kite as much as I wanted, I never felt any pain, never had any problems really, or when I did, I would just bounce back. During the years in which I was successful, I was just going for it, full on! The thing when it really changed for me, was when I got my knee injury and this put me out for one year. I was unable to kite and actually this gave me a lot of motivation to get back kiting; I was seeing what I was missing a lot and also knowing that I wanted to go back into competition again, gave me a good drive to do the best I could to get back to the top level. After this I have learned a lot about my body, I realised that I wasn’t just bouncing off the water anymore; I could get injured and it could be really serious. I also learned a lot about training off the water, about nutrition (eating the right things), not overdoing it, not using your body too much so that it is very fatigued or tired as this is when you can have problems. I have really learnt a lot about training in the gym, and obviously as I get older, I feel more pain… twinges. You get more problems but I think that’s normal for everybody and, although I am only 26, it’s a very demanding sport and for sure your body starts to feel really old.

Nowadays I have to limit my time on the water a little bit more and train off the water a lot more. For sure this for me is the best way to feel good and move forward. Then I look at some of the new kids like Liam Whaley, who’s 18 and winning the competitions, and I see a lot of me in him because he’s 8 years younger and just going full on. Now that I am older I am actually jealous of what I used to have.

KS_ The comeback of the Big Air and your victory at the Red Bull King of the Air, what’s your opinion about the future of the sport?

AH_From the beginning kiting has always been very freestyle orientated; it has always been about the jumps and the tricks you can do, and as time goes on you really noticed the sport divide into lots of different disciplines, which is really cool, and a lot of people focus! Back when I would pick up a surfboard or something, back when I was younger, I got to a pretty high level right away, because not everybody had pushed it in the right direction; but these days now, I look at what the guys are doing in the waves, maybe some

I ALSO LEARNED A LOT ABOUT TRAINING OFF THE WATER, ABOUT NUTRITION (EATING THE RIGHT THINGS), NOT OVERDOING IT, NOT USING YOUR BODY TOO MUCH

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ITW Aaron Hadlow

strapless freestyle, and the level is hard for even me, who’s doing kiting all this time; it has become pretty hard to go and do this discipline and be at the same level as these guys. And the same with racing and the actual wave riding; with the Big Air discipline it’s slightly different because it is something that has always come from the past, it’s always been the core of the sport: going big and jumping high. So it’s very interesting that there’s lots of different disciplines now and they’re really starting to get further and further apart with a higher level. I think is good that the World Tour is trying to bring a lot of the disciplines and bring them together, but really I think, the World Tour is really good where it’s freestyle; that’s for the young generation of kids coming in, that’s what they are pushing for, and to learn the latest tricks. Then there are the competitions like the Red Bull King of the Air, these are one off events. This is really cool, it is like the X game in other sports; I mean if you take the Red Bull King of the Air competition is a one off event, so you put a lot of effort into one event instead of dividing it into smaller, more events. That’s when you get so much crazy hype and media are out for something like this, because all the guys are there just to do one thing and go as spectacular and huge as possible.

That’s the same for the Triple S, it is more of a niche in the sport, you know, the Wakestyle, the rails… but again is something where the level is going up a lot. I used to be able to go to the Triple S, do pretty good in it, in all of the different disciplines they had there.

And now this year, I think probably for the first time, I really saw a huge improvement in the level; these guys just only focus on rails and kickers, and you really see the level here improving too, so it’s really cool to go to all of these different events and for me to com-

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ITW Aaron Hadlow

pete in the ones that I really enjoy, and be pushed and really go to see this move forward. For me personally I am always going to be into the freestyle, the Big Air, the Wakestyle… these are the things that I love: it’s all about the technicality and the way you fly your kite and do your tricks, for me this is the best. But I see and I also really respect the guys that are doing the big wave surfing and also the strapless freestyle, super technical. However I am really on my own schedule now and competing on the World Tour takes all the time, which makes it hard to practice all these other disciplines, for as much as I really would like to.

KS_ After many years spent with one brand, you have decided to switch to North Kiteboarding; what’s your experience with this brand and your involvement in the development of North and Ion gear?

AH_I spent a lot of time with Flexifoil creating my own products, before I switched to North. I had a lot of influence in the design, in the graphics and all. The Hadlow’s kites were really how I wanted them to come out and the same with the boards. I had a really good learning experience at Flexifoil… seeing how the business run, seeing all the different aspects of how a company works; and being there from the beginning I really had a good time. Unfortunately as things progressed, it started to become clear that maybe it was time to move on. The transition to North was actually really way smoother than I would have ever expected; I got to meet Ralph, who was doing the design, and for me at the time the most important thing was to have a really good product, that I could ride and improve my level and just have the right kite to do the things that I actually wanted to do. Things moved like that, all the guys came to South Africa, I got a really good feeling with everybody, super open guys, really with a clear direction. Obviously being North, you know it’s one of the biggest brand in kiteboarding, it’s just got everything down to a fine T, and I really found that interesting. As it got clearer that we were probably going in this direction, I got really a lot of good time to improve the products and put some input and some of my experience into the Vegas, into the boards… telling them a

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ITW Aaron Hadlow

little bit about my experiences from the past, why it works well for my style of riding, and maybe the Wakestyle, and freestyle stuff.

All the good points that they took on, they really listened to, they really liked to have this feedback, so the transition was smooth and the changes were fast. I had a lot of control and had to do a lot of different types of work with the old company, marketing and helping out with everything. With North they have a very good plan, everything is just kind of perfect: I don’t have to put as much time into other things. I can just focus on my riding, they can market me, I can focus on helping with the boards and the kites and all the products, it is just a well-oiled machine which is running perfectly. I really like the German efficiency, you get in there, and you tell them your stuff, and things actually happen and change. I think that’s why North are where they are in the market right now.

I AM REALLY ON MY OWN SCHEDULE NOW AND COMPETING ON THE WORLD TOUR TAKES ALL THE TIME, WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO PRACTICE ALL THESE OTHER DISCIPLINES

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ITW Aaron Hadlow

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 session?

AH_This is a very personal question; however in my case it is not about feeling deep sensations in contact with nature, or the mystical experience of losing myself in the ocean. For me every session is a new challenge against myself. I love to concentrate fully on my tricks, trying to perform and land them perfectly and invent new ones. It is a challenge against myself in the search for the perfect athletic feat, this is what really motivates me. I am a very competitive person and for me kiteboarding is the perfect mean to express my skills and abilities, especially during competitions. I suppose this is not very poetic but this is what kiteboarding really means to me.

IT IS A CHALLENGE AGAINST MYSELF IN THE SEARCH FOR THE PERFECT ATHLETIC FEAT, THIS IS WHAT REALLY MOTIVATES ME

A S

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P L

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NEXT LEVEL LOAD DISTRIBUTION

S U R F I N G E L E M E N TS ION-PRODUCTS.COM

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SPOTGUIDE Pipa - Brazil

PIPA BRAZIL text and photo Axel Reese/Remedia.de/Liquid Eye

Pipa, a small village 85km south of Natal, is a special place for many wave warriors. And a favorite spot for Brazilian kiter Kauli Seadi, a three-time PWA World Windsurfing Champion. And yet, it is a spot still off the beaten track for most surfers, windsurfers and kiters. Well known to locals, Kauli explains “Pipa is an undiscovered pearl. And it always works!�. With the help of Kauli and other local experts, we decided to venture out from the well known Ceara region to discover the many hidden spots Pipa has to offer wave warriors. By the end of our road trip, we cobbled together a comprehensive kitesurf spot guide.

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SPOTGUIDE Pipa - Brazil

Pipa’s big, powerful swells set up in many wind directions. Kite here and your twin tip will stay your bag. Surfing is very popular with the locals so brush up on your surf etiquette before heading out to avoid any after session “words”. The beach vibe is relaxed and the locals are happy to share their backyard wonderland. You will likely kite alone as the only other kiters you might see in are from Natal or Rio de Janeiro and only on weekends. And don’t expect to meet any foreign kiters either. On a remote kite adventure like this, you really want to make sure your gear is reliable.

We were confident our CORE kites had our backs.

The beach conditions can be best described as challenging. Powerful shore break requires some experience to navigate. So be careful even if you are an experienced wave warrior. The après kiting entertainment is excellent and better than, say, Jericoacoara or Cumbuco with numerous beach bars, tourist activities and lively nightlife.

Chris Bösch: “Pipa with its many kiteable bays, tropical landscape, and beautiful cliffs is my favorite hot spot in NE Brazil. Not just for kitesurfing but SUPing and surfing too. South swells are best but north wind driven swells work too. The town’s Pousadas, hotels, restaurants, surf shops, souvenir shops, kite and surf schools overlook the huge, white sand beach. The evening brings out lots of nightlife, live music, happening bars, and busy nightclubs.

This town is perfect for non-kiters and families with its dolphin swims, sailboat and kayak tours, horseback riding, fishing, paragliding, rope climbing park, sand boarding and amazing beaches.”

Brian Wennersten: ”Pipa is a terraced village of white stucco, red clay tiled roofs, and narrow cob

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SPOTGUIDE Pipa - Brazil

blestone streets. Most places in Pipa have a view of an ocean dotted with tiny surfers riding the many breaks. The streets are crowded, tight and just begging to be explored. Some are no more than walkways of steps heading up the cliff and disappearing around a corner. Some wind down to the natural harbor where the cliffs protect the boats from the prevailing swell and make a sick point break. It’s cool that Pipa has a surfing culture. The locals get what we do, as we understand what they do. That spirit transcends the language barrier.�

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SPOTGUIDE Pipa - Brazil

Kite spots traveling south to north: Praia do Amor (Beach of Love) Chris Bösch: “A perfect surf and kitesurf beach location with a nice beach break and cross-onshore wind from starboard. In fact, the powerful waves bring surfing competitions to this very beach. The Palm covered bay dotted with cool beach bars is reached by following the stairs down the steep cliff or, at low tide, from Praia do Centro.”

Brian Wennersten: “The lookout at Praia do Amor was our first view of the cliffs that run along the coast in this area. I was blown away. You just have to stand there and look at it for a minute. I bet it would be a paraglider’s paradise. As it happens, there is some pretty good kiting in the area as well. The only way down to the water in Praia do Amor is a steep traverse down small stairs cut into the cliff. Tough with gear, but worth it. The beaches, while busy, are pristine.”

Praia do Centro Chris Bösch: “This postcard perfect beach located in the center of town is huge at low tide and not suitable for kiting because of its cross-offshore wind direction. But it is ideal for families when the tidal outflow forms shallow wading pools.

And further out the breaking waves are perfect for surfing.”

PIPA

Praia do Madeiro Chris Bösch: “Here you will find another beautiful SUPing and surfing location. The bay features a surf school, beach bar and dolphins if you are lucky enough. The beach is located on the main street and has plenty of signed parking. Access is by a rather long set of stairs. The beach is in a wind shadow just like Praia do Centro which makes it un-kiteable yet splendid for SUPing. And a classic point break makes for excellent surfing.”

Praia de Cacimbinha Chris Bösch:”A noteworthy kite beach with a unique beach break and side-onshore wind from starboard. The long beach with high cliffs is a favorite spot for paragliders. The best beach access point is from the Pipa Privilege Hotel. We enjoyed five nights at this truly fabulous oceanfront luxury hotel. “ Praia do Giz (Tibau do Sul wave spot) Chris Bösch: “You are greeted with another beautiful bay set against imposing cliffs, starboard sideshore winds and a tough beach break. It’s best to check out the underwater hazards and reefs at low tide before heading out on your first session.

Other kitesurf spots include Praia das Minas and expert only Lajinha.

Tibau do Sul The only flat-water location around Pipa is home to a kite and surf school. We were thrilled to actually meet some kiters here! The river delta is two kilometers wide and is serviced by a ferry.

Flat-water and, yes, dolphins played with us in the river mouth!

Brian Wennersten: “Tibau do Sul was one of the largest flat-water areas we rode. The large river mouth has a strong current from the changing tides. The current does not line up correctly to help with kiting but it does bring in interesting sea life like dolphins. The first dorsal fin that sliced through the water immediately brought scenes of Jaws to mind but once I realized it was just a dolphin,

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SPOTGUIDE Pipa - Brazil

it brought a smile to my face as I kited with them.

Because of the current my tricks were not working when we tried a photo shoot. I noticed that there was coral rock sticking out of the water like a jetty. Its angle was slightly off from straight downwind, ideal for jibing. I improvised and tried an air transition to tap the rock with my board. I was careful at first because the rocks were razor sharp and the current threw off my approach. I figured it out and had a great session throwing back rolls into the transition while tapping the board on the rocks. I got some good style points for my low approach too. I was totally impressed how the Carved Tantrum held up against the razor rocks.�

Good to know: Wind:

Location and Wind:

h t t p : // w w w.w i n d g u r u . c z /d e / i n d e x . p h p? -

Pipa lies 580km south of Fortaleza in the state of

sc=209214

Rio Grande del Norte. You can drive from the popular kite spot Cumbuco to Pipa in roughly eight

Accommodation:

hours. Air and water temperatures average 31C

Pipa Privilege Hotel, http://www.pipaprivilege.

and 28C which is similar to the more famous Ce-

com.br

ara region.

We can’t say enough about this amazing hotel si-

According to the locals, the windy season starts

tuated at a superb wave spot with its luxurious

and ends a little sooner than the Ceara region and

accommodation, ocean views, and infinity pool.

will have 25kts+/- winds on 90% of the days. The

Perfect for your honeymoon, kite vacation, or

windy season ends with more unreliable winds so

both.

it is recommended to bring a 14m kite in November. The rainy period starts around February at which point the winds become even more fluky.

Getting here: You can find connecting flights via Lisbon to Natal from Europe through TAP Portugal, http://www. flytap.com. A short one hour bus, shuttle, or car ride gets you to Pipa from Natal.

Links: http://www.pipa.com.br/the_kitesurf

66

STRAPLESS MOVES Indy Glide

INDY GL Text Keahi de Aboitiz | Photo James Boulding

LIDE

By Kehai De Aboitiz

This is another one of my favourite tricks as its one of those tricks that feels really good when done right. Back in my twintip days I always loved the feeling of a good Indy glide so to be able to do the same thing on a surfboard feels great when done right.

Although its not completely necessary if you have a bit of a freestyle background, it will make this trick easier. It also helps to be fairly comfortable with strapless freestyle on a surfboard. Although this trick looks simple, it can be difficult especially once you start trying to tweak it out. I’d consider trying it with straps first or on a twin tip to get more of a feel for it For this one, the stronger the wind, the better.

The more wind there is, the easier the board will stick your feet as long as you can keep the bottom surface facing the wind. Just be careful with the strong wind because if you do come disconnected your board can fly away quite easily.

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STRAPLESS MOVES Indy Glide

INDY GLIDE BY K 1. Look for the right take off.

finger and middle finger either

over your back shoulder and

For this trick, you are going to

side of the depower line. This

down towards the water whi-

need a nice solid takeoff. Al-

will help minimize the kite tur-

le starting to push the bar out.

though it can be done off the

ning down too fast once you

This will start the rotation and

flat, you are going to want a

take your back hand off the bar.

allow you have as much con-

good solid chop or preferably

Because my front hand stays

trol as possible through the air.

a small wave. The bigger the

on the bar, I try to send the kite

Bend your knees and try brin-

kicker, the easier it will be to

slightly on this trick. You don’t

ging your back leg up pushing

get height which will allow you

want it to cross 12 but try and

the tail of the board towards

to tweak it out much more and

steer it up between 10 and 12 as

the wind while reaching down

give you more time in the air.

you load up to help gain a litt-

to grab the board. I like to tweak

In an ideal situation try this off

le more height. Edge hard and

these out as much as possible,

a wave just before its about to

stomp on your back foot while

but to begin with I’d recommend

break.

pulling in the bar to get as much

trying it on more of a horizontal

height as possible.

axis first to work your way up to it.

2. Take off Approach the ramp with speed

3. Start the rotation.

with your kite around 10 o’clock.

As soon as you take off shift

4. Reach for the grab.

Put your front hand in the mid-

your weight forward and take

Although you can grab in a few

dle of the bar with your index

your back hand off the bar. Look

places I think Indy is one of the

KEAHI DE ABOITIZ most stylish. Try to grab the bo-

cing the direction you will land

always in any strapless trick, it

ard just behind your front foot

in.

can be quite easy for the board to fly away downwind landing

and push your back leg out it out at the apex of your jump.

6. Landing.

upside down. Just try to be awa-

As you get better you can try

With your knees still bent, let go

re of the fins as they can quite

and tweak out more by bending

of the grab while spotting your

easily cut.

your front knee and boning your

landing and slowly extending

back leg out towards the sky. Try

your legs back out for the lan-

to make sure the bottom of the

ding. Try to keep a fairly wide

board is constantly facing into

stance and concentrate on ke-

the wind and hold the grab for

eping the bottom surface of the

as long as it feels comfortable.

board facing into the wind until the end. As you land bend your

5. Redirect.

knees to absorb the impact and

At the peak of the jump, start

ride away.

slowly pulling the bar in to stop the rotation and start redi-

Possible Dangers.

recting back the other way. I like

Although this one is relatively

to hold the grab until about half

safe, you still need to be awa-

way down and the board is fa-

re of the dangers involved. Like

22 70 TRIP TRIP Madagascar -- on Addikt Madagascar onthe thetrack trackofof Addikt

Madagascar on the track of Addikt

& photo Alex Caizergues text and photo Alex Caizergues

ȯ

I’ve always wanted to travel to Madagascar. Since i watched Addikt1, the famous movie from F ONE, where i couldn’t be part of it because of a speed world cup in Fuerteventura in 2009

22 TRIP 72 TRIP Madagascar - -on track of Addikt Madagascar onthe the track of Addikt

ȯ

The arrival is just magic; the lagoon is so blue that it’s mandatory to wear sunglasses

Two very different places, one in the North, Babaomby in the Emerald Sea and an other one in the South, Anakao.

We started the trip with Babaomby, helped by Nicolas, owner of Babaomby Island Lodge who picked us up at Diego Suarez airport. The place is located as the end of a peninsula. To access the lodge, the only way is the boat, a traditional sailing/fishing boat that allows us to bring without any problem all the gear and luggage. The arrival is just magic; the lagoon is so blue that it’s mandatory to wear sunglasses ;-) and after unloading the boat, you already feeling the peace of this “almost” island.

Comfort is simple but you got everything you need inside the camp with very cool tents, and beds facing the lagoon. Because it’s also an “eco” lodge, electricity is coming from solar panels, the kitchen uses wooden fire to cook, and water is saved as much as possible. But all of this just helps you to take that “island life rhythm”. The team is all composed of cool locals coaches and riders, On the water side, wind is here every single day, more or less around 30 knots +, so no need to stress about that! It usually picks up in the morning, from 9-10 and reach its max in the afternoon, depending of the tides. You can find some waves in front of Suarez island, side on shore,

perfect to get some good rollers strapless! A perfect flat water spot, called the “Swimming Pool” is amazing when the tide is low, white sand, crystal clear water, and just 10 minutes downwind from the Lodge. Don’t forget your GoPro because it takes 30 minutes to go back upwind ;-) Don’t forget a good pair of trainers too to go to the “Internet Café”, a 10 minutes hike to get some 3G up there and an amazing view, perfect to send some emails or make some calls!

After a week in Babaomby, it was time to hit the south of the island. One flight from Diego Suarez to Antananarivo, a night and a day at the capital and another flight from “Tana” to Tulear later, we finally reached a dock at Tulear harbour. A speedboat was there, waiting for us and after 1 hour going full speed in the lagoon, we arrived to

22 74 TRIP TRIP Madagascar -- on Addikt Madagascar onthe thetrack trackofof Addikt

ȯ

Since the release of Addikt 1 in 2009, I was dreaming about Flame Bowls, the famous left

Anakao. Anakao is a fisherman village, with very

A little reminder of where the name “Flame Bowl”

friendly people and a lot of affordable places to

(originally “flame balls”) is coming from makes you

stay.

realize how dangerous this wave can be… It’s an

Anakao Ocean Lodge is owned by Valter, an Ita-

Australian surfer who discover this wave when

lian kiteboarder who built with his dad this pri-

doing a road trip in the South of Madagascar. On

stine resort, an amazing work in such a remote

a 3 meters day, after a big wipe-out, he simply de-

place too… The resort is very human sized, no big

stroyed his balls on the reef and it made this wave

buildings, simply nice “nature integrated” huts,

a legend !!!!

very cosy, luxury at its best, very comfy but still

Another wave to check out is Jelly Baby. We did not

very “nature” with hay made roof, no AC or TV.

have the chance to see it working but it’s a little bit

Perfect place to recover from a long trip, recharge

more intermediate level, as the reef is deeper, the

batteries, and waiting for the swell… because that

wave smoother, and it breaks closer to the shore.

was the main reason we chose this destination;

If you are more into freestyle riding, a great spot

since the release of Addikt 1 in 2009, I was dre-

to check out is the island of Nosy Sanatra. Just 20

aming about Flame Bowls, the famous left. The

minutes upwind with the traditional sailing boat,

left that was ridden by Raph and Mitu… When I

you will find one of the most perfect freestyle spot

was talking with them about this wave, they were

I ever ride, just there for you and your friends, and

telling me it was one of their favourite in the wor-

a couple of cows that come to the island when the

ld, simple as that! The wave is breaking on a reef,

tide is low ;-). Flat and transparent water, straight

sharp one when the swell is big and it works best

off shore and steady wind, a 500 meters sand bank

at high tide, the wind often blows in the afterno-

that shines at low tide and it makes one of the best

on, side-off shore, and it makes it really perfect,

spot I ever rode in my all life!

tubing as soon as it’s big enough. You definitely

Travelling to Madagascar is a bit of a challenge;

need a boat to ensure your safety first because

don’t be afraid of waiting in an airport, or waking up

it’s quite far away from the mainland (not less

very early to catch a flight, but when you get there,

than 7km) and second, if you break something,

the people smile, the will of locals to make your

the next coast you will have the chance to see is

stay as perfect as it can be, water, wind, waves,

Mozambique…

everything gives you only one need… coming back

22 TRIP 76 TRIP Madagascar -- on ofof Addikt Madagascar onthe thetrack track Addikt

next year! Talking about this year, we are coming back again in Anakao, this time with a special boardbag full of school materials, kids clothes, and some basic medicines to help people there (60% of the population is illiterate and 75% lives under the level of poverty). Having fun is great but if we can help (and maybe you for your next trip), it’s even better!!!!

78 TRIP TRIP 22 Madagascar - on the track of Addikt

Madagascar - on the track of Addikt

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80 R&D

Behind the test "go fly a kite Charlie Brown"

BEHIND THE TEST "GO FLY A KITE CHAR (Behind the scenes of the Ozone World)

text Stefano Gigli | Photo Courtesy Ozone Italy

RLIE BROWN" There are places and people which rarely go undetected and that travel a lot because of their lifestyle, passion and personal inclination. I have been now working with Ozone for the past 9 years and I believe I’ve had the best time of my life with them, travelling to beautiful places and working with great passion.

Rob, Torrin and Dominik are lucky enough to leave their office in Raglan for three months a year and move to the beautiful Mauritius Island, at Le Morne, to concentrate on the development of their kites. This year I decided to spend a bit of time with them in this beautiful island with almost perfect waves which really makes you appreciate wave riding.

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R&D

Behind the test "go fly a kite Charlie Brown"

I am not going to tell you too much about the characteristics of the Island because it is already a famous kitesurfing destination with plenty of photos, report etc.

What I want to talk to you about is the philosophy behind the Ozone world, which goes beyond imagination. The Ozone crew is made up of the real “Boyz” who wake up at 6am to go surfing, go back to their desk at 9am to design the best Ozone kites, then go out again around 12pm trying out their design in the most beautiful waves in the world. At 18pm they can plan an evening party in the supermarket carpark, go back home and prepare a multi-ethnic dinner for everybody. Their job is different: they are special people who have dedicated their life to amuse all kite lovers out there. Behind these kite tests, there are men with a great passion for life and travelling with them equals to living fully and do everything I love.

My trip around the world Ozone continues together with “Charlie Brown”. This is a personal awareness project to help all the poor children in the world. I chose Charlie Brown because all children love to fly a kite but not every child can accomplish this dream. It is not an NPO but an idea to give a chance to poor children or those who have been struck by a natural disaster. We want to help the world to live, smile and share life.

84 R&D

Behind the test "go fly a kite Charlie Brown"

About Ozone Kite: kitesurfing and paragliding Ozone is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of kites and paragliders, created around a small but dedicated team of passionate riders and pilots. The Ozone team share the same outstanding passion for nature, exciting sports and progress.

“Our philosophy of riders building kites for riders, remains at the centre of everything we do. Our core mission is to improve our sport through technological innovation, intensive R&D and our enjoyment of the sports we love.”

Ozone Team R&D One thing we are most proud of is our dedicated and full time R&D team. Rob Whitall, Torrin Bright and Dominik Zimmermann can be found at locations all over the globe, testing on snow, land and water. Our designers aren’t just designers. They are also highly experienced test riders, top-level competitors and instructors. The amount of research and testing carried out by our skilled team each year is more than your average kite company. Every single Ozone kite design is an original concept and is the result of extensive research. Whether it’s a high performance kite or a school kite, our test riders understand the rider’s needs in every aspect of the sport.

Ozone Design software The Ozone design software OzCAD is totally unique and specially designed by our team, which includes aerodynamicists, engineers and fluid dynamics experts. OzCAD allows us to model innovative new profiles and designs with high efficiency and accuracy. Performance prediction models give us unparalleled insight, allowing us to advance designs quickly and effectively.

Our manufacturer facility We created Parapex, our manufacturing facility in Vietnam more than 10 years ago. We realized early on that we needed to be in control of every step of the manufacturing process; to ensure the quality and integrity of our products. The Ozone facility is state of the art, fully air conditioned, ventilated and exceptionally clean. All materials are stored at a constant temperature and humidity to

86

R&D

Behind the test "go fly a kite Charlie Brown"

ensure consistency in manufacturing. We communicate daily with our staff, to make sure every detail is taken care of in the best way possible..

Highest quality material. Without exceptions!

We choose the materials that go into each kite based on one factor alone: quality. Since 1999 we have carried out constant performance and longevity evaluations of every material available to us. Our current list of ingredients is a direct result of our on-going testing.

Each spec and weight of cloth is chosen to maximize suitability, durability and performance.

Industry and design innovations Since the beginning of our involvement with kites, Ozone has brought some of the most innovative kites to the market. The Frenzy was the first open foil kite with de-power and it revolutionized the future of foils. The C4 was the first bridled C kite and it took the market by storm.

The Uno was the first inflatable trainer. The Zephyr was the first light wind specific kite to come to market and the only 17m kite that actually worked.

The Edge took performance to another level; seven world titles is proof of this fact. The Reo popularized surf kites and is the benchmark in this category.

Today these innovations continue with the advent of a new era of performance foil kites with the Chrono and R1.

The Ozone feeling There are countless reasons to purchase an Ozone kite. We think the most important reason is the “Ozone feeling” that we strive to cultivate in each kite model we design. This feeling sets our kites apart from the competition. We invite you to try our kites for yourself. We believe you will feel the difference and enjoy the “Ozone feeling” that has made Ozone famous and unique around the world.

88 R&D

Behind the test "go fly a kite Charlie Brown"

Ozone Italy You can easily purchase an Ozone product in Italy from Ozone ltd, through our country manager Stefano Gigli who has an account to order kites directly from our factory with the innovative Just in Time system (a 10 year consolidated distribution method).

Just in Time Ordering System Ozone works in both the kiteboarding and paragliding market, with the so-called “Just in Time� ordering system. This actually means that every agent or authorised Ozone retailer can order any product (including spare parts up to 5 years old) of any model, size, colour and package. We do not have a minimum order quantity; a retailer can order even a single piece, a set of lines, or a kite, at any time during the day. This means that we can process the order within 12 hours, assign a serial number to your kite and send a production order to our facility factory in Vietnam. From the moment we receive an order it usually takes 5 working days to produce the kite, 3 working days to process all the relevant custom paper work, and 4 days to ship the kite (depending on the type of courier chosen by your retailer). Delays caused by the courier or custom problems, do not usually exceed 2 working days. The system is active on our entire line of kites and paragliders and allows us to export our products worldwide without having leftover stock. If, on the other hand, you want a specific colour or a customised kite we can do it, using the same exact ordering system. The only thing that can change is production timing (+ 7 working days) depending on how many requests we are handling at a specific time. If right now you would like to purchase a kite, not currently available at your retailer, you can be sure to have the kite in your hands within a maximum of 30 days with our Just in Time ordering system. This said, most of our retailers have a good stock of models, colours and sizes for the ongoing kitesurfing season. This method ensures a greater product quality and excellent post-sale customer care, as thanks to the serial number and invoice we can trace any order.

Welcome to the Ozone World!

90

SPOT Silvaplana - Swiss Surrealism

Silvaplana SW ISS SU RR E ALI S M

When you are driving to Lake

This is the best time to have a

when it is warm during the day

Silvaplana you have to go over

SUP warm up session. Like that

and cold in the night. So even

mountains and passes and it’s

you can discover the whole

though you need a long wetsuit,

hard to focus on the street being

lake, also the parts where you

at best a 5/4, you should not

distracted by the amazement of

are not supposed to kite later.

be cold cause the wind basical-

the landscape. The little rivers

So you should take the chance

ly only comes when its nice and

and the green grass look like in

and check out the south part of

sunny weather.

the fairy tales and one can’t get

the lake where the Maloja Pass

The best direction is southwest.

rid of the feeling that he is dri-

starts or you go up in the nor-

When it happens to be those

ving through a fake Disneyland

th part under a bridge paddling

conditions, which in swiss sum-

or adventure park. And then you

next to a little castle and a be-

mer (June-August) is quite often,

arrive at the spot – there it is:

autiful forest. But be aware to

you can add around 10 knots on

Lake

Surrounded

be back before the wind starts

the forecast you can find in win-

by huge mountains, which are

cause normally it kicks in quite

dfinder/windguru. Also, there is

majestically surveilling their tre-

suddenly between 11 am and

a very good webcam of the spot

asure, the lake lies there calm

1pm and you don’t wanna fight

so when you see people pum-

and turquoise awaiting the wind

against the nature here. The

ping their kites you better hurry

to arrive.

wind is thermic so it works best

cause it can be

Silvaplana.

text Jana Schader | photo Alberto Rondina e Jana Schader

92

SPOT Silvaplana - Swiss surrealism

really packed there on a windy

is on 1.815m so the wind is way

works perfectly for both sports

day. On the weekend it’s com-

thinner than on the seaside and

and should be respected. The-

mon to have more than 100 ki-

therefore has less power. With a

re are not many spots where

tes in the water but don’t worry,

12m to 14m you should always

kitesurfing is so well organized

there is space for everyone. The

be able to go or you rent a foil

and that’s probably the only re-

parking fee for your kites on the

at the local school and enjoy a

ason why it works without a lot

spot is 15 Swiss Franken though.

lightwind session. You can also

of accidents. You can check the

But if you wanna be alone you

go a bit downwind where the

plans that show where to enter

can ride over to the other bank

water is more flat and perfect

the water, where to leave it and

and kite all on your own in front

for a freestyle session. To go

where it is reserved for the land

of a huge waterfall.

too much upwind is not a good

teaching of the school. It kind

However make sure you take a

idea cause that’s the kingdom

of looks funny when you see

big enough kite cause one have

of the windsurfers and there is

all those kites lining up on the

to keep in mind that Silvaplana

kind of a strict borderline that

beach waiting to go out on the

water. But since everyone sticks

ted in it’s center, reachable for

the campingsite is providing

to the plan, the Swiss accuracy

everyone within some hours.

everything you can wish for it

works out pretty well. Also the-

The only way to reach it is by car

should be also the cheapest

re is not a lot of localism – the

though since the next airport is

option of accommodation. Of

Swiss people happen to be quite

in Zurich or Milano. But why not

course, Suisse is not known as

friendly even though there are

do a little city trip, rent a car and

the most affordable country in

several nations populating their

enjoy the natur at Silvaplana

Europe but if you live smart and

spot: German, Italian, French,

after a busy party or shopping

like a surfer which is to say cook

English, Belgian kitesurfers and

weekend in these European

your own food at the bonfire in-

a lot more. It’s nice to sit down

metropoles? Most of the people

stead of going out to expensive

with all these different people

who come here stay on the big

restaurants, it is definitely che-

in between the sessions, talking

camping site with their camper-

aper than a random “All inclu-

about the spots and countries

van in between the windsurfing

sive vacation trip” to one of the

they come from and dive in the

and the kitesurfing area con-

overcrowded common spots.

European kitesurfing scene.

necting these two sports, which

You can find everything you

On Silvaplana Europe is uni-

are actually so similar. Besides

need in the

94

SPOT Silvaplana - Swiss surrealism

town Silvaplana – there is a bakery with delicious Suisse cakes and bread, a small supermarket with fruits and veggies which are not too expensive. If you go for the famous Suisse cheese and milkproducts you might pay a bit more but the high quality is definitely worth it. In case you want to go shopping or need some more variety a 10 minutes trip to St. Mortiz, the town, known for being a skiing resort for the rich and famous, is a good idea, also in the summer.

On the other hand Maloja as a sweet little town in the south of the lake shows you how living a life deep down in the mountains of Switzerland would be like. So if you wanna spend an holiday in nature with family or friends and don’t wanna fly somewhere far away you should give it a try and let the Swiss wonderland fascinate you by it’s magic surrounding.

96

TECNIQUE Airstyle - Back to the origins

AIR STYLE Back to the origins

After years of Wakestyle riding and low-air

tricks, Airstyle has finally made a comeback...

jumping as high as possible and floating in the air for as long as you can, performing boards off whilst flying, and so much more. Airstyle

is really gaining ground and gathering lots of followers throughout the world.

Text Renato Casati | Photo Nicola Meotti

98

TECNIQUE Airstyle - Back to the origins

Everything started with Air-

Unfortunately one day all of this

Let’s think about it: 90% of rid-

style: at the very beginning this

changed and the more popular

ers are weekend riders… I am

is what kiteboarding was all

wakeboarding

replaced

saying this on the basis of what

about…

Airstyle, due to its greater tech-

I witness every weekend at the

In 2001 I had the chance of be-

nical difficulty (however I am not

lake. They work all week in the

ing a PKRA judge at the Fuerte-

sure how many contemporary

city and, if they are lucky, they

ventura stop. At that time Adam

athletes would be able to per-

can escape the concrete jungle

Koch, at Sotavento beach with

form 8 spins at 15 meter). Nev-

at the weekend to have a bit of

40 knots, performed 8 rota-

ertheless the height of jumps

fun. So the typical customer is

tions grabbing his board at an

decreased dramatically to make

around 40 years old and his/

incredible height. Flash Austin

space for very fast and, increas-

her maximum aspiration is to

was flying higher than seagulls

ingly technical, low-air manoeu-

go upwind, jump and perform

and Mark Shinn was starting to

vres. For sure young riders are

some rotations without hurting

take his board off at every jump,

more fascinated by this, but

himself. The main goal is try-

alternating figures at more than

young riders do not have the

ing to jump higher, especially

10 meters of height. Simone

money to buy new gear all the

higher than his kite buddy, so

Vannucci, the most stylish Ital-

time. TV channels have lost in-

to tease him on the beach after

ian rider, with strong winds,

terest in kiteboarding because

each session… This is what mo-

was shocking everyone by fly-

a 20mt simple jump is certain-

tivates riders, it is what makes

ing over the lines of the other

ly more spectacular than a 2mt

them dream and as a result,

competing riders… these were

complicated jump. Amateur rid-

they are eager to buy the most

the years of the first pioneers.

ers also like it less; tricks are so

performing kite each year.

The spectators were filling the

difficult to learn, that you risk to

side-lines, crying out with sur-

injure a shoulder or a knee at

prise at every jump. The Euros-

every attempt, unless you are

port channel used to broadcast

teenager or the elastic man…

a summary of the competition regularly and no one watching the images of those flying men, could have remained indifferent.

style

Thankfully companies have un-

Wave Style instead means surf-

board, rigorously strapless.

derstood this, and Airstyle has

ing wave after wave, ripping the

These are all sides of the same

finally made a comeback, also

lip and carving the bottom.

coin: each style has a precise

thanks to events like the Red

Freestyle stands for freedom of

market target and specific and

Bull King of the Air, the Red Bull

doing whatever comes to mind,

dedicated gear; but in the end

Megaloop Challenge and the Big

no stress and open mind.

they all share the love for train-

Air discipline inside the VKWC.

Wakestyle equates to air pass-

ing in the fresh air. This should

Companies have restarted pro-

es, powerful manoeuvres and

be the only motivating factor

ducing kites with greater lift and

pure aggressiveness.

of our sport: an advantage for

airtime. Boards off and big-air

Racing means racing along a

everyone.

(rigorously hooked-in) manoeu-

pre-established course, speed

vres, censored for a long time,

and tactics.

have also made a comeback in

Speed means trying to achieve

promotional videos and ads.

the maximum speed in special,

Air Style or Big Air are syno-

super flat spots.

nyms for flying, hangtime, var-

Strapless consists in realising

iability, show and style... strictly

tricks with a directional surf-

hooked in.

100 TECNIQUE Airstyle - Back to the origins

HOW TO BEGIN and progress

ent kite types designed for the

riders using 40mt lines. Without

rapidly.

different styles, and as such

going to extremes I can say that

Airstyle is quite straightforward:

with specific technical char-

27-33mt lines is probably the

you can start with your first low

acteristics. To start with your

ideal length. You can easily buy

jumps and progress quite rap-

first jumps, you can easily use

“extension lines kits” of 5-7 and

idly. I recommend everyone

a generic freeride kite, because

10 meters in most kite shops

who wants to start approach-

initially all you need to learn is

and quickly and simply attach

ing this discipline to purchase

mechanising the movements

them to your kite

Toby Braeuer’s DVD “Air Style

needed to jump. However, once

666 Tricks Strictly Hooked”, also

you feel confident and are

HANDLING BEING OVERPOW-

available on Vimeo. This DVD

ready to go higher, you should

ERED

can almost be considered the

purchase a dedicated kite with

To jump really high you need

bible of Air Style: it follows a

greater lift and hang-time. So if

to be overpowered, no doubt

specific logic of technical pro-

you really want to jump higher

about it! Obviously the better

gression, starting from the ba-

and go upwind more than your

you are at handling being over-

sis and evolving quickly, trick

buddy, you should throw away

powered, the greater hang-time

by trick. It is a very well organ-

your second hand wave kite,

you will be able to achieve. Re-

ised tutorial, useful for every

because it certainly has less up-

member that you should always

type of rider. I will not now go

wind capabilities compared to

approach it step by step, slowly

through the technicality of the

the Race kite which your buddy

progressing with experience at

jumps and different tricks which

purchased last week ;)

each session. You need to master the wind window perfect-

you can easily find in the DVD; nevertheless it is important to

LONGER LINES

ly, especially in the low zones,

consider other essential fac-

In recent years, the demands

keeping the kite as close as pos-

tors which could help a rider

of wave and wakestyle lovers

sible to the water during regular

approaching this new-old disci-

have reduced the standard line

riding, bringing it up only when

pline.

length of kites to 18-23 meter.

jumping.

As a result kites use a smaller

made by beginners is the inabil-

THE RIGHT KITE

wind window which means less

ity to handle overpowered con-

Nowadays there is a clear-cut

hypothetical power to use for

ditions. Remember that power

difference in performance be-

vertical jumps, so less height

is nothing without control: if you

tween kites. Each manufactur-

and hang-time. During hang-

are not able to hold the edge of

er has a catalogue with differ-

time competitions I have seen

the board for long enough you

The

main

mistake

will jump low and long, ending

RECORDING YOUR PERFOR-

TEST! AND THE WINNER IS...

up under the lines of the kites

MANCE (WOO-OOOOOO!)

We have therefore decided to

which could make relaunch dif-

If you want to challenge your

run a few tests with some of the

ficult. The more overpowered

friends, today there is a new

companies which excel in this

you are, the higher the proba-

and fantastic technological tool:

discipline, to check out which

bility to hurt yourself will be.

the WOO! It is a small Bluetooth

kites are best to achieve the

receiver which you can easily

“highest” performance…

SMALL BOARD

mount on your board. The WOO

We have compared different

If the kite pulls you a lot and

records throughout the entire

kite brands at parity of condi-

you want to reach high speeds,

session the height and hang-

tions (kite size, strength, wind

to go up as much as possible, a

time of every single jump. Once

direction, number of jumps and

small board is certainly needed.

out of the water, you can load

rider level), recording the best 5

You get to a point where the less

the data to your mobile phone

jumps with aid of the WOO for

you have under your feet, the

and check and compare the

each sessions. We have then

better! Nowadays small boards

best performance of the day

added up the results (height

in the range of 125x35cm or

amongst your friends. A simple,

and hang-time) and made a

120x32cm can sound a bit “un-

powerful, useful and revolution-

ranking… check out our com-

usual” because current boards

ary tool! You no longer need to

plete report in the next article.

tend to be longer and larger for

argue with your friends to find

various reasons: at the moment

out who’s been the best of the

In the meanwhile… you can

a 142x38cm board is probably

day. On top of this you can also

start training! ;-)

the most used size. Neverthe-

publish your results on the web

less a rider wanting to achieve

and compare them against local

great heights, should consid-

and even world riders.

er investing in a small and thin bidirectional board. A light and small board will be easier to handle during board offs and high air manoeuvres.

Renato “DrKite” Casati Technical expert RRD’s wave team rider. Kitesurfer since 2000, PKRA and KPWT athlete and judge. For the last 12 years he has been writing for several kiteboarding magazines. He currently lies second in the Airtime WOO leaderboard.

102

TEST Woo Hang Time Big Air Test

WOO HANG TIM Text and Photo Renato Casati

THE COMING ON THE MARKET OF THE WOO HAS GIVEN US THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COMPARATIVE TEST, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND PERFORMED BY A DEDICATED MAGAZINE; IN ORDER TO HELP OUR READER CHOOSING THE RIGHT KITE TO GO BIG WITH AIR STYLE. WE HAVE THEREFORE CONTACTED ALL KITE COMPANIES AND INVITED THEM TO SEND US ONE OR MORE KITES TO TEST THEIR PERFORMANCE IN TERMS OF LIFT AND HANG-TIME. BELOW THE RESULTS OF OUR TEST:

TEST’S FEATURES TEST DATE: 1st-15th Agust

LOCATION: North Sardegna RIDERS: RENATO CASATI, advanced rider, TESTER 1. weight Kg. 85

NANI BELLINI, intermediate rider, TESTER 2 . weight Kg. 70 MISURA KITE: 13-14 Mt. WIND: 11 - 22 knots

ME BIG AIR TEST We have decided to use two

Test 3: average wind 17-19 knots,

intensity as the first rider en-

riders of different level to ac-

maximum gust 21-22 knots

tered the water and stopped

commodate for different styles

We have not managed to per-

recording only once he perfor-

of jump and kite flying. It would

form the test with winds over

med a minimum of 6 complete

have been better if the two ri-

22 knots; so we cannot tell

jumps. At the end of the ses-

ders also had the same wei-

you whether the same kite in a

sion our beach marshal registe-

ght because a 15kg difference

smaller size and with stronger

red average wind intensity and

actually equates to 1mt diffe-

winds would have performed

maximum gust. The first rider

rence in terms of kite size.

better.

then handed the kite over to the second rider, and the same

We have tested the kites with TEST PROTOCOL:

routine began. The aim of the

enhance their differences in ter-

The test was performed with

experiment was to test the per-

ms of low end performance as

the aid of a beach marshal (Lo-

formance of the kite (with the

intended by the designer.

retta Muretti) responsible for

aid of the WOO) with two riders

Test 1: average wind 11-13 knots,

measuring wind intensity, with

of different level, in similar wind

maximum gust 15-16 knots

the aid of an anemometer si-

conditions, and in the shortest

Test 2: average wind 14-16 knots,

tuated at 2m above sea level.

possible time. If the average

maximum gust 17-19 knots

The anemometer recorded wind

wind intensity between the two

diverse

wind

conditions

to

104 TEST Woo Hang Time Big Air Test

JUMP HIGHT AVERAGE BASED ON THREE TESTS FOR EACH SINGLE KITE

performances was over 2 knots

sion for the three aforementio-

same board for all three wind

the test was cancelled and re-

ned wind conditions. We have

conditions and for both riders.

peated.

decided not to loop the kite

The board used was an RRD

At the end of each session we

when jumping to avoid falsi-

BLISS 38x142 (Photo A), very ef-

downloaded the data on our

fying the true performance of

ficient in terms of grip, even in

mobile phone and the three

the kite in terms of pure lift, wi-

overpowered conditions, than-

best jumps for each performan-

thout extending its natural du-

ks to its numerous deep bottom

ce were chosen. We have then

ration by looping the kite

channels.

drawn an average for each ses-

We have also decided to use the

RIDER 2 RIDER 1

OBSERVATIONS AND COMMEN-

Considerations:

both were quite impressed by

TS:

-The Sonic was the kite with the

the result. Note that the values

The objective data provided by

shortest lines (21m vs. 23-25m

of the FLYSURFER SONIC were

the WOO suggest that the FLY-

inflatable kites). Usually longer

higher for all kite sizes used.

SURFER SONIC has been the

lines should increase lift and

-The differences between the

kite with the best performan-

air-time due to the fact that you

two riders, in terms of lift and

ce by far, especially in terms of

use a larger wind window.

air-time, were lower with the

Air-time.

-Both riders have never used

Sonic than with the other infla-

a foil kite before, which is why

table kites used. This means

106

TEST Woo Hang Time Big Air Test

that even less experienced ri-

mend you check out the review

flatable kites (quicker and more

ders, could go to great heights

of the Flysurfer SONIC in our

stable when pulling powerful ki-

with this type of kite. Both ri-

next article.

teloops); then you should consi-

ders noticed that, compared to

To make a long story short, the

der buying a Naish Draft, North

inflatable kites, foil kites do not

choice of the ideal kite, greatly

Rebel, Cabrinha Velocity, RRD

need the rider to pop so aggres-

depends on what you want to

Obsession or JN Mr. Fantastic.

sively; this could greatly simpli-

do with it‌

If, on the other hand, your goal

fy the movements needed when

If your goal is pure Hang time

is looping the kite multiple times

loading a jump.

and Huge jumps without loo-

during a jump, we recommend

This said, we are talking about

ping the kite whilst in the air,

the North Rebel, RRD Obses-

a specific type of non-inflatable

certainly the Flysurfer Sonic is

sion Pro, JN Wild Thing, F-One

kite: the foil, which not everyo-

better than most L.E.I. kites out

Bandit or the Ignition from HQ.

ne likes; as they differ in terms

there, as long as you have un-

These kites performed lower in

of handling from the most po-

derstood the pros and cons of

terms of pure lift but they are

pular L.E.I. kites. If you want to

foil kites.

faster because they are more

learn more about the pros and

If you want to jump high, but

Wakestyle oriented. You can

cons of these kites, we recom-

you prefer the flexibility of in-

therefore prolong your hang-ti-

AIR TIME AVERAGE BASED ON THREE TESTS FOR EACH SINGLE KITE me by looping the kite during a jump multiple times, thanks to its greater speed and efficiency.

After all, this is what they are designed for.

In the end all that matters is to have fun with the right kite… the kite which closest meets your needs.

With this in mind we hope that our test has helped you to clarify your ideas on the right kite to buy, if you want to keep riding higher and higher.

"RRD’s wave team rider. Kitesurfer since 2000, PKRA and KPWT athlete and judge. For the last 12 years he has been writing for several kiteboarding magazines. He currently lies second in the Airtime WOO leaderboard.

RIDER 1

Renato Casati “Dr Kite”

RIDER 2

Have fun

108

TEST Woo Hang Time Big Air Test

JUMP HIGHT AND AIR TIME FOR EACH KITE

WOO HANG TIM JUMP HIGHT

RIDER 1

RIDER 2

RRD OBSESSION MKVII 13,5

ME BIG AIR TEST AIR TIME

RIDER 1

RIDER 2

110

TEST Woo Hang Time Big Air Test

JUMP HIGHT AND AIR TIME FOR EACH KITE JN MR. FANTASTIC 14

WOO HANG TIM JUMP HIGHT

RIDER 1

RIDER 2

RRD

HQ

OBSESSION PRO 13,5

IGNITION 14

ME BIG AIR TEST AIR TIME

RIDER 1

RIDER 2

112

TEST Woo, finally here!

WOO

FINALLY HERE!

Text: Renato Casati | Photo: Courtesy Woo Sports

We have spent years on the be-

Technically speaking the devi-

session, just repeat these two

ach arguing with our buddies

ce has a completely waterpro-

steps.

to find out who jumped higher

of 9-axis motion sensor, it is

When you’ve finished your ses-

or stayed longer in the air. We

shockproof and corrosion re-

sion, sync up your WOO via

have spent years judging Hang

sistant. It has an USB-cable to

Bluetooth with your phone and

Time competitions with the only

reload the battery even in the

download your session into the

aid of a stop-watch and a very

car. The battery will last about

WOO Kite App. The device is

watchful judge…

8 hours and takes about 90 mi-

compatible with iPhone, iPad,

From now on there are no more

nutes to charge it back to 100%.

iPod touch, iOS7 and higher,

excuses! Technology has finally

The WOO comes with a board

and Android.

made its entrance in the kiting

mount which can be attached

The fun thing is that you can

world of Big Air competitions!

to your board (after cleaning it

immediately share your session

Finally we have some objective

properly) and stuck with a 3M

report and join the kiteboarding

data to rely upon.

adhesive or screwed on if pre-

community of your home spot

The WOO is a small technolo-

ferred; where you can slide the

(if already present), if not just

gical device, practical and easy

device on and off as needed.

add your own and become the

to use, which measures the fol-

It is a simple and intuitive devi-

first King of the Air of your spot!

lowing data relating your kite

ce.

Add a session description, uplo-

session:

You have to turn on the device

ad a photo, and share it on Fa-

before your session by pressing

cebook or other social networ-

-Height

and holding the (only) button

king services.

-Airtime

until a light will blink green. To

The device is on the market for

-Number of jumps for each ses-

start recording, tap the button

199.99 Euros.

sion

again and the light will turn red,

You can also buy extra board

-Kite spot

indicating you’re ready to ride!

mounts for 19.99 Euros, very

To stop recording before a new

useful if you have more than

one board.

You can easily upgrade your software by visiting the manufacturer’s website at http://woosports.com/

REVIEW We have tested the Woo for 15 days.

The device is practical, very user-friendly, intuitive and easy to use. The adhesive supplied by the company is very strong, once applied it will never come

The WOO does not float so wa-

The APP is very simple, intuitive

off.

tch out! You have to carefully

and well organised.

The actual device instead does

insert the device in the mount

Data download is fast and ses-

not seem to be too sturdy, so I

and double check it is properly

sion reports are easy to under-

suggest you handle it with care.

inserted before launching your

stand.

Choose carefully where to ap-

kite. If the board mount gets

ply the device on your board. Do

damaged in anyway, you should

not mount it under the handle

immediately replace it.

because it could get in the way

We recommend you buy more

when transporting the board

than one mount if you have

or when performing one foot’s

more boards or in the case one

manoeuvres.

gets damaged.

114

TEST Woo, finally here!

Details: Â ACTIVITY (Photo 1) The first menu shows the results of the entire WOO community every day (visualise previous days by scrolling down on the menu). The downloaded data of every rider is shown in a chronological order and divided into individual sessions.

You can visualise the details simply by clicking on a single session. Here you can see the total number of jumps, session duration and the total height of every jump (Photo 2).

You can also follow the results of friends or athletes with whom you share a connection, by clicking on the following icon. Â MY WOO Use the second menu to connect your WOO with your mobile phone and download the data.

If your Bluetooth connection is switched off, the app will send you a reminder.

Once connected, the data of any new session is automatically downloaded by the app and your results will be shown.

You can then decide to publish your results (of a single or mul-

tiple heats) and join the com-

brag about how high you jump

munity.

with your friends… buy a WOO

You can also publish and link

and show it to them.

your sessions to various social

Try to beat your own record and

networking websites.

chase the best riders!

That’s in my opinion the se-

LEADERBOARD

cret appeal of the WOO… any

By accessing the leader-board

rider can compete against real

menu, you can check the hi-

champions, their friends or even

story of all performances recor-

better, against themselves!

ded so far.

Once again data is subdivided into Height (Photo 3) and Airtime (Photo 4), from the highest to the lowest performance. You could even find your name in front of riders like Aaron Hadlow or Alex Caizergues or simply check your performance against that of your friends. Once again you can visualise the details of every session simply by clicking on it (Photo 5).

SETTINGS In the settings menu you can update your account details, choose your unit of measurement and decide whether or not you want to receive push notifications of the people you have decided to follow, and log out from the app.

No more excuses!

From now on you cannot longer

116

AIRTIME (Super) Sonic! The (R) EVOLUTION, A record-breaking kite - WOOO!

(SUPER) SONIC! THE (R) EVOLUTION A record-breaking kite --- WOOO! text Renato Casati | photo Courtesy Flysurfer

I must admit… I have never re-

sure we could have navigated

you are launching it, so its pull

ally liked foils that much… I tri-

upwind all the way to the “Isola

is slow and very progressive.

ed several foils in the past but

Rossa” and back, I was not so

You can safely launch the kite

I never thought I could actually

convinced, but actually this is

in the middle of the power zone

kitesurf with one of these kites.

exactly what happened.

without risking your life. Never-

When I was asked to test the

I was quite amazed and a bit

theless Aldo explained that you

Sonic I was actually quite scep-

puzzled by this performance.

can launch them quite easily at

tical because of my past expe-

I never went so much upwind

the border of the wind window,

rience with similar kites.

with a L.E.I kite in such litt-

in a very similar way to L.E.I. ki-

Aldo Storelli, the Flysurfer’s Ita-

le wind. I immediately realised

tes.

lian distributor arrived at Bade-

that there is a huge difference

As soon as I went into the water

si’s beach on a hot July morning

between these two types of ki-

I realised that this kite has diffe-

with his bags full of Sonic FR

tes.

rent characteristics in the way it

(Full Race).

In the following days I had the

jumps, floats and goes upwind

The wind was around 7-9 knots,

chance to test this model in dif-

(the upwind angle was quite

so Aldo decided to set up an 11m

ferent wind conditions and this

amazing)! The main practical

for him (75kg rider) and a 15m

is what I found out.

difference is that in order to

for me (85kg rider). Once out of

I launched the kite in the power

jump you do not need to edge

the bag the kites were ready to

zone pulling on my front lines.

upwind as much as you would

fly… i.e. if I had an inflatable kite,

I am not used to launch a kite

do with a pump up kite (10 se-

I still would have been there pu-

in the middle of the power zone

conds vs. 40 seconds required

mping the thing!

as with inflatable kites usual-

by inflatables). This means that

I immediately liked its shape, it

ly this means smashing hard

in the same session you can

looked almost like a blade, long

against

however

actually perform many more

and super thin. I was not used

the launching was quite smo-

jumps, higher, and with a grea-

to this type of aerofoil. Aldo was

oth as the kite inflates slowly as

ter hang time. I found out that

something;

initially the Sonic had been de-

quite complicated.

be high enough to land in total

signed for racing competitions

With time I realised that when

tranquillity.

and that almost by accident

jumping you need to pull harder

I was riding with an 11m Sonic

they realised it was a great wing

on the bar, recalling the kite a

and was jumping higher and

for Hang Time and Big Air com-

lot sooner than I originally envi-

was going upwind a lot better

petitions too.

saged. However after 10 jumps

than riders with 14m pump ups‌

I crashed the kite during one of

I got pretty used to its timing.

Overall I felt less physically tired,

my first jumps because I was

The good thing is that I could

perhaps because the vertical

not used to the bar responsive-

close most tricks (4-5 rotations,

pull generated by the foil is gre-

ness which is slower compared

boards off and dead man) and

ater, hence the legs feel lighter

to the kites I am used to. This

land them with plenty of time

when riding. Perhaps because

said I was able to relaunch the

left. Usually with my pump up

of this, I decided to prolong my

kite really quickly by simply pul-

kite, I have to quickly perform

session ‘til sunset; I came out of

ling on the front lines. This said I

my tricks as otherwise I do not

the water exhausted but happy

realised later that if the kite fal-

have enough time to land. On

like a child with his new toy!

ls into the water in other posi-

the other hand with the Sonic I

The next day I decided to try ki-

tions, relaunch can actually be

could pull off any trick and still

teloops and downloops with

118

AIRTIME (Super) Sonic! The (R) EVOLUTION, A record-breaking kite - WOOO!

this kite. I was successful every

managed to end up second in

time but personally I believe

the Airtime world ranking (11, 4

they are too slow and generate

sec). To my astonishment I en-

way too much power in the end.

ded up in front of riders of the

You can easily kiteloop the kite

calibre of Aaron Hadlow (9, 5

during riding, but in my opinion

sec). I am 44 years old and thin-

not during jumps as the trajec-

king about this record makes

tory performed by the kite is so

me somewhat laugh, but that’s

much longer hence too power-

one of the good things about

ful, and it is very easy to crash

the Woo. We can all feel and be

or violently end up downwind.

champions for one day, compe-

Once my session was over I tri-

ting against pro-riders, friends

ed landing the Sonic like I would

or themselves.

have landed an inflatable kite,

During these tests I also reali-

however I was too slow and the

sed that the wind range of these

kite collapsed on itself (but wi-

kites is a lot wider than that of

thout pulling). Aldo told me that

pump ups. I therefore checked

I cannot keep this kite still for

the Flysurfer’s website and di-

too long at the edge of the wind

scovered the following data: 9m

window; so with this is mind I

Sonic has a range between 13

tried landing the kite by moving

and 42 knots, the 11m from 9 to

it quicker, and everything went

32 knots, the 15m from 7 to 25

according to plans. However I

knots and the 18m from 6 to 20

later discovered that you can

knots (E.D. 75kg rider).

also easily land your kite in the

Despite this huge range, I noti-

middle of the power zone by

ced that handing gusts at low

simply pulling the two relaunch

speed or during transitions is

balls on the lines.

not as comfortable as I had ini-

It was about time to test the

tially thought. Whilst it seems a

hang time and lift of this kite

lot easier at high speeds, than-

with the aid of the Woo‌ and

ks to its efficient depower.

guess what? My initial impres-

During the following days I en-

sion was confirmed.

couraged four of my friends to

In one of my attempts (E.D. I

try out this kite. Despite their

was seriously overpowered and

different levels, they all came

helped by quite a few gusts) I

out of the water with a big smi-

le, asking me for the distributor’s name. I understood this kite has a strong appeal for all level riders. The wind range was the feature that really intrigued my friends: some admitted they wanted to sell their quiver of inflatable kites to buy just one Sonic‌ In the past, no foil kite I tried gave me these type of vibrations; so I guess that these characteristics are prerogative of the Sonic and are not applicable to every foil kite out there. This type of kite has an edge over other foils, so I guess it could be considered a bridge between the world of L.E.I. and foils as it does not take too long to get used to it.

SUMMARY: ADVANTAGES of the Sonic compared to a standard L.E.I. kite: -Better upwind angle and speed (race competitions are usually won by foils) -Greater airtime and jumps height -Lighter feeling on the legs when riding, overall less tiring.

-When collapsing the kite flags out without powering up again in middle of the power zone.

-Wider wind range.

120

AIRTIME (Super) Sonic! The (R) EVOLUTION, A record-breaking kite - WOOO!

-More efficient low wind perfor-

- You need more space on the

mance (upwind/jumps)

beach to launch the kite directly

-Can be used on hard surfaces

downwind, the amount of bri-

with less breakage risk during

dles can make beach handling

touchdown (snowkiting/landki-

more complicated.

ting) CONCLUSION: DISADVANTAGES of the Sonic

The Flysurfer’s Sonic is a kite

compared to a standard L.E.I.

with amazing characteristics

kite:

which will astonish riders who

-Slower during change of di-

have always flown inflatable ki-

rection.

tes.

-Slow and too powerful kitelo-

It is not perhaps indicated for ri-

ops

ders who are into serious wave

-No rigid structure, difficult ma-

riding or kiteloop enthusiastic.

nagement of gusts, especially

For all other riders and styles

at low speed.

(basic freestyle, freeride, race and big air), we recommend you

ADVANTAGES OR DISADVANTA-

at least try it out! You will cer-

GES

tainly feel something different

WATER RELAUNCH

about this kite... and then deci-

+ Can be relaunched quicker

de whether you like this or not!

than pump ups with very little wind.

- The main disadvantage lies in the fact that if the kite sits in the water for too long (a few minutes), you might not be able to relaunch it at all and will have to swim back in.

LAUNCHING + You can easily launch the kite on your own by lifting it in the middle of the power zone.

Have Fun

KITE BEACH SCHOOL

LOUNGE BAR & RESTAUTANT A paradise for kitesurfers , an oasi in the desert Services available at the center : lessons for all levels | rental & storage | kids area | sunbeds area professional potographer | lounge bar & restaurant More info at: www.mitudjokiteschoolcaboverde.com - kiteschoolcaboverde@gmail.com

122 TIPS Handover of Kite / Kite-swap in air between two riders

Handover of Kite / Kite-swap in air between two riders

1

There are several ways of handing over a kite that’s already up in the air from one rider to another. Generally we distinguish between handing over the kite on land, in shallow waters and swimming.

By far the absolute safest method of swapping over a kite is to land and to re-launch it again through the new rider.

The following variations are options how to hand over a kite from one rider to another standing in shallow water. However these instructions can also be taken to do the swap whilst swimming in deeper waters.

2A

1. Preparation Pilot

Reciver

Depower the kite (Pic 1+ 1A+1B).

Open the chickendick and de-

Ensure that the kite either sits

tach the leash of the pilot. Con-

calmly right on the water surfa-

nect yourself through your lea-

ce or parks at the edge of the

sh with the kite (Pic 2A+2B).

wind window or up in the air in neutral position (12 o’clock).

3B

Once you’re happy with the kite’s position, give the green light to the other rider to start the swapping procedure.

6

1A

1B

2B

3A

4

5 Text Gabi Steindl www.kitegabi.com | Photo Axel Reese / reemedia.de / Liquid Eye

124 TIPS Handover of Kite / Kite-swap in air between two riders

2. Handover Pilot

Reciver

Still keep control over the kite.

Grip the top part of the chicken

Be alert, fully concentrated and

loop (where you find in most

pay high attention whilst han-

cases the quick release) firmly

ding over the kite.

from the outside. Unhook the

1

chickenloop from the pilot’s harness and hook it into yours (Pic 3A+3B).

3. Control Pilot

Reciver = new pilot

As soon as the receiver has fini-

Check and verify a proper con-

shed the swapping over-process

nection between the chickenlo-

and is ready to “take the wheel”

op and your harness hook.

(i.e. take control over the kite),

Place the chickendick (if appli-

the pilot takes his/her hands off

cable) accordingly (Pic 4). Now

the bar. Use clear verbal com-

depower the kite, slowly stir it

mandos and double-check and

up into the air, be safe and have

respectively re-confirm each of

fun (Pic 5+6).

2B

the steps with each other.

IMPORTANT: Many years of experience in teaching supports the above method as the safest for kite-swapping between riders “in-air” (i.e. as opposed to landing and re-launching respectively). A clear allocation of roles, actions and steps will ensure a sound and safe handover.

The pilot controls the kite whilst the receiver undertakes the swap.

PLEASE NOTE: Always only one rider has the hands on the bar at a time, never both!

4

1A

2A

3A

3B Safe & Happy Kite-Flying!

Gabi Steindl www.kitegabi.com

5 TIP: Speak to each other during the handover: give clear and explicit orders and reconfirm with each other the completion of each of the steps.

Plus: Secure each other by holding onto the back of the harness till the new Pilot is perfectly confident and fully in control.

Text Alberto Rondina | Photo Roberta Pala

Starting to unhook is like entering a new world, you are gonna see kiteboarding from a whole new perspective from now on!

Back in the day, 12 years ago, we only used to go hooked in, and when the first guys started to unhook again in 2002/2003, everybody was like, you must be so strong to go unhook, all the power of the kite in your arms, how can you do that?

When, we have to say that at that time everybody was going out really overpowered, it was the old school era, so big jumps, board offs, etc..

Now we don’t go out as powered anymore and also the kites are very different from that time, they depower more, they relaunch way easier, they handle the gusts way better and these are just a few reasons why going unhook is not that hard anymore‌and you should totally give it a go!

ALBERTO RONDINA

UNHOOKING

FREESTYLE TECH

126 FREESTYLE TECH Unhooking

Before going in the water, you need to double

bothering too much about the kite. The ideal is

check that your kite is trimmed the right way, by

to have the kite always in the same place, 45’ or

that I mean, if you have the kite at 12 o’clock on

slightly more up than that.

the beach, and you pull the bar all the way down (same as when you are unhooked) the kite has

Allright, we are in the water, we have good speed,

to stay in the same place. If its back stalling, it

the kite at 45’ or higher, we need to release the

means that your center lines are too long. So you

pressure of the kite from the chicken loop, so we

either have to make them shorter, or make the

put the board flat and we follow the kite just for

back line longer.

a moment, enough time to pull the bar down and

You need to have a leash, that’s really important!

let the chicken loop come out of the hook.

You can either attach the leash at the Security line, if you feel more safe at the beginning. Later

Yeah, you did, wasn’t that easy! Ok now the har-

you can attach it in “suicide mode” as some pe-

der part is hooking back in. So similar procedure,

ople say. So basically with the hook of the leash

board flat, follow the kite, pull the bar down and

you have to get the security line but also the chi-

hook back in.

cken loop.

Not to do: Where you keep your hands?

Try to unhook when fully edging against the wind.

Always in the middle of the bar, right next to the

You are not gonna be able to unhook.

depower. We always do this, and its really important you remember it everytime. This way, the kite

Go too much upwind when you are unhooked.

is not gonna move too much and we can focus

The kite is gonna pull too much.

on our body movement and unhooking without

Text Alberto Rondina | Photo Roberta Pala

Il The pop is the famous word that you hear all the time at the beach, or you read in the description of any board on the market.

The pop is a mix of movements that all work together to get you and your board out of the water without moving the kite.

ALBERTO RONDINA

POP

FREESTYLE TECH

128 FREESTYLE TECH Pop

I could talk about this for days, but at the end the

So start practicing this hooked-in first, so you can

key element of the pop are:

fully focus on your board and legs movement.

-Send the nose of the board against the wind.

When you are able to do this no problem, eyes

- Keep the front leg semi/straight.

closed, then you can start trying unhooked.

- Keep the back leg bended and only stretch it

Keep the kite higher then 45’ at the beginning,

when the board is coming out of the water.

this will make things way easier for you and also

- Push hard with the back leg to go as high as

in case of a crash you are not gonna land hard,

possible.

but gently. Always remember to keep the hands

In this movement, the board is bending a little bit,

in the middle of the bar, this is a key element to

so that’s why, having a board with more pop, me-

remember, if you don’t wanna have the kite mo-

ans that it goes back to its original shape fast, or

ving all over the wind window!

it “springs back” fast so that it pushes you more out of the water.

Welcome to the unhooked world!

Ciao, Alby

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