Kitesurfing Magazine - Spring 2019

STONG MIND, STRONG BODY:

THE SUM OF 5

2 0 19 FOIL T E STS

Entering the Green Room

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OFF THE TOP Keahi De Aboitiz on route to winning the final event of the GKA Kite-Surf World Tour at Point Danger in south- western Australia. Great way to celebrate his 26th birthday!

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ydwer van der Heide RIDER: Keahi De Aboitiz SPOT: Torquay, Australia

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OFF THE TOP Willow River Tonkin finds himself in the right place, at the right time during the Core Nexus shoot at One Eye. PHOTOGRAPHER: Thomas Burblies RIDER: Willow River Tonkin SPOT: Mauritius GEAR: Core Nexus kite and 5’8” Ripper 3 board

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OFF THE TOP You know you’re getting tucked in deep when the lines get tucked in too. Maui’s Olivia Jenkins with solid steeze.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Ydwer van der Heide RIDER: Olivia Jenkins SPOT: Indo

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FEATURES 50 / WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF Sam Light, Alex Fox and the Slingshot team set sail on the Wind Voyager to explore Union Island and the Grenadines.

58 / BLONDES IN INDO Jalou Langeree, Catharina Edin, Olivia Jenkins and Ydwer head to Indonesia to hunt for barrels.

68 / THE SUM OF FIVE IN EGYPT Pro riders Colleen Carroll, Hannah Whiteley, Mikaili Sol, Francesca Bagnoli and Paula Novotna set out on a sixteen day adventure in Egypt.

80 / DOLDRUMS: Rob Kidnie shakes free and checks out new cultures, new smells, and new fears.

Volume 5 // Issue 1 // No. 11

86 / WINGING IT 2019 Hydrofoil Surf Designs go Headto-Head with the Kitesurfing Magazine test team.

Hood River’s Fred Hope sessions the crystal waters of the Granadines. Be sure to check out the WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF feature on page 50.

Molelii photo

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UPFRONT 16 / OFF THE TOP 26 / EDITOR’S INTRO 30 / ON THE COVER 32 / STUFF WE LIKE 34 / REP 411: MIKE DUHAIME 36 / WHO’S THAT? XANDER RAITH

DEPARTMENTS 40 / SPOT CHECK: BEST PROGRESSION SURF BREAKS 44 / PARK CHECK: CHOCO LAKE, MEXICO

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Australia’s Rob Kidnie shakes off the doldrums and scores the trip off a lifetime. Anna Kuzmina photo

WE GOT MORE THAN HOT STUFF!

ONYX AMP THE PERFECT COMPOSITION OF STRETCH AND WARMTH

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S U R F I N G

E L E M E N T S

I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t look better in a bikini. Dave Marshall photo.

FIELD NOTES

The Year the World Changed This issue the Kitesurfing Magazine test team checks out surf foil boards. The team was keen to find out how these new shapes would perform in a freeride setting. After all, what could be better than having a foil that will work with your surfboard, your SUP and your kitesurfing set up? The smooth turning performance, ease-of-use, and super early planing make these foils a must-have addition to any aspiring kite foiler’s quiver. Be sure to check out the Kitesurfing Magazine test team’s foil reviews on page 86.

Also not to be missed in this issue are the two women’s trips: Blondes in Indo (page 58), and The Sum of 5 in Egypt (page 68). It’s pretty amazing to see how far kiteboarding has come in the last 20 years. These women rip! Since the early days of kiteboarding, women pro riders have held their own against the men (Cindy Mosey comes to mind), but what is really inspiring is the growing number of women ripping harder than ever before.... As an editor, it’s great to see women making up almost 50 per cent of this issue, not because it’s a woman’s issue (it’s not), but because they throw down. They’re not in the issue because they are wearing pretty bikinis, but because their riding is next level. It’s inspirational!

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I think the boys are going to have to step up their media game to maintain an even presence in social media and print.

Hopefully this issue inspires you, like it did me, to get on the water and step up my game. This issue’s travel features like the Wind Voyager trip on page 50, The Doldrums on page 80, and the two women’s trips has me dreaming of exploring parts unknown, and trying new tricks.

See you on the water, John Bryja

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MASTHEAD VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 1 / NUMBER 11 PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JOHN BRYJA ART DIRECTOR DAVE AMOS TEST EDITOR SHANE THOMPSON COPY EDITOR COLIN FIELD WEB DESIGN KAI HULSHOF & ERIC FEQUET CONTRIBUTING WRITERS LUCAS ARSENAULT, COLLEEN CARROLL, MIKE DUHAIME, CATHARINA EDIN, JULIEN FILLION, ALEX FOX, LAUREN HOLMAN, OLIVIA JENKINS, ROB KIDNIE, JALOU LANGEREE, SAM LIGHT, PAULA NOVOTNA, KEVIN WADE CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS LUCAS ARSENAULT, TOBY BROMWICH, THOMAS BURBLIES, ASHLON DURHAM, AXEL REESE, LAUREN HOLMAN, ANNA KUZMINA, DAVE MARSHAL, MOLELII, BOB STAWICKI, YDWER VAN DE HEIDE, KEVIN WADE

Kitesurfing Magazine is an independent publication published three times per year.

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C H I LV E R S | T I M W A L S H | K I T E C L A S H

Kitesurfing Magazine Inc. Copyright Kitesurfing Magazine 2019, All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any materials published in Kitesurfing Magazine is expressly forbidden without the written consent of the publisher.

Printed in Canada Disclaimer: The athletes and activities described andillustrated herein are performed by trained athletes and could result in serious bodily injury, including disability or death, do not attempt them without proper supervision,training and safety equipment. Kitesurfing Magazine Inc, and the publisher are not responsible for injuries sustained by readers or failure of equipment depicted or illustrated herein.

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ON THE COVER | ALEX FOX

PHOTOGRAPHER: MOLELII

LOCATION: THE GRENADINES, PETIT TABAC

“This shot was taken on the fourth day of our trip to the Grenadines off the coast of a tiny deserted island called Petit Tabac. It is without a doubt one of the most scenic backdrops in the Caribbean. It’s that classic, picturesque, deserted, white sandy beach lined with palm trees and water so clear that it glows. If you Google ‘kiteboarding paradise’ an image of Petit Tabac should be the very first image that comes up. The most popular claim to fame about this island is that it was featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Johnny Depp’s character Jack Sparrow was forced to walk the plank of his ship and ended up on this island with just a bottle of rum. I haven't fact checked that, but I guarantee if you ask someone about this island that will be the first remark that you hear.

We sessioned here for about three hours until the wind died, which isn't exactly the longest session when you are on a photo shoot. But this shoot was so productive because the location made it so easy. Its perfect shallow water was protected by a razor sharp, very alive barrier reef with steady sideshore wind. This was one of those sessions when you know you’re sunburnt and you should get off the water but you physically can’t remove yourself until the wind does it for you. We left this island shortly after this session and headed off to whatever the next stop on our itinerary was. But I remember leaving with the thought of Jack Sparrow being stranded there. Even though the movie was fictional, I don't know if I’d be too sad had I been dropped off there and stranded with just a bottle of rum and a kite.”—Alex Fox

THE UPSIDE DOWN IS AN ALTERNATE DIMENSION EXISTING IN PARALLEL TO THE HUMAN WORLD. 30 - KITESURFING MAGAZINE / VOL 5 / ISSUE 1

We designed the RSeries to deliver highest performance for a broad variety of weather conditions and riding styles. The kite adapts to anything you throw at it.

Peter Stiewe Team Eleveight Franz Schitzhofer VARY BAR

We paid special attention to keep the product design of CONTROL the CS Vary bar SERIES slick and functional while integrating new features, allowing the rider to fully concentrate on riding.

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SIZES: Small (42/50cm) / Large (47/55cm)

CS VARY FUNCTION

STUFF WE LIKE | 2019 KITES Slingshot RPM Sizes Tested (m): 9, 12 Sizes Available (m): 4.5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14 Control Bar: Compstick Review Synopsis: The same legendary RPM feel with solid drift and smooth, unhooked pull, revamped with more versatility from a kite that has more power and bigger boosting, and faster reacting performance.

The Good Stuff: The legendary RPM received some major design overhauls for 2019 that have expanded the kite’s wind range and enhanced its handling and jumping ability. The new RPM’s main design changes include a reduced open C canopy shape and a deeper more arced profile. The new bridle system called FlyLine, combines their IRS bridle with an older, single-pulley system.

The result is more power and crisper handling with a wider wind range.

The first and most noticeable is the added power of the RPM, which has been notoriously underpowered compared with the other freeride kites over the years. The test team riders were impressed by the improvement in low end power and power delivery. The RPM canopy shape features a lower aspect ratio and wide wingtips. It is a kite that sits back in the window so it still gets that nice slack line drift and pop for freestyle and park riding. Its smooth power and tight compact canopy shape keep the kite controlled through gusts. The RPM still has some of the smoothest and most consistent pull through the kite loop as its low aspect shape and wide tips generate smooth pull through the loop.

It definitely has more power and better lift and boost in the air but it still feels like the RPM at its core. This kite has always been a smooth pulling kite and is still ideal for having that nice, smooth controlled pull, while unhooked. Great kite for pushing the limits of unhooked freestyle. Now equipped with more low end power and some better hang time and lift, the new RPM also feels crisp and more reactive so it’s well equipped to offer those soft landings after big jumps. Many who have learned to love the feel of the legendary RPM should be excited about this kite.

The Trade Off: Still maybe a little shy of the overall wind range of some of the all-terrain freeride kites, but for those that want to use the added powered loop, handling and unhooked pull, the RPM is in a league of its own.

Best For: RPM is suited for a wider range of kiteboard styles and skill levels in 2019 with smooth power delivery, bigger boosting and crisper handling. It won’t hold back in unhooked freestyle, but can still boost and hang for those big air sessions.

Progressive Flow Sizes Tested (m): 11 Sizes Available (m): 11 Control Bar: Standard Review Synopsis: The Progressive Flow offers accessible freeride performance for the masses.

The Good Stuff: Progressive kite brand has had a great value-focused board line for many years that offers quality designs built using quality materials and now they have a kite to offer. Progressive Flow has some good flying characteristics to suit the recreational weekend warrior or value-focused young ripper.

The Flow is a four-line design that features a three-strut canopy which inflates with a single point inflation system. The Flow is a stable and light kite in the air and steering is predictable and direct. The bridle system provides some good depower and the wide wingtips keep the steering direct and reactive at high angles of attack. Great low end power and handling while fully sheeted, the Flow is good for foil sessions or light wind cruising with a big cruising twin or directional board. Test riders found the Flow had no issues with water relaunch and the low end power is easy to find with a large sweet spot. The Flow is an easy kite to set and forget and just enjoy some easy cruising. The Progressive Flow is a kite that you could learn with and take well into the intermediate levels of riding.

Trade Off: The canopy flutters a bit when aggressively looped and it feels better to ride this kite in the lower wind range.

Best For: For the beginner to intermediate level of rider looking for a simple kite to hit the water that grants easy to access performance and will handle a wide range of conditions and disciplines.

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STUFF WE LIKE | 2019 KITES Liquid Force NV V.9 Sizes Tested (m): 8,10 Sizes Available(m): 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13.5, 15 Control Bar: Mission Control Bar Review Synopsis: Simple performance with refined power and performance for unlimited ability in the park and freestyle, but with quick, reactive handling for any discipline.

The Good Stuff: The NV has been the workhorse of Liquid Force for most of a decade and the newest version brings it to the next level with smoother and more reactive handling and a more stable power band. The main changes include a slightly larger diameter leading edge and some tweaking and squaring off of the wingtips. The NV V.9 feels smooth and crisp with handling that not only excels in the park and unhooked freestyle but also has sweet boosting capability and nice smooth power generation through the quick and reactive turning. Good low end power too, with amazing ability to generate some extra pull by diving and turning the kite. No funky feedback from the back lines, just nice, smooth power and solid, smooth pull put the NV as top contender in the all terrain master class of kites. In light wind the NV works great with a large, light wind foil. It’s a very well balanced and light weight kite in the sky with the ability to pump some extra power with some dives and loops. The NV adapts to almost any discipline of riding. As riding styles change and kiteboarding adapts to new levels of riding, count on this NV to handle every condition and discipline. NV v.9 is a well tweaked engine with the right edge for the new age of freestyle performance.

Trade Off: More freestyle oriented of a kite than high depower oriented for waves but that’s why LF’s got the Wow. The NV is more equipped with smoother depower and control than ever.

Best For: Anyone who wants to drive their freestyle ability to new levels and have a kite that can handle everything with reliable power and control.

Eleveight RS Sizes Tested (m): 10 Sizes Available (m): 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Control Bar: CS Vary Bar Review Synopsis: The RS is playful and precise. Eleveight has got it dialed for well-rounded performance and sporty handling to reach into any level and disciplines.

The Good Stuff: The Eleveight breaks into its second year with solid performance across its kite line with some design refinements and the new X4 Teijin Ripstop canopy material. As the freeride crossover kite in the Eleveight lineup, the RS was well received last year by freeriders that like to boost big and have some playful hang time. The RS feels light, crisp and solid in the air with quick pivotal turning and direct steering. It has good low end power and has enough lightweight design features to let the RS excel in light air for some light wind foil sessions. The RS is also surprisingly easy to boost and offers great hang time. It rivalled some of the more dedicated big boosting kites. In the air the RS has easy to access power and offers smooth pull with a drawn out turn but can also turn quite quickly with a low pull pivot. This is a kite that can be flown aggressively and it rewards with solid manoeuvring and smooth flight.

The new features on the control system add to the overall finish and quality package that Eleveight offers for 2019. This kite has easy access and high end performance for a broad range of riders. With top-of-the-line materials and quality kite design and performance, the Eleveight RS is a great choice for the multi-disciplined freerider.

Trade Off: Not as great for unhooked freestlye, and maybe less low end than some of the other big boosting freeride kites.

Best For: The freeride lover that wants a good boosting kite, that’s reactive and quick to react to any scenario. The RS rivals some of the top all terrain kites that have become legends.

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REP 411 | MIKE DUHAIME Mike Duhaime foiling the Gorge. Stawiki Photo.

PROFILE NICKNAME: Mike D AGE: 33 WHAT DO YOU REP? Naish Kiteboarding WHERE IS HOME?: Hood River, OR BEST PART OF LIVING IN THE GORGE? Endless activities and endless rad people to teach you how to do it all.

FAVOURITE BOARD AND KITE: Naish Skater 5’2, Naish Pivot 9 meter Best kite memory: I’ve been fortunate to have epic sessions in places like Squamish, Cape Hatteras and the Virgin Islands, but I’d have to say an Oregon Coast downwinder with eight of my best friends and future wife takes the cake. We even got called in by military driving Humvee’s down the beach, told we caused a cease fire and had to vacate the area immediately. We convinced them our fastest exit was downwind and they let us pass. 25 miles of pumping headhigh waves and a great wind right back to beers and a hot tub on the beach. One friend snapped his directional, another had a kitemare and hitchhiked back, but it was tough to beat.

Worst moment: Finding myself with a deflated kite, shivering on Wells Island in the middle of the Columbia River trying to hike through to get to the other side so I could swim back to the Oregon side of the river. My 5/4 wetsuit was not doing the trick for a guy who had just moved from Florida and was new to cold water. The trees and bushes were too thick to get through so I had to back track and swim around the island. My friend decided to navigate around as well and offered to tow me across, 80 per cent there the kite Hindenburgs. My board slips, hits him in the back of the head and his outside line grazes a powerline that

36 - KITESURFING MAGAZINE / VOL 5 / ISSUE 1

was inches from folding over and giving him an elevator ride straight to electrocution.

Let’s just say I swam it in from there, only to find myself on train tracks and immediately jumping back in the water to dodge an incoming train that was making it clear with the loud horn it was not happy about me being there. I made it back to safe land and coincidentally ran into someone searching for a secret launch. I assured him that wasn’t the way and scored a ride back to the launch.

Kite heros? Andre Philip, Ben Wilson and my first instructor Phil “Big Air” Nelson.

Favourite riding spot: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; best of both flatwater and wave downwinders with ideal temps.

Favorite trick: Big air: still the fundamental reason why kiting is the best sport in the world.

Ride With: Jesse Richman, my wife, the Hood River community.

Dream hookup: Like person to hook up?

I’d say Richard Branson. It would be cool to hang with him on Necker and hear his stories about adventure and business and have him flying the Naish flag.

Breakfast spot: Anywhere that has coffee.

Bonus points for breakfast burritos, but I just need coffee to get going. The best is Dog River, in Hood River, Oregon.

Best lunch spot: Local Grind Island Style BBQ, Hood River Sand Bar, but an honorable mention for Waterman’s Bar and Grill at REAL Watersports.

Dinner: El Puerto de Angelas III, Hood River, aka Juniors, aka the Margarita Place, aka 3 Doors. My go-to? Pollo en Mole con una Grande Perfecta Margarita.

Best trip: Honeymoon to French Polynesia.

Foiling around Bora Bora while my wife was getting rescued (out of view) by a French police boat was pretty unforgettable.

Bucket list: Mauritius, of course. Cape Town second, Marshall Islands third. Oh and Namotu Island Fiji, Oh and Pacasmayo, Peru. I guess I have my work cut out for me.

Music: Either Hip hop/R&B like Drake and Khalid or acoustic like The Head and the Heart or Ben Harper.

What would surprise people most about you? I got my pilot’s license in high school and recently learned to paraglide.

Drink of choice: Old Fashioned.

Props to: Robby Naish for insipring so many people. I hear stories everyday about how Robby’s career and interactions at different events and locations inspired so many people into lifelong passions in watersports.

Last Words: Fun to reflect on these questions and remind myself I’ve got a dream job doing what I love in the best place to do it. See you on the water.

B A N D I T

T H E L E G E N D , B E T T E R A G A I N THE BEST “ONE QUIVER KITE” ON THE PLANET STILL GETS BETTER OVER THE YEARS. INCREDIBLE CONTROL IS COUPLED WITH A HANDLING EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR LEVEL

Photo: Matt Georges

OR DISCIPLINE, THE BANDIT IS THE KITE THAT DELIVERS.

Huge riding range

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WHO'S THAT? | XANDER RAITH Xander Raith sessions in front of the majestic Mount Hood in the Gorge. Bromwich photo.

AGE: 21 HOME: NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS SPONSORS: DUOTONE Heroes: Chad Otterstrom, Dave Redden, my friends and those who inspire me.

Music: Rap, rock, and live music. Listening to music live is an entirely different experience, especially when you know the artist.

Kite Video: The Bubble. If you haven’t watched it, you’re blowing it.

Favorite Riding Spot: At home on Nantucket. The crew is pretty small, but they are always motivated to get out and make the most of the conditions.

Favorite Trick: Nose press or front board.

Dream Hookup: Margot Robbie Dinner: Sushi Influences: Snowboarding, surfing, music, art, my friends.

Best Trip: Whistler, British Columbia last winter.

Bucket List: Surf trip to Indonesia, snowboard trip to Japan, buy a sailboat and sail it around the world.

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While you may not recognize his name, it’s likely one you won’t soon forget it. Hailing from Nantucket, Massachusetts, Xander practically grew up with a board in one hand and a camera in the other. A semi-pro snowboarder for market leader, Burton Snowboards, Xander has been riding in the park and sliding sideways as long as he can remember. But his aptitude for athletics doesn’t stop there: anytime he’s at home and it’s not blowing, you can find him chasing waves at one of his local breaks.

However, it was only recently that he really started turning heads in the kiteboarding world.

Soft spoken with a unique style on the water, Xander easily made friends amongst the Kite Park League crowd on his annual family trip with his dad to visit Real Watersports in the OBX this past spring.

Xander jumped at the opportunity to come out for the WCKA Junior Jam where he could earn a spot at the Hood Jam KPL event. Competing against 18 under-21-year-old

kiters, Xander went on to win the Junior Jam. He then competed alongside seasoned pros at this year’s Hood Jam where he made an impression executing tricks with a flare unto his own.

As the competition came to a close, Xander was frothing to kite more and changed his ticket to stay in Hood River, Oregon for the rest of the summer. He also had the chance to work on a project with Noè Font and Craig Cunningham. It was his first opportunity to ride and shoot with other kiters who were on the same page in terms of style of riding and focused on producing the same quality of content. For a long time, Xander has loved to shoot both video and photos to share his snowboarding exploits; now his goal is to do something similar in kiteboarding.

Keep an eye out for projects from Xander, both in front of and behind the camera as well as his hopeful KPL debut for the 2019 tour.­—Colleen Carrol

RESORT LIVING HAS ITS PRIVILEGES...

WATERFRONT ACCOMMODATIONS • RESTAURANT & LIVE MUSIC LESSONS & CAMPS • BREATHTAKING SUNSETS WATERMENSRETREAT.COM • (252) 987.6060 • CAPE HATTERAS, NORTH CAROLINA kitesurfingmag.com - 39

DESTINATION STATION | PROGRESSION WAVES Cape Hatteras offers a huge range of conditions from beginner to expert. Ashlon Durham photo.

From basic kite control and body drags, to Handlepasses and barrels the never ending progression in kiteboarding is the driving force behind the stoke that we share as kiters. It opens up a world of possibilities. No matter what your goals are in the sport, efficient progression will allow you to minimize frustration and maximize stoke! Taking advantage of good contitions is one of the keys to quick progress. In this series, I’ll be giving insight to my favourite locations for progression. —Kevin Wade

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Winter is coming! For many of us in North America, the winter season is synonymous with the arrival of swell. Many kiters aspire to shred in the surf and picking the right location will have you swallowing less water and throwing more spray! What makes a good wave progression spot for experienced kiters? If you’re fortunate enough to find a spot that ticks all of these boxes, you’ll have the perfect setup for success.

•Manageable shorebreak: This will make your entry and exit much easier.

•Sideshore conditions: Easier to focus on turns without fear of out running your kite.

•Manageable surf: No need to go too big too early!

•Consistent wind: A plus in any progression session.

•Downwind friendly: Downwinders are a great way to maximize wave count with minimal fatigue.

I’ve been to numerous wave spots that are great for kiting; all have their pros and cons, but here are a few that are better than most.

OUTER BANKS, NORTH CAROLINA Anyone who’s been to the Outer Banks can tell you that it’s a magical place. It’s pretty much made for kiteboarding .

The Outer banks is a barrier chain of islands located off the North Eastern coast of North Carolina. Its location makes it the wind and wave magnet of the East Coast. The abundance of shoreline make this a great place for downwinders.

There is tons of wind and if you don’t mind wearing a wetsuit, there is no off season.

Pros: Consistent wind, a variety of spots, downwind capital of the world, rideable in any wind direction.

Cons: Challenging shorebreak (in some areas) and the airport is 2-to-3 hours away.

Photo courtesy Pro Kite South Padre.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS I took my first trip to SPI last season and have been kicking myself for not going sooner! Great weather, tons of wind, great food and great people. South Padre Island is located off the southern tip of Texas, just a few miles from Mexico. Though it’s best known for flatwater conditions, the fall provides awesome surf conditions for progression.

Pros: Warm weather, close to the airport, consistent wind.

Cons: Limited wave season.

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DESTINATION STATION | CONT. COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA What better place to learn to ride waves than the birth place of the greatest surfer of all time!

Cocoa Beach is located on the central East Coast of Florida and is a great place for kiting.

It offers a great local kite community, solid surf and access to kiting in any wind direction. Just an hour outside of Orlando, it offers easy access by plane and a short drive to Disneyworld.

Pros: Warm weather, manageable shorebreak.

Cons: No wind in the summer.

Billy Bosch in Cocoa Beach. Wade photo

Kevin Wade selfie on Maui. Photo courtesy Eleveight Kites.

HAWAII A list of great wave spots wouldn’t be complete without Hawaii. This legendary chain of islands offers the largest variety of conditions I’ve ever experienced. Summer offers consistent winds and manageable surf, particularly on Maui.

Not to mention the fact that if the wind doesn’t blow for a day or two you’re still in Hawaii!

Pros: Great variety, solid wind in the summer.

Cons: Cost, travel distance.

No matter where you kite, time on the water is the most important thing. No waves at your home spot? Ride your directional on flatwater! Jibes, toeside transitions and many other wave riding fundamentals can all be improved in any conditions. If you stay safe, keep a positive attitude, and challenge yourself, you will succeed.

Kevin Wade is the the North American importer for Eleveight Kites.

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WORDS BY LUCAS ARSENAULT / PHOTOS BY LAUREN HOLMAN AND LUCAS ARSENAULT

Park riding is blowing up in the kiteboarding scene; things are progressing quickly in this relatively new segment of our sport. Many famous kitesurfing destinations around the world now have local parks or are working towards building features, making it more accessible and possible for the average kiteboarder to progress in this discipline. Lauren and I recently took a visit to the Baja Kite Park. It exceeded our expectations completely.

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Lucas Arsenault pressing out a Back Lip on the infamous Marlin Azul rail.

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Lucas sliding on the Mexican pipes.

To begin, let’s give credit were credit is due. One thing people need to realize about kite parks is that they don’t happen on their own. Rails and kickers don’t magically appear perfectly set up. These things take tons of work and motivation to bring together. Every park starts out with a group of individuals maintaining features and constantly working on making it perfect. The Baja park was created by a group of brothers wanting to progress and improve their winter kite destination. Not only did they build it from scratch, they funded these features and installed them for public use. So, huge thanks to them; Layne, Fritz and the crew.

According to them, this is only the beginning of what’s to come from this spot.

You can find the park in the south of La Ventana, Mexico. It’s in the middle of the desert, in

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what used to be called Choco Lake. Choco Lake, or the ‘Baja Park’ is a lagoon (puddle) next to the ocean simply large enough for a single rail hit or one trick per tack. You’ve probably seen videos online from this spot. It’s well known as a freestyle lagoon. The smooth wind comes in clean over the sandbanks creating a very good flatwater area. Totally ideal for park riding.

As of now, the park consists of three features: two rails and a kicker. Upwind has the kicker pointing left-foot-forward shooting you into the deepest part of the lagoon. The kicker is a smaller, beginner-friendly size. perfect for riders with not much or any kicker experience.

It’s easier for beginners to try their first hits and learn their first flat spins.

Next to the kicker, facing right-foot-forward is a solid rail.

At first sight, it looks slightly intimidating and maybe a little sketchy. A gap over sand is normally not something everyone wants to do. However, the boys did a killer job building and setting this feature up. The rail is an incline followed by a small gap over onto two large PVC pipes. The incline is very wide making it easier for beginner rail riders to hit. The gap is very small and pretty much as safe as it could possibly be. A straight 50/50 on at a moderate speed will get you over every time. This rail is also set up in a way to allow more experienced riders to be more daring and push bigger rail hits. On top of all this, almost every photo will turn out sick. Any gap makes things look way better!

The third feature way downwind in the lagoon is slightly more advanced. It’s facing left-foot-forward and

an ollie is required to get on. It’s a simple one pipe design that is 12 feet long. Super fun and suitable to step up your game.

All in, the Baja Kite Park is a must-do for park riders.

Especially the people trying to get more into it. We only spent a week here and really had a great opportunity to progress and get some new hits under our belts. This really opens up Baja as a kite destination. It’s literally possible to do every discipline of kiteboarding here and food is super cheap, why not go? Obviously entering the park is at your own risk, put a helmet on and take off your fins.

Hope everyone gets to enjoy it as much we did. Lauren and I will be back for sure!

Lauren Holman poking out a Roast Beef Grab over the “speed bump”.

Lauren with her favourite audience.

NEED TO KNOW BEST TIME OF YEAR: November to March for best use of the thermal winds.

WIND: In season, the daily thermal wind typically blows between 15-25 knots.

Lucas grabbing Melon.

WEATHER: The breeze can definitely be chilly, the dream combo was a long sleeve, short legs 3/2mm.

GETTING THERE: Le Paz International Airport (LAP). This is the closest airport to La Ventana around 45min drive.

Los Cabos International Airport (SJD). Approximately 2 hour drive to La Ventana but is generally cheaper to fly into Los Cabos.

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: Food + Drinks are very cheap.

Must order... Baja Fogs at the bars.

EVENTS: Baja Kite Park Showdown. Jan 11-13th 2019.

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Wind Voyager ready to set sail and explore Union Island, and the Grenadines.

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WORDS BY SAM LIGHT / PHOTO BY MOLELII

S L I N G S H OT X W I N D VOYAG E R I have always wanted to go to Union Island and the Grenadines. I have heard nothing but good things about the southern islands in the Caribbean chain, the most untouched, untraveled, raw Caribbean vibes. When I heard about the Slingshot shoot on the Wind Voyager boat I was so excited!

Google Map these co-ordinates, and see where we are!

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Sam Light adds a check mark to his bucket list.

We started the trip on Union Island at Frigate Rock which is an idyllic flatwater spot, perfect for mooring the boat and kitesurfing straight off the back. Turquoise water and white sand beaches scattered with palm trees make it hard to take a bad picture!

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Having spent a week on the boat in the Mediterranean last year I knew the Slingshot crew were going to be blown away. We have done plenty of shoots sleeping on blow up mattresses on a shoestring budget, but this trip is the ultimate kite shoot in my eyes. Boat trips are kind of like a van road trip but even better. It’s so good and easy because all the gear and crew are always on location, ready to go, at all times!

The boat was anchored in Union Island, a very small idyllic island south of the Grenadines, with a population of less than 3000. It’s a bit of a pain traveling to Union Island, which is what keeps special places so special. The best places are always the hardest to get to; if it was easy everybody would go. I flew direct from London to Barbados and then flew down to Union Island on a small eight-seater plane, there were only two people and myself on the plane down. I spotted our boat Cartouche from the plane flying in as it’s twice as big as all the other catamarans in the bay! After landing it was a quick ride on the tender out to Cartouche.

Let me explain in short just how cool Cartouche is, it’s a 95-foot catamaran. There is only a handful of catamarans in the world that big. It has four en suite double cabins, four crew at all times and an extra two crew members that help facilitate fun activities. Ian and Joel are coaches that learnt their craft at Real Watersports and they sure know how to have a good time and create seamless fun. They have just about every toy you could ever want on the boat. A jet surf board, diving gear, two seabobs (Google it), five foil boards, every Slingshot board and kite.

There is a jet ski that comes out of a garage at the back like something off James Bond!

There’s something wrong with you if you don’t have the time of your life on the boat!

We had a solid Slingshot team to make the most of the opportunity; starting with Karolina Winkowska, one of the greatest female shredders of all time. Fred Hope, foil wonderkid who’s carving his own path in the industry dancing on a foil. Patrick Wieland, filmer/drone pilot extraordinaire. Alex Fox, artist/brand manager and leader of this motley crew. Molelii, a photographer and myself, the veteran photo shoot guru!

It was a streamlined crew as there was only so much space on the boat.

We started the trip on Union Island at Frigate Rock which is an idyllic flatwater spot, perfect for mooring the boat and kitesurfing straight off the back. Turquoise water and white sand beaches scattered with palm trees make it hard to take a bad picture! We spent the first 24 hours here to bag some content. The wind was light for the first day but foiling has changed the game and we were all flying around on the new foil range in 10 knots. Only stopping off for refreshments and more sun screen while your kite flies off a cleat at the back of the boat.

Karolina even managed to get out on a twintip.

After the session we jumped straight in the hot tub to soak it all in! I don’t think any of us have ever experienced such luxury; the dinner table was already set with white gloves (to ensure no finger prints) and we sat and enjoyed fresh tuna steak and talked through the shot list and schedule for the week.

Pro rider, writer, and international man of mystery, Sam Light prepares for action.

Petit Tabac.

Sam Light and Fred Hope.

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Sam Light catching fish.

Riding for a photo shoot is very different to freeriding; we have a shot list and we grind it out until we have everything we need. There are so many variables to contend with so you can’t always stick to a fixed plan, you have to be able to adapt to the conditions to get the most out of every moment.

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Three-time women’s World Champion, Karolina Winkowska,

Unlike a lot of the Caribbean the wind in Union Island is strongest in the morning this time of year and the forecast looked good for a sunrise session. We set our alarms for 5 a.m. to catch that morning golden hour. We hammered out a load of product shots using the over/under port so you can see both above and below the water as it’s crystal clear! We knocked out loads of important shots until we stopped around 10 a.m. for an insane breakfast on the boat. We rehydrated and went for a cruisey GoPro foil session. After a late lunch we packed up the tender and headed into the beach at Frigate. The boys set up a long lens on the sticks and we went

about trying to land some cool tricks. It was a huge first day! We probably got more on the first day of shooting than we ever have before! After a hard day’s work of about six hours on the water it was time to get in the hot tub on the fly bridge and crack a well-earned beer!

Riding for a photo shoot is very different to freeriding; we have a shot list and we grind it out until we have everything we need. There are so many variables to contend with so you can’t always stick to a fixed plan, you have to be able to adapt to the conditions to get the most out of every moment.

People think we just have a jolly up during the shoot, but we

work our socks off all week; it’s the most physically demanding week of my year; waking up at 5 a.m. every day for the sunrise and spending all day on the water grinding the shots.

Your body falls apart, it doesn’t matter how much sun screen you put on, you’re still sunburnt as we are in the sun for at least ten hours a day. Don’t get me wrong, I am very grateful to do what I love for a living and have these opportunities to go to amazing places, but we work hard for it. It’s not like we’re smashing beers every night; we’re in bed by 8 p.m. Creating content motivates me as much as freeriding, getting a good shot of something simple is as

good as landing a trick you have never done before. It’s all about making the most of these opportunities!

That next morning we had another crack on the twintips before pulling anchor, hoisting the sails and heading to our next destination. Fred would not stop foiling so we left him out on the water and he kited alongside the boat as we sailed about 40 minutes to Petite Saint Vincent and the sandy island of Mopian. The wind was just enough to foil so we foiled our brains out all afternoon. Petite Saint Vincent is a tiny island with a posh hotel on it and a cracking beach bar. The wind dropped and our caption Angelo spoke kitesurfingmag.com

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Fred Hope frees his foil.

highly of the cocktails so we thought it would be rude not to go ashore and sample the local produce. I can concur the cocktails were great!

The next morning we sailed to Tobago Cays, one of the prettiest places in the Caribbean, if not the world! Tobago Cays is a small cluster of beautiful islands with crystal clear water and a nice big reef protecting the windward side. This makes it the perfect spot to anchor your boat in the sheltered area and explore the islands and reef. It is so breath taking, they filmed parts of Pirates of the Caribbean here. As you can imagine it’s a popular destination for charter boats, there was loads of boats but that made it really fun kiting amongst them as they looked on in awe, as our squad of foils weaved between the tall masts. We stayed here for a few days because there’s so much opportunity to get good shots. We spent an afternoon shooting over/under shots on the reef, and a morning shooting off one of the islands. We even managed to go snorkelling with turtles.

We had pretty much got everything on our shot list by this point, everything else was now a bonus. We had one last shot we talked about that would involve everyone on deck; the money shot of us kiting alongside the boat, under sail. It needed everything to line up without any hiccups.

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The media crew jumped in the tender for the crossing. Fox, Fred and myself launched off the boat and kited around while they hoisted the sails. Cartouche set sail on a broad reach towards Union Island. It was so cool kiting around the boat, but it was really hard and scary to kite in front of the boat, the wind shadow was so big your kite would fall out the sky, it took a team effort but we got the money shot! As we went past Palm Island we noticed some swell on the point. We pulled in, dropped anchor, jumped on the tender and spent a few hours tow-in foil surfing. It was a lot of fun and we all got some good waves, the icing on the cake!

That evening we continued on to Union Island for a cocktail on Happy Island. Happy Island is a bar built on the reef, less than 30 feet wide, built on conch shells next to the anchorage of Union Island and the kitesurfing spot.

When it gets windy the kitesurfers jump over the island as the onlooking sailers watch in awe. We spent the last days hoping to do some freestyle and jump over Happy Island but there wasn’t much wind, only enough to hydrofoil. Which just means we will have to come back and do it again next time!! What a trip!

THE CARTOUCHE Total weight of boat: 95 tons Total horsepower: 425 Total capacity of water tanks: 3000 liters Height of mast: 39 meters Length of boat: 95 feet Toys: Jet ski, 2 seabobs, jet surfboard, RPMs, SSTs, Rallys, Hydrofoils, surfboards, paddleboards, diving gear for all the guests, hot tub. What more do you need?

Cover boy Alex Fox.

ches scattered with palm trees make it hard to take a bad picture! We spent the first 24 hours here to bag some content. The wind was light for the first day but foiling has changed the game and we were all flying around on the new foil range in 10 knots. Only stopping off for refreshments and m

Wind Voyager.

Karolina Winkowska,

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PHOTOS BY YDWER WORDS BY JALOU LANGEREE, CATHARINA EDIN AND OLIVIA JENKINS

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THOUGHTS BEFORE THE TRIP “The competition season was good but a little frustrating as we barely had any good waves at the stops. All my hopes for good waves were with the KSWT in Mauritius but sadly it was cancelled. This opened up a window to travel to a place of my choosing. I had the urge to ride bigger and heavier waves. I considered different options. These included Madagascar, Mauritius, Fiji and some other unexplored spots. I then contacted Catharina Edin. Cat was wildly stoked to join the trip even though she did not know where we were going. She gave me her trust. I heard stories from friends about Indonesia being very windy and wavey during the end of summer season. I booked my flights and was anxious to start the trip!”

– Jalou Langeree “Many friends from my hometown had been to Indonesia and had raved about their first barrels kiting there. Barrels!? My mind started spinning and I could not get that word out of my head. Was I going to be able to get barrelled? Would I be ready? I became very excited.”

–Catharina Edin “It was the peak of summer and we had not had good wind and waves in Maui for a long time. I was scrolling the Surfline swell map and saw a big purple blob in the Indian Ocean. It looked like a great window for Indonesia. A couple of days later I was on Instagram and saw Jalou posted a story that she was in Indonesia and Catharina was on her way. I messaged Jalou instantly asking how the conditions were. I looked back at the Surfline map and in order to make it for the peak of the swell, I had to leave the following morning. I messaged Cat and she gave me every last detail about what flight to take and where to stay. I did not have any kites but luckily Sky Solbach was kind enough to lend me his. After spending the entire day trying to find the cheapest flight, I booked one at 6:30 p.m. I left the following morning at 7:00 a.m. 30 hours later, I made it to my destination a day before the swell hit.”–Olivia Jenkins “When Jalou approached me to join her with a couple of other people in Indonesia it wasn’t hard for me to say yes. A cool crew and some good conditions could end up in loads of sick content. After shooting the Air Games in Germany I didn’t even have time to unpack as I flew straight to Indo to meet up with the girls. They were there a couple of days earlier to get used to the conditions and dial in the wave.”–YDWER FIRST DAYS “It felt so good being back in Indonesia and knowing that waves were guaranteed. It was my fourth time visiting this unique spot. Life is simple and slow. It felt refreshing after hectic Europe. It was nice to have a moment to focus only on kiting day-in and day-out. The place has not changed much. The kite crowd has increased over the years (which I guess is hard to counteract). On the other hand, this gives you a reason to keep searching for new spots. It’s a spot that doesn’t hold many people so no need to visit.”–Jalou “The day after I arrived was when the swell peaked. I was pleasantly surprised; it was much larger than expected. The barreling wave that we had traveled to this location for was closing out in the channel. We hopped on our mopeds and drove five minutes down the coast to another spot. There were many surfers out paddling. Huge sets were rolling in and the wind was picking up. We drove back to our hostel and loaded up our large kites and boards onto the mopeds. Once we got back to the spot all the surfers were out of the water and it was time to pump up. It was a little light for the ten, but throughout the day the wind picked up a little. There were so many waves coming in that by the end of the session we were feeling more comfortable with the conditions. I was stoked to get some large set waves that got my adrenaline pumping. I was also so excited to see Cat and Jalou on large waves. I would always scream and cheer for them from the channel.”–Olivia “Early in the trip I kited some of my biggest waves of my life. There were so many people in the lineup but I was able to figure out the wave and get some good ones. Olivia told me to lineup with the orange water tower. The whole session I was looking for this item in the water but was frustrated that I couldn’t find it. After the session, I told her this and she told me it was on the land. We all cracked up laughing for so long.”

–Catharina

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“When I dream about the perfect left, this is the one.”—Jalou Langeree

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GETTING BARRELED “One of the spots is a notorious wave to get barreled with a kite. The guys in the photos and videos make it look so easy. It was not as easy at it looks. There were so many things to think about in congruence that made it difficult.

For example, the best time to kite this wave was at low tide. This was very daunting, as when trying to pull in, we also saw dry reef. It was also difficult dealing with the power of the kite. I found myself flying down the face of the wave with too much speed even after attempting to stall. This would cause me to be too far in front of the barreling wave. Positioning was key; it was very easy to find oneself too deep on this wave, especially with the ease of tacking upwind in one tack. Overall, it was a learning experience.”–Olivia “The goal of the trip was to kite the barreling wave as much as possible and to get a good cover-up. There was not a perfect barrel every wave throughout the day, so we didn’t get to practice as much as we had thought we would. It was so fun to be learning something new and pushing ourselves. It was all about finding the right spot for the barreling section.”–Jalou “After the big wave day, my confidence was over the moon while walking down to the beach. I thought, ‘okay, today I am going to get barreled.’ I then stopped and saw large set waves rolling in one after another. Some had large spitting barrels. I began to pump up but remained quiet. I thought about the videos I had been watching and the few tips I had received before going out.

At the start, I stayed on the shoulder and caught a few of the smaller waves. It was all so different from what I had imagined. My nerves started to calm down. I then thought, ‘alright, it’s time. Pull in... now.’ What a bad idea. I managed to pull in deep despite my lack of planning. I already knew that I was not going to make it out since I had closed my eyes in the middle of the ride. I felt the heavy wave on my head. I thought this is how it feels to get eaten alive. I arose to the surface and saw my kite down in the water. Before thinking twice, I released my kite.

Jalou helped me to the shore. She then told me that typically when the kite goes down on this wave, it gets pulled out into the channel. In the channel, it is not in the danger zone, and it is easy to relaunch. At first I felt disappointed and overwhelmed by the challenging conditions. I was also scared that this would be my one and only chance to get barreled and that I had just ruined it.

Luckily, my perspective changed the following days and I learned to accept the fact that this kind of wave was much different from the type of waves I was used to. This mindset helped me to continue trying again and again.”–Olivia “For me it was a new challenge as well. Although I had been shooting in the waves a lot and One Eye on Mauritius isn’t a particularly easy place to shoot, this was a bit of a different game. I had to find my position in the waves which was challenging as the wave was very inconsistent in size the first days. A slightly longer lens was my best bet as my position is less critical to get the shot. Along the days I got better and better in positioning myself. Also the girls got more confident and were pushing each other to start deeper and deeper to get barreled.”–YDWER “The waves dropped mid-week but another swell hit near the end of the trip. The waves were pinching off of the small days, making it difficult to get barreled. I still had not had a proper cover-up, but was determined. With the bigger waves, at the right tide there were large hollow barrels.

I launched my kite and tacked a couple of times upwind. For my first wave I went for a set wave and nose dove into the boil (a sort of large “bubble” on the water surface where the wave typically breaks). I flew down face first and went over the falls towards the shallow water. This was my worst wipeout of the trip. I felt like I had just been tumbled in a washing machine. I popped up, saw my kite was still flying, and body dragged into the channel. I saw blood dripping from my leg, but noticed it was only a small reef cut. My fins were completely scraped. A little shook up, I knew I had to try again.

Matchu followed beside me on another set wave, and told me where to sit and when to point down the line. I got my first proper barrel and made it out. It was at that point I realized that the days before I had not been in the right spot and had been timing it completely wrong.”–Olivia

“The goal of the trip was to kite the barreling wave as much as possible and to get a good cover-up. There was not a perfect barrel every wave throughout the day, so we didn’t get to practice as much as we had thought we would. It was so fun to be learning something new and pushing ourselves. It was all about finding the right spot for the barreling section.”–Jalou 62 - KITESURFING MAGAZINE / VOL 5 / ISSUE 1

Maui’s Olivia Jenkins adjusted quickly to the Indo conditions.

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“This Indo wave is for the one hit wonder slam, and barrel heaven.”—Jalou Langeree

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Olivia Jenkins with a solid backside hit.

Olivia Jenkins.

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GIRLS’ TRIP “It was so fun to have this experience with other females. We all definitely have our own styles and ways of learning and improving.

What really helped us improve was watching the videos and photos at night. It was so easy to see what needed to be adjusted. We would show each other the footage and give each other tips.”–Jalou “It was cool to see how the girls pushed each other and how they talked about getting barreled.

The vibe was different than with the guys. The level between the girls was very different. Jalou, having tons of riding experience, Olivia not thinking about fear and Catharina an amazing drive to get in there. The girls gave each other tips, talked about their fear and their goals.

It’s also not only about action during this trip. Lifestyle is an important part of what they want to show to the rest of the world. Eating delicious Indonesian food and meeting local people. It’s the whole experience that they want to share.

In the morning there is no wind, ideal moments for either surf session or a lifestyle shoot. During the lifestyle shoot I realized I’m on a trips with just girls. As soon as they start chatting they wouldn’t stop.

They were so caught up in their discussion that they completely forgot I was there waiting with the camera in my hand.”–YDWER All of us found that by the end of the week we had improved so much. We were starting to figure out all the components needed to ride this wave. It will definitely not be the last time that we will travel together. We are already talking about where we want to go for our next trip. We think that it is important for groups of girls to go on trips like these. We want to show women around the world that it is not just for men!

The girls had a lack of swell only once during their stay, which was great for exploring.

From Left: Jalou Langeree, Olivia Jenkins and Catharina Edin.

It’s also not only about action during this trip. Lifestyle is an important part of what they want to show to the rest of the world. Eating delicious Indonesian food and meeting local people. It’s the whole experience that they want to share.

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Hamata, Kite Village, Egypt.

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WORDS BY PAULA NOVOTNA It was our dream to make a girls’ trip for a few years already and this autumn it finally happened. Colleen Carroll put a lot of effort into making it happen and here we are. We chose Egypt as the final destination out of many. And why there?

It is beautiful, in this period it is windy every day and it was a place I thought we could be the most productive while at the same time enjoy time with the girls and relax between sessions.

The Sum of Five is made by five powerful women that are strong characters in the world of kiteboarding. We are the Duotone female power: Colleen Carroll, Hannah Whiteley, Mikaili Sol, Francesca Bagnoli and I (Paula Novotna).

We are all different, but there is something that connects all of us; first of all is the sport and the passion for the sport. Followed by the power and dedication to be on the top of the game when we need to. We are strong in our minds, capable of anything and of course we are amazing on the water; throwing down all the latest tricks and inspiring not only women out there.

The trip was planned in the second part of September and the plan was 16 days in Egypt in three different locations.

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Paula Novotna loving the freestyle conditions in front of 7Bft Kitehouse in Soma Bay.

Mika is like a little sister to her other teammates at only 14-years-old.

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Egypt is windy all year long, but there are months when the wind isn’t quite as consistent… We went in September, which is the high season, and we had wind every single day.

Set your alarm early and make it up for at least one sunrise, you won’t be disappointed.

Rider: Hannah Whitely.

SOMA BAY, KITE SAFARI WITH BIGDAYZ AND HAMATA We started the trip in Soma Bay, my favorite place. Not just because of the perfect kitesurfing but also because of the great hotels and kite center right at the spot. We stayed in the Breakers and thanks for the support of Soma Bay resort we also stayed a few days in the Kempinski Hotel. The kite school and kite center right at the spot is called 7bft Kite House. It has what you need when you want to kite all day long and relax between your sessions. Lovely people help you with everything, making your holiday, or in our case our video shoot, the most comfortable you could ever imagine.

Egypt is windy all year long, but there are months when the wind isn’t quite as consistent. If you want to go during the winter months of November, December, January, it’s best to wait until you can check the forecast and book last minute.

We went in September, which is the high season, and we had wind every single day. The wind differs depending on

the time of year and from my experience, the wind in the spring is the most steady - as you can get some really nice thermal winds. In the Autumn, the wind is mostly gusty because it comes as a frontal wind from the desert but you can still get many windy days per week.

Soma Bay is mostly windy in the morning. Everybody kites from very early and most of the days the wind drops around 2 or 3 p.m. On a very windy day, the wind can stay until sunset. Luckily, we had very good conditions and were fortunate with winds that blew until sundown most days. In addition to kiteboarding in Soma Bay, the hotels offer a lot of other activities including diving, snorkelling, musical performances and more.

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“This trip to Egypt far exceeded any expectations I had set. From the plethora of top notch freestyle locations to the luxury accommodations to the vibe amongst our entire crew, the Sum of Five trip was one of my best to date.”—Colleen Carroll

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Francesca Bagnoli tried riding rails for her first time with the encouragement of Colleen.

The girls take a break in between sessions at the Kite Village.

Francesca unwinds from her time on the water with some yoga.

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Paula Novotna over the Red Sea at sunrise.

KITE SAFARI FROM HURGAHADA After a few busy days spent in Soma Bay, we arranged to spend a week living aboard a large boat with my good friends who operate Kite Safaris under the name BigDayz. BigDayz organizes trips leaving from the new marina in Hurghada and sets up everything you need for a week of kitesurfing on lonely islands strewn about the Red Sea. It is a stunning, beautiful and amazing experience. It is perfect for people that just want to kite, eat, sleep and repeat, enjoying time either with your friends or with the people you meet on the boat.

When it’s not windy, you can also take a diving course with the BigDayz team. I would have loved to go diving but we had wind every single day all day long during our trip so we were constantly kiteboarding. However, we did go snorkelling one afternoon and it was just amazing. We were blown away by the beauty of the Red Sea. The water is very clear and you can see a variety of colorful corals and fishes.

I was super excited to spend one week with those girls on the BigDayz boat. And it turned out to be an experience I will never forget

KITE VILLAGE, HAMATA

Lovely people helping you with everything making your holiday or in our case our video shoot the most comfortable you could ever imagine.

The third location was Hamata. Hamata is located five hours south from Hurgahada by car. After a week on the boat, all the girls were craving sweet treats so we stopped by a supermarket on the way and we had just few minutes to choose some snacks. Everyone grabbed as much as they could carry so we were stocked for the road trip south. We arrived to Hamata very late at night and everybody was happy to fall asleep straight away. Awakening the next day, we realized we had arrived at a beautiful spot. The Kite Village Hotel and Kite Club is a very easy place to kite with side-onshore winds and amenities located right at the beach.

Offering lockers, a restaurant, showers and shade only steps from the launch, Kite Village has a very laid back feel that caters solely to kiteboarders. While we were excited to explore this new spot and especially keen to check out the uninhabited islands just offshore, a strange storm offshore disrupted the consistent winds so we all decided to go back to Soma Bay where the winds looked solid for our last couple days. Although it was a lot of hours traveling in the car, I am glad we went there and managed to have at least one day on the water, because I have always wanted to see this place.

The last days of the trip we spent back in Soma Bay. The first afternoon back, there was no wind so we went wakesurfing instead and it was so much fun. We took the foil out and while I love to foil with the kite, I’ve never tried it behind the boat. This made for some of the funniest crashes of my life.

Me personally, I am so in love with Soma Bay. Every time I come back they welcome me back with their motto, “welcome home,” which it now feels like to me. We had some beautiful sessions in that place and I can safely say this trip was a big success.

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Photographer Toby Bromwich freezes 14-yearold Mika Sol in action.

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Paula Novotna boosting for a crowd of onlookers.

Mika gets inverted in Soma Bay.

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Mika throwing down one of her signature tricks, an Indy KGB, at one of many remote flatwater spots during the trip.

The girls are all my very good friends but we have never spent that much time all together and the trip turned out super cool.

Girl gang cover photo.

Hannah and Mika.

SO WHAT TO SAY IN THE END? The girls are all my very good friends but we have never spent that much time all together and the trip turned out super cool. Colleen as the most mature, she is the one I admire the most. She handled the organization of all of this and made everything run very smooth.

I have been on many trips with Hannah, so being with her wasn’t any different for me. What I love about Hannah is she is always smiling and keeping the positive vibes on board. I love to spend time with her. With Francesca, it

is always a pleasure to kite and also do some yoga, because she is a yoga pro as well. She is the most flexible person I know. The youngest part of our team was Mikaili. Mika just recently joined Duotone Kiteboarding and also just became number one in freestyle and also big air. It is amazing to ride and train with her. She has learned some tricks that haven’t been landed yet by any female, so it surely pushes me forward to become even better. Mika just turned 14, so we were all taking care of her,

being her step-moms while being on the trip. Together we all had a lot of fun, having good times on the water as well as down time in between sessions.

I am super stoked to be part of the Duotone family for many years already and I am honored to be part of this trip. I love to ride together with my teammates and I hope we will manage to have many more of these trips together.

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Sumarta pipe.

Calm expectations with unpredictable results

WORDS BY ROB KIDNIE / PHOTOS BY ANNA KUZMINA

A wise man once said, “variety is the spice of life.” I think he also said, “a change is as good as a holiday.” A couple of mantras I try to live life by in order to not get bored and keep myself challenged. So it is with that in mind that whenever the travel bug bites (and it is quite often), it’s nice to go somewhere. Somewhere with new cultures, new smells and new fears to overcome. But most importantly, for a traveling wave kiter, new wind and wave combos. I’m not going to draw you a map to the exact location of this spot but if you’re keen enough you might be able to work it out from a few hints I’m going to give you. For now, lets just call it the Doldrums.

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I had heard about a wave kiting spot located in the Doldrums from a couple of my more adventurous friends, but a few things held me back from checking out this spot myself. One was that this spot is located very close to the equator or as sailors call it the Doldrums. This expression alludes to the maritime doldrums, a belt of calm and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships were often becalmed. I had been on paddle surfing trips in this area in past and the place definitely lived up to its name on that surf trip; no wind for the couple of weeks I was there. But my friends swore to me that at this new spot, just a few hundred kilometres away from where I had surfed, they were able to ride 7 meter and 9 meter kites most days. Another reason I wasn’t frothing at the bit to hit this place was it had also been ravaged by a tsunami, devastating the area and killing thousands of people approximately ten years earlier. The spot was also known for the local governance ruling the locals by Sharia law; where couples are jailed for kissing before marriage, thieves get their hands cut off and homosexuals get stoned.

I was later to learn that the Sharia law only came about after the tsunami because the locals thought that God was punishing them. Once I got my head around these stumbling blocks and got psyched up for an epic adventure, I had nothing to worry about. Well, not much anyway.

My girlfriend Anna and I flew out of Australia with way too much gear. Checking in four kites and four boards, camera stuff, spearfishing gear and personal effects totalling about 90 kilograms was stressful. Once we arrived at our destination it was time to organise a taxi with all our gear to the spot and our accommodation for the next couple of weeks. A painless trip with one stop allowed us to sip fresh green coconuts and munch down a couple fried rices with a half-cooked fried egg on top. Once we arrived at our family-run guest house we were a little in shock as just coming from Australia you get used to a certain level of quality and cleanliness. After a couple days you normally get used to most of the locals ways. The owner showed us to the back of the property where he had recently built some new rooms. It had air-conditioning, no hot water, a clean working sit down toilet and a sort of new-ish bed. After some brief negotiations we bargained our way down to the equivalent of $20, previously $50. This was not

high season and there were about half-a-dozen other empty hotels begging for customers. High season is Christmas time when this small coastal town is over run with European paddle surfers escaping the cold and searching for world class waves. This time of year is pretty empty with only a few adventurous wind junkies that are in the know.

The guest house was only a ten-minute walk from the beach but we rented a motorbike to help lug our gear around and explore the local area. Once our wheels were sorted we headed to the beach to get a feel of the layout of this coastal community. On the way there we were greeted with two signs that reminded me of the concerns I hand before leaving the safety of the first world; the first being written in the local language warning of the risk of tsunamis and the direction to run should the occasion arrive. The second wake up call being written in English obliviously directed at the few tourists that somehow manage to end up in this part of the world, instructing the women to cover up and not wear bikinis. These signs had us a little cautious. But as soon as we saw the trees moving from at least a good 15 knots of breeze and the salty smell of the ocean, the local signage was put to the back of our minds.

The beach set up was pretty cool with the wind coming from the left over a beginner-friendly lagoon that worked in all tides.

Anna absolutely loved this time in the Doldrums and was able to practice riding on a surfboard without straps for the first time. With our travels I normally drag her along to some pretty sketchy places where it is difficult for her to ride. So she was super stoked. Things were off to a good start. Happy wife happy life, ha. Out the back of the lagoon about 300 meters from the beach, a couple of wave riding set ups were to be had. Not perfect sideshore, a bit more side-on but definitely ripable especially when the wind pushed to 20 knots or above. The white sand beach surrounding the lagoon was a simple shack/restaurant to chill after a kite session serving a few basic local dishes and beverages.

No beers though, Sharia law remember, not that we are big drinkers anyway. This spot is where we spent 70 per cent of our time. But I was in search of something that would get the adrenalin pumping, something that might allow me to get a couple tubes if lucky.

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Australia’s Rob Kidnie shaking out the duldrums with a strapless air.

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Kidnie tucks into one of many fun ones.

Kidnie lip smacking with style!

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Every morning of the first week, after a dawn paddle surf we set off on our rented scooters to see what we could find. What we discovered was that the wind was located in only a small area with the lagoon being the epicentre. This kite spot in the Doldrums area was located at the end of a big-ish valley. The valley being four or five kilometerss wide where it meets the sea. Going away from the sea, the valley tapered down to one kilometer or so in width, like a giant funnel.

It must have been creating some sort of venturi, accelerating the light trade wind away from the beach towards the base of the funnel.

In our exploration we were able to find a few other kite-able spots. Not so beginner-friendly which was kind of my goal so that Anna would be forced to shoot photos (don’t tell her though). She is kind of over standing in the tropical sun and carrying a camera and tripod up and down low tide reefs. But with the promise of spoiling her once we get back to civilisation with multiple hours in the massage and beauty salon it was game on; let the shooting begin.

The spot we chose first was a beach break located in front of a big cliff. This spot we thought would be a good warm up. The waves broke at all tides over the sand bottom and wasn’t far from the lagoon. In the afternoon we would be getting more adventurous and hitting the outer reef at lower tide in search of some nuggetty barrels. One of the things about kiting in places like this is the locals kind of freak out with a white man pumping up and then flying around the ocean behind a big kite. But it was a weekday and it wasn’t too much of an issue.

I was also concerned they might steal our kite pump, thus being an end to the kiting trip if I couldn’t pump our kites. The break was super fun, a little sketchy the closer you got to the cliff.

We left on a good note with all the equipment intact and locals didn’t even steal our pump.

I guess they didn’t want to risk getting their hands cut off.

One of the others spots we found on the other side of the lagoon was also a beach break with a few rocks and big bits of concrete on the shoreline. It was quite a trippy place to kite because at one end where I pumped up was a

strange café where local couples have romantic dinner dates. The beach was decorated with colourful furniture and bright-coloured fabric flapping in the breeze. The café was closed the days we kited there so we didn’t have any issues with the locals spinning out about the white man with his kite. Also, as a bit of a juxtaposition was a huge cement factory and port about a kilometre-and-a-half away at the other end of the beach. Not really what you expect to see in a tropical paradise. I guess they needed it though after rebuilding from the tsunami. We didn’t really get any luck at this spot. The wind wasn’t so strong here, maybe due to its location on the edge of the valley and venturi not really so much. The surf it self was tricky because there was a strong current that swept down the beach the same direction as the wind. So every time you got on a wave you really had to test out the drift qualities of the kite.

this spot is located very close to the equator or as sailor’s call it the Doldrums.

This expression alludes to the maritime doldrums, a belt of calm and light winds north of the equator in which sailing ships were often becalmed.

My favorite spot was the outer reef break I had been eyeing since riding in front of the cliff. It took me quite a few days to get the courage to get out there because this place was pretty unforgiving. If you happened to drop your kite in a wave you could pretty much guarantee you weren’t going to see that kite again in one piece. I got my best session out there on an afternoon at mid tide going low, with wind on the lighter side having me just powered on my 11 meter. On the days when the wind was stronger the wave just got messy.

After tip-toeing across the reef to a depth where I could ride, I was able to ride a few waves to get the feel of it before the tide dropped too much. The mid tide was great for turns and getting my confidence up. But I had come here to get barrels if possible and as the tide dropped, lips started to come through. I took a few beatings that session, but kept the kite flying so everything worked out okay. Got a few nice cover ups and barrel visions as well, so was able to leave a happy boy. On the couple of days the wind was not really kite-able I was able to go spearfishing and bring back to the guest house a few nice local fish to share with staff. It was a great trip and I wish I wasn’t so paranoid and came to this place a few years earlier.

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WINGING IT! 2019 Hydrofoil Surf Designs Go Head-to-Head

BY SHANE THOMPSON The number of new foil models continues to expand with new shapes and improved construction technology refining and improving performance in 2019. There’s never been a better time to add a new foil set up to your quiver and set up yourself up for success this season. A lot of these new, large-winged, easy-cruising, high-lift foils can help enhance both your foil riding and overall kiteboarding experience. After three full seasons of having freeride foils on the market, a lot of kiteboarders have found themselves hovering on their newest wings for more sessions than on any other board. This is the third year the Kitesurfing Magazine team has put the latest freeride foils through the ringer and the smiles on our test team riders’ faces have never been bigger.

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2019 Hydrofoil Surf Designs The new foil models tested in this round include both kite-specific and more surf-orSUP-oriented designs, which also work great behind the kite. The light wind efficiency and easy cruising nature of these new designs make them easier to learn on and a lot of advanced riders use them because they are easier to pull off advanced transitions and carving manoeuvres. Essentially the larger wings of these set ups make them easier to carve and cruise around on as they generate extra lift in lighter winds and they stay on foil at much slower speeds. With a shorter 60 centimeter mast you don’t crash from as high a point and they can smoothly cruise in shallower areas of around four-to-five feet. Lots of new technology and better materials and refinements in shaping and wing hydrodynamics that have gone into improving many of this year’s foil models. If you’ve been stuck going back and forth on a smaller, more speed-oriented wing and are struggling with consistency on your transitions, the new surf style freeride foils can help you improve.

There are lots of options and within these are variations and differences in the feel and function of each set up. The only fully kite-dedicated foil of the test was the HI:RISE LIFT which is Cabrinha’s answer to no-hassle foiling. This is the only foil model Cabrinha offers and and it’s geared towards freeride cruising and ease of use for any skill level. The HI:RISE LIFT isn’t a massive wing but it fits in the trend towards a larger front wing that provides lots of lift and great stability at low speeds. It doesn’t foil up as quickly as some the larger surf foils but it is highly efficient and provides good stability. The HI:RISE LIFT cruises at speeds even slower than some of the larger winged surf foils but it keeps under control when kite power and pull increases.

The Liquid Force Impulse Foil was a ground breaker in the carving and easy cruising category last season and its performance still holds as one of the best for all around performance.

Paired with the Galaxy deck this set up was one of the most well-rounded cruising rides with access to more speed than the HI:RISE LIFT but greater amounts of lift and smooth glide through the carves. The Impulse has more moderate sized wings that have slightly more control and less lift at higher speeds than some of the jumbo wings tested this round.

On the other end of the spectrum you have the Progressive Tri Foil; a large winged foil that can be used for kite, windsurf or surf. It’s a simple design that follows Progessive’s value model and checks all the boxes of an easy cruising set up. The thicker size and larger surface area of the Tri Foil makes for a super stable and very low speed cruising board. It pops up quickly but quickly reaches full speed.

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The AK Surf and the Naish Thrust Surf are both more surf foils that have very similar wing shapes and were designed with lots of early lift and stability for carving on a wave. The AK Surf was one of the earliest lifting foils and has some of the tightest turns at super low speeds.

You can push speed into the AK with less lift by inverting the tail wing on the AK reducing the sensitivity for steering and stabilizing the AK at higher speeds.

The Naish Thrust Large also has quick and easy lift and has slightly more top end speed.

It has a longer fuselage which might help the Thrust with more glide through some smooth arcing turns. Lots of new tech in the Naish also set this one apart with the single bolt-on plate system called the Abracadabra. It makes mounting the foil on the board faster and easier. The other bonus of kiting with the Thrust Large is the easy adjusting tail wing. By angling the wing up or down you can adjust the amount of lift on the foil which is a bonus for different weight and speed preferences or kiting conditions.

Slingshot had two different wings in their completely modular Hover Glide system. The FKite Wing was designed last season and used primarily as a tight-turning and skatey surf wing.

It works so well with a kite that it’s now their recommended starter, and skill advancing kite foil set up. The Fkite wing is one of the easiest to carve tighter radius turns and responds quickly and intuitively to heel-to-toe input. This skatey, edge-to-edge feel seems more familiar to a surfboard and makes initiating turns and transitions easier than some of the more hard tracking and slower turning surf foils. It also has some nice even foot pressure while driving upwind with speed and it doesn’t get unruly if it gets some power and speed into it. Slingshot’s Infinity 76 was one of the wings in the test with the largest surface areas and had some of the smoothest carving as it carries its speed easily through the turns. Surprisingly quick and slippery upwind, this Infinity 76 has some sweet carving skills. The different wing shapes of the whole Slingshot lineup is a bit confusing but they definitely have some magic to it feel and performance. Equally at home behind a boat or on a wave, the Infinity 76 smooth riding and carving prowess will let it dabble with some swagger in every foil discipline.

So look for one of these great foil set ups to get into this amazing kite discipline or to help advance your underdeveloped foil skills with more control and carving ability at slower speeds. With the right set up you are guaranteed to increase your days on water and reinvigorate your stoke for kiteboarding in what were once considered marginal conditions.

AK SURF FOIL

PROGRESSIVE TRI FOIL

The AK Surf Foil from Airush Kiteboarding is an easy-cruising, high-lift design that’s ideal for learning more advanced carving and full foiling tacks and gybes. Its primary function is as a surf and SUP foil and it’s branded under AK, but it still fits in the completely modular Airush Foil system which includes three other kite wings. The AK Surf comes on a 60 centimeter aluminum mast but Airush offers four different mast sizes. The full carbon front wing has lots of surface area and produces a ton of lift with minimal speed. It was one of the quickest lifting set ups of the group and is ideal for light wind kite sessions. The test team riders found that learning tacks and gybes was made easier on the AK Surf Foil because of its smooth and easy lift and its ability to keep on a foil at a virtual snail’s pace. The AK Surf rolls and carves with great stability and you can make tight turns easily. It initiates turns intuitively and offers a stable and smooth cruising ride. The lift and stability can also be customized with the adjustable rear X wing. It can be angled for more lift or completely inverted for more stability and straight line cruising for kite or wake. Test team riders preferred the more responsive surf style position over the inverted more stable option. Quick to plane and highly efficient, the AK Surf Foil was one of the slowest cruisers of the group and also reached max speed a bit faster than the others. Any aspiring foiler that’s interested in a highly manoeuvrable, but slower cruising set up should consider the AK Surf.

This set up can get you on the water in the lightest of breezes and has the stability and handling to take your hovering skills to the next level.

The Progressive Tri Foil offers simplicity, easy set up and stable cruising for accessible foil riding performance across disciplines. The test team admired the easy assembly of the Tri Foil. Its components include carbon constructed tail and front wings on a beefy aluminum fuselage and 60 centimeter mast. The Tri Foil comes with the standard plate mount but can also be ordered with a Tuttle configuration for windsurf or larger SUP foiling. With the large surface area on both front and rear wings, combined with the thickness and highly efficient shape of the front wing, it’s no surprise that the Tri Foil has tons of early lift and hovers with ease and predictability at slower speeds. Test team riders were impressed with the Tri Foil set up and its solid and easy cruising feel. It has lots of easy lift with lots of stability through the turns with no surprises or quirky drawbacks.

The Tri Foil may not be as smooth riding or comfortable at faster speeds.

For any rider looking for an all around set up for kite, wake or surf, the Tri Foil checks all the boxes. Look to the Progressive Tri Foil for a great all around set up that can get you out into light winds behind the kite and help progress your foil riding skills quickly.

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CABRINHA CABRINHA HI:RISE LIFT The all new HI:RISE LIFT foil is Cabrinha’s answer to the progression of the easy-cruising, affordable and well-designed, high-lift foils of 2019. The test team was impressed with the easy assembly and overall finish of the new HI:RISE LIFT. The wings are durable and lighter than many of today’s larger winged foils and are built with a wood core that’s wrapped in composites and glass which keeps them stiff and light. Cabrinha also uses a lighter grade aluminum mast and fuselage system that features a water tight extrusion construction process for lighter weight and improved floatation. There are 40, 60 and 85 centimeter masts available for this system.

The HI:RISE LIFT was one of the few dedicated kiteboarding foils we had on the test and it checks all the boxes for a perfect progression foil. The larger wings and light weight wings of the HI:RISE LIFT feel light and agile under foot and help to push this foil up with very little effort. It also cruises

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at slow speeds and has a skatey and nimble feel to it. A shorter fuselage keeps thing compact and tightens the turn radius and pivot action of this foil. The main thing a rider notices when jumping on the HI:RISE LIFT is that it is not a speed-oriented ride and it foils up and tops out at speeds similar to the fastest of the larger surf foils. Its advantage is not breakneck speed but control, because even as the power gets heavier in the kite with more wind and/or higher speeds the HI:RISE LIFT keeps things under control. It won’t get overpowered like some of the large surf foils that can start to over levitate at times and require more front foot pressure at higher speeds to keep them in control. Overall, The Cabrinha HI:RISE LIFT is a great choice for new riders or any level rider that wants an easy-cruising kite foil for learning transitions and capitalizing on light winds or carving in the surf.

CABRINHA X BREED WAVE

CABRINHA DOUBLE AGENT

BOARD SIZE: 5’1” X 18” X 2.0”

BOARD SIZE: 145 X 58 CM

The X Breed is high performance in a modern freestyle wave board shape that Cabrinha has added a track system to so you can connect your foil.

The shape has a compact, twintip outline that combines a flatter rocker with more parallel rails. It’s a nice all around surf shape with lots of low end power and tight carving ability. For foiling the X Breed has a nicely balanced swing weight to it and its shape and size make it a comfortable platform for foil footwork. It was nice to have a shorter surf set up for this foil board and the dual function of the X Breed makes it an ideal board to travel with. This is the perfect set up for any rider that wants to have a nice performing and versatile surfboard for everyday waves that can also double as a foil deck. The X Breed works as a great all around wave shape and dynamite strapless freestyle shape with thruster set fin configuration. Nice bamboo construction keeps things durable and light and if you need straps there’s a center line set up for straps or foot hooks.

Back again this season, the Double Agent is a foil board that can also be ridden in skim board mode behind the kite. The deck comes with a nice, thick full EVA deck pad which is comfortable and provides nice grip under your feet. The thin narrow sandwich construction is both durable, fairly light and the board is a great size for traveling. The thinner deck make it easy to tip the rail into the water for strapless water starts but there’s not as much float for touch downs as some of the larger sandwich shapes.

The double agent has a little flip in the nose of the board which helps prevent it from pearling on touch downs when you come off a foil. In essence the Double Agent is great all around size that has just enough surface area for the beginner but is small enough to not get in your way as you progress to strapless freeriding. It also has a center line or three foot strap inserts so you can dial it in for some jumping or strapped cruising.

The Double Agent is also equipped with some small fins so you can pull it behind a boat or kite with it with some added grip for kiting or wakeboarding. A great set up to have for learning new foil skills with back up duty for skim and wake styles. kitesurfingmag.com

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SLINGSHOT HOVER GLIDE FSURF INFINITY

SLINSGHOT ALIEN AIR BOARD SIZE: 4’8” X 20”

The Slingshot foil program features an extensive number of wing shapes with different performance characteristics and applications that cross from surf to windsurf and SUP. The FSurf Infinity shows some great refinement in speed, stability and manoeuvrability. The test team was impressed with the next generation feel with smoother acceleration and more comfortable handling and most balanced foot pressure at higher speeds than some of the other large wings. This foil is a carving machine with smooth and powerful arcs and lots of silky control. The large surface area of this Infinity Foil guarantees you can get up in the lightest of winds with the smallest pull and pressure from your kite. Like all the surf wings, it’s best to ride with less power in your kite.

The amount of lift and smooth pumping action that the Infinity delivers is matched by smooth carving and surprisingly easy and quick speed. The Fsurf can be pushed to the limits for speed and still remains comfortable and controlled. Although not earmarked as a true kitesurf foil, the Infinity offers some magic for any riding arena whether you’re in the surf or wake or behind a kite. Slingshot also makes some slightly smaller wings than the Infinity 75 that have the same gull wing shape design that might be the ticket if you want something slightly smaller for kite foiling. Overall, the performance of the Infinity 76 shows some significant refinement and shows how foil designs keep getting more efficient, manoeuvrable and have a wider speed range than ever before.

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The Alien Air is a wider outlined and thicker shape with a more classic surf shape and flipped nose. Constructed with a foam core and glass wrap, the rails on the Alien Air are rounded and bevelled for easy release. This deck promotes faster skill development. With extra float and a wide nose, it can touch down and disperse lots of weight and handle the heavier touchdowns of the beginner. The Alien Air’s concave top deck keeps thing comfortable and gives you added balance over the foil. The thicker rails make it a bit harder for strapless starts and feels a bit larger strapless, but Slingshot has some great foot hooks which give you the grip of straps without the clunkiness and restrictions of a traditional foot strap. Any progressing rider should consider this board to get you going with less frustration and less down time. If you jump into a smaller board before your foil skills are developed you will spend more time in the water and less time learning to foil. The Alien Air is a great choice for foiling more and swimming around less.

SLINGSHOT CONVERTER

SLINGSHOT HOVER GLIDE FKITE

BOARD: 5’4” X 19” The Converter from Slingshot is designed as a dual purpose deck that can be used with your foil or as a regular surfboard.

Learning with a Converter board versus a dedicated foil deck has some trade-offs in that you don’t have as much float or width in the foot work areas. Once you’re dialled though, the system works great and the Converter provides a familiar feel underfoot and even dampens some reaction to the foil with the domed deck versus flat or concave. The Converter offers ideal performance as a regular surface riding board for crushing it in the waves or for freeride cruising. If you want to keep your board quiver to a minimum and have a reliable foil set up, the Converter is a great choice.

Slingshot has added some exciting new models to their extensive lineup of foils. The Hover Glide series has been a leader in the foil revolution over the past few years. They pioneered the modular set ups with the aluminum constructed mast and fuselage system that can be equipped with a series of different shaped front foil wings designed with different hovering and handling characteristics. Many of the different wing shapes can cross over into different foil disciplines from kite to wake, to surf and windsurf. The front and rear wings have a new carbon construction for 2019 that has a higher quality finish.

These larger surf and progression wings also have down turned winglets on the wingtips to reduce the chance of rider injury. The test team was set up with the Hover Glide Fkite on the Slingshot’s Converter deck in this round of testing and this turned out to provide a unique feel and set up. The FKite Space Skate wing is the most responsive wing from edge-to-edge, with more reactive heel-to-toe carving. It can really initiate turns and skate out of them with quick and tighter cornering at any speed. The tighter turn radius make it easier to learn tacks and gybes as the Space Skate lets you turn and complete the pivot faster than some of the larger surf wings. The Space Skate also jumps up on a foil very early, although the narrow Converter board is more difficult for strapless take offs.

The Slingshot foot hooks are a great option for this set up. The nice thing about the Fkite wing is that it doesn’t feel overpowered when you get up to speed like some surf foils.

Back and front foot pressure remain more constant even as the speed and power in the foil increase. The easy side-to-side carving and tighter turn radius let you practice transitions more easily and at slower speeds. Great set up for anyone looking to get into foil at low speeds with a focus on easy carving and skatey feel. kitesurfingmag.com

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NAISH THRUST SURF

NAISH HOVER 127 BOARD SIZE: 127 X 45.8 X 3.8 CM

The Naish Thrust Foil range are a system of foil set ups that can be used for kiteboarding, Surf, SUP and windsurf. The Naish Surf Large has the second largest surface area of wings in the Naish lineup. The shape of the wings remain unchanged from last season but with some upgrades to carbon construction that make them both lighter and stronger. The aluminum fuselage and mast system are completely modular and compatible with last year’s set up and the other Thrust Series wings. Test riders found it quick to plane, with smooth and predictable lift. The Thrust Large easily pumps onto foil with very minimal power from the kite. This set up was a favourite for its easy-cruising, stable turns. Its side-to-side carves are a bit more drawn and stable than some of the shorter fuselages and even slower carving foils of the group. The large surface area keeps the Naish on foil at very low speeds, but it still can get up to good speeds without maxing out as quickly as you might think with such a large foil. As it speeds up it does track harder and needs some additional front foot pressure to keep it down and in control, but it can be pushed remarkably hard and still feel comfortable. Like many of the larger wings they work better riding underpowered with smaller kites or in lighter winds. The Thrust tail can also be adjusted so if you do like cruising faster you can reduce the lift on the foil by angling the back wing down. The Thrust Large is a great choice for riders that want a light wind foil for carving into waves and learning full foil transitions. Great multisport foil that will work behind the boat or your kite, or in the waves with equal prowess.

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Naish has seven different foil decks to choose from in their Hover Series of boards and the 127 is the second-to-smallest and a sweet shape for the more advanced level riders.

Riding with a smaller board like this makes it easier for water starting without straps. The thin, and in this case, nicely rounded rail sinks into the water easily when the board is tipped on its side at take-off. The Hover 127 is a minimalist design that is constructed using a CNC, closed-cell foam core that’s wrapped in high tensile fiberglass and finished with a high gloss coat. Fairly lightweight and durable, this deck was one of the favorites of the group for its overall size, feel and compact shape. The deck is comfortable and the overall stiffness makes it nicely reactive to rider input. The ten-inch track system also lets any rider tune their foil mount position, for the preferred amount of lift and foot pressure.

The small amounts of flip in the nose reduce the chance of nose catches on touch downs when coming off a foil. Great for traveling with its small and thin design it won’t take up as much a space in your board bag.

LIQUID FORCE

LIQUID FORCE GALAXY

LIQUID FORCE IMPULSE FOIL

BOARD SIZE: 4’2” X 19”

The Impulse Foil rounds out some of the ground-breaking kite foil performance from Liquid Force. The carbon front wing has a middle-of-the-road size for overall surface area, and it sits on a 65 centimeter, aluminum mast and a light, carbon fuselage and wing construction. This gives the Impulse a great mix of lift and drive. Unchanged in shape for 2019, the Impulse was a leader for easy carving and smooth control at moderate speeds. It remains one of the top choices for a foil that can carve nicely at slow speeds but still feels comfortable when driving with more power and speed. The Impulse doesn’t have as much low end get-up-and-go as some of the jumbo surf foils in this test, but it doesn’t top out as quickly and will carry into higher winds with great comfort and control. The Impulse Foil is a great choice for any aspiring or advancing foil rider that likes to ride with a little more power and drive from the kite but still wants the easy cruising and easier carving ability of a surf style foil.

The Liquid Force Galaxy foil board is a deck you can both learn with and build on your kite foiling skills. You won’t outgrow it any time soon. It has all the key features you want in a foil deck including a full deck pad, volume where it’s needed, three or center line foot strap options, bottom shaping to help disperse water and thin enough rails for strapless water starts. Many of the larger volume, entry level foil decks can start to feel a bit big once you’re up and foiling. The Galaxy strikes the right balance between having enough float and surface area, but doesn’t frustrate lesser foil skills. It’s also compact and thin enough to feel comfortable for the more advanced riders. Liquid Force kept the same shape with the nice bevelled rails and comfortable deck pad with a concave top deck shape, but they lightened the construction without sacrificing durability for 2019.

The Galaxy is a great choice for any level rider and its track system will work with any plate-mounted foil.

kitesurfingmag.com

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