Kitesurfing Magazine - Summer 2015

DISPLAY UNTIL SEPT 30, 2015 // $8.99 //

CELEBRATING 10-YEARS OF TRIPLE-S // FOILBOARDING 101 STORY BEHIND THE FOIL FISH // 5 BEST FLATWATER DESTINATIONS ROAD TRIP: THE GORGE

Photos: F. Berthuot NaishKites NaishKiteBoarding

Predictable power development, direct bar feel and intuitive steering put riders in complete control, while the medium aspect ratio supports substantial low-end power for easy jumping, great upwind performance and that sought-after “sheet-in-and-go” feel.

Pivoting quickly and easily on a small axis of rotation—with minimal power increase

FREERIDE/WAVE

swell or anything in between.

SIZES

2016 NAISH PIVOT 5

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through turns—the 2016 Pivot is ideal for fine-tuning jumps, charging the next big

See why the Pivot turns heads. Get the full tech specs at NaishKites.com.

Get inspired! Download the wallpaper at: NaishKites.com/ThisIsYourMoment.

THIS IS YOUR MOMENT.

CARVE YOUR OWN PATH. Pacific Boardsports LLC . pbs@naishsails.com . (509) 493-0043

whatever the conditions seize the moment!

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THE NEW EVO sIzEs

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

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On the cover and this page Location: Hood River Sandbar Rider: Jesse Richman Photo: Richard Hallman Patience is defined as, "the act or power of calmly or contentedly waiting for something due or hoped for.” We say patience is a virtue; it’s the quality and power of suffering with fortitude. Patience is a hard quality to manage in everyday life, with all the distractions and hyper-speed lives we lead.

Now apply that to photography? There are so many photo sessions–whether it’s kiteboarding, climbing, surfing–where you are at the mercy of the weather, the conditions, the athlete. The best images are the result of pure patience, not just by the photographer, but patience from all the other players, including Mother Nature. I have seen sunsets and skies that leave my jaw dropped and think, “Wow, how cool would it be to have that sunset, but with some radical action playing in that surreal light?” This was one of those rare moments where everyone’s patience played out perfectly.

— Life is about wild moments in time that stand out more than the rest. One particular evening in Hood River, Oregon I had a fun session and got some cool shots with Richard Hallman.

The wind was dying for the night and I was ready to call it a day. I rode by and told Richard I was done, but he gave me a look that I couldn’t argue with. He asked me to stay out because he could feel the moment was coming; the sun was going down and it was going to happen. I wanted to go in but decided to trust him and stay out. Twenty minutes later the sky lit on fire and the wind came back. This moment was unlike any other I have ever seen. We got this shot because of a funny feeling he had. —Jesse Richman

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Rider: Andre Phillip Photographer: Vincent Bergeron Location: Northern Brazil, Barra Grande This was my first trip to Northern Brazil. Barra Grande to be exact. I was blown away with the beauty of the desert landscape. We drove up the coast through sand dunes, up the beaches, catching ferries and barges to get to our destination. The desert heats up every day and this creates a thermal acceleration which results in an endless supply of strong winds. I was on my small kites every day. This particular session I was lit on my 6 meter RPM kite. The whole Slingshot team was shredding inside of the flatwater lagoon in Barra Grande. —Andre Phillip Feel like you have seen this photo before? It was on the cover of our media kit, and www.facebook.com/kitesurfing.magazine

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Photo: Lance Koudele Rider: Craig Cunningham Location: 2015 Triple-S, Cape Hatteras, NC The progression in park at Triple-S has been going through the roof in the last few years with everybody scrambling to keep up with each other. Lots of riders (myself included) are spending a lot of time riding cable and transferring our skills over into kiteboarding. The crossover between the two sports is creating a buzz for each year at the Triple-S. Cable is fun and more consistent for sure, but those perfect sessions on a kite with the park out are what it’s all about for me!­—Craig Cunningham

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The king of East Coast strapless action, Reider Decker looking very much at home in Cape Town, South Africa. Check out his gear on page 34. Ydwer photo

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Patrick Rebstock goes large in The Gorge. Planning a road trip to this kiteboarding Mecca? Check out this issue’s Road Trip on page 44.

Richard Hallman photo

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Pro rider Brandon Scheid going toe-side and doing his best to look just like John Bryja on a foil. Prudky photo

here we are. The first issue of Kitesurfing Magazine. After 15 years wearing a corporate SBC Media hat as editor of SBC Kiteboard magazine, I am both proud and excited to introduce the completely new and independent Kitesurfing Magazine.

The team we have is one of the best in the business. Our gear test editor Shane Thompson has been riding and reviewing gear with me for more than a decade. We’ll be working with an experienced team of testers to bring you the most detailed and in-depth gear reviews available. The new release reviews in this issue are just a taste of the more in-depth, head-to-head comparisons we have planned for future issues. The test team won’t be afraid to tell you what works, and more importantly what doesn’t work in each design.

Equipment is an important part of our sport, and being on the right gear makes a difference. The team at the magazine is committed to becoming your number one source for new gear information.

The beauty of print is why people still love reading magazines. I couldn’t be happier with the look of the new Kitesurfing Magazine.

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Chris Jackson has been involved in the marketing departments at both Naish and Cabrinha. She gets kitesurfing, and is an outstanding graphic designer. She brings to life the stories and images from the sport’s top riders and photographers. We think she’s designed one of the best looking kitesurfing magazines available.

Kitesurfing Magazine’s inaugural issue is launching at an exciting time in the sport’s development. Hydrofoils are exploding onto kitesurfing’s recreational scene. Their light-wind prowess and unique powder-like riding characteristics are reinvigorating an entire generation of riders. Many experienced kiteboarders are enjoying the excitement that can only come from learning a new sport all over again. It’s ironic, that as this new magazine launches, the industry and many kiters (myself included), feel like the giddy beginners we were more than 15 years ago.

John Bryja Editor-in-Chief

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VOLUME 1 // ISSUE 1 // NUMBER 1 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief John Bryja Art Director Chris Jackson Test Editor Shane Thompson Copy Editor Colin Field Web Design Kai Holsof & Eric Fequet Contributing Writers: Matt Aiken, Sam Bell, Davey Blair, Colleen Carroll, Joby Cook, Craig Cunningham, Reider Decker, Julien Fillion, Damien LeRoy, Hope LeVin, Billy Parker, Andre Phillip, Zachary Marks, Clark Merritt, Dave Nunn, Matt Nuzzo, Eric Reinstra, Brandon Scheid, Gary Siskar, Jason Slezak, Grace Archie Syme, Brian Wheeler Contributing Photographers: Toby Bromwich, Quincy Dein, Bryan Elkus, Richard Hallman, Lance Koudele, Damien LeRoy, Dave Marshall, Clark Merritt, Mark Moore, Evan Netch, Lucas Prudky, Patrick Rynne, Brandon Scheid, Grace Archie Syme, Ydwer Van Der Heide, Stephen Whitesell Kitesurfing Magazine is an independent publication published four times per year.

—Test Issue, Spring, Summer, and Fall —

by Kitesurfing Magazine Inc. PO Box 15, Leith, ON, N0H 1V0 Phone: (519) 370-2334 Email: info@kitesurfingmag.com Website: kitesurfingmag.com SUBSCRIPTIONS 1 Year - 4 Issues $34.95 Phone: (519) 370-2334 Email: info@kitesurfingmag.com kitesurfingmag.com ISSN 2369-3568 Change of Address USPS See Page 96 Kitesurfing Magazine Inc. © Copyright Kitesurfing Magazine 2015, 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 and illustrated 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.

Andre Phillip signing posters at the 2015 Venyu Triple-S. Koudele photo

QUOTE OF THE ISSUE “It was all a blur with the parties and non-stop riding. The strongest memory was seeing Triple-S in its infancy. It was just an excuse for a bunch of solid riders to come together and shred. No money on the line, no heats, just bragging rights and the opportunity to feed off your peers and have that naturally push your limits. We did it for the love.” —Andre Phillip

VENYU TRIPLE-S INVITATIONAL BY THE NUMBERS

Davey Blair’s Mix Tape 6 SONGS ON “CHUCKTOWN’S” TRIPLE-S PLAY LIST

Dub Island Sound System - Paddle Paddle Outkast - Rosa Parks Sublime- Bad Fish Kabaka Pyramid - Rebel Music Future Fambo - Rum and Redbull Urban Photograph - Urban Cone 24

# of features: 5 Dollar value of the slider park: $125,000 Permits: $12,500 Boat Basin: $300,000 Features destroyed in 10 years: 22 Photos taken by Toby Bromwich: 10,300 Video Footage: 324.8 gigs Goslings Dark n Stormys: 416 Carolina Brewery drafts including the world famous Triple-S Lager: 2826 Fajitas: 185 Watermen’s Bar & Grill Total Meals: 2524 Coffee: 456

T-Shirts: 471 Hats: 240 REAL man-hours to host event: 4000 Trip’s cell phone minutes: 12,000 Trip’s texts per month: 1000

TURNING

SPEED

BAR PRESSURE

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Stuff we like

WOO $200 This past year in Cape Town, Woo Sports launched their motion sensor and smart phone app. With the King of the Air going on, every rider wanted to use this tool. It’s always tough to determine how high you are actually jumping. The on-going debate of 20 meter lines versus 22 meter or 24 meter lines was easily sorted out by the Woo stats. Bridle kites versus C kites was also another question on the table. I was able to get some of my personal highest jumps on a 7 meter Best GP with 22 meter lines in 35 knots.

Not only is it fun to use the Woo to see how high you’re jumping and log jumps with friends, but it’s also a helpful tool when competing in an event such as the King of the Air. —Sam Medysky, Best Team Rider woosports.com

CORE PUMP 2.0 $59 SURF LOCK $37.99 Have you ever worried your secret keyhiding spot in the gas cap or left suspension coil might not be the best place to stash your keys? We were pretty stoked to stumble upon one of these handy exterior key locks distributed by HQ Power Kites.

The four-digit programable combo lock lets you custom pick a number you are not likely to forget. Worry-free time on the water is one combo lock away. What was that number again? —John Bryja, Editor hq-kites-usa.com

With most brands now employing a larger diameter inflation valve and with a trend to bladders that require more PSI with narrower leading edges, Core brings to market a new super teched-out, dual-action pump. The Core Pump 2.0 works with most brands’ inflation systems even though the Core Kite inflation valve, conveniently connects to the hose end itself. Brilliantly eliminating the need for a nozzle. Luckily the 2.0 comes with an assortment of common attachments used by other brands. We used the 2.0 on a few different brands and it worked great. The rubber handles on 2.0 are comfortable and the pump action is very smooth and solid. Having a good pump is the first step to a good kite session. The Core Pump 2.0 will get you the right amount of pressure with good efficiency, less effort and no guessing.

—Shane Thompson, Gear Test Editor corekiteboarding.com/us

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Š Gilles CALVET / TAHITI 2014

THERE IS ONLY ONE! Robinson HILARIO

Mitu MONTEIRO

Canada dealer inquiry - Quebec Email: info@kitebroker.ca

www.f-onekites.com

Mid-Season Releases: Tested!

2015/16 LIQUID FORCE WOW

2015/16 NAISH RIDE

Review Synopsis: Powerful, nimble, direct, upwind machine with superb drift and response on the wave and it boosts like a champion.

The Wow is the newest addition to Liquid Force’s expanded 2015 kite lineup and enters as Liquid Force’s first dedicated wave kite. It proves to be a solid performer for both wave riding and general freeride blasting.

For starters, the essential water relaunch is superbly efficient and the best that Liquid Force has ever offered. The Wow has great low-end power generation with sheet-and-go precision and a linear power delivery. It has formidable upwind drive with smooth pull and the Wow’s ultra-narrow leading edge makes it fast and efficient through or across the window. The Wow’s progressive depower combines nicely with quick and tight pivotal turns that let you get to the right entry point on the wave and ensure an easy and reactive exit. The Wow pivots quick with low levels of pull as the kite completes a quick pivot and you sheetin and go. The kite’s light weight and great balance give it nice drift and let it disappear when you want it to, so you can focus on the wave not the kite. The feedback from the kite is also direct and at any angle of attack or above your head you know where it sits with tensioned lines.

The Wow also has great response even while highly depowered, and will pivot and move with the best of them. Unlike some wave models that feel uncomfortable and run away downwind when unhooked, the Wow feels decently comfortable unhooked and can pop and slack for some flatwater throw downs. Boosting and hangtime is exceptional and overall this Wow is useable for more than just waves with reactive handling overhead for soft landing, and/or mild-powered kite loops.

Any advanced rider that loves waves but dabbles in freestyle when the surf’s not up, will appreciate the Wow’s performance.

The Trade Off: The narrow leading edge of the Wow lets you rip upwind, but you need to be sure to pump the leading edge to the recommended PSI which is higher and harder, to ensure sufficient inflation than many kites.

Best For: Intermediate-to-advanced riders that want a great dedicated wave kite but without the compromise for boosting and unhooked freestyle.

Review Synopsis: Top level beginner/intermediate qualities packaged in a very refined, and surprisingly high-performance package.

Part of Naish’s spring/summer release, the Ride returns for a fourth season positioned as a, “great kite for everyday kiteboarders looking for ease and simplicity.” While we certainly can’t disagree with that, we feel this sells the kite short and would rather say, “a great high-performance kite that happens to offer ease-of-use and simplicity”.

The 2015/16 Ride returns as a two-strut design. Wing tips are visibly more swept than previous models, and the new Ride features Naish’s excellent new High Flow valve combined with their exclusive Octopus one-point inflation system. Build quality is high with extensive but not over-done use of aramid patches and molded reinforcements in high wear areas. A simple bag and Naish’s very well-refined Base Control System bar complete the package.

Testers were really stoked with the 2014/15 Ride, feeling it had taken a significant step forward in performance toward Naish’s Park. Given the kite’s position as an “all-around/beginner-friendly” kite we were really surprised to see it take another major step forward in performance.

For 2015/16 steering is noticeably more precise and overall the kite feels a step more solid. Naish PR material references a new Canopy Stabilizer trailing edge reinforcement that makes the kite feel noticeably tighter and much less prone to flutter when sheeting in and out and through hard turns. The Ride is truly a high-performance kite dressed up in a beginner’s package, especially in the smaller sizes (9 meter and under), where the kite feels especially tight and nimble. For the kite’s targeted rider, relaunch ability is exceptional, and both low-end power and depower are both very accessible and substantial. As compared to the Park, the closest kite in the Naish line to the Ride, the Ride feels a little more “grunty” particularly in larger sizes, and it does have a slightly softer feel.

The Trade Off: As with last year’s Ride, we prefer the Universal Control System bar that comes with the Park and Pivot (equipped with front-line spinner) but Naish is offering the Ride as a value package.

Presumably, riders can upgrade the bar if desired.

Best for: Beginner, intermediate, or advanced riders looking for a value-oriented kite that offers a lots of performance, will not be easily outgrown, and works well in a wide range of conditions.

Sizes Tested (m): 9, 12

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Sizes tested (m): 6, 7, 9, 12

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Tested: New Releases

FLYSURFER BOOST Sizes Tested (m): 11

Review Synopsis: Powerful, smooth pull and quick pivots with exceptional big boosting ability.

The Good Stuff: The Flysurfer Boost is the newest addition to the Flysurfer line up that’s promoted as a big boosting, high aspect freeride kite with race-approved functionality. Unlike Flysurfer’s more freestyle-focused Cronix, the Boost is higher aspect with a flatter canopy and pinched wing tips. It’s a kite that is both fast and efficient but with a user-friendly feel of a high-end, big-boosting kite. The Boost has the flat but deep and powerful canopy profile that ensures a great low-end power band. It has good levels of depower and doesn’t lose turn reactivity when highly depowered or fully sheeted out like many power-laden kites. The Boost’s ability to quickly pivot and turn even while fully sheeted out is impressive and formidable and sets good standards in performance. Its pinched wing tips make the kite pivot with very little increased power and pull, but when you sheet in and go, the power is smooth and quick to speed. The Boost sits forward in the window and slips upwind with impressive drive. The test team riders were also impressed with the Boost’s jumping and hang time. It feels both comfortable and easy to big air time and glide with this kite. The Boost’s ability to respond with a fast and smooth down loop turn, at any angle of attack, or while sheeted, ensures consistently soft landings whenever you need them. Although unhooked freestyle is not really its game, with a little trimming the Boost feels stable and has decent pop for unhooking. A testament to its great balance and finely tuned pull.

The Trade Off: The Boost has a nice one pump system, but it requires an adapter that is attached to the kite which seems kind of clunky and redundant, compared to the favoured versions that have no nozzle or adapter requirements.

Best For: Intermediate-to-advanced riders looking for a kite with lots of range and big boosting ability, that’s fast and efficient upwind, and versatile enough to freeride in the surf or slick.

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F-ONE BANDIT 8 Sizes Tested (m): 12, 14

Review Synopsis: A true all-terrain magician, with slippery smooth handling, better boost than ever and high end performance for every condition, in any discipline.

The Good Stuff: In its eighth version of evolution, the kite has a new four-point bridle system connecting to the leading edge which has helped to smooth out the power progression when sheeting in and out, and also helps stabilize the canopy in both the high and low levels of its range. The test team was impressed with the Bandit’s overall friendly handling, smooth turning and power delivery. It’s a kite that is both easy to fly but can be pushed to the limits in freestyle, waves or big air boosting. The 12 meter had good low-end power and that consistent C-kite-feel, with some smooth power generation through the arc of the turns. This new Bandit seems less twitchy when fully sheeted and feels smoother at all angles of attack. Ultimately it seem like the turning speed is about the same, but its delivery is better than ever. The Bandit was always a good jumping kite, but the newest version has some added hang time to its long list of enviable attributes. Unhooked freestlye or park riding is also a dream with the Bandit, as it pulls smooth and stays stable and drifts nicely while unhooked. This kite delivers an ideal level of pop and pass performance with the right amount of boost and drift for the more aggressive booted-up freestyle crowd. Most kites with this much range have more pinched wing tips with no pull through the turn, but the Bandit’s trend-setting open C and delta shape has the optimum range. The turning is consistent and smooth pulling through the loop. This allows riders to use the extra forward pull of the kite loop for smooth and fluid landings.

The Trade Off: Many riders prefer a lower center V off the front flying lines which make it easier to untangle your back and front lines if the kite rolls into itself. Performance-wise the Bandit leaves little to criticize.

Best For: Intermediate-to-advanced riders that want a kite that won’t hold them back in any condition or discipline. This is a one-model quiver that can adapt to the skill and performance of the rider, and opens the doors of progression to take you to the next level.

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Sam Medysky takes to the air in Squamish, BC. Syme photo

UnderEXPOSED TV Interview with John Bryja UnderEXPOSED is a TV show about a team of action sports photographers. The show documents the challenges of getting the shot and selling the story. Recently Underexposed’s Grace Archie-Syme tried her hand at shooting kiteboarding. Kitesurfing Magazine caught up with Grace for a look behind the scenes.

What sort of formal training or photography background do you have?

I have always been attracted to the photography world. My parents were quite influential, and my grandmother bought me my first film camera when I was eight-yearsold. Once I got involved with UnderEXPOSED TV my passion and career really took off. I have been lucky enough to work alongside amazing mentors from all sorts of backgrounds.

Tell us about the show and how you got involved.

UnderEXPOSED is an adrenaline-packed, youth documentary TV series aired on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. It follows my journey as an upcoming action sports photographer. It really all came together by serendipity. A friend of mine, Aaron Marchant, founder of the First Nations Snowboard Team reached out to me after he got a call from the producers. The show combines my love for photography, sports and the TV industry. It was definitely meant to be.

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What action sport was photographing kiteboarding most similar too? How was it different?

Shooting Kiteboarding had similarities to snowboarding and wake-boarding; trying to capture spray and tricks. However, getting right into the water is something I hadn’t done yet, so there were lots of new exciting challenges. I am a water baby, so I absolutely loved everything about it.

What surprised you most about shooting kiteboarding?

Kiteboarding is cooler than I ever imagined. I have always been a snowboarder, but I would choose water over snow any day so it’s very appealing. Overall a great vibe from the athletes and fans.

What photography techniques from other sports worked best for you?

I am learning the importance of context when it comes to any action sport photo. No matter how wonderful the trick is, if you can’t see where the athlete is coming from, or the size of the jump it’s not a desirable photo.

Also I can’t stress enough how vital it is to have a game plan, especially when it comes to events you can’t afford to mess up, so preparation is key. Practice, practice, practice.

And remember to have fun because if you’re not then what’s the point?

Tell us a little about the gear you are using.

I shoot on a Nikon D7100. I have three lenses that seem to be the basic kit for this field and covers all my bases; this includes a

10-24mm, 24-70mm, and 70-200mm. I am hoping to make some new purchases this upcoming season. I would love to play with a fisheye and a water-housing.

How does your workflow for editing photos work?

The next step after shooting is to sort and upload them to Lightroom. I have to be in the right head space because it can be quite time-consuming. Sometimes I get excited right away, and at other shoots I take some time before looking at them again. If the client is needing them right away then that’s a different case. Generally I am a night owl, so I’ll put on some records, break out the tea and take it nice and slow. Editing is still part of the creative process, and is getting easier as I keep practicing.

Any tips for pitching photos to magazine editors?

I have made thirteen magazine pitches on Season 2 of UnderEXPOSED. Every one is different and I walk away learning something new. I am so thrilled to have had successes this year in my work, and I am also grateful to all the editors who were honest about the errors I made along the way. Without failure, I wouldn’t be striving harder to push my photography to the next level. I just go into the conversation open and professional.

Its been a whirlwind, and I can’t believe how far I have come in the past two years.

Life is so full of beauty, and photography reminds me to slow down and look around.

with REIDER DECKER I was born and raised on Hatteras Island and have been kiting for 11 years, more than half of my life.When I was in my early teens I started to hit a wall with freestyle. Looking for something different I started riding a skimboard. It reinvented kiting for me. The skimboard was so much fun I started riding my surfboard strapless, and everything just kept going from there. Over the years with the support of Hatteras Island Surf and Sail and Airush, my quiver of boards and kites grew to what it is today.

Kites: 12 meter Wave, 10 meter Varial X, 9 meter Wave, 8 meter Varial X I ride the same kites for flatwater, strapless freestyle as I do for waves. The Wave’s turn really, really fast, drift great, and have solid power but are not too grunty and don’t pull you off the wave, which I found especially​ common for 12meter kites. The Varial X’s are a little higher aspect, super solid in the sky, and are fun for freestyle and riding waves.

The Varial sits further forward in the wind window and is just a really fun high-performance kite for whatever you’re trying to do.

Boards: Compact 5’9 Active, Slayer V3, Converse 5’11 bamboo, Starboard Hybrid 6’1, Airush Wakeskate, Cobalt 9’8 The Slayer V3 has been my new favorite board to use on the sound and in small waves this year. It’s like a mutant child of a 34

skimboard and a surfboard in all the best ways. Practising and learning new strapless tricks on this board is just crazy fun, from riding upside down to trying finger flips and varial flips. It is just really, really fun.

The Compact 5’9 Active Carbon is my go-to board. It works for flatwater freestyle and head high surf. It has a super snappy skatey feel to it and the flex with the active carbon stringer is awesome.

The first Airush directional I ever bought was a 6’0 Converse and I loved it. Three years later I have the 5’11 and it’s still amazing.

It’s great for drawing clean top-to-bottom lines on the wave and holds in any size. The rocker really lets you go for big sections, steeper waves, and saves you whenever you’re in a rough spot. It works really well for big northeasters in Hatteras.

I got the Starboard Hybrid this year and love it for surfing. It has similar technology to the Active Carbon directional’s in Airush’s surf range. The flex of the carbon makes it lively under your feet and still has good float for an easy paddle.

I first learned how to do Kickflips and Varial Flips on the wakeskate before I tried them on the surfboard. I started hitting rails with it this past year and it has been really fun and challenging. It really adds a new element to strapless riding that is completely different, but definitely more painful at times.

For waves that are thigh-high and below I take out my longboard. In the past I just borrowed the rentals from the shop, but this fall we were longboarding so much I grabbed this 9’8 Cobalt off the rack and am really happy with it.

Bar: Airush Smart Bar I use the Airush Smart Bar, which has two different ways of adjustment giving you lots of size options (62-55-52-45cm) in just one bar. Lately, I have kept it on the giant mongo setting of 62cm. I know it is ridiculously large but I got used to it on the 12 meter and the faster turning speed is always a bonus when riding waves. I tried to get through security in Cabo Mexico with it in my carry-on and they made me go back and check it. I was temped to shorten it down to 52cm and try to go back through security, but I thought I would draw too much attention to myself adjusting it there, so I figured I wouldn’t push my luck.

Harness: Dakine Pyro I’ve been using the Dakine Pyro for the past year and really like it. The memory foam molded back is super comfy and really locks it into place.

Wetsuit: Prolimit Evo 5/3 Freezip This winter I’ve been using my Prolimit Evo 5/3 Freezip. It’s super stretchy, warm, and dries fast. Nothing more to ask for.

Dog: Maverick My necessary friend and companion for all activities and adventures.

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Drones: A New Perspective

Photographic drone strike in Western Oz. Moore photo 36

Words and photos by Mark Moore You’ve probably noticed that drone footage is taking the action sports industry by storm. Previously, aerial shots required a real helicopter or some other expensive equipment. Now, for a reasonable price tag, insane aerial shots are within your grasp. Professional kiteboarder Mark Moore has condensed his experience into a short article about the world of consumer drones.

What the heck are these drone things?

A drone is a small RC (remote-controlled) flying machine capable of carrying a GoPro or other small camera. Most of the popular models have four propeller blades, but some of the fancier ones have upwards of eight. The drone is about the size and weight of a kiteboarding pump.

Isn’t the footage shaky when it’s windy?

Not at all. Some of the craziest technology in these setups is found in something called the gimbal. A gimbal is the contraption that is suspended below the drone’s body that stabilizes and holds the camera. The most recent technology is called “3D” which means that it offers three degrees of camera stability. A nice gimbal will give you unreal footage stability considering how much the drone roams around and blows in the wind. Do not buy a cheap gimbal. I have a Zenmuse brand and it’s great.

How long does the battery last?

When you buy a unit, it typically comes with one battery, which will last you 25 minutes without carrying a camera and gimbal. With a camera and gimbal attached, each battery cycle will last you approximately 20 minutes. It’s a good idea to buy a second battery.

What is the most popular make and model?

The company that currently dominates the drone market is DJI with their Phantom model drone. DJI would be the equivalent of GoPro in this market.

There are other brands but I don’t know much about them so we’ll stick to DJI. There are basically two setups to consider: 1. DJI Phantom with separate GoPro and a gimbal–This is the same drone unit as the second option, but it gives you the opportunity to choose your own gimbal and then use a GoPro camera.

The brand of Gimbal that DJI sells in this package is the Zenmuse. I have this and it’s excellent. There is a “H3-3D” gimbal for GoPro 3 and 3+ models and then another gimbal called “H4-3D” suited for GoPro 4 models. There is a subtle difference in the weighting between the two gimbals. The biggest advantage of this setup is the lower cost if

you already own a GoPro. This setup will run you about $400 less than the other setup (which I’ll mention next) because the second option has a built-in camera. Also, with this setup, the GoPro can be removed and used for other purposes. The biggest disadvantage of this option is that you won’t have a POV (point of view). You won’t have a live feed to your phone of what the camera sees.

This isn’t a big deal though as the GoPro is such a wideangled lens. There is an upgrade kit available. Don’t try to use the GoPro’s Wifi to stream to your phone: many people have had their drones fly away because the signal is similar to that between the drone and the remote.

2. DJI Phantom Vision+ with attached proprietary camera and gimbal–This is the same copter unit as the first option but it comes with DJI’s own built-in gimbal and camera. This will run you $400 more but it obviously includes the camera. The downside here is your inability to detach the camera and use it for other shots. However, this setup will allow you a POV stream to your phone, so you can have a live look at the camera’s feed.

Which setup takes better quality shots?

The GoPro Black models that shoot still images at 12MP take slightly better stills than the camera that comes built into the Phantom Vision+ model. The video quality is similar but the GoPro has better slow-motion features.

DJI has recently unveiled a newer 4K built-in camera that is now on par with the GoPro. There isn’t a massive difference for most consumers.

How much wind can you fly the drone in?

In GPS mode, the drone will lock into six satellite signals and will hover within a one-meter radius in the sky. So, twenty knots of wind is no problem at all. You can fly in more than this, but it becomes a little shakier.

Are they hard to use?

Not really. It’s a good idea to watch some Youtube videos and practice flying in a field. As with most things in life, the more you develop your skills, the better your shots will be.

How much?

You’re looking at about $1000 US for the DJI Phantom and Zenmuse gimbal (without GoPro). This includes a remote and one battery. The Vision+ model with a builtin camera and gimbal will run you about $1400 US. What happens if the battery dies while the drone is flying?

There is a great safety feature that returns the drone back to a home location when the battery reaches a designated critically low level. It won’t just fall out of the sky.

Waterproof?

Definitely not! Don’t ask…

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Drones on a Budget Jullien Fillion charges down the line at Ho’okipa Beach Park, Maui. Prudky photo

especially when trying to film with them. Due to the very wide lens of the GoPro, we tend to try to get as close to the action as possible to get the perfect panning shot.

What’s great about the Ghost Drone, is it doesn’t come with a complex RC remote, instead it’s directly connected via Bluetooth to a smartphone app. The app features a GPS map, this way you can simply point your drone somewhere, within the antenna range, and set the drone path before it even leaves the ground. When Lukas started using the Ghost Drone, he instantly cancelled the GPS map mode and started using the macro controls in the Ghost smartphone app. They are similar to an RC controller knobs, but much simpler.

GOAST DRONE $375! words by Julien Fillion When it comes to drones for filming, there’s a wide variety of choice. At the last Vegas CES show, there were more then twenty featured filming drone brands. The most popular brands have been DJI and Parrot, but a company called Ghost Drone stood out in the crowd. The startup from San Francisco, California, introduced a filming drone with a starting price of just $375 (without a GoPro ). I had a chance to get one in Maui and test it intensively with photographer/drone filmer Lukas Prudky.

First off, it’s important to understand that drones can be dangerous for others around you and they have to be handled with care,

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The Ghost can travel at up to 21.9 meters per second, though it’s capped at 4.47 m/s by default for safety reasons (for the record, the DJI Phantom 2 does 15 m/s max). Ghost claims that its machine can even fly in winds of up to 21 knots without losing too much video quality, and it can also resist light rain. The interchangeable 5,400 mAh (milliampere-hour) battery can last up to 20 minutes with the optional 2-D gimbal plus a GoPro camera installed, or up to 30 minutes without them (the Phantom 2 does 25 minutes).

Thankfully, Lukas brought more than three years of drone flying skills and he was able to figure out the Ghost Drone instantly. We shot a hydrofoil video in about a day. Even if the Ghost Drone feels a bit cheap and clunky next to the DJI Phantom 2, it’s about half the price.

Shooting action sports with your drone, especially in windy conditions, you will crash it, so paying half price for the Ghost Drone leaves you some room to buy replacement parts and some beer to drink while waiting for the battery to charge.

TEAM RIDER BRENDAN SCHNURR

WE

PROUDLY BUILDING BOARDS IN NORTH AMERICA FOR OVER 15 YEARS

RIDE E W T A WH

S OFOIL R D Y H OM C ARDS .

O S B D G RFIN BOAR 39 H ITESU S K I F M O CUST JELLY

The first five people to name this spot on www.facebook.com/kitesurfing.magazine win a free KItesurfing Magazine T-Shirt. Cunningham photo

words by Craig Cunningham I’ve been lucky to travel all over the world over the past six years, most of the time looking for wind and flatwater. Here’s a quick run through of my favourite flatwater spots.

KALPITIYA, SRI LANKA The easiest decision on this list was to put this at the top spot.

Kalpitiya really surprised me and is definitely my favorite flatwater spot in the world. Not only is there a two-kilometer long sand bar with straight offshore wind, but the wind is like a blow-dryer; it doesn’t steadier than this. I had heard that Kalpitiya was a bit gusty but if you venture away from the main lagoon you can find flatwater and steady wind for days. I went on a short boat trip with www. srilankakite.com and they took us to my flatwater paradise.

MAGDALENE ISLANDS, CANADA Under rated is all I have to say about the Magdalene Islands. What a beautiful spot. On any wind direction you can have your choice of multiple spots with every different type of condition. Kickers from the right, kickers from the left, waves right or left and of course flatwater everywhere. My favorite sessions from here were in small ponds just on the edge of the ocean and we had them all to ourselves. I was seriously impressed with this place for kiteboarding and being in my home country I’ll be going back for sure.

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Craig Cunningham in Sri Lanka. Fabio Ingrosso photo

Night shoot in Cape Hatteras, NC. Bromwich photo

CAPE HATTERAS, USA If this isn’t on your list of spots to go, it should be. The epic center of kiteboarding in North America, Cape Hatteras is a kiteboarder’s paradise. The downwind possibilities are endless as are the flatwater spots. My favorite place to ride on Cape Hatteras Island is the Real Slick, especially when the park is fully set up. Sometimes you can be in the best spot in the world and still have the feeling that something is missing; not in Hatteras. The best flatwater isn’t found in the slick though. The Planet of the Apes or New Inlet downwinders offer much larger slicks.

ATINS, BRAZIL The majority of people traveling to Brazil congregate in the north-east coast in the Ceara state. But with the lagoons getting so busy I would bet in the next few years a huge movement to the north will begin. The spots are insane and super quiet compared to the chaos of iconic spots like Cumbuco, Taiba and Uruau. The freshwater lagoons in the north are plentiful and if you want some flatwater with guaranteed wind everyday you should think about checking out Atins next fall.

FEHMARN, GERMANY The kiteboarding scene is huge in Germany, but I didn’t realize they had so many great spots. With a little local knowledge scoring flatwater sessions all over the north of the country is a possibility. This is exactly what happened when I spent a few weeks there and couldn’t believe all the different places to ride. My favorite spot in Germany was behind this breakwall in Fehmarn. With directly offshore wind blowing over the three meter wall it was butter flat. With a few little cafes right at the launch it’s definitely a convenient spot.

Craig Cunningham is sponsored by North Kiteboarding, Ion, Rockstar, and Makulo.

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SPOT CHECK

BAJA, MEXICO words and photos by Clark Merrit

THE BEACH BREAK

THE BOMBORA

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275 miles below san diego, California, on the Pacific Ocean side of the Baja Peninsula, Punta San Carlos is a micro-climate that enjoys thermal winds generated by a headland mesa and inland desert heat. Because Punta San Carlos is a south facing beach area, the prevailing west wind is generally sideoffto-sideshore making it an excellent wavesailing and kitesurfing location. The average wind speed is 18-25 mph. Punta San Carlos has been described as a world-class, multi-sport adventure destination. The coastline is a series of right-hand pointbreaks and sandstone beachbreaks. Perfect for wave kiting.

THE BOMBORA: A submerged reef extension of the island, this break borders deep water. It is also called the Indicator as it picks up all swells from favored south swells through northwest swells. It dramatically displays combination swells. South swells form a wedge peak providing a fast but short backdoor smack opportunity. It also provides jumping opportunities. The wind is sideoff-to-sideshore.

THE BEACH BREAK: A shallow sandstone shelf, this break is perfect for all kiters. The wave is gentle and the broad beachbreak real-estate can support a large crowd from a series of breaking waves. It’s a perfect venue to sharpen your skills. The launch area is tide-dependant: if you have a partner, you can launch from the top of the cliffs.

THE CHILI BOWL

THE POINT

THE POINT: The point is also a borderline shelf to deep water. Swells can peak up to a quarter-of-a-mile out, roll into shallow water providing a racetrack wave to the Chili Bowl, inside the bay. On a higher tide the inside point wave can provide a short tube ride. It traditionally gets windy early and requires a halfa-meter kite size smaller. This spot caters to intermediate-to-advanced kiters.

THE CHILI BOWL: Punta San Carlos’ premiere, money-shot spot. This is a reef located inside the point and approximately 100 yards from the cliffs. It creates a left/right breaking wave that connects to the racetrack wave that starts at the point.

It gets windy early but can back off later in the afternoon. The Chili Bowl is very swell-dependant and doesn’t break all the time. Catching a wave at the Point to the Chili Bowl and riding it beyond can net a distance of over a half-mile or longer. This spot is for advanced kiters. The wind is sideoff-tomore-offshore.

The Sandbar is the kite epicenter of Hood River.

SPOT CHECK

It’s Not If You Are Going To The Gorge, It’s When words by Dave Nunn // photos by Richard Hallman put the gorge on your bucket list. You should do it now or you will only be one year older when you do.

Okay, I stole that line from a Warren Miller ski film and he was talking about heli-skiing, but you get the drift. The Gorge is epic during our key months of June, July and August. I weigh 195 pounds and only carry an 8 and 10 meter kite during the summer.

However, I also have both my twin-tip, skim-board and directional board in the truck too. Oh yeah, and I have all my mountain biking , fly-fishing and hiking gear in there truck too. Always. It’s a multisport paradise.

The whitewater kayaking is world-class, the national ski and snowboard teams train year-round up on the Mount Hood glacier 45 minutes away, the road biking is beautiful and now there are some good kiddy beaches too, so the whole family loves a trip to the Gorge.

THE KITEBOARDING SCENE The Event Site is the hang-out. In front of you lies a great big sandbar the size of a shopping mall. In front of that is the Columbia River which flows west into the Pacific Ocean 100 miles away. The cold ocean air gets sucked up the Gorge at a nuclear pace, due to the hot air rising in the desert 50 miles to the east. In between lies our wind-blown river.

While the sandbar is a super safe launch, at first glance it looks crowded with sometimes 100 kites launching and landing.

However no one rides there, it’s just for launching. Everyone heads upwind (with the current) and seeks out their favorite wave or flatwater spot.

The scene is just pure joy and no attitude. It’s the Pacific Northwest where people are chill and stoke is the name of the game.

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OTHER RIDING LOCATIONS Rooster Rock, Lyle, Stevenson, Rufus and Viento are all good spots to visit but offer slightly more advanced launches. The all-time epic ride while you’re here is the Viento to Hood River downwinder. It’s seven miles of freshwater swell riding with zero traffic and you’re surrounded by mountains. Way cool.

WHERE TO GRUB DOWN I heard that Hood River has more brewpubs per capita than any other town in the US. Double Mountain, Everybody’s, Full Sail, Big Horse, Pfriem, Solera, Walking Man; need I say more?

GEAR If you are driving bring it all: 6-12 meter kites, all your boards, bikes, ski gear, camping gear etc. If you are flying you have to bring your kites, you can’t rent kites anywhere. You can rent boards though, at my shop we rent them for $40/day or $235/week.

Yes, we do wear wetsuits most of the summer. Locals ride in shorts and neo-shirts or right up to 4/3 full length suits depending on their personal preference. Some places rent wetsuits, but we don’t. That’s gross.

CONDITIONS June to August the air temp is in the 80s and the river is 75ish. It blows almost daily with the odd two-day break. It’s always from the same direction and usually 20-30 mph. In the spring and fall when the rains come we start to get both lighter westerlies and nuking easterlies (up to 60 mph). Some hardcore kiters ride right through the winter months in drysuits, most people vacate the town, but those of us who do stay mountain bike year-round and hit the ski hill before work on powder days. I love it here.

Reo Stevens takes time off from Oahu to enjoy the spoils of the Gorge.

FOR LOCAL WIND UPDATES AND GOSSIP GO TO : www.thegorgeismygym.com www.nwkite.com www.ikitesurf.com HOW TO BE COOL AND NOT A KOOK Wear plaid, drink local beer, get a flat brim hat and drive a beater loaded with tons of gear. You can leave your board leash at home; people here will retrieve your board for you. Hoot and holler while riding, give waves away to anyone and please don’t ride in front of the launch site (but that goes for anywhere in the world).

STAYING HERE FOREVER It happens. Your vacation turns into an occupation. Lots of kite brands have offices here: DaKine, NSI, North, BEST, Naish and our homebuilt brand, Slingshot. Bring your resume.

SHOP LOCAL Windance Boardshop, Big Winds, & Second Wind.

Randy Orzeck takes flight with the Arlington Silos looming large. Desert warmth and big swells.

A PLACE TO REST YOUR WEARY HEAD Call Leslie at Hood River Vacation Rentals.

Or camp. My favorite spot is at Tucker Park which is cheap and far from the train tracks.

Or try the Best Western, which is stumbling distance from downtown Hood River.

Vela Resorts also offers vacation packages for Hood River.

GETTING TO THE GORGE Drive(hours): 42 hours from New York, 37 from Toronto, 16 from Los Angeles and 7 from Vancouver.

Flying: Portland Airport(PDX) to Hood River is a one-hour drive.

Dave Nunn is the boss man at Windance Boardshop in The Gorge. He is a lifelong boarder and used to own Boardsports in Toronto. For the last eight years he’s lived with his family in the Gorge and loves everything about the Gorge except for it’s lack of hockey rinks. Drop by the shop for a chat and top tips on secret spots.

Every year kites jockey for position at Kiteboard 4 Cancer.

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Zack Marks gets the shot. Rynne photo

Kite vs. Moth vs. Nacra F20 FCS vs. Marstrom 32

And the winner is... Kiting! Rynne photo

New Generation: Craig Cunningham in 2014 on the latest Hood River creation from Joby Cook.

words by Joby Cook // photos by Lance Koudele More and more people are wearing boots and riding park in kiteboarding. But there aren’t a lot of kiteboarding terrain parks in the world. In North America, unless you live or visit Hood River, Cape Hatteras, the Florida Keys, or Squamish, you probably haven’t had the chance to hit any features. If you don’t live in one of these places you should consider building your own features.

Your first terrain park feature can be a somewhat daunting task but with the right planning, good design, and some willpower it can be a fun project. Here are some ideas that should help you from making the same mistakes I have made in the past.

want to build a floating feature as it will be very difficult to make a free-standing structure secure. If your spot has deep water you will probably want to build something floating. Long legs can work but can get expensive to build, are not as safe, and are less stable.

BUDGET This is a key factor in determining what to build. I have tried to build rails with less material/supports because I didn’t have enough money to build it properly. The result: a rail that lasted one season and fell apart. We had some fun with it, but in the long run it wasn’t economical. Build something that fits your budget and will last for at least a few seasons. It’s also better for the environment.

Permits are not very fun to deal with. If you are planning on leaving the structure in the water for the season, you may find yourself needing to file some paperwork to make your project legal and keep the local authorities off your back. If you remove it from the water each day, you probably won’t need to worry about a permit.

Consider finding a sponsor to help pay for the cost of construction in return for putting their logos on it.

YOUR CREW Are you the only rider in your area that wants to ride park style or do you have a crew? Having a crew is ideal. Even a 12 foot long by 2 foot tall wood rail that sits on the sand can be heavy and awkward for one person to move.

Plus, it’s more fun to ride with your friends. If you are solo or there are only a couple of you, consider building a floating feature that you could load onto a small trailer.

If you have a crew, anchoring and moving things around will make your set up much easier to manage.

Regardless of the type of feature you build, you want it to be as easy as possible to move in and out of the water or to adjust the anchors.

AREA OF PLACEMENT Where do you want to put your feature? Is there flatwater? Is the bottom deep or shallow? Rocky or sandy? Will you need a permit? Are there tides or currents?

While you don’t need a flatwater spot, hitting features in choppy water is not ideal. Flatwater allows for faster speeds, predictable Ollies, and smoother landings.

The best locations are two-to-six feet deep with a sandy bottom on the downwind side of a small island or sandbar. If you are dealing with a rocky bottom you will

TYPE OF STRUCTURE Wood, metal, plastic? HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is the best material for your sliding surface. It holds up to the abuse, lasts a long time, and slides well. Composite wood decking, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), or steel pipe can work also. What you make the structure out of can be difficult to decide.

Wood is the easiest to put together but falls apart the fastest. If you paint and seal it well it can last a season or two depending on how it is stored when not in use. Always use pressure treated wood. Remember, wood floats. If you are building a frame with legs out of wood, you may need to have some sandbags on the feet/legs to hold the structure down should it want to float, especially in saltwater.

The cost of steel is a little more expensive than wood but if built properly it can last up to 10 years or more in fresh water. However, not everyone owns a welder or knows how to weld. If this is the case, you could take your plans to a metal fabricator and have them construct your frame. Then you can screw on the sides and the top sheet. If your spot is in saltwater, use aluminum for your frame. Steel or aluminum frames are well worth the extra money you will spend in fabricating.

Welded HDPE is the best choice to build the feature out of. It will last the longest and requires little to no maintenance. However, a plastic welder is very expensive to purchase, so if this is what you want you will most likely purchase it from a company that specializes in building terrain park features.

Craig Cunninham putting the pieces together on the new 2014 North Slider.

Just getting this into the water was a phenomenal feat. It took a village of hands. Finishing up the feature just in time for ROShamBo.

Making of a masterpiece.

Joby the first to grind the feature.

Joby makes sparks fly.

A small kicker 10 feet long by 2 feet, 6 inches tall is a good example of the 4:1 ratio.

An “ollie saver” does not follow the typical 4:1 ratio for inclines and kickers. Ollieing onto the feature is the proper way to approach it. Adding this to your feature will make it safer for everyone using it. Beginners will use it ride on before they learn to ollie. Advanced riders can use it as a kicker ramp to spin onto the feature.

In 2009, always learning through every stage, Joby and Forrest realize the sunshine and heat is expanding the polymer surface.

WHAT TO BUILD Kicker or box? How do you like to ride? Do you want to go big, flipping and spinning, or get steezy sliding and pressing? Want both? Maybe build an incline box or rail that you can slide and send it off of.

Freestanding: Make sure to wiggle the structure so that it will sink into the sand a little and become stable.

If you’re leaving a freestanding feature in the water overnight, put an anchor on it. The water could rise or the wind could blow it over allowing it to float away.

DESIGN Keep things simple. If building a kicker, a good rule of thumb is 4:1. This means for every foot tall the lip is off the water the kicker length would be four feet. Don’t put too much curve. A good angle at the lip is anywhere from 20-30 degrees. Keep the angle at the entry point mellow.

This will make for a smooth transition from the water to the ramp, allowing you to go faster and bigger.

Building a box? A flat bar is the easiest. If you want an up-ramp, keep the angle mellow. Again, 4:1 is a good standard to go by.

Make sure the structure isn’t top heavy. If you were to draw an imaginary line from end-to-end splitting the structure into a top and bottom half, the top half needs to weigh less than the bottom.

Rails are pretty much the same as boxes, just skinnier.

If the sliding surface is less than 8 inches wide, it is a rail. Rails can be round or flat. Follow the same guidelines to build a rail as you would a box.

SAFETY Obviously, as with kiteboarding, there is some inherent risk involved when riding towards a solid object. With that said, there are some precautions to keep things as safe as possible.

CONSTRUCTION If you are not confident in your building skills or don’t really build that much, ask for help. It’s way better to spend a little extra time and money asking an experienced builder for some pointers.

If using wood, make sure to use galvanized, exterior coated, or stainless fasteners. Use gussets to help hold framing together and paint everything.

ANCHORING AND PLACEMENT Floating: Use wedge anchors or sand anchors. An effective yet cheap way to make an anchor is by using an old tire and filling it with concrete with a rebar hook in the concrete. They are heavy, but can be rolled around and are not greatly affected by currents. You’ll want to set the feature at about 45 degrees downwind.

Another good ratio to remember is 7:1 for the anchor lines. This means if the water is 3 feet deep you will need at least 21 feet of line from the anchor to the feature.

• Throughout your design and construction process make sure there are no sharp edges anywhere on your feature. Use a router to round over any plastic or wood edges.

• Do a visual inspection before each use. Make sure there are no screws sticking out and that nothing is broken.

• Sheet the walls (and legs that are above the water surface) of your rails. Exposed framing can make things more dangerous. Fingers, limbs, or your board can get lodged in the framing if you screw up and don’t make it to the end.

• Riding in shallow water can be a little risky and hitting a kicker in shallow water can be especially unsafe. It’s OK for a kicker to sit in shallow water but the water depth at the landing should be at least four feet deep.

• Make sure all anchor points and anchor lines are below the surface of the water.

• Put a small up-ramp at the beginning of your boxes or rails that require an Ollie on. If you come up short on your Ollie, it will save you from catching you board under the front edge.

Hopefully this info will help you build a terrain park feature. And remember, it’s all about having fun, so have fun with it.

Joby Cook has been kiting and building rails/kickers since 2002.

He is the owner of Jibstruction, which specializes in terrain park feature construction. He, along with the rest of the old Hood River sandbar crew, built what is now the Hood River Kite Park.

He has also built four of the five features that are in the REAL Kiteboarding terrain park in Cape Hatteras, NC.

Hope LeVin unhooks and goes large for photographer Stephen Whitesell, during the 2015 Naish mid-season photo shoot.

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Whitesell photo

TWO YEARS TO THE DAY

BY HOPE LeVIN a couple years ago if someone told me I’d be a professional my friend said something that has always stuck with me: it’s not kiteboarder travelling the world, I would have laughed and said about having opportunities, it’s about recognising them when they it couldn’t happen to me. The idea seemed so far off; me traveling are there. I then saw an opportunity few people get and I knew I around for a sport I did just because I loved it? Unlikely. I wasn’t didn’t want it to slip away. What did I have to lose? Only my pride about to become a beach bum either. if the answer was no.

But today it’s been two years since I decided to truly pursue During my time being a shop-level rider for Blue Surf Shop, being a ‘pro,’ and I’m on Maui for Naish Kiteboarding’s mid-season Philip Shearer the owner, was always schooling me on being photo shoot. ‘sponsored.’ “Do this, don’t do that. Look at these athletes and how How did this happen? After traveling to ten countries, spending they’re doing it.” Early on I became conscious of what I did and over 160 hours on planes, 11 days on a 45-foot wooden boat, and how I presented myself. I wanted to be a rider that was a good role being away from home for the better part of the year, I’m starting model for the next generation, and an excellent ambassador. A lot to have a pretty good idea. Let me tell you about the journey that of decisions along this path were easy. As a morning person and an 2014 took me on.

I don’tago. likeTheir goingsummer out, so home I’m not getting smashed every Kiteboarding became a part of this family over introvert a dozen years I never knew what being a pro actually involved. Yeah, kiting all night. I love the beach and ocean so being environmentally conat Sauble Beach was always where they enjoyed being free from the constraints of the time, traveling to beautiful beaches and meeting cool people scious is second nature. And so I began to build myself to present workmakes and school.

Kiteboarding brought a new dimension this. There was a lot of become a pro rider. A long sounded awesome. But what this happen?

Can you just go the image Itobelieve in and ultimately anxiety when “the boys” took up kiteboarding, but steadily bothreaps Sam and his rewards. But rewards to a kite company and ask to be on their team?

Sometimes.

That’s slow process and but surely one which supreme what I did. whichkiteboarding are differentbegan for each rider dad became skilled riders. Dano’s support for Sam’s with theand firstrelative to how much you put I’d been riding Naish for yearsinafter being offered a and it has in and you’llsince havethat the win. opportunity big several competition Corpus Christi, Texas notwhat wavered Since to take out. shop-level sponsorship through Blue Surf Shop in the Turks For me, it’s been the chance to meet an abundance of people that time, they’ve successfully built up their kiteschool and have travelled together to & Caicos, the local Naish dealer. Then I went away to school with different views, and develop widened perspectives on all asa number of events, and amazing brought his dad intoa his circle and began filling my head with education and dollar signs.kiting But spots. Sam pectshas of life.

Growing up on small island, lots of different people kiteboarding many of whom at the family “cottage” duringespecially the something was missing. of While at schoolfriends I always longed for theare welcomed come through, but when traveling, alone, you’re forced ocean and kiting. When summer I finished schoolFather and returned I felt to the interact.

I always askdream, others’each opinions. months. and son,home best of friends, two follow their in a Obviously you can’t hang happy again. I decided I different didn’t want to look five orbut tenwith years on to their word,tie butthat so may times I’ve had great ideas and element of back a lifetime kiteboarding as theevery steadfast binds. down the line with regrets and wonder, “what if?” At the time, perspective thrown at me just because I reached out.

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Busting out a classic Air Raley. Dein photo

Hope carves a smooth toe-side turn around a swimming Whitesell.

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Robby Naish and Hope LeVin.

I learned early on that face-to-face is key.

I knew I needed to meet Naish personally, so I flew to Maui with a dream, knowing that after a few weeks on the island I was either going to be a professional kiteboarder or leave knowing I tried. I never told anyone, but if Naish hadn’t been interested, I wouldn’t have pursued another brand.

I did some research online, found a sublet in Paia, and was on my way. When I landed on Maui my friend Teddy Lyons picked me up at the airport and quickly dropped me off at my house. Standing alone as I looked around the neighbourhood I had a moment of doubt, wondering how I always got myself in these situations.

Before me was the most rundown house on the street, and the only one boasting two cloth curtains, blowing in the wind, as a front door. Inside (well outside really) was a full kitchen with a stove, a fridge and a table. All with a thick layer of Maui mud on them. My doubt passed and I knew it was going to be an adventure. Luckily the inside had another door with a locking doorknob so I felt a little safer. That is, until I had an unexpected guest on my second night.

It was Halloween night and the day had been super windy. In fact too windy for me to go kiting and I was sitting on the beach at Kanaha when emergency ATVs began to speed past on the beach. A kiter had been bitten by a tiger shark near Boneyards. That was it, I definitely wasn’t going to push it and try to ride that day. I got home around dusk and the neighbourhood was alive with the sound of kids running around trick or treating. I was upstairs and locked inside for the night when I heard a car park outside. Assuming they were there to visit the neighbours I quickly forgot about them. Several minutes later I was typing away at the presentation I was working on to show Naish, when I saw someone in the corner of my eye. There was a guy standing in the living room, in the dark, inside my ‘locked’ house. I jumped to my feet, and being a previous crime victim I had a kitchen knife nearby. I grabbed it and we made eye contact. ‘Excuse me, who are you?’ I inquired in my most polite manner.

‘Umm, umm. You’re not supposed to be

here. Ummm, where’s Luis?’ The intruder replied. ‘Who are you’? I demanded again.

He began mumbling something about being there to build a box, motioning with his hands and then began walking backwards before running down the stairs and out to the car. I stood for a moment mystified with shock. I heard the car pull away and went down and outside to the kitchen. Here I found everything rearranged, my pasta on the floor, and a weird looking syringe thing on the counter. “Great, I’m about to be drugged and kidnapped,” I thought.

I heard a noise and spun around to face the intruder again. “I forgot my electronic cigarette,” he said and he grabbed the weird looking syringe thing. He quickly started walking out again. “Wait,” I said, and again asked him who he was. Still walking away he mumbled something about how I wasn’t supposed to be there.

I immediately called up the guy I sublet from asking who just broke into the house.

Initially he feigned shock until I reminded him that this guy obviously had a key. He insisted I have the only key, until finally admitting he hid an extra key in a box of pasta in case I lost mine. That explained my pasta on the ground. I had him on that. He must know who this guy was, because how would the intruder have known to look in a box of pasta for the key? Finally he admitted he had someone do work on the house and this guy must have come back to try and rob it. I changed the locks, slept with two knives and bought a fog horn. I spoke to my old Hawaiian neighbour and he told me to yell if they ever came back and he’ll come over and kill them. I felt safe again.

The next day I met Des Walsh, the Naish Team Manager on the beach. He came up and asked if I was the girl from the Caribbean. Philip had emailed him to let them know I was coming. First impressions are everything and I knew if I got the opportunity, working with Des was going to be fun.

The next morning I went to the Naish Loft to meet everyone and borrow some gear. A few days later I saw Robby Naish himself at Ho’okipa and worked up the courage to introduce myself. (He later emailed Philip, commenting on my accent!). As my final

days on Maui began to slip away I still didn’t have the answer I needed. The morning I was supposed to leave Des told me they wanted me on the team, but he didn’t have details yet. That was all I needed to know: my dream of being a pro rider wasn’t about to die as my plane took off. I left Maui with a smile on my face knowing I’d be back. I had fallen in love with the island.

Back in the Turks & Caicos I checked my emails constantly while expecting news from Naish. During this time I set clear goals for what I wanted to achieve in 2014. Among these, I wanted to become an international rider for Naish, podium half the events I went to (I made podium in all the competitions), write a certain amount of articles, and be on the cover of Discover Turks & Caicos Magazine for 2015. Now at the end of this year, I have surprised myself and ticked them all off through hard work and the grace of God. Through this process I’ve learned a lot; less is more, always. Traveling with a lot of gear, you quickly realise how little you actually need to be comfortable and happy and not tote rubbish around the globe. It’s the same at home. Since I began travelling, I’ve had four garage sales, all in the process of making life simpler. Quality over quantity. Tissues are expensive toilet paper, and everyone is not your friend. Always be positive. I’ve learned how much I love good coffee, and I’ve finally come to the conclusion I love terrible jokes. I just can’t help it.

Try not to have huge expectations. Ninety percent of the time things are hyped up and there’s no point being disappointed because of other people’s exaggerations.

Finally, always be humble. There is so much to learn, and so many riders better than yourself. I feel incredibly lucky to have been welcomed with open arms by the whole Naish ‘ohana and for the continued kindness I receive from each of them. This is now my third visit to the island. Each time I leave knowing I have unfinished business and need to come back. But having essentially been the birthplace of my dream, through the start of kiteboarding and Naish as a company, I don’t think I’ll ever be ‘done’ with Maui. Maui nō ka oi.

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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The Foil Fish from Liquid Force dramatically redefinded the foil side of kitesurfing. Its freeride design, ideal for first time riders, and unprecedented price point is growing the number of foilboarders like never before.

Kitesurfing Magazine editor John Bryja caught up with the LF crew for the story behind Liquid Force getting into foilboarding.

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Brandon Scheid was one of the first in the Liquid 57 Force crew to get into the flying sensation of foil boarding. Scheid photo

Liquid Force kite designer Julien Fillion glides effortlessly on the Foil Fish. photo courtesy Liquid Force

Jason Slezak testing on Maui's North Shore during a light-wind day. photo courtesy Liquid Force

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John Bryja: We hear that Brandon Scheid was the first one on the R&D team to get into foilboarding. Up until recently, foils were kind of for racer heads–about as far from the LF image as imaginable. Brandon did you hide your foiling at first? What did you tell your teammates? Gary and Jason: What did you guys think about Brandon’s new passion?

Brandon Scheid: I definitely did not hide my foiling, I was extremely enthusiastic about the foils right from the start. I started the hype by telling them the truth, it felt like flying. That combined with some lightwind days at the beach was all it took to get the team interested and out on the water floundering.

Gary Siskar: Well, we were a bit perplexed, confused, mind-boggled, and sort of laughing amongst ourselves at first. But we kept an open mind, because after all, it was Brandon.

And then we experienced what Brandon was experiencing. The rest is history. The LF Foil project was launched.

Jason Slezak: We all learned together last winter on Maui. Brandon got there a week or two before us and kept raving about how much fun he was having learning to foil. Once we all were together (we were a bit cursed with lightwind) it was on. Learning to foil made the marginal conditions amazing and it also felt so good to be a beginner again.

How long did it take for the foil bug to bite everyone at LF? Gary Siskar: It took all of us one try on Brandon’s or a borrowed foil during one of our R&D trips to Maui last January. Then we were hooked. This is where the expression foilface came from. Everyone that would get their first ride up on a foil would get that expression on their face just like the first time when, well, you can imagine. These first attempts were not successful rides by any means, but all of us got the feeling, and we watched each other over the course of a week progress to various levels of hydrofoil mastery. From that point we knew we had to get involved from a brand standpoint.

Jason Slezak: It really only took about one day. Brandon learned. Julien instantly wanted to try and picked it up quickly. I hopped on one of the boards and simply couldn’t get enough.

And Gary and Tekko were shortly behind as well.

We all became instant foil addicts. I remember a quote that came from Tekko when we were sitting on the beach after our first full day of successful foiling that Brandon, Julien and I had together. He looked at us with our huge grins and full foilface going and said, “You guys all have this look on your faces like you just got laid

feeling you get from riding a foil is like riding bottomless powder on a snowboard. It hooked us. The quiet speed, the ability to feel the carve under the water and of course the lightwind advantage. There is no reconciliation so to speak, we just took a different path and at the same time, we love the hydrofoil race crew and embrace that aspect of hydrofoiling. Actually we are highly influenced and inspired by what is happening in the race scene.

for the first time. I’m going to have to give this a try!” That pretty much sums it up.

Did the LF wakeboard staff have lots of Air Chair flashbacks?

Jason Slezak: I won’t lie, there was some resistance at first. I’m sure it was some sort of flashback.

Gary Siskar: Ha... yes! But at first not in a positive or super supportive way. As you can imagine Jimmy Redmon and Tony Finn had experience with riding hydrofoils behind a boat.

So the flashbacks were vivid. Soon the tide was changed on the vision and we now have a budding relationship with Mike Murphy the inventor of the Air Chair. Mike’s knowledge is beyond anything anyone could imagine.

This one is for Gary: Coming from a really solid marketing background, how did you reconcile what you guys were experiencing with foils with what had been happening on the hardcore racer scene?

Gary Siskar: We have a very simple product approach at LF kite: we sink our heart and soul into what we will ride ourselves. This is why we never entered the market with race product.

We tried race boards at the core of the brand and none of us really had any fun. There was pressure for us to make product for racing but we took a stance that we want to focus on our core ideas and passions. With hydrofoiling there are many other facets to the experience.

Freeriding a foil became our calling. The

How did that shape your R&D approach to foils?

Gary Siskar: The direction of the race foils dictated the type of feel that we were searching for. As in we knew we did not want a foil that needed 20-plus knots or need excessive speed to maintain the lift. We wanted a fun, progressive freeriding set up. We set out with three goals to achieve with our foil: first was to make a foil that was easy to learn. Second, was to make a foil that was affordable. The third was to make the foil expandable with future, higheraspect (faster) wing sets, different fuselage configurations and the ability to put on other boards. We hit all three.

Jason Slezak: We approached our R&D process with the goal of making an affordable foil that was easy to ride and as “user-friendly” as possible. And one that could also take a beating. Our first week of foiling on Maui proved that full carbon setups could not withstand the beginner bashings that we were giving them without seeing significant damage. So that is what set us on the aluminum/glass wings path.

Who headed up the R&D? How did Jimmy Redmon and the other R&D staff and riders work together?

Gary Siskar: It truly was and continues to be an all-hands-on-deck R&D effort. Julien Fillion took lead on the wing set and sought the help of longtime LF product testing and engineer Thomas Alsbirk in Denmark to work on the precise profiling of the wings. Bryan Dawley and Wade Motawi took the point on the alloy work which was an engineering challenge and they have produced a masterpiece. Jimmy Redmon hit the ground running with the mods needed on the Foil Fish board and also aided in the overall direction to hit our end goal. Jason Slezak was the man in the field testing day-in and day-out along with Brandon Scheid. Both very unsung in their efforts and the foil would not be where it is today without their countless test sessions and feedback. We also involved some outside help from testing to prototype building which lead to some great feedback and ideas. We were very open book with our entire process. I don’t know at this moment if that was good or bad. But in

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the end we had a ton of talented and passionate people behind the foil project and all of us are quite proud and happy to have arrived and continue to go.

Jason Slezak: We truly developed the LF Foil Fish as a team. Brandon, Julien, Tekko, Gary and I pulled a “divide-and-conquer” approach. Julien worked on the wing files with his right hand CAD programmer as well as one of our Danish extended LF Family members, who happens to design wind turbines and was working on foil designs in his spare time. While the rest of us rode all the foils we could in the freezing cold Gorge last winter to build our knowledge base and understanding of what we wanted in our final design. Once we knew where we wanted to go with our product we communicated that to Jimmy Redmon and the engineers at LF to bring our dreams to fruition.

What have been the biggest challenges working with aluminum at the R&D stage and in production.

Gary Siskar: There are the obvious challenges of making the parts strong enough to withstand the forces of supporting a rider on a hydrofoil.

But beyond that there are numerous other challenges that are not as apparent, yet equally important to the end goal; figuring out the proper composition of the metal extrusion, the heat-treating process, the geometry that creates strength while at the same time being efficient through the water. Overall the biggest challenge was the entire product.

Jason Slezak: Personally I would say the biggest challenge of working with aluminum in our R&D process has been wanting everything to be as light as possible, without catastrophic failure. So it took us a while to go from too thin and too easy to bend/break to what we have now. But that is a similar process in any type of R&D board development; we are always trying to balance weight to strength to performance to find the perfect blend.

The board, the Foil Fish, is a modified LF wakesurfer. Do you guys ever use it in the surf with a kite without the foil to cut down on the number of boards you travel with?

Gary Siskar: Yeah. It is simple how we ended up using the Kite Fish (kite product line)/Fish (wakesurf product line) to become the Foil Fish. The board shape screamed for a foil to be attached to it. When Brandon Scheid started to hydrofoil the first board he put it on was the LF Reflex wakeskate. This opened our eyes and minds to looking at what “multipurpose board” in the line would be best suited in terms of performance and durability. We were already using the Kite Fish in sloppy waves 60

and lightwind sessions. The board proved to be bombproof and the dimensions were perfect for what we wanted in an intro hydrofoil board. And yes, you can ride it without the foil attached. For example when you get to a spot and the water is too shallow or a place that has a ton of eel grass or seaweed you can still ride.

Brandon Scheid: Julien has been riding the Kite Fish for a number of years now without the foil. He really liked the directional feel on the water and it was something fun for him to ride when the waves went flat. The idea in using the Kite Fish was that people could use it normally without the foil. Then when the wind dropped they could bolt on the foil and get back on the Brandon Scheid in Baja. Bergeron photo

water. As a frequent traveller I can say the less gear you have to travel with on a regular basis, the better off you are.

Jason Slezak: The Foil Fish board is a board that has been in both the LF wake line as the Fish and in our kite line as the Kite Fish for years. We started with this as our board platform, not because it was the best foil board out there, but because it met our goal of keeping the price down and bringing kite foiling to the masses by keeping it affordable.

The Fish board is basically indestructible and we were able to simply reinforce the foil mounting area and press go on making the boards, which allowed us to bring out the package that we did. I personally still travel with surf specific boards to ride in waves, but I do use the Fish board in the river here in the Gorge when it gets too windy to ride it with the foil.

LF did a series of foil instructional tip videos on Youtube. Gary did a great job on the voice over, who did the writing? Was it hard coming up with the key teaching points, or was everyone pretty unanimous on what people needed to know?

Gary Siskar: Yeah thanks. I am booking for voiceover spots as we speak. Soon I am going to be the movie trailer guy. Ha! But more on a serious side, we started to host small “foil talks” at demos, and free speaking tips and trick sessions. We saw the need to try to help people with the basics and we did it. Brandon, Julien and Jason spearheaded the filming and riding along with a general outline and then we took that to freestyling the voice over. We hope that it helps with the learning curve.

Brandon Scheid: The writing for the LF Fun Foil Tutorials was a joint effort between Gary and myself. After spending so much time teaching all our friends/girlfriends to foil, we were able to get a pretty good idea of the learning progression. So it was a matter of organizing our thoughts into concise directions and getting them to flow and come out in a timely manner. During the actual shooting of the video footage we (Jason, Julien and myself) worked on a syllabus, partly to help us get the shots we needed for the video. It was this coffee brainstorming session that laid the foundation for most of the instructional narrative.

Jason Slezak: Gary and Brandon worked together in getting the voiceovers done and mainly freestyled the voice content to match the video edits. Julien, Brandon, Sensi Graves, and I created the storyboard for the edits based off our learning experiences as well as the experiences of teaching others over the past year. We have taught people in person, over the phone, via Skype, and even tips and videos sent via text all over the world throughout this process. And all of that was very helpful in outlining what was needed for the videos. Also, the fact that Sensi (the star of our instructional video series) was actually learning helped a ton because she was making all of the mistakes that beginners make, but not having to fake those mistakes, making the videos all that more realistic. We’ve been getting so many positive comments from people learning to foil, and we all feel good that we can help more kiteboarders all over the world get their foilface on.

LF’s getting behind foils completely blew the category up in a big way. What does this massive new category mean to the sport of kiteboarding? Any negatives or pure positives?

Gary Siskar: We are fully committed to the kite hydrofoil movement! I don’t know if it is

Do you see a common water texture in these two photos? Light wind equals epic sessions!

“massive” yet. But we do believe that it will not just live as a niche in the sport of kiteboarding and it will grow to become a solid category. I really feel the greatest positive that is the exposure of kiteboarding to lightwind regions that will bring more people to the sport. Locations that typically receive 7-13 knot sea breezes, or lakes with lighter thermal effects will now be more viable as consistent places to kite with a hydrofoil. Take southern California for example; all summer there are many days that it gets windy enough to blow out the surf to make it horrible for surfing and too light to kite. Now, rock a foil and you have more days on the water, having more fun.

I guess the only negative I see is for employers because people will be ditching work a ton more.

Brandon Scheid: I think the hydrofoil has the potential to expand the sport of kiteboarding. By lowering the useable wind range we are effectively expanding the locations that can be good for kiteboarding. So hopefully we can grow new places that we never thought could be kiteboarding destinations. In addition, with the expansion of foiling into the race scene, I think we have a better chance of getting the sport into major races (Olympics and bigger sailing events). Not only that, it has reinvigorated a lot of kiteboarders to get back out there and learn something new, keeping things fresh and interesting out on the water.

Jason Slezak: I believe for LF, those of us close to the design process, and kiteboarding as a sport in general, riding a hydrofoil with a kite is just a way to get more time on the water and explore further into what is possible with kites. Foiling has the ability to turn what would be viewed as marginal to even straight-up horrible conditions into amazing conditions. Everyone can remember when they learned how to kite: any wind speed provided excitement because it was all new. Then after a short while people turn into “wind snobs,” touting that they will only ride a 12 meter or smaller, or only go out if it is 20 knots or more. Now with the foil we get excited if it is barely blowing. Julien and I rode a 17.5 meter Solo and the foil this past fall in 4-6 knots and had a blast. And on a recent boat trip a friend watched the wind meter and called out the speeds. I was riding a 12 meter LF Wow and the Foil Fish in seven knots and flying around so fast. I can confidently say that there is not a kiteboarder out there who doesn’t want a way to have more fun in lightwind. And for us hydrofoiling has become the answer.

As far as positives and negatives go, there is some risk and danger associated with learning to ride a foil, but the same can be said for learning to kiteboard in general.

Mitigating the risks is part of successfully becoming a self-sufficient kiter. So with that said, the biggest risk and barrier to entry into foiling for most accomplished kiters is balancing the bruised egos of being kicked down with being a beginner again. No matter how good you are you most likely won’t get it on your first day. And maybe not your second, or third, or even forth day. But that is part of the allure as well. So open your mind and take it slow when figuring it out. From my perspective all that I can see are positives for everyone who learns to foil and for our sport as well.

Foiling is a unique cross between riding a magic carpet and powder skiing. Brandon Scheid captures the sensation with his Gopro.

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words by Damien LeRoy have you ever dreamed of flying? The feeling of floating in the air with no noise, completely silent, and not a worry in the world? The wind rushing by your face as you average speeds of 20-to-30 knots? The ability to explore the ocean or island you’re staying on? Well let me tell you, this is the feeling of foiling.

Evolution always grows and takes new turns and new directions. Right now in the sport of kiteboarding the newest form of change is coming from hydrofoils.

It’s exciting for all levels of riding, from beginner to professional. If you are the weekend rider looking for that lightwind answer, foiling is for you.

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Damien LeRoy and Brandon Bowe explore the beautiful waters of the Cayman Islands. LeRoy photo.

In my mind, there are four big advantages and reasons to try foiling: 1. Beginner, lightwind 2. Avid rider looking for a new challenge 3. Racing 4. Future

BEGINNER, LIGHTWIND The foil gives a new rider the ability to ride in very light conditions. The foil is so efficient that smaller kites can be used which are lighter and more nimble. I’m not saying this is a very easy thing to master but I feel I have a good way to help people get the hang of it. There are now options: the 18 meter kite and a big twintip, or the hydrofoil and a 11 meter? Flying on top of the water or mowing the lawn? Questions you have to ask yourself.

AVID RIDER You started on a twintip and have transitioned to a surfboard or are maybe even riding strapless. You’re a little pickier about wind conditions: you won’t go out when the wind is under 10 knots. You’re a perfect fit for a hydrofoil. Why? You need a new challenge. A new thrill. Foiling is the answer.

I promise. The ability to enjoy lightwinds again. Jump? Yes, jump! Ride waves. There is nothing you cannot do with a foil that you can do with a twintip.

RACING I was in France two years back, racing with the US Lynch/Black Dog Team with over 130 competitors. It was a distance race taking about 25 minutes. Race to a buoy, round it and come back. In the first race I started off well, sitting comfortably in the top three with my special slalom race board, with three 26 centimeter Meanline race fins, just waiting to make my move. I was battling with a foil guy right next to me, not worried, as I thought nothing of it. We rounded the buoy and when the angle changed a little, surprisingly he started to pull away from me.

Sure enough another foil guy came up on my hip and passed me. As we hit the finish line I managed to hang on to a top 3 finish.

This was my wakeup call. All the local riders ran to their cars and came back with foils.

The horn sounded for the start of the second race. The start line was full of hydrofoils.

This was when I realized foils were the future of racing. As of right now they are the fastest things on a course. All the top racers are switching and falling in love with the speed and angles upwind and downwind.

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FUTURE This is the exciting part; the future is completely open. People are mounting the foil to skim boards, surfboards, SUP’s and riding waves. People are riding them strapless.

They’ve hit speeds of over 30 knots. They’re riding huge waves and boosting on them.

The future is endless.

TIPS So are you are ready to foil yet?

What board to get?

MHL Custom who make LIFT hydrofoils out of Puerto Rico have been building some of the most user-friendly foils for years.

They can even finish them with a custom paint job. This is what I recommend. Some companies are driven more in the race side, making their foil a little tricky for the average rider, as well as a little fragile. Check out the sidebar for a selection of recreational foils available near you, or visit kitesurfingmag.com for a complete list of the latest entry-level foils.

WHAT KITE SIZE?

If the winds are around nine knots or less I recommend an 11 meter-to-15 meter kite.

Depending on your size. You can ride the big kites like 17 meter or 18 meter, but you have to be ready when you get up and you’ll be full-powered. On an average day with less than nin knots I fly my 11 meter Cabrinha Velocity. It’s an amazing combination. I weigh 145 pounds. You want a kite that has a big range. C kites or freestyle kites will make it a little harder to learn. It can be done no question, but will take a little more skill.

THE KEY TO LEARNING THE FOIL OK, here are my secrets. If you add line extensions onto your bar, say, three or five meter extensions, it will give your kite a little more power as well as making the pull a little more gradual when you cycle it up and down. It slows everything down. This is a good thing when learning. The foil takes very little power to get up and go, so less is more. You don’t want to be powered. You want to be good just enough to fly the kite without thinking. Here is a big one: ride the board first before you get up and foil.

Shift your weight forward on to the nose of the board or your front foot. Try to ride the board with the foil under water first keeping your weight forward. Trust me, it will be foiling underwater as well and will take you upwind. If you do this you will learn the feeling of it, then you can slowly shift your weight back and it will start to fly. You then

can shift your weight forward again and put the board back down. It’s a good way to slowly learn this wonderful feeling. Keep your body in line with the shaft or the strut, that’s very important. Never bend forward or back! If you feel you are going to fall please fall. Don’t fight it. You won’t win.

Biggest advice is: just try not to move.

Have fun and I look forward to riding with you one day.

Originally from Vail, Colorado, Damien LeRoy now resides in Jupiter, Florida. Damien has won numerous national and international titles. In 2011 he was voted the AWSI kiteboarder of the year. He is sponsored by GoPro, Cabrinha, The Black Dog, Alex Aguera, Rista Fins, Costa Del Mar, Lynch Associates and Corner Five.

MATT NUZZO’S QUICK TIPS Real Kiteboarding’s Matt Nuzzo has been teaching a lot of kiters how to foilboard over the past year. He has come up with some key tips to make for fun and rewarding first sessions. lower your expectations: It takes most experienced kiteboarders three sessions before they start to have success.

Real has been able to speed the learning curve into a day with personalized instruction and pointers. ride the board flat: Learn to ride the board flat with the foil completely in the water. Work on maintaining a vertical stance with neutral foot pressure.

Everything you have learned about board control in other sports doesn’t apply here.

Stay calm, steady and balanced. getting foiled: The board will naturally bounce onto a foil off of small pieces of chop. Use front foot pressure to keep the board flat. When you start to foil, the sensation is similar to hanging ten on a surfboard. wipeouts: It’s best to fall forward, out, and away with the kite. Fighting a fall can cause you to land on the board or foil. front hand off: Riders often feel more balanced and comfortable with their front hand off the bar. If you have good kite control skills, give it a try.

Kite course racing has never been so much fun. LeRoy photo.

The future is endless! Patrick Rebstock launching in the Gorge, on a strapless wakeskate. Hallman photo.

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photo courtesy F-One.

F-ONE KITEFOIL SUGGESTED RETAIL: $3,299

MHL LIFT SUGGESTED RETAIL: $2,800 The 2015/2016 Lift Hydrofoil, has brought several years of design and iteration into a versatile package with interchangeable parts.

The strut and fuselage are the centerpiece of the design and use “race standard” geometries and construction for ultimate performance and smooth flow through the water creating more control.

The struts come in different lengths, the wings can be interchanged to suit any rider’s desires (slow and easy, wave, race), and they also stock a few different board designs that can be used with any setup.

This foil is built to last and made to evolve with the rider. Pay close attention to the alternate wing designs that will continue to be offered throughout the seasons.

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Based in France where foilboarding was quick to take off, F-One got an early start on the design process. The F-One foils are produced in France with a “pre-preg” carbon fiber. The smaller pieces are made with a new technology called “forged carbon.” This technology takes advantage of the same principles as standard pre-preg but uses a different type of fiber which is better suited for small parts with complex shapes.

F-One uses a unique patented and very cool system for the assembly of the mast, fuselage and wings for ease-of-assembly and disassembly for easy transport. The main benefit of the system is only one screw is needed to hold all the parts together: mast, fuselage, front wing and stabilizer. If you have ever put a foil together you will know that one screw will be a real time saver.

LIQUID FORCE FOIL FISH

ALIEN AIR & NF2 FOIL

SUGGESTED RETAIL: $1,599.99

SUGGESTED RETAIL: $2,799

With the Liquid Force Foil Fish you get unprecedented bang for the buck. Liquid Force went the extra mile to create a high-performance freeriding foil that will get any experienced kiteboarder flying in no time. The Foil Fish’s modular design features a multi-use board (ride it with or without the foil), plus an extremely versatile fuselage that is compatible with future wing designs to satisfy the need for speed and deliver fresh, new riding sensations for years to come.

NORTH KITEBOARDING HYDROFOIL SUGGESTED RETAIL: $3,899.95 The North Hydrofoil was designed to be an easy-to-ride board, that is suitable for anyone that is new to foilboarding. The North Hydrofoil has safety as the number one priority. The wing tips are connected by unique safety rails to minimize the risks associated with kicking, and falling on the wingtips. The result is a very unique looking foil. The entire foil is built from 10o per cent carbon fiber making the North Hydrofoil both lightweight and durable.

The wingtips are further apart than most other foils to help facilitate learning and provide pitch and heave stability.

Slingshot’s NF2 Foil and Alien Air surfboard combination sets a new standard for high-end performance in freeride foils. The Alien Air is a 4’8” x 21.5” swallowtail, designed for all aspects of foiling. Constructed with durable carbon composite rails and strut reinforcements, the board features a snub nose, chined rail bottom, concave deck, full deckpad, footstrap inserts and a sliding mount system to easily adjust foil position for learning and progression.

The NF2 Foil features hybrid carbon Kevlar construction that makes it as durable as it is light. This is a precision top-of-the-line foil design that won’t disappoint.

JELLYFISH BOARDS SUGGESTED RETAIL: $2,099 COMPLETE Jellyfish Boards originated in 2002 with a passion for building custom boards. They have built many types of boards: from twintips to snowboards, wakeskates to surfboards and now hydrofoils. Jellyfish began building hydrofoils 20-months ago with hand-shaped models. The design progressed with advanced 3D CAD software, and simulated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for flow and aerodynamic refinements. They then produced CNC moulds, as they saw a need for price point foils built of 100 per cent carbon fiber. Jellyfish Boards are made in North America.

SLINGSHOT 67

Sam and Dan Medysky heading home after a sunset session in Turks and Caicos. Pietras photo

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Kiteboarding became a part of this family over a dozen years ago. Their summer home at Sauble Beach was always where they enjoyed being free from the constraints of work and school. Kiteboarding brought a new dimension to this. There was a lot of anxiety when “the boys” took up kiteboarding, but steadily and surely both Sam and his dad became skilled riders. Dano’s support for Sam’s kiteboarding began with the first big competition in Corpus Christi, Texas and it has not wavered since that. Over the years, they’ve successfully built up their kiteschool and have travelled together to a number of events, and amazing kiting spots. Sam has brought his dad into his circle of kiteboarding friends many of whom are welcomed at the family “cottage” during the summer months.

Father and son, best of friends, the two follow their dream, each in a different element of a lifetime but with kiteboarding as the steadfast tie that binds.

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Cruising through some boat traffic off Emerald Point, Turks and Caicos. Pietras photo

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Dano carving it up close to the beach off Emerald Point. Pietras photo

Packed up and heading home. Pietras photo

Brief description of who you are and where you grew up?

Sam: I’m Sam Medysky the 2014 AWSI Kiteboarder of the year and 5 time Canadian national kiteboarding champion. I grew up in a small town north of Toronto, Ontario. I was a typical child playing hockey in the winters and baseball in the summer. When I was young my parents had me skiing and snowboarding at a young age. This sparked my enthusiasm for board sports.

Dano: My life is the typical immigrant success story. My parents worked hard so that their children could be well-educated and succeed in life. Growing up in a cultural minority in Toronto, Canada taught me the value of hard work and the meaning of family. Happiness in your work, life and play is the end result. I constantly remind myself of my humble beginnings and my kids have never forgotten this important lesson.

How did you get into kiteboarding?

Sam: I started out skiing and then snowboarding at a young age with my dad. We would spend our summer in Sauble Beach on Lake Huron in Canada. There I learned to waterski and wakeboard behind my grandparents’ boat. My dad taught me to sail some smaller dingy boats at a young age. My next door neighbour was a windsurfer which I thought was the coolest sport ever. He taught me to windsurf when I was seven. Not long after I got into windsurfing, my dad brought home a windsurfing magazine with an article about kiteboarding titled “the sister sport to windsurfing, kiteboarding!” It was soon after that my dad ordered a kite and we began the long and rough learning curve of kiteboarding in the early days.

Dano: Back in the nineties, my sister who was living in Europe at the time, sent me a Surfer magazine from France in which there was an article about the invention of an inflatable water kite. Shortly after, we got a Wipika 8.5 classic and my son and I set about learning to kite surf on our beach at French Bay. The rest is history.

How did your Kiterider school come about?

Sam: Kiteboarding gear back in the day was hard to get and it was expensive. Once my dad and I figured it out he decided that opening a school was a good idea. Being a highschool teacher and having the summers off, this was a perfect summer gig. The lessons would help us get gear cheaper and make some money to travel to some windy locations during time off in the Canadian winter. The school has slowly grown and become one of Canada’s top schools.

We still do lessons today in Sauble Beach on Lake Huron. The school is stocked with all the latest gear from Best Kiteboarding.

Dano: Being a high school physical education teacher provided me with the opportunity to spend the summers teaching others to kiteboard.

It also helped pay the bills for traveling with Sam, who was still a minor, to kiteboarding competitions all over North America. Our school was officially opened in 2001 at Sauble Beach. To this day, we are still a family-run business with Sam now being co-owner. We take great pride in personally teaching each and every student who wants to learn to kiteboard.

What is the #1 tip you give to beginning kiteboarders?

Sam: Kiteboarding is 75 per cent kite flying skills. Learn to control the kite before attempting anything with the board. In hockey we have a saying “if you can’t skate, you can’t shoot, so you can’t score.” So start with mastering the kite and then get the board under your feet. It’s a tough sport in the initial stages but you just have to keep at it.

Dano: Have patience and practice flying the kite as much as possible.

What’s it like traveling with your son and the other pro riders?

Dano: Awesome. The guys treat me no different than one of their own buddies. We’ve had many interesting adventures in different countries throughout the world.

Where are your favourite kiteboarding spots?

Sam: There are a lot of amazing spots around the world which makes it tough to decide.

Cape Town, Sout Africa, has some of the strongest winds you’ll kite in making for massive jumps, loops and insane down winders. Taiba, Brazil is the first kiteboarding Mecca I went to after graduating highschool.

Its got great winds every day, a beautiful flat water lagoon and lots of good friends to share a sessions with. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina was one of my first kiteboarding trips out of Canada and I still try and visit every year for at least a month. And of course attend the Real Watersports Triple S. Hatteras has everything: amazing flatwater and amazing waves. Combine that with the people there and you have it all.

Sauble Beach, Canada will always be a favourtie: there is no place like home. In the summer months Sauble Beach can offer some amazing conditions for downwinders and flatwater sessions. Conveniently located at my doorstep with my family at my side.

Dano: I really like Brazil for the waves and the wind. Turks and Caicos is great place to teach, though quite tame compared to other places I have been.

What’s it like to have a father that not only kiteboards but has his life revolve around it?

Sam: I’m pretty fortunate to have my father so involved with kiteboarding. It has helped me get to where I am today. I think it’s helped him as well. He lives a very active life and has been able to make great friendships through kiteboarding. He’s had some amazing adventures around the world. I look at some other retired folks and what they are doing and I can’t see my dad doing anything else or he’d get bored. It’s arguable that he maybe talks on the beach and socializes with kiters more than he actually rides, but he loves the sport and everything that comes with it. Especially aftersession cocktails… he’s retired why not?

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1999 Lake Huron.

2003 Silver Sands, Barbados.

What did you learn from your son?

Dano: Sam’s helped me achieve my goals by showing me the importance of “following your dreams.” He’s also helped me progress with my own riding style.

What did you learn from your dad?

Sam: Nothing comes easy in life. Good things come with hard work. If you’re going to do something “don’t half ass it.” Do it correctly the first time. Always double check. Measure twice, cut once. Watch out for security breaches!

What is your biggest accomplishment?

How did you achieve it?

Sam: Being where I am today. Living my dream of traveling as a professional kiteboarder. Sure I’d love to be able to say I’m world champion but for now I’m so happy traveling, exploring, meeting new people, pushing myself on the water and sharing the sport of kiteboarding with others. I’ve always stayed persistent (ask any girl I’ve been with). Since I was in school all I thought about was kiteboarding. Today it’s the same. What I get out of kiteboarding I try to put back into it whether that be money, experience or my time. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and friends though. I have a lot of people to thank that have helped me along the way since I was a little grom.

Dano: Retiring to a saltwater lifestyle. Hard work and some luck!

How does a retired teacher afford to live in the Turks and Caicos?

Dano: I made some wise investments early in my life. Throughout my career I acquired a unique set of skills that have served me well both as an entrepreneur and a kiteboarding instructor in my retirement years.

What advice would you give someone looking to live the kiteboarding lifestyle (retired or pro)?

Sam: There are so many different ways to go about it if you’re motivated and want 72

Current day father and son in Turks and Caicos. Pietras photo

to compete. Train hard and ride as much as possible. Be that approachable person on the beach that lends a hand. A good attitude goes a long way in a small sport like kiteboarding. If you’re not as motivated to ride professional but want to live the lifestyle and kite as much as possible, teach. There are tons of schools all around the globe that are looking for instructors.

Its a great way to travel, kite and make money.

Dano: You definitely need a source of income, and there’s different ways of doing it. Be sure to squirrel away some money in a nest egg then get some transferable skills that are in demand. With the internet now there are many opportunities to create a stream of income to support your lifestyle. It also helps to be lucky and have a supportive family.

What are the generational differences that you see between father and son?

Sam: Well…. Dano is usually in bed at 8:30 p.m. I’m more so a 11 p.m. bedtime person. I don’t mind roughing it sometimes whether it be crashing on a couch for a few nights or picking the cheaper flight with more stops and travel time involved. Dano is more of a convenience person. He tells me, “I’ve done that shit. When you’re older and have money you don’t mind spending a bit more to be comfortable.”

Maybe it’s true. I’ll let you know when I’m 60. Dano is a solid kiter on the water but he’s not pushing his freestyle game much these days. He’s worried he’ll get hurt. I keep telling him it’s only water, and if you’re not crashing you’re not learning. I’m not sure if it’s a generational thing, just Dano, or age, but damn he repeats himself a lot, especially if it’s something he doesn’t want me doing or using.

Dano: I often think back to my relationship with my father (his name was Sam too) and the differences and similarities I have with my son. Being able to travel the world to numerous kiteboarding events from a very young age has led to a strong and positive relationship with my son. It has taught me patience and understanding in allowing Sam to make his own decisions.

Most important is being there for him when he needs my support.

3 things you couldn’t live without?

Sam: Ocean, sunshine, my vision Dano: Sun, sand and pineapple with Nutella.

3 things you never leave home without?

Sam: iPhone, sunglasses, watch Dano: Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch (that’s 4!)

What do you enjoy when you are not kiteboarding?

Sam: Snowboarding. Sometimes when spending all my time on the water I really miss the snow. I’m Canadian. We are winter.

Also lately I’ve really been enjoying going to the gym. Dano got me into the gym action at a young age. I didn’t always enjoy it but over the past six months it has been nice to to do something not involving a board.

Dano: Working out in the gym, road cycling, playing tennis, sailing and watching the sunset.

If it wasn’t kiteboarding what would you be doing right now?

Sam: Not sure. I would like to say that I would have gotten more into snowboarding but to be honest I likely would have followed the Canadian dream of being a pro hockey player like Wayne Gretzky. I’m not sure what I would be doing for work, maybe something like working in construction, home renovation or some sort of contractor work?

Dano: Laying on a beach in the sun.

Whats next?

Sam: Try and take over the world… haha no, not sure. Continue riding as must as possible. I’m now working with Best kiteboarding and the R&D team to develop the product. I’ve really taken a liking to that, so hopefully I can continue to stay involved in the industry even after being a rider.

Dano: A Caribbean sailing adventure with my kids and my wife, if I can convince her.

Big old Front Tail off of Dallas Key, Turks and Caicos.

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NOT

many kiting events have pioneered and blazed new paths for the sport like the Venyu Triple-S Invitational. In fact, none have. With a vision and style all its own, this innovative mainstay of the sport has relentlessly shaped and inspired the face of wakestyle throughout the world for a solid ten years. In this extended feature, we’ll take a close look at the epic action from the 2015 Venyu Triple-S Invitational, as well as how the event got here, and what its future may hold.

Hitelman photo

WHILE

the Venyu Triple-S Invitational traditionally features three disciplines — surf, slicks and sliders — in the spirit of celebrating the ten-year anniversary, organizers dished up a slider spectacular for 2015, going all-in on sliders. The historic showdown of all-star riders took place May 30 to June 5, in the world’s premiere kite park, the REAL Slider Park, just upwind of REAL Watersports in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. To celebrate ten years, organizers upped the nightlife ante too, delivering ten bands and ten parties — the perfect counterpart to mind-blowing riding during the day.

What started back in 2006, as a pack of like-minded, passionate kiters gathering for a week to build features and push each other on the water, has since become a world-renowned event; a pinnacle of the sport, and the crown jewel of wakestyle kiteboarding. Year after year the progressive and passionate attitude of athletes and organizers has echoed around the world, impacting countless riders on tour, inspiring similar competitions, legitimizing wakestyle riding and

The wall-ride was my favorite park feature until it got taken out in a hurricane. So now I like to use the XL Kicker the most and either gap or transfer onto the JWCF A-Frame. —Eric Reinstra

raising the levels of performance and style for the sport as a whole.

Invitation only, the Venyu Triple-S attracts the best of the best wakestyle riders, and has become the event that the world’s top riders dream of getting invited to. Hand-picked from over a dozen countries, invited riders for 2015 included, to name just a few: Aaron Hadlow, Sam Light, Andre Phillip, Billy Parker, Brandon Scheid, Eric Rienstra, Rick Jensen, Craig Cunningham, Sam Medysky, Alex Fox, Tom Court, Jason Slezak, James Boulding, Tobias Holter, Greg Norman Jr., Jake Kelsick, Chad Worrall, Chris Bobryk, Ewan Jaspan, reigning World Champion Christophe Tack, pro snowboarder Dylan Thompson, as well as Colleen Carroll, Victoria Soloveykina, Sensi Graves, Clair Lutz, Kris Kinn, Gisela Pulido, Manuela Jungo, and reigning World Champion Karolina Winkowska. The lineup is nothing short of legendary.

In the pages ahead, we’ll take a look at the event’s rich history, legendary tales, sport-changing vision, influential characters, unparalleled atmosphere and bright future.

Brandon Scheid. Bromwich photo

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At first SSS was a way for like-minded riders to get together to push each other and try to get some coverage. It was laid back and everyone had a blast. —Sam Bell

2002

REAL produces “Windsurfing Has Been Cancelled” bumper stickers.

REAL Watersports holds the Glass Masters, the first precursor to the Triple-S.

2004

REAL holds the No Contest Weekend, the second precursor to the Triple-S.

2003 to 2005 REAL holds an annual qualifier event for Red Bull’s King of the Air.

2006

First ever Triple-S Invitational. Judged by the riders. REAL produces a 2006 Triple-S Action DVD.

Notable invitees included: Andre Phillip, Susi Mai, Shannon Best, Greg Norman Jr., Jason Slezak, Davey Blair, Sam Bell, Moe Goold, Andy Hurdman, Dimitri Maramenides, John Modica.

2007

The infamous “Camel Toe” rail is built, and Dre goes ballistic.

Notable new invitees included: Billy Parker, Sky Solbach, Dylan Thompson, Clarissa Hempel, Kristin Boese, Damien Leroy.

2008

Wildcard video contest introduced, where winner gets coveted invitation to event. On the eve of the 2008 event, REAL Watersports receives

photo Real archive

their permit to open their gigantic new 21,000-square-foot shop and host the event on site.

Notable new invitees included: Aaron Hadlow, Ruben Lenten, Brandon Scheid, Marc “Marley” Ramsier, Denver Coon, Bertrand Fleury, Alvaro Onieva, Tom Court, Joby Cook.

2009 Measuring in at 82-feet long, the John Wayne A-Frame rail arrives, built by famed wakeboarding feature designer Pat Panakos.

Notable new invitees included: Bruna Kajiya, Jake Kelsick, Petter Johnson, Ian Alldredge, Sam Medysky, Robby Naish, Kevin Langeree. photo Real archive

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ory em t m of s e gg on nch ra str a bu just b ush e p r th s, nk use fo heat urally thi . I n exc e, no at nat g a in in rid just the l ave th s op -st it wa ey on and h n n s no ke mo eer nd t li s a It fel . No our p p e i t d i . par ncy hre off y hill the infa nd s ed re P ith n its her a to fe And w lur le-S i toget tunity ve. — ab all g Trip come ppor the lo s a o r n It w s seei ers to d the it fo wa id rid ts an e did h sol g rig its. W gin r lim u yo

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photo Real archive

My favourite classic feature is between the old Death Star and the Camel Toe. The Death Star was a two-way kicker you could hit on both tacks. I remember doing my first Indy Glide off the Death Star. Ever since the Indy Glide is favorite trick. Back then people were trying Flat-3s off the Death Star. On the Camel Toe people were trying to make the length of the famous rail. Some of the best guys were throwing in a Backside 180 at the end of the rail. All in all that rail was big and scary. —Davey Blair

photo Real archive

EPIC CRASHES

a lot of crashes, but I didn’t actually see most of them myself.

Like when Hadlow got knocked out on the JWCF A-Frame and Norman came up short on the gap when the centerpiece was removed. I did see Brandon and Billy’s crashes in 2013. Brandon was hitting the kicker in the semi-finals and got kicked the wrong direction, sending him into a brutal front rail catch. He was seeing stars and couldn’t remember much but he still made it into the final.

Billy’s crash was in the slick semi-final.

The wind had been increasing throughout the day so he was super lit. He went for a massive KGB, but when he caught the bar the power of the kite pulled him into a Raley and he dropped like ten feet straight to his chest. He looked like a stone skipping on water as he bounced off his chest back into the air. I’ll never forget the sight of him going from fully tensed, hanging on for dear life, to limp with a face full of pain.

Priceless. —Eric Reinstra there have been

The North Rooftop is definitely my favorite and I’m not just saying that. For me, it’s perfect because it’s simple enough that I can try new things and not be too hesitant because of the consequences. But at the same time it offers enough technicality to never get old. —Colleen Carroll

Appel photo

Elkus photo

I think that for the SSS to remain the heart and soul of the park riding scene, it needs to remain a stand-alone event in the control of people that really care about that aspect of kiteboarding. Not only does this allow for a complete vision of the event and its place in the kite world, it allows for control to push the event where it needs to go. I think if it got incorporated into an larger “tour� it would lose all the aspects that make is so special in the hearts of the riders. —Brandon Scheid

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My favorite feature of the past has to the the up-cycled wall-ride feature. We built the feature for the Liquid Force Kiteboarding team shoot out of old material. We spent hours pulling nails out of the old lumber and even more hours arguing over how we were going to build it. When all was said and done we had an amazing feature that had a ton of possibilities and a fresh new feel for the park.

When we finally got it out in the water and the session was on, it was all about getting to the top and sliding the coping that was attached to the top. I think it was once again, style master Andre Phillip, that had the highest hits on the wall, leaving his mark all over the top of the lip.­—Brandon Scheid

2010 Rather than two parties, REAL introduces, “Seven days, seven parties, seven bands.” And a house nearly gets destroyed due to after-party madness, with a DJ on one floor, full band on another floor, and Ruben Lenten DJ’ing on a third. Plus, competitors ride 15 out of 24 hours one day.

Notable new invitees included: Sam Light, Eric Rienstra, James Boulding, Josh Mulcoy, Chad Worrall, Brian Smith, Mauricio Abreu.

2011

The annual Sunset Swim Charity Fashion Show begins. And action on the water really ramps up.

Notable new invitees included: Patrick Rebstock, Niccolo Porcella, Mark Miedama, Adriana Harlan, Rick Jensen, Chris Burke, Kris Kinn.

2012

First cash prize: $10,000! REAL Slider Park gets demolished by hurricane Irene in the fall of 2011. Joby Cook and company rebuild mind-blowing, state-of-the-art park.

Notable new invitees included: Alex Pastor, Gisela Pulido, Colleen Carroll, Craig Cunningham, Sensi Graves, Claire Lutz, Bear Karry.

2013

Prize purse ramps up to $20,000 and a panel of judges are introduced. Slider format turns into slopestyle. Data storage company, Venyu, signs on as title sponsor.

An open event is introduced, where one lucky male and female earn a last-minute invite to the main event.

Notable new invitees included: Alex Fox, Victoria Soloveykina, Rick Jensen, Ewan Jaspan,

2014

Prize purse doubles to $40,000. The surf event morphs into wakestyle in the surf.

Freeride jam-style format is introduced for the slider discipline.

Notable new invitees included: Finn Behrens, Maciek Lewandowski, Tobias Holter, Chris Bobryk, Hope LeVin. Notable new invitees included: Christophe Tack, Artem Garashchenko, Karolina Winkowska.

Andre Phillip. Elkus photo

87

Hitelman photo

i don’t party foul.

But the biggest fouls were: Alvaro Onieva peeing off the balcony onto the dance floor at one of the parties. Luckily I wasn’t in the crossfire but some weren’t so lucky. Let’s just say his night and trip ended short. Some rider for Vari Kites at the time, I can’t remember his name, stole a bunch of gear. Luckily REAL’s security cameras caught it and he got busted. —Andre Phillip 2010 closing party was the best party; no question on that one at all. DJ Brady on the inside balcony, Dubplates on the main floor of the house, Ruben spinning electronic beats on the bottom floor, with a Jacuzzi tub turned into a cooler filled with beer in the upstairs VIP room and a full-on laser show in the dunes in front of the house. It went until dawn. All without any party fouls or issues.

Until we got the damage bill for the house. Oops.

—Jason Slezak

Elkus photo

makes new riders everyday.

They also make couples. You can’t count the relationships created at REAL over the years on two hands. I met my wife Beckey there back in 2010.

Just to mention some of the power couples, Jason Slezak and Jamie, Matt and Lucy Nuzzo, John and Alexis Bilderback, Stan and Amy Radev, Pete and Nina, Claire Lutz and Bear Kerry. Some couples weren’t a direct result of SSS but were a result of REAL Watersports. —Davey Blair real kiteboarding

petter johnsen came out of Norway

and is probably one of the coolest cats I know. He had a snowboard background and he was one of the more stylish riders. It didn’t really matter what he was doing as it always looked good. I kind of wish he got more support from his sponsors so that I could see him push himself more. The other place he made my jaw drop was at one of the parties. The party was pumping and a dance circle formed. Petter absolutely destroyed everyone else’s dance moves.

I would have declared him winner like half way through but to put the icing on the cake he wanted to end with a backflip and right when he went to jump, he slipped, landed on his head and his body scorpioned so hard his feet touched the back of his head. He could have broke his neck but walked away only needing a few stitches to the face —Andre Phillip 88

Bromwich photo

My favorite REAL Slider Park feature from the early years would have to be the Red Bull Fun Box (later re-named the Red Bull Ice Box). It was massive and had tons of options; gaps, transfers, ledges, a wall-ride, and later a flat bar addition in the middle of the fun box/ dance floor sliding surface. It was designed on a napkin at lunch and built on four pontoon boat pontoons, which made it super easy to tow and move around. Dre’s backlip transfer gaps on the Fun Box during the first ever 2006 Triple-S still rival today’s kiteboarding as the most steezy hits ever on park features with a kite…hands down! —Jason Slezak

Andre "Dre" Phillip on the Red Bull Fun Box. Real archive photo

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2015 TRIPLE-S just as in all years prior, the 2015 Venyu Triple-S showcased the best park riding on the planet. Across the board, the level of riding was way up this year, as all riders exhibited a lot of growth in their technical rail riding skills, along with throwing down banger kicker hits. Some of the most notable tricks of the competition included heelside and toeside 720s, a slew of inverts including a Pete Rose 540, and super clean rail hits, complete with presses, gaps and loads of style.

WORDS BY BRIAN WHEELER

Bromwich photo

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2015

Ten-year anniversary! Format switches for the year, to just sliders. Slopestyle for finals, and dual-park freeride for all other rounds was the original plan. Adapting to the weather conditions of the week, the format ended up being a multi-park slopestyle, spread out across three parks.

Ten days, ten parties, ten bands. Organizers offer invite to top Russian rider, Artem Garashchenko from the Rail Master’s event, as well as invites to the reigning VKWC men’s and women’s World Champions. And the Masters Division is introduced.

Notable new invitees included: Christophe Tack, Artem Garashchenko, Karolina Winkowska.

I think the format, the deadline, and the energy surrounding the event made the 2015 Triple-S unlike any other. I couldn’t be happier with receiving best session and second place. Not an easy thing to do with the talent level. —Billy Parker

Trying to create perfection from inperfection is often difficult. So when nature throws you imperfection you just have to ride it for what it’s worth. —Eric Reinstra

Koudele photo

Soul, fun and progression. The event has been at the forefront of riding for the past ten years, pushing the level higher and higher every year. Several NBD (never been done) tricks happen each year and it really represents the leading edge of progression in kiteboarding. It’s also a great time for riders from all over the world to get together and influence each other’s style, starting a movement that is still growing in today’s kiteboarding world. —Brandon Scheid

Koudele photo

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Colleen Carroll won the women’s division with her smooth style and powerful riding.

It was impressive to watch all the female athletes shred the park and see how far they have elevated women’s kiteboarding. —Billy Parker

Koudele photo

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Koudele photo

I would love to see more events based on the SSS format and eventually create a small tour. Three stops within a month.

This way the pilgrimage of riders in town can migrate to another event and keep the vibes alive. —Davey Blair

Bromwich photo

THE VENYU TRIPLE-S STANDARDS After three years of development, the head judge of the Triple-S released the scoring system—the Venyu Triple-S Standards—to all Invitational and Open riders.

As the most rigorous and accurate index of terminology and hierarchy of trick rankings in the world, this definitive document outlines the full structure of how tricks are scored, and how hundreds of different tricks stack up to one another on a scale of one to 10. Providing a road map for athletes to take their riding to the next level, the Standards are broken down into a variety of base tricks and base scores, from which all tricks derive.

KICKERS: In general, there are two main types of tricks one can do off of a kicker: spins and inverts. Spins fall into four base tricks: heelside frontside, heelside backside, toeside frontside, and toeside backside. Inverts fall into six base tricks—three heelside, three toeside. Heelside inverts include: front flip, back roll, Tantrum. Toeside inverts include: front flip, back roll, front roll. While not considered full inverts,

there are four other base tricks that come from the Raley: heelside Raley, heelside S-bend, toeside Raley, and toeside S-bend. All of the possible tricks on kickers stem from these four base spins, six base inverts, and four base Raleys. The Standards also outline a number of things that can add to or take away from a rider’s base score for a move performed on any feature.

RAILS: For rail scores, there are five types of base score, two types of entry, and two types of exit, along with a number of additions and deductions—all of which factor into the point value of a trick. The five base scores include: 50-50, backside Boardslide, backside Lipslide, frontside Boardslide, and frontside Lipslide. As outlined in the Venyu Triple-S Standards, different rails are graded at varying degrees of difficulty, and therefore have differing point values for the five base scores. The two types of entry and exit are frontside spin and backside spin.

(More to come next issue on the Venyu Triple-S Standards)

If you haven’t 94 made it to SSS in the past make sure and put it on your list of things to do. It’s a great time and a great opportunity to rub shoulders with your favorite kiters. —Davey Blair

Koudele photo

Triple-S is not only the top event in its discipline, but it’s a gathering of good friends. Everyone was stoked to be in Hatteras to see each other and finally kite when the wind came. For the riders, Triple-S is similar to a family reunion.

—Sam Medysky

RESULTS MEN’S

1st Place ($12,000) – Sam Light UK 2nd Place ($7,500) – Billy Parker USA 3rd Place ($5,000) – Brandon Scheid USA 4th Place ($3,000) – James Boulding UK 5th Place ($2,000) – Christophe Tack BEL WOMEN’S

1st Place ($4,000) – Colleen Carroll USA 2nd Place ($2,500) – Sensi Graves USA 3rd Place ($1,000) – Victoria Soloveykina RUS MASTER’S

1st Place ($1,000) – Andre Phillip ATG 2nd Place – Jason Slezak USA 3rd Place – Davey Blair USA

Bromwich photo

I saw great things from many riders in my heat, standing out was Hadlow, Reinstra, Kelsick, Holter, Tack and Sam Light who was right behind me in the lineup. This made it interesting to see what Sam was going to do after my trick; I could tell he was not gonna let it slip away. And we went trick for trick with Sam managing to get a bit more out of his tricks to earn him first place. —Billy Parker Aaron Hadlow gets inverted off the Best Kicker. Bromwich photo

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Craig Cunningham escapes downunder, and completely avoids winter. Wolcott photo

NEXT ISSUE Coming up in the Fall Issue of Kitesurfing Magazine: 2016 Gear Preview and early release tests Surf Kite & Surfboard Buyer’s Guide Keeping Warm: Wetsuits–more than just black rubber!

Top 10 Winter Getaways Snow Kiting: What you need to know Pro Tales: Colleen and Craig’s world adventure

MID-SUMMER KITE

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welcome to vela Over 25 years has helped to define Vela Resorts as THE SOURCE to discover windsport travel experiences like no other.

And 2015 will be no different. We welcome you back to see what we have to offer this season. Thank you! Through your support, we continue to learn and improve upon the art of what we do: create and plan high-quality kitesurf vacations for you.

Vela introduced several exciting new spots last year - Hatteras, Tobago, Turks & Caicos, and the Philippines and would like to now introduce the NEWEST center - VELA COLOMBIA! As always, a trip to any Vela destination means you’ll find an operation featuring the friendliest, most experienced staff possible, exciting lessons from trained professionals, and the latest and safest new gear on the market from our longtime partner, Cabrinha.

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