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INSIDE: VITAL UPWIND TECHNIQUE PLUS THE SECRETS TO THE DARK ART OF POPPING
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014
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CONTENTS
COVER > Keahi de Aboitiz, pitted off his head at Off The Wall PHOTO > John Bilderback CONTENTS > Josh Mulcoy, solace in Tofino, British Columbia PHOTO > Jeremy Koreski
0 1 5
CONTENTS REGULARS:
154
>
SUBSCRIBE AND WIN Spot the board and win a Shinn!
020
>
EDITORIAL
026
>
GALLERY SUBJECT: FLAMBUOYANCY
FEATURES:
040
>
MOST WANTED
074
>
Hot new products heading your way
046
>
boarding and one of the most technically smooth
SPY NETWORK We kick off the new look British Kitesurfing Championships and tune in to some more news from
and entertaining riders you’re likely to see hit the water
082
>
around the world
056
058
060
>
>
>
>
Matt Pearce investigates the options we have as
AARON AIRS
kiteboarders to take on a more positive role in
Inside the Virgin Kitesurfing World Championships
preserving the environment in spite of our immense
with the five time PKRA Champion
global travel habits
Shinny breaks down the elements of the Firewire
MARK MY WORDS
MAFISH MUSKELA (NO PROBLEM?)
Vanguard surfboard design that is making waves
The numbers of tourists visiting Egypt’s Red Sea
around the industry
resorts have dropped up to 60% in the last few years.
090
>
Matt Pearce balances the argument of whether
READERS’ GALLERY INTRODUCING Lasse Walker has just won the Red Bull Megaloop
travelers should feel confident in returning to what was one of the most popular destinations on the planet for improving kitesurfers just a few seasons ago
102
>
Challenge
066
>
THE SNAP John Bilderback tells the tale of Keahi de Aboitiz and
112
>
>
TESTS
CRACKING IT their stories that lead to their new or continued success
kites, plus tailored SP Boarding footstraps and the
THE LEADING LADIES OF JUPITER BEACH
Shinnster strapless weapon
Lori Griffith profiles three women who you’ll see out
SUBSCRIBE WINNERS
132
>
most sessions at Jupiter Beach in Florida
136
>
THE ROOKIE RACER
off on a KiteWorldWide holiday or find themselves
Caroline Morris pulls up to the start line at the Edge
ripping on either an Ocean Rodeo Flite or North
Race Cup for the first time
HIGHER EDUCATION then crack the dark art of popping
>
>
of Windguru and Cobus Van Zyl of Vanhunks tell us
Iron out the creases in your upwind technique and
152
124
saw Keahi bag this issue’s cover
Vegas kite!
>
with Sensi Graves and Brandon Scheid
Coleman Buckley of Ride Engine, Vaclav Hornik
We announce the lucky readers who will be jetting
142
BAJAISMS Useful lowdowns on making the most of a trip to Baja
Reo Stevens’ incredible session at Off The Wall that
The Flysurfer Boost, Gin Egoist and Ocean Rodeo
116
GOING OFF-SET PART TWO Sustainability 2.0: in the second part of this series,
Push the button and you could win!
062
MOMENTUM Billy Parker is the muscle car of American kite-
THESE THINGS I KNOW Tom Avery, polar explorer and new record holder for the fastest Greenland crossing, opens his mind
138
>
THE CHARGER Caroline Morris speaks to multiple World Racing Champion, Steph Bridge
ins piR ed by na tu Re // dR ive h y t n b l e e em en ts yo zo m
FRIENDLY
EASY TO FLY AND RE-LAUNCH EVEN IN LIGHT WINDS
.co
TURN
TIGHT RADIUS TURN FOR GREAT POP AND FUN
ne
RANGE
HUGE WIND RANGE (6-20 KNOTS)
2016-Inspired-Kiteworld-DPS.indd 2
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SPECIFIC
//
ZEPHYR LIGHTWIND
ozonekites
team RideRs:
pa u l i n o p e r e i r a / / a n d y yat e s / / j a k e k e l s i c k photos: torrin bright
10/06/15 7:44 pm
0 5 6
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SPY
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NE TWORK
COLUMNS
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BKC
EDITOR I A L Alexander Lewis-Hughes finding Egypt hard to beat for rapid progression sessions on his wakeskate PHOTO – Kuba Winkowska
THE CLAN
I
ew halfway around the world
addicted to kitesurfing as him. The C ech
We’re fortunate enough to be sampling’
Walker, have all got the kiting bug running
and was sat in a Club Mistral
developer’s story of how Windguru began
a travel experience with Planet Kitesurfing
feverishly through their veins. If it’s heroics
lesson boat today with a
and grew is on page
Holidays and are holed up in the very
you need rather than affiliation - then John
chief instructor who went to
of a trilogy of designer profiles who are
luxurious St Regis resort right on the
Bilderback’s re ections on Keahi de Aboiti ’s
school in the same town as
also Cracking It’.
kite spot at Le Morne in Mauritius, but
actions on a notorious wave in Hawaii on
wherever people stay, whatever their age or
page 66, or Tom Avery’s explanation of
me back in the UK. That’s not
6 and forms part
Egypt had cracked the kitesurfing travel
so noteworthy, other than the fact that it
market with the Red Sea resorts becoming
background, there’s an incredible sense of
the things he’s learnt after setting a new
was a small town in North orkshire that
remarkably popular for kiting travel makers
community as kitesurfers. We’re not happy
Greenland crossing record with his 6 N’s
is landlocked, no one did watersports
since the mid- 000s. That was until a very
to lounge our holiday away on a sun bed.
team on page
and it’s just about a world away from the
unsettled political period and the Arab
We busy ourselves pumping up kites, laying
As a community of kitesurfers there’s
tropical island location we enjoyed this
Spring around 0 0 moved governments
out lines, snagging our toes on bits of coral,
so much good that we can achieve as unit,
afternoon. A great many coincidences
and their embassies to warn people not to
launching and landing our new friends,
and we’re only growing stronger. We often
had to happen for Jason and I to find
travel there. In the last year the situation
talking cod on the beach and then hopefully
set out with a theme for each issue, this
ourselves in that powerboat together and,
has settled down vastly and a new
throwing ourselves into all sorts of exciting
time we didn’t. It’s grown organically and,
somehow, even with all the incalculable
president appears to be putting the country
manoeuvres on the water.
as a result, perhaps we’ve ended up with
options in life, we stumbled onto similar
and its’ citi en’s welfare at the heart of his
paths routed out of town.
government’s occupations. The Red Sea
with the same people down the beach. We
with community-inspiration, aspirational
resorts have never re ected the shocking
say hello and a bond seems to effortlessly
performances, shared know-how and
seems to come into your life and change
images you may have seen on your TV
grow from a few shared observations about
stacks of amp.
everything. Somehow we become aware
news in cities like Cairo, but many have
the conditions. Often it’s no more than
of its existence, we’re drawn to it like a
reported up to a 60% decrease in visitors.
pleasantries, but experience tells us that
has left me aching for a session, which is
moth to a ame and never uite seem
There’s no doubt that the conditions are
there’s a good chance we’ll see this person
generally the aim. I hope you find the fuel
to look at things the same way again.
still incredible for kitesurfing, the country is
again here or elsewhere. Whatever else
you’re looking for in this issue, too.
If you’re a wind addict, you probably
still easy to reach from Europe and the sun
they have going on in their lives, they’re as
use Windguru. The wind predicting
still shines very warmly. On page 0 Matt
hopelessly hooked on kiting as we are.
website founder Vaclav Hornik, says that,
Pearce balances the argument of whether
surprisingly perhaps, he’s not a weather
travelers should feel confident in returning
completely smitten with kitesurfing, Billy
expert he is a web developer who is just
to what was one of the most popular
Parker, Steph Bridge, Marina Marselli,
trying to offer wind forecasts as efficiently
destinations on the planet for improving
Melissa Gil, Alexandra Menk and the new
as possible to people who are as
kitesurfers just a few seasons ago.
Red Bull Megaloop Challenge winner, Lasse
Kiteboarding does that to people. It
We get into a routine and we cross paths
This issue is filled with people who are
- will ick your switches.
one of our warmest content mixes, stacked
Reading over the final designs now
Enjoy your sessions, wherever and whatever you’re riding. See you on the water, Jim
WWW.NOBILEKITEBOARDING.COM
Pró Infinity
Pró 50/Fifty
Pró XTR
Pró 2HD
Pró NHP Carbon
Pró NHP
EUDAZIO DA SILVA (WORLD’S NO. 8) HAS CHOSEN PRÓ LINE PRODUCTS
022
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MASTHEAD
EDITOR
JIM GAUNT > jim@kiteworldmag.com
ART DIRECTOR
LYSSA RUTHERFORD > lyssa@kiteworldmag.com
TECHNICAL EDITORS CHRIS BULL AND JIM GAUNT
INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING
JAMES ‘STAN’ STANLEY > stan@kiteworldmag.com DANIELLE GAUNT > dan@kiteworldmag.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JOHN BILDERBACK YDWER VAN DER HEIDE CHRISTIAN BLACK
ASSISTANT EDITOR
MATT PEARCE > research@kiteworldmag.com
DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT
CRAIG SAWYER > craig@kiteworldmag.com
TEA BOY
HUGH MILLER > hugh@kiteworldmag.com ADVERTISING PRODUCTION: 328 MEDIA SUBSCRIPTIONS: subs@kiteworldmag.com CORE SHOP DISTRIBUTION: core@kiteworldmag.com ACCOUNTS: admin@kiteworldmag.com PUBLISHER: 328 MEDIA LTD
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JOHN BILDERBACK, JEREMY KORESKI, YDWER VAN DER HEIDE, TOBY BROMWICH, JASON WOLCOTT, ANDRE MAGARAO, AXEL REESE, QUINCY DEIN, BAS KOOLE, IAN EDMONDSON, AARON HADLOW, MARK SHINN, LASSE WALKER, REO STEVENS, GILLES CALVET, VINCENT BERGERON, KUBA WINKOWSKI, NIK GREEN, ALEX LEWIS-HUGHES, SENSI GRAVES, BRANDON SCHEID, COLEMAN BUCKLEY, ADAM LAPIERRE, DAVE NELSON, LUKAS DVORAK, VACLAV HORNIK, COBUS VAN ZYL, LORI GRIFFITHS, CAROLINE MORRIS, STEPH BRIDGE, TOM AVERY
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MASTHEAD Katarzyna Lange, summertime bliss in Greece PHOTO – Nobile Kiteboarding
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Photos: F. Berthuot NaishKites NaishKiteBoarding
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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
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76 G A L L E R Y
{ SU B J E C T:
F L A M B OYA N C Y }
F L A M B O YA N C Y N .
{1} APPEALING, ASTONISHING, BOMBASTIC { 2 } B R I L L I A N T, D R A M AT I C , D A Z Z L I N G { 3 } E X C I T I N G , F L A S H Y, L I V E L Y
{ 4 } T H R I L L I NG , ST I M U L AT I NG , ST I R R I NG
CAPTION > OSWALD SMITH, SOUTH AFRICAN SLAYER
PHOTO > YDWER VAN DER HEIDE / AIRUSH
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{1} APPEALING, ASTONISHING, BOMBASTIC
CAPTION > POWER. MARC JACOBS
PHOTO > TOBY BROMWICH / PKRA
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CAPTION > GLORY. CRAIG CUNNINGHAM
PHOTO > JASON WOLCOTT / LEWHS / PKRA
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UP-FRONT
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GALLER Y
{ 2 } B R I L L I A N T, D R A M AT I C , D A Z Z L I N G
CAPTION > TOBIAS HÖLTER, TAIBA, BRAZIL
PHOTO > ANDRE MAGARAO
0 3 1
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UP-FRONT
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{ 3 } E X C I T I N G , F L A S H Y, L I V E L Y
CAPTION > MARIAN HUND, GERMANY
PHOTO > AXEL REESE
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CAPTION > NICCOLO PORCELLA, MAUI
PHOTO > QUINCY DEIN
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UP-FRONT
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{ 4 } T H R I L L I NG , ST I M U L AT I NG , ST I R R I NG
CAPTION > YOURI ZOON, URUAU, BRAZIL
PHOTO > ANDRE MAGARAO
0 3 5
CAPTION > DIONEIA VIEIRA, BRAZIL
PHOTO > BAS KOOLE / BY THE BANK
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GEA R
/ MOST WANTED
MOST New products coming your way
AIRUSH:
WANTED
Airush broke into new
territories when they pioneered their Aramid
F-ONE:
load frame technology in 2013 for increased
F-One have stepped up to the plate once
canopy integrity. For 2016 they’ve gone a
again with another industry first. The Long
step further by integrating Dyneema which
Distance Gun was first conceptualised in
is a further 40% stronger than Aramid
2005 as a board for elite kiters attempting
fibres. Traditionally only found in kite lines,
to complete distance records. The shape
Airush have strategically built Dyneema
was very successful, so the board has now
into the load framing sections of the kite
evolved into a production model - allowing
that need the most reinforcement. While
all long distance enthusiasts to get their
there is a slight increase in weight, this
hands on one. Shaped at 2m x 43.5cm it
new method increases strength and
has a proper ‘gun’ shape for high speeds
longevity of the kite’s canopy to retain the responsive performance life of your kite for much longer.
and the ability to hold its line very well in
That brings us nicely onto the 2016 Team Series high performance product release just announced by Airush,
Ever the innovators,
tough conditions for long stretches at a
ahead of their Core range series that comes a little later in the summer. The Team series of high-performance
time. The size of the board and the extra
products consists of the Razor, Wave and Diamond (Diamond is female-specific) kites, the Livewire, Apex and
volume means that many riders can reach
Diamond Team twin-tips and the Cypher, Compact and Converse surfboards – each surfboard is available in three
speeds of over 30 knots and maintain
different constructions.
speeds of 20 knots or more for up to
Choose from the ‘Black’ or ‘Reefer’ collections in each Team Series range – the Black being subtle, classy and
100 miles. For the aspiring long distance
badass with active carbon technologies, while the ‘Reefer’ collection features more natural hues and wood grains.
adventurer, it’s the ideal weapon!
Team boots as well as harnesses are also available in Black or Reefer styles. Get fully kitted out! Many, many
SIZE: 2m x 43.5cm
more details coming in later issues and on The Kite Show … and of course now, at:
SIZES: 140 x 42.5, 136 x 41 and 133 x 40cm
www.airush.com www.f-onekites.com
LIP:
Love kitesurfing in amazing summer conditions but not a big fan of scorched
retinas? Try protecting your eyes from the sun’s glare, the wind and ocean spray with a pair of these Typhoons from LiP. Equipped with polycarbonate, polarised, Tri-Pel lenses made by Zeiss, the 2016 Typhoon is one of the most advanced and hottest looking pairs of water shades on the market. They come complete with a leash and a retainer necklace so you won’t lose them, even during the hardest wipeouts, and they’ll also make sure you don’t come off the water looking like an extra from the movie 28 Days Later. LiP also have a collection of great looking urban style sunglasses. www.lip-sports.com
// RIDER: KI HWAN KWON
CRUZE
CRUISER PRO
LIGHTWIND.
LIGHTWIND.
15m / 17m
135 x 46 / 145 x 44 / 145 x 48
(& # & % ' % # (& &
$ & % & & % % $ % & & % " ) ! ' )
$ ! ' *
CRAZYFLYKITES.COM | CRAZYFLYSHOP.COM DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION
North America - distributor: Pksdistribution.com, Corpus Christi, TX , info@pksdistribution.com UK - dealers: list of dealers on www.crazyflykites.com
042
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GEAR
/ MOST WANTED
GENETRIX:
The Samba is a new addition to the Genetrix range and the latest in the Universe
Series. An all-terrain freeride and wave kite, it promises to be ultra versatile with huge amounts of depower for ease of use. Designed for huge hang-time with intuitive handling, the Samba is aimed at the rider who wants to go big but still have a kite that is responsive enough to work well in the waves. SIZES: 14, 12, 10, 9 and 7m www.genetrixkiteboarding.com
MYSTIC:
Summer is here
for many of us and that means it’s rashie season! Mystic’s new offering, the Snake long sleeve rashvest, is made from a blend of 87% nylon and 13% spandex to produce a soft touch high quality rashie with flatlock stitching that, thanks to Mystic’s strong styling, will not only make you look fierce on the water but will also protect you from the burning sun (it’s resistant up to UV 50+). Highly durable, the Snake is a long lasting product that you will be wearing for many sessions to come.
MANERA:
Manera’s first foray into the neoprene game with their new wetsuit
line strikes a balance between ‘tech’ and trendy. The intuitive design is the key to warmth, www.mysticboarding.com
comfort and freedom, dictating whether you’ll be out of the water first or last! Manera’s suits are designed using exclusive software that merges 3D design and pattern making technologies to bring the highest level of fit and feel to a high performance suit that is designed with body geometry in mind. The suits range from a 2.2mm shorty to the 5/4/3mm steamer, utilising top-of-therange technologies, such as Triplex Magma neoprene, V-foam and Phantom straps. www.manera.com
OZONE:
Light wind kites have experienced something of a
rebirth in recent years due to a big step up in handling and relaunch capabilities and, it’s fair to say, that Ozone have been at the forefront of this low wind movement. One of the first light wind kites to combine responsive handling with high-performance ability, the Zephyr has been a benchmark in the light wind freeride stakes for several seasons. The latest model combines the Edge’s performance characteristics with the impressive low end of the previous Zephyr. Using cutting edge CAD modelling software, the Zephyr’s flying characteristics have been tweaked for cruising, practising new school moves or honing your strapless airs, yet there’s still plenty up top to keep your kite loops and big airs smooth and floaty. If you’re looking for a light wind machine this summer that won’t hold you back, the Zephyr could be for you. www.ozonekites.com
044
RRD:
/
GEAR
/ MOST WANTED
A completely new shape from RRD, the
terrain, entry level kite that is versatile, fun and
Bliss V3 is a freeride / freestyle machine blending high
responsive. The inherent predictability means that
performance with ease of use. Combining a medium
although you can learn on it, the Vision will also
flex pattern with deep bottom channels to increase
work well for freestyling, waveriding or just cruising
grip and stability, the Bliss allows you to ride fast, track
around. This year RRD have added the B.U.S.T system
upwind and pop like a demon. Shaped from CNC cut
(Bridle Untangle Stiff Triangle system) to prevent the
Paulownia wood and finished with thin, slightly rounded
bridle tangling around the wingtips as well as double
ABS sidewalls, the Bliss is then laminated with triaxial
reinforcement tape around the leading edge and a
high strength glass in order to give increased durability
segmented reinforced trailing edge to make the kite
while reducing the board’s weight.
more durable. Water relaunch has also been improved in the bigger sizes.
SIZES: 139 x 43.5, 138 x 42, 136 x 40 and 135 x 39cm
SIZES: 15, 13.5, 12, 10.5, 9, 7 and 5m
Coming into it’s fifth year, the Vision Mk4 is RRD’s all-
www.robertoriccidesigns.com
SWITCH:
From barrel hunting in Hawaii, free riding your local lake or exploring the snow covered backcountry in
the Alps, the Element4 is the perfect choice for your adventures. This mid-aspect ratio three-strut open-C design is solidly supported by a pulley-free compact bridle and offers the rider a tight, pivotal turn, smooth power delivery and incredible wind range. All marketing talk? Check it out for yourself by taking the Element4 out for some serious sessions, completely risk free and covered by Switch’s 30 day money back guarantee. SIZES: 15, 13, 11, 9, 7 and 5m www.switchkites.com
WAINMAN HAWAII: Available in the same seven classic sizes and characters as the legendary black Rabbit series, the Rabbit Gang 3.0 White Edition offer all the performance that riders have come to expect from Wainman Hawaii kites. The latest kite in the series has gained a reputation as an incredibly versatile kite with a choice of single or multiple point inflation and a variety of kite and bar combos to provide a customisable feel for all riders. SIZES: 14.5, 12, 10.5, 9, 7.5, 6.25 and 5m Developed alongside world-renowned waterman and shaper, Sean Ordonez, the Gambler, Magnum and the Passport surfboards are packed with a variety of features to deliver maximum performance and stoke on the water in any wave conditions. There are construction changes
GAMBLER SIZES: 5’10’’ and 5’7’’ MAGNUM SIZES: 6’2’’, 6’0’’, 5’10’’ and 5’7’’’ PASSPORT SIZES: 5’11 and 5’8’’
and visual improvements in this user-friendly range that maintains the high performance characteristics you’d expect from light, reactive boards.
wainmanhawaii.com
Fusion Carbon Hybrid Core
Get on board
2016 Collection availaBle noW More info at rdp.brunotti.com
15-XXXX Kiteworld Advertentie 230x280.indd 1
23-06-15 18:10
046
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SPY
NETWORK
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BKC
BKC LAUNCHES AT LANCING W ORDS AND P HOT OS > Kiteworld, unless otherwise stated
We are co-running the British Kitesurfing Championships with IKSURF mag and the British Kitesports Association this year. A i m i n g t o r e k i n d l e t h e i n t e n s e c o m p e t i t i o n t h a t s a w t h e l i k e s o f H a d l o w, L i g h t , B o u l d i n g , C o u r t , W i l s o n , W h i t e l e y a n d J o n e s p r o p e l themselves onto the world stage. We kicked off in Lancing in East Sussex at the end of May and have two more stops coming up in Southend in Essex at the end of July and Hunstanton mid-August. Coupled with the support of kitesurfing’s biggest brands, there will also be exciting gear demos for you to try out at each event. Come on down; Lancing was a belter!
B
ack in the very early 2000s the UK was a hub of excitement with a bubbling pro scene and several riders each season seemingly able to graduate onto the world tour after a very solid grounding spent tussling it out in a tightly fought British series. We have incredible kitesurfing conditions in the UK and a dedicated community of riders of all abilities and ages so, along with our friends over at IKSURF magazine and the British Kitesports Association, decided over the winter that we’d like to try to inject some of the old zest into the events that seemed to have gone missing in recent seasons. The tour has still produced great riders in recent years, such as Dan Sweeney, George Dufty and more, but the technical style that modern technical freestyle involves, doesn’t always translate well into entertaining watching for the majority of viewers, so actual numbers at the events really dwindled. We believe that the future of UK kitesurfing events gaining in popularity has to put the amateur rider at the heart of the event and make the weekend an occasion in which anyone can have a go at competing, whatever their level. But we also wanted to encourage kitesurfers to come along who aren’t interested in competing, but who might be interested in trying new equipment, so we invited many brands to come along and demo their products. And if that doesn’t float your boat, then we just wanted kitesurfers to come along and join us for a few beers in the evening! The competition itself saw 50 competitors sign up across the Men’s Pro, Women’s Pro, Men’s Amateur, Women’s Amateur, Masters and Junior divisions. On Saturday the weather was ideal with sunshine, flat water and 18mph winds and we managed to get everyone on the water – competitor or gear tester – at some point in the day and fully concluded the Men’s and Women’s Amateurs, Juniors and Women’s Pros. Sunday morning was a gloomier affair but with much stronger winds and a challenging shorebreak. Only the hardcore fans assembled on the beach to watch this backyard jam play out for the Men’s Pros and Masters competitions. The standard was high given that the water state was throwing up huge chop and big rollers. Even just getting off the beach through the six foot shore-break was tricky enough at times. Elite European Formula Racing Champion, Olly Bridge, eventually prevailed having put in a couple of weeks hard freestyle practice for the event in the build up that really paid off, proving what an awesome talent he is. We left the weekend, as we hope everyone else did, having been thoroughly uplifted once again by the spirit and atmosphere that is alive and well in the UK scene. Check the dates for the rest of the tour at the end of this feature; we’d love to see you along at one. If you’ve never entered a competition before, it’s a great way to get your feet wet, take your enjoyment of the sport to a whole new level and make some great new friends. The amateur competition is all about hooked-in fun and handle-passes aren’t scored at all. The Masters section is the next step up for progressive riders who have a wide range of skills but aren’t yet handle-passing with any regularity or ease. Choose your division and come join us!
Oli Sweeney threw together some very well rounded heats showing an immense array of all-round freestyle skills and the comfort of a local in the tricky conditions PHOTO – Ian Edmondson / Expix
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RESULTS: PRO MEN: 1 Olly Bridge 2 Oli Sweeney 3 Sean Murphy
MEN’S AMATEURS: 1 Dan Turner 2 Richard Wise 3 Andrew McMillan
PRO WOMEN: 1 Rosanna Jury 2 Holly Keenan 3 Danielle Durrant
WOMEN’S AMATEURS: 1 Lucie Turner 2 Kate Ross 3 Sarah Barkway
MASTERS; 1 Kevin Matthey 2 David Wilde 3 Kevin Maguire
JUNIORS: 1 Harry Way 2 Jack Gardiner 3 Tom Seager
Olly Bridge took it to the top PHOTO – Ian Edmondson / Expix 2014 Women’s Champion Rosanna Jury got straight back to winning at Lancing! PHOTO – Ian Edmondson / Expix
Thumbs up for Kevin Matthey, Masters winner
Sheltering on Sunday, 2014 Men’s Champion George Dufty and Lancing winner Oli Bridge
Awesome crew
All out stoke in the Masters between multiple Seniors Champion Pete Jones and Lancing winner Kevin Matthey PHOTO – Expix
Immense judging crew: Robin Snuggs, Lewis Wilby and head judge Ali Barrett
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Masters. PHOTO - Ian Edmondson / Expix
Juniors. PHOTO - Ian Edmondson / Expix
Amateur Men. PHOTO - Ian Edmondson / Expix
THANKS
A huge thanks goes out to all the volunteers from the awesome Lancing Kitesurfing Club who provided such vital hands-on help over the weekend, from flipping burgers, to marshalling, launching and landing kites, putting up signs, generally mucking in and bringing a smile to everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s face throughout the weekend. We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t run this tour without the help of the clubs and we picked three of the most active UK clubs to help us stage the tour. Thanks in particular to James Burrows and Olly Lawrence who were integral to round one being staged at all.
Pro Men. PHOTO - Ian Edmondson / Expix
A massive thanks also goes to the event sponsors and prize donations, which came from: SPONSORS: North Kiteboarding, Airush, Shinn, Ozone, Flysurfer and Blast Kiteboarding PRIZES: Cabrinha, Atom Skateboards, Ellis Brigham vouchers for each Junior winner donated by the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada, Manera, Mystic, Liquid Force, Brunotti BKC 2015 TOUR DATES 30 / 31 May - Lancing - Hosted by Lancing Kitesurfing Club 25 / 26 July - Essex - Hosted by Essex Kitesurfing Club 15 / 16 August - Hunstanton - Hosted by Hunstanton Sailing Club MORE: Get all the updates before and during the event at: www.facebook.com/britishkitesurfingchampionships and www.twitter.com/britishkites Pro Women. PHOTO - Ian Edmondson / Expix
You can also watch our round-up video produced in association with The Kite Show on the BKC Facebook page or searching British Kitesurfing Championships on www.kiteworldmag.com See you in Essex! Amateur Women. PHOTO - Ian Edmondson / Expix
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VIRGIN KITESURF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Two full rounds down for the new Virgin Kitesurf World Championship tour and in the main freestyle event Liam Whaley and Karolina Winkowska have each had perfect starts, claiming back-to-back wins at Dakhla in Morocco and Coche in Venezuela. Karolina is the reigning and two-time Women’s World Champion, whereas Liam finished runner-up last year in the men’s, having ended the season with a terrific run of wins – clearly he kept the bit between his teeth for 2015. The Tarifan teenager looks incredibly clean and composed and, despite Youri Zoon’s return to form and the tenacity of Aaron Hadlow, Liam has been dominant. The VKWC announced ambitious plans to grow the tour by also running other disciplines and have completed two rounds of big air competitions (in lighter winds than most riders would like, it has to be said) and one wave event in Dakhla. They have yet to run a slalom event. The upcoming confirmed events are Tarifa 11 – 19 July, Fuerteventura 3 – 8 August and Germany 22 – 30 August. Following those events, Brazil, Argentina, China and South Africa are all yet to be fully confirmed.
The media team are producing more and more content as the tour finds its feet, so stay tuned to www.kiteworldmag.com and The Kite Show (www.thekiteshow.tv) where we’ll be featuring image, news and video round-ups. The official tour website is: www.vkwc.com
STANDINGS SO FAR: FREESTYLE MEN: 1 Liam Whaley (SPN) Cabrinha 2 Youri Zoon (NED) Best / Brunotti 3 Aaron Hadlow (GBR) North
BIG AIR WOMEN: 1 Gisela Pulido (SPN) Best 2 Hannah Whiteley (GBR) Best 3 Annelous Lammerts (NED) Slingshot
FREESTYLE WOMEN: 1 Karolina Winkowska (POL) Slingshot 2 Bruna Kajiya (BRA) Airush 3 Gisela Pulido (SPN) Best
MEN’S WAVE: 1 Keahi de Aboitiz (AUS) Cabrinha 2 Pedro Henrique (BRA) Best 3 Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) North
BIG AIR MEN: 1 Marc Jacobs (NZ) Switch 2 Kevin Langeree (NED) Naish 3 Reno Romeu (BRA) North
WOMEN’S WAVE: 1 Jalou Langeree (NED) Naish 2 Moona Whyte (USA) Cabrinha 3 Ines Correia (POR) North
Liam Whaley, dominant PHOTO – Rodrigo Ungaro Men’s Freestyle podium, Venezuela: 1 Liam Whaley, 2 Youri Zoon, 3 Aaron Hadlow PHOTO – Juan Santiago Monteverde
Women’s Freestyle podium, Venezuela: 1 Karolina Winkowska, 2 Bruna Kajiya, 3 Gisela Pulido PHOTO – Juan Santiago Monteverde
The beach crowds at Coche, Venezuela PHOTO – Juan Santiago Monteverde
TWIN WAVE 148
NEW WAVE 5’4”
NEW WAVE 5’8”
SURF COLLECTION 2015
RIDER: TORRIN BRIGHT
WOODEN SPUD 5’0” 5’3” 5’6”
WOOD WAVE 5’4”
WOOD WAVE 5’7”
WOOD WAVE 5’10”
WOOD PRO WAVE 6’0”
axiskiteboarding.com
FOILBOARD CONVERTIBLE
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CAPE CRUSADERS
The first annual Cape Crusaders event took place in Cape Cod in Massachusetts at t h e e n d o f M a y. 1 3 t e a m s o f f i v e t o o k t o t h e c o u r s e i n w h a t f o r m a n y w a s t h e i r f i r s t competition or race; most were weekend-warriors with no interest in either. So what brought them there? Collectively they raised $40,000 for Athlete’s 4 Cancer. E v e n t c o - o r d i n a t o r, C h r i s L a m b o u r g h i n i , t e l l s u s h e r e a b o u t h o w k i t e s u r f i n g c a n h e l p i n s p i r e m e g a - l e a p s f o r w a r d a s a c o m m u n i t y WORDS > Chris Lambourghini
The quality of your kite spot’s conditions are only as good as the company you keep. Even an empty lagoon in Brazil will get stale if you don’t have anyone to share it with. There’s a feeling I get as I approach my home spot and recognise a friend’s kite from the distance. I’m motivated to hustle onto the water to join them, and I also know exactly what kite to pump before stepping out of the car. This is how we have welcomingly come to depend on each other and how community pushes us forward. Most scenes have a local forum where gear reviews are discussed, beach info is posted and meet-ups are organised. When you arrive in the Northeast United States, Masskiting.com is your home. We’ve had pioneers in Massachusetts kiting and teaching as far back as ’99. Though it’s easy to stay under the radar and walk the fine line of beach access with fewer kiters, we’ve found strength in numbers. The Cape Crusade was a tremendous fundraising success with minimal cash sponsorship – showcasing that this was truly a grass-roots effort driven by community. We had never organised a kite event to this scale, yet we set out with a vision and confidence that, if we built it, everyone would have our backs. The race itself was designed as a team-relay to keep the focus on people enjoying the day with their crew. After racing along a congested course in dense fog, each team joined hands and ceremoniously crossed the finish line together. The smiles, stoke and sense of accomplishment will carry on until the next year, when we will do it all over again, bigger and better. You may not have the conditions or market share to draw pro athletes and the next World Tour stop, but the Cape Crusade translates to every kite community. Whether it’s the Virgin Kitesurf Armada breaking world records, Kiteboarding 4 Cancer challenging a six-hour endurance race, or a marathon relay, we’re all driven by two things: the wind, and the need to be part of something bigger than ourselves; the essence of community.
Team Pants Off Racing crossing the finish line together underneath the 20m North Rhino Tonia Farman and Chris Lamborghini announce the fund raising totals at the post-race party
2012 Triple S Surf Champ, Mark Miedama, makes the relay tag in style. For the record, he nailed the beach landing 13 teams, 65 kiters, $40,000 raised
Find out more at: www.capecrusade.org and Athletes4Cancer at: www.athletes4cancer.org
VIRGIN KITESURFING ARMADA UPDATE The team behind the Kitesurfing Armada are pleased to announce they are now half way to their target of 500 signed up kitesurfers! Since launching for 2015, 250 full registrations have been received in just a few weeks. 250 places remain for kitesurfers to sign up to ride the 15 mile course from Hayling Island to Pagham, whilst also attempting to break the Guinness World Record title for the ‘Largest Parade of Kitesurfers’ (currently held by the Spanish Kitesurfing Armada). The event is all in aid of raising money for the Snow Camp, RNLI and Virgin Unite Charities and Sir Richard Branson, Aaron Hadlow, the Bridge family and of course Lewis Crathern have confirmed that they intend to participate. The festival period has been extended this year to open from 11am on Friday through to Sunday late afternoon. A massive exhibition marquee will be filled with brands exhibiting their latest gear and providing advice and information to kitesurfers of every level. The community marquee will host the main stage, jumbo screen, bar area, live music and event parties on Friday and Saturday night as well as a café, an area with inspiring talks / presentations and chill out zone. The scheduled date options for the event to run this year are: 18 – 20 September / 2 – 4 October / 16 – 18 October.
If you are still thinking about signing up, now is the time to help bring this World Record home! www.kitesurfingarmada.com
And speaking of community movements, they don’t come any bigger than the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada! HAYLING ISLAND • 18–20 SEPTEMBER OR 2–4 OCTOBER OR 16–18 OCTOBER
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
MAIN MEDIA PARTNERS
MAGAZINE
SUPPORTING
LARGEST PARADE OF KITESURFERS 352 KITESURFERS 31/08/2014 SPAIN
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KITEWORLDWIDE LODGE OPENS AT KALPITIYA IN SRI LANKA Rapidly gaining in popularity, Kalpitiya is
considered by some as the Asian alternative to Brazil because of the massive flat water
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MAURITIUS SEASON The Kiteworld editorial team are out in Mauritius as they dot the i’s on this issue. Mauritius evokes ideas of the ultimate destination with warm waters, world-class waves out on the reef, flat water inside and an array of riding options that extend outside the most well-known spot of Le Morne. The genuine hospitality and welcoming nature of the Mauritian people is rarely matched, nor are the beauty of their beaches.
lagoon and extremely high probability of
Interestingly, Marcus from Planet reckons that Mauritius is one of their most popular destinations – a sure
wind. KiteWorldWide have built comfortable
sign that the economy is in recovery, or just that kitesurfers will stop at nothing for the ultimate riding
accommodation inline with their standards
experience! Look out for a report running in the next issue and a travel documentary video coming up on
elsewhere that offers beautiful rooms with AC
the Kite Show (www.thekiteshow.tv). For all Planet Holiday offerings and tailor made packages, head to:
and your own balcony overlooking the lagoon and spot. Full-board in-house restaurant, kite storage, rescue service and boat shuttles are all included in your package and the kite centre stocks the latest Best Kiteboarding gear. Now, as with all KiteWorldWide centres your lesson time is unlimited until you reach your goal. Flights can be found for surprisingly good prices, often under €500, and Emirates are particularly good as you can carry up to 30 kilos of equipment. Warm water, incredible, regular kiting and plenty of other offthe-water experiences and trips to national parks will fill out an outstanding holiday. The Lodge opened its doors in mid-June, so is in full swing now. www.kiteworldwide.com
ITALIAN STALLIONS
The World Formula and Kite Foil Racing Championships will be held at Hang Loose beach in Gizzeria in Italy from the 9th - 19th July and the Kiteworld and Kite Show teams will be there covering it. A superb European destination for regular kitesurfing, the daily thermal winds should provide the regular juice for heated races and back-to-back days of action. Kite foiling is already making big news in the watersports world as the elite racers have been regularly toppling the lap time records in some of the sailing world’s most prestigious races. They’ve now had a few seasons to really hone their equipment and polish their skills, so the battle at the top should be a gritty and fast affair. The Formula Worlds is of course the bread and butter discipline for all these racers and is where they’ll be getting their hands dirty as rivalries rear up once more as the hopes for Olympic 2020 inclusion beckons. Look out for family showdowns between the Heinekens and the Bridges as well as what will surely be stand out performances from the young World Champion Maxime Nocher and previous champion Florian Gruber. It’s going to be tight and we will taking you inside the event and the racing through the mag, social media and Kite Show (www.thekiteshow.tv) videos to help you get a better feel for the racing game.
Check out the spot at: www.hangloosebeach.com
www.planetkitesurfholidays.com
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AARON AIRS
A frustrating couple of months with disappointing wind ended with the five time World Champion looking none-too-stoked on the bottom step of the podium in Venzuela in June, but what was he really thinking? This is Aaron Hadlow’s regular Kiteworld column
championship should be decided off the
we had in the past, but it was good to see
back of that one solid event. What I have
some effort and potential. The judging
seen so far this year on the VKWC, the
format has also improved. It still needs
big air has not been credible.
some work and time for the judges to
Once you have to ride kites bigger
seemed to sit in what most consider to be
to me. No kickers, choppy water and no
the correct order, more often than not.
kite loops does not excite me to watch
good, so the small box format worked
breathtaking, not ballet. I think that is the
well and the riding level was really high.
reason that a lot of the big names are
There must be some great footage!
I can understand why the big air event
I finished third again for the second stop running and I can be happy with
ran in Morocco and I can understand
that result. I was hoping to get some
that a World Champion has to make
serious time on the water beforehand
the best of all the conditions thrown at
and be closer to the top, but for the
them. Morocco was the first event of the
couple of months leading up to the event
new season of a new world tour. The
I struggled for wind. I did, however, visit
conditions were borderline, so I get that
Los Roques for North Kiteboarding’s
it had to go ahead from a commercial
Vegas shoot, which must be the most
standpoint. I just really wish we could
beautiful and idyllic place I have ever
focus on three or four stops and focus on
visited! The wind was light throughout the
quality over quantity.
trip though and then after that I moved
At some points the wind has
over to Cape Hatteras for the Triple-S
been so light that people had to ride
where the wind also disappeared for two
underpowered on 13 and 14 metre kites.
weeks. The few days I did get on the
Watching those heats, I felt like I was
water were on big kites – maybe I should
back in my first full year on tour, in 00 .
have practiced my big air!
High handle-passes are generally ugly
Preparation for an event is key and
and there are few people that can make
a lack of riding can really effect you.
them look smooth and uid actually, I
Staying fit and on top of your game can
literally only know a handful of people that
make all the difference. You can see
can do that), but for the majority they are
that in Liam Whaley’s freestyle riding.
an eye sore.
He had a taste of victory last season
The next event is in Tarifa, followed
T
The freestyle conditions were pretty
or to ride. Big air should be exciting and
absent from these competitions.
Dropping backside down the North rooftop at the Triple-S in Cape Hatteras, but it wasn’t ideal preparation for Venezuela PHOTO – Toby Bromwich
adjust, but the tricks and their scores
than nines, the discipline loses its identity
and he is constantly motivated to stay
by Fuerteventura. I hope we get some
on top. He deserves his number one
classic Levante and Sotavento winds to
position right now.
really show what a big air event should
I may not have looked that ecstatic
look like because it should be a key part
on the podium! But I wasn’t totally
in the development of our sport and the
unhappy. I’m not going to jump around
here has been a bit of a
structured in the same way but it’s related
tour! Broadcasting good conditions to
for a third position, even though it’s still
come back for the ‘big air’
to the King of the Air; it’s the roots of the
the world will help our sport grow, not
a decent result. I am hard on myself
discipline this year. The
event and, importantly, orchestrated by
reducing the legitimacy that we may
when it comes to results and I know I
Red Bull King of the Air
Ruben who wouldn’t run the event if they
have built up in recent years by exposing
still need to improve. By the time I was
made a triumphant return
didn’t get the right conditions – which
under-par performances.
on the podium I had very little emotion,
three years ago and the
happened last year.
effects of that seem to be
I think one-off big air competitions
Following on from my last column, we
I was already thinking ahead to the
did see a few improvements on the tour
next event in Tarifa. I can’t wait. Not
rubbing off on other event organisers.
throughout the year can work, waiting
in general. As riders we had some help
only will I be at home, I will also have
Big air events can be spectacular, they
for the correct conditions in a spot that is
getting to and from the remote location
some time to prepare before hand. My
please the crowds and there’s no doubt
known for very strong wind. I even think
on Coche Island in Venezuela and we
KW new Hadlow Vegas kites are looking
that it attracts the audiences, catching the
the World Tour concept can work too;
were well looked after. It was also nice
and working amazingly well and the
eyes of newcomers. The King of the Air
the tour goes to three or four very windy
to see some updates, pictures and video
same goes for the new Hadlow board.
is unique in that it’s the pinnacle of the
locations, but the conditions have to be
during the event and, although hard to
Sometimes a fresh, new and improved
discipline. The reality, for me, is that no
up to standard and the format has to be
follow on the day, there was at least some
quiver can give you an extra boost, so
other event can quite match it.
right. If the wind is only suitable at one
information available. I wouldn’t say this
I am confident that with all this I can
event, ie: 30+ knots, in my opinion the
side of things has improved from what
step it up a notch for the next event!
The Megaloop challenge is of course
KW
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S e r i o u s To m o s u r f b o a r d b r e a k d o w n i n t h i s , Mark Shinn’s 49th Kiteworld column
OF
L
gentlemen,
ability to generate enough speed on a less
thinking having gone into the process in a
this type of board for kiting so I think I
let me start this month’s
than perfect wave). The most obviously
great many of cases. As an early adopter
can say I’ve had enough time to judge,
ramblings
a
noticeable feature of the Vanguard is the
I feel like I have some kind of invested
and my passion for the Vanguard has
disclaimer: if you don’t
chopped nose and tail, instantly setting
interest in the concept and check out each
become very much a love / hate affair. I
ride
this
it apart from the masses, but this is
and every version in depth, but it seems
have sessions when I can’t imagine riding
article is going to be of
certainly not the secret of the design. A
to me there are only really two takes on
anything else and then I have sessions
little interest to you and,
largely parallel rail outline, huge concave
the concept out there – the absolute
where I find myself longing for a classic
frankly, there is a large
through the centre of the board to ‘suck’
copy (which in some ways makes sense
rounded square tail 5’10’’ with a normal
possibility that the whole thing will mean
air through and produce rapid acceleration
as, if you can’t make something better,
rocker and width.
little or nothing to you.
and a relatively low rocker capped with a
then you may as well avoid making
I was never a great fan of Fish
Still here? Good, let’s get down to
pronounced channel in the tail produce a
something worse and the jump on the
type boards for kiteboarding as, in
business. There has been a revolution,
board that even an average surfer can ride
band wagon’ versions, which in essence
general, a fish is designed to paddle
things have changed and, frankly, not a lot
up to six inches shorter than their normal
are just a normal board with the tail and
fast and generate speed easily at the
of people saw it coming. It all started with
surfboard, without compromising paddling
nose lopped off, displaying none of the
not insignificant expense of upper end
a certain surfboard shaper, Tomo (that’s
efficiency and still being able to enjoy the
more subtle revolutionary design traits that
performance and is principally designed
Mr Tomo to you), and as with many a
benefits of speed and turning ability.
make the Vanguard what it really is. If I’m
for small or slower (fat) waves. I always
adies
and
a
with surfboard
revolution Mr. Tomo didn’t actually invent
I was a fairly early adopter of the
honest, I can tell you I actually own one
felt, however, that kiting takes the whole
anything in particular but he did bring
Vanguard for surfing for me it was the
of the former copies, but a custom. It’s as
speed thing out the equation, so why
together a number of pertinent concepts
board I’d been searching for and is still
close to the real thing as can be made but
would you need a fish Then along comes
and combined them into something rather
my go-to board for
0% of my surfing
somewhat beefed up as I’m not noted for
the Vanguard (which has a turbo charger
special. He also gave it a name – The
days. Naturally my mind (as apparently for
my light-footed style and do have issues
pretty much built in and I find myself riding
Vanguard. The Vanguard was designed as
many others) drifted quickly to wondering
with breaking boards sometimes.
it all the time. Curious – but after some
a surfboard but incorporated his concept
how well the concept would work for
to create a ‘modern planing hull’. The idea
kiteboarding.
Now, this is all very interesting if you
thought it occurs to me that the revolution
have an interest in the evolution of the
was in making a board that has speed to
was relatively simple: throw the rule book
The notoriety of the design took a grip
sport, but many of you might be thinking
spare and yet minimizes the performance
out the window and start again in making a
and if we fast forward to 2015 there is a
in a slightly more selfish way and simply
loss – bingo. So why the love / hate? Well,
short board that has all the benefits of being
veritable plethora of Vanguard-ish type
want to know what it’s all about and is it for
on the really good days
a short board (speed and manoeuvrability)
kiteboards on the market as each and
you? Well, I can answer that without the
seven metre kites fully powered and in
and none of the drawbacks of being a short
every brand seems to be jumping on the
slightest risk of being wrong – this style of
larger waves, I find that the thing is going
board (poor paddling speed and thus poor
current-trend band wagon. It’s a little odd
board ‘may be’ the board for you!
sooo fast that it takes super-human levels
wave catching ability, relying on the surfer’s
though in that there seems to be little or no
I spent nearly six months riding just
riding five or
of power to produce crisp, short bottom
0 5 9
CAPTION FOR BOTH IMAGES Low windage on the nose and tail is another great characteristic of the Vanguard when it comes to airs
turns and snappy off-the-lips. Even when
arrived and, of course, like all good testers,
the head after oundering somewhere mid
get back to work you may have started a
managing to do so, I’m left so drained and
what did I do? Yep, took it out on the next
bottom turn, but my heart keeps telling me
revolution, but your job isn’t over yet.
shaking at the knees that I can barely even
half windy day with poor swell. Well, it’s a
that the feeling would be worth it.
consider a repeat performance on the
new board - you didn’t really expect me to
same wave. The answer is simple: add a
wait with it did you?
Now, I know that I’m supposed to get to
And now here I sit (breaking all my
the end of these pieces and produce some
English teachers rules by starting a
golden nugget some pearl of wisdom, or
little tail kick, narrow the tail down, change
After 30 minutes riding I came in with the
sentence with ‘and’), wondering if I’m not
at least come to some firm conclusions,
that deep channel into some ‘v’ et voila,
underlying feeling that I’d been cheating
about to have to eat my words a little. I
but this time I can’t. Maybe it’s the spoilt
there you have it. We’ve now destroyed
the board didn’t feel ‘honest’ when riding
stand by my opinion that a fish isn’t really
kiteboarder in me looking for the next toy,
the very ‘Tomo-ness’ of the Vanguard
a wave. In slow, small waves or with big
needed in kiteboarding but this new breed
maybe it’s the brand owner / gear tester
by getting rid of all the things we liked in
kites it wasn’t even close to being able to
of board does offer something very nice in
in me that’s stuck on the eternal hamster
the first place! There is a lot of confusion
ride on the power of the wave alone and
some conditions. The ability to generate
wheel looking for the next best thing? I
about more classic surf shapes and by
invited such radical turns that the kite was
and hold speed without a significant loss
don’t know, but there’s a virgin bag in my
far the most common mis-conception is
consistently left behind on the wrong side
of performance up to a certain point is a
garage that’s empty and just waiting for
that they are designed to be fast. They’re
of the window. The feeling of getting pulled
nice feature to have in a board for poor
the perfect board to fill it. I’m enough of a
absolutely NOT designed to be fast the
around by the kite with a wave somewhere
quality waves, lighter winds or when
realist to know that the perfect compromise
wave is fast and the board is designed to
near me... well, that’s not really wave riding
simply not very well powered up. On the
is a figment of the marketing department’s
be controllable at speed, which is a very
is it? Now don’t get me wrong here - the
classic days I find myself reaching for the
imagination, but the optimist in me still
different thing. To me, the Vanguard’s first
board is perfect. It’s a beauty and for what
classic board, when the wind is blowing
thinks that there is hope and inventions
stroke of genius is its ability to generate
it does I can hardly think of any changes
and the swell is pumping and generating
like Mr Tomo’s simply add fuel to that fire.
speed. Taking that away seems like
that I’d make to it. I wanted a board that
speed is the last problem on my mind,
Let’s face it: two years ago who’d have
throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
would bottom turn in 35 knots of wind on
but on pretty much any other day my
seen this revolution coming? Maybe the
So, after my long love / hate affair I
four metre waves without causing my
Vanguard is never far away.
next best thing is just around the corner
called my favourite shaper (shameless
heart to skip a beat, but riding the Tomo
So there we are, the perfect quiver and
and in 12 months time I’ll read a blog from
plug for D’light here in Tenerife) and
has apparently moved my goal posts. I’m
we can all spend our money and rest easy
Tomo talking about the amazing revolution
ordered up a kiting classic. Nothing
now not looking to do what I did before on
knowing that with two boards we have
of Mr Shinn (I did tell you I’m an optimist).
Vanguardy at all, 5’10’’, 17 ¾’’ thick, lots
a wave, or at least maybe more accurately
the perfect tool for every day. Or not. Two
What I can say without a shadow of a
of tail kick etc. I’ve done the experimenting
I’m not looking for the same sensations on
boards / the perfect tool - that has to be an
doubt however is that I have a Vanguard,
and playing and now I want a board that
a wave that I was before. I know in my head
oxymoron doesn’t it? I can’t help but feel
I love it to bits (most of the time) and for
performs and no one has surpassed the
that the Vanguard would be an absolute
I should be able to have one board that
the majority of conditions for the majority of
classic shapes in that yet. After the usual
handful in those conditions, that I’d get
generates speed and yet handles speed
riders, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it
custom delays and waiting, the beauty
frustrated and take a bunch of waves on
at the same time. Come on Mr Tomo,
to you. An ama ing bit of kit
go enjoy!
KW
060
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OVER
TO
YOU
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REA D E R S ’
G A L L E R Y
r e a d e r s’ g a l l e r y Push the button and send your images to readers@kiteworldmag.com The winner gets a Cabrinha goody bag. There’s no question of the winners this issue: Carrie-Ann Day and Carl Hopkins-Day who went kitesurfing in A r u b a o n t h e i r w e d d i n g d a y. L i v i n g t h e d r e a m a l r e a d y ! C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s !
{01} WINNER
01
WORDS – Carrie-Ann Day PHOTO – The Reverend! I first learnt to kitesurf in Dahab in 2006. My regular spot is the CBK beach on Hayling Island, which is where I met my husband, Carl Hopkins-Day, who was working as the CBK Beach Manager at the time. Carl proposed on Christmas Eve 2014 when we were snowboarding in the Italian Alps. We had already booked our holiday to Aruba and joked about eloping... which we then realised was the perfect idea! I went online and Googled wedding planners and after a few weeks of deliberation chose Dream Weddings Aruba. They took all the hassle out of a wedding and we got to do it exactly as we wanted. The wind did not ease up for the entire two weeks. We’ve always wanted to kitesurf on the morning of our wedding - so we did! It was the perfect start to the most magical day which consisted of a beach wedding, sunset dinner cruise and heading off on a mini-moon to the neighboring island of Curaçao (where the kite spot and wind is also fantastic!). When we returned to Aruba we invited our wedding photographer down to the kite spot and ended up getting some great shots of me, kitesurfing, in my wedding dress!
02
03
{02} Is this the happiest kitesurfer in the world? Alejandro Hols has a new kite! Get in! PHOTO – Cathy Padgett
{03} Tim Blomme from Belgium tearing up the waters at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast of Australia PHOTO – GoPro
{04} Cathy Padgett and the baby manta rays in Isla Holbox in Mexico PHOTO – GoPro
{05} Luciano Gonzalez competing in the Master of the Ocean event in the Dominican Republic PHOTO – John Donovan 04
05
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062
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PROFILE
VITAL STATISTICS
/
INTROD U C I N G
INTRODUCING
FULL NAME: LASSE WALKER AGE: 20 YEARS KITING: 8 BEST RESULTS: WINNER RED BULL MEGALOOP CHALLENGE 2015 HOME SPOT: NOORDWIJK, THE NETHERLANDS SPONSORS: NORTH KITEBOARDING AND ION
LASSE WALKER
LASSE TOOK THE WIN AHEAD OF KEVIN DE SMIDT IN SECOND, WILLEM VAN DER MEIJ IN THIRD AND LINUS ERDMAN IN FOURTH PHOTO > YDWER VAN DER HEIDE / RED BULL CONTENT POOL
Lasse Walker is the flying dutchman who claimed the Red Bull Megaloop Challenge victory in June. Let’s find out how it felt to fly higher and harder than anyone else in the storm force winds just down the road IN TERVIE W > Jim Gaunt from his home spot in Zandvoort, Holland?
C
about the adrenaline rush.
oing
something with a big risk is always fun! Before I take off I focus fully on the timing of the loop. Once the kite
ongratulations on
How far away is your home
there is no room for improvement. Big
is climbing back up I can look around
your win! How was
spot and how similar is it to the
mega loops are all about the wow
and enjoy the view. If the timing went
the final and how
conditions at Zandvoort?
factor’ and spectators should look
as planned it really feels like ying,
did it feel to win in
Noordwijk is about a 0 minute drive
shocked about what they are seeing. A
but the big rush comes when the kite
Holland?
from Zandvoort by car. In terms of the
perfect’ mega loop to me means taking
catches you and you land smoothly. I
I reached the semi-
sea state, both spots are uite similar, so
off, looping the kite and getting out of
still sometimes feel like I’m heading for
final in 0
, so I
that was a good advantage. We’ve had
control for just a second or two before
a crash when I’m mid-air. The only thing
wanted to at least
a few good storm conditions recently so
regaining control. A good example is
I’m thinking at that moment is Oh sh t,
achieve the same result and was ready to
I knew what my game plan was and I
a mega loop late back-roll. Throwing
why did I have to do that ’
test my skills against like-minded riders.
was feeling very motivated to ride hard
the rotation later in the jump looks like
Riding in the final was sick and doing the
and go big!’. The only difference in the
you’re getting pulled off-balance, which
What are your most important tips
first loop in the final close to shore while
competition was the strong current at
is sort of true because there’s a moment
for riders who are just starting to get
hearing the whole crowd screaming and
high tide which was heading north in the
that you don’t know what is up or down,
comfortable with big boosts and are
yelling gave me goosebumps all over!
same direction as the wind. I’m normally
or where your kite is heading, but after
thinking about pulling the trigger on
Having it in Holland was even more
able to time my sessions better with the
you stick a controlled landing it feels
kite loops, but don’t quite have the
special. We get the strong storms that
tide, but this was the same for everyone.
ama ing. When doing almost every
courage to do it?
mega loop I aim to time the loop of the
My most important tip is to start slowly.
demand absolute control in your riding
on’t make your first loop in 0 knots.
and so to be on top of the podium was
Is there a way you can improve your
kite to produce the biggest momentum.
ama ing. I had a lot of friends on the
mega loops?
So yes, there is still a lot to improve!
beach who were helping me out and
It’s an endless journey towards
cheering me on. It was a real dream
perfection, though that’s a commonly-
What is going through your mind
opinion. Get a friend along to watch you
come true. Even my father was watching
used expression that doesn’t really fit,
throughout?
in case you crash or to acknowledge
the livestream from his work abroad.
if you ask me. If a loop is perfect then
The feeling of a mega loop is mostly
the great landing of your first loop! Ride
Build up your confidence and the best si e to start with is a nine metre in my
0 6 3
CAPTION > KING OF THE SKIES PHOTO > YDWER VAN DER HEIDE / RED BULL CONTENT POOL PHOTO > JARNO SCHURGERS / RED BULL CONTENT POOL
slow, make a small jump and loop the
Do you work or are you at school
kite by pulling on the backside of the bar
/ studying?
as hard as you can. This way the loop
My parents worked hard to encourage me
will be easy to control. Once you feel
to stay in school and I’m really grateful
comfortable you can ride harder and
for that, though I always wanted to uit
build up the power in your kite. ou will
school and start kiteboarding full-time.
have a heavy crash at some point, but
I’m now studying to become an architect.
after that focus on uickly building up
There have been a lot of windy days
your confidence again.
where I have been stuck in school, but by working hard on the sunny down days’
How confident are you now feeling
and being creative with teachers and
about the next Red Bull King of the Air?
the school management, I sometimes
I’m not officially selected for the King
manage to have longer holidays and am
of the Air yet, but my chances are now
able to go to places like Cape Town. I’m
pretty high!
also an IKO certified instructor and work at a beach club to save some money for
I still remember watching Ruben Lenten on television winning the event
my gear and kiteboarding trips.
back in 00 , and then I watched the live stream for the whole day in 0
,
wishing that I could stand there as well.
Look out for action from Lasse and the other Megaloop Challenge riders in
I was super stoked to compete at the
episode
Red Bull King of the Air in 0
www.thekiteshow.tv
and
of The Kite Show at ou can see the
am now hopeful of getting back to the
first ever video interview we did with
biggest extreme kiteboarding event
Lasse just ahead of the 0
in the world. My goal is to ride at my
King of the Air here
best level and I will probably be just as
www.thekiteshow.tv/
nervous as I was last year!
lasse-walker-kota-build-up/
Red Bull
KW
WHATEVER THE CONDITIONS SEIZE THE MOMENT! F R E E R I D E
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F R E E S T Y L E
THE NEW EVO SIZES
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Rider_Tom Hebert / Pic_Mario Entero
R E L AT E D F R E E R I D E / F R E E ST Y L E B OA R D S
JAIME
T
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X-RIDE
K
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N O R T H K I T E B OA R D I N G .C O M – MMXIV – ›CRAFTED WITH PRIDE‹
# N O R T H K I T E B OA R D I N G
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THE
SNA P
T H E S N A P # 1 0 :
I
W H A T
G O E S
A R O U N D . . .
believe everybody is a teacher. There’s really
Kahanamoku, won the Australian National
Some hundred years later, Australians own the
no one who you cannot learn from. Some
swimming titles and paid a visit to Freshwater
sport. They took it seriously, essentially invented
lessons you recognise right away, some are
Beach outside of Sydney. He’d brought an unusual
the profession of surfing and founded many of the
more subtle. On some occasions, you don’t realise
piece of wood with him; a surfboard. He was a very
brands that the world wears to the beach. With the
you’ve been taught at all.
strong waterman and it may be him for whom the
exception of a current Brazilian World Champ, and
term was invented. He was an Olympic champion
a freak named Kelly Slater, Aussies have pretty well
swimmer. And he went surfing.
dominated competitive surfing.
In 1914 a humble Hawaiian man, named Duke
CAPTION " Æ>i lVhcÉi kZgn VeeZVa^c\! VcY ^i XZgiV^can lVhcÉi eZg[ZXi! l]^X] gZVaan heZV`h [dg @ZV]^Éh h`^aa Vh V lVkZ g^YZg# =Z hVl ediZci^Va b^mZY l^i] bVYcZhh VcY eVi^Zcian hdgiZY i]gdj\] ^i! jci^a ]Z [djcY l]Vi ]Z lVh add`^c\ [dg/ V ]VcY[ja d[ b^cYaZhh! i]^X`! bV`Z"VWaZ WVggZah#Ç
INTRO
>
JOURNEY KITING
JOHN
BILDERBACK’S
THROUGH CULTURE
FACE-TO-FACE -
RESULTING
NORTH BRINGS
WITH IN
THE
KITE
CONVERTS
KEAHI’S
ACTIONS
HALLOWED
SHORE HIM FUTURE
ENCOUNTERS
UNUSUAL MOST
0 6 7
IN
WITH
AFTER
SURFING’S
HALLWAY
WO R DS, C A PT IONS AN D PHOTOS > John Bilderback
he or she will give credit to his/her opponent. They will
befitting his mixed heredity. Keahi De Aboitiz will
recognise the danger in generalisations, I feel safe
ou’ll find them in lineups everywhere and, though I
downplay their skills and probably say something like he/
predictably be uncomfortable with any comparison
saying that Australians are never the dickheads in the
she was lucky, and just glad to be out on the court, field,
to The Duke, and I’m not going to draw one, except
line-up. Fair play and humility seem to be part of their
pitch, or beach. I guarantee it.
to say that he honours the concept of Aloha with his
DNA; especially humility. Watch any Australian athlete
humble, graceful spirit. No one who knows him would
being interviewed and, whether he or she won or lost
Enter our kite-wave-riding World Champ, a half-
disagree; he has the modest gene encoded into every
the match - tennis, rugby, cricket, or surfing - without fail
Hawaiian, half-Australian with a tongue-twisting name
cell in his body.
0 68
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THE
SNA P
CAPTION " GZd \di ]^bhZa[ V [Zl VcY YZbdchigViZY ]^h igVYZWdd` ﾃ天^g
0 6 9
“
THIS WAS WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A REALLY TOUGH CROWD - AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO RIDING A KITE IN ONE OF SURFING’S HOLY PLACES. YOU COULD DEFINITELY EXPECT SOME HECKLING, BUT IT NEVER CAME. I ACTUALLY HEARD CHEERING WHEN KEAHI FOUND HIS FIRST BARREL.”
CAPTION " =ZgZÉh Vcdi]Zg W^\\^Z [dg Bg# HiZkZch
Two weeks ago the man who runs the Triple Crown of Surfing stopped
of strong east winds Reo Stevens and Keahi jumped on the opportunity.
his truck in the middle of the street and began a conversation with me.
The beachfront homes on that stretch of the North Shore are some of the
Beginning emphatically with “Dude!”, he proceeded to say that he was
most exclusive real estate in the surfing cosmos. Owned by companies
super excited to get into kitesurfing, and would I please help him get
like Volcom and Billabong, their front porches are always lined with the
started? Of course he got my attention, being who he is, and as a small
who’s who of surfing’s elite. These are the Skyboxes in the Coliseum.
traffic jam was forming on Kamehameha highway behind him. I simply
The spectators who watch from there are surfing’s superstar athletes
laughed because I knew where this was coming from. I’d been getting this
and captains of industry. When Kelly Slater watches Pipe, he watches
same speech from various hardened surfers over the previous month, and
from one of these houses. He wasn’t there this day, but apparently many
I wasn’t surprised exactly, just proud. This was the guy at the very pinnacle
people were. And so, naturally, were the North Shore lifeguards.
of professional surfing contests the final voice on the stand at the Pipeline, Sunset and Haleiwa surfing contests. He’d seen it all, judged it all and was
This was what you might call a really tough crowd - at least when it comes to
a former professional surfer himself. I ignored the cars piling up behind him
riding a kite in one of surfing’s holy places. ou could definitely expect some
and said what I always do, “Dude, for sure.”
heckling, but it never came. I actually heard cheering when Keahi found his first barrel. It bears repeating that this was no ideal day. The waves were
It was the result of little more than five waves that broke at a spot called
coming from different directions, crossing up and acting very unpredictably.
Off The Wall, which can be found about fifty yards down the beach from
Reo shopped for a long time before hooking into one and in the course of two
Pipeline. It is the spot where aspiring surfers go from neighbourhood
hours, maybe only ten waves got ridden; not many, considering how many
nobodies to surf magazine stars. It’s what we used to call ‘Kodak Reef’
you’d get in a normal session. It is also worth noting that a few North Shore
because it is beefy, hollow and very photogenic. If you have ever picked up
kite regulars, like John Amundson and Konrad Bright, watched it for a while
a surf magazine, you’ve almost certainly seen it.
and decided to pass. It wasn’t very appealing, and it certainly wasn’t perfect, which really speaks for Keahi’s skill as a wave rider. He saw potential mixed
The day was big and messy; just big enough and confused enough in the
with madness and patiently sorted through it, until he found what he was
lineup that the usual hoards of surfers had gone elsewhere. After a run
looking for: a handful of mindless, thick, make-able barrels.
0 70
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COLUMNS
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THE
SNA P
Yet the most remarkable thing to me was not that he had
It’s amazing that one day, and one person’s actions
swayed the minds of some of the hardest nosed surfers
can introduce a truly fundamental change. One act of
on the planet, nor that the lifeguards actually jumped onto
just doing what they do, just being themselves without
their uads and drove to the water’s edge to high-five him
pretence and without agenda, can completely change
on what he’d done after one particularly deep, massive
the public’s perception and begin a new era. It could
tube, nor that he’d just gotten the best kite barrel I’ve ever
have so easily gone the other way. Sometimes people
seen, but that he carried himself with his usual humility after
teach without thinking of themselves as teachers. And
upping the bar on the world’s most prestigious surfing stage.
sometimes those lessons are the most powerful. Check
He honoured the best traditions from Hawaii and Australia
back in a hundred years, you’ll see.
and taught us all how it should be done, wet and dry.
CAPTION " Add`^c\ \ddY [gdb ZkZgn Vc\aZ
KW
0 7 1
“
THE MOST REMARKABLE THING TO ME WAS NOT THAT HE HAD SWAYED THE MINDS OF SOME OF THE HARDEST NOSED SURFERS ON THE PLANET, NOR THAT THE LIFEGUARDS ACTUALLY JUMPED ONTO THEIR QUADS AND DROVE TO THE WATER’S EDGE TO HIGH-FIVE HIM ON WHAT HE’D DONE AFTER ONE PARTICULARLY DEEP, MASSIVE TUBE, NOR THAT HE’D JUST GOTTEN THE BEST KITE BARREL I’VE EVER SEEN, BUT THAT HE CARRIED HIMSELF WITH HIS USUAL HUMILITY AFTER UPPING THE BAR ON THE WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS SURFING STAGE. HE HONOURED THE BEST TRADITIONS FROM HAWAII AND AUSTRALIA AND TAUGHT US ALL HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE, WET AND DRY.”
CAPTION
" @ZV]^ hXdg^c\ ^i Vh \ddY Vh ^iÉh ZkZg WZZc [dg `^iZ WVggZa ]jci^c\
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P A R K E R
I N T E R V I E W
B I L LY PA R K E R RU N S O N H I G H P E R F O R M A N C E G A S O L I N E T HAT ’ S D E S I G N E D T O B R I N G O U T T H E B E S T I N YO U R E N G I N E . AT 3 4 , H E ’ S T H E M U S C L E C A R O F A M E R I C A N K I T E B OA R D I N G A N D A R E G U L A R I N S P E C IA L I S T E L I T E E V E N T S , S U C H A S T H E R E D
AFTER THE
B U L L K I N G O F T H E A I R A N D T H E T R I P L E S . A LT H O U G H U S UA L LY T H E O L D E S T C OMPETITOR , HE’S A LEAN, MEAN SHREDDING MACHINE AND ONE OF
S I T UAT I O N AT
T H E M O S T T E C H N I C A L LY S M O O T H A N D E N T E RTA I N I N G R I D E R S YO U ’ R E
L A S T Y E A R’ S E V E N T
L I K E LY T O S E E H I T T H E WAT E R . T H E J U D G E S AT T H I S Y E A R’ S T R I P L E - S
I H A D G R E AT M O M E N T U M .
T H O U G H T S O W H E N T H E Y AWA R D E D H I M S E C O N D O N T H E P O D I U M .
I GOT TO THE SEMI FINALS,
B I L LY HA S HA D P L E N T Y O F O P P O RT U N I T I E S T O T U R N F U L LY P R O, B U T H E ’ S A H O M E B OY A N D D E D I C AT E D T O B E I N G T H E R E F O R
A L L I H A D T O D O WA S T A K E
H I S FA M I LY. H E ’ S A L S O D E D I C AT E D T O M E T H O D I C A L LY
T H A T H E A T O U T A N D I W O U L D H AV E
I M P R O V I N G H I S WA K E S T Y L E A N D E X T R E M E B I G A I R
B E E N I N T H E F I N A L S . I WA S O N A
RIDING BUT CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
C H A R G E A N D T H E O N LY T H I N G T H AT G O T
D O W N T O E A RT H , H U M B L E A N D P O P U L A R R I D E R S .
I N T H E WAY WA S T H E C R O W D O N T H E B E A C H
W E ’ R E S U R E YO U ’ L L L I K E H I M – H E ’ S J U S T L I K E YO U ; H E WO R K S HA R D A N D H E P L AY S E V E N
B E C AU S E I N E E D E D T O C H A N G E M Y K I T E . I H A D
HA R D E R . J I M G AU N T C AU G H T U P W I T H H I M
TO MOVE 30 PEOPLE WHO WERE STO OD AROUND M Y L I N E S A N D I T WA S A S I F O N LY O N E P E R S O N H E A R D M E E A C H T I M E I T R I E D . T H AT C O S T
T H E DAY A F T E R T H I S Y E A R’ S R E D B U L L K I N G O F T H E A I R F I NA L S T O F I N D O U T W HAT K E E P S H I M T I C K I N G O V E R AT S U C H H I G H R E VS . . .
M E T H R E E M I N U T E S O F M Y H E AT A N D
T O O K M Y M O M E N T U M AW A Y . I W A S H U N G RY F R O M T H AT P O I N T A N D I WA I T E D A L L Y E A R TO COME BACK; SUCH I S T H E E X P E C TAT I O N O F T H I S E V E N T.
C
an you tell me about the level
throws you way up there as high as your kite. It’s more intense. But what
of intensity you feel from the
the event needed was for him to do that trick and I knew he would because
Red Bull King of the Air? Looking at Aaron in the final yesterday, he was doing a trick that he never practices and the only motivation seems to be what he feels on the day. Aaron’s trick is to do with muscle memory. Twenty years from
he’s such a methodical rider and knows how to win. He can put the risk on a trick where it’s needed. It’s just so much smarter doing it in the at, but the scary part is that he was in shallow water. That trick was all muscle memory for him. our mind thinks something and in a split second tells your body to just do it.
now when my body’s 50 I’ll still be able to go throw a mobe. If you’ve only done something once or twice, it’s not enough to pull it
What about the pressure?
out in situations like that. I’m not saying you’ll never be able to do it, but it
The pressure’s different for everybody. What are you in it for? What are
becomes more like a guessing game in your head; like ‘can I do it?’. I knew
you trying to win? It seems like Aaron doesn’t feel that much pressure
he was going to do the move in the final heat I’ve ridden with him long
at all. He was probably anxious because he really wanted this event
enough and I’ve seen him do that move. He opted to do the mega loop
because he’s trained here for years and it was a title that he didn’t have.
KGB over the back roll mega loop because he was going right and taking-
He knows he can do it and has what it takes, so it’s more of a hunger and
off in the at water an easier take-off than hitting a wave. It doesn’t throw
a passion than a scared pressure or nervousness. Some people can be
you off axis or peak out as high, but it’s still very technical. When I’m doing
anxious as it could be their first event and when they get out there they’ll
any of those passes I do them in the at water. ou hit a wave and it just
be like, ‘OK, what do I do now?’ It might be the conditions or the pressure
0 7 5
John Wayne walk in the park for Billy P PHOTO - Toby Bromwich / Triple S
of the crowd. I’m not nervous to compete here at all. I’m nervous that I won’t get a chance
“
to do what I want to do. When we get
WHEN WE GET
over 40 knots at one of these King
O V E R 4 0 K N O T S AT O N E O F
of the Airs we’re really going to see what this sport’s about.
THESE KING OF THE AIRS WE’RE R E A L LY G O I N G T O S E E W H AT T H I S S P O R T ’ S
It’s cool that we can put
A B O U T. I T ’ S C O O L T H AT W E C A N P U T
ourselves in such a
O U R S E LV E S I N S U C H A R I S K Y S I T U AT I O N A N D
risky situation and then all
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN LAND LIKE IT NEVER
of a sudden land like it never
H A P P E N E D . T H AT ’ S A M A Z I N G T O
happened. That’s amazing to
W A T C H . I L I K E R AW P O W E R
watch. I like raw power and I like to feel
AND I LIKE TO FEEL
the energy.
T H E E N E R G Y.
Have you had many injuries in your career? I’ve had lots, but mainly before kiting. I have dislocated my shoulder, ribs and I’ve blown my knee apart wakeboarding. I was supposed to get surgery but I never did. I had a full leg cast for a couple of months and then ended up starting to kite. If I ride all day five days a week then it builds up and gets tight here and there. It’s my lead leg so I hit it hard, but every athlete on the planet is playing with some sort of a small injury major or minor. ou get good at learning how to crash and you get good at learning how to heal and take care of your body.
Power unit. PHOTO -
Toby Bromwich
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BILLY
P A R K E R How do you think you’re riding in terms of your peaks and troughs in the progression? o me it seems like you’re riding as good as ever at
years-of-age.
Well, I’ve hardly trained this year. I just go out and I ride. I do a lot more visualisation because my body knows the motions and the forces; when to lock down and when to twist and turn. Visualising your tricks makes you execute them better and, even if you haven’t
“
tried the trick before, if you can see the trick from start to finish, the easier it is to get there.
IT TURNS OUT
T O B E R E A L LY H A R D T O
ou mentioned learning how to recover. ell me more about that.
GET PEOPLE TO SEND YOU GEAR
Rest is the most important thing. If you take
BEFORE YOU SIGN SOMETHING; IN
Air, you may not heal for a couple of months.
CASE YOU TELL THEM YOU DON’ T LIKE I T, I G U E S S .
a couple of good crashes at the King of the If you sit and heal your body with small movements and feel how your body is then you’ll know what needs to strengthen, what needs to rest and what needs to stretch. Listen to your body talking to you. Stand up, close your eyes for a second and work out how your muscles feel and think about the small movements in the body. Have you always been into sports? My mom had me on two or three different sports when I was a kid to keep me out of trouble in the neighbourhood, which is why I like the competitive thing. I like hanging out with good athletes and doing the sports that I like with high level athletes because I like seeing things that I’ve never seen. I want to feel the energy, to absorb and feel it; whether it’s me or him throwing it. I’m not about watching football on the TV. I’m about nature I think it’s the most important thing in life. Where did you get your work ethic? My mom and my grandfather. Not only did they have me playing sports, but also doing the family business; fumigation. Living in Florida we get a lot of termites that will eat a house down from the inside out. We put a tent over a house and then use gas. The tents are heavy and the sandbags that hold the tent to the ground are heavy. ou’ve got to move the mulch away and make a good seal, move dirt and shovel. Then squeezing a thousand metal clamps that have been baking in the sun makes your grip strong. We squat down, put 200 pound tents on our shoulders and then carry them up a ladder. It’s a high demand workout - so that and the sports that I played make me crave that physical exertion. I also do custom carpentry and work with my buddy doing kitchens and
Mega loop bar spin, RBKOTA 2014, runnin’ hot PHOTO - Ydwer van der Heide
odd jobs. I also try to travel and balance
0 7 7
“
PHOTO - Toby Bromwich
I’VE BEEN
KITING LONG ENOUGH
and I end up just going through
T O H AV E A V I S I O N , A N D I ’ M N O T I N I T F O R M O N E Y AT A L L ; I ’ M I N I T B E C AU S E I L O V E T H E S P O R T. I F I WA N T T O M A K E M O N E Y, I ’ L L G O DO SOMETHING ELSE.
the motions. I need to grind something, hit a bump or a wave. That’s what I love about Florida. Our waves don’t get that big but they’re good for kickers and that’s
one of my favourite things, and usually when it’s good it’s so steady. I don’t want to miss that because it’s quality. o, tell me about lexifoil. I knew a long time ago that they weren’t going to be making kites and I thought, Right, surely Billy arker is going to sign with someone big.’ hen year after year you kept turning up riding the same kites. I like the fact that you did that it was refreshing that you weren’t just chasing down kiting between that and approach events like the King of the Air and Triple S.
my mom’s been there for me all the way. I’m the man in her life. My grandfather’s
Billy, en route to 2nd at this year’s Triple S PHOTO - Toby Bromwic h
the dollars. What is the background story?
ou’re a really renowned high wind rider
relative in this world - as is being taken on with
I love kiting so much because of the freedom and I like to feel free myself. A lot of things are
ou’ve never gone full pro, I’m sure
passed on and my grandmother stays with
from a mainly light wind area. ou must
a contract and being tied to someone else. I’ve
you had the opportunity. What held
my mom now. I don’t want to travel all year
have to mix your riding up a lot.
been kiting long enough to have a vision, and
you back?
long and just pop in and say,
We don’t get to ride in high wind a lot, but
I’m not in it for money at all; I’m in it because I
The number one thing is having to travel all
I’m back. How are you doing?” When I’m
in the winter time when the fronts come in
love the sport. If I want to make money, I’ll go do
the time and not being home very much. I
gone all the time I don’t feel that happy
I ride a seven metre quite a bit. At home
something else. I really thought my kites were
like being around my family. My dad’s never
wondering aimlessly around kiting. I like the
my goal is usually to get the rail and kicker
good. I liked the way they pulled and my favourite
been in my life, I’m an only child and
comfort of family and I love Florida.
out. Freestyle on at water gets boring
was probably the seven metre Ion 3. I was so
o mom,
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INTERVIEW
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BILLY
P A R K E R
comfortable on it. Remaining on Flexifoil
the chop and is still stiff enough that when
had nothing to do with money; it was to do
you’re at the cable it won’t atten out and
with wanting to show what can be done
kill you. We’ve been working really hard on
on a kite. Eventually I put the feelers out
the tip ex, so that it’s not so exible that
before joining Best, but it turns out to be
you can over- ex it and stall, but so it’s exi
really hard to get people to send you gear
enough that you can lock in and hold it.
before you sign something; in case you tell
Also, the three stage hybrid rocker is more
them you don’t like it, I guess. It took me
continuous. The atter area is very minimal,
a year-and-a-half to finalise the decision
but the board carries upwind great and it’s
with myself to leave Flexifoil because I
so strong and resilient.
don’t want people to feel that I did them wrong. Now it’s perfect with Best though;
Is a cable-kiteboard crossover more
it’s an east coast situation - we have
about compromise than anything?
riders here, I have friends that promote
About saving money through having
the brand here, they make kites that cater
just one board?
to all the styles of riding that I like. It’s a
I don’t think so at all. Cable and kiting
good opportunity. I wasn’t getting a lot of
are so similar. The only difference is with
sessions on my 13.5 back home, but now
kiting you’re riding on edge, landing,
with the 17, if I’m hitting a kicker or a slider
and then getting back on edge. At the
and there’s enough wind to pull me into it,
cable you’re riding at, getting on edge
I’m improving.
and then landing at. The difference is displacement; how deep is the board
So this brings me on nicely to Axis you’ve been riding their boards for
going to sit, do you like a board that sits on top of the water or do you like a board
a while, they’re a smaller set-up and
that’s a bit slower and has some deeper
just really focusing on boards. What
channels, a softer rail and sits a little
attracted you to them?
deeper in the water? Everybody’s shoe is
I’ve known the boss and designer Adrian
gonna be different and not everybody is
Roper for a long time and he’s been a part
going to like the shoe I’m wearing. But I
of the industry since the beginning. He must
know what I’ve been doing for a long time
have been designing boards for over 20
and I know how my body feels and what it
years. He knows the hydrodynamics, he
likes to feel under me.
understands the profiles, basic shapes and how to build from there. I can go to him with
o let’s wrap it up. What’s your
an idea that I may think is new and he’ll tell
favourite thing about kitesurfing?
me they’ve tried it; he’s really smart. I’ve
Freedom.
been riding wakeboards for a long time
Never go lightly. PHOTO - Toby Bromwich / Triple S
behind the boat and I know how they feel. I
Who is your favourite rider to watch on
understand they break too, so he takes the
the water?
feedback and he puts it into play if he can
Aaron, because he’s unpredictable.
and he builds solid stuff. He asked me to join with him at Axis and it felt like the perfect
Apart from your girlfriend Tiffany and
time to be a part of building something from
your family, what single thing could you
the beginning; something that’s about good
not live without?
quality and is built in a proper, professional
My dog.
way. I want to be able to go buy a board and ten years from now pull it back off the shelf
Tell us about one session from the last
and still go ride it.
two years that just stays in your mind. King of the Air 2014. There was one heat in
ive us some specifics about your pro
the second or third round where I did some
model board.
loops and had a particularly big, slow double
I’m trying to get the closest hybrid board
back roll loop. It felt so good, I had my
I can between kiting and cable that still
momentum going, I had the wind I wanted
has the proper upwind ow, still absorbs
and it felt right.
KW
Best buds. PHOTO - Dave Black Photography
WavesVillage.com
The Premier
KITEBOARDING DESTINATION Milepost 40 | Hatteras Island | Outer Banks, NC
PRO SHOP
RENTALS
LUXURY CONDOS
KITE 路 SUP 路 SURF 路 K AYAK
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RESTAURANT
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FEATURE
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ENVIRO N M E N T
g o i n g o f f
- s e t
Sustainability 2.0: in the second part of this series, Matt Pearce investigates the options we have as kiteboarders to take on a more positive role in preserving the environment in spite of our immense global travel habits WORDS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Matt Pearce
The lure of perfection. Filippe Ferreira, Teahupoo, Tahiti PHOTO â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gilles Calvet / F-One
T
“While this article isn’t suggesting that we all need to transform our
kite trips into something regarding a UN
humanitarian mission,
we should all recognise the importance of making environmentally conscious decisions when
0 8 3
Traveling, be it across the globe or to your local spot, is a key element of kitesurfing life. Last issue we focused on our day to day habits when heading out for a day on the water, we analysed the products we buy, the way we travel to the beach and the effects these have on the environment. This issue we’re aiming to shed a bit of light on the environmental impact of traveling a little further afield.
We are incredibly fortunate to live in an age
in which global travel is readily accessible and reasonably affordable. Thanks to this, and the fact that kitesurfing e uipment is so easily transportable, any kiter who can afford the airfare and a couple of weeks away from work can kitesurf literally anywhere in the world. The fact that you can walk out of your front door in the UK and be kitesurfing in the southern hemisphere in less than 24 hours is just one of the things that makes our sport so great. However, are you like us in that in the back of your mind you know that it’s not great for the environment
ou uickly remind yourself that
we live only once and find it impossible to resist the chance of experiencing amazing conditions, soaking up incredible cultures, partying like it’s ... and getting a better sun tan As usual, we aren’t here to criticise or cast ourselves as hypocrites, but we can’t ignore the fact that, although we’re as guilty as anyone of contributing to environmental damage, we’d like to help increase communal conscious thought
planning and enjoying a
towards ways that we can at least reduce our
kitesurfing holiday.”
globe trotting addiction and how we could lessen
impact during travel and in other aspects of life. So, let’s take a look at the ramifications of our
the impact we have when we lug our golf bags’ across the planet to go and get our hair wet.
084
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FEATURE
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CAPTION HERE: Charlotte Consorti, Turks and Caicos island retreat PHOTO – F-One
ENVIRO N M E N T
LEFT: Dreamland discovery PHOTO – F-One
“it is easy to wonder why we need to consider sustainability or try to make choices with the preservation of the environment in mind. When Let’s consider the key component in all our
all is said and done, kitesurfing is, for most of
approximately
us, a means of escaping the day-to-day grind and
£10 / $15 per
losing ourselves when we’re out at sea.”
emitted (which
international travel plans first air travel. An airplane
tonne of carbon
is approximately the going rate .
is the obvious travel method of choice and, let’s face it, when booking a
It doesn’t actually negate or reverse the damage caused. On the bright
winter retreat to Australia it’s highly unlikely that you’re going to plan to
side though, at least when you arrive at a far ung destination, you can
drive there after all. It’s also impossible, but that’s by the by. However,
be sure to offset some of your carbon spending spree by cramming a hire
while airfares are a financial cost that we take on, what environmental
car with as many of your mates as possible to save on emissions, right?
costs might we be incurring?
Every cloud as they say
Well, the short answer is uite a lot. To put it in perspective, the vast
And you can go further than that by trying to employ as many of the
majority of modern research (regardless of what Jeremy Clarkson might
tactics we considered in our last feature on sustainability. Limiting your
tell you) has brought experts to the same conclusion which is that, per
showers to save water is particularly key in hotter countries with limited
person, we can emit up to two metric tonnes of carbon each year without
water supplies and generally being mindful of the local environment, recy-
causing irreversible harm to the environment and increasing global
cling where possible and avoiding generating waste are all positive steps
warming levels. A single return ight for one person from the UK to Cape
you can take towards limiting your carbon footprint while you’re away.
Town will emit approximately .
tonnes of carbon. Even more once
However, when taking a shorter ight, there is scope for taking a more
you factor in the added weight of a couple of board bags! This means
eco-friendly route. Take, for example, the carbon emitted when travel-
that by simply getting on a plane to travel somewhere, upon your return
ing from the northern UK to southern Spain, which is basically the length
you’ll have used up almost all of your annual carbon allowance in one
of Europe. A single person traveling there and back by plane would be
fell swoop! Unless you’re planning to spend the rest of your year living
responsible for approximately 0.
off moss, eating what you kill and bivouacking out in the wilderness,
journey in an average si ed estate car would amount to around 0. 0
there’s now ero chance of your personal carbon footprint amounting to
tonnes. This is obviously more but, when split between four people, this is
less than two tonnes in that year.
drastically reduced to around 0.
For a trip like that, air travel is more or less unavoidable.
riving is im-
tonnes of carbon emissions. The same
tonnes of carbon per person across
the whole trip. That’s almost a third of the carbon you would have emitted
possible (and would involve the burning of even more carbon) and travel
by ying. Sure, it takes longer and we’re not saying easyJet is the devil,
by sea would take longer than your entire holiday. es, you can pay a
but why not consider making a road trip out of it? You never know what
private company to offset’ your carbon for you, but the research that sup-
spots you could find along the way. It’s more of an adventure - and isn’t
ports this as an effective practice is dubious at best. Sadly, the idea of car-
that sort of the point of being a roving, wild-eyed kiteboarding adventurer?
bon offsetting is more of a notional concept with a business built around it that allows people to feel better about driving a Range Rover and paying
Air travel isn’t the only potentially negative aspect of roaming the earth searching for wind and waves. The tourism industry is by no means
0 8 5 7
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The idea that a kite holiday should be anything more than a pure escape from the norm is, understandably, a difficult concept to grasp sometimes.â&#x20AC;?
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ENVIRO N M E N T
guilt-free when it comes to unsustainable development
ment systems, conservative use of water and environ-
owned businesses and restaurants you have a fantastic
and the rush to build hotels, accommodation and facili-
mentally sound operations when running the town are
opportunity to not only support the people who live in the
ties in remote and often under-developed countries can
paramount to the local authorities. A great deal of effort is
places you travel to, but also spend time with them and
have a devastating effect on the local eco systems in
made to maintain clean beaches and to not interfere with
experience their culture. ou’ll help to build a link that
the places we visit. The rush to provide for an in ux of
local marine life. These actions have been so successful
transcends the barrier that sometimes arises between
tourists can put a huge strain on local resources such as
that El Gouna is now on the way to becoming Egypt’s
visiting kiters and locals. Why not try to push your cultural
energy, food, land and water and this can be particularly
first ever carbon-neutral city and is the first destination
limits as well as your limits on the water?
problematic in an area which may already have a limited
in the African and Arabic region to be awarded a Global
Of course, it is easy to wonder why we need to
supply of these commodities. Pollution and overexertion
Green City Award by the United Nations. They’re clearly
consider sustainability or try to make choices with the
of resources will result in deprivation of the local popula-
doing something right and the carbon cost of your stay
preservation of the environment in mind. When all is
tion and an increased burden on local infrastructure –
in a place such as El Gouna is going to be drastically
said and done, kitesurfing is, for most of us, a means of
something that not all developing countries can hope to
reduced when compared to staying at another, less
escaping the day-to-day grind and losing ourselves when
support or sustain. Thankfully, this is something we can
environmentally concerned, resort. On top of all that the
we’re out at sea. The sense of freedom and the escape
help to avoid.
kiting’s not half bad there, either!
from normal everyday worries that kiting provides is one
By choosing to stay, where possible, in smaller scale accommodation, using local transport links and eating in restaurants fre uented by local people and, of course, engaging in a sport which doesn’t damage the environment, we
Sustainability goes beyond purely environmental concerns. One thing that we should all aim to do as traveling
of the fundamentally awesome things about our sport. The idea that a kite holiday should be anything more than
“Yes, you can pay a private company to ‘offset’ your carbon for you, but the research that supports this
drastically lessen any negative impact on the environment
as an effective practice is dubious at best.”
that we may have otherwise
a pure escape from the norm is, understandably, a difficult concept to grasp sometimes. However, while this article isn’t suggesting that we all need to transform
caused. There are now eco-lodge’ style hotels and
ambassadors for our sport is engage with local people.
our kite trips into something regarding a UN humanitarian
apartments in many locations that aim to use renewable
We are truly fortunate to be able to travel the world and
mission, we can take more positive steps when planning
energy where possible and limit their usage of disposable
experience beautiful places and we can do a lot more
and enjoying a kitesurfing holiday.
products, while also using locally sourced produce. This
during our stay than simply kite and party our brains out
is a particularly positive effort being made to minimise the
although we should definitely do that, too! . In many
Although our rampant use of non-renewable energy that threatens the eco-systems and safe sea levels of the
potential damage caused by tourism. Another fortunate
places there are outreach programmes run in conjunc-
planet is contributed to in part through travel, tourism is
outcome of staying in smaller, locally or independently-
tion with local charities that use kitesurfing as a conduit
by no means an inherently bad thing for our planet. We
owned accommodation is that the money you pay for
through which awareness can be raised around environ-
certainly aren’t suggesting you shouldn’t do it. It enables
your stay has a much higher chance of actually staying in
mental concerns or social issues. By involving yourself
us to gain a wider perspective on the world, meet new
the local economy rather than disappearing entirely back
with organisations such as these you can not only help
people and, most importantly, go kitesurfing. On top of
to the foreign head uarters of multi-national corporations.
local people, but also contribute towards the building of
that, it brings new forms of employment to areas in which
However, not all larger scale resorts are necessarily
stronger communities, which will in turn enable them to
tourism ourishes and can convince governments to
preserve their local environments for years to come.
improve infrastructure which supports local communities.
having an adverse effect on their immediate environments. Efforts are now being made by many developers
ou don’t even need to actually go through a charity
to limit their effect on local ecosystems when construct-
to do something charitable. Bought new kit on your trip
ing bigger resorts. El Gouna in Egypt is a prime example
Then why not leave some of your old kit behind and give
is that traveling is always going to have a carbon cost
of this. The construction of the resort began in
it to the locals? You only need to spend half an hour in
attached to it. Solar powered passenger ights are, sadly,
and it has grown into, essentially, a private city with
a spot like Kite Beach in Cabarete to see kids as young
unlikely to be available anytime soon, but we can adjust
hotels, a multitude of restaurants, a school, a world class
as ten absolutely shredding on kites that are almost as
our methods of travel where possible and make choices
golf course and its own marina with whole suburbs of
old as they are. They could never afford to buy their own
during our trips abroad in regards to how we spend our
privately owned homes attached to it. They’ve even got
gear if it wasn’t given to them so, what might seem like a
time and how we spend our money. We can effect posi-
their own airport. Such a development in an arid environ-
relatively small act of kindness to you, can make a world
tive changes on both a global and more local scale in the
ment on the edge of the Red Sea will re uire a great
of difference to them!
destinations we travel to.
0
deal of resources to build and maintain. Commodities like
However, we need to ensure that we don’t get into the
This is a good thing, there’s no uestion of that. When it comes down to it though, the inescapable fact
Perhaps the combination of these changes can bring
water are in relatively short supply and there’s potential
mindset that all of our engagement with local people in
about bigger changes on a much broader scale? Keeping
that careless design could have a ruinous effect on the
the destinations we travel to needs to be on a charitable
these things in mind may help us take a step further to-
local ecosystem.
basis. Engaging with people in different parts of the world
wards being able to protect our world and enjoy our sport
is one of the fundamentally key parts of the traveling
for longer in the beautiful places we are lucky to travel to.
experience and by simply shopping and eating in locally-
That can’t be a bad thing, can it
However, El Gouna has been developed with a view towards sustainability. The use of environmental manage-
KW
0 8 7 Carlos Mario developed all his skills from a young age on equipment donated to him by tourists who visted Cauipe Lagoon where he grew up in Brazil. He now rides on the VKWC World Tour and claimed his first event win last season PHOTO – Vincent Bergeron
“Why not consider making a road trip out of it? You never know what spots you could find along the way. It’s also more of an adventure - and isn’t that sort of the point of being a roving, wild-eyed kiteboarding adventurer?”
Local training in Zanzibar PHOTO – KiteWorldWide
HIGHLIGHTED HELP INTRO > SOME ORGANISATIONS AND THEIR ACTIONS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS FEATURE K I T E S U R F I N G O U T R E AC H P R O J E C T An outreach program in Cape Town engaging with people from the townships, providing children the opportunity to learn to kitesurf as an incentive scheme that encourages them to improve their numeracy and literacy skills. www.volunteering.org.za/ kitesurfing-outreach-project R O Z A L IA P R O J E C T We need to clean the ocean, which is the goal of the Rozalia Project, most of whom in the organisation are kiteboarders. Long distance kite crossings that include debris pick-ups at both ends and working with local schools are just some of the activities these guys do. Cofounder Rachael Miller has also done a Ted Talk on the topic. Find that at: www.kiteworldmag.com/video-home/ we-can-clean-the-ocean-ted-talk www.rozaliaproject.org KB4GIRLS An international charity that aims to empower women through sport and also support women in deprived areas through fund raising efforts and events. www.kb4girls.org
G L O BA L K I T E R F O U N DAT I O N Through events and outreach programmes, the Global Kiter Foundation aims to engage with people in impoverished areas and tackle environmental issues on a local scale through educational workshops and organised beach cleans. www.globalkiter.com E L G O U NA The first city in the Arabian region to almost attain carbon neutral status. www.elgouna.com K I T E WO R L D W I D E A holiday company whose lodges are integrated into the local environment in various destinations around the world. The local community is integrated in the daily life with local kids playing at the same beach as hotel guests. Locals have the opportunity to become instructors and in Sri Lanka fishermen are employed to shuttle kitesurfers to various spots. In Kenya guides take guests into the local town to share in the local community life and all produce is sourced from local farmers. The lodges are powered by solar panels and in Kenya they also have their own well. www.kiteworldwide.com
Bar Beach Restaurant Kite School SUP Equipment Lockers Massage Areas Incredible Sunsets
Where the wind blows AURELIANO MULLER
BARRA GRANDE - PIAUĂ? - BRASIL
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090
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/
EGYPT
“MAFISH MUSKELA?” (No probLEM?) Training ground for World Champion Karolina Winkowska PHOTO > Kuba Winkowski
The numbers of tourists visiting Egypt’s Red Sea resorts have dropped up to 60% in the last few years. Matt Pearce balances the argument of whether travelers should feel confident in returning to what was one of the most popular destinations on the planet for improving kitesurfers just a few seasons ago
A
s far as kite destinations
destination throughout the
go, Egypt is about as
nineties and early 2000s but
“
looking for smooth progression, but also kiters traveling
array of conditions to suit any standard
EGYPT IS with families and small REASONABLY EASY children who find even that (not to TO REACH FROM EUROPE, the large hotel mention its’ status CATERS FOR ALL BUDGETS, IS developments as a mecca AFFORDABLE ONCE YOU’RE THERE, very for diving). CULTURALLY VERY DIFFERENT AND convenient. The relative HAS A HUGE TOURISM INDUSTRY Egypt is safety of IN PLACE JUST WAITING reasonably most of the TO CATER TO A TRAVELING easy to reach from kitesurfing spots and KITER’S NEEDS.” Europe, caters for all the opportunity to ride in
of rider and with more expanses of at
large, protected at water
water than you can shake a GoPro on a
lagoons has inspired countless
selfie-stick at.
kiters to travel there, from pro riders
established as they come. Kiteboarders have been ocking to its Red
Sea resorts since widespread kite-travel began, and for good
reason. Places like Dahab, Hughurda, El Gouna, Ras Sudr and Sharm offer some outstanding kitesurfing with a diverse
The country was popular as a windsurf
kitesurfing has eclipsed
as well as beginners and intermediates
budgets, is affordable once you’re there, is culturally very
a traveling kiter’s needs. evelopers and kitesurfing centre managers saw the potential Egypt had as a destination and the kite-related tourist trade sky rocketed as a result over many incredible seasons. However, while Egypt’s suitability as a world-class kiting venue is unquestioned, the country has experienced troubled times in recent years that have had an effect on visitors. The Arab Spring began in late 2010 and for the following four years set in motion a sequence of events that caused widespread disruption across
different and has a huge tourism
the entire country with large protests
industry in place just waiting to cater to
across many of the cities and a brutal
0 9 1
response from the government that led to the
show the peaceful beaches rather than the
near collapse of the country. The Egyptian
clashes in the centre of Cairo.”
military took a decidedly hard line and their
Many Red Sea operators that rely on
ensuing actions led to terrible bloodshed in
tourism have reported falls of between 40 –
some regions that, at times, almost saw the
60% in business in recent years.
country descend into an all-out civil war during 2011 and 2012. Following global condemnation of the
Consider these drops in trade and how real the threat has felt in recent years according to what we read in mainstream news media.
actions ordered by president Hosni Mubarak
Now consider that the situation had been
- who was later tried for ordering the murder
reasonably uid, and potentially’ dangerous
of civilians, gross corruption and crimes
for visitors for years before the Arab
against humanity - an election was ordered
Spring turned the country on its head.
in the summer of 2012 that saw the Muslim
In fact, Egypt’s history through
Brotherhood come to power. While historically
the second half of the last
a hardline Islamist group, the Brotherhood’s
century, and all of this one,
new leader, Muhammad Morsi, was vaunted as
has been tumultuous to
a moderate and reasonable head of the party.
say the least. In the
Hopes were high among the Egyptian and
nineties, a jihadist
global communities for a new age of political
group call Gama’a
and social reform in the country.
al-Islamiyya began a five
Sadly, Morsi’s government proved
year terror campaign that
“DEVELOPERS AND KITESURFING CENTRE MANAGERS SAW THE POTENTIAL EGYPT HAD AS A DESTINATION AND THE KITE-RELATED TOURIST TRADE SKY ROCKETED AS A RESULT OVER MANY INCREDIBLE SEASONS.
ineffectual, corrupt, Western-phobic and
culminated in the murder of 62
far more rooted in the ideals of a very strict
people - the majority of whom were
interpretation of Islam than people had
foreigners - at a historic site in Luxor.
hoped. There seemed no end to the endemic
In July 2005 scores of people were killed
corruption, injustice and ineptitude. In many
and injured in a bomb attack in the popular
cases Egyptians were worse-off than before.
kite resort of Sharm el Sheikh. Another kite
Under the guidance of its highest ranking
destination suffered a similar tragedy in 2006
officers, the Egyptian army chose to refuse
when a terror attack was carried out in Dahab
to follow Morsi’s orders, setting the stage for
and such occurrences sadly did not come to
another shift in the balance of power. The
an end with the onset of the Arab Spring in
army effected a military coup, seizing the
January 2011. In August the following year
government’s power for the second time since
12 Egyptian soldiers were killed in the Sinai
the start of the Arab Spring and this time just
region (where Dahab is located) and in the
months after Morsi had taken office.
same month of the following year 12 people
The country’s economy had been severely
were killed in an explosion in Mansoura. The
weakened during the long period of upheaval,
threat to Westerners then seemingly increased
respect for government reputations had been
when the Sinai-based Ansar Beit al-Maqdis
decimated and the Egyptian people had, in
insurgency, a group that had long professed to
some areas, suffered terrible atrocities and
wishing to harm the government and tourists,
inhumanity, the likes of which nobody had
pledged allegiance to Islamic State.
imagined would come about due to the Arab
All this took place before or during the
Spring. As a country with a deeply rich history,
time that Egypt was experiencing such rapid
one of the seven wonders of the world and a
growth as a kiting destination, illustrating just
staggering number of World Heritage sites to
how separated the Red Sea can feel, and
its’ name, Egypt had long relied very heavily
just how resilient to mainstream news clips
on tourism and, unsurprisingly, the industry
kitesurfers can be. While some may have been
suffered. Government brutality and the threat
dissuaded, many people weren’t. If you’ve
of being caught up in it was one thing, but the
never been there yourself, it’s likely that you
rise of extremist Jihadi groups in various regions
know at least a few other kitesurfers who have
only added to the general feeling of unease
been to Egypt; many of whom have, or would
surrounding the country and many people were
go, more than once after their first visit. Most
decidedly reticent to travel there as a result.
reason that the major risks were in the more
Cairo is 600 kilometres away from Hurghada
densely populated regions of the country and,
and the west Sinai kite resorts – and feels
due to the remoteness of the Red Sea resorts,
like a different world. This is a really important
they were quite far removed from any real
point to stress, iterated by Stefan Reichl who
risk. The bomb attacks of 2005 and 2006 had
manages the Breakers Resort in Soma Bay. He
been a terrible tragedy, but kiters and business
reckons that even during the 2011 revolution
owners living and working in the region claim
it was very peaceful there. He remained
that since then the risk has disappeared
throughout with all his local and foreign
almost entirely.
employees. “We always felt safe, however it wasn’t as interesting for the world’s media to
”
If this is the case, what is the situation like now on the ground’ so to speak The most
Continued peace and tranquility in the Red Sea PHOTO > Breakers, Soma Bay
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EGYPT
turbulent parts of the country during the
country relies on the income from that
spoke to Nik Green, Mystic UK importer,
stand up in waist-deep water with soft
revolution and the period that followed
industry. In our opinion, that’s only half of
who traveled to Ras Sudr which is on
sand underfoot!
were the larger urban areas. Cairo saw the
the truth It’s not only about the money,
the northeast of the Sinai this Easter – a
greatest deal of unrest and our television
Egypt has always been a country of
region that the English Embassy pulled
the Red Sea region there wouldn’t
screens and news feeds were filled with
great hospitality and the locals are very
out of. It was his first trip to Egypt.
be a need for armed police and road
images of a barricaded Tahrir Square being
proud and extremely happy to have
repeatedly stormed by riot police. Cairo is
visitors around.”
We ew into Cairo which isn’t touristy
Of course, if there was no risk in
blocks manned by the army so it’s worth
at all and you feel like you’re in another
keeping this in mind when traveling.
world, but we found our man with his
Driving in remote areas without a
potential threat may remain by default in
how tourists are treated. The general
sign and then had a two-and-a-half hour
guide is not advised and you certainly
a city with 20 million people living in it, the
mood in the country is upbeat and this is
transfer. We passed through a few police
shouldn’t travel to any area that you
chances of being caught up in violence are
supposedly due in part to the appointment
checkpoints, which were very strange –
don’t know for certain to be absolutely
extremely low. The area now considered
of the current president, Abdul Fattah
but mainly because we didn’t know they’d
safe. This is not only because of the risk
to present the greatest potential danger is
el-Sisi. He is heavily focused on prosperity
be happening. Most checkpoints you just
of becoming a victim of crime or an act
Northern Sinai. The most active extremist
and building business at all levels. His
go straight through, but there was one
of violence, however. The Sinai desert
groups in the country are based there due
commitment to helping people build
at the Suez canal where we were told to
is a vast, arid mountainous area and
to the border it shares with neighbouring
their businesses without corrupt state
pull over and wait. Men with guns took
becoming lost or stranded there would
Israel. Attacks are extremely infrequent
interference while improving security and
our passports, worked out we really were
be less than ideal, so travel with care.
due to increased security though as
carrying out impressive civil engineering
tourists and, looking back on it now, tried
A great many citizens are still
the government has greatly upped the
works has gained him record 90% approval
to explain that they would look after us for
suffering from a lack of income due
numbers of Egyptian troops policing the
ratings and further bolstered the country’s
the rest of the journey – but there was a
to the tumultuous recent years, but
area. It’s also worth remembering that
sense of being on the up’ again.
language barrier. Apparently as a tourist,
Tommy Friedl explained, “The majority
you’re considered precious cargo. We
of Egyptians are searching for a strong
now significantly calmer and, while a small
the Sinai region, where the Red Sea kite
This positivity is not just reserved for
Tommy Friedl told us, “I can see
resorts are, is huge and while there is a
confidence and trust in Mr Sisi. The new
had to wait an hour-and-a-half for a police
leader who can secure them a safe life
risk in the Northern Sinai, the Southern
Sue canal project was all financed by
escort, but as no one spoke English, it
in which they can follow their business
Sinai is very far removed from that. The
Egyptian investors in ten days – that built
wasn’t immediately apparent what was
dreams, just like anywhere else.”
kite industry in Egypt has proved resilient.
trust with people.”
going on. If we’d known what to expect,
Zac at Fly Kiteboarding puts it into perspective for us. “To give an idea of scale, if there’s a
we’d have been absolutely fine. My
And what does this mean for
wife is blonde and there were no
kitesurfing in the country The
other women and just a few
numbers of visiting kiters
bomb attack in North Sinai it’s like there’s
dropped significantly during
a bomb attack in Newcastle in the north
the four years that
of the UK and you decide not to go to
followed the start of
Brighton on the south coast as a result”.
the revolution,
Moreover, support for these groups is
but kitesurfing
men with guns, so it was a
“
bit alarming and she felt
exposed. Eventually CAIRO IS a pick-up turned 600 KILOMETRES AWAY up with a few FROM HURGHADA AND THE WEST more men SINAI KITE RESORTS – AND FEELS in the LIKE A DIFFERENT WORLD. “WE ALWAYS back FELT SAFE, HOWEVER IT WASN’T AS with INTERESTING FOR THE WORLD’S MEDIA guns and TO SHOW THE PEACEFUL BEACHES they escorted RATHER THAN THE CLASHES IN us all the way to THE CENTRE OF CAIRO.”
very low in Egyptian society. Egyptians
didn’t die
are hungry for progress and keen to
out as a
see their country make a full recovery.
result.
Anything that could hinder that is met with
In fact it
almost total condemnation and the risk
has grown
towards foreigners is often exaggerated
in popularity
in the media. Egyptians are also acutely
with Egyptian
aware of the role visiting Westerners and
riders during the
the revenue they bring in to the region
last few years and the
have to play in helping the country get
industry has grown along
back on its feet. After the revolution, the
with it. Jenny and Sherif from
number of visitors dropped by almost
Soul Kitesurfing summed it up well
STEFAN REICHL, BREAKERS
Ras Sudr. Nik’s experience isn’t typical if you visit the more popular resorts on
the western coast of the Sinai,
Although the chances of coming to actual harm in Egypt are very small, of course you should be aware of being taken advantage of in general. Zac from Fly Kitesurfing has lived in Egypt for three years and speaks a basic level of Arabic. “The people are amazingly friendly and open – it’s just the way the culture is and part of the reason why I love the country.” Egypt lost a lot of money when the tourist numbers dramatically dropped, and he continues, “In tourist destinations everyone will be happy to see you and will go out of their way to help you... though they may try to charge you about five times what a bottle of water is worth, or vastly overcharge you your taxi fare, so watch out for that, but that’s about as bad as it will get.” Also, it goes without saying, remember that while Egypt is a forward thinking
60% and so, as a result, there has been
“Several years ago Egypt was
but he still reckons that, “It was
progressive nation it is still, in the main,
a great deal of effort made to ensure that
definitely at the peak of its tourism.
the best spot I’ve kitesurfed for at
a Muslim country and this is something
tourists feel as safe as possible.
There has been a decline in foreign
water in the world! I’m going again in
you should be respectful of at all times in
tourists coming over to kitesurf, however
September. Fly Kiteboarding in Ras Sudr
terms of dressing and acting respectfully.
centres in the Red Sea The general
kitesurfing as a sport through this time
was recommended by my good friend
A fascinating country with a rich and
attitude is very welcoming towards
has gained a lot of popularity in Egypt,
Dave White. He didn’t tell me about
varied culture, take the opportunity to
Westerners and the vast majority of
and has become one of the most loved
the checkpoints because he knew we’d
engage with people when the opportunity
people in the Red Sea area appreciate
watersports and the increase in Egyptians
probably decide not to go, but I’m so glad
arises. While alcohol is easier to come
the income from tourism.”
taking up the sport has made up for the
we did – you just need to know what to
by in Egypt than in some other Muslim
loss of tourists. We’ve managed to create
expect and why. We went early season
countries, public drunkenness is deeply
Egyptians are only concerned with
a sustainable business in which we’re
when the wind isn’t supposed to be as
frowned upon. Many of the Red Sea kite
gleaning profits from tourists. Juergen
not solely reliant on tourists and we have
constant and we had wind everyday.
destinations have bars and clubs where
from Kite Worldwide has been operating
been able to expand and build, making
My wife keeps banging on about it! She
you’ll be able to find a party without
in Egypt for many seasons and sees
Soul Kitesurfing even better!
was just about up to boardstarts before
too much bother, but it’s best not to go
However, with such positivity in the
we went and had three days of lessons
completely crazy.
country there are still things to consider
out there and is up and going both ways
should you choose to travel there. We
now. As soon as you fall off you can just
Tommy Friedl runs two watersports
That’s not to say of course that
things from an experienced standpoint. “Most people say that the mood towards tourists is good because the
If you’re considering whether or not you should travel to Egypt, it’s important to be
El Gouna is a very unique development as a gated town and is developed with sustainability and a sense of community at the heart of its design. As well as tourists, there are many Egyptian and foreign residents who contribute to a very safe and friendly resort. Plus, there’s now a cable park so you can ride every day! PHOTO > Kiteboarding Club, El Gouna
0 9 3
One of two beautiful marinas in El Gouna PHOTO > Kiteboarding Club, El Gouna
“MOST PEOPLE SAY THAT THE MOOD TOWARDS TOURISTS IS GOOD BECAUSE THE COUNTRY RELIES ON THE INCOME FROM THAT INDUSTRY. IN OUR OPINION, THAT’S ONLY HALF OF THE TRUTH: IT’S NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MONEY, EGYPT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COUNTRY OF GREAT HOSPITALITY AND THE LOCALS ARE VERY PROUD AND EXTREMELY HAPPY TO HAVE VISITORS AROUND. JUERGEN SIEVERS, KITE WORLDWIDE
”
Service with a smile PHOTO > Breakers, Soma Bay Boat trips to remote islands reveal yet more fantastic conditions PHOTO > Breakers, Soma Bay
PHOTO > Breakers, Soma Bay
Nik Green, Ras Sudr PHOTO > Mrs. Green
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096
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TRAVEL
realistic about the risks of traveling there
/
EGYPT
Additionally, while Islamic extremism
may be growing once more, they are still
or, in fact, anywhere. While great efforts
is a small and very isolated problem
nowhere near their pre-revolution peak.
have been made to address security,
in Egypt, it is not the only country with
The world freestyle and racing tours
there is still a danger. Thankfully the
kite destinations that is dealing with this
have held very successful events
threat is vastly reduced compared to
issue. Ultimately, the decision to travel to
at Soma Bay in Egypt in the
how it was three or four years ago, and
Egypt needs to be made by you and you
last couple of years in the
many argue it was never as prevalent
alone based on the facts available. It’s
as Western media suggested it was
important to be realistic about the dangers
(especially not in the Red Sea area) but
and issues, but also to be positive about
it’s something you should be aware of.
steps that have been made to stabilise
Let’s be honest with ourselves though,
the country. Egypt extends far beyond
there is a risk when traveling to many
the Tahrir Square of three years ago and
places around the world. The potential
the border region of Northern Sinai, both
for crime and physical harm is ever
geographically and symbolically.
present in many kiting destinations,
Once you’ve mulled it over, if you do
and arguably worse where poverty is
choose to go there on a kite trip, you
a problem and comparatively wealthy
will very likely find yourself pleasantly
visiting kitesurfers are viewed by some
surprised. After all, the country is rapidly
as potential targets.
recovering and, while visitor numbers
“
THE GENERAL MOOD IN THE COUNTRY fantastic conditions. IS UPBEAT AND THIS IS Now consider that SUPPOSEDLY DUE IN PART TO the Red Sea THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CURRENT resorts get PRESIDENT, ABDUL FATTAH EL-SISI. HE IS over HEAVILY FOCUSED ON PROSPERITY AND BUILDING 300 BUSINESS AT ALL LEVELS. HIS COMMITMENT TO days a HELPING PEOPLE... HAS GAINED HIM RECORD year of wind 90% APPROVAL RATINGS AND FURTHER and sun and BOLSTERED THE COUNTRY’S you may feel like SENSE OF ‘BEING ON you have all the space THE UP’ AGAIN.” you could dream of. For now, anyway…
KW
Karolina, ripping PHOTO > Alex Lewis-Hughes Freeride fun, El Gouna PHOTO > Kiteboarding Club, El Gouna
What will you ride today? PHOTO > Breakers, Soma Bay Sunset in Ras Sudr PHOTO > Nik Green
0 9 7
“EGYPT EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE TAHRIR SQUARE OF THREE YEARS AGO AND THE BORDER REGION OF NORTHERN SINAI, BOTH GEOGRAPHICALLY AND SYMBOLICALLY.
”
Waist-deep learning with Fly Kitesurfing in Ras Sudr PHOTO > Nik Green
Breakers Resort, Soma Bay
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EGYPT
“I FIRST VISITED EGYPT AROUND 2002 AND HAVE COME EVERY MAY / JUNE SINCE 2009 TO RUN A SERIES OF COACHING HOLIDAYS. I HAVE NEVER FELT ANY TROUBLE IN SOMA BAY, DESPITE BEING HERE AT THE HEIGHT OF THE UPRISING. I COULD ASK ‘REAL’ PEOPLE ABOUT THE SITUATION, RATHER THAN RELYING ON THE VIOLENT-HUNGRY MEDIA. I UNDERSTAND WHY MANY PEOPLE DECIDE NOT TO TRAVEL TO EGYPT, BUT IT’S A BROAD GENERALISATION THAT THE WHOLE OF EGYPT IS UNDER THREAT. FOR ME, THE COUNTRY, THE PEOPLE, THE KITESURFING AND THE CLIMATE IS SECOND TO NONE FOR THOSE NEEDING A QUICK HIT OR FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A DESIRE TO IMPROVE THEIR LEVEL.
Annabel van Westerop PHOTO – Tommy Friedl Pro Center
USEFUL CONTACTS: TOMMY FRIEDL PRO CENTRE, BREAKERS DIVING
HURGHADA AND MARSA ALAM
AND SURFING LODGE, SOMA BAY
www.tommy-friedl.de
www.thebreakers-somabay.com
info@tommy-friedl.de
info@thebreakers-somabay.com
+20 100 667 2811
+20 653 562 641 TRAVEL AGENTS: KITEBOARDING CLUB, EL GOUNA
KITEWORLDWIDE
www.kiteboarding-club.com
www.kiteworldwide.com
elgouna@kiteboarding-club.com
info@kiteworldwide.com
+49 8677 66 86 099 / +20 122 66 10 878
+44 (0) 20 36 085 777
SOUL KITESURFING, RAS SUDR
PLANET KITESURFING HOLIDAYS
www.soulkitesurfing.com
www.planetkitesurf.com
info
info@planettravelholidays.com
soulkitesurfing.com
+2 010 6668 3092 / +2 012 0200 8444
+33 (0) 1273 921 001
Find many more travel details for Egypt at: www.kiteworldmag.com/travel-home/
”
JO WILSON (JO RUNS ‘EGYPTIAN ENERGY’
KW
THEMED COACHING HOLIDAYS)
Soul Kitesurfing www.soulkitesurfing.com
Come try the Ultimate kitesurfing experience in Egypt 002 010 66683092 / 002 012 02008444 90 km after Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel La Hacienda Hotel Ras Sudr, Egypt
SOUL KITESURFING CENTER
PaCkagEs availablE basEd on 7 days (6 nights) Beginner Kitesurfing Package • Lessons: 350 euros p/p (includes 7 hours of lessons with an IKO Qualified Instructor) • Hotel Half Board (brand new bungalows with a/c and pool includes pool view or sea view): 450 euros per double room * Based on 2 persons sharing, single occupancy supplementation applies Free Ride Package • Beach use and storage (includes pump up, pack up, launching, landing and rescue): 60 euros p/p • Hotel Half Board (brand new bungalows with a/c and pool includes pool view or sea view): 450 euros per double room * Based on 2 persons sharing, single occupancy supplementation applies
We teach on brand new 2015 Cabrinha switchblades or 2015 airush dna kites. Rental also available.
Don’t Forget To Like, Share & Keep In Contact With Us @: Soul Kitesurfing Centre
Soul Kitesurfing
Soul Kitesurfing
info@soulkitesurfing.com
baa # El Na
roCenter # Our new P " # $ Alam Marsa !
shly fre ! t " r o s e R x Beach o in u r q e t E n ProCe orners # The new Three C % l e t # o H d loha Bar renovate # A % ! " # ! !
A The International Kiteboarding Highschool
pp l Sc
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ow
ips
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Av ail
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ACADEMICS. ATHLETICS. Fall Semester 2015: The Columbia Gorge / Maui / Brazil
Spring Semester 2016: South Africa / South Padre Island Hatteras North Carolina
(+1) 541-908-5937
www.worldclasskiteboardacademy.com
CHARACTER. RE-THINK EDUCATION
le
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BAJA-ISMS Sensi Graves, Brandon Scheid, Rich Sabo, Vincent Bergeron and their Baja Guru headed to Baja California Sur and found that, in spite of corrupt Policia, highway holdups and shakedowns, there is a reason so many gringos make the yearly migration to the tip of Baja... b e c a u s e i t ’ s a n i n c r e d i b l e e x p e r i e n c e , o n a n d o f f t h e w a t e r I NT ERV I EW > Sensi Graves ALL P HOT OS > Vincent Bergeron
T
he land of banditos and ex-pats, vagabond escapees and surfers. Baja
Venturing into the wasteland is an adventure, but isn’t that what we relish? Venturing with
California Sur is just the deep-south Mexican state you’d think it would be
a guide is a necessity, though. Let this be your guide to tequila shots, survival driving and
and, in spite of what you’ve just read in the introduction, it’s still an absolutely
policia. These rules are deeply inspired by one Gregg ‘Tekko’ Gnecco whom we dubbed the
brilliant adventure!
‘Baja Guru’ for teaching us all that we know.
Baja juxtaposes areas of hardly explored expanses and well-established
{01} SIEMPRE DICE SI
pockets of community. While some might find the ability to order a soy latte
The first rule, and a long-touted motto of the adventurous. ou ask them they say yes.
or a freshly roasted cappuccino of the day a bit absurd in the desert, Baja serves it up hot
These comrades make for fantastic drinking buddies, explorers and motivators. While I
and delicious. The small village where we posted up for two weeks is named La Ventana, the
always try to incorporate this thread of taking chances into my life the #bajaguru was quick
Window, and serves as the backdrop for the adventures to follow.
to dispense this knowledge on our first day in Baja. Always say yes if the opportunity is right there in front of you - take it.
Two weeks is hardly enough time to explore a place and unlock its secrets but, oh how we tried. This trip, coupled with a two-year prior expedition that involved driving down from Hood
We had the opportunity to boat across the channel to Jac ues Cousteau Island. A rugged,
River, Oregon, to La Ventana, laid the platform for the following tips, tricks, inspiration and
uninhabited place, Jacques Cousteau Island provided an opportunity to kite somewhere new.
rules to guide your next voyage to the sun-baked, cactus-filled state.
It would have been rude not to! The boat trip crossing was bumpy and we were severely gear
1 0 3
The first rule, and a long-touted motto of the adventurous. Yo u a s k t h e m ; t h e y s a y y e s .â&#x20AC;?
â&#x20AC;&#x153;
Have van. Have dirt roads. Will travel
laden. Packing five kiteboarders, a photographer, lunch, kites,
Brandon taking in the views from another angle
boards and various e uipment into the dinghy first thing in the morning did not put us in the best of spirits. However, upon landing we were rewarded with a long stretch of open beach okay, fine, there were another pair of kiters there as well) and a hook of land that jutted out into the sea making a small, protected at-water slick. Say yes to adventure. Say yes to a at-water slick!
Besides offering an exciting new backdrop for the multitude of photos that we took on our trip to La Ventana, this island added spice to our trip. The at-water wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t anything to write home about but the wind was steady and it was certainly atter than 0% of the other locations along the Sea of Cortez around La Ventana. The real joy came from seeing something new. One of the things Brandon, the foiling bandito
Grab your nose, hold your breath and punt for all your worth
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that keeps life interesting and enthralling is variety. If you have the opportunity to reward yourself with a little variety then, simply, say yes.
After sessioning the at-water and upwind kickers of Jac ues Cousteau Island it was time to make the push home. There was no way we were riding the boat back it was windy so we were kiting! The
-mile crossing is yet another
adventure you should say yes to in La Ventana should the opportunity arise and there has been an annual race run from the island back to the mainland for some years now. The fastest time is
I knew we weren’t going to make it in but it was certainly an adrenaline fueled
minutes. That’s pretty uick.
minutes, in fact we took about
,
minutes. The most intimidating Brandon and Sensi getting ready for the first session. It’s not hard to tell if they were amped or not!
thing about making the crossing is being that far from land. It’s amazing how uickly you find yourself pushed fully out side of your comfort one. Bouncing along through the chop I was glad I had my waterproof i-Pod to distract me
from the sea life below and I’ll happily admit to feeling a touch of relief when we reached the other side. Another adventure completed and a sense of accomplishment achieved.
{02} CON TODOS Rule number two, ‘con todos’ means ‘with everything’. #bajaguru developed this rule for those lone travelers and newbies to Mexico who don’t speak a lick of Spanish. Ordering can be intimidating and the food is slow to arrive but that’s simply because it’s all prepared super fresh. How fresh? That pico you are shoveling in your mouth was but a tomato and an onion a half hour ago. That’s how fresh. La Ventana boasts many small taquerias, hot dog stands (yes hot dogs), and family-owned restaurants. The oors are dirt and the chairs are plastic. ou shouldn’t let the d cor disturb you though as the food is phenomenal. It’s as local and fresh as it gets, the ladies who cook it up and serve it to you have experience on their side. Safe to say, they have their recipes down and this means that whatever you order is bound to be awesome. So remember order ‘con todos’. Trust the chef, and say yes! Sensi making use of the kickers upwind of Palapas Ventana
Many restaurants in La Ventana are known for certain things. If you’re craving chile rellenos go to El Rincon de la Bahia, if you’re looking for ceviche go to Mariscos and for the best fresh squeezed OJ ever go to La Torre (you can get a giant goblet for about US$3). Tacos Leon, Rinconcitas and Taqueria El Sargento were our usual haunts during our stay.
Beyond the restaurants tucked in and around La Ventana, the rules for eating on the road are pretty simple. Firstly, look for the place with the most locals. Then make sure you can see the food being cooked (it’s usually meat on a spit and finally, and perhaps most importantly, park where you can see the car.
These ‘fast-food’ grill style restaurants boast a variety of meats loaded up on spits. Tortillas are thrown on the grill, meat is carved from the hot, spicy roaster and a variety of fresh ingredients that range from chopped cabbage to pi uant salsa are spooned onto the open face. ou can order a taco and it will be in your hand 0 seconds later. It’s hot, fresh and delicious and a great alternative to the slow home cooking-style restaurants. Especially Noisy locals can be an issue here
when you’re ravenous after a long day on the water.
Making the best of a low wind situation
1 0 5
{03} DRIVING IS A T E A M S P O RT
there were two other people in the water! We were giddy with anticipation and the session that followed did not disappoint.
Pot hole! Vaca! Policia! Tope! Driving in Baja is by no means
We ended the day basking in the glorious sunset that lit up
easy. It necessitates the members of the vehicle to form a
the sky and cast rainbows of polychromatic blues, purples and
team to navigate safely. This rule may not come very easily to
pinks across the sky. With that, we started our journey home
those pig-headed, stubborn drivers that don’t like being told
and the adventure really began.
what to do or having their skills questioned. However, driving in Baja is a departure from the norm and requires a quiet swallowing of one’s ego.
riving in Baja is difficult, but driving in Baja at night is something else entirely. Navigating the severely pot-holed dirt road away from the surf break was manageable but the real
My personal driving skills were put to the test on a trip back
challenge came when we got to the highway. The roads are
from Conejo on the Pacific side. It was on one of two days that
narrow and quite often the white line is where the road abruptly
we didn’t have wind but, as ever, we were amping for some
ends with no shoulder visible. Re ectors are a recent addition
action. The day started out bright ...and early... as we loaded
but many stretches of the road do not have any. It’s hard to see,
up the van with surfboards and all eight of us piled into the two
other drivers don’t abide by the rules and debris is in plentiful
vehicles. We made the two-hour drive without any incident and
supply. My hands remained firmly at ten and two and my eyes
only a quick stop at the edge of La Paz to refuel the cars and
were glued to the wavering yellow line. Then we made it into La
ourselves with tortillas.
Paz where city driving proved to be an entirely new problem. While there may be more lights here, the cars are also more
Upon arrival at Conejo we were justifiably pumped! A glorious
numerous and stop signs seem to jump out of nowhere. We
left-hand point break sat before us with ample swell filling and
stopped for dinner at a ‘meat-on-the-spit’ joint and Baja Guru
waves breaking all the way down the bay. What’s more is
explained how we were to get out of the city. “Stay close, don’t
“Driving in Baja is a departure from the norm and r e q u i r e s a q u i e t s w a l l o w i n g o f o n e’s e g o.
“
The boys cutting like knives through Mexican butter
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As you can see, crowds aren’t too big of a concern down here
My r e a r v i e w m i r r o r i n s t a n t l y f i l l e d w i t h f l a s h i n g b l u e l i g h t s a s t h e Po l i c i a e m e r g e d . A v e r y p l e a s a n t o f f i c e r e m e r g e d f r o m t h e s q u a d c a r, s h o o k
“
my h a n d a n d t h e n p r o c e e d e d t o s h a k e m e d o w n f o r 3 0 0 p e s o s . He w a n t e d 9 0 0 s o I g u e s s i t w a s a b a r g a i n r e a l l y.”
Brandon ripping up the flats
1 0 7
Sensi taking a magic carpet ride at Jacques Cousteau (or Isla Cerralvo to the locals) Even on a lazy Baja day the pre session pump up is still frantic
No wind doesn’t necessarily stop play in Baja
lose me.” “Famous last words” I thought to myself. I followed the white
tent, savour watching the wind line fill in, relish your time on the water
van through the many intersections and when we came to a four-way
and delight in such bright new experiences. And when the opportunity
stop Tekko made a left hand turn which I immediately followed in the hope
calls for it, say yes to ‘mas cervezas’.
of sticking right on his tail. My rear view mirror instantly filled with ashing blue lights as the Policia emerged. A very pleasant officer emerged from
One of the great activities associated with ‘mas cervezas’ in La Ventana
the squad car, shook my hand and then proceeded to shake me down for
is digging your own hot-tub in the sand. There is an area on the northern
00 pesos. He wanted 00 so I guess it was a bargain really.
{ 0 4 } M A S C E RV E Z A S
edge of town, aptly named Hot Springs’, that has
0-degree water
bubbles below the surface all along the beach.
The final rule is a testament to the slow, la y Baja days that suck you
The boys busied themselves digging a pit in the ground to reach the hot
away from reality. The Internet in La Ventana works at a snail’s pace,
water source and then another pit to form our ‘tub’. The tub area they
encouraging much more time for socialising, living in the moment and
dug was a long, wide trench with a tarp spread over the sand. Buckets
indulging in ‘bebidas’. The spirit of ‘mas cervezas’ is not simply to drink,
of hot water were passed fireman style to the tub and, slowly but surely,
but to enjoy the moment. To savour the spectacular sunrises from your
our beachfront infinity spa came into being!
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R E C I P E : B AJA F O G INGREDIENTS: • Pacifico or Corona in a bottle (it’s important that it’s in a bottle) • 1 shot of tequila • ¼ of a lime DIRECTIONS: Open the beer. Fill the neck the rest of the way with a shot of tequila. Squeeze a fresh lime on top. Take a long pull off of the bottle.
WHEN TO GO The windy season in Baja runs from late October through until April. This is when the wind chasers migrate from the West Coast and Canada to post up for the winter months in the hot, dry climate of the Baja desert. The wind completely shuts down in the summer and La Ventana turns into a fisherman’s dream destination.
Getting contorted above slick
WHERE TO KITE
We were extremely proud of our creation and
With these instructions to hand it’s now up to you,
La Ventana sits on the ocean and is shaped like the letter L. Kiters
the ingenuity we’d employed to make it happen.
dear reader, to embark on your own Baja adventure.
traveling downwind far enough will soon find themselves back
That is until another group showed up. They were
Escape to the land of giant cacti (cardones), tacos,
on land and La Ventana’s shape makes a great catcher’s mitt for
severely outfitted! They had brought a pump to
cervezas and dirty, dust-laden, open roads. Take
those learning and offers a sense of ease and protection when
siphon water from the hot springs into the tub, a
advantage of the opportunities you are presented with,
you’re out on the water.
tarp twice as big as ours and even a thermometer
from kiting in a new location to trying a new restaurant.
to read the hot tub’s temperature. Real pros! They
The most memorable things can happen when
Chaco Lake is for the adventurous kiter and one willing to travel
even brought individually named reusable cups for
you aren’t expecting them to. Put yourself in a new
for a few metres of flat water.
their beverages. We spent the afternoon sipping
situation and you are sure to experience new things
cool beers, making Baja Fogs and enjoying the
and relish life all the more for it. ou’ll come home
Jacques Cousteau Island is a protected inlet and makes for an
camaraderie. Even if their tub was better than
with bare-feet, dusty clothes, memories that make you
exciting crossing back to the mainland.
ours. If you have a no wind day in La Ventana you
smile, and the smell of lime-juice upon you. That is
should do the same!
assuming, of course, that you make it home at all.
KW
Buffadora is a surf spot and not suitable for beginners. The necessary wind conditions are side-on or onshore and the waves break on the reef. Hot Springs is a mellow launch with plenty of space and offers an escape from the hoards while Baja Joes is a very popular spot for
Who gets right of way? Sensi taking the ‘laid back’ approach to riding in Baja. They sessioned this little beach for over an hour and Sensi got more than one face full of sand during this shoot! Nailed this one, though
Cardones. You do not want to land your kite on one of these!
a reason with its own bar with live music.
W H E R E / W HAT T O E AT The local fare is fish! Since La Ventana is on the Sea of Cortez, an area teaming with sea life, the fish is fresh and phenomenal. I encourage anyone traveling there to dine on seafood daily. Other than that there are a host of local hot spots, meat-spit joints and cafeterias to choose from. Just remember to check it’s full of locals and that you can see the food being cooked (and your car) and you’ll be good.
Sensi and her crew visited Baja in January. Find Sensi at www.sensigravesbikinis.com and she also rides for Liquid Force
1 0 9 The Baja Sunset. Like the ‘tequila sunrise’ but a little more gentle
T h e m o s t m e m o r a b l e t h i n g s c a n h a p p e n w h e n y o u a r e n’t e x p e c t i n g t h e m t o. P u t y o u r s e l f i n a new situation and you are sure to experience new things and relish life all the more for it.
“
Yo u’ l l c o m e h o m e w i t h b a r e - f e e t , d u s t y c l o t h e s , m e m o r i e s t h a t m a k e y o u s m i l e , a n d t h e s m e l l o f l i m e - j u i c e u p o n y o u . T h a t i s a s s u m i n g , o f c o u r s e , t h a t y o u m a k e i t h o m e a t a l l .”
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U S E F U L C O N TAC T S From some of the best desert biking or single track mountain biking experiences you can hope for, to incredible live music in the evening, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty on offer in Baja aside from fantastic kitesurfing. Check these guys out for more help...
C A P TA I N K I R K S Set on a private beach with panoramic views, the lodgings have AC and wifi in a beautiful botanic garden setting. The resort offers studio casitas and up to four bed houses, suiting any group si e. Located between La Ventana and El Sargento, with over 20 years of experience after opening the first resort, they also offer kitsurfing, SUP, windsurfing, downwinders, fishing, spear fishing, scuba diving, mountain biking and more. They also highly recommend La Ventana for live music! www.captainkirks.com info
captainkirks.com
+1 310 833 3397
V E N TA NA W I N D S P O RT S A bouti ue beachfront resort in La Ventana, offering a peaceful spot for quiet relaxation as well as the opportunity to discover and play in the ocean or desert. Choose from cabanas or rooms and enjoy delicious meals, world class kitesurfing, windsurfing, mountain biking, fishing, diving and more. www.ventanawindsports.com estebanbaja gmail.com +52 612 114-0065
Brandon has the Baja twinkle in his eye
La Ventana's Most Beautiful Resort
Tel: 310-833-3397 Toll Free: 877-321-KIRK (5475)
w w w. C ap t ain k irk s .c om
The great kiting just outside your window is just the beginning. Ventana kiteboarding is well known to be awesome. But even more awesomeness awaits you when you visit us. Accommodations are beautiful, spacious, and nearly right on the beach. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SUP, mountain biking (The trails are new and so are the high-end rental bikes), kayaking, fishing, whale shark watching, massage, yoga, Spanish lessons, snorkeling, a giant hot tub, WiFi internet... In other words, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of great stuff to do. The dining may get you excited too, with fresh, local ingredients prepared by an excellent chef in our new, second-story beachfront restaurant. So, come for the kiting... then discover Baja Deluxe.
VentanaWindsports.com
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KITES
2015 FREERIDE FINALE
ROUNDING UP A TRIO OF VERY DIFFERENT FREERIDE KITES THAT REFLECT THE DIVERSE HANDLING AND PERFORMANCE TRAITS AVAILABLE TO RIDERS IN THIS SECTOR OF THE MARKET. PLUS, WE ALSO TRY OUT TWO SETS OF FOOT PADS AND STRAPS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN INDIVIDUAL SIZES TO SUIT YOUR FOOT SIZE AND THEN THERE’S THE SHINNSTER - A BOARD THAT WILL TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU LOOK AT YOUR SUMMERTIME RIDING AND WON’T BREAK THE BANK
ON THE JOB
to session, so has a good understanding of current
We try to bring as much well-rounded experience
directions/trends. Where possible, we also gather
and buyer’s considerations into our reviews as
the opinion of amateur guest riders who also jump
we can. We’re not about finding the best products
on the gear.
for pro riders, but rather squeezing out the most
Kitesurfing is a very touchy-feely experience
relevant characteristics for every day riders. Senior
and all our tests are based on what we felt. Of
tester Chris Bull is 40-something (we’ve stopped
course that’s subjective and views can change
believing he’s still 38, no matter how often he
when you ride a kite every session having
tells us), has been kiting for 15 years and tested
welcomed it into your life, but hopefully our reviews
more gear than anyone we know, outside of gear
will assist you in finding the kite that has the right
developers themselves. He runs CBK-Hayling
character for you a little bit quicker.
Island (www.CBK-haylingisland.com), a lively
Here’s a guide to what the scores mean for
school, club and shop and understands what the
each kite. (Remember: not everyone wants a kite
pros and bros are looking for in their purchases.
that scores 10/10 for everything. For example
Jim Gaunt is 36, editor of Kiteworld, has been kiting
when considering ‘Steering speed’ – you could end
for 13 years and rarely rides the same gear session
up in a hedge if you’re not ready!)
KITE BALANCE POINT READINGS X / 10 Build quality: 1 = Good luck getting it out of the bag in one piece / 10 = Indestructible Full package: 1 = Pigtails sold separately / 10 = Comes with its own wind Low end: 1 = More power in a handkerchief / 10 = If the leaves are moving you’ll be flying Top end: 1 = Force 3 feels like gale force 8 / 10 = Trees blow down before you max out Steering speed: 1 = Barely turns / 10 = Blink and you’ll miss it Turning circle: 1 = Most pivotal / 10 = Likes to scrape the water Power through turn: 1 = You won’t notice it turning / 10 = Could move a house Bar pressure: 1 = Light as a feather / 10 = Get down the gym Water relaunch: 1 = Superglues itself to the water / 10 = Has an allergy to water Drift: 1 = Rebel without a cause / 10 = Escorts you gallantly down-the-line Boost: 1 = More lift in a wet towel / 10 = Will take you into space Hang-time: 1 = Back to the water before you know it / 10 = GPS needed for piloting Unhooked: 1 = Collapses or pulls your arms out of their socket / 10 = Who needs a chicken-loop? Ease-of-use: 1 = Will make you give up kiting / 10 = Put your mother on it and she’ll shred *DT = Didn’t test, so not prepared to score
KITEWORLD TEST SESSIONS ARE PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH VOLVO
1 1 3
FL Y S URF E R / BOOST / 9 M TEST TEAM NOTES: Getting hold of a kite called the
more grip and force needed to steer the kite through the turn. The
probably does reduce cost, increase longevity and ease of repair if
Boost, Bully was like a kid in a sweet shop when
leading edge really thins out towards the tips and due to the flat
ever needed. Flysurfer use a clever system that untwists your lines
looking out for the windiest days in the forecast. The
shape of the kite, there is a tendency for the tips to paddle a little
as you sheet your bar in. It does mean that you need to sheet to
Boost is high-aspect and very wing-like: thin in cord and long in
when you push the kite really hard, so make sure you pump it up
full power to untwist your lines rather than manually twisting your
its span. You’d expect it to soar, but also drive really far towards the
very firmly to help eradicate this. Of course, this shape doesn’t lend
chicken-loop collar... but it does work and is metal rather than
edge of the window and upwind. High-aspect kites like this offer
itself naturally to consistent turning kite loops, they’re much more
plastic, so once again, it’s rugged.
a much larger projected area than lower-aspect, more C shaped
about being used for their efficiency as a wing.
kites, which is why they are so popular among racers. Although more
The Boost is a specific kite for going out and boosting huge,
SUMMARY: There is something about this kite that means we can’t
efficient in their production of power per size, they turn with less
hanging around for ages and also going back upwind like a train. It
help but enjoy our sessions on it. It’s not the most polished, but it’s
power and are much more pivotal than more C-shaped kites.
ticks all those boxes really well, but there should be a warning on
rugged and full of character. It’s a bit like your mate down the pub
In the light winds we initially had the Boost out in it certainly pulled
the side of the bag that it’s quite ballsy in its power delivery and
who is really good fun to go out for a session on the beers with –
high and consistently in the window. The Flysurfer is noticeably more
therefore not for everyone. The Boost really performs as a jumpy
they’re loud, lively and great fun – but your other half doesn’t really
powerful in its low end than the Gin and much more aggressive in the
kite with a great low end. If you’re an experienced big air specialist
approve of them. If you’re an experienced big air specialist you’ll get
way that it delivers power. It is plainly for a more advanced rider; pull
you’ll get some great boosting stats with this. If you’re only just
some good boosting stats with this. If you’re only just learning to
in on the bar and power is delivered quickly and abruptly. It’s not just
coming onto boosting and want to learn to jump and improve, you’ll
jump and improve, this isn’t the one for you just yet.
dive, park and switch your brain off. The power is quite snatchy, but
find this a bit brutal in its power and handling. KW LIKED: Specific high jumping with loads of hangtime and
no doubt there’s good juice in the low end and as advanced riders we
We haven’t yet talked about the bar because we wanted to engage
enjoyed this engagement. It’s ballsy; dive the Boost down and ‘bang’
you in our thoughts on the Boost’s performance before we comment on
you’ve got power straight away to settle into your riding position and
the incredibly thin lines that it comes set up on! The bridle and lines really
you can feel good if you’ve got the ability to be able to command the
are incredibly thin, much more like a pro-racer’s line set up, built for
KW WOULD CHANGE: Some people would want more refinement at
Boost as, even when sheeted out, the Boost can still be pulling hard
ultimate efficiency and least drag. As aerodynamically good they surely
the bar and in the handling. For others, this is exactly what they’ll
with lots of apparent wind as it’s very efficient.
are, most of us aren’t looking for such minute advantages in efficiency
love about the kite.
Last issue we reviewed the Ozone Edge and comparisons are
and place higher value on peace-of-mind while out at sea. These lines
begging to be made. The Boost has the same DNA in terms of
passed all the strength tests, but they are just so much thinner than
shape, low end, forward flight and lift. There really aren’t many
anything else and there may be a niggle in your mind in very heavy
kites that can go as high and as far as the Edge; that combination
sessions. An unnecessary niggle we’re sure, but nevertheless, getting a
of being able to jump really high and hang around for days is
knot in such thin lines would be more difficult to remove.
charging upwind like a train.
SIZES: 18, 15, 13, 11, 9 and 7m www.flysurfer.com
amazing. The Edge’s prowess is in its predictive, silky, consistent
The kite itself is well made, there’s an unusual dump-valve that
feel and overall quality. The Boost feels more raw in its handling,
doubles as an inflate valve with a special adaptor and there’s a stick
BALANCE POINTS: Build quality: 6.5 / Full package: 6.5 / Low end:
needs more attention, but brings a faster turn initiation to the game
to dump the air that is attached on to the leading edge. There is a
8.5 / Top end: 8 (good riders) / 7 (regular riders) / Steering speed:
and, therefore, has the potential to go even higher.
regular nipple valve to inflate the kite if you don’t have the adapter.
6.5 / Turning circle: 4 / Power through the turn: 3.5 / Bar pressure:
The Boost is very involving at the bar, feels alive and needs an
The Infinity 3.0 bar feels a little dated now after our experiences
4 for turn initiation and then 6 to steer throughout the turn / Water
element of constant maintenance in its handling. The initiation of a
with some of the super slick offerings from this year. Everything
relaunch: 8 / Drift: DT / Boost: 8 / Hang-time: 9 / Unhooked: DT but
turn takes only finger-tip control, but then for bigger turns there’s
on the Flysurfer bar is exposed rather than hidden away, which
really set-up for that. / Cross-over: 5 / Ease-of-use: 7
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KITES
G I N / E G O I S T / 9M TEST TEAM NOTES: The Gin bar probably has the
were up and going nicely, perhaps not with as much torque as
aggression round the corners for very skilled pilots. Although the
comfiest feel in your hands that we’ve tested all
we’d like, but nevertheless the kite flew very nicely into the wind,
Egoist can be trimmed a little to be able to provide clean unhooked
year. Surprised? Gin have been steadily chipping
we were riding upwind and felt comfortable. The steering does
performance for freestyle improvers, advanced riders would miss
away at their product offerings for several seasons and for the last
require quite a bit of input and force to go round in the light winds.
that eagerness through the window to keep it moving forward
two seasons have been operated by a bigger business outfit who are
There was a bit of a lag after initiation and looping the kite at this
sweetly when unhooked. The Egoist suits an improving freerider
clearly allowing for more design budget. They’re going to be serious
bottom end of its wind range, the kite takes quite a wide radius to
who is starting to really get to grips with their jumps and has all
players and the Egoist points to a bright future.
begin with and took a while to come back up through the window.
the unhooked performance needed to make life easy in terms of
The ‘Gin and Tonic’ bar has just enough softness under your
So we went back to the beach and moved the back lines up one
progression over the next few seasons.
fingers for freeriders, allowing your hands to mould into the bar. The
knot on the rear pigtail for more steering input and pressure. Sure
bar itself is small and very tidy and we really liked the neat chicken-
enough there was more low end and the steering became quicker
SUMMARY: Overall the Egoist is a really fun, reactive but friendly
loop which is a good size for freestyle and has a clean safety system
and easier, however also became easier to back stall. Moving
kite. We reckon the top end would go on for ages, too. The harder
running up tidily through the middle of the bar. The above-the-bar
the setting produced what we wanted in terms of more low end,
you pump it the better to get a really solid air frame. Freeriders
trimming cleat is excellent and overall the bar feels and looks really
better steering initiation and feeling at the bar in light wind, but we
already riding with high-performance levels will want more bite
up-to-date in a sporty bright white. You’ll notice there are some
didn’t get that nice bite and really positive drive through a turn and
and grunt. Lighter intermediate riders will definitely find the
back line knot adjustment options on the outside lines just above
occasionally had to sheet the bar out when completing a loop to
Egoist more fun and very rewarding.
the floats – these are often found hidden under the floats, and we’d
reduce some of the load on the back lines.
like to see the same done by Gin. They have such a clean system, it
Next session (now back in the standard middle setting) was
KW LIKED: A very fun and approachable mid and top-end range
seems a little unnecessary to have these exposed. Plus it will be less
very different. The Egoist comes alive in genuine nine metre /
will inspire lots of long, un-fatiguing sessions. We had hours on
confusing to inexperienced riders.
18 – 20mph+ winds, feels lighter and more positive at the bar
this and barely felt it in our legs and arms when, in reality, we’d
The Egoist itself is bright and stands out without the colours being
and has lots more lift at the top of the window, without feeling
rinsed all corners of our home spot.
garish. Implemented with the popular mid-sized nozzle inflation
unruly or intimidating. Straight off the beach it feels stable and
system, the Egoist is spec’d out as you’d expect for 2015 and features
trustworthy, but also energetic and lively. Quickly up to speed the
KW WOULD CHANGE: Bigger riders or higher-performance
good attention to detail throughout, including a large webbing handle
Egoist parks itself nicely forward in the window and really makes
freeriders will want more bite, oomph and drive round the bottom
on the kite to help you carry it along the beach.
for effortless upwind tracking. The power band still isn’t grunty.
of the window.
The Egoist fits very well alongside the mass of three-
There’s adequate power, but it’s delivered to you in a soft way.
strut, mid-aspect-ratio freeride kites that we have reviewed
There are no big surges and, for freeriding, you feel very light and
this year. We tested the Egoist over two sessions; firstly a little
quick on the water. There’s a large sweet spot overhead in which
underpowered when most other riders on the water were on tens
you can send the kite to get plenty of lift. Getting a healthy climb on
or 11s and also ideally juiced when everyone was on eights and
your jumps is easy and then the hangtime feels decent and offers
nines. We always go out for our first runs on the factory setting as
lengthy float. Although light, the Gin isn’t completely neutral though
you’d get it yourselves. Initially, on first launch in the first lightly
and is easy to sense where it is in the sky. It can still stumble a
BALANCE POINTS: Build quality: 7.5 / Full package: 7.5 / Low end:
powered session, the Egoist didn’t feel like the most torquey of
little round the bottom of the window on a kite loop if you’re really
7.5 / Top end: 8 / Steering speed: 5.5 / Turning circle: 4 / Power
kites. On some kites you can sheet in on the bar on the beach and
pushing it but, as with many kites with thin leading edges, the
through the turn: 4 / Bar pressure: 5.5 / Water relaunch: 7.5 / Drift:
immediately feel it lifting your harness. We tried other nine metres
more you can pump it up the better. Although the Egoist is happy
DT / Boost: 7.5 / Hang-time: 8 / Unhooked: 6 / Cross-over: 7 /
that day that had more power. A couple of strokes though and we
to sit forward to provide a very easy tow upwind, there’s a lack of
Ease-of-use: 7.5
SIZES: 14.5, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6m www.ginkites.com
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SUBSCRIBED AND WON Throughout the year we run regular prize draws for our subscribers. Let the drums roll as we catch up on the latest big winning results!
I S S U E # 7 4 : KITEWORLDWIDE HOLIDAY AND OCEAN RODEO FLITE KITE! In issue #74 we ran two separate prize draws to win an Ocean Rodeo Flite and a choice from three KiteWorldWide holidays!
OCEAN RODEO FLITE KITE WINNER Winning a hot new 10m Ocean Rodeo Flite light wind performance kite is Frederic Bruyninckx from Belgium! More on the full Ocean Rodeo range at: www.oceanrodeo.com
KITEWORLDWIDE HOLIDAY Choosing from a KiteWorldWide Holiday in Cape Town, Kenya or Montenegro is Sean Townsend from the UK! Find many more KiteWorldWide holiday options at: www.kiteworldwide.com
ISSUE
# 7 5 : NORTH
VEGAS
In issue #75 we had the awesome North Vegas up for grabs, and the winner is Brent Brody from Florida in the USA. More info on the full North range at: www.northkites.com
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118
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TESTS
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KITES
O CE A N R O D E O / R A Z O R / 10M TEST TEAM NOTES: If the Ocean Rodeo were a car
you do that, forcing you heavily onto your back foot, but there was none
and you pulled up to the lights in it ready for a
of that. No sudden bursts of power, no surprises and no stalling when
drag race, in terms of looks, your opponent is going
sheeted aggressively.
and make mistakes and it won’t shoot off across the sky erratically. SUMMARY: The absolute stand out elements of the Razor are its
to think twice before taking you on. The Razor looks sublime and
That’s a great quality for freestyle and, particularly in average
ease-of-use and predictability. Other favourable aspects are
stands out in terms of its colours and sturdy, hybrid C delta shape.
conditions, the Razor performs impeccably well. We felt at home on
that it’s not tiring for averagely sized riders and is a very capable
Although it may lack a wide inflation valve, there’s good build
it straight away; there’s a lovely even sense of controlled steering
freestyle ally, behaving very predictably when you’re hooked-in or
quality and attention to detail throughout other areas. We rode the
and it’s not tiring at all. It’s a shame we didn’t get to test the nine
unhooked. There is plenty of power in the Razor too and if you’re
2014 – 2015 bar with a clean above-the-bar trim, firm grip on the
though as we’ve recently been discussing the huge difference in
looking for more whip in the handling, and the balance in steering
bar itself, good stopper system, sturdy and very simple chicken-
feel that there can be between nine and ten metre kites. Nines
and the smooth feel of the Razor will no doubt serve it well when
loop and smooth release activation. There’s very little clutter and
seem to inherently have so much more zip and zest around the
you drop a size or two. There’s no shortage of top end and we would
we particularly liked the webbing and ring that are presented as a
window and the Razor, as with many tens, felt quite big on the
have loved to have tried a more energetic, smaller size. Next time...
very unfiddly connection to the safety system and make opting for
end of its lines. The Razor is easy to use in general but to get
the safety and suicide set-up very easy to clip onto the chicken-
good boosts out of this ten metre you need to over exaggerate your
KW LIKED: Predictable and easy, offering ambitious freestylers plenty
loop. However, a new bar has just been released that looks very
movements at the bar and be aggressive in the way you tell it what
of ammunition.
similar in set-up, but is improved in a softer feel and has bigger,
to do. You need to really send it hard beyond 12 to get a big vertical
softer bar ends, which seem like good improvements to us.
yank into the air and you’re not going to go to the moon in average
KW WOULD CHANGE: The boost in the ten requires more accurate
The Ocean Rodeo once again had two sessions, but even on the
winds. It’s not the easiest kite to get a really gratifying jump on and
piloting than you might be used to, but you’re getting more advanced
second more powered session at 22+ knots was still really comfortable
can feel a little empty overhead in average conditions until you get
freestyle mechanics built in to this Razor. The smaller sizes are more
and easy. Power delivery was very smooth and manageable and never
it right. We don’t want to fault it too much for that because it was
boosty and whippy.
stalled when sheeted aggressively. It never caught us out. You can
such a comfortable freeride / freestyle kite. SIZES: 12, 10, 9, 8 and 7m
throw it about and it takes it all in its stride, particularly in average
The power delivery is very smooth and predictable but also
conditions. Bully had injured his knee a couple of weeks before and
not fatiguing at all even though it delivers plenty of steady power.
was still feeling a bit sore but the feeling of the kite’s power through his
You’re going to have an easy time on this learning freestyle as it’s
legs caused him no trouble. In fact, the uptake in power is so smooth
not twitchy at all. Very stable and predictably behaved both hooked
that he blasted through 25 miles that afternoon on the Razor, riding all
and unhooked – you could definitely hit rails with this too as it
the way out to the Isle of Wight from Hayling beach and came in so far
sits very steadily in the window. It’s not a finger-tip control kite
BALANCE POINTS: Build quality: 7.5 / Full package: 7.5 / Low end: 8
upwind that he had to downwinder back to the beach, which he did so
though and does need a firm, confident input at the bar to get it to
/ Top end: 8 / Steering speed: 5.5 / Turning circle: 4 / Power through
downlooping it constantly this way and then the other. There are plenty
do what you want, but that’s really nice for freestylers and you’re
the turn: 5 / Bar pressure: 5 / Water relaunch: 7.5 / Drift: DT / Boost:
of kites that would be regularly giving you big surges of power when
going to be able to over-rotate, pull slightly on the bar by accident
7.5 / Hang-time: 8 / Unhooked: 7 / Cross-over: 7 / Ease-of-use: 8.5
www.oceanrodeo.com
#GETINTHEGAME
8.8m 4.9m
How high are you jumping? WOO is a kiteboarding performance tracker that measures every jump and saves your session to the WOO Kite App, where you can analyze your results, challenge friends, and explore kite spots worldwide!
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5.1m 6.3m
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BOARDS
S H I N N / S HINNSTER
TEST TEAM NOTES: Mark Shinn is good friends
in nice, flat water and light wind conditions, although you do need
with Greg Drexler from Board Riding Maui who
to weight your toes/heels more than a surfboard to maintain grip
it exactly like a skimboard if you wish.
sent Mark his Paipo model to test. Mark liked it so
around a turn as the long, thin rail doesn’t grip or drive as naturally
SUMMARY: The Shinnster is much easier to ride than other light wind
much that he decided to bring the shape into the Shinn range, using
around a carve as a surfboard, but it does maintain its speed well
boards, such as raceboards, freeride boards and certainly foil boards.
Shinn material and manufacturing technology and adding their own
and is forgiving of incorrect foot placements.
Not to mention the cost – the Shinnster retails at around £385 / $500 and now there’s an upgrade available with a pad set-up if you don’t
artwork. He calls it the Shinnster, and if you’re looking for way more
So, for just getting out on the water for a great many more
sessions than you get at the moment because of light winds, you
sessions than you’d ordinarily be able to, without having to make a
should be looking at this.
large outlay on a new kite, is a huge scoring bonus for the Shinnster.
We are only just at the start of this strapless journey and if you go
We have had this board since January. Jim initially took it to
Compared to a surfboard, the get up and go and upwind performance
and watch Shinn’s product video, you’ll be amazed at how much flippy /
Cape Town but being fairly light in body weight at 70 kilos, found
in light winds is far better. The Shinnster also offers a big, stable
skatey tricks that Mark can do on the Shinnster, but don’t be disappointed
the considerably aggressive waves, lumpy seas and strong winds
platform. Stable in terms of over the board pressure or when you
when you find tricks more difficult at first than you imagined. Pushing
to be quite a handful. The Shinnster feels much bigger underfoot
have a rail engaged – get your weight outside the board though and
your level with tricks takes time on the water. Once you start to climb
than a skimboard and in those conditions it was quite a leg workout
the Shinnster has way more skimboard-like tendencies. Skidding
the learning curve it’s a lot of fun though and easier on the knees than
keeping a rail in comfortably. They were conditions way more
it out at the tail, just like you would a snowboard, is a lot of fun
twin-tip tricks. What you learn on the Shinnster in terms of balance and
suited to the fluidity and grip of a surfboard and, although you see
and in terms of tricks, this is a high-performance strapless tool.
board skills will really help you on your surfboard in the waves, too. But at
Mark riding in what look like strong winds and pretty good waves
For getting on and cruising back and forth upwind, the Shinnster is
a base level, if you have an interest in strapless riding and are looking to
in his product video, he is a bulk of muscle (not to mention a double
really easy, but that’s in no way it’s primary design function. From
add a toy that offers real light wind performance for a reasonable amount
World Champion!).
there it’s down to how much time you want to put into it to take
of money, then the Shinnster is a no-brainer. You’ll hold onto it forever
Once back in the UK we’ve had plenty of opportunity to ride the
things to the next step, but the progression is there. Big enough to
because it’s strong and each summer you’ll have plenty of days in which
Shinnster and suddenly it all makes sense in lighter wind and choppy
make stable landings, but light enough to catch in your hands and
you’ll be so pleased you put it in the car. Also, if you’re a heavier guy,
waters that are so prevalent at many spots. Unlike a surfboard, there
throw around, if you’re up for learning, the Shinnster can offer a
you’ll be able to use the Shinnster in much more wind as you’ll find the
is heaps of flex in the Shinnster and the rails are thinner – much more
steep learning platform. Strapless riding takes a sense of humour
flex really comfortable and the jumping ability of the board will get better
like a twin-tip. The board likes to sit in the water and be ridden off
and some dedication, though. You’re going to go flying round the
and better in stronger winds.
its edge in a very familiar twin-tip manner and feels natural in that
front of the nose and go shooting off the back of it, but you’ll get
respect – you’ll adjust to getting up and riding very quickly indeed
there. Once you get your skills up (or if you weigh a little more),
KW LIKED: Genuine fun and quick planing speeds on your regular kite
in flatter waters. Although very flexible, the underside of the board
then the stronger the winds and bigger the ramps, the more fun the
in light winds.
is flat in terms of its rocker, so gets up and going with very little kite
Shinnster becomes for jumping. Show that big bottom surface to the
power and this is really a remarkable performance attribute. Each
wind and it’s going to stick it to your feet like glue.
session we were able to get out on one or two sizes smaller than
Light wind strapless riding has come a long way and the
everyone else and still crank upwind and have more than enough
Shinnster will do a lot to take it even further. Pop 180s, surface spins,
power. When everyone else was working their 13s and 14s, we were
upwind 360s, there really is way more riding application in this than
working our way upwind between the pack on a nine metre. The
a skimboard as it also has much more grip, allowing it to be ridden
Shinnster also offers you a good platform to learn to tack and gybe
like a normal board, too. You can of course take the fins out and ride
want to just use wax.
KW WOULD CHANGE: Smaller riders might enjoy a smaller model in more difficult conditions. SIZES: 160 x 46cm www.shinnworld.com
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FOOTSTRA P S
S P B O A R D I NG FOOTSTRAP SYSTEMS
TEST TEAM NOTES: This issue we had two sets
Foot straps and pads can be like Marmite – we might like some
also a washer underneath the plate that keeps the screw in place so
of strap and pad systems on review from a new
set-ups for out feet, other people may not... because it’s not useful
that you’re not going to lose the screw when you take the pads off for
accessory brand called SP Boarding. We test so
having a toe ridge if your toes don’t even reach it!
traveling for example.
many different foot strap and pad systems, from a basic flat pad
After a few sessions your foot will start to mould into the memory
and Velcro strap to incredibly sophisticated systems with a great
foam system of the pad and strap. The Pro MFS / TRS Velcro strap is
SUMMARY: These modular systems are really easy to set-up
diversity of settings and set-ups. Some are more like wakeboarding
a generic, regular strap, but is soft and comfortable and as it fits the
and present a very good idea. What you feel at your feet is such
baseplates with very intricate positions and have the equivalent of a
size of pad that you order, offers a very snug fit. The straps sits over
a personal thing, and looking at these now, we’re amazed that no
pair of Nike Air Max bolted on top. However, what SP Boarding have
the front section of your foot, so isn’t a super locked-in and aggressive
one started doing this sooner. You can achieve such a tight, yet
done is take the concept of how we fit our shoes and applied that to
feel, but is plenty supportive enough and offers a good combination of
comfortable fit, and there’s no wiggling your toes for the first two
kiteboarding. You can have the most developed and ergonomic foot
security and comfort for freeriding.
minutes that you’re on the water trying to get your feet wedged into
Step-up in development to the Raptor QSR (Quick Strap Ratchet)
the strap as you may be used to. Perhaps in the future it would be
strap, and you’ll find it’s much deeper and fatter, covering more of
nice to have a bit more of a choice in widths, but also more intricate
SP Boarding have produced a wide range of sizes that you can order
your foot. The ratchet tightening system is similar to what you’d find
adjustments for your stance, like wakeboarding base plates, but for
specifically to your foot size. For children or women with small feet, or
on a snowboarding boot and is very easy to tighten up with lots of
the majority of freeriders looking to find the perfect fit for their twin-
men with large feet, these will be a revelation. We tried the Pro MFS
small increments of adjustability with a click of the tab. It’s very easy
tip foot straps, these are fantastic.
/ TRS pads (memory foam / toe-ride systems). The pads feature an
to really lock your foot into the pad with the ratchet system – you can
anti-slip grip on the surface and the memory foam feels reassuringly
even tighten or loosen the strap with one hand while you’re riding.
KW LIKED: We often find that the simplest straps are the most
chunky in depth. Furthermore the SP systems come with three choices
Put your feet in, click the strap nice and tight and you feel extremely
comfortable. The trick is getting lucky enough to find such a system that
of heel density foam pads (soft, medium and hard) that you can easily
secure straight away. There’s not so much pressure that you feel an
is the perfect fit. The SP Boarding system removes the need for luck!
change to find the most comfortable set up for you. The Pro Air system
ache in your foot from it being constantly forced down into the board.
also comes with a special ‘Air Pillow’ insert for the heel area.
The pressure is focused a little more forward over your foot, whereas a
KW WOULD CHANGE: It would be nice to have a little more
boot binding can feel as if it’s really pressuring your heel down. These
adjustability in how toe-in / toe-out you have your stance, like
are a great in-between option.
wakeboarding. If you’re not yet riding in boots though, don’t worry,
pad in the world, but if it’s too big or too small for your feet, then there’s just no point.
There a nice toe ridge and some further contours to support your heel, but because the pad is sized perfectly for your feet and these are positioned differently according to the size of the pad, they make
On both systems there are three options for where to place the
a massive difference. Although some brands might offer a couple of
screw through the foot straps and plate into the board. Some of the
different basic sizes of foot pad sizing options, no one, that we’re
very technical systems on the market today have more options, but as
aware of, offers this level of customised fit. Combined with the anti-
these pads are fitted specifically to your feet, you don’t really need any
slip grip surface on the pads, these well placed ridges help stop your
more than that. Plus, it means that the SP systems are also extremely
feet coming out of your straps during aggressive freestyle manoeuvres.
light, so they don’t add unnecessary weight to your board. There is
most people are happy with a choice of three stance settings, so don’t let this worry you too much UK SHOE SIZES: 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 www.spboarding.com
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INTERVIEWS
Coleman with Patrick Rebstock
/
CRA C K I N G
I T
Real progress is still made at home
CRACKING IT [01]
COLEMAN BUCKLEY – RIDE ENGINE
IN 2015 IT’S STILL POSSIBLE TO GO FROM GARAGE HOBBY SHOP TWEAKING TO INTERNATIONAL DESIGN REPUTE IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT IDEA AND MOTIVATION. AMONG OTHER ELEMENTS, COLEMAN’S UNIQUE FEATHERWEIGHT CARBON-FIBRE SHELL CONCEPT IN HIS ARMOR HARNESSES CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF 7-NATION WHO HAVE TAKEN TO PROPELLING RIDE ENGINE INTO THE GLOBAL MARKET
A trio of features exposing new and established designers along with their moments of inspiration and brainwaves W ORDS > Adam Lapierre P HOT OS > Dave Nelson
actually was shaped to my body?’”
For Coleman Buckley, the opportunity
to pay the bills, quickly turned into a
to take Ride Engine to new heights is a
year, and before long Buckley’s career
dream come true.
path in the medical biology field took a
a harness to stay where it was supposed
sharp right turn.
to, wasn’t restrictive and was comfortable
The 27-year-old Santa Cruz surfer, kiteboarder and habitual tinkerer has
“I have always been a tinkerer,
Buckley set to work finding a way to get
to use. In a makeshift lab in his garage he
always felt a strong connection with
so it was only natural that I started
experimented with several Frankenstein
the ocean and the humbling forces
to modify and mess with my gear,”
designs, dissecting various harnesses,
that make the wind and waves Mother
Buckley said, describing how Ride
stitching together their components and
Nature’s greatest playground. Today,
Engine came to be. I was surfing and
bringing them to life amongst the sunny
just a few short years after starting
kiting almost every day and the months
California breaks of Santa Cruz.
his home-grown harness brand by
quickly blurred into a year. During
circumstance in a garage, Buckley is
that time I went through several kite
and taking other harnesses apart to
watching the sun set behind the break
harnesses and never felt satisfied.
see how they were made. I noticed
with a whole new outlook on life along
Buckley had taught himself to
that most had a plastic plate sewn
with an invigorated sense of optimism
sew and started experimenting with
into the back to increase rigidity and
for what the future will bring.
designing and building kites in his
help spread load. I took this idea one
living room when he had an epiphany.
step farther and started basing the
Buckley grew up surfing on the California coast and, after graduating
“It was April of 2012, I was picking up
“I started building more prototypes
whole harness around a super strong,
from Stanford with a degree in biology
a replacement for a brand new harness
featherweight carbon-fibre shell that
in 2011, he moved to Santa Cruz
that literally ripped apart while I was
was moulded to the shape of my back.”
and took a little time off to unwind,
riding it when I noticed a tag that read
contemplate his future and reconnect
anatomical fit’ . he explained. The
things in the morning to break in the
with his saltwater roots. A month of
interior sides of the harness were at
afternoon’, Buckley - along with the
surfing and kiting, working odd jobs,
and in no way anatomical, but it made
help of a core group of seaworthy
repairing boards and tutoring science
me think, ‘What if I made a harness that
test-dummies, nicknamed The Goonz
Following the mantra of ‘building
1 2 5
Working buzz
Coleman’s passion starts and finishes in the water
- tested prototypes and honed designs
figured out a way to inlay graphics so
Buckley’s future, and the future of
alive, powerful and ready to take me
until he came up with something that he
riders could get something that not
Ride Engine and the Armor harness,
on an adventure,” he said. “They are
and all his friends were fully stoked on.
only matched their shape, but also
took a dramatic turn towards the end of
engines elegant, silent and fierce. The
their style. For the first few years all the
2014 when friends and pro kiteboarders,
great thing is that amazing feeling of
Progression happened fast and, as the dust settled the Armor harness was
harnesses I made had shells that were
born. This hard-shell, fully customisable,
custom formed to an individual
form-fitting harness was unlike anything
rider’s back. However, after
on the market and, as the buzz about
making hundreds of custom
Patrick Rebstock and Alex Fox, introduced him to Tony Logosz,
“
an incredibly established
tapping into the pure energy of nature is not uni ue to kiting or surfing. People find new and exciting ways to connect with our beautiful world everyday.”
pretty soon others took notice, orders
gear designer, inventor FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS and tinkerer of epic harnesses I realised I ALL THE HARNESSES I proportions for could also make a MADE HAD SHELLS THAT WERE CUSTOM Slingshot and universal fit shell FORMED TO AN INDIVIDUAL RIDER’S 7- Nation. a shape that BACK. HOWEVER, AFTER MAKING HUNDREDS Logosz would OF CUSTOM HARNESSES I REALISED I
started coming in and it became a
work well
harness and propel it to the global
the grass-roots Santa Cruz brainchild grew, so did its’ demand. “Initially I was just trying to make the best gear for myself,” he said. “But
It is with that spirit that Buckley joined forces with 7-Nation. Now with significantly more resources at its disposal, the Ride Engine brand has the means to, not only refine the Armor
garage into a makeshift factory. He
took an COULD ALSO MAKE A UNIVERSAL FIT SHELL; A SHAPE THAT WOULD WORK immediate for the majority WELL FOR THE MAJORITY OF liking to Buckley of people, allowing PEOPLE, ALLOWING ME and what he was doing me to make the Armor TO MAKE THE and decided to help take available worldwide.” ARMOR AVAILABLE Ride Engine to the next level. Although thoroughly WORLDWIDE. “Tony took me under his wing and satisfied to see his creation
developed plastic blanks that could be
thrive, it wasn’t long before Buckley’s
mailed to customers, softened in an
time was consumed with the business
oven, form-fitted to the exact shape
and the labour-intensive process of hand
of their backs and then returned and
making each harness while maintaining
simple: to create something that would
used as moulds to create completely
the quality and attention to detail that
better connect him and his friends to
custom-fit carbon-fibre shells to build
kept them in such high demand.
the pure and powerful energy of the
updated Armor harness that will be
business. Ride Engine didn’t come into being because I wanted to start a business; it started because we wanted to have the best gear.” Before long Buckley turned his
helped provide the resources to scale things up,” Buckley said. In the beginning Buckley’s goal was
stage, but to expand its mission of helping connect people with nature by developing other product lines while maintaining an eco-friendly conviction. “I’m getting to experiment with a lot of new products and couldn’t be happier,” he said. “This has been a dream come true and I’m thankful to everyone who helped me keep the dream alive. I couldn’t have done it without them.” In addition to several models of
wind and waves. As he succeeded, he
available globally this summer, Ride
the harness business,” he admitted.
caught a glimpse of how many other
Engine is launching a full line of
shell is that it locks into the curves of
“I was spending so much time making
people thrive on that same connection,
watersports accessories.
your back, which helps keep the thing
them that I couldn’t do anything else
and not just through surfing and kiting.
from riding up,” he explains. “I also
that interested me.”
the harness around. “One major advantage of the custom
“After a few years I felt trapped by
“In my mind kites are like dragons;
More at: www.rideengine.com
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CRA C K I N G
I T
Wind addicts: Windguru founder Vaclav on the left with CEO Kamil Kolesa PHOTO – Lukas Dvorak
[02]
VACLAV HORNIK
WHETHER YOU’RE CHECKING THE CHANCE FOR AN AFTER WORK SESSION, OR THE WIND AT YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY DESTINATION, IT’S HIGHLY LIKELY YOU’RE A WINDGURU ADDICT. MEET THE INSTIGATOR OF WINDSURFING AND KITESURFING’S MOST POPULAR WEATHER SITE I NTER VIE W > Kiteworld WO R DS > Vaclav Hornik
the Internet as we know it today didn’t
in an easy to read format, in lots of
the world, telling me they were using
exist outside of universities, which
detail and in one place via a compact,
Windguru and that it was working
were already connected. Before the
colourful table. This simple page
well for them. It was such a satisfying
Internet era we got our forecasts from
became quite popular in the Czech
feeling and I doubt I would have got
radio or TV, but the info was really
windsurf community, so I developed it
such a feeling of accomplishment
limited, especially when you were only
further and started adding more and
working as a bank accountant.
interested in wind. During my time at
more spots from other countries. In
The site grew steadily each year,
university the Internet was developing
2000 I translated the site to English
but it was still just a hobby project. I
quickly and one day I discovered that
and registered the domain ‘Windguru’.
managed to sell some advertising space
there were weather forecast models
I chose to study economics because
to cover the hosting costs and worked on it in my free time, but that was about
and different weather sources available
I wasn’t really sure what to do next
that could provide very interesting
and it seemed like a sensible option,
it in terms of generating revenue. A
information for a wind addict. There was
but I soon realised that finance and
turning point came along when I was
actually a lot of weather info on the net
accounting was not my dream career.
approached by the Czech Institute of
offering more detailed forecasts, but it
After graduating, instead of taking
Computer Science who had seen my
wasn’t very easy to assimilate. I had to
a job in a bank, I found a job in a
site. They had experience in running
check a lot of sites and view loads of
software company and worked as
numeric models and showed me how
forecast maps to get the wind forecast
a developer while still developing
they could utilise those to produce more
that I wanted for windsurfing.
Windguru as a hobby project.
precise forecasts; it was an exciting
I did a lot of exploration and learnt
Back then the website was running
opportunity to improve Windguru! We discussed the business model,
The absolute beginning of Windguru
how to program a webpage that could
on shared hosting and, while only a
was probably in around 1993. That was
process the raw model output and
few people visited the site, the number
how we could work together and
when I started studying economics at
show the wind forecast for the four
was growing as I added more and
then invested in hardware that could
university. Windsurfing was my passion,
main windsurf spots in the Czech
more spots. It was great to receive an
compute our own forecasts. In October
as were computers, but at this time
Republic. I could provide the forecast
email from Fiji, on the other side of
2004 we introduced the Windguru
1 2 7
Windguru Station map
Feeding the addiction
Our favourite colours
Vital server capacity
PRO version which came with a
such as earth position, solar radiation
operates the GFS (Global Forecast
me. There’s a lot of work done in
little subscription fee to finance the
and, perhaps the most important,
System) which is a global forecast
the background by my partners who
additional costs. I still remember the
the current state of the atmosphere.
model. NOAA provides data to
are the real experts on numerical
day we announced that there would
These are derived from satellite data,
anyone for free which is a huge help
weather predictions and take care of
now be a free and PRO site option; I
observations from weather stations,
for smaller organisations, research
configuring, maintaining and running
had no idea how users would react as,
buoys, airports, ships and weather
teams and weather projects as they
the models for Windguru. Together, we
at the time, paid forecasting services
balloons. Observation coverage
can develop services based on this
develop new ideas on how to improve
were uncommon. Thankfully, people
around the globe is very variable
information. If you visit some sites or
what we do and make the wind addict’s
stayed with us and enough of them
and getting the real state of the
download a weather app, it’s quite
life easier! It can be difficult and we
signed up to cover our costs. This
atmosphere is complicated. Only large
likely that it’s more or less dependent
make mistakes (and sometimes make
number grew and two years later I quit
national weather services have access
on the data from NOAA and without it
people angry) but we do our best.
my job to focus on Windguru full time!
to all this data and the capacity to
there would be no Windguru or many
There are lots of elements involved
People often ask me how Windguru works. It’s powered by numerical weather prediction models;
We use GFS model forecasts
global weather prediction models. Regional (or limited-area)
Windguru Station project. Forecasting
areas using the global for initial and
between meteorological quantities like
boundary
atmospheric pressure, temperature,
conditions and
humidity, wind speed and direction,
their resolution
before calculating the processes that
can be higher,
will happen in the atmosphere to
which allows them
Windguru site you see now is actually
and Forecasting model)
laws of physics, thermodynamics and equations that describe the relationship
“
more time than you’d expect. The quite old and the design looks rather
models only cover smaller model as an input
for thousands of spots
and, like many things, it often takes
PEOPLE also use it as a base OFTEN ASSUME THAT I’M SOME KIND OF to run our regional WEATHER EXPERT. I’M NOT. models. For I’M BASICALLY A WEB DEVELOPER the regional TRYING TO OFFER WIND FORECASTS AS model we EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE TO use WRF (the PEOPLE WHO ARE AS ADDICTED Weather Research TO KITING OR
mathematical models based on the uid motion. They use mathematical
other similar services.
process and input them into their
around the world and we
WINDSURFING AS ME.”
which is developed by
dated, we know, but we’re thankful to everyone who keeps coming back. We’re working on a site update as we speak that will keep Windguru’s features, but bring it further into the 21st century! Another thing that we believe in is the is important, but knowing the current
achieve its future state. As you can’t
to resolve smaller-scale
calculate what will happen with each
meteorological phenomena
molecule of air (there is rather a lot of
that cannot be represented on the
them), the models use a coordinate
coarse grid of a global model. This
system which divides the planet into
finer grid better describes the model
download and install. It consists of
model alone can predict them. You can’t
a 3D grid to make the job easier.
terrain which is very important for wind
many different components with a
simply further increase the resolution
How much we simplify this depends
prediction, as wind ows are heavily
lot of options and various computing
to make it better - and that’s one of
on the size of the grid, the horizontal
in uenced by terrain.
schemes to customise the simulation
the reasons why we developed the
resolution and the number of vertical
class spots such as Tarifa, Pozo,
environment. A lot of experience and
Windguru Station that can easily share
layers that the model works with.
Sotavento and so on are effected by
some substantial computer power are
the wind from your spot online.
different jet streams that boost the
needed to run this model efficiently.
There are global models that cover
ifferent world
research teams both in the US and beyond. It’s not the kind of software that anyone can
People often assume that I’m
conditions at your spot is equally so. All forecast models have their limits as local winds can be so unique that no
Look out for more news on the new
and simulate weather all over the
wind as it blows around and between
globe and then regional models that
mountains. The higher resolution a
some kind of weather expert. I’m not.
Windguru website coming up in future
cover smaller areas. They consider
forecast, the more accurately this can
I’m basically a web developer trying
issues. Check out the Windguru
things like terrain height, surface type
be displayed.
to offer wind forecasts as efficiently
Station projects and of course whether
as possible to people who are as
you’ll be riding this weekend or not
addicted to kiting or windsurfing as
now, at: www.windguru.cz
(deserts, forests, water, cities and so on) and more dynamic elements
America’s NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
KW
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CRA C K I N G
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The ultimate reward
[03] COBUS VAN ZYL BREAKING YOUR BRAND OUT OF AFRICA AIN’T EASY, BUT VANHUNKS BOARDS ARE COMING YOUR WAY. AS A FIRST EXPERIENCE, WE WERE BOWLED OVER BY THE FEEL OF THE BUCCA FLEX TWIN-TIP IN VERY TOUGH CONDITIONS LAST ISSUE, SO THIS ISSUE ASKED COBUS VAN ZYL TO TELL US OF THE CHALLENGES AND TRIUMPHS IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO TAKE THE BRAND GLOBAL
successfully running multimillion dollar
boardsports. I started surfing at age six
smoking duel. They smoked for days,
companies. I don’t look back on those
and shaped my first board when I was
forming a gigantic cloud which began
years as my career, rather a time in
nine. I shaped my first twin tip kiteboard
billowing down the slopes of Table
which I learnt the skills I needed to live
in my garage with the help of a friend.
Mountain. Van Hunks was determined
my dream.
We knew nothing and the board was
to win, which he eventually did, before
I started kiteboarding in 1999 on a
basically a complete disaster, but we
the stranger staggered back and
two line foil kite and a surfboard with
had hours of fun on it. We’ve come a
revealed his true identity. It was the
foot straps screwed into the deck. The
long way since then.
devil, and in a ash of thunder and
speed of progression hooked me from
After more than a decade of learning
lightning they both disappeared with Van Hunks never to be seen again.
the start and nothing matched the
and building relationships within the
freedom I felt. The people I meet, the
industry we produced our first official
lifelong friends, the shared passion and
Vanhunks Manakel twin-tip. Even now I
southeaster blows here and the white
the incredible places we travel to make
still ride the first ever Manakel board, I
cloud forms over Table Mountain, Van
the sport so special.
think it’s awesome.
Hunks and the Devil are smoking again.
People say that when the
I’m often asked where our name
We built our business on five
brand and, five years ago, over a
comes from. As a brand based in Cape
key values which we live by daily.
good bottle of wine in a campsite in
Town, we were looking for a name
We believe in fanatical support
the Kruger National Park, we decided
unique to the Mother City, yet relevant
for our customers, integrity at all
to make a lifelong dream a reality.
to the sport. We came across the urban
times, honesty with our vendors
Since then I’ve been determined
myth about Captain Van Hunks which
and partners, accountability for our
to see our brand emerge into the
relates to our famous southeaster wind.
actions and in building strong, lasting
I always wanted to start a board
global market. Cape Town is one the
According to legend, the Dutch
relationships with our suppliers. In the
best kitesurfing spots in world with
pirate Van Hunks retired to the Cape
early days we tried to do everything,
incredible conditions. Every year more
of Good Hope and often smoked his
but we’ve since learnt to keep it
and more professional kiteboarders
pipe on Devil’s Peak mountain while
simple and stay true to our mission,
I grew up on a dairy farm in a small
travel here to train and, as a South
thinking back on his life. One day he
vision and values.
town called George in the Garden
African, I want to see a home-grown
came across a stranger sitting on
Route of South Africa. I studied in
brand that we can be proud of on an
his favourite spot, the two struck up
advantages and disadvantages but
Cape Town before embarking on a
international level.
a conversation and before long the
the good outweigh the bad. We have
stranger challenged Van Hunks to a
outstanding shapers and access to
W O R DS > Matt Pearce P H O TOS > Vanhunks
15 year career in corporate business,
Before kiting I’d always loved
Operating in South Africa has its
1 2 9
SUP development feeds the learning in kiteboarding and surfing... and vice versa
Cobus pulls his own smokin’ move in the southeaster
Fine tuning the fun sticks
the latest technologies, materials and
complement each other and there’s
between comfort and performance.
competitive environment in which we
composites available today. Our testing
much we can learn from each.
We use carefully designed ex ones
have to operate, there’s no room for
in the construction of our boards to
inferior quality. We try to be practical
grounds are world class and our riders
It’s difficult to single out the most
utilise these extreme conditions to push
memorable project I’ve worked on. My
give them a lively feel and have a
when designing products and to not
the limits of our products and to ensure
most challenging so far was probably
variety of different ex patterns to
over-engineer them. If something will
they are made to last.
perfecting our directional kiteboard
ensure all riders can find the right
improve the performance of the product,
range. It took a long time to tweak the
board. Our twin-tip range consists of
we’ll implement it, otherwise we won’t.
I suppose a disadvantage is that we started this business from scratch,
core formula and construction, but
competing against international giants.
it was extremely rewarding and
We have to be very innovative with
nearly two years of research
our products, plan our supply chain
and development went into
and route to the market carefully and
the range. The bulk of
three subcategories; the Flex, CrossOver and the Full Carbon. The
“
Flex is the most exible with a soft, comfortable ride
medium term strategy is to roll the same
I STARTED that’s ideal in choppy SURFING AT AGE conditions. The the development is SIX AND SHAPED MY FIRST Cross-Over has done in Durban BOARD WHEN I WAS NINE. I SHAPED a medium where Niel MY FIRST TWIN-TIP KITEBOARD IN MY GARAGE WITH THE HELP OF A FRIEND. WE ex with Oets, (one KNEW NOTHING AND THE BOARD carbon inlays in of the company WAS BASICALLY A COMPLETE strategic zones to directors), works DISASTER, BUT WE HAD ensure it has comfort closely with local HOURS OF FUN but also massive pop shapers to create an ON IT.
model out to the USA and Australia by
amazing range with fun
early 2016.
surfing capabilities. Our testing
range is hard and delivers huge
grounds stretch from Maputo in
amounts of pop. We really reduced
cannot afford to make mistakes. Our company is growing rapidly every year though, which tells us there’s a massive demand for our products nationally and internationally. We’re currently implementing distribution facilities for Europe. Our
Our line is aimed at board riders,
and control. The Full Carbon
We’re unique in that we’re a homegrown brand, testing and developing our products in extreme conditions, working with talented riders such as Tide Lee Ireland SA surfing champ , Taro Niehaus, Nardus Grobelaar, Pieter and Jacobus Botha. These guys show the world that we, as everyday people, can live the dream. To be taken seriously we’ve had to handpick our partners and through a very close working relationship we’ve achieved top end boards while maintaining a bit of South African edge into our graphics, staying true to our roots. When I think about it, I don’t really
so we invest our time and energy
Mozambique all the way to Margate,
the weight this year and for 2016
have a job. I love what I do and I don’t
carefully in fully understanding the art
ensuring a variety of riding conditions.
we’re already experimenting with an
call it work. I’m living my dream.
of building boards. At the moment,
We shape our boards with patience,
even lighter carbon.
we concentrate on four disciplines;
durability and pure surf in mind.
kiteboarding, surfing, SUP and
Twin-tip design is very different of
In my opinion there’s a lot of room
Vanhunks create kiteboards,
for development in the twin-tip market
skateboards, surfboards and SUPs.
skate, but we’ll soon be moving into
course and the most challenging part
so, as innovators, we’re committed to
Find out more at:
wakeboarding, too. These disciplines
has been finding the perfect balance
pushing the boundaries, but given the
www.vanhunksboarding.com
KW
Call us on 02392 422570 www.cbk-haylingisland.com
HAYLING ISLAND • 18–20 SEPTEMBER OR 2–4 OCTOBER OR 16–18 OCTOBER
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
MAIN MEDIA PARTNERS
MAGAZINE
SUPPORTING
LARGEST PARADE OF KITESURFERS 352 KITESURFERS 31/08/2014 SPAIN
132
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INTERVIEWS
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JUP I T E R
T R I O
Lori Griffith meets three women completely besotted
THE LEADING LADIES
by kiting and the Jupiter Beach scene in Florida W ORDS AND P HOT OS > Lori Griffith
OF JUPITER BEACH ONCE THE WINTER WINDS ARRIVE, KITEBEACH IN JUPITER, FLORIDA BECOMES ONE OF THE TOP KITING DESTINATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. WHILE VAST AMOUNTS OF THE UNITED STATES IS COVERED IN A BLANKET OF SNOW AND ICE, THE CLEAR BLUE TROPICAL WATERS OF THIS SOUTHEAST PLAYGROUND BECKON THE PROS AND NOVICES ALIKE. AS KITEBOARDING GAINS IN POPULARITY, THREE JUPITER KITERS ARE SETTING THE BAR FOR OTHER WOMEN AND ENCOURAGING MORE TO ENTER THE SPORT. Marina and Ale
xandra after an
other Jupiter
session
[MARINA MARSELLI]
Marina splits her time between Jupiter and Italy. Nice work, if you can get it
Italian born 41-year-old Marina Marselli
Tour in the USA for two years while trying
part of it and
has always excelled at sports, dominating
for the LPGA Tour. She also played events
I love being
on the ski slopes in the super giant
in Canada where she set a course record
connected to
slalom and downhill disciplines. A ski instructor at Gressoney, the young athlete loved nothing more than the adrenaline rush she felt
“
in Edmonton. She has been teaching golf in New York and Florida for the past ten years. Living in Jupiter, Marselli
was mesmerised by the KITESURFING IS kitesurfers and inspired mountains. THE CLOSEST FEELING TO SKIING THAT I’VE FOUND. by professional kiter Switching IT IS SO PEACEFUL; A TRIP Damien Leroy gears, Marselli’s WITHIN MY MIND - A SECRET to push her limits. next athletic RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE She began training pursuit took her into WIND, THE OCEAN with Jeremy Lund of New the world of golf as a AND MYSELF.” Wave Kiteboarding and was Class A teacher in Italy with speeding down Alpine
Kiting fulfils her quest for adventure, golf pays the bills
the wind, ocean and nature. Kitesurfing is
gets easier all the time. At the moment she
the closest feeling to skiing that I’ve found.
says that her biggest challenge is riding
It is so peaceful; a trip within my mind - a
backside in onshore winds or tacking on a
secret relationship between the wind, the
foil board.
ocean and myself.” Marselli’s kiting took her the route of
A team rider for Ozone Kites, Marselli enjoys being an ambassador of the sport
racing where she competed in the World
and helping show others how good the
Championships in Italy in 2012 and the
products are to new kiters. The technical
European Championships the following
side of her interest means she loves being
year. Although a top athlete, she admits,
able to experience the development of
“Learning to adjust to a watersport was
technologies first hand. She confesses,
initially scary. The power of the kite was
“I am, and always will be, on a journey to
the IPGA, then Class A with the
immediately hooked on the sport.
intimidating and I remember thinking that
explore and learn new things. I recently
LPGA. She played on the European
Kitesurfing felt so natural to me
I was just going to y away. The learning
passed the national test in Italy to become
curve is steep, but with new teaching
a Boat Captain. Another huge first step
techni ues and material developments it
toward new adventures and experiences.
Tour for two years, the Asian Tour during the winter months and the Symetra
and fulfils my uest for adventure. The feeling of freedom is the most important
Melissa is the scene
1 3 3
[MELISSA GIL] Thirty-one year old Melissa Gil started bodyboarding in Costa Rica as a young child and fell in love with riding water. She uickly began surfing and then kitesurfing. I never could do the gym thing. Adrenaline is beneficial but can also be addictive. Extreme sports give you a natural high; a feeling that nothing else can. As a woman I am cautious, but I’m not afraid of the ocean or extreme sports. Fear is sometimes the one thing that holds people back from learning and if you can’t get over it, you can’t progress. I’m the kind of person that always tries to think positively, though. I remove thoughts of bad things happening and therefore I’m always willing to try.” She uickly excelled, claiming a World Championship in speed in 2009 and held
“
the outright U.S. Speed Sailing Record. “Kite speeds depend on the wind speed, the conditions and the e uipment. The fastest I have gone is averaging 44 mph over 500 metres, spiking almost 50 mph when I broke the Outright US Women’s Speed Sailing
You don’t
I THINK WOMEN PLAY A BIG PART IN THE SPORT AND MANY PEOPLE ARE INSPIRED BY WOMEN WHO RIDE. THE SPORT DOESN’T SEEM AS INTIMIDATING IF A GIRL CAN DO IT.”
Whatever the board, whatever the conditions, Melissa is into it
intimidating if a girl
Record at 38 knots in Luderitz, Namibia. The
need to be
fastest kitesurfer in the world can go over
the strongest
55 knots, that is over 63 mph. Speed Sailing
and most athletic
is just one discipline of the sport, which is
person to learn to
meant for going as fast as you can, but I
kitesurf of course and
kite all disciplines from waves to wakestyle.
Melissa is stoked to see more
On average we go much slower than the
women in the water. “Women
speeds I get up to when speed sailing;
have their own riding style, they can
more like 15-20 mph in regular sessions. In
be powerful and technical, but there is
terms of jumping, height is the one thing that
always grace and beauty in their style. I
She is sponsored by Cabrinha, Dakine,
products that re ect a love for Mother
scares me. I recall one jump that did actually
think women play a big part in the sport
NP Surf and GoPro. In addition she has
Nature and is exclusively handmade
scare me. When I looked down it felt like
and many people are inspired by women
created a swimwear line (MG Surf Line)
in Costa Rica in an environmentally
being on top of a five story building.
who ride. The sport doesn’t seem as
to provide women with uni ue uality
conscious way.
can do it. Furthermore,
the level of riding has
increased through the years as more and more women get into it. There is more advancement, more competition and more female accomplishments in the sport. Gil’s athletic career has ourished.
134
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INTERVIEWS
/
JUP I T E R
T R I O
Alexandra reflects her own opinion that women often have much more grace on the water
[ALEXANDRA MENK]
“
Born in the mountains of Colombia,
even more enjoyable to watch. The
43-year-old Alexandra Menk didn’t
competition part is harder, just because
feel the pull of the ocean or adrenaline
there aren’t enough local events to
rush of kitesurfing until later in life. An
promote at the competitive level. I
accomplished businesswoman at the
feel that girls today are taught to be
KITESURFING IS A BEAUTIFUL SPORT AND WOMEN ADD GRACEFUL it’s all STYLE, MAKING IT EVEN about scenario. MORE ENJOYABLE TO being She says, committed. No “Jupiter has a WATCH.” fear!” pretty intimidating
top of the advertising world, Menk was
stronger and when they see other
shore break and on east
introduced to kitesurfing by a friend in
women accomplishing their goals it gives
wind days it can be a real
Miami and was hooked immediately.
them the confidence to try. Women are
battle to make it out. It re uires
Prior to that experience, she had never
fearless, competitive, driven and I’m sure
strength, patience, timing and
been involved with extreme sports, but
we will see more of them in the sport
speed. Once I make it out further into
soon excelled at the sport and is now
doing great things.
the ocean and the mountains of water,
but with lessons with a certified
sponsored by Cabrinha. Kitesurfing is a beautiful sport and women add graceful style, making it
“I encourage all girls and women who feel comfortable in the water to try it. The sport is challenging and takes time and perseverance,
I learn to not only surf the swells, but to
instructor, you can be riding in no time.
Menk found kiting on the ocean a huge
understand the right timing to use the
Kiting is my therapy and a vital part of my
challenge as it’s a completely new
waves as ramps for my tricks. After that,
life!” she exclaims.
Learning to kite on at, calm water,
KW
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136
/
FEATURE
/
THE
ROOKIE
RACER
THE ROOKIE RACER W ORDS > caroline morris P HOT OS > edge Watersports
T h e e d g e R a c e c u p i s a n i n fa m o u s , p u R e R a c i n g e v e n T R u n b y m u lT i p l e W o R l d c h a m p i o n , s T e p h bRidge and heR Team in exmouTh, devon in The uK foR boTh haRdcoRe and amaTeuR RaceRs. caRoline moRRis headed doWn To cuT heR oWn Racing TeeTh foR The fiRsT Time, foR KiTeWoRld
A
couple of years back,
eight races per day over the two day
I already felt like a winner getting
happy to help me understand what was going on.
weekend! I clearly had no idea what I was
out beyond the others! Sadly, I was
doing, however, Steph was nearby and
then told that as a result of the wind
able to reassure me (while unpacking
dropping, our race start had been
realised when everyone started heading
stock, talking on the phone, dealing with
delayed. Unbeknownst to me, my initial
off en masse in the same direction). It
around 70 race registrations, someone
skills actually became my demise; it was
was a great feeling to be kiting alongside
Thankfully,
wanting to buy a SUP and her Dad
exhausting just trying to stay upwind
the ‘pros’ and to see them up close on
through a lot
turning up all at once - she is indeed
ready for my race to be called. I now know
their raceboards and I didn’t actually
of practice, the ratio has gone up a bit
a super woman). I asked if she was
to wait until the last possible minute to
feel as though I didn’t belong there. I
now, but I am so enthusiastic that I’m
stressed, but it all seemed like water off
head out to the start line!
remembered that I had entered the event
desperate to be ‘good’ at kiting. I’ve come
a duck’s back. Inspired by her, surely my
to realise that I’ll never be a freestyle pro,
efforts in just taking part would be nothing
minutes before our race started, which
but what about racing? Surely I can aspire
in comparison to her organising the event
killed me. I had to manage very light
to that?
and seeing her three champion sons
conditions, using up precious energies
properly until the second time round,
through it, too...
just to keep the kite in the air and stay out
but by then I had zero energy and could
of a wind hole that nearly claimed me!
barely keep the board on as I’d lost all
when I started out as a kitesurfer, I used to say that I had 100% enthusiasm and 1% skill.
At the moment I can’t see that I’ll ever get to be much more than a pro ‘lawn
The day came and the sun was
I ended up kiting around for about 90
All of a sudden we were off (or so I
with a kind of ‘fun run’ attitude and felt proud to be amongst all the action. I didn’t actually grasp the course
mower’, but not for the want of trying, and
shining. The Formula and Foil class races
Then, because of the wind, the course
feeling in my feet. I knew that I needed to
I would love to find my calling’. Steph
were underway straight after a 10am
changed and I had to get upwind across
head back to the beach to warm up and
Bridge (5 x race World Champion) is
briefing where I realised I really should
the bay to the new start line: I reckon I’d
replenish as I’d been on the cold water
closer to my age than a lot of the young
have familiarised myself with the racing
clocked up a fair few miles by the time we
for around three hours by then. I know
guns on the podiums, she’s a woman and
rules a little more). Before I knew it, my
were ready for our heats. Mind you, I got
that next time I need to study how to play
also British, so maybe racing could be my
Open class was called, but just as we
a great view of all the top action.
the rules and plot my game to trim my
forté too?
launched, the wind dropped. Somehow,
By the start of the race my feet were
exertions (and/or wear booties). I got to the beach early but
I still managed to get out over the tidal
numb from cold and I couldn’t really feel
about to sign myself away at registration.
channel to the open water, although I had
anything any longer, but I was psyched.
experienced all the lovely morale from
My stomach lurched, and only after I’d
probably one of the smallest kites (a 12
I’d got so confused by the buoys, ags
the other competitors again; even now I
committed did I realise the format of the
metre) and one of the only twin-tip boards
and horns and then by how many laps to
can’t measure my smiles. What I didn’t
event meant I’d be registered for up to
in the event.
do, but everyone was so encouraging and
realise until later is how much just taking
Then I found myself, pen in my hand,
1 3 7 part counts. If I had gone on to complete a third race, I would have actually done okay considering my level (even if I came last in that third race) because of the way the event is scored. I know for next time; it was all such a new, invigorating experience! That evening the delicious free food, drink and camping formed a kind of mini ‘festival’ for kiters where I was reunited with friends that I’d met from around the world, and I made plenty of new kite buddies, too. It was just as well for me that the wind was too light to compete the next day as I was beat (but happy). I very well might try racing again though, even just for the camaraderie – maybe I’ll even get some more demos in and have a go on a raceboard. They look fast! Although my experience was a little haphazard, I would thoroughly recommend you try racing – there’s a huge sense of togetherness and community and, of course, we’ve got the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada coming up from September which is a great open kite event for the masses. What I really want are more events for the likes of me (who’ll probably never make the nationals!). Racing can be for the greater Kiting Republic - people like Steph are putting on these events for the love of the sport and to see it progress, but also for us to share in the experience. Nothing beats the kite life, so get involved. I reckon the buzz I got from racing should see me through the season!
KW
RESULTS: FORMULA MEN:
OPEN CLASS TWIN-TIP:
1 Florian Gruber
1 Lance Olner
2 Florian Trittel
2 George Treadwell
3 Olly Bridge
3 Lee Kent
FORMULA WOMEN:
OPEN CLASS
1 Jade O Connor
DIRECTIONAL:
2 Catherine Dufour
1 Matt Taylor 2 Matt Causon
FOILING:
3 Dave Williams
1 Guy Bridge 2 Theo de Ramecourt 3 Lee ‘Pasty’ Harvey
KW
138
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INTERVIEW
/
STEPH
BRIDGE Rallying the race troops PHOTO – Edge
T H E
C H A R G E R :
STEPH BRIDGE W ORDS > caroline Morris
After her first rAcing experience, cAroline Morris grAbs A few MoMents to pick the brAins of the tireless Uk kitesUrf rAcing proMoter And five-tiMe world chAMpion, steph bridge
A
come from all over the UK and this year
What frustrates you about the sport?
get asked, “Surely you’re done with this?”.
we have some of the world’s top ten,
Shops selling products for no money.
But, while I still have the boys who want
including current World Formula and Foil
Grass roots shops find it very difficult
to ride, train and compete etc. then my
Champion, Maxime Nocher.
to survive against internet competition.
ability to do that with them is important.
This behaviour devalues the product
Admittedly, my skill level is not the same,
What are your goals for the event?
and, with such a small sport like
but while I am still able, I will continue in
understated,
Our goal is to continue to provide a
kitesurfing, it’s not sustainable.
Formula and Foil. The sport has recently
and even more
quality event, adding things that I really
s far as kite heroes go, a lot of you may look up to Lenten, Hadlow and the like, but my new hero is a lot more
had a boost with the Youth Olympic
worthy in my eyes. I was thrilled to ask
appreciate as a competitor when I go
Is foiling the future?
Games inclusion for 2018 announced
her some questions...
to events myself; equal prize money,
I do not think it’s the future; it’s just another
this week, so I hope to be involved with
decent food and drinks, well organised
part of our sport to learn, have fun and
working with the youngsters long term.
The Edge Cup has been running for
and fun racing, free parking, cheap
travel with. At my age, it’s certainly easier
six years I understand, but what a lot
accommodation and affordable entry.
on the body and it’s super fun to be on the
Find out more on the Edge Race Cup,
to take on alongside everything else
This year we still have a good prize purse
steep part of a learning curve again.
Steph and the Bridge family at:
that you do! What was the reasoning
of £4,000 from our main tittle sponsor,
behind hosting it?
Atass, and of course we want to increase
What do you get out of all this
Since my family and I have been involved
the prize money to attract even more
personally?
Caroline works in the marketing team
in kite racing for a while, we felt we should
international riders. Long term we’d love
I am still very fortunate to be competing at
for Progression Sports – the kitesurfing
do our bit for British kitesurfing and make
to see Exmouth host the Kite Formula and
a high level - traveling to events with my
instructional video production company:
an event happen in Exmouth where we
Foil European Championships as it’s ideal
family and meeting new people. So often I
www.progression.me
spend many hours having fun.
for racing in the harbour.
What sort of people enter?
You seem to be a pioneer in taking
A huge mixture, from people who just
racing forwards, but have you found
want to be part of the local event - and
challenges in doing so?
we do have a big community of kiters
Yes, but every challenge brings a positive.
in Exmouth. We have taught most of
One of the first challenges was to get
them over the last 12 years and many
kiteboard racing into the Olympic Games
come on our coaching holidays. Most
in 2016. We achieved great success,
will enter the ‘open class’ which is a mix
but six months later we were kicked out
of twin-tips and directional boards. The
again. As a sport, however, this made
course is different for this class and we
us stronger and in fact enabled other
try to introduce a long distance race if
emerging disciplines to be pushed
the wind allows. In addition, kite racers
forward, such as foiling.
www.edgewatersports.com
Steph’s briefing at the Edge Race Cup PHOTO – Ian Edmonson / Expix
KW
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142
/
TECHNIQUE
/
INTE R M E D I A T E
FORM + FUNCTION
Hips in, shoulders back... and a big key point: look where you’re going! It’s amazing how much it helps... PHOTO > Christiaan Zweers W ORDS > Matt Pearce
Matt Pearce runs you through some key tips for a good riding position and then suggests ways to tweak your technique further to also help you bang upwind much quicker!
T
he opening phases of
RIDING POSITION
Try to keep your arms as straight as
board. Putting too much pressure
your life as a kiteboarder
First off, let’s start at the top with your
possible which will help you get into a
on the back foot is a common fault
can be a mixed bag.
head and work our way down. Your head
more relaxed, leant back riding stance;
among
This sport is intoxicating,
should be pointing in the direction in
forcing you out of the dreaded ‘hunch
riders and prevents you from getting
addictive and the moment
which you want to go. This, in turn, means
back’ position.
up on the plane sooner. The common
you first stand up and feel
that your whole body will naturally be
the sensation of actually
more aligned in that direction. So, first big
Bring your hips forward. This doesn’t
stop you from falling over the front of
riding
tip: simply look where you’re aiming to go.
mean you need to adopt an Elvis
the board, however, a straight front leg
Presley style pelvic thrust, but bringing
will be enough to brace you in a nice
your
board
is
something that no kiter ever forgets. The
beginner
and
intermediate
misconception is that you think it will
early steps aren’t entirely frustration-free
Next: open up your shoulders and turn
your hips forward will help you lean
upright riding position and will stop you
though and it can take a while before
them so that your chest is angled slightly
back more and further remove the
from falling at on your face. Too much
you refine your riding posture to help you
upwind in your direction of travel. Also
strain from your lower back while also
weight on the back of the board also
crank upwind like a steam train.
make sure that your back is straight
helping you get away from that shaky
adds too much weight to the board’s
and you are leaning back. If you have a
‘mowing the lawn’ riding style. Bringing
tail, causing the nose to lift up more
Obviously having enough wind is an
hunched forward body position you’ll be
your hips forward will also stop you
than necessary. The result is that you’ll
important factor, but there are some
more likely to get pulled over the front
sitting down into your harness too much
have less rail working for you in the
key adjustments you can make to your
should a gust hit you. Your handling will
which causes you to overstretch your
water and you will be more likely to
body position which will make a world of
be less comfortable and there will be
arms and exhausts your legs quickly.
drift downwind.
difference and help you avoid the ‘walk
more strain on your lower back due to
of shame’ back up the beach!
being bent over.
ou will find it harder
to hold an upwind line. This brings us Try to centralise your weight over the
on nicely to…
1 4 3
CAPTION FOR BOTH IMAGES Low windage on the nose and tail is another great characteristic of the Vanguard when it comes to airs
Straighter, front leg, slightly bent back leg, open your shoulders... easy peasy. Two-time (and current) World Champion Karolina Winkowska on the upwind demo PHOTO > Lukas Nazdraczew / Ford Kite Cup
GETTING UPWIND
dragged over the nose of their board
Now look at your riding form. Most of
Don’t just plonk your feet on there and
Getting up and riding in both directions is
in stronger winds). Doing this will have
the points in the riding position section
think that’s it. Getting upwind is often
one thing, but learning to hold an upwind
a couple of negative effects on your
are relevant here but there are one or
about riding up and over chop, working
tack and not drift downwind is another
efforts to get upwind: Firstly, it will pull
two extra things to remember. Firstly,
out the subtleties of when to weight the
step entirely! It’s not that complicated
your arms upward which messes up
open up your shoulders even more;
board and when to allow the board to
though and just takes some practice.
your body’s riding position. It will then
as if you are trying to turn your whole
come up to you using your legs like
cause you to lose some of that valuable
torso into the wind. It should feel as
suspension. The key is not to just barge
Firstly, as with all stages in your
power required for holding the upwind
though you are literally straining your
your way through chop, but to keep
kiteboarding
need
line because your kite spills more wind
body to get upwind. This should then
the optimum area of the board in the
wind. Less wind is required to simply
when it’s closer to 12 o’clock. When a
be coupled with a little more front foot
water and moving lightly and efficiently.
stand up and ride, but if you’re
trying
kite is high in the sky rather than lower
pressure than you would normally
Good speed control and efficiency will
to actually get upwind you need to be
down towards the edge of the window
exert. This will keep more of the board’s
help the board keep pace and a good
sufficiently powered up to get there.
it
downwind
heel edge rail in the water and, more
upwind line.
and makes it extremely hard to edge
importantly, keep the board up to speed
Assuming you’ve got enough blowy
against the kite and work your way
and on the plane, which will allow it to
Of course, once you’ve got all this nailed
stuff for the job you then need to
upwind. Instead, try to keep your kite
scoot upwind far more easily.
it’s important to throw in the occasional
consider your kite’s position in the sky.
much lower so that it ies forward in the
A common mistake that people make
wind window as you edge hard against
Once you’ve got all that dialled, focus
much steezy style you’ve got while
is positioning their kite too high in the
it. This will be far more effective when
on feeling what the board is doing
tracking upwind through the pack!
wind window (often for fear of being
you’re fighting to hold your upwind tack.
under your feet and learn to ‘ride’ it.
progression,
you
gradually
drags
you
cheeky hand drag to show just how KW
144
/
TECHNIQUE
/
POPP I N G
CAPTION > Pauline Valesa, European Junior Cup Champion 2013 and runner-up in 2014, demos good technique for getting your board unlocked from the water and into the air. We have lift off!
BECOME THE NEXT
POP SUPERSTAR W ORDS > Matt Pearce P HOT OS > Gilles Calvet / F-One
Matt Pearce runs you through some key points that will help you edge hard and pop like a pro!
E
dging hard and popping off
a cable park and someone’s turned the
[03]
Before edging you need to bear
by the kite will not transmit properly
the water is an absolutely
cable tow’s speed down to a really slow
off the wind a little. To do this you need to
through you into your board. Also, it’s
essential skill for anyone
setting. If you try to load an edge against
shift your weight forward onto your toes
quite likely you’ll get dragged over the
aspiring to get properly
that then the chances are you’re not going
and allow yourself to track downwind
nose of your board. Done properly,
airborne. Whether you’re
to be going very far and that’s exactly what
slightly. This drops your kite back a bit in
edging will generate such a huge
trying to stick your first
will happen if you’re not sufficiently lit up.
the window, ‘loads’ your lines and because
amount of tension in the lines that the
raley, or want to improve
So, make sure you’re powered!
you’ve veered off the wind slightly, you
kite is literally on the verge of dragging
can then edge really hard against the
you off the water and you’re almost straining to hold on.
your boosting game, you
need to get this manoeuvre nailed. The
[02] Your kite should be at roughly 45
kite which is what’s going to generate the
harder you can edge and the more power
degrees. The wakestyle generation will
coveted ‘pop’ that you’re aiming for.
you can pop with, the more explosive your
tell you it needs to be lower than that, and
take-offs will be and a good powered take-
for powered freestyle that is certainly the
[04] Next you want to start edging.
edge and ‘pop’ off the water. When you
off means more airtime when you’re going
case, but if you’re jumping and want to get
You need to commit at this point! If
can feel that the kite is powered up and
into a trick or a jump. Want to learn how
some height you need a little more upward
you don’t then the chances are you’ll
you can no longer stop it pulling you off
to pop it like it’s hot? Then check out our
lift which you’ll get from having your kite
lose your edge and end up at on your
the surface of the water, stamp hard on
essential five step guide to pop stardom
slightly higher. 45 degrees is about optimal
face. That’s the best case scenario.
your back foot to cut the board sharply
as the kite will be low enough to remain
The worst is that your friends witness
into wind. Shift your weight forward onto
[01] Before attempting the pop you need
powered up and propelling you forward in
you chickening out and laugh at you.
your toes so that you ‘release’ your heel
to be powered up. If you’re struggling
the wind window, but not so low that you
The way to do this is shift your weight
edge and push off, first with your front
to plane or aren’t quite able to hold an
won’t be able to quickly steer it upwards
back onto your heels, extend your
foot and then bring your back foot up to
upwind line, then it’s likely there isn’t going
and get a bit of hang-time. If you go into
arms and edge as hard as possible as
join it. As you do this hooked in, if you’re
to be very much power in your kite. If
your pop with the kite too high then the
if you were trying to drive your board
aiming to go big, bring your kite quickly
that’s the case then you’ll have very little
likelihood is you won’t be carrying enough
almost directly into the wind. Keep
up towards 12 o’clock in the window and
to edge against and, once you’ve gone
speed into your jump and, if it’s windy, you
your legs straight at this point. If you
pull that bar in for all you’re worth. You’re
into your jump, you probably won’t have
may get pulled downwind a bit which will
bend your knees then your body will
now under the kite’s control and next it’s
much upward lift either. Imagine you’re at
ruin your take-off.
lose its rigidity and the force generated
all about steering! Happy travels... KW
[05]
This is when you release your
Where kitesurfing meets luxury...
( "$) 4*0-. '! $) 2 / - .+*-/. )/ - 2$/# 2*-' ' .. 2$) ) 2 / - *) $/$*).Çź ) ./' $) Ç&#x2DC; ./ - - .*-/ 2$/# !$1 Č? - .+ . ) /0 -4Çź .0--*0) 4 /#- # (+$*).#$+ "*'! *0-. . ǝǝǝ '**& )* !0-/# -Çź # 1 $/ '' 2$/# ** 2$) .Çź /# -$ )Č&#x201E;. - ($ -
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4 Exotikite Kiteboarding School Baja, Sur Mexico
15 Playa Del Carmen Kiteboarding School Playa Del Carmen, Riviera Maya, Mexico + 52 984 134 2673 pdckiteboarding@gmail.com www.pdckiteboarding.com
5 Good Breeze Kiteboarding Cocoa Beach, Florida info@kiteboardingcloseouts.com +1 321-252-5483 www.goodbreezekiteboarding.com www.kiteboardingcloseouts.com 6 Hatteras Island Surf & Sailing Waves, NC +1 252 987 2292 www.hatterasislandsurfshop.com 7 Kiteboarding School of Maui Kahului, Maui, Hawaii mschale@ksmaui.com +1 808 873 0015 www.ksmaui.com 8 Kitty Hawk Kites Nag's Head, Hatteras mail@kittyhawk.com +1 252 441 0265 www.kittyhawk.com www.khkiteboarding.com 9 KGB Kiteboarding Baja Mexico & California info@kgbswag.com +1 510 967 8014 www.kgbswag.com 10 Kiteforce Montreal, Quebec info@kite-force.com + 1 514 691 3314 www.kite-force.com 11 Kitestrophik Jericoacoara, Brazil kitestrophik@hotmail.com +55 88 9929 9339 www.kitestrophik.com
17 13
THE AMERICAS
www.exotikite.com
37
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16 Prokite South Padre South Padre Island TX & Hood River +1 541-490-6872 +1 855-774-5483 info@prokitesouthpadre.com www.prokitesouthpadre.com 17 Sandy Point Progessive Sports Daytona Beach, FL mike@progressivesports.com + 1 386-756-7564 www.daytonabeachkite boarding.com 18 TKS Miami Miami Florida sales@tksmiami.com + 1 305-361-0168 www.tksmiami.com 19 Ocean Freaks Manta, Ecuador info@oceanfreaks.com +1 321 292 7154 www.oceanfreaks.com 20 361 Kite Corpus Christi, TX info@361kite.com +1 361 742 7966 www.361kite.com 21 Windance Hood River, Oregon windance@windance.com +1 800 574 4020 www.windance.com
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SCHOOLS
info@exotikite.com +521 624 165 2612
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SHOPS
THE AMERICAS 22 321 Kiteboarding Cocoa Beach Florida info@321kiteboarding.com + 1 321-302-5663 www.321kiteboarding.com
29 Hawaiian Watersports Kailua, Oahu Hawaii info@hawaiianwatersports.com +1 808 262 5483 www.hawaiianwatersports.com
36 Wind Spirit, QuĂŠbec Canada +1 450 796 3142 / 1 866 666 9463 info@windspirit.ca www.windspirit-direct.com
30 Jupiter Kiteboarding Jupiter Florida Jeremy@jupiterkiteboarding.com +1 561 427 0240 www.jupiterkiteboarding.com
37 Ron Jon Kiteboarding Cocoa Beach, Florida + 1 321-252-5483 www.ronjonkiteboarding.com www.kiteboardingcloseouts.com
31 KGB Kiteboarding Baja Mexico & California info@kgbswag.com +1 510 967 8014 www.kgbswag.com
38 Solstice Sports Tampa Bay, Florida nick@solsticesports.com +1 352 454 6604 www.solsticesports.com
32 Kiteforce Montreal, Quebec info@kite-force.com + 1 514 691 3314 www.kite-force.com
39 Silent Sports Ontario, Canada info@silentsports.com +1 905 889 3772 www.silentsports.com
26 Amped Board Sports Solana Beach, CA jckites@gmail.com +1 858 481 9283 www.ampedboardsports.com
33 Kite Naked, Northern California naked@kitenaked.com +1 209 304 2200 www.kitenaked.com
40 TKS Miami Miami Florida sales@tksmiami.com + 1 305-361-0168 www.tksmiami.com
27 Captain Kirks Kiteboarding San Pedro, CA info@captainkirks.com +1 310 833 3397 www.captainkirks.com
34 Motor City Kiteboarding School Great Lakes, USA sales@motorcitykiteboarding.com +1 586 943 5172 www.motorcitykiteboarding.com
28 ProKite South Padre South Padre Island TX & Hood River +1 541-490-6872 +1 855-774-5483 info@prokitesouthpadre.com www.prokitesouthpadre.com
35 NY Kite Center New York, USA info@nykitecenter.com +1631 691 0793 www.nykitecenter.com
23 2nd Wind Sports Hood River, Oregon 2ndwind@gorge.net +1 541 386 4464 www.2ndwind-sports.com 24 Air Kiteboarding Mount Pleasant, South Carolina info@catchsomeair.us +1 843 388 9300 www.catchsomeair.us 25 Aerosport Canada Magdalen Islands & Oka Quebec, Canada info@aerosport.ca +1 866 986 6677 www.aerosport.ca
76 listings_Layout 1 29/06/2015 18:12 Page 2
1 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Risco del Paso, Fuerteventura company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
4 Extreme Algarve Algarve, Portugal bookings@extremealgarve.com 00351 918 674 079 www.extremealgarve.com
7 Hang Loose Beach Calabria, Italy lucahlb@gmail.com +39 3389511693 www.hangloosebeach.it
2 Andy's Kite Shop Goldau, Switzerland bestellung@kite.li +41 79 341 78 88 www.kite-shop.ch
5 Flag Beach Kitesurf Centre, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands info@flagbeach.com +34 928 866 389 / +44 (0) 871 711 5036 www.flagbeach.com
8 Kanela Sailing School Andalusia, Spain kanela@kanela.net +34 661 72 69 93 www.kanela.net
3 Costa Noroeste Kitesurf School Famara, Lanzarote, Canary Islands info@costanoroeste.com +34 928 528 597 www.costanoroeste.com
6 Griffes KiteFlex Cyprus info@kitesurfingcyprus.com +357 99 618 448 www.kitesurfingcyprus.com
9 Kite Loop Ada Bojana, Montenegro contact@kiteloop.net +382 69 629 864 / +381 64 172 9033 www.kiteloop.net
10 KTS40 Wind Revolution Kite School Lake Como, Italy comolake@kts40.com +39 320 462 7996 www.kts40.com Cable Park: +39 334 586 7697 kts40@cablecrew.com
12 Surf Club keros Keros Beach, Kalliopi info@surfclubkeros.gr +30 694 298 2102 www.surfclubkeros.gr 13 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Golf de Roses, Spain company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
11 Rene Egli Playa Sotavento, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands info@rene-egli.com +34 928 547 483 www.rene-egli.com
14 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Tarifa, Spain company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
EUROPE
7
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1 De Silva Windresort Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka office@surfschool-srilanka.com +94 77 676 4899 www.surfschool-srilanka.com
4 Kitesports / SNOWKITE NZ Christchurch, New Zealand +64 3 3884783 / +64 21542770 tim@kitesports.co.nz www.kitesports.co.nz
7 Les Ailes Co Ltd, Fukui-Ken Sakai-Shi Mikuni-Machi, Japan lesailes@hyper.ocn.ne.jp + 81 (0) 776 82 0971 www.lesailes.jp
2 Elements Watersports & Nature Resort Kappalady Sri Lanka manager@elements-resort.com +94 (0)777 377 387 www.elements-resort.com
5 Kiteboarding China Sanya, Hainan Island, China. www.kiteboardingchina.com +86-898-66603322 info@kiteboardingchina.com
8 Ocean Republic Bulabog Beach Boracay Island, Philippines info@ocean-republic.com www.ocean-republic.com
6 Kitesurfing Lanka Puttalam, Sri Lanka info@kitesurfinglanka.com +94 77 3686235 www.kitesurfinglanka.com
9 Surf Connect Wind & Kitesurfing Brisbane, Queensland, Australia info@surfconnect.com +61 731 370500 www.surfconnect.com
3 Kitesurfnam Mui Ne. Vietnam info@kitesurfnam.com +84 122 691 0538 www.vietnamkitesurfing holidays.com 10
10 WindSwell Kitesurfing Port Douglas Four Mile Beach Far North Queensland Australia info@windswell.com.au +61 427 498 042 windswell.com.au
ASIA & AUSTRALASIA
9
4
1 Airborne Kite Centres Zanzibar island, Tanzania Mombasa, Kenya info@airbornekitecentre.com (Tz)+255 (0)776 687 357 (Ke)+254 731 212 410 www.airbornekitecentre.com
6 Endless Summer Beachhouse Bloubergstrand, Cape Town fun@endlesssummerbeach house.co.za +27 (0) 845 543 262 www.endlesssummerbeach house.co.za
2 Best Kiteboarding Africa Kiteboarding Shop & School Cape Town, Tableview info@windfever.co.za +27 (21) 556 2765 www.bestkiteboardingafrica.com
7 Explora Morocco Essaouira & Dakhla, Morocco adventure@exploramorocco.com +212 611475188 / +44 7738 563883 www.exploramorocco.com
3 Cabrinha South Africa Big Bay, Cape Town grant@cabrinha.co.za donovan@cabrinha.co.za +27 21 554 1729 www.cabrinha.co.za 4 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Dahab, Egypt company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com 5 Cape Sports Center Langebaan, South Africa info@capesport.co.za +27 22 77 21 114 www.capesport.co.za
8 GP Kite School Dahab Dahab, Egypt info@gpkite.com +20 122 592 2505 www.gpkite.com 9 Harry Nass Kiteboarding Dahab, Egypt info@harry-nass.com +20 69 364 0559 www.harry-nass.com 10 High Five, Kitesurfschool Bloubergstrand, Cape Town jj@high-five.co.za + 27 (0) 729 027 899 www.high-five.co.za
AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST
1 Aruba Kitesurfing School Palm Beach, Noord info@arubakitesurf.com +297 731 4398 www.arubakitesurfingschool.com
3 Coche Kite Sports Isla de Coche, Venezuela cochekitesports@hotmail.com +58 (0) 414 794 2133 www.cochekitesports.com
2 Bonaire Kiteboarding Bonaire info@kiteboardingbonaire.com +599 701 5483 +599 701 5482 www.kiteboardingbonaire.com
4 Kitesurfing Aruba Fisherman's Hut, Aruba kitesurfingaruba@hotmail.com +297 733 1515 www.kitesurfingaruba.com
5 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Cabarete, Dominican Republic company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
CARIBBEAN
11 Kiteboarding Club El Gouna Buzzha Beach, El Gouna, Egypt elgouna@kiteboarding-club.com +49 201 4263 5528 +20 122 661 0878 www.elgouna.kiteboarding-club.com
17 Skate Shack Kingdom of Bahrain info@skate-shack.com +973 17697176 www.skate-shack.com
23 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Safaga, Egypt company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
12 Kite Junkies Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt info@kitejunkies.com +20 122 010 6831 www.kitejunkies.com
18 Skate Shack Doha, Qatar info@skate-shack.com +974 44692532 www.skate-shack.com
24 Rihfly Dakhla Sport Center Dakhla, Morocco rihflydakhla@dakhla-attitude.ma +212 (0) 672 285 009 www.dakhla-attitude.ma
13 Kite Kahunas Table View, Cape Town info@kitekahunas.com +27 83 463 2652 www.kitekahunas.com
19 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Sal, Cape Verde company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
25 Surfers Kite and Surf Shop Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa info@kitesurfers.co.za +2732 946 0018 www.kitesurfers.co.za
14 Liquid Force SA Blouberg, Cape Town jarrod@liquidforce.co.za +27 (0) 21 556 8172 www.liquidforcect.co.za
20 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Essaouira, Morocco company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
15 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Anse La Raie, Mauritius company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
21 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Mauritius, Le Morne, Indian Ocean company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
26 Watersports Warehouse Sunset Beach, Cape Town sales@watersportswarehouse. co.za +27 21 802 3934 www.watersportswarehouse. co.za
16 Paje by Kite Zanzibar - Tanzania info@pajebykite.net + 255 (0)777 460710 www.pajebykite.net
22 Club Mistral Kitesurfing Dakhla, Morocco company@club-mistral.com +49 (0)881 92 54 960 www.club-mistral.com
27 Windchasers Cape Town & Langebaan info@windchaserssa.com +27 (0) 82 079 0500 www.windchaserssa.com 28 7Bft KiteHouse Soma Bay, Red Sea, Egypt 7bft@somabay.com +20 65 356 26 41 www.kitehouse-somabay.com
76 listings_Layout 1 29/06/2015 18:15 Page 3
KITEWORLD
DIRECTORY
UK SCHOOLS & SHOPS
EVEN MORE LISTINGS AT WWW.KITEWORLDMAG.COM
SCHOOLS 1 Atlantic Riders Newquay, Cornwall info@atlanticriders.co.uk +44 (0) 7791 937 207 www.atlanticriders.co.uk 2 Blast Kiteboarding Porthcawl, South Wales blastkiteboarding@live.co.uk +44 (0) 7712 831 951 www.blastkiteboarding.co.uk 3 Big Blue Kitesurfing Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales info@bigbluekitesurfing.com +44 (0) 7816 169 359 www.bigbluekitesurfing.com 4 Camber Kitesurfing Camber, East Sussex kitesurfinginstructor@yahoo.co.uk +44 (0) 7960 587 482 www.camberkitesurfing.com 5 Extreme Academy Watergate Bay, Cornwall sports@watergatebay.co.uk +44 (0) 1637 860 840 www.extremeacademy.co.uk 6 Edge Watersports, Exmouth, Devon info@edgewatersports.com +44 (0) 1395 222 551 www.egdewatersports.com 7 Easyriders Kiteboarding Whitecliffe, Poole, Dorset info@easyriderskiteboarding.com +44 (0) 1202 744 055 www.easyriderskiteboarding.com 8 Essex Kitesurf School Southend-On-Sea, Essex lessons@essexkitesurfschool.co.uk +44 (0) 775 170 5558 www.essexkitesurfschool.co.uk 9 Evolution Boardsports Lancing, Sussex info@evolutionboardsports.com + 44 (0)1903 764790 www.evolutionboardsports.com 10 Gower Kite Riders Francis Street, Swansea mail@gowerkiteriders.com +44 (0)1792 446511 www.gowerkiteriders.com 11 CBK The Kitesurf School Hayling Island, Hants rosemary@cbk-haylingisland.com +44 (0) 2392 422570 www.cbk-haylingisland.com
SHOPS 13 L2K Shoreham Beach, Sussex tim@learn2kitesurf.biz +44 (0) 1273 25 29 51 +44 (0) 7799 897 190 www.learn2kitesurf.biz 14 Mobius Kite School Perranporth, Marazion Hayle and Pentewan, Cornwall info@mobiusonline.co.uk +44 (0) 1637 831 383 www.mobiusonline.co.uk 15 Pasty Adventures Gwithian & Marazion,Cornwall info@pastyadventures.co.uk 07814 501 920 www.pastyadventures.co.uk 16 Pure Magic Kitesurfing Dublin, Ireland francois@puremagic.ie +353 (0) 18054912 www.puremagic.ie 17 Rye Watersports Kitesurfing Centre Rye, East Sussex team@ryewatersports.co.uk +44 (0) 1797 225238 www.ryewatersports.co.uk
1 ATBShop Swindon, Wiltshire info@atbshop.co.uk +44 (0) 1793 523255 www.atbshop.co.uk
5 Powerkiteshop Oldbury, West Midlands info@powerkiteshop.com +44 (0) 121 544 9514 www.powerkiteshop.com
2 Bracklesham Boardriders Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex
6 Robin Hood Watersports Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire sales@roho.co.uk +44 (0) 1924 444888 www.roho.co.uk
info@brackleshamboardriders.co.uk
+ 44 (0) 1243 671777
www.brackleshamboardriders.co.uk
3 Evolution Boardsports Lancing, Sussex info@evolutionboardsports.com + 44 (0)1903 764790 www.evolutionboardsports.com
7 Wet n Dry Boardsports London Road, Basildon +44 (0) 1268 569988 info@wetndryboardsports.com www.wetndryboardsports.com
King Of Watersports Online Store sales@kingofwatersports.com +44 (0)1202 763 675 www.kingofwatersports.com
2XS
Online Store sales@2xs.co.uk +44 (0) 1243 512552 www.2xs.co.uk
4 CBK The Kitesurf Shop Hayling Island, Hants rosemary@cbk-haylingisland.com +44 (0) 7507 315105 www.cbk-haylingisland.com 19
18 Hampshire Kitesurfing Centre Southampton Info@hampshirekitesurfing.com +44 (0) 7863 811 644 www.hampshirekitesurfing.com 19 Wild Diamond Watersports Isle of Tiree, Scotland info@wilddiamond.co.uk + 44 (0)1879 220399 www.wilddiamond.co.uk 20 Windstalker Island Kite Sports Isle Of Wight info@windstalkerislandkitesports.com +44 (0) 1983 613358 www.windstalkerislandkitesports.com 21 X-Train West Wittering, West Sussex info@x-train.co.uk +44 (0) 1243 513077 www.x-train.co.uk 22 514Elemental Westward Ho! North Devon info@514elemental.com +44 (0) 7565 621 446 www.514elemental.com
6
16
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12 Kitesurfkings Shoreham Beach, Sussex info@kitesurfkings.com +44 (0) 1273 88 88 33 +44 (0) 7878 399 419 www.kitesurfkings.com
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76 listings_Layout 1 29/06/2015 18:16 Page 4
KITEWORLD
WORLDWIDE TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION
DIRECTORY
EVEN MORE LISTINGS AT WWW.KITEWORLDMAG.COM
THE AMERICAS
AFRICA
ASIA
1
KGB KITEBOARDING Baja Mexico & California USA info@kgbswag.com +1 510 967 8014 www.kgbswag.com
1
THE BREAKERS DIVING & SURFING LODGE Soma Bay, Red Sea, Egypt info@thebreakers-somabay.com +20 65 356 26 41 www.thebreakers-somabay.com
1
DE SILVA WINDRESORT Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka office@surfschool-srilanka.com +94 77 676 4899 www.surfschool-srilanka.com
2
EXOTIKITE BAJA Baja, Mexico Beach Vacation Rentals info@exotikite.com +521 624 165 2612 www.exotikite.com
2
KITEWORLDWIDE CAPE TOWN Sunset Beach +44 2036 085 777 www.kiteworldwide.com
2
3
SURF THE CAPE Cape Town, South Africa mail@surfthecape.de +27 21 55 70 09 2 www.surfthecape.de
KITE BEACH VILLAS Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka info@kitebeachvillaskalpitiya.com + 94 77 5566485 www.kitebeachvillaskalpitiya.com
3
4
KITE KAHUNAS Table View, Cape Town info@kitekahunas.com +27 83 463 2652 www.kitekahunas.com
KITESURFNAM Mui Ne, Vietnam Villas & Beach Hotels, Lessons & Rentals info@kitesurfnam.com +84 122 691 0538 www.vietnamkitesurfingholidays.com
4
REEF RETREAT RESORT Bulabog Beach Boracay Island, Philippines info@reefretreatboracay.com +63 9173 493 060 www.reefretreatboracay.com
3
4
5
FUN TRIPS DR olivier@funtrips-dr.com +1 849 244 4334 www.funtrips-dr.com SEALANE CONDOS Cabarete, DR Rentals info@oceandreamcabarete.com + 1 305 600 0849 www.sealanecabarete.com
5
BARRA GRANDE KITE CAMP Barra Grande, Piauí , Brazil contato@barragrandekitecamp.com.br +55 (86) 3369 8019 www.barragrandekitecamp.com.br
CAPETOWNGURU.COM Guest Houses & rentals sheree@capetownguru.com +27 (0) 845 543 262 www.capetownguru.com
6
THE MYSTIC HOUSE Bloubergstrand, Cape Town Guest House info@themystichouse.com + 27 (0) 731 435 902 www.themystichouse.com
6
KITEWORLDWIDE BRAZIL Tatajuba +44 2036 085 777 www.kiteworldwide.com
7
7
HURRICANE JERI Jericoacoara reservas@hotel-hurricane-jericoacoara.com +55 (88) 9766 5968 www.hotel-hurricane-jericoacoara.com
ENDLESS SUMMER BEACHHOUSE Table View, Cape Town fun@endlesssummerbeachhouse.co.za +27 (0) 845 543 262 www.endlesssummerbeachhouse.co.za
1
8
SANDYSHORES (Liquid Force) Blouberg, Cape Town info@sandyshores.co.za +27 (0) 21 557 3348 www.sandyshores.co.za
HANG LOOSE BEACH Calabria, Italy lucahlb@gmail.com +39 3389511693 www.hangloosebeach.it
2
9
VILLAMANGO BEACH BUNGALOWS / MANGO KITE CLUB Icaraizinho, Ceara, Brazil herkk@terra.com.br +55 88 3636 3089 www.villamango.com.br
WINDCHASERS Cape Town & Langebaan info@windchaserssa.com +27 (0) 82 079 0500 www.windchaserssa.com
TARIFA DIRECT Tarifa, Spain rentals@tarifadirect.com +34 693 703 378 www.tarifadirect.com
3
10
HOTEL HURRICANE Tarifa, Spain info@hotelhurricane.com +34 956 68 49 19 www.hotelhurricane.com
10
VILAREJO Barra Grande, Piauí , Brazil vilarejobarragrande@gmail.com www.vilarejobarragrande.com
KITEWORLDWIDE ZANZIBAR Jambiani +44 2036 085 777 www.kiteworldwide.com
11
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DUNAS DE PUPUYA Navidad, Chile info@dunasdepupuya.cl +56 9 8809 6667 www.dunasdepupuya.cl
PAJE BY KITE Zanzibar Hotel & Kite school info@pajebykite.com + 255 (0)777460710 www.pajebykite.com
SURF CLUB KEROS Keros Beach, Kalliopi info@surfclubkeros.gr +30 694 298 2102 www.surfclubkeros.gr
5
12
DAKHLA ATTITUDE HOTEL Dakhla, Morocco booking@dakhla-attitude.ma +212 (0) 672 285 009 www.dakhla-attitude.ma
LA BALLENA ALEGRE Sant Pere Pescador Girona, Spain info@ballena-alegre.com +34 972 520 302 www.ballena-alegre.com
13
EXPLORA MOROCCO Essaouira & Dakhla, Morocco adventure@exploramorocco.com +212 611475188 / +44 7738 563883 www.exploramorocco.com
14
KITEWORLDWIDE KENYA Mwazaro Beach / Shimoni +44 2036 085 777 www.kiteworldwide.com
15
OUTRIGGER MAURITIUS BEACH RESORT Bel Ombre, Mauritius resa.mauritius@outrigger-mu.com +230 623 5000 www.outrigger.com
8
9
TREMEMBÉ KITE MANSION Praia de Tremembé Icapuí CE, Brazil info@tremembebeach.com +55 88 9291 3511 www.tremembebeach.com
EUROPE
TO GET YOUR TRAVEL SERVICES LISTED HERE EMAIL: TRAVEL@KITEWORLDMAG.COM
RUBEN LENTEN ON DEMO AT THE RED B U L L ME G A LO O P C H A L L EN G E P H O T O - J A RN O S CH U RG E R S / R E D B UL L C O N T E N T PO O L
The original high octane kitesurfing TV-style show brought to you by the Kiteworld team. Episode 18 is out now and features an in-depth interview with one of the sportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most dynamic riders, Brandon Scheid, who talks, foiling, wakestyle, how not to scream on a slider and more! Plus: Ruben Lenten hits the Red Bull Kite the Waj and is the face of the Megaloop Challenge, Sky Solbach talks new surfboard shapes, we round up world news from the Virgin Kitesurfing World Tour, the Triple S and more. Finally, we show you Jambiani in Zanzibar... tempting you towards your next kitesurfing holiday destination? Watch all our previous episodes and choose from our back catalogue of chapter content at: www.thekiteshow.tv or download our free apps for all the updates as they happen!
PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH:
BRANDON SC HEID IN AC T ION AT THE TRIPL E S PHOTO – ERIC RIENSTRA
152
/
INTERVIEW
/
THESE
T H I N G S
I
K N O W
THESE THINGS
I KNOW
TOM AVERY
metre Ultralight Frenzies. The key to PHOTOS - Oliver Hugh-Jones
01 >
Snowkiting beats man-hauling,
We know how to look after ourselves
hands down. If the great explorers
in extreme conditions.
of old could see the speeds we do with our kites they d be turning in
06 >
their graves!
02 >
Our aim was to break the world
away is particularly tough on them.
record for the fastest crossing of
I’d love to take my kids snowkiting
Greenland, the world’s largest
one day.
at just
We had two sleds each for all
successfully completed various other incredible
our food and e uipment, each
expeditions, as individuals and together. As
weighing 0 kilos. Rigging them up
Team 6 N they demolished the world record
side-by-side prevented them from
for the fastest crossing of Greenland on foot, by
07 >
man or animal in May this year. The previous
ipping over.
12 >
years-of-age. Tom, Andrew Gerber,
George Wells and Patrick Woodhead have all
world record was set in 00 and was just short In one night we covered
of
kilometres in 6 hours almost
nine days,
days. Team 6 N did it in an astonishing
half the width of Greenland! It never
the previous record. They began their journey
hours and 0 minutes, nearly half
The Greenland weather changes
gets completely dark, so it’s possible
on the morning of May th in the remote
the winds allowed. My teammates
every few hours. We were indebted
to kite
Inuit village of Isoto , ten kilometres shy of
and I completed the crossing in nine
to Marc de Keyser from
are on your side.
days and
weather expeditions who helped us
hours, smashing the
record by more than a week.
maximise the winds to their full
We trained on the water in Hayling Island and Hunstanton, drinking a lot of sea water in the process!
13 >
hours a day if the winds
Greenland’s polar ice cap, and concluded their arduous 6 0 kilometre
Our top speed was
. km h about
mile adventure in
the former US military town of Kangerlussua ,
potential and alerted us to any
ten times faster than our fastest time
after climbing from the east coast sea level to
impending storms.
man-hauling.
an elevation of , 00 metres, then back to sea level on the west coast.
08 >
Sastrugi are the bain of a snowkiter’s
14 >
The temperatures dropped as low as
Most remarkably, just after midnight on May
life. These wind-blown ridges of rock-
-
Haugastol in Norway is a real
hard snow can be three feet tall and
windchill. Staying warm whilst kiting
snowkiting mecca with constant
turn a perfectly at surface into a
was a challenge and poor George
the team made the brave decision to raise their
winds and some huge fro en lakes
badly-ploughed field. My knees are
fro e his feet during our big night.
kites and then skied for
to train on. The waf es are very
still recovering.
He’s probably going to lose a
covering an unimaginable
couple of toes.
nearly
good, too!
05 >
Poles on foot, achieving this remarkable feat
lines for light winds.
wives! The separation while we’re
the 6 0 kilometre route, whenever
04 >
kids between the four
of us and very understanding
island. We kited for nearly 0% of
03 >
We have
11 >
our success was having fifty metre
09 >
We didn’t see any polar bears, but
George, Patrick, Andy and I are
kept a ri e with us at all times, just
all
in case.
, so Greenland was a bit of a
mid-life crisis. We have done a lot of
C, or minus forties with the
th, on the backend of a treacherous storm,
.
15 >
A storm pinned us down for
consecutive hours, kilometres
miles with speeds topping out at
km h.
hours.
We slept and slept... and slept!
Team 6 N’s list of sponsors include CATCo Investment Management and
0>
Our O one snowkites were simply
Tom Avery is one of the UK’s leading polar
O one Kites. More at
hold the world record for the fastest
awesome. We each took a six
explorers and one of only
www.67n-greenland.com and
surface journey to the North Pole.
metre Access and nine and fourteen
to have reached both the North and South
these expeditions before and still
people in history
www.tomavery.net
KW
" !
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