THEKITEBOARDER.COM
Banana Hammocks
and Caipirinhas in brazil Kiting in a 64 Ditch at MPH
On the Loose with Lenten and Hadlow
What You Need to
Know About Snow
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Christophe Tack found a unique way to avoid pedaling his bike. Photo Jens Hogenkamp
THEKITEBOARDER.COM
Banana Hammocks
and caipirinHas in Brazil Kiting in a 64 Ditch at MPh
On the LOOse with Lenten and HadLow
What You Need to
Know about Snow
Sam Medysky makes a connection midhandlepass in Brazil. Photo Gavin Butler
Features Pushing the Speed Limits
12
Behind the scenes at the Luderitz Speed Challenge.
On the Road and On the Loose
24
How Lenten and Hadlow hope to drive our sport.
Downwind ‘Til You Drop
36
Explore 370 miles of Ceara, Brazil’s most kiteable coastline.
Snowkite Essentials, Tips, and Hazards What you need to know before heading to the snow.
Departments 30 Close Up
Naish’s Oli Berlic and Slingshot’s Karolina Winkowska profiled.
70
34 Backwoods Travel
Kiteboarding in Orient Bay, Saint Martin.
60 Designer’s Corner
Best, Flexifoil, North, Slingshot, Wainman HI: What’s new for 2011.
74 Workbench
How to build your own replacement bladders.
76 Local Homies
Everyday kiteboarders share their local spots. thek i teboarde r. com 7
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THINK It’s Snowing… Well, winter is fully upon us and for most kiteboarding spots around North America, the kiteboarding season has either slowed way down or completely stopped. For those still riding in the water, the 5/4s have been brought out of the closet and sessions usually begin with that first rude gush of freezing water down the neck of your wetsuit. Many of us are now counting the days until spring, when the water begins to warm up and the days get longer and we cannot wait for winter to be over. However, there is a growing number of kiteboarders whose season of choice has finally arrived: The snowkiters. Chances are you already own the gear you need to do this. Photo Pascal Boulgakow
Island Riders Winter 2011 -bvi & Bahamas -January-March -Reserving Now
While the temperatures drop as winter approaches, most of us are trying to get as much time on the water before the season is over while the snowkiters start drooling over the thought of their season starting. The 2010/2011 season looks like it’s off to an early start. With a few early season storms we were getting reports of great snowkiting conditions in different places as early as November. For most riders in North America there are two choices for having great sessions in winter: Get on an airplane and go somewhere warm or pack the car and head up to the snow.
8/19/09 7:52:32 AM
This year is looking like as good a year as ever to give snowkiting a try. If you already own skis or a snowboard, then you probably already have all the gear you need to head up to the mountains for the first time. If you are already a competent rider on the water, then you also probably already have most of the skills you need to ride on the snow. There are a few important things to know about snowkiting before you go and this month’s instructional (starting on page 70) gives you all of the info you need to know before you pack your gear and head up to the mountains. For the 2010/2011 snow season, the newly formed American Snowkite Association has lined up four events (see page 14 for the schedule) around the country that will help snowkiting get more exposure while letting snowkiters test their skills against each other. It’s time to stop pouting about the end of the kiteboarding season and get excited about the start of the snowkiting season!
islandriders.us
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For a list of some of the top US snowkiting destinations, go to www.thekiteboarder.com/2010/03/snow-place-like-home-domesticsnowkiting-travel-destinations/
thek i teboarde r. com 9
Paul Lang, Editor paul@thekiteboarder.com Marina Chang, Publisher marina@thekiteboarder.com
Ryan Riccitelli, Executive Editor ryan@thekiteboarder.com
Shana Gorondy, Art Director
Gary Martin, Technical Editor
Alexis Rovira, Editor At Large
Peter Grendler, Web Advisor
SENIOR WRITERS
Marina Chang, Paul Lang, James Brown, Gary Martin
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS
Neil Hutchinson, Stefan Ruether, Rick Iossi, Toby Brauer, Brendan Richards, Matt Sexton, Will Caldwell, Kevin “Irie Dog” Murray, Kinsley ThomasWong, Members of the Central Coast/ Santa Barbara CKA
CONTRIBUTORS
Kurt Friedman, Brian Schenck, Jeff Howard/fixmykite.com, Emmanuel Demanez/velakitesurf. com, Lia Feriancek, PKRA Media, Kristin Boese, Martyn Hogg, Sky Solbach, Amery Bernard, Sean Ordonez
PHOTOGRAPHY
Gavin Butler, Jens Hogenkamp, Pascal Boulgakow, Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar, Adrian Freville, Adam Koch, Craig Kolesky, James Boulding, Lance Koudele, William Milne, On the Loose, Gavin Butler, Wainman Hawaii, Adam Koch, David DeVries, Marc Weiler, Matt Sexton, Peter Trow, Kitty Hawk Kites, Toby Bromwich, Gromet, Max Minnerop, Tuva Jansen, Pro Leezure, Karen Lang, Jason Brooks, Erin Losocco, Wainman Hawaii, Pamela Horowitz/live2kite.com, Jay Crawford/ www.outerbankskiting.com, Air Padre Kiteboarding, Gustav Schmiege, The Dudemesiter, Kuba Winkowski, www.wind-adventures.com, Rachel Hastilow, Richard Boudia, Erik Aeder, Adam Uyemura, Wainman Hawaii, Jeff Howard/fixmykite.com, Andrew Wardlow, Mark Johnson, Ben Palmer, Joao Barbosa, Shal Jacobovitz, Jason Jermaine, Janet Erjavec, Epic Kites, Jan R, David G. Tran, Nico Ostermann Thanks to all editorial and photography contributors for supporting this magazine!
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SURF THE TYRANT
SIMPLICITY.
IT始S AT THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING WE DO. THE WAY WE BUILD. THE WAY WE RIDE. THE WAY WE LIVE.
thekOR i teboarde r. com 1 1 SEE WHAT始S GOING ON AT SLINGSHOTSPORTS.COM ON
LAUNCH
Zach Kleppe entertains the crowd with a particularly good wipeout.
Alex Caizergues charges down the ditch for another 50+ knot run, a speed that has become almost routine for him. Photo Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar
W Kiteboarding at in a
Ditch64 MPH By Paul Lang
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ith only a few days to go at the 2010 Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia, 45 knots of wind blew across the new course and previous speed records were destroyed. In one day, Sebastien Cattelan pushed the record past 55 knots for the first time (55.49 knots) only to be quickly outdone by Rob Douglas who bumped the record to 55.65 knots. Charlotte Consorti became the fastest women and the first over 50 knots with a 50.43 knot run while Sophie Routboul was the second fastest woman with an average speed of 48.64 knots, a run she did with a broken hand.
By recording a run of 55.65 knots, Rob Douglas is now the fastest kiteboarder (and sailor) on the planet. Photo Adrien Freville
These speed records are recorded as average speeds over a 500 meter course located in a remote part of Africa that resembles a shallow ditch. For this year’s event, the course was redesigned by organizer and competitor Sebastien Cattelan. He said, “I designed the channel to begin 50 meters further upwind, which straightens the course. To avoid a wind shadow caused by a surrounding hill, we extended the channel by 250 meters at the start to ensure that from the start line the speeds were already fast. After that the channel ran at a constant 135° angle downwind, ensuring riders could be at full power when they crossed the finish line.” At 55.65 knots, Rob Douglas averaged 64 mph (103 kph) while hitting max speeds of over 58 knots (66 mph/107 kph). At that speed, he covered the entire 500 meters of the course in about 17.5 seconds. “I planned on taking the first run that day up to 53.5 knots, fast enough for a new American record and to put some pressure on the leaders, but as soon as I put the kite into the zone and held on through the first couple of gears, I knew I was onto something serious,” said Rob. While these records have yet to be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) at press time, it’s expected that they will be. When that happens, a kiteboarder will once again hold the world speed sailing record as the fastest wind powered craft on the water. Many people in the sailing world like to complain that these records shouldn’t count because kiteboarders aren’t real sailboats, but the plain truth is that kiteboarders with stock kites and a few custom boards are faster than the speedspecific sailboats built just for this record that have budgets stretching into the hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Luderitz is a very remote town, so there’s not a lot to do there while waiting for the wind to come up enough for record attempts. Alex Caizergues said, “Luderitz is really a special place stuck between the Namib Desert, some diamonds mines, and the cold Atlantic Ocean. The town is really quiet, I mean too quiet, and sometimes the streets can be totally empty, like a ghost town, and that’s a very strange feeling!” Sebastien Cattelan had to deal with putting on an event with limited resources. He said, “The next town is 190 miles away. The only way to get to Luderitz is by car. You can’t get everything you need, but we were able to find a 24-ton excavator to build the course. An old German army truck was used by the Time Keeper and housed all of his equipment. We used four shipping containers for storage and had a rescue boat with a top speed of 45 knots. Everybody in town was very enthusiastic and welcomed us like long lost family.” For Rob, the ample time gave him a chance to question what he was doing there. “Mentally this place is a serious challenge for me. The weather forecasts give you four or five days warning before a big 45-50 knot blow. That’s plenty of time to ask yourself some serious questions. Do I need to put
Every year the remote Namibian town of Luderitz becomes home to the fastest kiteboarders in the world for five weeks. Photo Kolesky/Nikon/Lexar
For a video interview with Rob Douglas as well as video of his record run and his crash, go to www.thekiteboarder.com/2010/11/ video-interview-with-rob-douglas/
myself in this situation? What if I break something bad? I’ve got a wife at home, I’m not getting paid enough for this #@$@!, etc. You look for excuses to not run the place at low tide. I let my coach Mike Gebhardt make the call to go or not go and that left me with the task of just kiting. That helped take some of the pressure off and kept the stress levels low!” What makes the achievements of all the competitors at Luderitz this year even more amazing is that the new speed course was a narrow trench with dirt on either side. According to WSSRC rules, the water in the trench must be at least 18” deep, but at low tide there wasn’t enough water to compete. Sebastien decided to close the end of the channel to keep the water in, meaning that when riders crossed the finish line at over 60 mph, they had 70-150 meters (depending on who you ask) of room to stop before hitting dirt. “For some riders it was a mental challenge to have the end of the channel closed,” said Sebastien. “They saw it as an obstacle at the end that prevented them from keeping their speed up until the finish line. In an ideal world we would have had a wider, longer channel, especially at the end, but this simply was not possible – if we left the channel open we lost the water depth. If we did not close the channel we would not have been able to reach the speeds we did.” The decision to close the channel was controversial with some of the competitors, who demanded it be left open. When asked about that, Cattelan said, “What people have to remember is that this is an extreme sport and the competitors have to push their limits in order to break the existing records. That is what makes this competition so unique – we are pushing boundaries all the time and if people cannot cope with the challenge then they should not be participating in an event like this.” Even the top competitors seem to be intimidated by this course. Rob said, “This course was very fast and somewhat dangerous, but that comes with the territory. Imagine stepping out of a jeep as it screams across the beach at 65+ mph. Now hook into to your favorite 9 meter — hairy and gnarly for sure!” Alex Caizergues, who finished third at the event with a run of 54.93 knots, said, “The exit was crazy, with only 70 meters after the finish line to decelerate from more than 100 kph to zero! The only way to stop before hitting the shore (full of rocks) and then the hill was to crash the kite as soon as you passed the finish line and pray that you didn’t tangle your lines.” After his record-setting run, Rob decided to do one more run as the immediate result isn’t always completely accurate. “I took a second run just in case as the speeds you see on the display after a run are estimated and can go up or down .2 to .5 of a knot. After crossing the finish, I crashed and got my legs caught in the bar and lines. With the kite looping and dragging me feet first at 45+ knots I went over the sand and snapped my wrist as I tried to get to the release. I flew home to Boston for surgery the next day and the Doc expects a full recovery. Three days before the run I told my younger brother Jamie that I was willing to break an ankle or wrist for the new record, but nothing more, and that’s what happened.
Organizer Sebastien Cattelan decided to close the channel at the end of the run, a controversial move that was designed to keep the water level in the ditch high enough to compete. Photo Adrien Freville
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411
Snowkiting opens up a whole new world to explore. Photo Jim Stringfellow Daryl Drown enjoys the freedom of a backcountry session. Photo Adam Koch
NAST KICKS OFF
IN MONTANA By Lia Feriancek
With the snowkite season in full swing, the first efforts of the American Snowkite Association are building like a fresh breeze. The North American Snowkite Tour’s (NAST) mission is to connect the best snowkiting events across the US and Canada with a point series resulting in a season champion. All events will have a freestyle competition and a racing competition, but each event has its own style that reflects the terrain, local conditions, and approach of the event organizer. Competitors at the NAST Series Events will accumulate NAST points based on their performance in each discipline at each event. For the 2011 season, NAST will kick off with four events in the US: the Georgetown Open, Dillon Open, Best SuperFly Open, and Snowkite Soldier. The 2011 tour will serve as a test bed as organizers develop a system that includes unified rules, coordinated prizes, a points race, collaborative marketing, event registration, unified race directors, and more. The goal is to launch a full blown tour with stops across the nation for the 2012 season. Join the grassroots effort to promote the growth of snowkiting in North America through this collaborative series of events that will crown our nation’s first official snowkite champions! For complete info and updates, check www.snowkitetour.com.
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The 2011 NAST Tour current schedule is as follows: January 7-10, 2011 February 10-13, 2011 February 18-21, 2011 February 24-27, 2011
Georgetown Lake Open Dillon Snowkite Best SuperFly Open Kite Soldiers
Georgetown, MT Open Dillon, CO Strawberry, UT Fairfield, ID
The LF fastest kite pumper contest awarded the winner a brand new board. Photo Paul Lang
PISMO BEACH KITEXPO slated
FOR APRIL 22-24 By TKB Staff
For the past eight years, Pismo Beach has hosted the annual Pismo Beach KiteXpo in the spring, the windiest time of the year on the Central Coast of California. Timed perfectly with the release of the majority of new gear for 2011, the event attracts hundreds of riders from across the state and beyond, all of whom are eager to meet directly with brand reps and pros to try out new kite/SUP products and accessories. Clinics in strapless riding and more will also be offered along with fun competitions to win some cool stuff from your favorite brands.
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Skydive Sebastian has gotten a recent facelift thanks to the widening community of skydivers and kiteboarders that are living in Florida. Kiteboard Sebastian was founded this fall and is operating in conjunction with the drop zone in Sebastian as the first ever skydive and kiteboard crossover shop and school. To top it off, kite event guru Neil Hutchinson and Lyle Presse, the leading event organizer of the skydive community, have gotten together to host the first crossover event ever between the two sports.
For anyone who has been following the progression of wave kiting, you have surely seen a lot of sick footage coming out of Australia and Indonesia. We’ve been following Ben Wilson’s pursuits over the years and it is apparent that he is not alone in his passion for searching out and slashing waves. Leading the charge in the Broken Water DVD is fellow Aussie Ryland Blakeney—a name that you might as well learn to spell correctly now, because it looks like he is going to be adding his name to the list of who’s who in kitesurfing. Broken Water follows Ryland and his friends from Australia to Indonesia and New Zealand as they work every bit of surf that Mother Nature can throw at them. The boys are obviously dialed in to small and medium sized waves, but when they find some big, heavy waves it’s apparent that these guys are willing to step up to the challenge. Even if you aren’t into kitesurfing waves, the beautiful scenery is amazing, and if you like to feed your sadistic side you will get your fill of punishing crashes. Extras include a section with Ian Alldredge, a promo for 35th Parallel adventures, and a slide show. To check out Ryland Blakeney’s site, go to www.rylandblakeney.com
From March 11 - 13, the Team Dirty Sanchez Hawaiian Luau will be hosting its first ever wakestyle kite jam. This has been a legendary event in the skydive community and will now boast a rider-judged kiteboarding jam filled with multiple rails, kickers, and park style features. Rider meetings will take place daily at the drop zone at the Sebastian Airport and will be followed by skydiving or kiteboarding sessions depending on what the wind permits. The kite event will take place on a private island in the intercoastal waterway to which shuttles will be provided for riders and spectators all day. Experienced skydivers will be swooping onto the island between heats and all will meet at the end of the day at the Zoo Bar located at the drop zone to review media and declare winners. Obviously with such an adrenaline filled crowd, spirits will be flowing in full force and you can cap off your day with a casual 1’ Jaeger ice luge if you feel the need. Additionally, kiteboarders are eligible for discounted skydiving all weekend and there will be cash prizes for this event. For more info, see www.skydiveseb.com
Liquid Force has teamed up with www.fixmykite.com to do all warranty and repair work manufacturing replacement bladders and valves to fit their new Max Flow design, integrated into their 2011 kite designs. Max Flow is a new inflation system developed by LF which allows you to inflate your kite in 40% less time on average than traditional systems. Fix My Kite is also the official repair center for Globe, Naish, Flexifoil, Eclipse, and HQ kites so you know when you send your private kite in for repair, it’s in good hands!
The traditional Saturday night BBQ/Bonfire party will be expanded to be a fundraiser for event founder Kinsley ThomasWong, who was involved in a kiteboarding accident in July of 2010, but is on the road to recovery thanks to his incredible drive and spirit along with the support of family, friends, and the kiteboarding community at large. Plans are in the works for live music, over $5,000 in raffle prizes to be given away, and some other new additions. Sponsored by Xtreme Big Air and The Kiteboarder Magazine, the 2011 event will happen from April 22-24 at the Grand Avenue entrance to Pismo State Beach. Come show your support for Kinsley, the ‘father of Central Coast kiteboarding,’ try new gear for free, and just have a plain good time at the 9th Annual Pismo Beach KiteXpo. Updates will be posted at www.xtremebigair.com and www.thekiteboarder.com starting in late February.
Matt Sexton tests the water at Sebastian.
air meets water
in florida By Matt Sexton | Photo courtesy Matt Sexton
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Peter Trow has been involved with Flexifoil since he was an early pro rider flying two-line foil kites. Photo Peter Trow
Peter Trow
Company: Flexifoil Job Title: US Manager Years in Industry: 10 Words of Wisdom: Follow your passion and everything else will fall into place. Years Kiteboarding: 13 Kite: Flexifoil Ions Board: Stretch Trow Directional How would you describe your job at Flexifoil? I do a bit of everything. Basically I manage the US distribution, shipping, sales, marketing, and team riders. Flexifoil was recently reorganized. Can you give us the short story about what happened? There was a change of management at the main office in the UK. The owner of Flexifoil, Anthony Van Dort, is now directly running and managing the company. The reorganization took some time to be completed but now the company is moving forward and setting up for a very strong future. It was a very positive move for Flexifoil. What did you do before working in the kite industry? I was in film production. I worked on a lot of action sports films, made my own films, and did commercial work. How did you end up working in the kiteboarding industry? At the beginning of the sport I became completely absorbed in kiteboarding. I had the opportunity to be a team rider for Flexifoil and to work closely with the international team and designers. Everything just sort of evolved from there. Flexifoil needed someone in the US to help with sales, marketing, etc., so I eventually took on a more permanent position with the brand. What is your typical day at the office like? Is there such a thing? Office? I start my day on the computer, check on orders, see what needs to be shipped out, and reply to emails. Then after lunch I usually head to the beach (my real office) with a van full of gear. My most productive work gets done at the beach, helping customers, getting feedback, and promoting and representing the brand. Is working in the kiteboarding industry all it’s cracked up to be? Sure, it’s a great industry to be involved with. You get to spend a lot of time outdoors with great people who share your interests. It’s a unique job and definitely not your normal nine to five. How has the industry changed since you first got involved? It has changed a lot. In the early days there 16 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
were only a few brands and the sport was taking off fast. There was plenty of business for everyone and it was a low-tech situation. Two stings and a big kite was all you needed. Beginners and advanced kiters expected to get their butts kicked every time they put up a kite; that’s just how it was. Today there is a lot more competition among the brands and the products are much more technical. No one wants to get their butt kicked anymore so the kites have to be very user friendly, easy, and safe. What gear were you on when you started kiting? I started on a Flexifoil Blade. Two strings and 0% depower with absolutely no possibility of relaunch. What is the best part of your job? The worst? The best part is being able to help people enjoy kiteboarding. Being able to provide kiteboarders with good products, advice, and service that they really appreciate is extremely rewarding. The hard part is not being able to satisfy everyone. It’s a pretty competitive industry and customers come and go. Being available and helpful to everyone no matter what brand they use keeps it enjoyable all around. What do you see as the biggest challenge to the kiteboarding industry? The sport has grown so rapidly that if it does begin to slow it may cause some challenges for the industry. If it does slow, the brands will need to avoid the tendency to cut their margins in order to keep customers and stay in the game. It will end up putting a lot of brands out of business. This has happened in the past with other rapid-growth sports so hopefully we can avoid it. If we can continue to get the youth involved in kiteboarding, then the momentum of the sport will continue with no issues. What advice do you have for someone that wants to work in the industry? If it’s something that you really want to do then you should definitely make it happen. It’s a great industry to be involved with. However, don’t be surprised if working in kiteboarding changes how you feel about the sport. It’s a positive change although it’s definitely a different vibe.
k c a m S Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Resort at Waves Village in the Outer Banks, NC, just upped the ante for a winter getaway or spring fling. Now through April 17, 2011, the resort is offering great deals on selected inclusive weekend or week-long vacation packages tailored to kiters. The Weekend Wind Seeker Package starts at $895 and includes three nights in a three-bedroom condo at Waves Village and a pair of three-hour professional kiteboarding lessons. There is also a Paddler’s Paradise Package, valid for a one-week stay in a threebedroom condo plus unlimited use of kayak or paddleboard equipment for those that don’t kite. An escorted kayak eco-tour for two also is included in the $985 total package price. Either package is easily customized with smaller unit requests (one- or two-bedroom), private kiteboarding instruction, and more. www.WavesVillage.com
Photo courtesy Kitty Hawk Kites
INSIDE JOB
www.iKitesurf.com has launched an entirely new alert system and a new website that can be found at www.windalert.com. This new system is not meant to replace iKitesurf but allows you to create a customized view of both worldwide real-time (from weather stations) and forecast alerts of your favorite local or exotic spots going out from two to seven days. It’s all free too! For mobile phone users, iKitesurf also just added forecasts along with scrolling graphs so you can look at wind in the past, present, and future on the same graph for iphones as well as another new Android app with over 50,000 weather stations. Both are also free to download and use. www.iKitesurf.com If you travel to Maui or care about preserving access, the Maui Kitesurfing Community (MKC), a non-profit group committed to keeping kitesurfing alive and legal on Maui’s North Shore, needs your help. They are required to hold a waiver from the FAA in order to allow kiting within a 5 mile radius of the Maui Airport in Kahului (OGG). Without the waiver, there will be no kiteboarding continued on page 20
THE 2011
WWW.FLEXIFOIL.COM
SERIES FROM FLEXIFOIL ES
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HYBRIDEXCELLENCE GREEN
MSRP Ion 7.0m - Kite Only Ion 8.5m - Kite Only Ion 10.5m - Kite Only Ion 12.5m - Kite Only Ion 14.5m - Kite Only
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The 2011 ION from Flexifoil takes the bloodline to all new levels of refinement, continuing to set the standard for hybrid kites. Improvements in construction and aerofoil precision offer the smoothest ride possible, so contact your nearest Flexifoil retailer now and find out for yourself why the ION is known as the Barry White of kites.
$799 $889 $969 $1,049 $1,149
6 Strut layout Simple relaunch More than enough depower 4 or 5 line configuration Multiple line connection points: tune the kite to your requirements
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RETAILER DETAILS
All Flexifoil retailers can be found on the Flexifoil website www.flexifoil.com
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comps Gisela Pulido, who has been competing since she was 10, reclaimed the title of Women’s World Champion for the 2010 season.
On fire in New Caledonia, Andy Yates claimed the Men’s World Champion title with one tour stop still to come.
PKRA CROWNS TWO
NEW WORLD CHAMPIONS By Marina Chang/PKRA Media | Photos Toby Bromwich
At the second to last stop of the 2010 PKRA World Tour in Noumea, New Caledonia, competitors couldn’t have asked for better wind conditions. Most riders were fully powered on their 7m kites throughout the week and pulled out all the stops to gain as many points as possible towards their final rankings. Although one more stop remains on this season’s tour (Gold Coast, Australia) as of press time, two new World Champions were crowned as no other competitors will be able to beat them in total points. All riders were on top of their game, especially Australian rider Andy Yates who took home his first ever PKRA World Title. Yates lost the first winner’s final heat in a 3/2 judge’s decision in favor of Youri Zoon who landed super sick tricks such as his opening powered triple combo with a front mobe, blind judge 3, and 313. Both Yates and Zoon had a consistent heat, however Zoon’s power and execution was better. In the second final round Zoon’s energy level seemed to have dropped along with the wind and he decided to change kite sizes from his 10m to a 12m while Yates kept on riding consistently on his 11m. Yates landed some very nice switch tricks such as a switch slim chance, switch kgb, and a really nice switch blind judge 3. His front mobe to blind and kgb to blind stood out over Zoon’s resulting in a 4/1 judge’s decision in favor of Yates labeling this his official world title heat and winning him the title of PKRA 2010 Men’s Freestyle Champion. In the women’s freestyle division, 2009 PKRA World Champion Bruna Kajiya battled it out against Gisela Pulido in the semi final but lost due to Pulido’s super sick trick list such as a front mobe, kite loop 360 pass, and a kite loop slim chance. Pulido moved on to the final heat against Karolina Winkowska. Winkowska was on fire this competition, winning the freestyle single eliminations and now the double eliminations due to her overall better full powered tricks such as a nice blind judge 3 and a switch blind judge. Even though Pulido lost in the final heat of the day, she was still one of the happiest competitors because she was announced the official PKRA 2010 Women’s Freestyle Champion at the event podium.
OVERALL PKRA RANKINGS WITH ONE EVENT (GOLD COAST) TO GO IN 2010 Men
1. Andy Yates (Slingshot, AUS) 2. Youri Zoon (Slingshot, NED) 3. Alex Pastor (Airush, ESP)
Women
1. Gisela Pulido (Airush, ESP) 2. Karolina Winkowska (Slingshot, POL) 3. Bruna Kajiya (Flexifoil, BRA)
shop talk Bertrand’s favorite break is just steps from the front door of the camp. Photo Gromet
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Indo Kite Camp
Owner: Bertrand Fleury too hard to Nickname: Bert (because my name is le!) pronounce for some peop Age: 30 Location: Indonesia Years Riding: Since 1999 e, good size Favorite Conditions: Perfect sideshor WH kites 7m or 9m my for wind waves, and enough One of kiteboarding’s first pro riders, Bertrand Fleury first discovered his Indonesian island paradise in 2004. Together with girlfriend and pro rider Tuva Jansen, he bought land there in front of a perfect break on his first trip and they completed building their home in 2009. In 2010, he launched Indo Kite Camp which caters to experienced riders looking to improve their game in the surf. What motivated you to settle down in Indonesia, build a home, and start your wave riding camps? The first time I traveled to Indo, I knew that I wanted to spend a lot of time here. The conditions are perfect and everything is very close by. The place is beautiful, the people are so nice, and the food is excellent, so what more do we need? We also appreciate that Indonesia is very cheap, so it is easy to have a good life here. How hard is it to get to your place? It’s not hard, but it does take some time. You need to get to Bali, DPS, and then take a little local plane (40 minutes) to our island. From there it is a two hour taxi ride to our house. It’s a very beautiful trip since you get to see lot of the island and the nice villages on the way. Why is your location never mentioned in your marketing or photos? We want to try to keep it protected as best as we can, so our clients will get less crowded riding! We don’t see the need of telling everybody the exact name of the spot —if they want to know, they can come to the camp! What does your camp offer and what’s the price? We only take two clients a week (if there is a group of friends, we can take up to four) so we can give good feedback and help to the riders. We film every session and in the evening 20 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
we go through the footage and take a look at what each person can do to improve their riding. We also take our clients surfing, fishing, and sightseeing to the villages. We include massages and beautiful Indonesian food in the package which is 850 Euro ($1,100 USD) for one week or 1,450 Euro ($1,890 USD) for two weeks. Why do you only offer advanced camps? This is an easy place to learn how to ride waves since the waves and wind are perfect, but because our spot has waves and reefs, we do think you will enjoy this camp much more if you have a little bit of experience and have done some surfing before as well, since there can be days with no wind, but that are perfect for surfing! Are the camps offered year round or seasonally? What are the typical conditions? We only do the camps from September through November. This is the best time for the wind. The wind season here is very short. Most days I am well powered on my 9m, some days on my 7m. The waves are reef breaks and most days are head-high. We have one spot that serves up a perfect wave to get tubes; it’s pretty short but hollow. The other one is a long left with perfect sideshore wind so it is great for doing turn after turn. What brands do you represent? I am now riding for Wainman Hawaii and I am very happy with the gear. They have a big range of boards that all work great! At the camp I have some kites and boards for guests to demo. How do you handle your camps if there is no wind? You can never guarantee wind anywhere, but the great thing about this place is that when there is no wind, that means sick surf, so most people are happy anyway. If they don’t want to surf, they can go snorkeling, fishing, or just chill out and take a massage. We can also always play poker! What else is there to do where you are, especially if there is no wind or swell? There is not much of a nightlife here, but this is a place with a bunch of surfers, so in the evening people hang out at the restaurants and play poker, pool, or watch movies. Any words of wisdom you want to share with our readers? Come and join us next year — you will get to ride the best waves of your life.
Photo Max Minnerop
allowed from the Kahului Harbor to Kanaha to Lanes (Ho’okipa). Help preserve this valuable area by making sure you are aware of the rules and regulations when visiting Maui. Even better, support their efforts by joining for a $25 annual membership fee which allows them to purchase the insurance necessary to carry the FAA waiver, print MKC safe riding guideline brochures, and maintain their website. www.mauikitesurf.org
This winter Island Riders will once again be running kiteboarding trips to the BVI’s and the islands of the Bahamas from January through March. If you’re looking for a great adventure travel experience where you can kite in your boardshorts, check these trips out. They take you south to explore the endless blue waters of the Caribbean and show you all of the best places to kite along the way. The fourth Annual Island Riders BVI catamaran trip will be running in late January and early February and will feature all of the usual stops like the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, Sandy Cay at Jost Van Dyke, and Anegada. The Bahamas kiteboarding trips to the Abacos Islands and Bimini will be in late February and early March with plans to have both a sailing week and a land-based week for those not interested in staying aboard the boat. www.island-riders.com Pro Kitesurf (www.Kiteboarding.com) has teamed up with Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC) to run a kiteboarding school for the Navy in Texas. The new facility will by fully stocked with new 2011 Naish kites and Crazy Fly boards and offer discounted lessons to our Naval servicemen and women. Lessons are not limited to Corpus Christi personnel but will be accessible to all active, reserve, and retired military people. Corpus Christi is known for its consistent year round winds and has been home to many kiteboarding events including the Velocity Games, US Kite Racing Championship and the IKA Kite World Races.
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1. Why is Bertrand Fleury hiding behind a cat? Photo Tuva Jansen 2. The Pro Leezure crew gets ready to take off for the Bahamas. They’ll be down there until April, teaching kiteboarding lessons when they run out of money. Photo courtesy Pro Leezure 3. The after party for the informal Skymaster’s Event on Maui. They sent riders out with Shadowboxes on their boards and Jon McCabe won by recording a jump of 57.6 feet! Photo Karen Lang 4. Nico Ostermann chows down in Brazil. Photo Jason Brooks 5. Arnaud Vuillermet gets close to the photo boat in San Francisco Bay. Photo Erin Losocco 22 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
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6. Caprice Winniman in Maui. Photo Karen Lang 7. Lou Wainman gets ready for another session. Photo courtesy Wainman Hawaii 8. New RRD/Mystic tem rider Jenna Hannon shows off the new Mystic gear at the Mystic/RRD 2011 fashion show hosted by Live2kite.com and MaximRio. Photo Pamela Horowitz/Live2kite.com 9. Neil Hutchinson knows how to get the party started. Photo courtesy Pro Leezure
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10. Cheryl Scorza and Slawek Krauze strut their stuff at the Mystic/ RRD 2011 fashion show. Photo Pamela Horowitz/Live2kite.com 11. Two local groms have a good time at the Cauipe Lagoon in Brazil. Photo Jason Brooks 12. Team Pro Leezure enjoys a meal down below. Photo courtesy Pro Leezure 13. The Outer Banks Kiting boys check out The Kiteboarder Magazine on the Ocracoke ferry while on a trip to find the goods. Photo Jay Crawford/www.outerbankskiting.com
14. Laura Martinez and Laura Maher show off their boards at South Padre Island. Photo Air Padre Kiteboarding 15. Amy Hauser, Evan Mavridoglou, and Yuri Reiter at the Mystic/RRD 2011 fashion show. Photo Pamela Horowitz/Live2kite.com 16. Dimitri Maramenides and wife Helen Trotman recently discovered that they can share the same clothes. Photo Gustav Schmiege If you have a photo that you would like featured in The Kiteboarder Magazine, please e-mail paul@thekiteboarder.com
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On the Road and
After the end of last year s PKRA tour ve time world champion Aaron Hadlow announced that he wouldn t be returning for the season His good friend Ruben Lenten had stepped away from the competition scene a few years before and they decided to work together on a plan to travel the world while shooting episodes of their own TV show On the Loose With support from Red Bull On the Loose is now shown on the air in certain parts of Europe and is bringing not just kiteboarding action but the kiteboarding lifestyle to millions of homes
On the Loose By Paul Lang
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Webisodes are available to watch at www ontheloose tv We caught up with Aaron Azza as Ruben calls him and Ruben while they were in the Phillipines for the Wind or No Wind Board Jam where they talked about their travels around the world where the sport is heading and Ruben gave us a little insight to the S Loop a stalled megaloop where the kite changes direction at the bottom of the loop a move that he has yet to pull o
Hadlow and Lenten both have very different personalities but manage to have a good time together wherever they go. Photo Craig Kolesky
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Azza poses in NYC. Photo James Boulding
This year it went really well, as it was getting loads of views online and it was posted all over the Red Bull websites and Red Bull TV.
How did On the Loose get started? Are there a certain number of shows you are going to do, or will you two be at it for as long as you can? Aaron: While I was still competing Ruben came up with a concept that was a more in depth personal video series that showed all the other things that come with traveling the world kitboarding not just the action I rst got involved when we shot during the o season in Cape Town that was our rst season where we really learned a lot I was competing for the following six months before we met again but this time I was able to lm in Cape Town and then for the rest of the season as I was no longer on the circuit It was the obvious thing to do join up with Ruben and the Red Bull Media House and take it to a higher level This season we made seven TV episodes that were divided into short versions for the web Next season we re aiming to step up the production stories and whole general show We want to make it so people are hooked and are already looking forward to the following week for the next episode Ruben: In I came up with the idea to give people a better view of our lives as pro kiteboarders In the beginning it was very basic and we didn t really have a storyline going or anything Ryan Gaw was hanging out with us and captured the fun and crazy things Azza and I were up to during our season in Cape Town Sometimes this was testing our new gear or we d have a photo shoot go wakeboarding or just other fun lifestyle stu and of course the good kiteboarding sessions got captured Red Bull hooked me up with a budget and supported the start of On the Loose My mates over at Creative Monkeys countries I think the show is much more interesting for the general public created a nice website where I d keep people up to date with the latest photos compared to the videos of the latest action I used to post online Those videos travel blogs and of course a number of webisodes The rst season waswere cool but only understood by a certain number of people Now we get to show what traveling and kiteboarding is all about and show our personalities actually broadcast in Holland on TV After a while the Red Bull Media House in Austria contacted me with some good news They wanted to pick up On the the culture and still lm the action with the sickest tricks I think it s pretty Loose It s been awesome and we ve lmed like seven minute showsfunny We and veentertaining already and it s only going to get better had some epic trips and we ve really got a good crew together Our good mate William Milne is the o cial camera man and Julian Kirchner is the producer R: Exposure wise things are being stepped up as well With Red Bull Media who comes on some trips with us We also had Susi Mai and Bruna Kajiya in House taking care of the production and distribution the show has made it to Servus TV which is broadcasting in Germany Switzerland and Austria some of the episodes which was good fun and shows that chicks can shred too million households As for next year we ll hopefully get On the We re planning another season for next year and from there we ll hopefullyto around Loose on channels in the UK and Holland It should spread all over the world step it up every year sometime‌ We ve got a lot of footage so a DVD or highlight video will get edited too This just takes awhile as we re on the road most of the time and What kind of exposure have you got? What is this show doing for the sport of kiteboarding? A: This year it went really well as it was getting loads of need to sit down and go through all the footage We re lming another season right now so hopefully next year we ll get both seasons on some more channels views online and it was posted all over the Red Bull websites and Red Bull TV Also with their help it went on air on their TV channel in German speaking across the globe It s not only kiteboarding people that nd it interesting 26 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
After traveling for more than 40 hours, Marco gets his first real glimpse of Vanuatu. Ruben lays it down in the Gorge. Photo Lance Koudele
and can relate with the show so it de nitely brings kiteboarding to a more mainstream audience which is great It s a super fun sport to do and enjoyable in many di erent ways so I m more than stoked I get to promote this in such wide areas
The success of On the Loose has helped Hadlow feel that he made the right decision by stepping away from the PKRA. Photo William Milne
It’s obvious that the two of you spend a lot of time together traveling. Do you ever get sick of each other? A No not really we always make the most of what we are doing and try to have the most fun Even when we get a bad deal we end up laughing about it most of the time We think alike despite our di erent personalities so everything usually runs smoothly R: Ha ha it s actually crazy When I think about it I ve actually traveled with Azza for the past years or so He s like a brother to me for sure Never get sick of that dude ever It s pretty cool though as we totally understand each other and have pretty similar visions We ve both got our own things going on but also get to do some awesome trips together The best laughs and good times happen on a regular basis thek i teboa rde r. com 2 7
Aaron, how do you feel about your decision to step away from the PKRA? busy for sure I m more than happy with my decision to quit competing on What do you think about the state of the tour? Do you miss being on tour? I the tour as it was time to move on It wasn t so much fun for me anymore think it was the right decision I really enjoyed myself this year and found a new Traveling to random places and having to ride shitty conditions to throw your motivation I had done the tour for years and it was too similar every year to millionth handlepass inside a box within a certain amount of time just got keep on going only had four events and the points changed depending old on Now with the wakestyle side of the sport progressing a lot I really enjoy the prize money for each event This year there were more events so hopefully that I love hitting rails and I enjoy the freeride format events like the Triple S next season will be even better with more funding so the points don t have to and Wind or No Wind Board Jam that really let you share the freedom and stoke with all the other riders It s cool to try and impress your mates that change at any of the events To be honest I haven t missed competing as much as I thought I would I have enjoyed progressing with a di erent style and at way everybody pushes it to the max the end of the day learning is what I enjoy the most For sure it s weird making my own schedule and promoting myself in a di erent way but every trip is How do you feel about the rising wakestyle movement? Is this the way the sport is headed, or is this just the current trend? A: I think the wakestyle exciting and now I get to see some new parts of the world and learn about business and that s what I am enjoying at the moment movement is heading in the right direction It s not for everyone but if the pinnacle of the sport is about doing handlepass tricks then we may as well be Ruben, in the episode in Hood River, you were obviously bummed about smooth and stylish by using more body movement opposed to kite movement adding grabs and getting really technical I think boots can be good for this not making the finals at the Ro Sham Throw Down. How do you feel about competitions in general? I wasn t really bummed I guess as comps for me in the right conditions because I ve found you can load more pop more and are just for fun now I don t take it too serious but I enjoy riding together take harder landings This has potential to progress all of our current freestyle with all the other riders As you know my ankle has been giving me quite tricks eventually Also adding sliders and kickers adds a new dimension and this has room to grow and progress too Then there s the high wind side of the some trouble so I haven t been able to ride as much as I want to but I m still doing lots of other things to stay t and on top of my game Besides riding I sport This is the more extreme aspect that attracts new people and catches just love promoting kiteboarding spreading the stoke and working on newthe eye of the public There s a lot of risk and still a lot of room for innovation gear On The Loose requires some time to run smoothly as well so I keepbut riding in high wind is not possible all the time At the end of the day for me
Ruben has yet to pull off the S-Loop, which is a megaloop where the kite changes directions at the moment shown in this photo. Photo courtesy On the Loose
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it s about learning new things and trying to progress the sport I nd this wayHow do you guys decide where to travel to shoot On the Loose? Do you the most fun and enjoyable and that s when new things come to mind have arguments about where to go? A: Usually we are on the same page and want to go to the same places We sometimes have di erent ideas but come together to nd the most fun trips and something that works for both R: Yeah the wakestyle side of the sport has been developing nicely the last few years It s something you ve got to understand Nothing is right or wrong of us We are always looking for new cool places to visit with a little more when you re kiteboarding as long as you re having fun What we re trying with purpose than just to kite Maybe there is an event road trip promo event or wakestyle moves is to make our sport look more stylish and to really perform something to do with a di erent sport we would like to try either way it will the tricks clean and powerful This is pretty hard and we re all still learningalways be exciting every day The sport is still young but this is de nitely going to be one of the main disciplines of our sport This is how I see it When the wind is strong I go R: Together with Red Bull we discuss our goals and our plans This way we pull some big mega loops Then when the wind is a bit lighter I love to go hit can travel where we need to go There s always something we ve got to do some rails or throw down in boots All the gear is getting better and better for like getting invited to a contest like the Triple S or the Wind or No Wind that as well It takes time but a proper move in boots looks and feels prettyBoard Jam in the Philippines It s cool it just works out To give you a little dope So get your shred on… run down of what s coming up on our schedule we ve got Philippines Cape Town Mozambique a boat trip in the Caribbean and after that we ll Ruben, how close are you to pulling off the S-Loop? What are the conditions see what s next With a schedule like that life can t be that bad… you need to pull it off? The S loop is going to get nailed in Cape Town this winter I just need to be in the zone have my gear tuned properly and have the Be sure to check out perfect conditions I ll wait for a sunset session with knots and big kickers http://www.ontheloose.tv to then think F it and go for it Maybe it should be called the F Loop as that s the only way you re going to pull it o I just need to get up to at leastwatch the webisodes from the meters rather then I ll have enough time to deal with it Or there willfirst be atwo seasons of On the Loose. big wipe out as result hopefully making the crash section in the video… Ruben oversees the graphics of his latest pro model board. Photo Lance Koudele
There’s always something we’ve got to do, like getting invited to a contest like the Triple-S or the Wind or No Wind Board Jam in the Philippines. It’s cool, it just works out
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close up Oli helped to start the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association and is now the resident coach for Zenith Ocean Voyages. Photo “The Dudemeister”
tips • N ever kite alone. If you do, make sure someone is watching who can call for help. • Talk to the locals when you get to a new spot. • W hen teaching without boat support, have a kite inflated for rescues. Make sure you know how to rescue the kite, board, and rider. • If the opportunity arises, go for it!
Oli Berlic
Age: 25 Height: 5’10” Weight: 158 lbs. Years Kiting: 6 Favorite Spots: Jericoacoara, Tobago Cays, St. Vincent, Fort De Soto Favorite Conditions: Strong wind and big waves Favorite Moves: Kiteloop Flat 3, Megaloops, Strapless Backroll Sponsors: Naish, Otherside Boardsports, Triton Kiteboarding, Capsule Boardshop, Stultz Clothing
GEAR SETUP By Paul Lang
Boards: Naish Momentum 134, Global Fish 5’8” Kites: Naish Parks and Torches Harness: Mystic Warrior
As Matt Sexton’s roommate at Eckerd College, Oli Berlic helped found the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association (CKA) after first trying to learn with a 12m kite and no harness. After finishing school, Oli moved to Brazil for a few years and is now the resident coach living onboard Meercat, the Zenith Ocean Voyages catamaran (www. zenithoceanvoyages.com). Oli recently started a blog, so you can follow his travels at www. olibblog.blogspot.com
Do you think the CKA will continue to grow? What would help bring more young riders to the sport? I certainly think the CKA will continue to grow exponentially. The thing that makes it tough to expand the sport is the entrance expense. You’re going to need at least a few lessons and you need gear. This is a very expensive hobby for the average student, but college clubs that have gear make it a little more possible. If you’re thinking of starting a club at your school talk to Matt Sexton or Billy Bosch, they’ll sort you out.
Where did you start kiteboarding? A group of us would go to the beach and mess around with a 12m Vegas in St. Pete, Florida. At that time we didn’t have a harness or any idea of where to launch the kite so we got thrown around a bit. After we pooled together some funds and got a trainer kite we worked out how to generate power from the kite and I managed to cross a small channel at North Beach. The next day I was getting a kiteboarding lesson.
Have any other sports helped influence your kiteboarding? I grew up skateboarding, wakeboarding, and snowboarding which has certainly helped me develop a unique style. I often find myself trying skate tricks on my surfboard.
You were involved with the CKA from the beginning. What events led up to the foundation of the CKA? Matt Sexton and I were roommates and we would chill out watching kite videos at the end of the day like Spare Change and Unhooked 2. We constantly asked ourselves, “Why is this not a collegiate sport?” The gears started spinning and we contacted Neil Hutchinson who played an integral role in the creation of the CKA. It went from an idea in a dorm room to a presentation to our board of directors to the finals in Key West that made it all real. 3 0 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
What is life like on the boat? Living on the water is incredible. To be able to spot a break, drop anchor right outside of it, and launch off the boat is out of this world. The possibilities with Zenith Ocean Voyages are endless. What is something about you that most people wouldn’t know? I’m a half-Brazilian street artist. What is your worst wipe out? A torn ACL on a bad kite loop my senior year of college. If anyone you know needs this surgery make sure they take physical therapy seriously. You need at least four months off after the operation. I got back in the water after three and I can still feel it on hard landings. What is your most memorable kiteboarding experience? The various downwinders from Cumbuco to Jeri that I did during my two-year stay in Brazil with the Palace and Gaff crew. More recently while we were in the Tobago Cays a swell produced some nice head high to overhead waves at a secret spot. It was a truly epic day.
What riders inspire you? Billy Parker, Ben Wilson, and Mitu Monteiro. He’s a genius with a surfboard.
What are your must haves that you can’t live without? Well, I’m on a boat, so I only need board shorts, sunscreen, and my kite and board.
What features do you look for in your gear? I like a twin tip with a good deal of flex and pop and kites with fast steering and a lot of power. Surfboards depend on conditions, but the Naish 5’8” Fish gives me a great range.
If you could pick any place in the world to kite, where would you go? Mauritius. After seeing those waves I know I will make it there someday.
What do you do off the water to help you on the water? I stay in shape by any means necessary, whether working out, surfing, skating, or practicing passes on a hanging bar. Watching videos also helps to visualize tricks I’m working on.
Any words of wisdom you want to share with our readers? Go out and have a good time, try not to sweat the small stuff, and ride for yourself. If you’re pushing the limits you’ll get noticed by the right people. Remember why we all love this sport so much; keep it safe so we can all still enjoy it. Most importantly, travel!
BRAZIL
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close up Karolina recently won the woman’s freestyle division at the PKRA tour stop in New Caledonia. Photo Kuba Winkowska
tips
Karolina Winkowska Age: 20 Height: 5’6” Weight: 123 lbs. Years kiting: 6 Favorite Spot: Muizenberg in Cape Town Favorite Conditions: Flat water and wind for my 7m kite Favorite Moves: Low Front Mobe and Low Back Mobe
• Once you’re in the air, don’t panic. • Go full power! • C hoose good equipment and then tricks are easy to do!
GEAR SETUP By Paul Lang
Boards: Balance Boards 131 Team Kites: Slingshot Fuel and RPM Harness: Slingshot
Karolina grew up in Poland far from the beach, but thanks to windsurfing parents she learned to windsurf at a young age and took many trips to the ocean. When she was just 13 she tried kiteboarding for the first time with her dad, who attached her to a rope so she wouldn’t fly away. Now Karolina is 20 and travels the globe on the PKRA circuit, where she is currently ranked second in woman’s freestyle. Where did you start kiteboarding? I started in 2004 in Poland because kitesurfing is an awesome sport. At the time it was also new in Poland, which made it even more exciting. At the beginning I didn’t enjoy it so much because there were not many kitesurfers in the water and all my friends were windsurfers. Even so, very quickly I became a kite addict. What riders inspire you? Good riders inspire me. There are so many of them: Youri, Andy, Ruben, Aaron, Alex, Victor, plus I love to watch everybody who is ripping on the water, so my list never ends. What features do you most appreciate about your current gear? I love my gear right now. There is nothing that I would change with it. My board is made for me so it’s perfect. My kites have everything that I wish to have in a kite. They have a C-kite shape and when I’m trying to pass the bar behind my back it’s just super easy as there is very little pressure on the bar. 3 2 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
What do you think about the current state of competitions? What do you think about the racing element becoming a larger part of PKRA events? I’m happy with my season so far as I’ve had loads of good heats this year. I’m very happy with the PKRA tour as a lot of things changed since last year when we joined the IKA organization. Because the PKRA is for the riders and by the riders we really can speak up and change rules and things we don’t agree with like the judging criteria, point system, and much more. Racing is just another discipline for me and is entertainment for spectators when the wind is light. I don’t know if racing is popular as the equipment is expensive and traveling with it is even worse. To be honest I don’t know any person who owns equipment for racing who is not a sponsored competitor. What do you do off the water to help you on the water? I love to surf so I travel to the places where I can surf and kite in the same day. Cape Town and Tarifa are perfect for this. When I’m at home in Poland and there are no waves or wind, then I do other stuff like cross-country skiing in winter or bicycling in summer. I also go wakeboarding, but not too often. What are you currently working on out on the water? Switch tricks, which are a real nightmare for me. I learn how to do tricks on my regular side and once I try them switch it usually doesn’t work out very well. Right now I feel like I did a few years ago, trying
moves, crashing, and cursing. But I’m not going to give up because I know it’ll come, even if I have to try a trick a million times. What is your scariest kiteboarding experience? Last year one of my lines snapped during 40 knots of onshore wind. I can say that I was SUPER lucky that day. Nothing serious happened to me because my kite tangled around a bush and stopped pulling me. Where is your favorite place to kite? Muizenberg, in Cape Town. There is wind everyday and only a few people on the water. Plus the water is super flat between the waves. I’ve been there every winter for the last four years and can’t wait to go there again this winter! What is your most memorable kiteboarding experience? It‘s hard to say because I kite every day and each day I have great experiences. Some are nice like kiting in New Caledonia where the water is transparent, there are no crowds, and I can kite in a bikini. But the most memorable days are always the bad ones. Seeing a shark, snapping a line, or the extreme cold in Argentina are all pretty memorable. What are your must haves that you can’t live without? The ocean, wind, and waves. Any words of wisdom you want to share with our readers? Have fun, enjoy, and read my blog: http://karolinawinkowska.wordpress.com
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NPX’s Josh Noe adds a little spice to his launch.
With a water temperature of 75°, there is no need for a wetsuit in St. Martin. Photo courtesy Wind-Adventures
St. Martin: The Pearl of the Caribbean By Emmanuel Demanez/velakitesurf.com
Just 186 miles from Puerto Rico, St. Martin is the smallest island in the world to have been partitioned between two nations, France and the Netherlands. The French side, where the majority of kite spots are located, tends to emphasize comfort and elegance. The beaches are secluded, the luxury resorts provide lavish accommodations, and the restaurants offer the finest dining experiences anywhere in the Caribbean. Known for its dry climate and sunny weather, St. Martin offers 36 beaches with warm, tropical turquoise water and white sandy shores to explore.
What is the official site name? Orient Bay in St. Martin is a 2.5 mile long bay and offers a wide playground for everybody. What is the best time of the year to hit this spot? From December through the end of July (light wind in May, best swell in June and July). What is average wind speed and what kind of conditions should I expect? Morning is typically the best time to ride when the wind blows a consistent 13 to 15 knots. It dies down a bit toward noon before picking up again mid-afternoon. Orient Bay offers a variety of conditions from flat water lagoons to wave riding on the reef and wind swell outside of the bay. What is the usual wind direction and average air and water temperatures? Our prevailing wind direction is east. The air is typically 85° and the water 75° so pack light! 3 4 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
How do I get there? Will I need a car? As a worldwide destination, there are many flights available from North America to St. Martin’s Juliana International Airport (SXM). Taxis take roughly 35 minutes and cost about $40 to reach Orient Bay. Public buses are available (stop outside of town) and are only $2 to go to Marigot or Philipsburg for duty free shopping and casinos. Renting a car is the best way to visit the island and one day is typically enough to check out loads of spots on the island. You can rent cars right from your hotel or the center for about $30-$40 per day. What gear should I be sure to pack? Typical kite sizes used are 10 to 14m. Bring good sunscreen and a rash guard for sun protection. What conditions should I avoid? We’re in the tropics so know your weather and avoid gales and stormy conditions. What is the launch/landing like? The launch and land area is in front of Vela St. Martin, between the Kontiki and Kakao restaurants (between blue and red umbrellas). The dedicated launching area is pretty narrow. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from the Vela team; they will be happy to help. Be careful at the umbrellas around and swimmers when reaching the dedicated kite area (outside of the yellow buoys).
In St. Martin, you can spend the whole day kiting over beautifully clear water and then hit the town at night. Photo courtesy Wind Adventures
What are some of the best places to eat nearby? During the day there are many great beach restaurants to try: Kakao (best T-bone, $25), Kontiki, or Orange Fever (best pizzas, $11). At night, you also have many options in Orient Bay Village: Le Piment (special every day, $20 average meal) and for a treat, try the fine French cuisine at Astrolable ($55 average, including lobster). Who are the local schools and shops? At the moment there is only Vela St. Martin (Orient beach, www.velakitesurf.com) and Surface (surf shop in Marigot), but another school/kite center is supposed to open next winter. St. Martin is also duty free, so kites typically cost about 20% less when compared to prices in the US.
Drift launching from the Marina dock.
Where should I stay? Budget: L’Hoste Hotel: L’Hoste Hotel is right along the beachfront of Orient Bay. This is high-quality budget accommodation in Orient Bay, good for singles or a couple, beachfront with a nice swimming pool located a two minute walk from the center. Average Nightly Rate for Double Occupancy: $175 Moderate: La Plantation Hotel: All accommodations boast large patios and balconies overlooking Orient Bay while upper level units provide panoramic views of the bay and surrounding islands. This is a perfect hotel for families with a nice restaurant, relaxing bar, and swimming pool surrounded within tropical grounds, all just a short six minute walk from the center. Average Nightly Rate for Double Occupancy: $208
Susi Mai gets in a little time above Orient Bay. Photo Rachel Hastilow
Luxury: Alamanda Concorde Hotel: When you want the best, Hotel Alamanda Resort is set just a few steps from the soft white sands of Orient Beach and 50 yards from the kite center. The spacious rooms and suites are scattered throughout the lush gardens of this intimate beach resort. An idyllic St. Martin resort, perfect for couples and families with all the facilities you could need, including well-equipped kitchenettes in each room to provide a convenient alternative to dining out. Average Nightly Rate for Double Occupancy: $280 What is the nightlife like? St. Martin is a Caribbean Mecca for nightlife; everyday there is a party somewhere! What else is there to do if I get skunked? St. Martin is a small island, so it’s easy to organize last minute activities including watersports (sailing, sea kayaking, or snorkeling around Orient Bay; surfing, SUP, or boat excursions to Anguilla and St. Barthelemy), duty free shopping in Philipsburg and Marigot, and eco-trips (Lottery and Butterfly farms and Pinel Island to name a few). Is there anything else I need to know about riding this spot? Orient Bay is only for advanced kiters, as the kiting area is 250 feet from the beach, outside of the swimming area. Kiters need to ride upwind to reach the kiting area (outside the yellow marks). Beginners can ride in the lagoon or at Le Galion, a short five minute walk via a coastal track from the Club Orient end of Orient Beach. Are there any safety issues or rules I need to know about? Please respect the kiting area (no jumping or riding in the swimming area).
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The epically long downwinders gave everyone on the trip the chance to explore the Brazilian coastline.
Banana Hammocks
and Caipirinhas:
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!
the Bay Area kitesurf crew heads to brazil
By Kurt Friedmann | Photos Jason Brooks
With Brazilian visas in hand while slogging seven 50-pound board bags loaded with 2011 F-One test gear, we confidently marched up to the American Airlines check-in counter, praying to avoid a possible $150 per board baggage fee. After all, with seven surfboards and four twin tips in tow, escaping the oversized luggage fee would buy us a hell of a lot of beers and caipirinhas, a local mind-bending cane-sugar concoction, once we hit the Brazilian coastline. We all wore our most charming smiles and did our best to schmooze the agents at the counter and all seven bags were checked through to our destination -$600 later. Maybe we’re not as charming as we thought… On kite trips, sometimes you get lucky with wind and sometimes you don’t. From June to December, 98% of the days in northeastern Brazil have 15+ knot winds, so we knew from the start that no luck was necessary for “kite-‘till-it-hurt” riding every day of the trip. As for the beers and caipirinhas, well, let’s just say that we were going to have to pony up a little more cash than originally anticipated after the big hit at the luggage counter. Our mission for this trip was simple: Test F-One’s 2011 line of kites and boards, enjoy the unbelievable beauty and splendor of Brazil’s northeast coastline, kite our brains out, and have the time of our lives. Sponsored by Bay Area Kitesurf (the North American distributor for F-One Kiteboarding) and Kite Adventures Brazil, the trip was a 10-day guided adventure to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Epic 30-mile downwinders, bathtub-warm water, 18-30 knot wind, amazing friends, and Brazil’s incredible food and lifestyle all promised to make this trip the kiteboarding adventure of a lifetime. Sure, we had to test brand new gear in perfect kiting conditions, but it can’t be all play, can it? It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.
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The Location Although getting to Brazil takes a good amount of time, when some of the best kiting in the world is up for grabs, it’s a journey that is well worth the effort. Our starting destination was the small beach town of Cumbuco near Fortaleza, in Brazil’s northeastern state of Ceara. Charming, warm, friendly, and beautiful, Ceara and its people remain quite rustic and down-to-earth in comparison to the wealthy regions of southern Brazil that have recently seen rapid and astonishing economic growth. Today, one new millionaire is created every ten minutes in Brazil, a faster rate than India or Russia. However, that new wealth appears to have eluded many of the locals in the beach areas of Ceara, who still depend on an influx of foreign windsurfers, kiteboarders, and beach-going tourists to bolster their regional economy. As for the lifestyle in northeastern Brazil, it’s relaxed and unassuming. The locals are extremely friendly and are eager to share the many gifts that the region has to offer when treated with mutual respect. It’s no secret that Brazilians love to party and enjoy life. On any given Saturday night, young people will trek to Cumbuco from all over the region to participate in Festas, non-stop parties that begin around nine in the evening and don’t stop until 10 the next morning. Relax and enjoy, as it’s easy to blend into the lifestyle in Brazil. No party would be complete without incredible food. As the world’s largest producer of both beef and poultry and a major producer of almost every other farm product imaginable, the array of food choices in Brazil is endless. Travelling to Brazil without taking the effort to enjoy its culinary diversity would be as large a mistake as traveling there without kite gear. Brazilian cuisine takes the best of Asian, European, and Middle-Eastern cooking styles and blends them with native food ingredients. From the amazing churrascarias (Portuguese steakhouses) to incredible fresh seafood restaurants and delicious bowls of açaí (made of frozen and mashed açaí palm fruit), you won’t go hungry in Brazil. Northeastern Brazil is also a true kiteboarder melting pot. It’s impossible to miss the mélange of different languages and accents of kiters from across the globe that come to explore the area’s expansive and magnificent coastline. Intermingled alongside local Brazilians, a host of Italian, French, German, and American entrepreneurs have established many restaurants, bars, kite schools, and pousadas (bed and breakfast) to serve the needs of the area’s kiting community. It’s not uncommon to see kiting gear and supplies sold at the local gas station or hotel – evidence that kiting has truly permeated the local economy. Kiters of every skill level can be found along Ceara’s coastline, but it’s the groms ripping up the Cauipe and Taiba lagoons that set the standard by which the tourist kiters are judged. Local squids as young as 10 ride any kite they can get their hands on and their skills develop quickly given that they have all day every day to practice. Confident and friendly, they put on a great show for Jason, our cameraman and were expert and eager testers for the new 2011 gear we had with us. Exposed long ago as a wind-enthusiast’s Mecca, Brazil can hardly be called undiscovered. As such, it would be easy to assume that Brazil is a massive kitemare of people all running into each other for lack of space. Not so. With nearly 370 miles of kitable coastline in the Ceara region alone and relentless side-on winds nuking across all of it, it’s often easy to head downwind for miles without seeing another kiter. But make no mistake, if you hit one of the many flat-water lagoons on a busy Saturday afternoon and decide to throw a Blind Judge without paying attention, you’re probably going to tangle with a crew of pissed-off Brazilians and enjoy a nice trip to the hack shack. With its combination of insane downwinders, fresh-water lagoons, and fun waist-high waves, Brazil has something to offer to just about every kiter, from beginner to seasoned pro (the Cauipe lagoon had plenty of pros training for the Argentinean PKRA stop). Pack light if you come to northeastern Brazil, because the water and air temperature are idyllically warm and the humidity is barely noticeable. So grab your gear, talk a few friends into coming along or go it alone, and get ready to have the kite adventure of your life. thek i teboa rde r. com 3 7
The Journey Expertly mapped out by our guide, Roberto Duarte from Kite Adventures Brazil (www.kiteadventures. com), our weeklong journey took us through some of the best kite spots in the Ceara region. The advantage of going with an outfit like Kite Adventures is that all you have to do is kite. Everything else is taken care of, and then some! Each morning, Roberto and his crew would roll up in two badass Land Rover Defenders and sling our extra gear onto the roof racks. After a gut-filling breakfast, our crew would head into the water for a 10-40 mile downwinder as the Defenders followed us on the beach. After a few hours of morning kiting, we’d land our kites at a beachside restaurant for lunch, fill ourselves with some awesome grub, and then kite to the next town. Everywhere we went, the flat-water lagoons were like butter and the beach-break waves were endless. You can literally kite here from sunrise to sunset EVERYDAY! If you go to Brazil to kite, check out the following kite spots, restaurants, and pasoudas. You won’t be disappointed.
Cumbuco
Divided into three beach areas, Cumbuco has something for everyone. Start 6 miles upwind in Tabuba and kite down to the village of Cumbuco. Then it’s another 5 miles downwind to Cauipe Lagoon, which is a fresh-water lagoon fed by a small tributary river. Here the lagoon is separated from the sea by a small stretch of sand and is a heavenly place to kite. Sleep: Hotel Golfino (www.hotelgolfinho.com.br), Sunset Beach (www.villacumbuco.com) Eat: Churrascaria Gaucho (a fantastic Portuguese steakhouse), Genaro’s (pizza), Sabor da Praia (lobster, shrimp, and fish), and Cauipe Beachbar (great grub and drinks) Party: La Orange Mechanica and Pacana
Paracuru
A 25-mile downwinder from Cumbuco, Paracuru is a kitesurfer’s paradise due to its perfect wind and respectable waves. There are also excellent dunes for sandboarding if you want to take a break from kiting for a few hours. Paracuru has 10 miles of coastline with beautiful beaches that go from the fishing village at the delta of the Sao Gonçalo River past dunes, cliffs, calm bays, and reefs with natural pools all the way up to the mangrove swamps at the mouth of the Curu River. Sleep: Pousada Paracuru (www.pousada-paracuru.com) Eat: Quebra Mar (great for lunch), Formula One (awesome French food, try the escargot) Party: Mystico (www.mysticobar.com)
Lagoinha
Sitting majestically atop a massive cliff and overlooking a pristine bay, Lagoinha is a perfect place to launch a 12-mile downwinder to the next town of Flexeiras. Beware of rocks just north of the bay, and then it’s 2 miles to a spectacular tidal lagoon called Lagoa Do Jegue. After another 3 miles there is lagoon called Barra Do Trairi, where at high tide you can kite directly from the sea to the lagoon, which is butter flat. Near the end of the downwinder, beware of fish traps and sticks. Sleep: Poso Do Kite Eat: Nono (amazing grilled fish with fruit passion sauce!) Party: Nono 3 8 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
Flexeiras
We woke up early and went sandboarding before setting out on another epic 25-mile downwinder to Icaraisinho. Protected by an extended reef, Flexeiras is a perfect place to launch. This amazing downwinder concludes in Icaraisinho, where you can get out just before the towering windmills. Stay at Villa Mango for a truly amazing eco-lodge experience. Sleep: Villa Mango in Icaraisinho Eat: Agua de Cocoa in Icaraisinho (fantastic risotto) Party: Ughhh…too tired!
Prea
We drove down a bumpy dirt road a few hours to Prea from Icaraisinho and stopped for lunch at the only restaurant right on the beach, Rancho Do Peixe. After some amazing grilled ham, cheese, and tomato sandwiches accompanied by a cool bowl of
açaí, we launched another incredible downwinder all the way to Jeri. Sleep: Rancho Do Peixe (www.ranchodopeixe.com.br) Eat: Rancho Do Peixe (yummy sandwiches and açaí) Party: Rancho Do Peixe – why leave?
Jericoacoara
A cool little dirt-street hippie village, Jeri is a great place to chill after downwinding every day for a week. It’s an ideal spot to launch a small downwinder to the Guriu river mouth and then relax on the nearby sand dunes to watch a spectacular sunset. With amazing food, a great nightlife scene, and mind-blowing wind, Jeri is a difficult place to leave. Sleep: Naquela (www.naquela.com.br) Eat: Tamarindo, Sabor Da Terra Party: End of Main Street (Rua Principal) by the beach
Alberto Duarte hangs on one of the Kite Adventures Land Rovers somewhere between Cumbuco and Paracuru.
The local riders were stoked to get a chance to help test the brand new 2011 F-One gear.
Cavian Cav tackles the sand dune at Flexeiras.
thek i teboarde r. com 3 9
The crew Half of the fun of kiting is enjoying time in and out of the water with your friends. After all, it wouldn’t be right if your broham wasn’t there to refresh your memory that the 10’ strapless air you thought you nailed was really only a 2’ chop hop. It didn’t take long into our 10-day trip for the individual personalities to come alive. This trip to Brazil wouldn’t have been the same without the lunacy of the following cast of characters:
Nico “Jagi” Osterman: Co-founder and
President of Bay Area Kitesurf, the F-One distributor for the United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, and Peru, this brazen Frenchy loves good escargot and is willing to walk into anyone’s kitchen to get it. Don’t kite downwind of Nico…just take my word for it.
Frank “Mr. Caipirinha” Long: Frank discovered a new kind of anesthesia in Brazil that they don’t manufacture back home in Tampa, FL. It’s called the Caipirinha, and it erases all memories, but does have some painful side effects.
Alberto “Wassup” Duarte: A cross between Dean Martin and Wile E. Coyote, Alberto is co-owner and tour guide extraordinaire of Kite Adventures Brazil. Alberto knows EVERYONE in Brazil and if you need it, he can get it. Don’t go to Brazil without him!
Cavian “The Wanderer” Cav: The pride and joy of 3rd Ave., Cavian is a sis who can endure a 10-day kite trip with eight stinky guys and still keep her sanity. No wonder she was always wandering off without us.
Bruce “Mankini” Johnson: Co-founder of
comforting to have an ER doc in the crew in case something goes wrong. This time, Ryan’s leg was rudely introduced to a rock that was hiding just below the water’s surface. He self-stitched the gash
Bay Area Kitesurf, Bruce is not the kind of guy you want to dare to kite a 25 mile downwinder in a banana hammock ‘cause he’ll actually do it!
Ryan “Stitchmaster” Lamb: It’s always
Despite having to test new gear in perfect conditions for more than a week, the crew still managed to have a good time.
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in his leg right there at the water’s edge without anesthesia or caipirinhas!
Jason “Shooter” Brooks: A resident of Brazil and Mexico, Jason was our professional photographer for the trip. I’m sure we would all have bigger lies to tell if not for Jason’s watchful lens recording our every move. Brian “Krill” Friedmann: An
F-One Americas Team Rider, Brian may suck at foosball, but he knows how to pull off sick strapless backrolls for the camera at just the right moment.
Kurt “Wannabe” Friedmann:
I was along to document the trip, wishing I could pull off sick moves like my little brother.
Although Brazil has been known as a wind destination for a long time, with nearly 370 miles of ridable coastline in the Ceara region alone there’s no shortage of room.
The gear One of our main goals of the trip was to evaluate the 2011 line of kites and boards from F-One. With plenty of wind raging across Ceara’s coastline from sunrise to sunset, we had just the right conditions to put the gear to the test. Here’s a few of our test notes:
Bandit IV: Stability, control, and direct drive are a few of the features that caught our attention. Freestyle riders noticed the square tips and different positioning of the back lines and were impressed with the controlled power during kite loops and stability during unhooked moves. Bamboo Surfboards: With seven boards to choose from on this trip it seemed like we had a board for every condition. The Surf models allow for longer drawn out turns and work well in larger surf or as an everyday board for bigger riders. The Signature series are offered in a rounded pin tail with double concave bottom which allows good drive down the line and tight turns. The overall volume is significantly less than the Surf series and these boards perform well in steep, fast waves strapped or strapless. The Fish models with their flat bottom and wide outline are fabulous in small surf or light wind conditions as they get up and plane quickly. These are way fun for the small stuff. Twin Tips: The Sk8 and the TX are basically the same boards as in 2010, only the graphics have changed and all the twin tips are now equipped with the new Unibox fin system. The Sk8 is the carving board and is an F-One classic. The TX is the best all around board and does everything well. Now equipped with the carbon cross and a new double concave shape, the Acid gives you all the confidence in the world to go big. It’s very smooth, the pop is crazy, and landings are unbelievable. The new Trax is a sweet evolution of the 2010 version, which has been the F-One best seller for years. The 2011 version feels very similar to the 2010, fast, precise, extremely comfortable, and maybe more accessible with more carving ability. Brazil’s coastline allows you to ride downwind all day to the next town, eat good food, sleep, and then do it all over again the next day.
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La Ventana Classic and KiteXpo 2011 Schedule of Events
JANUARY 17-20:
DAY TRIPS AND CLINICS: Surf/Strapless Clinic at Coast by Brendan Richards/Caution Kites and Mark2Dog/Baja Joes: Head to the coast and experience a different part of Baja just two hours away from La Ventana. Get tips to help you in the surf and your strapless board skills, plus try out demo gear from Caution and North. If forecast is not good for any day between January 17-19, the clinic will be held somewhere in La Ventana with ‘extras’ to make good for not going to coast. Cost is $103. Minimum 4 people, maximum 12 people. Price includes transportation, snack bar food, and drinks. All Day Girls Clinic at Isla Cerralvo with Laura Maher/Slingshot and Marie Leclerc/Baja Joes/North: Girls of all levels are welcome but if you can’t go upwind, you have to return in one of the boats! Spend a day at Isla Cerralvo, the starting point of the 11.5 mile crossing. At the end you’ll do a dry run of the crossing and finish the day with Happy Hour at Baja Joe’s. Get tips from the pros and try out the new 2011 gear from Slingshot and North. Cost is $103. Minimum 4 people. Price includes transportation, snack bar food, and drinks.. This trip was fully booked last year so if you want to participate, book early! Clinic will specifically fund uniforms and equipment for equipment for girls’ volleyball and soccer teams at the local Jr. High School. Two-Day Race Clinic with Andrew and Adam Koch (www. teamfluid.com): Learn to race or improve your game. This clinic is taught by Adam Koch, current racing World Champion and his brother Andrew. This clinic will be all about racing. Any questions? Cost is $203. Minimum 4 people, maximum 12 people. SUP Surf Clinic: Learn the basics of stand up paddle surfing. For riders already comfortable paddling flat water. Travel to the Pacific side of Baja and learn wave riding techniques, whitewater management skills, and how to use the paddle to crank turns. Includes board, paddle, transport, lunch and refreshments, and great individual coaching. Cost is $103. SUP Race Clinic: Learn the basics of stand up paddle racing. Want to tune up before the Paddle Royale? Come and learn from the man who has won it two years in a row — Mark Fields aka “KIWI” from Imperial Beach, CA. Stroke techniques, endurance training, pacing, start strategies, reading the wind and waves, stories from the CA race circuit, and more, plus actual practice races will be held 7:30a to 12:30p and includes board, paddle, instruction, and refreshments. Cost is $73.
Intro to SUP Clinic - new to the sport? Want to paddle flat water and learn the five basic turns, stroke technique, and try a variety of boards? This is the clinic for you! Three hours of Instruction and practice. Includes a wide variety of boards and paddles to try, wetsuit, great instruction from Paddlesurf.net ‘s expert team, tips on gear selection, refreshments, and fun! Cost is $53 USD per person. All clinics are weather dependent. For the latest info, go to the clinic section at www.laventanaclassicbaja.com. Clinic locations, dates, and meeting times will be based on the weather forecast and will be posted no later than the evening of Saturday, January 15.
JANUARY 20-24: THE MAIN EVENT!
Get ready for our 12 mile island crossing race, course racing, freestyle contest, Paddle Royale - SUP races including a 12 mile island crossing challenge, biggest KiteXpo ever with tons of gear to test, food, bands, parties every night, and fun—all in the name of raising money for the local schools in La Ventana! Important riders’ meeting Wednesday, January 19, at 7 pm at Palapas Ventana Restaurant. Competition dates and times will be set at the riders’ meeting based on forecast. Participating demo exhibitors: Airush – Best – Caution – Dakine – F-One – Isle Surfboards (SUP) Mystic – Naish – Ocean Rodeo – Ozone – RRD Slingshot – Underground – Wainman Hawaii Free Beach Clinics: Look on the big board at registration for clinic days and locations. These are condensed versions of the early week clinics and take place on the beach at the event. Raffle: Tons of swag will be given away daily! You do not have to be present to win except on the final day. Kites, boards, harnesses, SUP boards, paddles, board bags, cool apparel, gift certificates to local eateries/hotels, and more are up for grabs. Tickets are only $1 each and help out the schools!
Complete and daily updated information at www.laventanaclassicbaja.com
Community Service Project Tuesday, January 18 Meet at 9 am in front of the police station or meet in front of Palapas Ventana for a ride to the all hands community service project. This is a great way to meet the locals and enjoy a great lunch while helping out the town!
THE BEST OF BAJA
Guide to BajaBusinesses: LA VENTANA
DOWNWINDER INN: The newest property in La Ventana, owners
Wayde and Char Yates invite you to experience their piece of paradise with six rooms in a garden setting conveniently located near great beach launches. Each room has a queen bed, storage shelves, personal refrigerator, coffee maker, and complete bathrooms with hot showers for $65/night, double occupancy. Roof tops are available for relaxation and eye candy to enjoy the fabulous sunrises, sunsets, or just star gazing like you have never seen. A spacious outdoor community dining area provides all necessary items from the quick breakfast to a sit-down relaxing dinner. Free downwinder shuttle service available as well as wifi internet. www.downwinderinn.com
PALAPAS VENTANA: Founders of the La Ventana Classic Race, owners Tim and Jimena Hatler’s property is located upwind of the main riding area where waves often break when there’s swell or a strong El Norte. You’ll know you’re at the property when you see the palapa roofs of their quaint casitas with large porches, each overlooking the Sea of Cortez and Cerralvo Island. Lodging includes authentic home-cooked meals (breakfast/lunch) served at the convenient restaurant/bar located just above the launch area or stop in for a killer espresso and wifi. With a central location to riding, area markets, and restaurants, Palapas Ventana’s warm atmosphere will make you feel like you have a home away from home. Sport fishing, diving excursions, and day trips to the island are also available. www.palapasventana.com VENTANA BAY RESORT: Located halfway between the main town
and the hot springs, Ventana Bay Resort offers you a choice of accommodations from beachfront rooms to private bungalows nestled in the beautiful desert landscape. Their on-site private restaurant serves delicious and healthy meals. Guests can keep to themselves on their private patio or join other guests for a cocktail at the clubhouse overlooking the bay. The Resort also offers lessons for all levels with all of the latest windsurfing and kiteboarding equipment along with a sports package with mountain biking, snorkeling, and kayaking equipment. www.ventanabay.com
VENTANA WINDSPORTS: In the middle of the action but seemingly a
world apart, Ventana Windsports offers a casual laid back atmosphere in an intimate setting with super comfortable rooms. With a large launch/land are directly in front of the property and a 2,000 gallon hot tub for soaking after your session, you’ll also enjoy healthy gourmet meals (included in accommodations), thick futons, feather beds, and fine bedding and furnishings, along with plenty of hammocks and lounge chairs for your “Baja Deluxe” holiday. Lodging also includes wifi and use of sports gear (SUP boards, kayaks, bikes). www.ventanawindsports.com
ELEVATION KITEBOARDING: Elevation Kiteboarding is headed by
Marie Leclerc and Mark Bavis. Marie, the reigning queen of the La Ventana Classic Race, and Mark, the strapless king of the beach, have been pioneering the sport on the west coast since 2002. Based out of Baja Joe’s in La Ventana in the winter and Nitinat in Canada in the summer, the school provides lessons for all levels using the most advanced teaching techniques. From radio assisted lessons with the latest waterproof radio helmet systems to watercraft assisted lessons, Elevation caters to all levels of riders and also offers girls camps, lessons for kids, island trips, downwinders, and more. www.elevationkiteboarding.com
ARUBA BAJA MAUI COCHE JERICOACOARA PUNTA SAN CARLOS CABARETE LOS ROQUES MARGARITA ICARAIZINHO HOOD RIVER NEW!
HIHO Surfari ST MARTIN BELIZE
2011 S E A S ON
COOL PLACES
FRIENDLY FACES
PRO INSTRUCTION
GREAT GEAR
TRACY KRAFT
THE PERFECT SPOTS FOR ANY SKILL LEVEL Powered by
CALL NOW! 1-800-223-5443 www.velakitesurf.com
email: info@velakitesurf.com
baja businesses continued
LOS BARRILES VELA/DARE2FLY: Vela/Dare2Fly has been creating and perfecting the windsports resort experience for nearly 25 years. Whether you are looking for long tropical beaches with reliable side-shore winds, perfect flat water, or good surf breaks, Vela offers stand alone lessons or packages with gear, lessons, and lodging options at many locations around the world. Check out their website for their full offering of destinations with wind reports from their center managers, videos, and feedback from other travelers to give you a sense of what to expect. www.dare2fly.com or www.velawindsurf.com KITEBOARDING BAJA: An IKO school based in Los Barriles, just
45 minutes outside of Cabo San Lucas, Baja Kiteboarding offers radio helmet lessons in a private or group setting with boat support. Stocked with the latest gear from Cabrinha, you can also take guided day trips to nearby riding spots and find the right place for your style and budget. www.kiteboardingbaja.com
EXOTIKITE: ExotiKite Kiteboarding School has been teaching kiteboarding in Los Barriles since 1998. An IKO certified and insured school on the East Cape boasting professional and experienced instructors, jet ski lessons and rescue, radio helmet instruction, and a guaranteed safe, successful, and enjoyable learning experience, they operate year round offering kiteboarding lessons, advanced wave riding and trick clinics, rentals, SUP tours and rentals, snorkeling, surfing, kayaking, and accommodations. Visit their new store after November 20 next to Smokey’s Cantina or their school one mile north of town at kitebeach. www.exotikite.com
“...It’s a few notches above the rest in terms of the meals, the accommodations and the whole casual but deluxe vibe.” “For beginners, this is the ultimate learning spot. And the hot tub rules.” “At Ventana Windsports, we stayed right ON the beach, and wow is the food good. What a relaxing and windy trip! We’ll be back to kiters’ paradise!”
Ventana Windsports www.VentanaWindsports.com
S M O OT H ST U FF Sam Medysky, featured on the cover of this issue, finds a little bit of flat water to play in. Photo Gavin Butler
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HO M E F IE LD A D V ANTAGE Bertrand Fleury just recently finished building a home in Indo with girlfriend Tuva Jansen, and this is the break in front of their house. Photo courtesy Wainman Hawaii
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TR AV EL ING MAN It seems like every time we hear from Tom Court he’s in a completely different part of the world. Here’s Tom is in Cabarete, doing his best impersonation of a body builder. Photo Adam Koch
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UNDER R ATED Kelly Strachan, one of the most underrated female riders on the west coast finishes another windy session in the cold waters of Waddell. Photo David DeVries 5 4 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
CO L D W ATER So you think the water is cold at your spot right now? Marc Ramseier snowkites over a small pond that’s only a degree or so above freezing. Photo Marc Weiler thek i teboa rde r. com 5 5
BEST KITEBOARDING
Nemesis HP V3
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New Products to check out
A high aspect kite designed for aggressive intermediate to expert riders, this package includes industry “zero-stretch” Cuben Fiber material and patented Twister TechTM LE construction. It is an SLE kite with a blend of efficient lift to drag ratio and responsive handling. The canopy has a new higher tear strength for improved impact resistance and maintains a nice crispy feel even after lots of use. The Nemesis is an excellent choice for aggressive freestyle and big air old school riders. Sizes: 6m, 8m, 10m, 12m Colors: Assorted MSRP: TBD www.bestkiteboarding.com
CAUTION
2011 Spitfire Control Bar
Caution has taken the 2011 Spitfire Control Bar up another notch in performance, functionality, and durability and went one step further by integrating a low friction stainless insert into its adjustable-length bar. The new stainless insert reduces trim line wear and offers a larger diameter for smooth and effortless sheeting. The 2011 control bar’s safety line is routed through the center of the quick release which reduces friction when the quick release is activated and makes the depower system setup much cleaner.
DAKINE Kite Compression 4-Bag Set
Replace your heavier stock kite bags with this four bag multi-sized set and lighten your travel load. These lightweight nylon bags are color coded and feature a high visibility location for marking kite size, making it easy to quickly identify the kite you need. Each bag features four cinch straps for kite compression, making it possible to fit a quiver of kites into your travel bag. Sizes: S, M, L, XL COLORS: Includes one each of black, blue, charcoal, and red MSRP: $60 www.dakine.com
SIZES: Adjustable length (47-56 cm) MSRP: $399 www.cautionkites.com/kites/2011bar/
DRAGON PEARL
ENERGY DRINK
If you drink energy shots, try theine instead of caffeine. Natural theine in green tea provides energy without the anxiety and jitters that tend to go with energy shots made with chemical caffeine. Super Natural Energy shots from potent whole green tea leaves are freshbrewed into a powerful concentrate. Instead of sweeteners, Dragon Pearl uses a full serving of fruit for a powerful antioxidant energy shot that makes you feel stronger every day. Produced in California, Dragon Pearl green tea energy shots are available at Whole Foods and other fine food stores. MSRP: $3.50/3 oz. bottle. Cases available online. www.dragonpearltea.com 5 6 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
ELEMENTAL HERBS
Sunstick
This product is a totally new formula for sun protection. Use it for the face, nose, ears, and more. The EE Sunstick has a broad range of UVA/UVB protection. In addition to the power-packed protection of zinc which goes on clear, the formula also includes a host of rich skin-saving certified organic oils, including jojoba, coconut, and avocado. Tested and approved by professional surfers and kiters, the sunscreen is chemical-free and coral reef safe. Providing hassle-free application, the Sunstick is an ideal year-round product for everyone from kitesurfers to skiers who want serious coverage without the mess. SIZES: 6 oz. MSRP: $7.99 www.elementalherbs.com
MYSTIC 2011 Mystic Shadow Youri Zoon Signature Model
After its success in 2010, the Mystic Shadow returns in 2011 with a whole new look and features. The ultra light construction continues, but for 2011 Mystic has a new spreader bar/knife/pad system and also includes a safety leash on the back of the harness. Top PKRA rider Youri Zoon tested his own harness, and added a bit more softness around the edges of it as well his own new signature colors and look. The Mystic Shadow waist harness features ultra light materials with performance and comfort in mind. Aggressively cut outline creates more support and range of motion. SIZES: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL Colors: Black/white, black/white/blue MSRP: $229.95 www.mysticboarding.com
F-ONE fish
The Fish models have flat bottoms and wide outlines. They work best in small surf or lighter wind conditions. All models hold an edge when the surf gets large but they really shine in small waves regardless of the surf shape. The 5’6” works well for larger riders that want to ride strapless and experience a skatey feel on a surfboard. This board also works really well with straps on it for any size rider and quickly responds to rider input. The 5’2” and 5’4” turn rail to rail quickly. All sizes turn tight and you will find that the Fish will get you out of a late hit to the lip with ease. The 5’2” is slightly looser than the 5’4” but both still feel fairly stable overall. SIZES: 5’2”, 5’4”, 5’6” MSRP: $949 www.f-onekites.us and www.f-onekites.com
ULTRA NECTAR
Underground Crypt
Underground molded everything they’ve learned about performance twin tips into this ultra-high-end electrifying ride designed for advanced riders. The incredibly light, exaggerated 3D shape with a sleek 100% carbon weave exterior and silky smooth dynamic tip-flex combine to produce a muscular new breed that operates in a rarefied atmosphere of its own. Hit the water with this superior performer and you’ll experience massive acceleration and boosting capabilities with dynamic handling to go with its devilish good looks. The new Crypt also features a distinctive triple spine/quad concave, new seamless polyurethane rails, new pads and straps, and 56, 60, and 64cm stance options that will satisfy the demands of professional competitors and core riders alike. SIZES: 132x40cm, 135x42cm MSRP: $999 www.undergroundkiteboards.com
SNOWKITE JACKET
As the original kiteboarding and snowkiting apparel company, UltraNectar has created a limited edition snowkite jacket for the 2010/11 season. These jackets are made in Oakland, California, under the watchful eye of Chip Wasson. The new UN jacket allows the rider to wear his or her harness under the jacket for maximum freedom while riding. This jacket is exceedingly well thought out with numerous snowkite-specific details. UN has made only 20 pieces in 15 different colors so if you want one, get it fast or you may be out of luck. SIZES: M, L, and XL Colors: Assorted MSRP: TBD www.ultranectar.com
kitehero Kitehero Line Mount
The 2011 Kitehero Line Mount is designed to support the GoPro and GoPro HD family of cameras. The updated design helps keep photos and videos free from obstruction without interfering with your riding. The new angled line arms prevent camera loss by keeping tension on either 4 or 5 line setups. This line mount is a clean and simple. SIZES: HD or non-HD GoPros colors: Black nylon MSRP: $44.95 www.kitehero.com
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#1Caribbean Kite
• Turn-Key Operation • 10-Year Profitable Track Record •State Of The Art Teaching Methods • Two High Traffic Locations • Reliable, Trained Staff
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School for Sale
Kitexcite, the leading kiteboarding school on Kite Beach in Cabarete, Dominican Republic, is on the market. While many businesses have struggled worldwide over the last few years, Kitexcite has experienced its most profitable yet! With a 10-year track record of branding and a solid reputation for providing top of the line service with near 100% customer satisfaction, it is a great opportunity. Contact us today and start living your dream. Search for Kitexcite in theThe New York Times or Boston Globe for stories.
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KitexciteSale@gmail.com
Kristin Boese’s pro model board has been designed from the ground up to be the ideal board for women. Photo Gavin Butler
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The KB Signature Pro Model is Best Kiteboarding’s response to the requests of female riders for a board that is ideally suited to their size, shape, weight, and preferred styles of riding. It is a freeride/freestyle board with a strong focus on easy handling, precise control, and comfort. While many women’s boards are simply downsized versions of larger men’s boards, every part of the KB Signature has been considered with women in mind. Pro rider Kristin Boese unveils what other changes we can expect for her signature board, now in its second year. What design characteristics are considered when making a board specifically for women? When making a board for female riders we really have to consider every aspect of it. What you don’t want to do is just shrink a men’s board as things don’t scale the same way in three dimensions as they do in two. So we started with no preconceptions about how to make the board; each design choice was tested. We tested several different sizes and variations of width and length based around my signature model from last year. A selection of five different bottom shapes were made, and the fastest and easiest to ride shape was selected. We refined the layup to give a little more pop, testing several variations of biaxial and unidirectional glass to blend torsional and tip to tip strength and flex. We then refined the stance widths and heel offset positions for the inserts and finally had one last round of tweaking the rail shape and outline to bring everything together. During the development phase I was also lucky enough to get some great input from some of our KB4girls participants around the world who got to try different prototypes and also had some influence in the graphic design process. Is the footpad and strap system different from what is offered on the Armada twin tip boards? The KB Signature uses the same insert and pad/strap combo as the Armada V2, so you get the comfort of the double density pad with a full-width air sole heel and also the ease of use of the fit block attachment system. The Product Name KB Signature Pro Model straps can be adjusted for very small feet so they work well for girls and women. The stance Product Category Women’s specific twintip widths are much smaller than the Armada, Sizes Available 130 x 40cm trimming 5 cm off the width and also offsetting it towards the heel rail more. Biasing the inserts Release date: December 2010 towards the heel rail means you can edge the 6 0 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
board with less strain on your calf and Achilles tendon, especially if your legs are not super strong. What are the most significant changes to the 2011 KB Signature Pro Model board compared to the previous model? For the 2011 KB model we completely changed the construction. It has gained the deep section ABS rail for added durability. There’s a new PVC core surround, which places high-density foam around the rail and tips protecting the wood core and reducing swing weight. The inserts are all A4 stainless steel this season; previously they were marinized brass which is a little softer. Finally the top and bottom sheets are new, with a thick, hard high-gloss top sheet revealing sections of the wood core, while the underside gained a matte finish to help reduce drag and make the board plane as early as possible. Will this board have a limited run like the 2010 model? The KB Signature model is slated for a full production run this year. It will be available all year round. What level of rider and type of conditions is this board best suited for?The board is designed primarily for intermediate and advanced riders. Beginners may prefer a slightly bigger board in the beginning but will feel comfortable on the KB Signature very quickly. It’s as suitable for freestyle as it is for freeride and it will be the board I compete on this year in any freestyle competition, no matter if it is big air, wakestyle, or even boarder cross. Is there any reason why a woman would want to consider the Armada board range instead of this one? If you are over 5’9” and 160 lbs. then you might be better off with a larger board. The 134 Armada is as close as you will get to the KB Signature model in a larger board. It is all personal preference though and I would suggest to every girl to try the KB Signature model and make up her mind on the water. Anything else you would like to say about this product? Being able to develop a girl’s specific board and to do so with the input of so many other female kiters around the world has been an amazing process and experience for me, which I enjoyed very much. I have just as passionately worked on the KB Signature model as I have worked on setting up KB4girls and am very happy that Best is backing up my efforts to support female kiters around the world in such an awesome way.
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Thanks to the ION’s improved strut to leading edge attachment, Operations Manager Martyn Hogg had no luck while trying to break the kite with full slam down nose dives in Morocco. Photo Richard Boudia
Now in its fifth year of refinement, the ION is Flexifoil’s hybrid C-kite. Many riders have commented that the 2011 model flies through the window much smoother with constant power and is not as reactive to gusts. What did you do to accomplish this? There’s 5 cm more travel on the center line on the bar this year giving a bit more gust control and depower. The kite has seen the usual year after year refinements in shape and canopy accuracy but most work was done on the construction applied to the whole Flexifoil range. Were any changes made to the bridle? Only slight fine tuning was done. No major changes were made this year but we have been experimenting with some unique bridle configurations for future kites. Flexifoil developed a new strut to leading edge junction for the ION 5. What did this accomplish and is this new feature also on the other kites? The new strut to leading edge junction is much stronger and stiffer than previous years. This improves the solid feel of the kite and feedback to the rider and also makes the kite much more resilient to max power nose down crashes. I tried as hard as I could to break one in Dakhla, Morocco, much to the amusement of local riders who couldn’t break it either! The new strut to LE junctions can be found on all Flexifoil kites now. Did Flexifoil change anything else on the construction of the ION 5? The leading edge closing seam is considerably stronger this year. We tested samples to destruction and we saw a 40% increase in burst pressure to around 19 PSI (this was on a test LE section, please don’t try putting 19 PSI in your IONs!). Will previous ION fans notice any differences in the kite’s low end grunt, high end wind range, or boosting ability and hang time? How about turning speed and relaunch? Yes, especially if coming from an ION 3 or previous IONs. ION 4 riders will notice the extra solidity, canopy stiffness, and construction improvements. ION 3 owners will notice hang time and boost improvements and the wind range is bigger with more low-end power and more stability in high winds. Relaunch was also improved with the increased stiffness. What level of rider and what conditions is the ION 5 best suited for? The ION is best suited for intermediate or advanced riders but a beginner should have no problems on an ION either. It is intended to be a kite that you can progress on as far as you like for
The ION is Flexifoil’s all around performance kite which excels for both freestyle and wave riding. For 2011, Flexifoil focused on integrating new construction techniques and materials to produce a stronger, more refined product. Operations Manager Martyn Hogg helped us find out more about what you can expect from the 2011 ION.
freeride or freestyle riding and also works exceptionally well in the waves. Just watch Billy Parker ride freestyle or watch Sean Mertens in the waves if you want to see how far you can go! The kites will handle all conditions: Smooth, gusty, flat, chop, or waves. What upgrades were made to the one pump inflation system? All we did on this was increase the length of the neoprene covers. We rarely have any failures or complaints on the single point inflation system; we’re very happy with it! Does this kite and control system offer 100% depower? The ION and its control system offers “more than adequate” depower. The depower has been slightly increased in the new ION while bar pressure has been decreased. Do you have any tuning tips for riders so they can get the best performance from the ION 5 in various conditions? Yes, learn about rear line tension for trimming kites. It’s not as straight forward as using the shorter knot for more power. The ION benefits from having less tension on the rear lines. Getting the kite trimmed correctly can make a huge difference to any kite’s performance. What is your warranty policy on kites? We will repair or replace any product with failures due to a design, manufacturing, or material fault. When we assess warranty claims we will always look for signs that the customer has damaged the kite causing a failure but even if this is the case, we try and help get the customer riding again as soon as possible and at minimum hassle. Customer satisfaction is extremely important to us.
Product Name
ION
Product Category
Hybrid
Sizes Available
7m, 8.5m, 10.5m 12.5m, 14.5m
Release date: Available Now thek i teboarde r. com 6 1
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North’s surf lineup features four board options designed for specific wave and wind conditions. Their new bamboo sandwich construction offers excellent dampening and flex and is also really resistant to pressure dents and dings. Photo Erik Aeder
North’s ongoing goal is to make their directional boards feel as much like custom surfboards as possible through new construction technology while still being durable enough to withstand the abuses of kiting. With their new Bamboo Tech construction and progressive shapes and styles, North’s Sky Solbach feels that they vastly improved the feel of their 2011 boards and tells us what we can expect from their new surf line. For 2011, North has four boards in its surf line. What are the biggest changes to the Kontact? The most significant changes to the 2011 Kontact are a new rocker line and it is ¼” narrower than last year. Both of these changes make the Kontact even more control oriented for riding fast and powered. The target for the Kontact remains the same: Control at high speeds and lots of hold through powered turns in big surf. Coincidentally, the same characteristics that make it good for riding in big surf also make the Kontact great for riding in really choppy water and strong wind, even if the waves are small. Because the rail line is so straight, it does not have the tendency to bounce or rock in chop as much as some other boards with more curve in the outline. Think of it as the Cadillac of our range. Some forum users preferred the 2010 Kontact as their all around board. How do you compare this board to the 2011 WAM, which is positioned as North’s high performance all arounder? Well, the WAM is slightly wider and rounder than the Kontact, which lends itself to tighter turns and a snappy top turn. It’s been a great travel board for me this past summer because it will pretty much cover my needs in just about any type of conditions. It’s fast, handles speed, turns easily, and just does all the things you would want your go-to board to do. This is the board I compete on. It also has a tri/quad fin setup, which makes it even more versatile. Do the changes to the 2011 WAM represent minor tweaks or significant changes? The changes are significant. The basic Product Name
Category
Whip
Surf
WAM Kontact Free Race
Style
Sizes
Available
Small gutless surf
5’5”x 18”, 5’7”x 18 5/8”
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All-around travel board
5’8”x 17 ¾”, 5’10”x 18”, 6’0”x 18 ¼”
Now
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Big surf, rough conditions
5’10”x 17”, 6’0”x 17 ¼”, 6’2”x1 7 ½”
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Freeride
Light wind, cruising, carving small waves
5’5”x 18.5”
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dimensions are the same as last year’s model but otherwise I started developing the new WAM from a blank slate. It’s a totally new design. In general, what riding style and conditions are better for a thruster versus a quad? I prefer quads for smaller surf on the WAM because they’re a bit more loose and skatey. The rail-to-rail transition feels faster and loosens everything up for doing really tight carves on a small wave face. I use the thruster setup when the surf picks up for more drive, but that’s just me. It really comes down to your personal preference and the feel you are after. As the true allarounder we wanted to offer riders the option of riding it either way. The Whip is brand new to North’s 2011 surf lineup. Where does this board fit in the product mix? The Whip is a high performance board for small to medium surf. I’m really excited about this board and it gets me motivated to get out there even when the surf is tiny. It’s super snappy and naturally just wants to turn. The coolest thing about the Whip is that you can really feel it accelerate out of a top turn. It’s just fast and loose and carves super tight little arcs. I’ve even ridden it in overhead surf and it handles it. You can draw out a long turn or snap it super tight and it carries speed easily. Also new for 2011 is North’s Free Race board, bridging the gap between racing and freeriding. As a 5’3” twin fin directional, how does the feel of it differ from the other boards? The idea was to make a board that went upwind well and was good in light wind, but that you could still carve turns and play around with. The Free Race has a really flat rocker and a much wider tail than a surfboard, so it gets you up and planning in less wind than any of our surfboards. It’s also really fast and you can fly on a downwind reach with it. It has tucked rails and a semi-pointy nose like a surfboard so you can carve a turn with it. It’s a great alternative to riding a surfboard in light wind, flat water, or in conditions that are less than stellar. What do you think makes your 2011 surf program stand out? Well, I think board our range offers something for nearly everyone. Each board is designed to perform well in different conditions and is aimed at a specific riding style. Our shapes and graphics are progressive with an eye on the latest surfing trends. We spend a lot of time refining our construction not only to be durable and withstand the abuse of kiting, but also to feel lively and responsive. Our new bamboo sandwich construction has excellent dampening and flex and is really resistant to pressure dents and dings, so your board stays looking new longer as well.
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With the return of the Splitstrut design on the RPM, the 2011 kite has more structure and durability which help make it turn smoother with more even power delivery. Photo Adam Uyemura
Does the 2011 RPM feature fine tuning over the 2010 version or was it majorly redesigned? We’ve had a lot of success with the RPM from previous years so we didn’t want to make any radical changes to it. Our main goal was to add Splitstrut, giving it more structure and durability. Beyond that, we changed the profiles to improve performance. Slingshot brought back the Splitstrut design for the 2011 RPM and Rally kites. Why bring it back now? We moved away from Splitstrut in 2008 due to construction costs. It was one of the more complex features of the kite build and slowed down production, making prices higher. Also, at the time, kite design was changing at a rapid pace and the platform race took much more attention than build details did. Recently we redesigned our Splitstrut build to make it simpler and more cost effective, so the kite gains more structure and durability without much of the associated cost. Pro rider Youri Zoon just won the PKRA in Argentina on the new RPM. Many pros are die hard C-kite fans. Why does Youri ride the RPM versus the Fuel? That was the big challenge for us, making a bridled kite that actually provided the function that a pro would be looking for as well as the ease of use that an intermediate would enjoy. We recruited Youri to help achieve this. With his C-kite riding expertise we developed a kite that truly does have C-kite performance and all the unhooked madness that you would want. The feedback from Youri has been stellar. After all, he’s the one who helped make it! What are the biggest changes that existing RPM riders will notice on the 2011 kite? The biggest changes are more power in the jumps and more yank in the loops while maintaining the unhooked performance that it has become known for. Also, the addition of Splitstrut gives it smoother turns for really even power delivery. The 2010 RPM featured Slingshot’s completely new Comp Stick bar. Will the 2011 RPM have a new bar? The bar is essentially the same, with all the function and simplicity that it had in the past. The changes include a redesigned quick release handle that is more durable than before. Also, the trim handle was changed so it takes much less effort to adjust. Did the bridle change? The bridle has been refined to accommodate for the slight canopy changes that we made, but the overall configuration has stayed the same. The Full Suspension Bridle is a
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The RPM is Slingshot’s most tuneable kite for 2011 and features a three-strut design built on an Open-C kite platform. With great all around features that suit kiters of all skill levels, the biggest change to the 2011 model is the reintroduction of Splitstut along with some tweaks to performance, the bridle, and bar. Designer Amery Bernard tells us more about the RPM, now in its third year of refinement. major reason the kite performs like it does. Essentially, the bridle keeps the front tow points further out towards the wingtips, much like a C-kite, but the bridle still also provides all of the depower and relaunch that you would expect out of a modern kite. This proprietary bridle is small and compact and doesn’t have any chance of wrapping if you ever tumble your kite. Do you have any tuning tips for riders? The RPM has the most tuning options out of any kite in our line. There are two options for the front bridle attachment points. The freestyle (stock) setting allows the kite to turn with more of a pivot, providing a tighter turning radius, good especially in the waves. The wakestyle setting makes the turns of the kite carve like a C-kite. There are four options on the rear attachment points. The further back the less bar pressure and kite feedback you get. Further forward gives you more bar pressure and feedback. C-kite riders mainly prefer settings further forward. Both the RPM and Rally kites are three-strut designs. Are the differences between the two kites minor or major? What would make the RPM a better choice for a rider than the Rally? There is a lot of overlap in performance from both the Rally and RPM. They cross over into all disciplines of kiting and both do a really good job at freeride, freestyle, wakestyle, and surf. But there are differences and they can be pretty major if you’re picky about what you want the kite to do. The Rally has more grunt and upwind ability. It does best with a hooked in style and is good for racing and big lofty jumps. The RPM has less grunt and more slip at the edge of the window. You can control a lot of the power by edging your board. Are there any other construction or performance features you’d like to call out? Another feature we really like is our Center Safety System. It is a very simple, uncluttered, convenient, and proven safety system with a below the bar connection point that kills the kite upon firing and is easily put back together.
Product Name
RPM
Product Category
Open-C
Sizes Available
4.5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14m
Release date: January 2011 thek i teboarde r. com 6 3
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Niccolo Porcella charges on the Gambler, an all-new progressive board shaped by Sean Ordonez. Photo courtesy Wainman Hawaii
In order to constantly progress their surf line products, WH was looking for a shaper who could work with their nuclear energy with an open mindedness towards the modern technologies and shapes that is the lifeblood of the company. Through team rider Bertrand Fleury, they heard that their good Maui friend Sean Ordonez was enthusiastic about cooperating with the brand. As Sean had already shaped many sick boards for Lou in the past, the ideals and philosophies of surfing and kiting they shared resulted in the birth of the partnership. Sean has experience shaping many thousands of boards and most importantly, he is still an active kiter, naturally riding Rabbits! Sean answered our questions to tell us all about the result of their first winter working together which produced three new surf shapes that are being made at WH’s new factory.
What were the top goals with WH in developing the company’s new surf line? I am stoked to be working with Wainman Hawaii as Lou has always been a good old crazy friend of mine. He rips! He loved some of my first custom wakestyle kiteboards, even though I always wanted him to keep pushing the surfing side of things. Lou sure led the charge of mixing wakeboarding maneuvers into kiteboarding --very inspirational and I am stoked to be working with him again along with the WH team. There is only one top goal in making a good surf kiteboard: Make it do everything well, especially in the surf, since this is what I have been focusing on from the beginning. WH’s new surf line has a solid background in the scene of pro surfing with some of my hot young up and coming team riders. Now blending it with the WH team, you will see and feel what a true surf kiteboard is supposed to do. I am really stoked to finally get to share with WH my vision of where I saw kiteboarding going in the surf since the beginning before it went technical on the tricks.
5’7” Magnum 6 4 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
You have been shaping boards since you were 11 years old and were one of the first kiteboard companies on the scene in early 2000. Do you still plan on offering your own kiteboard designs through SOS? No, I am not offering my own production SOS line, even though I still continue to make specialized custom shapes for my customers’ particular needs. I love making custom boards and experimenting with new shapes and technologies, so this will always help the production board lines stay fresh and ahead of the changing times. Wainman Hawaii’s new line is a reflection of this restless and passionate R&D. I am happy to be working together to help WH promote my designs to get the stoke out there!
We briefly overviewed WH’s surf program in our 2011 preview guide so let’s go a bit more in depth. The Magnum is a continuation of the previous surf program but the sizes changed. Did anything else change? Well, yes everything! They are a totally innovative breed of the new generation of surfing as the Magnums come from a long line of thoroughbred custom pro model surfboards I have been designing for my surf team. Yes, the kitesurfer wants to surf just like surfers do. That is why we focused the line of Magnums on the high performance end of the sport with a bit of the classic short board lines. All the new kite surfboards feature five fin boxes for a thruster or quad setup. Do you lose a bit of performance by offering this type of setup? All boards are equipped with five Future Fin boxes, designed to be ridden as a thruster in third gear or as a quad in fourth gear. This option is like having only one board that you can rally off-road (thruster) or high-speed race like an Indy car with a quad set up. There is nothing bad about having the option if you are open minded and get to know your equipment’s potential. You can even use it as a twin fin like Lou does just for fun and a different feel. Heck, just ride it finless, right Lou? The fins that are included with the board were also carefully designed to fit the needs of the boards, but they can be used with other Future Fins if you feel the need to custom fit it to your needs. The option of mixing and matching fins will help you understand your equipment better. When would you recommend riders use each setting? I would recommend the boards to be ridden as a thruster when conditions are choppy or in onshore hollow or mushy waves. When the wind picks up and the wind direction changes more side to side-offshore and the waves get clean and smooth the quad is my recommendation. Once you try them both, only you will know what works best for you. What level rider and kind of waves is the Magnum best suited for? The Magnum is a very user-friendly board for most riding levels. It is best suited for riders with a good level of technical surfing skills. These boards come into their own and stand apart from all the imitation surfboards when they see the perfect clean hollow waves that they were designed for. You can ask Bertrand Fleury how they ride at his new home break….ahhh, I am jealous!
The Magnum also features straps inserts that are offset and pre-positioned. What’s the purpose of this? The importance of the slight offset of the inserts for the surfboard line is that the correct and natural ergonomic way for the front foot to apply the proper transition from toe pressure to heel pressure while surfing is in a slight duck foot stance. Thus, the pre-positioning of the inserts has been carefully thought out for the rider’s best comfort while surfing and making smooth rail-to-rail transitions. New for the surf lineup is the Gambler. How does this board differ from the Magnum and why would a rider prefer this board instead? The concept of this board was to take a classic Magnum style board and keep the same volume but reduce the total length of the board by a few inches, replacing some of the lost length in the extra width while still maintaining the same tail outline. This caused the board to have a much tighter turning radius than the Magnum. This also encourages the rider to take a slightly wider stance and place more weight on his front foot rather than just on his back foot such as on the Magnum. As a result of the outline curve of the Gambler, the board still holds at high speed even though it is wider. It’s designed for shorter waves with hollow sections and is best in side, side-on, or onshore conditions. Riders should try both the Magnum and Gambler to make a decision on the type of style that works for them best. If you could choose one standout performance or new construction feature to highlight for the entire line, what would it be? The new line was first and foremost designed to surf the waves before the wind picked up and once you add the other element (wind), these boards will speak for themselves and show the kiteboarding world what a true surf kiteboard is supposed to feel like. Just ask the pros. Stop buying copies or imitations and support the people that are designing the real deal.
Product Name
Category
Style
You also developed the Passport for WH, which is a wide board positioned as “the world traveler board” for both kiting and surfing. With sizes just one inch larger than what is offered on the Gambler, how is this board different? As they say, the Passports are made to travel the world and surf or kite any kind of waves from mushy to perfect hollow sections. The main difference is that the Passport will lift and perform under less than perfect wave conditions and require less speed and wind to lift and turn. The Gambler might require a bit more power in the waves and wind to perform as easily as the Passport. Even after your kiting session is over when everyone’s kites are falling out of the sky, you and your Passport are still gliding through flat spots on the wave turning your kiting session into an epic windless surf session. The Passport is versatility. Why would you recommend a rider go with the Passport versus the others in the line? The Passport is ideal for mushy weaker surf conditions, but don’t be fooled as this board tends to excel at speed and hold in the barrel too. What is the warranty policy on the boards? Ask a pro what sort of warranty he has on his magic performance board. There is a fine line between bomb proof weight and the perfect flexibility for performance. Overall, our boards are a perfect balance of weight, flexibility, and durability. Any lighter and the performance would be hindered. All boards have a warranty against manufacturing defects from the factory. What do you think makes the WH surf program stand out? We are professional craftsmen that have evolved professional equipment for some of the best in the sport since the beginning. This surf line is closing the gap between surfing and kitesurfing. These boards are genuine surfboards designed by surfers for kitesurfing. Only a kitesurfer will know the feeling. Sizes
5’10” Gambler
5’11” Passport
Available
Magnum
Surf
Classic All-Around Performance
5'7", 5'10", 6'0", 6'2"
December 2010
Gambler
Surf
Progressive
5'7", 5'10"
December 2010
Passport
Surf
All-Around Kite and Surfboard
5'8", 5'11"
December 2010
All of the Wainman Hawaii surfboards now feature five fin boxes, which allow the rider to choose to ride the board as either a thruster or a quad. Photo courtesy Wainman Hawaii
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analyze this
besttaboo
TESTED: 17m AVAILABLE SIZES: 4, 5.5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 17m TESTED IN: San Diego, 8-12 knots, flat water and waves
FROM THE MANUFACTURER
The Taboo range represents a new concept in building the ultimate quiver of high performance kites. Each size of the Taboo is uniquely engineered to optimize performance for specific riding conditions. Every aspect of design, shaping, material selection, and construction has been tested and selected to create the ultimate ride in every kite size. Ranging from 4m to 17m, there is a Taboo for all wind speeds and all advanced riding styles. Each size in the range blends a different balance of control, power, and flow allowing you to completely reinvent your riding game.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: While we tested both the 8m and 12m Taboo last issue, each size of the Taboo is designed differently. The 17m Taboo is a completely different kite than the previous Taboos tested. Compared to the smaller Taboos, the 17 is a very high aspect kite and has a unique center strut. It’s a five strut kite, but the center strut is very thin compared to the others and is not connected to the one-pump system. The pulley-less bridle is compact and the rear line attachment point is adjustable to change the bar pressure and turning speed of the kite. Like the other Taboos, this kite ships with a very simple bag (other bag options are available) that is basically a sleeping bag style stuff sack.
Tester Comments: “With the right light wind board, I was able to get out and be riding upwind in sub 10-knot winds. Lighter riders should be able to do even better.” –Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter
We’ve tested the Redline Performance bar on a few kites now and it’s a very clean control system. It features an above-bar depower, multiple leash options, forged center piece, and a push away quick release that has a built in swivel. We would have liked to have seen kook-proof connections on the lines to prevent the possibility of rigging the lines backwards. On the Water: Even though the 17m Taboo is a high aspect kite, we found it to be surprisingly stable in San Diego’s light and gusty wind. On the water, it is a fast flying and surprisingly fast turning kite. This kite loses a lot of power when turning it sharply or looping it, which is very different compared to the smaller Taboos we tested. We quickly found that the key to getting the most power out of this kite is to ride with a lot of board speed. It may not feel like you have a lot of power when initially diving the Taboo, but as you pick up speed the kite keeps generating more and more power. The 17m Taboo has great upwind performance for such a large kite. Relaunching a kite this large in less than 10 knots of wind is not nearly as easy as relaunching a smaller kite in more wind, but it is possible with enough persistence. Once the wind gets to about 12 knots relaunching the 17m Taboo is relatively easy.
• T he 17m Taboo can get you riding and having fun when others are slogging or sitting on the beach. • This kite is very fast flying and fast turning for its size.
CONS:
• The 17m Taboo loses a lot of power when turning it sharply or looping it. • With the right board, you could be out riding in wind light enough that you have almost no chance of getting the kite back up if you drop it.
6 6 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
THE VERDICT:
If you want to get out and ride and get upwind when others can’t, you should look at this kite. The stability, fast turning, and fast flying made the 17m Taboo more fun to fly than other kites in this size range we’ve flow previously (admittedly, it’s been awhile since we flew a kite this large). This is a great kite for riders living in towns where the wind is often in the 10-12 knot range, but if you don’t have any interest in light wind kiting, you probably don’t need to own this kite.
8 Pump up the Taboo really
Tips
PROS:
hard. This will make relaunching easier.
8 To get out in the lightest
winds possible, combine the 17m Taboo with a light wind specific twin tip, large surfboard, or race board.
rrdobsession TESTED: 9m AVAILABLE SIZES: 5, 6, 7, 9, 10.5, 12, 13.5, 15m TESTED IN: Sherman Island and Pismo Beach, 18-25 knots, flat water and waves
FROM THE MANUFACTURER
It has gained worldwide recognition for being an RRD Icon. The Obsession MKIII is the most advanced yet user friendly kite in the world. Slightly revised in important details like improved turning speed on big sizes and constant pull on kite loops, we have been able to create even a more stable kite with an incredible 10-15% more power and improved easiness to ride unhooked. The Obsession MKIII features slightly higher bar pressure compared to the MKII version. This is the new trendsetter in speed and progressive smooth power in all areas of the flying window. It’s perfect for kiteloops and power moves, and great for every serious kiteboarder.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: The 2011 RRD Obsession looks similar to last year’s model, but there are a few obvious differences. The trailing edge is now all Dacron and the graphics are actually made of fabric sewn onto the kite as opposed to being screened on, a feature that RRD claims adds more rigidity to the canopy. This is a five-strut kite that inflates via a single inflation system. Once pumped up, you can see that the leading edge comes to a subtle point in the middle. The rear lines connect directly to the kite while the front lines connect to a compact bridle that features two pulleys per side. Each pulley rides on a bridle section that is easy to replace if it begins to wear. The new RRD Global Bar is much improved compared to last year’s version. The hanging leash attachment we complained about last year is gone and this new bar features an above bar depower cleat, a clean and simple push-away release, and a unique center line. Both the safety line and the main depower line pass through a plastic cover that has an internal divider to keep the lines separate. One bar size (adjustable from 50-55 cm) is used on all kites.
Tester Comments:
“The Obsession was always an amped up kite and, though it still is, this year you can relax in the gusts a lot more than in previous years. The first time unhooked was amazing.” –Slawek Krauze, 180 lbs., Freestyle Kiter
On the Water: The Obsession is very stable in the sky and is a very smooth feeling kite. This is a grunty kite that flies fast and turns quickly (but not ultra quick). Turns are very predictable and the Obsession seems to turn on its wingtips, more similar to a C-kite than a bridled kite. Power delivery stays very smooth through sharp turns and loops. The Obsession really shines unhooked and has no tendency to fall back in the window, but we found that unhooked performance is improved by depowering the kite slightly. Relaunching the Obsession is still very easy, although maybe not quite as easily as last year’s model. This kite handles gusts very well and depowers well, remaining responsive and easy to fly even when depowered. Upwind performance is good fully powered, but improves if you depower the kite slightly.
PROS:
Tips
8 D epower the kite an inch
or so before unhooking, especially if you want to loop the kite unhooked. This will let it climb to the top of the window faster.
8 Attach the front lines to
the knots second furthest from the kite.
• The RRD Obsession is a stable performance kite that feels great even when unhooked. • The Global Bar is a huge improvement compared to last year’s bar and is a pleasure to use.
CONS:
• T he bar is only available in one size (50-55 cm) and seems a little large for the smaller kite sizes. • Beginner riders may be slightly intimidated by the grunty feeling of the Obsession.
THE VERDICT:
The RRD Obsession is a really good allaround kite, but it suits performance-oriented freestyle riders the best. The smooth flying, medium bar pressure, excellent stability, and great unhooked performance will make a lot of riders happy to fly this kite. Overall the Obsession is a fun kite that offers a lot of performance without throwing anything unexpected at the rider. Novice riders could use the Obsession, but they might feel more comfortable on the RRD Passion.
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fonetrax FROM THE MANUFACTURER
The F-ONE TRAX is the flagship and best selling board of our twin-tip range. Whatever the conditions, the TRAX delivers performance and control at the highest level. For its sixth edition, we have worked on the carving ability and gave the board a new double-concave bottom. The TRAX 6 is truly a high-technology board with a huge range of use from pure freeride to the most hardcore, low-kite freestyle riding. The TRAX successfully blends high performance, acceleration for early planning, speed, control, pop, and carving ability.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: This is an all-around freestyle board which features a fairly narrow outline, double concave bottom, rounded tips that taper in slightly, and a more exaggerated rocker than a typical pure freestyle twin tip. The graphics are more refined this year with a simple and classy look. The new Unibox fin system, a feature on all 2011 F-One twin tips, allows for fins that are much thinner than usual as the screws end above the actual fin. The Trax has a good amount of flex and is a very light board. On the Water: Once up and riding, the F-One Trax is a fast board that feels light and responsive underfoot. As you edge harder, the Trax feels like it locks in and never gave us any signs that the edge was about to slip or chatter. This board offers a very smooth ride, especially in choppy water and shoots upwind as long as the rider is well-powered. The Trax releases from the water very nicely and is a great performance board for powered up big air riding.
THE VERDICT:
The 2011 F-One Trax is a great all-around board that is easy to feel immediately comfortable on. It planes quickly due to its double concave bottom and goes upwind easily once powered. It especially suits riders who want a light and responsive board for fast riding and big air freestyle jumps and also like super carving ability. This board tracks extremely well and the edge never slipped or chattered under load. The narrow width seemed to make the Trax not ideal for underpowered or light wind conditions, but it’s a pleasure to ride powered up. You might want to look at the F-One Acid if you like a board with more width.
Tester Comment:
“If you want to maximize pop, ride powered up. The supreme control allows the rider to dig in the edge while handling more power.” - Alex Smith, 170 lbs., All-Around Kiter
Tips
TESTED: 134x39 cm AVAILABLE SIZES: 132x38, 134x39, 136x40, 138x41, 140x45 TESTED IN: Pismo Beach and San Francisco, 15-21 knots, choppy water and waves
8 The Trax is a relatively narrow board, so consider riding one size larger than you would otherwise. 8 R ide powered up if you want to get the best performance out of the Trax.
LitewaveWing TESTED: 161 cm AVAILABLE SIZES: 146x45, 153x45, 161x45 TESTED IN: San Diego, 8-12 knots, flat water and small waves
The Wing has evolved into a mind-blowing machine for 2011. The tip-to-tip radical concave smoothes out chop and makes for a very positive carving feeling. The tips are very thin and flexible with built-in torsion bars to maximize carving performance under load. This board is truly a session saver. Wide tips and the unique parabolic sidecut enable planing and rocket you upwind. The wider tips give unbelievable load and pop even in light conditions.
THE KITEBOARDER REPORT
Out of the Box: We tested the big boy of the 2011 Litewave Wings, the 161. This is a light wind specific board and it stands out when compared to other twin tips. The board features wide tips, a reverse sidecut outline, and a very deep tip to tip single concave. There are two fins on the heel edge and two near the tips of the board close to the centerline. This board has more rocker than last year’s model and is fairly flexible. On the Water: We tested this board in San Diego, the light wind capitol of the world and were pleasantly surprised by the light wind abilities of this board. Out testers usually ride surfboards, and they thought that the Wing was at least as efficient at staying on a plane and getting upwind as their largest (6’0”-6’2”) directionals. It does feel strange to have such a large tail on a twin tip, but the added surface area makes this board go when others can’t. The Wing can even be ridden toeside and works well for small light wind jumps.
THE VERDICT:
If you want a twin tip to ride in the lightest possible conditions, you should try the Litewave Wing. We found it to work as well as a large surfboard in light wind, but without the need to switch your feet when jibing. The board goes through chop surprisingly well for such a large board and will even allow you to do tricks like backrolls and frontrolls when other riders are sitting on the beach. If you aren’t excited about riding in light winds, consider looking at the Litewave Storm instead.
Tester Comment:
“In both chop and flat water, the Wing takes hardly any power from the kite to get up and riding.” –Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter
Tips
FROM THE MANUFACTURER
8 Choose the size based on your weight. Big boys (200+ lbs.) should get the 161, lighter riders (under 165 lbs.) should get the 146, and those in the middle (165-200 lbs.) should get the 153.
8 When riding in ultra light wind, let the board
travel slightly downwind and build up speed before trying to edge upwind.
ucr t s in al tion
Snowkiting 102: What You to Know Before Heading to the Snow
You’ve been riding every chance all summer and your kiteboarding skills have given you the confidence to feel comfortable in most conditions, but now winter is upon us and the water is cold and the mountains are covered with snow. You probably already have most of the gear needed for snowkiting, so why not give it a try? Snowkiting is not much different than kiteboarding on the water, but a new set of rules needs to be adapted for a different environment. Much of the standard kiteboarding gear can be used and the same skills and techniques directly apply. In addition to cold weather clothing, there is a variety of other gear that a snowkiter can employ, as this winter playground provides a sold surface to kiteboard on with different challenges and dangers. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? Clothing and proper layering are key ingredients to a successful snowkite session. Far too often new riders overdress and quickly overheat. Snowkiting is a high energy sport, so your body maintains a much higher temperature than that of typical downhill boarding. Snowkiters need to dress for a highly aerobic activity while also being prepared for cold weather before and after the session. A standard outfit while kiting is a single base layer and a shell to keep the wind and snow out. Colder days may require a thicker base layer or an additional mid-layer that can be removed. To stay warm between rides, the most popular item in a snowkiter’s pack is a down parka. Finding an outer shell with good ventilation allows you to regulate your temperature while riding. If you are wearing your harness over your jacket, you’ll want to be sure that zippers and pockets are above the harness, otherwise you will feel every nub against your bones. Some riders choose to wear climbing style harnesses that don’t ride up like a waist harness. An option for riders that love their waist harness is to pick up a snowkite-specific jacket that allows the harness to be worn underneath the shell, keeping snow out and allowing you to wear it like you would on the water, next to your body. WHAT GEAR DO I NEED? The topic of gear can become convoluted with opinions, but there are a few basics that belong in every snowkiter’s pack. First is the pack itself. If the wind dies or you experience equipment failure, you need to be prepared for a jaunt back to the car. Having a pack that allows you to carry your kite and other essentials will turn a struggle into a fun walk in the woods. Some of the optional gear that may help in this situation would be snowshoes or skins (for skis). Often times the packs that come with a kite will suffice. A pack will allow you to bring all the comforts along for the adventure, including food, drinks, a camera, and extra clothing. One of the greatest benefits of snowkiting is being able to climb a hill and stop on top to enjoy the view, and a good pack will provide the confidence to go as far as possible. A few other primary pieces of gear are a helmet, goggles, and gloves. The helmet is not always necessary on powder days, but hard packed snow, rocks, and a million other obstacles that don’t 7 0 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
By Brian Schenck/flyozoneusa.com
normally appear on the water make it a safe choice. Beyond that, a helmet is the warmest piece of clothing and keeps out wind better than any beanie. Goggles are the next prime ingredient, turning foul weather days into a visual paradise, not to mention keeping the wind and cold off your face. Gloves are a must, and carrying a second pair is paramount. You are always using your hands, and it is highly likely that your first pair will get wet during the day. Many riders carry a light and a heavy pair of gloves, using the thinner pair while setting up kites and connecting lines and wearing the warmer gloves while riding. There are other items to consider that are not as necessary, but can make your experience much more enjoyable. A snow shovel is an indispensable tool for everything from throwing snow on your kite to hold it down to being used as an anchor or digging an emergency shelter. On frozen lakes it’s wise to carry an ice screw, which can be used as an anchor to secure your kite. I like to carry a sling of webbing and a carabineer which can be used as an anchor almost anywhere. A GPS is also high on the list of must-haves, as it can lead you back to civilization during a white out snow storm. SHOULD I RIDE A SNOWBOARD OR SKIS? Before you make any choice on what to ride ask yourself these questions: What equipment am I most comfortable on? What gear do I already have in the garage? If your answer to those questions is skis, then you should consider adapting your kiteboarding skills to skis. With skis, you will be able to move around on the snow while your snowboarding buddies are sitting on their butts. If you don’t have any experience on skis, focus your energy on snowboarding. Aside from a different feeling of edge pressure, all of the waterborne kite techniques will apply. Board size should be based on rider weight and conditions. Deeper snow and heavier riders will want a longer board. There are a few snowkite-specific snowboards that allow for easier tracking and upwind riding. For skis, old straight skis seem to work best on frozen lakes and icy conditions while fat mountain skis are the preference in deep powder. Everything will work, so start from what you have and develop your own personal preference as you gain experience.
‘Chasta’ Chastagnol is a kiteboarder who cannot wait for the winter season. Photo Pascal Boulgakow
thek i teboarde r. com 7 1
Unlike riding on the water, when you are usually trying to avoid going downwind, riding downwind is usually how to get up the hill when on the snow. Photo Pascal Boulgakow
Photo courtesy Windzup
Essential Gear List • • • • • • • •
Base layer and outer shell Down jacket for emergency warmth Ski or snowboarding boots Gloves: Two pairs, one thin and one for warmth Helmet Goggles Harness and kite Board or skis with fresh wax
Extra Items • • • • • • •
Shovel Snow shoes or skins Backcountry pack Snacks and drinks Rub on wax Sling with carabineer for use as mobile anchor GPS
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WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT SNOWKITING? Most kiteboarding launches happen on shore and the thought of hot launching and being drug down the beach is usually not an option. On snow, we are typically launching kites with our boards already attached to our feet and we launch on the surface we intend to ride on. It’s common to hot launch, especially when self launching, as the worst thing that happens is you slide quickly over the snow as the kite climbs. When executed properly, a hot launch on snow can be very fun and controlled. The next major difference between water and snow is the way we perceive moving around on terrain. On the snow we add a third dimension, vertical. If a hill stands in front of you with the wind at your back, there is only one way to get up it, and we accomplish this by mastering going downwind. A steeper hill will require more power to overcome the affects of gravity, and you may find the only way up is to loop your kite directly downwind. Depending on the wind’s angle to the terrain, you may find yourself pointing across the hill or even heading straight up as if you were hanging onto a tow rope. On the water one is always fighting to stay upwind, but snowkiting may require the use of downwind techniques during every session. This is where the magic happens. Once you are able to ascend terrain, a world of possibilities awaits you. The eager backcountry skier will be stoked to simply pack up the kite and ski down making fresh turns via gravity. The over-stoked kiteboarders may find themselves keeping the kite powered up and repeating the process over and over, taking advantage of the fast runs that combine wind with gravity or the flight possibilities of gliding away from the hill. Once you have gained some elevation, you can now traverse across the wind, creating a triangle route and making easy progress back upwind. The best part is no matter what, it’s always downhill back to your starting point. One of the most different sensations one will notice is the variety of surface conditions. On the water the pressure against your board is always the same. In one to two feet of fresh snow one will find a very similar pressure when snowkiting, but during a single session a rider might cross a wide variety of snow depths and surfaces. On hard packed snow, one will find they still have good edge control, but the amount of pop and pressure will be less. Adapting to varying conditions becomes second nature soon enough, but it is one of the largest differences between kiting on snow and water. In general, kite sizes are similar between kiting on snow and water. On snow the surface will be a large factor in determining size. With a few inches of snow, conditions will be similar to water in similar winds. Deeper snow will always require a larger kite to power the rider. Likewise, thinner snow or fast surfaces like frozen lakes will allow a kiter to fly a smaller size in lighter winds. Snow allows a rider to get moving in lighter winds, yet also allows the rider to edge hard and more easily hold a larger kite down in stronger winds. This makes some folks stoked to always ride a big kite and hang on and also empowers riders to get away with a smaller kite. On a 15 mph day, you see riders cruising around on anything from 3m to 14m at different speeds. A 10m is a good one-kite quiver for most snowkiting conditions. A two-kite quiver will cover everything from 6 mph to 40+ mph with a kite in the 6-8m range and a larger one in the 11-12m range.
IS THE WIND DIFFERENT? We are all aware that wind conditions can change during a session, but snowkiting adds some additional challenges and benefits to be aware of. The biggest benefit is the ability to ride in lighter winds than on water. With the option of terrain, one can also use light wind to propel oneself downwind and uphill and use gravity to assist on the upwind leg. Some of the challenges come from varying wind conditions that are affected by terrain. The windward side of a slope is a snowkiter’s playground, but the leeward side of that hill will be full of rotor and washing machine wind. One may also find lighter wind at the bottom of a hill and stronger wind at the top, where the wind accelerates as it is compressed at the ridgeline. Other areas like valleys, gaps, and steep ridges can create a venturi that can increase the wind. The best way to picture wind is to imagine it as a river of water flowing over the terrain. Picturing what the wind is doing at different spots can help you avoid wind traps and stay in the safest areas. WHERE CAN I SNOWKITE? You’ve got the right gear and a set of kiteboarding skills that you are ready to put to use on terrain, so let’s find the right spot. While the beauty of snowkiting is the freedom of riding options, it’s best to stick to an established spot for your first sessions. A good snowkiting location will typically have a large fetch for clean air and receive consistent snow and wind. Many of the easy access snowkite locations have been pioneered already and usually have schools or shops nearby. If you are not able to reach an established spot, there are a few factors to look for. Make sure there is enough snow to cover any obstacles or dangers. Six inches to a foot of powder is perfect. Any less and the crashes can be brutal, any more and you’ll be worn out just tromping around while setting up your gear. Deep snow is nice to crash in, but harder to learn in as you are constantly getting buried beneath the surface. Avoid light wind or gusty conditions and you will avoid many frustrations. Make sure you launch a safe distance from the road or any vehicles and power lines. There are more obstructions on land than in the ocean. Ideally it is always smart to ride with a partner, especially on your first outings. Having a friend help set up and launch is always the best way to go. Very quickly you will find yourself applying all of your kiteboarding skills to an entirely new and exciting environment. thek i teboarde r. com 7 3
rk o w nch be
If replacing a leading edge, fold both the old and new bladders in half end to end and mark the center of each bladder.
1 2
Next time you have a bladder problem, take care of it yourself.
Suffering
Bladder Issues?
1 W
Build Your Own Replacements
3 4
Lay out both bladders with the old bladder on top, aligning the center marks (if replacing a strut, you don’t need to mark the center). Double check the ends making sure the new bladder is either the same length or longer.
With everything lined up, make a small mark on the new bladder where the valves will be placed on the new blank. With inflate and deflate valves it’s important to make note of the valve direction and align correctly so you will still be able to use the Velcro valve closures.
Now that everything is marked you’re ready to install the self stick valves. Begin by cutting holes where the valves will be placed. Pinch the bladder top and bottom to separate the two layers where you made your mark. At the location of your mark fold the bladder to a point and cut the tip off creating a hole. This hole should be ½” to ¾” in diameter. Repeat this for every mark.
By Jeff Howard/FixMyKite.com | Photos Courtesy FixMyKite.com
hile today’s kites are much more durable than the ones built a few years ago (just ask someone who’s been kiting for more than five years how often they had to repair bladders in the past), a damaged bladder is still a fairly common problem. If your kite has a bladder that is damaged beyond repair, you can easily buy a replacement bladder blank and self-stick valves to build your own replacement. Whether you need to replace a leading edge or strut bladder, begin by determining the correct material and length of the blank needed. All kites today are manufactured using PU (polyurethane) bladders and anything else can deform and possibly make your kite fly incorrectly. If you still have the old bladder, measure its overall full length. The replacement can either be the same or longer, but never shorter than the original. Don’t worry about the diameter of the bladder as replacement blanks are made slightly bigger to eliminate this problem. If you do not have the bladder you need to replace, measure the casing and add at least two feet to the length.
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7 4 t he ki t eb oa r d e r .c o m
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Using the supplied alcohol pads, clean the area around each hole. Before using the pads, squeeze the excess alcohol from the pad so you don’t leave any residue.
Having a friend on this next step is a big help. Lay the bladder out smooth on a flat surface at the location you want to place the valve. Remove the sticker backing and place the valve over the hole, firmly rubbing the valve from the center out toward the edges while making sure there are no creases or channels where air can flow under the valve.
Tools Needed: Correct bladder blank self-stick valves • Permanent marker • Scissors • A friend, if one is handy •
Repeat this process for every valve and you’re ready to install the new bladder back in your kite, pump it up, and ride. It’s that easy!
• Correct
7
Mack Kitchens found himself on the front page of the Panama City News Herald with this photo taken at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach. Photo Andrew Wardlow
Localhomies Don Losee enjoys a sunset session on Lake Utah. Photo Mark Johnson
winning photo Submit your photos of “local homies� riding at your home spot and you could win a killer T-shirt from Transcend Kiteboarding! E-mail paul@thekiteboarder.com
Believe it or not, those angry bombs that Jens Hanson is charging are fresh water waves on Lake Michigan. Photo Ben Palmer
Yann Campinos takes his Jack Russell for a spin. Photo Joao Barbosa
7 6 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
Jacob Buzianis kiteloops at Lincoln Beach on Utah Lake. Photo Mark Johnson
Arnaud Vuillermet enjoys the scenery just outside of San Francisco Bay. Photo Shal Jacobovitz
Brad Gordon throws a little snow spray in Idaho. Photo Jason Jermaine
Central California’s Dan Tudor scores in Bali. Photo Gromet
thek i teboa rde r. com 7 7
kitepages Arizona
Desert Wind Kiteboarding (907) 2991119
AZ
California
Action Watersports (310) 827-2233 Airtime Kiteboarding (818) 554-7573 Aquan Watersport (650)593-6060 Australian Kitesurf Academy (714) 955-7832 Bay Area Kitesurf (415) 573-2619 Board Sports (510) THE-WAVE Board Sports (415) 929-SURF CaliKites (619) 522-9575 Captain Kirk’s (310) 833-3397 Delta Windsurf Company (831) 429-6051 Helm Sports (650 )344-2711
CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA
HOW SAFE IS YOUR INSTRUCTOR?
Is your instructor or school insured? Have they been through an internationally recognized, certified instruction program? While insurance and certification don’t guarantee you quality, safe instruction, they can help you better qualify your choices. Introducing the TKB Certified Schools program. Look for the symbols by the listings! For complete info or to be recognized as a TKB Certified School, see www.thekiteboarder.com and click on the TKB Certified School graphic.
The Kiteboarder Certified Schools
LEGEND d
Certifie
TKB Certified
Insurance
0THER OTHER
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Pasa
7 8 t he ki t e b oa r d e r .c o m
Inflight Surf and Sail (562) 493-3661 CA Kite Country (619) 226-4421 CA Kitegearboxx.com (888) 411-0732 CA Kitesurfari (714) 964-5483 CA Kite Naked (209) 304-2200 CA KiteWindSurf (510) 522-WIND CA Live2Kite (415) 722-7884 CA Long Beach Windsurf Center (562) 433-1014 CA Mako Surf Skate Snow (949) 367-1300 CA Malibu Kitesurfing (310) 430-KITE CA Manta Wind & Water Sports (858) 270-7222 CA Monkey Air (310) 457-6896 CA Murrays (800) 786-7245 x23 CA Offshore Surf Co. (760) 729-4934 CA Kite School (650) 960-1721 CA Solutions (805) 773-5991 CA Soul Performance (310) 370-1428 CA Sky Kitesurfing School (925) 455-4008 CA VELA (800) 223-5443 CA Wind over Water Kiteboarding (650) 218-6023 CA Kite Island (925) 212-2915 CA Xdream Sportz (858) 481-9283 CA Xstreamline Sports (310) 518-1972 CA Xtreme Big Air (805) 773-9200 CA
Colorado
Colorado Kite Force (970) 485-3300 GAYLAN’S (720) 887-0900 GG Wind Kiteboarding (970) 389-0683 Into the Wind (303) 449-5906 Larson’s Ski and Sport (303) 423-0654 Fuze Kiteboarding (303) 683-5033 PKS (970) 376-3159 Snowkite Steamboat (970) 819-2997
CO CO CO CO CO CO CO CO
Connecticut
Orbit Marine Sports (203) 333-3483 Tri State Kites (800) 510-0865
Florida
CT CT
7 Kiteboarding (305) 664-4055 FL Ace Performer (239) 489-3513 FL Bloodline Boardshop (321) 254-4668 FL Big Kite Miami (305) 303-4107 FL East Coast Kiteboarding (954) 295-5778 FL Emerald Coast Kiteboarding (850) 235-2444 FL Extreme Kites (904) 461-9415 FL Extreme Sports (321) 779-4228 FL Jupiter Kiteboarding (561) 373-4445 FL Key West Kiteboarding (305) 407-6748 FL Kiteboarding Tampa Bay (813) 389-3683 FL Ft. Lauderdale Kitesurfing Co. (954) 410-5419 FL Good Breeze Kiteboarding (321) 613-3737 FL Island Style Wind & Watersports (941) 954-1009 FL Island Surf and Sail (954) 927-7002 FL Kiteboarding Tampa Bay (813) 389-3683 FL Kite Surf the Earth (888) 819-5483 FL Kite World (321) 725-8336 FL KGB Kiteboarding (904) 434-8987 FL 1st Coast Kiting (904) 424-2721 FL Learn 2 Fly (386) 986-9637 FL Liquid Surf & Sail (850) 664-5731 FL KiteMare (877) 829-0015 FL Miami Kiteboarding Inc. (305) 345-9974 FL Otherside Boardsports (305) 853-9728 FL The Kite Shop (305) 361-0168 FL Sandy Point Progressive Sports (386) 756-7564 FL Ski Rixen (954) 429-0215 FL Tampa Bay Kiteboarding (727) 798-2484 FL Triton Kiteboarding (727) 453-9577 FL
Water Monkey Kiteboarding (727) 481-3637 FL Watersports West (888) 401-5080 FL XL Kites (866) 955-4837 FL Xrated Kiteboarding (888) 401-5080 FL
Georgia
All Out Kiteboarding (912) 234-8260 High Tide Surf Shop (912) 786-6556 Locus Kiteboarding (404) 509-4229 Hanag20 Kiteboarding (912) 223-7856
GA GA GA
GA
Hawaii
Action Sports Maui (808) 871-5857 Caveman Kitesurfing (808) 389-4004 Extreme Sports Maui (808) 871-7954 Hawaiian Island Surf & Sport (808) 871-4981 Hawaiian Watersports (808) 262-KITE Kailua Sailboards (808) 262-2555 Kite High (808) 637-5483 Kiteboarding School of Maui (808) 873-0015 Maui Kiteboarding Lessons (808) 242-8015 Naish Maui Pro Center (808) 871-1500 Naish Hawaii (808) 262-6068 Off Da Lip (808) 255-6255 Second Wind (808) 877-7467 Vela Maui (800) 223-5443
HI HI HI
HI HI HI HI
HI
HI
HI HI HI HI HI
Idaho
Groud Zero (208) 265-6714 Fly Sun Valley (208) 726-3332
ID ID
Maryland
H2AIR Productions (302) 227-1105
MD
Michigan
Illinois
Windward Sports (773) 472-6868 Chicago Kiteboarder (312) 804-5482
Massachusetts
Air Support Kiteboarding (866) Kite-Cod MA Kitesite.net (508) 398-1333 MA Skyhigh Kiteboarding School (508) 259-2728 MA
IL IL
Broneah Kiteboarding (231) 392-2212 Detroit Kiteboarding (248) 245-5016
MI MI
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Grand Bay Kite Co. (231) 929-0607 Great Lakes Kiteboarding (586) 822-6511 MacInaw Kite Co. (800) 622-4655 Tawas Board Riders (989) 362-9906 Motor City Kiteboarding (586) 943-5172 Sharkless Kiteboarding (269) 639-SURF Uncle Doug’s Kiteboarding (810) 985-3732
MI
MI
MI
MI MI
MI
MN MN MN MN
Mississippi
Get Air (228) 209-1204 Gulfport Boardsports (228) 596-1936
MS
NC NC NC
NC NC NC NC NC
New Hampshire
Powerline Sports (888) 987-WIND
NH
New Jersey
Extreme Windsurfing (610) 807-9493
NJ
Kitesurf Vegas (702) 493-9245 Windsports (702) 220-4340
NV NV
Best Kiteboarding Center (631) 691-0793 NY Curtis Sport Connection (716) 627-2247 NY Island Riders (631) 608-0366 NY Main Beach Surf & Sports (631) 537-2716 NY Myers (716) 751-6511 NY Skywalk Kiteboarding (631) 324-4450 NY Windsurfing Hamptons (613) 283-9463 NY Rick’s Surf Shop (631 )581-9424 NY
Ohio
OH OH
NJ
Oklahoma
Thomasons Sports Kites (580) 796-2359
OK
Oregon
2nd Wind Sports (541) 386-4464 Air-Time (541) 387-3910 Big Winds (888) 509-4210 Brian’s Windsurfing/ Kitesurfing (541) 386-1423 Cleanline Surf (888) 546-6176 Floras Lake Windsurfing (541) 348-9912 Gorge Surf Shop (800) 957-4978 Hood River Waterplay (541) 386-WIND Kite-Line (888) 714-9849 Kite the Gorge (541) 490-4926 Lincoln City Surf Shop (541) 996-7433
OR OR OR
Kitesurfing Puerto Rico (787) 374-5329 Velauno (787) 728-8716
PR PR
Rhode Island
New York
Red Sky Surf & Snow (419) 536-3204 River Sports (440) 333-8138
New Wind (541) 387-2440 Pacific Wave (503) 861-0866 Windance Boardshop (541) 386-2131
Puerto Rico
Nevada
MT
North Carolina
Blowing in the Wind (910) 763-1730 Cape Fear Kiteboarding (910) 201-4002 Kiteboarding Hatteras (252) 995-5000 Kitty Hawk Kiteboarding Centers (877) FLY-THIS Outer Banks Kiting Certified (252) 305-6839 Real Kiteboarding (866) 732-5548 Wind Toys USA (910) 328-5483 Wind Toys II (252) 393-1300
NJ
MS
Montana
Underground Kitesports (406) 546-2709
NJ
MI
Minnesota
Scuba Center Wind/Kite (612) 925-4818 North Star Kiteboarding (612) 940-6639 Midwest Mountaineering (612) 339-3433 LAKAWA Kiteboarding (651) 428-4121
Green Hat Kiteboarding (718) 577-1256 Heritage Surf & Sport (609) 263-3033 Island Surf and Sail (609) 494-5553
OR OR OR
OR OR OR OR OR
Northwind Sports (401) 254-4295
South Carolina
Half Moon Outfitters (843) 881-9472 Catch Some Air (843) 388-9300
SC SC
South Dakota
Pro Peak Sports (605) 341-5445
SD
Texas
Air Padre Kiteboarding (956) 299-WIND Pro Kitesurf (361) 883-1473 South Coast Kiteboarding (361) 949-3278 S. Padre IslandKiteboarding (956) 245-8343 S. Padre Kiteboarding (956) 761-1434 Warming Hut Ski & Board (972) 234-6088 XL Kites, Dallas (817) 676-7842 XLKites, Houston (877) 955-4837 XL Kites, Padre Island (866) 957-2373 Zero Gravity Kiteboarding (361) 949-0266
Wisconsin
WA WA
WA WA C
WA
M
Y
WA
CM
MY Adventure Kiteboarding (414) 760-1493 WI CY Coontail Watersports CMY (715) 385-0250 WI Kite-Riders K (608) 273-1817 WI Southport Rigging Company (262) 652-5434 WI The Board Shop (262) 248-1703 WI
Wyoming TX TX
Hoback Sports (307) 733-5335
WY
E FOR C N A D R INSUWIND AN TS ALL ERSPOR WAT Kiteb o Wind arding, SUP, sur f i Su Wate n rskii g, Wakeb r f ing ng a nd m oarding , ore. en na Cagxt 28 ct: Da ce.com Conta 89.4762 e rtsinsuran 1.866.8agen@spo Dana.c
TX TX TX
TX TX TX TX
TX
Utah
Cloud 9 Soaring Center (801) 576-6460 Kiteutah.com (435) 462-5303
UT UT
Virginia
OR
Southeast Expeditions (877) 943-8548
OR
Washington
OR
RI
Seattle Kiteboarding Center (206) 779-3272 Urban Surf (206) 545-9463 Wiley’s Water Ski Shop (206) 762-1300 Wind Flow (877) 211-3524 Evo (206) 973-4470 Bellingham Kiteboarding (360) 441-7577
4/9/10
VA
North by Northwest Surf Co. (360) 452-5144 WA thek i teboarde r. com 7 9
1:06:
TOP
THE
yard sale
Matt Thames gets a mouthful of snow. Photo Janet Erjavec
CRASHES IN FRONT OF THE
LENS
G o t a great wipe o u t sh o t ? Email: paul@thekiteboarder.com
Niklas Huntgeburth came up a little short on this kiteloop. Photo Jan R.
This unidentified rider found out that sometimes those bars can be a little hard to hang onto. Photo David G. Tran
ER doctor Ryan Lamb does a little selfstitching in Brazil. Photo Nico Ostermann
Dimitri Maramenides makes yet another appearance in Yard Sale, this time about to go through the wash cycle. Photo courtesy Epic Kites
Brian Friedmann usually lands his strapless backrolls, but not always. Photo Erin Loscocco
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