The Kiteboarder Magazine Vol. 18, No. 1 by The Kiteboarder Magazine

WINNING IN WYDAHO The Surprise Snow Score

BACK TO STILTSVILLE Finding Flat Water Freedom

DES AND TIM WALSH A Chip Off the Old Block

STRONG LIGHT SUPERIOR A DDI C T ED TO PRO G RESS A N D I N N OVAT I O N . L EA RN EV ERY T HI N G A BO UT T HE T EC HN I CA L DETA I LS HERE: D U OTO N E S P O RTS .C O M

UP TO TIMES HIGHER TEAR RESISTANCE

50 % LESS ELONGATION

15 % LIGHTER OVERALL

COMPARE TO STANDARD DACRON

CONSTRUCTION

NEO SLS

D E D I C AT E D T O KITEBOARDING SINCE 2001

D U OTO N E S P ORTS.C OM

FOL LOW U S

EVO SLS

NEW

CONTRA

PERFORMANCE LIGHTWIND / FREERIDE Sizes: 3m / 4m / 5m / 7m / 9m / 11m

The all new one strut version of the Contra is built on its platform of efficiency and range, while adding featherweight control. With its single strut, this kite is lighter and more nimble, allowing the use of much smaller sizes to maximize foilboarding’s true potential.

James Boulding

WWW.CABRINHA.COM

NEW

Second edition of the BANDIT S, with major improvements to take wave riding, strapless freestyle or even foiling to the next level.

+ Exceptional stability and control + Total direct control of the steering anywhere on the bar throw + Firm, precise and ultra-light bar pressure + Super smooth power delivery + Homogenous traction and amazing agility

North & Central American Distr. / Bay Area Kitesurf www.bayareakitesurf.com

INST. @fonekites FB.

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KITE COLL. 2021

Photo - Alex DO ROSARIO

Rider - Mitu MONTEIRO

Spot - Palmeira, Sal, Cabo Verde

WWW.F-ONE.WORLD

BOARD SIZES

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“My tacks are on point. And it’s so playful and dynamic that it gives me even more freedom to experiment.” – Steven

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FOIL BETTER You don't need to be at Steven's level to jump on the all-new SLC foil and foilboard and find out what he's been talking about. The highly refined foilboard and hybrid carbon foil deliver predictable performance in all conditions.

SLC. HEAR THE SILENCE 

CORE Kiteboarding USA (Core Kites, USA) / +1 (321) 236-2673 / sales@corekitesusa.com / Fehmarn, Germany corekites.com | facebook.com/corekites | instagram.com/corekites | twitter.com/corekites

Rider Steven Akkersdijk / Photo Thomas Burblies

#foilbetter

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COREKITES.COM/FOIL

FROM THE EDITOR

EXO 2.0

Ydwer van der Heide’s photos have filled out many issues of this magazine over the years, but it wasn’t until two years ago that I had the pleasure of crossing paths with one of kiteboarding’s most prolific photographers. The occasion was an F-One photo shoot on a remote island in Madagascar. While I was relegated to the role of a mere observer, Ydwer was central to the core mission of the trip; if he wasn’t in the water shooting or framing Mitu at an offshore break while hanging out of the open door of a helicopter, he was coordinating locations or steadfastly reviewing photos—burning the candle on both ends. At one point, as an editor/hack photographer, I lamented over the quality of some of my photos, fishing for a hint. He smiled at me, “I love grain,” he said with a smile, advising me to embrace my photographic weaknesses.

H A R N E S S

MADE TO BACK-UP YOUR EVERY MOVE.

Ydwer on the hunt in Madagascar. // Photo Editor Brendan Richards

Many of us claim to take photos, but at best, we are merely emulating the work of Ydwer—a legitimate force of photographic nature. His impressive body of work has shaped kiteboarding as we perceive and experience it. His skill set and creativity have inspired people of all ages to submit to the kiteboarding lifestyle, follow the dream and make it their own. There’s a reason Ydwer works with every brand in the industry—no matter who, what or where—Ydwer always comes back with immaculate images.

North & Central American Distr. - Bay Area Kitesurf - www.bayareakitesurf.com

Even the best of operators suffer misadventure, and unfortunately, last month Ydwer experienced a serious foilsurfing accident near his home at Noordwijk in the Netherlands. Landing on his head in shallow water, he crushed the C6 vertebra in his spine. Unable to move in the water, he was rescued by surf friends, rushed to the hospital, and immediately taken into the operating room. After a day on a ventilator and three more days in a neurology ward, Ydwer is now living in a specialist rehabilitation center where his treatment will continue for the foreseeable future.

©Matt Georges

It’s been over a month since Ydwer’s accident. Although he can only move his wrists and is still without movement in his hands and fingers, Ydwer has made gains using Siri to do some basic photo editing, inventing props to feed himself. He has also found his way back into the water, for the moment, a rehab pool with the help of his physical therapy team. Ydwer loves a good fight, and with that spirit, he’s charging into this new challenge with remarkable resilience, yet he is still in need of some financial help on the road ahead. With one month down, they say the next six months will be crucial in his recovery. If you’ve ever been moved by one of his images, please reach out to him and share your thoughts, encouragement or consider donating to his recovery fund at the link below. We eagerly look forward to working with Ydwer once again, confident that he will persevere and continue to move us with his iconic view of the kiteboarding world.

Support Ydwer: https://gofund.me/3c39c0cf Discover the new EXO 2.0 on manera.com.

S T A Y

S A L T Y

Rider: Stijn Mul Photo: Sam Light

A L L

N E W

XTRA FREERIDE

XTRA LIGHT XTRA FAST XTRA VERSATILE SPEED | VERSATILITY | CONTROL Featuring 88 less panels, a completely redesigned trailing edge, a 25% thinner bridle, and a 10% overall weight reduction, the all new RPX V1 is next step in freeride kite design.

LEARN MORE AT SLINGSHOTSPORTS.COM FACEBOOK.COM/SLINGSHOTKITEOFFICIAL INSTAGRAM: @SLINGSHOTKITE

Winning in Wydaho

The best trips are often those that are unplanned. Brandon Scheid tags along on a girl’s weekend and scores the snowkiting dump of the decade.

On the Lam in Luderitz

With the pandemic wreaking havoc on South African beach access, Duotone’s Aaron Hadlow and Ralf Grösel abandon their product testing plans in Cape Town and escape to the least populated country in Africa.

New Chip Off the Old Block

Since Tim Walsh's earliest days, his dad Des has been grooming him for a satisfying life of windsports. Having followed his father's footsteps into kiteboarding, Tim is a careful study of powered freestyle and his father’s product testing work.

Designing for Silence

From composite bike parts to homemade kiteboards, Jan Termöhlen’s engineering work catches the eye of Core Kiteboarding and leads him on the quest to build the ultimate foil platform for some of the most technical and meticulous customers around.

The Photo Get

Frontside

Profile:

Hendrick Lopes

Gifted with the talent to fill big shoes

Profile:

Gage Fichter

Bringing healthy bowls to Hatteras

Exposed

Method

The snowkite ascent by Marie-Eve Mayrand

108

Viewpoint

Entering a New Era of Bar Innovation

114

Wish List

116

Roots

Peter Stiewe: A Life Directed by Wind

Welcome to Stiltsville

With a nod to prohibition era history, Chris Bobryk escapes the onerous restrictions of Miami's kiteboarding beaches and finds refuge in a shallow sandbar a mile offshore.

From the Editor

Photographer and Marketing Manager James Boulding descends on Fuerteventura with the European Cabrinha team to capture the 01 collection in the hands of Cabrinha’s key athletes.

118

On the Map

120

Parting Shot

32 52 96 20

42 On the Cover

Hendrick Lopes charges one of

the rarer waves in Sal. On a multisport tear, Hendrick is carrying the

torch for Cabo Verdeans. Check out his profile on PG 52. // Photo Alex Do Rosario

WINNING IN WYDAHO The Surprise Snow Score

BACK TO STILTSVILLE Finding Flat Water Freedom

DES AND TIM WALSH A Chip Off the Old Block

TRAVEL + PROGRESSION Marina Chang, Publisher marina@thekiteboarder.com Brendan Richards, Editor in Chief brendan@thekiteboarder.com India Stephenson, Designer/Editor india@thekiteboarder.com Alexis Rovira, Editor at Large alexis@thekiteboarder.com Gary Martin, Tkb Ambassador gary@thekiteboarder.com NORTH AMERICAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Featuring 35 locations and 203 pages to explore

CONTRIBUTORS Brandon Scheid, Ian Hardgrove, James Boulding, Joe Winowski, Chris Bobyrk PHOTOGRAPHERS Alex Do Rosario, Chris Rollet, Fninga, Helen Fischer, Arlin Ladue, Craig Kolesky, Jennica Lowell, Frankie Bees, Des Walsh, Stephen Whitesell, Ana Catarina, Crystal Veness, Mark Bialek, Eric Duran, Caio Pacheco, Reider Decker, Julieta Pereyra, Thomas Burblies, Marco Órru, James Boulding, Chuck Harlan, Christian Diaz, Carlos Mesa, Kayla Hord, Peter Martel, Audrey Davis, Matthieu Pelikan, Georgia Schofiel, Tracy Kraft Visit us at: thekiteboarder.com twitter.com/the_kiteboarder • facebook.com/thekiteboardermagazine

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#SHOWOFF Photographer: Alex Schwarz, Miriam Joanna, Rider: Alex Rohl, Lukas Vogeltanz, Theo de Ramecourt

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FRONTSIDE

While the typical fare is tacos and margaritas, Naish rider Nadja Bianchet grabs roast beef against the backdrop of El Cerralvo Island on a classic bluebird afternoon in La Ventana. // Photo Chris Rollett

FRONTSIDE

Making good on his promise to explore the uncharted waves of Cabo Verde, Matchu Lopes grabs a wad of rail and sets up for a throaty section on a mysto sandbar somewhere close to home. // Photo Fninga

FRONTSIDE

Just another light wind day at the yacht harbor in Fehmarn, Germany. Jan Burgdoerfer launches another socially distanced kite session in the afternoon light. // Photo Helen Fischer

Brandon and ever Colleen Carroll pauseifbeside creek bed atintroduction Henry Lake Flats to survey the infinite This is because, by nature, perfect snowkiting instantaneous to speed and My veryScheid first time kiteboarding, you a frozen terrain. With perfect wind and rime-coated powder, snowkiting conditions don’t get much better than this.

could call it that, was with a snowboard, a rock climbing harness and a three meter trainer kite in a park by my childhood home in Wyoming, Michigan. The kite came with handles, so I hacked together my own control bar out of one-inch aluminum tube, some nuts and bolts and wrapped it all together with hockey tape. The experiment ended up far from success with my kite wrapped around a soccer goal. I’m sure the wind was terrible and the snow was crusted with ice, but despite the failure it was enough to stoke my curiosity for power kites alive. Fast forward a few years and I upgraded to a legitimate harness, got better at snowboarding, acquired a 9m Wipika Hydro and found myself a large frozen lake. My dad helped me set up lines and launch my kite on the shore of Gun Lake. From the moment I dove the kite, no lie, off I went flying across the snowy lake with an

freedom. I ended up crossing the twomile-wide lake on a massive downwinder, although at that time, I had no grasp of wind direction or that downwinding was a thing, and my dad picked me up on the other side. This was the moment that I became completely hooked and off I went to work for REAL Watersports, kicking off a long-lasting relationship with the amazing and beautiful sport of kiteboarding.

If snowkiting was the gateway fix that got me hooked on kiteboarding, in the two-decade love affair that followed, I’d be hard-pressed to count the number of epic snowkiting days on more than one hand. In all my years chasing snow with a kite around the Rockies, Wasatch, Cascades, Sierras, and Canada, including my time on the North American Snowkite Tour (yes we had a snowkite tour), I still have very few sessions of ‘epic’ status to report.

sessions are truly paradoxical. First you need a suitable place with a sufficient base of snowpack to safely cover all the terrain, bushes and rocks. Then you will need legal access to this potential area, because as you will find, a lot of public spots suffer from restrictions while most private property owners hate looking at snowkite tracks once the novelty of seeing the sport for the first time wears off. Some spots are what I would consider an ‘approach nightmare’; you might need a snowmobile or a fivemile backcountry trek through untracked mountains to get to clean wind. Also keep in mind that most inland winds are notoriously gusty and unpredictable and often come with weather; this means more exposure, low visibility and a whole slew of safety concerns. If you are lucky to line up all these factors with freshly laid snow, you will then discover that the precious wind you need

y very first time kiteboarding, if you could call it that, was with a snowboard, a rock climbing harness and a 3m trainer kite in a park by my childhood home in Wyoming, Michigan. The kite came with handles, so I hacked together my own control bar out of a one-inch aluminum tube and some nuts and bolts, wrapping it all together with hockey tape. The experiment ended up far from a success, with my kite wrapped around a soccer goalpost. I’m sure the wind was terrible, and the snow was crusted with ice, but despite the failure, it was enough to keep my curiosity for power kites alive. Fast forward a few years, and I upgraded to a legitimate harness, got better at snowboarding, acquired a 9m Wipika Hydro and found myself a large frozen lake. My dad helped me set up lines and launch my kite on the shore of Gun Lake. From the moment I dove the kite, no lie, off I went flying across the snowy lake; it was an instantaneous introduction to speed and freedom. I ended up crossing the twomile-wide lake on a massive downwinder, although at that time, I had no grasp of wind direction or that downwinding was a thing. My dad picked me up on the other side, and from that moment on, I was completely hooked. From there, I went to work for REAL Watersports, kicking off a long-lasting relationship with the amazing and beautiful sport of kiteboarding. If snowkiting was the gateway fix that got me obsessed with kiteboarding, in the two-decade love affair that has followed, I’d be hard-pressed to count the number of epic snowkiting days I’ve had on more than one hand. In all my years of chasing snow with a kite around the Rockies, Wasatch, the Cascades, the Sierras and Canada, including my time on the North American Snowkite Tour (yes, we had a snowkite tour), I still have very few sessions of ‘epic’ status to report. This is because, by nature, perfect snowkiting sessions are truly paradoxical. First, you need a suitable place with a sufficient snowpack base to safely cover all the terrain, bushes and rocks. Then you will need legal access to this potential area because, as you will find, a lot of public spots suffer from restrictions, while most private property owners hate looking at snowkite tracks once the novelty of seeing the sport for the

first time wears off. Some spots are what I would consider an ‘approach nightmare’; you might need a snowmobile or a five-mile backcountry trek through untracked mountains to get to clean wind. Also, keep in mind that most inland winds are notoriously gusty and unpredictable and often come with foul weather; this means more exposure, low visibility and a whole slew of safety concerns. If you are lucky to line up all these factors with freshly laid snow, you will then discover that the precious wind you need to launch your kite is going to blow that perfect snow around, often leaving you with wind-scoured hardpack—the kind that is not so fun on the knees. My track record has been less than inspiring, perhaps either because I’m just not dedicated enough to the chase or maybe I’m consistently unlucky. On the other hand, it might just be incredibly challenging to line up those rare and amazing days with the wind at your back and a foot of fresh powder underfoot.

Perfect snowkiting sessions are truly paradoxical.... I’d be hard-pressed to count the number of epic snowkiting days I’ve had on more than one hand.

If my prognosis of snowkiting seems gloomy, it’s a necessary preamble to offset the glorious weekend trip I am about to describe. When snowkiting is good or even epic, its three-dimensional terrain, endless options for exploration and the insane feel of carving fresh tracks make you forget the boredom of waiting for wind, failed attempts and insufferable, crappy conditions of sessions past. Earlier this winter, when my fiancé Sensi Graves mentioned that she was co-hosting a women’s snowkiting camp with Australian Jennie Milton in Island Park, Idaho, it perked my curiosity. Jennie is a backcountry skiing and snowkiting bad-ass, wired with the passion and drive for snowkiting like no other. She has spent most of her adult life in pursuit of the perfect yet elusive snowkiting session and loves sharing her knowledge by organizing and educating riders about the world of snowkiting through her ‘AdrenaJen’ clinics. So, when it was time for Sensi to load up the car and drive 10 hours east towards Island Park, it was all too easy for me to hop in and tag along. Similarly, our good friend and neighbor Colleen Carroll did the same at a moment’s notice, and we all headed towards winter wonderland. Nicknamed ‘Wydaho,’ for its proximity to the Wyoming border, we drove down the small-town streets of Island Park, mostly surrounded by visiting snowmobilers, attracted to the region’s mellow, low

LEFT: Jennie Milton is known for her hard-charging lines as well as her world-renowned AdrenaJen clinics. Dedicated to sharing her technical snowkiting knowledge with riders of all abilities, Jennie spends her entire winter chasing powder. RIGHT: As the newly minted R&D tester for Slingshot, Brandon puts the Rally GT through its paces on the snow transforming steady wind and deep powder into big technical airs.

rolling, open terrain. At 6,000 feet above sea level, the hills were loaded with a solid snowpack, and the wind seemed to be constantly blowing. This air was particularly cold, and on most nights, the valleys were filled with dense fog rising from the interaction of the frigid air and the flowing creeks. This dynamic is critical because the cold, foggy air forms rime ice, a thin frosty layer that helps encapsulate the light snow, protecting it from the wind. Checking into our small hotel amidst a thick fog, we would soon find out a perfect snowpack setup surrounded us for epic snowkite conditions. Sensi, Colleen and I were completely oblivious as to how good we were about to get it. Just outside of town, there is the perfect park and ride area called Henry Lake Flats. You can pump up and rig your kite 100 feet from your car, so access couldn’t be easier. We got to the spot with moderate clearing winds and lighter skies. While Jennie and Sensi started orienting their girls’ group with the snow and location, Colleen and I quickly got our gear set, our hearts pounding from the anticipation of first tracks. Laying out your lines can be hard when each step brings you post-holing up to your thigh, but we both knew this inconvenience was an exciting sign for things to come. Straight from your car, Henry Lake Flats gives you access to seemingly endless miles of rideable landscape. Several large ridges run across the flats, making for mile-long wind lips. There’re countless frozen creeks with shallow riverbeds that create roly-poly style terrain. The first hour was sheer bliss with not a single track in sight, that is until I began encountering my own. There is something novel about seeing a physical trace of where you’ve been. With time, the immediate area began to fill with our tracks, with ruts forming amid giant slashes in the terrain features. We looked at the recorded evidence of big jumps written into the snowpack. You could come back a day later and admire or even measure the size of your biggest launches. It wasn’t long before Jennie and Sensi had the campers working their way around the area. Snowkiting is not easy, and it took most of the day for the girls to get their bearings, but the good news for everyone was that the conditions were forecasted to improve each day, with more wind on the horizon.

Colleen Carroll takes a weekend off from her day job hocking Hood River real estate, finding herself in Island Park’s snowkiting bliss. Stylish airs and tail blocks are just another part of her freestyle inventory.

LEFT: Carving hard turns on flat land is something only to be seen in snowkiting. With face shots galore, Brandon scores more laps than on the best day of lift riding. TOP RIGHT: Sensi Graves breaks loose from her instructor role at the women’s clinic for some free kite time, jamming out high-speed tail presses in ideal park and ride conditions. BOTTOM RIGHT: Brandon introduces some powered, wake-influenced load and pop to his snow game as the wind picks up across the flats.

The next two days were a blur of face shots, massive jumps, big smiles and more crashes than I care to admit. We started the final day of our three-day powder bender with strong winds in the upper 20s with good visibility and bottomless conditions. I’ve only encountered this once or twice before, and I was having a blast doing more King of the Air style launching than I’ve ever considered doing on snow before. If your legs could keep up, there were endless deep slashes and high-speed carves to be had across amazing terrain, along with limitless fields of untracked powder. But, the one thing no one tells you about snowkiting is that it gives you jelly legs! It’s hard on the body, demanding incredible strength and stamina, while constantly alternating between uncomfortable states of cold, then boiling hot and typically back to utterly freezing. Snowkiting also has some obvious safety issues—like what happens when your gear breaks or the wind dies in a remote riding area. It is not to be taken lightly, and that’s something Jennie hones in on during her clinics. Basic snowkiting skills aren’t difficult to pick up, especially coming from a kiteboarding background, but the mobility of the kite can place you in situations well beyond your skillset and preparation. Jennie likes to spend a lot of time sharing her in-depth knowledge of safety-related skills and expertise. She’s a master in efficiency, working smarter, not harder, and is uniquely gifted at helping the group become strong, confident riders on the snow and in extreme elements. As I hung out in the wings, it was truly amazing to glean some insights from Jennie’s deep knowledge of all things snow-related. By the end of the last day, even though there were still miles of untracked area to be covered, we had left our collective mark on the Henry Lake Flats. Not only did we score some of the best snowkiting I can remember, but it was also truly an incredible gathering of people. Among the women in the clinic, four riders had arrived with zero experience flying kites, yet they were riding upwind and completely hooked by the end of the three days. Island Park exceeded every expectation, and with renewed stoke, I can no longer count my epic snowkite sessions on a single hand. The inspiring energy of Jennie’s clinic took me back to my first session in that soccer field in Michigan. Once again, I was reminded of my thirst for snowkiting’s inherent sense of freedom, limitless terrain and the unmatched thrill of charging fresh tracks through cold smoke powder.

If your legs could keep up, there were endless deep slashes and high-speed carves to be had across amazing terrain, along with limitless fields of untracked powder.

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On the Lam Words by Joe Winowski | Photos by Craig Kolesky

is inert for the limitless sands of the Namib desert, constantly

German colonial architecture, remnants of the early 20th-century diamond rush

in motion as they spill across the shallow lagoons of the

in southern Namibia. Luderitz is not the usual destination for a multi-national

West African shoreline and through the ghost towns of

R&D team. The typical kiteboarders that descend on Luderitz’s offshore lagoons

once-bustling mining communities. Having driven 10-hours over gravel washboard

are speed freaks, those few individuals looking to establish speed records where

roads and encountering multiple flooded detours, Aaron Hadlow, Ralf Grösel and

howling winds blow across perfectly still water in man-made ditches. Getting

Marian Hund threaded their diesel pickups through the sleepy streets of Luderitz and

to Southern Namibia is about as inconvenient as you can get, but in a world

into the driveway of a Bavarian-styled guesthouse. Luderitz, a post-colonial artifact,

disrupted by a pandemic, unrestricted mobility and water access are more than

is a sparsely populated outpost of cement buildings, its wide streets dotted with aging

a mere luxury; they're a necessity.

TOP LEFT: Landing in Luderitz, Aaron having sampled the goods a few weeks earlier knew exactly where to go. Known for its speed kiting conditions, there are tremendous opportunities for flat water freestyle. BOTTOM LEFT: Every tourist attraction needs a sign, even neglected mining outposts and ghost towns.

Every year, kite designers are tasked with making incremental improvements to highly-refined products, and the march of progress requires large blocks of testing time with good conditions to move the dial. With the pandemic hitting every part of the manufacturing supply chain as well as bringing interruptions to the cargo transport industry, nailing every deadline on the prototyping timeline has become much more critical. When Cape Town’s Covid-19 infection rate skyrocketed in January, leading to another shutdown complete with beach closures and a total ban on kiteboarding, Aaron Hadlow and Duotone’s kite designer Ralf Grösel scrambled to come up with an alternate testing site. Having just returned from a travel clinic in Namibia, Aaron proposed they travel to the lagoons of Luderitz due to its constant supply of wind, low population and open status. No sooner had

the team booked 4x4s to make the 14-hour drive north into Namibia, Aaron learned that the country had closed its border for land crossings from South Africa. At that point, commercial aircraft was still an option, so they booked a flight to the capital, 10-hours north of Luderitz. Essentially, they would fly well past Luderitz into the middle of the country and then pack into 4x4s, turnaround and drive south half the span of Namibia to get to their destination. This year in particular, Namibia had seen more rain than in the past 20 years, and with many of the fastest routes flooded, the crew weaved their way towards the windy outpost on the southern coast. About 10 minutes outside of town, you can find the speed channel that Luderitz is largely known for, but beyond the world speed record attempts, there are three or four other spots that give you access to shallow water lagoons, expansive offshore bays and open ocean riding. Luderitz is one of the few natural seaports for Namibia, and when diamonds were discovered floating in the sand during the building of a local railroad in 1903, it brought the town a short but extremely profitable trade in diamonds. When the supply of easily accessible diamonds dried up, Luderitz entered a long period of decline. Having lost its once prominent position in diamond mining, the town of Luderitz now relies on a smallscale fishing industry and scant tourism that serves up views of the expansive dunes, ghost towns and the carnage of long-abandoned railroads and stately chateaus long filled with the blowing sand of the Namib desert. TOP LEFT: The abandoned chalets of the once prosperous diamond industrialists lay unattended, filled with the Namib desert’s incessant movement of sand. TOP RIGHT: Aaron, Marian and Ralf circle a prototype kite to negotiate subtle changes to the bridling. BOTTOM: Inside the Namib-Naukluft Park, Aaron poses amongst the dead trees of Deadvlei.

Aaron and Ralf arrived in Luderitz to find ideal conditions, with a variety of different types of spots offering wind ranging anywhere from 15 knots all the way to 40 knots on the strongest days. The empty beaches and quiet town were the perfect locales for long

TOP: For tourists capable of appreciating the vast beauty of an arid desert, Namibia offers spectacular views and incredible ecological contrast. RIGHT MIDDLE: Pigtails galore; prototype kites are designed with extra tuning options that demonstrate the importance of miniscule modifications. BOTTOM RIGHT: Loaded to the gills, double cab Toyota Hilux 4x4s are essential tools to lug gear to the toughest places. BOTTOM LEFT: No graphics needed for this boned out seatbelt grab in Luderitz’s lagoons. RIGHT: Ralf’s office is located just about anywhere the wind blows. New materials like Penta TX present both opportunities and challenges for the relentless kite designer.

days of relentless testing. Aaron’s R&D work with Ralf goes back to 2014 when Ralf first courted the world champ with new plans for the re-designed Vegas. Ralf ’s precise grasp of kite development is one of the key factors that brought Aaron to Duotone, and in the years that followed, Aaron has become a crucial part of the three-man testing team for the freestyle and freeride platforms. Testing kites alongside Ralf and Marian, Aaron is always impressed with the focus and incredible efficiency Ralf brings to the process. Aaron’s job is to help assess feel and performance, and because Ralf himself rides at a high level, the two are usually on the same page. According to Aaron, “Ralf ’s precision on and off the water is why each of the freeride kites have such impressive and crisp performance.” Ralf ’s personality is both upfront and direct, with incredible dedication to each project. Aaron cites Ralf ’s intense

focus and efficiency as one of the team’s key strengths to maintaining Duotone’s high-performance standards. Going from an initial idea to the final product requires an immense amount of work, but Ralf ’s unique ability to ride a kite and almost instantly gain a picture of what the kite is doing is crucial for changing local parameters like bridles or adapting geometry for another round of samples. The efficiency in which he moves through those steps is why Aaron believes the Evo and Dice are such highly-refined products. Hiking up to the boulder-laden hill above town, Aaron passes the Hollywood-style Luderitz sign propped up in the rocks. Surveying the colorful buildings below, the imprint of German architecture is everywhere, mixed with an element of improvisation and efficiency required in a remote outpost. Colonized by Germany, battles fought and lost in World War I transferred rule from Germany to South

TOP LEFT: Using words and hand signals to communicate feelings, Ralf and Aaron trade observations on the finer points of kite handling. TOP RIGHT: There’s no such thing as down time on testing trips. Ralf’s intense focus is what makes Duotone’s freeride kites incredibly precise. BOTTOM: Small changes yield big differences on the water. OPPOSITE ABOVE: Everyone on the testing team has chops; Marian Hund with a high altitude handlespass. OPPOSITE BOTTOM RIGHT: Aaron Hadlow measures the standard Evo design against the new Evo SLS. OPPOSITE BOTTOM LEFT: It takes extra hands and pure precision to get the R&D process just right.

Africa. After years of cultural strife and the imposition of apartheid policies, the country eventually broke free and achieved self-rule in 1990. Today, Namibia remains the least densely populated country in the world. Named after the oldest desert on earth, it continues to rely on an economy of mining that extracts diamonds, uranium, gold, silver and other base metals for international export. Pulling their Toyota Hilux out onto the sand and opening up the camper top, there’s a large number of colorful but unscreened prototypes to be tested. This year the Evo has been released in its SLS trim level that features new weight-saving materials and rigging that have inspired geometry changes. Having watched Ralf work through 60 prototypes, a sum far larger than normal, Aaron was highly involved in the process of understanding the material’s behavior and pushing the end product towards a significant increase in performance. According to Aaron, “The Evo SLS has a more precise and direct feel that delivers a better connection with the kite, which is essential in knowing where the kite is at all times.” The weight savings combined with its new strut technology make for faster and more reactive turning, and the kite drives out of loops better. In terms of wind range, the larger-sized kites now perform better in the low-end, with faster acceleration, and as a whole, the kites fly a little farther forward in the window, which makes a big difference in upwind and high-end performance. In the shallow lagoons of Luderitz, Aaron tests the standard Evo against the SLS, boosting massive airs over islands, testing the lifting power of the new flex struts, thinner bridling and Penta TX leading edge material. Making adjustments to the bridles between sessions, Ralf discusses how the Evo SLS’ lift is very stationary; rather than pulling you downwind, it helps you hover or boost straight up. The Evo SLS is different mainly due to the positioning

ABOVE: Demonstrating textbook grabs with explosive amplitude, Aaron Hadlow joined the Duotone team back in 2014 because he knew he’d have the opportunity to work with the brilliant Ralf Grösel.

of the kite in the wind window; the kite flies further towards the edge of the window and this leads to higher angles of attack and better upwind performance. In capable hands, the SLS upgrades lead to exhilarating performance for big air and freeride kiting. After a week of relentless wind and long days spent testing kites and tweaking settings against the backdrop of shallow bays and arid sandstone shelves, Aaron and Ralf can tell you better than anyone else—no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. For the R&D team in charge of Duotone’s freeride kite portfolio, testing is a monumental task under normal conditions, but when the pandemic throws a rusty wrench into the mix, the new plan becomes the best plan in the march for performance and progress.

Photo Frankie Bees

NEW CHIP

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OLD BLOCK W O R D S

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The Walsh family kicks every morning off from their home up in Makawao overlooking Maui’s North Shore. From their living room, Des and his son Tim can check the progress of the wind and waves, studying Kanaha from afar. On a typical day, Des goes to work and Tim to school, but by the afternoon, they reconnect back on the water for a kite session. Having worked at Naish for over 30 years, Des has been around to see the evolution of the sport and has naturally gone about passing much of his kiteboarding wisdom to his 16-year-old son. Tim’s kiteboarding career launched in 2008, the same year as the Torch, when Des wrapped a fouryear-old Tim between his legs, armed with a lifejacket and some goggles to fend off the spray. When Tim turned eight, he started kiting on his own and now, at 16, he has followed in his father’s footsteps, spending the corners of his days aiding the testing program at Naish Kiteboarding.

es discovered the windsurfing way of life back in the early 80s when he started teaching windsurfing in Martha’s Vineyard. “I was always impressed with the people who were dedicated to windsurfing. The feeling of strong wind and a storm coming, and knowing that you and some friends were going to be out there in the middle of it was the best thing for me.” But after six summers on the Vineyard, Des made the jump to Hawaii, and in 1989 began working for the Naish shop in Kailua, Oahu. Naish was ‘the’ name in windsurfing, and getting a job at the Naish shop was like a dream come true.

It was a thriving time for Des, teaching windsurfing lessons, kicking rentals out the door, and working in the shop. Oahu was bustling with young people from all over the world who were there to windsurf—the cost of living was low and the sailing was amazing. According to Des, “At this time, Kailua was a windsurfer’s paradise.” Eventually, Des started working at the Naish custom board factory, but in 2004, just after their son Tim was born, Des and his wife, Meggie, were ready for a new chapter at Naish with greater responsibilities. They packed their bags for Maui, and Des began work at Naish headquarters, where he moved up through

the ranks and now holds the official title of Kiteboarding Product Manager. Working closely with Naish’s kite team riders, Des is charged with steering the engineering team through testing and gear refinement in addition to managing relationships with the athletes. Since Maui’s time zone is separated by 12 hours from much of the kite world, on most mornings, Des’s phone is loaded with messages by the time he gets up. Dashing off a few early memos, Des jumps in his car, drops Tim off at school and lands in the Naish office by 9am. Most of his day is filled with emails and R&D

TOP LEFT: Having nabbed his dream job, Des Walsh (right) poses with Carol Naish and the rest of the Naish shop employees in Kailua circa 1992. // Photo courtesy of Des Walsh RIGHT: Des takes a light wind spin on the Orbit. As Kiteboarding Product Manager, Des drives the development of everything from kites to twin tips. // Photo Frankie Bees BOTTOM LEFT: Des hands over the controls to Tim at a very early age. // Photo courtesy of Des Walsh

work, but by mid-afternoon, school lets out, and Tim swings by the office to help the development team with projects or lend a hand in the shop. Typically, around 3pm, they head to the beach and ride until dark. The family car is always filled with an assortment of experimental gear, and Des makes a point of encouraging Tim to ride everything, swapping products back to back and quizzing Tim on his thoughts. With eight years of kiting under his belt and thoroughly immersed in the testing process, Tim has become adept at picking out the unique qualities of each prototype. According to Tim, his testing skills

have been a slow evolution. Developing sensitivity to small changes in performance characteristics isn’t easy, but with his father’s direction, it is a process that Tim finds fascinating. When asked whether helping out with testing falls into the category of work or fun, Tim responds, “It can be a little of both, but mostly fun. Just being able to help is a privilege, and I try to enjoy every bit of it.”

Des makes a point of encouraging Tim to ride everything, swapping products back to back and quizzing Tim on his thoughts.

Weekends are a bit more relaxed at the Walsh household. Meggie is the early riser while Des will sleep in a bit. According to his dad, "Tim, like any teenager, can sleep forever if you let him." Luckily, kiting on

Maui doesn’t start before 11am, so the family typically begins their day with a big breakfast and then digs into the household chores and necessary yard work. “We try to be responsible,” says Des, “but inevitably, the pull gets too strong, and we load up the car and head to the beach.” Thirty years on, Des remains solidly committed to the windsports lifestyle and is successfully passing it onto the next generation. For Des, getting to the beach and riding is extremely important; “I don’t think that the benefits of going into the water can be overstated.” Being able to ride with Tim, his friends and his local beach crew is a massive bonus on

top of his carefully crafted lifestyle. The father and son duo always look forward to having the international team riders come through Maui because the athletes are always pushing the staff on the development side. Over the last few years, Tim has enjoyed tagging along at the photo shoots and watching what everyone does. These meetings have helped him progress and inspire him to try new tricks that he eventually refines in his own way. According to Des, “Naish has always been fortunate to have team riders who ride very well and are also great people.” Having young, worldly and self-sufficient guys come to Maui for a bit and sometimes stay at the Walsh house is extra fun for the family.

When the Walsh’s aren’t testing prototypes, they have a wide range of equipment options but gravitate to tried and true models. Tim spends most of his days on a Dash 9m and the Motion 138 twin tip. Tim finds the Dash perfect for Maui’s strong, gusty winds and loves it for megaloops combined with the Motion’s extra smooth ride in the choppy water. His riding style goes through phases, but right now, he hungers for big, smooth waves for launchpads, 30+ knots of wind and only a few friends out. Des’s quiver is a bit more diverse, with a favorite wave setup that includes the Pivot and the Global surfboard or the new Switch twin tip for jumping. When the conditions are right

LEFT: Quick to learn, Tim Walsh masters the art of the kite foil. // Photo Frankie Bees TOP MIDDLE: Tim and his friends drop by the Naish shop while Des works in the background. // Photo Stephen Whitesell LOWER MIDDLE: Caution: kiteboarding gear on board! Baby Tim packed for a normal day at work. // Photo courtesy of Des Walsh RIGHT: Tim coming into his own with a powered tail press. Having shadowed Naish’s international kite team, he’s learned the ropes from some of the best. // Photo Frankie Bees

FLOATING LEFT: Des scores the cover of a German kitesurfing mag with his trademark conniption trick, circa 2001. // Courtesy of Kitesurf Special LEFT: Flaunting the S25 limited edition graphics on his Pivot, Tim lets loose his megaloop King of the Air skills in the calm before the storm. // Photo Frankie Bees TOP MIDDLE: A chip off the old block, Tim earns a spot on Naish’s testing team. // Photo Jennica Lowell LOWER MIDDLE: A younger Tim inspects the concave bottom of a Naish twin tip. // Photo Stephen Whitesell RIGHT: Putting the new Traverse twin tip to work, Tim grabs stalefish at Kite Beach, Maui. // Photo Frankie Bees

for foiling, Des brings out the Boxer and the Hover 97 with the 650 foil and readily acknowledges that it’s a huge bonus to be able to ride exactly the right equipment for the conditions all the time. When asked about his favorite trick, Des harkens back to ‘the conniption,’ a classic move from the beginning of kiteboarding. Des is quick to point out, “It’s not a very cool or ‘legit’ move, but I always had fun doing it.” The conniption was better geared for the early days of Kailua when kiting was a light wind sport performed in steady winds—the kites turned much slower and required longer

bars to turn them. Back then, when you got it right, the jumps were long and floaty, and everyone unhooked to jump because being hooked to your kite for jumping seemed far too dangerous. The conniption goes back to a move that every kid does while hanging on a jungle gym bar. “You go upside down, hook your feet on the bar inside of your hands and then push your body through your arms.” Once Des tried it kiting, he was obsessed with the amazing view, looking at everything upside down and backwards. “I loved it. In fact, I would do it so much that my feet would be swollen from my shins smashing against the bar.” When the gear

Naish has always been fortunate to have team riders who ride very well and are also great people. Having young, worldly and self-sufficient guys come to Maui for a bit and sometimes stay at the Walsh house is extra fun for the family.

ABOVE: Coming into his own, Tim is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in Maui’s megaloop scene. As a longtime member of the Naish family, Tim is following in his father’s footsteps and working his way up the ranks, quickly becoming a valued member of the kite testing team. // Photo Frankie Bees

progressed, the designers figured out how to make the kites turn faster with shorter bars. Because the bars became narrower, it made it impossible to fit your knees and body through your arms. According to Des, “It was fun while it lasted, but now the kites turn much faster and depower so you can ride more powered up and jump while hooked in. It’s much better, but I do miss the amazing view.” When Des is asked about the day the apprentice surpassed the master, he jokingly responds, “It hasn’t happened yet, and I don’t think that day will come because I rip and my moves are fresh.” In reality, Des recalls a day a few years ago with epic conditions when all the best jumpers were on the water. At this time, Des still thought he had some serious air game, so he grabbed the same kite size as Tim and tried to upstage the young gun’s

big kiteloops. Overpowered and out of control, Des still hasn’t heard the end of that debacle. Watching Tim’s progression, Des is impressed with his son’s method for learning new moves. Tim builds up step by step, never out of control and then nails the trick, which directly contrasts to Des’s technique. “I usually just dive in headfirst and crash hard.” Both Des and Meggie have always been careful to be sure Tim’s motivation came from inside himself. Reflecting on their approach, Des recounts, “We try not to push him and always keep it fun because my dream would be for him to enjoy watersports his entire life.” It’s every parent’s ambition to be able to share their passion with their kids, and Des is well aware that having the ultimate dream job within windsports definitely helps in handing over the baton.

PROFILED

With strapless big air capabilities to match his skills in the waves, Hendrick has kitesurfing on lockdown along with stylish game in the foilsurfing and wingsurfing world. Check out this issue's cover shot for more Hendrick action. // Photo Ana Catarina

HENDRICK LOPES G I F T E D W I T H T H E TA L E N T T O F I L L B I G S H O E S S a l , C a b o Ve r d e

ith Airton as his uncle, Hendrick Lopes is both blessed and cursed with living up to the pedigree of a world-class kitesurfer. Born into a Cabo Verdean surf family, Hendrick’s mom began pushing him into waves on a surfboard at the young age of two. He spent most of his time at the beach, playing in the ocean and scoring his first kite rides on Uncle Airton’s back. Having begun entering local surfing contests, he eventually tried kiting by himself at the age of seven; but at first it didn’t stick because his frame was too small and the kite too powerful. It would take two years, and some significant weight gain before Hendrick’s stepfather was able to get him going on a 6m second-generation F-One Bandit. Immediately hooked on kiting, he became further intrigued as he watched Airton take the international stage and travel the world. When Hendrick began strapless surfing at the age of 14, he knew he wanted to follow in his uncle’s footsteps. Amid a classic Cabo Verdean childhood, the kind of water-soaked existence in which one’s boardshorts never completely dry out, Hendrick’s parents chose to relocate to the outskirts of Bern, Switzerland. The move was intended to give Hendrick the fundamentals of an excellent education and the discipline that is hard to find in beach life. Moving to Switzerland was a cultural shock—beyond the occasional kite session on a nearby lake, Switzerland was mostly cold, gusty and riddled with snow. During

winter holidays, Hendrick would return to Cabo Verde’s warm wind and turquoise water, and on other breaks, he traveled to famed European spots in France, Spain and Italy. But when he was back in Switzerland, he put his head down and focused on his studies, striking a quid pro quo deal with his parents; when he finished high school, his parents agreed to give him some space, delaying further education to allow him to pursue his kiteboarding dreams. Upon graduation, he was given the green light to return to Cabo Verde and follow his passion. Following in his uncle's footsteps and with classic spots like Punta Preta in his backyard, Hendrick is mainly focused on wave kiting with an all-around style that’s both very technical and powerful. His youthful attack on kitesurfing has yielded tremendous improvements in the last year, both in terms of flow and style. With a rare gift for technical aerials, having started to land 360 airs back into the wave without grabs, the young Cabo Verdean is plowing through barriers with a single-minded passion for kitesurfing. Since he was a little kid, mentors like Mitu and Airton have explained tricks and shared tips, taking the young protégé under their wings. Following in Mitu’s footsteps, Hendrick has learned switch stance so he can ride Ponta Preta frontside and explains that the intricacy of learning and landing aerials is all about repetition, reading the wave and anticipating the perfect section.

When Ponta Preta isn’t firing, Hendrick works on strapless freestyle or fills in the margins of his days with wingsurfing or foilsurfing. A student of the foil dock start, he has his sights set on becoming an all-around waterman and, as a newly minted team rider for F-One, has at his disposal a committed sponsor and an incredibly wide array of the best equipment for every watersport. Under the watchful eye of Mitu, Hendrick is now charged with carrying Cabo Verde’s torch for a future generation of young kitesurfers. Gifted with a strong competitive spirit and an internal drive to progress, Hendrick has yet to break into the GKA Kitesurfing World Tour. Event cancellations due to the pandemic have created a catch-22; to compete in the GKA, he needs qualifier points but to get qualifier points, he needs qualifier events. Despite these challenges, Hendrick competed in the first-ever wingsurfing world tour event in Brazil in the fall. Wingsurfing as a sport and as an event is all so new. According to Hendrick, “We were all just learning and having a good time, but the competition definitely makes me push myself.” Amidst his progressing aerial game and learning the ropes of competition life, Hendrick looks forward to traveling and filming, inspired by the surfing and exotic locations in Keahi’s latest video, ‘Tunnel Vision.’ Freed from the constraints of schoolwork and having only just stepped onto the international scene, Hendrick is ready to chase any travel or tour opportunity that comes his way.

PROFILED

Standing in the driveway of Hatteras Bowls, Gage poses with husband Reider Decker and father-in-law Barton Decker. Being your own boss is not necessarily easy, but for Gage, it’s the clearest path to life on the beach. // Photo Kayla Hord

GAGE FICHTER B R I N G I N G H E A LT H Y B O W L S T O H AT T E R A S Wa v e s , N o r t h C a r o l i n a

or some, it takes drive to be a proper beach bum, and Gage Fichter is a great example of this. Growing up in Putney, a small Nordic skiing mecca in southeast Vermont with a history of sending its youth to the Olympics, skiing was baked into Gage’s childhood. The daughter of two teachers, Gage attended schools where her parents taught until transitioning into a ski academy and competing in crosscountry skiing throughout high school. After spending her final spring break learning how to surf at Rye Beach in New Hampshire, she became enamored with beach life. The following summer, she tagged along on a classmate’s family vacation to Hatteras, North Carolina, a trip that would forever change the trajectory of her life. While Gage’s plan for her time in Hatteras focused on learning to surf, she found herself signed up for kite lessons at Hatteras Island Sail Shop. While she was initially instructed by infamous shop owner, Barton Decker, in the early days, Gage had an immediate connection with his son, Reider, who took her on her first ocean downwinder. Although the waves were tiny, “the act of kiting was mesmerizing, and we were grinning ear to ear,” she recalls. “It felt like the best day ever.” In the weeks that followed, Gage returned to Hatteras where she and Reider became inseparable. She signed up for college with the intent of studying in the field of medicine, and since it counted towards her credits, she pursued an EMT certification as a means of supporting herself through school and summers on Hatteras. Good jobs are hard to find in the Outer Banks, but Gage landed

herself a coveted position on Water Rescue. As the only girl hired on during her first year, she wore the standard-issued knee-length boardshorts for men until the following year when another female joined and demanded a proper girls' uniform. Looking back on guarding the beaches of a tourist destination in mens' beachwear, it was crazy and intense most of the time, but it was also an amazing opportunity to learn about the ocean and become a stronger surfer. During those years, Gage’s kitesurfing evolved as she traveled with Reider and focused on fine-tuning her surfing. Having grown up in a competitive ski environment, Gage is wired for progression, constantly asking herself, “What can I do today that will make me feel accomplished?” Working on tricks like strapless front rolls and off the lip olays in the surf, in the back of Gage’s mind is a quiet but constant mental calculation of how to push every trick just a little bit farther. The contest scene for kitesurfing never seemed viable or even appealing to Gage. Even with some impressive tricks on lockdown, all the waiting around and expensive travel didn’t seem to pencil out. Instead, Gage rides for herself or occasionally shoots with Reider but loves that feeling of landing a new trick. According to Gage, it’s hard to beat that great feeling of accomplishment when you finally nail a new move. After four years of working on Water Rescue, Gage began looking around Hatteras for a business opportunity. In the land of the south, where everything is deep-fried, the obvious void was something fresh and healthy. Inspired by foods she’d sampled

while kiting in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, Gage came up with the concept for an Acai bowl stand that she called ‘Hatteras Bowls.’ Starting a new business is always risky, but right off the bat the stand was a hit. To counter potential confusion amongst the uninitiated, she also markets her Acai bowls as fruit smoothies. Initially, Gage faced challenges in maintaining stock of fresh ingredients and working within the confines of a small space, but over the last three years, the stand has grown significantly, and Gage is constantly tweaking the setup to accommodate her customers and their feedback. Being her own boss is one of the biggest perks, but the commitment it takes to keep a business running is no small feat—especially when the surf across the street is pumping. In the summer months, when she’s slammed, she reminds herself that a seasonal business takes a “different mindset.” You have to make money in the five months that the island attracts tourists, and when the season is over, and everyone has gone home, there’ll still be plenty of time for surf and travel in the fall and winter. Opening Hatteras Bowls has afforded Gage a sustainable lifestyle in a seasonal destination, and since marrying Reider last fall, the two have purchased a house. Her next project is to make Hatteras Bowls 2.0 a larger facility equipped with additional parking and larger prep space for a more efficient workflow. While Gage has no immediate kitesurfing goals beyond enjoying her time in the water, she's still got her sights set on exploring classic waves in Sumbawa, Mauritius and Cabo Verde during the Acai bowl off-season.

EXPOSED

This year’s pandemic made water access in Cape Town not something to be taken for granted. With hard offshores, Luke McGillewie launches buckets from the lip in Scarborough, South Africa. // Photo Crystal Veness

EXPOSED

Surrounded by barbed wire and private property development, Jack Rieder front board slides a rail in the Baja Kite Park. With the way things are going down there, best enjoy free beach access while you can. // Photo Chris Rollett

EXPOSED

With the pandemic returning for another winter, many athletes like Sensi Graves found themselves traveling closer to home. New to the Slingshot family, Sensi drives her Super Natural board through La Ventana’s trademark chop. // Photo Eric Duran

EXPOSED

Ben Wilson charges Austalia’s Sunshine Coast with a shiny new Slingshot quiver, continuing his love of kitesurfing while completing one enormously full circle. // Photo Mark Bialek

EXPOSED

Three-time world champion Bruna Kajiya delivers flawless grabs with her powerful yet smooth style, thoroughly refined from years of relentless training and tenacious competition. // Photo Caio Pacheco

EXPOSED

Fleeing Hatteras’ wintery off-season, Gage Fichter escapes to Puerto Rico to slash perfect side-on right handers on the northwest shore. Read her profile on PG 54 of this issue. // Photo Reider Decker

R I D E R : KIKO ROIG TORRES & O SWA L D S M I T H

PHOTO: KY L E C A BA N O & SA M C A R D E N A S

10 0 % FREESURF

N e v er c om m it y our s e lf t o one s t y le . A lw ay s m ain t ain an o p e n m ind. R ide e v er y t hin g .

A I RU S H . C O M

SEEKING

SILENCE IN THE DETAILS

AN INTERVIE W WITH CORE’S FOIL DESIGNER JAN TERMÖHLEN INTRO AND QUESTIONS BY BRENDAN RICHARDS

an Termöhlen got his start in the business of composites at a very young age. Recalling his earliest memories, he would work beside his father crafting windsurfing boards in their home in Duisburg, Germany. Living two hours from the ocean, Jan followed his father’s conversion from windsurfing to kiteboarding in 2007. Soon after, he began building his own boards, starting with a surfboard and then focusing his skills on kiteboards, developing a particularly strong obsession with fish shapes. Directing his studies towards mechanical engineering, Jan obtained a master’s degree in composites, the art of building machinery out of resin and fibers. During his studies, he was always building surfboards on the side, but eventually, his hobby’s focus shifted to handmade hydrofoils. Transitioning from a college graduate to a self-employed mechanical engineer, Jan designed bike components until he connected with Core Kiteboarding’s design team, who enlisted him to work on their new foil platform.

RIGHT: Athlete and foil aficionado, Steven Akkersdijk skillfully walks Core’s new SLC foil platform through an intensive shakedown process. // Photo Julieta Pereyra

WHAT DOES A GROUND-UP DESIGN PROCESS FOR A COMPLETE FOIL COLLECTION LOOK LIKE?

It starts with the goals of the program, and for Core’s SLC platform, the aim was to build a kite foil that would suit kiters of all levels. Beginners appreciate its intuitive handling and nice control, while experienced foilers like how its playful dynamics help them step up their game; we made control and stability the key variables in every design decision. There are so many dimensions of foil performance to balance as you’re experimenting with shapes and materials, but its ease of use was always at the top. One of the other key design goals was to create a foil that was resistant against turbulence. This makes the wing slice through the water like butter with no vibrations, and ultimately that’s where the product’s name SLC came from—it refers to the silence you experience while riding our foil setup.

The process itself was very intensive, with feedback from the entire design team that took us through about 25 prototypes from rough early versions to the fine-tuning of the mature, finished product. I started with a section of the wing that came from my studies in engineering; the shape was influenced by theoretical performance and mathematical concepts. We took that initial shape and began experimenting with real-world results. I’ve always built my own prototypes, and because of Core’s affiliation with Carved custom boards, the organization is well versed in composite construction. There was this immediate synergy between my experience with composite bike parts and Core’s in-house knowledge of carbon twin tip construction. With instant access to a CNC machine and 3D printer, our lead time was never longer than 72 hours. In-house 3D printing and laminating allowed us to get our ideas onto the water quickly and test many different factors needed to fine-tune each aspect of the wings.

LEFT: Jan Termöhlen directs his composites design and construction experience towards prototyping a new foil platform for Core Kiteboarding. // Photo Thomas Burblies TOP RIGHT: Building a foil platform that will suit the needs of a wide array of riders can be challenging, yet stable equipment with dependable handling will always win the battle of hearts and minds. // Photo Thomas Burblies MIDDLE: The development process was a meeting of multiple minds. Everyone brought their own ideas about the core features of the perfect foil system to the table. // Photo Thomas Burblies

WHAT WAS THE HARDEST PART OF THE R&D PROCESS ?

I had a strong grasp of the theoretical and mathematical principles behind what we wanted in our product, but the hard part was figuring out how to validate these concepts in reality. You can take concepts like hull design, turbulent and laminar flow principles and punch in Reynolds numbers to simulations of various sections, but these calculations are worthless if you can’t find a path to reality. Good engineers are inherently lazy; we try to calculate as much as possible ahead of time because it saves time and effort if you can minimize the hard work of hand-building models in a workshop. Early on in the process, we had achieved a very stable prototype that we tested in the smooth waters in Fehmarn, where Core's headquarters are located. I began testing with Sebastian Witzleben and we achieved incredible control and stability, but perhaps the first prototypes could be considered too stable. We then headed to Cape Town to test with Steven Akkersdijk in the rough winds and beautiful waves. While Steven was impressed with our first efforts, we ended up having some intense conversations, not quite arguments, but he was very honest about wanting to see prototypes with more speed and glide. Steven has had a lot of experience with other foil products, and he’s been focused on

advanced riding, mastering complex maneuvers like the around the world. Over the next few months, we continued to talk on the phone, and when he came back to Fehmarn to test our improvements, he got off the water with this huge smile, totally satisfied with our changes. There were many little challenges along the way. Everyone on the team gave input; for instance, we wanted every screw on the fuselage to be the same length. Having used other foils with confusing screw lengths, the goal was to use a single tool, a P30 Torx wrench, and to have all bolts interchangeable. This seemingly simple request actually presented quite the challenge because the fuselage has a geometry that is optimized for efficiency. The foil wing is in a constant stream, and we had designed the fuselage to not disrupt that stream, but with variable thicknesses, it is hard to design uniform bolt lengths for both the mounting of the stabilizer and the front wing. Eventually, sitting on the beach in Fuerteventura, the solution came to me. There were a lot of little challenges, but the process was certainly a team effort. The SLC platform is the product of several heads coming together to identify problems and then figure out creative ways to solve them. 73

I F T H E F O I L’ S S T E E R I N G I S B R O K E N D O W N I N T O T H E T H R E E A X E S , H O W D O Y O U A P P R O A C H T H E B A L A N C E B E T W E E N R O L L , P I T C H A N D YAW ?

First, you have to evaluate each axis for its stability which is a balance between looseness and stiffness or the delay between your inputs and movement. Each axis is linked; for instance, if you roll the foil, it also has to yaw while the pitch has to steer up to catch you. If it doesn’t do this right, then the foil feels really uncomfortable. Linking the three axes is key to having a nicely behaved foil. One of the critical inputs that we worked on was stabilizing the front foot pressure needed at

different speeds and during turns. Often you will experience foils that require more front foot pressure going down a face of a wave or when hitting its upper speeds, but we ended up doing something very special that equalizes your foot pressure throughout turning and acceleration, giving you the same output in different water conditions. I can’t reveal our tricks, but it’s one of the unique features that make this foil so smooth to ride and easy to use.

SLC stands for silence. One of Jan’s key challenges was to create wings and spars that achieved near perfect efficiency while delivering handling that balanced stability against intuitive response. // Photo Thomas Burblies

YOU ENDED UP WITH TWO SPECIALIZED KITE FOILING WINGS; HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE TYPE OF RIDING FOR EACH?

Starting with the 1250 wing, we tuned it to make light wind starts easier with equal acceleration amongst the different axes. Since this wing is aimed at progressing foilers, you have to allow it to speed up instead of just accelerating out of control. The wing requires you to put extra pressure on your front foot to accelerate, which is very important for beginners. For those just getting used to the body movements and speed control in foiling, the predictability of the 1250 gives you a comfortable feel with good performance.

The 1000 wing is designed for people who are looking for higher speeds and more glide. The 1000 is a bit looser on every axis, which works really well for wave riding and more advanced maneuvers. Steven has been pulling double around the worlds with this wing because it has a lot more glide, and you don’t need as much power to accelerate. Even if the SLC’s wings behave a bit differently, they both have the same purpose; ease of use for their intended speed and performance.

Combining carbon wings with an aluminum fuselage and mast, Jan blends the ideal mixture of materials for a low-weight platform that feels incredibly stiff and responsive. Steven Akkersdijk whips the SLC in the air like he just don’t care. // Photo Thomas Burblies

Advanced maneuvers require a balance between glide efficiency and control. Finding equilibrium, Steven Akkersdijk and Alina Kornelli enter a tacking dual. // Photo Thomas Burblies

TOP LEFT: Sebastian Witzleben casually launches into a big board-off. As a crucial member of the development team, Jan credits Sebastian with being a force of nature both on and off the water. // Photo Julieta Pereyra TOP RIGHT: The SLC deck was designed with the perfect rails and bottom shape to ease take-off and accidental touchdowns. Jan compares the deck to a gas pedal; its stiffness is essential for transferring the rider’s inputs and acceleration. // Photo Thomas Burblies RIGHT: Steven Akkersdijk shares his passion for foilboarding with Jan during the R&D phase. Early prototypes proved far too stable for Steven’s liking, but the final designs hit the mark. // Photo Thomas Burblies

I N A D D I T I O N T O T H E F O I L S E T U P, Y O U A R E R E L E A S I N G A F O I L D E C K A S W E L L . W H A T W A S T H E K E Y T O T H I S B O A R D ’ S D E V E L O P M E N T ?

The clear task with the SLC board was to achieve early planing and good control in flight as well as easy relaunch on accidental touchdowns. Sebastian Witzleben started with the bottom shape, focusing on a deep spine and a double concave. The spine gives you easy release for foiling up and soft touchdowns, while the double concave provides early planing. The rails have reduced volume making for clean takeoffs and the angle of the beveled rail reduces the wetted area, which means less friction and equates to less suction. The step in the tail contributes to a

clean release and higher board speeds. While we focused much of our attention on how the board performs during waterstarts and landings, you have to keep in mind that most of the time, the board is ridden above the water. Basically, the board behaves like a gas pedal for 90% of the time you are riding, and if it bends or flexes, you get delay and loss of performance. We used a carbon PVC sandwich to deliver stiffness that transfers your body’s input directly into your foil wing, so you get a precise feel for every type of riding.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE LARGER PICTURE THROUGH THE FOIL DEVELOPMENT PROCESS?

Foiling is having a big impact on the whole water scene and there is so much momentum across kite foiling, foilsurfing, SUP and now wingsurfing. It feels like there’s this new spirit of innovation that is flooding the market. It’s nice to see people wanting to try new things, and in response, there’s more space for experimenting. As kite design has matured, we have seen a bunch of consolidation in designs and development has shifted towards improvements on the materials side. Yet, a niche like foiling is young and there’s so much variety and room for innovation—it’s a very exciting place to be as a designer and mechanical engineer.

T H E

Photo Marco Órru

P H O T O G E T

E S S A Y

B Y

J A M E S

hoto shoot season is one of the absolute joys on the marketing calendar. While capturing photography is not traditionally included in the list of a marketing manager’s responsibilities, I relish the long days and creative challenges of the photo shoot mission. Photography has been one of the biggest influences in my career, and this portion of my work represents an essential part of who I am as an individual. I believe creating media for a collection is a meaningful way to define products and their image. A photograph from one angle can render a very different appearance to a product than the same freeze-frame from a different angle. As a marketing manager who prefers shooting and editing the images myself, I find this kind of control is a great opportunity to impart a vision and theme firsthand onto a product range. One of the main reasons I enjoy shooting with the team is that I love the process and the adventure of getting out into the kiteboarding world and exploring every angle of a location. As a photographer, you are at the center of the media production process, and I think this kind of commitment to the 'photo get' motivates the riders to put everything on the table. Long days, cold water and sun exposure—despite adversities, the photographer has the extra pull to set the tone of the shoot. If you ask a rider to put their body on the line for something, I think it helps to be the other variable in the creative equation. My favorite aspect of photo shoots is the excitement of turning up on location and unpacking the new gear as it arrives. As professional kiters, we are uniquely tuned in to every piece of equipment; we

B O U L D I N G

have a very personal connection to these products and unboxing the final presentation never gets old. From a manager’s side, seeing the new designs for the first time in person and watching the products being unleashed into skilled hands is gratifying. When the camera can capture it, witnessing the stoke on our riders’ faces and collecting the action that unfolds is a magical feeling. By the time a collection photo shoot rolls around, you’ve invested months of office time, tweaking a flat product on your computer through multiple stages of design, graphics and 3D renditions. You’ve watched countless prototypes move through the office in various states of completion, but the photo shoot is the ceremonious finale—a quiet red carpet extravaganza where the evolution is complete, and the photographer must capture the exhilarating feel and experience of a million design decisions. This year, Cabrinha adjusted its launch cycle to release a full product range at the start of the calendar year. Among a whole host of benefits for our customers, this raised the stakes on our photo shoots. The Canary Islands was the decided place to shoot as much action as possible with our European team offering a new perspective and a new set of challenges. The sandstone rock and muted landscapes formed perfect backgrounds of contrast against the vibrant and updated look of the 01 collection. For Keahi and Moona, an incredibly early season of swells teed up some insane conditions in the Hawaiian Islands to showcase the updated Drifter and new line of surfboards. The individuals that grace the following pages are career Cabrinha athletes meaning both the riders and the brand are heavily invested in building nothing but the brightest future for kiteboarding.

I love riding twin tips in the waves; it m a k e s f o r s u c h a n e v e rchanging playground. The big waves and super strong current made it really hard for James to swim out there with a camera, but when you get a thumbs up from him, y o u k n o w i t ’s w o r t h the session.

A A N N E L O U S

L A M M E R T S

nnelous is one of the hardest charging athletes out there regardless of sex. She is built with an innate drive to learn and progress in every facet of her life. Always the first person on the water and the last off, it’s no surprise she’s completed some amazing charity feats such as kitefoiling from sunrise to sunset for the Dutch ALS Foundation in the depths of the Netherland’s winter. Since the emergence of wingsurfing, she has also seamlessly crossed over and mastered her own style in no time. With a pedigree that includes competing on the freestyle tour and winning park events, Annelous exudes an unshakeable calm and grounding coupled with a competitive drive, making her the Swiss Army knife of waterwomen.

Photo Chuck Harlan

K E A H I

D E A B O I T I Z

Photo Chuck Harlan

What was supposed to be a La Nina winter (generally a slow winter for waves) turned into one of the best winters we’ve had in a while. The Drifter is always a standout, and with less friendly and unsteady winds, having a nice, stable platform gives me the confidence to push the limits with clean walls and good swell.

eahi received his very first Cabrinha kite from Pete at the ripe old age of 11. He helped pioneer the Drifter kite through his innovative style and is currently considered by many as the best kite ‘surfer’ on the planet. With numerous world titles to his name, he’s an incredibly well-rounded surfer and foilsurfer, capable of turning heads with or without a kite. He’s honed his big wave skills by living in Hawaii and spent the last season filming Tunnel Vision, a groundbreaking film that encapsulates a year of charging some of the most iconic

and consequential waves on the planet. Keahi has often been called a freak of nature, and having personally witnessed the critical waves he’s pulled into, it’s hard to comprehend his level of comfort in deep, deadly conditions. Some might think Keahi has a very laidback style, but the amount of water he displaces while gauging the lip combined with the control and power in his kite is a complete misconception. They say the best make things look easy; for this phrase, Keahi is a classic case study. 87

lex Maes is Mr. Smiley. It’s all good vibes when Alex is around and you are guaranteed steez when he boots up. Alex’s dad started one of the biggest kite shops in Brussels, and having grown up in a family of windsurfers turned kiters, Alex is incredibly hardworking and talented at reaching out to riders of all levels. Known for his technical wake-inspired riding, Alex is no slouch and, at his young age, is carving out a career path that balances the responsibilities of a sponsored athlete with his background in retail and instruction. Celebrated for his high energy on and off the water, Alex has a knack for finding fun no matter the circumstances.

A L E X

M A E S

I typically spend most of my time on the FX, but during the shoot, I started enjoying the new Switchblade with its steady pull and great bar pressure. The carbon XCaliber and CBL are my go-to boards for my style which is heavily wake-influenced, legit riding with boots.

Photo Chuck Harlan

M O O N A

W H Y T E Photo Tracy Kraft

Photo Chuck Harlan

The 01 product shoot was a little different this year with the team separated by the pandemic, but here in Oahu, we battled with some clouds and got lucky with lots of swell. My favorite setup is the Drifter as always and the 5’7” S-Quad, which is my go-to board for clean, down-the-line waves.

oona has the gentle persona and confident disposition of a female Yoda. She’s laid-back and elegant but absolutely charges in the surf. Growing up on the North Shore, she’s very at home in any condition. She’s won numerous world champs, and while the travel lifestyle takes a breather, she’s been quietly honing her skills at home. Shooting with Moona is relaxing and quite easy. She has the best bottom

turn in the business, I’d probably add this includes out of all of the men, and Keahi would objectively agree. Swimming with a wide-angle lens, watching Moona thread a tight line with complete concentration and impeccable skill and control is quite special to behold and completely juxtaposed against the photographer’s clumsy violence of taking a wave on the head a fraction of a second later. 91

The XCaliber is the board that I have been using since day one. Having helped in the development process, I was keen to get my hands on the final product with its new channels in the bottom shape which help control the pop and give it more grip for strapped riding. I spend most of my time on the FX, and apart from small changes to construction details, it had that familiar feeling of reliable freestyle performance.

A L B Y

R O N D I N A

lby is Cabrinha through and through. It’s no stretch to say he’s been on the Cab program since his father put him in the water for the very first time. He’s as modest as they come and a role model all team riders should study as a worthy aspiration and benchmark of legitimate style. When it comes to all-around talent, Alby is ‘the’ man. Despite having turned the corner on his young-buck 20s, you could place a 30-year-old Alby on any photo shoot for any brand in the industry, and he’ll outperform most across the board. From technical kicker tricks on 10m lines to double overhead surf, he’s both comfortable and stylish. Visit him at his pro center, and you will witness Alby’s incredible business acumen at work, or sit him down at an upright piano in the back of the bar, and he will hammer out a melodic tune. Yet, on the water and in front of a camera, you’re guaranteed perfect action with little worry for angles or retakes because Alby makes just about any kite move look good.

Photo Marco Órru

LEFT: Marketing Manager and world-class water photographer James Boulding is a one-man marketing machine. With the pedigree of a professional rider, James understands every angle of the kiteboarding experience. RIGHT: The art of shooting art: Fine, graphic and mulitimedia visuals are baked into Cabrinha’s culture. Their product line represents not only the highest standards of design and technology but a dedicated approach to graphics with equally impressive one-off renderings for each model.

SNOWKITING ASCENTS W O R D S B Y M A R I E - E V E M AY R A N D | P H O T O B Y P E T E R M A R T E L

ost aspects of snowkiting generally follow the basic skills of kiteboarding with the added technicality of navigating across snow rather than water. Climbing hills with a snowkite can be reasonably straightforward, but once you begin ascending steeper slopes, technique and equipment can play a much more crucial role. When choosing your kite, you might want to select a model with a slightly lower aspect ratio or a freeride model. This ensures the kite will deliver steady pulling power without the extra lift of a higher-aspect kite, such as a race kite that might unintentionally rip you off the snow and into the air. A low lift/drag ratio keeps you on the slope. My go-to snowkite is the Flysurfer Peak 4; it’s a freeride single-skin concept that provides good pulling power, tight turning capabilities and packs down into an extremely small and light package when not in use. This single-skin design also offers a fifth line (B-Safe System) for instantaneous/complete depower to land/launch alone in unpredictable mountain winds and steeper ascents. Prior to climbing a mountain, you will want to assess the strength of the wind both at its base and peak. Snow billowing off the top of cornices may cue you into increased wind velocity as you climb. It’s a good idea to rig a size lower; although this will require more looping for power at lower elevations, it will give you a larger safety cushion as winds typically increase at the top. If you’re able to park the kite in the window and climb, then you’ve likely rigged too big for conditions at the top of the mountain. It is also a good idea to assess the route before climbing. Choosing a line with fewer hazards is ideal. Windblown sections or areas with some rock exposure typically indicate there is insufficient snow loading or elevated avalanche danger.

When starting to ascend, you will want to pay special attention to the angle of your skis or split snowboard (a split board is ideal for backcountry adventures) and slant your planks across the terrain to avoid slipping backward. You’ll also need to be prepared to follow the kite’s upward pull. Begin your ascent with small tight loops at the top of the window to get started. If more power is needed to get going, begin widening your loops to access the more powerful parts of the wind window. The steeper the terrain, the more power you will need. Typically, you pull the bar in on the downward stroke to harness extra power and push the bar out when the kite is climbing up and out of the loop to help it maintain momentum and flow. It’s important to learn how to rotate the bar to remove twists in your steering lines as you go and to have a swivel to untwist the center lines. Typically, the upstroke is a good time to slip in a bar rotation. You can also alternate the direction of the kite loop to avoid twisting your lines. Sometimes you might need a tighter rotation, and you can accomplish this by grabbing a leader line beyond the bar-end to get some extra kite response. As you approach the top of the mountain, you will want to stop short of the top to avoid getting pulled over the peak. It’s best to keep your kite lower on the side of the window to prevent lofting. At this point, you can trigger your safety and pack up your gear for a backcountry descent or position the kite for a kiteassisted ski down the mountain. When skiing down with the kite, make sure to control your speed. The kite will give you more speed than just skiing down without one. On a safety note, climbing a mountain with or without a kite might mean that you are in avalanche terrain. Make sure to have the appropriate avalanche gear before adventuring with proper avalanche training.

METHOD

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F R E E S T Y L E

W A V E

O U R W AY T O M A K E T H E WO RL D A B E T T E R PL ACE .

D U OTON ESP ORTS.C OM

FO LLOW US

D E D I C AT E D T O KITEBOARDING SINCE 2001

WELCOME TO

STILTSVILLE ( W H AT ' S WO R D S

LEFT

C H R I S

IT)

B O B R Y K

ocated in the middle of nowhere, Stiltsville has

started teaching lessons for Melissa Mejah’s South Florida

always been a unique spot, an opportunity for

Kiteboarding, I spent most of my days motoring beginner

freedom just beyond the reach of Miami’s oppressive

kiteboarders out to the sandbars, coaching them through

skyline. A shallow water haven of lonely buildings perched

their first rides and sometimes exploring the distant

atop wood and concrete piers, Stiltsville isn’t so much of

structures. Back then, jibbing off pilings or boosting over

a place but a labyrinth of sandbars that have long been

low-lying docks was fair game. Like some undiscovered

thought of as a nautical escape from the constraints of

frontier, the shallow sandbars and haunting structures

the mainland. Also known as the Flats, I began kiting this

were a getaway from the beginning of Miami’s crowded

area six years ago when I first moved to Miami. Having

kiteboarding spots.

LEFT: A mixture of personal residences and social clubs, Stiltsville was once an eclectic community accessible only by boat. // Photo Christian Diaz RIGHT: Chris Bobryk grabs stalefish with the iconic A-frame building in the background. // Photo Christian Diaz

goes back to the 1920s era of prohibition, a time when there was sufficient backlash in America against alcohol and enough consensus to amend the constitution and do something about it. The shallow stretch of water known as Stiltsville is created by a tidal movement that pushes sand southerly along the eastern seaboard until it terminates just after Miami’s chain of offshore islands. Having brushed past Miami Beach, Virginia Key and Key Biscayne, the sand comes to rest in their shadow, depositing itself in a tapering stream along the eastern edge of Biscayne Bay. At some point in the late 1920s, a few ramshackle structures were erected to hawk bait, cold beer and crawfish chowder to the local fishermen, but these early haunts soon morphed into prohibition-inspired clubs that ferried Miami’s party elite a mile offshore to elevated buildings, largely operating as safe havens for gambling and drinking. Without a causeway or significant real estate development, Stiltsville thrived as an exclusive enclave for the Miami party scene for another three decades after the repeal of prohibition. THE

H I STO RY

THESE

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E A R LY

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’

MIAMI S MILE

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E L E VA T E D FOR

PROHIBITIONT H AT ELITE TO

GA M B L I N G

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O P E R AT I N G

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SAFE AND

L A R G E LY H AV E N S

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Once counting 27 structures, subsequent hurricanes thinned the herd while the state of Florida issued owners ‘campsite’ leases that would eventually expire. By the late 1960s, the state barred any new construction and prevented repairs of those that existed. After a series of hurricanes and long-fought battles, the seven structures that remained became a part of the Biscayne National Park and are managed by a trust for non-commercial community purposes.

This A-frame house is probably one of the most recognized structures in Stiltsville, made famous to kiteboarders by Dimitri Marmenides while filming a promo for an extreme energy drink. Dimitri attempted to jump the structure while loaded with 20 pounds of POV camera gear and came up short, slamming into the pilings above the roof, splitting his board in half and sustaining injuries. // Photo Christian Diaz

LEFT: Stiltsville’s days of jib hits and grinding railings are long gone. Seldomly used, the buildings are now a part of the Biscayne National Park and trespassing by kiteboarders is taken very seriously. // Photo Carlos Mesa RIGHT: Bobryk lays out his lines with Stiltsville in the background. The shallow sandbar is the perfect location for easy launches and hassle-free kite lessons. // Photo Carlos Mesa

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Much like the days of prohibition, Stiltsville continues to remain far removed and full of freedom when contrasted against the mainland. The Miami area is potentially one of the most regulated kiteboarding destinations in the world. The combination of heavily-trafficked sunbathing beaches and a long history of kiteboarders poaching swim areas has reduced the number of openly accessible beaches to a handful. What few concessions that remain open to kiteboarding typically require permit fees, proof of IKO certification and official streamers affixed to kites to demonstrate conformance with the above. For locals, these hurdles are manageable, but for visiting kiteboarders, it’s a massive hassle. Mainly for that reason, Stiltsville has become my most frequented kite spot. Having recently started a kite school with my girlfriend Sarah Dunick, we spend our days hovering over the shallow sandbars teaching riders of all levels. Often referred to as a ‘one percent kite spot’ by my friend and Miami local Charl Wessels, the wide-open flats combine calm water with a perfect teaching location and plenty of room for everyone to spread out. There’s a shallow section for those first hours of kite handling and basic waterstarts, along with deeper channels that are great for foilboarding or boosting big airs. The structures are off in the distance, so there are no obstructions in the riding area unless you choose to tour around the stilt homes and explore the southern end of the bar.

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The years have not been kind to Stiltsville’s real estate. Deemed insufficiently old to merit historic protection, the land beneath the structures has been deeded to the Biscayne National Park and private ownership phased out. With maintenance and usage in the hands of a trust, the future of Stiltsville remains uncharted. Bobryk airs out amongst the scenery. // Photo Carlos Mesa

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LEFT: Bobryk boots up on his Zodiac; the freedom of the Flats is only available by boat. // Photo Carlos Mesa CENTER: At its height in the 1950s, there were 27 structures in Stiltsville, but multiple hurricane hits and expiring leases have whittled that number down to seven. // Photo Christian Diaz RIGHT: You can look but you can’t touch; the Bobryk abides. // Photo Carlos Mesa

My favorite perk about Stiltsville is the fact that it is kiteable in any wind direction. As a sandbar conveniently located on the edge of an ocean, you can head out there on almost any day and be guaranteed a good day of riding. This is crucial for the progression of students, and it’s also key to the long-term success of a career kiteboarding school. When students get back-to-back days on a kite, they build skills way faster, plus no one likes sitting on the beach waiting for the wind to clock around. Sarah and I spend most of our winter days either chasing down students with the boat or kiting alongside with them while checking out the eagle rays, turtles, starfish, conch and sharks that also call Stiltsville home. Back in the early 2000s, regulations around kiteboarding near the Stiltsville structures were far different from what they are today. As you could imagine, kiters, including myself, saw the docks, rails and pylons as the closest thing to a kite park, and you can still find plenty of epic photos from the early days when professional riders would grind

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Shallow waters and powerful storms keep the terrain of Stiltsville in constant flux. Shiprecked and abandoned, Bobryk finds the perfect rail grind on a maritime disaster. // Photo Carlos Mesa

MUCH

THE

PROHIBITION, CO N T I N U E S

REMAIN

AND

FREEDOM

WHEN

AGA I N S T

THE

ONE

AREA

THE

FULL

THE

FA R

CO N T R A ST E D

MAINLAND. IS

WORLD.

THE

P O T E N T I A L LY

MOST

K I T E B OA R D I N G IN

S T I LT S V I L L E

R E M OV E D

MIAMI

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D AY S

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the docks or get creative with jib hits. If you’ve seen Dimitri Maramenides’ reality TV segment ‘Destroyed in Seconds,’ you can understand why today the structures are heavily posted with no trespassing signs, and the local kiteboarders look unkindly on breaking those rules. So much of Miami’s kiteboarding has been spoiled by bad decisions, yet much of the community’s efforts have kept Stiltsville’s part of the Biscayne National Park open to kiteboarding. With three authorized kite schools shuttling riders into the flats, Stiltsville remains one of the most accessible riding spots in the Miami area. Much like its speakeasy days during prohibition, Stiltsville continues to be a breath of freedom and an iconic area to explore on a kite.

Rider: Arthur Guillebert Picture: Charles Tiger Location: Los Roques, Venezuela

• Four line bar with single front line safety • Innovative Quick-Matic II release system with top swivel • Ultra-durable single depower line with TPU cover for less friction • Adjustable bar width thanks to integrated variable bar ends • Thermo-coated high-precision lines made in Germany BAR SIZES:

Eleveightkites.com

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ENTERING A NEW ERA O F B A R I N N O VA T I O N W O R D S B Y E WA N J A S PA N

ith over 20 years of experience and expertise in control bar innovation, Naish set the bar high early on in 2001 with the launch of the first push-away quick release that revolutionized kiteboarding safety systems. Having patented this groundbreaking innovation in 2002, Naish has remained at the forefront of quick release and bar design while pushing the boundaries for user safety, performance and comfort. This year, Naish is introducing the Torque 2 Bar, our most technically advanced and streamlined piece of equipment to date. The mission for the Torque 2 control platform was bold—create an industry-leading quick release with a seamless reload while also refining the depower cleat and introducing new PU-coated trim lines. The centerpiece of the new Torque 2 is the Snaplock Quick release system, which was inspired by the same style mechanism used in high-pressure pneumatic hose couplers. These couplers lock together seamlessly and securely yet are easy to disconnect. Since this click and release behavior is the heart of a trustworthy platform, Naish has adapted this proven technology into its new design. The Snaplock is built from the

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highest quality materials on the market, with the internals forged from hard-anodized machined aluminum and cast stainlesssteel parts. The ball bearing swivel provides effortless line untwisting, and the entire bar includes strip-resistant 3mm hex screws to make sure the bar parts can be serviced if the need ever arises. The new modular loop system makes it a breeze to change loops for different styles of riding or harness connections. Included with every bar, there are three different loop styles. First up is the medium-sized standard loop, which is similar to the typical stock size loop and is a great option for all riding styles, including unhooking. It allows the riding position to be a little farther away from your body than the next option, the allnew micro loop. The micro loop features an angled chicken finger, and its compact size brings the bar closer to your body, making sure the loop never becomes disengaged from your harness hook. This loop is ideal if you never see yourself unhooking or want to bring your riding position closer to your body; it’s also the choice of most of the staff at Naish for almost all styles of kiteboarding. Additionally, each Torque 2 bar includes the rope slider loop. This shackle-style loop is perfect for wave riders and foilers who run

a rope on their harness. It’s easy to hook onto your rope, and the loop is machined smooth to run freely from side to side to prevent excess wear on your harness line. Also available as an optional purchase is our freestyle loop. This large loop makes unhooking and rehooking a breeze and puts your arms at a comfortable distance from your body to make unhooking even easier. The freestyle loop pairs well with the Torch, where riding around fully sheeted in is common due to the depower characteristics of the kite. It also features a pigtail to hook onto for suicide mode to keep your leash out of the way and underneath your bar. All of these loop options are interchangeable by releasing the loop and plugging in whichever one you want. There are no screws or pins to lose, making the Torque 2 system the easiest and quickest loop-changing method in the industry. One of the main goals we set out to accomplish with the Torque 2 bar was to minimize the risk of accidental release with the design of the Snaplock system. We elongated the travel distance of the mechanism before release and gave it an ergonomic grip with a comfortable hold, designing it without any rims to knock

VIEWPOINT

Ewan Jaspan inspects Naish’s Torque 2, the next generation of quick release and control bar technology. // Photo Audrey Davis 109

The legendary Robby Naish takes the Snaplock for a spin. Having presided over the humble origins of the sport, Robby has been pushing the envelope of performance for 25 years. // Photo Frankie Bees

and cause an accidental, unwanted release. This ensures the rider can be confident when cranking the bar through a powered kiteloop or bottom turn and that there is no chance of the kite flagging out unexpectedly. When you need to release the kite, you can be assured that the Snaplock system will work every time. Flagging your kite to a single front line, it will be stopped by a ball, guaranteeing that the bar travels far enough to give you 100% depower on all sized kites but won’t go so far that you’ll get tangled. After recovering the bar, you will experience one of the most satisfying and innovative parts of the Torque 2—

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re-engaging the chicken loop. Within a single movement, the loop plugs straight back into the release with a very sure ‘click’ that lets you know the release is properly engaged and ready for action once again. Also new to the Torque 2 are more aerodynamic and, more importantly, hydrodynamic TLS400 lines. The new factory pre-stretched TLS400’s are durable enough for the most extreme riding and significantly improve light wind riding and foiling performance. They have reduced drag through the air but also make light wind relaunching a breeze while easily cutting through the water’s surface tension. For extreme big air riders, there’s an

available option to swap over to TLS700 lines for extra strength. If you put all of these features together and take into account our new one-piece streamlined cleat, adjustable bar ends, newly designed flex floaters and dualdensity EVA grip, the new Torque 2 is our most advanced piece of engineering yet, and we could not be more proud to release it into the market. Having introduced the single most important safety innovation to kiteboarding 20 years ago, Naish’s design team continues to work hard at meeting and exceeding the safety and performance needs and expectations of kiteboarders worldwide.

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE THE MOST ADVANCED QUICK RELEASE ON THE MARKET

SNAPLOCK QUICK RELEASE

ACCESSORIES NOT INCLUDED MICRO LOOP

Leveraging the completely new loop attachment system, we’ve created the most compact loop on the market. The Micro Loop provides an incredibly locked-in and controlled experience, significantly reducing the distance between the rider and the trim cleat. The seamless transition between the kiter and the kite ensures the most direct kite connection available. Through countless iterations, we’ve developed a unique chicken finger to make attaching and detaching the loop effortless. If you’re not looking to unhook, this is undoubtedly the perfect loop for you.

MEDIUM LOOP

Playing off of the proven size of our previous QR, the Medium Loop offers a locked in feel while still allowing you to go unhooked at a moments notice.

SLIDER LOOP

Built from incredibly strong and durable stainless steel, our carabiner-style Slider Loop provides the ideal lowfriction attachment for rope slider harnesses. If you’re looking for the purest surf feeling or just loving riding toeside, this is the loop for you.

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Slider Loop

oop

TECHNICAL FEATURES ONE-CLICK RELOAD

Effortlessly reload your quick release with one simple motion.

INSTANTANEOUS LOOP CHANGE

Swap between four different loop styles in an instant. Whether you are sharing kites with a friend, or want to change up your riding style, it is now easier than ever.

RELEASE ON DEMAND

An ergonomic design paired with an increased quick release throw keeps you clicked in securely and releases on demand.

SHORTENED SYSTEM

We have brought everything within reach and enhanced your feeling of control by cutting over 3 cm off of the complete safety system.

Pacific Boardsports LLC . pbs@naishsails.com . (509) 493-0043

NaishKiteboarding

Naish_Kiteboarding

Naish.com

FEATHER TRIM

A compact and lightweight trim cleat reduces drag on your center lines and gives you a more direct connection to your kite. UNIBODY DESIGN Utilizing a single piece of stainless steel that includes all the necessary features allows for an incredibly strong yet lightweight design.

PRE-STRETCHED TLS400 FLYING LINES

Market-leading strength eliminates uneven line stretch while low-profile connections help reduce line tangle and drag.

OPTIMIZED TEETH Refined tooth angle and shaping for easy and secure trimming. PU TUBE COLLAR An elongated collar around the PU tube along with orientation-locking geometry ensures the tube remains fixed into the cleat. ENLARGED DRIVE SIZE Forget about stripped screws with oversized 3 mm hex drive screws.

FLAGGING LINE STOPPER BALL

Prevent the bar from getting too far away when activating the QR using the ultralight flagging line stopper ball.

VELCRO FACE Keep the trim line tangle-free and within reach with a velcro face on both sides of the cleat and on the trim line handle.

FLEX-FLOAT

All-new floater design with an integrated flex section to reduce steering interference.

DUAL-DENSITY EVA GRIP WITH MEMORY CORE

Two distinct layers of EVA foam combined with a strategically placed memory-foam core provide an incredibly comfortable and intuitive grip without any slip.

SNAPLOCK QUICK RELEASE

The SnapLock safety system is a massive jump forward in quick release technology. In short, we’ve taken everything we’ve learned from being on the cutting edge of kiteboarding for 25 years and put it into one simple, sleek, and incredibly safe package.

TORQUE 2

CONTROL SYSTEM

RIDE ENGINE Saber/Unity

Do you love the coveted Ride Engine, locked-in feel of the Carbon Elite hardshell but want a slightly freer ride? The Saber’s softer composite material offers riders a bit more freedom, thanks to the purpose-driven contours injected into its molded shell that helps deliver increased torsional flex for riders while still providing the full benefits of its proprietary Lumbar Lock fit. Equipped with Unity Ladder-Lock Straps that eliminate spreader bar rise and annoying mid-session fluctuations in tightness and fit, it’s ready to plug into RE’s Unity Spreader Bar for maximum connectivity. Saber $332, Unity $132 // www.rideengine.com

ION Neo Hoodie Lite

The Neo Hoody Lite from ION is the lightest neoprene jacket/hoody in the line, so it gives you just enough extra warmth on the beach between sessions without being too bulky. Featuring an opening for the harness hook, handwarmer pockets and a key loop, it’s a great piece to have on the boat or jet-ski when supporting other riders or shooting your next feature for The Kiteboarder Magazine! Also available in black or red. $139.95 // www.ion-products.com

PATAGONIA Stretch Thermal Jacket and Pant

Whether you’re at your local spot or exploring new locations, Patagonia’s Stretch Thermal Jacket and Pant are your ultimate pre and post-session kite, surf and foil wear! The outer material is Patagonia’s recycled stretch boardshorts fabric backed with their recycled wetsuit lining to make the most comfortable and functional ‘session tracksuit’ ever. The Stretch Thermal Jacket and Pant are also an essential component of any camping trip while searching for off-the-beatenpath adventures. Jacket $195, Pant $119 // www.patagonia.com

NORTH Scoop 120

Be blown away by the riding experience of this direct and responsive board with instant touchdown recovery. The Scoop allows you to connect through its intuitive concave deck for stable smooth transitions and easy steering while delivering high performance foiling with a lightweight reinforced EPS core. In 2021 North introduced a new ultra-lightweight yet durable hybrid carbon construction for increased stiffness, maneuverability and glide. A high-density structural PVC stringer system helps spread the load, while an ultra-lightweight double bamboo reinforcement layer adds greater impact resistance and rigidity. Touchdown recovery is quick with the board’s new Deep-V bottom contours and beveled rails which help it release from the water faster without sticking. The Scoop is your ideal expedition partner for comfortable long-distance foil missions or an after-work sundowner, and a trusted platform for strapped big wave tow-foiling from Pe’ahi to your local two-foot beach break. $999 // www.northkb.com

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MANERA Seafarer Neo Top

New for 2021, Manera introduces the Neo Top, meant to fit like a second skin so you almost forget about it as soon as you hit the water. Designed in 3D just like their wetsuits, the Neo Top comes in two models. The Seafarer, with its X10D jersey material, is the lighter weight top that integrates S-Foam made from limestone for its excellent flexibility/heat/durability ratio and Re-flex Skin, which is exceptionally flexible, durable and UV proof. If you need a bit more warmth, the X10D with X10D fleece, GBS seams and its 2mm thickness will keep you comfortable the whole summer without having to wear a shorty. Seafarer $60, X10D $80 // www.manera.com

HODDER PUBLISHERS The Secret World of Weather

Tristan Gooley—Sunday Times bestseller and a hugely beloved nature writer, will soon release The Secret World Of Weather, How to Read Signs in Every Cloud, Breeze, Hill, Street, Plant, Animal and Dewdrop. A nature expert with his own special brand of outdoor wisdom, Tristan’s new book topics include how to see the changes in the landscape around you, how to navigate with nothing but nature to guide you, and how to understand the unique clues that can tell you more about the natural world and your place in it. Available April 21. $21.95 // www.hodder.co.uk

MYSTIC Stealth

An evolution of Mystic’s well-known Majestic and Legend harnesses, the lightweight Stealth combines the best from each. The stiffness of the BCF (Majestic X) paired with the non-water absorbing inner shell of the Legend harness is built around Mystic’s patented Bionic Core Frame (BCF) for a semi-rigid fit. Comprised of a unique composite material that’s super stiff yet allows for more flexibility than conventional hardshells, the Stealth Bar is sold separately for customization (kite, windsurf, surf). Stealth $399, Stealth Bar $119 // www.mysticboarding.com

BRUDDAH KINE HULA CO The HurtSkurt®

The HurtSkurt® is a revolutionary, patent-pending stretch-to-fit hot/cold gel sleeve available in three different sizes (small, medium, large) that slides securely onto your problem area—arm, calf, or leg—based on the size you order. With its articulated joints, it will move with you, allowing you to walk, drive and work while wearing it. No more ice bags wrapped in bandages, no more waking up in a puddle of water after a bag of ice melted all over your bed, no more ugly, scratchy harness devices that loosen and fall off__ and no more having to lay on the couch holding an ice pack in place! From $19.98 // www.thehurtskurt.com

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A LIFE DIRECTED BY WIND WORDS BY MARINA CHANG

ot many five-year-old’s know what their future holds. Yet, for as far back as Peter Stiewe can remember, he knew his destiny was to be a waterman. “I always knew what I wanted, almost from the womb,” Peter jokes, from his home office in Cascais, Portugal, overlooking the Sintra mountains and Guincho’s kite beach.

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there was no connecting boat to Cuba. He surreptitiously traveled to Las Terrenas, where he bought his first kite, a ram air made by a friend. Peter eventually found his way to Cabarete, just as it was starting to emerge as one of the early meccas for kiteboarding.

As CEO and Head of Product Management for Eleveight Kiteboarding, Peter’s path through the windsports industry has been an organic journey. Born in Germany to fanatical sailing parents, Peter’s father was president of the local sailing club, religiously competing in regattas while passing on his passion for the wind and water to his sons. A natural sailor with a competitive spirit, in 1978, Peter won his first sailing competition at the early age of eight and went on to test sail designs for local club member and sailmaker Frank Harzel. In the early 80s, Harzel started making windsurfing sails to take advantage of the exploding new sport, and it wasn’t long before a 14-year-old Peter found himself testing Harzel’s windsurf designs as well.

As a well-rounded windsports athlete with various levels of design and testing experience, it was still quite a surprise for Peter when a German sailmaker reached out to him through a mutual friend to help lead its entry into kiteboarding. It was 2001 and Peter soon found himself on a plane to Sri Lanka to check out their factory’s capabilities. “Back then it was truly the learn by doing method for both kite design and materials,” Stiewe reflects. Peter’s first samples, made from rip-stop nylon, a wellused material of that era, didn’t have the right water absorption properties for kites, a problem that was later solved by Tejin, a Japanese textile company, when they released a newer fabric made from polyester which became the material used in kites for the following decade.

In 1999, after tinkering around with music, traditional and technical colleges after high school as well as a stint helping out with the family business, Peter packed his bags to explore the wind, waves and cultures of the world. During stopovers in Morocco and Tarifa, he saw his first kiteboarders and knew the new sport would play a prominent role in his future. Continuing his travels, Peter was delayed in the Dominican Republic after discovering

After parting ways with the German sailmaker, Peter went back to Cabarete and started to design kites for two independent kiteboarding brands before joining forces with Eric Hertsens, a local board builder at that time. Together, they formed EH Kiteboarding which thrived in the early years of the sport—the brand was a local favorite and would go on to nurture an entire generation of Dominican kiteboarding champions.

In 2004, retired hedge fund investor Alex Shogren made Peter an offer to work exclusively as head kite designer for his new company Best Kiteboarding. With disruptive marketing practices out of the gate, the brand shot to popularity relatively fast. Best Kiteboarding capitalized on solid products like the Nemesis and Waroo kites using aggressive marketing that created a cult-like following amongst its employees, riders and customers. Shogren sold off Best in 2013 and the newly installed management team shifted its focus. Under the new regime, Peter found it was becoming increasingly difficult to pursue important R&D projects. After a few years, he connected with colleagues and friends who shared his love for kiteboarding and a collective idea for a new brand formed. “We had the passion. We knew what we were doing.” The obvious questions was, “Should we do our own thing?” recalls Peter. Starting Eleveight Kiteboarding in 2017 has been Peter’s most significant life challenge so far, but with 20% organic growth each year, his company is poised to continue to flourish. He’s living the waterman’s life and is proud to lead a brand that is self-funded without any outside investors. With no formal financial or corporate background, Peter chuckles at the spreadsheets and presentations he now sees daily on his computer screen, but you can tell—with almost child-like enthusiasm in his voice and a twinkle in his eye, he is still as passionate about watersports today as he was when he first started skippering a sailboat at the age of five.

The mastermind behind Eleveight kites. With some of the most widely sold kite models to his name, Peter Stiewe finally hung his own shingle in 2017 and started the best adventure of his life. // Photo Mathieu Pelikan

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ON THE MAP

AGUADILLA, PUERTO RICO

Shacked upuntilin Puerto Rico she reopensin Hatteras , Gage theFichter springBowls enjoys the fruitslifestyle of her seasonal Photo Billy Mosley.

ISLAND PARK, IDAHO

Brandon Scheidand, Sensi Graves Collen Carroll tag along on Jennie Milton 's allcampgirlsand snowkite score more they powder shots than bargained for.Ladue Photo Arlin

CANADA

UNITED STATES MAUI, HAWAII

Tim Walsh and his dad Des score an evening after a testing day session hardforatNaish work. Photo Frankie Bees

PUERTO RICO

HAWAII

STILTSVILLE, FLORIDA

Bobryk escapes theChris Miami mainland and, heads to a shallow offshore kite paradise. Photo Christian Diaz

ALBERTA, CANADA

BRAZIL

Michal Hrkuphill ascends inMeadows Sunshine , Park. Banff National Photo Peter Martel //

HOURS TRAVEL BY KITE S 5

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FEHMARN, GERMANY SAL, CABO VERDE

With the help of Steven Akkerdijk andToermohlen Sebastian , Witzleben Jan embarks on Core's ambitious development project to build. the Photo perfectThomas foil platform Burblies

Hendrick hastobigfillLopes shoes and startsboth by nabbing the cover of thisthis magazine and superin secret wave . Cabo Verde Photo Alex Do Rosario

RUSSIA

GERMANY

FRANCE

SPAIN

CHINA CANARY ISLANDS ALGERIA

INDIA

CABO VERDE

NAMIBIA

LUDERITZ, NAMIBIA

Aaron Hadlow and Ralf Grosel mission toTownLuderitz during a Cape lockdown to dial inDuotone the latest Photokites Craigfrom Kolesky .

SOUTH AFRICA

FUERTEVENTURA, CANARY ISLANDS

AUSTRALIA

, Cabrinha James Boulding , along 'swith Marketing Manager the rest of the Cabrinha Europeto , team venture to Fuerteventura showcase the new collection. Photo James Boulding //

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Sometimes mowing the lawn is good enough. With the toughest two years on the record books for beach access, the pandemic has done more for beach closures in a few months than years of the big-headed moron that continually insists on launching big airs through your local swim zone. // Photo Georgia Schofield

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TRAVEL + PROGRESSION + Lifestyle TRAVEL

NORTH AMERICAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Featuring 35 locations and 203 pages to explore

+ PROGRESSION

Up your game, whatever your level!

+ kite life

WINNING IN WYDAHO The Surprise Snow Score

BACK TO STILTSVILLE Finding Flat Water Freedom

DES AND TIM WALSH A Chip Off the Old Block

THE GREAT ESCAPE Skipping The Pandemic

VARIGREAT RESURFACES THE ESCAPE The Secret Illescas Skipping TheofPandemic

MATCHU LOPES Master of the Backside

REEDIN’S DREAM TEAM A New Era of Ownership

THE ROAD TO XAI XAI Discovering Mozambique

THE CULT OF DESIGN A Peek Behind the Curtain

Long-form journalism, photo essays and galleries

Get a single issue for $4.99 or access Tkb's 50+ digital back/current issue library for $19.99 annually.

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