Hi gh ti mes with Ste ven A kke rsdij k
O t h er co untr i e s pl e a se a ffix pr ice
M R B I G
verde sessions Noè Font poses the questions
W hat kind o f kite r are y o u ?
sublime cape Jason Keller Hudson’s winter wonderland
S n o w K it in g t h e G a s p és ie
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C O N T E N T S
C O V E R : Sometimes you see a shot, give a little smile, and slot it straight into the ‘Cover’ folder. Thank you Matchu. Photo: ENFONDO H E R E : Kari Schibevaag tears into some of that whiterthan-water stuff and gets things perfectly lined up for photographer Pascal Bulgakoff.
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T H E
F E AT U R E S …
SUBLIME CAPE VERDE If the ‘percentage of population that are world-class waveriders’ stats for Cape Verde were replicated elsewhere then the line-ups would be awash with riders like Mitu, Airton and Matchu. Thankfully it isn’t. Here those guys and a few other ‘locals’ talk us through what their home spot means to them…
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MR BIG Dutch man-mountain Steve Akkersdijk stole the show at last year’s King of the Air as he stomped his way through to the final. He was back on great form for 2015, so a good time to catch up and find out a little more about him.
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SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE It may be a fairly well-trodden path but the ‘Oz Trip’ is still a very special experience… So many places, so many spots, so many options. Manuela Jungo steps into the fray and scores some great sessions and a few novelty photoops along the way.
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T H E
SNOW KITING THE GASPÉSIE Stuck for ideas for a first trip of 2015 and not wanting to spend all of his Christmas money in one hit, Jason Keller Hudson kept things relatively local and headed north to the Gaspé Peninsula. Wind, snow, and a philosophical start to the year awaited…
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CAPE CRUSADER The Cape Doctor hadn’t read the script for this year’s King of the Air and went AWOL just as the waiting period approached… Deciding that if the wind wouldn’t come to him then he would go to the wind, Tom Court led the charge out of Cape Town, and TheKiteMag’s senior correspondent Toby Bromwich caught it on camera…
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W H AT K I N D O F K I T E R ARE YOU? Have you been wondering why you can’t seem to hold down a relationship, why your mates seem to have moved further along the ‘life plan’ route than you, or why no-one seems to understand your ‘attitude’? Noè Font may have the answer…
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R E G U L A R S … Tangled Lines with Alex Fox
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In 75 words… Which rider has most inspired you?
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Under the Hood with Ben Wilson
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Interview with Dimitri Maramenides
100
Technique with Chris Tack
104
Tell me about it… Nobile split boards and Flysurfer’s new Boost
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Behind the Clip – Fly me to the Moon
123
Meteorology with Tony Butt
124
The Dark Room with Stephan Kleinlein
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5 things you wouldn’t know about this shot… Andre Magarao
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EDITORIAL
GOING BIG Greetings. And a warmest of welcomes to TheKiteMag #3. Doesn’t time fly – we’re onto our third offering already. Pretty much middle-aged… The first thing you may have noticed on picking up this latest issue from your doormat, your local newsagent, or your kite retailer of choice, is the fact that things feel a little weightier – maybe you had that sensation you get when you think you have tea left in your mug but, in fact, you have already finished it and you end up misjudging things and sloshing the dregs over your tee shirt. Maybe not. Anyway, the fact I’m getting at is that TheKiteMag GOT BIGGER. There are in fact a staggering 20 more pages than we had for the first couple of issues… And why? Because we simply didn’t have enough space for all of the insanely good content that comes across our desks and, well, we didn’t want you to miss out… So it’s all at our expense and we hope you appreciate the fact that you will get an extra day or two’s toilet time out of this issue and out of all future issues. On the topic of ‘going big’, we of course have to mention what is now the highest profile event on the kiteboarding calendar, the King of the Air. And this year it also GOT BIGGER and also made the most of its billing and was a little bit of a drama queen about the whole thing. The wind decided it was in… and then out… and then nearly in etc etc… It all came good in the end though,
and the event essentially re-defined the genre of Big Air with a coherent combination of riders going ‘Big’, riders going ‘Board-off ’ and riders going ‘Full Power/Life Threatening’. It was a shame that the live feed wasn’t around for the final day, but we got the gist of it and the clips that have been released following the event have more than done it justice. And – if confirmation was ever needed – Aaron Hadlow assured his status as THE MAN. We don’t have a write up on the event – you’ve seen it all already – but you can find out more about one of the main contenders, Steven Akkersdijk on page 50, and also find out on page 78 what Aaron and friends got up to in the days before the event kicked off when the wind wasn’t playing in Cape Town. And now, some bad news, the only thing that hasn’t got bigger in the world of kiteboarding is the space for my editorial. We had to cut that back to fit in yet more exceptional content… So I’m afraid that is it from me. Probably for the best. Enjoy the issue. Alex
GOING BIG NOBILE STYLE WITH RAFAEL VILCHES AND JOSE LUENGO PHOTO: ZBIGNIEW SZARZYNSKI
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S UBSC R IBE TO THE K I T E M AG EI GH T ISSUES PER Y EAR (that’s more than any other kiteboarding magazine)
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The Team: Editor: Alex Hapgood (editor@thekitemag.com) Sub editor: Cai Waggett Senior Correspondent: Toby Bromwich US Correspondent: Brian Wheeler Cape Town Correspondent: Graham Howes Art Director: Jody Ward Assistant Art Director: Jodie Matthews Contributors: ENFONDO, Pascal Bulgakoff, Zbigniew Szarzynski, Erik Aeder, Jason Wolcott, Ramon Schoenmaker, Lukas Prudky, Svetlana Romantsova, Philippe Auriol, Vincent Bergeron, Fninga, Max Kamolz, Bianca Asher, Manuela Jungo, James Boulding, Jason Keller Hudson, Tom Court, Toby Bromwich, Noè Font, Christophe Tack, Rick Pryce, Anders Kruger, Andre Magarao TheKiteMag is… WATER BORN Published by M E D I A Advertising enquiries: advertising@thekitemag.com. All material in TheKiteMag is subject to copyright. Reproduction without the express permission of the publishers will result in prosecution. Submissions: Online: If you have a clip or would like to get something on the website please send it over to us: media@thekitemag.com. In the mag: TheKiteMag welcomes both written and photographic submissions. Photography should be submitted in both RAW and edited format. Please note that the publication of written content is generally dependent on the provision of high quality photography, so in the first instance please send photographic samples and a 150 word synopsis of your writing to: checkmeout@thekitemag.com You can find TheKiteMag on:
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This magazine is printed on paper sourced from responsibly managed sources using vegetable based inks. Both the paper used in the production of this brochure and the manufacturing process are FSC® certified. The printers are also accredited to ISO14001, the internationally recognised environmental standard.
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IN 75 WORDS
IN P H OTO : COU RT ESY P KR A
WO R DS Fact: it’s a great time to be a kiteboarder. Our sport is on the up. It’s becoming more popular, more respected and – thanks to innovations in kite and board technology – more fun. It was not always this way though – once upon a time kiteboarding was an extremely hazardous activity, where you had to have 100% belief in the potential of the sport and 100% belief in yourself just to make it through a session.
P H OTO : RE A L WAT ER SP ORTS
P H OTO : E RIK A EDER
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For the riders who we hold in the highest regard now, it was these ‘original’ guys who showed them what could be done – showed them the potential – and pushed them to the top of the sport today. So, when we asked ‘Which rider has most inspired you?’ we weren’t that surprised to see a few familiar names crop up….
PH OTO: E RIK AE D E R
IN 75 WORDS
Ruben Lenten
consider that I’m friends with the likes
everybody else stayed on the shore…
A great inspiration in my kiteboarding
of Sam Light, Brandon Scheid, Craig
career has always been my brother-from-
Cunningham, Billy Parker, Sam Medysky,
Tom Court
another-mother, Aaron Hadlow. We’ve
Rick Jensen, Tobias Holter, Alex Fox,
I would be lying if I didn’t say that Aaron
been hanging out and riding together
Patrick Rebstock, and Jake Kelsick, it is
has been a big inspiration for me. He has
since we were 14… So on a personal and
easy to see why I don’t spend much time in
always been driven, focused, determined
professional level we’ve always kept each
the box in the first place!
and undeniably talented, and has single-
other in balance and pushed the limits
handedly done more for the sport than most, just by being himself.
where possible. It’s amazing to see him
Bear Karry
ride and making the most out of all kinds
Ian Alldredge and Patrick Rebstock inspire
of conditions with the most technical
me. Their innovation and style constantly
Liam Whaley
skills and epic style. Great motivation for
progress our sport. They are the first on
In the last couple years, Youri Zoon has
making the impossible possible…
the water and the last out and always
definitely been an inspiration for me. He
having fun. They continue to feed off each
has been through so many injuries and he
other’s energy – throwing huge airs and
is always back stronger than ever and more
Lou Wainman. He is the reason why I
pulling into big barrels. I’m lucky to have
fearless!
started kiteboarding. Out of the Maui crew,
grown up alongside such inspirational
he was the one pushing the limits of the
athletes.
Alby
sport back when nobody understood it.
Karolina Winkowska I am really inspired by all the world tour riders. There are so many amazing people
He had the cleanest style, while still being
Alex Pastor
powerful and technical. I used to watch
When I first started I was a big fan of
who work super hard to get to the top,
again and again a VHS tape that I had with
Alvaro, especially because he was already
and there are so many obstacles to pass
him, Elliot and Morris killing it at Kite
a pro. We were kiting on the same spots
through. When you look on how quickly
Beach. Every time I go kite there in my
and we were good friends, then after that
most recover from their injuries and are
head I can still see those guys absolutely
I was really influenced by Aaron – that
back to their A-game, it proves how strong
crashing it!
was when he was winning title after title,
they are. I am inspired by all of these
he was just on a different level. After that,
riders because I too am one of them and I
when the boots movement kicked off, I
experience what they experience and that
I’d have to say the kiter that really inspired
started looking up to riders like Andre
only motivates me to work harder.
me the most is Ben Wilson. When I was
Phillip.
Patri McLaughlin
younger I used to practice doing all the
Andy Yates Aaron Hadlow would have to be the rider
freestyle stuff, but watching Ben surf with
Kari Schibevaag
a kite inspired me to start drawing my
I would have to say Abel Lago. He opened
who has inspired me most. Before I got on
own lines kitesurfing. I have never met
my eyes to wave riding and taught me how
the PKRA tour I would watch all his videos
Ben, but I really respect the way that he
to ride proper waves. I am super happy
religiously, amazed by his consistency. This
went his own way and became one of the
that he reached out to me and helped me
is something that shaped my riding, and I
first professional surfing kiters. He never
in that direction. I like his style of riding,
credit him for my focus on consistency.
followed a path, and he did what he loved
and I hope one day I can get to his level.
which is riding waves. Then, somehow, he turned that into a career and a company.
James Boulding
Victor Hays Many riders inspire me, so it’s quite hard
Lou Wainman, the guy that was doing
to just take one. But when I was younger
every type of handle-pass trick on the
the only rider who I was a BIG fan of
That is an easy one for me! It’s Andre
very first kites. He was always steps
was Andre Phillip. And I’m still a big fan.
Phillip. Dre has inspired me throughout
ahead of the game with what he thought
Huge style inside and outside the water,
my kiteboarding career in just about
was possible behind a kite (or inflatable
great guy, simple. Even when he is riding
every way possible. It started when I was
carrot). His style and influence on the
back and forward, he has more style than
learning to kite watching Auto Focus, he
sport is probably the single biggest and
anyone else!
was ahead of the game and just so steezy. I
has taken kiteboarding to where it is now.
Sam Light
don’t think he’s ever trying to be stylish, it just comes naturally…
Steven Akkersdijk
Jesse Richman Robby Naish is the most motivated rider
Ruben Lenten has inspired me most
I have ever met. Even at his stage in the
because he has such an outstanding style.
game after doing this for most of his life,
My friends inspire me, whether they are
He did what nobody else was capable of
he is as pumped as ever to get out and ride.
pro riders or not. Riding with friends
and took his own path in the kitesurfing
When we are testing or shooting new gear
gets me way more stoked on a session
world. Pushing the extreme side of the
he will be out the longest and a lot of the
and motivates me to get out of my box
sport in the most insane of conditions
time boosting the highest. The stoke and
and try new tricks. But I guess when you
and boosting out the biggest moves when
motivation he has is truly inspiring.
Eric Rienstra
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FOCUS
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PHOTO: JASON WOLCOTT
C U N N I N G H A M WOODIES, WEST OZ
You gotta love it when you rock up to a spot and meet some locals who are super keen to build! A lot of people like to talk about it, but the crew at Woodies were down to get the job done. They were just finishing up this tube when we showed up in WA, and they were nice enough to let me help them finish the build and get some hits. I know how much work goes into building a feature and I hate being that guy who just rocks up and expects to ride without doing any of the work so I was pretty happy to be able to lend a hand, get to know the boys, and help them transport everything down to the spit. As it tends to go in kiteboarding we had everything set up, kites pumped, cameras prepped and were ready to go and then the wind got all funky. We sat around for a few hours and waited for things to line up as forecasted but it never did. So we ended up just slogging around for ages trying to get some hits in the odd puff that would roll through. Then all of a sudden the wind picked up and it got super strong – I was maxed on my 13m and could hardly unhook to hit the tube. Instead of pumping a smaller kite I got some short 13m lines and was getting some good hits. The wind only lasted 15 minutes or so but Jason was on it and banged out a couple of pretty nice angles.
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FOCUS
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BY: RAMON SCHOENMAKER
VA N
D E R
M E I J
S A I N T- A N N E , G UA D E LO U P E
As a kiteboarding photographer you expect the stress of being in a super nice location for a week when the wind is there, but somehow the weather system doesn’t really work with you. It’s normally the light, which is the key factor in any good looking photo. So this trip, after four crazy days of being up from 4.30am until 11pm hunting wind, sun, and good-looking spots, and trying to create a photo that captures the scenery and the power with well-lit colors, it happened on the last chance… Just two-and-a-half hours before my plane took off the sky cleared, the sun came out and slowly burned away the clouds, which gave me 20 minutes of shooting time. Flysurfer rider Dylan van der Meij – passionate and solid as ever in sticking tricks in exactly the location you asked from him – was forced to pump up the 15m Boost and throw down a hardcore session in what most would call ‘lighter winds’, while I put the camera in the housing and made the most of the time that we had. Sometimes it just happens like that and it all finally comes together right at the very last moment…
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FOCUS
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BY: LUKAS PRUDSKY
S L E Z A K HO’OKIPA, MAUI
I have been to Maui every winter for the last three years shooting for Liquid Force and Patagonia. Of course, if you are in Maui and want to go kitesurfing then Ho’okipa is the place to be. But most of the time you’re not allowed to kitesurf there... On this day though the conditions were perfect: strong wind, good sized sets rolling in and no-one out, so Julien Fillion and Jason Slezak took their gear and had one of their best ever sessions there. I was running up and down the hill to get the best angle as I knew that the day would be special. After an hour the helicopter with the film crew showed up and, since there was no-one else out, the helicopter could get super low – as low as I’ve never seen it before and low enough that I could snap a picture of it in front of the kite. I still can’t believe it happened, this is a one-off picture for sure. I call it the “James Bond” shot!
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FOCUS
L A G O CAPE TOWN
For the last 7 years I had been doing the R&D and testing for RRD along with the designer. Every winter we go to Cape Town to test our products in challenging conditions, and also to do some photo shootings with the new gear, all the team, and the big boss together. This shot was taken during the 2016 Religion kite photo shoot at the beach of Patboom inside the Cape Point natural park. Normally we go there when the wind comes from the northwest which is the opposite of what normally blows there. Patboom is one of my favorite spots in Cape Town because you can always get a good shot in every single session and the waves are usually big and powerful. This day I was riding with a 7m prototype and a Maquina 5’9 and, although the waves were pretty small, it was really good fun‌
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PHOTO: SVETLANA ROMANTSOVA
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FOCUS
AU R I O L P U E R TO D E S A N TA M A R I A , S PA I N
Kitesurfing is a part of me and is the best way for me to connect with nature. My favorite moment to ride is always during the sunset, just when all the other kiters are going back home. At that moment I enjoy feeling almost like a kid being left alone, with the silence and the last moments of light… Every day is different so I will never get bored of that sensation. This day in particularly was special because I asked my dad to come with me. I hadn’t seen him in a long time, so it was a good way to share with him some nice time on the beach. He is the one who gave me the passion about sport in general, and also the philosophy that I have – trying to always be positive. He also likes to take pictures, so he immortalized this moment…
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PHOTO: PHILIPPE AURIOL
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FOCUS
L I G H T BRAZIL
Shooting with flash is always a gamble. There are so many variables that it’s really hard to line everything up – the photographer has to press the flash just at the right time when the rider makes the grab and hits the apex of the jump, all while standing in the water holding the flashes, tripod and camera. Plus we normally shoot flash at the end of a long day of photo shooting when you’re cold and sore, and it can get tough repeating the same trick a load of times in shallow water when you crash most of them because you can’t see your landing! That said the results are always worth the time and effort, as when you end up with a good shot, it’s always unique… And thankfully Vinny, the photographer, is a talented chap and we scored a load of belters from this shoot.
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PHOTO: VINCENT BERGERON
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TA N G L E D
ALEX FOX
L I N E S
S L I N G S H O T ’ S N E W LY A P P O I N T E D T E A M AND PROMOTIONS MANAGER
Q A
Q A
Q A
Sam Medysky: If you could change one thing about the industry what would it be? There is a long list, but it would all change if the gear was just less expensive. That is the root of all the problems. Accessibility is obviously the biggest issue and makes it impossible to get younger kids into the sport. You and I, Sam, were lucky because our fathers kited as well, and that makes it way easier. That would be the tipping point though, that would make room for more progressive ideas about where the sport should be.
Craig Cunningham: You’re so ‘hesh’ these days! Can you explain what that means and where your style comes from? Haha, hesh, oh man. I’m fairly sure the definition has gotten skewed over the past year or so. Hesh came from skating and basically comes down to not really giving a shit about anything. Usually it’s referring to dirty and unkempt-looking people. Patrick Wieland, who films with us a lot, just started calling me hesh for some reason, but if anyone is truly hesh it’s probably Rienstra. But now I’m wondering if you are referring to how I dress, or how I kiteboard? Either way I think my approach just comes from trying to be different. There is a lot of the same going on in kiteboarding right now, so I look to anyone’s creativity as a good thing.
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Claire Lutz: Which is the favorite board graphic you’ve designed, and what inspires your artwork? Everything has the potential to inspire me. That’s the most amazing thing about art, nothing is really wrong, so long as you enjoy it you can do whatever you want. I relate it to when you just learned how to kite and you start seeing little ponds, or drainage ditches and you daydream about kiting them. It’s the same way with art, you see something in your everyday life and just have fun exploring that in your head. With the boards that’s a really tough question, they’re all special for different reasons. There is no way I could really choose. The 2012 Misfit was the first graphic I ever did for Slingshot. It was such a battle for me to let them give me the opportunity and I sent the marketing manager at the time about fifty emails and did twenty mockups just trying to persuade them to give me a shot. They finally did, that was the first graphic I made and distribution liked it so much I ended up doing two more graphics that year. Tony and I worked on the 2015 Pearl together, which is the girl’s wakeboard, and that could be my favorite. It’s a bunch of leaves and flora I found behind the house I grew up in Florida. I have got more feedback about that graphic than any other board, so that one definitely has a unique place in my heart.
Q
Sam Light: If it wasn’t kiteboarding, where would you be today?
A
Sam always has the worst questions. What about Sam? Where would Sam be without kiteboarding?! That is a far more interesting question. I don’t know, I have no idea where I would be. Kiteboarding has dominated my life for over a decade now. Without kiteboarding, I’m sure I would have spent my 10,000 hours somewhere else and would have tried to make a career out of that. Most likely, drawing or painting. I’d probably be a poor, miserable drunk without kiteboarding. Thanks Sam.
AD T O SH G IN
SL
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LEW ON THE WOO
The WOO Sports device is arguably the most hotly anticipated piece of electronics to hit the extreme sports world in recent years… An ‘on board’ gadget that can accurately record jumps had seemed a world away. GPS was not the way to go as these devices are designed with sports such as running, cycling and swimming in mind – sports which do not need such a rapid recording of height data. With kitesurfing – unlike any other sport – you can go from sea level to 20 meters in less than a couple of seconds. So a special device was required, and the WOO is it. At the start of this season in Cape Town I was on the test team to give this new device a go. My first thought with 34 | TheKiteMag
any technology that comes out on the water with me is that I don’t want to notice it. It ought to be there without you knowing, as I really believe every ounce of focus and attention should be on the kiteboarding experience. The WOO is discrete and ticks this box. And clipping the WOO on to your board is extremely easy and very satisfying. I appreciate a good ‘click’ and button press as I drive a German vehicle – WOO thought about this detail.
with your iPhone or iPad. I run the app on the iPad and the WOO syncs up instantly via Bluetooth. You do not need your device down the beach though (although most people seem to have their iPhone) and for me I just wait until I get home to download my sessions. The app itself is easy to use, and has features like ‘Spot Detection’ (where the App recognizes where you are in the world based on your location) making the experience very smooth.
Once it’s on your board, it takes 2 button presses to get the WOO into record mode and I found that I didn’t need to charge it for 3 or 4 sessions depending on how long you stay out.
When it comes to checking out your data, I have to say that I found it amazing to see how many jumps you actually perform and also the hang time you can get. I have often felt the amount of time we spend in the air is underestimated and I was right. On some of the real big
Once your session is over, the WOO automatically pairs
jumps you might easily make 10 seconds which is pretty astounding. One of the most interesting and practical aspects of the WOO for me is to look at what setups other people are riding, and you can see which kites and line lengths are really boosting the best. Certainly with the run up to the King Of The Air I found myself looking in depth at the other guys’ sessions and comparing them to mine. I’m a competitive guy and I always look for every advantage I can when competing, but I didn’t hold back uploading my stats and set ups. These recorded sessions, once uploaded, have a feeling of honesty. I want other people to gain knowledge out of my session and together if we all take this attitude we can learn
what setups really are the best for certain conditions, and this revolution in session data can only be great for the sport. As well as the current uses, the potential for the WOO Sport is also massive. As a kiteboarding coach, the WOO could provide great opportunities for me to analyze my students. It’s possible in time that the devices could be attached to the kite as well as the board which would make it easier to look at the timing of a jump for instance, or edge control is a very important aspect of kiteboarding especially when you’re talking about jumping, so viewing the angle of the board before takeoff could help show a student where they are going right or wrong. Another great use would be to make it compulsory for ‘claimers’
to have one on their board. Every beach has at least one person that claims to have gone massive, usually without anybody else around. Claimers are good people, and it would not be kiteboarding without them, but this new device might be the most horrifying thing that’s ever happened to them. So for me and for a lot of other kiters, this clever device is a life changer. We can now measure our progress and compare ourselves against others, something we like to do as human beings. With all aspects of human life we try to improve on our past performances, and the WOO has provided us with a clean and simple tool to do so within the sport we love. I love to see the leaderboards and I feel passionate about being near the top, but more than anything, what the WOO has done for me is given me the platform to compete with the most challenging opponent in the world: myself.
W H AT I S T H I S W I T C H C R A F T ? ! The WOO works using an accelerometer and a gyroscope to measure acceleration and orientation. With this information it can determine when the rider is on the water and when they are jumping. For each jump detected, the characteristics are calculated and stored to the WOO. Data is downloaded directly to the WOO iOS App via Bluetooth. Every jump from each session is broken down to show you how high you’ve been jumping, how long you were in the air during each jump, and at what time in your session the jumps occurred. Every session is uploaded to the WOO Kite App, with details about the location you rode, a session description, and a photo if you have one. Once uploaded, the sessions can be viewed on the app’s live feed by riders worldwide. Your top jumps get ranked on the WOO so you can see how you stack up against the competition. The WOO is charged by plugging the sensor into a USB port through the WOO charging dongle. One 90 minute charge lasts for around 8 hours.
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SUBLIME CAPE VERDE
For a small archipelago, the Cape Verde islands box well above their weight. Both in terms of the number and quality of the spots, and the number and quality of riders to emerge from their shores. Photographer Maria Enfondo spent some time on the islands, where sport-defining moments are never too far away, and caught up with some of the riders lucky enough to call them their home, and some of the riders who – for a few months every year – adopt them as their home… Photos: ENFONDO (unless stated)
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SUBLIME CAPE VERDE
MITU
I have always loved my home, but I can definitely say I love it even more since I started traveling. I have seen a lot of places, met a lot of people and rode a lot of waves, but in the end nothing is like home. I’m really in love with all its elements. The sea, the earth, the sky, the people. Some tourists say it is like a magic land. It is a place that you will love or you will hate. There is nothing special in Cape Verde, no cinemas, no luxurious villas, no big markets, technology is still a rarity and the lifestyle is really basic and simple. And this is exactly how I like it. It’s genuine, and there is the no-stress way in which everybody takes things. I wouldn’t change my home with anywhere else. It has few things to offer, but more than enough for me! 38 | TheKiteMag
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SUBLIME CAPE VERDE
INÊS CORREIA I love being in Cape Verde, it’s my second home! It´s the place where I feel really happy and it’s where I can be relaxed and motivated to train. I like to train here because I know a lot of people who kite, and I always have plenty of company on the water. There are many good local athletes, like Airton, Matchu, Mitu, Djo and many more, and it is always very motivating to train with them. The lifestyle is simple with a really close relationship with nature, the people are amazing and Ponta Preta is a dream for any kitesurfer… Life is good here!
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MATCHU Sal means to me a “strapless island”. Not only for the amazing wind, waves and weather and the emotions I have riding our beautiful spots, but also because it is a place where I can really enjoy a simple life, relaxed without ‘bindings’ and without any ties. Even though I know almost everybody in my little hometown, there is no other place in the world where I feel so free to just be myself, to express myself as I want. I can wake up in the morning and just walk around the town barefoot if I feel like it.
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SUBLIME CAPE VERDE
PAULINO PEREIRA The first feeling I get from Cape Verde is the genuine and friendly people. It doesn’t matter how the conditions are, the people will make you smile. Lots of people had told me that Sal had great conditions to train in waves in the winter and my first time visiting was for the KSP 2011 .We didn’t get Ponta Preta working perfectly but meanwhile I visited other spots up in the north that were working really well and were uncrowded. That feeling of being in a kind of risky and dangerous spot made me especially interested in coming back! The truth is that we don’t get many days of Ponta Preta in a season, but the weather is great, the people are super friendly, life is simple and it’s just a four hour flight from my home. Plus my friends from the tour usually spend the winter here too, so it’s perfect to push each other and improve our skills.
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SUBLIME CAPE VERDE
AIRTON Cape Verde is one of the best places for me for doing all watersports, all the people are super cool and helpful in every way. This is where I am from, and I know all the kind of conditions on offer and the right times to go... When I am not here I miss it a lot because here is the place to be, and for me the wave here is one of the best in the world.
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SUBLIME CAPE VERDE
DJO It’s my home break with right hand and left hand waves together in the same spot. It’s the magic that blows with the wind and sings with the waves. It lets my spirit feel alive and gives me the power to keep me doing more and more and more. No words can explain how I feel at home on these waves and I couldn’t dream of more perfection than here.
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MR BIG
Mr
BIG
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At 1.97 meters (6ft 5in) tall, Steven Akkersdijk is used to looking down on the world. But that’s not enough for him… O no: he just wants to get higher. And higher… One of the impressive recent crop of northern European Big Air aficionados, the CORE rider was the surprise package at last year’s KOTA, where he found himself with a shot at the title. Despite being at the top of this particular game though, it’s not all about the Big Air for Steven…
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Photo: Max Kamolz
HEY STEVEN. SO, LET’S START AT THE BEGINNING. CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? Hello. My name is Steven Akkersdijk, I am from the Netherlands and I am 21 years old. I’ve always loved to be around the water and about 7 years ago I started kitesurfing after my dad had the feeling I was riding my dirt bike a bit too fast on the track… Before this I had been windsurfing for 3 years, and kitesurfing was the next obvious step. WOULD YOU CLASS YOURSELF AS A ‘BIG AIR’ RIDER OR DO YOU NOT LIKE TO BE LABELED LIKE THAT? I am often labeled as a big air rider, but this is just a small piece of what I do with kitesurfing. Don’t get me wrong, I love to be up and high, but for me the beauty of kitesurfing lies in the diversity. Different wind conditions ask for different riding styles – I also love to be out and hitting waves on a strapless board or throwing some handle passes on a board with bindings. For this reason I wouldn’t label myself as a “big air” rider. HOW DID YOU END UP RIDING FOR CORE? I have been riding with Core for about 3 years now. One of my friends runs a surfshop in the north of The Netherlands and he asked me to try out the gear, so I gave it a run. When I did I really enjoyed the ride, so I started riding for him and grew within Core to becoming an international rider. For me Core stands out because they put a lot of time in product development. Instead of releasing a new kite every year they take 2 years to fine tune the kite. This results in kites that are well-developed and that you can trust, which is pretty important when you are hanging high in the sky!
WHICH KITE DO YOU RIDE? I ride the Core GTS3 because it fits me. I love to go big and pull the kite down low in my loops. This kite provides a lot of power in the loops and that – combined with the lift and depower capabilities – make for a perfect high wind kite. Besides the loops, this kite is a great all-rounder, and wave riding and freestyle can all be done with the same setup. WE’VE CHECKED OVER A FEW CARVED BOARDS AND BEEN VERY IMPRESSED – WHAT DO YOU RIDE AND DO YOU HAVE A CUSTOM LAYUP? When you travel you try to pack as light as possible whilst still bringing all the necessary gear. With the boards from Carved this is not an issue because they are so light! I ride a custom reinforced Tantrum for boots, the board is a bit heavier than most of the Carved boards but is super solid. YOU’RE ONE OF THEIR MOST SUCCESSFUL RIDERS COMPETITIVELY, DOES THIS PUT YOU UNDER MORE PRESSURE?! I am happy to say that Core has never put a lot of pressure on me. Of course they would like me to do well in the competitions I ride in, but they never push me too much. I think it is good they do it this way, this leaves an open page for me in which I can draw my own line, it opens up different possibilities to the ‘standard’ competition mindset. TheKiteMag | 53
Photo: Max Kamolz Photo: Max Kamolz
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Photo: Bianca Asher
Photo: Max Kamolz
Photo: Courtesy Red Bull
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MR BIG
LAST YEAR YOU ENDED UP ON THE PODIUM AT THE KOTA – DID YOU EXPECT TO DO SO WELL GOING IN TO THE EVENT AND WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAD A SHOT AT THE TITLE? The 2014 Red Bull King of the Air has been a big surprise for many people I guess. I remember saying to my friends that I was aiming for the top 12 so that I would be invited again for the next year. The first round didn’t go that well for me, but after the wind picked up I just kept on advancing to the next round. I could hardly believe it and it wasn’t until I came off the water after the semifinals that I realized that I actually had a shot on the title. MOVING ON TO THIS YEAR’S KOTA, AND YOU WERE CARRYING AN INJURY COMING IN TO THIS YEAR’S EVENT. CAN YOU TELL US WHAT YOU HAD DONE AND HOW THE RECOVERY PROCESS WENT. Summer in Holland doesn’t provide that much wind so I started wakeboarding more often. During the warm up for my first wakeboard competition I dislocated my shoulder after edging a bit too long... This was followed by a painful 90 minutes until they managed to put it back into place. After this followed a three month recovery, with a lot of time in the gym and wearing a sling. THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK LAST YEAR ABOUT THE DIFFERENT RIDING STYLES – THIS YEAR EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE HAPPY FOR THERE TO BE A RANGE OF STYLES. WERE THE RIDERS ALL PRETTY RELAXED ABOUT THIS? For this year they changed the format a lot. Instead of having one trick that can take the win, they were taking your best three tricks which were combined in a final score. This made the different riders throw out different type of tricks and styles. You couldn’t win the competition with just kiteloops, there had to be something different in it. I enjoyed this format a lot more, because you had to show diversity, and I believe that goes for the other riders too.
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Photo: Courtesy Red Bull
FOR ANYONE WHO HASN’T BEEN CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE ATMOSPHERE IS LIKE WHEN THE KOTA IS ON? CAN YOU HEAR THE CROWD WHEN YOU ARE RIDING? The atmosphere at the Red Bull King of the Air is insane! There are a lot of kitesurfers in Cape Town during this time of the year and almost all of them take the time to come and watch the event. This results in a beach full with spectators that love the sport and will go nuts when something goes down. This combined with the mates that are on the beach or in your heat results in boundary-breaking riding. They give you the drive to push it which results in big tricks – and big crashes if you are unlucky. CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THIS YEAR’S EVENT? This year’s King of the Air was a lot different from the other years. Due to bad wind conditions the competition was run over three days, whilst normally we would run it in one day. Of course this changes things a lot, you are more rested because you don’t have to ride multiple heats in one day, but in another way you are also more nervous because it is taking such a long time. Despite the low wind in the earlier rounds the wind picked up on the last day so we could go big! WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE IS FOR THE BIG AIR DISCIPLINE? WOULD YOU BE KEEN TO FOLLOW A BIG AIR TOUR AND WHAT WOULD IT NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL? A Big Air tour would for sure be a big kick for the kitesurf scene. If you look at the amount of exposure the Red Bull KOTA got, just imagine the exposure you could get with a tour. I would for sure be keen to go on a tour like this. It would just need some tour stops on a few of the windier places in the world to be groundbreaking.
KOTA 2015 Photo: Courtesy Red Bull
KOTA 2014 Photo: Courtesy Red Bull
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MR BIG
Photo: Max Kamolz
Photo: Jop Heemskerk
THERE IS MUCH MORE REPRESENTATION FROM RIDERS FROM ‘NORTHERN EUROPE’ IN KOTA AND OTHER BIG AIR EVENTS, WHY IS THIS DO YOU THINK? In the northern part of Europe we get a lot of changing wind conditions, on which we constantly have to adjust. This combined with the spring and autumn storms that push through on a regular basis, make for a place with nice training conditions for big air riding. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS? The Netherlands are still way to cold this time of year, so I will try to stay away from there! At the moment I am in Maui for training and soon I will be going back home for a little bit. My last few trips have all been kitesurf-orientated so I am actually really thinking about a trip where I mostly focus on surfing and kite a little bit on the side… WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE IF YOU WEREN’T KITING?!It is always hard to say what I would be doing if I didn’t kitesurf. I really love traveling and visiting multiple places so I would try to continue this combined with filming and editing. There are so many options, that it is hard to say what I would be doing. But I can definitely say that I wouldn’t go for an office job! 58 | TheKiteMag
Photo: Bianca Asher
QS FAVORITE CONDITIONS? Give me waves with a nice period in-between and wind hitting the 40 knots in the gusts and you will for sure see a big smile on my face! FAVORITE RIDER? I enjoy seeing Ruben Lenten on the water because he has the same riding style as I do and tries to push the megaloop. In the freestyle department I really enjoy Youri Zoon as he has a certain relaxed way of riding, powered moves combined with grabs make him one of the most stylish riders in my eyes.
FAVORITE SET UP? I love riding my 9m GTS3 on 20 meter lines as it is easy to control and carries you a long way. Despite the size it is still perfectly possible to steer the kite way down in the loops to level out on the same height. VITAL STATS? I am 1.97m (6’5�) tall and weigh 90kg FAVORITE MOVE? Kiteloop late backroll, this trick is like going for a rollercoaster ride! TUNE TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD TO GO BIG? This changes by the month, and by the session. Anything upbeat from deep house through to a good hip-hop tune!
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ADVENTURE Photo: James Boulding TheKiteMag | 63
Need to get your head around some fresh kit and dial in some new moves? Got those ‘between PKRA seasons’ blues? Seen the frickin’ exchange rate?! There’s only one sensible option: time to hit up Australia… Words: Manuela Jungo I wouldn’t say that my life as a professional kiteboarder is harder than others, but it is different to what most people know and do. One thing we all have in common though is that we have to make decisions along the way, some bigger than others. At the end of last year I was faced with a major decision that would affect how I go about my work. I could have kept things as they were or I could make a change and take a new opportunity... You probably guessed it, I decided to start something new and exciting. Did I know if that was the right decision? No. Was I worried that it was the wrong one? Of course: but without trying you will never know...
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S e a so n a l ad
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j u st m e n t s Each year there is a long break between seasons on the PKRA. This break is very important to let the mind and body rest and also to recharge the batteries and to train hard to be ready to compete in the year coming. This year I decided to head to the Thai Wake Park after the last competition in Hainan to learn some new things without pressure or expectations. After that I spent a month back at home in Switzerland. The plan had been to go to Egypt for two weeks, but the wind forecast was so bad that I decided to spend more time at home this year and to take a longer break from traveling. This was very good for my state of mind and it was nice to spend some more time with friends and family, who I don’t often manage to see due to the rigors of the tour schedule. Towards the end of this time, however, I grew restless and was keen to get back to what I love doing most and embark on a new adventure. Time to head to Australia....
Photo: Jason Wolcott
I hadn’t been to Australia before but had heard many good things from friends at home who had taken time out, rented a bus and traveled on the east or west coast, and also from other kiters who choose to spend European winters in Western Australia. So I decided it was time for me to see and experience this country too and – leaving as Christmas fizzled out – I made the pilgrimage half way across the world to new beginnings. As a result of my big decision and my change of sponsors I also had a board bag full of brand new gear with me. New kites, board and bar. I remember my first session when things were so different on the water. When you spend so much time every day with a kite in your hands there is a connection you get used to – to how something feels – it becomes hardwired and part of your routine. So ‘different’ can feel frightening and, initially, it made me question myself and whether it was the right decision to try something new and to make this big change. But I got used to my gear after a while – it took a few weeks – and I am happy now and my confidence is right back up. Plus I’m not just very happy with my gear, I am also happy to be a member of a new team and have been lucky to hit the ground running and get stuck into some projects straight away.
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Photo: Jason Wolcott
Photo: James Boulding The first thing I was going to be doing was working with new team mate Colleen Carroll. I knew Colleen from a few years back; we met at the lagoon in Taiba the first time I went to Brazil and I got to know her better during last summer in St Peter-Ording during the PKRA when we spent some time together for a project with our sponsor Makulo. We then talked about doing something together, but didn’t know at that stage that this chance would come so soon by working together on our first video project with North.
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There are a lot of kite videos out there and it’s always hard these days to find something new to do, but putting our heads together we were able to be creative and throw ideas at each other. We were in Australia, which is known for adventure and new experiences, so we decided to slip into the role of two adventurers ourselves. That meant that we had to get the right equipment and clothes for that, and then we started our journey to look for the ultimate adventure. As per usual when you plan something in a weather dependent sport there is never quite what you want when you need it. As soon as we were ready to start shooting, the wind disappeared for a few days… And when we drove up to one major shooting destination, it just clouded over and gloom set in. So we had to overcome a few barriers but we made it, and we’re super-proud of our new video and hope you have a chance to check it out…
Photo: James Boulding
As well as getting the clip together, I really like to travel and ride with other girls so it was very nice to hang out with Colleen in Western Australia – it is nice to have someone to go out for a drink with, do some shopping and to gossip with. Plus she kept my confidence up when I was not able to land my standard tricks right away with new equipment. It is also good to have a rider on the water who is at a similar level, you can work on the same tricks or get inspired to go for a new trick. In the spring we both head to Hatteras and I am looking forward to meeting up again in Hatteras so I can improve my skills in hitting kickers and sliders – it’ll be great to have some sessions with the Triple S champion.
But for now my focus is back to the World Tour. I am lucky that I am already seeded and that I don’t have to compete in the trials as there are a lot of good girls out there who want one of the 12 spots in the Tour. The general level has increased a lot during the last few years, especially for the girls. Sure Gisela Pulido, Karolina Winkowska and Bruna Kajiya are still ahead of everyone but they have to perform well during their heats as there are a lot of girls that have 5 good tricks in their repertoire now and are waiting to take their places... I’m proud that I made it onto the podium once last season in Leucate with a 3rd place, and Annelouse Lammerts made it three times in Egypt, Fuerteventura and Pingtan.
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Photo: James Boulding
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Pro tips It is very hard to make a living as a pro kiteboarder. It may improve, but the prize money for girls is much lower than for men, and the sponsor deals for girls in the industry are far away from what the guys receive, which is why I had to look for support outside of the industry to be able to live my passion and to be able to compete. I am very glad that innovative companies like the HFV (a higher school for people working in the management of insurance companies) as well as the Swiss watch company Traser H3 Watches chose me to be their brand ambassador and have continued supporting me for a fourth season. So what would I say to up and coming riders? Well I would recommend them to think outside of the box and to find out what they can offer to companies. As kiteboarders we travel a lot, our life is changing all the time and we are storytellers. I think that more and more that is what companies are looking for good ways to keep their social media channels interesting and real and as kiteboarders we can provide that. But to find these chances we have to be proactive and carry the hard work that we put in with our training over to hard work in seeking out new opportunities.
Photo: Jason Wolcott
I am one of the older riders out there and the question ‘what do you want to do after your career?’ pops up all the time. I am very lucky as I am well qualified and I have some work experience in marketing and I can actually just keep on working in the industry I worked in before. But for now the product is me, “Manuela Jungo”. I might not make much money but I can see the world and I do what I like and what I want to do. The only thing that I am worried about is that I am not sure if I can find a place on this big beautiful world that fulfills all my needs! But I will keep on exploring and looking for adventures and I still have a lot of energy and motivation to improve my riding. Plus I hope that I can inspire other people to work hard for their dreams, to take the opportunities that come their way and not to be afraid of new experiences or with the goal of finding the right balance in life, because that is what I have chosen to do and that is what has made me happy… Normally female riders are in the minority on the water and during product shoots and in general when you look at the riders worldwide there are significantly more men. But it is good to see that there are more and more girls and women getting into kitesurfing now and I am very proud to be able to see it as my job to promote the sport to girls and to push them and to give them confidence to learn how to kite. There is still a common misconception that you need massive muscles to learn to kite and be able to do tricks, so it’s great to prove these wrong and show people that really anyone can learn and can master tricks they wouldn’t dream of at the beginning. TheKiteMag | 71
S N OW KITING T HE GASPÉSIE Jason Keller Hudson melds high expectations with a low budget and scores some unchartered spots and some fresh perspectives on life‌ Words and Photos: Jason Keller Hudson
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A long day’s drive north of Montreal up along the breathtakingly beautiful scenery of the St. Lawrence River, you will find some of the most incredible scenery you might never have known existed. Coming from the Mi’kmaq word for “Land’s End”, The Gaspé Peninsula boasts dramatic mountain views, long rocky coastlines and some of the most steadily strong winds of eastern North America. Far north at the point of the peninsula is the small town of Percé. Like a cherry on the top of a sundae, the red rock island, Rocher Percé, towers over the freezing water and snowdrift-laden landscape. Just an hour or so south inland you will begin to climb up the Chic Choc Mountains into Murdochville. This is where our journey began.
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SNOW KITING THE GASPÉSIE
IN SEARCH OF SNOW KITING SPO TS, FRESH FACES AND BACKCOUNTRY RIDING
The idea began over a few Facebook messages and phone calls with French Canadian Slingshot ripper Dominique Granger and Naish rider Felix Gourdeau. We had discussed the possibility of a winter adventure that was different than the usual, cost convenient, challenging on the mind and good for the soul. Felix and Dom, both living in Montreal, suggested snow kiting in the Canadian North – Gaspé. It would be brutally different from the typical warm kite trip to Brazil or 74 | TheKiteMag
surf trip to the Caribbean that people generally seek out in the winter. The idea promised more than just kiting, it would be adventurous, it would be quiet and peaceful, and it would be easy on the wallet. Part of the Notre Dame Mountains, the Chic Choc Mountains are a northern continuation of the Appalachian Mountains. Outlined to the west by the St. Lawrence River, the mountains grow out of icy waters up to around 1,300
meters. Holding to their name, meaning “crags” or “rocky mountains”, they are a narrow chain of highly eroded peaks with steep faces. The dramatic terrain combined with big slopes and wide-open peaks provides excellent conditions for snow sports across the board. Gaspé is still considered a coastal region, positioned just a few hundred miles across the Gulf of St. Lawrence from Newfoundland. The winds can be brutal, cold and unforgiving; however, for kite sports, excellent and optimal.
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SNOW KITING THE GASPÉSIE
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SNOW KITING THE GASPÉSIE
We arrived on New Year’s Eve through the snow-blanketed valley into Murdochville; welcomed by a traditional celebration of drinks, dancing, countdowns and kisses. It was now 2015, our resolutions of grandeur would be put to the test immediately. Murdochville was originally founded as a copper mine in 1921, the mountain-top-removal mining had
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left an obvious mark on the terrain during its heyday in the mid-50s. After an underground fire in 1987, mining production was crippled and then it was forced to close in 1999, leaving the town to fight for survival economically. The economy began to shift its focus to wind farming and, establishing a few turbines on the surrounding peaks, the township began to survive off of the steady year-round winds.
Shortly after the sun peaked over the surrounding mountain tops we parked our jeep just off Hwy 198. We hiked a few kilometers into the field and pumped our kites up on an overlooking ridge. Following the lead of Felix, Dominique and a couple other Québécois kiters, we charged snowdrift-filled fields in the full mountain winds. The terrain, manipulated by the past mining practices, had left wide-open fields of
Nor’easters have always been an anticipated weather event for me. As a native North Carolinian, I have always welcomed strong nor’easters for the wind and waves they bring. Similar for the Quebecois of The Gaspé Peninsula, Nor’easters bring quantifiable fresh snow and the promise of bluebird conditions once the weather clears. Boardable conditions on the way, we spent our first night discussing climbing some of the region’s highest peaks in search of snow kiting spots, fresh faces and backcountry riding. Roughly a 16 kilometer hike up into The Gaspé National Park, we decided that would make our way to the wide open peak of Mont Albert…
dark was well within our grasp. Not a super challenging hike – Mont Albert crests a little more than 1200 meters from sea level. Positioned deep in the back of a large horseshoe shaped bowl and just on the leeward side of the prevailing winds, the snow all the way up would be deep and plentiful. Exhausted, we came over the peak of the mountain and looked out across the wide-open field of snow. We immediately knew we’d found a oneof-a-kind place. Quickly, though, the weather began to move in, cold and unforgiving, it was immediately time to leave. Once again, almost mocked by the early sunset, we strapped on our respective snow sliding craft and descended the fresh powdered face of Mont Albert. Creating our own lines of mellow turns as we zigzagged into a valley below to prepare for our long night hike out of the park. Barely a day into a new year, we were all beaming with energy. Over the sound of sealskins and snowshoes in the fresh layer we laughed and told stories and lies; all with a sideways glance back at our conquered peak now illuminated by the moonlight.
The winds had the potential to increase, but summiting just before
The remainder of our trip would be peppered with hikes and journeys.
sediment deposits. Covered in deep snow and void of trees made these areas perfect for our needs. Under an approaching nor’easter, the winds began to swirl around the fields bringing an early close to our session. Almost dark with the early winter sunset, we made our way back to our lodge to regroup and plan for the coming storm.
A drive into Gaspé and Percé; we’d dine on local fare, smoked cod and poutine. However, the expedition from a greater perspective was made in those first few days. Driving back down south, now with the St. Lawrence River on our right and the mellowing faces of the Chic Chocs to the left, we talked about how we’d create more adventure in our lives. We talked about our next great expeditions, we talked about how 2015 would be the year we got outside and explored more. There’s something funny about great journeys: they’re addictive. Great or small, challenge and discomfort unlocks a part of us that says “this is possible”, and, “if I can accomplish this, then what can’t I do?” In order to make any adventure truly memorable there needs to be an element of discomfort. Hiking day and night in -30ºC or pushing through physical exhaustion for simple goals, taking the road less traveled for a single photograph or just separating from the crowd to gain a better vantage point: life demands challenge, and adventure requires it.
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CAPE CRUSADERS
CA PE C RU SA D ERS
There are few things more frustrating in life than waiting for the doctor. The clock ticking slowly by, the minutes stretching out, the feeling that life is passing you by… Tom Court and friends found themselves in this situation in the run up to the King of the Air. The Cape Doctor, normally about as dependable as they come, was having one of those seasons and just couldn’t get his act together… Words: Tom Court | Photos: Toby Bromwich
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CAPE CRUSADERS
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For many years Cape Town has been a hotspot for kiteboarders. The cosmopolitan city and surrounding areas buzz endlessly with good vibes, outdoor activities, street style and a vibrant ‘after dark’ scene, and the expansive coastline plays host to an insane amount of world class spots which continue for as far as you are willing to drive. The only downside when spending time in this magical destination is that there are never enough hours in the day to do everything. Over the last few years the scene feels like it has boomed yet further. Whether it’s the renowned Cape Doctor that delivers mind blowing conditions, the fact that the unique coastline offers spots that face every direction, or the fact that many of the industry’s most influential riders and brands base themselves there for the season, Cape Town just seems to beckon more and more kiteboarding enthusiasts from across the globe.
This was my fourth time in Cape Town and, following the previous three years, I was pretty confident that I knew exactly what to expect for my 6 weeks in Blouberg. It turned out I was wrong. The formidable Cape Doctor was totally off his game this season, and the wind that usually sweeps the flanks of Table Mountain – careering around the bowl between mountain and sea – was disappointingly inconsistent. In these situations it’s all too easy to slip into a routine of eternal frustration and unproductiveness, especially when you’re used to everything happening like clockwork right on your doorstep. And so – finding myself surrounded with the rest of the crew and photographer Toby Bromwich – we hatched a ‘Freeride Project’ mission and a plan of action to discover new territories. Hitting the road in convoy we began by heading four hours’ south-east to Witsand Beach. Here the magnificent Cape Flora Kingdom plays host to Witsand, an unspoilt piece of paradise with four kilometers of wide, white sand and the Breede River estuary where the river flows into the sea. With a perfectly curved sand spit, combined with the daily offshore winds, the large expanse of flat water creates the ultimate freestyle and wakestyle playground, and it was immediately clear why Aaron has frequented Witsand for over a decade and rates it as one of the world’s top spots for training and dialing in new tricks.
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CAPE CRUSADERS
After the four hour mission we were all feeling the pressure to get straight on the water for fear of missing out on the light but rideable winds, but Aaron suggested we check in to our digs for the night and refresh ourselves before the afternoon session. Was he the only one who wasn’t anxious to ride after a week of no wind back in Blouberg?! Unsurprisingly though, his local knowledge paid off and an hour later – with a whole afternoon to session – it was 7m weather… And so it begun, trick after trick, steez and style, spectacular light and photography from every angle. Each member of the crew was on form, motivated and inspired. As night fell we hiked back up through the dunes and headed to a small Kite Club further up the river. Witsand is hardly buzzing and, except for the other kiteboarders, there isn’t much of a local scene, so it was great to be greeted by a well-stocked bar, hot food and fellow salty, windswept and sun-drenched people. Retiring to our epic on-the-spot house we made the decision to session early in the morning before hitting the road again and heading further west… So the following day it was on the road to Still Baai – a seaside town situated along the banks of the Goukou River estuary, which divides the town in two. Once again we saw the potential that a rivermouth offers and we rode in the flat water created by the sandbars and spits that shelter the lagoon-like spot. The lighter winds allowed us to score an un-spoilt sunset session in the buttery waters, attracting attention from locals who seemed like they had never seen kiteboarding before. And then it was time to hit the road once again, this time heading back east where we arrived late at night, and with no idea of our exact location. We fell into our beds at a quirky boutique B&B and – after a solid sleep – were greeted by the sunrise and the stunning seaside town of Hermanus, with incredible scenery and a rich fishing history. There was no wind, but with everyone feeling a bit low on energy, a morning of R&R was appreciated. We had to be back in Cape Town for the KOTA launch party by that evening, so we watched out to sea in hope that the white horses in the distance would arrive in time for a session. As seemed to be the theme for the spots we’d chosen to hit, Hermanus had a lagoon that filled up at high tide and was framed by the impressive backdrop. And luckily the wind did arrive, with the waist deep, warm, flat water a welcome change from the freezing, often gnarly deep waters of Cape Town.
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CAPE CRUSADERS
Back in Blouberg, where the event was due to be held and from where we had left to go on our road trip, the wind still hadn’t returned. Thankfully the holding period for the event was two weeks, but it seemed even such lengths were not generous enough for the strong wind necessary to run the heats. I’ve experienced the King of the Air first hand and other
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competitors would probably agree that a steady 20-25 knots isn’t the ideal platform for mega loops and huge hang time, in fact it becomes dangerous in marginal conditions. The riders desperately needed the ‘Cape Doctor’ to arrive and deliver the optimum and trademark 30-plus knots for the action to get started…
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CAPE CRUSADERS
This was the third year of the King of the Air, the most exhilarating event on the kiteboarding calendar. Having suffered a rib blow in my first year competing, I knew what you had to put on the line to do well. Unfortunately (or fortunately – whichever way you want to look at it!) I wasn’t a competitor this year, but I was on hand to lend support to the rest of the NKB Team riders. The wind teased for the entire holding period and Red Bull took the decision to extend the waiting period for one day in order to complete the event, as it seemed that the Cape Doctor would finally
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turn up to save the day (and not only for the riders, but also for the 17,000 spectators). After the success of our coastal road trip and shooting for the Freeride Project – and probably more relaxed after time away riding with his mates – Aaron blew the competition away, and his now trademark Mega Loop KGB clinched him the triumphant top spot on the podium just hours before he boarded his plane back to Europe.
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W H AT K I N D O F K I T E R A R E YO U ?
WHAT KIND OF KITER ARE YOU? In a pretty astounding ‘wise-beyond-his-15-years’ bit of quizzing mastery, Noè Font asks the difficult questions and forces you to take a long, hard, look in the mirror…
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W H AT K I N D O F K I T E R A R E YO U ?
1. I LEARNED TO KITE… A B C D
To be cool With my friends years ago Before I had a proper vocabulary I was born with a kite leash as an umbilical cord
5. THE BOSS CALLS ME. HE SAYS I’M BEING PROMOTED AND GETTING A PAY RISE. MY FIRST REACTION IS A
Ha! And my friends mocked me for missing those sessions and putting extra time in on the weekends. See who’s laughing now! Sweet. With the extra money I’ll be able to do a little trip to Brazil and maybe upgrade my quiver Whoah! Slow down. How is this going to cut into my water time?
B
2. MY QUIVER CONSISTS OF… A B
A 10m is all I need 2 kites and my favorite board is enough to get me out on most days 4 kites and 3 boards for all conditions Every size from 4-18m and 13 boards
C D
C
D
6. ON MY LAST HOLIDAY I WENT…
A B 3. MY LAST GIRLFRIEND BROKE UP WITH C ME BECAUSE… D A
She got tired of me playing my Coldplay collection A girl who didn’t like the beach? What was I thinking? I’m not sure, she said something when I was pumping my kite on a windy beach and I never saw her again I wouldn’t let her learn on my kites
Boss? Office? What do these words mean?
On a weekend break to Luxembourg On a trip to Brazil where I kited all day, every day On a boat trip to the Caribbean. Good kiting, good friends and good vibes Back to my adopted guesthouse in South Africa where I have a room booked out year round
B C
D
4. I GET OUT OF THE WATER… A B
After I’ve had a few nice tricks or waves When all my friends are already waiting for me in the car When I can’t feel my hands anymore When it’s dark and there’s not enough moonlight
C D
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7. THIS WEEKEND I WILL… A
Go shopping with the missus… We really need some new curtains. Go out for dinner on Friday. Catch up with my friends on Saturday for the football and maybe go kiting on Sunday if the forecast looks good Go to bed early on Friday and hit the road on Saturday. See you on Sunday evening when I’m done with kiting It’s the weekend? Gutted. This means all the weekend -warrior kooks will be getting in my way
B C
D
8. MY WORST CRASH EVER… A B
On my bike when I was 4 When I self-launched and had the lines set up wrong
C
When I tangled with a buddy while filming follow-cam with the GoPro I went too hard out on a Megaloop and broke 8 ribs. I was back on the water the following day though…
D
9. IN THE BACK OF MY CAR I HAVE… A B
A dustpan and brush for all that terrible sand... My kite gear is there 24/7 in case I find some wind
C
D
My kites, a kite repair kit, and a spare pump just in case I don’t have a car, just a tent at the beach
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W H AT K I N D O F K I T E R A R E YO U ?
10. I LEARN FROM… A Videos B Magazines C My buddies D You learn from me
11. GOING UPWIND IS… A B C D
Beyond my capabilities A privilege Second nature Boring. I wish we could downwind the whole day
12. IT’S WINDY AND LOOKS AMAZING BUT IT’S MY GIRLFRIEND’S BIRTHDAY. I… A B C D
Don’t even think about it. It’s her day Go for a quick session in between making her breakfast and taking her out for lunch Go for a proper session before taking her for a fancy dinner Fail to understand why she can’t be happy for me. I mean, like, I just got the highest jump of the day
13. MY ATTITUDE TO HAVING KIDS IS… A B C D
I am still a kid I’ve always wanted to teach my own grom how to kite I’ve always wanted my own kite caddy What, and have less water time? Thanks, but no thanks
14. MY FRIENDS… A
B C
Don’t really get why I’m into kiting. But we still find plenty of time to hang out together
Wish they saw a bit more of me We all grew up kiting together, go on kite trips and we’ll keep kiting together until we die Who needs friends when you have a kite?
D
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15. THE HOUSE IS BURNING DOWN AND YOU HAVE TIME TO SAVE ONLY ONE THING. YOU INSTINCTIVELY GRAB… A
Your collection of family photos. Those things are irreplaceable Your homemade kite board. Those things are irreplaceable Nice try. My garage is alarmed and totally fireproof Who cares? I sold the house three years ago for a round-the-world kite trip
B C
D
16. THE PKRA WORLD TITLE RACE IS… A B C D
A bit confusing. How does it work?
Great entertainment What happened when kiting sold out Mine for the taking
17. INTERNET FORECASTS ARE… A
Useful for seeing if I need to wear a vest tomorrow The greatest invention of the 21st century What I plan my life around Rarely as accurate as me
B C D
18. KITING ALONE IS… A B C D
Not for me. Thanks Sketchy but worth it Like Christmas The usual in the Grenadines where I moved to get away from you kooks
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W H AT K I N D O F K I T E R A R E YO U ?
HOW DID YOU SCORE? MOSTLY A’S:
Unless you are a grom or learning to kite, put this magazine down. Like, right now. Just move along my friend. Kiting is not for you. Take this mag back to the shops and exchange it for Crochet Weekly.
Mostly B’s: Your healthy obsession with kiteboarding is topped with stoke and balanced by an attempt, at least, to have a normal life/career/relationship outside the water.
MOSTLY C’S:
Your life revolves around kiteboarding 24/7 and you have given up all but the thinnest guises that anything else is important. Your core status is complimented by the fact that you can set up your kite blindfolded. You probably won’t die rich or famous, but it will be with an enviable jumps record and a well-worn thousand yard stare.
MOSTLY D’S:
Well buddy... I think it is time to slow down a bit. Your pathological devotion to kitesurfing has left you morally bankrupt, and you are either a homeless feral, pro kiter, or you work for a kite magazine.
SHAME ON YOU.
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UNDER THE HOOD
U N D E R
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When it comes to kitesurfing legends, they don’t come much more iconic than Ben Wilson. One of the first guys to hit the water with his kite and his surfboard, Ben’s commitment to riding waves saw him take on some of the most challenging waves on the planet riding what we would now class a ‘hardcore C kite’... No depower, no drift… Nearly 20 years on and that commitment is undiminished: Ben still loves to kite and has taken his passion on the water a step further and moved it in to his brand, Ben Wilson Surf. 98 | TheKiteMag
So, let’s take things from the top. Can you tell us about your background in surfing and how you first began kiting? My dad taught me to surf in Bali when I was 8-years-old. Ever since then surfing has been pretty much everything. For a long time I was really narrow-minded and didn’t really do much else until I was taught to kite in Fiji. I first learnt on my surfboard and now it’s the ultimate extension of surfing, opening up so many opportunities for travel. I never get skunked on surf trips anymore.
With the Noise, did you start with the attributes that you wanted from the kite and design it from the bottom up with that in mind? Yeah. I mean we knew what we wanted from the start. Simplicity is key when you’re riding the waves. When building the first kite – and to this day – we always have that in mind. We have key things we need to tick off and we know exactly what we want and what our customers want so we build and release products accordingly.
You were on the Slingshot team for a while and on some pretty crazy trips with them - what was it like tackling such serious waves on the kite back then? It was scary but made even scarier because a lot of the time it was the first time for us! We didn’t know what was going to happen, what the kite was going to do. Every session something would go down and you never really knew what would happen next or what was possible. Each time we went out was a massive step forward in terms of technique or equipment – or simply in discovering what was possible…
Who feeds into the R&D process and how does this work? One of the best parts of our whole operation is our ambassador program. It’s made up of kiters from all around the world, plus team riders, Dano and myself. Our R&D process is second
to none because we have hundreds of people riding different conditions and climates with various levels of ability. We also have a private page where we share experiences, travel tips, what’s working and what’s not. I don’t think anyone else has that set up. The latest version of the kite has recently hit the ground - how does this demonstrate the evolution of the Noise? I guess there haven’t been that many changes – some cosmetic updates and bridle tweaks. Other than that we didn’t really want to change it much. We’re stoked on its design and are working on some others but we won’t release anything until we’re 100% happy. We’re definitely not going to change something just to say we changed it…
Can you tell us about when and why you decided to start BWS? The first time I used my surfboard I had a moment of clarity when I thought: “This is it. This is it for me.” From there I decided we needed products to suit what we were doing as there weren’t the options. So it all came from that passion. What was the process like initially – how did you go about getting the ball rolling? Everything was completely naïve and uncalculated but it didn’t matter because we were so committed. You could have put a brick wall in front of us and we would have just pushed through it. We learned a lot of things the hard way and it was a lot of work, but now I’m really proud and happy that we can share our products with people from all over the world. It’s pretty cool.
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UNDER THE HOOD
You’ve collaborated with some renowned shapers on your ranges of boards, what for you are the main features of a ‘kite’ board and can you really have a board that is going to be good to kite and to surf or will there always be some compromises? In my experience what works when you surf works when you kite so we just make regular surfboards. What we do is never a compromise; we ride the same boards we surf so we want a high quality surfboard. We work with these world-class shapers because they’ve got their templates, rockers and methods in place and are working with the top surfers to create and refine a functional board. I’m passionate about buying boards from a true surfboard shaper, regardless of whether you’re buying a board to surf or kite. That’s one of my strongest opinions. You’ve always been really pro-active with the instructional and knowledge-sharing side of things – how important is this for you? The coaching is a personal thing for me. I really enjoy connecting with people, so sure it’s probably an important part of BWS, but it’s really something I do on my own. I love sharing my knowledge and seeing people improve. How much crossover are you seeing from surfing into kiting in Australia? Do you think it will ever get much ‘kudos’ within the surfing community? I’m not seeing as much crossover as I’d expected. In Australia most of us live on the coastline and I see a lot of really good surfers getting into it, but it hasn’t happened as fast or as much as I’d thought. It’s going to take time. It’s pretty clear that the world of wave-riding could really do with a decent tour to help showcase the sport and give young riders a chance to develop careers. What do you think would be the best direction for this to take and can you see it happening any time soon? I’d have to say that I still think the level of riding is in its development stage and it’s also really tough to get optimal conditions to showcase good riding for the level at the moment. I think in the next 5 years we’ll see an increase in excellent riders, meaning we’d have the numbers to support a tour. Right now there are only a few incredible wave kiters so I think at the moment kitesurfing is better packaged up in nice clips or seen from the beach. Not so much a webcast where only one in ten guys are making it look great. Do you ever have any regrets about starting the brand – waking up in the night in a cold sweat! – or has it been all good? No regrets but there have been plenty of nights waking up in a cold sweat! That’s what drives you even harder. But definitely no regrets. And what can we expect next from BWS? I guess we want to keep redefining what we do and continue making the best products for surfers and kiters. And we want to continue showcasing the best riders in the world to inspire more and more people to do it… 100 | TheKiteMag
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INTERVIEW: DIMITRI MARAMENIDES
Interview:
D I M I T R I MARAMENIDES ith his Big Air antics, ever evolving EPIC Kites brand, and limitless ‘joie de vivre’, Dimitri Maramenides is one of kiteboarding’s true characters. Time to take a look back at his kiting exploits to date, and then on to the future…
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Hey Dimitri, thanks for talking to us. So, let’s start at the beginning: when did you begin kiting? Let me see if I can remember because of all the crashes I have had over the years. I think it was in 1998 or the beginning of 1999. It’s sometimes hard to remember! Before that you had a windsurfing career right?
successful
Yes, I was a competitive windsurfer but was introduced to kiting at the shop I used to manage and since then, I’ve never looked back. Rumor has it that you have a few ‘kitemare’ stories from back then – what would you say was your worst incident when you were starting out? Oh boy… I like to forget these incidents and concentrate on what’s going to happen to me today. But you’re right, I have had a lot of kite accidents – I broke my back twice, my leg once, broke both of my heals, paralyzed my left shoulder for eight months, broke all my ribs except one, and the list goes on…. But I think waking up and seeing that there is no wind in the forecast is worse than all my crashes put together! I live, breathe and love kiting and the people associated with it. This is what I am all about.
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INTERVIEW: DIMITRI MARAMENIDES
At what point did you decide that the logical step was to start your own brand? Five years ago I decided to start EPIC kites because I wanted to share my passion for kiting with my fellow riders, but most of all I wanted to be in total control of bringing an amazing product to the market, with the best performing kites and also customer service that is out of this world. And from what people have told us, we’re really onto something – we are EPIC! We get so many emails from customers telling us how much they love their kites or boards. This is the reason why I do all these demos and send so many demo kites around the world, because I know once they get their hands on the kite they will be hooked and won’t send it back. This happens around 75% of the time. What was the first kite that you produced and how did the development process work? I used to be sponsored by several kite companies and competed as a team rider which gave me extensive background on product development, production and the business itself. For those opportunities, I am forever grateful. I then took these experiences and meshed them with my dreams and passion and started my own kite company. It’s not easy to run your own company, especially with kites because of the sheer amount of work required. Boards are different because the R&D and manufacturing process takes less time, but with our kites there is an exhaustive prototype process that takes a long time to accomplish to get things absolutely perfect, and we won’t release a new generation unless I’m 100% happy with it. Kite design is a collaborative process involving myself, our kite designer, graphic designer, factory, R&D team, and the team in the background. When we have something that is ready to be shared I let our dealers, team riders, and customers test the kites and get final input from them. The process is a never-ending drive for innovation and improvement. 104 | TheKiteMag
You now produce a whole range of kites with the Screamer and the Renegade being your most popular models – can you tell us a bit about the range? Yes, we have the Screamer for huge air and hang time, the Renegade which will go anywhere and do anything, the Surf for die hard wave lovers, the Junior Pro for kids, and also the Judge C kite for wakestyle and new school. The name Screamer says it all. I can literally hear riders let out lung-busting screams as they boost the biggest airs of their lives when we do our demos! And other riders love the Renegade for its low end and versatility. As a kiter you are generally associated with Big Air – this has a lot to do with the fact that there are plenty of shots and clips of you putting yourself into precarious situations (boats/jetties/cliffs etc.). Do you look for opportunities like this? I always look for opportunities to push the limits and put the kites I believe in to the test. These situations also make for great photo shoots and often lend themselves to some pretty great bloopers. Do they take a lot of planning or do you just go for it?! Well the older you get the smarter you become. So now I have to plan if I am going to do something dangerous because I have used 7.75 of my 9 lives. And I always make sure my wife is not around to see it, or else I may end up in the doghouse for a week. What makes a good stunt? Every stunt is different. But I like the pure rush and the difficulty of the stunt. I recently did a cliff jump for example and my photographer told me to take off from one side of the cliff because it was less dangerous. So I told him that this was too easy and I’d rather take off from the other side of the cliff where I have to jump and glide between two faces of the cliff in order to land in the
water, which made things more difficult and more dangerous. But for me that was mission accomplished. Your King of the Air Wildcard entry got a lot of plaudits, were you disappointed not to get into the main event? I think there were a lot of political elements at play. The video I submitted was one of the most viewed and got a lot of votes. But when the time came there was some discussion about video or trick requirements and I was removed from the process because the video I’d submitted had a variety of different tricks compared to just kiteloops. In reality they were probably afraid that a 46 year old man could take the podium and show these kids what it’s all about, haha! But, to cut a long story short, the Red Bull organizers asked me to apply for a wildcard so I could get a second chance and compete. But by that time I had business commitments and decided not to pursue it any further. And any plans to enter any of the Big Air events on this year’s PKRA? If I get some free time you will definitely see me in these Big Air events. Now that Epic has five great years under our belts, I’d like to carve out time for the contest circuit. Although you are well known for your Big Air, rumor has it that you are equally at home in the surf ? Kiting is all about having fun and expressing yourself the best way you know how. I like big board offs, big handle passes, big kite loops… Anything that has to do with height and calculated risk. But I do also love playing in the waves. It’s just a different riding style. I love my home turf here on the Outer Banks in North Carolina because in one day you can have fun in the surf and do downwinders, and then pack up and go in the flat water and have an amazing free ride session.
And what’s in the pipeline for EPIC kites for the rest of 2015, pretty sure you won’t be having a ‘quiet’ year? Yes that’s true! We have been very busy working and testing the new products and that is what we do every day: testing, testing, testing. It’s a never-ending process. We don’t go by a yearly production schedule because we want to give the customer improvements and not just graphic changes. I go by generation, which allows us to really track the differences and have progressive improvements. Right now we have the 4G, which is the “4th generation” of kites, and once we find something good we’ll release it and call it “5G”. Which, actually, is right around the corner…
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TECHNIQUE
TECHNIQUE WITH
CHRISTO
THE DOUBLE HALF CAB
I first saw this in a video from Lior Sofer on the cable mid-season last year, and I have been thinking about it ever since… I stayed focused on my competition tricks and tried to improve them during the rest of the season while I was aiming for the title, but I was determined to give it a try during my winter break in Australia… It’s a very simple trick, no handle passing, just flipping! It’s funny that I got loads of comments from guys saying they’ll be able to land it first day – just because there’s no handle-passing people think it’s easy. It actually took me a few days before being able to throw them with my kite low and Marc Jacobs, Stefan Spiessberger and Liam Whaley were stoked on the trick too. We all had a great time doing them as well, with some funny bail outs and crashes. Epic! It’s one of my favorite tricks now and I hope more people will do those kind of tricks in the future…
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OPHE TACK T H E “ H OW T O ”
Load and edge like you’d go for a Mobe (a Mobe 5 actually, try to get your board as hard into the wind as possible). The fun part is now to ignore your muscle memory and flip backwards while grabbing the board. Many riders, including myself, started passing the handle because of our muscle memory from doing Mobes. Then just stay small to make the rotation faster, and try to open up while spotting the landing.
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SCAN ME FOR THE FULL TESTS!
S O M E T E A S E R S H E R E O F W H AT T H E K I T E M A G ’ S TEST TEAMS HAVE BEEN UP TO. The Cape Town team have been particularly busy for the last couple of months. Tough gig. You can find the full test results at TheKiteMag.com/tested
BWS NOISE PRO 2015 This latest version of the Noise Pro has had a bit of love from the art department at BWS, and has also had a few tweaks from the bridle department as well. It is a very light kite with no excessive EVA or Dacron, but is engineered and stitched to be bombproof in the face of a double overhead wave. Performance wise and the surf pedigree is obvious from the off. In marginal conditions it needs a couple of strokes to get going and then it delivers very smooth and intuitive feedback at the bar. It turns on its axis so is easy to place where you need it to be. In onshore conditions it spins round quickly, enabling you to put power where you need it – there is no aggressive pull and you can switch off the power easily with plenty of throw on offer. In cross-off conditions, the Noise Pro just loves to drift! There is no tendency to dip down in the window as can happen with other surf kites, and it is happy to just park up so you can enjoy the ride.
WA
VE TEST
RRD STYLE V2 The “Style V2” is RRD’s top-drawer freestyle offering. There is a whole lot of ‘tech’ at work, with plenty of carbon bringing the weight way down… The stance setting is slightly wider than normal, and the deep concave makes it a great option to ride with boots. On the water and the Style V2 really comes alive and scored well in all categories – the medium rocker gives the board great range and when riding in light winds and through lulls it has superb control. The flex pattern is just spot on and the Style V2 absorbs the chop and provides butter-soft landings and offers a lot of forgiveness if you don’t land perfectly. There is excellent control due to its deep concave, and it tracks upwind really well. Overall a great board for pros, but also a good all-rounder board for any level of riders. Smooth, great pop, and a very light and stable board that will keep you out on the water until after the sun’s gone down..
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BEST TS V4 One of Best’s top sellers, and now on to version 4, it is good to see that not too much has changed with this latest evolution of the TS, and it has stuck with E TEST the winning formula. This was our freestyle test for the TS and the first YL T thing to note from a freestyle perspective is that jumping on this kite S E is insanely fun. You can get as much height as you want, but it is controllable and forgiving. Looping is solid with the wide tips creating power in the turn. You do need to loop high and later due to the lift, and mega loops can be a bit slow, but there are no signs of stalls and the TS is very solid, with the kite keeping its shape at all times. Low end is also very impressive. It is such a nippy kite that you can be very aggressive and it will get you going quickly in light winds and in lulls. Turns are smooth and predictable with the kite remaining stable and not flying too far forward. Overall, for an all-rounder/freestyle kite, we were very impressed indeed with the performance of the TS in the demanding freestyle environment of Cape Town. 108 | TheKiteMag
NORTH WHIP It’s fair to say that the Whip has had a few changes since last year. Quite a few. The most notable is the fact that it has been slotted into the Compact Surf Concept range and has lost its nose. The tail is also wider and the rail line straighter. On the water and, with plenty of float and low rocker, the Whip comes up on to the plane very early and, even in lighter conditions, maintains an even speed and trucks upwind confidently. It’s a great board for getting around on. Moving on to a wave and the Whip really comes alive – once you have generated some speed it turns confidently on the thruster set up and the fin configurations ensure that, despite the wide tail, you can really spin it around. The consistent speed and float is a real asset in onshore conditions when it will carry you through weaker sections before generating speed from the wave again. In D TEST larger waves or AR O cross to cross-off B conditions you might expect the Whip to struggle, but we were surprised by how stable it felt and how well it handled in some genuine power. A one board quiver? Maybe...
LIQUID FORCE ENVY The “Envy” is the most famous of Liquid Force’s range and the proud holder of the “first three-strutter” accolade. This year’s Envy has ‘smaller’ pretty much everything, with thinner struts and a thinner leading edge, and with some new materials in evidence it has managed to shave a staggering 25% off its weight compared to last year, which is immediately evident in a crisper and faster feeling kite. Boosting and the Envy can’t get enough…. Hang time is ridiculous and it seems to keep you at your apex for much longer than other kites. Unhooking also earned top marks, there is no need to trim before unhooking and no signs of back stalling. Looping was a little scary at first as it does seem to send you higher, but you get used to it as the kite catches you earlier, which in fact makes it easier and builds your confidence to push your limits. Overall the Envy is right at the top of the ‘freestyle kite’ pile. It has a very intuitive, steady and balanced feeling for wakestylers, a good response for kite loops, and enviable (!) boosting credentials. Nice TYLE EES TE to see such FR S T a clear evolution of a kite in this day and age.
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CARVED TANTRUM 5 The Tantrum 5 is Carved’s full wakestyle stick. It’s a noexpense spared super-light board as utilized by Steven Akkersdijk at this year’s King of the Air. The 140 version weighs in at a staggering 2kg. Yes. For real. On the water and the relatively flat rocker, sharper rails and narrow edges ensure that the Tantrum planes extremely quickly and flies upwind. When it comes to loading it up, the stiffness allows you to generate an insane amount of pop, and the square tips means you can keep your edge longer and release all of that power at once for a Mach 10 pop. When you are doing tricks the lightness of the board really feels like it gives you an edge, and enables you to squeeze that extra bit of performance out of yourself. The Tantrum V is undoubtedly one of the highest quality boards on the market and if you ride flat water spots every day and ARD TE have some space on BO ST E your credit card, L Y this really is a no brainer…
E
F-ONE BANDIT 8 The Bandit 8 has had a few notable alterations for this latest innovation. Headlines are that there’s a new 4 point bridle and a new canopy profile. First impressions are a gain in stability and a more intuitive feel at the bar. For this test we were examining the Bandit’s freestyle credentials, and we were immediately impressed. The turning is pivotal and lets you direct the kite exactly where it needs to be. If you want to start looping and pushing your limits then the Bandit wants to help you achieve this. It pulls smoothly through the loop and then catches you just in time for a soft landing. Boosting is also very impressive and hang time is amazing, it feels like it has two sections in the boost, the initial lift off the water and then it generates a new pull half way up to send you higher, and than a lofty landing. Unhooked was impressive with no signs of back stalling, a good amount of slack line, and when you fall the kite sits perfectly just off the water with no pull until you reconnect. The Bandit is a true all-rounder but even when riding E TEST it as a ‘pure’ freestyle kite it is YL T S impossible to see where any E compromises have been made.
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TEL L AB OUT
M E
I T
Gosia Rosiak-Brawanska, CEO of Nobile Sports, takes us through the evolving innovation that is their range of ‘split’ boards…
N O BI LE
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S P
Can you tell us when you began thinking about the split boards, and why you thought they were worth developing? We began looking at the concept a few years ago, and then in 2013 the project really began when Dariusz [the
L I T
Nobile founder and owner] patented the W-Connection solution, better known as the split. Thanks to the W-Connection, the board can be easily and quickly disassembled into two pieces. We thought that this was worth developing, as it makes traveling with your kiteboarding equipment so much easier, because your board with kites can fit in the “normal” luggage without any problem. As a result, kiters save a significant amount of money, and the board investment quickly pays for itself. In terms of technology and materials, are these very different from the “normal” boards? Yes, they are. The connection is a very sensitive area and it took us three years of R&D to find a good solution. In fact now the connection area is the strongest part of the board. The unique thing in Nobile split boards is the patented bolt system which connects the two parts of the board. It is a self-cleaning system because, when closing, the bolt moves from the inside to the outside of the board, which automatically cleans the hole, pushing dust or sand outside of the board every time you connect it. As with all Nobile board models, the split boards are made in the Nobile Bielsko-
Biała factory using the best materials available and using the latest technologies, including a unique APS Core Technology (Added Pre Stress by Nano Technology). This is a Nobile patent used in most of our products, not only kiteboards, but also snowboards and skis.
B OA R D
How does it work? Well, in the process of forming the board inside the press, the fibers of the wooden wedge are permanently stretched into a “wavy” form which stores energy within the board’s core. As a result, we get comfortable yet dynamic, user-friendly boards with optimum rigidity. When using this technology on the split boards, we need less materials, which makes the board lighter. Even the most experienced kiters who ride the split boards say that they don’t feel any difference in performance between the classic boards and the split ones. The split boards have a bit more flex than the standard ones, right? Yes, they have around 20% more flex than their “non-flex” counterparts. This allows for a softer and smoother ride. Which twin-tips started the split range? There was the NHP split model, which is our bestselling all-round freestyle board, then the Flying Carpet split which is a perfect solution for lowwind conditions, just like its regular equivalent.
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And you offer the split option in your Infinity surfboard as well? Yes, the Infinity Split model really makes the most of the W-Connection solution. It’s the world’s first waveboard with a wooden core, which is much more durable than alternatives, and it’s the favorite of our ambassador, waveriding world champion Jose Luengo. The split makes a particularly big difference here as the cost of traveling with a surfboard can be very expensive. The split concept was first introduced in your 2014 board collection. Did you make any changes to the W-Connection for 2015? Yes, our R&D engineers have improved the connection system, which makes the assembly and disassembly of the split boards even faster and easier. We have also improved the boards’ outline to achieve better durability. And, last but not least, there are new sizes available: 130, 134 and 138cm. This year you added a split Separa NHP Carbon model as well – why was that, and is it stiffer than the other split boards? This board differs from the standard split in two points: it is 20% lighter and a little bit stiffer. It’s like adding the M-Power tuning to the standard BMW model! So we’ve got a top quality board for the most demanding customers. Do you plan to offer more split boards for 2016? Our boards in the W-Connection technology are the best-selling in many countries. At present, we have a split line for every rider on all performance levels. However, their popularity means that we are considering extending this category to other boards. And what are Nobile’s plans for this year? In 2015 we will travel the world again! The Nobile Tour is going to visit Africa, Australia and South America, then comes across to Europe, finishing at the huge Virgin Armada event in the UK this autumn.
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It sounds like you need to take the split boards with you to save on your airfares! That’s right. The luggage fare is around €100 on each flight. So on a return flight you pay €200. But with the split board, you can forget about the expenses. Just disassemble the board and carry it in a special cover to save on your travels. The question “is it worth it?” is pointless. Of course it is! People wonder about the durability and endurance of these boards but it is as good as all of our other boards, as proven by our pro riders using them in the most demanding environments. The board is easy to transport in any conditions, whether it’s a car, train, plane or a motorbike. Just split it in half, put it into your bag and hit the road!
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TE LL AB OUT
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IT
F LYS U R F E Flysurfer got a taste for the world of inflatable kites with the Cronix, now they’re back with a tuned-up addition, the Boost. Designer Andi Hanrieder takes us through it…
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E R
B O O S T
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First up, what was your motivation to produce the Boost?
Where and in what conditions have you tested the protos?
We wanted to offer our customers full performance for big airs, racing and low-end riding, combined with user-friendliness and a fast turning speed. It’s always easy to fulfill one of these requirements, the hard part is to combine them all in one product! We also wanted to offer a product to our customers who prefer big size tube kites over our big foil kites.
We have tested them in very different spots. For low-end comparisons, we mostly used a thermal light wind spot in the Alps. For strong wind kitelooping for the 7 and 9m we went to Egypt, the Baltic sea, Fuerteventura and Guadeloupe. We also tested the Boost snowkiting to make sure the valve worked well in cold temperatures. We find it’s important to test in different environments, as the same product can feel very different in differing conditions.
Can you summarize who it is primarily aimed at then? Kiters looking for a high performance kite to boost big airs AND turn fast so that you can do maneuvers and kite loops. Everybody’s looking for a kite with good low-end and exceptionally good light wind relaunch. Especially if you use performance boards, like a raceboard, freerace or a hydrofoil, you can ride in such little wind that re-launching on many kites becomes a problem. The compact trailing-edge bridle system on the BOOST LW 15.0 and 18.0 is especially developed to overcome this problem. How long has the Boost been in the pipeline? Can you talk us through the development process? We started the Boost project around a year and a half ago. We built lots of very different prototypes, some quite wild ones to begin with, such as super-flat kites which had exceptional performance but were no fun to fly, turn or relaunch! We did lots of head-to-head comparisons using race boards and hydrofoils, competing against the best competitor kites. We had to know how good our prototypes really were. So for the final Boost, we can say very confidently that we are ahead of many high performance LEIs in terms of low-end and turning speed!
The Cronix was your first step into the LEI market – what did you learn from your experience with this that you carried over to the Boost? Since the Cronix we have taken a big step towards simplicity! The Boost has no battens and a pulley-less super short bridle up to size 13.0. With the aerodynamics, the construction is much more advanced, using new airfoils with higher lift and better low-end, as well as using new construction methods, such as our new double-3D-shaping in the canopy, and pre-tensioning technique. This improved the low-end, hangtime and backstalling significantly. Because of this the Boost also works well when riding unhooked. Your Speed kites are also IKA registered, but is the Boost aimed more at kiters who want to do a variety of things? Exactly, the Boost is great for all freeriders who like to do everything with one kite, and who also want to compete in racing competitions a few times a year. For pure competition racing in light to medium winds, our new SONIC-FR high performance foil kite is the first choice. To combine it with small sized Boosts makes lots of sense, because in high wind on a race board or hydrofoil, the first thing you need is control. The Boost offers a huge depower range and the stability to absorb gusts well. On top of that, in 2015 there will be separate rankings for tube kites in IKA races. The Boost is the perfect choice for this.
Have you had to make any compromises to produce a kite that will work around the race course and for Big Air and Megaloop moves? You’re right that these are different requirements, but the Boost is the best overall package that we’ve ever produced, combining both performance and turning speed. What can you tell us about the lines? We use a new ultra strong material, which is produced exclusively for us. The back lines are only 1.1mm thin at 200kg breaking strength, the frontlines are 1.4mm at 300kg. This saves drag of course, which improves the flying speed and upwind performance. Which of your team riders will be on the Boost? Every team rider can choose what they want from our product range. We expect most of the team riders to ride the large Speed4 Lotus and the small Boosts. For example, Dylan van der Meij decided to use the Boost in all sizes for his radical wakestyle moves, because it also works well when unhooked. We expect our land kite team riders to use the foil kites, like the Speed4 Lotus. As with most kiters, we love a good pump at TheKiteMag. You are shipping the Boost with your new R.E.D pump. Can you tell us about this and, most importantly, will it last for more than a couple of months?! For us here at Flysurfer, effortless and fast pumping is always an important goal! For this we’ve developed an extra large diameter, low resistance valve, and improved some details since the last generation. Combine that with a high quality R.E.D. pump, which moves super lightly and pumps first as a double action, then automatically switches to a single action at high pressures, and I can confidently say that it’s one of the best pumps on the market. So, first the Cronix, now the Boost, any more inflatable kites in the pipeline?! Not this year! The next LEI project we’re working on is the Cronix2…
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Andi proves the Boost's competitive credentials, taking the top spot on one of its first outings...
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STUFF
S T U F F W E L I K E T H E L O O KO F
EPIC Oxygen V2
Designed to get you on the water when there is but the lightest of rustlings in the palm trees, the Oxygen V2 has a flat rocker, triple glass laminate, and is reinforced with EPIC’s secret ingredient… The full wood core and flexible tips provide a comfortable and fun ride on light days, but it’s not just a lightwind weapon – the Oxygen V2 also has the performance characteristics to give committed freestylers exactly what they need if the wind does pick up…
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F-ONE Mitu Monteiro Pro Model
This board stole a few hearts when it was introduced to the range last year. It looked ‘accessible’ with its fuller outline, but we (and everyone else) were astounded by its handling. From waist high to overhead, and from downthe-line perfection to onshore slop, the Mitu performed… 2015 sees a little less width and the addition of channels through the front third to give it a little more performance in chunkier stuff and improved handling for strapless trickery.
RRD Obsession MKVII RRD’s do-it-all-butespecially-freestyle kite is a perennial favorite. Loved by test teams the world over, it’s one of those kites that just puts a smile on your face. Responsive and accessible, but with plenty under the bonnet if you want to turn things up a notch, and you don’t get to a 7th generation without doing something right…
BWS Sea Shepherd
Guardians of all things sea-dwelling, Sea Shepherd have been looking after the ocean and all of the creatures who live within it since 1977. Ben Wilson has teamed up with the organization to produce a Sea Shepherd branded kite, with 25% of sales revenue going to the group. So you might be killing it in the waves, but you’ll be looking after everything that dwells beneath them. Great Work BWS.
Flyboards FlySplit
Three years in the making, Flyboard’s ‘splittable’ offering is an interesting proposition. The remarkable weight of 2.65kg is achieved through a wood/foam hybrid core – with the wood on the heal edge, and the foam on the toes… Spittable and light = another couple of pairs of boardies and another bottle of duty free rum with the savings from your baggage fees… Win win.
Core GTS3 LW Slingshot NF2 Foil
Slingshot bring their Foil offering to the market and also introduce their foilspecific board, the Alien Air. Designed using the latest in CAD and CNC capabilities, the NF2 is geared towards ‘regular’ kiters as an accessible, userfriendly and fun foil. This market is really hotting up right now, but it has to be said that the NF2 wins so far in the ‘stealthy looks’ department. We look forward to putting one through its paces.
Summer’s coming and the last couple of years have provided us with something of a revelation: Big kites work! Core’s LW versions of the GTS3 are a case in point and provide plenty to get you up and going and punting a few moves in the sun. Available in 15 and 17m, both with only three struts, they are light and surprisingly nimble… Sunburn comes as standard.
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STUFF
North Foil
Three words were uttered when we first saw the shots of this. The first two were “What The ….?” It is fair to say that this is an insane bit of engineering from North. 100% carbon fiber, what looks at first like an entirely new approach to the world of foiling is – in fact – a regular foil set-up joined together with ‘safety rails’ meaning that the North Hydrofoil wipes out any safety concerns in one fell swoop… The wing tip is also around 30% longer than many other hydrofoils to make for an easier ride that’s less likely to chuck you off. Foiling for the masses awaits.
Best Kahoona
The Kahoona is every freerider’s dream… Its Delta shape is designed to cover a huge wind range so it functions as a true pulling machine in low winds while its mahoosive depower range means that you can stay out on it in pretty much anything. Great lift, hangtime and relaunch, and we’ll let you into a little secret: it ain’t half bad in the surf either…
Nobile NHP Split Liquid Force Wow
Liquid Force’s new wave kite, the WOW, “flies fast across the window, pulls only when you want it to, and drifts like a nimble cloud... Offering silky smooth sheet-and-go power delivery, exceptional maneuverability, and instant response, the WOW gives you the precision and freedom you need to position yourself right where you want to be on each and every wave.” We’re looking forward to getting stuck in to one of these…
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The kind of board guaranteed to brighten up your day, the NHP Split is an all-round freestyle/ freeride twinnie with that ever so clever W– Connection, meaning that you can split it in two and stick it in your normal luggage while the rest of your group are practicing their best ‘puppy dog’ faces at check in…
TRAVEL DIRECTORY
TRAVEL DIRECTORY
TRAVEL DIRECTORY
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B E HIND
T HE
C L I P
Ah the joy: An ORIGINAL kiteboarding clip… We could hardly contain our excitement on first viewing Fly me to the Moon. We initially put the wacky vibe down to the star of the show, one Nick Jacobsen, but talking here to the guy who put it together, Anders Krüger, we’re not so sure… How did Fly me to the Moon come about? Did Cab want to do something about the FX or did you want to do something about Nick? This is probably one of the hardest pieces I ever put together. As the FX is a brand new kite and Cabrinha have very high ambitions for it, they obviously wanted us to focus on the kite, and we had to be fairly serious about it. On the other hand we are dealing with a very unique character in our sport, so I personally wanted it to be more like a Nick Jacobsen video. Figuring out that fine line that fulfilled Cabrinha’s needs and at the same time made Nick and myself happy was a bitch. Especially because the first video concept that we presented to Cabrinha got the red light. So we sat on the plane flying towards Cape Town all confused, and had no idea what direction to go with. That was quite frustrating for a while. We sent back some pictures that we took with Lars Daniel Terkelsen, and they were quite different from what you normally see. I think we used those photos to slowly dial Cabrinha into the direction we wanted to take. They liked what they saw, so we kept on having fun and doing what we felt like doing. Have you known Nick long? What’s your history? I’ve known Nick for quite a while now. We randomly met kiting in Brazil back in 2008 and that evolved into a pretty close friendship. We’re both Danish and live in Copenhagen so that makes it pretty easy. The funny thing is that Nick introduced me to a film camera in Brazil when we met, so I could film him sometimes.
And that’s basically how my life as a video freak started. You should go look up those old ‘Nick Jacobsen in Brazil’ videos. That was good times! Now that Nick is on the Cabrinha team, it kind of brings us back to those times and that’s just awesome. Where is the railway you use in the clip? We found that in that harbor area where they load the big container ships. It was a closed area, but it was quite easy sneaking around the boom guys. Are the lines that you tied Nick to a tree with back in action or were they written off ? Cabrinha quality brah! It was no problem winding those lines up again too. We used them for the rest of the trip. Did you have to make Nick play for the camera or does that come quite naturally?! I think mostly it has to come from him naturally, and that’s probably why it works so well. The slightly disturbing voice is the deal maker – where did you find that? www.fromtexttospeech.com In the age of the ‘clip’ it’s refreshing to find something with a bit of a narrative behind it. Was your plan to break the ‘action, action, action with a dubstep soundtrack’ mold?
Nothing was planned to be honest. But no doubt both Nick and myself wanted to do something way different. You never know what you can expect when Nick puts out a new video, and that’s a good thing I guess. How has the feedback been? Oh man, the feedback has been great! I had really no idea if people would dig it or not. Seems like a lot of humans from this earth liked it and shared it already. And that’s cool. I’m sure there must be someone out there not liking it though because it’s ‘weird’, but that’s okay. Most important to me is the thumbs up from Cabrinha. Now they know what they can expect we may be able to get a green light for that other film concept we had cooking in our brains… What’s next? Alby goes to the center of the earth? Keahi in orbit? You have options right? Alex, that is so lame. Why would you think of that? No, we’re thinking of reproducing the Pokémon movie and having the riders as different Pokémons. So when Alby does a Moby5 and James a Crow5 they both die. When Keahi gets barreled he summons Reo in a bobble above his head. When Reo is summoned he can strike lightning towards everyone in bindings. (Reo is a legend, he started the hand drag trend in bindings, so his lightning is very strong). The best thing is when you play Pete all dead riders come back to back to life and everyone starts dancing.
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METEOROLOGY
METEOROLOGY WITH TONY BUTT Meteorolgy
PHOTO: CARLOS TORO W W W.W H I T E WAV E S . E U
LARGE SCALE WIND PAT T E R N S As we touched on last issue, the existence of wind can be traced back to the fact that the
Sun’s energy does not heat up the poles and
equator evenly. This is because the Sun’s rays
strike the surface of the Earth almost straight downwards at the equator, but at a more oblique angle at the poles.
The same amount of incoming energy is spread over a larger area at the poles, which makes that energy less concentrated. As a result,
more heat is received per square meter at the equator than at the poles and, without some
mechanism to stop it, the equator would just
keep getting hotter and hotter with respect to the poles.
Luckily, there is a giant heat-redistribution system involving the ocean and the
atmosphere. Part of that heat is carried by the
moving air in the atmosphere which, of course, means wind.
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cold air sinks at the poles
Large-scale
So, how does it work? Well, let’s start by assuming that the
circulation patterns
non-rotating Earth, the relatively hot air at the equator
non-rotating Earth.
that would occur on a
Earth does not rotate (you’ll see why in a moment). On a
rises because it becomes less dense than its surroundings. This leaves a ‘gap’ at the surface, which is filled by air
moving in towards the equator from higher latitudes. The
warm air rises at the equator
air that rises at the equator, once it reaches the upper
atmosphere, is forced to travel towards the poles, where it once again sinks to the surface (see diagram).
all the way from the poles to the
Now, let’s assume that the Earth is rotating around its own axis. You might have heard of the Coriolis force – which we’ll explain more fully in the next
equator in a straight line, the surface air is deflected by the Coriolis force, forming three spiraling bands in each hemisphere. These are called the Polar,
article – but for the moment let’s just accept that the Coriolis force diverts all
Ferrel and Hadley cells.
cell is continually rising. Here, relatively low surface pressure helps to explain why low pressure systems tend to form at around 60º latitude. Conversely, the air between the Ferrel and Hadley cells is continually sinking. Here, relatively
large-scale movement to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in
The air in each band moves in a three-
the southern hemisphere.
dimensional spiraling motion, but a two-dimensional cross-section (see diagram) can help us to understand
The effect of the Coriolis force is to
The air between the Polar and the Ferrel
high surface pressure helps to explain why semi-permanent high-pressure systems like the Azores High tend to be found at about 30º latitude.
typical features of our weather at
‘short-circuit’ the circulation patterns I described above. Instead of traveling
different latitudes.
It is also worth mentioning why winter
Polar cell
is usually more stormy than summer.
Jet stream, flows west to east
It stems from the fact that the Earth rotates around the Sun inclined
Westerlies
at an angle of 23.5º (called the obliquity of the ecliptic). Because of the obliquity of the ecliptic, the poles are tilted towards the sun in summer and away from the sun in winter. The equator is also
Mid-latitude cell (Ferrel cell)
600
Subtropical high pressure belt
300
Cool air falls
Tropical cell (Hadley cell)
Northeasterly trades Warm air rises
Equator
Equatorial trough low pressure belt (Doldrums, ITCZ)
Southeasterly trades
tilted, but nowhere near as much as the poles. Therefore, the angle presented to the
Cool air falls
incoming solar radiation, and hence the amount of heat received,
Westerlies
varies much more from summer to winter at the poles than it does at the equator.
30 60
Polar cell
0
0
Tropical cell (Hadley cell) Subtropical high pressure belt Mid-latitude cell (Ferrel cell) Jet stream, flows west to east
As a result, the heat-redistribution engine, a large part of which is atmospheric motion, has to work harder in winter to compensate for that extra temperature gradient between equator and poles. Next time we’ll have a look at the Coriolis force, a subject that most
Simplified large-scale circulation patterns
taking into account the rotation of the Earth
textbooks spectacularly fail to explain in simple terms! Tony Butt holds a PhD in physical oceanography and is the author of Surf Science, an Introduction to Waves for Surfing (2014) and The Surfer’s Guide to Waves, Coasts and Climates (2009). Tony is also a big-wave surfer who spends the northern winter in a forgotten corner of Northwest Spain, and migrates to Southwest Africa during the southern winter…
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THE DARK ROOM
T H E
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D A R K
R O O M
Part 2:
T H E K I T P H OTO G R A P H I C W I Z A R D RY W I T H S T E P H A N K L E I N L E I N
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Whether you're new in the field, a hobbyist or a professional, as an Ocean Photographer you'll need your specialized kit. Your kit will vary depending on how seriously you would like to go with your photography. In the beginning I would say it is actually not advisable to start with the top-notch pro camera body and high end professional lenses. In fact I think in the beginning a small waterproof camera like a GoPro or something of a similar style, size and format will do you fine. These days those tiny, inexpensive waterproof cameras do an amazing job. More important in the beginning is to get out and shoot as much as you can and in as many different situations as you can possibly put yourself into. You can learn to shoot in different weather conditions and light conditions and get used to fast moving action shots with your friends kiting around you, and you can get used to the right angle and learning where you want them to be in relation to the sunlight and water spray. It is so much fun to be out there for a few hours, swimming in the elements (and if you have some goggles on, you will be surprised what you see under the water surface while you are waiting for your friends to come past you!). I think this is more important to get familiar with than spending hours-andhours at home reading instruction manuals. Once you have worked out the angles and are experienced and comfortable in the water though, it is time to think about investing some serious money into camera equipment. Before I go any further I just want to clarify that I don’t intend to push particular brands; you will find pros and cons for all the brands and they all have great working products which will do the job. The only tip I can give you here is that when you think about buying your first expensive camera and especially the first expensive lens, you should stick with the brand. For me it was Canon, and I saved up for my first real expensive L-Lens (which are the better quality lens line by Canon). It was the 100-400mm Tele Zoom lens. The shots I got with that lens were amazing and the lens gave me a huge range, especially for my surf photography from land or from a boat. So after the first lens came another L-Canon lens and another and so on. All these lenses are an investment in your future photography. Your camera body is not as important as your lenses. Of course a good camera body (such as a Canon 5DMK3 which I have been using for a few years now) will give you a lot of great features such as a shooting speed of up to 6 frames per second, a full format sensor (which is especially useful when you shoot with wide angle lenses in the water to get as much into the frame as possible), and 22.3 megapixel image quality, but the camera body will not perform to its maximum potential unless you have a high quality lens in front of it. Plus your lenses can last a lifetime if you look after them whereas your camera bodies will change all the time. They have a specific nominated life expectancy by the manufacturers (for example a Canon 5D is supposed to last up to 150,000 actuations, a Canon 1D up to 400,000 actuations and so on) and although those numbers might not be 100% in real life, they show that your camera bodies will die eventually. But by then a new model with updated and desirable new features is probably out and you would like to replace your old camera with the new model anyway! So, with this in mind, let’s take a look at the kit you need to get the best shots in all situations. I would say there are 3 different 'kit’ categories to consider:
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#1
P HOTOGRA P H Y EQUIPM E N T
L A N D Telephoto lens. Shooting surfers, waves, whales, dolphins or other swimming ocean creatures from land is normally done with a Telephoto, Telephoto Zoom, or the very pricey Super Telephoto Prime lenses. The object you are photographing is normally far away and a 300mm Tele Lens is where it starts. A good combination for me was my first 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS Canon lens. I also bought a 1.4x and later a 2x extender for it. This combo gave me a good range up to 800mm with good quality images in daylight conditions. Also the lens has the inbuilt stabilizer which is helpful when you have to zoom in from a long distance as it will keep the lens steady and the photo will appear much sharper. This is also very advantageous when you don’t shoot from a tripod but are just buzzing up and down on the beach and taking snap shots of everyone and everything which is moving in front of you. ‘All-rounder’ lens. Today my Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 ISII is my favorite all-round lens for shooting with and without extenders. This lens costs a bit more but it gives me a huge range on land and I also use it in my water housing with a specially made lens port to shoot big waves from a safer distance when I am swimming. This lens is also great in lower light situations, like a sunset or sunrise. Super Tele. My 500mm or 600mm Canon prime Super Telephoto lens was then the “Top Notch” investment for super clear distance shots of surfers and wildlife. These lenses are very expensive and very specific in their use, and also very heavy to travel and shoot with. A good steady tripod with a smooth moving gimbal head on is essential… Tripods and Monopods. A steady camera on a tripod will make it much easier to shoot objects, especially moving objects in the distance, and will keep the image as sharp and clear as possible. You can go for lightweight carbon tripods which cost more but bear in mind that you might be traveling with it on an airline one day and lightweight kit will save you lots of money in the long run with excess luggage costs.
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P H OTOGRA P H Y EQUIPM EN T
WATER Housing. A good reliable water housing is essential for your water shooting. The key things you want from it are that 1) it keeps your DSLR camera dry, 2) you can change as many settings as possible on the camera while it is in the housing, and 3) that it has easily changeable ports for different lenses. These days there are a few good surf waterhousing manufacturers on the market. Years ago they were much harder to find and photographers built their own housings which were often very limiting in changing camera settings. But they worked and brought us amazing images out from the oceans... On YouTube you will find many video clips which will explain and show you how to make your own water housing for a low cost. A good way to start if money is a bit of an issue. If you are buying a housing then there are two main types of water housings: ones for scuba dive photography, which are normally bulkier and heavier but can be used at much deeper depths than the ‘surf ’ water-housings which are designed to take photos just on or under the water surface. These are lighter which is a plus as you often have to lift it all out of the water to take the shot. You also need to think about the type of shots you like to take. One of my passions is shore break photography or split shots where you take a photo which is half under and half above the water line. Very tricky but when you nail it, it looks awesome. For those kind of images you need a strong housing which can take a hit after you go over the falls and hit the sand with it. And for the split-shots you need a super-size round dome of 8” to 11”. If you are buying an expensive water housing it is important to pick a brand which also gives you good support and service when you need it. Unfortunately this is not always the case. There are plenty of brands on the market like Liquid Eye, SPL, Aqua Tech, CMT, and many more. Lenses. Most of the times when you are shooting in the water you will use a wide angle lens, especially if you are shooting in the surf. The riders will come close and you have 134 | TheKiteMag
to aim straight towards them… A wide angle lens such as a 8-15mm fisheye will make it easier to get it all in the frame. When the waves are getting bigger and you cannot be in the impact zone swimming safely any more, then it is often better to go with a 16-35mm lens or even 70-200mm lens, which are heavier but you can capture some cool angles from a safer distance. Normally a different lens means a different port for the lens which will be connected to the water-housing to make it one waterproof unit. Because the housings are built for heavy waves but still as lightweight as possible, often the manufacturers build a housing for each camera body. This means you cannot just change your camera bodies and hope they fit in your old water housing. Keep this in mind when you start purchasing your housing and get one you will stick with for a long time.
ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES Flippers. These have to be comfortable and efficient for you to move around the surf for hours. A tight fit will make your feet and toes hurt and be painful after a while. Not good for a photographer who has to be comfortable! Long scuba diving fins will tire you out quickly and can be easily lost in big surf. As a swimming surf photographer you need quick acceleration to get you out of a danger zone or propel you towards the perfect position for the shot. The best are the ‘boogie board’ type of fins.
photographer you often remain very still in one spot for a long time, so make sure the wetsuit keeps you warm - it also gives you protection from getting hammered by big sets and getting washed over rocks or reefs! Helmet. Very important for surf shoots because of the constant danger that you might kiss a reef or a board… A helmet is also good for your GoPro mount to get another angle. Goggles. Good quality diving goggles can be very helpful, especially when you are after those special shots underneath the water surface when a board cuts its lines through the water. Capturing those moments underneath the waterline needs good eyesight and a good breath-hold, so your eyes will thank you for having good goggles when you’ve been swimming in the salt water for hours. Cases. You need good cases and the right backpacks for your gear while traveling or being on a boat, or just moving along the beach. Sand, water, salt and heat/sunlight are your equipment’s enemy, make sure you protect it from those elements as much as you can to keep your equipment in great working condition. And always clean and look after your kit. Images which show water spots on the sensor, or camera equipment which doesn’t work on an important shoot will be your worst nightmare. Taking care of your equipment will make your work much less stressful and more successful…
A good wetsuit. This will give you buoyancy and make it easier to stay out there for longer. As a
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This was shot at Barra Nova, Ceara, Brazil. Youri Zoon’s girlfriend is holding a flash and battery that weighs 10 kilos. If it gets wet she may or may not get shocked. I honestly have no idea. (But I always tell my “flash holder” they won’t get a shock…)
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Double handle passes don’t usually work very well for photos. But Youri can’t help himself and always does them.
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Barra Nova’s lagoon fills up with the tide, and the tide fills up to a point where it’s tricky to drive back around it. I didn’t know the way back when the tide is in when we shot this. I do now…
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Youri drives almost as fast as he rides.
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T HEK ITE M A G
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Did you know that there are also digital editions of TheKiteMag available? And not just in English…
Préférez-vous lire TheKiteMag en français? Découvrez nos éditions digitales… Si prefieres leer TheKiteMag en español, visita nuestras ediciones digitales… Würdest Du TheKiteMag lieber in deutsch lesen? Dann gehe einfach zur digitalen version… Предпочитаешь читать TheKiteMag на русском? Проверь наши электронные версии журнала... Yup, you can find translated versions of TheKiteMag in French, Spanish, German and Russian too…
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