triPLe-s 2015: F u l l- o n F i n A l d Ay south of cearÁ: £4.50 | issue #5 Othe r co untr i e s pl e a s e affix p rice
core crew investigAte retracinG aDDikt: unFinished Business in MAdAgAscAr
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c o n t e n t s
c o v e r : Well, it isn’t a kiteboarding magazine until you’ve had Aaron Hadlow on the cover… It’s taken us until #5 but here he is
h e r e : Kai Sou captures base camp south of Heliophora Camp, a couple of hours days we had a nice swell, the other days we had small waves but the wind conditions were our spirit being outside the comfort zone…”
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t h e the triple-s turns 10 It’s the flagship event for wakestylers and this year – celebrating its tenth anniversary – it got back to basics with a sliders-only format. Everyone made the effort to get there, apart from the wind. Until the final day... Head Triple-S Judge and TheKiteMag’s US Correspondent, Brian Wheeler, passed on the after parties to get this exclusive report to you.
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the BrAziliAn revolution It’s all about Brazil this issue and first up we have Hugo Valente staying close to home and capturing some of the local crew who come from surfing roots and now embrace the ‘surf in the morning, kite in the arvo’ philosophy.
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t h e
F e At u r e s … B u t t e r - F l At B A h A M A s Quincy Dein hooks up with Naish riders Hope LeVin and Drew Christianson, looks beyond the high-rises and high rollers, and scores some pretty special Caribbean conditions. And not just 14m sessions either…
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south oF ceArá The CORE crew get the new kit and head to relatively unchartered Brazilian territory. Thankfully for us they took their notebooks (and their cameraman) and picked out a few of the many choice locations for us…
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cold snAps Svetlana Romantsova makes the most of winter in Russia and grabs some shots close to home. With smoke and colored filters, these aren’t your standard photos either. She takes us through the process and shows us the results.
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retrAcing Addikt Alex Caizergues missed out on the making of one of the great kite flicks of the 2000s, F-ONE’s Addikt. It’s fair to say that it has niggled him ever since, so this year he decided it was time to tick it off the list. And hopefully escape without any ‘flame ball’ situations…
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r e g u l A r s … In 30 words… What’s for dinner?
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I’m On It… Sam Light and the Refraction
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On the List… Essaouira
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Interviews with Eudazio da Silva & Katarzyna Lange | Stephan Figueiredo
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Technique with Team Naish
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Tell me about it… Build a Rail with Jake Kelsick
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Behind the Clip… In Bloom
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Meteorology with Tony Butt
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The Dark Room with Stephan Kleinlein
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5 things you wouldn’t know about this shot with Ydwer van der Heide
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editoriAl
t h e
a M e r i c a s
It’s funny to have a country the size of Brazil sneak up on you. But that’s kind of what happened this issue… We locked in various features and interviews and then sat down to start putting it all together and realized: hold on, we’ve got 24 pages in this issue dedicated to Brazil! Even more remarkable is that not one shot is from the lagoons in the north where 99.94% (or thereabouts) of Brazilian kiting shots tend to come from. No, we have the CORE crew heading to Rio Grande do Norte, south of Ceará, we have Hugo Valente way down south in Santa Catarina, and then we have Brazilian rider Stephan Figueiredo who can generally be found somewhere in darkest Indo clocking a lot of barrel time… The thing is that this isn’t some kind of strange anomaly, it is more a genuine reflection of the fact that Brazil has exceptional kiting (for all disciplines), and that the local riders are making an ever bigger impression on the global scene. In fact the story of the next decade could quite well be the meteoric rise of the Brazilian riders…
Then finally we take a quick 2 hour flight north and find ourselves in North Carolina. Just in time for the Triple-S, which had a nervy end to its first 10 years on the planet. The ‘guaranteed wind’ of Hatteras at this time of year was mysteriously absent, and it took a miracle final day forecast to get riders amped to deliver a stellar ‘slider only’ performance and get the event done in one day… We had Head Judge Brian Wheeler and the photography team on red-alert and – truth be told – shuffled our dates to ensure that we could get these shots and this write up to you as quickly as is humanly possible in this archaic format you are currently holding, also known as ‘print’ (which is it of course where it looks best). We hope you appreciate the effort… But it’s not all about the Americas, there is plenty more quality content to get stuck in to from all corners of this fantastic wind blessed planet of ours too… Welcome to TheKiteMag #5. Enjoy the issue. Alex
But it isn’t all about Brazil. Staying in ‘the Americas’ (can you say that in this post-colonial world of ours?!) and heading north a wee bit and our next American stop-off sees us in the Caribbean, and the Bahamas, where Quincy Dein hit it hard for a few days with Hope LeVin and Drew Christianson and scored some gold. And with a few 8m sessions too – turns out it’s not as windless as is often publicized…
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And here’s FlysurFer’s dylAn vAn der Meij exploring Another little nook oF the AMericAs… . photo: Andy troy
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s u B s c r i B e to t h e k i t e M A g eight issu e s p er y eAr (that’s more than any other kiteboarding magazine)
delivered to you before it gets in the shops
F ree top quality tee with every subscription
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This magazine is printed on paper sourced from responsibly managed sources using used in the production of this brochure and the manufacturing process are FSC® to ISO14001, the internationally recognised
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in 30 words
in
You’ve had a 3 session day. 7 hours on the water. A lot of sun and not a lot of food... It’s 8pm and you’re starving. What are you going to eat and what are you going to wash it down with...?
WorDs
her e’ s aBeL L aGo Wo rki nG harD fo r hi s Di nn e r… P hoto: svetL ana ro M an tsova
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in 30 words
Patri McLaughlin I’m going to eat a quinoa salad,
Dimitri Maramenides Avocado, chocolate and some
I’m going to wash it down with an ice cold beer, because that’s
Then back in the water for
Rob Kidnie A fish steak with rice and
Andre Phillipp
with fish and wash it down with fresh squeezed passion fruit
Christophe Tack That situation is most likely to I’d go for a massive spaghetti bolognese and wash it down
Abel Lago I would love to have a big pasta with veggies and a piece of meat, with a fruit juice and
Youri Zoon Would go for a massive steak with an ice cold beer! Bear Karry After a long day on the water I enjoy eating a cheese burger fresh from the grill washed down with a cold bottle of
Jesse Richman I would go with a huge burrito filled with fresh and local
Hope LeVin traditional sub sandwich from many ways, but I like mine loaded with grilled chicken, veggies, bananas, peppers, down with some unsweetened
Craig Cunningham
Most likely a chicken burrito with coconut water to wash that down!
veggies, black beans, spinach and sprouts, overflowing with avocado and salsa, add a touch of hot sauce and an ice cold
Alexandre Caizergues To feed me after a 7 hour session, I will need some protein to recover for sure – fish, a good steak or if I’m very lucky, lobster, then some pasta or rice to get some energy for tomorrow, and a good beer to
Ian Alldredge A big plate of sashimi and an ice cold beer!
Gisela Pulido After a long day on the water I would love to go for sushi with my friends, just washed down with water!
Jake Kelsick
James Boulding
Waves and get a big ol’ chicken burrito and an ice cold coconut
food I’d crack a couple Doom smash a big chicken and bacon
least 5 pounds, which would probably hold me until the morning! TheKiteMag | 19
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Focus
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photo: reeMediA
p o n tA l e M e , s A l
On this morning I was at Kite Beach with Axel, the photographer, and we were having some flatwater fun as the wave forecast looked very bad for the whole day. Then I got a message from a friend living just in front of Ponta Leme, a spot 4 kilometers downwind of Kite Beach, saying that the sea down there was starting to look interesting... It took just a moment and the die was cast: Axel rushed to Santa Maria to quickly get a boat. In the meantime I navigated directly to the spot with my kite and found no one else out there, but a nice wave! It wasn’t big, but it was definitely great to perform a single powerful top-turn on each wave. After a few minutes Axel reached me on a small fisherman’s boat and, in a totally spontaneous way, we managed to fulfill a long time wish of mine: my first boat photoshoot in Sal!
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Focus
n A is h Big islAnd, hAwAii
The summit of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii usually gets snow a couple of times a year. Once in a while it really dumps and creates enough base for snowboarding or skiing. For this session I flew over from Maui early in the morning and rented a car. It’s about an hour and a half drive from Kona Airport up to the summit and there is a partially paved road that leads to the summit observatories atop Mauna Kea volcano. There are several different telescopes of varying kinds and sizes that are run by different organizations and countries, so the road gets plowed whenever it snows. From the summit there is a large south/west facing bowl that creates about a three hundred meter ski run before it flattens out at the bottom and meets up with the lower roadway. Families and kids play at the bottom, and skiers and snowboarders make rounds driving up to the summit, dropping off riders, meeting their truck back at the bottom and driving back up again. The snow can actually be pretty good if you catch it while it is fresh. Within a day or two it gets pretty rough though… Hard and icy in the morning and super slushy in the afternoon sun. The altitude is also a factor. At over 4000 meters you need to pace yourself and drink lots of water, or altitude sickness or at least a gnarly headache is almost a sure thing.... The day before I got there was windy – so much so that a lot of the snow had been blown away. The forecast for wind was good, but it was actually pretty light the day I was there. I drove all over the summit looking for the best angles, but the wind only seemed strong enough right at the top. As soon as we would head down the hill to the rolling flats the wind was simply too spotty. I ended up pumping up my Pivot 10 and having a go from the top of the summit. For the first hundred meters or so it was great… but below that point it was only apparent wind from heading down the mountain that made it kiteable. I rode for a bit and saw the huge potential for when the snow and winds line up better in the future. You will be able to kite for literally miles around the lower portion of the summit, with smaller cinder cones and rolling fields of lava and snow scattered all around to ride on. I will be back for sure…
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photo: erik Aeder
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Focus
M e d ys k y turks And cAicos
Kiteboarding’s recent innovations in lightwind equipment have opened up several new doors. My father is a retired high school teacher and spent this past winter in Turks and Caicos teaching kiteboarding and enjoying the endless summer. I’d been to Turks before with Best for a product shoot, and knew that it’s a stunning location with turquoise blue waters and white sand beaches, so I decided to head back again for a visit with my Dad. The winds in Turks and Caicos aren’t known to be nuking so I left my 7 and 9m at home, and just brought down my 11, 13 and my secret weapon, the 15m TS. And if it wasn’t for my 15m I don’t think I would have kited half as much as I did. Kiteboarding continues to expand its horizons in all aspects of the sport, but I’d say at the moment I’m most impressed with the efficiency of kites and the ability to ride in such light winds. With a lightwind kite and an efficient board or a hydrofoil you can be cruising in almost no wind. Indeed, it really is pretty rare that the wind is so light that the only thing to do is to grab a beer from the cooler...
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photo: josh pietrAs
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Focus
p o r c e l l A MAui, out west…
This shot’s taken at a secret spot on the west side of Maui where the conditions rarely come together because of the sensitive wind and wave direction the special and it’s fun! Quincy and I have been talking about scoring this place and getting some shots for a while as we knew this backdrop and golden light
Also, we had my good friends and teammates visiting from Tarifa – Alvaro and Forest – and I fully believe that the stoked and excited energy from them helped make Mother Nature come together to deliver the right swell with the exciting sessions I have ever had and I did some of my best ever progressive turns and airs…
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photo: Quincy dein
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Focus
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photo: erik Aeder
F i l l i o n ho’okipA, MAui
The Ho’okipa inside bowl! In all the years I’ve been kitesurfing Ho’okipa, I’ve never experienced the same conditions twice – every time it’s different. There are so many factors to evaluate before even dropping into one of those waves on bigger days. First you have to count the number of windsurfers in the line-up and make sure there are less than ten, second always keep an eye on the channel close-out waves, third you need a decent board leash – the Ho’okipa point has taken lots of boards over the years! But on the rare days when the wind is not too offshore, where the lineup is empty and when you have the right size kite, this break is magical! Add Jason Slezak in the lineup, some humpback whales on the outside, and a couple of turtles and you’ve got the recipe for complete happiness!
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Focus
M e i s t e r Belize
Sometimes the best shot is not the result of sorting through hundreds of pictures from a well-planned shoot. There are situations where you just have to be ready, and fast. One jump, one trick, only from one angle: that’s it. No second chance. During a sailing trip on an old fishing boat in Belize we stopped at this wonderful place between the barrier reef. When we arrived, we found a dream spot with strong, steady wind and perfectly flat and crystal clear water, which was well protected just behind the reef during low tide. The kite gear was on board, and a travel camera as well, but we only had an hour... What a dilemma for an enthusiastic kitesurfer and passionate photographer! So I decided to have a very quick session – which was epic – and after that I took my camera and shot this picture of my travel buddy performing a perfect board-off…
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By: lukAs pitsch
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BoArd: the reFrAction
i ’ M
o n
|
it
sa M
size: 143
l i g ht
We booked this in before the Triple-S had finished, but we’re now stoked to be able to bring you our new ‘I’m On It’ column kicked off by none other than Triple-S 2015 winner, Mr Sam Light! t’s always been a dream of mine knowledge I’ve built up from riding hundreds of different boards over The main difference between the years I wanted to come up with kiteboards and wakeboards is rocker something that I think would work well for all my riding styles and fit the characteristics I wanted and then
always changing boards depending on where and what I’m doing as there are Firstly I didn’t want too much shape on the bottom protruding underneath the board as it can catch on rails or create weak points when sliding over rough terrain, but I did want enough shape for soft landings, speed, and
also wanted a solid base to take all the abuse I throw at it while traveling, but it had to be the perfect balance as it was really important to me it wasn’t too rocker for wakestyle but it was just as important for it to be fast enough for
The board is pressed with the same rocker as the Asylum but the outline is squarer which makes it easier to get a more aggressive edge in the water,
thicker base for hitting rails, and more rocker, which is great for wakeboarding
and kiting we were able to test and find the perfect compromise between the performance of a wakeboard and
It is the only board in the range that I’ve always liked a more playful board; there’s no need for huge fins, it’s better to learn board skills to control the edge of the board
part of my contract when I signed a three year deal with Slingshot at the start of 2013, I’ve been trying different shapes and sizes throughout the last few
There have been so many prototypes in the last two years,
up at Slingshot is how easy it is slightly thicker than the other boards in for them to make different boards thick as the wakeboards because I really didn’t want to sacrifice the speed and to the factory to see how it’s being made which gives you such a good noodle and 10 being a stiff plank, it will 36 | TheKiteMag
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rider: light
|
Age: 24
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w e i g h t: 7 8 k g
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h e i g h t: 5 ’ 9
it needed to hAve enough rocker For wAkestyle But it wAs just A s i M p o r tA n t F o r it to Be FAst enough For extreMe Big Air.
through water, and how the board is great for all
There’s always going to be some compromise in boards as it’s impossible to have something that is good for everything, but this board is the closest
we used to create the graphic are actually photos I‘ve taken from my travels over the years, so we just locked ourselves in a room for a few days and
I couldn’t be happier with how the graphics came of input and I just happen to be best friends with
Model and I feel like it’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in over the last 11 years of kiteboarding – all the blood, sweat and tears I’ve put in to riding sideways on the water…
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tA n g l e d
l i n e s
ian aLLDreDGe
t h e M A n w h o t r u ly e p i t o M i z e s t h e F r e e w h e e l i n ’ k i t e l i F e s t y l e tA k e s t h e Q u e s t i o n s …
Q
Bear Karry: Who does the sick artwork on your boards?
A I just want to hang it on my wall because I don’t want to mess it up!
Q
Q
A
Jason Wolcott: You have been labeled by many in the sport as the most stylish and progressive strapless rider. Who do you draw inspiration from?
A Ryland Blakeney: Where do you see the sport headed on the surf side? Will guys keep pushing unhooked rotations and that kind of ‘flat water’ side and do you go in for this?
all surf and are solid surfers who just want to get in the water
to music on the water, and maybe having a cold beer before a
There will always be guys trying 360s and maneuvers on an overhead wave and land back on the face, rather than do them in a flat water
Wind varying between 10 and 30 knots would be a steady wind day! These conditions aren’t ideal to unhook, so unhooked riding is unheard
Q A
Ben Wilson: What would it take for you to be interested in competing in kitesurfing? There are not really any competitions right now that is hard enough, not to mention you need the right wind
to mention the amount of prize money seems like just
Q A
Eric Rienstra: Where does your production company name “The Dredge Zone” come from?
I would much rather push my coaching camps and help others progress their riding until there is a legit ‘strapless’
name and I am really stoked on where things are and new products coming out, I am really looking awesome feeling helping someone progress in the waves, for me it’s just as fun as catching a wave industry and I am looking forward to promoting the products that work best for me and the things
Q
Teddy Lyons: What’s the best wave you have kited and where is the best place you have been?
A over but these are the places that really stand out when I
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BWS AD
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on the list
o n
th e
Essaouira L i st
photos: sv etl An A ro MA nts ovA
souFiAne hAMAini cApitAlizing on A close out section. there Are plent y oF those...
If you live in Europe then when it comes to looking at your spring/ summer/autumn trip options there are plenty of destinations which won’t leave you feeling too far from home. You could head to the Canaries, Tarifa or Greece where the ‘holiday’ vibe, the kite-focused setup, and those colorful Euro notes all feel pretty familiar – like your favorite pair of boardies. Which is great. But what if you want something more than that… what if you want to feel a bit further from home and a bit out of your comfort zone? Then why not opt for a quick hop across the Mediterranean to Morocco, where the kiting is still quality, but you can get a nice hit of ‘culture’ while you’re at it. This is Africa after all…
And I heard there’s the odd police ‘checkpoint’?
Have your driving license, the car’s papers and your best smile at the
Okay, so I’m there. I want to go kiting. Okay, let’s start with the basics: I’ve heard Africa’s a pretty big place. Can you narrow down the airport options? stretches for a couple of miles south of the main part of the city, which means that you have got plenty of options for whatever floats
Gotcha, Marrakech. Then what?
having navigated and whistled its way through the town, but for freestyle the closer you are to the harbor the flatter it is and you can the beach picks up windslop if the wind is stonking, or can get some decent groundswell and be the only rideable place when everywhere
the cheapest you can find and you’re likely to turn up a gem – quite you’re probably going to be taking on some sandy beach roads so up as the sun goes down and it is pretty special…
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essAouirA
And what if I want to get my money’s worth out of the hire car? This is where that long straight drive pays off… If riding waves is your thing then you have a
And trying to avoid stepping in
vitAl s
Anything else worth checking out?
GettinG there: F ly t o M A r r A k e c h . or you could do AgAdir… or iF you hAve A leArjet you c A n pA r k i t u p At e s s Ao u i r A A i r p o r t.
As with most Moroccan cities it’s Kouki to the south or Moulay badass reef set up with a hardcore windsurfing contingent but can be truly epic… Sidi Kouki is
walled part of the city with a maze of alleyways and shop-upon-shop
very cool pots and painted stuff, or both about 40 minutes drive but in the opposite direction, and if you go to Essaouira you can pretty much guarantee that you will choose the wrong one on at least one occasion and waste half the
What’s this I’ve heard about ‘CHHAMMAAALLLLLS’? Ah, yes no trip to Essaouira is complete without a ride on a
will then spend the rest of your trip trying to avoid being blagged
it’s very cool with a lot of great restaurants and nice places to have out your own accommodation it’s worth spending a couple of nights
Cool, sounds like a winner – I’m pretty much sold. Anything else to watch out for?
mint tea and coming back with a tan and feeling like you have actually seen a bit of the world…
M o s t L i k e Ly t o h e a r : “ p r o B A B ly s h o u l d h Av e B r o u g h t M y 5 M ( i n s u M M e r ) / p r o B A B ly s h o u l d h Av e B r o u g h t M y 1 2 M ( i n w i n t e r ) ”
Best season: suMMer is very w i n d y A n d h ot. spring And AutuMn A Bit less windy And A Bit l e s s h ot. in the BaG: check the F o r e c A s t. yo u M Ay n e e d A 5 i n suMMer, And you M Ay n e e d A 1 2 i n winter. not in the BaG: cAMel snAcks. ruBBer: Borderline, But A shorty in suMMer And A 3/2 the rest oF the yeAr should Be Fine. Beer: in A hotel/BAr ABout €3.50. or seek out A Bottle shop (An e n j o yA B ly s e e d y experience) where yo u ’ l l pAy € 1 .
L e a s t L i k e Ly t o h e a r : “i wish i could Find s o M e o n e t o tA k e M e For A cAMel ride…”
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stuFF
s t u F F w e l i k e t h e l o o ko F
CORE XR4
RRD Pop For us this boards sum up all that is good about the brave new world of
performance benchmarks in strength and
heaps of width through the middle
reduce the leading edge and strut diameters
days of people trying to get going on the narrowest rocker packed boards in onshore slot are over‌ This just looks
it’s more stable, can point higher, depower
quad set up and a fat tail to really dig
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Nobile T5 Naish Monarch 2016 few tweaks – there are some changes to the profile for a more direct feel, narrower canopy panels to toughen it up and improve durability and
Control bar continues the ‘good looking’ theme as well as being one of the tidiest and most refined
I think this might be our first bit of 2016 kit… headline for this year is the arrival of a new
but with less weight and a reduced chance of distortion under the
here, but if you want to see it looking even better then head to our Technique section where
Manera Senso
a workout…
year and we were suitably impressed with the innovation and technology trickery that had
The Senso has now been added to the range and brings all of
F-ONE Foil
Ozone Zephyr
If you want a foil that’s going to ‘get you going’ and then
Ozone’s roots are in building paragliders and top-end superefficient wind-powered things of somewhere for a mega-efficient, technologically refined piece of lightwind kite kit then look no further… One of the craziest things about the Zephyr is its wind range – it really does have a ‘top’ and a ‘bottom’ end so it’ll cover most days when the rest of your quiver hasn’t got the juice…
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stuFF
North Juice lot of heads when it first rocked up in the its three struts and relatively mida winner though and a super-easy and accessible second generation keeps that vibe alive, and keeps it fun as well as being able to boost and to handle a bit of freestyle action, so not just a ‘let’s just get on the water option’ either…
Blade Fat Lady They don’t mind calling a spade a spade over at
get out and throw some moves while everyone else out on their 12s are throwing their toys out the pram…
Ride Engine preserve of the lucky few, Coleman
Slingshot Angry Swallow Is there an award for the ‘best
lives on – with a straight rail line, you’ve got yourself a versatile and refined wave-riding machine ready to take on whatever you can throw
harness tech is now available to the rest of the kiteboarding masses thanks to its arrival under the Moonshine ‘anatomical’ harnesses perfectly lock in to the curves of your back and provide a comfortable, supportive who has been smugly enjoying them for the last few years – has put his name to this one…
Airush Wave 2016 Airush were one of the earlier adopters of the ‘surf specific’ kite, and the Wave has gained a loyal following and a lot of ‘solid’ kite with assured feedback and intuitive handling,
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THIS YEAR’S VENYU TR IPLE-S KEPT EVERYB ODY GUES SING… THE RUN OF WIND IN THE WEEKS APPR OAC HING THE EVENT HA D BEEN UNSEASONABLY POOR, AND THE C HAR TS LOOKING STUBB OR NLY SE T FOR THE DURATION OF THE EVENT. SURELY THIS 10TH ANNIVER SARY EVENT WOUL DN’ T BE THE FIR ST TR IPLE-S TO BE CANNE D DUE TO NO WIND?! THANKFULLY IT TUR NS OUT THAT THE BIG GUY UPSTAIR S MUST DIG RAILS BECAUSE – ON THE L AST DAY OF THE EVENT – HE TUR NE D THE WIND ON Words: Brian Wheeler
Ten years ago the sport of kiteboarding took a turn for the better. It wasn’t that it was going in the wrong direction or anything like that. It just hadn’t realized its full potential yet. That all changed when Venyu Triple-S Invitational co-founders, Jason Slezak and Trip Forman, set out to bring together likeminded pros from around the world to push the limits of the sport. Ten years later the event is still driving the sport, and countless athletes around the world, in an exciting direction – one that has garnered major, industry-wide steam. Like a fine wine, the TripleS’s maturation over the years has resulted in a well-earned reputation. What started as a small group of friends shredding together in the world-class flatwater and surf that Cape Hatteras is notorious for, has since turned into the most prestigious invite-only kiting event on the planet. Big name athletes come together each spring from all over the world to ride in a laid-back and progressive atmosphere while competing for $40,000. And with the Triple-S (Surf, Slicks and Sliders) consolidated this year into one discipline (Sliders), the top athletes were fighting it out for bigger checks than ever.
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AN OPEN PLATFORM In 2008, organizers introduced a video wildcard contest, where outsiders could prove their worth on screen and gain a coveted invite to the annual event. That first year, Aaron Hadlow scored a ticket to compete, and ever since, the field of video entries grows year after year. In 2010, organizers opened the invite process one step further, introducing an annual Venyu Triple-S Open, which takes place the day before the Invitational’s opening ceremony and autograph session.
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This year’s event hit a major milestone, as several kiters who submitted video wildcards but didn’t score top honors flocked to Cape Hatteras for one last chance to earn entrance to the main event. B
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TENSE TIMES In the build up to the main event the week delivered light winds, with not quite enough to run the comp in the early part of the week. With the downtime, riders logged lots of time in the surf, on the beach, and shredding the REAL Slider Park while towed by PWC. The nights were filled with incredible bands, parties, and the Sunset Swim runway charity event, a non-profit swimsuit fashion show that raises money for Athletes4Cancer. In the end, over $13,000 was raised that will go towards helping cancer survivors and their families. Aside from the beautiful women strutting down the catwalk, a highlight of the evening activities was the live auction, where Hadlow offered up the board he won the King of the Air on this year. It fetched a pretty penny: $2,500. Additionally, the Masters division riders – Andre Phillip, Jason Slezak, Davey Blair, and Joby Cook – joined a pack of musicians up on stage for a special performance of the “Triple-S Blues.” Overall, it was a magical night, as most evenings at this event usually are.
overall score. Park one featured the North Rooftop Rail and KOA Kicker, while park two offered the Liquid Force Reverse Rainbow Rail and Best Super Kicker. Park three was last, and featured the 82-footlong John Wayne Cancer Foundation A-frame rail. By day’s end, everyone had three tries on each feature, with their top score counting. The action was nothing short of spectacular, as men and women threw down a slew of stylish inverts and spins off of the kickers, and demonstrated their world-class skills on the rails. And when the score sheets were settled, Colleen Carroll came out on top for the women, and Sam Light made history by taking the top slot for the third year in a row…
With a meager forecast looming on Thursday doubts began to set in, but then a solid outlook materialized pretty much from nowhere the night before the final day of the Venyu Triple-S… When Friday morning rolled around, it was finally on! The contest kicked off early, and featured a new format: multipark slopestyle. Had there been more wind throughout the week, the format would have been dual-park freeride for everything leading up to the slopestyle finals. With the need to run the whole competition in one day, however, organizers prepared a contingency plan that would ensure the most time on the water for riders, along with the most accurate result, so the multi-park slopestyle format was born. In the end, it worked out incredibly well. As riders worked their way through the REAL Slider Park, judges scored each rider’s top tricks on each of the five features, which then fed into their
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TEN YEAR S ON Without a doubt, the Venyu Triple-S has evolved from year to year. In fact, the event’s evolution parallels that of REAL Watersports, which Trip Forman is a co-founder of (and where Jason Slezak taught kiteboarding for a number of years.) REAL began as a small kiteboarding shop, about the size of a one-story house, in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA. Today, you would not recognize the place at all, as the 4-acre plot that was once nearly empty, now features a 21,000 square-foot shop and school, four-story luxury condo complex, Waterman’s Bar & Grill, a private grassy launch area with air hoses to effortlessly fill your kite, and a lot more. Catering to everyone from surfers and families to Wall Street big wigs and A-list celebrities, REAL has become a 5-star kiting destination.
AND OVER THE YEAR S, THEY’ VE TAUGHT UPWAR DS OF 50,000 PEOPLE HOW TO KITEB OAR D The Venyu Triple-S has become pretty epic too, growing in just about every way imaginable. The caliber of the features in the REAL Slider Park is now world class, which has enabled riders to evolve their skills more rapidly than ever before. The scoring has morphed from being rider judged at week’s end to there being a panel of judges assessing the technical merits of each trick performed. To celebrate a decade of heritage, organizers went all-in on the Slider discipline this year. What that means for next year, only time will tell. But to get a glimpse of what may be in store, we turned to REAL Watersports co-founder, Trip Forman, with a little Q&A.
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Q How did the Venyu Triple-S begin? TRIP This event started in the wake of the Red Bull, fly-to King of the Air qualifiers that we hosted in 2003, 2004 and 2005. And then when Red Bull cancelled the King of the Air, we had that time slot open for an event. And so we worked together with Sleazy to come up with a first-year grass-roots event, based around park riding, and having a like-minded group of riders come here, and basically seeing what they could do with the sport.
Q What is the future of this event? TRIP With any event it’s important to keep things fresh and new – not have it become stagnant and the same. Obviously, we don’t want to change it away from what people like, but it’s always nice to introduce things to the competitors and the spectators that they don’t even know that they like yet. So when we did the original Triple-S, nobody knew that they wanted the Triple-S. And we did it, and look at what it’s become. Over the course of the ten years, the event has never been the same, year to year. There has always been new park features or a new format, or new discipline awards, or like this year, an all-in format with one discipline. Looking to next year, we have the option to stay all-in sliders or whether to go back to the original format. And that’s going to involve looking a lot at what happened this year, and talking with key riders and finding out what they like, what they want to do. And, we need a title sponsor. We were in a three-year agreement with Venyu to be the title sponsor, and this is the third of three years. It’s been a great partnership together with Venyu. They have helped us build the event and allow us to do what we wanted with the event, and at the same time, obviously, they were getting their branding on the event. That contract expires this year and we are going to miss Venyu because they are a great partner. If we can get them to sign on for another three years, that would be great! But if not, we are looking towards working with a new partner with the event to again help us take it to the next level.
Q What is your most memorable moment from the past 10 years? TRIP
I would have to say the most exciting memory is this year’s event going six days with no wind, and then having the ability to complete it on the last day with really good conditions! That was a nail-biter, having pretty marginal conditions that long, especially this time of year. Usually this time of year it’s world-famous for there being wind every single day. To have very spotty wind for six days and then all of a sudden having a surprise forecast – at eight o’clock at night – which then turned into being a reality! Of all 10 years, that’s definitely the most exciting moment…
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2015 VENYU TRIPLE S INVITATIONAL RESULTS MEN S
1st Place ($12,000) – Sam Light UK 2nd Place ($7,500) – Billy Parker USA 3rd Place ($5,000) – Brandon Scheid USA 4th Place ($3,000) – James Boulding UK 5th Place ($2,000) – Christophe Tack BEL
WOMEN S 1st Place ($4,000) – Colleen Carroll USA 2nd Place ($2,500) – Sensi Graves USA 3rd Place ($1,000) – Victoria Soloveykina RUS
MASTER S 1st Place ($1,000) – Andre Phillip ATG 2nd Place – Jason Slezak USA 3rd Place – Davey Blair USA
Rookie of the Year Award ($1,000) – Christophe Tack BEL Best Session Award ($1,000) – Billy Parker USA Slickstyle Attitude Award (Prize Pack) – Artem Garashchenko RUS Best Wipeout (Prize Pack) – Craig Cunningham CAN
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a B r a z i L i a n r e v o L u t i o n There aren’t that many photographers who are willing to pass on the easy ‘teleAnd although water photographers all deserve respect, Hugo has no qualms
been watching kitesurfing develop over the last few years and has been charting from the surfing community and that the standard is just getting better and better, so we asked him to get out there and shoot some of the local crew for us… words And photos: hugo vAlente
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Santa Catarina’s a state in southern it's known for its beaches and mountains – and for having the best
My relationship with this place was essential to the lifestyle I have chosen, I work with kitesurfing, surfing and with other sports and this place just
In fact, for over 30 years it has played host to a stop on what is now the
I had my first contact with kitesurfers
for many years the tour set up has been in Florianopolis and the region of Imbituba which is an hour’s drive to
The general pattern is for wind from the northeast, which is generated by a hot air mass and blows for 3 or 4 days, then we have a classic phenomenon of dark clouds coming from the south indicating that a cold front is approaching, and with it usually cold southerly wind and more waves… These gray clouds frighten off tourists and swimmers and are the joy
constant wind, and beautiful people make Santa Catarina a truly special
and I was amazed to see the level of the sport and how it brought people to the beach… I had just come from the Canary Islands, where I lived for a few years, and I was stoked to see how it had become popular particularly quite normal for professional surfers to practice the sport to spend more like two-time national surf champion champion Caio Ibelli and others can often be seen enjoying the good waves
For me as a photographer it worked out really well because shooting find cross off or cross on wind, just
With a strong surf culture and with And the scenery is beautiful with nice kitesurfing is growing rapidly by the So here are a few of the local crew in action and a little bit of information about them…
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D u D u
s c h u L t z
A real character of the Santa Catarina kite scene and a pioneer of the sport in this region, Dudu has introduced a lot of riders dear friend of everyone and is someone for whom I have great admiration for the great
t a n i o
B a r r e t o
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M a u r Ă c i o
P e D r e i r a
MaurĂcio always stands out when in the water for his He lives in the region of Imbituba and is in the water almost every day as there is always somewhere to kite in
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r o B e r t o
v e i G a
A great overall rider, owner of a school and
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v i c t o r
a D a M o
He has been competing since the first
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s e B a s t i a n
r i B e i r o
Another rider who came from the surf background and is now right at the heart of the talented new generation
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r o B e r t o
n a s c i M e n t o
massive conditions he is always one to come down the south
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G u i L L y
B r a n D a o
Three-time world champion and nine-time
We met again after a few years and he was a professional kiteboarder and I was a professional photographer and we began a partnership that’s already yielded good results and some magazine
z a G a The only rider featured who was born and raised on the island great surfer and sailor
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it’s not all big kites and high rise hotels WORDS AND PHOTOS
n i e D y Quinc
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B u t t e r - F l At B A h A M A s
The faint glow of the Caribbean stars reflected on the iridescent blue ocean as the thumping bass charged through the undulating dockside bar. The deep soulful lyrics of local legend Willis and the Illest and the sharp snap of the steel drums had the packed house of locals, tourists, and expats alike grooving into the night. Content from a solid day of epic conditions and butter smooth water, our crew sat on the oceanside picnic tables sipping well-earned beers as the waves washed gently under the
finally scored a few solid days of riding, and it
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tourist destination, almost feels like leaving Compton and driving through the gates to for being a place of unparalleled natural beauty, but they are unfortunately less famous for
the forecasts were routinely over optimistic, and the actual wind was closer to the 11 knot side of
the tourist scene of high rise hotels, cheesy restaurants with crusty plastic menus, and sparkling beaches dotted with sunburnt and overweight Americans on vacation for their one week of escape from the Hell of the forty hour
names are broadcast brightly from the front of gleaming modern retail centers with their quaint
wind speed – the warm humid air provides much less power than the colder denser air found at around the island scouting out spots to ride
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B u t t e r - F l At B A h A M A s
On the other side of the bridge, in the interior forecast ticked up a couple notches, and we poor neighborhoods and rundown commercial strip malls long past their prime, decaying from holes the size of watermelons plague the roads and jolt unrequested chiropractic adjustments We had been advised that some of the deep local areas were notorious for their crime, and rumors of car-jackings and armed assaults were never far back in our minds as we tooled around some seedy areas with not another tourist in
walking through the throngs of tourists clogging the beach we came upon a protected cove inside a swim zone with perfect side offshore winds, white sand, and waist-deep butter smooth flat photographer in the kite industry, I can honestly say that it is truly a world class kite destination
issues and actually made some really great local
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Hope and Drew quickly rigged up to take advantage of the conditions, and we proceeded lined up along the shore in front of their cabanas to come check out the action, and half a dozen tourists who had never seen anything like kiteboarding overwhelmed us with questions about the sport and requested information
realized that it was unlikely that this particular kite spot would be open to ride for more than another few months due to the inevitable collision of a kite with an unsuspecting swimmer
but apprehensive about its future; hopefully the local kiters will work something out to keep
protecting the beach were less than enthused to have Hope and Drew throwing down so close to the tourist swim zone, but after seeing how much joy the Atlantis guests were getting out of has to be said though, that this butter smooth kite location is best reserved for advanced or professional riders with full control of their kites TheKiteMag | 75
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B u t t e r - F l At B A h A M A s
Drew threw down some solid progressive wake tricks, while Hope rotated her way through all combinations of unhooked twists, rolls, and grabs to blind.
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while well-trodden and on the map of every major cruise ship and spring break destination, still has its enchanting little
solid progressive wake tricks, while Hope rotated her way through all combinations of unhooked twists, rolls, and grabs
some sand bars off Eleuthera and was absolutely amazed at the vibrant kaleidoscope of colors reflecting out of the shallow
training location, and outside the flat water area was an epic
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These things we now know: 78 | TheKiteMag
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Bring big kites just in case. 10, 14, and 17 meter kites are recommended just to be safe. Check the wind forecast and prepare for all types of conditions. Embrace the contrasts of the island culture.
Be sure to go hear some local live music. Order “Sky Juice” at any bar that offers it on the menu. You won’t be disappointed.
Get at least one meal in the “Fish Fry” district. Sample the locals’ favorite: conch salad.
Don’t just stay in Nassau, explore Eleuthera, and the other outer islands.
Late April and early May are great months for wind before you have to factor in hurricane season starting in the summer months. Hire a boat for the day to explore some of the sand bars that are unreachable by car.
Rent a car with good suspension as some of the local roads are in serious disarray.
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SOUTH O 80 | TheKiteMag
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H OF CEARÁ Road trip notes. Rio Grande do Norte; from Pipa to Lagoa do Sal… Words and photos: Axel Reese
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south oF ceArá
Lagoa do Sal Zumbi Maracajaú
Genipabú (Barra do Rio)
Natal Downtown Natal Praía Ponta Negra Buzios Camurupim Beach
Pipa Baía Formosa
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Thirteen years ago, in November 2002, I set out on a trip with Kristin Boese, Core chief Bernie Hiss, and former German champion Jost Backhaus. We set about exploring Brazil’s NE coast from Cumbuco through to Jericoacoara and wrote the trip up for a magazine. I have returned many times since to further explore the world class kiting spots of the state of Ceará. I have been around Cumbuco, Pecem, Taiba, Paracuru, Lagoinha, Flecheiras and Mundau. I’ve been up to Jeri and south of Fortaleza to spots like Canoa Quebreda, Uruau, Parajuru.
tips on spots to ride from local kiters, including local legend Kauli Seadi who knows every inch of this
c A M u r u p i M B eAch
Chris:
Brian: it secret! I want to go back there soon and have the
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south oF ceArรก
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Buz ios Chris: The huge beach with nice waves and good wind is well suited for kiters and Axel:
prAiA pontA negrA Chris:
downtown nAtAl Chris:
Brian:
genipABĂš wi t h BArrA do rio Chris:
Brian: Cumbuco as it gets cycled through when the tide goes out and comes back
when I got solid pop I would go almost level with my kite, and I would land with so much speed and sometimes with the kite so low, that the wingtip
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south oF ceArรก
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M ArAcAjAĂš Chris: This famous tourist spot is well known for the coral reefs located some 7 kilometers from
Brian:
lAgoA
do
sAl
Chris:
zuMBi Chris: Brian:
take inspiration from my environment which means that you can be totally surprised by a new
rusty fridge! It would have been smarter to set it up better but once you give me a challenge I like
just setting, there were clouds lighting up bright orange and yellow inland where the wind turbines
I’m in. Now the most important question: what kites shall I pack?!
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cold snAps
words And photos: svetlAnA roMAntsovA
When we look through the pages of magazines, we see a lot of kite pictures with incredible tricks, beautiful splashes of water and amazing sunset light‌ These are natural shots, and you could see these kind of scenes at the beach if you were there. For these shots, however, myself and snow kite rider and good friend Anton Cherkashin had an idea for some action and portrait pictures with flashes that would be a little bit different. These kind of shots are a bit unusual for our perceptions because you can’t see this moment in real life. They are just a short impulse of light for a few split seconds. So flash photography has massive potential for creativity.
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cold snAps
The shoot would have been impossible without our friends from the local kite station, Surf-point, who held the flashes and helped organize everything before thoroughly, even longer than we spent ast winter we spent a bit time for on our home spot close to perfect for snowkiting as it’s a big frozen lake with good wind conditions in winter
shooting with flashlights is easy in winter because you can put flashes wherever you
run down fast so you always need to have snow so sometimes Anton had to land on
colored smoke we had just 50 seconds and And it was hard shooting with the puddle of water, Anton was completely wet before we managed to get the ideal splash on the picture! When you use flashes you have just one chance for shot during the trick because usually you need a few seconds for recharging after flash, so it’s very useful trying to shoot the best moment with one shot even when you don’t use flashes… We were pretty happy with what we got from
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If you follow the wacky world of Alex Caizergues then you will know that – as well as being an undisputed king of the speed demon world – he seems to spend the rest of his time in one bluewatered tropical idyll or another… One spot had alluded him for the last few years though: Madagascar. I’ve wanted to travel to Madagascar ever since I watched Addikt 1, the ground-breaking movie
be part of the movie because the trip clashed with
So this trip had been in my mind for a while and Marie and I planned to retrace the steps of Addikt
which is in the north in the Emerald Sea,
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retrAcing Addikt
TH E TO P place is located at the end of a peninsula and to access the lodge the only way is by a traditional sail-powered fishing boat which thankfully had plenty of space for all the gear and you need to wear sunglasses, and after unloading the boat you
The living is simple, but you’ve got everything you need inside
panels, the kitchen uses a wood fire to cook, and water is saved
On the water and the wind is in every single day, normally
some waves in front of Suarez Island, side onshore, and there
It’s also worth packing a good pair of trainers to go to the
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THE BOTTO M to Antananarivo, a night and a day in the capital, and then another flight from Tana to Tulear before we waiting for us and, after an hour going full speed in village, with very friendly people and a lot of affordable
such a remote place‌ The resort blends in very well, with no big buildings, and with nice huts which are cozy and very comfy, but still in touch with nature, with recover from a long trip, recharge batteries, and wait chose this destination‌
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retrAcing Addikt
FL AM E ‘BALLS’ Since the release of Addikt 1 in 2009, I have been dreaming about
and Mitu Monteiro in the film… When I talk with them about this wave, they tell me it is one of their that! The wave breaks on a sharp reef when the swell is big, and it often blows in the afternoon, sideoff shore, and it makes it really perfect, barreling as soon as it’s big
you get to is Mozambique, which is
The break was originally named
Then just 20 minutes upwind on one of the local sailing boats
of the South Africanw surfer who discovered this wave when doing a On a 3 meter day, after a big wipeout, he basically destroyed his balls on the reef! Since then the wave has
If that sounds too hardcore then your safety first because it’s around
to see it working but it’s a little bit more of an intermediate wave as the reef is deeper, the wave smoother,
your friends, and a couple of cows that come to the island when the tide is low! The water is perfectly flat and so clear, and the wind is is a 500 meter sand bank that shows at low tide which makes this one of the best spots I have ever ridden in my life…
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Traveling in Madagascar can be a bit time waiting at airports, or waking up very early to catch a flight, but the people always smile, and the locals genuinely want to make your water, wind and waves give you
time with a special boardbag full of school materials, kids clothes, and some basic medicines to help the
Having fun is great, but if we can help other people then that is even better… TheKiteMag are pleased to have pledged their support through contributing to ‘the boardbag’. We have also sent over a few TheKiteMag tee-shirts – which are priceless.
YO U NE E D A B OAT 1 ) TO E N S U R E YO UR SA FE TY FI R ST B ECAUSE I T ’S ARO UND 7 K M O F FS H O R E , A N D 2) B ECAUSE I F YO U BREAK SO M E TH I N G , TH E N EX T C OA ST YO U GE T TO IS M OZ A MB I Q U E , W H ICH IS ARO UN D 1 0 0 0 K M … . TheKiteMag | 97
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Interview:
i n t e r v i e w: e u d A z i o & k AtA r z y n A
&
e udd A z i o A silvA k A t A r zl AynngAe Two for the price of one this issue, with a pair of Nobile riders who have been putting in super-consistent performances on the world tour for many years and exemplify the lifestyle and attitude of professional kiteboarders‌ Photos: Hugo Valente
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Can you tell us about your background – where are you from and when you began kiting? E: I’m from Cumbuco in the state of Ceará,
K: freestyle spot in the bay – Chalupy – where I
When did you decide that you wanted to kitesurf competitively? E: competition was in the junior heats in that
K: I’m not getting stressed, and I love riding and competing… I’m in! What is the hardest thing about being on the world tour? E: The hardest thing has got to be when they
K: Competing and trying to get to the top is fun and not hard at all, I learn from each event and and preparing better, and I can see my goals hard part is to manage my kite school – Kite stressful but fortunately my boyfriend makes it possible, and it’s great that we can combine
Where is the best place you’ve been for kiting? E: This would have to my home spot, Cumbuco
K: kiteboarding spots, landscapes and very nice
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i n t e r v i e w: e u d A z i o & k AtA r z y n A
Where would be your dream destination and why?
K: from when I started kiteboarding and I
E: conditions you can be up against when brand, there’s a series of boards dedicated to female riders, and the gear helps my
water, and continue heats in the afternoon
How long have you been riding in boots for and how has this changed your riding style? E:
K:
When did you begin riding for Nobile and how did you end up on their team? E:
through to 3rd place at a competition in
These shots came out super well – were the conditions this good for the whole event? E: Hugo, and it was really well organized and everyone there knew what they were doing! The conditions were perfect that
K: great during the photo shoot, and yes, the
K: started very late, but I knew I would know I didn’t want to do it just because others my tricks stronger and bigger without placing my kite higher, I bought bindings better in the water – my style got better, I’ve gained more power, and I can manage
they were aware of, and that got me my
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i n t e r v i e w: e u d A z i o & k AtA r z y n A
i’M focuseD on BecoMinG the WorLD chaMPion. that’s it.
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Which other rider has most inspired you and why? E: Christophe Tack because of his
K: I watch all the movies of
forward to the World Tour growing super big! What are your goals for the next couple of years? E: I’m focused on becoming the
say Aaron Hadlow, for his super hopefully I won’t have to change tricks technically, and Karolina a kiteboarding school, I get to
What do you have for breakfast the day of a competition? E: A big old plate of eggs and salad…
passionate people, compete in the World Tour and travel to beautiful places! What would your advice be to anyone looking to get onto the tour?
K: Cereal, strawberry yogurt and E: To make sure you get the right kites and the right board, and that How do you feel about the direction the World Tour has taken? E:
conditions and be focused on
K: Make a nice video of yourself and your riding to interest potential sponsors, and make sure
and I’m glad someone wants to make kiteboarding as popular
have a kiteboarding business, so for me it’s crucial to develop this
How do you spend your time when you are not kiting?
have a more stable situation and
E: In my free time I work out and
future, because professionalism outside needs to be supported from inside the organization as
games… I always have something to do!
by chance from a friend of mine, who’s a rider too, that I was pre-
already and I lost the chance
K: home, when not kiting, I’m usually busy at work, but in my free time I like cruising on a yoga, visiting my family and friends, partying, listening to music or just chilling on the beach
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Interview:
interview: stephAn Figueiredo
stephAn Figueiredo
Over the last few years Brazilian surfers have exploded onto the competitive surf scene – with Gabriel Medina’s victory at the 2014 ASP illustrating their potential to succeed in all conditions on the tour. Brazilian kiters have also showed an enviable natural skillset in the surf, and Blade team rider Stephan Figueiredo typifies the new breed of Brazilian riders who surf all morning then, when the wind comes in, kite all afternoon… photos: courstey BlAde kiteBoArding / stephAn Figueiredo
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Hey Stephan, thanks for taking the time to talk to us. First up can you tell us a bit about your background?
How old were you when you first paddled in to a wave?
I think it was around 2007 or 2008 and There was a watersports competition
I honestly can’t even remember what age I caught my first wave, I used to Around the age of 16 I became a professional surfer and began traveling further for perfect waves and the years I found more things to keep me in the water longer like spearfishing, focus is on surfing and kitesurfing the biggest and best barreling waves in the
I caught my first wave surfing when I was 8 years old in my home break in dad gave me my first surfboard for my game or a surfboard – it’s a good thing he only gave me the surfboard!
ever seen anything like it and I was That same year I rode for the first time, and two years later I bought my own kite and decided to seriously dedicate myself
When did you first begin kiting and how did that come about? of course… TheKiteMag | 107
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interview: stephAn Figueiredo
Did you quickly see the potential of surfing with a kite?
They were looking for a kite wave athlete, I was in Hawaii at the time and a couple of friends of mine put my
developing their first wave kite – the
Yes, I saw that you could catch a huge amount of waves in a very small amount
and showing them some of my footage
first prototype I went to Maui to test
Everything happened so much faster
I had been working so hard and coming from the surfing world I didn’t know
give Yaron my feedback and together we worked to fine tune the first Skinny
way more waves than I ever could another reason to apply myself even was the fact that normally when the wind came in it was usually horrible conditions for surfing and I got out of
amazing drift so that when you’re maneuvering on the wave, you can So you ride the Skinny Boys now – did you have any input into the development of these and how do you rate them as kites?
power which is essential for kitesurfing big waves and allows you to ride the is by far the best kite I’ve ever used for
And how did you end up being sponsored by Blade?
they didn’t have a kite that was specific
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interview: stephAn Figueiredo
We have seen quite a lot of shots of you riding unhooked in the surf – when and why do you do this and are you surprised that there aren’t many other guys riding unhooked in the waves?
surfers would see the potential in small board it has to compensate with And which boards do you ride?
It’s just my perfect hybrid for surfing
The boards I use for kitesurfing are
to double overhead and I can kitesurf
boards that were good for surfing, kitesurfing, and for catching small to medium waves so that I could reduce
People have been waiting to see a lot people crossing over from surfing in to kiting – are you seeing more of this in Brazil now?
When you ride unhooked it’s basically So I do it because it gives me a sense speed from the kite to take me to the part of the wave I want, but when I maneuver unhooked, I’m just as
shape that would be good for all those
this when the conditions are perfect and after I’ve been surfing the same wave well and when I unhook I’m
The board you’re riding in a lot of these shots seems to be pretty wide in the nose – why is this?
If you’re a surfer here, kitesurfing is the perfect compliment to your life because it allows you to spend more
level of kitesurfing with a lot of
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interview: stephAn Figueiredo
i love Any reAson to Be in the wAter And i AM AlwAys pushing MyselF.
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You have been on a few Indo trips in recent years. Can you describe your perfect day out there?!
are always welcome and being able to just travel on a boat and kite whenever there was good wind or a good wave
A perfect day in Indo goes something
double overhead waves with offshore
the wind turns to side offshore, 20-25 knots and I go back out in the water to kitesurf perfect barreling waves! East Sumbawa is by far the best place
Have you been on boat trips with your kites? If so how was that?! Yeah, I did a 45 day boat trip from the complicated, because depending on the boat and the space you have you need to plan ahead how you’re going to inflate your kite and spread out your
Which other spots on the planet would you like to have the chance to surf and kite?
And you do some freediving and spearfishing too – how many hours a day do you spend in the water on average?! I love any reason to be in the water! That’s why I took on spearfishing and freediving, so when the conditions are flat I don’t go crazy and can be in the in the water and only come on land day…
room, so you have to be agile and
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techniQue
WITH
F L AT 3 This issue we have Kelvin Langeree hitting a Flat 3 off the lip. So it’s not a very Flat 3 – more of a pretty airborne, almost inverted, 3… If you fancy a stab at it, here are a few pointers…
for more of a mellow ramp than a launch pad, but go for whatever you can find!
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As you take off pull the bar into your back hip and keep it
Everything is happening pretty quickly here as the lip has given it a real kick, but take your front hand off the bar and
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scAn Me For the Full tests!
h e r e ’ s A l i t t l e tA s t e r o F w h At t h e k i t e M A g ’ s test teAMs hAve Been up to.
liQuid Force wow had a pretty solid waveriding kite in the we know that when it comes to ‘three struts’, certainly has the heritage to be a ‘top of class’ kite
ve test w At y d s
A
ep o
kites are accessible and versatile but don’t be fooled by the ‘freeride’ tag as these kites mean business and the re-emergence of given them some newfound
which saw the rest of the w
e
r
low
sABil ces it y Ac
v
e
r
li ti
north evo The last couple of years have seen the consolidation of a new breed of ‘super-
end
d
e
r
iF
t
turn in
g
s
p
This makes onshore riding a real pleasure… You can snap the kite around, smack the lip and it will spin back around to drive you on then just stays there and turns there with no unpredictable or
ve test w At y s
A
de po
Fr
eeride t es de po w
this is an ‘easy to read’ kite for learning your
e
t
r
For us the big surprise for the Evo is in the the smaller sizes it is a nice snappy kite and for onshore conditions or for strapless trickery, its
Bws tdz w
e
r
v
e
r
li ti
sheet in and you are going up,
kites with narrower tips
when you get out into the surf on the Wow is the way it
d
e
Aspect ratio is higher than
low
sABil ces it y Ac
wanted a kite that was responsive and had good drift but which would also embrace some
end
d
e
e
d
a pretty gusty day and the top end was impressive with kite skills and a good understanding of where to place the kite to get the most out of it, but if you know your
r
iF
t
turn in
g
s
p
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core puMp 2.0
the one BlAde trigger This is the 7th generation of the Trigger which ‘all-rounder’ status within quality of the Trigger Techno Force canopy material it is solid but light and it has a funky ‘pirate themed’ detail
crAzyFly Atv CrazyFly went back to the drawing board for 2015 and came out with some spanking new shapes to show to We had the 5’10 which comes in at a healthy 19” wide down from CrazyFly’s previous surfboards… There’s a bamboo veneer and less glass, and construction feels shape – 19” is pretty wide for a 5’10 and there is some width held through to the nose making this a true
and plenty of volume so you don’t have to work hard to get going or to power yourself around during your
Fr
eeride
te
de po
w
e
s r
t
is a separate attachment point if you are going to ride the Trigger in positioning and
swallow tail deliver a very impressive wave, then the quad set up has a nice skatey release if you want to really throw it through the lip and let the
and well engineered tail set up, and you could take the worked out and we on the center than the
su
nicely on the beach and have
in
s
Buil d
Q
u
A
te l
t
it
y
were impressed – a contender for ‘bar upwind
hore ons
stratospheric, especially if you are stacked, and control
s
F
rFBoArd
d
o w
n
h -t
e lin e-
we ig
h
t
you need to and forget it when you don’t, and the precise handling ensures that this is still a good option in the
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scAn Me For the Full tests!
noBile pro 50/FiFty With carbon reinforcements between the inserts it is designed to be ridden hard,
handle a lot of power without breaking hard ride in the choppy conditions, but
ozone edge v8 When it comes to topend performance kites, few have the kind of its eighth year, it is the kite that keeps on giving… Construction is top-end with Teijin D2 and Teijin Dacron and the Edge has been tuned over the years to keep it at the top of its
Fr
ty ili iB
un ho
o
ki k
A depower
st
rAnge
racing and for breezier conditions and still ticks
te
Fifty really comes into its own though when you start to think about some
yes, Ozone are up there in
c
becoming ‘de rigueur’ at assisted by the elliptical progressive concave, which helps to pop the board
t
e
d
c
s
e
e
s
eestyle
pop and we found we could get some B
in
g
It just sits solidly above soaking up any gusts, without any
r
d
was also at home doing powered un-hooked tricks and for its size it produced a lot of pop – we
tes
t
ding lAn
sABil ces it y Ac
p
p
lo o
po
ng ti
ht
how incredibly stable the Edge is,
s
ig
a little hot knowing it could handle it and let you ride
o
e
Bo
A
w
eestyle
o
Fr
c
a 134, normally this would be found in slightly larger
o
impressive board that will suit the more advanced rider looking
feels, with the new Teijin D2 there is no ‘sponginess’ and the much lift in the Edge you can literally come to a stop for a transition, pull the bar down and get enough height without sending the kite to put in a rotation! How many kites do that have always had spot on is their trim… You can depower all their kites and they will maintain the same feel, which is an Edge we had our eyes opened again to what draws people into
M
F
o
rt
ed g
in
g
blew us away and we didn’t want to give it back…
nAish pivot 2016
wA r
de po
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low
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turn in
g
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d
e
e
d
end
For us we felt that the top end has been improved on last year and there is no
A
e
the turn you do not get that sudden surge in the kite which you can
s
ve test
ty li ti
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tel l A B out
Me
it
No self-respecting wakestyler can get through an average day at the beach without a rail to play with. How to build one that is solid, cheap and that you don’t need a carpentry qualification to fathom out is something of a Holy Grail though. Thankfully Jake Kelsick has been putting in the hours so you don’t have to...
B u i l d i n g
Most people would like to, or have already had Unfortunately there aren’t tons of rail set ups at most kite spots you go to, so why not do what you guys through what it will take to build a pretty simple flat pipe using some wood, bolts
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A
r A i l the
ingr edients
M At e r i A l s
2 metal brackets, around 10� long
32 Washers
tools Drill 1
4
5
16
Square TheKiteMag | 125
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t he
Build step 1: Building the leg BAses
Cut the remaining 4ft into a 3ft length which will be used for the up support
The 1ft end piece will be used to bolt
These will be used as the supports for
Cut the remaining 4ft into a 3ft length which will be used for the up support
You will again use the 1ft end piece to
Drill a ¼” hole into the center of the get a rough idea of where to drill by
Drill 3 holes into both of the 1ft
Drill 2 holes in the up support as well
to make sure everything is straight
step 2: Building the legs
Drill 2
5
16 ”
holes through both legs as well as
This will make the rail about head height, you can because you build the base separately, you can
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step 3: Adding soMe extrA support to the legs
Use the remainder 4ft length for a support
step 4: At tA c h i n g t h e p i p e
best idea is to cut a little rectangle so the
rectangle Slot the pipe on and you are good to go! Fill up your sandbags and use them to hold the legs in place, this will make it
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th e
deBr ieF...
After a few sessions on the Ozone pipe, there isn’t much I
an awesome sliding surface – it feels like you are riding on a magic carpet – and it only took about a day to get used to it and
is a breeze, we managed to make small changes with our kites still up! It’s a super stable feature and once the sandbags are added it this have a lot of potential for customization as they are almost hilarious falls on this rail, as it’s really slick and with such
easily add length, change angles and constantly build upon your original design…
g e t h
h
BeF o r e
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so
n ow:
g e t o u t t h e r e ,
Buil d A r Ail And work on t hos e
s t e e z y
h i ts A F te r
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behinD
t he
c l i p
It’s not always the sunniest, cleverest or prettiest clips that catch your attention. Sometimes raw kiteboarding, a dirty edit and a thrashy soundtrack can just suck you right in… Enter ‘In Bloom’. Patri McLaughlin explains… How did the idea for the clip come about? My friend Rick Dabrowski has been making short video clips for some time now. It’s a passion for both of us to showcase the are right we try to get together and shoot some footage. This was a few sessions back home thrown together into a short mini movie.
So Maui Mini Movie is Rick’s production company. He specializes in kiting, and he does short clips for pro riders when they’re in town. He also does short clips for any kiters visiting the island of Maui, and want home I like shooting with Rick because he’s so motivated about the kiting with a surfboard. I think it’s cool to get people of the only ways to do that is through web clips. Rick shares the same passion and he’s a super friendly guy.
Ya! I know if I’ve landed on the same wave. I would have to be in the air a lot longer to transfer to another wave. Maybe one kiting. I think it’s much cooler to land back in the wave like a surfer rather than just use the wave as a ramp.
Clay Marzo is my favorite surfer. He does these layback turns that no-one else does. I always joke with Rick that I’m trying to do a Marzini layback turn, and he kinda ran with that in the description on the clip! Do you use that sticky wax?! wax, but that PUNT edition super sticky wax sucks. It gets on everything and moves around a lot. You have to relax your board every ten minutes, and it doesn’t help you stay connected any better. Keeping your feet connected to the board comes from technique. No wax is magic. Have you counted the total number of rotations in the clip?!
I’m riding the North Neo. It’s a really fast stable kite with a huge wind range and a lot of drifting capability. It rarely falls out of the sky which is important when you’re focusing on riding waves. I also ride the
Nope. Maybe 20 if I had to guess. [MORE we reckon…] the soundtrack backs up – was this the plan?!
board shape and it works really well in most conditions. You cover a fair amount of distance in some of your airs, do you even know if you’ve landed back on the same wave sometimes?!
for everyone, but it gets me pumped to go ride hard.
The soundtrack is from a band called Slipknot. The song is called “Duality.” etc’ soundtracks, is this kind of music not your bag? I like a huge variety of genres. I listen to dubstep and hip hop. I even listen to classical music sometimes. This was just
you ride hard you crash hard and having this song stuck in my head helps me push through the pain. you’re not making yourself dizzy? I can’t say I’m the king of real estate! But I’ve had my real estate license for over three years now. I sold another house a couple of months ago, so things are rolling along. I grew up on Maui and both of my parents invested in real estate my entire life. I feel like I’m educated and I know what I’m talking about when it comes to Maui real estate!
In Bloom is somewhat of an inside joke. I in the waves is really just a blooming sport. I can’t wait to see what happens in the future.
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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
why Do lows anD highs r otat e t h e way t h e y D o ? turn to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. Here I’m going to have a very simple look at atmospheric surface pressure systems – lows and highs – and why the Coriolis force is fundamental in determining their behavior. So, why do lows and highs rotate the way they do? To answer that question at M o s p h e r e
the atmosphere there are some areas where the pressure is higher than average, and other areas where the pressure is lower than average. Pressure is force per unit area, so, where there is higher than average pressure, the force pushing down from above onto each meter squared of surface area is greater than where there is lower than average pressure. Or to put it more simply:
low
high
ocean
So what happens to the air on the
Now, here is where the Coriolis force comes in. Due to Coriolis, that surface air is unable to go in a straight line from the high to the low. In the northern
the center of the low is constantly turning right, which results in an anticlockwise circulation around the low. The above argument can now easily
high, where there is an excess, and towards the low, where there is a
right and in the southern hemisphere to the left.
circulates around a high pressure in
is a pressure gradient from the high
So how does this explain how highs and
pressure gradient to try to equalize it.
of a cell of low pressure surrounded by high pressure. The air is entering the low
pressure.
do is think of a cell of high pressure surrounded by relatively low pressure. the periphery of the high will turn to the around the cell of high pressure.
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In practice the air doesn’t manage to turn a full 90 degrees when it exits the high or when it enters the low; otherwise the pressure gradient would never be equalized and the same low pressures would exist forever. In
low
high
a low and slightly outwards in a high.
In the southern hemisphere the entire situation is reversed – large movements of
left. This results in a clockwise circulation around the low and an anticlockwise circulation around the high. If you are confused, think of a low pressure like a roundabout. In Spain, where I surf in the northern winter, cars veer to the right as they enter the roundabout, but they end up circulating in an anticlockwise direction. In South winter, cars veer to the left as they enter the roundabout, but they end up circulating in a clockwise direction.
a low pressure system – independent of which hemisphere you are talking about. Cyclonic means anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. The term anticyclonic is, of course, the direction of rotation of an area of high pressure, or anticyclone – clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anticlockwise in the southern hemisphere. Lastly, all this rotation can only happen if the scale is right. The system must be either big enough or slow enough so that the planet itself has a chance to object in question moves across the enormous systems, so the Coriolis force
the system to the other. In case you were
because the system is thousands of times too small. For the Coriolis force to have be thousands of times bigger or the water would have to be thousands of times more viscous… Tony Butt holds a PhD in physical oceanography and is the author of Surf Science, an Introduction to Waves for
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…
Note that the term cyclonic means the direction of rotation of a cyclone – or
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t he D a r k r o o M Pa rt 4:
SHOOTING IN WAVES photographic wiZarDry wit h st ephan kleinlein
t h e
D a rk
r o o M
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BE PHYSICALLY READY right in the surf and swimming in big waves and often photographer you will need to have at least – and I mean at least conditions you are willing to swim in. Remember that a
mind! Running, swimming, bike riding, freediving, yoga and help you to prepare to swim in the surf. Remember to be and to get back in.
information about the local conditions and a plan B if you cannot make it back. It’s always good to have a friend somewhere around to watch you, or at least to let people know that you are going for a photo session and when you plan to be back on land. I have been caught out a few times when I thought I was ready for it and I only just made it back –one time I was so close that the Hawaiian lifeguards were already on their way with a jet-ski to rescue me. It can happen very quickly,
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BREAKS
ENVIRONMENT
When the waves are getting bigger and they are relatively consistent and breaking at the same location, for example like Pipeline on Oahu, One Eye in Mauritius, or Teahupoo in Tahiti, you are not able to be very close to the rider anymore, so you’ll need to use the bigger tele lenses (a Canon 70-200 for example). This gives you the ability to stay further away from the impact zone, but still get that special water shot that you can’t get from land or from a boat.
One of the key things is to be aware of the position of
When swimming in those kind of big waves you must always be alert and see how and when other surfers and photographers are moving. Even if the waves are consistently breaking in one area, once in a while bigger sets are rolling in and they break further out. If the worst comes to the worst and you realize you are going to be caught by a set, be ready for it: swim far out as fast as you can. If you get in the white water protect yourself by making yourself as small as possible and try to relax and save energy, you will need it for the next hit! Also think about protecting your gear; curl into it and face the port towards your wetsuit, especially when you are in shallow water above rocks and reef.
riders can make them look very dark. This can look cool, it just depends on the type of photos you are after. The light is of course better early in the morning or later at the end of the day when the sun is low. That is when you can get those special images with the light shining straight on the rider in a lower angle. Shooting in dark
every 2 or 3 shots which takes a few seconds. So you cannot constantly shoot. Think about composition, where do you want the rider to be in your image? Bottom, top, center, left or right? Think about background, how close or far you have to be away to capture the size of the wave and the action? Think about shadows in your image. If the water is super clear and you shoot from high up on top of the wave down to the bottom of the water and you can see through the water to the reef, this can be very special and add another dimension to the shot.
you place yourself in a place where you have a clear view of the lineup and know where the riders are coming position to ensure you are not in a position where you might get water spray in front of your lens when they come by on a wave or do a trick in front of you. Think about the type of lens you are using too. If you be very close to the action, which can make things a bit hairy, especially with fast moving waves and fast moving riders. Make sure you can get out of the way by diving underwater if you need to. Most of the time when I am out there I wear a freediving mask. Even if I mainly shoot above the water line the mask helps me to navigate and see clearly under the water so I know what kind of reef and rocks are nearby. This also means that I can see clearly when I duck dive underneath big sets so can also shoot some incredible moments of these breaking water mountains underneath the surface.
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IN THE POCKET To get the ‘A grade’ shots – the close up kind of shots that might get on the cover – you might want to think about shooting right in the critical part of you want a fast shooting camera with a memory card inside which is capable of writing your image and the rider approaching, you stay very close to the impact zone in front of the wave and in the last moment, when the wave is just about to take you up and wants to throw you over the falls, you must duck deep underwater with a lot of power to escape the suction of the wave. Just before that moment you still have your arm with your camera out of the water and aim towards the rider. Often out to be your best shot, but waiting for the last split-second to dive under for the exit door can also be very risky sometimes. Misjudging this moment in bigger waves can have a catastrophic outcome for gear and for the photographer… So always operate inside your abilities. So get out there, experiment as much as you can with your gear, and the more time you swim in the level will increase. Ocean photography, like any other type of photography, is a journey. As long as you are prepared to follow that track you will succeed and you will enjoy your photography more more enjoyable perspective of your surroundings, of the elements and of our planet…
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You might want to think about shooting right in the critical part of the wave,
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T HI nGS you wo u lDn ’ t k n ow a b o u t t h i s shot Y DW eR
Van
DeR
HeIDe
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This shot was taken at my local spot where I used to kiteboard a lot with my friends. During this shoot there was hardly any wind and Bas was only able to jump a few times before it died completely. The shot got lost in an archive on one of the many backup hard drives lying around on my desk. I didn’t even know that it existed Until I was looking randomly for some portfolio bits for my website Bas had to jump straight over my head to get the position right. The hardest thing about it was to get the focus right as I couldn’t follow him coming from the back. To avoid getting too much water in front of the lens we customized my water collars’ to shield it from splashing water. I feel ashamed that a shot like this ended up unpublished, but I’m very happy that I can share it with the rest of the world now…
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thekite M a g
D i gi ta l
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THEKITEMAG #5
TRIPLE-S 2015
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B U T T E R - F L AT BA H A M A S
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RETRACING ADDIKT
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BUILD A RAIL WITH JAKE KELSICK