Technique… Mobe 5 with Maxime Chabloz | Chucking Buckets

Mobe 5 nose to seatbelt

RIDER MAXIME CHABLOZ PHOTO SVETLANA ROMANTSOVA

This is one of my favorite tricks at the moment. It actually came about thanks to Craig Cunningham who showed me a video of a wakeboarder doing the same trick, though not to 5 but a normal mobe. Craig was convinced I could do it. So after trying it out and landing one or two in light conditions, I started taking this trick more seriously and injecting it with more power. I first landed it to 5 in Greece while I was filming for the distance battle. I ended up pulling it off in almost all my heats at the GKA SuperKite in Brazil, and the highest score I got was an 8.5 – not bad for a single pass. Although it is not really a big trick and only has one handlepass, I would say that it is really hard and takes practice to master.

STEP 1 You want to build up a decent amount of speed and place your kite at the lowest possible position, while still getting enough height and hang time. You will need to have your lines as slack as possible.

STEP 2 Extend your pop as long as you can and put a lot of pressure on your back leg, so that your whole backmobe rotation comes around without having to pull on the bar again after the backroll. Make sure your arms are extended during the pop.

STEP 3 Grab your nose. It is important that you steer your kite down during the backroll, as you are only going to have your front hand on the bar for a while. The timing of the grabs is super important. Make sure that on every grab, your leg on the side of the grab is bent and the other one extended, as otherwise you won’t reach it.

STEP 4 Grab your tail with the same hand you just grabbed your nose, by keeping your bar super close to your body. If you don’t have the strength to hold the bar close you won’t be able to finish the rotation and you will need more slack. Always hold your grabs as long as possible for extra style…

STEP 5 After letting go of your tail, pass the bar as quickly as possible, and bring your other hand back to the bar as fast as possible to close the 540 rotation. This will demand a lot of strength, so you might want to work on those biceps!

TIP 1 Really try to extend your pop as long as possible for extra slack, and make sure to commit to your backmobe rotation before letting go of your hand for the grabs.

TIP 2 Work your way up to this trick by perfecting your backmobes and backmobe 5’s, then try to do a backroll to toeside, adding the two grabs separately at first, and then both in one jump.

TIP 3 In any trick with grabs, it is always the board that comes to your hand, and not your hand that goes to your board! If you get that, then you will be able to do whatever grab you want and as many as you want.

Chucking Buckets

RIDER KEAHI DE ABOITIZ PHOTO CHUCK HARLAN

Growing up as a surfer, I’ve taken a lot of my kitesurfing inspiration from surfing. I’ve always loved watching guys like John John Florence, and I try to implement some of his techniques into kiting. For me his power carve game is one of the best in the business and something you see a lot of surfers now trying to imitate. Although kiting comes with limitations in the angles you can turn, having the extra power a kite gives you has advantages so it’s always fun to blend the different aspects. With most modern kites having a huge amount of depower, the game has really opened up in terms of what is possible in offshore conditions and more drawn out carves. Over the last few years I’ve made a point to incorporate more of these style turns into my riding – I don’t think you see enough of it in kiting. Although it takes a little bit of practice and technique to get right, it’s a very functional maneuver for a certain type of section, which gives you a unique feeling of speed and power that’s really hard to beat. You will enjoy the feeling once you get it dialed. I’ve always loved the way this type of turn looks in photos and the way the water flies off the rail

STEP 1 First, it’s all about finding the right wave and section. Ideally you want a nice smooth face; if it’s too bumpy, it can be hard to engage the rail and easy to get bumped off by chop. (Tips for a smooth face are finding a spot with low land or reef upwind to keep it smooth, maybe sticking to the inside where lots of waves are breaking to smooth the water out, or waiting for the second or third wave of a set which tend to be smoother.) Although more offshore conditions will mean smoother conditions, it can also make it more difficult to flow through the end of the carve as your kite will naturally want to pull you off the back of the wave. Ideal conditions for me would be straight sideshore wind as this allows you to extend the turn harder back towards to the wave compared to more offshore conditions. If you have good kite control, it’s also a great turn for side-on conditions as you can really extend the turn back into the whitewash at this point.

STEP 2 Kite positioning is an important factor – you want your kite to be slightly in front of the swell line just as you go into your top turn. That generally means a figure eight with the kite or a loop as I set up my turn. The amount you need to move your kite will depend on the wind angle but you always want to get it to that same position for the turn.

STEP 3 Ideally I’m looking for a nice smooth bowl with a decent amount of wall so I have enough space to fit in the turn. Although you generally don’t want a super steep section, it does need to be steep enough that you won’t bog when you stomp on the tail and engage the rail.

STEP 4 Speed is your friend and the faster you come at it while staying in control the better. One of the biggest keys to a good carve is a nice drawn-out bottom turn; if you push too hard, you’ll end up sending the kite forward too early which will kill your speed before you get to your top turn.

STEP 5 In fatter sections keep as much weight on your front foot as possible as this helps get more drive out of the board without relying on your kite power as much. I sometimes even shift my back foot between my bottom and top turn. This is because having it further forward draws out my bottom turn and gives me more drive through the board, then when I want to stomp on the top turn, I shift it back.

STEP 6 Next think about your body and hand positioning. I very rarely have two hands on the bar as this locks up your body movement and makes it hard to turn. A good practice is to bottom turn with your front hand on the bar as this allows you to lead with your front hand, then as you shift into the carve switch over to your back hand. This allows you to really open up the carve and extend it back into the wave as much as possible by twisting your shoulders where you want to go.

STEP 7 I like to pull in on the bar for extra power just as I lean into my top turn, then as I rotate around I shift to the power of the wave and depower the kite to extend the carve back as far as possible. Then it’s all about pulling back in for power, resetting the kite and getting ready for the next section…

Photo: Adrian Geislinger

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Levitaz R5 Race Series Foil

If you have your sights firmly set on Olympic success, then this high-spec no compromises racing-specific foil could be for you. Three years in the making, Levitaz have produced a thing of both elegance and technical wizardry.

YOU HAVE DESIGNED AND BUILT THE R5 TO MEET THE HIGHEST DEMANDS OF PROFESSIONAL KITEFOIL RACERS. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING THE FASTEST FOIL YOU CAN?

The R5 Race Series is the result of passion for performance and excellence by our craftsmen, designers, engineers and riders. We tested the prototype in every imaginable condition, did more redesign rounds than ever before, and have never worked closer with our team riders. It took us almost three years to develop a foil that comprises all our ideas and requirements.

For example, with the mast we aimed for high stiffness, low drag, and no ventilation – it is always a delicate balance between these interests. There are a variety of tools available to change characteristics like profile section, length, layup, type of fibres and many more. We made as many attempts as we felt necessary and finally produced a new Prepreg technique to have the maximum performance.

The result is the R5 Race Series consisting of an intelligent mix of materials and therefore characterized by an ideal balance, instant response, and maximum speed potential.

CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF THE MAST?

ing stiffness. We achieved a very high level for this, which gave us the possibility to make the longest masts in the whole fleet.

The R5V1 mast is designed with three different profile sections. The top part towards the board interface is manufactured for maximum stiffness to guarantee the best possible power transmission with the smallest possible diameter. The middle section is designed with a profile with low ventilation tendency, and the bottom part shows a low drag profile. The R5V1 mast is the design made for everyday conditions to offer maximum possible performance.

The R5V2 mast has a slightly thicker middle profile section which offers even more stiffness. It is made for very tough conditions in strong winds where extra stiffness is more important than lower drag.

WHY HAVE YOU USED A STAINLESS-STEEL BOX IN THE FUSELAGE?

Our stainless-steel box is unique in the industry and is the heart of the foil. Interfaces between components that can be disassembled are potential vulnerabilities in terms of stiffness, accuracy of fit, and durability. We are proud to say that we have set a new benchmark for these technical characteristics with the R5 Race Series. With our parent company Geislinger GmbH, we can use the best materials from the worlds of both metal and fiber composite manufacturing. In order to minimize the weaknesses of this mast-to-glider-interface it was the logical step towards hitting the products’ development targets.

Pivot point in the yaw axis:

This is the fixed point of the Fuselage and Rear wing.

By turning the bottom threaded pin inward, it pushes against the fuselage (green line) and changes the rear wing angle upward (+). By turning the upper threaded pin inward, it pushes against the fuselage (red line) and changes the rear wing angle downward (-)

For final fixation of angle use bottom threaded pin to counter and secure the adjustment.

TELL US ABOUT THE TRIM SYSTEM FOR THE STABILIZER. WHAT MADE YOU IMPLEMENT THIS?

The R5 must be built to win – that was our development approach. Various parameters play a role in winning. All the different conditions the hydrofoil is exposed to, like the type of water, be it fresh or salt, cold or warm, with all its combinations, strongly affect the performance of the foil. We investigated riders’ requirements and understood that it would be a gamechanger to enable the adjustment of the angle of incident (AOI) to the rider’s personal preferences and the particular conditions. Due to our innovative mechanism the desired AOI can be set without disassembling any part. Therefore, the R5 can be adapted to every detail like the rider´s weight, the board model with its scoop-rocker-line, foot strap and box position, as well as different riding conditions. The adjustment is that easy that this is possible even on the water between races.

THE R5-S VERSION OF THE FRONT WING LOOKS AN EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE SHAPE. WHAT USE IS IT DESIGNED FOR?

At first glance it might seem more aggressive but actually it is easier to control. The aspect ratio and wingspan are reduced for more control and less lift. Moreover, we gave the wing a bit of twist on the tip for more stability in the yaw axis. All that makes it a great wing for lighter riders and tough conditions.

HOW DOES THE R5 COMPARE TO YOUR BIONIC FOIL?

It is hard to compare because we made such a big step forward with the R5. Performance-wise the increase is indescribable as we went all out and designed from scratch. We did not want to limit ourselves to the connection system and therefore it is not compatible to our other hydrofoils. It is one of a kind!

WHICH BOARD IN YOUR LINE UP DO YOU RECOMMEND PAIRING THE R5 WITH?

We recommend our new RAZE4 which we will release this spring. It is designed with the perfect angle and fit of the tuttle box for the R5. But we do not want our customers to be limited by that. Therefore, we are circulating all necessary information to shape a perfect fitting board to the R5 Race Series.

WHICH OF YOUR TEAM RIDERS HAVE YOU USED FOR FEED BACK?

We mainly tested with Theo de Ramecourt, Florian Gruber and Jannis Maus. But we also gave early prototypes to other riders for a diverse feedback. In the early stages Guy and Steph Bridge were involved on some testing trips. But a big shout out goes to our team riders who provided us with an insane amount of valuable feedback. The close cooperation with them and our R&D team was definitely one of the key success factors for the R5 Race Series. ■

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North Pulse

North have just released the second iteration of their dynamic freestyle kite, the Pulse, which Bruna Kajiya will be using to catapult her to success when competitions resume.

HOW DOES THE PULSE FIT IN WITH THE REST OF YOUR LINE UP; WHAT SORT OF RIDER IS IT AIMED AT?

The Pulse is a freestyle bridled hybrid-C kite, which is the ultimate in performance freestyle,but will also boost and loop with ease. It is best aimed for riders who want to get into unhooked riding, but also riders who want to get into kite loops as well.

HOW HAS IT EVOLVED FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL?

The Pulse has a new and improved lightweight canopy and reinforcement material, making it lighter and smoother this year. It is faster turning and there is also an improvement in the pop and slack. It has a better catch after kite loops, making its overall performance a lot smoother and faster compared with the 2020 Pulse. This will also help speed up the progression for any rider.

WHICH BOARD FROM YOUR RANGE WOULD BE ITS PERFECT PARTNER?

The Focus board with its explosive pop and incredible control on take offs and landings would definitely be the board of choice to complement the Pulse best.

HOW WAS THE PULSE RECEIVED BY THE PRO TEAM? WILL ANY OF YOUR TEAM RIDERS BE USING IT IN COMPETITIONS ONCE THESE START BACK UP?

Marc Jacobs has put in a great number of hours testing in all conditions making sure it is ready for market, and the feedback from the pro team has been amazing. And yes, Bruna will definitely be pushing the Pulse to the max on the tour!

WHAT ELSE IS NEW FOR NORTH WITH THE LATEST LAUNCH?

Within the Freestyle collection, the new Fix boots feature a newly extended neoprene flex zone for a greater range of movement, and new streamlined buckles for easier one-handed adjustment. North Director of Engineering Hugh Pinfold said, “Most of our competitors are just using wakeboard boots – but ours are lower cut so you can get into a solid kite stance for going upwind. This, combined with improved flexibility in the mid-section of the boot, allows you to lean back more and drive upwind or engage a rail.” We have also a larger range of foils, foil boards and wings that has been added to the 2021 range, along with the Nova wing. So we’re pretty busy! ■

Photo: Samuel Tomé

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RRD Global Bar Y26

RRD have just released their updated Global bar in this, their 26th year. They gave us the lowdown on this luxurious and minimal kite interface.

THE GLOBAL BAR HAS A FOCUS ON SIMPLICITY. HOW HAVE YOU ACHIEVED THIS?

We have done 26 years of testing, making mistakes, and studying new materials, in conjunction with our accomplished designers, engineers and athletes. We have a team of athletes consolidated over the years and they all send us product feedback that we try to apply to modify the products. We have also always tested the products of our competitors and understood what is liable to break, what was essential and what could be removed.

HOW HAVE YOU IMPROVED THE GLOBAL BAR FOR Y26?

The bar has a new CNC polished aluminum middle bar connector. We’ve also improved the stainless steel depower rope cleat. And for this year we’ve color coded the lines – the back lines are black and the front lines are white. And don’t forget the art of the graphic team that adds cool stuff to the product to satisfy the eye’s need for beauty!

HOW HAVE YOU MINIMIZED FRICTION POINTS IN THE BAR SYSTEM?

All the components of the bar must flow as well as possible to ensure excellent operation over the years, otherwise it would be like a bearing that doesn’t work well. And all the components must slide in the best possible way to last as long as possible.

TELL US ABOUT THE QUICK RELEASE AND FLAGGING SYSTEM ON THE BAR.

The chicken loop safety release system has an oversized handle and increased sliding potential of all components to secure an effective functionality over the years. This safety release system has the least amount of steel components on the market, meaning a longer lifetime and less maintenance.

YOU’VE BEEN USING THE RIGID THREAD LINES FOR A WHILE NOW. TELL US ABOUT THEIR BENEFITS.

‘RIGID THREAD LINES’ have been used exclusively on the RRD bars with great success for over seven years. They ensure you don’t end up with stretched lines, so the trim of the kite doesn’t change. All our lines are produced and developed in Italy, with a worldwide patent granted only to RRD. The color coding makes clear which lines are directional or power lines and help beginners to always connect the lines correctly.

WHAT WIDTHS DOES THE BAR COME IN, AND DO YOU OFFER DIFFERENT LINE LENGTHS OR EXTENSIONS?

The bar will come in two sizes: 48cm for small kites and freestylers, and 52cm for bigger kites. All our kites are tested with the same length of lines – 23m. We only offer this size because we know it is the right one and where our kites perform the best.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN TESTING THE GLOBAL Y26?

We did the testing in different places like South Africa, Italy, Spain and Brazil, both on water and on snow. We tested it for almost one year before it came into production for our testers and team riders.

WHAT ELSE DOES RRD HAVE IN THE PIPELINE?

We are planning new kite designs and new materials… But these are top secret and I can only give you one hint: ‘super light and super stiff’! ■

Photos here: Thomas Burblies.

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CORE SLC

CORE have just released their first ever hydrofoil and foil board, the SLC, and we’re very excited to get our hands on it.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE THE TIME WAS RIGHT TO INTRODUCE A FOIL AND FOIL BOARD TO YOUR LINEUP?

As you know we have extremely high performance and quality standards for our products, and we wanted to ensure we met these standards in a CORE foil. We put a lot of accuracy into the development process, to offer our customers the best product possible. The product that we have worked for and aimed towards is now ready.

WHAT SORT OF RIDING ARE YOU PITCHING IT FOR?

The concept behind the SLC is to offer an intuitive foil that handles any conditions with stability, confidence, and precision. New foilers and intermediates will appreciate the SLC’s stability and gentle rise. Freestylers and wave foilers will value its trick-friendly light weight and predictable wing performance. I would say the SLC Series simplifies your search with a setup for 95% of foilers.

YOUR MASTERY OF COMPOSITES IS WELL KNOWN WITH THE CARVED BRAND. WHAT ELEMENTS OF YOUR TWINTIP MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE HAVE HELPED WITH BUILDING THE FOIL?

Yes, the Imperator reflects Carved’s decade-long carbon fiber experience. But looking at several generations of CORE twintip models, carbon fiber is in CORE’s DNA too – and it shows in the 1000 and 1250cm wings of the SLC.

CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE WINGS?

Both wings feature predictable handling in unpredictable underwater conditions with steady pitch and yaw stability. Much of the wing’s performance is due to the extensive wing development program, PU core, and unique lamination process that builds good flex into the wingtips.

WHAT MATERIAL HAVE YOU USED FOR THE STABILIZER AND MAST?

We continued with the more expensive PU and carbon build for the stabilizer to further reduce foil weight. However, carbon’s anisotropic properties make aluminum a better all-round choice for the mast. The mast weighs a little more than carbon would but it better resists bending and twisting. We use the more corrosion resistant 6063 aluminum for the fuselage and mast. And our extrusion process achieves more rigidity than most carbon masts, with very little weight difference. New foilers and wave riders should consider the 71cm mast whereas the 92cm mast is our allrounder.

CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BOARD?

The board’s responsiveness stems from its carbon and PVC sandwich construction that reduces its swing weight and provides superior stiffness. Standard, unidirectional, and biaxial carbon laminations that reinforce critical stress areas improve longevity and durability. The hull and deck shape is tuned to accelerate rider progression. The deck’s perpendicular orientation to the foil and the slightly concave surface provides a balanced and comfortable foil platform. Beveled rails and a double concave hull help you get back on track after touchdowns.

WHAT SIZES DOES THE BOARD COME IN AND WHAT DID YOUR TEAM RIDERS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT?

While the smallest board (115cm) is aimed at experts, the longer 125 and 135cm boards have much broader use. Expert foiler Steven Akkersdijk keeps saying the SLC makes experienced foilers even better…

DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO EXPAND YOUR FOIL RANGE?

You know how much we love these questions about our future program. Let’s put it this way – if we come to the conclusion that a broader foil range is needed and demanded, then we will certainly consider offering it to our customers. ■