TheKiteMag #27 - Español

£4.85 / $5.90 ISSUE #27

THE DREAM TICKET: Sam Light’s Perfect Trip

PARADISE ISLAND: Matchu Discovers Nirvana

ROBBY NAISH: Twenty Years Of Kiteboarding

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C OV E R : Sometimes you look down the line of a solid wave, see that it’s probably going to close out, and do the right thing and eject out the back. Not if you’re Ralph ‘balls of steel’ Boelen. He sees the chance to get one last hit in and then face the consequences…

H E R E: When this shot landed with the team here, we all took a moment to just stop. And look. We suggest you do the same.

LO C AT I O N : Rohrspitz, Bodensee, Austria P H OTO : Dietmar Stiplovsek

P H OTO : Svetlana Romantsova

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T H E F E AT U R E S 82 // Paradise Island If you want to kite with stingrays in turquoise perfection and catch your own sashimi for dinner, then this probably is paradise island… If you have any issues with riding double overhead waves in inch-deep water on a notoriously sharky offshore reef, then it might not be…

92 // The Dream Trip More annoyingly perfect kitesurfing trips that you will probably never get to experience – sorry about that… This time Sam Light heads off on a 95 foot catamaran exploring the area around Union Island. Suffice to say, life doesn’t get a whole lot better.

102 // The Robby Naish Interview Naish Kiteboarding celebrates 20 years in business this year.

We fired off some questions to the man himself and were stoked to get a few thousand very thoughtful words back. Essential reading whether you’ve been kiting for 20 years or 20 months…

112 // Faroe Islands: A place of hidden lakes and weird thermals Graham Howes leads a hardy crew into the great unknown of the Faroe Islands. These guys are more used to a spot of sunshine and the (relatively) predictable winds of Cape Town – so how did they fare in this very, very different environment?

120 // Skrova: The Island of Opportunities Kari Schibevaag digs out her ‘unchartered territory’ map and does it again, turning up an idyllic island with perfect, unridden spots at every turn. The only problem as ever: it’s a little bit chilly…

THE REGULARS 35 // Tangled Lines with Liam Whaley 39 // Reflections with Ben Gillespie 40 // On the List… Salinas del Rey, Colombia 42 // I’m On It… Joshua Emanuel 44 // My Beach… Aaron Hadlow 60 // Gallery… Triple-S 2018 126 // Technique with Lucas Arsenault,

Camille Delannoy & Steven Akkersdijk 148 // Tell Me About It 2019 Special…

Cabrinha, RRD, Slingshot & Naish 166 // Tested 176 // Kite Hacks… Self-launching and landing 180 // Wrapping up… Jalou Langeree

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quellos lectores fieles a esta publicación me habréis visto escribir repetidamente sobre lo versátil que es nuestro deporte y sobre cómo hay muy pocos deportes (o casi ninguno) en los que puedes hacer tanto con una sola pieza de equipamiento deportivo. No me voy a explayar pero, entre otras cosas puedes; saltar muy alto, coger cientos de olas, encontrar spots vírgenes en la nieve, hacer rotaciones triples en las olas, quitarte la tabla de los pies y colgarse boca abajo por encima del océano, navegar casi levitando por encima del agua en 40 nudos de viento, etc. Sí, puedes hacer un montón de cosas y, podemos hacerlo todo con un solo kite… Lo cual mola un montón.

Las ventajas de practicar nuestro deporte también tienen su parte negativa… Si tienes un deporte relativamente popular en el que hay un montón de maneras diferentes de practicarlo, diluyes la cantidad de gente que se enfoca en un solo elemento.

El kite no es surf o bici de montaña en cuanto a números de participación y, si divides el número de participantes entre todas las disciplinas, el número disminuye. Esto es genial si lo que no quieres es compartir tu lugar favorito del spot con un montón de otros riders y tener el pico de las olas para tí solo. Pero si quieres organizar una competición y quieres que el máximo número de personas estén interesadas, es una historia diferente. Si TODOS los kiters se metieran a competir en el tour de olas y strapless de la GKA o en la Triple S, los números del livestream serían de oro. ¿100.000 - 200.000 visitas? Esto sería lo ideal pero, la realidad es que el kite es algo más parecido a tener 6 deportes diferentes. Así que, en realidad, si consigues que 5 o 10.000 personas estén siguiendo tu evento, esto ya está bastante bien.

Esta es la razón por la que los numerosos tours a lo largo de los años lo han tenido tan complicado. Sin los números, no se puede pedir dinero y, sin dinero, no hay premios en metálico a los competidores y no se puede ofrecer un medio de vida decente a los competidores. ¿Por qué me estoy enfocando en esto? Bueno, cuando empecé a escribir esto, el tour de freestyle WKL no tenía fechas confirmadas para este año aunque el año incluso habiendo organizado muy buenos eventos en los dos últimos años.

Igual con el tour de olas, la GKA (principalmente una organización sin beneficios de marcas de la industria del kite)

decidió poner cartas en el asunto y rellenar el hueco que había quedado vacío asegurando eventos para los riders. Y es así como nace el “GKA Air Games”. Es un intento de conectar todas las diferentes disciplinas del freestyle, así como ofrecer un espectáculo más fácil de ver para el público. Los Air Games juzgan a los riders en cuanto a técnicos pases de barra (maniobras que han estado en el foco de la competición en los últimos diez años), grandes saltos con kiteloops y saltos “old school” quitándose la tabla en el aire y otro tipo de maniobras más “retro” que ayudan a los riders a ganar puntos… Los Air Games han llevado a cabo 2 eventos y yo tuve la oportunidad de estar para la final del evento en Tarifa. Así que, ¿cuál es mi opinión? Bueno, me encantó.

Fue un poco revoltoso el hecho de que los riders tuvieran que cambiar de botas a straps en medio de la manga? Bueno, un poco. ¿Tenías idea de qué es lo que buscaban los jueces? En realidad no. ¿Los espectadores en la playa estaban alucinando? Sí.

La combinación de la variedad de movimientos y, el hecho de que los riders estaban realmente saliendo al agua a darlo todo hizo del evento un gran espectáculo. Un segundo ves un impresionante doble pase de barra, siguiente segundo un “board off” (quitarse la tabla de los pies en el aire) enorme y después un Boogie loop. Fue verdaderamente impresionante ver lo versátiles que son los riders y, no te hacía falta ningún tipo de conocimiento técnico para entenderlo. Simplemente molaba verlo. Podríamos esperar que, muchos de los riders que han pasado los últimos años de su vida enfocados en una sola disciplina, pudieran estar un poco frustrados en ahora tener que trabajar en un “superman board off” y, es completamente entendible, es un poco remezclado y nadie lo niega pero, lo cierto es que esta nueva disciplina está consiguiendo un tour competitivo que le da a los riders jóvenes (que están en peligro de convertirse en una generación perdida) la oportunidad de enseñar su talento y esto, desde luego, es bueno.

Así que toca salir ahí afuera, darlo todo y ver qué pasa.

Disfruta del número, Alex

RIGHT: CrazyFly’s Posito Martinez is a man who has truly shone under the new format. He has been a true crowd-pleaser, but has also been exhibiting the technical skills you need to be a judge-pleaser as well…

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PHOTO: Toby Bromwich / GKA

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THE TEAM: Editor: Alex Hapgood (editor@thekitemag.com) Sub editor: Cai Waggett Art Director: Louise Kelly Assistant Art Director: Jody Smith CONTRIBUTORS: Vincent Bergeron, Toby Bromwich, Svetlana Romantsova, Samuel Cardenas, Phil Sobalev , Milha Cerpes, Laci Kobulsy, Gregor John, Benni Geislinger, Andre Magarao, Anna Kuzmina, Dietmar Stiplovsek, Ramon Schoenmaker, Craig Kolesky, Nate Appel, Frankie Bees, Craig Howes, Christian Rosenbrock, James Boulding.

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RIDER: AIRTON COZZOLINO LOCATION: PONTA PRETA, CAPE VERDE Photo: Milha Cerpes MC: I mostly shoot video, but on this day I didn’t have my tripod with me, so I decided to take some photos. Usually the sunsets aren’t that beautiful at Ponta Preta, but I was lucky enough to be there on that day when everything came together with this beautiful sunset, nice swell and Airton putting on a show.

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RIDER: BRANDON SCHEID LOCATION: LA VENTANA Photo: Vincent Bergeron BS: Deep down near the tip of Baja lies the sleepy town of La Ventana. Now known for its consistent winds in the winter months, it has slowly become a favorite destination for west coast kiteboarders looking for a warm place to spend the winter. For me it has always been an amazing place to spend time on the water with friends. The lifestyle is like no other, and the food... Can you imagine kilos of Al Pastor? This year there was a crew that decided to make a small park in the salt lagoon just out of town and it made for an even more amazing trip. Now we had a private kicker and slider, as well as a small flatwater lagoon for freestyle. It was the ideal setup for days on end of amazing sessions, and I’ll definitely be returning this winter for a bit more of the Baja lifestyle!

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RIDER: MITU MONTEIRO LOCATION: TARIFA Photo: Samuel Cardenas TKM: F-ONE unleashed a limited number of the new Bandit V12 early before the main batch hits the shops in a few weeks. The eagle-eyed may have spotted that Mitu was riding one at the GKA event in Tarifa and it seemed to work pretty well for him... Here he is practicing his winning smile before the event‌

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RIDER: JAMES BOULDING LOCATION: MAUI Photo: Phil Sobalev JB: Maui is the birthplace and heartbeat of the Cabrinha brand. With so much wind and waves it really is one of the finest places to be where ideas are hatched and innovation and testing is top of the list. The new Moto kite releases for 2019 and this was the first time I rode it. The wind was a bit slow this winter but sure enough as soon as the trades kicked in the North Shore lit up and we were treated to some strong wind for this year’s shoot. The ease of use of this kite is just insane, it’s crazy to see how far the sport has come, since the old days where these same famous spots were the breeding ground for kite innovation some 20 years ago.

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RIDERS: FLORIAN GRUBER, ADRIAN GEISLINGER LOCATION: PUERTO RICO Photo: Benni Geislinger AG: Foiling with your friends in turquoise water far away from crowds seemed like the perfect spot for us to shoot the new Levitaz products. The locals call the small sandbank in the middle of the Caribbean sea ‘paradise island’ and looking at this it’s hard not to agree with them…

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RIDER: JULIEN LELEU LOCATION: CARIBBEAN Photo: RRD International JL: I have traveled to lots of different kitesurf destinations in my life, but this trip was really special and a mind blowing experience for me. The raw beauty of the island combined with the great vibes from everyone really blew me away...

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RIDER: BEN WILSON LOCATION: CLOUD BREAK Photo: Joli BW: Even up to the day of this swell the forecast looked like torrential rain and howling winds. In the morning we headed up before first light, even though the swell wasn’t supposed to fill in until the afternoon. But even at dawn we could see it was already huge and each set got bigger as the day went on. There weren’t many surfers in the water so I came in and set up my kite. The wind was light – not something that works very well for big waves and can be a recipe for total disaster – and to make things worse, it was pretty much straight offshore, another bad combination which meant the wind was pulling me one way and the wave the other. I caught a few waves but it was scary; once you were on you were fully committed and felt really out of control. I’d hold on and hold on and then kind of explode and get ripped out the back. On one wave I ended up getting smashed and sling-shotted out the back of the wave, losing my board in the washing machine on the inside. In the end I had a few waves and was happy with that, but realistically it just wasn’t a kite day. Years ago I probably would have pushed the limits, kept forcing it and ended up in trouble. These days I’m happy to paddle or tow surf or kite so I just let the conditions dictate what’s best. For the rest of the day the wind never really came up. There were 30-50 guys paddle-surfing and 3-5 tow teams with nearly every wave getting ridden – a great thing. It was amazing sitting back and watching the day unfold and soaking up the energy in the water. There was an incredible safety crew in place so there was a great feeling of safety and camaraderie.

Without doubt a day I’ll never forget.

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RIDER: DYLAN VAN DER MEIJ LOCATION: LA VENTANA, MEXICO Photo: Gregor John GJ: La Ventana, in the middle of nowhere in the Mexican desert.

In this wild area between cactus fields and hungry vultures, there is a small lagoon called ‘Chocolate Lake’ where Dylan van der Meij uses the last breeze of thermal winds to throw some Back Mobes in the butter flat water.

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RIDER: POSITO MARTINEZ LOCATION: GREECE Photo: Andre Magarao TKM: I’m ashamed to say that we had never featured Posito in the magazine until this issue – sometimes you have to storm onto a couple of podiums in the GKA Air Games to make an impact I guess. You may have spotted him a few pages back, and here he is making a second appearance. We’re making up for lost time I guess…

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RIDER: ROB KIDNIE LOCATION: INDONESIA Photo: Anna Kuzmina RK: I don’t know about you guys, but this is what my dreams are made of. Abandoned reef breaks, overpowered with short lines. Could have been bigger surf I guess, but beggars can’t be choosers…

YEOW!

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RIDER: MAXI GOMEZ LOCATION: TARIFA, SPAIN Photo: Samuel Cardenas TKM: Shooting your new lineup can be a tricky business. You don’t want shots of your spanking new kites and boards sneaking onto any of those pesky forums and taking the ‘big bang’ out of your big launch. A lot of the time brands head to far flung lands to escape prying eyes, and some choose to risk it and go for the ‘hiding in plain sight’ option, as with Nobile here who tucked themselves away in Tarifa and hoped no one would spot them when they shot their all-new Cosmic Collection.

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Liam Whaley has been flagged up as ‘one to watch’ since he was barely a teenager. And he hasn’t disappointed. Already a Freestyle World Champion, he’s now making the transition into the brave new world of the GKA Air Games…

Photos: Samuel Cardenas (unless stated) 35

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Liam

KEVIN LANGEREE Q | If you had one more session to go, where would it be, what conditions would you want, and who would you be riding with?

I think a nice downwinder to Cauipe lagoon hitting the kickers and then a sunset sesh in the flats. Conditions would be powered on my 11m, around 22 knots, and I’d be riding with all of my best buddies from Tarifa.

TKM Q | You have grown up under the kiteboarding spotlight since a young age, have you felt the pressure to perform?

I’ve never felt that pressured by other people just because the pressure I put on myself is far greater. I can’t stand losing and competitively that is a good thing.

LEWIS CRATHERN Q | What do you think of the new format on the GKA Air Games tour? It’s early days but anything you would change now?

It’s not my favorite format but I do think it is spectacular to watch if you don’t know that much about kiteboarding. What I would change is to adapt the format to the conditions. In the first event we had to do Big Air and board offs in 13 knots and that’s pretty shit. So it should be Big Air oriented with strong wind, and freestyle oriented with medium to light winds.

JESSE RICHMAN Q | What’s the best thing you hope to come out of your recent injury?

Hopefully the titanium in my bone makes me super strong, ha! Honestly I think every injury you go through makes you mentally stronger. I’m so used to being active 24/7 and now I’m literally not moving. It forces me to be patient, bottle up all my frustration and energy, and use it positively when I’m back on the water.

TOM BRIDGE Q | Where do you see the sport in five years’ time?

Quadruple flips or quadruple passes?

I think why not a combination of both? The sport is just at its beginning. Competition tricks are always going to be a bit less creative just because people know which tricks score best so they will only train for those. So it’s up to free riders to innovate, get creative, take tricks from other sports and land tricks that haven’t been done before.

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Liam and the brave new world of GKA Air Games Photo: Toby Bromwich / GKA

LASSE WALKER Q | As you’ve been competing in the freestyle tour for a few years now, how was it competing in the King of the Air and now the GKA Big Air? It’s definitely something fresh and exciting. I never imagined myself doing different disciplines other than freestyle but it’s something that challenges me and that’s motivating. Hopefully we keep progressing and this discipline keeps evolving because it’s definitely one of the most spectacular ones.

TKM Q | Is anywhere better than home? Can you describe your perfect tarifa day?

Nowhere is better – I wouldn’t live anywhere else! Perfect day would be to wake up and have a big breakfast, then gym for a couple hours, or maybe a different sport like tennis. Next up would be lunch, then a siesta, then kite all afternoon in the lagoon with my mates. Then sunset in Tumbao with friends and some beers, finishing off with a late dinner around 11.30 in town (some tapas), then a good party with lots of beautiful women!

KARI SCHIBEVAAG Q | What would be your worst conditions for a session and where is the worst place you have competed?

Worst conditions would be gusty, strong and choppy. And the worst place I ever competed is Sotavento in Fuerteventura or Leucate in France.

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JEROME CLOETENS Q | Is it hard for you being injured and still losing at FIFA on the PS4?

Haha! Since I am a cripple I am the king of FIFA my friend.

PAUL SERIN Q | As we’re teammates now, I’m starting to know you a little more and what I’ve noticed is that you always want to win no matter what you’re doing, playing cards, playing tennis, everything. So, from where does this hunger to win come from?

I guess it comes from starting different sports from a very young age. From ages 7-12 I wanted to be a pro skater and I would always skate with older kids and try to be better than them. I always like a challenge. For me, competing against someone that I know I’m going to beat is boring. I’d rather lose 1000 times against someone better and learn.

CHRISTOPHE TACK Q | Do you worry that making competitions more of a ‘show’ will stop the sport progressing and taking us through to the next level?

Sometimes I do. I don’t think anyone apart from the riders should dictate in which direction the sport should go. On the other hand I think it’s important for our sport to be as spectacular as possible because right now we need events, sponsors and people on the beach cheering or we’re doomed…

Ben Gillespie I love eyeing up a long range forecast and the anticipation of great conditions. It tends to go something a little like this: I’ll spend the week checking my phone, messaging fellow searchers, and making sure it’s still on. Ideally conditions dictate that we have to be up before dawn so I can complain about my upcoming early start to everyone at work the day before, and only take a half day off. The night before, I struggle to sleep because I can hear the wind picking up as forecast, and as the dawn approaches I roll out of bed. I send a couple of bleary eyed selfies to the crew, before noticing and immediately dismissing the fact that the rain is starting to fall.

I drive through what is now sideways rain to meet the rest of the committed crew at a service station en route. We transfer the gear to one vehicle, steadfastly ignoring the fact that conditions have turned to shit, and expressing relentless enthusiasm for what now looks likely to be a wash out. Once we’re in the van the mood calms. Anxious quiet descends, and for the next hour or so conditions deteriorate further.

It’s hailing now and traffic is building as people slow down to handle the weather. Someone makes a reference to the apocalypse. We all mutter about how we love a storm session. Look at those mugs going to work. More quiet. Ten minutes from the beach and someone offers up their latest “pump up playlist”, and despite a noticeable lack of enthusiasm nobody actually objects.

As the music starts, a gap in the clouds starts to open. We’re still not talking but now everyone is looking in the same direction. The sound of rain on the windscreen starts to slow, and the driver turns the wipers down with a quick glance at us. There are a few smirks, but nobody makes eye contact.

By the time we round the bend that finally reveals the ocean, there are just a few drops of water on the windscreen. The sky is changing from grey to blue over the beach, and lines of swell turn to swathes of white water near the shore. There are white caps everywhere. I realize I’ve been holding my breath and let it out with a soft “yiiiiieewwww”.

It. Is. On! Selfie for the boys stuck in the office? No question. The van stops, and within seconds we’re hanging out of wetsuits and loaded with gear.

There’s a cry for wax, cut off with a confirmation before it’s finished, and we’re halfway to the beach.

What happens after that is almost immaterial. The emotional bit has already happened. The only thing left is to spend the next few hours earning that post session beer and a weeks’ worth of aches and pains, or as I like to call it, the afterglow...

Here's Sven Luijbe probably deciding it was worth the effort as the sun slips down...

Photo: Ramon Schoenmaker

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TheKiteMag.com rainforest and some of the world’s best coffee… Colombia is famous for a few things, but kiting?!

While the adventurous amongst you might have occasionally heard of a couple of flat water spots in Colombia, there’s one thing you probably don’t know: there are waves too. I’m talking about a spot called Salinas del Rey, located in the small fishing village of Santa Veronica on Colombia’s Caribbean coastline, about equidistant between the bustling cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla. Those who know Colombia well say Salinas del Rey is in fact the country’s best wave kite spot. Depending on the swell, the waves are between three and eight feet (right handers) and are glassy and super smooth. Salinas lies at the center of a large bay and since there is no reef, the spot is also completely safe and the perfect place for experienced wave hounds as well as those looking to take the first steps on their wave riding journey…

On top of that, it’s always windy. And when I say ‘always’ I mean always, every single day between December and May when the trade winds blow. The predominantly NE wind, also called “el ventilador” (the fan) by the local kitesurf community, truly lives up to its name: it turns on in the morning and literally blows throughout the entire day without stopping. Average wind speed is around 20-25 knots, however there are often days around 30 knots. The best months for waves are February and March.

The crowd that frequents Salinas is laid back and friendly (show-offs are in the wrong place here) and consists of locals from the region, some Europeans and quite a few French Canadians, who escape the freezing temperatures back home to shred the warm Colombian waters. Quite a few people however means only about 10 kiters in the water at once max, so don’t worry about queuing up for waves or rigging space on the beach. On the contrary, on some days you’ll wish there was someone to help you land your kite…

Don’t expect to find Caribbean style turquoise water and white sand at Salinas (for this you need to head to the beautiful San Andres Island), but why would you care what color the sand is anyway if you get to kite in strong consistent wind and clean waves every day?

Colorful carnival, mesmerizing national parks, the Amazon

ON THE LIST | SALINAS DEL REY – COLUMBIA

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IN THE BAG: Your smaller kites, and if you have space for one board only make it the surfboard.

STAYING THERE: There are two kite hostels in SV that specifically cater to kite surfers and windsurfers (Santa Veronica Kite Club and Casa Agua Vela). Airbnb is another option but this means you’ll need to hire a car to get to the spot (very expensive in Colombia) or get around by tuk-tuk.

GETTING THERE: Fly into either Cartagena (CTG) or Barranquilla (BAQ) from where you can catch a bus (cheap and safe) to Santa Veronica. If public transport is not your thing, use the pick-up service provided by the two existing kite hostels in SV (handy if you have your whole quiver).

LEAST LIKELY TO HEAR: Where is the wind?

MOST LIKELY TO HEAR: I need a rest day.

BEER: €0.90 (local) €1.70 (imported).

RUBBER: Leave it at home (water is around 26C average). Bring rashies and lots of sunscreen instead.

NOT IN THE BAG: Your foil or fancy clothes.

Add to that tons of archaeological and cultural sites, the bustling city of Bogota, the beautiful hillside metropolis Medellín and the Colonial charm of Cartagena’s old town, there is so much to see that it would take a lot more than one holiday to discover all Colombia has to offer. So go ahead and book your trip to Colombia.

(And don’t bother checking the forecast – it’s going to be windy…)

Although Colombia isn’t exactly around the corner from Europe, it’s well worth the trip, especially if you’re sick of the Dakhlas, Le Mornes and Cape Towns, and want to explore something different.

But of course there’s so much more to do than kite. Colombia is huge and offers incredibly diverse landscapes, ranging from pristine Caribbean coast, green hilltops and tropical grasslands, through to snowcapped peaks. It is a true paradise for outdoor adventurers.

board: CORE Choice 3 | Dimensions: 139 x 42 | Weight: 95kg | Height: 187cm

When it comes to going BIG then there are a handful of guys who seem to have the magic touch that can send them those extra few meters. One of them is Joshua Emanuel who has the magic touch, but what about his magic board?

The Choice to me is the all-in-one freestyle board and has come along really well. It’s for sure my go to board that I know performs really well in all conditions for all my riding. It’s got really good flex and the channels are set in the sweet spot. It’s super reliable, and durable at the same time. For me this board can be used for anything and everything, as it’s super easy to ride and even when your level of riding advances, the board is ready for it all.

For the last two years I have been working closely with Sebastian Witzleben – head of testing at CORE – in developing this board into the machine it is. Testing new boards is always fun as is learning about the knowledge it takes to create something that will make a difference in the market.

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The Choice 3 comes with a CNC milled paulownia and Cartan carbon sandwich construction. A stretched outline and wide tips add more pop and make jumping more powerful. The board features a progressive freestyle rocker to enable you to load your rail like crazy.

For V3 the base has been completely revised, there are more progressive tip channels and the remaining channels have been accentuated which gives you an extreme grip, even without fins.

Each board size has an individual flex pattern to lock in the best performance possible. Without giving away secrets, good flex and bad flex is managed by varying the lamination thicknesses during production. A super hard landing for example can create a negative rocker between your feet. The design team worked hard to eliminate bad flex, so those rock hard landings are easier to stick.

The Choice 3 features a variable thickness so from around 10mm rails near the center of the board that reduces to 3mm at the tips for better control and more pop.

I usually ride the Choice 3 with the 42mm G10 pro fins – a perfect balance between resistance when you need it and the looseness you look for in a freestyle board. And I ride the Union Pro 2 pads and straps.

We run tests in two very different riding environments – first we test in Cape Town which to me are the perfect riding conditions. Then we also do some testing in Zandvoort in The Netherlands, where the conditions are a lot more tough, bouncy and unpredictable. This enables us to get the perfect combination of conditions and knowledge to feed into the design of this board.

For me some of the most important parts for a board in Big Air riding would be ensuring the board has got good grip allowing me to hold loads of power especially when you’re way overpowered.

For the board to be able to cut through choppy conditions with ease to ensure you can keep your speed and be able to send it big. I also really like a board that’s not too heavy and this year the Choice has come in a bit lighter which will help in gaining a bit more height in your jumps.

The Choice has developed a lot since the first version, the progressive freestyle rocker, outline and tips and above all the hull, now featuring a V-shaped keel, and deep multi-channels have added a lot more functionality and comfort to my riding.

Daniel Borchert [CORE’s leading twintip designer] and the other designers at CORE have learned a lot from Bernie Hiss who has been shaping boards since his early windsurf career and manufacturing Carved boards since 1999. Last year they took me through the Carved production, with its unique vacuum injection and the Carved boards lamination process. I trust their expertize and thirst for new techniques and technologies.

I absolutely love the graphics on the new board and am super stoked on the outcome. I had a few chats with the team about them and really think they did a great job here as well. However, as important as the graphics of a board are, when it looks as good as it rides you know you have found the perfect board.

The Choice 3 is the perfect board for all riders who want to practice every discipline with their twintip. You can go really big, smash some hooked and unhooked freestyle tricks, or just cruise around. My South African and KOTA mate Ross Dillon is riding it, as well as German freestyle champion Sabrina Lutz and Big Air freak Angely Buillot.

With the Choice I’ve been riding both the XR and the GTS a lot. My WOO Big Air record of 28.9 meters I set with the XR5, as it’s CORE’s Big Air weapon. For megaloops I prefer the GTS5, but I wouldn’t mind setting another Big Air record on the GTS5 as well!

I’M ON IT - JOSHUA EMANUEL

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KITE BEACH, CAPE TOWN

By Aaron hadlow

TheKiteMag.com

WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST RECOLLECTIONS OF THE BEACH?

2001 I had just turned 13, there was no main spot along the seafront so we would generally end up outside our apartment at the time, which funnily enough is still the go-to place for me now. I remember getting my Wipika kite ready and waiting for the wind to pick up. I remember the crisp light on the bright sand and dark blue ocean, probably as it was so new to me back then. It was empty back then with only a few kites.

CAN YOU REMEMBER ANY OF YOUR FIRST SESSIONS?

I was so hooked on the sport and I was learning so much every session. I would go out first then my dad would take our kite once the wind really picked up. I remember having a 6.4m ‘projected area’ kite but that was at least an eight meter nowadays.

Knowing the wind now, I can’t believe I used to hold that down, I was still small and I remember going out on a huge wave day, they felt massive. I would just jump them all on the way out and then hug behind one on the way in. Now they are the ones I dream of launching off !

WHO ELSE DID YOU RIDE THERE WITH?

I would ride with my dad… we’d actually trade kites. We also had a good UK crew out there, with Jason Furness who would go on to become my manager, Rob Claisse, who featured me in one of the first DVDs, Chris Bull, who now lives down the road from me. Greg, who was a local grom at the time.

We had some of the best sessions back then and we ended up at many international comps together.

They were great times.

45

ABOVE: The view from the sea...

INSET: The view from land...

RIGHT: Yup, it's windy...

TheKiteMag.com

CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE TYPICAL CONDITIONS - WHAT IS IT LIKE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND HOW DOES IT CHANGE THROUGH THE DAY?

The morning light is amazing but it would typically be still or a decent strength. Either way the wind will either build or ease off to a moderate breeze before kicking in full strength. As the sun comes overhead the deep blue water brightens up and the wind fills in. The conditions continue to harshen with stronger, gustier wind as the sun intensifies and drops right in front of you making it difficult to see when riding out. Sunsets are amazing, and the 30 minutes after the sun has dropped has given me some of my best sessions and memories.

HAS THE SET UP AT THE BEACH CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

It has stayed basically the same in terms of the beach and coastline on that stretch of coast. The surrounding area has changed dramatically though – so many new buildings, shopping centers and even suburbs. It is massively over populated. The water is also congested and it is a true hot spot for kiteboarders.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT DAY THERE?

Usually I will be really active there, so a gym session to start the day, then there is loads of great food options so it’s easy to meet up with the crew, hopefully the wind will be looking good, maybe have a wave kicker session or wait until the evening when the wind is strongest for a big kite loop session. If the wind is lighter, you can move spots, play golf, head into the city, surf. I guess there is no perfect day – you need a week!

TALK US THROUGH ONE SESSION THAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU THERE?

I have had so many throughout the years. Nowadays we are usually looking for the biggest waves with the strongest wind to go as high and as big as possible. Last season I headed out to Cape Point with Ruben where the swell was massive, the wind wasn’t quite what we hoped, but still decent, it was so good to ride these mega conditions with such consequence and see each other land some big moves.

WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT AFTER A MEGA SESSION?

There are a few regulars we go to, but probably Col’cacchio is the stand out.

DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD HAVE GOT TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY IF THAT HADN'T BEEN SUCH A FAMILIAR SPOT?

I owe a lot to riding in this area. The tough conditions molded and prepared me for so many years of hard conditions on tour. It allowed me to practice hard tricks and take them to any other conditions around the world.

It also became natural to kite in such strong wind and set me up to be competitive in Big Air events like KOTA.

M Y B E AC H : K I T E B E AC H , C A P E TOW N

47

One of Nick’s less risky jumps...

obs c a J k c Ni

en

When it comes to kitesurfers who cross over and make headlines outside of the sport, there is one guy whose antics in terms of jumping off increasingly eye-catching obstacles regularly brings our sport to the attention of the mainstream media… Anja Fuchs sat down with the oneand-only Nick Jacobsen to explore the mindset behind the mega-stunts.

Growing up were you always into the crazy and extreme stuff?

Yes, besides kiteboarding I used to skateboard and wakeboard, waterski, and just do everything active I could get my hands on. But mainly it was skateboarding – I started at a very young age and I still do it. Although nowadays I take it very easy because the risk of getting injured is very high with a skateboard. To be honest, what I do now with a kite doesn’t feel that crazy for me – it’s more about creating an experience – I want to see how far I can take the kite and myself. It might look super crazy to others but to be honest, for me, it’s not so much. In terms of my projects and their execution I am very focused.

Whether you find it crazy or not depends on how you look at it, how your personality is, and what kind of sports you do yourself. But why do I do them? To be honest they are just fun for me. Also, I get bored very easily and so I always have to find something new!

TheKiteMag.com

Before, during and after the Burj Al Arab jump...

How do you prepare to begin planning stunts, such as jumping from the Burj Al Arab?

Well, for a jump like the one from the Burj you have to do a lot of research. For this project I really analyzed everything down to the smallest aspect of the jump. It really helped me to create a visual plan of the whole procedure. And luckily I had many people and friends who helped me and who are experts in wind statistics, analytics and so on – there was so much research which is necessary to make the jump happen. Like computer programs to analyze how different wind directions act around the building. At least 20 to 30 people were involved in the project. From marketing to permission holders, the hotel... it was a massive crew. So it’s not just me going on top of the Burj, pumping my kite and saying, ‘Here we go!’

getting used to new processes takes time. I stay to what I’m used to and what works for me – whether it’s food or kite equipment. For example, at an event like the King of the Air, it’s a good choice to take the material you’re used to – you know that it works for you and that makes you confident. It’s super important to walk through all the gear before you do something special (and of course also for ‘normal’ sessions as well). But especially before a huge project, I have to make sure that everything works perfectly. Which starts with the smallest things, and ensuring that everything in my daily routine runs smoothly. One time my shaver didn’t work and I was like ‘Oh, is that a sign now?!’. So I always do things in the same way – like how I tie my laces, put my shirt on, and keeping an eye on having enough battery on my phone (I always put my charger on top of my stuff in the bags so that I can grab it easily). Then I really pay attention to those routines and to being well organized. I think that if everything runs fluidly in your life then you don’t have to think about the details and can focus on the bigger things. It keeps my mind free so that I can focus more on other things like my projects.

i’m super excited about a new project

And how did you personally train for the jump?

In terms of training you can’t really train for a jump like this. I mean, I always used to enjoy jumping from the tops of dunes with my kite and that kind of thing. But when you’re in the air for such a long time the kite reacts in a very different way – so you really have to know what you do! Everything can happen. So I wouldn’t recommend anyone doing the same... But if you plan such actions then you really have to train for it and you have to collect a lot of experience.

Nevertheless a project like this contains massive risks. At the end we had so many people telling us not to do it and it was not easy to get the permission. At this point it already felt more like a battle! But I told myself: I need to do this now. Then I was on top of the building with my 14m Switchblade and I did it. It wasn’t as I expected it to be. We didn’t have the wind we wanted, it was only about 10 knots, barely enough to keep the kite in the air and not so stable (so I needed to jump quickly cause otherwise the kite might have stalled). And we also had a very small time window and many restrictions. We were happy with the outcome but with more time maybe it would have been better in terms of the footage we got from the jump.

Before you start into the execution of such a project do you have a special morning routine or anything to get more focused?

I don’t have any particular routine for those days. I believe that too many changes, especially on such days, are not good for me because

Do you do anything else to help focus your mind?

I started to do a bunch of yoga and breathing meditation. I travel a lot and with all the different time zones and jetlag stuff it can be hard to fall asleep sometimes... Then you have to get up early the next morning so it’s actually quite nice to do those exercises. And I experienced that they really help me. To be honest – I used to believe that those types of methods don’t work, but then I tried them for fun I found that they really worked for me and they are even pretty cool.

Do you think that you’ll ever reach a point where you feel like, ‘So now this was my last project, it can’t get bigger or better’?

I don’t think so. It might be that it gets down to a change of scale.

Like now if they would ask me if I would jump from the Burj again I’d probably do it. If they’d ask me in 20 years then probably not, I guess. So I think for now I’ll keep on doing what I am doing. I learned so much from my previous projects and I really learned a lot from the Burj jump. There’s something happening next year and I’m already super excited about this new project...

49

You recently injured your ankle – how did that come about?

On this day it was me and Graham and two other friends heading up the west coast of Cape Town. Everything was actually pretty mellow but sometimes things don’t run as you want them to… And it really shocked me that it happened because I was never seriously injured before. I broke my foot a few years ago but it was only the bone and at that time resulted in a short break of two months.

But this time everything was affected: the ankle, the ligaments... But back to how it happened – well everything was running pretty smooth before and I guess maybe I was a little bit too chilled. So I was going bigger and bigger and then finally I had a bad landing. It felt like a bomb exploded in my ankle. I could feel it straight away and I think I even heard it – although I don’t know if it was that or the board which broke as well. I immediately knew my ankle was destroyed, even while my kite was still in the air and I was lying in the cold water.

Then I went to the beach and couldn’t walk. All this happened only 11 days before the KOTA. Of course that was a bummer! Although when I look back at it now I wouldn’t change anything. What happened, happened. And I learned a lot from it. You can train a lot but you simply can’t prevent injuries – they happen to even the best trained and healthiest guys...

So what was the hardest thing after the injury?

To be honest it was actually pretty easy for me. You can pursue two directions, you have the choice.

On the one side you can be super angry and hate everything in the world. On the other side you can choose a mindset more like ‘it might be good for focusing on something else’. And it definitely was – incidents like this change something inside you. You can use the time to start a new project or to focus on different things in my life.

So if you see it from this perspective it was really good that I broke my ankle (I know this sounds crazy). Of course I would have loved to kite more. But I’m 30 now, so my mindset is a little bit different than it was at 18. I did what I could, did my rehab and training and all that stuff and it was ok.

“It felt like a bomb exploded

in my ankle

Which tips would you give someone who’s asking you how to overcome your fears and stretch your limits?

It’s important that things that you do feel natural for you. I feel at home when I have a kite in the air flying above me, that’s my safe zone. For example when I was standing just normally at the top of the Burj, I looked down and thought, ‘Damn, that’s a long way down’. I felt scared. But then when I had my kite up the fear was gone. So if something doesn’t feel natural to you, maybe it’s better not to do it. If I don’t have confidence and if I don’t feel like doing something, I’d maybe kill myself – like if I tried a double backflip on the motorbike – so why should I do it? The second point is to trust in yourself which might sound like a cliché but, well, usually clichés contain some truth, right? So don’t copy anyone else; create your own path. I think that’s sort of what I did with my kiting career – and I will continue to focus on that mindset.

TheKiteMag.com

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~ GALLERY ~

WIND VOYAGER TRIPLE-S 2018 BY: ASHLON DURHAM

T

he 2018 Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational was bigger and better than ever, with more riders, bigger bands and bigger parties. Thirty-four of the world’s best wakestyle kiteboarders battled it out for their share of the $50,000 prize purse and to claim everlasting fame on the Wind Voyager Triple-S perpetual trophy. The competition ran on the Wind Voyager Super Kicker, Liquid Force Kites Reverse Rainbow, KOA Resorts Kicker, ION Rooftop, and John Wayne Mega Slider from June 2nd – 8th 2018, and it exemplified all that is great and good about the sport of kiteboarding.

The Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational is not just about kiteboarding, it has morphed into a music festival with seven bands and seven parties. This year’s musical lineup was on another level, with names like The Roots, 2 Chainz & Ky-Mani Marley headlining. To cap off a week of competition and parties, The Roots played in front of the Pamlico Sound, on the mega stage. It went off.

Photo: Nate Appel TheKiteMag.com

Isabel Von Zastrow is always throwing tantr ums in the slick!

Photo: Toby Bromwich

Billy Parker is an absolute legend, he’s one of the longest-r unning competitors in the event and always places well. His st yle is honed, his amplitude is large, and he’s a genuine, kind dude to share a session with.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

59

Few kiters have made a mark in recent times like Noé Font. This young ripper has risen up the professional kiteboarding ladder rapidly while simultaneously building an excellent photo and video portfolio with films like The Bubble. Keep an eye on Noé, his future is looking as bright as a Cape Hatteras summer day.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

Ever since he got off of the injured list, Ewan Jaspan has been on a tear. His commitment to locking in the press and natural st yle earned him second place in this year’s event.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

TheKiteMag.com

Alex Maes, the Belgian sensation, pressing some st yle into the Liquid Force Hot Dog. Maes has grown into a key player of the park scene after his successful Triple- S Wildcard Video Contest entry in 2017.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

Annelous Lammerts demonstrates great st yle: kite low, bar low, press locked in, just what the judges are looking for.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

Brandon didn’t even look where he was going but went straight to the top of the podium. If it wasn’t for the kite, could you tell which direction he is going?

Photo: Toby Bromwich

TheKiteMag.com

Eric Rienstra is one of the most core riders in the sport, not because he rides for CORE, but because he knows st yle, he progresses the park scene every year and is willing to push through injury to compete. He is a tr ue athlete with a longr unning career that demands maximum respect.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

The John Wayne Cancer Foundation has been sponsoring the biggest feature in the REAL Slider Park for many years.

There are many ways to tackle this 88foot mega slider, here, Colleen Carroll demonstrates a classic front boardslide.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

Sensi Graves is another professional kiter born from the REAL Slider Park, she started as a REAL Coach and began honing her skills while living and working in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

G A L L E R Y : W I N D V O YA G E R T R I P L E - S 2 0 1 8

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From Russia with a perfect press up the North Rooftop. Ever since he first competed as a grom, Artem has been stoked and a great competitor to have in the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

Sam Light still has some of the biggest and most technical hits in the competition. He’s won four times and always brings potential to podium with properly executed grabs like this textbook stalefish.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

The Wind Voyager Triple-S Challenge series offers cash for riders to push the limits of the sport. Two years ago Christophe Tack threw the first 900 in competition. We’re still waiting to witness the first men’s 1080 and the first women’s 720, keep an eye on the competition June 1st-7th 2018.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

TheKiteMag.com

2019

Brandon Scheid going to Japan!

Photo: Toby Bromwich

A beer that is perfect for sending it, Triple-S Lager by Carolina Brewery.

Photo: Toby Bromwich

TheKiteMag.com

Karolina Winkowska is no stranger to the podium but the level of excitement as she rose to the top was at an all-time high, beer shower and all. After dominating the freest yle tour for many years, Karolina transitioned to the Kite Park League and is at the top of the field.

Photo: Nate Appel

Left to right we have last year’s champ, the young blood, and a victor a long time coming. Brandon Scheid has stood on this stage in the past but not since the perpetual trophy was designed. REAL could not be more proud of teamrider, Brandon Scheid, winning where his career was launched, in the slick.

Photo: Nate Appel

TheKiteMag.com

STUFF We like the look of...

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1. IONeo Zip Top The new Neo Zip Top for men and women provides maximum wind shelter thanks to the Smooth Skin neoprene used for the back, front and arms. The sides and insides of the arms are then built from super flexible S-Type neoprene to guarantee maximum freedom of movement.

Warmth and flexibility? Game on…

2. Flysurfer Flydoor6 In the world of lightwind kiting, the Flydoor6 provides a great solution for keeping going when the wind isn’t playing ball… Employing Flysurfer’s Constant Curve Rocker, their Adapted Double Concave and the Ergonomic Toeside set up, the Flydoor6 is packed full of innovation and is far much more than just a, err, door…

TheKiteMag.com

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3. RRD Squid Launcher At last! Another product with a name that puts a smile on your face – and an awesome graphic as well… The Squid Launcher is RRD’s all-new low volume foil/skim board… It has a full EVA grip, two 6.5mm fins included and has channels which help it to grip if you’re skimming, and to help keep you bouncing back up if you’re in that ‘more down than up’ stage of your foiling career.

4. CORE Bolt For its third outing, CORE’s wakestyle machine, the Bolt, has added more channels to improve traction and speed when hitting obstacles and riding without fins... Then the deep vee stops between the boots to flatten the sliding area

and give you the best possible chance of getting off that slider with the same confidence you went on to it with…

5. Liquid Force Galaxy Well, who would have thought a few years ago that we would be getting all excited about Foil Boards. But here we are! This new one from Liquid Force is a real beauty… Not too floaty but not a skim board option either. There is a forgiving outline with bevelled rails to keep you on track when you’re really digging in and riding it at an angle, a full EVA grip, and if you’ve got the skills you can shorten the mast and get out in the surf on it as well.

Yup, it’s exciting.

STUFF We like the look of...

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6. F-ONE Bandit 12 To keep everyone sucked in over the summer months, F-ONE are releasing a limited number (1500 to be exact) of the next generation of the Bandit early… This 12th edition of the Bandit sees improved wind range and more reactionary steering and the incredible amount of attention to details and finetuning that you only get with a Bandit.

And you could get one early and then be the guy at the beach who everyone wants to hang out with… .

7. Duotone Jaime Textreme The Jaime has had a complete rework from the Duotone crew for 2019. The main headline is the arrival of a new

TheKiteMag.com

8.

10.

Double Diffusor which is essentially modified channels on the base which allow for a stiffer but no less comfortable board, resulting in improved pop as well as more precise landings... It just keeps on getting better.

8. Nobile NHP Split When it comes to splittable board tech, Nobile seem to have it pretty well dialed in. Their W-Connection is flawless and – unless you’re a true pro rider – there seems to be little sacrifice in performance. Here’s a first peek at one from the new collection. And the theme for 2019? Cosmic of course…

9. Ocean Rodeo Razor Ocean Rodeo’s freestyle and boosting machine provides plenty of oomph for riders who want to push their limits. With a tight turning arc, those unique Ocean Rodeo tips, and their tried and tested four strut design: the Razor is quite simply a freestyle weapon.

10. Cabrinha Hi-Rise Lift It’s all about the foiling this year, and Cabrinha are bringing two new foils onto the market – a racier one, the Hi-Rise Speed, and for those cruisy days when you just want to carve some lines and get your flow on, this one: the Lift. Pictured here with the new Double Agent board.

STUFF We like the look of...

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11. CrazyFly Elite II The Elite is a board which has been in the CrazyFly range for a few years without any major updates. Now we have the Elite II. The main change? They have made it lighter. Yes, you read that correctly: the Elite II is 140g lighter than its predecessor so now comes in at a staggering 1.8kg. So you’d better put some sand on it on the beach if you don’t want it flying off over the horizon… .

12. Mystic Sailor Boardies Mystic have a striking new range of men’s boardshorts designed specifically for action in the water and out. The Sailor Boardshorts use 4-way stretch fabric and top-end materials for maximum flexibility and comfort. (And we’ve got the whole way through this without resorting to ‘Hello Sailor’!)

TheKiteMag.com

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13. Levitaz Cruizer For first time riders and for foilers who care less about their top speed than about enjoying the ride, the Cruizer is the big winged foil for you. You’ll be up on the foil pretty much straight away and then you can expect a mellow, carvy ride with no hidden surprises. Pictured here with the Hybrid mast for top-end cruisey performance at a good price point.

14. AXIS Tranq When it comes to park riding and knowing what works in this world, there are two guys who you should trust more than pretty much any others. Alex LewisHughes and Billy Parker. And if they put their heads together and came up with wakestyle boards? Then you would have the Billy and the Tranq. You lucky people. Here’s the Tranq…

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15. Lieuwe Custom Boards Aside from producing some of the best looking boards on the market, and being charged with producing a custom board for the one and only Ruben Lenten, Lieuwe can also produce your dream board customized with your dream design. From just €100 you can have your graphics on one of their masterpieces.

Pictured here a ‘Morocco’ inspired design for the guys at kitesurfholidays.com 16. ODO K1 Recently launched ODO Kiteboarding have arrived to shake up the kiteboarding scene – with a super-tight and wellconceived range of kites and boards they have put a lot of thought into getting things exactly right from the beginning…

Pictured here at the heart of the range is their do-it-all machine: The K1.

TheKiteMag.com

Matchu creció navegando en Ponta Preta, uno de los spots más icónicos del planeta. También ha viajado por todo el mundo navegando en olas increíbles. Así que para que Matchu esté emocionado con un spot, tiene que ser algo muy especial… ¿Dónde es? Bueno, no podemos decírtelo pero, pero, a menos que seas un fan de aguas poco profundas con fondo de coral y tiburones, no creo que vayas a pasar por ahí de todas maneras.

Texto: Matchu Lopes Fotos: Toby Bromwich

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“Hey Jo, ¿crees que hay alguna posibilidad de que te pudieras llevar mi material a Tarifa?” dije.

“Claro tío” oí responder mientras corría a la habitación del hotel. No había tiempo para champú o acondicionador. Tocaba quitarse la sal del pelo y vestirse rápidamente para ir al aeropuerto.

Corriendo por la recepción del aeropuerto y ya metido en el coche me di cuenta de que me había dejado la cartera en la mesita de noche así que, me tocó volver a correr de vuelta a la habitación después de mi viaje a Portugal.

Fue el tercer stop del Tour Mundial GKA y, después de 4 días sin viento, en el último día de competición el viento por fin escuchó nuestras plegarias y decidió aparecer. Aunque también sabía que ese día me tenía que ir del hotel a eso de las 3 de la tarda para poder llegar al aeropuerto que me llevaría hacia, posiblemente, la experiencia más brutal de mi vida. Con esto en mente, entré al agua en Portugal y no estaba 100% seguro de lo que pasaría pero, conseguí encontrar la sección perfecta de agua plato y fuí a por ello. Cerré los ojos, despegué del agua y boom, abrí los ojos justo antes de aterrizar y me di cuenta de que tenía espacio para meter una rotación más. Cuando toqué el agua no estaba seguro de lo que había pasado pero, cuando empecé a darle vueltas a la barra para desenredar las líneas empecé a contar, 1, 2 y… 3… ¿¡Qué?! Acababa de aterrizar el primer triple de la historia en competición. ¡Estaba tan contento! Y, cuando entré al agua para la final con Airton me sentí con la confianza suficiente para aterrizar los trucos que quería. Cuando salí del agua ya eran las 3.30 de la tarde y Jo me había ayudado con mi material así que, literalmente, bajé el kite, tiré mi arnés en la playa y me fuí corriendo al aeropuerto.

Conseguí llegar al aeropuerto y fui de Porto a Lisboa donde los chicos de GKA me necesitaban para una entrevista. Fue solo entonces cuando supe quién había ganado la final, hasta aquel momento no tenía ni idea. ¡Había ganado! Estaba increíblemente contento, de hecho, solté un pequeño grito y algún que otro salto en el aeropuerto… Entonces, sudando a tope, conseguí llegar a mi vuelo hacia Dubai y después a Isla Mauricio a donde llegué al día siguiente. Allí me encontré con el resto del team y entré en la energía que todos teníamos, estábamos súper excitados por la aventura que estábamos a punto de comenzar. Al día siguiente todos nos despertamos temprano

TheKiteMag.com

La beca está completa y, comimos nerviosos el desayuno mientras observábamos una tormenta de nubes negras formándose por encima de nosotros.

Metimos el material en el coche y empezamos la jornada hacia el muelle para coger nuestro barco.

Cuando empezamos el viaje en nuestro pequeño barco, el agua estaba tranquila y limpia pero, cuando dejamos la isla, el mar se volvió loco. Todos nos volvimos silenciosos y nos metimos a nuestras habitaciones para ir a dormir.

Por desgracia, a mí me había tocado la habitación de proa así que se movió bastante. Un montón. Además, hacía mucho ruído. El agua también había empezado a meterse dentro del barco y pasé la noche con un río a mis pies. Me levanté varias veces ya que mi misión era hacer como que no pasaba nada.

Bebiendo Coca-Cola, hablando, intentando hacer reír a los demás para distraerme ya que me suelo marear en barcos grandes… Cuando vi este barco tan pequeño estaba seguro de que me pasaría el viaje entero vomitando. Pero no lo hice. No me lo podría creer. Estaba impresionando a mí mismo pero, estaba aún más impresionado por Reno. Consiguió dormir las 24 horas que duró el trayecto. No desayunó, no comió o cenó…

Creo que yo me moriría si lo intento.

Tras unas largas 24 horas llegamos a la isla y vi el agua azul, las dunas blancas y los pequeños árboles. Y casi de inmediato vimos una tortuga enorme. Estaba justo al lado del barco nadando con nosotros, echándonos un vistazo y dándonos la bienvenida a su hogar.

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Hora de ir al agua

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"I was also blessed to see 10 stingrays riding alongside me in the water."

Dormí bastante, tuve un buen desayuno, me empecé a preparar mentalmente, a echarle cera a la tabla, a poner las quillas y a preparar mi arnés . Teníamos dos barcos pequeños que venían a recogernos para llevarnos al spot. El agua en el reef tenía muy poca profundidad pero, con la experiencia de uno de los locales de la isla que vino con nosotros, y el capitán de nuestras 24 horas de viaje, conseguimos cruzar rápidamente y, 25 minutos después, llegamos a la isla desierta de arena blanca y agua azul cristalina con unos 23 nudos de viento y un kite de 10 m conseguí aterrizar algunos triples, doble front shove-its y algunos backrolls bastante altos. Me sentí muy afortunado de ver una 10 mantarrayas navegando conmigo en el agua. Mola un montón pero, no voy a mentir, estaba un poco asustado. Suelo ser un poco aprensivo en spots nuevos y, especialmente, en aquellos que tienen fondos de coral o roca y bueno, obviamente, si tienen tiburones mi corazón estaba la tienda más rápido de lo normal.

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El Reef Durante los siguientes días la aprensión que todos sentíamos empezó a disiparse y a medida que nuestro Team empezó a despertarse, excitación era todo lo que podíamos sentir en un maravilloso día de viento. Asia soy el viento era constante y el agua estaba clara y limpia los fotógrafos están disfrutando un montón después de 4 horas de sesión de fotos y vídeo haciendo saltos trucos de freestyle plus etcétera reloj Anatomy yo estamos bastante cansados pero nos quedamos en el agua un poco más para seguir a las tortugas que habían venido a ver qué es lo que está pasando y a intentar saltar con las mantarrayas que volaban alrededor de nosotros. fue una experiencia impresionante. Desde el momento en el que llegamos a nuestro paraíso no habíamos tenido tiempo de ir a echarle un vistazo a las olas pero, antes de empezar el viaje le había echado un vistazo a la previsión y parecía que íbamos a tener olas de un tamaño considerable durante los primeros días. Decidimos emprender rumbo a ver qué es lo que pasaba con las olas y, a medida que nos acercabamos al spot, pudimos ver una izquierda impresionante unas dos millas en medio del océano. Las olas eran, prácticamente, esas olas con las que sueñas cada día: medían el doble que yo, daban para entubarse, eran bastante huecas por dentro y, para rematar, no había nadie alrededor.

Estaba épico, limpio, perfecto. Los fotógrafos estaban alucinando pero, en este momento yo me había puesto serio. Estaba mirando el spot a la vez que recordaba que también era famoso por tener tiburones. Tengo un montón de respeto por spots como este, con suelos de coral con poca profundidad y no quería que hubieran fallos. Un pequeño error se podía convertir en algo bastante serio y no quería averiguar qué es lo que el reef guardaba en sus entrañas si no calculaba bien el timing de la ola. Con la excitación volando por el aire, volvimos al campamento base y hable con el manager que me preguntó si quería salir.

Claro que quería, pero también quería que alguien viniera conmigo con otro kite solo por si el mío se iba al reef para que me pudieran sacar y asegurarnos de que saldría de esa sano y salvo. Para cuando volvimos al spot, ya teníamos kiter rescatador, dos barcos con fotógrafos, un drone, yo y un montón de tubos así que, ¡sin presión! Salí con mi 8m y el viento estaba perfecto, pero un poco fuerte. Cogí algunas olas bastante buenas pero me estaba intentando concentrar en mi posición. La marea estaba realmente baja y las olas rompían en las zonas más bajas de agua. Me vi entubandome un par de veces pero no del todo. Para mí fue una buena sesión pero sabía que podía hacerlo mucho mejor.

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Soltandome Al día siguiente el viento estaba un poco más flojo pero las olas seguían siendo épicas y, además, ya me había soltado un poco con la primera sesión. Me sentía mucho más cómodo y ya no me importaba nada, solo quería darlo todo metiendome en los tubos, dándome buenas tortas y divirtiéndome todo lo posible. Fue épico y, además, conseguimos un montón de tomas de vídeo y fotos. Al final del día el viento estaba tan flojo que Tom y yo decidimos ir a pescar. Simplemente salimos un poco mar adentro y en 45 minutos habíamos cogido 9 atunes y 3 o 4 pescados más. Esa noche comimos sushi y sashimi. Y, al caer la noche, vendría uno de los momentos que guardo con más fuerza en mi memoria. En este lugar que parece de mentira, cuando cae la noche, parece que las estrellas se te van a caer encima. No hay luz, internet, conexión de teléfono… Y solo un par de casas copan la isla llena de pájaros, tortugas, peces, olas y tiburones. Fue increíble.

En el día final del viaje hicimos algunas fotos simplemente navegando con los tres colores diferentes de las cometas cerca de un barco que estaba lejos en el reef. Fue una pasada. No había visto nunca algo así. Tuve que in en twintip porque la marea estaba super baja y, el agua era tan transparente que podíamos ver los peces nadando debajo de nuestras tablas.

Y, como no, algún que otro tiburón dándose una vuelta. A medida que nos acercabamos navegando al barco nos íbamos riendo por el camino, haciéndonos bromas, gritando… El set up era perfecto y precioso. Para cuando acabamos la sesión de fotos el viento bajaba y bajaba y me fui al spot de olas. Estoy tan acostumbrado a navegar en Ponta Preta con viento flojo… Simplemente llegando justo a la ola, posicionar el kite y simplemente surfear. Había el viento justo para poder ceñir con mi 11 pero, una vez que conseguía meterme en la ola, era todo cuestión de colocar el kite, meterme en la sección y entubarme para después salir y pegarme algunos giros. Ese día me sentí como si fuera MI día. Todo funcionó aquel día. Estaba consiguiendo olas, navegando las enteras para girar y ver el próximo set empezando a formarse. No sé ni cómo explicarlo, fue simplemente increíble. Este es mi spot mágico y especial. No podía haber sido nada mejor y estoy increíblemente contento de que mis patrocinadores me hayan dado la oportunidad de venir aquí donde tan poca gente tiene la oportunidad de venir. Me siento tremendamente afortunado de haber tenido la oportunidad de experimentar este lugar y de que todos hayamos salido de la aventura sanos y salvos. Fue increíble.

"I don't even

know how to explain: it was just unbelievable."

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Si trabajas duro, juegas el juego y coges las oportunidades cuando te son presentadas quizás algún día consigas ser un profesional del kite. Si haces todo esto, quizás una mañana abras tu email y verás un correo invitándome a un viaje en un catamarán de 95 pies por el Caribe. Sam Light nos asegura que este tipo de viajes son trabajo muy duro pero, no estamos del todo seguros.

Texto: & Fotos: Sam Light

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S

iempre había querido ir a las Islas Reunión y las Granadinas. No he escuchado más que cosas buenas de estas islas sureñas en esta cadena de islas del Caribe que presumen de ser las menos visitadas, tocadas por la mano del hombre y con el más puro estilo Caribeño. Así que cuando oí que íbamos a grabar con Slingshot en el catamarán de Wind Voyager estaba súper excitado.

Habiendo pasado una semana en el barco en el Mediterráneo el año pasado, sabía que el team Slingshot iba a alucinar y que este viaje iba a ser como ninguno que hubiéramos tenido antes. Hemos hecho una buena cantidad de viajes en los que dormíamos en colchones hinchables y con el presupuesto colgando de un hilo pero, este es el trip definitivo en mi opinión. Los viajes en barco son algo así como los viajes en furgoneta, pero incluso mejor. Mola tanto porque todo tu material y el equipo humano están siempre en posición y listos a todas horas.

El barco estaba anclado en las Islas Reunión, una pequeña e idílica isla al sur de las islas Granadinas con una población de menos de 3.000 personas. Viajar hasta ahí es un poco una misión, lo cual es lo que hace que este tipo de lugares tan especiales sigan siendo especiales. Si fuera fácil, todo el mundo iría. Así que cogí un vuelo directo de Londres a Barbados y después bajé hasta las Reunión en un pequeño avión de 8 plazas. En el avión éramos solo 3. Desde el avión pude ver nuestro barco, el “Cartouche” ya que era dos veces más grande que todos los toros catamaranes anclados en la bahía. Al aterrizar, un viaje rápido en lancha y ya estaba en el Cartouche.

Déjame explicarte de manera breve cómo mola el Cartouche. Es un catamarán de 95 pies, sí, 95 pies. Puedes contar con solo una sola mano los catamaranes que hay en el mundo con este tamaño. Tiene cuatro habitaciones tipo suite, cuatro miembros de la tripulación que están siempre en el barco y otros dos más que ayudan a facilitar las actividades como el kite, el buceo, el surf, foil o lo que puedas imaginar. Ian y Joel son los monitores que aprendieron su trabajo en Real Watersports y que, te aseguro que saben como crear diversión de la nada. Tienen, más o menos, todos los juguetes que te puedas imaginar poder tener en un barco. Un jet surf, equipo de buceo, dos “sea bobs” (algo así como motos de agua subacuáticas), cinco foils y todo el material de Slingshot imaginable. Y, no nos olvidemos del jet ski que sale de un garaje por la parte de atrás como si fuera una

...we probably got more on t he firs t day of shoot ing t han we ever have before

Sam Light Stale KGB in ‘Frigate’s’ flat water, on Union Island TheKiteMag.com

Alex Fox flashing his tips

Karolina dropping a knee...

de palmeras hacían el resto de la foto. Pasamos las primeras 24 horas del viaje ahí intentando sacar algo de contenido, el viento estaba flojo los primeros días pero, el foil ha cambiado las reglas del juego y estábamos todos volando por encima del agua con la nueva gama de foils en 10 nudos solamente parando para beber algo de agua y ponernos un poco más de crema de sol mientras que el kite te esperaba atado a una cuerda en la parte de atrás del catamarán. Karolina incluso consiguió salir en un twintip. Después de la sesión saltamos directamente al jacuzzi para acabar bien el día. Creo que nunca ninguno de nosotros experimentó tanto lujo; la mesa ya estaba preparada con la cena puesta con guantes blancos (para asegurarse de no dejar huellas) y nos sentamos a disfrutar de un solomillo de atún mientras hablábamos del planning del día y de la semana. película de James Bond. Basicamente, si no te lo pasas increíblemente bien en este barco, es que te pasa algo en la cabeza.

Para este viaje teníamos un tem bastante sólido para poder sacarle todo el partido a esta oportunidad. Para empezar, Karolina Winkowska, una de las mejores kiters de la historia.

Fred Hope, un niño prodigio del foil que está haciendo su propio camino en la industria bailando encima de un foil. Patrick Wieland, cámara y piloto de dron extraordinario. Alex Fox, artista y manager de la marca que, además, lidera al equipo. Mo Lelii, un fotógrafo con el que Alex fue el colegio y, yo mismo, el veterano de las sesiones de fotos con Slingshot. El team era pequeño ya que el espacio era limitado en el barco.

Empezamos el viaje en la Isla Reunión, en “Roca Frigate”, el cual es un spot idílico de agua plato, perfecto para anclar el barco y salir navegando directamente desde la parte de atrás.

El agua color turquesa y las playas de arena blanca repletas

Al contrario de la mayor parte del Caribe, las Reunión suelen tener el viento más fuerte por la mañana en esta parte del año y, el parte daba bueno para una sesión al amanecer así que pusimos la alarma del móvil a las 5 de la mañana para coger la mejor hora del amanecer. Conseguimos sacar un montón de fotos de producto con la lente que es capaz de sacar fotos debajo y por encima del agua a la vez. Así que nos quitamos de encima un montón de fotos importantes hasta que decidimos parar a eso de las diez de la mañana para un desayuno impresionante en el barco. Una vez rehidratados, fuimos a por una sesión de foil con las Gopros. Después de almorzar bastante tarde, nos montamos en la lancha y pusimos rumbo a la playa de Frigate. Los chicos pusieron sus objetivos de largo alcance en sus cámaras y nos lanzamos a intentar aterrizar buenos trucos. Fue un primer día brutal y, probablemente, conseguimos sacar más trabajo en este primer día de sesión de fotos del que nunca habíamos conseguido. Después de un duro día de trabajo en el agua en el que habíamos navegado unas 6 horas, tocaba meterse en el jacuzzi y abrir una bien merecida cerveza.

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La sesión diaria

Alex Speedy Fox

Navegar para una sesión de fotos es bastante diferente a navegar por navegar. Tenemos una lista de fotos que queremos conseguir y nos quedamos en el agua hasta que conseguimos todo lo que necesitamos. Hay tantas variables que, no siempre sale lo que planeabas y tienes que ser flexible y adaptarte a las condiciones para sacarle el máximo partido a cada momento. La gente se piensa que simplemente nos lo pasamos genial en el agua durante este tipo de viajes pero, trabajamos muy duro durante toda la semana. De hecho, físicamente, suele ser la semana más dura del año para mi. Levantarse cada día a las 5 de mañana para pillar el amanecer, pasar todo el día en el agua intentando conseguir las fotos… Tu cuerpo se cae a trozos y, da igual cuánta crema de sol te pongas, siempre acabarás quemado ya que pasamos en el sol unas diez horas al día. No me malinterpretes, estoy tremendamente agradecido de poder hacer lo que amo para vivir y de tener la oportunidad de ir a sitios brutales pero, trabajamos muy duro para ello. Y no es que nos emborrachemos a cervezas cada noche, nos vamos a la cama a las 8 de la tarde. Crear contenido me motiva tanto como navegar por mi cuenta y, conseguir una buena foto de algo simple mola tanto como aterrizar un truco que nunca habías hecho antes.

Disfruto mucho intentando hacerlo lo mejor que puedo en mi trabajo. Se trata de sacarle el máximo partido a este tipo de oportunidades.

A la mañana siguiente volvimos a salir al agua con nuestros twintips antes de sacar el ancla, poner las velas y navegar hasta nuestro siguiente destino. Fred no quería parar de hacer foil así que lo dejamos en el agua mientras que navegaba a la altura del barco. Navegamos unos 40 minutos hasta “Petite St Vincent” y la arenosa isla de Mopian. El viento daba justo para poder navegar en foil y navegamos hasta que no pudimos más. “Petite St Vincent” es una pequeña isla con un hotel super pijo en ella y un chiringuito de playa. El viento se fue y nuestro capitán Angelo nos había hablado muy bien de los cocktails que servían en el bar así que pensamos que sería de mala educación no ir a la playa y probar algo de producto local. Los cocktails estaban de muerte!

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Karolina Roast Beef glide...

Sam spreading the butter on his bread...

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El spot para sacar la foto de pos tal

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Arriving in style into ‘Happy Island’

A la mañana siguiente navegamos hacia Cayo Tobago, uno de los sitios más bonitos del Caribe, o ¡del mundo! Cayo Tobago es un conjunto de pequeñas y preciosas islas con agua cristalina y un gran reef protegiendo la parte del viento. Esto hace que el spot sea perfecto para anclar tu barco en la parte protegida y explorar la isla y el reef. Esta isla te deja completamente anonadado, filmaron algunas tomas de Piratas del Caribe aquí. Como podrás imaginar, es un destino popular para barcos de turistas, había muchísimos barcos pero esto solo hizo más divertido navegar entre ellos mientras nos miraban anonadados al pasar con nuestros foils. Nos quedamos en esta isla unos cuantos días ya que teníamos la oportunidad de sacar una gran variedad de fotos. Pasamos una tarde haciendo fotos de mitad/mitad en las que salíamos navegando y salía el reef y por la mañana sacabamos fotos desde la isla. Incluso conseguimos ir a hacer snorkel con las tortugas.

En este punto del viaje habíamos conseguido casi todas las fotos de nuestra lista, todo lo demás era un extra. Habíamos planeado sacar una última foto que incluiría a toda la tripulación mientras nosotros navegamos con el barco y su vela izada. Todo tenía que alinearse para que saliera bien. El media team se metió en la lancha y Fox, Fred y yo mismo salimos navegando del barco y navegamos alrededor mientras izaban la vela y el Cartouche navegaba hacia las Isla Reunión. Molaba un montón navegar alrededor del barco, pero, daba muchísimo miedo y era bastante difícil navegar en frente del mismo. La sombra que le hacía el barco al viento era tan grande que si no estabas en la posición correcta, tu kite se caería al agua en cuestión de segundos. Nos costó bastante trabajo pero conseguimos la foto. Volvimos al barco, bajamos el ancla, nos subimos a la lancha y pasamos algunas horas surfeando detrás de la lancha. Fue super divertido y todos conseguimos algunas buenas olas. La guinda en el pastel.

Esa misma tarde continuamos hacia las Isla Reunión para un cocktail en “Happy Island” (la Isla Feliz). Happy Island es un bar construído en el reef, mide menos de 30 pies y está construída encima de conchas cerca de la zona de anclaje de las Reunión y el spot de kite. Cuando hay viento, los kiters saltan de la isla mientras que los que pasan con sus barcos se quedan boquiabiertos. Pasamos aquí los últimos días esperando poder hacer algo de freestyle y saltar por encima de la Isla Feliz pero, no hubo demasiado viento, solo el justo para poder salir en foil. Mirando el lado positivo, esto solo significaba que teníamos que volver para repetir. ¡Vaya viajecito!

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E s tadís t icas del barco PESO TOTAL EN TONELADAS:

95 TONELADAS

FUERZA TOTAL EN CABALLOS DE LOS MOTORES:

313KW / 425HP

CAPACIDAD TOTAL DE LOS TANQUES DE AGUA:

3000 LITROS ALTITUD DEL MÁSTIL:

39 METROS

LONGITUD DEL BARCO:

95 PIES/32 METROS.

Juguetes:

MOTO DE AGUA 2X SEABOBS TABLA DE JETSURF RPMS, SST’S, RALLY’S RANGO COMPLETO DE HYDROFOIL TABLAS DE SURF TABLAS DE SUP EQUIPO DE BUCEO PARA TODOS LOS INVITADOS JACUZZI

Qué más necesitas

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Opinión del equipo: SAM PREGUNTÓ AL EQUIPO DE TRIPULANTES:

Fred:

Alex:

Sam a Fred: ¿De verdad que esta ha sido tu primera vez navegando sin neopreno? ¿Cómo fue el viaje?

Esta no fue exactamente mi primera vez navegando sin neopreno pero era la primera vez que iba sin camiseta sin morirme de frío. El Gorge y La Ventana no tienen el agua más cálida del planeta cuando sopla el viento , así que siempre voy con neopreno para estar agusto. También suelo coger frío bastante fácil. Ahora mismo estoy en casa en El Gorge, hay 25ºc pero el agua probablemente esté a 18ºC y todavía estoy usando el 5/4. El viaje fue increíble y fue mucho mejor de lo que me esperaba. Fox se guardó los detalles y todo lo que sabía es que íbamos en este barco a las Islas Reunión. Navegar a tu rollo es mucho más fácil que hacer una sesión de fotos. Puedes ir donde quieras cuando quieras cuando navegas a tu rollo y no tienes que, necesariamente, aterrizar cada truco que intentas. Para una sesión de fotos tienes que aterrizarlos lo más rápido que puedas para pasar al siguiente truco. Navegamos a un par de sitios diferentes. Tengo que admitir que mi sitio favorito fue Cayo Tobago. El color del agua y la cantidad de tortugas me dejaron alucinando. Estábamos pasando por en medio de los muchos barcos anclados con nuestros foils mientras algunas personas nos gritaban echándonos la bronca y otras nos gritaban para que nos acercaramos más y poder sacarnos fotos.

Sam a Alex: Ya habías visitado las Islas Unión antes, ¿fue diferente visitarlas en barco? Y, ¿cómo ha cambiado el foil este tipo de viajes?

La primera vez que vine a Unión, pensé que la vida y el kite eran imposibles de mejorar en aquel momento. Las Unión parecen ser hechas a medida para el kite. Viento perfecto, barrera de coral que protege la laguna por dentro y crea olas por fuera… Es un parque para kite en estado puro. Siempre le había dicho a Sam y al resto del equipo que tenían que poner este lugar en su lista. Fue increíble el poder compartirlo con más gente en este viaje. La primera vez que vine por aquí no teníamos acceso a un barco, así que, mayormente navegamos en Unión y, si queríamos salir a explorar teníamos que alquilar un barco. Así que en este viaje salíamos con ventaja. Unión, en realidad, es solo la parte de arriba del iceberg. Las áreas alrededor combinadas hacen de uno de los mejores archipiélagos del mundo para navegar. Con el Cartouche a nuestra disposición, teníamos el total control y acceso a cualquier lugar al que quisiéramos ir. Conseguimos ver más sitios en 6 días que en las dos semanas anteriores en las que había estado sin barco. Lo de cerrar los ojos para dormir después de un par de cervezas y despertar en medio de un nuevo spot que te dejaba sin respiración fue una experiencia.

Karolina: Sam a Karolina: ¿Era tu primer viaje en barco? ¿Cómo fue vivir en el barco una semana entera y cómo lo compararías con otros viajes que has hecho?

Venir a las Islas Unión y quedarme en el Wind Voyager fue como un sueño hecho realidad para mí. Es, desde luego, el viaje ideal al paraíso y es un viaje que recordaré siempre. No fue mi primer viaje en barco pero sí que era mi primera vez en el Caribe en un catamarán de 95 pies lleno de material de kite. Para mí, los viajes de kite siempre son emocionantes pero, este destino siempre había estado en mi lista de destinos a los que ir algún día y estaba super contenta de unirme al team Slingshot para la sesión de fotos. Cada vez que bajábamos el agua no podíamos creer que era mejor que la vez anterior, hasta que al día siguiente paramos en otro spot y era aún mejor. Agua transparente, naturaleza tropical por todos lados juntos con viento perfecto y agua de coco recién bajados del árbol. Fue el viaje perfecto.

El foil ha cambiado las sesiones de fotos en un montón de maneras.

La primera es el ser capaz de poner kites en el agua cuando antes no podías. Es como tener un seguro de kite, te asegurar navegar casi siempre.

No sólo puedes poner a volar kites cuando normalmente no podrías pero, también abres la posibilidad de visitar nuevos spots. Lo cual es extremadamente importante. Quizás alguien ya había hecho fotos en ese spot pero, ahora eres capaz de capturar esa misma localización con una luz completamente diferente. También ayuda el tener un equipo de riders tan talentoso y el mejor piloto de dron del planeta.

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Este año ve Naish Kiteboarding celebrando 20 años en el negocio. Robby Naish fue uno de los pioneros y apostó bastante, en su momento, apoyando este “nuevo deporte”. Naish tomó algo de tiempo en esta entrevista para pensar sobre las últimas dos décadas.

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Este año Naish celebra su 20 cumpleaños en el mundo del kite. ¿Imaginábamos que el kite se haría tan grande y que Naish Kiteboarding seguiría siendo fuerte tras 20 años?

El kite, desde luego, se ha desarrollado más lejos de lo que inicialmente había proyectado. Al principio era un deporte muy extremo. Nuestra primera introducción del deporte en publicidad era una página negra con letras blancas que decía: “Introduciendo el deporte absolutamente erróneo para el 99,9% de la población mundial”. Hemos caminado mucho camino desde entonces y así lo ha hecho nuestro deporte. Estoy orgulloso de que aún lo estemos haciendo bien como empresa y de que sigamos siendo parte de un deporte que le ha dado tanto a la vida de un montón de personas alrededor de las aguas de todo el mundo.

Cuéntanos sobre tus primeras memorias de cuando apareció el deporte y de tus primeras experiencias con el kite.

Al principio fue una NOVELTY. Había estado jugando con cometas un montón de años e incluso había pensado en hacer velas de windsurf tipo kite para vientos más flojos ya que podrías crear un montón de potencia con un kite en la playa. Cuando empezamos a jugar con kites por primera vez en el agua, teníamos un “Sky Tiger” ram, un kite hinchable con agarraderas y un longboard en Kailua.

Hasta podíamos ceñir. Pero no molaba mucho. Había visto a Cory Roeseler años antes de que siquiera hubiéramos soñado con el kitesurf haciendo sus sesiones de kite sky en El Gorge. Un año incluso vino a la Copa del Mundo en Sylt. Pero no era el momento adecuado y, realmente nadie prestó demasiada atención. Quizás simplemente por el hecho de que iba con esquís y no con una tabla de surf. Hasta los detalles más pequeños son capaces de hacer la diferencia. Poco después empezamos a jugar con kites hinchables en Maui y haciendo downwinds hasta Hookipa usando mi tabla de surf para Jaws. De nuevo, era una novatada. Y eso de poder navegar en un solo sentido nunca fue demasiado atractivo para mí. Es algo así como hacer downwinds con el SUP. Necesitas demasiado tiempo para dejar tu coche en el spot al que llegarás del downwind, volver con otro coche, etc. Una vez que conseguimos ir y volver a la misma playa, fue cuando el deporte me pareció mucho más atractivo y fue cuando empecé a poner mucha más energía en él.

Te subiste al barco rápidamente y fuiste una de las primeras marcas en empezar a hacer producciones serias de kites. ¿Sentías que era algo así como apostar en un casino? y, ¿nos podrías hablar un poco de aquellos primeros icónicos kites?

Fuimos la primera marca en crear la licencia de tecnología de kites con costillas hinchables y empezamos a desarrollar kites funcionales con un aspecto más alto diseñados específicamente para el kitesurf. Bruno Legaignoux, el dueño de la patente tenía la marca Wipika pero, sus kites estabas diseñados para arrastrar algo downwind y, ciertamente, no estaban optimizados para el kitesurf recreacional. La AR 3.5 fue nuestro primer kite en producción. Era un kite convertible de dos a cuatro líneas. Esto, junto con el primer kite hinchable de cuatro líneas, la AR-5 y la tablas “Sky Pirate” realmente lanzaron el deporte hacia el futuro. Sí, desde luego que fue una apuesta como las del casino pero, nos lo estábamos pasando tan bien que pensamos que a otra gente también le gustaría. ¡Y estuvimos en lo cierto! ¿Qué remarcarías como los productos claves en la evolución de Naish entonces hasta ahora?

La “AR-5” y, luego la “X2”. Creo que fueron un gran paso en cuanto a PERFORMANCE. La Boxer y, en mi opinión, nuestra “Sigma Series” de kites, la Torch y, más recientemente, la Pivot. En cuanto a tablas, la Mutant y la Alien creo que cambiaron el juego dirigiendo las tablas direccionales y twintips hacía un lugar difícil de mejorar.

Así que, ¿supongo que nuestro deporte ya no es el “deporte absolutamente equivocado para el 99,9% de la población?

No, ya no. El deporte se ha hecho mucho más seguro y accesible. Es una locura. Los chicken loops, el sistema de suelta rápida, que se han convertido en un estándar de nuestra industria, juntos con los impresionantes sistema de depower y control intuitivo que los kites modernos tienen hoy, prácticamente todo el mundo puede aprender a hacer kite rápida y seguramente.

Ahora, los riders siendo arrastrados por la arena raramente se ven y suele ser puro error humano. En el pasado, esto ocurría diariamente.

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MAXIMIZE THE FUN FACTOR

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MAIN: Ewan putting the Pivot through its paces INSET: Jesse slashing with the, err, Slash

Volviendo al presente, has dado un giro de tuerca a tu gama de kites en los últimos años con algunas adiciones. ¿Nos podrías contar un poco cuál es la actual gama en la línea de kites? Y, ¿cómo crees que esto refleja la dirección en la que está yendo el deporte?

El deporte ha madurado. Tienes el “kiter normal” que quiere un kite que tenga un buen rango, manejo intuitivo y un montón de depower además de sistemas de seguridad. La gran mayoría de los principiantes de nuestro deporte venían de otros deportes extremos como el windsurf, el wake y el surf. Hoy en día hay un montón de hombres, mujeres y niños que toman este deporte como su introducción al mundo acuático. No tienen que ser necesariamente gente atlética y en forma y, ni siquiera necesitan ser coordinados. Pero, empiezan a practicarlo, se les da bien y les encanta. Esta gente necesita material con el que poder crecer, aprender y desarrollar sus capacidades pero, no desarrollarlas demasiado rápido o nunca desarrollarlas.

Hoy en día hay mucha gente que es simplemente feliz navegando de un lado para otro o quizás haciendo un pequeño salto, transición o haciendo algunos giros. No necesariamente quieres hacer saltos super altos o ir a navegar en olas enormes pero, algunas personas sí que quieren estas cosas. Así que necesitamos tener un rango de kites que cubran el amplio espectro de gente, sus estilos y sus aspiraciones.

Así que tenemos la Torch, al extremo de nuestro rango de los riders que buscar freestyle y saltar alto con sus 5 líneas y alto aspecto. Se ha convertido en el kite con el que todos los kites en el espectro se comparan y sus records y legacía lo respaldan.

De aquí nos movemos hacía la Dash, una cometa tipo C con cuatro poleas que tiene el ADN de la Torch pero con un toque de versatilidad, depower y la sensación que te da un kite con poleas. Va genial para navegar tanto enganchado como desenganchado. Te ofrece la sensación que buscan riders que navegar con power y velocidad. En el lado opuesto de nuestro espectro de kites está la Slash, nuestro kite dedicado para olas. Ofreciendo velocidad lineal, power y giros con una buena habilidad de drift. Su potencia lineal la hace perfecta para navegar strapless ya que no va a darte más potencia de la que necesitas cuando muevas el kite o cuando le des más potencia a las líneas centrales sacándo te de la tabla. Este kite es ideal para aquellos kiters que buscar un kite específico de olas y no un kite que sirva para todo.

En la mitad de nuestro rango de kites tenemos la Ride y la Pivot. Ambos kites hacen todo bastante bien. La Ride es mejor para los riders menos avanzados y con muy buena capacidad para tirar de la barra y salir navegando que viene de su diseño de dos costillas. Es perfecto para aquellas personas que estén buscando un kite que no les castigue por todos aquellos errores que cometen los kiters cuando empiezan a progresar en las etapas tempranas del kite. Tiene una amplia banda de potencia para que la gente no hunda el kite y lo coloquen en la zona de potencia antes de que estén listo para ello. Sigue siendo un kite divertido para navegar así que los que elijan este kite pueden crecer con él sin que sea un kite complicado y que les quite la diversión. La Pivot es el kite para hacer lo que quieras, cuando quieras, donde quieras. Con la Pivot puedes cortar el césped, puedes ir a navegar en olas, puedes ir a Jaws (Jesse Richman puede navegar Jaws con cualquier cosa), y puedes ganar el Red Bull King of The Air con él como hizo Kevin Langeree este año. De todos los kites que hemos hecho en los últimos 20 años, la Pivot es el kite más intuitivo, versátil y el mejor kite todoterreno que hemos podido construir.

También tenemos la Boxer, que es un kite dirigido a navegar con poco viento y a foil. Su diseño de única costilla y su borde de ataque ultra ligero lo hacen el kite soñado para navegar con una 6m cuando los demás van con 9m. Esta cometa es la mejor en darte potencia de manera fluida y su costilla te permite posar el kite en frente tuya mientras haces foil. Tener un kite que puedes potenciar y despotenciar sin que te de tirones y sin que se mueva en la ventana además de tener un kite ultra ligero, verdaderamente hacen la diferencia cuando lo que quieres es navegar con un kite pequeño y seguir maximizando el factor diversión.

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a new level of excitement to Olympic sailing

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TOP: Time to chill...

BOTTOM: Damien enjoying the fun part of kite design

El foil puede que sea la historia más importante de los últimos años y, vosotros

para mantener nuestro equipo un paso por delante. Des Walsh es

desde luego habéis creado un montón de excitación en cuanto a surf y SUP con un montón de vídeos de Kai Lenny. ¿Cuáles son tus pensamientos sobre el impacto del foil en el deporte y qué podemos esperar de Naish?

El foil, por fin, ha llegado al punto en el que la gente está lista para el. Ya sea para surfear, navegar, windsurf o kite. Aunque, he de decir que el hydrofoil ha estado presente décadas, parece que ahora es el tiempo correcto para que la gente empiece a aceptarlo. Personalmente, me encanta el foil. He hecho todos estos deportes tanto tiempo y, aunque todavía me gusta ir rápido y saltar alto, los foils han añadido un nuevo elemento de motivación y excitación (y calma) a la dinámica de navegar. He disfrutado muchísimo empujando los límites de navegar en vientos flojos con los foils en windsurf, al igual que el foil ha añadido toda una nueva dimensión a navegar en kite. Lo mismo ocurre con el SUP y surfear con SUP. Nunca tengo suficiente y, a veces me encuentro a mi mismo dejando buenas olas de lado para ir a buscar olas más pochas en las que poder ir con el foil. Me lesione seriamente los dos últimos veranos (pie roto y pelvis rota) lo cual me dejaron totalmente fuera de cualquier tipo de acción, cada vez unos 6 meses. A través del periódo de recuperación de mi cuerpo, el foil era la primera cosa que podía hacer para volver al agua debido a no haber impacto y a ser muy suave con el cuerpo. Pusimos mucha energía en la segunda generación de “Thrust” foils. Para kite, la nueva aleta frontal KS2 y la aleta trasera con fuselaje mejorado mejoran el sistema modular que tenemos. Todos los componentes son intercambiables, así que puedes cambiar de aletas de surf a kite con el mismo fuselaje. O, como mucha gente hace ahora, incluso hacer kite con las aletas de surf para ir más lento y navegar más fluído. También tenemos una línea bastante extensa de tablas HOVER para 2019 en 112m 127, 130, 145, 155 y 160 cubriendo todas las facetas del foil que cualquiera quisiera disfrutar así como hover surf Comet and Ascend ranges con los que puedes surfear y hacer kite. El foil es, desde luego, un área en la que hemos puesto mucho enfoque y energía y estamos muy contentos de tener esta gama.

su mano derecha. Des también ha trabajado para Naish desde el principio del deporte. Es metódico y meticuloso y es el mejor testeador de cometas que existe. Sale a navegar prácticamente cada día con el team y con su hijo de 14 años Timmy. Des es el punto medio, el que equilibra las cosas entre los demandas del consumidor final, el team y nuestros objetivos de desarrollo. Trabajan juntos con Ethan Koopmans aquí en Maui además de nuestro team internacional que prueban todo lo que ponemos en sus manos. Y yo soy el pegamento de las cosas que podrían ir mal, siempre intentando mantenerlo todo pegado.

¿Crees que la inclusión del kite en los Juegos Olímpicos tendrá un efecto dominó en cuanto a crecimiento general del deporte?

Lo veremos en USA. Supongo que dependerá de qué fórmula acaban escogiendo para el equipamiento pero, desde luego no va a hacer daño. Creo que tendrá menos efecto en los Estados Unidos de lo que tendrá en muchos otros mercados donde los deportes Olímpicos son fundados por gobiernos. En Asia, por ejemplo, el hecho de tener el kite en los JJOO hará crecer masivamente el número de gente que va a hacer kite foil allí. Igual para muchos mercados Europeos donde las entidades nacionales financiarán los entrenamientos de los posibles Olímpicos. En cualquier caso, va a ser una carrera muy divertida y un nuevo nivel de excitación en cuanto a la navegación Olímpica.

Tienes un equipo bastante bien establecido de Investigación y Desarrollo en Maui. ¿Nos podrías hablar de las personas claves? Y, ¿cómo de importantes son estas personas en mantener a Naish en el juego?

Nuestro ingeniero principal es Damien Girardin, que ha estado en Naish más tiempo del que puedo recordar… Ama el deporte, fija su atención en los detalles y tiene un constante deseo de evolucionar y mejorar su trabajo. Está en contacto constante con nuestros importadores, team riders y líderes de opinión alrededor del mundo

En cuanto a team riders, tenéis algunos de los riders más respetados del planeta, gente como Jesse Richman y Jalou Langeree entre otros. ¿Cómo es de importante estos riders clave y qué es lo que aportan a la marca de Naish Kiteboarding?

En cuanto a team riders, tenéis algunos de los riders más respetados del planeta, gente como Jesse Richman y Jalou Langeree entre otros. ¿Cómo es de importante estos riders clave y qué es lo que aportan a la marca de Naish Kiteboarding?

Los pros son una de las claves de nuestra continua evolución como marca. Juegan papeles tanto en desarrollo y testeo de material como en promoción del mundo. Ahora mismo tenemos un muy buen balance de riders que cubren los diferentes aspectos del deporte, diferentes estilos, maneras de acercarse al deporte. y diferentes nacionalidades.

Todos son kiters geniales pero, aún más importante, son fantásticos embajadores de nuestro deporte y marca. Jesse Richman vive aquí en Maui. Es el pequeño cargador de baterías que navega siempre al 100%, ya sea haciendo freestyle, Big Air (campeón del Red Bull King of The Air), navegando en olas pequeñas o grandes… Siempre está sonriendo y tiene una pasión contagiosa por el deporte. Kevin Langeree ha estado con Naish desde que era un niño y ha crecido haciendo kite. Es inmensamente talentoso con una cometa en cualquier disciplina en la que decidas ponerle. Como Jesse, Kevin le da a las olas, ha sido campeón del mundo de freestyle, hace foil como si nada y es dos veces campeón del KOTA. La preciosa y talentosa Jalou Langeree también ha estado con nosotros desde que era una niña. Jalou fue poco a poco pasando del mundo del freestyle a las olas, su verdadera pasión. Para mi gusto, navega en olas mejor que muchos chicos del tour. Ewan Jaspan también ha estado navegando bastantes años con nosotros. Tuvo una época plagada de lesiones pero, ahora ha desarrollado un estilo potente y poderoso dentro de la escena del kite en sliders. Ganador de la Triple-S, es respetado allá donde va, Ewan navega rápido y duro todo el rato y es muy amigable con toda la gente en la playa. Gustavo Arrojo viene desde Tarifa, España. Aunque es una máquina en todas las disciplinas del kite, su enfoque está en el strapless freestyle. Navegar con él te hace poner los pies sobre la tierra, es capaz de aterrizar (strapless) los trucos que a muchos buenos kiters les cuesta aterrizar con straps. Parece que tuviera velcro en los pies. Como nuestros otros riders, Gustavo en un pro en eso de sonreir fuera del agua, muy fácil de acercarse a él, siempre con ganas de ayudar y con una actitud noble. Antoine Mermet es un joven rider de Nueva Caledonia y dos veces campeón del mundo junior de freestyle. junto con Ariel Corniel, Timmy Walsh y un buen ejército de riders nacionales de alrededor del mundo, creo que podemos decir que tenemos muy buenos embajadores ondeando la bandera de Naish y promocionando las diferentes disciplinas del kite con una luz intensamente positiva.

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create luck by working hard and not letting life's distractions get in your way ¿Cuáles son tus pensamientos sobre la parte competitiva del deporte? y, ¿Cómo es de importante para ti tener a riders en la parte de arriba del podio?

La importancia de la competición varía de mercado a mercado. Hay mercados en los que el público de kite sigue la parte competitiva del deporte y hay otros mercados donde el kiter “ de a pie “ no lo sigue para nada. Creo que puedo decir que, en general, es menos importante de lo que solía serlo. Gran parte se debe a la fragmentación y mal manejo de los tours mundiales de kite. Y, por otro lado, también está el hecho de que la parte pro de las cosas se fue demasiado a un estilo de navegar que a la mayoría de kiters no les interesa.

Puedes ir a St Peter-Ording, la Copa del Mundo de Kitesurf más grande del tour y ver un montón de espectadores… Pero, junto al área de competición, puedes ver aún más riders navegando ellos mismos durante la competición. No creo que seas capaz de ver un partido de fútbol en el que la mitad de los espectadores estén jugando a fútbol en vez de ver a los pros. Pero, para los seguidores principales de cada disciplina, ya sea freestyle o sliders, olas, race con foil o Big air, los pros son importantes.

Para nosotros el Big Air es importante ya que cualquier kiter puede verse reflejado en ello… Y saltar alto es excitante y fácil de entender para todo el mundo, seas kiters o no.

El deporte ha cambiado mucho en los últimos 20 años pero, así han cambiado nuestras vidas en general, ¿cuáles son tus pensamientos sobre el impacto de las redes sociales? ¿Es sano para los riders y el deporte o es solo una distracción?

Esto es una gran pregunta. No estoy seguro de que las RRSS (Redes Sociales) sean buenas o sanas para nadie. Deportista profesional o no. Digámoslo así; es un demonio necesario que llevar sobre los hombros para los atletas. Podría seguir hablando del tema incansablemente pero, ya he hablado demasiado sobre el tema en mi vida. Las RRSS le ofrecen a la gente una plataforma para ser vistos y oídos, descubiertos y ofrecidos. Esto es maravilloso. Pero convertir este mundo en una constante competición del “mírame” y del ser el chico más ruidoso de la sala no es necesariamente una cosa buena. Pero la HUMILITY es la fuerza del polo opuesto de aquellos que trabajan en las RRSS.

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¿Crees que es más fácil aspirar a ser un pro de kite que hace 15 años? ¿Qué consejo le darías a los futuros kiters que andan por ahí afuera?

Creo que es más fácil desarrollar tus habilidades pero, ahora hay mucha más competición. Necesitas mucho amor por lo que haces y condiciones en las que entrenar. Y, no importa el qué, un montón de suerte. Puedes crear la suerte trabajando duro y no dejando que las distracciones de la vida te saquen del camino.

No bebas, no fumes, navega inteligentemente y diviértete.

Maui continua siendo tu hogar y, lejos de lo que he oído últimamente, pasas más tiempo en el agua del que nunca habías pasado antes. ¿Cómo es un día perfecto para ti en la isla?

Soy muy afortunado de poder seguir haciendo lo que amo en el agua, tengo más de lo que me merezco. Incluso tras estas dos últimas lesiones (y espero que sean las últimas), fui capaz de volver al agua en bastante buena forma. Aquí he tenido suerte.

También he tenido la suerte de haber acabado practicando deportes en los que por, más o menos, unos cuarenta años caigo en el agua. Creo que hubiera sido imposible que durara tanto si hubiera sido de otra manera. No hay un día perfecto. Me encanta lo que hago. Disfruto a tope del viento y de las olas en cualquier forma en la que me sean dados. Cojo lo que se me es dado, olas grandes o pequeñas, viento fuerte o nada de viento. Hemos desarrollado un montón de maneras de disfrutar el agua. Ya sea con windsurf, kite, Sup, surf o foil en todas sus formas. Así que prácticamente, cada día es un día perfecto para cualquiera de estas cosas. Y, cuando no, me encanta pasar tiempo con mis hijas, mi novia, trabajando en mis coches e incluso simplemente trabajando. Me encanta diseñar tablas, disfruto haciendo gráficos, etc. No todos los días, pero, como parte de lo que hago. La vida tiene que tener un buen balance de cosas. Y, hasta ahora, he tenido la suerte de haber tenido un muy buen balance en todo lo que hago y no tanto en las cosas malas. Gracias por la entrevista, nos vemos en el agua.

Aloha, Robby

TOP: Robby still loving it 20 years on BOTTOM: Damien on his lunch-break...

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Graham Howes once more heads into the unknown – both in terms of geography and in terms of wearing a 6mm wetsuit – and finds strange winds and a new kiting frontier…

Photos: Craig Howes Turquoise water, coconuts and palm trees are trending. People flocking to paradise to fill their Instagram feeds with smoothie breakfast bowls and bikini shots... Well, one thing was sure: we wanted none of that.

The idea came about in Cape Town over summer, everyone was booking their tickets to Bali, Tarifa, Cabarete...

Don’t get me wrong, spending a week in boardies and a Bintang tank top is tempting, but we wanted something new, something real, something to remember...

It’s hard these days to stay above the crowd, everyone now has a camera, a drone, two Instagram accounts, and considers themselves a videographer or content creator.

And with thousands of ‘adventure’ and kiteboarding videos being uploaded each day, you really have to step out of your usual zone and take some big risks to capture and experience something new.

But even in this context, flying six people halfway around the world to a place we knew absolutely nothing about – and with only a five day window – would be considered borderline insanity. Now throw variables like wind, weather, and accessibility into the equation and you have an idea of what we would be dealing with. This was certainly not guaranteed Instagram fodder…

I just needed to find the other five people who were also up for a wild adventure, and thankfully they didn’t take that much convincing. I rounded up a crew of myself, Nick Jacobsen, my brother Craig Howes and three of our mates/videographers/ photographers in the form of Jop Heemskerk, Dean Cothill and Shawn Ogulu.

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a floating lake above the ocean We were heading to the Faroe Islands (and if you haven’t heard of the Faroe Islands then don’t worry, neither had I). They are made up of 18 volcanic islands, fully exposed in open ocean between Iceland and Denmark in the North Atlantic. It is just a stone’s (or a snowball’s) throw from the Arctic Circle. Cold, wet and very far from Cape Town. Thick, full-body wetsuits are required to survive the freezing cold water and the climate is far too harsh to support agriculture, so the Faroese get by on a diet of mostly sheep and fish.

What we did know about it was the images we had seen of the ‘floating’ lake above the ocean, surrounded by some 1000 foot high sea cliffs and waterfalls. Our plan was to kite on top of that lake, and above the waterfall and many other unridden spots around the islands. You may think the freezing temperatures and weather would be the biggest challenge, but that was by far the least of our worries. The islands are small and very remote and you have to get around to the spots we had spotted mainly by boat or helicopter – or in some cases hiking for four hours with all our gear. It is fair to say that we encountered our fair share of dead ends and challenges.

On one particular day we found a lake with perfect 15 knot wind, so we packed our 12m kites along with all the gear plus food and supplies for a day to hike to a spot we had seen on a map, where the waterfall falls off a cliff into the ocean. After hours of hiking, we got nearer to the spot, but as we got closer to the waterfall, so the wind increased, and by the time we reached the waterfall it had increased from 15 knots to 40, gusting 60 knots. This was due to the Venturi effect (a wind acceleration created by air having to be squeezed through a narrow space; in this case mountains and cliffs). We had the perfect set up and all the cameras in position to kite above the waterfall (and Nick had been planning on jumping off) but there was no chance of any of this happening, as it was impossible in that wind with a 12m kite. So after a quick discussion and with a few hours of daylight remaining (it was 9pm already but this far north the sun doesn’t set until 11pm) we decided to run back along the route we had come in on until the wind was manageable to launch a 12m. We then put all our dry gear in our kite bags and tried to tack upwind to the car, planning to swap out our 12s for smaller kites and then kite back down to the waterfall where the guys would still be waiting in position to film. The plan worked out great until I was about 500m from the car and the wind died completely… Nick just managed to reach the beach and I ended up downwind on the wrong side of the lake having to walk back around the lake to the car in my wetsuit, in the dark, with no pics or footage from the day’s missions...

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It was one of those ‘it’s about the journey, not the destination’ bullshit things that we try to convince ourselves of but, sometimes, you just want an epic session like you’ve been dreaming of. By day five we had succumbed to the fact that no matter how many boat rides, helicopter flights and hours-andhours of carrying gear up and down mountains you do: if the wind doesn’t want to play ball, there’s not much that can fix that.

The weather in the islands changes so quickly and frequently that a well-known Faroese saying is ‘if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes’. This turned out to be true when we gave up our search for wind and headed back to the place we were staying, only to pass a lake between the mountains with perfect 25 knots blowing down the valley with blue skies. Needless to say Nick and I were in our layers of rubber and on the water quicker than the guys could change lenses…

We sessioned the little lake for about 30 minutes and then followed the flow downstream, kiting down a little river connecting the two lakes. By the time we were in the second lake the weather changed drastically again, the rain came bucketing down, leaving the crew with the cameras scrambling down mountains to find shelter. Some weird thermals and turbulent mountain wind started playing tricks with us, and at one point we did a double jump and ended up getting stuck in a thermal about 20 meters up. It carried us across the length of the lake and just before it was going to blow us past the beach and onto dry land we started flying backwards upwind (which neither of us had experienced or heard of before). At that point I gently touched down, while Nick hovered in a static position for about another 10 seconds. All in all it was about 25 seconds hang time.

Of course it was at the time the rain started so the video guys were back in the car getting rain protection for the gear. But they did manage to capture a couple more thermal flights later after the rain stopped. We had to end that session shortly after

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that; it became too risky and unpredictable and with each jump we had no idea where we would land which was as exciting as it was scary.

That turned out to be the only proper session of the trip and we boarded the plane the next morning. As we took off and looked out the window, we were almost as excited seeing all the potential and unridden spots below, most of which will never be kited or surfed. It opened up a new world to us, of travel and exploring, even though we ran into dead end after dead end.

It just made those few sessions that much more exciting. We are lucky enough to live in a world with tools like Windguru, webcams and forums, where you can plan pretty much every aspect of your trip. But sometimes you just need to pull out the old map and dig deep for those instincts we once used to use to navigate through life’s challenges. Maybe board a boat with a crazy Viking captain you met in the local bar, telling you stories of secluded beaches, uninhabited islands, unseen waves and waterfalls over the ocean. Maybe his stories will inspire you, open your mind. And if you dare, maybe you’ll have a taste of what it was like to be an explorer, or a pirate.

Or maybe you’ll just keep watching everyone else’s movies and keep dreaming.

a taste of what it was like to be an explorer or a pirate

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Kari Schibevaag finds more sublime Scandinavian spots close to home. This time a tiny island with apparently endless opportunities for anyone who enjoys spending time in the water… which – as we know – Kari does.

If you head to Norway, to Vestfjorden in Lofoten, approximately 8 kilometers away from Svolvær, you will find a small and beautiful island called Skrova. The island is actually less than four square kilometers in size, and only 190 people live there.

It is a fishing and whaling village and has been on my bucket list for a long time. It is only an hour-and-a-half away from where I have my mini house at Flakstad, but for some reason I’ve never found the time to go.

Truls and I checked it out on Google Maps and decided it was time to finally go there. It looked like the island had several good kite spots with many small white sandy beaches so we packed my old campervan and drove from Flakstad to Svolvær to do some hiking in the region before heading over to the island. I brought my van because it’s my house when I travel, but you don’t really need a car if you want to visit Skrova.

You can catch a boat from Svolvær and sleep in a tent, rent a room, or rent a fisherman’s cabin (also known as a “Rorbu”).

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Before hitting the island, I decided to take on one of the most famous hikes in this region, from Svolværgeita to Djevelporten.

You have to climb the last part, so getting a local guide for this hike is recommended. The view from Djevelporten is amazing and you can actually see Skrova from there. I sat on the top looking out over Skrova together with Truls, and it was great to think that I would soon be taking the boat out there...

Depending on the season, the number of boat departures changes. We traveled in September which is a busier season so the boat has departures every day. The boat trip was really short, only 30 minutes or so, and it was a beautiful trip and I really enjoyed sitting there watching the island coming closer and closer.

I was going to meet some friends at Skrova, but they were still back at the mainland when I arrived at Skrova, so I had some time to kill and thought I would take a drive around the island. I was a little surprised when it took only 10 minutes to drive around the whole island! However, I didn’t see access to any beaches and was wondering how to get out to them?!

I decided that I needed a higher vantage point, so I stopped by a mountain, Skrovafjellet, that is 281 meters above sea level.

It’s the highest mountain on the island, so I climbed it to get a good view. When I reached the top I could see the beaches and the crystal clear water. I knew then that this was a paradise for kiters. The only problem was – how do I get there?

I went back down to meet up with my friends who had arrived with the boat. I told them what I was thinking about the island and they told me that it would be easy – with a boat – and luckily for me, they had one!

We went out with a boat that night to have a first look around, and discovered that the island is good for so many activities. Diving, fishing, kayaking, SUPing and kiting, just for starters. The next morning it was windy and I knew I could kite.

I was excited to get out and placed my kiting gear in the boat.

It was hard to decide what beach to stop at, so we started at the top and kited from beach to beach with the boat following behind. It was cool to cross around between the islands and getting to a new beach with just a short distance to travel. The water was crystal clear, and I found spots with super flat water.

What a day it was!

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After experiencing Skrova, I knew that I wanted to go back there, so I started planning a kite camp there with my friends. We are arranging the ‘Sea Skrova Festival’ and I will be taking the kiting lessons and the kite gathering.

I am looking forward to getting back to the beaches and this island and I’ll bring my tent so I can sleep out on some of the smaller islands outside of Skrova. The good thing is that the sun is shining almost 24/7 this time of year, so it is even possible to go for a SUP trip or have kite lessons in the middle of the night… It really is an island with endless opportunities.

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It really is an island with endless opportunities

Seatbelt Back to Blind Rider: Lucas Arsenault | Photo: James Boulding

The Move At a quick glance, this may seem like a simple Back to Blind. But adding a Seatbelt grab can make things quite tricky.

I really enjoy adding a variety of grabs and style to tricks like these. Many people nowadays can do Back to Blinds, so this is a fun way of keeping things fresh and making yourself more technical.

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The STEPS Let’s start from the beginning. This is a normal Back to Blind but for the Seatbelt grab it requires you to grab with the same hand you will be performing the handle pass with.

The tricky part is grabbing, then quickly putting your hand back on the bar to finish the rotation.

Pop hard into a backroll and really try tweaking it out as you come around.

Pull your back leg forward and grab the tail of the board with your front hand.

So start with your kite in the same position or slightly higher than you normally would in a Back to Blind.

After reaching the grab, quickly put your hand back on the bar and begin your backside 180 rotation.

It is very important your kite stays in the same position or goes lower during the trick. Having the kite flying upwards will increase difficulty.

Land blind, pass the bar, and ride away.

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Strapless Front Roll Rider: Camille Delannoy | Photo: Svetlana Romantsova

The Move The Front Roll is one of the first rotations you will learn in strapless freestyle. Even though it is the easiest one, you can still always improve it by making it as big as possible, and there are lots of variations. Landing your first Front Roll will open up the door for many other strapless tricks, it’s an essential trick to have and is always worth working on. The stronger the wind for this the better – so wait for a solid day and then fully commit!

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The STEPS For the pop, put your kite high, pull a little bit on your bar and bend your front leg as much as possible and then release when you feel the kite taking you.

Once you’re in the air, start your rotation by looking over your back shoulder.

When you are in the middle of the rotation ‘kick’ with your front leg to push the board against the

wind – but also focus on keeping the board close to you (otherwise you will be saying goodbye to it!).

As soon as you can, spot the landing zone and pull a little bit on your bar so you don’t fall from the sky or land with too much speed.

Bend your knees on the landing, it will make it way more easier and make sure you don’t damage your board.

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Strapless Air Reverse Rider: Steven Akkersdijk | Photo: Christian Rosenbrock

The Move This trick is all about combining twintipping with strapless. So it’s a smart move to practice this trick on the twintip first to get the movement down and then switch to the strapless board to perfect it. I’d advise practicing with fairly strong wind as that will make it easier to let the board stick and manage the revert to toeside, and also use smaller fins if you have them as this makes the landing a lot easier.

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The STEPS Ride in with some speed and steer your kite from 2 o’clock up towards 12.

Edge into the wind and pull in your front leg whilst pressing hard on your back foot to pop out the board. From this moment on you can also start reaching for the grab.

The moment that your tail releases from the water it’s important to press on your toes. This should angle your board down so the wind presses on it from the bottom.

Grab the board by the nose and push your back foot into the wind whilst looking at the nose.

By twisting this way, you can load up a rotation towards your toeside.

At the highest part of the jump place your grabbing hand back on the bar and twist your board towards toeside.

Just before you hit the water let go with your front hand to make the last bit of the rotation.

Keep a lot of your weight on your new back foot so the fins stay out of the water. Absorb the impact and preserve stability by bending your legs and stay compact.

Press the bar down towards your knee, this will gain you some slack for your bar swing, then look over your back shoulder to continue the rotation, and swing the bar around your head with both hands.

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2019 PRODUCT SPECIAL

CABRINHA

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Some exciting news from the Cab camp with a new kite, new foil line up and a new HQ. Team and Marketing Manager James Boulding takes us through things…

MOTO

2019 is upon us and you’ve just released your new line up. Which products are you most excited about and why?

We’re kicking things off into 2019 with a brand new kite – the MOTO. This project grew from a humble three-strut kite design into a triple threat performance machine. It is simply one of our highest performing kites to date with a massive range of use. It excels in three of the most exciting disciplines the sport has to offer… Freeride, Freesurf and Foilboarding. It quickly became a favorite for a few of our riders, one in particular, Theo Demanez whose take on freeriding seems to be perfectly matched by the kite’s ability to depower greatly and be nimble in the sky.

Outside of the kite department I think one of the most exciting new releases is our new foiling HI:RISE eco-system. We have produced two new wing sets and a new fuselage to compliment our range of growing foilboards. The HI:RISE Speed wing set is a moderate aspect wing with a faster profile made for going fast.

It is designed for speed and stability when freeriding, and stops short of being a full blown racing wing. This wing will go as fast as you want to ride it so hold tight to fly fast! The HI:RISE Lift is a lower aspect, high lifting wing which is perfect for many things. For starters, it’s a great way to introduce yourself to hydro foiling with its easy and stable lifting platform. With its ability to lift at low speeds, the HI:RISE Lift wing set is also the choice of riders looking to foil board in the surf. This year we’ve also added the X:Breed Foil to the range of boards. The X:Breed Foil allows you to mount any of our HI:RISE foils to it, whilst on its own offers a board with solid surfing performance and exceptional freestyle abilities. The track system allows you to determine the mast position and the extra volume of the board helps when performing gybes and tacks on the foil. It is the perfect one board option when surf and foiling is on the menu.

For 2019 we have also released a premium multi-adjustment strap binding. It’s designed for outstanding fit and comfort. The incremental side adjustment provides an industry first innovative heel to toe adjustability to modify the shape, position and fit. Two choices of footpad come with the H20, so you can choose either a plush and soft option for comfort or a performance-oriented impact absorbing option. We’re really excited about these straps, especially with the introduction of the Big Air tour to compliment the King of the Air competition which sees some of the tricks going towards the old school direction, with kiteloop boardoffs being a big hit at this year’s KOTA event, so we’re excited to see our riders really step their game up with these on.

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Here’s the boss taking the new X:Breed for a spin...

And in terms of the whole line up – what have you just released, and could you give us a brief overview of the headlines in terms of what’s new…

Sure, so this year we’ve added two new surfboards to the lineup that focus on some of the emerging styles of free surfing. This new collection now covers an incredibly wide range of surf and wind conditions and allows for an even wider range of styles.

So the Cutlass is the ideal board for small to mid-size waves or even in no waves at all! It’s perfect for mixing strapless freestyle and surfing in any conditions. Then the X:Breed has a twin nose and tail shape that draws a straighter rail line. This means it has the feeling of riding a bigger board in a shorter, more compact package. Both boards are weapons in the freestyle arena and the X:Breed Foil option gives you added bonus of being able to convert into a foilboard.

And any other news from the Cabrinha crew?

This year we’re been proud to relocate the brand’s headquarters to its birthplace and creative hub on Maui, Hawaii. By gathering the brand’s core of Product Development, Brand Management and Marketing under one roof in a unique and inspiring environment we’re excited to pave the way for the future. With a full office we have an extensive team covering all parts of the brand, it really gives us an edge for coming up with ideas and being creative together. Ideas can be mulled over during a morning surf and with wind virtually all year long it’s easy for us

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to put so much time into the test phases of our product. There is a fantastic heritage on Maui with sports and the Cabrinha family atmosphere extends far outside the office walls. Long term relationships with some of the Maui lifeguards has not only increased the positive relationship with kitesurfers and the local community, but it has also enabled them to help us with sun and water testing of our canopies. It’s also handy if you get into trouble on a big day! Cabrinha has always prided itself with being innovation leaders and we see it as the only way the sport will continue to thrive and grow so we’re extremely excited to have the team under one roof and to see where things go.

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ELLIOT LEBOE: BACK TO THE FUTURE As we’re looking forward at some of the newest products to hit the lineup, it seems like destiny that Elliot Leboe, one of kitesurfing’s true pioneers, returned to the fold to shoot some products with the Cabrinha crew this year. What did he think of where the sport is at now?

Hey Elliot, how was it back with Cabrinha and shooting kitesurfing again?

Well, I have a long history with the Cabrinha brand – almost 20 years – from both a riding and filming perspective. My involvement progressed from riding professionally into the filming side of things. For this shoot it was refreshing to reunite and shoot with a whole new crew of younger riders. I was truly impressed at the level of riding and the chill positive vibe everyone had. Makes for easy filming when the riders are on point, and it’s a relaxed atmosphere.

You shoot a lot of surfing nowadays and work with some of the best surfers – how do the kiters compare?

Yeah I have an interesting mix of being able to shoot some of the best surfers on the planet here on Maui, as well as some of the best kitesurfers. Through the years I have always had a somewhat critical eye on the comparisons of kitesurfing and surfing. In the past, riders were riding waves and doing airs with kites, but a lot of images you would see would be guys with not much style, barrel shots where the guy was ‘kinda’ getting under the lip on the shoulder of the wave, but not really deep enough to be considered a legit barrel in the surf world. A large part of the progression on the kitesurfing side of things has happened with equipment innovations, kites that fully depower when you need it to, boards and fins have become more refined and controllable, to handle the higher speeds. After working with Keahi and Matt for this last shoot I’m now convinced that kitesurfing is as close to surfing as ever, both on a performance and style level. You see full rail carves in the hook with a relaxed style, and some of the footage of Keahi pulling in deep into barrels on Oahu was absolutely mind boggling. It is now to the point where you could Photoshop out the bar and lines and couldn’t tell if the guy was kiting or surfing.

You were one of the first ever guys to try foiling with a kite – 15 years ago! Things have changed a bit since then, right?

For sure. I love the whole foil movement but I never thought I would see it get to the level it is at today.

Pete and myself began foiling back in 2003 with kites. We were using modified aluminum Airchair foils attached to custom boards and snowboard boots and bindings. It was so much fun to ride but not so fun to be in snowboard boots at the beach with a heavy boat anchor attached to your feet! Now I am blown away at what guys are doing now on foils.

The composite and aluminum technology plus weight savings of the new foils has aided in the radical performance gains of the foiling you see today.

What was the best thing about the shoot?

Mostly just the relaxed atmosphere everyone had. It really helps in capturing those natural moments which aren’t forced. I loved shooting the foils underwater – such a great angle – as well as any time we get wave action. I always prefer to be swimming in the water shooting because when you’re done you feel like you’ve shared the session with the riders. It was really inspiring to work with the younger generation of riders. They all have a great work ethic, are super positive and are knowledgeable about how to line up to get shots. Even when we had mediocre conditions, everyone stayed motivated to shoot.

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This is how they did it 20 years ago...

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2019 PRODUCT SPECIAL

RRD

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It’s exciting times at RRD right now. They’ve revisited their entire line up with some new products and some mind-blowing new super-lightweight technologies. Roberto Ricci talks us through what he’s most excited about…

2019 is upon us and you’ve just released your new line up.

Which products are you most excited about and why?

Well it’s hard to pick two as we did a pretty big turnaround in the collection this year, in the sense that we pretty much upgraded and changed all the shapes and products in the range from scratch. But if I really had to highlight a product we are really particularly proud of or happy about, then one would be the new Addiction, which is going to be released next January. It is our Big Air boosting kite, so a powerful kite that actually takes you right up in the sky as high as possible, it is specifically designed for high performance freeriders so it has insane boosting power and hangtime. Then the other product I’m particularly proud of this year is the work that has been done on the Barracuda, which is a super important board in the range of kite surfboards. With the help of Ralph Bachschuster, we’ve been really working a lot in Cape Town to create a newer shape which takes into account both the accessibility factor – so a board that picks you up and riding quite quickly and allows you to wave ride quite fast – and also performance, so we’ve been reducing the volume of the tail area of the board, and thinned down the rails. So we’ve achieved a board which is actually easier to use but at the same time more radical than before, so the Barracuda V3 is a board I’m really excited about. This year the kite surfboard range has been trimmed down to less models and we still keep an entirely custom approach to most of the models thanks to our CNC construction.

We also have four different constructions for our boards including an entirely new and very sophisticated technology – our Black Ribbon technology. Instead of a full carbon layer on top of the PVC foam and the wood bottom foam, and the wood sheet on the bottom, Black Ribbon has Inegra carbon, which is a little bit lighter than the classic carbon we use and also has 45 degree angles of the fibers oriented in a biaxial way so you have the possibility to have maximum impact resistance on this board but it is still super lightweight and still has flex, so you can still have a relatively less stiff board compared to most of the carbon boards on the market, and also extreme weight saving. So these boards (we have the Ace and the new strapless freestyle focused Vario in this technology) weigh between 2 and 2.4 kilograms! And the boards are solid like a rock; really really strong.

top: barracuda V3 middle: ace V1 bottom: varial V1

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Ralf Bachschuster

enjoying the new Barracuda

Moving on to the twintips and you have a wellestablished line up here – what developments will we see for 2019?

It’s totally new designs for our twintip boards, starting from the Juice all the way through to the new Placebo. So we have the Juice which is our wakestyle board incorporating a completely full carbon layer for the top and bottom to maximize the stiffness and the rigidity of the board, which is really important for landing. Then the whole freestyle range has been completely redesigned and renewed. Both the Poison and the Bliss are new but also the new Placebo, which is the most important introduction in the range this year. This year the Placebo – which is our entry-level board – also offers maximum performance, so this has been renewed with a nice, thinner profile on the rails and an innovative system of keeping the rail as low as possible and keeping the price at a good level. The technology has been improved tremendously in the last couple of seasons because we moved our production to a European factory. The Bliss and the Poison are also now equipped with a new channel box for attaching your bindings, so you really are able to customize your pad and strap areas down to the millimeter. Throughout the range, the use of multi-functional fibers – like tri-axial fibers with glass – coupled with the specific reinforcement of carbon crossed in different ways on the deck and the bottom of the boards has allowed us to be able to control the torsion of the freestyle range and the freeride range tremendously. We have learnt a lot in the last five years and created a line of freestyle boards and freeride boards which take into account what you want on a twintip, which is maximum pop and maximum, let’s say, memory of the board once you land. So it really isn’t too hard on your knees and at the same time gives the maximum spring effort when you want to use the smallest chop to get some airtime. We also

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have a super sophisticated technology in the 10 Knots. It is a premium technology because it is shaped with a PVC core which is only about 75 kilograms of weight per cubic meter, instead of the 300 kilograms of the paulownia wood. So firstly the core is completely CNC and is then handlaminated, and then compressed in a specific mold with a full carbon fiber, both biaxial on the deck and flat weave on the bottom, so we achieve the maximum anti-torsion of this board. The board is super light, one of the lightest boards on the market, and it’s really the stick to have in shallow waters if you want to ride a twintip board in almost all the same conditions as if you were to use a foil board, but there’s not deep enough water. So this is really the answer for those guys who really want to use mega big kites, like 17, 14 or 13 square meter kites, and want to ride a stick that allows it to plane in less than 10 knots…

What other news do you have in terms of you release schedule for 2019 as there are some changes here right?

So for our schedule we are going to have two different types of release, scheduling our production next year. We’re going to have one summer release starting in January which will allow all the new products to come out at the right time before the summer and then we’re going to have a winter release. This is a new strategy that we have kind of used already in the past, but without having too much emphasis on the marketing point of view, but now we’re going to market this type of two releases more heavily and involve more information according to what you can use in the summertime and what you can use during the wintertime, so it’s according to the needs of the general market around the world.

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2019 PRODUCT

SLINGSHOT

SPECIAL

The Slingshot team have been super busy over the last few months, especially in the world of foils... We find out exactly what they’ve got on offer for 2019.

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“ OUR

2019 FOIL LINEUP IS INSANE... ghost whisperer

2019 is upon us and you’ve just released your new line up. Which products are you most excited about and why?

This is an easy one: The Hover Glide. Our 2019 foil lineup is insane, and the Hover Glide platform we have created is going to set the bar across all foiling disciplines for years to come. The Hover Glide is a modular system with interchangeable parts, pieces and a growing selection of wings that give riders the ability to customize their setup for a wide range of uses. Our vision for foiling is simple – instead of hauling around a vanload of gear, all you need to ride any condition you want is one kite, board and a Hover Glide with a couple wings to choose from.

For each foiling discipline, we have a 2019 Hover Glide package designed to be as user-friendly, approachable and versatile as possible. If you’re new to foiling or want just one adaptable setup for a wide range of conditions, the Hover Glide package is where to start. From there, we have performance-oriented wings to choose from as your skills and preferences evolve.

For kiting, that means starting with the Hover Glide FKite package, which comes with the Space Skate (H4) wing. This wing was previously available only individually as an add-on, but after hearing how much people love it and how versatile it is, we selected it for our FKite package. Aptly named the Space Skate, it has a super playful feel that resembles carving down pristine asphalt on your favorite longboard. A high surface area, low-aspect shape gives it plenty of lift and early planing for entry-level riders, while aggressively arched wings give it dynamic side-to-side turning, carving and pumping that experienced riders rave about.

As an added bonus, the Space Skate wing is a great crossover for wake and surf foiling, although you’ll want a shorter 24” mast instead of the 28” (71cm) that comes with the kite package.

Another exciting detail with all our 2019 Hover Glide foils is updated carbon construction. We have worked hard to find the right balance between cost, weight, durability and performance, and our 2019 foils hit the nail on the head. Meanwhile, for experienced foilers who want high-performance, super lightweight carbon, we have the Ghost Whisper series.

Another product we’re excited about for 2019 is actually one of the longest-running characters in our lineup – the Misfit. This twintip has been with us for well over a decade and has evolved into our go-to utility player for riders who want a board for all conditions and types of riding. One look at the 2019 Misfit and you’ll see why we’re so stoked with it.

The glowing tips of the Misfit are a result of our use of ‘Korryod’, a strong, lightweight honeycomb material fused into the wood core. This gives the board lighter, more responsive tips, smooth pop, soft landings and a forgiving flex that makes carving upwind and cutting through chop a breeze.

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What else is new in the lineup and what is your release schedule for the rest of the year?

We have two release cycles for our kiteboarding line. The Rally launch in summer (the northern hemisphere summer, anyway) and RPM launch in the winter. The Rally launch included the 2019 Rally and SST kites, 2019 Misfit, Asylum, Refraction and Karolina Pro twintips, all our 2019 surfboards and a whole range of foil packages, wings and dedicated foil boards. We have new tech, tweaks and killer new graphics on all our legacy products, but when it comes to completely new for 2019, all arrows point to foiling. We’ve put a lot of stock in our foil program, and it really shows.

Then, in addition to the products we recently launched, we’ll release a handful of other items in the winter. That includes the 2019 RPM, Turbine, Fuel and Z kites and Vision, Glide, Crisis and Widowmaker twintips. Beyond that, we drip certain new products intermittently as they are completed and available, such as additional foil wings and components, apparel, accessories and gear and travel bags.

And what’s the story with your team riders – they seem to be doing pretty well right now?

We love our team and what they are doing. Karolina just won the Triple-S Competition after a year full of injuries and coming back from surgery.

Carlos Mario is continuing to blow minds by winning the second stop of the GKA Air Games. In full heroic fashion, he took both the main event and the Best Trick. Fred Hope is the latest to join our family. He is on a full foiling rampage this summer, crossing over four sports and two different Slingshot foil platforms. He works with the design and testing team with innovations and is also a team rider. He makes foiling look cool – which isn’t always the case!

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NAISH

2019 PRODUCT SPECIAL

pivot

Naish’s kite lineup has been a process of evolution and – as we found out from Robby earlier in the mag, they are pretty stoked with where they are right now. Here head designer Damien Girardin takes us through what’s new and how important the ‘little things’ are to him…

2019 is upon us and you’ve just released your new line up. Which two products are you most excited about and why?

I am really excited about our new Pivot and Slash. These two kites are becoming some very mature products in our line where I’m allowed to now really focus on pinpointing improvements. The Slash is the one that got the most refinements this year with a new Leading Edge taper. I have refined the LE diameter in the wing tip area in order to create a more instant reaction to bar input. The idea was to please the wave-rider that wants to position his kite as quickly as possible in the perfect spot in order to get focused on riding the wave, rather than thinking about the kite. So you now have a kite that reacts faster to input while keeping its amazing drifting capabilities.

The Slash also benefitted like the Pivot from some weight reduction. Any weight reduction can be felt on a kite when you fly it, the less weight the better the kite 100% of the time, there is never a kite that is too light! This year after now four years of testing the Quad-Tex canopy, we found that we could remove even more Dacron from our kites without sacrificing any durability. On average our kites got about 5-6% lighter this year, this is 5-6% less weight that needs to be flown around and that can be translated into increased low end power and more efficiency for the rider.

In the end, the little extra weight of the Quad-Tex compared to conventional canopy has actually allowed us to make lighter kites thanks to its unmatched strength.

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“ MY

GOAL AS A DESIGNER TODAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO PLEASE THAT SAME CUSTOMER I WAS!

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And in terms of the whole line up, what have you just released, and could you give us a brief overview of the headlines in terms of what’s new – rumor has it the ‘attention to detail’ knob has been turned up to 11 with features such as a new leading edge stitching and some changes to the Torque bar?

Attention to detail has always been in my DNA! Before I was a designer I was a very passionate customer, I remember being a kid and getting my first pair of Burton snowboard boots, I looked at every single detail of these boots and was loving the quality and attention to detail that went into that product. As a buyer it made me so stoked on my purchase. My goal as a designer today has always been to please that same customer I was!

This year with our kite design becoming so mature and advanced, the goal was to improve the quality even more. It started with analyzing old kites and bars to see how they were aging, then improving on our already amazing quality control at the factory. For example we re-visited our line making process and control quality to integrate the fact that Dyneema stretches over time, so we did a whole new stretching technique that takes a lot more time but TheKiteMag.com

provides an even better result. We now have not only some of the strongest lines on the market, but also the stiffest.

Another thing that’s always been important to me is to make sure that when people ride their kite, they actually use the design that I made, for that it is clear that you want the highest pressure possible in your kite in order to make sure the shape stays true to the design. So this year, we worked with our supplier in order to create a new thread that will ensure that you can pump at high pressure in full confidence that the kite will hold even when crashed.

We then created the new HT+ thread, we tested pressure of up to 62PSI (which is as high as our compressor would go!) and had no failure (compared to failure at 25-30 psi for our old kites and most kites on the market). That doesn’t mean anyone should ever inflate their kite that high as it destroys the materials, but we are now able to confidently recommend pressure of 10 to 12psi (depending on the kite size). This provides a much more solid kite in the air that performs simply better. The Torque control system this year also gets a new line organizer that allows for even smoother release of the flagging line, and the BTB control system benefits from a redesigned cleat making it easier than ever to trim.

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CABRINHA MOTO Ah, if there’s one thing we like here at TKM it’s an all-new kite to put through its paces. Cabrinha aren’t known for introducing new kites on a whim and what comes into the lineup usually stays in the lineup… So, all new for 2019 is the Moto. A ‘freeride’ focused kite. A few years ago this would have meant a beginner or mowing-the-lawn kite, but nowadays means a kite that is good for cruising but also good for foiling... It’s a three strut kite with a moderate aspect ratio and a relatively boxy shape, making it look closest in DNA to the Drifter. There’s a pulley-less bridle and the Moto has ‘pure arc segments’ which is the next step on from the Pure Profile panels. Essentially there are more segments in the LE which means a smoother and more consistent arc shape which then feeds back to the canopy to improve the shape of this. Reinforcements are solid but this isn’t a kite for megaloops or for rolling through the shorebreak at Boneyards so the weight has been reduced to improve the kite’s performance. First impressions once you are on the water are that the Moto feels light and nimble at the bar. There is plenty of control, but the Moto appreciates subtle input. The low end is excellent – we rode the Moto with a foil and there was plenty of oomph to get you up and going – and then there is a massive amount of depower and the Moto flies nicely forward in the window so you can get some good angles.

If you’re feeling overpowered, you can sheet right out and the Moto eases right off. The Moto turns quickly with a relatively pivotal turn and the responsiveness to input is excellent. If you want to move out of the realm of freeriding then you can send the Moto and get a nice amount of lift and then some floaty hangtime, and for waveriding the Moto has ST E all the attributes you would need for T ER the surf – particularly on lighter days.

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IN A SENTENCE: The Moto is a freeriding machine – it’s super-easy to fly and great for foiling, but also has some classy flying performance under the hood as well.

NOBILE ZEN FREERIDE FOIL We have been testing a lot of foils recently but this was the first split foil that we had put through its paces. The timing was good as it coincided with a trip away so, rather than squeezing in a full size board then trying to find enough towels and t-shirts to wrap the various parts of the foil in, the Zen foil set up was packed into two packages. So the board splits in two using the 4th generation W connection (which we used without any issue for several sessions) and comes with a travel bag, and the foil breaks down and then fits into a nicely laid out bag which feels like the kind of thing an assassin would carry around. All in all, the whole set up probably takes up less space than your spare tire… When it comes to assembling the foil everything screws together solidly. The board is nicely constructed with a complete EVA deckpad and we rode it with the front straps on (these can also be attached without a screwdriver for additional ease of use). There is also a track on the base so you can adjust the placement of the foil forward or backward depending on your preference and skill level. The board can also be ridden as a skim/surf board and has a twin fin set up, with channels through the tail to improve grip here. Once you’re on the water, the board sits nicely in the water making it easily to get onto, and you’re away. The first thing we noted was that this was not a pure ‘beginner/ slow’ foil. You need some speed to get up on the foil and then it comes up smoothly. For us this was very well balanced, and proof that the Zen is a good package for someone looking for ease of use but also some performance characteristics. And the Zen has some performance… You can really put some power into it and it accelerates very well – as well as some more race-focused foils. There is some ‘hum’ as you accelerate as you can get with aluminum foils but overall the foil feels stable and responsive. For turns you can pivot the Zen and it comes around very comfortably, and would be the kind of set up you FO would be happy to begin learning IL TE ST tacks and gybes on.

IN A SENTENCE: The Zen Freeride Foil may have convenience as its main focus but don’t be fooled – this is also a very well-tuned and topperforming foil as well.

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DUOTONE REBEL Different brand name. Same kite. As the dust settles on the big re-branding, it’s nice to be reminded that what’s at the heart of ‘Duotone’ is the kit. And with the kites there have been no changes with who is designing them, or the materials that are being used, or how and where they are produced. So this Rebel is still a, err, Rebel. For 2018 the Rebel made the transition from 5 to 4 lines which was BIG news to Rebel devotees but essentially well received so for 2019 it has been more about tweaking the new design.

The primary change (which can also be seen in other kites in the 2019 lineup) is that the LE is skinnier and has been flattened in the middle section. The aim here is to reduce backstalling and increase depower and turning speed. Also new for 2019 is a shorter Click Bar, and we tested the Rebel on this. On the water and the Rebel immediately feels reassuringly familiar – we have ridden Rebels for over ten years and the feel and philosophy of the kite has stayed true to its ‘top end freeride’ brief… We were testing the Rebel in gusty and busy Tarifa and it is the perfect kite to keep you perfectly powered and trucking around with the masses. With the super-precise power delivery you get a real increase or decrease in power from the smallest of adjustments and the amount of depower is massive. We felt that the turning TEST was more pivotal for 2019 making the Rebel a more appealing option in the surf, and for boosting the Rebel can be what you want it to be. If you want to really send it then you can really load up the power and it delivers some serious boosting. Or if you want to take it a bit easier then you can sheet in, send the kite, and you’re completely in control of how far you go up and how long it takes you to get down. Which is what you want from your Rebel.

IN A SENTENCE: No big surprises, but some nice refinements and an all-round smoother feel for the 2019 Duotone Rebel.

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IN A SENTENCE: A solid evolution of the Emotion: for lightwind foiling it is as good as it gets but also a responsive kite and solid option for everyday riding as well…

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RRD EMOTION MK4 The Emotion has been in the RRD line up for a few years now. It began life as a strut-less kite which flew beautifully but could get a bit lively when overpowered, so RRD introduced the single strut which resolved this problem and also improved the stiffness and all round performance of the kite. Jump forward a few years and the onestrut kite has become a super popular option and a competitive part of the marketplace. For 2019, RRD are on to MK4 and we had the chance to test most of the sizes from 17m down to 10.5m, so really put it through its paces. The first thing to note is that this is an incredibly light kite – reinforcements are kept to a minimum (with RRD’s unique 45 degree ‘Radial Reinforcements’ spreading the load on the canopy), the LE is relatively skinny, and the 17m folds down to the size of a 7m. The advice is to pump it up hard and RRD have tested their kites to destruction – although apparently usually the testing equipment fails before the kite does… So you can really give it some oomph. In the air and the Emotion sits very comfortably above you – there is no tendency for it to overfly and you can be confident that it will play-the-game in even the lightest of breezes (and we used the 17m in 6 knots!). Once you are up and riding the power delivery is smooth and progressive and – especially if you’re on a foil – you have the depower you need to get up and going without then taking off like a rocket… The smaller sizes are then surprisingly nimble and responsive. You can really throw them around and although you get some of the ‘flutter’ that you can always expect from single strut kites, the performance is good. So the Emotion MK4 is not just for lighter winds or for beginners, if you want a kite that performs well for freeriding or for riding in the surf then SING it is also a very good option. And if your LE ST RU budget is stretched, you get a lot of kite T for your money.

IN A SENTENCE: An entry level set up does not get a lot more forgiving than this – combine this with the crossover potential as a surf and wake foil and the Galaxy board/Impulse foil set up really is superb.

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SLINGSHOT RALLY 2019

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The Rally is a benchmark kite for versatility, and has always had a dedicated following of riders who love its predictability and smooth flying characteristics.

As with the RPM, it also looks different in the air to most other kites out there with its wide, open arc... For 2019 the Rally is back with new bright graphics which are a change from the usually stealthy Slingshot look. It’s like an older family member has been off on an exotic holiday and has returned home sporting a loud Hawaiian shirt. Reassuringly though, much like my Aunt Sue, the Rally remains impeccably behaved in all situations. Build wise, the kite has a considerable amount of reinforcement which makes it a little more weighty and slightly less direct ST R TE DE at the bar compared to a few of its U N RO stable mates, but rest assured you can give it an absolute battering in the surf and come out more or less unscathed. In the air, the Rally is extremely stable and you have to be ham fisted to get it to luff or overfly. The classic delta shape flies on the edge of the window well, and has always hoofed upwind relatively effortlessly with only minimal edging skills required.

The Rally has always done most of the hard work for you. The Rally is now into its eighth year, but it’s of course only now that we look at it through the prism of ‘foiling’ and it excels here – it’s a ‘drifting’ kite so is nice and forgiving if you want to ride a larger wing and go into cruise mode, or if you want some high performance riding it has the kind of predictable behavior and upwind grunt to deliver the goods here as well… Send the Rally hard, and it will reward you with long floaty and surprisingly high jumps, and produce a Woo jump height to dazzle your friends at your next dinner party.

Relaunch is an absolute walk in the park and it’s in the top few percent of ‘pops right up’ kites. It just wants to fly. For waves don’t forget that in the pre-SST days this was the wave-riding kite of choice and it still fully delivers in this department with nice pivotal turning and on/off power delivery…

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LIQUID FORCE IMPULSE FOIL AND GALAXY 4’8 BOARD Great to see that Liquid Force – who were one of the primary innovators in bringing foiling to the masses and letting you think: actually, maybe I could do this – aren’t taking it easy and are stepping up their foil game with some new offerings designed T to appeal to the kite/surf/wake crossover S TE L market. What does this mean? Well it means big wings and ease of use of course… Couple up the Impulse foil with the Galaxy board and you’ve got a set up for kite foiling or if the wind’s not up, for surf and wake foiling too. The first thing that struck us about the Galaxy board was the low weight. For the competitive price point it’s feather light and very robust. The board has a generous amount of width and volume compared to most in this market sector, so you can rock it up and onto the plane quite early when the wind is on the lighter side. The concave deck is completely clad with grippy EVA providing a reassuring feel, and has a myriad of insert options for every strap combination you could possibly conceive. The track system has plenty of adjustment available for tuning and is on the now industry standard 90mm spacing, so compatible with most foils with pedestal mounts. Aesthetically, I think if Darth Vader was going to choose a foil board, this would be it. The Impulse foil has a large front wing with a deep profile, and as you would expect lifts very early with high stability and predictable handling. The carving ability of this foil at low speeds is insane, and allows you to learn your transitions and tacks at a gentile speed without stalling. Behind the kite, looking at our GPS data, the foil tops out at around 16/17 knots, as you would expect from this design. You then have the option of trimming the rear stabilizer in on the fuselage, making the foil more maneuverable which was very effective. We also tested the set up behind a boat with the shorter 60cm mast available for this. It really shone here and was fast and stable enough to park on the wake and let go of the rope with ease. Overall it is a well thought out and complete package with bag, mast covers and all tools provided. The brass fixings are large and robust, and go together with no stress.

IN A SENTENCE: A true park, pull and go warrior with enough easily accessible lift and power to keep most riders more than entertained in all water states, the Rally continues to be the delta of choice.

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CORE CHOICE 3 The Choice is onto V3 and has had

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NAISH GO-TO As with their kite range, when Naish have a winning formula they stick with it and refine it. So the Global surfboard has been in the range for many years and does exactly what you want from a performance surfboard – it handles pretty much everything you can throw at it in solid waves. The Skater has now also spent a few seasons in the lineup and ticks all the boxes for strapless freestyle and for smaller waves. But what if it is something in-between?

What if it’s shoulder high and a little bit messy, or what if you want something less serious than the Global in prime conditions? The Go-To is designed to be that board. It has a fuller outline than the Global with a wider entry point and parallel rails before pulling back into a wider tail with a batwing tail shape. The bottom has a single concave for maximum drive and control and the Go-To has a thruster set up. Naish’s construction has been refined over the years and it’s not super light but it is pretty bombproof, and you can expect to get a few season’s use out of it… The Go-To is available in a 5’6 or 5’9. On the water and the Go-To planes early and then provides an excellent platform for cruising around on. The rocker is lower than the Global and the extra width and more parallel rails promote easy riding. For gustier or onshore conditions, you can carry your float and speed so don’t get bogged down as you can on a more high performance board. When it comes to getting stuck in to a wave, the Go-To ‘turns on’ quickly – it accelerates smoothly and then really takes off, generating plenty of speed without you having to do too much. The concern here is that it’s going to skip out when it comes to engaging a rail, but the sharper rails, tail shape and fin set up provide plenty of grip when you need it, and you can really throw the Go-To into a turn. The Go-To really does stand out as a perfectly designed, very well balanced board which will suit riders just starting out in the waves as EST D T AR well as seasoned pros looking for O FB a more versatile alternative to the Global.

IN A SENTENCE: For us this is the board that was missing from the Naish surfboard lineup – it’s easy and forgiving to ride around but then really turns on when you need it to.

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a serious revisit from the crew on Fehmarn. At its heart the Choice has had a ‘do it all’ philosophy, so you can ride it with straps or with boots, and it’s designed to be ridden by riders of all levels – from pros through to guys trying their first jump transitions. Getting it out of the box and the first thing you notice about the Choice 3 is that it looks more serious, the bottom shape has had a complete change and the graphics showcase more of CORE’s brand-driving Cartan carbon. As you’ll have read from Josh Emanuel’s assessment earlier in the magazine, it is a board which has the Big Air performance credentials for the top pros but how does it perform for regular riders? First impressions before getting onto the water are that the Choice 3 is lighter – the Choice 2 was bombproof (were there any warranties?!) but pretty chunky, and V3 definitely feels slimmed down and more refined. Getting onto the water and first impressions are that the Choice 3 offers a very smooth ride – the bottom contours and the deep ‘Vee’ hull smash through chop and take the sting out of it. This isn’t a board that has been designed with Brazilian lagoons in mind and there are better tools for the job if that is where you ride, but if chop is a reality of your sessions then the Choice 3 will minimise the inconvenience… When it comes to boosting, you can really power up the board and generate some speed – even in sub-prime conditions it really gets going – and you can accelerate before edging hard and then you get a satisfying pop and it’s lift off time! The Choice 3 really gives you something back and sends you right if you’re looking to improve your WOO record. For the landing the Choice 3’s bottom shape trickery delivers a reassuring touch down – it breaks up the surface and saves your knees from any unpleasant surprises. It’s an overused term, but landings really are silky smooth…

For closer-to-the-water wakestyle moves, the pop is great and the lighter weight and confidenceinspiring landings ensure that you should easily stick your freestyle repertoire, and hopefully add some more tricks as well.

IN A SENTENCE: The Choice 3 turns the ‘performance’ dial up a couple of notches – this is a very fast board that tears through chop and then has all you need when it’s time to showcase your skills.

SELF-LAUNCHING AND LANDING Keen to hit the water but all your buddies are already out or still at work? Don’t get frustrated, Laci’s got some tips for getting you on the water safely and easily, and without anyone else’s help…

PHOTOS: Paula Novotná

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SELF-LAUNCH Start your business as usual – pump your kite and set up your your lines (or if you want extra speed follow the kite hack ‘How to keep your bar attached to your kite’ from the last issue). When you’re ready to go, you need to find a solid attachment point for your bar. Something trustworthy that will hold the power of the kite. It could be a tree, rope or something else solid. There are two ways to attach the bar. The easiest is to put the chicken loop onto something. Just make sure the chicken loop stick is long enough. The second option is to close the chicken loop around your attachment point, which is a bit more of a hassle, but is the only way to go sometimes.

When the bar is safely attached, go to your kite and get it into starting

Try this method first when the wind is light so you get used to it and can make sure your attachment point is solid. If you are at your home spot, you could even prepare an attachment point for future use; the easiest one is to hammer the iron stick into the ground at an angle.

position. Make sure you start with the kite more upwind, so you do not get too much power in the kite suddenly. When the kite is nicely filled by the wind, run to your bar and pick it up. The ideal situation is when the kite is floating on the water, but you can make it work on the land as well.

and when the kite gets power it will yank you a bit, so make sure it’s safe to jump in the water in case! Also, there will be a risk of tangled lines so be ready to release the kite if needed. Use this method only with lighter winds and take super-duper care.

ALTERNATIVE LAUNCH METHOD If you like to live dangerously and you are on an offshore wind spot (or on a boat) you can roll out your lines and just let the kite float downwind. You have to be super careful while unwrapping the lines so they do not tangle

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SELF-LAND Landing is very similar to the start, if not easier. Come to your attachment point, land your kite and pull on all the depower. Then attach your kite to the attachment point securely and then run like hell to your kite. If the wind is stronger and you are scared that your kite will fly upwards, keep hold on your bottom steering line so you can always steer it back to the ground. Then grab your kite, land it and chill after your sesh!

ALTERNATIVE LAND METHOD If the wind is not too strong and you don’t mind risking some small scrapes to your kite, you can crash land your kite. For this, hover with your kite close to the ground and then steer it faster down. When it crashes you have to be super-fast and pull the power line that is attached on the upper side of the kite. This will make the kite lay down, then run to grab the kite and turn it into the wind. Take care, this works only with light wind and not with all kite models. If you are in an emergency situation it’s better to open the safety.

I hope you’ve enjoyed some more tips to help you spend maximum time on the water!

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Jalou Langeree reflects on the current state of the women’s surf scene and the direction it’s heading in. And also on where she sees her own path heading…

Kitesurfing has been my life for over sixteen years, which sounds long but it only feels like about five years! I’ve been competing on many different tours and it’s interesting and exciting to see the growth of females in the sport.

Women are really stepping up their game in both freestyle and wave riding disciplines. Even former world champion Gisela Pulido picked up a wave board and competed in last year’s GKA in Mauritius. Also Paula Novotná got the wave bug. The first time I saw Paula on a waveboard was during a downwinder in Cape Town; it was a proper big day and you could see the joy and excitement on her face.

WOMEN ON TOUR Last year we only had one tour stop for girls which was Mauritius. This year we have had ten to fourteen girls at every stop – four so far. How cool is that?

Strapless freestyle is starting to play a big role on tour now. Although most of us are dreaming about the perfect wave, but Mother Nature does not always provide, as we found during the GKA stop in Morocco. Due to the small waves, the judging criteria was 60% wave and 40% freestyle. Then in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, the most unexpected situation happened. On the last day of competition, the sky finally cleared after five days of rainy moody weather. The thermal wind kicked in, but the ocean remained flat.

The judging criteria was set at 100% freestyle which was something none of us expected. This was quite a wake-up call. From that moment everyone seemed to be taking strapless freestyle a lot more seriously…

Also this year Tarifa got a go, which is usually an event girls skip because it’s 100% strapless freestyle. Local rider and queen of strapless freestyle Carla Horreia was stoked to finally get a chance to show what she can do at her home spot at Valdavaceros. So nowadays you don’t just win a tour stop because you are the best waverider out there, you need some freestyle skills to turn yourself into a complete and all-round rider.

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MAKING A LIVING There are only two female riders on the wave tour, including myself, who get monetary support from their sponsors. Most of the others have jobs and take unpaid leave to compete. I call this dedication! These days it seems very hard for new talent to get a paid deal from a sponsor and make a living out of kitesurfing. And it’s not just you being a good rider, sponsors expect you to have the full package with a big reach on social media as well as vlogging, blogging, etc. You need to be an active content creator, which can be very hard if you are new to all this. But you have to do it if you want to make a living out of it, and there are many ways to do it, not just through contests.

You need to think out of the box, get creative and make sure you document it and build a following through keeping people entertained…

LOOKING FORWARD I can only see women’s kitesurfing growing more and more. With a little help from the industry we can grow awareness and get a bigger platform. There are chicks out there that rip and need to be seen. For example previously little known rider Olivia Jenkins, who is English and lives in Maui, absolutely charges big waves and last winter she was properly kiting Jaws. Really groundbreaking. In the near future I would love to go on a proper trip with the top female riders and chase some waves. A girl’s adventure wave trip has never really been done and with a little support from brands and the industry in general I think it would be a great idea.

And me? The adventure part is a thing I really miss when I compete.

I’m definitely a person that needs to be challenged and has to try new things.

I’m a 50/50 rider who wants to compete and know where my skill level is, but I also want to travel through Africa or head to Fiji and just spend time discovering and exploring new spots. I’ve been competing for over ten years and I feel that I’m getting to a point that I’m a little tired of it. I still enjoy it, but I miss going to badass spots and just riding. So I guess that is my next priority!  TheKiteMag.com