Innehållsförteckning för #41 från TheKiteMag

Flicking through the latest issue of TheKiteMag that we are – as ever – very stoked to bring you, it’s hard to believe that the content has been accrued in the midst of this (SURELY nearly done) global pandemic… As ever we have arrived at the point a couple of days before it is time to send it over to the printers and find ourselves with too many pages of content, and are faced with the usual decision of “do we cut down the content, or do we suck up the extra printing and posting costs that come with publishing EVERYTHING?!” And, as ever, we have gone for the second option. I think I could probably be driving around in a nice top of the range kite/surf wagon if I…

While the whole coast north from Fortaleza has one kite spot after another, Jeri, a former fishing and hippie village, is one of a kind for its vibe and atmosphere. It is all built on sand and sits in between dunes in a national park. During the bumpy ride through these dunes and desert scenery, you wouldn’t expect to find what awaits you at the end of the ride – you’ll watch the surfers or a spontaneous capoeira show, see the sun sink into the ocean from the main dune, then wander barefoot on unpaved sandy roads and buy the famous Brazilian cocktail caipirinha on Caipi Street, and maybe catch some live music. There is wind all day every day during the season, and compared to the more southerly spots…

Fish Bowl Diaries. Robby Naish: Global Carbon Surfboard With a wide range of performance features and all new shapes, it’s easy to _ nd the perfect surfboard in the new Naish lineup. Whether you’re riding reef breaks or low wind days at your home spot, the Naish Surfboards were designed by Robby Naish and tested by our global team to excel in all conditions. In addition to our expanded board range, we offer a variety of construction options to choose from - including our brand new carbon construction. Along with the Global, Go-To and Skater, Naish is also introducing the Gecko and Strapless Wonder - two all new shapes dedicated to strapless riding. Designed and built to perform no matter what the conditions, Naish surfboards are made to give you…

In any normal year the Red Bull King of the Air would have taken place recently in Cape Town. But South Africa shut their beaches due to Covid, and sadly the event had to be cancelled. The list of competitors would have included the top three finishers from last year: Jesse Richman, Nick Jacobsen and Aaron Hadlow, plus Kevin Langeree, the winner of the Cold Hawaii Games last September, as well as video entrants chosen, from the biggest number of entries ever received, for their display of height, power, extremity, technicality and innovation. On the list were some of the regulars, plus a few talented newbies, and for the only female, Angely Bouillot, it would have been her second event (come on KOTA, bring us a women’s event!). We asked…

I grew up in Cape Verde and kited for the first time when I was around seven years old, but I didn’t get into it straight away. I came back to it two years later and then got hooked. I was taught by many people but most importantly my mom and dad – they have always been there for me. I remember when I was learning, before I could go upwind, they would always walk down the beach to get me and bring me back upwind. As soon I could kite by myself, we all started riding together. It was one of the best moments of my life! When I was around 10 years old my parents and I decided to move to Switzerland to focus on my studying and…

“Those two weeks in isolation were long to say the least. I spent most days on my balcony watching my brother kite and desperately wishing I were down there with him.” If I had left France just a few days later, I am not sure I would have made it to Saint Brandon. We were wary of the flight schedule changing due to the second lockdown in France, and with December’s cyclone season on its way, we knew there was a high chance this trip would fail. By the skin of our teeth, we were able to squeeze it in and make it happen in the last week of November. I flew into Mauritius from Montpellier, France. Flying during the pandemic can be really stressful, and I found myself thinking…

WHAT RESPECTIVE RIDING STYLE ARE THE MOTO AND CONTRA EACH DESIGNED FOR? The Moto is a do-it-all, easy-to-ride freeride kite. It is the ideal kite for someone to learn on but also performs seamlessly across all areas of kiting from surf through freeride to foil. The Contra is a light wind weapon that remains in sizes 13, 15 and 17m, but this year we have added smaller sizes – 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11m – that take on the legendary efficient Contra design but have changed to a lightweight one-strut design. This is a real performance foiling kite. WHY HAVE YOU IMPLEMENTED THE ONE STRUT ON THE SMALLER SIZES ONLY? When foiling, there is usually much less pressure on the kite structure and you can get away with…

STEP 1 You want to build up a decent amount of speed and place your kite at the lowest possible position, while still getting enough height and hang time. You will need to have your lines as slack as possible. STEP 2 Extend your pop as long as you can and put a lot of pressure on your back leg, so that your whole backmobe rotation comes around without having to pull on the bar again after the backroll. Make sure your arms are extended during the pop. STEP 3 Grab your nose. It is important that you steer your kite down during the backroll, as you are only going to have your front hand on the bar for a while. The timing of the grabs is super important. Make…

THE LOWDOWN The winds are steady all year on the western most part of Sicily and the air and water temperatures are generally pretty high. The resort of Prokite Alby Rondina is perfectly positioned on the shores of a large, sandy and shallow flat-water lagoon, part of a very picturesque nature reserve, Lo Stagnone. It’s ideal for learners and advanced riders too, with a multitude of little islands on the farther reaches of the lagoon, and plenty of scope for exploring the salt pans and salina walls. KITING SET UP ProKite Alby Rondina is the main kite school in Lo Stagnone, which is situated halfway between the cities of Marsala and Trapani (the latter having the closest airport). Sitting right on the huge lagoon, It really delivers all that you…

RIDER THEO DE RAMECOURT PHOTO MIRIAM JOANNA LOCATION CAPE TOWN TR: I was out on my 7m Flysurfer Stoke. It was actually super moody at the beginning of this session, almost raining and grey, but all of a sudden the clouds got blown away and this unbelievably beautiful sunset appeared. RIDER JULIAN MEISTER PHOTO LUKAS PITSCH/PROIMAGEHUB.CH LOCATION SILVAPLANA, SWITZERLAND LP: The sun was shining with lots of warmth, and as we hadn’t had any fresh snow for a while, instead of starting new backcountry tours, we used the day to play on the frozen lake of Silvaplana where Julian demonstrated some air-style. Not a bad alternative to riding on the water at all, is it? RIDER PATRI MCLAUGHLIN PHOTO MICHAEL GILBERT LOCATION JAWS, MAUI PM: There is something special about…

GLOBAL BAR robertoriccidesigns…

Ydwer van der Heide, one of the most talented, hard-working and creative photographers in the kiteboarding industry – and a regular contributor to these pages – has suffered a spinal injury that truly could have happened to anyone who spends time in surf. Still without movement in his hands and legs, this brave Dutchman has a long, uncertain journey ahead. The next six months are crucial in terms of how Ydwer’s long term recovery will look. Although Ydwer and his girlfriend Marije are a responsible couple with suitable insurance for Ydwer’s career, an injury as serious as this and the lengthy, specialized recovery process to follow will entail challenging costs that go beyond any policy cover. The pair are already facing a loss of earnings as they’re both self-employed. Along…

Like everywhere in the world Covid has changed our daily lives a lot, and just when we thought things were getting better, countries went back into lockdown and travel restrictions became rigid again. For people like us that thrive on being on the road, these times are particularly hard. On the other hand, in Sal there is no shortage of swell and wind this season – we have been enjoying conditions as good as it gets. The island has been blessed with non-stop swell for weeks, and the lack of tourism has meant deserted kite spots with just a few lucky locals making the most of conditions. But as perfect as it might be, I am always looking for something else: some new challenge, a different feeling, something that keeps…

It was a flawless plan. It had to be, or we would have ended up crammed into the back of a police truck, playing rock paper scissors to decide who would be the one to call our Team Manager Ines to break the bad news. With the Flysurfer team having just landed in Cape Town intending to do a product shoot, not being allowed to use the beach posed a bit of a problem… South Africa’s Level 3 lockdown and the beach closure that came along with it had some unusual stipulations. Creativity became the name of the game. It wasn’t that we disagreed with lockdown measures; it was the disproportionate application of the rules that had us scratching our heads. If people could pack into a gym or yoga…

WHAT DOES THE INFINITY BRING TO THE PARTY AND WHY SHOULD WE WANT TO RIDE IT? With this exciting addition to our kite range, CrazyFly is back to offering three different kite models: the Hyper is for Big Air, the Sculp is our performance all-rounder and great for kiteloops, and now we add the new Infinity kite. It is a two-strut lightweight kite for foiling, surf and light wind freeriding. It is designed for and works really well in underpowered conditions, with incredible low end, stability and drift. It is very easy to fly with light bar pressure and lots of on-the-bar depower. If you are looking to spend more time on the water in marginal wind conditions on a foil, twintip or surfboard, the new Infinity kite is the…

Growing up as a surfer, I’ve taken a lot of my kitesurfing inspiration from surfing. I’ve always loved watching guys like John John Florence, and I try to implement some of his techniques into kiting. For me his power carve game is one of the best in the business and something you see a lot of surfers now trying to imitate. Although kiting comes with limitations in the angles you can turn, having the extra power a kite gives you has advantages so it’s always fun to blend the different aspects. With most modern kites having a huge amount of depower, the game has really opened up in terms of what is possible in offshore conditions and more drawn out carves. Over the last few years I’ve made a point…

THE GLOBAL BAR HAS A FOCUS ON SIMPLICITY. HOW HAVE YOU ACHIEVED THIS? We have done 26 years of testing, making mistakes, and studying new materials, in conjunction with our accomplished designers, engineers and athletes. We have a team of athletes consolidated over the years and they all send us product feedback that we try to apply to modify the products. We have also always tested the products of our competitors and understood what is liable to break, what was essential and what could be removed. HOW HAVE YOU IMPROVED THE GLOBAL BAR FOR Y26? The bar has a new CNC polished aluminum middle bar connector. We’ve also improved the stainless steel depower rope cleat. And for this year we’ve color coded the lines – the back lines are black…

THE LOWDOWN The Turks & Caicos Islands (TCIs) should definitely be high on your travel bucket list – this is a high end destination for kiters and non kiters alike. The island of Providenciales has become one of the most desired kiteboarding destinations on the planet, with two world-renowned beaches – Grace Bay and Long Bay – offering cross onshore winds, almost no crowds, and plenty of square miles of perfect, shallow, crystal clear waters. All this just over a one hour flight from Miami and easily accessible from all over the US. KITING SET UP Long Bay is the big go-to spot, a three-mile white sand beach on the south side of Providenciales. This beach is made for kiteboarding, and the main kite schools have all set up here,…

TKM Can you take us through when you began watersports, did you start surfing or kiting, and how has your ‘watersports life’ evolved?! I started bodyboarding in shore dumps when I was about five. At eight I had my first surf trip to Bali, where I caught my first stand-up waves at Kuta beach; the feeling was amazing and I was hooked from then on. I picked up windsurfing in my early teens and was lucky enough to grow up in Hong Kong where the Gaastra and Neil Pryde businesses were based. This passion led me to live on Maui and chase the windsurfing dream. I started kiting in 1996 and hydrofoiling in 2002 and have not looked back since. TOM BRIDGE If you could change one thing from when…

IT IS LIKE ARRIVING IN ANOTHER WORLD, LIKE A SMALL ADVENTURE AWAY FROM MY EVERYDAY LIFE AND IT IS STILL SUCH A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME. WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST RECOLLECTIONS OF LAKE CALIMA? When I was 8 years old I lived close to Lake Calima and came to the shore to watch people practice this incredible sport. At that time I was able to windsurf and developed my potential enough to become junior national champion in that. When I was 13 years old I started working in a kite school. I liked to see people flying through the air but for me it was very difficult to get equipment to learn with – my parents worked in farming and it is not easy to get money for gear. I…

The months of October to December are normally the time of year when the whole kite family meet up at windy Brazilian lagoons. The freestylers amongst us will shred at Taiba lagoon until the sun goes down, striving for the money shot – a sick flashlight shot by photographers like Lukas. However, the worldwide pandemic meant it was risky to travel to Brazil as normal, and for this reason I decided to stay in chilly Europe. But watching social media and seeing those freestylers who had made it to Brazil having great sessions at the lagoons, made me kind of jealous. After a calm summer season at home one thing was certain – both Lukas and I wanted to get away, to find an alternative to the dream destination of…

Normally at this time of the year I would be traveling to Cape Town for testing and shooting with RRD International, but because of the Covid situation we stayed at home and have had to ride with whatever conditions the weather gods throw at us. Luckily for me my home spot Galicia is one of the best spots in the world throughout the whole year – in spring and summer it gets a lot of wind and nice waves, while in winter it has big waves and strong wind almost every day, though unfortunately, winter also brings a lot of rain and grey days! We have many good kite spots in Galicia. In the winter with low pressures, almost every single spot works, and in the spring and summer with…

WHY ARE YOU USING GRAPHENE IN YOUR WETSUITS?! Graphene Plush is an innovative and brand-new inner lining that means our wetsuits are now 20 percent warmer than other ION models. A lot of effort has gone into improving the thermal insulation of wetsuits in recent years, and achieving 20 percent more warmth than any previous model is without a doubt a significant milestone. If your winters involve kiting in temperatures of five degrees, you can now confidently venture out for a session in colder air and water temperatures than you had previously been comfortable in, meaning more opportunities for time on the water while you wait for the milder temperatures of spring to arrive. “A 20 percent increase in warmth represents a quantum leap in thermal insulation and wetsuit technology,”…

YOU HAVE DESIGNED AND BUILT THE R5 TO MEET THE HIGHEST DEMANDS OF PROFESSIONAL KITEFOIL RACERS. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF BUILDING THE FASTEST FOIL YOU CAN? The R5 Race Series is the result of passion for performance and excellence by our craftsmen, designers, engineers and riders. We tested the prototype in every imaginable condition, did more redesign rounds than ever before, and have never worked closer with our team riders. It took us almost three years to develop a foil that comprises all our ideas and requirements. For example, with the mast we aimed for high stiffness, low drag, and no ventilation – it is always a delicate balance between these interests. There are a variety of tools available to change characteristics like profile section, length, layup, type of…

WHY DID YOU DECIDE THE TIME WAS RIGHT TO INTRODUCE A FOIL AND FOIL BOARD TO YOUR LINEUP? As you know we have extremely high performance and quality standards for our products, and we wanted to ensure we met these standards in a CORE foil. We put a lot of accuracy into the development process, to offer our customers the best product possible. The product that we have worked for and aimed towards is now ready. WHAT SORT OF RIDING ARE YOU PITCHING IT FOR? The concept behind the SLC is to offer an intuitive foil that handles any conditions with stability, confidence, and precision. New foilers and intermediates will appreciate the SLC’s stability and gentle rise. Freestylers and wave foilers will value its trick-friendly light weight and predictable wing…

YOU GUYS KITE IN SOME EXTREME TEMPERATURES – YOUR PART OF THE WORLD GETS PRETTY COLD WINTERS HEY? ! Yes, we kite year-round in Michigan. Last year we kited every week except two, when the ice flow came out the rivers. More commonly, we lose one or two months of kiting on the water due to icebergs. Needless to say, we value high-quality neoprene. It is much easier now with wetsuit technology than when I was growing up surfing in a junky old dive suit. I had some serious issues with opening car doors and nausea back in those days! I should probably mention the importance of a functional kite safety release. In those temperatures, a frozen safety release is a real consideration, so we change to wingsurfing or surfing…

CAN YOU SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU DO? Windsurfing, kitesurfing, wingfoiling, surfing, stand-up-paddling and mountain biking are the sources of our total commitment! The extraordinary and inspiring places where our ION CLUB centers are located promise to be the backdrop for the most exciting days of your year. Our professional and specialized skills motivate and bring our guests to the next level. These qualities are underpinned by the fact that we use only the very latest equipment and only operate at the very best spots on the planet… Our guests can always find the latest equipment for rental and qualified instructors for lessons – no matter your level: beginner, intermediate or advanced. HOW LONG HAVE YOU AND YOUR TEAM BEEN RUNNING KITE HOLIDAYS? Our company was one of the first to offer…