Innehållsförteckning för #46 från TheKiteMag

ALL-ROUNDER TEST The Switchblade has always had a reputation as a solid handling fivestrut booster, and has a significant following for no nonsense freeriders who want a predictable and lofty platform for boosting and hooked riding. It’s got a massive legacy spanning through much of the formative years of kiting, and it’s great to see the model continue and remain a popular choice. Cabrinha certainly haven’t held back with the size options, with a range spanning from 5m through to 14m. There’s been various build revisions for 2022 with particular attention paid to canopy layout and seaming, plainly visible on the new leading edge closure, to build even more longevity into the product. Cabrinha continue to produce their own Nano-coated ripstop which has been implemented in the range for a…

ALL-ROUNDER TEST Whenever Pe’ahi wakes up and provides those other worldly barreling watery mountains, more often than not we get a drop of mind-blowing photos from a certain Jesse Richman, attached to North’s wave-specific Carve kite, doing something rad. It’s a few years into production now, and with an impressive reputation and user base we were intrigued to see what changes they have made for the third 2022 model. In the build, there’s been some definite weight savings, with the 9m weighing in at a competitive 2.9kg on our scales. This has been achieved with some revised material use – a crisp mid-weight cloth framing the trailing edge as well as replacing Dacron on the intermediate section between canopy and leading edge tube. Two small flexible battens are hidden in…

GETTING THERE Getting there: Rhodes (RHO) Airport (by Fraport) is reachable in three hours from most European airports. There is also the harbor of Rhodes which connects the island with daily ferries to Athens and many other destinations. KITE OPTIONS? 9m and 12m or a nice foil set up with a small kite. WHICH WETSUIT? Bring your bikini or boardies, no need for a wetsuit in Rhodes. BEER Around 2.50€ at the beach. TYPICAL DINNER Opt for a typical Greek meze dinner, best shared with friends at a local taverna. LATE NIGHT… Grab a beer and gather around the bbq. Don’t miss out on the live music, and party the warm summer’s night away in authentic Greek style with friends and family. THE LOWDOWN The 300 days of sunshine a…

GETTING THERE There are two airports: La Paz, 50km away, and Los Cabos, around a twohour drive. You can either rent a car or jump on a shuttle for around $35 USD. KITE OPTIONS? If you can only pick two, we would say 8 and 11m. WHICH WETSUIT? From October to December just a rash vest to keep the sun off and then till March a 3mm wetsuit. BEER from $2 to $7 USD. TYPICAL DINNER After a long day kiting, you won’t be hard pressed to find yourself a delicious and affordable meal in La Ventana. If you’d rather some home cooking, there is a wide range of organic produce in the farmers market! LATE NIGHT… La Ventana isn’t known for wild parties, visitors here are usually after a…

GETTING THERE Essaouira Airport, with direct flights from London, Brussels and France, is only a 15 mile drive from town, or fly into Marrakech airport. Flights here come from all over the world and and it’s just an easy two hour drive from Essaouira. KITE OPTIONS? Summer 6 and 8, Winter 8 and 12. WHICH WETSUIT? Summer - 3/2 at most, don’t forget the sunscreen and in winter 4/3. BEER Between €2 and €3.50. TYPICAL DINNER The staple here - Tajine. LATE NIGHT… There’s no bustling nightlife scene in Essaouira, but a few bars offer a chilled ambience where you can unwind with a drink in the evening. THE LOWDOWN Known as ‘the wind city of Africa’ Essaouira sits on the Atlantic coast and has become the go-to destination for…

BOARD DIMENSIONS: 5’6 // RIDER WEIGHT: 82kg // RIDER HEIGHT: 187cm F-ONE rider Mallory de la Villemarqué spent a few weeks slaying some waves on his MITU Pro Carbon in Cape Verde, the home of Mitu Monteiro who helped design the board and gave it its name. I’ve been riding the MITU Pro Carbon for quite a few years now, at least seven, and I love this board for wave riding. It has a great balance between very controlled bottom turns and carvings, while allowing very sharp top turns where releasing the tail is extremely easy. It’s a very playful and lively board that makes an average wave fun, and an average rider (like me!) perform better. I can really make better turns thanks to this board. The rocker saves…

When did you start kiting? The first time I held a kite was on a beginner’s course five years ago in Tobago, together with my mum. After that I went kiting in Morocco for a longer period of time, where I got my IKO instructor license. That’s when I started kiting regularly. And how did you get into hydrofoil freestyle? I started hydrofoiling a year ago. My boyfriend, Peer Schnyder, was already an excellent hydrofoiler at the time and he encouraged me to try it. We live in Switzerland and the wind conditions aren’t always great – mostly on the lighter side – so hydrofoiling helps maximize our time on the water. I discovered that you don’t need many knots to still have fun and playful sessions. As I got…

CAN YOU SUMMARIZE WHAT YOU DO? We are a family-run kitesurf and SUP center in the UK, based in one of the most idyllic spots on the south coast of the UK, Sandbanks. Our beautiful teaching area in Poole harbor gives perfect flat water for kiting at all levels and amazing SUP tours. We offer expert tuition for all levels from beginner to expert including foiling, racing and instructor training. We do a bunch of clinics each year to teach and coach kitesurfing and SUP worldwide. Our courses are geared towards all levels: beginner, intermediate, expert and instructor levels. Whether you’re twintipping, wave riding, foiling or all three, we’ve got a number of options of clinics to suit you all over the world! The hardest decision you’ll have to make…

GETTING THERE There is a local international airport (LXS) that you can get to via Athens (ATH) or Thessaloniki (SKG) airport. There are also a few charter flights coming in. KITE OPTIONS? An 8m and 11m for average weight riders or 9m and 12m for heavier riders. WHICH WETSUIT? Boardies/bikini for mid June to beginning of Sept, shortie 2mm wetsuit for early and late in the season. BEER Between 2.50 and 3.50 euros. TYPICAL DINNER Around €18. LATE NIGHT… You’ll find most people hanging out together at local tavernas, or at the Surf Club Keros bar. Keros is the perfect place for families, couples, and people that want to chill, meet new people, and get up early to make the most out of their day. THE LOWDOWN Keros beach, a…

GETTING THERE Fly to Dakhla and Ocean Vagabond run a shuttle service from the airport to to the location. KITE OPTIONS? 7 and 9 or 8 and 10 depending on your size. WHICH WETSUIT? 3/2 long wetsuit. BEER Starts from €4. TYPICAL DINNER Recharge with traditional Moroccan delights, fresh salads, fish, tagines, pastillas and couscous. LATE NIGHT… During the high season the Surf Camp throws a couple of parties a week, with a DJ, drums and fire displays. THE LOWDOWN Dakhla Lassarga is the link between the Atlantic Ocean and lagoon. The unique location means riders have benefits from the windy lagoon and magic waves ocean side. Experts to beginners have the versatility to choose the conditions they want to experience and this desert oasis is only 25 minutes from…

GETTING THERE The nearest airport is Porto – about 40 minutes to the hotel. The best way to reach the hotel is by transfer. KITE OPTIONS? The best kites sizes for the wind season (April – September) is 7m and 10m. It can vary according to your weight and height. WHICH WETSUIT? You always need a wetsuit to practice water sports at Cabedelo Beach. In the summer a 4/3 is ideal and in the winter you can use a 4/3 or 5/3. BEER Draught Beer costs €2.50. But why have a beer when you can explore a whole world of great cocktails and drinks? TYPICAL DINNER Fresh fish, pork, “Sarrabulho” Rice, Octopus Rice, Portuguese Fish Stew… LATE NIGHT… During the summer season, you can usually find a singer or a…

GETTING THERE A flight to Porto Airport (OPO) is the easiest option and many airports offer direct connections. From here you can either reach Aveiro easily with the train or Flixbus or MyWay also offer an airport shuttle. Cars are cheap and easy to rent and give you the freedom to explore the surroundings. KITE OPTIONS? Generally a 9m and 12m combo is best. WHICH WETSUIT? For the summer a 4/3 or 3/2 never failed (sometimes even a shorty) and for the winter a 4/3 or 5/4 and maybe a cap and boots. BEER €1-€1.50. TYPICAL DINNER Seafood is an obvious choice! You can’t go wrong with fine wine and good food, all for a sweet price. LATE NIGHT… Discover the authentic town, Aveiro by walking or preferably hop on…

WHAT ARE YOUR FIRST RECOLLECTIONS OF THE BEACH? I have been hanging out at Casa Blanca from a young age, as I live nearby, and a large number of my family and friends are kiters and fishermen. When I was small there was very little development in the area; the spot had a lot of fishermen, like my grandfather who taught me how to fish. CAN YOU REMEMBER ANY OF YOUR FIRST SESSIONS? I was introduced to kiting by my cousin who would put me on his back while he was kiting and we would fly through the air! At the age of nine, Brahian de León, a local pro kiter gave me my first lessons, and then later I had Leif Leriche as a coach. My first lessons were…

GIEL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE FIRST LEGIT DOUBLE KITELOOP; IT LOOKS BOTH IMPRESSIVE AND TERRIFYING ALL AT ONCE! GIVE US A QUICK BACK STORY ON THE BUILD UP TO COMPLETING IT, AND WHAT SORT OF CONDITIONS ARE REQUIRED? Well it’s definitely terrifying! I wanted to bring back the S-loop and I thought I’d put in some time doing it. I started the day off trying some in 30-35 knots and I was crashing a lot. Then I see footage of Edgar Ulrich almost landing a double kiteloop and I hear the young Italians Andrea and Lorenzo wanting to give it a try [Ed: more on them in our Gallery section]. Not only did I want to have a nice S-loop on film but I desperately wanted to make a proper impact…

Most loops have a designation they fall into. For instance, a standard kiteloop is a loop performed at the peak of your jump with your kite looping relatively high in front of you. A megaloop is a loop performed just before the peak, pulling the kite directly in front of you or below you, adding quite some risk to the jump. To me a superloop is a loop that is done on short lines and where you place the kite somewhere it should never be: completely below you. It’s something so wild where you experience the kite pulling not up but back down toward the water; only seconds later you’re going what feels like back up and trying to see where you’re going to land. The superloop is not your…

ALL-ROUNDER TEST F-ONE’s long established kite-specific surfboard range has always been at the forefront of the sport, setting trends and helping point the evolutionary direction of the wave riding genre. The Shadow differentiates itself against the current F-ONE range as perhaps the most traditional surfboard shape, with a distinctive and classic rounded pintail designed for high speed performance surfing. Construction-wise, it is an HD foam flex composite, which seems to do a great job balancing the fine line between flex and strength characteristics. In ride feel, it’s fairly close in flex to a traditional surfboard and doesn’t have that heavy and slightly dead feeling which some epoxy boards can suffer from. Shape-wise, it’s sporting some exceptionally elegant curves, holding most of the volume in the mid section under the front…

ALL-ROUNDER TEST Appletree was founded by two brothers, who initially manufactured in a shed on a Dutch apple farm owned by their parents. From these small seeds, a mighty orchard has grown, into the shape of their own bespoke board production facility in Portugal with their own in-house designed CNC machines for milling a specific type of 50kg/m waterproof closed cell foam that they use across their board range, which spans directional kiteboards, wing, foil as well as traditional surfboards. Appletree offer a full customization service for each board model; this starts with dimensions, several different laminate choices, a choice of Futures or FCS2 fin boxes, inserts, tail dips, all the way down to a custom message to the lucky recipient on the stringer. First off we’d like to congratulate…

GETTING THERE Fly to Norfolk airport, drive, or take in the scenic route and catch a ferry. KITE OPTIONS? 8m, 10m, 12m kites will work year round… WHICH WETSUIT? 4/3 spring and fall and no wetsuit needed from May through September. BEER $3/pint. TYPICAL DINNER This spot is renowned for some of the best seafood in North Carolina, many being family-run restaurants including Pangea Tavern, Ketch 55 and Po House, which are all highly recommended. LATE NIGHT… It’s all about the sport! Get to sleep early and be ready for an early start on the water. THE LOWDOWN Kitesurfing has exploded at The Outer banks, North Carolina, and thousands of visitors are now flocking to this spot to experience the best kiting conditions in the country. This remote coastal location…

GETTING THERE Hang Loose Beach is only three kilometers from Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF) which has direct connections with Rome and Milan. KITE OPTIONS? A 12 and 9m should cover most conditions. Something smaller if you are foiling, and be sure to check the forecast before you travel. WHICH WETSUIT? Spring/summer a shortie, in summer a rashie is plenty. BEER €2.50. TYPICAL DINNER As you’d expect, delicious and colorful Italian fare, with fresh fish a specialty. LATE NIGHT… Drink cocktails or beer listening to some chilled tunes on the beach. Don’t miss the big beach parties on Fridays and Sundays. THE LOWDOWN Famously known as the ‘toe’ of Italy’s ‘boot’, the Calabria region, in the extreme southwest, is fantastic yet one of Italy’s least visited regions. It’s an ideal…

GETTING THERE Royal Air Maroc is the predominant carrier into Dakhla Airport, and low cost flights are available from the UK, Germany, Switzerland and elsewhere across Europe. Flight times vary depending on transfers, but you’re generally looking at 6-8 hours from Europe. Then the drive to the lagoon is around 30 minutes. KITE OPTIONS? Summer 6 and 8, winter 8 and 12. WHICH WETSUIT? November to April – something long. May to October – boardies, tee and sun cream, or a shortie for longer sessions. BEER Between €2 and €3.50. TYPICAL DINNER With views across the water and some of the best seafood available, Pescador restaurant is a must visit. LATE NIGHT… It’s all about the kiting. If big nights out are on your agenda this is no Tarifa, though…

GETTING THERE Get a flight to Porto airport (OPO) and from there it’s just a 30min drive to Esposende. Contact Kook Proof for the cheapest pick up from the airport as they have a shuttle service. KITE OPTIONS? 12 and 9m as the wind is usually between 15-25 knots. WHICH WETSUIT? 3/2 is perfect in summer! BEER Around €1 or less depending on the bar. TYPICAL DINNER You can get a delicious dinner with drinks from €15 - €25. LATE NIGHT… This area is full of culture, with many small and traditional restaurants. However, the party scene is very much alive here with many bars and nightclubs. THE LOWDOWN In Northern Portugal, the favourite spots to visit are Cabedelo Beach (Viana do Castelo) and the Cávado, Esposende. The geographical positioning…

GETTING THERE The best way to get to Lagos is to fly to Faro. There is also a well-working network of buses from airports further away like Lisbon or Sevilla. Many centers will provide transfers, otherwise a car is necessary to get to these rural areas. KITE OPTIONS? For the summer season, you need 9 and 12m. For lighter riders, 7m. WHICH WETSUIT? You will be kiting in ocean water, the lagoon changes temperature according to the tides, in summer you can wear 3/2 wetsuit, sometimes even boardshorts are enough. But if you want to be sure of being warm enough 4/3 is your best choice. BEER Portuguese beer is astonishingly good, keeping in mind that Portugal is known for its superb wine. In the supermarket prices start from €0.80,…

GETTING THERE The closest airport to Lo Stagnone, just 5 minutes’ drive, is the Trapani Birgi airport, accessible from many European cities. Alternatively, Palermo International airport is only 100km away, and an easy drive. If you’re heading in by car from Europe, the Genova to Palermo ferry runs daily. KITE OPTIONS? The classic quiver works the best, a 9 and a 12m. WHICH WETSUIT? Summer time, boardies and bikini. In the winter opt for a full wetsuit. BEER €3.50 a beer. TYPICAL DINNER You’re in Sicily, so there’s a couple of staples to try… A good local Pizza will set you back about €7, and then the local specialty is the popular seafood dish Couscous Alla Trapanese, which is, frankly, delicious. Washed down with a good and authentic Marsala wine,…

GETTING THERE Getting there: Fly to Providenciales (PLS) – super easy from anywhere in the US, and most of the major European airports too. Take a shuttle or taxi to your resort of choice, or book ahead for a rental car from the airport. KITE OPTIONS? Windguru is fairly accurate for wind prediction so check before you come what winds to expect. Towards the end of the day the winds are usually slightly stronger than predicted due to local thermals. The most common kite size used is a 10 or 12m, but it is suggested to bring your largest kite for there are often light wind days. But don’t be fooled, for kiters wanting more adrenaline, there are many strong wind days in which an 8m or even a 6m…

GETTING THERE Arrival from the US is super easy and most major European airports too. Fly into Providenciales (PLS) and the easiest option is to hire a car or taxi. We’re pretty easy to find, just 10 minutes away from the popular Grace Bay area. KITE OPTIONS? For the lighter rider a 7/9m and 10/12m, while the heavier riders should bring 9/10m and 12/14m, allowing for lighter wind days and insane foiling conditions too. WHICH WETSUIT? No need for a wetsuit, however shades, a hat and sunscreen (eco friendly) are essential! BEER $5-7 TYPICAL DINNER That totally depends on the vibe, expect to pay around $25-$30 at a barefoot beach bar and anything from $50-$100 for something more upscale. LATE NIGHT… It’s not a clubbing scene, instead there are plenty…