Innehållsförteckning för #62 från TheKiteMag

One day when I am old and grey (or greyer) I may return to these editorials and – as well as being a chronology of kitesurfing’s evolution – they’ll also no doubt have a few reminders of global events that have been significant enough to merit a mention within these generally kitesurf dominated pages (remember Covid?!). This time around it’s another global phenomenon that is messing with the delicate balance of the universe, although this one far more self-inflicted, and it is of course the Trump tariffs which have seen anyone connected with the kite industry waking up in a cold sweat, shouting out “not 50% extra, please no!!!” for the last few weeks… By the time you read this, maybe sanity will have returned and the tariffs will have…

The week kicked off with a Big Air session at the iconic Barcarès spot, delivering unforgettable moments for the young riders. With Liam Whaley and Edgar Ulrich leading the charge, the riders dealt with 40-knot winds that pushed them to their limits, and they all took to the sky with excitement and grit. Valentin Hoenderop, 17, from Tarifa, thrived in the intense conditions: “The wind was crazy, exactly how I like it. Going for big airs with everyone there cheering each other on – that’s what makes the sport amazing.” For Benedek Szente, 16, from Sicily, it was a defining moment: “The wind was so strong, so crazy, but when you land a huge trick after so many tries, the feeling is unreal. It makes the crashes worth it.” Even…

As a brand with our own manufacturing facility where we produce Appletree boards using our uniquely in-house-developed vacuum infusion technique, it makes sense that we invest significant time and care into our production process and maintain full control over it. From sourcing the best available raw materials to working with the best professionals and maintaining a just, quality-driven production process, everything is done with intention. Our boards are built to last, which helps reduce their overall environmental impact. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A BOARD MANUFACTURER But what happens once the boards leave our factory? It is not like our responsibility ends once it’s off our hands, right? We’ve been thinking more and more about what impact our boards have during their entire lifecycle and what we can do to reduce impact…

North Reach ALL-ROUNDER We got our hands on the latest 2025 North Reach, the legendary do-itall kite that has been North’s versatile workhorse since its debut years ago. For this test, we were generously equipped with almost the entire size range, giving us the perfect opportunity to put it through its paces across all wind conditions! The Reach features a 3-strut delta design and for 2025, it comes with a slightly higher aspect ratio than in previous years. North is now offering the Reach in sizes ranging from 4m all the way up to a massive 19m! On the construction side, the entire airframe is built using what North calls N-Max2 Pro, a slightly lighter Dacron than standard that comes paired with lighter bladders to help reduce overall weight. That…

HOW IMPORTANT WAS IT TO YOU TO FILM THIS PROJECT AND NOT JUST PHOTOGRAPH IT? I’d say even more important actually. The photographs look incredible and really capture the moment, and probably for myself the best memories are from looking at the photos. However to the wider public and mainstream audience I think the video is the masterpiece. As much as I love the kiting world, I think it’s vital to also reach people that are not in the industry. Therefore in the YouTube video we really explain so anybody can understand the project. The concept that made this work is the special thing in my opinion. I’ve been kiting since 2007, and more professionally since 2016 when I got my first sponsorship. Over those years I reckon a lot…

Congrats on your five-year anniversary! Does it feel like the time has flown by?! The past five years have been absolutely amazing. I’ve loved focusing on the long-term vision of product design, and working with the awesome team of individuals we’ve put together. There has been some hard work and stress! Sometimes suppliers let you down or products are delivered late which has a knock-on effect for the staff, shops and distributors, and it can feel like it’s all your fault. Overall, it’s been awesome, I’ve probably been working just about every day for the past five years, but I feel like I’m “playing” all the time and if you’re playing then you can do so much more than someone that’s just “working”. How is the working relationship between you…

WHO HAVE YOU DESIGNED THE PEAK FOR? WOULD THE AVERAGE RIDER GET ON OKAY WITH IT? We always design and test all our kites with the average rider in mind. The kite has to be easy and intuitive for all riders but with performance that can be unlocked. In the end we are aiming to create incredible kites but there is no point if only a few kiters can ride them. So I can’t stress enough that even though the Peak can win events and break records in the right hands, it should also give any rider trying to step up their game the confidence to improve. YOUR THRIVE KITE HAS ALREADY PROVEN ITSELF IN COMPETITION AND WE NOTICED YOUR TEAM RIDERS USED BOTH THE PEAK AND THRIVE AT LORDS…

Rain poured down outside as I sat in my van in Lofoten, feeling drained. My body wasn’t cooperating – I’d been sick far too often. Fever, flu and every bug making the rounds seemed to find me. Meanwhile, the news was filled with war, suffering and political chaos. Articles about the US flooded my screen. Images from Syria and Ukraine weighed heavily on my mind. I have nothing to complain about compared to them, yet we humans tend to focus on our own struggles. I realized I needed something different – a proper winter with time outdoors, fresh air, adventure and the things I love – to break this cycle. I checked the weather all over Norway. Everywhere, the forecast showed rain and poor snow conditions. But up north, in…

It all started with the drive to put more women-powered Big Air projects out there and push the level even further. Nomadicsea – Aron Rosslee and Dylan Osborne – reached out to us to bring this proposal to life, and everything just started to align. What began as a simple idea quickly turned into a real mission – and finally came to fruition in Cape Town. Honestly, what better place than one of the most iconic Big Air spots in the world? Cape Town delivered its signature conditions: strong, sometimes brutal wind, massive kickers, and that unreal backdrop of Table Mountain. But shooting a project like this isn’t just about chasing the best wind – there’s also the challenge of capturing raw moments, on and off the water. Shooting with…

It was such a dream winning the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup in Cape Verde. I was the first Brazilian to win a title there. For the past seven years, only Cape Verdeans have been champions. Starting the year this way was incredible because I consider that place one of the most challenging. The conditions are good, but the wind is tricky because it blows from land to sea – which means you’re surfing in a way that’s very different from how we usually ride in other places around the world. There were times when I would go there a month or more ahead of events just to figure out the best way to surf those waves. So yeah this one felt good. This maneuver is called a layback – one…

THANKS FOR CHATTING TO US JAN. TELL US HOW THE AOUA JOURNEY STARTED. I got into designing kites in my early 20s, about 12 years ago. I was already addicted to our sport and after starting my mechanical engineering studies at the Technical University Berlin, fluid dynamics and design engineering soon became my absolute favorite fields. Then I saw the chance to combine all of this. I convinced my professors to let me get into kite design, which was very unusual. During my studies, a factory owner, whom I highly respect, gave me the opportunity to spend time in his factory in Sri Lanka, where the highest quality kites are produced. There I could learn all practical aspects of kite manufacturing. In that factory, our kites are still made today,…