December 2009 - The Kiteboarder Magazine

Consisting of over 300 islands, Los Roques offers endless opportunities for exploration. Photo Jeremie Tronet
36 thekiteboarder.com
Birds and sea life are both plentiful
throughout Los Roques.
Photo Jeremie Tronet
Linn strolls through the birds on Crasqui.
Photo Jeremie Tronet
These children are all set to go play after a day of
school on Gran Roque. Photo Jeremie Tronet
Jeremie blasts between the white sand of the beach and the luxury
yachts anchored just offshore at Francisqui Arriba. Photo Linn Svendsen
By Marina Chang
The Surf Hero Package includes the Hero Wide
camera and everything you need to quickly
mount it to any board. Photo Paul Lang
12 thekiteboarder.com
By Paul Lang
Zach Jim Stringfellow Kleppe entertains switches the crowd on his with line-mounted a particularly GoPro good Camera. wipeout.
Photo Jim Stringfellow
Densely populated areas seem to be experiencing the majority of
multi-use challenges. Photo Katina Arnott
thekiteboarder.com 37
Photos and video from the GoPro Hero Wide give
the viewer a peak at what kiteboarding is really
like. Photo Jim Stringfellow
thekiteboarder.com 13
Rider: Bill Kraft | Photos by Gavin Butler | Words by Paul Lang
Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz, California ripper Pete Mungai took out a
GoPro and scored an incredible self portrait. Photo Pete Mungai
MOKER
6 thekiteboarder.com
F e a tCaught
on
r e s
The cover of the last issue of
The Kiteboarder Magazine
featured a unique picture taken
by Brendan Richards from
Caution Kites that made you
feel as if you were right there
riding that Northern California
wave with him. Believe it or
not, that killer point-of-view
image was shot by a $159
waterproof digital camera.
The camera Brendan used
tape:
was the GoPro Hero Wide,
a 5-megapixel camera that
comes with a water housing
Chris and an assortment tronolone
of different
mounts to secure the camera By Paul Lang and Ryan Riccitelli
to any number of surfaces.
“They are great because of the
fisheye, which allows you to
can remember take the photos first of yourself, time Gary even Martin, the Technical Editor
hand held,” said Brendan. “Of all the cameras I have worked Fifth Element bars.” This allows you to mount the camera in a unique place, just a few feet
here at The Kiteboarder with, has the best Magazine, wide-angle out came of the box, home and this from makes the first away from the rider. Check out Stringfellow’s website (www.jimstringfellow.com) for more
Surf Expo trade it the show. only camera He that managed is ideal for the to average get a promo kiter who tape from sample photos and videos showing how to use the Kite Hero mount.
wants to capture themselves kiting.”
i Airush with some of the very first footage of Lou and Elliot The and old saying “You get what you pay for” definitely applies to photography equipment, so
GoPro Cameras (www.goprocamera.com) currently
the rest of the Maui crew throwing it down wakestyle. The video if you are getting a camera, housing, and mounts for less than $200, then you have to be
manufactures two cameras they market as “wearable
giving up something compared with more professional equipment. With the GoPro, you are
had it all, and Lou sports Wainman cameras.” and They are Elliot essentially Leboe the same made 5-megapixel jumping 30 giving feet up a screen to easily review images on and also having to settle for image quality
camera that can either shoot stills or video, but with different
on two line kites look easy as pie. Within a few months, that that very is only average. Without an LCD screen to review images, it’s impossible to see what
lenses. The standard lens offers a 54° angle view, while the the images will look like until you plug the camera into a computer. This isn’t really a big
first footage progressed wide version into serves the up video an amazing that 170° changed angle of view. my Both life. I deal, have but it does create a challenge when you are testing out a new angle and you cannot
capture either still images or video and can be mounted
spoke to many people over the years and many will say that High immediately see the results. The
virtually anywhere, but we’ve found that the Hero Wide is images and video that the GoPro
is the video that grabbed suited very well them to capture by the unique balls point-of-view and made images them and want creates are great for online use,
video of kiteboarding. I am 6’ tall, and the extremely wide
to learn to kiteboard. There are always unsung heroes hiding but out they are not ideal for print,
angle of view on the Hero Wide allowed me to mount the even though we have used images
behind the lens, and camera Chris to the nose Tronolone of my 6’2” surfboard and his and crew easily at fit my
n Trononlone
Photos taken with the sun behind the camera will
captured by the GoPro in this
whole body into the frame. Mounted on a helmet, the video
look much better than with the camera looking
Productions have been there every step of the way. It gives me magazine. With that said, at a price into the sun.
footage gives an incredibly realistic view of what kiteboarding of $159, the GoPro gets you the
n Look into the camera when doing a trick, no one
great pleasure to looks tell and this feels story like. about a crew of regular dudes most bang for the buck compared cares what the top of your head looks like!
who helped put kiteboarding on the map. Led by Chris Tronolone, to any other options for taking a
n Even though GoPro makes and sells mounts to mount the
When you press the shutter button to start taking
By: Linn Svendsen
camera out on the water while
pictures or recording video, look at the display on
GoPro in almost any situation they could come up with, they
the kiteboarding movies made by Tronolone Productions have kiteboarding. The unique shots that the camera to make sure you actually started it.
do not sell any products to easily attach the camera to your
been instrumental inspiring people to learn kiteboard and you can capture with this camera n Brendan Richards captured last issue’s cover
flying lines. Pacific Northwest kiter and photographer Jim
by placing it in unique places that shot by simply holding the camera in his hand
Stingfellow has developed a GoPro mount specifically
in exposing kiteboarding to a much wider audience than would you would not even attempt with
and pushing the shutter button at the opportune
for kiteboarding. He calls it the Kite Hero (available at
time. This method is for advanced riders only,
ArchipelAgo of los otherwise roques
know about the sport. – Ryan Riccitelli
other cameras more than makes up
www.kitehero.com) and it quickly attaches the camera
but can allow you to take a photo at just the right
for its average performance.
to your kite’s center lines. “I have designed this mount to
moment instead of it possibly being missed by the
12 Shoot Yourself. he best way to travel between Caribbean Islands is by boat. Having spent one be used month any in front Isla line Coche, system,” said Stringfellow. “It
camera’s two- or five-second interval timer. Use a
By the time this issue is printed,
T Venezuela, Jeremie Tronet and I had an opportunity to sail to Los Roques. The
utilizes
boat,
each
named
front
the
line
Houat,
for positioning and security, while still
camera leash if you try this!
GoPro will have release an
n Pull your shorts down once you start riding.
providing the safety of a front line flagging safety system. This
is a comfortable 51-foot sailboat with room for nine guests. The Houat also has a two-person crew, Raoul
upgraded model, the GoPro HD
None of your friends want to see 400 photos of
mount works on many four-line systems including Best, Liquid
How to get the most out Hero. The Kiteboarder was given a
the gourmet-cooking of your Captain, GoPro and Mar, the Rasta-Mate. camera.
your white thighs.
During the trip from Isla Force, Coche Slingshot The to Los CSS, Roques Naish man Smart Loop, and Eclipse behind bars. I
sneak peak at kiteboarding’s some preproduction n When you are working your way first upwind, stop videos.
we saw a whale playing, jumping, and blowing water, a pod of dolphins swam have alongside also used the this boat, on the and Naish Shift system and the North
test footage from the new camera,
taking photos or recording video if the camera
is easily accessible. Many short video clips are
Jeremie caught a large barracuda. After about 20 hours of sailing, we entered the calm turquoise waters
and we were absolutely blown
much easier to edit into something cool to look at
away by the quality. The HD
of Los Roques. First, we headed to an island called Carenero and although Jeremie had been sailing in Los
than one really long clip.
Hero will retail for $299, and you
n
Roques before, we didn’t know Have anything you ever about tried to it. explain We were the
Whatever mount you use, make sure the camera is
not disappointed by what we found.
will be able to use this camera
rock solid, as the GoPro does not float!
feeling of blasting across flat water,
to record professional-looking
flying through the air, or riding waves
video of yourself out on the water.
to someone who has never experienced
If you have friends that don’t
kiteboarding? The things that put week-long
really understand what it is about www.goprocamera.com
smiles on our faces are difficult to articulate
kiteboarding that is so exciting, www.kitehero.com
to others, but with the help of a small digital
put together a little video or a few
Sample GoPro Wide Video Footage shot by
camera that more and more kiters are using, you
photos with a GoPro camera. It will
The Kiteboarder Magazine:
don’t have to explain yourself to others. You can
make them understand why you get www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KJfnW-BEcY
show them.
nutty every time the wind blows.
launch
The Amazing
28 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 29
36 Endless Opportunites.
The Amazing Archipelago of Los Roques.
28 Caught on Tape: Chris Tronolone.
Mount the camera to
the nose of your board
so you can prove to
a l of your friends just
how good that one
wave rea ly was.
Photo Paul Lang
78 Unstrapped Toeside Jibe.
Lose the twin tip and carve some real turns.
THEKITEBOARDER.COM
Amazing
Los Roques SEVEN New 2010 Products
to CheCk Out
Caught
on tape
the video that
started it all
D e p a r t m e n t s
32 Close Up
Slingshot’s Alex Fox and Naish’s Britney Todd profiled.
44 Travel
Great conditions, good times in San Quintin, Baja Mexico.
60 Analyze This
The TKB team puts nine new products to the test.
72 Designer Corner
Unstrapped toeside Jibe
Made easy
Many kiteboarders have discovered how much fun riding a surfboard-style directional board can be, but many of those who
haven’t are intimidated by having to learn how to jibe. Fear not! It’s really not as hard as you might think it is. After a little
practice, you’ll be able to ditch that twin tip and carve some real turns!
84 Workbench
Approach the turn with moderate speed and direct the kite up
to the top of the window. Don’t direct the kite too quickly or it
1 will just pull you off the board.
As the kite reaches the top of the window, dive it down in
• You’ll have more success learning to toeside
the new direction as you follow the kite with the nose of
jibe in flat water.
2 your board.
• Don’t pause in the middle of switching your
feet. You will fall. Switching your feet has to
3
Once stable on your toeside edge, hold the kite high (about
be done in one fluid motion.
60° above the water) and get ready to switch your feet.
• Wait until the turn is completed and you are
Moving your feet has to happen in one quick and fluid
stable riding on your toeside edge before
movement. Think about being light on your feet and just go for
switching your feet.
it. Move your back foot up next to your front foot, and move
• Carve a harder turn and throw more spray
4 your old front foot to the back of the board while turning your
by entering the turn with more speed and
body to face the kite.
by throwing more weight into your back foot
during the turn.
Dive the kite to ride away with speed.
5
What’s new and what changed for 2010.
Kite economics tips 101: DIY or pro kite repair?
Picking a cover is never an
easy process. No matter
what photo we choose,
someone will always hate
it. This photo of Shawn
Richman was shot at
Sherman Island during
a sunset soul session.
Shawn’s tweaked out big
air, the moody light and the
sailboat in the background
come together and capture
a perfect moment.
Photo Tanja Kopper
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