Boards 2004 Trip to Isla de Coche New world speed record ...

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Interview with Eric HertsensText and photo: Kristina KarlssonEric Hertsens has long been known for his amazing boardshaping, based in Cabarete in theDominican Republic. His boards are famous all around the globe, ridden by the likes of FlashAustin and other high profile riders. Now, having gone into the business of creating kites he iswell on the way to global success and kiteworld domination. I met up with Eric on a windy day atKite Beach, Cabarete, to ask him a few questions.What made you want to createkites?The reason is simple. I am a bigguy and there just wasn´tanything on the market thatsuited me. My business partnerPeter Stiewe has a lighter buildand had the same problems offinding a kite that he liked. So,we decided to build our ownkites.What goal are you trying toreach?Our goal from the beginningwas to create custom kites, butfor the moment there is nomarket for it. So now our maingoal is to push the boundariesand continue our research anddevelop high performance kites(EH) in limited numbers. During2003 only, we produced morethan ten new versions of ourhigh performance size 12 kite.The best thing is that we canbuild a kite and then test itimmediately in our own backyard. (Eric´s shop is fiveminutes away from Kite Beach).Another part of our business isto create kites for othercompanies such as Liquid Forceand Best Kiteboarding. Withthese kites we cover moregeneral and broader performancekites.When is a kite perfect?The perfect, imaginary kite,would be ONE kite that could beused in all winds. But being veryunrealistic I would have to saythat a kite with good pull, perfectmanoeuvrability and control,long hangtime and gooddepower would be the perfectkite. Achieving the perfectbalance between these factorsis very hard and that´s why wespend so much time on R&D inour company.Where did you get yourskills?I never went to school to learnhow to create boards or kites. Ihave learned through trying. Ithelps being a perfectionist whonever gives up. I started with ahammer and a saw and todayI´m designing and creating hightech equipment for kiteboarding.How do you think kiteboardingwill develop in thenext five to ten years?It will become more mainstream.The safety systems keepdeveloping and that´s what´smaking kiteboarding moreaccessible to the mainstream.Don´t get me wrong. It will stillbe an extreme sport,considering the nature of it.For more information about EricHertsens and his kites andkiteboards visit:www.erichertsens.com1
Above: A content Eric Hertsens, Below: Eric’s workshop in Cabarete2
Page 1: Boards 2004Trip to Isla de CocheNew
Page 4: The hard life at Isla de CocheText
Page 7 and 8: Good winds, friendly people, anexci
Page 9 and 10: Rocker and outlineOk, this far it h
Page 11 and 12: AirushThe designers at Airush have
Page 13 and 14: GaastraGaastra’s line is one of t
Page 16 and 17: Kite school: jumpsText and images:
Page 18 and 19: More kites…Text: Jonas Hörnstein
Page 23 and 24: Luckily the wind increased fromarou
Page 25 and 26: Below: The authors Anna and Christi
Page 27 and 28: 27Sebastien Cattelan held first pla
Page 30: KPWT, Les Sables d’OlonneText: Jo

Boards 2004 Trip to Isla de Coche New world speed record ...

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