Kitesoul Magazine #11 English Edition
In this issue: Red Bull King of The Air 2016, World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016, IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS El Gouna Grand Slam, Trip: Ireland, Norway, Barbados. ITW: Luis Brito, Comparative test: Wave Kites, Coleen Carroll Column, Waveriding's rules and safety and much more!
In this issue: Red Bull King of The Air 2016, World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016, IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS El Gouna Grand Slam, Trip: Ireland, Norway, Barbados. ITW: Luis Brito, Comparative test: Wave Kites, Coleen Carroll Column, Waveriding's rules and safety and much more!
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WWW.KITESOUL.COM<br />
EVENTS<br />
Red Bull King of The Air 2016<br />
World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016<br />
ITW<br />
Luis Brito<br />
KITE - TEST<br />
The Wave Kings
R I D E R : A I R T O N C O Z Z O L I N O / P H O T O : T O B Y B R O M W I C H<br />
OUT OF COMPLEXITY INTO SIMPLICITY<br />
T H E N E W M O N O<br />
T R U E K I T E B O A R D I N G
F R E E R I D E<br />
R E L A T E D P R O D U C T S<br />
X-RIDE W H I P<br />
S I Z E S 3.5 / 5 / 7 / 9 / 12<br />
P R O G R E S S I O N Q<br />
Quality commitment in every detail.<br />
WWW.NORTHKITEBOARDING.COM
FOLLOW US ON:<br />
www.robertoriccidesigns.com<br />
ONE BAR FOR ALL KITES<br />
EMOTION MK1<br />
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VISION MK4<br />
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PASSION MK8<br />
FREERIDE/BIG AIR<br />
OBSESSION MK8<br />
FREESTYLE / WAVE / BIG AIR<br />
OBSESSION PRO MK2<br />
FREESTYLE PRO<br />
ADDICTION MK5<br />
RACE / BIG AIR<br />
RELIGION MK6<br />
WAVE
PHOTO: martin rendo<br />
rider: alex neto<br />
RRD ‘RIGID THREAD LINES’<br />
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NaishKiteboarding Naish_Kiteboarding Photo: Q. Dein, Riders: Shawn Richman, Jesse Richman
Editor<br />
Roberta Pala<br />
roberta.pala@kitesoul.com<br />
Wave Thecnique Editor<br />
Mitu Monteiro<br />
Freestyle Thecnique Editor<br />
Alberto Rondina<br />
Thecnical Expert<br />
Renato Casati<br />
Photo & Video<br />
Maurizio Cinti<br />
Design<br />
Giuseppe Esposito<br />
APRIL 2016 - MAY 2016<br />
TWO-MONTHLY<br />
Texts<br />
Mark Barry, Olly Bridge, Airton<br />
Cozzolino, Keahi de Aboitiz, Bertrand<br />
Fleury, Andries Fourie, Aaron Hadlow,<br />
Colin Heckroodt, Tuva Jansen, Matthias<br />
Larsen, Matchu Lopes Almeida, Marc<br />
Ramseier, Axel Reese, Alberto Rondina,<br />
Michelle Sky Hayward, Oswald Smith,<br />
Gabi Steindl<br />
Photos<br />
Christian Black / Red Bull Content<br />
Pool, James Boulding, Tyrone Bradley/<br />
Red Bull Content Pool, Toby Bromwich,<br />
Claudio Cabral, Giangi Chiesura, Andrea<br />
D'Antoni, Mario Entero, Giuseppe<br />
Esposito, Laci Kobulsky, Craig Kolesky/<br />
Red Bull Content Pool, Colin Leonhardt,<br />
Alessandro Lo Mundo, Annalisa Matteu,<br />
Brendon O'Neal, Stefania Perria,<br />
Axel Reese, Martin Rendo, Svetlana<br />
Romantsova, Gabriele Rumbolo, SBAM<br />
Production, Tim Smith,Ydwer van der<br />
Heide / Red Bull Content Pool, Marc<br />
Weiler, WhiteSpace3.ca, Jason Wolcott<br />
Cover:<br />
Rider Aaron Hadlow/ King of Red Bull<br />
KOTA 2016<br />
Photo Craig Kolesky/Red Bull Content<br />
Pool<br />
Publisher and advertising<br />
VISU Media<br />
Via Cavour, 20<br />
24030 Ambivere (BG)<br />
Amministratore Unico<br />
Federico Sugoni<br />
fs@kitesoul.com<br />
Registration Tribunale<br />
di Bergamo n°10/2014<br />
del 15/04/2014.<br />
Periodicità bimestrale<br />
Copyright <strong>Kitesoul</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong><br />
All content is copyright of <strong>Kitesoul</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong> / Visu Media Srl.<br />
FEDERICO SUGONI<br />
Publisher<br />
He’s a manager and a businessman.<br />
He fell in love with kiteboarding<br />
almost 10 years ago in<br />
the wild and amazing North<br />
Shore of Oahu (Hawaii). Aside<br />
from kiteboarding there is<br />
only one other important<br />
thing in his life: his baby<br />
daughter.<br />
He’s responsible for the 2014<br />
launching of KiteSoul <strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />
MAURIZIO CINTI<br />
Film-maker<br />
Movie buff and keen photographer.<br />
He’s a skater, snowboarder<br />
and wakeboarder,<br />
but he actually burns with<br />
passion for kiteboarding. He<br />
started off with freestyle a<br />
few years ago, but nowadays<br />
he’s more into chasing big<br />
and powerful waves. This is<br />
what he loves the most.<br />
ROBERTA PALA<br />
Editor<br />
Sports photographer since<br />
1997, kiteboarder since 2001,<br />
she has worked for the most<br />
exponential kite magazines<br />
for the last 15 years.<br />
A free and wild soul, she<br />
has left the luxuries of town<br />
living for a life in contact with<br />
nature: a sea and wave lover.<br />
Nowadays you can find her<br />
on the shores of Capo Mannu,<br />
Sardinia, one of the most<br />
beautiful spots of the Mediterranean<br />
Sea.<br />
GIUSEPPE ESPOSITO<br />
Art director<br />
Kiter since he was in the baby<br />
pram, he is a rider for RRD<br />
Italia and he have a Bachelor<br />
in Comunciation Design at<br />
Politecnico di Milano.<br />
With this assignment, he<br />
finally has been able to put<br />
together his two passions:<br />
kite and design.
KITESOUL MAGAZINE<br />
Feel The Flow<br />
MITU MONTEIRO<br />
Technical Editor-Wave Riding<br />
He comes from Sal. Official<br />
F-one and Manera rider.<br />
2008 KPWT World Champion<br />
and three-time Vice World<br />
Champion. He started to surf<br />
and windsurf as a kid and but<br />
he definitively fell in love with<br />
kitesurf as soon as he discovered<br />
it.<br />
ALBERTO RONDINA<br />
Technical Editor-Freestyle<br />
He’s the best Italian rider of<br />
the competitive kiting world.<br />
Cabrinha, Neil Pryde and<br />
GoPro official team rider<br />
and four-time Italian Champion.<br />
Alberto has won the<br />
2001 edition of the European<br />
Championship and third<br />
place in the 2012 PKRA World<br />
Championship.<br />
RENATO “DR. KITE” CASATI<br />
Technical Expert<br />
RRD Wave team rider. Kiteboarder<br />
since 2000, he has<br />
been PKRA athlete and judge.<br />
He’s a professional sportswriter<br />
for several technical<br />
magazines. He lives between<br />
Como Lake and Sardinia, but<br />
he spends every winter in the<br />
waves of Cabo-Verde.<br />
DANIELA MELONI<br />
Professional translator<br />
Daniela mainly lived abroad<br />
where she graduated<br />
in Law and worked. She<br />
discovered her passion for<br />
water actvities back in 2007<br />
when she moved back to the<br />
Sardinian west coast and met<br />
her husband, the kitesurfer<br />
Enrico Giordano. Professional<br />
translator since 2009. She is<br />
a SUP lover and an amateur<br />
photographer and never<br />
misses to photo or video<br />
shoot a Kite or Sup wave<br />
session!
EDITORIAL<br />
A year 2016 as fast as a hurricane!<br />
This year's edition of the Red Bull King of The Air<br />
in Cape Town, by all accounts, was the most beautiful<br />
ever held. The wind conditions were not<br />
the usual "stormy" ones at Big Bay, but the waves<br />
in the Bay created amazing kickers for the participating<br />
riders allowing them to reach stellar heights<br />
for the happiness of the crowd. It was also<br />
the edition with more incidents, some riders pushed<br />
the limit up to an incredible level, like Lewis<br />
Crathern, whose conditions after the terrifying<br />
crash during the competition made everyone<br />
hold their breath. And for the first time in the history<br />
of this competition, a rider has won for two<br />
consecutive editions, this year too the King has<br />
been Aaron Hadlow!<br />
Among the major events at the beginning of the<br />
year, as already anticipated in our previous issue<br />
n°10, there has been the World Snowkite Contest<br />
2016 GPS Formula at Roccaraso (Italy), where<br />
the best snowkiting riders gathered together<br />
for a competition that this year more than ever<br />
has been difficult to interpret, with very difficult<br />
weather conditions with high temperatures and<br />
consequently a lack of snow, which forced the organisers<br />
to bend over backwards in order to guarantee<br />
a safe as well as spectacular competition!<br />
Niccolò de Simone, the event organiser and the<br />
winners of this edition tell us about it in the very<br />
broad article in this issue. Special thanks to Paulino<br />
Pereira, usually a "liquid phase" rider, who<br />
provided us with an amusing report on his first<br />
snowkiting experience.<br />
The most important new thing that actively involved<br />
the Team of the magazine, was the wave-kite<br />
test carried out in beautiful Cape Verde. Six kites<br />
were tested, in the hottest spots in the Island<br />
of Sal and with the most extreme conditions, in<br />
Rider Jerrie van de Kop | Photo Svetlana Romantsova
order to determine "whether" the final wave kite<br />
exists, a unique test worldwide which you will be<br />
able to find exclusively in this issue of <strong>Kitesoul</strong><br />
<strong>Magazine</strong>.<br />
Colleen Carroll, AWSI Female Kiteboarder of the<br />
Year 2015, shares her thoughts with us in her permanent<br />
section on the first pages of our magazine.<br />
Journeys are more and more "soul".... and that's<br />
how my great friend Gabi Steindl takes us to the<br />
heart and silence of kitesurfing, Marc Ramseier<br />
discovers Ireland and its freezing cold but yet<br />
epic conditions and Matthias Larsen takes us to<br />
Barbados with his beautiful selfies.<br />
As far as our interviews are concerned we have<br />
a young Cape Verdean, who last year got fifth at<br />
the Tarifa Strapless, Luis Brito, another big rider<br />
from an island that seems to churn out only great<br />
champions....<br />
There are also our educational articles: the foil<br />
with Olly Bridge, the basic freestyle manoeuvres<br />
with Alberto Rondina, the freestyle strapless as<br />
explained by the wave world champion Keahi de<br />
Aboitiz and the technical and invaluable advice<br />
of two big wave riders, a couple who lives on and<br />
breathes wave riding, Tuva Jansen and Bertrand<br />
Fleury.<br />
Also the new technical materials, the first approaches<br />
to the new products and a photographic<br />
preview for our Coming Soon, dedicated this time<br />
to the first event of the freestyle world tour in its<br />
first location, El Gouna, skilfully photographed by<br />
our Art Director, Giuseppe Esposito, <strong>Kitesoul</strong> special<br />
correspondent in Egypt.<br />
So relax and enjoy this issue which we hope will<br />
inspire you now that the summer season is approaching<br />
here in the northern hemisphere.<br />
Roberta Pala, Federico Sugoni
SUMMARY<br />
EVENTS<br />
SELFIES<br />
34<br />
104<br />
20<br />
Portfolio<br />
Red Bull King of<br />
The Air 2016<br />
EVENTS<br />
50<br />
TRIP<br />
78<br />
Ireland<br />
Barbados<br />
nutshell<br />
KITE - TEST<br />
112<br />
World Snowkite<br />
GPS Contest 2016<br />
The wave<br />
RIDERS COLUMN<br />
32<br />
Colleen Carroll<br />
COMING SOON<br />
66<br />
IKA WORLD<br />
CHAMPIONSHIPS<br />
El Gouna Grand Slam<br />
SOUL'S REFLESSIONS<br />
94<br />
Flow and silence<br />
FEELINGS<br />
ITW<br />
140<br />
Luis Brito<br />
100<br />
Teahupoo's<br />
sensations
STRAPLESS MOVES<br />
166<br />
in a<br />
kings<br />
PHOTO e VIDEO<br />
154<br />
Sail Video<br />
System<br />
WAVERIDING<br />
158<br />
Safety and rules<br />
Shove it<br />
360 hand shove it<br />
FOILBOARDING<br />
174<br />
Foil-Gybe<br />
Gybing off the foil<br />
ACCESSORIE'S TEST<br />
178<br />
TECHNICAL STORY<br />
184<br />
Trapezi ION<br />
PRODUCT FOCUS<br />
190<br />
Core XR4<br />
Core Fusion<br />
RRD Passion MK8<br />
RRD Fifty Fifty<br />
Girl power<br />
FREESTYLE MOVES<br />
198<br />
Front roll<br />
S-bend
20 PORTFOLIO<br />
Lasse Girolstein<br />
RIDER: Lasse Girolstein<br />
PHOTO: Axel Reese/reemedia/liquid eye
22<br />
PORTFOLIO<br />
Alex Neto<br />
RIDER: Alex Neto<br />
PHOTO: Martin Rendo
24<br />
PORTFOLIO<br />
Sam Medysky<br />
RIDER: Sam Medysky<br />
PHOTO: WhiteSpace3.ca
26<br />
PORTFOLIO<br />
Alberto Rondina<br />
RIDER: Alberto Rondina<br />
PHOTO: Laci Kobulsky
28<br />
PORTFOLIO<br />
Matchu Lopes Almeida<br />
RIDER: Matchu Lopes Almeida<br />
PHOTO: Mario Entero
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× WANDERLU<br />
32<br />
RIDERS COLUMN<br />
Wanderlusting<br />
RIDERS COLUMN<br />
Colleen<br />
Carroll<br />
Text Colleen Carroll<br />
Photo Colleen Carroll e Toby Bromwich
STING ×<br />
It can be easy to find a favorite<br />
kite spot and make that ‘your<br />
go-to travel spot’. Each time<br />
you can sneak away for a little<br />
vacation your fingers slip into<br />
autopilot, checking ticket prices<br />
for the airport nearest that one<br />
favorite kite spot. Visiting time<br />
and time again, year after year.<br />
Not to say there is anything<br />
wrong with that. Kiteboarding is<br />
a fickle sport. I get it. Why venture<br />
to the unknown when the<br />
known is so good?<br />
Even as a professional kiteboarder<br />
one can get sucked into this<br />
trap of knowing what you’re in<br />
for. Personally, I’ve been going<br />
to the same small town in brazil<br />
for the past five years, in total<br />
spending almost 10 months in<br />
the quaint fishing village. But<br />
then again there are reasons<br />
for this. When booking a kiteboarding<br />
holiday to a relatively<br />
unknown destination you are<br />
always taking a risk. Will it be<br />
windy? Will the water conditions<br />
be to my liking? What<br />
about the food, locals, and<br />
non-kiting activities? Will I be<br />
safe exploring the beaches and<br />
nearby towns? All my friends are<br />
in this other location; maybe I<br />
should just go to the same place<br />
as them….<br />
With most investments, they<br />
say that with bigger risk comes<br />
healthier rewards and just recently<br />
while globe trotting from<br />
Seattle to Asia to Africa, Craig<br />
Cunningham and I cashed out<br />
big. While the rest of the kiteboarding<br />
world headed to Cape<br />
Town, South Africa, easily one of<br />
our favorite kite cities, we opted<br />
for the path lesser travelled and<br />
hopped a flight to Kenya. Destination:<br />
Watamu.<br />
Watamu is a small fishing village<br />
located only an hour flight<br />
from Mombasa, planted on the<br />
central coast of Kenya. Boasting<br />
one of the best beaches<br />
in Kenya as well as consistent<br />
winds for two peak seasons<br />
a year, loads of offshore sandbars,<br />
wildlife, fresh cheap eats,<br />
and loads of non-kite activities,<br />
Craig and I almost couldn’t believe<br />
it to be true.<br />
It sounds like every new spot<br />
that promises the ultimate kite<br />
vacation glory in their ad on facebook.<br />
But in this case it was<br />
even better than promised.<br />
And as I sat at 4am on the last<br />
days of this recent trip to Kenya<br />
overlooking the most breathtaking<br />
view of a waterhole remarkably<br />
similar to the final scene<br />
in the Lion King, I was blatantly<br />
reminded that stepping outside<br />
the comfort of visiting established<br />
destinations can be so<br />
much more rewarding. So I<br />
challenge you, you who books<br />
the same condo on the same<br />
stretch of beach year after year,<br />
ask around, do a few google<br />
searches, find a place you’ve<br />
always wanted to see and go for<br />
it. You might just have the trip<br />
of a lifetime!
34<br />
EVENTS<br />
Red Bull King of The Air 2016<br />
testo Michelle Sky Hayward, Aaron Hadlow, Colin Heckroodt, Oswald Smith, Andries Fourie<br />
foto Christian Black/Red Bull Content Pool, Craig Kolesky/Red Bull Content Pool, Ydwer van der Heide / Red Bull Content<br />
Pool, Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Content Pool
× 2016×<br />
RED BULLKING<br />
OF<br />
THE AIR<br />
Cape Town, stop showing off!” is exactly what the commentator said during the<br />
Red Bull King of the air on Sunday 7th February 2016. The event started at 2pm,<br />
precisely on time, at Big Bay, Cape Town. And showing off, is exactly what Cape<br />
Town did! The wind reached speeds of over 35 knots, the waves were peaking at<br />
enormous heights and the crowds and cheers were larger than ever before.
36<br />
EVENTS<br />
Red Bull King of The Air 2016<br />
Heat after heat, the<br />
spectators saw things<br />
they had never<br />
seen before. Each<br />
jump was higher than<br />
the one before it. The electricity<br />
of the crowd’s cheers was building<br />
too as the day progressed.<br />
Things like Tom Hebert’s quirky<br />
old school moves and Sam Lights’<br />
megaloop triple back roll<br />
had the crowd in screams. Reno<br />
Romeu also stood out as one of<br />
the crowd’s favourites with the<br />
height he reached in all his tricks.<br />
Then there were things that<br />
had the crowds in screams for<br />
not so good reasons; like when<br />
Oswald Smith fell down in the<br />
shallow water after a spectacular<br />
handle pass gone wrong.<br />
The lifeguards rushed to his<br />
side but he soon had the crowd<br />
cheering when he stood up and<br />
walked away unscathed. Lasse<br />
Walker also had a frightening<br />
crash at the end of his heat.<br />
Everyone realised there was something<br />
wrong when he stayed<br />
underwater and did not try to relaunch<br />
his kite. Kevin Langeree<br />
came to his rescue long before the<br />
rescue boat could reach him, and<br />
held him up out of the water so<br />
he could breath. Happily, he came<br />
out of the ocean with no broken<br />
bones and just some water on his<br />
lungs. The last accident of the day<br />
was had by Lewis Crathern during<br />
the last semi-finals. The competition<br />
was immediately put on hold<br />
so they could rescue him from the<br />
water. We are not exactly sure how<br />
he is doing but we do know that<br />
he released his kite the second he<br />
fell in the water, which was a very<br />
wise thing to do and which made it<br />
easier to rescue him. We also know<br />
that he had a rather bad fall by<br />
the height that he fell from. There<br />
was about an hour and a half break<br />
after that before the semi-final<br />
could resume, as they had to wait<br />
for the ambulance to return.<br />
During the break, we spoke to the<br />
media commentator, Colin Heckroodt,<br />
for an update:<br />
It’s been an incredible event, the
× KEVIN LANGEREE×
38<br />
EVENTS<br />
Red Bull King of The Air 2016
× JESSE RICHMAN×<br />
judges up there in the box and<br />
the riders and visitors from<br />
overseas have been saying that<br />
it is border lining on being the<br />
best King of the Air event they<br />
have ever seen. We’ve had the<br />
most accidents so far, it’s been<br />
the most risk taking so far, and<br />
the guys have already been pushing<br />
the limits in the first and<br />
second rounds – it’s unheard of,<br />
it’s amazing. So far I don’t think<br />
any WOO records have been<br />
broken, the wind isn’t quite up<br />
to 40knots like they had before<br />
when they broke the records.<br />
But we’ve seen some serious<br />
moves going down at about<br />
18 and 19m with rotations and<br />
maybe a loop or two. So it’s definitely<br />
a record in terms of tricks<br />
that have been done with<br />
height.<br />
The final was one for the record<br />
books. Jesse Richman did his<br />
first trick just seconds after the<br />
starting horn blew and Aaron<br />
Hadlow followed shortly with<br />
his perfectly executed megaloop<br />
KGB. Kevin Langeree also<br />
wowed the crowds with his high<br />
board-offs and smooth landings.<br />
By this time it was 7pm and<br />
the wind was only gusting up to<br />
28 knots. But despite the long<br />
day, the setting sun burning<br />
their eyes and the dropped off<br />
wind and waves, these guys<br />
came to the party like never before.<br />
It was anyone’s game at<br />
this stage as each competitor<br />
brought their best to the water.<br />
Ruben Lenten was also there to<br />
show his support. Unfortunately<br />
he was not feeling up to an<br />
interview as he was not feeling
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Red Bull King of The Air 2016
× JERRIE VAN DE KOP×<br />
well and still in a lot of pain.<br />
The prize giving was held just<br />
minutes after the final. Thousands<br />
upon thousands of people<br />
gathered in front of the podium,<br />
with Table Mountain as<br />
the backdrop. To no surprise,<br />
Kevin Langeree won the Mystic<br />
most extreme move of the day.<br />
He was clearly the crowd’s favourite,<br />
because as soon as he<br />
was announced in third place,<br />
they started to boo and complain.<br />
In a moment of absolute<br />
tension, we had to wait to see<br />
who would come first, Aaron or<br />
Jesse. Suddenly Aaron’s hand<br />
was raised, announcing him the<br />
winner and chaos in the form of<br />
cheers and camera flashes filled<br />
the beach.<br />
While the podium positions lapped<br />
up their victory, we spoke<br />
to some of the other riders and<br />
asked them how the event went<br />
for them and what they thought<br />
of the final results:<br />
Oswald Smith: We had a really<br />
great day here today, the wind<br />
was perfect, the waves were<br />
really big, we had some sick<br />
kickers and everyone rode super<br />
well. The level was higher<br />
than ever before. Unfortunately<br />
I bummed out of my quarter finals,<br />
I got a few sick loops and<br />
then I tried some handle passes<br />
but didn’t really stick it so<br />
I didn’t get my third trick down.<br />
But the finals were insane, we<br />
had Aaron doing some KGB kiteloop<br />
passes which was crazy<br />
and then we got Jesse doing a<br />
kiteloop front mobe. I’m pretty<br />
stoked, it was an awesome<br />
event – best King of the Air yet!<br />
The judging was pretty good,
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Red Bull King of The Air 2016<br />
Aaron deserves the first place<br />
and I know that Jesse definitely<br />
competed very hard, and then<br />
in third place it was Kevin who<br />
also did really well.<br />
Andries: I’m happy, I’m stoked<br />
with my achievement. I will be<br />
doing it again next year, since I<br />
was in the top 12 I automatically<br />
go through. (Andries made it<br />
through to the semi-finals) The<br />
final results, I wasn’t too convinced<br />
about the first, second<br />
and third results. I think Kevin<br />
needed to win since he won the<br />
best move of the day during the<br />
final heat, but I also think Jesse<br />
did do really well so it’s hard to<br />
say.<br />
In rare moments this, everything<br />
falls into place. A moment where<br />
the pressure mounts and<br />
the riders push the limits. The<br />
world comes out to support a<br />
cause and unity abounds. The<br />
elements fall into place too, and<br />
show off what they can provide.<br />
And that rare moment, is called<br />
Red Bull King of the Air.<br />
Well done to every single rider<br />
for going out there and giving<br />
it their all. Well done to Aaron<br />
for winning, the first rider to win<br />
the King of the Air twice! Once<br />
again, he has made history. I<br />
guess Red Bull really does give<br />
you wings. While we wait to<br />
hear about Lewis Crathern, our<br />
thoughts go out to his friends<br />
and family. Our thoughts also<br />
go out to Ruben, we wish him<br />
well and hope to see him back<br />
on the water again soon.
× LEWIS CRATHERN×
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Red Bull King of The Air 2016
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Red Bull King of The Air 2016<br />
This year the Red Bull King of<br />
the Air brought some of the<br />
most incredible condition, the<br />
wind was strong but the big waves<br />
crashing through made the<br />
biggest difference.<br />
Looking at the criteria it is important<br />
to balance height and<br />
risk factor. Big Megaloops and<br />
tricks such as the Megaloop<br />
KGB where strong in my mind<br />
through out the day and they<br />
helped me get through to the<br />
final.<br />
It was an emotional day, seeing<br />
my good mate and team mate<br />
Lewis Crathern down and out<br />
after a huge crash, I was very<br />
worried and it made me realise<br />
how serious a crash like this can<br />
be. After over an hour of waiting<br />
before the final, with the support<br />
from Family and friends I<br />
was able to get my head back<br />
in the game. I managed to start<br />
the heat in the best way possible.<br />
I got my biggest jump,
followed by my best Megaloop<br />
KGB, followed by a big Megaloop<br />
front roll with a grab of the<br />
wave. With so much adrenaline<br />
and emotion flowing I could<br />
really give it my all. The crowds<br />
were huge and it was great to<br />
feel that energy. Coming to the<br />
beach I felt confident that I had<br />
done the best I could. I was able<br />
to go big and add maximum risk<br />
factor. It is always hard to know<br />
which way the decision will go<br />
on the podium but I was really<br />
happy to hear my name last and<br />
stand on the top step.<br />
Aaron
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Red Bull King of The Air 2016<br />
AARON HADLOW<br />
× KING OF THE AIR 2016×
50<br />
EVENTS<br />
World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)<br />
ROCCARASO (ITALY)<br />
The Alto Sangro ski area has hosted the World<br />
Snowkite Contest 2016, GPS formula, which is based<br />
on an evaluation system of the tracks covered by the<br />
riders in a given time interval, through which the<br />
scoring is assigned based on parameters such as the<br />
length of the track and of the perimeter covered within<br />
the race field. Six days of competition, from Monday to<br />
Saturday and 35 registered athletes coming from every<br />
country, from Russia to Italy.
ITW Roberta Pala<br />
Text Mauro Ferro, Niccolò de Simone, Michele Leoni, Felix Kernsten, Lukas Vogeltanz, Paulino Pereira<br />
Photo Bertrand Boone, Wareck Arnaud, Annalisa Matteu, Fabrizio Poggi, Mauro Ferro
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World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)<br />
We asked some questions to the organizer of<br />
the event, Niccolò de Simone.<br />
KS_What are the considerations for this year<br />
event?<br />
WSC_There have been both positive and negative<br />
elements. We have been unlucky if we consider<br />
the snow conditions, however we managed to<br />
run 4 days of activities out of six. This shows that<br />
the Alto Sangro ski area is suitable for snowkiting<br />
and very versatile. Unfortunately, ours sport<br />
depends on weather conditions and the overall<br />
mood is affected by them. Hence I would probably<br />
say that this edition has been the most<br />
complicated one compared to the previous ones.<br />
We will work to improve both the format and the<br />
GPS formula.<br />
KS_Difficult conditions and change of the race<br />
field, how did it influence the performance of the<br />
contest?<br />
WSC_ Safety and format wise the 2016 event has<br />
been a very complex one due to the general weather<br />
conditions. From a meteorological point of<br />
view it has been the most difficult season I have<br />
ever seen in relation to the snow conditions. During<br />
the days of the competition we had high<br />
pressure with winds aloft and the practicability of<br />
the spots was limited by the absence of snow. In<br />
fact, out of the five possible spots for the race,<br />
only one was covered by snow more evenly. Nevertheless,<br />
we managed to run the contest to the<br />
end without any incidents. It goes without saying<br />
that in such conditions the race format has also<br />
suffered some limitations. The contest of Roccaraso<br />
was created with the objective of enabling<br />
the athletes to explore a wide area both through
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World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)
the gps device and by the identification of a route.<br />
Because of the snow conditions this year we<br />
had to limit the single races to 30 minutes and<br />
that did not allow the riders to discover an extended<br />
territory.<br />
misunderstandings due to a mistaken interpretation<br />
by the athletes, which could have been avoided<br />
by properly writing the rules down. This will<br />
be one of the main objectives for the 2017 edition.<br />
The main disqualifications were related to<br />
the fundamental rule according to which riders<br />
must return to the starting point in order to allow<br />
KS_Tracks and rules, during this edition there<br />
have been many disqualifications and ranking<br />
changes.<br />
WSC_The GPS formula competition is quite<br />
young and complicated from a technological perspective<br />
but it can adjust very well to different<br />
race tracks and weather conditions. This makes<br />
the rider meeting in the morning of fundamental<br />
importance as all the characteristics of the competition<br />
of the day are explicated there and then.<br />
Probably the organization has put too much trust<br />
in the oral information and this led to the many<br />
the system to properly calculate the perimeter of<br />
the completed track. In many cases the athletes<br />
did not comply with this rule and that’s why the<br />
organization applied a heavy penalty to the score<br />
of some of them.<br />
KS_How about the importance of mountain safety<br />
and the difficulties to manage it in a competition<br />
like this?<br />
WSC_The general issue of mountain safety is so<br />
wide and important that I doubt it could be properly<br />
addressed in a nutshell. I believe it is impor-
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World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)<br />
tant to clarify which are the safety devices that<br />
the organization required to the athletes and<br />
what are the arranged emergency vehicles. In order<br />
to be admitted to the competition each participant<br />
must have, in addition to the helmet of<br />
course, an avalanche research device, a probe<br />
and a shovel. These are must-have-devices for<br />
any off-track-goer which allow to be rescued as<br />
well as to rescue one's companions in the event<br />
of being swamp by an avalanche. So much for<br />
the equipment required to the riders but another<br />
important issue is related to how the organization<br />
can effectively support the athletes so that<br />
they can perform at their best. On this regard in<br />
addition to the official communication, to the 118<br />
and alpine emergency services, we had some caterpillars<br />
available that could easily reach even<br />
the most difficult points on the competition field.<br />
Next year we will ask for the support of a GPS and<br />
tracking services provider.<br />
KS_The reasons why some riders withdrew from<br />
the competition.<br />
WSC_Although we found inappropriate for some<br />
of the athletes to withdraw from the competition<br />
considering the investment made by the sponsors<br />
for their accomodation facilities, nevertheless<br />
we cannot totally blame them. As we said,
the spot was not in an optimal condition and on<br />
the first and second day of the competition, the<br />
equipment suffered some damages.<br />
KS _ 2017 projects, will the format remain the<br />
same?<br />
WSC_We will definitely change a few things:<br />
1) We shall write very clearly the General Rules for<br />
the GPS formula as well as the local rules regarding<br />
the location where the races will take place.<br />
2) We will have two events over the season one in<br />
Roccaraso/Rivisondoli and another one in a location<br />
to be determined. We are already getting in<br />
contact with some locations in the north of Italy,<br />
France and Switzerland.<br />
3) We will add some race/backcountry trials of<br />
about 10 km each so that also race enthusiasts<br />
will have the opportunity to participate.<br />
4) The selection system of the athletes will undergo<br />
some changes because it is unlikely that<br />
the sponsor will be able to guarantee free facilities<br />
for 40 people.<br />
5) We will try to get everybody to use the same<br />
GPS data device and we will also try to develop<br />
the reporting system of the GPS data.
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World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)<br />
Riders’ impressions:<br />
Michele Leoni (ITA) 1° place tie, snowboard category<br />
The week of competitions at Roccaraso at the<br />
end of January it's almost a tradition for me since<br />
it is already the third year in a row that I take<br />
part to it. And this year it was a competition "with<br />
a bang", as I managed to get on the top step of<br />
the podium! However I think that the competitive<br />
outcome does not represent the true motivation<br />
which makes us travel for so many kilometres or<br />
stay away from our families. The real reason why<br />
this experience is really worth living, it's because<br />
you can meet up in a really amazing place and<br />
share unforgettable moments with "top riders”<br />
coming from countries from half of Europe and<br />
find yourself going beyond any border speaking<br />
one same language holding a bar - red on the<br />
left, to support and take the sport we love to an<br />
ever higher level. Unfortunately this year because<br />
of the snow conditions (very poor), both us and<br />
our equipment have gone through a real strain,<br />
nevertheless it was still great to see the French,<br />
Swiss and Austrian friends who I had not seen<br />
in a long time as well as meet other very strong<br />
riders like Lukas Vogeltanz, from the Czech Republic<br />
with whom I shared the victory.<br />
Lukas Vogeltanz (Czech Republic) 1st place tie<br />
snowboard category<br />
The World Championship of backcountry snowkiting<br />
which took place in the Alto Sangro, was based<br />
on GPS formula, in other words on a system<br />
of evaluation of the tracks that the riders perform<br />
in a defined time interval, in which a score was<br />
calculated determined by the length of the tur-
ning track and the perimeter comprised within the<br />
closed figure that the rider must fulfil. Six days of<br />
competition, Monday till Saturday. 35 riders were<br />
registered, eight countries, including Russia, Czech<br />
Republic, France, Austria, with a large delegation<br />
of Swiss and French, the nations with the<br />
biggest number of followers of snowkiting.<br />
And what are my impressions of the place and<br />
event?<br />
The Roccaraso snowkiting spot is located at 200<br />
km from the capital city of Rome, in the mountains,<br />
2000 high above the sea. I visited this site<br />
for the first time and it immediately charmed me.<br />
The plateau has an area of 10 square kilometres,<br />
wind everyday, flat valleys and on high mountain<br />
regions. From my experience, I would put this<br />
place first in terms of segmentation and size of<br />
the European Alps - let's call it a “small NORWAY”.<br />
There is therefore no better place in central Europe<br />
for a GPS Formula race. GPS Formula is a<br />
new type of race. Over time (here we should limit<br />
30min) a snowkiter must ride as many km as he<br />
can, in the largest given area and try to get as<br />
much elevation. All these aspects are scored in<br />
the following system: 1x distance, 3x circuit and<br />
10x cant. Due to the scoring system the athlete<br />
while riding, has to think of and invent his route, in<br />
order to gain as many points as possible. During<br />
the race, you see kiters set everywhere around<br />
and you have you no idea of how one is doing. On<br />
one hand you say to yourself what a good route<br />
you have, but the rider who rides entirely to<br />
the opposite side can have even a better one :-)<br />
So you finally get to know the result some time<br />
in the evening after everyone records his results<br />
using the GPS. The following day, the race could<br />
go to the same spot but the wind can change sli-
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World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)<br />
ghtly its direction and thus the whole tactic you<br />
had during the previous race is useless and you<br />
have to invent a new one, another route. This is<br />
what makes a GPS Formula very interesting and<br />
can be a race and a great tension at the same<br />
time with great atmosphere amongst kiters.<br />
Weather-wise Monday was probably the best,<br />
with a northwest wind between 12 and 14 knots,<br />
with an acclimatization day that the riders have<br />
every time they go to a new area. We went “all'Aremogna”,<br />
the snow conditions were pretty slim,<br />
because of the high temperatures.<br />
The outcrop of rocks was a major security issue,<br />
so the paths have been defined in a much more<br />
draconian way than what you would do in a normal<br />
freeride competition, but of course that was<br />
necessary for the safety of everybody!<br />
For the entire race I used SONIC FR 15.0 and 18.0,<br />
all the other riders also took close foil race kites.<br />
The wind was extremely low but thanks to the<br />
equipment I had, I made it to the first position.<br />
SONIC FR is a super great kite you can easily use<br />
in back-country, you feel safe and fast.<br />
The Organizers of Roccaraso did a great job during<br />
the whole event. For € 50 (registration fee) a<br />
competitor gets accommodation, food, ski pass<br />
and entry fee. During the week we had planned<br />
three days for the race and the rest for personal<br />
training and relaxation.<br />
Felix Kernsten (Germany) 1st place ski category<br />
It was the first time I took part to the World Championship<br />
"backcountry" in snowkiting in Roccaraso.<br />
I got the opportunity to attend this contest<br />
thanks to Kitetracker.com. This year there were<br />
39 selected riders (ski/snowboard) from 8 different<br />
countries for the contest. Almost everyone<br />
was supported by free accommodation, transport<br />
and even free skipass for the week. Just great!<br />
Unfortunately this year there wasn’t a lot of snow<br />
(too high temperatures) and only low wind.<br />
The first day there were no races, just training<br />
and exploring the competition area. The spot is<br />
an amazing backcountry area where I would have<br />
a lot fun kiting in good conditions. The contest<br />
was based on a GPS Formula, which means no<br />
normal races...<br />
The rider who manages to reach the longest distance<br />
over the biggest area wins the race. You<br />
need a GPS device for recording your track. The<br />
system evaluates every single track of each rider<br />
in a defined time interval. The second day<br />
we had absolutely no wind, so we couldn’t start<br />
any race and had a day off to make an excursion<br />
or just skiing. The third day we were lucky and in
the afternoon we had the first race of 30 minutes.<br />
Unfortunately there were some misunderstandings<br />
on the rules, so I (and 4 other riders) got a<br />
penalty of 30% off the points for not ending the<br />
track at the same point.<br />
The following day again no wind for a race :(. A<br />
second race took place on Friday still with low<br />
wind. To avoid any penalty the organizer Niccoló<br />
de Simone explained once again the rules to all<br />
riders. It was quite difficult to have a good course<br />
with a long distance in the extreme situation of<br />
just low wind conditions. That day I was lucky and<br />
I won the race.<br />
On our last day in the early afternoon we had<br />
some wind and started the two last races which<br />
I finished first. Overall I could win this contest<br />
in the ski category. As it was my first backcountry<br />
contest I am very happy with this first place.<br />
Thank you to the organizers who did a great job,<br />
especially considering the difficult weather conditions.<br />
I had a good time in Roccaraso, also in<br />
the evenings ;-), and I had the chance to exchange<br />
experiences with other riders. I hope to see<br />
even more guys there next year in lots of powder<br />
and good wind condition :).<br />
ROCCARASO SNOWKITE EXPERIENCE WITH<br />
PAULINO PEREIRA<br />
I´ve always imagined the feeling of kiting in the<br />
snow.<br />
When Ozone invited me to go with them to try<br />
snowkiting I got really excited, not just because it<br />
would have been my first experience but also because<br />
they told me that last year the conditions<br />
were epic and the spot is huge and perfect for<br />
some flying. “Very low” I mean… safety first.<br />
So the plan was to fly from Lisbon to Barcelona,<br />
stop the weekend there with Iain and Hannes<br />
from Ozone and visit the place a bit, then fly to<br />
Rome on Monday morning, rent a car at the arrival,<br />
2hours drive, hit the snow for 5 days and<br />
come back to Portugal, simple! So, on the way<br />
to Roccaraso, when we were about 40 minutes<br />
away, the only mountains I could see had no<br />
snow… I was thinking to myself that it could turn<br />
out to be the worst snowkite trip ever. But then,<br />
out of no where, just a bit of snow started to appear<br />
and the happiness started to rise. It didn´t
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World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)<br />
rise too much because when we finally arrived,<br />
I thought that we were just starting to climb the<br />
mountain, but I was wrong.<br />
We stopped down at the flat spot to check the<br />
wind which was no more than 4 knots in the gusts<br />
and 10 cm maximum of snow. The bosses (Iain<br />
and Hannes) said something like: “I recon it’s a<br />
doable session with the 15m Chrono…” I said “No<br />
way! I almost can’t feel the wind, I think the kite<br />
can´t even fly up.”<br />
Bosses: “Let’s wait for it then…, but first let’s eat<br />
some “donkey-balls” for lunch…. I was really hungry<br />
so I really didn´t want to try crazy stuff… They<br />
were always joking about the “donkey- ball” food<br />
and stuff… but in the end it was all about some<br />
super cheese balls burned on the outside, really<br />
good actually, tasty and crunchy. After lunch we<br />
rented a snowboard for me and went to the flat<br />
spot again. The wind seemed to have picked up<br />
one knot so the bosses said it was pumping… I<br />
was like: “OMG the altitude kills these boys’ heads”<br />
We had to change clothing on the spot outside<br />
the car, just like when we put on the wetsuit… but<br />
a bit colder and on super slippery ground. You never<br />
know when you will fall on your bum on the<br />
ice and get it glued there. Meanwhile the bosses<br />
already had foils and boards set up whereas I was<br />
still trying to find out where my gloves were and<br />
the car key so to lock it. And yes it’s a miracle, the<br />
Chrono 15m was flying like butter and they were<br />
riding. So I did all my best to get all the gear ready<br />
and fly the foil kite for the first time.<br />
When I did my first tack it felt a bit strange but at<br />
same time it was amazing. You slide way easier<br />
and the kite doesn´t pull at all compared to when<br />
you are in the water and the feeling is different.<br />
But then I had a problem with that, and it was<br />
one of my mistakes that day. Because you reach<br />
speed really fast, and you think that you have<br />
enough power to do tricks, but then you pop and<br />
nothing happens… You cannot forget that you<br />
are kiting with 5 knots… So I realised that if you<br />
want to go for unhooked tricks, I think you should<br />
take a bigger kite than other riders around on<br />
the snow. But don’t do it if your plan is to climb<br />
mountains, the wind picks up really fast up there<br />
and you could find yourself flying away, so ask<br />
the experienced riders first.<br />
Speaking of pop, it’s the weirdest thing in snowkiting,<br />
snow can be icy, a bit soft and really powder.<br />
So each one has a different feeling. If it is super<br />
powder sometimes the pop never happens… you<br />
only see snow flying. Icy pop… without a kicker<br />
forget it… I don’t do it anymore… The best is the<br />
“half-half” snow. But still hard to nail it like in the<br />
water.<br />
So, after an hour on the flat, the wind died com-
pletely and we packed up and went to the hotel<br />
for a hot shower. The forecast for the following<br />
day was no wind, no snow and very sunny… perfect<br />
for some exploring the bosses said… So the<br />
plan was to catch 2 lifts, and then walk up the<br />
mountain to the top to get some wind and have<br />
a session. We were a group of about 10 riders<br />
up for this adventure. We packed 2 kites in the<br />
backpack, snowboard and all the gear and caught<br />
the first lift. We then found out that the second lift<br />
was broken… I said: “yes!! Let’s go down snowboarding<br />
and cancel the climbing episode.” But<br />
just as I was saying that, everyone was already<br />
going straight up the hill…. It was more than 1000<br />
m walking up I think… The sun was beating down<br />
and zero wind… I found myself thirsty and sweating<br />
like a pig when climbing up… I only went half<br />
way up, because in my mind there was no wind<br />
up there and I just wanted to have fun snowboarding<br />
heading down. Half of the group climbed up<br />
to the top meanwhile myself and others stayed<br />
at half way, chilling and waiting for the others to<br />
say: “There is no wind”… Yeahh babyyyy!! Great<br />
news for me. Otherwise I would have had to climb<br />
up as fast as possible to have a session.<br />
At the end everyone came down skiing and snowboarding.<br />
Recap of the day: 4 hours of suffering<br />
for 10 minutes of fun…<br />
During the following days we got 10 knots of wind<br />
at the event site and also at the flat spot. I didn´t<br />
want to compete on the first day because of the<br />
lack of snow and lots of rocks around. I considered<br />
it dangerous to go as fast as possible and cover<br />
the longest possible distance in 1 hour. When I<br />
compete, I always try to win, and that effort could<br />
cause big accidents, mainly because of my little<br />
experience of snowkiting and of the spot.<br />
I totally recommend every kiter to try snowkiting.<br />
And if you have your family to take, it’s totally<br />
doable to tow all the kids while you kite, I’m<br />
pretty sure it will be an unforgettable experience<br />
for everybody. What I really enjoyed the most in<br />
snowkiting was the ability to cruise long distances,<br />
ride up mountains, explore and come down<br />
flying, or just pack your kite and do some powder<br />
snowboarding over and over. It’s like having a ski<br />
lift where you want.<br />
I hope my next trip will have more snow and wind.<br />
And maybe I will meet you meet up there!<br />
Cheers<br />
PAULINO PEREIRA
64<br />
EVENTS<br />
World Snowkite GPS Contest 2016 – Roccaraso (Italy)<br />
GPS FORMULA WORLD SNOWKITE CONTEST 2016 RANKING<br />
Ski Category<br />
1. Felix Kernsten (Germany)<br />
2. Jonas Lengwiller (Switzerland)<br />
3. Florian Gruber (Germany)<br />
Snowboard Category<br />
1. Leoni Michele (Italy) and Lukas Vogeltanz (Czech Rep)-tie<br />
2. Luca Mastalli (Italy)<br />
3. Reinhold Gehrer (Germany)<br />
Thanks:<br />
Ministero dell'Ambiente; Regione Abruzzo; Comune di Roccaraso; Comune di Rivisondoli; SkiPass Alto<br />
Sangro; Cloud Consulting; Banca Bcc di Roma<br />
Tobe Outerwear; Lifeproof; Ozone Kites; RRD Store Roma; Gin Kiteboarding; Kitetracker; Gopro; Kia<br />
Motor Company; Università Rufa; DMC Alto Sangro Turismo<br />
Giulio Accornero, Cristina Corsi, Fabrizio Poggi, Giulio Rolfini, Chiara Di Pietro, Manuele Mariotti, Grezly<br />
team e ProWolf Asd.
D A I L Y<br />
W O R K<br />
W E A R<br />
STRIKE SERIES<br />
AIRTON COZZOLINO´S DAILY WORKWEAR<br />
SURFING ELEMENTS<br />
ION-PRODUCTS.COM
66<br />
COMING SOON<br />
IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - El Gouna Grand Slam<br />
Photo: Giuseppe Esposito
IKA WORLD<br />
CHAMPIONSHIPS<br />
EL GOUNA<br />
GRAND SLAM<br />
COMING SOON
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IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - El Gouna Grand Slam
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IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - El Gouna Grand Slam
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IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - El Gouna Grand Slam
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IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - El Gouna Grand Slam
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IKA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - El Gouna Grand Slam
Final Results Freestyle Men<br />
1. Carlos Mario (BRA, Slingshot)<br />
2. Youri Zoon (NED, Slingshot)<br />
3. Alex Pastor (ESP, Airush)<br />
Final Results Freestyle Women<br />
1. Karolina Winkowska (POL, Slingshot)<br />
2. Bruna Kayija (BRA, Airush)<br />
3. Annabel van Westerop (ARU)<br />
COMING SOON
78<br />
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Ireland<br />
Ireland<br />
TOUGH AS NAILS:<br />
A NEW BREED OF KITESURFERS
Text Marc Ramseier & Mark Barry<br />
Photo Marc Weiler & Tim Smith
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Ireland<br />
I’ve been organizing and running some of<br />
my Kitesurf Wave Camps with Sanja, the<br />
German Ozone distributor, for a couple of<br />
years and have become friends with her<br />
over time. The first year that she set off to<br />
spend the majority of the winter in Ireland<br />
I was left in a state of slight confusion and<br />
kinda felt sorry for her. Why would you go<br />
so far up North to spend the winter when<br />
the usual direction to move to at this time of<br />
the year is South, the closer to the equator<br />
the better – that at least used to be my resolution.
Ireland
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TRIP<br />
Ireland<br />
I sure have seen pics and videos of my fellow<br />
team mate Ryan Coote that has been showing<br />
the kitesurfing world how good it can get up there,<br />
but I didn’t think it would be feasible in the winter<br />
months, at least not for me. I’ve been almost<br />
entirely kiting in boardshorts ever since I started<br />
kiting, built a house in Indonesia and spent most<br />
of the last decade there – a bit spoilt you may say.<br />
Sanja has not only been trying to tell me how great<br />
and uncrowded it is in Ireland for wavekiting<br />
and surfing, she also hooked up soon enough<br />
with one of the top kiters from the Island which<br />
was another living proof that it must get pretty<br />
good up in Ireland after all. His name is Mark<br />
Barry and he has left an impression in a video<br />
(‘Hard Learning’) with Ryan where he rides and<br />
gets pounded by some of the heaviest waves<br />
Irland has to offer. Now that I was more based<br />
out of Europe I was tempted to check out options<br />
around here that would get me in some decent<br />
waves. Ireland was an uncharted area on my map<br />
and I was definitely keen to check it out, digging<br />
into the myth there was in my mind about Ireland.<br />
This adventure was only possible though once I<br />
disregarded the ‘no-go-policy’ indoctrinated by
the warm water boardshort addiction that I’ve<br />
managed to cultivate.<br />
I set it up in a very elaborate way that made it impossible<br />
for me to pull out last minute. We’ve set<br />
out to organize a cold-water edition of my Kitesurf<br />
Wave Clinics in Irland. tried a new format by<br />
linking my professional video assisted coaching<br />
with some traveling and exploring around the<br />
island. Sanja was quickly able to fill it mainly with<br />
– surprise-surprise – a bunch of hardboiled North<br />
Germans, that aren’t held off the water by cold<br />
temperatures and rough conditions. As always I<br />
try to work together with the locals and usually<br />
I can rely on my extensive network I’ve built up<br />
throughout my professional kiting career that has<br />
started fifteen years ago. This time it was Sanja<br />
and the rest of the Ozone connection that would<br />
be so kind to bring in their local knowledge.<br />
So I was expected to arrive in Dublin by mid November,<br />
spend one week with our clients coaching<br />
and helping them to reach the next level<br />
in their wave riding skills while traveling Ireland<br />
and kiting its most appropriate wave kiting spots.<br />
In the second week I was really looking forward<br />
to explore more of Ireland together with the local
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Ireland<br />
boys and hanging out with them.<br />
As much as the cold temperatures were holding<br />
me back, there was a side of Ireland that exerted<br />
a great attraction for me to experience the<br />
raw force of nature in all its facets. Also there was<br />
Guinness their national beer that I had to rediscover<br />
as it was linked with disgust from a personal<br />
imprint that has been lasting for decades.<br />
Further I knew there was a very high potential of<br />
clean world class waves on the island that despite<br />
the temperatures attract surfers from around<br />
the world and I was super excited to hopefully<br />
get to see and ride some of that. And then there<br />
was the big challenge to attack the big heavy<br />
surf wrapped from head to toe in 6mm of rubber,<br />
getting pounded from a wave that slaps you with<br />
cold water that is then sent down your wetsuit to<br />
shock freeze you. It couldn’t be more contrasting<br />
to the warm and steady trade wind conditions i<br />
was used to kite in, but it was also part of the<br />
challenge to face the unknown, experience the<br />
opposite.<br />
Many times in the preparation to the trip I was<br />
contemplating whether I was sane enough to go<br />
kite 1000km to the north when all my friends in<br />
Central Europe were thinking about going snowboarding<br />
or skiing. The best was the guy at the<br />
check-in counter who made big eyes when he<br />
saw the destination of my travel while turning up<br />
with a huge surfing bag. “You are not going to<br />
surf in Ireland now aren’t you?”<br />
The first day on the water in Ireland was unreal.<br />
Even though it was stormy and rainy, Mark and<br />
I took a small time window to take advantage<br />
of the right wind angle paired with a big enough<br />
swell to hit that one spot to ride some surprisingly<br />
clean and nicely peeling lefthanders at<br />
this pretty well known surf spot halfway up the<br />
west coast, close to Marks home. The ridden waves<br />
were well earned though as the entry into the<br />
water was one of my sketchiest launches I ever<br />
did. It’s all pretty straight-on in Ireland it seems.<br />
Good I touched the ancient Celtic rock we had to<br />
kite around in the river mouth when coming back<br />
to shore – an act that would promise good luck,<br />
so I was prepared for more of that.<br />
The weather went crazy in the two weeks I was<br />
there with storm after storm hitting the island,<br />
lots of rain and non-stop wind. It was impressive,<br />
some days it was almost impossible to stand on
the cliffs, let alone get a kite up in the air. I’ve<br />
hardly ever kited anywhere in such rough conditions,<br />
I’ve mainly only been on five and seven<br />
square meter kites, many times making your way<br />
into the water walking over sharp reef or beds of<br />
super slippery kelp. It takes all of your attention<br />
and skills to master some launches, often very<br />
much worth it though as you’re rewarded with<br />
good surf conditions.<br />
Once the weather clears it allows views on stunning<br />
landscapes, unreal rock formations, lush and<br />
green vegetations, the nature showing it’s power<br />
with all it has. A truly mystical place, accentuated<br />
by castles and fortresses all over the place that<br />
enhance the feeling of power that this land and<br />
people have been enduring over decades. The Irish<br />
in general are lovely, down to earth and well
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TRIP<br />
Ireland<br />
rooted people, a well-needed attribute as you<br />
otherwise will get blown away it seems.<br />
I’m used to waterfalls from the tropics – charming<br />
streams of water gliding down the side of the<br />
mountain. Here the waterfalls fly up in the air, get<br />
blown away so that not a drop of water actually<br />
lands where it’s supposed to. Welcome to Ireland!<br />
Very well together with such rough weather goes<br />
the tradition of Irish pubs that have become an<br />
export hit all over the world. Nowhere though the<br />
pubs fit in so seamlessly like here. When it’s stormy,<br />
after a kite or surf session in the cold there is<br />
nothing better than coming into a small local pub<br />
with a fireplace in it, listening to some excellent<br />
live music while drinking a Guinness, Irish Coffee<br />
or Hot Whisky.<br />
As far as my personal challenge with the cold<br />
water and air goes I did pretty well. I did sometimes,<br />
when driving to the spot with horizontal<br />
rain hitting the car and with the cold temperatures<br />
contemplate what I was doing there, but once<br />
you overcome this and when you’re on the water<br />
surfing the waves it doesn’t matter. The fun riding<br />
the waves heats you up so that you forget<br />
everything else around. It certainly is a mission<br />
getting all that neoprene in place but surprisingly<br />
once you’re going it’s not so much of an issue really.<br />
On top the swiss style trick of wearing some<br />
normal thermo underwear under the wetsuits<br />
worked a dream and kept me extra warm.<br />
We either kited the area around Mark’s home in<br />
Lahinch halfway up the west coast. It’s one of
the surfing hotspots in the country with heaps<br />
of surfing spots around, most of them not ideally<br />
suited for kitesurfing though. Most of the sessions<br />
I did in Kerry on the Dingle Peninsula with<br />
the Brandon Bay as it’s most known spot for kite<br />
and windsufing in Ireland I’d say. It’s a huge bay,<br />
which makes it easy to adapt to all the different<br />
possible wind angles as you just have to move<br />
along the bay to find the ideal cross shore wind.<br />
This makes it easier because choosing the right<br />
spot proves to be a mastery in itself. The wind<br />
direction is defined by the depressions that pass<br />
by. Winds clock around and can come from pretty<br />
much every direction, each favoring different<br />
wave spots, which then still depend on swell height<br />
and direction. The master professor in that is<br />
Brandon Bays own Ryan Coote who has been at<br />
the forefront of pushing the wave kiting aspect
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TRIP<br />
Ireland<br />
in Ireland. He runs the kite school in summer and<br />
you can hire him to show you what Ireland has to<br />
offer in the wave season.<br />
After two weeks of pretty rough conditions with<br />
many sessions in the rain that haven’t really lived<br />
up to the promising start into it, my hopes<br />
were relying on a last favorable window forecasted<br />
that could bring a special wave spot close<br />
to Ryan’s place to life. I’ve met up with Ryan and<br />
his crew at the spot early morning and was super<br />
stoked to see clean lefthanders peeling nicely<br />
around a rocky headland. Needless to say that in<br />
proper Irish manners the wave broke pretty close<br />
to shore and coming in on it you had to go straight<br />
for some gnarly rocks, closely avoid them by<br />
setting the rail for the first bottom turn to be in<br />
the sweet spot. It took some time to bring it all<br />
together in the 40 knot of gusty winds, but I had<br />
a blast. What a last day of the trip, it was a wave<br />
feast that I shared with a bunch of great and fun<br />
Irish guys that call this their home and everyday<br />
condition – my respect and thanks for sharing!<br />
Even the sun came out to wish us well and make<br />
my day to allow me leave in total peace.<br />
I will definitely be back! I’ll be keeping an eye on<br />
wind and wave forecast to quickly hop on a plane<br />
northbound, be at the beach 4 hours later and<br />
after the session go for a Guinness that I have<br />
become friends with. I can’t wait for it’s taste to<br />
mix with the saltwater leftovers from some of Europe’s<br />
most remarkable waves.<br />
by Marc Ramseier<br />
Let the local speak<br />
words by Mark Barry<br />
Irish and international resident kite surfers and<br />
surfers know one thing about living in Ireland;<br />
You need bags of patience. For about 6 months<br />
of the year this coast gets a pummeled from North<br />
Atlantic storms that at times seem relentless
and can leave you questioning your chosen passion.<br />
Although with this, windows of magic are<br />
produced. This small stretch of Atlantic coastline<br />
produces some of the most heavy conditions for<br />
both activities that leave top pros humbled.<br />
Surfing here has exploded over the past five years<br />
due to the exposure of some of our big wave<br />
spots and heaving slabs. These days in the line-up<br />
of the more famous reefs and slabs you<br />
will be among a very international crowd but<br />
unlike other famous locations around the world<br />
the mellow easy vibe in the water has remained.<br />
A certain respect is given to one another for this<br />
is not a place you can just fly into and expect waves,<br />
each of these people have probably spent<br />
the past fortnight looking out the window at si-
90<br />
TRIP<br />
Ireland<br />
deways rain.<br />
Kitesurfing here has had quite a different story.<br />
On a busy day in top conditions you will be lucky<br />
to see four sailors on the water but our sense of<br />
community is as strong. We are lucky that even<br />
with the low numbers the few that pursue this<br />
activity here push the wave riding levels each<br />
session. When it comes to foreign visitor kiters,<br />
despite great wave riding conditions we really<br />
don’t get that many. I guess the typical kite surfer<br />
wants warm water and steady conditions when<br />
planning a foreign holiday. When I am travelling<br />
to foreign countries and people hear I am from<br />
Ireland there is an amazing difference in the opinions<br />
of surfers and kiters. Generally the surfers<br />
have all seen the photos and videos and have the<br />
place high up on their bucket list while it is quite<br />
rare to get a kiter with the same opinion. Marc<br />
was one of the exceptions (although he also rips<br />
on a surfboard...) I first met Marc in Denmark and<br />
his ears perked up when he heard that I am from<br />
Ireland. Four months later, Marc arrived in Shannon<br />
airport with his board bag packed to the gills<br />
and our little adventure began.<br />
In typical Irish fashion the weather charts looked<br />
horrific for the coming two weeks, 40 to 50 knots<br />
onshore winds with 11 meter waves. A sense of<br />
guilt was on my shoulders for dragging Marc this<br />
far but I still had hope that that window would<br />
appear and the trip would be worthwhile. So we<br />
loaded up the van in welcoming sideways rain<br />
and started the road trip with nervous grins.<br />
First conversation topic was water temperature.<br />
Even though Ireland shares the same lines of latitude<br />
as parts of Canada and Alaska we are treated<br />
to much milder water temperatures. This is<br />
primarily due to the Gulf stream coming up from<br />
the Caribbean. Still, to warm water surfers and<br />
kiters these temperatures would be considered<br />
Baltic and a warm water surfer Marc is. He is used<br />
to the tropical waters of his home spots in Indonesia,<br />
sitting comfortable kiting in a pair of shorts.<br />
So I told him of how, oddly enough, you get<br />
used to the cold temperatures and that when I<br />
was travelling through Indo I was actually missing<br />
the cold slowly eating into my bones during<br />
a session and really not liking the sticky heat of<br />
the water. What I failed to mention was that it<br />
probably takes years to really like and appreciate<br />
the cold water rather than a couple of weeks...<br />
Ryan - Ireland: www.kitesurfireland.ie<br />
Wave Clinics Marc: www.kitesurfwaveclinic.com
94<br />
SOUL'S REFLEXION<br />
Flow and silence
If you're just starting out in kiteboarding, you will<br />
probably have a hard time imagining that kitesurfing<br />
can be a peaceful and almost meditative experience.<br />
Believe it or not, you'll eventually you'll soon<br />
gain control and learn to ride like a zen master. Gabi<br />
Steindl - once a world tour competitor, now a writer,<br />
traveller, massage therapist, free thinker and frequent<br />
solo missioner - reflects on the art of getting<br />
completely and wonderfully lost in kitesurfing and<br />
making friends with silence.<br />
Text Gabi Steindl | Photo Colin Leonhardt
96<br />
SOUL'S REFLEXION<br />
Flow and silence<br />
FLOW<br />
Mihaly Csikszentmihaly is a theorist and professor<br />
of psychology who has contributed pioneering<br />
work to our understanding of happiness, creativity,<br />
human fulfilment and the notion of 'flow'<br />
- a state of heightened focus and immersion in<br />
activities, such as art, physical activity and work.<br />
I read one of his books about ten years ago while<br />
training in Brazil in preparation for the final world<br />
cup stop in Fortaleza. I found myself studying<br />
the book, rather than just casually reading it, and<br />
ended up writing out pages and pages of information<br />
by hand so that I could go back to my favourite<br />
parts at any time. Analysing and understanding<br />
flow was pretty ground-breaking, not<br />
only for my career as a pro kiter, but for my life<br />
in general.<br />
Mihaly suggests that reaching 'flow state' is one<br />
of the secrets to happiness, and I certainly agree.<br />
Existence is temporarily suspended, you become<br />
fully immersed in a task and feel free from external<br />
worries or problems - everything seems to<br />
happen automatically and effortlessly, without<br />
thinking. It’s almost as if you’re on autopilot.<br />
You may have read more about flow in Dr. Jason<br />
Gallate's 'To Love, To Kite...' he too was very keen<br />
on the art of flow. Mihalyi created the 'Combination<br />
of Challenge and Skill Model' which explains<br />
that you will be in flow when your challenges are<br />
greater than average and, crucially, when your<br />
skills are higher than average.<br />
FLOW IN LIFE<br />
Sport is just one area that people refer to flow,<br />
but regardless of titles, fame or fortune, spending<br />
your life doing the things you enjoy and simply<br />
getting good at them will also allow you to enter<br />
a 'flow state'. Life's meaning takes on a greater<br />
significance when you are constantly engaged in<br />
something that you are passionate about.<br />
For me, wave-kiting is just that: it puts me right<br />
into that flow state. Just by being out there in ‘the<br />
big blue’ I feel a connection with the waves, the<br />
wind and the ocean in a way that goes beyond
the physical. Writing can also give me that feeling<br />
of flow – admittedly not always, it has to be<br />
said - but when I’m in flow I have the opposite to<br />
writer's block. It's pretty great really.<br />
I could not imagine a life devoid of these feelings<br />
and the moments that I experience them. Being<br />
completely involved in what I’m doing enables<br />
me to experience a perfect inner clarity and a<br />
deep sense of serenity. I simply begin to forget<br />
myself and feel as though maybe I’m part of something<br />
bigger. If you've ever felt something similar,<br />
then it’s likely you’ve experienced flow in<br />
some way. Perhaps you’re chasing it again even<br />
now. Perhaps you always will be.<br />
Experiencing flow while engaging in an enjoyable<br />
past-time is great, but how good would it be if we<br />
could consciously create flow in all of our everyday<br />
tasks?<br />
If you're lucky enough to have found a vocation<br />
that you enjoy, perhaps you're able to find flow at<br />
work, too? Lucky you.
98<br />
SOUL'S REFLEXION<br />
Flow and silence<br />
SILENCE<br />
“Silence is a true friend who never betrays.”<br />
Confucius<br />
One of the unique beauties of wave-kiting (and<br />
something that is very contrary to surfing) is the<br />
fact that you are completely alone. Sitting in the<br />
line-up at a crowded break is the total opposite;<br />
there’s always chatter and lots of interaction.<br />
(Maybe the occasional fracas too if you’ve unintentionally<br />
stirred up the locals.)<br />
When you’re immersed in waves with your kite<br />
there is no noise, other than the sound of nature.<br />
And possibly the sounds of your friends cheering<br />
you on (an unavoidable potential block to achieving<br />
a feeling of flow and inner serenity, but welcome<br />
all the same).<br />
From the moment we wake up in our beds until<br />
the moment we crawl back into them, our lives<br />
are loud, busy and filled with external noise. We<br />
rarely experience actual silence and, if we're honest,<br />
many of us probably ‘fear’ it to some extent.<br />
We feel uneasy when life becomes too still<br />
and being comfortable with silence doesn’t come<br />
naturally for us. Apart from all the external noise,<br />
there’s all the noise from within; the constant<br />
internal mind chatter that many of us are accustomed<br />
to is quite often even harder to deal with<br />
than the noise from the outside. The sounds of<br />
our environment combine with the ‘monkey mind’<br />
inside of us, leaving very little room to truly experience<br />
silence.<br />
I personally love spending days when I don’t speak<br />
to anybody and I feel fortunate that I’m able to<br />
do that. However, not everyone is in the position<br />
to do so. As a result, for most of us, the silence we<br />
can experience while kiting in the waves is absolute<br />
gold and a rare opportunity.<br />
“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary<br />
to which you can retreat at anytime and be yourself.”<br />
- Hermann Hesse
Experiencing and immersing yourself into silence<br />
is an incredible, and I would argue, worthwhile<br />
experience. Connecting with nature in the same<br />
instance can make that experience even more<br />
potent and I find the easiest time to fully go within<br />
myself is when I'm in flow out there in the<br />
ocean. Time can cease and thoughts may quieten.<br />
If you will let it, silence can be an anchor, healer<br />
and a guide.<br />
Nature is perhaps the most readily accessible and<br />
effortless channel through which we can experience<br />
inner silence. For me and many others, kiting<br />
in the waves is a kind of active meditation.<br />
When I face seemingly unsolvable problems I can<br />
usually find the solution as soon as I can find flow<br />
in the ocean. In silence my head feels lighter and<br />
it seems that mental clarity is more readily attainable.<br />
As a result I make every effort to allow<br />
time for silence in my life.<br />
“Silence is the sleep that nourishes wisdom.” -<br />
Francis Bacon<br />
If only we could apply what we can experience<br />
and feel in the water to our daily lives on the land<br />
and try to cultivate and adopt more flow and silence<br />
into our day to day existence; if we could<br />
try to become more mindful of the power these<br />
mental and physical states afford us in terms of<br />
how we feel after a sick session and the potential<br />
insights they can give us, then perhaps we could<br />
feel more relaxed, more focused, more satisfied,<br />
more peaceful and yet at the same time more<br />
powerful.<br />
Let kiting, the waves and the ocean show you<br />
the way.<br />
Gabi Steindl<br />
Find me at: www.kitegabi.com<br />
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© Gabi Steindl 2015 www.kitegabi.com
100<br />
FEELING<br />
Teahupo’o sensations<br />
Text Keahi de Aboitiz | Photo Brendon O'Neal
TEAHUPO’O SENSATIONS<br />
_<br />
Nothing sets you up like a good bottom turn and<br />
it really is the foundation to any good manoeuvre.<br />
Whether your doing a turn, an air or getting<br />
barrelled, doing a good bottom turn will always<br />
help set you up for success. The key is to get low<br />
lean into it and commit to the section. I always<br />
loved this bottom turn shot from Teahupo’o really<br />
showing the setup before pulling into one of the<br />
best barrels of my life this year.<br />
//<br />
Keahi
102<br />
FEELING<br />
Teahupo’o sensations<br />
Text Keahi de Aboitiz | Photo Brendon O'Neal
TEAHUPO’O SENSATIONS<br />
_<br />
The wind was a little offshore and there were<br />
some very solid sets but I managed to sneak a few<br />
pretty good ones amongst the guys towingI only<br />
caught about 8 waves but this one is a barrel I’ll<br />
remember for a very long time and I already can’t<br />
wait to get back there. The vision staring out<br />
of this barrel at the boats and mountains in the<br />
background is something I’ll never forget!<br />
//<br />
Keahi
#Barbados in<br />
104<br />
SELFIES<br />
Barbados in a nutshell
a nutshell<br />
text and photo Matthias Larsen
106<br />
SELFIES<br />
Barbados in a nutshell<br />
I decided to play around with my Gopro a lot as you cant reach for<br />
pictures from the land even with a big lens. Barbados is truly a<br />
wavekiting paradise almost all year long. But not for the beginner<br />
kitesurfer.
Most the action happens on the reef at Silver Rock Beach and the<br />
reef is around 400m out in the sea.
108<br />
SELFIES<br />
Barbados in a nutshell<br />
The reef is 1-2m deep but on a wipeout on low tide you can touch it.<br />
But its not really sharp.
It has not much current on the average day but on some days waves<br />
get up to 4m and things change.
110<br />
SELFIES<br />
Barbados in a nutshell<br />
What i really loved as I normally go to Capetown was the beautiful<br />
warm water and turtles are the only animals that can appear<br />
under your board.
112<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
› KITE TEST‹<br />
How many times have you wondered whether you<br />
were doing the right choice when buying your new<br />
kite? Will I like it? Will it be reliable? How good will it<br />
be upwind? And so on and so forth till you get in the<br />
water. And how many times when asking for some<br />
advice you got a "nowadays kites are all the same" as<br />
an answer. Mine is the best. This one pulls twice as<br />
much compared to the others. And so on, leaving you<br />
with even greater doubts.<br />
However there are different opportunities to test the<br />
materials, i.e. by borrowing them from a friend, at<br />
one of the many test days or events, for example like<br />
the one held in Sankt Peter-Ording, but it is equally<br />
true that such opportunities are quite fleeting and<br />
occur in unpredictable weather conditions hence<br />
it can be difficult to grasp the real potential of the<br />
products and their suitability to one's needs. To further<br />
complicate everything we must also consider the<br />
"habit" to a specific model, because quite naturally,<br />
we subconsciously change the way we use a kite<br />
text Federico Sugoni, Renato Casati, Maurizio Cinti<br />
photo Gabriele Rumbolo, Federico Sugoni, Renato Casati, Maurizio Cinti and Courtesy Brands
according to its characteristics and not the other way<br />
round.<br />
All the above applies to any kiter as well as to us,<br />
<strong>Kitesoul</strong> team, and we tested a lot of kites indeed and<br />
this is why we decided to carry out vigorous tests, at<br />
the same time, on some of the best models on the<br />
market based on the same grounds, same conditions<br />
and same rider. We have decided to start our first<br />
and exclusive comparative test with the specialized<br />
segment of wave-riding which, although being<br />
relatively young, it’s the one that has developed more<br />
during the past years also from a technical point of<br />
view.<br />
Furthermore the wave-riding discipline requires the<br />
kite to play a different part than the one played in<br />
freestyle for example. For wave-riding the kite must<br />
be a loyal and sincere ally capable of aiding and<br />
releasing the kiter from any pressure and worry to<br />
enable him/her to focus on his surfing. Therefore a<br />
delicate and complex balance to achieve.
114<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
LOCATION AND<br />
CONDITIONS<br />
When it comes to wave-riding, especially<br />
at the beginning of the year, our<br />
minds fly over the African coasts to<br />
immediately reach the archipelago of<br />
Cape Verde, one of the favourite destinations<br />
for wave lovers and home<br />
to some of the best wave riders in the<br />
world, such as Airton Cozzolino, Mitu<br />
Monteiro, Matchu Lopes and several<br />
others.<br />
Here we found what we were looking<br />
for, big small and medium waves and<br />
wind with any strength and from any<br />
direction which allowed us to push<br />
the materials to 100% of their potential<br />
throughout the testing period.<br />
Below are the spots in Sal where we<br />
did the tests and some of them were<br />
very radical ones:<br />
On/Side-on: Serra Negra, Kite Beach,<br />
Ponta Sino<br />
Side: Ponta Sino, Secret Spot, Ali Baba<br />
(End point)<br />
Off/side-off: Ali Baba (Bay), Coral Joule<br />
The wind has always been rather intense<br />
and gusty, for almost the entire<br />
testing period with an average of<br />
20-35 knots, which initially made us<br />
opt for the 7sqm, frequently used in<br />
overpower conditions then it dropped<br />
between 15 and 20 knots on average,<br />
allowing us to fully test the 9sqm too.
116<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
F-ONE<br />
Bandit<br />
CABRINHA<br />
Drifter<br />
NORTH<br />
Neo<br />
Key players<br />
Once the battlefield had been defined,<br />
it was necessary to determine<br />
the contenders, a rather natural choice<br />
which went for the wave models (or<br />
wave oriented) of some of the most<br />
important brands in the market, which<br />
responded enthusiastically to our<br />
call by providing us with the new 2016<br />
kites, with two sizes 7 and 9sqm, with<br />
lines between 22 and 24m for each<br />
kite.<br />
In strict alphabetical order:<br />
Bandit – FOne - The outsider<br />
Drifter – Cabrinha - The champion<br />
Neo – North - The athletic one<br />
Pivot – Naish - The balanced one<br />
Religion – RRD - The pioneer<br />
Section – Core - The new entry<br />
The protagonists were also our three<br />
testers who had to work hard in order<br />
to try 12 kites under any possible condition,<br />
recording and sharing every feeling<br />
with each other.<br />
Federico Sugoni, 43 years old, 1,85m,<br />
84kg, <strong>Kitesoul</strong> Editor, medium level<br />
wave rider.<br />
Maurizo Cinti, 42 years old, 1,88m,<br />
82kg, Videomaker, medium/high level<br />
wave rider.<br />
Renato Casati, 45 years old, 1,90m,<br />
85kg, <strong>Kitesoul</strong> Technical Director, high<br />
level wave rider.<br />
The other protagonists of the test<br />
were the boards used by the team<br />
to ensure equal conditions to all the<br />
contestants, the F-one Mitu pro model<br />
2016, especially provided by F-One,<br />
sizes 5'8 and 5'6.
NAISH<br />
Pivot<br />
RRD<br />
Religion<br />
CORE<br />
Section<br />
The method<br />
The test has been carried out with the<br />
same modality throughout the entire<br />
period, once at the spot all the kites<br />
got rigged and ready to get in the water.<br />
Every 15/20 minutes each tester<br />
had to switch amongst all six models<br />
and at the end of each session<br />
take note of his own impressions and<br />
then compare them to the others at<br />
the end of the day by making a daily<br />
summary report. At the end of the testing<br />
period all the reports have been<br />
cross-checked so to draft the general<br />
chart.<br />
Drifting<br />
Upwind<br />
Speed<br />
Driving precision<br />
Stability<br />
Progression<br />
Low end<br />
Top End<br />
Reaction to comands (de-powering)<br />
Depower<br />
Kiteloop<br />
Jump<br />
Hang Time
.<br />
118<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
In the water!<br />
GRADE<br />
8,15<br />
F-one Bandit<br />
Let's start from the kite which, among<br />
all the tested ones, theoretically<br />
should have had an allround/freeride<br />
tendency, at least that's how F-one<br />
presents it to the public. As a matter<br />
of fact, the ductility and excellent<br />
drifting and turning skills of the Bandit,<br />
now at its eighth edition, make it<br />
especially suitable for wave-riding, as<br />
it shows everyday in the expert hands<br />
of Mitu Monteiro. What we loved about<br />
the Bandit was the simple manufacture<br />
(although it still lacks of an oversi-<br />
ze inflation valve), with its strengths<br />
being its bar, simple and pleasant to<br />
use and its solid and sincere pull as<br />
opposed to a rather soft and not very<br />
tiring feeling on the bar, sufficient to<br />
guarantee a clear feedback to each<br />
rider without the need to keep visual<br />
control of the position of the kite. We<br />
particularly loved the smaller size of<br />
the Bandit, with its best performances<br />
in side/side on conditions, positioning<br />
itself at the top places in our ranking<br />
level of satisfaction.
About the aspects we liked less, we<br />
found a reduced de-power stroke<br />
which can show some limits in off-side<br />
off conditions, but just like every<br />
kite with excellent performances in<br />
on-side on conditions, you can't also<br />
expect top performances with offshore<br />
wind. A versatile, fast, precise<br />
and responsive kite which will make<br />
kiters of any level very happy.<br />
0 10<br />
Drifting<br />
Upwind<br />
Speed<br />
Driving precision<br />
Stability<br />
Progression<br />
Low end<br />
Top End<br />
Reaction to comands dp.<br />
Depower<br />
Kiteloop<br />
Jump<br />
Hang Time<br />
8<br />
7,5<br />
10<br />
9,5<br />
7<br />
7,5<br />
8,5<br />
8<br />
9<br />
7,5<br />
7,5<br />
8<br />
8<br />
BAR FEEDBACK<br />
medium/soft<br />
HARNESS TRACTION<br />
high
120<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
GRADE<br />
8,27<br />
Cabrinha Drifter<br />
The Drifter, at its second edition,<br />
shows great maturity confirming its<br />
excellent qualities in the waves and<br />
which last year allowed Keahi De<br />
Aboitiz to become wave world champion<br />
for the second consecutive time.<br />
From a manufacturing perspective it's<br />
a top quality product and the already<br />
excellent bar has finally a standard<br />
adjustment de-power. Every tester<br />
appreciated the great comfort, with<br />
a soft and stable pull on the bar with<br />
a pleasant and solid grip, an always<br />
predictable and progressive response<br />
to commands, an extraordinary drifting<br />
capability which impacts negatively<br />
on its responsiveness showing<br />
some sort of slowness compared to<br />
the other kites, especially the larger<br />
size one. This means that the learning<br />
process with this kite is slightly longer<br />
than with the other kites since it is necessary<br />
to give very firm drives when<br />
attacking the wave, so that the kite<br />
moves quickly, but despite this, it is<br />
necessary to change timing by significantly<br />
anticipating it in order to get<br />
the best from this kite and exploit its
strengths. On this new Drifter version<br />
we must point out its unique feature<br />
among the contenders, the possibility<br />
to have specific adjustments for side<br />
and side off conditions, the latter is<br />
the one we liked most, as it can significantly<br />
modify the kite behaviour and<br />
adapt it to specific needs. For those<br />
who prefer stability, progressivity,<br />
comfort and drifting qualities, such as<br />
those who surf the wave by feeling it<br />
underfoot and not on the bar, the Drifter<br />
is undoubtedly a very good choice,<br />
especially the smaller sizes.<br />
0 10<br />
Drifting<br />
Upwind<br />
Speed<br />
Driving precision<br />
Stability<br />
Progression<br />
Low end<br />
Top End<br />
Reaction to comands dp.<br />
Depower<br />
Kiteloop<br />
Jump<br />
Hang Time<br />
9<br />
8,5<br />
6,5<br />
8<br />
10<br />
10<br />
7,5<br />
8,5<br />
7<br />
9<br />
7,5<br />
8<br />
8<br />
8<br />
BAR FEEDBACK<br />
medium/hard<br />
HARNESS TRACTION<br />
medium/low
122<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
GRADE<br />
8,81<br />
North Neo<br />
Ever since Ken Winner redesigned<br />
the Neo model, three years ago, North<br />
brought to the market one of the<br />
most effective and balanced wave<br />
kites, permanent choice for Airton<br />
Cozzolino who took it to the top step<br />
of the podium at the Tarifa Strapless<br />
Pro 2015. From a manufacturing perspective,<br />
Neo follows the rest of North<br />
production, with top quality materials<br />
and extreme clean manufacture.<br />
What placed Neo at the top of the test<br />
team preferences was not any specific<br />
feature but the outstanding overall<br />
balance and the secured high performances,<br />
with a kite that does not<br />
need any complex settings to perform<br />
at its best but only needs to be rigged<br />
and taken in the water. To offset<br />
an extraordinary performing balance,<br />
which made us love it at every spot<br />
and with any wind condition, we noticed<br />
it’s kind of "physical", which could<br />
turn out to be quite weary for a not<br />
so fit rider, especially in the low end<br />
when you move the kite to create the
apparent wind, at which moment your<br />
forearms may suffer some strain slightly<br />
higher than the average (however<br />
this is a common characteristic<br />
to other North products). Apart from<br />
that, Neo remains one of the utter reference<br />
points for this industry with<br />
its flexibility and ability to offer to the<br />
rider performances at the highest levels<br />
in every condition, a kite that never<br />
lets you down and allows any rider<br />
of any experience and level to express<br />
at their best in a simple and natural<br />
way without any particular adaptation<br />
needs.<br />
Last note: we would have preferred to<br />
use a 6sqm size for the comparison as<br />
it has an above average pull therefore<br />
it must be chosen one or even two sizes<br />
smaller than the others especially<br />
for smaller sizes.<br />
0 10<br />
Drifting<br />
Upwind<br />
Speed<br />
Driving precision<br />
Stability<br />
Progression<br />
Low end<br />
Top End<br />
Reaction to comands dp.<br />
Depower<br />
Kiteloop<br />
Jump<br />
Hang Time<br />
BAR FEEDBACK<br />
medium/hard<br />
HARNESS TRACTION<br />
medium<br />
8,5<br />
8,5<br />
8,5<br />
9<br />
9<br />
8,5<br />
9<br />
7,5<br />
10<br />
9<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10
124<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
GRADE<br />
8,62<br />
Naish Pivot<br />
Third edition for Pivot, which confirms<br />
the goodness of the design year after<br />
year with an excellent manufacture<br />
quality with regard to the materials of<br />
both the kite and the bar, but which left<br />
us puzzled in relation to some technical<br />
choices, first of all the peculiar swivel.<br />
This is a solid component on spherical<br />
bearings, which should always independently<br />
keep the front lines clear and<br />
as a matter of fact so it does up until<br />
the sand gets in the way and limits the<br />
above function, quite common on the<br />
beach. Altogether we would have preferred<br />
to test the Pivot with the usual<br />
Fusion Bar ATB, available on the Naish<br />
catalogue instead of the Fusion 4<br />
lines which on one hand guarantees<br />
the greatest de-power amongst the<br />
tested kites but on the other hand needs<br />
a de-power adjustment integrated<br />
in the chicken loop which didn't<br />
thrill us in the testing conditions we<br />
had.<br />
By looking at the Pivot in the air it<br />
immediately appears its "stretched"
shape compared to the other kites<br />
hence a higher AR, giving it extraordinary<br />
upwind skills, especially in off/<br />
sideoff/side conditions where Naish<br />
excels, thanks to impressive upwind<br />
angles, allowing the rider to take more<br />
waves compared to the rival kites.<br />
The downside occurs in on-side on<br />
conditions where the kite is less responsive<br />
than the actual need, however<br />
the drifting remains remarkable,<br />
unexpectedly performing for a kite of<br />
this shape. The Pivot gives one of the<br />
best carvings ever, and although it’s<br />
slightly slower for the trajectories settings,<br />
that can be easily solved after a<br />
short adjustment period. Its incredibly<br />
long and performing de-power allows<br />
to totally reduce the power of the kite<br />
while turning hence not to get dragged<br />
out of trajectory by unexpected<br />
gusts or by the residual power of the<br />
kite which we have reported for some<br />
of the other kites, moving the rider<br />
away from going as vertical as needed.<br />
In the water the kite showed an<br />
incredibly soft feeling on the bar, definitely<br />
the less physical of the batch,<br />
which allows to stay focused and feel<br />
less fatigued for longer than average.<br />
0 10<br />
Drifting<br />
Upwind<br />
Speed<br />
Driving precision<br />
Stability<br />
Progression<br />
Low end<br />
Top End<br />
Reaction to comands dp.<br />
Depower<br />
Kiteloop<br />
Jump<br />
Hang Time<br />
BAR FEEDBACK<br />
soft<br />
HARNESS TRACTION<br />
medium/low<br />
7,5<br />
10<br />
7,5<br />
8<br />
9<br />
9<br />
8,5<br />
9<br />
9<br />
10<br />
8<br />
8<br />
8,5
126<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
GRADE<br />
8,38<br />
RRD Religion MKVI<br />
We can definitely say that six years<br />
ago RRD created with its Religion model<br />
a new sector to the market, the<br />
kite is an icon for the brand which<br />
for a long time has been a reference<br />
point for wave lovers. This new version<br />
adds to the usual good quality<br />
manufacture the new Global bar V7<br />
with an essential and clean design,<br />
which brings along the appreciated<br />
anti-stretch lines "RRD rigid thread lines"<br />
and a rubber stopper which permits<br />
to adjust the de-power extension<br />
as wished.<br />
In the water the kite was immediately<br />
responsive and highly performing with<br />
on-side on conditions, a powerful kite<br />
which impressed us for its kiteloops<br />
which are closed within a very short<br />
perimeter and with little pulling. An<br />
excellent kite also for strapless tricks<br />
and jumps, it was very responsive to<br />
the different settings available on the<br />
back lines connections. In fact when in<br />
maximum power position the responsiveness<br />
is remarkable, however the<br />
de-power is not totally convincing as<br />
it gets up to its maximum extension
too often without completely reducing<br />
the power of the kite, especially in<br />
off-side off conditions. This behaviour<br />
may seem "strange", but the Religion<br />
project stands on the high number<br />
of available sizes, all of which with a<br />
slightly reduced range of use compared<br />
to the competitors however perfect<br />
in specific conditions. This means<br />
having to use a smaller or bigger size<br />
according to the conditions in order to<br />
have better performances and thus a<br />
more responsive and performing kite<br />
compared to other ones of same size.<br />
This feature is softened by using less<br />
powerful settings of the kite, which allow<br />
to significantly increase the range<br />
of use although this goes to the detriment<br />
of its exceptional responsiveness<br />
but it levels it to the behaviour<br />
of the other kites. For those experienced<br />
riders who can invest in a higher<br />
number of sizes compared to the average,<br />
the Religion is definitely a good<br />
choice, very performing, precise and<br />
perfect for radical wave-riding with<br />
impeccable lines.<br />
0 10<br />
Drifting<br />
Upwind<br />
Speed<br />
Driving precision<br />
Stability<br />
Progression<br />
Low end<br />
Top End<br />
Reaction to comands dp.<br />
Depower<br />
Kiteloop<br />
Jump<br />
Hang Time<br />
BAR FEEDBACK<br />
medium/hard<br />
HARNESS TRACTION<br />
low<br />
8<br />
9<br />
9<br />
8,5<br />
8<br />
7<br />
7<br />
8,5<br />
8<br />
8,5<br />
9,5<br />
10<br />
8
128<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
GRADE<br />
8,00<br />
Core Section<br />
The Core brand has been able, during<br />
the past years, to quickly grow and<br />
assert itself above all in some markets<br />
such as the German one, with<br />
good quality products directed to the<br />
freeride and freestyle lovers, therefore<br />
we could say that up till now there<br />
was something missing in their offer.<br />
This is why Core decided to develop<br />
the Section, their first wave oriented<br />
kite. A young and yet very promising<br />
product, which left all testers quite<br />
surprised, with a strong and clear<br />
nature. What is immediately catching<br />
about the Section is its compact appearance,<br />
which at first glance makes<br />
it seem one or two sizes smaller<br />
than the others. As a matter of fact<br />
it creates less pull than the average,<br />
taking us to the conclusion that it<br />
would be more appropriate going for<br />
a bigger size than usual. Another obvious<br />
feature is the reduced section<br />
of the LE and struts giving the<br />
Section lightness and ability to penetrate<br />
the air, the outcome of which<br />
is a remarkable ability to ride upwind<br />
and a reactivity/speed in responding<br />
to commands better than average.
The reaction on the bar results therefore<br />
immediate and almost nervous,<br />
requiring some attention and<br />
a minimum of adaptation, above<br />
all as the feeling is pretty light and<br />
the reaction may not always be fully<br />
predictable. Another feature of the<br />
Section is represented by the large<br />
number of settings available that allow<br />
you to customize the behaviour<br />
to suit your needs, amongst which<br />
stands out the one dedicated to the<br />
softness of the bar, adjustable on the<br />
bridles connections in the inner part<br />
of the leading edge and not on the<br />
back lines tips as with other producers.<br />
This means being able to adjust<br />
the response of the bar regardless<br />
of the power of the kite, unlike other<br />
kites where the bar becomes softer<br />
when the kite is de-powered.<br />
The Section is definitely a good<br />
project and able to compete on the<br />
same level as the others, and the test<br />
figures prove it, but we are also certain<br />
that it can still grow in the upcoming<br />
years, and we also hope that<br />
some youth drawbacks get polished<br />
such as the slightly beneath average<br />
manufacture of the bar and its not so<br />
comfortable grip. It must be said that<br />
the Section was the kite that most of<br />
all divided the testers and that led to<br />
a change of judgement, for better or<br />
for worse, at every session. It is therefore<br />
a kite with a strong personality<br />
and radical performances that<br />
can be liked or not according to the<br />
rider's preferences but because of<br />
0 10<br />
Drifting<br />
Upwind<br />
Speed<br />
Driving precision<br />
Stability<br />
Progression<br />
Low end<br />
Top End<br />
Reaction to comands dp.<br />
Depower<br />
Kiteloop<br />
Jump<br />
Hang Time<br />
BAR FEEDBACK<br />
medium/soft<br />
HARNESS TRACTION<br />
medium<br />
the innovative and "different" features<br />
of the design, it could positively surprise<br />
even the more experienced kiters.<br />
A must try for those looking for great<br />
vibes and performances.<br />
6,5<br />
9,5<br />
9<br />
7<br />
7,5<br />
7<br />
8<br />
8,5<br />
8,5<br />
8,5<br />
7<br />
8,5<br />
8,5
130<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
BARS USED<br />
›CABRINHA Overdrive<br />
| 48-56 | 45 | 8,1 |<br />
(cm)<br />
›CORE Sensor pro<br />
| 46-52 | 40 | 7,7 |<br />
(cm)<br />
›FONE Monolith Bar<br />
| 45 | 40 | 8,5 |<br />
(cm)<br />
length of the bar<br />
It indicates the minimum and<br />
maximum length (if modifiable) of<br />
the bar used during the test<br />
De-power length<br />
It is measured the length of the<br />
movable de-power in cm.<br />
The length of the bar should adapt to<br />
the kite measures. For example small<br />
kites up to 7-8 meters would need<br />
a 40-45cm bar, kites from 8 to 12m<br />
need a 45-55cm bar and from 12m up<br />
a 55 to 65cm bar.<br />
A greater length can correspond to a<br />
more dynamic use of the de-power<br />
without modifying the length of the<br />
fixed de-power, undoubtly beneficial<br />
in off shore or gusty conditions.
›NAISH 4 Line<br />
control System<br />
| 45-51 | 56 | 9,4 |<br />
(cm)<br />
›NORTH Trust bar<br />
2016<br />
| 42-49 | 45 | 8,1 |<br />
(cm)<br />
›RRD Global bar 7<br />
| 58 | 48 | 7,5 |<br />
(cm)<br />
Diameter<br />
It is measured the diameter<br />
of the handle of the bar.<br />
There are wave riders who like to<br />
hold something thicker in their hands<br />
as they feel greater control and on<br />
the other hand others who hate it as<br />
they get tired too early. It also depends<br />
on how big your hands are ....
132<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
Kite capacity to...<br />
›DRIFTING<br />
"Follow" the rider even without any<br />
command, even with slack lines, in<br />
other words the ability of going "reverse"<br />
without any command.<br />
The need for drifting is much sought<br />
in on-side on conditions and more<br />
generally by those riders who use the<br />
board a lot for the surfing and tend<br />
to block the traction of the kite as<br />
much as possible while riding.<br />
as well as for the rotation on its axis<br />
by comand.<br />
A high value is recommended for<br />
those looking for a very fast kite,<br />
perhaps because they use a lot the<br />
kite power while surfing, whereas<br />
a low value for those who prefere a<br />
less reactive kite or maybe because<br />
they drift surf a lot<br />
›driving precision<br />
Fly exactly where you want to direct<br />
it.<br />
›UPWIND<br />
Gain water going windward with remarkable<br />
upwind angles<br />
Having a kite which surfs with precision<br />
helps riding the lines you want<br />
without loosing any water.<br />
Having a kite that has high upwind<br />
capacities allows to get back to<br />
the peak sooner hence to get more<br />
waves than the other kiters in less<br />
time or gain priority by starting more<br />
upwind.<br />
›speed<br />
Move as quickly as possible throughout<br />
the wind window, hence both<br />
during the ascent and descent phase,<br />
›StabilitY<br />
Remain stable and predictable while<br />
flying without any violent picking up<br />
or slowing down.<br />
A high value indicates good stability<br />
i.e. a kite that flies without any surprises<br />
within the wind-window and<br />
does not violently swerve in the gust.
›Progression<br />
Going up and down in a continuous<br />
and progressive way within the wind<br />
window without too many accelerations<br />
or decelerations.<br />
A high value indicates that the kite<br />
is very progressive that means that<br />
is goes down and up again at a<br />
constant speed without too many<br />
tractions or pauses between the descent<br />
and ascent phase.<br />
manufacturer for the used size.<br />
›Reaction to comands<br />
(de-powering)<br />
Respond to commands even with a<br />
strong de-powering<br />
A high value indicates that the kite<br />
effectively responds to commands<br />
even when the de-power is widely<br />
used<br />
›Low end<br />
Fly the minimum range of wind for<br />
which it is designed.<br />
A high value indicates an excellent<br />
ability of the kite to perform skillfully<br />
even with marginal values of use of<br />
the wind-range given by the manufacturer<br />
for the used size.<br />
›Depower<br />
Quickly and efficaciously reduce the<br />
power of the kite.<br />
A high value indicates that the kite<br />
looses power immediately and the<br />
result of it is very good on the surfing<br />
which nearly completely eliminates<br />
the traction of the kite.<br />
›Top End<br />
Fly the maximum range of wind for<br />
which it is designed.<br />
A high value indicates an excellent<br />
ability of the kite to perform skillfully<br />
even with the maximum values of<br />
use of the wind-range given by the<br />
›Kiteloop<br />
NOT give out excessive traction during<br />
the kiteloop.<br />
A high value indicates that the kite<br />
DOES NOT pull excessively during the<br />
kite loop, thus the rider is not pushed<br />
away too much from established surfing<br />
trajectory.
134<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
›Jump high<br />
Jump high<br />
A high value indicates a big height of<br />
the jump. The value can be unimportant<br />
to those who only do wave-riding<br />
but it is important for those who<br />
also do freestyle strapless.<br />
›Harness traction<br />
Give back on the harness a soft or<br />
hard traction feeling.<br />
Some kiters like a more "physical"<br />
drive, feel a good traction on the<br />
harness because they "feel" the kite<br />
more and thus have more precision.<br />
For others it is the exact opposite to<br />
the benefit of comfort.<br />
›Hang Time<br />
Remain in the air as long as possible<br />
during the jump<br />
A high value indicates that the kite<br />
floats in the air for a long time after<br />
the jump therefore there is a long<br />
stay in the air<br />
›Bar Pressure<br />
Give back to the bar a soft or hard<br />
driving feeling when we pull it<br />
towards ourselves<br />
Some people like it hard, most people<br />
like it softer. Those who suffer from<br />
epicondylitis or inflammation of the<br />
upper limbs will certainly prefere a<br />
kite with a soft feedback on the bar.
adjustable trimmings<br />
›BACKLINE Trim<br />
Adjust the power of the kite by changing<br />
the connection height of the<br />
backlines at the connecting point of<br />
the wingtip (where the lines are connected)<br />
By moving the knot up it will give a<br />
greater power and hence the kite will<br />
be more reactive. On the other hand<br />
the bar will tend to get harder and<br />
the de-power will become less effective.<br />
If a kite does not have this setting it<br />
can be easily added afterwords by<br />
simply adding a 3 set of spacer knots<br />
at about 3-5 cm from each other.<br />
Moving the knot towards the end of<br />
the leading edge gives greater speed<br />
to the kite, less pressure on the bar<br />
and a better use of the de-power<br />
Unlike the previous example, if a kite<br />
does not provide for this trimming<br />
it is not possible to add it so easily<br />
afterwards, if not by "stitching" more<br />
connecting points on the leading<br />
edge (not recommended)<br />
›Dedicated bar<br />
pressure<br />
Only Core has an extra trimming on<br />
the Leading Edge to further refine<br />
the hardness of the bar by varying<br />
the insertion point of the bridles<br />
› LEADING EDGE Trim<br />
adjust the kite speed by changing the<br />
high of the wingtip knot (the one on<br />
the leading edge)<br />
›Side ON / OFF<br />
Only Cabrinha has this option for the<br />
changing of the insertion angle of the<br />
bridles more internally (On Shore) or<br />
externally (Off Shore).
136<br />
KITE TEST<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
The Wave Kings<br />
› KITE TEST‹<br />
CONCLUSIONS<br />
By now you must be wondering which<br />
one is the winner of the test, well<br />
the answer is simple and clear: all of<br />
them and none of them. Exactly, this<br />
is because first of all we must admit<br />
that the level expressed by the six<br />
contenders was extremely high and<br />
this is proved by the overall scores<br />
which range between the 8.0 the<br />
lowest and 8.81 the first one.<br />
The real winner is the wide range of<br />
the offer, as now more than ever, we<br />
are convinced that there aren't two<br />
kites alike, now that we can recognise<br />
each very model even if blindfolded.<br />
This means that there is actually the<br />
perfect kite for each of us, but also<br />
that you must find out which one it<br />
is among all the ones available on<br />
the market before buying it, so we<br />
highly recommend to always try the<br />
kites before making the final choice,<br />
although we believe that this test<br />
can already give you a safe direction.<br />
In fact quite ironically we must warn<br />
you, that you might prefer the last<br />
one in the rank than the first one<br />
because of its peculiarities, for that<br />
matter we too have changed and<br />
refined our judgment from time to<br />
time according to the settings, the<br />
conditions, the size at hand and<br />
the characteristics of the spot. This<br />
is also why, in a perfect world, we<br />
would have liked to have an unlimited<br />
personal quiver from which<br />
getting from time to time different<br />
models and sizes depending on the<br />
situation, and this is obviously why<br />
in the end prevailed, just about, those<br />
kites with more balanced characteristics.<br />
One thing we can definitely tell you<br />
is that, now more than ever, the<br />
majority of you can do wave-riding<br />
thanks to the incredible level of reliability<br />
and performance achieved<br />
by these kites, which all they ask for<br />
is to be taken to the most exciting<br />
spots in the planet where, we can<br />
assure you, they will prove to be sincere<br />
companions of memorable sessions,<br />
closer and closer to the true<br />
spirit of surfing!
NO COMPROMISE.<br />
PREDATOR / TECHNOLOGY<br />
PREDATOR X-FRAME<br />
PRE-CURVED AND 3D SHAPED FAT BAR 4-POINT NEOPRENE BELT SYSTEM SLIDE-IN BARPAD
WWW.PROLIMIT.COM
140<br />
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Luis Brito<br />
ITW<br />
Luis Brito
Name: Luis Matias Almeida Brito<br />
D.O.B.: 10 September 1993<br />
Home Spot: Kitebeach, Ponta Preta<br />
(Sal- Cabo Verde)<br />
Sponsors: Advance, Underwave, Chupa Chups<br />
Years kiting: 8<br />
Favourite spot: Ponta Preta<br />
Other sports: horseriding, motorbike, windsurf,<br />
S.U.P., football, volley<br />
ITW Roberta Pala<br />
Photo Andrea D’Antoni/Cabo Creative Lab, Gabriele Rumbolo, Giangi Chiesura/Photodream.it, Andrea D’Antoni/Cabo Creative<br />
Lab, Claudio Cabral, Alessandro Lo Mundo, SBAM Production, Courtesy Xkite e Courtesy Advance/Underwave
142<br />
ITW<br />
Luis Brito<br />
KS_Hello Luis, tell us something about yourself<br />
LB_My name is Luis Brito and I am from Cape<br />
Verde. I am 22 years old and live in that beautiful<br />
island that you all know, the island of Sal.<br />
KS_How did your passion for kiteboarding begin?<br />
LB_Before I started kiting when I saw those things<br />
flying in the air I didn't even know what they<br />
were called. I was into horse riding competitions<br />
and one day on my way to my training session<br />
with horses, I saw Djo Silva's brother teaching<br />
some tourists. The horses were afraid, and he<br />
said to me, "Come on, if you come over one day, I<br />
can teach you how to kite". I replied that it wasn't<br />
my sport and I didn't like it. Then I saw Matchu<br />
jumping and I started thinking "Actually those are<br />
really cool jumps, I want to do it too!". On a Sunday<br />
I went to the beach, I tried with a small kite<br />
and I thought only one thing to my self "Ok, this is<br />
it!" When I switched to the big kite, I liked it even<br />
more, so much so that sometimes I wouldn't go<br />
to school or I would pretend to have a stomach<br />
ache so to escape and go kiting. Mitu taught me<br />
a lot as well as Matchu and Airton and slowly I<br />
improved, I was 15. ...<br />
KS_Tarifa strapless and other international<br />
competitions, are you comfortable during competitions<br />
or do you prefer the soul surfing? How<br />
was the Tarifa experience?<br />
LB_Tarifa has been a very intense experience.<br />
The athletes were all talented and I didn't expect<br />
anything like it, I didn't think I could get so far. At<br />
the beginning I trained just for my own pleasure,<br />
because I liked this sport, then I realised I had a<br />
future in kitesurfing and I worked harder and har-
144<br />
ITW<br />
Luis Brito
der. It was my first strapless competition. I put a<br />
lot of effort in it, Mitu coached me. I got fifth in<br />
the world rank and it has been amazing. The wind<br />
there is strong and gusty and this year I hope to<br />
go again and continue improving myself by watching<br />
other riders besides the guys from Cape<br />
Verde who I know well. Right now I feel motivated<br />
by taking part to competitions.<br />
KS_What about your big injury and the recovery,<br />
how are you now?<br />
LB_After the car accident, I didn't practice for a<br />
year and a half, it was a very long time, spent for<br />
the skin reconstruction surgery of my arm and<br />
hand followed by the full rehabilitation period. I<br />
spent 4 months in Portugal and then I went back<br />
to Sal and I slowly started kiting again. I feel good<br />
now.<br />
KS_What about your sponsors? How did your<br />
relation with Advance / Underwave begin and<br />
what is your favorite quiver?<br />
LB_I have been with Advance for 4 years, before it<br />
I had no sponsors, Mitu helped me out, he said to<br />
me "You're doing well and now you need to have<br />
a sponsor which will make you become bigger."<br />
A few years ago Underwave was Mitu's sponsor<br />
so he was the link to the company and showed<br />
them some of my pictures. When he came back<br />
from Italy he had two kites for me ... how wonderful,<br />
especially here in Cape Verde, where the<br />
finacial resources are quite slim. I really appreciated<br />
their trust in me and from that moment on<br />
our relation began, I went to Italy and we started<br />
making plans together. I find the Kaiman S, the<br />
new 2016 kite, fantastic for wave riding as well<br />
as for strapless freestyle, very fast, with a great<br />
pulling and no back stall. Now I'm testing the
146<br />
ITW<br />
Luis Brito<br />
new Chupa Kite board which will be released in<br />
March (February interview). I am very happy with<br />
my board, beautiful shape, beautiful volume, very<br />
stable, I have a 5'10" which I use on big waves<br />
and a 5'8" which I use for freestyle strapless or in<br />
strong wind conditions.<br />
KS_Big waves or freestyle strapless? Is there a<br />
discipline in our sport which you prefer?
LB_I love both and I go with the condition, often when<br />
there is a wave condition I go strapless on waves.<br />
KS_You are very tall and heavy, it is much harder to<br />
do freestyle strapless with your stature...<br />
LB_It really changes a lot, but it depends on the equipment<br />
and the wind, I'm 190 cm and I weigh 87 kg, it is<br />
a bit more difficult, for example Airton is small and very<br />
fast, what he can do quickly, I do it a lot slower.<br />
KS_In Advance do you actively take part to the<br />
research and development for the wave boards?<br />
LB_Yes, I am a rider and they always involve me<br />
in the testings and I always give a feedback on<br />
the brand equipment.<br />
KS_In the recent years Sal is developing, a very<br />
fast urbanisation and a lot of tourists, what is<br />
happening on your island?<br />
LB_My island has changed a lot, it is like being<br />
in Europe, lots of houses and of tourism and the<br />
buildings are really changing the conditions. For<br />
example at Ponta Preta, the hotels that have been<br />
built have changed the direction of the wind. Then<br />
they put some stones in the sea which made increase<br />
the dimension of the waves. Tourists come<br />
here because of the sunshine, it is not cold and<br />
everything is "no stress", but living in Cape Verde<br />
is not so easy. At the beginning everything<br />
looks nice, then eventually one realises that it is
148<br />
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Luis Brito<br />
difficult to have European like salaries. We have<br />
many French, Italians and soon also a Hilton will<br />
be built therefore many British people will come<br />
over. This certainly means a lot of more work, but<br />
also the "no stress" feeling starts fading away a<br />
little.<br />
KS_You are very young but with so many<br />
projects in your drawer, what are your plans for<br />
the future?<br />
LB_ In the future I intend to continue kiteboarding<br />
and thinking of when I will be 30-40 years old, a<br />
little bit like Mitu, maybe I will have my school, my<br />
shop and my family. This year I'm going to Tarifa<br />
for sure, then we wait for the outcome for a possible<br />
wave and freestyle strapless on wave contest<br />
in Mauritius. I train for about 9 hours a day<br />
for these events and in the evening I am exhausted<br />
but that's what I want to do.<br />
KS_And what about your relationship with the<br />
other top riders in Sal, Airton, Matchu, Mitu ...<br />
LB_ I’ve known Mitu know ever since I was a<br />
child, he is like a family member, he knew my<br />
mother and when I turned 15, he really helped me<br />
a lot with kitesurfing ... Airton and Matchu are my<br />
best friends and I grew up with them and Libero,
Airton's father, who helped me a lot and treated me<br />
like a son and he means the world to me. I was a bit<br />
more stubborn than them. Libero took me to school<br />
and made me realise how important it was and he said<br />
to me "If you do not go to school, your kitesurfing future<br />
ends here." I was really stubborn and I liked to hang<br />
around and being with friends. Then Mitu helped me to<br />
grow in kiteboarding and he was always ready to<br />
give me the right advice. These people will always<br />
mean so much to me.<br />
KS_We saw you jump with two kites, it must be<br />
something very difficult....<br />
LB_With two kites it is really difficult and fun, I<br />
saw people doing the same but with one bar. I<br />
kite with two kites and two bars, I worked on it<br />
for two months. The first time was at the Lake of<br />
Garda, I saved the kite of a little boy. I tried to body-drag<br />
keeping one kite still and the other one<br />
under power in order to recover the board which<br />
I had lost. I got on the board and thought, "Now
150<br />
ITW<br />
Luis Brito<br />
how do I turn?". I sat on the board in order to figure<br />
out how to do it, I headed up and got back ...<br />
Then I checked on the internet and realised that<br />
no one does it, even more so now that I use two<br />
kites and I am strapless. I use a big one and a<br />
smaller one, for example 7-8, 11 and 12. I trained<br />
hard here in Cabo, so now all the maneuvers that<br />
I usually make with one kite, I make them with<br />
two kites. Sometimes under strong wind conditions<br />
the 7 tends to enter inside the 8, but only
once they intertwined while surfing at kitebeach,<br />
however I worked out what to do if that happens.<br />
In Greece I used two 7s with 45 knots and that's<br />
when I realised that I could do it even if the wind<br />
wasn't light. I will certainly do a performance in<br />
Tarifa, and I believe everybody will be left speechless.<br />
KS_What is the importance of your family and<br />
friends in what you do. ..<br />
LB_My friends are very important, they love what<br />
I do and here in Cape Verde everyone has a real<br />
connection with the sea so they understand me.<br />
My parents, my sisters and brothers are happy,<br />
they are happy about my results and they are<br />
proud of me. They are very grateful to Libero for<br />
making me realise that studying was important.<br />
My parents work a lot and bringing up six children<br />
is not easy. They would take me to school and I<br />
would run out and go to the beach and so Libero<br />
knew I was skipping school.
152<br />
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Luis Brito
KS_How is your life outside of kiteboarding, how<br />
do you spend your days when you're not in the<br />
water but also what is your typical training day<br />
like?<br />
LB_If there is no wind, either I spend some time<br />
in front of the computer or I get my mask and<br />
flippers and I go fishing or else on Sundays I play<br />
volleyball on the beach with my friends. I often<br />
look for waves to surf, I also do S.U.P. but it takes<br />
a lot of effort, especially being so tall. When there<br />
is the right condition with strong wind, I get up<br />
at 8.30 and by 9.00 am I am already set, either<br />
headed to Ponta Preta or kitebeach to do freestyle<br />
strapless. I stay in the water for a really long<br />
time even 9-10 hours but I am very committed to<br />
it as if you don't train and commit you don't get<br />
anywhere.... When I kite a lot I feel satisfied.<br />
KS_ Our magazine is called <strong>Kitesoul</strong>, because we<br />
believe that our soul has a solid bond with this<br />
sport. How do you feel while you are in the sea<br />
whether during a competition or a sunset free<br />
ride session?<br />
LB_While I kite I only think about the sea and the<br />
kite, I feel like I'm in love, as if I was born again,<br />
very happy. Only when you kite you can appreciate<br />
and feel what it's like, the more I kite the more<br />
I want to kite. When I'm in the sea, I feel isolated<br />
from the rest of the world, myself, the wave and<br />
the kite. When I come out of the water I look at<br />
my kite on the beach, watch the sea ... and I feel<br />
in paradise.
154<br />
PHOTO AND VIDEO<br />
SAIL VIDEO SYSTEM – 3rdPersonView camera mount<br />
SAIL VIDEO SYSTEM<br />
3rd person view camera mount<br />
Text Renato Casati | Photo Thijs Vrij & Courtesy Sailvideosystem.com<br />
I had been looking for a handsfree solution to film<br />
myself in third person view while kiting for quite some<br />
time now.<br />
By third person it is meant filming yourself from<br />
behind, sideways and thanks to this solution also frontally<br />
(with different angles compared to the standard<br />
and usual position on the nose of the board). It basically<br />
means that you can film yourself from any angle<br />
thanks to an extension pole adjustable to any inclination<br />
and be handsfree at the same time.
In the past I tested several solutions<br />
amongst which Vu Vantage<br />
and Wizmount, but for<br />
different reasons I found none<br />
of them satisfying for kiteboarding...<br />
- Having to wear a backpack in<br />
the water it's obviously not advisable<br />
as not only it can get<br />
heavier but it can also restrict<br />
your movements and it is bulky.<br />
- Shootings with these solutions<br />
always show the backpack<br />
as well as how the camera is<br />
mounted.<br />
- Frontal filming is not possible.<br />
The perfect solution for kiteboarding<br />
which solves the above,<br />
as well as others issues, is<br />
called 3rdPersonView camera<br />
mount (www.sailvideosystem.<br />
com).<br />
It was developed by a Dutch<br />
kiter (Thijs Vrij) and therefore<br />
perfectly studied and engineered<br />
for the needs of our sport.<br />
It works so well that it has been<br />
included in the Go Pro official<br />
book "Professional Guide to<br />
filmmaking".<br />
I personally tested it in Cape<br />
Verde, in the waves of Ponta<br />
Preta and I can definitely say<br />
that it is the perfect and functional<br />
solution for our sport.<br />
Here are, very briefly, the many<br />
advantages of an intelligent solution:<br />
- It can be worn therefore you<br />
are handsfree and it is not cumbersome.<br />
- Adaptable to any action sport<br />
besides kiteboarding (surfing,<br />
Stand Up Paddling, windsurfing,<br />
biking, skiing, skating, wakeboarding,<br />
paragliding...etc, etc).<br />
- Ultra light and technological<br />
materials, water and salt resistant.<br />
Made in the Netherlands<br />
therefore with quality materials.<br />
- Compact and lightweight to<br />
carry when you are not wearing<br />
it.<br />
- Solid and stable when used<br />
thanks to the integrated stabi-
156<br />
PHOTO AND VIDEO<br />
SAIL VIDEO SYSTEM – 3rdPersonView camera mount<br />
lizing anatomic plate positioned<br />
on the back of the belt.<br />
- Adjustable on any axis (horizontal,<br />
vertical and lateral) for<br />
epic shoots from unique and<br />
breath-taking angles, through<br />
a pole system easily usable<br />
and adjustable in any moment.<br />
Shootings can be made from<br />
behind, sideways but also frontally.<br />
- Elastic waterproof belt with 4<br />
fastening levels to allow great<br />
adaptability and super stability,<br />
one size fits all, or with back<br />
plate to be mounted on the kite<br />
harness.<br />
- Adaptable to any Action Cam<br />
like Go Pro, but also to DSLR<br />
cameras and heavier camcorders,<br />
by simply changing the<br />
ball head.<br />
MODELS<br />
There are two basic models<br />
available:<br />
The ALL SPORTS PRO version<br />
and the KITE one.<br />
They are basically identical but<br />
the kite version is mounted directly<br />
on the harness, through<br />
some screws, whereas the PRO<br />
version consists of a belt, similar<br />
to a harness, which can be worn<br />
for any action sport situation<br />
for which you don't wear a kite<br />
harness or it can be used for kiteboarding<br />
by those who do not<br />
want to make holes in their harness<br />
but want to be able to film<br />
frontally too. In this last case it<br />
would definitely be necessary<br />
to use a seat harness in order to<br />
avoid any overlapping between<br />
the kite waist harness and the<br />
3rd person view belt.<br />
There are many different options<br />
available for the mounting<br />
of the camera to the pole and<br />
I advise you to visit the manufacturer's<br />
site to evaluate what<br />
would be your best personal solution.<br />
TIPS:<br />
- On big waves, it is better to<br />
use a bicycle type mount (seatpost<br />
mount), deeply tightened<br />
with a screwdriver, as the ball<br />
head could slightly move and<br />
vary the shooting angle.<br />
- Tightening the belt straps as<br />
much as possible helps giving<br />
an excellent general stability.<br />
- The stabiliser straps help the<br />
pole to remain in place without<br />
moving too much and in the<br />
event of pole accidental detachment<br />
they prevent the pole<br />
from sinking. If you do not use<br />
the stabiliser straps it is advisable<br />
the use of a leash to avoid<br />
loosing the pole in case of violent<br />
wipeouts as it does not float<br />
and it would sink.<br />
SAFETY<br />
It basically consists of an outer<br />
arm hence it goes without<br />
saying that in big wipeouts,<br />
especially when mounted on<br />
the front, it could theoretically<br />
get tangled with the lines of<br />
the kite. However the release<br />
system of the pole, through the<br />
yellow back leash (Lock Release<br />
System), is immediate and easy<br />
to use, but, being located on the<br />
back, it could turn out to be not<br />
so easily used in the waves in<br />
case of necessity.<br />
For those who use the Pro version<br />
there is the option to release<br />
the belt by opening it from<br />
the front.<br />
However it is always wise to<br />
have the knife at hand in case<br />
of extreme situations, although,<br />
as you know, you should always<br />
have it at hand whether or not<br />
you mount this solution.
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158<br />
WAVE RIDING<br />
Wave Riding – safety and rules<br />
text Tuva Jansen and Bertrand Fleury | photo Jason Wolcott<br />
Wave Riding<br />
SAFETY AND RULES<br />
Kiting in the waves are getting more and more popular, and spots are getting<br />
more and more crowded and that can create conflict between the riders in the<br />
water, so it is very important that everyone knows the rules and follows them<br />
so we can all have a good time in the water riding wave sand not waisting the<br />
time being frustrated and pissed off on each other.
160<br />
WAVE RIDING<br />
Wave Riding – safety and rules<br />
First of all, when you arrive at a new spot, you should always<br />
take some time just looking at the spot to see how the spot<br />
works-how the wave brake, if any currents or how the current<br />
works, and how to get out and in of the water and to see where<br />
you can come in again after if you can not come back to the<br />
same place where you entered in. ( the wind can die, you can<br />
drop the kite in the water, lose your board etc..) Talk to other<br />
kiters or surfers at the beach if possible.<br />
To get out to the wave you sometimes would have to pass the<br />
shore break, so then you should take your time and time it right<br />
between the sets. Dont rush anything, and it will be much easier<br />
and safer.<br />
When you are going out, watch out for the people riding the<br />
waves. It is the person riding the wave that have the priority.<br />
This guy is very focused on the wave and riding it, so the person<br />
going out will have to get out of his way.<br />
The most important rule in wave riding is who have the right of<br />
the wave and this often creates some tension in the water or<br />
on the beach later on between the riders, so it is very important<br />
that people got this right. Is that the first person that gets on the<br />
swell/wave has the right of the wave! To have the right means<br />
that this person went outside, found the wave out there, he turned<br />
on it and followed it back to where it brakes. Now, and this<br />
is important- it is not because you are deeper, or more upwind,<br />
that you can have the priority! It is not like surfing! In kitesurfing<br />
or windsurfing it is too easy to go deeper or more upwind, so if<br />
everyone start to push deeper and more upwind, it will end up<br />
that people go too deep and will miss the whole wave because<br />
they will not be on the right place to ride the wave.<br />
And now, if you for some reason are going to slow and do not<br />
manage to follow your swell/wave from outside and to where<br />
it brakes , you can not just take the swell/wave in the back of<br />
yours if there are already someone on it, you will have to get out<br />
of the way and go and outside and look for another one.<br />
So the rules between surfers, windsurfers and kiters are different<br />
in every spot you will sail. At some spots, you are not
162<br />
WAVE RIDING<br />
Wave Riding – safety and rules
allowed to kite or windsurf if it is any other surfers in the water.<br />
So before you entering a new spot, you have to make sure you<br />
know the local rules. But normally between kiter and windsurfers,<br />
the rules are the same , it is the first to get on the swell. But<br />
surfers always have the priority for the waves! This is because it<br />
is so easy for kiters and windsurfers to catch waves compare to<br />
the surfers, and it also gets dangerous if you as a kiter ride the<br />
same wave as a surfer, you have to get out of the way and just<br />
go and get another one.<br />
When it comes to safety and what to use of leaches, it all depends<br />
of the rider I will say. If you do have good kite control<br />
and don’t do big mistakes with the kite, like suddenly looping<br />
the kite or what ever, I would recommend to ride with a board<br />
each, if not, you should consider riding with out or at least using<br />
a helmet so you do not get the board back in your head. When<br />
it comes to kite leaches, and this is only my opinion, I think it is<br />
much safer to ride bigger waves with out any leach attached<br />
to the kite if you are riding hooked in. It will only be one more<br />
thing you will have to realize in case of emergency, and you do<br />
not have much time in the waves. If your kite falls in front of the<br />
wave on a bigger day, you can get pulled underwater for a long<br />
time, so what I always recommend people to do when they see<br />
that the kite falls down, is to keep your hand on the kite release<br />
or even un hook the kite, so if the pressure gets to big, you just<br />
lets go and the kite will get washed with the white water. Better<br />
for you and less chance for the kite to brake.<br />
If you get worked or crash in the waves, it is all about keeping<br />
your kite in the air! Do not pull too hard on the bar, try to keep it<br />
straight up when you are getting tumbled and loosing the control<br />
on where you are, keep calm and think about not pulling the<br />
bar. If you kite stays in the air, you have no problems what so<br />
ever.
164<br />
WAVE RIDING<br />
Wave Riding – safety and rules<br />
Another important safety rule is to never kite bigger waves that<br />
what you can surf or swim in. If the kite goes down or the wind dies,<br />
you will have to come back swimming and you better be prepared<br />
for it. Normally less you know, less scared you are, but you should<br />
have some respect for waves, because it has a lot of power and is<br />
very unpredictable. Every spot is different.
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SHOVE I<br />
166<br />
STRAPLESS MOVES<br />
Shoveit<br />
Personally, I always loved the feeling of shoveits.<br />
For me it was one of the very first strapless<br />
tricks I learnt and if your just starting to get into<br />
strapless freestyle I think it’s a reasonably good<br />
place to start. It’s a relatively simple trick that<br />
when done right can feel really good. It can also<br />
be implemented into harder tricks as you progress<br />
Although it’s pretty simple, you still need to be<br />
fairly comfortable with the basics. Ideally by now,<br />
you want to be fairly comfortable with riding<br />
strapless and have mastered how to ollie or use<br />
a small chop to pop for small jumps.<br />
Text Keahi de Aboitiz | Photo James Boulding
TBY Keahi De Aboitiz<br />
Although with most strapless tricks more wind is<br />
generally better, with shoveits, lighter wind is generally<br />
better and having a slightly heavier board<br />
for this trick can also be beneficial when learning.<br />
Because you are coming disconnected from the<br />
board, the stronger the wind and the lighter the<br />
board, the more it will tend to fly away once you<br />
become disconnected<br />
Try and use a kite with fairly good depower. Although<br />
everything is still possible on a c kite, it<br />
will make life much easier when using a bridled<br />
kite. With most strapless tricks it’s all about controlling<br />
the power and as we progress through<br />
these tricks, you’ll see just how much it matters<br />
for some tricks
SHOVE IT - KEAH<br />
168<br />
STRAPLESS MOVES<br />
Shoveit<br />
Step 1: Look for the right take<br />
off<br />
Although a shoveit can be performed<br />
pretty much anywhere,<br />
for your first attempts, doing it<br />
off a small chop or kicker is probably<br />
the easiest. This way you<br />
don’t have to rely on your popping<br />
skills as much.<br />
Step 2: Take off<br />
For this particular trick, you<br />
don’t really need a lot of height<br />
but you still need a decent pop<br />
to get enough height for the<br />
board to rotate the whole way.<br />
Learning to pop without straps<br />
is something that will take time<br />
but the more practice you get,<br />
the easier it will become. Basically<br />
you want to stomp on the<br />
tail while edging hard into the<br />
wind, then shift your weight<br />
forward as you take off to bring<br />
the board with you.<br />
For your first attempts try ride in<br />
at a medium pace with your kite<br />
around 10 or 11 o’clock. You can<br />
send the kite slightly to make<br />
it easier to pop, but make sure<br />
it doesn’t cross pass 12 o’clock.<br />
Edge hard and stomp on your<br />
back foot to get a good pop off<br />
the water<br />
Step 3: Starting the rotation<br />
There is going to be a lot of trial<br />
and error to begin with, but the<br />
more you try, the more you’ll<br />
figure out what rotation works<br />
and how to kick the board. After<br />
you take off try and keep your<br />
board on a 45-degree angle<br />
and using your back foot, kick<br />
the board sideways and into<br />
the wind. Sometimes I like to try<br />
and grab the side of the board<br />
or the side of the tail kick with<br />
my toes a little to help spin the<br />
board. Try to spin the board on a<br />
45-degree axis with the bottom<br />
surface constantly facing the<br />
wind. It’s hard to explain how<br />
hard to kick the board but its<br />
just about practicing it till you<br />
figure out what works for you.<br />
Step 4: Finishing the rotation<br />
Once you kick the board, try and<br />
keep your knees bent with your
I DE ABOITIZ<br />
feet up waiting to see how the<br />
board reacts. This way you can<br />
make it away from your board<br />
a little easier if things go wrong<br />
and be ready to catch the board<br />
under your feet if things go right.<br />
Ideally you need to kick it at<br />
a height and speed that when it<br />
finishes the rotation it’s going<br />
to land on the water in the right<br />
direction with or without you.<br />
Step 5: Look for the landing<br />
and stomp it<br />
Try and keep your knees bent<br />
with your feet up right until the<br />
end of the rotation. As the board<br />
rotates the last 90 degrees,<br />
get ready to catch it with your<br />
feet as it lands on the water by<br />
extending your legs back out. I<br />
try to follow it with my body for<br />
that last little rotation to pick<br />
the right time to put your feet<br />
down. If you do everything right<br />
the board should finish the<br />
rotation with the fins grabbing<br />
the water right as you stomp<br />
the landing.<br />
Tips and tricks:<br />
or the first time, I’d recommend<br />
trying this as more of a transition<br />
move just to get the feel<br />
for it. Try spinning the board 180<br />
as you bring the kite to 12 and<br />
head back the other way. This is<br />
the best way to get a feel for the<br />
rotation without moving to fast<br />
and limits the chance of injury<br />
from landing on the fins with<br />
speed. Once you figure that out<br />
can take it to the next step<br />
Possible Dangers:<br />
Although this is a fairly simple<br />
trick, you need to be very careful<br />
of the fins. When learning it<br />
can be hard to figure out the rotation<br />
and the wind can flip the<br />
board quite easily causing you<br />
land on the fins. Consider using<br />
less sharp plastic fins if you<br />
have some and be ready to lift<br />
your feet up and steer the kite<br />
to make it away from the board<br />
if you have to
360 HAN<br />
SHOVE I<br />
170<br />
STRAPLESS MOVES<br />
360 hand shove it<br />
This is another one of my favourite tricks and although<br />
it’s not super difficult it can be a little tricky<br />
to figure out at the start. That being said, it<br />
feels amazing when you do eventually land one.<br />
For this particular trick you want to have a bit of a<br />
background in strapless freestyle. Its not necessarily<br />
that difficult but its quite technical and can<br />
take a bit of practice to be done right.<br />
The main thing you need to know is how to flick<br />
the board up and catch it in your hand and al-<br />
Text Keahi de Aboitiz | Photo James Boulding
D<br />
TBY Keahi De Aboitiz<br />
though it looks simple, when there is wind involved<br />
it can take a little practice.<br />
This is another trick where slightly lighter wind<br />
and a heavier board can actually be beneficial.<br />
Because you are letting go of the board, it can<br />
quite easily be picked up by the wind and fly away<br />
from you. When learning I wouldn’t recommend<br />
trying this in too much wind as it can become<br />
dangerous with the board flying back towards<br />
you cause injury.
170<br />
STRAPLESS MOVES<br />
360 hand shove it<br />
360 HAND SHOVE IT<br />
Step 1: Look for the right take<br />
off<br />
This trick can take a little more<br />
time then you think so make<br />
sure you find a good ramp to<br />
get height. Although it can be<br />
performed off flat water, it is<br />
much easier off a chop or even<br />
better, off a small wave as this<br />
allows you to get height much<br />
easier. Preferably I like to do<br />
these off a wave as this allows<br />
you to much more height without<br />
sending the kite.<br />
Step 2: Take off<br />
Try to come in fairly quick with<br />
your kite around 10 or 11 and line<br />
up the ramp. Put your back in<br />
the middle of the bar with your<br />
index finger and middle finger<br />
either side of the depower line<br />
as this will help minimize the<br />
kite steering up too fast. If your<br />
doing it off a wave, try and take<br />
off right as the wave stands up<br />
to help you get more height. If<br />
your going off a chop try time<br />
it so you can get as much of a<br />
ramp as possible. Edge hard<br />
and stomp on your back foot to<br />
get a good pop off the water<br />
Step 3: Catching the board<br />
Although this looks fairly simple,<br />
it can end up being a little<br />
harder then you think to get right.<br />
As you take off, try and flick<br />
the board slightly upwind at an<br />
angle towards your hand while<br />
reaching down to grab it at the<br />
same time. Make sure wind is<br />
hitting the bottom of your board<br />
rather then the top or it will<br />
want to fall back to the water<br />
and fly away. Try and catch the<br />
board as much in the center as<br />
possible on the upwind side as<br />
this will make the rest of the trick<br />
a little easier. Bring your knees<br />
into your chest to allow room<br />
for the board to spin beneath<br />
you. I feel this also helps me<br />
keep my balance throughout<br />
the air.<br />
Step 4: Spinning the board<br />
I’d recommend trying this first<br />
in lighter wind as it can end up<br />
being quite difficult if the wind<br />
is stronger. Any time you are<br />
letting go of the board you need<br />
to be very aware of how quick<br />
the wind can grab it and send it<br />
towards you. Rotate the board<br />
about 90 degrees before letting
- KEAHI DE ABOITIZ<br />
go. Rather then throwing the<br />
board, its more about moving<br />
your hand quickly from one side<br />
of the board to other and grabbing<br />
it before the wind takes it<br />
away. Make sure try and keep<br />
the board fairly horizontal to<br />
minimize the chance of fly away<br />
Step 5: Finishing the rotation<br />
The initial momentum from<br />
spinning it should help and<br />
once you catch it you can continue<br />
the rotation with your hand.<br />
Try and bring the board all the<br />
way around and hold it under<br />
your feet until you get back<br />
close to the water. Throughout<br />
the trick try and focus on keeping<br />
the kite as still as possible.<br />
Although it will slowly move<br />
across the window to the other<br />
side because your back hand is<br />
on the bar, you want to make<br />
sure it doesn’t cross 12 too fast<br />
or it will pull you away from your<br />
board and you will stop on the<br />
landing.<br />
Step 6: Landing<br />
Look for your landing and wait<br />
until you’re almost on the water<br />
before you let the board go.<br />
Try to position your board under<br />
your feet with your knees still<br />
bent and as you let go, extend<br />
your legs toward the water to<br />
keep contact with the board.<br />
As you land your kite will most<br />
likely now be on the other side<br />
of the window so the best thing<br />
to do is backloop the kite to keep<br />
momentum. If you try to steer it<br />
back you will most likely sink on<br />
the landing. Now go claim it to<br />
your mates!<br />
Possible Dangers:<br />
The biggest danger you need to<br />
be aware of is having the board<br />
fly towards you when you’re taking<br />
off or when you’re spinning<br />
the board. Any time you disconnect<br />
from the board, be aware<br />
that wind can send it towards<br />
you fairly easily.<br />
The other main danger is the<br />
fins. If the board does fly away,<br />
be aware that in can land upside<br />
down so keep an eye out and<br />
be prepared to avoid it.
174<br />
SPECIAL "FOILBOARDING"<br />
Foil-Gybe // Gybing off the foil<br />
special "foilboarding"<br />
Foil-Gybe //<br />
Gybing off the foil<br />
Gybing off the foil<br />
Step 1<br />
Start by riding alone on a reach in your normal riding position.<br />
Make sure you are riding at an average speed (10.knots). Riding at<br />
this speed means it will be easier to change your feet because you<br />
are going slower and you will have enough speed so you will not<br />
come off the foil.<br />
GYBING OF<br />
Text Olly Bridge | Foto Axel Reese / reemedia / liquid eye
Step 2<br />
Now you are riding stably on a reach remove you back foot out of<br />
the strap and place it just in front of the back foot strap. This will<br />
make it easier for you to switch your feet quickly. More your weight<br />
on your front foot this will bring you of the foil.<br />
Step 3<br />
Make sure the Board if flat and not leaning to one side. Switch your<br />
feet like you would normally do on a windsurf board. Quickly place<br />
your back foot into the opposite front foot strap. At the same time<br />
remove you old front foot and place it just in front of your back<br />
strap so it becomes the new back foot.<br />
Step 4<br />
Now you have to change your feet, start slowly bearing downwind,<br />
carving the board onto the other tack. When you are doing<br />
downwind downloop the kite. This makes the kite turn faster onto<br />
the new tack so you can keep foiling.<br />
Step 5<br />
Once you are riding on the new tack you can now place you back<br />
foot back in the strap and put the pressure on your back foot to<br />
start foiling again. Spin your bar so your lines are not twisted. potreste<br />
essere facilmente colpiti.<br />
F THE FOIL
176<br />
SPECIAL "FOILBOARDING"<br />
Foil-Gybe // Gybing off the foil<br />
FOIL-GYBE
Foil-gybe<br />
Step 1<br />
Start by riding alone on a reach in your normal riding position.<br />
Make sure you are riding at an average speed (10.knots). Riding<br />
at this speed means it will be easier to change your feet because<br />
you are going slower and you will have enough speed so you will<br />
not come off the foil.<br />
Step 2<br />
Now you are riding stably on a reach remove you back foot out of<br />
the strap and place it just in front of the back foot strap. This will<br />
make it easier for you to switch your feet quickly.<br />
Step 3<br />
Make sure the Board if flat and not leaning to one side. Quickly<br />
place your back foot into the opposite front foot strap. At the<br />
same time remove you old front foot and place it just in front of<br />
your back strap so it becomes the new back foot.<br />
Step 4<br />
Not you have changed your feet, start slowly bearing downwind,<br />
carving the board onto the other tack. When you are doing<br />
downwind downloop the kite. This makes the kite turn faster<br />
onto the new tack so you can keep foiling.<br />
Step 5<br />
Once you are riding on the new tack you can now place you back<br />
foot back in the strap and spin your back so your lines are not<br />
twisted.
178<br />
accessories test<br />
Girl power<br />
*Girl power*<br />
≈<br />
Manera Meteor x10D Steamer 4.3<br />
Manera Exo<br />
≈<br />
NP Serene frontzip 5.4.3<br />
NP Raven<br />
NP Spreader Bar S1 Tracker EZ Set<br />
Few months ago I received some products for the<br />
female market in order to test them and give my<br />
impressions, Manera sent me the Meteor 4.3 wetsuit<br />
and the Exo harness and NP sent me the Serene<br />
5.4.3 wetsuit and the Raven harness as well as three<br />
different options of spreader Bars, out of which I<br />
tested the S1 Tracker EZ, with a sliding hook with<br />
lateral stroke.<br />
I will start by saying that both<br />
the tested wetsuit are front zip,<br />
of course it's a personal choice,<br />
I prefere this option and this is<br />
why I always opt for it for every<br />
wetsuit I wear especially in winter<br />
time.<br />
In regard to my physical characteristics<br />
I am a quite robust<br />
kiter, I am about 1.70m tall and<br />
67 kilos. My kiting level is good,<br />
I've been practicing this sport<br />
for about 16 years now and the<br />
majority of my sessions concentrate<br />
during the winter or<br />
spring with strong winds and<br />
colder water temperature hence<br />
the need for a comfortable and<br />
warm wetsuit is paramount.<br />
The first wetsuit that I tested<br />
was the Manera Meteor X10D<br />
Steamer 4.3, size M. Thanks<br />
to the special 3D design of the<br />
wetsuits, the fitting is exceptional,<br />
the starting point is not<br />
the usual 2D design followed by<br />
the development of the 3D one,
text Roberta Pala<br />
photo Stefania Perria<br />
but the other way round and I<br />
believe that from a feeling on<br />
the body perspective the result<br />
is very successful. As soon as I<br />
got the wetsuit, I was terrified of<br />
not being able to fit in, I have a<br />
rather important body structure<br />
and in some "female" areas<br />
such as thighs and gluteous<br />
sometimes can be quite laborious<br />
to put a wetsuit on. But it<br />
was extremely easy! The X10D<br />
jersey that Manera uses for its<br />
wetsuits is really super flexible<br />
and comfortable. The seams<br />
provide for flexibility and water<br />
resistance, preserving the<br />
best elasticity. Often, during the<br />
sessions in the sea, I personally<br />
get back with tons of water in<br />
my calf, the Manera wetsuit has<br />
the Water Strainer, a perforated<br />
neoprene and not sealed jersey<br />
solution, which allows the water<br />
to drain from the legs. However<br />
there are also the additional ankle<br />
straps, very light. Often we
180<br />
accessories test<br />
Girl power<br />
leave our wetsuits hanging for<br />
drying off and that can slowly<br />
deteriorate them but the Manera<br />
wetsuit has additional reinforcements<br />
on the shoulders in<br />
order to preserve the neoprene<br />
and the wetsuit design. It is a<br />
wetsuit specifically designed<br />
for kitesurfing. The colour is<br />
blue which represents a change<br />
from that total black area to<br />
which we were used to years<br />
ago. The only thing I missed a<br />
little bit was the car keys pocket<br />
;-). Sizes S - M and L.<br />
With the Manera Meteor I also<br />
tried the Manera Exo harness,<br />
size XS and I must say something<br />
very important as for<br />
the first time I found a harness,<br />
not designed for the female<br />
body, which remains perfectly<br />
in place, comfortable and protective<br />
in the right areas. Just<br />
like many other women, I have<br />
large hips with a rather thin<br />
waist, the typical "hourglass"<br />
body shape, this often means<br />
that those harnesses with a<br />
more male design, dangerously<br />
ride up to and press the breasts<br />
or else rest on the ribs and hips<br />
area without properly adhering<br />
to the waist, resulting in a rotation<br />
of the harness and consequent<br />
pain and abrasions. That<br />
has NEVER happened with the<br />
Manera Exo which for me was a<br />
pleasant surprise. Furthermore<br />
since I have a lumbar problem,<br />
a slight scoliosis that with some<br />
harnesses often gives me back<br />
pains during the sessions, especially<br />
those with a rather tight<br />
lumbar waist band as it often<br />
happens in the women's harnesses<br />
design. The Exo shape,<br />
with its Energy dispersion frame,<br />
distributes the forces over<br />
a larger area, without focusing<br />
on the lower lumbar area and<br />
all the force absorption adaptations<br />
are located externally<br />
to the harness and not in its<br />
internal manufacture I believe
that also this solution adopted<br />
by Manera is the reason why it<br />
felt so comfortable during its<br />
use. A new straps system designed<br />
to prevent the harness<br />
from riding up also distributes<br />
the forces downwards. Just like<br />
in many harnesses there is not<br />
the safety knife. In areas of greater<br />
friction, such as the upper<br />
area towards the ribs, it’s soft<br />
and comfortable. There are two<br />
quick-releases for the leash and<br />
also the possibility to leave it<br />
free to slide or fix it to the right<br />
or left. Six different types of colours,<br />
for any taste. Sizes from<br />
XS to XXL. Since this is a unisex<br />
harness, perhaps it could be<br />
useful to have also a size below<br />
XS, for those extremely tiny girls.<br />
Info: www.manera.com<br />
The other wetsuit which I tested<br />
in the past months is the NP Serene<br />
5.4.3, also front zip. I chose<br />
this wetsuit because of its characteristics<br />
of thickness, which<br />
are essential to keep me warm<br />
during the sessions with strong<br />
Mistral wind, typical of where I<br />
live. The neoprene used is very<br />
soft and the wetsuit was really<br />
easy to wear, I am size 38, that<br />
is a US 8 or an Italian size 44,<br />
it follows well the body shapes<br />
and it’s soft and flexible in the<br />
right places. The specific Apex<br />
Lite Core has microscopic air<br />
bubbles inside, to make it more<br />
flexible, warm and light compared<br />
to a traditional neoprene.<br />
The Fireline is a polypropylene<br />
core, an elastic insulating layer,<br />
warm and light, soft to touch,<br />
the surface absorbs the moister<br />
which is then heated by the<br />
body, creating this way a kind of<br />
"greenhouse effect" inside the<br />
wetsuit. Special bamboo charcoal<br />
fibers woven in the lining<br />
of the suit and they are used<br />
because of their antibacterial<br />
and anti-odor properties and to<br />
maintain the body temperature.<br />
I was never cold with this wetsuit<br />
therefore I was able to greatly<br />
prolong my winter sessions.<br />
The key slot is in the neck panel.<br />
The front zip has a magnetic<br />
lock closure for the panel. It has<br />
additional ankles straps, reinforcements<br />
at the knees and<br />
sealing seams. Blue colour with<br />
red stripes. Sizes from 34 to 40<br />
(4-10).<br />
The combination for NP, with<br />
the suit Serene 5.4.3, was the<br />
NP Raven harness, which I used<br />
in size S, and the NP Spreader<br />
Bar S1 Tracker EZ Set. First of<br />
all when I got the hooks to be<br />
tested from Alberto Rondina,<br />
the Spreader Bar with the sliding<br />
hook immediately caught<br />
my attention, mainly because<br />
I'm approaching the wave-riding<br />
discipline and having a<br />
hook that "follows" you it's great...<br />
just as it is also now clear
182<br />
accessories test<br />
Girl power<br />
to Alberto Rondina, who sent it<br />
to me for the testing that I am<br />
not going to send it back ... In<br />
this combination, the harness is<br />
designed for the female body,<br />
with a good lumbar support,<br />
its design is not low at all as<br />
it often happens with women<br />
harnesses, which makes it very<br />
comfortable. It's also soft and<br />
light, the spreader bar has a<br />
front connection for attaching<br />
the leash, very convenient. It<br />
has the safety release buckles<br />
for the handlepass line. The material<br />
which gets in contact with<br />
the rib area is really soft, the<br />
supplied spreader bar is smaller<br />
in order to fit better and cause<br />
women less discomfort on the<br />
waist. I found it very comfortable,<br />
I especially appreciated<br />
the lightness and softness of<br />
the harness, finding it comfortable<br />
even in tough and strong<br />
gusty wind conditions, notwithstanding<br />
the continuous "pulls"<br />
on the lower back. Two colours,<br />
sizes from XS to L.<br />
As I said, I did not use the Spreader<br />
bar supplied with the NP<br />
Raven, but the NP Spreader Bar<br />
S1 Tracker EZ Set, with the sliding<br />
hook, which reduces the<br />
torque load when the kite pulls<br />
sideways for example whilst<br />
riding toe-side, blind or wave-riding.<br />
The hook returns to<br />
the center position as soon as<br />
the torque ends. The freedom<br />
of movement of this hook won<br />
me over, I often spend half of<br />
my sessions busy putting the<br />
harness back in place after any<br />
torque, especially while riding<br />
toe-side or blind, thanks to this<br />
hook my sessions were much<br />
more relaxing! Although they<br />
used top materials, we must<br />
remember that we use it in the<br />
sea water hence a spare parts<br />
pack is supplied for the replacement<br />
of the mechanism. You<br />
can watch the "how to" video on
the website. The security knife<br />
is in the slot beneath the hook<br />
and there is a frontal safety leash<br />
attachment which I found<br />
it to be very handy for wave-riding<br />
with the short leash. Available<br />
sizes 25cm: men XS, S, M,<br />
L and women S, M, L and and<br />
30cm: men XL.<br />
Info: www.npsurf.com<br />
I would like to thank Manera and<br />
NP for this opportunity.
184<br />
TECNICAL STORY<br />
Spoilt for Choice – Freeride versus Freestyle Harness<br />
SPOILT FOR CHOICE<br />
FREERIDE VERSUS FREESTYLE HARNESS<br />
Finding the right harness can be a tricky<br />
decision. At first glance they all look pretty<br />
similar. But in more detail, there is a multitude<br />
of distinguishing features that determine<br />
their range of use. Who should go<br />
for a freeride harness and who for a freestyle<br />
harness? Airton Cozzolino Lopes and<br />
Matchu Lopes Almeida shed some light on<br />
the matter:<br />
“Air 360“! Airton, Top-Athlete<br />
from Cape Verde blows the<br />
minds - yet again - of spectators<br />
on the beach of his home-island<br />
Sal during a strapless freestyle<br />
session. In his typical style, he<br />
is super quick and does many<br />
tricks right after each other. Airton<br />
is pulling his moves really<br />
close to shore, rotating underneath<br />
his kite with his board<br />
is literally stuck to his feet. He<br />
rides back out to sea but only<br />
briefly. Only 100 metres into his<br />
tack, he launches already into<br />
his next transition.<br />
Back on the beach Airton and<br />
his mate Matchu are taking<br />
shop about their brand new<br />
harnesses that they have only<br />
just received. Although both<br />
have a similar riding-style, they<br />
use rather different harnesses.<br />
Airton wears his ION Pro-Model<br />
Madtrixx and Matchu is testing<br />
the new ION Vertex. It is immediately<br />
obvious that Matchu’s
text Axel Reese, Airton Cozzolino, Matchu Lopes Almeida | Photo Axel Reese/Reemedia/liquid eye<br />
model is much higher cut and<br />
wider than the slimline one of<br />
Airton.<br />
What’s the reason for the different<br />
shapes in harness design<br />
and what type is best for a<br />
particular style of riding? We<br />
decided to get to the bottom of<br />
things with the help of the two<br />
pros.<br />
If you’re looking for maximum<br />
back support, it is best to choose<br />
a model with a higher cut<br />
like the Vertex. In comparison<br />
with the Madtrixx, which is a<br />
narrower, lower cut harness,<br />
the Vertex is stiffer overall and<br />
offers more support around the<br />
edges. The Vertex is therefore<br />
more suitable for freeriding.<br />
“People with less core and back<br />
strength than most professional<br />
kiteboarders will find models<br />
like this one extremely helpful.<br />
These will save them from<br />
a sore back after a good session<br />
in the water“ Matchu points out.
186<br />
TECNICAL STORY<br />
Spoilt for Choice – Freeride versus Freestyle Harness<br />
This same target group generally<br />
focuses more on cruising<br />
and hooked jumps. Therefore it<br />
is not really an issue that their<br />
freedom of movement is slightly<br />
more limited with the Vertex<br />
than with a harness with a slimmer<br />
outline. Airton comments<br />
“But for riders who love to<br />
freestyle, wakestyle and kite in<br />
waves these higher cut models<br />
aren’t that suited.“ Looking at<br />
Airton’s harness it is immediately<br />
evident that the design offers<br />
less support for the lateral<br />
back muscles due to its smaller<br />
width and lower cut. It is also<br />
much softer towards the outer<br />
edges. “The flexibility of the edges<br />
together with the slimmer<br />
design gives me a huge freedom<br />
of movement. That’s what<br />
I seek in a harness as it’s ideal<br />
for fast and radical rotations<br />
of the body“, Airton suggests.<br />
According to Airton beside the<br />
Madtrixx also the Hummer falls<br />
into this category, offering<br />
many advantages over a higher<br />
cut harness for a fast and athletic<br />
style of riding.<br />
A view to the inner surface of<br />
the harness:<br />
But it’s not only the cut, also the<br />
design of the inside plays an important<br />
part with regards to the<br />
comfort and performance of the<br />
harness. Laminated neoprene<br />
makes up the inside of both, the<br />
Madtrixx as well as the Vertex,<br />
allowing the harness to move<br />
sideways. “For many tricks, riding<br />
in switch stance for a long<br />
period, or also wave riding it is<br />
of great advantage when the<br />
harness is a bit looser and can<br />
slide around the body instead of<br />
being fixed in one position. Only<br />
like that it is possible to maintain<br />
a relaxed stance without<br />
having to turn to absorb the pull<br />
of the kite“, explains the master<br />
of strapless freestyling.<br />
A view to the hook:<br />
In addition, Airton has customised<br />
his harness. He uses an ION<br />
Traveller hook. Here the hook<br />
of the harness can slide along<br />
the spreader bar, maximising<br />
the level of comfort for the rider<br />
when facing away from the direction<br />
that the kite travels in.<br />
“For my particular riding-style,<br />
the Traveller hook offers me an<br />
even greater level of comfort.<br />
It feels just awesome when I’m<br />
hooked in and the chicken loop<br />
slides around rather than the<br />
whole harness itself, every time<br />
I slightly twist my upper body.<br />
Of course it also comes down to<br />
personal preference”, with this<br />
Airton backs up his decision of<br />
using the Traveller hook.
188<br />
TECNICAL STORY<br />
Spoilt for Choice – Freeride versus Freestyle Harness<br />
A view to “Mr.Wakestyle: Aaron<br />
Hadlow”:<br />
Multiple World Champion and<br />
ION team-rider Aaron Hadlow<br />
is one of the most experienced<br />
freestylers in the world. His trademark<br />
is his incredibly powerful<br />
style. Together with Aaron,<br />
ION has developed the Hadlow<br />
Pro, an adaption of the Hummer.<br />
The main priority for Aaron during<br />
his manoeuvres naturally is<br />
to have maximum freedom of<br />
movement. That is why his harness<br />
is cut lower than the conventional<br />
Hummer. Compared<br />
to the Madtrixx, which is also<br />
slimline, Aaron’s pro-model is a<br />
fair bit stiffer especially around<br />
the back. It is crucial to make up<br />
for lost ground after a big jump<br />
as fast as possible, especially in<br />
competition. That’s when this<br />
particular level of stiffness is incredibly<br />
valuable. Therefore Aaron’s<br />
model is called a Hybrid,<br />
combining the best of both worlds,<br />
with a main focus on maximum<br />
freedom of movement.<br />
Overall it can be stated:<br />
The less fitness and core strength<br />
a rider has, the more intense<br />
the strain on the back during<br />
a kite-session; more support is<br />
needed in the back area and<br />
thus the wider the cut of the<br />
harness should be. In this case<br />
a freeride harness is the perfect<br />
choice. Riders who kite a<br />
lot in waves or freestylers who<br />
require maximum freedom of<br />
movement for handlepass-manouvers,<br />
are better off with a<br />
slimline, lower cut freestyle model.<br />
Despite all the categorising<br />
and specialising of models, in<br />
the end of the day the final decision<br />
is of course also a matter<br />
of personal preference and taste.<br />
Really one is spoilt for choice<br />
and there is unfortunately no<br />
scientific formula to determine<br />
the perfect model for you.
190<br />
PRODUCT FOCUS<br />
CORE XR4 / XR4 LW<br />
Product focus<br />
CORE XR4 / XR4 LW<br />
FREERIDE | WAVE | RACE<br />
text and photo Courtesy Core Kites<br />
www. corekites.com<br />
XR series. For any wind. And any<br />
style. A power delta bow kite<br />
for pure adrenaline pumping<br />
hangtime. A kite that delivers<br />
ridiculous whoo-hoos in any<br />
conditions. A kite that always<br />
has your back. And now available,<br />
for the first time ever, in<br />
a color other than our original<br />
white (BrightWhite10) version.<br />
“TechBlack10, as we call it, has<br />
special meaning to us." CORE<br />
Chief, Bernie Hiss, explains.<br />
"Our legendary sister company,<br />
Carved, introduced its’ first kite<br />
in 2005. And exactly ten kite<br />
iterations later, CORE is a world<br />
leader in kite innovation. CORE<br />
releases the new 4th generation<br />
XR4 with proprietary new<br />
materials and more aerodynamic<br />
design. The XR4 distinguishes<br />
itself from the prior model<br />
with the use of CORE ExoTex®<br />
Dacron. Relentless research<br />
went into our new proprietary<br />
Dacron, a fabric that sets<br />
structural performance benchmarks<br />
in strength and abrasion<br />
resistance. ExoTex® allows us to<br />
improve airflow by reducing the<br />
leading edge and strut diameters.<br />
Despite reducing all five<br />
strut diameters our new Exo-<br />
Tex® Dacron improved kite stiffness<br />
and flight characteristics.<br />
The XR4 is more stable, can<br />
point higher, depower more and<br />
go bigger. Yes, we squeezed<br />
even more hangtime in for those<br />
seeking the ultimate big air<br />
machine. Although the highly<br />
rigid ExoTex® frame delivers crisp,<br />
powerful feedback it doesn’t<br />
mess with the XR’s legendary<br />
easy riding comfort. The XR4<br />
has not forgotten its roots as a<br />
kiter’s first kite. Or its reputation<br />
with aerialists and wave riders.<br />
We carried over features like<br />
our Intelligent Arc flight control<br />
and Short Bridle System that<br />
made the previous generation<br />
so good in the first place. We
tweaked some features to make<br />
them even better. Like reducing<br />
pump time by improving airflow<br />
in the Speed Pump System. And<br />
adding new Grintex® patches<br />
on the leading edge and tips for<br />
better protection. We just love<br />
how the kite responds to our<br />
Sensor 2 bar. Feedback is precise<br />
and immediate. Trim adjustments<br />
are effortless. And if you<br />
happen to eject, no problem,<br />
the kite will drift depowered on<br />
one front line until it comes to<br />
rest in a launch ready position.<br />
The new XR4 comes in 9 flavours,<br />
I mean, sizes and 3 in the<br />
XR4 LW edition. Check out the<br />
XR4 at your local CORE retailer.<br />
Sizes: 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 |<br />
10.0 | 11.0 | 12.0 | 13.5 | LW 15.0 |<br />
LW 17.0 | LW 19.0
192<br />
PRODUCT FOCUS<br />
Fusion Core 2<br />
Product focus<br />
Fusion Core 2<br />
Freeride | Freestyle | Low wind<br />
text and photo Courtesy Core Kites<br />
www. corekites.com<br />
When the Fusion hit the water<br />
two years ago, it took the market<br />
by storm. Now, after two years<br />
of continuous R&D, we bring<br />
you the second generation<br />
Fusion featuring evolutionary<br />
refinements while remaining<br />
true to the original character.<br />
Familiar, yet one quick look at<br />
the Fusion 2 and you will notice<br />
the new Union Pro pads, contour<br />
tips and fins. We are super<br />
stoked with our new in-house<br />
designed Union Pro pads<br />
and straps. When we could not<br />
source “off the shelf” pads that<br />
met our standards, we decided<br />
to build them ourselves. The<br />
new, orthotic EVA footpads with<br />
its “toe grabber” 3D surface will<br />
hold your feet securely even<br />
on those off balance landings.<br />
And with a base plate that can<br />
accommodate nine different<br />
stances and three pad insert<br />
options we are sure you will find<br />
the perfect setup for your riding<br />
style. Our new Union Pro straps<br />
are equally customizable. With<br />
effortless pitch, longitudinal<br />
and height adjustments, finding<br />
your sweet spot will be easier<br />
than ever. We lined the strap<br />
interior with padded neoprene<br />
while protecting the exterior<br />
with durable synthetic leather.<br />
A noticeable change can also be<br />
seen in the new contour tip outline.<br />
The edge runs longer and<br />
straighter to a geometrically<br />
optimized, bevelled corner. The<br />
modified edge profile blends<br />
perfectly with the Progressive<br />
Channels and new G10 fins to<br />
deliver crisp freestyle take-offs<br />
and controlled power edging<br />
without sacrificing the much loved<br />
freeriding character of the<br />
original.<br />
We worked really hard to keep<br />
all the good stuff that made the<br />
Fusion so popular in the first place.<br />
For example, we continue to<br />
use our proprietary Cartan® 30°
Biaxial carbon fibre weave to<br />
optimize board torsion and dynamic<br />
longitudinal flex. We retained<br />
the famous Diamond 3D<br />
Shape performance attributes.<br />
We didn’t fiddle with the proven<br />
V-Keel, the Double Concaves or<br />
the Progressive Channels. The<br />
famous Fusion feel is alive and<br />
well in the new generation. And<br />
don’t forget about our two light<br />
wind editions: the Fusion 2 LW<br />
medium and the Fusion 2 LW<br />
large. Boards that ooze confidence<br />
and agility even in the lightest<br />
of winds. The new Fusion<br />
2. The Swiss Army® knife of kiteboards.<br />
Always the right choice<br />
for your next epic session.<br />
Chop, glass, or waves, it doesn‘t<br />
matter when you‘re riding the<br />
Fusion 2, the ultimate all style<br />
twin tip. The best seller is back...<br />
only a little better!<br />
Sizes: 133x39 cm | 135x40 cm |<br />
137x41 cm | 139x41.5 cm | 141x42<br />
cm | 144x43 cm | LW 147x44 cm<br />
| LW 152x46 cm
194<br />
PRODUCT FOCUS<br />
RRD Passion MK8<br />
Product focus<br />
RRD Passion MK8<br />
FREERIDE / BIG AIR<br />
Text Courtesy RRD<br />
Photo Svetlana Romantsova e courtesy RRD<br />
www.robertoriccidesigns.com<br />
Excellence through Passion; the<br />
definition of the new Passion<br />
MK8.<br />
The MK8 delivers pure, predictable<br />
power, paired with amazing<br />
stability. The ‘new best<br />
thing’ is a fantastic kite for allround<br />
freeride, big air, and freestyle<br />
progression that provides<br />
a perfect blend of turning<br />
speed, handling, and jumping<br />
ability. Expect incredible performance<br />
from this kite due to<br />
the changes made to the profile<br />
shape and aspect ratio.<br />
The MK8 is re-designed, refined,<br />
and has redefined the durability<br />
of its predecessor, the<br />
Passion MK7. One of the largest<br />
differences is that the new Passion<br />
MK8 now has 3 struts instead<br />
of 5. The reduction of two<br />
struts translates into a lighter<br />
kite with increased low-end. Because<br />
of the increased stability,<br />
power, and performance of the<br />
MK8, we were able to maintain<br />
the same predictable power delivery<br />
as the MK7. In addition,<br />
the shape of the trailing edge<br />
has been improved. We increased<br />
the diameter size of the<br />
bridle by 1mm and equipped<br />
all bridles with a double pulley<br />
system. The strut construction<br />
with additional reinforcements<br />
is also a new feature. They are<br />
connected to the leading edge<br />
more securely which improves<br />
durability and the efficiency of<br />
the airflow over the kite.<br />
The Passion MK8 is especially<br />
easy to relaunch, even in<br />
low wind conditions. Furthermore,<br />
the gradually changing<br />
power while sheeting is coupled<br />
with consistent bar pressure.<br />
Thus aiding in the MK8’s predictability.<br />
Boosting huge airs<br />
is a blast on this kite because<br />
the kite is smoother and more<br />
stable in gusty conditions with<br />
increased turning speed. Don’t<br />
hold back! Give it full power.
The 15m and 17m sizes are specifically<br />
designed for super light<br />
wind. All details were considered<br />
to reduced the weight of<br />
these light wind kites.<br />
The special 3m size is specifically<br />
made for kiteboarding<br />
schools and kids. It is also a<br />
new design, simplified to the<br />
core, with only two struts, great<br />
low end power, and stability for<br />
newcomers. A must for all kite<br />
schools. As in the larger sizes,<br />
the revisions allow this small<br />
kite to fly very well in light wind.<br />
Simply put, this is one extraordinary<br />
piece of equipment.<br />
If cutting edge technology and<br />
impeccable attention to detail is<br />
what you’re looking for, look no<br />
further.<br />
Special Features: New 3-strut<br />
construction with additional<br />
reinforcements, leading edge<br />
seam protection, quick air flow<br />
valve with protection cap, 45degrees<br />
Leading edge reinforcements<br />
panels, bridle anti-tangle<br />
device, radial reinforcements,<br />
3m version for schools.<br />
Sizes: 3 • 5 • 7 • 9 • 11 • 13 • 15 •<br />
17 mq
196<br />
PRODUCT FOCUS<br />
RRD Fifty Fifty<br />
Product focus<br />
RRD Fifty Fifty<br />
Freestyle / Freeride Twintip divisibile<br />
Text Courtesy RRD<br />
Photo Svetlana Romantsova e courtesy RRD<br />
www.robertoriccidesigns.com<br />
A board for those who want to<br />
travel light and compact. Available<br />
into 2 x different sizes: 138<br />
x 42 and 138 x 40,5 cms. This<br />
kiteboarding format is getting<br />
more and more popular for those<br />
who travel often by plane, or<br />
others who want to simply have<br />
a short bike trip to the beach<br />
in total comfort. The shape is<br />
specifically designed along the<br />
middle split of the board that is<br />
naturally stiffer than a conventional<br />
board, and so is the outline.<br />
Slightly wider tips and and<br />
a very thin rail profile, create a<br />
great combo for pure freestyle<br />
sessions or exhilarating freerides<br />
in both light and strong<br />
winds. The split system is extremely<br />
simple and the board<br />
can be assembled by screwing<br />
in the carry handle, that works<br />
as a connecting part. No other<br />
pieces or technical devices needed<br />
to assemble this functional<br />
stick that can be stored in the<br />
smallest bag or corner of your<br />
car. Enjoy the pure freedom of<br />
simplicity!
CELSIUS PRO<br />
CHEST ZIP<br />
“Only a PRO knows why”<br />
FEATURES:<br />
• Internal fabric tape only on seam joint areas<br />
• 360 ultrastretch back panel<br />
• Antiskid deck protection liquid tape on side seams<br />
• Drain holes<br />
• Velcro ankle straps<br />
• Outside-in zipper<br />
Available in: Orange/Black<br />
Thicknesses:<br />
•5/3 - 4/3<br />
Available in: Gray/Black (Razzle Dazzle)<br />
Thicknesses:<br />
•4/3 - 3/2<br />
Sizes:<br />
XS•S•M•MT•L•LT•XL•XXL•XXXL<br />
www.robertoriccidesigns.com<br />
EXTREME flexibility where pattern<br />
design is combined with the best available<br />
neoprenes in the market. Our zippers close<br />
from the out- to the inside, which is better<br />
for the pressure distribution, resulting in<br />
stronger front zips.<br />
The Celsius pro is fully made with<br />
Superstretch limestone neoprene, the most<br />
flexible material available today, the Celsius<br />
Pro is the wetsuit made with the lowest<br />
number of panels in our collection. Less<br />
panels mean more flexibility.<br />
The PRO is pure fabric taped on the inside<br />
only and on the seam joint areas.<br />
This allows even more flex, especially<br />
around the arms. Only a PRO knows what<br />
this means!
198<br />
BASIC FREESTYLE MOVES<br />
S-bend vs Unhooked Frontroll<br />
S-BEND VS UNHO<br />
BASIC FREESTYLE MOV<br />
Text Alberto Rondin<br />
S-BEND<br />
They might seem similar to some people, but<br />
they are actually completely different: the S-bend<br />
comes from the Raley based tricks, the Unhooked<br />
Frontroll instead its a proper flip so the approach<br />
to them is totally different!<br />
The S-bend is one of those tricks especially, that<br />
in Wakeboarding is considered one of the basics<br />
tricks but also the hardest if done the proper way,<br />
and risky in case not landed property!<br />
The S-bend is a heelside raley with an overhead<br />
backside 360, so basically its a flat rotation<br />
while your legs are stretched and the board high<br />
behind you (just like in raley).<br />
- With the kite at 45’ and good speed, unhook and<br />
get ready to pop hard, same pop you would do for<br />
a raley.<br />
- Push hard with your back leg on the water and<br />
send the nose of the board against the wind to<br />
get height.<br />
- While your legs are going up, start to bed the<br />
front leg and stretch your arms, being sure to<br />
have your hands right in the middle of the bar.<br />
- Turn your head looking under your back armpit,<br />
this movement together with the bending of the<br />
front leg starts the 360 rotation.<br />
- Give and extra whip to the rotation twisting<br />
your shoulders and pushing hard with your head<br />
under the armpit. In this moment you should be<br />
with the board above your head and your back<br />
facing the kite.<br />
- Keep spinning and look down to the water to realize<br />
how high you are, if you need to speed thin-
OKED FRONTROLL<br />
ES ALBERTO RONDINA<br />
a | Photo Laci Kobulsky<br />
gs up or you can slow down (if you are still high)<br />
- bend your knees and get ready to cushion your<br />
landing!<br />
TIPS:<br />
- If you feel the pop is not good<br />
enough don’t go for it, the face<br />
landings are painful :D<br />
- Always keep the hands right<br />
in the middle of the bar, you<br />
wanna focus only on body<br />
movement, so best is when the<br />
kite is sitting in the same place<br />
during the trick.<br />
- Start with the kite a little higher<br />
at the beginning, so even<br />
if you are gonna crash (it could<br />
be normal at the beginning ;)<br />
its not gonna be that painful.
200<br />
BASIC FREESTYLE MOVES<br />
S-bend vs Unhooked Frontroll<br />
The Unhooked Front Roll, or Front Flip, its an<br />
inverted end over end style flip.<br />
The biggest difference that you will notice from<br />
the S-bend is that here you don’t stretch your<br />
arms, instead you keep the bar close to your<br />
body with the arms bended, and the front rotation<br />
starts straight away after the take off.<br />
- Your head is very important in this trick, as in<br />
every other trick. Wherever the head goes the<br />
body is gonna follow. So move your head back,<br />
looking up in the sky, this will get you inverted.<br />
- It feels a lot like doing a flip on a trampoline, so<br />
the more compact you are the faster the rotation<br />
is gonna go.<br />
- With the kite at 45’ and good speed, unhook<br />
with your hands in the middle fo the bar and pop<br />
hard.<br />
- Keep the bar close to you and keep pushing<br />
with your head to finish the rotation and land<br />
heel side again.<br />
- Push hard with the back leg and in the same<br />
time bend the front leg to start the front rotation.<br />
- Bend your knees and cushion the landings.<br />
TIPS:<br />
- Start with the kite a little higher<br />
at the beginning, so even<br />
if you are gonna crash (it could<br />
be normal at the beginning ;)<br />
its not gonna be that painful.<br />
- The most common mistake is<br />
not to push enough with your<br />
head, so always remember<br />
that.<br />
- The more inverted you wanna<br />
get the more you gotta push<br />
with your head, and have some<br />
strong abs is also very important!
UNHOOKED FRONTROLL<br />
You have just learned two tricks in one day!<br />
Go out there and have fun ;)<br />
ciao<br />
Alby
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