Kitesoul Magazine #12 English Edition

African conditions.
We have to travel, because we won’t always find
wind for 17 m Emotion kite and 4 m Religion. It
can happen that the new wave kite works amazing
in South Africa, with strong wind and side-offshore
conditions, but then, when you come to
Europe with lighter wind and onshore conditions,
the same shape is not fast enough and doesn’t
have enough depower. That is why they spend so
many months travelling and testing around the
globe to make sure the kites are of quality for all
conditions around the world.
This is the last stage of testing and Abel is really
happy to see Werther again with the new babies
(kites). For Abel these are the exams and we are
all super excited to test them in these conditions.
Just before Cape Town, I was fortunate enough to
join them in Fuerteventura for a sneak peak. Now
it was the final test to see if they were as good as
I remembered.
Sweet Abel and Werther pumped them all up for
us on the beach (as always) and I have to say they
all looked stunning. All the riders are eyeing off
the kites and the waves, buzzing to try the new
gear. I´ve got my eye on the small 4m Religion
kite. Pink and turquoise, it is beautiful and feels
like Werther and Roberto is looking after me with
it’s feminine design. It is beautiful and I am so
proud to ride with it.
My cheeks ache from smiling, Roberto is on fire,
Lyde, Alex, David and Collin are having a great
time ripping, Abel is riding with power, even
Svetlana, sandy on the beach is thrilled with her
shots. We are all exhausted, this is the best session
in a long time for everyone. It felt amazing to
see all the RRD kites in the sky and ride with my
team mates. Werther was jumping for joy on the
beach, vicariously enjoying the session through
us. Again, he has pulled through with the goods.
My stomach was growling out when I get this
feeling and have this much fun, it is impossible
to stop riding.
Roberto disappears from the beach we are riding,
and heads towards the rocks. We aren’t worried
though, just beyond the rocks is a small beach
that we have lovingly named Roberto´s beach. He
refused to put a leash on his board so it regularly
ends up there. We can see him now coming back
smiling from the beach, giving us a knowing nod
as I mouth ”leash!”.
The last beams of sunlight disappear and only
the orange glow remains. We are all exhausted
after the long day filled with action on the waves.
I know I will never forget this day. The perfect