Kitesoul Magazine #19 English Edition

ITW 

_Axel Mazella 

_Adeuri Corniel 

>>TUTORIAL 

_Wave Riding 

_Strapless: 180 Pop Shove It 

>>AdVENTURES 

_Kiting with Orcas 

>>EVENTS 

_S-Triple Invitational 2017 

_Tarifa Strapless Pro 

W W W . K I T E S O U L . C O M

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Wave

Editor 

David Ingiosi 

david.ingiosi@kitesoul.com 

Wave Thecnique Editor 

Mitu Monteiro 

Freestyle Thecnique Editor 

Alberto Rondina 

Thecnical Expert 

Renato Casati 

Photo & Video 

Maurizio Cinti 

Design 

Giuseppe Esposito 

Translations italian-english 

Daniela Meloni 

AUGUST 2017 - SEPTEMBER 2017 

TWO-MONTHLY 

Texts 

David Ingiosi, Reemedia, Steph e Ollie 

Bridge, Mikaili Sol, Kari Schibevaag, 

Michele Hayward, Reo Stevens, Sensi 

Graves, Chris Bobryk. 

Photos 

Reemedia, Svetlana Romantsova, Toby 

Bromwich, Samuel Tomé, Gianluca De 

Montis, Debbie Jean Hollomon, Christian 

Black, Bas Koole, Marcus Graichen, 

Patagonia/Scott Soens, Naish, RRD, 

F-One. 

Cover: 

Rider: Taylor Holl 

Photo: Thomas Burblies 

Publisher and advertising 

VISU Media 

Via Cavour, 20 

24030 Ambivere (BG) 

Amministratore Unico 

Federico Sugoni 

fs@kitesoul.com 

Registration Tribunale 

di Bergamo n°10/2014 

del 15/04/2014. 

Periodicità bimestrale 

Copyright Kitesoul Magazine 

All content is copyright of Kitesoul 

Magazine / Visu Media Srl. 

FEDERICO SUGONI 

Publisher 

He’s a manager and a businessman. 

He fell in love with kiteboarding 

almost 10 years ago in 

the wild and amazing North 

Shore of Oahu (Hawaii). Aside 

from kiteboarding there is 

only one other important 

thing in his life: his baby 

daughter. 

He’s responsible for the 2014 

launching of KiteSoul Magazine. 

DAVID INGIOSI 

Editor in Chief 

Professional journalist and 

video maker with a solid 

experience in sailing, sea 

adventures, travels and water 

sports, he has been reported 

the “blue world” from the 

inside for more than 15 years. 

He fell in love with kitesurf 

several years ago in Sardinia, 

then travelled all over the 

world as Iko instructor. 

MAURIZIO CINTI 

Film-maker 

Movie buff and keen photographer. 

He’s a skater, snowboarder 

and wakeboarder, 

but he actually burns with 

passion for kiteboarding. He 

started off with freestyle a 

few years ago, but nowadays 

he’s more into chasing big 

and powerful waves. This is 

what he loves the most. 

GIUSEPPE ESPOSITO 

Art director 

Kiter since he was in the baby 

pram, he is a rider for RRD 

Italia and he have a Bachelor 

in Comunciation Design at 

Politecnico di Milano. 

With this assignment, he 

finally has been able to put 

together his two passions: 

kite and design.

KITESOUL MAGAZINE 

Feel The Flow 

MITU MONTEIRO 

Technical Editor-Wave Riding 

He comes from Sal. Official 

F-one and Manera rider. 

2008 KPWT World Champion 

and three-time Vice World 

Champion. He started to surf 

and windsurf as a kid and but 

he definitively fell in love with 

kitesurf as soon as he discovered 

it. 

ALBERTO RONDINA 

Technical Editor-Freestyle 

He’s the best Italian rider of 

the competitive kiting world. 

Cabrinha, Neil Pryde and 

GoPro official team rider 

and four-time Italian Champion. 

Alberto has won the 

2001 edition of the European 

Championship and third 

place in the 2012 PKRA World 

Championship. 

RENATO “DR. KITE” CASATI 

Technical Expert 

RRD Wave team rider. Kiteboarder 

since 2000, he has 

been PKRA athlete and judge. 

He’s a professional sportswriter 

for several technical 

magazines. He lives between 

Como Lake and Sardinia, but 

he spends every winter in the 

waves of Cabo-Verde. 

DANIELA MELONI 

Professional translator 

Daniela mainly lived abroad 

where she graduated 

in Law and worked. She 

discovered her passion for 

water actvities back in 2007 

when she moved back to the 

Sardinian west coast and met 

her husband, the kitesurfer 

Enrico Giordano. Professional 

translator since 2009. She is 

a SUP lover and an amateur 

photographer and never 

misses to photo or video 

shoot a Kite or Sup wave 

session!

If kiters start sailing seriously, 

they would benefit from it 

There's bad blood between kiters and the sailing world. On one side, we have the riders, 

free, unromantic, beach-life lovers, on the other one we have the sailors, proud, 

slightly arrogant and romantic. They have always exchanged dirty looks. That’s mainly 

because they do not really know each other that well. However, occasionally osmosis 

happens, then sailors decide to learn kitesurfing and vice versa, kiters step on 

a boat even if just to search for windy spots or go on a kite safari. Nevertheless, the 

two worlds appear to be quite far apart. Their reference universe is actually far. Kitesurfing 

is a relatively young discipline, comes from a rib of surfing, belongs to board 

sports, and it developed in the Hawaiian Islands, the Mecca for water sports. Sailing 

comes with civilization, it’s related to the nautical tradition, to seamanship, a world 

full of everything: journey, man, history, exploration, discovery, commercial trades, 

only later on it became a sport, boat holidays, regattas, America's Cup, rounds the 

world in record time. 

Today the relations between the two disciplines have improved at least officially, federations’ 

wise, kitesurfing has been recognized as a sailing discipline. It's actually a 

self-serving choice because being kitesurfing a new sport it brought a breath of fresh 

air in the sailing world, new people, especially an ever growing number of enthusiasts, 

but also research, design, materials, business and visibility. In a few years if 

things run smoothly kitesurfing could become an Olympic sailing sport. Who knows? 

In the meantime, the youth category has already been included therefore, the ground 

is quite clear to that end. It can be said that kitesurfing got closer to sailing thanks 

to the latter's will which has put aside its pride and arrogance and welcomed the newcomer. 

Hopefully not just for squeezing it as it happened with windsurfing. 

However not everyone shares this vision: the tough and pure sailors who just cannot 

stand the riders and the latter who do not identify as sailors. And it's not just a matter 

of equipment, buoyancy, sailing propulsion and other technical subtleties more or 

less legitimate in the best case or sterile conspiracy at worst. 

I believe that everything revolves around sailing, around the nautical culture and 

feeling, or rather, being or not being sailors. The sea is not just a playground. It is 

Mother Nature. Get to know it and respect it. How? Enquiring, learning, making experience, 

favouring on safety, but also using to the fullest all the real and imaginative potentials: 

waves, wind, currents, tides, meteorology, orienting, as well as the desire to 

go beyond the horizon, daydream, travel, lose oneself in that sea, leave one’s soul in 

there. When in the water, kiters are often just after having fun, fair enough, but they 

miss out all the rest. And that's a lot. Not for long though. In recent years, even kitesurfers 

have been chasing the adventure, the voyage, the long distance sailing. The

ecent Kitefoiling Around Sardinia project, the long Brazilian downwinds, the endurance 

races like the Crossing or the regatta Sal-Boavista, the oceanic record attempts, 

they all tell about a desire from kiters to get deeper with the sea, with the ocean, with 

the true sailing to finally become conscious sailors. 

Well, if that's so, then this is the right path towards peace and mutual respect between 

the worlds of kitesurfing and sailing. Mind you, it's not a way to legitimize 

kitesurfing as a sailing discipline, but truly becoming conscious that going at sea is 

a wonderful experience per se, rewarding, formative, that makes us better people and 

truly free. “Fair winds and following seas” everyone on a boat or on a board! 

David Ingiosi 

Photo: Bruna Arcangelo - E-Group/Surfin Sem Fin

SUMMARY 

PORTFOLIO 

COMPETITIONS 

EVENTS 

18 30 44 

2017 Wind Voyager Triple-S 

Invitational 

Airton Cozzolino, strapless 

king of Tarifa 

KAS 

MEETINGS 

SPOT GUIDE 

80 

Hydrofoil: circumnavigation 

of Sardinia, how 

beautiful! 

100 

RRD’s new jewels in the 

casket of Le Morne 

110 

Portugal 

ITW 

ADVENTURES 

150 162 

Willow River Living together with the 

Orcas 

WAVE RIDING 

176 

We are all dreaming of 

the perfect hit. With or 

without straps

TTR EVENTS ENDURANCE 

58 72 78 

In Gizzeria the young 

lions of the TwinTip Race 

put on a show 

Kitesurf World Cup 2017 

The Strait of Sicily like 

an arena: the Crossing 

2017 is back 

ITW 

ITW 

ITW 

120 

Hold it everyone: the king 

of speed is talking 

130 

Portfolio Adeuri Corniel: Freestyle 

is my familyia 

142 

Portfolio Axel Mazella: I travel the 

world and run with the 

wind 

PROJECTS 

STRAPLESS 

FOCUS 

188 

Kitesurfing is beneficial: 

here comes the Wind 

Therapy 

200 

180 Pop Shove-it 

Jesus Walk 

208 

RRD - Global Bar V8 

F-ONE - Diablo V3 

CORE - Section 2 

Impact 2

18 

PORTFOLIO 

ALEX CAIZERGUEZ 

RIDER: ALEX CAIZERGUEZ 

FOTO: F-ONE

20 PORTFOLIO 

CRAIG CUNNINGHAM 

RIDER: CRAIG CUNNINGHAM 

FOTO: Toby Bromwich

22 PORTFOLIO 

JEREMIE TRONET 

RIDER: JEREMIE TRONET 

FOTO: JT PRO CENTER

24 PORTFOLIO 

LASSE WALKER 

RIDER: LASSE WALKER 

FOTO: YDWER VAN DE HEIDE

26 PORTFOLIO 

JULIEN LELEU 

RIDER: JULIEN LELEU 

FOTO: SVETLANA ROMANTSOVA

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30 

Competition 

2017 Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational 

Text: Ashlon Durham 

2017 Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational

Photo: Ryan Osmond

32 

Competition 


Cape Hatteras, North Carolina was the place to be from June 3rd-9th 2017. 

Professional kiteboarders, spectators, international superstars and all the party 

people migrated to REAL Watersports for the 2017 Wind Voyager Triple-S 

Invitational. The week’s conditions lined up for a perfect Cape Hatteras trifecta: 

southwest wind for riding the REAL Slider Park, northeast for shredding the 

ocean, and light west for down day surf action. With $50,000 on the line, 30 

riders from 15 different countries travelled to The Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational 

to test their skills on the KOA Resorts Kicker, Core Super Kicker, North 

A-Frame, Liquid Force Reverse Rainbow and the John Wayne 82ft Mega Rail. 

On the first day of the holding period, Mother Nature delivered a typical start to 

the southwest wind needed to run the competition, with the wind speed building 

throughout the day. By 2 pm the wind was strong enough for riders to compete 

on 12 meter kites and the first heat was on. The men and women rode until dark 

and were able to complete the first round of competition, on the first day of the 

holding period. The staff and competitors were all stoked to get on the water 

early in the week. With a strong forecast ahead, everyone packed up and hit the 

hay as quickly as possible to conserve energy for the following day of competition. 

The wind stayed southwest and strong throughout day two. By the end of the day,

34 

Competition 


riders had competed through both the first and final rounds, and those who did 

not make it into the finals were able to finish the event and determine the invited 

riders for the 2018 in the consolation round. 

In the women’s final round, Colleen Carroll earned her fourth Wind Voyager Triple-S 

win by showing her experience in the REAL Slider Park, locking in presses 

and executing highly technical hits off the kicker. Annelous Lammerts was a 

close second and is clearly a contender who will be around for years to come. 

Karolina Winkowska’s competitive freestyle experience has carried over to wakestyle 

competition seamlessly and earned her third place; and Sensi Graves 

held down fourth after throwing down some solid hits but also taking some heavy 

crashes. The women put on an incredible show for the crowd, and really upped 

the ante with higher speeds and more style than we have ever witnessed in the 

Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational. 

The men’s final was a serious throwdown, to say the least. Sam Light, Brandon 

Scheid, Eric Rienstra, Craig Cunningham, Ewan Jaspan, Billy Parker, Alex Maes, 

Axel Tack, Noè Font, Aaron Hadlow, Pierre Vogel and Ramiro Gallart were pitted 

against each other to claim the win and etch their name in kiteboarding history. 

After an impressive day of kiteboarding, Ewan Jaspan took the win and $12,000 

winners purse. Sam Light broke his four year winning streak with second place, 

Brandon Scheid held down third, Billy Parker snagged fourth and Eric Rienstra 

filled out the podium in 5th place. 

It takes a stellar performance to podium, but the stars must align for a pro to 

stomp their banger hits and lock in first place. In the end, Ewan’s high speed approach 

to the kicker, technical slider riding and style made him stand above the 

rest and earned him a place on the Wind Voyager Triple-S Perpetual Trophy. 

After the competition was completed, riders, staff and spectators all got to enjoy 

the parties and ride throughout the remainder of the week. The Cape Hatteras

36 

Competition 


Trifecta was strong, with perfect longboarding waves the day after finals, strong 

northeast wind for ocean-side kiting for two days, a morning of light offshore wind 

and overhead barrels, then before the week came back full circle for more classic 

southwest kiting in the REAL Slick. 

All in all, it was an epic week on Cape Hatteras that provided incredible riding in 

the competition and conditions to keep any water sports enthusiast stoked out of

their mind throughout the week. The riding was top notch, the parties were rocking 

and everyone is looking forward to next year’s Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational. 

This year brought us Ky-Mani Marley, Mix Master Mike, DJ QBert, Method Man & 

Redman as musical acts to add to the vibe of the event, what will next year bring? 

Who will take the podium? Where is the sport going? We will find out next year but 

we know one thing is for certain, The World is Not Ready…

38 

Competition 


40 

Competition 


42 

Competition 


MEN’S FINAL RESULTS 

• Ewan Jaspan - $12,000 | Naish | Australia 

• Sam Light - $7,500 | Slingshot | Great Britain 

• Brandon Scheid - $5,000 | Liquid Force | USA 

• Billy Parker - $3,000 | BEST | USA 

• Eric Rienstra - $2,000 | CORE | USA 

• Alex Maes - $1,500 | Cabrinha | Belgium 

• Pierre Vogel - $1,200 | Takoon | France 

• Noe Font - $1,000 | North | Spain 

• Aaron Hadlow - $800 | North | Great Britain 

• Craig Cunningham - $600 | North | Canada 

• Ramiro Gallart - $500 | Liquid Force | Argentina 

• Axel Tack - $400 | | Liquid Force | Belgium 

WOMEN’S FINAL RESULTS • Colleen Carroll $5,500 | North | USA 

• Annelous Lammerts $3,300 | Cabrinha | Netherlands 

• Karolina Winkowska $2,000 | Slingshot | Poland 

• Sensi Graves $1,000 | Liquid Force | USA

44 

Tarifa Strapless Pro 

Airton Cozzolino, strapless king of Tarifa 

Airton Cozzolino 

strapless king of Tarifa 

The Cape Verdean champion cashes his third title in one of the most anticipated 

events of the year for the Strapless discipline: the Tarifa Strapless Pro 2017. 

He beats Matchu Lopes in the final and goes on to win the Big Air competition. 

The competition held from 27th June to 2nd July on the Andalusian beach of 

Valdevaqueros where 28 riders from all over the world gave way to sparkling 

duels, great technical evolution and an amazing show.

46 



"Without the cheer from Tarifa, I could never have made it." 

Says Airton Cozzolino after winning the final round against 

the defending champion Matchu Lopes who allowed him to 

win the Tarifa Strapless Pro 2017. A great performance for this 

boy with an Italian nationality but who grew up on the Cape 

Verdean island of Sal, and whom for several years now is one 

of the world's strongest athletes in the strapless discipline. 

Cozzolino is a true pioneer representing the competitive 

avantguard of this new dimension of kitesurfing and every 

year he puts on a show with more and more considerable and 

fast-paced maneuvers.

48 


Airton Cozzolino, strapless king of Tarifa

Briefing, pre-qualifiers and trials 

The Tarifa Strapless Pro 2017, is the first stop of the World 

Kitesurf World Tour, the world circuit managed by Global 

Kitesports Association (GKA), held from 27th June to 2nd 

July in the waters of the famous beach of Valdevaqueros. 

This Atlantic beach saw 28 competing riders from all over 

the world, of which 12 already prequalified as per last 

year's ranking and the remaining 16, including 4 wildcards, 

were ready to battle it out in the trials to gain access to the 

main event. Two other Italians amongst the competitors: 

Antonio Ciliberto, three-time Italian Wave Champion and 

the solid Sardinian Sandro Pisu. 

On 28th June at 13.30, the Secretary General of GKA Jörgen 

Vögt, the Race Director Juan Antonio Aragon and the First 

Judge Dani Jimenez called all the riders to brief them on 

the format of the competition, the rules and the scoring 

system. Then, the first trials started with a Poniente wind 

between 15 and 18 knots, with contenders such as the 

Spanish Carla Herrera Oria, one of the only two girls in 

the competition, her compatriot Gustavo Arrojo, the Cape 

Verdean Elvis Nunes and the Bulgarian Nicola Abadjiev.

50 



Give way to the young: Camille Delannoy 

and Kiko Torres 

After slightly giving up the Poniente kicked in stronger 

and the competition got straight into the main event. 

Crowd’s ovation for the only seventeen-year-old the 

Valencian Kiko Roig Torres, as well as for the Dominican 

Jan Marcos Riveras. It's time for the big ones: the legend 

Mitu Monteiro showcases all of his class and nearly lands 

a Back Roll Shuvit, then Airton Cozzolino with a Backside 

3 wins the heat without any problems. He progresses 

together with the young Luis Brito with his solid tricks 

on both tacks, Carla Herreira Oria, Ralph Boelen, Sandro 

Pisu and especially the French Camille Delannoy who after 

training throughout wintertime reached a very high level 

and managed to beat twice the two times Australian World 

Champion Keahi de Aboitiz. 

Another title contender, Matchu Lopes, wraps up the day 

and with his technique easily defeats Juli Rebollo and 

Antonio Ciliberto under relatively light winds, between 15 

and 18 knots. 

Full load of applause for Luis Brito 

The following day 30 knots of Poniente slightly from the 

sea. Excitement rises amongst the athletes. Luis Brito 

gets cheered on by the crowd on the beach while he’s all 

the rage in the water: Crazy Horse, KiteLoop, One Footers, 

nothing gets spared, and prevails over David Marin. Nicola 

Abadjiev manages to win over the capable Carla Herrera 

Oria, Keahi de Aboitiz gets his way over Simon Jossten, 

Juli Rebollo with his 7m beats Jhon Palacios and lastly the 

great duel between Gustavus Arrojo who puts on the corner 

a combative Elvis Nunes.

52 



Round 3 sees the winners of Round 1 

back in action. Heats on fire with Ralph Boelen 

who thanks to his refined technique prevails over Luis Brito. 

Jan Marcos Riveras beats Nicholas Abadjiev and Keahi 

de Aboitiz fights like a lion and almost makes it against 

the supremacy of Mitu Monteiro. After that, the capable 

Antonio Ciliberto’s efforts are vain against his majesty Airton 

Cozzolino who lands, the only one to do it in the world, 

a 313 HandlePass and gets straight to the finals where 

he'll fight against Matchu Lopes. Sandro Pisu is rewarded 

by his audacity and liking towards the audience and wins 

against Jose Maria Neto. A good performance gains the 

Portuguese Paulino Perreira a valuable access to the final 

for the 3° and 4° place against Jan Marcos Riveras and

Camille Delannoy who after landing a perfect Double Front 

Roll almost lands a Triple as well. 

Well done Paulino Pereira, the third 

place is his 

On Saturday July 1st, the riders wake up to the raging 

Levante of Tarifa that forced the Poniente out. Actually, it 

is a mocking wind that does not get smooth throughout 

the day. At 6 pm, the judges call the finals for the third and 

fourth place: Jan Marcos Riveras and Paulino Pereira take 

it to the water and don't spare themselves even with light 

winds. Pereira manages to land a weak Triple HandlePass 

just before the final buzz. Results remain unknown until 

the following day (the Portuguese will win). It should be 

the turn of Matchu and Airton, but after a nervous wait, the

54 



organizers decide to postpone it all to the next day. 

Matchu Lopes wastes the final, Airton 

inflames everybody 

They were right, because the next day Tarifa offers an 

amazing wind that reaches 40 knots. At 11.45 am, the two 

Cape Verdean riders take to the water for the very much

56 



anticipated final: Matchu starts it up with a sick Double 

Front Roll whereas Airton inflames the audience with a 

gigantic Crazy Horse KiteLoop; then Matchu nearly lands 

a Triple Front Roll and fruitlessly insists on a Double Front 

Shuvit. In the meantime, Airton gets himself points over 

points with technical and clean manoeuvres, including 

a 313 HandlePass and a Front Roll Shuvit sweeping away 

any doubt about the winner of this competition. Airton is 

the king of Tarifa Strapless. After the competition he said: 

"I am happy to have won here for the third time. Matchu 

is a strong opponent and I usually feel the pressure when 

I compete against him." Not happy enough Airton also 

indulges in winning the Big Air competition which closes 

this epic edition of the Tarifa Strapless Pro 2017.

58 

TT:R European Championship 

In Gizzeria the young lions of the TwinTip Race put on a show 


In Gizzeria the young lions of 

the TwinTip Race put on a show 

From 12th to 16th July the 

waters of Gizzeria, Calabria 

(Italy), hosted the TwinTip 

Race European Championship, 

a prestigious international 

kitesurfing event 

awaited especially for the 

TwinTip Racing category selected 

for the Buenos Aires 

2018 Youth Olympics for 

boys and girls born between 

2000 and 2003. The competition 

format was the Slalom/ 

Boardercross which combines 

races where the first 

one who crosses the finish 

line with spectacular jumps 

and acrobatic manoeuvres 

wins. Athletes came from 

all over the world, ready to 

win the title: 68 boys and 28 

girls from 21 countries. 

The event lasted five days 

and it was organized under 

the auspices of the International 

Kiteboarding Association 

at the Hang Loose 

Centre of Luca Valentini, 

the wind was always ideal, 

even stronger than usual 

in the Calabrian spot. Such 

favourable conditions on 

top of permitting the whole 

competition agenda to take 

place, for two days made 

possible to have floating obstacles 

amongst the buoys 

in the heat races on the slalom 

tracks. The obstacles 

can be placed only when the 

wind intensity is such as to 

allow the athletes to jump 

pass them. On the last day, 

the wind was disturbed by a 

morning thunderstorm and 

the organizers decided that 

the conditions were too unstable 

to set the start within 

the time limit at 16.30. 

The victory went to the Spanish 

Nina Font Castells and to 

the French Victor Bachichet 

in the Under 19 category, for 

the Under 14 it went to the 

Swiss Maximilian Maeder 

and to the Croatian Martin 

Dolenc in the Open category. 

Good performance of the 

Italian team with Isotta di 

Domenico (Tognazzi Marine 

Village), bronze medal 

in the Junior category. Isotta 

comes from the sailing

David Ingiosi 

world but after experiencing 

kitesurfing she fell in love 

with it. Her first big result 

achieved also thanks to the 

work of her coach, Roberto 

Foresti, and her mental 

coach Raffaele Salonia. Good 

performance also for the 

very young Salvatore Laurano 

(CV Hang Loose “Hang 

Loose Sailing Centre”) second 

in the Under 14. 

"This was the first proper international 

regatta with this 

format - explained the Federal 

Coach Simone Vannucci 

– before the Buenos Aires 

2018 Youth Olympics, many 

riders decided to participate, 

since the official qualifiers 

will begin in February 

in Morocco and until then 

there are no major events. 

Therefore, the event had a 

great value on a technique 

perspective, the attendance 

was high with encouraging 

results. Our athletes performed 

well, they just probably 

suffered a little inexperience 

considering that some 

foreign athletes had already 

experienced this format in

60 



other competitions." 

Here is the comment of 

Fabio Colella, Federal Councillor 

and Head of the National 

Kitesurfing discipline: 

"Great happiness for the 

Federation which is working 

towards these results, 

a third place makes us very 

proud but there is still a long 

way to go and that's why we 

scheduled training sessions 

in August to improve and 

continue on this path. A big 

thank you to the Italian athletes 

for their commitment 

and to the Federal Coach Simone 

Vannucci ".

IKA FINAL RANKING STANDINGS TT:R EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 

GIRLS (Under 19) 

1 Nina Font Castells (ESP) 

2 Daniela Moroz (USA) 

3 Alina Kornelli (GER) 

4 Isotta di Domenico (ITA) 

5 Jingle Chen (CHN) 

BOYS (Under 14) 

1 Maximilian Maeder (SUI) 

2 Salvatore Laurano (ITA) 

3 Manuel Monaco (POL) 

4 Jan Koszowski (POL) 

5 Karl Lao Tzu Maeder (SUI) 

BOYS (Under 19) 

1 Victor Bachichet (FRA) 

2 Cameron Maramenides (USA) 

3 Toni Vodisek (SLO) 

4 Anthony Picard (FRA) 

5 Benoit Gomez (FRA) 

OPEN 

1 Martin Dolenc (CRO) 

2 Olly Bridge (GBR) 

3 Florian Gruber (GER) 

4 Theo de Ramecourt (FRA) 

5 Atte Kappel (SWE) 

www.classekiteboardingitalia.it

62 



FOCUS 

The kids from 

Fuerteventura, 

friends with 

everybody 

Roberta Trocchio: "Articles 

on kitersurfing should 

change perspective. There 

are hundreds of them but 

very few start from the right 

angle, the one of the kids. 

Kitesurfing is a young and 

still growing sport and this 

is why it's necessary to be 

humble and have the will to 

change. Criticisms to events 

should be expressed and 

accepted, provided they are 

constructive ones. 

I saw riders with tears in 

their eyes, others throw 

the bars and take off their 

lycras, Thursday evening 

many of them packed their 

bags and didn't want to continue. 

It is not easy to accept 

an unknown and new world 

made of rules you don't understand. 

Some coaches 

did a great job lowering the 

stress levels by creating a 

feeling with other groups. 

As for us, for example, the 

Argentinian team joined 

our table and shared their 

feelings, as well as the 

multi-time champion Toni 

Vodisek who told us about 

his experience and how he 

gets in the water to have fun 

with an incredible energy. 

We also got on well with the 

German and South African 

teams and the comments 

exchanged with the amazing 

Elias turned into pure 

positive energy the following 

day. 

Saturday was the "big day" 

which we will never forget. 

The riders had digested 

everything including the 

race format: single elimination, 

change of course, tactics. 

They were great, they 

end it up having fun in the 

water doing Freestyle and 

spent the evening all to-

The Hijos del Mar Club led by 

Roberta Trocchio took part to 

the TT:R European Championship 

of Gizzeria with a great team of 

very combative young boys and 

girls. Here is her comment to 

this experience, followed by the 

comments of some of her pupils. 

gether. I think that their 

world deserves to be told. 

They need to live experiences 

and events like these several 

times a year, whether 

they are called Europeans or 

Sea Festivals it doesn't matter. 

You can feel the need 

for sharing. I've been saying 

this for years, kitesurfing is 

an individual sport as well 

as a team one, or at least 

that's how it should be for 

Juniors. At the airport, Tiger's 

mom asked me to let 

her know about the events 

at our club so that she can 

send her son to train. The 

French got it right, they always 

go for a multitude of 

riders. Here's the secret: 

build sport groups, train not 

just the top athletes and exchange 

experiences".

64 



THE PROTAGONISTS 

The kids' opinion: here's what 

they think of the event 

"Under a technical point of view I think they should have kept foils 

separate from pumps, anyhow it was a great competition with a good 

organization and I saw how the single elimination works. We competed 

against the best athletes in the world, a great experience and I made a 

lot of new friends" 

(Alessandro Caruso, ItalY)

"We enter the water to enjoy ourselves, ride and have fun". 

(Toni Vodisek, Slovenia) 

"I am here with other guys from the Domenican 

Republic to experience the TT:RACE circuits; a very 

nice environment and teams from the different 

countries came out united from this competition" 

(Lorenzo Calcagno, Domenican Republic)

66 



"The first day was devastating due to 

the way the racing rules were applied, I 

got knocked down without the chance 

to protest. Things went better from the 

second day on but I think there should be 

more judges in the water. It was a good 

experience to see how it all works, I made 

many new friends and that's something very 

important" 

(Alexandra Torres, SpaIN) 

"The buoys were not always in the right place and the 

wind changed quickly, however I must say that it was 

very well organized, logistically too. There should be more 

championships" 

(Javier Jimenez, SpaIN) 

"Some things can be improved, such as the course and the 

obstacles positions, but it was a great experience, I made 

many new friends that I'll take to Argentina. There should more 

championships to give us the opportunity to improve. A super 

experience". 

(Jero Lutteral, Argentina)

"On a technical aspect it was 

rather chaotic and some things 

changed without having sense. 

For instance, I did not expect 

the foil kites. It was like a good 

practice before next races, also 

because we had the opportunity 

to confront ourselves with many 

riders". 

(Nina Font, SpaIn)

68 


In Gizzeria the young lions of the TwinTip Race put on a show

"There have been few things that I 

did not like that much, the foil kites 

inclusion or the impossibility to protest, 

but it was a great practice". 

(Claudia Leon, SpaIn) 

"I found that there have been some technical 

gaps, for example identical situations with very 

different judgements by the organization which 

confused the riders. Anyways, it's been a good 

practice session and I found there was a good 

feeling amongst the teams". 

(Poema Newland, FrancE) 

"There should be a fixed camera at the starting line to 

avoid disqualifications and solve very dubious situations. 

It was a good competition with many riders and I made 

many new friends so I am very glad I came". 

(Elias Tio, Germany/Morocco) 

"A good championship, it was interesting to see 

the single elimination working although it wasn't 

so clear what kind of penalty we were given. An 

excellent practice session and above all great 

friendship amongst riders" 

(Brandon Como, ItalY)

70 


In Gizzeria the young lions of the TwinTip Race put on a show

72 

EVENTS 



Summer on Fehmarn Island everybody 

David Ingiosi

74 

EVENTS 


After the first edition in 2016, 

the multicolored Kitesurf 

World Cup caravan returns to 

invade the island of Fehmarn, 

Germany, where from 18th to 

27th August 2017 the best 

kiteboarding athletes in the 

world will gather together with 

the usual large audience of 

fans and enthusiasts ready to 

support and admire them. 

The Baltic Sea black waters 

are ready to host this prestigious 

competition that offers 

an agenda packed with competitions 

in the disciplines 

of Freestyle, Slalom and Foil. 

Enthusiast riders will also 

have the opportunity to enter 

the water, compete and have 

fun next to the professional 

ones. The Foil discipline competition 

will be the only stop in 

the Hydrofoil Pro Tour without 

the World Cup status. Last 

year, the title was won by the 

German Florian Gruber, ready 

to reconfirm himself champion 

of the discipline this year 

too. The Foil races will be held 

from 19th to 23rd August at 

the Südstrand. 

Furthermore, this year for the 

first time in the history of the 

Kitesurf World Cup in Germany 

there will also be the new 

discipline of Strapless Freestyle. 

That’s when the best 

riders in the world, amongst 

which Paulino Pereira, Airton 

Cozzolino, Matchu Lopes 

and Jan Macros Riveras, will 

compete to climb the world 

ranking managed by Global 

Kitesports Association and 

win the 30,000 euros prize 

money. 

An important new entry of the 

2017 Kitesurf World Cup edition 

will be the Kite-Park with 

a parkour similar to wakeboarding 

with kickers and 

other obstacles on which the 

athletes will battle it out. The 

/kitesurfworldcup.org

76 

EVENTS 

Kitesurf World Cup 2017

Kite-Park will take place in the 

second half of the event from 

24th to 27th August. 

Then, over ten Kite Foiling 

athletes according to the 

motto "Foil Around Fehmarn" 

will compete in an exclusive 

circumnavigation race of the 

Fehrman island and will try to 

beat the current record time 

of 2 hours and 48 minutes 

set by the 16 times German 

Windsurfing Champion Bernd 

Flessner. This record attempt 

will take place from 24th to 

27th August depending on the 

weather forecast. 

In addition to the events in 

the water agenda, the Kitesurf 

World Cup offers as usual 

a number of events at the 

Kitelife Village in the "Südstrand", 

with an exhibition of 

the major brands on the market, 

musical events and shows, 

while the Testival Area will be 

set up in Grüner Brink. What 

can we say, all the right ingredients 

for an amazing Summer 

are waiting for you in Germany. 

Let the competitions begin!

78 

Endurance 

The Strait of Sicily like an arena: the Crossing 2017 is back 

The Strait of Sicily like an arena: 

the Crossing 2017 is back 

The Continent-Island GPS Race is back, one of the most 

original and extreme events in the Mediterranean which in 

2017 celebrates its 10th edition. 

From 26th to 30th July the Continent-Island GPS 

Race, also known as the Crossing, will be back. 

An international long distance race across the 

Strait of Messina departing from Reggio Calabria. 

It is a unique competition, where every year 

kiters, windsurfers and sailors compete against 

each other over a 23km course. An extreme 

David Ingiosi

endurance challenge and a traditional event on 

the international scene which in 2017 celebrates 10 

years. 

This year this extreme competition will be attended 

by: Alberto Rondina (Italian, four-time Italian 

Champion and 2010 Freestyle European Champion), 

Liam Merrick Whaley (English, 2015 Freestyle World 

Champion), Keahi de Aboitiz (Australian, three-time 

Wave World Champion), Luis Brito (Cape Verdean, 

the only rider in the world capable of using two 

kites flying simultaneously, strapless), Andrea Vicari 

(Italian, three-time Junior Italian Champion and 

Freestyle vice Italian Champion). 

Everyday the athletes will be busy with a range of 

activities including: Reggio Calabria - Punta Pellaro 

downwind, Punta Pellaro - Reggio Calabria upwind, 

Hang Time, long jump (Kiteloops Hell), team races 

with SUP and Kitesailing, freestyle sessions, 

hydrofoil Mini Camps and finally "under the kite 

mood, night session". Furthermore, everyday the 

program offers: Aperisunshine on the lawn of the 

new sailing club & IKO Center NewKiteZone in 

Punta Pellaro, dinners and & night parties at the 

twinned Center Freespirit, Cabrinha 2018 collection 

Test/Demo and much more. 

So, everything is ready for this new challenge run at 40 knots hunting for 

a new record. Info: info@traversata.it.

H y d r o 

circumnavigation of Sa 

80 

Kitefoiling Around Sardinia 

Hydrofoil: circumnavigation of Sardinia, how beautiful! 

David Ingiosi

f o i l 

rdinia, how beautiful!

82 



PARTENZA 

Last June the two F-One riders Enrico Giordano 

and Luca Marcis completed the circumnavigation of 

Sardinia on Hydrofoil counterclockwise. A sport and 

human experience that opens the doors of kitesurfing 

to an adventurous and sailing dimension, run on a 

long distance track that moves riders close to true 

sailors capable of measuring against the whims of 

the wind, the fatigue and the racing tactics. The 

words of Enrico and Luca will take us through all 

the emotions of this challenge and they are ready to 

launch the next edition open to everyone.

VILLASIMIUS 

Hydrofoil, wind and 500 miles to drink 

up all at once round one of the most 

beautiful islands in the world. These are 

the ingredients of Kitefoiling Around 

Sardinia (KAS), a sport challenge which 

last June was undertaken by two F-One 

riders Enrico Giordano and Luca Marcis. 

KAS, that amongst its partners could also 

count Nokia, wanted to contain everything: 

a sport adventure, a challenge with the sea 

and an extreme endurance test. 

They left on 9th June from the Circolo 

Windsurf of Cagliari (Windsurf Centre 

Cagliari). Luca and Enrico aboard their 

Hydrofoil have had to face the whims of the 

wind which alternated sustained Mistral 

winds as well as resounding calms, such 

as the ones encountered in the Gulf of 

Orosei, along the Ogliastra coast and in 

the north Sardinia between Santa Teresa 

and Castelsardo. That's where these two 

athletes tried their own nerves. But then 

the wind joined them and they grabbed it: 

their ride was like a magical flight from 

Castelsardo to Bosa, passing Capo Teulada 

straight to the finish line in the waters of 

Cagliari. Gliding and enjoying it whilst the 

spectators followed and supported them on 

social channels. June 18th, day of arrival, 

applauded like two heroes, Luca and Enrico 

will never forget it. So many miles, so many 

emotions in their adventure which they tell 

us about in this great interview.

84 



How do you feel after an exploit 

such as this? Pride, joy or 

fatigue, what is the prevailing 

feeling? 

Enrico Giordano: "I must confess that 

when we saw the Sella del Diavolo ("Devil's 

Saddle"), the promontory just before Marina 

Piccola in Cagliari, close to the arrival, the 

emotions were quite overwhelming. We 

even thought of starting all over again to 

re-live this wonderful experience. It's that 

gigantic feeling of joy of when you are 

living exactly what you like to do and you 

wish it would never end. And the way people 

welcomed us upon arrival was amazing, 

it also filled us with pride for having 

succeeded in a challenge that everyone 

enjoyed. Truly, for us it has been above all 

a human experience that allowed us to sail 

for days and days on, amid breathtaking 

sceneries, as long as there was wind and 

our legs kept us up. Thanks to our training

MOLARA 

we never had any physical problems, so we 

fully enjoyed it". 

I wonder how many times before 

departure you had already played 

the movie of this adventure in 

your mind. Does reality overcome 

fantasy? 

Luca Marcis: "As it nearly always happens, 

reality brings you back to reality. We 

had envisioned us being more relaxed 

altogether, enjoy the stops, etc, but at 

some point the anxiety of completing 

the circumnavigation prevailed because 

of the light wind conditions we found on 

one part of our course. That's when the 

concern of gaining the stops prevailed 

over the enjoyment of sailing. So much so 

that notwithstanding the 22 scheduled 

stops to visit beautiful places, rest and 

have stretching sessions we just kept 

on thinking to grind as many miles as

86 



GOLFO ARANCI 

possible and take advantage of the hours 

of wind to regain whatever lost. In reality 

we've sailed continuously a lot more than 

we thought at the beginning". 

Conditions did not spare you high 

pressure and calms. Did you ever 

think of not making it? 

Enrico Giordano: "On several occasions, 

for many hours, we thought that we would 

not have made it. An accurate study of the 

weather gives reliable forecasts for 24-48 

hours, beyond this period the variables 

greatly increase. Our challenge stretched 

over a period of 10 days therefore we were 

bound to become victims of the whims 

of the wind. You have to take what life 

gives you. We knew it from the start. What 

surprised us were the long periods with 

little wind. We only needed very little, 6 

knots, travelling downwind even less, let's 

say 5, yet some days the wind wouldn't go 

over 2 knots. In other words dead calm. We 

though that during the day there would 

always be a couple of hours of favourable 

sailing conditions, thanks to the breezes 

but that did not happen. The first days we 

would leave in the morning aboard the 

dinghy and position ourselves at 500-1000 

meters from the coast trusting in the wind 

but nothing, it just did not arrive. Near 

Arbatax and after three days where we were 

planted, we took the difficult decision to 

step aboard the boat and navigate up to 

the Bay of Siniscola. The days before the 

wind had also dumped us in the vicinity of 

the ports. Then, the wind finally picked up 

and we arrived to Caprera. Then we headed 

towards Capo Testa and the most difficult 

moment was at the Bocche di Bonifacio 

("the Strait of Bonifacio") as we got another 

day and a half with no wind, and I perfectly

CAPRERA

88 



remember being at Isola Rossa, about 

halfway through the circumnavigation, and 

once more we thought of not closing the 

round on schedule. We bit the bullet whilst 

waiting for the breezes since early morning 

and in the end thanks to the Mistral on the 

west coast we flew to the finish line". 

Sailing together allowed you to 

better manage the course. How? 

Luca Marcis: "Sailing together has been 

fundamental, first of all because sharing 

this experience with friends multiplies 

the emotions, including the team ashore 

that supported and incited us and

CALA FINANZA

90 



psychologically wise they have been key to 

us. Secondly, from a technical perspective 

being together gave us the opportunity 

to better read the route, searching for the 

best wind: on many stretches our strategy 

saw one of us sailing along the coast and 

the other one quite off it, exchanging 

information by radio, and reuniting in 

higher pressure areas. This has also made 

navigation very amusing and greatly 

enriched it. Of course, at times we rode 

close together but quite often, we were even 

couple of kilometres apart. Our BB Talking 

radio had a 2 km working radius which was 

our distance limit. When the signal became 

garbled it was time to jibe and get closer".

You chose pump kites. Are you happy 

with your choice? 

Enrico Giordano: "We are absolutely 

positive that pump kites were the right 

choice. For many reasons. First, the ease 

of launch from a support boat, with four 

lines you can handle the kite even from 

a 7m dinghy like ours, with foil-kites full 

of bridles it would have been much more 

complicated. And technically wise, we 

did not need to reach speed peaks as in 

a race style, we just wanted a good pace 

CAPO TESTA

92 



over a long distance and have launching 

certainties. In fact, more than once the 

kites were in the water waiting for the wind 

to pick up to re-launch them, we could 

not have done it with foil-kites. Finally, we 

adopt the Freeride philosophy, this way 

any rider can take part to this event with 

its own standard kites without having to 

buy any expensive kite. Another important 

choice was to limit to size 13m our bigger 

kites. With the conditions we met bigger 

kites would not have helped anyway. 

But what turned out to be a great 

advantage was the possibility to mount 

different front wings on the hydrofoil 

must (F-One provides for this multiple 

configuration on its boards) in order to 

optimize the navigation under any wind 

condition." 

With this long distance sailing 

experience, you shifted kitesurfing 

from a beach sport to a sailing 

discipline in a narrow sense. 

Do you reckon that kiters could 

be interested in this new 

and fascinating dimension of 

kitesurfing? 

Enrico Giordano: "Luca and I have never 

doubted about the great versatility of 

kitesurfing. It is a sport that allows you to 

jump over 20 meters high, sail faster than 

the wind speed, reach incredible upwind 

angles, take part to regattas, all of which 

with the same kites. In short, it offers the

LA PELOSA

94 



capo caccia

opportunity to fully experience so many 

disciplines. The long distance is one of 

them. We emphasized that it is possible 

to sail for many miles with a kitesurf. 

During this round sailors have shown us 

a lot of interest, because they know what 

it means to find the calm, the wind hole 

or the sudden wind shift close to capes 

and obstacles, so regardless of the craft 

typology we had they showed us great 

sympathy and appreciated our challenge. 

Generally the kiter has a different approach 

to this discipline, enjoys a tiny plot of sea 

in front of the beach for its manoeuvre 

thus is not so much of a sailor. Although, 

who loves the sea and the wind possibly 

has this latent sailor spirit inside. The 

hydrofoil allows you to sail long distances 

effortlessly which puts into perspective the 

kitesurfing potentials and this is why we 

believe that in the future, especially with 

light winds, more and more people will turn 

to this dimension of our sport". 

This year you and Enrico have been 

two pioneers and had the chance 

to evaluate the course and the 

necessary supporting team work. 

How do you envision KAS future 

editions? 

Luca Marcis: "We began thinking about the 

format for the next editions during this 

year's navigation already, treasuring this 

fantastic experience and we are ready to 

work on it immediately. We are thinking

96 



CHIA 

of a course open, with 10 scheduled 

stages and about 50 miles navigation 

a day, assisted by two rubber-boats. 

When there is wind, participants can 

race whilst guests (family, friends, etc.) 

will experience aboard a sailing or motor 

boat the circumnavigation of Sardinia. 

Anyone wishing to find out more about this 

experience will find all information on the 

official KAS website".

98 


Hydrofoil: che spettacolo il periplo della Sardegna! 

www.kitearoundsardinia.com

Charming Hotels 

and Constant Winds. 

Let this 

Brazil 

surprise 

you. 

members of egroup.net.br 

Visit our websites and book your next kite trip! 

JERICOACOARA • CEARÁ • BRASIL PREÁ • CEARÁ • BRASIL vilakalango.com.br • ranchodopeixe.com.br

100 

Meeting RRD 2017 

RRD’s new jewels in the casket of Le Morne 

RRD’s new jewels 

in the casket of Le Morne 

An invitation from an international Brand for their annual presentation 

meeting of their new products it's always a pleasure and a sweet opportunity 

for trade professionals to learn about the state of the art of 

equipment, the market trend, the philosophy around a factory. In Kitesoul 

we were even more excited when such invitation came from RRD International, 

one of the most influential technical brands in the world, wholly 

Italian, in fact amongst one of the best "Made in Italy" and style expressions 

in the "Bel Paese". 

David Ingiosi | Photo: RRD Courtesy

102 



RRD distributors from all 

over the world 

This year for the Distributors Meeting 2017, 

an event dedicated to all the distributors 

worldwide, the RRD patron Roberto Ricci 

and his crew have chosen an exceptional 

location: Le Morne, one of the most beautiful 

and popular wave spots in the world, on 

the island of Mauritius, a pearl of the Indian 

Ocean. From 4th to 12th June about 80 distributors 

from the US, South America, South 

Africa, Australia, China, Japan, Thailand and 

Europe have gathered on this legendary 

beach surrounded by stunning scenery with 

volcanoes, lush vegetation and crystal clear 

waters. But also, the Kitesoul staff and other 

editors of other international and prestigious 

kitesurfing magazines. To welcome 

us in the beautiful setting of the Hotel Ryu 

Creole, there was Roberto Ricci himself with 

his natural family and his professional one, 

that is the great RRD crew equally loved and 

moved by a great team spirit. 

Amongst them, the commercial soul of the 

company, the Sales Manager Dylan Duffus, 

the design and technical mind Werther 

Castelletti, followed by the team of athletes 

starting with the Spanish Abel Lago, tester 

of all the equipment, the French Julien Leleu, 

ace of Freestyle and videomaker, the 

Italian Francesco Capuzzo, 360° waterman, 

the South African Ian Armstrong, big Waves 

surfer and shaper and many others.

The new 2018 collection: 

boards, kites, wetsuits and 

harnesses 

Just about the time to settle into the Creole 

atmosphere and the breathtaking landscapes 

of the lagoon before the hotel, and 

the RRD Team kicked-off an intense agenda. 

Mornings were dedicated to the official 

presentations of the entire technical 2018 

collection: windsurfs, surfs, sups, kitesurfs, 

wetsuits and harnesses accompanied by 

Meeting RRD 2017

104 



explanations and videos for each model, 

while afternoons gave way to the action: 

testing the equipment which was set in the 

beautiful village on the beach and created 

a tempting and colourful look with all the 

"toys" assembled, divided by sector and category 

and ready to be admired and tested in 

the water under the watchful eye and advice 

of the crew. 

As far as kitesurfing is concerned, the boards 

were the first to be presented. The new Juice 

V4, the object of desire of all Wake and Freestyle 

lovers, full of technology developed 

with the help of Julien Leleu; then Poison V5, 

new version of the popular Freestyle model 

and the bestseller Bliss V5, excellent expression 

of pure Freeride available with balsa 

or carbon core. Also, the Easy Kite board 

designed for schools and dedicated to those 

who are at the beginning of this fantastic 

sport. Finally, the new surf board Salerosa 

V4 presentation, technical board optimized 

with the help of Abel Lago and designed to 

give maximum performance on waves. 

Hydrofoil, V8 bar and ultimate 

kites 

It was the turn of Hydrofoil with the new 

Dolphin with three versions of carbon fiber 

appendages 40, 65 and 90cm, to which 

will soon follow an 85cm aluminium mast. 

What can we say? One can just listen to how

Roberto Ricci takes pride in describing the 

performances and concept of this unbridled 

colt, destined to give access to as many 

people as possible to the feeling of freedom 

given by this new dimension of kitesurfing 

above the water surface. 

As for the kites, emphasis on the new Emotion, 

Freeride single strut kite, innovative, 

super compact with excellent performances 

also with gusty winds and ideal in any 

condition. Then the Passion MK9, one of the 


most appreciated Freeride kites in the market, 

even more stable, efficient and fun, followed 

by the new Obsession Standard and 

Pro versions with double bridle system with 

4 or 5 lines. The final presentation is for a 

true RRD icon, the Religion, completely re-

106 



designed to favour the widest possible access 

to pure-Wave lovers. This kite has been 

appreciated by those who tried it during the 

sessions at the famous spots of One Eye 

and Manawa, amongst the most beautiful 

and challenging ones in the world. 

Then, it's up to Werther Castelletti to describe 

another pride of the Brand, the new V8 

bar, a tool which received the top in terms of 

ergonomics, control, safety, reliability and 

durability. Pride of this bar, the Dyneema 

Rigid Thread lines, exclusive patent of RRD 

and that do not stretch. 

Throughout the duration of this RRD Meeting, 

technical explanations, business meetings, 

water testing, discussions, photoshootings 

and interviews took turns with 

social relation moments, competitions, dinners, 

parties and relax on the beach. Always 

sharing the passion for water sports and 

that special atmosphere both professional 

and relaxed and full of enthusiasm that only 

the RRD family can give, just as their new 

Brand leitmotiv goes: We are family!

110 

SPoT GUIDE 

Portugal 

Text: Reemedia e Niklas Imaz de Zavella 

Photo: Reemedia

SPOT GUIDE - 

Portugal 

The magic of Viana do Castelo, 

pearl of the Atlantic 

Viana do Castelo? If you have never come across this name during 

your plans for a nice kitesurf location in Portugal you are not the 

only one. Among the locals, this magical place is well known, but 

besides them no one really knows about it. 

Viana do Castelo is the centre of the north of 

Portugal with a population of about 80.000 people. 

The city centre overlooks directly the Atlantic 

Ocean and the spot is straight in front of it. 

Since tourism did not really arrive to this beautiful 

and old town people are more than friendly 

and welcoming. It’s a pleasure to stroll around 

the tiny little streets and have a fresh roasted 

coffee or a freshly hand baked pastel (desert). 

The government has now seen the potential and 

is pushing very hard towards the marina and the 

possibilities of water sports. Already this year 

they are trying to bring a windsurf world cup 

event to this spot! 

W i n d 

The main season for the wind is between May 

and September. “Usually the thermal wind direction 

is always the same coming from the north. 

The terrain around the spot with 2 little mountains 

in the back of the city increases this wind 

speed like a turbine! So, whenever you have a 

forecast of around 10 knots, be sure that it’s 

gonna be more like 20 to 25 knots!” Says José, 

owner of the FeelViana Hotel, right on the spot. 

Usually this beach is the only one that gets so 

much wind. The more you drive north or south, 

the less windy it gets. And the probability for 

this spot to have wind during the season is up 

to 90%! 

“When we planned the trip, the forecast was actually 

looking really bad. So, I decided to bring 

my 13m as well hoping for at least one session 

and already Googled how far it would be to get to 

Lisbon to do some sightseeing. When the week

112 

SPoT GUIDE 

Portugal 

was over I realised how lucky that I brought my 

8m Kite. It had been the only one I needed for 

the whole week! You often hear from some magical 

kite spots with wind every day, where you 

can set the alarm clock to it. And, I have been 

to many spots like Brazil for example. But never 

did this work in Europe, until now! Just after 

breakfast around 11 am, the trees start moving, 

and around 2 o’clock we had 30 knots. All day, 

every day! Just awesome!” 

Temperatures 

During the Summer it is usually around 25°C to 

35°C in the day, and in the evening it cools down 

to 18 to 20 degrees. The water temperature in 

Summer goes up to 18 degrees, but not above 

that. The northern wind always brings colder 

water streams with it. In Winter, on the other 

hand it does not get colder than 13-16 degrees. 

In June, I was perfectly comfortable with my 4/3 

for kiting, in the morning or evening when we 

went surfing it was almost too warm. In Winter, 

you should be fine with a 5/4. 

Spot 

From your “FeelViana” Hotel you can already 

see the beach and the conditions. Walking over 

a little path, you arrive at a beautiful white sanded 

beach that seems to be endless in southern 

direction. About 100 m north, you have a huge 

mole going 90 degrees in the water for about

114 

SPoT GUIDE 

Portugal 

White sand and crystal-clear waters 

200 m. This is where all the magic happens. This 

mole is about 10 m high so all the waves and 

choppy water get blocked by it. And the conditions 

of the spot get a “restart“. It is also 90 degrees 

to the wind, so you are basically straight 

behind it in butter flat water! If you have ever 

been to Tarifa and to the famous spot at the Island 

Balneario, it is basically the same here. The 

only difference is that everybody can ride here 

because the bay will always be there for you to 

downwind to if something happens. If you don’t 

feel like waiting for beach again, the Hotel has 

its own rescue boat in the water that is always at 

work once the wind is up. You have about 100 m 

before the water is too deep to stand. Everything 

before is crystal-clear and soft sand. The waves 

at this spot are no wind waves, always swell ones 

that makes it perfect to have some fun. There is 

basically no shore-break so you will always get 

out easily. In Summer they are between 0.5 and 

1.5 m high, the perfect kickers! And in Winter 

they sometimes can get up to 4 m. They roll-in 

in sets, and in between, you have butter flat water! 

What else could you ask for! Sometimes the 

swell was already up in the morning. And we had 

the pleasure to go for SUP sessions in the most 

amazing conditions I experienced for SUP so 

far. More then 30 perfect rides on crystal-clear 

waves in about 2 hours, paradise! 

The beach is so big and wide, that you never get 

troubles with any kind of sport performed there. 

Windsurfers, surfers, boogie boarders. Every-

ody is having fun and no sign of any rivalry or 

locals-only attitudes. Just go out and have fun! 

S p o r t s S t a t i o n 

The Hotel is about 100 m away from the coastline. 

In the Hotel you have the Pro Center where 

everything works as professional as you are used 

to. Everybody is a professional in his department 

and knows exactly what you need. If you 

don’t feel like bringing a lot of luggage you can 

rent everything you need directly at the Center. 

They have brand new gear from Cabrinha, Kites, 

boards even the Foil Double Agent, if you want 

to try it out. At the “Beachstation” also from the 

Hotel you can rent any kind of surf gear. SUPs, 

boogie boards, short and longboards. After your 

session, you can use the “storage room” of the 

Hotel where they use a hot air blowing system 

to perfectly dry your wetsuit for the next day. In 

case you feel like exploring the region, the Station 

also offers a variety of brand new and highly 

professional mountain-bikes by Scott. 

H o t e l 

When planning this Hotel the owner, and also 

enthusiastic Kitesurfer José, had every little 

detail in mind. His goal was to provide you with 

an overall satisfying vacation and he did the 

perfect job! In the week that we stayed there, I 

never felt it to be boring for a single minute! Our 

daily routine looked something like awesome 

breakfast buffet followed by SUP session in the

116 

SPoT GUIDE 

Portugal 

The 8m kite the most used one

morning, lunch (the Cheeseburger is incredible!), 

Kite for 3-4 hours, Sauna and Pool, dinner. 

What more can you ask for? 

Oh, in case you want to tell your friends how 

sick this place is, Wi-Fi is for free everywhere in 

the Hotel ;) 

F o o d 

Food deserves a sentence itself. José managed 

to get a Chef that used to work at international 

level in many well-known restaurants. Therefore, 

the food is simply awesome. I know after 

a long and satisfying session a surfer doesn’t 

need any fancy stuff to be happy, but this is just 

the icing on the day! Make sure to work yourself 

through every dish on the menu during your 

stay! 

Resume 

If you want to have a perfect sport vacation this 

is the place I recommend during the Summer! 

I’ve seen plenty of spots and hotels around the 

world, but never had such a perfect balance between 

everything. It’s the perfect stay for a waterman 

providing you with wind for Kite or Windsurfing, 

waves to play in, endless beaches to go 

running on, perfect food in the Hotel, and the 

rooms are also more than welcoming to spend 

a rainy day in. Oh, by the way, they also have 

a Flights to Porto nowadays are easy to catch 

from any European Airport. From the Airport 

to Porto it´s a 30 to 40 min ride by car. If you 

don´t want to rent a car, the Hotel has a pick up 

shuttle waiting for you.

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SPoT GUIDE 

Portugal

F l a t w a t e r i n b e t w e e n w a v e s e t s 

G o o d t o k n o w : 

Arrival: 

Flights to Porto nowadays are 

easy to catch from any European 

Airport. From the Airport to 

Porto it´s a 30 to 40 min ride 

by car. If you don´t want to 

rent a car, the Hotel has a pick 

up shuttle waiting for you. 

sleeping due to almost no tourism. 

It is quiet and cosy at the 

same time. Prices are Portuguese 

standard. 

Wind: 

https://www.windguru. 

cz/276362 

When the forecast has north in 

it, be sure to double it! It’s always 

10 to 15 knots more than 

forecasted! 

Viana: 

The little fishermen City is still

120 

Interview 

Hold it everyone: the king of speed is talking 

Hold it everyone: 

the king of speed is talking 

The world of kitesurfing is divided into two categories: those who want to jump as high 

as possible and those who try to go faster and faster. The former are the majority of 

riders, all Freestyle disciples and Big Air devotees which represent the most popular 

and widespread disciplines of this sport. The second group, on the other hand, is made 

up of a handful of solitary heroes, a sect to its own made up of people with speed 

running in their blood, risk jugglers and prisoners of a deadly obsession: becoming the 

fastest kiter in the world. Alexandre Caizergues is one of them and talks about himself 

to Kitesoul. 

Speed is a challenge for few 

people, very few, those perched 

in a fight with themselves and 

their own limits, in a battle 

against the nature and the 

gravitational acceleration. A 

serious game for grown up 

children chasing one another 

pushed by the wind. Except that 

when playing with speed, life is 

put at risk, on the ground as on 

the water. One of the kitesurfing 

world kings of high-speed is 

the French Alex Caizergues. 

Watching his videos all over 

the web where he glides on the 

water at superhuman speeds 

gives the chills. He looks like a 

post-atomic warrior: he wears 

streamlined carbon motocross’ 

helmets, pilots' masks, reinforced 

wetsuits and with the standard 

kite equipment he also uses 

prototypes, especially long and 

narrow fish tail boards which 

he designs, manufactures and 

tests himself at his life risk. Alex 

is an athlete part of the F-One 

International Team, and he has 

been going full speed for his 

whole life and he never gets 

enough. But why does he do 

it? He explains it himself in this 

interview.

David Ingiosi 

Photo: Michael Petrikov 

Margot / The Galion Project 

Greg Beneteau

122 

Interview 


Hi Alex, how are you and 

what are you up to these 

days? 

Hey guys! I’m super great, thank 

you! Right now, I’m training and 

getting ready for the Worlds in 

Oman first week of August. And 

I’m riding bikes a lot with Honda 

too ;-). 

Where did you grow 

up, when did you learn 

kiteboarding and what 

sparked your interest in 

this sport? 

I grew up in a small city named 

Port-Saint-Louis, in South of 

France, where I still live and 

where I learned kiteboarding 

(after wakeboarding and 

windsurfing). The first thing that 

hooked me with kiteboarding was 

probably the height of jumps… 

After just 1 month (of intense 

kiteboarding I reckon), I was able 

to jump over my friends who 

were windsurfing! That was just 

amazing! 

You are greatly carving 

your own path through 

the kitespeed world. What 

motivates you, who inspires 

you and how do you stay 

ahead of the game? 

I think the thing that motivates 

me is to be still able to live from 

my passion! It’s like a dream… 

that has been lasting for more 

than 10 years now! Of course, 

there is also the passion for 

speed, I love going fast, always 

and everywhere. Some people 

really inspired me along my 

career. Firstly, Björn Dunkerbeck, 

the windsurf legend who was 

able to stay up on top for more 

than 20 years! Big guy with a 

big heart, I had the chance to 

run beside him in Namibia in 

2005 and at that time, he was 

faster than me ;-). Then I can 

name Jean-Michel Bayle, French 

Motocross legend, who was the 

first to beat the Americans and 

who became World Champion, 

then switched to Moto GP at 24 

and had a great carrier. Right 

now, a guy like Bertrand Picard, 

pilot of Solar Impulse, is inspiring 

me a lot, establishing records and 

at the same time bringing new 

“green” solutions for a better 

world. To stay ahead of the game, 

there are no “miracle” solutions, 

the only keys are “work” and 

“motivation”. Work a lot on 

yourself, with your partners and 

sponsors. Motivation is a need 

that helps stay focused on your 

objectives to be able to reach 

your goals. 

Can you please describe 

why speed is so attractive 

to you? 

I think it’s a feeling I love, going 

fast has always been a pleasure. 

I remember my first ride on a 

motorbike, behind my friend’s

124 

Interview 


sister, I was 10 probably and I 

was smiling so much when she 

accelerated… Since then, I never 

stopped trying to go fast, behind 

a wheel (going 160 km/h on the 

road when my mom was giving 

me driving lessons!) or when I did 

my first runs on a kiteboard at 

home! 

Do you think kitespeed 

has still a lot of evolving 

ahead? In your opinion, in 

which direction? 

I think kitespeed will not evolve 

so much anymore. Three, four 

years ago, we saw the arrival 

of “giant speed boards” and 

it was a killer for light wind. I 

never really liked it but my friend 

Rob Douglas really pushed the 

concept far away and was able 

to go 45 knots average with a 

poor 18 knots of wind. Crazy 

“rendement”! But I never really 

liked riding those boards… Two 

years ago, I started kitespeed 

with foil kites for light winds and 

I found out than combined with 

a classic speedboard I was much 

more efficient! All good! But I 

prefer riding in strong winds, 

with a tube kite and a classic 

speedboard, that’s the best! 

How have your sponsors, 

including F-One, helped you 

achieve your goals? 

I have been in the F-ONE 

International Team since 2005, 

12 years already, wow time flies! 

I have a great relation with all 

the team in Montpellier, it’s like 

a second family. Raph, the boss, 

was the first to trust in me in 

2005 and when I did my first 

“good perf” in October 2005 in 

Namibia (clocking the 2nd best 

speed of the event) he decided 

to cover all my travel expenses. 

The year after, I was integrating 

the International Team. Together 

with the team, we developed 

the best gear since then, making 

a lot of prototypes (kites and 

boards), countless hours on the 

water, and with a lot of passion, 

always. Having a team like 

that supporting you has always 

been an advantage to face my 

competitors… I remember when 

I was in Lüderitz (Namibia) in 

2008, facing the strongest wind 

in my life, and hoping to receive 

the new prototypes during the 

1 month event. And on the big 

day, I see a UPS package arriving 

at the hotel, I opened the box 

and I saw this beautiful yellow 

board. Raph called me on the 

phone and told me to just put 

the foot-straps and the fins on, 

and “It would go fast”. Second 

run of the day I clocked a 50.57 

knots average, new world record! 

So yes, having a team like really 

makes a difference. Having Ouest 

Provence (the city community 

where I grew up and lived for 38 

years now!) supporting me since 

2007, Engie (Energy company) 

since 2009 or Honda Moto since 

last year, having those kind of 

sponsors was a big step forward 

for my career. With the budget 

I got from them every year, I 

have been able to become a 

100% professional kiteboarder. 

That means dedicating my life to 

work on my gear, on my training

on and off the water, travelling 

to train and compete and be 

focused on my objectives. 

As an F-One team member, 

what gear are you riding 

and why do you like it? You 

also make your own gear, 

don't you? 

According to what I want to do, 

I always have the perfect gear 

available in the F ONE range: of 

course, my favorite kite is the 

Furtive, the best to go fast and 

high too, it’s the one I use for 

speed comp. Then, if I want to 

do kiteloops or go for a wave 

session, I take the Bandit. And 

for light winds or foil comp, I use 

the Diablo! 

What are the spots around 

the world that perfectly fit 

the need for speed? 

There are not so many spots 

around the world that are perfect 

for speed. Of course, my home 

spot of Port-Saint-Louis in the 

south of France remains the 

best in my heart. Then, you have 

Walvis Bay in Namibia, probably 

the flattest I’ve ever seen in my 

life. Sotavento on Fuerteventura, 

very downwind but between the 

waves you can get some pretty 

good speed. And to conclude, 

but that are artificial spots 

and reserve for world record 

attempts, Lüderitz in Namibia and 

Salin-de-Giraud (very close to 

Port-Saint-Louis) are the fastest 

spots in the world. The good 

thing is that there are a lot of 

unknown spots that still need to 

be discovered… For example, 

this summer we’re going to check 

a new one in Oman, on Masirah 

Island, stay tuned! 

How important is the 

fitness training in your 

overall training plan? 

Of course, if you want to be 

better than your competitors, 

you need to do more… Usually I 

train lower body and cardio but 

that’s far away from a passion. 

And I prefer spending time on 

the water! 

Some years ago, you wrote 

a book about your life and 

career. Do you have any 

other books or editorial 

contents in your plans? 

My first book was a real 

adventure and quite a success, 

5.000 books edited and pretty 

much all sold. No real plan for a 

new one even if I still have a lot 

of ideas that could be awesome 

to feature in a new edition… will 

see ;-)! 

How do you find a balance 

between competing, riding 

for media and free kiting? 

The balance comes from the 

passion. All I am doing right now, 

competitions, sponsors works, 

media, or free kiting, is a real 

passion, I really love what I’m 

doing. Couldn’t ask for more!!! So 

it’s never an effort but always a 

pleasure…

126 

Interview 


Do you have any exciting 

trips or projects coming up 

that you can tell us about, 

and what are your goals 

for 2017? 

World championship in Oman in 

August, a trip to Aitutaki (Cook 

Islands) in late August and a 

new world record attempt in 

November in South of France… 

Pretty busy calendar but I am 

really looking forward to all of it! 

Cheers Alex, thanks for 

taking the time to talk to 

us!

www.alexcaizergues.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlexCaizergues 

www.f-one.com

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130 

Interview 

Adeuri Corniel: Freestyle is my familyia 

David Ingiosi

Adeuri Corniel: 

Freestyle is my familyia 

Only 17 years old and Adeuri 

Corniel is one of the most 

promising freestylers in the 

world. Born and raised in 

Cabarete, Dominican Republic, he 

comes from a family of kiters, 

his sister Madelyn and three 

brothers Raul, Kelvin and Ariel 

and all of them compete in the 

World Tour. After winning the 

Junior Pro Tour in 2014, in 2016 

Adeuri joined the RRD Team and 

took part to the WKL – World 

Kiteboarding League Pro Tour 

always finishing in the top six 

and winning the "rookie of the 

year" title. This season he is 

super motivated and strongly 

wants to get on the podium of 

the WKL. 

In this interview, he tells us 

about his passion for this 

discipline, the spots where he 

trains and his objectives.

132 

Interview 


Hello Adeuri, welcome to Italy. What do 

you think of this country? 

I like it. It reminds me a lot of where I 

live, Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. 

Warm water, sun, many riders, in short I 

feel a bit like home. This year I took part 

to the TwinTip Racing circuit, I'm trying 

new things and I am ready for the Youth 

Olympic Games in Argentina in 2018. 

There was a time when your brothers 

inspired you to start kitesurfing. Now 

it's your turn to inspire people around 

the world. Do you like that? 

Yes of course, I feel it natural and I really 

like it. I always get lots of kids around me 

and I am happy to help and spend time 

with them, give them advice on how to land 

some tricks and make them happy. They 

like going fast and push it to the max in 

the water just like me. 

Your family always supported you and 

your brothers helped you become 

an athlete. Has there been any 

disadvantage in this relationship?

In some respects, yes. They think I'm still 

very young, I can travel, but I cannot do 

everything by myself, such as rent a car 

or book a hotel. Other than that having 

them around is good and useful especially 

during competitions, for instance when 

they help me prepare the equipment, pass 

me the different kites for the race in case 

the wind conditions change. Knowing that 

they are there helps me reduce the tension. 

I'm really happy that they offer me all of 

their time. 

Could you explain why you like 

kitesurfing so much? 

For me kitesurfing is inherent to my 

family, my brothers practiced it since year 

2000 therefore I grew up in it. I started

134 

Interview 


to practice it as soon as I was able to, in 

2007, with a trainer kite and a skimboard. 

Initially, I felt a bit scared because I was 

only little, I could see my brothers jumping 

and flying over the water full power and I 

wanted to try those manoeuvres too. Since 

2009, I asked my brothers to teach me 

properly, I already knew how to move the 

kite a little bit and I immediately took off 

and in 2010, I could already land the first 

manoeuvres. I would observe the others in 

order to learn how to jump higher. Then my 

brothers started to win in the world circuit, 

and I liked the idea of becoming an athlete 

too. The problem was I still attended school, 

I had homework to do, so I tried to spend 

all my free time kiting taking advantage 

of each time that my father could take me 

to the beach. I trained and then I started 

to do the first competitions in 2014 and 

travelled, first to Furteventura, then Tarifa 

and then France where I highly improved 

my performances. I kept on training hard 

and finally in 2016 I entered the World 

Kiteboarding League Pro Tour where I've

136 

Interview 


always been in the top six and I was elected 

"rookie of the year". I hope to keep on doing 

well and win other podiums. 

You grew up in Cabarete, Dominican 

Republic. Can you explain why this spot 

is so famous and so important in the 

kitesurfing world? 

Cabarete offers a variety of conditions, flat 

water, chop and waves. The wind is stable 

and strong. We have everything we need to 

train, there is a nice atmosphere, parties 

and life is cheap. It's a beautiful country 

and I recommend everybody to visit it. 

How did your life change since 2016 

when you joined the RRD team? 

Well, a lot. Knowing that I have such a

great team behind me makes me feel 

comfortable, the equipment is fantastic 

and allows me to always train at the top 

and gives me the right support to achieve 

my goals. Kites especially are great, offer 

great performance and have a feature I 

like most of all: push when you want them 

to push, so you always have full control 

during manoeuvres. I currently use the 

Obsession Pro four lines and I love it, easy 

and soft. With other kites when you release 

the bar they continue to pull. I use the Juice 

board, it has a great pop and I also like it 

when landing manoeuvres. In just one year, 

it allowed me to grow and reach a level that 

I never had before. I advise everybody to try 

it at least once to feel the difference. I also 

use RRD wetsuits which are comfortable

138 

Interview 


even for me that I don't normally use 

wetsuits as in Cabarete the water is warm; 

and then the Shift Pro harness which is 

very comfortable, it never gives me any 

problems, it has the right rigidity and once 

set it never moves. 

Gizzeria in Italy and next year I want to visit 

Brazil. 

Which are your favourite spots? 

I say Cabarete, Costa Brava in Spain,

You already have a nice repertoire 

of manoeuvres. What is your next 

challenge? 

I would say the Heart Attack 7, it is very 

difficult, I've landed it already sometimes 

but I'm still working on it. I'm training, I 

know that one day I will be able to land it.

140 

Interview 


adeuri.com

142 

InterviEW 

Axel Mazella: I travel the world and run with the wind

I travel the world and run with the wind 

The pro rider Axel Mazella is one of the strongest athletes in 

the Racing and Kitefoiling disciplines. A purely talented boy 

who has already proved in the international competitions his 

strong personality and great motivation to train hard to get 

the World Cups podiums. Currently, he is competing to win 

the Hydrofoil Pro Tour, the KiteFoil World Cup and the World 

Cup 2017. F-One team member, he works with the French 

brand to achieve the best development of the race quiver. 

Kitesoul pulled him off one of his training sessions and got 

him tell us something more about his story, the spots where 

he trains and where he sees the future of this discipline. 

David Ingiosi | Photo: F-One

144 

InterviEW 

Axel Mazella: I travel the world and run with the wind 

How and when did you start kiting? 

I have two brothers. When I was young, I went on the 

beach with them and saw them practice kitesurfing 

and I loved it. I started kitesurfing when I was 12 

years old, at a kitesurf school at Almanarre at home. 

My first competition was the Mondial Du Vent when I 

was 14 years old. 

You are greatly carving your own path through the 

kiteboarding racing world. What motivates you, who 

inspires you and how do you stay 

ahead of the game? 

Every time I have the pleasure to go on the water 

for training, to push myself more and more. I think 

I am a hard worker, on the water like in the fitness 

club. I don’t have any inspiration just motivation for 

winning!

Which results have you scored in the last five months of 

competitions? 

In March, for the first step of Hydrofoil Pro Tour in Mexico I 

finished 3rd, second step in France I finished 2nd behind 

Nico Parlier. 1 month ago, at the Défi Kite in France I also 

finished 2nd behind Nico. This time we were very, very 

close!!! 

As a relatively young sport, kitefoiling still has a lot of 

growing up to do. In which direction would you like to see 

this discipline grow and evolve? 

I would like to push the limit of the development, maybe 

in 1 or 2 years we can go at 45/50 knots, go upwind with 

25knots VMG! Now we already go so fast, and I think we 

can go faster, it’s so crazy! 

How have your sponsors, including F-One, helped you 

achieve your goals? 

F-one helps me by giving me the best stuff and we try to 

develop together the best weapon for competing. Beside 

this big partnership, my kitesurf club helps me training 

and more. And I also have other sponsors for clothes, car… 

As an F-One team member, what gear are you riding and 

why do you like it? 

I ride with the Diablo V3, who I developed with the R&D 

team, my F-One board team racing 43cm and my foil.

146 

InterviEW 


I really like the Diablo V3 because it’s easy to use, you 

can plug the lines, go on the water and the kite is really 

perfect, out of the bag. 

Where are your favourite spots in the world and why? 

I have some perfect spot for foiling, in Mexico at Playa 

Central, perfect flat water and strong linear wind, in Italy 

at Gizzeria, side shore and light wind. And for sure, my 

home, at Almanarre, I can ride with all the wind directions: 

different weather, light/strong, gusty/linear, choppy or flat, 

and I like a super nice spot on the Porquerolles Island. 

What do you do apart from kiting to stay in shape? 

Apart from kiting I have 3 sessions of physical 

preparation, cardio and muscular. I also practice a lot 

of sports like running, paddling, biking, swimming and 

surfing to complete my preparation. 

What is the coolest opportunity you have had as a 

kiteboarder? 

For me my coolest opportunity it’s to travel the world to 

take part to competitions everywhere, see some good 

places, meet some new people and get to know new 

cultures.

148 

InterviEW 


What are you goals for this season, competitions wise and 

outside competitions? 

This year, I would like to finish on the top 3 of World Cup 

and World Championships of Kite Foil. Then, outside 

kitesurfing, I would like to complete my physiotherapist 

studies in France. I would like to continue my studies to 

have a second solution when I will be too old but I would 

like to continue as much as possible with my sport! 

Watch Axel Mazella Kitefoil training video:

150 

INTERVISTA 

Willow River Tonkin 


the new face of Core 

Willow River from the island of Mauritius is one of the most famous faces 

of the brand CORE. The 17-year-old with the "Hurray, the-school-burnsface" 

began with kitesurfing only three years ago and impresses with his 

Strapless-Freestyle tricks. Questions to Willow River. 

Testo e Foto: Reemedia

Nome: Willow-River Tonkin 

Data di nascita: 23.07.1999 

Trick preferito: Double Frontroll 

Spot preferito: One Eye 

Sponsors: CORE Kiteboarding, 

KiteWorldWide, Kiteboarding Tricktionary

152 

INTERVISTA 


How did you get in the international team 

of CORE at only 15 years of age and living 

on the island of Mauritius? 

Willow: "Growing up on an island that is 

perfect for perfect photos and videos is 

probably a good reason for a big company like 

CORE to sponsor young people with talent. 

In addition, I think everything happens for 

a good reason and I came to know the team 

manager ("Mentor"). I am extremely happy to 

be a team member! " 

And is a team member also called 

"kitesurf professional"? 

Willow: "After a few months of sponsorship, 

I flew for a photo shoot to Maui and I think 

that was a perfect base (“jump board”) to go 

as a professional kiter." 

- You are actively involved in pictures and 

films by CORE and are now one of the most 

famous faces of your sponsor CORE. 

Willow: "Yes and beside this, I like to talk to 

people, give them tips, and especially kite 

them." 

Do you attend classes at school? 

Willow: "No, luckily, my parents decided 

to teach me at home, so the daily course 

went to school. So I am always free for any 

spontaneous trips around the world, and 

most of all I have time to spend every minute 

in the water."

And you are travelling to the best kite 

spots around the big wide world, right? 

Willow: "Yes, that's madness! Since I was 

15. I have been to Hawaii, Denmark, Brazil, 

Germany… It has been great. I got to know so 

many great and interesting people. The many 

different kite spots inspired me very much. 

I must admit, after every trip, I am happy to 

spend sometime time in my beloved "home" 

Mauritius."

154 

INTERVISTA 

Willow River Tonkin

That sounds good! And do your parents 

support you? 

Willow: "Yes, my parents support me in 

everything I do with good encouragement and 

always stand behind me. They have always 

taught my siblings and me how important 

it is to do what you love. My mother and my 

father often tell me how proud they are of 

us, and now, with "shares", wall-posts and 

"likes", they are pressing this time. They are 

very modern and move with the flow of time. 

I am unspeakably grateful for their support 

and would not know what I would do without 

them." 

This is an announcement. Theme changes, 

on Mauritius there is "One-Eye", perhaps 

the best wave in the world. Is it almost 

inevitable that you are at home on the 

waveboard? 

Willow: "It is "usual", yes, but not necessarily. 

The island offers a colorful variation of kite 

spots for any type of equipment. Whether on a 

twintip or waveboard, you can have maximum 

fun on Mauritius / One Eye." 

"A colorful variation on kite spots". But 

your eyes shine before the beauty of 

"One-Eye". What does this wave look like 

from your point of view? 

Willow: "Being one of the world's best waves 

is just madness! One-Eye also offers "side-off 

conditions" and perfect waves. All this makes 

it my favorite. " 

There are waves, which are much more 

difficult to read than this wave which 

can be relatively constant. What do 

you think you could still improve after 

years? 

Willow: "You can and must always improve. 

For example, I should extend my “Apnoea” 

diving skills. You can always get into 

uncomfortable situations, in which you want 

to be able to stop the air for a few seconds 

longer. The more time you spend on the water, 

the better you will read in the waves. This 

is very important to have fun with all the 

different types of waves. "

156 

INTERVISTA 


Waves are what you like and the 

Strapless Freestyle new young discipline. 

What makes the charm of that? 

Willow: "You feel incredibly free. I personally 

find it more challenging to jump and use the 

wind to hold the board by the feet. Further, I 

may take the risk of "Strapless in the Wave". 

Keyword "challenging". On what moves 

are you currently working? 

Willow: "Just recently, I started to stand the 

double-Front Roll with 720 degrees of rotation 

with more safety. And now I'm working on 

Strapless Kiteloops."

And what’s at the top on your trick-wish 

list? 

Willow: "Strapless Handle Passes!" 

to like it more and more. And since the 

discipline is still so young, there is still a lot 

of space up there." 

How do you see the development of the 

Waveboard - Strapless-Freestyle? 

Willow: "Strapless freestyle is currently the 

discipline that is most rapidly developing 

and kitesurfers in general are just beginning

158 

INTERVISTA 

Willow River Tonkin

We saw the huge potential at the 

Strapless Freestyle Events in Tarifa and 

on Fuerteventura. It´s a motivation to 

participate, maybe later on? 

Willow: "Not really. For me, it's about having 

fun in the sport and having fun with friends 

and spending time on the water."

HARDBACK 

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PIN RELEASE SYSTEM 

The Vapor uses the super strong FATBAR spreader bar with patented Prolimit pin-release that is quick, easy and safe. 

The system allows for quick engagement and release without the need to loosen and then re-adjust the webbing straps.

162 

Adventures 

Living together with the Orcas 

Kari Schibevaag 

Photo: Svetlana Romantsova

Adventures 

Living together with the Orcas

164 

Adventures 


In October, going on a cruise on a 

sailing boat from south to north 

Norway is just an unforgettable 

experience: kitesurfing in the Arctic 

Ocean surrounded by the biggest 

mammals on Earth, the Orcas and 

accompanied by the Northern Lights. 

I am laying down looking up at the sky. There 

are the Northern Light dancing around and stars 

shooting from the sky. I can just hear sounds 

from the water and the waves. Besides that, it’s 

totally quiet and black and I can’t see anything 

else around me. 

It’s October and I am on Barba sailing boat in 

the north of Norway. I’ve been on this boat for 

the past six weeks and it’s been a crazy trip up 

the Norwegian coastline. If you think Norway is 

a small country just take a look at the map and 

you will see that it stretches over 103.000 kilo-

metres. 

I can tell you guys that we actually have the 

most beautiful coastline in the world and if you 

think something else, then you’re wrong. Sorry 

guys, it’s not just something I am saying.

166 

Adventures 


SAILING IN WINTERTIME. ARE WE SURE? 

We started out in Stavanger (south Norway, 

my hometown) and the goal was Tromsø in the 

north. The boat was packed with all kinds of 

“toys”, we were four people and one super dog 

sailing out from Stavanger on the 1st October. I 

can't count how many people told me that I had 

to think twice before entering the boat, and I 

know the reasons. Winter was approaching and 

in Norway Winter means storm after storm after 

storm. 

Just three days before we set sails there was a 

crazy storm and I have to say I was a bit nervous 

that that weather would continue throughout 

October. But the day we sailed, the sun was 

shining from blue skies and six weeks later the 

sun was still shining. Was it luck? I don’t know, 

but I can't remember an October with this kind 

of beautiful weather! 

SAILING, FREE TO EXPLORE THE COASTLINE 

The coast of Norway is beautiful and crazy. You 

have this nature with white sandy beaches, high 

t-mountains, crystal clear waters and locations 

with no people. With a sailing boat, it is so easy 

to access all these places and also use the SUP 

and kite. 

We sailed to shore on a lot of different places 

and were exploring remote areas with SUP and 

kite. Hiking, SUP, snorkeling, sleeping in a tent, 

fishing, kiting, looking at the Northern Light and 

much more. What a mouthful of action and only

168 

Adventures 


good weather. 

The nature is crazy when you think about it. You 

can use the power of the wind to move along the 

coast with a boat or a kite. You can see places 

by just using the power that the nature is creating 

for you. That is incredible to think about. 

WELCOMED BY THE WHALES 

On the way to Tromsø, we heard that the whales 

had already arrived. It was one of the goals to 

be there when they arrived. We hurried up the 

last part and as we entered the area outside of 

Tromsø, the Orcas were swimming around the 

boat welcoming us. We jumped in and swam and 

SUP around them. What a welcome and what a

day or let’s say weeks. 

The days flew by and we stayed around Tromsø 

sailing, kiting, SUPing, swimming and observing 

the whales. I came up here last year too, but I 

have to say this time was special. I was not so 

nervous, we were getting closer to them and 

they played around with us. 

FEW CENTIMETERS FROM THE BOARD 

The first time I was on the SUP, the Orcas were 

swimming around the board just looking at me. 

They were checking me out, who I was and what 

I was doing. I can admit I was a bit shaky when 

they came up only cm from the board, but after 

a while, I felt they were just friends swimming

170 

Adventures 


around with us. The SUP board is so quiet and 

you are sliding through the water with no noise, 

but still they know who you are and that you are 

there. It’s just amazing to think about. 

The Orcas are big but the Humpback whales are 

even bigger. They were all there around my SUP, 

but I knew they had full control over where I was. 

After some time on the SUP, I jumped into the 

water with them. It’s amazing to see them swim 

around. They move so gracefully in the water 

and they look like big teddy bears. 

It is also really special to see them feed. They 

are so big, but they were eating just small fish. 

Yes, I am talking about the Orcas now. The 

Humpbacks are of course feeding as if it was 

the last meal of the year. They come from underneath 

and open their mouth hoping to get a 

lot of herring in there. When this is happens you 

really do not want to be lying just on the surface 

taking a nap. 

RIDING WITH ORCAS, WHAT A THRILL 

It was windy and nice conditions for kite finally. I 

jumped in for a kite winter session in the sunset. 

Suddenly the Orcas appeared and played with 

me. I was in the middle of the big ocean together 

with these big animals. There was snow in the 

mountains, strong wind and amazing light. The 

light is magic up here at this time of year, it is 

the Arctic pink warm light as I like to call it. The 

whales knew I was there and they were swimming 

around me when I was kiting. Five of them 

just downwind of the board were swimming with 

me before they dived down and then popped up 

again behind me and in front of me. It was funny 

to see them so close with a kite. It was as if I was 

there together with them. Swimming and having 

fun in the sunset. My heart was pumping, but after 

many times in the water with them, I knew 

they had full control over me. And I knew they 

could easily move away from me. I also know

172 

Adventures 


that if they wanted to harm me, they could but 

the question is why didn’t they? 

In 2011, I tried to kite with the Orcas when we 

were making a TV program, but I did not manage. 

We did a lot of research with the whale people 

at that time and they all told me that they would 

not do it as I could have harmed them. When I 

was out there with them, I was thinking about 

that and did not go up to them. It was them coming 

to me and I was really careful not to change 

course and speed when they were around. I felt 

they were in full control and decided to be with 

m e . 

In north of Norway it gets darker in the Winter 

and in the mid of November the days got shorter 

and shorter. We were enjoying the last days of 

sunlight. We took advantage of every second of 

light and made every day a day to remember. 

At the end of November, it was game over and I 

travelled down to the south of Norway for some 

sun. I am now waiting for the light to come back 

to Tromsø so that I can continue this journey in 

January 2017.

176 

ave Riding - Kari Schibevaag 

Wave Riding 

We are all dreaming of the perfect hit. With or without straps 

Kitesurfing in the waves is now a firm dimension of 

this sport. A discipline for everyone, from beginners 

to expert riders. Kari Schibevaag tells about her wave 

riding experience and offers some advice to those ones 

eager to start, first of all what gear to use. She also 

tries to answer the unavoidable question: with or 

without straps? 

Kari Schibevaag 

Photo: Samuel Tomé

e are all 

reaming of 

he perfect hit. 

ith or without 

traps

178 

Wave Riding 


The water is crystal clear, the waves are rolling in perfect at the 

beach and it’s a really nice day for surfing. There are some guys 

out there ripping the waves, as if they own the place and maybe 

they do, I am just a random tourist. I am sitting on the beach 

watching them while preparing my gear to go out and hit the 

waves as well, but also using the power of the wind in my kite. 

Surfing is an old sport that has been there for years. British 

explorers at Tahiti may have first observed the first surfer in 

1767. I thought this happened in Hawaii with the ALOHA, but

Google told me something else, so let’s not fight about it. 

Kitesurfing in the waves is not an old sport. In 1996 when kiting 

started, they actually used a wave board first, and after that the 

twin tip board began to dominate the sport. Now when you are 

out in world looking at kiters you see more guys on a surfboard 

then on a twin tip and I understand why. 

Kitesurfing in the waves has become a sport that you can do 

in all sorts of conditions. Big waves, medium waves and small 

waves, and now even on flat water. It’s a discipline you can

180 

Wave Riding 


explore from a low level and up to a really crazy risk level. 

Whatever level you do, the most important thing is that you 

have fun. 

But how do I start 

There are so many different conditions when surfing in the 

waves. It can change from day to day at the same spot, but 

that’s what makes the sport so interesting. 

At first, when you begin to kite in waves it is good to know 

how the waves work so that you feel safe out there. When I 

was a beginner, I started swimming a lot in the ocean with 

the waves to get to know how the waves acted. It helped 

me understand more about the power of the waves. It also 

teaches you what to do if you suddenly find yourself out there 

without your board or kite. You need to get used to being 

inside the “washing machine” because it will happen at some 

point when you kitesurf in waves. 

The next step will be to set up the gear. Find the right kite 

and board. There are many types of wave kites and boards, 

and you have to look at your size and weight when you decide. 

Smaller person equals smaller gear. 

When kiting in waves was a new sport, everyone started with 

straps on the board. In the last years, it has been popular to 

take them off and ride strapless. I recommend everyone to use 

straps on in the beginning. This makes it easier to actually 

ride the waves and have fun out there. When you start to get 

better, it is still useful to leave them on in some conditions. 

When you watch surfers, it’s not often you see them ripping 

in big choppy waves with strong wind. Same goes for kiting in

182 

Wave Riding 


rough conditions, it is hard to make your level as good as if 

with clean smooth waves. 

That leaves us with the following questions: when do you go 

strapless? And when do you take them off? 

It has become a trend to ride strapless and that is cooler to 

ride with no straps. But is it not cooler to be able to ride the 

waves and manage to pass them on the way out and have fun? 

I am just asking! 

I love riding both with and without straps. It is all about the 

conditions. In clean waves with nice wind, I would take my 

strapless board and ride. In big messy waves with gusty wind 

I would love to go with straps. Just remember, people on the 

beach will not tell you what to use. You should follow your 

instinct and go for what makes you feel comfortable. 

When you are set up with the right gear, it is a good idea to 

start on flat water. Learn how to turn the board and get the 

control over the board. There are many ways you can turn the 

board and I recommend you to test them all out. Play with the 

board and get friendly with it. Have fun. 

Turning is important because you will do this every time you 

are out there surfing. 

How to start: 

You are all set up on the beach and you know how to go back 

and forward and turn. Now it is time to actually hit some 

waves. 

The best thing is to start with onshore conditions with small 

waves. Then if something happens you will always get back to 

the beach.

184 

Wave Riding 

We are all dreaming of the perfect hit. With or without straps

When you start riding the waves, follow 

these steps: 

1. Be careful about the guys riding the waves. 

2. Go outside the waves and pick one wave that you want to ride. 

3. Come from outside and then start riding the waves. 

4. When you are coming in with the wave and the wave is starting to 

build up, first turn the kite to the wave and then you will follow with 

a turn on your board. When you are going up to turn on the wave, you 

have already moved the kite to the other side so you can hit it and 

come down on the wave. 

5. After hitting your first wave, you have to start to prepare yourself 

for the next hit. First, you turn the kite and then, you come through 

the wave. Remember the kite will always be in front of you.

186 

Wave Riding 


It’s the same if you are riding goofy or front side. 

Start to hit the wave a bit before it breakes and when you feel 

comfy you can start to go closer to the breaking point of the 

wave. 

Remember, there are many different styles. Find your own. Have 

a look at other riders to see how they do different turns and how 

they work their board and kite. Remember, you have a kite in you 

hands, it’s not only about the board. 

Remember, the main thing is to go out there and have fun riding. 

Big waves, small waves, with or without straps. 

Good luck! I hope you will get your perfect hit soon.

188 

Projects 

Kitesurfing is beneficial: here comes the Wind Therapy 

Projects 

Kitesurfing is beneficial: here comes the Wi 

Kitesurfing can give emotions able to fight the psychological discomfort suffered by 

teenagers. Georgia Gay is positive about that. She is the president of the Flyin Hearts 

Onlus Association which for some years has been organizing kite camps dedicated 

to restore the well-being of these young people. The protagonists tell us how this 

experience was born and what results is giving. 

Kitesurfing is a sport with a high emotional 

impact. It gives joy and self-confidence, it 

helps to know each other, to come to terms 

with one's own limits, whether physical or 

mental, and maybe try pushing them a bit 

further. These benefits have immediate effects 

on anyone who approaches this discipline, 

including those people with a greater 

need for happiness and strong and healthy 

emotions, possibly because they are victims 

of psychological discomfort. 

It is the Wind Therapy, as Georgia Gay called 

it, president of the Flyin Hearts Onlus Association 

which for three years has been 

using kitesurfing as a pilot tool to help 

adolescents suffering from psychological 

distress and behavioural disorder. With Gabriele 

Ghione, owner of the kite school FH 

Academy and Evelyn Gay alternative therapies 

expert, she tells us about how this project 

came to be, its results and how it may 

evolve in the future.

David Ingiosi | Photo: Flyin Hearts 

nd Therapy 

Georgia, you come from the world of fashion. Could you introduce 

yourself to those who don't know you and explain how you 

developed your sensibility to psychological distress? 

I am a marketing and communications consultant in the field 

of fashion. I never approached the world of psychological discomfort 

until 2014 when I went through a difficult time of my 

life. I decided to go on an itinerant journey throughout Italy 

on a 1974 Mehari, without a proper destination. I travelled 

throughout the South, Sicily and Sardinia. Before heading to 

Corsica I visited Porto Pollo, I fell in love with it and decided to 

stay to try kitesurfing. Day after day, I felt that the wind and

190 

Projects 


the sea were "washing away" my inner discomfort and the kite 

helped me find lightness and serenity. 

How did you have the idea of the Association Flyin Hearts and 

who are the people that work with you on this project? 

When I returned home, I wanted to share my experience with 

others who were going through troubled times. I looked for 

information about the relation between kitesurfing and the 

treatment of cases of depression and I didn't find anything. I 

found some texts written by a psychologist about alternative 

therapies for the treatment of psycho-behavioural problems 

amongst adolescents and I contacted him. I began a phase of 

study and reflection with Dr. Amedeo Bezzetto, Director of rehabilitation 

therapies at Villa Santa Giuliana Hospital. And I 

decided to go all the way by founding Flyin Hearts, a non-profit 

organization, to collect the necessary funds to organize the 

Wind Therapy Camps. With me, other two key people, Gabriele 

Ghione, kitesurfing instructor and Evelyn, my mom, alternative 

disciplines and remedies expert. 

You think that kitesurfing can have therapeutic benefits, why? 

Being kitesurfing a strongly emotional activity, it had every 

prerequisite to unleash useful reactions in the kids to cope 

with their discomfort. Gabriele had long wanted to open his 

own Kite Centre, so the two projects started together in Porto 

Pollo. Therefore FH Academy was looking for technically skilled 

instructors but also empathic to our mission. Gabriele and I 

studied a more holistic approach to kitesurfing than the traditional 

teaching methods because the objective was to work on 

the emotions that this sport provokes, rather than aiming at 

technical aspects, with very high safety standards. 

When did the Association organize the first kite camps and 

what was it like? 

The first camps took place in Porto Pollo in 2015. Camps last 5 

days, kids are selected by Dr. Bezzetto and arrive in groups of 

4 or 5 with two Hospital employees. They stay at Isola dei Gabbiani 

Camping, within walking distance from the kite zone and

all the facilities of Porto Pollo. In addition to kitesurfing, there 

are two other precious elements: the relationship between the 

kid and the instructor who becomes their model in whom they 

mirror themselves and the holistic therapies during the day, 

held by Evelyn which help the kids internalize the experiences 

of those days and find an inner peace.

192 

Projects 


Turning patients into active people who practice sports, experience 

sharing moments out of hospitals. What are the benefits 

of this approach to this illness? 

Parting from hospital and families helps children project themselves 

in a new situation where they are not patients anymore 

but learners, potentially healthy kids leading a healthy life. 

Everything leads back to this element during camps, even the 

diet which is strictly vegetarian. A lot of people ask us whether 

kids recover in such a short time. The answer is no. It would 

be crazy to think that recovery could occur during this lapse 

of time, although the transformation of the kids is incredible 

and obvious. Our mission is giving them an emotional "electroshock" 

to spark such reactions that can make them find their 

path to recovery.

What is on the agenda of the Association? 

Sharing the experience that kids live during the camps, we 

made a documentary, which was presented last June in Milan. 

It’s a video where the video maker attended each day of 

the camp and the kids tell about themselves as well as having 

the various people involved give more technical information. 

We have two future projects. The first is finding a research 

team willing to study the Wind Therapy effects with customised 

tools and data processing. The second one is to offer this 

experience also to kids coming from abroad, in order to crosscheck 

the experiences and knowledge in this field.

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Projects 


The instructor 

Gabriele Ghione: 

the "person" is the core of my school 

Gabriele could you please tell us about yourself and your experience 

as a water-sports man and instructor? 

I started kitesurfing after years of snowboarding. I became an 

instructor in 2012 and worked in various centres in Italy and 

abroad. Few years later, I decided to open my FH Academy centre 

and realize the Flyin Hearts project with Georgia. 

How did the collaboration between FH Academy and Flyin 

Hearts Association start? 

The projects were born together as part of one single idea and 

travel on common rails, keeping each their own objectives. I 

have always imagined how I would have liked my school, I saw 

many, some of them just thrown-together and some others 

true money-making machines. I wanted to create something 

that would be a quality excellence, both in terms of equipment, 

boats and personnel. A school with the specific care for the 

"person" as its core. The Flyin Hearts project gave me the final 

push to open the school and the result coming from the camps 

prove that I reached the standards I had set to myself in relation 

to methodology and team. 

What are the issues related to teaching a discipline such as 

kitesurfing to people with thorny backgrounds? Do you have 

a specific training as instructors and how do you relate to the 

medical staff? 

Being the first ones to have embarked on this path, we had no 

reference points. The initial work done with Dr. Bezzetto has 

been essential, he told us to focus on emotions and not on the 

technique and use this basis to develop the best method to 

convey these feelings to the kids. The other essential phase is

the initial briefing of each camp where we are updated on each 

individual case and set the objective for the kid based on his 

behavioural issues. 

You teach them but could it be said that you also learn something 

from these troubled kids, do you? 

Seeing the kids changing and their interest and interaction 

awake more and more each day makes us think. About the 

frailty of our emotional level, but also on the inner strength of 

each of us to get back up.

196 

Projects 


Kitesurfing is good for anyone who practices it, but it can have 

a therapeutic purpose for troubled people. A new dimension of 

this discipline to fully discover. How do you think it will evolve? 

Honestly, at first I didn't know where this adventure would 

have taken us. But now, thanks to what we have realized and to 

Georgia's fortitude, I believe that our method is potentially effective 

(the research will prove it). Kids don't need us to recover, 

they just need to receive adequate tools to find their own 

way out and we provide them with an extremely powerful one.

Alternative therapies 

Eveline Gay: 

I help kids internalize their positive experiences 

What do you do exactly? What activities do you carry out and 

how do these integrate with the kitesurfing program of the patients? 

For many years now, I have been dedicating myself to alternative 

therapies and holistic approach. I carry out multiple activities 

with the kids, we work with vibrational music, mandala of 

colours and crystals. They need to lower the levels of adrenaline 

unleashed by kitesurfing and at the same time fully internalize 

the experience so that it firmly remains within them. I 

teach them the importance of healthy eating and how to prepare 

food. I don't stick to a set program as it always depends 

on the type of group I have. Furthermore, for a week I am like 

their "mom", the person to talk to who is not a doctor.

198 

Projects 


Today, the Flyin Hearts project is the only one in the world to use kitesurfing for a 

therapeutic function to help teenagers with psychological and behavioural disturbances 

to restore their own well-being. To support this non-profit organization a contribution can 

be made to: Associazione Flyin Hearts Onlus, Banca Prossima Milano. IBAN: IT 12P0 335901 

60010 00001 34987, Swift Code: B C I T I T M X. Info: georgia@flyinhearts.com.

Watch the Wind Therapy documentary trailer: 

www.flyinhearts.com

200 

TUTORIAL strapless 


The 180 Pop Shove-it is a great baseline trick to learn as you can expand it into a 

variety of moves. By landing with your fins first, it gives you the option to spin out 

of it riding toe side by “ole-ing” the bar, or simply letting the fins catch and letting

the nose correct itself and point forward again. At this point you can both continue 

to ride toe side, switch your feet, or because you feet are already switched, jibe and 

turn around to head in the other direction.

202 

TUTORIAL strapless 


1. 

Like any jump, whether it’s strapped or 

strapless, to leave the water you must 

load up the kite and board by setting a 

rail and edging against the kite. This creates 

added tension in the lines that you 

will use to lift you off the water. 

2. 

You will start with slow to medium speed, 

just enough to finish the move with some 

forward momentum to ride away. If possible, 

time your take off with a ‘kicker’ 

such as a small wave or chop to help you 

initiate your jump. 

3. 

NAs you leave the water, keep your kite at 

a 45-degree angle and use your toe pressure 

to angle the bottom of the board 

into the wind. The board will push back 

against the bottom of your feet and you 

can use this resistance to initiate the 

spin of the board. 

4. 

Keep your eyes down, watching the 

board. You must spin the board only 180 

degrees and the amount "kick" that you 

use to spin the board depends on how 

fast and how high you are. 

5. 

Before you land make sure your feet are 

positioned further towards the nose of 

the board (the new “back” of the board) 

and you have your knees bent for landing. 

6. 

Keep your eyes down and spot your landing, 

hopefully your feet are still in the 

correct spot as you land the trick. 

SUGGERIMENTI: 

1) You don’t need to be going fast to do 

this trick. 

2) Don’t wear a surf leash because the 

possibility of your board “bouncing 

back” can create a very dangerous situation.

3) Watch for the possibility of your board 

landing fins up. To avoid injuries from 

sharp fins, watch the rotation of the 

board and if you’re landing fins up, then 

tuck you feet up and continue to send 

the kite in the opposite direction to get 

away from your board.

204 

Tutorial STRAPLESS 

Jesus Walk 

Willow River Tinkin 

To start the Jesus Walk/Slide, ride upwind as fast as you can and 

slowly move your kite to 12. As soon as you start moving your kite 

to 12, pull on your bar so the kite can hold you just above the water. 

Then you will want to do a small pop and grab the rail of your 

board. Try to lift your board up so it doesn’t drag along the water. 

While you are sliding with your feet along the water you will want

The Jesus Walk can take a bit 

of time to do but once you’re 

able to do it, it will be your go 

to trick on flat water. What 

really helps to practice this 

slide is by trying to slide with 

your feet on the water as long 

as you can without holding 

your board. This will help you 

get the feeling of the "Jesus 

Walk". 

to make sure that you keep pressure on the kite to keep you above 

the water. As soon as your kite starts to loose power, place your 

board under your feet and downloop the kite to ride on.

206 

Tutorial STRAPLESS 

Jesus Walk 

TIP: While sliding, steer your kite in the direction you 

want to go. This will help you slide for a longer distance.

www.corekites.com 

It is best to practice this trick on flat water and to 

ride as fast as possible before starting the trick. This 

will help you get the maximum distance out of your 

slide.

208 

PRODUCT FOCUS 

RRD 

Product focus 

RRD GLOBAL BAR V8 + LINE V/O 

www.robertoriccidesigns.com 

Text & photo: RRD Courtesy 

”you can’t break 

what doesn’t exist” 

RRD is proud to release 

the 8th version of the 

Global bar that takes all 

the great features of simplicity 

and reliability of 

the previous versions into 

account and goes a step 

forward with new components 

and redesigned 

parts. 

We have the following 

new features on the RRD 

Global Bar V8: 

Our new simplified safety 

system on the front lines 

makes the kite de-power 

100% in case you need it. 

Now you can rotate the 

chicken loop to easier untwist 

your front lines after 

your rotations or loops. 

It is standard equipped 

with a short leash to attach 

on the front of your 

harness. For the handle 

passing riders we have an 

optional thicker and longer 

leash.

We still have the following 

standard features: 

One Bar will fit all of your 

kites 

Our de-power rope is 

extended, to increase 

the de-power ability. A 

longer de-power will not 

only help increasing the 

range of your kite, it will 

also give you more maneuver 

margin when you 

are riding waves or when 

you have long arms. It is 

made of high quality indestructible 

polyurethane, 

which makes the bar slide 

easy and you will never 

have to replace it. 

You have the option to 

use the new Velcro loop 

on the de-power cord to 

prevent the cord from 

flapping around when you 

have fully de-powered the 

kite. 

The length of the depower 

rope can be adjusted 

with the new depower 

stopper EVA float. 

By simply pushing up or 

down the EVA float you 

can trim the de-power 

rope length according to 

the length of your arms or 

depending on the conditions 

you are kiting in. 

This stopperball is a handy 

feature for example for 

people with shorter arms 

or for specific tricks like 

the dead-man. 

We obviously still deliver 

you the bar with the 

exclusive RRD Rigid thread 

lines made using the 

most recent fibers and 

an innovative production 

process, which make the 

lines easier to untwist, 

but most importantly: 

they don’t stretch!

210 

PRODUCT FOCUS 

RRD 

with the V8, we now take another step 

forward with new components and redesigned 

parts. 

Simplicity is our mission. We remove any 

unnecessary items, instead of adding 

them, to make every component more 

functional. Simply said: "you cannot break 

what does not exist". 

We have the following new 

features on the RRD Global 

Bar V8; 

•Rotating chicken loop that acts as a 

swivel, to easily untwist your front lines. 

•Our new simplified safety system flags 

the kite on the front line which makes 

the kite de-power 100% in case you 

need it. 

•Standard equipped with a short leash 

(approx 50 cm or 20”) to attach on the 

front of your harness. 

•Optional: thicker and longer leash spe- 

RRD insures your ride to 

be the best at all times 

and the new global bar 

v8 is a statement to our 

legacy, WORRY LESS, RIDE 

MORE! 

Simple / Functional / 

Safe / Durable No need to 

‘change any game’ with 

the release of our 8th 

version of the RRD Global 

Bar. Because of the great 

history of performance, 

we have kept our new 

version simple, reliable, 

and packed with the same 

great features of the 

previous versions. But

cifically for the handle passing riders. 

Standard features; 

•A moulded chicken loop finger that has 

a multiple pre-set position rotor head 

which allows you to move the finger to 

any desired position. It’s very easy to 

move it out of the way for riders that 

like to un-hook. 

•Our double chamber de-power rope 

with safety line is made of high quality 

indestructible polyurethane which makes 

the bar slide easy and you will never 

have to replace it. 

•CNC milled and anodised aluminium 

central bar component with oversized 

oval recesses to improve de-power tube 

sliding; even during some extreme steering. 

•The length of the de-power rope can be 

adjusted with the de-power stopper EVA 

float. 

•Test-winning diameter of the bar tube 

for the best grip. 

• Chicken loop safety release system 

with oversized handle and increased sliding 

potential of all components to secure 

an effective functionality over the 

years. This is the safety release system 

in the market with the least amount of 

steel components, meaning longer lifetime 

and less maintenance. 

• Moulded stainless steel safety leash 

double ring, angled to a position that 

facilitates safety leash attachment. 

• Customized stainless steel de-power 

rope cleat designed around the double 

chamber tube, allowing the security line 

to slide freely. 

• Moulded floating side caps injected 

with high memory EVA which facilitates 

a better bar grip and increased safety. 

• Oversized color coded side floaters 

that guarantee the floatation of the bar 

and easy rolling of the flying lines with 

line-locking system.

212 

PRODUCT FOCUS 

F-One 

Product focus 

DIABLO V3 

www.f-onekites.com 

Text & photo: F-ONE Courtesy 

The technical specifications 

were clear: create the most high-performance 

ram-air kite on 

the market, but make it EASY TO 

USE. 1st time on the water right 

out of the bag; 1st podium on 

Hydrofoil Pro Tour in Montpellier! 

All international riders who 

tested it were unanimous regarding 

performances, comfort 

but also ease of use of the V3, 

whatever conditions and course 

profiles (especially riding 

downwind).

SIZES 

BARS 

9 m² 11 m² 13 m² 15m² 18 m² 20 m² 

48 cm - 55 cm - 55 cm - 55 cm - 62 cm - 62 cm 

Available lines (m): 15 / 18 / 22 / 24 / 26 

Key points on the Diablo v3 are: 

- IMMEDIATE AND INTUITIVE USE 

- UNMATCHED WIND RANGE 

- OPTIMUM BRAKE BEHAVIOUR 

- FAST INFLATE

214 

PRODUCT FOCUS 

Core 

Product focus 

Section 2 and Impact 2 

www.corekites.com 

Text & photo: Core Courtesy 

A better drifting, lighter, wave 

kite. The second gen Section 

is built for both traditional and 

freestyle-wave (surf-style) enthusiasts 

with serious depower 

for down-the-line drifting and 

incredible control off the lip. 

“Weight management is a critical 

component in performance 

wave kites,” Chief Designer, 

Frank Ilfrich begins, “and we’ve 

leveraged our proprietary fabrics 

to achieve further gains.” 

CORE’s no-stretch ExoTex Dacron 

frame incorporates a unique 

radial reinforcing thread 

pattern that enables higher 

pressure airframes with smaller 

diameters. It improves airflow, 

flight stability, and rider feedback 

by substantially increasing 

tube 

strength and rigidity despite reducing 

diameters. “ExoTex creates 

a lighter yet more robust 

canopy that’s ideally suited for 

wave riding,” Frank concludes. 

The Section 2’s acclaimed Exo- 

Tex airframe holds a better shape 

in gusts and improves water

elaunching in big waves. 

The Section 2 carries over its 

small diameter ExoTex airframe, 

lightweight surf construction, 

and super quick reflexes from its 

predecessor. The design team 

found additional weight savings 

and rigidity improvements on 

the airframe. And they simplified 

the intelligent trim system 

that customizes bar feeling and 

turning speed. 

CORE’s no compromise Section 

2 is designed to improve every 

wave riding experience with effortless 

directional control and 

the right amount of pull to keep 

strapless riders upwind and 

on their board. Freestylers will 

love the confidence and in-air 

control to land those physics 

defying aerials. When it comes 

to waves, the Section 2 is ‘all in.’ 

Perfect for foilboarding too! 

This drifting phenom with huge 

range pairs perfectly with any 

foil-board. Its lightweight construction, 

nimble behavior, and 

reduced lateral forces make it 

an unexpectedly awesome foiling 

kite. It won't yank you off 

your board, and it zips through 

lulls with ease. Yup, the Section 

2 will amaze you with its foiling 

pedigree. 

Section 2 LW: Small Wave Phenomenon. 

The new Section 2 LW departs 

somewhat from traditional 

wisdom in that a bigger kite is 

counterproductive on waves. 

The new Section LW’s immense 

range lets riders easily spill the 

wind so they can focus on surfing. 

The LW’s agility and surface 

area to weight efficiency give 

the feeling of a smaller kite and 

yet it still has the pull to get you 

out of trouble in the lulls. And 

gusts are held in check with its 

incredible 

depower. It’s easy to question 

the efficacy of a 12 or 14m wave 

kite if you haven’t ridden one. 

If you ask Rob Kidnie, a CORE 

team rider in Indonesia, which 

Section 2 is his favorite, he’ll 

say the 14m LW. “The old rule 

of thumb that a smaller kite is 

always better may no longer 

apply to the LW,” suggests Bernie 

Hiss, CORE’s CEO and avid 

wave rider.

216 

PRODUCT FOCUS 

Core 

Find more info on the Section 2 and Impact 2 at: corekites.com/us 

Two new sizes. And even more 

impact! 

You can count on one hand 

the number of true, bridleless 

C-kites that remain in the marketplace. 

C-kite R&D has suffered 

as a result. But not with 

the design team at CORE. The 

company gambled on the marketability 

of the original Impact. 

Over the next two years, the 

kite developed a cult following 

amongst hardcore wakestyle 

riders. And now, Impact riders 

can celebrate the release of the 

Impact 2! The new model carries 

over its classic C-kite shape, 

bridleless 5 line setup, and 

five strut airframe. The new model 

features a higher aspect ratio, 

a deeper cut ‘C’, and increased 

trim options. With two more 

sizes, this wakestyle machine is 

comp ready. An expanded wind 

range is achieved with the help 

of CORE’s exclusive no-stretch 

ExoTex airframe. Chief Kite 

Designer, Frank Ilfrich further 

explains, “A narrower 

leading edge and flatter canopy 

give the new Impact 2 more 

speed, reduced lateral forces, 

and serious high-end control. 

“You’re gonna love it.” 

Wakestyle pros should take 

note that the new 8 and 15m sizes 

fill out the model range and 

better accommodates power riders 

who prefer to ride one size 

bigger. All Sensor 2 bars are 

compatible with the Impact 2 

and are easily converted to a 

five line bar with the 5 line upgrade 

kit that comes with every 

kite. The engineers added a deeper 

‘V’ on the fifth line to make 

it less sensitive to trimming. 

The 7, 8, and 9m kites also sport 

higher aspect ratios which are 

evident when looping.

Section 2 and Impact 2 – Ready to enjoy at a retailer near you. The 

high-performance Section 2 and Impact 2 are in stock now. If going 

“all in” is your kite philosophy, then make your way to the nearest 

authorized CORE retailer to meet your match. 

Section 2 SIZES: 

4.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | LW 12.0 | 

LW 14.0 

Section 2 Features: 

1. Ultra Light Frame: Super light yet amazingly rigid 

and durable. 

2. Surf Profile: Wave tuned camber and aspect ratio. 

3. ExoTex® Ultra Rigid Dacron: Zero stretch airframe. 

4. CoreTex® Triple Ripstop Canopy: Extreme durability 

and UV protection. 

5. Future-C Shape: True C-kite feel. For snappy 

turns with a controlled and consistent pull. 

6. Radical Reaction Tips: C-style shaped wingtips 

for faster bar response. 

7. Short Bridle System: Improved kite feedback. 

8. CORE Intelligent Trim (CIT): Customizable 

“power steering” and turning speed. 

9. Instant Auto Relaunch: Reliable water starts in 

difficult conditions. 

10. Speed Valve 2: Quick, reduced effort inflation. 

11. Speed Pump System: Super fast all strut inflation. 

12. Sensor Bar Ready: For maximum kite feedback 

and control. 

Impact 2 SIZES: 

7.0 | 8.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 15.0 

Impact 2 Features: 

1. Deep C-Shape: Proven. Powerful. And pure C. 

2. Classic-C Tips: Consistent pull through every 

turn. 

3. 5 Line Setup: Includes “5th Line Set“, to convert 

any Sensor 2 bar system. 

4. ExoTex® Ultra Rigid Dacron: Zero stretch airframe. 

5. CoreTex® Triple Ripstop Canopy: Extreme durability 

and UV protection. 

6. Speed Valve 2: Quick, reduced effort inflation. 

7. Speed Pump System: Super fast all strut inflation. 

8. 5 Strut Frame: Maximum stability and power. 

9. Active 5th Line Safety: Classic safety system 

re-invented. 

10. Custom Trim System: Three backline adjustments 

and five(!) frontline adjustments. 

11. Rapid Relaunch: Reliable water starts. 

12. Sensor Bar Ready: For maximum kite feedback 

and control.

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NON PeRDete NEXT IL ISSUE PROSSIMO october next NuMeRO ISSue - november GIune DICeMBRe - JuLY out out - GeNNAIO on on the 2 th 2 of IN th APRIL uSCItA of october IL 2 DICeMBRe 2017 2015 

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Kitesoul Magazine #19 English Edition

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