The Kiteboarder Magazine Vol. 13, No. 4 by The Kiteboarder Magazine

JALOU LANGEREE The Female Surf Imperialist

RUGGED EXPLORATION American Snow Country

RELIGION OF STOKE Koudeleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chromatic Trip

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These days I’m a little more grounded; I’m the guy running late night airport drops and facilitating the far-flung adventures of friends. I never used to spend more than a couple of months in the same place, but now that roles have reversed, I’m often the one staying put. I recently dropped a friend off at the airport for a South American surf trip. As she dragged an overloaded surf coffin through the industrial travel portal, my mind drifted to the waves that would be surfed, each one with its own nuances—various beach breaks and points sculpting foreign swells and expanding this journeywoman’s mental horizon. Sure I’d be in the water while she was gone, and home’s not too shabby in the wave department, but what I’d be missing is that cultural component of travel. Exploring the terrain of another civilization and its people— through the simple process of putting yourself into motion through space and time, you become a temporal hub with both locals and other tradesmen of infinite experiences, all leaching into an expanded horizon. Under the neon lights of the departure strip, I’m grasping for some bold statement that recognizes the significance of two friends parting ways. My mind reaches for a saying I probably learned in college but can’t grasp without the help of Google. “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man,” said Greek philosopher Heraclitus. Paths lead to paths and if my friend even comes back from her warm water wavesical paradise, she’ll be a different person upon her return while I’ll reek of sameness; grinding away in the static of my pleasant but small ritual-laden environment. T H E E XO H A R N E S S

I can’t complain, it’s been a good run. I’ve spent entire winters living out of my truck in the Rockies and unwittingly spent a decade exploring more of Baja than most, but there’s only so much footloose fancy-free that the mind can absorb, at least my mind. Too much rootlessness, too much change and the travelscape becomes a blur, sensory chaos you intentionally or unconsciously shut out. There’s always the point of on a trip where you no longer absorb or chase every opportunity; your journey is over and something inside longs for home. It’s inevitable, which makes me wonder how traveling pros maintain their love affair with life on-the-go. I suppose tolerance and balance points will differ; perhaps temperance and seasonal patterns, if observed, can make anything new. With the airport lights in the rear view, I think about my next travel adventure; maybe I will focus not so much on where I go (yes, it will have to have world-class surf ), but on whom I go with. Or, to make my rooted life more palatable, I will entertain travel as a state of mind, an exploratory mode that can be applied just as well from the comfort of home.

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Wild and Wonderful

The rugged practices of self-reliance and exploration in Montana’s expansive backcountry wonderland are exposed as Noah Poritz pens a cheerleader’s missive to the tradesmen of the state’s snowkiting scene.

The Religion of Stoke

The story of Lance Koudele is the study of a professional athlete turned commercial photographer on a quest to use chromatic action sports images as an agent of positive change in the propaganda war of spreading a healthy, balanced outdoor lifestyle.

Moroccan Ramparts

Traveling to the northwest corner of Africa where a series of right-hand points jut out into the Atlantic’s northwest swell machine, traveler and pocket iPad photographer Peter Aschewanden studies the historical and cultural dimensions of a kite destination in Essaouira, Morocco.

Jalou Langeree

Dutch femme fatale, career traveler and professional kiteboarder, Jalou Langeree answers buckshot interrogatories about the road to pro, the dead end of freestyle, death of a surf tour and her elevation as the icon of intensity in female kitesurfing.

Mejor de Baja

Photo essay from the lens of Seth Warren on the diversity of North America’s winter-over destination in Mexico’s dangling finger pensinsula of the Pacifica.

From the Editor

Frontside

Scene

Profile:

Jesse Stewart

Keeping the Coast Guard busy . . .

Profile:

Annemarie Hereford

A different kind of humor . . .

Exposed

Method

106

Wish List

110

Viewpoint

Mike Attolico on letting go

His Own Way

The son of one of kiteboarding’s industrialist families, Julien Salles long fought the foregone conclusion of joining the family business, but these days as head of Manera, Julien is reinventing the approach to windsports wetsuit products and finding his own way within the F-One family.

in the surf.

114

Roots

The genesis of

kiteboarding competition.

118

Parting Shot

26 20

60 38 86 92

On the Cover

According to photographer Vincent Bergeron, “You can be sure nobody can do what Brandon did that day on that rock.” When it comes to dangerous stunts, Vinny is probably, hands down, the worst photographer to have by your side. “Brandon was so exhausted when I told him to do it again and again, he even screamed at me, but in the end he’s got what it takes to get the perfect one.” 11

Marina Chang, Publisher marina@thekiteboarder.com Brendan Richards, Editor brendan@thekiteboarder.com Jennifer Jones, Art Director jen.jones@moxyinternational.com India Stephenson, Associate Editor india@thekiteboarder.com Alexis Rovira, Editor at Large alexis@thekiteboarder.com Seth Warren, Senior Contributor elementsmixedmedia@gmail.com Gary Martin, Tkb Ambassador gary@thekiteboarder.com

Touch it, feel it, swipe it . . .

CONTRIBUTORS Noah Poritz, Peter Aschwanden, Reed Brady, Mike Attolico PHOTOGRAPHERS Stu Gibson, Andre Magaro, Toby Bromwich, Eleven Experience, Suave, Will Taggart, Lance Koudele, Morgan Wertz, Loic Guillou, Uchar/Getty Images, Peter Aschwanden, Richard Hallman, Ben Thouad, Quincy Dein, Seth Warren, Bianca Asher, Expedite Robinson, Oleg Kornilov, Ydwer.com, Vincent Bergeron, Adam Lapierre, Robin Christol, Jen Jones, Bernard Biancotto, Willy Hadorn, Jordan Colin, Danielle Ballensky Visit us on: thekiteboarder.com • thekiteboarderschool.com twitter.com/the_kiteboarder • facebook.com/thekiteboardermagazine ADMINISTRATIVE/ADVERTISING OFFICE 1356 16th Street, Los Osos, CA 93402 805.459.2373 SUBSCRIPTIONS orders@thekiteboarder.com • store.thekiteboarder.com | 805.459.2373 Have you got an idea for an article you would like to see in The Kiteboarder Magazine? Send your submission to: editor@thekiteboarder.com © 2016 Boardsports Media LLC. All rights reserved.

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FRONTSIDE

Fresh off her season win on the GKA Freestyle World Championship, Bruna Kajiya adds some style to the flat waters of Brazil. // Photo Andre Magaro

FRONTSIDE

Ben Wilson dropping in at Namotu with a full house. If a top to bottom wave and razor sharp reef werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t challenging enough, try dodging a lineup filled with a friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s yard sale. // Photo Stu Gibson

FRONTSIDE

FRONTSIDE Colleen Carroll takes a mid-summer break from boardshorts and bikini weather to session this cold water culvert in the pastoral waters of Novia Scotia. // Photo Toby Bromwich

The temperature lingered just above zero while the wind howled and gusted well over 30 mph. The recently fallen snow was deep

and the ground blizzard felt like a firestorm of white. Overhead, I could see glimpses of blue sky, but at ground level the visibility

was limited to 100 yards at best. I was flying my smallest kite, an 8m Ozone Summit, speeding uphill into an imposing whiteout at

a solid clip. Kite skiing in the lee of corniced gullies, the powder

snow was flowing to my waist and sometimes over my shoulders. Giddy with excitement, I rode lap after lap in these deposition

areas, relishing the feeling of weightlessness as I floated downhill, finding the deep, untracked cold smoke of winter. As the hours

progressed, I moved from one canyon to the next, each one getting steeper, deeper and requiring more and more commitment as I ventured further from the road.

by Words oritz Noah P

Photo Will Taggart

ver one hill and down the next, I spotted a red fox frightened by my presence and running as fast as possible to elude my approach. The cornices were getting bigger and signs of recent windloading suggested that cornice failures could be eminent. “Terrain trap,” I said to myself, mindful not to launch off of the hulking masses of hangover snow, at least without first inspecting the terrain below. Towards early evening, the wind speed slowly abated and the visibility progressively improved. I now had views east, deep into Montana’s snowbound Centennial Valley. Familiar landmarks became visible as I kited; Antone and Antelope Peaks, and, barely visible, the dark volcanic plug of 10,500-foot Black Butte sticking up from the north. Far away on the eastern horizon, the magnificent Madison Range was already showing the alpenglow of sunset. Seeing this spectacular snow-covered landscape was my reward for being out on this winter’s day and will preoccupy my memory for months to come.

. . . when a cold wind blows it’s time for most people to remain inside and shut the door to nature’s relentless fury.

During the long winter in the northern Rockies, when a cold wind blows it’s time for most people to remain inside and shut the door to nature’s relentless fury. Few welcome the driving wind of a winter’s day. Even hardcore skiers will wait out a storm until after the snow settles before seeking out the guarantee of wind-filled powder stashes. However, there is a niche of hardy winter sport enthusiasts that look forward to the onslaught of winter’s wrath: This rare new breed is the snowkiter. Snowkiting is a relatively new sport. In Montana, it has been practiced for about fifteen years by a small group of skiers and snowboarders. Many areas of Montana (and neighboring Idaho and Wyoming) are ‘world class’—perfectly suited to this winter sport. As snowkiters, we seek out large expanses of treeless, snow-covered terrain. Using the power of our portable wings, the snowy landscape becomes a vast playground for ripping untracked lines. Kiting breaks all the rules: uphill, downhill and across snowy mountainsides—we are no longer confined to a crowded lift-served ski resort. We are free to explore the snow-covered world around us and enjoy a unique high speed, adrenaline-charged freedom that often feels limitless. Terrain features add to the excitement: Wind-lips, gullies and cornices provide a draw to pull the trigger and ‘send it’ for lofty airs. Huge boosts are easy when loading up an edge on the snow and every

freestyle move feels a notch more exciting when performed on a powder day. Those kiters with the skill, the focus and the right wind and terrain can even pull off paragliding-like flights that defy gravity. However, snowkiting is not the sport for every kiter. It’s often practiced in unbearably cold, isolated locations, and at high altitude where it’s quite possible to push a heart rate well into the red zone. Pilot mistakes are unforgiving and failure to finish a boost cleanly is usually met with unimpeded impact into terra firma. Even parkn-ride sessions have an element of risk. There is little in the way of a safety net when snowkiting (except what one brings for oneself ) even when just a short distance from the highway. The allure of snowkiting in the Rockies is the ability to always find new and breathtaking places to practice this sport. Expansive snowcovered public land seems to offer a never-ending supply of new sessions; many of these are park-n-ride, right off the highway and offer easy access without many complications. Other more remote spots may require snowmobiles, a higher level of commitment and mountaineering knowledge to access the isolated backcountry of the western mountain ranges. Private ranchlands are particularly special for kiting. When scouting kite spots, it’s quickly recognizable that some places are better than others. Wind direction, strength, fetch, snow-cover and access are all important. More often than not, the perfect spots seem to be on the property of private owners. However tempting, it’s essential to

FAR LEFT: Brandon Clifford finding whiteout in the wind-blown depository of the backcountry. // Photo Eleven Experience ABOVE RIGHT: Author and snowkiter Noah Poritz sending it huge at the Big Horn summit in Wyoming. // Photo Suave BELOW RIGHT: The kite as a ski lift; go anywhere, do anything, so long as you have steady wind. // Photo Will Taggart

get permission. The secret is to ask first rather than poach and beg for forgiveness later. Many times, I have driven up to an isolated ranch house, walked to the front door and knocked. “Sure you can fly a kite on my ranch, don’t bother me none,” is the reply I commonly receive. Introducing myself to a local rancher, asking and getting permission to kite on their land and having a fantastic day on a snowy landscape is an extraordinary adventure in and of itself. It even provides entertainment for the locals as they watch in amazement as we rip up their powder, boosting big airs, slicing up snowy wind-lips and showing off for an appreciative audience. While snowkiting can be adrenaline fueled and fast paced, there is definitely a meditative side to the sport. Cruising silently across a snow-covered field and feeling the steady pull of a wind-powered wing is quite relaxing. As a terrestrial sport, snowkiting provides a very different feeling than kiting on water. Swift, silent and peaceful, we look around at the ever changing views and enjoy the ride. One minute you can be speedily climbing a windy mountainside, while the next you’re intensely charged with the excitement of a gravityfilled descent in untracked powder. Ridiculously huge distances can be racked up from a day of snowkiting. A couple of three-hour sessions on a properly powered kite can easily equate to 50 to 60 miles. Oddly enough, all that mileage might only be in a relatively small area of just a few square miles. When one finds an area of perfect wind direction, proper wind strength,

powder snow and fun terrain, there is no reason to go any further; a kiter can do laps in an area like that all day long. The pleasure that comes from being fully powered and exploring snowcovered terrain is without equal. Harnessing the wind as you effortlessly ride uphill is like cheating some basic rule of physics or even Mother Nature herself. The satisfaction that comes from exploring a new kite spot, riding with friends and slaying lap after lap of untracked powder totally corrupts one’s sense of time, space and distance. Every winter there is a steady, incremental progression of individual skills, while new adventures await the unexplored and untested kite spots deep within the high mountains of the region. Even with well over a decade of kiting, there are still many locations that have never been kited. Whether you are an experienced kiter or new to the sport, if you can embrace the challenges of winter in the backcountry, the elements that make for a wild and wonderful snowkiting experience are waiting and well within reach. Noah Poritz has been chronicling snowkiting in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming since 2002. A team rider for Ozone kites, Noah has pioneered scores of snowkite locations throughout the region and helps organize the annual Montana Snowkite Rodeo which hosts three days of kite demos, a winduro race, a poker run, kite touring and endless freestyle shredding.

If snowkiting is a niche within kiteboarding, it might best be compared to surfing and the aesthetics of carving lines on an infinite medium. // Photo Suave

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ABOVE: The amalgam of photographer and athlete, Lance Koudele is the epitome of stoke. RIGHT: Lance catching Craig Cunningham from an up close and dangerous perspective.

Words by Brendan Richards | Photos by Lance Koudele

Staring down a vast mountain face bleeding into a labyrinth of chutes—some airing into sheer death drops, others into sizable, but not unmakeable, overhangs littered with wind-loaded landing zones—a younger Lance Koudele grips his Polaroid as he cinches down his snowboard bindings. With a snapshot of the mountain before him, he studies the instant print of an open face in reverse, chooses his line and drops in.

The relationship between athlete and photographer and the utility of the almighty image as a tool are common themes in the evolution of an action sports career. The study of paths along with the waypoints of decision and experience that connect one’s past with the present and setup some unknown future is a dissection worth undertaking that begs the real question: Is it worth bringing a roadmap and to what extent should one follow it? As a longtime documentarian of the evolution of freestyle kiteboarding in Hood River, Oregon, and a veteran member of the Triple-S media team, Lance Koudele is a force behind the scenes. His work is prominently featured throughout the print and marketing of our sport, and while kiteboarding

is just a small blip on a far larger and lucrative portfolio of action sports corporate clients, Lance is known by many in kiteboarding to bring nothing but pure, positive energy and the epitome of stoke into everything he undertakes, including his partner’s latest project, a newly minted coffee roasting company. In the center of Hood River’s evolving waterfront esplanade is a series of modern mixeduse buildings, and amidst the corporate offices of action lifestyle brands like Dakine is the Koudele’s flagship Stoked Roasters store. Lance is quick to point out that his wife Jax is the powerhouse behind the first coffee shop to venture off Main Street. The Stoked Roasters space features tall

ceilings, clean, modern lines and a lineup of espresso from around the world. The back corner boasts a precision roasting machine and a portfolio of Lance’s work, intended to inspire the use of outdoors by every means possible. While Lance’s photography requires a command of technical camera skills and an eye for composition, it is his thorough understanding of boardsports, a connection that only comes from a former athlete, that allows him to capture the story of adventure in motion like he does. As a competitor in the big mountain snowboarding scene in the late 90s, Lance understands the body language of boardsports and uses this to his advantage. G ro w i n g u p i n D u n d e e, Oregon, a rural pastoral town proverbially known as the ‘sticks’ to urbanized Portlanders, Lance was the son of a social worker and banker—both recovering ski bums. Following the family legacy to a school where his mother and older sister both attended, Lance enrolled in the psychology program at Pacific Lutheran University in northern Washington. Recalling that first decision, Lance said, “I was really interested in the performance aspects of athletics… the concept of flow and spirituality are very intertwined for me and I figured [Pacific Lutheran] might have

I was really interested in the performance aspects of athletics… the concept of flow and spirituality are very intertwined for me and I figured [Pacific Lutheran] might have some kind of insight into that. LOWER LEFT: A younger Lance Koudele exploring a career in snowboarding somewhere in the east Vail backcountry circa 1996. // Photo Chris O’Connell UPPER LEFT: Lance Koudele self-portrait in the Stoked Roasters flagship store on Hood River’s waterfront. RIGHT: Lance capturing Brandon Scheid at home in the Hood River Slider Park.

UPPER LEFT: Davey Blair midgrind amidst the Triple-S scene in Jason Slezakâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backyard skate park. LOWER LEFT: Dre and Davey caught in a moment at REAL Kiteboarding. Beyond the spectacle of action, Lance is a documentarian of place, time and emotion. RIGHT: Shooting with visiting dignitaries like Ruben Lenten, Lance captures the energy of this industry icon in an unhooked raley.

If you follow your path—for me it was being outside and being with nature—it’s going to work out somehow. 31

The photographer encounters Sensi Graves in an off moment at the Triple-S in a freeze frame that captures the bizarre intersection of grace in a state of chaos.

some kind of insight into that.” He’s able to laugh about it now, but the heavy religious doctrine and narrow thinking of a private ecclesiastical institution was far too constricting for Lance’s expansive mind, ready to explore the outer bounds. While he initially intended to transfer out, it was the skiing in the Northern Cascades that helped him finish all four years. Upon the crossroads of graduation, his parents supported his whim to apply for a ski area job in Colorado. Kicking off a quarter life tour of the greater ski towns of North America, Lance bounced from job to job at the best ski hills in the US. While in Vail for a season, Lance won the famed Chinese Downhill which launched him into the world of competitive downhill snowboarding. Growing up with unruly heroes like Glen Plake dominating extreme terrain, Lance laughingly recalls the big mountain mantra, “if you could do a trick, it wasn’t steep enough.” Eventually a series of injuries—a broken shoulder, fingers and the longer task of rebuilding his knees—ended his competitive big mountain aspirations and Lance began to think about

a more sustainable career. As an athlete fascinated with video production, L ance enrolled in the Art Institute of Portland. While his passion was storytelling through video, after graduation in 2003, he found greater opportunity in shooting stills. Driving through Hood River, Lance fixated on learning to kiteboard and began working for an agency in town that landed him a number of key photoshoots with outdoor brands like Nike and Smartwool. With a solid work ethic and creative drive, Lance developed strong relationships with large companies like North Face that would allow him to shoot mountain sports in the most spectacular settings around the world. Looking back on his early success, he admits, “it was the agency that gave me the immediate connection to the inside,” but Lance also believes in a larger sense, “If you follow your path, for me it was being outside and being with nature, it’s going to work out somehow.” Kicked back in a booth against a wall with a thickly pulled shot of caffeine in hand, Lance talks with the unfettered enthusiasm of a motivational speaker in a perma-positive surfer’s drawl. It’s hard not to like Lance’s laid-back, self-effacing humor; he ’s at home in S toked ’s entrepreneurial temple that intersects serious coffee culture and legit action sports. When asked if he ever had any doubts, his answer is honest: “Hell yeah, it’s been feast and famine at times, but that’s the artist way. You have doubt and

UPPER LEFT: Working with Hood River’s seasonal transients, Lance freeze frames Australia’s Ewan Jaspan under a rare morning light at the Hood River Slider Park. UPPER RIGHT: Exploring different angles and compositions, Lance places Eric Rienstra against iconic Mount Hood. CENTER: Capturing the lightness of Sam, Lance’s portraitures reveal significant depth beyond your typical point-andshoot action photographer. BELOW RIGHT: Lance winters in Jackson Hole but summers in Hood River; routinely shooting high profile park riders like Brandon Scheid allows for unfettered exploration of creative angles and nabbing moments of perfect style.

you have inspiration— those two things go hand-in-hand—one drives the other. Sometimes you’re not sure about something, but that’s also when creativity happens.” Lance compares freelancing to ‘swinging from vine-to-vine,’ but also recounts the pressures of growing up, pointing out that living out of your car doesn’t cut it, especially when you’re married. He’s quick to acknowledge that in addition to being creative, the business mind is equally important to pull it all together. As Lance begins to talk about a subject for which he has true passion, he tends to roll into the metaphysical, perhaps a subtle nod to his days as a psychology student. Lance explains how the connection between photographer and athlete translates into an image and how he believes it carries a vibe beyond just the face of the action. In his words, “The photo is an opportunity for two people to come together to make an image, but when it is really successful, it actually generates a higher level of consciousness.” To Lance, taking photos of action sports is about creating relationships and working with people. “Taking a good photo is easy, but the best work comes out in how you approach the matter. As a professional you connect with someone and bring out something a little more than just a photo—that’s what differentiates what I do from the average person.”

This begins to make more sense once you understand that Lance’s concept of spirituality is rooted in the feeling and sentiment of being outdoors, and the apex of that feeling for Lance is launching off a 30-foot cornice deep within Wyoming’s backcountry. Lance explains, “It comes back to the foundation of what I try to do with all my imagery, which is to create positive change. Lance tries to create images that

resonate. “It’s like a communion for like-minded people who love to be outside.” It’s heavy talk and for those who live in more concrete terms of consciousness, it might be out there, but Lance is a photographer that is concerned about both the physical composition and the emotional, the subconscious message inlaid within his work.

Our conversation delves into the future of Stoked Roasters. Lance’s wife just opened another coffee bar in the North Face Store in San Francisco, and a 4x4 sprinter van as well as the assemblage of a formidable army of action sports ambassadors ready to spread the Stoked message is in the works. Lance relays his mock disappointment when his wife confirmed that the new wheels are to be used strictly

for distributing coffee at events rather than for Lance’s personal surf mission vehicle. Lance undoubtedly knows physical possessions are inevitable and come with success, but for him, photography is a celebration of something deeper—an endless search for happiness on a greater mission of spreading the gospel of the action sports mountain lifestyle. Asking him to reflect on the choices he’s made and the path he has taken, Lance’s best advice for the next generation is to “follow your passion and put off the possessional aspects of life for as long as possible—that’s just a road to unhappiness— cars and mortgages are just monkeys on your back that demand payment.” If life came with a Polaroid like the one Lance used to use to scope his downhill lines, an omniscient roadmap for life that could steer us clear of dead ends, fast-track success and get us to our destination with the least amount of blood, sweat and tears—Lance Koudele wouldn’t recommend it—it’s not a story worth telling without a misstep, setback or struggle. In his final words, “Freelance is a great life. You have to hustle, and sometimes you eat Ramen noodles . . . I can cook it up real good.”

One of the early action sports photographers to experiment with flash fills, Lance’s technical background gives him the confidence and know-how to compose a photo while earning the patience and trust of pro riders like Alex Fox to setup a shot and get it right.

Chill is more than a temperature. It’s a state of mind.

Down here in the Caribbean, winter cold is as common as Sasquatch. Instead of frigid snow, think warm white sands. Instead of blistering winds, think refreshing sea breezes. And, instead of heavy layers, think swimsuits and sandals. That’s the Sunsail way, and it’s yours to enjoy at a price that just might surprise you.

So consider this your invitation to break free from the cold and sail the Caribbean in a way you’ll never forget. Choose from an immaculately maintained fleet of classic monohulls and stylish sail catamarans, expertly designed (and awarded) for performance and comfort. Here at Sunsail, we’re all about the freedom of sailing and the adventures that entail.

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Word by Peter Aschwanden

Photos by Morgan Wertz

“JUST DON’T DROP THE KITE ON THE CAMEL.” This is the only advice I received from Martin Rousson, the manager at Club Ion, as he handed over a crisp quiver of kites. I’m guessing this self-apparent pearl of wisdom is one of those half jests rooted in some unfortunate beginner’s experience. Maybe it’s some sort of local Arab humor used to mock the kite tourists, entertainment provided when the look of bewilderment shows up stamped on their faces. Yet as I look around, Essaouira’s expansive beach is littered with camels, providing Morocco with its sometimes charming attachment to the past—no doubt tangling with one of these medieval beasts is possible and little imagination is needed to picture the disastrous consequences of connecting kite with camel.

As the manager of the local Club Ion kite school, Martin Rousson is front and center to dial in the best of days in Essaouira. // Photo Loic Guillou

he town of Essaouira lies along North Africa’s Atlantic coast. Retaining its age-old charm, the ancient, walled city remains car free as pedestrians parade its narrow streets lined with bazaars purveying traditional handcrafted wares [this is how I sold the kitesurfing component of our summer vacation to my wife, my non-kiting travel partner]. Essaouira’s roots as a settlement date back to the Phoenicians who established this important port town in early maritime history because of the reliable and relentless trade winds that run down the northern coast of Africa. The Portuguese are credited for building the original fort in 1560, although a relatively short lived occupation of 19 years ended with the onslaught of determined nomadic tribes, the Touaregs and Berbers. The medieval ramparts of the walled city enclose what is now known as the Medina, or old town, but as a modern day beach destination for Morocco and parts beyond, there is a sprawling town with modern hotels that make it an easy sell for non-kiting partners who require amenities and cultural distractions apart from the constantly blowing sand.

Morocco’s historical port town is ideal for those learning the trade of kitesurfing; the neophytes can learn the basics up the beach and then venture in over their heads as the bigger sets line up at the center of the bay. Mostly due to the professional kitesurfing tour and the pictures of lined up rights plastered in the magazines, when most people think kitesurfing in Morocco, Dahkla’s windswept points to the south come to mind. While Dahkla is perched on a peninsula jutting out phallically into the Atlantic, Essaouira is the opposite—an inlet with a deep water point, chosen for its potential as a natural harbor by the ancients and later augmented by human intervention. Offshore to the west is a low-lying island, Isle de Mogador, and in combination with the old town, it effectively creates a window by which northwest swell must enter, refracting to the socket of Essouaria’s main beach. The utility of this natural aperture is in the way it bends lines of swell to the outline of the bay and delivers a beach break of tapering size, a la carte if you will. Go north into the shaded pocket of old town’s natural harbor and the waves lose the bulk of their energy in the upward refract. In the other direction, the aperture focuses each wave’s energy towards middle beach where you’ll find full size surf, and in between these sections you can dial in any size wave you want. For this simple fact, Morocco’s historical port town is ideal for those learning the trade of kitesurfing; the neophytes can learn the basics up the beach and then venture in over their heads as the bigger sets line up at the center of the bay.

To this day, Essaouira remains a very lively fishing port. Every evening, fleets of high-sided blue fishing boats return to the harbor, bounteous with the local catch. Although these waters are still fished on a commercial scale reminiscent of the past, Essaouira’s true economy is tourism. Old town’s slender streets are rife with markets, commonly referred to as souks. These bazaars boast the most beautiful local artisanal crafts; for tourists it’s a treat, but for the locals it’s a way of life. Exploring the labyrinth of alleyways, each booth offers something different; stacks of Technicolor spices spill over hefty burlap sacks and around each corner, there’s massive bowls of salty, cured olives on display, one of Morocco’s many signatures. The local women line up, touting their hand-woven shawls and tapestries, while the stall next door sells antique Berber silver jewelry. Small restaurants offering absolutely delicious Moroccan dishes waft hearty odors of Moroccan tajine, a meat stew named for the pottery dish in which it is cooked. As a majority Muslim country, most small local restaurants do not offer alcohol, but there are still plenty of places where a beer, stiff drink or a good bottle of wine can be had. During the day, a visit to any of the kite schools like Ocean Vagabond or Explora will provide a taste of European après kite culture; they’re as much about offering lessons or renting gear as they are cooking great meals and providing a place to hang and observe the action. When the sun finally sets over Mogador Island, like most European destinations, vibrant clubs and live music venues light up; the nightlife in the Medina begins at 9pm and extends deep into the night.

TOP CENTER: The bazaar is the focal point of commerce within the fortress walls of the Medina; the historical city center of Essaouira has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. TOP RIGHT: Local Mounim Maji learned to kite when he was 17 and hustled odd jobs at the local school to score his first equipment. BOTTOM RIGHT: Martin Rousson, manager at Club Ion, charges down the line at Essaouira. // Photo Loic Guillou BOTTOM CENTER: Essaouira’s trademark blue fishing fleet against the ramparts of old town. // Photo Uchar/Getty Images BOTTOM LEFT: The marketplace is a virtual cornucopia of spices, handmade tapestries and local foodstuffs. // Photo Peter Aschwanden

When it comes to summertime destinations, this kite town offers one of the best mixes of cultural experience with reliable kitesurfing conditions.

UPPER LEFT: Local Moroccan boy turned kite instructor, Mounim Maji, is always the first on and last off the water. UPPER RIGHT: Faycel Hmidi will take you on kite adventures towards southern points you will never forget. BOTTOM RIGHT: Kite Beach Essaouira features horses, camels and kite stations with the island of Mogador as its background. BOTTOM LEFT: Moroccan tourist graffiti and Essaouira love.

Every kite scene has its locals and Essaouira is no different. Each school with its team of instructors can turn you on to the ins and outs of the area. Explore the outer bounds with Faycel Hmidi on a downwind tour past the wide open stretches of uninhabited coast and completely empty beaches of Sidi Kouaki, Moulay Bouzerktoun and Tesa. And if converting your travel partner is an option, arrange a lesson with 22-year-old local Moroccan, Mounim Maji. Known as the first one on and last one off the water, Mounim learned when he was 17 and worked his way up through the local kite schools, doing whatever possible to get the free equipment he needed to ride. They say his smile is as big as his heart and his passion for kiting is contagious. The culture is anything but western, and oftentimes overwhelming, but as a North American, Essaouira is probably one of the best locations to start getting to know Morocco because of its laid-back feel. While many Muslim countries have experienced unrest, Morocco has enjoyed political stability and is largely safe for foreigners. Notably, Essaouira holds the distinction of having hosted one of the last slave markets in the world until human trafficking was officially abolished as late as 1912 when Morocco became a French protectorate. The typical tongue is French, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fairly easy to get around with English and the occasional use of sign language; both hands and feet will suffice to get the point across. When it comes to summertime destinations, this kite town offers one of the best mixes of cultural experience with reliable kitesurfing conditions. Spending some time away from the coast and exploring the lands of Berber tribes in the high Atlas Mountain range is a worthy side trip that will expand your Moroccan experience, but if your concern is wind and waves, the most consistent time of year for both is in early spring. If you choose to explore this piece of northwest Morocco, the most important advice I can give with regard to Essaouira is the same single piece I received upon arrival: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tangle with the camels.

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1. GKA contestants pose on top of Le Morne Brabant with Mauritius’ famed One Eye in the background. // Photo Courtesy of Moona Whyte 2. Brock Callen and girlfriend Ina Lindenschmidt orchestrate a high five at sundown in the Abacos . . . very romantic until someone loses a limb. // Photo Jen Jones 3. Paul Johnson from Sunsail is commonly known as ‘The Red Capri’ due to his unsightly choice in boating attire and is apparently no stranger to the occasional kite tangle. // Photo Jen Jones 4. Annemarie Hereford with her favorite cat exploring the shark-infested reefs off of Diffendorf while overhead, Harry Potter flies to the rescue. For the rest of the story, turn to P56. // Photo courtesy JK Rowling 5. Emily Mae Balla rocks Tkb’s officially sanctioned 3D viewing device which has been known to induce euphoric magazine reading and decipher the deeper meaning in every issue. // Photo Seth Warren 6. Apparently the ‘wave’ as well as an actual surf tour are alive and well in Europe. If someone would bring a GKA Tour surf stop to the West Coast we’d probably participate in silly spectator tricks as well. // Photo Toby Bromwich 7. Signs of pink on this expedition to the island of Isla Cerralvo indicate that, in the fall, women rule the waters of La Ventana. // Photo Lori Makabe 8. With their wedding vows scribbled in the margins of their favorite kiteboarding magazine, Bryan Lake and Keely Bresnahan tie the knot before the church of Top Hat. // Photo Lori Makabe 9. Clearly infected by foilmania, Josee LaRochelle gets ready 48 to ‘foil on foil’ in the light winds off of Baker’s Bay, Bahamas. // Photo Jen Jones

Marketing 101

Game Changing. Absolutely game changing. Have you heard this phrase this year? I certainly have. It seems that every kiteboarding company is coming out with a new product, revision or improvement that will ‘totally change the game.’ First off, I wasn’t aware that kiteboarding was a game. This is certainly news to me. A game usually has a set of rules in which competitors try to determine a winner or loser within that criterion. Nearly 90% of the time, I go kiteboarding just to kiteboard, not to win or lose. But if brands are trying to change that game, will I still be kiteboarding? I’m definitely confused by the phrase, but namely just the abundance of this saying within our industry. Leaving the philosophical debate of whether or not a game needs a winner or loser, very few of these hypothetical innovations are changing the way I kiteboard. Let’s be real . . . until you make a kite that can pump up on its own, automatically regenerate any holes or steer itself, you probably have not changed this game.

Analysis: The real problem here is either that there really isn’t anything to change

or that kiteboarding brands’ marketing ability has gone straight down the toilet. I’m inclined to believe the first theory. Developing new innovations in

kiteboarding is incredibly hard as there are some fundamentals of the sport that will never change. For example, we are probably always going to need a kite and a board. If we took those two out of the equation, we would in fact

have changed the game and probably developed a completely new sport that

could no longer be called kiteboarding. While there’s new materials to try, board outlines to shred and untested shapes to fly, these things will continue to evolve and make our sport better, yet they won’t change the game.

Solution: Let’s not make such bold statements as to say we are changing the game . . . until we actually do. As a sales rep, I can attest to how easy it can be to both

pour and drink the marketing Kool-Aid, but seeing as how kiteboarding has been around for about 20 years (unless you count a triangle kite on two fishing rods back in 1989), we probably won’t change the game until we come up with a new sport. Remember windsurfing?

Disclaimer: My beliefs are not those of The Kiteboarder.

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PALAPAS VENTANA There’s a reason guests come back year after year, including Tkb, for its annual freeride test! Upwind of the main riding area and one of the few areas where waves break during El Norte conditions, lodging includes breakfast and lunch at the restaurant/bar located just above launch. Relax in the new hot tub overlooking the bay while the amazing Chef Ruben creates his culinary delights and drink specials! Secure gear storage, compressors and dedicated kite helper. Kite/dive shop on site, lessons by Cascade Kiteboarding. // palapasventana.com

VENTANA WINDSPORTS With a large launch/land area directly in front of the property and a 2K gallon hot tub for soaking after your session, VWS offers a casual laid back atmosphere in an upscale setting. You’ll also enjoy healthy gourmet meals in Coya, their ocean view restaurant overlooking the entire bay, thick futons, feather beds, and fine bedding and furnishings. Lodging also includes wifi and use of SUP boards, kayaks and bikes. // ventanawindsports.com

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EXOTIKITE An IKO certified/insured school with experienced instructors offering Jet Ski lessons and rescue with radio helmet instruction since 1998, they operate year round, right on the beach. A favorite hangout for riders, a restaurant is also on premise. // losbarrileskiteboarding.com

CAPTAIN NEMO’S LANDING Located less than a mile from the main town, Captain Nemo’s spacious grounds offers guests lodging in three Native-American teepees or one of their two-bedroom casitas, a community dining area with refrigerator, oven, stove, hot showers, and wifi. A short walk to the beach, the newly constructed property is modestly priced at just $48/night for the casitas and $30/night for the teepees. // captainnemoslanding.com

Once in the Coast Guard you’re always on guard. Whether he’s teaching you lessons or selling you gear, Jesse Stewart’s got your back. // Words by India Stephenson | Photo Courtesy of Jesse Stewart

JESSE STEWART Alameda, California

“It used to be that I was the guy responding to search and rescue cases, now I’m helping people get into them,” admits Jesse Stewart laughing at his strange twist from Coast Guard to kite instructor. In a second career as point man for Nobile’s US distribution and operations manager at Boardsports California’s kite shops, Jesse Stewart is living the lifestyle he never foresaw.

job working 12-hour shifts managing New York’s harbor traffic. From sending out search and rescue teams to coordinating law enforcement efforts, “We oversaw everything that happens in the waters around New York over the course of the day, yet I wasn’t able to ever get in the water,” Jesse said of the admin life he wasn’t accustomed to.

Growing up in Worcester, New York, Jesse learned to sail with his father and entered New England’s small boat racing scene at the spry age of just six years old. Sailing broadened Jesse’s horizons—first the Hudson then Long Island Sound. Fast forward a few years and he was skipping senior year exams to race big boats in France’s J31 Championships, back just in time to cross the stage and turn his tassel at his high school graduation. Since life on the water was inevitable, Jesse enrolled in the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, and upon commencement, accepted a job as the assistant navigator on a 270-foot Coast Guard ship based out of Rye, NH. Time on the water has always been Jesse’s passion and when he wasn’t on the ship, his days off were spent surfing The Wall, New Hampshire’s most consistent beach break.

As his career shifted to a high stress logistics job in the private sector, Jesse began to reflect on his new life. In a quasi mid-life crisis he realized, “I was making money but I didn’t have any time to spend that money on kite gear. I worked so much that I didn’t get to kite.” This looming epiphany was not the lifestyle he wanted to live.

He’d never been to the West Coast, and on his second Coast Guard assignment Jesse told his captain, “I don’t care what I end up doing, just get me to California!” In 2008, Jesse found himself stationed on the maritime island of Alameda, just across the bridge from San Francisco, where he specialized in oil spill response. Living on the beach, just down the street from Boardsport’s shop, Jesse reacquainted himself with windsports in the shallows of Crown Beach. After long shifts and on his days off, Jesse would pop into the shop and volunteer, first as a windsurfing instructor, but in his second year, he made the inevitable slide to kitesurfing. Alameda indoctrinated Jesse with the rough lines of a kite-based life, but after notable first responses to oil spill disasters like Deepwater Horizon, the Coast Guard relocated him to a desk

Reaching for strings to pull, Jesse rang up his old bosses at Boardsports California thinking they might have some suggestions for work within the kite industry. In a curveball of a proposal, they suggested he return to Alameda and offered him a job as Boardsports’ first full-time employee. Although this new endeavor came with a significant cut in pay, it provided a lifestyle surrounded by water, wind and the activities he loves. Even if he doesn’t get to teach or sell equipment to everyone in the San Fransisco area, Alameda Beach is one of the only beginner locations in the bay, “so almost everyone comes through here at one point, whether it’s to learn or chase the southerly wintertime winds. I get to interact with everyone in this like-minded community,” says Jesse, stoked on the commonalities he finds with most kiters. For Jesse, the lifestyle at the kite shop is filled with meaning; teaching people the basics of the sport, helping them to choose the right equipment and spreading his passion for Nobile products—his favorite company and appropriately enough, the only boards he’s ever owned. While Jesse may be creating all kinds of opportunities for beginner kiters to challenge themselves, in a career shift that’s come full circle, he has rescued himself from a life behind the desk and sought out a much more fulfilling career back on the water.

The queen of irony, Annemarie Hereford can stand and deliver off the cuff satire and sarcasm in heaping doses, but when it comes to real life, she likens herself to her cat: “you’re going to have to wait for me to come to you.” // Words by Brendan Richards | Photo by Danielle Ballensky

ANNEMARIE HEREFORD Santa Cruz, California

To understand Suns Out Buns Out, both I and II, it’s important to get to know the creator, the mastermind behind the humorous video series that uses satire to playfully undermine the sexual objectification of women and the shallowness of modern product content marketing. As I sit down to interview Annemarie Hereford, she warns me that I’d better be ready to write a book: Middle-Class White Girl Finds Kitesurfing: The Untold Story.

happy to do myself.” She’s also working on her strapless airs so I ask for her thoughts on the progression of the strapless tour—she’s generally positive if it’s an extension of kitesurfing waves, except for the move they call the rodeo. “I applaud straddling your board like a cowboy, but only if it’s a joke. If this is a sincere effort to score points in a competition, then f*** you. It’s bad enough that we are already the rollerblading of the ocean.”

Annemarie’s path through the world at large has been anything but linear. Growing up in rural Massachusetts, her obsession with horses mutated into a rare early childhood competitive career in equestrian vaulting before transferring to cheerleading to traverse the awkwardness of adolescence. Justifying her pompom days, she explains, “Hey at least I was the best of them—I was the dark overlord of my squad,” and somehow that makes it better.

Ultimately graduating with two degrees from FIDM, a fashion design school in San Francisco, Annemarie’s portfolio landed her a promising job offer from Levi Strauss, but she promptly turned it down to wait tables while kitesurfing in Maui. An audacious move looking back, it kicked off a long list of odd jobs from assembling Ride Engine harnesses in a Santa Cruz basement factory to her current position at a startup that produces odor-proof luggage. Before she got her hands on these discreet luggage products, the only options looked sketchy and conspicuous: “Who carries a designless blacked out duffle that’s not carrying drugs or chopped up body parts?” Sales have tripled in the last year and as a designer, Annemarie has introduced, with great success, colors and high fashion to the contraband transportation business.

When Annemarie enrolled at the University of California at Santa Cruz, she was pursuing the Californian dream—blue sky and beautiful people—but just as soon as her parents moved her into her newfound dorm overlooking Monterey Bay, she moved herself out. By day four she had formulated a new plan. “I loved Santa Cruz, but living on a campus wasn’t for me. I felt like I was at sleep-away camp: holding hands, sharing a room and limited by a curfew—it felt beneath me, in terms of maturity.” Annemarie promptly moved home to Massachusetts where she got a job and saved some scratch before returning to Santa Cruz on her own terms. She discovered kitesurfing through an old boyfriend and while the relationship itself was destined for a short shelf life, the connection gave Annemarie access to raggy used equipment from which she taught herself in the shore pound of Santa Cruz’s north coast. These days, she’s a regular at Waddell, and when asked about her greatest accomplishment in kiting, with a healthy does of deprecation she offers, “I feel like my self launch is ugly and although my self landings make people around me nervous, these things are small and stupid victories that make me really

Kitesurfing has changed Annemarie’s life. It has filled an athletic void that she didn’t know was missing and satisfied her affinity for activities that offer equal amounts of excitement and fear. To that end, she recently ventured onto the stage of a local open mic night to try her hand at standup comedy. Much like her Vimeo parody shorts that garnered 90,000 hits and the misguided fashion criticism from some terse French kitesurfing blogs, her standup act has gone really well. “I get a laugh every time, not that awkward silence where people are embarrassed for you,” she quips but adds that she hopes to bomb at least once. “It’s a part of the process,” but that’s because she’s happy where she’s at: “I’ve got two loving parents, at least five solid friends and if everyone else doesn’t like me, oh well.”

Introduction by Brendan Richards

Stories of perfect windswept point breaks in Madagascar, the quest for a World Kitesurf Championship and surviving the boredom of an one busy Dutch girl. If all these adventures werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t enough to impress, on any given day, Jalou surfs with the intensity and power rarely seen within the relatively small niche of female kitesurfers. While a steady parade of lifestyle Instagrams belie a charmed life of surf travel and trendy commercial photoshoots, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to visualize a carefree life of repose, yet the true path of a female professional kiteboarder is anything but unimpeded. Debuting from under the watchful eye of her brother to navigating the chaotic and non-existent professional tours, Jalou takes her responsibility as a role model for future female kitesurfers seriously and offers a refreshingly direct voice for the fate of her sport.

Photo Ben Thouard

island reality TV show suggest that Jalou Langeree is

Photo Ben ThouardÂ

Jalou is known as one of the most aggressive female kitesurfers in world. The female half of the Langeree duo combines the intensity and commitment of her brother with a fluid style that earned her the female KSP World Championship back in 2012, the last time we had a true surf tour. // Photo Richard Hallman

After a momentary pause to consider new directions in school or work, Jalou reignited her love for surfing with kites, and now that the surf tour is back for 2017 sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got another title to take aim at. // Photo Ben Thouard

YOU’VE BEEN KITING FOR MORE THAN HALF OF YOUR LIFE. HOW DID KITING FIRST ENTER YOUR WORLD AND HOW DID IT PROGRESS INTO A CAREER?

I grew up in Noordwijk, Netherlands. It’s a coastal village about a half hour south of Amsterdam. I was about 12, but both my brother and I had already been surfing. One day Kevin saw a kitesurfer on the other side of the beach. He biked over and introduced himself to the guy and asked if the kiter would teach him; that’s how Kevin got started. He would spend the whole day flying kites on the beach and riding in the water and I would pop by and fly for a bit. Once I got the hang of it I spent every single minute on the beach. Back in 2002 there wasn’t really organized kitesurf schools, people just taught each other, and that had a very different feel than what you see today. Our parents were always our biggest supporters. They would take us traveling every school holiday. When I was very young, because of my dad’s work with the government, we lived on a Caribbean island for four years, so I think they were really adventurous in travel even before we started kitesurfing. Despite the fact that they didn’t even kite or do any other kind of watersports, they spent their free time taking us to kite destinations. Even after I graduated high school, while some parents were encouraging their kids to study and focus on a safe and reliable future, they let us play and travel. They could see our passion and that we were good at it; they not only let us be free but helped push us into the big wide world. HOW DID YOU MAKE THE TRANSITION TO A PROFESSIONAL KITEBOARDER?

Kevin was already sponsored by O’Neill and Naish and he would go around telling people about his sister, “You should check out Jalou.” I was taller than Kev and always rode a bigger kite so at that point we could share a quiver. I competed in the Nationals in the Netherlands, but in all those local contests I always had to ride against the guys. The 2004 KPWT in Istanbul was my first international competition. It was tough. I was nervous and there was barely any wind so I did horrible and basically got last. I remember that’s where I first met Gisela Pulido. I was young, but she was even younger; she would go kiting and then she’d be making sandcastles on the beach between heats. But even back then she would send everyone home. A year later I competed on the PKRA and ended up beating Susie Mai in Austria and have had both O’Neill and Naish as sponsors ever since. It’s a great fit and they really seem to like the brother sister combination. HAVING A BROTHER AT THE TOP OF THE SPORT SEEMS LIKE A HUGE ADVANTAGE. ARE YOU GUYS COMPETITIVE AND HOW HAS THAT HELPED SHAPE YOU?

We love riding together, but he’s so much better, there’s just no competition. He’s good at a lot of things—it’s actually really annoying. When I was younger I was super competitive, always trying to keep up with the moves he was doing. I’m super hard on myself, probably because of Kevin, but these days I’ve let it go. I love traveling with him—he’ll go out in big waves and I’ll always do the same—so he’s still a great role model and I love pushing myself, but not as much as I used to do in freestyle. Kitesurfing is a better place to show what I can do. I like to ride with tons of aggression and be super powerful. If I compare myself to other girls on the tour like Moona, she’s a real surfer who rides super smooth in the pocket—my style is very different. I’m more aggressive with the use of the kite and always make a mess with the spray—in some ways it reflects our different characters. AS A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE, THE CHALLENGE IS TO ALWAYS BE PROGRESSING. HAVE YOU STRUGGLED WITH MOMENTS OF DOUBT?

I started competing when I was young and after a number of years on the freestyle tour I became tired of competing. The sole focus on learning tricks was beginning to make me hate kiting. I wasn’t progressing the way I wanted and I started thinking about going back to school or getting a real job. I told myself, “C’mon Jalou, you have the dream job.” I struggled with this, but then everything changed when I took a surfboard out in the waves at Cape Town—I found my love for waves again. That was around 2011 when the Kitesurf Pro Tour was

getting started. I didn’t compete that first year because I wanted to see how well the tour was organized and decided to train that entire first year. I got myself to Indo, got to know One Eye in Mauritius and then went to Peru. I really tried to ride different kinds of waves to get ready for the 2012 tour. That following year I found my love for kiting again. With stops in Portugal, Mauritius and Ireland, I ended up claiming the overall world title in Maui. Up until then I had done a lot of my travels with Kevin, but that was the first thing I really did on my own and that year has a very special meaning to me.

I got the sense that even if you are a woman world champion, you are still nothing compared to the boys. HOW HAS IT BEEN TO BE A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FEMALE ATHLETE IN A MALE DOMINATED SPORT?

While it’s been rewarding overall, it can be frustrating how people tend to look at women in extreme sports. I compare the reaction when my brother won the tour in freestyle to when I became the female World Champion in surf; I got the sense that even if you are a woman and you are world champion, you are still nothing compared to the boys. Sometimes at events I watch as people leave to get coffee when the girls’ heats get underway—that seems really disrespectful. The level of female riding these days is impressive and maybe the respect is beginning to come, but personally, I want to makes sure that the girls that are ripping are getting the respect they deserve. THIS FALL YOU PARTCIPATED IN A REALITY SHOW, BASICALLY THE DUTCH VERSION OF “SURVIVOR.” HOW DID YOU GET VOTED OFF THE ISLAND?

As a little girl I always watched this Dutch reality TV show called Expeditie Robinson, and I always said if I ever got invited I would say yes immediately. It was a great experience for getting out of my comfort zone in a different way; I’m used to the beach, saltwater and strong heat, so I thought surviving on an island wouldn’t be that bad. I thought not eating would be the hardest part, but it turned out the psychological game was the biggest challenge. It rained a lot and starting fires was terrible. We’d sleep on the sand, wake up in the middle of the night totally wet and heard rats and snakes all around us. Some of the others on the show struggled—there was a famous actor, a gangsta rapper and a DJ—all city people; you could see they were struggling with living on the island. At first you work together as a team and being physically strong is a plus, but as the game progresses being assertive gets messy. I got into an argument with the super popular DJ and ended up leading the vote to get him off the island. I eventually got voted off and got all these little 16-year-old girls hate spamming my Instagram because I offed their pretty boy DJ. It’s amazing how seriously people take these shows and it’s pretty brutal when you see what people say; I’m getting shit from little girls all the time but I just laugh about it because I guess I put myself on the map.

As a Naish athlete, Jalou has access to some of the best surf products and photo trips including this photo junket to Naishâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wave-rich hometown of Maui. // Photo Quincy Dein

CENTER TOP: Jalou as the star of the Kuzi Project; to the people of a remote island off the Mozambique mainland who had never seen kiteboarding or maybe even many white women, Jalou Langeree has expanded their horizons. // Photo Seth Warren BOTTOM RIGHT: While Jalou is based out of Holland, her home away from home is the breaks of Cape Town. // Photo Bianca Asher BOTTOM LEFT: As a contestant on Expeditie Robinson, the Dutch version of the Survivor reality TV show, Jalou dominates the mock challenges and threatens the longevity of her male and female reality show competitors. // Photo courtesy of Expeditie Robinson

NOW THAT THE INDUSTRY FINALLY HAS A WELL ORGANIZED SURF TOUR TAKING SHAPE, DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO MAKE ANY OF THE GKA WAVE TOUR STOPS NEXT YEAR?

I was in Mauritius when they had the first GKA event. I had just come from Madagascar so I didn’t arrive in time to compete. With the state of tours over the last few years I wanted to make sure the surf stops were stable and well organized before committing to the events; there also has to be prize money for the girls to make it worth our while. At the Mauritius stop the girls opted against holding strapless freestyle heats. Personally, strapless freestyle isn’t my favorite, but the whole freestyle thing is a show factor. For example, the guys went to Fuerteventura and halfway through the event the main tour sponsor had already signed up to fund the next year. I just want to ride beautiful waves, but if strapless freestyle is what pushes the sport then that is part of the future. The GKA is doing a good job of evolving surf competitions so far and I’m looking forward to planning my year for a proper tour schedule.

UPPER LEFT: Kitesurfer turned reality star, Jalou thrives on the challenge of surviving on an island environment with little for comfort and tons of cameras. // Photo courtesy Expeditie Robinson UPPER RIGHT: Siblings high five through thick and thin. // Photo Oleg Kornilov BOTTOM: Jalou explores the waters of Morea while black tip reef sharks skim the bottom. // Photo Ben Thouard

EXPOSED

North American Anthar Rocca nailing an evening photoshoot assignment in Brazil. At 15 years old, this Mexican national is honing his technical freestyle game with off the charts amplitude and solid results in the single GKA event he attended this year. // Photo Andre Magaro

EXPOSED

Life on a surf tour can be a dichotomy of feast and famine. Airton Cozzolino charging down One Eye with lines splayed and pumping surf anointing the GKAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Strapless Wave Tourâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first event stop of the year. // Photo Toby Bromwich

EXPOSED

Jibbing natural hits is so hot these days; Eric Rienstra finding obstacles on the sides of the Columbia River Gorge. // Photo Vincent Bergeron

EXPOSED

Traveling the Greek Islands, Liam Whaley steps off the beaten path to find incredibly consistent wind and one of the best freestyle spots he’s ever ridden. According to Liam, “Greece is full of spectacular scenery, whether it’s endless aquamarine coastline, sun-bleached ancient ruins or heavenly landscapes, but what makes Greece so special is its people and the friendly, inviting energy that they create.” // Photo Ydwer

EXPOSED

As if hard math was always his strong subject, Craig Cunningham renders some basic trig on this hypotenuse to solve Nova Scotiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flat water structural equation. // Photo Vincent Bergeron

P U S H I N G

T H E

B O U N D A R I E S

Summit V4

S u m m i t V 4 u lt r a l i g h t

• • • •

Fo r dedicat ed a nd exp erienced s nowkiter s H ig H as p ect a nd H igH p erForma nce p roF i l e tigH t powerF u l t urns F or mou nta in clim b i n g r e vo lu t iona ry i nt erna l r e- ride r elea s e system

Hi g Hest q ua l i ty l i g Ht w ei g Ht m ater i a l s 25% r ed u c ed w ei g Ht 50% r ed u c ed pac k i n g volu m e i d ea l For tr av el l i n g a n d exped i ti on s

THE FOILBOARD TACK Photographer Adam Lapierre | Rider Reed Brady

Once you nail down the basics of foilboarding you will want to master the art of changing directions. While the standard foilboard gybe is the first to cross off your list, the next step is to master the upwind tack. It helps if you can tack on a strapless surfboard first and then practice the more challenging version on a foilboard. Start going upwind on your foil with your kite at about 45° in the window. Begin edging your board into the wind as you bring the kite directly overhead. Keep steady pressure on your front hand; this will help the kite lead you through the tack onto the other side of the window. Ease out on the bar in order to cut upwind easier and to ensure that you have room to sheet in for lift and support halfway through the tack. While you begin the tack by rolling the foilboard into the wind, as you pass through the middle of the tack you want the board to be level. Applying toe pressure through the middle part of the tack will ensure that the board is level and is ready to be rolled onto the new direction.

When the kite is overhead, rotate your front shoulder through the eye of the wind to olé the bar around your head. Use your front foot to pull the board directly underneath you. Then lift that foot and move it towards the back of the board. It helps if your kite is powered up as it moves overhead to keep your weight off the board. As your front foot moves back, bring your back foot forward to your new stance. You will now use heel pressure to roll the board into the wind on the new tack. Leaning your weight to the tail will keep you from coming off of the foil. As you bear off in your new direction you will want to power the kite up in a down stroke or downloop to maintain your momentum and adjust your feet to your ideal riding stance.

Hints from the Editor • At first you can practice this move with the board staying on the water; this will help you understand how the foil’s three-foot mast rolls through a tack compared to a surfboard. • The most common mistakes are not leveling out the board in the middle of the tack and trying to turn in too tight of a radius; a slower and a more drawn out curve is key. • Use the kite’s vertical lift to unweight the board through the tack; this will help continue your speed and smooth out the transition. Having a foil kite or a kite that produces a lot of lift really helps. 82

METHOD

Photo: Jason Wolcott

WAVE | SURFSTYLE

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Photos by Seth Warren

While most kiters step off the plane and head down Baja’s well beaten paths to one of two main kiteboarding outposts, the Peninsula California Sur is a vast frontier with much left to be discovered. It’s not uncommon to think of Southern Baja as a warmer haven during the freeze of winter; a low stakes travel transaction ideal for the first kiteboard lesson or the initial go out for surfboards sans straps, but the rugged geography of granitic mountain ranges, alluvial valleys and a persistent thermal wind make Baja a first-rate destination even for North America’s most progressive kitesurfers. With little more than a AAA map, a vehicle with four-wheel drive and enough clearance to make it down the roads less traveled of Baja’s rugged wilderness, there’s an infinite number of butter flat estuaries, peaky beach breaks and reliable rocky points awaiting the experienced tradesman.

LEFT: Evan Netsch is one of the most high profile riders to make Baja his wintertime home where he punts onshore airs all day long. UPPER RIGHT: (L to R) Ian Sanders, Evan Netsch and Mac Skaggs post session in an arroyo that works overtime in the ‘chubascos’ of fall to build winter’s prodigious sandbars. LOWER RIGHT: For a guy that owns a school and hussles lessons, Ian has a mean backside game that defies the lifestyle of a man locked into the instructional juggernaut.

UPPER LEFT: Short interval wind swell rarely delivers the perfect down the line wave, but what it lacks in uniformity it surpasses in quantity with beefy sections and ramps around every corner. ABOVE RIGHT: Mac Skaggs launching into an inverted strapless front roll. BELOW: Loch-Netsch exploring one of the many flat water estuaries that deliver perfect freestyle proving grounds.

HIS OWN WAY Words by India Stephenson | Photos by Robin Christol

It’s the dead of the night—2AM on the 20th meridian, yet the midnight sun emanates a heavy golden hue against the horizon. Julien Salles, no longer bound by the darkness of after hours, pulls his neoprene front-zip over his head and tucks the cuffs of his gloves under his sleeves. In the distance, wild horses pasture along the black sand beach while towering volcanoes play foreground to an expansive, mist-laden landscape. Patiently watching, Julien and the rest of the Manera watermen admire the amber rays bouncing off the tapered lines as they enter the bay. Two years in the making, this is the ultimate test and the moment of truth for this young Frenchman. Together, Julien, along with team riders Mallory de la Villemarqué and Etienne Lhôte, wade slowly into the icebox of an ocean. At 40°F there’s a quiet hiatus, a communal attentiveness awaiting the first daggers of arctic water to reach the skin’s naked receptors. Julien settles into equal buoyancy, chest submerged and pauses, but the wait will be long because the cold never finds its way in.

While you could probably get by without a wetsuit in most of the lower 48s While you could probably get by without a wetsuit in most of the lower 48s kiteboarding spots, the glacial waters of Iceland make the wetsuit an essential kiteboarding spots, the glacial waters of Iceland make the wetsuit an essential tool of survival. Here, the F-One team discovers a different kind of slider park. tool of survival. Here, the F-One team discovers a different kind of slider park.

For the past 20 years, Julien has watched his father Rafael Salles successfully build one of the windsport industry’s top kitesurfing brands. Born and raised in Mt. Pellier, France, at a time when F-One hadn’t yet started making kites, an 11-year-old Julien learned on a Wipika Classic and a board his father designed. Calm and temperate like his father, Julien is confident in his convictions. Now 28, with the medium build of a routine surfer with unruly, just rolled out of bed hair and three day’s worth of beard shadow, his demeanor screams easygoing, yet under the hood Julien’s got the intensity of a true leader. With the passion and drive instilled by his parents but shaped by his own undertakings, he’s doing things his own way. Julien grew up kitesurfing and observing F-One from the backseat. Frequent travels with his dad took him around the world—dealer meetings, photoshoots, and R&D trips, however, for Julien, joining the family business was never a foregone conclusion. “It had always been a big question,” but young Julien thought more broadly; he didn’t know what, but his calling felt as if it should be something different. “All my life my parents told me of their hope that I would take over someday… but I didn’t want to be the son that slips into a company through the back door, that’s too easy.” Growing up engrossed in all things kiteboarding, as somewhat of a counter measure, Julien found escape through mountain bike racing, and while he kitesurfed for fun, he knew early on “I had to find my own thing.” Julien’s path led him into a five year program and a semester abroad in Providence, Rhode Island, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing with an emphasis on small company management. During his senior year he worked for surf megabrand Quicksilver in their Biarritz office. Scoring some of France’s best beach breaks, he also helped to organize the Roxy and Quicksilver Pro tour events. Strangely enough, as much as he was trying to avoid the family business, he was drawn to the very essence of his parents lifestyle at F-One; working hard but with the freedom of living and playing in close proximity to the water. Upon graduation, in a bid for concrete business experience, Julien bit the bullet and signed up for an internship with F-One. “I was always worried that I’d feel trapped,” but after six months working in the marketing department under Fabien, “it felt natural . . . all my perspectives on a career at F-One changed and I wanted to stay in the company.”

Looking for his niche within the F-One family, Julien gravitated towards Manera, a board bag and travel accessory offshoot thought up by Rafael a few years prior. At the time, Manera had been all but forgotten with little attempt to broaden the product line. Julien saw this new project as “a good opportunity; it was a leftover” and dove in as product manager. Finding an alcove within the expansive F-One brand, Julien is quick to point out that “it’s not F-One, it has its own products,” it’s its own thing. Growing up behind the scenes of his dad’s company certainly gave him an upper hand. ‘Un père est plus d’une centaine de maîtres d’écol’—a father is more than a hundred schoolmasters, so the French say, and while Julien learned a great deal from his father, his new endeavor brought questions even Rafael couldn’t answer—“When I started we didn’t know a thing about neoprene.” Fast forward two years and Julien and the Manera crew are jumping off icebergs and testing Manera’s state-of-the-art wetsuits in the frigid waters along Iceland’s jagged coastline. “It’s a strange feeling to see snow before getting on the water,” but Julien knows better than anyone that the cold is a prerequisite and a testament for the warmth and durability of their suits. Kiting amidst the snow-covered icecaps of Vatnajökull, they could have chosen a much more temperate location, but the bitter cold is essential to their R&D. “In terms of water entry or leakage, it’s always better to have cold water. You can feel exactly where it comes in,” explains Julien. When it was time to expand Manera’s accessory range past their already established travel bags and signature Exo harness, wetsuits were next in line. Realizing that most wetsuits are specifically designed for doing what he does best, which is surf, Julien recognized a market opportunity: wetsuits designed specifically for kitesurfing. Surfers lie ‘ventre à terre,’ French for ‘belly to the ground.’ They paddle prone with their backs arched, heads up and require lots of shoulder maneuverability, whereas kiters spend their time in the opposite position. For most companies, when it comes to designing wetsuits, the process is relatively standardized—product manager approaches one of Asia’s two well-established wetsuit factories and it’s a matter of pick and choose—this design, those colors, then slap on the

logo—wetsuits are shipped straight to the warehouse ready for distribution within a matter of weeks. Like the thought of taking over the family business, for Julien, taking the easy way out wasn’t an option. As opposed to producing something similar to the pick and choose surf suits already on the market, with a sense of quality and pride inherent from his father, Julien sought out the resources to make a high quality, kite-specific wetsuit. Hiring a designer who had developed cutting edge 3D shaping software originally conceived to design compression and technical apparel, Manera diverged from the conventional to design their own kitesurf-specific wetsuit. With this advanced software, the designer works with a virtual 3D model and designs the suit around the body of a kiter in the kiting position: upright, knees bent, arms out with a slightly rounded back. Panels are created that take into account the natural curves of the human body and create a more natural feel while riding. They’re then exported into a 2D file and sent to the factory where they’re cut and sewn. By pre-prototyping with this software, they can identify friction zones, recognize areas that need more flex and distinguish those panels that can accommodate greater thickness for added warmth. The result: a no compromise, kitesurf-specific second skin (made of the highest quality materials that the industry has to offer) that’s up to both Julien and his father’s standards.

RIGHT: Wetsuits are the perfect uniform for amphibious adventures in the land of heavy mist and rain. LEFT: More than just a hanging wetsuit, the Magma is an amalgam of carefully thought out design and material technology that must fit and function intimately with the user’s body.

As opposed to producing something similar to the pick and choose surf suits already on the market, with a sense of quality and pride inherent from his father, Julien sought out the resources to make a high quality, kite-specific wetsuit. 99

TOP LEFT: A young Julien learning to kiteboard with father Raphael Salles positioning a surfboard for a homegrown strapless start on vintage Wipika gear. // Photo Bernard Biancotto BOTTOM LEFT: Life in a family business is not always a walk on the beach. To get the job done Julien banks his fair share of desk time to offset the time spent in the field. // Photo Willy Hadorn RIGHT: Julien Salles launching a strapless backroll off a stormy ramp within the remote backcountry of Icelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endless coastal shelves. // Photo Jordan Colin

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Aligning principles and maintaining F-One’s product driven and quality-focused philosophy ties research and development to some valuable father/son time. With the undertaking of Manera, Julien stepped into a place of his own. He’s focusing on keeping it small and in the family, and like any close-knit family unit, he’s held accountable for it’s success—and, contrary to popular belief, that means long days behind the desk. However, hours in the office are well compensated with a sense of ownership, the perks of travel and the support of his family. And while not all family businesses are blessed with smooth dynamics, Julien and Rafael seem to have it dialed. Aligning principles and maintaining F-One’s product driven and quality-focused philosophy ties research and development to some valuable father/son time. “It’s good to be on the beach testing samples with my father. We may not always agree, but it’s never a fight.” Finding his balance within the business, “It’s good for me not doing the exact same as my father. I enjoy working with him, but not doing the exact same job.”

TOP LEFT: An early start and sporadic practice at the sport of kiteboarding has kept the passion for his family’s legacy alive and well. BOTTOM RIGHT: At home in his new suits, Julien Salles is just getting started. BOTTOM LEFT: The long wait for sunset in all its picturesque glory.

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Like his travels through Iceland, taking ownership of Manera, a once abandoned accessory brand, is akin to exploring what often feels like the other end of the world, a mysterious place where the temperatures linger in the single digits and the sun never sets. Doubts and quandaries aside, going full circle while stepping out from under his father’s shadow and finding his own place within the greater F-One family, Julien is making his own mark on the watersports industry. With a bright and opportunistic future at Manera, Julien basks in Iceland’s 22 hours of daylight. “You can do anything at anytime. It’s an incredible feeling of freedom.”

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BELOW: It’s not how we get here that’s important. It’s the decisions we make in the present moment and what we learn along the way. Manera means ‘path’ or ‘way’ in French, a fitting moniker for Julien Salle’s first endeavor in the kitesurfing industry.

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PATAGONIA Black Hole Duffel 60L This go-to favorite for Tkb staff organizes your gear and has enough space for a fun long weekend or a well-organized extended trip. Highly weather-resistant, the Black Hole’s padded bottom panel adds structure and helps cushion the load when your duffel gets the baggage-handler treatment. It’s made from 15oz 900 denier polyester ripstop (50% solution-dyed) with a TPU film laminate and a DWR (durable water repellent) finish. $129 // www.patagonia.com

ION Cosy Coat The perfect kiting companion both on and off the water, this jacket is great for keeping warm between or after sessions. Thin enough to dry quickly but offering tons of warmth to keep the chill out, it’s ergonomically shaped hood provides full coverage of your head/ears and Velcro closures at the wrists ensure you a ‘cosy’ feel. Women will love this jacket for both the beach and casual wear and guys will score some major points if you surprise your significant other with this cool accessory. $ 189.95 // www.ion-essentials.com

NP Mission FZ Hooded Fullsuit If you’re charging it in waters ranging from 32-48°F, you’ll want to check out the Mission FZ 6/5/4 hooded wetsuit. Play longer and harder in a suit designed to provide you with the ultimate combination of warmth and flexibility without going the drysuit route! $389.99 // www.npsurf.com

RAYVOLT Cruzer Vintage charm meets the technology of the future! Combining progressive engineering with design inspiration from the café racer era, the Cruzer E-Bike features EIVA smart technology, intelligent breaking and pedalassistance, vegan leather accents and a robust electric motor that can be powered by the sun. Comes in British Racing Green, Clockwork Orange or Gun Metal Grey. $2299 – $2999 // www.rayvoltbike.com

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WMFG 2.0T Pump Blowing up your kite is now even easier with the introduction of WMFG’s new second generation extra tall 2.0T pump. A new, more flexible hose, an improved one-way/two-way inflation switch and the addition of a threaded Boston inflation nozzle rounds out the package for this pump that comes complete with fittings for every kite on the market. $70 // www.WMFG.com

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LETTING GO Words by Mike Attolico

Last summer featured a pretty decent run of south swells on the Santa Cruz coast and like most kite seasons, as spring started, the sand filled in at the reef towards the north end of the Waddell Creek parking lot. During the first half of the summer a working right off the top of the reef went off, but as it typically does, this eventually turned to closeouts outside of a perfect tide. This is the time of year when the true jewel of Waddell surfaces; the late summer left. Much like last year and the 32 summers I can recount before that, the parking lot’s underwater bathymetry of granitic rock and deposited sand bore a charging left that flops over heavy at the top of the reef and charges towards the San Mateo county line with little want or waste for the perfect shape. This year, a core group of friends fixated on the north end of the parking lot. Most days we’d surf the peeling parking lot lefts until the wind came up; then in the afternoons we’d transition to our kites, focusing on this same upwind kitesurfable left that we’d surfed sans kite earlier that morning. I suppose it’s this transition from surf to kitesurf that led the parking lot think tank to ponder the restrictions of the kite. Led by retired State Park Ranger, Gary Strachan, the concept of setting the kite, letting go of the bar and surfing the wave hands free began to catch on. Bets were made, records for unhanded cutbacks and back-to-back bottom to top turn sequences were set—all working towards the common goal of narrowing the divide between surf and kitesurf. We learned early on that you want to start each wave with the kite at the very edge of the wind window and at around 11 to minimize the pull. When you let go of the bar you experience maximum depower in the kite, but you also have the challenge of keeping the kite from sinking to the bottom of the window and plunging into the water. To combat this, you can flick the kite up a little higher into the sky, then immediately let go. With this technique, you can surf

hands free for the time it takes for the kite to travel up to the top until gravity brings it back down to the edge of the wind window. When the kite gets near the water and in good timing with your turns, you can reach out with one hand, give the kite a quick flick back up into the sky, let go again and continue your ride. Bottom turns, top turns, cutbacks, or skating for speed, it’s all possible, really. Through the late summer evolution of this process we experimented with some equipment modifications: longer throw to increase the amount of depower and asymmetrical pigtail attachments to increase the amount on the upward steering line. Truth be told, even with these tweaks and tons of practice, it didn’t always go so smoothly for me. I remember one day quite vividly, primarily because I ditched a friend’s wedding to go kitesurfing, secondly because of the barreling overhead waves and finally because I dumped my kite three times in a row. Master kite designer and local repairman Peter Schiebel was up on the cliff shaking his head at the new move in progress knowing this would translate into more afterhours kite repair work. Although frustrated, I felt like I was capturing that same feeling as when I surfed, because, well, it was surfing, at least for those few seconds where I wasn’t bound by the constraints of the kite. Frankly, in the past, I rarely had that much fun going left because the kite was always uncomfortably pulling me right. But, when nature serves up the perfect peeling lefts, what are you going to do, go right? Seems wrong. Like the evolutionary sketch of primordial apes’ ‘march into progress’—if we’ve long accepted that one-handed kitesurfing frees up the body, then letting go with two hands must be the natural progression towards a more surf-like feel. While hands-free kitesurfing may be just a pipe dream, or worse yet a fad, this summer we might have chipped away at the technology and technique barrier towards an end goal of narrowing the surf divide.

LEFT: Field plates from the Waddell Creek Laboratory; the author depicted mid bottom turn in modes of both kitesurf and surf. The juxtaposition of the two specimens makes the case for hands-free kitesurfing quite obvious, even if it’s only a pipe dream. // Photos Gary Strachan

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The Genesis of Kiteboarding Competition By Marina Chang

While much credit is due to Frenchmen Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux for pioneering kiteboarding as we know it today, arguably, it was a Florida windsurfing bum and sailmaker who popularized the sport with $400 and a vision for the world’s first kiteboarding ‘championship.’ Like lots of windsurfing addicts in the 80s, Joe Cool was lured to Maui by Mike Waltze’s photos and stories of iconic windsurfing sessions at Ho’okipa. When he wasn’t out chasing surf, wind and waves, Joe was making ends meet through his sail loft and sporadic gigs as an organizer and judge of windsurfing competitions on the North Shore. Back on the mainland, Boeing engineer Bill Roeseler and his son Cory were chasing the dream of breaking the sailing speed record with experimental boards, skis, Hobie Cat hulls and kites on the waterways of the Pacific Northwest. The father and son duo legitimized their combination of water skis powered by a two line delta-style kite controlled by a bar mounted with a winch/brake when Cory beat 190 of the world’s best windsurfers in the Blowout of 1993, then a 17-mile race on Hood River. In 1994, Kiteski Inc. was officially formed and Cory soon hit the road promoting their invention-turned-fledgling-sport at boat shows and sailing events around the world before starting his own competitive tour the following year.

In 1998, Joe approached Cory with the vision of taking Cory’s tour to the next level and organizing the world’s first official ‘championship’ competition in Maui. Cajoling 24 riders to sign up, Joe reminisces, “It was a small group of Maui locals that showed the rest of the world how to get the party going, and man did the party get rolling.” Word of the new sport spread fast—evoking that same feeling of excitement as when windsurfing first surfaced—being that when the wind began to blow, you dropped everything and headed to the beach. Professional windsurfers along with regular riders and transplants on Maui were the main players in this international event. Flash Austin won, Cory got second, Robby Naish was third and Mike Waltze took fourth. Joe’s inaugural event set the guidelines for future kiteboarding competitions; it didn’t hurt that Red Bull purchased the rights to Joe’s world championship and dubbed the Maui contest The King of the Air. Under the guidance of Joe and Mike Waltze, for the next seven years, Red Bull staged the biggest kiteboarding competitions within the fledgling industry. According to Joe, Cory got the ball rolling, Bruno solved the problem of simplicity of water relaunch-ability, Naish designer Don Montague refined the kites and control systems, and athletes like Robby Naish gave the new sport credence. As for Joe, to this day, he still considers himself to be the sport’s number one fan.

One of Cory’s first stops on the KiteSki promotional tour was Maui. Joe recalls, “The Kiteski Reel Bar served its purpose well—it gave the vision to opened-minded people, meaning, I really think if it was not for Cory promoting his gear, it might have taken years for kiteboarding to develop.” Cory showed the Hawaiian windsports crowd what was possible but as Joe tells it, kiteboarding took someone like Laird Hamilton to adapt and popularize the sport. “In 1995, Laird asked me my thoughts on Cory’s invention and within a week he had one delivered.” Laird, along with Mike Waltze, started to use the Kiteski setup with surfboards. The problem was, when the kite fell in the water, they needed help from the other person to get the kite back up—you had to toss the kite up by hand and shoot line at it while easing the lines out from the Reel Bar to get it to relaunch. Serendipitously, Laird’s teammate, French speed windsurfer Manu Bertin, brought inventor Bruno Legaignoux’s first Wipika prototype kites to the island this same year. Joe recalls that pivotal moment: “What made the Wipika kite popular over the Kiteski setup was that you could launch it from the water. After falling, it would pretty much launch itself and the bar was simple.”

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Jason Slezak mid-grip in a vicious displacement carve somewhere in the bayous of the Columbia River Gorge. If this isn’t an ode to some of kiteboarding’s roots: vintage waterskiing, snowboarding and surfing—then what is? // Photo Vincent Bergeron

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