TheKiteMag #18 - Française (Aperçu)

ISSUE #18

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Reo Stevens in Micronesia TOBY COMES TO TOWN: Four Days in Maui BEHIND BARS: In depth bar tech £4.85 18 9 772057 014026

C OV E R : Tucking himself nicely under the lip and just in front of TheKiteMag logo is Patri McLaughlin, showing photographer Toby Bromwich what Maui is all about…

You can find the shot in all of its glory in the Toby Comes To Town feature a little bit further on…

H E R E : In stark contrast to Patri’s boardie-sporting barrel hunting, here’s an example of the lengths that some other guys will go to to get their fix. Jacob Howard pumping up and deciding that it’s probably not a boardies kind of a day. (Although he’s probably just as amped as Patri to get on the water…)

P H OTO : Jay Wallace

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T H E F E AT U R E S 060 // The Bigger Picture When you’re the lucky kind of soul who gets to spend their life cruising the planet from perfect-kite-spot to perfect-kite-spot it can be easy to forget that you are passing through different countries and cultures… Reo Stevens takes a pause on his trip to Micronesia to take it all in. And then scores some barrels.

074 // Blue Palawan Open After the massive success of year 1.0 of the Kite Park League there was a lot of optimism and excitement for 2017. And the early signs are promising as the Blue Palawan resort in the Philippines delivered the goods once again.

088 // Toby Comes To Town Say again: “Legendary kite photographer Toby Bromwich had never been to Maui?!” We couldn’t believe it either. Thankfully it’s no longer the case as he hit up kiting’s spiritual homeland and got the grand tour with Mr Maui, AKA Patri McLaughlin.

097 // Doctor’s Orders If you’re going to take on a 10 day Boot Camp with Dimitri Maramenides then you’re probably going to need to see a doctor at some point. Thankfully one of the attendees on Dimitri’s Brazilian trip was exactly that. He tells us how he survived.

110 // Tech feature: Behind Bars You will often find us within these pages working ourselves up into something of a lather about the new kite and board releases… You’ll normally find that we get slightly less excited about that bit of kit that connects us to our kite and makes it all happen. Time to rectify that.

THE REGULARS 018 // Gallery… King of the Air 035 // Tangled Lines with Jason Slezak 038 // On the List… Santa Barbara 040 // I’m On It… Craig Cunningham 042 // Meteorology with Tony Butt 044 // Behind the Clip… Liam Whaley’s Seeking Cloud Nine 046 // Profile… KiteMedical 107 // Technique with Liam Whaley 122 // In the Pipeline with AXIS 130 // Summer Wetsuit Buyer’s Guide 138 // Tell Me About It… Naish mid-season launch + Manera EXO harness 146 // Tested 156 // Wrapping up… Sam Light

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W E LC O M E

Le kitesurf est un sport incroyablement polyvalent et modulable. Il est possible de faire quasiment les mêmes choses que les autres sports de glisse : surfer les vagues, transformer une eau plate en un tremplin pour les rotations, des sessions kickers, glisser sur la neige… En plus de la longue liste d’options possibles, nous y avons ajouté une dimension dont tous les autres sports de glisse rêvent : nous pouvons voler. Les possibilités sont vraiment époustouflantes, et on peut ainsi dire que le kitesurf est le sport le plus polyvalent jamais inventé jusqu’ici. Quelle chance nous avons !

Plus concrètement, cela nous donne la possibilité d’explorer de tous nouveaux domaines et de transformer un spot d’apparence banal, en notre propre terrain de jeu. On peut également élargir nos horizons en comparaison avec les autres sports de glisse. Allez donc lire le sujet sur le Blue Palawan Open, et la création en bambou d’Eric Rienstra. C’est un exemple dingue du potentiel illimité du kitesurf. Jetez également un œil sur le reportage de Jason Hudson sur la côté de Santa Barbara : un bon exemple de la façon dont les riders transforment un spot pollué en un véritable nirvana. Cela nous donne un aperçu de cette polyvalence qui pousse ces personnes remarquables à relever des défis, et nous permettent de publier ce numéro. En particulier le photographe Toby Bromwich qui atterrit sur la terre sacrée du kitesurf à Maui pour la première fois, et est gentiment accompagné lors de sa visite par la légende locale Patri MacLaughlin. A un moment, Toby se retrouve sur un SUP à l’arrêt, alors qu’il s’efforce d’obtenir le meilleur angle de Patri, tout en essayant de ne pas se faire renverser à chaque vague… Les sports extrêmes exigent des dispositifs extrêmes.

Et quand il s’agit d’essayer de nouvelles choses et de se diversifier, nous n’avons pas peur de nous lancer non plus… Comme vous avez déjà pu le remarquer, nous avons procédé à quelques changements dans le design de ce numéro, et nous présentons une nouvelle partie sans revêtement. Nous aimons ce côté « brut », qui est également plus écologique. Nous espérons que cela vous plaira.

Nous allons continuer à travailler, à essayer de nouvelles choses, et à faire de notre mieux.

En espérant qu’il en soit de même pour vous…

Bonne lecture.

Alex

LA GAUCHE:

Chris Bobryk illustrant cette polyvalence, en utilisant des déchets de plage à sa manière…

P H OTO :

Christian Black 15

THEKITEMAG IS… WATER BORN Published by M E D I A in Hayle, Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Advertising enquiries: advertising@thekitemag.com. All material in TheKiteMag is subject to copyright. Reproduction without the express permission of the publishers will result in prosecution.

THE TEAM: Editor: Alex Hapgood (editor@thekitemag.com) Sub editor: Cai Waggett Art Director: Louise Kelly & Matt Hollands Assistant Art Director: Andy Gimson CONTRIBUTORS: Gustav Schmiege, Ellen Leplae, Samuel Tomé, Mo Lelii, Sablen Wedman, Jan Bowden, Quincy Dein, Steph Fournet, Irina Veremyeva, Vincent Bergeron, James Boulding, Lars Terkelsen, Tom Magne Jonassen, Lars Erik Tunby, Brendan Pieterse, Axel Reese, Toby Bromwich, Mike Smith, Marcus Gracien, Marc Rowley, Jay Wallace.

SUBMISSIONS: Online: If you have a clip or would like to get something on the website please send it over to us: media@thekitemag.com.

In the mag: TheKiteMag welcomes both written and photographic submissions.

Photography should be submitted in both RAW and edited format. Please note that the publication of written content is generally dependent on the provision of high quality photography, so in the first instance please send photographic samples and a 150 word synopsis of your writing to: checkmeout@thekitemag.com

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This magazine is printed on paper sourced from responsibly managed sources using vegetable based inks. Both the paper used in the production of this brochure and the manufacturing process are FSC® certified. The printers are also accredited to ISO14001, the internationally recognised environmental standard.

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G A L L E RY King of th e Air

Wh en i t comes to a day of ki teboarding, th ere is none more exci ting in th e en tire sport than th e day that gets th e green light for th e Red Bull King of th e Air. It is essen tially just one insanely long, insanely tense and inh eren tly dangerous face-off between th e best and th e ballsiest big air riders on th e planet. Despi te th e format always being th e same, every year i t seems to deli ver a surprise or two. This year was no exception.

Words: Ben Gillespie, TheKiteMag Photo: Brendan Pieterse (unless stated)

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Local h ero Oswald Smi th pulling out all th e stops. One of th e top names in South African ki tesurfing, Ozzie made i t to th e 4th round this year before being knocked out by L ewis Crath ern and Lasse Walker. Big Air may not be his main discipline, but h e always goes big, always looks stylish, and never leaves anything left in th e tank.

Somehow, despite th e drama that's to come, Graham Howes doesn't seem too worried in th e lead up to th e biggest ki te surfing even t in th e world. Owner of th e Dirty Habi ts lifestyle brand, Graham is anoth er rider wi th a con tagious en thusiasm for th e sport. Graham made i t to round three this year, grinning all th e way.

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Here's how it looks from th e water. And you can see why th e riders get so amped looking in at th e beach as th e crowd gets bigger and bigger as th e day progresses. And h ere's a man who likes to perform – Nick Jacobsen delighted th e crowd this year, going flat out in every h eat wi th no thought of saving himself for th e final.

Steven Akkersdijk takes his megalooping seriously. A past champion of th e Red Bull Megaloop Challenge, and no stranger to th e KO TA podium, Steven put everything on th e line this year. Wi th in tense focus, h e nailed some of th e riskiest loops of this year's even t, his ki te catching him inch es before h e hi t th e water.

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As L ewis Crath ern remarked shortly after th e even t, A " aron Hadlow doesn't really do second place". This year, however, h e had to. An incredibly tense final saw Aaron chasing th e super technical megaloop KGB while Nick nailed everything in his arsenal. Unfortunately, Aaron never qui te stuck his competi tion-ending move, and th e rest is history.

Fans of Ruben L en ten were delighted to see him emerge from his battle wi th cancer this year and arri ve at KO TA looking as h ealthy and as stoked as ever. Taking home 3rd place marked th e end of a pretty rough year and th e start of what's bound to be an epic return to form.

G A L L E R Y – K O TA

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF RED BULL

Th e KO TA is hands down th e biggest platform our sport has. Th e broad appeal of high ampli tude riding, th e iconic location, and th e perfect condi tions mean that th e crowds arri ve early and stay un til th e last second to soak up all th e action.

Here i t is in all i ts glory. Th e competi tion-winning, one-footed, fron t roll megaloop – classic Nick Jacobsen. Big, ballsy, and a joy to watch . Nick never seems to stop having fun on th e water, and h e takes th e crowd along wi th him every step of th e way.

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF RED BULL

PHOTO: COURTESY OF RED BULL

As th e sun sets, th e exci temen t is only just beginning. Th e wai ting period for KO TA this year was tense indeed, wi th th e Cape Doctor showing few signs of appearing. A narrow window of perfection appeared Thursday afternoon, and saw th e competi tion start late and run un til minutes before dark.

Despi te a fierce battle for th e ti tle of King of th e Air, th ese three world class riders are also fan tastic friends – all stoked to put on a show, to push th e sport forward, and ultimately to celebrate th e best man on th e day.

G A L L E R Y – K O TA

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RIDER: KARI SCHIBEVAAG LOCATION: TROMSØ Photo: David González

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CUS

KS: I have been kiting with the Northern Lights before, but I´ve never managed to get it on camera. Never having seen this captured before makes it even more exciting. We were on a sailboat outside of Tromsø, swimming with whales when I looked at the forecast. It predicted perfect wind and the Northern Lights… With Google Earth we found a nice little sandy beach, but when anchoring up a sailboat in the dark, it’s not easy to see if the beach is actually out there. The only way to find out is to jump in a smaller boat and use the flashlight…

Luckily our position was correct and we found the little sandy beach island. We made a plan for where David was going to shoot from, and Andreas and Japp were helping out with the lights. It was crazy to be out on the ocean looking at the Northern Lights and kiting around. It felt like I was inside a painting, just a real ‘live’ painting.

RIDER: OSWALD SMITH LOCATION: HERMANUS Photo: Brendan Pieterse BP: This is one of the most scenic kite spots in the Western Cape and this trip started off the way most of my trips have started this summer: with the Dirty Habits boys frothing on a road trip. We checked the forecast and Hermanus looked epic so we jumped in the cars and after a couple of hours driving we arrived to find that the wind was up and the sun was out... It was prime! We took a walk to the far end of the dam and set up shop for the day and here’s Oswald Smith doing what he does best and getting everything nicely framed for the backdrop.

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RIDER: MITU MONTEIRO LOCATION: PONTA PRETA, CAPE VERDE Photo: Gabriele Rumbolo TKM: There are few kite spots in the world that become truly synonymous with one rider, but when you think of Ponta Preta‌ You think of Mitu. Here he is getting in that all important bottom turn to ensure that he hits the lip perfectly and leaves another brushstroke on his perfectly painted canvas.

FOCUS

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RIDER: CEDRIC JOUBERT LOCATION: LAUTARET PASS Photographer: B Boone CJ: The good thing with this spot is that, even if there is no wind forecast, you always have enough to ride. On top of that, if you are lucky to have a kite like the Aero then the ride becomes really fun. This session we rode the 11 and the 14m with nice and smooth handling, very good lift, and with speed, speed and speed again! This kite can go really fast and it has an amazing range‌

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RIDER: ARTEM GARASHCHENKO LOCATION: RUSSIA Photo: Svetlana Romantsova AG: We have an incredible place for snowkiting in Russia, it’s called Tundra.

One of the most interesting places there is this abandoned military base which is located on the way to Norway. Jumping in city streets is almost impossible with a kite, but riding in the army village gives a lot of opportunities and fun! The strong wind makes natural kickers around buildings so we could do stalls and jib straight onto the roof of this old military classroom which still has all the soldier’s old notebooks inside.

FOCUS

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RIDER: ALEX LEWIS-HUGHES LOCATION: SOUTH AUSTRALIA Photo: Lachlan Skye Nijsen ALH: More than any other watercraft, wakeskating embodies the quality over quantity philosophy which is surely due to its close ties to skateboarding and the no-bullshit mentality that comes with it. Here’s a Frontside Shove-it popped over a barrel.

It’s not a 1080, it’s not a 720, it’s not even a 360... it’s just a 180.

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RIDER: LILOO GRINGA LOCATION: ISLA DE COCHE, VENEZUELA Photo: Fernando Rivero LG: This shot has been taken in one of my favorite spots in the world: Isla de Coche, Venezuela.

My home spot is Playa el Yaque but I only need 15 minutes downwind to get there. I love this spot because it is flat with blue water, white sand, and perfect wind. A real postcard!

I did this photo session with Fernando who was using a fish eye to take this shot. He was asking me to jump really close to him and on one occasion my board actually brushed his head. Proof that being a kitesurf photographer is also an extreme occupation.

FOCUS

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RIDER: JULIAN MEISTER LOCATION: SWITZERLAND Photo: Lukas Pitsch LP: All you need for snowkiting is snow, wind, and reliable gear. Not being limited to lakes and the sea, you sometimes kite on new spots which you researched the night before based on current weather conditions and topographical aspects. Moreover, snowkiting adds an additional dimension by having the option to ride up and down mountains and hills. But even on a familiar and popular spot like the Bernina in Switzerland, you always find yourself exploring the unknown parts of the endless backcountry. During such a session in mid-February 2017, we discovered this beautiful area where I captured this stunning shot of my kite buddy, Julian Meister!

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FOCUS

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RIDER: NUNO FIGUEIREDO LOCATION: WEST PORTUGAL Photo: João Pedro Rocha When conditions perfectly combine this place can be a cold-water paradise. This was winter time which is the only time of year you can expect good size waves and strong wind – this is one of best right hand kitesurfable waves in the world but is really hard to score.

Forecasts change a lot so you need to be able to drop everything and go. For this session I was on a 7m Cabo and I had already had a session with the 5m overpowered…

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It’s time for a genuine legend of the sport to get stuck in to our Tangled Lines. Sit up and pay attention any young kiters out there – the oracle speaks and shows you the path to true kiting nirvana…

CRAIG CUNNINGHAM Q | How did you get so good at so many different sports?

Be it surf, skate, snow, kite or bike, you shred harder than almost everyone at anything you do, how did this happen and how do you stay motivated?

A| Thanks for the kind words, Craig! These types of sports have pretty much been my life… for my entire life. I grew up riding a bike or skateboard at every chance possible, was infatuated with surfing and the ocean from before I can remember (not very convenient for a kid who lived nine hours from the nearest beach!). Plus, I was lucky enough to have family members who owned a ski shop so my parents started me skiing at three years of age, snowboarding by ten, which became my main passion until I was able to move to the beach during the summers while in college and surf every day, and found kiteboarding shortly thereafter. I have always been athletic and involved in sport but at a young age I was turned off by more traditional team sports, and gravitated towards individual sport. In these activities I found endless challenges, fulfillment and reward from relying only on myself to succeed. I also learned so much on a personal level from dealing with the failures and hurdles within the learning process and progression, which I try and look at like a mental puzzle. My motivation was, and continues to be, the pure joy that I get from the participation in these action sports. Each one of them share common movements and body mechanics so I tend to view them as similar within the mind, and thrive off of that mental and physical stimulation.

CHRISTOPHE TACK Q | You have been kiteboarding for a looong time. How did you roll in those very early days? Did you go fully board off / transition or did you immediately go the ‘wakestyle’ route?

A| That is actually a funny question, because I started kiteboarding in 1999. Which was so early in the sport that transitions or board off tricks really didn’t exist yet. My early exposure to the sport was watching windsurfers go downwind on converted windsurf boards or large directional, and it did not look like too much fun to me. But as soon as I saw a video of Mauricio Abreu, Lou Wainman, and Elliot Leboe riding wakeboards on Maui I knew I had to try to learn. I even made the mistake of trying to ride an actual wakeboard with boots for my very first session with a 3.2m foil kite pounding through Cape Hatteras shorebreak…which didn’t go so well. But once I did figure it out I was fully drawn to the powered wakestyle and big snowboard style airs right from the start, with 2-line kites then fixed 4-line bars and ultimately onto pulley bars once those hit the scene.

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TRIP FORMAN Q| Jason, tell us what it was like at the beginning of the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational? This event wasn’t “the norm” 12 years ago. How did you come up with the ideas to start the event?

A| You are correct – when we came up with the idea for the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational, it was not the norm. From what I remember, the event idea sprang up from an ultra-casual conversation that you and I had one day when you asked me if I were to have the ability to put on a kiteboard contest/event what would it be. I laid out my idea for Surf Slicks and Sliders, and from that day we ran with it and the idea morphed into what is now known worldwide as the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational. I had been traveling to various kiteboard contests for five or six years at the time and was really not stoked on the format of contests at that point in the evolution of the sport. Dangle spins, board offs, and less technical maneuvers were being rewarded much higher by judges than the faster, powered and more technical wakestyle tricks that a smaller core group of us were into. So I wanted to create something that would help grow a side of the sport that I felt had a greater potential to appeal to the kids who were not really involved in kiteboarding at that time, as well as to help create a park style venue for progression that was not yet a part of kiteboarding, and also showcase the amazing kitesurfing and flat water conditions that we were accustomed to riding. We already knew that Cape Hatteras was the perfect venue for such an event. So with a budget and blank canvas from Red Bull and the amazing support of REAL Watersports we were able to turn those dreams into reality. Rather than having judges who weren’t at the same level or understanding of the tricks as the riders, we decided to have it be peer judged, with the main focus on fun and progression of the sport. I will always be thankful that both Red Bull and REAL Watersports gave me such freedom for you and I to create such an outstanding event.

COLLEEN CARROLL Q| How do you feel about the way the Triple-S event has evolved over the years?

A| I absolutely love the way that the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational has evolved over the years! I had only dreamed that the relatively simple idea of an event for a bunch of friends to come together and shred The Slick, REAL Slider park, and thumping surf of Cape Hatteras, NC would grow into such a large scale event known around the world.

I won’t deny that I do miss the days of the loose format, creative yet frustrating group slider builds, super session downwinders and chill beach surf days during the event! But with the growth of the sport and the growth of the event, it requires more structure and organizational time. When I look back at the last 12 years of the event I am just so happy to have been part of it since the first second that the idea of the event was born. And when I think back to all of the amazing riders who have been involved over the years, many of whom were able to get a start or build a platform to create full on careers from their involvement in the Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational, or look at the number of other similar style events that have popped up all over the world, I can’t help but smile and be stoked on the journey and the maturity of the event… It’s going to be a teenager soon!

BRANDON SCHEID Q | I want to know the origins of the Sleazy steeze hand, and how it has become adapted by so many other riders in our sport? I’ve been wondering for years…

A| Haha! Now that is a funny question coming from the master of steeze! I was once told by a kayak mentor of mine, when I started paddling more and more challenging rivers, that if you were going to do something that you should do it smoothly and with style or not at all. And this combined with the general idea that the more “quiet” you can keep your body within movement and the more fluid your movements can be in general, the more likely you are to be successful with those movements. I have tried to keep true to this throughout all of my sport progressions and the “Sleazy steeze hand” as you put it (!) just happens to be a byproduct of this. I feel that the stalled out relaxed steeze hand functions for balance and is hidden in each and every one of you out there. Sometimes people just don’t realize it because they are too focused on other components of what they are doing, or simply just too tense. Look at other kiters out there and you have it, Dre has it, Sam, Craig… and so many others. Sometimes I think that mine is gone, and then I realize that I just have to relax, let go and just chill. And sure enough it comes back out of hiding…

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RICH SABO Q | Rumor has it there is a special lady in your life! Where are you two going to go on your honeymoon considering that you’ve traveled the whole world?

A| I do have an amazing partner in crime in my life, the wonderful and talented Jamie Armstrong.

Lucky for both of us we LOVE to travel and are always interested in exploring new places. So that leaves about everywhere on the map as an open possibility. And although I have been fortunate enough to continue to explore new places in the world every year for work, there are still so many “bucket list” spots that are on our radar. I would have to say that since Jamie loves surfing more than almost anything in the world it will most likely be somewhere with warm water fun surf, and exciting culture to explore. We also talk about exploring around Europe and then fitting in some Spain/Portugal/France surfing and chasing the conditions. My childhood dream has always been to travel as much as possible and I was brought up on a belief that you learn more about yourself and the world through travel and experiences along the way than you ever could from just books or classrooms alone. So Jamie and I plan to continue traveling, learning, and expanding our horizons and experiences together as we navigate this crazy world and life.

EWAN JASPAN Q | What would be your best day in Hood River? Also some tips on how to move there…

A| My best day in Hood River is an easy one… And happens more frequently than one might think.

Morning wake up with some Stoked Roasters coffee on the drive up to Mt. Hood for a morning of powder slashing, tree runs, and kicker hits. After endless fresh tracks and wind lip bashing we would head on down to the river for some kite foiling and/or river swell kitesurfing fun as the wind fills in.

After some lunch outside at the Sandbar Café on the water, we would mount up a posse for a group mountain bike shuttle for some dirt surfing, berm shredding, and gap jumping in Post Canyon. On the way back from the dirt shred in Post, we would pick up some local brews and settle into a sunset park session in the Hood River Slider Project park with the Liquid Force crew and the rest of the local and visiting park rats to end the perfect day. I love living in Hood River and the Pacific Northwest region. My tips for moving here are simple: just do it! Oh yeah, and find a job with a flexible schedule so that you can take advantage of all of the sessions possible… Aaaaaaannnd start saving your cash now because mountain biking is an expensive addiction…

GARY SISKAR Q | Is kiteboarding still fun to you?

A| HELL YES… It is more than fun for me! Kiteboarding is the only activity that I have done week after week, month after month, season after season, and year after year… For nearly 20 straight years. Sure I have participated in other sports for longer, but they all have a seasonality to them. Kiteboarding is the driving force that has shaped and molded my life and career into what it is today. It has brought me joy, pain, success, frustration, smiles, tears, and a truly global ‘extended family’ that I am thankful for every day. It has taught me how to deal with adversity, solve problems, push myself, and challenge my mind more than anything else in my life. And it has taken me to places in this world that I never imagined as a kid growing up in landlocked Pennsylvania.

TA N G L E D L I N E S

SENSI GRAVES Q | You’re an expert snowboarder and could be near professional in that and many other boardsports. What made you choose kiteboarding to pursue as a profession?

A| I absolutely love the sensation of standing sideways and carving around on almost any sort of board! Since one of my older cousins taught me how to skateboard when I was in the 1st grade I was instantly and completely in love with the sensation, feelings and freedom that it provided which then altered the path of my life to revolve around riding boards. Once kiteboarding came into my life, though, it was all over! I could get the same sensations as so many of my other favorite sports all rolled into one, and could go out and ride for hours and hours at a time. Hatteras downwinders made kiteboarding feel like there was limitless exploration potential and every day was a new experience. As far as pursuing it as a profession I didn’t really make a conscious decision to become a professional kiteboarder or even a conscious decision to even start kiteboarding; it just sort of happened. I passed by a small booth on the final day of a tradeshow in the summer of 1999 with a video playing of guys kiteboarding on Maui with wakeboards so I began a conversation with the guy at the booth. The guy was Jeff Logoz, the owner and co-founder of Slingshot. They weren’t making kites yet, but were selling Flexifoil kites to go along with their boards and control bars. Once I told him I was living on Cape Hatteras he told me I should take the last kite he had home and try it and let him know what I thought. I took the small backpack and 3.2m Flexifoil Blade home with me and began the ride that has become this amazing 18 year journey that I have been on. I guess there was a tipping point when I decided to abandon my winter employment working for a snowboard company in Vermont in the North East of the US and go to Maui to focus more on my riding.

It only took a few hours on Maui to realize that winters of warm blue water, waves, and sun were ultimately more enjoyable for me than winters of subzero temps, icy roads, and crowded ski areas!

But I would say what made it all truly stick as my profession of choice was and still is the kiteboarding community. The global kiteboarding community has always been so welcoming and inclusive rather than ‘cliquey’ and exclusive. It is that community, long lasting genuine relationships, and family feel of the kiteboarding industry that made me really focus on kiteboarding as a profession.

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TheKiteMag.com WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH CALI BRO?

TANGLE CITY WITH KITE CROWDS? Not in the least. Your biggest obstacle is the packs of surfers drifting down the line up. The wind is blowing and the waves are maching – you’d think this would deter Joe Ripper from vibing you out in the parking lot. Think again, this is UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara) territory. College surf enthusiasts from Arizona and God knows where are here to prove their salt as angsty surf jocks, “FULL ROTOS!”. Your best bet is to just read the room.

Keep an eye out for the crowds, don’t tack the pack and have respect for the surf culture of the region. The fact still stands that California is loaded with incredibly consistent point breaks and the gate keepers aren’t always your typical old salt with an open mind.

SOUNDS LIKE IT BLOWS. It’s definitely windy. During the spring the northern swells are spinning down through the Pacific and the winds are swirling about, generally side-onshore. Depending on the storm system, the wind tends to move productively with the swell lines keeping a semi grooming consistency on the long period lines that wrap across the coastline.

The central coast of California is surf territory according to most of the local population.

Drive three hours north out of Los Angeles, past the crowded wind protected point breaks of Malibu and into Ventura County. Follow the 101 inland through wide open farm fields then back out to the sea again in dramatic fashion; from here the California coast line begins to open up into a string of wind exposed surf breaks prime for a kitesurf session. The lack of protection between Santa Barbara County and Monterey County lends to some of the world’s best kitesurf secrets where the best gear you can bring is a thick skin for the elements, a respect for the surf heritage, and a sturdy 9 meter kite.

O N T H E L I S T | S A N TA B A R B A R A

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BEER: This is wine country. Check out the “Funk Zone” in town for craft beer and locally grown wines. Nothing is cheap in Santa Barbara.

NOT IN THE BAG: Footstraps and neoprene hats.

IN THE BAG: 9m and something pointy.

GETTING THERE: Fly into Santa Barbara airport and head for the coast. Drive up the 101 from LA about two hours.

LEAST LIKELY TO HEAR: “That was pretty mellow.”

MOST LIKELY TO HEAR: “I’m thinking of learning, how much does that whole set up cost?”

4/3 is the call. But this is Patagonia territory, so drop by the flagship store and pick up a Yulex R4 and you’ll be set.

RUBBER: Yes definitely. Winters are brisk. A hooded

SOUNDS LIKE A WIN/WIN. I’M IN. Good call. This is epic kitesurf territory. The biggest drawback is the lack of available data. But if you know about swell direction and predominant wind direction you’ll be just fine. Parking is generally available and a short hike to the coast is customary. The coastline is rocky, pumping up and getting out is always going to be your challenge; but with consistent winds you’ll have no problems getting in the spot and then you’ll be in seventh heaven.

ANY RIPPERS? Lots! There is still a pretty big gap between kitesurfing and surfing. Surfers still glare at the kitesurfers with distain and envy as they glide through the lineup. Kitesurfer’s still don’t understand why surfers don’t ditch the spaghetti arms and get with progression. However, those that have made the jump do so with flare. A number of stylish kitesurfers can be spotted at some of the premiere points, with kites parked as they shred it down the line.

at Santa Barbara County either – drive north for unmanned surf breaks aplenty. It’s just a case of how far are you willing to go for supreme solitude and perfect conditions?

CAN YOU FIND SOME SOLITUDE? Absolutely! It is encouraged. A quick look on Google Maps will reveal a number of points along the coastline. Avoid popular surf spots like Rincon and El Cap and you can generally seek out a wrapping right delicately peeling under the golden California sunlight. Don’t stop

PHOTO: TOBY BROMWICH

BOARD: NORTH GAMBLER | DIMENSIONS: 143cm AGE: 31 | WEIGHT: 77kg | HEIGHT: 5’10 TheKiteMag.com

I want a board that does it all but has to compromise very little. Freestyle, Park, Big Air and Freeride: The Gambler is the board for me no matter the conditions or type of riding I want to do.

To work well in the park it has to have a comfortable and very predictable flex pattern plus very limited reverse flex.

It also needs to have consistent pop and smooth landings, and the grind base is a necessity of course.

It’s hard to have it all and even harder to find a rocker line that works well for both kiting and cable but I think we’ve done a pretty good job of wrapping all the key characteristics for a crossover board into the 2017 model.

These days I’m the guy between the International Team and the R&D department back in Munich. I’m basically managing all the feedback that the team has along with a lot of our shops and distributors. For the Gambler it all started with Tom Court really pushing for a board that suited his style of riding in 2011 and these days it’s Tom, Colleen Carroll, Noè Font and myself that conjure up ideas or snag concepts from boards we like and implement them into the Gambler.

I love this side of the job, for me it’s helping keep things fresh and I’m super motivated to help North keep making top of the line products. It’s really the dream for me, developing the products I ride and helping create the right tools for the next generation and North customers.

We have lots of input on the graphics and I’m super stoked on how they came out for 2017! The same crew of us is heavily involved in the graphics and we end up doing quite a few rounds back and forth with the design team. Getting graphics right is pretty hard but I think 2017 came out pretty rad and 2018 might even be better… It’ll be pretty hard to beat a matted out black chalkboard graphic though.

The Gambler is the only board I ride. If it’s windy I ride it all day, every day! It is a board that you take anywhere and ride over anything. From park rats to weekend warriors, the Gambler really has something for everyone.

It might seem a little aggressive or intimidating for your average joe but believe me, the outline, extra rocker, and stiffer flex pattern make the board super smooth no matter choppy or flat conditions. Give it a ride, you’ll be surprised.

‘Wakestyle’ boards have come a long way in the last few years, if anything it’s been about minimalizing. We’re looking for more surface contact but most of all it’s about dialing in flex patterns and durability.

When I’m not working on the Gambler I’m working on a full length video project. We started working on it in September with a bunch of good friends and you’ll have heard a little more about it and the concept soon. That’s my main focus at the moment…

PHOTO: TOBY BROMWICH

As North Kiteboarding team rider Craig Cunningham gets more input into the R&D process over at North, he takes us through the 2017 Gambler and how he’s helped it evolve…

“…these days it’s Tom, Colleen Carrol, Noè Font and myself that conjure up ideas or snag concepts from boards we like and implement them into the Gambler.”

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M E T E Ĺ? R O L O G Y w/Tony Butt

A TO Z OF WIND, P A R T

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1

A while back I did a series of articles for the Surfers Path describing different types of waves in an A to Z format. So I thought it would be a no-brainer to do a similar one on wind.

I’m going to stick to different wind phenomena, some of which can occur almost anywhere and some of which only occur in certain geographical areas. Some of the winds, such as Föhn or Galerna, deserve further attention so I’ll be expanding on them in future articles.

Finally, there are a couple of phenomena, such as vorticity, that are not strictly winds, but are interesting nonetheless. In this, the first of four parts, I’m going to cover letters A to G. Anabatic wind –

A warm wind that blows up the side of a mountain or steep slope, typically during the day in warm weather.

The top of the mountain is heated by solar radiation, which causes the overlying air to also increase its temperature. The temperature of the surrounding air, overlying the valleys adjacent to the mountain, takes longer to increase. As a result, the air rises at the top of the mountain quicker than it does at the bottom, creating a pressure gradient and effectively sucking air from the bottom to the top.

Berg Wind –

A hot, dry wind that blows from the interior towards the coast in South Africa. It tends to occur ahead of a coastal depression which, in turn, is originated by a larger-scale frontal system.

Once the berg wind begins to blow, it helps to perpetuate the coastal depression.

Cape Doctor –

The famous southeaster that blows in southwest South Africa, mostly during summer. It originates from the south-easterly flow on the southwest flank of a high pressure that establishes itself off the coast, enhanced by a squeezing of the pressure gradient along the coast. It can reach gale or severe-gale at times and is also well known for causing extreme upwelling off the coast near Cape Town, pushing water temperatures down to around 10ºC while air temperatures might be over 30ºC.

Calima – A

hot, dust-laden east or southeast wind in the Canary Islands that blows off the Sahara Desert. It originates from the Saharan Air Layer, a semi-permanent air mass overlying the Sahara. When the Calima reaches the Canary Islands it can cause extreme reduced visibility and respiratory problems among the population.

Downdraft –

As the name suggests, a downward-moving airstream. It is often caused by cooler air at higher altitudes sinking as it becomes denser than its surroundings. The subsiding air leads to an area of relatively high pressure on the surface, and as the air becomes denser its temperature rises due to a process called adiabatic warming.

Eddy –

A circular current in the air, or any fluid, often caused when the fluid interacts with an obstacle. For example, they are often found where the wind is obstructed by buildings or other objects.

The reason why winds that pass over land containing obstructions are gusty is because the flow contains eddies.

Etesian winds – Dry winds from a northerly quarter, found

during the months between May and September and are strongest in the afternoon, sometimes reaching gale force. In summer low pressure tends to form over the area around Turkey, and the northerly airstream on its western flank is enhanced as it interacts with relatively high pressure over the Mediterranean.

Föhn –

Generic term for a warm, dry wind that descends on the leeside of a mountain, produced by the following process: It forms when there is a wind blowing towards the other side of the mountain, which is forced to ascend due to the presence of the mountain itself (a process called Orographic Lifting). As the air rises it cools and much of the moisture contained within the air precipitates out, forming clouds or precipitation at the top of the mountain. Then, the air, which has now lost much of its humidity, continues over the mountain and descends down the other side, resulting in a warm, dry, descending air mass.

Galerna –

A very strong, short-lived onshore wind that occurs along the north coast of Spain. It generally occurs in the afternoon during the summer months. It begins as a relatively weak disturbance in the western part of the north coast, and intensifies as it moves towards Cantabria and the Basque Country. As the Galerna hits a fixed location, winds can increase from almost zero to gale-force and temperatures can drop up to 12ºC in 20 minutes.

Geostrophic wind –

A wind that is in geostrophic balance. Air (or any fluid) naturally tends to move from relatively high to relatively low pressure. However, since the Earth is rotating, air moving at large scales in the atmosphere is also influenced by the Coriolis force. If other forces such as friction are negligible, air moving in the atmosphere will reach geostrophic balance, and blow at rightangles to the pressure gradient or parallel to the isobars. In practice, surface wind blows slightly outwards from an anticyclone and inwards towards a center of low pressure.

Tony Butt holds a PhD in physical oceanography and is the author of Surf Science, an Introduction to Waves for Surfing (2014) and The Surfer’s Guide to Waves, Coasts and Climates (2009). Tony is also a big-wave surfer who spends the northern winter in a forgotten corner of Northwest Spain, and migrates to Southwest Africa during the southern winter...

in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. They typically blow

INSET / King of the Air Contest Director Olaf Van Tol really hoping that the Cape Doctor is going to kick in....

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BEHIND THE CLIP PRESENTS

This has to go down as one of the most well promoted clips we’ve seen; with a daily countdown, teasers and general social media domination. Thankfully it lived up to the hype…

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Did you plan the film well in advance or did you realize that you were getting some great content in Greece and thought you would put it together into the clip?

I went to Greece in summer and was blown away by what the country had to offer. Immediately after that I got a team together and we flew out two weeks later.

You worked with LightBros on the clip who also operate out of Tarifa – was it an easy choice to get them on board for the project and which members of the team worked with you?

I worked with LightBros and TheBank. The film crew consisted of Forest Bakker, Alex Bournay and Bas Koole. This was a perfect combination of creative, organized and hardworking guys, and I couldn’t ask for a better team. Ydwer also came along to take pictures. I was so stoked to have him on board, we definitely scored some quality shots.

You’ve worked with a lot of photographers and videographers, what are you looking for to get the best results?

I like to work with people who are willing to get creative, people who get out of their comfort zone to get the best shots. In Greece our team did exactly that! For example, Forest flew his drone through a tiny hole in a rock which was about 2 kilometers away and Bas filmed me from the back of a Jetski going full speed and with his FS700 in a plastic bag!

Those were two of my favorite shots from the movie.

There are some great portraits of the locals – how were they with being filmed?

Most of them were being filmed from quite far away so they didn’t realize, I guess that’s the best way to make it look natural. But generally the people in Greece are some of the friendliest I have met, very helpful and kind!

You got pretty high up being towed behind the ski! Did you build up to that and was it sketchy at all?

Yeah it was about 60 meters high! It was definitely a bit sketchy, if my lines or kite had broken up there it would have been lethal, luckily everything went smoothly and we got the shot. I did a couple of smaller tow ups before the big one to get the hang of it. The hardest part of the tow up was the light wind. When the wind is so light your kite tends to try and fly above or even behind you, so you have to keep on looping the kite in order for it to stay in the power zone. Sometimes I would spin out of control 30 or 40 meters up, but I just held onto one side of the bar so that my kite would keep looping and when you are so high up you have time to correct.

The wind looks pretty light – which kite and board were you riding most of the time?

I was riding the 138 x 42 XCaliber and 11 or 13m Chaos. The wind wasn’t as perfect as it was when I first came in summer so we had to road trip pretty much around the whole of Greece to find the best wind and we experienced all kinds of conditions along the way.

How many days did you shoot and where were the main places you filmed?

We spent a total of 14 days filming and most of the footage came from these areas: Dioni, Messolongi | Agios Ioannis, Lefkada | Raches, Ikaria | Lichadonisia Islands What’s your favorite move in the clip?

I really like my Double Grabbed Backmobe 5. I love the move but most of all I loved the way it was filmed with such a unique perspective from the ski.

How did you decide on the narration?

I wanted to create a narration that inspired and motivated people to get out there and finish when they have started, no matter what it is.

Sasha Gabriel (a good friend of mine) and I created this short script before the movie came out then after we had finished filming I made a few adjustments to make it fit better with the story.

You did a great job on social media of trailing the clip and counting down to its launch – how important is it to build that kind of hype do you think?

It’s definitely important to hype it up but you don’t want to give people too high expectations either. I invested a lot of time, love and money into this project so I obviously put some effort into promoting it. I’m stoked that it is also now being shown on a few of the big TV channels in Spain!

The clip shows your ‘serious’ side, with the end credits being a bit more offbeat. Can we expect a Nick Jacobsen style goofing around clip next time?!

With this video that is kind of what I wanted to reflect. However I do have two faces. I take kiting serious when I am training, preparing and competing but I also love to mess about and take advantage of the lifestyle that comes with this amazing sport, and at the end of the day that is what people want to see. But for me it is very important for people to acknowledge that I didn’t get to the top by just having fun, I put a lot of hard work in at times!

Aside from the clip, what else have you been up to?

Right before the end of 2016 I suffered a fracture in my heel which kept me off the water for two months and didn’t allow me to compete in the last event of the year in New Caledonia. But I am psyched to say that I have been training in Venezuela and I am almost 100%. But I want to be 200% before the season starts in mid-April!

So are you feeling good about the upcoming WKL season?

Feeling good but a bit nervous. I know I can come out on top if I train really really hard and I don’t get injured, but I also know that the level is going to be ridiculously high this year and there is no margin for error.

But I’m going to give it my all, that’s a promise….

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Julia Castro takes us through what happens when a professional kiteboarder needs to get patched up properly courtesy of the KiteMedical crew…

The wrong landing and straight away you feel the pain bursting through your body. While you’re being brought to land, you think about your broken dreams. It’s not an unusual story and many professional riders go through the experience – often more than once – over the course of their career. However, thanks to the KiteMedical team, based in The Netherlands, there are many riders who have been able to recover and rehabilitate quickly and still compete at the highest level. Youri Zoon and Ruben Lenten for example…

We’re in Groningen, a city in the northern part of The Netherlands. It is also known as ‘the city that never sleeps’ due to the 40,000 student residents and the fact that bars closing at 9am is not uncommon. In daylight, the vibrant nightlife is replaced by an impressive number of bicycles. Official statistics say there are more bikes than people within the city.

With no sea or lakes nearby, no one would point Groningen out as an important kitesurfing venue (the nearest spot is around an hour away). However, for the injured kiteboarder or wakeboarder it seems the place to be. Sports trauma surgeon Roeland den Boer and sports physiotherapist Leon Meijer, both fanatic kiteboarders, know what’s needed to get back on track, and the duo have ensured the rehabilitation of many kitesurfing professionals.

Back to the summer of 2013, during the PKRA World Tour event in St. Peter Ording, Germany, Youri Zoon suffered a dislocated shoulder. Before the incident occurred, he had already felt some small pains in his left shoulder. However, after some warm up exercises on the beach the two time World Champion decided to take the risk. Youri explained that, “During the heat the pain got worse, so I stopped, then on the beach they found out about the injury and I was sent to the hospital where the doctors relocated my shoulder again.’’

Immediately Youri knew he had a long way in front of him until full recovery.

Normally it would take from six to nine months.

The first thing Youri did on returning to The Netherlands was to visit his local hospital. There they told him there was a long waiting list for having an MRI. It was then that a visit to KiteMedical was suggested, and Den Boer invited him to come over to Groningen. Together with Leon they covered everything in just one day. The MRI showed a clear crack in the labrum and a rehabilitation program was devised by Leon.

Although, living in the Dutch province of Zeeland, KiteMedical was 300 kilometers from Groningen, Youri decided to proceed with the team.

“It went very smoothly. The first eight weeks after the surgery by Roeland I traveled once a week to Groningen, just for one hour of practice. Three hours back and forth. In the first phase we worked on the mobility of my shoulder. I remember Leon gave me a 2.5 kilo dumbbell and I laughed, but at that time it was heavy enough.

“Slowly but surely the power came back. Then, besides the training in Groningen, I did my work-outs in a gym close to home. It was easy for me to trust in what Leon told me. One year later, I ended in the top five of the World Tour and won the last tour stop. That was amazing after such a setback.’’

The travel distances of Zoon are nothing compared to the journey I made to get my treatment in Groningen. I suffered a shoulder injury during a training session in South Africa, and there they said I needed surgery. I flew back to Barcelona and went to the hospital, where they saw nothing on the MRI. Then another doctor again said I needed surgery as soon as possible if I wanted to continue with my professional career. It was kind of frustrating, not knowing what the best choice would be. Then I heard about KiteMedical and I contacted them. They explained my options in a clear way. For the first time a doctor or physiotherapist recognized me as a professional and I wasn’t sent away with a lame training schedule or with the advice to just stop doing sports. Roeland and Leon took me through the whole rehabilitation. In fact, even if I’m in competition at the other side of the world, I can still ask them questions via Skype or WhatsApp.

Leon smiles when he hears of the kind words from his former patients. “I’ll always answer when they’ve questions about their physical condition. I see it as one of the phases in the rehabilitation trajectory. First, I’m a patron, then I become a daily therapist. In the third phase of the rehabilitation, I’m a motivator. A sports therapist. And then, when the kitesurfer is fully recovered, I’m a physical trainer.”

So why kitesurfing as a specialism? “My knowledge of kitesurfing helps a lot when it comes to rehabilitating professionals,” explains Meijer.

“If I would help a swimmer, I wouldn’t know exactly what to do because I’m not into the sport. But kitesurfers and wakeboarders are easy for me to trigger, to understand. In the communication, the kitesurfer and I speak the same language.’’

For the first time a doctor or physiotherapist recognized me as a professional and I wasn’t sent away with a lame training schedule or with the advice to just stop doing sports.

TOP/ Julia Castro back in action thanks to the KiteMedical crew BOTTOM LEFT/ Roeland and Leon from KiteMedical and one of their success stories: Youri Zoon BOTTOM RIGHT/ Starting small and building back up to strength 47

43 year old Leon began kitesurfing at a later age. Seven years ago, he saw a magazine and fell in love with the sport. “I really like to catch nice waves and big air and, as a former marine, I’m a thrill seeker. That’s why I like helping professional sportsmen and women with their rehabilitation.

They know the drill; the discipline that’s needed.”

The sport is slowly professionalizing itself, reflects Leon. “In the past kiteboarders just did something, without exactly knowing what. Now you see the focus changing. Both professionals and amateurs try to do more in terms of injury prevention. It’s necessary, especially as kitesurfing becomes more and more radical.”

On a national scale, KiteMedical organizes events to inform kiters and wakeboarders about injury prevention. After the theoretical part, the participants are taught fifteen to twenty exercises to help to avoid new injuries.

“What can be dangerous is that after a long winter break, everyone instantly gets to the water and they want to do the things they were used to doing back in the summer. But if they didn’t work on their body in the off season then it is easy to get injured. That’s why these exercises are so important.”

In the last phase of the rehabilitation they went kitesurfing with Youri. “He inspected the way I was holding my kite, but it was also lots of fun,” recalls Youri. “Now I want to help younger kiteboarders with injury prevention and advice myself.’’ Again, Leon smiles: “This is what is cool about kiteboarders. It goes the same for Youri as it does for Julia; he was in Brazil and called me to ask some questions. They know how to find you. And I’m always there to help them.’’

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TOP/ Leon and Julia getting with the program BOTTOM/ The satisfaction of doing your rehab right and getting back on the water...

PREVENTING INJURIES WITH LEON MEIJER

PRONE BRIDGE

It might take you a little bit of discipline and effort, but there are some exercises you can do easily without the need of a gym. Leon gives five do-it-yourself examples:

The prone bridge is also known as the “plank” or “hover” and will improve the muscular endurance of the abdominals. It’s also a big motor in core-stability.

All the movements of kiteboarding are going through the core muscle system so it is important to train it.

Start in the push up position with your feet 30cm apart and your hands shoulder width apart. Push up to the prone bridge position so from now on you are ‘resting’ on your hands and toes. Make absolutely sure that you have a straight line from the shoulders through the hips to the knees. From now on just lift your left foot for two seconds then switch it over with the right.

Intensity: 4 sets of 30 seconds with 1 minute of rest in between.

Intensity: 4 sets of 12 with 1 minute of rest in between.

PROFILE – KITEMEDICAL

WALKING LUNGES

Step forward with your right leg. Land on your right heel, then to the ball of the foot. Lower your body by flexing your knee and the hip of right leg until knee of rear leg is almost in contact with the floor. Stand on your forward leg with the assistance of the rear leg. Lunge forward with the opposite leg. Repeat by alternating the lunge with opposite legs. Keep your torso upright during the exercise. Your lead knee should point in the same direction as your foot throughout the lunge. You can increase the difficulty level by carrying more weight.

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PULL-UP TRX

The TRX is a great piece of equipment to have in your “toolbox.” Its lightweight, packable design makes it great for travel and in-home workouts. Grasp both TRX handles and lean back to about a 45-degree angle.

With the palms facing downward and the arms extended, pull yourself up to the handles. It is important that your body should be straight so keep the core tight and retract your shoulder blades. Now slowly rotate your hands until the palms are facing each other. Return slowly to the start position and stay in control.

BOX JUMPS

Intensity: 4 sets of 12 with 1 minute of rest in between.

Box jumps are great for building athleticism and muscle and of course we need that in kiteboarding. Don’t start with an amazing high box but just one with a height of around 40 centimeters. Stand with your feet a shoulder width apart. This is your starting position.

Perform a short, not too deep, squat in preparation for jumping while swinging your arms behind you. From now on just rebound out of this position to jump as high as possible while you swing your arms forward and up. Land on the box with the knees bent, absorbing the impact through the legs so that you have a really soft landing in the half squat position.

Intensity: 4 sets of 12 with 1 minute of rest in between.

SQUAT TRX

Grasp both handles and lean back to about a 45-degree angle. From here, squat, keeping your back as straight as possible. Once the glutes are just above the ground, drive the heels down and return to the start position.

Intensity: 4 sets of 12 with 1 minute of rest in between.

TheKiteMag.com

STUFF We like the look of...

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1.

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1. Peter Lynn Aero When the most experienced purveyors of foil kites on the planet release a foil kite for the hydrofoil market? We’d suggest you stand up and take notice – it’s the Aero from Peter Lynn and we’re going to put ourselves out there and say that we reckon it’ll be pretty fast.

2. F-ONE Spicy F-ONE’s Spicy is their no messing ballsto-the-wall wakestyle board. With rock solid construction and incorporating

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features such as their Hybrid Cap Rail and hardcore tough boot-specific inserts it’ll stand up to the rigors of the very best wakestyle moves you’ve got.

3. Airush Ultra Airush are right up with the kiting zeitgeist and introduce the Ultra. Five years after they kicked off the single strut concept with ‘the One’ they are back with another single strut kite designed for the foil and freeride market. The Ultra also has the Load Frame for strength and

durability but still keeps the weight nice and low…

4. Liquid Force Mission Control It’s a whole new bar set up for Liquid Force for 2017. They’ve gone back to square one and then focused on each component and created it in the very best way that they can. So new QR, new swivel, new bar ends, new cleat. You get the picture. We’ve ridden it and we like it…

STUFF 6.

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5. North Ace Well, it seems like the revolution has arrived. Foil kites are back in vogue and not just for the top end foil clique either.

Everyday foilers, Big Air lovers, and just kiters who want to get on the water even when there is basically no wind are on them. Here’s North’s entry into the market…

6. Mystic Warrior Mystic introduce the fifth incarnation of their iconic Warrior harness. Built to withstand the rigors of top end riding it manages to blend comfort with incredible durability and this year gets

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a 4-point power buckle clickerbar and some pretty irresistible new colorways…

Here’s the orange.

7. ION Poncho Ever found yourself hopping randomly around the car park with one foot in your trousers ruining any of the credibility that you might have built up over the previous couple of hours on the water?

Time for a poncho.

8. CrazyFly Cruze For those sea breeze days when you still want to get on the water and you still want to be throwing down some moves,

you could really do with the Cruze… It’s relatively lighter than the other CrazyFly kites but still has enough rigidity to fly like a smaller kite. Cruzin’.

9. Blade Skinny Boy For top tier waveriding performance the Skinny Boy really does deliver the goods… With its small leading edge and struts it’s quick through the air and it turns on the spot – all you need to bring to the party is some solid waves…

UN PLUS LARGE APERÇU REO STEVENS SE REND À UN VOYAGE DE RÊVE À POHNPEI EN MICRONÉSIE ET OBTIENT DES CONDITIONS ABSOLUMENT PARFAITES, UN BAIN DE CULTURE ET D’HISTOIRE INCROYABLES ET, BIEN SÛR, DE BONNES VAGUES…

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P H OTO

Reo doing his best calm face...

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PHOTOS: Scott Soens

J

e suis assis ici à mon bureau, souffrant du syndrome de l’écrivain submergé par une rafale d’images et de souvenirs auxquels je ne sais pas exactement quel sens donner. J’ai du mal à être capable de distinguer si ces souvenirs sont réels, ou s’ils ne sont que le fruit de mon imagination, provenant d’un vieux rêve oublié il y a quelques années. La seule certitude est la pile de photos de vagues à couper le souffle et de paysages de l’île de Pohnpei, des Etats fédérés de Micronésie. La beauté de Pohnpei n’est plus à prouver, après les nombreux reportages de ses différents aspects dans les magazines internationaux. Cependant, sa localisation isolée dans le sud du Pacifique en fait une destination difficile à atteindre.

Pour moi, Pohnpei est l’avant-dernier arrêt de mon aventure découverte de quatre îles en départ d’Honolulu. On y trouve la célèbre vague située à Paliker Pass, connu également sous le nom de « P-Pass ». J’ai visité cette île de Micronésie pour la première fois en 2009 lors d’un voyage que je n’oublierai jamais, avec une équipe de choc constituée de Robby Naish, Mick Fanning, Dave Kalama, Stephanie Gilmore, Beau Young et Ben Wilson. J’étais entouré de mes héros (et de plus de titres mondiaux qu’on ne pourrait imaginer), me laissant ébloui et dépassé par autant de talent au même endroit.

HERE

The Nan Madol ruins

R I G H T TO P ›

Eyes to camera

R I G H T B OT TO M ›

Heading out for dinner

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UN PLUS LARGE APERÇU

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Elargir ses horizons En tant que surfeurs et kitesurfeurs, on a tendance à se faire rattraper par les conditions, au lieu de prendre le temps de se poser et voir ce que la destination peut nous offrir. Un jour, Robby Naish parlait de l’ironie de voyager à travers le monde pendant 30 ans, remplissant passeport après passeport, sans ne jamais vraiment rien visiter. Il a passé 30 ans en compétition, sans n’avoir jamais rien vu d’autre que les plages. De nos jours, avec la précision des prévisions météo, ajoutée au rythme soutenu de la vie, on peut être trop focalisé sur les voyages, sur les meilleures conditions, et passer à côté de ce qu’une destination peut nous offrir.

En mars dernier, j’ai eu la chance d’être invité à un voyage à Pohnpei, à bord du Cabrinha Quest, avec un groupe de Patagonia. Notre but était d’atteindre P-Pass, mais sans précipitation ou stress au sujet des vagues.

Bien sûr, nous voulions tous nous mesurer aux rouleaux, mais le plus important lors de ce voyage, était de ralentir, et de tirer le meilleur ce que la nature nous donnait.

Le meilleur moyen pour se forcer à prendre le temps et se relaxer est de voyager en bateau. Le nôtre, Discovery, a une vitesse de croisière de 6–7 nœuds, et a probablement accumulé plus de miles ces dix dernières années que n’importe quel autre catamaran de ce lagon. Discovery nous aurait emmenés n’importe où. Il ne fallait juste pas être pressé. Un navire parfait pour nous faire apprécier tout ce que Pohnpei pouvait nous offrir, au lieu de passer à côté des splendeurs cachées de l’île, focalisé sur le surf.

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It’s not all barrels...

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If you can’t get out going over, you can always go under...

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L’équipe TheKiteMag.com

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The ‘Cabrinha Discovery chic’ outfit

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No shortage of coffin bags

Pour participer à ce voyage au ralenti, une équipe éclectique était constituée pour s’assurer qu’un expert était sur place pour chaque opportunité qui se présenterait. Jason Slezak (kitesurfeur), Dan Malloy (surfeur et plongeur), Jason McCaffery (le touche-à-tout) et Tyler Emmitt (videographe) se rencontraient à Hawai avant de me rejoindre pour démarrer. Ainsi commençait notre périple, dans notre avion, direction le Discovery, avec les membres de Cabrinha Quest.

Douze heures plus tard, après plusieurs décollages et atterrissages, nous arrivions et passions la douane de Pohnpei, apercevant alors le Capitaine Tom qui nous attendait au retrait des bagages. Alors fatigués des nombreux vols et aéroports, nous attrapions nos sacs et les mettions dans le coffre de la camionnette qui nous attendait, avant de prendre la direction du port, rejoignant ainsi le reste de l’équipe du Discovery. Une fois tous à bord, les lignes jetées au large, nous étions en route vers notre premier point d’ancrage du voyage, afin d’examiner les prévisions et de pouvoir planifier les jours à venir.

La météo prévoyait du vent, mais peu de vagues, ce qui ne nous pressait pas de rejoindre P-Pass, et nous permettait de profiter pleinement de ce que Pohnpei nous proposait. Après avoir passé

en revue toutes nos options, nous décidions de visiter un site archéologique unique situé à Pohnpei, dont beaucoup n’avaient jamais entendu parler.

Pohnpei est le berceau des ruines de Nan Madol, qui se trouvent dans la partie est de l’île.

Il s’agit d’une cité en ruines composée d’une centaine d’îlots artificiels, tous reliés par un réseau de canaux. Le site s’étend sur 1,5 km de long et 0,5 km de large. Ces îlots sont constitués de milliers de larges piliers de pierre empilés comme des Lego.

Ils sont si énormes que personne ne peut dire avec certitude comment Nan Madol fut construit.

Il y a plusieurs théories. La plus courante parmi les autochtones est la magie, car l’idée même de construire une telle structure à la main est inconcevable.

Situé sur un terrain privé, le propriétaire actuel a refusé, pour diverses raisons, les offres de groupes étrangers proposant de contribuer à la conservation des ruines. Seul un petit groupe de volontaires locaux préserve le domaine des invasions de mauvaises herbes, pour que des touristes comme nous puissent le visiter. Depuis ma dernière visite en 2009, quelques murs se sont effondrés, à cause de la croissance d’arbres et de leurs racines. C’est regrettable de voir qu’un tel site archéologique puisse être doucement repris par la nature.

Nous nous baladions à travers les ruines, et sortions nos SUP dans les canaux, profitant un maximum avant de retourner sur le Discovery.

Nous étions tous aussi émerveillés par les ruines, qu’abasourdis par leur construction. Nous appréciions partager nos propres théories sur la construction du site, bien que je sois presque certain que nous avions tous tort.

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The ocean’s perfection called to each and every one of us.

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Exploration A notre retour sur le Discovery après notre visite aux ruines de Nan Madol, le Capitaine Tom nous a suggéré de gonfler nos kites pour une session downwind près du bateau jusqu’à notre prochain point de chute où nous passerons la nuit. Après tout, pourquoi rester sur le bateau quand on peut kiter jusqu’à la prochaine destination ? Pohnpei est entouré d’un récif corallien, créant ainsi un lagon protecteur autour de l’île. Ces coraux sont pleins de vie, peu profonds, tenant les bateaux à l’écart, mais suffisamment pour qu’un rider puissent s’y approcher. La possibilité d’explorer les coraux en kite avec l’aide du bateau est le plus gros avantage de n’importe quel voyage de kitesurf en bateau.

Pendant plusieurs heures, Jason et moi volions audessus des coraux, découvrant une partie de la faune marine que nous n’aurions jamais pu voir sans nos kites.

Nous avions exploré tout ce que nous pouvions autour de l’île de Pohnpei, et décidions de nous éloigner de l’île principale pour voir ce que la nouvelle réserve marine, Ant Atoll, nous proposait. Ant Atoll, situé sur la partie ouest de Pohnpei, a l’un des passages les plus uniques que j’ai pu voir ! Un chemin en forme de « S » est sculpté à travers les coraux des atolls. C’est également le seul passage ! Normalement, les rives devraient s’amenuiser lentement au profit du bleu profond, mais le fort courant qui s’écoule de part et d’autre de ce lagon y a créé une cassure soudaine. Nous sommes passés subitement de quelques centimètres à 25 mètres de profondeur, permettant au Capitaine de Tom de rapprocher le bateau du récif et d’admirer en personne une vie marine à couper le souffle.

Afin de profiter pleinement de l’endroit où nous nous trouvions avec le navire, nous attachions une corde entre les coques, sur la poupe du catamaran, nous permettant de nous y accrocher pour une balade à travers le col. Chacun sautait de la proue et laissait le Discovery passer puis accrochait la corde entre les coques. C’était la meilleure façon de voir le récif dans son ensemble, car le courant était trop fort pour nager.

Jusqu’à présent, nous avions eu une vingtaine de nœuds chaque jour, ce qui rendait le plan d’eau plat, parfait pour le kite et le voyage en bateau, mais ce vent constant commençait à affecter tout le monde. Lorsqu’un après-midi, le vent a progressivement diminué jusqu’à pétole, ce fut pour le plus grand plaisir de toute le groupe. C’est extrêmement rare de voir cela en pleine mer,

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car il y a généralement toujours un souffle de vent à un moment. L’océan qui nous entourait s’est adapté, jusqu’à rapidement prendre une allure de lac. On aurait dit la scène dans le film “L’Odyssée de Pi” : une piscine. La perfection de l’océan nous a alors tous touché. Aucun d’entre nous ne pouvait résister à la tentation d’y plonger. Nous passions le reste de l’après-midi auprès de l’eau. Certains faisaient de la plongée, certains partaient explorer une plage, pendant que les autres profitaient juste du plaisir de nager autour du bateau. Plus tard, nous nous rejoignions tous sur la plage autour d’un feu de camp, une manière calme et relaxante de finir cette journée paisible, en vue du passage prochain de P-Pass et de la houle...

Chaque passage est une occasion d’attraper du poisson. Et qui dit poisson frais dit sashimi.

Inutile de préciser que nous ne sommes pas du genre à louper une occasion de manger du sashimi frais. Une fois le passage derrière nous, nous pouvions mouiller nos lignes. Dix minutes plus tard, le moulinet se mit à faire un sacré bruit.

Rien ne peut faire bouger un pêcheur plus vite que ce son, qu’il soit en plein sommeil, plongé dans un bon livre, ou perdu dans ses pensées sur la proue.

Ce bruit ferait courir n’importe quel amateur de pêche à l’autre bout du bateau, sans un regard pour l’équipage. Dan fut le premier à atteindre le moulinet et eut le privilège de remonter le premier poisson du voyage. Il ne fallut pas longtemps avant de voir de belles couleurs bleues et jaunes briller dans l’eau. Lorsqu’il se rapprocha du bateau, il était clair que nous avions attrapé un Mahi Mahi (dorade). Tandis que Dan le remontait, je remarquai un large tronc d’arbre flottant sur l’eau à proximité de l’endroit où nous avions attrapé le poisson. Je m’emparai de la barre et manœuvrai le bateau de façon à avoir une autre prise à la sortie de ce tronc d’arbre. Je ne suis pas vraiment pêcheur moi-même, mais je sais que les Mahis se regroupent autour d’objets flottants, ce qui valait bien le coup d’essayer. Alors qu’on approchait du tronc d’arbre, on voyait clairement qu’il était entouré de Mahis ! Malheureusement, pour je ne sais quelle raison, et malgré le nombre flagrant de poissons dans l’eau, aucun autre ne mordit à notre leurre. Tant pis, avec le premier poisson pêché par Dan, nous avions de quoi remplir le frigo.

On continua alors notre chemin jusqu’à Palikir Pass and jeta l’encre à la tombée de la nuit, dans l’espoir de déceler un signe annonçant la houle le lendemain matin...

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Le matin suivant, on se réveillait près d’un récif encore endormi. Bien qu’il n’y avait aucun signe de houle, 20 nœuds soufflaient en continue sur la proue. Au moins, nous n’allions pas nous ennuyer pour nos deux dernières journées.

En l’absence de mouvement près du récif, tout le monde a profité pour rester au lit récupérer des aventures de la semaine. Il a fallu attendre qu’une bonne odeur de café chaud ne se répande sur le bateau pour que tout le monde émerge enfin de leurs cabines, allant chercher leur première tasse de café de la matinée. Alors que j’avalais mon troisième café, j’aperçus alors une énorme vague s’écraser sur le récif. « Une vague ! » Je me précipitai sur la proue pour voir si une autre allait suivre. Effectivement, quelques minutes plus tard, une autre s’enroulait à nouveau autour du récif. Je jetai alors le reste de mon café et pris ma planche et mon kite. Trois tasses de café et deux belles vagues me suffisaient pour aller à l’eau immédiatement. Je me dépêchais de gonfler mon kite avant de me mettre à l’eau et commençais à virer des bords upwind jusqu’à P-Pass. Le moment était parfaitement choisi, je l’atteignis au moment où la prochaine vague s’enroulait. Je m’y engageais et profitais de mon premier bottom turn du voyage.

Des vagues fluides, du vent, and une 9m² a poussé le reste du groupe à me rejoindre rapidement.

Nous étions tous à l’eau depuis plusieurs heures lorsque tout le monde décida de retourner au bateau pour un déjeuner tardif, exceptés Dan et moi. C’est à ce moment que les plus grosses vagues sont arrivées. Sur ma planche, je pouvais facilement voir que la seconde vague était plus

grosse et s’alignait sur le récif, ce qui faisant d’elle LA vague à prendre. Je ne savais pas si Dan avait vu ce qui arrivait, donc je décidai de lui laisser la première et égoïstement, de garder la seconde pour moi. Je criai « Vas-y Dan ! C’en est une balèze ! » comme un bon copain, alors qu’en réalité, le petit diable sur mon épaule souriait intérieurement !

Dan n’était pas stupide, et grâce à ces années de surf et de compétition, il comprit tout de suite que je lui racontais des conneries. Il se mit à sourire, passai la première vague tranquillement et se mit en position directement pour ce qui allait être LA vague du voyage. Il se trouvait à l’endroit parfait pour la vague parfaite et la surfa sans problème.

En regardant derrière moi, je vis la vague s’éclater contre le récif, ce qui confirmait que c’était en effet une bonne vague. J’ai autant de plaisir à regarder un ami prendre une bonne vague, qu’en surfer une moi-même. Cependant, je suis toujours à la recherche des meilleurs vagues, et c’est l’avantage de faire du kite plutôt que du surf : tu peux choisir n’importe quelle vague que tu veux. Je me retournai et pris la prochaine vague, qui n’était pas trop mal non plus.

La journée continua avec toute l’équipe se partageant les vagues, criant et encourageant chaque prestation, jusqu’à ce qu’aucun de nous ne puisse tenir debout plus longtemps. Nous décidions alors de retourner sur le bateau pour le dernier dîner, se remémorant les dix derniers jours et tout ce que nous avions réussi à faire. Notre longue liste d’activités durant le voyage nous a fait réaliser que nous avions tiré le meilleur de notre voyage et profité de ce que Pohnpei avait à nous offrir.

SEQUENCE LEFT

A Slezak punt

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Does it get any better after a solid day on the water?

I looked back and watched the wave rifle down the reef and explode out the back, confirming it was indeed a good ride.

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Sensi Graves getting it all lined up just right...

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L’année dernière, la Kite Park League (KPL) fut créé. Son but est de promouvoir les kite parks, rassembler les événements organisés chaque année, et élire un champion annuel. La première année eut un succès fulgurant et a démontré que la course à la victoire est le meilleur moyen d’assurer le succès d’un tel événement… Le premier événement de l’année dernière se déroulait aux Philippines dans un tout nouveau lieu créé pour l’occasion : le complexe Blue Palawan. Cette année a démarré de la même façon, avec les plus grands noms du kitesurf faisant la queue pour montrer leurs talents. Et cette année, il y avait également des nouveautés importantes…

T E X T E : James Boulding | P H O T O S : Toby Bromwich

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N KITESURF, L’ÉVOLUTION EST LA CLÉ. Si les choses ne progressent pas, les gens perdent leur intérêt. C’est ce que nous avions en tête lorsque nous avons établi nos plans pour l’évènement 2017 à Blue Palawan. L’année passée ayant été une réussite, les médias étaient impatients, les coureurs étaient très excités et pour ce qui est du spot, un nouveau diamant avait été découvert. Une autre nouveauté cette année : la météo. Après les conditions light de l’année dernière, certains coureurs avaient principalement apporté des grosses ailes cette année, pensant qu’il s’agissait d’une destination avec peu de vent. Mais les idées préconçues sur Palawan étaient sur le point de changer. Les jours de vent fort sont devenus la norme, et tous les jours de compétition, il y eut beaucoup de vent. Les 10m² sont devenues les nouvelles 15m² et la compétition s’est déroulée avec une bonne dose de vent.

L’hôtel du Blue Palawan est, sans exagérer, le paradis du kitesurf. Le complexe est installé sur la plage, et il y a une piscine et un bar de plage à l’endroit où l’on gonfle ses ailes. Après une session, on peut simplement faire atterrir son kite, et plonger dans la piscine après avoir profité de l’offre 1 cocktail offert pour 1 acheté, lors de l’happy hour quotidien de 16 à 19h. Croyez-moi : vous trouverez forcément un cocktail qui vous plait sur la carte. Je recommande le « Kiteboarder’s Lemonade » avec trois alcools différents : la meilleure façon de passer du jour à la nuit.

Pour plus de conseils, Sam Medysky est votre homme, et si on parle addition, il est le gagnant.

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Noè Font showed his true potential throughout the event TO P

Five Star living for the selfless competitors...

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Tom Court stepping up for his ‘off the water’ responsibilities

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LEFT

Brandon just about keeping his board on the slider and incurring the wrath of his sponsors by hiding his kite behind his body.

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The unstoppable park-riding machine that is Sam Light here channeling John Travolta B OT TO M

Christophe Tack hitting the kicker just right. He’s going to be one to watch for 2017...

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...by the time it came down to it the guys were holding down 9m kites and the wind was up and down with some serious holes so the risk of accident was significantly higher.

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Tom Court stepping up for his ‘on the water’ responsibilities B OT TO M

Taking the low road RIGHT

It’s all about the hat style

Sur l’eau cette année, les obstacles étaient le Solaire kicker, le « It’s more fun in the Philippines », le North box et une nouvelle création en bambou, tout droit sorti de l’imagination du président du KPL, Eric Rienstra (plus de détails à ce sujet en fin d’article). Les règles étaient simples : chaque rider a le droit à trois essais sur chaque obstacle. Seule la meilleure note des trois essais compte. En kitesurf, il y a toujours le vent, indomptable, qui peut tout bouleverser, à cause d’un léger changement de sens. En leur donnant trois chances, ils sont assurés de pouvoir faire leurs meilleures figures.

Bien qu’avant la compétition, il avait été décidé d’intégrer l’obstacle en bambou d’Eric, au moment où les gars sortaient leur 9m², le vent était incertain, et la houle dangereuse : le risque d’accident était devenu trop important. Ainsi, il avait été mis de côté pour le freeride une fois les finales terminées. Sam Light s’est imposé avec une régularité impressionnante, comme si les conditions n’étaient rien du tout. Ewan Jaspan finit deuxième, forçant Sam à s’imposer sur le fil, avec une différence de points de seulement 0,13.

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Du côté des hommes, le peloton continue à se regrouper. Les gars collent aux baskets de Sam Light, avec son record invaincu depuis quelques années, et qui augmente à chaque compétition. Ils sont pleins d’ambition pour relever le défi, en particulier les coureurs du peloton. Noé Font prit la troisième place, un rider sur lequel il faut garder un œil, très jeune et avec certainement une soif de victoire.

Chez les femmes, la compétition était aussi intense. Toutes s’étaient entrainé dur pendant l’hiver, afin d’affiner leur stratégie de kickers. Le niveau était clairement monté d’un cran. Annelous Lammerts fut la première à imposer un premier Toeside Backside 5 dès le premier jour. Une stratégie cruciale qui l’a emmenée en haut du podium.

Une fois la compétition terminée, les coureurs ont exploité les services de l’équipe média afin de générer du contenu et de publier les vidéos pour le concours de GoPro. C’est vraiment très important pour nous lors des compétitions KPL de s’assurer qu’il y a de nombreux medias talentueux aidant les riders à tirer le meilleur contenu possible de l’événement. Enfin, la dernière compétition était celle pour le titre de « Solaire King & Queen of the Kicker », en compagnie de Christophe Tack, l’un des meilleurs kickers, se battant pour obtenir le titre masculin, tandis que Colleen Carroll s’imposait avec les honneurs chez les femmes.

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TO P

MIDDLE

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The judge’s platform

Another hat option...

King and Queen of the kicker

Dans l’ensemble, il y avait clairement un changement dans la notation, avec un accent porté sur l’exécution et le style. Les touches peu soignées et les atterrissages manqués sont sanctionnés. Le « zeaching » (lorsque la planche n’est pas à 90° par rapport à la rampe) est sévèrement réprimé. Il y a sans aucun doute une certaine maturité qui émane des compétitions KPL, même s’il ne s’agit que de la deuxième édition. Sa ressemblance avec le wakeboard est de plus en plus visible, grâce au système de points durci. Même si le kitesurf ne sera jamais du wake, c’est un plaisir de voir des wakeboardeurs intéressés par ce que font les kitesurfeurs. C’est aussi encourageant de voir les wakeboardeurs pro laisser leur équipement sur la plage, et s’éclater accroché à une aile de kite.

C’était encore un rendez-vous formidable aux Philippines, annonçant un bon présage pour le reste de l’année. L’événement suivant sera celui du célèbre Triple S au Cap Hatteras en Caroline du Nord. Il existe depuis plus de 10 ans maintenant, étant devenu un rendez-vous immanquable du calendrier, qui voit tous les grands noms du kitesurf concourir pour le plus gros prize money de n’importe quel événement du KPL. Ils ont amélioré leur organisation, et est toujours le summum des compétitions de park riding. Les meilleures figures y ont été réalisées et au vu de la progression des riders ces six derniers mois, il va falloir suivre cela de près.

, Resultats: Hommes 1. Sam Light 2. Ewan Jaspan 3. Noè Font

Femmes 1. Annelous Lammerts 2. Colleen Carroll 3. Sensi Graves

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Ewan had a good one...

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Men’s podium medal chomp B OT TO M

Women’s podium arms up

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CONSTRUIRE DES MACHINES DE GUERRE Texte: Eric Rienstra

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Eric showing full commitment on his one-of-a-kind feature...

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L

’existence c’est le temps, et le temps c’est le progrès. Le progrès est inévitable, mais le rythme du progrès dépend totalement des responsables de la progression. Les sports de glisse ont certainement beaucoup progressé ces dernières décennies. Depuis l’évolution des figures et l’augmentation de la vitesse, jusqu’au développement de nouveaux matériels et nouveaux sports. C’est ce perpétuel chemin vers l’avant qui nous décrit et nous motive à prendre part au mouvement. Sans cela, le sport devient banal, et les sessions deviennent de moins en moins passionnantes. Le kitesurf est sans doute le sport de glisse qui a eu la progression la plus rapide ces deux dernières décennies. Des disciplines différentes et des championnats ont vu le jour, l’équipement a connu des évolutions majeures, et le niveau de navigation à l’international a explosé avec chaque nouvelle génération.

Bien qu’il fût introduit au kitesurf grâce aux mouvements de wakeboard à ses débuts, le Park Riding demeure toujours une discipline non conventionnelle.

Mais grâce à l’engouement des riders pros autour du monde, sa progression est constante et commence désormais à s’épanouir. Le premier championnat du monde de park riding fut créé en 2016, accompagnant l’essor de l’évolution des figures. Les Mobe 7, 900, et autres touches et grabs sont devenus fréquents lors des événements et dans les vidéos. Mais que se passet-il ensuite ? On pourrait continuer à ajouter des 180 et des tours, et appeler ça différemment, mais ça deviendrait redondant. Bienvenu dans le concept urbain du skateboard et du snowboard. Dans sa mentalité, la progression n’est pas basée sur ce que tu fais, mais sur quel support tu le fais. Rider sur de nouveaux obstacles, plus évolués et risqués devient le nouveau challenge.

Ces dernières années, les kite parks ont commencé à voir le jour partout dans le monde. Mais dû à des coûts et investissements importants, ils sont pour la plupart destinés aux niveaux débutant et intermédiaire, afin de les exploiter au maximum. C’est super pour l’expansion des parks, mais pour les meilleurs riders au monde, ils deviennent forcément plus ennuyeux.

Je vois cela comme des étudiants dont on teste le niveau avec un examen.

Si tout le monde obtient 20/20, comment sait-on qui est le meilleur ? Il y a un obstacle, et la meilleure figure est déterminée par l’obstacle lui-même. Donc si tout le monde peut le faire, alors il devient difficile de juger le niveau. A la place, l’obstacle doit être si difficile que personne ne peut y faire la meilleure figure. Alors là, nous verrons où sont réellement les limites de chacun. C’était mon objectif lorsque Paula m’a demandé de construire un nouveau jouet en bambou pour le Solaire Kiteboard Open en 2017. Je voulais quelque chose qui me fasse peur. Plus de pression et d’adrénaline. Alors j’ai laissé un vide entre la rampe et le pont, ainsi qu’un rail élevé entre les poutres. Cela signifie qu’il y avait un risque de chute. Ensuite, j’ai ajouté des trous dans les escaliers, de façon à ce que descendre soit très compliqué. C’était très cruel.

Une fois mis en place, cela a ajouté une toute nouvelle dimension à l’événement. Il devenait difficile de faire la moindre touche de base, et on s’est pris de belles gamelles. Mais le meilleur, c’est après, lorsque tu ressens cette impression de planer après une session de sensations extrêmes. Cette journée fut bien occupée, et nous espérons du progrès demain…

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It’s a whole lot of bamboo...

RIGHT

Held together with a whole lot of of fishing line

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W O R D S A N D C A P T I O N S : PAT R I M C L A U G H L I N

TOBY ARRIVE EN VILLE

This wave breaks way out to sea. Toby managed to sneak the shot while simultaneously driving my jet ski...

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One of the hardest workers on the water, Patri McLaughlin, entertains one of the hardest workers behind the lens. As you will see, good things happen...

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LEFT: Not the biggest Jaws wave, but still enough to get the heart rate up.

BOTTOM: Surfing with a kite allows you to pull off some laid back turns...

Pour ceux d’entre vous qui ne connaissent pas Toby Bromwich, voici une présentation. Toby est un héros du kitesurf, tapi dans l’ombre. Il est plus exposé que n’importe quel rider. Il a fait plus de couvertures que n’importe qui et a voyagé dans des destinations exotiques pour le kite, plus que la plupart des gens.

Donc si vous ne savez pas qui il est, Toby est un photographe, et il est le photographe le plus travailleur que je connaisse.

Il y a quelques mois, j’ai eu le plaisir d’accueillir Toby Bromwich ici chez moi à Maui. C’était son premier séjour sur les îles hawaïennes, et j’espère que ça ne sera pas son dernier. Il est resté avec moi cinq jours, et on a littéralement pris des photos tous les jours.

Le premier jour, il y devait y avoir de belles vagues sur le célèbre spot « Jaws ». Il sauta à l’arrière du jetski et nous partions.

Malheureusement, c’était la moins bonne journée que nous avions eu depuis un moment. C’était également juste après une importante compétition de windsurf, et donc envahi par les planchistes. Ça n’a pas arrêté Toby, qui se mit à mitrailler et nous avons eu quelques bons clichés.

Par la suite, on eut de vraiment bonnes journées sur ce spot onshore. Le premier jour, il photographia depuis la plage, et eu quelques très bonnes photos. Toby me confia avoir vu des photos de ce genre dans beaucoup de magazines et voulait faire quelque chose de différent. Le jour suivant, nous décidions de louer un stand up paddle et de nous poser en dehors des vagues, de façon

à ce que Toby puisse prendre les photos tourné vers la plage.

Les conditions étaient parfaites : une belle houle et 30 nœuds de vent. Le pauvre Toby était malmené par le vent, allongé sur son SUP. Plusieurs fois, il fut carrément poussé à l’eau par les grosses vagues. Il y avait également beaucoup de méduses dans l’eau, qui ont piqué Toby à de multiples reprises. Ce que je ne lui ai dit qu’après la session, c’est que c’est l’endroit de l’île le plus infesté de requins. Je pensais qu’il n’avait pas réussi à obtenir de bons clichés, mais je me trompais. Il avait les plus belles photos que je n’avais jamais vues sur ce spot, et avec un angle vraiment unique.

Pour son dernier jour avec moi, le vent s’était levé et les vagues étaient plutôt bonnes. Je pensais que Toby voudrait faire un peu de tourisme avant de prendre l’avion le soir-même, mais il était motivé à repartir pour un photo shoot. On regarda du côté de Ho’okipa, mais les conditions étaient brouillons. Finalement, on décida de rassembler les affaires et de sortir le jetski une dernière fois. Je connais un spot secret qu’on ne peut photographier que depuis un jetski. A la bonne taille, elles font partie des meilleures vagues que sur lesquelles j’ai pu kiter. Ce jour-là, il n’y avait pas vraiment de vent. Ma copine était venue avec nous, et on finit par obtenir de vraiment belles photos. La lumière était parfaite, avec quelques jolies vagues.

Toby prit l’avion ce soir-là. Parti vers de nouvelles aventures, remplies de belles photos.

TO B Y A R R I V E E N V I L L E

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This is one of my favorite spots to kite on Maui. It’s like a skate park with perfect wind for airs...

TO B Y A R R I V E E N V I L L E

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I wear a leash at this spot because it's pretty sharky and I dont want to body drag too much...

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Toby didn't know that though. That's how he got these water shots...

TO B Y A R R I V E E N V I L L E

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CELUI QUI RÉPOND AUX APPELS DE DIMITRI MARAMENIDES EST COURAGEUX. Celui qui s’engage dans un boot camp de 10 jours non-stop avec lui au Brésil est encore plus téméraire. Heureusement, inutile de paniquer, Matt McKenna est également le médecin de Dimitri. Mais est-ce que des compétences médicales sont suffisantes pour réussir à le suivre ?

Texte: Matt McKenna | Photos: Gustav Schmiege

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TO P

One way to reduce the weight on the ferry...

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LES GARS, AVEZ-VOUS DÉJÀ ENTENDU PARLER DE HUMPTY DUMPTY ? LE PAUVRE PERSONNAGE TOMBÉ D’UN MUR QUI DOIT ÊTRE RECONSTITUÉ ? EH BIEN, JE SUIS LE DOCTEUR QUI DOIT REMETTRE EN UN SEUL MORCEAU LE HUMPTY DUMPTY DES TEMPS MODERNES : DIMITRI MARAMENIDES.

S

TO P

Dr Matt McKenna enjoying his vacation TO P - R I G H T

High pressure wheel change RIGHT

It's a perfect 10 from the beach vendor

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es cascades ne sont pas pour les âmes sensibles, et lorsque tu pousses tes limites à ce niveau, à cette altitude, et à cette durée, tu ne peux pas échapper à quelques bosses, hématomes, entailles et séjours à l’hôpital. Ce que je veux dire, c’est combien de riders voyagent avec une équipe médicale ??

Ma dernière aventure démarra lorsque Dimitri m’appela, me demandant de l’accompagner au Brésil. Le voyage devait nous emmener dans plusieurs endroits, ce qui impliquait la plupart du temps de naviguer sur des spots déserts, loin de toute civilisation et d’assistante médicale. Depuis plusieurs années que je soigne Dimitri, nous sommes devenus de bons amis, mais je considère comme ma responsabilité de le tirer un peu en arrière, lui demander de se mettre plus en sécurité. Dimitri ne connaît que deux modes : le 300 km/h et le sommeil. Comment aurais-je pu dire non ? Sans moi, qui sait dans quelle situation il pourrait se retrouver.

Dire que ma femme était hésitante est un euphémisme. Elle connaît Dimitri et a vu ses vidéos. De plus, le Brésil n’est pas vraiment à proximité, en particulier les spots sur lesquels nous allions nous rendre. Avec son consentement, je posais dix jours de congés au travail, et préparais mon voyage. Rapidement, j’avais les deux pieds dans le « Dimitri Boot Camp » pour dix journées difficiles, pleines d’action, et surtout stressantes.

Faire ma valise pour le voyage fut super facile. Je la remplis de shorts, t-shirts et de matériel médical. Les voyages de Dimitri sont bien préparés, et si vous avez vu les photos, vous savez qu’il voyage avec suffisamment d’affaires pour une armée entière. Alors pourquoi apporter les miennes ? Je le laisse se débrouiller avec les suppléments bagages ! Mon périple débuta par un court vol jusqu’en Floride, où je retrouvais

Dimitri, puis nous nous dirigions vers Fortaleza au Brésil. Plusieurs heures de vol plus tard, nous arrivions… Entassés dans une fourgonnette, nous nous dirigions vers Cumbuco, qui serait notre pied à terre pour la première partie du voyage.

Marc Rowley, gérant de Epic Kite en GrandeBretagne, rejoignit le groupe sur place, en tant que testeur de matériel. Nous restions deux nuits au Cumbuco Guest House, où nous avons rencontré les légendes locales du surf : Yuri Manzon et Diego dos Santos du Cumbuco Board Riders. Il s’agit d’une entreprise qui propose des excursions kite et surf. Dimitri décida de les engager pour huit jours, afin qu’ils puissent nous emmener en 4x4 sur les meilleurs spots, et s’assurer que nous tirions le meilleur de ce que le Brésil pouvait nous offrir.

BOOT CAMP

Certains d’entre vous doivent avoir entendu parler du « Dimitri Boot Camp », qui est le nom donné pour les personnes qui osent voyager avec lui. C’est un rythme effréné qui commence à 6h30 du matin et se termine vers 23h. Dimitri a plus d’énergie qu’une pile électrique, et si tu n’es pas levé à 6h30, il peut faire n’importe quoi pour te réveiller (ce qu’il implique en général de se faire filmer). Si tu t’endors avant 21h, assure-toi de fermer ta porte à clé pour ne pas avoir de surprise le lendemain matin… Après un « couvre-feu » le premier soir, je me réveillai à 6h30, en entendant quelqu’un arriver dans ma chambre. J’attrapai Dimitri la main dans le sac avec un tournevis, cherchant à ouvrir ma porte. Bien essayé, mais je m’y attendais.

Après un petit-déjeuner consistant au Cumbuco Guest House, nous embarquions dans l’un des 4x4 du Cumbuco Board Riders et prenions la route dès 8h. Notre premier arrêt n’était pas très loin de Cumbuco. Un spot de vagues où nous avons pu naviguer pendant trois heures avant de bouger au Taiba Lagoon, qui était plein de riders. On décida donc d’aller sur l’autre côté du lagon où il y avait un peu plus d’espace, et on navigua toute la journée. Vers 19h, nous étions les derniers sur l’eau.

Au moment où nous rangions nos affaires, on se rendit compte que l’un des pneus était à plat, et que le véhicule n’avait pas de roue de secours. L’entreprise pouvait nous envoyer une voiture pour venir nous chercher, mais il fallait attendre deux heures…

Il faisait nuit noire avant même qu’ils n’arrivent, et c’est là que la situation devint inquiétante. Alors que nous attendions en prenant des photos et des vidéos, les deux conducteurs locaux nous ont demandé d’éteindre nos téléphones, à cause de la lumière qu’ils produisaient. Ils ne voulaient pas que d’autres

personnes puissent voir que nous étions sur la plage, car d’autres avaient été victimes d’agressions et de vols dans le passé. C’est là que nous avons vu deux paires de phares se dirigeant vers nous. Yury et Diego nous alors dit d’attraper quelque chose que nous pourrions utiliser en cas de bagarre. C’est là que j’ai commencé à paniquer et à chercher un endroit où cacher mon téléphone dans le cas où ces gars nous prendraient tout.

Tout ce que j’entendais était la voix de ma femme dans ma tête... Soudain, Dimitri me demanda ce que j’étais en train de faire. Je lui répondis que je creusais un trou pour y cacher mon téléphone. Il me dit alors de me tenir prêt, que ça allait être une nuit EPIQUE. Yury et Diego se dirigèrent vers les phares, nous laissant à la voiture. Nous voulions donner l’impression d’être plus nombreux. J’eus une montée d’adrénaline, j’avais l’impression d’être dans un film.

Après un échange plutôt bref, Yury et Diego revinrent vers nous, nous assurant que tout allait bien. Quel soulagement !

Mon cœur battait comme à mon premier rencart ! Il était presque 22h et on était tous affamés. Comme d’habitude, Dimitri avait du travail, il était 00h30 une fois le diner terminé.

Je pensai « C’est seulement le premier jour… Je ne suis pas sûr de survivre à ce voyage… » ▸

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DORMIR EST UNE OPTION

Le matin suivant, je me réveillai très tôt à cause du décalage horaire et je trouvai Dimitri assis à la même table, portant les mêmes vêtements.

Je lui demandai s’il avait dormi, ce qu’il m’a assuré.

Que personne ne nous retarde, il me demanda de me dépêcher, car les chauffeurs venaient nous chercher dans 40 minutes, et j’étais chargé de réveiller le reste du groupe.

Yury et Diego arrivèrent à l’heure et furent stupéfaits de la quantité de matériel à charger. La pile sur le toit était tellement haute qu’elle avait l’air d’être le point de se renverser, et il y avait encore du matériel dans le coffre. Je n’étais même pas sûr qu’il y ait de la place pour les passagers…

D’une manière ou d’une autre, nous parvenions à nous installer et prenions la direction du nord pour notre premier arrêt : deux heures de downwind de Taiba jusqu’à Paracuru. Après avoir tout rangé, on nous conduisit encore une heure et demi jusqu’à un club de kite très sympa, le « Pousada Pura Vida Club Brazil » à Ilha do Guajiru, où un ami de Dimitri, Joseph Carneiro, mène les opérations.

Cet endroit est juste formidable. Tellement bien, que nous y resterons deux jours…

Notre destination suivante était Jericoacoara.

Cela impliquait un trajet de deux heures sur la route principale, suivie d’une autre heure hors des sentiers battus. C’est la façon la plus habituelle de se déplacer au Brésil. Pour se rendre dans la plupart des meilleurs spots, il faut prendre des chemins reculés. Il commençait à se faire tard mais Dimitri décida de s’arrêter pour une session kite sur un lagon magnifique appelé « Lagoa Paraiso », près de la ville de Prea avant d’arriver à Jericoacoara. Le trajet de Prea à Jericoacoara se fait dans l’obscurité, la plupart du trajet consiste à conduire le long de la plage. Je pouvais entendre l’océan à 30 mètres de moi, ce qui était notre principal repère. Nous avons fini par rejoindre Jericoacoara à 21h30, épuisés, et par trouver un bon endroit pour se poser. ▸ TO P

Doctor downtime FA R R I G H T

"So just sit here right?"

RIGHT

It's got to be Brazil...

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THIS PLACE WAS SIMPLY AMAZING. SO GOOD, IN FACT, THAT WE STAYED FOR TWO DAYS…

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OVER THE NEXT FOUR DAYS WE RODE SOME STUNNING PLACES.

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DISPARU EN MER

Le matin suivant, Dimitri nous a gentiment laissés dormir jusqu’à 7h30. Après le petit-déjeuner, il nous a expliqué que l’objectif de notre journée était de naviguer downwind de Prea à Jericoacoara, avec le 4x4 nous suivant sur la plage. Jericoacoara est une ville magnifique et unique. Toutes les rues sont sableuses, et certains magasins ont du sable sur le sol, ce qui donne une allure générale à la ville.

La session kite était géniale, mais nous avons perdu Dimitri à un moment car son kite est tombé juste à côté d’une zone avec de gros rochers, près d’une grotte. Il nous a crié de continuer tout droit jusqu’aux dunes de Jericoacoara et de ne pas s’inquiéter pour lui. J’ai pensé utiliser mes compétences médicales, mais à ma grande surprise, Dimitri et Gus étaient à la voiture à nous attendre lorsque nous sommes arrivés. Avant de poser mon aile, Dimitri a décidé de l’emprunter pour un beachstart depuis les dunes. La distance est vraiment trop importante pour assurer un atterrissage en toute sécurité. Le fou. J’imagine qu’il avait encore beaucoup d’énergie, vu que sa session downwind s’était terminée plus vite que prévu.

Jericoacoara était notre point de chute pour cinq nuits.

C’est un endroit super et proche de plusieurs spots. La vie nocturne y est également animée et dynamique pour ceux qui ont assez d’énergie pour en profiter. J’étais si fatigué que je suis tombé de sommeil – grosse erreur ! Au matin, je me suis réveillé avec une vue sur mes orteils vernis. J’en ai presque recraché mon caché quand j’ai découvert que Gus avait subi le même sort !

J’imagine que nous avions oublié de verrouiller notre porte.

Leçon retenue.

Les quatre jours suivants, nous avons navigué sur des spots superbes. Pour accéder à certains d’entre eux, il faut garer la voiture sur un petit chaland en bois et se laisser flotter jusqu’à la rivière de l’autre côté. Ça me semblait instable, mais c’était une occasion pour Dimitri de relever son niveau et de prendre de superbes photos. Tandis que nous flottions, Dimitri sauta à plusieurs reprises sur le chaland ou plus fort encore, faisait des saltos. Il a sans doute pris de bons clichés de nous également.

D’ici, nous avions accès à nos kites, aux lagons de Tatajuba et Lago de Jijoca, où nous avons pu attraper de jolis poissons pour le déjeuner.

Notre voyage s’est terminé à Barra Grande, où le BGK Pousada a pris bien soin de nous. Nous avions l’intention de n’y passer qu’une nuit, mais grâce à un emploi du temps flexible et un service agréable, nous y sommes restés deux. Cela résume bien notre voyage. Le Brésil est un endroit incroyable et je vous encourage à y visiter les meilleurs spots, ou réserver un séjour avec des guides expérimentés. C’était vraiment génial, mais j’ai eu la frousse. Merci Dimitri. 

FA R L E F T

Boosting off the jeep

MIDDLE

Dune jumping

TO P

The crew. And a kid who will have plenty to tell his friends about.

B OT TO M

No room in the jeep 103

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Tail Grab Front Blind Mobe Rider: Liam Whaley Photo and words: James Boulding

The Move This stylish grab variation on the Front Blind Mobe is not the easiest to execute. You need to have Front Blind Mobes in the bag, which isn’t the simplest trick. Once you have that dialed, the tail grab is a great way to pimp out one of the most stylish powered wakestyle moves there is.

The How To Pop aggressively into an inverted front roll Pull the bar in hard and let go with your back hand to grab the tail Let go and reach for the bar with your back hand Try and pull it across your chest to help the rotation Keep rotating with your front knee and hips Drop forward and fall into the landing heelside

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As kiters we spend a whole lot of our lives checking out the water in front of us: looking for somewhere flat to pop from, looking for a kicker to boost off, or scanning the horizon for the next set wave to line up. Failing that we are probably looking up at our kite – checking its position in the window or seeing how it is looking. Too powered? Not powered enough? What we spend less time looking at is the thing that makes it all happen: the bar. Okay, you may have to glance down to look where to put your hand when you need to trim it, but failing that you probably don’t give it too much thought.

Which is how it should be – you should be focused on what you’re doing on the water, not what your holding in your hands. Yet for brands ‘bar tech’ is a big thing and a way that they can differentiate themselves from the competition – and for you as customers it is probably true that, although you might not appreciate it, when you have had an upgraded bar (or maybe when you’ve ridden a mate’s kite) you’ve thought, “Hmmmm, that’s an improvement” before you get on with your session…

So what is it that makes a bar ‘better’?

And what are the brands focusing on when they strive to bring you the very best bar that they can? We thought we’d find out…

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GL OB AL V8

RRD The eighth version of our RRD Global Bar sticks to all the great features of simplicity and reliability of the previous versions, and takes a step forward with new components and redesigned parts. The Global Bar has a great history of performance and reliability and has safety, functionality and durability at its core. We have taken out any unnecessary items instead of adding them to make every component more functional. Put simply: ‘you can’t break what doesn’t exist!’ All our 4-line bars are 55cm wide and have 23m lines and work on all of our 4-line kite sizes and models. So you just need one bar for all your RRD kites. (Then for our 5-line Obsession Pro model we have a 48cm wide 5-line bar with 22m lines.) The headline feature for V8 is the rotating chicken loop which makes it easy to untwist your lines in combination with the molded chicken loop finger that has a multiple pre-set position. Then we have our new simplified safety system on the front lines to depower your kite 100% in case you need it.

Our double chamber depower rope is made out of indestructible polyurethane, which makes the bar slide easy, you will never have to replace it and the length of the depower rope can be adjusted with the depower stopper EVA float. By simply pushing the EVA float up or down you can trim the depower rope length according to the

length of your arms or depending on the conditions you are kiting in. This stopperball is also a handy feature for people with shorter arms or for specific tricks like the dead-man. It also makes the kite more stable in light wind, which is useful for schools. Then you have the option to use the Velcro loop on the depower cord to prevent the cord from flapping around when you have fully de-powered the kite.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

The most unique feature of our bar is our unique RRD Rigid Thread Lines. These are used exclusively on the RRD bars and with great success for over six years. The lines are produced and developed in Italy with a worldwide patent granted to RRD. The ‘Rigid Thread Lines’ are the result of a collaboration with an Italian manufacturing company that has more than fifty years of experience in the processing of textile fibers, using the most recent and innovative exotic fibers, combined with an intimate knowledge of the physical and mechanical properties of Dyneema. The differences with our lines is that the conventional Dyneema kite line has excellent characteristics of load but suffers from the high temperatures that the horizontal and vertical pull create, which makes the lifespan of the lines significantly shorter because of wear and tear. Our Rigid Thread Lines don’t have this problem and have a better resistance to friction. It is also much more difficult to get knots and the lines are easier to untwist. On top of that, the Rigid Thread Lines have a great structural memory after tension, so they won’t stretch at all.

CO

RE

AIRUSH The Airush Bar is one of the most easiest and intuitive bars on the market, focusing on safety, durability and quality in a complete offering. The bar selection is broken down into 5 options; Progression, Core, Core Cleat, AP and Diamond. Although five bars might sound excessive, each product caters to a specific rider with unique characteristics from schools to entry level, everyday riding, wakestyle or female designed performance. On Airush bars, safety if first priority.

The industry standard Brain 2.0 Quick Release is simple, quick, and intuitive to activate and reset. The Brain features a below the bar swivel for untwisting your centerlines, a center line flag out system for a clean bar with safety, new leash attachment for those riding hooked or unhooked, and easy to customize chickenloop lengths for shorter or longer bar throw. The second priority is durability and quality. The AFNOR approved Airush bars withstand the elements, loads, constant tension and pressures from kiteboarding. Each bar is made with extremely durable aluminum tubing for a perfect blend of lightweight and strength, wrapped with a comfortable EVA grip which varies in diameter depending on the specific bar range. Highly robust components such as bar ends, quick releases, and molded bar floats are tested to withstand excessive school use, everyday riding and extreme uses by our World Champion team through multiple years of testing.

Our Airush bars utilize pre-stretched 270kg lines (Progression and Diamond), 270kg steering/400kg power lines (Core and Core Cleat)

or all 400kg on steering and power featured on the AP Freestyle/ Wakestyle bar. These line strengths are used specifically for the styles of riding each bar is intended for.

What sets you apart from the competition?

The Airush bar range is well known throughout the industry as one of the most featured packed bar with immense amount of customization capabilities while still remaining safe, simple and clean. The Core and Core Cleat bar are the only bars on the market that have 4 size options (62-55-52-45cm) which allows you to ride from your smallest to largest kite in the quiver. Each bar comes stock with the recommended trim strap but can easily be converted in a matter of minutes to the trim you love the most. The Pull-Pull system, featured on Airush bars for over 7 years, gives the exact amount of trim in an easy to use package while the Cleat option allows for a more familiar option for those who have used other brands. So we have a great bar with an insane number of options to tune it to your exact requirements!

BEHIND BARS

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UNI BAR 3R D G E N

BL ADE Blade has always taken pride in its oneof-a-kind UniBar. It has been praised by websites, magazines and riders of all styles. The UniBar 3rd Gen is the newest version of our control bar system, fresh out of the factory. After four years of the 2nd gen, we decided it was time to move forward. The first thing we did was interview riders from around the world to get a feel for must-keeps and must-adds. Combined with feedback collected throughout those years, we went back to the drawing board and completely redefined almost every aspect of the UniBar, and while some invaluable features were preserved, many were changed or developed from scratch. Our main mission was to make the bar as light and comfortable as possible. At an incredibly light 318 grams, the new UniBar defies both the laws of physics and market standards. Despite being so light, the ergonomic bar is padded with a dual grip layer, making the bar extremely comfortable with the purpose of letting you kite for as long as you’d like without feeling any inconvenience. Another great feature presented in the UniBar 3rd Gen is the Line DeTwister, enabled by moving the swivel below the bar. The Line DeTwister automatically unravels the kite’s front lines, keeping them untangled at all times. Keeping things tidy is a staple with this bar, so our exclusively designed adjustable Uni

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goal, as you’ll note from the above measurements, all of our bars include an adjustable width. Within seconds, the rider can adjust the width of the outside lines based on kite size, preference and conditions. While we offer three options, kiters only need to choose one bar that suits their needs. All of our control bars are compatible with our kite range and freely interchangeable.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

The 6G control bar series has been in development for more than three years and we’re extremely excited to offer three control bar options, each with our innovative variable width solution. All of our control bars have extremely comfortable contoured grips to give it a tactile feel for muscle memory, capped off with really soft bar ends. We’ve been hit in the face and knees with bars before – it hurts! These new soft ends make it hurt a whole lot less. We’re also proud of our quick release system. It’s reliable even when coated with sand and can be reassembled within seconds in the water with one hand. The quick release also easily rotates to prevent front line twisting. As bar colors are forever changing, we continue to write ‘Wrong Way’ on the bar handle and ‘Less’/‘More’ on the depower component as a way to ensure rider safety and build intuitive behavior.

AR ITY B

Epic have just released three new and innovative control bars to market which address specific riding styles and rider needs. We firmly believe that one bar does not fit all people so to make our customers happy, we’ve developed three bars to address every need. The Dimitri Pro is geared towards the rider who desires aggressive bar input for swift and precise kite response when tackling huge air and high impact moves. The bar width is a short 42 – 52 cm (with 20 meter lines included with 2-meter extensions).

This control system features a contoured and comfortable handle, and an above the bar cleat system so that kite trimming and depower can be managed in whatever increments the rider requires. The depower lines are coated for line wear protection and we’ve added a smooth metal insert into the handle to allow for both smooth bar movement and greatly reduced wear to these lines. The Freeride control bar is slightly wider at 48 – 58 cm (on 22-meter lines) and boasts the same high quality construction and materials as the Dimitri Pro. This bar also features a slightly reduced diameter from our earlier model. Riders of all levels and styles will appreciate the comfortable and familiar fit and feel that they’ve come to love. The depower system utilizes our powerful and proven strap technology but moves to a more rigid handle design. Our clearly marked ‘More’ and ‘Less’ handles are now plastic coated to add rigidity which prevents the risk of getting wound in the front lines when fully depowered. Then the Infinity bar comes in a 52 – 62 cm width (24-meter line set) and is a perfect match for our Infinity light wind kite and uses the same power/ depower system as the Freeride bar. We offer three control bar options because we believe that the control system should match the interest, ability, preference and size of the rider. To further this

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

The deal maker on both the Best Red Bar and Black Bar is probably the combination of all their thought-through features and high quality parts and materials. Best bars combine innovative own engineering solutions with proven industry standards. Putting the customer first, we are staying away from reinventing the wheel but rather offering tangible safety and usability.

Best was the first brand to equip their regular 4-line bar with a short leash to focus 100 % on safety where nothing else matters. That is a clear sign that Best is not only committed to high-end freestyle and wakestyle riders but always considers the undeniable needs of the average freerider first. Using state of the art lines, a unique grip, being the first brand to use self-lubricating exchangeable inserts in the bar center, combined with the industry standard safety system makes the bar incredibly functional and hassle free.

INFIN

EPIC

Clear comes with a magnet that keeps the excess depower strap in place throughout the ride. For the lines, the UniBar 3rd Gen is equipped with the highest quality lines – the Austrian made Teufelberger FL series: thin and aerodynamic FL-10 for the rear lines and thick and strong FL-14 for the front lines, which carry a much bigger load. Then finally, the UniBar 3rd Gen QR flagging system is the same one we have been using for over six years. When you have a system that works 100% of the time and releases 100% of the power, there’s really nothing else you can ask for.

R BA K IC CL

NO RT H The Clickbar is one of the biggest innovations in kiteboarding over the last couple of years. A completely new way of powering/ depowering and just in general trimming your kite. Safer, easier, and more comfortable, the unique Trim Unit enables you to power and depower in a split second. To power your kite you just turn the winder of the Trim Unit clockwise – this shortens the length of your backlines with every half turn. To depower, simply push the button in the middle of the winder and your back lines will lengthen again with every click. At any time, the level of power/depower is visible on the Power Display on the bar, as well as on a neon orange mark above the right floater. Being placed on the right side of the bar, the Trim Unit is easily accessible, offering power and depower intuitively in any situation – be it dropping into a massive wave or during an enormous megaloop.

For optimum safety, the Clickbar is equipped with the Iron Heart V, ensuring a quick and reliable safety release. Further more, the lines, even the guided safety line, are automatically untwisted during rotations. Delivered with a 4-line set up and adjustable to a 22m or 24m line length, the Clickbar is also available as a 5th

Element Upgrade Kit. With all its unique features, the Clickbar delivers a completely new experience in kitesurfing. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked forever!

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

The real revolution of the bar is hidden in the Trim Unit. The winder on the right side of the bar is the key to the new way of power. The power steps are divided in to eight steps – half a rotation on the winder is one power step. The whole depower can be reached in seconds, at least as fast than with a common depower line. We also have an open ceramic bearing which is long lasting and very easy to clean to ensure maximum safety performance, then the Clickbar comes with a single TPU covered depower line, a long lasting protection from abrasion which also protects the safety line. This is the cleanest possible bar set up with simple and intuitive trimming of the kite and with a huge depower stroke.

STICK

SHIFT

OCEAN RODEO The Stick Shift stands apart in 2017. It features an ultra-lightweight

while keeping both hands firmly in control and on the bar when

carbon composite Groove bar design and the Stick Shift delivers a precisely engineered yet efficient solution to back line trim, a design conundrum that has vexed the industry for years. Built to be open and easily flushed of all debris, the Stick Shift offers riders a simple way of ensuring their trim control is always within reach and easily adjusted when on the water and under sail. The bar’s novel Sidewinder trim control knob is easily reached in almost any setting and allows the rest of the bar to remain surprisingly simple and cleanly set-up. The Stick Shift offers near limitless sheeting range with an on-the-fly, single hand adjustable G Stop bar stopper and ensures riders can micro tune their kite’s trim settings

depowering. On the beach or with slack rear lines, the Helix back line tensioning system maintains rear line tension and prevents line spooling issues when depowering. With few moving parts, an open and easily flushed design and no cleat chewing up the trim line, the Stick Shift is also low maintenance. However, in the event of repairs, the rear line winder and trim line are easily removed with one set screw and replaced in under 10 minutes as one unit. The Stick Shift ships with Liros DC 401 580kg test flying lines, leash and a collection of pigtails designed to ensure the bar is compatible with every brand of 4-line kite.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

The main innovation for us in 2017 is the depower system. This has been over five years in design and testing and it now delivers clean and precise trim adjustment and control for today’s highly refined kites.

The Sidewinder knob is incredibly easy to use to both power up and depower the kite, and the absence of a depower line or cleat keep the bar incredibly clean and easy to use. Open and easily flushed of all debris, the Stick Shift is also very easily maintained and an incredibly accessible design for riders of all styles and ability.

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CORE In 2011, the original Sensor bar added an entirely new feature. The first ever 2-way twistable quick release (QR). A compact safety system that re-imagined the conventional push/pull systems of the day.

Six years later, CORE continues to use the Rotor 2 QR on all its bars including their flagship, the Sensor 2S Pro. A bar bristling with innovative technology and materials rarely seen in other bars. It’s fair to question the need for a ‘pro level’ bar in your quiver, but just consider the possibilities if this bad boy found its way into your gear bag. The Sensor 2S Pro attracts superlatives from groms to pros with its safety, simplicity, and signature CORE performance. The level of performance that you’d expect from the island powerhouse of Fehmarn. Unlike heavy bars that transmit a dead and lifeless bar feel, the 200g carbon fiber and titanium construction translates kite feedback into effortless and crisp kite control. The 100% Tectanium line setup is thinner, stronger, and more UV resistant than CORE’s already amazing standard lines. It’s protected with 5.2mm (really, it’s that thin!), UV-stabilized, polyether tubing where it passes through the bar. Techno-speak for a durable, self-lubricating, no pinch, depower line. The new, virtually frictionless depower/safety lines are more aerodynamic, provide better feedback,

and are more comfortable between the fingers. The new 2S also has some entirely new innovations, like the S-neck – the stainless steel connection between the Rotor QR and the depower line is curved to provide more symmetric pulling forces on the lines. Or the reengineered swivel, trim cleat, and strap. Details that may appear insignificant, but on the water, make all the difference. And together, this attention to detail creates CORE’s signature bar feel.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

Although the Sensor 2S Pro bar is a mid-cycle update, you could argue it’s more like a new model intro. Consider for a moment the ceramic bearings that replace the Sensor 2’s stainless steel swivel. On the preceramic model, front line twists occur below the Sensor 2 bar. A gentle tug on the Sensor bar was commonly required to untwist the front lines after looping the kite. The 2S replaced the below the bar swivel with hi-tech ceramic bearings. Now, the 2S virtually untwists itself. With so little friction in the system, the front lines just want to unravel on their own. And sand is no problem for the self-cleaning bearings. The days of manually spinning the front line swivel are over. Then we also have the 100% Tectanium lines which are a collaboration with German aeronautical line manufacturer, Liros, resulting in the introduction of CORE Tectanium flying lines which are 10% thinner, 50% stronger and more stretch resistant than CORE’s standard lines.

N A I SH Featuring Naish’s most advanced trim loop mechanism to date, the Torque Control Systems merge intelligent design with functional convenience for a secure and hassle-free riding experience. From the Nylatron, auto-lubricating bar center; to the high-flex, durable Hytrel thermoplastic moldings, to the quick release which features a fiberglass-reinforced polymer with a stainless steel core – Torque Control Systems are built using the highest grade materials available for performance you can depend on, session after session. Available in below or abovethe-bar trim options, the swivel incorporates a ball bearing, making it the smoothest rotating swivel possible. Certified to AFNOR standards, the Torque exceeds the benchmark for kitesurfing control systems and features our patented push-away quick release mechanism. Our system is extremely easy to reload thanks to its linear release force, which delivers consistently smooth operation regardless of line-tension. For those that prefer to ride in suicide mode, the unique design keeps the leash tucked conveniently to the side and out of the way, allowing riders to hook back in faster and easier than ever. Function-rich, easy-to-use and incredibly versatile, the Torque Control System is the clear choice for any form of kiting.

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What sets your bar apart from the competition?

For us it is the combination of features. The Torque Control System incorporates a bevy of features in its sleek design, including a fiberglass-reinforced polymer with stainless steel core, a below-the-bar ball bearing swivel and quick push-away release mechanism. The chicken loop is Hytrel Molded and features an indexing Chicken Finger for precise positioning and inhibits unintentional unhooking.

Adjusting bar width is a breeze with easy adjusters that simply pop and twist to desired width. The center of the bar is made with aircraft-grade aluminum with a replaceable Nylatron insert to reduce friction and wear on the trim line. Whether paired with a new kite, retrofitted to an older model, hitched to a Naish, or a different brand’s kite, the Torque easily fits them all – keeping you secure, while freeing you up to focus on what you love.

TO RQ UE ATB

UD S BA R

ZEE KO The UDS bar is made of several different materials. There is an alloy central piece which is designed to reduce the friction of the lines passing inside the center hole. Then the tube is made with fiberglass to avoid galvanic corrosion between the tubes and the alloy central piece.

The bar ends are especially light to protect boards (especially surfboards when you ride strapless and the bar can hit and destroy your boards, with our soft bar ends, there is no trouble).

Then the UDS bar features 3D grips – so the bar grip is made with bumps on the top helping to keep the bar in your hands during unhooked kiteloops.

Also the color code is clear (red on left), then for maximum safety there is also a ‘NO’ sign if you grab the bar on the opposite side. The bar is very light weight and, including the bar ends and the grips, comes in at just 360g.

Lines are made from Cousin-Trestec, they are made with a plastic filament covered by braided Dyneema. This feature makes the line very rigid and

facilitates the untangling of the lines when you set up the bar on the beach.

Then the lines are perfectly round so their drag is reduced. To cover all kinds of rides, the bar is equipped with 20m flying lines + 4m extensions. Use the 20m + 4m lines to jump high and in light winds, remove the extension lines to increase the high end of the kite or for surfing or for extreme kitelooping.

The depower system is a classic clamcleat, easy to use and sand free. The chicken loop is AFNOR (French norm) validated which means that the QR requires less than 10Kg of releasing force to open under 270Kg of load. The mechanism is totally new and works the same regardless of load, temperature or sand. The chicken loop is rigid and the head is twistable. When you ride unhooked it makes the chicken loop very easy to rehook and the reload of the QR after releasing is also very strightforward. You can choose to hook your leash on a suicide leash mode or on a single line, flagging the kite for maximum of safety.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

For us what sets the bar apart is its versatility. Our target was to make a bar you can adapt to your style and that would work with all of our range.

So with this bar you can surf waves, do freestyle and you can hydrofoil. So there is a long depower line for foiling, shorter lines for surfing waves and a good chicken loop for freestyle. You will never need more than the UDS bar.

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CRAZYFLY The 2017 CrazyFly Sick Bar is a state of the art control system blending together safety, comfort, durability and simplicity. With safety being the top priority, the Sick Bar has a single front line flag out. It ensures 100% collapse of the kite in all situations when the safety is triggered. The Sick Click push away quick release conforms to the French safety norm AFNOR NF S52-503. It can be easily triggered with low force in all conditions, and reloading the Sick Click system is fast and easy, even in difficult conditions. For 2017, we also redesigned the bar ends and introduced new floaters. The bar ends are shorter and stiffer while the floaters can be nicely folded for easy pack downs and safe self-rescue. For maximum comfort, the Sick Bar features a premium leather grip for unmatched comfort and long lasting durability. Then the swivel is integrated under the bar, where it is easy and comfortable to reach for untwisting the front lines after a rotational trick or a kite loop. Making things simple and clean, we covered the safety line and the center line in a PU tube. The PU tube prevents all wear and tear of the central line and allows for smooth sheeting and handling of the kite. The depower trim cleat is strategically placed above the bar, where it

no further elongation of the lines.

The dark gray color of the lines makes them clearly visible when setting up the kite in snow. The 2017 CrazyFly Sick Bar is packed with all the great features, yet is still simple, comfortable and safe to use.

is easy to reach for making adjustments on the go. For unmatched comfort and durability, the bar itself has a full carbon construction and weighs only 1200 grams complete with lines. The Sick Bar is topped off with high quality Liros® Dyneema flying lines made in Germany. The lines are pre-stretched with a heavy load, ensuring

the grip stays like new for years, even if the bar is thrown around the beach. Liros® Dyneema flying lines – the Sick Bar is topped with high quality Liros® Dyneema flying lines made in Germany.

The lines are pre-stretched with a heavy load, ensuring no further elongation of the lines. And finally – it is made in Europe…

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

It is hard to choose one thing! So here are our top five: Ultra-light weight – the bar itself is a full carbon tube on the sides for light weight with a solid center for added strength and yet it weighs only 190 grams. Power Tube – making things simple and clean, we covered the safety line and the center line in a PU tube. The PU tube prevents all wear and tear of the central line and allows for smooth sheeting and handling of the kite. Premium Leather Grip – this brand new outdoor performance premium leather grip from Italy provides superior comfort and long lasting durability and

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B ES T Best currently offers two bars, the Red Bar for 4-line kites and the Black Bar for its 5th line equipped freestyle/wakestyle kite, the Best GP. Both Best bars use the same raw materials thus living up to the same high safety standards (French Norm NF S 52-503) and we use only 100% Dyneema lines of highest grade. This includes not only the flying lines but also sleeve lines on the kite connection, leader lines, depower lines and the chicken loop’s core line. All flying lines withhold 580 daN of breaking strength. The Best bar stick is a mix of forged and heat treated alloy combined with aerospace alloy tubings, and the custom molded bar-ends are made of fiberglassreinforced Nylon covered by custom molded EVA floaters, hiding integrated back line adjusters. The center-hole is equipped with patented self-lubricating Dellrin inserts, which can be replaced in case of wear and tear. The Red and Black Bar’s unique Custom Suede Grip is made out of a sandwich construction textile that carries extremely durable embroidered grip patterns to make the look and feel last a lifetime. The material’s suede leather-like texture doesn’t only look good but also surprises with even more grip when wet than dry. For safety, Best favors the idea of proven industry standards. That’s why both Red and Black Bars feature the original Iron Heart 4 Quick Release that Best currently considers the safest option on the market. Same is true for the depower, which embodies the original Clam Cleat for maximum reliability. Best rounds up the Red Bar package with its Mini Leash Release, as 90% of the riders don’t unhook and hence appreciate always knowing their safety is right at hand. For the Black Bar there is a specific freestyle leash and

a wider chicken loop to make unhooking and hooking back in quick and easy.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

The deal maker on both the Best Red Bar and Black Bar is probably the combination of all their thought-through features and high quality parts and materials.

Best bars combine innovative own engineering solutions with proven industry standards. Putting the customer first, we are staying away from reinventing the wheel but rather offering tangible safety and usability.

Best was the first brand to equip their regular 4-line bar with a short leash to focus 100 % on safety where nothing else matters. That is a clear sign that Best is not only committed to high-end freestyle and wakestyle riders but always considers the undeniable needs of the average freerider first. Using state of the art lines, a unique grip, being the first brand to use self-lubricating exchangeable inserts in the bar center, combined with the industry standard safety system makes the bar incredibly functional and hassle free.

COMPSTICK SENTINEL

SL INGSHOT

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The Compstick has been a mainstay in Slingshot’s lineup for years, and if you look at its evolution over time, you’ll see that the core of the system has remained very familiar for more than a decade. This isn’t due to lack of innovation or attention to detail.

We’ve made steady updates and improvements year after year, but in terms of overall design and function, we believe in the notion that if something works well, stick with it. The core principal behind the Compstick revolves around a concept we refer to often at Slingshot: Rider Simplicity. Riders have told us time and again the two things they value most in their gear: Simple design and rock solid, reliable performance. The Compstick delivers both. Slingshot’s take on tech is not a “more is better” philosophy. We’ve been a leading innovator since day-one, but if tech doesn’t honestly improve rider experience or make gear better or safer, it’s just a gimmick. In the case of the Compstick, we followed the “less is more” approach. We simplified components and streamlined its look, feel and function. In response to rider feedback and requests, we introduced a second Compstick version in 2016, called the

Sentinel, for riders who prefer above-the-bar depower.

We also modified our universal 20” bar size to come standard with 20 meter lines and 3 meter extensions instead of standard 23 meter lines. This change has been extremely well received, as it gives riders more options, more customization and wider use out of one bar. With continuous improvement in mind, we’ve added several upgrades in recent years that complement the Compstick’s legacy features. This includes molded floats and padded bar-ends, a revised grip design, bar-end bungee line-keepers and an improvement in how the floats fold in for storage and an ergonomic bar opening that acts as a guide for proper hand placement and prevents finger pinching.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

One exception to the Compstick’s minimalist approach are its lines. We believe kite lines are one of the most underrated pieces of equipment in the sport. That is why we use the thickest flying lines in kiteboarding. The industry standard is 500lb test. We use special 800lb test flying lines, a proprietary weave manufactured exclusively for Slingshot and guaranteed for its no-stretch durability. When it comes to safety and dependability, we don’t mess around.

LIQUID FORC E The Mission Control (MC) System is a completely new product from Liquid Force for 2017. This bar was designed with functionality, ease of use, and single bar adjustability in mind resulting in the most versatile control system ever in the LF Kites product line. The highlight of the system is the MC push away quick release with integrated below the bar swivel.

This simple push away system provides a safe and reliable release when needed, and a solid, secure rider to kite connection when engaged. Rounding out our chicken loop is a molded rotatable security pin and internally routed flagging line which can be run in the 100% depower mode (recommended) or connected through the chicken loop for a freestyle mode option. Traveling up from the chicken loop and swivel is our double chamber PU covered mainline. We wanted to lessen the wear of our mainline over time, so we integrated a double chamber PU tube which houses both our mainline as well as a cavity for our 100% depower flagging line system. Rounding out our rider to kite power connection is our stainless steel power adjustment cleat, allowing for smooth depower/power up and fluid single finger ease of use. The power connection all runs through the center of our new single piece molded composite control bar with adjustable length bar ends and integrated line winders. With the control bar being the most tactile and literally “hands on” interactive component of the kiteboarding experience, we found it necessary to keep it simple, functional, and lightweight. Our molded bar has a simple, minimal textured grip to reduce the wear on the hands caused by harder, rougher bar grips. We also kept the bar diameter to a minimum to reduce long term hand fatigue, for those super sessions that we all love. Our adjustable bar ends work off of a cartridge system which can be pushed out and “flipped” for an easy 49cm to 55cm adjustment, or the leader line can be moved into a center position of the cartridge

to achieve a 52cm length if that is preferred. The MC bar floats are free floating to not inhibit any of the turning speed of the kite and also can be slid up to expose the hidden outside line triple knot adjustment system for easy tuning or customization of outside line length based on personal preference. Rounding out the Mission Control system are a set of 23m Teufelberger flying lines (in a 20m + 3m extensions configuration) for a clean and proven connection between your bar and kite. The Mission Control System can be used by any kiteboarder and is compatible with most kites on the market.

What sets your bar apart from the competition?

The simplicity and light weight of the Mission Control system are what make it stand apart as a great control bar choice.

Simplicity and function allow for easy adjustment on all fronts; rear line length, effective bar length, and depower/power trim on the fly when riding. These key features combined with our detached bar floats and lightweight construction allow for precise control of your kite with zero resistance from your bar.

The MC center line PU tube flows resistance free through the bar center bushing allowing for the usage of the entire control bar throw, while prohibiting wear that is more common on exposed mainlines. The molded chicken loop is short and compact to lessen the total length between the harness and the bar for a more comfortable and ergonomic body position when riding, and comes with our new Liquid Force Nano Leash for a simple, compact, proven safety connection. We also offer a larger freestyle chicken loop and freestyle leash as an accessory for those unhooked riders out there. With no mechanical parts to corrode or contaminate, the MC System provides a seamless connection between kiter and kite for an enhanced and ultraenjoyable kiteboarding experience.

MISSION CONTROL SYSTEM

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MONOLITH

The Fireball connection is an entirely new approach to arguably the most important connection point in kitesurfing. The industry’s first purpose built kite connection system was designed from the ground up to work with the unique forces that kiteboarding provides. This non-binding system allows for free, unrestricted movement no matter where the kite is located in the window. You will never be able to foulhook due to the Autolock feature, and the F! closes the loop on our efforts to maintain control over the most important elements of a kite control system. Cabrinha control systems are specifically built with the highest safety standards in mind. Regardless of your riding style, trim or connection preference, you’re always able to fully disconnect from the kite by activating our streamlined quick release security system.

The defining feature of the 1X single line flagging security system is the ridiculously simple operation. When activating the 1X security system, the kite’s power is immediately spilled by allowing it to flag open from a single front line. This quickly drops the kite from the sky and allows it rest motionless on the water or land. Our other feature rich conveniences start with our patented Overdrive Bar, which allows you to change the length of your bar from its standard mode of 48cm to the 56cm OD mode in seconds. The Recoil trim system keeps trim handles within easy reach at any stage of adjustment. It adds a bonus location to unspin your bar and extends the depower throw when needed. Soft and buoyant EVA bar ends float the entire control system and have flex grooves to aid in steering and also bend the tips while winding your lines. A new improved bar grip pattern for 2017 provides a more positive and confidence inspiring feel through the bar. A protective PU tube covers the depower mainline and the 1X

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landing line, eliminating the risk of abrasion or tangling. The new stainless steel center fitting on the bar is a bit smaller in diameter for a cleaner look and easier grip on the middle of the bar. An embossed Cabrinha logo on one side only allows for quick tactile indication of bar orientation when not looking. The newly re-engineered spinning handle uses a split screw connection making it much easier to service if the situation arises.

This part also acts as a point to unspin your front lines and doubles as a stopper to prevent the Quick Release from being constricted by the bar in emergency situations. Then the low V front line connection allows for the ultimate direct response from the kite while providing a clean, simple system you can rely on.

O VE R DR I VE 1X R E C O I L

C ABRI NHA

What sets you apart from the competition?

For Cabrinha it is undoubtedly our Fireball connection system.

Kiteboarding has a completely different set of forces and connection requirements than windsurfing so we questioned why the industry standard, a hook and loop connection system that dates back to the early windsurfing era, is the standard, when it clearly wasn’t designed for our sport. The Fireball connection system is designed for kitesurfing and provides the ultimate connection between you and your kite.

F-ONE The F-ONE Monolith control bar is a fixed length bar (45 and 52cm) which is machined out of a single piece of 6061 aluminum block. The CNC machined method is used to shape the bar in one unique monolith piece.

This new fabrication method is used in conjunction with 6061 Aluminum, an alloy charged with magnesium and silicium. This material is extremely resistant and is used in the Aerospace industry. In addition to its strength, this material offers excellent resilience and is anodized to achieve great resistance to corrosion. This construction also allows for a slimmer and more compact design which is more efficient and comfortable when riding or throwing tricks. To increase safety and comfort, the bar ends are molded with a soft material. The anti-sliding thermoformed grip also has a double EVA layer on top of the bar. Featuring a Y split configuration further up the lines with a swivel, action below the bar is kept tidy and just includes the safety release needed. When the quick-release is triggered, the kite flags out onto two lines rather than one and, with that high V, it ditches

all the power very well. The push away safety release is easy to use and the life line setup gives a quick and easy reconnection after an emergency release. It operates even when the lines are slack. The swivel included in the flying lines allows an automatic untangling of the lines, while the 5th line setup and safety system give a quick and easy reconnection after an emergency release. Leash options are either standard safety or the suicide leash attachment What’s different?

Our bar is very well thought out and engineered. It is light, strong and has great features such as the automatic swivel.

It is the only bar to be engineered using a single aluminum block and as such it benefits from being exceptionally strong and responsive. Also, for more comfort the upper opening for the central hole of the bar has been reduced in diameter.

This leaves more grip for your fingers for better comfort. mode for unhooked moves.

IT’S ALL GUNS BLAZING FROM AXIS FOR 2017. EVAN MAVRIDOGLOU TAKES US THROUGH ALL THAT’S NEW FROM THE BOARD BUILDING AFICIONADOS… So it has been a busy few months for you guys and 2017 looks like it is going to be stacked full of fresh new products. Before we take a closer look, can you tell us a little bit about your current processes?

Striving to make the best boards in the world is a demanding business! Our R&D and Production Director, Adrian Roper and his team have been very busy designing, testing and building the most innovative and high quality boards on the market. AXIS has been prototyping and producing Kiteboards, Kite Surfboards, Hydrofoils, Stand Up Paddle boards, Surf Boards, Paddles, and accessories through multiple factories across New Zealand and Asia. This requires a dedicated team of highly skilled designers, engineers and water sports enthusiasts, who put their commitment to excellence above and beyond anything else.

It is no surprise that every piece of AXIS equipment coming out of the factories we work with proudly carries Adrian Roper’s signature, and TheKiteMag.com

the AXIS brand name.

Okay, let’s kick off with the 2017 twin tips.

Can you take us through the headlines here – we have a couple of brand new designs and a few tweaks elsewhere in the lineup right?

For 2017 the Liberty line gets a new rocker, and new sizes (135, 138, 141) in addition to the highly successful 145 and 150. Exposed wood graphics, Paulownia wood core, and PU rails make the Liberty a favorite among beginner and intermediates alike.

The Division is a brand new board for 2017. After its introduction three years ago, the Division has gained support within the freeride and freestyle community who are looking for a more comfortable and flexible board for all conditions. Medium FAT rail, new rocker, new tips and bottom channels make the Division our most complete board for all conditions and riding styles.

We also added a 140x43cm size, which should become a favorite among riders who want to play with boots or straps on the same board, as well as bigger riders or lighter winds.

The Vanguard continues strong in 2017 with

the FAT Rail technology we introduced in 2016.

Through the FAT Rail, the thicker middle part of the board forces the flex to be more focused on each tail of the twin tips, giving the 2017 Vanguard a more refined and softer ride in chop.

The FAT rail tech also provides better edging and tracking. When testing, the FAT Rail volume (fatter middle section of the board – relative to the thin tips) allowed the boards to ride more “nose up” while edging through gnarly chop. This feeling, while edging hard, means the nose of the board stays up and cuts through chop without “hobbyhorsing” or pitching up and down on the rail and nose-diving. The FAT Rail also gives substantially better grip in a straight line, more stability at speed and better upwind grip and more of a structured, nose-up ride, even when it’s extremely rough.

We always hate it when a board hunts in chop, meaning it does not want to track and is skittish and unpredictable, making it hard to drive the board fast. We found these boards track better than any design we have made so far. We noticed the biggest improvement is in blasting high speed carving turns. When you set the rail in a high speed carve turn, the AXIS boards with the FAT

will get an explosive board that can hold its edge under any conditions. The AXIS Limited is not for everyone. But if you can afford it, you will keep it forever.

The Grom 2017 model is also a brand new board. Borrowing its design concept from the 2017 Division, it offers medium Fat rail technology, more flex than 2016, and a new size for small riders and girls: 125 x 38, in addition to 115 x 37.

The Patrol and Ultra are maintaining the character of 2016, with flatter rocker, specifically designed for light wind conditions, and sized 144x45 and 148x47. The Patrol borrows its construction from the Vanguard model, while the Ultra is a full carbon lightwind machine, designed to dominate any light breeze destination, or twin tip competitions (now a youth Olympic discipline).

It’s incredibly fast, stable and fun to ride.

The Tandem board continues in 2017 in 148x46.5cm. It has a new rocker and borrows its construction from the Vanguard boards, but with a reinforced middle section. The extra set of footpad inserts allows the second set of footstraps to be added for tandem riding. We tuned up the stiffness in the middle of the board with more carbon, IN THE PIPELINE – AXIS

MIDDLE/BOTTOM ROW, FROM LEFT: TRANQ // BOOTLEG // BILLY

TOP ROW, FROM LEFT: PATROL // ULTRA // DIVISION // LIMITED // VANGUARD // LIBERTY

Rail grip and pull through the turns like they are on railroad tracks; they don’t skip out and skid, but actually pull and hold more like a surfboard rail which makes them so much fun to stomp carves on. All of these improvements give the AXIS boards a much softer and stable ride at speed. That was cool to refine the design so that a stiffer board rides softer! We are always focused and happier if we design boards that are easier to drive faster with less effort. This translates into boards that are faster for the everyday rider. Faster boards are always easier to control at speed, and more speed with less effort means better upwind ability and, of course, better jumps.

The Vanguard gets PU rails for 2017 as well as a wide carbon strip on the heel side, both top and bottom of the board, with a taper on the tips, making its flex more solid and predictable. The new Vanguard is a chop-eating machine with incredible speed, load and pop.

The AXIS Limited continues in 2017 as the full carbon performance leader in the AXIS twin tip product line. There is nothing like riding a full carbon board, and when you add our new rocker line, FAT rail technology, and PU rails, the riders

improving the board’s flex pattern, so the board rides better, with less deformity in the middle of the board. Keep in mind these tandem boards take a serious beating as they have the weight/force of two people riding on them together. We love offering a unique product that gets more people on the water, without having to know how to kite.

Many shops are using the board as a teaching aid and also just taking people for rides to give a taste of what kiting is like, without having to take a lesson. The response from schools has been awesome.

Alex Lewis-Hughes has been working hard on the wake line for 2017, can you take us more specifically through the changes here?

The AXIS Wake line of boards have a number of changes for 2017. First of all, we bring back the Bootleg. This year the Bootleg will be a 137 x 42 younger sibling of the Billy and the Tranq. Both the Billy and Tranq have a similar deck shape which almost eliminated boot wobble, have a more solid connection, and feature a slight concave. The 2017 boards are fast and have less drag due to less channeling through the center.

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FROM LEFT: KAPA // RAKEU // NEW WAVE

HAVING FUN ON A SURFBOARD ON BOTH FLAT WATER AND WAVES IS CRITICAL

The added 10cm single concave running through the entire base of the Bootleg, Billy and Tranq boards ride higher in the water in combination with the added buoyancy and feel from a thicker mid section and rails. Additionally, the tip shape of all boards feature similar tip channels, with a single 10cm concave in between two load dispersing beams in the center of the board. This concave gives better grip for air tricks and also allows you to lock into pipes and rails more easily. The beams help disperse friction for a faster and longer lasting slide on obstacles.

Last year we added a new rail shape, which was successful and continues for 2017. The rail thickness mimics the core thickness of the boards.

This gives a much smoother ride through chop and additionally lets the AXIS wakestyle/park boards to build up speed quicker and gives you a looser feel which is something that makes kicker tricks like Moby Dicks (which are initiated from rail to rail edge control) easier to achieve and feel

other materials, and they offer added protection from knocks and bumps on obstacles.

For 2017 the AXIS wake style boards have a new base construction which makes them even stronger hitting rails and ramps. The 2017 Billy board is now 141x42.5cm while the Tranq is 145x43cm.

For anyone choosing between the Billy or Tranq, it's really a decision of board size. The Tranq is for the rider who rides 142 or bigger and the Billy is for a person who would ride 141 or smaller. The Billy is narrower overall (42.5cm versus 43cm), has narrower tips by a centimeter and has a softer flex. The boards are a bit similar to ride. The Tranq is optimized for larger guys or people who like a bigger board whilst the Billy is for people who like a bit shorter and narrower board. If you are looking for a board smaller than 138 then the Bootleg will be ideal for you. All three ride very similar, so take your pick!

Then moving on to the surfboards, at the

For 2017 AXIS has split the surfboard program into strapped and strapless. Starting with the New Wave, this has been our most popular and sought after surfboard to date. Proprietary Infusion Lamination technology creates a flexible surfboard, covered with EVA, and with Paulownia wood rails. Available in two sizes, the 5’8 is one of the most stable and easy surfboards ever made, while the 5’4 is tons of fun for freestyling on or off the waves. The AXIS New Wave can be used either strapped or strapless.

Continuing with the Rakau models, these are our classic strapped or strapless performance surfboards, made strong to take strapped landings.

Dressed with red oak wood veneer for strength, and epoxy, the Rakau is available in sizes from 5’4, 5’7, 5’9, 5’11 and 6’0.

Then for the pure strapless program, this year we have introduced the Kapua and the Climax. The Kapua was born from the desire for a feather-weight surfboard that can stand up

better. Lastly, each have new PU rails. After lots of feedback from our team and other riders, we focused on PU rails for the wake line of boards.

These rails follow the board flex a bit better than

core of the range here is the Climax, New Wave, Kapua and Rakau boards – can you take us through these and the key differences between them?

to the punishment of kiting. In an industry first we built this board using a high performance polypropylene fiber called InnegraTech, which has outstanding impact and compressive strength

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THE CLIMAX

properties. This results in a surfboard that is strong but light, so light that we named it ‘Kapua’, a Maori word meaning cloud. Each board is hand laminated with pigmented epoxy resin, so no two boards will ever look exactly the same. The Kapua also features a carbon fiber patch to further reduce compression under your front foot, which we’ve covered with a trippy white pattern to stop the black carbon melting your wax on a sunny day.

Our global surf team has been testing, tuning, breaking and refining this family of shapes until we can’t find anything else to improve.

Then it’s exciting times with the arrival of Sebastian Sponholtz and the Climax – what skills has Seb brought to the team and what can you tell us about the Climax?

As a strapless kiter in Northern California, Sebastian mostly rides rocky beaches with peaky breaks and cold water. His style of riding involves a lot of aerial maneuvers both in the flat and launching off waves. Having fun on a surfboard on both flat water and waves is critical for him.

The Climax is the first of a series of boards that Sebastian and AXIS are working on. It is really aimed at the strapless rider who wants to have a

great time at any spot they go to. Our teamriders have been using this board for the past few months already and it has been their go-to board for anything from flat water Sherman Island to firing Cloudbreak.

Sebastian and Adrian designed the Climax to have two different modes. Sebastian has realized that when kiting, he is either really far forward on the board for going upwind fast or he is all the way back on the board for smacking lip. The wide point of this board is slightly more forward than usual and what this does is allow the rider to have a stance that is more centered on the board. We have found that having a centered stance really helps to keep the board on your feet because you rotate around the halfway mark of the board rather than having a lot more nose volume to swing around.

The rails on the back half of the board are fairly parallel which makes for lightwind kiting and going upwind easier as well as gives the board a lot of drive to power through chop. The tail is pretty narrow instead of keeping it wide like a lot of the modern planing hull designs nowadays. Sebastian believes that having a narrow tail is crucial for wave kiting because it allows the rider to stall the IN THE PIPELINE – AXIS

board and stay in the pocket of the wave. With kiting as opposed to surfing, there are so many more forces involved. When you are kiting and you drop into a wave, your apparent wind effecting the kite dramatically increases due to the increased velocity gained from the wave. So really if it is blowing 20 knots a lot of the time it feels like you are overpowered when on the wave because your apparent wind is more like 30 knots over the kite.

So by keeping the tail of the board narrow, this allows the rider to step on the tail, stall the board and achieve a more manageable apparent wind.

So much went in to nailing down the construction of this board. Having a board that is light and flexy enough for airs is critical, because if it is too heavy or stiff it won’t be able to land tricks. Something Sebastian finds necessary in a strapless board is to have a light foam under your feet. The light foam compresses perfectly, and seems to keep the board on your feet. The issue is that with light foam, the boards tend to be weaker and more fragile.

The blank is a light EPS foam with two strips of high-density foam running all along the stringer.

This construction provides the positive attributes of light EPS and takes advantage of the 125

FROM LEFT: THE MARORO FOIL // THE PLANQ 41 WAKESKATE

deck shape in order to maximize breaking resistance. The deck has pre-shaped heel dents which are not only insane for keeping the board on your feet in the air but really allow the impact forces to be channeled through the stringers and fibers rather than compressing the foam and buckling the board. It’s known as the hammock concept; with this deck shape there are two hammocks of fiber that your heels land into and absorb the force evenly throughout the fibers. The layup on the Climax is fiberglass and Innegra cloth. The Innegra is awesome because it is super flexy and really increases the breaking resistance of the fiberglass. They actually use Innegra in applications like riot shields.

To complete the Climax collection, Sebastian is currently working on another model specializing in cleaner and bigger waves. Adrian and Sebastian are also finalizing a new construction concept for our future surfboards which could potentially redefine how we build our surfboards forever.

Your Maroro foil has been in development for a while now and you’ve clearly been keen to get it exactly as you want it. Who is it aimed at and why do you guys think it’s a good option?

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When we took on the design of our foil program, we didn’t want just another product on the market. We wanted a new approach to how a foil should work, as well as help customers to buy one foil that they can use as their main platform for many years. We put a team of eight people together, all experts from various fields of aeronautics, engineering, and sailing hydrofoil design, along with foilers with many years of experience. Having such a team has enabled us to move fast and change the paradigm of how most companies see foiling today.

Our Maroro Foil is the outcome of our team’s efforts towards a modular design that follows the rider as their level evolves. The Maroro Foil is a high end/high performance freeride foil inspired by racing but made to have a super wide sweet spot. It is built with a current designed high aspect wing/mast set. Since we get most of our feedback from what works in racing, we knew that it was not necessary to make a low aspect foil to get the foil to be easy to ride or to foil up early.

The Maroro Foil mast is 100cm long, as longer masts help keep the board from hitting the water longer. Longer masts are the trend in racing, as well as it giving you more room to keep the

foil in the water at higher speeds and in choppier water. Our foil is fast but we don’t market it to only address the speed market. We are just trying to make the AXIS Maroro foil to have a wide range of easy ride characteristics and we managed to make it friendly to ride, so it’s a super fun foil to ride and play on. The truth is that all foils ride very differently from each other and it takes time to get used to the uniqueness of each individual foil’s characteristics. We made the mast section as high performance as possible (stiff as hell and with a refined NACA section foil so it’s not going to be slow) and wanted to make a 100% carbon mast that would allow us to add more serious race wings to it in the future as we are working on that as well (all our wings are 100% carbon). Right now, our foil has a big sweet spot and does not become unruly at high speeds like most recreational foils, so we are stoked about that. A lot of people are going to have a lot of fun on our foils. Finally, the AXIS Maroro High Performance Carbon Foil is easy to travel with. The mast separates from the front wing and fuselage, while the rear wing is also a separate piece.

We realized that each person rides differently so instead of having the rider adjust to the foil,

we wanted our foil to adjust to the rider’s style, needs, weight, and progression of learning. This is why we have made the rear wing adjustable, from around 1.5 degrees to 5.5 degrees, although the optimal riding with less drag is between 3 to 4.6 degrees. We also provide the tools and instructions to our customers to adjust their rear wing with confidence. The AXIS Maroro High Performance Carbon Foil connects to the AXIS Maroro boards via a Tuttle box. For more details check out our website.

And rumor has it there will be a few more foil products rolling out over the course of 2017. What can you tell us about this?

For 2017 we will be releasing a whole range of foil boards, including race, freeride, hybrid, convertible and strapless foilboards. We have two versions of our Pro Race boards. A tiny 140 x 42cm full carbon, and the floatier 148 x 48cm also in full carbon construction. The Free Race continues as an easier, bigger board in the size of 154 x 54cm. Ideal for super light winds.

Spring 2017 is also the time for our introduction of our Aluminium All-Round Hydrofoil. We offer four sizes of masts: 45cm, 60cm, 90cm or 105cm. We also offer two different G10 front wings, two G10 tails, as well as two different

aluminum fuselages for either freeride or speed use. The AXIS Aluminium All-Round foil is a foil that is super easy to learn on, but will keep on growing as your skills get better. Unless you are a committed racer, you will not need another foil.

We pair the AXIS Aluminium Foil with a 145 x 48cm dedicated foil board in either polycarbonate or full carbon construction. Our All-Round package offering is available with a 90mm plate and adjustable connection system.

Between the Maroro Full Carbon Performance Foil, Aluminium All-Round Foil, and the eight different foil boards, AXIS has one of the most complete kiteboarding foiling programs on the market.

So busy times for AXIS! Is there anything else you guys are rolling out this year?

Yes for 2017 we also introduce our brand new wakeskate concept – the Planq 41 wakeskate.

The Planq has been a continual progression spanning over Alex Lewis-Hughes’ fourteen years of riding different wakeskates behind a kite. Ideas come and go, new outlooks on what specifics work best for a kite wakeskate changed many times during this period. Riding some new wakeskates recently once again changed Alex’s outlook on rocker lines and gave us a fresh perspective to work IN THE PIPELINE – AXIS

with for the 2017 AXIS Planq 41. Conventional wisdom told us that continuous rocker lines were best suited to kite wakeskates due to their generally less draggy nature. As a result, Alex has always used these type of rocker lines in his boards in the past. With the new AXIS Planq 41 you can see a shifting paradigm to a hybrid three stage rocker line, that actually helps give the rider the pop they are searching for from a traditional wakeskate, whilst helping keep the speed a continuous rocker line denotes.

The Planq is our most specific wakeskate design yet and the closest feeling you can get to riding a regular wakeskate. As such it can be ridden as effortlessly behind the cable or boat as it can behind the kite. The 2017 AXIS Planq 41 is the most versatile cross-over/multi-platform board in Alex’s quiver.

The technology behind our Planq wakeskate is full wood pressed construction with full length PU rails and tough slider base (same as on the Tranq). It also comes with inserts ready to drill out in your own time for both single fin placement and lock-ins (nubs, udders). Then the griptape top sheet with laser cut logo completes the package.

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The very finest super warm and super flexi rubber for your summer sessions‌ TheKiteMag.com

CELSIUS PRO

FAHRENHEIT

SEVENTYSIX

The new Celsius Pro Zipless combines RRD’s most flexible wetsuit panel design with a zipless entry, to further improve flexibility, warmth and freedom of movement. By removing the static zip you ultimately cut out a flex deadline located around it. Their zippers close from the out to the inside, which is better for the pressure distribution, resulting in stronger crash-resisting front zips.

The Celsius Pro is fully made with superstretch limestone neoprene which is arguably the most flexible material available today. The Celsius Pro is the wetsuit made with the lowest number of panels in the RRD collection and the Pro is pure fabric taped on the inside only and on the seam joint areas. This allows even more flex, especially around the arms. The Celsius Pro Zipless is a great choice for pro riders who are looking for the thinnest neoprene thickness with the best warmth/ flexibility ratio.

The Fahrenheit is the latest development available for a super quick drying wetsuit combined with extra durability and stretch. It suits demanding riders that are not kept ashore by the cold.

Quickdry is not only about a lining that dries quickly it is also about how much water the lining takes up when wet. This Quickdry takes up 20% less water and therefore dries quicker. The whole wetsuit is made without any stitches, it’s fully liquid taped on the outside and fabric taped on the inside to offer superior stretch and a longer lifetime. Internally, it’s made with an especially engineered quick drying lining that features two layers of fibers on top of each other, woven with a squared pattern design that allows water to flow through it to the outside and quickly downwards.

It’s like pulling water towards the outside and channeling it downwards so it can dry quickly.

For the girls who want to be protected but look unique. Made to enhance your body lines and create a sexy and stylish fit, the SeventySix wetsuits are based on a classic “retro style” look, with the use of modern materials and assembling technology. Flexible, warm and good looking, everything a serious beach-addicted girl would be looking for.

€106 | $111 | £90

€499 | $525 | £427

€369 | $388 | £315 131

DIVA

MAJESTIC

THE MAJESTIC ZIPFREE

The all new Diva wetsuit is loaded with features including 100% M-Flex 2.0, waterproof stretch taping and ultra-lightweight foam. The patterns of the Diva suits have been renewed to maximize the stretch and comfort of the suit. Then it has an easy access back-zip and a back collar panel to close it off. It also features polar lining in the lower back to provide extra warmth for this valuable nerve center to help you reach your maximum performance potential.

The Majestic series is loaded with features including: 100% M-Flex 2.0, waterproof stretch taping and ultra-lightweight foam. The patterns of the Majestic suits have been renewed to maximize the stretch and comfort of the suit. The angle of the zipper has been changed for the easiest possible entry. The front zip construction will provide more flex in the upper body and allows less water to enter the suit, keeping you warmer. The Majestic is a very light and super flexible wetsuit, which comes in three epic color combinations...

The Majestic wetsuit series has a long-lasting stamp of quality for its reputation of being created with the finest neoprene on the market.

Mystic have always expressed the wish to deliver more, and in the Majestic Zipfree the quest was to achieve the ultimate freedom of movement… and for 2017 Mystic are proudly saying ‘we did it!’

By the removal of the chest zip, they’ve managed to decrease excess weight and possibility of water leakage. A full stretch through the chest panel assists in the mobility needed throughout windsurf and kitesurf movements. The Majestic Zipfree comes in a full suit, short arm and long arm shorty, featuring coral highlights that pop, making sure you truly stand out on the water.

€280 | $280 | £260

€319,99 | $319,99 | £280

€280 | $280 | £260

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APOC 3/2

APOC LONG SLEEVE SHORTY 2/2

WOMEN’S ALMAR LONG SLEEVE SHORTY

For a spring suit so comfortable you’ll hardly know you’re wearing it, get wet with the Apoc 3/2. This is the ideal choice for the shoulder season, when water temperatures are cold enough to warrant full coverage but air temperatures are warm enough that a thicker, fleece-lined suit is overkill. You’ll enjoy longer sessions with less restriction and more energy thanks to the freedom of movement Ride Engine’s SmartStretch limestone-based neoprene and strategic stitching layout provides.

The Apoc 2/2 shorty is a suit you can wear all day long. Whether you need a little extra warmth for marathon sessions, protection from the sun, sand and wind or extra buoyancy and impact protection, this is a suit you can put on before your session and forget about the rest of the day. Offered in short and long sleeve versions, this front-zip suit is light, flexible and incredibly comfortable. Regardless of the temperature, for anyone who spends long days playing in the elements, this is a vital piece of equipment.

The Almar 2/2 shorty is a suit you can wear all day long. Whether you need extra warmth for marathon sessions, protection from the elements or that extra bit of float if you’re trying out some new moves or maybe learning to foil… Offered in standard cut back zip and bootie cut front zip, it’s flexible, light and incredibly stylish…

€330 |$349 | £285

€160 | $170 |£138

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€160 |169 | £138

X10D 3/2

SHORTY

WOMEN’S HYBRID

The Triplex X10D offers unparalleled freedom of movement. The inside layer is the most flexible material you can find on a suit and it makes you feel stretchy and light with a super-comfortable feeling on the skin. The X10D suits allow maximum movement without any restriction so you don’t have to hold back…

The Shorty 2/2 is made with the same technical specifications as the 3/2mm. F-ONE wanted to produce a high quality summer suit which would be efficient even in chilly conditions. The Shorty 2/2 is 100% SD² Taped for maximum waterproofness and built with Triplex Neoprene so it has the comfort and lightness you are looking in a summer suit, with that added warmth for those not-so-warm days.

Here’s a beautiful shorty to hit the beach with style! But it’s not just about fashion, just like the men’s version the women’s Hybrid 3/2 is designed to be warm: built with Triplex neoprene and 100% SD² taped for maximum waterproofness, this model combines technical innovation and style…

€285 | $300 | £250

€219 | $230 | £190

€259 | $275 | £225

SUMMER WETSUIT BUYER’S GUIDE

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STRIKE AMP ZIPLESS

ONYX AMP ZIPLESS

ONYX

The time was ready to try something new: A unique entry level concept that delivers maximum freedom of movement… The zipless version in the ION wetsuit line turned out to be the most flexible and light, thanks to no heavy plush lining and a lighter double lined back panel. And of course because no restrictive zipper hinders your movements. Plus, there is a 100% neo tape sealing on the inside provides superb flex and water resistance.

The Zipless version of the Onyx Amp wetsuit line is tuned to be the most flexible in the ION range, at the cost of a little warmth. So there is no inside lining and they also removed the single lined back panel resulting in even less weight. The new inside lining Maki Tape is made out of Cyber Stretch 130% neoprene and is not limiting at all. Additionally, the new Ninja Knees feature uses the same high elastic material used in the arm panels. The result is amazing freedom of movement enabling you to get maximum movement and maximum satisfaction out of your session.

The Onyx Amp’s little brother makes a bold statement with its top-notch design and flex boosting features. Prime protection is given to those riders looking to get their first airs with the L-Tex knee protection and durable nylon material, which make this suit incredibly robust.

Then you have the choice of two distinctive colorways to get the look you want.

€330 | $350 | £270

€330 | $340 | £260

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€240 | $250 | £170

Naish It’s mid-season launch time and Naish are pulling a few rabbits out of the hat with two entirely new kites and a new surfboard… Damien Girardin takes us through the new releases.

So you guys are lining up your mid-season launch.

You have done this for a few years now – has it been working well with your distributors and customers and can you just summarize what Naish kit is released when?

The mid-season launch is something we started back in 2010, in order to have a product line delivered in the early spring that would fit the spring and summer styles of riding. This is why our mid-season line is a more freeride oriented line and has some lightwind targeted products in it.

We then release the more hardcore products in the fall, like the Torch for freestyle and big air, the Slash for wave and strapless kiting and the Pivot, which is our most versatile kite to date.

On the board side, things are more simple, we present in the fall at the tradeshows and dealer meetings and deliver in small quantities the core products of the line, while the mass delivery happens in the spring. We then allow ourselves to introduce a few key products in the spring if we feel a need for it, like we did last season for the Hover Foil and boards, and this year with the new Go-To surfboard.

So, aside from the usual ‘midseason launch’ excitement, you guys have gone hard out with the introduction of two entirely new kites and

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a new surfboard. Before we go into more detail can you just give us a one sentence summary of each of the new additions?

Sure. So the Dash could be summarized as a freeride version of the Torch that anyone can ride. The Boxer is a freeride kite targeting underpowered riding and foiling, with a big focus on easy water relaunch. Then we also have the Go-To which is a versatile wave board suitable for a massive range of conditions.

you even more fun (with the Ride) and more time on the water (with the Fly).

And any surfboards leaving?

None are leaving but some of the other ranges have been consolidated so the choices are clear for the rider.

Okay, let’s start at the top and take a look at the Dash. What can you tell us about this?

I think we can start with a quote from the most English of the Aussies, Mr Ewan Jaspan. “My favorite thing about the Dash is that I finally have a kite that not only ‘works’ for multiple disciplines, but actually excels. The Dash is the first non C-kite that I have felt gives me the performance to throw all my freestyle, big air and park tricks on.” That’s a pretty good summary, and I would add that the great thing about the Dash is that it’s an engaging kite, making your sessions faster, your rides faster, your turns faster, your jumps higher and you can ride it in stronger wind than most other kites.

our most versatile kite to date And are any other kites leaving the range to make way for the new kids?

The Trip is leaving to make room for the Boxer. But the good thing is that the Boxer has all the great attributes of the Trip, like the super light weight, the amazing lightwind power and ability to fly in pretty much no wind, but combined with faster turning and some of the easiest water relaunch we’ve ever experienced!

It’s also worth noting that the Ride and Fly are coming back with improvements too in order to provide

And the Boxer, can you give us some general info here and also talk us through the ‘luff strut’?

The Boxer was originally designed by building on top of the Trip and adding “bombproof ” water relaunch. It ended up being a one strut kite that is a lot better kite than originally planned! By adjusting the Aspect Ratio (which is lower than

anyo ne c an r ide ride it in d stronger win

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Freeride kite targeting underpowered riding

an eng agin kite g

large ‘ sweet s pot’

e for c i o h c t grea kiters all turning is fast yet predictable

new quad-tex canopy

‘bombproof’ water relaunch

luff strut

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a Trip), playing with the wing tip shape and bridles, and by adding the center “luff strut” the kite turned out to be seriously amazing. The bar feel is perfectly direct, the turning is fast yet super predictable, the power when underpowered is unreal, while the overpowered handling is also impressive.

A lot of these characteristics are due to the luff strut. This is basically a strut where the inflated rigid part does not match the foil’s profile of the canopy, so the shape is purely maintained using canopy material. This allows the foil to “stall” and also to expand more when you need it compared to a rigid foil, making the kite act like a spinnaker and harnessing more wind and power.

Then the Boxer also became so good due to the use of our new Quad-Tex canopy. In the past I had tried to make one strut kites, but like most people that tried a one strut kite have experienced, there was a lot of fluttering on the kite.

This was due to the canopy stretching too much creating too much surface under load which results in fluttering.

The Quad-Tex is so much stiffer than the older canopy material, so this doesn’t happen, making the whole kite a lot more solid. You’ll then notice that the Boxer is extremely light on the wing tips, because no extra heavy material was needed to prevent flutter.

The new kites both have the Shark Teeth trailing edge.

What is this and what did

you hope to achieve with it?

The Shark Teeth is another great feature that resulted from Quad-Tex. In the past in order to sustain the heavy load on the trailing edge of a kite we used to add a Dyneema line, which was creating some pretty ugly profiles on the back side of the kite. Later we put on some Dacron material, which had the disadvantage of adding weight and having a high gradient translation at the connection with the canopy. Now the Quad-Tex being so much stiffer, there is no need for the Dacron anymore so we save a lot of weight. The Shark Teeth shape itself is there to spread the transition from one to two layers of material in the most balanced way possible making for two key features, first the transition is very clean (no high gradient here), secondly when your kite is on the beach fluttering, the flutter is dispersed which prevents having flutter lines and protects your kite.

And finally the new surfboard – the ‘Go To’ – what’s the deal here?

The Go-To is aimed to help give you more time on the water and more fun as well. It bridges the gap between the Global and Skater with a wider outline than the Global but in a more traditional surfboard shape than the Skater. It rides exceptionally well underpowered in lighter winds and is a blast in a variety of conditions from mushy, onshore slop to more ideal side-shore down the line

TELL ME ABOUT IT – NAISH

riding. It has a large ‘sweet spot’ and is a great choice for all kiters, whether they are looking into getting their first directional or just want a board they can take anywhere and know it will perform no matter what conditions present themselves.

Any news on which members of your team will be riding the new kit?

The whole team is pretty excited about the new line up: Robby has been riding the Boxer almost exclusively since we got it. Kevin and Jesse have also been spending a lot of time with the Boxer on all their foil sessions. Finally, as you have heard, Ewan is super psyched about the Dash. I have also personally been loving the Dash to go out and boost big kiteloops!

How do you think the new equipment reflects the direction that the sport is going in at the moment?

I always noticed over the years that whenever we design something it was because it was there ‘in the air’, I think again this time these new kites are perfectly matching the new future of kiting. The Boxer will please all the foilers and people that want to ride the same lightwind conditions with a smaller kite, while the Dash will get all the more advanced kiters that have been kiting for years to push themselves to the next level with a fast steering and engaging kite.

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Energy Dispersion Frame

Leash Release system

Rounder for added comfort

Adaptable to any body type

Tuck Flaps Down Hold System

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ballistic nylon for maximum durability

when it came to developing a harness to add into the manera range, the attitude at manera hq was the same as it is for all of their products: spend the time to get it 100% right first time. it was an immediate hit and, now into its fourth year, is a well-respected piece of harness tech. it is also a particularly popular harness amongst thekitemag team which is always a good sign… we asked manera’s brand manager julien salles to tell us all about it.

MANERA FIRST INTRODUCED THE EXO IN 2014 – WHAT WAS YOUR AIM WITH THE HARNESS AND HOW DID YOU HOPE TO DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF FROM THE REST OF THE MARKET?

Both my father and I have used harnesses our whole life, and we wanted to come out with a strong innovation if we were to enter into that market.

Compared to today the harness market was quite restricted in terms of innovation – nothing had really changed since windsurfing and it was great to be able to rethink the product from zero.

The big innovation for us was not to have a semi-rigid plate on the back – because some brands already had that kind of technology – but our focus was that this plate was engineered and molded to spread the forces of the kite evenly through the back, and to be effective it had to be 100% connected to the kite through the straps and buckles.

This is what made the EXO different and so successful.

IN RESEARCHING THE HARNESS YOU WORKED WITH A HUMAN KINETIC SCIENCE LAB. CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH HOW THIS PROCESS WORKED AND WHAT YOU LEARNED FROM IT?

I contacted EuroMov, a science laboratory not far from our Montpellier headquarters, I was not even sure I would get an answer from them as they had such bigger projects than this one. But one of the scientists happened to be a

kitesurfer, and he was really excited by the project! The most important test we performed was a pressure mapping.

This is basically a cloth that records the pressures and can tell precisely where the pressures are situated and what their forces are. All of this is recorded and shown live on a TV screen. We put this cloth between the harness and our back, and maintained a position and a pressure

100% right first time very similar to the kitesurfing ones.

Testing was important for two reasons. Firstly it helped us design the load distribution on the EXO. Finding out that you are spreading the forces of the kite is good, but spreading it on the right areas is better. For example: our iliac crest is adapted to receive pressures because this is a strong bone, while the floating ribs are not. This is one of the reasons you like your harness to be held low on the back.

Secondly, testing helped us to compare to other brands and so to confirm the good feeling we had on the

water, we ran a full testing of the best harnesses on the market at that time and compared it to the EXO. Results were really positive for us but we kept this study only for us and our distributors (mostly because comparative advertising is not part of our philosophy).

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE ENERGY DISPERSION FRAME?

The EDF is made out of PU, it is a semi-rigid piece that is molded by injection and stitched to the back of the EXO. We wanted this piece to manage 100% of the kite power. Which is why we had to make a big piece that goes all around the back and that is directly connected to the buckles and spreader bar.

The design, thickness and density were all planned for energy dispersion.

We ran a lot of testing both on the water and on land to pick up the best design possible to absorb and spread the forces on the back. One of the most important points was also to be adaptable to anyone and any body type.

Another point we didn’t anticipate was that the EDF is a great innovation for durability. As the forces of the kite go 100% through this strong piece, the foam and textile layers of the harness then receive no pressure at all, which gives the EXO an exceptionally long life. We have had less than 0.3% warranty cases since the EXO first came out!

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CAN YOU TALK US THROUGH THE OTHER KEY FEATURES OF THE HARNESS?

Some technologies are made for pure comfort, like the Nest Foam, which is a very low density foam layer directly in contact with the back of the rider, giving a well appreciated pillow-feeling. We also combined two tech features to avoid the harness from riding up on your ribs: the Tuck Flaps and the Down Hold System.

The Tuck Flaps reinforce the link between the spreader bar and the harness, which blocks it from going up or twisting during riding. The DHS is an asymmetrical buckle attachment that keeps the spreader bar down by driving the forces downward.

Then security was a big point for us, this is why we designed the Leash Release System, which allows the riders to release their leash in case something goes wrong even after releasing your kite. Then for 2017 we have begun to use Ballistic Nylon to cover the back of the harness for maximum durability.

WHAT ARE THE HEADLINE CHANGES FOR THE LATEST VERSION?

We improve the EXO every single year, this is important for us to stay alert and reactive on our products and give the best we can each season. We have no problem

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with changing key features from one year to another if it makes the EXO better, plus we continuously improved the durability, general style, and added new features. We rebuilt the outline of the 2017 edition to be rounder and so to add more comfort under the ribs. Then we used Ballistic Nylon material and designed a new piping construction for durability, and rebuilt the inside thermoform to add more support on the central part. Some hidden construction details have also been improved…

DOES THE HARNESS WORK EQUALLY WELL FOR FREESTYLE RIDERS AS IT DOES FOR WAVERIDERS?

The goal of Manera is to keep a small range of products for two reasons: it gives more time each year to improve your products, and it gives us time to develop versatile products that perform in any discipline. We don’t believe a rider should buy one harness for waves and one harness for freestyle, so we try to make our EXO the best in any discipline. We have pretty good examples of it, as Mitu Monteiro is riding the EXO as well as top freestylers like David Tonijuan, Set Texeira and Pauline Valesa. None of them have asked for a more specialized harness, because the EXO is the best fit for anyone…

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NORTH NEO It is hard to remember the first couple of years when the Neo was more of a beginner/freeride kite, as it is now synonymous with one thing: waves. Well, waves and strapless freestyle, as it is also the kite of choice for several of the North riders on the wave tour who use it for that as well. For 2017, by North’s own admission, there is nothing revolutionary with the Neo, and North have focused on applying some of the changes that you can see across the range as well as making some subtler refinements. For us the most noticeable difference (we had the 8m on test) was probably the smaller Leading Edge which has trimmed down this year. The kite’s canopy has also been reworked to give it that distinctive ‘skyscraper’ effect and the Neo flies on the Clickbar, which really suits waveriding in terms of keeping the layout above the bar super clean, and the ability to just predictably click down a couple of notches as you drop into a wave is one of life’s little joys... On the water and the Neo feels forgiving and predictable – for us that has been its biggest asset. It is a very ‘soft’ kite to fly which may sound like a negative, but in fact simply means that it is going to work with you and not deliver any unexpected surprises. It is impossible to stress enough that you should ride the Neo one or two sizes smaller than you would another kite. If you take the same size as other guys then you will have too much power… So take a smaller kite and enjoy the additional maneuverability. We found that this year’s Neo felt more nimble in the air – there is still the super-smooth turning arc that you expect with the Neo, but you could be more aggressive with this if you want to put it through a faster turn.

Upwind performance was also better with the kite really slotting into the front of the window and holding there. For ‘classic’ conditions (and we had some great days for testing) the Neo does everything right – there is the power and low-end to get you onto a wave and then the depower, drift and ability to steer the kite that you need to have the confidence to really let rip!

IN A SENTENCE: A true thoroughbred wave kite with some nice subtle improvements for 2017.

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BLADE TRIGGER 9TH GEN The Trigger has been epitomizing all that is good about a three-strut ‘all round’ kite for several years now. It was one of the first three strutters back in 2008 and Blade have spent the time since then tweaking and improving the design. We have tested the Trigger for the last few years and it is fair to say that it has been one of our standout kites from the less well known brands. For this 9th Generation version there is a new canopy material which improves the strength and rigidity of the kite.

Performance has also been tuned up with the Trigger flying a little closer to the edge of the window. Graphics are distinctively ‘Blade’ and there are lots of nice touches to indicate that a lot of thought has gone into the little things. Tuning wise and there are wave settings for maximum versatility (we flew the Trigger on both ‘standard’ and ‘wave’ settings for the test). We flew the Trigger on the Unibar V2 which is a great bar, although V3 is just around the corner so you will soon get that with the Trigger. On the water and the Trigger feels nicely tuned and ready to go straight out of the blocks. The low end is good, although you need a few strokes to get going if it is lighter.

Through the air the kite feels very nimble indeed and it is easy to place it where you want it in the window – we found that on the wave setting particularly you could really ‘micro manage’ the Trigger to keep it where you wanted while you’re surfing a wave.

On the freestyle setting and for boosting, the Trigger continues to deliver plenty of oomph and hangtime – you really get pulled off the water but then there is a nice additional lift if you’re looking to put a loop in or just enjoy the scenery… You can hold a Trigger down a size or two bigger than you might think too so you can really get stacked for boosting. For powered freestyle there is a good amount of slack and the Trigger would be a great bet for getting your first few unhooked moves dialed in.

IN A SENTENCE: The Trigger continues to be a fantastic example of a three strut all-rounder and delivers solid performance across the board.

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CABRINHA RADAR The Radar is a fantastic example of how far the sport has come on in the last few years. The fact that you can have a kite from Cabrinha that looks comparable in the air to the FX or the Drifter but that comes with a different skillset is proof that this three strut platform is the most versatile and adaptable that we have. The Radar has benefited from upgrades that you can see across the Cabrinha range this year such as the Low Stretch Bridle lines and Sprint Airlock (which eliminates that annoying tendency for the strut connector tubes to twist and improves pump up time) as well as flying with the Fireball system which we have covered in a lot of detail in previous issues, suffice to say that we are big fans. In the air and before you even get to the water the Radar shows its ‘safe and accessible’ colors – it sits comfortably up above you with no twitchiness, and is just the kind of kite you’d want if you were introducing one of your mates to the sport. Once you’re up and going, the Radar’s lower aspect sees it sit nicely back in the window – there are no unexpected bumps or surprises and the Radar continues to ensure a predictable experience. Power delivery is very smooth and the range is excellent – we rode the Radar fully stacked and it was still very usable. The Radar is a popular kite with schools and for learning so as you’d expect there has been some focus on the relaunch. We expected this to be good and it really was… Even with very little wind the Radar still rolled over and popped up easily. So this is a great kite for beginners but the qualities that make it good in this department ALL -R O U also make it a great kite for foiling and also N D for waveriding where its predictable behavior and excellent depower ensure that it is no slouch in these departments. And the main thing: it is just a very fun kite to fly!

IN A SENTENCE: A light and accessible kite which is perfect for starting out but also offers solid and predictable behavior for intermediates and can hold its own in the surf or on a foil.

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LIQUID FORCE WOW Liquid Force’s first Wow was a solid arrival onto the wave scene for the brand – it did all that you would expect from a three strut wave kite, but it also seemed to borrow some of the best points from the Envy (and to a degree the Solo) to have a little bit extra as well. It was a big hit, so when it came to revisiting it the team at LF were keen to improve the kite but without losing anything that had made it a popular option for waveriders. They spent a lot of time looking at different options for the kite but – when it came down to it – they decided that evolution not revolution was the order of the day, so that distinctive skinny LE leads the charge and the profile remains pretty true to V1 of the Wow. The canopy cloth is the exclusive triple Ripstop cloth developed in conjunction with Challenge Sailcoth and feels significantly lighter than other Ripstop cloths. Liquid Force say it and they mean it: pump the Wow up hard. The kite can take it and will fly better if it’s rock solid. There is Liquid Force’s Max Flow inflation system (just don’t forget the adapter…) and the Wow flies on the all new Mission Control system. This has been completely reengineered for 2017 and is looking great. There’s a new QR, a below the bar swivel and a new clam cleat system as well as a splash of color. It’s a great bar that doesn’t do anything new, but does do everything well… On the water and the first thing to note with the Wow is its weight – it is a very light kite and this is immediately evident when you get it in the air. Low end and responsiveness are excellent and you can sheet and go with a smooth but assertive power delivery – as with the rest of the Liquid Force range it is a kite that has as much power as you want from it, but equally you can turn it off quickly. For crossshore waveriding the Wow behaves like this is what it was born to do; it sits perfectly at 45 degrees and is happy to drift down the line whether you are going top to bottom or racing around a section – there is no unnecessary pull and when you need some power you can just sheet in and it’s ready to go. For onshore conditions the turning arc is smooth and nicely tuned. We did experience a little bit of flutter when the wind picked up and we wouldn’t recommend riding the Wow overpowered, but aside from that, it turns well and places itself nicely in the window and performs really nicely in ‘less than prime’ conditions.

IN A SENTENCE: Some nice refinements, a great new bar, and all round a very impressive wave kite – particularly for classic days…

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Naish’s flagship construction feature for 2017. We have checked it out on this and other kites we have tested and have to say that it as close to ‘bombproof ’ as we have seen – and aside from the strength, a more solid material also delivers improved responsiveness. In terms of the shape, the Dash has three struts and a pulley-less bridle – this is not as short as some other kites but it still maintains the direct and precise feel that the Naish range seems to have. In the air and the first impression is that the Dash has a touch more low end power than the Park HD. It feels more like the Park from 2015. The Dash is then quick turning and lively, which will excite many riders as its shows its true versatility – it can be used for freeride, freestyle, and also some wave riding. You feel very ‘tuned in’ to the Dash and you can really place it where you want it be – it is a “kiter’s kite” and if you have the skills then it has another level of performance and is an even more rewarding kite to fly. Heading for the sky and the pop and hang time are mighty – in keeping with the new world of WOO records and King of the Air, the Dash is a boosting machine, but with a nice amount of float and with a bit more time to think about things than you get with the Torch. Unhooked and it also performed well with plenty of pop, and enough slack when passing. For general cruising and for messing about in the waves, the performance is predictable and intuitive with no unexpected surprises. So the ALL -R Dash really does cover all bases.

O U N IN A SENTENCE: Naish have really got it right with the Dash which we expect to be an instant hit in the performance freeride world…

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F-ONE BREEZE It is no secret that F-ONE have been right at the fore of the hydrofoil game. Continuing their commitment to this discipline, they have developed a kite which is aimed firmly at this market.

The Breeze is a single strut kite available in three sizes: 11, 13 and 15m and flies on the Monolith bar. First impressions are: wow, there is nothing to this kite – you have to hunt for it in the bag! It is incredibly light with reduced reinforcements, and with the loss of weight and bulk that comes with only having one strut. The LE is then supported by a beefy bridle, with four attachment points and three pulleys per side. The tips are relatively wide and the graphics are similar in style to this year’s Bandit. In the air the Breeze feels quite firm on the bar but keeps the same smooth direct feel that the Bandit has. We had the 13m and found that it would fly in about six knots of wind! Due to the weight and shape of the Breeze it sits at the zenith with incredible stability and has no signs of overflying, and this gave us plenty of confidence to get the Breeze out with a foil. The Breeze doesn’t have that initial low end power, but after a few power strokes its comes to life and generates smooth consistent pull and flies fast through the window. The true beauty in the Breeze is that it can hold power so well and never feels like you lose control, it really does give you confidence… Many other lightwind or single strut kites tend to not have a great top in favor of more low end power, but we found that the Breeze would just keep on going. Depower was also impressive – again this can be less good on lightwind kites – and the wide tips mean that the Breeze also turns very smoothly. Upwind performance was obviously very good when ridden with a hydrofoil, but we’d be confident that it would perform just as well with a twintip or a surfboard. We had a few crashes on the Breeze just to check how it would respond. It showed no signs of getting the center to lie flat and hinder relaunch and was also happy to backward relaunch which is a real asset for this style of kite.

IN A SENTENCE: For us the Breeze is one of our favorite lightwind kites on the market and should be on the wish list of any self-respecting foiler.

NAISH DASH It’s all change for the Naish kite range for 2017, and sneaking out with their mid-season release are two spanking new kites.

The Boxer is a new lightwind/foiling option and the other kite is the Dash. As the Park has left the range this year it is pretty fair to assume that the Dash will now occupy this part of the Naish line up – so we’re looking at a kite to sit between the Pivot and the Torch which will bring ‘accessible freestyle/ freeride’ to the masses. The Dash makes use of Naish’s new Quad-Tex which has been three years in development and is

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OCEAN RODEO STICK SHIFT There have been a few exciting new products hitting the market for 2017 – a lot of ‘thinking outside the box’ products – and we first caught sight of the Stick Shift at the Surf Expo last year.

The idea of trimming the rear rather than the front lines has been around for a while, and Ocean Rodeo have been working hard on perfecting (and patenting) their system for a few years.

Suffice to say that they are pretty stoked on it and we were excited to get our hands on one to test. The injection molded carbon composite bar is light and has an ‘open channel’ which the rear lines run along – this enables any grit to flush out easily.

It ships with top-end Liros DC401 lines and the production bar will also ship with multiple pigtail options. Although the Stick Shift will fly all of OR’s kites, their aim is clearly to reach beyond this market and to attract riders of other brands over to the Stick Shift. The main differentiating innovation on the bar is the Sidewinder with which you both power and depower the kite; a quarter turn gives you 5mm trim, then to depower you either turn or ‘nudge’ the Sidewinder and it will pay out in the same increments. On the water and the bar feels nice in your hands, it is slightly thicker than some bars, but we found this to be solid and comfortable to hold. The first thing you appreciate with the Stick Shift is how clean the setup is – you don’t quite appreciate how distracting a flapping depower rope is until it’s not there, and it feels quite liberating to have a clutterfree view over the bar. When it comes to using the Sidewinder,

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CARVED IMPERATOR 6 When it comes to eye catching boards there are few on the market that stand out as much as the Imperator from Carved. It’s very black, very shiny and looks very bling. Then you pick it up and realize that it only weighs marginally more than your bindings. It is a very nice looking and seductive board, but Carved assure it is not just the looks that make it worth the price tag. The Imperator is now onto V6 so also has plenty of experience and evolution under its belt. So there is their unique Cartan Carbon with its 30° weave, marine grade paulownia, and the Ellipsis channels (with a double concave under the feet changing into a single as it moves towards the tips). We also had the new Ultra pads and straps.

These feature plenty of options to duck the stance, and the actual strap itself has a four point ratchet system (much like a snowboard binding) to really give you a custom fit to your foot. The actual footbed is memory foam, and a medium density so it’s super comfy, then there is also a small rise in the pad to give arch support. Once on the water you really appreciate what this board is all about. It’s fast and grippy, and with its double concave and center spine it offers a super versatile rocker line and flex pattern. You would think that, as it has so much carbon, it must be incredibly stiff and a bit of a knee smasher, but it’s actually quite the opposite. The board has a very smooth, comfortable ride which offers superb pop and it will work in a wide range of conditions. We tested it in some pretty choppy conditions and it held its line brilliantly and offered us a smooth ride. Then with the shaped rails you can also throw this board into some high speed carves and it just holds. The weight of the board really came into its own once we started to jump. The pop is very crisp and satisfying, there is very little swing weight so it was effortless to rotate, then landings are smooth with the bottom contours breaking the water and preventing a hard landing. It’s impressive.

IN A SENTENCE: The Imperator 6 is definitely not ‘all looks’ – we were very impressed by the performance and comfort and would recommend any freestyler to at least have a test of one…

you need to grip the knob well and then give it a solid turn and you get an instant injection of power. We found that it helped to ease the bar slightly as you turn it. The amount of power you get is about right for a subtler adjustment and we found ourselves generally doing a half turn to make a more significant difference. For depower (and we tested the bar on a few very squally days so really appreciated this!) you can just nudge the Sidewinder and the lines go out quickly and smoothly. If you need instant depower then you can nudge it repeatedly and the lines will keep going. It took us a few tries to really get it mastered, but once we had we found it to be a very effective way to turn the power off. We also had a few sessions with gloves on and found that we could operate the system easily – more easily than with a cleat as you can really hang on to the Sidewinder.

IN A SENTENCE: A well thought out and well-engineered bar – the Sidewinder is simple and intuitive to use and once you’ve got it dialed it is hard going back to a ‘normal’ trim system…

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RRD H-FLIGHT AND DOLPHIN1 There are few brands who now don’t have a hydrofoil proposition – RRD have been pretty canny and haven’t rushed into the market, but are now heading in full throttle with the H-Flight Foil and Doplphin1 board. RRD have opted for the ‘mid-range’ construction option of aluminum mast and full carbon wings and the foil comes in at a smidge under 4kg which is pretty respectable…. The board is very nicely put together, with a composite construction and wood deck and base.

It is a nice wide stable platform with plenty of volume and nose rocker to give you time riding the foil without it rising. There is also heaps of adjustability with an adjustable track on the base for attaching the foil, and plenty of strap placement options up top. The whole package is exceptionally well thought out; from the travel bag to the torque bolts that are easy to remove once used (something that all other brands can learn from) the quality is fantastic as is the attention to detail.

On the water the H-Flight and Dolphin1 work in unison with the board which has really been designed with the beginner in mind. The front wing is not an exceptionally high aspect wing but will offer endless amounts of performance unless you are looking to enter the race scene. The H-Flight was well balanced from its first set up but with the option of mast positions you can really fine tune the mast to suit your riding style. With a small amount of back foot pressure, the H-Flight glides into action providing a steady lift at a lower speed which was easy to control, once up on the foil the balance point between front and back foot is pretty much spot on. We didn’t find the H-flight wanting to break the surface with that terrible foil gurgle, and in a straight line the foil is pretty quick – we were comfortable riding the board at 25mph which felt pretty much like the top end for this foil, but it’s ample. We found during gybes and tacks the Dolphin1 board was a superb platform for getting these dialed and overall the board really built confidence.

IN A SENTENCE: We were really impressed with the RRD foil and the thought that has gone into the whole package, and we feel that it will be a real contender when the foiling scene picks up again this summer…

T O P : Sam rocking the ‘salty old seadog’ look.

B O T T O M : Sam perfectly illustrating how grabs can look more stylish than spins...

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Sam Light, the undisputed king of the park over the last few years, reflects on where kiteboarding is at and the direction it’s going. (Just don’t mention strapless freestyle…)

Kiteboarding is only 20 years old and it’s still finding its feet. It’s interesting looking at the different disciplines and how they have evolved over the years. We take inspiration from the mainstream boardsports, but until recently we have never been fully accepted or respected. Our sport is the ultimate combination of all of them and is more diverse than any other sport: but I think that’s the problem. We’re not any one thing, we are everything.

Since kiteboarding’s early days people from different sporting backgrounds have got hooked and interpreted their own version of how they see the best way to harness the wind (which often depends on what your local conditions provide) and at how they can recreate their own unique versions of the sports that inspire them.

When I learnt to kite back in the day the sport was very different. It might sound cliché to say but it’s true. There were only C kites and kiting was quite simply pretty dangerous. We

have pushed the boundaries of what is possible while improving the equipment along the way.

And because of this relentless refinement and evolution, we are starting to gain just a little bit of respect from the mainstream sports.

Look at kite ‘surfing’. Years ago it was shunned by surfers all over the world, we were called tea baggers and not even given a chance, but most afternoons at many of these smallminded surf breaks it gets windy and the surf is blown out and choppy. Now we have the right tools for the job, kiters at their local spots are tearing it up and the surfers want to have a go.

The fact is that we are all water junkies and kitesurfing is another way of getting a hit. It’s great to see it gaining recognition amongst surfers and now having a kite is starting to be seen as an advantage rather than a disadvantage when you can boost higher out the lip than ever before and have loads of fun in small blown out waves.

That said, there is one part of kite ‘surfing’ that I just do not get: strapless freestyle. It’s a thing surf guys were doing ‘mucking’ around in between waves and has caught on. Sure it looks fun – like how those short snow skis you see English punters wearing in the Alps – and I would not ever knock anyone for having a go, but it’s not a contestable discipline that you can take seriously as a pro as it’s essentially wakeskate tricks done really badly. I’ve hardly seen any tricks executed well – the board wildly spins around while they dangle meters above it and just hope to land on it. Anyway – rant over about that!

Big Air kiteboarding has the wow factor and its massive advantage is that it’s not taking inspiration from other sports so there are no style rules, which is why there are so many different styles. It’s one of the first reasons that many of us picked up a kite in the first place. We all remember that first time you’re at the beach watching that guy flying through the sky, thinking: I want a piece of that! That feeling of flying is something that we

didn’t have the equipment we needed to fully execute what we were trying to do, but we had the vision. The equipment has improved so much that it’s become accessible to almost anybody, which is awesome. And now there’s specific equipment for all the different disciplines which has been developed with your exact needs at heart. There are so many products on the market nowadays, from Big Air kites, hydrofoiling kites, surf kites: you name it, there is a specific board or kite for your favorite aspect of kiting!

When you can get the right tools for the job, any task becomes much easier and you can refine your riding much more, and pro riders have been at the heart of this development. They have taken different paths and pursued the parts of kiting that they are passionate about and established themselves within their own disciplines; they

crave and, besides skydiving, kiteboarding is one of the closest ways we can get to being a bird! So I think that’s why Big Air gets the most traction on social media: it’s our own discipline that no other sport can touch and people can escape from their everyday lives and imagine that feeling of flying through the air above the water. Big Air changes the more you jump, it becomes pointless trying to jump in less than 30 knots as it just doesn’t get your juices flowing.

Moving on to freestyle and, to the general public, a jump in 20 knots looks more impressive than a Backmobe 5, but the reality is most freestyle tricks are technically much harder than any big jump. For years freestyle was missing something, I think it was all to do with the straps, it is not possible to take big heavy landings and execute tricks with a lot of power. Bindings changed

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the whole freestyle game and they are the most important tools you need to make freestyle look respectable.

Park riding has blown up the last few years – my peers and myself grew up watching Autofocus with the original guys who made freestyle look cool. I started out competing on the UK circuit aspiring to be world champion but, after attending a few world tour events, I didn’t feel like they cared how the tricks looked, it was just how many spins you can do. I felt like I had to learn tricks that I thought looked horrendous, and that grabs didn’t matter. I realized it wasn’t for me. I followed the freeride path and produced as much media as I could, focusing my energy on landing tricks on film that I spent a long time executing well and I was proud of how they looked. At the same time I was competing in a few fun park events such as the Triple S, I saw the potential and that has now grown as more and more riders realized that these events looked more legit than the regular freestyle events.

Hydrofoiling is the latest discipline that I am addicted to that’s blowing up not just on the kite scene but also in surf and SUP too. It was around years ago but it never really caught on, I think the problem was the kites were not efficient

T H E FAC T I S T H AT W E A R E A L L WAT E R J U N K I E S A N D K I T E S U R F I N G I S A N OT H E R WAY O F G E T T I N G A H I T. enough. This time round it has really got traction and I think hydrofoil racing has so much potential on a world stage such as the Olympics; it’s more efficient than any other sailing racing so now the sailors are starting to look at kiteboarding too.

At the end of the day kiteboarding is a beautiful sport that has infinite potential and I’m proud to see how far it’s come and can’t wait to see where it goes. My advice to you? I would say that getting the most out of the sport is about choosing the best discipline on any given day for the conditions and depending on which aspect takes your fancy at that time. It’s about trying all the different disciplines to keep your motivation fresh for every session. So if you haven’t tried an aspect of the sport, get out there and give it a go...

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