TheKiteMag #21 - Italiano (Anteprima)

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Sessions hawaii

C OV E R : It’s Keahi. And it’s a MASSIVE wave at Backyards. …

H E R E : Dioneia Vieira showing us exactly why you should probably book your next trip to Zanzibar…

P H OTO : James Boulding

P H OTO : Bas Koole

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T H E F E AT U R E S 076 // The Oahu Sessions When the guys paddle surfing Backyards on Oahu’s famous North Shore start paddling in as it’s all getting a bit sketchy, it’s probably time to go and put the kettle on. Unless you’re Keahi de Aboitiz – then it’s time to pump up. We get three perspectives on an insane session.

098 // Greece – The new Brazil?

We wouldn’t like to be considered the kind of people to spread rumors here at TKM, but this one has been doing the rounds and we have heard it from a lot of reliable sources: Greece really is epic… The latest duo to investigate more thoroughly were Victor Hays and Andre Magarao. They present their findings here.

110 // Plan B It’s June, it’s Mauritius, it’s going to be cranking right? 9 times out of 10 you’d be on the money. But sometimes, as Roderick Pijls and Jalou Langeree found out, it’s not always the case. And if One Eye isn’t firing then you’re best off pressing the button on Plan B

146 // Winter Wetsuit Guide If you’re in Europe then, yes, you might still be in your 3/2 or your 4/3 but – sorry to be the bringers of bad news –winter is round the corner. Best to be prepared and ask yourself: will that slightly odorous 5/3 really do another winter… We have the best-of-the-best in wetsuit tech to keep you out for longer this winter.

THE REGULARS 035 // Tangled Lines with Eric Rienstra 040 // On the List… Barbados 042 // I’m On It… Reed Brady 044 // Meteorology with Tony Butt 046 // Profile…Plastic People 054 // Gallery… GKA Wave and Strapless Tour 120 // Technique with Paula Novotná 124 // Under the Hood… Naish Kiteboarding 132 // In the Pipeline with the RRD 2018 Collection 138 // Tell Me About It… Airush’s Eco Ethos 142 // Tested 160 // Wrapping up… Colleen Carroll

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W E LC O M E La teoria del caos In questo numero mi trovo a dare gli ultimi ritocchi giusto durante la Kitesurf World Cup a Fehmarn in Germania. Gireremo qualche clip, avremo qualche incontro con i riders e ci godremo qualche birra con ragazzi che non abbiamo visto da qualche mese... Certo, questo numero era da considerarsi finito la settimana scorsa, ma può succedere.

Mi sono ritrovato a finalizzare gli articoli della rivista in varie località: gli aeroporti delle Mauritius e Faro, in mezzo all'Atlantico sulla strada per la Surf Expo e da una stazione di servizio da qualche parte sulla autostrada tedesca... Mi piace pensare che forse la mia esperienza riflette un modello generale del nostro sport: non sembriamo proprio essere organizzati.

Prendi la Coppa del Mondo di Kitesurf – non c'è nessun evento freestyle quest'anno, c'è la GKA Wave e Strapless e poi un evento WKL dopo poche settimane... Le date per i vari tour sembrano piuttosto casuali ed è richiesto un aggiornamento quotidiano delle varie pagine solo per continuare a stare al passo con quello che sta succedendo...

Da questo apparente caos emerge però un certo senso di fratellanza, particolarmente tra quelli di noi che sono solo felici di vedere qualcosa dopo aver sopportato un periodo abbastanza buio dopo il 2010... Ora abbiamo tour sempre più frammentati ma decisamente più dedicati e c'è una sensazione che lo sport possa muoversi in molte direzioni, e rapidamente. Sarete felici di sapere che al di fuori di questo caos c'è in realtà (e fortunatamente) una rivista piena zeppa di contenuti di alta qualità.

La copertina è per noi molto emozionante – il kiting nelle onde solitamente ha un ruolo secondario rispetto al fratello paddle-in, quindi vedere Keahi fare kite su una delle onde più importanti al mondo con i surfisti a guardare è veramente bello. Abbiamo ben tre versioni di questa sessione epica...

Le rive europee e la Grecia sembrano essere sui piani di viaggio di sempre più professionisti. Per i kiters europei c'è tanto di buono forse quanto le lagune del Brasile: Victor Hays e Andre Magarao ce ne danno un assaggio...

Oltre a questo, abbiamo tutte le nostre analisi solite su ciò che sta accadendo nel mondo del kite, e abbiamo anche provato i primi kite 2018. CI siamo anche fatti un po' prendere la mano con la nostra sezione Focus dove ci siamo permessi alcune pagine extra di scatti. E in questo non c'è nulla di caotico...

Godetevi la rivista.

Alex

S I N I ST R A Ecco Jesse Richman che si gode il proprio momento di caos ... (E sì, ne è uscito!)

FOTO : Franck Berthuot 17

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

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THE TEAM: Editor: Alex Hapgood (editor@thekitemag.com) Sub editor: Cai Waggett Art Director: Louise Kelly Assistant Art Director: Daryl Dibsdall, Matt Hollands CONTRIBUTORS: Toby Bromwich, Vincent Bergeron, Andre Magarao, Josh Messer, Franck Berthuot, Brendan Pieterse, James Boulding, Alexander Schwarz, Steven Akkersdijk, Jason Hudson, Melissa Gil, Ydwer van der Heide, Svetlana Romantsova, Colleen Carroll

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RIDER: SAM MEDYSKY LOCATION: HOOD RIVER Photo: Toby Bromwich SM: The Spornado Hood Jam marked the 3rd event on this year’s Kite Park League tour. Also this was my 14th year visiting Hood River for kiteboarding. I’d done my first trip back in the early 2000’s for the ‘Gorge Games’. At that time the river was mostly still full of windsurfers and a few kiteboarders scattered amongst them. Fast forward to 2017 and the kiteboarding scene in Hood River has exploded.

On a windy day you can expect to see over 200 kites on the water at one time. Hood River was also one of the first public kite parks in the world. Today, The Slider Project, which is run entirely by volunteers, have taken the park to a whole new level with high end features from ‘Jibstruction’. These features are safe, durable and super fun. It’s opening up access for all riders to try park riding, giving a free spot for riders to train in the park and giving the Kite Park League another destination on their world tour.

This shot was taken one evening following the heats from the Spornado Hood Jam with an awesome sunset session with all the boys out in the Columbia River.

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RIDER: LOUKA PITOT LOCATION: MAURITIUS Photo: Steven Akkersdijk SA: The shot was taken during a shoot I did with Louka for the new Impact kite in the north of Mauritius. We’ve been shooting a couple of moves from the top, but I felt like I needed a different angle. So I put in a new battery and we managed to get a completely different angle that you don’t see much in Mauritius. Louka is new to the CORE team and has already proved himself as being an incredible rider through winning the youth World Championships last year. As a young kid driven by the pure pleasure of kiting I often had to slow him down a little so he would do most of the tricks in front of the camera and save his energy for the ‘shots’!

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RIDER: KEAHI DE ABOITIZ LOCATION: J BAY Photo: Brendan Pieterse BP: It was an early start on July 9th, on a cold a wintery morning in Cape Town, South Africa. Graham Howes, Keahi De Aboitiz and myself packed up the car at 4am and set off on a road trip up to Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. We went up to ‘J Bay’ for the epicness which is the 2017 Corona Open J-Bay, South Africa’s stop on the WSL, which was set to start on the 12th, but we decided to leave earlier due to the wind forecast…

We finally arrived after close to nine hours on the road, checked in and went straight down to the beach where this shot was taken. The location was Magnatubes, which is a point break just up from the world-renowned Supertubes. The wind was pumping at around 35 knots and Keahi looked really good out there with his effortless style…

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RIDER: MANUELA JUNGO LOCATION: PORTO BOTTE, SARDINIA Photo: James Boulding MJ: When the water is this flat it’s hard not to enjoy engaging the rail and throwing out some spray buckets. Summer in Porto Botte offers endless amounts of this, that’s for sure…

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RIDER: HUGO CHABOUD LOCATION: CORSICA Photo: Damien Chaboud DC: This shot was taken while we were putting the new Access Carbon Wave through its paces. We were in South Corsica and Hugo was seeing how it performed for airs. The aim of our freestyle range is to promote lightness, precision and the ultimate glide and I think we capture that perfectly here!

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RIDER: BRANDON SCHEID LOCATION: LEUCATE, FRANCE Photo: Vincent Bergeron BS: Kiteloops are one of the most stunning and fun things you can do with a kite. Whether it’s 20m up or just in a transition, the loop always adds something exciting. In this particular case, I was on 12m lines, which makes the loop another beast altogether. With short lines you really get that ‘shot out of the cannon’ feel, and the landings can be a bit harsh. However, it always makes for a captivating photo. I was happy to see how the shots came out and to still be walking after throwing a few for the lens on our 2018 shoot in France.

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RIDER: TOM BRIDGE LOCATION: GIZZERIA, ITALY Photo: Alexander Schwarz AS: After the European twintip racing championships were over, Tom and I decided we would have a little photoshoot session at a flatwater spot next to the event venue. I met Steph and her sons two years ago at the same spot. Since then we have become good friends. For this shoot, everything was quite improvised and more like a fun session than a serious photoshoot. I just told Tom to do his thing and it is always great to shoot with such a talented young rider like Tom‌

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RIDER: NUNO STRU FIGUEIREDO LOCATION: ESPINHO Photo: Gonçalo Mariani TKM: It’s a new brand with new kit but with some familiar faces behind the scenes, and also some familiar faces riding with the team.

Here’s Nuno Stru Figueiredo getting the new kit front-and-center, and showcasing why he’s been happy to get on board with Eleveight.

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RIDER: TOMMY GAUNT LOCATION: TURKS AND CAICOS Photo: Andre Magarao AM: During our shoot in Turks and Caicos we found this spot that had super clear and still water with offshore winds. That’s probably my favorite situation to shoot. The sun was pretty high and I started shooting with a fisheye and a big dome on the waterhousing.

After a couple of tries I realized the water was so clear we could see the shadow of the rider under the water so we started working on an angle that would favor that and got this shot with both the rider and the shadow in. It’s the first time I’ve seen this in a shot.

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RIDER: EVGENIYA (EVE) SOBOLEVA LOCATION: CABARETE, DR Photo: Josh Messer ES: I work a lot with entrepreneurs and often find a connection between this and kiteboarding. Here my AXIS Hydrofoil helps me to find my ‘center’ and a connection with the present moment through foiling over crystal waters and California waves, and through my travels in Caribbean and Asia I unearthed some gems of wisdom, which sparked continuing research to develop strategy for enabling my fellow startup enthusiasts and entrepreneurs to become less stressed, more educated, more productive and more focused when it comes to their wellness.

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Eric Rienstra T

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Aside from being one of the most successful riders in kiteboarding’s history, Eric Rienstra also has a rep for being a passionate advocate of the perception and reputation of the sport. It really does matter to him. He’s a popular guy and we were inundated with questions for him from other riders, although you’ll need a basic grounding in the politics of Game of Thrones to appreciate a few of the answers…

PHOTOS: Toby Bromwich 35

RIGHT

When you spend a whole summer camping on the spit, you get to ride the Hood River Slider Park like this...

JASON SLEZAK Q | How big do you see the Kite Park League getting and how much do you think it will positively affect the park niche of the overall sport of kiteboarding?

I see the Park Tour eventually getting as big as the Freestyle

JAMES BOULDING: Q | Top 3 tunes for hitting a kicker?

Frick Park Market - Mac Miller Bang Bang - Swollen Members Nature of the Beast - Mad Child

Tour. We have already seen Freestyle World Champions like Christophe Tack, Aaron Hadlow, and Karolina Winkowska make the switch, and more freestylers are trying it out every year. I am hopeful that this will increase the number of parks around the world as well as increase the marketing value of all the park riders, resulting in bigger sponsorship contracts and more park related products being produced.

REO STEVENS: Q | Last time we spoke you filled me in with the major dysfunctions going on with all the different organizations in the sport. What do you think now?

Yep Daenerys has landed in Westeros! The Seven Kingdoms will soon be united once again.

RICH SABO: Q | How do you stay so calm and poised without your signature dreadlocks?

My dreadlocks were simply an outward visual representation of my inner self, not the other way around. The release of the ego and self-image by just looking the way you are without trying or worrying how people perceive you is the whole point. So to say that the lack of them would cause me to be any different would be a contradiction to the whole philosophy. They did however help a ton in projecting a counter culture vibe that both attracted likeminded people to me and kept the douche bags that care what you look like away. Now I feel like I’m under cover and I actually have to talk to people to find out if they are cool or not…

LANCE KOUDELE: Q | Since cannabis is legal here in Oregon, do you like indica or sativa?!

Wake and bake sativa, indica after 4:20, and hybrids all day!

EWAN JASPAN: Q | Can you give us a quick rundown on how kiteboarding is like Game of Thrones?

Well, there are a bunch of different factions all trying to claw their way onto the Iron Throne but no one seems to be able to stay there for long!

NOÈ FONT: Q | We haven’t seen a video part from you in a while? Are you planning on stepping it up from Fully Automatic?

Well my riding has stepped up a bit, but with all the events and traveling I have been doing lately it is hard to find time to stay put and have a videographer like Nate Appel around. I’ve been shooting a lot of quick edits here and there, but because of the terms of my sponsor contracts I try to focus on photos more these days.

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CRAIG CUNNINGHAM: Q | Where do you see the sport of kiteboarding going in the next few years?

Going big, so big waves, big sliders, and big air!

JULIA CASTRO: Q | Eric, what do you think about politics in 2017?

Politics these days is making me want to just kill everyone and let the Earth go back to the way it was before humans, but that is exactly what ‘they’ want: Divide and conquer! The destruction of community is the first step for a fascist overthrow of Democracy. If everyone lives in fear of each other, that’s more power to the system and less to the people. The cries of people that actually try to make things better from within our political system, like Bernie Sanders, fall on deaf ears. So I’ll just keep hiding out in the flow state and pretend there is no one else on Earth...

COLLEEN CARROLL Q | You’ve been one of the most nomadic professional kiteboarders I know, not calling anywhere home for the entirety of your kiteboarding career. If you could paint for us your ultimate ‘home’ setup, what would it be?

A house boat with a pool on top with deployable kickers to gap up to the pool and rails going down the other side. The pool would have a glass bottom so people inside can look up and see the riders go over them. The whole thing would sail with a massive kite, with an electric motor only for emergencies. Or a kite powered barge with the top deck fully soiled out for growing food and inside divide it into a small motel for all the homies, with a club and skate ramps everywhere instead of stairs so you never have to walk anywhere. That would do me.

Eric TA N G L E D L I N E S

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BRANDON SCHEID Q | How is it possible that you never wear a wetsuit, even when I’m in my full suit in the freezing Hood River?

I’m a white walker.

SENSI GRAVES Q | How has not having dreads anymore affected how you're perceived in the kite community?

Well, no one recognizes me anymore! Especially as I got a new kite sponsor at the same time.

SAM MEDYSKY Q | Is it true you camped out in the bushes in Hood River for an entire summer?

Yeah that was an amazing summer! The only reason I had to leave the Spit was to cross the street to go to the bars at night.

PHIL JANKE (MARKETING, CORE) Q | You live your own and very unique style of life that is deeply connected to the sport, traveling and competitions. Where do you see yourself in 10 and 25 years’ time and what would you like to be doing?

In 10 years I will probably be competing in other disciplines like racing instead of focusing on Park. Also I would expect to be more involved in event organization and judging. In 25 years I hope to be a full time employee at a kite brand or magazine, and if not I’ll probably become a history teacher.

ALEX LEWIS-HUGHES: Q | If you could change one thing within the kite industry what would it be?

I'd like to change the public image of the sport as viewed by other board sports. Coming from a snowboarding background and community in Lake Tahoe, I have a bit of insight into what other professional boardsport riders think of kiting. The perception is still that it is only for old people, so my effort throughout my entire career has been focused on proving that everything they can do on their boards is possible with a kite and that the potential beyond that is limitless…

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Eric as close as he gets to 'home'.

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there are a few excellent waves that break just down the beach from the famous surf spot.

The kiting in Christ Church and Barbados is some of the best you’re going to find in the region. Predictable trades combined with open ocean swells give this place exactly the type of reassurance you’re looking for when you’re vacationing. Waking up in the morning, you’ll face an already building forecast. There are small waves rounding the headlands and substantially bigger waves rolling over the outer reef, it was more a matter of ‘when’ and ‘where’ rather than “if ”. The surf in Barbados is excellent in itself. With a few world class surf spots, you’ll be sure to find a wave that works for your level of comfort. Nice mellow rollers on the south side of the island reel in on tap, whereas the well-known break, Soup Bowls, can be a grinding hollow right that churns in with the right swell directions. If premiere breaks aren’t your thing,

The allure of a place like this is both the remoteness and local charm. What you will be getting on your trip to Barbados is exclusion, adventure and everything you need to feel comfortable without the overpriced and unnecessary additions that seem to creep their way into a typical destination. The eco-sport tourism of Barbados is relatively young. What you’ll find is a culture eager to give you an authentic experience. You’ll be met with love, kindness and an all-together genuineness that will dramatically elevate the journey. Many businesses have become poised to offer the full experience; beach front villas, full service restaurants and rum drinks with little umbrellas in them. I found surprise in being one of only a few individuals at my resort, though the place was obviously constructed to accommodate many more people. Perhaps it was the time of year that I was visiting, or it was the element of “newness” that this place still harbored. Either way, I found the experience to be transcendent and peaceful in every way.

CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS — Typically beautiful, draped in contrasting blues and golds and enshrouded in a churning Atlantic Ocean, Barbados is the embodiment of beauty that a true escape needs. The Caribbean currents are swirled by trade winds, and the breezes rustle tall palms that watch over long rolling expanses of sugar cane fields. This small, southern-most island is compact and rich with tropical excellence and eclectic beach culture. A journey to the south-eastern tip of this rich island is an experience that will be fruitful in both exploration and activity alike. The combination of open ocean waves balanced with a few reef-protected lagoons makes the coastline of Silver Sands a premier place to visit on your next vacation.

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NOT IN THE BAG: Any Duty Free – make the most of the epic drinks on the island…

IN THE BAG: Go for a couple of ‘average’ sizes. Say an 8 and an 11… A surfboard is a definite and a twin tip if you want to mix it up.

GETTING THERE: The only airport is extraordinarily close to… well, EVERYTHING in Barbados. It’s an island. So just book your flight into Christ Church Airport and prepare yourself to be met with huge posters of Rihanna at customs…

LEAST LIKELY TO HEAR: “Overrated.”

MOST LIKELY TO HEAR: “Insane.”

BEER: $4 / €3.50 / £3. Head to the London Bar - the locals joint just across the street. It’s a small unassuming spot with some of the best food on the island.

RUBBER: I wouldn’t bother – you might want a wetsuit top if you plan on getting rinsed a lot.

Unassuming and silent, the island is quiet and peaceful. It is surprising to find word class kite and surf conditions all over the island with no crowd or pretense. If you are respectful to the local culture and the natural hierarchy of the conditions, you’ll be met with an equal ration of respect. In my recent experience, as an American traveling, I can be met with a lot of opinions and judgement from others. I found the general vibe in Barbados to be absent of assumptions about who I may be because of where I am from. I found more interest in the person I presented myself as. Whether out in the lineup, having drinks at the local bar, or walking through the streets of Christ Church, locals want to extend the friendly island vibe through a smile or friendly greeting, and that is what makes this place so incredibly special.

Just barely on the radar for top world destinations to visit, you will find yourself as only one of a few kiters. You won’t be overrun by traffic in the water or chaos trying to launch your kite, instead you’ll find kindness, open, clear blue waters, excellent surf and consistent winds – sounds like a good trip to me…

ABOVE / The many faces of Island Life...

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BOARD: SLINGSHOT MIXER | DIMENSIONS: 5’10” X 19.5” X 2½” | AGE: 26 | WEIGHT: 80KG | HEIGHT: 6’0

Most seasons you see a kite or board that looks a little different – something that sees you stop flicking through the product book and go: Hmmm.

The Mixer is one of those boards… It’s fair to say that it looks pretty funky. Reed Brady helped to develop it and has been putting it through its paces the last few months. So, what’s the deal?

I was born and raised on the Southern Oregon coast on a wonderful little lake called Floras Lake. I’ve been riding with Slingshot since the very first time I could get my dirty 12-year-old hands on a bar.

Although I grew up riding a twin tip upon going to school in Central California I fell in love with shredding the surf. The first board that got me hooked was the Celeritas, which then turned into the T-Rex, to the Screamer, and now the Mixer.

I really enjoy the Celeritas for its all-around performance and the Tyrant for its down the line drive and locked-in feel in larger waves.

The Mixer feels like the perfect mix (ahhh I see now!) between the two with its ability to utilize its unique tail in creating a back foot slashy shortboard-feel, as well as being able to handle turns at speed and tear apart sizeable waves.

The lay-up of the Mixer features a durable EPS foam core with extra layers of glass and a carbon stringer for reinforcement. A high-end bamboo laminate tops it off to keep it lightweight and durable as possible.

I tend to break boards… a lot… and the construction of the Mixer and other boards in the 2018 lineup have kept me on the water instead of in the garage huffing epoxy fumes!

The tail on the Mixer seems odd at first, but as soon as you hop on it and begin slashing you’ll be very pleased with the outcome. We aimed to shape a tail that would be able to handle a variety of waves without sacrificing the carving and loose back-foot pressure.

If you move your feet slightly forward on the board you’ll be able to generate ample speed, move your feet back towards the tail and you’ll be able to blow tail like nobody’s business.

The board features a quad concave bottom that allows for added grip on the rails and a locked-in feel on turns. While still being able to crank some frothy bottom turns, then the fin placement and concave bottom channels water to generate speed.

Slingshot strive to keep their boards light and strong, and the Mixer does not disappoint. With the solid construction underneath it definitely won’t break any time soon (coming from ol’ leadfoot over here). It’s light enough to boost and has just enough weight to keep you cranked through those critical bottom turns.

For those that enjoy ripping apart waves and releasing some anger into the face, as well as tackling sizeable waves and cranking some long drawn-out carves, the Mixer will be the perfect board for you! It is happiest in the medium size wave range where you can slow it down to slash some lips and speed it up to get around those sections…

“I tend

to break boards… a lot…”

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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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M A I N / A storm in the making...

I N S E T / The Edmund Fitzgerald: sunk by the Witch of November on the Great Lakes.

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This is the final part of our four-part series on different types of wind in an A to Z format.

In this article I’m going to cover from T to Z. Trade wind –

Prevailing wind from an easterly quarter located around the tropics, around 10º to 30º latitude on the east side of the oceans. They are associated with semi-permanent anticyclones, such as the Azores High in the North Atlantic, and are predominantly from the northeast in the northern hemisphere and from southeast in the southern hemisphere. They are typically strongest in summer when the anticyclone itself is stronger, and are typically moderate to fresh but can become strong at times especially if the moving air mass passes through a constriction such as between two islands.

Tornado –

A rotating column of air, normally existing between the ground and the base of a large storm cloud. The diameter of a tornado is typically of the order of 100 meters, but has been known to reach 3 kilometers. Windspeeds are typically around 100 knots, but in extreme cases have been estimated at over 250 knots. They have been observed in every continent except Antarctica, but are very common in North America, most famously around the middle of the US in an area called Tornado Alley. The formation of tornadoes is complicated and is still not fully understood by scientists.

air masses collide, winds can suddenly pick up to hurricane force, with little or no warning, and can persist for several days. The famous song The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, by the Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot, tells the tale of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, which sank on Lake Superior in November 1975 drowning all 29 crew members.

Xlokk –

A hot, humid wind that blows from the southeast on the island of Malta. It typically blows during spring, and brings misty conditions to the island. The word ‘xlokk’ means ‘sirocco’ in Maltese, and refers to the Sirocco wind, which originates in North Africa and blows from a southerly quarter into the Mediterranean. It typically occurs when a low pressure moves eastwards from the Atlantic into Northern Africa generating a southerly airstream on its eastern flank.

Updraft –

A vertical current of air, often associated with the formation of cumulus clouds and thunder storms. The air can rise due to localized heating which lowers the density of the air compared with its surroundings, or it can rise due to the convergence of two horizontally-moving air masses.

Vardarac wind –

A strong, cold wind from the north or northwest that blows from the Republic of Macedonia, across northern Greece and into the Aegean Sea. It typically occurs in winter when there is relatively high pressure over the European continent and a low over the Aegean Sea, causing a northerly airstream between the two systems. The air mass descends down the southern side of the Voras Mountains between Greece and Macedonia, and accelerates as it constricts through a valley called the Moravia-Vardar Gap.

Westerlies –

Prevailing westerly winds that blow at latitudes between about 30º and 60º. The westerly airstream exists between the northern flank of semi-permanent high pressure systems such as the Azores Anticyclone, and relatively low pressure to the north. They are also known as anti-trades because they blow on the opposite side of the anticyclone to the tradewinds. They are strongest in winter when the temperature gradient – hence the pressure gradient – between north and south is strongest. They are most prevalent across the oceans and blow uninterrupted in the southern hemisphere (see Roaring Forties).

The westerlies are closely linked with the polar jet stream and are important for steering mid-latitude depressions.

Witch of November –

A strong wind that blows in the Great Lakes of North America during autumn and early winter. The relatively warm water of the Great Lakes during the summer and autumn generates a quasi-permanent area of relatively low pressure over the Lakes, which sucks in cold, dry, northerly air from the Arctic and warm, moist southerly air from the Gulf of Mexico. When these

Yamo –

A warm, dry wind that blows down steep valleys in Japan.

The mechanism that causes it is practically identical to the Föhn wind, whereby an air mass is forced to ascend on one side of a mountain, where it cools and precipitates out much of its moisture. The air then descends on the other side of the mountain as a warm, dry wind.

Zephyr –

Name derived from the ancient Greek god of the west wind, Zephyros. In Greek mythology, the west wind was considered a warm, gentle wind that blew in spring, melted snow and brought warm rain. Zephyros was the kindest of four gods, each one responsible for a wind from a different direction; the others being including Boreas (north), Favonius (south) and Eurus (east).

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...

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Pl

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le p o e P a s t i c a Gill s

By Melis

G

rowing up in Costa Rica, beach days with the family meant a whole day of playing in the ocean. I would pretend I was a mermaid and all sea creatures were my friends. Of course, I had a dolphin companion that would join me on my make believe adventures. If you ever met the dolphin in person you would soon realize it had no tail, no fins, no eyes, no face… That is because my dolphin was a pool noodle. My imagination would take us deep into the ocean and to far away tropical islands, for long enough to make the skin on my hands look like raisins.

Since I was a little girl I have had a deep appreciation for nature and its beauty. Traveling to some of the most beautiful corners of the world in search of wind and waves has deepened my connection to our natural world. A moment that stands out was swimming and playing with wild dolphins in the Bahamas.

As the pod approached, without hesitation we jumped off the side of the boat, mask and fins in hand. We knew if we wanted a chance to see them underwater we had to act fast. We were swimming with everything that we had just to keep up with them. We dove down and started twirling underwater and this caught the attention of one of the baby dolphins who immediately came to twirl with us. Soon even the adults wanted to join the fun, and we dove down circling each other for a moment that seemed eternal. If I close my eyes I can still see their eyes smiling back at me.

The very thought of a world where the ocean had become too unhealthy to have such experiences terrifies me. I would be completely heartbroken and devastated if one day the only things my grandchildren will know of the oceans are the stories I tell them… How the ocean once made me feel alive, free and happy.

We live in a time where not only our ocean’s health is threatened, but so is our way of life. As a marine biologist, environmentalist and professional kitesurfer I have seen firsthand the negative impacts of plastic pollution in our oceans around the world. From my local beach in Florida to much more exotic beaches such as those in the South Pacific, it’s practically impossible to find a shoreline untouched by plastic pollution.

Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead it is broken down into smaller pieces by the sun. Some float yet some sink affecting the entire water column. Due to circular ocean currents, plastic pollution collects in giant patches found in all of the world’s oceans. As a result of this, marine life suffers the most, ingesting plastic mistaken for food that often causes their death. A growing list of marine life has been documented with plastic in their stomachs or ensnaring their bodies including seabirds, cetaceans, sea turtles and fish.

The global environmental crisis of plastic pollution affects human health too. Plastic chemicals such as BPA (Bisphenol A) can be absorbed by the body and may be linked to certain cancers, can alter hormones and have other potentially negative effects on human health.

Most of this plastic pollution in the ocean comes from land. Some by carelessness but a lot is blown away during transit to or from landfills, eventually making its way to a river or stream and ending up in our oceans. According to an Ellen McArthur Foundation report, ‘at least 8 million tons of plastic are introduced into our oceans every year, which is equivalent to dumping the contents of one garbage truck into the ocean every minute’. That is a staggering number. The report also suggests that – in terms of volume – by 2050 there may be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Despite a growing worldwide demand for plastic, only 5% of the plastic produced is recycled effectively. Approximately 40% of plastics go to landfills, and a third of these plastics end up in fragile ecosystems such as our oceans.

This has motivated me to make personal and professional changes to the way in which I choose to live. I am constantly doing research and investigating new ways to live as sustainably as possible. The good news is there is hope and there are simple ways to rise above plastic that we can all work on together as a global community.

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5 Ways to rise above plastic:

1.

REFUSE single use plastic

ay no to plastic bags, water bottles, straws, disposable utensils and cups.

S When shopping try buying less of the plastic pre-packaged products, choose items that come in glass containers and instead of buying plastic wrapped meat and veggies, buy meats from the butcher wrapped in paper and pack your veggies loose in a reusable shopping bag.

2. REPLACE plastic products with reusable long lasting alternatives

Plastic shopping bags –bring your own reusable bags.

Plastic water bottles – replace with metal or glass reusable bottles.

Plastic containers, zip-top bags & tupperware – replace with glass containers.

Plastic lined cups and plastic lids – replace with a to-go stainless steel thermos mug.

Plastic plates – replace with paper plates.

Plastic utensils – replace with reusable bamboo to-go utensils.

3. REDUCE & REUSE everyday plastic products when possible

Reduce your plastic use where possible. Clean and re-use plastic products you already have.

4. RECYCLE, it really does make a difference

Imagine plastic products as a resource to be captured and used, instead of waste to be disposed of. If you must use plastic, choose the most commonly recycled plastics: #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE). You would be amazed at all the products that are being created with what we recycle (more on this subject below). Make sure to check your community guidelines for recycling properly.

5. GET INVOLVED in your community

Join your community at local beach clean ups and if you see trash at the beach or in the water pick it up and dispose of it properly. Join non-profit organizations and get involved in changing legislation. Promote corporate responsibility by asking businesses to take responsibility for their products and their packaging.

Support companies that are environmentally and socially responsible.

Every time you purchase you are casting a vote.

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Imagine if more of the plastic produced worldwide could be captured and reused in a circular manner. This would significantly reduce the amount of space taken up in landfills, the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans, and the amount of energy and raw materials needed to produce new plastics.

Well, this year my friend and fellow kitesurfer, Alexandra Menk, and I decided to combine our passion for protecting the ocean with creating flattering and functional waterwear designed specifically for active women. At MG Surfline, Waterwear for a Plastic Free Ocean, we have explored innovative ways to reduce plastic pollution in our oceans and give discarded plastic bottles a new life. Upcycling or creative re-use means reusing discarded objects or material to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original. You may be wondering how discarded plastic bottles can be turned into amazing products? The process is simple. It all starts with you, with us, every time we recycle.

Plastic bottles labeled with the #1 on the bottom are the same chemistry make-up as polyester. Recycled plastic bottles are ground into flakes. The flakes are transformed into fiber or thread and that thread is used to knit our fabrics. For our first eco-collection we will have repurposed over 19,000 bottles, and we hope to see this number increase each year.

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Our company values are dictated first by our experiences as passionate water women. I first met my business partner, Alexandra Menk, kiteboarding. Growing up in Bogotá, Colombia, Alex had been a fish out of water. Her devotion for the ocean began when she first set foot in the water as part of her training for a diving certification. And just like that, the fish was returned to where it always belonged. After traveling around the world, diving in the most incredible locations, including the breath taking Great Barrier Reef, Alex moved to Florida, where she was introduced to kiteboarding and SUP. From then on her life would never be the same, and she will never live more than a couple miles from the beach. In her own words, ‘the ocean is my playground, my passion, and it is our responsibility to protect it’.

Alex and I make all of our operating decisions based on our core values, choosing to do business sustainably and ethically. We take pride in keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum. Our entire supply chain happens in the US. The facility that processes the bottles to transform them into fiber and the textile mill that produces our fabrics are in California. The workshop where all our pieces are carefully handmade and sewn with love is in Florida. Having a personal relationship with our talented seamstresses, knowing where and how every piece is made and giving back is important to us.

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We are against fast fashion and creating products that are cheaper but bad for the environment and society. We believe in slow fashion, designing swimwear and active wear that not only looks good, but is comfortable, functional and made to last. Most of the pieces in our collection are reversible and we love being able to give our customers this added value with their purchase.

We strongly believe in protecting the ocean we love so much. The ocean is our life. With MG Surfline, our mission is to create high quality waterwear made in an environmentally conscious way and use business to inspire the desire to contribute to conservation, incorporate sustainability into every day practices and put into action solutions to environmental problems. We are committed to protecting the environment and making a difference by organizing beach clean ups and donating not only our time, but a percentage of sales to grassroots environmental groups to help reverse the decline in the overall environmental health of the planet. We truly believe in leading by example and that everyone’s small efforts help. A love for our oceans demands involvement in the fight to protect them. We invite you to join us in our mission for a plastic free ocean!

Find out more at www.mgsurfline.com With thanks to Surfers Against Sewage for their help with photos. You can find out more about their current Plastic Free Coastlines campaign at www.plasticfree.org.uk.

G A L L E RY GKA Wave and Strapless , Th e GKA s Wave and Strapless tour has been rattling through th eir tour dates pretty quickly wi th four even ts already ticked off. Here we take a closer look at th e 100% strapless freestyle even t in Fuerteven tura, Dakhla and in Germany, wh ere th e scene was set for an epic Mauri tian finale...

PHOTOS:

Ydwer van der Heide / GKA Kite-Surf World Tour (unless stated)

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Paulino Pereira is one of few riders capable of providing a genuine challenge to th e Cape Verdean con tingen t.

He narrowly missed out on th e finals in Fuerte...

Matchu was pitted against Airton in th e semis in Sotaven to and after a close h eat wen t out so had to be con ten t wi th third place. Here h e hopes h e nails this one oth erwise who knows wh ere that GoPro stick will end up...

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Wh en i t comes to pure tweaked out style th ere's only ever one winner... Here's Keahi styling his way through his h eat.

You may not have h eard of Gustavo Arrojo but h e is shredding in th e freestyle scene right now.

He's taken th e walking on water angle pretty seriously too, even embracing an appropriate haircut for th e move.

"What size board 's that Matchu?"

Ah, right, thanks...

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Th e surf might not have been stellar but getting your fin release just right is still a satisfying state of affairs. Here's Camille Dellanoy gi ving himself some appreciation...

Mitu was on a mission in Dakhla...

Here h e is li terally destroying a close-out section.

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Airton needed a win in Fuerta to get back to th e top of th e leader board. Nailing this kind of stuff got him th ere...

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Wh en Airton finds a section to pun t off: you know about i t...

Proving that you don't need to teach an old dog new tricks, Mi tu's Dakhla masterclass saw him edge out Keahi for his first even t win on th e GKA tour.

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A win in Germany would have seen Airton pretty much over th e line for th e 2017 tour. Again it was an Airton vs. Matchu final but – despi te some truly incredible and progressi ve trickery – Airton couldn't qui te find that killer move.

P H OTO : Joern Pollex / Hochzwei

Matchu knew how importan t this final was if h e was to be in wi th a chance of retaining his ti tle. He wen t hard out from th e start and was revving th e crowd up after every trick. He threw everything h e had at th e final and i t paid off.

P H OTO : Joern Pollex / Hochzwei TheKiteMag.com

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STUFF We like the look of...

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1. North Rebel Is it the end of an era? Perhaps. North’s most famous of kites, the Rebel, can now be ridden on 4 or 5 lines… It’s a significant moment and reflects the direction that kite design has headed in over the last 10 years.

But fear not: it still looks like a Rebel and it flies like a Rebel, it’s just now a bit less of a, well, of a Rebel.

2. AXIS Planq Wakeskate With Alex Lewis-Hughes on the team, AXIS are always going to need a wakeskate board in their lineup. This latest incarnation has seen the crew revisit the rocker line of the Planq – shifting from a continuous to a 3-stage rocker to improve the pop and ‘ollieability’ of the Planq, while still enabling you to maintain your speed when you’re trucking around…

3. Slingshot SST The SST is back for 2018 with a few refinements but with that PURE SURF ethos at its core (and maybe a bit of foiling too if that’s your bag!)… It sits a little deeper in the window than other surf specific kites for precision drifting, and it has Slingshot’s signature bombproof surf construction so it’ll probably be jacked up and ready for action while you’re still rinsing the sand out of your eyes…

4. Liquid Force WOW V3 It’s a complete refresh of the WOW for 2018 with a load of fresh input from the pro team for a true evolution of Liquid Force’s super-popular wave specific kite… You can expect increased depower, quicker response and more pivotal turning, so if you’re riding the WOW V3 and not shredding: you only have yourself to blame.

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5. RRD Global Bar V8 What use is a kite without a great bar? Not much. RRD have always been proud of their bar (and of their unique Rigid Thread Lines) and rightly so – for V8 the focus has been on the safety. So there is an entirely new QR system and a new single line flag out for 100% depower if the worst comes to the worst and you have to push the panic button.

STUFF 6.

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6. EPIC Screamer 10 LTD This kite has a special place in the EPIC range and gets some extra special attention for their latest 5G release. EPIC reckon this is their best kite yet for super-quick turning, and that it’s unbeatable for looping and for correcting when you’re ‘coming in hot’. Not for newbies, the Screamer LTD demands to be ridden hard and will then dish out plenty of rewards…

8. Ocean Rodeo Mako When it comes to boards with a loyal following you would be hard pushed to find many more adored boards than Ocean Rodeo’s Mako. For 2018 (and its 15th anniversary!) there is a new ‘air cushioned’ bottom shape for even more comfort and the Mako now comes with their snowboard inspired Bliss Air and Ratchet straps for the perfect connection to your board.

7. CrazyFly Raptor Neon The Raptor is CrazyFly’s bestselling model, and for 2018 it has received a brand new shape after seven years… Sticking to its essential ingredients of being a top end freeride/freestyle board, it remains a full carbon ultra-light board, and now features a brand new Ellipse double concave for unmatched comfort, and double V tips for improved grip when popping. Oh, and you can get it in neon too. Yes: NEON!

9. Cabrinha Drifter If you talk to anyone from Cabrinha about what the headlines are for 2018 then there is one word that is guaranteed to slip of their mouth in the first sentence: Drifter. There’s a lot of hype about this latest version which is a complete reworking of the kite. Has it been a success? Check the cover and our mega Oahu feature and I think you’ll probably agree: it has.

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10. CORE Impact 2 If you want pure, unadulterated power for top-end freestyle and wakestyle riding then take a look at this creation… The Impact 2 is a five strut powerhouse and for V2 has increased trim options, an even skinnier ExoTex leading edge, as well as some extra sizes to ensure you can be hitting it hard in all conditions…

STUFF 14.

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11. ION Composite Wave Harness ION have a whole new series of composite harnesses which incorporate their Flexhardshell technology. The Carbon/PE construction has differently shaped layers that wrap around the harness, with flexible sideparts which provide an anatomic fitting and reduce pressure points for maximum comfort. Pictured here is the Wave version – which we’ve also had on test – and we can report that it ticks all of the right boxes in terms of both comfort and support...

12. Levitaz Cruizer The Cruizer is Levitaz’s ‘entry level’ foil, so you can expect a lower take off speed and a friendlier ride than the racier foils in the range. That said, this is a Levitaz foil, so you can expect top end construction and materials and – if you do want to put your foot down – you’ll be seeing off the other ‘entry level’ foils pretty quickly…

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13. NHP Carbon Split This year sees the fourth generation of Nobile’s patented W-Connection system on their split board… As you can see it has a funky new wavy outline to improve the load distribution at the critical join. The internal structure has also been reworked so the join and consequently the board is lighter than last year’s. Oh, and most importantly, it looks seriously badass in black…

14. Naish Thrust KS 1 For 2018 Naish are rolling out an entirely new foil. The Thrust KS 1 promises fast yet stable performance, with a relatively early take off then a smooth and stable ride. But don’t be fooled – if you want to turn on the juice, it can handle that too… ‘performance all-rounder’ box…

15. Eleveight FS New brand, new kit = exciting times!

Eleveight have managed to produce a very impressive line-up of kites and boards in a relatively short amount of time which surely bodes well... Here we have the FS, a performance open C four-line kite targeted at intermediate to advanced freestyle and Big Air riders.

Quando arriva un nuovo kit insieme a uno delle piĂš grandi mareggiate nella recente storia hawaiana, ci si aspetta sempre grandi cose.

Moona Whyte, Keahi de Aboitiz e James Boulding ci hanno dato il loro punto di vista su una dei set piĂš pesanti che abbiano mai affrontato.

FOTO: James Boulding

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Na Pali Coast

Hanalei Mt Waialeale Kapaa

Waimea Canyon

Niihau

Kauai

Poipi Beach

Banzai Pipeline Waimea Bay

Oahu Laie

Makaha Pearl Harbour Honolulu Diamond Head

Kahaluu

Kualapuu Wailau Valley Maunaloa

Molokai

Kaunakakai

Kaanapali Lahaina

Lanai Lanai City

Maui Hana

Wailea

Haleakala

Honokaa

Kohala Mts Kohala Coast

Hilo Kilauea

Kailua-Kona Captain Cook Kona Coa

Hawaii

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Hawaii Volcanoes Nat. Park Naalehu

Pahala

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Il nostro fine settimana ad Oahu è stato pieno di azione. Siamo arrivati al ​​ mio spot vicino casa, presto per avere una bella luce.

Il vento non era molto forte ma ero entusiasta di provare il Drifter per la prima volta. E 'stato un ottimo modo per iniziare la mattinata con il mio nuovo kite nel cielo e con la bellissima catena montuosa Waianae come sfondo. Alcune belle onde di riscaldamento e poi siamo andati ​​a Backyards.

Avevamo due auto piene zeppe di kites, tavole e apparecchi fotografici - guidavamo quei 30 minuti lungo la costa, da un lato del North Shore all'altro. Potevamo vedere piccole onde che sbucavano a ogni spot break che passavamo e quando siamo arrivati ​​alla spiaggia, il vento era in azione e le onde stavano aumentando. Ero molto eccitata e nervosa allo stesso tempo, come sono di solito a Backyards. Le onde sono pulite ma potenti e la barriera corallina è poco profonda. Il vento è leggermente offshore. Quale modo migliore per testare nuovi kite: condizioni difficili, giusto?

Ci siamo divertiti nelle onde per tutto il pomeriggio, soddisfatti del buon vento e degli scatti di Anders e James. Potevo vedere Mokes dalla spiaggia di Backyards – c'era potenziale per buon vento e la direzione della mareggiata garantiva delle belle onde.

Come sempre quando faccio kite in uno spot diverso dal mio solito posto, ho sempre paura di perdermi qualcosa.

I ragazzi hanno accettato di tornare indietro per un'altra sessione serale, con i kite degli altri riders erano già stati impacchettati dopo una lunga giornata di vento e onde.

Io e Keahi ci siamo lanciati il più velocemente possibile, le condizioni erano buone. Come abbiamo raggiunto l'acqua era chiaro tuttavia che la mareggiata fosse difficile da gestire.

L'oceano era tutto increspato ed io e Keahi eravamo gli ultimi.

Fino al tramonto.

LEFT: Probably not in the mood for the ‘checking the surf ’ product shot right now...

ABOVE: Moona and a perfect wall

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The waves at Backyards were clean and powerful, but the reef is shallow.

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It doesn’t look like the conditions are worrying Keahi too much...

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TOP: Here’s the paddle in guys just before Keahi headed out...

RIGHT PAGE: Yup, it was a big as a house. Or a couple of houses looking at this.

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He wasn’t wearing his emergency floatation vest that we had forgotten at home, but brushed it off and tried to trust in his waterman instincts to survive the session.

La mattina successiva le onde erano enormi e voci da Mokes lo confermavano. Avevo deciso che non sarei uscita con il kite quel giorno, ma Keahi era esaltato. Abbiamo guidato lungo la North Shore cercando di addocchiare potenziali onde, ma alla fine abbiamo deciso per Backyards.

Keahi stava preparando nervosamente la sua attrezzatura mentre i fotografi preparavano le apparecchiature. Il vento era discutibile, ma lo è sempre qui e se qualcuno è in grado di interpretarlo, questo è Keahi.

Con un bacio d'addio l'ho lasciato in spiaggia e sono andata su in collina per una vista dall'alto. Anders mi ha guidato via telefono in un punto da dove aveva filmato Keahi un paio di anni prima. Ho preso la mia

macchina fotografica e mi sono seduta sul tetto della macchina, cercando di posizionarmi con la vista tra le case e le linee elettriche. Ho poi scrutato un kite giallo attraverso gli alberi e Keahi che si staccava da onde enormi. Non stava indossando la giacca di galleggiamento d'emergenza che avevamo dimenticato a casa, ma avevo fiducia nel suo istinto da uomo d'acqua.

Mentre Keahi cercava onde perfette, ho cercato di ottenere news dalla spiaggia, ma tutti erano incollati alle telecamere, senza un secondo per controllare i telefoni. Alla fine ho visto il suo kite tornare a riva sano e salvo.

Ancora una volta Keahi aveva spinto i limiti del kiting e dato ai nuovi kite un vero test di resistenza e di prestazioni ottenibile solo ad Oahu.

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Dentro l'HQ di Cabrinha a Maui quest'inverno, era chiaro che c'era qualcosa nell'aria. Il nuovo Drifter prometteva bene, numerosi test erano serviti ad ottimizzare tutto l'ottimizzabile, ed il risultato era l'avere i ragazzi del R&D super sorridenti.

Bello essere nelle isole hawaiane con onde ad accompagnarti per tutto l'inverno.

Con il prodotto in mano, aspettavamo le condizioni ideali per un test. Abbiamo chiamato Keahi de Aboitiz e Moona Whyte per andare a Oahu. Anche se queste isole sono adiacenti nella catena hawaiana, ricevono condizioni diverse. I venti a Maui colpiscono il litorale lungo il North Shore, mentre a Oahu questo vento è più offshore. Questo è uno dei motivi per cui Maui è la destinazione più famosa per gli sport di vento vento. Oahu viene battuta da forti venti da nord in inverno e può essere un luogo pericoloso anche per i più esperti.

TOP: Look and learn: this is a textbook top turn...

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Io e Anders KrĂźger, il maestro dei video Cabrinha, avevamo preparato tutte le nostre macchine fotografiche, caricato borsoni pieni di nuovi kite e tavole, ed eravamo saltati su un volo verso Oahu per unirci agli altri. Mentre mi addormentavo la prima notte, tutto quello che potevo sentire era il dolce rumore dell'acqua sulla costa. Ăˆ sempre una scommessa con le onde, anche se le previsioni sono oramai sempre piĂš precise. Speravo davvero di non essere deluso. Svegliandoci era chiaro che la mareggiata non era ancora arrivata, cosĂŹ ci siamo diretti a Mokes per un giro di prova.

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Guardando un paio di onde, il vento cominciava ad arrivare – ora di andare Backyards. Questi due posti sono diversi – proprio prima di girare per Backyards c'è una strada di 200 metri che passa la famosa “Sunset break”, una famosa onda hawaiana che può diventare enorme. Si unisce a Backyards con una sezione straordinariamente spaventosa in cui sicuramente non ci si vuole trovare in una di quelle giornate. È una linea costiera impressionante. Seduto sulla spiaggia ho trascorso un po' di tempo fissando l'acqua. Keahi e Moona facevano sembrare tutto piuttosto semplice – era chiaro tuttavia che la parte dell'onda che poteva incresparsi era sempre alla fine, dove il vento praticamente si fermava. Guardare lo scenario attraverso l'obiettivo non sempre rende giustizia... Una foto blocca un istante che poi viene reinterpretato e sembra che ci sia un tempo infinito per decidere cosa fare, ma tornando alla realtà tutto accade molto molto in fretta. I tempi di reazione sono minuscoli e prendere una decisione velocemente fa la differenza tra il trovarsi in una situazione molto scomoda o in perfetta posizione.

Attraverso la mia 500 millimetri, ho potuto vedere queste emozioni incise sui volti dei riders, e mi sembrava di condividere con loro gli alti e bassi della sessione. Mentre un paio di onde si increspavano al tramonto, ero contento che i ragazzi avessero i loro nuovi kite. Il bagnino aveva iniziato a portare i surfisti a riva e in queste situazioni, è necessario affidarsi all'attrezzatura e alla proprie abilità.

TOP LEFT: Moona working hard to keep the speed in check.

CENTER LEFT: “Did you say Keahi’s not got his vest?!”

RIGHT: The new Drifter. Yup, I think we can say it has been well tested...

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The ‘warm down’ session at somewhere a little way down the road from Yards...

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In realtà ci è voluto un po' per convicermi all'inizio, ma ero super eccitato quando i ragazzi hanno deciso di volare a Oahu a girare qualche ripresa per la linea 2018. I nuovi kite erano appena arrivati a Maui e, con una delle migliori previsioni invernali, ho convinto tutti a venire a documentarlo prima dello shotting ufficiale dei giorni seguenti. Quando si prende una decisione è sempre stressante scoprire se ne è valsa la pena – ho ritenuto che fosse un rischio da correre. Come chiunque sia stato a Backyard sa, non importano le previsioni, sarà sempre una scommessa e non si saprà mai cosa accadrà. Si può solo stare in attesa e sperare, ma si può essere ricompensati con una delle migliori onde del mondo.

Le mareggiate dell'oceano ad Oahu possono essere davvero interessanti. Alcune onde seguono la direzione ed alcune non lo fanno, ma, è esattamente quello che si vuole. La cosa più importante che entra in gioco però è in realtà Kauai. Una volta che la direzione della mareggiata va oltre un certo punto, comincia a rivoltarsi e ciò che si ottiene è una differenza di dimensioni drammatiche da un'estremità del North Shore all'altro. Con il vento che comincia presto, il piano era quello di fare qualche shooting lungo la costa prima di dirigersi fino a Backyards quando la mareggiata iniziava a farsi più presente.

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It’s one of those places that seems to have a mind of its own BELOW: Oops

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ABOVE: A pretty heavy day for all concerned...

RIGHT: Moona drawing some pristine lines.

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Con qualche scatto riuscito, abbiamo deciso che era giunto il momento di cambiare rotta e di muoverci lungo la costa per il secondo stop. Arrivando a Backyards, era chiaro che la mareggiata in realtà era già lì. Camminando lungo la spiaggia, la prima cosa che ho notato è stata un'onda di 2 metri e mezzo buoni. Gli ultimi surfers rimasti erano sulla spiaggia ed era arrivato il momento…

Moona si è unita a noi e ci dava dentro, ma con l'aumentare delle dimensione era arrivato per lei il momento di uscire. Era quasi troppo grande, una sessione piuttosto difficile. Nell'arco di un'ora, la mareggiata aveva messo in piedi onde da più di 3 metri e mezzo – una vera sfida. Una volta che si raggiungono certe dimensioni, iniziano ad alzarsi una seconda e terza barriera esterna e, anche se ci sono ancora alcune perle, trovarle non è un compito facile.

Dire che il vento era rafficato è dire poco. 25-30 nodi ,seguiti da 12 nodi sul lato interno è generalmente lo standard. La cosa divertente è che nulla di questo sembra più importante quando si trova l'onda perfetta. C'è voluta una buona caccia, ma alla fine l'ho trovata. Una serie perfetta di onde. E con questo, ero finalemente tranquillo. Ci sono andato dentro con alcuni bei colpi, e con dei bei scatti avevamo già ottenuto quello per cui eravamo venuti.

Con la mareggiata che continuava a salire, sembrava che fosse il momento di chiudere la giornata. O così pensavamo…

Come si è poi scoperto, a causa della direzione, quello che pensavamo fosse un completo disastro di condizioni verso la costa era invece ancora sotto controllo. Abbiamo quindi usato le ultime ore di luce. La direzione era buona, e le dimensioni più contenute. E sopratutto vento pulito, la maniera ideale per finire in bellezza la giornata, con qualche altro scatto. Ci siamo regalati anche alcune birre...

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ABOVE: Keahi racing through the end section...

RIGHT: Yup, he’s in there...

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Dopo aver fatto delle uscite anche il secondo giorno, era chiaro che ormai la mareggiata era fuori controllo. Nonostante questo, ho visto una delle onde più perfette che abbia mai visto lungo la barriera corallina, poi seguita da una serie da più di 3 metri.

Ho deciso di provarci. Il vento si era girato un po' e anche se era più in mare aperto c'erano alcune increspature all'esterno. Una cosa che ho imparato su di me nel corso degli anni è che preferisco provare e fallire piuttosto che andare a casa chiedendomi “cosa sarebbe successo se...”. Era un'uscita solitaria, ma era la decisione giusta, perché avevo trovato un paio di onde veramente eccellenti.

Avevamo gli scatti e adesso era arrivato il momento di dirigersi verso Maui per il resto delle riprese. Non è stato facile, ma a volte questo è ciò che rende le sessioni ancora più incredibili, e ricorderò quelle onde come alcune delle più memorabili che abbia mai cavalcato!

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Durante i fine settimana il posto è leggermente piÚ affollato. Ma tutti erano veramente simpatici e accoglienti.

Quando Victor Hays, alla ricerca di un posto vicino per una scappata veloce, ha deciso per la Grecia, ha chiamato il suo buon amico Andre Magarao...

Entrambi erano un po dubbiosi sulle possibilitĂ di avere le condizioni ideali, ma li aspettava una sorpresa...

AM: Da qualche anno ero molto curioso sulla Grecia. Paula NovotnĂĄ ne parla sempre bene, ma d'altra parte, ogni volta che parlo con un kiter dicendo che vorrei andare da qualche parte oltre al Brasile, mi dicono sempre: "ma non troverai mai condizioni come a Cumbuco!"

Era arrivato il momento di scoprirlo.

PHOTOS: Andre Magarao WORDS: Andre Magarao and Victor Hays

Quando siamo arrivati ​​a Drepano i ragazzi di lì ci hanno accolto in quelle che hanno chiamato "non le migliori condizioni" – il vento stava soffiando dal lato opposto del solito. Il posto, ai miei occhi, era incredibile. Era stranissimo vedere una spiaggia che aveva solo rocce, non c'era nulla che galleggiava sull'acqua e questa era cristallina. Ciò lo ha reso un luogo ideale per alcuni scatti in acqua che di solito non faccio spesso in Brasile.

Il posto è bellissimo ed circondato da grandi montagne. Il vento può cambiare direzione velocemente – quasi di 180º in alcuni giorni – per un fotografo questo è un vero vantaggio perché può sembrare di essere in due posti diversi. È decisamente più complicato scattare qui piuttosto che in Brasile. L'acqua non è molto bassa ma le condizioni rimangono molto buone e con un po' di sforzo si possono ottenere foto sorprendenti. Ero abbastanza sorpreso dal fatto che non avevamo notti ventose e, a differenza del Brasile, ogni giorno il vento se ne andava presto dopo che il sole spariva dietro le montagne.

Eravamo abbastanza fortunati con le condizioni, quindi abbiamo deciso di stare a Deprano per la maggior parte del tempo e non abbiamo avuto modo di esplorare un granchè. Siamo andati però in un altro posto altrettanto bello, non aveva acqua cristallina ma era totalmente piatto, con due grandi montagne sullo sfondo. È completamente nel bel mezzo del nulla e sicuramente unico dal punto di vista di un fotografo. Se avete la possibilità, questa parte della Grecia vale sicuramente la pena, e non c'è da meravigliarsi che un sacco di professionisti ci siano passati recentemente.

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PoichĂŠ l'acqua era cosĂŹ chiara, dovevo approfittarne.

Ho preso i miei flash e la mia cover per l'acqua e mi sono gettato in acqua.

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Abbiamo visto parecchi windsurfers e ne sono stato sinceramente impressionato perchè non riesco piÚ a vedere molta gente che fa windsurf. Almeno non nei posti dove vado di solito.

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Il ponte sullo sfondo richiede un pedaggio di 13 euro. Potrebbe essere stato il ponte piĂš costoso che abbia mai attraversato! Ma ha fatto un buon lavoro come sfondo per alcune delle foto, quindi credo che ne sia valsa la pena.

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Questo è stato l'unico giorno con vento fino al tramonto, quindi ne abbiamo approfittato e abbiamo cercato di fotografare per tutto il tempo a disposizione...

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VH: Era l'inizio di Agosto ed era arrivato il momento di partire per un nuovo viaggio, e quando si tratta di scatti e riprese, mi porto sempre dietro il mio amico Andre!

Abbiamo dovuto trovare un posto vicino e doveva essere un posto con vento stabile e acqua piatta. Non chiedevamo troppo! Dopo alcune telefonate con i ragazzi di Airush, e con qualche nuova attrezzatura per fotografare, eravamo pronti per partire!

Come riders di freestyle, sogniamo sempre un posto perfetto con acqua piatta e vento stabile e questo è esattamente quello che la Grecia ha da offrire. Iliana di Airush ci aspettava all'uscita dell'aeroporto per mostrarci alcuni dei luoghi migliori, e il potenziale era irreale. Abbiamo finito per fermarci con il kite in due punti principali, Drepano e Tsimari.

Il primo spot è a due ore di macchina da Patras e ci ha dato condizioni da sogno, con un enorme distesa di sabbia battuta dal vento – sia da est che da ovest. Abbiamo avuto pricipalmente vento da est e anche se quelli del posto ci dicevano che "non sono le migliori condizioni", per noi è stato perfetto, con tricks da destra e sinistra e molte possibilità di buoni scatti per Andre.

Tsimari era completamente diversa – un'ora e mezza ad ovest della terraferma e con un enorme distesa di sabbia con alcune mangrovie all'estremità, il tutto circondato da montagne. Ci abbiamo trascorso un giorno solo, ma ne è valsa la pena.

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Questo è stato l'unico giorno che abbiamo avuto un "vento regolare". E 'stato magnifico questo cambiamento perchÊ ha cambiato completamente l' ambiente con cui ho lavorato. Questo è stato anche l'unico giorno con vento nel tardo pomeriggio.

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Purtroppo non abbiamo avuto abbastanza tempo per girare molto e scoprire altri luoghi, dal momento che il nostro obiettivo principale era quello di fotografare il nuovo kit, ma ci torneremo presto di sicuro.

La Grecia è stata uno dei miei migliori viaggi finora, con posti stupendi, buon cibo e gente simpatica.

Per me è stato sicuramente il Brasile d'Europa!

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Abbiamo lavorato su questi scatti mezzi dentro e mezzi fuori. Non capita tutti i giorni di trovare un posto con acqua cristallina cosĂŹ...

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Non si possono battere queste incredibili montagne sullo sfondo. Il posto è veramente unico.

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Plan B Il kite può essere uno sport frustante - anche il più clasisco degli spot a volte può non performare. E se le cose non non vanno come vi aspettavate, non lasciate perdere: passate al piano B. WORDS: Roderick Pijls | FOTO: Ydwer van der Heide

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Nemo has had to push the button on the occasional Plan B...

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T

rovare punti con vento e onde costanti in estate può essere molto difficile, anche dopo aver viaggiato nel mondo per diversi anni. Abbiamo avuto una pausa per un mese in giugno, per poi fare le valige e dirigerci verso un luogo dove il vento e le onde sono sempre affidabili. Kevin era già alle Mauritius e ci faceva venir voglia con le previsioni del tempo e le foto che stava facendo. Abbiamo deciso di dirigerci verso la classica regione di Le Morne per andare a One Eye – tre settimane di completa adrenalina e sfinimento. Purtroppo non è andata come previsto…

Se si vuole il meglio dal wave riding bisogna avere fortuna, perchè bisogna tenere conto della direzione del vento e delle mareggiate.

LEFT: Roderick finding himself a nice little section.

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A Mauritius abbiamo incontrato Kevin che ci ha mostrato i suoi ultimi scatti, condizioni epiche... Quella mattina eravamo esaltati all'idea di andare in spaggia... Ma il vento era a est invece che a sud-est, e la direzione della mareggiata era cambiata in una notte in direzione est invece che sud-ovest. Il giorno successivo lo stesso... E questo è accaduto più e più volte per una settimana... Ci siamo mantenuti positivi e abbiamo scalato la montagna 'Brabant' con la sua vista incredibile tutt'attorno. L'arrampicata però non era quello per cui eravamo venuti: volevamo One Eye.

Cominciavamo ad irritarci, un po' frustrati, così ci siamo seduti per un caffè e abbiamo deciso di fare un piano B. Jalou aveva un amico nel nord, Nico Kux che continuava a parlare di Anse La Rai e un posto segreto un po' più downwind. Abbiamo chiamato Nico e ci ha confermato che quello spot in quei giorni funzionava.

Era arrivato il momento di partire.

ABOVE: It’s not all about the surf though.

Mauritius rarely disappoints, day or night...

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Climbing was not what we had come for: we were hungry for One Eye.

LEFT: Roderick trying to remember whether he gets the pay out on Jalou’s life insurance...

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ABOVE: Lining up to get back into the action.

RIGHT: There are few other riders - male or female - with as much raw power as Jalou...

Ad Anse La Rai abbiamo visto alcune grandi linee bianche in lontananza, e ad entrambi è venuta la pelle d'oca. Siamo andati direttamente ​​ in acqua dove abbiamo trovato condizioni ideali per circa tre ore fino a quando la marea ha cominciato ad abbassarsi con occasionalmente la barriera corallina in vista. Quando siamo tornati abbiamo deciso di berci una birra da Nico. Purtroppo con Nico non ci si ferma mai ad una, e all'una di notte ci siamo resi conto che non potevamo guidare per tornare indietro.

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PIANO B

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Abbiamo deciso di rimanere lĂŹ, per svegliarci il giorno successivo ci siamo svegliati in "paradiso". Acqua cristallina, onde perfette, palme e spiagge con sabbia bianca. Nico ci ha spiegato che il "luogo segreto" era un miglio downwind, quindi dopo una breve colazione ci siamo mossi. Il set up era perfetto con alcuni overhead set, ce la siamo goduta facendo kite con Nico e i suoi due figli, onda dopo onda.

Tornare a casa di Nico e finire la giornata in bellezza con una birra al tramonto è perfetto. One Eye non aveva le condizioni che speravamo, ma è sempre bene avere un piano B...

RIGHT: 2 fins should do it...

BOTTOM: Life up north.

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PIANO B

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Heart Attack Rider: Paula Novotnรก Photo: Svetlana Romantsova

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The Move Heart Attack: Baaaaammm! It is definitely one of my favorite tricks that I can perfectly execute. The trick is also called an S Bend 3 and it is a winning trick in competitions and gives you a lot of points. Generally, tricks with S Bends are my favorites and this one is right at the top of my list! So breaking it down and a Heart Attack is a front roll rotation with a 360 degree handlepass. So to land it, you need to be confident with a Backside 313, and an S Bend to Blind or S Bend Pass. Once you have those two tricks locked in: go for the Heart Attack.

The How To Go in to the trick with a lot of speed.

E dging hard in the beginning will give you that extra slack to pass the bar easily and land smoothly.

For the first stage of the trick, go for a super high Railey.

Go straight in to the S Bend.

As you are finishing the S Bend, pull your front hand down to make sure your kite is still low.

Turn and let your back hand go to pass the bar.

Remember you need to complete 360 degree rotation to land the Heart Attack.

And don’t forget: the lower the kite, the better it looks...

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T H E

P E O P L E

W H O

M A K E

I T

H A P P E N . . .

UNDER THE HOOD W I T H

N A I S H

K I T E B OA R D I N G

Ci sono pochi brand iconici come Naish. Le radici di Naish risalgono agli anni '70 quando un adolescente Robby Naish imparò ad usare un windsurf sulla sua spiaggia di casa ad Oahu.

Da lì, Robby ha vinto oltre venti titoli mondiali nel windsurf. Durante questo periodo la famiglia Naish ha gestito il negozio Naish Hawaii a Kailua e, quando il kite è emerso alla fine degli anni '90, Robby è stato rapido a capire il potenziale di questo nuovo sport. Naish divenne il centro del nostro sport durante quei primi anni, ed anche oggi continua ad innovare – Robby e altri membri importanti del team ci parlano di Naish e del suo futuro...

Naish è stato veloce a entrare nel kitesurf – come sapevate che avrebbe funzionato da un punto di vista commericale?

Robby Naish: In tutta onestà, non ne ero così sicuro. Don Montague, mio buon amico e progettista, fu il primo a vedere il

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potenziale del kitesurf. Ci mise poco a convincermi. Iniziammo con il sviluppare kite e tavole per noi stessi, e presto abbiamo iniziato a divertirci in modo incredibile. Non ci è voluto molto tempo per capire che il kitesurf aveva un gran potenziale al di là di Maui ed è stato allora che siamo diventati il ​​ primo licenziatario del brevetto ed abbiamo iniziato a sviluppare un prodotto commerciale per il lancio nel 1999.

Anche allora la nostra prima pubblicità per introdurre lo sport al mondo era una pagina nera con le parole: "Sicuramente lo sport sbagliato per il 99,9% della popolazione mondiale ". ll resto dell'industria del windsurf pensava che eravamo pazzi e non c'era davvero un'altra vera e propria competizione nel kitesurf. Ma una volta visto il nostro successo iniziale, hanno quasi tutti iniziato a fare kite.

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Puoi parlarci degli alti e bassi e dei primissimi kite Naish di quei primi anni?

RN: Onestamente abbiamo avuto molti “alti” e poche “bassi” nel corso degli anni. Ci sono stati molti errori e abbiamo imparato molto, ma tutti sono stati parte di un processo e un'esperienza molto positiva. Va ricordato da dove siamo partiti. Siamo partiti da semplici kite a due linee, per poi passare alla AR5 a quattro linee con il depower – un passo rivoluzionario che ha portato il kitesurf a tutto un altro livello. Essere in grado di controllare il kite ed essere in grado di dare meno potenza ha aggiunto controllo e precisione. Più tardi lo sgancio di sicurezza (chicken loop come lo abbiamo chiamato), ha reso lo sport molto meno pericoloso e da allora è diventato lo standard nel settore.

All'inizio è stata una sfida sviluppare un programma di progettazione al computer per i kite gonfiabili, oltre a imparare come impostare la fabbricazione. Tutto era completamente nuovo. Eravamo pionieri di un nuovo sport e dell'industria.

Le cose, naturalmente, si sono stabilizzate nel corso degli anni e ormai non ci sono più tante rivoluzioni. L'attrezzatura logicamente continua ad essere sempre meglio, con un sacco di kiters coinvolti nello sviluppo delle attrezzature.

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Il kiting è cambiato in maniera massiccia, con molte discipline diverse e pertanto molteplici esigenze di attrezzatura differenti: quanto è difficile tenere il passo con un brand come il vostro?

RN: Lo sport è certamente cresciuto ed evoluto in diverse direzioni. C'è molto da fare e ci sono talmente tante cose da tenere tutti occupati. È importante rimanere concentrati, avere tempo per nuove sperimentazioni ma ricordandosi di concentrarsi realmente sui nostri prodotti principali. Vogliamo avere le migliori attrezzature possibili per il nostro team e le aree che vogliamo continuare a spingere, ma il kiter medio vuole grandi kites intuitivi, affidabili, con cui possa fare tutto quello che vuole. La motivazione costante per R&D e il team è quella di evolversi: nella progettazione, nei materiali e nella guida effettiva. E sebbene non tutto abbia un fine commerciale nel mercato di massa, le alte prestazioni sono importanti per noi come brand... E' da dove provieniamo ed è nel nostro DNA, e ciò che impariamo favorisce nuovi prodotti nel lungo termine per tutti. È importante ricordare le esigenze e il livello del kiteboarder medio in tutto il mondo, e tenerlo sempre a mente.

There have honestly been a lot of ups and very few downs over the years.

There have been many mistakes along the way and we have learned a lot, but all of them have been part of a very positive process and experience.

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Di quali prodotti siete più orgogliosi e come pensi che abbiano contribuito a modellare lo sport del kitesurf?

si tratta di sport acquatici, sembra che ogni sport acquatico abbia casa a Maui grazie alle sue condizioni incredibilmente diverse.

RN: I grandi passi avanti per lo sport sono stati certamente l'AR5, il quick release, la Mutant board, l'X2, il Boxer kite (anche se controcorrente in termini di design dal resto dell'industria) e sono ancora orgoglioso della serie di kite Sigma, il Pivot... Siamo qui sin dalla nascita dello sport, quindi i nostri prodotti e i nostri kiters nel corso degli anni hanno avuto un impatto profondo sullo sport. La maggior parte delle persone che fanno parte del mondo del kite oggi non lo fanno da moltissimo tempo, ma l'elenco delle persone che hanno usato Naish ad un certo punto nel corso degli anni è abbastanza impressionante, da Pete Cabrinha a Flash Austin, Lou Wainman, Adam Koch, Nicolo Porcella, Mark Shinn, Ian Alldredge, Sam Light, Alex Pastor e molti altri. Siamo sicuramente orgogliosi del nostro patrimonio e il posto che lo sport ha conquistato nella storia, e siamo onorati di farne parte ancora oggi, con un team R&D incredibilmente talentuoso guidato da Damien Girardin e Des Walsh e da kiteboarders di fama mondiale come Kevin e Jalou Langeree, Jesse Richman, Ewan Jaspan e altri che sicuramente aiuteranno il nostro sport a muoversi verso il futuro...

Per noi stare a Maui è vitale e rende il nostro lavoro molto più facile, in quanto il vento soffia praticamente ogni giorno tutto l'anno. Non guardiamo nemmeno le previsioni, sappiamo solo che ogni giorno dell'anno se abbiamo bisogno di testare qualcosa, possiamo andare in spiaggia. Ci permette di provare così tanto che possiamo sia innovare che migliorare prodotti già esistenti.

Il SUP ha ovviamente visto una crescita enorme nell'ultimo decennio. È il SUP ora la vostra divisione più grande e come vanno le cose al riguardo?

RN: il SUP ha visto chiaramente una crescita enorme nel corso dell'ultimo decennio a livello mondiale. Siamo stati uno dei primi brand a crederci da subito, ed è diventata molto presto la nostra divisione più grande. Ovviamente però, come nel caso del kite, quando si è al primo posto nell'industria con una quota di mercato enorme, alla fine si finisce con sempre più concorrenza. Il SUP non è stata un'eccezione e questo sport è stato inondato da una moltitudine di brand grandi e piccoli. È ancora la nostra divisione più grande in termini di fatturato, ma non mi aspetto che sia necessariamente così per sempre. La divisione kite non è molto più dietro ed è ancora molto, molto importante per noi.

Come brand presentate un sacco di attrezzature completamente nuove e nuove idee ogni stagione – probabilmente più di altri – perché?

DG: Suppongo che sia per ragioni diverse, prima di tutto, come ho detto, essere a Maui ci permette di testare così tanto che possiamo lavorare su un nuovo progetto molto rapidamente. Per una ragione un po' più personale, sono sempre portato a cercare la prossima cosa da fare. Essere nell'industria del kitesurf fin dall'inizio mi ha dato l'abilità di sapere che posso fare di meglio. Tendo anche a non essere mai soddisfatto di ciò che ho, e fortunatamente Robby si fida di noi, quindi anche se non è al lavoro con alcune delle nostre idee, ci permette di esplorare, sperando che funzionerà!

L'anno passato ha visto l'arrivo del QuadTex alla tua gamma di kite – è stata questa la tua più grande novità degli ultimi tempi e come è stata la risposta dei clienti?

DG: Il Quad Tex è stato tre anni in fase di realizzazione. Questo è stato di certo il nostro più lungo periodo di sviluppo. Ne è valsa la pena, in primo luogo i membri del nostro team sono stati super impressionati e anche le risposte dei clienti sono state eccezionali, possono sentire la differenza e la apprezzano, sapendo che ciò che hanno per le mani durerà anche più a lungo.

Quanto è importante Maui per lo sviluppo di Naish e il suo ethos?

Il 2017 ti ha visto entrare nel mercato del foil, e per il 2018 hai introdotto una linea molto più ampia – puoi parlare dei nuovi foil e quanti crossover ci sono tra lo sviluppo dei foil per SUP, windsurf e kite?

Damien Girardin: Maui e Naish sono profondamente interconnessi. Quest'isola, oltre al suo clima e a quella sensazione di essere in paradiso, ha anche qualcosa di magico quando

Nils Rosenblad (Foil Designer): Dopo aver lanciato il nostro primo foil nel 2017, Naish ha deciso di impegnarsi su tre livelli, iniziando con il SUP e le tavole da surf che

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SUP clearly saw huge growth over the past decade on a global level. We were one of the first brands that really got behind it early on and began promoting stand up paddling around the world.

abbiamo sviluppato con Kai Lenny, usando poi questo come base per sviluppare foil per kite e windsurf. Sebbene ci sia un sacco di crossover nella tecnologia di base, il nostro sistema è completamente modulare – è possibile modificare la lunghezza e anche i sistemi di montaggio delle ali, degli stabilizzatori (la piccola ala nella parte posteriore), e le ali sono sviluppate e perfezionate specificatamente per ogni sport. Naturalmente abbiamo imparato da ogni progetto e abbiamo cercato di integrare le migliori qualità di ogni ala negli altri come meglio potevamo senza compromettere la performance.

La nostra ala per i kite è stata progettata per essere un perfetto equilibrio tra il primo decollo, il controllo e la velocità – i kiters lo descrivono come la 'Cadillac' dei foil per la sua corsa liscia, ma è anche veloce e manovrabile. Pensiamo di aver fatto centro con quest'ala.

DG: Per il 2018, dopo Kai Lenny e l' hydrofoiling – downwinding su SUP, tavole da surf, piccole tavole kite, e di nuovo foiling, ecc ecc, siamo arrivati ad un prodotto finale piuttosto unico, non poi tanto diverso se si passa dal kite, al SUP o al surf. Abbiamo poi sviluppato una base comune, con un complesso tavola, mast, ala, che permette di cambiare le ali a seconda di quale sarà lo stile di guida per quel giorno: per velocità più lente, per il surf, SUP o per il kite per principianti, può essere utilizzato il nostro Surf wing; per la

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velocità, meglio usare la nostra kite wing; kiters più temerari o i windsurfers usano invece la nostra ala da windsurf. In termini di sviluppo, questo si è tradotto nella prima vera cooperazione tra i reparti del kite/windsurf/SUP. Ogni giorno impariamo qualcosa, e vedere Kai Lenny prendere la nostra più piccola tavola foil, la nuova Hover 112, e portarla tra le onde, è una perfetta dimostrazione di ciò che il foil sta diventando. Quindi, qualunque cosa vogliate fare, abbiamo il giocattolo giusto per voi!

Chi sono i principali team riders per te in termini di sviluppo di attrezzature e di feedback?

DG: Usiamo il più ampio numero di persone possibile, dai migliori professionisti come Kevin e Jalou Langeree, Jesse Richman, Ewan Jaspan, Kai Lenny e Ariel Corniel, agli istruttori, ai nostri distributori e rivenditori e ai riders di tutti i giorni.

Naturalmente abbiamo bisogno di filtrare le esperienze dei professionisti, dato che le loro aspettative non sono necessariamente ciò che serve per il kiteboarder medio, ma di solito c'è sempre qualcosa da prendere dai loro feedback per preparare un prodotto migliore per tutti.

Alla fine sta a noi (Des, Ethan ed io) testare il tutto per fornire un feedback finale (non è facile per qualcuno comunicare la sensazione su un kite o una tavola) per cui negli anni abbiamo sviluppato il nostro proprio "linguaggio" che ci rende efficaci nei test!

Ewan Jaspan è stato nel team per un po 'e ha avuto la sua bella quantità di infortuni – deve essere stato fantastico vederlo vincere il Triple S... E che cosa stava usando in quell'evento?

DW: Sì, Ewan ha lavorato incredibilmente duro ed è stato estremamente dedicato nel migliorare il suo kite. La sua attenzione allo stile è piuttosto unica e lo rende uno dei migliori kiteboarder del mondo. Ha perseverato attraverso gli infortuni ed è tornato più forte che mai, con più apprezzamento per quello che ha rispetto a molti altri. Era bello vedere il suo duro lavoro e la dedizione ripagarlo alla fine. Ha usato il Torch e il Dash e la tavola Stomp al Triple S.

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Hai recentemente introdotto un paio di nuovi kite alla gamma con il Boxer e il Dash, sei felice di come questi si sono inseriti?

DG: Il Boxer e il Dash si sono perfettamente inseriti nella nostra linea perché hanno chiaramente risposto ad una necessità presente sul mercato. Da un lato, l'ascesa del foilboarding con vento super leggero necessita un kite leggero e potente, combinato con un facile rilancio dall'acqual. Il Boxer ha anche un potenziale per i freerider classici, rendendolo un kite super-versatile.

Ewan has worked incredibly hard and has been extremely dedicated to improving his kiting and the gear. His focus on style is quite unique and makes him one of the very best kiteboarders in the world today.

Il Dash è perfetto per i kiter avanzati che cercano un'esperienza più performante, come i veterani che vogliono andare veloce, saltare alto e avere una guida adrenalinica in acqua. Ci sono molti kiters così, e molti amanti del Torch sono adesso passati al Dash.

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This issue RRD take us through what they’ve got planned for the coming few months.

TheKiteMag team got to test a lot of the new equipment at RRD’s distributor meeting in Mauritius last month and were impressed both by the new kit and by the brand’s commitment to innovation. These guys really do love to kite. We caught up with the man himself, Roberto Ricci, to find out what’s in store…

Photos: John Carter TheKiteMag.com

SO ON TO 2018 AND RRD HAVE CLEARLY HAD A BUSY FEW MONTHS. WHEN YOU SAT DOWN AND STARTED THINKING ABOUT THIS YEAR’S COLLECTION, WHAT WERE YOUR PRIORITIES? The priority of RRD in 2018 has been to rethink the whole collection set up, in the sense that we really wanted to have a line of products that would reflect the same principle the company has had for a few years, which is represented in the kite range where the names reflect the feelings that you have when you start kiteboarding, so that emotional connection, which is the Emotion, then the Vision, the Passion, the Obsession and the Religion. So these five names define the RRD style, the RRD kite line, and specifically this year we want to concentrate on one of these five specific moments of your approach to kiteboarding, which is the ‘passion’. And passion is really the driving force behind RRD and the brand in general. So that was the the focus for 2018. The Passion this year is our main kite in the range that defines the appropriate approach to a very stable kite, with lots of power and a great amount of maneuverability and a very, very balanced program throughout all the sizes.

SO TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE 2018 LINE UP AND LET’S KICK OFF WITH THE TWIN TIPS – THE JUICE V4 HAS HAD A LOT OF CHANGES. WHO HAS HAD INPUT INTO THIS AND WHAT ARE THE MAIN CHANGES TO THE BOARD FROM THE JUICE V3?

The whole freestyle international team has been working on the Juice V4.

Specifically this year we have been working quite heavily on the new lay up on the fiber lay of the board and some other shape features. We have introduced a much thicker lay up, mainly underneath the glass fiber that we have on the deck and the bottom, with a system of cross carbon stringers on the deck and on the bottom to minimize the negative flex of the board, and to really increase the response and the memory of the fibers. The outline has been refined, the tips have been rounded off on all the edges on the corners to minimize the amount of potential catch on this delicate part of the board, and we have reintroduced the metal inserts on the binding attachments, as we figured out these were still the best way to attach your bindings to the board compared to the channel rail that we had in the past. So all in all it’s a really significant improvement compared to the previous year’s version, and it’s great that all the team have given their input.

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WITH THE NEW RELIGION WE FOCUSED ON SPEED, SPEED, SPEED! THERE IS ALSO NOW THE 5TH INCARNATION OF THE POISON – WHAT’S NEW HERE AND WHO IS GOING TO WANT TO RIDE THE NEW POISON? Yeah the Poison V5 is a really exciting program, because it incorporates all the most important features of the Juice, which is wakestyle, and brings them to kiters who want to ride with straps and want to ride with explosive amounts of fiber tension under their feet. So the Poison has been redesigned in pretty much every element but has basically been left the same in terms of outline, width, and length. We have been working on the tip design, which is now much more rounded off compared to previous versions, and this gives the possibility to really sink in the tips of the board way more than previous versions. So you can really slam on the brakes with your back foot, get the maximum amount of pop and have a very nice soft landing, that’s what you really want to have from any freestyle boards. The balsa wood core is the lightest weight wood core existing in nature, so we’ve been redefining the possibility to use layers of this magic wood and we have been able to save about 30% of the weight of the core itself, so this has allowed us to not only have a lighter board but to also reinforce the board with more fiber content.

More fibers means better fiber memory, which means that the board can flex but comes back to the same original spot in a much quicker way, so doesn’t necessarily need this amount of crazy push from your legs when you want to flex the board but you really have a very dynamic and responsive board

THE BLISS IS THE BEST-SELLING BOARD IN THE RRD RANGE. WE HEARD YOU SAY IT’S LIKE ‘FLOATING ON A BUBBLE’. IS THIS WHY IT’S SO POPULAR, AND HOW IS THIS ACHIEVED? For the Bliss, there is also the balsa wood core and carbon biaxial fibers, which is a central part of the range in our 20 boards. For a couple of seasons, the Bliss has represented an amazing success for the brand in all the corners of freeriding/freestyle and this year we’re going one step further. We have kept

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the very same shape of the boards but have introduced the LTD technology – which is carbon all the way through the Bliss LTD and the Poison LTD. So this amount of fiber content on the LTD has allowed us to incorporate a really high, very sophisticated type of technology which is normally common only to pro-riding boards and really specific boards, to be applied to a really nice freeride program – so the wonderful, easy to access type of boards which are very friendly, with a lot of pop, a lot of control, a lot of upwind capacity, and are very comfortable on your knees. These technologies are really able to bring in way more freestyle potential and freeride performance potential to our freestyle/freeride program. So the biggest innovation in the Bliss this year is the fact that we also have an LTD version compared to previous years where it was only wood. The wood version is still available and will represent the majority of the sales in this board range, and we recommend this board technology mostly to freeriders who want to have a great balance between price and performance.

ON TO THE KITES AND YOUR KITE DESIGN TEAM HAVE GONE BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH A COUPLE OF THE KITES WHICH HAVE ENTIRELY NEW DESIGNS. CAN YOU OUTLINE WHERE YOU FELT THE RANGE NEEDED ADAPTING AND WHERE THE MAIN CHANGES ARE? Yes, so the main focus has been on the Passion which we redesigned with the focus on creating a performance freeride kite with a lot of stability in the design itself, which makes every aspect of kiteboarding possible. You start with this kite if you want to have your first lessons in the school, you progress with the very same kite because the kite is very stable, especially when we’re working on maneuverability. And the kite is exceptionally stable – especially when the wind is gusty and also when you let the bar go; the kite doesn’t move at all and when you want to give your input from the bar, the bar is there. It is also very quick, it’s almost as quick as our Religion kite, which is the fastest kite in the range. So all this crazy mix, this specific mix of parameters, has made the Passion our new freeride machine that can really be the central kite in the RRD range.

Then the Emotion has been designed with one strut this year, we wanted to add a little bit more range into its size compared with the strutless design we had last year, so the use of one strut has allowed us to really have a very new kite with more range and better water relaunch because the strut has allowed us to actually be able to keep the kite up and off the water with any wind strength, and at the same time the kite has been redesigned in terms of profile, so the tips of the kite are even flatter so it turns really quickly on the spot and has improved maneuverability. So all in all we have an incredible single strut kite that is designed specifically for light winds, foiling, and is also a great kite to give lessons for the schools because it’s the most affordable kite in our range.

For the other two elements of the program which is freestyle and waves, we’ve been moving on with a really incredible new idea about the Obsession and we’ve incorporated the Obsession Pro and the Obsession into one kite.

It’s a half C shape design which sees a longer leading edge compared to the classic Obsession we had last year, which was more of a delta shape type of kite, and by bringing this shape we’ve been able to use a bridle. So through the use of a bridle on this kite, it is possible to have the same features – which were great hangtime, great amounts of pop, great amounts of bar slack when you want to do your handlepasses – and at the same time, the freedom to use the maximum maneuverability in any kind of conditions. So it’s a similar kite to what we had before, but with more potential for freestyle maneuvers.

Then the great innovation is the fact that you can actually ride the kite

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with a fifth line, so you take out the bridle, just install this small fifth line attachment on the middle of the leading edge and off you go, you really have a full, high performance feel. We know that a lot of freestylers will never give away the possibility to use a fifth line and that’s why I wanted to make sure our team would be as happy with the new Obsession as they were with the Obsession Pro. The Religion, our wave machine, is once again a complete design from scratch.

We haven’t changed much on the Religion in the last five years, we were just tweaking around a few little details of the kite, but we never really reconceived or rethought the whole principal of the Religion. This year we did. Mainly because we saw that the main characteristic of the first Religion – which was the hyper speed in the turning – wanted to be brought back. So we focused on speed, speed, speed! So you have incredible turning speed, great maneuverability and drift as well as a lot of great flotation potential; the kite really flies low into the wind window, but still if you increase the power, it goes straight up into the wind window, so it’s a very flexible kite depending on how you pull on the bar.

AND YOU HAVE A NEW GLOBAL BAR TO FLY THE NEW KITES ON. WHAT’S NEW HERE? Our Global V8 is a refinement of the Global Bar V7. We are really proud to be specifically using only one bar that suits all the kites. That is our Global Bar idea. We want to minimize the amount of stress for shops and for users to carry more than one bar design so the fact that it’s one bar to do it all, it pushes us to really define all the features that are needed in many different programs of kiteboarding. So the Global V8 has them all. The V8 has been improved mainly into the features of the new chickenloop, which has seen a lot of work go into the release system. We have been improving the release system so now it’s French Norm approved and we have a way easier system to undo the front lines going over each other, so you can really take the front line spinner that allows you to come back to the original position with the front lines after rotations. Then we make use of a PVC tube with two chambers which provides a really nice security for all the riders wanting to use the same bar for a long time, as you don’t need to change the rope or your chickenloop ever. Then we are using a new system for flagging the front lines, so we are able to avoid an external safety line like we had in our previous bars, and we use four lines into the kite, and one of the front lines is a flag to really completely flag out your kite.

Then the most important feature of all with our Global Bar is the rigid thread lines. The rigid thread lines are used exclusively by RRD and have been on our bar for the last seven years now. So the lines are designed with an internal unidirectional structure, they’re not braided lines and are straight lines from your bar to the kite which means that they have all close to zero stretch because they’re not woven, they’re not braided, and at the same time they keep an integral amount of resistance and durability compared to braided lines.

So we prefer to have a simple, very reliable, very well designed and conceived bar with these incredible lines.

AND WHAT’S THE NEWS WITH THE FOIL LINE UP? We released our Dolphin board and H Flight foil to our range recently, so six or seven months ago, so we are not re-releasing this, but the foil has been improved slightly in terms of easiness to use. We have also changed the fuselage from carbon to aluminum to reduce the cost of the foil itself. We’ve also gone down

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to 80cm as the maximum length of the mast because we wanted to make sure that the mast was just enough for those freeriders who want to have a pleasurable experience with their foil. So our focus is on accessibility and having an easy approach and having a consumer friendly ‘non scary’ foil.

AND WHAT CAN WE EXPECT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS? Well we have lots of exciting stuff because we keep releasing new products every time there’s a new real innovation in the range, and we are basically updating our website and our catalogues very often. We update our catalogues twice a year and we update our website virtually every month, every time there’s a new product, so stay tuned and look at the RRD website as often as you can as you’re going to see a lot of new product releases throughout the whole year…

Airush’s Eco Ethos Airush have been focused for the last few years on reducing the environmental impact that they have as a brand. They have recently joined the ECOBOARD Project to endeavour to further reduce the impact of their surfboard range… Airush head honcho Clinton Filen takes us through their latest innovations.

Photos: Ydwer van der Heide So to kick off, we know that Airush have had a big focus on reducing the environmental footprint of their products and of the company in general. Can you talk us through when you first became concerned about the impact of your products on the environment and how you began to address this?

Our primary ethos has always been about innovation; however, innovation can take many forms, it’s not always about stronger, lighter or more complex products. Areas such as simplicity, functionality and doing less harm have always been on our agenda.

We started to take an active role in researching how we could reduce the impact of our products around eight years ago.

In late 2010 we released our first products where we looked at how we could reduce the resin content, avoid PU cores (and polyester resins), minimizing painting and use alternate sandwich materials. Around that time we did a fair amount of research into bio resins but the availability and consistency of these products was still in the development phase, it took quite a few more years to get this going at a commercial level.

What are the biggest culprits in terms of having a negative environmental impact?

In terms of CO2 production, surfboards have the most impact (64kg CO2 per unit) followed by twin tips (22kg CO2 per unit) and kites are the lowest (11kg CO2 per unit). There are also major operational functions, such as air travel, that are significant. We worked on addressing reductions where we could at the same time as offsetting our C02 from production.

However, it goes way beyond the CO2 footprint with production, as you also need to consider the overall impact of the product on the environment. Areas such as a significant reduction in the use of plastics in packaging are high on our agenda, along with recyclability.

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What are the three biggest steps you have taken now to improve your eco credentials?

Carbon mitigation – We have been able to offset our carbon consumption to be net positive. We project our emission at around 400 tons of carbon during 2017, with a projected CO2 absorption of over 4000 tons (so around 10 times positive).

Reducing – By reducing the amount of environmentally harmful materials in products and packaging in certain products, we are able to reduce their overall impact by over 25% and reduce plastic in packaging by over 50%.

Recycling – Our Core Series Kitebags, for example, are manufactured from recycled polyester, manufactured from 100% recycled water bottles. We have also set up a kite recycle program with Mafia Bags.

it goes way beyond the CO2 footprint with production, as you also need to consider the overall impact of the product on the environment

Clinton probably thinking about more than the brand’s Eco credentials right here

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RIGHT Here's the new Converse which - aside from having its Eco badge - looks like it shreds!

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Do you feel you are leading the way in this department and how receptive are other brands to implementing the kind of steps you are?

I do not think of the environmental crisis as a source of competitive advantage, we are very happy to share all of our information with our competitors.

Many brands within our broader industry, such as Firewire Surfboards and Patagonia, are doing some absolutely incredible things. There are one or two cynics out there but the response and support has been overwhelming.

So your surfboard line has been at the heart of this process – why are surfboards generally so ‘un-eco’?

The production of the traditional PU cores uses toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

These and similar components have fundamental health risks. MEKP, the hardener used in most polyester resins is also extremely toxic along with the solvents such as acetone. You also need to consider the traditional spraying process when that is used. All of the traditional materials are petroleum-based polymers (basically plastic) that will never break down, and it requires a lot of energy to manufacture the raw materials in the first place.

And how have you addressed this in your production processes?

Core materials - Firstly we simply don’t use PU cores, we use medium density EPS with a recycled content where possible.

Resin systems – Newer bio-based resin systems can have as much as 50% bio content and have half of the carbon footprint.

Better, lighter materials – Through the use of alternate materials and better technology we are creating boards that are 30% lighter and last twice as long.

Alternative sandwich materials – Making use of sandwich materials such as SAN foams or bamboo as alternatives to PVC’s.

Finishing – Limiting the amount of painting by having a clear or a semitransparent finish.

Then you are now part of the ECOBOARD Project – can you tell us about this?

The ECOBOARD Project is focused on reducing carbon footprints, increasing the use (and reuse) of renewable, recycled and up-cycled inputs, and reducing toxicity within the surfboard manufacturing process. They are an independent third party that supports us in generating a measurably reduced carbon footprint, utilising renewable, recycled and/or up-cycled material inputs and in using materials and processes which reduce toxicity during manufacturing.

You are also taking other steps such as the One Ton for the Planet and also making use of recycled materials in other products, what can you tell us about this?

As of May 2017, 60-70% of our kitebags are made from 100% recycled polyester. This is done in conjunction with Waste 2 Wear, who recycle 100% post-consumer plastic bottles into eco-friendly fabrics. This unique process involves turning environmentally damaging waste into useable, sustainable yarns.

We also offer a kite upcycle program through Mafia Bags, where old kites can be returned to us where they will be upcycled into commercial products.

And what have you done in terms of how you manage your HQ? Since 2016, our design center has run off around 70% solar. We renovated a turn of the century building into the Airush headquarters in Cape Town, incorporating progressive insulation to limit the heating and cooling requirements, while using LED lighting. Through installation of solar panels and advanced battery systems, we have reduced our overall electricity demand from the power grid by over 70 percent and our carbon footprint by an estimated 7.5 tons per year.

As of May 2017 we will have planted and started to nurture over 4500 mangroves and the number will triple in the next year. Each of these Mangroves can potentially absorb over one ton of CO2 over 20 years and protect the low lying coastlines from stormy weather and tsunamis, while also increasing fish populations.

And what are the next steps for you as a brand to improve the environmental footprint of the kite industry?

There are so many areas we can improve within our own organization and we see this as a start point that we can grow from. We have started connecting more with the industry but this is another area we are starting to focus on now.

The industry has a great association through the GKA (Global Kitesports Association) and we have used this platform to share our progress with our competitors.

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CABRINHA SWITCHBLADE The Switchblade arrives for 2018 with a bit of a swagger in its step. It had a pretty remarkable year in 2017 thanks to its pairing with Nick Jacobsen – so it has a KOTA title under its belt as well as a 28.6 meter WOO jump and a few of Nick Jacobsen’s jaw dropping stunts to finish. Not bad for the ‘steady’ kite in the Cabrinha range… But how does this translate for regular riders?

Well, for 2018 the first thing you’ll notice is the new graphics which are cleaner and pretty easy on the eye, with three pretty appealing colorways to choose from. Construction wise and Cabrinha have introduced a new High Tenacity Dacron across the range and for 2018 they have tweaked the profile to improve overall performance. In the air and – we say it a lot but it is a real plus – you always get that same ‘feel’ from year-to-year. It is hard to put your finger on, but if you had your eyes closed and were handed the kite you would know it was a Cabrinha!

For 2018 that ‘feel’ has been refined further, for a smoother power stroke and more progressive depower. You always know where the Switchblade is in the window, and it delivers a mighty punch. We rode the 12m and there are very few other kites on the market that create the amount of power that it does. When it comes to jumping with the Switchblade, it is an absolute joy. It’s got so much lift, and you realize why Nick Jacobsen has decided to move to the Switchblade for boosting! When you send it you get this amazing secondary lift once the bar has been pulled in, giving you a whole new realm of power to tap in to. It’s a great kite for finding your feet for your first few jumps, but equally it will send you as high as you want once you get a feel for things.

When it comes to freestyle, the Switchblade is equally at home hooked or unhooked and for boosted freestyle it really excels.

It stays above your head while you throw rotations and gives the newbie the confidence to throw their first tricks. Upwind performance of the Switchblade is always good and you can get some awesome angles, so coupled with a surfboard or foil you can cover plenty of ground…

AL LIN A SENTENCE: R The Switchblade is a refined product that will suit an incredibly broad range of riders and continues to deliver raw but controllable power…

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CORE XR5 With the addition of the Specialized range of kites into the Core line-up (the Impact for freestyle and the Section for waves) the ‘universal’ kites in the Core range have been allowed to focus more obviously on the ‘all round’ market, but also to go hard out on embracing some of the skills that made them popular initially. With the XR series of kites, big air and boosting has always been part of its DNA and it has proven itself at the pinnacle of this part of the sport where it sits right at the top end of the Global WOO Leaderboard. There have been some real changes for this fifth incarnation – with the tips remodeled and with modifications to the strut placement.

The materials that Core have been developing over the last few years are in evidence – the CoreTex canopy material and the ExoTex for struts – and when you check the kite over it feels very slick indeed. We rode the XR5 on the Sensor 2S bar which we have reviewed previously and works very well. On the water we flew the XR5 12m in conditions ranging between 18 and 25 knots and the first thing that struck us was just how stable and solid the XR5 is. There is very little (if any) fluttering of the canopy when depowered or whilst turning the kite, and you just know the kite is going to be fun! The XR5 is not the fastest turning kite in a 12m but this is more than compensated by the power it generates, it has a really progressive power surge, and once up and going the XR5 rockets upwind. With a little nudge on the bar the upwind angle is amazing. In previous years, the Core kites have had a lighter bar pressure making them feel a little spongy, but the XR5 feels more direct and tuned in. When it comes to heading for the air, jumping with the XR5 is a pretty staggering experience. It really does have insane amounts of lift, and hangtime: it’s basically a German rocket ship! We did have a few scary moments when dialing into the kite – we found that it likes to be kept moving slightly as it seems to drop you a little if left parked at the zenith, but once you get the feel for it, Boom! It’s sublime, with superb float and nice soft landings.

Looping the XR5 is fun – it’s plenty quick enough and has the stability to catch you on the upstroke, it’s not an out and out kitelooper, but it does the job. For general freeride and for waveriding, the XR5 is a predictable kite that is easy to fly so performs well in all departments and, due to the profile, it also has heaps of depower giving it a pretty massive windrange, so you could get away with packing just two kites to go on most trips…

IN A SENTENCE: The XR5 is immense fun for the average rider but also has incredible performance under the bonnet for riders who want to be truly pushing the limits of Big Air riding.…

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NOBILE 50/FIFTY The 50/Fifty has been the Nobile pro team’s board of choice for a number of years and we have been impressed previously with both its performance and the fact that it is quite an accessible wakestyle board for intermediate riders looking to move into a more high performance board, or to begin riding in boots.

For 2018, Nobile have collaborated with Saatchi & Saatchi for their graphics and it’s fair to say that the lineup is looking pretty special – which we have come to expect from Nobile and their unique approach to their graphics. It’s not all about looks though, and Nobile can use their considerable firepower in terms of having a dedicated multi-sport factory from which to evolve their products to produce some innovative kit. For 2018 the 50/Fifty utilizes Nobile’s Multichannel bottom, the Carbon Power Belt and the Hydrodynamic Rocker as well as their “Pre-Stress” technology which enables them to create a thinner, lighter board, while still maintaining strength and durability. We rode the 50/Fifty both with straps and with boots. With straps it is a lively and fun board to ride, upwind performance is better than you would expect looking at the rocker line, with the fins providing enough additional traction to keep things steady upwind. It’s also a super fun board for carving around in mushy conditions and it can handle plenty of speed.

Then, when you put your boots on, you have a proper freestyle weapon! The amount of pop is very impressive and it caught us out for our first few tricks. But once you are dialed in you can really capitalize T on it and it feels like you have ES an extra second or two to get your rotations in. Landings are then very smooth with the channels providing a nice smooth and easy-onthe-knees touch down…

AIRUSH UNION III For the third version of the Union – which has proved to be a popular addition to the Airush range over the last couple of years – the kite has received a pretty serious visit from the design department. Most evident is the Aspect Ratio which has increased, and the tips are also noticeably rounder… First impressions in terms of construction were that the build quality and attention to detail are excellent. With the use of Technoforce D2, and with Airush’s Dyneema Load Frame you know this kite has been made with a lot of love…

And (as you can find out more about in the tech section) Airush’s kite bags are now made from plastic bottle, in conjunction with Waste 2 Wear. Once in the air, the Union III comes to life and what’s instantly noticeable is how light the kite feels on the bar; we tested the 12m and it felt more like 10m.

The Union III has been designed to be piloted by a rider who really is in tune with their gear and setting up the Union III to your style is crucial if you want to get the most from it, and there are plenty of options to do this.

The Union III is not a ‘sheet and go’ style of kite, so if you are coming from something like a Switchblade you may find yourself choking the kite and backstalling it. This kite has been refined to sit forward in the window and likes to be worked to generate apparent wind but, for the rider who knows how to use this, the Union III is an absolute gem of a kite. Boosting with the V3 is so much fun as it really does just take you up and up and has a sublime amount of float, with enough speed through the window so you can really crank it up and just send it. We expect to see the Union III topping some WOO charts very soon. Unhooking with the V3 is also a surprise. With it being so fast and wanting to surge to the edge of the window, you would expect it to not be the best kite to throw some unhooked tricks, but it has a really nice light bar feel midway through your tricks, and with its speed of turn you can re-direct it quickly. The bridle on the Union III is worth talking about as many kites have moved towards shorter bridles and no pulleys, but the Union III bridle works superbly and makes the kite feel smooth and direct.

You would expect it to feel slightly sluggish and spongy but no signs of that. Really impressive.…

IN A SENTENCE: The Union III is a kite at the top of its game – yes, it’s slightly more technical than other kites on the market, but if you’re a serious kite flyer and want a kite that genuinely can perform in any conditions and work with any style of riding, then this has to be up there with the best of the best.…

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NORTH DICE The Dice has carved itself out a nice little niche in the market.

Putting itself firmly in both the wave and the freestyle camps and refusing to say it is one more than the other seems to have worked well for it. It could be seen as a risky tactic as if it doesn’t perform well in either department then it’s essentially not met its expectations. Looking at it objectively you would say it seems like more of a ‘performance freestyle’ kite, but then you see the likes of Matchu shredding in the surf and it is clear that it has plenty of cred here too… For 2018 the Dice has had a lot of attention from the design team, and North are pretty excited with how it has come out. The Leading Edge thickness has been reworked to stiffen up the tips and they have added an additional panel between the center and outer struts. You can fly the Dice on 4 or 5 lines, and for 2018 North have introduced different options for the Chicken Loop – with freeride, wakestyle and wave options – which we also had the chance to check over and seem like a very sensible idea. On the water and the first impression of the Dice can be summed up in one word: quick!

The Dice was always a very nimble kite and this year it is even quicker. Particularly in marginal conditions you can really move it around and generate momentum. It’s not really a beginners kite and the better your kite flying skills the more you will get out of it. This speed translates into excellent performance for freestyle tricks – there is plenty of pop and you could hold the Dice down a size or two bigger if you wanted to go for some Big Air action. For waves, the Dice sits further forward in the window than the Neo so you need to move it around more to get the most of it, but for cross or onshore surfing when you are really working the kite, there will definitely be wave riders who prefer the speed and agility of the kite over the deepersitting Neo. So the Dice will continue to keep riders who want a versatile ‘do it all kite’ for when they head away on a trip with both their twinnie and their surfboard in the bag, but it will also continue to have a dedicated following of riders who probably only ride freestyle AL LR or waves but who just really like how the Dice flies…

IN A SENTENCE: The Dice hasn’t made any drastic changes for 2018, but the refinements really do seem to be more than a sum of their parts: the new Dice really impressed us.

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RRD EMOTION MK3 The Emotion has been in the RRD line up for a few years now and – until now – was a strutless kite. We had enjoyed riding it but as we said in previous reviews, when it got overpowered it quickly became pretty unmanageable.

So we were pleased to see that for this latest version the Emotion has added a strut. Other features on the Emotion MK3 include Double Dacron strut reinforcements and additional Kevlar reinforcements on the end of the struts, and an improved Quick Air Flow Valve. We flew the Emotion MK3 on the new Global V8 bar which is a solid evolution of the Global and with the Rigid Thread lines which are a joy to run out and do give a perceptibly more plugged in feel to the kite. On the water and we flew the Emotion MK3 in a range of conditions. In one session we took the 8m out in around 12 knots of wind which increased over the course of a few minutes to around 30 knots! And we still had a good session – which gives the best illustration of the fact that the Emotion MK3 really is a very versatile kite and the days of this genre of kite being just a lightwind option are long gone… Riding the Emotion MK3 underpowered and the low end is excellent with plenty of grunt, and you can easily get away with riding it a size smaller – potentially two. Then, unlike the strutless versions of the Emotion (and other strutless kites) you can fly the Emotion MK3 quite aggressively – it is a responsive kite and especially in the surf you can throw it around as you would a three strut kite. For drifting, the lighter weight also makes the Emotion a superb kite to fly in prime surf conditions and you can sheet out completely without worrying about it getting out of line. The top end was also very impressive – the Emotion MK3 doesn’t mind being stacked. Or at least no more than any other kite… We had the depower fully on with the 8m and the kite still handled it and you didn’t feel like you were back in 2002 hanging on to a Wipika FreeAir! Then, for foiling, the Emotion MK3 will deliver exactly the kind of light feel and controllable power that you need. In fact, if you are just riding a foil and in the waves then it might just be that you could add a couple of Emotion MK3’s to your quiver and get away without much else…

IN A SENTENCE: The Emotion MK3 is very stable with fantastic wind range, great low end, manageable top end, and overall is a very wellbalanced and well-engineered kite.…

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W I N T E R

W E T S U I T

FAHRENHEIT HOODED

CELSIUS PRO ZIPLESS

AMAZONE PRO

The Fahrenheit series are super quick drying wetsuits with extra durability and stretch. They have a quick dry lining which also absorbs 20% less water which keeps them light… Internally, there is a specially engineered 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. The whole suit is made without any stitches and is fully liquid taped on the outside and fabric taped on the inside to offer superior stretch and a longer lifetime. You can now also get your Fahrenheit with a hood – so no excuses whatever the temperature…

The Celsius series of wetsuits brings extreme flexibility where pattern design is combined with the best available neoprenes in the market. And they are now available zipperless for truly insane levels of stretch… The Celsius Pro is made with 100% Superstretch limestone neoprene and has the lowest number of panels in the RRD collection. It is pure fabric taped on the inside, and only on the seam joint areas. This allows even more flex, especially around the arms. So if you want to continue with your no compromise moves on the water and you want to feel like you are not wearing a wetsuit: you want the Celsius Pro Zipless…

For female riders who want to have insane flex and want to perform regardless of water temperatures, the Amazone is the suit for you. It is 100% Superstretch limestone neoprene with a 360 ultrastretch back panel to increase back flex and to enable you to easily get in and out. The Amazone is the wetsuit made with the lowest number of panels in RRD’s collection and less panels mean more flexibility. Then the new asymmetrical panel layout creates a great look to ensure that both the aesthetics and the functionality are as good as you can get…

$615 | € 549 | £475

$436 | €389 | £335

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$417 | €369 | £319

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APOC HOODED

SILO

ELARA

The front-zip Apoc 5/4/3 is the suit you want on those foul-weather days when it’s worth the extra struggle to get dressed in your vehicle with the heater cranked. It’s ridiculously comfortable and flexible for a thick winter suit, thanks to super-stretch limestone neoprene and a soft fleece interior. Seams are glued, sealed with liquid rubber and taped for triple coverage and the tight front-zip closure is designed to minimize flushing. New for 2018, Ride Engine have added a Wind Skin material to core areas of all its suits to create an impenetrable outer layer that cold wind won’t cut through. The hood – a super important but often undervalued feature of any winter suit – features a flexible foam visor, a soft piece that can be pulled over your mouth or tucked under your chin, a drawstring to adjust the face diameter and a fit that doesn’t choke when you pull it back over your head...

This suit was inspired by surfing and kiting at Ride Engine’s home waters of Santa Cruz, where air

This is a serious winter suit for serious waterwomen, added to the Ride Engine lineup for 2018 after a

and water temperatures year-round are usually chilly enough to need a thick suit but not so cold that you need head to toe coverage to survive.

The back-zip design provides the easiest entry and exit and is a particularly good choice for squareshouldered body types that are harder to get in and out of a front-zip. A tapered 5/4/3 thickness gives you warmth at the core where it’s needed most while keeping the extremities lighter and more flexible. A new Wind Skin has been added to all Ride Engine suits to create an impenetrable outer layer that cold wind won’t cut through, while highend limestone neoprene keeps the suit flexible, soft and free of petroleum-based materials and toxic hydrophobic chemicals.

wealth of feedback from ladies who love the 4/3 Elara but wanted an even warmer suit for their cold-water adventures. Because you don’t move like a penguin, Ride Engine has engineered this suit for maximum warmth and mobility, with a tapered design starting with 5mm at the core for maximum warmth, 4mm on certain panels and 3mm where flex and range of motion are most critical. Seams are glued, sealed with liquid rubber and taped on the inside for triple coverage. A thick fleece interior helps retain heat and repel moisture. The Elara’s front-zip entry, pullover neck gasket and bomber hood minimize water penetration no matter how hard you get tumbled, while a wind skin outer creates an impenetrable layer to keep the wind out and your body heat in.

$460 |€ + £ CHECK LOCAL DEALER

$360 |€ + £ CHECK LOCAL DEALER

$460 |€ + £ CHECK LOCAL DEALER 147

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W E T S U I T

MISSION

SERENE

The new 2018 Mission wetsuit keeps its progressive and technical look with added Dry Flex material to the upper body. Designed for all active watersports the Mission features both inner and outer taping following Anatomical Panel Positions. This means all major muscle groups feel totally free and you have unrestricted movement – as if you are not wearing a wetsuit. Yamamoto Limestone is the main component for the whole suit, allowing the rider to use a thinner wetsuit as it provides 20%30% more warmth than oil based neoprene wetsuits.

Wit h Yamamoto L imestone being the main component of the Serene, the outer DryFlex material has ultimate stretch and is 95% impermeable. But it not only keeps the rider extra warm, since its inner Bio Ceramic Thermal Lining also keeps the body from overheating.

Finally, you can expect unmatched freedom of movement due to the Anatomical Panel Positions, which mean that no seam crosses any major group of muscles. This is the ultimate performance wetsuit for women.

$320 | €360 | £250

$340 | €360 | £265

In an industry first, all wetsuits in the NeilPryde Waterwear range are now made of Yamamoto Limestone Neoprene. Developed in Japan, Yamamoto Limestone is a mineral based rubber with micro-cell structure which gives it several advantages over traditional oil-based neoprene.

Oil-based neoprene has a cell penetration of 60-70%, whereas limestone neoprene has a 94% cell penetration. What this means in simple terms is that limestone neoprene has more air bubbles inside the rubber than other neoprenes (over 30% to be exact), and therefore keeps the body’s heat better. It is also lighter, more impermeable and more durable as well as having a lower waste footprint compared to traditional neoprene.

TheKiteMag.com

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STRIKE SELECT SEMIDRY

ONYX SELECT SEMIDRY HOODED

STRIKE AMP SEMIDRY

ION’s Select series have one main purpose: to keep you warm. These are no compromise suits for those darkest winter sessions. There is upper body windchill protection for your torso, as well as the quick drying and warm PlasmaPlush lining. Features such as the Ninja-Knee and Ninja-Spine have been sacrificed for the cause of heat retention and you can be sure that you’ll be last off the water no matter how low the mercury sinks…

The main purpose of the Select series is warmth.

It has upper body windchill protection for your torso and warm, quick drying Plasma Plush lining underneath, with the seam-free shoulder construction Sweep Cut giving freedom of movement where necessary. ION sacrificed the Ninja Knee and Ninja Spine features for more heat retention, so this suit is focused on those days when you really want to feel the warmth…

The Strike Amp offers exceptional performance especially in terms of stretch. The Ninja-Knee construction is primarily supported by the new and thinner Maki-Tape2.0. The Ninja-Spine between the stiffer back panel and the buttocks gives freedom for upper body movement whilst protected by the harness. Then the tasteful tasty mélange fabric stands out so you’ll be looking the part whatever level you are riding at!

$450 | €450 | £370

$340 | €330 |£270

$430 |€430 | £370

TheKiteMag.com

W I N T E R

W E T S U I T

LEGEND HOODED

MAJESTIC ZIP FREE

GEM

The Legend has been re-designed and is packed with the best materials and features. The 100% M-Flex 2.0, stretch taping and ultra-lightweight foam makes sure the suit stays very light and super flexible. Add to this a unique quick dry lining, which will not only dry faster but also keeps the water out longer and therefore helps to maintain your body temperature creating an insulating shell, and you have a winning suit. This season the wetsuits come with a power seam construction, which prevent water coming in at the seams. And in addition to the regular 5/3 suit, you can now also get the hooded Legend wetsuit. Coupled with the power seams, the hood makes sure the water has no chance of entering the suit ensuring that you stay extra warm whatever the conditions…

The Majestic wetsuit series has an enviable reputation for being created with the finest neoprene on the market. As a brand, Mystic always want to deliver more, so their quest was to achieve the ultimate freedom of movement. For this latest version they think they have achieved their goal. With the removal of the chest zip, they’ve managed to decrease excess weight and the possibility of water leakage. Full stretch through the chest panel assists in maximum mobility.

Then the Majestic zip free comes in coral and lime highlights that pop, making sure you truly stand out on the water.

An all new addition to Mystic’s women’s wetsuit range, the Gem is an awesome wetsuit packed with the best features, materials and technologies to protect you from the cold on the most extreme days. The Gem is made from 100% M-Flex 2.0 with waterproof stretch taping and ultralightweight foam that makes sure the suit stays very light and super flexible. Adding a unique quick dry lining, which dries faster but also keeps the water out longer, and you have an incredible suit for the ladies.

$470 | €470 | £390

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$350 | €350 | £300

$400 | €400 | £355

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DIVA

MAGMA + MAGMA WOMEN

X10D

This year the patterns of the Diva suits have been reworked to maximize the stretch and comfort of the suit. The Diva wetsuits are made of a 100% M-Flex 2.0 neoprene, the most flexible neoprene in Mystic’s range. The waterproof stretch taping avoids leaking and keeps the suit flexible and warm. Furthermore, polar lining gives a soft feel and reflects body heat, making sure you will stay warm longer. Finally, the front-zip construction will provide more flex in the upper body, giving you incredible freedom of movement.

The Meteor Magma is built for the coldest and windiest days of winter. The Magma fleece is one of the best materials out there: not only do its plush loops work as effective insulators and heat generators while providing a smooth and soft feeling that makes the suit incredibly comfortable, but it is also manufactured to be extremely flexible to keep even the thickest of suits incredibly stretchy. MANERA’s new SD² TAPE 2.0 technology not only uses an incredible ‘blindstich’ technique but also brings more durability, waterproofness and flexibility. The Magma is the wetsuit of choice if you don’t ever want to stay home during winter sessions…

The Meteor X10D is made for riders looking for pure performance. The inside of the X10D makes you feel stretchy and light, with an extra comfy feeling on the skin. It is a suit well adapted to waveriding, freestyle or SUP because of its ability to follow the rider’s movements without any restriction. MANERA’s SD² TAPE has evolved in to SD² TAPE 2.0. The neoprene panels are still sealed together and then sewn with blind-stitches, then the SD² tape is now welded to the seam by an air heater machine, unlike previous years when the tape was hand glued. This new process brings more durability, waterproofness and flexibility…

MENS €494 |$ + £ CHECK LOCAL DEALER WOMENS €400 |$ + £ CHECK LOCAL DEALER

€304 |$ + £ CHECK LOCAL DEALER

$330 | €330 | £270

WINTER WETSUIT BUYER'S GUIDE

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Here’s Colleen putting in her spinning practice...

T H E D O U B L E S WA P T H R E S H O L D B Y C O L L E E N C A R R O L L

PHOTOS: Toby Bromwich

TheKiteMag.com

In October of 2016, Bruna Kajiya was the first woman to land a double handle pass in kiteboarding. Following Bruna’s triumph, clear on the other side of the world and fast-forward to February of 2017, Annelous Lammerts lands a double handle pass off of a static kicker during the Blue Palawan Open Competition. Since these feats, numerous female professional athletes have started attempting with some success to also land double handle passes themselves. Most accomplishments so far having been in the park with Karolina Winkowska also nailing the trick off a static kicker at the 2017 Triple-S, as well as myself while shooting for our upcoming film, The Bubble. So, I ask the question, has the double swap threshold officially been broken in women’s kiteboarding and just what does this mean for progression of the sport?

Riders like Karolina Winkowska are leading the charge...

Over the last few years, most articles focused around the level of women’s riding seemed to ring the same tune, claiming that women’s kiteboarding is advancing faster than ever before with women continuously taking it to ‘the next level’. But that makes me wonder, how many hypothetical ‘levels’ can there be? Have we really been breaking boundaries all along or should this sort of praise be saved for truly monumental moments in our sport?

Having been entrenched in the industry for the better part of the past decade, in my viewpoint a boundary was truly broken when Bruna landed the first double handle pass. Sure, I’ve seen loads of progression from various women all around the globe and in general I would attest that the average level is significantly higher amongst the feminine population of kiteboarders than it was only five years ago. However, with this specific breakthrough a message reverberated throughout the entire industry that this was something within the female athletes grasp and within only a few days of Bruna’s accomplishment I saw other female riders like Paula Novotná, Dioneia Vieira, Rita Arnaus and Hannah Whitely making their very first attempts at the trick. They hadn’t suddenly become better kiteboarders, however their mindset had opened up to the new possibility almost immediately.

I spoke with Bruna about this very topic and even she admits that if someone had told her years ago that she would now be doing double handle passes, she wouldn’t have believed it. Yet today, the doors are wide open and while the progression may still come at a moderate pace, the idea of landing other double handle passes like a KGB 5, S5 or 317 sound challenging but not impossible.

In the park discipline, just within this past year, double handle passes are gradually becoming a required trick to have in your repertoire if you want a shot at the top spot. Since Annelous’s success at the Blue Palawan Open landing a toeside backside 540 and becoming the first woman to land a double in competition, it’s becoming more and more common to see the ladies riding away from double swaps. And already the momentum is continuing, only a couple weeks ago Karolina Winkowska nearly road away from a heelside frontside 720 attempt that had people on the beach in awe and showed that she is already looking to the next progression of doubles.

While it is difficult to directly compare freestyle to the park, I feel that the general mindset amongst the women’s competitive field is vastly expanding right now and more open to the possibilities of bigger, more technical tricks than ever before. As Annelous put it, she witnessed rapid progression years ago and felt that until recently the women’s progression had somewhat leveled off and now is again on a rapid upward trajectory. For Annelous, landing the first women’s double off a static kicker was only the start of where she sees women’s progression in the park going and comments that even from one event to the next on the Kite Park League, the variety and technicality of tricks landed is increasing and in general she sees greater potential for learning new tricks.

So in conclusion, I would say that I completely agree with Trip Forman, co-founder of Real Watersports and the Triple-S Invitational, who stated after this year’s Triple-S women’s final that “the handbrake is off in women’s kiteboarding”. Tricks are going bigger, faster, more technical and there are more women joining our sport as well as our competitive ranks than before and personally I can’t wait to see what the ‘next level’ entails.

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THE OAHU SESSIONS | MAURITIUS: PLAN B | GREECE, THE NEW BRAZIL?