Table of contents for #80 April - May 2016 in Kiteworld Magazine

“I’m gonna have to put this C kite down.” he said, landing on the beach next to me after taking off from a sand dune. “I’m really not allowed to be on one of these, I just won’t be able to resist riding it hard. I’ll take a wave kite instead!” More great news at the start of 2016 was Ruben Lenten hitting the water at the end of February with his friends from RRD. The Dutch superstar has endured lengthy chemotherapy over several months. He won’t be riding for a brand any time soon, but he was feeling well enough after a good few weeks with friends and sunshine in Cape Town to hit the water for a session. A true hero, who we wish well with his ongoing…

There’s far too many heroics and positivity in this issue to dwell for too long on the unsavoury competition scene delivered by the VKWC / WKT last year. While the IKA felt they were within their rights to protest against any apparent unregulated breaches of contracts, and in doing so could rightfully dismiss VKWC of their right to hand out world titles, the very public wrangling over the rights to stage world tour kiteboarding events probably came as a shock to riders around the world who simply enjoy being part of such a wonderful sport. Dragged through the mud by our collars we all were, especially the riders who rode hard all season and then as the events collapsed, never got the chance to stand atop a podium to take…

VITAL STATISTICS: AGE: 21 YEARS KITING: 10 LIVES: SHOREHAM-BY-SEA, UK SPONSORS: RRD BEST RESULTS: 5TH PKRA WAVES 2013, 9TH PKRA WAVES 2014 What attracted you to kitesurfing? As a family we’ve always been keen on watersports. When I was 12 my uncle was one of the original kiters in the area. My dad and I learnt together and have done a lot of trips together. I think the main appeal was the freedom on the water; having so much power at your disposal and the option to go anywhere. Tell us about your home spot. I guess there’s no place like home but Shoreham and Goring both have incredible kite communities. Everyone looks out for each other on the water, so you’re motivated to push yourself. We don’t get epic…

Dan Charlish is a local kitesurfer from our home town in Brighton on the south coast of the UK, so we’ve been pleased to be involved in each of the Armada events that he and his team have built up into such a success. The event started out as a humble but wishful idea to find a way of combining his enjoyment of kitesurfing with helping to raise funds for the charity he runs, called Snow Camp. Set up to provide life affirming experiences and employment opportunities in snowsports to underprivileged children from inner-city areas, although kitesurfing has nothing directly to do with Snow Camp, I think we would all agree that we are lucky as participants of this great sport, and can appreciate the link. Dan managed to convince…

“IT’S THOSE MOMENTS THAT YOU GET THE CHANCE TO PERFORM UNDER SUCH AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE. THAT IS WHAT DRIVES ME.”  JG: At some of the places you kite, death seems imminently possible, does that give you a new lease on life? How much of a motivating factor is that it is life threatening? JR: I wouldn’t say that I directly link it to death, or escaping death. Most of the time I do my sports I feel that I fear serious injury rather than death. I have a decent idea of my limits; what I can get away with… If I just go out kiting or surfing, in medium waves, the sad thing is… no, not the sad thing, because I love it... I can find joy in…

“I WILL ALWAYS TRY TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN, BUT I ALWAYS KNOW THE RESULT CAN GO EITHER WAY.” I hadn’t imagined the impact that winning the KOTA 2015 would have, it was an amazing experience. In my eyes the King of the Air has solidified itself as the biggest event, but now a year later, I sit here with mixed emotions after a second win on one of the most incredible days in kiteboarding history. January had been a really windy month in Cape Town, so I’d had plenty of opportunity to practice with different set-ups and to get a feel for the type of conditions we could expect in the competition. I managed some of the biggest jumps I’ve ever done in those sessions, clocking a…

TEST TEAM NOTES: Matt taught people to kite using Airush’s DNA for years, which is, essentially, a less expensive and less tricked out version of the Lithium. As a result, he logged quite a lot of time on all the available sizes and in a variety of conditions, so was keen to get on the more luxurious Lithium in a non-instructing capacity. All the Airush kites look great this year. The graphics are very smart and low-key and there’s reinforcement in the key areas along with Airush’s dyneema load frame technology, so the Lithium is certainly robust. Airush use the Boston valve inflation system and most pumps have the mid-sized nozzle that it requires, so you should always be able to borrow a pump with the right attachment. Airush’s bags…

WORLDWIDE SCHOOLS & SHOPS EVEN MORE LISTINGS AT WWW.KITEWORLDMAG.COM SCHOOLS THE AMERICAS 1 Aerosport Canada Magdalen Islands & Oka Quebec, Canada info@aerosport.ca +1 866 986 6677 www.aerosport.ca 2 Aqua Sports Maui Wailukui, Hawaii kiteboardingmaui@mac.com + 1 808 242 8015 www.mauikiteboardinglessons. 3 Captain Kirks Kiteboarding Long Beach, LA & La Ventana info@captainkirks.com +1 310 833 3397 www.captainkirks.com 4 Exotikite Kiteboarding School Baja, Sur Mexico info@exotikite.com +521 624 165 2612 www.exotikite.com 5 Good Breeze Kiteboarding Cocoa Beach, Florida info@kiteboardingcloseouts.com +1 321-252-5483 www.goodbreezekiteboarding.www.kiteboardingcloseouts.com 6 Hatteras Island Surf & Sailing Waves, NC +1 252 987 2292 www.hatterasislandsurfshop.com 7 Kiteboarding School of Maui Kahului, Maui, Hawaii mschale@ksmaui.com +1 808 873 0015 www.ksmaui.com 8 Kitty Hawk Kites Nag's Head, Hatteras mail@kittyhawk.com +1 252 441 0265 www.kittyhawk.com www.khkiteboarding.com 9 KGB Kiteboarding Baja Mexico & California info@kgbswag.com +1…

SUBJECT: DEVOTION DEVOTION. N. 1 ALLEGIANCE, COMMITMENT, DEDICATION. 2. CONSTANCY, LOYALTY, PASSION.…

Anke Brandt from Germany has lived in Bahrain for six years, she aims to beat her own world record that she set when she kited her way around Bahrain in March 2014, covering 250 kilometres in 12 hours, leaving at 6am and completing the last kilometre at 6pm. This time the ‘GET (Gulf Electronic Technology) Kite Mission – Kitesurf Arabia’ will see her attempt to cover 550 kilometres from Bahrain to the UAE through the Persian Gulf in 20 hours. The course is predicted to be a more favourable broad reach than when navigating an island, however, obstacles will include kiting at night, changing winds encountered along the way, reefs and islands, military zones (she will be passing close to the Iranian coast) and finally heavily choppy waters and rolling…

“THE WHOLE COAST IS JUST CLIFFS AND DEEP BLUE OPEN OCEAN. BY THEN I HAD ALREADY BEEN TACKING UPWIND FOR 90 MINUTES AND WAS FEELING VERY SMALL.” Freestyle World Champion in 2001 and 2003, Martin Vari was revered by most of his competitors as the most innovative and naturally talented rider of his time. The now almost mythical Argentinian star brought handle-passes (and then double handle-passes) to kitesurfing freestyle competition. He was part of the highly influential Space Monkeys video crew and dedicated the last several years of his professional career to pushing the limits for kiting and barrel hunting at wave spots in Indo, Australia, Tahiti, Tasmania and beyond. The Kiteworld crew were lucky enough to be with Space Monkeys Jaime Herraiz, Will James and Martin Vari on the…

Kiteworld editor Jim Gaunt recently asked me what I thought was going through Nick Jacobsen’s mind when he climbed and jumped off a crane in South Africa with a kite above his head. I think I disappointed him when I replied, “I would have to ask him”. Undeterred, Jim asked if I could write a piece that would explain what goes on in our brains when we are seeking the rush that comes from a bit of death defying activity. I am not sure that I can explain it in neuroscientific terms, I don’t think these complex behaviours can be reduced that far, but ever since as a five-year-old I watched Evel Knievel jump his Harley Davidson over a bus in 1974, I have been fascinated by such things. So,…

So then, what does all this scribble mean? Perhaps nothing at all. How does one make sense of all this death and defiance and apparently unnecessary risk? Maybe it’s not about risk at all, maybe the message is more elegant than that – simply live the best life that you can possibly live but don’t waste a single second – you won’t get it back. I started this journey with Evel Knievel. What better mentor could a young boy get? I went through Sim’s Snakes, Redline BMXs, Honda XR’s, gravel rash, McCoy surfboards, ACL replacements, perforated eardrums, Naish, chopped thumbs and Ozone kites. It seems only right that I end it with some of Bodhi’s wisdom from the original Point Break: “To those dead souls inching along the freeways in…

“I DON’T THINK THIS SPORT IS BIG ENOUGH YET TO GO TOO NICHE AND RISK LOSING THE INTEREST OF THE CROWD.” It was obvious everyone was on it in the strong wind and decent waves and had the potential to win. That actually scared me a bit and once the event got underway I started to think that I should have maybe trained a bit harder! I really didn’t have a good first round, but fortunately finished second in the heat to progress straight to round three and then picked up my game from there. It sounds weird because you’re in such a bubble during the event and there’s so much stuff happening, so many impulses, all that wind blowing, the waves coming in and the crowd roaring and then…

TEST TEAM NOTES: In its twelfth year of production, the Switchblade needs no introduction. Many of its dedicated followers have been using the Switchblade throughout their entire riding careers. Take a Switchblade out of its bag and it’s obviously a high-quality bit of kit. The Technoforce D2 canopy, well placed Dacron reinforcements, reinforced struts and trailing edge combine to help form a robust air frame that can hold down a huge amount of power (your quad muscles are more likely to give out before the air frame loses its shape!). This particular characteristic makes the Switchblade such an ideal weapon for big air enthusiasts and it’s an absolute ‘sky hook’ when it comes to jumping. Rock solid and dependable in the air, there’s nothing twitchy in its control mannerisms. Minimal…

NOTE #02: PHAN RANG, VIETNAM I first heard about Phan Rang from a few local kiters in Mui Ne. We had been discussing the shore break problems with some of the areas suffering from eroding beach zones and I was lamenting the lack of flat water riding that I have become accustomed to in my ever continuing search for new places to ride. Faces in the group lit up when we heard of the potential in Phan Rang for ‘flat water heaven with never ending spots’, ‘waves galore’, and ‘much stronger wind than Mui Ne’. However, when describing this unspoiled kite spot, it was alluded to that there were no kite schools, in fact there was no kiting community whatsoever and that going by a kite safari was the only…

01 - Those that dish out the banter are usually the worst at taking it back. I can’t name these people as they will obviously not handle it well... 02 - Drinking tea helps me resolve many of life’s setbacks. 03 - If you’re not going to make a tea with love then don’t bother at all. Bad tea is worse than no tea at all. My own favorite brand is PG Tips. Always ask how people like it before you brew. It’s also possible to make good tea in a van. The most important rule is that the water is boiling before you pour it, but also make sure to never stir or bash the bag as that will make it bitter in taste. Just leave it in there…

Kiteworld editor Jim hosts the Kite Show and it’s been a busy start to the year for him and the show team, who have been scuttling round behind the scenes at the King of the Air getting the inside scoop on the event. On top of that, Lewis Crathern tells us the tale of his KOTA recovery, expect hot tips on boosting huge from Kevin Langeree, Jesse Richman talks about riding massive waves at Jaws, Jason Slezak vividly explains how the ride sensations evolve as you improve at wakestyle riding, the Kiteworld test team give you more info on their testing processes, plus lots more! Episode 21 will be released in early April. Download the apps for free. www.thekiteshow.tv…

“EVEN WHILE RIDING THE WAVE YOU DON’T REALLY ‘GET’ HOW BIG JAWS IS UNTIL YOU SEE THE THING FROM THE CHANNEL. AT WATER LEVEL. PURE MAGIC AND A FREAK OF NATURE; THE WAY IT COMES IN FROM DEEP OCEAN, STANDS-UP MASSIVELY AND THEN PEELS PERFECTLY AS IT WRAPS ALONG THE REEF WITH SPEED. ADD IN THE OFFSHORE WIND AND YOU GO SO INCREDIBLY FAST ON THE BOARD.” I was on Maui for just a couple of weeks when this swell hit. Prior to that it had been six years since my last visit. It feels almost like another lifetime when kiting was my life and I called Hawaii home. I don’t kite for a living anymore; just pure joy. The forecast was predicting that yet another El Niño XXL swell…

“I AM NOT THIS CRAZY DUDE WHO THROWS HIMSELF OFF BUILDINGS AND STUFF, WELL... I AM, BUT IT IS WELL THOUGHT THROUGH. I AM NOT RECKLESS.” NJ: Yeah, I would definitely put myself in category two, but I think I’m also a little bit in between. I love to search for new things, I love to push my body to extremity but, with that, in order to do it, I need familiarities and support; a sort of safety net. I know I can always call my mum if I’m in danger, or my dad or my sisters. That’s part of my familiarity. They are always there to support me. JG: That is so cool, and surprising. [Nick loves to go home and just chill out, to live quietly with…

“ON SUNDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 2016, KITEBOARDING AND ITS’ VERY BEST ATHLETES CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE POWER OF MOTHER NATURE. THAT BATTLE IS NOT OVER YET. HAVING THOSE CONDITIONS AND THAT MANY TALENTED RIDERS ALL URGED ON BY A LARGE CROWD IS SUCH A RARE OCCURRENCE, BUT IT AFFORDED US A GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE.” Aaron Hadlow became the first rider to win two Red Bull King of the Air titles, taking back-to-back victories on Sunday 7th February 2016 at Big Bay in Cape Town. The event is heralded as the biggest one-off event on the kiteboarding calendar and is certainly the most extreme. I had the privilege of commentating on the live stream, closely analysing each aspect of the event. Red Bull are forecasting that the live stream,…

The three strut all-rounder is still very much the king of the freeride jungle and we’ve seen some noteworthy new examples enter the market this year. Popular with designers, it offers controlled handling, reliable relaunching and impressive wind range, but these days those freeride designs also deliver way more than just user-friendly riding characteristics and ease-of-use. A number of the kites this year displayed performance abilities previously only found in freestyle specific C-kites. We’ve also seen plenty of kites that are more than capable of performing well in the waves and, from where we’re standing, the crossover capabilities of modern freeride kites are improving every year, to the point where, in 2016, only the most specialised of riders in either wave riding or freestyle will need to look too far…

TEST TEAM NOTES: Wainman’s all new model is designed to be versatile enough for easy progression in a variety of conditions. Featuring a substantial rocker line, the Cruzer has a fairly rounded freeride specific outline with pulled-in tips, suggesting a loose and forgiving ride feel. The straps and pads aren’t over-complicated, but are soft and very comfortable, offering us a good fit around the heel and ball of the foot with enough stance angle options to satisfy the majority of riders, which we all agreed on. As you’d expect from Wainman, the graphics are quite unique! Although the brand hype bills the Cruzer as a freestyle / freeride board, we’d place it more firmly at the comfortable freeride end of the spectrum. It has an insatiable appetite for eating up…

Like most kiteboarders I have been asked many times how high I jump? For years, before tech like the Woo Sports and Xensr devices came onto the market, I have enjoyed telling friends, family, colleagues (whoever would listen) that my big jumps were well over 20 metres. I often look down at other people’s kites when on the water, so believed that my big jumps were well in excess of 20 metres. To be honest; more like 25 metres in my head! It was almost a standard reply, “Yeah, 20 to 25 metres normally on a good day.” In Cape Town January 2015 the guys at Woo Sports gave me one of their devices to test and so began my love affair with the Woo. In many ways, and like…

MOVE: GRABBED STRAPLESS BACK ROLL RIDER: KEAHI DE ABOITIZ PHOTOS: JOHN BILDERBACK This has always been one of my favourite tricks, especially in solid surf. Once you figure out the rotation, you can hit a wave with a lot more speed than other rotations and I’ve always loved the feeling of a big tweaked out grabbed back roll. Knowing how to do a back roll with straps and having some understanding of the basic rotations will help. Get comfortable with some basic strapless tricks and have a good understanding of how to pop without needing too much help from the kite. Although using a wave as a ramp is easier, you can throw this off small chop with practice as well. This trick suits a pretty wide wind range. Personally…