The Kiteboarder Magazine June 2010

THEKITEBOARDER.COM

Point

Children of theThe local crew shines at

Cabo Verde during the biggest swell of the decade.

The CollegiaTe KiTeboarding

ContingenCy

InsTruCTIonal guide2010 TKB annual

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Depart m e n t s

Features

24 EventsPismo Beach Expo delivers a day later.

32 Close UpNorth’s Tommy Fields and Best’s Kris Kinn profiled.

70 Analyze ThisTKB’s verdict on ten new 2010 products.

80 Designer’s CornerDesigner’s introduce four new kite and board releases.

85 WorkbenchHow to fix a spaghetti mess.

IKA, PKRA, KPWT, IKF, ISAF: What does it all mean?

Mitu Monteiro might be a familiar name in kiteboarding, but to people in his home town of Santa Maria on the Cabo Verde island of Sal, he is a hometown hero. Mitu is inspiring other locals to take up kiteboarding to take advantage of the amazing conditions Cabo Verde has offer. Photo Gilles Calvet

THEKITEBOARDER.COM

Point

Children of theThe Local Crew Shines at

Cabo Verde on the biggest swell of the decade.

The CollegiaTe KiTeboarding

ContingenCy

InSTruCTIonaL guide2010 TKB annual

Hot New Products to CHeCk out!22

+

Need

ContingenCyhere is no getting around the fact that right now the average kiteboarder is a middle-aged male. Kiteboarding, while not extremely difficult to learn, has a relatively high cost to get started, and that has been keeping a certain youthful

element from taking hold in kiteboarding for years. However, there is a movement in this country right now that is working hard to change that and to expose kiteboarding to a new younger crowd. That movement is the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association (CKA), and the main person behind the start of it is Matt Sexton, a student at Eckerd College in Florida.

The CKA has grown to now include Collegiate Kiteboarding Clubs at 25 schools around the country and there are CKA events on both the east and west coasts. In the U.S., the CKA is the only kiteboarding tour in the country and is responsible for getting hundreds of college-aged people started in kiteboarding. CKA events have a reputation for being a good time, no matter what the weather delivers. In Florida, a cold spell caused organizers to bring in artificial snow and hold that state’s first snowkiting event, while in San Diego, a lack of wind turned the event into an impromptu surf contest followed by riding a beachfront artificial wave. We like what’s going on with the CKA, and so TKB sat down with Matt Sexton to let him talk about how it all started and where the CKA is heading.

The Matt Sexton Interview

tCollegeThe

By Paul Lang


Matt Sexton, who will be graduating from college himself about the time this issue is in print, is the main man behind the creation of the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association. Photo Dallas McMahon

By Marina Chang

Densely populated areas seem to be experiencing the majority of multi-use challenges. Photo Katina Arnott

Zach Kleppe entertains the crowd with a particularly good wipeout.

launch

The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) has so far been a controversial organization since its inception in 2008, but the gossip and chatter surrounding it and other large kiteboarding organizations has reached a fever pitch over the last few months. Most kiteboarders, the staff of this magazine included, has had a very hard time seeing through the accusations and claims each of these organizations is putting forward, so this article is our attempt to make sense of it all. So far, everything going on has only directly affected a small number of competition riders, but what does this all mean for the rest of us?

By Paul Lang


Kevin Langeree, last year’s PKRA Woeld Champion, plays with the camera at the first event of the 2010 PKRA season. Things are rapidly changing in the kiteboarding competition scene, hopefully for the better. Photo Roberto Foresti A Brief History

of tHe iKA:The IKA was formed in 2008 by a group of speed kiters in an attempt to get the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to

recognize the kiters’ records as legitimate speed-sailing records. The ISAF recognized all disciplines of kiteboarding as a class of sailing, and the IKA was appointed to be the head of kiteboarding under ISAF. Originally formed as a rider’s association, the IKA changed in 2009 to be an association of national associations and industry and tour representatives. Currently, there are almost 20 national kiteboarding associations affiliated with the IKA with another 15 expected to join this year.

The stated goal of the IKA is to unify and bring together all major national associations and create a rule book, world ranking system, and judging and race directing standards. Almost immediately after the IKA was recognized by ISAF, the Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) joined the IKA, while the other major tour, the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) opposed joining. According to the IKA, the result of this was that KPWT gained events while PKRA lost events. PKRA and IKA sat down to work out their differences, eventually coming to a working agreement. At the same time, the relationship between IKA and KPWT fell apart (more on this below). Before this season began, IKA issued a statement that any riders who participated in a KPWT event would be ruled ineligible and therefore not allowed to compete in any IKA sanctioned events, including PKRA events.

KPWt vs. iKA:The relationship between the IKA and the KPWT seems to have completely fallen apart. According to Richard Gowers of the IKA, “KPWT failed to fulfill its contract and had IKA sanction withdrawn. It was KPWT seeking separation by breaking the IKA sanctioning agreement; riders as well as organizers have to decide if they support the KPWT or the rest of the kiteboarding competition scene.” However, according to KPWT’s Frederic Gravoille, “Due to severe breaches of contract and no belief in what the IKA was trying to achieve, the KPWT chose to support and work with a federation that is looking towards a democratic and positive future for the sport of Kiteboarding.” The other federation Frederic refers to is the International Kiteboarding Federation (IKF), which was founded by the same people who are behind KPWT.

Apparently, the issue at the heart of the IKA ban on KPWT riders is KPWT’s claim to be a “World Tour,” a term that the IKA claims is rightfully theirs. IKA claims that they have exclusive use of the terms world tour, world champion, etc. within kiteboarding. There is currently a lawsuit, filed by KPWT against IKA, claiming, “The prohibition of the use of the respective terms (world tour, world champion, etc.) has no legal basis. In particular, neither ISAF nor IKA have world-wide or European trade mark protection in relation to these terms that could exclude any other parties from its use.” We were told by an IKA representative that if the KPWT dropped the usage of the terms world tour and world champion, they would not uphold the ban against their riders. However, the KPWT currently has major problems of their own, as their first event of the year, located in Jamaica, was cancelled after the local organizer completely dropped the ball and only 15 riders showed up.

WHAt ABout tHe olymPics?With the development of an international framework for competitions, many people think that kiteboarding course racing is heading for the Olympics, and this will be a huge benefit for kiteboarding. IKA’s Richard Gowers said, “The Olympics showcase the pinnacle of every sport; it brings more publicity and positive coverage than anything else. Equipment for the Olympics is usually for light wind, so it will encourage the development of equipment that works in a pretty wide range. Also, becoming an Olympic sport opens up a lot of funding from the governments for riders.” Mauricio Toscano from the PKRA, when asked about kiteboarding as an Olympic Sport, said, “The benefit of being in the Olympics for kiteboarding would be more exposure for the sport. However, if it was only racing similar to other sailing classes it would probably be minimal exposure. If one day there is a way to incorporate kiteboarding freestyle into the Olympics, it could generate huge exposure for the sport as it has done for snowboarding with their half pipe event.” We tend to agree with Mauricio. While it would be cool to see kiteboarding in the Olympics, course racing is not the best discipline to show the world what the sport is capable of. Don’t forget that windsurfing racing is in the Olympics, and when was the last time you saw any exposure of that?

WHAt Does tHis All meAn? Does Anyone cAre?According to the IKA, because of their efforts, there will be a unified world ranking system based on points accumulated by all riders collected from various events – overall and one for each discipline. The PKRA will decide the Freestyle World Title. There

will be freestyle tour titles from the new Asian and European tours, giving up-and-coming competitors a clear pathway from their national events to the world-level events. There will also be World and Continental Championships in Speed and Course Racing. When asked how being associated with the IKA benefits the PKRA, Mauricio Toscano said, “It’s difficult to say at the moment, but I believe now that some of the things the IKA are doing, like standardizing competition formats and rules throughout the world, are beneficial for the sport of kiteboarding.”

By creating rule books (racing and freestyle) and judging and race directing standards, the IKA is doing a good thing by helping to standardize kiteboarding competitions. They plan on offering judge courses and, eventually, a certification program for judges. Whether this helps the sport outside of major competitions has yet to be seen, but

there can be no argument that kiteboarding needs more regional and national competitions. If a framework exists to make it easier for a small organizer to create an event that is consistent with the standards of the large events, riders, sponsors, and spectators will have a better idea what to expect out of an event.

We are against the fact that the IKA is threatening to ban riders from its sanctioned events, and we cannot see how this benefits the sport in any way. They should continue to work to promote the sport and to make events more consistent. Hopefully, the IKA will bring a level of organization and communication that so far has been lacking from kiteboarding, but only time will tell what impact, if any, the IKA will have to the average kiteboarder.


iKA, PKrA, KPWt, iKf, isAf: What does it all Mean?By Paul Lang

A goal of the IKA is to unify the competition side of kiteboarding, but the two major tours are currently as divided as ever. Photo Roberto Foresti

Like it or not, this crowd at a recent IKA meeting is working to “legitimize” your sport. Photo Courtesy IKA

For this year’s Annual Instructional Special, we’ve made sure to include a little something for everyone. Whether you are just thinking about learning to kiteboard of if you have been kiting for a few years already, you’ll find something in here for you. Even if you’ve been riding for years, there is always something new to try, and there are few things more rewarding than learning a new skill on the water, whether it’s kiting upwind for the first time, landing your first jump, or slashing the top off of your first wave with nothing holding you to your board except wax and will power. Whatever your skill level, keep pushing yourself to try new things and you will amaze yourself with what you can learn to do. Hopefully, you’ll find a few tips over the next few pages to help you do that.

Many people who may be interested in kiteboarding are turned away from the sport because of the initially large investment that it takes to get going as a kiteboarder. Buying brand new equipment, you can expect to pay in the range of about $1,600-$2,000 as a minimum for your first set of gear. On top of that, you should also expect to pay $300-$600 for lessons to get started. Basically, you are looking at about a minimum of around $2,000 to have the gear and knowledge to get on the water.

That sounds like a lot of money, but the beautiful thing about kiteboarding is that the wind is free. You could ride for two or more seasons with that initial investment and never spend another dollar on gear. When you compare the costs of kiteboarding to other sports such as snowboarding (minimum $500 for gear and clothes, $75 or more per day of riding for a lift ticket, plus gas to get up the mountain) and wakeboarding ($500 for a board, $50,000 for a decent boat, plus gas for every session), kiteboarding suddenly doesn’t seem very expensive at all. Once you have your gear, the only cost you have to go kiteboarding is the gas it takes you to get to the beach. If you are on a budget, you can look for used or last year’s closeout gear and potentially be up and riding for less than $1,200.

The ImporTance of LessonsWe’ve covered this issue in the past, and it’s important enough that we are going over it again. If you are interested in getting into kiteboarding, you need to take a lesson. If you kiteboard already and have a friend who wants to learn, you need to encourage that friend to take a lesson. Kiteboarding equipment can be very dangerous if it isn’t used properly, not only to the person flying the kite, but to people who happen to be in the area.

As we’ve said before, you need to think of lessons as cheap insurance. Sure they may cost money, but lessons are much cheaper than destroying that new $1,500 kite and way cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. I was in Baja one time for a kiteboarding trip, and one guy showed up with brand new gear, a 12-pack of beer, and no clue on how to fly a kite because he had decided that he didn’t need a lesson. When he launched his kite, it was in the air for about five seconds before he crashed it into a fence, ripping it completely in half. While swearing, he packed up his tattered kite, threw it in his car, and drove all the way back home to California, leaving the beer on the beach for us to enjoy at the end of the day. By not taking lessons, that guy didn’t save money, he wasted it by destroying a brand new kite. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and take a lesson if you want to learn to kiteboard.

GeT The mosT from a Lesson:• Get a trainer kite and an instructional video before your

lesson. Fly the trainer kite until you cannot stand doing it anymore and watch the video over and over. Videos and trainer kites can’t replace a lesson, but will help the whole process feel more familiar when you show up to learn.

• If you are a female, consider looking for a female instructor. Girls usually learn better from other girls.

• Consider traveling to a known windy place for your lesson. No location anywhere in the world can guarantee wind, but there are many places that are very likely to have good conditions for learning at certain times of the year. Yes, it will cost more, but you can learn more in three days under the right conditions than you can learn in six months under the wrong conditions.

• Ask a lot of questions. Make sure you understand everything your instructor tells you.

• As soon as you decide that you are going to take a lesson, start paying attention to the wind. Check sites such as ikitesurf.com to find out when and where the wind blows in your area. Constantly think about what direction the wind is coming from. Having good wind awareness will be a huge help on the day of your lesson.

• Have a humble attitude during your lesson. You are not going to be blasting across the water and flying 40 feet into the air on your first day.

sTraTeGY

The co$T$ of Kiteboarding

InStruCtIOnAl GuIde2010 tKB Annual


pgs38_69b.indd 42-43 4/11/10 9:25:38 PM

hen the F-One wave team got news through an internet forecast that a massive swell was going to hit Cabo Verde, they all jumped onto the first available plane to the island of Sal, located less than 400 miles off the west coast of Africa. They would score the swell of the decade, but they were just

visitors here. The swell gave the local crew, who grew up poor and learned to ride on donated gear, their chance to shine.

It all started back in February 1993 when, after three long weeks of endless waiting during which our patience was tested, a largely unknown wave –Punta Preta – finally showed us its potential. At the time, there were no internet wave-forecasting sites to follow or Twitter updates that would explain the lack of swell or give us a hint of when, if ever, it would arrive. Nevertheless, we believed in the rare rumors of unbelievable waves that had been spread by a few lucky ones who had been here before us.

One of them was Raphael Salles. He had travelled to Sal a couple of times in 1986 and 1987 for its warm waters and perfect wind conditions as his winter windsurfing training ground. He was fine tuning his prototype course racing board, tacking back and forth along the west coast, and during one of his training sessions he spotted breaking waves. Raphael told a few people about the waves, but the Cabo Verde archipelago quickly sunk back into obscurity. No one seemed interested with these poor desert-like islands except maybe for a handful of hardcore windsurfers. In 1993, we were searching for hypothetical waves on the west coast, and when we found them, we were rewarded.

After three weeks of waiting, our reward surpassed anything we could have imagined: a gorgeous right tube, smoothed by 20-knot trade winds, just for Raoul Lequertier and myself, for no less than twelve consecutive days. Since then, this world-class wave has fed many magazines with incredible photos, but it has also been the source of inspiration for the creation of the local kitesurfing team. Today, you can’t talk about Punta Preta without mentioning Mitu Monteiro, Djo, Matchu, and many more local riders. They belong to a league of their own and are directly connected to this spot: They are the children of the point.

For most of them, life has been no bed of roses. I watched them grow up here. Since my very first trip in 1993, I have not missed one winter in Cabo Verde where I have lived by their side with all my gear, which consisted of one surfboard, my camera gear, and a surf housing. We shared food and shelter, and they taught me their language. They started out with not much: four bare brick walls with a dirt floor and conch-shell roof. Their toys were made of rusted metal tins and broken balls.

They began by loading and transporting the tourist windsurfers’ equipment when they could, and their passion for Watersports was born on Santa Maria Beach.Slowly, they began to work for the windsurfing schools, then the kiteboarding schools. Before long, they were able to get out for short sessions at the end of their work schedules. These sessions were enough to make them the best riders on the beach. Rapidly, both local and traveling surfers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders (particularly Jerome Boggio Pascua, a Cabo Verde watersports pioneer) began to take notice and gave them a used board, a kite, or a wetsuit. Then, whether walking or hitch-hiking with their gear in tow, they started to defy the Queen of the North Atlantic: The Black Point, their own Punta Preta!

w

By Gilles CalvetTranslated by Nico Ostermann and Sylvie Johnson

Point

Children of the

thekiteboarder.com 3938 thekiteboarder.com

Matchu, Mitu, and Djo are now considered heroes in their poor hometown of Santa Maria, Cabo Verde. Photo Band Originale

As the lightest of the local riders, Matchu usually starts each session first, while the others watch and wait for their turns. Photo Giles Calvet

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ThE CollEGE ConTInGEnCy:The Matt Sexton Interview

ChIlDREn oF ThE PoInT: The local crew shines at Cabo Verde.

TKB AnnUAl InSTRUCTIonAl GUIDE:Something for every level of rider.

Photographer Bryan Elkus light’s up nick Bains’s hatteras night session. Photo Bryan Elkus













here’s the helmet, leash, chest protector, shin guards, mouth guard, hook knife, and life jacket?

Those are the questions people seem to start asking every time a photo of some rider pushing the limits of kiteboarding shows up online or in a magazine. Almost every single time I’ve seen a progressive rail or kicker shot posted online, the negative comments bashing the rider’s lack of safety and common sense seem to come pouring in.

A few issues ago, we were attacked on KiteForum.com for our cover featuring Ian Alldredge deep in an Indo tube. Someone thought it looked like the windsurfer that was also in the photo was too close and that Ian was cutting him off. We were accused of promoting unsafe behavior while the windsurfer was clearly in the channel, nowhere near Ian. There seems to be a certain segment within kiteboarding that won’t be happy until every photo and video ever released about kiteboarding only shows riders happily and mellowly cruising by clad in full protective gear. I believe this is mostly because people fear these types of images promote unsafe behavior to the general public or encourage others to act irresponsibly. I have nothing against people who want to wear helmets or other protective gear

while they ride. Actually, I applaud those who do and everyone else who takes kiteboarding safety seriously. However, I also get excited every time I see videos or photos of riders pushing kiteboarding into new and exciting areas. There is nothing contradictory or ironic about being both pro safety and pro progression. As long as a rider’s actions don’t endanger other riders or bystanders, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting one’s own physical well-being on the line for the sake of finding out just how far the boundaries can be pushed. On the subject of helmets, yes it is true that it’s very difficult to find photos of people wearing helmets in this magazine, but that’s not because we are against them. All riders, both professional and amateur, each make their own personal decision when it comes to wearing a helmet when they ride, and most choose not to. Send us a unique, compelling, or progressive image that happens to feature a rider wearing a helmet, and we’ll have no problem running it. There’s no doubt that more widespread use of helmets could help prevent injuries and even deaths, but we’re not going to judge anyone for their personal choice whether to wear one or not. What many people seem to fail to understand is that kiteboarding needs riders who are going to push the sport forward. If we want the sport to grow or even just to continue, it has to progress. For those of you who like to attack other riders for

“unsafe” behavior that only puts that one rider at risk and no one else, let me ask you this: What harm is it to you? If a rider is hitting a sketchy rail that has never been attempted before, how does that harm anyone else? Kiteboarding is still a young sport, and we are not going to find out what is and isn’t possible to do behind a kite without riders who are willing to push the limits. Simply put, kiteboarding will not move past where it is now if everyone just plays it safe all the time. With that said, kiters who put other riders or bystanders at risk with their riding should get a stern talking to from the rest of their local crew and they should be chased off the beach if their actions continue. That includes not just the hot-shot riders who jump too close to the beach, but also riders who launch in sketchy situations or fly kites way too big for the conditions. These are the actions that need to be called out as unsafe. However you choose to ride and however hard you choose to push yourself, you should never put anyone else at risk with your actions. The next time you see someone furthering the concept about what can be done in kiteboarding, think twice before you judge the rider as unsafe and irresponsible. Is anyone else put at risk by his or her actions? If not, that rider should be applauded, not attacked for being willing to put their body on the line for the sake of kiteboarding.

THINK

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Wpushing the limit

Is Ian Alldredge pushing the limits or acting irresponsibly on the cover of our February 2010 issue? Photo Jason Wolcott

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seNIOr WrItersMarina Chang, Paul Lang, James Brown, Gary Martin

eDItOrIaL CONsuLtaNtsNeil Hutchinson, Joe Bidawid, Paul Menta, Kevin “Top Hat” Senn, Henry Dupont IV,

Bill Lee, Paul Lang, Stefan Ruether, Ruca Chang, Mira Kwon, Rick Iossi, Toby Brauer, Jeff Howard, Dave Loop

CONtrIButOrsGilles Calvet (translation Nico Ostermann, Sylvie Johnson), Paul Menta,

John Mapel, Michael Campanaro, Brendan Richards, Jeremy Lund, Raphael Salles, Peter Stiewe, Martial Camblong

seNIOr pHOtOGrapHersPaul Lang, Dallas McMahon, Kim Kern, Carol Bolstad, Nikki Riccitelli

pHOtOGrapHYRoberto Foresti, Katherine Kimball, Corran Addison, Kb4Girls, James Ropner,

xtremewinds.com, Andrew Schwarz, James Ropner, www.jdphotofairy.com Helen Trotman, Nils Knoop, Cascade Kiteboarding, Zach Goepel, Tony Bolstad, Carol Bolstad, Ginette Buffone, Dave Tran, Miguel Willis, Band Originale, Gilles Calvet, Dan Schwarz,

Toby Bromwich, Caution Kiteboarding, Ryan Riccitelli, David DeVries, ImagesbyDoc, Lance Koudele, Tracy Kraft, Jody MacDonald, Shal Jacobovitz, Zinou Guiri / www.adrenaline-

kitesurf.com, Cynthia “Cynbad” Brown, Liz Bortoletto, Reto Leuenberger, Aiste Ridikaite, Nigel Kenny, Doug “the kite caddy”, Roberto Stortoni, Mrs. Litewave, Sebastian Riveros

Thanks to all editorial and photography contributors for supporting this magazine!

VIsIt us ON:www.thekiteboarder.com

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The Kiteboarder Magazine is a subsidiary of The Ring Media Inc. Copyright 2010 by The Ring Media Inc. All rights reserved.

prINteD IN usa

ExECUTIVE EDIToRRYAN RICCITELLI

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ConTEnT EDIToR/PUBlIShERMARINA CHANG marina@ thekiteboarder.com

EDIToRPAuL LANG

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ART DIRECToR SHANA GORONDY

TEChnICAl EDIToRGARY MARTIN

EDIToR AT lARGE ALEXIS ROVIRA

DIRECToR WEB STRATEGy PETER GRENDLER

STAFF PhoToGRAPhy DALLAS McMAHON

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Program: WAVE

RRD has been the first brand to ever build a specific kite for waves. For our Type Wave launched in 2002, we have kept always an eye on a specific kite that would be designed to excel in the waves. After the introduction of bow and D-shape kites and new innovative bridle de-signs, this kite puts together a super short leading edge to maximize turning speed with a bullet proof Dacron body construction specifi-cally positioned on the hi-tension areas of the kite to prevent breakage in the surf. The religion will be the right answer for those needing a new path to follow!

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By Marina Chang

Densely populated areas seem to be experiencing the majority of multi-use challenges. Photo Katina Arnott

Zach Kleppe entertains the crowd with a particularly good wipeout.

launch

The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) has so far been a controversial organization since its inception in 2008, but the gossip and chatter surrounding it and other large kiteboarding organizations has reached a fever pitch over the last few months. Most kiteboarders, the staff of this magazine included, has had a very hard time seeing through the accusations and claims each of these organizations is putting forward, so this article is our attempt to make sense of it all. So far, everything going on has only directly affected a small number of competition riders, but what does this all mean for the rest of us?


Kevin Langeree, last year’s PKRA World Champion, plays with the camera at the first event of the 2010 PKRA season. Things are rapidly changing in the kiteboarding competition scene, hopefully for the better. Photo Roberto Foresti

IKA, PKRA, KPWT, IKF, ISAF: What does it all Mean?By Paul Lang


A BRIeF HISToRy oF THe IKA:The IKA was formed in 2008 by a group of speed kiters in an attempt to get the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) to

recognize the kiters’ records as legitimate speed-sailing records. The ISAF recognized all disciplines of kiteboarding as a class of sailing, and the IKA was appointed to be the head of kiteboarding under ISAF. Originally formed as a rider’s association, the IKA changed in 2009 to be an association of national associations and industry and tour representatives. Currently, there are almost 20 national kiteboarding associations affiliated with the IKA with another 15 expected to join this year.

The stated goal of the IKA is to unify and bring together all major national associations and create a rule book, world ranking system, and judging and race directing standards. Almost immediately after the IKA was recognized by ISAF, the Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) joined the IKA, while the other major tour, the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) opposed joining. According to the IKA, the result of this was that KPWT gained events while PKRA lost events. PKRA and IKA sat down to work out their differences, eventually coming to a working agreement. At the same time, the relationship between IKA and KPWT fell apart (more on this below). Before this season began, IKA issued a statement that any riders who participated in a KPWT event would be ruled ineligible and therefore not allowed to compete in any IKA sanctioned events, including PKRA events.

KPWT vS. IKA:The relationship between the IKA and the KPWT seems to have completely fallen apart. According to Richard Gowers of the IKA, “KPWT failed to fulfill its contract and had IKA sanction withdrawn. It was KPWT seeking separation by breaking the IKA sanctioning agreement; riders as well as organizers have to decide if they support the KPWT or the rest of the kiteboarding competition scene.” However, according to KPWT’s Frederic Gravoille, “Due to severe breaches of contract and no belief in what the IKA was trying to achieve, the KPWT chose to support and work with a federation that is looking towards a democratic and positive future for the sport of Kiteboarding.” The other federation Frederic refers to is the International Kiteboarding Federation (IKF), which was founded by the same people who are behind KPWT.

Apparently, the issue at the heart of the IKA ban on KPWT riders is KPWT’s claim to be a “World Tour,” a term that the IKA claims is rightfully theirs. IKA claims that they have exclusive use of the terms world tour, world champion, etc. within kiteboarding. A recent lawsuit filed by KPWT against IKA, claiming “the prohibition of the use of the respective terms (world tour, world champion, etc.) has no legal basis,” was lost by the KPWT at the end of March. The court declared that these statements in the context in which the statements were made are true and do not constitute anti-competitive conduct. We were told by an IKA representative that if the KPWT dropped the usage of the terms world tour and world champion, they would not uphold the ban against their riders. However, the KPWT currently has other major problems of their own, as their first event of the year in Jamaica was canceled after the local organizer completely dropped the ball and only 15 riders showed up.

WHAT ABouT THe olymPIcS?With the development of an international framework for competitions, many people think that kiteboarding course racing is heading for the Olympics, and this will be a huge benefit for kiteboarding. IKA’s Richard Gowers said, “The Olympics showcase the pinnacle of every sport; it brings more publicity and positive coverage than anything else. Equipment for the Olympics is usually for light wind, so it will encourage the development of equipment that works in a pretty wide range. Also, becoming an Olympic sport opens up a lot of funding from the governments for riders.” Mauricio Toscano from the PKRA, when asked about kiteboarding as an Olympic Sport, said, “The benefit of being in the Olympics for kiteboarding would be more exposure for the sport. However, if it was only racing similar to other sailing classes it would probably be minimal exposure. If one day there is a way to incorporate kiteboarding freestyle into the Olympics, it could generate huge exposure for the sport as it has done for snowboarding with their half pipe event.” We tend to agree with Mauricio. While it would be cool to see kiteboarding in the Olympics, course racing is not the best discipline to show the world what the sport is capable of. Don’t forget that windsurfing racing is in the Olympics, and when was the last time you saw any exposure of that?

WHAT DoeS THIS All meAn? DoeS Anyone cARe?According to the IKA, because of their efforts, there will be a unified world ranking system based on points accumulated by all riders collected from various events – overall and one for each discipline. The PKRA will decide the Freestyle World Title. There

will be freestyle tour titles from the new Asian and European tours, giving up-and-coming competitors a clear pathway from their national events to the world-level events. There will also be World and Continental Championships in Speed and Course Racing. When asked how being associated with the IKA benefits the PKRA, Mauricio Toscano said, “It’s difficult to say at the moment, but I believe now that some of the things the IKA are doing, like standardizing competition formats and rules throughout the world, are beneficial for the sport of kiteboarding.”

By creating rule books (racing and freestyle) and judging and race directing standards, the IKA is doing a good thing by helping to standardize kiteboarding competitions. They plan on offering judge courses and, eventually, a certification program for judges. Whether this helps the sport outside of major competitions has yet to be seen, but

there can be no argument that kiteboarding needs more regional and national competitions. If a framework exists to make it easier for a small organizer to create an event that is consistent with the standards of the large events, riders, sponsors, and spectators will have a better idea what to expect out of an event.

We are against the fact that the IKA is threatening to ban riders from its sanctioned events, and we cannot see how this benefits the sport in any way. They should continue to work to promote the sport and to make events more consistent. Hopefully, the IKA will bring a level of organization and communication that so far has been lacking from kiteboarding, but only time will tell what impact, if any, the IKA will have on the average kiteboarder.


A goal of the IKA is to unify the competition side of kiteboarding, but the two major tours are currently as divided as ever. Photo Roberto Foresti

Like it or not, this crowd at a recent IKA meeting is working to “legitimize” your sport. Photo Courtesy IKA


Kiteboarding 4 Cancer (KB4C) and SuP 4 Cancer (SuP4C) will take place this year from July 9-11 at the Event Site in Hood River, Oregon. In its fourth year, this is one of kiteboarding’s most well-attended and supported events in North America full of good vibes, good people, and good times, all for an excellent cause! The event will again feature a six-hour endurance race, live music, the Full Sail Brew Garden, Children’s Healing Art Project Lounge, raffle, and silent and live auctions. Due to feedback and popularity from last year, organizers have designated a separate day for the Standup Paddle (SuP) Races including endurance, relay, full contact, and blind monkey races, in addition to SuP demos and instructional clinics. New for 2010 is a call for art for a month-long citywide art show in Hood River from May 28 through July 11. Artists of all mediums are invited to submit up to three pieces via email which incorporate some aspect of the exhibit theme, “The healing power of wind and water” by May 10 and will be notified of acceptance results by May 15. KB4C is additionally starting survivorship camps this year for young adults age 18-40 with cancer. These camps aim to foster self-confidence and strengthen survivorship through kiteboarding, standup paddling, and other outdoor adventure skills. Last year, KB4C and SuP4Cancer raised $61,000 for regional cancer programs and has raised over $150,000 since its inception. This year’s beneficiaries include John Wayne Cancer Foundation, The Next Door’s Inc. (Hood River) Breast Cancer Prevention & Detection program, Children’s Healing Art Project, Child Life @ Children’s Hospital Seattle, and KB4C’s Survivorship Camps. For more info, see www.KB4C.org or [email protected].

oThER GoRGE EVEnTS ThIS SUMMER: • BridgeoftheGods:June18-20 • SliderJam:July15-17 • KB4Girls:Sept4

need


KB4C STEPS IT UP A noTChBy TKB Staff | Photos Katherine Kimball

The Children’s Healing Project (CHAP) brings the healing power of art to kids and their families in crisis with cancer.

SUP4Cancer will be held on the less windy forecasted day.

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More than 145 participants and hundreds of spectators turn out to paddle and kite for regional cancer programs.



Recently in California, the Coast Guard received a report of a kitesurfing kite in the water and immediately initiated a nine-hour searchmissioninvolvingtwo47-footmotorlifeboats and three helicopter sorties. Hours after suspending the search, the Coast Guard was able to track down the kiter. The kiter stated that he had gear failure and was being pulled out to sea when he cut himself free of the kite and began to swim to shore. He did not contact authorities (had a spotter friend on beach) as he was concerned about the possible costs he would incur if rescued. The Coast Guard wants kiters to know that all u.S. Coast Guard services are free of charge and that it’s important for all those who are in need of assistance to not hesitate to call the Coast Guard if they are in distress.

To assist the Coast Guard in similar cases, the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area command has initiated a program called Operation Paddle Smart which provides stickers to boaters for the purpose of identifying the owners of the equipment and assisting in the initial investigation of a possible search and rescue case. The Coast Guard strongly encourages all mariners, commercial and recreational, to report any and all lost gear to the Coast Guard be it a paddle, oars, sails, kites, safety equipment, etc. Also, it is helpful to put your name and contact information on any gear that may be lost overboard or in the surf. Once spotted, all of these items could lead to an exhaustive, and possibly unnecessary, search by the Coast Guard and local law enforcement officials. A prior report of the gear missing or identifying information on the gear can mean the difference between an effective search and rescue effort, a missing persons report, or simply, a way to return the gear to the rightful owner. Don’t abuse the service!

Seeing more girls riding at your local beach? While men are most definitely the main demographic in kiteboarding, there is no doubt that more women are getting into it. Helping to facilitate this effort are two women that have impacted our sport since the beginning, pro riders Kristin Boese and Tonia Farman. This year, Kirstin launched KB4Girls and is conducting clinics worldwide and Tonia just completed her Girls Clinics in La Ventana with more on the way. Their goalsaremutual:Tobringtogetherfemalekitersofallagesandlevelstohavefuntogetherand build kite-friendships and communities, to give tips and tricks that help girls improve their kiting easily, to educate about equipment and safety, and to possibly motivate more female kiteboarders to compete in national and international competitions.

For Kristin’s camp dates and locations, check out www.kb4girls.com. Tonia’s upcoming camps include Women’s SuP Baja Expeditions in September and October 2010, Advanced Kiteboarding Expedition in Peru in November 2010, Advanced Kiteboarding Camp in La Ventana, Baja Mexico, in February 2011, and a Beginner Kiteboarding Camp in La Ventana in March 2011. For more info, email her at [email protected]

GIRlS only, no BoyS AlloWEDBy Marina Chang | Photo courtesy KB4Girls

If you’ve ever been curious about the development of a product, what working in the kiteboarding industry is truly like, or the day-to-day life of a pro kiteboarder, now’s your chance to get a glimpse of the lifestyle through the eyes of Liquid Force kite designer and pro athlete Julien Fillion. Through his new “Waterman’s Profile” website which has been optimized for the latest web 3.0 features, you will able to follow Julien’s travels, via a global position system, as he searches for epic big wave surfing, kitesurfing, and and stand up paddle boarding destinations. You will also get sneak peeks of new kite designs that he is working on and testing in the field. You can follow Julien at http://julienfillion.com or subscribe to his RSS feed at http://julienfillion.com/?cat=3&feed=rss2


Julien pushes the limited kitesurfing lachine Rapids, a category four river in Canada.

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A DAy In ThE lIFE oF A PRo AThlETE AnD DESIGnER

By TKB Staff | Photo Corran Addison

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Girls having fun at the KB4Girls Australia

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how would you describe what you do at live2Kite and Deep Blue Sports? how is live2Kite different than other retail shops? Being part of both retail and distribution gives me the chance to understand what’s really important to both consumers and retailers. This way we can shape our products and offerings to better address what our customers need, and help our dealer network be more successful. Live2Kite is one of the few examples of a dot-com becoming a retail chain. Now with two large shops in Marin County and Alameda and a strong online presence, Live2Kite covers kiteboarding, snowkiting, stand up paddleboarding, and recently longboarding and apparel.

What did you do before working in the kite industry? I spent 15 years in business and supply chain consulting, focusing on high tech and retail verticals and worked on business transformation initiatives on Fortune 500 companies.

how did you end up working in the kiteboarding industry? Since I started kiteboarding with my wife in 1999, we always felt that our local area (San Francisco) was missing better products and better service around kiteboarding. There was a need to create a unique offering focusing on the kiters and their needs, instead of what’s good for the product companies. That’s how Live2Kite.com was created.

Why did you decide to become an importer/distributor as well as a shop? While North America had many brands already represented, some of the new school brands, which were tremendously successful in other parts of the world, were still missing. Four years ago Deep Blue Sports Distribution was created. Today Deep Blue Sports distributes some of the coolest windsport brands in 18 countries (Mystic Boarding, RRD kites and

boards, Brunotti boards, and more). Deep Blue Sports is rapidly becoming one of the most influential kiteboarding distribution companies in the uS.

What is your typical day at the office like? My daystartsaround6:30a.m.whenIcatchmyinternational suppliers and contacts and answer my first 20 to 30 emails to make sure factory ordering, sea/air shipments, and customs are on time. After two hours and four coffees it’s mostly taking care of our dealers, reps, pro-riders, and marketing. I am very fortunate to have an amazing team who loves the sport and what they do! Most of my days are 12-14 hours long, but there are always two hours here or there that I get to try new products or ride with friends at my local spots (under the Golden Gate Bridge at Crissy Field or at Stinson Beach). What do you see as the biggest challenge to the kiteboarding industry as a whole? Kiteboarding is still in its infancy. Maintaining the aggressive growth of the sport and managing it right will be important. There is tremendous potential but it will take time for the industry to mature and be considered mainstream which will bring the right recognition, media, sponsorships, and widespread exposure.

What advice do you have for someone that wants to work in the kite industry? If making your addiction becomes your job is your calling, don’t think twice. Kiteboarding is more of a family than an industry. Bring a positive attitude and very quickly your Facebook will be full with new friends and destinations to ride!

If you’ve ever dreamed about a board with your own graphic design, now’s your chance to put your graphic skills to the test. Nobile is looking for a new graphic for their 50Fifty twin tip. Get creative and crazy – the only design parameter is the graphic must use the Nobile logo and 50Fifty. Nobile’s “Pimp Your Board” promotion ends May 31 and the winner will receive a 50Fifty. www.nobilekiteboarding.com

KiteFix Solutions is proud to announce a new partnership with Best Kiteboarding. Now, all Best kites will come equipped with a repair kit supplied by KiteFix which will allow a rider to fix a canopy tear tear up to 12” long or make multiple bladder repairs, on the spot, and never miss another session. Ian Huschle, PresidentandCEOofBESTstated:“Wewantto do everything we can to make sure our customers get the most time and enjoyment possible on the water. So we’re extremely happy with the on-the beach repair solution offered by KiteFix. Naturally we hope our customers will never need it! But if they do, we know we’ve got them covered.”

In the April 2010 Five Family-Friendly Caribbean Vacations Feature, it was written that Dare2Fly was the only IKO center in Aruba. Xtreme Winds owners Helena and Ferndando Dulce just received their IKO Center status around press time, so now there are two IKO-affiliated schools on the island! www.xtremewinds.com

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SmackSmackCompany: Live2Kite Retail Stores /Deep Blue Sports Distribution (Mystic, RRD, Brunotti)Job Title: The Man in the Office Years in Industry: 9 Words of Wisdom: If you are up for working endless hours, being around the coolest people, and barely making a living, this is the best industry to be in! We love every moment of it. Years Kiteboarding: Since 1999 Kite: Whatever demo kite is still left at the shop! usually prototypes from last or next season. Right now I am riding the brand new RRD Religion kites since it’s all about waves this time of the year in California. Boards/Accessories: RRD Poison LTD 134, underground Freewave surfboard, RRD K-Race 50 Race board, Mystic Shadow Harness, Mystic Empire Wetsuit.

Evan Mavridoglou

Evan was all smiles at the Pismo Beach Kite and SUP expo. Photo Paul Lang


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Delta Driven in 2010! – quicker turning– quicker across-the-window– quicker relaunching

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WWW.OCEANEXTREMESPORTS.COM1-866-790-SURF

CKA CoMPlETES WEST CoAST CIRCUITBy Marina Chang | Photo James Ropner

The final stop of the CKA West Coast Collegiate Tour was held in early April in Santa Barbara, CA. Sunny skies and solid winds were expected and the forecast did not disappoint competing riders from five California-based colleges. For the wave competition, Patrick Rebstock claimed the victory with his heavy turns and aerial moves including air reverses, alley-oops, and stylish grabs while Kurt Miller followed closely on his heels due his impeccable unhooked forehand riding, wave selection, and overall style. Mikey Benaron came in third with consistent high wave scores followed by Reed Brady in fourth. The freestyle heats saw a fierce battle for first between Reed Brady of Cuesta and Patrick Rebstock of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In the end, Rebstock’s technicality and overall performance proved to win the judges over as he took first place in the finals. Thanks to IVKC (Zach Goepel), Cal Poly (Andy Crafts), uSD (Will Caldwell), Brian Walters, and Matt Sexton for hosting the West Coast tour events and making this circuit a reality. Keep your eyes and ears open for a West Coast CKA kite hangout day at Pismo Beach with kiting, drinking, food, and good times as well as an East Coast versus West Coast tour final to be held in Corpus Christi, TX, Hood River, OR, or Hatteras sometime before the end of June. www.collegiatekiteboarding.com

KoCh TAKES noRTh AMERICAn RACE TITlEBy Paul lang

The 2010 North American Kiteboarding Course Racing Championship was held this Spring in beautiful Bucerias, 20 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Championship was a part of the huge Regatta Copa Mexico, which was strongly supported by the local government as a way to kick start the area’s slumping tourism. unfortunately, the wind died for the last two days of the event, so only nine of the scheduled 12 races were completed. Most racers were using the latest kiteboarding course racing boards. These boards are so efficient that racing can realistically happen in anything over six knots of wind. The racing was very close, with only one point separating first place from third, but it was Adam Koch’s consistency that put him on top for the series for the men, with Steph Bridge leading the women. The kiteboarding awards ceremony was held concurrently with the ceremony for the MEXORC Regatta, a major sailboat regatta featuring some of the premier yachts in the sailboat racing world. Kiteboarding course racing may still be small, but it was a nice step forward to see it included in this large and prestigious sailing event. Many of the competitors used this event to train for the upcoming Kiteboarding Course Racing World Championship, which will have been completed in Corpus Christi, TX, by the time this issue hits newsstands. Check www.thekiteboarder.com for results.

cOmpS nA CoURSE RACInG RESUlTS:Men:1. Adam Koch, ozone2. Bruno Sroka, Cabrinha3. Damien leRoy, Cabrinha4. Sean Farley Gomez, north

Women:1. Steph Bridge, north2. Melissa Gil, Cabrinha3. Sandy Parker, RRD

CKA RESUlTS:Surf Results:1. Patrick Rebstock (Cal Poly)2. Kurt Miller (UCSB)3. Mikey Benaron (UCSB)4. Reed Brady (Cuesta)

Freestyle Results:1. Trey Sedalik2. luke nagashima3. Brandon Cordina4. Kurt Miller (UCSB)

Genetrix is proud to announce the North American

debut of two brand new kites: the 2010 Hydra V4

and the 2010 Origin. The Hydra V4 is our flat kite

concept proven on the European market

since 2004, the next generation of the

same kite that powered Sebastien

Cattelan when he shattered

the 50 knot barrier in 2008. The Origin is Genetrix’s

latest creation -- guaranteed to take your freestyle

to the next level.

Massive depowerHigh stability in strong windSingle point inflation systemWidest wind range on the marketNo middle strut, ultra flat and aerodynamic Sensational upwind abilityGreat low end powerHigh end Teijin canopy fabric construction

7m | 9m | 12m | 14m

Auto-relaunchSingle point inflation systemWide wind range and depowerQuick turning responsivenessMulti-point tuningHigh end Teijin canopy fabric construction

5m | 7m | 9m | 11m | 13m | 15m

Wave | Freestyle

High performance | Freeride

GENETRIXKITESURF.COMUS distributor ZoneXcess LLC (888) 250-7962

Rider: Sebastian CattelanPhoto: Rachid Roussafi

Join

us at the

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May 1st - 9th,

2010

http://www.oceanextremesports.com

Genetrix is proud to announce the North American

debut of two brand new kites: the 2010 Hydra V4

and the 2010 Origin. The Hydra V4 is our flat kite

concept proven on the European market

since 2004, the next generation of the

same kite that powered Sebastien

Cattelan when he shattered

the 50 knot barrier in 2008. The Origin is Genetrix’s

latest creation -- guaranteed to take your freestyle

to the next level.

Massive depowerHigh stability in strong windSingle point inflation systemWidest wind range on the marketNo middle strut, ultra flat and aerodynamic Sensational upwind abilityGreat low end powerHigh end Teijin canopy fabric construction

7m | 9m | 12m | 14m

Auto-relaunchSingle point inflation systemWide wind range and depowerQuick turning responsivenessMulti-point tuningHigh end Teijin canopy fabric construction

5m | 7m | 9m | 11m | 13m | 15m

Wave | Freestyle

High performance | Freeride

GENETRIXKITESURF.COMUS distributor ZoneXcess LLC (888) 250-7962

Rider: Sebastian CattelanPhoto: Rachid Roussafi

Join

us at the

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May 1st - 9th,

2010

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Is naish hawaii the retail store for naish International? naish Hawaii is not the retail store for naish international. We are a naish dealer with a large inventory of naish products, but also sell merchandise from other suppliers. We call our shop “the Original” as we started the business in 1979 when Robby was 15 years old. naish International was launched in 1994. the business was originally started in a warehouse focusing on building prototype, custom, and production windsurfing boards for mistral. equipment rentals and vacation packages were added to cover some of the overhead. naish custom t-shirts were added to the product line, and wholesaled to other retail shops. In 1982 the shop on Hamakua Drive was leased and the production and retail centers were separated. the shop expended its inventory and rental and lesson program. We have gone through many stages; at one time we had several shops and a factory here in Kailua which produced up to a thousand custom windsurfing boards annually.

When did you bring in kiteboarding and how did your windsurfing customers take to the new sport? In the late ‘90s many of the local windsurfers turned to kiting. We began building custom kiteboards here in the shop and designed many of the early naish production kiteboards. most of our employees jumped to kiteboarding on the light wind days, while still enjoying windsurfing in the more extreme conditions. In the windsurfing community there were mixed feelings. While many switched permanently to kiting, others stuck fiercely to windsurfing and the old camaraderie at the beach park ended. today the windsurfer group is small but still quite active.

naish launched its SUP program in 2009 and significantly expanded upon it in 2010. Do you see more riders gravitating toward SUP when the wind is light instead of kiting? We are finding that the sUP is a wonderful addition to the naish product

line for both our kite and windsurf customers. It is a new way to play on the water when the wind is too light (all too often!) for their other toys. It is also bringing in a new group of people to watersports.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing kite retailers? I’d say internet sales and cheap (and inferior) products flooding the market. no one wants to pay retail on a kite but they do want a full service shop when they have a problem. too often we have a person come in with a kite purchased on eBay or an online only shop asking if we can help show them how to rig their gear, fix it, or if they can exchange their kite for another as they got the wrong size. Internet shops get the sale for the kite while we get the sale for the tube of Aquaseal. so, we also have to have an internet shop to compete.

What is the kiteboarding scene like in your area? What make it special in your view? Oahu has many wonderful kiting areas. Kailua is ideal for beginner/intermediate riders with side-onshore winds, a sandy beach, and offshore reef. the north shore has much stronger wind. mokuleia has a good group of excellent kiters. When the wind shifts to “Kona,” the south shore is excellent with many good launch areas.

Any challenges facing your local riding area? the local, socially conscious kiteboarders have tried to work with the city and state to maintain access to the launching area at Kailua beach. they have developed rules for safe kiting on a mixed-use beach and have been allowed to post signage at the park. Our biggest challenges are the “hotshots” blazing through the swimmers area, jumping over people, and annoying the whole community.

What tips can you offer kiteboarders who want to learn your area? naish Hawaii offered kite lessons for several years but stopped when our insurance company of nearly 20 years dropped kiteboarding from our coverage. We refer our customers to reliable instructors who stress safe and responsible kiting.

Any other tips you want to share? stay in Kailua. there are plenty of cute apartments and cottages as well as mega-mansions, like President Obama rents when he visits the island. Live like the locals with great restaurants and shopping and enjoy our friendly community!

ShOp

talk

Cabrinha is pleased to announce the 2010 Cabrinha Race Series. In its fifth season, the series, hosted by the prestigious St. Francis Yacht Club, has established itself as ground zero for kiteboard

racing worldwide and has been a proven test ground for many competitor’s R&D regarding boards and fins. The 2010 Cabrinha Race Series will be held from April-September with thirteen scheduled nights of racing consisting on average of three races per evening. Signups can be handled online at www.stfyc.com. Prizes/awards, including trips to Brazil, Cabrinha gear, and the winner’s name on the prestigious perpetual trophy will be provided at the conclusion of the series. There are also miniseries consisting of four race nights each. At the conclusion of each, awards are provided and a free raffle is conducted. The Cabrinha Race Series is sponsored by the St. Francis Yacht Club, Ozone Travel, and Captain Kirk’s.

Need

Kailua Bay is a great place to kite – just stay out of the swimming zone!

Rick Naish (left) and Harold Iggy (Naish board shaper) cutting out a blank for a board.

Naish hawaii owners: Rick and Carol Naish

Manager: Rolly Naishwebsite: www.naish.com/history.html

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Photos: www.jdphotofairy.com

http://www.naish.com/history.html



SmackSmack

http://www.eclipsekites.com

lEttErS

What Our readers Have To Say

RIPPINg AT 66I’d like to enter a picture of my wife, Janie Fuller, which was taken this March in South Padre Island, TX at the North Flats. In this photo she’s riding a 5m North Rebel. Janie is soon to be 66 years old and rips on both flat water and in the waves. She would be so STOKED to be in your excellent magazine.

Warren Fuller

Warren, thanks for sending us the photo. We love to see people of all ages getting out on the water and having a good time. Tell your wife to turn to page 86. –Ed.

Got somthing on your mind? Submit your letter and you could win a killer t-shirt from Windcult Kiteboarding!

E-MAIl [email protected]

lEttEr Of thE mOnth


We are convinced that Dimitri Maramenides travels around the world looking for things to jump over. Photo Helen Trotman

PILoT, TuRN SouTHI’m reading your latest mag while flying over the Rockies on the way to a week of snowboarding with my oldest pals. Your mag makes me want to tell the pilot to turn south for a kite trip instead. Hey, in the back of the magazine under dealer listings we aren’t listed. Would you mind including us please?

Thanks,Dave Nunn, Windance Boardshop

Dave, in these times of heightened airline security, we would suggest not making any demands on the pilots, even if you can see whitecaps on the water below. We’ll add you to the directory, and if there are any shops out there that we are missing, please let us know! -Ed.

LIgHT WIND ReCoMMeNDATIoNSDear TKB, I live in Florida and have been kiting for a little over a year. Most of the time the wind is very light here. I am looking for a good light wind kite and board. What would you recommend for an intermediate kiter who weighs about 190 pounds? Will you be doing any stories on light wind kiting equipment? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,Geoff B

Geoff, it’s been our experience that the secret to light wind riding is not in the kite, but in the board. As long as you have a kite in the 14-16m range, you can make it work in truly bottom-of-the-barrel conditions with the right board. Wide boards with very little rocker and relatively straight rails seem to work best on both directionals and twin-tips for the light stuff. We’ve been really impressed with the light wind potential of race boards, as they can get you upwind in as little as six knots of wind. –Ed



http://www.muvon.us


’ve lived on the Central Coast of California, home of the annual Pismo Beach Expo, since 1986 and have chased the wind for the last

fifteen years. The prime kiteboarding season for the Central Coast typically kicks off in January and runs through June with March, April, and May serving up the most windy days. In the past three years, March has delivered twenty to twenty-five riding days, but this year, many say due to El Nino, we only got eighteen. Unfortunately, three of the windless days fell on the weekend of the Eighth Annual Pismo Beach Kite and SUP Expo, March 19-21.

With 21 exhibitors and a forecast that was changing daily, more than 200 riders still showed up in hopes that the wind gods would show mercy and bring kiting weather. Good vibes prevailed as although riders did not get the wind they had hoped for, they did get to try out the newest SUP boards from Global Surf Industries (GSI), Naish, RRD, and Amundson. Others walked the event site to check out the new gear and talk to industry reps.

Jack Moore, a new kiter from Ventura, came up with a group of 30 kiters from his area, all of whom stayed at

the local campground. He said although the forecast was not good, they were still stoked to go to Pismo for the opportunity to spend time with friends and family, check out the new gear, and be involved in an event for something that they all love. In the market for new kites and a board, Jack spoke with several brands and due to the advice from friends, his own research, and availability of local retailer support, went with Best and Underground for his next set up. “Kinsley (founder of the event) was extremely helpful to me and I cannot say enough about what a great guy he is. His stoke for the sport and positive energy was very influential when making my final decision on what gear I would get for this season.”

Ty Brewer from Monterey was the lucky winner of a SU2 twin tip at the raffle held during the Saturday night BBQ and bonfire sponsored by Monster Energy and the Central Coast Collegiate Kiteboarding Club. Stoked, as he had come to the Expo to find an upgrade to his first beginner board, Ty found the event valuable even though he didn’t get a chance to ride anything.

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By Marina Chang | Photos Paul Lang

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Thanks to the following brands for supporting the Pismo Beach Kite and SuP expo:Airush (repped by Murrays retailer), Best, Caution, Cabrinha, Epic, F-One, Firewire Surfboards, Genetrix, Global Surf Industries, Hyperflex, HQ Kites, Kitegearboxx.com, EH Kiteboarding (repped by Kitegearboxx and Seven Sins Kiteboarding retailers), Liquid Force, Mystic, Naish, North, Ocean Rodeo, RRD, Surf Shades, Slingshot, SU2 Kiteboards, Underground, Wainman Hawaii (repped by Kite Naked retailer)

Ty said, “Just the opportunity to talk directly to industry reps about gear is almost as invaluable as trying it out. Of course, we all wanted to ride as well but the opportunity to see and compare so many brands in one place, talk directly to brand representatives, and get questions answered on the spot, as well as hanging out with friends and maybe meeting some new ones is what made me trek down south.” Ty almost won himself another board from Liquid Force the following day. For the final raffle, LF Brand Manager Gary Siskar along with rep Gregg Gnecco came up with a great idea. Instead of drawing a winning ticket for a board, three tickets were drawn and those winners competed by pumping up three 12m Liquid Force kites. Unfortunately, Ty got a little too eager and broke his kite pump, clearing the way for another lucky winner to take home the prize.

The Pismo Beach Kite and SUP Expo is a good event that we hope keeps growing with the support of the industry and riders. Even if the forecast is not favorable, there is still SUP gear to try and you have the chance to talk directly with industry reps and see new innovations and changes made to existing products. Next year, organizers hope to add trainer kite clinics for those interested in getting into the sport, more pro rider clinics, a possible board building clinic, and jet skis to test boards out in case of light winds. Be sure to check out www.thekiteboarder.com for the latest updates or become a fan of our Pismo Beach Kite and SUP Expo page or become a fan of The Kiteboarder on Facebook.

Of course, as luck would have it, the wind made an appearance the day after the event was over, giving those who stayed in town an extra day a nice reward for their patience. This year’s weather at the Expo was just further proof that you can’t force the weather to do what you want it to. All you can do it stay flexible and positive while hoping for the best!

Special thanks to Kinsley ThomasWong, Jamie Thomas Wong, and their family for all their help and support of this event; Andy Crafts, Ben Icard, and the Central Coast Collegiate Kiteboarding Club for helping with set up and providing an excellent BBQ and entertainment on the bonfire Saturday night; Peter Dohi for the bonfire wood; Luv2Camp rentals for the event site registration trailer; Stacked Sandwiches for staff food; the City of Pismo Beach; Elemental Herbs and Monster Energy for sponsoring the Collegiate BBQ fundraiser.

grand Prize Raffle Winners: • LFBoard:StormDunker,AlisaViejo • UndergroundBoard:MarkoBartscherer, San Diego • SU2Board:TyBrewer,Monterey

even though the wind didn’t blow, hundreds of riders from all over the West Coast still showed up to see the latest gear and take home a few raffle prizes.

PISMo eXPoDELIVERSADAYLATER

of course, the wind blew the day after the expo ended!


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1. Brendan Richards and the infamous Secret Agent. Photo Paul lang2. No Whining! Just Kite! We like it! Photo Paul lang3. This crew of competitors at the North American Kiteboard

Course Racing Championships represents the top level of kiteboard racing. Photo Paul lang

4. underground’s Adrian Roper shows Will Hise and John Cuchna his latest boards at the Pismo Kite Expo. Photo Paul lang

5. The Bay Area Kitesurf crew still managed to have a good time at the Pismo Kite Expo, despite the lack of wind. Photo Paul lang

6. Pismo’s cold nights kept everyone close to the fire on Saturday night. Photo Paul lang

7. The CKA kids got a little creative with this pole at the Pismo Kite Expo. Photo Paul lang

8. “Scuba Steve” Brady made an appearance at the CKA Santa Barbara after party. Photo Zach Goepel

9. Raquel Arroyo gets a little help bringing her gear upwind after the wind shut down in Puerto Vallarta. Photo Paul lang

10. When it’s blowing 40 knots at Rufus in the Gorge, the best place to be is hiding behind the truck. Photo Carol Bolstad

11. Alexis Rovira takes a break while snowkiting on a frozen lake in upstate New York. Photo Ginette Buffone

12. These kites are definitely safe from being stolen. Photo Paul lang

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18. Gary Siskar enjoying his luxury accommodations on the Liquid Force RV during the LF Pure Fun Tour. Photo nils Knoop

19. This group had a blast in La Ventana at Tonia Farman’s All-Girls Baja Kite Camp. Photo Cascade Kiteboarding

20. The Liquid Force crew enjoys the high life after the Kite Expo. The Miller High Life that is! Photo nils Knoop

21. The end of another beautiful day spent on the water. Photo Paul lang22. Dimitri Maramenides and Helen Trotman, now happily married.

Photo Courtesy Mr. and Mrs. MaramenidesIf you have a photo that you would like featured in

The Kiteboarder Magazine, please e-mail [email protected]

13. Bruno Sroka shows off his winnings from his second place finish in the North American Kiteboard Course Racing Championships. Photo Paul lang

14. The Kite Naked crew in front of the Rabbit hole at the Pismo Kite Expo. Photo Paul lang

15. Dimitri Maramenides scores one last session as a single man just two hours before his wedding. Photo helen Trotman

16. Carol Bolstad shows just how much fun you can have wakesurfing. Photo Tony Bolstad

17. Gilo Fernandez had an old and torn Slingshot Fuel, so he made a sick pair of board shorts out of them. Photo Paul lang

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ContingenCyCollegeThe



ContingenCyhere is no getting around the fact that right now the average kiteboarder is a middle-aged male. Kiteboarding, while not extremely difficult to learn, has a relatively high cost to get started, and that has been keeping a certain youthful

element from taking hold in kiteboarding for years. However, there is a movement in this country right now that is working hard to change that and to expose kiteboarding to a new younger crowd. That movement is the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association (CKA), and the main person behind the start of it is Matt Sexton, a student at Eckerd College in Florida.

The CKA has grown to now include Collegiate Kiteboarding Clubs at 25 schools around the country and there are CKA events on both the east and west coasts. In the U.S., the CKA is the only kiteboarding tour in the country and is responsible for getting hundreds of college-aged people started in kiteboarding. CKA events have a reputation for being a good time, no matter what the weather delivers. In Florida, a cold spell caused organizers to bring in artificial snow and hold that state’s first snowkiting event, while in San Diego, a lack of wind turned the event into an impromptu surf contest followed by riding a beachfront artificial wave. We like what’s going on with the CKA, and so TKB sat down with Matt Sexton to let him talk about how it all started and where the CKA is heading.

the Matt Sexton Interview

TCollege

By Paul Lang

Matt Sexton, who will be graduating from college himself about the time this issue is in print, is the main man behind the creation of the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association. Photo Dallas McMahon



How did you start kiteboarding? Why did you want to do it? I grew up wakeboarding, sailing, and windsurfing. Kiting was something that I thought would take the best aspects of all these sports and combine them into one activity. Long Island Sound, where I grew up, wasn’t exactly a kiteboarders paradise. When I was sixteen, my grandmother hooked me up with a kite lesson in Delray Beach, Florida, from a local instructor who happened to be Andy Defilippis from Transcend Apparel. I was up and riding my first day and then moved back up north for a few years. When I turned 20, I enrolled at Eckerd College in Saint Petersburg and drove south in a Ford Bronco with three wakeboards and a kite. Truthfully, I was more interested in wakeboarding than kiting, but when I met locals like Billy Parker and Alex Fox and saw what was possible with a kite, that was all I did from then on.

What made you want to start a kiteboarding club at eckerd? I had some money after working at a sailing school up north for a couple years, so I was able to afford a kite and a board, but I didn’t want to enjoy the sport alone. I taught a few friends from Eckerd the basics and then they went and got legit lessons, but I was still the only one with gear and it was getting trashed quickly. During freshman orientation, I heard about a student-governed clubs program that could provide funds and an infrastructure for activities that weren’t readily available at the school. I wrote a constitution, applied for some funds, and by spring we were chartered and could afford a full quiver of kites. The original crew was just myself, Oli Berlic, Alex Moore, and Chase Kosterlitz and it has grown to now include more than 50 students.

What is your local kiteboarding scene like? It’s the sh*t. Saint Pete and the people that kite here made it possible for me to get into the sport so quickly and helped me and my friends progress. Within a fifteen minute drive you can ride any wind direction and have a choice between waves and downwinders or butter-flat waist-deep water. Saint Pete/Tampa has one of the biggest local kite scenes out of anywhere in the U.S. There are dozens of places to ride and people do a pretty good job of self-regulating the scene. On top of all that, the skill level of the average rider here is through the roof and we have McCormick’s Cable Park right inside Tampa to cross train when the wind is off. The scene is definitely on the older side, but most of my friends here that are wakeboarders have started to pick up kiting and we are starting to see a lot more of the younger crowd pushing the freestyle/wakestye type of riding.


Matt focuses on the rail at the SCK compound in Corpus Christi. Photo Dallas McMahon


Was it difficult to get the school to be approving of kiteboarding? Yes and no. Eckerd is a small liberal arts school with a developed waterfront program and the only Coast Guard-approved collegiate Search and Rescue program in the country. They’re no strangers to liability and have a very good risk management department that has helped us with red tape on more than one occasion. However, getting the funding was much trickier. It’s hard to explain to a person sitting at a desk in an office why they should give us several thousand dollars just to have enough equipment for three to five people.

Tell us about Triton Watersports. What did it start as and what has it grown into? It was something that just came to be out of necessity. We had a long list of people that wanted to learn to kite, but our local kite school had disbanded and there was a high demand for certified instruction. I had previously helped manage one of the largest youth sailing programs in the country, so I took the infrastructure from that and reformed it to be suitable for kiting. I and six other friends got certified by Christophe Ribot from IKO and a few of us also got PASA certifications from Paul Menta. We taught about 75 lessons in our first season and have fluctuated up and down from that number since. Teaching kiting after a year really burns you out though and you start to see how many sessions you lost because you were trying to make a buck, so we turned the main focus of the company into event and media production and used it to help found the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association. We still teach lessons today and we pride ourselves in having an awesome lineup of certified and insured kiters that instruct, but we prefer to continue helping to develop the sport through other channels.

What else are you involved in outside of kiteboarding? A lot. Eckerd allowed me to develop a non-conventional major that was more relevant to what I was trying to accomplish by going to school. I’ll be graduating in May with a degree in Culture and Entrepreneurial Processes. That still sounds funny to me, but I focused a lot on social entrepreneurship and developing culture within the business realm. At the moment I’m working on a sustainable art project that we’re hoping to develop into its own brand and I’ve got a few other socially-oriented projects that will hopefully keep paying the bills after I graduate. In addition to all that, I also wakeboard, surf, snowboard, and paddleboard as much as possible.

How did you form the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association? Did you have any idea that it would grow into what it is now? Definitely not. The first ever CKA National Championships was held on Smathers Beach in Key West during Spring Break 2007. We had riders from two schools and alumni from another five to help fill out the brackets. Next thing I knew, emails were flooding my inbox

about how to get involved with the CKA and how to form a college club. We had no significant financial sponsorships and everything was done and paid for in house. If we needed event insurance and the school couldn’t get it, we taught a few kite lessons and paid for it. If we needed some video or graphic design work we called up Ben Sampson and Paul Sheetz who were video and graphic design students at FSU and USF. Everyone pulled their own weight and helped make things happen. Now that things have grown nationwide, we’ve had to do a lot to beef up our legitimacy. We’ve formed the CKA as its own legal LLC and we’ve started writing some sponsorship proposals to help the tour grow into what it should be. It’s not fair to say that I formed the Collegiate Kiteboarding Association because too many people were involved in making it happen. I just helped bring everyone together and figured out how to get the bills paid.

The CKA is currently the only kiteboarding tour in the uS. Why do you think that is? Why aren’t there more kiteboarding events and competitions in this country? It’s a sticky situation. Every event we throw has to be permitted and insured. We definitely pulled off some ghetto things back in the day, but now things have to be 100% legit. The fact that the CKA is not about money and sponsorships to the riders is what makes it possible right now. People come out for fun and for bragging rights, not for a prize purse or to be seen. Most of the events that are going on around the country right now are usually being thrown by a shop or some local riders who want to promote their scene or some sort of cause. It’s great that they’re taking the initiative and the events are fun as hell, but the days of traveling to an event, paying an $80-$100 dollar entry fee and then getting a pat on the back or a store credit when you finish on the podium need to end. The U.S. is so preoccupied with liability and permitting that it makes it so difficult to throw a legit event that really makes the sport look good. I think as we get out of this recession and some more out-of-industry corporate sponsors start bringing money to the table, things will change and we’ll see a huge rejuvenation in the U.S. kiteboarding scene.

How many schools now have college kiteboarding clubs?There are roughly 25 clubs right now that are founded and actively developing, and we’re getting inquiries on a regular basis for people trying to start up more. It’s the best way possible to start to establish a national infrastructure for the sport and I love watching it grow.

Do you see the CKA as being able to grow into a uS national kiteboarding tour for riders outside of college students? Absolutely. The whole PKRA, KPWT, and IKA thing is great and internationally they are the driving forces for our sport, but it’s just not practical for 90% of kiteboarding participants to travel around


The first CKA event was held in Florida in 2007, but the CKA has grown to include events on both coasts, like this one in San Diego. Photo Paul lang

Matt charges at Rufus in the Gorge. Photo Paul lang


the world and participate. The CKA right now is the only association in the U.S. that is trying to help riders progress to a competitive level. If we can get the right team together and create a solid U.S. pro-am style tour, I guarantee that the CKA will be one of the primary feeder programs for it. The CKA won’t grow into it itself though; it needs to be created on its own and they can help build each other.

Do you think there should be some form of national organization focused on preserving access and developing instruction, or is maintaining access strictly a local issue that doesn’t need meddling from another group of people? That’s a tough subject. I like the idea of PASA and IKO, but as far as their credibility goes I find very little. Granted, I’m a level two instructor for both organizations, but I no longer renew my memberships and I don’t intend to. US Sailing is a great national organization with a very developed instructional program. When I became a sailing instructor with them I was instantly backed with $1,000,000 in liability coverage through their organization. The course was $600 and the coverage was included so long as I kept my membership up to date. I paid very similar amounts for my kiting certificates but on top of that I have to pay annual insurance premiums that are around a thousand dollars that don’t even require that I have the certificate in the first place. I think that if a national organization is to be founded then it needs to be done in a selfless and highly developed manner that includes a good teaching infrastructure and an included liability policy. At the moment, nothing like this exists that is really effective, therefore self-policing is a must. People need to be a bit more proactive about it though. Often times the more experienced riders are the ones that freak people out and raise the red flags to people on the beach, however these are usually the hardest people to confront. If you see somebody jeopardizing your local spot you need to do something about it or be ready to find someplace new to ride, because it will get banned. Take the recent closure of kiteboarding at Hobie Beach, Miami, as a perfect example.

How effective are college clubs in getting people into kiteboarding? At the moment, not as effective as I’d like to see them. There’s a huge barrier to entry with the sport of kiteboarding. Generally speaking, you need to have money, you need to have an ideal location, and you need to have someone who knows what they’re doing and are willing to take the time to teach you. The clubs do an amazing job of exposing the sport to a previously unknown audience, but we’re still working on more efficient ways to help people start participating.

Having seen so many people pick up the sport, what do think are the problems that hold people back from learning to kiteboard? Money and accessibility. Realistically if you come to our school we could get you set up with a mid-low grade kite, board, harness, and a couple hours of lessons for around $2000. To the average person, that’s ridiculously expensive. Within the industry, that’s a great deal since some complete kites are retailing at almost the same price, but that’s keeping many people out of the sport.

When you show up to the average kiteboarding beach, it’s obvious that the average kiteboarder is a middle-aged male. What do you think needs to happen to get more young people into kiteboarding? Companies need to offer more entry level packages that don’t go obsolete once a rider starts wanting to progress. You can get some sick SLE and hybrid kites that are great for learning, but once you want to unhook or learn some freestyle they’re garbage. That needs to change and it’s apparent that it already somewhat has, but


The CKA right now is the only association in the U.S. that is trying to help riders progress to a competitive level.

“

Matt Sexton and Zach Kleppe scout the flats in Corpus Christi for a good place to put the rail. Photo Dallas McMahon

Smile, you’re in the Gorge!Photo Paul lang

”



the image of the sport needs to change as well. There needs to be a much higher rate of mainstream exposure and the image of the sport needs to look a lot cooler.

What is keeping the sport from looking cool in your opinion? How do people in other sports perceive kiteboarders? How do you think we can get more mainstream exposure for the sport? There are a few different things that come to mind. Moto-X wasn’t the multi-million dollar industry that it is today back when it was guys just cruising around the track trying to finish first. Once guys started throwing super high risk, massive jumps with all sorts of variations of tricks, stadiums started getting filled. Just look at the Nuclear Cowboys tour now, it’s a ridiculous spectacle that is just pumping money back into the Moto-X scene. We need competitions and events that are more geared towards public exposure with a really crowd-appealing format, not a bunch of guys cruising around some buoys with seven-foot long boards. Secondly, the perception that we’re giving the general public and participants of other sports right now is so outdated. To think that kiting has barely been a sport for ten years is mind blowing. The advancements between 2005 and 2010 kites is huge, yet the majority of the movies and the styles of riding that people are seeing is the same thing that was prevalent in the earliest years of the sport. More people need to start taking the initiative to broadcast the sport for the masses for the purpose of exposing the cool parts of the sport, not to promote themselves and the whole “look what I can do” mentality. I’m working with some friends right now to put together a really well-rounded full-length movie that we’re hoping to drop in the next year or two that will show exactly what I’m talking about; some gnarly, provocative sh*t that will keep people pressing play time and time again. Lastly, general media in the U.S. for the most part has no idea what kiteboarding is. When I studied in Spain and mentioned to a local in the land-locked town of Salamanca that I was a kiteboarder, he was blown away and told me I should go to Tarifa. He had never seen the sport first

hand, but it looked very cool on TV and in the newspapers. I mention that I’m a kiteboarder to someone in the same scenario here in the U.S. and they can’t even grasp the concept. I’m either labeled as a windsurfer or some sort of paraglider/sailor. I’m tired of that.

Where do you think kiteboarding is heading right now? What do you think of the course racing movement? I have mixed feelings. Course racing is something that is cool for the people that are into it, but at the moment it’s becoming more of a tech race than a skill race. I always thought that one– design racing in sailing and windsurfing was cool, because at the end of the race you really knew who the most skilled racer was because everyone was using the same equipment. Course racing is all over the map right now in terms of gear and for that reason I find very little credibility in it. I also don’t like the fact that people are so obsessed with having kiteboarding be accepted by already-established sports. Kiteboarding is not sailing or wakeboarding. It’s an extension of them for sure, but the fact that course racing could get into the Olympics before a well-formatted freestyle competition is bullsh*t to me. I guarantee that if you take a pro wakeboarder, sailor, or surfer and show them how we’re trying to emulate their sport they might think it’s cool and maybe even flattering, but show that same person a megaloop in 40 knots and it’ll drop their jaw. The sport needs to become more well-rounded and then it will develop its own identity. Until then everyone’s just going to keep trying to make it look like something else.

What are your kiteboarding plans for the near future? Pretty extensive, I want to experience everything that the sport has to offer and I want to continue to help it grow. I currently have some pretty good support from the industry and would like to use those relationships to travel and keep doing things that I haven’t experienced yet. I tried snowkiting last year and that was some of the most fun I’ve ever had, but I really want to get some sessions in good clean big waves, and spend more time on different kinds of kickers and sliders behind the kite. The most important thing to me is to keep having fun and spreadin’ the love of the sport.

Is there anyone you would like to give shout-outs to? There are so many people: Neil Hutchinson, Young Hobbs, Oli B, Shmoore, Young Fox, Fred Abington, BP, all the CKA homies, Slingshot, Dakine, Otherside Boardsports, McCormicks Cable Park, and The Kiteboarder. I couldn’t have done anything without those people.

For more information on the CKA, check out http://www.collegiatekiteboarding.org/ or http://www.facebook.com/pages/CKA-Collegiate-Kiteboarding-Association/19527070125

Matt is a great organizer, but he can still get on the water and throw down with the best of them. Photo Paul lang



Formerly a competitive wakeboarder, Tommy Fields began kiteboarding just three years ago, moving from Indiana to Islamorada in 2008 to train. last fall, he spent three months training in Brazil and competed in his first KPWT event, finishing 17th. now a student at the University of Miami, Tommy has been spending his time pushing his freestyle riding.

When, where, and why did you start kiteboarding? Before I started kiteboarding, I wakeboarded for seven years and competed on the INT tour. One summer when I was learning more difficult moves, I got hurt a lot, and kept having to go to the doctor for my ankles and wrists. Then, I saw people kiteboarding on Lake Superior in Michigan, and decided that it was the sport for me.

have any other sports or disciplines helped influence your kiteboarding? I get a lot of influence from my wakeboarding background, but I also get a lot of new ideas from watching snowboarding videos too. Sure, it may not be exactly the same, but watching wakeboarding and snowboarding videos gives me new ideas that I can start with and then add my own style to.

What do most wakeboarders think about kiteboarding? A lot of my friends think that it’s really cool because of all of the different possibilities. Instead of being stuck in a pond you can go out in the ocean and ride all sorts of conditions, from butter-flat lagoons to big waves. Almost everyone that I’ve talked to has said that they really want to learn.

What standout features do you most appreciate about your current gear? I really like the fifth-line set-up on the new bar. The fifth-line is attached to a ring that is through the chicken loop, so when you are trying handle passes and crashing, the leash acts like a suicide leash. If you need to release to the fifth-line to completely depower the kite, all you have to do is pull the quick release on the chicken loop. It can also be set up to depower to the fifth-line straight away if you feel safer doing so. I also really like the way the new Vegas feels on the freestyle setting

What do you think can be done to draw more young riders into kiteboarding? I think to draw

By Paul lang

Tommy Fields clOSE-upAGE: 18 hEIGhT: 5’ 9” WEIGhT: 145 yEARS KITInG: 3FAVoRITE SPoTS: Taiba Lagoon, Tigertail Beach, Hood RiverFAVoRITE ConDITIonS: Warm flat water and 10m windFAVoRITE MoVES: Front Mobe to Blind and Switch Back Mobe to WrappedSPonSoRS: North Kiteboarding, Anarchy Optics, Ion Essentials, Backdrop Wake, and Sharkless Boardsports

GEAR SET-UP BoARDS: North 131 Team Series KITES: North VegaslInES: 25m for everyday freestyle and 20m for kiteloops hARnESS: North Styler

Miami, where they did nothing but tell me that my nose was broken, and that it needed to be fixed. My advice when learning new moves is to stay within your comfort zone and once you get the movement down you can start adding power and style.

What is your most memorable kiteboarding experience? My most memorable experience was riding in the Taiba lagoon for the first time last September. When I first heard about kiteboarding, I watched tons of videos of riders from Brazil that got me hooked. I knew that I had to go and ride the lagoons for myself. Spending three months in Brazil last fall was an amazing experience that was full of great times with friends. I progressed a lot, and had some crazy experiences along the way. Some nights were spent chasing donkeys, another with our buggy going up in flames, and one involved our car being impounded by the military police. Every day in Brazil brought fun new experiences.

What are your must-haves that you can’t live without? Without my Macbook Pro I’d be dead. No Internet, Dreamweaver, or Photoshop, and life would be over. I’m not very good with cold weather either, so I count on my wetsuits to keep me warm.

Any words of wisdom you want to share with our readers? Anything can become a reality. You can do whatever you set your mind to, so don’t let doubts or things that other people say hold you back. You can achieve anything as long as you set your mind to it, and just because it’s not the accepted path of life or the common thing to do doesn’t matter as long as you know that that’s what you want to do with your life.

more riders into the sport we need to push more contests for younger riders. The CKA contest tour has done a great job in promoting kiteboarding to college kids in Florida and now California, and hopefully one day it will expand to other states as well and the contests will become more organized. Also, putting on demos that have support from out-of-industry sponsors will also help generate interest. If we have a demo/beach party sponsored by Red Bull or some major non-kiteboarding company, tons of people will come and be introduced to our sport that otherwise wouldn’t know about kiteboarding.

What do you think about competitions? I really like doing competitions because of the atmosphere and getting to ride with and meet new people. I competed on my first KPWT stop when I was in Brazil last fall and had a lot of fun. I definitely want to do more KPWT or PKRA events in the next few months.

What is something about you that you do outside of kiteboarding that most people wouldn’t know? I just started college at the university of Miami in the Business program, and it’s been a really fun experience so far. Miami is unlike anywhere else in the world, and I’ve met a ton of really cool people from all over the world. There’ve been a lot of crazy nights down here in Miami as well.

What is your worst wipe out/scariest kiteboarding experience? When I was learning slim chances in the Florida Keys, I broke my nose and ended up having to fly home to Indiana to get it fixed. The wind was pretty light and I was underpowered on a 13m, and I came down and hit my nose with my knee. I rode in covered in blood and went to the hospital in

Before he started kiting, Tommy competed on the InT wakeboarding tour. Photo Dave Tran

Tommy spent three months last fall training in Brazil, and it looks like the time paid off. Photo Dave Tran

Wingscorpus christi

Waves+Whether you are up for an adrenaline rush or

a warm wade in the gentle gulf surf, Corpus

Christi has the beaches plus a whole lot more.

Our surf is home to both outdoor enthusiasts and

fresh from the gulf seafood. Build a sandcastle, collect

seashells or just lay back and read a book. Load your

family and friends into the car and take the short drive

to Corpus Christi, “The National Beach of Texas.”

UPPERVisitCorpusChristiTx.org

Dolphins + Decks•The Texas State Aquarium is home to Dolphin Bay, an active exhibit that’s fun for visitors of all ages.• The USS Lexington is an interactive history lesson on The Greatest Genera-tion. Walk the decks and relive the past.

Fins + Feathers•The bays, lagunas and gulf waters that surround Cor-pus Christi are home to the best fishing in our country. Wet your line and taste the freshness.• There are more than 500 species of migratory birds that commute through Cor-pus Christi throughout the year. We’ve been named “America’s Birdiest City” year after year.

Kayaks + Kites• Experience the quiet solitude of paddling a kayak through the back bays, that surround Corpus Christi. Marvel at the wildlife that calls South Texas home.• Fly high on a kiteboard and find out why Corpus Christi is the home to surfing, kiteboarding and windsurfing competitions throughout the year.

+ ++

1.800.766.BEACH (2322)

Text ‘BEACH’ to 41513

1. Always make sure that the water’s deep enough and there aren’t any hidden rocks or other things underwater before doing tricks.

2. The key to improving is not only just riding everyday. Doing things outside of kiteboarding such as wakeboarding and working out will make everything much easier.

3. Always fully commit when you are learning new tricks. If you visualize how to do the trick in your head and then fully go for it, you will progress a lot faster.

4. Remember that kiteboarding is about having fun. If you’re not enjoying yourself, take a break and come back later.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqHs3rDbYY8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqHs3rDbYY8&feature=related



Wingscorpus christi

Waves+Whether you are up for an adrenaline rush or

a warm wade in the gentle gulf surf, Corpus

Christi has the beaches plus a whole lot more.

Our surf is home to both outdoor enthusiasts and

fresh from the gulf seafood. Build a sandcastle, collect

seashells or just lay back and read a book. Load your

family and friends into the car and take the short drive

to Corpus Christi, “The National Beach of Texas.”

UPPERVisitCorpusChristiTx.org

Dolphins + Decks•The Texas State Aquarium is home to Dolphin Bay, an active exhibit that’s fun for visitors of all ages.• The USS Lexington is an interactive history lesson on The Greatest Genera-tion. Walk the decks and relive the past.

Fins + Feathers•The bays, lagunas and gulf waters that surround Cor-pus Christi are home to the best fishing in our country. Wet your line and taste the freshness.• There are more than 500 species of migratory birds that commute through Cor-pus Christi throughout the year. We’ve been named “America’s Birdiest City” year after year.

Kayaks + Kites• Experience the quiet solitude of paddling a kayak through the back bays, that surround Corpus Christi. Marvel at the wildlife that calls South Texas home.• Fly high on a kiteboard and find out why Corpus Christi is the home to surfing, kiteboarding and windsurfing competitions throughout the year.

+ ++

1.800.766.BEACH (2322)

Text ‘BEACH’ to 41513

http://www.visitcorpuschristitx.org


By TKB Staff

What is something about you that you do outside of kiteboarding that most people wouldn’t know? I went to school for Geology, and I love analyzing rocks. Also, I now work as a deckhand on a 120’ motor yacht during the off season. What is your worst wipe out/scariest kiteboarding experience? When I was learning the s-bend to blind, I got the leash wrapped around my neck and it pulled me underwater for a bit before spinning me out. Luckily, I was fine besides a nasty burn on my neck that looked a lot worse than it was. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the kiteboarding industry? The biggest challenge will be getting everybody working together for the progression of the sport, and not simply for personal gain, which in the end would be beneficial to everyone. What is your most memorable kiteboarding experience? That would have to be coming home after two years of traveling and kiting at my local spot with all the guys who inspired me to get into this amazing sport. What are your must-haves that you can’t live without? Movies and chocolate! My laptop is pretty important too.

Any words of wisdom you want to share with our readers? Don’t forget to enjoy the sport, whether it’s your first lesson or your hundredth failed attempt at the same trick! Be kind to your fellow kiter, you never know when you may need a hand or launch.

originally from Buffalo new york, Kris Kinn has been kiting for five years. For the past three years, she has been traveling the word teaching kiteboarding and training, and last year she was the only female from the U.S. to compete on the KPWT tour, finishing second overall. When, where, and why did you start kiteboarding? I was first introduced to the sport in 1999 when a group of my windsurfing friends from Buffalo were teaching themselves, but I never had the opportunity to learn until the summer of 2005. I just thought it looked so amazing and powerful, plus all the guys were doing it, so I had to try. After I started flying kites with my good friend and local shop owner Bill Myers, I was hooked! He took me down the East Coast to Dewey Beach and Cape Hatteras where I did my first downwinder at Planet of the Apes.

have any other sports or disciplines helped influence your kiteboarding? Definitely. I was a gymnast until I was fifteen and I also competed on the diving team in high school and college, so I think I’m very comfortable rotating in the air, and I’m not afraid to crash. I also loved to snowboard and wakeboard before I started kiting. What standout features do you most appreciate about your current gear? The 2010 Waroos go upwind like crazy and will be amazing kites for racing this year! The Yargas are simple four-line C-kites that rip for freestyle. They are so stable!

What do you do off the water to help you on the water? I do Pilates and yoga, which work very well because you can do them anywhere. I also love to have a gym for free weight training, but most of the time that isn’t an option when I’m traveling so much.

What trick or style are you currently working on? I compete in all three disciplines, and each one presents challenges. In freestyle I’m working on my air passes, which require strength and timing. For course racing, the board control has been difficult, and wave riding can be intimidating when the conditions vary so much.

Kris was the only female from the U.S. to compete on the KPWT tour last year. Photo Miguel Willis

Kris Kinn

Right now, Sandy is all about strapless riding and racing. Photo Josh Anon

AGE: 30 hEIGhT:5’7”WEIGhT: 140 yEARS KITInG: 5FAVoRITE SPoTS: Hatteras, Cape Town, and Paros, GreeceFAVoRITE ConDITIonS: 20 knots side-shore, flat water, or a left break FAVoRITE MoVES: Everything to blindSPonSoRS: Best, Stribog, Rouge Wave, Lift, Triggernaut, Magic Swell

GEAR SET-UPBoARDS: 133 Stribog Pro Model KITES:BestYargas5,7,9,and11forfreestyle/waves; 9 and 11 Waroos for course racing lInES: 22m hARnESS: Maui Magic Hana

Kris has spent the last few years traveling the world to teach kiteboarding, train, and compete. Photo Miguel Willis.

1. Keep your body in shape with well-rounded exercises besides kiting.

2.Stretchingisveryimportant;you’ll notice a difference right away and be less likely to injure yourself.

3. Stick to natural progression and don’t train for something you’re not ready for. Take it one step at a time.

4. When you are ready to train for handle passes, if it’s not coming together, don’t hold on. Let go of the bar!

clOSE-up

What is your favorite style of riding and why? I enjoy freestyle the most, because I love the variety of moves. There is nothing like the feeling of stomping a trick you‘ve been crashing over and over again.

Why are there so few Americans competing in the international tours? I think it comes down to sponsorship really. It is not easy to travel overseas when the events are a month apart. If you have to fly home after every event or put yourself up somewhere to train in between it is expensive. unfortunately, competition riders are becoming less and less valued so there is little support. Fortunately, I was lucky to have instructed in a few places to save up before the tour, and I also travel with a tent for cheap accommodations.

Why do you think the major competition tours don’t get very much attention in the US? That’s a good question, because the first thing I would do when I picked up a magazine was flip through to see the dates, locations, and names in the ranking for every event. With other extreme sports, competition is huge and everybody knows when, where, and who is going to be there. It is a shame that most people can’t name the top five riders on either tour. Maybe we can change this with some more coverage in The Kiteboarder magazine.

how do you think competitions could be adjusted to attract more riders/spectators/followers? Well, moreprizemoneywillattractmoreriders;thatoneis simple. I think more local promotion would attract spectators, and more media coverage in magazines, forums, and online news sites for kiting would attract more followers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAb0Nr_PH6g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAb0Nr_PH6g



http://www.benwilsonsurf.com

By Gilles CalvetTranslated by Nico Ostermann and Sylvie Johnson

Point

Children of the


Matchu, Mitu, and Djo are now considered heroes in their poor hometown of Santa Maria, Cabo Verde. Photo Band Originale

As the lightest of the local riders, Matchu usually starts each session first, while the others watch and wait for their turns. Photo Gilles Calvet

http://manera.f-onekites.com/


hen the F-One wave team got news through an internet forecast that a massive swell was going to hit Cabo Verde, they all jumped onto the first available plane to the island of Sal, located less than 400 miles off the west coast of Africa. They would score the swell of the decade, but they were just

visitors here. The swell gave the local crew, who grew up poor and learned to ride on donated gear, their chance to shine.

It all started back in February 1993 when, after three long weeks of endless waiting during which our patience was tested, a largely unknown wave –Punta Preta – finally showed us its potential. At the time, there were no internet wave-forecasting sites to follow or Twitter updates that would explain the lack of swell or give us a hint of when, if ever, it would arrive. Nevertheless, we believed in the rare rumors of unbelievable waves that had been spread by a few lucky ones who had been here before us.

One of them was Raphael Salles. He had travelled to Sal a couple of times in 1986 and 1987 for its warm waters and perfect wind conditions as his winter windsurfing training ground. He was fine tuning his prototype course racing board, tacking back and forth along the west coast, and during one of his training sessions he spotted breaking waves. Raphael told a few people about the waves, but the Cabo Verde archipelago quickly sunk back into obscurity. No one seemed interested with these poor desert-like islands except maybe for a handful of hardcore windsurfers. In 1993, we were searching for hypothetical waves on the west coast, and when we found them, we were rewarded.

After three weeks of waiting, our reward surpassed anything we could have imagined: a gorgeous right tube, smoothed by 20-knot trade winds, just for Raoul Lequertier and myself, for no less than twelve consecutive days. Since then, this world-class wave has fed many magazines with incredible photos, but it has also been the source of inspiration for the creation of the local kitesurfing team. Today, you can’t talk about Punta Preta without mentioning Mitu Monteiro, Djo Silva, Matchu Lopes Almeida, and many more local riders. They belong to a league of their own and are directly connected to this spot: They are the children of the point.

For most of them, life has been no bed of roses. I watched them grow up here. Since my very first trip in 1993, I have not missed one winter in Cabo Verde where I have lived by their side with all my gear, which consisted of one surfboard, my camera gear, and a surf housing. We shared food and shelter, and they taught me their language. They started out with not much: four bare brick walls with a dirt floor and conch-shell roof. Their toys were made of rusted metal tins and broken balls.

They began by loading and transporting the tourist windsurfers’ equipment when they could, and their passion for watersports was born on Santa Maria Beach.Slowly, they began to work for the windsurfing schools, then the kiteboarding schools. Before long, they were able to get out for short sessions at the end of their work schedules. These sessions were enough to make them the best riders on the beach. Rapidly, both local and traveling surfers, windsurfers, and kiteboarders (particularly Jerome Boggio Pascua, a Cabo Verde watersports pioneer) began to take notice and gave them a used board, a kite, or a wetsuit. Then, whether walking or hitch-hiking with their gear in tow, they started to defy the Queen of the North Atlantic: The Black Point, their own Punta Preta!

w

Point



Santa Maria may be a poor town, but that doesn’t mean the people here don’t know how to have a good time. Photo Band Originale

Mitu’s exposure in kiteboarding magazines and movies has made him a local celebrity in Cabo Verde. Photo Gilles Calvet

Santa Maria Boys Take Control of the PointWith each passing session, each member of the local crew earned their spots one step at a time. During the early years, a broken mast or a torn kite meant endless months of patience before being able to ride again. Many ripped kites and broken masts later, they are still here, humble, unhurried, smiling, and always welcoming to visitors whether on land or in the water. They try to show up every day, as long as the wind and waves are “au rendez-vous.”

Typically, sixteen-year old Matchu opens the riding session, since he is the lightest of them all. He can get going with an 8m kite in only in 12 knots of wind. The others watch him quietly. If Matchu can stay upwind, then Djo and Mitu know what kite size they need to start pumping.

As the spot comes alive, curiously the waves seem to always get better and the wind smoother and Djo and Mitu take turns pushing each other. With each explosive move from Djo, Mitu gives us a slashed lip and a grabbed air. To a powerful bottom turn followed by a table top, Mitu responds with a snap under the lip followed with a deep tube ride. To a strapped Djo, Mitu needs only wax on his strapless board. In Cabo Verde, Mitu is now a household name and local hero. He has been featured in the F-One videos, and is a quiet and meticulous person who has succeeded through strength and patience to make his dream a reality: To live from and by his passion for watersports. Mitu, Djo, and Matchu are not only pushing and inspiring each other, but they are also a huge inspiration to the local children in Santa Maria. You can be sure that there will be children here in this poor town that will follow in their footsteps, dancing atop of the big waves armed with a kite.

When Raphael called me for this last minute trip, I was already packed, since I had already seen the forecast for this swell. I still don’t know how Raphael managed to magically gather all his team of riders, cameramen, and kite designer Sylvain Peretti so quickly, but we all arrived in town one day before the swell arrived.

Of all the times I have been to Cabo Verde since 1993, this swell was the largest, no question about it. However, as we all know, large and massive swell does not always mean perfect conditions. For the first two days, huge foamy waves rolled in every 15 minutes making the filming hardly enjoyable and mostly unsuccessful. We used a crane to shoot, posted about 20 meters above the point break area. With each passing day, the wind turned a bit more offshore and the swell became more organized. The fourth day, Wednesday February 10, was the most intense and rare day I have experienced anywhere. Upon our arrival to the spot, everything was perfectly aligned: The blue sky, beautiful swell, and the wind direction. As usual, Matchu went in the water first, followed

by Mitu. : All of a sudden, almost magically the point really started to shine as the waves cleaned up even more, leaving clean faces and barreling waves. In the end, Alex Caizergues, who rode the biggest wave of this historic winter in Punta Preta, summed it up perfectly: “It’s a pleasure and an honor to share this point with Mitu and his posse.”

That day, I swam for six hours shooting photos: three in the morning and three in the afternoon. I shot about 1200 pictures, and I believe a dozen of them came out really nicely. I really want to thank Mother Nature for this epic day, Mitu and the rest of the team for their great performance, and also Jerome, who lent me the board on which I also caught the best wave of the set, just a few hours before flying back home, which gave me the desire to write these few words.


Raphael Salles, one of the first windsurfers to discover the waves here, finds himself on a wave too big to fit on this page. Photo Giles Calvet

Tired of crowds? They don’t exist here. Photo Giles Calvet

The launch at Punta Preta is just a little rocky. Photo Band Originale


For this year’s Annual Instructional Special, we’ve made sure to include a little something for everyone. Whether you are just thinking about learning to kiteboard of if you have been kiting for a few years already, you’ll find something in here for you. Even if you’ve been riding for years, there is always something new to try, and there are few things more rewarding than learning a new skill on the water, whether it’s kiting upwind for the first time, landing your first jump, or slashing the top off of your first wave with nothing holding you to your board except wax and will power. Whatever your skill level, keep pushing yourself to try new things and you will amaze yourself with what you can learn to do. Hopefully, you’ll find a few tips over the next few pages to help you do that.

InStructIonAl Guide2010 tKB Annual


Kiteboarding may seem like an intimidating sport to learn, but anyone can learn to ride under the watchful eye of a professional kiteboarding instructor. Photo Ryan Riccitelli


Many people who may be interested in kiteboarding are turned away from the sport because of the initially large investment that it takes to get going as a kiteboarder. Buying brand new equipment, you can expect to pay in the range of about $1,600-$2,000 as a minimum for your first set of gear. on top of that, you should also expect to pay $300-$600 for lessons to get started. Basically, you are looking at about a minimum of around $2,000 to have the gear and knowledge to get on the water.

That sounds like a lot of money, but the beautiful thing about kiteboarding is that the wind is free. You could ride for two or more seasons with that initial investment and never spend another dollar on gear. When you compare the costs of kiteboarding to other sports such as snowboarding (minimum $500 for gear and clothes, $75 or more per day of riding for a lift ticket, plus gas to get up the mountain) and wakeboarding ($500 for a board, $50,000 for a decent boat, plus gas for every session), kiteboarding suddenly doesn’t seem very expensive at all. Once you have your gear, the only cost you have to go kiteboarding is the gas it takes you to get to the beach. If you are on a budget, you can look for used or last year’s closeout gear and potentially be up and riding for less than $1,200.

The imporTance of LessonsWe’ve covered this issue in the past, and it’s important enough that we are going over it again. If you are interested in getting into kiteboarding, you need to take a lesson. If you kiteboard already and have a friend who wants to learn, you need to encourage that friend to take a lesson. Kiteboarding equipment can be very dangerous if it isn’t used properly, not only to the person flying the kite, but to people who happen to be in the area.

As we’ve said before, you need to think of lessons as cheap insurance. Sure they may cost money, but lessons are much cheaper than destroying that new $1,500 kite and way cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. I was in Baja one time for a kiteboarding trip, and one guy showed up with brand new gear, a 12-pack of beer, and no clue on how to fly a kite because he had decided that he didn’t need a lesson. When he launched his kite, it was in the air for about five seconds before he crashed it into a fence, ripping it completely in half. While swearing, he packed up his tattered kite, threw it in his car, and drove all the way back home to California, leaving the beer on the beach for us to enjoy at the end of the day. By not taking lessons, that guy didn’t save money, he wasted it by destroying a brand new kite. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and take a lesson if you want to learn to kiteboard.

GeT The mosT from a Lesson:• Get a trainer kite and an instructional video before your

lesson. Fly the trainer kite until you cannot stand doing it anymore and watch the video over and over. Videos and trainer kites can’t replace a lesson, but will help the whole process feel more familiar when you show up to learn.

• If you are a female, consider looking for a female instructor. Girls usually learn better from other girls.

• consider traveling to a known windy place for your lesson. No location anywhere in the world can guarantee wind, but there are many places that are very likely to have good conditions for learning at certain times of the year. Yes, it will cost more, but you can learn more in three days under the right conditions than you can learn in six months under the wrong conditions.

• Ask a lot of questions. Make sure you understand everything your instructor tells you.

• As soon as you decide that you are going to take a lesson, start paying attention to the wind. Check sites such as ikitesurf.com to find out when and where the wind blows in your area. Constantly think about what direction the wind is coming from. Having good wind awareness will be a huge help on the day of your lesson.

• Have a humble attitude during your lesson. You are not going to be blasting across the water and flying 40 feet into the air on your first day.

The co$T$ of Kiteboarding

A kiteboarding lesson will arm you with the knowledge you need to safely become a kiteboarder. Photo Paul Lang

2010 instructional

a Lesson?What Will I learn from

By TKB Staff

now that you’ve signed up for a lesson, it’s time to start looking forward to it. When people see kiteboarding for the first time, it’s easy to think that there isn’t really that much to it. You just put that parachute thing up in the air and get pulled around on a board, right? Well, there’s a little more to it than that. If you’ve decided that you are going to take a lesson, have a look at the list below to get an idea of what to expect. If you still think you can learn on your own, look at the topics below to get an idea about what knowledge you’ll be missing if you decide that you can manage on your own.

WInd AWArEnESS: If you are going to become a kiteboarder, you have to start thinking like a kiteboarder. This means you have to start thinking about the wind all the time and be able to know everything about it. Your instructor should tell you about local weather patterns and what local conditions could be dangerous. You need to be able to know not only where the wind is coming from but also how strong and how steady it is.

SAFEtY: You’ll be learning about safety all throughout your lesson. You will learn to stay away from solid objects and how to choose a proper riding location, as well as how to safely and completely depower your kite. Pay close attention anytime your instructor talks about safety, because what he or she says could literally save your life.

GEAr: Not only will you learn how to properly set up kiteboarding gear, but you’ll also learn how to find the right gear for when you are ready to buy your own kite, harness, and board. One of the great benefits of taking a lesson is that you get to play with the school’s kites, so try different ones if possible to see what you like the best.

tHE WIndoW: Your instructor will teach you about the wind window and you will learn where the kite can fly and where in the sky it does and does not have power.

lAuncHInG And lAndInG: You will learn how to safely launch and land a kite and how to fly it in the air without being drug all over the place.

KItE FlYInG: You will learn how to control the kite in the air, including how to steer it and control the amount of power. You are almost guaranteed to hear the term, “Like a bicycle, not like a steering wheel” in reference to how to steer the kite.

ActIvAtInG tHE SAFEtY: If your instructor does not show you how to release the kite onto its safety, insist that he or she shows you. Your kite’s safety release is your last line of defense against being injured, so take it upon yourself to understand exactly how it works.

rElAuncHInG: You will crash the kite. A lot. Knowing the correct technique to relaunching a kite will take a lot of the frustration out of learning to kiteboard.

BodY drAGGInG: It doesn’t sound so pleasant, but this step of the learning process is exactly what the name implies. You launch the kite, go in the water, and it drags you around.

During your kite lesson, you will learn everything you need to know to stay safe throughout the learning process. Photo Bryan Elkus

i can aLready kiTe. Why WouLd i need a Lesson?Lessons aren’t only for beginners. Most schools also offer intermediate and advanced lessons and these can be a huge help if you have a certain move or aspect of your riding that you want to improve. Many kiteboarders can be fairly independent types who don’t like to admit needing to take a lesson. If that’s the case, don’t think about it as a lesson. Think about it as a personal training or coaching session.

Learning to ride upwind, ride toeside, or get basic jumps dialed in are areas that a lot of beginning and intermediate riders could use help with. Instead of making the same mistakes over and over for weeks, months, or even years, you can hire a kiteboarding coach to point out your mistakes and offer tips to correct them. If you find yourself hitting a wall in terms of your own progression, it might be time to book yourself an advanced lesson and find a coach that will help push your riding to the next level.

Other topics that work great for intermediate and advanced lessons include kiting in the waves, learning unhooked moves, riding strapless, and learning grabs. These are all topics that you can muddle through learning on your own, or you can hire a professional to watch and advise you along the way, which will greatly speed up your progression.

The point of this is to learn how to control the kite while moving through the water, without having to learn how to deal with a board as well. You will not be at the mercy of the kite though. Your goal here is to learn control and to be able to direct where the kite pulls you in the water. If you can’t do that without the board, how can you expect to do it with the board?

GEttInG up on tHE BoArd: Finally! Once you can body drag successfully, it’s time to try the board. If you have good kite control, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to get up on the board. Staying up is another thing, but you will progress quickly if you listen to your instructor and don’t get frustrated.

rIdInG: Now we’re having fun! It might take a few days, but almost everyone can learn to kiteboard. As your kite flying skills improve even further As your kite flying skills improve even further, you’ll find that it gets easier and easier to ride the board. Congratulations, you’re a Kiteboarder!


Even if you can already ride, an intermediate or advanced lesson can help you keep pushing your boundaries. Photo Paul Lang


2010 instructional

choosinG Gearthe Basics of

By Paul Menta

Buying gear for the first time can be very frustrating as it seems everyone wants to give you advice, but it all seems to be different. I have seen people make some big mistakes over the years when getting their gear. let’s save you some time and money and go over a few basics about what you should keep in mind.

BuYInG GEAr BEForE tAKInG lESSonS: This is the biggest no-no on the list. It’s easy to get excited and want to purchase equipment as soon as you are interested in kiteboarding, but if you have not learned to ride the board at least one way, you are not qualified to make a choice on what’s going to work best for you. A huge value in lessons is that you get to use the right gear for the conditions with a professional. Even if you are not ready to buy, it is a good idea to shop around and talk to people to see what options are available. Once you can get up on the board you should have enough skills and knowledge to choose the equipment that will work best for you.

SHould I BuY A BEGInnEr KItE? Many people ask this question, but the truth is that all current kites are great to ride. They all ride differently and you need to sort out what options will work best for your needs. There are kites marketed as great for light wind, waves, jumping, all around, high performance, racing, and more. When looking for a kite, there is no substitute to actually trying the kite yourself. As a beginner, look for kites that tout stability and easily relaunch as main features - you don’t necessarily need a kite specifically marketed to beginners.

SIzES: Kites come in different sizes, and since most beginners usually start off by purchasing one kite, choosing the right size is critical. The best way to do this is to talk to other riders in your area and the local shops or schools. If there aren’t other riders in your area to talk with, check out your area’s wind history (www.ikitesurf.com is a perfect site for this). Most kite manufacturers publish wind speed charts to tell you what size you should use in what wind. The most popular kite sizes sold are in the 9-12m range, but you may need a larger or smaller kite based on where you plan to ride.



BoArdS: Choosing the right board can make or break your learning experience. You may be tempted to get a cool-looking small board, but when you are first starting, you should look for a slightly larger board. When the winds are light or you have one kite and need more range, a wider or bigger board will help you every time. Larger boards require less power to get up and stay up, and they are much more forgiving to a beginner’s uneven power delivery from the kite. The idea is to ride as much as you can, so don’t choose a board that is going to hold you back!

WEIGHt: Your body weight will have an effect on the equipment you end up choosing. A larger person will obviously require more power to ride in the same conditions as a smaller person. Compared to a 150 pound rider, a 200 pound rider will usually be on a kite one size larger and ride a larger board.

HArnESSES: There are waist harnesses and seat harnesses available, as well as impact vests. The only way to see if you like a harness and how it fits is to try one on in a local shop. There are many more woman-specific harnesses on the market

now compared to a few years ago. If you are going to wear a wetsuit or other clothing when you ride, make sure the harness will still fit.

SAFEtY: Every kite made today includes a safety system. They all work, but they all work differently. Your safety system could save your life if you get into trouble, but only if you know how to use it! Make sure someone shows you how to operate all the releases on your kite, so you know what to do before you get into a real emergency situation. Ask your dealer to go over the systems and practice using them. Never guess or assume how something works without being sure!

Paul Menta is the owner of The Kite House with locations in Key West, Miami, Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos, Ecuador, and Grand Cayman.


There are a lot of options out there when it comes to choosing gear, so do your homework to make sure you purchase the gear that will work best for you. Photo Paul Lang


2010 instructional

If I threw a ball at your head, would your hands go up to block it or would you have to think about it? If you got into serious trouble while kiteboarding, would you immediately and instinctively activate your quick release, or would you have to think about what to do?

The reason you can block something thrown at you, tie your shoes, or even turn a door knob without thinking about how to do it is because it’s a trained response to something you have done many times in the past. As you first learn how to kiteboard, you find yourself getting a sore neck from staring up at the kite the entire time, but as the hours go by, you start to feel where the kite is and are able to react without having to look at the kite or think about your actions. It’s safe to say that if you do something again and again you will learn what to expect and the task becomes easier each time you repeat it. You are more important than your kite, and that’s a fact you need to repeat to yourself over and over. Practice activating you emergency release so when you are confronted with a real emergency situation you will be able to act without having to think about it. Being able to do so could literally save your life. Here are a few easy ways to build up muscle memory when it comes to activating your safety system:

• Withyourkiteontheground,takeacloselookathowyourkite’ssafetysystemworksandactivateany and all quick releases on your system to see how they come apart and how they go back together. It’s important to be able to put your quick release back together in the water, so practice doing it until you can easily do it without looking. The first thing I do with any new kite is pop the releases on the beach without the kite in the air just to make sure everything works properly.

• Afterfinishingasessionoronalightwindday,makesureyouhave plenty of room around you and then activate your safety release. The more times you do this, the more comfortable you will feel about doing it during a real situation. You will also be able to see how your kite reacts to being released to the safety so you know what to expect.

• Whileriding,takeahandoffthebarandrestitonyouremergencyreleasetofamiliarizeyourselfwith the motion. Practice doing this with both hands. Before every session, reach down and feel the release to give yourself a reference point and to keep the action fresh in your head.

• Don’t develop the stance that you are too cool or too experienced to practice using the safety features of your kite. There are plenty of experienced riders on the water who have no idea what will happen when they activate their own safety release, and this will cause them to hesitate when they get into a situation when they need to immediately depower their kite.

Paul Menta is the owner of The Kite House with locations in Key West, Miami, Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos, Ecuador, and Grand Cayman.


The TriGGerpulling

By Paul Menta


Where’s the By Paul Lang

Almost all current control systems feature multiple leash connection point options, and this can be confusing for some riders, especially beginners. Making the matter even less clear is the fact that the safety systems work differently from manufacturer to manufacturer. Below are the three most common options for connecting your leash to your kite, but you should consult your kite’s operating manual or contact your local shop or your kite’s manufacturer if you are unclear on how you should connect your leash.

However you decide to attach your leash, make sure you know how your kite will react when you use it. On a light wind day, release your kite onto your leash so you know exactly what to expect if you ever get yourself into trouble. The middle of a dangerous situation is not the time that you should be wondering to yourself about how your leash is going to work.

lEASH optIon 1: Most control systems come with attachments to hook your leash up to a center or outside line. If you connect your leash this way, make sure you connect it to the ring that pulls a line through the other ring, not the ring that the line passes through. When you release onto this leash, the bar will slide up one line and the kite will be waving like a flag at the end of the line. This type of leash has been around since almost the beginning of kiteboarding and has been proven to be a very reliable safety.pro: Time tested and very safe leash connection point, will definitely allow for complete depower on virtually every kite ever made.con: Does not allow the rider to easily spin the bar and releasing on this type of leash can easily lead to tangled lines.

lEASH optIon 3: This is what is known as a suicide leash, where the leash is connected directly to the harness loop. On most kites, this connection is for advanced riders only who understand the risks of such a leash.pro: By not depowering the kite to 100%, crashes can be much quicker to recover from; in fact the kite may even stay flying when using this leash. con: On many kites, this connection does not allow for complete depower. Check with your kite’s manufacturer if you think this is the proper connection for you but are unsure.

lEASH optIon 2: If your harness loop has a metal ring such as the one shown here, this is probably where the manufacturer intends you to put the leash. This ring is usually either attached to the fifth line (if the kite has one) or pulls on one or both of the center lines. pro: Allows for the rider to easily unspin the bar while riding and usually allows for complete depower if you release the kite onto this leash.con: Every manufacturer’s system works differently, so you cannot simply hook your leash up here and assume it will act the same as the last kite you rode.

Leash Go?


By Paul Menta

Practice using your kite’s safety system so that you know exactly what to expect should you ever need to use it. Photo Imagesbydoc.com

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Jump and Spin!By Paul Lang

For many people, jumping is what kiteboarding is all about, and that’s what they want to do more than anything else in the sport. Jumping is not very difficult to do, but you will have a lot more fun learning how to do it if you wait until you can confidently ride in both directions and can at least hold your ground upwind.

1. Start off with good board speed and ease off your edge as you bring your kite up to about 60°.

2. While edging your board rapidly upwind, pull with your back hand to direct your kite up to the top of the window.

3. As your kite reaches overhead, stand tall and push off of your back foot to pop your board off the water while you sheet in with your bar. The timing here is critical and it takes a lot of trial and error to get right.

4. Pull your knees up as you leave the water. Pulling your knees up helps stabilize you in the air and letting your legs dangle doesn’t look good. Let the kite fly past overhead in the opposite direction that you were traveling.

5. At the apex of your jump, pull the kite back overhead to slow your descent.

6. As you approach the water, extend your legs and pull slightly harder with your front hand. You want to land traveling downwind with the kite on its way back into the power zone to give you power to ride away.


2010 instructional

• Timingiseverything,andittakestimetolearn. Keep at it.

• Ifyouaretravelinghorizontallybutnotgoing very high, you need to edge harder before you take off from the water.

• Ifyouonlygoupafewfeetandthenplummet like a rock, you are probably pulling too hard with your back hand as you redirect the kite. tIpS

With a little practice, you’ll find yourself gracefully floating through the air before you know it. Photo Paul Lang



Jump and Spin!By Paul Lang

spin. Like a record BaByOnce you are able to land at least most of your jumps, you are ready to start spinning. Like most things in life, the secret to spins is all in your head, but we don’t mean your brain. We mean that round hairy mass on top of your body. Rotations begin and end with your head. Whatever way you move your head, the rest of your body will follow.

to SpIn ForWArd:1. As you leave the water, rotate your head forward by putting your forward ear to your forward

shoulder and pull your knees up close to your body.

2. The harder you motion with your head and the tighter you pull your knees in the faster you will rotate. You can slow down or speed up the rotation by extending your legs or pulling them in tighter.

3. Assuming you are going for just one rotation, spot your landing as you come around and stare at it. Slow your rotation and prepare for the landing by extending your legs.

to SpIn BAcK:1. As you leave the water, initiate the spin by tucking your chin

to your forward shoulder. Pull your knees up to speed up the rotation, and to avoid those silly dangle-legs.

2. Speed up or slow down the rotation by pulling the board up or extending it away.

3. Spot your landing and keep your eyes focused on it. You want to slow your spin on a back rotation slightly sooner so you can land with the board aiming downwind.

Paul Lang is the Editor of this magazine and usually lets his legs dangle when he jumps.


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• Ifyouwanttodomultiplerotations,decidehowmany you are going to do before you take off. Keep your body compact until your last rotation. Rotating blindly until you hit the water again doesn’t usually end smoothly.

• Usethepowerofyourkitetogiveyoumoreor less time in the sky. If you feel like you are going to over-rotate slightly, sheet out to shorten your time in the air. If you are just slightly under-rotating, sheeting in might just give you the extra moment you need to get the rest of the way around. tIpS

Wherever your head goes, the rest of your body will follow. Photos Paul Lang



conTroLLinG speed

Edging and

By John Mapel

these days, I hear more and more people talk about how they want a lot of depower in their kite so they can have more control. I often respond by remarking that a rider shouldn’t just rely on the kite’s depower capability, but should also work on strengthening his or her foundations. Speed and power control is a combination of body positioning, board riding skills, and kite technique. Whether you are trying to hold it down in overpowered conditions or drive upwind, here are some tips for having better control over your riding.

BodY poSItIon: Proper body position is the key ingredient for good power control and resistance against the kite. I like to tell my students to think about playing tug of war when edging. The winning team doesn’t bend over! It’s all about keeping your hips forward, your shoulders back, and your head looking in the direction you want to go. Proper weight distribution over the board can be achieved

by keeping your front leg straight and your back leg slightly bent. Imagine creating a straight line through your body from your front heel to the back of your head. By doing these things, your body position over the board will fall into place automatically and you will be able to edge harder and have better control of your kite’s power.

GEAr: Making sure your kite is properly adjusted and tuned is important in your ability to control power and speed, as it can have a huge effect on your ability to keep good body position. You should be able to sheet out the bar and depower the kite without compromising your stance. For this very reason, I prefer to fly kites that are designed with a short throw on the bar system to depower the kite at arm’s length. Many kites with a longer throw on the bar system include a stopper ball on the depower line that can be set so the bar will stay within reach if you let go of it. Having to bend over to depower the kite defeats the purpose of being able to control it, because you end up losing your edge and resistance against the kite. Make sure that you can depower the kite by pushing out just with your arms and not breaking at the waist. A properly tuned kite gives you an advantage in power control and in being able to “hold it down” in high wind. In most cases, you should have your bar tuned so that all lines are equal length at the kite. When flying in overpowered conditions, you can experiment with alternate tunings by either shortening the front lines or lengthening the rears, depending on where your tuning options are. Many bar systems have different sets of knots on the leader lines, allowing you to adjust the line lengths. The kite pigtails often have multiple knot attachment points. By shorting the front lines in comparison to the rears, it is easier to drive the kite to the edge of the wind window outside of the power zone. This will give you a bit more top end, as well as make it easier to edge upwind in overpowered conditions.

GEttInG upWInd And controllInG SpEEd: With a properly tuned kite and correct body position, controlling speed and getting upwind will be much easier to achieve. It’s a combination of kite control and edging with the board. Start by riding with good speed and keeping a decent edge. Keep your kite low (I keep mine about five feet above the water line) and sheet out the bar just a bit. Progressively dig your board harder into the water, almost like gradually pressing the brake pedal with your back foot. At this point, you should notice the kite shoot forward into the wind as the window shifts with you. You will also feel yourself slowing down as you progress more and more upwind. As you practice this technique, you should realize that if you edge too hard you will stop completely, and if not hard enough you won’t be forcing the kite outside of the window or traveling upwind. This is a valuable technique to master for intermediate level riding, and will allow you to have more control while relying less on your kite’s depower.

John Mapel is a co-owner of All Out Kiteboarding in Georgia.

2010 instructional

Erik Volpe shows the proper technique for controlling speed and getting upwind. Photo Lance Koudele



Even for many seasoned riders, riding toeside seems to be an elusive skill, not because it’s hard to do, but because it’s hard to do well. Being able to ride toeside will make it easier for you to change directions and will add another element to your bag of tricks. The more time you spend riding toeside, the easier it is for you to land your moves toeside. In the waves, riding toeside is an essential skill, especially with a directional board. Riding toeside feels awkward at first, but focus on maintaining good body position and you will soon be blasting along comfortably on your toeside edge.

• Most people put too much weight on their back foot when riding toeside, which slows your board down and makes it unstable. Practice seeing how much weight you can put on your front foot while riding toeside without the nose of the board catching on the water. Just like riding heelside, you want to be riding on the edge of the board, not the tail.

• Keepyourbodystraightwhenridingtoeside.Asyouedgeawayfromthekite, focus on pushing your hips towards the water, not your shoulders. Also, push with your toes and the balls of your feet as you edge.

• Practiceridingtoesideinbothdirections.Ridingtoesideswitchisdifficultat first, but just focus on having good body position and you will feel comfortable in no time.

• Keep your head and shoulders facing the direction you are traveling. This is easier to do if you let go of the bar with your forward hand.

• Keepyourfrontlegrelativelystraightandyourbacklegbent,justlikeriding heelside.

• Smile!ThisisFun!tIpS

ridinG ToesideBy Paul Lang

Riding toeside may feel awkward at first, but you’ll get it down if you focus on having good body position. Photo Paul Lang


naishkites.com

Phot

os: S

. Whi

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J. M

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Damien Girardin

Pacific Boardsports LLc - [email protected] - (509) 493 0043

The Charger incorporates Geo Tech seam shaping into a Delta outline to redefine stability,low-end power and ease of relaunch.

The Charger was modeled after the Cult’s proven All-Terrain performance, with added focus on auto-launch accessibility. The end result is an All-Terrain kite with incredibly smooth turning, light wind lift, and unmatched water relaunchability. It is the ideal choice for all freeride kiters.

Sizes: 3.5, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13charGer the evolution of cutting edge Performance

Proven all-terrain PerformancecULtSizes: 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9, 10.5, 12, 13.5, 15The test winning Cult is the ideal user friendly all-terrain kite. This year, it features an increased Sigma profile and a Geo-Tech Generated C-shape, which gives the Cult a larger sweet spot, ideal pull through the turns, and enhanced smoothness.

Whether you are a beginner looking for a kite that’s safe, stable, and reliable; Or a seasoned veteran looking for one kite that does everything, the Cult is for you.

CUSTOMGUnincredible speed5’10”, 6’2”

CUSTOMGLoBaLsnappy versatility5’0”, 5’4”, 5’7”, 6’0”, 6’2”

CUSTOMfishButtery smooth5’4”, 5’8”, 6’0”

hazeBalanced versatility128, 132, 136, 141, 147,XL 135, XL 144

soLtransforms choppywater into smooth fun128, 131, 134, 137, 140

momentUmLand tricks younever imagined130, 132, 134

thorn ccPower to win128, 130, 132, 134, 136

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Kevin Langeree

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Strapless riding is a great way to challenge yourself and have fun on even the flattest of days. One of the biggest challenges when riding strapless can be getting out past the waves. It’s common for experienced kitesurfers to forget how irritating the simple process of getting through the impact zone can be for new kiters. Few words can describe the frustration of being taken out by the first wave only to be cleaned out and sent back to the beach by subsequent waves, a scenario exponentially irritating for the experienced kiter venturing into strapless territory for the first time. The obvious drawback to strapless kiting is your inability to air out and jump clear over sets, and as a result you are left with two options; turn around and run away with a chicken jibe, or hit the wave directly by climbing up and over the whitewater. Here are some helpful hints to help you face off and take each set head on.

for sTarTersPick a day with small waves and good wind, go through the motions on small waves, and figure out what works best for you, then scale it up to bigger waves. Most injuries and broken boards occur from trying to hit the wave when the lip is throwing. The timing of the wave may be unpredictable and being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be like hitting a brick wall.

sTrapLess surfinGGetting to the outside

sTraTeGyThe first element of getting past the impact zone is timing. You should size up each wave well in advance of contact with the whitewater. In the event the wave has not yet broken, (step 1) determine if you can speed up and make it up and over the clean face. If the wave is close to throwing, (step 3) you should slow down because hitting the wave right as it is breaking is much more dangerous because the lip is throwing down on top of you and the energy of the wave is at its peak. If the wave has broken (steps 6+), you might consider slowing down so as to allow the wave to shed some of its energy and turbulence, making for a much more easier ramp to climb over. As the surf gets larger, timing becomes increasingly important and having a confident chicken gibe in your back pocket is a good idea as well.

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2010 instructional

By Brendan Richards



TechniQueAs you approach the wave you should scrub some speed. A frequent first-time mistake is bearing off or hitting the wave straight on with speed. This adds uncertainty as you bounce off the whitewater with an unanticipated trajectory and generally causes instantaneous separation from your board for new strapless riders. The best technique is to slow down by applying back foot pressure and heading the board a few degrees into the wind (step 3).

The kite should be roughly positioned at 45° in the window during the approach and by the time you make contact with the wave the kite should be almost directly overhead. As you begin to climb over the whitewater you should have scrubbed most of your forward speed so that the wave is almost rolling underneath you, with the overhead pull of your kite making the upward transition a

little smoother (step 5). By applying more pressure to your rear foot you can help the tip of the board ride up over the whitewater and allow the wave to roll under you.

You want to engage the wave (step 6) with your legs fully extended, allowing your legs to suck up or absorb the energy and turbulence of the wave. Without straps, you have to use your knees, the force of the wave, and just the right amount of kite power to get you and your board through to the back side of the wave. The larger the wave, the more challenging it can be to absorb the turbulence of the wave and maintain the connection between you and your board.

As you reach the top of the wave (step 9) you want to start thinking about shifting your weight to your front foot and using your forward hand to initiate a downward power stroke. At this point you have very little forward momentum because you ditched most of your speed in your approach and lost whatever forward movement was left to the wave. You will want to weight your forward foot, point your board downwind and power up your kite to get back up to speed and get ready to size up the next wave.

Brendan Richards rides for Caution Kiteboarding.

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• Ifyoufindyourselfdowninthewaterwithyourboardbetween you and the wave, use your kite to get away from your board.

• Ifyouareintrouble,pointyourkiteinthedirectionthatthewave is coming from. This will pull you through the wave and keep the kite in the sky.

• Whengettingout,youwanttogoasslowasyoucanwithout sinking your board. This gives you the most control as you hit the wave and minimizes the impact on your knees and legs.tI

pS

Photos Courtesy Caution Kiteboarding

If you want to be able to conquer gnarly conditions without straps like Josh “Cornfed” Nehf, you need to first learn how to get out past the waves without losing your board. Photo David DeVries


2010 instructional

Many kiteboarders are reluctant to unhook, for fear that the kite will be too powerful and they won’t be able to control it without the use of their harness. The truth about unhooking is that it’s not nearly as difficult as most people think it is, and with a little practice unhooking can add a whole new dimension to your riding.

Before you unhook, you need to first trim your kite so that it does not back stall when you have the bar pulled down against the chicken loop. With your kite straight overhead, pull your bar all the way down. If the kite starts to back up into the window, you need to shorten your front lines until the kite will sit calmly at the edge of the window with the bar pulled all the way in.

unhook!By Mike Campanaro


Once you unhook, you will be able to move your body in ways that just aren’t possible to do hooked in. Photo Paul Lang


To unhook:1. Make sure your donkey stick is not engaged.

2. Ease up on your edge so that some line tension is released. This is the secret to being able to easily hold on to the kite while unhooked. The more downwind you are riding, the lower the pressure on your arms will be when you unhook.

3. Pull down on the bar until the harness loop falls away from your hook.

4. Keep your hands centered and your elbows close to your body. Don’t let the kite pull your arms away because you will most likely end up being pulled off your board or catch an edge. Maintain good body position by forcing your shoulders away from the kite and keeping your hips pushed towards the kite.

To hook Back in:1. Ride downwind slightly to release line tension.

2. Pull the bar down below your harness hook and guide it back on the hook. This can be difficult if your chicken loop is really small or floppy. If you are having trouble hooking back in, you can also grab onto the chicken loop and let go of the bar for a few moments. This will depower your kite and make it very easy to pull the chicken loop back on to your harness hook. Watch your fingers if you hook back in this way. If you hold your kite high in the window, you will find it much easier to kill the power in the kite and hook back in.

JumpinG unhookedThe unhooked load and pop technique is very similar to when you are hooked in except now you will have a little more freedom when you are in the air. For some people, it’s actually easier to load and pop unhooked since the kite is not pulling you from your waist:

1. Keep your hands close together in the center of the bar so that your kite stays in one place.

2. Keep your kite at about ten o’clock and unhook. Keep your elbows in to your sides, hips forward, and shoulders facing forward.

3. Edge hard into the wind and pop off your back foot. This motion is very similar to doing an ollie on a skateboard.

4. Keep your body in control by keeping your elbows close to your body.

5. As you are coming down for your landing, point your board downwind and bend your knees to soften your landing. After you land, hook back in and ride away.

Once you are comfortable with unhooking, try your first unhooked back roll. This will probably be the easiest trick to go for if you have already mastered it hooked in:

1. Keep your kite low, ease off your edge, and unhook.

2. Keep your bar close with your elbows in at your sides.

3. Edge hard and pop off the water.

4. Once you leave the water, look back over your front shoulder and let the rest of your body follow. As you come around through your rotation, spot your landing and tuck your knees towards your body. You can speed up the rotation by tucking your knees into your chest. You can slow down your rotation by slightly straightening your legs.

5. Point your board slightly downwind and come in for your landing. Bend your knees and anticipate the impact. Hook back in and ride away.

Remember that you do not need to stay as compact as when you are hooked in. This will make you feel like you have a lot more freedom and a lot more style. Have fun!

Mike Campanaro is a co-owner of All Out Kiteboarding in Georgia.


Sam Light shows us just how much style unhooking can bring to your riding. Photo Toby Bromwich


kiTe Loopstake it to the next level: An Introduction to

By Jeremy Lund

2010 instructional

With a whole lot of commitment, you too can learn to throw mega loops like Jon Van Malsen if you learn the necessary steps. Photo Dan Schwarz

Although an accidental kite loop can be quite dramatic, one done purposefully can be exhilarating. Kite loops are a useful tool in many aspects of kiting. They can be used to enhance a big air, create massive pop, or even used to pull you aggressively down the line of a big wave. When attempting a kite loop for the first time there are many things to consider, including kite size, kite type, board size, wind speed, and proper progression.

eQuipmenT choice and ridinG condiTions:When you decide that it’s time to learn kite loops, it’s important to first make sure that you are on the right gear and in the proper conditions.

KItE SIzE: You will want to start with one kite size smaller than what you would normally use. This will keep you at a safe power level. In addition, a smaller kite loops faster and this will help get the kite back to the riding/landing position.

KItE tYpE: Although you can perform loops with any kite, C and Delta shapes will often give you a much smoother loop compared to a bow or flat kite.

BoArd tYpE: Whether you will be using kite loops for freestyle or wave riding it will be easiest to learn them on a twin tip. It is recommended to use a smaller board to help control your speed.

rIdInG condItIonS: Before you go blazing down the line or traveling to new altitudes, it is important to learn in the right conditions. Ideally you will want to learn the first stages of kite looping in light-medium wind in flat water. Once you get used to looping the kite, higher winds will be preferred. Higher winds are ideal because the kite will loop faster and the lines will stay tight. However, overpowered kite loops are not forgiving, so you must be well practiced and 100% committed before attempting a loop in really high wind.

sTeps To LearninG:FIrSt GoAl: Surface down loop: This is a useful tool that will take your wave riding to the next level. Hold the kite at 45°. Point the board slightly downwind and pull the bar hard with your front hand to dive the kite. Continue turning the kite until it does a full loop returning the kite to 45°. While the kite is returning to the edge of the window, you will notice that it hesitates. To help it climb, edge hard while sheeting out. To get the kite through the loop as quickly as possible, sheet in on the down stroke of the loop and sheet out slightly on the up stroke. Practice these steps until you are comfortable performing the loop without looking at the kite or bar. Once you are well practiced with an underpowered kite you will want to experiment with a normal-size kite.

SEcond GoAl: Surface Back loop: To perform a surface back loop follow the same steps as a down loop, except this time pull hard with your back hand. During this exercise you will notice more power due to a faster build up of apparent wind. Most of the power will come during the first 20% of the loop as you accelerate downwind, so remember to commit. Again, you will want to practice this until it can be done without looking at the bar or kite.

tHIrd GoAl: Aerial down loop transition: Begin with the kite slightly above 45° and pop your board off the water (you should know how to do a load and pop jump first). At the apex of your jump, sheet in and let go with your back hand while pulling hard with your front. Land heel side and ride away in the opposite direction as the kite makes its way back up to 45°. With each attempt, work on jumping higher and engaging the loop sooner. Start on an underpowered kite and switch to a normal size as you progress.

FourtH GoAl: Kite loop/Mega loop: This is the most exhilarating of all the loops and should only be attempted by expert kiters. For this trick it is crucial to pick the right day. Look for 17-25 knots of wind and choose a kite one size smaller than what you would usually ride in the same conditions. Practice goals one through three. Once you feel dialed in, go for a sent jump, and sheet in and pull hard with your back hand as you near the apex of your jump. Commit to getting the kite all the way around and back up to the top of the window. Remember to sheet out slightly on the upstroke of the loop. Just prior to landing, sheet in and pull with your front hand to dive the kite forward and bring it back in front of you. If done correctly, this will give you a fast yet floaty landing. If you think that the landing will not go well, just focus on getting the kite to the top of the window. To progress, try looping the kite sooner so that you are looping the kite on the way up as opposed to on the way down from the jump.

Jeremy Lund is the CEO of New Wave Kiteboarding and is a team rider for Wainman Hawaii.

• Whenitcomestolearninganyaerialkiteloop,makesure to jump high enough so that the kite has time to complete the loop.

• Alackofcommitmentisthemostcommonmistake.Halfway through the loop is a bad time to decide you’re not ready! Make sure you get the kite all the way around no matter what. Even if you are going to crash, this will save you and your gear!

• Althoughlowtomediumwindisagoodtimetopracticesurface loops and down loops, it not a good time to learn a mega loop. Maximum power along with a smaller kite is what makes this move possible. A lack of wind will cause slack in the lines just before landing leading to a rather painful crash. tI

pS




Fleury on the WaterFor those of you who haven’t been in kiteboarding very long, Bertrand Fleury’s name may be unfamiliar. Originally from France, when Bertrand saw High, one of the first kiteboarding movies, he packed his bags and moved to Maui to ride with the people he saw on film. He didn’t speak any English when he arrived, but his riding immediately made him stand out at Kite Beach. One of the pioneers of the kite loop, Bertrand has focused the last few years on riding waves, but we were stoked to get a batch of images of him tearing it up at Kite Beach, just like in the good old days. Photo Tracy Kraft


thekiteboarder.com 63thekiteboarder.com 63


the StartWithout a doubt, the most exciting time in a kiteboarding race for both competitors and spectators is the start. As kites and bodies jockey for position, contact between kites is common. When the gun goes off, riders accelerate and spread out to chase each other around the course, riding boards that have evolved to look more like windsurf boards than kiteboards. Photo Paul Lang




the engliShmanWith his aggressive wakestyle riding, Sam Light is quickly making a name for himself. Shown here in Australia, Sam grew up on Hayling Island on the south coast of England and is known not only for his riding, but for being able to fix up one mean cup of tea. Photo Toby Bromwich




GENETRIX KITEBOARDING

X-WY Boards shortThe X-WY Storm is the only short on the market designed specifically for extreme sports. Constructed of heavy-duty nylon and fully lined with removable hip pads, the Storm offers unbeatable protection for kiteboarding, wakeboarding, jet skiing, and all downhill sports. It features an adjustable closure system made with a stretchable band and velcro for a perfect fit, while an Elasthane Spandex flexible knee pad allows freer movement. The X-WY Storm will not ride up or catch below the knee during big air or freestyle sessions. When worn over a wetsuit, the shorts also offers excellent protection from damage caused by rocky beaches.

SIzES: S to XXXLcolorS: White/black, white/red, white/yellow MSrp: $129.95www.genetrixkitesurf.com/gntrx/xwy-buynow.html

LIQUID FORCEMoB Board short

Fit, function, and style all in one board short! The Liquid Force MOB utilizes Liquid stretch fabric technology that combines maximum 4-way flexibility for limitless freedom of motion, rash-free comfort, lightweight durability, and fast drying. The exclusive Liquid Force team fit gives the right amount of hang without the sag! A lycra fly closure and side zip pocket round off this perfect board short. You will never want to take these off!

SIzES: 28” to 38” waistcolorS: Black, green, and blueMSrp: $59.99www.liquidforcekites.com

SURF ShADES LLCsurf shades

Surf Shades Polarized Sunglasses are perfect for kiteboarding. The patented leash and collar makes Surf Shades safe, secure, and comfortable in all conditions. You can see more clearly, eliminate glare, and protect your eyes from spray. Surf Shades come with a one-year guarantee against loss in the water and are made with a polycarbonate frame and top quality polycarbonate lenses from Japan. The frame is padded and the leash is removable for all day use.

colorS: Black or silver frame with grey, brown, or yellow lensesMSrp: Polarized $69.99 - $79.99, Non-Polarized - $39.99 - $49.99www.surfshades.net

8NEW ProducTs

ProducT waTch

TO CHECK OuT

F-ONE sK8

The F-One SK8 makes its comeback in their 2010 product line! Ideal for carving, the SK8 is a wave oriented twin-tip that is playful and responsive. Intended for powerful carving, the SK8’s comfort in choppy waters and strong winds is just something you will have to feel for yourself to experience. The new SK8 is equipped with F-One’s 3D molded Platinum Pads and Straps for the best comfort, the Strap Lock 2 for easy mount and setup, and four G10 fins.

SIZES: 132x38 and 134x39cmcolorS: White, light blueMSrp: $749www.f-onekites.com

http://www.liquidforcekites.com

http://www.genetrixkitesurf.com/gntrx/xwy-buynow.html

http://www.surfshades.net

http://www.f-onekites.com



KGBSWAGs-Bend t-shirt

Stand out at the beach and show everyone your love of kiteboarding with this very soft 100% cotton, lightweight (4.5 oz), fitted t-shirt from Nor Cal based KGBswag. This bright and clean four-color graphic features an unhooked kiter mid trick, and adds a new look to an already diverse clothing and product line. The shirt is available for men and women in four colors.

SIZES: S to XLcolorS: (Men) Black, green, yellow, and light blue (Women) Azalea, black, green, and light blueMSrp: $19.95-$20.95www.KGBswag.com

MYSTIC WOMENhYpnotize 5/3 steaMer d/L

Mystic continues its focus on technical innovation and stylish wetsuits with the Mystic Women Hypnotize series. The featured item in this issue is the Mystic Women Hypnotize 5/3 Steamer. Shaped specifically for the female body shape, and with the use of 100% stretch/flexible neoprene, this wetsuit fits like a glove yet is easy to get on and off. Ideal for colder water or for the girls that need extra warmth, even during the in-between months.

SIzES: XS to XL color: Black with pink accents MSrp: TBDwww.mysticboarding.com

WoMen rez WaKeVest usCG TheMysticWomenRezWakevestisaUSCoast

Guard approved vest specifically designed for women. This neoprene vest offers tons of floatation and impact protection for wakeboarding or kiteboarding with a seat harness. Be sure to check out Mystic’s new women’s collection. From board shorts to harnesses to wetsuits, all products are specifically designed, shaped, and styled to meet the specific needs of women riders.

SIZES: XS to XL color: Black with pink accentsMSrp: $119.95www.mysticboarding.com

SLINGShOT SPORTSGoLf BaG

Built with the attention to detail that Slingshot is known for, this golf bag has many extra features that other bags don’t offer. For your packing and handling comfort, this bag features side and end-to-end carry handles, piggy back straps, a two-way outside zip pocket, two-way full zip, compression straps, a handy easy access outside pocket, and durable performance wheels. Slingshot’s Golf Bag will fit up to 152cm length boards and has protective rails located on the base, a padded board sleeve, and fully padded interior. Avoid excess baggage fees and keep it under 50 lbs.!

SIZES: 152 cm x 62 cm x 20 cmcolor: Black/Greywww.slingshotsports.com



http://www.KGBswag.com

http://www.slingshotsports.com



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PROS:• TheKahoonaisanice,

simple,no-gimmickkitethatyoucaneasilysetupandriderightoutofthebag.Thelackofbridleadjustmentstakestheguessworkoutofhowthekiteshouldbesetup.

• ThestabilityoftheKahoonaisfantastic.Itisveryeasytoflyattheedgeofthewindowanddriftsdownwindverywellwhileridingwaves.

CONS:• NoOne-PumpsystemavailableontheKahoona,whichsome

ridersmayseeasaprointermsofsimplicity.• TheKahoonasitsfurtherbackinthewindowthanotherBest

kites,soitdoesn’tgoupwindaswellasthe2010NemesisNXGorWaroo.

THE VERDICT:Thisisagreatkiteforbeginners,kitesurfers,unhookedriders,oranyoneelsewhowantsaneasy-to-use,stable,predictable,andeasy-to-relaunchkite.TheKahoonaisaveryforgivingkiteandthereforeisgreattolearnnewmoveson.Someriderswillnotbehappywiththelackofaone-pumpsystem.Ifyouwantthehighestpossibleperformanceinupwindabilityandjumping,youmaywanttolookattheNemesisNXG. T

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TESTER COmmENTS: “The Kahoona is a very stable and predictable kite with good predictable turning speed, good drift for wave riding, and an easy relaunch.” –Gary Martin, 175 lbs., Surf Kiter.

“This kite is great for new riders, wave-specific riders, or intermediate riders wanting to improve unhooked kiting ability.” –Kinsley Thomas Wong, 155 lbs, Freestyle/Unhooked/Big Air Kiter

CONSumER REVIEw: Dee at kiteboardingreview.com“The build quality has gone way up, same as the new Waroo and NXG. The new LE seams and pads look perfect; last year’s Kahoona could look a little ‘ropey’, like a price point kite, but there’s no hint of that on the V2.” Read the full review at www.kiteboardingreview.com/best/161-best-kahoona-v2-2010

TESTED:11.5mAVAILABLE SIZES:5.5,7.5,9.5,11.5,13.5m TESTED IN:PismoBeach&SanDiego,CA/13-18knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERThenewlyimprovedKahoonablendsexceptionalperformanceandhandlingwithadvancedsafetyfeaturesthatmakeittheperfectkiteforadvancingyourridinglevel,regardlessofyourpreferredridingstyle.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx: ComparedtothepreviousKahoona,therearemanyobviouschangestotheKahoonaV2.Thegraphicsaremuchimproved,thebridleconnectionpointshavemoved,andtheleadingedgeconstructionhasbeenupdated.Likethepreviousversion,theKahoonaisafour-strutkitewithalargestrut-lessmiddlecanopy.Oncepumpedup,theleadingedgeandstrutsareobviouslystifferthanthe2009Kahoona.TheKahoonadoesnotcomewithaone-pumpsystem.

OurtestkitecamewiththeBestRed-LineBar,whichisabouttobeupdated.Thebarfeaturesfullcarbonconstruction,700-poundratedlines,anabove-the-bardepowerstrap,andapush-awayquickrelease.Theincludedkitebagisalittlesmall,soyouhavetofoldtheKahoonaupcarefullyifyouexpectittoeasilyfitbackintothebag.TheKahoona’sbridlefeaturesonepulleyandtworingspersideandeachwear-pointiseasilyreplaceable.

ON THE wATER:Inthesky,theKahoonaisastablekite.Placedanywherealongtheedgeofthewindow,theKahoonarequiredminimalattentiontoflyandshowednosignsofstalling.TheKahoona’sturninghasaverydirectandsnappyfeeltoitandthekitepullsconsistentlythroughturnsandfinishesloopswithoutthetendencytostall.BarpressureontheKahoonaisintheupper-mediumrange,butisnotexcessivebyanymeans.

BecausetheKahoonasitsbackinthewindow,thishurtsitsupwindability,butnotexcessively.TherangefromtheKahoonaisamazingonbothlowandhighsidesandone200-poundtesterwasabletoridethe11.5whenotherriderswereon14mkites.Depowerisincredible,almostexcessive.Asyoueasethebarout,thepowergoesawayveryquicklywithoutmuchtravelonthebar.YoucanactuallydepowertheKahoonasofarthattheentirecanopyluffs,soyouhavetobecarefultonotletgoofthebarwhenunspinningit,otherwisethekitewillcompletelydepower.

JumpsontheKahoonaareveryfloatyandeasytocontrol.TheKahoonaremainsstableevenwhenunhookedandisalmosteffortlesstorelaunchfromthewater.

8 Pump the Kahoona up very hard, up to 10-11 psi according to Best.

8 Make sure you sheet the bar in as you take off for jumps to get an extra boost. Since you can so easily control the power from the Kahoona, you can instantly have more power at your disposal by sheeting in just a few inches.




http://www.kiteboardingreview.com/best/161-best-kahoona-vs-2010

PROS:• Verygoodperformancekiteforunhooked

ridingandkitelooping.• TheTrixisagoodwave-ridingkite.

CONS:• TheGKTrixdoesnothavefantastic

low-endpower.• Bridlesettingsandsafetyquickreleaseboth

takesometimetounderstand.Thiskiteisveryadjustable,whichisgreatforpeoplewholiketotuneandtweakandbadforthoseaftersimplicity.

8 Learn how the quick release works and how it goes back together before you take this kite in the water. Every tester who rode this kite agrees that the system is easy to use once figured out, but it’s not very intuitive at first.

8 Go to http://www.globespirit.com and watch the videos about the bar and bridle adjustments to better understand how to tune this kite.

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THE VERDICT:TheGKTrixisagreatkiteforfreestyleriding,especiallyifyouliketobeabletochangesettingstochangeuphowyourkiteflies.Bepreparedtospendsometimetolearntheintricaciesofhowtoadjusteverythingonthiskite.TheTrixiseasytorelaunchandhasgreatdownwinddriftforridingwaves.Ifyouareaftertopupwindandjumpingperformance,youmaywanttocheckouttheGKSonic.

TESTER COmmENTS: “Great kite for freestyle riding! Kiteloops, downloops, and powered tricks are easy on this kite. It turns so fast and the loops are forgiving even if you miss the timing a little.” –Phil Midler, 175 lbs., Freestyle Kiter.

“This is a very nice kite that would suit anyone who likes freestyle, freeriding, kitelooping, or unhooking as well as a great kite for new riders.” –Kinsley Thomas Wong, 155 lbs, Freestyle/Unhooked/Big Air Kiter.

CONSumER REVIEw: Leapin Len at Kiteforum.com“The GK Trix is outstanding. The 12 feels like a C-kite as far as responsiveness to rider input and it has complete depower. The construction is far more durable than any other kite out there and it’s got a nice compact bridle system that is completely adjustable so you can vary the bar pressure depending on your style…” Read the full review at http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2363317&p=642571

GloBetrixTESTED:9mAVAILABLE SIZES:5.5,7,9,12,15mTESTED IN:PismoBeach,CA/16-18knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERFor2010,theTrixhasbeentotallyredesigned.Itismoresweptback,morelikeamediumaspectratiodelta.Thecentralprofileisthesame,butthedragonthetipsislower,makingthekiteflyfasterandgeneratemorepower.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx: ThefirstthingthatstoodouttousontheTrixisthenumberofadjustmentsthatcanbemadeonitsbridle.Thiskiteshouldpleaseeveryriderwholikestotuneandadjustgear.TheTrixisafive-strutkitethatinflateswithaone-pumpsystem.Theleadingedge,whichisverysweptback,usesthesamebomberconstructionthatwesawontheSonic.

TheTrixusesthesamebarastheGKSonicwhichfeaturesanicemoldedgripandmultipleleashattachmentpoints.Thebar’sthrowisquicklyadjustablewhichallowsyoutomovetheabove-bardepowerstrapclosertotheriderforthosewhohaveshorterarms.Thequickreleaseiseasytoactivate,butdifficulttoputbacktogetheruntilyouunderstandhowitworks.Makesureyouknowhowtoreassembleitonland,asyouareunlikelytolearnhowtodoitinthewater.

ON THE wATER:Astested,theGKTrixhadmediumbarpressureandquick(butnotsuperfast)turning,buttheseaspectsofthekitecanbetunedtotherider’slikingthroughtheadjustablebridle.Steeringfeelsverydirectandthekitedoesn’tlosepowerthroughsharpturnsorloops.WhenyoudivetheTrix,thepowerispunchyandcomesonfast.Itdepowersquickly,butthekite’sforgivenessdefinitelydecreasesatitsupperrange.WefoundtheTrixtobeveryeasytorelaunch.

Unhooked,theTrixperformsverywellanditneverhasthetendencytoback-stall.Inthewaves,theTrixfeelsnimbleandresponsive,andhasgreatdownwinddrift.BecausetheTrixsitsbackslightlyinthewindow,it’sdoesn’thavetopupwindperformance.Forkiteloopsandlowandfastmoves,theTrixisagreatkite,andalsoperformswellforbigairjumps.TheTrixdoesnothavegreatlow-endpower,butreallycomesaliveoncepoweredup.


http://globespirit.com/globespirit/viewPage.php?ID=TrixGKDelta2010

http://globespirit.com/globespirit/viewPage.php?ID=TrixGKDelta2010


http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2363317&p=642571


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PROS:• Thisisaverystablekite,evenwhen

unhookedorturningdownwindonawave.• TheCharger’sincrediblyeasyrelaunch

makesitsuperfriendlytolearn(andprogress)with.

CONS:• Theultra-lightbarpressurecantakesome

gettingusedtoforsomeriders.• Noone-pumpsystem,butthiscouldbe

aproforsimplicity-obsessedriders.Wewouldhavelikedtohaveseenone-wayvalvesonthebladders.

THE VERDICT:Forpeoplelookingforakitetolearnandprogresson,theChargerisagreatkite.Naishreducedthepricebyskippingtheone-pumpdesign(whichwilldisappointsomeriders),butstillkeptthebuildqualityhigh.Theeasyrelaunching,stability,andpredictableflyingmakestheChargeragreatkitethatwon’tholdyouback.Itsabilitytodriftdownwindwitharideralsomakesitagoodkiteinthesurf.RiderswholikemorebarpressureorthebestjumpingperformanceshouldlookattheNaishHelix. T

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naishCharger

TESTER COmmENTS: “The Charger is great for new riders, wave-specific riders, or intermediate riders wanting to improve unhooked kiting ability.” –Kinsley Thomas Wong, 155 lbs, Freestyle/Unhooked/Big Air Kiter.

“The ease of relaunching was nice while the light bar pressure took a little to get used to. The kite turned smoothly and responded well to changes in wind speed, never falling out of the sky even in the lightest lulls.” –Andy Kraft, 200 lbs., Freestyle Kiter.

CONSumER REVIEw: Pro merc from Seabreeze.com.auI have ridden the 9m Charger a few times and it is one of the better delta kites out there; it’s like a jack of all trades and will suit anyone for pretty much everything. It has all the good delta characteristics of good bottom end, big range, fast turning, and very good relaunch, but does have a much lighter bar pressure than other deltas, which I liked a lot.” Read the full review at http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=58447

TESTED:11mAVAILABLE SIZES:3.5,5,7,8,11,13m TESTED IN:PismoBeach,CA/12-18knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERTheChargerincorporatesGeoTechseamshapingintoaDeltaoutlinetoredefinestability,low-endpower,andeaseofrelaunch.TheChargerisakiteforall-terrainriderswhorequireeffortlesswaterrelaunchandaddedlow-endlift.ItsuniquedesigncoupledwithNaish’sprovenqualityinconstructionandtheworld’snumberonecontrolsystemmakeitanidealchoiceforallfreeridekiters.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx: NaishcallstheChargeraDeltaKite,butsincethey’veappliedtheNaishGeoTechtoit,itlooksdifferentcomparedtootherdeltadesigns.Wethoughtthatone-pumphadbecomestandardonnewkites,buttheChargerisoneofthreekitesinthismonth’stesttonotincludeasingle-pointinflationsystem.Wedidn’tmindpumpinguptheindividualbladders,buttheadditionofone-wayvalveswouldhavebeenappreciated.

Onceinflated,theChargerseemedveryrigid.Theshortbridleisverysimpleandhasjustonepulleyperside.Thehigh-wearareaofthebridleiseasilyreplaceableandtherearlineattachmentsareadjustabletotunebarpressureandturningspeed.

TheChargercomeswiththesamecontrolsystemastherestoftheNaishkites,anditisacleanandwell-thoughtoutsystem.Weespeciallylikethesoftrubberbarends.TheNaishbarfeaturesapush-awayquickrelease,below-bardepower,andanicelyflaredlargealuminumcenterhole.

ON THE wATER:WhenwefirststartedflyingtheCharger,weweresurprisedbyhowwellitflewinlightwind.Itneverhintedtowardsstalling,andeveninlightwinditturnedwithease.TheCharger’sbarpressureisverylight,whichsometesterslovedandothersdisliked.TheCharger’sdepowerisverysmoothandthekitesitsbackfromtheedgeofthewindow.

WhenitcametimetorelaunchtheCharger,itcouldn’thavebeeneasier.Itfeelslikeit’seasiertorelaunchthekitethanitistokeepitonthewater.Inthesurf,theChargerperformedverywell,driftingdownwindwiththeriderandrespondingtoinputsevenwhileextremelydepowered.Eventhoughthiskitelooksdifferentcomparedtootherdeltakites,it’skepttheusualdeltacharacteristicofbeingagreatall-aroundkite.

8 Use the stopper ball on the depower line to keep the bar from getting too far away from you if you let go.

8 Experiment with the steering line attachments on the kite to dial in bar pressure to your preference.

http://www.naishkites.com/en/kites/charger.html

http://www.naishkites.com/en/kites/charger.html


http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?topic_id=58447

PROS:• Excellentstability,especiallydirectlyoverhead

atthetopofthewindow.•Cleanandsimplecontrolsystemwiththe

knownsafetyofthefifth-line.

CONS:•Battensontheleadingandtrailingedgesmake

theRebelalittletrickytofoldupproperly.• Thereisaslightlagtimeforthekiteto

respondwhenstartingturnswithoutmuchpowerinthekite.

8 As with most modern kites, make sure you pump the Rebel up nice and hard.

8 Don’t forget to close the dump valve before you start inflating the kite. We did this twice.T

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THE VERDICT:TheRebelisagooduser-friendlykitethatwillsuitalotofpeople.Thelackofbridleadjustmentstakestheguessworkoutofsettingthekiteup.Therock-solidstability,predictablehandling,easyrelaunch,andverywidewindrangewillappealtobeginnersandexperiencedridersalike.Thiskitehasenoughperformancetosuitmostriders,butifyouarelookingfortheultimatefreestylekite,youmaywanttocheckouttheNorthVegas.

TESTER COmmENTS: “The North Rebel will offer trouble-free kiting for riders of all levels. The stability of the kite, coupled with the safety of the fifth line makes for a great kite to progress with and have fun on.” –Andy Kraft, 200 lbs., Freestyle Kiter.

“The Rebel is effortless to fly because of its stability and the fifth line adds a reassuring level of safety, but watch out for the famous fifth-line bowtie if the Rebel goes down in the surf.” –Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter.

CONSumER REVIEw: wA Surf at Kiteboardingreview.com“The kite seems to fly through the window better than last year. When you are working your kite in light winds it no longer stops and pivots but now flies and turns with speed and in a fluid motion that allows you to get a bit more bottom end power out of your Rebel…” Read the full review at http://www.kiteboardingreview.com/north/127-north-rebel-2010

northrebel TESTED:10,12mAVAILABLE SIZES:5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,14,16m TESTED IN: PismoBeach,CA/15-21knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERFromflat-waterfreedomtotearingthebagoutofanysizesurf,the2010Rebelistheall-terrainfreeride/wavekiteofyourdreams.Smooth,lively,andresponsivesteering,evenwhende-powered,makesittheidealkiteforsurfingandablasttorideinanyconditions.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx: Rightoutofthebag,thefirstthingwenoticedabouttheRebelwastheattentiontodetailonthekite.TheRebeldefinitelycomeswithallthebellsandwhistles.Thisisafive-linefive-strutkitewithaone-pumpsystem.Makesureyouclosethedumpvalvebeforeyoustartinflating.ThisiseasytoforgetontheRebelbecausethevalveislocatednearoneofthewingtips.TheRebelhasbattensontheleadingandtrailingedgesandfeaturesauniquefloatingcenterstrut.Thecenterstrutisnotattacheddirectlytothecanopy,butfloatsbelowitandisattachedtothecanopybyapieceofmaterial.Therearlinebridlesfeatureabungeethatpullsthebridleuptothekitewhenthere’snotensiononthelineswhich,accordingtoNorth,preventstherearlinesfromcatchingonthekitewhenrelaunching.Therearenotuningoptionsonthebridle.

TheRebelcomeswithNorth’swell-knownfifth-elementbar,whichfeaturesapush-awayquickrelease,above-bartrim,andaverysimpleandcleanlayout.Youcaneitherattachyourleashdirectlytothefifthlineoryoucanputtheharnessloopthroughthefifth-lineringandthenattachyourleashforasuicideconnectionthatstillallowsfulldepowerifyouactivatethequickrelease.Thelinesfeellargerandrougherthanothers,andareratedfora600lb.breakingstrength.

ON THE wATER:TheRebelisanextremelystablekite,especiallystraightoverhead.WetriedtomaketheRebeloverflyandstall,buteverytimethelinesbegantoslack,theRebelwouldbackupandremainrocksolid.Thisisabigplusforbeginnersorpeoplewhoflyingustywinds.TheRebelturnssmoothlyandpredictably,butthereisaslightlagtimeforittorespondwheninitiatingturns,atthebeginningofapowerstrokeforexample.

TheRebel’sbarpressureismediumandthekitedoesn’tseemtolosemuchpowerthroughturns.Impressively,theRebelstillhandlesverywellevenwhenextremelydepowered.Upwindperformanceisverygood,especiallyforakitethisstableandtheRebeloffersplentyofjumpingperformance.Inthewaves,theRebeldriftsdownwindverywellandremainsstable,butisalittleslowtostartturnswhenthekitehaslittlepower.Becauseofitsstability,theRebelisveryforgiving,allowingthekitetoremainflyingevenifyoumakehugemistakes.


http://www.northkites.com/public/content/products/kites/rebel/index_eng.html



http://www.kiteboardingreview.com/north/127-north-rebel-2010


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TESTER COmmENTS: “The T5 is a great all-around kite that riders of all levels will immediately feel comfortable on with good low end, wind range, stability, and smooth power delivery.” –Marina Chang, 130 lbs., Freestyle/Surf Kiter.

“The Nobile T5 is a great kite for beginner to intermediate riding and boosting and handles decently in the waves. Good bar pressure and response makes it very easy to feel the kite in the air.” –Michael Perdone, 175 lbs., Freestyle Kiter.

CONSumER REVIEw: Robin Goodlad at Powerkiteshop.com“This is a great first-time kiteboarding kite! Easy to setup! Easy to get going! Big wind range and no real problems with any of the flying sessions…” Read the full review at http://www.powerkiteshop.com/nobile-555-kite-2008.htm

TESTED:10mAVAILABLE SIZES:5,7,9,10,12,14mTESTED IN:Oceano,CA,12-22knots/mediumchoppysurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERTheNobile555kiterangemayhaveanewname,look,andbridleconfiguration,butthenewNobileT5retainsallofthecharacteristicsthatmadeitspredecessoratestwinner,whilstimprovingitsversatilityandappealasahigh-performancefreeridekite.ThroughfurtherdevelopmentofNobile’sNaturalArcTechnology,NobilehasreconfiguredtheSLEgeometrytoallowforthecompleteseparationofthefrontandrearbridlesections,removingtheconnectingpulley.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx: TheT-5fromNobileisaclean-lookingkitewithafewuniquefeatures.Thefirstthingsthatjumpedoutatusweretheuniqueone-pumpconnections.TheT5hassmallrubbertubesthatconnectrigidplasticpiecesoneachbladder,unlikeanyothersingle-pointinflationwehaveeverseen.Theleadingedgeisverysweptbackandthebridleisshortandcompact.Therear-lineconnectionpointsareadjustabletotunebarpressureandturningspeed.TheT5isathreestrutkiteandtheconstructionontheleadingedgegivestheimpressionthattheLEisbulletproof.

TheNobilebarfeaturesanabove-bardepower,adjustablestopper,push-awayquickrelease,andaveryuniqueharnessloop.Theharnessloopismadefromrigidplasticandisalittleonthesmallside.Beawarethattheharnessloopseparatesfromtherestofthecontrolsystemwhenyouactivatethequickrelease,whichmeansitcouldbelostifyoupulledyourreleasewithoutthedonkeystickengaged.

ON THE wATER:Inthesky,theT5haslight-mediumbarpressureandthepowercomesonverysmoothlywhenyoudivethekite.Asyougetagustofwind,youcanfeelthebarpressureslightlyincrease,whichgivesyouagoodfeelingoftheamountofpowerinthekite.TheT-5isastablekiteanditsitsbackinthewindow,whichmakesitnotthebestperformerforgettingupwind.Turningisquickonceinitiated,butthereseemstobeaslightlagatthebeginningofturns.

Accordingtoourtesters,theT5waswell-behavedandneverdidanythingunexpected.Thiskitewasveryeasytorelaunch,eveninthesurf.Unhookedperformancewasaverage,notthebest,butagain,thekitedidn’tdoanythingunexpectedandshoweditselftobeveryforgiving.Forastablefreeridekite,theNobileT5hadsurprisinglygoodjumpingperformance.

8 Like most modern kites, the Nobile T5 performs better and is easier to relaunch when pumped up hard.

8 Use the stopper to limit the amount of depower so you can keep the bar close and prevent the kite from depowering completely if you let go of the bar momentarily.

PROS:• TheNobileT5issimpleandeasytodeal

withmakingitgreatasagrab-and-gono-fusskitewithouthavingtoworryaboutfiguringthingsoutoradjustingsettings.

• Goodall-aroundperformancethatwillpleasebeginner-intermediateriders.

CONS:• Theuniquemoldedplasticharnessloopis

alittleonthesmallsideandtakessomegettingusedto,especiallyifyouliketounhook.Wefoundthedonkeysticktobestiffandslightlyawkward.

• TheNobileT5hasaslightlagwheninitiatingturns.

THE VERDICT:TheT5isaverygoodall-aroundkite.It’sstableinthesky,easytorelaunch,andisakitethatmostriderswillfeelimmediatelycomfortableon.Theverybeefyconstruction(theT5hasprobablythestrongest-lookingleadingedgewe’veeverseen)shouldbeabletostanduptoalotofabuse.Thisisagreatkiteforbeginnersandriderswhowantasimplefreeridekitethatworkswellwithoutdoinganythingunexpected.Ifyouareaftertopjumpingand/orupwindperformance,youmaywanttolookattheNobileNHP.

Tip

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http://www.nobilekiteboarding.com/#/kite-t5

http://www.nobilekiteboarding.com/#/kite-t5


http://www.powerkiteshop.com/nobile-555-kite-2008.htm

PROS:• TheKeyisaveryfunuser-friendlykitethatisvery

non-intimidating.• WhenpackagedwiththeIgnitionBoard,thisset

uprepresentsanexcellentvalue.

CONS:• Thedepowerlineisdifficulttotrimwhenadjusted

tofullpower.Keepatleastoneinchoftrimuntilyougetafewsessionsin.

• Whileturningtowardsthekitesurfingwaves,theKeydoesnotfloatdownwindwiththeriderwell.

8 Depower the kite slightly so there are a few inches of line to grab if you want to depower it more. Otherwise it’s nearly impossible to pull the trim line in while on the water.

8 In the waves, keep some power in the kite by moving it from one side of the window to the other as you turn on the wave.T

ips

THE VERDICT:TheKeyisagreatkiteforbeginningkiteboarders,especiallythosewhoareeasilyintimidatedwhenlearninghowtoflyakite.Itisverystable,hasalotofdepower,andhasaneasy-goingfeel.Thegoodupwindperformance,simpleandcleancontrolsystem,smoothpowerdeliveryandboostingabilityalsomakeitagreatkiteforridersofalllevels.Ifyouliketoridefastandfeelalotofpower,youmaywanttolookattheFuelorRPM.

TESTER COmmENTS: “I got the chance to test the 10m Key with about ten other riders of intermediate to pro level experience, all varying in weight from 130 to 200 lbs. No one expected very much, but all came back with big smiles on their faces, including me! It was a very fun and easy-to-use kite that we all felt immediately comfortable on.” –Marina Chang, 130 lbs., Surf/Freestyle Kiter.

“The Key is the least intimidating kite I have ever flown. It’s a very controllable and safe-feeling kite that beginners will find very easy to use.” –Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter.

CONSumER REVIEw: Jrfiol at Kiteforum.comI finally got to try the 13M Key. The wind had died down a bit, but was still 14-16 knots. I can honestly say that the kite is real solid. It’s not the fastest kite, but is really easy to deal with… Read the full review at http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2363295&start=20

TESTED:10mAVAILABLE SIZES: 7,10,13mTESTED IN:PismoBeach,CA/15-18knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERTheSlingshotKEYHDisthenewestkiteintheSlingshotlineupfeaturingtheHybridDeltacanopy.Benefitstothefreeride-mindedriderareunmatchedrange,superbupwindability,easywaterrelaunch,instant100%depower,andsafetyinacleanuncomplicatedpackage.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx: SlingshotisofferingtheKeyinapackagewiththeIgnitionBoard,andwewereimpressedbythequalityofthissetup,especiallyasabeginnerpackage.TheKeyiswhatSlingshotcallsaHybridDeltaShapeanditisafive-strutone-pumpkite.Foraprice-pointkite,theKeystillhasalloftheusualSlingshotdurabilityfeaturesanditdoesnotfeellikeacheapkiteatall.Thebridleisrelativelyshortandisadjustabletoadjusttheamountofbarpressureanddepower.

TheKeyshipswiththebrandnewKeychaincontrolbar,whichisveryclean.Thebarfeaturesabelow-the-bardepower,push-awayquickrelease,andarubbergripthatsometesterslovedandothersdidn’tespeciallylike.Wefoundthedepowerlinechallengingtotrimifthekiteissetatfullpower.Slingshotsaidthiswillworkitselfoutafterafewsessionsasthelinewearstobetterseatinthecleat.

ON THE wATER:TheKeyisanextremelystablekitethatfeelsverylightandresponsiveinthesky.WhenyoudivetheKeyintothepowerzone,thepowercomesonverysmoothly.Barpressureislight,butafeaturethatwereallylikedisthatthebarpressureseemstoincreaseslightlywhenyougetagust,allowingtheridertoeasilyfeelthepowerofthekitewithoutbeingoverwhelmed.

TheKeyisaveryfunkitewithaneasygoingnatureonthewater.Supercomfortableandnon-intimidatingtoride,thiskitesimplydoeswhatyouaskofitwithoutanybadhabitsthatwecouldnotice.TheKeyhasplentyofupwindandjumpingperformancefortheintermediateandaboverider.Inthewaves,theKeydoesnotfloatdownwindwiththeriderverywell,butitworksfineinthesurfaslongasyoukeepthekitepowered.Relaunchingwasveryeasy,evenaftersendingitthroughthewashcycleofthePismobeachbreak.

slinGshotkey hD


http://www.slingshotsports.com/Key-HD?sc=45&category=26141

http://www.slingshotsports.com/Key-HD?sc=45&category=26141


http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2363295&start=20

an

aly

ze

this

PROS:• TheWainmanHawaiikitesaresimplicityat

itsbest.Everythinghasbeendesignedtobesimple,clean,andeasytouse.

• ThestabilityandpredictabilityoftheBossarebothamazing.Thismaybethemoststablekitewe’veevertested.

CONS:• It’snotobvious(especiallytobeginners)

wheretheleashshouldbeconnected.• Someriderswillnotbehappythatthere

isnoone-pumpoptionontheWainmanHawaiikites.

8 Pump up the Boss very hard. When you set the kite on the beach, the middle of the leading edge should sit about six inches above the sand.

8Move the ring that comes attached to the harness loop to the chicken loop. This will be the appropriate spot for most kiters to attach their leash.

THE VERDICT:TheWainmanHawaiiBossisafantasticall-aroundkite.EverythingaboutthekiteiselegantlysimpleandtheBossisagreatperformer.Thestabilityandstupidly-easyrelaunchmakethisagreatkiteforbeginnerswhilethepredictability,directturning,greatperformance,andno-nonsensedesignwillappealtomanyintermediateandadvancedriders.TheBossdoesn’tjumpashighorflyasfarupwindassomeotherkites,andthelackofaone-pumpsystemwillturnsomeridersaway.Ifyouarelookingforagreatall-aroundkitethatexcelsforarangeofconditionsandridingstyles,theBossfitsthatbillverywell.

Tip

s

Wainman haWaiiboss

TESTED:12mAVAILABLE SIZES:RabbitGangsizesinclude5,7,9,12,15mTESTED IN:PismoBeach,CA/15-18knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERThisisthe12-gaugethatshootswiththepowerofa15whilerotatingwiththeeaseofa9.Surelythefirstchoiceforlargerridersinlighttomediumwindconditionsandagreatkitetohaveforeveryoneelsewhowantstohavefunonlight-winddays.Fortherightperson,itshouldbeconsideredaseriousandsolidplayerwhenthewindgetsstronger.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx: WainmanHawaiistrivesforsimplicityandcleanlinessintheirdesigns,andtheyhaveachievedthatwiththeBoss.TheBossisathree-strutkitewithnoone-pumpsystem.Theleadingedgeislargerthanmost12mkitesandisincrediblyrigidonceinflated.TheBoss’sshortandsimplebridleisadjustabletochangehowfarupwindthekitefliesandiswell-labeledandeasytoadjust.TheBossshipswithanextraharnessloop,sparechickenloop,andmini-fifthlinethatcanberiggedontothebarforanothersafetyoption.

Thecontrolbarfeatures24mlines(17m+7mextensions),anabove-bardepower,andpush-awayquickrelease.TheBosscomeswitharemovableringattachedtotheharnessloopwhichmostriderswouldassumeisthecorrectplacetoattachtheirleash,butthiswillnotprovidefor100%depowerandyouwillbeseparatedfromyourkiteifyouactivatethequickrelease.Beginnersshouldattachtheirleashtotheattachmentononeofthefrontlinesorsetupthebarwiththemini-fifthline(WainmanreferstothislineasDoubleDepower).

ON THE wATER:Onceinthesky,thestabilityoftheBossisimmediatelynoticeable.Thiskiteneverfeelslikeit’sgoingtostall,evenunhooked.TheBossneverseemstodistortorflutterandisanamazinglysmooth-feelingkite.TheBosshasgreatlow-endpower,butthepowerisveryeasytocontrol.

BarpressureontheBossisonthelightsideofmediumandturningfeelsverysimilartoaC-Kite,wherethekite’spowerdeliveryremainssmooththroughtheentireturn.Inthewaves,theBossdriftsdownwindwiththerider,yetisalwaysreadytoquicklyrespondtoinputs.TheBosssitsbackalittledeeperinthewindowthanmostkites,butyoucanstillgetupwindeasilyifyouridewithpoweranduseyouredgingskills.JumpingandloopingtheBossisapleasure,asitalwaysrespondsverypredictablyandnevergivesanyindicationofstalling.RelaunchingtheBossisalmostautomaticandtakesverylittleinputfromtheridertobeflyingagain.

TESTER COmmENTS: “The Boss feels very light and responsive and the attention to detail really shows from the graphics down to the smallest details of the package; very well thought out!” –Gary Martin, 175 lbs., Surf Kiter.

“The Boss is a refreshingly doodad-free piece of equipment. Riders who appreciate simplicity and clean control systems will love the Boss.” –Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter

CONSumER REVIEw: Ice at kitecrowd.com“Just bought the Boss and the Smoke and wow what awesome kites. I’ve only flown the Boss, but if the Smoke is anything like it then I am stoked. These things are grunty as hell. Power delivery is so smooth and the kite is quick as hellRead the full review at http://forum.kitecrowd.com/kitesurfing/wainman-kites-147240-2.html


http://www.wainmanhawaii.com/kites/rabbit/black/boss

http://www.wainmanhawaii.com/kites/rabbit/black/boss


http://forum.kitecrowd.com/kitesurfing/wainman-kites-147240-2.html

Tip

s 8 Remember that quads are set up with the larger fins in front. We initially set up our test board wrong, although no one would admit to it.

8 Put a little wax on the board in front of the front pad, especially if you ride the board strapless.

TESTER COmmENT:“The Naish 5’8” Fish is a good all-around surfboard for kiting. With a fairly flat rocker, the board planes quite easily even for bigger guys like myself. The board tracks very well even at speed and exhibits no squirreliness whatsoever.” –Mike “Hammer” Mack, 240 lbs., Surf Kiter.

CautiontrepassTHE VERDICT:TheTrespass5’10”isagreatboardifyouwanttoreallysurfwaveswithyourkite.Thisisalargerboard,soyoucanutilizethepowerofthewave,insteadofthepowerofyourkite.TheuniqueSpeedWingfinsreallyseemtoworkwellandthisboardisveryeasytospeeduporslowdowntostayonthecriticalsectionofthewave.Thisboardisnolightweight,butaccordingtoCautionthenextbatchofboardswillbelighter.Thisshredstickisforyouifyouarelookingforalargerboardthatcanstayonawavefacewithoutrelyingonpowerfromthekite.Ifyouwantahigh-speeddirectionalforblastingaroundinthewavesatfullpower,lookelsewhere.

TESTED: 5’10”AVAILABLE SIZES:TrespassLineincludes5’5”,5’10”,6’0”TESTED IN:PismoBeach,CA/15-18knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERThisisanewdesignfortheexistingTrespassline.ThisboardessentiallydeliverstheperformanceoftheTrespass5’5”toourlargerriders.The5’10”hasalittlemorevolumewiththesamespeedanddrivewhileofferingalittlemoreglidefordown-the-lineriding.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORT:OuT OF THE BOx:The5’10”Trespasslooksandfeelslikearegularsurfboard.TheTrespassisbuiltusingatraditionalPUconstruction,andourtestboardwasnotlight.Thewidestpartoftheboard(18.25”)isnearthefrontfootstrapandwewerehappytoseeFuturefinboxesinstalled,whichgivestheenduseraccesstoanumberofdifferentfinstotry.Thesuppliedthrusterfinsareveryunique,withthetipsoftheoutsidefinscantedout.

ON THE wATER:The5’10”isaveryfast,smooth,andsnappysurfboard.Onceupandmoving,theweightoftheboardcouldnotreallybefeltandtheboardfeltverystable.Thisisaverysnappyboardthatissurprisinglymaneuverableandisveryeasytospeeduptogetaroundsections.TheTrespassridesthroughthechopverywellandismostathomeonthefaceofawave,whereyoucanfeelfreetorideitjustasifyouwerepaddle-surfing,withno

powerfromyourkite.

Tip

s 8 Don’t be afraid to ride this board strapless. It is very stable underfoot and is a great board to get used to moving your feet around on.

8 Focus on being on the right section of the wave and using the power of the wave with this board, instead of relying on the power of your kite to blast around in the surf.

TESTER COmmENT:“The Trespass comes with excellent fins! This thruster set up gives the board more drive when going slow and allows the board to be ridden flatter than with standard thruster fins.” –Gary Martin, 175 lbs., Surf Kiter.

TESTED: 5’8”AVAILABLE SIZES:5’4”,5’8”,6’0”TESTED IN:PismoBeach,CA/18-22knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERTheCustomRangeofferstheindustry’shighestperformanceshapes,theleadingpremiumconstructiontechnology,andthemostexpansiveselection.TheFishRangeissuperbuttery-smoothfun.TheFish5’8”isoneboardthatdoeseverythingwitheasyhandlingandsmoothcarving.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORT:Out of the Box:Thebrightyellowgraphicsonthisboardmeanyouwillneverhavetroublefindingitinthesurf!The5’8”NaishCustomWaveFishisagoodlookingboard,withamildswallowtailandthewidestpointoftheboard(18.25”)justbehindthefrontfootstrap.Naishcallsthisboardafish,butitreallydoesn’tlooklikeatraditionalfishsurfboard.TheFish’srockerisfairlyflat,especiallyintherearhalfoftheboard.

Thisboardisconstructedusinganepoxy/EPS/PVCsandwich,anditisnolightweight.TheFishcomesinstalledwithquadDFSfinboxes,whichareconvenientlycompatiblewithFCSfins.

On the water:TheNaishFishisaveryquick-to-planeboardthatridesverysmoothly,eveninsuperchoppywater.Thisboard’sstabilitymakesitagreatboardtoridestraplessortolearnjibingon,infactwehadadifficulttimegettingourtesterstoputthestrapsonforatest!Thefrontpadisn’tquitebigenoughwhenridingstrapless,butyoucanremedythiswithalittlewaxontheforwardpartoftheboard.

TheFishgoesupwindlikecrazy.Onthesurfaceofawaveitreallylivensup,andyouareabletogetalotofdriveoutofthequadfins.Likewesaid,this

boardisalittleheavy,buttheweightwasnevernoticeablewhileriding.

naishCustom Wave Fish

THE VERDICT:Thisboardwillbeverycomfortableforalllevelsofkitesurfers,andisagreatall-aroundboardforkitinginthewaves.Ifyouareafteranultra-lightweightboardoraboardthepivotsmore(i.e.athruster),youmaywanttolookelsewhere.WewereespeciallyimpressedbyhoweasytheFishwastoridestrapless,evenintheonshorechopofPismoBeach.


http://www.naishkites.com/en/boards/custom_fish.html

http://www.naishkites.com/en/boards/custom_fish.html

http://www.cautionsantacruz.com/product_info.php?products_id=50

http://www.cautionsantacruz.com/product_info.php?products_id=50


slinGshotignition

THE VERDICT:TheIgnitionisaperfectstarterboardthatanewriderwillbeabletousefortheirfirstfewseasons,oruntiltheydesireafasterorhigher-performanceboard.TheIgnitionandKeyHDpackagethatSlingshotispushingthisyearisagreatpackagefornewkiters,andwesuspectthatthey’llhavealotofsuccesswiththis.TheIgnition’sperformanceiscompletelyacceptableforevenanintermediaterider,justbeawarethatitisstifferthanmanyboardscurrentlyonthemarket.

TESTED: 140cmAVAILABLE SIZES:140x42,150x44.5TESTED IN:PismoBeach,CA/15-18knotsandmediumsurf

FROm THE mANuFACTuRERProgressionandevolutionarekeyelementstobuildingconfidenceandultimatesuccessinlearninghowtokiteboard.Havingtherighttoolattherightpriceisequallyimportant.SlingshotshowcasesthenewandimprovedIGNITIONseriestwintipboardtocompletetheformula.Benefitsoftheuser-friendlyoutline,qualityoveralldesign,affordablepricewhencombinedwiththeKEYkite,andourcommitmenttosuperiorcustomerservicemaketheIGNITIONtwintipboardtheperfectanswerforfreeriders.

THE KITEBOARDER REPORTOuT OF THE BOx:TheIgnitionboardisavailableinapackagewiththeSlingshotKeyHDkite,whichisalsoreviewedinthisissue.ThisisSlingshot’sentry-levelboard,butthere’snothingcheapabouthowthisboardlooksorfeels.TheIgnitionfeaturesastep-downsidewallconstruction,1.75”fins,andgraphicsthat,aswe’veadmittedtolikinginthepast,allowyoutoseepartsoftheboard’score.Weightseemsaboutaverageandtheincludedpadsandadjustablestrapsroundoutanicepackage.

ON THE wATER:TheIgnitionisfasttogetuponaplaneandiseasytocontrol.Evenwhenedginghardandridingoverpowered,theboardneverdidanythingunexpectedandtheboardneverslidoutorchattered.Thefairlylargefinsmeanthattheboardtakesalittleefforttoslidethrougha180fortransitions.

Thisboard’sstiffnessisnoticeableonthewater,soyou’llwanttouseyourlegsasshockabsorbersinchoppywater.Theadjustablestrapsareeasytoadjust,evenin

thewater,justbesuretotucktheexcessinthepocketonthesideofthestrapsoitdoesn’tgetcaughtonyourtoes. T

ips

TESTER COmmENT: “The Ignition is a good beginner board that a new rider won’t outgrow in their first season of kiting. This board doesn’t throw any surprises at the rider, which is what a new kiter needs” –Paul Lang, 200 lbs., Surf Kiter.

8 Tuck the strap laces into the sides of the straps so they don’t catch on your toes.

8 Bend your knees a lot when hitting chop or riding over waves as this board’s stiffness doesn’t absorb very much of the energy.

http://www.slingshotsports.com/Ignition-Twin-Tip?sc=45&category=26148

http://www.slingshotsports.com/Ignition-Twin-Tip?sc=45&category=26148

http://www.southcoastkiteboarding.com

• Tight radius turn = great pop/fun.• No Pulleys for direct handling and safety.• Easy relaunch.• Huge wind range, 6 - 20 knots. (No Shit!)• One pump.• Below bar 100% fl ag out safety system.

Ozone’s new light wind specifi c kite is designed for gentle breezes and delivers the same superior handling, power, feel and control as you’ve come to expect from Ozone.

Zephyr 17mThey Watch

They Cry

You Ride

You Laugh

Lightwind Specifi c

www.fl yozoneusa.com

http://www.alloutkiteboarding.com

http://www.flyozoneusa.com

best

The Bularoo was first introduced in 2007 as Best Kiteboarding’s All-Terrain SLE kite. In 2009, no Bularoo was offered. Why did Best bring this kite back in 2010? The Bularoo fills the gap in the line-up for riders who want a pure SLE design. It does everything that the previous Bularoo and Waroo kites did, but better, due to the 2010 construction package. Now that the 2010 Waroo is a hybrid delta, there’s space in the line up to bring back the Bularoo. It also lets us address the needs of the land and snow kiters who want an ultra-stable bulletproof SLE kite.

Will former Bularoo riders notice many significant changes? It’s been more than three years since the Bularoo was first developed and a lot has happened since then. The Bularoo V2 is a development of the 2009 Waroo kite DNA, not the 2007 Bularoo DNA, so it’s a very different kite from a design and manufacture viewpoint. It has the new external EZ-pump system, a new bridle, different CFT, significantly different tip-to-tip and chord shaping, a revised aspect ratio, improved LE bridle patch design and layout, and a completely new LE seam construction. It still provides high depower, fast turning, easy relaunch, bulletproof build, and great hangtime. It’s best to think of it as the kite that the 2010 Waroo would have been if it had stayed a pure SLE.

Why would a rider prefer the Bularoo over the Waroo, NXG or Kahoona? If your kite of choice has always been the Waroo, then the Bularoo is the natural choice for 2010. It blends the handling and performance of our classic SLE kite designs with the build quality and riding feel that riders expect from our 2010 range. It’s a huge step up from the 09 Waroo in terms of build quality and precision, with a sharper and tighter all round feel. Compared to the NXG it’s much more forgiving in a tight spot, delivering controlled power and allowing you to progress your riding more quickly and safely. Though the Bularoo and Kahoona both deliver very similar performance, their handling, power delivery and turning styles are very different; even with your eyes closed they feel like completely different kites. SLE and delta kites are very different. Riders often have a preference for one specific style of kite, and for that reason we make all different styles including the Bularoo. Anyone who wants an SLE kite with insane build quality and great performance should check it out.

What are some of the other key product features and performance characteristics? It’s an SLE design, so it has a high projected area for great upwind and great depower which translates into very good hang time as well. The external EZ-pump system is great, especially if you ride in the snow. The new bridle geometry has made the kite rock-solid in all wind conditions and at both ends of the wind range. It’s a great kite to pushing the limits on.

What are the safety options on the control bar? The Bularoo V2 can be used with pretty much any bar. It works perfectly with the new Red-line Performance Bar, so you can switch between front-line leash or suicide leash modes, and you have options on the back lines as well with dual OSR handles.

Can you provide any tuning tips that will help riders tweak this kite for specific conditions? If you want to hit the surf, set the rear bridle to AC, which will give you best drift and a good balance of drive and flow in the turns. If you just want to go for crazy big air and kiteloops then run it at AA; that gives you the fastest turning and the smoothest depower. If you are a crazy freestyle rider and want it for unhooked riding and popping against then maybe even try a BC back line setting; that’ll give you crazy grunt and solid back line pressure.

What is your warranty policy on this product? Fair and reasonable. Regardless of what the fault is or how old the kite is, if it’s fair and reasonable to expect us to repair or replace the kite then that’s what we will do.

What differentiates your product from your competitors? There really isn’t anything else in the SLE market that has the pedigree of the Bularoo; it’s developed from the DNA of our best selling LEI of all time, the Waroo. Like the tagline says, it’s “All Roo, No bull…”

For any kiter looking for that classic Waroo SLE feel, the new Bularoo V2

is the kite for them. The new VP3 bridle and External EZ Pump system is

probably the biggest change for the new Bularoo, plus the new Surf-Tough

construction makes this kite super durable in the water, snow, or land.

Also, the A-B-C rear bridle settings will help you dial in your desired riding

preference. We felt that AA worked well for all-around freestyle riding, and gave us the

lightest bar pressure. The new Bularoo is a very predictable kite that any kiter can adapt to

easily. It’s a great kite right out of the bag, built using the best materials. Big thumbs up on

the Bularoo V2 from the Emerald Coast crew!

Wayne Griswold,www.emeraldcoastkiteboarding.com tested


Product name: Bularoo V2Product category: SLESizeS available: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15mreleaSe date: Available Now

designer’s

corner

Best describes the Bularoo as the kite that the 2010 Waroo would’ve been, had it stayed a pure SLE. Photo Jody MacDonald

deSigner Profile:name: Peter Stieweage: 39location: South Africa/PortugalJob title: Managing Director R&D, Kite designdesigning: Kiteboarding products

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/BularooV2

http://www.bestkiteboarding.com/BularooV2


The TRAX 5 is in its fifth year. With 12 board choices in the F-One 2010 line, where does this board fit in the product mix? For the past five years, the TRAX has been on the cutting edge of F-One technology and is our highest performing freestyle twin tip.

What was your biggest challenge during the prototype phase? Improving the TRAX 4 without taking anything away. We played a lot with the shape and worked very closely with our factory on the technology.

What changes will previous TRAX owners notice most about the 2010 model? We were able to improve planning and upwind ability as well as the board’s control and overall comfort, especially in choppy conditions.

Why would a rider prefer the TRAX 5 over other freestyle boards in the F-One line such as the Acid or Sk8 twin tips? The Trax has a wide range of use from light to high winds while the Acid is built more to pop and land your tricks. The SK8 is made for high winds and choppy conditions and is also a great twin tip for playing in the waves and carving.

If you could choose one standout performance or new construction feature to highlight, what would it be? The Twist Carbon Control is a new way of building kiteboards. We were the first company to produce full woodcore snowboard-type twin tips and now we’re moving onto the next step. When all the work on the shape is finished, we do a new battery of tests with different fiberglasses and carbon layups as well as working with different shapes for cross on the deck. This is only possible because we have a close relationship with our supplier and are able to make all the prototypes needed for the R&D phase. We also take advantage of the extensive snowboard technology they offer with regards to the flex and twist control.

What are some of the other key product features and performance characteristics? Weight, strengh, flex, and twist control are important but accessories like pads, straps and fins are key features too. We put a lot of attention into the comfort of our pads and straps with a double foam density on the pads. F-One is constantly refining our strap designs and mount system.

As a new dealer for F-One for the past year, all I can say is the TRAX V is a

perfect balance between technology, performance, and comfort. It has great

upwind ability, offers a very soft and smooth ride, and can generate great

speed while maintaining excellent comfort in high winds. Its 3D bottom

shapes improved the direct drive of the board while the new lateral V gives

riders a looser feeling with total control, allowing you to go faster and ride more aggressively.

Additionally, the new flex distribution offers much better and more efficient pop than last

year’s model. The only thing I’d change is for F-One to add smaller sizes to the line.

Juan Pavan, http://www.tksmiami.comtested

What style/level of rider will most enjoy this product and in what conditions? Average to advanced riders will benefit the most from the TRAX in light to strong conditions. Riders will immediately feel at home after a few minutes on the TRAX 5. It’s the type of board that from the moment you hit the water, makes you feel comfortable and want to try new moves.

What is your warranty policy on this product? One year standard industry policy.

What differentiates your product from your competitors? We believe the depth of our extensive shaping and board building experience and years of fine tuning makes the difference.in all F-One boards, both twin tips and surf directionals.


The Trax is F-One’s highest performing twin tip. For 2010, they worked on improving the board’s upwind ability, planning, and overall comfort, especially in choppy conditions. Photo Shal Jacobovitz

f-one

deSigner Profile:name: Raphael Sallesage: 46location: Montpellier, FranceJob title: Boss – R&D Managerdesigning: 32 years kite & windsurfKiteboarding: 12 years

designer’s

corner

Product name: TRAx 5Product category: Freestyle Twin TipSizeS available: 132x38, 134x39, 136x40, 138x41cmreleaSe date: Available Now

http://www.f-onekites.com/

http://www.f-onekites.com/


KitePages

Why would a rider prefer the Hydra over Genetrix’s other kite, the Origin? The Hydra is a kite made for free ride, speed, ultimate control, and hang time. Because the Hydra has more power per square meter, riders who like to race and those who often encounter challenging and gusty wind conditions would likely reach for a Hydra. In contrast, the Origin is all about freestyle and waves.

If you could choose one standout performance or new construction feature to highlight, what would it be? The unique bridle system creates ultimate control over the canopy, not unlike a foil kite. This creates an unbelievable amount of control, depower, and stability. In fact, the Hydra is the only inflatable kite with bridles supporting the trailing edge. The resulting stability and profile control make it perfect in gusty conditions. For instance, when Sébastien smashed the 50 knot record, he was flying a 9m Hydra V3 in 45 knots of wind when the other riders had to make do with smaller kites. There is literally nothing else like a Hydra on the market, which is why it is now the kite of choice at the Luderitz Speed Challenge in Namibia.

What are some of the other key product features and performance characteristics? The highest quality construction and materials, including canopy fabric from Teijin Fibers in Japan. The canopy is reinforced with a Dacron band at each strut.

What are the safety features on the control bar? Letting go of the bar completely depowers the kite because of the bridle design. A clean and efficient quick release, which conveniently incorporates the swivel and a below-the-bar leash attachment complete the package.

Can you provide any tuning tips that will help riders tweak this kite for specific conditions?You can use the rear line adjustment straps on the bar to tune on the fly without interrupting your session.

What is your warranty policy on this product?One year for defects in manufacturing or materials. We want to ensure we maintain the same great reputation we’ve developed in Europe over the last five years for quality and customer satisfaction.

What differentiates your product from your competitors? We believe the Hydra V4 is the most sophisticated design on the market which translates into world-beating performance, with exceptional stability and control at the same time.

The original Hydra helped Seb Cattelan be the first to break the 50 knot speed barrier. Now in its fourth generation, what kind of rider and in what conditions will get the most out of the Hydra V.4? The Hydra has always been a revolutionary flat kite with the biggest wind range on the market and exceptional safety. The latest generation Hydra V4 is built for speed, power, and control in difficult conditions. This is a kite designed for the rider that wants to go out in extreme wind conditions and still feel comfortable and safe.

What was your biggest challenge during the prototype phase? The development of the Hydra came through years of cumulative prototyping and teamwork with help from engineers at Airbus. With the Hydra V4 our only challenge was to improve the original performance while adding user-friendly features such as one-pump and a refined bar.

As a next generation design, what changes will previous Hydra owners notice most about the 2010 model? Aside from one-pump, we have a new Dacron panel for better weight distribution and balance to the kite, a new profile, new bridle length, and a refined bar and quick release. We’ve also refined our SPS (Supported Profile System), which has multiple points of attachment that support the canopy and create stability.

The Hydra V4 is an evolution of the previous model and is a high-depower,

high-performance kite. The Hydra excels as a speed kite and offers big air

and hang time. Its flat shape and unique front and rear bridle system makes it

incredibly stable and controllable in gusty conditions. Another great aspect

of the Hydra is its impressive wind range, meaning you only need one or two

kites in your quiver. It is a versatile kite that caters to intermediate to advanced riders and

the kites attributes consistently apply to the entire range. I have found the kites perform the

best straight out the bag with no extra tuning required. The V4 has been pivotal in breaking

the Australian GPS speed record which I achieved recently.

tested

Gene

trix

Tim Pumpa, www.jtkitesurfing.com.au

designer’s

corner

Collaborating with Airbus engineers, the Hydra v4 was designed for speed, power and control, and especially excels in difficult conditions. Photo Zinou Guiri /www.adrenaline-kitesurf.com

deSigner Profile:name: Martial Camblong age: 43 location: Biarritz & Leucate, FranceJob title: Founder, Bossdesigning: 12 yearsKiteboarding: Since 1997


Product name: Hydra V4Product category: Bow SizeS available: 7, 9, 12, 14mreleaSe date: Available Now

http://www.genetrixkitesurf.com/gntrx/hydra.html

http://www.genetrixkitesurf.com/gntrx/hydra.html


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whether a line or chicken loop breaks, or if you pull the safety trigger on the water or land, dealing with the aftermath of a huge spaghetti mess is a not-so-fun part of kiteboarding. Even if you had a kitemare, but were able to swim in and finish your session on a spare bar, you still have to deal with the nightmare of untangling the jumbled rat’s nest chaos of your lines.

Believe it or not, there’s a right way and a wrong way to unscramble your lines. Here are some tips to save you time and frustration.

Fixing the mess: Nothing some good music and a cold beer can’t fix!

PATIENCE IS ImPORTANT. Take your time and be cool-headed. Trying to untangle your lines on the beach while it is windy and your lines are blowing around is not a good idea. Do it later when you’re chillin’ back at home.

hoW to fix a spaGhetti messWords and photos by Dave Nunn/www.windance.com

1

2 5

3 6

47

Go home, put on some music, relax for a few minutes, and get a comfortable stool and a cold drink.

SMALL LOOPS are bad and take forever to untangle. Gently pull at the small loops until they become big loops.

Pull each line through LEFT to RIGHT through the mess.

BIG LOOPS are good. You must keep the mess in big loops. Take your wad of lines and spread them out as big as you can.

Then pull more of the same line RIGHT to LEFT.

Pick ONE LINE at a time and pull it through the mess.

Keep going until you have one line completely done then, start on another. Remember, patience is key and there are no shortcuts to this process! When you finish, give yourself a big thumbs up!


Local Tor Stark slays the top of this Waddell Creek wave. Photo Shal Jacobovitz

Submit your photos of “local homies” riding at your home spot and you could win a killer T-shirt from Transcend Kiteboarding! E-mail [email protected]

WINNING PHOTO

Local Homies is all about everyday, local riders sharing the stoke at their home kiting spots.

LocaL homies


Born in Paraguay, when Victor Ruotti moved to Wisconsin as an exchange student, he figured no big deal; that must be close to California so he could still surf. When he found out about snowkiting though, he was ready to stay. Photo Liz Bortoletto

Leon Gardner boosts a huge one-footer in La Ventana. Photo Cynbad Brown




LocaL homies

Steve Miller scores a wave on a recent El Norte day in La Ventana. Photo Aiste Ridikaite

At 66 years old, Janie Fuller still rips in both waves and flat water. Photo Reto Leuenberger

Litewave Dave boosts at his local spot of Folsom Lake with his son cheering him on. Photo Mrs. Litewave

Little Javier Gimenez Pena is only eight years old, but he’s already tearing it up in Fuerteventura. Photo Roberto Stortoni

Nat Lincoln gets a nice grab off of this La Ventana kicker. Photo Cynbad Brown


It just wouldn’t be the Local Homies section without a GoPro self portrait! Sebastian Riveros cruises on the Rio Negro in Argentina. Photo Sebastian Riveros


Yard

sale

Andrew Koch gets his kite out of a private yard after it went down on the other side of the fence in Puerto Vallarta. Photo Paul Lang

Kinsley Thomas Wong slides past the camera in Pismo Beach. Photo Paul Lang

It’s much more efficient to go over waves than through them. Photo Paul Lang

Javier Gimenez Pena, just eight years old, goes for the classic accidental one-footer. Photo Roberto Stortoni

After a two-hour swim against the current, Stephen Fowler still had to deal with overhead waves breaking onto a shallow razor-sharp reef. Photo Doug the Kite Caddy


Blake Harrington gets extra style points for this dismount at Waddell Creek. Photo Shal Jacobovitz

G OT A G R E AT w I P E O u T S H OT ? EmAIL: [email protected]

TOP

TH

E

C R A S H E SI N F R O N T O F T H E

L E N S

This photo is proof that Sam Light doesn’t land every move he goes for. Photo Nigel Kenny



http://www.wainmanhawaii.com

RideR Jérémie Eloy Photo Stephan Fournet SPot Madagascar

check out www.northkites.com

A league of its own! ReBeL

RAnge of use:Wave / freeridesizes: 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 14 / 16

· Loaded 5th line concept · Short and direct depower stroke · Floating center strut · v-backline system with integrated relaunch bungees · Direct and fast following steering commands,

even completely depowered · Low drag design · Teijin Techno Force fabric for best durability

http://www.northkites.com


The Kiteboarder Magazine June 2010

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Transcript of The Kiteboarder Magazine June 2010