Kiteworld Magazine

On page 126 in These Things I Know, Slingshot brand manager, Alex Fox, says there’s no substitute for time on the water. Coming from someone rooted in business development with one of the sport’s biggest manufacturers, that’s good to hear! King of th

LOCOMOTION. N. THE ACT OR POWER OF MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE. ■

Boot wearers choose between laces and Velcro for fastening. The latter provides a number of benefits, the main being ease-of-use; slip your foot inside and you’re ready to go within a few seconds of tightening the straps. Velcro fastenings perhaps do

The GKA Kite World Cup Cape Verde began with a bang – 30 men and 23 women registered to compete (the highest number of women recorded for a world cup kite-surf event). The momentum built and, although the swells didn’t push in big enough for the even

The BKSA have announced the dates for this year’s British Kitesurfing Championships, thanks to additional support from the long list of sponsors and the ever-dedicated event team. This year will include three competition categories: Juniors (15 years

It’s with great regret that I sit here today thinking about one of kiteboarding’s brightest characters who passed away a couple of weeks ago. Even if you started kiteboarding in the last ten to 15 years, you may not have heard of Danny Seales, but he

THIS ISSUE’S (MOSTLY WINTERY BRIT-PACK SHOWDOWN) SEES ROY MCINTOSH WIN FREE ACCESS TO ONE OF PROGRESSION’S PREMIUM COLLECTIONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS, COVERING KITEBOARDING, KITESURFING AND KITEFOILING. GIVING YOU STREAMING ACCESS ONLINE AND OFFLINE

It doesn’t get any more dramatic than a one-day KOTA. All the action, the conflict, the euphoric victories and the crushing defeats condensed into a singular, seven-hour blockbuster. Just like a gripping film, the KOTA not only demands your attention

Congratulations Jesse. Two King of the Air titles now, seven years apart. You’ve been very close to claiming the top step several times in between those titles, including at last year’s event when you were runner-up. Did you change your approach this

The wind was more offshore than usual but I wanted to get barrelled. I knew the lines would cut into the lip, but I never had the lines go through a lip that thick before. This wave was bending really hard towards me and looked like it was going to b

Like last year, we’ve targeted most of our focus on the freeride sector, because unless you’re a real specialist, it’s the right gear to have the most fun on. If you choose gear that fits the way you realistically ride, the ‘freeride’ equipment on of

It’s usually in August... It’s usually in August that people start saying dumb things, like, “When Waimea breaks this year I’m on it, no matter what!” I’ve heard plenty of bold claims and bad ideas and they’re usually in the flattest moments of summe

TEST TEAM NOTES: If CrazyFly aren’t on your radar, they should be. Developing and producing all their gear in their own factory in Slovakia, the quality and finish is always right up there. Our first point about the kite is related to the bar and is

TEST TEAM NOTES: A little scene settting: since your grandfather was a little boy, the Airush Lithium has been one of the best first-time / freeride kites you could hope to ride. Mixing super steady sheeting drive with a clear direct bar response, th

TEST TEAM NOTES: There are many things that the Rebel is great for, but we’re mostly going to focus on the standout element and the reason we reach for the Rebel a lot; the sheeting engagement at the bar and the way it transports you to the heavens.

TEST TEAM NOTES: Of all the kites on test this year, the Dice eight metre is the least physical in the most demanding of conditions. When confronted with winds that are way over 35 knots, the Dice allowed us to always feel comfortable and in control;

: Compared to the regular all-round Bandit of last year, the Twenty-Twenty 10 metre is more powered for its size and meatier in its feel. Not heavy, but certainly you can feel the feedback from the kite in your hands and, when it turns, it turns wit

TEST TEAM NOTES: In a slight twist, we’re handing the words in this review exclusively to chief tester, Bully, whose dedicated kite looping experience and years spent riding C kites, particularly the Naish Torch, leave him ideally placed to tell you

TEST TEAM NOTES: The ‘S’ stands for surf and F-One are branding this as their dedicated strapless and surf kite. No doubt that’s true – and we have more on its surf capabilities on page 91 – but here we’re going to focus on the general freeride attri

TEST TEAM NOTES: A new model in the re-vamped and extended Ocean Rodeo line-up, the Crave is the weapon of choice for high-flying GKA Kite World Tour kite-surf competitor, Reece Myerscough. First thing you’ll notice are the FST (Forward Swept Tips) t

TEST TEAM NOTES: The Triad allows you to breathe as you shred. We had big expectations of this V2 model off the back of an incredible first test last year. Tweaks have added continued refinement to what was one of the best intermediate freeride kites

TEST TEAM NOTES: The Addiction was new last year and already we’ve seen a swerve in approach for this model. RRD kites have always stood out strongly in our minds for their class leading bottom end performance and this year the Addiction has switched

TEST TEAM NOTES: The is the second test we’ve done on the V10 Edge, having tested the 11 metre back in the autumn, but this is one of the all-time classic boosting kites and, as we were testing in the most famed boosting location in the world, we wan

FIND THE FULL REVIEWS ON OUR SITE BY SEARCHING FOR THEM AT: WWW.KITEWORLDMAG.COM This kite has dominated the top of the Woo big air records for several seasons. How come? Firstly, it has an incredible wind range and is exceptionally easy to fly at i

TEST TEAM NOTES: You can’t deny the prowess of products that come from Slingshot. They’re bold, beautiful, well manufactured, strong, good value for money and carry a history of industry-wide innovations. You’re getting high-end, high-strength build

TEST TEAM NOTES: Year after year the Neo is a kite that any of our test team over the years would happily live with forever. It’s just so easy and pretty much commands the centre ground in all areas of performance. Not the fastest, slowest, spikiest,

TEST TEAM NOTES: We had the bright yellow of the three colour combinations that North do, and it’s a real smiler of a tone! Not only are you going kiting, but as you pump up this bright yellow machine, your mood instantly lifts. We rode the Carve in

TEST TEAM NOTES: Really solid but sleek build gives the impression of strength. When you first handle them, RRD kites always feel stiffer in their build, undoubtedly through robust but sleek material use, adding to the solid feel that they always hav

TEST TEAM NOTES: The newest model of the three single strut kites this issue, but what an emphatic entrance from the XLITE. As with all single struts, you’ll be amazed how much lighter they feel in your hands having had two-thirds of their struts rem

TEST TEAM NOTES: Since the Boxer trimmed down to become a single strut performance kite a few seasons ago it has gained some serious and devoted fans. Naish launch their gear in two halves, six months apart and we got our hands on this new one in Feb

TEST TEAM NOTES: Ozone deliver the usual well-thought out experience in presentation of their products and the Alpha comes in a very neat and minimalist draw-string bag that tightens lengthways around the kite rather around the top, which really help

TEST TEAM NOTES: The ‘S’ doesn’t stand for ‘Super’, but it could. The changes that F-One have made in splitting the Bandit into two different models this year – the ‘S’ (for surf) and the Twenty-Twenty have unleashed the pure surf elements in full in

TEST TEAM NOTES: The Apex features a print on the rail that says ‘Designed in Cape Town’. The Apex has been developed in a place that demands performance and quality, which is evident as soon as you pick it up. Of medium weight, that positive swing w

TEST TEAM NOTES: This is a shift in focus from the heavier and gruntier Apex. Consistently fun, of all the boards we’ve ridden this season, this one has ticked the most boxes. The slightly larger rocker means that it’s less racey and more forgiving t

TEST TEAM NOTES: The Raptor suits its name. The cruising speed is high, it’s fast and it’s bitey. The bright red bottom sheet is very vibrant and easy to spot when you’re body dragging back to it. It almost lights up the water when wet! There’s oodle

TEST TEAM NOTES: The Process is a board of stealth. It has slipped into this test without fanfare and, although Eleveight have only been producing kites and boards for a handful of seasons, the products are coming out of our test sessions with massiv

TEST TEAM NOTES: The Motion rocks some rocker; providing assured landings and generally lots of forgiveness - there’s less edge in the water to catch. The sacrifice of such a deep rockerline is usually speed. More rocker may mean more control, but it

TEST TEAM NOTES: The Poison feels like you’re snowboarding in powder, but that’s not to say this board is overly soft. It’s unaggressive, but still smooth and with a quality bite. Imagine snowboard turns, where you initiate the motion and decide when

Wadi Lahami is a secluded bay with two-foot deep, perfectly-flat, turquoise water. Ride here in total peace as the spot offers lots of space and there are rarely more than 25 people riding at once. The spot is a sandy bottomed lagoon with open, safe

Our decision to set up Quest Kiteboarding kite school in Diani on Kenya’s south coast in 2014 was based on our mutual love for the country and the passion we share for kitesurfing. Kenya is undoubtedly one of the richest countries in the world in ter

Have you ever been standing on the beach, evaluating the wind and feeling nervous about going out? Two years before I moved to Hood River (one of the kiteboarding meccas in the US), I kited at the nearby spot of ‘Rufus’, an infamous location known fo

Muskego, Wisconsin sales@adventurekiteboarding.com +1 414-367-9283 www.adventurekiteboarding.com Cape Hatteras, NC kbschool@kittyhawk.com +1 252 987 2297 www.kittyhawk.com Avon, NC jay@outerbankskiting.com +1 252-305-6839 www.outerbankskiting.com Coc

MOVE: POP-TO-BLIND / RIDER: STEVEN AKKERSDIJK / PHOTOS: BRAM BAST Learning to ride blind is really useful in helping develop board control and lays the basis for lots of stylish, blind landings after a trick. On top of that it’s something you can tr

01 > The more I learn, the more I realise how little I actually know. 02 > Budgets are made to be broken. 03 > I always hated asking people for anything, but then a mentor would always tell me, “We already have the ‘No’. We are working for the ‘Yes

Steven Akkersdijk really inspired me for short line riding and I started playing around with it in Cape Town last year. Everything happens extremely fast, looping is very physically demanding and aggressive, but the feeling of getting pulled towards

Kitesurfing is a wonderful escape wherever we manage to take our sessions. If you’re thinking about booking your first kiteboarding holiday, then do it! Riding for several days in a row in beautiful conditions is not only dreamy, but it’s the best wa

The new Ether harness has been developed through scrupulous design to be as lightweight and minimalist as possible, without compromising on comfort. Despite being compact, the 3D shaped load plate ensures ultimate lumbar support while remaining durab

FEATURING: SOUTH AFRICA ZANZIBAR KENYA MAURITIUS MOROCCO EGYPT WAVES – 1 FLAT WATER – 2 BEGINNER – 3 WARM WATER - 4 STRONG WIND - 5 0 = NON-EXISTENT 5 = WORLD CLASS ■

On the southeast coast, Paje is by far the most famous and popular kiting spot on the island, yet just over ten years ago was merely a small fishing village. Paje has certainly blossomed into kiting heaven, but retains its authenticity away from the

Bofa beach is a five kilometre stretch of white, powdery sand with perfectly clear-blue waters. At low tide the water depth is shallow, creating an easy learning environment as well as a freestyle playground. There’s loads of space for setting up and

Roughly 900 metres offshore from Diani Beach is a reef. This, in combination with reliable trade winds makes for Kenya’s most popular kiting location. The spacious five kilometre-wide bay, however, rarely gets more than 60 kiters out on the water at

The main seven kilometre long beach of Watamu, Turtle Bay, is one of Kenya’s oldest fishing settlements. A natural reef protects the beach, ranging from 500 metres to two kilometres off the beach. There are waist to over-head waves on the reef during

Mauritius offers impeccable kitesurfing conditions for every type of rider, largely due to the combination of incredibly reliable wind, perfect flat water and of course world-class waves. The small volcanic island boasts more than 150 kilometres of w

There is a reason that the Red Bull King of The Air is held here. The south-easterly Cape Doctor winds are consistent and often very, very powerful, which is also why all the Woo records are set here, too. The Cape Town / Cape Peninsula summer season

World famous for its 45 kilometre-long peninsula, Dahkla is blessed with clean wind, a huge lagoon and playful to decent sized waves just a short drive away on the coast. Way down in the south of Morocco... and way up there in terms of quality kite s

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced kitesurfer, El Gouna, with its glorious sunshine, clear blue waters and constant wind, offers amazing flat water conditions for fast improvements in your riding. This has been the stage for many in

Essaouira was the original Moroccan hotspot with windsurfers heading there for decades before the first kiters arrived. Known as the Windy City with consistent cross-shore winds, there’s dependable cross-onshore wave riding from March to September, b

Wadi Lahami is a secluded bay with two-foot deep, perfectly flat turquoise water. Ride here in total peace as the spot offers lots of space and there are rarely more than 25 people riding at once. The spot is a sandy bottomed lagoon with open, safe a

You’re reading about the most popular kite spot on the east coast of the US, with hundreds of miles of beaches, regular winds and a wealth of accommodation options. The unique calling cards are the mile-upon-mile of flat water on one side of the narr

USA MEXICO BRAZIL HONDURAS URUGUAY WAVES – 1 FLAT WATER – 2 BEGINNER – 3 WARM WATER - 4 STRONG WIND - 5 0 = NON-EXISTENT 5 = WORLD CLASS

La Ventana sits sheltered from the Pacific on the eastern edge of the Baja Peninsula and from November through April this stretch of coastline enjoys consistent, northerly winds. January and February are the most reliable and the combo of plentiful r

An hour north of Cumbuco, Paracuru boasts a flat water lagoon as well as classic freeriding conditions and some of the most legitimate wave riding in the area. This is one of the busier towns on this section of Ceará’s coast with awesome kiting to th

Fourteen kilometres of sandy beaches present an endless riding area with strong winds blowing cross-onshore for much of the year. Now a regular location on the GKA Kite World Tour in front of Rancho do Peixe, this is where Airton Cozzolino landed the

The further north you go in the state of Ceara the windier it gets. In Jeri, close to the border with the neighbouring state of Piauí, it blows hard from June through to February. A 330 kilometre drive from Fortaleza, Jeri is one of Brazil’s best est

Located north of Guajiru and south of Prea, kiters of all levels and preferred disciplines will enjoy riding in Icaraizinho. Across the wide, six-kilometre long beach you’ll find flat water at the southeast end, bump and jump freeride conditions in t

Gigi Madeddu arrived in Praia Do Maceio for the first time in 2013 and was taken aback by the sanctitude and beauty of the place. He’d heard of Maceiò’s conditions through the grapevine and decided to take a taxi there from Camocim, where he was visi

Atins is one of Brazil’s northernmost kiting destinations, tucked away in the delta of the River Preguiças. Kiteworld editor Jim enjoyed a visit with Surfin Sem Fim a couple of seasons ago and reckons it’s one of the most mind-blowing locations for a

Barra Grande is a preserved, natural gem that’s tucked away in the northern state of Piauí where you can combine a relaxing, quiet break with some seriously good kiting across a long windy season. There’s pumping wind for much of the year with an exp

The eastern side of the island captures the prevailing trade winds, providing solid conditions for all levels of kiter in traffic and obstacle free spots (foilers and beginners will certainly appreciate this). Camp Bay Beach is the main spot, with fl

Laguna Garzon is a coastal lagoon; a massive flat water expanse that also has easy access to the open ocean. The lagoon takes any wind direction, making it an ideal playground for all levels of kiter, from the humble beginner needing buttery flat wat

TURK AND CAICOS ISLANDS ST. LUCIA THE GRENADINES TOBAGO WAVES – 1 FLAT WATER – 2 BEGINNER – 3 WARM WATER - 4 STRONG WIND - 5 0 = NON-EXISTENT 5 = WORLD CLASS

Coconut Bay is a super-accessible spot on the south coast of St Lucia with a chilled Caribbean feel and fun kiting conditions. Cross-shore, steady winds blow from the left with flat water on the upwind side of the bay. This is an ideal spot for early

Pigeon Point is often considered Tobago’s most beautiful beach with a long stretch of white sand and warm, aquamarine water. Pigeon Point is protected by a large reef that keeps the water inside the lagoon relatively flat and there are large areas wh

PORTUGAL SPAIN FUERTEVENTURA, CANARY ISLANDS ITALY GREECE TURKEY UK WAVES – 1 FLAT WATER – 2 BEGINNER – 3 WARM WATER - 4 STRONG WIND - 5 0 = NON-EXISTENT 5 = WORLD CLASS

Tarifa is a kiteboarding mecca. Sitting at the very bottom of Spain, this spot is windy all year round with numerous rideable locations along ten kilometres of beach. There are more schools here than in perhaps any other single kiting destination as

You’ve seen the videos from here - Union Island’s blue, flat water is iconic. It’s also consistently windy, with steady, cross-shore winds. The infamous Happy Island sits at the heart of the action - you can kite right up and have a drink at the bar

Los Barriles is one of Baja’s key kiteboarding destinations because of its extremely laid-back lifestyle and solid conditions during the winter season. In these warm, steady conditions you can find perfect riding in the flats, or fun swell riding on

Sotavento is Fuerteventura’s southernmost kite spot with strong summer wind (and year-round wind) from the left across a wide open, four kilometre-long sandy beach. Every year Sotavento plays host to the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup and the windsurfing PW

If you’re looking for smooth, comfortable progression, you’ve found the right location. Providenciales (or ‘Provo’) is the primo kiting location in the Turks and Caicos archipelago with steady trade winds, warm turquoise waters and white sand beaches

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy at a whopping 51 kilometres long and 17 wide, so there’s acres of space! The west side of the lake is windier and the lake’s ‘Mecca of Kitesurf’, Campione del Garda, sits in the northwest corner. The Formula Ki

Hang Loose Beach is well respected on the competition scene and continues to host several annual international freestyle and racing events. Sofia Tomasoni won one of the first ever gold medals for kiteboard racing in 2018 at the Youth Olympic Games a

Kiting-wise, Guincho is ten minutes from Cascais and delivers solid cross-onshore wave conditions. When it’s big it gets gnarly and the wind often gets very strong (5 - 7m kites), so is more suited to the experienced wave seeker. On the other end of

There’s no shortage of space and at Porto Pollo, in the north of Sardinia, as the spot is made up of seven kilometres of sandy beach across two large bays. For many years this has been a popular location for both kiters and windsurfers as the regular

The Island of Sant’Antioco is situated close to the south-west coast of Sardinia and is blessed with regular north-west winds and some cracking spots. The Sa Barra Club is located on the eastern side of the island, right on the Sant’Antioco lagoon. T

Flag Beach in the north of the island is Fuerteventura’s other major kiting location and one of Europe’s best known spots for all levels of rider. The beach is wide and protected by reefs at both ends with clean wind from the left for much of the yea

The main spot at Keros on the eastern side of the island of Limnos is a safe, sandy, three kilometre bay with a variety of conditions to suit all abilities. The famous Meltemi winds blow from the left across postcard-perfect turquoise waters with eve

Easily the biggest expanse of truly kite-able flat water in Europe – Lo Stagnone is an eight square mile lagoon in the north of Sicily that can be ridden in either of the two northerly and southerly prevailing wind directions. No tides, no dangers. A

Poole Harbour (the world’s second largest natural harbour) offers several flat water locations. ‘The pond’ (where Poseidon and Easy Riders are based) works in all tides and is waist deep for a kilometre out, making it an ideal learning venue. The har

This is an amazing freeride and freestyle lagoon with a huge expanse of waist deep, flat water. The bottom is a mixture of sand and earth and you can walk between 250 and 500 metres from the shore, making it a perfect place to learn. Better riders ha

Exmouth is home to the Bridge family, who have 35+ European and World titles between them. They’ve chosen Exmouth because of the epic conditions – it works on basically every wind direction except the rare northeasterly, and offers a large number of

The UK’s most famous county for wave kiting offers huge beaches, great summer weather, lots of activities for the kids and family and fantastic conditions for either learning to surf, or paddling into really challenging waves. Always worth a holiday

Packed with some of the UK’s most beautiful beaches and often without the crowds of Cornwall and Devon, Marc Rowley of Blast Kiteboarding in Porthcawl guides us round some of his favourite local session haunts. As you head into south Wales, the small

KALPITIYA AND MANNAR, SRI LANKA WAVES – 1 FLAT WATER – 2 BEGINNER – 3 WARM WATER - 4 STRONG WIND - 5 0 = NON-EXISTENT 5 = WORLD CLASS ■

Thanks to its huge lagoons, epic downwinders and two reliable windy seasons, Kalpitiya has steadily increased in popularity, developing a strong reputation among kiters world wide. Flat water’s the key attraction around Kalpitiya, but now that there’

Mannar is a 50 kilometre chain of sandbars, islands and manmade bridges with over 36 kilometres of flat water to tear around in and the same reliable conditions you’ll get in Kalpitiya, which is a three hour drive south. Being so exposed in the India

FREERIDE KITESURF’S trips are all about combining adventure and a personal challenge with time to get to know, relax and enjoy the places you’ll visit. Unique downwind adventures and tailor-made trips in Brazil, Spain and South Africa are Freeride’s

DREAMY KITE CRUISES AND EXPLORATION IN THE CARIBBEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN DOWNWIND ADVENTURES AND CUSTOMISED CLINICS IN BRAZIL, CAPE TOWN AND BEYOND FOILING AND PRO-RIDER COACHING ■

Surfin Sem Fim (SSF) is one of the most established downwinder / kite ‘adven-tour’ operators going. Top level pro riders, such as Keahi de Aboitiz, Matchu Lopes, Mitu Monteiro, Reno Romeu and Sebastian Ribeiro frequently join the routes to offer coac

‘Live’ are personalised coaching camps from Progression’s Rob Claisse and Danny Morrice. Sharing over 30 years of combined experience of top-level kitesurfing and coaching, these two Brits don’t just have a passion for kitefoiling, they are obsessed