Hookipa 1996

Back to 1996 to see what might be the first ever kitesurfing video.

Features Manu Bertin filmed by Mat Pendle in 1996 at Hookipa, Maui Hawaii.

Patrick Rebstock in Portugal

Patrick Rebstock spend some days in Portugal testing the 2013 gear. Watch the footage.

Abel Lago Test 2013 RRD Gear

Watch Abel Lago ripping it on Northshore of Oahu, Hawaii. How awesome it is to be able to test your new kites on hawaian waves? We are the next in line to try out the new Maquina-K and Religion.

Shade in Indonesia

Here is a video from Swedish kitesurfer/surfer Arild Kristiansen traveling a month in Indonesia nov 2012 looking for waves to kitesurf and surf. He ends up scoring some super nice uncowded conditions and got the taste of perfect indo green room.

Introducing the Cabrinha Quest

"We are introducing The Cabrinha Quest. It is a group of passionate water man and water women in search to discover the world’s most remote kitesurfing and surfing locations. They seek to experience native cultures in their natural state. They want to explore the Oceans of the world with passion, integrity, and sensitivity to the ecosystems. Their ultimate goal is to build awareness, global concern, and inspire solutions to the environmental crisis.
So if you have always dreamt of sailing, kitesurfing, and surfing the world this is the quest you should join!"

Boardriding Maui Island

Sweet video with Scott Drexler and his wife at Kitebeach testing  Boardriding Maui kites : Cloud 17m and 10m.

The brand launches a website :  Boardriding Maui, where you can find the strutless and strapless dream quiver.

Johnny Berger at it again....

How To Do: Toe Shifty to Blind (wrapped)

2012 PKRA World Champions

Congratulations to Youri Zoon and Karolina Winkowska who were crowned the 2012 PKRA Freestyle World Champions today!

The fight went down to the wire with Alex Pastor winning the singles yesterday in the mens fleet. This meant Youri had to do all the hard work today to come back and take the title. It was a close fight all year and it was great to see the competitors battle it out in the stunning conditions of New Caledonia.

2012 PKRA World Freestyle Champion - Youri Zoon

Well done to Slingshot who powered both champions to their podiums this year, you might aks why Youri wasn’t riding Best as he is now a Best Team Rider. He made the decision to finish out the season on Slingshot and will be riding his new kites over the winter and competing for Best next year.

Congratulations to Karolina on winning the title and commiseration for Alex Pastor...

Well done to all the riders involved, the PKRA once again showed why it is the dominant force in running events around the globe for kitesurfing, bringing events to both new and old locations and spreading the kitesurfing vibe wherever they went. The new competition format seems to be working really well too, with the levels still being pushed but the entire format a more understandable offering for the general public.

Tornado Pass – Handle Pass Kiteboarding Exercise

Kiteboarding exercises is all about core strength and kiteboard specific functional training. In this episode you excercise handle passes.The Tornado Pass exercise will help you get more power in your handle passes or simply to learn a handle pass. It also gives you great core strength and the technique of the handle pass. Remember to keep the bar as close to your hips as possible. When you turn at the same time, it will get harder and force you to pass faster.

Beginner, freeride, newschool, oldschool, wakestyle, waveriding, course race, snow and land kiteboarders, you will all benfeit from these excercises.

Jeffer Moreno and Roberto Vieira in Paria do Surf-Vilas do Atlantico

Jeffer Moreno and Roberto Vieira sharing good left in Paria do Surf-Vilas do Atlantico, Brazil. Nice backside surf style!

Jason Polakow and Ben Wilson at Cloudbreak

Fiji always seem like a legend for all the wind and board sports lovers. To see windsurf and kite get inside the mouth of Cloudbreak is a bit like an old dream come true. Jason Polakow and Ben Wilson bring us in what must have been one of the best ride in their life...

The Mauritius Episode – Teaser

Right after the KSP Mauritius North team riders took the chance to enjoy Mauritius a little bit more and managed to get some sick shots of barrels, huge walls and also massive wipeouts. Watch Cozzolino, Patri McLaughlin, Kirsty Jones and Ninja Bichler playing with the elements to the extreme. Enjoy the teaser and stay tuned for the full episode coming out soon!

Hot To Do: Toe Shifty to Blind

Tricks of the Trade is the series of instructional videos featuring pro rider Tom Court. In this episode you can find out everything you need to know about “Toeside Shifty to Blind” (unhooked).

PKRA China in video

Final Results:
Men's Freestyle: 1. Youri Zoon (NED) 2. Alex Pastor (ESP) 3. Kevin Langeree (NED)            Women's Freestyle 1. Karolina Winkowska (POL) 2. Bruna Kajiya (BRA) 3. Gisela Pulido (ESP)

Free ride in Morocco

This great kite video was shot by Ismail Adarzane in Essaouira and Dakhla and in some other secret spots across Morocco past September and October.

Dakhla is one of the best places in Morocco to learn and practice kitesurf and windsurf. Wind blows all yearlong on the very wide and safe lagoon, if you want to catch some waves you have it all just around the corner.

On The Loose : Training and Wakeboarding in Austria - Episode 15

Ruben and Aaron are in Salzburg, Austria at the Red Bull HQ training facility. In an effort to get back to full strength, Ruben undergoes physical therapy training and a medical checkup to learn more about his body. After, we meet up with Aaron as he gets a wakeboard session in behind one of the fastest, decked out boats he's ever seen.

Icebreaker

This is small video about how the longest kitesurf season in Ekaterinburg, Russia, ended.

This was the last day of the “water season”. At the next day the lake was frozen…

Alberto Rondina landing a Pete Rose 5.

Ozone C4 2013

Torin Bright speaks about the new Ozone C4. We haven’t tried the C4 but finally Ozone has nice graphics on a kite.

Patagonia Announces Plant-Based Wetsuit

Patagonia a leading designer of high end outdoor apparel and Yulex Corporation, a clean technology company announced today the introduction of a guayule-based wetsuit, a renewable biorubber that is the first alternative to traditional fossil-based Neoprene.

“When we started to build wetsuits we knew that neoprene, by nature of its production, was the most environmentally harmful part the product. Our initial approach was to use innovative materials (…) we quickly realized that we needed to create a new material that could be a true alternative to neoprene,” notes Jason McCaffrey, Patagonia’s Surf Director. “After four years of working together, Patagonia and Yulex have co-developed a unique material that allows us to make a wetsuit that is 60% guayule (plant) based. Our goal is to have the formula be 100% plant based. (…) This is just the first step; it’s our hope that other brands see this as interesting and join the effort to innovate and implement alternatives to traditional neoprene that is used in wetsuits.”

Yulex’s biorubber material is made from guayule, a renewable, non-food crop that requires very little water, is grown domestically in the US, uses no pesticides, and in comparison to traditional neoprene, has a very clean manufacturing process.

Initially, the new suits will be available in Japan only. In Spring 2013, surfers will be able to order custom suits out of Patagonia’s wetsuit facility in Ventura, CA, with a global rollout to follow.

Said Jeff Martin, CEO, president, and founder of Yulex Corporation. “Patagonia is guiding the action sports industry to a new level and setting an example for the importance of sustainable practices.”

Dylan's Speed 4 Kiteloop Session

The new Flysurfer4 is loopable.....proof over here:

Progression Player Video App

What’s New in this Version:

✚ COLLECTIONS
We’ve grouped videos together so that they are easier to buy & at lower prices (yep, same as our DVDs). Save as much as 30%.

✚ COMPLETE MY COLLECTION
Already bought a couple of videos from a new collection? Just pay the difference to get the whole collection. For many of you that means you’re entitled to complete your collection for free and get a few videos free in the process!

✚ NEW LOOK
We wanted to make the app easier to use with a little more Progression personality! So we’ve given it a fresh coat of paint, added some new features and made room for some exciting new services we’ll be launch in 2013, to help you get more from your next session.

★ iOS 6, iPhone 5 & iPod touch (5th gen) compatible

DOWNLOAD

➤ COMING NEXT…
A full iPad version is next on the list and development has already started but don’t worry any videos you buy in the current app will transfer over to the iPad version when it is released.

Android & other platform users – We know there a plenty of you on non-iOS devices are keen to get your hands on our videos, on your mobile and tablet devices. There are developments in the works to expand on the Progression Player platform – you can read more from Rob’s post on Get Satisfaction. Thanks for your patience.

Youri Zoon goes to Best Kiteboarding!

World Champion Youri Zoon joins BEST

As the 2012 competition season draws to a close BEST is proud to announce that they have secured the services of the current Men's World Champion Youri Zoon for 2013. Team Manager Lia Feriancek commented, "The Global Team at BEST just keeps getting bigger and better. With Youri joining the team to compete alongside Gisela on the PKRA Tour for 2013 we're hoping to see the GP riders dominate throughout the season. Youri is one of the most recognizable kiters on the planet and we are looking forward to his contribution to the continued success and growth of the BEST family."

Q. Welcome to BEST Youri! We are really excited to have you on board for 2013. Can you tell us a little bit about why you decided to come and Ride With Us? 

A. The offer BEST made me was one I could not refuse. As a pro-rider I have to be able to pay my bills but more important than that was the chance to become heavily involved in developing a product which focuses on outstanding quality, is safe and reliable and has a lot of key innovations. Developing a good product is very important for me and BEST is very open to this, they have a great R&D team based here in Europe and I'm looking forward to working closely with Peter and Jordi. I saw the offer as a great opportunity and took it.

Q. BEST is a big family with team riders and departments spread all around the world, how big a factor was the BEST family in your decision to change brands? 

A. I always saw that Best is very involved with their riders and that team riders play a large part in developing and testing new gear and they do have a reputation for throwing a party at their team meetings. It's always good when a company is like a big family, working with their team riders, thinking, talking and listening for opinions on all the gear and also looking for things we can do better and make the Brand stronger and stronger. I'm sure I'll be very happy here.

Q. What gear will you be riding in 2013, just the GP or will you be using a combination of GP and TS kites for competition and training?

A. Next year in 2013 I will be riding the GP for competitions but I'm planning on being heavily involved in the further development of the TS. I have been riding a open C shape kite for the past 4 years so I think Peter and I will really be able to drive the TS forward.

Q How long do you think it will take you to feel at home on the new kites? 

A. Not long at all. I rode the GP already and after 5 minutes I was landing my Blind judge 7, 317 and S-Mobe 7 so I think I will get used to it pretty soon. That kite is sweeeeet!

Q. You're the number one ranked rider and current PKRA champion, you've already tested the GPv2, what is it about the GP that you think will help you win once again in 2013?

A. The GP has the explosion I am looking for in my tricks. With this I can go for new tricks and go bigger than before. This way I hope to be on top again in 2013.

Q. What are your plans for next season? Are you committed to boots for the PKRA? What are you going to be pushing for the 2013 season?

A. Next year for sure I will ride boots and the main goal is to become world champion again! That's pretty much the only goal I am aiming for. Beside's that I just want to make clean runs and go for really high scoring tricks.

Q. Have you made any plans with Gisela yet? It must be pretty cool knowing that you'll have a female team mate with you on the podium at every event? 

A. I haven't made any plans so far but soon we will meet up and talk about a plan for the upcoming season and about the gear we will be riding on.

Q. Where are you going to be training during the off season? Do you have any trips planned and when will we see some BEST videos from you? 

A. Soon there will be some nice videos coming out! I have some sick projects that I will be working on. For the off season training I will be in Cape Town (South Africa).

Q. Other than BEST, what will be your full sponsors list for the year? Let's have some props for everyone that supports you.

Brunotti: For boards and clothing: I've been riding with them since the beginning of my career.
Javra Software: They're keeping my website, iphone/ipad apps up to date!
Mystic: Mystic has been there since the beginning as well, keeping me warm with their wet suits.
Koraal.org: Koraal has and is one of my first sponsors and has always been there for me.

Q. What are you most looking forward to about riding for BEST? 

A. Working with the R&D team, creating new products and pushing the brand forward. Making the best products out there!

Q. If we see you on the beach what should we say to you? 

A. Anything you want, I'm always up for a chat! Come and Ride With Me and let's grab a beer afterwards, it's all good.

Strapless Addiction Hits - Francesco Maffei

Slingshot Teamrider Francesco Maffei riding in Dakhla, Morocco.

How To Do: Indy Grab Backroll Strapless

1-When you find that nice wave or chop that you going tp use as a ramp, go a little bit down wind to get some speed, especially in light wind. At this point, you can hold the bar with two hands.

2-Just before the jump bend your knees. When you are going across the wave, wedge really hard with your heel side rail and try to go the more vertical as you can. That will help you to keep the board to your feet.

3-Start the rotation : at the same time (really important), send your kite up to 12 and face the board against the wind. Once you take off you have to let go off your back hand really fast to grab the rail.

4-Use your back foot to kick the tail a bit and bring the board with you that will help you in the rotation. Don't miss the grab ! Look over your front shoulder and start to bring the kite back down. Keep your feet on the board and hold on strong the rail : the wind will try to blow the board away from you... a bit off wax on the rail is helpful.

5-Make sure you are still on the deck of the board before you land. Don't let the board be in front of you that is dangerous ! Land with the tail first to absorb the impact, bending your knees.

Keys :

1 Wedge hard before the take off and go vertical.

2 Grab strong in the rail.

3 Be careful when you landing.

Watch the full sequence :

Kitesurf Tour Europe 2012 came to an end

MINI Kitesurf Tour Europe Spain is over and we have our European Champions.
Christine Bönniger and Riccardo Leccese are the 2012 new European Race champions.
Annelous Lammerts and Mario Rodwald conquered the freestyle titles.

Women Race Spain:1. Steph Bridge (GBR)
2. Christine Bönniger (GER)
3. Elena Anton Pascual (ESP)
Men Race Spain:
1. Riccardo Leccese (ITA)
2. Adam Koch (USA)
3. Maxime Nocher (FRA)
Women Freestyle Spain:1. Annelous Lammert (NED)
2. Therese Taabbel (DEN)
3. Sabrina Lutz (GER)
Men Freestyle Spain:1. Mario Rodwald (GER)
2. Stefan Spiessberger (AUT)
3. Patrick Blanc (ESP)
Women Race KTE 2012:1. Christine Bönniger (GER)
2. Kathrin Borgwardt (GER)
3. Steph Bridge (GBR)
Men Race KTE 2012:1. Riccardo Leccese (ITA)
2. Maxime Nocher (FRA)
3. Florian Gruber (GER)
Women Freestyle KTE 2012:1. Annelous Lammerts (NED)
2. Sabrina Lutz (GER)
3. Kelly Schouten (NED)
Men Freestyle KTE 2012:1. Mario Rodwald (GER)
2. Stefan Spiessberger (AUT)
3. Luke Whiteside (GBR)
        

KTE Spain – Day 1

First day of KTE Spain had an early star full of motivation and with high spirits and enthusiasm. 
The wind blew strong 15 – 22 knots. Riders such as Johnno Scholte (NED) and Patrick Blanc (ESP) advanced early on into the double elimination. Mario Rodwald (GER) and Stefan Spiessberger (AUT) performed well their powerfull manouvres.

Meanwhile in the girls division, german rider Sabrina Lutz (GER) lost her heat against Annelous Lammerts (NED) but later won against Kelly Schouten (NED). The women’s final, Lammerts (NED) versus Therese Taabbel (DEN) was a an exciting one.

Later a Course Racing started. Top competitors such as Riccardo Leccesse (COL) and Adam Koch (USA) as well as Flo Gruber (GER) and Olli Bridge (GBR) stood out. The final results of the single elimination finals and of the first race will be published tomorrow morning.

Alex Pastor: Warm Water

We had a good break from competitions and I spent a good amount of time training in Brazil, very different weather from my last video that was shot in the winter in Tarifa.

Rob Douglas Wins the North American Speed Sailing Championship

Robbie Douglas won the second annual North American Speed Sailing Championships Invitational on past Tuesday. Due to special conditions owed to the hurricane Sandy influence thirteen of the world’s best speed sailors were able to compete for a $30,000 purse.
Douglas with the average speed at 48.69, won the $10,000 first prize.
Damien Leroy came in second, Alex Caizergues was third, Brock Callen took fourth, and Jamie Douglas was fifth. Robbie Douglas had the fastest average speed at 48.69.

Cold Ireland

Some frames from Pedro Henrique during the last stop of the KSP tour. Filmed in Ireland.

Griding Ice – Alaska - Part I

Last week we brought you a video of Robby Naish, Kevin Langeree and Kai Lenny SUPing in Alaska. During that trip Kevin Langeree and Kai Lenny found the perfect playground to kite – icebergs. Sit back and enjoy!

Riders: Kevin Langeree, Kai Lenny
Filming & Editing: Poor Boyz Productions
Music: “Animus Vox” by The Glitch Mob; “Night Skys” by Thrill Kill; “In the Nighttime” by Jonathan Wojciechowksi

Stay tuned for the second part of this trip.