HARD LEARNING

Ryan Coote and Mark Barry Kite surfing Heavy slab waves on the west coast of Ireland.

Indo: Keahi de Aboitiz

Keahi de Aboitiz getting barreled in Indonesia.

INDO by Arild Kristiansen

We cannot praise Indonesia enough for being a perfect surf destination but it turns out that it’s an awesome place for kitesurfing as well. Arild Kristiansen, a rider from Sweden had recently spent some time in Indonesia scoring some waves with young-gun Jacob Victorin. Watch this short edit showing the best that Indo has to offer, waves, wind, sun, wonderful people and great food. 

Escape

Simon Wichtermann is determined to travel around the world, kitesurf and simply enjoy the best that life has to offer. Last month he spent great times kiteboarding at shallow and flat lagoons in Barra Nova, Cumbuco and Uruau. Watch him ripping in his latest video filmed in Brazil.

Waves shots from Denmark

Nice pictures captured on a freestyle strapless session in Denmark. This edit was shot in Klitmöller and Hanstholm, in the North Denmark Region, known as “Cold Hawaii” which presents excellent conditions, strong winds and big waves.

World Record Speed Run

Here is footage from Alexandre Caizergues world record run November 11, 2013. Caizergues shattered the World Sailing Speed Kitesurfing Record over 500 metres with a blinding average of 56.62 knots in the “Salt and Speed” Volkswagen Transporter Arena located in Salin-de-Giraud, France. In so doing, he has improved on the previous record set by American Rob Douglas by 0.97 knots. The Provençal rider once again makes history in his sport and in the domain of sailing speed records. 

Rob Douglas wins the 2013 NASSI Title

Twelve kiteboarders from around the world were invited to enjoy two weeks of speed racing with 15 to 40 knots of wind on Martha’s Vineyard earlier this month. Sailing in the familiar waters of Nantucket, Rob Douglas took the title, while Damien Leroy and Jamie Douglas (brother to Rob) secured the remaining two places on the podium. A $27,000 prize purse was awarded to riders recording the fastest times. In ten races, there was a maximum top average speed of 50.193 knots over 250 meters, with V-Max’s over 54 knots. Riders sailed 7-12 meter kites, with high speeds being set by Bobby the Bullet “Rob Douglas”.  

NASSI 2013 Results:

1. Rob Douglas (USA)
2. Damien Leroy (USA)
3. Jamie Douglas (USA)
4. Morgan Douglas (USA)
5. Nico Parlier (FR)
6. Brian Kender (USA)
7. Alex Caizergues (FR)
8. Christophe Prin-Guennon (FR)
9. Sylvain Hoceini (FR)
10. Brock Callen (USA)
11. David Williams (UK)
12. Bill Lynch (USA)

PKRA Hainan - Double Eliminations video

Watch the wrap up video of the double eliminations in Haikou, China, during the 2013 PKRA Kiteboarding World Tour. Alex Pastor and Gisela Pulido conquered their world titles during this event.

A couple of barrels with a kite by Rob Kidnie

Want to see Rob Kidnie getting barrelled in south-east Asia? Watch his cool video from a recent trip he took and see how he scored a couple of barrels. Despite some wipe-outs, Rob and his kite survived. 

Brazilian best friends

It is always good to see great kitesurfing moments shared with friends. Here you can watch two Brazilian childhood friends, Chaian and Rodrigo, who train and have fun together.

Different Perfect Day

Watch this short homemade film featuring Felipe Moure López. It was shot in a gusty and off shore wind day on November, and despite those conditions, it was a different perfect day!

Down South

Maurício Pedreira was testing the new Blade Trigger 2014 around his home spots in the South of Brazil. Check out those exciting strapless sessions, where he enjoyed exceptional local winds and waves.

Hawaii: a Kitesurfing Short Film

The North shore of Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. Where heroes gather and legends are made. Home to Cabrinha kites. Infamous for massive winter swells. In the first act of this kitesurfing short feature we see how easy a love affair with the ocean or with a pretty girl begins. II, Fade from black and white to full color. And III, has the goods wrapped in barrels of fun. Its intoxicating lure calling us out to ride.

Help Save Maui Kite Beach: Sign the Petition!

Kiting, windsurfing, SUP’ing, outrigger paddling, kayaking, surfing and anything else that uses a “vessel” may soon be actively banned from launching or landing along a 3000 ft. section of Kanaha State Park (Kitebeach) also known as Ka’a Point in Maui. A vessel exclusion zone has been on the books for the last 25 years but has never been enforced, until perhaps now.

Largely due to the lobbying efforts of one parent, perhaps others disturbed about kiting activities in the Pro Point/fish pond area, this may come to pass. Recall the one disaffected windsurfer who managed to get kiting banned for two years off the North Shore and skegged Flash Austin. In short, this is a real threat.

More background on the current threat at: http://mauinow.com/2013/05/10/swim-zones-to-be-enforced-at-kaa-point-over-safety-concerns/

This is serious and should be of concern to any waterperson who has or wants to visit Maui at sometime in the future. Use zones can be created and enforced, there is no need for a blanket prohibition. First you need to get government’s attention to take things to the point of starting negotiations hence this petition.

For now there is a petition campaign to be submitted to the Hawaiian State DIVISION OF BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION (DOBOR) organized by Ocean Safety Alliance, https://www.facebook.com/oceansafetyalliance

Titled: “State DOBOR Hawaii: Please protect ocean access at Kanaha Beach. Change the outdated rules to reflect the current use.”

and is located at: *** CLICK HERE TO SIGN PETITION ***

It takes very little time to sign the petition, please help to keep this unique spot open to all these water interests now and into the future. Chris Levins of Adventure Sports Maui gave me a heads up on this, it is legitimate and a current threat to continued use of this area.

Thanks to Rick Iossi of FKSA.org for leading the charge to keep Maui Kite Beach open for all!