Can you believe we're looking down the barrel of 2011 already? Aside from all the hoopla associated with Christmas, it's all looking good, judging from next year's gear that we've already got our hands on! Tested in this issue are the following items that are already available for you to throw some cash at your local shop in exchange for:
F-One's SUP kite – The Source, Airush's One strut kite - The One, Flexifoil Ion, Globe Kites Sonic, Best Taboo, MRK Zoom, Starkites S-Bow, Spleene SPX, RRD Obsession kite, plus Flyboard's Flyradical twin-tip and Liquid Force Kite Fish and Shinn Waterbird skimboard.
Plus, if you've ever wondered what the point is for you to get bindings, we try a pair out for a month in all sorts of everyday conditions.
In other features we take a look at the history of Best Kiteboarding. They careered into the kitesurfing market in 2004 with their brash, aggressive online tactics that saw them drastically undercut their competitors and rapidly acquire customers. In 2010 they are striving to shed the cheap / 'beginner' brand stigma. Jim Gaunt met Best's R&D and marketing teams in Guincho, Portugal during the launch of their brand new Taboo kite to find out what really lies behind the hype and how the brand grew, from being the most unaccepted within the industry, to one of the biggest shifters of kites in the market.
We also take a trip to two popular resorts in Egypt – El Gouna and Soma Bay - to check out just why this area of the Red Sea continues to be one of the most popular kitesurfing holiday destinations on the planet.
Plus: Tacking tips, secrets to insane one-footers, kitesurfing beach etiquette dos and don'ts, Mark Shinn's 20th column and much, much more.
The British girls stole the show for the 2010 European Kitesurf Championship, the final event in Poland at the end of last month.
Swiss girl Celine Coullaud who has recently relocated to north Cornwall was crowned womens 2010 European Freestyle Champion, Flexifoil rider Johara Sykes-Davies took 2nd, closely followed by Nicky Rudd on Slingshot in 3rd.
The first ever European kitesurf Championship kicked off in Austria on Lake Neusiedler, back in early May, followed by stops in Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and Poland The tour has been immense, with great venues, plenty of varied conditions, and some insane riding.
Celine took the win in Austria, ahead of Johara in 2nd place. Unfortunately Nicky did not get off to the best start after her kite released in her second heat, and left her with a long swim to the judge boat!
Switzerland hosted the highest kitesurf event in the world at 1750m above sea level, on Lake Sliverplanna. Kiting on the lake with snow-capped mountains above was an incredible experience, and we couldn’t have hoped for better wind conditions.
Celine battled it out in a very close final against Anja Grzelinska, and took second place at her former home spot, followed by Nicky in 3rd who was hanging on to a 14m determined to be powered!
At the end of August we went to Poland for the final stop. After some interesting navigating we managed to get from Berlin to Swinoujscie, a name we will probably never be able to pronounce correctly.
Unfortunately there was not enough wind to run a double elimination. Johara had a good competition finishing in 4th and Celine and Nicky kept their overall rankings.
The Tour is hoping to have even more stops next year, it is a great stepping-stone between National and World level with a good number of girls competing, for more info on the European Tour check out www.kitesurftour.eu
After 110 mile and 9 hours on the water all the riders completed the massive Kitesurf trip from Ireland back to England.
Hampered for over a year by the weather finally the team got the break they needed and completed the trip.
A great welcome from family, friends and local people saw them arrive together, in style, to Silloth West Beach.
Fraser Dooley, Martin Sandwith, Stuart Wood, Nick Elliott and John Flynn all arrived in good form and even had enough stamina left for a champagne celebration on the beach.
Many thanks to all the supporters and sponsors who have made this trip work.
Please check out the website www.kitesurfirishsea.co.uk over the next few days for accounts of the trip and photos.
The Palmolive Kitesurf World cup is one of the biggest events on the PKRA World Tour.
I couldn't believe the amount of people there, it was crazy. I have never seen an event as big as this before!
The beach at St. Peter Ording is massive, the water state is either flat or wavey and constantly jam packed with kitesurfers!
We got wind every day bar one, which was awesome! Especially as the forecast was showing no wind or very little!!
Sunday 24th I got a 9th overall place in the freestyle. I found the conditions quite hard as it was my switch tack.
It was progressively getting windier as the day went on making it perfect for the Big Air/ Board Off competition in the afternoon.
I decided to go out very powered on a 10 meter. For a split second I did wonder if I was taking a kite size too big, as I saw the guys coming in from their big air heats on 10 meters.
But that thought quickly went! I knew I could hold it down, and you know what they say.... "Go big or go home!"
It was a lot of fun to go out way over powered and go massive, dancing around in the sky, and it was even better when I found out I won the women's Big Air/ Board off!
I couldn't believe I did it. I was so happy to get my 1st international win on the PKRA World Tour!! :-)
I really did not for one minute think I could beat Gisela Pulido from Spain, she is amazing! Or Bruna Kajiya the current World Freestyle Champion.
It was an awesome way to end the Palmolive Kitesurf World cup. It was such a fantastic event! I definitely hope to be back there next year!
Hannah is sponsored by : Crazyfly, Prolimit, JN, Chiemsee, Kiteitright, BKSA.
Location: Earnse Bay, Walney Island, Barrow, Cumbria Location Sponsor: Adventure Capital and ERDF Co-Event Sponsor: Deadman Clothing, North West Kitesurfing Tour Sponsors: Red Bull, Ion, Flexifoil, King of Watersports Disciplines: Kitesurf, Kitelandboard, Kitebuggy Freestyle and Kitesurf Course Racing
The BKSA came back to Barrow for the 4th year in the row.
The week leading up to the event was pretty windy and the forecast was not fantastic – however Walney for some reason always delivers!
Friday dawned with a strong cross off South Easterly with a lovely drizzle. The pros got on the water at 12pm with 9 meter kites, there were small kickers and some big moves going down with some spectacular wipe-outs. The rain slowly cleared however the wind then veered and dropped somewhat to a South Westerly direction – making the riding almost bang onshore. Riders were having to use larger kites most on 12 and 14 m – the most experienced riders showing there skills in the lighter winds
It was a battle in the men’s with Ned Taylor crashing out to a more consistent North West local Luke Whiteside while Ali Barratt showed everyone the skill he has with an amazing execution of landed tricks to take a well deserved 1st place .
Friday night and Gary from North West Kitesurfing did a fantastic BBQ for 150 people
Saturday and all other classes registered with most getting to compete by 11am for the racing 12pm for the freestyle and 12.30pm for the Landsports
Saturday afternoon saw kites of every colour pop up against the Lake District background in the steady increasing winds of up to 25 knots – what a sight
The racers on the water saw 21 riders compete head to head completing two laps over 8 races in one day – most riders could hardly walk at the end – it equates to almost 3 and half hours racing!! North Rep Callum Edge came out on top ahead of the Cornish duo of Denzil Williams and Lee Harvey.
The Land comp was a great site and drew a large crowd to watch at riders spun and looped there way over the hard pack sands of Earnse Bay.
The ladies showed great skills and bravery in the increasing winds – Karen Cartlidge took the win in the Buggy section while Pro Kitesurfer lady Sukie Robertson took the honours in the Landboarding
The Men’s buggy saw some huge moves go down and it was an all Flexifoil sponsored riders in the final. Craig Sparkes took the win ahead of Dave Roberts and last years champ Will Mckean in 3rd
The Men’s landboard saw some great kiteloops and board-offs. Ash Garwood was pulling all the stops out with some smooth stylish riding and so he look the win Steve Smith was going huge to take 2nd while Daniel Smith was managing to 1080 spins !
The Juniors saw three riders compete Greg Chilton competing in both water and land on the same kite taking the win ahead of Tom Ford and Robbie Shire Maidement
The Freestyle comp kicked off in a strengthen wind – with Lewis in the commentary box with some banging tunes from the Red Bull wagon – and some cheeky comments
There were some great riding in all fleets – however standouts had to be Marcus Hawkins who killed it in the Final of the amateur men – at 35 no mean feat – winning King of Watersports for biggest move of the weekend!
Sam Bull new to competition put on a consistent run of heats to win the Youths and Danielle Durrant with some gutsy riding winning the Amateur ladies
Richard Jones showed great skill and won ahead of Dave Williams on a 13m and an unlucky Daniel Vaughn who lost his kite in the final of the seniors.
Last up were the juniors – some riders missing due to international competitions lead to a small fleet however Robbie and Callum fought it out – Callum taking 1st and Robbie 2nd
Saturday night saw the Red bull bbq and a fairly late night!
Sunday dawned with light winds – lucky for some.
Owen Stringer race director was keen to run more races however there was insufficient winds to get going even on the race boards
Prize giving was done at 1pm in front of a huge crowd
Special thanks go out to Gary, Jill and family for all the efforts in hosting another fantastic event.
RECORD BREAKING, Kite surfing, CHANNEL CROSSING FAMILY
A Fun Family Day out - Whose Great Idea was this??
Ralph Crathorne (aged 51) and his two daughters Lucy (21) and Polly (16) think they have just broken 3 records in Kite surfing across the channel from Dungeness to Boulogne in 3 hours and 40 minutes:-.
Lucy and Polly are the first Women to kite surf the channel to France
Polly is the youngest person at 16 to have kite surfed across and
Ralph is the oldest.
Despite less than perfect conditions the family dodged ships in the busiest shipping lane in the world – The Dover Straits. Having joked about going for a family crossing for some months – the dream became a reality when a friend offered to provide a support boat.
“It was all a bit last minute. Dad glued a compass onto his kiteboard and suddenly we were off – it wasn’t until the half way point and I saw France in the distance that it really sank in that we were going to make it – I just looked at my sister and laughed it seemed so ridiculous” says Polly.
“We aimed to go from Dungeness to Wimereux but the currents and light winds forced us further south – we reckoned we had covered about 30 miles before we made it to the Boulogne Harbour walls where my wife hauled us on board under the noses of the French Police waiting menacingly on the beach.” ** said Ralph Crathorne.
The family used Cabrinha Kites and Wizard kite boards to make their crossing – Polly Crathorne who finished second overall in the Ladies Amateurs’ freestyle section of the BKSA UK 2009 kite surf tour and is currently lying second in this year’s tour said I am really excited to have just been invited to become a UK team rider for Cabrinha”
**Editors note; the family notified the HM Coastguard and kept them informed throughout, however by order of the Maritime Prefect of the Channel and the North Sea (number 14/93) the French Maritime Authorities prohibit crossings of the Pas de Calais by unconventional means and/or in unorthodox craft
Five times world kitesurfing champion Aaron Hadlow was a welcome guest at the BKSA Hunstanton National Freestyle event, which took place at the weekend.
Even Hadlow could not influence Friday's weather on the north coast of Norfolk though, as the strong sunshine and still conditions meant no wind, but the day wasn't a total write-off, as the competitors watched the BMX and skateboarders going off
Many of the athletes have a skateboarding or BMX background, so an enjoyable day was had by all, despite the unsuitable climatic conditions.
Saturday dawned with more competitors registering for the event, taking the total to 50. The wind was light form the South West however slowly built which enabled the juniors and Amateur Ladies to be run.
Blue Peter were on hand with a 5 strong film crew for there second day of filming the Bridge boys compete with presenter Andy on hand. All the moves were being thrown down to impress the cameras – Tom coming in first ahead of brother guy and Callum Asquith in 3rd.
We just got the Amateur Ladies heat re-run after the wind died once all ready – the standard here has soared as did the temperatures to almost 35 degrees as the wind totally switched off ! The evening was finished off with a setting sun and some great bands playing on the Hunstanton seafront.
Sunday began very windy much to everyone’s surprise and it was a 9.30 start for the Pro Men’s which was fierce – early standouts were Luke Whiteside and Ned Taylor – however it was a consistent Lewis Wilby who made it into the final with Ned and Oli Sweeney . The conditions were choppy and Oli stomped home most of his tricks to take the lead over the other two in the final to take the win.
Next up were the ladies- British #1 Hannah Whiteley showed her dominance of the field again taking the win ahead of the much improved Nicky Rudd and Holly Kennedy – think it will be a close season this year.
The Amateur men were next up with a mixture of ages from 20 – 35. and local riders Simon Light and Jordan Smith were showing good form on their local patch however it was new boy Xan Woods who took the win.
Last up was a mixture of heats in the Seniors and Youths however the wind was starting to die off as it switched to the West and kept coming and going – this left the final results in both fleets as 1st equals for the top 4 riders.
Prize giving was held at 6pm and then everyone said there goodbyes and headed home except for a few who stayed to watch the World Cup Finals! Results
Pro Men- 1- Oli Sweeney 2- Ned Taylor 3- Lewis Wilby
The first BKSA Youth Training of 2010 took place during the final bank holiday weekend of May in windy and sunny Hunstanton.
The weekend was blessed with good wind, and some challenging squalls, which gave the group plenty of time on the water.
BKSA Youth Coaches Karine Nativel and Christian Harris were joined by an inspirational, energetic and committed group of six, with a promising 50/50 boy and girl split.
Present were Polly Crathorne, Joe Mathews, Chloe and Danielle Durrant, Will Makinson and Robert Palmer.
During the two days, as well as training new moves, constructing, practicing and analysing their potential heats from the video footage for the forthcoming competitions, the group also participated in media training and trick progression modules.
Many thanks to Hunstanton Watersports and Hunstanton Sailing Club for their hospitality, and a huge well done to the entire group!
Here it is, Summer in the UK, The sudden boom of kite life in Europe is like an unbelievable kite fiesta that requires the repeated descent of the Rabbit Gang.
More than anything else, for just a feel of being there, we once again packed our bags and hit the road. At each stop this year, there will be a real Jam Session. This series of mellow and fun contests will be run and judged by our team including Lou Wainman himself, Niccolo, Franz and all others!
You will be able to ride, share your kite soul and party at our remote kite club with the entire WH team. No matter which other gang's kite or board you use, show some style and make at least one good trick. This will give you an opportunity to win some serious gear and if you don't win we still love and respect you.
Do your best to plan your week somewhere close to our route and for sure we will have some good times together. Test all the new boards that our entire company was designing, constructing and producing.
We have been working for the last year around the clock with the hope that YOU will like them too, no matter what your style is. The new boards are really smoking, so come demo them. Of course together with the superb Rabbit Kites, that won`t ever stop to rock......right on!
See you soon, Aloha Rabbit Gang
UK Schedule :
Poole section hosted by @ HYDR8 Watersports
Friday 23 rdPoole
10:00 Shop stop at S2AS (surface to Air Sports)
11:00 Stop at King of Watersports.
14:00 Wainman demo and Jam sessions , meet the Team Lou, Franz, Niccolo, Bertraund.
18:00 Demo Complete
Saturday 24th
11:00 Official opening of HYDR8 Watersports and Wainman Hawaii UK Test Centre by Lou Wainman, bring your camera !
14:00 Commence demo jam sessions, meet the Rabbit Gang and win some prizes. location TBC on day due to weather conditions
18:00 Demo Complete
20:00 Evening function at the Watersports Centre. Food / beer etc see Hydr8 Watersports Website for details.
Sunday 25th.
11:00 Set up at chosen beach TBC see Hydr8 Watersports Website for details
12:00 Commence Jam and demo sessions win even more prizes.
18:00 Demo Complete
19:00 Beach BBQ to be confirmed
Monday 26th Brighton
This section will be hosted by Kiteworld magazine
10:00 Depart Poole to Brighton via Bracklesham Boardriders for a meet and greet.
11:00 Arrive Bracklesham shop Meet staff and local kiters
13:00 Depart for Brighton (Lancing Beach)
14:00 Arrive Lancing Beach meet Jim from Kiteworld magazine set up and demo
19:00 – 20:00 Demo complete
Tuesday 27th
11:00 S2AS shop, Brighton , meet and greet with staff and kiters.
13:00 Set up at Lancing for Full day of demo and jam sessions
18:00 Kiteworld beach BBQ or function tbc
Wednesday 28th
Rabbit Gang Depart for Belgium and Netherlands
Agent : Phil Rawcliffe, Wainman Hawaii UK Dutch : +31-61097-2974 UK : +44-754-0773604
Everyone has a favourite spot. If you're lucky, it's your home spot, but more than likely it's the perfect conditions you found on your holidays that you keep dreaming about. Pro riders get the luxury of spending half their life travelling to new spots as well as old favourites. Jeremie Tronet and Linn Svendsen have made a career as travelling kiteboarders, taking beautiful pictures and keeping notes of all that they find. This issue they present their top five spots close to Europe, and continue next issue with their top five closer to the USA. If you can't decide where to go next, these two have all the answers for your freestyle, wave and freeride questions.
William Milne has been Aaron's personal videographer for the last few months and Red Bull have just taken him on under contract to film On The Loose, a docu-soap following the lives of Aaron Hadlow and Ruben Lenten. Trailing them everywhere, the show will be aired on national TV in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Webisodes will be available in English. Will used to be our assistant editor as well as an editor over at Fatsand, so he's been around a bit in a short time. We catch up with the sharp shooter to see what it's like Shooting Hadlow.
As well as the usual technique know-hows, our global trottings take us on the wave mission of our lives in Indo, charity working and slider hitting in Kenya, sun soaking in Florida and our popular Sessions feature continues to uncover adventurous sessions from around the world via minimal words and stunning photography. Plus Shannon Best tells us his These Things I Know. Judging by his Tweets, we may have to expand that feature!
In terms of gear reviews, we have a little something for everyone, whether you're a sophisticated freesrider, hardcore freestyler, part time wave rider or light wind desperado, plus we've reviewed our first Girls board from Crazy Fly. Here's the list:
KITES: Blade Trigger, Gin Zulu 2, Ozone Catalyst, Best Waroo, Epic Screamer, North Evo TWIN: Xenom Rayo, RRD Poison, F-One TX3, Crazy Fly Girls, Shinn Luigi, Best Armada LIGHT WIND: Ozone Zephyr 17m kite, Flydoor XL twin, Shinn King George XL twin and Airush choptop 5'3 surfboard.
North West kitesurfing has just hosted its first BKSA Instructor training course with great success .
There was a full house with eight candidates from all over the UK and Ireland including the Tees Valley, Liverpool, Worthing and Northern Ireland.
The course was so popular we unfortunately had to turn four other people away, I would like to think this was a combination of a great location, excellent BKSA training and the ever growing reputation of the school.
Chris Bull from Hayling Island kite school to delivered the course and hopefully found it to be the perfect location combined with good conditions for the ITC.
Gary Powell the school principal was fortunate enough to be able to observe and be involved in the training for the whole week and took great pleasure in seeing the candidates confidence and delivery increase as the week progressed - He had this to say " I believe eight excellent instructors left the school on Friday 28th May 2010."
A big thanks to Chris Bull for delivering the course and to Ian, Jason, Karl, Lewis, Mark, Kev, Nick and Josh for choosing to do training with North West Kitesurfing.
Due to the success of the course and having to turn away four candidates we hope to be hosting another ITC sometime in October (to be confirmed).
Please register your interest and receive some information via www.nwks.co.uk
In the Elements have launched another high quality Live streaming webcam at hayling Island!! Its in a awesome location overlooking all sections of the sand bar. They have other webcams in Poole and Calshot.
The webcam streams unrivalled live footage of weather and water conditions, with the camera located at The Inn on the Beach.
Overlooking all sections of the sand bar, the webcam also pans from east to west with close ups on various parts of the bar to gain perspective of sea state and wind speed.
If you want any further info please dont hesitate to contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
So that’s it the First Edge race cup is finished and it was a great weekend. The racing kicked off on saturday under overcast skies and light Ne Breezes, after registration the competitors moved down to the main event site on the beach in Exmouth.
The wind took a bit of time to settle in so Beach volley ball contest was started which everyone enjoyed followed by a fiercely contested paddleboard race. Emerging through the rounds to the final were Callum Edge, Lee Pasty and local boy George Shoulder. In a dramatic final race in an ever strengthening tidal flow the lead changed hands regularly with Lee just edging it from Callum with George close behind.
At about 3pm the wind had increased just enough and combined with an outgoing tide there was enough power to get the race boards out for the first race. The trend for the racing was set early with Oliver Bridge (12 years) leading around the windward mark followed by Denzil Williams and Callum Edge. Unfortunately Oliver hadn’t concentrated hard enough at the briefing and probably not expecting to be leading headed off to the wrong 2nd Mark! Denzil the wiley old fox wasnt to be suckered into this error and went on to to win the race from a late charging Callum with Oliver and Jason McCaffrery on their heels.
Unfortunately that was it for day one except for the sail loft party which was a great night with fantastic weather and good company.
Sunday dawned with a bit too much NE gradient for the organisers to be that confident of their good sea breeze predictions however at about 11.30 the wind switched on shore and all looked set for a good day. Once the tide turned all was set for some racing. The new generation course racing boards were havin a ball in these marginal 8 -10 knots of wind. With flat out full power racing up and down wind when the twin tips couldn’t get off the beach!
Racing was tight with Steph and Denzil battling it out at the front of the fleet with Denzil having a slight edge upwind and Steph going quicker downwind. They split the races 2 each with Callum and Oliver never far Behind. By about 3pm the wind had increased enough for the directionals and twin tips to join the fray and the long distance blasting races were started. The course was a long figure of eight slalom course making the most of the wind against tide conditions.
In these increased power conditions it was cornish beef in the form of Lee Pasty that took line honours from Oliver in second. In the twin tip class Big Nigel Haworth was ruling and took a deserved bullet with local Doc Debenham wining the surfboard class.
There was just enough time for one last course race dominated and won by a very happy Oliver Bridge getting his first race win from Denzil in second with Nigel winning the twin tips.
It was all over and a great time had by all. A few things learnt and everyone looking forward to next year.
Results :
Race board category
1st Denzil Williams (Fone)
2nd Oliver Bridge (North)
3rd Callum Edge (North)
Twintips 1st Nigel Haworth
Directionals 1st Tom Debenham
Long Distance 1st Lee Pasty
Thanks to everyone that supported the event including: BKSA, Flexifoil, North Kiteboarding, Da Kine, Excel Wetsuits , West Wetsuits
Jodie Kidd the Model and former leader of the Top Gear "Star in the Reasonable Priced Car" race board, came to exmouth for a 2 day film shoot for BBC ‘Country Tracks’.
The team at Edge Watersports embarked on teaching Jodie to kitesurf in a few hours ! Fortunately Jodie not only had great kite skills, she also had the right mind set & given another hour with another 10 knots she would have been riding.
It was the full on shooting match with the main tabloids - showing their huge lenses & Steph & Eric trying hard to get the team to understand that they needed to get on with things before the wind dropped!
Lunch was one of the highlights with the camara men being stood in wasit deep water as we then tucked into sandwiches at the Pole sands teaching area.
I do not think we have seen the last of Jodie & we look forward to really getting her ripping!!!
The program will be aired in the next couple of months - news on dates coming shortly.
News
Christmas, it's all looking good, judging from next year's gear that we've already got our hands on! Tested in this issue are the following items that are already available for you to throw some cash at your local shop in exchange for:
last month. 
England.
second overall in the Ladies Amateurs’ freestyle section of the BKSA UK 2009 kite surf tour and is currently lying second in this year’s tour said I am really excited to have just been invited to become a UK team rider for Cabrinha”
Entry Form
still conditions meant no wind, but the day wasn't a total write-off, as the competitors watched the BMX and skateboarders going off
early standouts were Luke Whiteside and Ned Taylor – however it was a consistent Lewis Wilby who made it into the final with Ned and Oli Sweeney . The conditions were choppy and Oli stomped home most of his tricks to take the lead over the other two in the final to take the win.
Hunstanton.
the repeated descent of the Rabbit Gang. 
THE WORLD IS OURS 
sometime in October (to be confirmed).
overcast skies and light Ne Breezes, after registration the competitors moved down to the main event site on the beach in Exmouth.
and Steph going quicker downwind. They split the races 2 each with Callum and Oliver never far Behind. By about 3pm the wind had increased enough for the directionals and twin tips to join the fray and the long distance blasting races were started. The course was a long figure of eight slalom course making the most of the wind against tide conditions.
exmouth for a 2 day film shoot for BBC ‘Country Tracks’.