As the name suggests, the Death Loop is a very dangerous situation that can happen to virtually anyone due to gear failure or a line getting wrapped around your bar or hooked through your harness in some way. Year after year many kiteboarders around the world get hurt or even die because of the so called “Death Loop”, and in many cases, releasing your safety system has no effect. It can even happen to highly experienced kitesurfers if caught off guard.

For this reason, Anton Chernyshov from Advakite.com put together a great video tutorial demonstrating a number of techniques to quickly and safely get your kite back under control without ever having to release your safety system.

We highly recommend you watch the entire video tutorial below, however we’ve also summarized the various techniques in case you can’t watch the video for some reason.

Surviving the Death Loop Video Tutorial

If you are reading this tutorial in an email or RSS feed, please click here to watch the video tutorial.

Examples of Situations that can cause the Death Loop

• Centre depower line (front lines) wrap around the bar
• One of the steering lines gets hook around the bar end or clip
• Steering line wraps around your harness hook

Activating your safety system may not help, as the depower system is locked around the bar or the steering line is hooked on your harness. It also makes the situation worse, because now the bar is out of your reach, making it impossible to rectify the situation. Your only option left is to cut away from the kite entirely.

How to Stop the Loop of Death

To stop the kite, simply grab the farthest steering line and pull it hard. That’s it… the kite will stall and fall out of the sky. If you are battling to pull this line, wait for the kite to hit the surface of the water, as it will be much easier to stall the kite while it has briefly stopped moving.

Securing the Kite Afterwards

Once you’ve stopped the kite, pull the steering line in even more to ensure your kite remains depowered. Then you have several options:

1. Untangle your lines and carefully relaunch your kite. Make sure the lines are completely free before attempting to relaunch the kite. You can untwist the lines once your kite is in the air.
2. If you are worried about your lines being tangled or there is a dangerous obstacle ahead of you, you can proceed straight to the self rescue. First wrap the steering line you already pulled in around the bar about 10 times to secure the kite in a depowered state. Then proceed with the self rescue as normal.
3. If you are in shallow water, you can just walk up the steering line towards the kite. Be sure not to get yourself entangled in any loose lines and don’t wrap the lines around your hands or fingers in case the kite does power up and relaunch accidently.

Practice

We don’t recommend practicing death loops on the beach or even in the water, as you could potentially hurt yourself or someone else. But you can practice preparing for the various scenarios using your bar and lines at home as demonstrated in the video. Repeat a few times with your eyes closed in case your bar is under the water when you’re in a tricky situation.

If you have questions or you’d like to share your own experiences, please post them in the comments below. And please share this information with others, as you might save someone from serious injury or death.

PS: A big thank you to Anton Chernyshov for taking the time to make this great video and for sharing his knowledge and experience with everyone.

Surviving the Death Loop was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

What You’ll Learn in this Wave Kite Series

This 5 part series of professionally produced wave riding tutorial videos will help you quickly master the art of Kitesurfing waves. The great news is that as an intermediate freeride kitesurfer, you’re only ten days of practice away from becoming a legit wave kitesurfer!

Over the next few weeks you will learn:

1. How to Start Wave Kitesurfing: Timing your Turns
2. Your first turns with timing and usage of the entire wind window
3. Riding your first waves backside
4. Top-turns and bottom-turns, performed both frontside and backside
5. How to gybe

How to Start Wave Kitesurfing: Timing your Turns

Watch the video tutorial above to learn how to perform carving transitions with the right timing, and then get out and practice, practice, practice… If you are reading this article in an email or RSS feed, watch the video here.

Getting Started

If you can ride upwind and toe-side, then you are ready to learn to ride waves with a kite.

If you don’t live near a kite spot with waves, you can start preparing to learn wave kitesurfing on flat or choppy water using your twin-tip board. This will allow you to get used to the fundamental moves before you take a trip to a good wave riding location.

Carving Transitions

Carving transitions are turns where you keep the same foot in front during your entire transition. Smoothly turning from and to toe-side and heel-side in both directions is essential for riding a wave board or directional board. This means you have four different turns to practice.

Timing the turn of your kite and board is crucial for a successful transition. Before pointing your board downwind, steer the kite sharply through the power zone in the opposite direction. Then shortly afterwards, follow your kite around by steering your board’s nose downwind and then into the opposite direction. If you get pulled over your board, steer your board downwind harder or faster. If you sink into the water you most likely moved the kite to 12 o’clock and didn’t steer the kite quickly enough through the power zone.

Important:  first turn the kite, and then turn the board. One strong pull on the bar with your back hand should do the trick. Watch the video above to learn the correct technique.

Don’t forget, if you want to wave kite in various conditions such as with the wind from the left and from the right, you need to be able to do your turns on your weak side as well. So practice both ways from the start.

Get on a Wave Board

After you’ve mastered all four turns while powered on your twin-tip board, start practicing the exercises on a directional wave board.

Switching to a wave board might take some getting used to, and you need to adjust your riding technique slightly. Make greater use of the fins to help you to ride upwind instead of riding the board on the edge like you would when riding a twin-tip board.

You’ll find that your wave board has less drag in the water. It will also speed up quicker so you should find it easier to move the kite through the power zone. Try this while carving downwind in a smooth slalom line and enjoy getting into the flow of things.

Important: Keep in mind that your wave board has large fins which are fragile, so avoid riding in shallow water where they might get caught in the sand and break off.

For now, don’t worry about switching your feet (gybing). You will learn to gyb later, as it’s a bit more difficult to learn than just riding the waves. In the meantime, if you do want to change your feet, simply slow down and drop yourself in the water, turn your board around manually and head back in the other direction.

Downwinders for Kitesurfing Waves

While cruising in slalom lines you will be heading downwind and losing a lot of ground. Kiting back upwind will take time, effort and energy. The same applies when you’re riding down the line on a wave. For this reason, most wave riders like to do downwind trips from one point to another. All you need to do is organise transport at the end of your downwinder to get you and your gear back to your starting point.

The advantage of doing a downwinder instead of kiting in one spot is that it will maximize your net practicing time on the water. It will help you reach your learning goal at this stage faster, which is steering the kite in a controlled manor through the power zone while turning the board in the other direction. It’s also just the most enjoyable way to wave kitesurf!

Lesson Summary

• Practice the four different types of carving transitions: from heel-side to toeside, from toeside to heel-side (goofy and regular stance)
• Timing: First turn the kite, then steer the board to follow the kite
• Steer the kite through the power zone while turning the board downwind
• Practice alternating between all 4 types of carving transitions in a slalom line downwind

If you enjoyed this tutorial, then keep an eye out for our next lesson in this wave riding series: “Your first turns with timing and usage of the entire wind window” by subscribing to our updates. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to post them in the comments below.

This wave kitesurfing video tutorial was brought to you by KITEKAHUNAS Kitesurfing School and KITEKAHUNAS Wave Camps.

KITEKAHUNAS is an advanced Kitesurfing School in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to their regular kiteboarding lessons, they also offer Wave Camps designed for wave kitesurfing beginners and experts. The camps include 2 weeks of pure wave riding pleasure, guidance, accommodation and transport from downwinders – all in all, an unforgettable experience.

Wave Kitesurfing Video Tutorial: Timing Your Turns (Lesson 1) was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Before We Start

Unhooking for the first time should be done in the right conditions, meaning you slightly struggle to pull the bar in fully and ride without getting dragged downwind, or any lighter than this to the point where you can still generate good pop hooked in (without sending the kite). You’re best off learning on a 9-14m kite. Make sure you pull in some trim line on your kite to stop it backstalling and to reduce the power slightly, then attach your leash to suicide so the safety doesn’t pull each time you crash. Every bar has a different setup so check the manual that came with your kite. It’ll either be a loop you can hook onto, or hook straight onto the chicken loop.

Choose Your Trick

Choose either a back roll or a raley to land first. I think back rolls are probably easier but they don’t teach you the best technique. You could also learn flat 360s or unhooked kiteloops first but they don’t teach you powered trick technique.

Now Let’s Get Started

1. Prepare

Gain a comfortable speed and keep the kite quite high to start with (60-75 degrees). Keep your body compact and elbows tucked in, most importantly move your hands to the centre of the bar so the kite is less responsive to steering.

2. Unhook

Point your board downwind and keep pointing more downwind until you can unhook comfortably. The video below shows me pointing downwind. Because the water is so flat, unhooking is effortless. A beginner will want to point much further downwind for their first attempts.

Video: Bare Off Downwind

If you are viewing this tutorial in an email or RSS reader, click here to watch the videos.

3. POP

Raley

Edge hard against the kite and then slide the board out the water just as the kite gives you a big yank. Have more weight on the back foot but keep the distribution quite equal. If you pop hard enough it should almost be second nature to fly the board up behind your head.

This is a little hard to describe in words, so check out the video below. You’ll see that you need to slide the board out the water in the direction you’re travelling while pushing off with your feet and sweeping your heels back towards your bum with the board behind you. In other words, the board gets released in two directions as illustrated in the image above.

Video: Pop Into a Raley

Back Roll

This is a very different pop. You want to edge hard against the kite with more weight on the back foot, not releasing your edge until you’ve almost done half a back roll. Time this edge release with the maximum pull from the kite and you’ll get a nice rip off the water. With the back roll you only really slide the board out of the water where your feet are pointing and then push off with your back foot to help the rotation. Keep looking over your front shoulder and tuck your knees in until you want to stop the rotation.

Video: This is a back roll to toeside to emphasize the back roll edge release

4. Stabilise

You’ll want to pull the bar into your front hip as you come in to land. This usually comes naturally, and will keep you stable and ready to land.

5. Landing

Land with your board pointing downwind. This will take the power out of the kite, letting you focus on your balance to land the trick.

6. Hook Back In

Keep pointing downwind while you hook back in. If possible keep both hands on the bar or take one hand off to guide the chicken loop in. As a last resort grab the chicken loop with both hands to hook back in quickly.

That’s the theory complete. It’s the easiest part to understand; now all you need to do is keep putting this into practice and eliminate any common problems you’re having. You’ll feel uneasy unhooking with no depower to start with, but it’s a case of unhook more and you’ll get used to it.

Common Problems

Overpowered

Don’t unhook while overpowered in the beginning. Make sure you can land a raley or back roll before trying in more wind. Make sure you pull a bit more trim line in first. When overpowered bare off downwind more and make sure you are fully committed. Don’t go into the trick half hearted as you’re likely going to mess it up and progress slower. Here are more tips for Overpowered Unhooking.

Choppy Conditions

In choppy conditions, ride slower and pick your takeoff more carefully. Try to launch your trick off a piece of chop for a cleaner release.

Kite Drifts to 12 or to the Water

This is your hand balance. Make sure you counteract whichever side of the bar you naturally pull when unhooking. Eventually it’ll become second nature. If you’re sending the kite to 12 then try to get the kite flying slightly downward just before you unhook.

Over Rotation or Getting Twisted

Tense your core and pull the bar towards your front hip.

Being a Wuss!

You have to commit 100% to unhooking for it to work. My first raley I committed 100%, lost the kiteboard mid air and did a superman with perfect technique (minus the board). It didn’t take long to learn. When I learnt to land blind I spent months crashing kites and half committing, so it took me much longer than it should have to land.

You know you’re under committing in decent winds if you get a soft pop or let go of the bar each time you take off.

Board Comes Off

Release the board more to the side (the direction you’re travelling) rather than backwards, lock your feet and tighten your straps. Or just chuck on a pair of boots, they make unhooking feel great.

Don’t Practice This

In my opinion, don’t practice raleys hooked in, or doing small pops unhooked or just riding around unhooked. They don’t replicate much technique needed for a powered raley or backroll. You’ll learn much more by not putting it off and practicing unhooked raleys or backrolls straight away, I find raleys more comfortable than unhooked pops or riding around unhooked.

That’s all you need to know, now think less, practice more and start pushing your riding!!!

Let me know if this post helped you or if you have any questions in the comments below.

Charlie

Charlie is an aspiring professional kitesurfer, dedicated to progression and pushing himself on the water in every session. You can follow his progression at: blog-charlieprice.com, or on instagram/snapchat/twitter: charlieprices or facebook.com/charlieprices.

Learn To Unhook Effortlessly was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

To continue the growth of kitesurfing as a sport, we need to recognize and overcome the barriers to entry these newcomers are faced with, and amplify the existing kiting community’s voice at the same time. We asked a number of pros who didn’t let anything get in their way what barriers you might run into when learning to kitesurf professionally, how to overcome them and why it is all worth it in the end.

Helena Brochoka

“At a beginner level, I think a lot of it comes down to fear. People are scared of a big powerful kite that can pull them out of control. Understanding the wind and kite’s “power zone” is really important in order to feel comfortable with a kite. It may seem hard at first, but it just needs a bit of practice. In the end, it’s a relatively safe sport, as long as you don’t engage in risky actions (such as launching close to trees, buildings, or rocks etc). I think it is most important to be familiar with how the wind works, and how to control a trainer kite fully before you switch to the actual big kite.

At a more advanced level, kitesurfing is very dependent on the conditions. In many other sports once you learn a trick, you usually know how you do it, and you will probably land it nearly every time. In kitesurfing you often think you’ve nailed it, but it might not work the next day or at a different spot due to varying wind and water conditions. Learning a trick is a much longer process, and it takes years to gain consistency. As frustrating as this might be, the key to success is to not give up, and just to keep trying again and again.”

Alex Arseneault

“I would say that the biggest barrier when learning to kitesurf is probably our ability to make decisions. When starting the sport, we are not always aware of the danger or risks of a spot or wind conditions.

To overcome that barrier, surround yourself with experienced people. Don’t be afraid to ask questions at a kite spot. Many kiters are present anywhere there’s wind and water. Take your place in a community; even if you are a beginner, we’ve all been there before!”

“Kite schools and shops are also there for you. Find the best Kite School you can trust and continue to ask questions. Kiteboarding can be complex (kites, boards, bars, lines etc). We learn every day, that’s what makes this sport so special.”

Jessica Perigny

“I would say that for someone who has never participated in any wind sports, understanding how the wind works is really difficult. I remember when I was teaching at Real Watersports, I would spend so much time explaining the wind. The best way to overcome this, in my opinion, is to watch videos and spend LOTS of time flying a trainer kite. It’s so much easier for a coach when students arrive having watched videos because they at least have a basic idea of what to expect.”

Dom Granger and Annie Carrier

“I would say, and I think it’s different for men, but for women, aside from money and/or time, I would say fear is the biggest barrier. Fear of not to being able, fear of the water, fear of not being strong enough, and fear of not being able to afford it. The best way to overcome this fear? Just do it! It’s definitely possible if you want it to be.”

Jana Schader

“The biggest barrier in learning how to kiteboard for me was getting back on the board after your first huge crash. To overcome your fear, you have to start slowly and think back to something great that happened before the crash. Watching others crash and get back up helps too.”

Brandon Bowe and Brandon Cordina

“Time and dedication. Kiteboarding takes anywhere from 5-8 hours to learn the basics, and the first stages of learning to kitesurf are very difficult. Just stick with it and learn to stay up wind, which is the key to success. Oh and make sure to get proper instruction! It’ll save you a lot of frustration!”

Jake Kelsick

“Mastering the kite. I always tell people kiteboarding is 80% kite control and 20% being on the board. Once you master the kite, your kite life will be much easier. Aside from that, if you are persistent and motivated, you will be ripping it up in no time!”

These kitesurfers and so many others are passionate about working with new and experienced kiters to help keep this sport growing to the level that it deserves. You can check out our kiting community, what they can do and what they can teach you on MentorMob by clicking to their profiles above.

What barriers and challenges have you faced to get to the level you are at now, and how did you overcome them? What tips can you offer potential newcomers to our sport to keep them motivated? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

This article was contributed by MentorMob, a community for kiteboarders and various other interest groups, and a great place to get free online learning guides.

Overcoming Barriers to Become the Next Pro Kitesurfer was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

After the suspenseful, week-long wait for the unseasonably absent ‘Cape Doctor’, 24 of the world’s best big air kiteboarders hit the water and the skies in Cape Town’s Big Bay on Saturday 14 and 15 February to see who would claim the title of Red Bull King of the Air 2015. Facing Jesse Richman (USA), Kevin Langeree (NED), and Jerrie van de Kop (NED) in the final, the capacity crowd watched on as Aaron Hadlow (GBR) pulled out all the stops to win the title and be crowned king of the air.

Hadlow was solid and consistent throughout the competition and easily had the performance of the day, landing two massive megaloop KGB’s twice during Sunday’s semis and finals to claim the top spot on the podium. This intricate move entails completing a back-roll megaloop, then unhooking and passing the bar behind your back.

“We waited all this time and we finally got the conditions we were waiting for. I know the conditions here in Cape Town well and I knew I had a good chance but you never know how it’s going to go. Once I went out there I was just full of adrenaline and managed to pull some pretty sick moves so I’m really happy now.”

“Big Air is a discipline I don’t always focus on, but it’s something that I always have in the back of my mind. I know this event will grow the sport of kiteboarding. The atmosphere here at Big Bay is like nothing else – the crowd loves it. It’s the one event in kiteboarding that really is for kiteboarding and I’m so happy to be on top!”

Hawaiian Jesse Richman, the 2013 King, made the most of the straps he’s been favouring over bindings, pulling big board-off’s but unfortunately experienced a few crashes leading to his flag being the first lowered in the final. Jerrie van der Kop was in the hunt throughout the heat, and laid it all out on the line for a well-deserved third.

Defending champ Kevin Langeree started strong, showing no ill-effect from the eight stitches in his hand from a cut sustained in training earlier in the week. For a long time he looked like he was going to defend his title but eventually placed second.

Hadlow was also awarded the ‘Mystic Move of the Day’ for his Megaloop KGB whilst runner-up Langeree claimed the ‘biggest air of the day’ with 13,5metres, recorded with the WOO Sports height measurement tool.

Final Results

1. Aaron Hadlow (GBR)
2. Kevin Langeree (NED)
3. Jerrie van de Kop (NED)
4. Jesse Richman (USA)
5. Nick Jacobsen (DEN) & Steven Akkersdijk (NED)
6. NA
7. Ruben Lenten (NED) & Sam Light (GBR)
8. NA
9. Antonin Rangin (FRA), Billy Parker (USA), Lewis Crathern (GBR) & Tom Hebert (FRA)

Over the course of the 3 days that the event ran over, 17,000 spectators came down to Big Bay to watch the action.

Sportive director Sergio Cantagalli, was pleased with how the competition ended on a high:

“Cape Town eventually delivered the best conditions to crown a Red Bull King of the Air and all the effort from the riders and team involved paid off.”

No Wind Does Not Mean No Action

In case you are wondering what the kiteboarders got up to during the two week windless holding period, the Dirty Habits crew made sure there was plenty of action to go around!

DJ’ing and Drone flying with Ruben Lenten and Kevin Langeree, ambushing Jesse Richman, Tom Hebert and Sam Medysky at the WOO house with a paintball gun, Braaing and ‘training’ with Sam Light, kiting and crashing with Lewis Crathern and naked roof jumping with Nick Jacobsen and Graham Howes are just some of the no-good antics the boys got up to while they were waiting for the ‘Cape Doctor’ to return. Watch the video below to get a glimpse of the action.

Dirty Habits Behind the Scenes at King of the air

They also interrogated the kiteboarders on a number of interesting topics… Tinder, Erections, Wake kiting, Bruna or Hannah? Straps or Boots? Viagra and wearing woman’s clothes… Check out the dirty interviews with Ruben Lenten, Kevin Langeree, Nick Jacobsen, Aaron Hadlow, Jesse Richmna, Sam Light, Sam Medysky, Oswald Smith, Reno Romeu and many others…

Filthy Interview Questions by Dirty Habits

Photos

Kolesky / Nikon / Red Bull Content Pool
Ydwer van der Heide / Red Bull Content Pool
Nick Musik / Red Bull Content Pool

Aaron Hadlow Wins the 2015 Red Bull King of the Air was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

The North West coastline offers amazing kiteboarding locations, ranging from sandy flat water bays to epic point breaks and reef breaks. However, due to the vastness of the Australian landscape, the sparsely populated North West coastline can be daunting for unequipped travellers. As a result many of these visitors never get out of the busy metropolitan areas to experience the true magic of our amazing coastline.

This is a ‘must kite’ short list of locations to visit between Perth and Exmouth, Western Australia. Whether you decide to go it alone, or join a kite safari, these are the places to hit up. We guarantee that you will be dreaming about these beautiful, pristine, isolated, and epically windy kitesurfing locations for years to come.

Lancelin

Now home to the International Oceanic Classic, Lancelin is a small crayfishing village that combines flat water bay riding and an outer reef break for wave junkies. There is a great downwinder between Lancelin and Wedge Island, which is 20 km in length. The tiny town has a great little pub to wind down at after an afternoon session.

Dongara

Dongara, is known as the rock lobster capital of Australia and home to the ‘leaning trees’. Most of them grow at 45 degrees due to the consistent strong winds.

This quaint little town comes alive in the summer months for the annual kite stock festival. The strong cross shore winds and rolling waves make this area perfect for downwinders, or head out to the Irwin river mouth for some flat water fun.

Coronation Beach

Coronation Beach, located just north of Geraldton is said to be one of Australia’s most attractive beaches and one of the finest kitesurfing locations in the world. “Coros” as it is known, gets you back to basics. You will need to bring enough food and water for your stay – and believe us you will want to stay!

The outer reef and headland create a protected flat water bay perfect for freestyle riding, or if you prefer a wave, head to the reef break on the outer edge. As the wind swings a little more offshore in the late afternoon this spot provides you with some truly unforgettable wave riding.

Quobba Point

Quobba Point, is off the beaten track, located 60 km off the main highway down unpaved and sometimes corrugated roads. It’s a bit of a hike, but it is worth the effort. It is located within a working station, so driving slowly to avoid cows and goats as well as native kangaroos and echidnas is essential.

Arrive to the sight of majestic whales breaching on the horizon past the outer break, and a small encampment of shacks, dating back to the times where you could stake your claim and build your home in the wild unclaimed outback.

This area is special for a number of reasons… kite at high tide over the reef to see manta rays and turtles beneath your feet, or head to the other side of the bay to the point break. Just down the road is Gnarloo, known for its pumping wind and point break perfection. This spot is not for the inexperienced wave rider.

Carnarvon Gascoyne River

If you’re not interested in roughing it out in the bush at Quobba, the Carnarvon Gascoyne River is an amazing flat water kitesurfing spot. Situated right next to the small town of Carnarvon you can head back to your hotel and to the pub for a meal after your kite session.

Shark Bay Peninsular

Shark Bay Peninsular, despite its name, is home to some great kitesurfing locations. There are multiple lagoons, including Big and Little Lagoon located close to the town of Denham which are great flat water spots. Explore the Useless Loop Road to find other lagoons, including Tamala Station. If you are an experienced wave rider there are some great wave breaks along this road to check out.

Sandy Bay and Graveyards Beaches

Sandy Bay and Graveyards beaches sit within the Cape Range National Park and the Ningaloo Marine Park, about 60 km from the town of Exmouth. These beaches are two of our favourite kitesurfing locations; they sit within a 50 km stretch of pristine coastline, white sandy beaches framed by rugged limestone ranges, and breathtaking canyons, home to multitudes of Australian kangaroos, echidnas and other wildlife.

Picture sparkling turquoise waters, white sandy beaches, strong cross-onshore winds and kiting perfection. You won’t believe the photos haven’t been photo-shopped. Sandy Bay is a perfect flat (unimaginatively titled) sandy bay. Graveyards is a famous local surf spot, perfect for beginners to try their hand at wave riding close to shore, or for the more experienced wave rider with larger fish to fry you can head out to the back of the beach to catch the big stuff.

Other Activities

These locations typically hear the wind god’s call around mid-day and there are a multitude of other activities available if the feeling takes you. The Ningaloo Marine Park is famous world-wide as Australia’s largest fringing reef. Step off the white sandy beaches and into a wonderland of incredible diversity. Stand up paddle boarding, surfing, snorkelling and fishing are all possible at these locations or alternatively go for a trek through the gorges or up the local beaches to see the sights should the wind gods take an unscheduled hiatus.

How to Get There

Perth has a large international airport and there are many flight options from the United States, Europe, UK and Middle East.

Carriers include Virgin, Delta, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Qatar and Emirates airways.

To find the cheapest and quickest flights from your destination consider using a flight search engine such as www.momondo.com.au or www.cheapoair.com.

Kite Safari

A great way to experience the best kitesurfing that Western Australia has to offer is to join a kite safari.

Adventure Kiting WA is a kite safari company based out of Perth, owned by kite enthusiasts Brian and Martina Manning. They created this gem in order to share their passion for kite surfing and local knowledge with other kitesurfers.

They take care of everything so all you have to worry about is which rad new move you will try each day. The tours offer a fun, social atmosphere to kite and explore Western Australia, with all camping equipment and meals provided.

After a big day on the water relax around the campsite surrounded by nature, exchange the days kiting tales with your new kiting buddies and enjoy a beer with some typical Australian cuisine.

If you are interested in finding out about more about travel to Western Australia and the kite safari’s offered by Adventure Kiting WA, visit www.adventurekitingwa.com.au, or contact Brian and Martina at adventurekitingwa@gmail.com and 0433 803 277.

Car Hire

If you prefer to adventure alone there are multiple car hire options on arrival in Perth and in the city surrounds. If hiring a car pay attention to driving kilometres included and restrictions for driving on corrugated roads. Note in some parts of Western Australia it is necessary to bring additional fuel supplies as there are long distances between roadhouses. Wicked campers provide a range of camper options from budget to premium, with 4wd options also available.

Lancelin: If you want to know more about what Lancelin has to offer for kiteboarders, travel blogger, Kelly Wetherington has a great write up on her experiences learning to kitesurf there, and why a one week stopover turned into a 2.5 month extended stay. I think that says it all…

Have you kitesurfed on the North West Coast of Australia? Tell us all about it in the comments below, and let us know your favourite spots…

Images courtesy of Martina Manning, Matt Stevens (Swagman Photography), John Sullivan and Shaun Hutton.

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

Western Australia: Kitesurfing the Wild Wild West was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

The Red Bull King of the Air will see the world’s best kitesurfers take to the skies in an attempt at the crown. They’ll go head-to-head in the ‘flag out’ big air competition format that will see big moves and huge airs performed with style, height, and speed.

In February 2014, 12,000 people watched on as Kevin Langeree (NED) edged out his compatriots Ruben Lenten (NED) and Steven Akkersdijk (NED) in a high-pressure event that saw huge winds and even bigger wipe-outs.

“I just can’t wait for the KOTA 2015 to kick off!! To me this event is the most extreme, fun and the best way to show what kiteboarding is all about. The vibe around the event is just magical – 24 of the best big air kiteboarders in the world pushing themselves and each other to go bigger and bigger. Just thinking about that again gets me so fired up. I’ve been training a bunch this year to prepare myself even better than last year so I can hopefully defend my title in 2015,” said Langeree.

Cape Town is a hot spot for kiteboarding during January and February, where the ‘Cape Doctor’ (the south-easterly wind that presides over the city in its summer months) and sun-soaked beaches make for a kiteboarder’s dream.

Twelve of the best from 2014 will return to the event, and 12 wildcards, selected from online entries and social voting at www.redbullkingoftheair.com will round up the 24 participant line-up.

Invited Riders

Kevin Langeree (NED), Ruben Lenten (NED), Steven Akkersdijk (NED), Andries Fourie (RSA), Aaron Hadlow (GBR), Jesse Richman (USA), Tom Herbert (FRA), Billy Parker (USA), Nick Jacobsen (DEN), Reno Romeu (BRA), Gianni Aragno (ESP), Jerrie van de Kop (NED).

Since its return in 2013, Red Bull King of the Air has had 2 different winners in 2 events in Cape Town. Do you think you have what it takes to reign in 2015? Head to www.redbullkingoftheair.com and upload your video to enter.

In order to ensure the best wind conditions possible for Red Bull King of the Air to take place, the event window period extends from 31 Jan to 15 Feb 2015.

Red Bull King of the Air 2015 Coming to Cape Town Again was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

After narrowly missing last year’s title in Soma Bay, Florian Gruber went on to win 3 world championships in China and Australia. As number one in the world, Gruber’s competitors are keen to take his ranking away from him. Most notably is Italy’s Riccardo Leccese who placed fourth in last year’s championship.

We will be updating this article with the latest competition results and news from Soma Bay on a daily basis. As always, we won’t be sending out daily emails regarding the event, so remember to refer back to this page each day, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to keep up to date with this world championship kitesurfing event.

Kite Africans 2014 The Movie: Complete Event Summary

African Kite Racing Championships Daily Updates

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 1 (24 June)

The first day of the African Kite Championship 2014 kicked off with an exciting start at 7Bft Kite House in Soma Bay. In the men’s division, German world champion Florian Gruber faced off with his toughest competitor Riccardo Leccese. While in the women’s division, UK’s Steph Bridge, last year’s contending champion, raced to defend her title against Russia’s emerging talent Elena Kalinina.

Leccese and Kalinina, who both came 4th in last year’s African Kite Championship in Soma Bay, have made stunning comebacks on their first day of racing. Leccese dominated the first day placing first in all 4 rounds, followed closely by Gruber in second place. Likewise, Kalinina grabbed first place throughout the day with Steph Bridge close on her tail.

The riders each had the following to say:

Florian Gruber (Germany)

“We finished the first race day and I am currently runner-up, not far away from Ricardo. It is possible to beat him. The next few days will be a tight race for the title.”

Riccardo Leccese (Italy)

“With the champ, Florian ‘the flow’, I have a good relation outside the water but in the water we are warriors. If you are a fish you have to have a shark in your tank, otherwise you sleep. Florian is my shark and I am his, we are always battling for the first position. I like that healthy rivalry. I have been training a lot, I am really committed to do well this year, I won 4 rounds today and I am fully prepared.”

Steph Bridge (United Kingdom)

“I did not have such a great race day but hopefully tomorrow I will find some new speed and some news feeling in my head to continue to perform like last year.”

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 2 (25 June)

The African Kite Race Championship 2014 stayed true-to-form on the second race day at 7Bft Kite House in Soma Bay with more exciting competition between some of the world’s top kite racers.

The winds were strong again and gave the kiters the chance to really show off their skills. Following the first day’s races, indisputably dominated by Riccardo Leccese and Elena Kalinina, Florian Gruber and Steph Bridge, their top competitors, plotted their strategy for Day 2. Everyone’s been watching their fellow kiters’ strategies and today they came well prepared to match them.

Leccese came in first in every race on day 2, leaving him with a perfect score. While confident in his skill, he knows Gruber is serious about winning this championship and would not make it an easy race today. Florian Gruber is currently holding second place but is confident that with 3 days to go in Soma Bay he is still primed to reach his goal.

Riccardo Leccese (Italy)

“Today was another amazing day for me. Usually your competitors always watch what you do so you have to compensate your strategy. Today I noticed they were playing my game and it was working. I’ve been training and I was committed to what I had to do today so I changed my game as well. It worked. Catching up from behind is really important for me and it builds my confidence.”

Florian Gruber (Germany)

“The first 2 days are over and I am currently on a solid second rank. This is super as it was my overall goal to occupy at least one of the first three places. Now we will see if I can attack Riccardo who is currently first, I am going into doing some fine-tuning and it will be a tough couple of days ahead for me.”

Likewise, Kalinina from Russia was pleased with today’s results. After a successful morning, she briefly fell behind only to emerge victorious in the final race and is enjoying the rivalry with last year’s defending champion, Steph Bridge, who does not deny that Kalinina is a tough and worthy competitor.

Elena Kalinina (Russia)

“Today were good races for me. I have a great fight with another girl from England, Steph Bridge, and it was good because we were racing together.”

Steph Bridge (United Kingdom)

“For me I got 2 better results and 2 OK results against Elena the Russian girl who seems to be kicking my butt here in this event and I think we are fighting harder and its getting tougher.”

This year’s top riders are familiar with Soma Bay’s kite conditions which provided them with an amazing race in 2013. It seems tomorrow will take an interesting turn as the winds will become lighter and the racers will have to change their strategy once again, a challenge they are looking forward to.

Video Update: Day 2

“The forecast says tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the winds will be lighter. I train a lot on such conditions so I hope it will be a good race for me.” says Kalinina.

Leccese: “When I left Egypt last year I said I had to come back to this amazing place because the conditions were epic. Last year there were some strong wind and some light wind days. I think that is very important for the competitors. I hope to run through all the conditions. I will prepare my formula to keep leading.”

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 3 (26 June)

The third day of the 2014 African Kite Racing Championship saw the possible come-back of Florian Gruber and offered some surprising twists, proving this championship is still any man’s game.

Florian Gruber was determined to reclaim the course and grabbed first place in two of Day 3’s races. Riccardo Leccese was not far behind, placing first in the third race of the day. Slowly sneaking up on Gruber and Leccese is emerging young talent Oliver Bridge, son of last year’s defending champion Steph Bridge. Oliver Bridge landed in third by the end of Day 2 and surprised everyone by effortlessly winning the second race of Day 3.

In the women’s division, Elena Kalinina began to lag behind Steph Bridge who dominated the day, winning three out of four races. After some serious defeats by Kalinina earlier in the week, it seemed Bridge was about to accept her fate of placing second to Kalinina, but with two race days left to go, she clearly isn’t giving up this championship without a fight.

Day 3 was risky from the start as Gruber had fallen ill and Leccese decided to make some unconventional choices with his kites, opting for an 8 meter kite which proves to be more challenging on lighter wind days. Still, both found themselves thriving in these unfavourable conditions.

Video Update: Day 3

The riders had the following to say after today’s racing…

Florian Gruber (Germany)

“The 3rd day of the African Championships had not started so well, I had a bit of an ear- and headache but as soon as I got myself on the water I was fine. I won twice, which gives me a push for tomorrow and I came third another 2 times. I know that I can be on top of the race and will put even more wood on the fire tomorrow.”

Riccardo Leccese (Italy)

“In the third race, all my other competitors were on a 10 meter and I finished neck and neck with Florian. That means even if I’m underpowered I can keep the rhythm and I don’t back off: I always push to the limit.”

Midway through the race, it is clear there is still a lot of tough competition between these riders and the championship title. Adding another twist to the week’s events is the introduction of the TwinTip:Racing challenges on Day 4.

It was an eventful race day in Soma Bay and after really pushing to prove themselves on the course, the riders are happy to round the day off with some rest and relaxation.

“I’m looking forward to going back to The Breakers. A swim in the pool would be great and to sit around the bar” says Riccardo Leccese.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 4 (27 June)

The African Kite Race Championships 2014 saw some dramatic moments on Day 4 at 7Bft Kite House in Soma Bay as only two more race days remained. The competition is getting tougher as Florian Gruber still has a chance to defeat Riccardo Leccese, but Leccese’s drive to win is only getting stronger.

Riccardo Leccese (Italy)

“Since I came here I had the podium on my mind. I want to win this competition. Last year I was injured and I have been getting ready for this. I have been telling to myself that this year is my year. I haven’t backed off, I am pushing it every day and it has not been easy but 11 bullets on the score make me feel that I can win this competition. I have good scores and tomorrow I will make it harder for my opponents so I think I can win this and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”

Florian Gruber (Germany)

“Ricky has gained a big lead in the first 2 days, it is hard to catch up with him now, but not impossible. I will give it a 100 % and if he makes a couple of mistakes, everything is possible. If he presents a solid race then I have to accept the 2nd rank and that one I will not give away.”

In the men’s division, the three main players – Leccese, Gruber and Oliver Bridge – are still in the lead. In the women’s division, Elena Kalinina is ranking first just above Steph Bridge. None of these kiters are ready to let their competitors take their place on the podium on the final day and are using every ounce of skill to make sure of that.

Steph Bridge (United Kingdom)

“I got beaten today in all of the races by Elena who was on her 11 meter kite which seems to be pretty quick in these winds. However, we still got a final day tomorrow which is gonna see slightly lighter winds and it’s the medal races, anything can happen and for sure I will give it 110 percent.”

The morning rounds ended with a dramatic scene when several kiters crashed early in the race, including Leccese, who made a miraculous recovery and raced to finish second, just behind Gruber taking first.

Gruber: “The 4th day today went well, I am happy that I could win 2 races. At the second race there was a big crash at the start but I got out of this and could catch a lead. That gives me a lot of motivation for tomorrow, tomorrow is the last day and all the 10 top racers get together. My 2 wins give me a huge push. I will see how I can grill Ricky and will give my best.”

The UK’s Oliver Bridge, at just 16 years old, competed in the 2013 championship in Soma Bay and has since become a contender for races around the world. After ranking 23rd in last year’s race, he’s currently close on Gruber’s tail in third place.

Oliver Bridge: “Last year in the African Kite Championships I was still quite young and not very experienced. After that I did a lot of training and practicing a lot and in July I won the Men’s European Championships which I was very happy with, later that year I kept on training a lot in Hainan for the World Championships so I came 4th which I was very happy with too, and also managed to win the Youth World Championships. For this year, hopefully, I am gonna be able to win the World Championships in Turkey in August.”

The top kiters in 2014 are already very familiar with Egypt as a prime kitesurfing destination and Soma Bay as a perfect venue. With the participation and sponsorship of the Egyptian Sailing and Waterski Federation for the African Kite Race Championships 2014, everyone is looking to improve sports tourism in Egypt through this wonderful collaborative effort.

Video Update: Day 4

Commander Hassan Luxor / Chairman of Jury Committee / Egypt Sailing and Waterski Federation: “The area and the wind make the competition – without wind, no competition. The Egypt Sailing and Waterski Federation has chosen this place and the organizing committee (IKA) has also chosen this place because it is wonderful for the participants to come here. The Federation is helping very much with all our ability, all our efforts, all our facilities.”

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 5 (28 June): Final Results

The African Kite Race Championship 2014 began its fifth and final day with one last twist: with a significant drop in wind, the kiters seized their last opportunity to defeat their top rivals with a new challenge.

It had been a tough four days between German world champion Florian Gruber and his rival Riccardo Leccese. Leccese’s determination to take the title from Florian Gruber was his drive in this competition and on Day 5 he achieved his goal.

Riccardo Leccese (Italy)

“We just finished the African Championships and I am stoked I won the event, I can’t be more happy than I am right now. This event was very important for me and for my sponsors because it was the first event of the year where we are using the new gear. Soma Bay gave us the best conditions because we went through all the sizes and all the situations, like pretty strong and gusty winds and on the last day on the finals, we got pretty light wind, so we went through all the sizes and everybody had the chance to ride in their conditions and I managed to keep my head clear, the excitement down and I am pretty stoke that my scores were almost pretty clean all the way, 11 bullets, and then I was consistently second and now I am happy that I got the title and hopefully good things are coming from now.”

Florian Gruber (Germany)

“Today was the last day, and it was going great for me. I won the first race and in the second race I came 4th, my final result is runner-up, I am super happy with that, now we are going to the award ceremony and straight afterwards I will start training for the next races. I had a great time here.”

In the women’s division, Steph Bridge found herself thriving in the light wind conditions of Day 5 and overtook Elena Kalinina in both medal races. Overall, the week’s challenges and conditions proved to be in Kalinina’s favor and she defeated seasoned pro Steph Bridge placing first.

Elena Kalinina (Russia)

“The African Championships are finished now, it was a really good competition. We had a lot of good races. I was racing with Steph Bridge and Aga from Poland and we were always fighting but finally I won. I am very happy about this and I wish that next year we will have this competition in the same place here.”

Steph Bridge (UK)

“After five days of racing we finished today with two medal races. The girls were in the platinum fleet. I was really happy because the wind was about 7 knots. I was on a tube kite and won the first race and I got second in the second medal race. That brought me closer to Elena but it wasn’t enough to beat her so I’m overall second with Aga in third. To be honest it’s been the most fantastic event because we’ve had a mixture of wind and light wind so it’s been really good training for the world championship.”

Oliver Bridge, who came in 23rd in 2013, made an amazing comeback in 2014 and held a steady 3rd place for a majority of the week. However, the light winds did not favor Bridge on the final day. Spain’s Alejandro Climent Hernandez had been close on Bridge’s tail and finally overtook him and landed himself in the third rank overall.

Alejandro Climent Hernandez (Spain)

“I am 5th in the world ranking, I worked really hard towards this event, I finished third in the African Kite Championships and I am very happy about that because in the first days I did not feel so well and came on the 5th or 6th position and then I did all my best to take the podium.”

Oliver Bridge (UK)

“Today we had some light winds so we were using big kites. I had some OK results. I got one 5th place and one 7th place. It wasn’t too good for my ranking, I dropped down on to 4th in the overall ranking, I was not really able to keep up with the guys on the big foil kites so I got pushed down to the 4th place.”

It has been an exciting week in Soma Bay as The Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge, 7Bft Kite House, the IKA and the Egyptian Sailing and Water Ski Federation came together to take advantage of the incomparable kiting conditions of Egypt and the world-renowned skill of some of the world’s top kiters to create an amazing week of heavy competition and pave the way to the World Cup final.

Markus Schwendtner (IKA)

“It’s the second time we are in Soma Bay for the African Championships. It has been a fantastic event. Four days full of wind, the last day was unfortunately a little bit light but it was good racing: the top riders in the world are here. Everyone was very excited and everyone wants to come back. This year we have a very nice event together with the Egyptian Sailing and Water Ski Federation and again we had great support from Soma Bay. Logistics, boats, everything worked out well.”

Stefan Reichl (GM The Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge)

“Five days of racing are now over and we consider this as a really successful week for the racers, for Soma Bay and for sure Egypt. There was a lot of wind and it was a lot of fun and I think this is the most important part for all. I want to say thank you to the Egyptian Sailing Federation, Tourism Ministry, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and for sure to 7Bft Kite House and The Breakers for hosting the event and to all the riders. We will have the prize ceremony tonight and we are looking forward, with the band and the DJ, to have a nice evening together.”

Video Update: Finals & Competition Wrap Up

Soma Bay: One of the World’s Best Kite Spots

At Soma Bay, the best elements of the sea and desert converge at 7Bft Kite House’s world-famous kite spot. Not only naturally beautiful, the spot offers flat-water conditions and side-shore and off-shore winds perfect for world-class kitesurfing events. Soma Bay’s five resort hotels, luxury spa, championship golf course, and vast house reef are what define it as an ultimately relaxing and exciting destination.

Organizers & Patronage

Organized by the Egypt Sailing and Waterski Federation and the International Kiteboarding Association, chaired by the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Formula Kite Class and the TwinTip:Racing invite kiteboarders to take part in the 2014 Formula Kite Course Racing African Championships under specified conditions laid down by the International Kiteboarding Class Association in co-operation with the International Sailing Federation (ISAF).

If you’re lucky enough to be in Soma Bay at the African Kite Racing Championships, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below… Let us know what you think of the event so far and who you think is going to dominate.

Images: © Copyright Soma Bay, SeaStar & Icarus Sailing Media

African Kite Racing Championships in Soma Bay 2014 Results was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Editor’s note: To avoid confusion, this is NOT a ranked list of the top 5 kiteboarding destinations in the world, but rather a list of top destinations we think you should experience. There are of course many other great spots; however it is virtually impossible to create a ranked list of the top 5 kite spots, because everyone will have varying opinions on what makes a spot great. It is also virtually impossible for one rider to have kited at every single kite spot around the world. If you know of a spot that should be on this list, tell us about it in the comments below, and we’ll include it in our reader’s choice post in the near future.

1. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

While North Carolina is neither the most exotic nor warmest place in the world year-round, it’s hard to beat this location in the summer months, especially if you live in the United States. And for those who live on the East Coast, Cape Hatteras is just an easy drive or quick flight away to find yourself on its beautiful beaches dotted with blowing coastal grasses! Kitesurfers love it for its generous open space and perfectly consistent summer winds, as well as the fact that they have access to both the shallower sound side and wide open ocean side with plenty of rolling waves. Plus all travelers alike can appreciate the area’s quaint charm, fresh seafood and serene surroundings.

2. La Ventana, Baja California

On the other side of the country and across the border to Mexico you’ll find La Ventana in Baja California. Kiteboarders flock to this breathtaking coastal town for its beauty as well as its pristine kiteboarding conditions, thanks to its steady winter winds and large L-shaped beach. The conditions are perfect for both beginners as well as more advanced kitesurfers looking to practice their skills. Known to locals as the Sea of Cortez, UNESCO declared the sparkling waters a World Heritage Site for its abundance of sea life and natural beauty. Warm, sunny days will lend the perfect backdrop for kitesurfing here, plus you can look forward to awesome Cali-Mex cuisine when you need a break from the water.

3. Maui, Hawaii

There’s no doubt about it–Maui, Hawaii is truly a tropical paradise, but it’s also one of the most incredible kitesurfing spots in the world. Maui has steady trade winds year-round, but you’ll find that the strongest winds are in the spring and summer; and for those who are seeking out monstrous waves, winter is definitely the time to go. Maui offers a lot of space to kitesurf, as surfers, snorkelers and those simply looking to spend the day lounging often flock to different beaches that are better-suited to their needs. The island is warm throughout the year and it’s perfect for both beginners and those with a more advanced skill-set. Plus when you’re not concentrating on the surf, you can enjoy the lush greenery, tropical flowers, incredible sunsets and laidback Maui vibe.

As testament to the quality of kitesurfing on Maui, particularly for wave riding, MAUI was chosen as one of the stops on the KSP World Pro tour two years in a row. Here’s what went down at the Kite Surf Pro Hawaii, along with great images and videos.

4. Boracay, Philippines

Located in Southeast Asia, Boracay is known for its stunning white sandy beaches, and it has become one of the most popular travel destinations amongst tourists. And as an added bonus, it offers some of the best kitesurfing in Southeast Asia! On one side there are a ton of beach-front luxury accommodations perfect for lounging, while the other windier side is ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing. The windy season is during the dry, winter months, making Boracay perfect for kitesurfers who are looking to escape the bitter chill of winter. In addition to the kitesurfing, Boracay boasts tropical scenery, friendly natives and great nightlife making it the perfect spot for both families and kiteboarders alike.

5. Nabq, Egypt

Situated on the southeastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula in between Dahab and Sharm-el-Sheikh, Nabq, Egypt is by far one of the most exotic kitesurfing locations in the world. The Gulf of Aqaba provides the area with smooth and steady winds while the desert-like beach town provides a beautiful backdrop. The Red Sea is crystal clear and relatively smooth depending where you go, while the weather is great year-round. You won’t have to travel far to find glamorous chic resorts or basic backpacker accommodations, allowing you to lodge wherever you (and your budget) are most comfortable.

Like traveling, kitesurfing is all about adventure, and in addition to these spots, there are so many more to see. Start planning your travels and see where the wind takes you!

Editor’s note: We think Cape Town, South Africa should also be mentioned as one of the top kitesurfing destinations everyone should experience, although we might be a bit biased…

What’s your favorite kitesurfing spot and why do you love it? Let us know in the comments below…

Update: We’ve had a lot of suggestions for top kiteboarding destinations from our readers via our social channels, so we’re planning on doing a follow up article that includes all the suggestions from you guys. So please post a comment below of your favourite spot and what you like about it, and we’ll include it our future post.

Image 1 (Maui, Hawaii) by Richard Hallman courtesy of the KSP World Pro Tour
Image 2 (La Ventana, Baja California) by Raúl Amador Geraldo
Image 3 (Maui, Hawaii) courtesy of the KSP World Pro Tour
Image 5 (Nabq, Egypt) courtesy of High Tech Kite Travel

About the author: Susan is a blogger for InStyleSwimwear.com, an online swimwear retailer based out of Philadelphia. To read more of Susan’s articles or to catch up on the latest news, styles and trends in the swimwear industry, check out their swimwear blog today.

5 Top Kitesurfing Destinations You Must Experience was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Essaouira

Essaouira gets its name from the ancient fortification, built by the Portuguese king D. Manuel I, that is still standing and provides an excellent backdrop whilst you’re charging the waves. The Berber translation means ‘the wall’ in celebration of the fortification. It also goes by a different name – its Portuguese name of Mogador; just in case you hear people using that name.

Mogador is actually a small island visible from the coast of Essaouira, although to visit you would need official authorization as it is a designated natural reserve.

The island is actually influential in protecting the bay of Essaouira from strong marine winds, but does help create some great waves.

The fishing trade is still rife in the area – although it has suffered due to the growth of the more recognised, bigger Agadir. That doesn’t mean the quality of fish has been compromised in any way, and you’ll often find queues of locals waiting for the fresh catch of the day.

The plethora of small fishing boats mean the immediate harbour isn’t ideal for kitesurfing but there are plenty of other great Kite spots!

Kitesurfing in and around Essaouira

Because Essaouira juts out into the sea, winds regularly hit the low to mid-twenties in terms of knots. It is usually through the morning and the early afternoon that these winds are at their strongest. The windfinder site is well worth checking out before your visit to get an idea of the kind of wind and wave sizes to expect.

In terms of weather and when is best to visit, because the city sits on the north-west of Africa, it enjoys a warm climate. This means that you will probably be able to enjoy warm sunshine, whenever you visit. Alas, July, August and September are the warmest months, with temperatures reaching up to 30oC.

Whilst July will be a great time to go for heat, it is one of three months that are considered the area’s dry season. July is the windiest month according to averages, with more wind days in the month than any other. This will make it the best time for more experienced kitesurfers and water sport enthusiasts. August and September aren’t far behind so these might be better for those less experienced.

It is not just around the immediate area that great kitesurfing and water sports are available though. Peppered along the coast are a number of little beaches and coves that enjoy good waves and swell.

This choice of beaches is a key reason for Essaouira’s continued popularity. All water sports are catered for by a range of different companies and schools, and all levels of ability are welcomed – it is fair to say there is a spot for everyone.

Kitesurfing Spots

There are some really good spots in the vicinity of Essaouira and a little further out. Explora Morocco, who have centres based in Essaouira and at the other popular Kitesurfing location of Dakha, regularly put on trips to the nearby Sidi Kaouki and the brilliantly named The Cave. They also arrange for visits to Imessouane and Safi, which are both a bit further out but worth the visit. Visit Explora Morocco’s website for further details.

Sidi Kaouki

The small town of Sidi Kaouki is often a great place for experienced water sport enthusiasts. The combination of beaches, weather and clear waters, often leads to people saying this is as perfect as it gets for water sports. The waves are long and it is at its best when the wind is light and the tide is up.

It has a reputation for being windy – there is even a hotel called the Windy Kaouki Residence– so those at a beginner level might find this particular beach a little too challenging. It also has some great cafes and souks and you have to pay a visit to the Jimi Hendrix Café.

The Cave

In between Essaouira and Sidi is The Cave. It sounds magnificent and the waves are. It is thought the waves here are the biggest in the area – so be prepared to tackle some serious swell. It’s a quiet spot that is a little hard to reach so it might be worth speaking to someone at a water sports school on how to get there.

Imessouane

This is 100km south of Essaouira but for a beach that offers conditions for all levels of ability, this is perfect. There are two parts, the Cathedral, which enjoys bigger waves and the Bay, which offers conditions better suited to beginners. The latter is usually always popular so it’s worth getting down there early.

Safi

Safi is located on the other side of Essaouira and like Imessouane, there are two spots. It is quite a rocky beach so you should kitesurf or surf here with a little caution. The first swings to the left and breaks in front of an abandoned factory. The second is the main beach.

How to Get to Essaouira

Getting to Essaouira is quite straight forward. There are regular flights from the UK to Marrakech and they start from £60 return according to Skyscanner.

Easyjet, British Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Iberia and a few others fly directly. From Marakech, Essaouira is a two hour drive. Private hire taxis are available and there is a really good coach service.

Alternatively, you can fly to Agadir. Prices to Agadir start from £79, again according to Skyscanner. Easyjet fly direct. It is also roughly two hours to Essaouira with the same transport options available.

Accommodation

There is plenty of choice. From Riads – which are traditional Moroccan houses with an internal garden area or courtyard – and luxury hotels to small hotels and apartments.

Riads are a great way to absorb a bit of the local culture and there is a good choice at very reasonable prices. Maison Du Sud is a particularly nice riad that offers luxury yet traditional Moroccan accommodation with single rooms available from £25 a night.

Apartments offer space to unwind in and they are ideal for storing all of your stuff. Dar Ettouahen is one such apartment that is perfect for people going away in a group, a family or even a couple. It is centrally located and only seven minutes from the beach.

What else is there to do?

Well Essaouira is something of a magnet for the creative-minded. Since the eighteenth century poets, actors, artists, musicians and hippies have graced the crammed streets that are lined with local pottery and handicrafts.

In fact there is a vibrant hippy scene that thrives in the area. To this effect you will find plenty of cafes like the popular Triskara Café that welcome and actually encourage a more laid-back lifestyle. Whilst wandering around it is very hard to miss the air of culture.

The Medina (pictured in the above image) is another popular source of entertainment. This offers a real throw back to traditional Morocco; bustling souks, lots of noises, smells, colours. It can be a bit hectic but it is full of bargains.

If ever you get bored of water sports (unlikely but you never know) there are more sedate sports to play. Despite the rocky exterior of the place, there is a lush golf course that is worth a visit.

Cuisine

When it comes to food, it will probably come as no surprise that fish features prominently. Given that fresh fish is caught daily, most of the restaurants make the most of this. The fish stalls are also really popular places to eat and are along the seafront on the way to the harbour.

There are quite a lot of vegetarian options available too – perfect for a healthy boost ahead of another day of kitesurfing. The Ginger Café is a popular spot for healthy options and they do some great smoothies.

It isn’t always easy to find a place serving alcoholic beverages. That isn’t to say there aren’t any. After a thrilling day on the waves, a chilled beer is in order. There is a great guide here to places that will be able to quench your thirst.

Did you know?

Jimi Hendrix visited Essaouira in 1969. No one person – despite other luminaries such as Winston Churchill and Orson Welles (who has a statue bust in Essaouira) – has caused as much of a fuss and captured the imagination than Hendrix.

The area had started to enjoy a more bohemian atmosphere throughout the sixties and Hendrix’s visit capped it. It has immortalised Essaouira as a cool hangout since and there is a Jimi Hendrix Cafe. There were even rumours than his song – Castles Made of Sand – was about the place (although these seem unfounded).

Jennifer Tulip

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Essaouira, Morocco Kite Spot Guide was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

For the second year in a row, Cape Town’s Big Bay hosted 24 of the world’s best kiteboarders as they went head-to-head in a unique ‘flag out’ competition format in South Africa. It all came down to the final in which Dutchman Kevin Langeree managed to edge out his compatriots Ruben Lenten (second) and Steven Akkersdijk (third) to become the Red Bull King of the Air 2014 champion in front of a 12 000-strong crowd.

“The conditions picked up during the day and I couldn’t have hoped for anything better! The final was definitely tough and every one of us was so close to winning. I definitely had my best heat of the day in the final. This is the third Red Bull King of the Air I’ve competed in and was a title that I didn’t have yet so I was hungry for it. I’m so stoked!”

Judged on height, creativity and style, the participants’ manoeuvres were judged by Alex Vliege (NED), William Bogaards (NED), Greg Thijsse (RSA), Arkadiusz Jerzelkowski (POL), Reinier Korstanje (NED), Ralf Bachsuster (GER) who had their work cut out for them.

An innovative tool available to the judges was Xensr technology. The application measures the height, speed, airtime, gravity loading, location and the 3D motion of the athlete with all data captured at 400 times a second and is accurate to within 3mm, as soon as they land a jump. All jump data is immediately relayed to the judges and the live stream. Frenchman Tom Herbert recorded the highest jump of the day – a lofty 25.04m.

Head judge Alex Vliege was pleased with how the event played out in the end:

“What an epic day! We had the best riders in the world here today with Cape Town and Mother Nature delivering great conditions. We finally got what we were waiting for. Kevin was completely deserving of the title – he did the same moves as the others plus more, with variation and went higher than the others. “

Blouberg local Andries Fourie was the highest placed South African in 4th place and landed the second highest jump of the day at 23.37m.

Final Results

1. Kevin Langeree (NED)
2. Ruben Lenten (NED)
3. Steven Akkersdijk (NED)
4. Andries Fourie (RSA)
5. Aaron Hadlow (GBR)
6. Jesse Richman (USA)
7. Tom Herbert (FRA)
8. Billy Parker (GBR)

Recap Video: Go BIG or go Home

Photography Credits

Craig Kolesky / Nikon / Red Bull Content Pool
Nick Muzik / Red Bull Content Pool

Kevin Langeree Crowned Red Bull King of the Air in Cape Town was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Smith is excited about taking part in the competition:

“Of course I’m a bit nervous competing against the best kiters in the world and there’s definitely a bit of pressure on me as a local but I’m going to go out there and go as big as I can! I’ve been trying to kite every day and make sure I’m ready to take them on. It’d be really cool if everyone came down to Big Bay to support the local guys on the day!”

There have been a few changes to the participants with PKRA 2013 World Champ Alex Pastor renouncing himself from the competition. Luke McGillewie (RSA) will take his spot in the lineup.

Participants

• Aaron Hadlow (GBR)
• Andries Fourie (RSA)
• Billy Parker (USA)
• Gianni Aragno (ESP)
• Graham Howes (RSA)
• Jandre Fraser (RSA),
• Jerrie van de Kop (NED)
• Jesse Richman (USA),
• Johnno Scholte (NED)
• Kevin de Smidt (NED)
• Kevin Langeree (NED)
• Lewis Crathern (GBR)
• Linus Erdmann (GER)
• Luke McGillewie (RSA)
• Nick Jacobsen (DEN)
• Oswald Smith (RSA)
• Reno Romeu (BRA)
• Ruben Lenten (NED),
• Sam Light (GBR),
• Sam Medysky (CAN)
• Shawn Richman (USA)
• Steven Akkersdijk (NED)
• Stuart Downey (RSA)
• Tom Hebert (FRA)

The event will take place at Big Bay, Cape Town – the date and time completely dependent on weather conditions. The window period for the event will extend to February 9, 2014 and a 24 hour warning will be given ahead of the event taking place. Unfortunately current conditions are not favourable for the event to run this weekend.

Red Bull King of the Air Teaser Video

If you are reading this article in an email or RSS reader, click here to watch the video.

Make sure you keep up with all the news at www.redbullkingoftheair.com or follow the hashtag #redbullkingoftheair on your favourite social channels.

Photo Credits: Kolesky / Nikon / Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull King of the Air 2014 Window Period Opens Tomorrow was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

This is a guest post by one of our community members. The author’s views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of inMotion Kitesurfing.

With the increase in water pollution around the world it’s hard not to think about where you next want to kiteboard…

Everyday countless articles are posted about the Fukushima disaster, plastic killing marine life and the devastation of coral reefs which are easy to read, feel angry about and then to move on from. If you don’t play and/or work in the ocean it’s easy to forget, but for some of us it hits deep. What can we do? The problems are too big to solve, but yet our livelihoods are slowly being destroyed.  

My own experience with water pollution might come as a surprise, but I guarantee I’m not the only person who has had to deal with these situations. All over the world it is happening daily and by the time you are finished reading this article you might think twice about your next kiteboarding holiday destination.

Let’s start back in 2009 when I moved to Nicaragua. I went to set up a kite school based out of San Juan Del Sur with the Surf Ranch boys. They had this big idea to set up an action sports resort where you could rock climb, skateboard, paintball, kitesurf & surf. I loved the concept right from the start and was excited to be part of the team. When I arrived in Nicaragua and met the boys I was shocked to find out the ranch was not built yet and there was nothing more than paint-balling set up!

I’m not sure what felt worse…. my foolishness for jumping on a plane so quick or the fact I was now stuck somewhere new and dangerous with no job, very little money and only survival in mind. I was stressed to say the least!

After some time and a lot of socializing I found a guy named David who owned a surf shop in town. He said he had some old kite gear in storage that he wasn’t using and I was welcome to work with him in the shop. Dave literally saved my ass because by this point I was completely out of money. Within about a month I had a couple of lessons booked and ended up finding the perfect location on Lake Nicaragua to teach from. The Barrios family owned a large piece of land right next to the Costa Rica border where they also had a wind farm. Their private beach on the lake was large and clear, making for a beautiful spot to kite from. I developed a wonderful relationship with the family and to this day we stay in touch. Everything was coming along nicely with my kite school until I started getting eye infections every time I went in the water. I’ve never been prone to this sort of thing, so I began to look into why it was happening.

What I discovered is not as shocking as it is disturbing. None of the cities or villages in Nicaragua have sewage treatment plants. They pump the sewage directly into the lake, and for a population of nearly 6 million people, this is just downright gross! Upon finding this out, I sent emails to different government officials addressing this issue. The only reply I received was from one of the officials who wanted to learn to kiteboard and he was asking about lessons. We got talking via LinkedIn about the lake pollution and he told me there were no plans in place to treat sewage in the near future. After hearing this I decided it was not worth risking my health, so I packed up and looked for a new place to set up.

2010, and the Yucatan, Mexico, was my new home. Miles and miles of untouched beaches and year round wind… a kiteboarding paradise. I had never heard of Merida before I moved there and when my cousin offered me a place to stay I was excited about the new adventure. Shortly after I got there I researched the local kitesurfing community and discovered there was a competition being held the following week. I messaged each one of the people attending the event explaining I was a kiteboarder new to the area. I was welcomed to the competition and I ended up making really good friends with some of the local riders who supported me in setting up the first official kite school in the area. It was a bit of a slow start but soon I was so busy teaching locals from Merida I could hardly keep up. Eventually I began receiving more and more clients from abroad and realized there was a distinct lack of places for them to stay and be comfortable in while traveling. My next step… rent a luxury villa on the beach from which to run my school and accommodation for traveling kiters. Between the local clients and my all-inclusive packages my school was doing well. Then people started getting sick.

At first I thought it was just a serious flu going around but in time I began to see the correlation between the amount of time people spent in the water and when they got sick. Clients who booked rooms in my villa were leaving early, my students were too sick to finish their lessons and I was losing too much money to continue. Finally after seeing an Angelfish dead on the beach with bulging eyes, my partner Nick began researching the water quality in the area and stumbled upon some unbelievable reports right on our kite spot via Google Earth.

The report was longer than many others we found describing the hypoxic and eutrophic conditions. Eventually we found multiple articles talking about two things, one the sewage being dumped directly in the sea from many local businesses and two, the oil leak Pemex had not fixed on the pier. Apparently the local gas company had a small leak on a pipe leading out along the four mile long pier in the centre of Progreso. The amount of money they were losing from the leaking oil was not as much as the cost to repair the leak properly, so after a couple of years the water became toxic. In fact Pemex’s checkered history with oil spills started as far back as 1979 with the Ixtoc I oil spill. An area which used to be rich in sea grass feeding populations of manatees was dead. The pods of dolphins no longer passed by in the mornings and tropical fish were washing up with eyeballs popping out of their heads. Time to leave…. Again!

Closing down two schools I put my heart and soul into setting up was difficult to swallow. The thing that makes me upset more than anything is the reason it happened. I am still constantly being asked by people about traveling to Nicaragua or the Yucatan for kiteboarding and although both places are great for their own reasons I would use caution when riding there, especially in Nicaragua. My reasons for closing down my schools may come as a surprise to you, but with the clean water situation becoming such a big problem, I feel it’s my duty to tell the truth.

The reality is, picking up garbage here and there is great, but the bigger problems seem beyond our control. It’s sad…

When looking for the best spot to learn or improve your kiting, I recommend taking a look at the area on Google Earth. Zoom in and you will see if they have any toxic reports wherever you see a fish bones on the map.

Currently Nick and I are based on Barbados, available privately. It’s where we believe the water will stay clean and blue for the longest.

If you’ve had any similar experiences with water pollution at the spots you kiteboard at, please let us know in the comments below. We need to expose these issues and create awareness. We’d also love to hear your ideas on what we as kiteboarders can do to make a difference.

Written by

Jessica Winkler

PS: If you are as worried about our kite spots as we are, please help us spread the word by liking and sharing this article.

How Water Pollution Killed Two Kiteboarding Schools was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

The competition was put on hold for the first two days due to light northerly winds, but got under way on day three as the easterly trade winds set in.

We will be updating this article with the latest competition results and news from Ho’okipa Beach on a daily basis. As always, we won’t be sending out daily emails regarding the event, so remember to refer back to this page each day, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to keep up to date with this world championship kitesurfing event.

Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Daily Updates

Jump to: Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 3 (24 November)

The qualification rounds and round 1 of the men’s main event were run in head high surf and around 15-18 knots of wind.

“With the trades back, Ho’okipa delivered today. The riders were stoked with the wind and wave conditions” said KSP live stream commentator Ben Meyer, “we were able to complete the qualification round as well as the entire men’s first round of the main event with the conditions looking favorable to complete the men’s and women’s championship in the next few days.”

Advancing from the morning’s qualification rounds were Jesse Richman (HI), Jeremy Lentz (FRA, F-One), Rafal Maleszyk (POL), Kai Lenny (HI), Tiago Candelot (BRA) and Devin Moody (HI, North).

The highest two-wave heat score of the men’s main event belonged to defending World Champion Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha) with a 14.83. Local Maui newcomer Cruser Putnam (HI, Cabrinha) surprised with the second highest heat score of the day (14.37) with a blazing back-hand attack at his local spot. 2011 KSP World Champion Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North) battled with fellow countryman Matchu Almeida (CPV, North) to advance on to round 2. Other standouts included Mitu Monteiro (CBV, F-One), Filippe Ferreira (BRA, F-One), Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) and local boy Patri McLaughlin (HI, North). Kai Lenny (HI), fresh off his recent SUP World Championship victory in France, displayed powerful and fluid surfing, establishing himself as a serious contender for the Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Maui.

The women’s heat 1 of round 1 was started late in the afternoon, but called off due to deteriorating wind conditions.

Video: Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Day 3

If you are reading this in an email or RSS feed, click here to watch the video.

Jump to: Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 4 (25 November)

The fourth day of the Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro started with strong winds and medium size surf for the beginning of the women’s main event. The first heat of round 1 for the women – which had been canceled yesterday afternoon – started an action packed day for all of the riders.

“The waves were really fun today – the conditions lined up for a great day of competition” said highest heat score of the day rider Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) „I’m really looking forward to the quarter finals tomorrow and riding Ho’okipa in what looks to be epic conditions.”

Also joining Ribeiro in the quarter finals are Mitu Monteiro (CPV/F-One), Airton Cozzolino (ITA/North), Keahi Aboitiz (AUS/Cabrinha), Paulino Perreira (POR/Cabrinha), Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA), Pedro Henrique (BRA), Kai Lenny (HI) and Cruser Putnam (HI, Cabrinha) continuing his amazing run in the event as the Cabrinha wild card.

On the women side, the quarterfinal ladder includes defending event champion Moona Whyte (HI/Cabrinha) as well as defending world champion Jalou Langeree (NED) along side Skylar Lickle (HI), Ines Correia (POR/RRD), Kristin Boese (GER), Milla Ferreira (BRA/F-One), Kalia Agueira (HI), Suzanne Kuiper (NED/F-One).

Continuing from the previous years’ performance, Moona Whyte and Jalou Langeree showed outstanding rides battling for the next round.

Video: Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Day 4

Jump to: Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Finals & Results

Day 5 (26 November)

The fifth and final day of the Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Maui kicked off with blasting trade winds and overhead surf. Men’s and Women’s champions were crowned today on Maui’s north shore following an intense day of competition.

The women’s quarterfinalists were up first in a building northwest swell and solid trade winds. Advancing into the semi-finals were Moona Whyte (HI/Cabrinha), Ines Correia (POR/RRD), Jalou Langeree (NED) and Milla Ferreira (BRA/F-One). Whyte and Langeree went on to dominate their semi-final heats to set up an epic re-match of last year’s world tour finals.

Surviving the quarterfinal rounds on the men’s side were Airton Cozzolino (ITA/North), Keahi DeAboitiz (AUS/Cabrinha), Kai Lenny (HI) and Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA). Cozzolino and DeAboitiz battled in the first semifinal with DeAboitiz keeping his world championship dreams alive by narrowly defeating the young Italian. In the second semifinal, Maui local Kai Lenny beat an on-fire Ribeiro with his consistent and committed riding.

Between the semi finals and finals of the world championships a heat of legendary proportions was run. Pete Cabrinha (USA/Cabrinha), Robby Naish (USA), Flash Austin (USA), Elliot Leboe (USA/Cabrinha), Alex Aguera (HI/Ozone) and Brett Lickle (USA/Cabrinha) hit the water in a showcase featuring the founding pioneers of the sport on Maui. A huge crowd lined the shore to witness the 20-minute super-heat featuring the heroes of the sport.

“It was fun to get out there in a heat with a select few guys who have been instrumental in the development and progression of the sport of kiteboarding on Maui”, said Pete Cabrinha. “We all had a blast out there.”

The Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro finals were held in epic Ho’okipa conditions. On the men’s side, reigning KSP World Champion Keahi DeAboitiz (AUS/Cabrinha) met local Maui hero Kai Lenny (HI) to determine who would be the 2013 KSP World Champion. By the time the final horn sounded, no one on the beach knew who had won the heat. It wasn’t until the prize giving ceremony that De Aboitiz learned that he had successfully defended his world title narrowly defeating the young Hawaiian.

“I was really stoked to take the win for the second year in a row,” said DeAboitiz. “I couldn’t be happier, really. We had some really fun waves and I had a great time out there.”

The women’s final was contested in equally epic surf and the highly anticipated rematch between Whyte and Langeree was a battle for the ages. Both riders were powerful and fluid but in the end, Whyte defeated Langeree to defend her title here at Ho’okipa and claim the 2013 World Championship title.

“It was really close in the final against Jalou and it could have gone either way, but I’m stoked it went my way,” said new KSP World Champion Whyte.

Video: Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Day 5

Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Men’s Final Results

1st Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha)
2nd Kai Lenny (HI)
3rd Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA)
4th Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North)
5th Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One)
5th Cruser Putnam (HI, Cabrinha)
5th Paulino Pereira (PRT, Cabrinha)
5th Pedro Henrique (BRA)
9th Matchu Lopes (CPV, North)
9th Jeremy Lentz (FRA, F-One)
9th Enrico Giordano
9th Sky Solbach (HI, North)
9th Filippe Ferreira (BRA, F-One)
9th Djo Silva (CPV, F-One)
9th Patri McLaughlin (HI, North)
9th Etienne Lhote (FRAU, F-One)
17th Sergey Mysovskiy (RUS)
17th Jesse Richman (HI)
17th Johnny Berger (USA, Cabrinha)
17th Devin Moody (HI, North)
17th Rafal Malezyk (POL)
17th Tiago Candelot (BRA)
17th Matthew Elsassar (USA, Cabrinha)
17th Ralph Boelen (FRA, North)

Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Women’s Final Results

1st Moona Whyte (HI, Cabrinha)
2nd Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish)
3rd Milla Ferreira (BRA, F-One)
4th Ines Correia (POR)
5th Kristin Boese (GER)
5th Skylar Lickle (HI)
5th Suzanne Kuiper (NED, F-One)
5th Kalia Aguera (HI)
9th Erika Lindberg (SWE)
9th Rawuel Lima (BRA)
9th Isa Cohen (USA)
9th Carol Bolstad (USA)

Following the KSP world championship finals the focus shifted to the Xensr Big Air Invitational. The 12 invited male and 3 female riders were sent out on the water with a gps based Xensr measuring device that measures the height of each riders jumps to within 3mm. The Xensr Big Air Invitational final was won by Jon McCabe (Hi/Ozone) with Jesse Richman (HI) in second and Charles Edwards (HI/North) in third. The highest jump of the day, however, belonged to Shawn Richman (HI) with a height of 45.42 feet.

The women’s Big Air was won by Jalou Langeree (NED) over second place finisher Raquel Lima (HI) with Skylar Lickle (HI) in third.

Wrapping up the final day’s action were the men’s and women’s finals of the Kama’aina Throwdown. Rafal Malezyk took top spot in the Kama’aina men’s division over second place Garfield King with Wes Anderson in third. In the women’s division it was youngster Skylar Lickle taking the win with Michelle Crompton in second and Tatiana Howard in third place.

Cabrinha Kitesurf Pro Maui 2013 Wrap Up Video

The Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro is supported by the County Of Maui, ION, Xensr, HEVN, Maui Solar Project, Hotel Wailea, Bluesmiths Clothing, Tramontana Grafixx, FinallyPainFree.com, Adventure Sports Maui, Courtyard Marriott, Second Wind Maui, Maui Beach Hotel, Strini Art Glass, Wholefoods Maui, MKC, Bob’s Dogs of Maui, Boardriding Maui, Mana Foods and Kitefinder.

If you’re lucky enough to be on Maui at the Cabrinha Kitesurf Pro, or if you’ve been following the action via the live broadcast, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the event in the comments below…

Images by Richard Hallman courtesy of the KSP World Pro Tour.

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the share buttons below.

KSP Cabrinha Kite Surf Pro Hawaii 2013 Results was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Off the back of a successful event in early 2013, the world’s best kiters will again descend on Cape Town’s Big Bay to compete in their big air competition and will have to prove their mettle in a spectacular new format for the contest. Spectators are bound to be treated to radically high jumps, various tricks and kite-loops combined with style, height, and speed in the one-day showcase of big air prowess.

Cape Town is known for its prime kitesurfing conditions during January and February – with the south easterly wind, dubbed ‘Cape Doctor’, almost guaranteeing big airs and even bigger moves.

Twelve of the best from 2013 will return and 12 wildcards, selected from online entries at www.redbullkingoftheair.co.za, will round up the 24 participant line up.

Video: Red Bull King of the Air Teaser

If you are reading this article in an email or RSS reader, click here to watch the video.

Defending champion, Jesse Richman (USA) is already training hard in the lead up to the event:

“Big Bay in Cape Town is possibly the best kiteboarding arena I have ever seen, the place is made to send us flying. The Red Bull King of the Air is kiteboarding at its highest level of extreme! I am really pumped to come back this year and see how far we can push it past the limits.”

 Invited Riders

Jesse Richman (USA), Nick Jacobsen (DEN), Sam Light (GBR), Gianni Aragno (ESP), Ruben Lenten (NED), Lewis Crathern (GBR), Oswald Smith (RSA), Shawn Richman (USA), Billy Parker (USA), Kevin de Smidt (NED), Kevin Langeree (NED), Andries Fourie (RSA).

Judges

Judges William Bogaards (NED), Greg Thijsse (RSA), Arek Jerzelkowski (POL), Reinier Korstanje (NED), Ralf Bachschuster (GER) and Jim Gaunt (GBR) are bound to have a tough time in the judge’s tower adjudicating the aerial masters.

In order to ensure the best wind conditions possible for Red Bull King of the Air to take place, the event window period extends from 25 January 2014 to 9 February 2014.

Red Bull King of the Air is Coming Back to Cape Town in 2014 was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

The inaugural wave riding event at One Eye, Mauritius in 2011 simply blew our minds, and had us and many of our readers glued to our computer screens watching the live broadcasts! We could barely contain ourselves as we reported the results to our readers at the end of each day. Stunning images and videos of the world’s best kitesurfers riding massive clean waves… mostly strapless… made building our unique all-in-one competition reports a truly enjoyable task.  

And it didn’t end there… Over the past two years we’ve seen thrilling KSP action in Hawaii, Mauritius, Ireland, Portugal, Cape Verde, Peru and more…

So it goes without saying, and I’m sure I speak for many other wave riding enthusiasts around the world, that we had great expectations from this year’s KSP tour.

Sadly, things haven’t gone according to plan. Mostly due to the financial crisis many of the chosen host countries have been experiencing this year, the first two events for 2013 had to be cancelled. And now the remaining two events are in danger of sharing the same fate as well.

What the KSP Needs & What You’ll Get in Return

In short, the KSP needs around $ 30 000 in funds to make the last two events of the season happen so they can crown a 2013 Word Kite Surf Champion.

To facilitate this, they’ve set up a fund raising campaign on Indiegogo where fans and supporters can donate money or show their support by sharing the campaign with others. Not only will you be helping the KSP reach their goals, but your generosity will be rewarded with very cool perks and KSP memorabilia such as a post card signed by at least 5 of the world’s best wave kiters, a KSP T-Shirt signed by at least 5 of the world’s best kiters, a custom made surf board, or even the opportunity to live with the KSP riders at either of the next two events and attend the event as a VIP guest, plus receive a 2 hour wave clinic with one of the pros, and much more!

So what are you waiting for? Head over to the campaign page and get in on the action by clicking the link below today! The campaign ends on October 02, 2013 at 11:59pm PT, and all funds received go directly to the KSP, a rider driven non profit organization.

Here’s a teaser video…

…to remind you why we all love the KSP!

If you are reading this article in an email, click here to watch the video.

The KSP Needs Your Help & Support

There’s no doubt the KSP Tour has had a hugely positive impact on our sport not only from a publicity point of view, but also on the development side of kitesurfing. To win the KSP Tour, riders have to invent new moves and push the boundaries, which in turn motivates other riders around the world to keep pushing themselves harder. It’s a win, win for the entire industry!

If you can’t afford to donate money, no worries, you can still help by sharing this article or the campaign page with your friends and fans. Help us get the word out to all kitesurfers around the world, and let’s keep the KSP alive!

Thank you.

The inMotion Kitesurfing Team

PS: Feel free to express your thoughts and support in the comments below.

Save the KSP Kite Surf Pro Tour was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

There are of course a number of great resources documenting the history of kiteboarding or kitesurfing, but we thought we’d summarise the highlights for you, so you can get back to doing what you live for… kiteboarding. And if you’d rather get body slammed into a mine field of sea urchins on an exposed reef than read an article on the history of kiteboarding, then feel free to skip straight to the video below, which is a humorous and very entertaining look at how it all started.

Seriously though, we can’t thank the producers, Josh Kendrick and Dan Connely enough for this brilliant tribute to kiteboarding, which comes packed with interviews with all the great pioneers of kitesurfing, and is what inspired us to write this article in the first place. It’s 55min long, so if you don’t have time for that, we’ve also included a 6 min video, Short Kiteboarding History by Susi Mai and Robby Naish.

Who Invented Kiteboarding

The story of kiteboarding will vary slightly depending on who you speak to. The Chinese for example are credited with using kites as a means of propulsion as far back as the 13th century. In the 1800’s George Pocock used kites to propel carts on land and ships on the water, making use of a 4-line control system similar to what we use today. And in 1903, aviation pioneer Samuel Cody developed “man-lifting kites” and succeeded in crossing the English Channel in a small collapsible canvas boat powered by a kite. You can read more about the early history of kites here.

Bruno Legaignoux

But the pioneers of kiteboarding as we know it today are the Legaignoux brothers, Dominique and Bruno Legaignoux from Breton, France, who are credited with inventing the first inflatable kite. They first started experimenting with kites in 1984, and in 1985 demonstrated a prototype at the Brest International Speed Week and filed their first patent.

However, they weren’t alone… parallel to this, and all the way across the ocean in Oregon, USA, Cory Roeseler was developing his Kiteski together with his dad, Bill Roeseler, a Boeing aerodynamicist. Cory’s KiteSki became commercially available in 1994, could go upwind and had a rudimentary water re-launch system. In the late 1990s, the Kiteski evolved into a single board similar to a surfboard. The video (around minute 6:40) shows just how instrumental Cory was in the development of kiteboarding.

Cory Roeseler

Development of Kiteboarding as a Sport

In 1997 the Legaignoux brothers partnered with Neil Pryde to produce small numbers of kites, which they then sold under the brand name Wipika. These kites had preformed inflatable tubes and a simple bridle system, both of which greatly assisted their water re-launch ability. Bruno Legaignoux has continued to improve his kite designs, and went on to invent the bow kite design a few years ago which has been licensed to many kite manufacturers, and has become quite popular in modern day kitesurfing. Learn more about the various kite designs here.

First Bow Kite | Image Courtesy of Ocean2Air

In 1998 Don Montague and Robby Naish requested a licence from Bruno, and as part of their agreement, Don Montague developed software which enabled them to design great kites in a fraction of the time. This was one of the defining moments of the sport.

The birth of kiteboarding as a mainstream sport really began in 1998 when Joe Keuhl organised the first kiteboarding event, which took place on Maui in Hawaii. The competition was jokingly dubbed the kitesurfing world championships and all the big names in kiteboarding were there (25 of them). Flash Austin won the competition.

Of course, learning to kitesurf in those days was treacherous. There were no instructors to learn from, no trainer kites, and nobody had figured out that they should launch the kite at the edge of the window yet. It really was the wild, Wild West back then…

One of the unique aspects of kiteboarding is that it developed in a number of different directions all roughly around the same time… on the one hand you had the likes of Robby Naish and Flash Austin boosting massive jumps, while guys like Lou Wainman and Elliot Leboe were pioneering the wakestyle side of kiteboarding. And now, largely thanks to the KSP World Pro Kite Tour, we’re getting back to our surfing roots with strapless wave kitesurfing.

Originally the terms kiteboarding and kitesurfing really meant the same thing, however, in recent years there’s been a push to distinguish the two as different disciplines. Kiteboarding refers to anything that isn’t wave riding, so this would include freestyle, wakestyle, speed and racing, while riding waves with a kite would be kitesurfing. This trend really gained momentum when the KSP tour launched in 2011 with the One Eye Pro in Mauritius.

Video: Upwind Launch of a Sport

If you want to hear how it all began from the pioneers and influencers themselves, we highly recommend watching this video…

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The Future of Kiteboarding

The future is definitely looking bright for kiteboarding and kitesurfing. We’ve got two pro tours, with the PKRA covering freestyle and the KSP geared purely towards wave riding. We’ve got speed and course racing world championships. Kite gear is evolving at an incredible pace, with kites and bar systems becoming safer and more efficient. Kite schools with qualified instructors can be found all around the world, and more youngsters and girls are getting into kiteboarding, which is great for any new sport. On top of that, kiteboarding almost became an Olympic sport last year, and while we didn’t make it for the 2016 Games in the end, we’re confident that kiteboarding in the Olympics is in the not too distant future.

Short Kiteboarding History by Susi Mai & Robby Naish

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We hope you’ve enjoyed this little walk down memory lane. If you think we’ve missed anything important, please do let us know in the comments below and we’ll update the article accordingly. And if you enjoyed this article or the videos, please do share it with your friends.

Note: The first and last image are courtesy of Neil Egerton Photography.

The History of Kiteboarding & Launch of a New Sport was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Since the winds come from the East coast of Mauritius, there are no accelerating factors on this side of the Island. This results in less “kiteable” days throughout the year along the East coast when compared to Le Morne or the North. However, during winter (from June to November,) the East coast definitely deserves your attention… for its beauty, colours, flat water conditions, and especially for its huge lagoons often with no one in the ocean, other than a few fishermen. No crowds, no buzz. Epic!

The main spots along the East coast of Mauritius are…

Pointe D’Esny

A beautiful setting with relatively flat water and on shore wind. Riding along the beach is fun, and most kitesurfers spend days along the bright-white beach, much to the dismay of the holiday makers and swimmers…

Not recommended without properly organised security, but worth mentioning, it is possible to ride 20 kilometres downwind to Trou d’Eau Douce and Ile aux Cerfs, all within the lagoon.

Trou d’Eau Douce

Trou d’Eau Douce is known for its Ile-aux-Cerfs resort, which makes a great kitesurfing spot when conditions are perfect (wind direction S.S.E).

However the whole beach-front of Trou d’Eau Douce is ‘kiteable’ throughout winter (June to November). The lagoon is extra wide, most of it shallow and flat (riders must be careful at low tides). Launching is fine almost anywhere along the beach, especially nearer to the reefs (the East side), where there is plenty of space.

Trou d’Eau Douce also has a gem… bearing the great name of ‘Joyride’. It’s too far from the beach to be accessible from there though. Kitesurfers need to use the shuttle boats to Ile-aux-Cerfs, then walk to its east-facing beach or to its neighbour ‘Ilot Mangenie’ and launch from there. This still leaves a long upwind ride to reach Joyride, comprising of several square kilometres of shallow and very flat water along the barrier reef. It is of course ideal for jumps and speed rides, often with strong, stable and potent winds in winter.

Palmar

Palmar is another great spot on the East coast of Mauritius which is not well-known, and over-shadowed by Le Morne, from which it differs drastically. Palmar is a stretch of relatively narrow lagoon, not very deep, offering several square kilometres of flat water with a generally stable wind. This spot is ideal for jumping sessions.

Its 45-degree on-shore wind also makes it safe and attractive to beginners, and there’s a kitesurfing school based in Palmar from April to November, the winter period in the southern hemisphere. Palmar is probably not suitable outside this period.

Poste Lafayette

Poste Lafayette is great for many reasons:

Beginners

• It’s good for beginners as there is plenty of beach space for launching.
• Owing to the curved shape of the shore, the launching spot is already 20 to 30 meters away from the shore.
• The wind being generally onshore, this spot is safe and does not require boat rescues.
• Relatively shallow a few metres from the shore, although it is not advisable to stand there without shoes.
• No currents or particular hazards.

Intermediate Riders

It is good for intermediate riders as it is far from crowded (just a few kiters on weekends), and for those who are not yet good at staying upwind, as they can safely land at any point on the beach to walk upwind again.

Advanced Riders

Good for advanced riders, since there are two flat water zones that are good for jumping and some wave spots to carefully explore by following the locals.

Excellent regular wind conditions, especially in winter.

About Mauritius

The island of Mauritius can be compared to a gifted child; small in size, but lots happening under the hood. Its population illustrates this; 1.3 million inhabitants on just 720 sq miles… with an apparent booming economy and a relatively active presence on the international political and economical scene.

This nation’s contrasts and contradictions can’t be missed though. The streets are busy with a mix of old choking buses and brand new top-of-the-range luxury cars. Rich businessmen and industrialists next to the very poor. Fair road network, terrible internet connection. The list goes on…

For the kitesurfer or the average visitor, these contrasts are what make this place so enjoyable, special and “sentimentally” tying. Many tourists come back year after year.

Kitesurfing Holidays

Owing to these specificities, it is possible to spend “comfortably simple” vacations in Mauritius. There are daily flights to and from Dubai, the regional hub, and also from Paris and London.

There are also several flights a week from some of Europe’s main cities such as Frankfurt, Rome and Moscow, and from South Africa, India, Malaysia and Australia. Flights can be very expensive in high season, (October to April), and more reasonably fared the rest of the year.

On the spot, almost anything is possible with a bit of organisation, lots of patience and a pinch of forgiveness. Cars can be rented from International brands or from unofficial car rental companies. Accommodation can be expensive for no apparent reason or of high quality in terms of value for money. It all depends on the period you are travelling in and with whom you book.

The windy season is from June to November, which is great because it corresponds with the low season, except during school holidays. The climate is relatively dry in austral winter, but it is windy and humid enough to make the climate not very tropical. The sea remains relatively warm throughout the year.

To get the most out of Mauritius, it is better to avoid the pre-organised tour packages, stay at a Guest house, small hotel or rent a villa, and rent a car or a local driver / guide. Buy your fish from the fishermen and your food from the local grocery shop. It is best to kitesurf for 2 to 3 hours in the morning while conditions are at their best, and then to go inland in the afternoons, visit villages, take walks and make sand castles with the kids.

Recommended Accommodation

There are of course plenty of hotels along the East coast of Mauritius, and three of them have officially declared themselves as “kitesurf-friendly.” These are: The Tropical Attitude hotel (3-star plus) and the Bougainville hotel, both located in Trou d’Eau Douce, offering free shuttles to Ile-aux-Cerfs, which will get you closer to Joyride, and the Emeraude Beach Attitude hotel, located in Palmar.

There is also excellent alternative accommodation such as guest houses, and beach villas which are ideal for groups and families, some of which have beaches suitable for launching.

The website www.bookmauritius-villas.com proposes several great beach villas in Pointe d’Esny, Belle Mare, Poste Lafayette and nearby Roches Noires.

If you have any questions regarding the kitesurfing on the East Coast of Mauritius, please feel free to ask away in the comments below. And if you’ve kited at some of these spots, or you know of any other great spots in this area, we’d love to hear from you in the comments as well.

Written by

Bernard Cayeux

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Mauritius East Coast Kite Spot Guide was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Lars has put together The Complete Kiteboarding Training Guide, and it’s now available for you to download for free! That’s right… it’s yours 100% free of charge!

Why You Should Download this Guide

In the words of Lars himself, “The Complete Kiteboarding Training Guide is your new training bible”! You can use it at home or in the gym, and it’s not just for the pros. There are programs in it for all levels of kiteboarders. Beginners, wave riders, freestylers, wakestylers, wake skaters, course racers, landkiters, snowkiters, freeriders, newschoolers, oldschool freestylers… all will benefit from the right training. The Complete Kiteboarding Training Guide will teach you how to become a stronger and more powerful kiteboarder at the level you are at, while minimizing your risk of injury. If you want to progress, this guide is a “must have”.

In all other sports, pro athletes engage in highly developed sport specific functional training in addition to the actual training they do for their discipline. Pro athletes have strictly planned training programs laid out 6-18 months in advance, with several resting periods and various levels of exercise intensity, depending on when their next competitions are. Athletes do this to ensure they are in peak condition at competitions, and to minimize their risk of injury… and of course to progress! More pros in kiteboarding have opened themselves up to functional training as a way to improve, and it’s slowly spreading throughout the industry. However we’re still way behind other sports, and this is possibly one of the reasons why there are so many injuries in kiteboarding.

KiteboardingExercises.com, or just KBX is a website dedicated to making you a better kiteboarder through sport specific training and rehab, and you get all this cooked up in the kiteboard training guide!

Outdoor Training Program

In the latest version of this training guide (V3), Lars has added an outdoor training program which you can execute in a public park or playground. Here’s a video with some of the highlights.

So, get your complete training guide now!

About the Author

Lars Jørgensen has been working in the fitness industry since 2002. His specialty is rehab, posture and sports specific training. He has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition & health, and a number of smaller certifications in training physiology. He’s been managing personal trainers since 2008 and he educates personal trainers in sales, physiology, nutrition, dynamic mobilization and coaching in both Denmark and Sweden. He started KiteboardingExercises.com because he believes there’s a need for training education in kitesurfing.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the Kiteboarding Training Guide, and whether it has helped you take your kiteboarding to the next level. If you have any training tips and advice of your own, as always, please share them in the comments below.

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The Complete Kiteboarding Training Guide was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Discovered in 1999 by kitesurfers looking for favorable winds, Praia do Preá also became an obligatory stop for anyone wanting to get in touch with nature; an authentic fishing village, which has not yet been discovered by tourism, a wild beach and neighboring a national park. Praia do Preá is an ecological paradise, with a rich ecosystem where the winds are perfect for all levels of kitesurfing, from beginner to advanced.

In Preá, the wind blows all year round, but the perfect season runs between July and January, with speeds that range from 20 to 40 knots. These are steady on shore trade winds, with a sea that has a water temperature between 22 to 25 degrees. And there’s something else that makes this kiting destination so special; a downwind with waves that starts in Cumbuco, almost 300 miles away and ends at Preá.

Kite Spots

All in close proximity, Praia do Preá sees good winds through several beaches that are perfect for wave riding and Freestyle.

Cumbuco

Just next to Fortaleza, Cumbuco is an urbanized beach stretch that offers good winds. This is where the kitesurfing championships take place, and it’s a great Freestyle peak.

Icarai de Amontada

Between Fortaleza, Ceará capital, and Preá you’ll find Icarai de Amontada. Originally an authentic fisherman village, today it is well urbanized after being discovered by tourism. Icarai de Amontada has a 7km long bay, and 20-35 knot winds from June to December.

Guajiru Island

The Guajiru Island is easily accessible, but has remained an extremely remote place that has not been developed by tourism. It boasts both ocean with waves and a flat crystalline lagoon. It’s really awesome kiting downwind in the waves and then hitting the flat water pond. The wind blows nonstop here.

Paracuru

Paracuru is a phenomenal place where the guys kite in a beach corner. There’s a bar on the beach front, with lively folk and guaranteed 25 knots at sea from July to January.

Learning to Kitesurf & Renting Equipment

Rancho do Kite on Praia do Preá is considered one of the best kite schools in Brazil. The school is run by Vanessa and Mosquito, both senior level instructors trained by the IKO (International Kiteboarding Organization). Expect great weather, and a radical gang… Watch the video!

Video: Voando das dunas de Jeri – Rancho do Kite

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Where to Stay

Rancho do Peixe is a fully eco-friendly hotel, linked with nature and sustainability. They grow their own organic garden and their facilities are made from reforested wood and carnauba straw. The hotel was built on a coconut farm, without felling any trees. The bungalows are nestled amongst vegetation, and have a privileged view of the beach and stunning sunsets.

Attractions

The Kite 270 KM surfin sem fim is an endless kitesafari from Cumbuco to Preá, with 99% of the trip being on the water. It’s a unique experience, passing by inhabited stretches like Flexeiras Icaraí, Icarai de Amontada and other totally wild places. The trip lasts 4 days, and passes Taiba, Piracuru, Guajirú, Flexeiras, Whale, Icaraizinho, and the super visual late afternoon sail at Lagoa do Cauípe. This epic ride is organized by e.Group.

Getting There

The nearest airport is Pinto Martins Airport in Fortaleza. We recommend you schedule a transfer by 4×4 from there. The region’s hotels usually offer this service, and the trip can take about 4 hours.

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Praia do Preá, Brazil: Kitesurfers Playground was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.