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!

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.

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

The Complete Kiteboarding Training Guide was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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1. Kitesurfing Training: Rotate Faster, Pop Higher, Pass Faster… Get FIT!
2. Kiteboarding Exercises: The Roll Out
3. Beginners Guide to Kitesurfing: Getting Started

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

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

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.

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

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

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After an eight year hiatus since the last running of the Red Bull King of the Air in Maui, USA, the event finally returns to kiteboarding, this time in Cape Town, South Africa. Wind patterns are currently looking favourable for the window period of 1 – 15 February at Big Bay, Blouberg on Cape Town’s sunny coastline.

Sixteen invited kiteboarders from around the world will be joined by eight wildcards who secured their entry by sending in a video of themselves in action on the water.

Included in the lineup are extreme kiteboarder Ruben Lenten (NED), compatriot and world number 1 in 2012 Youri Zoon and local wildcard Oswald Smith who goes into the competition having just won SA Champs.

The judging panel consisting of fearless female kiteboarder Susi Mai, editor of Kiteworld Magazine and presenter of ‘The Kite Show’ Jim Gaunt and South African original Red Bull King of the Air alumnus Greg Tijsse will be watching the water to gauge the height, style and creativity each kiteboarder executes their movement with.

The newly developed ‘flag out’ competition format is unlike any others – it gives each kiteboarder the opportunity to pull their best moves and score high. Four riders hit the water wearing different colour rash vests that match a corresponding flag on the beach. After an allocated time, the rider with the lowest score will be flagged out (flag will be lowered) and must leave the water. The last man standing is the winner.

The event will also feature the godfather of wind-based watersports, Robby Naish, who will be in Cape Town to put the title hopefuls through their paces in the lead up to the event. Robby has multiple World Titles across windsurfing and kiteboarding disciplines and still competes internationally, at the tender age of 49.

Invited Kiteboarders

• Ruben Lenten (NED)
• Kevin Langeree (NED)
• Youri Zoon (NED)
• Nick Jacobsen (DEN)
• Billy Parker (USA)
• Sam Light (GBR)
• Lewis Crathern (GBR)
• Kevin de Smidt (NED)
• Steven Akkersijk (NED)
• Jesse Richman (USA)
• Tom Court (GBR)
• Luke Whiteside (GBR)
• Gianni Aragno (ESP)
• Shawn Richman (USA)
• Luke McGillewie (RSA)
• Reno Romeu (BRA)

Wildcards

• Sam Medysky (CAN)
• Oswald Smith (RSA)
• Johnno Sholte (NED)
• Andries Fourie (RSA)
• Graham Howes (RSA)
• Jandre Fraser (RSA)
• Alan Steele (RSA)
• Nicolas Falcou (FRA)

For more updates on contest conditions visit www.redbullkingoftheair.co.za or #RedBullKingoftheAir on Twitter.

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

The Red Bull King of the Air 2013 Sees the World’s Top Kiteboarders in Cape Town was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. Red Bull King of the Air in Cape Town
2. LEN10 Megaloop Challenge: Extreme Kiteboarding Event
3. LEN10 MegaLoop Challenge: Lewis Crathern Wins

CAPE TOWN (South Africa) – The new concept, a big air format, proposes a “mega airtime” contest with radically high jumps, various tricks and kite-loops combined with style, height, and speed. Sixteen of the world’s best plus eight wildcards, selected from video entries at www.redbullkingoftheair.co.za, will descend on Cape Town.

Big Bay, part of the pristine Cape Peninsula, is probably the best spot in the world for holding an event with these criteria. The legendary ‘Cape Doctor’ will certainly play its part – the South Easterly wind guarantees big airs and even bigger moves! Judges Jim Gaunt, Susi Mai and Greg Thijsse will have their work cut out for them.

Video: Red Bull King of the Air 2013 Teaser

Ruben Lenten (NED), a formidable name in kiteboarding is stoked Red Bull King of the Air is back: “It’s going make a big impact on kiteboarding once again! Normally I don’t compete as most contests are aimed at really technical tricks but the format of the Red Bull King of the Air is right up my street. This contest is all about big airs and I think I am just as stoked as I was back in 2005 when I won the last event in Hawaii. With the Red Bull King of the Air we’ll have the world’s best riders come out to battle it out in Cape Town’s extreme winds.”

The window period for the event starts on the 1st of February and will extend to the 15th of February 2013. For more updates on contest conditions visit www.redbullkingoftheair.co.za or #RedBullKingoftheAir on Twitter.

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

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

Related posts:

1. The Red Bull King of the Air 2013 Sees the World’s Top Kiteboarders in Cape Town
2. LEN10 Megaloop Challenge: Extreme Kiteboarding Event
3. LEN10 MegaLoop Challenge: Lewis Crathern Wins

Note: Lay days were called for the first five days of the ten day holding period, so feel free to skip straight to Day 6, which is where the kitesurf action started. Be sure to watch the interviews with Pete Cabrinha (Day 2) and Robby Naish (Day 5) though…

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 action packed kitesurfing event.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Watch the Live Broadcast

The KSP world championship title race, which sees 36 riders from 18 countries competing for this prestigious award, remains too close to call heading into the final event at Ho’okipa Beach, Maui. Hometown favourite and current men’s points leader Patri Mclaughlin (HI, North) aims to snatch his first ever world title at home on Maui with Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North) and Sebeastian Ribeiro (BRA) not far behind. The female race between front-runner Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish), Ninja Bichler (GER, North) and Ines Correia (POR, RRD) is also pretty tight.

Day 1 (29 November)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Update 1

Following the opening ceremony at Ho’okipa Beach Park on Maui’s North Shore, an official lay day was called due to light and variable winds.

Hawaii’s Kumu Keli’i Tau’a led a traditional Hawaiian blessing to open the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro followed with a speech by Rod Antone, Communications Director for the County Of Maui, who welcomed the KSP riders. Lois Leinani Whitly wrapped up the beautiful beach ceremony by performing the National Anthem and Hawaiian Pono’i.

“It’s was a beautiful opening ceremony with perfect waves breaking out on the reef at Ho’okipa,” said Kristin Boese, KSP World Championship Tour President. “Unfortunately, we are just in a bad wind pattern at the moment. The wind forecast right now is not looking great for the next few days, but that can change quickly. We are still early in the holding period and are looking forward to what the following week will bring.”

Video: Day 1 Opening Ceremony Highlights

Check out the Photos from Day 1.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 2 (30 November)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Update 2

Advisory level swells greeted competitors at Ho’okipa Beach Park this morning, but contest directors called another lay day at the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro due to continued light and variable winds.

“Anything can happen”, said KSP Head Judge Brad Price during this morning’s live broadcast. “Starting Tuesday there’s an outside chance we’ll have wind. But, Thursday for sure, Friday for sure. So we’ll have to see how it goes.”

Video: Interview with Pete Cabrinha

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

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 3 (1 December)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Update 3

Contest officials declared another lay day at the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro today. The wind forecast looks like it will improve early next week.

“It’s another beautiful day on Maui”, said KSP competitor and live stream commentator Sky Solbach. “The forecast is looking great for waves throughout the rest of the holding period and it looks like the trade winds will return to the islands next week.”

Tune in at 9am to watch the live call and morning show at 9am.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 4 (2 December)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Update 4

Kona wind flow has forced the fourth consecutive lay day at the KSP World Championship tour final on Maui. International competitors from 18 countries remain on standby for the first possible start of the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro as soon as wind conditions permit.

“The wave is really good here in Ho’okipa,” said reigning KSP World Champion Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North) following his interview in this morning’s live broadcast. “The forecast looks better for the end of the week and I really hope we make the finals in the best conditions.”

Tune in at 9am each morning to watch the live call and morning show.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 5 (3 December)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Update 5

Unfortunately, the unpredictable Kona Winds prevented the Ho’okipa Kitesurf Pro from getting underway again this morning. A solid swell forecast and the improving wind direction promise contestable conditions as soon as tomorrow and holding strong for the remainder of the competition window.

KSP contest director Ian Ponting states: “It’s unusual for Maui to be windless for long periods of time. The forecast continues to look really promising for the end of the holding period. In the meantime Maui continues to offer amazing surf and hopefully the competitors are still functional in both body and equipment when the real action starts.”

Video: Interview with Robby Naish

With an outside chance of the trade winds kicking in tomorrow, contest officials will reconvene tomorrow morning to assess the conditions for a possible start.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 6 (4 December)

World Tour Finals Get Underway in Pumping Surf

Finally the light and variable winds gave way to the returning trades earlier than expected for the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro. Local wildcard qualification heats were run in near flawless conditions, setting the stage for an action packed world tour final and the commencement of men’s round 1.

“Anytime there’s an easterly component in the wind, you have to expect that Maui will deliver”, said KSP live stream commentator Ben Meyer. “It was great to finally see the guys and girls out there ripping at the point. The forecast looks very promising to finish the event in stellar conditions.”

Advancing from the men’s local wildcard qualification rounds were Tiago Candelot 1st, Olivier Sautet 2nd, and Kevin “Top Hat” Senn 3rd. On the women’s side, Oahu native Moona Whyte turned heads with an outstanding performance in her wildcard qualification heat and will join 2nd place local wildcard qualifier Kalia Aguera in the main women’s draw.

Following the action-packed qualification rounds, the men’s round 1 got underway. Heat 1 saw world number 3 and world title contender Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) advance over Tiago Candelot (LWC) and Bastien Bollard (FRA, Ozone) with precisely executed turns and flowing rides, earning him the highest heat score of the competition thus far, a 14.93 combined two-wave total.

The Men’s heat 2 between Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One), Sky Solbach (USA, North) and Shawn Richman (HI, Naish) was abandoned due to deteriorating winds. Following a brief holding pattern, the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro was called off for the day to wait for better conditions to resume competition tomorrow.

Video: Highlights Day 6

Check out the Photos of the Day.

Tune in for the 9am call, a 10am first possible start and the live broadcast.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 7 (5 December)

Epic Surf Continues on Day 7 at Ho’okipa

Following another windless morning on Maui’s North Shore, the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro World Championship final got underway in the early afternoon in gusty wind and clean, overhead surf. Today saw incredible action and the near-completion of men’s round 1.

“The wind conditions were not ideal with the wind being lighter than usual and slightly offshore”, said local rider and hometown favorite Cruser Putnam (HI, Cabrinha) following his second place finish in his round 1 heat. “But that was still definitely the best kitesurfing I’ve seen at Ho’okipa.”

Today’s highest heat score came from tour standout Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One) with a 16.17 two-wave total. Riding forehand on his natural stance, Monteiro dominated his round 1 heat with solid hacks and vertical top to bottom surfing. Other heat winners in round 1 included Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA), Guilly Brandao (BRA), Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North), Stephan De Figueiredo (BRA), Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha), Filippe Ferreira (BRA, F-One).

The final heat of Men’s round 1 was abandoned due to deteriorating wind conditions late in the afternoon. All forecasts point to a significant increase in wind strength heading into the weekend and a slight decrease in swell height. When competition resumes, hometown favorite and current KSP World Tour points leader Patri Mclaughlin (HI, North) will face Kevin “Top Hat” Senn (HI) and Jakop Appel (DEN).

Check out the Photos of the Day.

Video: Highlights Day 7

Tune in for the 9am call, a 10am first possible start and the live broadcast.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 8 (6 December)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Update 8

The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro saw strong side-offshore winds and consistent head high surf today on day 8 of the 10-day holding period. Men’s and women’s round 1 were completed as well as 7 heats of men’s round 2.

In a 10AM rider’s meeting, contest directors officially announced the implementation of the KSP’s alternate “short dingle elimination” ladder. Used for the first time in a KSP competition today, the short dingle elimination was originally designed in conjunction with the riders to reduce competition time to ensure an event result when conditions do not permit the use of the standard double consolidation ladder.

The competition kicked off in the early afternoon with the last remaining heat of men’s round 1, pitting local Maui boy and current KSP World Championship Tour points leader Patri Mclaughlin (HI, North) against Kevin “Top Hat” Senn (HI) and Jakop Appel (DEN). With his world title hopes on the line, Mclaughlin prevailed in a nerve-racking, but relatively low scoring heat.

Women’s round 1 saw some hotly contested battles, but no major upsets in the world title race. Local wildcard Moona Whyte (HI, Cabrinha) continued to impress with the highest heat score total of the women’s competition so far, a 14.17. Other riders advancing from women’s round 1 included Ninja Bichler (GER, North), Kirsty Jones (GBR, North) and Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish).

In round 2 of the men, reigning KSP World Champion Airton Cozzolino later (ITA, North) nailed the highest heat score of the day with a 15.83 two-wave combined total. Male riders advancing out of round 2 included world number 3 Sebastain Ribeiro (BRA), (CPV, F-One) as well as Guilly Brandao (BRA), Stephan De Figueiredo (BRA), Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha) and Filippe Ferreira (BRA, F-One). Competition was called off for the day falling short of just one heat of men’s round 2.

Check out the Photos of the Day.

Video: Highlights Day 8

Tune in for the 9am call, a 10am first possible start and the live broadcast.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 9 (7 December)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Update 9

The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro was put on hold this morning before eventually being called off at 3PM due to light and variable winds. Contest directors are optimistic that the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Champions and overall World Tour Champions will be crowned tomorrow in classic Ho’okipa conditions.

“We knew today was a bit of a toss-up in terms of wind,” said KSP head judge Brad Price. “Tomorrow looks much better and we will be crowning the champions by tomorrow afternoon.”

With a stellar forecast on the charts and the KSP World Championship title on the line, tomorrow promises to be an incredible day of world-class kite surfing. The first heat on deck tomorrow between world number 1 Patri Mclaughlin (HI, North) and world number 4 Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD) will be the first of many do-or-die heats in the road to the finals at the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 10 (8 December)

2012 KSP World Champions Crowned on Maui’s North Shore

The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro winners and overall KSP World Champions were crowned on Maui’s north shore today! The final day of the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro delivered classic Ho’okipa conditions and saw major upsets in the world title race.

The competition got underway in building surf and returning trade winds. The first major upset of the day came early this morning in the final heat of men’s round 2 between points leader Patri McLaughlin (HI, North) and world number 4 Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD). McGillewie crushed McLaughlin’s world title hopes with a narrow defeat in their early morning clash at Ho’okipa.

The upsets continued in the men’s elimination when world number 2 Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North), world number 3 Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) and world number 4 Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD) all failed to advance to the semi-finals, effectively opening up the title race to riders Guilly Brandao (BRA), Keahi De Aboititz (AUS, Cabrinha) and Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One), all tied for 5th place in the world ranking.

In the men’s semi-finals, Monteiro advanced in a high-scoring affair over Brandao and De Aboitiz defeated Ferreira, setting the stage for a riveting final showdown. With the Ho’okpa Kite Surf Pro event title and the world championship crown on the line, Monteiro and De Aboitiz had the crowd on the edge of their seats, exchanging the lead several times throughout the final in exceptional conditions. De Aboitiz emerged victorious, taking home his first ever KSP World Championship title in an emotional victory.

In the women’s bracket, round 2 saw fierce matchups in world-class conditions. Milla Ferreira (BRA, F-One), Moona Whyte (HI, Cabrinha), Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone) and Jalou Langerees (NED, Naish) all advanced through to the semi-final round with stellar performances in the building northwest swell and increasing winds.

The womens’ semi-final saw Whyte post the highest two wave total of the entire event, a 17.67, against Brazillian powerhouse Ferreira. Ferreira’s defeat effectively secured the title for Langeree, putting her competitors out of points’ reach. Elated after winning her first ever KSP World Championship title, Langeree went on to advance in semi-final number 2 in a narrow victory over Schibevaag.

The women’s final hit the water in pulsing northwest swell and finely groomed over-head waves. Whyte, in her first ever KSP World Championship tour event, continued her charge to victory, posting big scores, displaying fluid style, and defeating points leader Langeree.

Finals Wrap-up Video

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Men’s Final Results

1. Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha)
2. Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One)
3. Guilly Brandao (BRA, Best)
4. Filippe Ferreira (BRA, F-One)

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Women’s Final Results

1. Moona Whyte (HI, Cabrinha)
2. Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish)
3. Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone)
4. Milla Ferreira (BRA, F-One)

2012 KSP Men’s World Championship Results

• World Champion – Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha)
• Vice World Champion – Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One)
• 3rd Airton Cozzolino (CPV, North)

2012 KSP Women’s World Championship Results

• World Champion – Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish)
• Vice World Champion – Ines Correia (POR, RRD)
• 3rd Ninja Bichler (GER, North)

Check out the Photos of the Day and award ceremony.

Ho’okipa Pro Live Web Broadcast

The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro is supported by the County Of Maui, Best Kiteboarding, Cabrinha Kites, Naish Kites, North Kiteboarding, Maui Kitesurfing Community, Eternal Riders, Second Wind, NeilPryde Maui, Maui Beach Hotel, Mana Foods, Whole Foods Maui, Pacific Millworks, Mama’s Fish House and KSP Tour Outfitter ION.

If you’re lucky enough to be on Maui at the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro, or if you’ve been following the action via the live broadcast, 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.

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

KSP Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Hawaii 2012 Results was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. KSP Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro 2012 Results
2. KSP Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro & Fantasy KSP Round 4 Kick Off
3. KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro 2012 Results

It was a tough contest, with so many female kiters doing great things for their communities and our sport. We hope the exposure from this contest will see all the girls get a little more recognition for the good work they are doing.

The final moments of the competition were incredibly tense, and we had no idea who was going to win! In the end, it was Hannah Whiteley who was victorious, only 19 votes ahead of Katie Chandler.

Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer

1st place: Hannah Whiteley

2nd place: Katie Chandler

3rd Place: Sophie Chevalier

iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year

Cynthia Brown (a.k.a. Cynbad)

It’s been a very exciting competition, with the leader-board changing a number of times as the vote’s poured in by the thousands, and it’s amazing that with over 9 000 votes, it would come down to only 19 votes seperating the first and second place.

Prizes

As winner of the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer”, Hannah Whiteley has won herself a 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps for two on the beautiful Lac de Serre Poncon courtesy of Tantrum Kitesurf, a 6 issue subscription and feature on the cover of KiteGirl Magazine, and a ‘Pray for Wind’ hoodie by KiteGirl and Deadman Kitesurfing.

For her second place, Katie Chandler will receive a Pink KiteGirl ‘Pray for Wind’ T-Shirt, a 6 issue subscription to KiteGirl Magazine, and an Eco friendly Beach Tote from Beach Girl Body Goods.

In third place, Sophie Chevalier also wins a 6 Issue subscription to KiteGirl Magazine and an Eco friendly Beach Tote from Beach Girl Body Goods.

Last, but not least, our “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”, Cynthia Brown will be making her way to Mexico on an exciting 7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation courtesy of Kite Beach Yucatan.

Final Results

Congratulations to all the finalists:

Our top 10 finalists will also be featured in Kitegirl Magazine in March, so be sure to pick up a copy to read all about them!

Thank You

We couldn’t have run this competition without the support of our generous sponsors.

And a special thanks to everyone who voted and helped spread the word. With a total of 9,135 votes, we are blown away by the response from the kiting community! You have all played an important role in creating awareness and promoting girls in kitesurfing.

We also learned a lot through the running of the competition this year, and have taken the feedback we’ve received from the community, and have already developed a new and improved system for next year’s competition, so watch this space…

The inMotion Kitesurfing Team

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

And the MIGK 2012 Winner is… was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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2. And the Winner is…
3. Last Call for MIGK 2012 Nominations

The KSP World Pro Tour Championship final is set to take place at Ho’okipa Beach Park on Maui in Hawaii from 29 November to 8 December 2012. The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro will see the world’s top 24 male and 12 female kitesurfers compete for the highly coveted world championship title at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.

Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Hawaii 2012: Full Results & Updates

“Ho’okipa is such an amazing venue for wind sports”, says Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro event coordinator Samantha Bittner. “We had such great success recently with the Maui Makani Classic windsurfing event and I am really looking forward to seeing what the best kitesurfers in the world can do out at the point.”

Heading into the final event of the season, current tour points leader and local Maui boy Patri Mclaughlin (HI, North) will look to secure his first world title in front of his home crowd following some hard-fought battles on tour this year in Portugal, Mauritius and Ireland. Reigning KSP World Champion and current world number 2 Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North) and world number 3 Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) remain hot on McLaughlin’s heels in a very tight world title race.

Following her first place finish at last month’s KSP event in Ireland, current female KSP World Tour frontrunner Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish) is intent on carrying her winning momentum into the final event of the season. Langeree is followed closely by 2011 World Champion Ines Correia (POR, RRD) and Ninja Bichler (GER, North) in a hotly contested world title race that will come down to the wire at Ho’okipa.

Fantasy KSP Round 4

The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro 2012 and the KSP also announce round 4 of the 2012 Fantasy KSP powered by Fantastar.com. The round will remain open until midnight on November 28, 2012 (GMT), just hours before the start of the KSP World Championship Tour Final and teams can now be selected from the confirmed riders list below. The Local Wild Cards for the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro will be determined in the Local Wild Card Qualifier taking place just before the first round of the main event.

Fantasy KSP enables fans and kitesurfers from around the world to participate in the KSP World Tour by assembling their own dream team of tour riders prior to each world championship tour event and “betting” on them to win awesome prizes. Fantasy KSP is free, fun, and open for all to play.

Prizes for the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Fantasy Game

• 1st place: 2 nights for 2 at the Hotel Wailea on Maui, HI.
• 2nd place: Naish Kites backpack
• 3rd place: Best Kiteboarding Laptop Sleeve
• 4th place: Cabrinha Hoodie
• 5th place: North T-Shirt
• 6th place: ION T-Shirt

Confirmed Riders for the Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro

Male Riders

• Abel Lago (ESP)
• Airton Cozzolino (ITA)
• Bastien Bollard (FRA)
• Etienne Lhote (FRA)
• Filippe Ferreira (BRA)
• Gonzalo Gomes (POR)
• Grant “Twig” Baker (RSA)
• Guilly Brandao (BRA)
• Jakob Appel (DEN)
• Jesse Richman (CHI)
• Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS)
• Luke McGillewie (RSA)
• Marciel (Matchu) Lopes Almeida (CPV)
• Mitu Monteiro (CPV)
• Patri McLaughlin (HI)
• Reo Stephens (HI)
• Ryan Coote (IRL)
• Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA)
• Shawn Richman (HI)
• Sky Solbach (USA)
• Stephan De Figueiredo (BRA)
• LWC 1
• LWC 2
• LWC 3

Female Riders

• Adriana Harlan (BRA)
• Erika Lindberg (SWE)
• Ines Correia (POR)
• Jalou Langeree (NED)
• Kari Schibevaag (NOR)
• Kirsty Jones (GBR)
• Kristin Boese (GER)
• Melissa Gil (CRC)
• Milla Ferreira (BRA)
• Ninja Bichler (GER)
• LWC 1
• LWC 2

Tune in to www.kspworldtour.com/live for the KSP World Championship Tour Finals at Ho’okipa Beach in Maui, HI from 29 Nov – 8 Dec.

The Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro is supported by the County Of Maui, Best Kiteboarding, Cabrinha Kites, Naish Kites, North Kiteboarding, Maui Kitesurfing Community, Eternal Riders, Second Wind, Maui Beach Hotel, Mana Foods, Whole Foods Maui, Pacific Millworks, Mama’s Fish House and KSP Tour Outfitter ION Essentials.

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

KSP Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro & Fantasy KSP Round 4 Kick Off was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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Marcin, who’s a freelance web developer, recons that since he works from his office, home, coffee shop, car and even the beach, anyway, he might as well do it from incredible and unique kite spots… and the idea for a trip half way around the world in search of great kitesurfing spots was born.

The Trip

The plan is to start in Wrocław, Poland in May 2013 and visit over 50 kite spots in 31 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, ending in Hong Kong, China. They will travel in a Land Rover Defender, interview local kitesurfers, take photos and shoot videos along the way. There are two seats available for guests in their Defender, so if you’d like to join them on their adventure, follow their Facebook page for updates on how to get onboard.

Kitelancers Infographic

A few Words from Kitelancers

We probably don’t need to explain to anyone who’s tried kitesurfing, that it’s an addictive sport. The feeling of having control over the wind, tearing up the water and water drops smashing all over your body, is just amazing! Another great thing about kitesurfing is the people. No matter if you’re under 20 or over 50, if you’re an architect, lawyer, graphic designer or web developer like me, kitesurfing connects us. We are open, willing to help each other at any time, and we all crave wind.

We check the wind forecasts a few times a day, and if there’s even a slight chance, we have no problem driving over 500 kilometres just to have two good days of kiteboarding. And even if the water is close to freezing and the forecast doesn’t come through… wait, that’s not good, we like it windy and warm! Which is why we came up with the idea for a trip in search of great places to kitesurf, meet awesome people and work at the same time. We called it KiteLancer, short for kitesurfing freelancers.

We are looking for sponsors and great kite spots on our route, so check our website, and if your kite spot or school is on our route, let us know if you can help, or just say hello.

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

Halfway Around the World with Kitelancers was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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…and you’re going to love these girls.

We received so many nominations from dedicated fans around the world, for girls all doing such amazing things in kitesurfing and for their communities. So choosing just ten was even more difficult than we could have imagined. They are all winners in our opinion!

But don’t take our word for it… click through to their profiles to see what these awesome ladies are up to, and then vote for the one you think is most deserving of the title! You only get one vote, so make it count. Voting closes on 27 November 2012.

Top 10 Finalists

In Alphabetical Order

• Kristin Boese
• Cynthia Brown
• Katie Chandler
• Sophie Chevalier
• Tatiana Howard
• Gretta Kruesi
• Claire Lutz
• Susi Mai
• Verda Marley
• Hannah Whiteley

Prizes

This year we’ve added a twist, with two first prizes up for grabs. The winner of “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer” will walk away with a 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps by Tantrum Kitesurf, a 6 issue subscription and feature on the cover of KiteGirl Magazine, and a ‘Pray for Wind’ hoodie by KG and Deadman Kitesurfing. The winner of the “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”, chosen by inMotion Kitesurfing, will win a 7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation in Mexico, courtesy of Kite Beach Yucatan. We also have fantastic 2^nd and 3^rd place prizes by Beach Girl Body Goods.

So, who’s the most influential girl kitesurfer? Who’s doing the most for her community and our sport? Who has the most passion and talent to encourage more girls to start kitesurfing?

The choice is in YOUR hands. It’s time for you to GET YOUR VOTE ON!

Our Sponsors

We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. And thanks, for helping us find these fantastic girls!

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

Get Your Vote On: Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012! was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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But every now and then, we stumble on a real gem that we just can’t ignore, and have to share with you guys…

Wisuki Alerts Review

Wisuki Alerts launched in June 2012 as a new wind and waves forecasting service, and an extension of the Wisuki Community which launched in Spain one year earlier.

But before we tell you more, I just want to point out that we weren’t asked to review this service. In fact this article is entirely our idea, and we DO have an ulterior motive… You see, we like this service so much, that we intend using it for our new international weather pages, and we want you guys to test it out for us in the field first, and tell us what you think.

Now if you’re like us in any way, we know you’re set in your ways, and probably won’t easily switch service providers. We don’t expect you to, but please take a look at it anyway, and give us your honest opinion in the comments below.

This is what you can expect…

Wisuki Features

Besides offering wind and wave forecasts, Wisuki allows you to instantly find spots with your desired conditions 8 days in advance, and anywhere in the world. Navigation is quick and easy, just zoom and drag the spots map. This is particularly useful to quickly compare conditions between spots and find the perfect conditions for each rider, or to learn how the forecasts work for the spots in a particular area.

Click the images for a live view.

How It Works

The Wisuki wind and waves forecast service is based on what they call “Alerts”. An Alert is the maximum daily wind strength and wave height, and it enables them to summarize a whole day’s forecast into one single icon. This way they can display the wind and wave forecasts for all the spots in an area on the map, while the user can easily switch the forecast day with the time control buttons.

Integrated Tide Graphs

Another original and interesting feature is the tide graphs that are integrated into the wind and waves table’s data for almost all spots. With this you can see at a glance how the wind and waves forecast aligns with the high and low tide times without having to load a specific tide page on its own. That said, Wisuki also provides specific and detailed tide information for almost all its open sea spots, should you require this.

Historical Data

They also offer accurate analysis of historical wind strength, wind direction, wave heights, swell direction, air temperature, and rainfall data forecast from the Statistics section for any given spot. Each one of these datasets can be analyzed using charts and specific filters. For example, you can easily find out what the best months are for a specific wind or swell direction, or vice versa. A handy tool to have when planning your next kitesurfing vacation…

Favourite’s Spots

You can add your usual kite spots, integrated with all the above features, to your favourite’s spots list. This way, you can access all your favourite spots alerts with a single click. Switching from spots map view to spots list view, you’ll also be able to generate a detailed forecast comparison for your favourite spots.

The Widget

The guys at Wisuki have been hugely accommodating and have done extensive development on the widget to suit our requirements. The results are a customizable widget that shows 8 days worth of wind, wave and weather information, along with some useful info about the spot such as water temperature, sunrise/sunset times and the local time, plus the option to include the tide graph (which we opted out of). I don’t know of any other widget that offers all this. You can see the widget in action here.

Demo Video: Introduction to Wind & Waves Alerts

Wisuki were even kind enough to put a fun demo video together for us, so that you can get a feel for the site without having to lift a finger… so grab a coffee, sit back… and enjoy the ride…

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

What We Like

Besides the slick, user friendly design, other features that we like are the “Nearby” button, which geo-localizes your browser and then shows you spots near to you, and the Filters on the “Alerts Ticker”, which lets you enable or disable wind or wave alert levels to match your preferred conditions.

We’ve been told, more great features are on their way, such as wind or wave alerts notifications by email (currently in development and should release in 3 or 4 weeks), and mobile apps, so stay tuned!

Give it a test run, or better yet, compare it to your current wind forecasting service, and give us your feedback in the comments below.

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

Wisuki Alerts: Beyond Wind & Wave Forecasts was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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Update
Congratulations to Hannah Whiteley, winner of the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012” and Cynthia Brown, our ”iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”!

There are fantastic prizes up for grabs this year thanks to our generous sponsors. The winner of the “Most Influential girl Kitesurfer” will win a 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps courtesy of Tantrum Kitesurf at the majestic Lac de Serre Poncon, while the “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year” will win a 7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation in Mexico thanks to Kite Beach Yucatan. 1st through to 3rd place will also win awesome prizes provided by Kitegirl Magazine, Deadman Kitesurfing and Beach Girl Body Goods. For more about the prizes, visit the official competition page.

Last year saw ten amazing girls battle it out in a nail biting final, with the leader board changing a number of times throughout the voting period. In the end, it was Kari Schibevaag who was crowned our 2011 winner after racking up 24% of the votes with over 1 000 to her name. Kari has gone on to have a very busy and successful year competing on the KSP World Pro Tour (currently ranking 6th overall), organizing camps for girls like the Dakhla Girls Camp 2012, and she even had time for a visit to South Africa.

Video: Kari Schibevaag in Africa

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

However, Kari isn’t the only one who’s been busy. Michelle Smith, who placed 4th in last year MIGK competition, says she is in the process of signing with a sports agent who is interested in promoting her, plus Mystic SA has approached her for a sponsorship.

“The MIGK comp definitely helped with this. I’ve also set up a website – www.michellesky.com, I moved to Cape Town and I’m in the process of starting my own Pilates studio. I am planning a fundraiser to help a homeless shelter.”

As a result of the MIGK competition, Michelle has also been elected by Sport and Recreation South Africa for their “little green book” which features the top 100 most influential people in sport during the period of January to December 2011. The Little Green Book recognizes and acknowledges the contribution that has been made by sports men and women in the South African sporting fraternity. She also received quite a bit of media coverage on websites and even gave a radio interview.

Another top 10 finalist, Clémentine Bonzom says this year was really important for her kiteboarding career.

“First I joined the North Kiteboarding Team, which I’m really stoked about. Then I decided to take part in the PKRA events, unfortunately I wasn’t able to follow all the stops, but I did Morocco, France, Germany and I will go to China for the next one. I’m currently 6th overall in the freestyle ranking, and very HAPPY! More travels, more competitions, more tricks… I had an awesome year! This week-end I’m taking part to the French championships, then I’m flying to China and the Philippines and then… We’ll see! To be continued!!!!”

Clémentine says she thinks the MIGK competition gave her the motivation to follow her dreams and believe in herself! Well done girl, keep at it!

So if the awesome prizes aren’t enough to get you excited about taking part in this year’s competition, then hopefully the above success stories will do the trick. To enter yourself or someone else, just head over to the competition page and fill in the short entry form. It will take less than 1 minute. Remember, the more inspiring nominations you get, the greater your chances of making the finals so be sure to tell your friends and fans.

How you can Help

Even if you don’t have anyone to nominate, you can still help us make a difference in kitesurfing by spreading the word throughout your network. Share the competition page on Facebook, Twitter, your website / blog, or any other social network you engage in, and help us promote girls in kitesurfing, and kitesurfing to girls…

We appreciate your support.

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

Last Call for MIGK 2012 Nominations was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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3. Get Your Vote On: Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012!

A 40 km long man-made lake filled each year with shimmering turquoise glacial meltwater (which is actually much warmer than you’d think!). This place is also home to the most reliable wind we’ve ever seen. You can practically set your watch by it. The wind enters at 10:30, and by 1 or 2 o’clock it’s blowing a perfect force 4 or 5, every day when the sun shines, and between the months of June and September the sun shines pretty much every day.

On most days you’ll be riding a 9 or 12m kite. When the mistral blows it’s more likely you’ll be on a 7 or 9. Whatever the wind, you are guaranteed flat water and some of the most incredible scenery you’ll ever have kitesurfed in.

You might think locations such as this would be packed with kitesurfers and windsurfers. However it is a fairly technical spot in that the beaches are quite small and launching and landing can be tricky. While this can be a pain at times it also means that this spot hasn’t been swamped by the kitesurfing hordes. It is very easy to find huge areas of open water all to yourself.

Kite Spots

The main Kite beach is located at Plage Les Eaux Douces (Sweet Water Beach), next to the village of Savines. The launch spot itself is a patch of grass around 300m long. The beach is located just at the point where the lake bottlenecks and so the wind tends to be a little stronger here. Once you get off the beach head up or down wind and you’ll have as much flat water and space as you’d ever need. There is also a kite centre (which will hire kit if needed), a bar on the beach itself and toilets are 200m away.

A few things to be aware of here; the bank of the lake just down from the launch spot is rocky and wooded…make sure you can stay upwind as if you drift downwind here getting back can be difficult. There are several other landing spots further down the beach but you’ll have quite a walk.

Tips

Winds are generally cross/cross on shore at all times on all the different beaches, which makes actually getting out very easy. However the mountains often drop straight into the lake which means shore lines can be rocky and often steep sided. As a result this is not a beginners spot. The only school that actually teaches beginners here takes them far offshore in a boat before letting them in the water.

If you can stay upwind it’s perfect, the water is flat and there’s plenty of room for everyone. You can also explore most of the lake from here, so you’ll usually find a space all to yourself.

There are several other spots around the lake that you can kitesurf from, some better than others but we’ll leave these for you to discover, or alternatively join Tantrum Kitesurf on one of their Total Immersion Kitesurfing Camps and let them do all the hard work for you!

Accommodation is available in a wide variety of different formats. For the more adventurous amongst you, camping is very popular in this area and there are loads of campsites. In general the facilities are good and there are several campsites located right on the edge of the lake – literally allowing you to kite surf off your doorstep. For those of you who prefer your creature comforts, there are several hotels and hostels in town ranging from budget to expensive.

Wherever you stay the cuisine here is finest French with an Italian twist and the results are spectacular. The upside of course is that having kitesurfed all day you can quite happily gorge yourself in the evenings without fear of expanding your belt size!

Other Activities

Probably the greatest appeal of this location is the other activities available. If you have the energy, the calm mornings provide the perfect opportunity to indulge in some of the other extreme sports this spot has to offer. Wakeboarding, climbing, downhill mountain biking, paragliding, skydiving, white water rafting, kayaking, gorge walking, wild mountainside camping under the stars, via ferrata, even mountain biking on the glacier at Deux Alpes (which has to be seen to be believed). If it’s an extreme sport you’re after, you can probably do it here.

Embrun Town

The town of Embrun itself is a beautiful little medieval town nestled on the side of a cliff overlooking the River Durance. Whilst not the liveliest of places in the evening, it does bustle during the day with markets, concerts and street shows. If you have the energy, there are some clubs around the town, but a better option is to head up a mountain and camp out under the stars around a fire, cooking up some of your favourite treats while sharing a beer or two.

Getting There

However you arrive here, you are probably best off renting a car. The easiest airport to fly into is probably Turin, about 2 hours stunning drive away over the mountain passes of the French/Italian border. However failing that, Marseille, Grenoble or Lyon are all options, with around a 2/3 hour drive.

Win a Kitesurfing Holiday

Ladies, how would you like to win a 7 day all inclusive kitesurfing vacation for 2 at Lac de Serre Poncon? Well thanks to Tantrum Kitesurf, you can! All you have to do is nominate yourself, and get your friends to nominate you for the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012”. Nominations close on November 1st. See the competition page for details.

And guys, you can win too, just make sure you are the winner’s +1…

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

Embrun & Kitesurfing Lac de Serre Poncon was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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We will be updating this article with the latest competition results and news from Achill Island 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 action packed kitesurfing event.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Watch the Live Broadcast

This 3rd stop on the KSP World Tour will incorporate a unique mobile format, capable of showcasing each day’s action at the choicest of locations on the country’s wild and swell-abundant west coast.

The competitors and contest officials are based at Pure Magic Lodge on Achill Island in the county of Mayo. From here, a number of prime wave spots are within close reach, enabling the riders to experience the real power behind the heavy swell of the frigid Atlantic waters.

Day 1 (19 October)

Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Update 1

The Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Ireland was called off for the day due to small waves and light wind.

“The forecast was not looking great for wind or waves today,” said Brad Price, Head Judge for the KSP world championship tour. “We are working closely with our dedicated team of locals and monitoring the forecast charts carefully. Conditions are looking very promising at the moment for a possible start tomorrow afternoon or Sunday.”

Video: Day 1 Highlights

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

Aer Lingus Kitesurf Pro Men’s Round 1 Match-ups

• Heat 1: Patri McLaughlin (HI, North), Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD), Ryan Coote (IRL)
• Heat 2: Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One), Juan Pablo Diban (CHI), Jakop Appel (DEN)
• Heat 3: Mauricio Pedreira (BRA), Lee Harvey (GBR, North), Pedro Henrique (BRA, Best)
• Heat 4: Guilly Brandao (BRA), Gonzalo Gomes (POR), Keith McGeown (IRL)
• Heat 5: Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA), Matchu Almeida (CPV, North), Cameron Biehl (USA)
• Heat 6: Filippe Ferreira (BRA), Bastien Bollard (FRA), Mark Moore (CAN)
• Heat 7: Sky Solbach (USA, North), Etienne Lhote (FRA, F-One), Abel Lago (ESP, RRD),
• Heat 8: Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North), Keahi De Aboitiz, (AUS, Cabrinha), Mark Barry (IRL)

Aer Lingus Kitesurf Pro Women’s Round 1 Match-ups

• Heat 1: Ninja Bichler (GER, North), Suzanne Kuiper (NED, F-One), Celina Guardati (ARG)
• Heat 2: Ines Correia (POR, RRD), Melissa Gil (USA, Cabrinha), Jade O’Connor (IRL)
• Heat 3: Kirsty Jones (GBR, North), Kristin Boese (GER, Best), Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone)
• Heat 4: Milla Ferreira (BRA), Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish), Lilian Malschaert (NED)

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 2 (20 October)

Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Update 2

Wind and swell maps are forecasting a potentially ideal scenario of strong winds and large surf starting early Sunday morning, day 3 of the 10 day holding period of the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Ireland.

“Local riders like Ryan Coote are saying that this is exactly the type of forecast they normally look for,” said KSP live stream commentator Ben Meyer. “We anticipate starting the contest as early as possible tomorrow to take advantage of the expected conditions.”

A small expression session was held for local media and the public at Keel Beach, Achill Island’s most popular kite spot, to get a glimpse of what can be expected when the main competition begins. On the men’s side, Matchu Almeida Lopez (CPV, North) took the win with a big un-hooked full rotation 360 over Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha) and Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North). Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone) beat fellow female competitors Milla Ferreira (BRA) and Lilian Malschaert (NED) with a big strapless air to secure first place.

Check out the Photos from Day 1 & 2.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 3 (21 October)

Brazilians Dominate Men’s Round 1 of the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro!

Day 3 of the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro’s 10 day holding period was graced by solid 4 foot surf, sunshine and moderate wind. The Brazilian riders dominated the action today, as contest directors finished the first 7 heats of men’s round 1.

“This is some of the best that Ireland has to offer”, said local contest organizer Eoin O’Connell. “The waves are pumping, the sun is out and we’re really happy to be able to share it with the best riders in the world.”

Standouts today included Brazilian riders Sebastian Ribeiro, Guilly Brandao and Felippe Ferreira who all scored 14 plus point heat score totals. Brandao, who was on-fire today, not only scored the highest single wave, but also the highest heat total of the event so far of 15.9 with his vertical back hand attack in the clean side-offshore wind conditions.

The opening heat of the day saw a highly anticipated rematch of the semi-finals of the second stop of the KSP World Tour in Mauritius between Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD) and current KSP points leader Patri McLaughlin (HI, North). The young South African took down the tour leader to secure a spot in the 4th round of the event. Mitu Montiero (CPV, F-One) dominated the second heat of the day and yet again established himself as one of the riders to beat on tour this year.

The Brazilian rampage through the first round began in heat 3, which saw Ribeiro, Brandao, Ferreira as well as Pedro Henrique (BRA, Best) take home a Round 1 victory, ensuring a strong presence from Brazil in the later rounds of the event.

Wind speeds were unreliable in the afternoon, resulting in delays and heat postponements. Etienne Lhote (FRA, F-One) took home the victory in the final seconds of heat number 7 to end the day.

Video: Day 3 Highlights

Check out the Photos from Day 3.

Aer Lingus Kitesurf Pro Men’s Round 1 Match-ups

• Heat 8: Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North), Keahi De Aboitiz, (AUS, Cabrinha), Mark Barry (IRL)

Aer Lingus Kitesurf Pro Women’s Round 1 Match-ups

• Heat 1: Ninja Bichler (GER, North), Suzanne Kuiper (NED, F-One), Celina Guardati (ARG)
• Heat 2: Ines Correia (POR, RRD), Melissa Gil (USA, Cabrinha), Jade O’Connor (IRL)
• Heat 3: Kirsty Jones (GBR, North), Kristin Boese (GER, Best), Kari Schibevaag (NOR, Ozone)
• Heat 4: Milla Ferreira (BRA), Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish), Lilian Malschaert (NED

Tune in to the live broadcast for the riders meeting at 10:00am Ireland time tomorrow.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 4 (22 October)

Lay Day on Day 4 of the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro

Due to decreasing swell, Day 4 of the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro was called off today following a 3 hour holding pattern in the hopes that conditions would become contestable.

“The forecast called for declining swell throughout the day, but we wanted to be on site and ready to roll if and when the conditions became contestable,” said KSP Head Judge Brad Price. “Unfortunately the wind only lasted for a brief period and the swell declined even quicker than anticipated.”

Forecast models and local experts suggest that conditions will improve as the week goes on and that the competition should be able to resume in the coming days.

Check out the Photos from Day 4.

As soon as the competition resumes again, we’ll see Australian phenom Keahi De Aboitiz (Cabrinha) do battle against reigning world champion Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North) and local wildcard Mark Barry (IRL).

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 5 (23 October)

Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Update 5

Another lay day was called today at the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro due to the lack of contestable conditions.

“We are looking at improving conditions over the next couple of days and a potentially big swell towards the end of the holding period,” said KSP Tour Manager Kristin Boese. “Hopefully we can get a lot of heats done this week and hold the finals in the best conditions over the weekend.”

Video: Day 5 Highlights

Tune in to the live broadcast for the riders meeting at 10:00am Ireland time tomorrow.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 6 (24 October)

Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Update 6

Another lay day was called today at the Are Lingus Kite Surf Pro. However, the forecast is looking good for the days ahead and into the weekend.

“The wind returned today after a few days of light breeze”, said contest director Mark Wardt. “We’re closely watching the forecast for anywhere within driving distance and are confident we will be in the right place when conditions allow us to continue the event.”

The wave heights and wind speeds are expected to increase from tomorrow and continue to build through to the end of the ten day holding period. Event organizers and competitors are optimistic they will be able to complete the early rounds in the coming days and finish the finals in what looks to be classic Irish conditions this weekend.

Tune in to the live broadcast for the riders meeting and the morning show at 10:00am Ireland time tomorrow.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 7 (25 October)

Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Update 7

Another official lay day was declared today by contest organizers at the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro. Competitors and organizers remain optimistic for the recommencement of competition tomorrow.

“The wind is back and the weather is absolutely gorgeous today”, said KSP Tour Manager Kristin Boese. “Now we are looking for that wind swell to build up to allow us to hopefully get underway tomorrow and set ourselves up for a great finish in the bigger ground swell expected this weekend.”

KSP Competitors took advantage of the beautiful autumn weather today on and around the mobile event’s home base of Achill Island by hiking and sampling some of the flat-water kiteboarding locations on offer. Contest directors will evaluate conditions at dawn tomorrow to determine a possible competition venue for the day.

Tune in to the live broadcast for the morning show at 10:00am Ireland time tomorrow.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 8 (26 October)

Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Update 8

Today saw the 5th consecutive lay day for the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro due to small surf. A decent forecast for the weekend promises a strong finish though.

“The swell was really small in the morning, but we waited to see if the wind swell would fill in to the afternoon,” KSP head judge Brad Price said. “Saturday afternoon and Sunday, the final two days of the holding period, are still looking like our best option to finish the event.”

Tune in to the live broadcast for the morning show at 10:00am Ireland time tomorrow.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 9 (27 October)

Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Update 9

Heading into the final day of the holding period, KSP contest directors anticipate an early start tomorrow. The world’s top kitesurfers look forward to an action packed final day in strong wind, stormy surf and cold, rainy weather.

“The wind hasn’t really been an issue for us over the past week, but the waves have just been too small to be contestable”, said local organizer Kieran Sammon of Freeride Ireland. “But that’s all going to change tomorrow as this swell approaches. It will be interesting to see how the weather affects the surf conditions, but we’re hoping to get a full day of action and crown the champions tomorrow night.”

Tune in to the live broadcast for the morning show at 10:00am Ireland time tomorrow.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10: Finals & Results

Day 10 (28 October)

Full Day of Action at Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro Finals

The final day of the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro got underway before daybreak when the 6am call was made to move the mobile event to an alternate location north of Achill Island. Overhead surf and 30 plus knot winds with intermittent rainsqualls marked the early morning heats.

Men’s round 2 and 3 standouts included Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS,Cabrinha), who threw some of the biggest airs of the entire competition and Matchu Almeida (CPV, North) who cruised through his early round heats with fluid style. On the women’s side Kirsty Jones (GBR, North) and Milla Ferreira (BRA) battled through the middle rounds, eventually meeting in the 3rd place final with Ferreira taking the podium position.

The women’s final saw reigning KSP world champion Ines Correia (POR, RRD) come up against tour rookie and in-form rider of the event Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish). However, deteriorating conditions in the late afternoon prevented the final from being completed, forcing Correia and Langeree to share the event title and world ranking points.

Fading conditions halted the men’s competition at round 5, just one heat after attaining an official result for the men’s ladder. When asked about the erratic conditions on offer today, KSP tour rider and current world number 3 Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) said, ”The conditions were super hard out there, but we are here to compete and do our best even if it’s not the perfect dream conditions.”

The remaining 12 men still left in the competition will split equal points in the already hotly contested KSP world title race heading into the 4th and final stop of 2012 in Maui, HI next month.

Video: Day 10 Highlights & Wrap-up

Check out the Photos from Day 10.

Final Mens Results for the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro

Men’s Equal 1st

• Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA)
• Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North)
• Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD)
• Keahi De Aboitiz (AUS, Cabrinha)
• Guilly Brandao (BRA)
• Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA)
• Pedro Henrique (BRA, Best)
• Filippe Ferreira (BRA, F-One)
• Etienne Lhote (FRA, F-One)
• Mitu Monteiro (CPV, F-One)
• Mauricio Pedreira (BRA)
• Matchu Almeida Lopez (CPV, North)
• Patri McLaughlin (HI, North)

Final Woman’s Results for the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro

• 1st place Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish)
• 1st place Ines Correia (POR, RRD)
• 3rd place Milla Ferreira (BRA, F-One)
• 4th place Kirsty Jones (GBR, North)

Don’t miss our coverage of the KSP World Championship Tour Finals at Ho’okipa Beach in Maui, Hawaii from Nov. 29 – Dec. 8.

Aer Lingus Pro Live Web Broadcast

The Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro 2012 is organized by Freeride Ireland, and sponsored by Aer Lingus, ION Essentials, Pure Magic, Hertz, Achill Tourism, Cully & Sully, IKSA, Leader, NDP, EAFRD, SW Mayo Development, DECLG, The Strand Hotel and the Teach Cruachan B&B.

If you’re lucky enough to be on Achill Island at the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro, or if you’ve been following the action via the live broadcast, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below… What do you think of the event so far and who do you think is going to dominate?

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

KSP Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro 2012 Results was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro 2012 Results
2. KSP Ho’okipa Kite Surf Pro Hawaii 2012 Results
3. KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro Gearing Up for 2012 Start

Blessed with powder-fine, sandy beaches, deserted sand dunes and azure blue waters, some of which you can have all to yourself and your buddies, the Cape Verde islands are a hidden gem for kitesurfers who are eager to book a holiday in the sun and escape from the more congested kitesurfing destinations.

Think of the 10 emerald islets which make up the Cape Verde archipelago as the Canaries, or some of the island paradises in the Caribbean long before mass tourism and over-development of these popular destinations set in. Cape Verde is still relatively unspoilt, ruggedly charming and most of all, still quite cheap. So a few days in Cape Verde should definitely be on your list of destinations to visit during the winter holidays, as this is a place where you can get your fill of sun, sea and surf almost all year round. The various islands which comprise this gem off the West African coast, offer the intrepid kitesurfer a glimpse at different vistas and spectacular views, from its many beautiful beaches, quaint and rustic towns with cobbled streets, windswept sand dunes, lush tropical greenery, secluded coves, along with a few volcanoes thrown in for good measure… oh, and did we mention the pristine kitesurfing conditions?

Kitesurfers at all levels will be pleased to hear that Cape Verde has pleasant year-round weather, perfect for multi-spot offerings where you can kitesurf to your heart’s content. Kiters who have been fortunate enough to visit Cape Verde will tell you that the waves here are fantastic, and the wind is constant, even during the so-called ‘rainy season’ which runs from August to October. Temperatures during the summer months from May-November range from a sunny 29°C and can reach a moderate 19°C at night-time. Factors such as these and Cape Verde’s reputation as a hidden paradise were what initially convinced the organizers to decide that Cape Verde would play host to the Professional Windsurfers World Cup Competition (PWA) which was held there in February 2007.

More recently however, Cape Verde appeared on the radar of kitesurfers around the world, when the KSP chose Ponta Preta, Cape Verde as the final stop on the 2011 KSP World Pro Tour. This says a lot for Cape Verde as a great wave riding destination, considering the KSP’s incredibly high standards for wave and wind quality and consistency.

KSP Ponta Preta Video

We simply can’t describe Cape Verde better than Phillippe, a local entrepreneur does at 0:44 in the video below, so take a look…

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

Getting There & Accommodation

Booking flights and accommodation in Cape Verde can be done relatively easily through a reputable online tour operator like Thomson.

The 4 most important islands which should be at the top of your itinerary in Cape Verde should include Sal Island, Boa Vista, Santiago and Fogo. And if you’re looking for great wave riding, then add Ponta Preta to the mix.

Sal Island

Sal is home to the Surf Zone, which is easily Cabo Verde’s largest kite and windsurfing school, and has built a good reputation for the safety and quality of its classes, having been in operation for the last 11 years. Sal Island boasts some of the best waves, comparable with other more well-known surfing destinations. Both beginners and advanced kitesurfers will find something that will catch their fancy in Sal.

Boa Vista

Boa Vista is generally less developed when it comes to tourism facilities and infrastructure compared to Sal, but the island also has some of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago. Kitesurfing and windsurfing here is also first class, with waves that often range from being calm and flat to rolling big waves and breakers, which even advanced riders will find quite challenging.

Santiago

Santiago also has great beaches, but is better known for the diversity of its landscapes which include lush valleys, volcanic rocks and a few secluded and barren landscapes, which may appeal to your adventurer within. If you fancy a bit of hiking and exploration, you’ll surely love Santiago.

Fogo

Lastly, Fogo is where you’ll find one of the most popular attractions in Cape Verde; the volcano and its verdant crater where aromatic coffee is grown around its slopes, and vineyards are cultivated on the inside of the volcanic crater, the grapes from which the famous Fogo wine is produced. Tourists are enjoined to take a scenic trek up the crater to enjoy the magnificent views of the island and its neighbours afforded you at the top. You may also opt to have lunch at the restaurant right at the top of the crater.

These are just some of the reasons why you should visit the wild and unspoilt hideaway that is the Cape Verde islands. If you are looking to book a kitesurfing holiday in the sun, or you need to escape the chilly winters of Europe, then spend your day’s kitesurfing in a secluded island paradise on the cheap and visit Cape Verde today!

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Cape Verde Kitesurf Spot Guide was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. The Grenadines Kite Spot Guide: An Untouched Bliss
2. Kite Spot Guide: Rodrigues Island
3. KSP World Tour: Ponta Preta Kitesurf Pro Results

Kari Schibevaag | 2011 MIGK Winner

Update
Congratulations to Hannah Whiteley, winner of the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012” and Cynthia Brown, our ”iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”!

Following the huge success of last year’s inaugural competition, we are pulling out all the stops this year to ensure we reach even deeper into the kiteboarding community and general public.

So what’s different this year? Well for one, our prizes (which we think you’re going to love btw), but more about that later… plus there’s a twist…

But Why?

For those who didn’t follow last year’s MIGK competition, you might be wondering why we are doing this.

Well first and foremost, we designed this competition to promote kitesurfing to woman. We find that far too many woman are under the false impression that kitesurfing or kiteboarding is too difficult, or worse yet, too dangerous for them to try. So by showcasing ladies from all walks of life, size and age excelling at kitesurfing, we hope to inspire more girls to get involved in our sport.

At the same time though, we know there are so many girls out there already doing really awesome things for kitesurfing and/or their community, so we hope to give these girls some well deserved exposure and recognition for all their hard work and achievements.

You can also read Jessica’s inspiring story.

The Twist

To make it fairer, and to ensure anyone has a chance of winning, we’ve got two BIG first prizes! One for the “Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer” and one for a new title we are introducing called the “iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year”. The winner of this title will be chosen from the top ten finalists by the inMotion Kitesurfing team and our partners.

Who Can Enter?

Any female kitesurfers over the age of 16 can enter this competition. You don’t have to be a pro kitesurfer, or even a good kitesurfer for that matter. You just need to be passionate about kiteboarding and doing something extraordinary, such as excelling at competitions, helping your community or the environment, or helping others get into our sport safely.

How to Enter

It’s simple really… just nominate yourself or someone you think deserves recognition for their work by submitting this short entry form.

The ten girls with the most nominations and most inspiring stories will enter into the finals, where the public will vote for the winner.

The nomination round closes on 1 November 2012 at 23:00pm GMT. The top 10 nominees will be announced on 13 November 2012, and voting will run from 13 to 27 November 2012 at 12:00pm GMT. The winners will be announced on 27 November 2012.

Prizes

Now for the exciting bit… and as promised earlier, we’ve got awesome prizes, including two all inclusive kitesurfing holiday packages generously sponsored by Tantrum Kitesurf and Kite Beach Yucatan! And in case that isn’t enough, KiteGirl Magazine has generously provided us with very cool first, second and third place prizes, and Beach Girl Body Goods has very nice beach goodies for second and third place.

1st Place (Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer)

A 7 day Kitesurfing Vacation in the French Alps

6 nights / 7 days total immersion kitesurfing camp, courtesy of Tantrum Kitesurf. Set on the Lac de Serre Poncon, nestled in the peaks of the French High Alps, this kitesurfing camp will be an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

With glass flat water in the mornings…which of course we take full advantage of, wakeboarding behind one of our Mastercraft ski boats, the wind picks up around 10:30 and by 1 is blowing a prefect force 4/5. Flat, open water and acres of space allow you all the freedom you could possibly want…and just in case that’s not enough for you, we throw in some extra goodies like white water rafting, mountainside BBQ’s and the legendary Via Ferrata as well.

Includes:

• Accommodation (in tents…nice big ones!)
• Breakfast and lunch every day
• 3 days of wakeboarding
• White Water Rafting
• Via Ferrata
• BBQ’s at 2000m
• As much kitesurfing as you can handle

Find out more about this fantastic package by Tantrum Kitesurf here.

Feature on the cover of March 2013 KiteGirl Magazine

Green KiteGirl ‘Pray For Wind‘ Hoodie

6 Issue Subscription to KiteGirl Magazine

1st Place (iMK Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year)

7 Day Kitesurfing Vacation in Mexico

Our Inspirational Kitesurfer of the Year, chosen from the top 10 finalists by the iMK team, will win a 6 night / 7 day all inclusive kite vacation in the beautiful Yucatan in Mexico, courtesy of Kite Beach Yucatan.

You will be staying in an ocean front room in the Kite Beach Yucatan villa where you can kite right off the patio! With wind nearly all year round, you will have the time of your life. Their private New York chef will pamper you with delicious healthy meals to keep you riding all day long.

Find out more about this fantastic package by Kite Beach Yucatan here.

2nd Place

• A Pink KiteGirl ‘Pray For Wind’ T-Shirt
• 6 Issue Subscription to KiteGirl Magazine
• An Eco friendly Beach Tote courtesy of Beach Girl Body Goods

3rd Place

• 6 Issue Subscription to KiteGirl Magazine
• An Eco friendly Beach Tote courtesy of Beach Girl Body Goods

Find out more about Beach Girl Body Goods’ stylish, eco friendly beach wear and water sports apparel here.

Not too shabby hey? So what are you waiting for? Head on over to the competition page and nominate yourself!

And remember; only the ten girls with the highest number of inspiring nominations will make it to the finals, so share this with your friends, family and fans and tell them to nominate you.

Sponsors

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors, without whom this competition wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for supporting our campaign to promote woman in kiteboarding!

Good luck!

The inMotion Kitesurfing Team

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012 Launch was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2011 Launch
2. Get Your Vote On: Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer 2012!
3. Most Influential Girl Kitesurfer: Last Chance to Nominate

I’m not sure if this category already exists, and I’m pretty sure it will never be in the Olympics, but it does seem to be the best way to describe the trip we just finished, kiting 420 km from Ponta do Ouro in Mozambique to Durban, South Africa.

The Unlimited Kitesurfing Expedition

When Zack and I began hatching the plan, we decided early on that the objective of the trip was primarily to have an adventure, and have fun. This pretty much became our guiding philosophy for the trip and allowed us to really enjoy the journey. Record breaking was never part of the plan, but taking in some of the most beautiful coastline on the African continent, and spending time doing something we love, always was.

We are incredibly lucky as kitesurfers to live where we do; warm water, great waves, and most importantly, very few restrictions. There is no way you could try something like this in Spain, where kiting is all but banned on most beaches. The fact that a trip like this had never been done before and most of the coastline had never been kited, did hold a lot of appeal for us, and luckily for our sponsors as well.

With relatively little organising, we got permission to cross the international border and kite through the spectacular Isimangaliso marine reserve, which is also a world heritage site. The reserve runs for about 200 km from the border with Mozambique to Cape St Lucia, and apart from the two stops at Sodwana and Cape Vidal, is pretty much uninhabited. This part of the coast is truly wild, with high dunes covered in beautiful lush bush. The coast is characterised by big sweeping bays with rocky points and sandy beaches. What’s more, the wind here is usually a consistent 18+ knots.

August is also a great time of year to be on the north coast, with the humpback whales moving north, breaching out of the water as they go. We got pretty close to a mother and calf who were just rolling about on the surface, but we didn’t want to get too close in case she decided to help us break the highest air record. This part of the ocean is full of life, and we saw lots of turtles, who don’t seem bothered by kitesurfers, and often had whole schools of flying fish soaring out of the water in front of and all around us.

In total we spent 6 days on the water, but due to wind issues, they were spread out over two weeks. It turns out August isn’t such a windy month after all. The first 2 days were awesome, wind wise. We took off in the beautiful bay of Ponta do Ouro, and rounded the point into the unknown with 18 knots, at our backs. And it just got better throughout the day. Five and a half hours later we were surfing the waves into Sodwana, 89 km down the coast. The next day was similar to start with and by the time we got into Cape Vidal, 70 km further south, it was gusting 38 knots. But no trip like this is as they say, “just plain sailing”, as that night a cold front came up from the South. So we got to put our feet up for a couple of days in the beautiful Cape Vidal nature reserve, and enjoy some of our sponsored Hansa beer. We also enjoyed fine food and wine prepared by our Dads who were our support crew, following us down the coast in a Land Rover. Cape Vidal is a very special place, with loads of game, including bush pig that were in our camp every night, and Zack even saw a leopard early one morning.

The cold front passed and we got back on the water aiming for Richards Bay. A real highlight of the day was stopping off for lunch at the Jolly Rabino, an old ship that ran aground on the beach just south of Cape St Lucia. The wreck is fairly inaccessible from the land and forms a nice point break. So we got to ride some nice waves on a very unique landmark. We were joined for lunch on the beach by Andrew G.I. and Clinton who pulled in on a jet ski to get some footage of our trip.

As we headed further South after lunch, the angle of the coastline started to change and the wind got very inconsistent, becoming a cross off shore, and very bumpy as it came off the dunes. In the space of under 2 hours it went from gusting 35 knots to nothing. We ended up coming in 20 km short of our goal, with my kite falling out the sky in some seriously pitchy and bitching surf. I took a few solid waves on the head and was getting seriously zapped by the Shark Shield on my board (more on that later), so I jettisoned my board and kite and started a heavy swim in. I got seriously worked again by the shore break and eventually got spat up on the beach, only to discover that my board had ended up going through my kite in the shore break…

From here on it became seriously challenging, with the wind just not coming to the party. We had to really start hunting for the wind, and often ended up going very far out to sea trying to stay in clean wind. We must have been well over 3 km offshore at times. I worked out that often the wind seemed to work in narrow bands, almost like an invisible street, with little or no wind on either side. Often I would get stuck in a lull and end up drifting downwind in the lull, struggling to stay on the plain. The trick seems to be to recognise when you are in a bit of lousy air and get out of it. When doing this kind of kiting in light winds, you have to use your imagination and try to visualise what the wind is doing. Luckily I have quite a bit of experience flying hang gliders, which helped with trying to understand what the wind was doing.

We had a few hard days of kiting without covering much distance and ended up getting stuck in Mtunzini for over a week. Highlights included seeing a massive shark fin while my ass was bobbing in the water about a km and a half out to sea. I was very grateful for my shark shield then, and the occasional electrical shocks became more of a reassuring comfort.

The week off in Mtunzini gave us a chance to rest up and explore the area, as well as Iain’s wine collection. We also got a chance to meet some of the locals, who kindly showed us what serious drinking is all about. Our bodies were taking a bit of a beating. Zack’s knee was poked, my ankle was creaking, and both our livers had shrivelled up in fear. After a week in Mtunzini, and a couple of botched attempts to get out of there, the wind finally gave us a bit of a break. So in the interests of avoiding alcohol poisoning, we snivelled out on marginal wind, and managed to get 20 km further down the coast. The wind completely died again and I ended up having another long swim in to Amatikulu. Once again the pulsing shock of my shark shield was a great comfort, despite the cursing and swearing every time I got zapped. After a good 15 min swim, I eventually managed to drag my sorry ass up the beach, where Zack gave me the news that our support vehicle had broken down. We managed to lump ourselves and our gear up the main road and were rewarded by an angel who took pity on us and bought us quarts of cold beer. So the afternoon was spent on the side of the road waiting for a recovery vehicle, getting hammered in the sun. So, as they say in classics, “‘all’s well that ends well.”

A couple of days later, we got another weather window, so with 110 km to go, we pumped up, swam our kites across the Amatikulu lagoon, and jumped in the sea with steady 17 kts at our backs. The ocean was beautiful, with smooth clean water, and we started making good progress, averaging about 27 km per hour. Crossing the Tugela River mouth was spectacular and the coastline started to change thereafter. The shore becomes quite rocky, with more towns and buildings as we headed south. We also had some nice little waves along the way, and were making good progress, so we stopped off for a break at Salt Rock where we were met by our parents and some family. The wind was still pumping and our spirits were high, so we popped a few pain killers and set our sights on home. We had awesome encounters with two big pods of dolphins, but they disappeared as we got really close, so it turns out they are not that keen on shark shields either.

As we passed Umhloti, with about 35 km to go, we were joined out on the water by a whole group of our kiting mates, which was really great. We were feeling super confident, and having a great time, really enjoying the last day of our epic adventure. Just as Durban came into to view, and we could almost taste the beer at the finish, the wind died again. Kites started falling out of the sky and Zack and most of our mates had a bit of a swim back to shore. Talk about frustration! We had less than 20 km to go and we were told that all our mates, family, and the press were waiting for us at the Dew Catcher where we had planned to finish. Luckily we managed to borrow a couple of 14 meter kites, and a late puff of wind came through, so we headed out again. The sun was going down as we crossed Durban Bay, and once again our spirits soared as it looked as if we might just make it. We rounded the piers without any problems, and saw a nice crowd on the beach in front of the Dew Catcher. I came in with Zack just behind me, to a great welcome from friends, family and dogs.

Needless to say, and in the true spirit of the trip we celebrated late into the night.

Our Gear & Equipment

Kites

We kited 90 % of the trip on the Ozone Reo 10 m kites, which were excellent.

Light bar pressure is a serious plus when doing long distances, and the turning speed and drift ability of the Reo is fantastic on the waves. The Reo also has a massive top end and our 10 handled + 30 knot winds with ease.

The only criticism is that there is not much bottom end for its size, but it more than makes it up in other areas.

Boards

We both had F-one, 6 ft boards, although mine is a few years old and quite heavy due to a previous repair. I think the extra weight actually helped in the choppy conditions, as the board tended to plough through the chop, whereas Zack felt the bumps a bit more, especially on his knees.

Shark Shields

Shark Shields were often, quite literally a pain in the ass. When sitting in the water, the tail can give you quite a shock if it touches you, but it’s well worth it for the peace of mind when in sharky waters, with no wind. The shock isn’t too bad, when the tail touches you, but it is fairly debilitating.

Clothing & Accessories

Gloves and booties are an absolute must. Short finger sailing gloves worked great, and thin booties are the way to go. We tried various types of booties but the thin diving types were by far the best.

20 litre karrimor back pack, with minimal padding, worked well. I had 2 camel packs, 2 litres for energy juice and 2-3 litres for water.

Tracking & Communication

We tried various tracking systems, so our support crew could keep track of us, but the best was the iPhone / iPad combo. I also recommend the life proof covers for the phones.

Our Uniden VHF radios were okay for coms between Zack and me, but were more or less useless for coms with our support crew. The cheap licence free radios would probably work just as well.

Emergency Repair Kit

We carried basic repair kits, including sail tape, duct tape, and spare fins. Luckily we didn’t need to repair any kites on the go, but we both lost fins. A small hand pump is also a good idea although we didn’t need it.

Watch the Video

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

Support

A special thanks to The Unlimited, who were our headline sponsor, and helped a lot with the logistics, and getting permission for us to cross the border. Thank you also to Sin from Kitesports Africa for supplying us with great kites and support, to Hansa who gave us a lot of free beer, and to Dew Water who kept us hydrated.

The absolute must have on a trip like this, is a great support crew! Massive thanks to both of our Dads, Peter and Iain, my Uncle Ian, and Alec, who were always positive and supportive, and ready with cold beers at the end of every day, and great food and fine wine every night. They embraced the philosophy of the trip with great gusto, and had an adventure and a lot of fun. And that, at the end of the day, was what it was all about…

If you have any questions about the expedition, or you are planning an expedition of your own and would like our input, please feel free to post them in the comments below. If you would like to republish this story, please contact the editor.

Written by

Ross Walters

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Then Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

An Epic African Kitesurfing Adventure was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. Robben Island Freedom Kitesurfing Mission
2. The Unlimited Kitesurfing Expedition
3. The Grenadines Kite Spot Guide: An Untouched Bliss

Hopefully you followed the action via the daily live broadcasts, but if you missed it, don’t worry, we have you covered. We’ve got all the daily updates from One Eye, a selection of the best images and videos from each of the 10 days, interviews with the riders and organizers, and the final results, all in one place, here. We’ve even included navigation so you can jump to specific days. If you haven’t seen it yet, head on over there now, and while you’re there, please share it with your friends if you like what we’ve done.

For those of you who want the short version, here’s a brief account of the event, and some of the highlights that stood out for us.

One Eye, Le Morne, Mauritius, delivered once more for the KSP tour in its second year of running, putting this amazing island reef break back on the lips of kiters around the world. Mauritius tourism officially got behind the event this time, welcoming the environmentally friendly sport of kitesurfing, which is in line with their marketing of the island nation.

This year it was not so much the spot that was the talk, but more the upsets that were delivered in the competition. The event kicked off in some wild conditions adding an extra edge to the already challenging reef, with the usual suspects making it through the early rounds.

Then Jalou Langeree went up against Ines Correia and Kirsty Jones to eventually make it to the final, but once again the local Ninja Bichler would be there to keep the tour riders on their toes. Patri Mclaughlin was up against Mitu Monteiro, with Patri being defeated only to make a comeback to win the event in a final against last year’s One Eye Pro winner and reigning KSP world champion, Airton Cozzolino.

Standout of the men’s was definitely young South African Luke McGillewie who would end up fourth overall. Luke defeated the legendary Mitu Montiero in a heat where Luke was nothing short of clinical in his contest approach, displaying some big impressive turns.

With only three heats to get through, the event was put on hold for better conditions, with the island being fully enjoyed to pass the time. As it turns out, Mauritius has a lot more to offer than just epic reef breaks, pristine white beaches and crystal clear waters… Sea Kart action was one such activity that gave the KSP riders a well deserved break from the challenging conditions One Eye had been dishing out on the first three days. Here’s the video.

The finals were held in perfect contest conditions with the winner in the men’s not being predictable until the last wave. The ladies final showed that the KSP is truly a surf contest where wave knowledge is paramount when Ninja kept her title by beating Jalou.

Finals Highlights Video

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

If anything was learnt from this year’s event it was that kite surfing good waves that break properly will be the one ingredient that will help prepare for a spot like One Eye, where for most part the wind has very little affect on the wave quality. Finding such places in your own backyard and not settling for slop is what’s needed to stay in the game, if not then just going out on windless days to get some paddle in training.

Mauritius is one of those magical paradise locations which is worth more than just a kite surf trip. It’s somewhere that you want to spend some good time, to soak it all in, re-evaluate and then make the necessary adjustments before you return to the mundane. Best practice, is to bring a bit of the island life home with you.

Stay tuned for our daily coverage of the next KSP World Tour event. Stop number 3, the Aer Lingus Kite Surf Pro will be playing off on the West Coast of Ireland. Here’s the tour schedule.

In closing, we have to commend the KSP and event organizers for pulling off a well organized competition and for adhering to the high competition standards they have set for the tour. We were also very impressed with the quality of the edited daily highlight videos. We highly recommend you watch these videos, which you can find by navigating to the end of each day here.

As always we’d love to hear your thoughts on the competition and the entire tour in the comments below.

Images courtesy of the KSP World Tour.

One Eye Mauritius Delivers and Surprises was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. KSP World Tour: Mauritius One Eye Pro
2. KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro Gearing Up for 2012 Start
3. KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro 2012 Results

With the influx of women has come new gear developed especially for women. The days of wearing flimsy bathing suits and riding large men’s kiteboards are gone. The companies below are dedicated to creating products for women that are functional and durable without loosing their quality of design.

Sensi Bikini’s

When you wipe out and find yourself body-dragging through the surf, you don’t want to have to make a split decision between rescuing your bikini top or your board. Enter Sensi Bikini’s by professional kiteboarder Sensi Graves. As a professional kiteboarder Graves’ knows how important it is to have a bikini that stays put. Her bikini line features multiple suits with cross backs. Unlike traditional “sport bikini’s,” that were more boxy than fun, Sensi Bikini’s come in bright colors and stylish cuts. These suits give you the confidence of coverage while remaining stylish so you still feel like a girl… even while you’re boosting higher than the guys.

Get it: www.sensibikinis.com

Freug’s Kiteboarding

Freug’s is the first brand of kiteboards that is 100% completely designed and developed for girls. Freug’s has developed a line of kiteboards specifically tailored to the female form. The days of boosting and losing your board mid jump are gone, as Freug’s has developed footpads and straps specifically designed for women’s smaller feet. Their boards feature just the right amount of girly details and colors without losing quality and function. Freug’s currently offers a range of three boards covering freestyle, light wind and freeride.

Get it: www.freugskiteboarding.com

Cabrinha Siren Collection by Susi Mai

Cabrinha has responded to the need for a high-performance top quality women’s kite. The new Siren switchblade designed by Cabrinha and Susi Mai is modeled for a smaller framed body. Finally there is a more feminine kite on the market, with splashy fun colors of turquoise and pink. The Siren features lighter bar pressure and quicker turning speed, but possibly the most exciting aspect of this kite is the extended trim adjusters. Adjusting your kite is now much easier as the bar has been tailored to women’s smaller frame.

Get it: Cabrinha Siren Collection

Seea Rashguards

Sometimes you want a little extra coverage from the sun’s rays or chilly morning water. The majority of rash guards on the market are boxy and covered with logos. Seea’s rash guards are hand crafted in California by designer and surfer Amanda Chinchelli. These rash guards are cut to flatter the female form yet remain comfortable and functional. They are designed longer so they perfectly cover your torso therefore avoiding dreaded harness rash.

Get it: www.theseea.com

Mystic Shadow Bruna Kajiya Waist Harness

Designed by Mystic and Female World Freestyle Champion Bruna Kajiya the Shadow waist harness has a slimmer profile for smaller riders. Super flexible and light, it features a soft inner lining and a softer outline on the back. Modeled perfectly for the female form this harness features additional padding on the inside hip area.

Get it: Mystic Shadow Waist Harness

Kiteable Tees

As a female kiteboarder I noticed a lack of shirts on the market that feature a female rider, thus Kiteable Tees was born.

I have created the first shirt on the market showing a female kiter in action ripping it up among waves and exotic hibiscus flowers. Wearing this tee keeps you feeling more than stoked when you’re off the water.

I choose only the softest materials and use the least toxic inks.

I’ve designed shirts for men and women so that when you’re off the waves and out on the town, kiteboarding is never far from your thoughts.

Get it: www.kiteabletees.com

When you spend your days on the water it’s important to have gear that you feel comfortable wearing and confident using. These companies are dedicated to creating equipment that helps the female perform at her highest. Whether it’s bikini’s that stay put in the surf, kite gear that’s easy to maneuver, or tee’s to rock when you’re off the water, women’s kiting has finally made its mark.

Written by

Gillian Ellis

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

Gillian is a kiteboarder from Charleston, SC who works full-time as a wedding and children’s photographer and also runs a line of kiteboarding t-shirts called Kiteable Tee’s. She is most passionate about promoting women in kiteboarding and organizes kiteboarding events with the Air Club for Girls. When not photographing or designing tee’s you can catch her ripping up waves on a SUP or kiting local flat-water spots.

Kite Gear for Girls: The Evolution of Pink was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro 2012 Results
2. Kite Designs: Types of Kitesurfing Kites Simplified
3. Using Kite Momentum for Wave Riding

We will be updating this article with the latest competition results and news from One Eye 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 action packed kitesurfing event.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Watch the Live Broadcast

Day 1 (7 September)

One Eye Kite Surf Pro Update 1

As expected, day one of the 2012 One Eye Kite Surf Pro started off with a bang today in solid surf, blustery weather and strong winds in excess of thirty knots. Round one of the men’s and women’s elimination were completed during the full day of competition.

At the 10am riders meeting, the call was made to get the competition underway, which saw competitors nervously pumping their smallest kites in the near extreme wind and wave conditions. Intermittent rain, gusty wind and unpredictable set waves made for an exciting day of competition. During the live stream broadcast, Patri Mclaughlin (North, HI) said:

“It’s pretty crazy out there, but I had one of the best sessions I’ve ever had at One Eye”.

Standouts on day one included the winner of last year’s One Eye Pro, Ninja Bichler (North, GER) and Mitu Monteiro (F-One, CPV), both scoring the highest heat scores of the day for men and women respectively. Bichler, a Mauritian resident, used her local knowledge of the break at One Eye to secure a 16-point heat score total, the highest of the event so far, with committed turns on the biggest set waves. On the men’s side, Monteiro demonstrated why he is a favourite at this event with flowing turns and a stylish repertoire of manoeuvres earning him the second highest heat score total of 15.66 on day one in his opening heat.

Check out the Photos of the Day.

Contest directors expect similar conditions tomorrow with a slight decrease in wave height. The first call of the day will be made at 10AM local time and the competition will resume shortly thereafter, weather permitting. Organizers and riders are looking forward to an action packed weekend with stellar conditions.

Video: Day 1 Highlights

If you are viewing this in an email or RSS reader, click here to watch the EPIC video. It will be worth it!

Tune in to the KSP Live Broadcast to watch all the action as it unfolds, brought to you by Emtel.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 2 (8 September)

One Eye Kite Surf Pro Update 2

Solid 4 to 6 foot surf (8′ to 12′ faces), strong wind and clearing skies… this is what riders were treated to on day 2 of the One Eye Kitesurf Pro. A total of 20 heats were completed in another action packed day that saw some incredibly narrow victories.

The highlight heat of the day on the men’s side came in heat 2 of round four, which pitted Patri Mclaughlin (USA, North) against Mitu Monteiro (F-One, CPV) against each other. Both riders laid it all on the line, holding nothing back as they pulled into the cleanest barrels of the event. Monteiro emerged the victor with the best barrel of the event thus far, earning him the single highest wave score of the entire competition so far, a 9.8 out of a possible 10.

The women’s competition saw some of the closest scoring heats in KSP history. Milla Ferreira (BRA) narrowly defeated Kari Schibevaag (Ozone, NOR) in their tight scoring round two heat, 12.17 to 12.1. Another close women’s heat came in round four with Jalou Langeree (Naish, NED) defeating reigning KSP World Champion Ines Correia (POR) by a mere 0.01 of a point.

Video: Day 2 WrapUp

Check out the Photos from Day 2.

Wave conditions are expected to hold strong through most of the day tomorrow and slowly decrease into the afternoon. With around 6 hours of heats remaining in the competition and a stellar swell on the horizon for next weekend, KSP officials will make the official call at 10AM tomorrow to continue running heats or to hold off in anticipation of bigger surf for the final rounds.

Tune in to the KSP Live Broadcast to watch all the action as it unfolds, brought to you by Emtel.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 3 (9 September)

One Eye Kitesurf Pro Update 3

We have our finalists!

The day got off to a rather uncertain start at the One Eye Pro, with overcast skies and all forecasts pointing towards a rapid decline in surf and failing winds. KSP officials assessed conditions and made the call to resume competition late in the morning, which resulted in an afternoon of unforgettable performances.

Round 5 of the men’s draw began with pumping overhead surf and cranking winds. On a day defined by upsets, the men’s bracket was shaken up in the quarterfinal when young gun Luke McGillewie (RSA) took out event favorite Mitu Montiero (F-One, CPV) in a hotly contested battle. In another quarter final matchup, Patri Mclaughlin (North, USA), pulling into seemingly un-makeable barrels, defeated Guilly Brandao (Best, BRA) to advance into the semi-finals and continue the upset trend.

Airton Cozzolino (North, ITA) took down Keahi De Aboittiz (AUS) and Sebastian Ribiero (Best, BRA) on his way to the men’s final and will face the white-hot Hawaiian rider Mclaughlin in the finals of the One Eye Kite Surf Pro World Championship Tour Event when competition resumes.

On the women’s side, round 5, the semi-finals, and the 3rd place final were all contested in some of the best conditions seen on tour this year. Though the men began the day’s heats charging, the women did not disappoint in some of the most committed riding of the day. The increasing swell and strong wind did not intimidate standouts Ninja Bichler (North, GER) and Jalou Langeree (Naish, NED) who soundly defeated Ines Correia (POR) and Kirsty Jones (North, GBR), respectively, in the women’s semi-finals. Bichler and Langeree will meet in the final as soon as conditions allow. Jones handily defeated Correia in the 3rd place final to secure her position on the podium.

Video: Day 3 Highlights

Check out the Photos from Day 3.

First call is at 10am tomorrow morning to continue the men’s and women’s finals to crown the champions of the 2012 One Eye Kite Surf Pro Mauritius, so tune in to the KSP Live Broadcast to watch all the action as it unfolds.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 4 (10 September)

One Eye Kitesurf Pro Update 4

The first lay day was called at the One Eye Kitesurf Pro today. However, the forecast is calling for increasing swell and winds later in the week.

“Today was projected to be declining surf and marginal wind during the waiting period and, as expected, the conditions are just not contestable,” Brad Price, KSP International Head Judge, said. “We still have 6 days remaining in the window, and the forecast calls for bigger surf and stronger winds during the week.”

When competition resumes, the men’s 3rd place final will get under way, featuring Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) versus young gun Luke McGillewie (RRD, RSA) for a coveted spot on the podium.

Next up will be the women’s final between Ninja Bichler (North, GER) and Jalou Langeree (Naish, NED) in a battle for first and second place.

The final heat of the 2012 One Eye Kite Surf Pro will feature upset king Patri McLaughlin (North, USA) against reigning KSP World Champion Airton Cozzolino (North, ITA) in the men’s final.

Check out the Photos from Day 4.

Event organizers will convene at 10am to assess conditions for a possible 10:30am start tomorrow. Tune in to the KSP Live Broadcast to watch all the action as it unfolds.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 5 (11 September)

One Eye Kitesurf Pro Update 5

Due to small waves and inconsistent sets, the One Eye Kitesurf Pro in Mauritius has been called off for the day.

“The swell is still taking a bit of a break out here at One Eye and so are the riders and event officials.” says Kristin Boese, tour manager and president of the KSP world championship tour. “We are not worried though and forecasts promise great conditions for the final three heats of the event as well as a couple of supersession’s that we are planning for later this week.”

Up first will be the men’s 3rd place final featuring Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) and Luke McGillewie (RRD, RSA), when competition resumes again.

Video: Mauritian Livestyle

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 10:00am to assess the conditions for a possible 10:30am start.

You’ll find video highlights from the One Eye Kite Surf Pro here.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 6 (12 September)

One Eye Kitesurf Pro Update 6

Another lay day was called today, but that didn’t stop the KSP riders from having a good time….

“There was no swell this morning,” Bruno DeWannemaker, KSP Contest Director, said. “But with the forecast for the next day’s being what it is we are simply holding off for another day and come back tomorrow to assess conditions.”

Video: Sea Kart Action with Fun Adventure Mauritius

Check out the Photos from Today.

The event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 10:00am to assess the conditions for a possible 10:30am start.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 7 (13 September)

One Eye Kitesurf Pro Update 7

Competition has been called off for the day primarily due to small waves and inconsistent sets at One Eye.

“The swell has yet to fill in today and we’ve called another lay day” Brad Price, KSP Head Judge, said. “Forecasts are showing a slight increase in size late today, which could see us resume the competition as early as tomorrow. We’ll be back tomorrow morning to assess the situation.”

When competition resumes, up first will be the men’s 3rd place final featuring Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) and Luke McGillewie (RRD, RSA).

Check out the Photos from Today.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 10:00am to assess the conditions for a possible 10:30am start.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 8 (14 September)

One Eye Kite Surf Pro Update 8

Contest officials have called the 5th and final lay day at the One Eye Kite Surf Pro this morning and expect competition to continue tomorrow.

The first 3 days of second stop on the KSP World Championship Tour saw the world’s top 24 male and top 12 female riders battle it out in 51 heats. Big swell and strong winds provided the perfect contest conditions and riders delivered incredible action highlighted by deep barrels and powerful, committed surfing.

After 5 days with small to medium size waves, the swell is predicted to increase overnight and the wind will continue to be strong, virtually guaranteeing that the final three heats of competition will be finished tomorrow. The remaining finals will be followed by a “Supersession” that will see all KSP riders out at One Eye once again.

Check out the Photos from Today.

When competition resumes, up first will be the men’s 3rd place final featuring Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) and Luke McGillewie (RRD, RSA).

First call will be made tomorrow at 10:00am with a first possible start at 10:30am start.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 9 (15 September)

One Eye Kite Surf Pro Finals & Results

The finals of the second leg of the 2012 KSP World Championship Tour came to a close today. Congratulations to Patri McLaughlin (HI/North ) and Ninja Bichler (GER/North), the overall winners of the KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro 2012!

Epic conditions graced day 9 of the One Eye Pro. The women’s final saw a repeat victory from local ripper Ninja Bichler (GER, North), dominating her home break. The men’s side saw underdog Patri McLaughlin (HI, North) take down reigning world champion Airton Cozzolino (ITA, North) nailing the only perfect 10 of the competition in the dying moments of the final.

In the marquee matchup of the day, the men’s final promised to be the best heat of the event and it did not disappoint. The powerful Cozzolino was pitted against the barrel-hunting McLaughlin in a final that saw several lead changes and some of the best tube rides of the event. McLaughlin got off to a great start with an opening wave score of 6.83 to Cozzolino’s 4.5. However, Cozzolino answered back with an 8.5 to give him the lead at the midpoint of the final.

McLaughlin’s never-say-die attitude finally paid off in the final moments of the heat with the event title on the line. Pulling into a seemingly un-makeable barrel, McLaughlin emerged claiming the first 10-point ride of the competition. Cozzolino scored a 7.5 late in the heat, but was unable to overtake McLaughlin for the title of the One Eye Kite Surf Pro.

“I’m so stoked right now I don’t even know what to say”, said the overwhelmed McLaughlin. “I got the biggest closeout barrel of my life in that final, and I am just so happy to be here.”

The men’s 3rd place final featured Luke McGillewie (RSA, RRD) against Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA) in a battle that saw the momentum of the young McGillewie finally stopped by the powerful, flowing backside riding of the on-fire Brazilian.

Livestream Recording: One Eye Kite Surf Pro – Day 3 / Part 2

On the women’s side, the much-anticipated battle between the local knowledge of Bichler and the hotshot riding of Jalou Langeree (NED, Naish) was a nail biter right down to the wire. In the end, Bichler’s superior wave selection proved to be the difference in a final that highlighted her relationship with the intricacies of the break at One Eye.

“I felt more pressure this year trying to defend my title, but I was able to catch some good waves and felt in tune with the ocean today. I am just so happy to win the event again here at my home spot in front of my local crew,” said Bichler.

Men’s Results

1. Patri McLaughlin (HI/North)
2. Airton Cozzolino (ITA/North)
3. Sebastian Ribeiro (BRA)
4. Luke McGillewie (RSA/RRD)

Woman’s Results

1. Ninja Bichler (GER/North)
2. Jalou Langeree (NED/Naish)
3. Kirsty Jones (GBR/North)
4. Ines Correia (POR/RRD)

Following the completion of the main event, the 6-heat Expression Session began in exceptional conditions. Mauricio Pedreira (BRA), Milla Ferreira (BRA), and local rider Max Bonieux (MRU) won top honors for best barrel rides in their respective categories.

Video: Day 9 Highlights!

Check out the Photos from Today.

Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9: Finals & Results | Day 10

Day 10 (16 September)

KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro WrapUp Video!

This brings us to the end of the ten day holding period at the 2012 KSP One Eye Kitesurf Pro in Mauritius, and our daily updates. If you missed any of the action, be sure to watch the highlight videos from each of the days above, and click on the player below to view the Live Broadcast archives on the KSP’s website.

If you have any feedback on the format of our coverage of the event, please leave a comment below.

One Eye Pro Live Web Broadcast

The KSP would like to thank the sponsors of the 2012 One Eye Kite Surf Pro; MTPA, St. Regis Hotel, Monster and North Kiteboarding as well as event partners Emtel, Ion, Adamas, Club Mistral, Le Gall, Enso, Afix, GoPro, Multibox, Habit, Silent Partners, Hydro Energy, St Aubin and media partners Radio One, L’ Express and Equipe.

If you are lucky enough to be in Mauritius at the One Eye Pro, or if you have been following the action via the live broadcast, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below… What do you think of the event so far and who do you think is going to win this second leg of the KSP world tour?

PS: If you enjoyed this article, help spread the word by clicking the “Like”, “Tweet”, “+1” buttons, or sharing it using the share icons below. Want to read more articles like this? Subscribe to iMK, and get our articles directly to your inbox or RSS reader.

KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro 2012 Results was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

Related posts:

1. KSP One Eye Kite Surf Pro Gearing Up for 2012 Start
2. KSP Pro Tour: Cascais Kite Surf Pro Countdown
3. KSP World Tour: Mauritius One Eye Pro Results

A multi-spot holiday offering pristine crystalline waters, lagoons and bays…

Kiteboarders can ride a different spot everyday!

Intermediate and advanced kitesurfers have the perfect playground to choose from in the Grenadines: flat protected waters, reef waves and downwinds that are etched into your memory forever. Gliding over turtles and manta rays in these waters is surely in the cards!

The Grenadines

The archipelago of the Grenadines is located in the south of the Caribbean, in the southern portion of the Windward Islands.

Within the 150 sq mile territory, the main island is St Vincent. In the lower 2/3 you’ll find the Grenadines, the smaller chain of islands stretching south from St Vincent to Grenada.

The Grenadines are comprised of over 32 islands and cays, 9 of which are inhabited. All are volcanic in origin, deeply embayed with inlets where clear aquamarine waters shallow up the finest sandy beaches.

Tobago Cays

Kitesurfing in the Grenadines

The trade winds blow from December/January to June, stronger winds generally between January and March. In the beginning of the season the wind direction is NE passing gradually to E as the season progresses.

Generally, the wind is stronger in the morning but it’s not unusual to have some weeks when it blows more then 25 knots, day and night.

The temperature is almost always about 30c, with a water temp that stays around 28c…making it a wetsuit free spot all year.

Kitesurfing Spots

Union Island

Union island´s mountainous outline greets visitors with a striking and picturesque array of green peaks and ridges. Clifton is a nice kite spot to stretch your legs on the day of arrival. It will delight you with turquoise shallow waters, protected by reef. Frigate Bay is just around the corner, an amazing flat water spot that works with easterly winds.

Happy Island – Union Island

The Tobago Cays

Known as the jewel of the Caribbean, this National park is a group of small, deserted islands surrounded by a lively horseshoe reef. This is the place to swim with the turtles and enjoy a great snorkeling session, checking out the magically diverse ecosystem under the water…all this after a good kite session of course!

I dare you to see the 225 different fish species in these waters!

The only island you are authorized to launch or land your kite is Jamesby. You need to go upwind of Baradel to find some fun waves to play with. You can also cruise to Petit Tabac to check out the reefs for a more serious surf session. If the wind is light, the dinghy will take you upwind with your launched kite from Baradel Beach…or you can always launch your kite from the boat that you came with!

Jamesby Island

Petit Tabac

Petit Tabac is a small deserted island where the Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed. It´s a beautiful day-anchorage for an epic kiteboarding session. From here you can reach very good reefs, and if the conditions are right you will explore some fine waves.

Petit Tabac

Mayreau

The smooth Salt Whistle Bay is the place to anchor. Just a few meters away from the boat on the windward side is the best all-around kitesurf spot in the Grenadines.

It’s perfect for the intermediate kiter with side-on wind, reef and a sandy beach that allows kiters to play. If the anchorage is fairly empty, you can also go for an excellent flat water session in the bay.

If you still have some power in your legs, walk to the top of this one road island to see a stunning view (especially at sunset) of the neighboring islands. A jaunt over to Dennis´s Hideaway for a nice meal and a Pina Colada is always a good day’s end.

Salt Whistle Bay Anchorage

Mopion

This tiny, desolate white sandy-beached island is a great resting spot during a session. Drop your kite and just enjoy the view of all that surrounds you. Remember to bring your ice chest ashore with a few chilled beers!

From Mopion you can go up to discover waves on the north side of Petit St. Vincent. PSV is a private island, allowing you to come ashore for a nature walk and their jazzy beach bar.

Relaxing between sessions at Mopion

How to Get There

There are several low cost options flying into UNION. Fly in from the U.S., Canada or Europe with a stopover in Barbados, Grenada or St. Lucia. The best stopover option is Barbados.

Fly from the U.S. to BARBADOS via Jet Blue, American Airlines, Air Jamaica, Delta or US Airways. Fly EUROPE to BARBADOS via British Airways or Virgin Atlantic from the United Kingdom; Condor out of Germany.

Short Flights to Union Island

SVG Air: toll free (800) 624 1843, (315) 507 8258, (784) 457 5124 or info@svgair.com – www.svgair.com.

Barbados to Union daily flights departing at 12:30pm and 4:30pm; returning 11:00am and 1:55pm.

Check more connection flights at: www.mustique.com.

Kitesurfcat Anchorage – Union Island

Accommodation

By Boat

Chartering a boat is the very best way to get around to all the kite spots. Fully enjoying all the different islands and making the most of your time is the ultimate…not to mention waking up in a new spot to launch your kite all through the week!

Yann is the owner and captain of Kitesurfcat, a 47ft sailing catamaran that takes up to 6 riders for week-long kitesurfing cruises. He lives in the Grenadines and will find the very best options for your riding style.

All kite quest itineraries are flexible and adapt to your kiting preferences, according to weather.

Kitesurfcat is a floating hotel on the water! With its green-eco approach, layered with solar panels, a wind generator, and water maker, you have the ability to stay away from civilization…making the most of your day and totally enhancing your kiting experience.

Our local boat boys will be bringing fresh fish, homemade banana bread, croissants and extra ice to the yacht every morning. After your epic sunset kite session, pop down a killer homemade rum punch as you check out your kiting pics & videos from the day…all while lounging on the trampolines.

Kitesurfcat Expedition

Our onboard Blade kites & boards are for your use, so just bring your own favorites.

Come enjoy a true kiting expedition aboard Kitesurfcat…

www.kitesurfcat.com

By Hotel

Union island is the place to stay if you want to be land based. You will find two main hotels, Bougainvilla and Anchorage. There are also a few small guesthouses in Clifton.

The JT Pro center owned by pro-rider Jeremie Tronet takes care of Anchorage reservations. He offers beach houses at the kite spot and can organize boat excursions as well.

His website has plenty of useful information about the Grenadines…offering package kite lessons for beginners, advanced training and kite clinics.

Jeremie Tronet´s Awesome Video

www.kitesurfgrenadines.com

Restaurants

In Union you can find international and local cuisine. For an amazing pizza, check out Marie at Ciao pizza. For a very well priced delicious lobster, sautéed conch, and local Caribbean dishes visit Big Citi just in front of the colourful fruit market. Captain Gourmet offers café style dining and great espresso for breakfast and lunch.

In the Tobago Cays, the local boat boys will arrange a beach bbq for you with the fresh catch and ice cold drinks.

More options are available… these are just the favorites!

Nightlife

Happy Island will serve you up a fresh made rum punch with reggae tunes flowing at sunset. This tiny island made from conch shells is a must see.

I.E.´s new bar, D´Spot is a fun hangout to watch all the small planes land just in front of your bottle of local beer.

Twilight, just down the street from Anchorage pumps the music at night giving you a chance to groove.

The JT Pro Center organizes a full moon kiting party every month that is a must if you plan your trip when the moon shines bright.

Travel Tips

• Bring your reef shoes and an extra set of your favorite board fins
• $1 U.S. = $2.67 E.C. (Eastern Caribbean dollar-fixed exchange rate)
• 1€ = $3.70 E.C.

Come enjoy the Caribbean Lifestyle !!!

If you’ve been fortunate enough to kitesurf in the Grenadines, we’d love to hear all about it, and if you have any questions, ask away in the comments below.

Written by

Yann Campinos

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The Grenadines Kite Spot Guide: An Untouched Bliss was published by inMotion Kitesurfing.

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