Kiteboarding News

Monkeykites is searching for a new design for our Newschool kite TRIBE
The Monkeykites TRIBE is a Intermediate / Wakestyle kite and features

-Steady Pull
-Easy handling
-Fast turning
-Rock steady stability in the air
-Predictability in the air
-Huge depower range
-Unique riding comfort from monkeykite´s FLEXSTRUTS
-Responsive bar allows you to locate the kite and feel where it is no matter what you are doing
-Super Strong Construction to absorb the moves you are learning


NOW IT’S YOUR TURN,
What would be the perfect graphic for this kite?
Your task:
Design a new look for the new Monkeykites TRIBE 2007
Which reflects its POWER, RELIABILITY and FREESTYLE ADVANTAGES!

Your Graphics have to include the monkeykites name and logo!

All competing designs should be posted here on this monkeykiteforum!!


THE WINNER is gonna get :
A Monkeykites quiver (includes 2 new 2007 Monkeykites TRIBE, a MONKEYBAR and a MONKEYHARNESS)
But this isnt all!
You will also enjoy seeing your design in the air , all arround the world.


last years design was:

Now, download the TEMPLATES and LOGO and NAME

and express your self.

Labels: Contest, Kites

7685 Meters Altitude in a kite

http://www.skywalk.info/News/article/285/

Labels: Kite-related, Kites

EH Cabarete's new bowkite 'The Beast'.

The Beast
Very gentle flyer compared to the more high aspect EH Rippehr. This kite has insane lift! More of the forgiver lower aspect version of the Rippehr.







Here is what Eric the designer himself has to say
RippEHr has come to proven it self to be the kite for the extreme riders, its speed and power can be dangerous for the uninitiated, but for the experts, advanced riders and especially for the unhooked riders,(video), a dream come true, the easy and precise handling of its power combined with the vastly increased hang time plus huge range make even the most difficult trick look easy. But the not so experienced complained that it is to fast and my distributors asked me to start working on a mellower all round bow kite that is easy to use for all.

Rippehr versus Beast Aspect Ratio difference


So Cabarete's windy spring and summer brought us a new kite, I mellowed out the Ripper by giving it a lower aspect ratio and a deeper profile. This gives "The Beast" better low wind pull while the advanced alignment allows a huge wind range. The low AR and the extra profile make the kite a powerhouse. For some reason, and this caught me by surprise, this combination gives the kite an incredible lift resulting in increased hangtime and inrcedibly soft landings.

The Beast is a low AR Bow kite has good low end grunt that will forgive most common pilot errors, it has a huge range plus smooth gradual depower and gives you the feeling you are riding I a comfortable Mercedes Benz. The perfect kite to learn how catch big air and to cruise around on the weekends.

The Beast is build to outlast its competition, the kite is cut with the EH panel cut, for profile stability and long life. All fabrics and materials used are the best value for your money and used in a manner to get the most performance out of them. All EH kite are extensively tested in Cabarete waters by some of the most demanding riders and inflated at the factory to top of quality control.



Video
Check the video: http://www.cabareteairforce.com/Video/Beast10M604x480.m

Labels: Competition, Kites, Speed, Video

Cabrinha 2007 board range

We're in the board game now and we’re backing it up with light weight, solid performers. As the leader in kitesurfing technologies and manufacturing, we are committed to providing the same high level of design and quality for our boards as our kite customers have enjoyed for years. This season we have completely revamped our board program. Using a state of the art manufacturing facility, the highest quality materials, and proven technologies, we present 3 new board models.

Prodigy (freestyle/freeride)

Sizes: 148x39 / 158x41

The Prodigy is the easiest way to get yourself up and riding with the least amount of effort. The Prodigy 48 and 58 is designed to provide a stable platform with fantastic edging capabilities. Built with an ABS sidewall and polyurethane core construction, it is made to withstand the type of abuse that a first time board usually is given. Prodigy comes with our custom cut, moderate density footpad and widebody adjustable footstraps, four G10 fins (50mm), and a handle.

Imperial (performance freestyle/freeride)

Sizes: 123x36 / 128x37 / 133x38 / 138x39

The Cabrinha Imperial is a board that likes to be ridden hard and fast. The outline, which is narrower than our Custom model, is made to handle high speeds through rough or choppy water. For freestyle or freeriding, you’ll have the confidence to take off or land your trick anywhere... in control. With a size range of 123cm all the way up to 138cm, there is a board in the range to fit riders of all sizes. The imperial is also built with an ABS sidewall construction and PVC core. A biax/quadrax glass lay-up provides a forgiving flex and comfortable ride. The Imperial comes standard with multi-density footpads, Wide-body adjustable footstraps, handle, and four G-10 fins (50mm).

Custom (wakestyle/freeride)

Sizes: 128x38 / 133x39 / 138x41.5

The Custom model retains its dedicated Wakestyle/Freeride design elements. The Custom is a performance model with excellent pop. It is the board of choice for riders like Andre Phillip. Its wider plan-form and progressive rocker give the board a solid feel for Wakestyle riding. This entirely new construction technique features an ABS sidewall, a PVC core, and mixed weight quadraxial glass to keep the durability high and the weights low. The new Custom comes standard with multi-density footpads, Wide-body adjustable footstraps, handle, and four G-10 fins (50mm).

Board Accessories

Labels: board, Cabrinha, Kites

Advance Kites released 2 kites (Kondor/Kaiman) and 2 boards (Sigma/Omega) for 2007. Official Advance-Kites website here. KONDOR (hybrid bow) The Kondor is a "true" Hybrid-Bow. The kite can be used as a Bow with bridles or pulleys or be used as a 5-liner (Bow, C). This change-over can be done in a few smple steps, since both setups are provided/included. Hence any rider can setup the kite to his/her own preferences. The finishing of the kite is of the highest level. Sizes: 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 m² (13m² available from end of September) Color range: Price: not available yet KAIMAN (C-kite) The "Kaiman" is a further development of the Cobra06. It's a high performance 5-line C-Kite, for riders who are looking for a very fast, powerful Kite with big hangtime, very minimal steeringpressure and superfast turns. Sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 18 m² Color range: Price: not available yet SIGMA (directional wave) The Sigma is a Wave Directional, which can also be equipped with fins at the front and then be used as a "Mutant" for riding backwards. Material: Wood-Composite // Custom Made in Italy Sizes: 150x45 / 160x46 Price: not yet available OMEGA (twin tip) The "Omega" is a full wood Custom Bidi with Clearlook Optics. Very light but still very stable. Sizes: 130x37 / 137x37 Price: 750 EUR // Custom Made in Italy

Labels: Kites

PSYCHO 3 AVAILABLE – NOW IN 4.0 m²

Right form the start of the PSYCHO 3 sales we felt confident that this kite will be a must have among lots of kiters. The preorder volume was more than 20% higher than it was with the PULSE. However, the demand on the PULSE is still high! It seems like the kite community waited for our new freestyler, the PSYCHO 3 , that advanced to our “most wanted kite”. In order to be prepared fort he autumn storms, we started to produce a PSYCHO 3 in 4 m².

Kite overview
PULSE – freerider – the intermediate kite
PSYCHO 3 – freestyler – the kite for advanced riders and pro’s
SPEED – racer – Our Speed-kite and the best kite for getting upwind on water


NEW LOGO / WEBSITE

New Flysurfer Logo

New website features:
* Kite designer (select your own colors for your kite)
* Dealer locator (new Google Map interface)
* Line service (order a line replacement)


FULL-DEPOWER-SAFETYLINE (FDS) FOR THE SPEED
For those of you who own a SPEED and what to have the same safety (5th line) as on the PSYCHO 3 and PULSE we can now offer the FDS as an upgrade kit for all sizes.

With the FDS it is possible to flag out the kite with almost zero pull. The FDS already showed its efficiency on the PSYCHO 3 and the PULSE.

The upgrade kit can be ordered at your local dealer or directly at the Flysurfer online shop. It consists of:

* 4 gallery lines incl. the LCL’s
* 1x 21m FDS-line (3 m + 6 m + 12 m)
* 1x Easy-Line-Connector
* 1x FDS-Weakpointline
* 1x FDS-Endline
* 1x Steel ring
* 1x Safety-Standard-Leash

Price: 99,00 Euro + shipping costs.

Check the whole system after you installed it in light winds in order to be sure that you did everything correctly!

Labels: Kites, Speed

VÍDEO PKRA ALEMANHA 2006 (16Mb)

Labels: Video

VIDEO UNDERGROUND KITEBOARDS 2006 (8 Mb)*

Labels: Video

Analysis of GPS data shows that this guy broke the 500m world record, 80.429 km/hr. Force 8-9 winds in a Caution Answer 9m 85.9 km/hr max speed.

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/a...33331393764.jpg

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/a...16330373665.jpg

GPSResults V3.10
filename: direct download
altitude(s) not considered
projected (straight) speeds
linear interpolation, one run per leg,
total time: 74min, total length: 25.442km

max:
12:46:23 47.7m 85.900km/h 46.382knots
13:07:01 47.3m 85.148km/h 45.976knots
13:30:33 46.2m 83.167km/h 44.906knots
12:56:27 44.4m 79.994km/h 43.193knots
13:16:59 43.6m 78.552km/h 42.415knots
12:38:03 42.7m 76.811km/h 41.474knots
13:42:27 42.7m 76.810km/h 41.474knots
13:21:59 32.0m 57.588km/h 31.095knots
12:37:11 23.7m 42.574km/h 22.988knots
12:53:13 22.2m 39.974km/h 21.584knots
average[2]: 85.524km/h 46.179knots
average[5]: 82.552km/h 44.575knots

100m:
12:46:25 4.2s 84.731km/h 45.751knots
13:07:03 4.4s 82.667km/h 44.636knots
13:30:33 4.4s 82.172km/h 44.369knots
12:56:29 4.5s 79.807km/h 43.092knots
13:17:03 4.6s 77.619km/h 41.911knots
12:38:05 4.8s 75.590km/h 40.816knots
13:42:29 4.8s 75.590km/h 40.815knots
13:21:59 6.8s 52.840km/h 28.531knots
12:53:13 9.2s 39.173km/h 21.152knots
12:37:15 9.4s 38.169km/h 20.609knots
average[2]: 83.699km/h 45.194knots
average[5]: 81.399km/h 43.952knots

250m:
12:46:29 10.9s 82.236km/h 44.404knots
13:30:37 11.1s 80.802km/h 43.629knots
13:07:05 11.3s 79.579km/h 42.969knots
13:17:05 11.7s 77.161km/h 41.664knots
12:56:35 11.7s 76.890km/h 41.517knots
12:38:25 12.2s 73.575km/h 39.727knots
13:42:35 12.5s 71.784km/h 38.760knots
13:22:01 21.3s 42.207km/h 22.790knots
12:53:17 23.5s 38.376km/h 20.721knots
12:44:29 26.3s 34.242km/h 18.489knots
average[2]: 81.519km/h 44.017knots
average[5]: 79.333km/h 42.837knots

500m:
12:46:29 22.4s 80.429km/h 43.428knots
13:30:41 23.1s 77.860km/h 42.041knots
13:07:03 23.3s 77.321km/h 41.750knots
12:56:47 24.1s 74.819km/h 40.399knots
13:17:15 24.2s 74.356km/h 40.149knots
12:38:25 24.7s 72.866km/h 39.344knots
13:42:45 27.4s 65.654km/h 35.450knots
12:53:29 48.9s 36.819km/h 19.881knots
12:44:51 58.0s 31.014km/h 16.746knots
12:43:11 59.9s 30.057km/h 16.229knots
average[2]: 79.144km/h 42.735knots
average[5]: 76.957km/h 41.553knots

10s:
12:46:27 229.2m 82.498km/h 44.545knots
13:30:37 225.2m 81.061km/h 43.769knots
13:07:03 223.3m 80.393km/h 43.409knots
13:17:07 215.2m 77.463km/h 41.827knots
12:56:33 215.1m 77.438km/h 41.813knots
12:38:21 205.1m 73.834km/h 39.867knots
13:42:31 202.6m 72.936km/h 39.382knots
13:22:01 134.2m 48.321km/h 26.091knots
12:53:13 108.8m 39.160km/h 21.144knots
12:37:15 104.5m 37.618km/h 20.312knots
average[2]: 81.779km/h 44.157knots
average[5]: 79.771km/h 43.073knots

Labels: Speed

http://xboard.sitedesigns.dk/nwc.wmv

Nautic Wave Challenge Video

Labels: Video

September 11th, 2006

Labels: Best Kiteboarding, Kites, Speed, Video

North from the fishing pier at the town of Pismo Beach, Calif., miles up the shore and past the beachgoers standing in the wind and staring out to sea, the green hills of San Luis Obispo County loom in the haze. There, on the very edge of a continent, the Pacific winds blow unremittingly into those big California hills, blurring the air and gusting up to 30 mph on a typical day."

Labels: North, Pacific

Fiji’s national carrier Air Pacific has joined the Cindy Mosey Island Odyssey as a key sponsor of this world-first, all-girl kiteboarding adventure.

The airline has offered generous discounts to all participants of the remote Fiji island experience and given free flights for crew. Girls attending the event will get discounts off the lowest fares available, with 12% off bookings from North America, 10% off for Australia, 5% from New Zealand and a 21 day Apex fare in Japan. Air Pacific has also offered free excess baggage for all involved.

“Fiji’s national carrier has been wonderfully supportive, it’s typical of Fiji’s welcoming nature. Having these discounts opens up an opportunity for even more girls from all over the world to have the time of their lives on a beautiful island in the pacific. I’m so happy,” says event organiser Cindy Mosey.

Fiji’s national airline Sun Air has also come aboard as a sponsor providing a chartered plane to the event destination, Kadavu Island.

Kadavu was selected for its combination of perfect winds, tropical beauty, a huge range of alternative recreational activities, and a true cultural experience with the unbelievably welcoming villagers of this pacific paradise.

Sometimes described as ‘the real Fiji’, Kadavu has untouched lush tropical rainforest, waterfalls, no roads (all transport is by boat) and remote villages ringed by the world’s fourth largest barrier reef, teeming with abundant marine life.

Taking part in the event will be 12 of the world’s best women kiteboarders and another 30 recreational riders from around the globe. The event would not have been possible without the support of Balance Vector and there are generous prizes from sponsors North Kites, Living Nature cosmetics and more.

Spaces are still available to girls wanting to join the odyssey! Visit www.cindymoseyislandodyssey.com Direct travel booking enquiries to Cindy at cmaswm@xtra.co.nz. Media contact alisonsmith@xtra.co.nz for more information or visit the website www.cindymoseyislandodyssey.com for a selection of images.

Labels: adventures, Best Kiteboarding, North, Pacific

Kitesurf Worlds Team Cup 2006

Be sure to start planning your travel and to register now for an exciting new competition, brought to you by the The Gest Group and the Professional Kite Riders Association (PKRA), scheduled to piggy back on the end of the World Tour this year. The first annual 2006 Kitesurf Worlds Team Cup is set for October 4th through the 8th in Fleixeiras, Brazil, just north of Taiba.

The competition format is designed to consist of teams of three riders participating in three separate disciplines that encompass all aspects of kiteboarding competition: course racing, best trick performance and waveriding. Teams will be grouped by kite brand, and are required to have two males, one at least 21 years or older, and one female rider. Currently, 16 teams are allotted to enter, all squaring off for $20,000 in prize money, with $10,000 distributed for first place, $7,000 for second, and $3000 for third. Cost of entry is $150 USD per team, and the competition is filling up fast, so for complete information and to register, go to: www.ktwc.info

The first discipline of the 2006 Kitesurf Worlds Team Cup will consist of a day of course racing with the total number of riders from each of the teams competing at the same time in multiple rounds. The results will be based on the overall finishes for each of the teams.

The next aspect of the Team Cup contest is the best trick competition, which will be subdivided into three separate categories. Each of the team members will be allowed to compete in one of the three best tricks categories, but not all. The first category will pit one rider from each team against each other trying to perform the most difficult and well executed progressive freestyle trick.

The next section of the best trick contest will be the best "old school" trick, where the second rider from each team will try to perform the most difficult and well executed old school trick, including everything from multiple back and front rolls, to board offs and one foot jumps. Kiteloops and handlepasses will not be allowed and are the only tricks not considered old school.

The third rider from each team will try to perform the last section of the best trick competition, the most difficult and well executed kiteloop trick, with no handlepasses allowed, however blind landings and roll variations are permitted. Judging for each section of the best trick competition will be based on a 0 to 10 grading system to score the riders, 10 being the best, most difficult, and well executed trick.

The final discipline of the Team Cup will be the wave riding bump and jump competition. Only surfboard-style boards are permitted in this format. Riders from each team will be scored solely on wave riding, aerials, backside slashes, and jumps. All riders from each team are allowed to compete, but only the best result from each team will be used for the overall team competition ranking. The judging will be weighted 30% for both the course racing and wave riding disciplines, and 40% for the best trick competition towards the final event standings.

Overall, the 2006 Kiteboarding International Team Cup, set for October 4th - 8th, is shaping up to be an exhilarating event. The goal of the competition is to bring together the best pro and kite brand team riders to compete in the ultimate all around team competition challenge. Already, two-time World Champion, Aaron Hadlow (UK), along with seasoned veteran, Mark Shinn (UK) and Caroline Freitas (Brazil) will make up one team for Flexifoil. Those entered will fight for not just the title and bragging rights of "#1 Kiteboarding Team in the World", but of course for the substantial reward of $20,000 dollars in prize money as well.

For more information please visit or contact:

www.pkra.info

Labels: Best Kiteboarding, board, Competition, Contest, Kites, North

Flow 07 FAQ

What type of rider is the Flow aimed at?
We developed the Flow to cover a broad range of riders from entry level
Freeride to advance freestyle and wave riding. The focus was on reliable
performance and ease of use. First time riders should consider the DNA
while more advanced freestyle riders might consider one of our C-Kites
or the Halo for maximum hang time.

Why do you call the Flow a Hybrid/SLE, isn’t the Flow a BOW kite?:
Technically the Flow is not a BOW kite, in order for a kite to be a true bow
kite, the trailing edge needs to be concave and be curved enough that it
runs over a vertical line drawn from the two rear attachment points,
which does not occur in all Flow sizes. Secondly true bow kites have 2:1
pulley on the bar, which the Flow does not feature. Typically BOW kites
should fall within the original patent which covers these two points so we
decided to go with the term SLE or Hybrid.

What is the difference between the Flow (SLE/Hybrid) and the Halo (BOW)?
· The Flow is lighter on the bar and the steering on the flow is
more direct with more feel – This is due to the reason that the wingtips of
the flow are less swept back, this allows us to use less struts, moves the
center of effort further forward. Most importantly this allows an increased
depower range for the same given bar movement, therefore we could
avoid the 2:1 pulley configuration on the bar.
· The flow offers increased stability over the Halo - As flow has
a slightly deeper foil with the center of effort further forward. In addition
the canopy curve is not as flat as the Halo. This does have an effect on
low wind performance and glide rate when jumping.

Why does the flow have such a long depower?
With the development of bar release safety the traditional role of the
depower range of the kite has changed. The lower part of the depower
line (closest to the rider) can be viewed as “useable depower”, while the
upper part can be view as “bar release safety travel”

Why is traditional strap replaced by a cleat on the trigger release?
The role of the depower strap has changed, traditionally riders using C-
Kites would use the strap for micro adjustments while kiting. Due to the
extended Depower range of the Flow bar system and the increased
effectiveness of the depower function, it is seen more as a one off setting
to find the sweet spot of the kite in given wind conditions. In the end this
allowed us to offer a significantly simpler configuration.

Why are there no Pulleys on the bar?
The Flow does not have outside bar pulleys this gives a more direct “C-
Kite” feel to the steering and bar feedback. More info on this is covered in
the question “What is the difference between the Flow (SLE/Hybrid) and
the Halo (BOW)”

Is the Flow Suitable for unhooked riding?
Yes, Most definitely one of the original parameters of the design was to
make the Flow as versatile as possible for all styles of riding. One great
outcome of the new design was the unhooked performance.

What is the performance differences between the Flow, a C-kite and a 5th line “BOW” kite?:
The focus on the Flow is safety, simplicity and all round performance.
From our perspective bridles give the highest level of what we term “Bar
Release Safety” as the pivot point on the kite can be higher up the
leading edge through the use of bridles. A 5th line bow kite falls
somewhere in between a standard c Kite and a bridled SLE or BOW
design (see Below for an explanation on these). We still offer 5th line C-
Kites for the performance-oriented rider who is not as safety focused.

Could you convert the Flow to a 5th line style kite without the bridles?:
Technically you could set the Flow up in the 5th line configuration with a
very limited bridle or even no bridle. However during our design process
the kite was optimized to run with bridles. We felt that for the target
customer they would be looking at safety and simplicity, and knowing that
the kite was always running in its optimum configuration.

How do you Relaunch the Flows?:
Should you have a sufficient amount of wind in the canopy the Flows are
best relaunched by NOT swimming towards the kite and waiting for the
kite to roll along their LE and relaunch. In light wind condition you can
also launch the flows in a traditional C-Kite method, by swimming towards
the kite and allowing it to move to the side of the window on its back.

Labels: Airush, Kites

PKRA SPAIN by Airush kiter Katja Roose | Print | E-mail
Talking about wind…

Just graduated and already again in the airplane. The next PKRA event stops in Spain. The first day I arrive, there are no kites in the air. And we are talking about the ‘Mekka’ for surfers and kiters! The wind is blowing 50-60 knots offshore, pfff talking about wind…
The event starts Tuesday with the trails for the men. I have the first day off, which is perfect to get used to the sun and the temperature.
Wednesday the main event starts. My first heat is against Angela Peral. In these strong winds I probably have a chance against her. I just go for it! I pulled out a lot of powered tricks and a huge unhooked kite loop. But her technical difficulty won over my power and variety. Although it was a 2 to 1 decision by the judges. Really bad luck this time.
The double elimination started at Thursday. Only some men heats were done. The wind was less than the last days, so I could train a little with my 8. Free riding is a perfect way to get rid of your nerves.
Friday I am in the first heat on the water against Carol Freitas. Again I am really nervous, which results in shitty tricks in the first few minutes. So stupid. But I recover and start to fight back with powered raileys and s-bends. In the end of the heat Carol crashes really hard and puts her kite down. I pull out an back surface pass in the same time, so I win this heat.
Next heat is against Emma York. Again I ride like I never kited before. I feel so weak; I hardly can hold the bar. But I was still able to do some unhooked tricks in his strong wind, while Emma had a really hard time and couldn’t do much. I advanced and had to go against Jo Wilson. I am determined to win this time. While my head is in the right mood, my body doesn’t seem to listen at all. Every time I land a trick, but than I can’t hold the bar anymore. I think I swam more than I kited. So that was an easy heat for Jo, who had I quite good heat herself.
Overall I end up at a nice 7th place. Not bad if you think about the fact that last week around this time I graduated. Probably I am so weak and tired because of the ‘de-stressing’…
Source Katjas weblog :: http://www.protestboardwear.com/blogs/katja/

Labels: Airush, Kites

PORTLAND - A Portland youth is skyrocketing his way up to stardome in kite boarding. Rocky Chatwell has won the PKRA North American Championship, and he's only been doing this for two years. Now, the golden boy is eyeing the world tour.

The 16-year-old blonde, doing his thing recently off the Portland shoreline in Corpus Christi Bay. As you can see, Rocky Chatwell, has it. You may have seen him competing in the Velocity Games, but winning the Pro Kite Riding Association North American Title is big stuff. It's his greatest moment.

"By far, yes. I'm totally stoked about it. I did the best I could," said Chatwell."

Video after the jump

Labels: Kites, North, Video

"These pics come from the island of Zanzibar. The sand is the whitest finest sand I have ever seen. Water temp about 89. The wind blew for 3 days. Average wind speed 24 mph. There was an outer barrier reef about 1 mile from shore. The inner reef was waist deep."

More pics after the jump

sunset with a dhow going by.	IMG_4092.jpg

Labels: Speed

2007 Shockwave Video Now On-Line

The major Hollywood production of the new Shockwave video has just wrapped up! With a $172m budget, the special effects will have you dazzled and asking for more! Grab a bucket of popcorn, a liter of cola, and pull up a chair for this blockbuster of information about the '07 Shockwave.

Twenty foot (6m) waves, big jumps, and a Robby Naish narration make this video the most comprehensive Naish video to date. Learn all about the Shockwaves massive depower, V25 profile, and Supported Leading Edge Technology.

Click here to checkout the Shockwave website and the video! (then click on video at upper right)

Shockwave 2007... NO BOW SHIT, CARVE DIEM.

Labels: Naish, Video

Group running a 12 day trip for Kiteboarding or Windsurfing south of Havana. Almost set up, but heading to Brazil instead.

www.cubawindsurf.com

FLOW is a new monthly magazine, out in November 2006, it is designed by riders for riders, 150 pages, full colour and packed with everything that is going on in the kiteboarding world.

Labels: Magazine

August hit and suddenly the conditions we’ve been tearing our hair out for started rolling in. No doubt, September even more so marks the changing of the weather guard and brings with it a sense of optimism and excitement for the next few months.

Labels: Magazine, snowkite, south africa

Hi my name is Kevin, and as part of my doctoral studies at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions I am investigating participation levels in kiteboarding and events that lead to the occurrence of injuries in kiteboarding.

I have developed an on-line survey that is 100% anonymous and confidential.
Would you mind filling out the survey?

You can enter the survey even if you have not had any kiteboarding injury. I need 281 subjects to have a valid study. I have included the Sign-Up form which can be accessed through;

http://www.stats-consult.com/survey-signup.html

The information from the survey is going to be vitally important for kiteboarders considering risk management issues, orthopedic surgeons and rehabilitation specialists in understanding the unique causes of injury found within the sport of kiteboarding.

Once you have read the consent information and sent it back to us, the software will send you out the survey which should take about 3-4 minutes to fill in.

Thanks for participating.

Aloha Kevin

Labels: accidents

54 kiteboarder deaths worldwide have been reported to date since 2000.


How do kiteboarding accident fatality rates compare to that of other activities in the USA?

Motor Vehicle 15 per 100,000 *
Kitesurfing 6 to 12 per 100,000 ** 1
SCUBA diving 5 per 100,000 ***
Pedestrian 2 per 100,000 *

So, kiteboarding might be interpreted to safer than driving in the USA by this limited statistical indication. A more sensitive index would be offered by losses per hours kiteboarded just as in the case of losses per driving hours. No recognized estimates are currently available regarding hours kiteboarded vs. skill/years riding vs. time of year, etc..



* WISQARS www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars (2003)
** http://fksa.org/ (pending, 2006)
*** http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/report/index.asp (2003)

1. Three kiteboarders were lost in the USA in 2005. Using estimated rider populations in the USA (25 to 50 thousand that own kiteboarding gear), this equates to roughly 6 to 12 fatalities per 100,000 riders for 2005. Sorry for the USA only statistics, global loss statistics are hard to come by.

NOTE: all of these statistics are estimates to varying degrees and are derived from differing assumptions. Also, actually fatality rates per country vary substantially year to year. The statistics have been calculated from generally unconfirmed reported observations received from around the world. If new credible information is received regarding historical accidents as happens on occasion these statistics can change.

FKA, Inc.

Labels: accidents

The name converse comes from the fact that the board is a surfboard when you take the straps off. Not a surf style kiteboard but a real true surfboard, hence one board for 2 disciplines. The 5'0" board from last year has been shelved - a shame - it was very lively and fantastic fun in small waves if not a little too nervous on the big days. The replacement is the 6'0" is the higher rockered board for those taking it into the real waves the 6'2" is now the lighter wind option for smaller waves and lighter wind use. Check out the wood... I have seen cobra's wood finish surfboards before and they are stunning - real coffee table works of art. The photo I saw posted n the new from Germany looks the same. They will be very pimpy!! The wood and regular board should be on display at the Poole Windfest, pricing is set to be £449 for the Regular construction and £529 for the wood. The wood is expensive I know, but I've already ordered mine! Product Overview • Airush introduced the fi rst true convertible in 2006 and have taken this concept to a new level for 07. • 6'0” Model for lighter riders and higher wind conditions. • Developed specifically to replace your light wind kite board in your quiver and give you the freedom to have one board for traveling - surfing and kiting. Code; Model; Sizes; AB07CN62 Airush Converse - 6ʼ2” 189.5 (6.2”) x 47.5 (18 3/4) AB07CN60 Airush Converse - 6ʼ0” 183 (6.0”) x 46 (18 1/4) AB07CW62 Airush Converse Wood - 6ʼ2” 189.5 (6.2 ”) x 47.5 (18 3/4) AB07CW60 Airush Converse Wood - 6ʼ0” 183 (6.0”) x 46 (18 1/4) Target User: • Traveling kiter who wants the versatility of having a surfboard for no wind days and a light wind kiteboard. • Dedicated strapless or strapped surf kiter who would like to have the enhanced durability when compared to a normal surfboard. Compared to Exile and switch 144: Directional design for more dedicated wave performance. Tech Features: Rails Tucked surf rails based on a small to medium wave surf requirements Rocker The Converse 6'2 features a rocker oriented towards smaller wave surfing and light wind kiting. The 6ʼ0” is a more progressive rocker for all round wave use. Flex A Biaxial layup ensures flfl ex characteristics similar to a polyester surfboard, but with the weight characteristics of sandwich construction. Bottom shape Single concave bottom for early planning, control and a smooth ride in chop. Outline A dedicated small to medium wave Surfboard outline. This works together with all the other aspects of the Converse 6ʼ2” design for perfect waveriding in light to medium wind conditions. 6'0” features a more progressive outline for all round wave use ideal for bigger waves or higher wind use. Fins FCS fifi ns with PVC reinforced inserts Flytech The Flytech construction is suitable for high volume kiteboards due to its low density and therefore core weight. The lightweight core is combined with unidirectional and standard glass. This lay up ensures that the boards remain as light as possible and still survive the abuse. The Flytech construction allows us to feature a tucked rail shape, which is more forgiving and ideal for surf oriented products.

Labels: Airush, board, Kites

irush Hammer '07

The Hammer is a very unusual board - for this reason it was not a big seller in the UK until Kiteworld got their hands on it early summer. After that article you couldn't find one in the UK -

Really popular in the OZ the original board came from the French Airush rider Julian Sudrat who used this shape as his stock twin tip. It's a Wave riding twin that has one main difference - it's really allround and is increadibly comfortable in really rough chppy conditions.

The board has thick mid rails much like a surfboard; plenty of carving grip.. Flip tips to stop you going over the front when you come back down the wave.. thin tips and fairly large centrally placed fins for carving stability and maintain a surfing outline, flex in the tip sections of the board for control and qhite a reasonable volume considering the ultra flat TT's we are used to seeing today.

Don't be put off by the shape of these boards - they are very good - conventional is not always right!





Product Overview
• Developed from a traditional twintip and worked to enhance the wave riding capabilities radically without loosing the ease of use.
• Originally conceived to be a dedicated wave riding twintip the Hammer also proved to be a huge stand out in very choppy conditions.
• Due to the popularity of this board a new 144 size has been introduced for heavier riders and lighter winds.

Code; Model; Sizes;
AB07HA138 Hammer 138 138cm x 38.5cm
AB07HA144 Hammer 144 144cm x 42cm

Target User
Rider who still wants twin tip versatility but rides in waves.
Rider who kites in extremely choppy and rough conditions, or prefers a
slightly longer board.

Rails
Tucked Surf Rails through the center of the board to allow a positive driving bottom turn. A hard edge through the last 1⁄4 of the board to keep speed and bite when coming off the top.

Rocker
Three stage “Wave” rocker with slightly increased rocker in the tip area for clearance and increased turning.

Tip Shape and Flex
A narrower tail with more curve in the rear section of the outline, combined with reduced thickness and increased flfl ex in the tail. The result is maximum snap when coming off the top.

Bottom shape
Double V Concave into spiral V – This bottom shape was developed with
two outcomes in mind. Firstly to enhance the directional stability of the board without the need for massive fifi ns and secondly to give a positive drive when rolling the board over from the heel edge to the toe edge when initiating a turn.

Overall Planform
Compared to a medium size freestyle board the Hammer has increased
water line length and a slightly narrower width to enhance stability on the
wave

Fins
The Code fin provides maximum grip for waveriding and is designed to limit the front catching.

Construction



X-link LT Construction
Our premium construction illustrating perfect flfl ex and a bombproof
construction with our X-Link PVC core. Boards featuring our X-Link Lt
construction use a combination of the high density core with unidirectional
and biaxial cloth, together with wood reinforcing in the high impact heel
areas. A full top and bottom rail wrap allows for a soft hand shaped rail
ensuring the board is more forgiving and stable to ride. A top sheet layer on the bottom deck enhances the durability without limiting the flex characteristics.

Labels: Airush, board, Speed

The original SLE kite gets a boost for 2007. The Shockwave’s high altitude
and instant depower characteristics, regardless of kite position in the power
window, make it the world’s first ‘true’ wave kite.

Aimed at the performance wave rider and jumper, the new Shockwave has
extended wind range, a refined aspect ratio, and precise control that will take
any kiter to new heights. It also features faster turning for efficient riding, and
improved water relaunchability. The bar pressure has been radically reduced
compared to the ’06 edition, and is now “tuneable” as a result of its new rigging
options.

The Shockwave’s livelier, more positive feel make it the kite of choice for those
serious about the surf.

Labels: Kites, Naish

Offshore Odysseys has announced two key partnerships in their soon-to-launch world kiteboarding expedition
The BEST Odyssey. Owner, Gavin McClurg says aligning with Kite Adventures brings the reality of the journey even closer.
"What Kite Adventures are doing with their Kite-With-A-Pro series, and their incredible tour offerings in Brazil, Greece, Sardinia, Thailand and Vietnam,
all that coupled with our association with Best Kiteboarding; it just made a partnership an obvious choice and one we're thrilled to have." As The BEST Odyssey is a 5 year
expedition and available on a yacht share basis, Kite Adventures will now own one trip each year of the expedition to sell on a per-person, or per cabin basis to anyone interested in joining the journey, but not able to commit to the full 5 years as a share owner.

This year's stop is a 10 day adventure in Aruba this March. 10 days of kiting and 9 nights of luxury accommodation and professional cuisine on a 60' catamaran. And a Best pro onboard for personal instruction! More details can be found at www.kiteadventures.com.



And because The BEST Odyssey's itinerary
includes some of the most remote locations on the globe in search of waves and wind, Ozone Travel
is now their in-house agent to provide all the logistical details of getting to and from the yacht; including visas, hotels and other needed arrangements. "I am really excited to be working with Gavin, the Best Odyssey team and all of the owners and guests traveling on this incredible journey. I look forward to drawing from both my kiteboarding and travel experiences to provide the best logistics information and solutions. The only thing better would be, of course, being on the yacht myself!", says Karen Beber Futernick, owner of Ozone Travel.



As The BEST Odyssey is selling out at an unprecedented rate, so looms the launch of the yacht this November in the Caribbean. And from there? A season in the South Pacific, then Micronesia, Australasia, Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and beyond. Check it out.

To find out more, visit OffshoreOdysseys.com

Labels: adventures, Best Kiteboarding, Kites, Pacific

Labels: Kites

August hit and suddenly the conditions we’ve been tearing our hair out for started rolling in. No doubt, September even more so marks the changing of the weather guard and brings with it a sense of optimism and excitement for the next few months.

Labels: Magazine, snowkite, south africa

Discovery Channel: StuntJunkies. Big Media continues to make us all look like testosterone fueled idiots

:: SEPT. 6, 2006 PREMIERES ::

KITEBOARD ISLAND LEAP
Jason Slezak would like to execute the largest land gap ever attempted, ramp to ramp, on a kiteboard. He will approach the takeoff ramp at a high rate of speed in order to achieve the required height (approx. 30-40 feet) and distance necessary to clear an entire island, complete with trees and animals, all while flying over a camera to document this incredible feat. Jason will then have to land on a down ramp on the opposite side of the island. Adding to the difficulty of this stunt, Jason will have to estimate his landing as he will not be able to view the other side of the island from the takeoff ramp. Many factors such as wind speed and direction, wave size, his speed and position must work in unison for this stunt to be a success. The stunt requires the extraordinary ability to combine skills from a variety of disciplines, such as wakeboarding, surfing, sailing and flying, into one spectacular, unique act.
Premiere: Sept. 6, 2006

Labels: Kite-related, Speed

Ruben Lenten Sends it Yet Again

Labels: Competition, Ruben Lenten

The Fireball is Carved's second freestyle kite next to the Unit. Why does Carved invest in a second 'Classic kite'? Because these still have more to offer than any hybrid/bow/sle on the market. Do you hate the indirect steeringproperties of hybrid/bow/sle's? Do these "modern kites" really do better with light or medium wind? Do they actually generate more lift than the "Classic kites"? Do you agree that kiteloops with thise "modern kites" are being reduced to "pussy loops"? Is the safety on these kites really any better? Or is it simply that it heightens the feeling of safety, in other words false safety? Are these "modern kites" developed through n through or do they still incorporate alot of mistakes like relaunchability, inverting unnatural flyingpositions... Are you looking for a better alternative a few weeks after buying a "modern kite"? If th