Features

Stronger

When Alessa Mensch suffered a back injury last year, she wondered whether she would be able to kite competitively again, but she kept her mindset strong and went on to compete in two Big Air events earlier this year, placing on the podium at one of them. She then spent the last few weeks out in Dakhla, which is perfect for training Big Air, to prepare for her next event in Gran Canaria. She wrote this article before the event, but we’re happy to report she made it to the semi-final.

Tell Me About It: North Atmos, Atmos Pro and Astra

North’s new Atmos, Atmos Pro and Astra feature an exciting development, an exclusive  “3DY Technology”. We asked Product Manager Brent Tucker to talk us through the boards.

Photo here Kyle Cabano

Tell Me About It: Harlem Launch

There’s a new twintip that’s just, ahem, launched at Harlem Kitesurfing… the Launch. Designed by Aaron Hadlow and Ralf Groesel, we got the lowdown from Aaron.

Photos Andy Troy 

Tech and Materials: Ride Engine Hyperlock

Most of us at TheKiteMag are also snowboarding fanatics, so we couldn’t help but be excited by the release of Ride Engine’s new Hyperlock, a snowboard-style rachet system. We got Gary Siskar, Product Line Manager and Marketing Director on the line to find out more.

The Creators: Reedin | Damien Girardin and Ralf Groesel 

Throw two great design minds together in the form of Reedin’s Damien Girardin and Brainchild Production’s Ralf Groesel, and you know you’re going to get outstanding products. We chatted to Damien about the creative process behind their latest HyperModel, the first of Reedin’s kites designed and manufactured in collaboration with Brainchild Production.

Photos Loan Folliet

The Wind and the Wild

After watching Leo Verrecchia’s video “The Wind & The Wild”, we caught up with him to find out more about his recent trips to Brazil and the US. He was stoked to report the 2023/24 season was his best kite season to date – he experienced significant progression in his riding, explored new places, made new friends, and had unforgettable experiences. And when he eventually returned home he topped it off by winning the Australian Freestyle Nationals…

Baia dos Tigres

We’d never heard of the Angolan island of Baía dos Tigres before this story dropped into our inbox, and after reading through we could see why it doesn’t exactly pop up on every kiter’s destination wish list. Mystic team riders Camille Delannoy, Graham Howes and Oswald Smith, together with photographer Kyle Cabano, videographer Jop Heemskerk and local guides Matt Sakko, Tiaan Hoeben and Donovan Mark, had an adventure getting there that goes down as one of the most perilous we’ve ever printed.

PROfile: Matchu Lopes & Luis de Dios

Hopefully you already noticed this issue’s epic cover of Matchu Lopes – who came second on the GKA Kite-Surf World Tour for the last two years running – deep in the barrel, the stuff dreams are made of. Axel Reese caught up with him in Tarifa and also chatted to Luis de Dios, Matchu’s personal trainer and mental coach, about what it takes to be a success.

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Under the Hood: RRD

It’s been a massive 30 years since RRD’s first production collection, and as we love celebrating an anniversary, we caught up with brand founder Roberto Ricci to find out more about how these three decades have gone.