Features

The Mission: Tread Lightly

We all have a responsibility to think about the environment and the impact we have on the places we travel to for kite trips. Kari Schibevaag tells us about the current issues facing one of the world’s top snowkiting destinations, Hardangervidda in Norway, where she recently spent a week out in the wilderness.

Behind the Clip: Tern Sandbar

The Hel Peninsula in Poland is the country’s most popular kite spot and can get quite crowded, so when Nobile team riders Jan Korycki, Karolina Gorazdowska and Katarzyna (Kasia) Lange needed to shoot a video and photos, they headed to a harder-to-reach spot nearby which luckily they scored all to themselves. Check out the vid via the QR code.

My Beach: Lo Stagnone, Sicily

Gianmaria Coccoluto started out as a professional sailor and only took up kiting at the age of 18. Making a bold move, he abandoned sailing, relocated to Sicily without telling anyone, and embarked on a long journey towards becoming world champion. You can watch this tale in the recent video “Don‘t worry Dad, I‘ll be number one”, part of ION’s “Write Your Own Chapter” video series. We quizzed him about his journey and the spot he now calls home where he’s worked hard to pursue his dreams.

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Tangled Lines: Stijn Mul

Stijn (Stino) Mul has competed in some of the most prestigious competitions in kiteboarding, from Red Bull King of the Air to Red Bull Megaloop, as well as currently being a part of the GKA Kite World Tour and one of the founders of SpaceX Kitesurfing. We put him under examination from his fellow Cabrinha team riders and Big Air compadres.

The Green Room: Appletree Surfboards

We caught up with the team at Appletree Surfboards to find out what they’re doing to address sustainability issues.

C Kite Festival

If you subscribed to TheKiteMag last year, you might remember that our Editor-in-Chief Alex Hapgood was invited to the second edition of the C Kite Festival at C Mauritius Palmar, part of C Resorts. This year it was the turn of editor Sarah Sylvester to bask in the luxury of a tropical-island hotel while hobnobbing with ten of the world’s top kite pros and distinguished guests.

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