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Kiteblogs.com used to be the news feed for www.kiteforum.com
Since kiteforum.com has been updated the news will posted in the forum as forum posting and linked in the new news system.
Here the direct link to the News Section:
photo courtesy John Bilderback
Podcast #101:
Our special guest on this week’s Asnews.net and The Kiteboarder Magazine podcast is legendary shaper Pat Rawson. Pat has been shaping surfboards on Oahu’s North Shore since 1972. Distributed in 30 countries, his team riders have included such notables as “Buttons” Kaluhiokalani, Mark Richards, Tom Curren and Michael and Derek Ho. Pat will be joining host Ryan Riccitelli to talk to us about surf shapes and the new kite surfboard designs he came up with for Liquid Force, which will be available starting this February.
Got a question for Pat about surfboard designs or the new Liquid Force Rawson Project Board Line? Ask your questions LIVE and REAL TIME on this Thursday’s The Kiteboarder Magazine/ASNews.net live podcast.
If you can't make the live interview, post your questions here and we will ask them for you! Deadline to post questions is 3pm PST, Thursday January 17. You can then download the podcast anytime after Thursday and listen to the show at your convenience at www.kiteforum.tv, www.thekiteboarder.com, and www.asnews.net.
You can also subscribe to the feed at Itunes and get notified of podcast shows, videos and PDF versions of the magazine as soon as they're posted online!
KILLER SUBSCRIPTION DEALS!
Right now, you can get Ben Wilson’s new DVD The Unknown Road or Snowkitefilm.com’s Something Stronger with The Kiteboarder annual subscription for just $39.99! The Kiteboarder Magazine and two 2008 calendars, just $34.99!
Now Australians have there own ABoards web site www.aboards.com.au
ABOARDS have now been introduced to Australia through ABOARDS AUSTRALIA (owned and managed by East Coast Kiteboarding Pty Ltd) which is a sister company of the well know Cross Shore Kiteboarding (XSHORE) lead by Glen Hooper himself. With a service quality second to none in the Australian Kiteboarding scene the teaming up of ABOARDS and XSHORE to form ABOARDS AUSTRALIA is a great asset to the industry and kiteboarders in Australia.
Now it is very easy to find all ABoards dealers located in Australia.
Hi everyone,
We have just returned from Xmas and looking back on how insanely amazing the SnowKiteMasters at the Col du Lautaret in France was. A dream event with dreamy conditions. www.snowkitingworld.com
Our thanks goes out to organizer Wareck and Regis who made sure that the SKM once again ruled as the premium snowkite comp in the World since the 1st event we organised, the 2004 OzoneSnowkiteMaster.
Once again everyone stayed at “Le Frog”, the only Hotel/restaurant/Bar to visit in Serre Chevalier thanks to Xavier, Dee and Mike where dinner and drinks were served to all participants every night creating a killer atmosphere for all those attending.
The Snow and weather was at its finest, the strong wind meant most riders were using 7-10m kites and they took the level up once again in our great sport. The Ozone Team were as strong as ever….nice work guys
RESULTS “CHAMPIONNATS DE FRANCE 2008 “SKM
Ski
1 Fr Civel Ozone SKR ZAG
2 Fr Robin Flysurfer
3 Fr Beaume Ozone SKR Les 2 alpes
Snowboard
1 Fr Chastagnol Ozone Red Bull Dakine Apo
2 Fr Blanchard Flexifoil Apo Loubsol
3 Fr Lhote Fone Mystic
Results SKM – World Championships
Ski
1 No Kaupang Fone Norronna Prolimit Quiksilver
2 Fr Civel Ozone ZAG SKR
3 Fr Robin Flysurfer
4 Sw Widerstom Flysurfer
Snowboard
1 Fr Chastagnol Ozone Red Bull Dakine Apo
2 No Botnen Ozone Brunotti
3 AT Palmer Ozone
Best Trick
Snowboard >> Sigve Botnen Ozone Brunotti
Ski >> Björn Kaupang Fone Norronna Prolimit Quiksilver
While the competitors had to wait for stronger winds to do the competition some of made our way up from the spot to the mountains and climbed into the backcountry. We managed to climb the valley “3 eveches” 3 days in a row which ends up in a high altitude plateau about 2900m high with rolling hills and lots of powder.
On the last day Friday we even managed to climb the “Pic Bleu” after we went to “3 eveches” which is another 3000m peak. We packed the kite on top and had an amazing sunset downhill ride back to the spot.
A great collection of pictures about the event and out backcountry exploration can be found HERE
We are just about to release another www.OzoneSnowkiteMasters.com so check out the website we have just released and stay tuned on the news. It will take place on the famous Berninapass CH on 1st- 5th March. It will be full of Ozone Spirit with some new kite of competitions like a cross country race and best line competition. More news will follow…
Wishing you all a nuking windy 2008 with blue skies from us all at Ozone
Cheers Dom
Murphy
BBQ Warek
Chasta head over feed
Sigve airlines
Murphy + Chasta
3 eveches
Pic Bleu crew
SKM family
Chasta Powder
OSKM08 Poster
Podcast #100:
Asnews.net and The Kiteboarder Magazine are back on air this week with our special guests Jeff Burton and Poul Schiebel from Caution. The boyz will be at the upcoming La Ventana Kite Classic and KiteXpo this month and just released the new Mayhem. They join us to talk about some of the changes that have been made at Caution and their 2008 Product Line Up.
Got a question for Caution? Ask your questions LIVE and REAL TIME on this Thursday’s The Kiteboarder Magazine/ASNews.net live podcast.
If you can't make the live interview, post your questions here and we will ask them for you! Deadline to post questions is 3pm PST, Thursday January 10. You can then download the podcast anytime after Thursday and listen to the show at your convenience at www.kiteforum.tv, www.thekiteboarder.com, and www.asnews.net. You can also subscribe to the feed at Itunes and get notified of podcast shows, videos and PDF versions of the magazine as soon as they're posted online!
UPCOMING INTERVIEWS:
1/17: Pat Rawson on the Rawson Project Liquid Force boards
1/24: Eclipse Kites or TBD
KILLER SUBSCRIPTION DEALS!
Right now, you can get Ben Wilson’s new DVD The Unknown Road or Snowkitefilm.com’s Something Stronger with The Kiteboarder annual subscription for just $39.99!
The Kiteboarder Magazine and two 2008 calendars, just $34.99!
Coming in February: Ben Wilson's Surf Instructional DVD SMACK, ONLY available at The Kiteboarder for all North American orders!
Check out www.thekiteboarder.com/catalog for all the offers:-)
Photos, unless otherwise noted, by Kai Benson
The Best Odyssey sets sail on January 12-20th in Panama for the Pro Wave Invitational, and when it does, Fernando "Wawa" Peroud, local Peruvian Best rider … perhaps one of the world's best "yet undiscovered" wave riders … will be on it, alongside wavesurfing legends like Will James and Ben Wilson. With three film crews, four magazines, and two photographers to document the event, we're betting that Wawa, a Peruvian surfing legend and a hotel owner and kite center in Mancora, Peru, is not going to remain "undiscovered" for long. After an impressive career as a pro surfer, Wawar started kiting in the 2002 recently ranked 5th at the PKRA Wave Invitational in Chile. Below he answers some questions about his life, surfing, and kiting in northern Peru.
Rider Name: Fernando "Wawa" Paruad
Nationality: Peruvian
Best Results: Ranked 5th in Wave Kiting, 2007 PKRA World Championships in Matanzas, Chile
Background: Pro surfer turned kiter in 2002
Occupation: Del Wawa Hotel and kite center owner in Mancora, Peru
Where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I grew up in Lima but since I was very young, I traveled to Mancora in northern Peru where I have been living for the past 14 years.
Married? Kids?
Single no Kids.
What was your first job, and how did you get from there, to owning your own hotel and kite center?
At first I used to trade seafood, once I finished studyng I had the chance to either get a proper regular job or try to do something up north. Luckily, it worked well and I can take as much time off as I want.
How much time do you spend working versus on the water? How involved are you in the running of the hotel and kite center?
There was a time when I had to do everything myself, all the way from catching the fish to cooking it. Now I've got a cool group of people who take proper care of everything, so I can go surfing, kiting or traveling as much as I want. Although honestly living here is like being on a trip and I very rarely find better conditions than what I've got at home. I like quick hit-and-run trips where you know you'll score rather than hanging around waiting for something to happen.
When did you start surfing? What competitions did you do? Were you sponsored?
Since I was up north I only did the contests I really liked which were the ones with the best waves and waiting periods in Places like Pico Alto and Cabo Blanco. Sponsorships came light since I was up north caring most about surfing empty, perfect point breaks. I get wetsuits and clothes (Quicksilver), sunglasses (Fox), and boards (Klimax) but no serious sponsorships … just local reps free stuff.
What was your best result in surfing, and do you still compete?
I won the Big Wave Invitational in Peru 3 times, once in Punta Rocas and twice in Pico Alto, which is the prime big wave spot in Peru requiring boards on the 9 foot + range. I was a finalist on the Cabo Blanco classic 3 times - Cabo is regarded as the most perfect barrel Peru has to offer.
How did you get interested in kiting? How did you learn?
Kiting for me was like Wiley Coyote and the Acme stuff he used to order. I got my first kite and literally learned to set it up and use it by tips on the internet, For 3 months, I didn't know what the chicken loop was for but still had fun despite a few close calls. After a few months I finally learned from Phil Alengrin, a French kitesurfer and friend who came to Mancora.
What kind of equipment did you learn on?
I learned on a mutant with a Airush Lift 9.4.
How long did it take you to learn? Did you find it easy, or difficult?
I think as long as you have fun nothing is difficult. It's always been fun and I don't think you can ever stop learning in kiting it's just limitless.
Do you do any freestyle riding (kiteloops, mobes, etc) or do you only focus on waveriding?
Kiteloops are really cool. I love to combine them with surf moves - they come out really radical with plenty of speed for the next turn. Not much of the freestyle tricks though.
Do you ever ride a twintip, or do you just ride surf boards?
I ride twintips or mutants when it's flat which doesn't happen that often.
Strapless or strapped?
Both.
How did you become involved with Best, and when?
In July 07, when Jose Rosas, the Best rep in Peru, hooked me up with Lia (in Sales).
You're riding the 2007 Yarga. What makes this a good kite for the waves?
It's a perfect all-round kite: it can handle the gusts and fly backwards like a bow yet is faster. They're tough, too.
What changes would you like to see to the equipment that would better suit hardcore waver riders?
Honestly I haven't used that many kites lately, like for example the last 6 months I have only used the Yargas. I wish I could have used more kites to have a valid answer to this question. I have never tried any of the Waroos, Bularoos or HP's. For some places like Mancora, I'd rather use a C kite and on some of the side-off gusty pointbreaks perhaps a bow kite would work better. Anyway the Yarga has been the perfect blend for an all-around kite. They have been pretty tough, too. Some of my kites have taken serious beatings, especially the 9 and they are still intact. It would be great if you could have a quad surfboad in stock.
Where is the best place you've kitesurfed, for waves, etc?
Matanzas in Chile was really good and Peru has a few insane perfect point breaks.
Who do you most admire or respect in the discipline of kitesurfing?
I have a lot of respect for Martin Vari. He just goes cruising around and does the job without even trying.
How often do you get to kite?
At least 4 to 5 times a week.
How would you describe your style of riding?
Radical.
How similar is the technique of regular surfing to the technique of surfing with a kite?
Either way you have this need to hit the lip or get barreled, With a kite is harder to get barreled but you get to do everything much faster, so I think both complement each other well.
Have you had any close calls … waves closing out on you, etc.?
A couple of tangles and extreme gusts without the board on a unforgiving beach break in front of a reef wall.
What advice to you have for someone in that situation?
Try to go the opposite way of the kite to maintain tension, the last thing you want is a wave or windgust to power up your kite while the lines are around you.
What is the best way for a freestyle rider to get into wave riding?
Do what you do in sync with the wave and try to link it with more until the end of the wave.
What is the windy season in Peru? And are there waves year round?
Where I live is windy from June to December but you can always go south where the water is colder and still have wind the remaining months. We've got waves year round since we get both south and north swells.
What are your goals as far as your riding goes? What do you want to be able to do, that you can't do? What are you working on?
I want to have fun and get to ride the most waves I can, being able to use the best equipment possible. By doing that, everything will come along.
The PKRA Wave Championship was invitation only, limited to about 30 riders. How did you get selected?
Lately there have been so many kiters and teams coming to Peru that I guess some of them probably mentioned me at some point. Also Jose Rosas knew someone in Chile and finally Martin Vari suggested I should go and recommended me for a slot.
According to Jose, you were favored to win, but got a bit unlucky at the beginning of the comp in Chile. What happened?
I wouldn't call it unlucky; I would say it was just inexperience. My first heat was actually my first kite session in Chile as well as my first kite contest with brand new boards. As the event unfolded, I got more comfortable.
What are your competitive and/or travel plans for 2008?
I'd love to go back to Tahiti, probably Indo too. I've been there but only surfing. Panama and Galapagos are cool places too. I usually go every year when the swells are worth it. Definitly looking forward to the next Wave championship and plenty of traveling in Peru. We've got such good places it's ridiculous. Many times I've travelled, and it's like "f&#* if I stayed at home I would have scored not only more but alone."
Peru is regarded as a prime kiteSURFING destination and it's atracting a lot of attention these days. Although it doesn't seem to be working at the moment, Wawa's website is www.delwawa.com/ - we're working on getting a corrected link, so check back soon.
Here is a report from a nice session we had 2 days ago.
On the 26th, the weather was bad in Grenoble. We decided to take this opportunity to reach a spot that we have dreamed for a long time. A huge plateau with beautiful dunes of snow. Unfortunately it is far away from everything during winter !
We took some sleds, put our kite, food, sleeping bag in and went accross the foggy forest for 3 hours. We arrive at night at a refuge near the spot. It was fullmoon and windy but the fog was too strong to kite safely during the night. So we went sleepping for almost 12 hours …
When we wake up, the sun was shining. We went out from the forest, the wind was there! We put the kites in the air and have the best kiting session of our lifes. We tried to go everywhere but the spot was really too big for only 4 kiters.
Check the pictures HERE and the GPS log file for GoogleEarth HERE
New frenzy are very confortable and stable. The turning behavior is perfect for mountaineering. Thanks for all the improvements. The XC harness is also very interesting to pull a pulka. Do you think about that when put 2 loops on the sides ?
Happy new year !
Ben
What is your best souvenir on this KPWT 2007 ?
I had a lot of fun on the KPWT tour this year and my memories about the competitions, places and many nice people are a great souvenir. The very best one would for sure be the huge "Teri Trophy" for the overall World Title that I got in Noumea.
It is huge and was not easy to bring back home, but it is beautiful and will sure get a special place in my home.
What was your best/most difficult heat of the season?
My heats in the competition in Italy (Lago di Como) were by far the most difficult heats of the season.
I was sick, had 39 fever and was super week. Thanks to my dear team mate Clinton Bolton I only needed to come to the beach for one heat at the time and he took care of my equipment.
It is so nice to have a great team mate like Clinton, but it is surely no fun to get sick just before a comp.
The best heats I probably had in Brazil. There it was fun to compete in the great winds and the constant conditions and easy to pull of the better moves.
What is your favorite spot to kite ?
I really enjoy to kite different spots and am traveling the world to be able to do so. I don't have one favorite kite spot, but many spots I really like. I really like to ride waves on Maui for example and for flat water I enjoy to ride the lagoons in Ceara/Brazil a lot.
There are just so many great spots out there and it is fun to explore them!
What is your feeling about the Overall World Championship Title ?
I am very, very happy about the World Championship Title, especially because the Overall ranking was so tight until the very last minute and it was all decided in the last competition of the year. Also, the 2007 Overall World Champion Title is has actually been the very first one
that has ever been awarded and that makes it even more special to me! But I have not only been happy with the Overall Title, I was also very stoked to be able to become 2007 Wave and Race.
World Champion as I have been really getting into Wave riding and Racing and am really enjoying these disciplines that were quite new for me as I have only really been competing in Freestyle before. I love the variety of kite-boarding and am more than happy that I was able to do good in a variety of disciplines too.
Overall world Champion… you have established yourself as a world class competitor. What are your plans / goals for 2008 now ?
After a long and busy season 2007 and now will need a little brake and give my body a little rest.
For the next season I would like to do the KPWT tour again and to compete in Wave, Racing and Freestyle and the Overall ranking. I am very much forward to see everybody again at the beginning of the next season!
KPWT
www.kiteboardpro.com
photo : Carlos Delicado
Kiteforum.com wishes you a happy new year 2008!
May you all have always good winds, lots of sunshine, and stay healthy!
2008 will bring updates of the sites and a restructure of existing sites to keep you informed and entertained at any time you tune in!
Stay connected!
Hi Everyone,
We are already working on the movie now and I guess you are all excited and looking forward to see more stuff.
It was a challenge for all of us to mix competition, freeriding, freestyling and parties …..also try to keep this frendly spirit but you and we did it.
We had an amazing weeks in Serre Chevalier and on the Col du Lautaret!
Thanks again to everyone to make the Serre Chevalier SnowKiteMasters grow .
We finally managed to archive the freestyle competition on the Col de Lautaret 2058 meters.
The strong wind got the riders using 7-10m kites and they showed top level freestyle snowkiting. The ski single elimination let down Björn Kaupang and Johann Civel in the Final which Björn could win.
In the Snowboarders final Sigve Botnen and Chasta had a hard fight but local Chasta could prove himself still as the strongest and got the first place ranking.
All visitors were severed with an amazing show by the riders in perfect conditions.
Many tanks to all our partners and people who're grooving with us.
SKI RESULTS "CHAMPIONNATS DE FRANCE 2008" SKM Serre Chevalier
Results France
1 Fr Civel Ozone SKR ZAG
2 Fr Robin Flysurfer
3 Fr Beaume Ozone SKR Les 2 alpes
4 Fr Thollet Air Evolution Zag Gath Intersport BSM
4 Fr Petrement Air Evolution Kiteaddict Credit agricole Landsailor
5 Fr Sublet Cabhrina
Results World
1 No Kaupang Fone Norronna Prolimit Quiksilver
2 Sw Widerstrom Flysurfer
3 Ger Bubmann Flysurfer Chiemse Mystic Scott
4 It Culasso Advance Dainese
Results SKM
1 No Kaupang Fone Norronna Prolimit Quiksilver
2 Fr Civel Ozone ZAG SKR
3 Fr Robin Flysurfer
4 Sw Widerstom Flysurfer
SNOWBOARD RESULTS "CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE 2008" SKM Serre Chevalier
Results France
1 Fr Chastagnol Ozone Red Bull Dakine Apo
2 Fr Blanchard Flexifoil Apo Loubsol
3 Fr Lhote Fone Mystic
4 Fr Couvreur Flysurfer
4 Fr Chedal Air Evolution
4 Fr Rupp Airush
4 Fr Freund Mac Twist Kitest
Results world
1 No Botnen Ozone Brunotti
2 Au Palmers Ozone Mushow.cz Prolimit SP
3 No Meum Nobile Zeal Mystic
4 Cz Zach Ozone Mushow.cz Arnette Falen, Celsius
5 Ger Muller Flysurfer Kiteaira Ripzone Trans
5 Ch Luppi RRD kitesnow.ch
Results SKM
1 Fr Chastagnol Ozone Red Bull Dakine Apo
2 No Botnen Ozone Brunotti
3 Cz Palmer Ozone
4 Fr Blanchard Flexifoil Apo Loubsol
Best Tricks
Snowboard ….. Sigve Botnen
Ski …. Björn Kaupang
And also Marek Zack "Murphy" SnowKiteMaster ….for his spirit.
Stay tuned more information and pictures will follow soon on www.snowkitingworld.com
The SKM Crew
