Category Archives: Kiteboarding

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Kiteboarding

Italian exposure 22 years later

Italian Gazzetta article

Not many people know this, but my Kiteboarding experience (in the water) started in Italy. I was living in Rome at the time. Coming from my waveski days, I was desperate for some sporting activity in contact with the water. in 1999 Kiteboarding had just appeared and I was tempted. The cost kept me away, so I got close to it via a large foil kite to jump on the beach and get a taste. 

Kite Jumping on Land

From Beach jumping to the water

The kite was 5m Peel which at the time was a beast of a kite with handles and a really scary climbing harness with no release. After a few attempts with the harness, I realised that without a release, it was way too dangerous.
So it was with no harness and maybe a  backstrap that I proceeded. With time it got more adventurous with wilder conditions. After clocking a few 30m long jumps (around 6m in the air) on the beach, I decided to get in the water.  Somehow I managed with second hand stuff and building some bits myself. It was necessary before I did some permanent damage to my body.
And that is how I stepped into the world of Kiteboarding…

22 years later

22 years later I find myself as the Big Air Kite League Tour Director. I get approached by the Gazzetta dello Sport (Top Italian Sports Publication) for comments on the state of Kiteboarding today. Somewhat of a step up!  From the beaches of Fregene and Ostia jumping on my foil kite to comments on the state of Kiteboarding today! What a trip 

https://www.gazzetta.it/mare/storie/09-05-2022/kitesurf-big-air-voli-acqua-unica-disciplina-1652082951.

If you don’t speak Italian, you can just enjoy the images taken by Manu Borsato. 

Kiteboarding

Big air kiteleague – Cape Town 2021-2022

Big Air Kite League

Cedric Vandenschrik Headshot for Big Air Kite league

In October 2021, I started chatting with Michael Macdonald owner of Big Air Kite League (BAKL) about the event he wanted to organise in Cape Town  for the beginning of December. 

I had been following BAKL the whole of 2021 with interest. The concept of a contest concentrating on the big air discipline and the creation of a new platform for new up and coming riders to take part in was something, in my opinion, that had been missing in the fractured world of Kiteboarding.  With not much time to spare, I decided to jump in there and give Michael a hand to get this contest ready for the 6th of December.

The virus strikes

Once again the little virus, or rather the uninformed media panic that seems to follow it, struck and the contest had to be delayed. We had no choice. Flights were banned, and much uncertainty lay ahead with half of the permit requests process already done and the possibility of South Africa to be shutting down over the festive season. 

Resilience

But we kept our hopes up. Where there is hope there is life! After a few weeks, we decided to continue the permit application process with a window period running from the 17th of December to the 30th of January. 

Until now the forecast has not played along and as plagued us with much uncertainty, but we remain confident that the event will run before the end of the month. 

The venue is Dolphin beach and the contest will be run by some of the best people in the business with the best up and coming riders in the world.

Cedric Vandenschrik: Contest organiser
Olaf van Tol: Race director
Su Kay: Beach marshall
Dave Kay: Flags

 

So watch the BAKL website and social media network carefully over the next few days as the green light is coming soon!! 

Picture of Olaf van Tol, Dave Kay, Cedric Vandenschrik, Su Kay at dolphin beach cape Town with table mountain in the background
Picture of Olaf van Tol, Dave Kay, Cedric Vandenschrik, Su Kay
Kiteboarding

Looping the “Session” 9m

Looping the 9m Session in 30 knots

The “Session” from Airush is aimed at the waveride / Freeride application. However it has to be mentioned that it comes with two different bridles.

One with 3 pulleys and one with no pulleys.

The 3 pulleys option gives you a very forgiving kite that absorbs gusts and gives you a very comfortable ride. However the fixed bridle, even if it doesn’t absorb the gusts as well, gives you a way more direct kite, a little heavier on the bar but more connected.

And suddenly it starts performing as a looper too!

Check out this video where I decided to push the Looping side of the “session”.