With 2019 almost in the review mirror, my kiteboarding adventure has taken a turn up. I am super stoked to have joined Airush Kiteboarding. I have only had the equipment for a little over a month, but my first contact has been awesome! Not only with the equipment, but also with the team of people at Airush. I look forward to a successful collaboration with them, a brand that has always come across as a core, driven by people who love the sport. That really appeals to me.
The “Wave”
It was a serious baptism of new gear with my first taste of the “Wave” and the 5’6 Amp in some pretty massive waves at my home spot. The back swells were challenging but the reform gave me a chance to get a taste of what the equipment can do and left me frothing for another session.
On my second session I got a chance to really enjoy the board and kite. It didn’t take long for me to feel totally at ease and to start hitting some radical sections.
On a side note, a new board gave me the opportunity to test the Vibram five fingers on a clean board surface. I am beyond stoked to report that the V-Aqua from Vibram give enough grip to not need any EVA grip or wax. I will keep riding like this for a while, see how it evolves and then do a more in depth report on that.
The Union
My first sessions on the Union 8m was also a “pedal to the metal” affair. 30\35 knots, maybe more. tried on 24 m and 21 m set up. Did some boosting, some old school and threw some nasty loops. The kite can be gentle or super aggressive, depending on how low you throw. The size for me is perfect to really boost and loop. I look forward to some more overpowered sessions on it.
Also stoked to report that the cleat bar’s stopper works a charm for those “Old School” moves. Bring on the “dead mans”!
In his book “Candide” the great french writer Voltaire referred to El Dorado as the “happiest place on earth”, a kind of Nirvana littered with gold and precious stones.
Whenever someone mentions Namibia, a few things come to mind: Desert, and Diamonds are generally in the top 5. Even though the geological landscape may be reminiscent of Candide’s discovery, my trip to Namibia was to be a kiteboarding Eldorado.
Together with my travel companion, (who happens to take great photos) we ventured out on a tourist / kite mission to Namibia. Traveling from the Eastern Cape in South Africa, it’s a ‘monster’ drive, especially since we decided to go via Cape Town. Keep in mind that the initial intention was to have a balance between kiting and sightseeing. It didn’t quite work out that way.
First stop was the Cape Peninsula with all it’s touristic appeal. Have you heard of Cape Town? They say it’s a great kiteboarding destination…
After a quick session at Tableview we decided to escape from the crowds and headed North. The original plans was to get to the skeleton coast, but with days numbered, the kilometres piling up and encountering some flooding from recent torrential rains, we changed course and concentrated on the south of Namibia and more specifically the Luderitz area.
Luderitz has so much character. Small, pleasant, friendly and so German in its appearance. It is quite a surprise to find Bavarian style buildings in the middle of the Namibian desert. You kind of expect a Oompha band in lederhossen to be marching down the street at any moment.
German ArchitectureChurch and Flamingoes
Luderitz of course has already reached fame in the kiting / sailing world with its speed channel where speed records are broken every year during the speed week. The tortured rocks, dusty windows and sanded roofs are a testament to how strong and relentless the wind gets. It was with some tangible excitement that I decided to check out the kiteboarding spots. There was some wind predicted but I was also aware that it was nearing the end of the season.
First stop was the Lagoon right next to the famous speed channel. I didn’t realise that the channel needs to be maintained and as a result only found ankle deep puddles of red salty water. It was hard to imagine going down there at speed but have definitely gained new respect for the crazy men and woman who do it. There is some hard stuff very close to you to plough into should things go wrong.
the end of the channel
I then went to check out the next spot called Grosse Buchte on the other side of the peninsula where it was blowing cross onshore. Wind was light so on advice from a local I went back to the Lagoon and set up my 8m Escape which turned out to be real fun. Local knowledge prevails! The wind does funnel in and ended up being way stronger then I expected. A fun flat water session all on my own with some spectators stopping by and Flamingoes keeping weary eyes on me.
The next day, more wind, and this time I decided to try the onshore Grosse Buchte spot. I don’t normally kite onshore on a wave board. My home spot is blessed with cross shore winds. But this time, with a small swell, I decided to give it a go and see how strapless airs would feel with this favourable set up. Needless to say, popping the board off the waves is way easier. So I started going higher and landing them too, much to my surprise! By the end of the session I was well powered on my 7m and decided to pop some jumps on my twin tip and throw some loops. The wind is nice and dense and gives you that solid feel so you get tempted to push it, however being onshore, the beach gets close very quickly on those wild loops!
The Next section of the trip was off road. Meeting up with some friends we decided to explore and found some unbelievable conditions and spots. Maybe we got lucky, I don’t know, but because of the fragile Nature of the environment, these spots will remain nameless for now and only accessible to the more adventurous souls.
Amazing left hand breaking waves with cross off winds in surreal desert landscapes, jackals foraging on the water’s edge, hyenas, seals… I will never forget this section of the trip and if my stars align once more, I will visit that area again.
Namibia turned into a kiteboarding fest. Out of 10 days I kited 5 (the other days I was inland or travelling). There is so much to discover on that coast line. I fear a lifetime wouldn’t suffice. Yes the water is cold, the weather extreme, but the conditions for kiting are epic. The main tourist destinations are filled with thrill seeking Europeans on adventure overland trucks or gold plated 4×4 SUVs. The Namibians have taped into that and you will find the main attractions costly and very “first world”, but it doesn’t take much to get off the beaten track even in a normal car. And there is a lot of it!
With regards to Kiting, it felt like an endless playground of options. One glimpse at the Namibian coastline and you know spots are a plenty. But be ready to kite alone! Not everyone’s cup of tea and I guess more suitable to the to the “soul” kiters and not the social media brigade. This applies to the social activities off the water too. Luderitz I am sure has the potential to be active on the social front. You would just need to get to know some of the locals.
A massive Thank you to Manuela Borsato for taking amazing photos and for being very patient whilst I was loosing my mind.
Last time I was in Namibia 15 years ago, it left an indelible mark, and that mark was etched a little deeper in my soul. I will go back.
I’ve always enjoyed every aspect of Kiteboarding. I think it goes back to my addiction to power kiting.
As a result, Â you will find me on a twin tip, on a strapless surfboard, on wake skate in strong winds in soft winds in waves on flat, getting stoke just from being out there and having fun whatever the conditions. (haven’t tried foiling cause it’s so big and I have the luxury of riding windy spots most of the time)
In the past I used to enjoy my Peter Lynn “Swell” as a “do it all” kite, it rides magnificently in the waves, but it jumps and loops and does all the other stuff pretty well too.
But then came an Escape v5 prototype. More C shaped than its previous incarnations, it had something different from the Swell that got me hooked. It was that vertical lift, and the smoothness in the loops. I just had to admit that for megalooping it did have an edge.
After working with the designer on the V5 and the V6, I just had to have it in my quiver.
The tradition has been carried into the “Escape V7”
It is such a smooth kite! you notice it immediately in flight. Compare it with most other kites in the sky and you will notice that it has less flutter and that the canopy looks smoother in the air. As a result it is a super stable kite, super predictable. Besides those attributes, the fixed bridle gives it that connected feeling in whatever input you throw at it and the bar feel is just perfect, not too heavy, not too light.
Last year I ended up with an 11m Escape v6 in Sardinia and absolutely loved the kite for airstyle and general free ride. This year I will be there with Escape v7 13m, 11m and 9m. I already had a few session on the 13m and was pleasantly surprised at the manoeuvrability of the kite for its size.
For my weight I’ve always maintained the the best size boosting kite would be an 8 and with the addition of 8m and 10m, I finally have that size to throw around! I’ve had a few outings with it and YES, it is as I expected.
It feels like a 7m but has more hang time. I have not been overpowered on it yet, so still to find its top end, but the loops have been an absolute blast!
The “Escape v7” as just been tweaked. There is no radical change in the kite, but yes it’s smoother and even less flutter in those big loops. I’ve also been messing around with line length and getting some great results for different applications especially for radical megaloops.
I strongly suggest you try this kite for yourself.
