Kitepix Magazine No.6 April - June 2015 | Page 122

ways. It’s the perfect balance of sheer
brute physicality, technical ability, and
mental toughness. Making the board
go really fast consistently takes a huge
amount of lower body and core strength,
an athletic performance on power with
any big wave, big air or wake styler. I’m
inspired by the dedication that Rubén
Lenten, Kevin Langeree, and Youri Zoon
to name few, put in to their physicality
and training. They are the embodiment
of a new breed of kiteboarders. Racing
is no different, anybody who wants to
be at the top has a gym, diet and skills
program equal to that of any top athlete.

It was pretty clear after the 2013 European
Championships that the advancement
in foil design gave massive performance
gains. Riders are going faster and higher
(closer to the wind) than ever before. High
aspect race foils fly with subtle differences.
I don’t think it’s a beginner or advanced
skill per say, it’s simply a different skill that
you have to dial into. Once I made the
transition I never looked back. Along the
way there were quite a few swims back to
shore with a water filled mattress of a kite
in the first month or so. That part is not fun,
but you get through it quickly enough as
your kite skills improve.

You mentioned the move to soft
kites from LEI’s (Leading Edge
Inflatable’s). What are they like to fly
and race with?

The advantages however are undeniable.
In large to medium kite sizes they perform
better and more efficiently, turn faster, and
handle low winds like nothing you could
imagine. Water relaunch in super low winds
is far more consistent than inflatable’s,

and are generally a joy to use. They
require precise handling and light touch,
needing to always think ahead. That all
becomes second nature after a while,
then they fly like you can only dream,
It’s exhilarating. I’ve even got used to [