Christian and Karine have been on the IKSURFMAG team since the very beginning and have been essential in helping kiteboarders from around the world learn and refine their craft! In this special feature, they share their observations on how kitesurfing has changed as long-time kiters and coaches.

"Change is the only constant in life" (thank you, Heraclitus). 

It's inevitable, it's evolution, and we should embrace it, the unknown, an exciting part of life. In a sport like kitesurfing, nothing ever remains still. There are, of course, exceptions; let's start with them, as they're the ones who got us here in the first place.

We should lay down a quick caveat that what follows are snippets of our opinion, just that, no more, no less. Nibbles of subjective take by two people on the part of a sport that we've been involved with for nigh on 23 years. Nothing is fact, but neither is it fiction.

Avant-Garde

First and foremost, hats off to Rou and Alex for their vision and such a brilliant concept in the first place. We're sure the powers that be at IKSURFMAG towers won't mind us evoking that back at the time of its inception, there were more than a few folks in and around the kiting industry who thought that a digital magazine was bonkers and would never catch on. Now, when's the last time you somewhat guiltily thumbed through your publication of choice in a branch of WHSmith?

Happy Perennials

Well, in a nutshell, we're still writing technique, we're still running clinics, still flying Cabrinha (ignoring a short midlife crisis), and we're still very much together. All in all, plenty enough reason to pop open the bubbly and enjoy a right good knees up. However, this isn't about us; it's about you and this wonderful way of spending time on the water.

The Essence

Thankfully the essence of kiting hasn't changed at all; it's fun! Many of us will have experienced the same moment, witnessing some ecstatic kiter flying, floating lazily on the breeze. If it's in you, you can't not react to this sight. We've heard many a fellow kiter wax lyrical about not only the joy of kiting, the pleasure of learning, but also how they're unable to think of anything but kiting whilst they're on the water. As fashionable as living in the moment has become, kiting has always been a welcome distraction in which you can merrily lose yourself.

More Than One Way to Smile

Kiting offers so much diversity. There are a plethora of ways to enjoy it, whether you're just stoked on being in the ocean, happy to share your time with others, intent on learning a new trick or skill, riding a wave, sending yourself into the stratosphere, or pulling the trigger on a big one. For sure, new craft and more extreme moves have evolved, but the joy remains.

The Flame Lives On

As instructors and coaches, this has been our lifeblood. Watching the flame flicker into life, pupils dilate, smile broaden, and then hearing the unrestrained childlike giggle or whoop of utter joy from so many grown men and women, and that, after a decent downwind body drag! 🙂 This all-consuming elation and liberation hasn't changed one bit. Anyone and everyone lucky enough to have been bitten by the bug knows this feeling only too well. We're fortunate enough to be constantly entertained, inspired and motivated by our guests, students and readers/watchers, and as such, we dedicate everything to them and you. Amen to that.

True Community

This shared experience leads to a wonderful sense of community. Our mild dependence on one another for a launch, a land or a little advice on kite size or a new spot's intricacies. In general, kiting inspires a circle of help, encouraging us all out of our shells, like joining a giant Conga. Long may it last.

Die Hards

It's also incredible how some riders have managed to stay relevant for so long. Carving out lasting careers or building brands like Mark Shinn through their hard work, skill, dedication and resilience. Starting young may have helped, but the likes of Aaron, Mitu, Ruben, Jalou, Kevin and Bruna are names that still resonate. And a shout out to Marc Jacobs, still up there and battling with the kids.

Best Friend

An easy-to-use kite is still your best friend. For sure, dedicated equipment for different disciplines and conditions is brilliant, but nothing beats easy. The less you have to worry about flying a kite, the more you can concentrate on what you're trying to do. We've always been fans of less technical kites, which doesn't necessarily mean less capable, sporty or able. If you're trying something new, why not make it as "less difficult" as possible? We've been recommending the same kite to our guests through its various iterations for donkey's years. Any guesses? It's an Uncle Pat's special…

What Has Changed 

...other than shorts were long and boards were short? Where to start? There have been so many positive changes, necessary, evolutionary and creatively. The people, the places, the perspective, the equipment and what's become possible. Kiting borrowed a plenty, but now seems very much on its own unique path. The level of commitment, risk and entertainment is somewhere in the region of Nitro Circus shenanigans.

The Show

At the end of the day, kiting is still a spectacle to behold, and it's gone full circle. It may not be the likes of Jeff Tobias and Martin Vari, early rock stars going huge on and off the water, or a past world champ who was fond of the odd ciggie and liked nothing more than a cold one to quench his thirst. But by golly, it's gone totally bananas. When KOTA morphed into a kite loop fest, who would ever believe that it would meteorically rise into kiting's own legitimate version of FMX? OK, the kit has developed, but the riders, crikey, it's next-level stuff that these girls and boys are throwing down that scares the bejesus out of us. Bertrand Fleury and his short line loops circa 2004 exempt, of course.

Safety

You can educate to prevent accidents, but when it hits the fan, we've now got kites that depower significantly and have safety releases. We're all in a better boat for that. This has opened the world of kiting to many more people, which is amazing. It's sobering to think what has passed to get here, but thankfully gone are the days of homemade chicken fingers and Wichard snap shackles.

Relaunch

Over the years, every lesson teaching someone to relaunch has filled us with wonder; it never ceases to amaze us. How much hair the Legaignoux brothers must have pulled out to make this a possibility? It's come a long way. From needing the lungs of a free diver and the swimming prowess of Michael Phelps to requiring only the gentlest of touches that JR Hartley would be proud of. That's progress.

Coaching

For us, this is the most exciting challenge and what keeps us fresh. We constantly have to adapt, learn, grow and develop our teaching methods and coaching syllabus to suit new developments, new disciplines, and new ideas. Nowadays, there is so much information available that people can overload and confuse themselves, so we're often undoing bad habits before we can start polishing and progressing. It's part of the learning process.

Boots Killed Freestyle!

What worked for Lou Wainman, banging out impossible wakeboard moves on a two-line kite, wasn't for everyone. From wakestyle to freestyle, unhooking, blind landings, and handle passing were all the rage (and thankfully still are for some). However, as boots became more popular, donning a pair before a certain point on the learning curve just made everything infinitely less pleasant. It may be water, but catching an edge in boots most definitely rings the bell!

Fashion

Kiting started as a big air sport and has now gone full cycle into extreme big air. On the beach, kiters used to froth over a Chaos, a Fuel, a Vegas or a Razor; now it's Nitro, Orbit, Evo, and the list goes on. We still coach across the full range; it's always a mixed bag of moves and craft, and there is so much to learn. Some of our regulars have a huge box of tricks that comes with time, practice and persistence. Although we teach less freestyle, it's still on the menu, as one of our favourite Austrians, Dr Jo, will attest to. Different strokes for different folks. At the end of the day, it's about going for what rocks your boat, whether raley or kite loop and what the conditions allow. There's always room to mix it up and paint your own canvas; just look at Tom Bridge!

High Performance

As already alluded to, kites have developed massively. Many have become easier to use and have much larger wind ranges. Some have become much faster and much lighter. We've all seen what these kites are capable of doing. This is a double-edged sword. For sure, if you're trying to invert your Boogie loop, it may be perfect, but if you're wondering why learning to back roll is terrifying? Kiting on the edge and not feeling where your kite is doesn't always translate to comfort or the ability to learn all those tasty new tricks.

Fun Fact

Haha, when we were nippers and all that!! There is a myriad of reasons, along with recent events and inflation over 17 years, that kites have obviously become more expensive, but... Did you know that every kite used to come with a pump, bar and lines?

 

By Christian and Karine
Christian and Karine have been working together as a coaching team, running improver to advanced kitesurfing clinics since 2003.

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