The release of a new kite always comes with the excitement and, often, the chaos of a product shoot - and this story is no different! FLYSURFER's newest LEI kite, the STOKE, has just been announced, and the team got together to show what this kite is capable of in a unique location. Read more in this IKSURFMAG exclusive article!

To tell the story of a kitesurfing product shoot, you must start at the beginning. Before the riders first set foot on the beach and the kites take their first flight with a camera crew capturing each moment, there is the critical decision of choosing the ideal location. 

The turquoise peeling waves of Mauritius and Hawaii came to mind first, naturally! Heavenly waves are a no-brainer, especially with the big step-up in wave performance in the new STOKE. We considered locations with consistent conditions closer to home, like Fuerteventura. But, as we have all come to realise over the past couple of years, travelling is not as simple as just rocking up at the airport in flip-flops and a t-shirt for a complication-free holiday. From mandatory Covid vaccinations and potentially long quarantine periods, which were the case for Mauritius and Hawaii, to sand storms engulfing the island of Fuerteventura, we had to think outside the box. After weighing up dozens of options, we were surprised to find all arrows pointing towards a not-so-conspicuous option, the U.K. To our luck, the forecast was looking good, so we rounded the team up and headed for the southwesternmost tip of England, Cornwall. 

While the U.K. isn't particularly well-known for epic surfing or wave riding conditions, those in the know appreciate that it can be epic, picturesque and crowd-free. Like with many shoots, a lot needs to align within a short time window. When it comes to stellar wave riding conditions in the U.K, there are A LOT (yes, capitalised) of factors that need to be on your side. And that's all before we even started to worry about the sun coming out! Fortunately, the forecast promised a rising swell accompanied by cross-offshore wind at our first spot, Gwithian. 

U.K. locals Olly Bridge and I, Megan Barnett, were first to arrive and put the kettle on at the Three Mile Beach luxury cottages, our base for the first week of the trip. Situated a stone's throw back from the dramatic cliffs of Gwithian Beach, the bright array of self-contained cottages felt like walking through the perfect beach house Pinterest board, from the wooden barrel sauna to the free-standing bathtub in one of the bedrooms. Shortly after, FLYSURFER's Marketing Manager, Ines Rodlauer, arrived with Matias Lee and photographer Miriam Joanna.

As we all looked out from the top of the cliff at the waves rolling in, we were overcome with excitement about the days to come. We were in a scenery utterly different from the usual places you see in magazines. The deceptive turquoise waters suggested we could have been in Mauritius or Hawaii, albeit 10 degrees colder. Still, there was something about Godrevy Lighthouse standing proud on the rugged little island in the distance that made this place feel so much more captivating. 

On the first morning, we woke up with the 5:00 am sunrise, eager to see if the conditions would match the forecast. The waves were rolling in, but the tide was too high for any kiting. To pass the time, we headed south to check out Marazion, another spot only 15-minutes away. It quickly became apparent why this area of the U.K. is a surfer/kitesurfer's dream. It's one of those areas where you can surf or kitesurf in any wind direction within just a short drive. We explored a tiny section of the beautiful 630-mile-long South West Coast Path in full spring bloom before heading back to check on the tide at Gwithian. 

When we arrived back at the spot, it was 9:30 am, and time for Matias and Olly to get on the water and ride the new STOKES. As the sun played hide-and-seek with the clouds, Miriam photographed for two hours capturing Matias and Olly spraying white water off the back of perfect 4-foot waves, like white rain falling upon the lighthouse behind. But, these tranquil scenes didn't last long. 

As the boys came in for a rest, a group of tourists came up, begging for a photo with them and their kites. Of course, one of the tourists pulled Matias's power lines whilst posing for the photo. Before there was time to scream 'STOP!!', they had both been launched halfway across Gwithian Beach, with Matias' surfboard catapulting straight into the back of his head. Fortunately, the conditions had passed their peak, and the rain came in during Matias' 2-hour wait to get his head glued shut in the hospital. The doctor advised that he take a couple of days off the water. Luckily, Alina Shalin and Roderick Pijls had just arrived with videographer Lidewij Hartog that evening to take over his wave-riding shift.  

The following day, the waves seemed a little messier, but the swell had grown, and by 9:45 am, it was time to get back on the water. Alina, Roderick and Olly rode endless glossy left-handers while Lidewij and Miriam took wide-angle shots from the water. Miriam later moved back onto dry land to capture the riders and new STOKE amidst the rugged mudstone backdrop. The crew stayed out for five hours, catching wave after wave after wave. This would be for the best, as it would turn out to be the biggest and best day of the trip.

As the conditions shifted, the realisation of how lucky we had been during the first two days of our trip became apparent. Ready for a change of scenery, Roderick and Matias tried their luck at a freestyle session in the river mouth near Hayle. The flat-water lagoon looks exactly like Brazil, with a little less sunshine and a pretty little church poking out in the background. It has the potential to be a great spot, but the off-shore wind direction made this a very gusty session. Olly also went for a foil at Marazion with the new STOKE while the wind was light; foiling alongside St. Michael's Mount, a huge stone castle standing tall upon a tidal island, was magical, and made for some spectacular drone shots.   

Unfortunately, just as our final team member, Johanna-Catharina Edin, arrived the next day, the wind completely subsided, providing the rest of the team with a well-earned rest on dry land. We took advantage of this perfect opportunity to explore the British coastline, capture lifestyle shots and visit the local pub. With a new seaside village to discover every 15 minutes or so, it felt like a real adventure cruising the coastline. Miriam and Lidewij found excitement and inspiration around every corner as each new photogenic scene presented itself. One of our favourite places to visit was the town of St. Ives, the epitome of a British fishing village, with cobbled streets and rows of brightly painted cottages with troughs full of flowers upon each window. It's a must-visit in Cornwall and the best place to sample the freshest fish and chips. 

It was hard to leave this magical scenery, but the time had come to begin the second chapter of the trip. The team made the 6-hour journey up to the southwestern tip of Wales, an equally beautiful and perhaps less discovered region of the U.K. known as Pembrokeshire. It is this corner of the world where Rou, owner and publisher of IKSURFMAG, is based. He soon equipped us with all the local knowledge on where the best kite spots were, and we were beyond ready for some more wave-riding. 

On our first day, we headed for Newgale, a beautiful half-sand, half-pebble beach in the heart of the National Park. We were craving another good session, but the wind had other ideas and never broke 10 knots. Instead, we took the opportunity to capture some close-up shots of the 4, 6, 8 and 12m kites. In true British fashion, the rain took over most of our afternoon, so once again, it was back to the accommodation to plan for the upcoming days. 

The next morning, we woke at the crack of dawn and set off to a secret spot we had been told of that looked just like it was from the Lord of the Rings. But, as the best kite spots go, it was quite the mission to get there. Our 5:30 am alarms went off, followed by a 30-minute drive and a 40-minute walk down to the spot. Massive, dark, jagged cliffs crept out from a misty beach creating an incredible backdrop for Catta and Roderick's 10m STOKE kite session. While the conditions were not the most epic, completing our action shot list and scoring some seriously dramatic drone clips was a success. After a quick breakfast stop, the team headed for 'the Harry Potter beach', where we linked up with the IKSURFMAG team, Rou and Anastasia, and tester Liam, for a session. 

For the final chapter of the trip, Ines, Miriam and Matias headed a few hours south to Exmouth in Devon to see where Olly and I grew up. They got to meet the entire Bridge family and see the highly respected watersports centre they have created right on the seafront, Edge Watersports. To our luck, Exmouth works in all but a few wind directions with two flat water spots to choose from. Over the trip's final days, we all scored multiple kite sessions on the river spot known as 'The Duckpond' as it's where to head when the wind is N/NW. In the summer evenings, the land breeze fills in, and you can kite amongst the boat moorings as the sun sets up the river behind you. It's a seriously beautiful freestyle heaven that is also excellent for foiling. 

Our trip to Exmouth was fuelled by coffee and acai bowls from the appropriately named Hangtime Café, a cool beach shack Olly and I set up on the Exmouth seafront. The team loved Exmouth so much that they extended our trip a few more days! After spending the week getting way too used to boat-tripping to the pub on Olly's boat, 'the 3G's,' it was time to wave goodbye to the U.K. With fond memories and a newfound appreciation for the landscapes, the incredible sunsets and the array of conditions the U.K. has to offer, we couldn't have been luckier. And, hopefully, you get the chance to experience the same one day, should you be so lucky!

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STOKE - IGNITE YOUR FIRE
By Megan Barnett

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