On The Fly
Issue 98 / Tue 11th Apr, 2023
In On The Fly, we go all around the world in just a few short pages! Find out what Cohan Van Dijk and Johanna Catharina-Edin have been up to in South Africa. Then, head over to Brazil with the World Class Kite Academy and Ramiro Gallart. And, last but not least, watch some of the latest video releases from Slingshot and Prolimit!
COMING SOON // Follow The Current
The Prolimit team made what has become an annual migration to Cape Town just a few months ago! This film production brings together Prolimit & Naish Kiteboarding international team riders Stig Hoefnagel and Helena Brochocka for an adventure along Africa's southern coastline.
Check out the teaser trailer here and get ready to Follow the Current with Prolimit! Stay tuned for the full film and the feature article in the next issue of IKSURFMAG…
BATTLE IN BRAZIL // World Class Kiteboard Academy
After a full day of Maths, History and Spanish classes in the Brazilian heat, the students of the international high school for kiters pile into the school bus, which happens to be 4X4 trucks laden with kite gear! Today is not an ordinary training session for the young talents at the World Class Kiteboard Academy; it's time for the Lukas Hanson Invitational 2022.
Each school quarter, the World Class Kiteboard Academy holds a school competition named after the student winner of the previous quarter's competition. The vision is for students to have the opportunity to test their limits through healthy competition, emphasise sportsmanship and facilitate team building.
It's a quick drive from the school campus in Flecheiras to the competition area, a tiny tidal lagoon that appears in the Taieri River mouth. This small spot is only rideable for four riders, an hour on either side of high tide. It's the size for a four-person competition heat and fills up just long enough to run the competition. Jackpot!
The action ensues, coordinated with students waving competition flags made of an assortment of Polly's exercise band (red), Simon's kite bag (yellow) and Alex's yoga mat (green). The heats are full of surprises, including a coconut tree rail ride* from freestyle maestro from Poland, Maksymilian, switch tricks from the rookie rider, Amelie, and perfectly executed board offs from the youngest member of the team, Keoni. In the end, it was Lukas Hanson (USA) who clinched the top spot once again. Will he hold onto the title next quarter in Southern Sardinia, though? Huge thank you to North Kiteboarding for the rider shirts and podium prizes - a hybrid Focus board and the Fix boot bindings.
*Waxed up using sunscreen!
Overall results:
- 1st - Lukas Hanson (USA)
- 2nd - Joppe van de Poll (NED)
- 3rd - Maks Mielczarek (POL)
Coconut awards (honourable mentions):
- Best Sportsmanship - Keoni Lemarchand Drouet (FRA)
- Best Trick - Maks Mielczarek (POL)
- Most Varied Player (MVP) - Maks Mielczarek (POL)
- Best Crash - Kenneth Penman (USA)
- The Golden Boot - Amelie Adelgasser (AUT)
PARK & RIDE // Ramiro Gallart
Just over a year ago, freestyle and park rider Ramiro Gallart suffered a game-changing injury, tearing both his ACL and PCL, an injury that would take him off the water for a year. A recovery time of that length is an extreme challenge, both mental and physical.
Click here to read more about Rami's injury and recovery process in his interview with Holly Keenan.
Finally able to return to the water again, Rami joined the crew for a park and freestyle combo trip to Brazil, and he shared his insights!
Ramiro Gallart: As we know, a lot of the riders that built the park movement came from the freestyle division, and at some point, it seemed that there was a division of the path a rider could take. But as things evolved and changed, we have seen that riders from these two worlds have been spending more and more time together with the same purpose: share the stoke on the water and pursue the sport's progression.
As much as we would love to share more sessions together, it can be hard as we all need to attend different events and meet different obligations. Nevertheless, Brazil is always there to recruit everyone for a month or two, where the only responsibility is to keep the body in shape and push the sport every single day, create outstanding media, land NBDs, and make plans for the upcoming year.
This past year, we shared a house with friends from everywhere. From the freestyle division, Gianmaria Coccoluto, Maxime Chabloz, and Nina Font, and from the park side, Noe Font, Ewan Jaspan, Jack Rieder, Lauren Holman, and myself (Ramiro Gallart). Last but very far from least, our media friends Laci Kobulsky and Andre Magarao. It was a time to remember; good times, lots of riding, sunset shoots, some rails and air tricks, follow cams, and dinners together reviewing footage. We were all hyped by the experience, and we look forward to repeating it again.
I found the division between the two disciplines somewhat similar to the conflict that often comes up at events where strapless riders more orientated on riding waves meet riders more into strapless freestyle. I remember from university studies that there is a magic number in diversity; too much brings chaos and lack of coordination, and too little may bring coordination but a lack of creativity and innovation. There is a sweet spot in between, and I do believe that, in the blend between park and freestyle, we have found it!
SNAPSHOTS // Johanna-Catharina Edin
After a full summer season in Cape Town, one thing is for sure: Johanna-Catharina Edin has made some incredible memories and experienced some epic sessions! Take a look at some snapshots from her summer in South Africa!
NEW RELEASE // Dream Green
A green UFO has been sighted over the waters of the Caribbean! Slingshot has just dropped a special edition of the UFO V2, along with a creative video concept! Check it out - you'll be saying bye to the winter blues and transported to tropical heaven in no time!
"Snow sucks. Nevertheless, sometimes that's what nature deals you and you gotta grind through. But just because you're stuck in the cold doesn't mean your mind is trapped in a frozen wasteland, too. Deep in the hippocampus is where we hold those memories of warmer times with wind and water. Memories so vivid they melt the freeze. When the winter blues are peaking, that’s when Fred Hope dreams green."
Click here to learn more about the limited edition UFO V2.
RIDER REPORT // Cohan Van Dijk
He's already become a familiar name in the world of Big Air kiteboarding, and he's only just getting started! Cohan van Dijk has worked his way to the top of the big air scene (literally), joining North Kiteboarding's international team. His announcement made a splash, as the first time he was spotted on his new kites was at a critical competition!
This January, Cohan claimed the top podium spot at the Cape Town edition of the Big Air Kite League event and won the viewers' votes with the Rider of the Day award! Check out the video documenting his double victory by Kyle Cabano. We can't wait to see what's next from this talented Dutch rider!
Videos
By Crystal Veness
Editor at IKSURFMAG, Crystal Veness hails from Canada but is based in South Africa. When she isn't busy kitesurfing or reporting on the latest industry news for the mag, she is kicking back somewhere at a windy kite beach or working on creative media projects.
