Obsession is a feeling that we can all relate to as kiters. This year, for James Boulding, foiling in every form has become the object of his obsession. In this article, James shares the story of his escape to the winter sun of Kenya to spend some time on the foil!

We all find ourselves amid a season of change. For some, the past year has been the catalyst for a major lifestyle shift. For others, it has been a test of the choices we have made before. At the least, we are all spending more time considering and less time doing. For myself, it has been a time to reflect.

I remember a time when I was utterly consumed by the drive to be out on the water and working on progression in every kite session. It was all about doing whatever it took to learn new tricks and rotations to stay one step ahead of the next kiter on the beach. We had to do everything in our power to stand out from the crowd and diligently portray our best personal attributes to the kiting public and sponsors. They called it ‘living the dream’, and as challenging as it could be, we loved every second of it.

Kitesurfing is fun! It’s a phenomenal lifestyle, and one hell of a way to enjoy being outside. Let's be completely honest: Anyone with the opportunity to kitesurf, no matter their level, is incredibly lucky.

When my priorities began to shift, I can remember trying to identify that slight change in my mindset. Was it purely time on the water that saturated my drive? Was it the endless beatings and back edges that curbed the stoke? Or was I just ‘getting old’? Was realising I can’t obsess over handle passes for my entire life a rite of passage? Answers on a postcard, please!

In my situation, I think it was all of the above combined with a deep interest in how brands operate, the R&D process, and the intricate journey of bringing products to market. That was where I wanted to devote my time and energy.

This year, I found myself slipping back into those old habits of obsession. Cabrinha launched the new Cab Fusion foil, with a system designed for basically any and every foil sport. While I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself as having a high level of foiling, I’m utterly addicted to that feeling of flying above the water. Whether that’s being pulled by a kite, wing, or being pushed by the energy of a wave, foiling is incredibly unique and very addictive.

With some holiday time approaching, I was eager to drop everything and put some time into the trifecta of foiling sports at a destination perfectly matched to kite foil, wing foil, and surf foil, on any given day.

An intrinsic feeling that always draws me back to Kenya is the deep connection to nature. The interconnected life of man and animal in all aspects of life is apparent in every moment. Monkeys of all kinds throng the trees, exotic birds of all shapes and sizes add to a soundtrack like no other, and whale sharks frequent the deeper waters off the reef as they play their part in the great migration. Should you choose to head inland away from the coast, you are surrounded by national parks and wildlife that simply cannot be found elsewhere.

Located on the east coast of Africa, Kenya is a stunning getaway that should be on every kiters radar. Unlike its sister South Africa, Kenya is much closer to the equator and remains lovely and warm all year round. You don’t need to worry about bringing a wetsuit, as the only reason to cover your skin is for sun protection, especially during the hottest part of the day. The wind tends to be more mellow and suits the vibe of a more relaxing beach holiday with a diverse range of hotels that offer something for everyone, especially if travelling with your family.

You are spoilt for choice with Kenya's beautiful long coastline, from the kite paradise of Watamu in the north down to the more well-known Diani beach, which lies south of Mombasa. Diani is a stunning 17km long white sandy beach with a reef that runs parallel to its coastline. There is something for everyone with fun wave riding and kickers from the left and a protected lagoon inside the reef that has perfect flat water for all levels of riding.

On the spot, the wind normally picks up mid-morning, which means glassy early mornings, something I was keen to take advantage of for surf foiling. It can be a bit of a paddle depending on which part of the beach you start from, but the mid to high tide hours can be exceptionally fun with the foil or on a paddleboard. You will almost certainly be alone in the water in the mornings, other than local fishermen looking for their catch of the day in the deeper waters outside the reef. With so much space and freedom, it is the perfect place to hone your skills and start the day in the water.

The reef is friendly and smooth, so you can rest easier in this spot than in other locations where sharp, toothy corals will leave you with all sorts of problems if you flirt with the low tide. The mellow, rocky ledge that protects Diani’s inner waters makes kitesurfing in the waves extraordinarily fun. The gentle conditions make it a great place to take your first steps into the waves and with so much coastline, it’s the perfect place to do downwinders with others.

Another product that had me chomping at the bit to get on the water in Kenya was the new Contra one strut kite. Developed off the much-loved Cabrinha Contra, this single strut version is a foiling specific machine. Its low wind stability was taken from the DNA of the original Contra, with the incredible agility and drift possible with a one strut kite. Whether you are edging hard into the wind or riding directly downwind towards the kite, it has an amazing knack for drifting back to keep line tension and steering input, even in the most marginal of winds.

A large percentage of the weight of a kite is in the bladder, so dropping to one strut makes a difference. It's a much lighter kite in the sky and your suitcase. Where this kite really excels is when paired with the high-efficiency nature of the hydrofoil. To make the most of each day in the Kenyan winter, you absolutely have to get your foil on! It will keep you covered on virtually every day in the windy season.

Foiling is an incredible way to enjoy the vast nature of Kenya's coast. The freedom it gives you to travel quickly upwind gives you a virtual all-access pass to the coastline. There is so much more to see when you have the tools and ability to ride in light wind. It's also a fantastic place to learn due to the steady early winds and calm waters. Even if you are not already foiling, it’s worth taking a lesson. You'll soon know what I’m talking about!

The hybrid nature of foil equipment has me fired up about everything to do with foiling. The emphasis lands on how you choose to ride the foil, rather than which power source you use. Wingfoiling, a sport that has been blowing up this year, has so many individual disciplines. For surfing waves, it is a unique tool that you can use to tow out to the waves. Once out, you can use the wing to deposit you on any wave you choose no matter how far out, and how unbroken the wave. The ability to then shut the power off on a wave allows you complete freedom to concentrate on your foiling and leads to an incredibly high wave count per session.

It is the first kite trip I have ever been on where I left my twin tip at home. With the drive to get as tuned in as possible with my foiling, the Cabrinha Autopilot became the multi-use board for all three disciplines. For the first time, I could travel with just one board in my bag. Like with any of these disciplines, if you want to focus on one, you might want a dedicated option. For kite foiling, you just can’t beat the Special Agent board, which offers an incredibly stiff platform to maximise your movements and input. This nifty tombstone shaped board is one hell of a fun ride packed with features dedicated to helping you nail that elusive roll tack or simply maximise a smaller feeling board.

With the current goings-on around the world, it might be hard to imagine when you will next board a plane to an exotic location like Kenya, but that time will come. When it does, you will be more than ready. You will be ready to experience that first smell of a new spot, the first session stoke of kiting in a new destination, and, of course, in Kenya’s case, your first after session ice cold Tusker beer.

The reality is, the local people will have suffered far more than you have. They will have borne the brunt of an incredibly tough year that is continuing. What they need in a place like Diani is tourism. With that comes the opportunity to return to some version of normal. It will, eventually, and will be ever the sweeter when it does.

For more information about kitesurfing in Kenya, check out:  https://www.questkiteboarding.com

Videos

Cabrinha Fusion Hydrofoil System
By James Boulding
James Boulding has been a professional kiter for a number of years now; he’s travelled all over the globe and ridden in some of the best locations on the planet. An accomplished rider who features regularly at the wake style contests around the globe. James likes nothing more than a cup of tea and a biscuit, and, of course, the chance to explore new destinations with his camera and kite gear!

Comments