What’s been happening in the world of wind? We catch up on the latest news from the industry, including new team riders, changes within the brands, and even a look at the astronomical growth of the wing industry! Stay in the know with On The Fly!

AIRUSH // The Switching Game

After the pandemic took over, I ended up in a pretty challenging situation for my kite career. Travel was impossible, and all events on the Kite Park League tour were cancelled. To make it even worse, the brand I had been riding for my entire career, Liquid Force, was closing down.

Three months into the pandemic, while sneaking through the farms of Argentina to be able to kite, I got a message from Sam Medysky and Eric Braojos asking if I would like to join the Airush Team. That changed the whole game for me! It's hard enough to find a sponsor in a moment when nobody knows what's going to happen, not to mention a sponsor that makes insanely good kites and has an incredible team behind the scenes.

It took us quite a while to announce I was switching to Airush. Long story short, shipping wasn't at its best for obvious reasons, and Argentinean customs didn't help at all. By the time I got the gear in my hands, winter was about to take over, and I knew that meant more lockdowns to come. After thinking through the possible scenarios, it seemed that the only way to keep riding was to escape to the Northern hemisphere.

With the clock running out and the fear of getting stuck in Argentina, I had to act quickly. Three days later, I was on my way to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to meet up with friends for some slider sessions and to shoot my "Welcome to the Team" edit! While we weren't too lucky with the conditions, it was a lot of fun to ride and reconnect with the Kite Park crew!

HARLEM // Nonstop Wind in Brazil

The Brazilian coast is known as one of the most consistently windy places in the world from July to December, but funny fact, this year it has been windy the entire year! For some reason, the low season never happened! Enjoying this gift from mother nature, Yury Manzon from Kitesurf Brothers has fun on the water in Cumbuco, Ceará.

NAISH // Jeff Urfer, Product Development Engineer

How did the man they call 'Shark Bait' end up on the development team at Naish? Jeff Urfer gives us the low down!

Growing up sailing, windsurfing, and wakeboarding, I didn't know I was already training for my next passion. In the summer of 2004, I was introduced to kiting, signed up for lessons, and was instantly hooked. Constantly tinkering with the design of kites, boards, and foils, I always dreamed of working in the industry. In the meantime, I searched for mechanical engineering jobs in close proximity to kite spots. My path started on Florida's east coast, where I engineered satellites and recreational boats until the dream of a more remote kite spot took me away.

My first major kite oriented move was to a Navy Installation in the Bahamas for a snazzy engineering job that I can't really talk about! It was also my first major kite injury: a complete hamstring avulsion. After surgery, recovery, and rehab to relearn how to walk, I was back to kiting. The next career move was to an even more remote kite spot in the Marshall Islands. Another unmentionable engineering gig, but in an incredible kite location. Unfortunately, it was also my next kiting injury. This one involving my foot and a sharks mouth. Another more extreme round of medevacs, rehab, and, once again, relearning to walk. I was back for the windy season after a little more work, and it was time to kite.

Finally, now, one more career island-hop to Maui… and Naish, where my love of kiting and engineering has professionally merged. Dream achieved!

GIN FLYMAAX // A New Vision

If you haven't heard of Gin Flymaax Kiteboarding yet, you will surely be hearing more about them very soon. With their race team making a strong impression in the Formula Kite scene and a long history of freeride products under their belt, this is a dynamic duo that is sure to create something special.

Gin Kiteboarding was born in Switzerland, where it all began. Today, they are evolving, with a new strategic shift and a whole new vision. Relying on their history of ram air kites, they are focused on development, quality and innovation. They want to change the way people enjoy the outdoors, from the mountains to the ocean. Flymaax has joined the team, and together, they have created a winning dynamic. Gin Flymaax Kiteboarding combines the historical axis of Gin Kiteboarding in freeride performance and innovation with the competitive race axis of Flymaax and their expertise on the ground.

"The Gin Team's work embodies the Tribe life. We are a group of people that choose to be close to the land, follow the rules and lifestyle of mother nature. We have world champions, innovators and leaders in the sport that perfectly represent our brand. The #GinTribe is fulfilled by passion, innovation, and the desire to take the sport to other levels."

With a growing team of talented staff and riders and two exciting new products on the way in 2021, we look forward to seeing what's next from Gin Flymaax Kiteboarding!

UP & COMING // Marcel Stępniewski

The team at IKSURFMAG things we think the Up & Coming kids of kitesurfing will be taking over the pages of our magazine in no time. 

We first spotted 12-year-old Marcel Stępniewski riding with the Shinn team during their product shoot in Tenerife, and we had to know more. Coming from Poland, Marcel spends every possible moment on the water with his family and friends.

Marcel says, "I always try to push my limits. That is why, whatever the conditions are, I am always on the water foiling, freestyling and surfing. I will never forget my first blind judges, kiteloops and first tacks and jibes on foil. When the kite conditions aren't sufficient, I take my surfboard and surf for hours, all the time hoping to get better backsides on waves. Watersports help fulfil me. They teach me respect and regard for nature's elements."

He's only been kiting for three years, but loves the diversity of the sport. Keep an eye out for this kid who is already taking the Formula Kite world by storm! 

See more Up & Coming kiters on our website!

TONIC // Will Winging Overtake Kiting?

In the latest issue of Tonic Mag, Rou Chater talks winging. It's been a wild ride the last two years, from his first meeting with a wingsurfer at Naish's 2019 launch in Tarifa to now, when he is helplessly addicted. Rou firmly believes that winging will overtake both kitesurfing and wingsurfing in terms of popularity, and he doesn't think it will take long. 

Check out Rou's TEN REASONS why wingsurfing is going to be the biggest water sport on the planet, exclusively in Tonic Issue #8.

 

 

Videos

Welcome to the Team - Ramiro Gallart
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.

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