The basic frontside off the lip is every rider’s introduction to riding a wave with a kite. A good top turn involves a lot of timing between your kite, your board position, and the wave and it can take some time to pull it all together.

credit: Paul Lang / The Kiteboarder Magazine
rider: Alec Dektor /Team F-One US
location: Leo Carrillo, SoCal

   Written By Alec Dektor

Kiteboarding at Waddell was a great experience.  Last weekend was my first day out there and the conditions were definitely less than inviting.  Brian Friedmann and I both pulled up and contemplated going out for a while.  The wind looked like it was turning off shore and numerous dust devils raced through the parking lot.  The mix of gusty off-shore wind and big waves made the water look treacherous.  Upon seeing a few riders make it outside in straps I decided to pump up an 8 meter kite and give it a try.  I was a little uncomfortable in the beginning but as the day progressed I felt more and more comfortable.  My kite helped me escape big surf and potentially dangerous situations a few times and allowed me to have a very memorable session.

The next day I got to the beach early to wait for the wind.  Watching the surf made me anxious; the swell had barely dropped off compared to the day prior.  As soon as the wind was up, I was out there on an 11 meter kite.  It was coming up pretty     quick and I switched to an 8 soon after.  The second day I was equipped with a much bigger board that allowed me to make smoother, more controlled turns on the big choppy waves.  I felt more confident to try bigger airs and hit the lip harder in more critical sections.  Shal Jacobovitz was also there on the second day shooting pictures.  My second session at Waddell was just as fun if not better.  All of the local guys I met were very inviting and gave me a great vibe.  Waddell is a great spot to kite and I will definitely be returning soon to shred some more waves with the F-One team!
Alec was riding: F-One Bandit 5 11m and F-One Surf 6’2.

Story told from Olivier Guincetre alias -OGee-, F-One SUP rider, pro mountain biker based in Santa Cruz

The F-One team participated in the 2012 SUP Paddle Shootout sponsored by Surftech. The Annual Santa Cruz Paddle Festival event held at Steamer Lane and Cowell’s Beach allowed remote and local kayak paddlers and SUP racers/riders a chance to compete in an fantastic environment.

This year Surftech joined in the support of the event and created two new events intended specifically for SUP’s. The Paddle Shootout 2012 is one of the first Elite SUP event hosting top riders from all over including Anthony Vela, Matt Becker, Candice Appleby and others.

The beach break kept things interesting at the 2012 Surftech SUP Shootout in Santa Cruz

The weather turned out to be much better than the forecast with smooth water under cloudy skies for the paddle board race. The day prior to the event was extremely windy and stormy so competitors were treated to a nice break in the rainy forecast. Several video and still camera’s were present throughout the event filming live for SUPconnect.com. The lenses were ready for the show as all the ingredients for a challenging SUP race was on tap; wind, beach break, swell and beach run to keep things interesting.

The F-One Race 12,6 I was using for the short course worked perfect and felt great even in the less than desirable conditions. For my first race of the year I knew that I was not in good enough shape yet for racing the long course with the big boys. I opted to compete in the Gunslinger 12.6 Stock category.  A 2.7 mile race starting at Cowell’s beach, around the wharf, down to the Santa Cruz harbor and back to the beach to conclude with a 1/2 mile run.

The long course added another mile to the paddle portion (3.7 miles total). Both short and long course competitors started together with a quick run to get their boards and then a battle through the shore pound! Many competitors had trouble with the 4-6ft waves that were rolling through loosing valuable time as they made there way through the surf. I was fortunate enough to find a pause in the surf and easily slipped through the surf, the board was cutting the waves without any resistance and I had a very good start.

Matt Becker, Anthony Vela & Candace Appleby at the 2012 Surftech SUP Shootout in Santa Cruz,

I was feeling good on the board even with choppy conditions and turning around buoys. Unfortunately after being in the lead group for a little while my arms and shoulders started feeling really sore and I had to slow down for the rest of the course and I finished 3rd with 40 seconds behind the winner David Meyler (Team Boga) and 20 seconds after Dino Wilson (Team Boga).

On the long course it is Ben Sarrazin from the Team Boga who surprised everyone hitting the beach first until Anthony Vela caught up to him and ultimately passed Ben on the 1.2 mile beach run to steal the 1st place position.

Podium: True Grit Elite
1- Anthony Vela, M&M
2- Ben Sarrazin, Boga
3- Brenan Rose, Surftech

Podium: Women  
1- Candice Appleby, Surftech
2- Alison Riddle, Surftech
3- Jen Fuller, Boga

Podium: Gunslinger
1- David Meyler, Boga
2- Dino Wilson, Boga
3- Olivier Guincetre, F-One

After the Race I went to check out the SUP Surf contest at the Steamer Lane. The surf was looking good and the 14 year old F-One team rider Hunter Griffith from Santa Cruz on his 7’11″ F-One Madeiro was ripping. Unfortunately Hunter didn’t get enough points to advance into the next round and on to the final.

F-One Team Rider Hunter Grifith at the 2012 Surftech SUP shootout in Santa Cruz

However, Hunter’s father John was really surfing well and charging every wave quickly advancing to the finals. The finals had very tight competition between Anthony Vela, and John Griffith but it was Matt Becker who was catching the best waves and with his progressive style helped him to seal the victory just ahead of John Griffith (2nd) who is old enough to be his dad.  SUP surf and paddle competitions are unique and it’s amazing to see a sport where age doesn’t necessarily decide outcome. Congrats to all and especially John Griffith, representing the true Santa Cruz local.

Podium Shootout
1-Matt Becker, Surftech
2-John Griffith, Surftech
3-Anthony Vela, M&M
7-Candice Appleby, Surftech
22-Hunter Griffith, F-ONE

A snow kiting video with Etienne Lhôte at Lautaret pass and around – a quick stop in the French Alps in between December and January, when low pressure systems brought an amazing cold and snowy winter.
Enjoy the beauty of the Alps during winter 2012.

Chis Nester intends to bridge the gap between snowkiters and other snow junkies.

I caught up with Chris Nester as the 2012 NAST Tour comes to a close.  He was excited to report that the NAST Tour’s  and Black Owl Media’s mission to capture the story and essence of snow kiting on film was a success.  Chris is committed to the growth of snow kiting.

Chris and his fellow snow kiters noticed that, although they hang out on the same mountains as skiers and snowboarders,  their fellow snow junkies have little idea of the innovation and unexplored frontiers of the sport.  The few people who have even seen snowkiting see beginners cruising around on meadows by the highway.  They have no idea of what goes on up on the summits.

The intent of the 2012 NAST Tour was to generate content to tell the story of snowkiting and show the world what is possible.  Although, Chris admits even the most hardcore snowkiters don’t know even know what is possible.  Right now, snow kiting is like the early days of surfing where the coasts were a new frontier of unexplored, untried breaks.  In snowkiting there are vast mountain ranges just waiting to be explored and kited for the first time..  If you’re into going where no one has kited before, this may just be the perfect time to take up snowkiting.

The final product of the 2012 NAST Tour will be a video capturing the true essence of snowkiting and making it relatable to the general audience and to snow junkies in particular. They are hoping to bridge the gap between snowkiting and other snow action sports such as helisking.  They complement one another perfectly.  When it’s too windy for the helicopters to take off, well, that’s a perfect day to pump up a kite.

This is the first full media project launched to showcase the sport. After talking to Chris I can’t wait to see the results of all their hard work.  We’ll be posting it here as soon as it is available.  So if you aren’t already subscribed to receive posts by email sign up now.

If you like to kite where no one has kited before now may be the perfect time to take up snowkiting.

Katie Wins Both Freestyle and Speed at the 2012 Punta Cana Kite Jam!

Katie Bowcutt at the 2012 Punta Cana Kite Jam

Katie Bowcutt, 14, won the women’s division of both freestlye and speed 2012 Punta Cana Kite Jam. She was excited to be invited and looks forward the next contest. She will be competing in the Cabarete Cup in march of 2012. She expects to compete against kiters from 8 or 9 countries.

F-One is proud to sponsor such a strong and enthusiastic competitor and wish Katie  great success in the Cabarete Cup in March 2012.
Katie Bowcutt is sponsored by:

F-One Kites (These kites and this gear rocks!)
Lavera Organic Cosmetics (My skin looks great)
Airbound Apparel (Always cool)
Cosmickites.com (Best service, wide selection)

Original Post: Stanceplanet
Etienne Lhote shows a day out Brittany’s waves is worth braving the cold!

1 day 2 sessions // Etienne Lhote by stancemag

Check out the first stop of the NAST Tour in Jackson Hole

We are proud to announce our continued partnership and support for the 2012 North American Snowkite Tour.  For updates on the tour visit the NAST website.   

F-One is proudly sponsoring Chris Nester and  2011 World Champion Bjorn Kaupang 

Bjorn Kaupang represents F-One in the 2012 NAST Tour

Chris Nester represents F-One in 2012 NAST Tour

We wish to all participants good winds and lots of fresh pow!

Tour Schedule

Jackson Hole Kiters (Pro Stop*)

January 23 – 29, 2012

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Arguably one of the best winter sports locations in the western Hemisphere. There is something truly magical

about the Teton Range. With its dry and deep snowfall, vast terrain, and outlaw mentality it sure to be one of

the best locations for snowkiting in North America.

Southwest Snowkite Festival (Recreational Stop**)

February 3 – 5, 2012

Eagle’s Nest lake, New Mexico

Bringing together the Southwest snowkite scene lik never before, the Southwest Snowkite Festival is the

place to meet your fellow SW kiters, swap gear, learn a thing or two and kite the most epic terrain this side of Utah.

Snowkite Masters (Pro Stop*)

January 30 – February 5, 2012

Skyline, Utah

The most well known and photographed snowkite location in North America. It has proven to be the most

consistent weather location with windy conditions and deep Utah pow.

Dillon Snowkite Open (Recreational Stop**)

February 6 – 12, 2012

Dillon, Colorado

Summit County offers a plethora of amazing snowkiting as well as snowkiters. In the heart of the Rockies,

terrain and epic conditions never come up short.

Superfly Open (Pro Stop*)

February 13 – 19, 2012

Park City, Utah

Strawberry Resevior, located just outside Park City, is one of the largest and most versatile snowkiting

areas in the lower 48. The terrain goes on for miles with options for riders of all levels. Treeless snow

covered mountains roll as far as the eye can see.

Georgetown Lake Open (Pro Stop*)

March 1 – 4, 2012

Georgetown Lake, Montana

Info coming soon.

You may be seeing Katie on surf breaks in the United States

Originally Published: Dominican Central

Three top-ranked surfers from the Dominican Republic National Team, Rene Gough, Zion Balbuena and Katie Bowcutt, will compete in two different surf competitions in the United States in September.

Katie Bowcutt will compete in the 13th Annual ‘Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic’ in Jacksonville, Florida, September 10, 2011. The event benefits Bosom Buddies at the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. Katie will also attend Surf Expo in Orlando Florida, where she will meet with industry experts to talk about her future plans in the water sports industry.

Rene Gough and Zion Balbuena will compete in the Belmar Pro, in Belmar New Jersey, September 15-18, 2011.This annual event is well recognized, with a great history of waves and high level of performance. Competitors from Central America, Australia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Europe, South Africa, and all over the US participate.

Nestor Puente, President of the Dominican Surfing Federation (FEDOSURF) remarked, “Surfing in the Dominican Republic is growing every year. Currently there are over one hundred and fifty athletes competing in our national circuit of surf competitions and local community warm-ups.” René Gough is the number one ranked Long Boarder in the Dominican Republic, Zion Balbuena is Third in the Men’s Open division, and Miss Katie Bowcutt (age 14), is Second in Women’s Open. “We are privileged that these prominent athletes will be representing our nation. Congratulations to them and many blessings. May they return with continued motivation and enthusiasm”, continued Mr. Puente.

Katie Bowcutt, an accomplished Kite Boarder, is sponsored by F-One/Cosmic Kites, Airbound Apparel, Mi Gym and Lavera Organic cosmetics and skin care. Airbound Apparel, the lifestyle clothing company, commented “Katie’s absolute love for being on the ocean instantly attracted us to her a couple of years back when she was just a little grom on Kite Beach.  It has been a pleasure to see her come into her own as an athlete and young woman, and even more fun to watch her performance in the waves on bigger days.  We are proud to have Katie as part of the Airbound Team.”

Daniel and Wendy Stockdale are generously hosting Rene Gough and Zion Balbuena during their stay in New Jersey. Daniel Stockdale is a professional photographer and Long Board rider and is a frequent visitor to the Dominican Republic. He is the official event photographer for the Belmar Pro. Mike Barber, Paul Foster, Gough and Hijos S.A., The Boat House Bar & Grill Boca Chica, Duharte Surfboards, The Board Spot, Villa Taina, Casa de Piedra, and Sea Horse Ranch have provided additional community support for the athletes.

FEDOSURF, established in 2002, is the National Governing Body of surfing in the Dominican Republic. It is a non-profit entity, whose main goal is to support and advance the sport of surfing and high-performance athletes in the Dominican Republic. FEDOSURF is recognized by the International Surfing Association, the Pan American Surfing Association, Dominican Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation.

Rene Gough and Zion Balbuena – Belmar Pro, NJ, Sept. 15-18, 2011
Katie Bowcutt – Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic, FL, Sept. 10, 2011