Kiteworld is essential reading for all kiteboarders, since 2002. Read the best reviews of the latest kites, boards and gear and improve your riding with our technique articles - whatever level you're at. Kiteworld's editorial team includes World Champions Aaron Hadlow and Mark Shinn and top coaches like Brandon Scheid. Each issue is packed with the inspiration and know-how you'll need to fuel your next ride

HUMAN INSTINCT...IS TO PLAY

KITEWORLD MAGAZINE

GALLERY THE WINTER ISSUE • SUBJECT: INVIGORATE RIDING WITH LIFE AND ENERGY

MOST WANTED • NEW HARDWARE HEADING YOUR WAY

MARK MY WORDS • THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MARK SHINN IN 2020. YOU’D BASICALLY MORE THAN SETTLE FOR IT AS HIS COMPLETED TRAVEL ITINERARY STILL LOOKS LIKE MOST PEOPLE’S LIFETIME BUCKET LIST!

FLAMES ON THE TRACK • HAVING REPORTED FROM THE FRONTLINE OF MOST INTERNATIONAL IKA RACE EVENTS OVER THE LAST FEW SEASONS, IAN MACKINNON GIVES US THE INSIDE TRACK ON THE KITE AND FOIL MANUFACTURERS’ RACE TO QUALIFY THEIR DESIGNS BEFORE THE OLYMPIC CLASS EQUIPMENT CUT-OFF DATE OF 1ST MAY 2020

FORCES • BRANDISHING AWESOME STRAIGHT-LINE SPEED IS JUST ONE ELEMENT OF HOLDING YOUR OWN AGAINST THE BEST KITE RACERS IN THE WORLD. IN THIS SHORT GALLERY WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER KEY MOMENTS THAT CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR CHANCES OF VICTORY

SOMEBODY CALL THE WOLF • BACK IN 2000, WITHIN SIX WEEKS OF FIRST STANDING UP ON A KITEBOARD, DAVE KAY WAS RIDING HIS OWN HAND-BUILT TWIN-TIP AT HOME IN NEW ZEALAND. NOW LIVING IN CAPE TOWN AND WORKING FULL TIME FOR AIRUSH, ‘DK’ WROTE HIS OWN KITE DESIGN SOFTWARE (THAT’S NOW FREELY AVAILABLE ONLINE) DURING A SPELL OF DOWNTIME WHILE WAITING FOR HIS SOUTH AFRICAN VISA. THE CAN-DO KIWI MARKED HIS 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN THE SPORT WITH A SESSION RIDING GEAR THAT HAD ALL BEEN DESIGNED BY HIM (APART FROM HIS WETSUIT) AND BUILT LOCALLY. JIM GAUNT HEARS ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST INSTINCTIVELY CURIOUS JOURNEYS IN KITEBOARDING DESIGN THAT STARTED RANDOMLY ON THE SNOWY SLOPES OF CANADA, BACK IN ‘99

THE BEST (WO)MAN FOR THE JOB • ELSA BERGER WAS ONE OF JUST FIVE WOMEN IN A CLASS OF 65 STUDYING SPORTS EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY AT UNIVERSITY IN VIENNA. SHE’S NOW THE PRODUCT MANAGER AT DUOTONE AND BELIEVES THERE ARE NO BARRIERS FOR WOMEN WHO WANT TO PURSUE A CAREER IN KITEBOARDING HARDWARE. JIM GAUNT HEARS HOW SHE FOUND HER FEET IN THE BUSINESS

TESTS: THE WINTER ISSUE • WE’VE LAID OUR HANDS ON SOME OF THIS YEAR’S MOST HOTLY ANTICIPATED NEW KITES, SUITABLE FOR ALL THE WEATHER CAN THROW AT YOU, PLUS A BRACE OF HOT SHINN TWINS AND A MAJESTIC DUO OF HYDROFOILS

LET’S GO OUTSIDE • TAKE ME TO THE PLACES THAT I LOVE BEST. A WINTER WETSUIT AND ACCESSORY GUIDE

KITEWORLD DIRECTORY

MAY THE WEATHER BE WITH YOU • A NEW REGULAR COLUMN TO ENHANCE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WIND. IKITESURF METEOROLOGIST, SHEA GIBSON, FOCUSES HERE ON HOW HIGH AND LOW PRESSURES CREATE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS FOR KITEBOARDING

THE BETTER  KITER • THE BKSA’S HEAD OF TRAINING, ANDY GRATWICK, KICKS OFF A REGULAR SERIES HELPING TO BUILD GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ON YOUR WAY TO BECOMING A BETTER KITER. THIS ISSUE SOME THOUGHTS AND OPINION ON KITING IN MORE GNARLY CONDITIONS AND WHY THE WIND OFTEN FEELS SO MUCH STRONGER IN THE COLD

SENSI-BILIA • FOR SOME, THE PROSPECT OF HEADING INTO WINTER’S DEEP-COLD-CAN’TFACE-RIDING ZONE IS A BIT LIKE DEALING WITH AN INJURY. RIDE ENGINE TEAM RIDER SENSI GRAVES BROKE HER HAND WINGSURFING OVER THE SUMMER AND HAS SOME TIPS FOR ‘MORE HAPPILY’ DEALING WITH TIME OFF THE WATER IN THIS ISSUE’S COLUMN

THE NEVER LANDS • KW STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER, YDWER VAN DER HEIDE, SHARES HIS EXPERIENCES FROM THE LONGEST SPELL HE CAN REMEMBER SPENDING AT HOME IN...