A handful of the Dirty Habits crew including founder Graham Howes and International sensation Nick Jacobsen, are amongst the list of the worlds top 24 riders to be invited to compete in the most extreme Kiteboarding contest, the 2016 Red Bull King of the Air.
Category: NEWS

Dirty Habits Web series
Dirty Habits is launching a series of web video to kick off 2015.
This is just a teaser to show what you can expect in the upcoming video’s featuring the Worlds best Boardriders including Nick Jacobsen, Tom Court, Ruben Lenten, Kevin Langeree, Craig Eygenbergen, Dylan Mitchell and of course Mr Dirty Habits, Graham Howes.
You can except some seriously dirty content coming your way and not just kite, wake, surf, skate action there will be plenty of flames, parties, girls, crashes and cross over sports like motocross, spearfishing, skydiving and base jumping.
Dirty Habits Movie from Dirty Habits on Vimeo.
So make sure you link up to all our social media pages to see it 1st.
Instagram: @dirtyhabitsmag
Twitter: @dirtyhabitsmag
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dirtyhabitsmagazine

Wakeboard Park
Dirty Habits and Solid Air have just finished the Twin Tower Wakeboard rail park at the Hillcrest Quarry.
The exclusive rail park has opened in Cape Town, 15 minutes from Bloubergstrand on the way to Durbanville in the Wine Valley
BOOK YOUR PARTY NOW
- Wakeboard Coaching
- Birthday parties,
- Events,
- Bachelor Parties,
- Kids Parties,
- Corporate Functions
- Team Buildings
Scroll to Bottom of the Page for LIVE BOOKINGS
The rail park is ideally situated in a quarry with 100m high cliffs surrounding it, blocking the predominant South East summer winds.
The water is warm with a huge grass beach, braai facilities, a bar, good fishing with Trout, Carb and Bass, and an chill island that lies alongside the cable and obstacles.
Dirty Habits playground from Airfilms Productions on Vimeo.
Advanced riding
The Twin Tower System (Solid Air Ride System) is the best way to hit rails and kickers, as no other towing device can give you the same amount of time on the obstacles. When you fall, you get picked up instantly and can try that trick again. The turns at each end are quicker than a boat, jet ski or lap of a full cable and allow you to hit the same rail over 30 times in a ten minute session!
No more swimming to the shore and then walking back to the dock.
Learning to Wakeboard and Kiteboard
Ideal for beginners to learn wakeboard and kiteboarding water starts as you . The cable can be stopped when the rider falls and returned back to the rider to attempt the water start again at their own pace. it’s also simulates a kite boarding waterstart as the cable is at a very high angle similar to that of a kite.
The main aim of this cable is to build an advanced rail park to run pro wake events along with the quarry’s mainstream events which they host there, including international artist, DJ’s transparties, beach parties, beer fests, jazz days and more.
Rates:
As this is a new project and intended to grown and support the industry, these Rates are Valid until 1 December 2014 Only and will be adjusted after the month trial period.
Group bookings 10am – 4pm
You will have the whole cable park exclusively for your group for the hour.
1 hours = R500 (3 or 4 riders per hour recommended, Max 5 riders)
Day Booking 10:00 – 16:00 (Book the cable for your private group)
Weekday – R3000
Weekend – R5000 (subject to other event commitments)
*request only
Members Freeride session. From 4-6pm
SILVER Temporary members card: R700 – 10 sessions = (R70 per ride)
*Membership valid until 30 March 2014 or until sessions are used up.
*Limited number of memberships
R25 entrance fee
*prices subject to change without prior notice.
*Rights of admission reserved.
BOOK NOW Below
Situated on the Hillcrest Quarry
Richard Branson and BEST buy the PKRA World Tour
Richard Branson is preparing to buy the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA).
The Virgin mogul, a passionate and avid kiteboarder, has bought the rights of the PKRA World Tour, in an unusual joint-venture agreement with BEST Kiteboarding and the Spanish entrepreneur behind clothing company Zara.
According to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine, the deal is sealed, and a new umbrella company will start controlling the PKRA World Tour at the end of August, when the Tarifa Pro Kite Tour 2014 runs in Spain.
Richard Branson is absolutely into kiteboarding. The 64-year-old businessman discovered the sport in the 21st century, but he rapidly helped boosting its growth with a series of spectacular events and moves.
He rode with naked models; he set Guinness World Records; he crossed the English Channel; he organized kite events in his Necker Island, and he lobbied for kiteboarding in the Olympic Games. Now, he’s taking one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the world to the center stage of action sports.
The Professional Kiteboard Riders Association manages and runs the official world kiteboarding tour, as sanctioned by the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA), but it was not the first structure to control it. The Kiteboard Pro World Tour (KPWT) was the inaugural world tour circuit, but it was replaced in 2009 by the PKRA.
Richard Branson faces many challenges. Improving the competitive feel of the events, solidifying the kiteboarding classes, improving media coverage, broadcasting events online and increasing the prize money at each venue, are only a few goals that lie ahead.
It is rumored that the PKRA will add Big Air Contest to the circuit with a huge prize purse, with the Aim of taking kiteboarding to the masses. No one can argue that Red Bull has pulled off the hugely successful King Of the Air in Cape Town for the past 2 years. This event, along with the help of Ruben Lenten has been groundbreaking in creating a new generation of ‘Extreme Kiteboarders’.
It’s really exciting to see how the sport will evolve over the next 2 years, The kiteboarding revolution is out there. It’s time to fly.
Source: www.surfertoday.com
PKRA: www.prokitetour.com

Kitesurfer dies in Port Alfred, South Africa
At 17h06 on Tuesday the 8th of April, NSRI Port Alfred volunteer sea rescue duty crew were activated following reports of a kitesurfer in difficulty at Eastern Beach, Port Alfred in South Africa
A NSRI Port Alfred volunteer sea rescue duty crew responded to the beach to find Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) efforts being performed by bystanders on a 66 year old local man.
The man had reportedly collapsed unconscious, suspected to be from unknown medical causes, while kite-surfing with his son and fellow kite-boarders and he had been brought to shore breathless and pulseless. CPR immediately commenced on the beach and the alarm was raised.
A past NSRI Port Alfred volunteer was amongst the kite boarders and he assisted with the CPR efforts.
On arrival on-scene our NSRI Port Alfred medics continued with CPR efforts and our local Multi-Security control room was instrumental in summoning additional emergency medical support to respond to the scene.
Guardmed ambulance services arrived and took over with advanced life support CPR which continued in the ambulance en route to hospital. Extensive CPR efforts were continued in hospital but sadly, after all efforts to resuscitate the man were exhausted, the man was declared deceased by doctors.
Sincerest condolences are expressed to the family.
Dirty Habits would also like to Thank the NSRI, (National Sea Rescue Institute)
The Sea Rescue is the charity that saves lives on South African waters.
The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) is run by 940 highly skilled, unpaid volunteers who are on standby day and night throughout the year.
Donations and sponsorships cover our annual running cost of R27.5m
So please donate to this charity, you never know when you’ll be the one getting rescued.
http://www.nsri.org.za/

2 Skydiving Planes with 11 people crash 12 000ft up captured on Hero cam.
This weekend, two plane loads of skydivers had to bail from their aircraft when the planes collided mid-air at 12,000 feet (3650 metres) during a routine jump.
None of the nine skydivers or two pilots sustained serious injuries when the two planes collided in mid-air on Saturday evening (local time) in far northwest Wisconsin, US, near Lake Superior. Authorities still didn’t know on Sunday what caused the accident.
Blake Wedan, the pilot who landed a damaged plane, went on NBC News’ Today show to discuss the incident. Today also published this footage of the crash from five helmet cams.
“We were just a few seconds away from having a normal skydive when the trail plane came over the top of the lead aircraft and came down on top of it,” skydiver Mike Robinson said earlier in the week. “It turned into a big flash fireball and the wing separated.
VIDEO:
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Jamie O’Brien punches Brazilian Ricardo Dos Santos during heat at Teahupoo
Anti Shark Wetsuit ??
Scientifically designed shark deterrent wetsuits and watersports products
Shark Attack Mitigation Systems (SAMS) has launched new shark deterrent design technology that is applied to wetsuits to reduce the chance of shark attack. The patented designs can also be applied to stickers for surfboards, dive tanks, kayaks and other watersport products.
In recent years, there has been mounting global concern about the increased number of shark sightings and fatalities. Western Australia is now recognised as the world’s deadliest location for sharks – with 5 fatal attacks over the last two years.
VIDEO: Below
In response to an increasing problem, Shark Attack Mitigation Systems collaborated with the Oceans Institute at the University of Western Australia to find a practical solution for shark protection.
The Oceans Institute team headed by Professor Shaun Collin and Professor Nathan Hart has been studying shark vision for a number of years and is considered the world leading authority in the field. The team has made a number of significant scientific discoveries relating to shark sensory systems – including the fact that sharks see in black and white.
Although sharks use a number of senses to locate prey, it is known that vision is the crucial sense in the final stage of an attack. By disrupting a shark’s visual perception, an attack can either be diverted altogether or at least delayed to allow time to exit the water.
SAMS has been working with the university for a number years and has translated the scientific data into a range of shark deterrent designs.
The two design variations either present the wearer as potentially dangerous and unpalatable to a shark, or make it very difficult for the shark to see the wearer in the water.
The shark deterrent technology can be applied to products such as wetsuits, skins and stickers for diving air tanks, surfboards, kayaks, skis and more.
Radiator is the first company licensed to incorporate SAMS Technology™ into wetsuits and surfboard stickers, while other established brands are expected to follow suit soon.
A range of questions relating to the new technology are covered in the FAQs.
SAMS Technology will be featured in a National Geographic documentary to air worldwide. Check out “Australia’s Deadliest: Shark Coast” premiering in July 2013.
More info: href=”http://www.sharkmitigation.com/”>

ASP Big Wave World Tour
Huge day for the big wave industry, as the ASP merges with The Big wave would tour, taking big wave surfing to the next level. what does all this mean? Bigger sponsors, more prize money, worlds best competitors.
LOS ANGELES, California/USA (Wednesday, May 29, 2013) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International is pleased to announce the acquisition of the global Big Wave World Tour (BWWT), with arrangements for support in 2013 and formal sanctioning commencing in 2014.
“We are very pleased to have finalized the deal between the ASP and the Big Wave World Tour,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “The competitors on the BWWT are some of the fiercest and most-respected watermen on the planet and we are eager about the opportunity to take their tour to the next level. This arrangement also allows the world’s best surfers on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) to compete in big-wave events moving forward. 2014 will be an exciting year on all fronts.”
Currently servicing six international big wave events in Pichilemu/Chile, Punta Hermosa/Peru, Lincoln City/Oregon, Half Moon Bay/California, Baja California/Mexico and Punta Galea/Spain the Big Wave World Tour was founded by Gary Linden and pits the world’s best big wave surfers against the elements in some of the most intense venues on the planet.
“The Big Wave World Tour is thrilled to be joining the ASP family,” Gary Linden said. “ASP run the best events in the world and we’re thrilled to have their support and guidance as we continue to build the platform of big wave surfing. We also look forward to seeing some of the world’s best surfers tackle some of the world’s biggest waves in the coming years.”
The new-found arrangement between the ASP and the BWWT will allow for top ASP surfers such as 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 41, reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, Hawaiian phenom John John Florence (HAW), 20, amongst others to join respected BWWT surfers like Greg Long (USA), 28, Grant Baker (ZAF), 40, and Carlos Burle (BRA), 45, in competition with waves in the 25-foot-and-above range.
“The Big Wave World Tour is a great addition to the Association of Surfing Professionals,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said. “It adds another dimension to the sport and will make it significantly easier for ASP Top 34 surfers to compete in big-wave events. We have the utmost respect for the athletes on the BWWT and we really look forward to working with them.”
The acquisition of the Big Wave World Tour will complement the current ASP tours of the men’s and women’s ASP World Championship Tour, the ASP World Junior Tours, ASP World Longboard Tours and regional tours around the globe.
The Big Wave World Tour is currently on high alert for a possible run of the Quiksilver Ceremonial at Pichilemu in Chile in the coming days.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

The Kite Show
This Episode was shot in Cape Town towards the end of the South Africa summer season and we are joined by steezy Brit Tom Court as guest host who gives us the benefit of his opinion on the features and riders appearing in this episode. Keahi de Aboitiz won our ‘2012 Video of the Year’ competition voted for by you with his ‘Hawaii Sessions’ flick, and we get his reaction to such a prestigious award. Tom Court joins his boys Aaron Hadlow and James Boulding for an interview at the Dirty Habits Mansion in Cape Town with Jim focusing on the filming of Freeride Project 2 (Sam Light almost made it back from the cable… but the filming was just too good we hear).
Jim also sits down with Ryan Evans, Rich Sabo and Sam Medysky from Best to hear how they’ve recently expanded their riding team to include the likes of Youri Zoon and Ruben Lenten. We announce the winner of the Best Profanity board and launch the North Trust bar competition. The Red Bull King of the Air dominates the news section as our host Jim was a judge, so he caught loads of reaction from that and we also fill you in on the latest world tour news. This episode’s Move of the Month features a bunch of Amercian Gangstas, Youri Zoon relives winning the 2012 PKRA World Title in Mystic Moments and we close the show out with our video of the year 2012, Hawaii Sessions.
Dirty Habits Boardriders Magazine will be publishing all future episodes of The Kite Show. so you want miss a thing.
If you want to check older episode of The Kite Show, check out thekiteshow.tv
Big Up to Jim Gaunt editor of Kiteworld Magazine, for putting together a great show, can’t wait for the next one.

Security guard headbutts vandal after he threw paint over Jacob Zuma ‘Penis’ painting
Picture showing South African president with his genitals exposed is covered with red and black paint by protesters
Watch the Video of the man who vandalized the painting getting headbutted by the security guard below:
One man painted a red cross across Zuma’s face and penis while a younger man spread black paint over the image. The younger man was reportedly assaulted by security guards.
The 1.85-metre-high painting, entitled The Spear, has bitterly divided South Africans, with the governing African National Congress (ANC) describing it as “rude, disrespectful and racist”, but others defending the artist Brett Murray’s right to freedom of speech.
South Africa‘s Eyewitness news identified one of the vandals on Tuesday as a university professor, and said he “took a small can of red paint and slowly marked two large ‘X’ symbols over the genitals and the face with a paintbrush.
“After a while, another man with a small can of black paint smeared the painting using his hands.”
It added: “Footage on eNews showed security forcefully cuffing the men with cable ties after the painting had been defaced.”
Andrew Harding, the BBC’s Africa correspondent, was at the Goodman Gallery and tweeted: “Zuma picture smeared with black paint. Man who did it tells me ‘picture was offensive.’ gallery guard assaults him. 2nd man arrested too.”
He continued: “Red and black paint now covers Zuma portrait. Two men responsible now taken away. Gallery closed.”
The BBC quoted one of the men as saying: “I’m doing this because the painting is disrespectful to President Zuma.”
A private security company was guarding the painting when the incident happened at around 11am. The BBC website reported that one man wielding a paint brush was pounced on by guards and headbutted at one point.
Harding tweeted: “Young black man was beaten by guards. Older white man treated much more courteously.”
The suspects were arrested and taken to a nearby police station.
A spokesman for the Goodman Gallery said: “One man painted a red X across Zuma’s face and the second covered the painting with black paint.”
Murray said earlier that his work was never meant to hurt anyone but an “attempt at humorous satire of political power and patriarchy within the context of other artworks in the exhibition and within the broader context of South African discourse.”
Earlier, a crowd of ANC supporters gathered near a court in Johannesburg where the party was seeking to have the painting removed. It was decided that a full bench of the high court would hear the case on Thursday. Judge Kathree Setiloane said: “This is a matter of great national importance.”
Meanwhile, as the temperature of the debate continue to soar, Enoch Mthembu, spokesman for the Nazareth Baptist church, commonly known as the Shembe church, called for retribution against Murray.
“This man has insulted the entire nation and he deserves to be stoned to death,” he told the Times of South Africa. “What he did clearly shows his racist upbringing because art does not allow people to insult others.
“This is an attack on the culture of the majority, the black people of South Africa. With our culture we are allowed to marry many women. And white people must understand that and tolerate our culture as we do theirs. We are not like some of them who prefer prostitutes as they regard women as sex objects.”
The painting has reportedly been bought by a German collector for about R136,000 (£10,345).”
Extract from: http://www.guardian.co.uk

Amature Hour: Reuben Jensen & Greg Player – Kitesurfing Cape Town Video
Reuben Jensen (Blue Shorts, Red & White switchblade)
Greg Player (Green Shorts, Black Nomad).
Enough of Watching the pro’s and their dangle passes, this video is of 2 passionate Cape Town kiters, getting stoked on every minute they get to spend on the water. Rumour has it these boys have been sneaking off work early to get these shots.
Not only do these guys juggle kiting, 9-5 jobs, wife’s and newly born babies. Reuben in a talented musician and Greg is the big man behind the Blouberg Beach Clean-up which is taking off like wild fire, making our beaches cleaner one day at a time!
Big ups to our working class hero’s, keep spreading the stoke boys!
Footage was filmed by both of us. Greg followed me around with the GoPro helmetcam to get some sick footage – lucky me. Some of the arb video (intro mostly) I filmed with my cellphone. Other shots were just GoPro on helmet / board attachments etc. Then I trawled through hours of footage and edited it into this video.

Seal takes a bite out of Surfer
IT’S a scene which plays out in every surfer’s worst nightmares.
At about noon last Wednesday, Daniel Falconbridge, 24, of Jannali, sat on his surfboard waiting for a wave at Garie Beach when he noticed a three-metre long dark shape swimming underneath him.
Seconds later with blood streaming from his leg he was screaming ‘‘shark, shark’’ while feverishly paddling for shore.
But he didn’t get far before the monster came back and took a second bite out of him.
‘‘He got the same spot nearly,’’ Mr Falconbridge remarked. ‘‘Then I saw a head poke up from the sea, and I saw it was a seal!’’
It wasn’t just any seal either, but one well-known to those who frequent the area. He even has a name: Cecil.
‘‘Everybody knows him,’’ Mr Falconbridge said. ‘‘I’d never seen him before, but he’s common down there.’’
Left with three significant wounds to his leg which required 15 stitches, Mr Falconbridge is understandably not lining up to become Cecil’s newest fan.
‘‘He was a big fat thing; he wasn’t sleek and cute, let’s put it that way.’’
He said neither the lifeguards nor the doctors who treated him at hospital had heard of a seal inflicting such injuries.
Sydney Aquarium’s curatorial manager Sebastian Schmid said while seals could be aggressive if approached on land, they usually steered clear of humans when in the sea.
‘‘The term ‘attack’ is not commonly associated with seals,’’ Mr Schmid said. ‘‘I’ve never heard of an unprovoked attack in water.’’
He said the only explanation he could think of was that the seal was curious about Mr Falconbridge.
‘‘Sometimes the Australian sea lions can be inquisitive,’’ he said.
‘‘They don’t have hands so they prod with their mouths.’’
As for Mr Falconbridge, he is hoping to be back out surfing after his injuries heal in about three weeks.
No doubt he will be keeping an eye peeled for Cecil.
Article BY KATE CARR

South Coast Carnival Kite | SUP | Surf Event Supersport round up – here on dirtyhabits.org
If you didn’t make it to the South Coast Carnival, here is the SuperSport wrap-up of the Event
They definitely scored some good conditions, with some of the top riders from all over the country,
Congratulations to all the participants and especially to the prize winners listed below!
For more info and blog posts on the days’ events go to – Nerve Events – http://nerveevents.blogspot.com/
Results
Kitesurfing – OPEN
1st Luke McGilliwie (Cape Town)
2nd Rob Chrystal (Umhlanga)
3rd Lyle Bottcher (Durban)
Kitesurfing – Juniors
1st Josh Emanuel (Dbn)
2nd Bryce Rawlins (Dbn North)
3rd Lorenzo Valenti (Umhlanga)
Kitesurfing – Ladies
1st Nicole Annels (Warner Beach)
2nd Linda Potts (Warner Beach)
3rd Carron Engelbrecht (Warner Beach)
Longboard – OPEN
1st Josch Schmeltzer
2nd Dylan Macleod (EP)
3rd Brandon Jackson
4th Ross Lahana (WP)
Longboard – Over 50
1st Hugh Thompson
2nd Colin Whitmore
3rd Bushy Greef (Zulu)
4th Dave Hansen
Longboard – Over 35
1st Justin Maisch (SKZN)
2nd Craig Daniel
3rd Marcel Hoffman
4th Grant Gilmour
Longboard – Ladies
1st Nix Trickett
2nd Heather Klug
3rd Traci Lee Phillips
4th Penny Stemmet (WP)
Longboard – Juniors
1st Damien Stander
2nd Brad Gilmour
Stand up Paddlesurfing (Wave Event) – Ladies
1st Tammy Robarts (WP)
2nd Penny Stemmet (WP)
3rd Lynne Mackey
Stand up Paddlesurfing (Wave Event) – OPEN
1st Brandon Ribbink
2nd Donald Brierley
3rd Grantley Reid
4th Francois Frick (WP)
Waveski – Mens Plate
1st Tony Dubber (Border)
2nd Ken Clements (WP)
3rd Dean Bottcher
Waveski – Mens OPEN
1st Andre Burger (Border)
2nd Ian Macleod (EP)
3rd Percy Louw (WP)
4th Chris Jones (EP)
Kitesurfing – Novice
1st Dustin Harding (Durban)
2nd Austin Steyn (Durban)

Kelly Slater Claims Historic 11th ASP World Title at Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco
“
OCEAN BEACH, San Francisco/California (Wednesday, November 2, 2011) – Kelly Slater (USA), 39, has claimed a historic 11th ASP World Title today, clinching the year-long pursuit with his advancement out of Round 3 at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco.
In pristine three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) peaks at Ocean Beach, Slater fought back to an inspired start from opponent Dan Ross (AUS), 28, to claim victory in the dying moments in front of a capacity crowd at Ocean Beach.
It was a scrappy heat, I didn’t win it in the most effortless style,” Slater said. “I’ve had a lot of heats with Rossy (Dan Ross) this year, and he’s real dangerous with a little power so I knew he’d be dangerous and I was nowhere to be found in the beginning of that heat. I was hunting those lefts and they were fading off I was thinking ‘why am I taking off on these things.’ I knew I had to get in on some of those rights. That wave had a nice open face and I thought it’d probably be just enough.”
After a banner year that witnessed the iconic Floridian make five of nine Finals (thus far) and post three wins, Slater seems to be surfing at the top of his game.
“This is pretty fabulous,” Slater said. “Two days ago in the afternoon it was chunky and small and didn’t look inviting at all. Yesterday was nice and today looks like a nice day in France. I don’t know, this hasn’t sunk in. I’ve been pretty stressed about it and I’m glad it’s over. It’s very fulfilling and there’s personal satisfaction. It feels real nice. I’ve dedicated my life to surfing and competing and to go a whole year and win a world title and have it pay off, it’s really fulfilling. To win on American soil is nice. Everyone’s been so cool and the locals have been so stoked. It’s been a special time. It’s been warm and offshore and a nice little swell. Someone’s looking over us and probably Andy (Irons).”
Today’s clinching of the 2011 ASP World Title comes on the one-year anniversary of the passing of Andy Irons. Irons, who is credited with being a defining force in Slater’s career, was once a bitter rival of the champ (claiming three consecutive ASP World Titles himself) but became a close friend and confidant in recent years. The symbolism of today was not lost on Slater.
Posted in FEATURE, NEWS | Tagged dirty habits, kelly slater 11, kelly slater winds eleventh title, kelly slater world champion, kitesurf cape town, surf magazine

VIDEO footage of the Shark responsible for the Attack in Fishoek This Morning
Cape Town – A man is in a critical condition after being bitten by a shark while swimming at Fish Hoek beach, the NSRI said on Wednesday.
“The NSRI and emergency officials are currently attending to him,” said Craig Lambinon of the National Sea Rescue Institute.
He added that officials have asked the public to steer clear of the scene, and have urged people to stay out of the sea in the entire False Bay area.
Lambinon said the man was apparently fairly far out to sea when he was attacked. He could not yet say what type of shark attacked the man.

KSP Day 5, Huge swell at One Eye! guys shredding it strapless & barrels gallore
The Epic Day 5 (Photo by John Bilderback)
The contest is taking the right direction : Mens were shredding strapless in fat conditions… respect ! Something happen today, check out the vid at the end of the page….
With the long-anticipated mega swell hitting One Eye today and winds holding strong, the KSP One Eye Pro resumed with Men’s Round 4. Ten- to 12-foot faces (and the occasional 15-footer) kicked the day off to an exhilarating start. More offshore than normal, the strong winds kept the wave faces exceptionally clean, setting the stage for some history and career-making heats.
Riding strapless in Heat 23, Jesse Richman (Hawaii) pulled into the sickest and longest barrel of the event so far, but was knocked off his board as he exited the tube. Had he ridden out of it, “I would have given him a 10,” commented KSP Judge Felix Pivec. “He was so close.” Scoring an 8.5 for his best wave, Richman advanced to the Quarter Finals.
Heat 24 pitted North teammates Patri McLaughlin (Hawaii) and John Amundson (Hawaii) against one another. Demonstrating his progressive, unstrapped surf-influenced style, McLaughlin beat Amundson.
Next, as Women’s Round 4 Heat 11 started, the swell ramped up to 15-foot sets (faces), the biggest of the day so far. Both catching some bombs, Kristin Boese (Germany/Best) rode strapped against the unstrapped Steph Bridge (United Kingdom/North). After Bridge’s kite went down early in the heat, Boese went on to ride a couple monsters, advancing to the Semi Finals.
Standing out from the rest of the women’s pack, Mauritian local Ninja Bichler (originally from Germany) exhibited stellar flow in Heat 12 as she rode the triple-overhead waves top to bottom. Riding 11 waves, Bichler scored an 8 on a set wave, the second highest women’s score of the day — which she later destroyed.
As the wind ramped up a notch and the swell continued to grow in size, Round 5 featured standout riding from Solbach and Monteiro. Sky with an 8 on his best wave and Mitu with an 8.83.
Riding rail to rail on macking waves in Round 5, Bridge advanced to the Semi Finals, where she faced One Eye wave slayer Bichler in Heat 16. Tremendously familiar with the break, the unsponsored Wild Card winner Bichler beat out Bridge with some mind-blowing riding. As the surf jacked up to 20-foot faces, and the Coast Guard rescue boat disappeared deep into the trough, Bichler wasn’t the least bit shy of the quadruple overhead monstrosities. Picking off set wave after set wave, she scored a 9.6 on one bomb, securing her a place in tomorrow’s finals against Marie Gautron (France).
Marie Gautron above, Ninja Bichler under… the girls
Action-packed, the Men’s Quarter Finals shook the ground of the sport as well. Receiving 10s across the board from the five judges, Airton Cozzolino (Italy/North) scored the first perfect wave of the event with his strapless performance in Heat 30. Smashing set waves with clean, dynamic turns in the most critical sections, Cozzolino nudged out the unstrapped Solbach and fell just half a point short of a perfect heat score of 20.
Then in the last Men’s Quarter Final, Heat 32, Monteiro (Cabo Verde/F-One) with his innovative and smooth style faced McLaughlin’s surf-influenced grace, making for one of the closest matchups of the day. With a heat score of 18.5, Montiero knocked out McLaughlin by 2.5 points.
Conditions permitting, tomorrow will consist of Men’s Semi Finals (Pedreira v. Cozzolino and Richman v. Monteiro), followed by Women’s and Men’s Loser’s Finals and Finals.
All results and the upcoming heat order are available at kspworldtour.com/ladder. Stay tuned for the next live webcast with live scoring at 9 a.m. (Mauritius time).
(From KSP Website)

Aaron Hadlow, Riding the new 2011 Flexifoil I.D.
Some clips of Aaron Hadlow riding the new 2011 Flexifoil kite the ID

Blouberg Beach Clean up – Saterday 17 – 10:00
For All the Cape Town Kiteboarders, Surfers, boogie boarders, beach goers!
Rugby starts at 8am so beach clean up starts around 10am – got some funky prizes to handout afterwards
Ripcurl has sponsored T-shirts, caps, and 6 Backpacks. Some Pick n Pay vouchers up for grabs too.
Meet at the Beach in front of the KFC
No One Likes a Dirty Beach!!!!