Very happy to first of all announce that GIN kiteboarding is back in the kite market and that I have joined them yet again! As they are starting a new and exiting chapter of GIN, I am very proud and happy to be back as a International rider for the brand that helped me from the beginning! I would not be where I am today without the girls and guys at GIN kiteboarding.
http://www.ginkites.com/riders/international
I went to Asia in february to participate in the KTA Indonesia on a little resort Island called Bintan. We where staying in a resort called Agro, didnt see much beside that to be honest. As a kite spot it was very hard to launch as the wind went slightly off shore, plus the constant fear of stepping on stonefish! But the water was really flat!! Normally the wind is light, but for KTA the wind decided to surprise everyone and put girls on 7meter kites during freestyle!! We got treated very nice over there and since I met up with some old and new friends it was just awesome!!
After that I decided to go directly to Thailand, where the second stop of the competition would be 3 weeks later! I love Thailand, the food, the people, the living… Its simply amazing! If the wind would howl over there, its NO doubt where I would be spending my seasons. But sadly its not, since 11 meter is the biggest kite I enjoy kiting on, I did not spend a lot of my time kiting over there. The competition got wind luckily, low wind for the singles and stronger for the start of the doubles where I was climbing the ladder with my 9meter! All in all, it was a successful competition with great parties and good friends around!! I even went wake boarding and hit a kicker on my first session, I guess its easier after years of kiting!
The next stop for the KTA was in Boracay island in the Philippines. Since I spent a long time there already last year, I just planned a short week over there, also the end of the season. Wind was kind of unstable, strong early and dropping 11.30 everyday. But they managed to pull of the singles, doubles and a whole lot of racing!! I had a lot of fun over there meeting up with so many good friends and enjoying the island! Competition went really bad with loads of bad luck sadly! I realized Im maybe not such a competition rider as I thought! After I hit the Republic wake park on the way home, second time wake boarding I hit sliders, kickers and tried stuff to blind!! So much fun!!
Waiting for Europe to heat up, I decided to spend the rest of April in Thailand, Pak nam pran. Absolutely NO wind, going crazy, eating way to much Thai food, but good way to wait for the winter to pass back home! Now Im happily in bright and shiny Norway!! Next stop; Turkey, Sri Lanka, Egypt? Who knows!!
I have to say, the last two weeks have been crazy! First it was the KTA (Kite tour Asia) Thailand and then just a few days after the KTA Boracay, Philippines started. Both events known for good winds and good parties. The event in Thailand started with a lot of racing because of light wind, but we finally got enough (!) wind for freestyle. I was in my first heat against last years 3rd overall Ali Dudfield, the wind was extremely light and I was way underpowered on my 11meter so didnt managed to do much. Ali had the best heat she ever had and won well deserved. The forecast looked bad for the doubles, but the last day we managed to start and I climbed my way up to 5th place which Im very satisfied with. Great parties, great people, amazing Thai food, a very successful event!
After I decided to go to Boracay, since I anyway had to leave Thailand for the visa (even tho my accounts are very empty) But with cheap flight and ferry ride I made it happen. In Boracay the season was basically over, but with wind in the mornings we managed to start some freestyle. I had a suuuper bad first heat, with a very scary incident with almost drowning because of boots and leash and got really shaken up. So I lost when I could have won. And in my first heat in the doubles I got once again very talented Ali Dudfield, and almost managed to win with a super close heat, but my high kite put me out. Anyway, I realized with this event I am maybe not a competitive rider, I get too stressed and forget to have fun, which is why I do kiting in the first place!! So from now on I will make movies, ride and progress for fun and maybe maybe I will try another competition later this year! We will see!
But even tho the results didnt come out like I hoped, coming back to Boracay was amazing and I had such a great time over there, the time with KTA this year have been unforgettable. THANKS guys!!!
And yeah, after 3 rounds of the tour I am 4th overall in the Kite tour Asia!! YEAH!! Now Im back in Thailand for hopefully get some progression and filming in!! lets see!!
More pictures for this post will come!!! Slow internet!!
After Bintan I decided to go to Thailand to prepare for the KTA Pranburi from the 13-18 march! I spended three days in Bangkok with the lovely Sukie and Polly, discovering the madness of the big city and some of the tourist attractions. And of course some party!
Now I am all settled in Pranburi and waiting for the wind to kick in so I can get some more awesome sessions in on my Hifi X kites from Liquid force! A bit too light to ride with bindings here, so I will change to straps. Today we had north wind and it worked out perfectly for a short, but alright session on my 11meter. Learned a few new things about my kites and landed a few nice tricks. Now I hope for more good days, so I can train well before the KTA and hopefully do better than in the Bintan event. If you want to join the Thai paradise, check out KiteZone beach house! You cant get more on the spot!!
After my trip to Brazil I spent a couple of weeks back home with my family and friends before taking off to Asia to some KTA – Kite tour Asia stops!! For the first time the KTA had a event in Indonesia and the expectations where low wind and big kites! I just got my new equipment from my awesome new sponsor Liquid force and was very exited to test them out properly!! The wind picked up a LOT and all the girls went on 7-9 meter kites!! The freestyle began on day 2 and I won my first heat landing raley to blind and back to blind, barely without ever riding my kites before! The second heat I lost against the winner Victoria, so wasnt too disapointed about that! She rocks!!! In the double elimination I went big from the start when I should have taken it easy, completely ridiculous overpowered on my 11meter Hifi X! Second trick I crashed the kite and the fifth line wrapped around the kite and that was it for me, was a bit stupid from me to go for the blinds early and also not knowing my equipment properly – never had 5 lines before!! BUT, lesson learned and I got 2 weeks in Thailand before the next stop!! Shit happens!! Got loads of great pictures with my new gear and had so much fun with the KTA crew!! Bintan is so lovely and the organizers did a fabulous job with this event!! Cant wait for the KTA Thailand!!
Woop woop!!
Last two photos is from talented Anny Barlow!!
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