World Snowboard Day 2009

For the fourth year running, the World Snowboard Day returns on the 20th December 2009. The day itself is a celebration of snowboarding across the globe, currently with 39 events planned across 19 countries including obvious places such as Canada, USA, China, France, Sweden, Austria and Italy as well as more surprising but just as exciting places such as Serbia, Bosnia, Ukraine, Moldavia, Georgia and Russia. The number of events and countries may change over the next month or so as more join up, so it’s best to visit the website for more information.

What is World Snowboard Day then? Well as stated before it is a celebration of snowboarding, with professional snowboarders and novices alike coming together across the world to revel in their favourite pastime, hitting the snow! It also a great promotional tool, allowing the uninitiated to get a feel and look at what snowboarding is about and what it can offer you.

It’s also a place for the pros to showcase their stuff, and there will be plenty of competitions and shows put on for the fans, along with plenty of amateur events so everyone can have a go. There will be places to get some lessons for true beginners and expect some wild atmosphere and great music wherever you are as well.

It’s also a good place for manufacturers to show what new snowboarding gear they have to offer, such as their latest snowboards, or snowboarding clothing, protective snowboarding equipment and more. So expect to see names such as Forum Snowboards, K2 Snowboards, Ride and much more at least at some of the events, if not all of them.

Unfortunately the UK doesn’t have any events planned at the moment (though this may change as more venues are added), but there are plenty of places offering holiday packages to most of the destinations events are being held at, and as World Snowboard Day falls on a Sunday, why not make a weekend break of it, there are bound to be plenty of build up parties and events to the day itself and will make for a hell of a time.

Wold Snowboard Day is on the Sunday 20th December and is going to be an amazing day, for full information and to keep up to date visit www.world-snowboard-day.com.

Need some good snowboarding gear before the big day? Visit www.s2as.com for a great range of snowboards, snowboarding equipment and snowboarding clothing.

The 2010 Naish Helix is Upon Us!

We reviewed the 2009 Naish Helix way back at the beginning of the year and we have to say we loved it. For the more advanced rider out there it was easily one of the most exciting kites to come from the Naish Sigma Series. We loved the build quality and it had all the usual Naish features like one pump; we loved the way this kite was all about power and lots of it!

Well the 2010 Naish Helix is here and we have included a video of just what this baby can do. We hope to have a review up soon, weather permitting, but if you want to let us know your thoughts on Naish's new monster, just drop us a line at info@s2as.com and if we like the review we will publish it on our blog (and our site).



If you want to get your hands on a 2010 Naish Helix, visit our site, www.s2as.com where we have the Helix and a huge range of new 2010 kite surfing kites, or pick yourself up a bargain from our 2009 kite range.

Slinghot Fuel 2009 Kite Review

At a Glance
The Slingshot Fuel is arguably the kite with the oldest heritage on the market today. There isn’t another kite out there that has held the same name, or the same fundamental design concept. Sure the Rhino is still called the Rhino, but the actual design of the kite is so far removed from the original C shape beast that you can’t really argue the heritage case.

Over the years the Fuel has become synonymous with high performance and power. It has set the benchmark in the past as a kite surfing kite that needs to be tamed and only certain riders are up to the job. It has never been for the feint hearted.

Back in the day guys like Ben Wilson and Jeff Tobias were pushing the limits of this kite around the globe. But as ever the old makes way for the new and now it is the turn of Ruben Lenten to fly the Slingshot torch. He has been riding the Fuel for a few years now but 2009 sees for the first time the kite being designed around the rider. It is his signature pro model kite that you will be getting your hands on. Rest assured the build quality is up to its usual Slingshot standard, and we doubt Ruben would settle for anything but the best!

The Bar
The kite comes with three options for the bar, you can opt for the Lenten Pro Model, which comes with 4 lines and just the O’Shit handles for safety. Or there is a 5th line version, which gives you all the advantages of a 5th line set up. Lastly is the 4 line Profire Control Bar. Which was the set up we used.

The Profire bar uses a Centre Safety System, which allows the kite to flag out on one of the front lines when it is engaged. This assures complete depower and also is designed so that the kite won’t twist when it is deployed allowing you to reengage the system and carry on your session. The bar itself oozes quality and there are some great graphic detailing on it. We know it isn’t all about the colours, but it does make it very easy on the eye!
In the Air
We had had a few warnings about the Fuel before we rode it, tales of pro riders getting spanked by it when they weren’t paying enough attention. So we treated the kite with all due care and caution. What we found was a super stable canopy that pulls like a train. It actually isn’t all that scary once it is in the sky either, just as long as you leave it their tracking through the window. The real fear gets switched on when you start to engage it in a loop, but more about that later.

Obviously designing a kite for Ruben it is going to have certain characteristics and we would say that unless you are at the top of your freestyle game and looking for the tools to match the skills then look away now. As a free ride kite you will find it fairly slow and sluggish in the turns, this isn’t a kite that turns on a sixpence. But if you want to smash out handle passes all day long and need a kite that will sit in the window exactly where you left it at take off then this is what it does exceptionally well. It really hardly moves and takes a fair bit of rider input into the bar to get the kite to turn with any real pace.

Jumping is good and the kite really launches the rider off the water and gives some impressive float for what is essentially still a c-shape design. And of course while you are up there it would seem a shame to not engage the true nature of the beast and chuck it into a loop or two. Of course being an 11m it doesn’t lend itself to Rubens trademark Mega Loop too well, but you can kite loop it and discover the ridiculous power it generates in the turns. It is bordering on the very scary to insane, the smaller kitesurfing kites in the range are of course faster and the really small kites are designed with high wind big tricks in mind. The 11m though does what you’d expect it too, pull like a truck and keep on pulling without moving too much in the window throughout your move.

Pros
If you want to ride top-level freestyle and demand the qualities you would expect from a kite designed for those duties then the Fuel fits the bill very well. You also have the exceptional attention to detail and build quality too.

Cons
A lot of riders used to ride Fuels and they weren’t so specific in their nature, this year if you aren’t dedicated to freestyle then consider the Slingshot Rev or the Slingshot RPM; the Fuel is definitely a dedicated machine.

Overall
Rubens first Pro Model kite and it does exactly what you would expect it to do, don’t be fooled if your skills aren’t up to it. The Rev delivers far more bang for your buck in terms of the free ride stable.

The London Freeze Festival 2009

Following on from last year’s huge success, The London Freeze festival returns again this year and aims to make last year pale in comparison. Quite a tall order especially as organisers are predicting around 10, 000 visitors each day over the festival weekend, but based on last year we’re sure these figures are about right.

The extreme winter sports festival, based at Battersea Power Station, is an amazing undertaking, utilising around 500 tonnes of real snow for its competitions and events. This snow will be the building blocks for the 32 metre high slope where the pro skiers and snowboarders will be battling it out to show who it the best for the delight of the crowd. It’s not just about the slope though as the whole site will be turned into a winter village.

A few of the familiar faces competing will include British snowboarders Ben Kilner and Dom Harrington, along with famous ski and snowboarding names from around the globe.

Of course a festival isn’t a festival without music and there are some big names there to keep the energy going on and off piste. Pendulum and Example will be taking the Friday night slot with headliners Orbital. Other names include Friendly Fires, Eagles of Death Metal and Chase & Status amongst many more. Oh and remember that Saturday is the 31stOctober, so if you fancy dressing up there is a retro-themed Halloween party to throw something different into the mix.

Snow if you are mad on snowboards, snowboarding, skiiing, winter sports, music or just having a goof time, then there is something for you there.

Interested? Then visit www.londonfreeze.com for further ticket information.

Tickets are priced at £35 for a day pass, £85 for a season pass (3 days), with a child’s day ticket at £15 and a child’s season ticket at £35.

The London Freeze festival at Battersea Power Station runs from 30th Oct - 1st Nov

Olympic Dreams Become Reality for UK Snowboarder Ben Kilner

Ben Kilner, Britain's top male snowboarder, is finally set to swap his pipe dreams for a real taste of Winter Olympic action.

The 21-year-old is on the brink of qualification for the half-pipe at the 2010 Games in Vancouver after a blistering year.

Not that he has done it the easy way. After turning down a place at university in an attempt to qualify for Turin in 2006 he agonisingly missed out before dislocating and fracturing his knee in 2007.

But speaking from the top of a glacier in the Austrian resort of Hintertux, where he is in the middle of a two-week training stint, Kilner insists all the hard work has been worthwhile.

'I've always had the Olympics as the dream,' said the boarder from Banchory, Scotland.

'It was always a bit of a dream that seemed miles away but now it's here. I've got two more qualifying events to go.

You have to be in the world top 40 to qualify for Vancouver and at the moment I'm 23rd so I'm in a good, secure position and one more qualifying event should do it. A medal is my top, top goal but top 15 is more realistic.

I'm looking to pick up as much experience as I can before the 2014 Games.'

Kilner, who started the year as an outsider for qualification before a string of impressive World Cup results, including a ninth-place finish in Italy, admits at times it has been a difficult path.
'Yeah, it was a tough choice to become a pro boarder.

Ever since I got my first sponsor I had to make the decision that I would have no time for education. I was very wary.

I had just finished my exams but decided to sacrifice university and aim for the 2006 Olympics. But my parents have been more than supportive and given me plenty of guidance.'

That support would have been tested to the full after a heavy fall while warming up for a World Cup event in Calgary, fracturing and dislocating his knee.

'It was just a heavy impact fall but I was out in the backwater and had to be airlifted into hospital,' he recalls.

'It was absolutely agonising, excruciating. But I recovered and was actually boarding again, before having an MRI scan on the knee as it still just didn't feel right. It was then I was told I had a bit of bone which had dislodged and lodged itself between the joint.'

But I was able to walk out of hospital two weeks after surgery and have forgotten about it since really. Snowboarding is such a high-risk sport, you're going to fall to learn. You suffer so much aches and pains you just forget about it. Just get on with it.'

Ben Kilner will be competing at London Freeze from October 30 until November 1 at Battersea Power Station. Tickets available at www.londonfreeze.com

Click here to visit the original article at www.metro.co.uk

Cold Beaches? The Hit The Slopes!

It seems summer is definitely over as the cold weather creeps in and the dark nights draw in. Autumn is well underway and winter is round the corner and only the bravest are going to hit the waves for some action is the cold climates of dear old Blighty (A salute to those that do; you are hardcore, but quite insane as well!).

With this in mind we will start looking at snowboarding with our blogs and articles, though we will still try to post a few kite surfing kite and board reviews to help you make choices for the 2010 season (as well as a look at the 2009 kit out now).

We’ll take a look at the latest snowboards, safety gear, snowboard clothing and equipment.

We also want to hear from you, our customers and readers. If you have any reviews you want us to post, about products we stock or products we don’t (many of our kite reviews are of products we have tried and tested, but we don’t stock ourselves, but we believe in being informative, not bias) then please send the through to us and we will endeavour to post them an give a thanks an credit to the author (so please include your name and if you have a site or blog include that too by all means).

We will keep posting as long as you keep reading.

The S2AS Team

Starkites SBow 8m 2009 Kite Review

At a Glance
The Starkites SBow 09 is now in its fourth generation, being the initial kite surfing kite that put Starkites on the map as a manufacturer back in 2006.

Originally it was developed as an entry-level kite, Starkites having close relations with the IKO looked at developing the perfect kite for getting started in kite surfing. Since then the SBow has evolved over 4 years into its current incarnation.

The kit is now much more of a freeride design, still perfect for learning on, but also being very adept at turning its hand to waves, jumps and even freestyle. Jan Marcos Riveras used the SBow solely for his challenge to take the KPWT wave tour crown.

This year Starkites have really stepped up their game in terms of construction, the kite features one pump, plenty of reinforcements and extra panels and stitching in all the right places. The kite itself is a very flat design using fairly extensive bridling to help the leading edge keep its flat arc.

The Bar
At first glance the bar looks very well made and it is certainly well designed. There is an excellent spinning safety system that can either be used as it is supplied, or you can adjust it to a handle pass leash style set up. The de-power is an above bar pull webbing system, but it is easy to reach and works well. The chicken loop is moulded so it fits into the bar, which makes hooking in and out easy and the whole set up looks very clean and well thought out.

The bar itself, in the hands, feels comfy and the grip is tack enough to ensure it won’t slip when you are pulling kiteloops in high winds.

In the Air
The 8m SBow has a surprising amount of power for such a small kite. At the bottom end of its wind range it delivers plenty of grunt to get you up and riding earlier than you would expect. With the pulley 2:1 bridle system the kite also delivers a lot of depower. More importantly this depower is from a very short “throw” of the bar. You don’t have to move the bar very far away from you to achieve a loss of power. This takes a little getting used to at first, but will be a confidence building safety feature for the more tentative rider out there. You really can switch the kite off with minimum input from the bar.

The downside of this is that you can get caught out doing kiteloops, if you sheet out a little too much mid loop the kite looses power and steering and leaves you heading for a splash. If you are going to kite loop this kite then make sure you keep the bar pulled in the whole way round. If you do this you’ll find it loops with a smooth turn and develops an impressive tug.

For a freeride kite it also delivers some blistering jump performance. When at the top end of its wind range the hangtime is immense and we enjoyed quite a few over-powered sessions on the 8m. Upwind is excellent too, the thin leading edge profile allowing the kite to attack the edge of the window and drag you upwind at speed.

Pros
Well built, impressive bar set up and excellent freeride characteristics, good jumps, great upwind, quick efficient depower.

Cons
While that depower is great for learning and safety its on/off nature will take a little getting used to. Once you have the kite dialled in though, the performance will surprise you.

Overall
The SBow is a great freeride kite that will be happy in a lot of different situations. Beginners, intermediates and people who want something safe in a big wind will appreciate the SBow

For more information go to your local dealer or visit www.starkites.com. For more information on kite sufing, kite surfing equipment or kite sufing lessons visit www.s2as.com

Learn to Kitesurf DVD Gets a 5 Star Rating From the S2AS Team

Fat Sand Productions have updated and will shortly release a new edition of their best selling 'Kiteboarding Beginner' instructional DVD, bringing quality instructional content to the hundreds of new beginners eager and excited to learn our amazing sport.

Featuring all the new types of kit available on the market today (c, bow, hybrids and delta, four and five line kites) and filmed in the beautiful backdrop of Sharm El Sheikh with two of the UK's most talented and accredited kitesurfing coaches Christian Harris and Karine Navital.

The DVD has been completely re-shot with clearer, high quality footage and many more angles. The filming and editing style still bear all the much loved progression trademarks; detailed technique breakdown, common problem analysis, split screens, slow motion repeats and graphic overlays - all proven at aiding faster development.

The techniques and tricks covered in this DVD are now much more focused around the specific needs of beginners in those critical first stages of development. Rather than squeezing a fast progression to jumps and carves within the 2.5hrs running time, we have included a greater depth of coverage and analysis of those key beginner stumbling blocks such as water starts and up wind riding.

Rob Claisse, CEO of Fat Sand, describes this key decision; "We wanted to focus on equipping beginners with solid set of skills, knowledge and technical know how, helping to develop a generation of competent and confident riders in our sport. So many people get frustrated and rush through these vital stages, leaving holes in their knowledge which hold them back later down the line. We wanted to offer a complete learning resource that could support beginners at every step of their progression and get them up and riding as quickly and as safely as possible, to then progress onto intermediate tricks and techniques which feature in a new intermediate volume 1 DVD." (release date late-September)

The Progression kiteboarding Beginner DVD contains over 2.5 hours of content, with chapters on equipment & terminology, kite setup, launching & landing, water re-launch and self rescue, body dragging, water starts and first runs, staying up wind and sliding turns.

The drive and focus behind the Progression DVD's has always been to help people move forward, stay motivated and get the most out of their sport. Six years and many DVD sales later we are proud to be doing just that but don't take our word for it, hear what just some of our beginner customers have had to say:

"My enthusiasm in the sport has been increased as I have gained extra confidence from watching your DVD" - Michael, Australia

"The best kiting tutorial I've come across so far" - Raul, Luxembourg

"I love Progression Beginner! Awesome!" - James, UK

"The DVD really breaks down each technique into it's component parts to make it really clear what I should and shouldn't be doing" - Will, UK

Visit S2AS for your copy or for more information on kite surfing lessons.

We Ask Naish a Few Questions About 2010.

Q&A with Damien Girardin from Naish International

Overview
Damien Girardin recently sat down and answered a few commonly asked questions regarding the design intent behind the new 2010 Naish Kite line-up.

Questions
1) "What are the differences between the Naish Cult, the Naish Helix and Charger in terms of riding?"

"The Naish Cult is the ultimate tool for all-terrain riding, and is unmatched on the market for stability, broad sweet spot, and linear bar pressure. It is the easiest Naish kite yet.

The Naish Helix provides a more engaging kiting experience. It will generate more power in the turns, and yanks you more out of the water when you jump. It is a more powerful kite overall, and is faster turning.

The Naish Charger is similar to the Naish Cult in terms of performance and ease. But it’s bar pressure is more “proportional” to the angle of attack of the kite making gusts and lulls more apparent. You’ll be amazed by the stability and smoothness compared to other Delta kites, none of which has our Geo Tech Construction. The Charger’s relaunch is automatic and gives novice kiters the ability to launch their kites in the most challenging conditions."

2) "Why has Naish designed the Charger without the Sigma Outline?"

"The non-Sigma design has some interesting elements, like water relaunch and the way it engages in turns. We improved the concept by adding Geo Tech. The main flaw we found in other Delta kites was the lack of stability at low angles of attack. By adding our exclusive Geo Tech construction, we’ve been able to stabilize the kite tremendously. For Delta kite enthusiasts, the Charger clearly provides something new."

3) "Why is Geo Tech absent on the new Helix?"

"We designed the Helix with Power Foil Canopy instead of Geo-Tech because we were looking for extra juice and power. With advanced riders in mind, the Helix’s new power foil moves more while riding. It provides an extra touch of power at crucial moments when sheeted-in."

4) "Why does the 2010 Naish Cult have a more pronounced Sigma outline in comparison to last year’s model?"

"The increase in the Sigma enables the LE to twist at the kite’s center. This allows the rider to induce a pivot turn when wanted. Therefore, the Naish Cult steering capabilities have expanded, and can now do either pivots or tight radius turns. This simply makes the kite even easier to control and steer."

5) "Why does the 2010 Naish Helix have a reduced Sigma outline in comparison to last year’s model?"

"Again, the Sigma outline allows the kite to pivot more from the center. By reducing the Sigma, the kite pivots less from the center and turns more around the wing tip. This generates more power through the turn. With the Helix, that is exactly what we were looking for…a more aggressive pull in the turns."

6) "Can I put a fifth line on a Naish Charger, Cult, and Helix?"

"Yes. All three of these kites allow for a fifth line to be connected to the pump leash attachment point on the Leading Edge. The Universal Control system is also designed to allow a fifth line system. However, that option will only suit fifth line enthusiasts. Most riders will much prefer riding these kites with only four lines for performance and simplicity, which is how they are meant to be ridden."

7) "What did you do to improve low-end performance?"

"In order to have the kites fly more efficiently in lighter winds, we spent a great deal of time adjusting the foil’s profile and the LE diameter. We had incredible success as we optimized the profile. The end result is a kite range that flies faster, turns quicker, and generates very efficient low-end lift.

We also increased the length of the flying line extensions that come on the bigger Helix, Cult and Charger kites. The 13.0 to 16.0 kites come with 7m extensions. While, the 9.0 to 12.0 kites still come with 4m extensions."

8) "How does the Naish Torch depower so well without any bridles?"

"The Naish Torch is a kite that depowers by flying to the edge of the window. Compared to other kites, the Torch’s foil profile is thinner, and its LE diameter is smaller.

These two characteristics allow the kite to fly further forward in the window, and get there fast. This gives it the ability to depower quickly. We can confidentially say that it has more depower than most bridled kites."

9) "Will a Sigma kite accidentally launch itself when sitting on the beach?"

"No. Not when positioned properly like any kite. A Sigma kite actually sits on the beach in windy conditions as well as non-Sigma kites, because the wind forces the center portion of the LE to stay down."

10) "Are the 2010 Control Systems compatible with last year’s kites?"

"Yes, absolutely."

11) "Why is the trim line so long on the Universal Control System?"

"The long trim line allows for full depower of the kite when the bar is pushed all the way up. High depower is crucial and the number one safety benefit on any kite. Our trim line allows the rider to easily handle situations that could be potentially dangerous. If a rider wants to adjust the reach, he/she can easily set the “stopper” at the desired height, while keeping the ability to push it up with the bar when needed."

For more info on the Naish 2010 kite and kite board line up, give us a call or come in and see us in one of our kitesurf shops in Brighton, Poole or Kent.

Poole: 01202 738448
Brighton: 01273 746836
Kent: 01303 269828