Shinn Kiteboards from Surface2Air Sports

UPDATED 30/03/2020

S2AS have been selling Nobile kiteboards since they were released back in 2005 These kiteboards designed by Mark Shinn (UK legend in kitesurfing) 

Mark left Nobile to start out creating his Shinn brand of kiteboards. 

He felt that his hands were tied at Nobile and with some excellent idea's he could not get through to the Nobile brand. Well, that has now changed as Mark has started Shinn Kiteboards.

Mark's Experience is for us the best in the world when it comes to making a good kiteboard. Mark has ridden all the best kiteboards in the world to help him produce a kiteboard that will stand out. 

The Shinn Kiteboard brand has since dropped some of the best kiteboards in the world like the Shinn Monk. I can honestly say we have sold 100's of this kiteboard and NEVER had a complaint. It must be the most popular kiteboard in the UK.

Shinn Monk in action

Kitesurfing for Mark is a passion, and Mark had been kitesurfing since day one back in 2000 I remember mark winning the world championship on his mutant kiteboard from Naish who he was riding for at the time. This guy was genuinely unbelievable when it came to big air and board off's Tricks that since 2004 have made a huge comeback.

When Mark was designing Nobile Kiteboards, the brand was number one in the UK may be all over the world, But saying that as soon as Mark left the company to start Shinn Kiteboards that all changed very fast. The Shinn kiteboards took over the Market share that Nobile had at the time.

The graphics of the Shinn Kiteboards look to appeal to that London Kitesurfer, Super clean looks no more bright colours and messy designed just clean and modern.

Shinn Kiteboards 2020

If you want to check out some of Shinn's kiteboards, take a look on the S2AS website as we stock the full range as they are some of the best in the world right now.

2020 Shinn kiteboards review: 

S2AS Team

FREE kitesurf magazines While on Lockdown

So good news to come out today is that The Kite Mag is offering all back issues of the magazine for free, so all the time you are stuck at home you can be at least dreaming of being out on the water by reading the kite mag.

Free Back issues of the Kite Mag

It's a weird time right?!   But the weirdness is bringing plenty of niceness to the front and center too, and we're seeing that everywhere, not least from you lot in the kitesurfing community.   We felt it important to do our bit too. It's not a whole lot, but we've now decided to make every back issue of TheKiteMag available for free, including the current issue. Hopefully, this might provide just the tiniest little bit of relief to any of you who are under a lockdown or have been forced to self-isolate with little in the way of quality reading material...   We'll be dropping back to all but the latest two issues once we deem the weird period we're all experiencing to be over. But in the meantime, please enjoy the latest in premium kiteboarding goodness with our very best wishes.   We're also discussing other ways that we might be able to increase the sense of community across the kiteboarding world, and we've got some pretty exciting stuff coming this way... Stay tuned.   Stay safe everyone and thanks for being a part of our community. Find your free back issues of The Kite Mag

First Time Snowboarding Tips – Readers Response

Snowboarder in the 1/4 pipe

Every year around this time, tens of thousands of people are taking their initiation (and the bruises) on the Ski slopes, which we know include obligatory button lift failures, epic face plants and aches in places that previously didn’t even exist.

So we thought we’d ask you guys to come up with your beginner’s tips for snowboarding on our Facebook page, and we certainly weren’t disappointed. You guys quickly responded by sharing your key tips as well as coming up with a few funny anecdotes. Please join in and add your own in the comments below.

Pad Up

Many of you couldn’t stress enough the importance of padding up when you hit the slopes. This includes wearing the correct Snowboard safety gear such as a Ski helmet, wrist guards, protective gloves, and bum pads/padded shorts (which you will appreciate after falling down repeatedly).

Oakley Mod 3 Ski Helmet

Padded shorts are perhaps the most favoured purchase for novice boarders heading out for their second season: Trust us, don’t leave it that long.

Demon Impact Shorts for snowboarding

Get Lessons

Get lessons from a qualified teacher was another top response from you guys. Trying to learn how to snowboard is a difficult task so ease the pressure off by investing in a qualified instructor where they can save you from picking up bad habits.

That’s not all you advised, you also encouraged beginners to keep all lessons close together so everything you learn stays fresh in your mind. If you do decide to learn once you are there, especially on larger resorts you’ll find an instructor will help you find the most suitable runs  - there is nothing quite as intimidating as taking a wrong turn onto a black run in your first few days. In that case, see tip 1!

Snowboard Lessons in the Alps

Learn To Stop First And Foremost

Learning control over your board came up multiple times, with the most important pointer being to learn how to stop first and foremost! Once you can do this you will feel comfortable in most snowboarding scenarios which will allow you to build up speed gradually on the slopes.

Learn With Others Who Are A Similar Skill Level

A key bit of advice for any beginner is to ride with a small group who are at the same skill level as you. This will encourage you as well as give you the opportunity to laugh at each other the whole day. Also, try an indoor session on a snow slope where everybody is in close proximity and the weather isn't an issue, it will give you a head start for a bigger mountain.

Snowboarding with Friends

Twist Not Shove The Board

One of the most common snowboarding errors is that people tend to shove the board. One handy piece of advice instructed beginners to remember to twist the board and not shove it, for example, reverse the pressure on your front foot (from toe to heel or vice versa depending on which edge you start) and once round (not at the same time) then do the same with your back foot. You'll glide round!

How to Carve on a Snowboard

Hopefully these first time snowboarding tips will prove useful for anyone heading out for their maiden runs in the next few months. Above all else though, enjoy it – You only get one first time!

Richard Branson V Barack Obama - Kitesurfing Challenge

These are two of the most famous inspiring people in the world having a go at Kitesurfing,
Whatever the outcome this was always going to be great fun for all and really good promotion for Kitesurfing as a watersport worldwide.

Sir Richard Branson invited Barack Obama and his wife Michelle to the British Virgin Islands (Moskeo Island) for a nice and relaxing break after his 2nd term as the president of the United States of America.
Well, it was far from relaxing for Barack Obama As he decided to have a go at Kitesurfing, Now Richard is an avid kitesurfer and loves the sport, So it was only fair if Richard was at the learning stage too so bring on the foil,
Barack on a kiteboard for his first runs under the power of the kite and Richard on a foil for the first time. (What could go wrong)

Now let us be clear This is not Barack Obama's first rodeo, He loves his watersports including surfing in fact Just before he became President of the United states he was out in Maui Surfing and the rumour is when he came in off the water after a great session his security detail told him "That's the last time you will be surfing for a while" That was 8 years ago! now he is back and kitesurfing.

So the question is Can Barack Obama learn to Kiteboard before Richard Branson could learn to foil?
Game on!

So after a few days on the kite learning to fly it well it was time tp get on the water with a kiteboard for Barack Obama.
Both out on the rescue boat lets see how they both got on:

Richard Branson Vs Barack Obama - Kitesurfing

The security around was immense but Barack was very relaxed and ready to give it his all.

So first up was Richard to have a go at Kite Foiling now let us be clear protection is very important when learning to Foil and Richard was taking no chances with a full-face helmet and Kitesurf impact jacket.

Sir Richard Branson Kite Foiling

If you can Kitesurf you would think foiling would be easy, Let me tell you its not, It a completely different sport and all your board skills do not help you as the Wing on the foil just wants to lift at all times so your job is to stop it cavitating from the water.
With steady front foot pressure, This can be done but takes practice.
Richard fell so many times as you can see but it's all about determination and we all know Sir Richard Branson has lots of that. He kept trying until he got the first run on the foil board a whole 50 meters! So first blood to Sir Richard Branson. Well done Richard!

Barack Obama about to do his first board starts.

Barack Obama's First Run on a kiteboard

Next up was Barack and this guy does not know how to lose! He amazed everyone with a long run on the kiteboard under the power of the kite for around 100m, Twice as far as Richard managed.
Fair play to that man he spent two days learning the skills of kitesurfing and pushing himself to get up and riding as soon as possible.

Richard was very humble in his loss and congratulated Barack on his win. Not a bad story to tell people in a bar of how you lost a bet with Barack Obama on kitesurfing.

I'm sure Richard will make a comeback, Maybe next time Obama will be on the losing side, "Richard bring him back over for another challenge very soon", please.

For more info on Kitesurfing or if you want to learn how to kitesurf contact Surface 2 Air Sports they have a kitesurfing school in Poole, Dorset that offers Kitesurfing lessons including all the equipment and insurance.

Kitesurfing in Poole a South Coast Watersports Mecca

Poole Harbour and its surrounding beaches have over the years become somewhat of a water sports Mecca.  Attracting people to the area from all walks of life because it holds host to the huge range of water sports from sailing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, powerboating, scuba diving, paddleboarding, and my personal favourite the amazing sport of kitesurfing.

Kitesurfing first appeared in the late ’90s and is the fastest growing water sport in the world, which is always evolving and improving with newer safer kites and gear. Kitesurfing is adventurous adrenaline filled surface water sport, it has been describing as combining, windsurfing, power kiting, wakeboarding and a bit of gymnastics into one awesome extreme sport.  Kitesurf water-born kites harness the power of the wind to propel a rider across the water on a small duel direction board.  There are two main disciplines of kite surfing, freestyle and wave riding.  Freestyle involves performing complex aerial trick’s a lot of these tricks have evolved from the wakeboarding background.  Wave riding enables you to use the kite to surf waves big or small by using the kite to pull you into and out of the surf.

Poole and the surrounding area have a big kite surf community, with a large kite surf club probably the biggest in the UK. The club helps to promote safer kiting and a good community within Poole and is open to everyone because unlike surfing, kitesurfing it not indignantly competitive in any way just like-minded people with the same passion for the sport, Poole kite surfing offer everything to all levels of riders. Beginners have the safety of the harbour, Whitely Lake kitesurf area with its very large expanse of shallow flat water.  Whereas, for the more experienced to advanced riders there is Poole bay’s blue flag beaches, which stretch from Sandbanks to Hengistbury head offering wave riding or freestyle.  I personally like both locations in various wind conditions, Each has its merits.

No doubt if you are staying in Poole for a few days you would have seen people kitesurfing either on the beach or in the Harbour and thought to yourself wow that looks like a lot of fun I’d like to have a go at that! But are wondering how to get into the sport, the best bit of advice I can give is to go to a professional kitesurf school like surface 2 air sports and take some lessons.  I have been kitesurfing for about 4 years, and when I first started I completed a Kitesurfing two day course with Surface 2 Air Sports and can remember it as if it was yesterday, they do everything from one-day taster course, two-day full course and even one to one 2 hour improver kitesurf lessons plus they sell all the best brands of kite equipment and are only too happy to help with all you kitesurf needs. When I approached them regarding lessons I found them to be a friendly and professional local company based in lower Parkstone Ashley Cross.  They were very helpful and advised that I take a two-day course Due to the fact I was a complete novice to the sport.

The course was run over two full days, all the equipment as supplied as part of the course wetsuit, helmet, harness, buoyancy aid, and kite equipment, all I needed to take was swimming shorts towel
And some money for lunch

The course itself was very structured and all very relevant. The first half of the first day was at Baiter Park land-based flying site, flying with small foil kite to get me used to flying a power kite and how to rig that up as well as the big water-born kite surf kite and all the safety side of things also.
The second half for the first day was at Whitely Lake kite surfing area doing water-based flying body dragging and more safety instruction.

Day two of the course was all water-base from the off recapping what we had learnt in the afternoon the day before so buy the mid-morning I was quite competent flying the kite surf kite body dragging etc then it was all about the extra element of the kiteboard and trying to get up on that and going along. By the end of the course, I had achieved my goal I had a few short runs up on the board planning along followed by a big splash. I found the course both fun, exciting and informative the Kitesurf instructors were a credit to Surface 2 air shop friendly, enthusiastic, knowledgeable helpful and fun I would recommend them to anyone. I was completely hooked on my new sport kite surfing and safe in my new-found knowledge a few days later purchased my first kite, board, harness and wetsuit all at an amazing deal from the same shop I did my course with because I did my course with them. Once again I found they were very helpful and informative. I still use Surface 2 air sports to this day for all my gear as I believe they give the best advice service in the area a big thank you to them for all there help over the years!!! I still kitesurf today if fact my passion for the sport has grown and grown pushing my limits every time I get out on the water and always come of the water after a session the biggest smile on my face. All I say it try it do a course if you dare, but be warned if you embark on one you will be hooked on the sport for life just like I am.

Top Five Cable Wakeboards in 2020

Wakeboarding at a Cable park

We have been hard at work this winter testing as many Cable wakeboards as possible, so you don't have too. We also produce a lot of content for youtube for our wakeboard reviews, and these are a little more in-depth. So if you like what you see here about the top Five Cable wakeboards then make sure you double up on your Wakeboard knowledge and head over to our youtube page and watch some of our video reviews, We will add them below, so it is easy to find.

Surface2Air Sports Youtube Channel

So first thing first whats important in a cable wakeboard? What do you the rider need to look out for when buying a cable board?
We will run you through all the things that we feel are important when choosing the correct wakeboard for your needs and riding style.

Wakeboard core's

Whats the board made from? Is it a Foam core, Full Wood Core or a hybrid between the two?

Wood cores are the best for flex and strength in Cable wakeboards; Wood is the strongest and also has an excellent memory for pop and response.

Wood Core

The hybrid core will allow the board to be stiffer & lighter than a full wood core and offer you even more pop than a complete wood core wakeboard just not as strong. These wakeboards also perform better if you ever want to wakeboard behind a boat.

Foam Core's - These wakeboards are best kept just for wakeboarding behind a boat they will not hold up well to lap after lap of kickers and sliders so stay away from the Foam cores for Cable wakeboarding.

Closed cell foam core Wakeboards

Carbon

Some wakeboards have carbon some do not, So what will carbon do for you as a rider and will it help you.
So carbon will add stiffness to the board, Carbon will make the wakeboard lots more explosive and responsive. Most riders will not need Carbon array in their wakeboards.

Carbon In the wakeboard core

Bottom Features 

Flat base or lots of channelling on the base of the wakeboard?

Well, this will depend on the style of riding you want to do at your local cable wakeboard park.
Here I'll give you an example: If you are into air tricks and not a huge fan of sliders, then I would push you towards a bit more channelling on the base of the board.
Channelling will give you more grip and line tension; these two things will provide you with much bigger airs.
As you come down hard and fast in flat water, the channelling will also help with grip and direction on landing.

Wakeboard base with Channels

A smoother base will be much better on Sliders because the more of the base that's in contact with the obstacle the better, this will make it a lot more stable and offer much better flex.
You will also feel that the board will feel loose at first but you will soon get used to it. Featureless bases make the board a lot more forgiving also so if you looking for your first Cable wakeboard this is where you should be looking.

Wakeboards with No channels for Cable

So let's get down to our top five Cable Wakeboards for 2020

Coming in at number 5:

Slingshot Bishop Wakeboard
Amazing Cable wakeboard if obstacles are your thing, its loose and feel's super smooth both on and off obstacles. The price is what pushed it down to number 5 and not fourth spot. But if you are looking for a one board quiver for Cable riding the Slingshot Bishop has you covered for sure. Give us a call if you are unsure of what size to go for.

Bishop with his Slingshot Bishop Wakeboard 150cm

Fighting for 4th Spot:

Hyperlite Codyak Wakeboard -  Hyperlite Codyak Video Review
Ok so this one is crazy for me as my first ride I did not like it at all, I just could not get dialled into the board.
I came off the water very disappointed, But I decided to ride it again the following day, and I just felt that the board felt so much better in fact lap after lap the Codyak just kept getting better and better.
I could not believe it. In the end, I spend twice as long on the Hyperlite Codyak than any other wakeboard on this list.
I loved it. Its full wood core and the fact I wouldn't say I liked it at first was merely down to the shape. Its a completely new wakeboard shape I was just not used to at all but now! Wow just wow! I love it.
It is just so forgiving and free-flowing. The best bit of advice for this wakeboard is trying it more than once if like me you can't get into it at first. It is just so rewarding.

Hyperlite Codyak Wakeboard

Filling 3rd Spot:

Ronix Kinetik Project Wakeboard 
The Kinetik has been in my top 5 Cable wakeboards for the last 3 years now! The Ronix Kinetik is an all-round killer of a wakeboard. No matter your style the Kinetik will kill it and then some!
The board is fast, forgiving and has excellent flex. My all-round choice of a weapon that's crazy strong for big hits and gaps.
This wakeboard will keep you on the water lap after lap. A wakeboard that will keep you progressing for years to come.

Ronix Kinetik Project Wakeboard 2020

Securing 2nd Spot:

Liquid Force Peak Wakeboard 
The Liquid Force Peak has been in the Liquid Force line up for years and it's going nowhere! Nico himself rates the pop on this wakeboard as the best in the world.
The thing that really stands out about this board for me is the grip. The Peak is a finless wakeboard like most Cable wakeboards now but it rides like it has fins it just offers some much grip not sure where it comes from but, Hell its there!
So even for a complete beginner wakeboarder, this is an excellent board as it feels so solid underfoot. But the wakeboarder that knows his or her way around a cable the Liquid Force Peak will have you going high, Faster and charging harder into all obstacles at your local cable park I can promise you that.

Liquid Force Peak Wakeboard

And the Winner of the top five Cable wakeboards is:

The Winner for top Spot goes to a wakeboard that for me has started a change in wakeboarding as a whole, and this deck is a game-changer if you want to be able to fine-tune your ride for each session, from learning Air tricks or getting more pop to getting more flex for those sliders.

Our number one Cable Wakeboard for 2020 is. Drum roll.

Ronix Selekt Wakeboard
This wakeboard will be like nothing else you have ever ridden and if it is, Change it!
You can change the flex on the fly with ease.
 Let's say you and your mates are on a fast track to learning a new air trick anything from a raley to a 313.
Stiffen the wakeboard up by adding all the flex bars, You will be getting more air time instantly, Or you want to get that flex press on the slider and drop off with a 360, Remove some of the Flex bars where the press will be to give you that extra flex but not lose all the pop for the release.
The choices seem endless and I just never got bored playing with it, It just offers so much more than any other Cable wakeboard.
You may just set it up how you like it a ride all the time like that, that's cool but it's great to know you can mix it up when you're ready.

Peacock bro's with the new Ronix Selekt Wakeboard

If you have any questions or any input, please add it below we are always happy to hear peoples views on wakeboards.

Alex Caizergues Sets New Kiteboarding World Record

Alex Caizergues has set a new world speed kitesurfing record (57.97 knots) in Salin-de-Giraud, France this month, beating His own Record, he set the last record of 56.62 knots back in 2013.

Alex in 2013 getting a max speed of 56.62 Knots

The French kiteboarder came about his world record during the event "Salt and Speed" when the world record came this speed is blistering fast and can go horribly wrong at times. How long until the 60 knots barrier is broken? Alex seems to be very close now. Maybe he should try the new Aluula Kites.

"I am delighted. It's great, it's fantastic. We validate the capabilities of our spot. We knew for a while that this could happen, we could go very quickly", says Alex Caizergues.

"Unlike in 2013, when I had only one big run, this time I was three times above the 57 knots on 500 meters! I'm very, very happy. This new record is the result of a lot of work and training with my technical partners," explained Caizergues.
Congrats Alex from all of us at S2AS.

Who said you can't get barrelled in kitesurfing?

Robert Kidnie is pushing kitesurfing to the next level and shows how you can barrel with kite lines deep in the wave!

It is rare, but yes it has been done. Robert has been travelling around the world kitesurfing and riding some big waves. His most recent trip was to Southeast Asia and transformed what is usually rare into an "easy" task.

"No kite-mares, but some pretty sketchy wipeouts. I got dragged by three waves one time, when I dropped it in a wave. That was scary! But both me and my kite survived", says Kidnie.

Riding a wave with a kite is much like surfing, the hard part is the kite. You need to get the kite lines coming out of the barrel, almost parallel to the sea level, avoiding the wave lip to hit them, as much as possible.

 

Anything is possible and there are no limits in the kitesurfing world!!

S2AS

Core X Lite A new Generation of Single Strut Kites?

Core X-Lite on the foil in Light winds

With the popularity of hydrofoiling literally soaring, the mono strut concept continues to spread through the kite industry like wildfire, and the Core X Lite is a solid debut from CORE.
You could initially be forgiven for mistaking this kite as a Nexus or Section from their product range, and the profile and span shape certainly look like a mixture between the two, however, it's clearly missing a couple of struts and weight reduction has been the clear design focus with the X Lite.

This is a special lightweight version of the ExoTex fabric used in their standard model but still seems to remain extremely stiff. The bridle system is also slimmed down a touch to minimize drag and weight.
In the air, the X Lite feels perky and nimble and the turning speed is predictable and not twitchy. One of the highlights in the X Lite's handling is how much lift you can achieve on such a short bar stroke.

This is extremely helpful when tacking and jibing on the wing, giving you that all-important weightless few seconds smoothly and progressively. For dedicated freeride foilers who also want to potentially take their foiling into waves, the X Lite is a powerful tool.

If you've got any more questions about the Core X Lite Kitesurfing kite or any other Kitesurfing Kites please get in touch 01202 738448
www.s2as.com

What really happened with North Kites?

North Rebel kite

Aaron Hadlow

The North brand started in 1957 when Olympic gold medallist and trained engineer, Lowell North, sought to change the world of sailing through precision technology. North pioneered advanced computer modelling in the design and manufacture processes with his understanding of sail forces and structural loads.

Just like North Kites founder, North’s designers and makers are fascinated by the interplay of the elements and the eternal principles of physics.

New North Kites Range

North Action sports Group

North Kite's ambition of launching a new era in kiteboarding began in 2018 with the end of a long-standing third-party licensing agreement and their decision to join forces with (Mystic) MBrands, under a new umbrella called North Action Sports Group.

North Action sports Group is located in The Netherlands with operations in the US and Australia. North Action sports Group owns and manages multiple sports brands including North Kiteboarding.
North’s product development and brand management are based in New Zealand.

Operations and the Sales Headquarters are based at North Action sports Headquarters in the Netherlands to ensure a high level of service for a global market.

Together as North Action sports Group their form a powerful alliance of passionate, world-class kiters determined to make kitesurfing more visible, more accessible and to take their sport to the next level on the global stage.

At North, their all about simplifying, about paring everything back for more pure performance. Striking the perfect balance between clean lines and aerodynamics,
so the ride and the Kitesurfing Equipment feels smooth and effortless.
www.s2as.com

Ocean Rodeo 19 years of Development.

Ocean Rodeo Kitesurfing

Ocean Rodeo’s founder, Richard Myerscough and his lifelong friend, Ross Harrington grew up first and foremost as avid adventurists. The two were active in the formative years of windsurfing, cold water surfing, kitesurfing and paddleboarding. Never tiring or stopping to be active in the sport, and to this day proud to be riders, not investors.

Kitesurfer in the Ignite Drysuit

Self-taught and making early models of all their equipment in the 70’s and 80’s, Richard and Ross learned the hard way that good enough was never, good enough and bring their creative and innovative outlook to every new project Ocean Rodeo sets into motion.

New Ocean Rodeo Flite Kite

Richard founded Ocean Rodeo in 2001 as an offshoot of Whites for the then-new sport of kitesurfing with an early focus on surface watersport drysuits. Expanding in 2002 to involve Ross Harrington and the introduction of kites, boards and, kite bars.

Ross first started designing windsurf sails in 1983 as the head of design for the Vancouver based Windsure brand before later founding his own custom sail brand, Venturi Designs in the late 80’s.

Decades ahead of his time, Ross pioneered many windsurfing firsts, including the camber inducer and inset boom end and it was from his Venturi loft that Ross designed and manufactured his first kites in 1998.

Never happy with the status quo; Richard and Ross continued to work and develop highly refined performance-oriented equipment. Simultaneously designing equipment for those pushing the sport’s boundaries and helping those coming into the sport with an ever-evolving lineup of intuitive, easy to use designs. Ocean Rodeo is a silent pioneer in the sport.

Ocean Rodeo Kites back in the day

Ocean Rodeo today
During the company has grown significantly from the early days of 2001, A commitment to performance, safety and innovation have never wavered. 19 years later, Richard and Ross are still fully immersed in the design and development of all Ocean Rodeo products but are now surrounded by a community like no other.
They are proud that those who chose Ocean Rodeo are those with the same ambitions, and determination to explore the world as they did. A community of many, Ocean Rodeo stands beside their supporters and not over them.

Providing comfort that their product changes and growth comes from the experience of the explorer.
Both their drysuits and kite equipment have evolved tremendously over the years.
More recently the comfort and advanced function of their drysuits have led to them to exciting new markets like surfing, Paddleboards, sailing and commercial marine / cold water survival.

Also, the first to bring a completely new Fabric to Kitesurfing, Aluula Kites, We will talk more about this in another Blog later next month.
They build, design, redesign, test, retest, rethink every product to remove many risks while giving the most enjoyable and performance-oriented wind and water experience.

www.s2as.com

Dakine - How its all started back in 1979

About to drop in with a Dakine Heli Pro Pack

Founded in Hawaii in 1979 and located at the base of Mt. Hood in Hood River, Oregon, Dakine builds backpacks, travel bags, accessories, Ski Jackets for people who love to surf, snowboard, ski, kitesurf and travel.

Dakine got its start on Maui’s North Shore in 1979. Rob Kaplan was a surfer first, but he was also a tinkerer who loved building stuff.

Out with the Dakine Mission backpack

Word got out, and soon fellow surfers began turning to him with their gear problems—most often busted surf leashes. After repairing enough leashes, he set out to make a new leash with the kind of bombproof materials and stitching only someone who’s lost a board to the rocks would know how to make.


By 1986, windsurfing’s centre of gravity had shifted to Hood River, Oregon. While Dakine would keep a presence on Maui, its headquarters moved to the mainland. Hood River also sat at the base of Mount Hood, where snowboarders and skiers from all over the world trained in the summer.

Now, not only were they talking to some of the world’s best surfers and windsurfers, but they also had world-class snowboarders and skiers coming in and out of the office too.
It was one of those snowboarders that led us to the first Dakine Heli Pack.
He had come off the mountain and wandered into Dakine with a request: He needed an essentials-only pack for his Heli trips to Alaska.
Dakine created a custom pack that had everything he wanted and nothing more. That favour for a friend eventually turned into one of our most iconic products ever.

Dakine sells backpacks, clothing, outerwear, luggage, and accessories for men, women, and children.
www.s2as.com

Switchback Bindings - An elevated approach to snowboard binding design

Switchback Bindings represent an elevated approach to snowboard binding design.
In addition to complete sets, Switchback offers riders the ability to customise their bindings depending on conditions and riding style.
This isn’t just another binding, it’s a whole new way of strapping in.
Switchback is a sister company to Bataleon, started as a reaction to all the crazy complex binding systems that are out there.
Switchback produce some of the best-constructed snowboard bindings out there! Built around either their Origin or Aeron Bases, Switchback bindings are completely tool-less and fully customisable allowing the rider to choose their style, whether they're looking for a softer street setup or an aggressive freeride build, they can even switch from riding with highbacks to riding with no highbacks in a matter of seconds. Switchback deliver quality throughout!

Switchback bindings are the worlds first fully customisable binding system. Each binding consists of 4 components which you can get in 8 different colours, resulting in over 15,000 possible combinations.
With over 15,000 possible combinations Switchback bindings can be customised to match your board, your boots, your pants or your jacket.
They are totally tool-less so you can switch from riding with highbacks to riding with no highbacks in a matter of seconds.
Use highbacks if you want a traditional ride but pop them off if you want a surf-like ride in the powder or if you want to ride the park skate-style.

Switchback is the brainchild of the Helgasons and as with everything the Helgasons do the aim is to make sure the product delivers a performance that makes snowboarding fun. The Switchback team also features Gulli Gudmundsson and Ethan Morgan so you know the bindings must be good.


If y've got any more question about the Switchback Bindings or any other Snowboard Bindings please get in touch 01202 738448.
www.s2as.com

How to Stand out in a Crowded Kitesurf Market.

Foiling on the new North Carve is a dream

The North Carve pitches up from North as the wave kite, with a focus on ease of use, and obligatory crossover potential for strapless freestyle.
From a build perspective, things are looking well-considered, fuss-free and tidy. We're presented with a Tejin D2 canopy and a generous Dacron frame surrounding the entirety of the trailing edge, including some large panels behind the struts, making for a mid-weight build.

There's some interesting use of Kevlar on the junctions between the struts and the leading edge as well as covering the wingtips to prevent any accidental scuffing. The bridle is pulley-less and constructed from low diameter flying line to minimize parasitic drag.
Interestingly, the rear pigtails have only one tension setting on the rear lines, so there's confidence the kite is trimmed correctly straight out of the bag and no way to rig it up unevenly.
Bigger than usual silicon hoses link the leading edge and struts and make deflation fast and easy.
The carve is very impressive in the low end. Its turning speed is snappy enough to get you where you need to be position-wise without fuss, but not waspy, so there are no unwelcome yanks from overcorrection. The Carve Stands out in a large kitesurfing crowd

If you've got any more question about the North Carve Kitesurfing kite or any other Kitesurfing Kites please get in touch 01202 738448
www.s2as.com