Why isn't kiteboarding this easy for any of us?  All I know is that I'm in Brazil and the video looks almost exactly the same as what I am experiencing down here day to day...with the small exception that my riding does not have any component of the steeze that Hadlow is pushing in this video.  The push for style in comp is definitely a positive direction for the sport and makes this sport more badass.  Stylish freestyle is what made skiing cool again.  Stylish kiteboarding is what is making this sport develop into something even cooler.

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GMOluByEv0 650x400] 

Here's Cesar Portas killing it on the brand spankin' new2010 North Vegas.  Not a ton of footage of the kite, but they look sick!

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuPx-r4fqI0 650x350]

After much success working with Nobile for 5 years, Mark Shinn has parted ways with the company and started his own.  Shinn is starting shinnboarding, a company focused entirely on boards for kiting.

In their inaugural season, a wide selection of boards will be available ranging from ladies, freeride, youth, freestyle, light wind, surf, skim and freeride.  Keep a close eye out for this one.  

Click here to read the info on Best's website.

 

It's all change this year for the Nemesis NXG, out goes the flat SLE plan shape and in comes a much more aggressive Freestyle orientated C-kite shape. We've kept Twister Tech and the aggressive canopy profiling so the Nemesis NXG is still going to be a handful for fully powered kite-loops. We've kept the huge depower and light bar feel so you can still session the Nemesis all day. Finally, we've traded a tiny bit of upwind ability and hangtime potential for much improved low wind and unhooked handling, making the Nemesis NXG the definitive Freestyle kite in the 2010 line up.

Review by Dan Sweeny in Barbados:  
Jesse Richman and the Nomad: 
Nomad with Damien LeRoy:Cabrinha's description of their new kite:
 
The Cabrinha Nomad 2010 is not a bow kite, has a more closed arc than our other kites, and it utilizes an IDS bridle and the same control system as the other kites.  The Nomad is a kite for an advanced rider looking for performance in freestyle and waves.  The kites turns off the wingtip and generates a lot of pull in kite loops.  The Cabrinha Nomad is ideal for anyone looking to do huge unhooked wakestyle tricks while still having the safety and depower of the IDS bridle and control system.  In the surf, the kite sits back in the pocket and pivots nicely so that it's always in the right place.  The Nomad absolutly floats as you rip down the line.   The Nomad has great depower and turns fast. The Nomad handles the task of unhooked riding by delivering a constant steady powerband. When unhooked the kite continues to fly forward, making the power predictable during your tricks. On the fly depower is extremely linear which means you’ll always have the correct amount of power for the job at hand.

 

Your favorite MTV Kiteboarding show On The Loose TV is back with Episode 6!!!  Another week of Ruben doing some crazy shit, rolling with baboons, looking at some of the new prototype 2010 Slingshot Fuels, showing some freestyle riding with trick names (for all you learning to fill up your tricktionary) and yes, you can even keep rewinding to hear that annoying badass theme song!  Oh hay hay....oh oh oh!!!

 Check out the ontheloose.tv website to watch the video.

Armando Puerta presents the features of the new Ocean Rodeo freestyle gear for 2009: Ocean Rodeo Diablo 2009 and the Ocean Rodeo Zen 135x41cm. 

[video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9CMzQIPB2I]

What are your thoughts on the PKRA's official statement made today regarding the IKA?  Leave your thoughts in a comment below!

 

The following is from Paul Caswell, PKRA Managing Executive Board Member

"Based on the last response from the IKA and after consulting advice from our legal council the PKRA has decided to decline any further involvement from this mediation process. Therefore the PKRA will not be seeking IKA or ISAF sanctioning for our events nor will the PKRA continue to seek Special Event Status from ISAF. The PKRA's decision is based on the following reasons.

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