As I put this blog  together, I am looking out to the sea, it is not looking so appealing today! The water is murky, its cold and raining, big shore dump and gusting up to 40 knots, hoping it will drop of a bit later when the tide is out.

The windows of opportunity are closing in as we get deeper into the winter with the mornings staying darker and the nights drawing in. No more pre and post work sessions for a while, and when you do get some free time there might not even be the right wind.

So with less time on the water, its important to stay on top of fitness for when the summer season begins again, I like to stay on top of this with yoga, walking and cycling. Loving You Tube for this, did an hours class this morning with out even leaving the house, here is a nice class Yoga Class for Athletes to keep you flexible and great for beginners. Also loving the Yoga Down load channel with lots of 30 min exercises , perfect for a quick session before work and a nice way to start the day. Check it out!

So today we have a double guest entry by female wave rider Tala Elajou and male free styler Jezmondo, it makes for a interesting read to see the different styles of riding and kit used. Thank you both for making the effort to put these write ups together, hope everyone enjoys the read

Name: Tala Elajou

Age: 24

Tell me a bit about yourself / your story:

I’ve lived all aorund the world, grew up in dubai and then went to boarding school in UK, the University in Florida, where I studied Marine Biology. After that moved to Cabarete and learnt how to kite, spent about a year on and off in Cabarete. Kiting has take over everything, and has really taken me to some wonderful places. I became an instructor and then started doing some competition, kiting has become such a passion. I spent more time on water then I do on dry land.

Where are you from and where do you live now?

Between Brazil and the Canary Islands- Some of the best place in the world to keep riding constantly. In brazil get wind from the right, and in Gran Canaria wind from left, so I can always practice my wave riding in both directions

How often do you kite?

Almost everyday, living in both these places, the wind blows almost everyday. Longest time i’ve spent not kiting was a month.

Are you sponsored/ what kit do you ride and why?

Yes, by CORE and CARVED. I have been kiting with them for past year, and they are fasntastic kites. I ride the 7m and 9m GTS with short lines for wave riding. I ride the CARVED 5’10 Burner wave board, strapless. No wetsuit sponsors, but wear Airbound Apparel clothing.

Apart from kiteing what else do you like to get up to?

I try and spend time surfing or getting better on the SUP on those none windy days. I absolutely love the SUP, feel like its such good exercise, and trying to ride waves with those beasts and a paddle is hard work!! I used to Scuba dive a lot as i studied marine biology, but since kiting I havent done so much.

Do you compete? If so what was your best and not so best experience?

I did a bit of freestyle competitions (Cabarete and France on the PKRA), but I wasnt the most talented at freestyle and learning a trick took ages!!!! so after getting a bit bored of freestyle I decided to try strapless and fell in love straight away, love having that free feeling of my feet not being in strapls! Felt myself improving and now looking to ride bigger and bigger waves and eventually maybe do some competitions in wave riding.

How did you learn to kite surf?

I had tried about 7 years ago in Dubai, but once I got dragged across the beach without safety, I didn’t want to try again! However, after finishing university , I wanted to take some time off and try if again , as people said the kites were safer nowadays, and so booked a flight to Cabarete where I learnt, and eventually became a kite instructor.

Who inspires you the most?

Anyone that pushes the limits of kiteboarding, and takes it to a new level. People inspiring to become bigger and better and make the sport better, are the people who inspire me.

Favourite trick?

Just hitting that perfect lip on a wave so hard, gives you so much satisfaction, and big bottom turns!

What are you working on?

I am trying hooked in front side air with the strapless, but can’t say I’m even close! Also constantly trying to ride bigger and bigger waves strapless

Favourite kite food?

Mexican food, a good burrito is the best food after a kite session.

What is your current music choice?

I love any indie band, or acoustic guitarist. I love listening to bands link Cat Empire, Dispatch, and good old Jack Johnson is always a winner.

What is your preferable riding style?

Strapless , wind from the right, 7m kite with short lines, and nice clean waves..what more can you ask for?

Most traumatic experience?

Getting caught in a deathloop heading straight for a rocks in Portugal, couldn’t find my leash to release the kite and I was going straight towards this rock pier. At some point, my kite had stopped looping for a second and my friend was able to catch it!

Top 2 beaches and why?

Vargas in Gran Canaria, you can always ride with a 5m as wind is always pumping, and the conditions get better and better there as wind blows, you get those perfect clean waves! Brazil,so many spots here, hard to choose, but, Brazil has that perfect wind and nice waves too!

If you could have any super power what would it be?

Teleporting. There are so many amazing places to see in this world, and untouched places to discover. I would love to be able to teleport and go wherever I decide, and be there in a second! Ride some waves, then teleport back!

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

Inpiring more and more women to ride strapless and big waves, strapless riding is still such a new sport, and its still rare to see women going out in big waves on a strapless board! Oh and living in the Canary Island, constantly living the life, and chasing the wind!

Motto?

““Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Disc

Website: http://talaelajou.com/

Jezmondo:

Q : How did you learn to kite surf?

A : I was out in Maui, Hawaii windsurfing in 1997 and saw Lou Wainman kiting and just has to get involved. Sold all my windsurf kit out there and bought my first kite/board, Wippika 6.5 Freeair.Q : Who inspires you the most?

A : There are so many people that inspire me in the Kitesurfing world. In particular good friends Aaron & Sam Light who continue to push the sport forward with there incredible ability. But legend Lou Wainman has always been an inspiration to me.Q : Favourite trick?A : Probably the ‘Megga Loop’. But I do like a Front_Flat_3 to blind off a big kicker : )Q : What are you working on?

A : Always working on new boards offs, current pass I am working on, Slim to blind.

Q : Current Sponsors?

A : BEST Kiteboarding for boards, currently using the 2012 Best 135 Armada and the BEST GP’s 11m, 9m & 6m, here is also a review on the 9m

Having ridden The RRD Obsession’s for the past 4 years and absolutely loving them the thought of going back to my routes with a C Kite was both exciting and frightening.

After the best part of 20 travelling hours I arrived to a packed beach in Cumbuco, Brazil. Peeps were on 7′s and 10′s. I have 11m, 9m, 6m so was an easy decision for the 9m. Everything was great right out of the bag, the one pump system worked very nicely and it was obvious (to me anyway) that BEST had pulled there socks up with the the quality. (Lets be honest BEST haven’t had the standards of North, Cabrinha, RRD and Flexi over the past few years. ) All change now though, the kite feels strong and the stitching is very tidy with plenty of re-inforcement. Don’t get me started on the graphics… its so time for kites to start upping the banter with some fingers sticking up and gold chains going down, quite simply the kite looks awesome. The bar had me slightly worried on inspection, I like an easy to use de-power, single bit of rope with a cleet, easy. Here I find myself with 5 lines and all kinds of straps to pull. I like the fact that you get a spare 5m set of lines to add if you feel its needed, nice touch. The CL is nice and large with the option of a donkey dick although the quick release is a little large for me. Ok so thats a quick first impression. So now flying it.

There are so many words that can describe this kite but the one obvious one that stands out a mile on first flight is… STABLE. Being used to a bridle system with ‘pullies’ flying the GP was another level of power. Being a bit of Kite Loop fan to say the least this was one of the most exciting prospects of the good old C kite experience. I couldn’t help myself but pull one on my first jump…. Hooked in, about 20 foot off the water the kite turned and I had that feeling that I hadn’t had in a long time. WANNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG. Going back to the Obsessions quickly not a lot of pressure was needed to get the loop over and done with so being used to that I pulled in the same way, resulting in one frigging massive MEGGA loop, the kite loops much slower and with so much more power and aggression. I love it. Unhooked is where the kite is at its best, as I said before so stable, when going for a handle pass the kite just sits there and doesn’t have that recoil feel that so many kites have, I guess due to the ‘pullies’ which this doesn’t have. Hangtime, surprisingly good with a lovely floaty feel about it, leaving plenty of time to get that board back on your feet from those fun board offs.

Thats just a few words on first flight, I’m not sold on the depower set up but maybe after a few more hours on the water it might win me over.

Q : Favourite kite food?

A : Pasta, pasta, pasta.. Love the pasta.Q : What is your current music choice?

A : Anything funky with a big beat, currently listening to a lot of Electro Swing.Q : What is your preferable riding style?

A : FreestyleQ : Most traumatic experience?

A : Megga loop going wrong few broken ribs, knocked out, nearly drowned and big gash in my leg. Not nice.Q : Top 2 beaches and why?

A : 1. Pro Kite Beach, Maui, Hawaii. Why, windy as hell with sick kickers and flat on the inside.

     2. Cumbuco, Brazil. Why, has it all waves, flat water lagoons, hot chics and wind every day.Q : If you could have any super power what would it be?

A : It would have to be flight, I love flying.

Q : Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

A : Seriously thinking about moving to Brazil to run a kite centre in Cumbuco. Uk sucks right now!

Q : Motto?

A : Wanggggggg… and mines a Mohito.

Website/blog: Really need to update it as haven’t touched it in years, will get round to it soon www.jezmondo.com