Another year and another write-up (that I’m guessing I’m doing mainly for myself, but if you’re here and interested – Welcome! Enjoy a slice of my life)
Before I take a look at the stats, let me think back and guess. I rode a lot. Summer was good. I had two unbeatable weeks in the Caribbean on my 13m. Which might bump the Juice up to first spot, when normally it’s the 10m that is my go-to. But autumn didn’t bring much riding, so I definitely didn’t surpass last year’s 60 days record.
Ok, but now I’ve done the analysis (thanks Calude) and wow! Not far off the old record. And 13m slayed it this year. Which might not be a surprise since it’s the kite I have the most fun on and will pick before the 10, even if I’m slightly overpowered.
Kite & Cable
Kitesurfing had to share my undivided attention this year, and give space to wakeboarding. I re-joined the local cable park this year and planned my summer to be spent mainly at home in Brighton. It was truly incredible. I loved every bit of it, from the sunny days to the kite sessions, the parties and all the hours spent at the cable park, my outdoor living room. One of my fondest memories from the summer is me launching from home and riding upwind the the cable park. Park the kite, do a cable session followed by an hour in the sauna, and then do the downwinder back home. Coastal living at its best.
Progression at the cable was good, and equally the progression under the kite has been prevalent. That’s maybe to be expected as these sports compliment each other well. Since kiteboarding got the spring trip, it was only fair to give the autumn slot to wakeboarding: A late October trip to Turkey’s Hip-Notics cable park (although I did sneak in a short trip to Tarifa in September). Perfect timing to escape the UK darkness, but unfortunately we ended up in a week of overcast, rain and thunderstorms. It was a great trip nonetheless, with great riding, new friends and only minor injuries.
At the end of the summer my body needed rest and healing. It was failing everywhere. Luckily, rest did help and I’m now injury free, but it goes to show the importance of warm-ups, stretching and proper rest between sessions as you get older.
Progress
Thanks to my consistent railey to blind on the cable, I was so close to land it under the kite during Feelgood camp. Tantalisingly close as it is, I’d be surprised if I don’t land it in 2026. About time eh? Haha, me chasing this trick has become a bit of a joke, and it’s only an entry level unhooked trick. But my freestyle sessions can normally be counted on one hand nowadays. The conditions aren’t there at my home spot.
Instead I push hooked-in stuff but trying to go more technical than radical. Living up to my 20204 wish-list, I did land the triple front and the double front2blind. Got heavily into front roll downloop transitions, rediscovered my love for toeside pop to blind (frontside 360), played a lot with grabs and landed a nose grab front2blind (harder than it sounds).
2026
So far I’ve got no other kite trips planned than Feelgood camp. Happy to do a lot of local riding, keep wakeboarding and get one or two larger trips in, but maybe it comes down to budget more than time this year – My new kitchen and bathroom had me drained financially. Land R2B with the kite. Do a double backflip off a kicker, keep playing with blind landings, also switch off the kickers. Just want to have fun with it. I’ve always been more of a jibber than a hammer.
2025 hard facts
Days on the water: 56
Most used kite: Duotone Juice 13m (64%), Cabrinha Switchblade 10m (29%)
Countries surfed: 5 (UK, St Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Spain)