Wavekitesurfing clinic Varberg 26-27 maj &29-30sept // Strapless Kitesurfing

Arild Kristiansen is back from a trip in South Africa. Before a new season in his Kiteschool in Sweden, Arild told us about this trip.

Hi Arild ,

 Can you introduce you ?

Arild Kristiansen 29 years old Swedish strapless wavekitesurfer and surfers sponsors Cabrinha and Rip Curl. I run a kite and surfschool on the west coast of Sweden and travel the world in the winter time to explore new places surf new spots and see new cultures.

Why South Africa ? who influenced you to explore South Africa?

This year I wanted to travel to new places that I have not been to before. It’s easy to go to the same places all the time when you know the spots and the people.

I didn’t know anything about SA and for me it was more a kiteboarder destination then a wave kitesurfing destination. But a good friend of me Mårten Björnsson talked me in to come he have been to South Africa in the 9 last years so he knows the coastline and where to go and not to go on different swells.

Can you introduce your trip mates and people you met there ?

My main partner on this trip was Mårten B and the goal was to ride as many different wavespots as possible  in the Cap area and shot video episodes of the trip.

Swedish good friend Roger Örvang came down for a week to ride with us. We where riding with allot of different people but. But we spend allot of time with local rippers like the Faclier brothers and Fred Kloren from xelerator kiteboards/kite sports capetown. Kari Schibevaang came for a few roadtrips she was in the area working on here strapless riding. Luke McGillewie local young gun was always out ripping in Big bay. And the  crazy Danish guys Nick Jacobsen and Luise Larsen (cameraman) were always on a mission plus a lot of other nice guys.

What about the differents spots ?

The conditions are mainly sideshore and it’s beach breaks. It can get very windy, so you always have to look for a new spot with clean waves. This year was not as windy as it normally is and that was good for my strapless riding. The waves stayed clean and you didn’t have to much power in the kite.

Best memory of this trip ?

I have a lot of good memories from the trip. One is when we surfed platboom at the Cape and Fred Kloren got attacked by a baboon, he is trying to save his sandwich but the baboon is climbing on him with a baby on its belly and end up getting the sandwich. At the same time me and Mårten is laughing our heads off and trying to get the gopro to start.. Cape town is a super cool town, there’s always something to do and the food is unbelievable.

Did you improve your strapless-style ? New maneuvers ?

It was sideshore waveriding the whole trip so it was more surfing the wave then doing airs and stuff. I definatlly developed my surfing at the same time my style is slowly changing.

I am a heavier rider now then a few years ago, so I need more power and I ride with more power then before. I worked al ot on connecting my turns in the wave so it’s not a one hit ride but more flow down the line.

The plan for next winter is to do a few waveriding camps in SA with Mårten for people that know how to ride but want to take the riding one more level and get to ride different spots when its on.

Back home, time to work again, can you introduce your school ?

I have had my Surfschool for 8 years now with kitesurfing Surfing and sup lessons and camps. the School is located in Varberg Swedens surf capital with a lot of different surf spots in a short distance. We try to develop the lessons and the way of teaching to stay fresh and at the top off the game so the students get the best experience. So you could say that I live surf 24/7. the season for the surfschool is April-October there is no termal wind here, so we get wind from any direction september october is the best months for waves but we still get good conditions in the summer to more info on www.surfskolan.nu

What’s next ?

This year we are doing two strapless wave kitesurfing clinics for kitesurfers that know how to ride but want to develop their skills in the waves. The clinics  are 26-27 of may and 29-30 september if there is no wind on the weekend we will do the clinic the weekend after the date. There will be people from Sweden Denmark and Norway in the clinic. It’s also an oportunity to get together and ride with other wave riders and have a good time.

For my self, I will try to ride as much as possible in Scandinavia when the forecast is on for surf! Keep you eye on www.arildkristiansen.com for latest videos and pics from my life in the ocean!

Any thought about the KSP event ? Will you participate to the the Ireland stop ?

I don’t really have a opinion for or against the KSP,  I am not really a competition person. I actually applied for the Ireland comp because it looks like a cool event. I don’t know yet if I will go or not.

It’s a lot of different styles out there at the moment, some are better then others but it have to be strapless to make it look more surf.

So hopefully the KSP will only be a strapless tour in a few years!

Thank you Arild

Comments

comments