Interview : Warrick Meyer, pilot and kiter in Cape Town, South Africa

Warrick Meyer is not a pro kiter but he has undeniably solid strapless skills and he sent us regularly amazing strapless action pics. We took the opportunity to make a highlight on the South African rider.

Warrick Meyer shot by Mandi Ireland Photography

Warick, can you introduce you ?

My name is Warrick Meyer, I’m 32 years old, an airline pilot, I live in Cape Town, South Africa and I am absolutely addicted to kitesurfing.

You are not a pro kiter but you have serious and solid skills in waveriding, how do you train ? What does strapless riding reprensent to you ?

I try keep up with Luke McGillewie, his natural skill level is insane. I don’t do any training for kiting other than ride but after our last trip to Indo I’ve realized I’m not young enough to just hop on a board anymore. Some off season training is now necessary!

To me strapless riding is an extension of surfing, it’s the best of both life styles.

Warrick Meyer and Luke McGillewie shot by Mandi Ireland Photography

You are coming back from a trip in Indo, tell us something about the spots?

Indo has great potential, one of the breaks is an insane left that jacks up and then barrels while exploding over the reef. If it lets you out of the barrel there’s one last section that needs to be attacked.　The second is a beautiful galloping left that’s allows for as many big turns as your legs allow. We stayed with Bertrand Fleury & Tuva Jansen (Indo Kite camp) and the local knowledge was appreciated.

Who are the other members of the crew ?

Robin Somogyvari has been around since the beginning, his wicked back hand attack is well recognized in Cape Town and he’s a brilliant photographer.

We are really excited to be working with an up and coming local talent Mandi Ireland, if she’s not at the beach the wind isn’t blowing and her passion for ocean sports is clear in her work.

The kiting crew is an inspiring one, riders aged from 17-52, male and female. It’s all about having fun and subtly pushing each other to check our own boundaries.

In wave riding, what is your favorite move and why ? Most of time, spots doesn’t allow barrels, which other maneuvers give you adrenaline in other sailing conditions ?

Getting barreled is the biggest rush but the awesome thing about strapless riding is change. You never have time to get bored, barrels, airs, side shore, cross shore there’s always something new. One of the most satisfying moves is still driving as hard as possible off the bottom and tearing the face off a wave.

Wich rider of the moment is giving you inspiration and influencing your style of riding? What do you think about the KSP evolution after the beginning of the second year tour?

I’m all eyes on Ian Alldredge, he’s the mad genius of strapless riding and I think driving the sport. I respect what the KSP is doing for kiting and the riders, it’s good to see the momentum building.

Tell us what can we find in your quiver ? Why these brands ?

I started kiting on a Switchblade and have been lucky enough to try a number of different brands since but I’ve gone full circle and I’m back on Cabrinha. I like the stability, power delivery and build quality.　I was born with a nasty curse of breaking things and Firewire is the only board that handles the abuse. Never mind the performance!

Can you tell us some words about the progession of the strapless kitesurfing style in S.A. ? Where’s the main community and when are the best conditions in the year?

There is a hard core strapless community in South Africa and the progression over the last two years is phenomenal. Durban & Cape Town are where the majority of riders kite. During our summer Cape Town delivers constant wind and fun swell while in winter the kiting kicks off in Durban with big swell and cross shore winds from both the North & South.

Through the world we note that many surfers come to kitesurfing, adding a kite in their quiver, what is your look on that evolution ?

For some reason kiting has attracted a negative stigma with surfers but TDZ & Ben Wilson’s crew are definitely “bringing the gap” between the two sports. Unfortunately the cost of getting started with　kiting will always be a problem which is sad because it’s not accessible to a lot of kids.

What’s next ? Next trip, next move, project ?
Next trip, Mauritius after our season in Cape Town.

Next move, there are so many to figure out and so little time.

Warrick Meyer, last season on One Eye, Mauritius

Anything to add ?

You only have X amount of kiting seasons left in your life, go get wet! Thanks for the hard work Julien, it’s nice to see your site growing.

Thank you for your support Warrick, we wish you  good winds!

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