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29-12-2011 // Last trick of 2011
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Last week we were lucky enough with the forecast to get a last "warm" day of 2011. Wind wasn't strong but okay for 12 and temparature was around 16°C. South of France can still get good before Christmas for a last trick of the year.

If you want to know how to lowmobe read the description here.

Merry Xmas !

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19-12-2011 // Wonderful nature - Moorea/Tahiti, French Polynesia
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It’s been almost a week that I came back from a 30 days trip in the extraordinary Polynesian islands. Since then, I have to admit it's quite hard to get back to cold and civilisation after all I just lived.

I landed in Papeete, capital of Tahiti island, but I mostly stayed in Moorea which is located 30 minutes north by ferry. There I have discovered an absolutely wonderful place and could immerse myself into true Polynesian culture. I was staying at a friend’s house in a little typical village called Papetoai. The place was located few meters from Tipanier Kitespot (check out map under) and we had the boat anchored at this end of the road ready to go to the reef. Then, I don’t have to say that everything was set for pure action!

We mainly surfed at Haapiti or Beach cumber which are the closest reef pass from ours (check out map). Even though it was the start of the rain season when usually the wind is quieter, Mother Nature was still generous enough to offer a 50% time of wind. Otherwise she was very consistent with swell and I surf almost everyday. Conditions were pretty much the best you can get in the world and I had perfect sessions, especially at Haapiti on a long punchy left (frontside for me). It was not rare that we woke up at 4.30 am to get on the spot for sunrise and surf until we dried. On the lazy days we used to go fishing and eat delicious Tahitian specialities of raw fish. If we were not sated yet we paddled out on Va’a (Polynesian canoe) through the astonishing lagoon toward the rays and sharks spot. Then we glided a little peace of fish in our board short pocket and we could swim with the rays whilst the small black point sharks were turning around. Rays are really amazing animals, they are not scared by humans at all and they wouldn't hesitate to jump on you trying to catch the piece of fish you are hiding.

This is how the time flew by in Moorea, between surfing, kiting, fishing, paddling you have not a second to get bored, enjoying what nature has made the nicest, you realize how much the ocean is an immense playground where fun never stops.

Nana !

Gallery here.

Afficher Moorea sur une carte plus grande
Click on the spot to see the description.

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09-09-2011 // Flying in Corsica
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For the last week of August I jump on ferry leaving from Marseille toward the south of, as we called it in France, the "Beauty Island" Corsica. Apart that I had heard kiting conditions were good down there, one of the main purpose of visiting this place is that I wanted to do my Sky Diving Licence which allows you to jump from 4000m by yourself !!

I arrived in Ajaccio and drove an hour further south to Propriano. There I stayed close to the very small Tavaria Airclub. The place was stunning and perfectly set up; just a walk to the plane which drop you in the sky, 5 minutes to a river mouth which creates a great flat water lagoon and half an hour drive to the mountain to do some canyoning through the river. So I don't need to tell you that either the wind was blowing or not there was always something to do.

And we got lucky. The first day we did a super nice canyon including water falls, climbing and rocky jump from 10 to 15 meters. The landscape was astonishing and it was almost looking unreal. The cliffs were very impressive and through the dry sandy rocks was flowing a fresh and perfectly clear water.

On the next days we cruised around the island looking for some wind. First of all we had an awesome thermal session in Propriano bay. We started on the beach then did a downwind to the famous river mouth and the flat lagoon. Wind was super smooth and the session was epic ! Then we went to Bonifacio which is located on the south point of the island. We walked on amazing beaches as gorgeous as the ones you can find in the Caribbean or any heavenly islands, sometimes it was almost unbelievable that we were still in France. On the way back we caught some wind in the Tunnara. It was a bit more choppy but a nice ventury effect gave us a good 10m afternoon.

At the end of the trip it was time for the big jump ! Since I am kiting and traveling I've been really lucky to live such unique experiences but this one was really different because it was so INTENSE. Skydiving is a re-born. As soon as you put on the parachute on your back you feel the adrenaline boiling through your veins. Then it keeps increasing during the 15 minutes flight for the plane to reach 4000m. Then the door slowly slide back and you feel the wind and the plane moving as the guys before you are leaving the plane. Now you are face out, "Ready, Set...Goooooo". 50 seconds of fuc**** free fall where you actually glide in the sky, you are almost like a bird and your arms are your wings. After few seconds you reach the speed of 220 km/h. The air is screaming in your ears and you feel your skin face flapping with the wind. Check on your altimeter, 1500 m and it's time to open your parachute and you have now 8 minutes for looping and checking out the spot with a perfect panoramic view before smoothly land on the grass of the drop zone.
I did 3 jumps by myself, it was incredible and I can't wait for the door to open again at 4000m ;-).

Big thanks to Arnaud and the Têtes en l'Air Team which did an amazing job. Check out their web site for more info http://www.tete-en-lair.fr

See you in the sky !

Photos : Dwarfeye. Click here to check out the gallery.

On board Go Pro movie coming soon...

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12-07-2011 // Kitesurf Mag Covers
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Check out my last covers on both magazine and DVD from the July issue of Kitesurf Magazine FR. It has been done during a trip to Fuerte last June. The purpose was to shoot for the special manoeuvres. Thus you can find all the moves description from the first jump to the low mobe in the DVD and sequences in the magazine.


We've been working on flash pictures the whole week with the photographer and finally got the right set up which ended up on a nice lighted cover.


Hope you enjoy.

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27-06-2011 // Orange Freestyle Cup - Marseille
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Even though I am still a bit stiff from the riding and partying of the 4th edition of the Orange Freestyle Cup in Marseille, here is couple of lines which sum up wha happened last week.

The OFC is such a unique event because it’s one of the very rare contests where you find a great panel of extreme sports on both water and concrete. It's a mix of Skateboarding, BMX, Windsurfing and Kiting. Thanks to the set up of Prado Beach – Marseille, you have a perfect flat water spot with side shore wind behind a seawall and a well-know bowl which brought again this year the top skaters of the world.

For Kitesurfing and Windsurfing, the format is different to a normal competition and the focus here is way more on enjoying the ride, sharing good vibes and throwing an awesome show. So the ambiance is really nice, friendly and mellow. The judging format was windsurfers judged kitesurfers and vice-versa.

The famous Mistral wind didn't fail and we had a great day with a solid 20-25 knots. The beach was packed of people and everyone was cheering big time ! The music and speaker were firing it up and made the ambiance full on. We had a super final including Youri, Seb and I, and the three of us really enjoyed it! On the weekend even though the wind has gone it was still lots of activities to be done. We had a really nice SUP race through Marseille bay, half an hour of full on paddling was a big work out! Then, we checked out the skydivers coming in from the sky, the skateboarding finals and obviously celebrated big time on Saturday night on the beach with the Music Sunset Festival in our ears.

Results:

1 – Youri Zoon
2 – Seb Garat
3 – Flo Daubos

More info and report videos: www.orangefreestylecup.com

Check out the pics !

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09-02-2011 // Good Bye Australia
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The end of my trip in Western Australia was insane. At the begining of January, Jalou, Johara and I went on a camping car road trip. We rented a camper van for a week and drove toward Margaret and Augusta. Down there we met with the guys from WWG, the Wind, Wild and Gravity who had organized a video shoot in Augusta. We spent couple of days between Augusta and Margs, ridding together with the big group and chilling.
Augusta is a really cool place. Basically, it's a little town located on a point in the very south of WA. The nature is magnificent and it's not rare to see dolphins approaching the shore from couple of meters.

After the WWG, Naish Kiteboarding had organised a video shoot as well, this time it was in Perth. Sam and Ewan joined us and we shot between Mandurah, Safety and Woodies. Everything went perfect, specially we had a very great day in Woodies shooting with the Helicopter. It was only the 4 of us on the spot, riding next to the heli for an hour...it was insane. James Boulding was behind the camera and he will edit something sick available soon on Naish.tv.

Now I am back home since the last two weeks, and I can't wait for the next trip.

I keep you update.

Cheers.

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05-01-2011 // Happy New Year
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I wish you all the best for the upcoming 2011 year. That this new age bring you a good health, sick session and amazing trips !

Watch the Santa Gallery here.

Cheers.