Yeah, I’ve only just returned to my home base in W.A., where two biiiig boxes have already been waiting for quite a while for me;   finally I get the chance to unwrap’em and hopefully play with its contents in the water very, very shortly:

It’s the second shipment of my brandnew 2012 Fanatic ‘toys’:  one SUP and one Surfboard, s t o k e d !!!

As my new SUP for 2012 and ‘successor’ of my beloved “Fly Wave 9’6” from this years Fanatic SUP-range,  I’ve chosen the PRO WAVE 8’10”. Looking at it, I simply CAN’T wait to get in the water with it, yew !!!  It looks absolutely beautiful in its incredibly stylish wooden design. Five fin boxes are giving me the option of riding it either in Quad or Thruster set-up,  sick! Mono concave bottom entry into rolled V and double concave for maximum glide and drive, what more can I say, I’m positive Sebastian Wenzel, the shaper of this ‘baby’ and all the other incredible Fanatic SUP babies has done an amazing job.

As my new surfboard, I’ve chosen the SURF BAMBOO 6’6” FUN EGG, yew, that’s gonna be soooo much fun catching waves on !   Fast and floaty thruster fun from slop to fast surf, a great joy allrounder for all sorts of conditions that will keep me smiling no matter how crappy the conditions. Hehehehe, yep, I reckon it’s a siiiick ‘wave catcher’ !  And just like my Fanatic Surf Bamboo Evo 6’8”, I’m loving its bamboo design. Aussie shaper legend Bruce McKee has certainly done a fantastic job with this one and I’m frothing to take it for a ride !

You should get yourself set-up with a Fanatic SUP and surfboard as well  -   Life is beautiful when you SUP and surf !!!

Soon more, stay tuned,
Carpe Diem & have fun folks
Gxx

I’ve been away from my home base Australia due to several missions for a few months… finally I have returned, sweeeeet .   Though I’m still not ‘home home’ for now;  at the moment I’m at my annual wave-training location over a thousand kms away from home but a little angel has brought me a present:

One of my brandnew 2012 Fanatic SUP-boards – YEEEAH, I’m so excited !!!
It’s the  FLY WAVE, the true “Allrounder” in Fanatics amazingly comprehensive 2012 SUP-board range, check it out right here!

I’ve chosen the Fly Wave as part of my Fanatic board quiver in 2012 for several reasons:
1. It’s a fantastic allround board that I will be taking into surf pretty much of any size plus it’s a great ‘cruizer’ for flat water, downwinders etc etc…
2. I would like to give the opportunity to everybody around me to have a go and to get people into SUP’ing, cause it simply is one of THE VERY VERY BEST fun things 2 do in this world, and the Fly Wave is simply perfect for that   !!!

SUP’ing is such an amazing watersport and I could almost not imagine one day without having a session on my SUP, whether it’s a relaxing cruise on flat water or riding some sweet waves.  That’s precisely  t h e  very best thing about SUP’ing:  the options for fun and a stoke are endless!  SUP’ing will make your day,  a n y d a y, regardless of the conditions, there’s always a sweet SUP-sess to be had, which will make you feel great !

So, to come back to my brandnew “Fanatic-Baby”, the Fly Wave:   Shaped by Fanatic’s master-board-brain Sebastian Wenzel, it’s a board for a lifetime of surfing.  Timeless thruster shape, soft rails up front and sharper edges in the tail give the grip and feel of a smaller board with all the grace and glide of the ancient Hawaiians. Thanks to a flatter nose rocker and more pronounced curve in the tail, you gain easy paddling and turning ability for effortlessly catching rides. A flat deck and volume out wide mean there’s balance and stability galore. What greater way to share the joy of riding waves with family, friends and beginners?
And its design and construction definitely needs to be mentioned as well:  I’ve chosen the Wood Edition, beautifully crafted wood that comes with the deluxe Deck Pad that ensures super comfy paddling;  Yew, the Fly Wave Wood is one of the lightest boards on the market for extra performance and fun and I’m truly L O V I N G  IT  !!!
Check out the photos in my photo gallery on the right hand side!

Out of Fanatic’s paddle range, I have chosen the Paddle Carbon 80, the most versatile paddle of’em all.  The 80% 3K Carbon shaft’s easy on the shoulders in longer sessions, with quick response for racing or darting into set waves. Fanatic’s invested heavily in a genuine, quality CAD-designed paddle program with unique mould and tooling processes, without generic or off-the-shelf parts and shortcuts.

I’ve had several JOY-session on my Fly Wave so far on it and came back to the beach  s t o k e d  soooo many times and so did also all the people who had a go, everyone was lovin’ it too !

The waves here are too far from the beach to take photos of, however, I organized a little ‘lifestyle shoot’ in some amazing locations, photos will be posted shortly, so stay tuned folks and check out Fanatics web in the meantime!

Have fun & start SUP’in folks, trust me, you won’t regret it, always here for any Qs & queries
Gabi

I’ve just returned to Australia after a mission in Asia and am suuuuuuuuuuuuuper stoked already having had a crack on my 2012 Rebel 7m2 kite and Kontact 6’1” waveboard.

All I can say is:  North’s products have yet again improved quite considerably, the performance of the 2012 Rebel, its windrange and handling is the sweetest feeling I’ve felt with kites in my hands since I’ve started this sport, sounds cheesy but it’s true!  Tunable bar pressure, new square wingtip design maximizes the effective tip area, and rock solid stability are just a few of the amazing qualitities;  no doubt the 2012 Rebel remains North’s flagship kite, combining all the ingredients you need to cover a huge wind-range, rip apart any size surf, boost huge airs and ride comfortably in nearly all conditions. Check it out on North’s website!

Same accounts for the 2012 Kontact, my very favourite model of North’s wide waveboard range.  I’ve chosen the 6’1” x 17 ½” x 2 1/16” for lighter winds and the 5’9” x 17” x 1 15/16” for strong winds, there is one more size in the middle, the 5’11” x 17 ¼” x 2”.   The fourth generation Kontact remains a staple of the NKB Surf Range and a powerhouse board in a class all its own. The Kontact is ideal for riders looking to ride bigger and more powerful surf, however due to its control-oriented nature, the Kontact is also a great choice for riders who want a board to handle strong wind and choppy water with ease and comfort. The 2012 model features the same popular rounded pintail but now has a slightly shorter and fuller outline than last years’ model and a moderate single to double concave to improve turning and release. Check it out on the NKB’s website!

Oki folks, gotta go… the wind is up and I would like to test my 2012 Rebel 10m2

For the coming season, I can only recommend to get ur a$$ down to the next shop that sells NKB gear and to get youself the greatest gear on the planet, trust me, u will  L O V E  these toys !

Please feel free 2 email me with any Qs u might have,  a n y t i m e  here 2 help you
Gxx

I think, I’m in loooooooooooooove   !!!
…or in fact, I  K N O W   I’m  IN LOVE  !!!

Yes, yes, yes, my Fanatic Fly Wave 9’6 is not only incredibly beautiful  -  the dark wood finish is so sickly stylish -  it also performs like no other!  It’s paddles so easily into the waves  – no matter the size:  from huge watermountains to the smallest days, I can jump on anything I want with it !  –   and it’s so sweet to turn.   My Fanatic Fly Wave simply  n e v e r  lets me down.

I took this shot this morning, uiiiiiiiiiii, it was such a sweet joy-session.  Can’t wait 4 another one tomorrow   Forecast looks good, I’m up before the sun rises 4 sure!

The ones amongst you, who still haven’t given SUP’ing a go, DON’T wait any longer, you’re missing out BIIIIIIIIIIIIG TIME !!!

Don’t hesitate 2 contact me with any queries you might have folks, I always love to hear from ya,
Gxx

Although, I certainly DO NOT preach “use a leash in the waves”   -   not AT ALL folks !!  even more certain must not the REEL replace learning the skill to body drag upwind perfectly before even thinking of heading out into any kind of waves  -   though, there  i s  situations where a leash can be helpful:  such as in big waves, places with an extremely strong current or many ‘evil’ big fish (cause body-dragging around in shark-infested waters is kind of turning into a human lure).    Me personally, I spend a lot of time in  a l l  of those places:  big waves with strong current and big fish… therefore I decided to give the Reel Leash® a go.

The Reel Leash® is a rectractable leash in a lightweight plastic housing which contains a stainless steel spring and spool of webbing with a stainless steel snap hook.  This releases the webbing out up to 10′, with enough torque from the spring system to control/eliminate slack – and the board sling shooting back toward the kiter. It’s definitely safer than traditional tubular leashes in the sense that when separated from the board, the board will safely fall away from the kiter and cannot come back at you like a catapult (which is GREAT news !!). However, please also keep in mind that unlike a surfboard leash, the REEL is basically unbreakable due to its nylon webbing.

Leash webbing stays coiled away in the housing and out of the way. Reel Leash® won’t drag in the water, wrap around the kiter or board, or get caught between toes or under the feet while moving around on the board.  The Reel is simply fixed on the harness and exists in several different kinds. The one to go for is the one that also has a Quick Release Clip for easy clip-on / clip-off to your harness but most importantly for safety in case you want to get rid of it fast in case of an emergency.

My verdict: I was certainly very, very positively impressed with the REEL, its operation & performance and will definitely use the REEL in really big waves, heavy current, and shark infested waters. Like everything in life: it has its pros and cons.  Please evaluate for yourself the benefits and potential dangers in relation to the necessity and situation. There’s absolutely no doubt that the REEL is a super handy tool and every kiter would benefit from having one, at its time & place.

Be careful out there & have fun!
And please feel free to email me with your questions anytime, I always love to hear from you and strive to help you as much as I can to be safe on the water with a MAXIMUM of stoke    !
Yours Gabi

The last weekend brought some rather ‘pathetic’ swell here in W.A. and where I normally only really enjoy going out for a surf when the swell is pumping, I decided I wanted to check out the performance of my Fanatic Surf Bamboo on a day when pretty much everyone else was sitting in the line-up on a Mini-Malibu or Hybrid of 7’0” ++…

Well, all I can say is:  “I’m truly  a m a z e d !”, the board was unreally easy to surf and I had sooooooooooooooooooo much fun   !!

The Surf Bamboo is one out of 10 super sweet boards in Fanatics surf-range, shaped by Aussie legend Bruce McKee. With a classy, carving pintail it’s a board for any type of waves or rider. The board’s Multisystem combo performs as a ‘Thruster’ or ‘Quad’. I personally ride it currently as a thruster but will definitely also give the quad-set up a go very shortly.

A combination of moderate rocker, single concave, rounded pin and mid volume rails, plus the Multisystem fin set-up are perfect for learning foot positioning and tackling a spectrum of conditions.

Guys, I can assure you of one thing:  Surfing has never been any easier
So: out there with ya and give it a shot !!!

Fanatic  R O C K S -   I simply love this board and can’t wait for more joy with it out in the surf hopefully very sooooooooooooon….

Unfortunately due to some rather weird weather formations, the Indian Ocean is completely  f l a t  right now, though, this will surely change in a day or two and in the meantime I keep up the form with my Fanatic Fly Wave SUP board, cause cruizing around with this one, even if the ocean’s flat, is really good fun as well as a really good work-out .

…so same here guys:  if u haven’t giving SUPin’ a go, it’s high time u get ur feet on one of those !

Always here to answer any questions my dears,
Gxx

What makes me even happier with regards to these news is that I’m one of the 7 chosen riders that make up the International SUP & Surf Team, I feel privileged and super proud, fully stoked is another word for it !

Craig Gertenbach, the Brandmanager of Fanatic and super ‘brain’ behind the company, who is responsible together with his wife Karin and dedicated team for the amazing success of the brand, stated his decision to the press as follows:

“I’m very happy to announce our first International Fanatic SUP/Surf team. At Fanatic, our team riders have always had a close link in product development and promotion to the brand, for a true boardriders company feeling. Our current Windsurfing Team is one of the most successful ever, so we hope to emulate this with our SUP/Surf teams in the future, keeping the great family atmosphere amongst the riders as one of the winning ingredients. Look forward to watch the progress of Chase and Charlie on the National and International SUP circuits, whilst the images and input from Kirsty, Rob and Gabi will keep inspiring us to make the most innovative and fun to use products on the market!”

Fanatic’s slogan is “Addicted to ride” and I can only fully confirm that:  Y E S, I’m madly, deeply, completely addicted to riding my SUP FLY WAVE 9’6 and the SURF BAMBOO EVO MULTI-FIN 6’8.  Joy boards with an amazing performance plus their looks in bamboo and wood-finish are simply unmatched in the market. Check out my previous blogs about my two Fanatic babies !  Here’s one from a really special boat-trip and another one when I only had just received the boards.

High time for you folks out there to give SUPing a go, if you haven’t already done so !!  And yeah, that surfing is the pure essence of it all, is something everybody knows who has felt the undescribable energy of riding a wave.  It’s  n e v e r  to late to start and oooooh-so-worth-it !   Trust me, you will not regret it

Please feel free to email with with any questions or queries you might have, I love to hear from you!
Gxx

Yes, yes, yes… the story is as follows:

Back in 2003 when I started to compete in the World Cup I was a proud team-rider of  Fanatic Kiteboards.
For many years Fanatic and Kitegabi were a super strong team and we celebrated numerous unforgettable victories together amongst them: 1st place in the PKRA Team Worldcup in Brazil in 2006, 3rd in Hangtime at the PKRA in Fuerteventura in the same year, 3rd in Boarder-X in Brazil, and so many more!  For three years (2003-2006) the expertise of the Fanatic R&D-team catapulted me to truly great successes. Check out all my Competition Results here!

Yeah, I truly loved the boards, though, due to a change in Fanatic’s focus, the Kiteboarding Division was stopped and Fanatic went solely back to its ‘real roots’: Windsurfing!  Today Fanatic is one of THE most successful windsurfbrands out there and the victories of its team   (amongst them: Gollito Estredo, PWA Freestyle World Champ 2010, 2009, 2008 & 2006;  Nik Baker: 3x 2nd Overall PWA Waves , Peter Volwater:  1st place Lancelin Ocean Classic 2010, 2nd place “Windsurfer of the Year” 2009;   and so many more strong rider – check out the team here! ) simply confirms its status + quality of products!

This year Fanatic stomped it up big time and introduces in 2011 in addition to its windsurf boards a huge range of Surf, SUP and Surfskateboards!

… and that’s what brings Kitegabi and Fanatic back together

Just a few days ago I’ve received my FANATIC SUP FLY WAVE 9’6” as well as the EVO SURF MULTI-FIN 6’8” and I can’t find words for how happy I am to soon be able to put my surferfeet back onto some siiiick Fanaticboards !

Even more incredible is that Fanatic shipped those boards to me in Australia, where I will be training over European winter. I would like to take this occasion to say a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge  T H A N X  to the team over at the headoffice in Germany !!!

Both the boards look simply  a m a z i n g.  The wood finish is the COOLEST ever and I cannot wait to get them out into the water

My 6’8” Evo Multi-Fin is one of the epic shapes of Aussie legend Bruce McKee who Fanatic partnered up with to build 10 silky styles for any level of rider – all backed up by Fanatic’s superior heritage in epoxy windsurfing construction – including super stiff and light bamboo epoxy and high grade biaxial lay-ups.

The 9’6” SUP Fly Wave is one of Fanatic’s 6 super Fly SUP shapes by Sebastian Wenzel, Fanatic’s shaper, who pioneered in the shape-shifting CAD/CNC design & productioin process 7 years ago. Designed mainly with surfing performance in mind, these beautifully compact boards have waveriding rocker lines, yet their harmonic volume placement and plan shapes allow for super fun core workouts on flat-water and lakes with precision CAD Technology for your ultimate connection with nature.

So all there’s left 4 me 2 say is:  I’m  so insanely S T O K E D  to be back on board with FANATIC and once again MANY, MANY THANX 2 the team in their trust in me !

It’s spring time right here in Australia, summer is just about to start…   I simply  CANNOT WAIT to be playing out in the Indian Ocean with those 2 truly amazing new boards

And you guys out there, you better get yourself a Fanatic toy as well   -   trust me:  you won’t regret it !

NORTH is without any doubt THE BEST sponsor on d’ planet !

Yes, yes, yes…. although I’m currently right at the other side of the globe to Norths headoffice (in Germany and warehouse in Austria respectively) on a media-mission in a rather super remote area of Australia, the team behind the sickest brand out there is taking amazing care of me and put all the latest toys of Norths insaaaaaane 2011 product range into a container and shipped’em all the way “Downunder”… to Kitegabi who has been waiting with great anticipation for the new babies to arrive. Well, the waiting finally has come to an end -  JOY !!!

This shipment has only been Part 1 of my 2011 gear, though, 4 now I simply cannot wait to get out into the water and test the brandnew Rebel 2011 as well as the Kontact 6’2 wave board and the Team-Series 135cm freestyle board…. yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah, the forecast looks very promising for wind & swell in a few days from now and I’m frothing to carve some tracks into the sweet waves that are about to hit the coast !

Stay tuned for my review folks and you better go and get your hands on a brandnew North bar and kite yourself and your feet strapped into a 2011 North board, cause once you’ve been riding that gear you will see that there’s no other brand out there that can keep up with North in terms of performance, handling & quality and sooooo much more !

Have fun guys & please be safe in the water,
Yours Gabi

On my last trip in Western Australia, I had many chances to test the board extensively in all sorts of conditions:  super challenging big swell, shorbreak-fun, mid-size down the line…. folks  -   and I’m not exaggerating here !  this is the very most honest opinion from the bottom of my wavekite-loving-soul & heart ! -   the verdict of my testing is:

The 2010 North Kontact is seriouosly THE BEST waveboard that I’ever had the joy riding, its performance, features & quality are unmatched in the current wavebord-market.

Yeah, also my team-mates and top wave-riders Jeremie Eloy,  Sky Solbach and Dreu Beavis totally agree with me on that one.  The Kontact 2010 simply allows us to push the envelop of waveriding:  through its rounded pin-tail, gunny outline and low tail rocker the Kontact is incredibly predictable as well as it holds its rail in even the most extreme and choppy conditions and will never let you down in a high speed turn. Thin rails give the Kontact a lively and positive feel under your feet and the single concave throughout helps carry you through a turn and accelerate up the face. Whether you’re charging big waves or using the kite to whip yourself through high speed carves, the Kontact is what you want, trust me!

Me personally I  l u v  the Kontact 6’3, most of the time in combination with my Rebel 2010 5m2.  The combo gets me going from around 13 knots, unbelievable.  If you haven’t done so, check out my review on the Rebel 2010.

And last but certainly not least,  CHECK THIS OUT:  My last wave-session in W.A. before leaving to grey Europe, I reckon the pics speak for themselves in terms of product performance and style

Have fun folks & stay tuned 4 more on www.kitegabi.com
urs Gabi