We're honored to announce that many of our F-One team riders have been nominated for this year's 2022 GKA Awards. Support our athletes by casting your vote by June 7th to help secure their awards!
MALE RIDER OF THE YEAR: MAXIME CHABLOZ
Maxime Chabloz is arguably the most versatile athlete on the GKA Freestyle World Tour. Maxime grew up in the Swiss Alps with the mountains and the lakes on his doorstep. These idyllic conditions provided him with the perfect playground to work on freestyle kitesurfing and freestyle skiing.
2021/2022 has been Maxime’s most successful season as an athlete as he placed second overall on the GKA Freestyle World Tour. Remarkably he also won an immensely impressive Ski Freeride World Championship earlier this year. Compounding his unique all-round riding skills and competitive ability, he won the GKA Freestyle Distance Battle in 2020 and placed 3rd on GWA Wingfoil World Tour in Tarifa 2020.
Charles Brodel is one rider at the forefront of hydrofoil freestyle, a new and evolving discipline. His competitive journey in kitesurfing commenced in landkite racing and freestyle where he found kite flying to be most exhilarating.
He is 2x Landkite Junior French Champion and is the Landkite Race Champion 2017. In 2019 Brodel also won the Champion du monde Speed Crossing on a twintip. Nevertheless, Brodel’s highlight moment was when he was crowned the KiteFoil Freestyle World Champion in 2021. During this event Brodel posted several world firsts in competition such as the Brodel Flip and the one foot fuselage grab. He has more or less owned the extreme big air foiling space and will aim to claim the GKA Big Air World Championship title in Tarifa in June.
MEN'S BEST MOVE OF THE YEAR: MAXIME CHABLOZ - BACK MOBE 7
MAXIME ON THIS HIGHLY TECHNICAL FREESTYLE TRICK:
"A mobe 7 always feels special to me because I’m one of just a few riders who can do it and I think I’m pretty much the only one that does it on a daily basis."
MEN'S BEST MOVE OF THE YEAR: CHARLES BRODEL - BOARD-OFF KITELOOP ON A FOIL
CHARLES BRODEL ON THE FIRST EVER BOARD OFF KITELOOP ON A FOIL
“This trick was one of the scariest tricks I have ever tried with my foil! I started horizontally, with my feet close to the foil, it was scary. On my first try it felt impossible to control the foil during the loop because it flew away with the wind. But now I have a technique where I use my elbow to be able to hold it into the wind. I was so happy to be the first one to land this on a foil! In my mind it was impossible to land it because of the high speeds on the landing, but somehow I managed it!”
Marcela Witt is a kitesurfer from the beautiful north shores of Brazil. She began kitesurfing at a young age in Rio de Janeiro as her father and grandad had taken up the sport. Since then, Marcela has dedicated her life to kitesurfing. She is the Brazilian Kitesurf Champion and she recently won the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup in Morocco 2021.
Amongst winning world cup events, Marcela has also been setting world records in her free time. She was recently the first woman ever to kitesurf Nazare, Portugal in 2021 and she was also the first woman to kitesurf in Antarctica. Not only does Marcela compete in kitesurfing but she is also an avid wingfoiler. In 2021 Marcela was crowned South American Wingfoil World Champion.
Wave Master World Champion, Mitu Monteiro is a true waterman. Raised by a single mother, living in a small fishing village in Cabo Verde, Mitu grew up by the ocean but had no access to gear and very little money. His passion for kitesurfing developed over years of playing in the waves and discovering different crafts to do so, first with plastic water bottles stuffed in a bag, then with a discarded windsurf board, and finally with a kite. His status as an icon of strapless riding was originally born out of a lack of gear–he wanted to ride at Punta Preta but didn’t have a board and so he took his surfboard. That fateful decision led to a decade-long career as a professional athlete and waterman. Mitu is acknowledged as a pioneer of the discipline of strapless kitesurfing but has had an even more incredible impact on the sport through his leadership and ability to give back.
Today Mitu’s primary focus is on giving back to his community by empowering the local kids of Cabo Verde to get on the water. He requires that they maintain a certain level in their academics and pushes his students to maintain good grades. He’s also an advocate for the ocean and has recently launched a petition to protect Punta Preta. His influence on the younger generation and drive to protect the environment make him a well-deserved nominee for the GKA Social Award of the Year.
Brazilian GKA Kite-Surf World Tour competitor, Marcela Witt has a huge following in her homeland as she’s also a well known TV personality. As well as being passionate competitor, Marcela also uses her profile to raise awareness about environmental pressures on the ocean and land that are particular to Brazil.
Can you imagine being an 11 to 17-year-old studying at school and getting the opportunity to fly to Tarifa for an action-packed week of wing foiling & coaching all organized by F-ONE? We certainly can’t! This became a reality for 10 youngsters that were invited to the F-ONE Next Generation camp 2022. Quite literally, living the dream! Find out all about it here...
The Levante had been expecting them. The forecast for this last week of February was unequivocal: strong winds every day, warmish temperatures, and close to perfect riding conditions. After patiently waiting for months, 10 passionate and determined young wing foilers all aged between 11 and 17 were finally on their way to Tarifa, Spain, for F-ONE's Next Generation camp.
At the destination, an all-star team of F-ONE professional riders and coaches waited to ride and mentor each of them, whilst providing board bags filled to the brim with STRIKE V.2 wings, foilboards and hydrofoils. They all were eager to tackle the intensive and transformative upcoming week.
First launched in 2013 the Next Generation camp was initially all about kitesurfing and helped kick-start the careers of more than 30 young riders. For 2022, the family-owned French brand innovated and decided to center the camp around the fast-growing sport of wing foiling. Greatly accessible to groms, it offers a huge potential for progression in that age range and thrilling sensations.
Who doesn’t love reminiscing about a wonderful road trip filled with hours on the water, adventures, encounters, mishaps, and laughter? Go behind the scenes now and discover what went down during our trip to Baja California last year on our YouTube channel.
From uncovering new spots, suffering stingray bites, experiencing the local culture, witnessing endless banter within the team and soaking in stunning landscapes, this trip was truly memorable for all involved.
Our team of riders arrived in La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, and was immediately taken to a ranch nearby. Feeling as if they were on a movie set, they all certainly leaned into it as they channeled their inner ranchers.
They spent the day riding horses, discovering the barren landscapes, and experiencing the local food and culture.
Discovering the Local Spots
On the water, the trip started with a twintip freestyle session in a lagoon near La Bocana.
The riders quickly realized the conditions varied drastically around the area depending on the hour of the day and from spot to spot. The spots also weren’t necessarily close to one another.
So, the team spent a lot of time on the road driving from one spot to the next, trying to ultimately pick one. It was sometimes a gamble, especially as they understood the tide’s influence.
“We’ve been to one spot with a high tide, and it was perfect with really nice waves,” Mitu said. “But then we went back at low tide, and the wave was not the same, so it was a little bit tricky. I think here you need to be in one place, stay there and wait for the conditions.”
Mitu's Surf Session
Sometimes, it feels like Mitu can smell a good spot from a mile away, no matter where he is in the world.
After noticing a potential good spot from the road, he convinced Alex, the local guide, to take him there. However, he himself was not convinced it would be a conclusive find at all. But it turns out Mitu’s instinct was spot on.
Once they got there, his mouth dropped as he saw a huge barrel essentially waiting for him. “It was a dream spot,” he uttered.
They then rushed to pick up the rest of the team and gear before starting an epic kitesurf session in the waves.
Stingray
Naturally, traveling in such a remote and undisturbed location meant unavoidable and random encounters with the local wildlife.
Unfortunately, Paul Serin experienced it the hard way and paid the price of one of his crashes by getting stung by a stingray under his foot. Thankfully, he immediately put his foot in boiling-hot water for a few hours. It eased the pain, and he was able to get back to his board in the following days.
Photographers
Our producer and videographer Olivier Sautet and our photographer Matt Georges have known each other and worked together for many years already. Yet, their bickering and bantering is a staple on most F-ONE trips. By now, everybody is used to it and always gets a good laugh out of it, especially as the two are indeed good friends and do enjoy each other’s company tremendously.
Mitu & Hendrick
Mitu Monteiro and Hendrick Lopes are like two peas in a pod. If you’re looking for one, you’ll usually find him with the other. The rest of the team was even quick to nickname Hendrick “mini-Mitu.”
Throughout the trip, Mitu was always there to support and advise Hendrick on how to improve his riding, and the two bonded even more over their mutual stoke for the newfound barrel.
A Dreamy Session
One of Marcela’s greatest memories on this trip was of one specific session where she rode a right-hand tube in switch stance. She was particularly excited to get barreled, but most importantly to get out of her comfort zone and to be cheered on by Mitu and Hendrick.
Riding well into the sunset and in good company, she felt fulfilled and was thankful to share this moment with others:
Its 4-way stretch is worth just as much as any modern technical material out there. The Squareflex will meet your every move.
Eco-Friendlier
Recycling waste prevents the use for new raw material. Furthermore, coconut fibers are blended with recycled polyester to create a performing and eco-friendlier boardshort.
Waterproof & Dries Fast
Activated carbon doesn’t hold water; thus, the Squareflex dries fast and stays light and comfortable. The wet fabric doesn’t stick to your legs, which avoids rashes in unpleasant locations.
Prevents Bad Smell
One of activated carbon's main properties is to prevent bad smells. Yes, even when stuffed for days in the back of your car. It puts an end to smelly boardshorts that you've been forgetting to dry for a “little while."
Strong & Durable
Our boardshorts are not made to spend the day by the swimming pool, and this one is no exception. The coconut fibers blended with recycled polyester create a very strong material that will follow you for many trips under the sun.
The HAAPITI’s got style but doesn’t sacrifice on technique. It uses a performing 4-way stretch fabric and the material repels water like a charm. They work great when worn both in and out of the water. For our new collection, the HAAPITI is back with a slightly shorter cut and a bit narrower fit.
All of our boardshorts receive the same ultra-performing hydrophobic treatment. They stay light while riding and dry fast while on land for ultimate comfort.
4-Way Stretch
Think of a stylish boardshort with the characteristics of a technical one. The 4-way stretch brings style without scarifying stretch, so you will enjoy your boardshort both in and out of the water.
Strong and Durable
Our boardshorts are not made to spend the day by the swimming pool. The thick polyester yarn of the Haapiti will follow you everywhere all year round.
The Gambas is built in a fine ripstop material that is stretchy, light and stays dry. Its design is timeless. It is cut a bit shorter to fit just above the knee and has been tried and proven on the water and for post-session beers.
The Gambas is made in a fast-drying fabric; thus, it doesn’t stay wet and heavy once on land.
Strong and Durable
Our boardshorts are not made to spend the day by the swimming pool. The thick polyester yarn of the Gambas will follow you everywhere all year round.
4-Way Stretch
Think of a stylish boardshort with the characteristics of a technical one. The 4-way stretch brings style without scarifying stretch, so you will enjoy your boardshort both in and out of the water.
"Why not try something completely different this time?" With a slightly unconventional approach, the project “Fun First” was thus born as two childhood friends set out on a mission to find the most uninviting, atypical, and overlooked waves all over the region. They aimed to prove that fun is possible anywhere, even if the spot doesn’t look ideal at first sight or if the weather is dreadful.
"When it's winter in Brittany and the forecast is pretty crappy for the whole week, well, you tell yourself that adventure awaits." Ian Fontaine goes searching for abandoned waves. Follow him along for the second episode of FUN FIRST.
