RICHARD BOUDIA

I had a few great trips with Kirsty in 2009 for freeriding, waveriding, shooting photos and video for the magazines, whilst promoting Flexifoil wherever I go...

2009 took me to…

- January: Morocco
- February/March: Puerto Rico/ Dominican Republic
- May/June/July/August/Sept: Promo and test tour in France
- November: Madagascar
- December: Morocco

In 2010 I will be in Hawaii in March, the Canaries in April and Europe from May until October.\

ROBIN SNUGS

I started 2009 over in South Africa where I was just chilling out after busting my knee. I then returned home for the BKSA round one where I had just got back on the water after my knee injury, so went and caught up with the UK van crew! The rest of my UK time consisted of washing dishes and teaching kiting. I then went to Turkey with Johara, Jo Wilson, Ania Grzlinska, Ali B and James Boulding to film a kite movie for Adrenaline sports, my Turkish sponsor. I then went to Turkey for 3 months to help train the Adrenaline Girls, Nesligul and Arzu. I had an amazing time again, checking out the spots and riding with a new set of people. I’m currently in the Philippines where I’m spending the season riding and teaching. So all is good for me after taking a step out from competing in UK after my knee.

Onto 2010… I’m currently spending some me time on Boracay Island riding, building a better website and working on some videos, while I’m in the Philippines. The KTA will also come here so I will compete in that. I will then travel to Turkey for the summer where I will work with Adrenaline sports to keep pushing Flexifoil there. My plan is to get back into the competition scene for 2010. One of my plans at the moment is to work on a world record, so within a few months I will know where that is heading too. Take it easy…

SY LEONARD

2009 was a strange year for me in terms of kiting. My son Herbie was born at the end of 2008 and obviously this changed my life completely! The opportunities to get out flying were a lot less than I had previously had and so on the occasions I did manage to get out I enjoyed the session that little bit more.

I did attend a couple of events but as ever, the wind gods didn’t play along and so flying was minimal.

I still teach and I had several lessons throughout the summer as well as working on a couple of projects to get kiting into schools (something we are still working on).

I also attend regular meetings to keep access open to our favourite spot in Norfolk.

Something I have always been keen on is scouting new locations to buggy on and film. 2009 saw us try a few new spots out and in doing so, have a minor brush with the local constabulary! Luckily some smooth talking (and offers of free lessons) kept us from spending a night at her majesties pleasure!

From a filming point of view, again, a quiet year really. A few sessions were filmed but it was only at the end of the year that I decided to edit everything I had together.

The result was “Flexi Bugs and Rock n Roll”. A five minutes slice of buggy and board free riding and freestyle featuring the usual Flexi riders from this side of the country.

It shows some of the new sites we rode including a cliff top run, hedge jumping and even a sea wall buggy ride as the waves crash in. Check it out on Youtube or Vimeo.

So what do I expect from 2010? More riding would be nice! I certainly hope to attend a few more events this year with several already pencilled in. More lessons, getting as many people as possible into kiting.

Herbie has already had his first taste of buggying (sitting in my lap, obviously), but this summer I expect him to spend more time at the beach with me and hopefully sharing the passion I have for the sport. I think this will be an exciting year to be involved with Flexifoil and I look forward to the blue skies and warm winds arriving soon.