Xander: Beauty is a word that is often thrown around loosely to describe someone or something that emanates grace and allure. However, within the world of sport and athleticism, the word beauty is under appreciated and often absent from conversation. While I do not intend to unduly impose this word into kiteboarding, I am certain there is room for it within our industry, and I hope to illustrate an example of its correspondence here…
For as long as I have been invested in kiteboarding, I have always struggled to justify the reasoning behind a large portion of the equipment’s physical and aesthetic design. Generally speaking, kiting is a fairly complex sport, and as a result, the equipment is also exceedingly complex. While I support complexity in the form of innovation, I also recognize the importance of a creation’s visual intrigue. More often than not, the kiteboard industry takes an incredibly novel and innovative product and completely defiles its visual presentation! For example, how often do you see a sports car that is multicolored, florescent, or visually crowded? Typically, the most advanced and cutting-edge products are minimalistic and understated. As with anything, I am confident that as kiteboarding continues to grow and develop, perhaps the industry will embrace a more progressive and cognizant standard for its artistic presentation.
While there are some things in life that one can control, some that can be influenced, and some that are simply out of reach, when the opportunity arises to help support an effort of substantial influence and personal interest, I believe it to always be worthwhile… I am certain that anyone reading this is familiar with the name Noè Font, but for those not acquainted, he is someone who I consider to live with sincere intent and deliberate actions. He is a talented kiteboarder and athlete, but truthfully, kiteboarding is just a portion of his exterior in which he happens to excel. Noè’s focal point and most precious sense is his mind. The way in which he approaches his life is of sheer distinction, and the way in which he thinks, operates, and is stimulated by the world around him is profoundly inspiring. With this in mind, when Noè sets out to materialize a vision, you can be sure that the process and the final product will be of significant purpose and personal investment.
At the beginning of the 2023 season, Noè embarked on a project that would introduce innovative complexity and progression, but primarily, his effort ushered works of beauty into the kiteboarding world. While I assisted as I could, the brainchild was entirely Noe’s.
Largely speaking, the concept of art is nearly limitless. However, I believe its interpretation can be defined by a process or undertaking that provokes an emotional response. When analyzing most humanitarian environments, there is a distinct embrace of contemporary art. City streets, architecture, and even the natural landscape often curate commanding visual intrigue that draws scenes of intense precision juxtaposed with minimalistic characteristics. For instance, if you have ever gazed down a city street, there is a clear delineation between the beginning and extremity of placed objects. When viewing the world through this particular scope, objects or people placed at the forefront of such designs become the visual focal point. Transcending this view into kiteboarding, Noè set out to fabricate kiteboarding features made from steel that are shaped in a relatively fundamental design, helping to draw direct attention to the rider as opposed to the feature itself. In an effort to grasp these prevalent standards, Noè began sketching and conceptualizing the composition of these rails.
The first rail was built by hand in Sicily and finished in red to honor Ferrari’s Italian heritage. The next set of rails was then built in Brazil, but this time, they were finished with a satin yellow that glows when light is contrasted against them. When I say the rails were hand-built, I mean it with utmost sincerity. Every single portion beside the stock metal was hand cut, angled, welded, braced, ground, and painted, occupying hours of labor, until finally, the design is stood in pristine beauty.
These photos show Noè’s take on how a modern kite park should look and be built, and it is a representation I would consider beautiful. Please enjoy my favorite takeaways that illustrate this dynamic and showcase a progressive milestone in the kiteboarding industry’s aesthetic growth.
