Profile: Eleveight Young Guns

Thibault, you didn’t compete at Lords of Tram against Martin, but you will be soon, right?

Yes. Having been a competitor at Lords of Tram for the first four years, this year I had the honor of expressing my passion for Big Air in a whole new way as a commentator for the event, hence the hat! This experience left me speechless in every sense of the word. I have decided to devote myself entirely to my Big Air passion and have been selected for the Pro Division 1 section of the Full Power Tarifa event. I’ll be competing alongside the same kite legends whose exploits I commentated on at Lords of Tram this year, as well as the Eleveight young guns Martin, Omar and Luca, who are sending it BIG! I wish them the best of luck.

Martin, well done for getting through to the quarterfinals at Lords of Tram! Tell us a bit about how you got into kiting and Big Air.

Thanks! My dad was into kitesurfing and he’s the one who introduced me to it when I was 11 years old. Before that, I was already familiar with wind as I started sailing at a very young age. We live close to Pärnu beach which is one of the best summer breeze spots in Estonia. In the summer the winds are light and warm. In the winter it is minus degrees and the bay is frozen, but we still take the maximum out from the winds. When it is more than zero degrees Celsius and the sea is not frozen, we go out with 6mm hooded wetsuits with boots and gloves. Even though Pärnu rarely has ideal conditions for Big Air because it’s often choppy, I got into Big Air because of the adrenaline. You can’t get the same rush from any other discipline, and there’s something incredible about flying over 20 meters high.

So if Pärnu isn’t ideal for Big Air, how do you find the conditions to practice?

I was 13 years old when I started traveling and training with my coach and manager Madis Põdra. We have been traveling to train in the best conditions around the world. Sometimes we go with other Eleveight team riders like Thibault, which is very motivating and gives me a big push. I also watch lots of Big Air videos from the best riders in the world and that helps me to set goals for future tricks. I especially get inspiration from Tom Bridge. His style is unique, and I really like it.

And this all helped you get a place at Lords of Tram?

Yes, I had my recent debut in international competition there and I have also been selected to compete in Full Power Tarifa. It wasn’t easy getting a place because there aren’t many competitions, and people are pushing really hard to get in. Since competing has been my main goal we have been focusing on getting huge new tricks recorded for competitions’ entry videos. I think it also helped for the Lords of Tram competition that organizers saw me training and pushing myself to the limit at training camps in France.

How did the event go? Did you go in with a strategy for doing your best?

I’ve been competing regularly since I was a child in other sports like sailing, so I know how to stay relaxed. Lords of Tram was my first major Big Air event, so my strategy was to push hard and have fun at the same time. I’m really happy with how it went getting through to the quarterfinals, and I learned that taking your time to perform a trick and finding the right gust is really important. I’m going to push even harder at the next competition, Full Power Tarifa.

And all on Eleveight gear?

Yes. Since it’s my first contract, I’m really thankful that they gave me the chance to showcase my skills. It feels like a big, supportive family. Eleveight kites are amazing, and as their slogan says, development never stops.

Thanks Martin. Omar, you’ve also got a place at the upcoming Full Power Tarifa. Did you also find it difficult getting a spot in the competition?

Yes, it was tough. I had to train a lot to prepare my entry video. I spent many days perfecting my tricks and filming them from different angles to make sure everything looked perfect. I’m really happy to see my hard work pay off and to have the chance to show what I can do. My plan is to do all my best tricks and gain experience from competing internationally. I will also focus on staying calm and enjoying the moment, which will help me perform better.

How did you originally get into kiting?

My local spot is Makani Beach in El Gouna, Egypt. My uncle got me into kitesurfing there. He’s one of the oldest kiters in Egypt and introduced me to the sport. He used to take me to the beach and show me the basics, which sparked my interest. Makani has really good conditions – the wind is consistent and the water is flat, which is perfect for learning new moves. I train whenever I can, making the most of every windy day. I love Big Air because it’s the most thrilling and it’s growing fast. I love the feeling of flying high and the adrenaline rush I get from performing high jumps and tricks.

And where do you get inspiration from?

I’m inspired by Janek Grzegorzewski. He has a unique style and has invented lots of new tricks. Watching his videos and analyzing his technique has helped me develop my own style. I’m also part of a program called Rising Stars Egypt which helps us with coaching. I received personalized coaching in Cape Town for two months, which really helped improve my technique.

Are you pleased to be part of the Eleveight team?

I recently joined the Eleveight team and the gear and team are great from what I’ve seen so far. The equipment is really reliable and versatile, which helps me feel confident when trying new moves.

All the best for Full Power! Luca, you’re not guaranteed a place as you’re on the reserve list, right?

Yes I was first reserve but they changed me to second reserve the next day. It took quite a lot of work and training to get on the reserve list, and I hope I can still get in and compete to show everyone my tricks and how I can perform. If I do get in, I think I can do good if I continue training and learn some new tricks. I don’t have a strategy, but if I’m in a really hard heat I will go for doubles! I improve my skills by watching a lot of videos and just trying new tricks all the time.

So you’re loving Big Air?! Who do you get inspiration from?

Yes, doing Big Air is what I most enjoy and I like it most visually. I get inspiration from Andrea Principi, Lorenzo Casati, Jeremy Burlando and Keanu Merten in particular, because they kite really well and they always push me and help me to land new tricks by giving me tips or motivating me to send something new. I often see them in Tarifa as I go there every time there is good wind, and I travel as much as I can to new places like El Médano in Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Portugal which get strong wind.

Well you’re heading to the right places! Are you from near Tarifa?

Yes further up the coast. I got into kiting seeing it at the local beach we name ‘Heaven’ which is now my home spot. Heaven Beach is less than 10 minutes from my house and the conditions are very good. The wind gets up to 30/35 knots and it’s a little bit choppy, but has some nice kickers! I started kiting when I was around 14 years old because a couple of my friends already kited and they motivated me to learn. One in particular was my friend Peter who helped me a lot and got me some second-hand gear to start. Now I’m on Eleveight gear which is insanely good and really easy to use and the team is amazing. I couldn’t ask for more!

Well we hope you get a place at Full Power and show them your grom power! Good luck to you all.