New Zealand Kiteboarder Marc Jacobs, who spends the year traveling the globe competing in world kiteboarding events, returned home to compete at a local level at the NZ Kiteboard Nationals at Foxton Beach over the last weekend.
The 2015 National Championships took place at the largest estuary in the lower North Island, and one of New Zealand's premiere kiteboard locations: the Manawatu Estuary & river mouth at Foxton Beach.
Marc competed in the ‘Open Men’s’ Category, winning the event for the 8th year in a row.
Action shot of Marc Jacobs at the 2015 NZ Kiteboard Nationals | Photo: Daniel Kajavala
Q&A with Marc Jacobs
Marc congratulations on wining the NZ Nationals for the 8th time in a row. Were you confident you could take out the title for another year?
Thanks yeah… I’m always very confident before the New Zealand Nationals, I compete for a living and have much more experience than the others. Foxton was one of the most challenging conditions I have had since my 8X victories so my tour experience helps out a lot. Also the wind was real gusty and the water extremely choppy. Luckily my new Legacy kite has a huge wind range, absorbs the gusts really well and I managed to stomp down my tricks.
Is this win just as special as the first time you won?
After winning my first NZ Nationals I told myself I won't stop till I achieve 10 wins in a row so I know no kiwi could beat that and I'll be forever remembered for it. The feeling is still the same… this is why I love competing.
Tell us about the event and what type of weekend it was? Where there any highlights you would like to mention.
Foxton is a very sick kiteboarding location. The first two days were a bit too light to run the event but thanks to the rivermouth current we could still have a bit of fun kiting in light conditions. The wind kicked in dramatically just for an hour, it went from 12 to 30+ knots, so I had all my kite sizes pumped up and ready.
Did you have friends and family there to support you and was it cool having team Switch there to cheer you on?
My dad managed to make it down to support which was nice of him. Also the Switch owners Dan and Ralph were there as well and a few of my good mates from Auckland, so it was good vibes for the event for sure.
Marc was riding his new Legacy which has a huge wind range and absorbs the gusts really well, so he could stomp down his tricks to win | Photo: Daniel Kajavala
Interview by Switch Kites: switchkites.com
