Key characters, moments, locations and developments that hold a special significance in the history of kiteboarding’s most notable brands, as told by those involved

FOLK AND LORE

AS TOLD BY THE BRANDS INVOLVED

ALL CAPTIONS: MIKE RAPER, NORTH BRAND DIRECTOR

Main image caption: We have this image blown up, hanging on the wall in our office. The Three Kings - Nick Jacobsen, Marc Jacobs and Jesse Richman testing the Orbit in Cape Town. We’ve been inspired by nature and the precision engineering of technology from the start of our journey Photo: Ydwer van der Heide

The stoke is real. Being a rider driven company, one of the most significant challenges we had when launching the brand was to assemble the most mind-blowing and progressive team. The team brings the stoke to North every day, reminding us that the performance of the equipment is better than anything they have used before. This shot of Jalou in Western Australia continuously brings the team back to this idea and reminds us why we do what we do Photo: Ydwer van der Heide

This is the feeling we chase. As North grows we continue to chase the magnetic pull - for freedom, for letting go of yourself and merging with the power of the elements, for performance, for exhilaration. This pull calls to us again and again. Jesse Richman at Jaws... Photo: Brian Solano

Orbit – the King of kites, launched in 2019, ridden here by Graham Howes in South Africa. We pride ourselves on what we have achieved, especially with the creation of the Orbit. Tested by nature, proven on the podium, the King of the Big Air kites. Taking out second place at King of The Air 2019, first in 2020 and first in 2021. Where to next? Photo: Ydwer van der Heide

Our journey alongside Kiteworld Magazine has been one awesome storm, and we wish the magazine team all the best for their next adventure and thank them for taking part in ours.