ROBBY NAISH gives present to SERGIO FERRERO
the complete range of TORCH KITES
Nothing is casual in life. In May 2003, I was the first one, together with Noel Juteau, to try the revolutionary system of the 5th line. I came to know Michel Bousquet in Leucate, during the “Mondial du Vent”, who invented the 5th line. He knew very well to drive the kites, but he did not know how to navigate. Noel proposed me to try them and to improve them for navigation in the open sea. I understood immediately that this was going to be a revolution in the kite world because of the total security of the system. During 2 months, Noel and I tried and improved them. We were the first to sail with the 5th line. During these 2 months, we made a video, which I sent to all my old surfer friends: Robby Naish, Don Montague, Roberto Ricci and many more. Noel showed it to Wipika and they were the first to use the system for their new kites 2004. All the others followed the example. However, I was very surprised of the fact that the article I wrote in August 2003 had not been published in any kite mag, although the title had been quite attractive (“The revolution in the kite world”) for a new extreme sport that was looking urgently for a security system to avoid that so many girls and guy kill themselves.
When I arrived in Cabarete, at the end of February 2005, I stayed, as usual, at the Kite Beach Hotel. The owner, Rubén, surprised me showing me a new paradise: The Kite Beach Hotel had been transformed into an upper class hotel. The rooms, furnished with elegant wood; the garden, completely transformed into a tropical paradise. Well done, Ruben! The Kite Beach Hotel is the best place to stay at in Cabarete if you want to kitesurf. Just in front of it, you find magnificent waves that allow you to follow the new trend: surfing the waves by kite (www.kitebeachhotel.com).
Three days after my arrival at the Kite Beach Hotel, I got a parcel from Mauii. I felt like a boy of 5 years unpacking presents at Christmas Eve! Inside there were a Boxer 8m² (they told me that the small Torche was too fast for navigating with 30 knots) and 3 Torch (12, 16 and 20m²)! It was windy, so I tried immediately the 12m² with the famous 5th line. Obviously, Robby and Don had appreciated the video I sent them. Thanks for the detail!
With my Mutant board, which seems to surf the jibes all alone, I went on the waves and rode one in Fakie, holding the bar with one hand and touching the wave with the other one. A dream had come true, thanks to the velocity and easy handling of this kite. I continued to surf the waves all day long. It was wonderful to feel young and not having to think of anything else but the next wave!
Sergio Ferrero