Intriguing Beings Podcast

Ex US Special Forces and brewery founder Scott Harrison sits down with me to talk about some of his adventures in various warzones over the years, his love of brewing beer and how kiteboarding brought all that together to put us in the same room in Mexico. The world moves in mysterious ways, and this episode is well worth a listen. 

Ralf Grösel is one of the highest functioning humans I know, a kite designer, paragliding designer, racing car driver and successful businessman his accolades are many. He recently got in touch to invite me to North Macedonia to have a look at Brainchild Production, a new project which has set up a sustainable production facility in the country. At a time when shipping costs are through the roof, a European factory makes a lot more sense; the extra labour costs are offset by lower shipping costs. However, it also presents an opportunity to create something from the ground up, and when you start from the beginning, it's possible to rethink the entire production process. Ralf has done this with sustainability at the core of the ethos, but it goes much further than that with attention to detail and a finished product that literally blew my mind it's well worth listening to this episode to see what the future holds for watersports production. 

As promised a new episode with an old favourite, Dom Moore. Last time we spoke he was embarking on treatment for the big C. This time he's in the clear, sober, surfing and learning science. We have an entertaining conversation about what he's been up to, his 9 odd months sober and how he hasn't bought any meat or fish in the last 5 or so years, instead spearfishing and hunting for his protein. It might not be for everyone, but it's an enjoyable conversation all the same!

I'm Back! An interesting episode for you this time around as I chat to Alan Jones from Talk Funding. Alan approached me wanting to do a podcast about my new project, FacePlant Sunglasses, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pick up the baton again and kick off Intriguing Beings once again. We chat about the Kickstarter campaign that we launched for FacePlant, the reason why we wanted to change the way you think about sunglasses and lots more. If you've been wondering why I've not really been doing many of these lately then this explains it pretty well. We're flat out with the publishing business and now launching this new project as well, time is limited!https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wefaceplant/faceplant-sunglasses

Listen in as I chat to Jon Modica, the man behind the recent buyout of Cabrinha from the Pryde Group. If you've not heard of Jon he used to be a pro rider for Cabrinha back in the day, and now he's bought it alongside some other investors. That's a pretty incredible story, whichever way you look at it. In addition to this Adventure Sports have just got the license for all the Dakine wind products too, we're expecting to see some interesting products coming out of the Cabrinha and Dakine brands over the next few years and it was great to sit down with Jon and find out a little more about where he has come from and what he has been up to over the last ten years or so!Enjoy!

Something a little different for you all this week, I had the fortune to catch up with Robby Naish over in Maui on the phone last week. We talked for about 45 minutes about how Covid 19 has effected business, about the last 25 years of making production gear and about how much he enjoys sharing the stoke to get on the water with others. It was never intended to be a podcast, but it felt too good not to share... Enjoy!

This episode I sit down with Clinton Filen, designer, innovator and radical ideas man. He's been heading up the Airush brand from Cape Town for the last 8 years and has a long history in product design. From an early age, he was making boards and he's never stopped. We catch up at the AWSI in Hood River and talk about a myriad of topics but always seemingly coming full circle to his passion for designing innovative products that make our time on the water better. Enjoy!

I have an amazing guest in this episode, Ozone kite designer Rob Whittall, I've known Rob for some time and bumped into him across the various continents of the globe over the years. He's always struck me as an intensely thoughtful man who's got his priorities right. Fiercely competitive, mainly with himself to push everything to the absolute limit he's been at the top of pretty much every sport he's touched. World Champion paraglider, hang glider, test pilot and designer he's thrown himself headfirst into anything he feels will give him that ultimate rush. When a man considers wingsuit flying as too slow for his tastes, "they only do 100mph", his motorbike is much faster and way closer to the ground, it's time to sit up and listen. One of my favourite podcasts to record and listen back to I am sure you will enjoy this one!www.ozonekites.com

This time I sit down with one of my youngest guests, Noè Font, a Spanish kiteboarder and 2x Junior World Champion. He's gone on to surround himself with peers and ride on the Kite Park League Tour at a level that beguiles his youth. When you meet him it's easy to think he's in his 30's, he's achieved so much in such a short space of time and holds himself with a maturity that is hard to believe. A talented filmmaker he's already produced a feature-length film called The Bubble which was released in late 2017 to critical acclaim. There is plenty more to come I am sure from this young man who is an absolute pleasure to hang around with. Enjoy!Watch The Bubble!

This week I'm sitting down with waterman, businessman and legend Raphael Salles. Raph heads up F-One, the watersports brand that makes gear for kitesurfers, surfers, paddle boarders and foilers. Raph has a passion for the ocean that I haven't seen in many people, he can literally spend 8 hours a day testing the gear he makes. I can't think of anyone else who does that in the industry, especially when you consider he does that for over 300 days a year! No wonder a lot of the F-One product is highly regarded!We talk about all sorts of subjects, from his early day's in the water to setting up and starting his own company from scratch. It's an interesting and inspiring conversation which I am sure you will enjoy!

This week I'm chatting to Craig Cunningham the Team Manager at Duotone Kiteboarding. Recorded back in February this year in Cape Town we talk about a wide range of topics including how he nearly became an ice hockey jock! The Canadian rider is one of the most stylish around and has had a stellar career within the sport.He's adapted and moved with the times and now spends a large part of his energy nurturing fresh talent and the riders on the team. Weirdly we get into some eerily true predictions about the outcome of this years GKA Freestyle Tour and how Valentin Rodriguez is his hot tip for the future, and then the 17-year-old only goes and takes the crown nearly ten months later!Enjoy! 

Julien Salles heads up Manera in Montpelier, France, the accessories brand is part of the F-One group owned by his father, Raphael. I've been lucky enough to call Julien a friend for some time and watched him develop Manera with a real passion for the products and how they can benefit the people who use them. He's got a great philosophy, not just for business but for life as well and he's not afraid to take the path least travelled. We have a wide-ranging chat about growing up with Raphael Salles as his father, how he developed a passion for watersports and the ethos behind the Manera brand, among other things!Enjoy!Kororo MovieManeraF-ONE

This week I've got legendary rider Steven Akkersdijk on the podcast, the tall dutchman has been making a huge impression on the Big Air scene for some time now. With King Of The Air podiums under his belt, he's always a threat on the competition scene. Unlike a lot of riders, though, Steven is multifaceted, he has a huge talent for creating content, both videos and images, and he rips on almost every craft he rides. An accomplished kite foiler he's also a pretty handy surfer and surf foiler. We discuss his early introduction to the water sports scene, how his equipment makes a difference and his thirst for competition too. Finally, somewhat fittingly we talk about his injuries, his recent ankle one and also the infamous crash at the Megaloop Challenge event in the Netherlands that nearly killed him.Enjoy!Flying Over The Squamish ChiefHydrofoil HeavenLand Of Liquid Sunshine

This week I'm chatting to Sensi Graves, founder of Sensi Bikinis, kite park pioneer and all-round female kite hero. I met up with Sensi in Hood River earlier this year to record this podcast and it was really interesting to hear about her approach and induction into the business world. We also talk about her life as a small-town gal, going to a class with just 7 students and how living with three brothers made her a super competitive person who strives for success, however that is measured. Sensi has an Indigogo campaign running at the moment, creating sustainable swimwear from ocean plastics, be sure to check it out and support it if you fancy looking good and helping the ocean. Sensi and her friend Colleen Carroll (listen to her podcast here) run coaching courses for women too, check them out if you fancy learning in a unique environment in some amazing places! Enjoy!

This weeks episode is a little more light-hearted as I chat to Tom Court, one of the original kiteboarders from back in the day who was shredding from a very young age. Tom's garnered a successful career for himself within the sport, not just as a talented pro rider, but also as a videographer and practical joker. With films like the Freeride Project series of movies under his belt, his abilities are well known, showcasing a lighter side with efforts like the Kite Launcher, it's never a dull moment when Tom is around, either in front of or behind the camera. He's had a tough few years, with some serious injuries setting him back, but he's always smiling and keen to chat. It's great to see him back on the water and riding again!

They say you shouldn't meet your heroes, we'll this week I'm sharing a conversation I had with one of mine this summer, none other than the legend Mr Robby Naish. US1111 carved a name for himself in the windsurfing industry from a very young age, and that passion and drive for the sport led him to become one of the most successful watermen of all time. Not just an accomplished athlete across a multiverse of sports, he's a successful businessman too and still heads up the Naish watersports business to this day. Offering equipment for windsurfing, kitesurfing, surf and SUP foiling, stand up paddle and now wind wings, Robby leads a life many of us can only dream about. Enjoy.

This week I chat to Mike Raper, one of the kiteboarding originals who started as a pro rider before getting a job with the Pryde Group. Mike spent years there working on various brands including Cabrinha and left last year to move from Hong Kong back to New Zealand to spend more time with his family.Then all hell broke loose and the opportunity to build the North Kiteboarding brand presented itself, the rest they say is history or at least one incredible story...Enjoy!

I sit down with Duotone kite designer Ralf Grösel and have a very interesting chat about his life and how he got into design. From making his own paragliders and learning CAD at 14 to running several successful companies now, Ralf is a lesson in how you have plenty of time to do all the things you are passionate about. With everything he involves himself in I bet he doesn't spend much time scrolling through social media or binge-watching Netflix. If you need a bit of inspiration about how you can make your life more productive then this is a good place to start. We also geek out a lot on kite design and discuss a few of the projects he is working on at the moment for Duotone.

Ruben Lenten is one of the most influential kiteboarders on the planet, his long career has seen him shape the sport in a way few others can match. From his aggressive powered freestyle riding to his insane mega loops and all the variations he has created. In this podcast Rou Chater talks to Ruben about his journey within the sport, his battle with cancer and how he has overcome some serious setbacks along the way.This was recorded in February in South Africa, just a month or so before Ruben had another fateful setback, breaking his ankle in Barcelona when a mega loop went wrong.Ruben has an incredibly positive outlook on life and when I saw him last week he was taking his recovery seriously and looking forward at where he was going next rather than dwelling on the serious injury that wrecked his plans for the year. If you want to get inspired about having a positive mindset, Ruben is the man to listen to!

It's the last episode of Season 1 and I thought I might do something a little different. As it's the King Of The Air in Cape Town and the finals are tomorrow Lewis Crathern and I sit down for a chat about the event and who's likely to win. You can hear a real insight into what goes on from the only person to compete in every event since it restarted in 2013.We also put our necks on the line to make some predictions for the final results, so listen in, note them down and see if we are right, we probably won't be though! Hear about the injuries, the training and the dedication needed to do well at an event of this level. Find out how the equipment choice and the weather conditions make a real difference to the results for different riders and find out after three days of reflection what Lewis's biggest mistake was at this years event!Enjoy!

This week I'm chatting to the "Man Who Touched The Sky" AKA Lewis Crathern. He was one of the first kiteboarders to break into the mainstream when he jumped over Worthing Pier in 2009 with his buddy Jake Scrace. A year later Lewis broke onto the world stage when he jumped over Brighton Pier in a stunt that went truly viral. I've known Lewis for years and we often have differing opinions, however I do have the utmost respect for him, especially as his career has matured in recent years. These days I hold him up as one of the best examples of a pro rider our sport has. Lewis doesn't just kite and get paid for it, he's a world renowned coach, a public speaker and mentor and someone who passionately delivers his wind friendly message to thousands of school children in the UK. He's used his achievements for the good of others and I think thats an incredible thing. We chat about his early introduction to the sport, those pier jumps and also the crash he had at the King Of The Air in 2017 that nearly killed him. Lewis is full of stories and you can be sure he'll be back on the podcast again soon!Enjoy!Brighton Pier JumpThe Man That Touched The Sky"That" King Of The Air CrashLewis Crathern Chapter Me

This week I'm chatting to Dan Macaulay, he's the founder of Brandwave Marketing and someone who truly knows what taking a leap of faith is all about. At the tender age of 24, Dan somehow landed himself the role of European Marketing Director for O'Neill. Arguably one of the best jobs in the industry at a time when there were huge sums of cash floating around in the surf market. After just four years though Dan made the decision to leave the comfort and security of O'Neill and set up on his own. Something that at the time seemed a little crazy to an outsider looking in. In the end though Dan's move played out and Brandwave Marketing has gone on to become hugely successful, although, as Dan says a few times in the podcast, success depends on how you measure it. With a young family, Dan still finds the time to get on the water as much as possible while simultaneously managing his business. We talk about all sorts including the state of various industries and how marketing has changed so much in recent years.Enjoy!Brandwave Marketing

This week I'm chatting to Tim Turner, founder and creator of the Red Bull Lighthouse to Leighton race in Australia. The race takes place every year in December, attracting riders from all over the world keen to have a crack at the crossing from Rottnest Island to Leighton Beach in Perth.I've known Tim ever since he first invited me to the race 5 years ago, I've been going back very year either as a racer, or as a reporter. It's honestly one of the best kite races on the planet with clockwork organisation and an incredible experience for the racers too. I ask Tim about the races inception and how he managed to get it off the ground when no one else could. We also talk about the highs and lows and the difficulties involved. Next year is the tenth anniversary, if you haven't had a crack at it yet then put it on your bucket list!Enjoy.Links: Red Bull Lighthouse To Leighton Website

Ian Young was the first ever kiteboarder in Australia, an ex special forces soldier Ian has had an affinity with water sports from an early age. His first love was surfing and then when back issues meant he couldn't do that any more he switched to surf skis and flying kites. This early interest in kites led him to believe he could power his surf ski with one to reach out reefs that were too far to paddle to. Eventually after lots of experimentation he came across Cory Roesler who had been using waterskis and delta kites to effectively become the god father of kiteboarding. It wasn't long before Ian had it cracked and he then went on to set up the first kite school in Australia too teaching thousands of students over the years. We chat about his love of producing art, something that's always been a stable throughout his life, those early days playing with kites and his more recent exploits which include huge down winders from Perth to Exmouth covering over 1200km!Enjoy!Ian's Art

I'm back after missing a Monday over the festive period, don't worry, normal Monday service will now be resumed! This week I'm chatting to Bill Tai, an incredibly influential man who's early love of electronics and electronic engineering has led to him becoming one of the most successful Venture Capitalists in the business. Running alongside his career has been a passion for water sports and the ocean and Bill is often referred to as the Kiteboarding VC in the media. He started out sailing at grad school and then progressing to windsurfing in the 80's and discovered kiteboarding at the turn of the millennium. In recent years Bill has recognised the need to spearhead a drive to change the way we think about the ocean as our playground and his philanthropic endeavours into sustainability and reducing plastic waste are becoming the stuff of legend. We talk about all of this and more, it's an incredible episode and I hope you enjoy it...

This week I chat to one of Britains most talented watermen, Dom Moore is a surfer, kitesurfer, spear fisherman and big wave aficionado with some incredible tales to tell. I've got a feeling this won't be the last time we sit down with Dom for this series! I asked him about to major changes that have effected his life recently.The first was a trip to Hawaii where by chance he met with Archie Kalepa and trained for big waves with him. This led to a real moment of change in Dom's surfing career and equipped him with the knowledge to take on some of the biggest waves the UK has to offer. Change number to comes in the form of devastating news when Dom discovered he had skin cancer earlier this year. He's currently classed as a Stage 3 Malignant Melanoma, which is about as far down the cancer road as you would ever want to go. Thanks to some good learning and knowledge as well as the support from his oncologist Dom has managed to become a test case for a new immunotherapy drug. It's a fascinating story and a must listen episode for fans of this podcast! 

This week it's something a little different, I chat to Matt Crowhurst, AKA Mr Wakeboard UK. Matt's been a friend of mine for a while and he's an incredibly talented athlete as well as being an MC for many sports events around the globe. He now works closely with the Arena Cross brand and you can see him waxing lyrical at freestyle motocross shows all over the world. We chat about the early days of wakeboarding, Matt was one of the first wakeboarders in the UK and his breadth of knowledge on the history of the sport is incredible. We also chat about his career and how injuries plagued his progress, plus how he is getting his young family into the sport now with his sons Kit and Jasper. Matt is an incredibly charismatic guy and this really comes across in the podcast. I really enjoyed listening back to this one and I hope you enjoy hearing it too!

This week I'm talking to longtime kiteboarder and coach extraordinaire, Jo Wilson! I've known Jo since the very beginning of the sport, I first met her when I was judging the Student Windsurfing Championships in Rhosneigr, Wales. I watched as she got to grips with the sport and went on to podium finishes on the PKRA World Tour after winning two British Championship titles.These days Jo is a mum Finn, an energetic three year old boy who's been brought up on the beaches of the world by Jo and her husband Chris. For the last ten years Jo has run a successful coaching business, operating kitesurfing holidays in all the four corners of the globe. We talk about her early professional career, what led her to become a coach and how family life has changed things. We also chat about her new and more recent passion for cold water swimming...Enjoy!Jo Wilson Coaching

This week I'm chatting to James Boulding, Marketing Manager for Cabrinha. James has had an interesting path to his latest role with roots in climbing, maths and music. We discuss how he got into flying kites back in the day and his early career as a pro rider. James and his friends, Aaron Hadlow, Sam Light and Tom Court, redefined what it meant to be a pro rider when they embarked upon the groundbreaking Freeride Project and we talk about that too. James has been all over the world and his got lots of tales to tell, he's a humble guy who's immensely talented on the water, even though these days you'll more likely find him behind the lens rather than in front of it. If you listen in you'll also find out what James is looking for when it comes to pro riders too!I hope you enjoy this latest episode and as ever, feel free to share it with your friends on social media and down the pub!The Freeride Project

This week I head to the Kendal Mountain Festival in the Ford Transit Custom van to catch up with Gee Atherton, multiple UCI Downhill World Champion, winner of numerous UCI DH World Cups and Rampage competitor and Hardline winner 2018! Gee's one of the best riders on the planet although he's pretty humble with it.We talk about those early days riding bikes for fun and how his passion morphed into a career without him even really realising it. We discuss the crashes that go with the territory and the numerous injuries he's suffered. Gee tells us about the mental recovery that has to happen with the physical in order for him to want to throw himself down a mountain again and we also talk about the big two events, Rampage and Hardline.Gee's a fantastic guest and I think you'll enjoy this one, he's as passionate about racing bikes as he ever was and after a recent return to form he can't wait for next season to get underway!Enjoy!Gee's Ballsy CrashWinning Run At HardlineLa Bresse POV run 2018

This week I chat to Alex Jones, AKA Stig, an old friend of mine who suffered a horrific crash on his mountain bike. Hitting a jump he had done a hundred times before, he landed a touch rear wheel heavy, looped out, and landed  awkwardly on his head. He'd broken his neck and was, at this moment, lying in the woods paralysed.Fortunately for Alex one other person was hitting those jumps that day and they put a call into the emergency services. Alex missed out on a chopper ride, thanks to some thick fog, and was rushed to hospital. What happened next was a long period of rehab and heartache not just for Alex but also for his family and friends as they all came to terms with the situation.Incredibly, Alex has this positive outlook on life that sees him laugh in the face of adversity and challenge himself everyday. With the support of his family and friends he has managed to get back to what has to be considered a normal life. It's very different from his pre crash days, but he's happy. This story transcends all sports and is really just a tale for anyone keen to hear how a positive mental attitude can have such a profound effect on your outlook in life. Enjoy!

This week I chat to Mark Shinn, one of the originals of the kiteboarding competition scene and multiple World Champion. Mark's an interesting guy, and one of the few pro riders from the sports inception who is still heavily involved in the sport. He has a knack for testing and feeling the subtle differences in boards which led him into a career as a board builder and creator. His passion for developing and improving the equipment we use led him to set up his own company Shinn, which he runs with his wife, Malwina, although in Mark's words, she runs the company and he just plays with toys! We get quite in depth talking about board design in this one and it is interesting to hear how he comes up with ideas and the process he follows for creating new shapes.We also chat about hydrofoils and how this relatively new aspect of the sport is opening up opportunities for new spots and increasing our time on the water.Links:Shinn WorldShinn Model F Foil Video

This week I talk to Sky Solbach, shaper and tester for Duotone Kiteboarding. Sky has been instrumental in creating some of the most well known kitesurf boards on the planet, and the chances are you've ridden one of his sticks at some point. He's an interesting guy with a mild nature and a real passion for all things aquatic. Together with his wife Kristin they bought some land on Maui, built a house and went about creating a sustainable lifestyle with their own farm. At one point they had over 50 chickens and a herd of goats, they were selling eggs and making goats cheese and growing all their own veg!He's got some interesting stories and we talk about his early career, getting launched into a Dutch speaking school at the age of 9 and his passion for shaping watercraft. Links:Sky's CreationsWhat Does True Mean?

I was very privileged to chat to Pete Cabrinha earlier this year. Pete is one of Hawaii's most talented watermen, a pioneer of many of the ocean sports we all love. He had a glittering windsurfing career in the 80's and was part of the first group of riders to tow surf the monstrous waves at Jaws. Pete has a huge passion for trying new things on the water and more recently he's become totally addicted to foil surfing. He picked up kiteboarding before it was even really a sport and he's the driving force behind one of the world's biggest kiteboarding brands, Cabrinha. We also talk about his love of art and travelling and there are some great stories from the very early days of his windsurfing career. I learned a lot about Pete during this conversation and I hope you do too!Video Link: The Value Of NowhereCabrinha

My guest this week is Colleen Carroll, I sat down and talked to her at the Duotone meeting in Tarifa earlier this year. I've long been a fan of Colleen's riding but it's only in recent years I've spent a little more time with her and got to know her on a more personal level.What draws me to Colleen is her passion for the sport and her drive to get more women involved in kiteboarding. More than that though she is always extremely positive and easy to talk to. I think this shines through in this interview.She's won more trophies than I care to mention, and despite her modesty is one of the best kiteboarders on the planet. These days Colleen is still just as competitive as ever but is also dedicated to helping the younger girls on the Duotone team too.Colleen is exceedingly passionate about the environment and she has been doing a lot in her local community and further afield to promote ethical living and the reduction of single-use plastics. We talked about this and how small changes can have big effects and the need for us all to make a difference. It's a really interesting conversation and there is plenty in there that you can take away. In a male dominated sport she has taken opportunities whenever she can and left her comfort zone in order to get to where she is now. I really hope you enjoy this latest episode! Links:Colleen and Sensi's kite camps for ladies: www.sensiandcolleen.comWebsite: www.colleenjcarroll.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/colleenjcarrollFacebook: www.facebook.com/colleen.carroll.33Hood Jam: www.hoodjam.us

Philipp is the International Marketing and Communications Manager at Duotone Kiteboarding at Boards and More. If you kiteboard then you'll no doubt be aware of the North Kiteboarding and Duotone Kiteboarding situation. If you don't I've attached a link to this podcast to an article I wrote on the subject in one of the last issues of IKSURFMAG.It's not all about Duotone though, Philipp has arguably one of the most desirable jobs in kiteboarding. He has some incredibly interesting stories from his travels including one I hadn't heard before that actually blew me away a little bit. He has to choose his moments to go kitesurfing, and I think this podcast goes to show exactly how much hard work goes into a role like this. It might look like sunshine, holidays and margaritas from the outside, but the reality is quite different...Video Links:The Free Episode (Matchu and Airton history from Cape Verde)Duotone Article in IKSURFMAG

This week I chat to multiple world kiteboarding champion Steph Bridge. Alongside her husband Eric they have raised three young men, Olly, Guy and Tom who are all world-class athletes in their own right. At the same time she runs numerous businesses in Exmouth and between them all, they travel the world competing in numerous events.  I've known Steph for a while and it always amazes me how she keeps everything together with so much going on. We talk about the Olympics and kiteboarding, raising three incredibly active, competitive and talented boys and how family life is really important to her.  It's a short one this week, but that sums up Steph, to get 40 minutes of her time at all was a blessing, there is always so much going on with her life! 

My next guest is David Hastilow, you might have heard of him, but probably not. 20 years ago Dave learned to kitesurf, like so many of us he became hooked and fell in love with the sport. From those humble beginnings, he has gone on to become the division manager for Cabrinha, one of the biggest kiteboarding brands in the business, second only to Pete Cabrinha, the driving force of the brand.  Some of you listening to this might have just learned to kitesurf, just imagine where 20 years might take you. Dave's incredible journey was fuelled by an amazing ability to say YES. Even when it meant uprooting his wife and missing out on a house they had put a deposit on. Or when saying yes meant leaving the idyllic life in the Caribbean to return to England. Dave's a yes man and it's taken him a long way.  We chat about how he got into kiteboarding, his time as a kite tester, arguably one of the better jobs in the sport, dodging sharks and surf foiling, the new craze sweeping Maui There is plenty more in this one too, I really hope you enjoy it!

Welcome to Episode 01 of Intriguing Beings, a new podcast featuring interesting conversations with Rou Chater. My first guest is Nick Jacobsen, one of the world's most impressive kiteboarders. We talk about that first crane jump and how it changed his life to the more recent jump off the hotel in Dubai. Discover how seriously Nick takes safety when he does these tricks and how he deals with the fame it has brought him. We also talk about his relationship with Richard Branson, dealing with injuries and missing out on the King Of The Air. Ultimately though this conversation underlines how his out of the box approach to kiteboarding has changed him, and arguably the sport for the better... Video Links: Crane Jump Video Hotel Jump Video Jumping Off Richard Branson's House Fly Me To The Moon The Jump Full Movie Find Out More About Kiteboarding