Leo Koenig, the founder of WOO Sports, shares his journey of getting into the water sports world and developing the WOO device. The small blue box that attaches to a kiteboard and measures the height of jumps. Leo discusses the challenges of manufacturing and finding reliable suppliers and the importance of trust and good relationships in business.…

I sit down with Philip Schinnagel from CORE, one of the world's largest watersports brands based out of Fehmarn in Germany.

I sit down in a rare opportunity to have both Raphael Salles and his son Julien in the room together. Raphael started F-ONE at the end of the 90's and it's grown to become one of the biggest watersports businesses in the world. Julien was never that keen to work at the family business but when the opportunity arose to head up Manera, their wetsuit …

Back in January, I sat down with Kent Marinkovic, a long-time waterman and businessman who is currently the CEO of Cabrinha. One of the world's largest watersports companies, we talk about the old days, the new days and everything in between! Enjoy!

I sit down with Till Eberle to talk all things Duotone, the rebrand of Fanatic and how the industry has been during these difficult times... It's an episode that is well worth a listen!

I've wanted to get Hannah on the podcast for a while now, so this was a great opportunity to catch up. I've known Hannah since the start of her kiteboarding career, and to see her progress from a young talent to a global superstar of the sport has been impressive. Now she has cultivated a career through social media that most can only dream of. She…

Multiple world champion Titouan Galea sits down with me to chat about where he came from and how he embraced the sport of wing foiling so quickly. His kite-foil skills were an easy transfer, and his career has been nothing short of exceptional so far. Recently he moved to Cabrinha, and he loves the new gear and the new team!…

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…

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, ins…

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 launch…

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…

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 neve…

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 …

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…

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 …

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 anyon…

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 …

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 f…

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…

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 cla…

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 Proje…

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 t…

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…

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 h…

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…

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 restarte…

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 yea…

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 float…

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 y…

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 sk…

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 ca…

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 …

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 a…

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 Bri…

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 …

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 ridi…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 th…

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…

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…

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…

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 P…

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…