Exclusive ITW with Aaron Hadlow on Hanglos
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22 November 2009
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A few months ago, we had the opportunity to organise an interview with 5 times PKRA World Champion, and probably the most famous kitesurfer on earth Aaron Hadlow. At such a young age, he has had the chance to travel around the world many times and create more tricks than most of us will only ever dream to land. As you read this interview Aaron Hadlow is in New Caledonia trying to win his 6th World Champion title!
Aaron is sponsored by Flexifoil, Red Bull, Chiemsee and LCB.
A few people have been confused by the barman speech in Calibrate when he says "You need nicotine, nicotine is good for you†what is it all about?
To be honest I don't know, the editing is not down to me, of course I get to check through the the movie and give it the all clear before it is released but I was so exited to show it to the world that I didn't notice it at first.
Credit photo:Craig Kolesky / San Disk
We constantly see you throwing new tricks even when we thought that it would not be possible anymore! If you could trade in one trick you can do for a trick you can't do, what would it be?
In Freestyle I have never seen another trick that I can't do one way or another, and if there was a trick that I couldn't do I would just practice it until I can.
There are many tricks that I wouldn't mind trading, now days there are a lot of tricks I just never do, like the normal Mobe with the kite high, I will always pick the wake style low Mobe.
As for tricks that I would like to do they would have to stem from Wakeboarding or Cable, but most involve kickers.
What do you think of your fellow Flexifoil team rider Forest Bakker? How long before he can be next to you on a competition podium?
It is hard to say with young kids coming up through the ranks, Forrest is a talented young man but the level the top guys have at the moment is super high.
When I was young I was able to use my technical ability to land the latest tricks, I progressed quick but didn't have too far to catch up once the handle passes came along, then I grew stronger and produced more power as I got older. Forrest is smart enough to catch up quick but I think he needs a few years to gain a bit more strength and style which only comes over time.
With his determination and support from his parents I don't think it will be too long.
What would be you 5 tips/advice to become real strong ? ( ie: to be real good for an "alredy good" rider" / or just to really improve an average level. don't tell us "buy progression DVD!! lol! ) we mean, tips about the way we can motivate to charge more, to deal with the big face plants, or ways to ride better in general...
I only have fun with my riding, I don't ride as often as people might think, of course I have the option to kite almost every day but that is why I can pick the days I feel like riding.
A lot about riding is strength and motivation, those are the days I excel.
I can't really say if you do 'this or that' you will be better because it changes for each person but for me keeping motivated is key (but also hard).
You have been doing more and more cable wakeboarding over the last few of years whilst also pushing your style towards more wakeboarding based tricks. Does Nick Davies influence you personally when working on new tricks? Have you tried to convince him to get a go at kiting?
Yeah, a lot, this kid is insane in his sport, not only technically but his style too, although it is only recently his riding has motivated me.
They are two very different sports due to board design and a constant pull of the cable but the basics can be adapted into kiting.
Wakeboarding has influenced me a lot in the last couple of years but I only ride the Cable for fun, I'm just lucky that it helps and progresses my kiting too.
I do not know Nick very well but the times I have met him I have mentioned I would alway help him out if he would like to give kiteboarding a go, someone like him could bring a new dimension to our sport.
Does switching from boots to straps have any drawbacks in your riding?
No, not that way around, with boot you have to be much more precise, you can launch into and land trick full speed with out holding back but the rotation in between take more effort and it is slower (but smoother).
Going back to straps does make the tricks easier for me but I also find myself crashing a lot too, I end up coming in to land way to hot, I can't always take it.
Credit photo:Craig Kolesky / San Disk
Some riders identifying themselves as wakestyler and pretending to know it all because they wear bindings and supposedly ride with a kite low (never seen any of them riding legit somehow) say that riding straps is gay! What would you say to those people considering that you are the five time world champion and that you are probably also one of the best binding rider too?
I only ride binding in the right conditions because that is the only time I enjoy them. When the water is flat and wind is smooth I will probably pick the boots just because it is a bit different and motivates me to get on the water, plus it is stylish and good for our sport.
Maybe it works for some people but with my set up I really don't think boot are the way forward in chop or gusty winds, I would rather use straps.
I can see the point of view of people who think straps are 'gay' but at the end of the day it is about feeling and kiteboarding is kiteboarding and nothing else.
I agree that boots bring more style if done right and on sliders there is no other option but at the same time you need to do it right, I have seen many riders and clips online with people in boots that also makes our sport look 'gay', on the other hand I have seen some sick tricks laid down in straps.
Ruben and I have both thrown some mega loops in boots but is not comfortable, it is actually stupidly dangerous so that is one side of the sport we enjoy and will continue to push in straps.
I have seen Ruben in Cape Town in 50+knots go ridiculously huge pull a loop and unhook and pass the bar, I would like to see someone call him gay to his face after a session like that cause to me that holds more 'cred' than a powered S-bend in boots.
Basically I think that there is a time and place for both and that is just how our sport is.
What about wakeskating?
Wakeskating really is not my thing, I think there is some good stuff to be done and when I see Wake movies of some of the top guys I am pretty amazed at what is possible.
But for me, I can't deal with it, I crash enough even when I am attached to my board. Now and again I will give it a go and if other people are enjoying it, I say go ahead, but I will stick with my own thing for now.
There was this video of you kitesurfing strapless in Cabo Verde a few years ago. At the time people where not even in this whole craze about strapless yet! We also saw a short clip on your website last winter of you surfing in South Africa. Are you planning to push the level there or do you simply do not have enough time for it?
At the right time I enjoy kiteSurfing but I am pretty set on un-hooked and strapless as this is the only way that posses a challenge to me. (except big tow in size wave but that is also a different story in surfing too). Basically I rarely get the right conditions traveling to the spots that I do and this side of the sport has not yet motivated me enough to travel to a spot solely for perfect barreling waves, also I haven't had much time on my hands, like you mentioned, I simply have not had the time for it.
If I do it, I have to do it properly, so strapless, un-hooked and trying airs like the young guns in surfing, that is the only progressing in this side of the sport in my eyes.
My Dad can kill it un-hooked and strapless so surely that means anyone can go up and down a wave hooked-in and in straps. Airs are holding him back though, so sick bottom and top turns incorporated with air 360's and tweaked grabs is where I see the future of this.
You always pull new tricks. Do you visualise them and then try to dial them or do you just get going whilst airborne and build them from there?
Visualization is a big part of my riding, to know exactly how a trick works and how it should feel in your head is pretty key when bringing a new trick to the water. Of course half the time it is not exactly how you think it but then you have something to build from and change whilst out on the water. Try it enough different ways and you will find something that works.
Does a part of you want to be the Kelly Slater or Robby Naish of the kitesurfing world?
Yeah, for sure, these guys are the biggest names in there sports and that is something I would like to grow into for Kiteboarding, I see that I have the opportunity to be that person so I will take that chance and try to do it.
My life is fully involved with Kiteboarding so I will put all my energy into this whilst it lasts and hopefully make something out of it for my future.
Whether I do this by competing for the next years or do something different, I have no idea, but I'm sure I will be well involved with the sport in the future one way or another.
Is competing on the PKRA still the same as your beginning?
No, not at all, I still get the same feeling from winning events, that I think, is something that will never change but being on tour in general is pretty different.
Obviously when I first started I was super young and I was lucky to have my Parents who taught me a lot about the life I live now, plus helped me in every way to get me living the life I lead.
Competing back then was different, the motivation was incredible, I would be on the water every minute I could enjoying it all cause I had so much to learn and when that paid off it was such a good feeling.
Then later on as grew up and toured on my own I had a good set of guys around me, a little older but helped me grow up quick and have so much fun, going to each event was the best part of what I was doing. Now days most of those guys have moved on to different things, there is a totally different crew on tour and the atmosphere is not the same, there are still a good bunch of guys but I feel most have a different mentality. The tour is getting a lot more professional, which is a good thing, but when it is time to celebrate it is not the same.
I go to events now and get my enjoyment out of winning and having a laugh with a couple of friend that might come along for the crack.
Basically I have one of the best starts of my season this year but I'm enjoying myself more outside of PKRA.
Do you think that you could win a PKRA event riding boots when other riders are on straps?
I have thought and talked about this a lot but the risk is pretty high, I always think that if I lost it would be so annoying knowing that I would probably would have won on straps.
The main problem it that the conditions do not really allow it, everywhere we go is not set up for boots.
When the conditions are right I might be tempted. This year New Cal is at the end of the season, if I can wrap up the championship by then you might see me in boots for the last event. I like the sound of the challenge.
What do you think of events like the Triple S?
I think the Triple- S is one of the best events around at the moment, the guys and the atmosphere there is great, I think I like it so much because it is more like the old days, everyone is there to have fun, push the sport and best of all almost everyone 'gets it' they all have the same vision.
I understand that all events can not be like this, you can not have a world champion based on that format, it is too casual but for a way to push the sport it is perfect.
In the SSS everyone rides when they like, some will chill and watch whilst some ride, sometimes everyone hits the water to show there stuff.
Its good because, for instance, Ruben will go in front of me and try and gap 3, I will want to do it better and if I get that he will try a 5 or something. You end up with the best video footage and sickest photos. Everyone is stoked to have a beer and chill, talk and watch the footage at the end of the day.
Who did finally won the Mortal Combat you were mint to battle against you buddy Ruben ? (Did it ever happen?) Do you think that this kind of events has a potential in the future as in boxing?
It was a bit last minute and funny how it came around but again it is just another way to promote the sport with a fun different format. This time we were in Tarifa so we thought we would have fun throwing down some huge MegaLoops in the Levante wind.
Unfortunately there was no wind to do it but still it was a fun little event with a small beach party and everybody happy to be around chilling and talking about there riding.
I think it has potential, the boxing type 'battle' is a good way to promote it and the event is a good way to get the public involved as they are the ones that vote for the winner, neither me nor Ruben care too much who wins in an event like this, we are there to have fun and promote the sport.
Do you think that as the wakestyle movement develop, a tour for binding only shall be organised?
It is possible, if it gets bigger there is no reason why not, I think if a tour is developed where sliders and kickers are in the competition area then this will also push more riders to ride boots and give more motivation for riders to switch to that tour. If it happens it need to be in the right place though, Coche, New Cal, Egypt, Brazil etc, all places where obstacles can be set up properly and people can have good flat water for the wakestyle tricks.
A lot of pro riders competing on the PKRA have said over years that the KPWT was the world tour of the Frenchies and European only and that the level is not as high as on the PKRA tour. However we have seen that Gisela Pulido won the PKRA tour as soon as she started competing on that tour or that rider like Sebastien Garat or Tom Herbert performed really well almost from day 1. Do you believe that the KPWT has a pool of good riders?
I think there are a few good riders on the other tour but still the top riders in my eyes are on the PKRA. Things are changing a lot at the moment so who knows what will happen in the future but originally I chose the PKRA as my main tour because I wanted to test myself up against the best guys in the world, at the time Shinn, Vari, Andre, Jamie etc.
In the beginning days I did do a few KPWT's I went along to a lot of different events to see where I wanted to go, I choose PKRA and stayed there as I wanted to be the best of the best.
There is a lot of things changing now with different organizations and I don't know where it will end up, I have started the PKRA this season and will finish on it too. In the future who knows.
As for riders I don't think it matters where they come from, Tom Herbert started on the KPWT but has proved him self as one of the best riders in the world well worthy of a podium on the PKRA because he has had the chance to ride along side some of the best guys in the world.
Is there a place where you would like to go for a kiting trip?
Yeah, there are still a lot of place that I would like to go and see, the best thing about my life is traveling the world and seeing new places and meeting new people.
For a kiting trip for good conditions, I am not sure where I would like to go, but as a place in the world where I would like to see and ride I would like to check out Japan, New Zealand, Philippines for cable and Indo for waves kiting/surfing i would not be bothered, one day I will also hit the cables in Florida.
What is the best condition for you to ride in? Coche on a 11m or Lancing/Goring on a 7m popping some megaloops?
Home is like holidays for me, I am not bothered if I ride or not, I am not there long enough, if I ride lit on a 7 with my mate back home I am stoke and have so much fun.
But if I am in Coche with the same guys I would rather be there, I love flat water and conditions there, I also like the atmosphere and people so I would pick that for sure. (but not for too long)
 
With all the trips you have been doing over the years, you must have a gold executive club card with BA. As a frequent flyer, do you have any tips for fellow kiters who only travel once in a while (kiting equipment extra cost…)? Is there a company that you would recommend (for being kiter friendly)?
All airlines are hard to deal with these days, BA won't even take surfboards any more. I don't really have stacks of gold membership cards cause I usually use different airlines every trip. I would love to fly BA business everywhere I go but I really can't afford that, I generally get the cheapest flight possible with the least hassle (stop overs etc) and just deal with it, I usually think there are better ways to spend my money. I would rather travel economy for 8 hours and stay in a sweet hotel for a week than the other way around.
Does it work with girls to say "Hi, my name is Aaron and I'm a pro kiteboarder, the best of them, 5 times world champ"?
Nahh, I never even mention it, I hate people like that, when they find out I guess it helps a bit but I'm myself and I think I would be the same whether I'm 15x world champ or work in Tescos.
Have you already been recognised by people whilst not kitesurfing/at an event? What was the most random place?
Nahh, Kitesurfing is still small, I can't walk down my local high street and be recognized, I do think a lot more people know of me in the UK now but only because I was on the cover of the RedBulletin, still no one has come up to me other than on the beach.
Sometimes it is pretty random, like I went to Lagos recently, I just took off with my mate who went to work and kite out there for the summer, no one new I was coming but when I rocked up on the beach a few people still recognized me.
What do you do beside kiteboarding and cable?
Not that much really, I end up spending a lot of time behind my computer and on the internet, editing, interviews, etc, also traveling takes a lot of more time than people think.
Other than I enjoy kicking a football around and doing normal stuff away from the beach, chilling with friends and family, PS, TV, I like Snowboarding. Life's hectic, doing nothing is sometimes fun.
To follow Aaron Hadlow visit www.flexifoil.com or www.aaronha
Aaron is sponsored by Flexifoil, Red Bull, Chiemsee and LCB.
A few people have been confused by the barman speech in Calibrate when he says "You need nicotine, nicotine is good for you†what is it all about?
To be honest I don't know, the editing is not down to me, of course I get to check through the the movie and give it the all clear before it is released but I was so exited to show it to the world that I didn't notice it at first.
Credit photo:Craig Kolesky / San Disk
We constantly see you throwing new tricks even when we thought that it would not be possible anymore! If you could trade in one trick you can do for a trick you can't do, what would it be?
In Freestyle I have never seen another trick that I can't do one way or another, and if there was a trick that I couldn't do I would just practice it until I can.
There are many tricks that I wouldn't mind trading, now days there are a lot of tricks I just never do, like the normal Mobe with the kite high, I will always pick the wake style low Mobe.
As for tricks that I would like to do they would have to stem from Wakeboarding or Cable, but most involve kickers.
What do you think of your fellow Flexifoil team rider Forest Bakker? How long before he can be next to you on a competition podium?
It is hard to say with young kids coming up through the ranks, Forrest is a talented young man but the level the top guys have at the moment is super high.
When I was young I was able to use my technical ability to land the latest tricks, I progressed quick but didn't have too far to catch up once the handle passes came along, then I grew stronger and produced more power as I got older. Forrest is smart enough to catch up quick but I think he needs a few years to gain a bit more strength and style which only comes over time.
With his determination and support from his parents I don't think it will be too long.
What would be you 5 tips/advice to become real strong ? ( ie: to be real good for an "alredy good" rider" / or just to really improve an average level. don't tell us "buy progression DVD!! lol! ) we mean, tips about the way we can motivate to charge more, to deal with the big face plants, or ways to ride better in general...
I only have fun with my riding, I don't ride as often as people might think, of course I have the option to kite almost every day but that is why I can pick the days I feel like riding.
A lot about riding is strength and motivation, those are the days I excel.
I can't really say if you do 'this or that' you will be better because it changes for each person but for me keeping motivated is key (but also hard).
You have been doing more and more cable wakeboarding over the last few of years whilst also pushing your style towards more wakeboarding based tricks. Does Nick Davies influence you personally when working on new tricks? Have you tried to convince him to get a go at kiting?
Yeah, a lot, this kid is insane in his sport, not only technically but his style too, although it is only recently his riding has motivated me.
They are two very different sports due to board design and a constant pull of the cable but the basics can be adapted into kiting.
Wakeboarding has influenced me a lot in the last couple of years but I only ride the Cable for fun, I'm just lucky that it helps and progresses my kiting too.
I do not know Nick very well but the times I have met him I have mentioned I would alway help him out if he would like to give kiteboarding a go, someone like him could bring a new dimension to our sport.
Does switching from boots to straps have any drawbacks in your riding?
No, not that way around, with boot you have to be much more precise, you can launch into and land trick full speed with out holding back but the rotation in between take more effort and it is slower (but smoother).
Going back to straps does make the tricks easier for me but I also find myself crashing a lot too, I end up coming in to land way to hot, I can't always take it.
Credit photo:Craig Kolesky / San Disk
Some riders identifying themselves as wakestyler and pretending to know it all because they wear bindings and supposedly ride with a kite low (never seen any of them riding legit somehow) say that riding straps is gay! What would you say to those people considering that you are the five time world champion and that you are probably also one of the best binding rider too?
I only ride binding in the right conditions because that is the only time I enjoy them. When the water is flat and wind is smooth I will probably pick the boots just because it is a bit different and motivates me to get on the water, plus it is stylish and good for our sport.
Maybe it works for some people but with my set up I really don't think boot are the way forward in chop or gusty winds, I would rather use straps.
I can see the point of view of people who think straps are 'gay' but at the end of the day it is about feeling and kiteboarding is kiteboarding and nothing else.
I agree that boots bring more style if done right and on sliders there is no other option but at the same time you need to do it right, I have seen many riders and clips online with people in boots that also makes our sport look 'gay', on the other hand I have seen some sick tricks laid down in straps.
Ruben and I have both thrown some mega loops in boots but is not comfortable, it is actually stupidly dangerous so that is one side of the sport we enjoy and will continue to push in straps.
I have seen Ruben in Cape Town in 50+knots go ridiculously huge pull a loop and unhook and pass the bar, I would like to see someone call him gay to his face after a session like that cause to me that holds more 'cred' than a powered S-bend in boots.
Basically I think that there is a time and place for both and that is just how our sport is.
What about wakeskating?
Wakeskating really is not my thing, I think there is some good stuff to be done and when I see Wake movies of some of the top guys I am pretty amazed at what is possible.
But for me, I can't deal with it, I crash enough even when I am attached to my board. Now and again I will give it a go and if other people are enjoying it, I say go ahead, but I will stick with my own thing for now.
There was this video of you kitesurfing strapless in Cabo Verde a few years ago. At the time people where not even in this whole craze about strapless yet! We also saw a short clip on your website last winter of you surfing in South Africa. Are you planning to push the level there or do you simply do not have enough time for it?
At the right time I enjoy kiteSurfing but I am pretty set on un-hooked and strapless as this is the only way that posses a challenge to me. (except big tow in size wave but that is also a different story in surfing too). Basically I rarely get the right conditions traveling to the spots that I do and this side of the sport has not yet motivated me enough to travel to a spot solely for perfect barreling waves, also I haven't had much time on my hands, like you mentioned, I simply have not had the time for it.
If I do it, I have to do it properly, so strapless, un-hooked and trying airs like the young guns in surfing, that is the only progressing in this side of the sport in my eyes.
My Dad can kill it un-hooked and strapless so surely that means anyone can go up and down a wave hooked-in and in straps. Airs are holding him back though, so sick bottom and top turns incorporated with air 360's and tweaked grabs is where I see the future of this.
You always pull new tricks. Do you visualise them and then try to dial them or do you just get going whilst airborne and build them from there?
Visualization is a big part of my riding, to know exactly how a trick works and how it should feel in your head is pretty key when bringing a new trick to the water. Of course half the time it is not exactly how you think it but then you have something to build from and change whilst out on the water. Try it enough different ways and you will find something that works.
Does a part of you want to be the Kelly Slater or Robby Naish of the kitesurfing world?
Yeah, for sure, these guys are the biggest names in there sports and that is something I would like to grow into for Kiteboarding, I see that I have the opportunity to be that person so I will take that chance and try to do it.
My life is fully involved with Kiteboarding so I will put all my energy into this whilst it lasts and hopefully make something out of it for my future.
Whether I do this by competing for the next years or do something different, I have no idea, but I'm sure I will be well involved with the sport in the future one way or another.
Is competing on the PKRA still the same as your beginning?
No, not at all, I still get the same feeling from winning events, that I think, is something that will never change but being on tour in general is pretty different.
Obviously when I first started I was super young and I was lucky to have my Parents who taught me a lot about the life I live now, plus helped me in every way to get me living the life I lead.
Competing back then was different, the motivation was incredible, I would be on the water every minute I could enjoying it all cause I had so much to learn and when that paid off it was such a good feeling.
Then later on as grew up and toured on my own I had a good set of guys around me, a little older but helped me grow up quick and have so much fun, going to each event was the best part of what I was doing. Now days most of those guys have moved on to different things, there is a totally different crew on tour and the atmosphere is not the same, there are still a good bunch of guys but I feel most have a different mentality. The tour is getting a lot more professional, which is a good thing, but when it is time to celebrate it is not the same.
I go to events now and get my enjoyment out of winning and having a laugh with a couple of friend that might come along for the crack.
Basically I have one of the best starts of my season this year but I'm enjoying myself more outside of PKRA.
Do you think that you could win a PKRA event riding boots when other riders are on straps?
I have thought and talked about this a lot but the risk is pretty high, I always think that if I lost it would be so annoying knowing that I would probably would have won on straps.
The main problem it that the conditions do not really allow it, everywhere we go is not set up for boots.
When the conditions are right I might be tempted. This year New Cal is at the end of the season, if I can wrap up the championship by then you might see me in boots for the last event. I like the sound of the challenge.
What do you think of events like the Triple S?
I think the Triple- S is one of the best events around at the moment, the guys and the atmosphere there is great, I think I like it so much because it is more like the old days, everyone is there to have fun, push the sport and best of all almost everyone 'gets it' they all have the same vision.
I understand that all events can not be like this, you can not have a world champion based on that format, it is too casual but for a way to push the sport it is perfect.
In the SSS everyone rides when they like, some will chill and watch whilst some ride, sometimes everyone hits the water to show there stuff.
Its good because, for instance, Ruben will go in front of me and try and gap 3, I will want to do it better and if I get that he will try a 5 or something. You end up with the best video footage and sickest photos. Everyone is stoked to have a beer and chill, talk and watch the footage at the end of the day.
Who did finally won the Mortal Combat you were mint to battle against you buddy Ruben ? (Did it ever happen?) Do you think that this kind of events has a potential in the future as in boxing?
It was a bit last minute and funny how it came around but again it is just another way to promote the sport with a fun different format. This time we were in Tarifa so we thought we would have fun throwing down some huge MegaLoops in the Levante wind.
Unfortunately there was no wind to do it but still it was a fun little event with a small beach party and everybody happy to be around chilling and talking about there riding.
I think it has potential, the boxing type 'battle' is a good way to promote it and the event is a good way to get the public involved as they are the ones that vote for the winner, neither me nor Ruben care too much who wins in an event like this, we are there to have fun and promote the sport.
Do you think that as the wakestyle movement develop, a tour for binding only shall be organised?
It is possible, if it gets bigger there is no reason why not, I think if a tour is developed where sliders and kickers are in the competition area then this will also push more riders to ride boots and give more motivation for riders to switch to that tour. If it happens it need to be in the right place though, Coche, New Cal, Egypt, Brazil etc, all places where obstacles can be set up properly and people can have good flat water for the wakestyle tricks.
A lot of pro riders competing on the PKRA have said over years that the KPWT was the world tour of the Frenchies and European only and that the level is not as high as on the PKRA tour. However we have seen that Gisela Pulido won the PKRA tour as soon as she started competing on that tour or that rider like Sebastien Garat or Tom Herbert performed really well almost from day 1. Do you believe that the KPWT has a pool of good riders?
I think there are a few good riders on the other tour but still the top riders in my eyes are on the PKRA. Things are changing a lot at the moment so who knows what will happen in the future but originally I chose the PKRA as my main tour because I wanted to test myself up against the best guys in the world, at the time Shinn, Vari, Andre, Jamie etc.
In the beginning days I did do a few KPWT's I went along to a lot of different events to see where I wanted to go, I choose PKRA and stayed there as I wanted to be the best of the best.
There is a lot of things changing now with different organizations and I don't know where it will end up, I have started the PKRA this season and will finish on it too. In the future who knows.
As for riders I don't think it matters where they come from, Tom Herbert started on the KPWT but has proved him self as one of the best riders in the world well worthy of a podium on the PKRA because he has had the chance to ride along side some of the best guys in the world.
Is there a place where you would like to go for a kiting trip?
Yeah, there are still a lot of place that I would like to go and see, the best thing about my life is traveling the world and seeing new places and meeting new people.
For a kiting trip for good conditions, I am not sure where I would like to go, but as a place in the world where I would like to see and ride I would like to check out Japan, New Zealand, Philippines for cable and Indo for waves kiting/surfing i would not be bothered, one day I will also hit the cables in Florida.
What is the best condition for you to ride in? Coche on a 11m or Lancing/Goring on a 7m popping some megaloops?
Home is like holidays for me, I am not bothered if I ride or not, I am not there long enough, if I ride lit on a 7 with my mate back home I am stoke and have so much fun.
But if I am in Coche with the same guys I would rather be there, I love flat water and conditions there, I also like the atmosphere and people so I would pick that for sure. (but not for too long)
 
With all the trips you have been doing over the years, you must have a gold executive club card with BA. As a frequent flyer, do you have any tips for fellow kiters who only travel once in a while (kiting equipment extra cost…)? Is there a company that you would recommend (for being kiter friendly)?
All airlines are hard to deal with these days, BA won't even take surfboards any more. I don't really have stacks of gold membership cards cause I usually use different airlines every trip. I would love to fly BA business everywhere I go but I really can't afford that, I generally get the cheapest flight possible with the least hassle (stop overs etc) and just deal with it, I usually think there are better ways to spend my money. I would rather travel economy for 8 hours and stay in a sweet hotel for a week than the other way around.
Does it work with girls to say "Hi, my name is Aaron and I'm a pro kiteboarder, the best of them, 5 times world champ"?
Nahh, I never even mention it, I hate people like that, when they find out I guess it helps a bit but I'm myself and I think I would be the same whether I'm 15x world champ or work in Tescos.
Have you already been recognised by people whilst not kitesurfing/at an event? What was the most random place?
Nahh, Kitesurfing is still small, I can't walk down my local high street and be recognized, I do think a lot more people know of me in the UK now but only because I was on the cover of the RedBulletin, still no one has come up to me other than on the beach.
Sometimes it is pretty random, like I went to Lagos recently, I just took off with my mate who went to work and kite out there for the summer, no one new I was coming but when I rocked up on the beach a few people still recognized me.
What do you do beside kiteboarding and cable?
Not that much really, I end up spending a lot of time behind my computer and on the internet, editing, interviews, etc, also traveling takes a lot of more time than people think.
Other than I enjoy kicking a football around and doing normal stuff away from the beach, chilling with friends and family, PS, TV, I like Snowboarding. Life's hectic, doing nothing is sometimes fun.
To follow Aaron Hadlow visit www.flexifoil.com or www.aaronha
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