Ian Alldredge, one of most stylished strapless waveriders kindly agreed to do an interview with "Hanglos" and “Shape and Ride”…

Profile :

Name : Ian Alldredge
Age : 20
Nationality : American, White boy
Job: I work part time at Tyco Electronics/Kilovac and I am in school full time.
Home spot : Anywhere along the West Coast of California
Best rankings : Never Competed
Sponsors / partners: Surftech, Clout ride shop, Naish, ProLite, H2O Audio, Anon eyewear, and Mom and Dad.
Other sports: Surfing
Things you like: Sleep, Food, Fishing, Wind, Waves, Diving, Music, Cars, Traveling…
Things you hate: Light wind and no surf.



Hello Ian, thanks for answering our questions…

Where did you grow up, and how did you start kiteboarding?

I was born in Santa Barbara, California. I was lucky to be raised here because i spent most of my childhood at the beach. My father and I were out and about on a flat Summer day and saw some people kitesurfing down at our local beach, we knew we were missing out on something. We got some lessions the next day and have been hooked on it every day so far.

Why opting for strapless surfing style?

To me its all préférence, I think strapless is really fun and can be difficult at times. I like to surf a lot with my friends in the mornings before the wind picks up so basically I ride the same boards that I surf on. Adding inserts for straps add a lot of weight and most of the time they are in the wrong place on the board. Riding strapless gives you an unbelievable amount of freedom to where your feet are allowed to be placed. When I surf, I am never always in one spot on the board. I just like strapless because it is what i am used to and because it is a lot like surfing.

Can you speak about your homespot, place where you live... How’s it like living in there?

I guess I would consider Cstreet my home spot, I havent kitesurfed there for a while because it hasnt been windy but it can get really fun. Its about a half an hour drive from my house. I have a lot of good friends that are always there including my father. It is really nice living in Santa Barbara because if there is not any wind at Cstreet I can head up the coast to get wind. There is always wind somewhere along the coast.


small video of his home spot


What about the surfing scene in Calfornia ? Surfing’s a life style for many peole, how does kiteboarding develop in this very strong surfing environment?

California has always had a large population of everyday surfers but now days it seems as if everyone surfs. I would say in the year 2000 that 40% of Californians surfed, and now moving into 2010 i would say that 50% surf. More and more people are starting to surf. On the other hand Kitesurfing is still that unknown sport, I think that a lot more of people would start learning if it was not as expensive. A lot of surfers my age would say that its stupid, and just used that for an excuse because they dont want to take the time to learn. Another reason that keeps people away is the price of everything, most people would rather buy a couple surfboards rather than take the time to learn how to kitesurf. In the local kitesurfing comunity everyone knows everybody, its a really small group, but i can honestly say that the population of kitesurfers is growing.

Can you speak about your favourite spots, riding conditions ? What type of wave do you get there / wind direction / T° ?

The best wind for the California coast is any direction that has West in it. We pick up South Swell and West swell. There are a ton of beach breaks and a lot of fun point breaks. The waves can get very big in the winter, but it dies out in the Summer to small south swell. This winter got big up the coast, 20 feet and even bigger at some spots.

What other boardsports do you practise, and how does it influence your riding ?

My surfing helps influence my kitesurfing, and my kitesurfing helps me progress with my surfing. Its a great combination.

Among surfers, who would you give props to ? Among kiteboaders ? In other sports ?

In the Surfing industry I have always loved the way Mick Fanning surfs for his powerful style and ability to surf so fast. On the other hand also Dane Reynolds for his technical tricks and stylish airs and turns. They are my favorite surfers and will always be the guys I look up to. I watch their movies over and over.
In the kiteboarding industry I look up to my Dad, Wes Metweyew and Josh Mulcoy and anyone who is out having a good time. I just recently saw a movie of Guilly which was pretty cool and gave me another perspective on wave riding, he is very fast as well.

Well, let’s tech’ out a little bit now…

People often say : some kiteboarders look so stylish and natural surfing with kites now. Il looks so close to paddle surfing : why don’t they just paddle surf ? What would you answer this ?

Kitesurfing is surfing without the waiting around sitting on the board and your kite is your personal jetski that takes you where ever you want it to.

Do you sometimes use straps ? Lots of shapers work hard to build kiteboarding surfboards, why choosing to ride paddle surfing boards ?

When I surf my feet are all over the deck of the board, they are never in the same place. On a wave, you might need to make a section resulting in moving a bit farther forward on the board. Same thing with kitesurfing. With straps, you done get this freedom, your feet are always fixed to one spot on the board at all times. I use straps every once in a while to switch things up a bit and get some air and practice technical tricks in the waves. Its fun to switch it up every once in a while so you dont get board with anything.

What sort of boards do you like riding ? Can you describe your quiver ? ( boards, kites, sizes and line lenght, etc… )

Most of the time I am on a 9 or 6 meter kite. If I can not go out on my 9m it’s too light to kite. Right now I am riding Cults and the Helix, and I hear the the new Naish kites are going to be really good. So I am excited to try them out.
I have tried a bunch of boards from surftech, they are helping me out a lot with boards. Right now my quiver consists of mostly tuflites but i have a few TL2s along with a Naish production board that works great as well.

5 ‘10’’ T patterson, squash tail
5’10’’ Stretch Ratboy, squash tail
5’11’’ Strech F4, Quad fin
6’0’’ Rusty Josh Kerr, Squash tail TL2
6’0’’ Channel Islands K board, diamond tail
6’1’’ Channel Islands K board, pintail
6’1’’ Naish kiteboard pintail.





What are you looking for in a kite for surfing ?

Basically a kite that fully depowers when i need it to, turns fast, is stable and has a lot of wind range.
Can you show us your favourite board and speak about her ?
Yes, will send picture with next email.
Are you more a quad, or trifin surfer, or you just enjoy any configuration ? Have you tried boards like bonzers or anything original ?
I like to try everything, there are so many boards that work well. I have not tried a bonzer but that would be fun ! I always like to get my feet on new boards and just try a lot of new stuff out. So far I havent found a board that doesnt work well for kitesurfing. There are conditions for every type of board, from soft tops to an everyday shortboard everything works. Give me an ironing board and i’ll make it work !
Have you tried stuff like « sky hooks » on your boards ?
Never heard of a sky hook. Is it like a handle of some sort ? I am strictly on wax because i like to surf on the same boards i kite on and i dont like to add any more weight to my boards.

Does any surfboard do under such talented feet as yours, or is there anything special your’e looking for to really perform and enjoy radical riding ?

A board that is too heavy will not turn quick. Even tough it will cut through the chop well it will not perform in the surf. Any board that works for surfing will work for me for kiting.

RIDING :

What do you like most in waveriding ? Do you ride exclusively with a surfboard ? ( on flat for example )

Waveriding is great because its just like surfing but no waiting around. Its like doing tow ats with a jet ski. Everything about it is great.
Every now and then i will see a spraytray laying on the beach and take it out for a joy ride, its always fun to go big and do some spins and maybe some handle passes and land on my face. I learned how to kiteboard on a wakeboard and will always have the stoke to take one out. But 95% of the time I ride an everyday surfboard without straps.

What are the limits of your riding style ( i.e. no strap ) ?

There are no limits, if there were limits i wouldnt be doing it ! Thats what i like about this sport.

In your vidéos, we sometimes wonder how your feet stay « glued » to the board ! Do you have any tip on that ?

Booties help a little bit, but just get some good wax and keep your boards clean. I guess its just a feel thing, and getting comfortable with your board and know how it is going to perform on turns and airs.

Jumping strapless can be dodgy and technical. Any tips on how to do big airs ?

Just kick your board into the wind and lean forward. Its a lot easier when the wind is really on shore. If you want your board to last over a weekend, i would stay away from this stuff.
In what conditions do you ride un-hooked ? do you think it always gives more style in wave-riding?
I have rode unhooked in the past, but I dont see the point. If i wanted to unhook i would just go tow surfing or do tow ats in perfect waves when it wasnt blown out and windy. I use the kites power and depower a lot when I am on a wave. A lot of people say that you cant pivit your hips when your hooked in, which is a lie. I used the kite to lean on and to keep balance, when you unhook you loose the abilty to depower your kite, and you get thrown forward and pass up sections you could be slashing. But Ben, felix, tophat, brian lake and reo do a pretty good job.

Is there a trick you’re dreaming of dialling ?

Any air, turn, blow tail, carve or barrel you see Mick Fanning and Dane do. I am always working on new things, I like doing big 360 air reverses and big blow tails and powerful turns. I like the feeling of power.
To your mind, how can surfing with kites evolve in the future ? ( in terms of style, tricks , gear… )

What advice would you give to a « newbie » waverider ?
What are your dream spots, and where did you get your best surfing day ?

I havent got the chance to travel much, but hopefully next year that will change. There are a bunch of dream spots over here along the coast. It might just take a while to get there, but when it is good it’s better than anywhere I have ever seen in any movie or picture.
Any project for the next months or year ?

I want to introduce kitesurfing to the surfing industry in a good way and hopefully make something of it. I would also like to travel the world and make a movie about kitesurfing in perfect waves and also do something on the my home local spots on the West Coast. There are a ton of things i would like to do next year. Cant wait.





See in this Gallery :

http://barracuda.canalblog.com/albums/ian_alldredge/index.html

A few links:

Jason Wolcott: http://www.jasonwolcottphotography.com
clout: http://www.cloutmalibu.com
Surftech's kite page: http://www.surftech.com/kiteHome.php


Ian's videos:

the newest on youtube: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=FKz8N_IZtgU
sundogchiky's page: http://fr.youtube.com/user/sundogchicky