Off the lip: Ralf Bachschuster talks

Full Name: Ralf Bachschuster
 
Age: 45
 
Star Sign: Leo
 
Born in: Ingolstadt, Germany
 
I now call home: Cape Town, Munich
 
Kite of choice: North Vegas
 
Occupation: Good question
 
Boards of choice: rbsixty 3 directional
 
When did you start kiting? I started in 1999. An ex girlfriend send a wipika kite over from Maui, Hawaii. Wild times and adventures! Very exciting though. The sport has improved so much now but is still very small and is for specific people only.
 
Favourite move: Always the same, bottom turn and top turn, that's what it's all about
 
Quote of the day: Vote the right party, its a country's foundation
 
Describe yourself in one word: Free
 
These are a few of my favourite things: Photography, designing waveboards, books, guitar, music, gardening, building
 
Favourite kite spot:  Any wavespot with sideshore winds
 
Kite travelling experience: S.A Italy, Germany, Mauritius, Indo, Spain, France
 
We found a great quote from you on a forum thread dating back to 2006.
"Hey boys, who cares if you ride a directional or a twintip, as long as you ride a wave it is all cool. Important is to line up and give right of way"
 
So - surfboard or twintip?   I've used surfboards for 3 years now, but waves are all I do, freestyle is still twin tip
 
What's your number one water rule? Be a gentleman if you can
 
What are the manners like where you ride? Cape Town is fine, not many people ride waves anyway and we have soooo many breaks. If you go kiting in the morning you'll ride with 2-5 friends.
 
Where do you see the future of kiting going in South Africa?   Well, without having any real professional events it will stay as it is. There need to be motivation in order to progress.
 
What do you believe the key is to growth in the sport?  Events, events events, and social get togethers.
 
What are you working on at the moment – we really enjoyed Snapshot, and your pictures are always great – what can we expect to see from you next? 
 I will do more pictures but no more DVDs. Today you get everything on You Tube and to make a really nice film you need lots of money and can't make it back.
 
Any kitemares we could learn something from?     Don't start in your backyard while it is blowing 25 knots.