The North Rebel Team, quickly formed by Gabi Steindl, won the Kitesurf Team World Cup in Brazil last week. Without any of the male top riders, and pulling from talented national riders, the North team flew all Rebels for the victory. North Team Rider, Gabi Steindl shares her experience on the event.

We Won! My team – The "North Rebels" – right on top of the winners podium!!!

The premiere Kitesurf Teams World Cup, from October 4th through 8th, took place in Flecheiras, Brazil – a small fishing village in Northeastern Brazil, in beautiful Ceara state.


The competition format consisted of teams of three riders participating in three separate disciplines that encompass all aspects of a kiteboarding competition – course racing, best trick performance and waveriding – to see the best 'all around' kiters win. Teams were grouped by kite brand, and were required to have three people with at least one female rider.

Best kiteboarding came into the game with two teams, amongst the riders were double Worldchamp Kristin Boese from Germany. Flexifoil put a team together with Aaron Hadlow, triple Worldchamp from the UK. Obviously North had to have a team as well, however, as the Team World Cup in Flecheiras only was confirmed rather late, all our best male riders had obligations at a photoshoot in Egypt at the same time. So, I had to search for some available, fellow North riders in order to form a team and to defend North's honor & reputation.

I chose a Brasilian rookie "Pimpolho" (Victor Adamo) and Sean Farley (the Mexican Champion), both super nice dudes and certainly strong riders. Nevertheless was the "Rebel-Team" handled as outsiders due to the big names that comprised the other teams.

However, sometimes everything just comes so differently than one would expect and my fellow teammates and I made the 'impossible' seem possible ... yes, top teamwork, strategy, fighting spirit, and 100% determination & motivation paid off. The "North Rebels" were on fire in Flecheiras. The kites succeeded in winning this premier-event!!! Although we almost had to throw in the towel on the third day, though, when Sean put his Rebel 12m right into an electricity pole, just behind the riders area on the beach.... The fire brigade had to 'rescue' the kite and we sat almost all night fixing the Rebel's burns. We really killed it in Course racing. Sean won 3 out of 4 races, and was winning the fourth race, but missed the finish line.

Winning this event is a beautiful and huge success and certainly proves North's competitive edge & top performance of its team and products!!