Jesse Richman's Leap of Faith

“At first, I thought I would use the kites I had been riding for many years - I knew them like the back of my hand. But once I tested the new North Kites, I felt the lift, power and height of which they’re capable,” says Jesse.

The King of the Air prototypes were early versions of our now refined North Orbit - the kite Jesse claims is the best Big Air kite he’s ever ridden. 

“The perk with this kite is that I can still unhook on it; something I’ve never experienced before. I need gear that I can trust with my life. I need to know that my equipment will work not just some of the time, but all the time. I’m with North because I know the brand will have my back.”

Jesse’s choice to put his trust in the prototype version of the Orbit in 2019 saw him take out the ‘Mystic Most Extreme Move’ award with his powered Kung Fu 1080 handlepass, on day one. He then battled it out with winner Kevin Langeree and 3rd place winner Liam Whaley, to place second in an extremely close final on day two.

Watch Jesse in action at the 2019 King of the Air

A Surreal Ride North

Jesse started kiteboarding at the age of 9, and by 13 kiteboarding had engulfed his life. He left the traditional schooling system to learn on the kiteboarding road and completed high school over the internet. At 16, he won his first world title and realised that this fun pastime had already taken him around the world and now was going to be his career.

“My ride as a professional kiteboarder has been nothing short of surreal,” says Jesse. “For many years, I looked at the countless compromises I made and was able to easily justify them with the experiences they yielded and the knowledge of life I acquired. Over the years, I’ve soared to unimaginable heights and also experienced intense lows. Winning events, pulling off crazy stunts, riding giant waves - all feel amazing. 

“But real character is shaped by the worst hold-downs and the extreme injuries, where recovery is questionable. And by the countless hours pushing to make it in a small, crowded and competitive industry. 

“It is our hardships that shape us, and mine have inspired me to live this life to the fullest and go for the impossible/unthinkable.” Photographer Ydver van der Heide

Joining the Dream Team

Jesse signed on as a Team Rider with North Kiteboarding several months before the brand’s August launch. He says becoming part of the design process has fuelled his hunger for creating the best gear the world has ever seen. 

“It’s been a crazy period of development with North, and such an incredible experience to test gear that feels amazing from the get-go. As a rider, I’ve always been involved in product testing. Going into this with North, I knew this would be a significant component of the dynamic. What I didn’t realise was how epic it would be to work with this crew and how brilliant they all are. 

“I’ve spent years learning how to feel the ever so subtle difference when tuning kites and have acquired the skill set to put the gear to the limits. The North design team has the expertise to take all my feedback and apply changes to the equipment within seconds. 

Travelling with the North Team Riders in New Zealand

"We have a kick-ass team, and every single individual comes to the table with a vibrant background and character. We are all in our prime and symbiotically have found the project we have always been seeking. Every member is both humble and knowledgeable, which makes for a very smooth and fun collaboration. And there’s a very familial vibe amongst the riders because we’ve all been friends for years, and finally get to work together on a mutual dream," says Jesse.