Western Australia is pumping out more than it’s fair share of first grade riders lately, coupled with the influx of professional kiteboarders choosing to spend their winters here, we’re seeing that WA is just getting better and better.

We tracked down Kitestock 2013 winner, Clement Tardieu to find out why; but Gero was absolutely going off, and he was amongst it. So we waited ‘till he came in for a break and ‘borrowed’ his Best Cabo…

“Mr Tardieu! Now we have your attention… It’s time for a little chat!”

Lets cut to the chase, tell us about this spot called Geraldton. Us ‘East-Coasters’ hear it’s full of sharks, sharp reefs and always crowded. Is that true, or just your way of keeping us out?

Haha! You guys are right! Just add strong wind and I’d agree it’s a good description of Gerro… Maybe it’s not that crowded though.

There’s a lot of coastline up WA, is Gero the crown jewel of them all? Surely you know about some other epic locations we can drool over!

If you think of Margaret River power swell, Gnaraloo perfect waves and everything in between, surely the West coast has a lot to offer! Geraldton is right in the middle of those spots and if you’re ready to hit the road to score, Gerro offers a good variety of conditions to wait for the right forecast!

We mentioned the professional kiters (and some that aren’t so professional!) from overseas earlier. They come in droves during the December/January season. Why do you think they choose to fly to WA for their training?

To me, WA’s got all the ingredients for a perfect kite season: consistent wind, waves and flat spots… with the “Australian adventure” on top! That makes the WA experience unique for pros and overseas riders.

You surf pretty good for a goofy footer! With WA having so many lefts, are you actually a goofy footer or are you just pretending so you can ride frontside?

Born as a goofy footer. And don’t even start with your switch surfing!

Now, you work in the kiteboarding industry as an instructor, what that like? And the question all instructors out there want to know, how do you manage your work/play balance?

You’ve got a good one there… To make it short, I love my office! Teaching on the beach and getting sand blasted all day! What else do you want? Geraldton is windy, like really windy! When it gets over 25-30 knots (every afternoon), it’s not safe to teach anymore and its PLAY time!

We’ve seen G-Spots owner Tim out there on his Best Cabo pretty frequently, who gets the most water time out of you two?

No comment ?

It’s great to see everyone in WA pushing each other to progress, both in the online world and right here on the beach. Tell us about the lifestyle and rider attitude here in WA.

Around Gerro, it’s a very local scene, everybody know everybody, how they ride and where! It’s an older crew with a huge local knowledge… The last 2 years, some young guns jumped into Kitesurfing and it’s now pretty cool to see them pushing their limits!

Over the next few years, do you think this will influence the riding style, and push the sport (we hate to say it) to the next level? Whatever that may be?

When you see all those kids stretching their bones in freestyle, pro surfers getting in waves riding and the sailing techniques in race… I’m not afraid for the future of our sport!

Ok, so for this next-level wave riding, what kind of kite are the riders going to need? What’s important, what needs to be thought about when choosing equipment?

What is cool with kite surfing is that you’ve got so many options to enjoy your own style of riding. For me it’s all about kites that you can park and forget to really focus on the wave. That’s why I love my cabos so much!!!

Lets say we’ve bought some new gear. Best Cabo’s all round! We want to get some shade. Experience the ‘Green Room’. Ride the tunnel of dreams. You know! Get in a barrel!! How do we do it? Give an average punter like us 3 tips on how to get barrelled with a kite.

Park your kite, go for it and enjoy whatever happens next !

Lock us in, next session we’re not landing our kites until we’ve pulled into at least one! So while we’re out there practicing (we might be a while!), if someone wants to come over to WA and experience the amazing conditions on offer here. Can you give us a basic ‘Must Do’ list for kiteboarders?

To be honest, WA has got endless possibilities so Grab a camps7 with tracks and follow the wind! And if you’re a bit shy with adventure, stop in Geraldton and let KiteWest drive you through the best spots of the Mid West!

What happens when there’s no wind or waves around here? Geraldton is a pretty small place, where does everyone go?

SUP, surf, diving, fishing, 4WD…

And before we give your Cabo back, tell us how to find you while you’re at work.

If you want the BEST gear, repair and local advice: G Spot Xtreme! For lessons and customized kite tours: KiteWest water sports and tours ;)

So there you have it folks! Tour guide, instructor and all-round wave shredder; Clement Tardieu. If you’ve never been over to WA, what are you waiting for! Book a ticket and go see the boys at G-Spot in Geraldton.

You can find out more information on the shop G-Spot Xtreme here

And to see what this Cabo, the wave kite of the future is all about, visit Best Kiteboarding.