On the Loose

Name: Aaron Hadlow

Nickname: Azza or Shady to certain people.

Motto: Enjoy and make the most of your life. You can do anything that you put your mind to.

D.O.B: 04/10/88

Residence: United Kingdom

Known for: Winning the world championship 5x running

Favorite spot: Cape Town, has everything to offer.

Idol(influences): Kelly Slater, Travis Pastrana, Nick Davies.

Yo Azza, what’s up brotha?? How are you doing these days?

I’m pretty good these days, things are running smoothly and lots to look forward to in the  future.

Where are you at and what keeps you busy?

At the moment I am in the UK, I have just come back from a few trips, I was in China recently then also Portugal, Spain and Holland (KBO).

At the moment I am keeping busy getting ready for the next trip to the SSS. I have been kiting at my local spot, wakeboarding up at the cable park, playing football, hanging with friends and sorting out my equipment.

What is your motivation to wake up everyday and describe us what you like to do on a normal day?!

It depends where I am and who I’m with. Usually starts with some emails and stuff online, then a good breakfast with some friends, gym, Lunch/Chill, Activity (Kiting, Wakeboarding, Football, Whatever we are up to), a bit of PES then ready for some dinner and out to Town. I would be pretty happy with that.

Do you have many normal days where you stick to a routine or is it traveling non-stop? How do you find balance in your life?

The only time I can stick to any routine is when I am in Cape Town, I have my house and car there and I am in the same place for 3-5 months, that allows me to settle down a little. It is good for a bit but after those few months I am usually ready to travel again. It’s like a recharge.

What’s your plans for the coming year? Filming for On The Loose with me, I guess yeah…But what else are you planning on doing?!

Yeah most trips are to do with OTL but other than that I am working a lot on products, This year my name is starting to stand alone in the Flexifoil range, I have the new Kite coming out soon, then boards, bags, some clothes and eventually Harness, Wetsuit and the rest.

How does it feel after seven years of competing to not have to go to a competition? Do you feel you’re missing out or??

Not really, not as much as i thought I might, really it is nice not to be stressing and doing my own thing, 7 years is a long tome, especially when you are growing up with it. Now I think I look at it in a different way, before I was so caught up in it that it took over a lot of other things.

I feel that having a rest is working and that I will be really motivated to come back in the future. I am still following what is going on with the PKRA and it is a weird not to be at the events but I have a lot of other good things going on so its all good.

What does a perfect trip involve? How do you keep your trips fun? Is it the outcome of the footage, the new tricks, new gear or what??

Trips are always fun if they are with the right people, when we go away we will always have a good time, we just make the best of all situations.

Same with a few other guys. Before a result would determine a good trip, now it is the time you have completing your goal.

My last few trips have all been pretty different, I mean I was in China with Anthony the owner of Flexifoil, the trip was really fun and our goal was completed even though I didn’t even take kit. Then I went away with a friend to test kites and then met you and filmed for OTL. All the trips were fun, this month has been cool.

Lately we’ve seen quite some new videos of you that you created together with William Milne? What’s your motivation to do this and is it hard work?

Yeah over the last few months Will has been the main camera man, whether it has been personal or for OTL. In Cape town we shot loads together, it was pretty easy but thats because he is a chilled, cool guy, we had fun and we were totally focused on getting the best stuff, me in front of the camera and him behind.

My motivation is keeping everyone updated and my riding current plus releasing some nice videos for people to be stoked on.

How do you stay in shape and on top of your game?

I stay pretty active, whether I am kiting, wakeboarding, at the gym, playing football, I am always doing something, I am also riding a lot, I kinda of follow the wind so I am never away from kiting for that long.

Traveling so much you have fresh motivation to ride a new spot each time you go away plus its good to have a little break in between, come home to rest for a few days always helps.

You’re working on your new HADLOW gear with your sponsor Flexifoil. How are you involved in this and how do you manage things like this? You haven’t studied much, so how do you know what to do?

Everything has come in time, over the years I have met so many people and done so many things that you pick a lot up along the way.

I have been involved with the kite development for years at flexifoil now so I have learnt a lot about the design and what certain changes will cause.

Basically its the same with all the gear I ride, I know it so well that I can work to improve it and try to release the best products. With the help of Flexifoil and Anthony, owner and MD of Flexifoil, now I am able to get really involved with exactly how it turns out.

Managing it is pretty hard, you have a lot of people to follow up, getting it finished in time is really hard. It is really interesting though and I really enjoy it so I am sure it will work out great.

Some things that you’re really looking forward to??

In the near future I am looking forward to the SSS. After that I can’t wait to have all my products on the market. Then the end of the year Cape Town.

What kind of tunes do you listen to mostly?

I listen to all sorts, my ipod has loads of rap and hiphop (Biggie, Jay-Z, etc)  but I also like Minimal/Techno (well what you listen too), then my other mates just listen to loads of different Rock, HipHop, alternative stuff, so a bit of a mixture really.

What’s your favorite kiting conditions and what gear do you prefer?

I would love to be on a 9m at big bay in Cape Town right now. Smooth wind, good kickers and flat on the inside, perfect.

Any other sports you enjoy a lot?

I like Wakeboarding, its a good crossover, I don’t really do it to help my kiting, although I think it does, but it is just really good fun and loads of progression left for me. I love learning new things and everyday I go up there I see an improvement, I think that is why I am into it so much.

Have you got a girlfriend?

Nope.

What’s your favorite food / Drink…Give us the healthy version and unhealthy version!!

I love an English Breakfast but thats not so good for you hahahha I think a good BBQ in Cape Town with a classic salad is decent.

I don’t know, I like a lot of foods!

What do you absolutely not travel without? What pulls you through on a long trip?

Passport, Wallet, Laptop, iphone. If its a long trip I need loads of clothes and toiletries to stay clean.

And then of course all my equipment totally sorted and tuned to ride.

Aight bro, thanks for your time…Let’s go shred at the Triple-S next week!!