Kiteboarding: Eight in a row for Jacobs

HIGH FLYER: Marc Jacobs reigns supreme as New Zealand's greatest kiteboarder. PHOTO/ISAAC SPEDDING

Mount Maunganui kiteboarder Marc Jacobs continues to set records that may never be matched in the future of the sport in New Zealand.

Last week the 26-year-old, who spends the year travelling the globe competing at the top in world kiteboarding events, won his eighth consecutive title at the NZ Kiteboard nationals held at Foxton Beach.

The championships took place at the largest estuary in the lower North Island and one of New Zealand's premier kiteboard locations. Jacobs competed in the Open Men's Category of the spectacular freestyle version of the sport.

He had expected to win his eighth straight title as the only fulltime New Zealander on the world tour but said conditions were difficult.

"Foxton was one of the most challenging conditions I have had in any of my eight victories so my tour experience help out a lot. Also the wind was real gusty and the water extremely choppy," Jacobs said.

"Luckily my new [Switch] Legacy kite has a huge wind range, absorbs the gusts really well and I managed to stomp down my tricks. Foxton is a very sick kiteboarding location. The first two days were a bit too light to run the event but thanks to the rivermouth current we could still have a bit of fun kiting in light conditions. The wind kicked in dramatically just for an hour, it went from 12 to 30-plus knots, so I had all my kite sizes pumped up and ready."

Jacobs wants at least two more national titles before he finishes.

"After winning my first NZ nationals I told myself I won't stop till I achieve 10 wins in a row, as I know no Kiwi could beat that and I'll be forever remembered for it. The feeling is still the same and this is why I love competing."

In December 2013 Jacobs gained the prestigious title of Vice World Champion with his overall second place in the 2013 Professional Kite Riders Association World Tour, the best ever by a New Zealander in the men's freestyle event.

The born-and-bred Mountie has come a long way since he went down to Tay St beach on a windy day when he was 12 and saw legendary rider Dave Edwards burning it up.

It took him three years of saving up his earnings from delivering the Bay of Plenty Times before he could afford a kite and another year before he could buy a board to go with it. It has been all about making history for him ever since.