Photo courtesy Seth Warren
In just five days, Seth Warren and Kirk Harris will embark on the KUZI Project — a 500-mile self supporting journey up the coast of East Africa. Fueled by the Kuzi trade wind, a summertime force that pushes wind and swell from the Indian Ocean northward, the team will paddle and kiteboard this extensive stretch of coastline exploring its adjacent islands and remote, pristine coastal areas.
We met Seth Warren at the annual Lord of the Winds event in Los Barriles where he spent his winter. A photographer and award winning film maker, Seth is no stranger to adventure as a professional kayaker and accomplished paddleboarder who can claim first descents of both the Grand Canyon and the White Nile in Uganda. Seth and his good friend Kirk, who has the unofficial world record for kiting from South Africa to Kenya, will be powered by Liquid Force Kiteboarding and custom-designed and engineered paddleboards made especially for this adventure by Glide SUP. Other sponsors include Patagonia, Kialoa Paddles, Goal Zero, Sea to Summit, Smith Optics, SUP Magazine and Wide Open Camera. EPIC TV, a European adventure sports network, has also contracted for a five-part series on the project to be aired in the fall of 2013. For the complete press release on the project click here.
Kirk first started his journey in 2010 but could not complete it. He returned in 2011 to finish his goal. He spent five months studying the trade winds and weather patterns of the region before embarking on his trip. His first-hand knowledge of the route and trade winds of the area were the inspiration for the KUZI Project. Photo courtesy Kirk Hollis.
With the Kuzi at its peak during the expedition, the team will have six weeks to explore more than 50 islands and complete their route. Check back with The Kiteboarder for snippets from the boys as they navigate their way from Pemba to Zanzibar. The complete story of their adventure will be featured in the Vol 10/N0 4 of The Kiteboarder scheduled to release in mid-December.