May17

The spring of all seasons… Wind, Sun, Hail and Rain!

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The spring of all seasons… Wind, Sun, Hail and Rain!

Well what a mental spring, from March a month of torturous no wind but blissful sun to April the month of four seasons, winds galore and many travels. The wind finally came with a gentle sea breeze and turned into a cold NE’ly slap in the face.  Lots has happened, there have been road trips, downwinders, KB4girls Chapters, local kite sessions and a warm trip to Egypt to top it all off.  I kited more in April than I have in the whole of winter, and have finally managed to use my whole quiver to its full range, there has been a lot of progression and lots off whoop, whoopy de’ whoops!!! So I have rambled on quite a bit in this blog as there is quite a lot to catch up on, I hope you enjoy the read.

To start it all off it began with the first sea breezes of the year, this was long awaited for from many on the south coast. Great to get out in the sunshine and nice steady winds to break your self back in, though it was and is still is very cold on the UK shores. So was still wearing as much neoprene as possible.

The sun and steady breeze was not to stay though and towards mid March just in time for our first KB4girls chapter the cold, wet and gusty NE winds kicked in. This meant a few road trips to Greatstone in Kent. The first of these sessions was with Luke and Emily from Kitesurfkings, there was just the three of us on the beach in testing winds from 15 gusting 25 knots. Wind chill was -2 degrees, by the time we had got changed after the session we could not feel any of our limbs let alone any pain.

The next sessions where pretty similar, even with some hail thrown in for the girls at our session, on this day the wind was crazy, gusting from again 15 knots to at the end nearly 30 knots, this is when we decided to end the session. It was the day of four seasons, beginning with sunshine, progressing to showers followed by heavy rain then finished with hail.

The girls did not let this bother them though and kept kiting  through the day only stopping to refuel on chocolate brownies (thanks Claire!!!)  washed down with hot cups of tea. It was such a nice group, lots of new and regular faces, thank you to every one who made the effort to come down. And even with the challenging conditions there was still lots of tricks learnt, from first rotations, big air and kite loops. I could not speak properly for two days after due to so much happy cheering.  It was a great way to kick off the first chapter, really pushing us all to our limits, setting the standards up for the rest of the season. For more pictures on the day click here, and if you fancy joining us in the future, check out our page on FB for constant updates on what is going on :-)

By now we had reached the end of the month and it was time to pack away my winter wetsuit and dig out my boardies for Egypt. The build up to this was torture, every day (hour, minute) when I checked windguru, it would greet me with yellow, orange and  sometimes red arrows, along with temperatures of up to 30 degrees. This was going to be an awesome week.

There were four of us heading out, and what a team we were, we had the lovely Jude Green – Personal Kite Nurse and Beautician to make you appear in one piece after nursing, Cam Dawson - Cocktail Maker Extraordinaire, making sure we stayed hydrated all week. And last but not least trip organizer and entertaiments guide Mike Broom, the man who has everything  and can make anything happen, including making the wind blow for every day we were out there!!! Cheers Mike xxx 

Our base for the week was the Magawish  Swiss Inn Resort just south of Hurgahda, where we also had the renowned Kite Center Colona Water Sports. The crew from Colona made us feel at home from the minute we arrived. Gaz the centre  manager collected us up from the airport with a big white smile and a dirty tan, took us to our lodgings to refresh ourselves, then picked us up for a night out. We headed to the new marina to Shades Bar and Grill, here we kicked the night off with quite a few long awaited cold Sakaras, followed by some tasty dinner, then back to the bar for more drinks before heading back to catch 40winks for the windy morning that awaited us.

The next morning and pretty much the rest of the week we woke up quite early with out the need of alarm clocks, no one complained though as we woke up to wind and sunshine instead. So after breakfast it was of to the beach, this was only a c a 5 min walk from our rooms. The resort is made up of two main buildings with clusters of chalets surrounding it. It is worth asking for these rooms if you do come as you could end up at the back where you are around 15 mins walk away from the main facilites.

The Magawish is a simple hotel but perfect for our needs, the rooms are clean comfy and cheap (£130 halfboard), the food is basic but nutritional,  and the main clientèle from Russia, we seemed  to be the only Europeans staying there, which really made you feel like you were away from it all. I would only come here if I was with a group of friends for a kite holiday, I would not recommend taking the family here as they may get a bit bored and the beach is not that big. You may end up divorced and childless (unless you have a family of kiters).

The centre  itself was well set up with the usual storage areas, compressor and beach bar.  The beach split up in to three very clearly separated kite surf areas, teaching zone, beginners area ( if you are  getting up and riding but still building up confidence) and a intermediate/advanced area. I really liked the fact that there was lots of space between these, and that you had to be able to ride up wind to get to the sand bar. Here is a video of the sandbar.

The sand bar was amazing, at mid to low tide there was lots of shallow spots with a choice of butter flat, choppy or little kickers. This was so great for learning new tricks, pushing your riding or just having fun, it was so nice to kite in boardies and rashies and not to get brain freeze if you crashed . There are also canoes and SUPs available if the wind drops, and a vast range of boards range  available from skim boards to a hydrofoil kiteboard!!

Towards the end of the week we also did a massive downwinder from Kiteboarding Club in  El Gouna to the Palma Resort back in Hurghada, this was organized by Survibes, together with the centers KBC, Colona and Red Sea Zone The day costed only 35 euros, and with this you were collected, had a speed boat to follow you with three kite instructors kiteboarding with you, lunch and lift home included. There was also no more than 10 people in the group. The trip itself was ca 12 km long with a break in between.

So we all launched from KBC and followed Gogo and Zuza with Emad kiteing behind us with the boat, our guides were also excellent kiters so it was great fun to watch them as well as ride with them, and Emad would always be coming up to you and giving you tips on your tricks. We also had Martina on and off the boat taking pictures of the whole trip and personal shots if you liked, I thought this was such a nice touch to the day and a great memory to keep, there was no extra cost for this.

On our first part of the trip we kited out ca 4km to sea where a beautiful ca 5 km long sand and coral bar awaited us, it was so beautiful, there where lots of shallow pools to pratice and boost around. The sand was snow white and the water all different shades of turquoise and blues, truly stunning to kite over. I have never kited on any thing like it before.

It was so untouched and clean, only reachable by sail. If you come to the area in Egypt, you have to book yourself on this trip. It was great fun being able to jump and mess around with out worrying about getting back upwind.

We the stopped halfway for quick refuel and rehydration at a large shallow bay between our points, and Martine got out of the boat to do some personal photos. We then kited to our last stop, most of us just cruised down wind as we had over done ourselves at the sand bar. Here we had a massive pizza for lunch before heading back to our accommodation. I managed to have a sneeky kite again when we got back before sunset :-)

So that was pretty much it, an awesome week and we did not really do much else apart from eat, drink and sleep. This has to have been one of the best trips away that I have had in a long time, amazing people, great centre, kite, kite and more kiteing, sun and wind.

So check it out and get yourself there, I am heading back next month to El Gouna for the Global KB4girls event and am so excited about it. And I have to say, people keep asking me about the troubles in Egypt and how dangerous is it? Well I have not stopped going there, I went back three weeks after the revolution, and not much has changed. The biggest difference is that there are less people visiting because of all the coverage in the media, this is affecting the economy and peoples livelihood, so it even more important now than ever to show your support and to keep visiting this beautiful country. The Egyptian people are so amazing and friendly, they always make me feel very welcome when I come here. You should always keep your wits about you where ever you go in the world, like you would at home. Fancy coming out to join me? Check out the details here!! Will defiantly be doing a few of those downwinders again too :-)

Mar18

Its still March and there is still no wind! So cable park it is!! :-)

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Its still March and there is still no wind! So cable park it is!! :-)

Still no wind !!!

What’s going on, cant remember ever having such a windless winter ever here in West Sussex. And if it carry s on like  this will I ever remember how to kite surf? There have been far and few days in between where there has been something, teasing or nothing. If you are like me, then when the one day of decent wind appears you have probably have had to work or catch up with your wonderful :-) non kiteing friends and family who would make you feel very bad for ditching them, as they know that once the sea breezes kick in you will disappear of the face of the earth till the end of the year. Better to make amends now for what the rest of the year will bring!!

So what to do on these no wind days ? And how do I keep those board skills up?

Well thank the heavens for the cable park, last week I got a call from my dear friend Mike saying its sunny and windless, and that we was happy to take Cam and me for a road trip to Princes Club near Heathrow. This was my first time at this cable park and I can happily say that it wont be the last. This park has a really nice lay out with great facility’s, the ladies changing area was amazing, you could go in with wetsuit, every thing was very clean and modern, with powerful hot showers.

It has five corners to get around and is filled with lots of kickers and sliders, plenty going on to keep you busy for your time there. The staff were really nice and helpful too, there were no big ego’s here which was a welcome change after experiencing different parks. The guys would always give you tips and advice through out your whole riding time, and at the end (which I thought was a nice touch) they chatted about your session, the good and the bits that need improving.

And then to top the day off you could get a nice cold beer from the lovely bar/restaurant to help you wind down and chat to all the new amazing people you had met that day. Even all the other visitors where really friendly and encouraging, wooing you on after every face plant and trick landed.

Sadly not many pictures of us on the water as we were all to busy riding . The only thing I did not enjoy about the day was the water start from the dock, for some reason it would take me about 3 attempts to get standing. This was quite frustrating as I have not really had this problem before, and this was also felt in my arms the next day.

It took me about 3 days before I could move with out any pain. I always forget how much the first wake session of the season kills. If you hit the park soon, do not forget to stretch and have a hot bath after!!! So even with the pain I have been left wanting more and cant wait for the next session, but wont complain if the wind arrives first!!

Sooo on to this weeks guest blog. She is local rider here in the Brighton area, and if  you have not met her on a beach yet, then you  may already know her face from THE KITE SHOW. Or have seen her belting out some top tunes on a stage near you with the awesome band KOVAK!! Or even have met her at a KB4girls clinic as she is a UK ambassador, a truly multi talented lady. I here present to you Annelies Simon previously know as ( Van De Velde) Enjoy..

Age: 29

Nationality: Belgian

Years riding:7

So Annelies, tell us your story!

I grew up in Belgium, totally wind and wave deprived. We lived in the US for a while and also in the Uk, but I mainly spent my youth in Belgium. In 99 I met my now husband, Ben Simon, on a windsurf holiday in Vassiliki with a mate of mine and her folks. It was the first time I’d ever done any watersports and I loved it! (god that sounds rude). I moved to the UK in 2001 and took up kiting a few years later. We were in a rock/pop band together called Silvermaker (www.silvermaker.co.uk) which had quite a few songs on some kitesurf and windsurf DVDs and movies, like the Boardseeker DVDs. I then joined a new band called KOVAK and some really exciting stuff has been happening with them lately. We’re working on a 2nd album right now. Music has taken me places and I’ve especially enjoyed rocking out at Animal parties like Windfest and The Brits in Laax, these sporting crowds are always really up for a laugh.

Where are you from and where are you based now?

I’m from Belgium and now live in Brighton.

How often do you kite?

Not enough! I would love to kite more often, but the band has been taking up a lot of my time. In summer I try to go a few times a week and on holidays, but this winter has been aweful, it’s been months!

What are your weapons of choice on the water and why?

I’m sponsored by FC Watersports and they give me BRILLIANT deals on Cabrinha kites. I love them because they are so sturdy. My wetsuit is Billabong, I almost always kite with a 5/3 here in the UK even in the summer. I also have an O-Neill fleecy thermal top which is a fab 2nd layer in the winter. I haven’t changed my board since I started, my Fanatic Joyrider is still a total joy to ride! Although I did stick some lovely new Liquid Force Stiletto straps on there which fit me much better than the original ones. My waist harness is SO old I really should change it. It’s a windsurf harness and I’m probably not setting a good example riding it. Animal have been really cool giving me gear through the band so you’ll often find me in their stuff too. It’s sooooooo soft, I love it.

Apart from kiteing what else do you like to get up to?

Singing! And lots of sports. I play hockey in the winter with a game every Saturday and get my adrenaline rush that way. Apart from that, running along the seafront and little ‘Davina’ workouts in my lounge on really blustery days. I also present The Kite Show amongst other things and work freelance as a copywriter, presenter, voice over artist and scriptwriter.

How did you learn to kite surf?

I went for a land based lesson in 2004 which scared me so much I took a whole year to start learning again! Then Ben taught me the basics in the UK and after 2 weeks in El Gouna I was totally up and running.

Who inspires you the most?

Kristin Boese is doing a fantastic job with KB4Girls and is such a LOVELY person, I find her really inspiring. It’s great to see someone so dedicated to the sport doing so well, riding huge waves and still being really sweet and modest.

Favourite trick?

The Jesus walk to see, but I’m still whooping my head off when I pull of a backloop.

What are you working on?

Backloops, I want to get a few weeks in the sun to start on front loops and go from there, but my honeymoon in Cabarete this year which was 3 weeks long only had 3 days of wind! Shocker….

Favourite kite food?

Beer (afterwards)

What is your current music choice?

We supported Hard-Fi the other day and they blew me away, fantastic songs and live performance. Watch out for their new album.

What is your preferable riding style?

Freestyle, but I like having some waves around to play around in, although I’m still to master the wave board.

Most traumatic experience?

Losing my voice in the first song of a gig. No kitemare has ever come close.

Top 2 beaches and why?

Le Morne: Flat water with waves to go and tease. No dangerous animals, no crime, LOVELY people, tweeting birds in the pine trees on the beach, palm trees too, amazing setting, simply perfect.

Cumbuco: Loooooooong downwinders, coconut juice by the lagoon, no wetsuit needed, lovely chilled vibe, happy days.

If you could have any super power what would it be?

No fear to learn tricks, I need to get over the fear a lot.

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

Glastonbury? And on hols in Mauritius again… that would be a sweet combination.

Motto?

You need to cross the line once in a while to know where it is.

Videos:

The Kite Show (4 kite show episodes on here)

 Video from our hols in Mauritius with music by husband Ben Simon and starring us both!

KOVAK – Catchy Monkey

KOVAK live on Canada’s CP24 with I’ll Be Good to You musiv video taster

KOVAK at Playgroup

www.kovak.co.uk

Facebook

And that is it for now!! Till next time :-)

Mar4

March is here with guest blog by Sensi Graves, Kite Chica and swimwear designer is helping us ease back into spring.

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March is here with guest blog by Sensi Graves, Kite Chica and swimwear designer is helping us ease back into spring.
March is here with guest blog by Sensi Graves, Kite Chica and swimwear designer is helping us ease back into spring.

It is the beginning of march and I am yet again waking up to the sun shining, how good does that feel!!! So nice to smell some spring in the air, and feel everything around us coming back to life. The temperature is slowly rising and the days a lot brighter, I have been trying to make the most out of this with lots of cycling and walking, and have been now getting back in the gym trying to get ready for a new season.

Have only sadly had one kite session since my last post, which was a pretty sweet one that I nearly missed out on due to over sleeping. The first pre work  and sunrise kite of the year, with just my friend Dan and me on the water, wind was a bit on the light side so I was on my 14m BEST TS, which still managed to give me lots of height when jumping with out much effort and wind. And as big as the kite is, it is still fast turning and feels light to fly, really glad I got this kite as I have used it quite a lot already in winds as light as 12 knots. This giving me a much wider chance of getting out, looking forward to putting it through its paces this summer. As I had not been out in a while it was nice just jumping around and getting back in to the rhythm of rotations, load and pop and jumps. And to be quite honest it was still friggen freezing, only lasted an hour and  I was to scared to crash in the icy water.

All is not lost though, I had the amazing honour of writing a spread for Kitegirl magazine about my journey with KB4 girls. I really enjoyed doing this and putting it all together, it was a good experience to see how a write up is done, from creating a story to getting the right pictures. I was really pleased with how it read and looked when it was published and hope you enjoy it too. A massive thank you to Tanya, editor at Kitegirl for this opportunity and helping to share the KB4girls experience. This is the now second edition of Kitegirl Magazine and is yet again packed with lots of goods reads with the main focus being on Kari Schibevaag and Snow Kiting. Also some reviews on 2012 twin tips, stories on warmer getaways and tips for strength training.  So with this being the winter edition, this can only mean one thing. The next one will be for summer? Hopefully by then we will have some sea breezes and will be out on the water more and longer. For now though you can read Kitegirl as a magazine or on the new Kitegirl App for  ipad, iphone, android or online, there are more videos, pics and links included. Click here for more info.

This week’s guest is Sensi Graves,

I met Sensi last year in New York at the Dream Extreme KB4 girls event, she is real fun and very bubbly, great to be around, only kiting for 3 years and 23 years of age but already a excellent rider, a great coach, and a swimwear designer specialising in  bikinis for ladies who are active on the water. So here is Sensi’s story to you, I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did.

Name: Sensi Graves

Age: 23

Nationality: USA

Years Riding: 3

Tell me a bit about yourself/your story:

I first touched a kite in 2007 but did not really start to ride until 2009. I started coaching over the summer at REAL in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The conditions and the people there make for amazing sessions and progression and I couldn’t get enough. Now that I’ve graduated college I travel and ride, documenting my sessions along the way. I also work for Liquid Force AND most exciting, have just launched my bikini company, SENSI, for girls who ride.

Where are you from and where do you live now:

I am from Northern California and have always loved sports. Besides team sports, I started skiing at age 2 and snowboarding at 10. Through in a bunch of wakeboarding and a little bit of surfing, and you get a great childhood. Currently I am in Maui but have been traveling pretty consistently over the last two years.

How often do you kite?

Whenever it’s windy!

Are you sponsored/what kite do you ride and why?

I ride the Liquid Force Envy because it is so smooth, stable and consistent. I also ride the LF Influence 133 with Melissa bindings. If you ride boots, I highly recommend the Melissas because they are super easy to get on and off, they are really comfortable and they have Velcro closure straps which means no fiddling with laces. I have a Dakine Wahine harness, which in my opinion is the top of the line harness and has every feature you could want. I have an O’Neill top, spring suit and full suit as well as a Patagonia 4/3 which is the warmest wetsuit I have ever worn.

Apart from kiting what else do you like to get up to?

I love doing yoga and working out. I also love to cook, especially bake. ….and read, I’m always looking for a new good book. Otherwise I spend lots of time designing my swimwear and promoting my line! Finally I enjoy freelance writing and documenting my experiences on my blog sensigraves.com

Do you compete?

This year I took 4th at the Ro Sham Throw Down. There are not that many wakestyle kite events out there but really I just like to ride anyway. I kite for myself.

How did you learn to kite surf?

My dad dragged me along to lessons at REAL Watersports. Despite not even knowing what kiting was, I picked it up really quickly and fell in love. I always love trying new things and this was an especially good new experience.

Who inspires you the most?

In kiting, my boyfriend Brandon Scheid, because I see how hard he works and how much he pushes himself in the sport and Kristin Boese, because she is so determined, caring and such a great promoter of women in the sport. In life, Ellen Degeneres because she did not let discrimination keep her down, is a savvy businesswoman and simply rocks and Tonia Farman (founder of Athletes 4 Cancer) because she is such a strong woman and fights for what she believes in.

Favorite trick?

Unhooked front roll, Indy grab and riding down the line on a surfboard.

What are you working on?

Strapless wave riding (always) and landing blind. Maui has not been the most conducive to my flat-water progression.

Favorite kite food?

Tacos, chips and guacamole, fruit and lots of water.

What is your current music choice?

Re Hot Chili Peppers, Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Atmosphere, any of the Marley’s, a little dubstep…

What is your preferable riding style?

Wakestyle, hitting sliders and strapless wave riding.

Most traumatic experience?

Last year in Maui, I was on the outside of the reef at Kite beach and the wind died. The waves were sizable and so I was stuck self-rescuing while battling white water. Once I reached my kite, I climbed inside with my surfboard to try and float in. All of the sudden a wave broke right on top of me, pushing my kite and I underwater. As I surfaced, my board shot out, I became tangled in the bridle and the kite started to power up. I was scared to death frantically pulling the lines off of myself. Luckily I got untangled pretty easily and after that I was far enough inside where the waves were much smaller and I could swim my kite in. It was a lot of work.

Do you keep fit, what do you like to do? Any tips?

Stretching is very important in any sport and when you’re training really hard it really helps to prevent injury, which is why I recommend yoga to any and all. I also run, strength train and recently went to a gymnastics gym to jump on the trampoline with a bar attached to the wall. This was the best off the water training I’ve done and so if you have a gym near you, use it!

Top 2 beaches and why?

Pomato Point on Anegada because it’s so beautiful with the clearest blue water, is a great launch and has good flatwater. Also, the black sand beach on Maui. It’s so majestic and tranquil.

Can you talk to us a bit about your new brand?

I wanted to start SENSI, after experiencing constant frustration with my bikinis when riding. . It was hard to be active and have to constantly adjust my swimwear. I wanted something that stayed put and still had that flirty, cheery quality that makes bikinis so much fun.

SENSI is designed to empower women by providing reliable, cute and comfortable swimwear for a vigorous and energetic lifestyle. The goal of the brand is to capture the essence of women who are living their lives through watersports and hopefully inspire women to change their lives to include watersports. Also, we value the planet and encourage the use of sustainable resources and respect for one’s environment. Save the ocean!

If you could have any super power what would it be?

Teleportation.

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

Still traveling the world and selling bikinis!
Motto?

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine! and yes is always the right answer!

2012 Plans:

Big events include the Sunset Swim Charity Event at the Triple S Invitational
Athletes 4 Cancer fundraiser
Ro Sham Throw Down in Hood River, Oregon
KB4Girls events

Continued travel, writing and spreading bikini love!

Website/blog:

www.sensibikinis.com

www.sensigraves.com

Feb9

Wave weekend with Dom Moore and guest blog by Holly Kennedy

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Wave weekend with Dom Moore and guest blog by Holly Kennedy
Wave weekend with Dom Moore and guest blog by Holly Kennedy

So its now coming into February and it feels like this year going to fast already, have not been kiting for nearly a month now as there has not been much wind round here. But have still managed to get on the water and catch some waves thanks to Dom Moore. Last weekend I was lucky enough to get a place on his Wave Confidence Clinic which took place in Newquay. I was super keen to do this as big waves are still a bit of a grey area for me in knowledge and confidence. And who better to learn off than the UK big wave man himself.

Dom is not only a amazing kitesurfer he is also a extreme surfer and great with the SUP, a true multi talented water man bursting with so much experience, which he was really keen to share with us. Dom was editor at Kitesurf Magazine for 5 years, then moved on to become current European Sales Manager at Ocean Rodeo, helping to steer the direction in which Ocean Rodeo are moving. And as well as that he is also the current editor of the S.U.P International Magazine. He has been an avid surfer for 16 years and got into kiteing c.a 10 years ago.

 There were 8 of us on the clinic coming from Wales which were Sarah and Ian Savage and Ben and Steve from South Wales Kitesurfing, in the Brighton crew we had myself with Chris and Luke from Kitesurf Kings, Raoul from Reading and Ross from Scotland after a 10 hour drive!!!  Much fun was to be had and lot to be learnt.

On the whole weekend we actually did not get any wind, but this could not have worked better with it. On the first day we walked around the beaches of Newquay learning how to spot rips and hazards and how to work out your escape route on new beaches. This was so informative as the beaches I normally kite at are large, flattish, sandy and don’t tend to have rips. I have never taken the time to check out a beach in such a way as Dom showed us and will definitely be doing this in the future for new areas.

We then headed over to Watergate Bay for some practical training, at first we kicked off with a warm up. Dom had us running up and down the beach to get our blood going, though I must admit at this point with all my winter neoprene I felt more like a beached whale than a bay watch babe ;-) Then we did some gentle stretching to loosen our limbs. And then hit the water with out any gear at first and just stood and felt the sea around us, getting used to the current and observing the waves. Learning how to feel everything around us.

Then for some survival training, we learnt how to swim under the waves by duck diving and grabbing the sand to pull us under. Then after swimming out to the surf we used the force of the waves to practice body surfing in, this was really good fun and reminded me of first learning to body drag. Then it was all back on land to get our harnesses on and get our board.

We then paddled out again in to the surf, and here we then practised taking of our harnesses whilst holding on to our boards. I really struggled with this, and is something I had never thought about before and I will be changing, my harness is a waist one and has extra webbing which runs through the spreader bar to help stop it rising up. Impossible to undo with out losing your board, and I can only imagine the nightmare that could proceed if you had lines caught up in it. Then once we had released ourselves we practised body surfing in with the board. I defiantly recommend trying this on your next session on the water, and seeing how your harness works when you need to get rid of it fast! We then got to grab our surf boards and hit the water and catch some waves.

After that we all headed back in doors to do some theory, Dom took us through the different types and the dynamics of reef, point and beach breaks, showing us how they all look and how to get the best of them and kite with them. We then also learnt how to read sea charts, how to find those secret beaches and best places for waves. Quite a lot was taken in and covered on day one, and we were all a bit shattered by now. So it was of for a nap for me before the evening shenanigans down Newquay town began.

The evening kicked off with some amazing dinner at a Thai restaurant called Phuket, the food was so fresh and delicious, and much needed fuel after a day on the water. 5 stars from all of us, also quite reasonable, there were 4 of us and we all had starters with mains washed down with many  Singha beers, and the bill came to just over £70. Check it out next time you are in the area.

We then headed of to Newquays liveliest pub the Red Lion, there was live music, lots of dancing and far to many Jagerbombs ( which showed a bit the next day, sorry Dom :-/ ) Then the night was finished of at the infamous Belusies, to which our hostess with the mostess Jackie  guided us too. It was then back to Jackies Smarties Surflodge to get some kip, ready for the next day.

Day two started of with some theory in the morning, Dom took us through on how to build lung capacity fast; board choice; to leash or not to leash?; And how to be a friendly, approachable kitesurf ambassador. Then it was back to Watergate Bay for some more surf training.The main battle of this session was getting into a cold wet- wetsuit. It was great to learn about the sea from a surfers point of view, I always thought about the water I was surfing on, but not much about what was going on below me, always thinking of kite surfing more of a water surface sport and being more aware of the weather above and around me.

This was a great course to do to open your eyes up to other factors that are going on around you, and how these can influence your session, good or bad. I am defiantly feeling more confident now about hitting bigger waves, whether it be kitesurfing or surfing. Dom also offered this course free of charge, such a nice guy sharing his knowledge like this, would like to say a massive thank you for your time and efforts!!! If you ever see any thing like this come up from Dom, then jump and grab the chance to do it, he is a wealth of knowledge and explains everything really well !! Keep up to date with what he is up to here on his blog. http://www.skyhooked.co.uk/ 


And up next we have a guest blog from the lovely Holly Kennedy,  Holly has now been competing for the past 2 years on the BKSA and PKRA circuit. I met Holly a couple of years ago in Egypt, and had the pleasure of her company for nearly a month, she is great fun to be around and always takes time out to help you or show you the ropes. If you ever see her around, take time to say hello and have a chat with her.   

Name: Holly Kennedy 

Age: 20

Nationality: British

Years riding: 3 and a half

Tell me a bit about yourself :

Competitive, yet fun and personable I have always pushed myself to excel in the areas that I enjoy most. I achieved early success as the Scottish Gymnastics Champion and Senior School Athletics Winner. But more extreme sports were already part of my family background with both father and brother seriously into big wave windsurfing and ultimately enjoying the exhilarating challenge of  Kitesurfing. 

Having now left school after achieving good academic qualifications, I am committed to pushing myself onto the world stage as a Professional Kitesurfer.

Where are you from and where do you live now?

I am from a little town on the west coast of Scotland called Troon. I am traveling around a lot right now so I would say that I do not have a specific living place!

How often do you kite?

As much as possible whenever it’s windy!



What kit do you ride and why?

I am sponsored by North Kiteboarding, ION Essentials and Airbound Apparel. I ride the North Vegas and the 134X40 North Team Series Board. I ride this equipment as it is the best for freestyle :)

Apart from kiting what else do you like to get up to? 

I like to do other sports like snowboarding,wakeboarding and gymnastics. I love to chill and hang out with my friends BUT also I love to party. 

Do you compete? If so what was your best and not so best experience? 

Yes for sure! I compete in the BKSA. European and World Championships!

My best experience was last year at the PKRA World Champs in New Caledonia, I took a 2nd place in the freestyle after starting at the bottom of the ladder. This meant I won 6 heats in a row up to the final!  The feeling of being up there on the podium was so amazing.

How did you learn to kite surf?

My Dad took me on a holiday to Fuerteventura for 1 week, and I got lessons with a qualified school there. However, there was not much wind at that time so my brother helped me out a few times at my local beach.

Who inspires you the most? My Parents! 

Favourite trick?

The F16. I really like the feeling of getting pulled so high and backwards! Hee hee.

What are you working on?

Slim Chance.

Favourite kite food?

PIZZA :)

What is your current music choice?

I like a real mix of music, it depends on what mood I am in and what I am doing ( the atmosphere) . If you get me !?

What is your preferable riding style?

Powered wakestyle / freestyle I guess. But I also think gracious wave riding is so nice.

Most traumatic experience?

Going out in at least 40 knots of wind and doing big air, But one jump I did as I reached the top of the jump one of my lines snapped so I dropped hard like a stone! Not so cool.

Top 2 beaches and why?

1. Safety Bay Australia. This place has consistent strong wind, lots of sun and butter flat water.

2. Gott Bay, Tiree, Scotland. Crystal clear water with sweet waves.

If you could have any super power what would it be?

I would like to be magically transferred anywhere I desired within a click of my fingers. Ha!

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

Still Kitesurfing and traveling the world. Not going for the “real job” option quite yet!

Motto?

Go Big Or Go Home.

Do What You Like, Like What You Do.

Website/blog:

www.hollykennedy.co.uk

For Facebook Page click here :-)  

And for Videos here:

Brit chicks ripping in Australia

 A Lesson in deportment

Jan19

2012 and its Brrrrrr on the water, KB4 Girls News and Guest Blog by Sarah Craddy.

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2012 and its Brrrrrr on the water, KB4 Girls News and Guest Blog by Sarah Craddy.
Hope you are all getting off to a good start and had a nice time over the festive period, if you are feeling any thing like me know, you are probably working hard to shift those extra love handles from eating to many mince pies and not getting enough kiteing in!!
Its been a bleak couple of months here on the south coast for wind with it either blowing a gale or just not enough. I have been managing to get out about once every couple of weeks at the moment, with the last session being on sunday. It was actually quite nice, the sun was out, and there were only a handful of us out, it was a light 17knots and the tide nice and low, had a great session on my 10 BEST TS  Though it was friggen cold, the temperature was -3 degrees as we were setting up.
Every thing is a bit harder then, the valves are stiff, the pump seemed impossible to push and I could hardly move with all the layers on. Though I have to say, I did not get cold on the water, and stayed toasty warm till I got home,  my outfit consisted of a XCEL 5.4 suit, Neoprene hat and 5.0 booties, a MYSTIC neoprene jacket a C SKINS thermal rashie and some NPX gloves. It is a bit tricky getting the good wind, right tide, enough day light and no work combo right. Bring on those lighter days and pre post work kite sessions, its great to see the evenings already getting slightly lighter.
And even though I have not been getting much kite time on the water, I have been getting plenty of kite time at home, there has been lots to catch up on and watch like episode 5 of the Kite Show, many episodes of the first KSP world tour, and lots of videos on the Kitesurf Channel.
And its been very exciting getting ready for Kite Boarding for Girls 2012. This year is going to be even bigger and better with KB4 girls expanding all over the world with females from all ages and backgrounds setting up their own chapters, there have been already over 10 chapters set up from Turkey, Cabarete to Mexico and Egypt. Jo Malyon local Kitesurfer  and I have set up a chapter  for Lancing UK, check it out here, really excited about this and we will be keeping you up to date with the progression on this.
Want to know how last year went? And how to get involved yourself, then read this awesome REVIEW  on 2011 by Mia Toose, with info on becoming part of KB4 Girls! This of course would all not have been possible with the amazing Kristin Boese dedicating all her efforts and time to create this amazing association, a massive thank you from all of us!!!
This leads me on to the first guest blog of 2012!
A very close friend of mine Miss Sarah Craddy, I have know Sarah since we both  first started Kitesurfing, from first face plants, freezing our back sides of changing in the car park, helping each other recover our boards ;-) to now being able to kite! Still sharing our love and passion for kiteing, teaching and KB4 Girls. Sarah was recently also made a ambassador for KB4 girls and has set up a chapter at Gockova Bay in Turkey. So here it is, enjoy!! And next week I look forward to bringing you a guest blog on Holly Kennedy!!
Name: Sarah Craddy
Age:38
Nationality: British
Year riding: 8
Tell me a bit about yourself and your story?
I grew up in South Gloucestershire and spent my life in the water as a competitive swimmer but didn’t do any other watersports such as surfing on windsurfing.  I did have a skate board and a BMX though and also did gymnastics and went horse riding along the River Severn.  Every summer we would go on a family holiday to the south west of France and my brother and I would spend the whole day playing in the sea in the waves.
When I took redundancy from my job in London at the beginning of 2003, I took on a freelance project in Brighton, where I was living at the time.  Cycling home one evening, along the promenade to Hove, I saw these things bobbing in the air over the sea, so I went to investigate and what I saw I wanted to try!  A few lessons and six months later, I’d packed in my freelance job, packed up my flat, bought two kites and a board and set off for 6 months around the world travelling and learning.  That was over 8 years ago and life has not been the same since!
After many years of dreaming, in 2010 my wonderful BF Mark and I founded Always Windy (www.alwayswindy.com) and I gave up the 9 to 5.  We now run Always Windy between us organising bespoke kite tours and holidays, mainly to Gokova Bay, Turkey.
I have also just been selected as a KB4Girls Ambassador which I am extremely excited about and have lots of lovely ideas on the boil for the Turkey Chapters events this year, so keep an eye out at www.kb4girls.org 
Where are you from and where do you live now?
Originally from South Gloucestershire, UK, but lived in Brighton & Hove for 9 years then Tarifa, Southern Spain, for 4 years before moving to Gokova Bay in Turkey, which is where I now spend 8 to 9 months of the year and then 2 months in Vietnam, with the rest in between visiting family and friends.
Right now, we are in Mui Ne, Vietnam running our Next Steps and Advanced Clinics so come and join us, we will be here until mid-March!
How often do you kite?
Most days for around 10 months of the year.
Are you sponsored/what kit do you ride and why? (everything from kite, wetsuit to harness)
I’m not sponsored but I am always up for offers!
I ride North Vegas 2012, 7, 9 and 12m.  I’ve been riding the Vegas since 2006 and although I try as many toys from the toy box as I possibly can, every year, right now for me nothing matches the Vegas – it is a finely tuned freestyle machine!
My board is a 130×39 Youri ‘Yummy’ Zoon Pro from 2009.  It’s the magic board!  Mark and I currently have 3 between us and are always looking for more to put in the cupboard!
Santa bought me new footpads and straps, the North Entity.  I have always had trouble getting off the shelf pads and straps to fit my narrow feet, but these rock as they have so many settings you really can get them to fit your feet (and not just big boy feet!).
My harness is a Maui Magic Hana Waist… need I say more; the best harness ever invented for women, which for some strange reason they have stopped producing – please if anyone in the industry is reading this, find one and copy it!  I had my last one for 3 years and then by a stroke of luck I found a new one in my size being sold on Ebay last year and snapped it up!
Wetsuit?  What’s that hahaha  I currently have an Oxbow 3:2 for the few times I need one, it’s okay but I still pine after my old Xcel.
Apart from kiting what else do you like to get up to?
I’m currently studying for a degree in Interior Design & Interior Architecture.  It’s a home study course so takes some discipline!  I’ve always been fascinated by Interior spaces and how they affect us and the materials used.  I’m basing my whole degree around sustainability and the environment.
I love to craft, especially out of anything I can recycle, such as soda cans, old t-shirts, and things I find on the beach – I have a huge drift wood collection all waiting to be transformed.
My other passion is cooking; if it’s not windy I could happily spend the whole day in the kitchen creating.
And of course I love a bit of yoga at the beach!
Do you compete?  If so what was your best and not so best experience?
Nope, too old ;o)  I competed for 10 years as a swimmer so I feel like I’ve done my bit ;o)
How did you learn to kitesurf?
The hard way in 2003 with scary old C kites, strong winds and very little depower.
Who inspires you?
I met Tuva Jansen many years ago whilst in Western Australia – was going through that trough of learning after the peak of just getting up and riding and was really ready to throw it all in.  We were having a drink one evening and she told me about her learning experience, it was so similar to mine and coming from someone I really admired!  She totally inspired me that evening to continue and I did.  Every time I’m having a low I think of that conversation and keep going!
Andrina Kelly – she’s amazing!  I met Andrina in 2004 at the BKSA event in Brighton and we’ve been best pals and kiting buddies ever since, even though I left the UK in 2005!  I have honestly never met another female kiter with such enthusiasm, energy and passion for kiting as Andrina – even on the coldest days in March she’d get me out there!
And so many more Krisin Boese, Kirsty Jones, Jo Wilson, Suzi Mai, Laurel Eastman, Steph Bridge and the list goes on…
Favourite trick?
To watch, I love any old school board off’s and the Deadman – visually pleasing and you know what they are doing!
What are you working on?
Railly to Blind (ouch) and The Dark Slide – it’s so fun to learn!
In Vietnam this winter I am jumping on a surfboard for the first time – I can’t wait to try something completely different!
Favourite kite food?
Homemade Flap Jacks – you can’t beat them for an energy boost!  Email me if you want some healthy recipes!
What is your current music choice?
So varied, depends on the mood.
What is your preferable riding style?
Freestyle, as in the dictionary definition, my choice!
freestyle [ˈfriːˌstaɪl]
1. (Individual Sports & Recreations/Swimming, Water Sports & Surfing) a competition or race, as in swimming, in which each participant may use a style of his or her choice instead of a specified style
Most traumatic experience?
At the time I’m sure there have been many traumatic experiences but looking back I’ve met people with far worse stories than any I could tell!
Top 2 beaches and why?
Coche in Venezuela always springs straight to mind.  Super flat turquoise water, clean winds and Cuba Libras! And of course my current home, Gokova Bay in Turkey!  It is truly wonderful, lots of space, flat water, shallow and constant daily thermal winds.
If you could have a super power what would it be?
Something environmental/ecological, to do with reversing the effects of global warming and cleaning up the planet and seas.
Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?
Living and kiting off a yacht in the Caribbean… and then she woke up.
Motto?
Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery
Today is a Gift
That’s why it’s called the Present
Basically, time waits for no man… don’t live in the past or over worry about the future, enjoy the here and now!
Website/blog?
Dec8

Guest blog by Tala Elajou and Jezmondo Jones.

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Guest blog by Tala Elajou and Jezmondo Jones.

As I put this blog  together, I am looking out to the sea, it is not looking so appealing today! The water is murky, its cold and raining, big shore dump and gusting up to 40 knots, hoping it will drop of a bit later when the tide is out.

The windows of opportunity are closing in as we get deeper into the winter with the mornings staying darker and the nights drawing in. No more pre and post work sessions for a while, and when you do get some free time there might not even be the right wind.

So with less time on the water, its important to stay on top of fitness for when the summer season begins again, I like to stay on top of this with yoga, walking and cycling. Loving You Tube for this, did an hours class this morning with out even leaving the house, here is a nice class Yoga Class for Athletes to keep you flexible and great for beginners. Also loving the Yoga Down load channel with lots of 30 min exercises , perfect for a quick session before work and a nice way to start the day. Check it out!

So today we have a double guest entry by female wave rider Tala Elajou and male free styler Jezmondo, it makes for a interesting read to see the different styles of riding and kit used. Thank you both for making the effort to put these write ups together, hope everyone enjoys the read :-)

Name: Tala Elajou


.

Age: 24

Nationality: French/Saudi Arabian
Years riding:3
Tell me a bit about yourself / your story:
I’ve lived all aorund the world, grew up in dubai and then went to boarding school in UK, the University in Florida, where I studied Marine Biology. After that moved to Cabarete and learnt how to kite, spent about a year on and off in Cabarete. Kiting has take over everything, and has really taken me to some wonderful places. I became an instructor and then started doing some competition, kiting has become such a passion. I spent more time on water then I do on dry land.
Where are you from and where do you live now?
Between Brazil and the Canary Islands- Some of the best place in the world to keep riding constantly. In brazil get wind from the right, and in Gran Canaria wind from left, so I can always practice my wave riding in both directions
How often do you kite?
Almost everyday, living in both these places, the wind blows almost everyday. Longest time i’ve spent not kiting was a month.
Are you sponsored/ what kit do you ride and why?
Yes, by CORE and CARVED. I have been kiting with them for past year, and they are fasntastic kites. I ride the 7m and 9m GTS with short lines for wave riding. I ride the CARVED 5’10 Burner wave board, strapless. No wetsuit sponsors, but wear Airbound Apparel clothing.
Apart from kiteing what else do you like to get up to?
I try and spend time surfing or getting better on the SUP on those none windy days. I absolutely love the SUP, feel like its such good exercise, and trying to ride waves with those beasts and a paddle is hard work!! I used to Scuba dive a lot as i studied marine biology, but since kiting I havent done so much.
Do you compete? If so what was your best and not so best experience?
I did a bit of freestyle competitions (Cabarete and France on the PKRA), but I wasnt the most talented at freestyle :-) and learning a trick took ages!!!! so after getting a bit bored of freestyle I decided to try strapless and fell in love straight away, love having that free feeling of my feet not being in strapls! Felt myself improving and now looking to ride bigger and bigger waves and eventually maybe do some competitions in wave riding.
How did you learn to kite surf?
I had tried about 7 years ago in Dubai, but once I got dragged across the beach without safety, I didn’t want to try again! However, after finishing university , I wanted to take some time off and try if again , as people said the kites were safer nowadays, and so booked a flight to Cabarete where I learnt, and eventually became a kite instructor.
Who inspires you the most?
Anyone that pushes the limits of kiteboarding, and takes it to a new level. People inspiring to become bigger and better and make the sport better, are the people who inspire me.
Favourite trick?
Just hitting that perfect lip on a wave so hard, gives you so much satisfaction, and big bottom turns!
What are you working on?
I am trying hooked in front side air with the strapless, but can’t say I’m even close! Also constantly trying to ride bigger and bigger waves strapless
Favourite kite food?
Mexican food, a good burrito is the best food after a kite session.
What is your current music choice?
I love any indie band, or acoustic guitarist. I love listening to bands link Cat Empire, Dispatch, and good old Jack Johnson is always a winner.
What is your preferable riding style?
Strapless , wind from the right, 7m kite with short lines, and nice clean waves..what more can you ask for?
Most traumatic experience?
Getting caught in a deathloop heading straight for a rocks in Portugal, couldn’t find my leash to release the kite and I was going straight towards this rock pier. At some point, my kite had stopped looping for a second and my friend was able to catch it!
Top 2 beaches and why?
Vargas in Gran Canaria, you can always ride with a 5m as wind is always pumping, and the conditions get better and better there as wind blows, you get those perfect clean waves! Brazil,so many spots here, hard to choose, but, Brazil has that perfect wind and nice waves too!
If you could have any super power what would it be?
Teleporting. There are so many amazing places to see in this world, and untouched places to discover. I would love to be able to teleport and go wherever I decide, and be there in a second! Ride some waves, then teleport back!
Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?
Inpiring more and more women to ride strapless and big waves, strapless riding is still such a new sport, and its still rare to see women going out in big waves on a strapless board! Oh and living in the Canary Island, constantly living the life, and chasing the wind!
Motto?
““Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Disc

Jezmondo:

Q : How did you learn to kite surf?

A : I was out in Maui, Hawaii windsurfing in 1997 and saw Lou Wainman kiting and just has to get involved. Sold all my windsurf kit out there and bought my first kite/board, Wippika 6.5 Freeair.Q : Who inspires you the most?
A : There are so many people that inspire me in the Kitesurfing world. In particular good friends Aaron & Sam Light who continue to push the sport forward with there incredible ability. But legend Lou Wainman has always been an inspiration to me.Q : Favourite trick?A : Probably the ‘Megga Loop’. But I do like a Front_Flat_3 to blind off a big kicker : )Q : What are you working on?
A : Always working on new boards offs, current pass I am working on, Slim to blind.

Q : Current Sponsors?

A : BEST Kiteboarding for boards, currently using the 2012 Best 135 Armada and the BEST GP’s 11m, 9m & 6m, here is also a review on the 9m :-)

Having ridden The RRD Obsession’s for the past 4 years and absolutely loving them the thought of going back to my routes with a C Kite was both exciting and frightening.

After the best part of 20 travelling hours I arrived to a packed beach in Cumbuco, Brazil. Peeps were on 7′s and 10′s. I have 11m, 9m, 6m so was an easy decision for the 9m. Everything was great right out of the bag, the one pump system worked very nicely and it was obvious (to me anyway) that BEST had pulled there socks up with the the quality. (Lets be honest BEST haven’t had the standards of North, Cabrinha, RRD and Flexi over the past few years. ) All change now though, the kite feels strong and the stitching is very tidy with plenty of re-inforcement. Don’t get me started on the graphics… its so time for kites to start upping the banter with some fingers sticking up and gold chains going down, quite simply the kite looks awesome. The bar had me slightly worried on inspection, I like an easy to use de-power, single bit of rope with a cleet, easy. Here I find myself with 5 lines and all kinds of straps to pull. I like the fact that you get a spare 5m set of lines to add if you feel its needed, nice touch. The CL is nice and large with the option of a donkey dick although the quick release is a little large for me. Ok so thats a quick first impression. So now flying it.

There are so many words that can describe this kite but the one obvious one that stands out a mile on first flight is… STABLE. Being used to a bridle system with ‘pullies’ flying the GP was another level of power. Being a bit of Kite Loop fan to say the least this was one of the most exciting prospects of the good old C kite experience. I couldn’t help myself but pull one on my first jump…. Hooked in, about 20 foot off the water the kite turned and I had that feeling that I hadn’t had in a long time. WANNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG. Going back to the Obsessions quickly not a lot of pressure was needed to get the loop over and done with so being used to that I pulled in the same way, resulting in one frigging massive MEGGA loop, the kite loops much slower and with so much more power and aggression. I love it. Unhooked is where the kite is at its best, as I said before so stable, when going for a handle pass the kite just sits there and doesn’t have that recoil feel that so many kites have, I guess due to the ‘pullies’ which this doesn’t have. Hangtime, surprisingly good with a lovely floaty feel about it, leaving plenty of time to get that board back on your feet from those fun board offs.
Thats just a few words on first flight, I’m not sold on the depower set up but maybe after a few more hours on the water it might win me over.
Q : Favourite kite food?
A : Pasta, pasta, pasta.. Love the pasta.Q : What is your current music choice?
A : Anything funky with a big beat, currently listening to a lot of Electro Swing.Q : What is your preferable riding style?
A : FreestyleQ : Most traumatic experience?
A : Megga loop going wrong few broken ribs, knocked out, nearly drowned and big gash in my leg. Not nice.Q : Top 2 beaches and why?
A : 1. Pro Kite Beach, Maui, Hawaii. Why, windy as hell with sick kickers and flat on the inside.
     2. Cumbuco, Brazil. Why, has it all waves, flat water lagoons, hot chics and wind every day.Q : If you could have any super power what would it be?
A : It would have to be flight, I love flying.

Q : Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

A : Seriously thinking about moving to Brazil to run a kite centre in Cumbuco. Uk sucks right now!

Q : Motto?

A : Wanggggggg… and mines a Mohito.

Website/blog: Really need to update it as haven’t touched it in years, will get round to it soon www.jezmondo.com

Nov28

Guestblog by Amy Kitson

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Guestblog by Amy Kitson

Well the wind is back and everyone  is happy, lovely to see everyone smiling again, great session was had today! Strong winds and lots of waves, got to use my new 7m BEST TS finally for the first time, what a great kite, the wind was blowing around 26 knots gusting up to 37 knots.

Have to say that even though I was quite powered at times I still had full confidence in my new kite, the 7m TS was amazing at absorbing the gusts with no twitching about,only moving when redirected. Today was all about big air and seeing how high you could get,  great fun was had by all, we just seemed to be hanging in the air forever watching the world go by. Lets hope these winds stay with us now.

But until then, to keep you entertained till your next session have a read about Amy Kitson who is a local rider at Westward Ho, I have unfortunately not had the privilege of meeting her yet as we keep missing each other :-) But I have only heard nice things about her and love what she has to say about herself, I hope we get to meet soon!

Name :  Amy Kitson

Age : 32

Nationality : British

Years Riding : 3

Tell me a bit about yourself/your story:

The great outdoors plays a huge part in my life, I have worked as an Outdoor Instructor for many years, I now freelance as a Surf Instructor for Walking On Waves, which is run and owned by Sarah Whitley based at Saunton Sands in N.Devon. I am a watersports enthusiast and always looking to try new sports. I have surfed for many years and once I learnt kitesurfing I have never looked back, it has taken over and is now my main passion. I love to43e travel and experience new places, I have kitesurfed in Dakhla, Morocco as part as a “BEST” demo holiday. I am now searching for a winter holiday destination.

Where are you from and where do you live now?

I was born in Derby and lived on the outskirts of Nottingham. I went to university in Pembrokeshire and discovered the sea and surf. I have worked in many outdoor centres as an instructor and this led me to the Southwest, I now live in Bideford, North Devon.

How often do you kite?

As often as I can, when I am not working I am kiting. I live only 10 minutes from my kiting beach which Is Westward Ho! in N.Devon. I work as a Posty so as soon as I have finished work and the wind is blowing I am at the beach.

Are you sponsored? What kit do you ride and why ?

No I’m not sponsored. Myself and my partner share a set of 2011 BEST Waroos 5m,7m,9m,11m and 13m. I learnt on “BEST” kites and really like them for their safety and stability, so we invested in these kites for our use. I also ride KB signature BEST 2011 130X40 kiteboard. I wear Dakine harness shorts and wear Excl and Tiki wetsuits.

Apart from kiting what else do you like to get up to?

Watersports are my main past time, I am always checking the surf and wind forecast, I have surfed for many years in Cornwall and Devon and this summer I have taken up the latest craze of stand up paddle boarding. I have always loved the outdoors and my main other past time is climbing and exploring the North Devon coast line.

Do you compete ?  What has been your best and not so best experience?

I don’t compete as haven’t had the opportunity, but when I go kitesurfing I am always pushing myself to learn and improve. Competing I feel may come with a lot of pressure, where as free riding enables you to enjoy and appreciate it more. I find myself to be a competitive person and me and my partner always thrive to push ourselves to the limits. I also enjoy travelling to different kite spots such as Marazian in Cornwall and Blackpool in Lancashire.

How did you learn to kitesurf?

I was taught by my partner Craig Shaw, and close friend Steve Rodliff at North Devon Kiteschool on BEST Kahoonas. I took a 3 day course and was taught at Westward Ho!. I never have really flown a kite before and was hooked from day one, as soon as I had my first stand up time of being pulled by the kite it gave me the biggest buzz ever and have been addicted ever since. They have taught me everything I need to know so a huge thankyou to them. I’m always looking to promote the sport and getting more people in involved. I highly recommend this school for their superb tuition to anyone who is thinking of taking up the sport. Lessons are a must for any beginner.

Who inspires you the most?

My partner Craig Shaw inspired me as he learnt before me, Craig made it look so easy and watching him flying along made me think…”I so want to do that…!!! “ I am constantly watching videos and enjoy watching Krisitn Boese, she has a great riding style. Mitu Monterio is also another inspiration of mine, I enjoy watching his videos of his amazing surfboard tricks and watching his stylish wave riding.

Favourite trick?

Whatever I can land..!!!

What are you working on?

My new learning phase is strapless kitesurfing, I am riding a 6.6 surfboard. I love to learn new riding styles. I am enjoying learning to jibe and riding the waves. It so beats the amount of stand up time compared to surfing….I have seen the light…!!!

Favourite kite food?

Not a fussy eater so anything that I can get my hands on…!!! Maybe accompanied by a beer or too also..!!!

What is your preferred riding style

Don’t really have one but like to swop and change between my twin tip and surfboard.

Most traumatic experience?

Sprinting after my 5M Waroo as it tumbled down the beach in 30+mph gusty winds after a self land that went badly wrong…..oops….

Top 2 beaches and why?

Westward Ho! N.Devon Reason: This is my local beach….oodles of room on the beach and in the sea…..great water quality and great waves.
Saunton Sands, N.Devon Reason: If its blowing more southerly I head to Saunton, another great local beach with oodles of space and great waves.
These two beaches has everything you can ask for from flat spots at times, kickers for those airs and freestyle tricks and great waves for taking out my surfboard.

If you could have any super power what would it be?

To make the wind blow whenever I want, and to have constant warm air and sea temperatures where ever I go..

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

Still kiting….Maybe an Instructor..!!!

Motto:

Live life to the max..!!!

Who is your local kite club?

After all the years of squabbling ………. They still haven’t got anything sorted at Westward Ho!…..If you think girls squabble….you ain’t seen anything yet..!!!

Nov22

Guest Blog by Noussa J. Denkler

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Guest Blog by Noussa J. Denkler

Hi every one, hope you are all keeping well and not going to crazy with this lull  here in the UK!!!  Instead I have been keeping myself busy with lots of  work,

kite mags and kite videos to keep my urges at bay, lots of  great footage available here on the http://www.thekitesurfchannel.com/,check it out!!!

And fingers crossed for some wind this weekend.

This weeks guest blog is by Noussa, whom I met on my travels back in Egypt this year. Noussa has not been kiteing to long, but is already kicking some serious ass on the water, she was great company and great fun to kite with, and already a strong head. Always on the water and wanting to try something new, so much energy, there was no afternoon napping for Noussa! So here is a bit more about her, enjoy.

age:15

dob: 14.06.1996

nationality: german/egyptian

years riding:  7 months

Tell me a bit about yourself :

Well I grew up at the red sea , my parent were both dive masters so basically I was able to dive before I was able to swim , got my diving license when I was 9. I started kiting in easter2011 then in october my first competion “kite jamborre ” just entered for experience and turned out to be 2nd in women amateur, I would have never thought that I would get so far .  …. I also enjoy playing guitar and I used to be in a band.

Where are you from and where do you live now?   Well i was born in germany, my dad is egyptian now i live here in El gouna for about 14.5 years 
How often do you kite? Whenever I am done with school and done with home work , which a lot as I live right on the red sea :-)
What kit do you ride and why?

All my kites are broken. i own 1/2 a wainman which my friend and i got as present , harness: prolimit (would love to have ion thoo ) board:nobile666(would love to have an Xenon) dont wear wet suit :P. No commercial sponsoring yet, but hoping hard to get some, but Red Sea Zone (http://www.redseazone.com/) is supporting me with knowledge, and not charging for center use and help me out if one of my kites is broke, so thank you very much to all at RSZ for all your support!!!

Apart from kiteing what else do you like to get up to?  I really enjoy football, basketball and wakeboarding, which has really helped with my kitesurfing. I also like to hang out with my friends, and to go shopping with my granny !
How did you learn to kite surf?

At the Red Sea Zone on a 5 hr IKO course.
Who inspires you the most?

Gisela Pulido since she was full of enthusiasm and never gives up :Dand Kristin Boese-I love how she promotes and supports the girl´s kiter scene all over the world a friend gave me her book and since then I try to follow all her advise to learn new tricks.
Favourite trick?

Tripel s-bend/backroll one-footer/KiteLoops !!!
What are you working on?

Railey to blind/blind judge
Favourite kite food?

Chocolate !! ♥ burger and fries, ”canapci” – polnish for sandwiches

What is preferable riding style? New school
Top 3 beaches and why?

I have only been on 3 which is el gouna at red sea zone , at my house and somabay , all of which are on the red sea ;-)
Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

Where I see myself in a couple of years: def something sport related, of course still kiting, hopefully in a higher league

Motto: no pain no gain

Languages: Arabic, German, English- all fluent in reading and writing

Nov15

Kitegirl Mag!! Kitegirls Clothes and Kitegirl Kites!!!!!!

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Kitegirl Mag!! Kitegirls Clothes and Kitegirl Kites!!!!!!
Kitegirl Mag!! Kitegirls Clothes and Kitegirl Kites!!!!!!

Well the past couple of weeks have been very exciting with a constant stream of  new packages coming  through the door, all designed to make a girls heart skip that bit faster :-) For me Christmas has defiantly come a month early.

http://airboundapparel.com/womens/skull-flower-53.htmlTo start it all of the first arrival came from  Airbound Apparel , this was a long awaited delivery from the far shores of the U.S.A, and when I opened it, I realised it was worth the wait. Airbound Apparel is a clothing company that specialises in designs that express the board culture we live in now all over the world. There is a selection of  T-Shirts and Long sleeve shirts for the men, and  even more for the girls, there are hoodies, shapely vest tops and snug T-shirts.

A few of us girls Jo and Janna placed our order together, between us we ordered quite a selection with the most popular choice being the X and Skull flower vest, and the Dream Buz T-Shirt which is my personal favourite.

The t-Shirts are made from 100% cotton and come in sizes X-small to Large, compared to the UK we found that if you are ordering pick a size smaller than what you think you are. Luckily we are able to check with Holly Kennedy who is sponsered  by Airbound Apparel about the sizing before we ordered, so everything fitted perfectly. Next on my order is the Skull Flower Hoodie, there are many more designs to choose from, check out the website to find one that suits you :-)  http://airboundapparel.com/

Next to drop through the letter box was the all my kite life awaited Kitegirl Magazine, FINALLY !!!

A massive thank you to Tanya Whelan and her team for creating this great read, the  first ever magazine devoted entirely to girls who kite and pretty much anything to do with this sport, this is a great magazine for girls of all levels weather you have yet to fly a kite, or you are looking to try your first rotations. You will find some great reviews on winter wetsuits, girls harness’s and even on hair products to keep those curls bouncy and and your sunkissed colours full of moisture when hitting the water.

Lucky for us, but sadly for Tanya, one of the main reasons Kitegirl Magazine came about was that living in her current location Nottingham, there are not many opportunity’s to get out for a kite or surf. Instead she is using her ample time to set up and create Kitegirl, still wanting to be involved with the scene whether it be on or of the water.  She started kite surfing around 18 months ago and has been an avid surfer for 8 years, Tanya already comes from a background of working on top magazines ranging from Glamour ,Vogue and NME. Tanya and her partner are super keen to move to back to the coast . So fingers crossed you find the perfect place soon

In this first issue you will also find some great content to read varying from travel stories in Essaouira by Sarah Sylvester, an insightful write up from Jo Wilson on her ups and downs to achieving what she has today, Helen Thompson on the Isle of Tiree, Holly Kennedy with some tips for staying warm and toastie,  and some not to strenuous exercises on how to stay strong through the winter for the next season. There are even some kite boys thrown in, for the girls to have a ogle at ;-)  Though only one complaint from the more maturer kiters, can we have some old school hotties in the next edition?

As I write this, the Kitegirl team is already working hard on the next release, which will be the Snow Kiting edition, featuring Kari Schibevaag. I am really excited about this copy as this is a whole new area to me which I am super keen to know more about, another part of the sport which seems to growing bigger quickly each year. There will be lots of info on the new seasons snow gear and also be equipment testing on 2012 kite boards. And some sunshine on the spot guide of El Gouna, Egypt, one of my most favourite holiday destinations. So if you want to get your copy check out the website for your issue now   http://www.kitegirlmag.com/buynow.html

And last but not least my package which did not quite fit through the letter box, but had to be carried in by Santa BEST Rep Frazer himself, was my new quiver of kites for 2012, a 7m, 10m and 14m BEST TS with a 52cm Red Line performance Bar. It has to be one of the best sensations on earth packing out a crispy new kite and slowly undoing the ribbon that keeps it so neatly together. It is a feeling I will never tire off.  A ab fab massive thank you to my sponsors BEST for the biggest smile ever :-)

Hope fully some action shots of new kites to follow soon!!!

Nov8

Guest Blog by Kristiin Oja

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Guest Blog by Kristiin Oja

Hey every one, welcome to my first Guest Blog , I hope to keep you up to date here with other riders that I have met or do meet along my travels or at the local beach. Lets see what people out there are up to, what they ride and  if they could be a super hero, what would there choice be ;-) So first up we have Kristiin Oja, whom I met last year in Egypt. Here is her story, enjoy!!!

Kristiin Oja

Age: 26

Nationality: Estonian

Years riding: 3

Tell me a bit about yourself , what’s your story:

I was born in Estonia, I started snowboarding when I was 12 years old and I got sponsored pretty short after. Im a huge fan of boardsports and thats why I started kiting, I also do wakeboarding, skateboarding and surfing. I hate no wind, I love flat water and I dont eat fish!

Where are you from and where do you live now?

Im from Estonia, but since Im kiting, you can find me from different kitespots. At the moment Im in Egypt, but winter Im gonna spend in Philippines, Boracay island. How often do you kite? As often as I can. Im working as a kite instructor, so I stay on the spot every day, but some days/ weeks can be busy as hell, so I have no chance to kite

.

Are you sponsored/ what kit do you ride and why?

I got sponsored 6 months after I started, from Best Kiteboarding Estonia. I was not so good in kiting at this moment, but since I made lot of snowboard competitions and got good results, Tarmo Richard Klamp from Best Kiteboarding decided to support my progress. At the moment I ride with my old Best Team C-s, but I can not wait to try out the new GP. Recently I got a new sponsor- Cogua boards. Im really happy to ride from them, cause the board is so awesome. I ride with Cogua Colden series 131 – this board has a huge pop, really nice even in choppy water, I love it!

Apart from kiteing what else do you like to get up to?

I like all kind of boardsports, like snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding. The last years Im really commited to kiteboarding, so the free time I normally spend with my friends just having fun. Oh, and I knit beanies, when its no wind.

Do you compete? If so what was your best and not so best experience?

Yes I compete and I hope to do much more competitions in upcoming season 2012! My best experience was 1-st stop of Estonian Championships 2011, cause I screwed up one heat in singles, but managed to win 4 heats straight in the row in doubles and take the win! My not so best experience was KTE in Sylt. The conditions were so hard and I didn´t go to try the spot before my heat. I didnt manage to do anything in these conditions – 2 meters unreadable waves and 25+ knots. I was really disapointed in myself, but I take it as a good lesson.

How did you learn to kite surf?

I was always snowboarding in winter, but in summer I felt kind of bored. I did lil bit of skateboarding, but found it too hard.In 2008 summer I bought my first kite Best Waroo 2007 9m2 pretty randomly, just knowing few friends, who were kiting and thought I would like it, cause I have always beenkeen on boardsports. The boyfriend of my cousin helped me to choose the kite and he also showed me how to set up and how to fly the kite. I just remember him screaming “Dont pull the bar”. I was flying the small trainer kite before, so I thought it will be easy, but big kite was so different and I was not so succesful. After that, friend of me, IKO instructor, he showed me fast how to do bodydrag, so this was the next thing I practised. Honestly I had no glue about theory and or why we need bodydragging, so pretty short after I grabbed the board and tried first waterstarts, having no idea how it should be done. It was a pretty long learning curve, but in August 2008 I was able to stand up and ride. Now, being a licenced instructor, I don´t reccomend to anyone to learn how I did – I was lucky not to have any accidents.

Who inspires you the most?

All the female riders, cause if they can do a trick, I have to do it also. My favorite rider from beginning has been Bruna Kajiya, I find her movies very inspiring and she has a nice powered riding style. In 2009 september working in Egypt, I met Celine Collaud (European Champion 2010), she pushed me on the right direction and I learned a lot from her. I also like to kite with guys, cause they always push you much harder. Favourite trick? Blind judge. What are you working on? Next tricks I want to land are 313 and back to wrapped.

Favourite kite food? Good lasange

What is your current music choice?

Lately I listen lot of indie music.

What is your preferable riding style?

Wakestyle!!

Most traumatic experience

? Nothing special from kiting, but I broke my back in last snowboard competition I made in 2009. After that I decided to do only kiting, water is much softer for crashing. Top 2 beaches and why? Kloster in Denmark, Hamata in Egypt, always enough space and super flat water.

If you could have any super power what would it be?

Hmmm bring the wind everywhere, where I am?

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years? Still traveling to best kitespots around the world.

Motto?

No stress!

For more information or if you want to follow what Kristiin is up to check out her blog on http://kristiinoja.wordpress.com/