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kitesurfing

  • Lack of wind shenanagins!

    We've had a pretty damn start to this years season so far. Just when it's warming up enough to kick start the lessons the winds have either been non existent or offshore, typical!

    Sarah ripping at Llangennith

    We've managed the odd session (with a little bit of driving) and scored the odd sweet session but tbh these have been very few and far between.

    However the time out has been well used!

    I bought a new custom longboard surfboard from The Williams Longboard Company here in S.Wales and wow what a difference it has made. Such an easy glide into the waves and super loose on the wave too!

    The Williams Longboard Company

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    We have also dipped our toes into the world of canicross (running with dogs) with our two scruffy rescue mongrels. How cool is it when you try something new..we and obviously more importantly the dogs have been loving this. We have also been taking them out with us on the MTB's which they love just as much again.

     

    Reo & Lacey big fans of MTB

     

     

     

     

     

    Last week we drove three hours to see a rescue German Short Haired Pointer at a rescue centre in Telford. We introduced our two hooligans to the Pointer (Cherry) who has already been doing some canicross with a local club, they got on fantastic but we for some weird reason were not 100% sure...so we went and looked around the rescue centre and came across Bonnie, a black scruffy dog from a kill shelter in Spain, introduced her to our two in the paddock at the centre and they were immediately like family together.

    We drove back with three black scruffy dogs.

    At Hilbrae Rescue Centre - Telford

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Three days later we went to a local Canicross race, (hosted by South Wales Canicross) where a friend lent us a harness for our new girl (now Indie) so few minutes later there I am on the start line with a dog that I had no idea how sh'd do, she'd never had a harness on before, didn't know a single simple command and was obviously in awe of the whole situation. Anyway, the whistle sounded and we were off, she took to it like a duck to water and pulled for the first 3km at least, she def tired the last km or so but this was only to be expected given she'd spent the last year at least caged in a rescue kennel. Sarah ran with Reo & Lacey and they did amazingly well too.

    Marc with new girl Indie

    We've met so many new "friends" at the two events we've so far attended...and can't wait for the next one. The whole scene at these races is all about "fun" ...fun for both the dogs and the humans too. and we certainly had fun!

     

    Anyways, my point in this long ramble is....it's sometimes good to make the most of a break from your chosen sport/hobby and try something new. It's good to have other activities to fall back on when there is no wind

     

    Short video of the past week or so here:

    From left...Lacey, Indie & Reo!
  • Oman - Arabian Sea Kitesurf Adventure

    No need for wetsuits here!

    After many many years  running kitesurfing trips to places like the Canaries, Morocco, Brazil, Hatteras and Portugal we were looking for somewhere "different",  somewhere quiet and preferably somewhere also with waves.

    What we found was, well .......all of the above and a hell of a lot more!

    It's quite hard to find much kitesurfing information about this part of the world, the video's on youtube are all very old and dated. We eventually found out that there are two main spots...Aseelah and Masirah Island further to the south.

    We decided to do just a quick one week recce to try and see for ourselves, fortunately some very good friends had recently moved to Muscat and they were able to offer lots of help and advice, it was also awesome to share a few sessions with them.

    The windy season is approx May till early September, during this period it blows and I mean .....really blows and can also throw up some serious swell. Whilst we were on our annual group trip to Portugal I was speaking with our friend in Oman and he'd been blown off the water on several weekend trips to Aseelah, even on the smallest windsurf rigs, there were also regular 3m swells!

    The crowds were unbearable!

    We left Heathrow late August not really knowing what to expect, we'd been told stories of sharks, 50 degree temps, bandits and more. A night flight meant we arrived first thing in the morning ready bright eyed and bushy tailed, however neither of us had more than a few minutes sleep so instead we were completely shattered.  We'd also been to "Car Fest" the day before and that didn't help!

    5 x Surfboards 1 x Foilboard and way too many kites!

    Once we arrived in Muscat we made our way to the hire car and the first problem! It seems they don't do "hatch backs" here and we could only get a Focus sized car with a boot. This was not a lot of good when we had two huge surfboard bags with 5 surfboards plus a foil board plus way too many kites.

    Somehow we managed to squeeze all our kit into every nook and cranny and headed off onto the immaculate high way, only to get immediately lost. Thirty minutes later we were back on the correct road (we think).

    Four hours later we arrived at our destination. A random hotel set right on the Arabian Sea beach and alongside a very decent point break.

    The next few days were spent riding this point break - on our own!

    We wanted to find somewhere quiet, we hadn't expected to be the only people not only kiting but also in the hotel. Safa the very helpful and extremely friendly manager (we had many an evening meal with Safa) assured us it gets busier on the weekend.

    By the Thursday a few other kitesurfers started to arrive, all from Dubai and having driven through the night for approx 10 hours. It soon became apparent that the only kitesurfers here were all going to regular ex pats from Dubai seeking decent winds.

    Because of the cost of the flights plus the 8 hour flight time it's never going to attract too many of the crew heading to the likes of the Canaries or Tarifa.

    Our room with it's own plunge pool - with a view straight onto the wave spot.

    This spot is definitely only for those into wave riding though and preferably those used to to decent sized waves also, not exactly the place for twin tips.

    Whilst we were there it was a full moon with big tides but this meant the razor sharp reef all along the waters edge was exposed. This made both getting in and out after a session quite a mission (a good pair of reef shoes  like Skinners would help)

    There is no rescue service here !

    No rescue service here - your on your own!
    The Hotel - A true oasis in the baron desert!

    We mainly used 7m & 9m Kites although by all accounts it was lighter than normal and during the peak season you'll need a 5m!

    Temps were a very sweet 30 degrees or so with a constant cooling breeze. The Hotel is comfy, friendly but very basic. The food was fantastic though as long as you like sea food, always fresh that day and direct from the fishing boats nearby.

    Worth mentioning is just how friendly the people of Oman are, truly some of the nicest people you could wish to meet. At first it was a bit overwhelming just how friendly every one was, from the hotel staff to the local fishermen to random people we encountered along the way.

    A video from our trip. HERE 

    [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nayJqpHJZFg[/embed]

    If your after flat water or more beginner conditions then it's another 4 hours or so further down the coast to Masirah Island which apparently has it all, flat water lagoons, waves etc etc

    That will be on our next trip!

     

    Can't wait!!

     

     

  • Winter Kitesurfing - Why we do it!

     

    Right first off, let me get this straight before anything else...I hate the cold, I hate grey damp days here in the UK where it barely gets light!

    Invest in decent neoprene accessories, Mike Dawson wrapped in neoprene!

    Ok now I have cleared that up,  so here we are mid way through a colder than normal UK winter but we have just had an awesome spell of good winds combined with a good swell too.

    The last few days both at the beach and via social media I have heard a few people talking about their total reluctance to participate in surfing/kitesurfing during the depths of winter and  it got me thinking!

    I have been surfing and kiting for more years than I care to mention (OK so I started surfing approx 1978 and kiting 2000) during which time I have learnt a lot about coping with the cold.

    So I  thought I'd share my thoughts and how I go about coping with it.

     Marc@Blast mid winter session at Rest Bay, Porthcawl.

    Photo @mi_chal

    So first of all why bother continuing to kitesurf in the dark winter months?

    Well for me at least there are a few good reasons. For a start I'd simply rather a good but cold session than no session at all! We have often seen keen kitesurfers putting off getting back in the water later and later come the spring. They also cut short the season once the temps start to dip early autumn. In effect their season gets shorter and shorter each year as they get "softer" to the point where they may only kite for a couple of months in the high season!

    If you continue all winter then when the spring arrives, you will also be kite specific fit, not starting from scratch all over again.

     Marc@Blast - Christmas Day Ritual

    The beaches are generally much quieter with less people on the water and the car parks are also cheaper!

    A hot cuppa tea, post session in the local cafe with your kite buddies is always going to me enjoyable than in the summer!

    As winter approaches......

    My top tip is to try to keep getting in the water as the Autumn is approaching as this way you will gradually become accustomed to the colder water and air temps. Don't put off sessions for months and months and then jump in mid January and expect it to be like last August!

    Choose your days carefully!

    Try to pick your days....... it will obviously  "feel" better on a bright sunny winters day day with milder westerly winds than a grey rainy day with baltic North Easterly winds.

    You are not going to be doing 6 hours on the water like the summer months so pick your times around the weather forecasts and tides.

    Meet up with others to share the stoke but also to watch out for each other!

    We normally average approx 2 hour sessions mid winter but sometimes this will only be an hour or so on the really baltic days.

    Wetsuit

    In the summer you can get away with less expensive less technical wetsuits suits as the water is obviously warmer but also any sunshine will massively help.

    Kiting in winter you will need to spend that little bit extra on the best suit you can afford. Believe me they make a huge difference. Wetsuits like the Mystic Legend 5/3mm is so well sealed it's almost like a drysuit!  It barely gets wet inside but if it does it dry's in minutes once hung up.

    Today's top wetsuits use some amazing soft stretchy neoprenes so much better than years gone by.  New front zip wetsuits are a bit of a pain to get in and out of but ultimately (for me at least) are way warmer than back zips.

    Boots/Gloves/Hood

    Obviously we lose a massive amount of heat through our extremities so it is also extremely important to protect these areas. Don't get me wrong, we all hate wearing gloves and boots etc but if it gets to the stage where your discomfort (and indeed safety) will be massively compromised then it's time to wear some gloves/boots etc

    If your only lasting 30mins with no boots before your feet turn to stumps then give me a good pair of booties any day.  Super thin neoprene gloves like the Mystic Merino Wool gloves at 1.5m are plenty warm enough for most UK sessions. If it gets much colder then something like the Mystic 3mm Pre Curved gloves may also be an option. Both are designed to avoid the dreaded forearm burn!!

    There are some pretty good wind stoppers now available too, these really do cut down the wind chill both on the beach while setting up but also even while kiting.

    There are also many jackets suitable for pre kite sessions like the Mystic rigging jackets, designed to keep you warm right up to the point of getting on the water but some can also be worn kiting too. We wear these whilst teaching all year round - invaluable addition to your winter kit!

    Rigging Jacket that can also be worn whilst kiting.

     

    With the correct kit and the right mental approach the winter months can be the best months of the year for the keen kitesurfer.

    So to summarise, stay warm, stay safe and get out and embrace what the winter months have to offer!

  • 2015 British Wavemasters Championships

    Some of you may well remember that Iksurfmag stepped forward at the last minute to save last years "Wavemasters" in Cornwall......and what an awesome event they ran too.

    Since it was such a last minute event last year we have all been looking forward to see what they could do with this years event with a little more time to plan things.

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    Both the teams at IKSURFmag and Kiteworld Mag have been more hectic than ever, what with running their hugely successful magazines and with all the new 2016 kit coming out and needing reviews etc but also this year they took over the British Freestyle Champs but then this will also helped to hone their organising skills even more.

    Unfortunately there is one element they cannot control - the Weather, and she really didn't want to play ball this year!

    Marc@Blast collecting the goodies Marc@Blast collecting the goodies

    2014 IKSURFMAG WAVE CLASSIC....

    https://vimeo.com/110427541

    The past two months the wind on the west coast has been fickle to say the least. We had a great summer of teaching here at the Blast school but once September arrived so did the lack of good winds, especially on the weekends which is when we needed them the most.

    It became that bad Sarah and I decided to do a last minute trip to Morocco (there was no wind here to run lessons so why not) to get some much needed wind/surf, 6 out of 8 days it cranked!

    Sarah & Marc in Morocco

    https://vimeo.com/139802027

    Since returning we have only one weekend we could run lessons and these were in Easterly winds on the Gower, not our usual westerlies at either Porthcawl or Aberavon.

    So, as the week of the Wavemasters approached everyone was getting excited, surely October in Cornwall would produce the goods?

    Two weeks prior to the comp I saw the long term farming forecast and...it didn't look good! A huge high pressure was due to take over much of the Atlantic and in so doing so would pretty much rule out any deep lows swinging our way.

    Sure enough this is exactly what happened.

    The decision was made by Rou and Jim that the comp was not going to run...a tough call to make but the correct decision for sure. The winds were due to be very light mostly ENE with a very slight chance of wind for the Wednesday and small swell also.

    It's such a long way for many people to travel with some coming from the far reaches of the UK such as George Noble up in North Scotland.

    Sometimes this sport sucks balls!

    But then again this is also the very reason that makes those special days just that...special!

    A special day in Tiree for the 2014 Wavemasters A special day in Tiree for the 2014 Wavemasters

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    I'm not sure if there will be a new date added once a good forecast is seen however I really hope it's not any time at the beginning of November as I'll be away in Brazil with Dimitri from Epic Kites doing a photo/video shoot and opening a new dealer/school.

    Whatever the outcome, it is the hands of mother nature to have the last word on whether it goes ahead or not.

  • The power of video analysis!

    Recently I have had to do quite a few 1-2-1 lessons with people who are generally at a stumbling block in there progression, it may be getting up on the board for the first time, doing sustained runs or maybe more advanced things such as jumps/rotations or riding strapless etc

    Check out the video here: https://vimeo.com/137763067

    Whilst doing these more advanced lessons and indeed whilst running our normal every day lessons I generally always have a GoPro on me and try to capture that magic moment every newbie lives for - the moment you get up on the board.

    However recently whilst checking the video later in the evening I noticed a number of very small things a particular student was doing wrong - repeatedly!

    This was even though I was forever giving advice to the guy on what exactly to do. So...the next lesson we met up before hand to go over the previous lessons video footage.

    The student examined all the short clips in great detail and really slowed down the action so we could examine everything in great detail (the beauty of 60fps).

    "Anyway we headed back into the water and bang, the student was up...every time and doing longer and longer runs back and forth along the beach - as you'd expect he was pretty ecstatic!

    [embed]https://vimeo.com/137763067[/embed]
  • CrazyFly ATV Kitesurf Surfboard Review

    For as long as I can remember I've been looking forever for a board that is good at it all instead of having to have several boards for different conditions, I think I have at last found it.

     

    Check out our Video of the ATV here: https://vimeo.com/136129929

    We've been using the ATV from CrazyFly quite a bit lately and have to say we love it. We've used it in onshore/cross shore  / light winds/ strong winds / strapped and strapless and it really does do it all with ease.

    See photo's taken from video the past few weeks here....
    12309979_10153615348141294_3434643467646116562_o
    I spoke to the guys at Iksurf mag before getting the board as I knew they'd tested it and they told me to just get it, they were that impressed with it.
    It's a very very smooth ride compared to most (nice concave on base) and it also has a very nice slightly thicker than normal soft deck pad which also helps the ride (surfboards often have extremely thin deck pads and as such after a while are hard on the soles of your feet and heels)
     11817125_10153399601266294_6267771372502656147_n
    The ATV comes standard with all you need, i.e. the Deck pads / Straps / 5 Fins so you don't have to fork out on more unexpected items, many boards you now have to pay for the extras even fins. (we would recommend a board bag though as with any surfboard)
    The 6' ATV also has enough volume in it to be used by the inexperienced and is a relatively stable board at 19 1/8" for learning gybes and tacks etc
     11855757_10153399601406294_274538311844245402_n
    The five fins allow you to use it as standard Thruster or Quad, I've only used it as a thruster so far as this is what I'm used too.
    It's a custom made board i.e. not a pop out and as such is lighter and has that softer flex to it's ride not rigid and harsh like some but it also seems to be tougher than any other customs I've used.
    We weren't sure which CF board to choose for our own use and deffo believe we made the right choice...and as such I would not hesitate in recommending it to others.
     

     

  • Why choose your Kitesurfing Lessons in Porthcawl, S.Wales

    So why choose Porthcawl / Aberavon for your kitesurfing lessons?

    Huge empty sandy beaches Huge empty sandy beaches

    After many years kitesurfing and at most of the popular kitesurf beaches around the UK I will always return home thankful that we live and kite in the area that we do.

    The local beaches at both Porthcawl and Aberavon are only 15mins apart but between them they offer so much choice. One of the biggest pluses is the huge sandy beaches (SAFE) they both offer...miles of open sandy beach and normally pretty quiet as well (other than a few high days during the summer like B/H etc)

    Safe in our hands Safe in our hands

    Porthcawl and Aberavon are also extremely easy to get to...each literally only a few minutes off the M4

    There is a core group of kitesurfers in the area and then also a regular crew from "over the bridge" from places like Bristol and the Midlands etc
    The local guys and girls are very well known for being extremely friendly and always keen to offer help to both newbies and kitesurfers visiting the area.

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    The predominant wind direction is SW and cross onshore, there are usually waves..not always big but can make life harder for those not used to them. BUT once you are capable in the surf it will mean no two days are the same and it will turn the beach into one big open playground with the waves as ramps to boost off or rip to shreds!

    Click here:
    Summer with Blast Kiteboarding in S.Wales Video

    We are extremely fortunate to actually live in the heart of Porthcawl, a small seaside town and offering a few beaches working on different wind directions and small enough to be able to walk to all amenities such as the shops/bars/cafes/restaurants etc and you know what? We wouldn't live anywhere else.
    We offer kitesurf lessons 7 days a week from March-November here in Porthcawl and Aberavon and only use current up-to date equipment from many of the best brands on the market. All our instructors are fully qualified to the highest standards and possibly equally important...are extremely passionate and motivated about this incredible sport....and this passion is infectious! There are not many instructors with more enthusiasm then our head instructor Richie!

    Click here:

    Kitesurf Lessons in Porthcawl S.Wales with Blast Kiteboarding Video

    Porthcawl has many excellent B&B's and all close to the beach (watch this space for more exciting news regards Kitesurf Accommodation for 2016 season).

    We can offer a full range of lessons tailored to suit your needs whether you choose the most popular two day course or 1-2-1 lessons specialising in wave riding (Marc is current 3 x British Wavemasters Senior Champion)

     

  • Introducing the 5th Generation Kites from EPIC

    So by now most people will have at least heard of the Epic Kiteboarding brand, or at the very least the legend that is Dimitri. The company is quite unique in that it's a small rider driven company headed by big boosting/hard charging Dimitri Maramenides and his wife Helen who are based in Hatteras USA.

    Dimitri
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    After a long career as a pro-rider for several other brands inc. Airush they decided to start their own company with the goal of producing the best kites but also being able to offer the very best customer service available.

    The aim is not to be the biggest kite brand in the world and dominate the market, the aim is simple...Make kites with the very best performance that are also extremely easy to use..no gimmicks, simply kites that excel whether you want to boost to the moon or rip in the surf...or just help you to progress quickly when you are just starting out in kitesurfing.

    Over the past few years I have had the pleasure of spending a fair bit of time with this "crazy man" whilst on our annual group trips to Hatteras but also on a few trips to work on proto type kites and promo trips to Greece & France. This guy works harder than anyone I have ever known...long long days of emails/video/photo editing/generally everything that goes with running a successful business and then he is always motivated to kite mostly testing the latest proto kites to further improve the already hard to beat range of kites on offer.

    Back in May I had the chance to try the new Screamer & Renegade 5G kites firstly in France with Dimitri and Jeroen (graphic designer) and then in Hatteras ..all sizes of both. I was worried beforehand how these new 5G kites would turn out as we loved the 4G kites so much.

    Fortunately we did not need to worry, Epic have taken an already amazing kite range and injected even more performance..especially notable in the new Renegades, they now have a bit of the DNA from the Screamers. Just enough extra zest to make it truly awesome for both bigger boosting/better looping but still great in the waves. It still retains their ease of use though for beginner/intermediates...super important to us as we use them in our busy school but we also sell a lot to people just starting out in this amazing sport we all love so much.

    The new 5G kites have been given a fresh new "family" look by the extremely talented Jeroen. The Epic kites are now all easier to identify with the new "E" proudly emblazoned on each model.

    The new 5G Screamer in Poison design
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    The new 5G Renegade
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    As I'm writing this we are waiting on the first drop of kites to arrive, hopefully in time for our annual Portugal trip in a weeks time. It's amazing how a new kite makes you super keen again to get in for a session.

    Here's a video we did whilst in Hatteras of the 5G Renegade

    Epic Renegade 5G - Tested from Blast Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

    and the 5G Screamer

    Epic Screamer 5G - Intro from Blast Kiteboarding on Vimeo.

  • Kitesurfing Lessons in S.Wales are GO!

    At last the season has kicked off.
    We have run a good few lessons over the past week or so and the water is finally warming up.(slowly)
    Now is a great time to kick start your new sport of kitesurfing as you'll have the whole summer to get it totally dialed!

    Matt - Day 1of two day kitesurfing course. Rest Bay, Porthcawl

    We have lots of shiny new kit for the season also, as well as our trusted Epic Renegades, we now have some very sweet new CrazyFly Sculps - you won't miss them as they light up the sky with their neon day glow colours!!

    CrazyFly Sculp 7m

    We will also be getting in some Airush DNA's asap

    Yesterday we had yet another cracking day in the spring sunshine at Aberavon Beach with a group of students at varying levels...some first timers right through to one guy working on his upwind riding!

    Mickey - Day 1

    Dom - Upwind riding lesson

    We have also done some 1-2-1 lessons on strapless wave riding with some video analysis which went amazingly well.

    So whatever your after in this amazing sport, get in touch and we can make it happen for you!

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