Brazil - The Video

See below for full review of our trip to Brazil back in Septemeber, and remember we will be running a trip there in November 2013 so check our website for more details.

www.blastkiteboarding.co.uk

Brazil...Cumbucu - Jeri Road Trip.....meeting and sharing some great times with people along the way!

Big thanks to all those that made this a fanatstic Honeymoon!

Rog www.kitesurfexpeditions.com
David www.windyaddiction.com
Neil www.slinetransportsers.com
Mario www.cumbucuguesthouse.com

Epic Dealer Week and Sandy came too!

So after our honeymooon trip to Brazil (see below) and then our successful trip to the Britsih Wavemasters Championships in Devon it was then time for my visit to Epic in Cape Hatteras in North Carolina USA.

It didnt start to well as they had no sign of my booking when I tried to check in at the US Airays desk..not good!  Fortunately I booked the last seat on the plane and made my way through passport control etc only to be pulled aside at every oportunity and searched/questioned. It turned out that my booking came up on the systems as cancelled and then because I rebooked on the day of the flight it came up as suspect!

Anyway all went fine, hired a car at Norfolk airport and made my way to Nags Head in Hatteras OBX
I was woken early by Granny D...long story but just check Dimitri's page on FB!
The first few days were pretty good meeting up with other dealers including our good freinds at Kitecave from Canada,Scratch from N.Carolina, and David from Brazil, we had some decent sessions testing the latest proto type kites.

  Testing the Proto Type Renegade

The Screamer 10m Proto...testing the loopaaage

The wind then dropped for a few days so a few of us decided to change our tickets as there was a storm brewing further south apparantly. So after many phonecalls, flights,car hire,car parks etc were all sorted and I would be flying back to the UK the following Tuesday. We had a few decent sessions the next few days, even getting the chance to kite with the guys from SBC Magazine which alloud me the chance to try loads of other brand kites too. I was relieved that none came close to the feel of the Epic's for me at least!
Talk was beginning to spread that the storm was building, this of course was then renamed Hurricane Sandy and was begining to look vey ominous!

The day before Sandy arrived Dimitri and I had one of the most memorable sessions of my life, I arrived at the beach to see Dimitri already ripping it up in the double overhead surf in front of a huge crowd and also about half a dozen TV crews filming the crazy man. I decided not to look to close at the conditions and just get straight in there and rigged up my 5m. After about an hour we decided to do a downwinder...I didn't relaise that it was going to be 20miles in cross shore double overhead surf, cheers D.

  I did get an interview on NBC News channel though, they could not believe that someone would want to stay for the Hurricane!

That night Sandy hit big time causing extensive flooding and damage along the coastline, cutting off the road to the main spots where we would normally have been kiting. It was two days before we get back in the water and coninue the testing. Unfornately, Sandy hit N.J. and Philly the day I was due to return to the UK so I had to extend my ticket again, eventually flying home a week later than originally planned but this was nothing compared to misery that Sandy has inflicted on so many up and down this fragile coastline.

Once again I would like to thank both Dimitri and Helen at Epic for their amazing hospitality and being such amazing hosts, cheers guys!!
Next year it is rumoured that the Epic week will be in Brazil, bring it on!

British Wavemasters Champion 2012

Britsh Wavemasters
Westwood Ho
N.Devon

On one of the smaller days at the British Champs

photo: Mark Ding Glendinning

It's been a busy month or so....married in Septemeber, Honeymoon in Brazil for two weeks (see below) one week at home then the Epic Dealer Trip (more to follow).
In the short week we had at home we decided last minute to enter the BKSA British Wavemasters Championships in N.Devon.  We could only attend 3 of the 5 days because I already had flights booked to Hatteras N.Carolina USA for the dealer week, this turned into two weeks because of  Hurricane Sandy.

Anyway we rushed down on Sunday the fisrt day of the comp but due to no wind we fornunately didn't miss any heats. The next three days got better and better, Westwood Ho was banging at times...Wednesday was pumping a huge swell and super strong gusty cross off winds from the left (both Sarah and my wrong side)
By the end Wednesday I was leading the seniors (over 35) and Sarah was joint leader in the ladies.

Sarah enjoying some wave training in Brazil

The final of the seniors saw me up against the main man and great freind...Trevor Hale, past British champ too many times ;-) I could not have wished for a better rider to come up against as I have the upmost respect for Trevor's wave riding skills!
I managed to get a few set waves from out the back all the way to the beach which I hoped would help my challenge against Trevor.

We'd already committed to leaving for home by Wednesday eve at latest.

It was decided to do a countback for the decider of the ladies title so we left for home and then my journey onwards to Heathrow and the USA. So as we drove home we still didn't know the results as they were possibly going to run another day of the seniors on the Thursday, as it happened they didnt and I got a txt from my mate Wayne whilst sat at Heathrow waiting for my flight to say I'd won!!

Sadly Sarah was't so lucky and the countback went in foavour of Keira Allwood so Sarah got 2nd place

Marc putting in some training back in the summer!

Unfortunately we missed the Prize Giving party at the end of the comp but hey ho, we took home booty!

Brazil (the Honeymoon)

We have just returned from our Honeymoon to Brazil, we chose Brazil after checking all the things we required in a trip, mainly Hot, Sunny and windy! ;-)
Although it was a honeymoon, obviously we both share a passion for kiting, not laying by a pool so it was important that we ticked the correct boxes.

We had an amazing trip, partly due to the great people we met along the way. Trips to far flung kite destinations like this attract a certain type of traveller, easy going, adventurous, fun, happy smiley types from all over the world and Brazil was no different.

Each pousada (guest house) we stayed in we met more like minded kiters, all searching for the same adventure. We hired a simple car for the two weeks (thanks Rog at http://www.kitesurfexpeditions.com/ ) which aloud us to travel as we wished, so first stop was Ihla do Guarjuru where we met up with our freinds from the RAF on there annual "training" trip....great bunch of people who like to play hard!

After a few days in IdG we headed further north to Prea and Jericocoarar where we stumbled upon a local who would become our guide for the next few days, this guy (Pimbo) was amazing driving the car where beach buggy's would fail! Quite simply he drove our 1 litre hatch back not only along the beaches but also over impossibly steep sand dunes.

Sarah, ripping in the surf near Prea.





The surf in N.E Brazil is rarely big however it is usually a decent 3-6ft and cross shore winds so pretty much perfect for ripping in.

Marc getting his kiteloops low!

Getting the Darkslide dialled!

After a few days up north we headed back to Cumbucu to meet up with our good freinds Neil,James and Rog who we kited with each day doing some epic downwinders to Paracaru and Taiba etc We also spent way too much time drinking British tea at Neils appartment ;-)

Husband & Wife flying high!

Marc jumping over Sarah

So we are now back in the UK and summer seems long gone replaced with cold grey sky's, still at least we should get some decent winter winds and swells very soon, next week is the British Wavemasters in Devon and then at the end of the week i'm off to Hatteras, North Carolina USA to the Epic Dealers week to meet up with Dimitri & Helen plus all the other lucky Epic dealers from aound the world.

Litewave DV8 new to Blast Demo Fleet

Had one one of these little beauties in for demo for a week or so now and not really had chance to have a proper session on it (too many students demanding lessons)
Anyway, today I managed a very short session on this board (just as the wind was dying) The board is errm solid (read heavey) although this is not at all noticable on the water, hopefully this means it's going to be durable too...like Litewave's are known to be. It really does feel super tough!
Pretty much every surfboard I have known I have eventually put my heel through, I really can't see this ever happening as the board is more twin tip construction under foot with surf rails and outline/rocker etc

The DV8 can be ridden with or without the straps as a surfboard but it is also awesome in flat water for some Mitu style fun, the rail makes it very easy to grab...and not drop like I usually do.

Looking forward to more powered up sessions on it very soon.

http://www.blastkiteboarding.co.uk/inde ... ductId=478

BBC Breakfast TV LIVE

With the interest in the 2016 debut for kitesurfing in the Olympics there is obviously a lot of national interest in Kitesurfing right now.
We were asked at short notice if we could meet up the following day at 5.30am (yesterday) for a live broadcast and chat about the inclusion of kitesurfing etc
Fortunately we had a brilliant day for the live broadcast on Breakfast TV (National) yesterday and then we also had an interview for BBC World Live which I've had messages from people who saw it all over the world.
The sun was up early as was the wind!
Great show by the locals...10 guys on the water by 5.45am respect!
The rest of the day just got better and better.
Hot and sunny with flat water, great company...awesome!
Massive shout of thanks to all those that made it down so early in the morning..awesome!

Marc speaking as BKSA Secretary

Sarah chatting about the British prospects of Kiting in the Rio Olympics in 2016

Iksurf mag comp

The latest issue of Iksurf mag is now online, can you find the Blast Logo ?


http://www.iksurfmag.com/issue34/?Cover

Free Mystic Poncho to the winner to be picked at random
*UK only