It's been long time coming!

Bad advert for Blast or Kitesurfing?

I really don't think so, we have been pushing ourselves kitesurfing for the past 12 years plus (almost 20 years between the two of us) This is the first time either of us have really hurt ourselves, and we'd both do the same again tomorrow. Both our injuries were from KITELOOPS.....they are punishing, and quite a few of the top pro's have injuries stemming from kiteloops, but they are very very addictive and the ultimate "high" that kitesurfing can provide!

Kitesurfing is still a pretty safe sport if basic guidelines are followed and indeed we have seen way more injuies over the years in sports like MTB, Skiing/Snowboarding/Wakeboarding etc etc Kitesurfing is safer now than it ever was, the kites have huge depower and a much bigger wind range, instruction is also very professional these days.

If you want adrenaline, you want excitement, you want to enjoy the total buzz of flying over the water then get in touch with us now!

Warning....it is very addictive!

As the titles says, it's been a long time coming!!

I like to think I have not held back from anything that I have done in life especially in the sports I love so much and anyone who loves their sport as much as we do knows the risks we also take every day.

Sports like kitesurfing are called "extreme" for a reason and we all put ourselves at risk every time we rig up our kites but this is part of the reason why we are addicted to them and the adrealine they provide us.

After a lifetime of enjoying the thrills of many adrenaline sports and also competing at a high level in many of them I have seen so many injuries over the years (some pretty serious) and you always know...one day it may be you.

Kiteloop Brazil

Over these many years I have enjoyed throwing myself of mountains both on snowboards (qualified instructor) mountain bikes (everyone should ride downhill in Morzine at least once in their lives) surfing all over the world at many of the best spots known and ofcourse kitesurfing since the begining of the sport here in the UK.



To be honest I've had so many good sessions and good times over the past two months or so...after our amazing wedding we hit N.East Brazil for two weeks of solid 7m days, some on the lagoons and some on the surfboards doing down-winders. Then we arrived home just in time to compete in the BKSA British Wavemasters where I won the UK Seniors title and Sarah scored 2nd in the ladies, I then immediately jetted off to the Hatteras USA to visit Epic Kites for their dealer week...this turned into two amazing weeks courtesy of Hurricane Sandy. Since returning home Sarah had her knee checked out as she'd hurt it bad in the comp and unfortunately it turned out she needed surgery to replace her ACL...which a week later she had done and is now on crutches and off work for a few months at least.

Hurricane Sandy USA

Over the last week or two I've scored a few more awesome days including a fantastic day down West Wales with mates..Andy9lives, Stubsy and Ian. The surf that day was pretty all time, plus we had a fantastic day at llangennith last Friday with Gareth and Ads, I was totally lit on my 5m.....so all was good in the world!

Sunday was shaping up to be a particularly nice day, 20 knots plus and cross shore winds with sunshine too. We arrived at Aberavon beach and met up with all our usual regulars...all buzzing for a great session to come. W/ends have been pretty poor for the past few months and at last the w/end guys could fill their socks.

Fresh West WALES

BUT like I said in the begining, it's been a long time coming, I knew I'd gotten away with so much (other than the usual sprains etc) So on Sunday I rigged the 9m Screamer for a change and took my Blankforce Advisory in for a boosting session as there was no surf at all and all my recent sessions had been on a surfboard and I do like to mix it up a little.

Waiting for the ambulance

I normally do a few minutes kind of warming up and sussing out the wind/conditions but this time I did a high kiteloop on my first run, then another and then on my third one I landed really fast and super powered, as I was trying to run it out I caught an edge, the board flipped over and the force of this ruptured my ligamnets in the ankle and snapped my fibluar.

Oh sh*t!

I now know why this kite is called an EPIC "SCREAMER"



The guys on the beach were all fantastic, calling an ambulance immediately, keeping me warm, and keeping the banter flowing too ( and keeping my mind from drifting into negative thoughts)

I was taken too the hospital and after X-Rays I was plastered from my toes to thigh and kept in overnight and told I'd have an operation on Tuesday. However after some more X-Rays they replastered my leg just below the knee and was able to leave late last night.
When I have the plaster removed hopefully all will be good if not then I will have to have the operation, so fingers crossed!

Whatever the outcome, I have got off extremely lightly both now and over all the years I have pushed myself in these such addictive sports.

If kitesurfing ever became totally risk free I am pretty sure I'd find some other "fix" but for now I can't wait to get back out there with my mates...living life to the full!

So after a lifetime of reckless abuse, time has eventually caught up with me, I've never had stiches, never broken a bone (lots of cracked ribs and cracked pelvis though) never been in hospital etc etc I still consider myself extremely lucky and intend to carry on once ready and fit to do so.

The Physio was an old student of Blast Kiteboarding, cheers for all the help Lucas

I'm now back home with my beautifull new wife and we're both wobbling around on crutches, both unable to drive and both itching to get back on the water! We were meant to be flying off to Barcelona today to meet up with Blankforce Boards  and also enjoy a few relaxing days sitting in cafes watching the world wizz past, something we never get to do as we are usually way to busy to do "nothing".

In the mean time it's business as usual at the Blast HQ and we are still really busy with orders especially with Christmas fast approaching, we are also both busy on the website and everything else we don't usually have time to do in the busy teaching season. I will also be down the beach evey opportunity to take photo's of the guys and offer advice for tricks (maybe not kiteloops though)

Also we have a truck load of demo gear available to try, obviously kites from Epic/Mutiny/Genetrix but also boards from Blankforce/Epic/Juice/Litewave and also some Dynabar's etc

so...ride hard but ride safe!

Sarah took this shot of my first run

Help

Marc

What a great week we had over in Brandon Bay, Ireland for the British Wave Champs.

It was very much a last minute decsion to go after a cheeky wave session on the point in Porthcawl with fellow wave slayer Andy Evans. Anyway two days later we're on the ferry in the Blast Bus complete with numerous wave toys inc. SUP's etc

I managed to win all my rounds and had a direct route to the Final....stoked!

Unfortunately my luck ran out then as I didnt really get a decent set wave and and ended up 3rd, still cant grumble not bad for my 1st Final

Bring on 2011

The Finalists

http://www.britishkitesurfingassociation.co.uk/images/stories/eventstwentyten/group%20winners%20ireland%20web.jpg



BKSA Wavemasters - Ireland



Brandon Bay, Dingle, Ireland
Sept 21st-25th
Sponsors- Spillane’s, North, Kerry County Council, Visit Ireland
Co-Sponsors- F-One, RRD , Kitesurf Ireland, Jamie KnoxTravel Partner- Stena Line
Tour Sponsors- Deadman, King of Watersports, Ion

The venue was set and the race crew rushed over from Scotland Kiteival event on the Monday morning Stena Line Ferry. Arriving in Dublin and crossing Ireland in the morning with the stunning scenery was a joy on the new Irish motorways
We arrived in Brandon Bay with the sight of 30 riders on the water warming up in cross off 3ft perfection – however as soon as the race crew decided to hit the water on their day off the wind dropped !
Tuesday The morning arrived with registration took place at Spillane’s the centre of all activities for the week. A record number of riders registered in this the 5th year of the BKSA Wavemasters. There were 24 Men, 9 seniors and 4 Ladies 5 of which were from the IKSA the Irish National Kitesurfing Association.
Competition kicked off at 12.30 pm with a strong Southerly blowing – the beach of choice was Stony Gap a great little sport which had great grass rigging areas in the dunes and a great viewing platform
The riders were well powered on 9 , 8 and even 7 m were in use – however the waves were small – 2ft at best . The ladies and seniors were first out in a mix of heats and performed well under the tough conditions – it was very hard to read the swell lines. The rain came in about 4pm and the wind disappeared.
Wednesday
The forecast was SW so we all headed to Gowlane at 10 am – the event was set up and the wind blew through enough to run the final of the ladies – standouts on port tack was World Champ and former two times BKSA wavemaster winner Kirsty Jones and European Freestyle champ Celine Coullard – Kirsty Jones taking the win on round 1. The wind did not play ball for the Seniors who were left standing around on the beach in wetsuits waiting for the wind to fill in which of course it did not – competition was called off at 4.30 pm
Thursday
This was always forecast to be the best day and it certainly delivered wind from the North giving starboard riding . We all met at Dumps and although the swell was small it steadily increased during the day to peek at approx 5ft towards the finals. The day kicked off with the semis of the Seniors - Marc Rowley and Trevor Hale had made it to the Final while 3 battled it out for one last place – Richard Gowers secured this . There was a short break and the final got underway in marginal 9 m weather Hale , Rowley and Gowers battled it out in the 3ft surf for 10 minutes. It was close between Hale and Gowers – Trevor Hale had a great power however it was Richard Gowers better wave selection and more vertical attack that took the win .
The Mens comp then got underway – Early upsets in the first rounds were Paul Stebbings taking 1st place against Richard Sills and also Dom Yule taking out top Irish Seed Ryan Cootes – they were to have a second chance however as we were running a reportage which enabled riders to have a second chance to get through.
Round 2 saw the wind pick up and most of the top riders got through as predicted , Ryan Coote, Richard Sills still in the comp .
Styles were vastly different from unstrapped unhooked to strapped and hooked in – strapped looking like the best option as the waves were extremely choppy and unpredictable.
Round 3 saw some upsets and early departures for Neal Gent , George Noble , James Waters and Dave Ibbertson
Semi number one saw Richard Sills against Dom Yule – Yule had ridden considerably well during the whole comp riding strapped however it was Sills who with increased waves managed to get more vertical and snappy to secure his place in the final.
Semi number two had 3 riders two strapless and on strapped . Will Bennett was on fire looking like he had straps to take 1st while Rob Sayer took some great waves to take 2nd and Lee Harvey in 3rd leaving the comp to take 5th overall.
The Final with now 5 judges on hand was next up with 3 times BKSA Wavemasters champ Will Bennett up against Richard Sills – his toughest opponent to date . Richard had some great waves and smacked vertical however Will’s linked turns and smacked lips and his uncanny wave selection of finding the best waves secured another win for the 4th year in a row.
In the losers final it was the two outsiders who had ridden fantastically during the event Dom Yule and Rob Sayer both with straps who took to the water for the final heat of the day – Dom was unable to match Rob’s wave selection and while putting in some great rides Rob powered his way to a well deserved 3rd
That night Spillane’s was packed with happy competitors content that the event had been completed and afterwards it was back to Gareth (Mogsy) Morgan for Karaoke while . There was only one major injury of the week and that fell to Tara (Mrs Pasty) at this Karoke evening – a trip to the hospital the next day saw Tara with a plaster around her ankle !Friday
The swell had picked up even more and the wind swung a touch more offshore after a few beaches were checked out we decided to set up once again at Stony Gap .
Two more rounds of Ladies took place with starboard conditions favouring Debbie Kennedy and Kirsty Jones who both rode some long walls and get some great riding in . Celine Coullard put in a great try on her backhand however it was not enough to save her 2nd place , Debbie thus took two more 2nds to get her 2nd overall and Kirsty 1st
The Mens and Seniors went for a free session as it was to light to run an official competition.The waves had increased up to 3m and 16 second intervals with large kites (11-14m) the only things enough to get you up wind . The waves were fantastic and most riders caught a few waves of their lives .
The night was spent with a great BBQ prepared by Freestyle Race Director Mark Ward, and the Flag girls ! Ossie did a great job for the 40 people who turned up on the Industrial BBQ that Ryan Coote bought along .
Saturday
There was no wind on the Saturday – riders scored many surf reefs such as Mossies and Gary Williams ( do not know why it is called this ?) in classic clean conditions.
Prize giving was done at Spillane’s at 9.30pm
Competitors received Glass trophies and a prize fund split of £1000


The Finalists



Mens
1-Will Bennet2-Richard Sills3-Rob SayerLadies1-Kirsty Jones2-Debbie Kennedy3-Celine Coullard
Seniors
1-Richard Gowers2-Trevor Hale3-Marc Rowley
King of Watersports
Best Waves – awarded to Lee “Pasty” Harvey
Thanks to all our Sponsors, Judges, Beach Marshall (Debbie and Paul ), Flag Girls (Tara, Sarah and Lisa) and Paul from Irish Surf rescue.
Thanks to Dave for the film coming soon
Dom Moore from Kitesurf Mag for all pics