Fuerteventura June 2009

Hey All

just back from a week in Fuerteventura.Bloody cool island. Weather was in the high twenties and cloud was few and far between. We were staying in Corralejo in the top north east of the island. A really nice chilled surfer-kiter vibe to it all.

Overall its a pretty small island. You could drive the length of it in 2.5 hours on a good day and at its thinnest further south its only 5 miles wide. I would go back there for a hell of a lot longer in a heart beat. I thought it would be built up like Tenerife or Lanzorote but was nicely surprised to the contrary. The landscape is sparse and arid. It looks like a mix between the Sahara desert and Mars. Volcanoes dot the landscape (inactive) and rocks of varying sizes are everywhere from previous explosions. In between section of this are huge expanses of sane and sand dunes, blown over from the Sahara desert and making for some absolutely gorgeous and pristine white sand beaches along the coast.



Our main spot for out stay was Flag Beach. Just a 5 min drive outside the small town of Corralejo. This really is a beautiful spot and had some pretty consistent and non gusty winds coming cross shore from the left while I was there. The slightly chilled wind made for a nice break from the high 20 degree celsius sun. Flag beach is a short walk across the sands from the road. It has its own kite, surf and windsurf centre right off the beach with some lovely equipment to learn on or rent depending on what you want. Be warned to bring what you need to this beach ie. water, food, sunblock etc. as there is nothing else here, not even a toilet (well not an official one anyway ie. bushes etc) and if you come without them the nearest shop is back in town.

It is a beautiful spot with with mountains and sand behind you, blue clear seas and islands infront. Well worth the very short hot trek.

We arrived on the island on the sunday, the winds stayed kinda slack til the thursday but was well worth the wait. I hired out a 14m North Evo and took to the seas. They were beautiful, refreshingly chilled and really clear flatish water. I expected it to be busier but was delighted that even at the best part of the day I only shared the spot with 17 other kiters and maybe 10 windsurfers. Plenty of room for all.

The island was well cheap. You could do it on a pretty small budget if you took it a bit handy on spending. We hired a car for the week for €120 and had to only refill once for €18, well worth it.

We also drove to El Cotillo on a no wind day. Its on the other side of the island on the north west coast, sounds like miles away but only took around 15-20 mins to get there. Really nice spot too. Supposed to be good in north to south westerlies. There were some huge sets rolling in there and there seemed to be a lot of surfers hanging around.

Another day we took a trip down south, way way down south to Sotavento near Costa Calma. This place was huge. A massive seemingly never ending hard sand beach with a massive tidal lagoon section that unfortunately wasn't filled while we were there but have seen pics and it looks great. Here again is a kite and windsurf school and rental centre. This beach is huge with the largest expanse of flat sand I have ever seen. Apparently its a bit more gusty at this spot then further north.

Overall Fuerteventura was absolutely brilliant, A very worth while trip and I would advise anyone to go.

Big thumbs up!!

22nd May Session Tramore - Hazey Dayz

Haleluliah and Praise the Elements!!!

Its been 3 weeks since my last session but here are my sins.

Forecast during the week was for 16-19 mph winds for yesterday, which as it got closer died to 12-13 mph if I was lucky. Got off early so headed for Tramore praying something might come round for me and it bloody did.

Happy, happy days!!! Got there and the wind was hitting upto 24 mph, dropping to 20. Sweet. Got the kite together and hit the water. I was the only one out there apart from a few surfers. Lovely session. Some every size waves and some nice cross on from the left SW winds. Visibility was pretty bad as there was this strange almost mid winter mist that never cleared but was kinda cool. Another weather condition to get used to dealing with.

Check the pic to see what I mean.

Clonea Strand session 5th April 09

Great session today. Managed to land a few more jumps. Winds were between 16-20 mph and I was on my 12m Atom.

Light wind session Clonea Strand

Hey All,

Had my first proper session in Clonea Strand, Co.Waterford yesterday. Was a really nice session.

I was using my Cabrinha Contra 17m. I really like this kite it may not do exactly what it says on the tin but its dam close enough. Winds started off really slack as I was setting up, as low as 6 mph. I thought my curse with this spot was about the kick in again when just as I was thinking I should have gone somewhere else the wind rapidly picked up and stayed steady at around 10 mph. I decided to give it a lash.

The first few runs were a bit a of work out to keep the kite and myself going with the winds rising to 12 and back down to 8ish. Kinda frustrating but I was glad I stuck with it. The first few runs were all downwinders and even though I had to the option of lots of flat water out to sea a bit, my confidence in the winds was not really there. After about three quarters of an hour my prayers were answered and the curse was finally lifted.

The winds picked up and got more steady, ranging between 10- 16 mph, mostly steadyish around the 12.5-13 mph mark.

The sea apart from a few foot to 2 foot waves close to shore now and again was really flat, it was my first time on flat water and was really cool. It was like riding on a lake or lagoon.

It was an excellent, excellent day. I got around 3 hours in before the winds slackened again, but by that stage I was happy anyway. I got some small jump pracitice in landing the majority of them and also got some nice aggressively smooth turns in.

Overall I couldn't have asked for more. Plus my parents came with me and were great company and got some nice footage of the whole day.


Role on the next one!!

Great Session with my Flexi Atom 08

Hey Everyone,

had a bloody great session today with my Flexifoil Atom 08 12m.

For the first 2 hours it was like the wind was made for the kite. It was excellent. Around the 20-24 mph range. Bloody amazing. The most enjoyable session I think I have yet had. Was comfortably ripping up and down the most of the beach was so cool. Just park the kite and cruise.

There were some rough seas so the waves were plentiful and varying, it was great. Some but and small kickers. Got some jump practice in which was really fun, landed around three quarters of them so was really happy with that.

Also got some toeside practice in. Can ride along no prob and do an aggressive direction turn to heelside which I like. Feels really smooth and snappy. Just need to sort out the pressure and position for upwind on heelside now.

After about 2 hours the winds picked up to high 20's and I was a bit over powered at times but still managed to hold strong and had some good fun.

Overall was a really good day. Came in after 3.5 hours on the water wired on adrenaline.

Looking forward to the next one already.

Kite session Tramore 7th March 2009

Hey all,

had a bloody great session in Tramore yesterday. Winds were cross on gusty as hell from 17 - 27 mph. The sea was the biggest I have been out on. The waves further out were like mini hills rolling underneath me. Really cool.



Got my first few small jumps in and even managed to land some. Great feeling flying silently through the air like that.Time seems to slow down and even though you are only up there for a few seconds it feels like longer. You also feel like you are alot higher than you really are. Its so cool.



Tried my first switch to toe side ride too yesterday. Felt really smooth riding toeside until I got taken out by a small wave. Funny! Really looking forward to getting some more practice with all that again soon.

All hail kitesurfing!!

Cabrinha Contra 17m light wind kite-First test

Ok All,

got to get my first light wind test with the 17m Contra. I have to say this is a bloody nice kite. The feel in the bar is direct and steady. You know exactly where the kite is in the sky and you know where its heading to. It makes you feel at home on the water and relaxed. I have to give this kite a 9 out of 10.

I was nicely ripping out to sea and back in 10-11mph winds and flew it without realising upto 18 mph.

This kite sticks to the sky, you pick a point direct the kite there and forget about it. It will stay as steady as a rock in whatever place you leave it. It instills confidence and makes progression all the more enjoyable.

Loved it.