Danielle and Phil news from Dahab – with course information



2012 is already flying by, I don’t know where January went,
although as you may have heard we did have an epic week in
Switzerland and Austria during this time with good friends,
experiencing learning a new sport, Snowboarding, whilst all the
time being treated to lots of amazing local food and drink. If you
have not already done so, you can read all about our fantastic trip
on our website. A huge thanks again to our sponsors F2 for
introducing us to the sport with their snowboarding team FTWO
and also to a very good friend/ big brother, Joe and his family and
friends for really joining up the dots, making our trip possible and
very very enjoyable.
So, back to the rest of the year! Phil and I are continuing
Getwindsurfing, as always aiming to make it bigger and better. We
will be introducing new coaching locations, continuing to work
hard to help get more and more people into the sport, help those
windsurfing to get more from their sessions with tuition, coaching
and kit advice as well as continuing our quality photo services,
capturing the action. We will also be trying to enter as many
freestyle events around the UK and around the world this year with
PWA, UKWA and EFPT. After last years taste of the Pro’s World
Tour, we want to put our training into action again and windsurf
with the best in the world in all of the PWA freestyle events for
2012. We will also attend as many UK and European events as we
can fit in around the PWA. By attending every event it will not only
enable us to get a fairer and higher result than you might see from
one or two events, it will enable us to gain more publicity and a
higher awareness of British windsurfers sailing at such high
standards, aiming to encourage more people into the sport and
especially for me, show the ladies out there that windsurfing and
freestyle is definitely not just for the boys.
The competition calendar is very busy and we are working
very hard to gain sponsors and funding to ensure we can reach
each event, as well as afford the training time necessary to
maximise our potential and improve our performance and results
in the events. Thank you to all the help we have had so far, any
further help and sponsors will also be greatly appreciated.
Between events we are planning time around the UK to
provide coaching sessions and promotional Getwindsurfing days
helping to promote ourselves and our sponsors. We will also be
available for private and group
sessions and so if you are keen
to get on the water with us to
improve on your skills, perhaps remind you of ones that may need
defrosting after the winter months, try out new locations or simply
get some brilliant action shots to record your sessions please
don’t hesitate to be in touch. As before, we aim to be as flexible as
possible to your needs to help you get the most from every
session.
For coaching weeks abroad, we are putting together a few
dates in the next days and will get these up on the site asap. We
will no doubt be returning to Egypt to make the most of the sunny
windy fantastic conditions, we have another week in Ireland lining
up and also are hoping to teach for a week in Lesvos, Greece and
we are even trying to line up coaching weeks in Aruba! If you
fancy any of these or have your own ideas for us, again, please be
in touch!
So thats us, so far our news and exciting plans for the year…
we will be keeping all the information coming on our webpage as
well as Facebook and news letters. The camera will be present for
all events so look out for our photos and videos, and we will also
be working with Boards Magazine to publicise updates, as well as
a monthly technique feature we are contributing to the magazine.
Check out our first one from the links in my email.
A big thanks again to all friends and family encouraging and
supporting us with our hopes and plans for the year. Hopefully we
will succeed in our plans and make it to all the PWA and UK
freestyle events, as well as getting around in the UK, enjoying the
excellent conditions our country has to offer and helping others to
get more from their sessions at home.

Have you been wondering what Corky is up to these days…

Here’s Corky

“BIGGEST WAVE EL COTILLO HARBOUR,,,8Metres  MARTIN CORKY KIRKHAM.,,

yep…was 9m sets harbour at el cotillo northshore fuerte,,,sailed with a 94 litre fanatic to make sure i got out back!!!!!!!!!!,,sail was 5.3m…it nwas squally so in the gusts i was flying and down the face had to take a board with alot control so i actually took a slow board so as i had control.after this set broke i got stuck on the inside,,and had to wobble bacvk out through the sets a mile outside to get upwind,,then hammer it in straight to the beach with a bigger set behind me..!!!!!!…winter in fuerteventura…..corky…oh and spartan long leg short arm…” (Corky 2012)

Great to see you out there Corky – keep sending the pictures. We (the Spartan we) have sailed Cotillo and anyone who has knows how huge that day is…wow.  We sailed at Bigbury ……wasn’t the same but knee high can still be dangerous….can’t it?

Zara Davies does it again

Zara at Speed

Zara Davis the UK’s queen of speed has been voted UK windsurfer of the year.

The UKWA  (United Kingdom Windsurfing Association) is very pleased to announce the winner of the UK windsurfer of the year Zara Davis.

Zara had a fantastic year to gain her nomination including achieving a new women’s production speed record in Namibia. Then back to back wins, in three rounds of the European speed tour to become the ISWC European champion for the second time in her career. She also won the UK Weymouth speed week for a record 6th time as well as the women’s British GPS 2011 speed ladder.

She was up against some tough competition from the other nominees from the cream of windsurfing including Adam Simms (Freestyle) Ben Proffit (wave sailing) Ant Baker (Slalom) and Kieran Martin (Racing) Zara’s win was decided by online voting and closed on the 30^th of December. Zara won by a clear margin over her rivals and means she joins a long line of previous winners including Bryony Shaw and Nick Dempsey our Olympic medal winners.  Zara said “ I was absolutely thrilled to have been nominated in the first place but to win against such a well known line up is fantastic and tops a great year for me. I would like to thank all the people who voted for me.”

Bob Ingram the president of the UKWA said “This is the fourth year we have put nominees out to the general public to decide a winner on an online vote and it has proved to be very successful. It is particularly valued by the winners because they are voted on by their peers. Well done to Zara a worthy winner”

The UKWA is looking forward to another full year of windsurfing competition which will include Wave, Slalom, Speed, Freestyle, Formula and long board racing. It will obviously be given a great boost by windsurfing in the Olympics on home turf at Weymouth.

Techno Training in December 2011 at the OTC.By Rachel Horton

Techno Training Weekend December

In December even though it is freezing and there are no competitions techno training is on going in the coldest of months. Even though it was quite cold, it was great fun. People from across came to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

On Saturday it was light winds and in the afternoon it got up to only 10 knots but everyone was planing! We did an exercise to improve our tacking and gibing by spotting as we go round the turn. In the afternoon we did three races which we really good fun.

On the Sunday it was windy and the biggest gust was 39 knots!! We all went out short boarding and some were more experienced than others. We were all on a range of kit and all working on different things to improve our windsurfing.

Overall it was a great weekend and was quite mild to what I expected it to be. Everyone had a great time.

Rachel Training

Matthew Yates comments on a good season

Hope all is well at spartan, been a really good winter so far in terms of wind and still been relatively mild, i have only been in the 4/3 so far!

First a big thank you for the support you guys have given for the SWA so far, the prizes really make the events worth winning and for that i am really greatfull. I have been lucky enough to come first at 2 of the 4 events so far and have been the recipient of a spartan rigging jacket and a winter wetsuit. My old reflex suit is starting to fall apart quite substantially at the seams so a winter wetsuit is a genuinely useful prize for me. Unfortunately the suit i won was a girls cyclone (not such a great fit). I was wondering whether it would be possible to swap the suit with you guys for an equivalent mens one, I don’t mind if there is a difference i would need to pay. Anyway if you can advise if that is possible i would be really grateful.

As far as an update goes; as i said already i have won 2 of the 4 SWA events so far in freestyle and waves. With a 2nd at Bristol and making the final at Aussie Kiss, I am so far leading the SWA national series in both freestyle and waves, so super happy with that start to the season. At Aussie Kiss i was awarded the Severne “Awesomeness” award as well, which was a nice bonus in the form of a new Severne sail, in recognition of my “awesomeness” apparently (Proof that being able to mix partying and windsurfing pays). I attached the photo they used in all the press releases for that anyway, Windsurf & Boards+ Boardseeker with the Spartan suit featuring quite nicely. With a couple of potential trips planned before the events start again in March I’m hoping this great start to the windsurfing year can continue into 2012.

Matt

New Russian Distributor joins the Spartan wetsuits Team

And here are some words from the new distributor about the business and sailing & kite conditions…..

So where to start, I do not even know! I guess I’ll start with how he met with Spartan wetsuit! Last summer, I finally went mad from the kite and finally bought myself a kite! because I do not particularly understand the ins and outs of the sport, I started to diver wetsuit 3mm! As a windy day one summer we had a rest in the company of a kitesurfer. He was one of the first who learned in the field Kaliningradsoy Windsurfing and kite rolled on, respectively, also at the forefront! By evening the wind blew 12 m / s and we moved to the beach! minutes and the equipment is ready! And then he asked me to help fasten the zipper on wetsuit (lightning was located horizontally)! By helping him, I noticed how flexible and laid out a wetsuit!Anything superfluous, all seams are high quality! This could be seen even in seconds! Later, after several hours of fighting with the elements, he said that this suit he was not the first year and he is unlikely to exchange for another one! He turned to face me, I saw a wetsuit only one inscription SPARTAN! After that day I was looking for just this suit for himself. Turned the whole of the Russian internet, but to no avail!And after a while when I was offered to swap my new diver wetsuits 3mm on an old Spartan, I did it without delay! I can only say: “Until now, happy sharing!” Soon I had the idea to turn the whole Russian market of hydro clothing and bring people to this standard of quality!

kite and windsurf conditions.

We in the Kaliningrad region has unique sand spit! The Baltic and the Curonian Spit separating the lagoon from the sea for many miles to create a paradise for windsurfing and kite surfing! This allows you to ride on the winds in any direction!The only question that is not always the right wind power! In the summer rarely zaduet 10-12 m / sec! All the good winds in spring and autumn, but in these times of year the water temperature and low air! On this use of wetsuits we especially true! (In other matters as well as all over Russia!) In the direction of the best wind, blow out those that c Sea – West and Southwest. Blow them all fall. In spring and summer is dominated by the Northern direction. These wind passing through the Samland Peninsula, becoming strong turbulence and jumping on them are of particular extreme …
Wind South and South-East of (off-shore) have fallen into disrepute. This applies only just Kaliningrad Bay. The Curonian Lagoon all the way

SERGEY DAVYDOV

RU – 236 034tel.: +79218511179
+79527927699
Email: DavidoffSW@mail.ru
Web-site: http://www.spartanwetsuits.ru

I’m really happy to have won this amazing suit from Spartan Wetsuits at this year’s National Windsurfing Festival

‘’I’m really happy to have won this amazing suit from Spartan Wetsuits at this year’s National Windsurfing Festival, it’s defiantly the best suit I have ever had. Super warm but not restrictive like other winter suits I have used before.  Took it for a test at Hayling Island last month and really appreciated the comfort it afforded, kept me so warm I didn’t need to wear wetsuit boots ’’

Matt Cox

Hayling Island (Esso Beach)

Sail: Gastra Manic HD 5.7

Board: Tabou 3s 106L

Wind: 12-15knots

Wetsuit: Spartan: Extreme Dry

Temperature: +9

Zara Davis wins the ISWC European Speed windsurfing Championships for a second time

Zara Davis wins the ISWC European Speed windsurfing Championships for a second time.

Zara was crowned the new ISWC Queen of European speed alongside David Garrel from Luxembourg at Weymouth Speed week the British and final leg of the European speed tour.  The tour took place all over Europe starting in the south of France, Sweden, Germany and finished in the UK on the legendary Weymouth Speed strip. The women’s European fleet was dominated by Zara who missed the 1^st event due to injury but convincingly won all the remaining three rounds including the UK event, to take the Women’s European Speed title for a second time. Zara said “I am absolutely delighted to have won for a second time. Its really hard work holding down a full time job and fitting in speedsailing training and competing. I sail as often as the wind and work allow. But I love it and I get to see parts of Europe you don’t normally visit as a tourist”. Zara has also retained her No 1 position in the official world Speed sailing rankings and caps 2012 off nicely.

Zara is sponsored by Simmer, Mistral, Spartan, Sonntag, Walnut Grove clinic.

Peter Hart review

HARTY in Autumn heaven
Spartan rider and legendary coach Peter Hart has just returned from his ‘Endless Winter’ clinic tour of Ireland and Scotland, where he encountered 24 consecutive days of wind and waves.

“It was incredible. It just never stopped. It was also the ultimate test for a winter suit. I’m on and off the water the whole time demonstrating, cajoling and then videoing. It’s when you stop that you can suddenly get really cold. I took my Extreme Dry just in case but actually never needed it. The XTR 5/4/3 (with a rigging jacket) did the job.
Over half my clients on Tiree have moved to Spartan suits. Those in the XTR were shocked and amazed at how flexible and yet how warm it is. Honestly when you’re putting it on, you think you’ve got the wrong one and have been sent a summer suit.
By the way, check out a snippet of the Donegal action on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVWva-wmF98

Hot clime protection
You may have read that I got struck down this summer with an aggressive strain of Septicaemia, contracted most probably via a cut in my leg. These bugs are a lottery and gratefully very rare but windsurfers who traditionally slosh around in warm, bacteria filled waters with open wounds, are more susceptible than others. It’s easy to forget that one of prime uses of a wetsuit is to protect. Since my brush with the other side, I now wear a full suit even in such tropical havens as Mauritius. The XTR 3/2 is perfect. It’s so soft and elastic you hardly know you’ve got it on. I feel much more like going for stuff when I’m wearing it.  It really isn’t too warm, especially when you’re spending long periods swimming for your kit over the reefs. The protection it offers shins and knees is invaluable and it saves you a fortune on sun cream!

Lots of clinics and new DVDs coming up in 2012 – check out the action on www.peter-hart.com.
Sheet in!
Peter

Two photo captions
PH on beach. Harty coaching clad as ever this autumn in Donegal in the XTR 5/4/3 – never for a moment was he even slightly chilly.
PH riding mastcam The XTR 5/4/3, maximum flexibility for wave-riding. Honestly it feels as if you’re wearing a summer suit.

News from Rachel Horton about racing in Portland

Zone Champs

Mid September at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy the South/South west zone championships was held. There were four fleets 4.5, 5.8, 6.8 and 7.8m.

On the Saturday as there registration and very little wind we did not get let out onto the water until mid day. We managed to do 3 races with the little wind we had and also being very hot. So a lot of pumping round the course throughout the fleets. By the end of Saturday I was 3^rd place with joint points with my friend, so it was down to what happened on the Sunday to if I kept the 3^rd place or not.

On the Sunday it was quite a reasonable breeze but being in the 7.8 fleet and in 3^rd place I didn’t want to be overpowered, I changed down to my 6.8 unlike my friend Lucy who stayed 7.8. Even though this worried me that she was on a bigger sail then me I still gave it everything with every race being close between us and before the last race we came in for lunch and we were still tied for points. This meant that it was again down to the last race who had came 3^rd overall. On the last race we did everything we could to beat our opponent. We were picking up on any mistake each other made and when we got to the finish line we were so close we couldn’t tell who crossed the line first, so we had to wait for the final results to come out. Luckily I just beat her and got the 3^rd place.

It was such a good weekend and had some great weather too.