Brighton & Hove Have Cable!
April 15, 2011
Yesterday’s press launch at Hove Lagoon for the new wakeboard cable was a real eye opener and we’re all really excited about having such a great facility here in East Sussex… yesterday’s sausages were rather special too, thanks guys.
Yesterday Harvey, Hove Lagoon’s director and a super nice dude, explained that he’s had the vision for the cable park for 18 years and it has taken a huge effort by the guys at Hove Lagoon, their sponsors and the commitment of Brighton and Hove council to make it happen. To Harvey, Mark, Seb and the rest of the guys at Hove Lagoon we salute you!
Here you can see some of the photographs that I took at yesterday’s press launch; there were a number of pro wakeboarders, pro kitesurfer Lewis Crathern and a handful of first timers on the cable for our entertainment. The Kitesurfkings hat is also off for local kitesurfer Jezmondo, who although was trying cable wakeboarding for the first time, managed a raley on his first tack and s-bend attempt on his second! Not sure if ‘tack’ is the right word for one distance of the cable but it sounds a lot better than length… feel free to educate.
The action shot above sees Pro kitesurfer Lewis Crathern showing us mad skill as he executes powered wake style tricks that he’d more regularly be seen doing under his kite. Join myself and Lewis at the cable for coaching days and learn how to nail tricky kitesurfing moves without having to think about the kite.
Never having seen a 2.0 cable system, other than online, it was great to have the system explained and be shown some of the system’s capabilities. You really have to go down there and check it out for yourselves as it differs massively from the other cable parks.
Other cable parks I have been to have numerous people travelling in a loop around a lake where as Hove Lagoon’s new 2.0 cable system offers a much better experience for the rider by tailoring each ride to the individual rider based on their ability or what kind of trick they’re wishing to attempt.
We’ll be having exclusive sessions at the cable and welcome you down to come and join us. We’ll be having sessions for those completely new to board sports, sessions for those who want to nail some new tricks and plenty of sessions for people that just want to meet up and have a bit of fun. Do give me a shout directly if you’d like to meet up for a session: Luke, 07878 399419, luke@kitesurfkings.com
I’ve met a number of people with misconceptions about the cable that are worth setting straight…
Because it’s a single line cable you must stop and start again at each end. No! Go and check it out, the ride is fluid as you’re able to do a carve turn at either end. After a few sessions you’ll probably be able to nail some pop jump transitions at either end like the guys yesterday. Mark told me about a huge raley transition Harvey nailed that makes me think that with the right cable controller we’ll be able to bring some of our favourite kitesurfing tricks off the sea and onto the Lagoon.
Because it’s for ‘everyone’ it can’t be that extreme! Dude! Because there’s only one rider at a time and the cables system offers instant stopping of the cable, change of direction and accelerating/decelerating the speed in which it travels the ride is tailored to the individual.
Loads of swimming! Yes at each of the cable parks I have ridden you stack and then struggle to get the board off your feet before swimming, then walking, back to the start point wasting most of your session time. Because there’s only one rider at a time it’s all about you, the cable controller plays a massive role here by stopping the cable when you stack so that you can get straight back up when you’re ready.
More time cueing than riding. Drop in sessions are an hour long, Mark’s told me that they’re planning to have no more than four people for each drop in session. The guys at Hove Lagoon will be monitoring the sessions and insuring time is split evenly and because there are no more than four riders, no one’s swimming and there’s no walking back from the far end of the lake after stacking, time’s spent on the cable rather than just at the cable park.
Kitesurf Open Day
March 29, 2011
Thank you to all the nice dudes that came to say hi on Saturday down at Coalition, to the guys at Coalition for a quality afternoon, to XYZ for helping to set the day up and to the Kitesurfkings Crew for making it a fun place to be…
The weather report hadn’t been great for the south coast of England over the weekend but the weather forecasts hadn’t taken into account the ‘Brighton effect’ and true to form it was another super sweet day. The sun beamed into Coalition where we had kit set up and freebies for people to take away. Lewis Crathern was down for the day to chat about his Kite Clinics which are being run with Kitesurfkings but he was also happy chatting kiting, meeting the crowds and having his picture taken by the famous Brighton Pier. Lewis brought his 7m Slingshot that he jumped Brighton Pier with and we had some of Lewis’ videos playing inside but the weather was so sweet that most of the time was spent outside, using beer to cool ourselves from the heat of the day!
Lots of people came and found out about kitesurfing for their first time and others came to chat about what they would like to change or improve about their kiting. It was an eye opener that so many people had such little insight into the sport, whether already kiting or not and that there’s a need for such events to help and educate people that are either looking at or already kitesurfing or powerkiting. We had fun too and so will certainly hook up another open day again and have plans of other kite session that’ll soon be released, watch this space.
Two potential kiters at 9 o’clock…
For those of you that didn’t come on Saturday but are already kiting, or think you can get good enough by the 16th October, need to get the 16th to 23rd October into you diaries for Lewis Crathern’s Intermediate/Advanced Kitesurf Kite Clinic. We’re kicking this cheeky trip off at just £699 so get your names down for it now!
Other pics from the day…
Nice Day at the Seaside
March 25, 2011
Pop into Coalition tomorrow afternoon from 13.00 and say hi…
There’s a Kitesurfkings Open Day… this entails meeting up at a great venue on Brighton sea front, chatting kitesurfing and maybe a cheeky pint. We’ll have kit to check out and be happy to answer any questions; Lewis Crathern will be chatting about his October Kite Clinic and will talk us through jumping Brighton Pier.
It’ll be a nice afternoon, the footie doesn’t start until 15.00 and we’ve even hooked up a £7.50 beer and burger promotion with our friends at Coalition… we thank you.
Some one day only deals to be had… ooh!
Calling all kitesurfers…
February 16, 2011
Get a pair of booties and gloves and get in the sea, it really is ALL GOOD! The kitesurfing has been great recently but not so many people have been kiting. What was with today?! The sun was out, we had an easterly wind of around 18 knots in Shoreham but there were no other kites to be seen all along the coast! Was there something else important happening today… and don’t tell me everyone on the south coast had to work or that all of the chippies, plumbers, window fitters and builders, for whom ‘flexi’ time works so well for thought the summer, could not make a session from 13.00 to 18.00. Has the world gone soft because I know it hasn’t fallen out of love with Kitesurfing.
We had a good lesson in Shoreham then I had a solo kite. Tell me wasup Brighton, Hove, Shoreham, Lancing n Goring? Not loving the lack of rain, or was the tide too low? Maybe 18+ knots isn’t where it’s at for kitesurfers these days?! Sure, many of us like the odd extreme day’s kitesurfing but around 18 knots was always the dream. If it had come from nothing I could understand why people weren’t kitesurfing but we started in Shoreham this morning with around 10 knots and that built to 15, then a sweet 18 to 20 at low tide.
At least are students have been loving the wind and getting their beginner courses in with us before the summer fully kicks in so the’ll be independent kitesurfers catching the sea breezes whenever they choose…
Well done to Kerry for getting up on the board today and to Sam and Dan who cruised through their beginner course last w’end. Looking good again this w’end… if my understanding of good is anything to go by?!
Writing or Kiting?
December 20, 2010
Up until now the choice has certainly been kiting, as a result we’ve not shared any info on our blog about either of our most recent progression trips to Zaafarana, the cheeky business trip back to Egypt to check out a new spot and trip option for 2011, visiting Mozambique to check out the kiting there or the two week kitesurfing trip to South Africa to see what’s on offer around Cape Town and meet with contacts that would like to help run multi spot kitesurfing trips.
There’s so much to write about and there’s a 16 knot south easterly right now with low tide at 16.20. Anyone up for a kite here in Brighton or Shoreham?
Love it (sometimes!) – wind forecast has changed!!!
February 1, 2010
O.k, so the wind forecast has changed for the better but there it could still be light…
The local wind forecast (Brighton, Hove, Shoreham, Lancing, Worthing, Littlehampton ect) now suggests cross shore winds. Tomorrow, Tuesday 2nd Feb, still looking like the best day with a morning of 18 knots. A poor outlook for Wednesday but then possible kitesurfing sessions to be had from Thursday onwards, we still say grab it whilst it’s there as the wind has been traditionally flakey! Might be bang on shore on Saturday, if you’re still trying to crack kitesurfing upwind then get to the beach early enough for low tide. See you on the beach!
Brighton Snowkiting!
January 16, 2010
Massive respect to Tim Brickle (www.exelement.co.uk /www.adventuresportsholidays.com ) and Kev Maguire (multiple Senior Kitesurf Champion) – these are some photos from their snowkiting session last week in Brighton on Devils Dyke.
What sweet photos these guys came back with from their day of kiting! Even better still is that neither of them broke anything; you’d think that taking the kitesurfing skills learnt on the water to the land, where slight mistakes could cause serious injury, might calm things some what?! From the look of these photos from their kiting session Tim and Kev really made the most of the snow and didn’t hold back!
Both Kev and Tim are part of the old school Sussex kitesurfing crew, now it looks like they’re leading the way when it come to snowkiting. Hats off to you boys! See you on the water.
Will post photos of Tuesday’s kitesurfing session in Lancing as soon as I get my hands on them. Might have been cold kitesurfing on Tuesday but at least the wind was kinda clean and it wasn’t pissing down with rain! Respect to everyone out on the water kitesurfing today along the Sussex coast, be nice to see more kiters out though!! See you on the water??
Wind, Wind & More Wind!
November 18, 2009
Big smiles, big air and big waves for South Coast riders…
It’s been nice to see lots of people out along the South Coast this week; seeing lots of kitesurfers and windsurfers along the coast from Brighton/Hove, Shoreham, Lancing, Worthing, Goring, Littlehampton and beyond (is there anywhere else? Not that we need to travel when there are south-westerly winds!).
You’re going to see lots more of the same over the next week or so as the forecast is bloody great! Today’s already quite fruity as gusting high 40’s and looks like we’ll keep 7m weather for the rest of the day. If you’re a low tide rider there’s still just enough light left for you to squeeze sessions today and tomorrow. Tomorrow the wind looks equally fruity but could chill out a bit towards the end of the day.
If you’re still leaning to kitesurf and are in need of slightly calmer winds than we’ve been experiencing then Friday is looking good for you, don’t wait for the weekend as the wind is due to kick in again and could well be bang on shore. Tuesday next week is looking like another good day for you but don’t the forecasts like to change!!
Had a really nice ride on Monday in Hove and it was really nice to see some of the Hove kitesurf massive out, you know who you are. Had a chance to put the 7m 2010 Cabrinha Switchblade for a couple of runs now and, like the rest of the 2010 Cabrinha range, it did not disappoint. Super east to control and relaunch, with a constant pull and direct feel; can’t wait to get back out on it to give it a more of a test run but so far I’ve not found a fault.
Zaafaran Student Trip feedback has been great and everyone loved the spot, our group and the fact they had wind everyday. 2010 Cabrinha Nomads, Crossbows and Converts were taken out to test and have been given both thumbs up from the guys. Chris has been loving the Nomad and claims it’s the best kite he’s ever flown for unhooked riding. Cabrinha have been doing lots right and have not only changed the look of their kite range but have managed to improve the performance – thank you Cabrinha! Kitesurfkings had already ordered the full Cabrinha range, for the school, personal use and resale before they came out, all based on the success of previous years, fortunately there are NO regrets!
Is Two Tacks Still Kitesurfing?
November 14, 2009
Kitesurfing today was a nightmare! Leaving Brighton at 12pm the waves looked epic but we knew all the way to Shoreham that it was far too southerly. We couldn’t see anyone kitesurfing in Hove, Shoreham or Lancing. Went to the beach to check out the conditions and the sea looked inviting but with it being dead southerly and gusting over 50 knots we headed to the Beach Café for a cuppa and a bit of munch. After gusts of 71mph (Sea Sprite) at 1pm the wind swung around to SW and down to 38 knots; Hon and I went to pump up our kites on Shoreham Beach with the excitement of nippers at Christmas.
The kite of choice was a brand new 7m Switchblade 2010. Fully depowered and sheeted out I managed just two tacks and was taken up by one gusty loft, not much fun but had to christen the new kite. Decided to pump up a 5m Convert but another squall came through pumping 60+ and so packed up and called it a day.
The windsurfers looked like they were having a blast, even the one that got washed up without his kit whilst we were packing up. Maximum respect to the sea, Mother Nature and anyone that decided to sit today out.
On the up side we met some really nice guys on the beach and in the Café; Sunday, Monday and into next week are all looking good.
There will be more info on the 2010 kit and Zaafarana Student Session imminently.