Turkey, Cesme, Alacati and a whole lot more

I have just arrived home from a great trip to Turkey. I have never been there before and in my imagination I have this black and white picture of an arid, desert like location. I was flying there with two others Martyn Hogg and Ian Edmondson from Expix Photography to stay with Adrenaline Sports. Our flight took us to Izmir 3.5 hours after taking off from the UK and I was picked up in a 4x4 black pick up truck. I thought, now this is my style! Love it. The driver proceeded to drive us to Cesme where we were staying at 180kph down the highway. Landing so late at night I wasnt able to take in the scenery plus everything was a little blurry from the speed but I woke up first thing the morning to see huge lushious green trees swaying around a beautiful garden which seem to set the tone for this Mediterranean holiday. I couldn’t believe it. Nothing like what I expected and everyday as Adrenaline Sports took us to explore a new spot.



Well first things first as soon as we had our kit together we reloaded the 4x4 and hit the first of many kitesurfable locations for the week. Alacati where you will find the kite school and centre of Adrenaline Sports



Alacati is a large lagoon for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The water is flat and warm and the wind blows cross shore around 20 knots. I had time for a quick freeride necessary after being in sporadically windy England for the passed handful of weeks but I was out with Expix Photography to shoot a lot of photo sequences for Access Kiteboard Mag, so it wasn’t long before it was time for fun work.

Shooting sequences is actually really hard. I had a range of tricks to get from waterstarts to handle passes. Trying to find the right angle to shoot from was an art and then Ian was having problems figuring out which lenses were better. Together it took as the whole of the week before we were happy with the outcome.

To be fair mid way through the trip we took a ride 3 hours a way to a place called Gokova. This spot is yet another stunner with onshore thermal wind which funnels between a vegetated mountain range.



The water was flat and even warmer then Alacati and after 3 days of shooting sequences it was time to have some fun. It was a great place to train and together Hoggy and I caned some unhooked kite loops and went to town on busting some powered handle passes. Hoggy had more success then me with that one and would fly passed my nailing powered low mobe after powered low mobe while I would eat s**t trying to refigure out blind judges and build up the courage on the front mobe. A bit of time off the water does funny things to your body and mind and I tried to block out from my mind that that it would take more then this one week to get back up to standard after recovering from my broken wrist!



The final days of Turkey we spent exploring even more locations with Adrenaline Sports. The wind did a 180 degree shift for us opening up a whole range of new places to try. We even found a wave spot although they were no more then kickers for us (fine by me, I loved it). Everywhere the water was crystal clear.



Turkey is no doubt a little kitesurfing gem that not so many people know about. Keep your eyes peeled for the magazines. We have a sweet article to unleash.

Thanks to Ian at www.expixphotography.co.uk and Adrenaline Sports who offer kitesurfing equipment and tuition for anyone wanting to learn to kitesurf or improve their existing level.

Please find my fan pafe on facebook if you are keen to see more shots and find out quick updates on where I am and what Im doing.

Ride hard! x

Turkey

Just had an early morning session in the cold waters of the UK and now ready to hit Turkey for a wee while! Ian Edmondson from Expix Photography is with me and also Martyn Hogg, so we are in for one hell of a trip! Now for wind PLEASEEEEEEEE. Posts and pics coming soon

Kiteboard Open Holland

This weekend I headed to Holland for one of the bigger kitesurfing events in the world - The Kiteboard Open.



The event is sponsored by Protest Clothing and over the two days 31st May and the 1st June it was speculated that there were around 50,000 spectators. In fabulous kitesurfing fortune the sun shone in a cloudless sky and the wind blew from the north. On the Sunday it was pretty gusty, but by Monday - the busiest day of the event it shifted a few degrees and unleashed 20 knots of pure pleasure.



120+ kitesurfers pumped up and the crowds were treated to a display of fabulous rookie contests, pro rider contests and racing. Ania Grzelinska and I were out there for Protest and hit the water for an expression session. We had loads of interviews with dutch tv channels, news programs and website coverage. It was an amazing weekend to be part of.

Kitesurfing was interesting. Mixing up among 60 other ultra keen kitesurfing was a bit hairy at times and made the world cup contests seem tame in terms of water traffic, but sessions in the early evening made it all worthwhile.



I had a great evening session as the sun was setting shooting with a photographer in the water while everyone else was back on the beach either packing up to go home or dancing to a super cool band in one of the tents.



(this photo is by sebastiaan hoganboom of kiteshots.nl)

I can't wait for next year where Im sure it is going to be even bigger and better. The beach is going to be rammed!!!



Thanks to Ian Edmondson of Expix Photography for working with us and creating some fab shots

Barrow

I seem to be on a quest to kite as many spots as possible around the UK this year. After making the decision to not compete on the entire world tour it has lead to spending far more time in the UK. I love it. Afterall this is why we got into kiting.



Being based down South I have no idea about Barrow in fact the only reason why I know it exists is because the BKSA ran a couple of competitions there on their UK circuit. I quick internet search and I found Gary. Gary is a friendly guy running a kitesurfing school from Earnse bay. He is the man of local knowledge and he introduced me to a spot just out of Barrow. I swear the most perfect freestyle action you can have. His web address is www.northwestkitesurfing.co.uk in case you want to get in touch anytime you are passing near by.



yeah the water is cold, but the sun was out and the water was butter flat. Time flew by and the only reason to stop kiting was the tide heading out leaving butter flat water protected by a causeway dry! Here are some pictures from John Price!! John was shooting from the shore and could get right up close to the action! It was great to have him there and he took some great shots. Hope you enjoy them.




To be continued....

North Wales and Blackpool

Kiting in the Uk is just off the scale at the moment. Its been windy for the passed two weeks. Last Saturday I set off to the North and rocked up to join the Turbulence crew from www.ukkiting.com. It seemed that I had picked summer and although i resisted putting on my summersuit the sun was shining and weather warm.



I guess locally people had thought I had picked the wrong time to ride as everyone was heading in after having enjoyed a early morning session, but sunshine and wind seems like a good combination to me so decided to head out. I took my 10m Torch and hit the kind of shallow channel. To be fair ankle snapping at this tide did spring to mind, but in conditions like that you just have to land it... or not! I sampled both.




It was great to be back on the water and full of energy. My wrist didn't bother me and out came the F16's, blind judge attempts and back to blinds. I had some great landings and some even better crashes and was stoked at the end of the day to be tucking into lasagne with a sunburnt nose and a tired body and fuzzy brain.


This was just the start. Sunday saw the end of the sunshine, but just the beginning of the wind. For the next 2 days I scored West Shore with Martyn Hogg, Johara Sykes Davis and Sheryl with winds blowing 25knots and above. This time it was pretty cold and raining (not the best for Ian edmondson from www.expix.co.uk who was making the most of the conditions and shooting some arty shots from the shore.) Once the tide had fallen below the sandbar the water went from choppidy chopster to totally flat. Then its inevitable that the crashes are coming because despite the strong wind you can't help but go for the tricks when the water is that enticing. Martyn and I landed some good stuff, but the face plants were the greatest to watch.



Mid week I hit rhosneigr. This is the place where I learned. I haven't been back for so long and it was ace to drive my van down the road to the beach front and see the familiar flags blowing and the waves rolling in. Popping into the shop - Funsport was cool and the new layout of all the clothes - hmm the clothes was ace. I took my 8m Torch out for a session, but true to form as I always remember it Rhosneigr then up'd the force and I was hanging on for dear life watching some local kiters going for kite loops and flat 3's.

Following Rhosneigr it was time to head to Blackpool and Fleetwood via some mountain biking in both Llangollen and randomly the lakes.



The wind remained on full force while in Blackpool and Ian Edmondson came by to take photos. Ali Barrett was out having it and the sun shone after a few days of rain. By the time of the demo weekend held by Hangtime Kite Sports I was sure that the wind would have blown itself out, but no chance. it remained full force and the 7.5m Cult came out to play.



The demo weekend was a success and Naish arrived alongside F One, Flexifoil, Airush and the wave kiter Felix Pivec. I was running coaching courses for my new business which ran from 9am - 6pm, so I missed the most of it, but both my students and I scored some great wind and had a lot of fun. By the evening it was time to drink a lot of redbull - and may be some vodka, perhaps even some jeiger and messily ended up propping up a kebab stand at 5am arguing with the taxi cab who had just picked someone else up instead of us. Returning home yesterday was a full on mission and my voice has left the building after such a satisfying 9 days away.


On Friday Im heading to Southampton for some more coaching. Its the busiest weekend yet. the forecast has teased windy not windy windy not windy and now windy again!! let the luck be in and the coaching sessions begin!!

Kiting, coaching and broken bones!

Hey, what a crazy couple of months it has been. Highs lows and happy times! So the low part was breaking my wrist 3 months ago. I fell off my bike on my way to a track and fractured a little bone that doesn't like to heal. Look really closely at that little hook shape bone - yup the one with a line across it!



Doctors gave me a plaster that was 'special' which meant i could get it wet. In hindsight they probably meant the shower or bath, but never say that to a kitesurfer cos off I tootled to the beach on more then one occasion.

One thing I have learned in kitesurfing is that many a doctor kitesurfs and after a particularly good session at my local beach i had the dreaded phone call from my GP saying 'hey Jo, how was kiting?' Busted. He gave me the spiel and no more kiting for me for 6 weeks.

Fortunately this time was put to good use and I have now set up the business Jo Wilson Coaching, Windward Bound Ltd. I have coaching courses for intermediate to advanced riders around the UK, but more excitingly pioneering coaching holidays in Egypt, Brasil, Capetown and my own beautiful country the UK - Cornwall to be precise.



The holidays are set up to offer maximum coaching time at uncrowded idyllic locations where the water is warm and the wind constant. They are places where I go to train my socks off when Im feeling left behind. They are designed for you to work with me on your own goals whether thats styling up your riding by adding some transitions, jumps or rotations or taking it to the next level with kite loops, raileys and blind riding. It doesnt end there because then we can take it further and really work on unhooked tricks and powered riding. I'll show you the steps to build these tricks up slowly and safely and for you to really understand how to reach the next level. They are for the fully motivated kitesurfer who wants to spend as much time on the water as possible and push their limits and work on reaching their full potential. The first trip is ATOL protected to Ras Sudr in Egypt for £899 including flights, half board accommodation, rescue, storgae, coaching and transfers. There are only 6 places and its going to be mega.



Right back to my kitesurfing. Well the UK has upped the temperatures finally now and hitting the water has been a total delight. I've had 4 sessions in the passed 8 days and a couple more before that. In fact last friday in Exmouth I even bought out the summer suit! In 12m weather thats fine, but the following day at bigbury it was back to the winter suit but hurrah for the 6m and sunshine! So good!



My timing had lost the plot and landing my previous tricks still needs some serious work, but Im getting there and on Saturday at the end of the day I passed a full powered blind judge. To be far I landed it on my head which gave me a brain rattle and the pass pulled my arm a treat reminding me that I need to eat my spinach, but it was sick!!



Loving being back on the water so much it hurts!!

During June, July, August and September I have a lot of free time to lay on some trips for coverage, so watch this space for interesting photos and updates! Im back into action and ready to unleash the fury!!!

Jo Wilson Coaching

Well I have been pretty quiet back here in the UK for the winter because I’ve been working on starting up a business in Coaching and Coaching Holidays. I finished competing on the PKRA at the end of 2008 having enjoyed 4 years on the Tour. Im sure I will still do a competition here and there to keep the girls on their toes – or should I say keep me on my toes, but now I will be running Jo Wilson Coaching alongside Professional Kitesurfing.

Together with Naish International, Protest Boardwear, NPX Wetsuits and Sunset Beach Hotel my contracts have been renewed which Im really stoked about and we have decided that it would be good for me to focus on creating extra coverage in magazines, television and DVD’s as opposed to focusing on the World Tour where coverage is super hard to achieve. Im happy with the plan so watch the mags closely but this arrangement also gives me time on something that I have enjoyed dabbling with in the passed – Coaching.



Jo Wilson Coaching is all about pushing yourself and achieving your potential. It is about bypassing brick walls and overcoming fears and concerns. The aim is to boost you out of your comfort zone and take you to whichever level you would like to achieve whether that be rotations, grabs, unhooking, kite loops or even handle passes. My motto is to keep things fun, energetic but effective because you ride the best when you are enjoying yourself. I will show you progressive steps to build yourself up to each move allowing you to learn in a fun and safe manner eliminating the fear factor as much as possible.

I have a website currently being built www.jowilsoncoaching.com where you can find out more information on my UK Tour dates and coaching holidays both in the UK and abroad, but for now click on the picture above and you will be able to see where and when I will be. Places are limited and are available to Intermediate to Advanced Kitesurfers only.

I will be running 3 different courses in basic freestyle, upper freestyle and advanced freestyle to group people of similar levels and each course will have a maximum of 4 people for 3 hours to ensure enough one to one attention without hitting information overload. The courses are guidelines so you can choose one which best suits your level, but we will work towards your own personal goals.

Last but certainly not least I will be travelling with a range of Naish’s demo equipment for you to try and test at your leisure at any point during the day – before, during or after your course!

If you visit Progression.me website you can win a free day's coaching, the box set of Fatsands' Progression series and a Progression.me t-shirt. Good luck and hope to be working with you soon.

Please contact Jo@jowilson.com for more information or call me on +447919276405.