Jo Wilson - Pro Kitesurfer and Coach

Home from Brazil with a sugar snow sprinkle

2011-12-06T01:37:00.000-08:00

Well last week I finally made it back home after a 7 week stint in Brazil. Brazil offers some of the most phenomenal kitesurfing during the UK's Autumn and this was one year that it wasn't going to let the side down. In 7 weeks I think I had just one full day without wind - now that is one hell of a record

(Popping some stunts at Taiba with James Boulding)

I went out to Brazil to escape from the cold temperatures of the UK. I wanted to head to somewhere that was guaranteed to be great kiting and to get me on the water on a regular basis where I could rebuild my level and then improve on it. Brazil is certainly the place to do it and I spent around 2 weeks in Uruau where the wind blows for a 12m, then Cumbuco and then Taiba where I was largely on my 8m and then to Paracuru where you can find more regular waves. I also rode my 8m Torch, but could have got away with my 6m on a couple of days too.

(Building up the handle passes in Uruau with Pro Kite Brasil)

These days I am finally getting in to the wave riding. My friends have been going on at me for years to pick up a surfboard, but my heart is in the freestyle and whenever I have given the surfboard a try I have always missed the twin tip and popping out a small trick at every little perfect ramp or ideal stretch of flat water. Either that or I have wanted to train on one particular move for the entire session, so the wave board has never got me too pysched.

(Building up the handle passes in Uruau with Vincent Bergeron)

My freestyle in Brazil was the best it has ever been and I was landing some powered handle passes with some fairly good consistency and I have been having fun messing about with kite loops and darkslides as well, but this year I took the wave board with me and a couple of Naish Parks and really enjoyed evening sessions when most people had cleared the water to mess about with tacs and gybes.

(Crusing out in Taiba, Photo James Boulding)

In cumbuco the tide gives rise to a chunky shore break and some of my funniest sessions were when I was trying to tuck myself in to one of these before being spat out up the beach. Im still gathering gravel and sand out of my bikini lining and it took a couple of showers before I could unpick it all from my hair.

(Too hard before washed up, photo James Boulding)

I even took on a couple of downwinders where I had some of my best wave rides to date and am glad to whole heartedly say that Im starting to 'feel' the wave riding too. I'm starting to feel the surfboard is an extension of my feet and not something plonked underneath me.

(A view from up above in Taiba)

Now back in the UK I have been welcomed by snow. The temperatures are pretty chilly, but Im still psyched to get on the water. I have a couple of toasty wetsuits from Prolimit and an awesome rigging jacket. Its my first winter while being sponsored by them, so Im looking forward to testing the suits out. Bring on the waves over the winter. The UK sends through some phenomenal low pressures bringing world class conditions to those willing to look for it. I'll keep you posted on life as a seal!

Palm tree wilson

2011-10-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Well Im here in Uruau, Brazil. Staying at Pro Kite Brazil. I have been here a week now and it has been lovely. The wind hasn't been exactly pumping - it seems that it needs a rest, but I have been out everyday on my 12m and busting some stunts, building my strength back up and ironing out the kinks of a few months in the UK. I cant complain at all!!!

(Hiding under the palm tree)

Pro Kite Brazil have been set up for a few years now and I first met the managers when in Sotavento in Fuerteventura and am always glad to see them. Its just great they got out of that crazy wind place and came to this little paradise.

My travels to Brazil were eventful. It had been a busy build up to leaving and when I finally arrive at the train station to get to the airport I realised I had left one bag behind!! I quickly did the maths to see if that bag was necessary and with it containing all my Naish Torches it came quite clearly evident that a mad rush through rush hour traffic of Kendal, was necessary! We were back on the platform with minutes to spare! Unfortunately the fun didnt stop there as the platform manager told me I couldnt travel by train as travelling with a surfboard was against the rules!!! It had been for all the 20 years that he worked for the national rail! Ah crap! with no plan and no idea how to get to the airport he finally relented and let me on!

(Not going to stop me getting to this peaceful paradise)

It didnt stop there either! Once at the airport I had check in woman from hell! She seemed all sweetness and nice from the outside, but its true to say beauty only goes skin deep! She was one horrible mean lady! Despite my luggage being under weight she wanted me to pay £350 extra for luggage because my surfboard should have been in its own seperate bag weighing 12kgs, but because it wasn't she wanted to rip me off despite being well under weight! I wasnt having any of it and had a spare bag in the bag which she had just sent down to the aircraft! I had asked her not to send it until everything was checked on, but she ignored me, so I asked her to bring it back so I could do as she said and put the rest of the luggage in a separate bag! Seemingly a pointless task as it wouldnt effect the weight but she made me do it anyway she still refused to take it saying it was not clothes and shoes and so I still had to pay even though it fitted in a bag under the dimensions and under weight! I definately was at the end of my politeness and was seeing red by this point!

(A lagoon all to myself)

Next up I went to pay followed hotly by this mean horrible lady and I explained the situation to the lady who takes the money! She agreed that it was out of order and told the mean lady that she was being unfair! Ha - I win! Except I didnt as the horrible lady had checked my boyfriend and I all the way to brazil on seats at the opposite end of the planes to each other! Grr!! Watch out for her if your coming out on my coaching trip flying with Tap! Her name is Debbie, she is the epitomy of beauty only goes skin deep!

Well sat here sipping my coconut after a session on my 12m I suppose we did win because we are now here in Brazil, kiting every day and enjoying every second of the sunshine while she is busy back at heathrow going through the same old ritual and succesfully ruining people's days but only for small insignificant moments in time!! If you ever get her - keep smiling. It will be worth it on the other side!

(Trying to get the kgb back which I last landed in Egypt in July)

In two days time I am running the first if my Brazil Baby Surfari and Coaching Holidays. The trip is fully booked and everyone is in for one heck of a ride! Check out www.jowilsoncoachng.com for updates or follow us on facebook

Prolimit International Team Rider

2011-07-21T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hey all, guess what! I finally have a fantastic sponsorship for wetsuits. In my career of kitesurfing I dont think I have ever been 100% satisfied with the wetsuits that I wear, but now things have changed. I have just signed a contract with Prolimit International.

(Throwing down a railey in the Prolimit Pure Chill Top Vest)

I have tried their wetsuits in the passed plus I had some fantastic light thermal tops for my recent trip to Egypt which worked absolutely perfectly. Being based mainly in the UK having a great wetsuit is crucial, so I am over the moon to have Prolimit behind me. They can provide the wetsuits necessary for the wide variety of different locations that I visit as a professional rider and as a coach. Woop woop!!!

Crusing in the light afternoon wind in Egypt in the Prolimit Sleeveless Shorty

Check out their website at Prolimit

Egypt

2011-06-07T23:29:00.000-07:00

Well Im off to Egypt tomorrow. I have a couple of weeks of coaching mixed in with a couple of weeks of training. Im so fired as I have all my Naish 2012 kit which looks amazing! Im already in love with the bar and I havent even unwrapped it yet!

Im taking my boots out there again this year. Ive put a bit of time in to them, but not much, but my last session up here in Cumbria spoke volumes and Ive decided I need more action in them, so they are coming.

Im lacking in some awesome action shots at the moment, so I shall do my best to get some out there and load them up online!!

I have a couple of spaces left on my Egypt Coaching trip from 1-8 July. Check out www.jowilsoncoaching.com if you are interested! It will be amazing!!

The video is here

2011-05-06T08:26:00.000-07:00

Its my turn to be on Naish TV, wahoooo! Oh yerrrrr! Check out our video from Norway at the Redbull Ragnarok where Jalou Langeree and I get a taste of what snow kiting is all about! Rock on and enjoy!!

Please check it out: Redbull Ragnarok

Unleash the fury :-)

Thanks to Criag Sawyer for all the hard work, filming, editing and putting up with our smelly socks (his were worse)! Thanks to helen Rustle for lending me all the winter stooff!

Girls Only North Wales Trip

2011-04-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

I'm running a trip in North Wales starting on Sunday. Its a full on kitesurfing trip with loads of coaching from myself and Johara Sykes Davies. The aim is to bring your kitesurfing to a new level and leave you with a action plan on how to progress thorughout the season. Its action packed and a lot of fun.

The forecast is 18-20mph and sunny. All you have to do is sign up and show up! http://www.jowilsoncoaching.com/coaching-holidays/girls-only-2011-2/ Check it out!!!

Naish TV

2011-04-06T12:22:00.000-07:00

Naish have been firing out some fab movies for the passed few weeks. The first couple were Sam Light and Rick Jensen travelling through America and the latest is Jalou Langeree ripping it up with Sam and Flo out in OZ. Its well worth checking out! I have two in the coming following up the Candy Coated Diaries! Keep your eyes peeled for South Africa and Norway!

Redbull Ragnarok 2011

2011-04-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

I just returned back to the UK after a week in Norway at the Redbull Ranarok! Im absolutely exhausted and 1 pot of strong coffee hasn't been able to kick me in to action.

The Rebull Ragnarok was a new experience for me. I've never been to the snow before although we have had snow in the UK before so Im not a complete snow virgin however when it comes to snowboards, boots, Mariano wool and snow kiting I had no experience whatsoever.

I had no preconception for the Redbull Ragnarok apart from that it had a awesome name and great history. I was aware that it was a tough endurance challenge not only in distance, but terrain and weather conditions too. Last year the Ragnarok was completed only by 4 people out of nearly 200. They experienced whiteouts and howling gales. This year word had spread and there were around 300 people in Haugastol in Norway for the event. 200 were given entry including me. The circuit was around 12 - 15km's long and the race was to make the lap 5 times in the shortest time possible.

Having had no experience I hit Norway with Jalou Langeree 3 days early to try to get some snow kiting practice in.

Day one we had no wind, so I strapped a snowboard to my feet and hit the slope outside our hotel room. It was only a few meters long and lovely powder so Jalou held me hands then flung me on my way. After 10 or so goes, blood sweat and tears it was time to hit the ski slopes of Gailo for some better practice.

Over the coming days I was able to spend a few hours at these slopes and by the day before Ragnarok I was riding down a red run linking turns and kind of getting the hang of it. Bruises on my bum show the pain and the burning thighs were a not so subtle indication to me to take it a little easy and not burn myself out for the Ragnarok itself otherwise I would have liked to stay longer into the evening to really crack it! Thanks to Christian Rangen and Craig from Bluejuice for their patience and help.

Next up we had some wind for my 9m Torch. The conditions were - intriguing and we cautiously drove from 'spot to spot' following the red lights of the car in front as it was pretty much a whiteout. I couldnt tell the difference in the spots too much as visibility was just a few metres and we ended up back at a place close to the hotel.

It didnt take long to get the hang of snow kiting. It was similar to kiting on water only with more traction. Popping was wierd and I was throwing myself of small kickers to help get airborne. The wierdest thing of all was the vision - or should I say lack of it. I could see one guy up ahead who could well have been flying. I could make him out and his kite, but everything around him up and down looked exactly the same - white!

While riding it was like kiting blindfolded and I couldnt really tell if I was going uphill, downhill, fast or slow. Falling over backwards was a good sign of coming to an abrupt halt. After an hour or more I actually began to feel a it sick and made my way back to the car so I could get some kind of orientation. WIERDDDD, but it didnt stop me for a second session when fortunately the visibility improved.

Day 4, 2 days of boarding down and 1 day of snow kiting it was the time for Ragnarok itself! There was media everywhere, helicopters, skimobiles and more! The buzz was very excitable and there were a lot of new faces - male and female. There were a lot of nervous people and others extra confident! Not many really knew what was to come and there was a lot of talk that was best to avoid! Talk of whiteouts, 40 knot storms and blizzards that would cover you from head to toe if you even stopped for a minute to catch your breath. At kitesurfing competitions its easy to know who to avoid and who to hang out with to draw strength, but this was hard to find at Raganrok and in the end I just absorbed it and tried to hang on to what seemed the best words of advise and ignore the crap.

The race was made up of 5 bouys approximately 3km's apart. Most of them were up a hill or half way up at least! Some hills were gently rolling and one was a lot steeper. It was a challenge in itself working the kite to create enough power to go up hill while at the same time avoiding all other kites that were in the same predicament. It was a stunning scene full of adventure and much more mellow then I had expected. After the up was a serious down hill. I found a way through unmarked snow and shot down super quick only to meet the fate of many others below who hit the no wind zone. 10's and 10's of kites lay down unruffled upon a frozen lake and it became my destiny too!

At this stage there were kites a long way to be seen all lying on the floor, so I along with a bunch of others decided to hike to until the next bit of wind arrived.

Overall I found the course to be intense, but less intense then I expected probably due to chinks of sunshine that came through the cloud making it possible to see the way. I seemed to hit patches of no wind on many occasions and alternated between times of walking in knee to waist deep snow with kite either under my arm or dragging along behind. Other times I would be cruising round the course with perfect power. I was always gagging for water and felt that I was generally suffering from overheating as opposed to hyperthermia which some of the girls suggested. I made one lap of the course in a pretty slow, but steady pace. That was my goal having never been to the snow before, so I was pleased. After 4 hours the race was called off due to lack of wind. Every rider at one point found themselves walking or sitting for a stretch of the race.

The winner completed 3.5 laps of the race before it was called off, so I have some work to do to make a good time for next year, but Im up for the challenge. Covering distance on kites is amazing and there are some fantastic sights, big drops and hills to haul up! Its all part of it and there is probably no where quite like the Lake District (my home) to get experience on that for next year! For one thing Im hoping for snow again next season, but if not Scotland is only up the road!

Thanks to Craig at Bluejuice for coming to document the trip! Watch out for our video on Naish TV in the coming weeks. Also thanks to the Nowegian and Danish possie who put us up in the room for a couple of nights, but not only that, but took us under their wing. You guys made my trip! See you next year!!

PS Just read that back and it doesnt make much sense, but my brain wont work to correct it! Hope you can make head from tail and hope it encourages you to push yourself out of your comfort zone this season! Its worth it!!

Norway Ragnarok

2011-04-01T00:49:00.000-07:00

Im here in Norway for my first experience in the snow. I've thrown myself in the deep end slightly as Im entering the Redbull Ragnarok which is a 100km challenge across terrain. Its termed the Ragnarok which means battle between the Norse gods! Its a fight between good and evil across the Nowegian plains! Its pretty intense here! very stunning, but man have I got lot to learn.

The race starts today, so actually Ive got to dash as we have the riders meeting in 5 mins! I just wanted to leave my lasting goodbyes before I embark on the challenge! Of course Im going to try to complete the race, but moreso get a feel for it all and perhaps come back next year with more of a competitie mind on!

We have Craig Sawyer here from Bluejuice filming and taking photos which is fab! Right gotta go, running late!

Back home in the UK

2011-03-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

Im back home in the UK to be greeted by beaming sunshine! its stunning weather, but I have to be honest the bare feet have had to be covered with wellyboot socks and eskimo boots! Its not quite summer here.

South Africa more then delivered the goods this season - what an epic year. The days without wind were few and far between and necessary when they arrived. Im so much stronger and fitter then I have been in a long while and it feels great.

(freestylin' in 30+ knots photo by Ellen Langeree)

I spent way more time on my wave board this year. Its my weaker side for wave riding which is probably a good thing and I fully started to get to grips with the back side riding. The last two weeks have been awesome with 5-6ft waves rolling in regularly. It feels cool to be confident in amongst and banging out the wave rides too!

(not sure what happened to the water, think the ships might have been cleaning their tanks. Taste about as good as it looks, but epic session)

The freestyle was gnarly. The wind was for 7m and 5m Naish Torch pretty much 90% of the time. Its hardcore trying to learn new tricks in that, so I ventured up to Langebaan and a couple of dams too to find some bliss in amongst the carnage.

(9m session at Brandvlei Dam)

It was a cool crew of people out there this season and I loved hanging out with Jalou Langeree from Holland and Bruna Kajiya from Brazil. Its pretty hard finding kiting girls to spend time with especially ones as motivated as them who push you hard. Its my goal to set up some trips this year for kiting girls of all level to get together and have fun. The first one will be 1-4th May and you can find out more here on Jo Wilson Coaching.

(Chilling with Bruna)

Next up I have a couple of weeks in the UK to catch up with emails and coaching, but also to get out training in the hills. Jalou and I are heading to Norway in 10 days time for the Redbull Ragnarok. The name "Ragnarok" stems from an incident in Norse mythology, describing the last battle between the good and evil Gods, where only the heroes of the battlefield survive.

Red Bull Ragnarok imitates this myth in the respect that only a mere few snow-kite heroes will succeed. Endurance is paramount, and only the toughest riders will make it to the finish line.

To be fair that is the blurb that I found on the website. Its all I know about it and I've never snow kited before! Of course we are taking Craig from Blue Juice Multimedia to film the action! Im just hoping they will fit me with some kind of tracking device!

Right on, will keep you posted! Wish me luck.

Naish Kiteboarding TV

2011-03-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

Naish have gone wild this year and have given the riders some additional freedom! Its a very cool year to be sponsored by them and Im stoked to have my new contract for 2011! Naish have created a new and improved Kiteboarding TV where every 3 weeks starting from March 15th they will be uploading an episode created by one or more of their riders. It looks set to be epic and they have been whooping our asses to stay on top of it. Jalou Langeree and I have continued to work together out here in South Africa so you will catch the next of our Candy Coated Diaries very soon.

Here's the point of view from Naish

The Naish Pro Team spends the year scouring the planet for the best riding locations. Often, we sit in the office trying to justify the budget with riders flitting off here and there with vague promises of "Don't worry, we're going to score!".
We wait, you wait. The shots come in and we are either relieved, or question what the h@#* we were thinking sending riders off to places that are not known for wind.

This year, our riders were tasked with documenting their sick sessions, wacky antics...and explaining their budget overruns! The team had to DELIVER ON FILM: the ups, downs, hangovers and stoke that they experience all year. They were challenged to get to know the local rippers, the international celebrities and the beach bum personalities that make up our kiteboarding world.

On 03.15.11, witness the carnage.

www.naishkites.com/tv

It keeps on coming

2011-02-27T12:35:00.000-08:00

Im in my last couple of weeks in South Africa now and all I can say is what a phenomenal season. The wind has been unstoppable. I have still yet to get the 10m out of my boardbag! That how windy it has been!

Ive had a mixture of conditions from waves and freestyle. Im mostly training in Big Bay which I find massively challenging.

Im almost always on my 7m and my favourite tricks are on the way out, so I have to set myself up between waves and gusts and sometimes its a little too tricky. Ive got my fitness and strength back and am sticking my flat 3 much more regualarly and landed 7 blind judges the other day which is good, but not working on too much new stuff in the freestyle.

With the waves its another story. I've been getting out on my board far more regularly and feeling very comfortable on it. I can get out in pretty big waves now without fearing my life! Friday was pretty immense with waves well over head high. I just need to work on getting steeper more powerful turns!

Im off road tripping for the next couple of weeks. Its time to see some sites. Will bring pictures when I can.

South African Kitesurfing Holiday

2011-02-15T02:48:00.000-08:00

I have just got back from a great week coaching in langebaan, South Africa. We had 7/7 days with wind ranging from 18 knots on some days to over 30 knots on the last evening! Everyone left having learned new tricks and improved there level. I will definately run the same next year. You can check out for info on my website.

(South African Adventure Crew 2011)

Now I am back down in Capetown checking out the swell forecast for the next couple of days. Jalou and I are off on a mission!

Tonight having dinner with Bruna kajiya and Jalou. Bruna is also out here training. She is ripping! Working on all sorts of powered passes with grabs thrown in too! Love it!!

Keep you posted!

South Africa continues to rock

2011-01-31T22:18:00.000-08:00

The wind has continually blown since my last update and yesterday I was beginning to feel worn out! It was all down to a day 2 days ago where the wind didn't quite pull through, so I finally got a lengthy session on my 9m.

(throwing in a railey far too close to the sand)

I've just started to feel kitesurfing fit again which took almost 3 weeks bang on the dot, so I decided it was time to up the pace and throw out some unhooked moves. True to form 9m weather didn't last all day and by the evening I was out on my 7m over powered.

(this will be me missing the grab after a exhausting 9m session)

For the next few days Jalou Langeree and I are filming for the next of our Candy Coated Diairies, so watch this space to see more.

Thanks to Grant Hulley for the photos.

Its a dogs life

2011-01-28T05:32:00.001-08:00

Well you may or may not have gathered that I'm in South Africa. The wind has blown near enough every day since I arrived on January 12th. Today the waves are pumping and for once I bit the bullet, left the twin tip at home and hit the beach for some hard core radical wave riding - Im pretty sure that was what I was doing!!!???

Anyhow as I was walking to the beach this morning for my pre breakfast session I had one of my flashes of my top 15 reasons of why I love the beach so much. i thought Id take this time to share them with you: -

1. I have had no sign or sight of my footwear for 3 days
2. My hair is permanently in a salty, straggly mess
3. I never have van problems as my journey to the 'office' involves a 2 minute walk to the beach
4. In complete association to point number 3. I couldn't give a monkies about what the fuel price is doing right now because I have no idea! Same goes for the VAT increase!
5. The only time I get to see darkness is if I wake up in the middle of the night to go for a pee
6. Its always slightly uncomfortable to squeeze my hands in to a fist because Ive been hanging on to the bar just that little bit too long.
7. A new ache presents itself on a daily basis
8. I never feel blobby from eating too much and doing too little
9. My 6 pack is on its way back and Im not even trying
10. I fall asleep the second i switch the light off!
11. Its no longer the cold that is making my nose red and flakey.

12. I cant remember the last time I saw my make up bag
13. I can hear the waves breaking each morning before I get out of bed.
14. I dont need to think about what Im going to wear each day because its generally very little.
15. Everyone outside is smiling.

Seriously, I had completely forgotten!

2011-01-24T03:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, I cant believe it. I have been here in South Africa for 2 weeks now! I seriously had completely forgotten how good kitesurfing can be! Stuck in the depths of winter in the UK doesn't do any good for the health and if you have the chance to escape to the sunshine for even a long wind then I really recommend it. Forecast in tarfa is going off! Anyhow, for me here I am so happy to finally have arrived. Sorry it has taken so long to write an update but Ive been lapping up kiting kiting and kiting - and can you believe with had 7m weather and 5m weather the whole time.

Its quite funny, this was the longest stint I have been without kitesurfing. I've had a slightly disappointing year with my travels not scoring highly on the wind. Everywhere I have been I feel like Ive really not been able to get my teeth in to kiting. Now here in South Africa its like the good old days before the 'bad' seasons! This one has been firing on all cylinders. In two weeks we have been getting wind everyday except perhaps two! The long term forecast is pretty epic also.

For those of you only in to the waves we have even been scoring some decent swell, but if Im honest I havent yet looked at my waveboard! I have been building up my strength and confidence on the water and taking it pretty easy in terms of moves Ive been trying. Now that Im feeling fitter and stronger Im ready to start pushing harder and today I began with the unhooked tricks.

Aside from kitesurfing I have managed to fit a few other things in and last week on a day of no wind a few friends and I headed to Table Mountain on a quest to walk all the paths up there, across the top, back across the top and back down a different side! Jeez, by the time we got back at 7pm at night I felt like I had walked the earth! Where better to do then on Table Mountain???

Ive ventured down to Cape Point on the hunt for baboons, Simonstown to kidnap a penguin and in to Camps Bay for a little drink or two! It has been epic!

The Progression team are out here - you know the Progression DVD's in the shops. They are collecting loads more footage to update on to their website and bring to you a new DVD so I have been meeting up with them regularly. Jim from Kiteworld is out here too, so expect a South African feature to come in the next issue.

Next month I am running a coaching course from Langebaan where the wind blows, but the waves stay away so its perfect if you are looking to improve your level. I have big house hired with a view of the lagoon, so its going to mega. There is one space left so if you want to get involved then check out my website for further info. Also Im slowly updating the technique section so keep your eyes peeled for 'know how' on moves from back loops to air handle passes.

Photo's courtesy of Fiona Claisse / Progression.me apart from the one of the baboon which is Ian Edmondson. Well its not actually Ian. It was taken by him!

Will write again soon

The UK before SA

2010-12-17T01:14:00.000-08:00

Over here in the UK right now we are going through the coldest Autumn that I can remember. I suspect that I should be calling it winter, but I reserve that for after Christmas usually. Up here in Cumbria like much of the rest of the country we had loads of snow.

(Heading up towards Hellvelyn to check out the snow kiting)

Ive got to be honest, kitesurfing was out of the question for about 2 weeks with temperatures reaching -10 degrees and lower almost on a daily basis. Finally we had a big thaw and saw temperatures raise into +figures so yesterday I braved the water again which was an interesting set of affairs.

Ive been keeping myself fairly fit in the spells of not kitesurfing mixing it up with mountain biking, gym classes and some running, but man there is no substitute for good old kitesurfing. I miss it loads and so does my body. This morning Im aching from head to toe, some of that could be to do with the 4 hour shiver session after the kiting but generally from the aches in my stomach muscles Im pretty sure it was all about the kiting. Despite the cold yesterday was a real treat. barrow doesn't treat us to much wave action, its more of a freestyle location however yesterday was lovely! Small waves came into the bay.

They were around head high and the wind was blowing cross off shore from the right. Thats my favorite for wave riding so I ditched the twin tip with minutes and spent the session on the waveboard. I had a few nice rides and it didnt take long to forget about the cold. Finally the wind swung straight offshore and dropped off. My hands were numb, so I took it as a good time to stop for the day. The forecast is a bit all over the shot, so Im not sure when my next session will be however the snow did fall again yesterday and the hills are back to magic white, so a venture into the hills with kite and snowboard in tow are definitely tools out to play on Saturday.

Im heading to South Africa in January. Im having a few weeks kitesurfing where I intend to work on my wave riding as well as my freestyle. I will be staying in Table View.

After that Im heading up to Langebaan for a couple of my Jo Wilson Coaching Kitesurfing Holidays. They are really good fun and a great place to immerse yourself amongst a group of like minded highly motivated kitesurfers.

We have a beautiful house over looking Langebaan lagoon and based in early - mid February we have amazing chances of great wind. It looks as though South Africa is delivering an amazing season as we speak so I cannot wait to get back out there.

To find out more on these courses check out www.jowilsoncoaching.com

Candy Coated Diaries 2

2010-11-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago Jalou Langeree and I hit Portugal to film the first of our trips together in pursuit of wind, flat water and waves. We had an awesome time despite not really scoring the conditions and the first of our movies - The Candy Coated Diaries seemed to go down well with over 5,000 hits here on you tube.

We have a series of trips in mind starting with an Autumn trip to the UK. Autumn is my favourite time in the UK. In fact my favourite in comparison to anywhere else in the world! The low pressures mixed up with fairly warm sea and air temperatures gives rie to some of the best kiting experiences I ever had. I really wanted Jalou to venture over from Holland to see exactly what its all about.

Well this week finally gave us some time where we were both free along with Craig from Blue Juice Multimedia. I saw the forecast on Sunday after the tip of from James Cummings in the North East. A big swell was forecasted along with big winds to go alongside. Jalou literally dropped everything and flew over the next morning and we began our road trip in Northumberland. On arrival the waves were pretty big, very messy but a whole lot of adrenaline and fun. We were ready to hit the water on our 7ms. The swell was big, but blown out and we started the road trip with bright sunshine, but walls of white water and onshore wind. It was a great although perhaps a little cold for Jalou's first experience in the UK.

2 days later it was time to head South. We had about as much cold as we could handle and we were off to find pastures new, so how could I resist taking her to the home of my Mum and Dad in Devon, where they would kindly put us up between sessions. We hit my old local beach Bigbury. The wind was westerly and with a big swell fairly hollow on the inside and very menacing. We had cross shore wind from the right - my favourite conditions!! The wind was nuking moreso then ever and we hung on to our scary hats as we tried to make the ocean our own. 20 minutes later we both washed up on the water 'mildly!!??'crapping it to say the least. In one minute we were maxed out on our 5m Naish Torches and the next our kites were falling from the sky. With the waves in full force it didnt make for a pretty sight! Fortunately it is my local beach and the solution was to hit the Challabrough side of the beach. Its on the west side of Burgh island - the reason for the horrendous wind. Burgh Island incidentally is on the short list for dynamiting in my Top 10 of places that should cease to exist.

Jalou wasn't convinced at my optimism, but I was quietely smug that it would work. Its not a normal place to score good conditions, but with well over head high waves and cross on shore wind I had a strong feeling that life would be rosy! And it so was!

The next day the wind was lingering in the west, but slowly and surely pulling out of the country altogether so ahead of schedule we hit Gwithian in Cornwall. The swell was forecasted 11ft and the wind around 20mph, but we rocked up to find almost double. This time in the pouring rain we dragged ourselves out of the van unconvinced of an awesome one only to be proved wrong! The theory that you never regret going out when in doubt shone loud and proud and we stuck on the water until dark riding surfboards in port tac waves. This session was a big step for me as it was the first time where I stuck with the surfboard throughout the session despite feeling out of my depth on many occasion. I think Ive finally broken my mould and ready to give this wave riding malarkee a bit of time and effort!

The pictures are from Chris Willmott a semi local to every beach around the UK! Thank god he didnt have a kite smaller then 7m otherwise we wouldnt have shots of such a cracking day last week.

Tomorrow we are heading to Gwithian again photographer and videographer to hand and we hope to bring you the second of the Candy Coated Diaries in time for Christmas.
Will keep you posted!!
Right on, happy riding!

South Africa Adventure 2011

2010-11-03T02:05:00.000-07:00

YES!!! South Africa here we come! As usual there are a maximum of 6 places available on my course although there is space for some people to bring partners. Partners are welcome to join in any of the antics aside from the kitesurfing coaching itself or they can take beginner lessons with the local kite school.

South Africa Crew 2010

I have a stunning holiday house rented with ensuite massage showers in some of the rooms. It has a great bbq area for the sunny evenings and a view of Langebaan lagoon where we will spend all our days kitesurfing.

My courses are geared solely around you achieving your own freestyle goals, so there will be a high level of 1:1 coaching from moi to help you do this.

Kasia whooping out an s bend

Langebaan despite only being 100kms away from Capetown offers flat water and mellower conditions the what Capetown has the potential of throwing at you so it really is a great place for you to feel safe while learning your new skills.

(Not so sharky bay Shark Bay)

Here is the link to it on my website South Africa Adventure 2011 but please do give me a shout back to get a more in depth itinerary to find out what you might get yourself in for. My email is jo@jowilson.com.

The holidays are fast paced and action packed, mega fun with new kitesurfing friends to meet up with in the future. Its the perfect opportunity to ensure you reach your kitesurfing potential from your escape to warmer climes.

Enjoy this wild weekend and catch you soon, my stomach is rumbling and I have to go eat some crumpets.

Take it easy, Jo

Back from the Pyrenees

2010-11-03T01:52:00.000-07:00

I made it back from the mid pyrenees safe and sound and managed to pack in a fair bit of mountain biking and climbing. It was strange setting sail with out my kites, but we had beautiful weather, scenery and conditions, so enjoyed every minute. We climbed in shorts n t shirt, but biked up to the snow line. We did take one day out of the adventures to check out Ax au Thermes a ski resort just outside Andorra. Here's my van coping with life, but did have to turn around when snow chain became compulsory.

Back home in the UK for the time being and hit the water straight away on my 7m up in Barrow in the North West of England. The forecast is amazing and it looks like big waves next week so cannot wait to get the waveboard out. In the meantime I have spring tides at Roa island which equals mirror flat water for freestyle! Heaven!

Roa Island last year by John Pryce.

After spending the rest of the Autumn in the UK I will be heading out to South Africa. I'll spend some time kiting for myself, but I have rented a stunning holiday house in Langebaan to run two one week long coaching courses. I have just started taking bookings for it. Watch out here for further information :-)

Happy kiting

Making the headlines

2010-10-14T05:01:00.000-07:00

Well its not quite The Sun, I guess I could probably do with enlarging certain areas of my body to improve my chances of making it in there, but the Blackpool Gazette is almost as good! The last of the BKSA Kitesurfing Championships 2010 are taking place this weekend in Blackpool and the Features editor, Jacqui caught up with me over the phone.

I'm going to head down tomorrow to watch the action and cheer on some of the young one's!
Bring on some good wind and for sure I'll be ready to rock on the water too.

Off to France on Sunday woop woop then looking for my ticket to South Africa!

Candy Coated Diaries

2010-09-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

The Candy Coated Diaries is a series of movies created by Blue Juice Multimedia to give you an insight in to the life of Jalou Langeree and myself.

We hope that you can learn a little bit about our kitesurfing, but also our personalities, our origins and are other interests. We started with a trip to Portugal and have plenty more in the pipeline. Our aim is to bring you 4 movies per year and hope you enjoy the first of the Candy Coated Diaries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KY2J4Zdf38

UK storm heading my way with 17ft swell forecasted over the next few days! Keep you posted :-)

Jo

Jo Wilson Coaching

2010-09-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys check out the news page of my website www.jowilsoncoaching.com. Ive just got back from an epic week with 5 kitesurfers in Cornwall. We had a mix of conditions from light wind to maxed out and plenty of sunshine. Here is a photo of Rob Lay getting inverted on the beach before getting inverted in his front rolls!

Im now in Devon for a week and looking forward to hitting a slider jam in Hayling island on the weekend! Will keep you posted.

Portugal, place of the everlasting fog!

2010-08-31T08:34:00.000-07:00

I have just returned home after a 10 day trip with Jalou Langeree to Portugal. We were in search of wind, waves and flat water spots. 1 week before heading out and before we had booked our tickets the forecast was looking insane. In fact it was looking insane all the way up to and after the day we were leaving. It had all the the pre-requisites for an epic. 18 knots plus forecasted on windguru, middle of summer for some sweltering sunshine, waves (not huge, not small) and any number of lagoons dotted close to Lisbon, what more could you ask for?

Over in Holland Jalou packed up her kit ready to meet me in Lisbon and I packed mine in the UK. With such an epic forecast there was no toy we planned to leave behind, so in went my naish momentum with bindings, my Naish Thorn with straps, Custom Global Surfboard, Naish Torches from 5m up to 10m plus a 9m Naish Bolt. Ive never taken so much kit and my two board bags each weighed 30 kg's.

The icing on the cake was that we had Craig Sawyer from Blue Juice MultiMedia. He was on the South coast of the UK packing an additional 30kg's of video and photographic equipment ready to catch our action!

What a winner!!! Except, like in many things it doesn't always go quite according to plan...

Waking up on day 1 it was clear that the sun had no intention of shining. The flags on the beach lay still and although a few ripples of waves broke on the shores of Peniche there was a sinister undertone of no kitesurfing today, tomorrow, next week and perhaps ever. There was even a strong element that despite being truely British and destined to wear a shorts at any sure sign of summer I might have to succumb and put my jeans and hoody back on from the flight.

This is where our intrepid wind and sun hunt begun.

With all the kit loaded up Criag, Jalou and I were ready. Craig having filmed the Cannonball Ralley the previous month in a £400,000 Lamborghini was now wedged into his very own cheeky chenco which we had hired him. With knees around his ears he tried hard to stick close to Jalou and I in our Mitsubishi mean machine and at times we had to stick our heads out the window to check that it was him tucked in just behind our bumper out of sight, but not out of mind. On the steeper uphills we considered parking him in our boot and driving him and car to destination. If it wasn't for all the kit piled in the back it would have been worth a try and probably faster!

Anyhow, I digress! We started on the miles and miles of coast hunting for wind. We headed first for Obidos, a lagoon where they had guaranteed us that it would be windy, but as we arrived at the shoreline, ordered our coffees which seemed to be rapidly becoming a theme for the trip it was evident that as the headland dipped in and out of view as the low flying cloud lazily drifted by that we had niether sun, nor wind to look forward to here.

Waiting a couple of hours for the chance that the cloud might miraculously disappear and the forecasted 18 knots pile through we finally decided to try another spot. 2 hours away was Guincho. Guincho was a spot we were hoping to avoid. We had heard plenty about it, not much of it good and as such were looking forward to exploring the rest of the coastline, but for all the bad things heard about Guincho there was one appealing item - 'its always windy there.' Maiking a speedy exit, then slowing down again to let Craig catch up we already ditched his car on the side of the road to wedge him in amongst an anxious Jalou and I plus a ton of kit! He looked far more at home then in his chenco!

2 hours later, a few additional toll roads, a few additional turnings and an improved ability to ask directions in Portugese we were at Guincho struggling to open the doors for the wind! Sure enough the wind was on and ready for the fallout of a couple of couped up kitesurfers. Within 20 mins we had rigged up our 6m's thrown on our wetsuits, attached some cameras and launched ourselves down the dunes to a wind-blasted cove just off Lisbon. result - Day 1, kitesurfing, some sunshine (although debatable) photos. camera action, smiles! A mission indeed, but a successful one, so lie is good!

Day 2 Craig, Jalou and I awoke to further darkness. The cloud was set in! A quick coffee stop at Peniche Kite and Surf Centre we settled that if we wanted to find wind and sun for a second time we were goin to have to make the 300km journey up north to Murtosa on a river at Aveiro. Fortunately are portugese direction practise the day before proved highly handy for the second day on the trot as we scaled the unwindy shoreline looking for a place to launch should the wind pick up. Just as I was ready to kill and the beads of sweat were pouring off my head, Jalou hanging out the window for freedom and Craigs cramps were setting in with full effect we saw the glorious sight of 2 kites! Handbrake turn, step out the way, we're coming home we finally rocked up to 12-15knots of wind and this time untainted sunshine! I was out the car on the water in an instant with Jalou not far behind! On form she was banging out the slim chances, Kgb's, blind judges and railey to wrapped! The girl has skills! I sure enough knocked out some moves in return, but have mentally noted that the entire journey back to Peniche will be Jalou talking me through how to clinch those puppies!!

Right, 2 days, 2 sessions, over 1000km's racked up on the milometer plus a pb speed of 106mph! Things despite desperate were looking good! Please let the cloud be gone tomorrow, but clearly as we pulled into Peniche and the windscreen wipers hit the next speed on from intermitant we were in for some more days of travelling.

Day 3, last day with Craig! Its got to be sunny by now, but pulling back the curtains the cloud had descended into low fog! We could barely see the wood from the trees and Jalou and i were quite clearly ready to kill one another! We had all the kit, all the expectations and nothing to do with it, so we headed to another spot not too far away called Praia Areira Branca. Here we heard that it regularly got windy and was a little glimmer of hope for both wind and sun despite being just 10 miles away from Peniche and it was true... nearly. The cloud was sitting a little further back on the sea, the sun was shining enough to throw on some sunglasses and the wind was tantalisingly close to being enough. We rigged our kit ready to rock n roll just in time for the 10 knots to drop straight on its arse and bugger off! Gutted! It was looking so promising.

With Craig leaving early the next morning and only a small amount of footage front he previous two days mega attempt to find wind we didn't want to mess around. Jalou and I looked at each other decided to go for the safe bet on wind - Guincho! We were coming back!

As Craig packed the next morning Jalou and i tried to change our tickets also. the forecast was for more on the same for the unforseeable future while the southwester winds were battering back at both of our homes for Jalou and I, but no luck. Over the next 7 days we scored 3 more short sessions and a cracker in the waves also. We really had no luck for our trip whatsoever, but made the most of it and saw many different places to kite.

Im told to head back next month, but for now I think I'll give it a miss. I'll venture back sometime as Im sure it can be epic, but for now Jalou and I have developed more plans of travelling, hunting for waves, flat and wind! Watch this space for the coming movie from Craig and keep your eyes peeled for what we have planned next.

Thanks
Jo

An extra coaching course in Cornwall!

2010-08-27T03:15:00.000-07:00

The Cornish Exploration trip in September filled up pretty quick with extra people looking for places, so I now plan to run a second from 2-9th October 2010. Its a great time of year for wind, warmth and uber amounts of kitesurfing.

There are a maximum number of 6 places available and the holidays are solely geared around you achieving your own goals. I offer a high level of 1:1 coaching and it is my goal to build your confidence, give your progressive steps to help you achieve your moves and at least capture the wipeouts on video for you to admire after yoga type stretching on our return to the beautiful holiday house in Newquay.

(Gavin Yeates busting his first F16 while on a Jo Wilson Coaching Course in February)

The trip runs for 7 days and is hugely energetic, fun and sociable. If you would like a full itinerary then please drop me a mail to jo@jowilson.com.

Many thank
Jo

Jo Wilson Coaching - Cornish kitesurfing Exploration 2010

2010-07-20T03:25:00.000-07:00

Date: 18th - 24th September 2010
Location: Newquay, Cornwall
Maximum places available: 6
Number of places left: 3

The next of my coaching clinics starts in just 8 weeks time. Its a one week long course based in the UK, Cornwall to offer you some of the best kitesurfing the world has to offer while at affordable prices.

We will be staying at a big 4 bedroom holiday house just two minutes from Fistral Beach and 2 minutes the other way to Newquay town centre. The house is chosen to centrally locate us to the big sandy beaches while still covering every wind direction that the UK can throw at us.

The course is aimed at kitesurfers who have a minimum level of competently staying up wind in kitesurfable conditions (12 - 25 knots) and who are busting their first jumps. I coach you freestyle from improving your jumping skills, to transitions, rotations, unhooking ,kite loops and more.

The courses are limited to 6 places to ensure a high level of 1:1 coaching as well as some free time to practise techniques but also so that everybody can get to know each other and have a great time for a whole week.

My goal is to help you take your kitesurfing to the next level and leaving your brimming with ideas of where to take your kitesurfing from there. Come, have fun and reach your full potential.

If you are interested in seeing a more detailed itinerary then please email me on jo@jowilson.com and I'll send one straight out.

Many thanks
Jo

Morrocco and back on the PKRA

2010-07-14T23:43:00.000-07:00

After Egypt I headed to Morocco. I wasnt sure the reason! I havent competed properly for over a year and with everyone else training at every opportunity while I have spent 50% of my time trying to build up my coaching business and the other 50% riding in varied conditions in various places around Africa and Europe.

(working on some tricks in Egypt the week before www.i-c-u.net)

On arrival I realised I wanted to pick up the buzz of other competitors. I wanted to feel their energy, desire and dedication to succeed. Without competing against these people who are similar or better then me, over time it is much harder to stay motivated and push myself to improve, so I entered the contest. It was wierd going back to the PKRA and the same old routine. Its robotic! Same people, same conversations, same concerns! To be truthful its a little boring and for me Im sure there are better ways for me to be spending time and promoting my sponsors, but the moment I hit the water everything is far from boring and the trip to Morocco was worth every moment.

(me entering the compatition area for the start of the heat)

In the single elimination of the contest I found myself on the good side of the draw for once. I was against the girls who I had a hard time beating when I was competitng full time, but I wasn’t to come against the two girls who I knew were landing more tricks then me. For the singles I had a mix of good riding and a bit of good luck and I excitably found myself in the final against Gisela Pulido. I couldnt believe it and was super excited which turns out not conducive to riding in the final. Instead I triped over my own feet and spent a lot of time chatting to fish and I didnt bust out a single mve that I was proud of! I was really disappointed in myself and although everyone was congratualting me for 2nd place I didn’t feel all that proud of myself!

(The competition board as it stood after the single elimination)

Anyhow over the next couple of days while waiting for the double elimination I didnt have to compete – more time standing around not doing anything useful! The conditions were 30+ knots in massively gusty, so it wasn’t a good time to train, so I chilled and helped everyone else including Jalou Langeree who is ripping. Jalou had some bad luck as she rips and what I considered to be an unfair decision she lost pretty early on in the doubles, but definitely deserved to be in the top 4.

(sitting around, contemplating life and generally given up on avoiding the sand blasting)

By the time it was the last day and I was going insane with Morraccans plus the sand in my eyes, ears, nose and everywhere else it was my chance to compete again. I had to go against Asia Litwin to keep my 2nd place and for sure no one thought I could do it as she is super good. Anyhow, i was ready to redeem myself after the singles final and had created a small square in my mind in amongst a much larger circle. The square represented my heat and the circle my kitesurfing world. I was focused to throw out the best heat I could starting with an enormous handle pass and moving on to a blind judge before a big kite loop, railey to blind and more. Normally these tricks I’ll save to the end of the heat if I manage my averagely hard tricks beforehand, but I was there to show people what I could do and most of all make myself proud of my riding.

Sure enough I threw out the best heat ever against Asia managing to hang on to my 2nd place. I then went out with the same focus in to the final with Gisela and again I was on fire. I was riding, fast, hard and as much power as I could handle. I threw out a full on energetic heat once again landing all my best tricks early on and I could even see Giselas dad pacing the beach! It was the best feeling.
I came in knowing I would only get 2nd place as Gisela is far beyond my riding at present, but I was buzzing out of my mind and stoked that I had given it my best. It turns out that I had been winning the heat for the majority of it, but in the last 2 minutes Gisela pulled out a couple of fab tricks sealing her the deal!

Prize giving was ace and I was proud to be standing between Asia and Gisela on the podium. I was even more happy to hear two of the judges tell me that they had never expected that riding out of me!

Im back home now full of motivation and inspiration and a new outlook on kitesurfing. The event was amazing and not only did I achieve my goal to come home inspired, but I left with my highest podium placing yet. I have a house full of my new 2011 kites and a forecast which is rocking!

Im ready to hit the water now with more thought and less brute strength. I have no intention to compete further but I have a new set of tricks that i would like to work on which represent speed and power – the side of kitesurfing which drives me and I love. Im bored of the low technical tricks that seem to be required if you want to wind the Ladies World Champion Title, but Im ready to take on my kitesurfing further.

The pics are from Ellen Langeree and Johara Sykes Davies unless otherwise stated.

Happy riding

Soma Bay - Egypt

2010-07-04T03:45:00.000-07:00

Well I have just briefly stepped back on to UK territory after an phenomenal 2 weeks in Soma Bay, Egypt. I set off with two missions for two weeks. The first was to get a bit of time on the water myself during the first week and step up my kitesurfing and the second was to run a coaching clinic as part of my business Jo Wilson Coaching for the second week.

I stayed in an amazing 4 star hotel called Breakers right on the waters edge. It was German based but with a fair few Brits too. The food was the shizzle excluding one compulsory enforced day off the water to combat the gypy belly – im sure it was down to the Turkey, but I should have known because when do you ever see a Turkey in Egypt? And generally im of the belief if you dont see it in the country you dont eat it! I’ll swiftly move passed the fact that the enforced day off was the best day of wind in the first week! Im not bitter about that at all!!? Anyhow the first week was forecasted for no wind but it turns out that a week of no wind in Soma Bay isn’t quite the week of no wind that we know and don’t love in the UK. Granted it was 45 degrees during the day, but the wind blew on 6 days out of the 7 for at least two – three hours.

I had a real mix of conditions from 12m weather all the way up to a 35+ knots sandstorm day where the 6m came out to play to throw down some big hooked jumps kite loops and the occasional unhooked move! Could have done with a pair of camel lashes, but I survived nonetheless and managed to nail some blind judges, new grabs, back to blinds nearly air pass, but not quite dam it! I spent nearly all my time on my 10m and new 2011 Naish Thorn! Ive sized down this year and gone with a 130 but found it really lush to ride, easy on the chop and great for pop and for landings! I also have the 2011 Momentum, but didn’t get much time to try it out.

On week two 9 people rocked up from the UK for my coaching clinic week. 3 were not on the course itself, but hit it hard on the water/by the pool. The other 6 were all on my course and man did they get a phenomenal week of wind! We couldn’t have asked for better if we had ordered it. From the crack of dawn the wind blew 25knots and stayed with us until sunset. Exactly mid way through the week the wind took a day off and so we were able to have a guilt free rest day of sunbathing and snorkelling. On the windy days most of the crew were on 9m’s, but a few 7ms also.

They were super good fun and on a hige mission to learn new tricks testing my skills to coach anything from jumping and rotations through to kite loops, blind, unhooked moves and surface handle passes! They were split in to two groups so that I could coach one group for 1.5 hrs and then the other for 1.5hrs. In the afternoon there would be a second coaching session for each to. All 6 of them cained it on the water and left with holes in hands, aches in backs and various other places to, but also took home a number of new moves to unleash on the water this weekend!

James Winstanley took home the speed record for Soma Bay maxing out at 74kph and Chris Lincoln took 2nd place with 55kph. Kate O’Beirne took home the Willy One Foot Wonder award for 1min 28 seconds of riding one footed on her board in 25+ knots!

Next up Im heading to Morocco to compete in Essouira on the PKRA World Cup. Im just doing it as a one off event to keep on eye on what tricks the girls are pulling out and also to bust a few tricks out myself. The aim is to have fun, ride hard and up the motivation to learn the latest tricks and take some bigger wipeouts! I’ll be taking my new Naish boards and 2010 Torches, so wish me luck!

Look out for the article on Egypt in Kiteworld as Jim the editor was out there enjoying the kitesurfing and taking lots of pics! Soma Bay is definitely a spot to pick for a quick week away. Thank you to Nick Wber at www.i-c-u.net for the great pics and waveriders for managing the bookings! Happy kititng!

Soma Bay - Egypt

2010-06-16T14:29:00.001-07:00

Off to Soma Bay in Egypt tomorrow. My new 2011 Naish Boards arrived just in the nick of time and I CANNOT wait to unleash them on the water. I'm over there for two weeks and heading to the PKRA in Morocco after that! Will write soon with the photos of the action!

Kiteboard Open - Holland

2010-05-27T02:39:00.001-07:00

The Kiteboard Open this year in Holland was yet another huge event. The main event sponsor is Protest Boardwear so Ania Grzelinska and myself get to go each year and spend sometime at their stand and hopefully on the water.

We had a mix of weather mostly of the non windy variety which wasn't the best for the 2nd of the series in the Kitesurf Tour Europe but despite a sunny, but light wind forecast I entered anyway and did manage a sneaky 12m session for about half an hour.

(skippers meeting)

The weekend is about a whole load of different brands getting together, beach activities, food stalls plus a free supply of Ben and Jerrys ice cream and Redbull - not a combo that sees you through the weekend but throw some pizza in there and life is good - at least for a couple of days!

Of course what I haven't mentioned is the parties! The Sunday night hosts a huge party where this year Ruben Lenten was main staging it on the decks! Ania and I were dancing like crazy in the background... well after the amount that we knocked back it turns out you can sway and dance to anything!

(Ruben on the decks with Ania and I bopping along behind)

The only supposed slight downer on the party was the fact that the competition organisers decided to put on the skippers meeting at 5am the next day in the chance that the forecast for 12knots would pull through at more like 15knots.

(Ania's response to 5am skippers meeting)

The initial plan to compensate for ridiculously early start was to start drinking ridiculously early, but as it turns out that just warps your opinion of how important it is to go to bed early and instead we started drinking early and carried on until the end! In fact it kind of turned out to be its own competition as Jalou Langeree was in my heat due 3rd on the water the next day, so as long as we plyed each other with beer and ensured that niether or us skipped off early then it was a fair deal! Winner - result - mega party!

(2 hours before skippers meeting)

(1 hour after)

Mixed in amongst the parties, beach volleyball, hanging out at the Protest stand, eating ice cream, slying more Protest gear in to our bags etc. I did manage to be productive to and did a bunch of interviews for various mags, websites and tv channels, so hopefully depsite the lack of wind the event will still have thrown kitesurfing into the media eye moreso then it was before.

(Expix this year were media partners for photography and videography)

Im back home now and its blowing 20mph outside, so Im off for a session! Next up Im heading to Soma Bay in Egypt. I have a week out there for myself before running the next of my coaching holidays!!

Kitesurfing for me and Coaching Courses for others!!

2010-05-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

I've been back in the Uk now for a few weeks and in that time I've managed to move house, get out kitesurfing on the water and unleash my UK Coaching Tour upon the Nation!

Im half way through my UK Short Burst Session and have been coaching at Blackpool, Southampton and North Wales so far. This weekend Im coaching in Barrow before hitting Hunstanton. I've been fortunate with the wind and just one course is back logged, but not forgotten!!

On each course I rig up a mis of Naish Helixes 2010 and Naish Torches for my clients to demo and I have been working with people learning their 1st jumps, landing the 1st front rolls or building others confidence in unhooking. Last weekend I had 3 of the guys from the South African Coaching Holiday come back for a follow up course in North Wales where we were working on surface handle passes and raileys to blind. The north easterly wind blew all day and the sun shone on full power from 1st thing til last and we set up camp with bbq's, tunes, fire pouy, tents and campers!

On the 20th May Im hitting Holland for the Kiteboard Open. I've been there for the passed 3 years on the trot with Protest and always had hot, sunny weather and amazing parties! This year the competition is part of the European Cup can only imagine the comp will be bigger then ever before! Rock on the competition heats and the party after!

I've been riding a few times myself around the UK. Had an unexpected epic south coaster session in Southampton 2 weeks ago where the forecast was 5mph but came through at 18mph. Flat water, no boots/gloves/twat cap necessary - not that I ever use them, but in this case I wasn't even cold!! I also hit up Blackpool for a mighty cold session plus Cornwall and Cumbria too!

In June Im heading for a week to Egypt as a warm up session for a summer abroad! Sri Lanka or South America is calling. I have a few new tricks up my sleeve to work on trying to break out in to a new style of riding, so I'm preparing to take some beatings in the warm water before unleashing the new tricks back on European waters and possible even a PKRA contest?!! I just can't wait!!

Please visit my coaching website for further info on courses! There are not many spaces left, but if your lucky and flexible then there is a chance you could come along!

Short Burst Sessions

2010-04-13T05:41:00.000-07:00

I started up a business in coaching just one year ago, so to the anniversary of the first coaching session Im now starting off my 2010 UK Tour in Blackpool this weekend.

The forecast is for 17-20mph westerlies and northerlies over the whole weekend which will be spot on for Lithium and St Anne's. I have 4 courses 2 basic and 2 advanced and I have a small number of spaces left for the Sunday. If you live near by then come along and sign up and I will coach you on your own goals. Courses cost £60 for 3 hours and you will be in a group size of 4 maximum all at a similar level to yourself.

Other locations I am hitting up over the next 6 weeks are: -

Southampton - 24/25th April
Llandudno - 1/2/3rd May
Barrow - 8/9th Math
Hunstanton - 15/16th May
Southend - 22/23rd May
Exmouth/Bigbury - 29/30th may

Check out my coaching website to find out more www.jowilsoncoaching.com

Adrenaline Sports Movie

2010-04-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

One of the best new spots I have been recently for kitesurfing is Turkey. I went last year for a random trip and had such an epic time that I went back 1 month later with 6 other riders to make a movie. There are amazing freestyle locations and hardly any of them have really been discovered so there is plenty of wind and loads of space to play and its just a great escape from the usual busy destinations.

Check out the video on you tube and Im sure you'll love it. If you are from the Uk you can fly there directly for just £150 (Izmir) even in peak season. For sure Im heading back this year.

Riders are Ali Barrett (Slingshot), Ania Grzlinska (North), Johara Sykes-Davies (Flexifoil), Robin Sunggs (Flexifoil), James Boulding (Liquid Force), Arzu Tylan (Flexifoil) and of course me keeping it real for Naish!!

Homeward Bound

2010-04-07T03:47:00.000-07:00

Sun gently penetrating the windows low and distant in the afternoon sky the fields stay a constant green and the naked trees cast their shadows through the carriage of my train as I make my way cross country back to my (not for much longer) home. Yes ive landed in the outskirts of winter here in the UK. Funny, I could swear its spring but after along cold winter it looks like we’re in for a further cold snap before spring lets its warm magic loose on the beautiful countryside. I’m definitely hoping I have a wetsuit at home where I haven’t cut the legs off as I have the feeling that a ¾ length suit is perhaps a little premature to unleash on the British Coast. Either that or I need to put a couple of spoonfuls of concrete in my PG tips and toughen up!

(Riding in North Wales in the Cold)

Capetown is where I have spent the passed 5 weeks. It was much different to how I remember it – not better not worse – just different. Its so much more built up now and a whole different vibe. The vibe was much more one of being in a major city despite staying in Blouberg 25km’s away from the city itself. Restaurants and café’s line Big bay making a great viewing platform and great place to chill with your friends and watch the kiting when windy however I often found myself sitting there feeling like I was living out an episode of Sex in the City as opposed to making a small movie showing off my new tricks. Despite less winf then usual I still averagely rode for 3 hours 3 times a week. Not quite the 40 days on the trot of 30mph and above that Capetown is known and loved for.

Although a good trip I can’t help feeling robbed of some mental ‘hang on for your life’ sessions where my 6m and I a very strong friendship which means next season will be a cracker!

(Downloop Railey on the inside at Big Bay)

With less windy days on the cards I found myself more open for some random adventures. Dicing with gravity on the side of some rock face over looking Muizenberg spiced up a hot windless day plus a more extreme adventure involving gulleys prone to rock fall, mountain ridges, sleeping under the stars under uninhabited mountain side also ensued.

Our house this year was an eclectic mix of sports. We were a mixed bunch of kiters and climbers providing entertainment on the dodgy fashion mistakes / non mistakes! Apparently mid length shorts on the thigh and tight batman t shirts are all the rage in the climbing world ;-) Anyhow we had plenty of fun and was a perfect escape from the frustrations of the windless days.

(The walk in to Oceans of Fear)

One morning at 4.30am we set off with a wingsuit flier, climber/base jumper and 2 other climbers plus myself and another kitesurfer.

(The crew - check out Leo Houldings' work on youtube!!)

We chucked some food in back packs along with sleeping bags, climbing equipment and headed for the mountains. 3 days later the boys had climbed an enormous route done by only 12 others before and alone I had hiked my way up a gulley and across the mountain ridge to meet the climbers which was scary enough for me. All of us successfully fended off the onlooking baboons and slept under stars on a diet of peanut butter sandwiches and salami and 3 days later found ourselves dozily wondering the streets of Capetown wondering is such a surreal experience had really happened.

(Waiting at the summit for the others)

Back in the UK I am now here for 2 months running UK Short Burst Coaching Sessions for Jo Wilson Coaching. Check out my coaching site for more information. I travel all round the country and run 4 courses per weekend for kitesurfers who are looking to improve their level. I run basic courses in the morning for those who are jumping but not always landing consistently and would like some coaching on how to jump higher with more control, try their first rotations, raileys and also pop transitions. In the afternoons I run advanced courses that move into the realms of unhooking and taking things to the next level. The courses are reasonably priced and extremely accessible for kitesurfers and it would be great if you wanted to take part on a course near you.

There are still a small number of spaces left on certain courses so please check out my website to see where you can sign up.

My plans this season is to run awesome coaching courses but also hit Egypt in June, the Canaries over the summer and travel may be to Oz at the end of the year, but for now im going to enjoy a few days at home and the spring sunshine in the UK.

Keep you posted…

South Africa

2010-03-17T23:45:00.001-07:00

Ive been in South Africa for 3 weeks now – probably more, but I dont want to think about it like that otherwise it will be time to go home before I know it and I really dont want to do that. Its a real mix of a season – for the short part that I have been here for. We scored wind everyday of my clinic while in Langebaan, but the following two weeks I perhaps got on the water 5 times and of those sessions, some were just evening sessions. This passed week however we have scored it much better and have been on the water for the day for almost a week.

I’ve been working hard on the freestyle which might seem sacrilege as we have had quite a few wavey days but Im a women possessed and determined to learn new tricks, so I have been kiting in either Big bay on the smaller wave days or up in Langebaan on the bigger days. I did take one big day to ride in the waves though which was a lot of fun and good for a rest.

Blouberg where we stay has changed so much on previous years. A whole new shopping/cafe/bar area has been built which looks right over Big Bay. On first sight I was horrified that a quiet area had been destroyed, but got to be honest I now find it a cool place to chill and catch up with friends while watching the surfers or kitesurfers after Ive had a session.

On no wind days we have been either learning to SUP which makes for some awesome wipeouts or we have been walking up table mountain, hitting some beaches around the coast or just chilling around our pad.

Current photos to come

South African Adventure - Jo Wilson Coaching

2010-03-07T00:45:00.000-08:00

Well after a mammoth 35 hour mission to get back from Boracay I spent a day and a half in England which was long enough to come close to hypothermia at the airport and have a taste of the snow that I had left behind one month previous. It dawned on me that January, February and March are certainly days that I want to escape from the UK for in future. I stayed in the UK for the whole of last winter and stayed a little longer this winter, so its been mentally noted – and now physically noted to never do that again.

(Peaceful Langebaan)

Well a day and a half later in the UK and I was back at the airport checking in for South Africa – somewhere Ive been 6 times before. For the first part of this trip I had a very different mission on my hands – the first of my Jo Wilson Coaching Holidays abroad. I had a full party of 6 clients and one partner of a client arriving the day after me and all super excited for some cracking kitesurfing and hard core coaching to help them achieve the moves that they have been working on or dreaming of for so long.

(The crew - a big task on my hands as all riding North and Mystic)

I was psyched for having organised a trip to where I know to be a fab location to do it. We had a huge house rented 2 minutes from the spot and a forecast which true to form – ‘isn’t usual for this time of year’ yeah yeah yeah... Well it is because it is happening, but despite a not spot on forecast and one day of rain to give the UK a run for its money we had wind everyday for at least 2 hours and for the 2nd half of the week all day long. With loads of different activities lined up from kitesurfing to on the beach work outs, stand up paddle boarding, bbq’s and also missions for table mountain and Camps Bay should we not already be exhausted - which by the end of the week we certainly were!

(Gavin working on his F16's)

On the course I had 2 ladies and 4 guys plus 1 lady having kitesurfing lessons with Constantly Kitesurfing – a local kite school. The 6 people were of varying levels from busting first back loops, boosting big front loops to beginning unhooking and even nailing unhooked back loops kite loops and testing out how to do air handle passes. The group was split in to two so that i could work with 3 together for an hour and a half and then I would work with the other group for an hour and a half. After that it was time for lunch before another coaching strategy in the afternoon.

(Toby learning F16's)

The evenings were fueled with huge bbq’s and cold beers (not too many excl. the last night – as its all about health and fitness) and watching the video footage from the day’s action.

Thanks to everyone who came. I hope you left full of new knowledge, completely kanckered and complete with videos and photos from the course. It was a real pleasure and I look forward to running the clinic again in 2011.

To find out more please visit my coaching website www.jowilsoncoaching.com, but for now enjoy the rest of the photos

(Kasia full powered in to an unhooked front roll)

(Jamie briefly breaking from back loops to bust a pop transition)

(Chris bid boosted front loop)

(Amy working on her surface handle pass from railey to toeside)

(The observer gallery)

(Tips on the beach)

I am out in South Africa for one further month working on my tricks and generally having a fab time on the water before returning to the UK in the warmer spring :-) Will keep you posted on my antics...

A fond farewell to the Philippines

2010-02-13T18:48:00.000-08:00

I can’t believe it, this trip has absolutely flown passed. Ive been here for a month now and I find myself caining it on the water in an attempt to make the most out of my last few days in the Philippines.

I have such strong emotions for it here. The place is so chilled out, laid back and beautiful. The people I have met have been some of the nicest people I have ever met and I really feel like I could make it my home.

Over the passed month I have spent time kiting in Boracay, Seco and a big island a short distance away which/whose name I don’t know.

I think I have found a little slice of heaven with safe feelings, happy locals, great kiting and delicious food – not to mention the massages.

From here I fly home for two days before heading out to South Africa to run what I aim to make the best Jo Wilson Coaching clinic to date up in Langebaan then after that I head down to Capetown to stay in Big Bay for another month of kiting in warmer climes.

For now a fond farewell to the Philippines - one day I hope to be back

Best Female Rider 2009

2010-02-05T06:14:00.000-08:00

IKSURFMAG! have created a poll for a number of best kitesurfing things in 2009 including best female rider. I would be really happy if I were to win this. If you consider me to be the best female rider of 2009 then could you please vote for me on the following link IKSURFMAG!

Thank you and thanks to expix for the piccie

Jo Wilson Coaching

2010-01-30T23:33:00.000-08:00

New dates for 2010 on my website now. Please check it out and come along! Jowilsoncoaching.com

The wind keeps on breezing through

2010-01-30T23:13:00.000-08:00

Ive been in Boracay well over a week now - getting on two. The wind has been blowing everyday. the afternoons get a little light, but I've normally had a couple of sessions by then and am not too bothered - plus i have another couple of weeks out here, so no stress!

Things have calmed down slightly in terms of there being no water in the lagoon at 6am which is sort of a blessing sort of not. I no longer get my semi solo sessions on the water, but am normally way more alert after a lie in and hitting the beach at 10am instead. Also a few friends have returned home including Sofia and Lisa Melvin and dare I say it Ant Baker, but there are still some great fun people out here to.

The kiting has come on a treat. I am more often then not on my 8m or 10m Naish Torch plus 132cm Naish Momentum which makes a great combination for freestyle. There were some wise words that I took into deep consideration - 'You've got to feel it - not think it'. Oh so true - thanks Sam. The sessions where I hit the water and over anaylse, over anticipate and generally think too much into are never as good as the ones where I just cruise out and bust out a move without thinking! These sessions the kite normally stays in place and the move effortlessly comes out of my body as opposed to a lack of pop pile of dull looking moves when I think too much. Thinking is well over rated and feeling is definitely up my street. Doesn't always work like this, but a great day followed by a less great day followed by another great day is fine by me :-) Am I rambling? I might be! Its hot!

I have worked further with abbo who definitely needs a website for his photos, but for now only has one for his great music. He has taken some beauties and always ready to work with me which is fab. With him and Paul Jackson by the end of the trip you can expect to see a fab article in a magazine!

For now enjoy the photos and will write again soon.

Living it up in the Philippines

2010-01-24T19:58:00.001-08:00

Well as promised here is the first in a succession of more regular updates. I have finally hit the lands/oceans of regular wind, endless sun and gorgeous beaches. Is a far cry from what I left behind in the UK.

After 1 train, 3 planes, 1 bus, 1 boat and a tricycle I rocked up on the little island of Boracay in the Philippines. Ive never been somewhere quite so beautiful and with good kitesurfing.

This place is cheap as chips and the locals are hassle free and super friendly. They even prepare your kites for you for a small price no matter what time you decide to kite. That brings me round to my general day. After noticing how busy it can get on the water I decided to leave my time clock back in partial UK time and I get out of bed pretty early to hit the water before most people move an eyelid. I have a couple of fellow companions who join me, but there is plenty of space for 3. It takes a while to wake up and on one morning I totally forgot about onshore winds and close by palm trees plus it was still a little dark and I weaved my kite in amongst the trees n a major case of school boy error. What made it worse was that is was just feet from some power lines. I watched the look of horror on the face of the local and then before I knew it my now hero had climbed up the palm, delicately unweaved it and scooted back down the tree before I could say 'opps!' Anyhow all parties including kite came out completely unscaved and they had me back on the water in time to catch the sunrise. Since that morning Ive been a bit more alert when on the water.

After having spent most of the passed 4 months in the UK and sporadically kiting with the weather systems passing through my level isnt up to scratch, so this passed week has been practising tricks that I can normally do full speed and full power. Handle passes in the air havent really been touched upon, but blind passes and surface passes are coming back pretty quickly.

Im feeling super good from all the kiting and sadistically enjoying the aches and pains. Hanging out at Ocean Republic is super relaxing and great fun. Looking forward to getting out near enough daily for the next 2 months and looking forward to busting out some powered handle passes in the coming weeks.

All photos are credited to abbo. abbo is an awesome musician. He is a singer and songwriter and as yet undiscovered check out his awesome tunes on www.abbomusic.com

Phillippines

2010-01-18T01:44:00.000-08:00

So its been pretty quiet on my blog front for the passed few weeks, but that is all about to change! Ive just arrived in Manila on route to a month in Boracay for some sun, sea and kitesurfing training. Watch out for more regular updates and some great pics!! ... Oh and did I mention that I have another months' training in South Africa after that - right after one of my Jo Wilson Coaching Clinics in Langebaan. Check out my website Jo Wilson Coaching to find out more about that.
Thanks and happy kiting/snow kiting wherever you are :-)

Relentlessly Windy

2009-11-24T04:03:00.001-08:00

Well it seems that October and November have just been off the scale in terms of wind and waves. We’ve had day in and day out of 20+ knots often hitting 35 knots and above! It has been crazy. I’ve got to be honest no matter how much I love the UK there just aren’t many days on the trot f wind, wind and more wind. Until now. It is a rare time when you can say ‘today Im tired of kitesurfing’. This passed couple of months Ive caught myself feeling that way twice! It has been phenomenal.

(Heading out in 40knots at Bigbury)

Pretty much the only kites out of the bag lately have been my 6m Torch and 7m Helix. However there was one day last week where we were lucky enough to be basked in sunshine and 10m weather. The waves were well over head high and the 5’7” Custom Global Naish waveboard came out to play.

(Neal Gent test rider for Kiteworld joining us a for a powered up small kite session)

With such a lot of wind this season there has been a lot of time to mix and match my riding. My wave riding is improving a lot while my freestyle although not going downhill has had to be put on the back burner a little. Its pretty tough to motivate yourself to keep working on unhooked tricks in this wind, so although I have been keeping my feet in and my level up I have been spending much more time on the wave board.

(Nailing some freestyle in 40knots... or was it getting nailed in 40 knots?? One of the two!)

This year I have two most memorable sessions which leave me talking endlessly for days about this one wave, or the sun setting and still riding or having my kite fully powered while making a blind judge. These days are a Tuesday in August and a Sunday earlier this month. Ive ranted about Tuesday enough and with Sunday being more recent I feel that I need to unleash about this epic day.

(The view down towards The Bluff in Cornwall)

I headed down to Cornwall for a 17ft swell forecast on Magic Seaweed. It was a Northerly wind of 30mph and wall to wall sunshine. Not bad for a Autumn day in the UK. I set off with Dan Parkinson a local RRD rider from Bigbury and Bantham and rocked up to Gwithian to watch monster size waves pulling through and endless white caps behind that. Not a soul in sight. It was a day to remember for sure. Together we walked down the beach with our smallest kites on our backs, wave boards tucked under our arms... And for me the die hard freestlyer just dabbling with the wave riding the twin tip as well.

We walked in an excited, perhaps slightly nervous silence and said to ourselves that we would play around on the inside for 20 minutes just to say we had been out. The waves were enormous pitching up fast and then menacingly breaking in one big frieght train like manner. Being caught in the wrong spot at the wrong time was definately not on our list of priorities especially considering the water rips out and just when you think you are out of the thick of it – it has only just really begun. So we pumped up.

(Testing the conditions in Bigbury)

Riding out on the first few runs gave us an insight to their real size. Standing tall Dan could reach his arm high and the wave would still be above that. Its was two times over head at least, but at times even bigger. Once on the water your nerves calm a little as you tentaively work out the timing. There was plenty of chicken gybing going on as you made it passed one wave but could see another peaking just behind that and another just behind that, but once you made it out back you were safe. This day was just phenomenal. I did ride some of these waves as the day went on, but to be fair I just spent a lot of time hugging in close to them as the peaked behind me. I would watch them form just yards from them and then let them break with the white water crashing up on my heels, back, shoulders... But just far enough ahead to keep myself away from a major munching.

(This photo courtesy of www.expix.co.uk)

Dan spent the entire day on his strapless surfboard and for a while I watch from the beach in wonderment. Every crashing wave dwarfing Dan, but it wasn’t long before i headed out strapless to. I have to confess Im not quite up to this level yet and spent a good half an hour or so trying. I made it out the back with good timing on two occasions, but far too often found myself caught on the inside and once I felt my heart beating enough I grabbed the twin tip on which I feel most comfortable with.

Dan and I could not tare ourselves off the water on this Sunday. We rode from mid morning until after sunset with just half an hour break to knock back a drink and a sandwich. It was truely one of those epics that will never be forgotten and one that we will look out for in the furture. This is kitesurfing in the UK at its finest and more to come.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. They are taken by Scot Baston whose website is currently being developed. For more of his awesome images you can check out his Flickr page. Thank you Scot

Bigbury and Bantham - Autumn Low Pressures!!

2009-10-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

After a spell of no wind it seems as though the Autumn low pressures have kicked into the UK. With warm seas and fairly warm air temperatures its still all good to wear a 3mm wetsuit down here on the south coast. In 9 days I kitesurfed 7 of them on mostly on my 6m, but a couple of days on the 10m to. Bigbury and Bantham provide a range of conditions depending on the tide and it has perfect flat water in between little kickers on higher tides and waves when the tide is a bit further out.

(Photo thanks to: Julie Morrish)

I have been mixing up the riding such a lot and generally spending 50% of my time on the twin tip and 50% of the time on my 5’7” Custom Global Naish waveboard. Its my pride and joy because being known as a freestyler its not exactly on the top of Naish’s priorities to send me a waveboard, so when it finally turned up on my doorstep a couple of months ago after longer then 1 year in waiting it really is my most treasured item in my Naish collection.

(Photo thanks to Scot Baston)

Having both wave riding to work on as well as freestyle and living at a beach that lends itself to both conditions I have to be sure to throw in the Van some good snackage to keep me going for the day. I’ll spend an hour or two on the twin tip, come in for my surfboard for an hour then be in dire need of some sustenance. Stocking up on the chocolate muffins for around 30 mins and a hot drink Im ready again and once more the surfboard comes out for another hour before a final session on the twin tip. Its brilliant. I love the kiting so much lately and its a fair day in the UK to be able to say – today I NEED a day off which I found myself saying down at Marazion in Cornwall last week. However, Im sat here 4 days or so later and chomping at the bit for round two of the Autumn low pressures which gladly begins tomorrow.

During this windy time last week I was lucky to meet some photographers on the beach and kindly Julie Morrish of http://www.juliemorrish-photography.co.uk/ took some pictures in the beautiful Autumn sunshine. It seems like this is the season of photos and via the South Devon forum I was led to the link of Scot Baston. Scots photos were brilliant and tomorrow he is coming to the beach for a westerly strong wind, some sun if we are lucky, swell and RRD riders Neal Gent and Dan Parkinson. Watch this space for some of the great shots and should luck be on our side then perhaps a spot guide to Bigbury in Kiteworld magazine or Kitesurf UK next issue! Fingers crossed!!

Jo

The Philippines Kitesurfing Coaching Trip

2009-10-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

There has been a date change to the below trip. It will now be running from January 21st - January 27th 2010 NOT 19th - 25th January 2010.

Kit for Sale

2009-10-04T00:38:00.000-07:00

14m Naish Torch 2009 for sale brand new complete with bar and lines and 132cm Naish Thorn 2010. Extremely good condition because only used 5 times. Open to offers

Jo Wilson Coaching - Cornish Kitesurfing Exploration 2009

2009-10-01T00:21:00.000-07:00

I have just got back from a fantastic week coaching freestyle on a residential course down in Cornwall. We scored great conditions and almost wall-to-wall sunshine and come the end of the week we all tootled back to our homes muscles aching, mind refreshed and happy that we had maximised the hours of the day and time spent on the water.

(The crew)

There were 5 people on the course plus myself and we rented out The Surf Sanctuary in Newquay where we could make ourselves at home and have full use of the house. We scored wind on 5 days out of the 7 but were fully on the case to choose the best location for the day in order to have powered sessions. With the highest of local knowledge from both Mobius Kite school and Dom Moore of The Surf Sanctuary we headed to spots where the wind was working against the tide allowing everyone to get riding in flat water with a few extra knots of wind then anticipated, so we can definitely knock on the head that high pressures mean no wind.

(Ian powered back loops inbound!!)

The guys were working on various tricks from their first back loops to front loops and raileys all the way up to unhooking and surface handle passes. The conditions were absolutely spot on. I generally stood on the waters edge and either filmed the action or called each individual person aside to give them tips or start them onto a new move.

(me calling Ian over to give him a quick tip and to ask him if he actually signed up to the trip in the Phillipenes - his quick 5 minute blast with no wetsuit soon turned into a 4 hour session)

Watching the video footage back was more than valuable and having the ability to use an example of one of the group doing a trick well for others to learn from was way more valuable then using an instructional dvd.

(Alex demonstrating the front hand action on the front rolls)

After these full days of action which sometimes even combined mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding and surfing our bodies were feeling the usuage so on an non-compulsory basis at 7.30am every morning people could roll out of bed to the smells of fresh coffee and fall out the door for an early morning jog down to Fistral beach which is less than 5 minutes away. Here I ran some yoga stretches to prepare us for the onslaught of further action to come.

I couldn't have been happier with the group I had. They were awesome and although a mix of ages, professions and nationalities it was a winning combination where everyone gelled really well. Everyone had the same focus - to get outside, learn to improve their kitesurfing and most of all have fun!

(The crew respecting the rules!!?)

It was not all spent action action action and relaxing in a pub or café at the end of the day gave us time to sit back, relax and reminisce over the stunning conditions and scenery that Cornwall has to offer but also laugh and joke or smugly take on board the crshes and landings of the new moves that day!

(Owen mastering the back loop to one footer landing and big smile)

As a bonus Craig Saywer of Craigsawyerphotography.co.uk joined us for a windy, sunny day in the west of Cornwall plus don’t be surprised if you see a quite concerning Richard Branson and Danni Parkinson remake when you least expect it - afterall Dom Moore the editor of Kitesurf Magazine made the occasional cheeky appearence to spur some mischief on and a lot of fun was had by all. The group left with a dvd containing a selection of photos and all the video footage plus of course a new bag of tricks up their sleeve to either unleash or work on when next out on the water.

(Amy having it mid unhooked railey)

Thanks guys for a great trip and you all worked really hard. Hope everyone has recovered from all the action and especially recovered after the last night blow out. See you soon.

Watch out for my next coaching trip that will be run in Boracay - The Phillipenes between Jan 19th and Jan 25th 2010 www.oceansource.net.

China experiences from another world

2009-08-30T00:31:00.000-07:00

This week I returned from a very last minute trip to China. To be precise I went to Weifang and Binhai which are around a 1 hour flight from Beijing.

I headed off on this trip pretty much with my eyes closed. Oceansource.net called me to say about this opportunity and that it would be an all expenses paid trip out there. They were adamant that it would be a great trip and are enthusiastic watersports people themselves organisng great trips around the globe for both windsurfers and kitesurfers, it wasn’t long before I was persuaded. China is somewhere I have always had an interest to visit but perhaps not one of my highest priorities so with an all expenses paid kitesurfing trip I couldn’t see where it could go wrong.

This trip had its troubles from the start and having just 5 days to arrange my VISA was cutting things a little fine and I sent my passport and credit card details into what seemed like the abyss and beyond. All I had in my hand was an online appointment that my passport had to make itself to with only the help of a next day delivery ticket from the Royal Mail and some hope of a small Chinese person carrying my passport from A to B. I had visions of interception on the streets of London and instead of a Chinese Visa and a trip to go on I would have a case of stolen Identity and cash removal. Well to be fair it wouldn’t have got much further then Holland with the cash that I have, but still I wasn’t the most comfortable with the Chinese Application Service System. In the end and much to my surprise it worked out perfectly and I was able to pick up my passport with Visa on my way to the airport.

(The first kites were made in China 2,500 years ago. These were dotted everywhere once we arrived))

Flying to Weifang involves 3 flights. London – Dubai – Beijing – Qindao and a 3 hour bus ride to Weifang! Its far... And all for 4 days. I cant tell you how many movies I watched after having completed my book, draining the last minutes of power out of my laptop battery followed by hearing the last song on the battery power of my ipod! Endless hours of waiting and travelling! Its the biggest journey in my experience and despite rating this trip in my top 5 best experiences in my life I am glad that I dont face such a journey again for a while

On arrival we were treated like kings and queens. Approximately 20 countries attended with 1 kiter from each.

We were staying in a 4* hotel and each had our own personal assistant/translator/slave driver. Without fail every morning I’d be woken with the faint knock knock and voice ‘hallo jos wilson’. It became a welcoming that I wouldnt forget because before every question, every statement or every chase up the grand statement of ‘Hallo Jos Wilson’ would come from their mouths. TV interviews were fun ‘Hallo Jos Wilson, how do you find Binhai?’ followed by ‘Hallo Jos Wilson do you like the kitesurfing here’. ‘Hallo Jos Wilson’ at 11pm, 3am and 6am to single, double and triple check my flight times was just not funny!! But they were sweet people just massively excited to see foreigners and very eager to help, so baring this in mind it was great to have them at hand.

The event site was just 40 minutes from the hotel involving several buses and a police escort. On arrival at the site we found it to be a harbour with a beach built just for us. The beach was compact mud and so a massive white sheet had been laid over the top to protect out kites. The water was a huge flat inlet perfect for freestyle and it was the temperature of bath water. It was quite surreal with it lapping over your ankles while riding a long. It was pretty shallow, so you felt safe and the temperature meant that wipeouts were a joy.

The opening ceremony was unlike anything that any other kitesurfing event has ever organised. I havent been to them all, but I'd put money on it. 3,000 government officials were invited alongside approximately 2,000 other people and television companies, radio stations and all other manner of film crews were there for the spectacle. The riders were carried to a barge docked several meters out from the harbourside and on the barge we paraded around carrying our flags alongside a Chinese Model carrying a pole with a sign stating our country.

(Britain didn't get allocated the hottest model but she was pretty nice)

The ceremony was a 3 hour experience with endless speeches, fireworks and a jetski display. Despite the weather (typicall rain and no wind) hords of people turned out to watch wearing colour cordinated ponchos

(there were 4 teams of colours. Im not sure what they represented, but we waved and they all waved back)

In the time we were out there we had one afternoon with wind for my 12m Helix. It wasn’t gusty at all and just perfect. We played around doing freestyle and then ran a 500m race which can only be described with two words ‘FUN’ and ‘CARNAGE’. I finished joint 6th with Willy Kerr from Northern Ireland while the Peter Lynn entrants (kites only) finished up on electricity pylons creating a beautiful explosion for the Chinese to say ‘oooooooooo’! No one was hurt and actually miraculously apparently the kites are fine (cant be said for the lines) so perhaps that gives a little advantage to the Peter Lynn kites should you kite near a power station???

(Jalou Langeree and I keeping it real for Naish 5th and 6th respectively in the mixed category)

Being blonde and fair skinned the Chinese thought it the perfect opportunity to get a photo with this ‘alien’ and with a lot of ‘hoi hoi hoi’ and arm grabbing I found myself having my photo being taken day in and day out. Everywhere we looked there would be some local chinese person grabbing a kiter to get their momento. It was a pretty special feeling and really nice to be part of.

(Jalou Langeree from Naish hiding from the papparazzi)

In the evenings we were treated to some awesome banquets and Chinese Hosting. They really went out of their way to make us feel special. The food was perfectly prepared and some of it delicious but i have to be honest they have a strange diet! On day one I began by cantapulting a chopstick up over my head and determined not to be beaten I settled to have a few spares put by my plate and felt more at home when the guy sat beside me also did the same followed by tipping his glass over with the remaining chopstick. Our coordination skills after a long long flight were something to be desired. Over the course of the next 4 days we swapped marvelled looks at our inability to use chopsticks and their inabilities to use forks.

(thats me embarking on a daunting culinary experience that I will never EVER forget!! Sea Slug - their most expensive and 'delicious' sea food delicacy)

Im waiting to find out how I can get my hands on some action pictures of the kiting, but for now hope you like my pics of this amazing, but extremely bizarre adventure.

I would just like to say thank you to www.oceansource.net for organising with the Chinese officials this amazing trip. Also thank you to Liu Zhipping!

China n North Wales

2009-08-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

Bleary eyed at 5am I have just woken up to set sail again. Forecast has been awesome for the whole of the UK until 2 days ago and now to get my kitesurfing fix it looks as though I have to make the drive north before heading east to China!

China are holding an invitational kitesurfing tournament. Its the first one and will be held in Qingdao - Binhai Weifang! Im not too sure what to expect, but cannot wait! Story to come, fingers crossed for wind. If its anything like what they had in the windsurfing Olympics then it could be hard work to get off the ground, but fingers crossed!!

Peiking duck please. Keep you posted - back around the 26th Aug.

Home sweet home

2009-08-10T08:28:00.001-07:00

Exactly one month to the day I finally arrived home after sleeping in the Bongo with Johara Sykes Davies anywhere from the beach in Germany (where you can find Naish equipment in the supermarkets), the main street of Amsterdam to Sloane Square in London.

Bedraggled, tired and dirty I made it home with 3 loads of washing and a matte of hair otherwise known as dreadlocks.

The trip was a success starting in filming for Adrenaline Sports in Turkey before heading to Germany for the PKRA. We drove through Amsterdam stopping to do Amsterdammy things - shopping - before hitting London for more shopping and a meeting with Adrenaline Sports before Brighton where we tied up some loose ends for the video.

The video is looking ace. It has Ali Barrett riding on top form busting out mega KL3's and Robyn Snuggs clearing sandspits in 35+ knots on a flatwater spot similar to Coche only a few hours less flight away. Johara Sykes Davies is back on form and Ania Grzlinska proves the reason for her owning the title of KPWT world champion. I might make a few appearances and finally think I have turned a good corner after breaking my wrist. All the action will be up and running in just a couple of weeks time and with James Boulding editing it in the Fatsand offices don't miss out!!

Whats next? Well Im back at home for a couple of weeks The plan was to hit China for their first International event, but my flight would be on Monday and with Chinese Embassy dealing with the visas one week is just too short a notice to get away with it. The event looks really exciting and definitely one to hit, but unfortunately for me I just can't make it this time. Hopefully they will invite me back next year and give me a little bit of extra notice to be able to pull it out of the bag!

Jo Wilson Coaching starts back up in time for the Autumn low pressures. I have 3 dates starting with Poole Windfest in September where you can sign up for a short burst session to learn anything from back loops to air handle passes. If you are up for some more intensive coaching there is still a space left for a week in Cornwall where accommodation and coaching is all included in the price of £375 for one week. Its an opportunity not to be missed with video coaching as well as instant tips and pointers at the best beaches in Cornwall. Check out my coaching website for more info.

Between now and then my eyes will be fixed to xc weather and windguru and I will be visiting the best beaches for wind with a massive overwhelming amounts of energy to relearn the powered handle passes and bring out my new 2010 5'7" Naish Global. Flatwater or waves - Im on it!!!

Photos all thanks to Ian Edmondson at Expix

Germany PKRA - 5th

2009-07-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

This is the first of the World Cup events that I have come to this year. Its the biggest of the year with great sponsorship and many different brands from headphones, to shower gels to kite brands and more rocking up to show off there product. Its like a mini village built on the sand. For this reason the event is 10 days long. There are thousands of visitors during this time, possibly even tens of thousands and Im pretty sure they all come by bike!

Anyhow after several days of light wind a huge amount of course racing for those inclined we finally had some decent wind for the freestyle competition. When I say decent wind it was somewhere between 30 and 45 knots. It was crazy.

The wind picked up on wedsnesday night and with it the following morning unleashed the carnage. Walking to the kit tent was a mission in itself and on the way there were tents broken, flags going mental, jcb's digging big sand wall sea defenses plus one man out over powered on a 4m kite. There was one thing for sure about this day. You either pumped up only your smallest kite - or you borrowed a smaller one from a seven year old - said seven year old being Steph bridge from Edge watersports youngest son who happily leant me his 4m under the basis that I pulled on 'some depower to prevent the kite from back stalling' and also as long as I was happy to be on a kite with no safety system! Hmm, let me think about that. Its howling onshore wind and Im on a completely alien kite... I took my chances and stuck with my trusty 6m Torch - my favourite kite of my quiver. At least that way i knew if things were going wrong I would know in what way.

Well my first heat was fab. I nailed a strong heat. i dont know how much ground I covered in the tricks I landed but I knew that if held on tight and tried to kepp my kite low then I should pull thorugh strong on the other side. Stoked! It worked. i won my first heat to then come against the leader of this years world tour Bruna Kajyia. Yet again I had a good heat but saw Bruna nail an s bend air pass so i thought why not, lets go for the blind judge. 3 times i tried and I made a pass super high in the air, but my god I ate some shit on the landings (or not landings in this case). for the single elimination Bruna took me down!

The double elimination was held this morning. The wind was perfect for 8m or 10m Torch and I was feeling good. i rode one of my best heats ever landing a railey to blind, down loop to blind, back to blind and blind judge (really neeed to vary up the blind landings). i passed this heat with no problem before coming up against fellow van sharing mate Johara Sykes Davies. This heat I lost the plot, but pulled through strong to take on the ex World Champ Kristin Boese. Still riding strong I took her out also before going up against Angela Peral. By this point there was just 10 minute break between heats and I was feeling the lack of strength. I rode a good heat against her, but I needed a great one and although a very close heat this time it was me going down. I felt that I could have won this one more heat had I had full strength, but it wasn't to be and Im still sitting happily in 5th place.

There are two more days of competition and the freestyle is complete with Kevin Langeree of Naish and Joanna Litwin of Nobile taking first place. Next up the boardercross...

Adrenaline Sports Video In Turkey

2009-07-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

After never having visited Turkey before I have now been back for the second time in a month. This time we had even better conditions then before and we kited everyday except one.

The aim of this trip was to make a video for Adrenaline Sports. It was down to me to organise this trip although I had been given a head start in that accommodation and car hire was pre arranged for me. It didn't go as easily as I thought but it was a great experience and I learned a lot which I will take with me for the next mission.

The riders that headed out for this trip aside from myself was Johara Sykes Davies British Champion 2007, Ania Grzelisnka KPWT World Champion 2008 plus Ali Barratt who goes big for Slingshot in the UK and Robin Snuggs a Flexifoil rider from the South coast. With us we took James Boulding from Fatsand to film and Ian Edmondson from Expix Photography.

In the 7 days we kited at least two different spots each day and so we racked up our Turkey kitesurfing knowledge. We scored some completely epic freestyle conditions, but some pure dire conditions also. Its always the offshore, gusty locations where the best photos and video come out, so you know when you find a bad spot your gonna have to work you ass off to make the best video.

There will be two videos from this trip. One to bring you more information on the different spots, the better places to ride and more about the area plus another of the more hardcore action just to wet your appetitie. The aim for these videos is to release them in August, so watch this space to find out more.

The highlight of the trip for me was finding a location as flat as the infamous venezualan island - coche. The other highlight (lowlight at the time) was taking the cameraman down with a unhooked railey where I came in a bit too fast and a bit too close. I've never hit someone before and felt really bad, but with nothing broken and a great shot from it on film I can look back and laugh. Forunately for me though, but not for James, I wasn't the only person to take him out! Watch out for the video and see for youself.

I just arrived in Germany for the PKRA. Johara and I travelled here together. It was a major mission after landing from Turkey involving missing one ferry and being stuck in approximately 6 hours of near enough standstill traffic once on the other side.

(Our Bongo in Germany between a Ferrai and Lotus!! Sweet!!)

We were two days late, but havent missed a thing! In fact you can reap the rewards of our boredom in a series of funny articles to be unleashed in Kitesurf Magazine. All good.

Keep you posted x

BKSA Hunstanton

2009-07-15T02:22:00.000-07:00

This weekend I took on the mammoth drive from Plymouth to Hunstanton in Norfolk. The BKSA had an event at the lifestyles festival which emcompassed other sports including skating and bmx. I was excited to head over in my new (2nd hand) transporter freshly logo'd up with Jo Wilson Coaching branding.

There were a lot of faces that I haven't seen for sometime and it was great to be back with the BKSA after several years away. It was a popular event with just under 60 entrants and I figured while Im there why not compete also.

The event was 3 days long and we saw beautiful sunshine, but just one day of wind, so imagine the BKSA trying to fit in all categories all in one day. Well an early start it was and a late finish, but they kept on going while the windy hours stayed and they managed to complete all but one category!! I was really happy to take 1st place in the BKSA Pro Ladies section woop woop!!

Tomorrow I am heading back to Turkey for one week to make a video with Adrenaline Sports, so watch this space for updates and after that Im straight into my first PKRA event of the year in St Peter ording, Germany. Its all go go go for the next few weeks.

Happy kiting

Turkey, Cesme, Alacati and a whole lot more

2009-06-29T00:57:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-18T02:49:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-04T00:42:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-28T04:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-30T05:35:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-13T09:31:00.001-07:00

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.

Dakhlar Festival

2009-03-04T06:52:00.000-08:00

Two weeks before leaving England I received an invite to a festival called Women of the Desert. The event was to promote tourism in Morocco right down at the Mauritania boarder. The event was held just outside Dakhlar.

The information I received was pretty limited and from my understanding there were a few surfers heading out there as well as some windsurfers all of the male variety but aside from that it was mainly an event to spend some time with the local Sahrouri women learning about their customs and traditions as well as giving them a chance to try out water sports.

From the set off everything went wrong. Our flight was cancelled and we were switched to an alternative airline heading out to Lisbon before hitting Casablanca. In Lisbon they wanted to charge us for bags that were already checked in and then on top of that our flight was delayed meaning that we would miss our flight to Dakhlar. Unbeknown to us the flight leaving Casablanca was solely put on for the festival so a quick phone call and they delayed the plane two hours for our arrival. Somehow despite a not too far away destination 17 hours after setting off we arrived to the festival.

A small event as I had imagined it certainly wasn’t. There were hundreds of people. Pro surfers, Windsurfers, Kitesurfers and locals. The locals took the women away to a small room danced and sang to us for a welcome. We were hungry and tired and their singing was ummmm, interesting. We tried to dance and at one point one of the locals pointed and laughed and started chanting ‘Macarena’.

After sometime of chaos using glasses as beaters on a metal bowl, they bought us out dinner that consisted of one plate of cous cous topped with fish and meat. This plate however was to be shared amongst 8 people and there were no additional plates or cutlery.

It was all hands in squashing together the cous cous to make golf balls, but eating this way was for the fast and experienced and the girls ended up catapulting bits of food left right and centre or even storing bits unintentionally in our cleavage, hair, or ear holes. It wasn’t easy and we left that night to our place of residence starving hungry and very messy – a theme of the trip as yet to find out.
Camp was a traditional Bedouin camp where each item used to shelter us doubled up to have a second use when crossing the desert. Put it this way I’m glad it didn’t rain – but after all it is the desert so why would it???

The tents were laid out in several rows and there were probably 100 in total sleeping a maximum of 4. The beds consisted of a mattress on the sand, one sheet and a blanket. The aroma passing through was certainly something that you could liken to goat or camel and a smell that we would become semi accustomed to over the 8 days.
Staying this way bought friendships along pretty quick and surfboards, kites and windsurfing equipment soon defined who was staying where. Early morning alarm clocks were those of surfers waxing their boards and smells of mint tea reminded us that it was time for breakfast. The nights were freezing cold, but the days pleasantly warm and the atmosphere was very relaxed.

In the evening we were presented with music of all sorts and on the last 4 days there were famous bands bought in from all around.

1000’s of people arrived for the music in the evening and curiously the women were completely separated from the men. Here the traditions are strange but super interesting. The men are transfixed by the westerners’ way of life and have no reserve from staring at you up and down. The women wrap themselves up in Sari like dresses covering themselves from head to toe with only their eyes to see. Its seductive and sorceress as you have to look straight into their eyes to find out any piece of information and away you feel like to take a little bit of themselves. These women are Arabs with a little bit of the western world wearing strong make up like we would in nightclubs to extenuate their eyes, but also stylish sunglasses to.

We took the time to teach the young women to stand up paddle and surprisingly they learned pretty quickly once they understood that you couldn’t put 4 of them on the board at the same time. In wetsuits that we leant them and sunglasses you couldn’t tell them aside from us if you ignore the colour of their skin.

The mornings were spent hanging out with these girls and they talked Arabic, some Spanish and French. Communicating became easier over time and it was obvious that they just liked to hang out with us and flirt with the boys – pretty funny. In the afternoons they showed us the jewellery that they wear, the items that they make and they tattooed henna designs over our hands and feet that they have themselves done when they get married.

In terms of wind we were pretty unlucky. Dakhlar is year round windy but it took a break for the few days of the event – perhaps to indulge the surfers with perfect waves.

Finally we got 15 knots on the 6th day and we took part in a 40km crossing. I was on my Naish Thorn and 12m Torch. My torch was great but I definitely would have preferred a directional. 40km’s is sooooo far and at certain points you would be unable to see land and only able to see a few kites or windsurfers and your legs would be burning like hell. The only option was forward and soon you learn ways of dealing with the burn. Rocking up to the final point was just a joy and I can fairly say that I was super happy of the achievement but more convinced then ever to stay in waves and freestyle.

On the last day there was a also a little wind and the 12m and twin tip came out for their real purpose and I enjoyed a short session of freestyle before it was time to come in and pack.

The trip was buzzing with cameras, videos, journalists and helicopters. It was one experience that I have never felt before and despite the downsides I look back in fascination and wonder and am really stoked for having the invitation. I will write up some stories for some kitesurfing mags, so no doubt you will see and hear more about it. Visit Dakhlar – its well worth it!

Snow snow snow

2009-02-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

The UK is currently making history with the biggest cold snap in 18 years. The country has come to a standstill buses can't run, people cant work and we have apparently lost billions of £££'s because of a few flakes.

I'm not being dismissive because it is difficult for some people, but its too late. Instead of complaining we should welcome the break. On the plus side instead of working out how much money the country has lost then lets work out how much we have saved. We haven't bought enough salt to stop the roads freezing (money saved there) we haven't bought snow chains for our tyres (money saved there) and because we havent bought snow ploughs to cope with the once every 18 year snow bout (a shed load of money saved there) we have saved loads of £££'s.

I bet the AA are making some cash to!!! Instead of all the moaning on the news lets all go onto the streets and throw snowballs at the first people we see. Lets give ourselves a break, take a leaf out of the kids books and have some fun in this depression. Once it all melts - probably by Monday we can get back to it fresh faced and full of smiles :-)

Here's a snowball i prepared earlier x x x

Maui to Madness....

2009-01-15T05:20:00.000-08:00

So things have been a bit quiet on the blog front. Sorry about that. I have been kiting approximately 6 times since Maui. Another 4 coming up over the next 4 days. Most of the UK has been hit by a severe cold snap. -8 degrees down on the south coast and much lower up north! My minimum kitesurfing temperature is usually 10 degrees, but it looks like this year Im going to have to toughen up. Ive managed 8 degrees now and still it was fun!! Gonna have to invest in some booties however, my toes haven't looked quite right since! (actually just took a picture of them, but they look pretty normal, so I take that back.) Lets reword that - havent felt quite right since!

Anyhow the best of the sessions was just a few nights ago. I was a bit late to the beach and didn't time the tide well or the light, but the swell pumped through along with the wind and I rode amongst waves that were well over head high at the back of Bantham. The light was pretty dull, but right as the sun began to set the clouds opened enough to let a chink of sunshine through. The session was one to remember for a very long time and I look forward for more to come as the forecast looks sweet again for the next few days to.

Cold but happy times :-)

PS. If anyone has located that green kite. It is mine and I would be MASSIVELY happy to PLEASE PLEASE get it back. Lost on the Avon Estuary between Bigbury and Bantham!

Maui and Naish

2008-11-22T18:26:00.000-08:00

Its been nearly a week since I arrived on to the island of Maui. After a long flight to Los Angeles I then slept the 5.5 hour flight all the way to Maui. I was tickled to see restaurants in the airport before I had even made it to baggage reclaim and since that point I have only seen things in super size - the boxes of cereal, the bottles of Corona, the 4x4's, the woman reaching up to be able to refuel her 4x4! The waves!! The waves - Im scared to pass comment on the waves here. What is big to me is almost definitely small to the people who live here.

My first day on the water we were focusing on freestyle, but every now and then i would pop out back to check out the waves or catch my own and with the wind blowing from the right Maui is the perfect place to improve my riding. Anyhow some of the waves further out felt well over head high and I wanted to come back and be like wow, some of those waves were huge, but instead I would have to fish for size and be like - 'so those waves - how did you find them???'

I feel pretty out of my depth as I see Robby Naish on the water or Dave Kalama pushing 15's on the beach or even Lou Waimann pumping a kite. It is a awesome feeling to know this is the place where many people became Greats and when on the water looking back to the sands, the tress, the rocky out crops or the mountains that we have seen in many so many photos I feel really privileged to be here.

The weather has been a real mix as it is breaking into winter here. The days are mixed up by cloud and rain or sun and wind. It has made it pretty difficult to maximise the time for kiting, so instead we have been doing beach workouts, stand up paddle boarding, surfing and kitesurfing to keep us active.

There are 14 of us here from Charlestown to Capetown, wave kiters to slider kiters, freestylers to speed record holders. In total we are 3 girls and 11 boys and with us all sharing a house it can only be described as carnage. The lawn is strewn with equipment mostly the Sigma kites - especially the Helix, but surfboards, SUP's, twin tips and more!

There are several photographers and Elliot Leboe from ACL Productions and each day we split into random groups to kite a multitude of places. The conditions are usually super strong wind, but not necessarily waves or flat water. I rode an 8m for 20 minutes over powered and the the rest of the time I have been mixing it up on 7m or 7.5m Cults and Helixs'. We have been sent out in one of the dodgiest launches I have come across where literally we launch our kite standing on a small patch of sand but with kite balancing above some rocks in the water. We have to wait for some wind to make it in to the cove sheltered by a point and body drag out as fast as you can. It took some of us 3 attempts to make it out and when you finally feel safe enough to put the board on your feet you find yourself tiptoeing over the remaining stones. Something this knarly certainly shouldnt be named Sugar Cover but once you make it up wind you find yourself in the most stunning scenery that you will ever kite amongst. You also hope to hell that the wind doesn't drop or you have a malfunction with your kite.

The trip really is awesome and I have pushed my limits in terms of choices of places to kite and I have met, kited with, supped with, partied with some great people. The next few days the forecast is much better and I hope that we get plenty of time to shoot.

Maui Naish Surf House

2008-11-20T10:07:00.000-08:00

Just under a week ago I flew from Brasil to London and then out to Maui to attend the 2008 Naish Surf House Maui. The house is for National riders to learn more about the products of Naish and gather together as much footage in the form of video and photos as possible. There are 14 riders in total all staying in 2 adjoining houses and every morning around 8am preparations begin for the day. Everyday we have had wind of sorts and so we have been shooting everyday. Some riders head to the waves, others to flatter water and then perhaps others for lifestyle to. The weather has been a mix of sunshine and showers but brilliantly enough it has also been 7m weather whenever the wind does blow in.

The feeling of being in Maui is something else. I didn't know what to expect as I had heard mixed opinions and wasn't sure whether there was just a big hype about the place, but seriously the vibe is unreal. The waves are beautiful, the waterfalls stunning and the scenery surreal. Its easy to become too focused on getting the photos you want and to forget that this is actually the pacific ocean, but when you take a step back you really do find paradise. By the end of the week I shall have a great write up on the trip illustrated with some good photos.

Will keep you posted

Brasil - Cumbuco

2008-11-03T07:21:00.000-08:00

The wind here in Brasil continues. There has been many more days recently where I have been on my 8m Naish Torch as opposed to my 6m. After my trips to Uruau I am back to Sunset Beach Hotel where I consider being my home in Brasil. It is really busy this year and great to meet so many people. Quite a lot of people are here on their own, but at the same time there are a few groups as well. Each year the dominating nationalities appear to change and I think the Brits could be winning the domination of Sunset Beach this time although there was a close call with the Israelis for a while.

(Photo by the waiter)

Considering we are now in November I have been surprised at the number of people on the water. Early October was busier then it is now and the lagoons are somewhere where you can have a good session again without getting tangled. I guess it’s a matter of picking and choosing and if its too busy one day at the lagoon pay the $5 to the buggy man and hit the sea instead.

(Photo by Dave Ibbertson – Cumbuco Beach)

I am having a mix of fortunes with my kiting. Somedays are great others are just full on frustrating. Are all sports this way? I had the best session the other evening at the lagoon. The sun was setting and the wind had appeared to drop off so everyone left but 3 of us decided to use the light wind to our advantage to work on some different tricks, but within 10 minutes the wind filled back in and we had the lagoon to just the 3 of us for almost an hour. Sessions like this a really few and far between and feel really special and I was on form. I was landing back to blind air pass, blind judges, kite loops, air handle passes and getting really close to the back mobe. I landed one, but passed it to the leash so I guess it didn’t count! Whatever, I loved the feeling anyway and it just amped my session further. Everything came together.

(Photo by Dave Ibbertson – Railey twisted hips)

There were two tips for the blind judge that I received which really helped me. Firstly instead of doing a straight railey where both hips and the board are parallel to the water instead it’s a matter of twisting your hips so that your hips are at 90 degrees to the water and therefore also your board. It allows you to create a swing effect and so gather some momentum in order to pass the bar while in the air rather then a slower motion only allowing you to pass the bar on the water. My second tip that I was given was instead of rotating at your shoulder to take the blind position in the air firstly you have to pull the bar towards your chest with both hands. This means that when you rotate to blind in the air the bar is closer to your body rather then fully extended by your arm away from you. It was really easy to practise each of those techniques doing just the railey and not bothering trying to pass the bar in the air and therefore minimising the number of crashes. Once I had both techniques in my head it didn’t take long to put it all together and ta da – a blind judge. The bar is passed still fairly close to the surface, but once you have this technique its all a matter of speed and confidence to make the blind judge higher!!

(Video by Scott Bourn - on its way)

I had the goal to master back mobes, front mobes, back to blind air passes and blind judges here. I am well over 50% of the way through my trip but have learned 50% of those moves. I can’t do it everytime by any means, but if everything is right it all comes together. Now I really just want to land the mobes. I feel super close and I either pass the bar on the back mobe and crash or pass to the leash and land (or just not pass the bar and crash). I am close but have been this way for a long time. The front mobe is getting better. I have also been working on this trick for a long time, but sometimes now I make the pass to the chicken loop! I am yet still to catch the bar properly. It’s the most illusive one for me! There are days where Im sure Im going to get it and other days where im sure I want to quit kitesurfing altogether, but that’s the name of the sport! You cant have the peaks without the troughs and when the troughs are deep the peaks are even bigger! Determination is certainly the key with sport no matter what level you are at! Once I have figured the moves out then I shall break down the key points that helped me and hopefully save any of you the long pain staking process of working it out for yourself.

(Photo by Dave Ibbertson – Front Mobe Crash)

This evening looks set for another mellow relaxed atmosphere and I cant wait to hit the water again as the sun is going down!! Sunset Beach Hotel sets the tone of this trip and as I sadly realise I have just 10 days left I know that these days are the good times!

Back in Uruau

2008-10-25T15:06:00.000-07:00

Well after returning back to Cumbuco after my last trip to Uruau (can anyone say that???) we scored a mix of conditions ranging for a perfect training 15 - 18 knots for 3 days and then straight up to 30+ knots for a couple of days to. Cumbuco is perfect for practisng freestyle especially when the tide is low as the sea stays relatively flat. Here you can guarantee plenty of space for training on the sea which is not always guaranteed on the lagoon.

Im working on so many different moves which makes a change for me as I usually get stuck with one, but these days I mix it up by getting stuck with loads! Well not really stuck. I have been landing blind judges fairly consistently these days and occasionally nailing the back to blind air pass. Im passing the bar for the front mobe sometimes and today the back mobes to! All i need to do now is convince myself that im not going to knee myself in the face again trying a 313 and life will be sweet!! Oh actually land some of the mobes to!

Two days ago 4 of us hit the road again for another road trip back to Uruau. There are many spots close to here and with the tides high in the middle of the day the opportunity couldnt be missed. Its hard to know where to go and when but with the local knowledge of Pro Kite Brasil we do not seem to be going too far wrong.

Yesterday we began with Lagoon 1. Its half an hour up the beach and it is just immense. The water is much brighter then further North and the tide comes in filling a huge lagoon outlined with sandbars and shallow areas - perfect for learning to kite and for learning tricks.

The place of today is my latest favourite spot. Its basically a big river mouth and has a wind against tide effect. Today the wind was super light but in the river I was full powered on my 10m Torch 4. The water couldnt have been flatter and it was perfect for training. You can kite as far into the river as you dare and the wind doesnt get messed up. Today some guy rode by me (he literally came out of nowhere and disappeared upwind and out of sight. It is certainly something special.

The places are another level for kitesurfing. The wind is a few knots lighter then in Cumbuco which is especially good lately as it has been relentlessly 6m weather plus there is a feeling of safety and serenity to add icing to the cake. It is necessary to have some local knowledge so you can contact Gi Gi or Ricci at info@prokitebrasil.com and they will happily arrange you accommodation, buggy hire, kit hire, kite lessons and much more. They certainly saved our asses at Lagoon 1 when we arrived to a windy deserted lagoon with no pump...

Tomorrow is yet another day and with so many choices Im going to leave it in the capable hands of others to decide the days fate - so far so good :-) Will keep you posted

Brasil Baby - Uruau

2008-10-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

I have been in Brasil for 3 weeks now and the wind has been non stop. I have been based as usual in Sunset Beach Hotel where you can use the compressor to inflate your kite each morning right in the garden. After a breakfast of nutella and banana pancakes (oh yes and 5 portions of fruit) you then just hop over the fence where you are instantly on the beach. My most used kite has been by far and away my 6m. My 12m hasn’t seen the light of day and the times that my 10m have come out I have been over powered. The 8m has been used a lot in the afternoons.

(Kiting on the ocean at Uruau)

The days are action packed but so laid back which makes it hard to draw yourself away however there is a spot that I visited 4 years ago that has been on my mind. The spot is Uruau. Its 2.5 hours south of Cumbuco and hadn’t been developed. There were no kiters unlike the busy Cumbuco but there was wind, lagoons and of course the ocean.

(Uruau early morning)

Well a dream place like this couldn’t stay completely undiscovered for long and over the passed year Pro Kite Brasil www.prokitebrasil.com have been setting up a base for kitesurfers. Their centre literally is a centre with beautiful kite school, a spacious storage room, flat screen tv playing kiting movies throughout the day, compressor, shop, restaurant, pousada on the beach. They have a second pousada a few hundred metres from the beach to cater for big groups.

(The Pro Kite Brasil crew who I guarentee can keep you entertained from morning until night!)

This spot is awesome and so versatile. First you have a mini lagoon for intensive kitesurfing. Its only about 100m x 80m and it’s a bit risky if your going for kite loop handle passes etc. but for other moves its sweet and its great for building up your confidence with tricks.

(The wind stays until after sunset and the lagoon makes it safe to keep on practising even if the light leaves)

Just a short walk from the lagoon you have the ocean with really nice kickers and then if you have buggy access (which Pro Kite Brasil can provide). You are within half an hour of so many other lagoons where there are barely any kiters!! I went for 3 days, but it wasn’t even nearly enough time and am heading back there at the end of the week for 3 more days… lets just hope this time I don’t get lost on Fortaleza AGAIN!!!!

If you want to contact Pro Kite Brasil for more information then check out their website www.prokitebrasil.com. They are based just around 1.5 hours from fortaleza or 2.5 hours from Cumbuco.

Brazil PKRA - Too much Fun!

2008-09-26T05:43:00.000-07:00

At the last event in Canada I secured my position for the tour this year. I had to beat Angela Peral in Canada, Brazil and Chile in order to take her ranking of 5th place. I was sure I could do this but a mixture of not so great riding and bad uck saw me lose to her in Canada and therefore unable to beat her overall this year on the tour. I didn’t have to come to Brazil and I don’t have to go to Chile and it wont effect my ranking of 6th place. However Brazil is not an opportunity to be missed and I happily made the decision to come here as my last event.

The journey was an adventure in itself as the flight was a two stage process where I only made it to the gate in Lisbon with moments to spare on last call. Anyhow with two seats to myself all the way to Fortaleza and my kit arriving no problem I certainly had no complaints! Once in Fortaleza however I had a 6 hour wait before a 7 hour bus ride to the event location of Parnaiba in the North of Brazil.

I heard rumours of the wind being excessively strong and of something similar to fuerteventura so I wasn’t convinced on the idea, but on arrival I have only great things to say. Yes the wind is strong, but so far I have certainly not been over powered and today I was riding my brand new Torch 2009 8m. The competition is really relaxed with a hotel right on the beach where we can chill by the pool, take a drink or have some food while still watching the continuation of the event. Its pretty sweet. Once it is time for your heat or you decide you want to ride you literally leave the poolside, put your harness on and hit the water.

I feel completely different here. Perhaps because the only pressure comes from what I put on myself. I can come last and it makes no difference, but obviously that is not on my itinerary. I’m the first one to recognise when I ride badly or have a bad heat but today was a ground breaking day for me. I rode the best 7 minutes I have ever ridden in my life. In my heat I landed a powered railey to blind immediately off green flag followerd dirently by an air handle pass. I could have landed this more cleanly, but actually it wasn’t so bad. Next I did a downloop railey to blind followered by a big back to blind surface pass. I surprised myself with this one. Baring in mind it is my last competition I thought what the hell. It would be great to land a blind judge in the heat. The powered handle passes have been causing me grief for much too long and at some point I am going to get the better of them and with the thought ‘there is no time like the present’ I gave it all my strength, all my ‘grrrr’ and boom. I landed a full powered one clean as a die! This I actually fully couldn’t believe. Still with time to spare I went for another air handle pass which I was determined to land clean, but I tripped the rail as the kite went into a loop! Not to matter – didn’t car in the world. I had just nailed the best heat of my life full powered on my 8m! Stoked! It was just a shame that I was against Karolina Winkowski who nailed a slim chance, blind judge and s bend pass! Wilson went down happy nonetheless!

Tomorrow I have Aisha Litwin who rode what was considered the best ever girls heat against Bruna Kajyia. She landed a blind judge, 313, slim chance and s bend pass, but this still wasn’t enough to win, so tonight I have been on the water practising my back to blind air passes, but to be fair. I’ll give it everything I’ve got, but I certainly don’t have all that! Thank goodness for 82 more days in Brazil!!!!

Shall keep you posted! (more images to come but internet connection is shocking)

Prince Edward Island - Canada

2008-09-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Flying to Prince Edward Island for the 7^th stop on the world tour proved more of a mission then perhaps it should have been. We originally had tickets with Zoom Airlines, but they were the most recent airline to go bust based on the rising fuel prices. This all happened while I was competing in Germany so I had 4 days to organise a new flight and that proved a little challenging. Anyhow a couple of days later all was good and I found a flight with air Canada that took us right to the island for a fairly cheap price.

(Just one beautiful kite spot)

Sometimes family are just vital and being well into the season and tired of travelling and competing for this year I asked my mum if she wanted to come. Prince Edward Island after all looked as though it had more to offer then a windy beach then most of the other competition spots, so in the end it wasn;t too difficult to persuade my mum to come so here we are now staying on a small farm just on the edge of the town Summerside.

Prince Edward Island is absolutely stunning. Its really quiet and despite being just a couply of hundred kilometres wide it has a coast line of 1,200km’s! The sea dips in and out of the island in 10’s or 100’s of inland seas and everywhere you drive you come across yet another perfect freestyle playground. There are more places to kite here then even nearly possibly and the locals say they have around 20 spots within half an hour drive. In the north there is a point where 2 currents meet and the water clashes up against each other when the sea is anything less then calm. This clash of water throws sand together and there is a sand spit at low tide that runs out to sea. I’m sure this would provide perfectly smooth flat water in most wind directions, but as yet no one has kited it and for no good reason!

(View from the beach)

The competition itself was held in two places. One on the north coast where the wind blew a solid 20 knots and one on the south coast where the wind was perfect for my 10m Naish. Both spots are shallow and flat water – at low tide perhaps a little too shallow but perfect from mid tide and up.

(Crack of dawn riders meetings - not even day light)

There is a wind energy farm here and so far the wind provides more then 5% of the islands electricity, but I’m sure this is set to increase as the technology develops and the money comes in.

The temperature is pretty cold and I didn’t bring enough jumpers, but the water itself is pretty warm. The first few days I was a 3/2mm NPX shorty which is fine while riding, but if you stand around on the shore you soon get cold. The locals tell me in the summer months then they don’t even need to wear a shorty, but they have been havng weather not dissimilar to us in the UK and so it hasn’t been as hot.

(Heat against Gizella Pulido. She killed me with two runs, so i busted some moves for the camera)

The competition has finished now and I finished in 4^th place and today we have a best trick contest if the wind blows. I shall stay on the island with my mum for a few days after the contest to find out some more about the island because not only does this seem an idyllic place to kitesurf, but it is also an island full of history. Canada began in the capital of Prince Edward Island and that in itself makes me curious!

Right on, well over and out and will write soon! Look out for my travel article on this place. Its well worth the visit!

Photos by Mamma Wilson

Germany PKRA Round Up

2008-09-04T01:38:00.001-07:00

I have just returned from the long 800mile drive from St Peter Ording in Germany to Plymouth and what a mission it is to!

I have learned my countries in the correct order for driving, have noted that the roads are pretty well kept and confirmed that all these countries drive on the right hand side. From now on I fly! I travelled to Germany and back in great company with the Bridge family from Edge Watersports www.edgewatersports.com.

My overall impression of the event in Germany was fantastic. It really blew my mind how much preparation, organisation and popularity the event held. Somedays there was such a traffic jam to leave the beach that we ended up ditching the car and walking home. On our last day it took us over 2 hours to drive 50 miles based on all the traffic leaving!

Naish had a massive presence with not only the biggest stand and ALL the latest equipment for show and demo, but also Robby Naish himself spent his time there. Robby speaks fluent German and is a total superstar over there with people literally throwing themselves at him for autographs and cameras permentantly in his face.

The event was 10 days long and 9 of the days were kiteable. Not all the days were strong enough to run a freestyle event, but certainly over the 10 day period we had more then enough time. Course racing was also held and boardercross to.

In fact we had so much time that we were even able to persuade Robby to get involved with a stand up paddle boarding contest to.

My performance was not my best and I was knocked out very early in the competition and had to settle for a 9th place, but I had so much free riding time where I was riding really well that after the initial frustration I came to a zen and decided that I cant beat myself up about not pulling myself together for the 7 minutes of the heat! Yes I am frustrated because I know I can do better, but I will learn from it for the next event which is in Canada from Tuesday.

Initially I had my reservations about heading to Germany for 10 days, but looking back now it was actually easily the best event of the tour. I can only thank Colgate, Chevrolet, We Love and all the other sponsors! It was awesome!!

More events to come...

Germany PKRA

2008-08-25T04:26:00.000-07:00

5 days ago I left the UK in a campervan fully laden with kids under 11 and toys for kids of all ages. We set out on the mission to get to St Peter Ording in the north west of Germany for the next competition on the PKRA. We have had a mixture of fortunes and once again I fell to the fate of car trouble and we had a scary tire blow out on the M3 in rush hour. Now you might be starting to wonder if I over inflate my tires, but expert opinion at a tire garage just informed me it was bad luck. 3 cars in two months is just not cricket. Well we had small delays and hairy moments as steph and I changed the wheel with cars zooming passed but a day and a half later we arrived on the vast beach here in Germany.

The weather has been shocking. Yesterday was sunny, but aside from that we have had rain after rain. It doesnt stop ther germans knowing how to put on a good event however and doesn't stop the spectators from flocking in. We have had around 10 knots of wind most days so I have been out kiting and they have run a couple of course races but no freestyle as yet. Im ready for it though, but have to kite my socks off to beat Julie Simsar in the first round. Im hoping for rain as she says she can only kite in the sun. So far I have barely seen her on the beach so Im actually wondering if she is telling the truth! She's good though so Im not letting my guard down!

Stephs children are a crazy bunch and fly kites all day long. Yesterday I had to stitch one back together before a fight broke lose over who got to fly the one remaining power kite. If for one second they tire of the kites then its time for the skim board. Perfect considering the beach is one giant puddle! Finally before dinner they momentarily begin to tire and so a game of monopoly is the solution to keeping the boredom at bay. Cooking dinner is a mixture of pasta or bbq but after this their energy is back and we play a football tournament which is always a worry for the side who doesn't win! When this is complete I finally think its time for a moments rest when steph pipes up - come on jo! Yours is the bigger SUP and we are back on the water before dark. Its all go go go! I'm just cleaning my feet before heading to bed and the music from the event site seems to call our names and we can only try to resist the temptation to party!!! This morning I woke up and suddenly remembered it was a competition that we are here for, but in these busy days its easy to forget.

Over and out and parying for wind and sun... or just wind!!! Will write soon x

Dangerous Jobs For Girls

2008-08-20T03:14:00.000-07:00

I couldn't put this online until after the program had been put on the television, but now I assume its safe and its my thoughts and feelings of how it went. Thank you to everyone who took the time to watch it and thank you for all the comments. Sorry if I put anyone off there dinner with the puking, but hey ho - what can ya do. Its pretty long, but hope you enjoy...

I was taken on as one of twelve girls to take part in a four part documentary series called Dangerous Jobs for Girls. The series was to follow the journey of each girl and how they coped and dealt with one of the last few male only job roles in the world. There were four jobs in total including Logging in Canada, Hunting in South Africa, Cowboys in Brazil and the programme which I was part of - Trawler Fishing in Australia.

I have never done anything so demanding as this work and I am as proud of completing this challenge as I am to have won the British Championships and to have come 4^th on the World Tour.

There were three girls taken on to accomplish this task. Alison who was an Olympic rower having won a silver medal in the Sydney Olympics, Nicola who was a Thai kick boxer who was 8^th in the world and myself.

To give you some idea of what it was like there were 12 people cramming on to a trawler boat set up for 5 people. The job involved working around the clock. There was no night or day. We would get a maximum of 5 hours sleep in any 24 period and many times only 3. We were working with heavy chains, nets and fixings and over the 8 days separated, washed, gutted and iced 21 tonnes of fish plus discarded several more tonnes of wastage. Our hands would seize between shots and it would be agony to put on our work gloves plus we had fish spines in our fingers, bruises all over our legs and our arms were a mix of rashes, cuts and bruises too. One of the three of us fainted from the exertion of it all and both the other girl and I had to push through tough times using every ounce of strength and determination in our bodies.

Back to where it all began. Ricochet gave me 7 days notice that I had made it as a contributor to the documentary. I literally had to cram in all the photos and filming that I was working on while training in South Africa and then drop everything to get back home in time for a Sea Survival Course one day and for the television company to film a day in the life of me the next. They interviewed my family, friends and Naish James then me to find out about my passions, inspirations and motivations. After this it was time to hit the water and the forecast was dire, but like a gift from heaven we headed to a local beach of mine where the weather was absolutely stunning and the wind although bolt offshore was 20 knots. They filmed a good hour and I was absolutely freezing having been wearing my warmest wetsuit (5/3mm short leg suit) during February in England. In what felt like a near hypothermic state filming iconic shots where they wanted me to look mean wasn’t a problem despite the attempted distraction from James and my best friend. Now it was early evening and the crew wanted to film me socialising so we headed to my local pub and got smashed.

3 days after that I was flown from London to Hong Kong, Sydney, Adelaide and finally Port Lincoln.

Port Lincoln couldn’t be any smaller or so it felt. It was the land of Captain Birdseye only with longer and weirder facial hair. Everyone had blatantly heard that we were coming and from what seemed a man only town we had mocking comments thrown at us left right and centre regarding fishing. We got the feeling that they were taking the mick and thought we were three pretty girls out for a jolly hoping not to break a nail. Well little did they know that we meant business and that we were going to do our best to be the finest example of determined women today and anything they could do we could do better (well if not better then do as well.)

From stepping out the plane the film crew were with us. We had four days of training before heading far out in the Southern Ocean notorious for its bad weather and big swells. To begin with we were sent out on a small boat to catch squid with a line and as the days went on we offloaded the fish that had come into port from a previous trip on our trawler plus we changed nets, shovel fed tuna that had been caught out at sea and bought back in big cages to be farmed and fattened up closer to shore. By far the hardest day of the training was the Cray fishing. The crew had sent us out to sea on one of the most unstable fishing boats in the industry to get our ‘sea legs’ where we were to supposedly learn how to use the roll of the ocean to our advantage for manoeuvring ourselves and whatever we were carrying around the boat, but they were actually only really successful with one thing – giving us sea sickness. After two hours of bouncing and rolling around I was hanging off the side of the boat throwing up my mars bar along with my stomach lining. It was 13 hours of unnecessary evil, but between sessions of inspecting the oceans surface I did manage to bring in some crayfish pots and throw out some freshly baited pots ready for their next trip.

With the 4 days training complete it was time for the big challenge (aside from avoiding sneering comments of disbelieving Captain Birdseye’s around town). 8 days 200 miles out to sea on the Explorer S. We were emulating the lifestyle/work of the crew. Setting off was a much more emotional experience then I had anticipated. With all the training and build up there hadn’t been a chance to consider how daunting it all would be and as we steamed out to sea, with a flock of seagulls and a moonlit sky as our guide and leaving the world behind I momentarily felt scared and alone. There would be no contact with my boyfriend or my family and we were heading somewhere many hours away from help should there be an emergency plus we were heading far beyond where I had been sea sick only two days previous.

Snapping back into the frame of mind necessary we reached our fishing ground 24 hours later. The first few catches (or shots as they are technically called) were ok and even fun as we wrestled with small sharks, chased red snappers around the wash bins and slid down the mini ice mountain on shovels in the ice room but then after three days it began to take its toll. It was literally agony uncurling our fingers after the rest between each shot and some spines in our fingers were deep and infected. The bruises we had from having to find ways to overcome the lesser physical strength that we had in comparison to the guys were getting bigger the more shots we hauled in and the tiredness was ever increasing. Our muscles ached but we never missed a moment’s work and we put 110% of our energy and effort into accomplishing this mission.

The final mission was to be able to run the trawler ourselves for the last 24 hours. Not once I doubted our ability to make it and we pulled together. Through team effort we kept our spirits up, motivation high and worked through the down moments together. Nicola fainted at one point and there was a stage in the last 48 hours where my forearms were rock solid, my upper arms were shaking and I felt like all the strength had gone. At the end of that particular shot I had to find myself a place on this boat away from 11 other people onboard and just regain my thoughts and somehow refuel my determination.

The crew who run the boat trained us well they were methodical, easy going, but also strict. Initially they were reluctant to hand over certain jobs to us as they know only too well how dangerous the job can be. One of this very crew was hit by one of the heavy duty chains attaching the nets to the boat a year previous. The rough sea forced a motion where the chain whipped up and cracked his head. It split his hard helmet clean in two and they had to get him back to port where emergency doctors were waiting to rush him to hospital. He would have died had it not been for the helmet and the crew were evidently worried that this could happen to us, but reluctantly resigned to the fact that they had to hand their jobs over to us. Once they realised that we had listened to every word they said and were cautiously but conscientiously handling the job of bringing in and sending out the nets there was no more careful treatment. They heckled us to work faster, forced us to get tougher and genuinely took us on as a new team of lads. They were fun between shots, but harsh and stern when the work was on. There was no
special treatment here which is exactly as we had hoped and expected.

I am sat here at home now exactly one week after we successfully completed the job. The three of us ran the boat as was challenged plus we offloaded the 21 tonne of fish despite the fact that we weren’t expected to. Just running the boat for 24 hours didn’t seem fair. We were there to do the job of the crew. We wanted to see the job to the end and see our fish being shipped off to shops and restaurants around Australia. I don’t remember the pain, the bruises and the tiredness. All I remember is the achievement and feeling of satisfaction and pride as the 3 of us drank a cold beer together. I have never felt so privileged to have worked with two other highly motivated and ambitious girls and this experience is one that I have learned from and will remember forever.

Adventures at home

2008-08-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure what happened to the UK this year, but I have been back home now for a couple of weeks and have been out kiting on my smallest kite most days. I can't believe it is August and we have swell pumping through and 25mph + wind.

I can train harder here down in Devon then I can anywhere else in the world... well that is if i don't forget to take my board to the beach like I did this morning. Major school boy error. I had timed the tide just right at Bantham to have beach, waves and big areas of flat water in between - perfect for freestyle! I rushed to the beach super excited, threw on my wetsuit, tightened my harness and grabbed my 6m and pump out of the car and... wham it hit me. Something major was missing from my boot - not quite sure how i managed it really. Its not as though a kiteboard can miraculously hide itself in a fiat punto! Well a handbrake turn later and an hours worth of driving reduced to 50minutes I was back at the beach ready and raring to go. Fortunately it was still windy, but the tide had pulled right back and I was left with lots of flat water but the only problem it was only about n inch deep.

I had an hour of fun before my wipeouts became more dangerous and so it was time for the waves. To be fair I could have had a second freestyle session this afternoon, but Im busy packing for the next stop on the world tour in Germany. The forecast is even for wind for the first couple of days so thats something!

Pictures courtesy of mamma wilson :-)

Actually the next couple of months are pretty busy. There are 4 more stops left on the tour and all following on in close succesion to each other so I have been finding flights that fit in well. Its really stupid actually because its cheaper to fly to canada and back to the uk then to brazil and back to the uk then flying from the Uk - canada - brazil - Uk. I think I will have to plant some extra trees this week to offset my carbon footprint - having said that it is windier this year so may be i will chop some trees down. Anyway its been a bit of a planning nightmare, but it looks as though I will be off for Germany on Weds for 10 days then a few days at home firmly implant the boyfriends face into my memory and then off to sunnier climes (although possibly not windier) for 3 further months wahoooooooooooo! Canada, Brazil, Chile and back to Brazil again. Anyhow I will be in Brazil for most of October all of November and half of December. I will be running coaching clinics out there which will be based from Sunset Beach Hotel in Cumbuco, but I will also be visiting some other kite schools further down the coast as well. I shall put up more information next month, but if you would like to hear more then you can contact me on Jo@jowilson.com.

Tomorrow looks set for some more kitesurfing fun and this time the only thing I can forget is my wetsuit as I have left the car fully laiden ready for an early start. At least I can actually kite without a wetsuit but after todays efforts I will be stepping up the brain a gear to double check the kit check before i leave!! Tatta for now x

PS. I have loads of kit for sale at the moment from kites, to boards, to boardbags. Drop me an email if you are interested

Hammerheads and Vultures

2008-08-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

I just arrived back to the UK after a windy and eventful trip to fuerteventura for the Sotavento Grand Slam Kite and Windsurf World Cup 2008. The event is one of the biggest in numbers as windsurfers from freestyle, speed and course racing all turn up closely followed by the same fleets of kitesurfers.

Sotavento is one of the windiest tour stops in the year offering something similar to what Tarifa does in a lavante and this year. The wind did fluctuate over the days and even dropped to 15 knots one day. but most of the time it was 30 knots and above. For one full day of competition the wind averaged a gusty 35 – 45 knots of wind. It was truly crazy. Riders were using their smallest kites and the girls were fun fighting to borrow Karolina Winkowski’s 4m Naish Torch of which there is only 2 in the world that I’m aware of.

Fortunately for me I had the chance to use it in my heats rather then be drilled on my 6m!

This is the first time I have ever used a kite so small in 5 years of competing. It has always been my philosophy in life that if I cant keep down a 6m then its not worth kiting, but this day has proved me wrong. I was expecting the 4m to be a liability despite Karolina insisting it was a good kite, but she was right. It was such a solid kite that the only time that a doubt came into my head that it wasn’t in fact a 6m was when I slammed it hard into the water and it looked as likely to relaunch as a plastic bag. However it did relaunch and I bravely/stupidly attempted to take Bruna Kajyia out of the competition with the visualised immense heat of perfection which I was certain I could do in those winds, but as it turned out I couldn’t but it wasn’t the kite that held me back! Trust me when I say I put every ounce of effort in as I possibly could. I tried my best for which I am pretty happy but Bruna Kajya continued on her rampage to be on the podium at each event and took me down.

The highlight of this competition was being mistaken for a hammerhead shark. I crashed my kite in the last minute of my heat against Angela Peral and my kite deflated on me. I was stuck right out back by the marker bouy and somehow it went unnoticed that there was only one competitor left coming into the beach rather than 2. Instead a hammerhead shark was cruising the area because there had been 3 spotted earlier that day. Now even if I was a hammerhead shark cruising the area I would be hopeful that the competition might in fact be postponed for at least long enough for the hammerhead shark to swim in and re-pump up its kite, but no no! Competition as normal and try not to land on it!! Either way with an army of rescue and a lifeguard on tower I am massively disappointed for 1. not to be rescued – I’m glad I wasn’t injured and 2. to not be safe in the knowledge that a PKRA event does not get postponed despite a human eating shark passing through the competition area!

Once I had swam in and ranted at the organisers while sprinting by to organise myself for my next heat (in 30 seconds time) they did give me 7 minutes to compose myself, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough and I didn’t land much against Susi Mai. I was disappointed because I felt my second chance at beating her for a podium position was taken away, but to be fair I really enjoyed a highly adrenalin charged competition and I came away with 4^th position! I’m pretty happy and more determined to do better next time.

The Journey Home

Next up was the challenge of the journey home. I’ll try to keep it brief but bright and not early enough on a Sunday morning a friend and I rushed to the airport in my 4x4 izusi after sleeping in an additional hour and a half after the closing ceremony. My worst nightmare for the trip came true.

I had a blow out of one tire absolutely in the middle of nowhere. Having slept in I thought it better that my friend thumbed a lift down to get to the airport for which he was already late for his flight. Me on the otherhand (probably still half cut from the night before) volunteered to sort the situation out myself and decided that despite the fact that no one gets out of bed at 8am on a Sunday morning letalone works figured it wouldn’t be too much of a dilemma that the only thing I could see for miles was one goat and imaginary circling vultures rubbing the claws together in glee. Now a blow out tire I have to admit isn’t so much of a problem having suffered a similar fate in a different car only one month previous but things begin to get tricky when you realise that there is no spare tire and the only person that could actually help you was in fact in England. I sat on the side of the road scratching my head and suffering already from dehydration when I have a brain wave and decide to flag down the first 4x4 driver to come along! Joy! 10 minutes later a man pulls up. In my most exquisite Spanish I manage to convey with a lot of pointing and ‘si’s’ that I want to buy his spare tire off him and with much finger wagging and apologetic looks back I realise that it doesn’t quite work like this. The nice man then drives off. I re-position myself back into head scratching mode and try to work out a plan c when a police car pulls up. Fortunately his partner speaks English – well at least enough to say ‘you are screwed’ and together they get back in their car to leave me to the now salivating vultures!

It still hadn’t really sunk into me that it was just me and the distant goat when a tow truck rocks up. Now I perk up and think there is a partial solution. The comments from Jason Furness and his local friend Marcus about tow trucks charging several hundred euro’s on a Sunday I place firmly in the back of my head and decide panicking is not an option. The nice tow truck driver man asked for my insurance papers which I happily found in the glove box showed that this tow truck driver worked for the same company so within 2 hours of breaking down I shattered the vultures hopes and get whisked off by this knight in shining armour all the way to the ferry port to catch a boat on a Sunday to lanzarote where in fact I to had to fly home from later that afternoon!

On arrival to the north of fuerte I was ditched at the ferryport as I had just missed the last boat for 4 hours. I felt mildly happier that I wasn’t in the middle of nowhere and I was one step closer to lanzarote. I could at least see it. The thing is everything had to go right for me to make it back onto lanzarote and to the airport before check in closed. My lovely tow truck driver rocked back as promised 4 hours later and parked me on the boat before leaving me again.

On the otherside I was to be met by another driver so he could tow me off the boat. Here the plan seemed to fall apart. All other cars offloaded and I was left stranded and threatened to be returned back to fuerte if I didn’t some how get the truck off. Fair enough so off I wheeled at about 5kph onto the motherland. No pick up truck to be seen and I was just contemplating the idea of ditching the truck and calling the owners with its location when the truck finally rocked up. I phoned a friend to speak in Spanish with the completely non English speaking truck man and phoned another to arrange for them to meet the tow truck man at my trucks final destination. Without the help of me the truck got from c to d! In the meantime I got from c – f skipping out d and made it in the nick of time to fly home. Approximately 10 hours after set of point, half an hour before missing my flight and 20 minutes before passing out to the land of zzzz’s on my plane the mission of the day was accomplished. I’m sat here now still completely unsure how I made that happen and eternally grateful to the necklace round my neck given to me for safety and well being by a friend in venezuala earlier this year! Bring on the next adventure and thanks Tanya this necklace really works! xxx Oh yes and moral of he story is - no matter what always carry a spare tire!!!

The Canary Islands

2008-07-22T09:33:00.001-07:00

I have just arrived to the South of Fuerteventura a week early to get some time on the water adjusting to the gusty, strong offshore conditions that this place has to offer. Surprised my self today though because I hit the water expecting it to be full gusty and nasty, but instead it was full gusty and fun. I had my 6m Torch out as the wind is always pretty strong here, but today was a notch less than it can normally be and I busted out several handle passes, some railey to blinds and even passed the bar in a couple of blind judges although the landings weren't quite according to plan. Still I'm happy for today and looking forward for tomorrow.

Its a bit strange being at the event early. There is a world cup kitesurfing speed competition under way to the south of the enormous beach and a slalom windsurfing world cup competition to the north of the beach. The flags are out, the tents erected and a certain bustle on the beach but it doesn't seem quite in full swing yet.

I arrived in the canaries over a week ago to firstly have some time in Lanzarote chilling with the boyfriend but that includes kitesurfing too :-) and then came over to fuerteventura to stay in the north where the wind is lighter and more consistant than down here in the south. We scored a couple of sessions in Lanzarote and stayed in a beautiful guesthouse just out of La Santa where there is a reef break creating a great wave to surf. The guesthouse in on the quiet side of the island so you can avoid the carnage going on in Puerto Del Carmen and Costa Tequise or have an escape back to the quiet side if you do decide to head out for a night out. The guesthouse has 4 rooms, a big friendly guard dog, a lock up garage and delicious restaurants within walking distance. If you would like somewhere to stay then emial me on jo@jowilson.com and I will give you the contact.

Finally I am starting to get to grips with the blind judges. After Tarifa I decided that it wasn't so hard and finally made my first blind judge in my first session on the water in lanzarote. Since then I have been making the pass a couple of times per session and landing some as well. Its not so hard once you drill into yourself that you have to go into it with more speed, try to pass the bar early and as such hold the railey for less time. Hopefully i will land one in the competition here in Sotavento and hopefully the passes will get higher!

Well I have internet again here so shall keep you posted.

Tarifa - Kitesurfing Capital of Europe!

2008-07-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

This passed month has seen a fair few air miles and a fair few competition days and today is the first day back at home ready for a brief relaxation before hitting the Canaries off the coast of Africa on Sunday. With two PKRA events on the trot it certainly picks out man from mouse and although Tarifa wasn’t as windy as legend has it the proximity of the stops certainly has an effect.

On arrival to the event in Tarifa we were welcomed to one of the biggest and better organised Tour stops. Understandable considering Tarifa is Europe's Kitesurfing Capital and 1,000's of spectators were expected and well received. There was a judging tower with VIP area, rider lounges, VIP areas at other parts of the beach, beach shelters and media crews everywhere. They really went to town and it was amazing to be involved in such a hype.

After taking some time out of competition last year I had lost my ranking for the 2007 season which meant that for the passed events of this season I have been unseeded and therefore had to enter pre-qualifying events (France) to even make it into the main event. Its not really an issue, but finally for this event I had worked my way back up the rankings and back into the seedings which reduces the pressure f the events just a little.

I am currently in 6^th place overall for the year which is just 2 places away from my goal as I would like to finish 4th overall, but would be happy with 5th. Despite being disappointed with my performance at this event here in Tarifa overall I'm pleased with the way things are going.

Tarifa as legend has it has some of the strongest winds in Europe. Last year one day of competition had to be postponed dues to wind speeds pinning the windometer at its max

However this year the wind in Tarifa was up and down. Many of the days were sat around hoping/waiting/preying for the wind to pick up and sometimes it did and sometimes it didn’t. This meant sat around drinking redbull to prevent the lethargy of long days in the sun taking its toll.

The first heats of this event was held at 4pm in the afternoon and to be fair no amounts of redbull were keeping us on top form. The wind had been non existent all day and the temperature in its 30’s. All hope of wind had diminished as locals said it was highly unlikey, but then true to form the wind is always a completely unpredictable state of affairs and a thermal wind finally kicked in. Organisers were so keen to get the event underway that the wind picked up at 4pm and the first heat was on the water at 4.10pm. Lucky for me that wasn’t my heat, but my heat was at 4.20pm!!! So much better!? I have to be honest I rode really badly. I landed my first move on the buzzer - railey to blind, but from then on couldn’t shake my body awake enough to pull off my other harder tricks. I was just that second too slow into the tricks making me either make the pass, but trip the landing or miss the pass entirely.

I crashed back to blind twice and my air handle pass twice and before you know it beep 7 minutes are up! The other rider Joanne Litwin pulled off only her blind judge, but it was enough over my railey to blind. For both of us it wasn’t the best of heats and unfortunately I went out of the single elimination in the first round. From then on I was on a mission. I was up in the mornings with my kites pumped first thing regardless of the forecast. If the wind was going to pick up I was going to be ready. The following day was perfect to complete the rest of the single elimination, but as I was one of the 8 heats run the previous day I had this day off to train. I hit the water to work on my handle passes and things went pretty well.

2 days later it was my turn again in the doubles. I was riding up against Susi Mai who is currently third on the tour. She also rode bad on the first day like I did so it was unfortunate for us both to have a tough heat in the first of the double elimination. I went all out and aimed to kick her out of the contest landing all my tricks with super power, but there is a risk involved with this and I took a couple of hard crashes as well. Susi racked up the points with a safe heat and went through to the next round leaving me in a sorry last place. I feel really disappointed especially after riding so well in Venezuala, but I guess you win some and you lose some!

On Sunday I’m heading for a relaxed kitesurfing week in Lanzarote, but with the forecast as perfect as it is I know it will be far from relaxed (just the way I like it!!). Then I will head to Fuerteventura to train one week early in the strong winds of Sotavento before entering the next round of the PKRA. Lets see if I can do better!!! Keep you posted! x

Tarifa

2008-07-01T04:28:00.001-07:00

Well is the fast life and the high life these days! No sooner then the event finished in the Dominican Republic we hopped on to a plane straight back to London and then another from London To Gibralter in Spain with Easy Jet. Be warned when flying with easyjet as they stitched Johara Sykes Davis and Elena Pitulous for excess baggage charging them £200 and £115 respectively. Perhaps not such a good flight if taking lots of equipment. Anyhow 21 hours later we touched down in Gibralter after leaving Dom Rep and we are now looking on a fairly light wind/no wind forecast for the event in Tarifa which starts tomorrow. I'll get some shots and keep you posted, but I'm sure Tarifa cant stay with no wind for long and I am sure we shall have a good event x

6th Place Dominican Republic

2008-06-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

So here in Dominican Republic we began the trip with great wind and great training, but as we progressed into the second week the weather took a turn for the worse accumulating in a huge storm for our last day today. The competition was a success and the freestyle was completed, but it was run in a very on and off manor as clouds and rainstorms passed through.

(all the pretty colours on the beach)

Choice of kites was a stress in itself as a few minutes before a big cloud would come through the wind would pick up to 25 knots followed by instantly before the cloud it would drop to perhaps 10 knots and sometimes nothing at all. Our kites were blown up from 6m through to 12m to cover any possibility that may present itself.

(focusing before my heat!)

In the end I rode my 10m in every heat. I had just one heat where I didnt keep my head together and my kite went down in the shore break and was doomed. Susi Mai was my savour and came to rescue me, but my lines were in a mess and I was unable to ride the last couple of minutes of the heat. Fortunately I passed that heat and continued to have more good heats. In the single elimination I was up against Bruna Kaiya who is leading the world tour this year. I landed some good moves against her, but her powered handle passes are no match to what I can do right now and I need to up my game to beat her! In the double elimination I beat a new rider from Poland who landed a slim chance in my heat, but i landed a big air handle pass and 3 powered moves to blind, so fortunately I advanced. Next heat however I missed my handle pass and only landed two tricks to blind so in a 3-2 decision by the judges I lost to Angela Peral and finished in 6th place overall!

(the elimination ladder for the women)

As I whole I rode well and kept my head together and I feel pretty happy about how things went. I had a tough draw with Bruna which saw me out of the single elimination and I feel like although I rode well I have more to offer and could make it higher in the rankings overall.

(Railey to blind - hopefully these will be passed in the air on a regular basis after some training next month.)

Next up we have the next round of the PKRA in Tarifa on Wednesday and then Im off to Moon Beach in Egypt with Airspace to get some fun training time where I hope to get the blind judge, back to blind air pass and back mobe accomplished or any one of these 3! I'm praying for wind!!!

PKRA Round 4 Dominican Republic

2008-06-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

Today saw the the start of the next round of the PKRA. Its by far the biggest event for a long time. Qualifying rounds were held all afternoon and it was pretty exciting with a monster shore breaking taking no mercy! The wind remained super light all day with riders taking their 12ms and bigger. From tomorrow the main event kicks off. With a full round of both men and women it is going to be a tough challenge to reach the top. I have been riding here for the passed 10 days and although finding tricks difficult to land on the way out I am still feeling mighty confident because I land to blind on the way in. I am really close to my back to blind air passes and landed one last time I was on the water and I fuly intend to land my next tomorrow! Lets wait and see what happens, but Power, speed and concentration are on the forefront of my mind! Fingers crossed!!!

Dominican Republic Comp Build Up

2008-06-19T07:23:00.000-07:00

We have been 4 days here in the dominican republic, 3 days of running, 2 days of wind, 1 broken kite and 1 broken handle pass leash since the arrival.

On the plus side my new full carbon 2009 Naish Thorn board 130cm is optimising my landings a treat. Taking off is a little more difficult, but seriously I'm landing some stuff where Im like 'wow' how? So all is good. The Dominican Republic is a choppy destination much like brighton at home only with much much warmer temperatures. There are no wetsuits necessary here. We are staying just two minutes from the beach in a 3 bedroom house with balconies, fully equipped kitchen, swimming pool and the rest. If anyone is coming out hee then this house is the perfect place and a really good price to, so give me a shout if you are interested.

We have been on a training camp since arriving. Each morning we wake up around 7am and go for a run along the beach and return home finishing with a sprint. To cool off we swim some lengths in the pool (short pool) and then follow it up with some stretches and strengthening exercises. The wind hasn't been kicking in until lunch time so this gives a couple of hours to chill out after breakfast lounging around the pool, reading books or writing articles. Its perfect to build the anticipation to get on the water.

I have been working on blind judges and back to blind air pass. Its going well. Have had a combination of massive wipeouts and some success. Have passed the bar in the air a couple of times (one for each move). Hopefully today shall see some more success.

Last night saw the arrival of the rest of the crew to our house and here we have most of the brits - Sam Light, Ali Barrett, Johara Sykes-Davis, Myself and then Elena Pitoulis from greece as well. I think the cleaner is going to have a freak out!!! Anyhow just waiting for the wind to pick up now. As soon as we have some photos I shall upload them.

Happy kiting x

PS. Check out my new office :-)

Dominican Republic here I come

2008-06-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

I'm now loaded up with the 2009 Full Carbon Version of the Naish Thorn and the new Naish Harness. Its all packed and ready to go after having spent some time admiring it leaning up against the wall. I cannot wait to go and try it out. I have been home in the UK now for 4 weeks and although I have had some kiting in this time the sessions have been few and far between and just lately sessions in 10 knots of wind. The kiting has progressed in this time so I'm feeling good for the competition which begins on June 25th, but I am so excited to spend some long periods of time on the water with some decent strength wind before then. Perhaps this is the trip of the illusive back mobe - who knows! Anyhow I shall keep you updated and get some pictures online busting some stunts on the new board. Happy kiting x

Kiteboard Open Holland

2008-05-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Ania Grzelinska, Christian Brouwer and I headed to Nordwejk in Holland for the Kiteboard Open. This event started several years ago just as a bit of fun and now I guess with Holland being so small and with Germany and Belgium near by the event has just grown and is possibly one of the most popular kitesurfing events in the world.

The event was over the dutch Bank holiday weekend 11th and 12th of May. It was sponsored by Protest Clothing as well as Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, US Eyewear and many other companies. Typically for whatever the event is the condition necessary just didn't arrive so in this case it was the wind which was a no show. However the sun blitzed us and we had a sweltering upper 20 degrees to marvel in.

The beach was lined with avid kitesurfing fans and interested people and there was plenty for all to see and do with all the kite stands that were present plus the soap slides, bouncy castles, surf simulators, prize give-aways, blasting music, free flowing drinks and bbq's. It was just a shame that no one could take to the water and show what the sport is about.

Next year the event will be back and bigger then ever and the orders are in for the wind!!

Right now I am back in the UK for a couple of weeks before heading somewhere to train for one week at the start of June and then home for another week before hitting the Dominican Republic for the next round of the PKRA.