sit back and enjoy the show

In the last couple of months Dan has been globe trotting with a trip to Maui with the Cabrinha kitesurf team and no sooner had his feet got back to the UK he was on a flight Egypt bound… You will see from the footage Dan had a great time.

In Dans own words…. “So I had a great time in Egypt mainly training for this years competitions but to also to start off one of my first series of monthly podcasts for this year. Not only that but I have been shooting new content for my 2010 website with Craig from Blue Juice Multimedia. The new content and full podcast is dew to be online in a week or so at Dan Sweeney. Here is a little teaser of whats to come. Stay tuned at Air-head.com for updates.

Cheers Dan”

You can find more out about Dan Sweeney at his web site when it goes live soon this young guy is an up and coming Kitesurfing star to stay tuned for the latest on him and his travels.

Keep checking back for the latest from the Airhead team… Ride safe

Kitesurfing codes of conduct:

Be sure you can handle the prevailing weather conditions
Always assist fellow kitesurfers when launching and landing
Always use an effective kite safety leashing system
Wrap your lines when not in use and secure kite properly
Keep a reasonable distance between you and your fellow kitesurfers / beach users
A kitesurfer must know the navigation laws and abide by them at all times
If you ride alone, let someone know you are out and what time you will be expected back
If you lose your kite or board whilst on the water, always report it to the coastguard General Information

Specific Location Risks:
This area is only for competent kitesurfers ( no learners)
Please use set up and launch area only
This area is only kiteable at certain tidal times and wind directions
There is an exclusion zone (please see map)
Stay clear of all nesting birds, flora and fauna (max fine £5000)
No landing on spit
No flying of kites on land
Please stay 50m offshore at all times
Please use boardwalks

General Information:

Please keep clear of Landing and Launching kites
Beware Kite Lines – do not touch
Always stand upwind of kite flyers who are on land

BKSA Web Site

The Airhead team would like to thank Bracklesham Board Riders for the information, it is a hard thankless job making sure that beaches stay open for all users… top marks to them for the hard work. You may also want to take a look at an earlier posting on the Airhead Blog on Pagham Harbour

As always keep checking back for the latest info on the world of exciting sports… Snowboard news coming soon.

Bracklesham Boardriders near West Wittering and Chichester is one of the countries leading kitesurf shop and kite school’s, Bracklesham Boardriders (BBR) are Authorised dealers for North, Best, Ozone, Slingshot, Wainman, ION, Flexifoil, Prolimit, Mystic, Peter Lynn, ABoards, and many more…. they are able to bring you the choice of the very best kitesurfing equipment available.

Based in one of the premier kitesurfing locations in the UK Bracklesham near West Wittering is only an hour South of London and a short drive from other major towns light Brighton, Portsmouth and Southampton as well as only being just 50 meters from the beach, BBR specialise in quality kiteboarding equipment, service and advice – Approved by UK Trading Standards and the British Kite Surf Association (BKSA). 

BBR hold massive stock of different brands, sizes and colours – holding over 100 kitesurf kites and over 75 kite boards in stock with a dedicated wave board department, snow kites, landboards and 1000’s of spares on the shelf too.

Can’t decide which Kite is best for you? – Go to one of their demo days, Go into the shop, or approach one of their Team on the beach and have a fly before you buy.
Whether you are a seasoned kite pro or a complete kitesurf beginner, rest-assured they will provide you with quality kiteboard products, service and advice.

Based in the beautiful surroundings of West Sussex, the long empty beaches of Bracklesham Bay provide ideal conditions for kitesurfing tuition. Unlike many other South Coast beaches Bracklesham Bay has a dedicated kitesurf area, well away from the tourists and crowds, allowing kitesurfing lessons without the worry of surroundings.
Using a team of dedicated kitesurfer’s and Senior Instructors, BBR kite school enable students to progress quickly, yet safely, from complete beginner to advanced rider, using the latest equipment.

So has that got you interested ?? then contact BBR for course availability.

Airhead knows only too well how important good instruction is so whatever sport you do make sure you get the best instruction you can and make it safe…

Read on for more info on the area:

This information has come to the attention of Airhead please make sure you read it… The place in question is near Bognor Regis in West Sussex.. You can find out more at WSCC Pagham Harbour or British Kitesurfing Association

Pagham harbour Local Nature Reserve, West Sussex holds most top national and international designations and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, being protected by various wildlife legislation. It is especially famous for birdlife.

In recent years it has become attractive to Kitesurfers who use the sea at the harbour entrance, but often access the Reserve via a private unadopted road (Harbour Rd) and then park in the free car park owned by West Sussex County Council (WSCC) who manage the reserve.

Windsurfers also use this, but there seems to now be an increasing problem with Kitesurfers. Whilst not objecting to their use of the car park, recently some problems have become apparent, which I will explain:-

1. The Kitesurfers often set up their equipment in the car park (instead of on the shoreline) and then drag their equipment across an expanse of vegetated shingle (specially protected habitat) causing some damage/disruption – this is worse when the users also test out the equipment on the shingle before heading for the beach.
2. When using the beach to test the Kite, or when using it on the sea in the harbourmouth, the large Kites could cause panic to some roosting or breeding birds. This is particularly critical at this time of year – see point 3.
3. In the last few years, a few pairs of a rare and declining seabird, the Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) have started to nest on the shingle around the harbourmouth entrance. By law these birds are specially protected and wilful disturbance can attract a very large fine. There are also bylaws which prevent disturbance to wildlife, and also prohibit the flying of Kites within the reserve.

My role includes the enforcement of legislation in these circumstances; however as I indicated I am hoping that we can reach a reasonable understanding without the need for legal action, now that the situation has been made clear. I would there ask you to contact your membership as soon as possible to advise. Whilst I understand the reasons for the use of the site, I would request the following:-

i) Kitesurfers stay well out to sea in this area and do not approach the harbour mouth during the breeding season (the young birds should fledge by about late July). Under no circumstances should surfers land on Church Norton spit (except emergency) or enter the protected zone.
ii) Kitesurfers do not drag their assembled equipment across the shingle, but set up at the shoreline.
iii) Surfers must bear in mind that their Kites are a disturbance factor, often visually threatening to birdlife, and so should do all possible to minimise this by staying further out to sea.

I wish to be realistic and so seek co-operation on all sides at this important time in the Reserve year. I would be grateful for your assistance,and in case of query I can be contacted at the reserve Visitor centre – tel 01243 641508 (or leave a message). In my absence the Reserve managers Rob Carver or Ivan Lang, can assist.
I thank you in anticipation,

Owen Mitchell (WSCC enforcement/liaison).

Check out other posts on the Airhead Blog about Pagham Harbour

Please make sure you understand the rules of this area to avoid loosing the use of Pagham Beach for your sports… Airhead bringing you the news on your sports

BKSA kitesurf Swansea: Photography BlueJuice Multimedia

Mens Pro Results:
Toby Raw 1st
Sam Light 2nd
Ali Barrett 3rd

Girls Pro Results
Hannah Whitely 1st
Nicky Rudd 2nd
Sarah Sylvester 3rd

Tony Raw: Photography BlueJuice Multimedia

Top results for Toby and Hannah at this event when the weather conditions and wind where quite harsh at times… this result shows the quality of up and coming UK riders. We will also bring you the results on the Ams and Juniors as we get them.

Aaron Hadlow: Photography BlueJuice Multimedia

Aaron Hadlow 5 x World Champ could also be seen out on the water at the BKSA event. Though he was not competing it is always great to get his support for a UK event.

The Airhead will bring you more results as we get the from Swansea… keep checking back