I recently rediscovered my idea of Paradise, its in a land far away but not inaccessible. I am having this rare euphoric moment where to continue to revel in this feeling I couldn’t resist to bring out the lap top and share my thoughts and feelings!

November 17th 2012

The sun has just risen, the water is warm and butter flat, the wind is light but the tide has switched. These dream sessions have to be worked for and that is where there magic stems!

Here in Barra Nova, Brazil the wind comes in, but it doesn’t often stick around all day. You have to wake up at the crack of dawn, in fact if you are from Europe you should come straight here and not even consider adjusting your clock. Wake up at 05.30 and rig up your kite. For the next couple of hours the wind will build while the light thrown over the mangroves intensifies! The water laps up over your feet and the delecatable water splashes up and into your face pulling you round from your dosy reverie.

This place is quiet. It seems there are not many people happy in the world with waking up at such time for their hobby but that is where the magic grows.

The early start rewards you 2 hours with a small crew of other hardcores to ride in the spacious lagoon picking your moments to take off either riding hard or just relaxing as you cruise in the early morning light.

By 8am you’ve laid down some tricks and fought the hunger too long and your energy levels slow. A pit stop is enforced but its no hardship. There is an array of fruits, fresh juices, eggs, bread, cheese, ham, jams, coffee – the works! You can find them on the table in your pousada just 1 minute from where you have dropped your kite.

To get my second session of the day it takes time and effort. The wind has dropped and the other kiters are still enjoying their breakfast. I can see the point where I want to ride, but it is a distance up wind as well as against the tide but I can see it is worth it. It takes 20 minutes of hard work and determination, but inches at a time you get closer, sometimes walking on a shallow section and sometimes riding over the deep. Just when you think you have gone far enough you have to stay committed and go a little further and there you find your pocket.

Until that point the wind is light, but tucked in behind the sandbar where the land bends and the mangrove begins the current makes a switch in direction and somehow defying the laws of kitesurfing it is still possible to ride powered.

Just one other fellow kitesurfer, Andy is game on for this mission, but like anything you work hard for in the end there is a true reward! We spent the next 90 minutes cruising in amongst the most beautiful view on earth. The wind is just right to work on a new trick and there you can do it until your heart is content! To me riding this alone is a shame. You need someone there to appreciate its beauty, to be feeling the warmth inside yourself as well as out.

Through years of traveling solo I have been lucky enough to find these rare moments and small corners - of course there are more yet for me to find, but I certainly know some. I’ve searched high and low and take note of the wind directions and the tides and now? Now its time to share! I have my inner peace with these places I have selfishly enjoyed them by myself or with one other and now although I still need the odd session alone I now want to share, I want to share these moments with a with a core group of committed kitesurfers.

On the evening of the 18^th of November 6 people arrive from the UK. They have booked on the latest kitesurfing holiday – Brazil Surfari and Coaching. They don’t know this yet and it is too late for them to find out as they are on route to the airport. On arrival around midnight there was a little package on their cosy beds waiting excitedly. In it is a little note to let them know not to change their clock! At first light in the morning the fins will be taking the rightful place on the boards and we will seize the magic!

My goal is to show these committed souls the best places on earth and then for them to ride them! Over time together we will all become friends for life united in these special moments! I will enthusiastically coach them and watch their skills develop in such a magical place and selfishly I will continue to be content as they lap up the last moments of the wind and water before the magic begins the following day. Like me right now, from 18th - 22nd they will be finished for the day by 11am, but with 3-4 hours of unbeatable kitesurfing under their belts its time to relax, read a book, take a snooze and eat more delicious local foods!

Barra Nova is a delightful, gentle break in before we venture further up the coast to the more ‘popular spots’ of Brazil where the wind blows all day and you can afford the lie in’s, but for me – here in Barra Nova – you cannot beat it. This is ‘my’ paradise that I am happy to visit just occasionally in my life to remind myself that paradise always exists.

Search within yourself before you search the world – Paradise is a state of mind, not just a location!

Thank you to Dom Moore and Pousada Escape for these lovely photos

Wow, what a month its been! We’ve totally scored the conditions. We hit Tiree when it pumped all week and then we went to Wales where we had a couple of days of no wind, but well worth it when it delivered true Autumnal conditions!

This was the first week long wave coaching holiday on the Jo Wilson Coaching Holiday and I felt it was a great success.

(Nick choosing a wave in Rhosneigr with just the birds, photographer and coach watching)

I had two comments back from the 6 people already:

“Thanks Jo & Dom for a great holiday - fantastic location, luxury accommodation and I learnt loads. Looking forward to getting out on the water again soon!”

and

Thanks for a great week! I really enjoyed it. I thought Dom was a great coach too.”

Breaking in to the realms of wave kiting I thought who better to bring in as the coach then Dom Moore. He is a strong character, has been kiting for years and has traveled the world to surf world class waves. He is a BKSA trainer and coach and his knowledge in coaching waves is better then mine.

The conditions we were thrown were extreme. We started off with 3 days of no wind! 2 days of no wind is actually really beneficial, but on the 3rd day we were more then ready to hit the water. During the time of no wind Dom coached people through rescue techniques, how to deal with wiepouts, what to do with your kit when you’ve been wiped out and how to make your way safely back to shore.

(Setting up your own wave board to be right for the conditions that you ride in and how to set it up should the conditions change or you head elsewhere)

He talked about rips, board set up, how to set the board up for yourself and how to have your board depending on the conditions you were riding. He covered many other topics too in both theory and practical set ups.

(Simulating riding waves with mountain boards on the beach)

On day 4 the wind began. We had 4m swell forecasted and a range of 20 - 40 knots for the coming days. It made for some very challenging conditions as it became clear that everyone would mostly be on there smallest kite and preferable smaller still.

(Wind for 6m kites and over head high waves)

We had 3 solid days of wind to follow blowing from morning until night. We started the day bright and early for the dawn raids ensuring that we made the best of the tides, had the quietest time on the water and to ensure over those 3 days there would be no one kiting harder then us any where else in the British Isles.

(9m weather and shoulder high waves to play with)

It allowed us to hit the water from 8am - 11am before coming in for a big hearty brunch before hitting the water again from 1pm - 4pm. Being Autumn we were in winter wetsuits, but had a drying room on sauna style heat to dry the suits out between sessions. The house was beautiful and less then a minute walking from the beach and a great place to get cosy and hunker down in the evening.

(Hunkering down in front of the log fire)

During the windy days we were able to take video footage and provide feedback throughout the sessions on how to ride the waves rolling in right there and then. It worked well with the coaching earlier in the week when there was less wind giving everyone the chance to put what they learned in to practice. An epic week and so much fun! Thanks to Bryony Shaw, Nick Davies, Adam Firth, Chris Ellis, Ian May and Mike Porter for kiting as hard as they did, you were all incredible and can’t wait to see you out ripping on the water again soon!

IWe had a phenomenal time coaching and cannot wait for the next. Keep your eyes peeled for Waves in South Africa running 13th - 19th January incl. To find out more check it out here.

Check out the video here

Last week the BBC followed Bryony Shaw all the way to Tiree to film her making her transition from windsurfing to kitesurfing during one of my holidays. Bryony initially came to see me at my home spot in Cumbria where she worked hard for 2 days learning to kite. By the end of the second day she was flying up wind like everybody else.

Following the couple of days she was hooked and decided to continue on her learning curve with me in Tiree where the BBC came to see how she was getting on.

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I don’t think the BBC man knew what had hit him when he arrive on the isle and we all had a fab time!

Well as the first of the coaching holidays to Tiree draws to an end the wind keeps blowing outside! Its dropped off briefly for the first time in a week, but in the 7 days of the trip the wind barely dropped below 20mph at any point and definitely picked up to over 40 mph on one day too! Mostly we were blessed with the high 20′s to early 30′s in mph!

As far as coaching holidays go this one was certainly the most exhilarating. Some days were good for coaching new tricks while others were sent to push the limits and expand the ability of what everyone felt was their comfort zone> We spent the week working with the conditions and rode most of the beaches that Tiree has to offer. This gave us the chance to ride flat water spots and wave locations for as long as our hearts were content. At times it felt like we were traveling to the ends of the earth and it definitely gave us a chance to feel like intrepid explorers.

At the end of each day we returned to our toasty warm holiday house, took it in turns to cook delicious home made food and topped it off with cold beers or warming rum in hot chocolate. It was a homely holiday perfect for the long days on the water.

Excitingly for this trip we had the BBC follow us for two days filming Olympic windsurfer Bryony Shaw turn her hand to kitesurfing. The fun and energetic Wild and Windy Tiree crew of 2012 can certainly rate themselves as some of the toughest kitesurfers Ive had the pleasure to coach.

Huge well done to everyone for pushing themselves hard everyday! Epic!!

Hey All, so Pikey Park Up is drawing up ever nearer and it looks set to be ace. Hunstanton Watersports along with Naish UK and Jo Wilson Coaching are running a Naish 2013 equipment demo where you will be able to check out the new Naish Parks and Torches.

For the boards there will be glimpses of the 2013 Naish Custom Global which shape has been adapted and looks sweet for the swells in the uk, but for now there are no other boards around allowing us more time to show off the kites.

(Pic by Expix.co.uk)

Jo Wilson Coaching will be running short burst sessions in the waves with Dom Moore. Its £65 per person and there are courses for beginners on a wave board through to advanced. Beginners on a wave board will need to be competent on a twin tip.

Jo Wilson will be hosting the Pikey Park Up providing coaching on the beach for all those who have been on one of her holidays before.

The bbq and party wil be host to the crash baftas 2012! Watch your doormat for your invite or head on down to hunstanton watersports to get involved in the demo!

The Uk provides some of the best conditions that the world can offer if you ask me. September and October is no time to leave if you can help it. In fact its the best time to save some pennies and hit the UK coastline for your summer/autumn holiday. The water is warm, the low pressures roll in from the Atlantic and dare I say it - the sun even shines. However a bit of rain never hurt anyone so come rain or shine make sure you hit the beach this autumn. If you are a solo traveler and looking to hit up some UK kitesurfing please take the time to check out my 2 UK kitesurfing holidays in Tiree this September or Wales this October.

Wild and Windy Tiree - 22nd - 29th September 2012

Waves in Wales - 13th - 20th October 2012

However that being said if you are anything like me then you must be partial to a bit of guaranteed sun and wind!

(Roz having fun in Paracuru, Brazil 2011)

Last year for the first time I ran a surfari holiday to Brazil. It was the first surfari holiday on the agenda and I was a bit nervous to put it on. It seemed like a lot of logistics to organise and although I knew the place well I was concerned at how to make the trip run smoothly while coaching at the same time. As it turned out I need not have worried. The holiday filled up nicely and over two sets of holidays I coached and guided 12 enthusiastic and hugely warm people eager to hit the water on a daily basis and kite their socks off until the late afternoon and early evening.

(Brazil Kitesurfing Holiday Crew 2011)

The trip was really successful and we rode a variety of different locations and stayed in 3 different hotels, villas and pousadas along the way. This gave us plenty of time to ride flat water lagoons and sea, waves and take on a couple of downwinders with motorised buggy’s to guide us every step of the way.

(Chris having an early morning session in Uruau)

The trip was phenomenal and I am pleased to offer it again this year with a twist. We will stay a couple of different spots this time giving us better kitesurfing (if thats possible) right on our doorstep. There will be wave coaching from Dom Moore as well as freestyle coaching from me. The aim is to help you on your journey to become a better all round kitesurfer. I want to help you learn new air borne tricks and transitions, perhaps a little bit of unhooking, while Dom wants to show you how to ride downwinders, make turns on waves and link turns together so that you are riding the wave. He wants to show you how to ride bigger swells and make this your new comfort zone.

(messing about on the small waves with a twin tip in preparation for bigger waves and waveboards)

The plan is to take you from your level now way and beyond while in the dream location of Brazil. To find out more check it out here and please email me on jo@jowilsoncoaching.com so I can send you the itinerary for the trip.

Hi Guys, check out the new short burst sessions for wave riders here. Its a chance for you to improve your skills on a waveboard. There are courses for people who are new to their waveboard or more advanced courses for people who would like to improve their wave riding in big swell. Its £65 per person, 3 hours long and guaranteed to be fun, informative and give you a lot more to work on throughout the Autumn and winter swells inevitably on their way.

Are you not yet able to ride upwind? Or may be you are starting to ride upwind, but not feeling comfortable with it 100% of the time. Jo Wilson Coaching will now be running the Progressor Sessions! These are kitesurfing sessions and holidays designed to help you crack kitesurfing once and for all.

The sessions are there to help build your kite flying skills and show you how to body drag upwind and back to your board.

They are there to help you improve your board starts and work on your riding position so that you can go upwind not just sometimes, but all of the time.

and possibly most importantly of it all - the progressor sessions will teach you kite relaunching techniques, so you can always feel happy that you can get yourself back off the water and back in to dry land no matter what your kite has decided to do throughout your session.

The first of the Progressor Sessions Holidays will be held in Soma Bay in June 2013 plus specific 1:1 coaching sessions will be held here in the UK throughout the year amongst the glorious and spacious Cumbrian coastline where there is miles of empty water and days on end of wind just begging to be used!

To find out more please email me on jo@jowilson.com and I will be happy to help.

Many thanks, Jo