I’m sat here in my hotel room all alone for the first time in several weeks. I have a happy grin all over my face not only because Ive just got off the water after a great kitesurf, but because Ive just come to the end of the Egyptian Energy courses 2012. I’m not happy because it has ended because life seems very quiet now, but because what a great set of holidays it was. This trip was an achievement for me as the popularity of my holiday improves and Ive gone from having to cancel the holiday 4 years ago because of not enough people taking part to now running 3 holidays back to back now! So exciting!

(Egyptian Energy Crew 3, 2012)

(Egyptian Energy Crew 2, 2012)

(Egyptian Energy Crew 1, 2012)

I think the best thing about these holidays are the people who come, the huge smiles on people’s faces as they learn new tricks and the stupid conversations we have at dinner together as we barely manage to string together sentences after a full day on the water. Each group is different and you can never tell how it is going to be until it happens, but I can guarantee lots of laughs along the way.

Soma Bay has to be the best most stress free holiday you can have. The hotel is divine. Its beautiful, clean, relaxed, great food, fantastic atmosphere and incredibly comfortable beds to collapse in to each night. Down at the beach there are bean bags, sun beds and beds in the shade and a hugely friendly team of staff ready to help by bringing you cool drinks or delicious hamburgers! The wind blows all morning and dies out throughout the afternoon. You can plan your sessions to a fine art working on tricks that need lots of power in the morning and then change to more technical tricks which work better in lighter wind in the afternoon.

(Alex going for the 313)

The storage center is fab and you never need to take any kit home and there is a compressor so you need never set eyes on a pump. The water if bright turquoise and incredibly warm and very flat. Its a complete joy to be here.

(Anna having mastered going upwind during the Progressor Sessions)

I’ve seen all manner of improvements over the 3 weeks which has been phenomenal. I had a a lot of repeat clients who had been on my holidays before and it was great to see their improvements as they dedicated their days to being on the water. Nick had nailed all his hooked in tricks and started getting to grips with the unhooking.

(Nick coming in to land from the unhooked back loop)

Jamie had learned to feel lift rather then think it through to thoroughly.

(Jamie launching in to the air)

Alex dramatically changed her stance and began to charge on the water rather then look tentative and she threw her first jumps and back loops.

(Alex going for her first jumps)

3 girls took part in the progressor sessions with my new Egyptian super star coach and Anna became the upwind queen while Bindi and Vic overcame their fears created from passed experiences in their lives. Both Vic and Bindi were cruising left and right and relaunching like a dream. Of course the water taxi came in from time to time, but thats just the joy of an offshore spot.

With group one we partied hard. It was a young and free group up for lots of banter along side the kiting and with group 2 and 3 we chilled with drinks and early nights in preparation for big days on the water.

I know Im not supposed to, but I cant recommend these Egyptian Energy holidays enough, they are phenomenal fun and I can really ensure your ability on a kite will hit the next level for when you return home! For me I just changed my flight to squeeze in a couple of days kiting before returning back to the UK.

Watch out for the new dates of Egyptian Energy and the progressor sessions coming soon, but next up in the UK its Wild and Windy Tiree.

Hey all, there has been an exciting new development to the Jo Wilson Coaching brand and we have now expanded to offer UK Short Burst Wave Coaching Sessions and Wave Coaching Holidays.

Dom Moore, BKSA Instructor and Big Wave Kitesurfer / Surfer will now be working with me to offer phenomenal wave riding holidays and coaching.

(Dom Moore, Kitesurfing Wave Rider Coach for Jo Wilson Coaching. Photo courtesy of Hayley Spurway)

The first trip advertised and ready to take booking is Brazil baby Surfari and Coaching. The trip will take you to 4 amazing locations along the Brazilian coast where Dom and I will mix up your sessions between dedicated wave and freestyle coaching.

(Wave riding on the downwinder in Taiba)

The trip visits 4 different locations along the coast and provides perfect playgrounds for you to take your kitesurfing sky high or make you feel like Laird Hamilton with your new wave riding skills. Amongst other things there are two 20km downwinders where you will have plenty of time and space to practice the wave riding techniques you are coached through. The trip runs for 2 weeks from 18th November - 2nd December 2012.

About Dom

Dom has been surfing since 1997 and picked up kitesurfing in 2003 to maximise his time on the water. He is based in Cornwall and has traveled the world spending a large proportion of his time in Maui, Mauritius, Madegasgar, Bali, New Zealand, California and more learning how to deal with and ride big waves.

(Dom ripping in Maui)

You can now find him frequenting the big swells that hit the UK coast and right now is out battling on his 7m through this spring summer storm. For a much of Dom’s kitesurfing years he was the editor for Kitesurf Magazine and now has moved on and developed strong connections with another well known kite brand. Dom and I are really happy to establish kitesurfing wave coaching where we will run additional holidays under the same structure as the existing Jo Wilson coaching holidays only the content and locations will change. If you have the chance please take the time to come on one of these trips soon as you can enjoy double the benefits of having both Dom and myself to coach you.

(Dom Moore hitting the swells in Cornwall)

Check out Dom’s very own short burst sessions or keep your eyes peeled for the wave riding holidays coming online soon.

To find out more on Brazil check it out here or email me on jo@jowilson.com to get a more detailed itinerary.

Egyptian Energy is just around the corner. There are a couple of places left on the 22nd - 29th June, but thats it! Hope you can make it.

JO

Just recently it was made official that kitesurfing will make it into the olympics! I have been coaching around the south coast of the UK listening to the aftermath of such a decision and absorbing what I hear. Firstly I would just like to make clear that Im truely sorry for the RSX windsurfers who evidently have suffered from this decision as windsurfing has now been axed. The British windsurfers are talented and extremely strong contenders for Olympic gold this season and I can only hope they have taken this decision to help them focus on that medal. What a decision to make at this time. However being a kitesurfer through and through I am certainly happy to see kitesurfing make its way in to the Olympics even if for now it is the course racing discipline.

We have many names to thank for their hard work including our own Steph Bridge from Edge Watersports in Exmouth who helped pave the way and of course we need to thank Markus Schwendtner who lobbied to have kitesurfing taken on as a sailing sport which then put kitesurfing within a category that could make it an olympic sport.

Its interesting listening to my own thoughts of kitesurfing in the Olympics. Of course Im happy that it will bring more funding in to the sport and open up opportunities for our talented youngsters. For me its ignited a new fire in my tummy! Its a new step in taking kitesurfing forwards. The sport breeds a young age of rider and many of whom I have had the pleasure to ride and compete with over the years. Is this their chance to excel in the most infamous sporting competition of all time? Or is it mine? Do I pick up a course racing board and channel my competitive spirit in to this discipline? Could I do well? Who knows, but it makes me dream!

Right now, Im happy to be riding a race board in my spare time, a waveboard in the swells and my twin tip as regularly as I can. Going for the tricks, taking on the power and soaking up that adrenalin is my addiction from which I doubt I’ll ever overcome and so their will always be a twin tip along side the rest of the kit in the back of my van. Aside from that I plan to continue my focus on kitesurfing coaching! I’ve been lucky enough to coach people of all ages over the passed few years. Kids from as young as 4 all the way up to ladies and gentlemen in their 60′s. I’ve even had the pleasure to coach men in the Marines, Navy and Airforce. Its an extremely fulfilling experience seeing those happy smiles after endless hours of frustration when the move finally clicks. Its the exhilaration of seeing the competitive spirit in someone elses’ eyes. I’m going to continue on my mission to help people improve, train and win at competition because thats where my passion lies! So come on the Rio 2016. I look forward to the new energy that you bring in and hope that one day you can take on freestyle too!

For now watch out for athlete training programmes and youth training trips. Im excited to do my part in helping the British youth take on the world!

This passed weekend I have been coaching in Portland, Dorset in association with Paracademy where they have a phenomenal location to teach people to kitesurf. I was welcomed to run a weekend of Short Burst Session helping people who can already kitesurf to get better. We were lucky to have wind for a day and a half and as such a very sucessful weekend.

(The Royal Navy and Marines Kitesurfing Crew)

I spent saturday coaching the kitesurf club from the Royal Marines and Navy. They had organised a get together weekend and invited me to coach them. I spent the morning helping them to improve their level from jumping to rotations right the way up to surface handle passes and unhooked kite loops for some. The wind we had was around 14knots which is great for improving your level and it was cross on shore. Protected by the harbour walls the bay stayed nice and flat providing great conditions. By the end of the day the guys were running competition heats which we set up as part of an afternoon on competition riding.

(Preparing for competition)

On day 2 of the short burst sessions I had a group of people from Weymouth and Portland Kitesurf Club. They lived locally and were looking for help on riding toeside, slide turns, popping and jumping. Unfortunately the wind didnt blow all weekend long, so I am hoping to head back later in the year to run another few sessions.

(Not quite summer over here yet, but fun none the less)

Next up Im coaching in Lancing for Lancing Kitesurf Club. The weekend is fully booked so if you were hoping to bag a space please do get in touch, but it might be that I have to organise another couple of weekends sometime throughout the year.

Next month Im heading to Soma Bay in Egypt to run Egyptian Energy 2012. There are still a couple of spaces left so if you’d like to come drop me an email and I’ll send you an itinerary so you can find out more about it. Hope you can make it.

Jo

Hey all, I’m 3 years in to running these coaching holidays and while its forever going to be a learning experience not only for you, but for me to Im starting to get the handle on things. I’ve been lucky enough to have traveled with kitesurfing for the passed 10 years as a professional kitesurfer and from that collected all sorts of useful and useless nuggets of information along the way. That basically translates to me believing that I can take you to some of the most phenomenal kitesurfing locations around the world at the time of year that provides the best conditions for wind, warmth and space on the water for you to concentrate on improving your confidence, skills and busting new tricks.

(Cornish Kitesurf Exploration 2010)

Visiting South Africa, Brazil, Egypt name some of the locations that I head to but I also believe that no one person who lives in the UK should travel further then their own doorstep during the spring and autumn month to gain the most out of phenomenal kitesurfing conditions. Its not only financially friendly, but its surprising on just how good these trips are.

(Kitesurfing on your own doorstep!)

This year I am running 3 UK holidays where I will take you to locations of golden beaches, clear refreshing water, perfectly flat water, small kickers and occasionally big waves – although I will give prior warning for this to ensure that I don’t put you out of your depth.

(Kitesurfing in the South West UK September 2011)

They are all in September when the tourists have gone, the weather and water is warm and the low pressures are lining up in the atlantic. I will take you to stunning parts of the UK to explore and ride different spots under the UK’s dramatic cliffs, green fields, glorious rainbows and moody skies.

(Kitesurfing in the North East of the UK)

Each trip we will be staying in a high quality holiday house accommodation with big fat fluffy duvets, fire places, a fridge stocked of great food and cool beer/wine or delicious hot chocolate spiced with rum to warm the cockles.

(Sunset from the front room in Rhosneigr, Wales)

We’ll do car share where possible especially for Tiree to reduce cost on ferries/fuel and we’ll throw a reasonable kitty together to stock the house with food and drink.

(Kitesurfing in North Wales September 2010)

Together we will plan a journey for your kitesurfing which will involve a goal sheet and some action plans. This will help you to let me know of your level in advance and what you would like to be working on. Most people would like to improve their jumping technique and introduce some rotations and/or transitions. Often they want to improve their style and sometimes they would like to get in to the realms of unhooking, but these trips aren’t about throwing down powered handle passes or massive kite loops, they are all about learning new skills, gaining independence and confidence and being amongst 6 other like minded kitesurfers.

(Cornish Kitesurf Exploration Crew 2011)

Come and join in the fun and action packed UK holidays.

Dates:

Cornish Kitesurfing Exploration – 8^th – 15^th September 2012

Wild n Windy Tiree – 22^nd – 29^th September 2012

Welsh Cakes and Rhosneigr Roots – 6^th – 13^th October 2012

To book a place email me on jo@jowilson.com or call me on 07919 276 405. I’d love to hear from you.

Jo

I have just got back from a trip around the UK. I was supposed to start in Calshot, Southampton, but the wind didnt play ball and I postponed it. Everyone who was booked on to the course however now has a new date so no one will be missing out! A few days later the wind came in in the south west and I headed to Cornwall to ride at Watergate Bay. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I live in Cumbria now and can be known to forget what waves look like. however watergate bay was a great reminder. We were greeted to a rather squally 7m weather day with waves well over head high. I ht the water with a friend and we rode for a few hours making the most of the waves.

For the next day we went to Paignton in Devon. This was the opposite with wind from the left rather then the right and conditions a bit more preferable for the twin tip, so this time I had a little freestyle session. I had arranged to meet a few people who had been on my coaching holidays before and by 10am we were all on the water.

After this trip I headed north to Rhosneigr in Wales where I met up with Victoria and Aaron who are booked on to a holiday in Egypt with me next month. I spent two days with them and coaching Victoria to bring up her skills ready for the trip.

You can always rely on North Wales for fabulous kitesurfing conditions. I dont think there are many more places more reliable for great conditions in the UK. We had great conditions over the two days of around 20mph and plenty of sun in there too! Rhosneigr is where I learned to kite and it was great to see Dave in Funsport as he is partly responsible for where I am today.

Next on the agenda is a weekend in Barrow, Cumbria. It’s the closest spot to where I live so I dont have to travel too far for it. I still have a few spaces if you’d like to book yourself on to a course. The forecast is looking great. Its a north westerly on the sunday which means it will be epic. We have a strange thing here where the wind can be forecasted as nearly nothing, but if its coming from the north west it will come through strong enough and likewise if its forecasted 15mph then watch out - it will be more like 20-25! This weekend we have 20mph from the west forecasted on the saturday followed by 10mph from the north west - trust me it will be a full weekend of kitesurfing action.

If you have some time for a course on the weekend then drop me a line on www.jowilsoncoaching.com. Prices start at £65. There will be a maximum of 4 people on the course and we will work on the next stage of your kitesurfing giving you a kick start for the season!

I hope everyone has been enjoying the amazing weather. I even managed to get an unforecasted session yesterday on my 8m Naish Torch after work, but unfortunately this weekend looks pretty useless in terms of wind and as I hope to coach you all on the water I have decided to cancel. If you are booked on to any of the courses this weekend you will have had a couple of emails keeping you posted and now you will have a new date for your new course. Next time it will be windy. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Next up 21/22nd Barrow, Cumbria (the place of the unforecasted 8m session yesterday)! Be there!

Thanks, Jo