Angels Mission IV: Aussie Kiss V

Location: Watergate Bay

Date: 20^th-21^st October 2006

Mission Info: There are hundreds of students heading for the beach, we have been told to expect all kinds of shenanigans-can you be on location to assist SKA Agents Ben and Alex.

A call was made to Turbulence HQ from the President!.............of the Student Kitesurf Association, there was believed to be hundreds of University Students heading to Watergate Bay in need of a kiting experience, the Turbulence Angels were asked   to come and do their thing with the girls, so the Bongo was loaded with the necessary equipment and we set off on our 7 hour journey.  On arrival at Bude Holiday Park we could confirm that there were hundreds of students geared up for a weekend of extreme sports and extreme partying. 

 We arrived at Watergate Bay 9.30 Saturday morning, the sun was there, the wind was there but most of the students were still in the queue for the free bacon bap! Around half an hour later the beach was full of students in groups with instructors having their first taste of kiting.  We had a group of 16 beginners flying the Flexifoil Buzz and Flexifoil 1.2 Sting.  There were lots of smiling faces and yes the shenanigans expected did take place!  We managed to get half an hour on the water before the tide raced in where Johara got chance to play with her new Flexifoil Atom and I got to show off my new bright pink RRD Hypertype to the girls.

An experienced kitesurfer added some unexpected drama to the event when he got into trouble and required the assistance of two Royal Navy helicopters, two lifeboats and the Coast Guard Cliff Rescue team.  Student Kite Surf Association President Ben was hero of the day for his part in the rescue, which ended up with them both being airlifted. Thankfully, both made it to the party to tell the tale.

The party was a themed Pirates fancy dress, we didn’t receive this information in our mission instructions so us Angels, Hoggy and Seb & Sandra from Kite World set about some Kite World T Shirts with a pair of scissors and had a lot of fun making our Kite World Pirate costumes!  In true pirate style we braved the howling winds and torrential rains to get from our caravan to the party, where we found all sorts of interesting pirates! Some who had obviously been wounded in battle due to the way they were staggering around (yer right).  There was a great atmosphere at the party and a lot of fun was had by all.  No body made it to the beach on the Sunday due to the weather and if you believe that you’ve obviously never been to a student party-man they are EXTREME!!!!

Angels Event Hunstanton, Norfolk

Mission: Angels Event III

Last Angels event of 2006

Angels-Johara, Annalisa and Zoe, Angel mascot-Leionnie, Angel instructor Dee, trainee girlie kitesurfers Charlie, Kitty and Liar made the journey to Hunstanton.  Saturday morning brought a sunny windy start as we set up at The Hub Sailing Club in Hunstanton.  The event had been well advertised by the Hub and the turn out was very good.  Dee yet again did a superb job with her safety briefings and teaching.  There is a great community feeling in Hunstanton, everyone was so welcoming and friendly. The wind was light during the afternoon so we played on Joharas new Bunotti surf board and Leionnie had her first taste of surfing.   

The evening was spent at the Sailing club where we had a superb BBQ followed by marshmallow dipped in chocolate sauce, many thanks to John M and his wife for the fantastic food. 

Sunday was a crazy day! The wind was strong and the beach was very busy, everyone was having an amazing time.  Mattie from the sailing club had agreed to help girly kitesurfers Kitty, Liar and Charlie with some body dragging.  They had a 5m Flexifoil to practice on Kitty sent the kite and flew through the air with her toes pointed like a ballerina! They had a great time.  The afternoon brought an epic session on the water for the Angels and an amazing demo for the girls whom had come to the event.

It was sad saying goodbye to the Hunstanton lot as they were such a great bunch.  On our journey home we really fancied some sushi, we knew we were low on diesel but thought we would make it to the Marks & Spencer Service Station fro fuel and Sushi, we didn’t!!  We ran out of fuel and pulled into the lay-by, luckily, there was a RAC van on the other side of the bypass, Johara waved him over and he saved the day by taking her to get some fuel!

Angels Event Troon, Scotland

Mission: Angels Event II

Our first event away from home!

Angels-Johara, Annalisa and Zoe, Angel instructor Dee, wanna be Angel-Hoggy, photographer-Alfie, keen girlie kitesurfers Cheryl and Leir made the journey to Troon.  There was a light wind blowing so we headed to the beach to check it out, Jo and Hoggy had a skim/surf board session whilst the rest of us chatted on the beach.  The convoy of Bongos and converted vans parked up outside the shop and we headed off to a couple of local bars for a bit of a social with the local kitesurfers. 

It was an early start on the Saturday morning, the conditions were good for teaching and yet again we had several girls registered before 09.00am!  We had some girls so keen that morning they booked in for the following morning aswel!  Lunch time brought some heavy rain which killed the wind completely, just as we had decided the wind wasn’t going to return and we should head off to the local swimming pool, the sun came out and brought the wind with it!! You wouldn’t believe how quickly everyone was changed, pumped up and out on the water!  What an epic session it was as well, we stayed out until around quarter to ten that night unwilling to come off the water until the very end of the day.  Some of us opted for an early night whilst others headed off into town. 

After a lot of planning and effort from the Angels the first weekend event went with a bang at Westshore Llandudno.

 The Saturday morning start was a little delayed as the tide and wind kept the beach a little damp. With conditions cold and the wind blowing a steady 20mph the conditions were ideal. There were 25 girls registered for lessons by 9am and the 4 TA instructors were kept busy all day as a steady stream of ladies made their way onto the sand into the waiting arms of the angels. The girls were taught on Flexifoil Buzz’s to get some basics sorted out and then flew the Flexifoil Sting 1.2m,1.7m & 2.4m to understand 4 line kites and experience a bit of power. The pink Buzz’s were much appreciated as were the pictures of the new Flexifoil Punk limited edition kites (pink blade’s and rage’s).

 After a busy mornings teaching the girls took to the water and land to put on a show. The gathered audience were treated to a display of flying angels all afternoon. The flat water conditions gave riders the chance to push themselves with Jo Wilson pulling sick downloops on her 6m all afternoon and a few of the girls getting up for the first time the atmosphere was relaxed and fun. As the afternoon drew to a close a few of the boys made it out onto the water to spend some time trying to kill Ian from expics and Will from Kiteworld.

 The afternoon had also had the girls out on land showing their skills on buggies and boards. Flexifoil rider and honory TA instructor Natz was ripping it up on the land board happily accompanied by Dee and Lou. The girls had some fun during the squall that hit late afternoon as a few of the girls were floating away on safety leashes, it did hit 40knots+!!!

 Attention then turned to the Heaven and Hell party. With fancy dress being compulsory the anticipation of outfits was huge, and it was not disappointing. Along with the band of Angels and devils were The Pope, a bishop and a nun, a number of hells angels, the grim reaper and mini me, some pimps, a bar of chocolate. Many funny moments were had by all and if you weren’t there you missed them.

 The Sunday dawned crisp and clear with a gusty NW wind blowing. The lessons were once again very popular and the instructors were again kept busy all morning. The wind died a little and no one got out on the water, but with hangovers raging and sore bodies from the day before no one really minded.

 The weekend was a phenomenal success with lessons done for 82 women and 20 female kite surfers riding on the Saturday. A big thanks to all the riders and girls who gave their time for free to come and help out over the weekend. Huge thanks to the instructors Dee Norton, Natz(Nat Reeve), Lou Marson & Carrie Begg.  Many thanks to all the guys who did lots of kite bitching on the Saturday and to the guys who marshalled the beach all day. A big thanks to our sponsors for the event Flexifoil, Dirty Dog, Kiteworld, Conwy Council, Blue Wahoo.

Words by Adam Jones (Turbulence) www.ukkiting.com