We’ve said it before about other places, but honestly we mean it as much as the first time – we’ll definitely be going back. Our first clinic in South Africa delivered on every single front. It would be unfair not to start by thanking Grant at Cabrinha South Africa for twisting our arms into coming over and for pointing us in all the right directions. Jonny at Friday Island also has to get masses of thanks from the entire group and Kathy you looked after us so well – what a fabulous set up.

This was a combo of great kiting and an amazing holiday. Rolling out of bed in no real hurry, choosing the spot for the morning session, throwing it down on the water, resting and still having plenty of light and wind to carry way on into the sunset. Follow this, a truly fantastic day on the water, with some excellent local wine and/or cider and an awesome slap up meal with a great bunch. Quite brilliant.

In short the wind blew, the braais burned, the wine flowed and a rather healthy competition brewed between the girls and boys, resulting in some fast track promotion on the water whilst the rest of Europe froze. Dare we say it – already excited about the 2013 trip!!! Thanks as ever to you lovely lot for making it memorable.

Once again Brazil dished up its not so secret recipe of endless wind, fabulous food, sunshine, smiley friendly folk, unreliable buggies, flat water and confidence boosting hero sized waves. All those wonderful fruits, Acai, fresh fish and just cooked cow, even Waitrose can’t compete. And in case you’re wondering the traditional last night fancy dress theme was – Magnum PI does Rio Carnival….

We had an unfathomingly brilliant time and what a bunch. The ladies were full on with their “Girl Power” and of course the gents responded in kind. Never before have we heard sooooo much friendly banter e.g “good Slide Turn” when it should have read “amazing Down Loop Air Gybe (that’s you Liz)”. This group motivation had everyone trying their best and Jane Air’s rather regal hand wave did take top honours for post move celebration.

Caipoeira (& Caipirinha) Liz, yes we remember those cartwheels, leading the gang on from the decking after a cheeky sun-downer Caipi, much to the wonderment of those around had “One Strap Bruce” positively in flames as he showed us what he can do when the conditions are like home. Most of us have never considered there to be much of a connection between Ceara and Scotland – must be the cheering girls on the beach.

Hats off to Matthew who trekked all the way from Australia, and in the opposite to many of the others has almost converted from surfboard to twin tip. The kiteloops et al apparently give similar adrenaline to charging the waves – nothing to do with the crocks though eh? And while on the subject of kiteloops, downloops and anything that requires commitment and a few beatings along the way to get it nailed – Ian must go down in the annals of history for his tenacious approach to mastering these monsters with an unstoppable determination, which would make many teenagers proud.

Strapless wise Sophie conquered the gybe and laid down some beautiful carving to go along with her awesome unhooked raleys. Steve mastered the cheeky foot change and claimed the tack too, island style. Raf styled in his obliteration of the waves, also claimed the tack and fell in love – with a Cabrinha Drifter!

Roomies Henry and Neil, who often appeared to be on Safari kept us entertained both on and off the water with their plentiful anecdotes, jokes and intrigue. The extended groups’ trip to the rather surreal closed restaurant that came really to life, will be as much remembered for Henry’s chivalrous dancing tour de force and Neil’s rather likeable but very tiring Frog dance, as for the car sized stereo.

And finally late arrival Sarah’s unhooked pops to blind with the surface pass and the oh so nearly Raley to Blind proved how beneficial some decent wind and warm, flat water can be, excuse the pun but blinding stuff.

Here’s to November 2012!

We’ve been a tad quiet on the video front recently. However the first week in Soma Bay had both Ben and Igor challenging for the most coveted, yet dreaded, of awards with a couple of absolute beauties. After much deliberation it’s hats off to Igor for this spectacular example. Without wanting to spoil the surprise, the clincher was the distance his board travels upon contact with the water! Don’t try this at home kids.

Wipe Out of the week Soma Bay 1

Wipe Out from Igor in Soma Bay part of Ckperformanceclinics week 1, Sept 2011

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Crikey what an eventful week both on and off the water!

On the water there was just so much happening. Emily is within a cat’s whisker of her Raley 2 Blind, and if her hands had held up would have claimed it, must have been all those back loop kiteloops. Ross was throwing down pops to blind with the surface passes all over the bay with reckless abandon. Nick was Mr Kiteloop, with a frenzy of kiteloops and downloops at any given opportunity. Ben claimed the chair of air with some serious height, and then stuck the glacier cherry on top by adding some “nauseas” kiteloops to them – respect. Miguelito was having it with some huge double rotations and those raleys are in the post. Geezer proved that the only way to front loop is H_I_G_H. Rich W. nailed the jump and hammered the underturns. Mark tamed his beast in the air, aquired the most stylish of toesides and underturns. Richie was SCC, style, consolidation and control – landings from up there softened and those front loop transitions were to die for. Andy was also letting rip with some lovely kiteloops, the most stylish of grabs on his rotations and that front loop transition too. And Serge, delicious fronts, backs and what about that blind, must be in your DNA!

Off the water the inspired Egyptian night with the new CKPerformance Cabrinha Tops had the rest of the hotel in awe. And the first and last Smurf fancy dress night was with hindsight not our best call! However the huge pod of dolphins on one of our afternoon snorkels was incredible and fortuitously captured on video.

Well done the lot of you, awesome stuff.

Well our last minute extra week to Soma Bay was snaffled up by 7 lucky, energetic, enthusiastic and motivated kiters from 4 countries. Once again the wind gods delivered, and it was all out action all week long.

Apart from the magnitude of moves, height, progress, lack of self preservation, the common theme for the week was loosing sunglasses – they’ll be some funky looking dolphins in that part of the Red Sea for sure.

So a big thanks to Hannah, Kat, Ben, Brian, Igor, Pete and Hassan for your boundless kiting passion and good humour on and under the water!

Somehow we always thought Rock Stars didn’t use Gatwick. But as it turns out South Terminal is the epicentre of 80′s rock culture. You may not spot Will and Katie down by gate 43, but how about this for a view to make you stop and take a couple of snaps when you’re already late and the gate is closing. Bruce Dickinson, and his entourage appear to be above the hallowed constraints of a poxy private Jet, perhaps its just too Guns & Roses, but rather prefer the atmosphere and space of a bonafide airliner. Bet their seats recline too!

We just completed a two day Youth Training course for the BKSA at The Watersports Academy in Poole. We’ve been running these for nearly four years now at various locations around the UK, and they never cease to be absolutely jam packed with the most infectious energy, enthusiasm and positivity. Two days of kitesurfing “school” with the emphasis on improving for competition, covering everything from profiling for sponsors to plenty of on water coaching. We had a fabulous group – so thank you to Joe, Josh, Dan, Jordan, Charlie, Rob and Lana for working hard, supporting and encouraging each other And for stoking our excitement about the future of kitesurfing.

http://www.ckperformanceclinics.co.uk/videos/

Just a very quick heads up to our 2nd rather spontaneous coaching session in Portland Harbour.

We’re planning to make this a fairly regular event, any weekend when the planets align we’ll be hosting a day. Its well worth the effort, there can’t be many better locations for improving your skills in the UK. The one prerequisite is that you need to be a member of the WPKSC, which cost next to nothing, and you’ll also need a harbour permit, which can be purchased daily or more long term.

For any further info on these brilliant coaching days at this brilliant spot just drop us a line.With the forecast looking good and the tides favourable we contacted WPKSC secretary Mr Randall and he worked his magic, herding cats and gathering a few hopefuls together for a day of glorious kiting and coaching, and a ride or two on some of the new Cabrinha 2012 kit! The two Marks, both sorted their stances, started to scream upwind and added slide turns into the mix. Martin happily claimed the surfboard duck tack, helped along with a healthy dose of tenacity and humour.

We’ve had a lot of interest and requests about putting on an extra clinic week in Soma Bay during September as the original trip filled rather quickly. Well its now official we will be running an extra week of coaching from the 9th to the 16th of September on the heavenly flat water of Soma Bay.

However as it is rather late in the day, to get the best price we will be offering this as clinic only at £330, and ask you to sort out your own travel and accommodation arrangements at the Breakers.

We have all the info for best prices on flights (from the UK) and rooms, as there are some great deals available, so if you are keen, get in touch asap and we’ll point you in the right direction.

If you’re planning to fly in from anywhere else other than the UK, the first day of coaching will be the Saturday 10th.

For more info on the spot, the clinic and the hotel please see the other week’s page and ignore the pricing. http://www.ckperformanceclinics.co.uk/clinics/soma-bay-egypt-16th–23rd-sept/

We recently returned from the Cabrinha Distributor Meeting in Wissant France, buzzing with excitement from all the new kit which will be gracing our shores at the beginning of next month. This Tarifa of the North is certainly windy. Average kite size used was probably 5.5m, admittedly on surfboards but still…. So if you fancy a cheap windy weekend you could do a lot worse than hop on the Chunnel and check out what the other side delivers!

We’ll be adding a gallery very soon in the pics section with some high quality images, but for the moment here is digital proof of some extreme Channel slashing by 3 of the best in the business. On the left you have Mike Raper, Cabrinha Division manager, doing his utmost to impersonate Moses. In the middle you have Albi Rondina, 3rd in PKRA freestyle at the mo, potential pop star and obviously no slouch on a plank. And then last but by no means least you have the legend himself, Mr Pete Cabrinha, enjoying some front side mush and showing us all how to engage a rail.