Been an interesting month here in the UK. Without wanting to obsess about the weather we’ve had the wettest April/May in 100 years. As if that wasn’t enough when it’s been windy one hasn’t seen the thermometer needle rise to or above the 10 degree mark, brrrr. That said it must be summer as the postman is wearing shorts, the tennis courts are full of an evening and we have a hosepipe ban – all mad as cheese.

So our contribution to bringing some semblance of normality back to summer is the next edition of our Quick Tips. Part 4 takes you through the divine Back Loop to Blind. Cheeky but achievable. Let us know how you get on…

C & K Quick Tips-Back 2 Blind QTs

Part 4 in Christian and Karine's Quick Tips on blind, the back loop to blind.

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What can we say, every year we troop out to Sal, and it’s always a splendid mixture of wind, waves, turtles, amazing colours and progress in real world conditions. This year as an added bonus we had a few days of Sahara sand storms, which fortunately didn’t affect the wind, but perhaps gave us some extra protection from the sun. The wind pumped through 5 from 6 days and the waves at kite beach were on the lary side, a near perfect combo.

So for a brief outline of everyone’s achievements. After a lengthy break from kiting Bridget claimed the spot as hers, unfazed by the waves and in the process reignited her passion for kiting, with some memorable if unintentional flight from the kickers. The entire group went strapless mad, with a very civilised approach from the twin tippers to sharing the Cabrinha surfboards that we brought along for them dabble with.There was a lot of fancy foot work and carving, with Stokesy claiming gybes as well as all things kite loop and down loop on his trusty twin tip. Rowan progressed to some applaudable backside riding, and also got his twinkle toes dancing with the gybe, in short shredding. Neil claimed some mighty air, adored the 2012 Switchblade and also got the Trigger carving rather well onto the waves! Ed went from wanting to be comfortable, to boosting airs and slamming under turns with reckless abandon. Darcy mixed it all up with plenty of down the line carving and some very rad looking kite loops. James, making it all the way from Australia, flew upwind, sorted his jumps, styled his toe side and got rather friendly with a certain 5’6 Skillit. Steve was going off, claiming the chair of air with some impressive boosts, floaty air gybes and some mighty front loops, oh yes and some blind. Luis swapped his skis for some kite kit and walked away with jumps, underturns, and mighty carves, all powered, and another who never missed an opportunity to grab the surfboard, a new addiction ignited. Raf dazzled with his hit rate of tacks and frontside riding on his “Bad” foot, trying a few airs on the way out too, and still found time to pop out and impress on a twin tip.

We have a series of technique videos that we’re putting together for the Cabrinha website. It’s not quite a clinic, but the idea is to keep it simple with a bit of talking, emphasis on the key points, common mistakes and plenty of repetition and slow mo, so you can remember what you need just before hitting the water and claiming it. The first series is on all things blind, and to give you a taste here’s the much loved Raley to Blind.

C&K Quick Tip -Raley 2 Blind

Quick Tips - How to Raley to Blind by Christian and Karine, CKperformance clinics

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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/