For more news on women’s windsurfing and to find our more about FLOW – For Ladies Of Watersports follow them on Boards here. 

Ladies at the EFPT. Image credit Slackography.

Thanks to Amy Carter and Flow – For Ladies Of Windsurfing, there is a very positive feeling surrounding women’s windsurfing in the UK at the moment; we are certainly growing in force!

A few weeks ago I headed to Gwithian for the BWA event where we had 16 female competitors, which was great to be a part of! I then travelled down to Weymouth for the Queen of the Wind EFPT event. Adam Sims and Sam Burnett of XPLG decided to run a ladies competition too, securing sponsorship from Austrian clothing company ‘Femipleasure’.

In the week before the event we only had four female competitors, but some last minute facebook and email rallying, brought the number up to seven by Saturday morning. Unfortunately wind and light limitations meant a full female event couldn’t be run but we did sneak out for a cheeky expression session on Sunday, which we all came in smiling from.

Jo Wright

Jo Wright. Image credit Global Shots.

The biggest thing that struck me in the run up to and during this event, is that as a female windsurf competitor you do not need to be pulling off aerial moves; far from it. There are many ladies out there that are more than capable of giving freestyle competition a cheeky dabble, (Yes I mean you!).

So the idea behind this article is to break down some of the common misconceptions associated with female freestyle competition and talk about future opportunities to get involved in.

Firstly lets take a look at the ladies who competed at the Queen of the Wind.

The facts:

• Seven female competitors
• Aged from from 14 – 28
• Local spots including Hayling Island, Exmouth, Torpoint and Notts county.

• Occupations ranging from student to Events manger.

Danielle Lucas. Image credit Get Windsurfing.

Danielle Lucas. Image credit Get Windsurfing.

Ladies what freestyle moves are you pulling off at the moment?

Lara: Heli-tacks, downwind 360s, duck gybes, carve gybes, chop hops and seriously comedy vulcan attempts!

Alex: Chop hop, carve/duck gybes, heli-tack and body drag.

Danielle: Spock variations, grubby, switch chaco, clew first puneta, downwind 360, upwind 360, jumps, duck gybe, push tack, heli-tack.

Ina: Carve gybe, duck gybe, chop hop, tack, heli-tack (in light winds on big gear), sail 360, splits haha, switch stands, clew first, 3/4 of a downwind 360…so maybe a 240?

And what are we aiming to crack in the near future?

Ina: Proper downwind 360, backwind gybe, duck tack, forward loop, vulcan (probably further future!).

Emily: Hopefully by the end of next year I will have got the vulcan and begun trying some geckos

Julia: Downwind 360s in the straps and vulcans!

Julia Slack

Julia Slack

Why did you enter the EFPT at Weymouth?

Julia: To support the girls and to show you don’t have to be a top freestyler to enter, carving moves are enough or just trying new moves gets you points! Plus, it’s great to get on the water with more girls

Emily: It looked like a fun event and an amazing opportunity to me.

Why do you think other women should enter UK freestyle events next year?

Lara: It’s great fun, with lots of support and competing makes you push yourself and try nutty moves harder than you have done before. You meet some great people and I guarantee you will come in from your heat smiling – no matter how it went!

Alex: All the girlies are super friendly and nice. It’s a great opportunity to get some hints and tips from the others and it really will improve your windsurfing. And the parties are always really good fun…

Ina: Because I want to get to know you all! The best part about the weekend was to get to know more women who are keen on windsurfing. So now we can go for a sail together, which is great, as you normally always only meet guys at windsurf spots. I really love the atmosphere amongst all the windsurf ladies down here in the UK! Everyone is so keen to just get on the water together and have a fun time windsurfing. Competition sounds quite serious, but it really is totally relaxed and more about just meeting more girls, go for a sail together and learn from each other. So get involved!

Danielle: Freestyle is not only for boys but so many girls are put off thinking they are not good enough, freestyle to me is about messing about, trying something different; whether it’s sailing on one leg, clew first, jumping, or just carving it up, it’s about trying new stuff and having a good time.  The aerial moves are hard to achieve but it’s not impossible and by getting out and trying new stuff you can work towards it if you want to, but the carving tricks look just as cool if not better.  By getting girls out together it’s more encouraging to try new stuff, and you have others around to ask questions if you are not sure where to start or what to do next!

Lara Johnston

Lara Johnston

Biggest tip for improving your windsurfing:

Danielle: Sail with others, ask for advice when trying new skills and locations, and don’t be afraid to go and get some coaching.  Sometimes the simplest tip can change everything for the better.  Coaching helps you learn new things, it can help you to learn to self-assess your mistakes, and also gets you sailing with others who may be better than you or may be passionate to be as good as you, which can help push you and allows you to help encourage others too.

Emily: Enjoy it and get out on the water whenever you can

Ina: Always try. Ignore these (really reasonable seeming) thoughts that you could not possibly do a certain move. You don’t know until you have tried. And if you do fail you still make a step forward! Because now you know what you have done wrong so you can work on it and do it better next time.

Julia: Don’t be afraid to try something new and make the most of whatever the conditions are, every time you go out you WILL improve!

Ina Gross

Alex Powell

Emily Hall

The biggest message we all want to portray across to other female windsurfers out there is that female freestyle events are FUN, relaxed and a great way to improve. From the events I have been a part of, the ladies tend to decide how and when our heats are run (would we want it any other way!?).  Another problem that all competitors are faced with is when a job involves nine hour days, five days a week, which means it is hard to then commit to spending the whole weekend at an event. However, as my boyfriend, Josh put it very aptly: “Spending the weekend on a beach, blasted by fresh air and having a great time with lots of like minded people definitely gives you the best chance of turning up to work on Monday morning with a big smile on your face!”

Ladies at the EFPT. Image credit Josh Wilmot.

Just incase you needed any more persuasion, remember UK female windsurfing competitions are:

- Fun

- Inclusive

- Have a great social side, whether that be laughing about the days events at the pub or partying away.

- You don’t need to be pulling off lots of moves: a carve gybe and a tack will do nicely!

- They make Monday mornings much more bearable.

- And finally we can’t wait to meet you all and make women’s competitions bigger and better in 2013!

Excitingly in 2013 Sam Ross is also planning to hold some Ladies freestyle weekends aimed at getting lots of females on the water, improving their windsurfing and having a good laugh (he leads a hard life!)! So stay tuned to www.sam-ross.co.uk for more information as these weekends will provide the perfect stepping-stone to competing at an event!

I look forward to seeing you on the water and hopefully at an event soon!

Jo is sponsored by Tushingham/Starboard, Sam Ross Windsurfing and Exeter University.

If you have any questions please email jowright12@hotmail.com

For more information on the events stay tuned to www.boards.co.uk plus head on over to:

www.ukwindsurfing.com

www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

www.britishwavesailingassociation.com

www.flowatersports.com

Learning to windsurf

Unlike last year, we were not welcomed with light winds and glorious sunshine but instead heavy rain, freezing waters and howling winds, however this would not deter the ladies.

After registering in the comfort of the club house the 35 women ventured outside for a very energetic warm up with coach Lucy before hitting the water for windsurfing and SUP lessons on the lagoon, which provided a great amount of shelter from the ferocious weather.

The original plan had then been to head onto the sea for the first women’s only Blue Mile, but due to the weather this had to be postponed until a later date, which allowed the wakeboarding sessions to be brought further forwards.

All the ladies that had signed up still attended even with the less than promising forecast and stayed on the water for as long as possible, so well done ladies! It was great to see everyone from first timers to national competitors all on the water enjoying themselves.

Keeping warm and making bracelets.

In between session the ladies kept warm in the Lagoon Cafe, with hot cups of tea and yummy treats, whilst making their very own Nalu Beads bracelets under the watchful eye of Lex Balladon. I am loving my new Gwithian bead, so hope you are all loving yours too!

A big thank you also goes out to Helen of Rhomboids Massage who saved some aching shoulders after the on water work out!

The wonderful KB4Girls ladies were also around offering kiting advice for all and inspiring a few of us to get onto the water in the near future, plus the wonderful Andrina took all of the great images you see on here.

To round off the day we ran a raffle in aid of the Blue Mile WWF fund, thank you to all that bought tickets and well done to the prize winners! The biggest thank you goes to the following who provided some fantastic prizes for the well deserving ladies:

Nalu Beads http://nalubeads.com/

KB4Girls

Flymount http://www.flymount.com/

Jan Sleigh and www.k172surfshop.co.uk

Sam Ross http://www.sam-ross.co.uk/

Starboard http://www.tushingham.com/

Grasshopper Foods http://www.grasshopper-foods.com/

Nik Baker, ION Essentials and Fanatic  www.k-66.com/

Lagoon Watersports http://www.lagoon.co.uk/

All in all, it was a fantastic day, but here’s to hoping for better weather for the next event in early 2013! A final special thank you to Lucy McCormick, Helen Trehane and other other staff of Lagoon Watersports for all their hard work, plus to Lex (and John!) Balladon, Andrina and the other KB4Girls for all coming along and making the day extra special.

FLOW – For Ladies Of Watersports is a group which aims to encourage more women to get on the water and active across a variety of watersports. Started by windsurfer Amy Carter, the group initially focussed on this one sport but soon expanded and begun to work alongside other women’s watersports groups to encourage women to take part in surfing, SUP, kitesurfing and wake boarding. Find out more about FLOW at www.flowatersports.com  

More info on KB4Girls – the women’s kitesurfing group – here http://www.kb4girls.org/chapters/europe/lancing–uk.html

More info on Wide A Wake – the women’s wakeboarding group – here http://www.wide-a-wake.com/

Boards caught up with the active club to find out a little more about it’s members and what makes the club so special…

Exeter WIndsurf Club, just checking the conditions....

Exeter University windsurf club has about 100 members and is run by a dedicated committee of nine. Overall the club is split fairly equally between guys and girls, however in the last few years there has been domination by girls both socially and on the water.

Any student can sign up at the Freshers Squash. Last year we had 100 people sign up and roughly 50 active members (keen beans who come to everything).  There is a committee of nine massively enthusiastic people who a responsible for running the club. We have weekly socials varying from chilled pub sessions to mental Dawlish Dozen Trips (everyone piles on a train to Dawlish and do the 12ish pubs all dressed up as pirates then get back on the last train and go out in Exeter when we get back!)

If it’s windy…we all pile in cars at crazy early o’clock and head wherever’s looking best. Exeter has a great location as it’s close to loads of good windsurfing spots. Whether you want waves or Dahab style flat water there’s plenty of places to go for all abilities.

Exeter has had another year successfully dominating the Student Windsurf Association series especially in the female categories.  Exeter University Windsurf club won a prize in every SWA series category except for the wave series. In the British Universities Colleges Sports (BUCS) Championship women’s Beginner racing Holly Stevens was 1^st and Gemma Astbury 3^rd both from Exeter. In the women’s Intermediate individual racing Jenny Manby was 3^rd representing Exeter and in the women’s Advanced racing Kirsty O’Callaghan was 1^st, Jo Wright 2^nd and Alex Powell was 3^rd ALL from Exeter. BOOM!

The Exeter Ladies on the podium at Aussie Kiss

So who’s involved?

Name: Rachael Ince

DOB: 17/09/1990

Years windsurfing: 6 years

Windsurfing level: Advanced

Why you windsurf: Windsurfing is awesome, it’s a great way to meet new people, go to some amazing places, whilst having ridiculous amounts of fun. There is always something new to learn and it provides a continuous challenge.

It’s great that EUWC has such a huge girl presents, for me personally I think it’s one of the main reasons I got so involved, having never really had a group of girls to windsurf with before. As for the reasons there are so many of us, personally I think it’s partially luck that so many of us started at the same time. And because there are so many girls we all got so much more involved and it snowballed from there. With the great Exeter location it appeals to windsurfers, particularly advanced ones, which definitely is one of the reasons that we have such an active club.

Hitting the water

Being an instructor I’m pretty passionate about getting people into windsurfing. In general women tend to be less active than men. Windsurfing is a great way to get active, get outside and have a great time. Aside from this you meet the best people, it’s safe to say I’ve definitely met some of my best friends through windsurfing. Aside from the fact windsurfing with others is the safe thing to do, having a group of girls to windsurf with is amazing, we push each other enough so that we are always progressing but everyone is super chilled and we help each other out loads.

Name: Alex Powell

DOB: 02/06/91

Years windsurfing: 7

Windsurfing level: Advanced

Exeter Windsurf Club at the Student Nationals

Why you windsurf: For that amazing buzz which only windsurfers can understand! It’s a great way to meet lots of cool and friendly people and travel around the world. There is no age limit and I hope to be one of those grannies ripping at 70; and you can always get better and better!

I think the thought/hope of hot and tanned windsurf boys may be a small part as to why so many girls are part of the windsurf club…nahh not really (maybe a bit). The windsurf club at Exeter really is like a big family. No matter what your ability, age or hair colour everyone is accepted for who they are and welcomed with arms wide open! This friendly reputation the club is known for has been the main reason why the club has been so successful and grown so much in the past few years. Everyone is really keen to help others improve their windsurfing and this laid back attitude makes competitions seem less daunting and it encourages everyone to give it a go.

I can’t help but relate back to my previous article “When it all goes Pete Tong”  when I think about windsurfing friends.  Windsurfing with friends is great fun but at the same time essential when something goes wrong.  Windsurfers are known for looking out for each other on the water, but this can only be done when you are not alone on the water! It’s fair to say that windsurfing friends are friends for life, and the likelihood of bumping into a windsurfing friend on a windy beach the other side of the world is ridiculous. It really is a small world, especially the windsurf world.

Alex on the water

Name: Jo Wright

DOB: 29/09/91

Years windsurfing: 9

Windsurfing level: advanced

Why you windsurf: There is no other feeling quite like it, I love the continuous challenge and all the opportunities I have had as a result of windsurfing have been awesome: seasons, travelling, competing, the people, lifestyle etc

This summer I went away to Dahab to work on my freestyle, and then to Tenerife with Rach and Alex for a summer of wavesailing, which was awesome. I got rotating round forwards and really progressed my wavesailing, plus had a laugh with the girls (and Josh of course!).

Jo Wright at Aussie Kiss

Now I want to just carry on enjoying the sport, buy a van and windsurf as many spots on Cornwall and Devon as possible during my last two years at uni. Also, through my roles on both the Exeter windsurf and SWA committees next year, open up windsurfing to more students across the UK, help increase competitor numbers (especially in girls fleets) and hopefully help organise some great events.

Exams got in the way of the first two BWA events, the plan is to make the final one in Gwithian and all SWA events next year. Contemplating about getting back into the slalom and having another dable at the PWA next year too but we’ll see.

Name: Megan Davies 

DOB: 4/11/1992

Years windsurfing: 2 years on and off

Windsurfing level: beginner

Why you windsurf: Being able to travel the country, see amazing places and meet amazing people! Also uni windsurf events are awesome!

At the FLOW girls chat at Aussie Kiss

Name: Phoebe Jordan 

DOB: 06/11/1990

Years windsurfing: 5 years

Windsurfing level: intermediate

Why you windsurf: It’s demanding, exhilarating and addictive! The uni club pushes people to get on the water all year round, which is brilliant to help people progress, I used to just go in the summer and it was back to square one each time! There’s a very welcoming community, windsurfer’s are generally easy going and up for a laugh!

Name: Ali Leonard

DOB: 27/04/93

Windsurfing level: Beginner

Years windsurfing: very sporadically since year 10, so every now and again for five years.

Why you windsurf: because I love the sea and the speed is exhilarating..especially when you don’t really know what you’re doing! Plus an awesome bunch of people do the sport so you’ll always have a good time!

Intermediate session for the Exeter ladies (and guys!)

Name: Jenny Manby

DOB: 26/02/1990

Years windsurfing: 4 years on and off

Windsurfing level: Intermediate

Why you windsurf: Everything about the sport is just so much fun. It’s a great way to spend some time outdoors, come rain or shine it’s such great fun. Windsurfers are a brill bunch of people who, whether a beginner or all-time pro, are up for a laugh, wanna help you out to improve your windsurfing and are all around good eggs. An awesome way to get fit all year round, every session is different with so many different types of windsurfing to do it’s such a diverse activity for all ages and abilities

Name: Rebecca lyons

DOB: 30th November 1990

Years windsurfing: 1 and a half

Windsurfing level: Beginner

Why you windsurf: Because I was at the Exeter society fair didn’t have the foggiest clue what to do, was grabbed by the wonderful windsurfing society and signed up on the spot! It’s possibly the most frustrating yet rewarding sport ever! And it sounds quite cool to say you’re a windsurfer (probably because windsurfers are generally pretty cool people themselves!)

Name: Kirsty O’Callaghan

DOB: 26/03/92

Years windsurfing: Since I was about 4 years old!

Windsurfing level: Advanced

Why you windsurf: I love the buzz when I’m planing, windsurfing with my mates just having fun, and attempting some tricks! It is awesome no matter what level you are and there are always people happy to help. You meet some really cool people, go to some amazing places and have such a laugh.

At the Exeter Sports Awards

Name: Sarah Calascione

DOB: 17/12/1990

Years windsurfing: 3

Windsurfing level: Intermediate

Why you windsurf: The people – it is so great meeting people who have the same mindset as you, to just go out on the water, be active and have fun. Windsurfers are the friendliest, most easy-going group of people I know, and as a sport it is the most rewarding and addictive, and is fun for any ability

Name: Amy Foreman

DOB: 17/06/1992

Years Windsurfing: 7

Level: Advanced

Why you windsurf: there is always something new to learn and always someone there to teach you. Everyone is super relaxed and really approachable. Windsurfing is just generally great!

Keep up to date with the Exeter girls (and guys!) through their facebook group here.

FLOW – For Ladies Of Watersports is a group focussed on encouraging more women in watersports, check out their website here www.flowatersports.com

For more about the SWA and the upcoming Aussie Kiss event head to their website here.

The first weekend of September sees the Extreme racing series and the RS:One class racing head to Cardiff, for a brilliant display of racing alongside some incredible sailing classes. Entry is FREE and open to anyone so get involved, take a look at the full event information in the Boardseeker feature. 

At the same time, over in Christchurch many of the UK’s top course racers will be on the water battling it out in the next round of the course racing UKWA series. Event info here.

NWF Live

Of course, we all the weekend after is the big one! NWF starts on the Friday this year with an additional day of action on and off the water. Check out the full event schedule here - NWF Schedule 2012 Final Copy and full event information on the NWF website. 

The Scottish Windfest then takes place on the 22nd and 23rd of September, http://scottishwindfest.com as does some GetWindsurfing coaching at Datchet and a women’s only watersports weekend hosted by Lagoon Watersports in Hove and FLOW.

Any more events in September? Let us know what’s happening near you!

All this for £25? Women only we're afraid!

We have also teamed up with the Blue Mile, to bring you the first women’s only mile.

The Blue Mile works with WWF to raise money to protect our oceans through mile events on the water. At FLOW’s Blue Mile you can paddle, windsurf, kitesurf or swim a mile, whatever your level you will be able to take part!

For more about the Blue Mile head to http://www.thebluemile.org

On the day there will be:

Windsurf coaching for beginners through to advanced

SUP coaching for beginners through to advanced

Kitesurf coaching on the water for confident kiters, plus on land kite coaching for beginners from the fantastic KB4Girls!

Wakeboard coaching for beginners through to advanced.

The first women’s only Blue Mile event

Workshops from Nalu Beads

A raffle with incredible prizes specifically for waterwomen

A BBQ to end the day in style!

More info on www.flowatersports.com very soon plus to book head to www.lagoon.co.uk or call 01273 424842. (Booking available online from 20th August) For anything else please email amy@flowindsurfing.com and head to the Facebook event here. 

First up, Izzy Hamilton, RS:X competitor and keen promoter of women’s racing, let’s us know what she has been up to since the decision to remove windsurfing as an Olympic class.

Saturday was a big day in windsurfing history, ISAF announced to many peoples surprise that windsurfing has been removed, and kitesurfing course racing added into the 2016 Olympics. Windsurfers and kitesurfers are keen to have both classes in the games, we are after all the coolest racing classes and both are fun, fast and accessible sports relevant to millions of people globally.

Initially, my reaction to the decision was shock. I have trained and competed in windsurfing racing my for a large part of my life, I love it and I can’t imagine not racing any more. My dream of going to Rio was so real one day and non existent the next. The confidence I gained winning medals in Junior and Youth World Championships has been lost. I am however very excited at the prospect of a new challenge.

Izzy Hamilton

There is a large petition online which many thousands have already signed – Olympic Windsurfing Petition

Windsurfers have no objection to kitesurfing in the Olympics and the idea is to promote the idea of both sports to ISAF for the Olympic future. If ISAF’s main focus is the media, making the sport more diverse by adding different styles of racing has to be a good thing, to the public all the white boats look the same anyway! 

If their decision remains the same 1000’s of windsurfers, coaches and support staff loose their jobs and a lot of money. The facebook site http://www.facebook.com/groups/ISAFolympicswindsurfing/ that opened for us all to chat and learn about windsurfing and kitesurfing (14,000 members by day two) has a lot of information from various important people. Many windsurfers are learning about the “darkside” and misunderstandings and new questions regarding both sports are being evaluated, fingers crossed these will make their way back to ISAF as some very obvious flaws have been posted. 

Izzy Hamilton on the podium

The RYA pathway of Team15, Bic Techno and Youth RSX racing will loose much of its support. I followed this pathway starting T15 at my local Tamar Lake, then into National and International Racing, will the RYA fund and support all this if it is no longer feeding sailors into their Olympic pathway? I looked up to Nick and Bryony as Olympic medalists and it motivated me to continue training and racing.

I hope windsurf racing has a future outside the Olympics, for the windsurfers of the future to look up to. Many of the top PWA Freestyle, Slalom and Wave sailors previously raced the imco without the introductory platform of racing, will these classes also suffer?

My windsurfing plans are still to train with Bryony until the Olympics to help her win her medal. I will also race in Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth this summer. Between the games and November when ISAF have a chance to re evaluate and re vote on their decision I guess I will spend time learning to kitesurf and continue with some windsurfing. The future currently is a big unknown. Fingers crossed we get to go somewhere warm as learning to kitesurf in the UK could be a chilly experience!

Izzy explains her first kitesurfing experience on page two…

Go With The FLOW...

Amy Carter at For Ladies Of Windsurfing (FLOW) is proud to announce Go With The FLOW – Cape Verde Clinic with Nayra Alonso…

FLOW goes international holding their first action packed, but relaxed week for female windsurfers on the beautiful, unspoiled island of Sal, Cape Verde.

The world class breaks of Cape Verde are often misconceived as too tricky or hardcore for many, especially the ladies, however as British born CV local, Vickey Abbott can confirm the island has a lot more to offer than the most talked about break.

Sal is a great destination for water sports of all kinds. Although, thanks to its recent inclusion on the PWA wave tour, Sal is now widely known for Ponta Preta with its perfect and large cross off shore waves.

Sal also hosts a large variety of conditions from flat freeride to cross-onshore bump-and-jump / mellow waves to perfect cross-offshore waveriding of all sizes. The north-easterly trade winds kick in towards the end of September and blow until usually the 1^st of July when the doldrums creep up and the calm hot summer starts. The wind is generally fairly light averaging 15-20 knots, strongest in the months of Jan – June. Due to the diminutive size of the island all spots are within 20mins of the town allowing multiple sessions at different locations throughout the day.’

The week organised by FLOW founder, Amy Carter, and Vickey, director of Cape Verde Imports, will combine yoga, windsurfing, surfing, SUP and many other day/evening activities, making the most of all the island has to offer on and off the water.

Top PWA competitor and approachable, experienced coach Nayra Alonso will be on hand all week to offer an abundance of coaching sessions and top tips. As a highly skilled wavesailor Nayra is an excellent instructor at all levels, to make the most of both Nayra’s abilities and the fantastic range of conditions we are aiming the week at experienced female windsurfers, who are comfortable planing, waterstarting, ideally having windsurfed on the sea, wanting to build confidence in waves, and get into/improve their wavesailing. Don’t worry we are not looking for pros, we just want to make sure that all women attending will be able to make the most of the conditions, just drop us an email to discuss further.

“I am super-excited about running this clinic along with Amy and Vickey. They are both really enthusiastic water women and I am sure they are organizing a hell of a holiday for the girls that will join the clinic!!. The aim is to help girls to start getting into the waves or improve their wave sailing skills. When it comes to waves there is as much ability and technique involved as mental preparation. We would help you trying to get more comfortable on the waves and try to get your riding and jumping better, feeling confident about it and going one step farther.” Nayra Alonso

Condition dependent the trip will also include the opportunity to learn/improve your surfing and SUP skills, meaning what ever the weather we will be able to hit the water. Off the water we will relax and restore our muscles with a series of yoga sessions, giving all the opportunity to unwind before the rest of the days activities. Of course all waterwomen also love great food and drink, the odd adventure, exploring and the odd bit of shopping, all this plus more will be available, island style.

Accommodation:

Will be in the Surf Activity guest house which is situated on the east side of Santa Maria town, 200mtres from the majority of the windsurfing centres and 5mins walk from the centre of the town. The surf house is run by a very friendly Italian Windsurfer who loves to welcome people to Cape Verde for the water sports and he and his wife are always delighted to help. The atmosphere that has been created here is very friendly, hospitable and the rooms themselves are kept clean and tidy. Please check out the website www.surfactivity.it it’s in Italian but the pictures tell you all you need to know! The rooms vary but all have a double and single bed with ensuite, there is a communal kitchen with cooker/oven/fridge, freezer and a dining table and sofa area.

Clinic Details

Dates: 12th – 18th March 2012

Price: £850 – £1000 (dependent on participants and exact package) to include coaching, food, accommodation, kit rental, transfer, vehicle hire and fuel.

We are recommending a UK flight with Thomson, but can assist with flight bookings from any location.

Package is flexible and can be individually tailored to dates/needs of each participant.

Minimum windsurfing level requirements comfortable planing, able to keep upwind, waterstarting, experience of windsurfing on the sea/coping with shorebreak.

Minimum of 6, maximum of 8 places available.

The clinic will rely on a minimum of 6 women confirming their entry by no later than 1/12/2011.

Once minimum entry has been reached the clinic plans will be finalised allowing entrants to book their own flights after this date.

Please do not book your flight until we have confirmed the clinic has 6 entrants.

For further details and full booking information please email amy@flowindsurfing.com – full information will of course be online at www.flowatersports.com

FLOW poster

FLOW (For Ladies Of Watersports) and W4CR (Windsurfing 4 Cancer Research) have teamed up to  provide ‘Go with the FLOW: For Female Cancer Care’ a fun day on the water for budding to experienced waterwomen, with a whole host of exciting activities raising money for Breast Cancer Care and ovarian cancer research run by Cancer Research UK.

‘Go with the FLOW: For Female Cancer Care’ will take place on Saturday 24th September 2011, at Hove Lagoon Watersports  http://www.hovelagoon.co.uk and will include a morning yoga with waterwoman  and health guru Caroline Radway  www.fitbodyfix.com , learn to windsurf, wake board and SUP sessions from female instructors, intermediate and advanced windsurfing coaching from FLOW’s top Hunk Sam Ross  www.sam-ross.co.uk , demo equipment, music, cakes, a movie and more!

The highlight of the day is set to be the ‘Blast 4 Breast Cancer’ where all the ladies will hit the water, for a team relay race, with legs on both the lagoon and sea (condition dependent!) so ALL levels of waterwomen can take part and be in with the chance of winning some amazing prizes. You can enter as a Team of 4, or enter as an individual/pair and we will put you in touch with potential team mates. We are encouraging teams to use the Blast as a fundraising opportunity, getting your friends/family to show their support for your team through sponsorship which will be donated directly to Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK ovarian cancer projects by W4CR.  More details for team entrance and fundraising will be on www.flowatersports.com

Don’t worry guys you can be involved too! We are more than happy to welcome watermen along that support the fairer sex, you can enter and take part in many of the activities available on the day. We are keeping all coaching sessions for ladies only, however you can soak up the atmosphere, hit the water, eat cake and even enter the ‘Blast 4 Breast Cancer’, if you have a penchant for pink and a blonde wig that is!

To be part of a fantastic festival atmosphere, while learning some new skills and hanging out at the beach with a relaxed group of friendly surfer chicks simply head to www.flowatersports.com for full details and to enter. Cost of entry is £10 (for all activities and coaching excluding wakeboarding, £20 (for all activities and coaching including wakeboarding) plus a minimum donation of £10 to the registered charity W4CR.

What is FLOW?

FLOW is an organisation set up in June 2010 by former professional windsurfer, coach and personal trainer, Amy Carter. FLOW aims to unite females in windsurfing, SUP, wakeboarding, etc to share our knowledge and passion for the water, as well as pushing the message that these often male dominated sports are fantastic for women too. Online www.flowatersports.com has a vast array of articles covering health, fitness, technique, location guides, kit bag, interviews with inspirational waterwomen and the very well received Hunk of the Month, all by women, specifically for women. Offline Amy delivers watersports events and coaching, combining with her work as a personal trainer, Amy concentrates on conveying the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle, enabling women to make positive changes in lives, and increasing the opportunities for ladies to be active participants in watersports, particularly windsurfing.

Amy says: ‘Go with the FLOW: For Female Cancer Care’ has been a rough idea of mine for a few years now, and it feels fantastic that all the thoughts and planning are now coming into fruition. I really hope that as many ladies as possible will make their way to Hove for what will be a fantastic day, even if you have never set foot in the sea before, don’t worry! Everything will be provided and you will learn new, exciting sports in a safe and relaxed environment, with lots of other like minded women. I cannot wait, hope to see you there!’

What is W4CR?

FUNDING RESEARCH, SUPPORTING CANCER CARE AND EDUCATION > Windsurfing4CancerResearch (‘W4CR’) was set up as a registered Charity by windsurfer David Tuttlebee in March 2009 to increase awareness of cancer and funding research, supporting cancer care and education. Since 2009 W4CR has raised over £120,000 from fundraising charity events. The beneficiaries have been Cancer Research UK (Bowel and Skin cancer projects), Breast Cancer Care, Macmillan Cancer Care, Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign, John Hartson Foundation and other hospices.

Brian (W4CR Trustee) says: Go with the FLOW: For Female Cancer Care is a wonderful fundraising event, the beneficiaries are Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK (Ovarian cancer research project) and September 24th at Hove will be the ‘first ever’ of its kind and a great opportunity for ladies of water sports to join together and have a truly fun ‘fundraisin

Nayra Alonso

After a great weekend at NWF ( check out National Windsurfing Festival - The Write Up http://www.flowindsurfing.com/node/495 ) the next stop for the FLOW Ladies is Animal Windfest in Poole (www.animalwindfest.co.uk) where we will be running two sessions, both at 11am on Saturday 11th andSunday 12th September.

Saturday will focus on introducing women to the sport, explaining why we love it and about competition, with chats from experienced female instructors and competitors, including wave sailing super star and Animal team rider Nayra Alonso. Question and Answer sessions will follow every chat, so you have the chance to ask anything that hasn’t been covered. Add in a cuppa and chocolate brownies and you have to perfect mid morning chill out session!

Sunday will be a masterclass with Amy Carter and Nayra Alonso who will both concentrate on what is close to their hearts. Amy (a former international racer) will be giving tips on getting planing and going faster, while Nayra will cover sailing in waves and getting over the “fear factor”. We welcome all the windsurfing Ladies to come on down!

So whether you are thinking about getting on board, or into waves there will be something for you at the FLOW sessions. Most importantly it will be a great opportunity to meet other windsurfing women, chat, gossip and get to know each other.

For more about FLOW head to www.flowindsurfing.com

For more about Animal Windfest head to www.animalwindfest.co.uk

For more about Nayra Alonso head to www.nayraalonso.blogspot.com

Amy Carter

www.flowindsurfing.com provides the opportunity for women to learn and improve their windsurfing skills this summer at The Aqua Sports Company.

Following on from the article all about windsurfing at Aqua Sports in Redhill, Surrey on FLOW (www.flowindsurfing.com/node/61) the friendly windsurf centre have arranged a series of Beginner and Intermediate course packages JUST FOR LADIES available at special rates for all FLOW members!

Why not make a weekend of it? The club has BBQ and camping facilities making ideal for a weekend away with those female friends you have always wanted to get into the sport to be taught by female instructors in the relaxed company of the fairer sex….

Amy Carter

FLOW – For Ladies Of Windsurfing (www.flowindsurfing.com) – is an online information resource designed specifically for female windsurfers.

Founded by Amy Carter, the website is brimming full of stories, experiences, tips and pointers all relevant to the fairer sex within the sport. It sets a clear aim to not only encourage more females into windsurfing, but also to provide a much needed support system and a sense of community for those already enjoying the sport. Discussing the objectives of the FLOW concept, it is hard not to feel the amount of passion Amy (a distinguished racer herself) has put into the project:

“Windsurfing has always been the sport I’ve loved! After years involved in the sport I have become increasingly frustrated with the perception that you must be tough and strong to windsurf. I felt that something needed to be done to breakdown this misconception.

By providing information for women, by women, FLOW aims to create a fun, friendly ‘club atmosphere’ so that we can help each other learn, develop, enjoy and achieve together in the sport.”

Whilst much of the location information is focussed around Amy’s native UK at the moment, many of the articles and tips are relevant to women wherever they are. So whether you’re looking to crack that next manoeuvre, don’t know which kit to buy, have an article, photo or tip you want to share … or have a female friend you want to get into the sport (boys!), visit www.flowindsurfing.com and get involved.

Amy in action