Brian Darby enjoying a razz on my Ezzy Cheetah 6.5 (new freeride sail) and RRD FireMove 110

Greetings from a windy Marvelous Marsa Alam, Egypt as I finish my first week of 2 coaching clinics. I am just getting in touch to highlight the fact that my next feature of my technique series, the Moves that Matter, on the Boards Mag site, is now out, so please check out my video feature on Frontside Waveriding should you so wish.

Jem and his Marvelous Marsa Alam group

Looking forward to catching up with many of you on clinics this year or around the beaches of the UK.

Spring is here and the clocks go back soon – hurrah. Had a fab sail back on Wednesday March 7th, down at West Wittering, and the water is warming up nicely as I enjoyed a rather rainy session on 4.5 and RRD Cult Quad 83 in chest high waves and plenty of that windy stuff.

Enjoy,
Jem

Head over to www.jemhall.com for more and be sure to check out his next available clinics in Rhodes by clicking here. Don’t miss out!

LAST SPACES FOR SPORTIF MARSA ALAM CLINICS – RED SEA

Simon Bornhoft and Jem Hall almost full for their clinics in the amazing venue of Marsa Alam in the southern Red Sea.
Both went for the first time last year and reported the following:

“We’ve just had a great trip to Marsa Alam, out first visit to this new Egyptian venue. I’ve been to Egypt in September for over 20 years so it’s a very pleasant surprise to discover somewhere new and highly recommendable. The response from the clients has been very positive. The early morning winds have given us planing conditions on all but 3 days of a 14 day trip. Plus there’s the added bonus of surprisingly great food, quick service, clean rooms and everything working – which often eludes many Egyptian Hotels. Table flat water on the inside for carving turns and rolling swell out the back, it ticks a lot of boxes.” Simon Bornhoft – Sept 2011.

“Windsurfing in Egypt at its best – Marsa Alam is the ideal intermediate / Advanced windsurfing spot. The progressive change in water states really give you the opportunity to improve and ready you for coastal sailing. Super sweet carving inside, gybing off the swell out the back and throw in some jumps on the way – you can’t beat it. The staff in the hotel are really friendly and the food is fab and the vibe in the centre is very chilled with often only the clinic group and 5 other sailors enjoying the warmer winds and water of the southern Red Sea. See you there …… Jem Hall.’
Simon Bornhoft ‘Freeride’ Clinic   Essentials to Advanced
23 February – 01 March 2012 Last 2 spaces

Min Level: Provided you can use a harness and plane, you will be able to join the group. The levels and abilities will then be split into smaller groups, so that specific topics can be covered to suit your requirements.

Flights, Hotel Half Board, Transfers & SB Windwise Clinic Experience £1049pp
1 week Club Mistral Board Hire £199 pp
Single room supplement £79 per week
All inclusive option £59 pp per week
Land only price EXCLUDING flights – £695pp

Jem Hall ‘Performance Boost’ Clinic   Intermediate-Advanced
08 – 15 March 2012 Last 3 spaces
15-22 March 2012 Last 1 spaces
Min Level: In the footstraps or as near as, be making some waterstarts and looking to carve gybe. All moves can be worked on for the advanced riders.
Flights, Hotel Half Board, Transfers & Jem Hall performance boost clinic £1095pp
1 week Club Mistral Board Hire £199 pp
Single room supplement £79 per week
All inclusive option £59 pp per week
Land only price EXCLUDING flights – £695pp

For more details see www.sportif.travel/coaches/list .
To book your place call Sportif on +44(0)1273 844919 or email info@sportif.travel

Mauritius Paradise

LAST MINUTE SPECIALS FOR XMAS & NEW YEAR FROM SPORTIF
There’s still some availability for last minute getaways.
Or if you prefer to getaway for Christmas or New Year – here are Sportif’s best offers, but you ‘ll need to book by this Friday 23rd Dec.

Mauritius for Christmas – 4* Indian Resort, Mauritius
7 nights ALL INCLUSIVE inc flights & transfers Depart 24 Dec 2011 £1695 (£200 OFF!)
1 week Club Mistral Board Hire £199. 10 hours windsurf course £179
BOOK BY 23 DEC 2011

Red Sea for New Year
3* PLUS Shams Alam Marsa Alam, Red Sea 7 nights Half Board inc flights & transfers INCLUDING New Year Gala Dinner
Depart 29 Dec 2011 £599 (£250 OFF!) BOOK BY 23 DEC 2011
1 week Club Mistral Board Hire £199

More last minute holidays available from £399pp (SAVE £200) for 7 nights ALL INCLUSIVE departing 13 January including return flights, AI hotel accommodation and transfers.

See www.sportif.travel or call 01273 844919 for latest availability.

Jem in Marsa Alam

Jem Hall’s 2011 coaching clinics are selling fast and for all venues and your next chance for a performance boost is in the less crowded waters of Marsa Alam, Egypt in March, featured in a travel article in the November issue. The big bald maestro is ready to get you jumping and pointing Higher, early planing, blasting, gybing and riding Faster, and make your all round sailing, tacking and wind range far far Stronger.

Kicking off 2011 with his new venue of Marsa Alam, Egypt in March is a great way to break up the Winter, welcome in Spring and get tuned up for your season at home.

Prasonisi, Rhodes in June and September is also open for bookings NOW and is in high demand.

June 13^th is Intermediates, June 20^th is for Advanced and June 27^th and Sept 12^th is mixed ability for Intermediates & Advanced

The warm and reliable Meltemi winds, and a choice of flat water or onshore wavesailing, will enable you to enjoy both an awesome holiday and allow Jem to move your sailing forward and get you ripping in blasting, gybing, tacking, jumping, styling and looping. He is widely renowned as the coach that will find the key to unlock your potential and his passion and enthusiasm is infectious.

Jem’s inimitable coaching style will see your level of sailing making a serious improvement. International bookings are increasing every year and are very welcome. Book with Sportif Holidays on 0044 (0)1273 844919, info@sportif.travel

More info on www.jemhall.com or email jem@jemhall.com to discuss your needs, ability and a suitable venue.

BOARDS 279 – November 2011

Contents 279 – NOVEMBER 2011. Covershot: 2011 PWA World Wave Champion, Philip Koster, by Jerome Houyvet.

features

SOUTH PACIFIC – PLAN B

The inimitable Scott McKercher finds himself stranded in wavesailing paradise – without his wavesailing kit. At times such as these, a windsurfer needs a plan B…

TESTED – 4.7m ALL-ROUND WAVE SAILS

Following last month’s 5.3 power wave sail test, the Clones put the latest 5-batten all-rounders through a punishing routine to find out what improvements have been made since last year…

PWA KLITMØLLER

Ed Sinclair reports from Denmark, which delivered an action packed event in the most ferocious conditions seen on the PWA Wave Tour in 2011 – and a new World Champion…

SCOTTISH WINDSURFING FESTIVAL

Dave White brings us news that Windfest fever continues to spread throughout the country, with the latest outbreak reaching as far north as Scotland…

A DAY IN THE LIFE – MARCILIO BROWNE

Ever wondered what it must be like to throw off the shackles of the 9 to 5, to spend every day on the water, to live the life – to maybe even make a living out of windsurfing? Read on and weep…

SWA – TEN YEARS AFTER

The Student Windsurfing Association set out just a little over 10 years ago on a mission to promote student windsurfing in the UK. To date they look to have made a superb job of it, but how did it all start?

MARVELLOUS MARSA

Whether you seek flat water, tranquil, crystal-clear lagoons or an outer reef to play on, Marsa Alam has it all. Jem Hall shares his clients’ and his own insights into Marsa’s marvels…

TIREE WAVE CLASSIC 25

“Each of the 25 Wave Classics have been very different, but collectively they all come under one simple adjective: LEGENDARY!” George Shillito reports from the UK’s longest running and most prestigious wavesailing competition…

regulars

DROPPING IN

PICTURE DESK

NEWS

FULLER’S WAY

SB WINDWISE

WANNABE A WAVESAILOR

POND LIFE

READERS’ PIX

NEXT ISSUE

Jem Hall and his performance enhanced clients

Jem Hall has already had such a high volume of bookings for his 2012 performance boosting clinics that he has been asked to release his 2012 itinerary, for spring and summer, early. His coaching weeks sell out quickly thanks to his repeat business and his reputation to give you both a fantastic holiday and ensure that you improve more in one week than you would in an entire season by yourself.

The venues and timings he chooses ensure you have the best conditions on offer. 2012 kicks off with Marsa Alam, Egypt, in March. Jem then hits Moulay, Morrocco, in May, for the waveheads. Followed by Prasonisi, Rhodes, in June and September, for all levels, and PSC, Baja, in August for pure ‘down-the-line’ waveriding joy.

Jem’s inimitable coaching style unlocks your potential as he assists you to take charge of your progression both during the coaching clinic and on your return, which will get you the results he is highly renowned for. More info www.jemhall.com

Marsa Alam freestyle

For some last minute offers check out the latest from Sportif. Flights are limited so when they’re gone, they’re gone!

3Plus* Shams Alam Resort, Marsa Alam – Red Sea

7 nights half Board in beautiful unspoilt national park of Marsa Alam in the southern Red Sea. If you like quiet and getaway from it all places this is for you. This friendly hotel offers a relaxed hotel with spacious rooms, pool, onsite diving centre and house reef for snorkelling and spacious Club Mistral Centre right next to the hotel. The sailing offers flat water close to shore and nice swell on the outside. Click here for the latest reviews on the BOARDS forum

Dep Gatwick 17Aug11 WAS £799 NOW £699pp (£100 OFF!)

Dep Manchester 01Sep11 WAS £699 NOW £599pp (£100 OFF!)

Dep Gatwick 26Oct11 WAS £699 NOW £649pp (£50 OFF!)

1 week Club Mistral windsurf board hire £199pp.

All Inclusive Supplement £69 per week

Single Room Supplement £79 per week

Book By 15 August 2011

Prices include return flights, transfers and hotel accommodation on twin share, half board basis. All travel fully ATOL protected.

Jem Hall clinic

Just Announced: New 2012 Jem Hall Clinics

Marsa Alam, Red Sea 08-15 & 15-22 March 2012

Ultimate Spring tune up PERFORMANCE BOOST ON SALE NOW! The 2^nd week is already full so sign up straight away if you want to go!

**EARLY BOOKING OFFER : £50 OFF PER PERSON IF BOOKED BEFORE 31AUG11**

Move on up in waterstarts, gybes, tacks, freestyle and jumps according to your ability level of the clinic. Enhance your early planing and get blasting at full speed. Enjoy half board accommodation at Shams Alam beach resort hotel and a fully equipped Club Mistral Centre.

For details of more offers and 2012 clinics call 01273 844919 or see online www.sportif.travel

Jem Hall, grooveriding legend!

BOARDS technique maestro Jem Hall has a few last places left on his clinic to Marvelous Marsa Alam in Egypt on March 16th and 23rd. Plane earlier, sail faster, tack like a demon and gybe like a legend whilst having a fab holiday in warm water and sweet sunshine. Lets Jem’s world class coaching and huge enthusiasm be the guide to help you step up to the next level.

Check out www.jemhall.com and book with Sportif on +44 (0)1273 844919 / info@sportif.travel

Jem, hard at work...

As Jem Hall contemplates a more settled married future to the lovely Sophie he has been asked to bring forward details of his 2011 coaching clinic offerings as the majority of his 2010 sessions sold out both early and quickly. Jem kicks off 2011 with his new venue of Marsa Alam, Egypt which has already received great feedback and been both suggested and its virtues extolled up by his band of traveling clients.

Around 1 hour from the new airport at Marsa Alam, this superb untouched area has to be seen to be believed. Set among the Wadi Gamal National Park it is a great windsurfing spot with constant sideshore wind from the left. A lagoon with shallow water on the inside offers ideal conditions for windsurfers of all levels to crack tacks, gybes and other stunts and both Intermediates and experts will also enjoy the bumpier waters out the back. With the lack of crowds and plenty of space, it’s been described as being like ‘Dahab 20 years ago’. This is a fantastic place to windsurf for sailors of all levels and the Club Mistral centre will ensure you are well looked after and have plenty of toys.

The hotel is very plush and is a blend of modern and traditional architecture with large spacious rooms, all air-conditioned and has a cool, relaxed atmosphere even on the hottest of days. The venue is also highly acclaimed as a diving & snorkelling paradise.

The dates are March 16th for Intermediates and March 23rd for Advanced Intermediates and Advanced sailors. More info will be available on www.jemhall.com

Your last chance for a ‘performance boost’ in 2010 is Mauritius in September for flat water and waves in a stunning location with world class sailing.

Overseas and land based packages are available on request and for bookings contact SPORTIF ON +44 (0)1273 844919 / info@sportif.travel