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Action at Barassie Beach, by Richard Whitson

TROON, UK: On Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th of September 2011, the biggest wind and watersports festival ever held in Scotland takes place at Barassie Beach, Troon, on the West Coast of Scotland.

The Scottish Windfest is a grass-roots festival, organised by local enthusiasts. However, with over 200 participants and thousands of spectators expected, there are few events taking place in Scotland that will match the visual spectacle created by the Scottish Windfest.

Many of the UK’s top wind sports stars will be in attendance, including Scotland’s own Holly Kennedy, 20, ranked 5th on the PKRA World Freestyle Kitesurfing Tour and England’s Adam Sims, the top ranked sailor on the UKWA Freestyle Windsurfing Tour.

However, the Scottish Windfest is about much more than just elite riders, with plenty on offer for wind and watersports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.

Even complete beginners are well catered for with a unique programme of hour-long taster sessions available in a range of exciting wind and watersports: windsurfing, kite flying (precursor to kitesurfing), stand-up paddling, sailing, blo-karting and Kayaking. For the truly adventurous, all six sports can be sampled for just £20 / £16 (under 18s) with individual taster sessions costing just £7 / £5 (under 18s).

For online booking, visit www.scottishwindfest.com

For those happier to remain on dry land, there is a family funfair, Segway hire, climbing wall, laser quest and a range of trade and retail stands, along with representatives from the RYA Scotland, RNLI and HM Coastguard.

So the message is simple: If you want an action-packed family weekend, head to Troon on the 17 & 18th of September!

Francisco Goya and the SX Watersports crew at Chalkwell

Michael Goldfinch of SX Watersports reports from Francisco Goya’s visit to Essex on Saturday 9 July 2011…

The only way was SX!

What more could you want from a Goya demo day than the actual Francisco Goya himself joining us at Chalkwell beach last Saturday. Showing us the latest in Goya 2012 Sails and allowed the locals full use of the current 2011 boards and sails.

The demo started off with everyone on the water planing with 5/6 metre sails. Every board and sail got used and was well liked. We also had Aleksy and Megan Gayda trying out the quad boards and the new 2012 Banzai sail. It is a four-batten wave sail that is set to be a very different sail to all the rest on the market. It is super-light, manoeuvrable and so powerful. Aleksy was fully powered on a whole square metre less than others on the water. Aleksy was pulling off forwards and nailed his first duck tack. The Banzai only goes up to 4.9 but should be enough to get going in 15 to 20 knots.

What with the BBQ and great company the day could not get any better until Francisco finished the demo by getting on his board and showing us why he was once world champion. But if that was not enough Francisco then became lifeguard for one of the guys who got stuck 200 metres from shore. After swimming to his rescue Francisco then spent 30 minutes in the water teaching him how to waterstart.

We would also like to thank the guys from Zero Gravity for a 6 hour round trip to bring the nicest guy in windsurfing to SX Watersports.

More photos of the day can be seen on our Facebook site (Sxwatersports Essex) www.sxwatersports.com

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A beginner course at Lagoon Watersports

Lagoon Watersports have confirmed that they are supporting this year’s Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival again and that they will have a strong presence at what is billed as ‘Europe’s biggest free water sports festival’ on 2-3 July 2011.

The Lagoon Watersports team will have a stand on Hove Lawns offering professional advice about anything water sports related and they will also give you the opportunity to try windsurfing and yacht sailing at the event. The taster sessions are aimed at beginners and cost £5 with all monies going to the nominated Paddle Round The Pier charities The RNLI, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Surf Relief. Go to www.lagoon.co.uk to secure your slot now or visit the Lagoon Watersports stand at Paddle Round The Pier. These sessions are very popular, it is strongly advised to book in advance.

As a further incentive to not just get you out on the water but to contribute more funds to the worthwhile Paddle Round The Pier charities Lagoon Watersports are also offering a 5% discount on any water sports courses booked online from 1-8 July, with an additional 5% donated to the charities. In order to be eligible for your discount you have to book online and quote ‘PADDLE’.

Lagoon Watersports will also be present at the 2011 Take Part International Festival of Sport Launch Day which takes place on Saturday 25 June 2011 in Preston Park, Brighton. As part of the festival they will be offering all-inclusive windsurfing, sailing and wakeboarding sessions for kids and adults at Hove Lagoon for just £10. Bookings are required, please go to www.lagoon.co.uk .

For more information about Lagoon Watersports, Kids Multi Activity Weeks, courses on offer and membership options please visit www.lagoon.co.uk , like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/LagoonWatersports or call 01273 42 48 42.

Lagoon Watersports

Twenty four school children from Brighton and Hove have been lucky enough to learn to windsurf this Autumn term in a joint partnership between Lagoon Watersports and Sport Unlimited. The children had to pay just £10 to be able to take part in the sessions in which they all achieved there RYA Youth L1. The children learnt in a wide variety of weather conditions including gale force winds and driving rain but with the final session taking place in a lovely breeze and some perfect Autumn sunshine!

Mark Saul RYA Onboard development officer secured the funding earlier in the summer through Active Sussex. Sport Unlimited is a nationwide initiative aiming to get more children and young people taking part in sport and physical activity, outside of school. Government funding is cascaded from Sport England to local communities via the County Sports Partnerships network.

Mark commented ‘Windsurfing is a cool and enjoyable sport and it is also much easier to learn than a lot of people think. Funding like this works well with watersports and as soon as the kids get on the water they are on a completely level playing field! It doesn’t matter how fast they can run its not going to help them out there! We often find that non-sporty kids find a completely new way of enjoying sport by getting involved in sailing and windsurfing – It is awesome to be part of it!

At the end of the sessions all the students will have the opportunity to attend the regular T15 sessions which run at Lagoon Watersports every Sunday, they may even get the opportunity to race in the 2011 season.

For more information on Kids courses at Hove Lagoon visit www.lagoon.co.uk