Its one of the easiest competitions on the internet with one of the best prizes in the world…

Simply LIKE AND SHARE on to your profile one of the 3 competition pictures that you see here.

The Prize:

A holiday for 2 to Club Vassiliki on the 2nd June 2013, including flights, accommodation, airport transfer, the best windsurf tuition in the world, equipment hire of windsurfs, SUP’s, mountain bikes, awesome Apres Surf & loads of sunshine.

Good luck and spread the word, 2013 will also see us celebrating 25 years of perfecting the ultimate in windsurf and active holidays.

Head over to the Facebook page here

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Image credit Jay Haysey/GlobalShots.co.uk

After some great ‘summer’ wind for many the temperature now potentially looks like it may increase, however the rising temperatures may mean dropping winds, not ideal for cracking those gybes or getting into the footstraps.

Without doubt the best way to quick improvement is fairly simple, lots of hours on the water combined with a friendly coaching ear. Whilst this can be achieved in the UK the potential hours on the water increase tenfold when you head abroad.

But who can benefit the most from a windsurfing holiday? And where and why should you head away this summer?

Are you trying for the straps? Getting comfortable blasting and thinking about carve gybes? Or have you been attempting and getting round gybes for a while but want to be able to crank them round full planing?

Reading technique pieces, watching videos and listening to advice will definitely help, but it is actually getting on the water and making your muscles do the movements that will improve your windsurfing/

Image credit Jay Haysey/GlobalShots.co.uk

Getting a good planing stance is key to all of your future windsurfing. If you struggle to plane you may well be setting up your equipment a little incorrectly, standing too far back on the board or not sheeting in enough to generate the power to drive your board.

Greece and all the Greek islands provide an excellent setting if you are looking to break the footstrap or gybing barrier.

Greece is Julian’s favourite locations, he has been on regular holidays and found the level of his windsurfing has improved greatly each time:

“Before I first ventured onto a windsurfing holiday I didn’t see what all the fuss was about and thought I got on the water quite a lot in the UK anyway. I had recently got comfortable in the harness and into the front foot strap, but was struggling with the back strap and being really comfortable planing.

Image credit Jay Haysey/GlobalShots.co.uk

On my trip I met a lot of windsurfers around the same level, just being on the water with a lot of other men and women who were all practicing the same stuff made me progress! It was really great to be able to discuss things with all of them and of course we had a great instructor guiding us too. We had coaching every day, both on the land and on the water, whilst I had heard most of the pointers we were given before over the week everything actually started to sink in and my body started listening to my mind!

By the end of the week, I had managed to get into the back strap (after a few amusing crashes!) and became comfortable with steering in the straps too. This meant I had a lot more control and could understand how to make the board go where I wanted too. I had also always struggled a little with getting planing early, again thanks to my trusty instructor and some pointers on where to set my harness lines and how to use my body weight to my advantage I was planing as early as anyone else by the end of the week!

I would thoroughly recommend an intensive windsurfing holiday for anyone who has been struggling for a while to reach the next level, it really does boost your windsurfing like nothing else.”

Image credit Dave White

Find out more about the Greek destinations and what they offer: 

Vassiliki 

Limnos 

Naxos 

Kos 

Prasonisi 

Once you have got past the comfortable blasting stage and are making most of your gybes it can be easy to fall into a pattern on the water where you are having a brilliant time, but not specifically progressing in any areas. There are many potential paths your windsurfing can now take, whether it be getting into freestyle or venturing into waves, a holiday away to a full staffed destination with safety cover, new equipment and reliable conditions can be the stepping stone to a higher level. Whether it be the waves of Moulay  or Tenerife, the freestyle playgrounds of Samos in Turkey  or Lanzarote  or the varied Fuerteventura or Sardinia  there is the perfect summer destination out there for you to develop your skills.

If you don’t fancy heading abroad this summer and instead would like to stay closer to home the UK does of course have some quality holiday destinations of it’s own. The isle of Tiree  is world renowned for delivering epic windsurfing conditions all year round as is the jewel in the English wavesailing crown, Cornwall. Both can bring you hours on the water on the latest equipment with coaching that would rival any international location.

Club Vass Slalom

It was an ferocious battle to the first mark with local speedster Niko Kavvidias barging his way to the front followed closely by Ollie Scott, Colin Dixon and Scott Perry of Flying Fish. Niko sailed the perfect race to lead from start to finish, Colin and Becky made some ground and by the 3rd gybe mark had made up several places to finish in the top five.

It was a great first race of the year with lots of guests taking part and the first Club Vass guest back to the beach was Otto.

Pics by Jay Haysey/GlobalShots.co.uk

Find out more about Club Vass on Boards here, or head to their website here for all their latest holiday information.

Club Vass Slalom

Club Vass Slalom

Club Vass Slalom

Lemnos

Sportif have a new flat water and waves destination – Lemnos in the Greek Islands. Direct flights are still available for the peak holiday period and up till October from the UK and a choice of accommodation from budget self catering studios to luxury, apartments, villas and hotel accommodation. The centre has been established for 15 years and offers the latest kit rental and instruction. Families, mixed ability groups and mixed sports groups ie windsurfing and kitesurfing all have plenty of space. This is peak wind season for the Greek Islands too, so you can be sure of the weather.

Lemnos

Keros Bay is a wide, natural bay on the east side of Lemnos and extending some 4km from North to South. In the north, where the Windsurf and Kitesurf centre is based, the smooth flat water is accessible directly from the beach with cross shore winds providing a huge freeride, slalom and freestyle area. To the south are bump and jump conditions with a separate wave beach with onshore winds. The prevailing Aegean winds are from the north east, blowing steadily from now to October averaging between 15 and 27 knots most days.

The centre offers the latest equipment with all new boards from Starboard and RRD, Severne rigs, plus top quality kitesurfing equipment from RRD, Airush, Crazyfly and Slingshot.

This is a fantastic spot to learn to windsurf or kitesurf – with the shallow water, beginners and launch area right next to the centre. From here you can get directly into the full strength of the wind within minutes for super slalom conditions. At the other end of the bay, the Wave beach provides 0.5- 2.5m waves – ideal for learning to wave sail – right through to 4m in late season.

Lemnos

Find out more about Lemnos by clicking here to check out the Sportif website.  

Prices start at £399pp for self catering studios including Car Hire & direct UK flights.

4* Hotel, Villas and Apartments with pool from £549pp including Car Hire & direct UK flights set in a picturesque, traditional village. Find out more about the accommodation here. 

Sportif have just been down to check out the spot so call 01273 844919 for the latest information on Lemnos, the centre, conditions and range accommodation on offer.

Lemnos

info@sportif.travel. www.sportif.travel
With Sportif’s full ATOL bonding you have the reassurance that your arrangements are secure and your money safe.

Find out more about Sportif on Boards.

Ant Baker clinics have been going from strength to strength over the last three years and 2012 makes no exception with the addition of two exciting new venues in Moulay and Gostoso.

Ant Baker

Here’s a quick rundown:

August 10th-17th

Moulay Bouzerktoun, Morocco – NEW!

The definitive looping clinic with perfect side-shore conditions with perfectly formed ramps, there are few places more suited tp mastering the forward loop. Set in peaceful rustic surroundings, Moulay Bouzerktoun offers little distraction whilst you focus on giving your windsurfing the boost it deserves!

 Full details are here on Ant’s Oceansoure page

From £845 pp

(includes coaching, rental, transfers and half-board accommodation)

——-

September 9th-16th

Habibi Beach, Egypt

Ant Baker returns to the Windhaven Hotel at Habibi Beach, Egypt, for a week of intensive wave technique coaching. If you’re looking to get into wave sailing, want to get into jumping or even looping then this is not to be missed.

Full details are here on Ant’s Oceansoure page

From £579 pp

(includes coaching, equipment storage, transfers and half-board accommodation)

——-

November 17th-24th

Gostoso, Brazil – NEW!

Sample one of the newest windsurfing spots on earth, Sao Miguel do Gostoso, this autumn with Ant Baker from the Baker Academy. Incredibly reliable winds grace these shores so if you’re looking to get the most from a windsurf coaching/holiday combination, then this freewave paradise is the venue for you!

Full details are here on Ant’s Oceansoure page

From £857 pp

(includes coaching, rental, transfers and half-board accommodation)

——-

BONUS – All bookings receive a complimentary two hour 1:1 session (UK only)

Contact bookings@oceansource.net or call +44 (0)1243 374615

Find out more from Ant Baker, including his successful technique series, here on Boards. 

If you love (or would like to try) windsurfing, kitesurfing, surfing, SUP, sailing, kayaking and mountain biking all during one week away – Cabarete is offering all this and much more! The WEPA Cabarete is a big sport event that will take place from 28 May to 02 June 2012. WEPA stands for Wind Energy Playa Ambience which the event organizers say Cabarete is all about. It is a non-profit event and been organised by the various sports operators to showcase Cabarete as a top destination for windsurfing and other sports.

Sportif Cabarete

As well as fun competitions in all the sports open days at all windsurf centers (with free equipment testing), and free taster courses and clinics for SUP. In the morning you can take part in SUP wave riding, excursions and races. Parties have been organized in different bars with happy hours, DJs and live music.

Registration for the event is only possible on site – 150 US dollars for the week. For more  information see www.wepacabarete.com

To help with your travel arrangements Sportif have put together these offers:

SPORTIF Cabarete

SPORTIF TRAVEL OFFERS:  
La Punta 1 bed apartment 14 nights self catering from £759pp Dep 23 May – 06 June
4* Valero Beach Resort  14 nights standard sea view BB from £999pp Dep 23 May – 06 June
Prices include return flights, twin share accommodation and transfers in resort. Prices subject to availability.

SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RENTAL RATES:
WINDSURF Board Rental 1 week £130, 2 weeks £195 – when booked in conjunction with accommodation packages.

Sportif www.sportif.travel Tel: 01273 844919

Jamie Drummond. Photo: Jona Bahr

Fresh from competing in the bizarre weather conditions offered up by the weather gods for the PWA Podersdorf freestyle event, Jamie Drummond (K-787) is now based with Ocean Elements in Vassiliki Bay. His next comp is at Milos Beach, which is just on the other side of Lefkas from Vass, so it’s a nice short haul this time.

Ocean Elements offer single and multi-activity holidays in Vassiliki, and have some cracking deals this summer. Holidays including flights, accommodation and a whole bunch of activities from windsurfing to mountain biking can be had for as low as £359! The RYA accredited watersports centre based at the beachfront Surf Hotel also offers free tuition from beginner through to advanced. As well as passing his expert knowledge onto Ocean Elements’ guests, Jamie is also available for private tuition, from beachstarts to flakas and beyond!

More from Ocean Elements at www.ocean-elements.co.uk