Winter Surfing brings the Biggest Waves

Winter weather need not be a bad thing. It keeps plenty of people inside, giving us the much needed freedom to roll out and enjoy the empty city spaces and lonely mist-covered beaches.

But for surfers, it’s time to see how big they can go. read more

The Olympics Needs You!

Pierre de Coubertin helped launch the modern Olympic movement. And with one sentence set the frame for everything the Olympics stands for:

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.”

It’s the taking part bit that really resonates.

With the 2012 London Olympics just around the bend; isn’t it time we got involved? UK seems stuck in a pre-Christmas lethargy. Winter nights have drawn in, gym membership is on the up and the Olympic vision seems a little clouded at the moment…

In the adventure sports world we don’t care so much about medals, it’s the taking part that counts. But that’s easy for us to say: What we should be doing is reaching out through sport (cringe) bringing it to people who don’t do enough of it (not so cringe) and getting people off their arses by making sport accessible, inclusive and lots of fun. read more

Top 10 Christmas Getaways

If staying at home is really not an option this year, then we’ve got the Top Ten Christmas getaways for you!

Now, just because you’re abroad, doesn’t mean that Christmas goes on holiday; there’s plenty of destinations that really go all out for the traditional celebrations.

As much as family feasting is tempting, there’s a whole world out there and it’s waiting for you. So, why not have a Christmas with a difference, throw caution to the wind and get away for a change?

Here’s the best Christmassy Xmas destinations, followed by the top spots where you can leave the reindeer and the elves far behind. read more

Lewis Crathern: The Kitesurfer Who Jumped Brighton Pier

If you haven’t seen the footage yet, kitesurfer Lewis Crathern jumped Brighton Pier! We just had to interview him.

Here it is, exclusive to us, enjoy!

Q: Brighton Pier: Did you know it was on, or did you decide when you got on the water?

A: I knew it was on by the forecast; it just had to match it up in reality, which it did in the end.

Q: With a good kite and a strong wind, is there a limit to how high you can go?

A: No, there isn’t really any limit of how high you can go. That’s what I like about it. That’s what keeps you out after three hours on the water, the possibility you could go higher…

Q: Wind, kites and energy, is there more to kitesurfing than the sport?

A: It’s more then a sport. It’s a permanent connection to the elements, you can only do it when the weather is right – something most extreme sports share. Kitesurfing is the green sport of the 20th century.

Q: It’s a solo sport. So how do you explain kitesurfing in your educational work?

A: Kitesurfing is one of the most obvious ways to show the potential of wind energy especially to kids. It’s very exciting so it grabs their attention allowing you to deliver some equally important messages, like keeping fit, staying healthy and thinking about ways of being eco-friendly.

Q: Which are your top three kitesurfing spots?

A: Worthing/ Worthing and WORTHING!!!

Q: And last of all: Any advice to people new to the sport, looking for big air?

A: Take your time; learn in lighter winds and deep enough water. Key points in getting air “Wham it back full speed for a Biggy!”

Check out a video of Lewis jumping Brighton Pier here.

For more information on Lewis’ educational work and to check out his great site, check out http://www.windmachine.biz/

Full credit is also due to Martyn Wells for the images

We’ve kitesurfing holidays all over the world, check them out!

Kitesurfer jumps Brighton Pier

Lewis uses kitesurfing to help educate young people to the importance of sustainable energy and healthy lifestyles. That’s ‘healthy’, not ‘safe’, because as you will see from the clip below, this guy takes some big risks.

We’ve just interviewed him, so watch out for the chat coming soon to this page. In the meantime, check this…

Is London really the world’s best destination?

Not for adventure sports it’s not! Reading that the UK capital just won the prestigious World Travel Awards Leading Destination 2010 got me thinking: Who exactly is it the best destination for? Just how can you ever have a ‘World’s Leading Destination’?

For lovers of history, monarchy or fashion, you could have a world’s most historic, regal or fashionable destination. But you just can’t bulk it together like this and expect it to represent or reflect anything – adventure sports fans in UK love London, but more for its connections than its challenges.

London’s hidden strength is its location, because anywhere in the British Isles is within reach.

But as with every metropolis, there’s rarely any way to get really adventurous without leaving it behind. Think about it: does anyone visit London for its adventure sports? Well, not if they enjoy the great outdoors kind of sports that we specialise in. read more

The World’s Best Mountainbiking Destinations

Mountain bikes go where other cycles would never dare. Identified by knobbly tires and enhanced frames – some even have suspension set-ups befitting of a 4×4 – these machines are made ready for a ride on the wild side.

Straight off the road and onto a nearby track, you’ll soon notice the extra grip and feel the suspension compressing into the divots and drops.
But for real challenges, it’s likely you’ll have to look farther afield. So when the local field loses its appeal, just where can you head to get the really rough stuff and the most from your bike? read more