Kiteboarding Photography: How to take great pictures when you are solo

Mark Pawlak    Kite Gear, kiteboardingholidays     kiteboarding, kiteboarding gear, kiteboarding holidays, Kiteboarding Photography, kitesurfing, Soloshot

We’ve all seen the amazing kiteboarding photography that’s in every magazine, on every web page and all over social media. It’s all so ‘pro’ that it’s hard to replicate.

What if you could take this picture of yourself? Image: Flickr/ Stig Nygaard

Using the now standard GoPro set up is great, but there’s only so many angles/ places you can tie one, and if you are solo and want to pull together a movie, at some point you’ll need a second hand.

That is unless you’ve a Soloshot…

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Five reasons to get excited about autumn

Lucy Grewcock    ash     Biking, Board Sports, Brecon Beacons, cornwall, Devon, Hiking, kitesurfing, Lake District, mountain biking, National Windsurf Festival, Peak District, Sailing, UK, Water Sports Holidays, Watergate Bay, Weymouth Speed Week, Windsurfing

As autumn starts to set in and most of the population bemoan the shorter days and cooler weather, outdoor enthusiasts are rejoicing as the adventure sports world comes into its own.

The best chance of warm waters and weather. Image: Flickr/ david.nikonvscanon

In many sports hot weather is far from the ideal weather. While it’s great to have clear skies and dry days, often the heat on your back and the buckets of sweat just get in the way.

Here are five reasons why we’re excited about autumn – and will be out there making the most of every day. See you there!

Better waves

Autumn in the UK is prime-time for board sports and especially for surfers. Swells are bigger and more regular, beaches are less crowded and, with air temperatures still fairly mild, autumn welcomes the best surf conditions of the year.

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National Watersports Festival on this Weekend

Tez Plavenieks    windsurfingholidays     Europe, Hampshire, hayling island, kitesurfing, National Watersports Festival, Night Windsurfing, NWF, Standup Paddle Boarding, SUP, UK, Windsurfer, Windsurfing

The National Watersports Festival (NWF) opens its doors on Hayling Island, Hampshire, this weekend and the birthplace of windsurfing will be the place to be!

The National Watersports Festival is coming. Image: Flickr/ cookipediachef

This annual get together kicks off on Friday 7 September and runs all the way until the evening of Sunday 9 September ensuring a full weekend of fun and salt water.

In years past the festival has celebrated masterblaster windsurfing – masterblaster being the term used for an in and out style race that is popular with amateurs and pro’s alike. The successful format once again sees organiser and enthusiast Allan Cross at the helm.

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All that Glitters: Why Extreme Sports have no place in the Olympics

Mark Pawlak    ash     Adventure Sports, Brazil, extreme sports, kitesurfing, olympics, Olympics 2012, water sports

Watching the Olympics one thing was clear – there’s no connection between the Games and what are known as ‘extreme sports’, and clearly the two should never mix…

Olympic Rings Image Flickr: ToNy

Recently there’s been an unprecedented rise in popularity, with people and brands loving these edgy and unconventional sports.

Yet, extreme sports are rarely about ‘executing a four year plan’, nor are they always role model production lines. And they are about searching for something more valuable than gold…

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KSP World Tour: Mauritius Preview

Mark Moore    kiteboardingholidays     Africa, Airton Cozzolino, cape verde, Guincho Beach, Keahi De Aboitiz, kitesurfers, kitesurfing, KSP, KSP World Tour, Madagascar, mauritius, Mauritius 2012, Ninja Bichler, Portugal

The second of four KSP world tour stops is about to drop from September 7-16, 2012. The KSP is the kitesurfing pro world tour that is dedicated to pitting the world’s premiere kitesurfers in the world’s premiere windy waves.

Mauritius One Eye Pro 2011. Image: kspworldtour.com

This is the only repeat event from last season. Last year, the tour saw epic conditions at this stop, with consistent wind and waves in the 8-18 foot range. Some of the pictures that were taken last year at this event are nothing short of unreal!

Reigning world champion, Airton Cozzolino from the African island of Cape Verde is back to defend his title. On the girl’s side, local hero and 2011 champion, Ninja Bichler will be back to charge her home break. But what of Mauritius? And what’s in store for the KSP Tour!

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Kitesurfing North Carolina: Where’s the wind at?

Tom Sykes    kiteboardingholidays     Cape Hatteras, Emerald Isle Vacation Rentals, Esmerald Isle, Janeiro, kiteboarding holidays, kitesurfing, Kitesurfing Destination, Kitesurfing Trip, North Carolina, Outer Banks, Outer Banks Vacation Rentals, Vacation Rentals

As a kitesurfing destination, North Carolina has a lot going for it. Its 301 mile coastline offers smooth, shallow waters, perfect winds and plenty of power zones.

Perfect winds and plenty of power zones. Image: Flickr/ Dan Zen

REAL Watersports in Cape Hatteras was the first company ever to teach people how to kitesurf. There are now dozens of first-rate training schools, suppliers and operators up and down the state that can cater for all your kitesurfing needs.

While a primitive form of kitesurfing board may have been invented in England in the early 1800s, today North Carolina is the world’s hub for the sport. Let’s look at some of the best places to catch some air.

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Kitesurfing in South Wales: Stay longer, surf longer

Tom Sykes    Kitesurfing Destination Reviews     kiteboarding, kitesurfing, kitesurfing holidays, Kitesurfing in South Wales, Kitesurfing in Wales, South Wales, Swansea, UK, Wales

To the uninitiated, kitesurfing’s manic marriage of surfing, paragliding, wakeboarding, gymnastics and acrobatics might seem bizarre, but anyone who’s actually tried it knows that kitesurfing is the last word in adventure surface water sports.

Kitesurfing in UK waters. Pic: Flickr/ Smudge9000

With its gusty southwest and west winds and ideal wave riding swells, South Wales is fast becoming the number one destination for kitesurfers. Some destinations like 20 kilometre-long Gower have been traditionally associated with plain old surfing, while others such as Swansea Bay weren’t previously known for their water sports pedigree.

Hardcore surfers like to stay at spots for days, even weeks. We examine the hottest options.

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