CHIMP OF THE MONTH

		Here we have the UKWA's shining star Paul Hunt in a rush to windsurf at his favourite spot. He is in so much of a rush infact, that he uses the most dodgy piece of rope you'll have ever seen. The results were inevitable.

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		This clip contains a brief flash of swearing brilliance.

Gorgeous action from Windwing

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The Gorge is now getting a wee bit chilly for windsurfing, but it’s been a cracking summer. Don’t believe us? then check out this video courtesy of US brand Windwing.

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The SWA return

Taste the Aussie kiss!!


		This month we speak to Israel’s best all round windsurfer; Arnon Dagan. This guy does it all; he has been in the top10 in the PWA Racing rankings for the past three years and came second in the IFCA rankings this year. He also dabbles in the waves and has been

Israel Champion for as long as he can remember.

How old are you?

28 years old.

Where are you from?

Haifa in Israel which is by the coast.

How did you get into windsurfing?

After trying lots of other sports my older brother got me a windsurf board when I was about 14 years old. I was actually in an Olympic kayak training camp and my Kurdish coach told me not to get into windsurfing, because he knew that I would never row again. I've been addicted ever since!

What disciplines do you do?

Mainly racing, slalom and formula but I also do waves when I can. It is not my main thing although I am the Israeli wave champion!

How big is windsurfing in Israel?

It is getting better at the moment because the first ever Olympic Gold medal for Israel was in windsurfing. (At the Athens Games, Gal Friedmann won gold in the IMCO racing)

What is life like in Israel?

It is actually a fantastic place to live. We have three main places to windsurf; the Red Sea close to Egypt is beautiful and then the Lake of Galilee where Jesus windsurfed! You get five months of 25 knots there during the summer, and then you have the Med. where there is a pretty good reef break for wave sailing. I think it is one of the best places to wavesail in Europe during the winter.

Besides windsurfing, it is really nice. The weather is fantastic for the whole year. Mostly what you hear on the news is actually disconnected from the real life that we are living. I never see it, only on the news. However, the past two years have become a little bit better and more tourists are coming.

How did you get into the racing side?

I was trying to live my dream at 18 years old, working like a dog washing dishes etc to go to Maui. One year in Maui taught me a lot so I jumped up to a good level in racing and wave sailing. But in 2000 I wanted to quit because it was really hard to find sponsors but I got a good result at the Formula world championships and got picked up by Red Bull which made it possible for me to carry on and that is still the case today.

Do you make a comfortable living?

I do alright. But you have to remember what I have given up to do this and I certainly haven’t made enough money to make up for all of those things. But the last few years I am doing well and have enough money to take girls out if they actually want to go out with me!

What is the future?

I am very disappointed about the way the windsurfing organisations in the world are run at the moment. I am looking into the new Olympic class a little bit as there is more money in it and my sponsors are pushing me more to do that. At the moment I am training for everything; formula, slalom and waves which is very important for my country, so I will see how it goes. I am achieving the life I want to live and I am feeling confident enough to find the way I want to go. If you can make a living out of windsurfing everything is possible!

Finally, are you a sporting personality in Israel?

Umm…I think I am half way there!

Young Gunz corner

The boy Jones

Racing master, new boy of the freewave scene and he lives in land locked Derbyshire. We’re impressed…


		Name: Lucy Robson Age: 24yrs Home town: Brighton

"Just chill Luc, you can mount the sausage, it is the most natural thing in the world!" Ha ha yeh thanks guys!!!!

Raging Bull

Enter Ian Clingan, a Raging Bull...

The youth of today...only just out of nappys but are better than us at windsurfing!!


		Up on the Wirral, there are a group of kids who are getting rather good at windsurfing, enough for the local sailors to ask the coach to stop teaching them due to the disgrace of
		being out carve gybed by a

9 year old who can’t tie his own shoelaces. But over the October half term, top coach Stu Gwyn put together a Hot Shots course to teach these grommets even more tricks.

Jay Gwynn & Chris Chavasse

We asked Alastair Coldham, who put together the course, about the West Kirby Warriors who are out sailing their Dad’s.

Advanced kids courses are rare as there are so few really keen & decent youth sailors so how come you have bred loads of mini-superstars in West Kirby?!

All of the kids on the course are local and although some have been sailing for only a year, they spend most weekends and evenings after school on the lake or the sea. Time on the water, access to up-to-date and kid’s specific kit, and a go-for-it attitude has led to them making very rapid progress.

Hot shots

How often will you be doing these Hot Shot courses?

Depends on demand and getting a suitably advanced instructor, Stu Gwyn is heading back to Oz in the New Year so we need a replacement. However we may look to organise another course over the Christmas holiday and one over spring half term next year depending on demand.

So what are these kids learning to do?

From the basics; stance, water starting, carve & duck gybes, tacking, jumping and then more advanced tricks like carving 360's, heli and push tacks and body drags.

Oliver Bradley-Baker ion blue, Sam Coldham on red

What are the ages of the kids and are they all members of the West Kirby Club?

Ages range from 9 to 16. Of the 8 on the course, all except 2 were already members of West Kirby T15 club. Of these 2, one has now joined the T15 club and the other, a 16 year old, is lined up to do the assistant instructors course to help teach the less experienced kids next year.

So the course was a raring success. It was also helped by local star Darren Mitchell, fresh from victory in Tiree, who made a guest appearance to provide some specialised Freestyle tuition. The super keen kids even turned up at 7.15am on the last day to catch the tide, rigging up in the dark and waiting for the first light of dawn to practice their chop hops. Just think of the parents…

Tom Coldman showing the adults how to gybe

Notes

West Kirby Warriors T15 club operate out of Wirral Sailing Centre, West Kirby. Those lucky enough to have their own kit can bring it along. For those that don’t there’s a good range of gear available. Due to demand, winter sessions are currently taking place on Sunday between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm but please check before setting out - as the cold may become too great! To join the club you need to be able to stay upwind and return to your starting point. For those that haven’t reached that standard yet, courses are available through Wirral Sailing Centre. If you require any further information, please contact david.bradley@tinyworld.co.uk or Simon Smith at Wirral Sailing Centre on 0151 625 8272.

Lagoon News

Centre Manager JOB up for grabs

Do you fancy looking after a team of instructors and helping the centre establish itself as one of the best in the UK ? Well then send your CV to seb@lagoonwatersports.co.uk or phone him on 01273 424842

Christmas Gift

Who do you know who would love to start windsurfing, sailing or have a blast in a Zap Cat? Well make their dream come true this Christmas with a Lagoon voucher. All vouchers come with a presentation DVD allowing you to watch and get a feel for the experience that you have purchased before turning up!


Go to www.lagoon.co.uk and click on GIFT VOUCHERS

Scousers get beaten by a WOMAN!

What:

Kanganroo Poo Speed event.

Where:

West Kirby Marine Lake on the Wirral.

When:

23/24 Sept

No.of competitors:

Winners:

Adult:	Zara Davis
Youth:	Jay Gwynn

With wind on both Saturday and Sunday, where it got up to 25 knots, it looked like the competitors would break the 30 knot barrier. As indeed Neil Hardwick did with 30 knots exactly on the Sunday. However Zara Davis was consistently fast with 24 knots on the ‘light wind’ Saturday and 29 knots on windy Sunday using her Thommen T1 RS65 & RS60 with a Gaastra Swift 7.5. Joint second went to Mark Kay & Peter Davis (Zara’s hubby) with Jay McDonald in third.

Zara competed at the Sotavento Speed event in the summer and off the back of that got sponsored by T1 & Gaastra. After demolishing the Wirral lot, she then came 11th at Weymouth Speed Week with 24.32knots.


The youth prize went to Jay Gwynn clocking a very creditable 27 knots, and giving Thommen T1 a clean sweep across the board.

Fancy a go at their Winter Series? Go to www.iwindsurf.co.uk for more info.

Sponsors: Kangaroo Poo, DaKine, T1 Thommen, Tushingham, Starboard, Gaastra, Tabou, Boardwise, Pulse active & Nought Ones for the DVD.





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