Dakhla Coaching Holiday 2012

 As soon as the snow started to fall on sat 4th Feb, it was time for Lee ‘Pasty’ Harvey and his 6 Adventurer’s, Tim, Paul, Ken, Brendan, Steve and Guy, to travel way south to the Desert Oasis of Dakhla, Morocco. Amidst the chaos of flights being cancelled and the snow on the roads we made it safely out of the UK on Sunday and into Casablanca in time for a trip down town to the Mosque and a bite to eat. Arriving into Dakhla at night we went straight to Ocean Vagabond and had our first taste of the great food we were set to enjoy for the rest of the week.


 Monday dawned a tad chilly with easterly winds of around 25-35 mph which meant we stayed on the lagoon and looked at technique of controlling gusts and staying upwind. Evening theory followed before an amazing fish supper. 
 
  Tuesday was a bit more like what we were expecting. A chilly start soon warmed up with much more constant northerly winds blowing down the lagoon. We worked on surfboard technique and carves on 9m kites. We finished the morning with a follow my leader session which looked great to all who were watching as the 7 of us carved our way down the lagoon for 2kms before riding back upwind in a long line. For the afternoon we went to the wave spot of Oum Laboiur, which was breaking perfectly in the 2-3 foot range with sideshore winds perfect for our 9s. As the afternoon went on the waves started picking up and got a bit much for some of the less experienced, leading to a couple of rescues while the 2 more experienced wave riders were having a ball!
 
Wednesday was another wave day with Tim and me sneaking off for a morning surf at the secret cliff spot, followed by a cracking afternoon kite wave session at Oum Laboiur with Steve and Tim who were really looking at concentrating on the wave side. We looked at riding technique, including fading and using the waves to get upwind and scoring some great rides, sharing the spot with only 3 other windsurfers. Meanwhile back at the lagoon, the others put to practise all they had learnt the day before. We finished the day with an evening theory session, looking at waves, tides and weather systems before yet another fantastic meal.

 Thursday was another day for all. Looking at toeside riding and pops for the 3 freeriders. Tacks and gybes for the 3 surfboarders on the lagoon in the morning along with self launching and landing. We then went back to the wave spot for the last bit of the remaining swell with all 3 wave heads, having some great rides and learning lots about surfing right handers with a kite.

 Friday was a pretty calm in the morning, leading the guys to rig their 12s, but by the time we had finished the demos, it was howling 30knts + and everyone had to change down to their smallest kites. We looked at pop, jumps, carves and backrolls, with everyone getting air, some for the first time! The evening video feedback was full of screams, laughs and excitement as all were telling the tales of the day, and able to see themselves doing it all on camera.

 Saturday was the last full day on the water. We moved on from Friday by looking at bigger jumps, frontrolls, and transitions. The afternoon was time for a photoshoot and encouraged everyone to put their new found skills to the test. A few aches and pains from the day were washed down that evening with a few drinks and laughs. 

Sunday and with the flight time in the evening we had a full day to chill out or kite if we wanted. As the wind was light 12m weather most didn’t bother and instead got the sand out of their kit. At lunch we discussed any further topics and in the afternoon, I ran through some detailed rescue scenarios, which everyone found very interesting and useful, although I hope they will never have to use them!

 All in all everyone had a great week, learnt lots and stayed healthy as we hardly drank any alcohol and ate amazingly healthy food thanks to the cooks at Ocean Vagabond. All the guys tried out the new range of North surfboards with the Whip being the favourite, closely followed by the X surf strapless and the Nugget being called a bar of soap (although it’s my fave for flat water!). 

Big thanks to everyone for coming and making it a great week along with the amazing feedback.
Special mention goes to Paul for pushing the hardest! Movie of the trip coming soon.

 Thanks to Sportif for organising the trip, Sebastian and all the crew at Ocean Vagabond for the amazing food and rooms, Jason and the Skyriders Team for the occaisional rescues on the lagoon, North Kiteboarding for the demo boards and T-shirts and Splashography for the logo.

 Our next Adventure is an Improver camp in Safaga, Egypt in march, then a Wave Epic in Mauritius start of September. Spring Gwithian wave clinic is Saturday 24thMarch.

 Full details on the website www.pastyadventures.co.uk

 I would also like to thanks my sponsors-
North kiteboarding, Resin8 surfboards, West wetsuits, Freeriders, Wiley X & FCS
 
Cheers and see you on the water soon.
 Lee

Heres an insight into Lee's day during the Winter. Working on the boat then kiting in the waves of Cornwall.
Enjoy

We had a great day Kitesurfing at Marazion Cornwall yesterday, Saturday 14th Jan  for the KKC Frostbite gathering. With 2012 kit available to test from North, Slingshot and Ocean Rodeo and a SE wind blowing at 20-25knts the 40 or so kitesurfers that came along put up with the cold 6 degree temps on the beach and had some great times in the water boosting some big airs and learning some new stuff by watching some of the pro riders who came along to help with the demo  kit. I even went on the Twin Tip and boosted some massive airs on the new 2012 Fuse 10m.
We then all went back to Lodeys for a chilli and mulled wine/cider while watching the days action on the big screen, thanks to Mel from Splashography.
Check out and buy the pics from the day at 
http://splashography.com/2012Gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3808

The next club meet is in March at Watergate for the AGM  followed by a big party.

Tom Bawcock's Eve is a festival held on the 23rd of
December in Mousehole. The festival is held in celebration and memorial of the efforts of Mousehole resident Tom Bawcock to lift a famine from the village.
During this festival Star Gazey Pie (a mixed fish, egg and potato pie with
protruding fish heads) is eaten and depending on the year of celebration a
lantern procession takes place.The children's book The Mousehole Cat by
Antonia Barber was inspired by the traditions a of Tom Bawcock's Eve and has now made this feast famous. The feast also coincides with the world famous Mousehole harbour lights.

There are several theories to the origins of this festival, the first
recorded description was made by Morton Nance in 1927 in the magazine "Old Cornwall". Nance described the festival as it existed at the turn of the 19th century. Within this work Nance also speculated that the name Bawcock was
derived from Beau Coc (French) - , he believed the cock was a herald of new light in pagan times and the origins of the festival were pre-Christian. The most likely derivation of the name 'Bawcock' is from Middle English use
(influenced from French) where a Bawcock is a nickname for a fine or worthy fellow. Rumours persist however that in fact the feast was "invented" in the 1950's by the landlord of the Ship Inn, a rumour which can be dismissed if you
examine the Morton Nance's writings of the 1920's. Because of the volume of people now visiting Mousehole on this date small Tom Bawcock's celebrations have over spilled into the nearby communities of Newlyn and Penzance, however these
are rarely advertised. 
Click here for the recipe for Star Gazey Pie. 
 
There is an ongoing folk music tradition associated with Tom Bawcock's Eve.
Below is one version of Tom Bawcock's Song'the words written  by Morton Nance in 1927 to a local traditional tune called the 'wedding March'. It is believe that Nance first observed the festivities at the turn of the 19th Century.

 Lyrics of the song


"merry place you may believe, Tiz Mouzel 'pon Tom Bawcock's eve


To be there then who wouldn't wesh, to sup o' sibm soorts o' fish


When morgy brath had cleared the path, Comed lances for a fry


And then us had a bit o' scad an' Starry-gazie pie


As aich we'd clunk, E's health we drunk, in bumpers bremmen high,


And when up caame Tom Bawcock's name, We'd prais'd 'un to the sky"


Click here for an  audio file and full
lyrics of the song
 
 
The Home of Cornish Culture

Check out the latest issue of http://www.iksurfmag.com/issue30/ for a write up from my travels to Lobitos after the KSP Pacasmayo event. Possible trip there in 2012!
Enjoy
Cheers
Lee

We are now closed for lessons in Cornwall and are putting all our efforts into making our 2 coaching holidays in Dakhla,Morocco end of jan and in Sagafa, Egypt in mid feb the best holiday you have ever been on and a true Pasty Adventure. Running in conjunction with www.sportif.travel you can be sure to get the best service from the market leaders and the best coaching from Lee himself. More details on the Holidays page.
Hope to see you in the warm soon.
Have a great christmas and a safe new year.
cheers
lee

Lee is now off on the last stop of the year in Cape Verde for the Ponta Preta pro.
Tune in and support live at www.kspworldtour.com

Our 1st Kite wave clinic of this winter went down in deepest Cornwall on the weekend just gone, 12/13th Nov with great success. 5 guys traveled down from as far as Ipswich & Hayling Island to be greated at Gwithian on Saturday morning to perfect 4-5ft waves but unfortunately no wind.
Some of us jumped in for a surf before we got Pasties and recoveined at Marazion at 12pm to await the forecasted se wind. With small waves and the breeze filling in we kicked off with a board talk, showing the differences between all the 2012 North surfboards.
We then pumped our 12s and went for a quick wave ride before the wind dropped slightly and we were back on the beach for a tacking talk followed by an on water demo. We then postponed until the sunday.
As soon as it got dark then wind filled right in (typical) and sunday dawned with 25-30 knts and 2 ft waves at Marazion. A full day followed, covering riding tech, getting out, Gybing, Tacking and strapless jumping, with everyone leaving happy, tired and with plenty to practise.
We received some great feedback, such as; 'Best £60 I've spent in a long time'
Big thanks to Joe from JNP Events for doing the photos. All the pics of the demos and the guys ripping are availble to buy their website- http://jnpevents.co.uk/photocart/ 

Our next clinic is on the 26th Nov @ Gwithian and there are currently 3 spaces available so be quick at just £60 for 6 hours. contact me by email lee@pastyadventures.co.uk
cheers and stay safe
Lee

After an amazing 3 weeks here in Peru and placing 9th at the KSP Pacasmayo Pro, I am now sat in lima waiting for my flight home.
Got some amazing photos which will be up on my personal site and in the mags soon.
Looking like its going to be perfect for our first wave clinic this saturday 12th so if youve booked a spot I will be in touch to confirm on wednesday. There are still a couple of places left for the next clinis on the 26th nov so be quick and improve your wave skills this winter.
Also time is running out to book your spot on our Cape Verde wave adventure in January so be quick.
cheers
lee

At Pasty Adventures we now have the full range of 2012 North Surfboards available to demo and so far I am super impressed with all the boards now being nice and light. 

The Wam is the allround model, suited for strapless as well as strapped riding, the 6’0 is
amazing for riders over 80kg while if you are 70-80 the 5’10 and under 70 the 5’8. I prefer the thrusters set up, but the quad option does give you more drive in onshore conditions.

The Kontact is aimed at big wave riding but it also works really well in onshore (which was a big surprise to me) due to
  its narrower shape allowing you to lay down full speed carves without bouncing out. It is also real fast and smooth in choppy water. If you like going fast and carving big cutbacks into the pocket, in chunky onshore conditions then
  this is probably the board for you.

The Whip this year comes in 2 sizes and I’ve found it performs best when ridden with straps. The 5’8 has a fair bit of volume and is good for over 80kg riders and the 5’6 under 80kgs, who mostly ride strapped in onshore or cross on waves up to head high, if you ride in bigger stuff, I’d recommend the Wam.

 The last 2 boards are the X Surf 5’11 and Nugget 5’0 which I haven’t had time to get on yet but both look really exciting as strapless boards. The X Surf is going to be my board for strapless fun in not ideal waves up to head high while the Nugget is a chop and small wave fun strapless jumping board.

If you want to demo any of the boards I will have them in the van when I’m back or email lee@pastyadventures.co.uk

All the demo boards will also be available to test on our wave clinics and coaching holidays this winter.

stay safe
lee