I am pleased to announce that I have been appointed as Kitesurf Coach to the Qatar Olympic Federation as of end of march to start their youngsters on track for Olympic glory in 2020. 
Flying out to Qatar for an initial 2 week coaching session straight after I return from competing in the PKRA World Tour Wave event in Dakhla, we will then have a further 6 weeks of coaching in various locations in 2014.
I am really excited about this and am really looking forward to future possibilities.
Check out this article on British Kitesports - http://www.britishkitesports.org/news/news-training/1013-pasty-appointed-qatar-olympic-coach.html
Thanks
Lee

The forecast is looking great for The Pasty Cup, Kitesurf Racing British Championships round 1, on 25th - 26th May at Marazion, Cornwall.
Alongside this amazing kitesurfing event, we also now have space available for a learn to kitesurf course over the weekend with our instructor Blake. Kitesurfing lessons will most likely run at Gwithian due to nw winds forecast which will also make for high speed tactical racing in cross offshore winds at Marazion.
For more info on the event and all the latest news join our Facebook group- The Pasty Cup
For more info on kitesurfing lessons in Cornwall click here

News just in that Kiteracing is to be included in the 2018 Youth Olympics and highly likely to be in the Olympics for 2020 with inclusion in all Olympic Sailing regattas from next year 2014.
Great times to be involved and bring kiteracing to youngsters who will hopefully see how great it is and take up the fastest form of sailing as a sport ;)

Interested in learning to kitesurf in Cornwall but not sure if you want to spend the money?
Then come along to the Pasty Cup, British Kitesurfing Racing Championships over the bank holiday weekend 25th - 26th may 2013 at Marazion near Penzance.
Over the course of the weekend you can check out the country's top kitesurfers and have a go at powerkite flying with our free kite taster sessions. Alongside the free lessons from qualified BKSA kitesurfing instructors we will also have plenty going on from our sponsors, including marine conservation info from the National Marine Aquarium, clothing on display from Hager-Vor and competitions to win great prizes as well as plenty of giveaways from Cornwall Tourism. We will also have Philps pasties available.
See you on Marazion beach in front of the Station House pub from 10am - 6pm both days.

Pasty Cup 25th – 26th May 2013. British Kitesurf Racing Championships. Marazion, Cornwall

Excitement is building with 2 weeks to go until the Pasty Cup sponsored by The National Marine Aquarium, The Seiners Arms & Philps pasties at Marazion, Cornwall over the bank holiday weekend 25-26 May.

The Pasty Cup is the 1st of 4 events counting towards the 2013 British Kitesurf Racing Championships.

Kitesurf Racing is the fastest form of sailing around an upwind/downwind course using big colourful kites over a mile long course set as close to the shore as conditions allow. Riders reach speeds up to 30mph, racing in winds ranging from 6-30 mph. In the event of wind in excess of 30mph the Kernow King of the Air event will run, where competitors are judged on jumping as high as possible with style. A spectacle not to be missed!

Organiser Lee Harvey of Pasty Adventures kitesurfing school states:

‘I am pleased to announce the country’s top racers are confirmed such as, 3 times British Champion - Denzil Williams. 2012 Pasty Cup, British & youth World Champion – Olly Bridge along with his mum, women’s World No.1 & 4 x World Champ – Steph Bridge from Exmouth.

Alongside the known racers with have some new names in the Race fleet and with entries also coming in for the Open Fleet we are expecting a great turn out for 2 days of fast and furious racing in what I strongly believe is the best kitesurfing location in Britain. The inclusion of Kernow King of the Air, means whatever the weather we will have competition running over both days with plenty for spectators to come and enjoy.’

Come along to Marazion and check out the Pasty Cup over the Bank Holiday weekend and you can even have a go at powerkite flying.

All the details can be found on the website www.pastyadventures.co.uk/events 

If you are thinking of entering then download the entry form here and send back before 17th May to avoid the late fee.

18 years after wining a youth dinghy sailing event in Weymouth, Lee 'pasty' Harvey finally gets an Olympic Classes podium with 3rd in Kiteracing. A great result especially after just coming back f
Read a full report with Lee's Blog http://www.leepasty.co.uk/1/post/2012/09/3rd-olympic-classes-ranker-weymouth.html 
For kitesurf race coaching pleases go to our coaching page http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/kitesurf-coaching.html

Lee has just released a new Kitesurfing Technique blog  to give Tips on all aspects of kitesurfing. Starting of with race tech in the build up to the IKA Course Racing Worlds in Sardinia, he will be covering wave technique over the winter as well as many other valuable tips to help with your Kitesurfing.
Subscribe to the blog here http://www.leepasty.co.uk/technique-blog.html

Last weekend saw the Edge cup hosted by 4 times World Champ- Steph Bridge. After mostly finishing 3rd, I ended up 4th being beaten by Callum by 0.3 points after he bagged an equal 2nd and got took out in the last race which gave him average points meaning he beat be even though i beat him in 7 out of 11 races. Jammy git!
the report from Edge is below-

On the friday, Steph and me ran a Race Coaching clinic which was attended by the RYA and 9 of their development squad along with 3 other kitesurfers who are keen to get into kite racing. With around 25knts of breeze we covered the basics of getting into kite racing, including gust management, rules, footwork, upwind/downwind sailing and mark rounding. All learnt lots and I think the RYA were suitably impressed. 
Lots more to come so stayed tuned for Race Coaching dates at www.pastyadventures.co.uk and www.edgewatersports.com
Cheers
Lee

Edge Race Cup - Report

 June 23rd and 24th saw the 3rd running of the Edge Race Cup, now established as the premier kitesurf racing event in the UK.  The record entry of over 40 kiteracers came expecting great kitesurfing conditions and were not disappointed!  Amongst the entries were organiser Steph Bridge 4 times Kiterace World Champion and previous UK National Champions Denzil Williams from Cornwall and Callum Edge from Weymouth.  The weekend also saw many 1st time racers get down to Exmouth seafront and join the action.



The action began on the Friday with a race clinic run by Lee Harvey and Steph  Bridge- 12 kiters joined and learnt up and down wind techniques, directional board footwork, stance, kite position and race strategy.  The day also saw the Royal Yachting Association in attendance to learn more about kitesurfing prior to its inclusion at the Olympics in Rio for 2016.

Saturday dawned with a good force 5 south westerly wind blowing and an out going tide resulting in challenging sea conditions ensuring the race board fleet were sent out on the water first.  3 races were run in quick succession with fantastic fast racing with the Exmouth Duo of Steph Bridge and her eldest son Oliver Bridge setting the tone for the weekend and dominating the fleet.  Oliver Showed amazing speed and control in the rough conditions and came away with 3 first places in the morning session.

 

Then it was time for the amateurs and ladies fleets to get into the action.  Stand out performances were seen from Murray Smith from Dartmouth and Mathew Causen from Bristol as well as local teenager Alice shoulder in the ladies fleet.  After a brief lunch break the course was moved further out to sea and both pros and amateurs were sent out at the same time.  The sea conditions were now a little kinder and it was time to set both fleets off at the same time.  It was impressive to see forty racers all starting at the same time and some great racing continued.  In the ladies local rider Bel Bailey really came to the party winning a number of races and beating all the amateur men in 2 races but with Alice shoulder right on her tail the overall result was looking very tight.  In the men's amateur fleet local doctor Tom Debenham was on fire getting some great results followed closely by another local James Bainbridge.  In the pros there was no stopping Olly Bridge with 2 more race wins abruptly ended with a disqualification in the last race for starting too soon.  Other pros with good results that afternoon were Callum Edge, Lee Pasty,  Denzil Williams and Steve Stubbs,  All they had to do was work out how to beat Olly!

The Saturday night party was hosted by the River Exe Cafe and despite the rain everyone had a great time with excellent food and wine provided by our  sponsor pebblebed wines.

The Sunday dawned with light winds and the pro's were sent out to do battle, in these very difficult conditions only 1 race was run won by Steph Bridge proving that experience counts when the going gets tricky.  The afternoon gave much better wind and slacker tides so everyone was back on it for the final deciding races.  In the ladies fleet it was a battle down to the wire between Alice Shoulder and Bel Bailey, both were super powered and gunning for the win just coming out on top by 2 points was Alice in her first ever race event!  In the amateur fleet it was down to a 3 horse race with Murray Smith just edging out Debenham with Bainbridge third.

The Race board class continued to be dominated by fourteen year old Olly Bridge winning nine races out of eleven, an amazing performance, second was Steph and third  Callum Edge.

It was a great weekend of racing and enjoyed by all participants, roll on 2013.

Thats it we are Olympic! now all the hard work starts but hopefully we will now  be able to get funding?
to get involved, have lessons or train with me, please email [email protected]

below is the official statement from the ISAF  council meeting-

The International Sailing
Federation (ISAF) has confirmed
the final event and equipment selections
for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing
Competition.
The ISAF Council voted
that Kiteboarding will replace
windsurfing for the men's and women's board
events and confirmed the equipment
that will be used for the Women's Skiff
and Mixed Multihull Events.

The
Mackay FX, referred to as the 49er
FX, was selected yesterday as the two person
women's skiff and today the
Nacra 17 joins the Olympic equipment family after
being selected for the
two person mixed multihull event.

The 49er FX
received the majority
of votes from the ISAF Council in the first round after
the six evaluation
trial entries were narrowed down to just three; the 29erXX,
the RS900 and
the 49er FX.

There was an equally animated debate on the
final
morning of the Council meeting at this year's ISAF Mid-Year Meeting to

decide the equipment to be selected for the mixed multihull event. After

discussing the recommendations from the Evaluation Panel, the Equipment

Committee and the Events Committee, Council voted between the Nacra 17 and the

Viper with the Nacra 17 securing the majority.

The final discussion
on
the events and equipment for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition was
about the
men's and women's board events with Council voting in favour or

kiteboarding.

In November 2011 an evaluation group was appointed to

examine kiteboarding formats with the board events for Rio 2016 defined as

'windsurfing and/or kiteboarding'. The Evaluation Group recommended that

kiteboarding be included in the ISAF Event family including the ISAF
Sailing
World Cup and the ISAF Sailing World Championships but Council went
one step
further and selected Kiteboarding for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing
Competition
as well.

The ISAF Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Committee
will consider
and make further recommendations to Council on the
implementation of the
inclusion of kiteboarding at their meeting in
November 2012 at the ISAF Annual
Conference.

ISAF President Göran
Petersson said, "These announcements
mark a new era for sailing and we
welcome the new classes into the ISAF family.
The equipment selections have
fulfilled the criteria set out by the Evaluation
Panel and we look forward
to seeing the boats not only at the Rio 2016 Olympic
Games, but the ISAF
Sailing World Cup and ISAF Sailing World

Championships.

"Kiteboarding has proven to us that it is ready to be

included into the list of prestigious ISAF Events and it is a fantastic addition

to the sailing programme for the 2016 Olympic Games."

The events to
be
contested at the 2016 Olympic Games are confirmed as:
Men's

Kiteboarding
Women's Kiteboarding
Men's One Person Dinghy -

Laser
Women's One Person Dinghy - Laser Radial
Men's One Person Dinghy

(heavy) - Finn
Men's Two Person Dinghy - 470
Women's Two Person
Dinghy -
470
Men's Skiff - 49er
Women's skiff - 49er FX
Mixed Two
Person
Multihull - Nacra 17

These ten events will be featured in the
2012-2013
ISAF Sailing World Cup which kicks off in Melbourne in December
and will come
together in Santander, Spain in 2014 for the ISAF Sailing
World
Championships.

ISAF Council also approved applications from
Kosovo (Group
C) and Vietnam (Group K) for full member status.

http://www.sailing.org/38281.php