The ISAF Team Try Kitesurfing At West Wittering Windsurf Club

Posted on by Emile Kott

We were really pleased to host The British Kitesurf Association with the team from ISAF for kitesurfing lessons.

ISAF, based in Southampton, are the International Sailing Federation (the FIFA of sailing world) who have taken on Kitesurfing as the extreme end of sailing and looking worldwide to organise world class events and possibly add kitesurfing as a class in the Olmypics. This is a big deal for kitesurfing
as a sport and we were very pleased they chose X-train and West Wittering as a location.

Kitesurfing originally became a class of ISAF in order to claim the sailing world speed record in 2008. This record was then increased again by Rob Douglas in 2010 (56.65 knots)

Since Kitesurfing took the outright world speed sailing record in 2008, kitesurfing became a class of ISAF to claim the record.This record was increased again by Rob Douglas

We had a cracking team on hand for the coaching, including Kirsten Borse (4 times world kitesurfing champion), Ellie and Myles from Easy Riders in Poole and James Crowe from X-Train West Wittering.

Richard Gowers, the chairman of the BKSA was also on had not help. He commented “It’s great to see the ISAF team trying kitesurfing – we want them to understand the kitesurf experience and enjoy it!”

Tamsin, Q, Al, Dan and Clive were put through their paces with an initial power-kite session in the field at West Wittering beach and then straight out into the shallow, tidal lagoon for some body dragging sessions. The wind was light – about 10 to 15 knots and there was plenty of flat water. The conditions gave every chance of progress to board skills, edging and getting up for the first time to get the real kitesurfing experience.

The second day was not so windy. Everyone had a SUP session in the morning, followed by a second kitesurfing session in the afternoon.

Thanks to X-Train and West Wittering Windsurf Club for hosting the event.

Cabrinha 2012 Kites and Kiteboards

Posted on by Emile Kott

Here is a sneak preview of all of the 2012 Cabrinha kite and kiteboard gear. New boards, new kites and new kite bars.

Cabrinha have a very nice looking set of new graphics for 2012 and a couple of new models called the Vector and Drifter. The Vector is a surf and freeride kite and the Drifter is a pure surf orientated kite. Both of the kites are 3-strut designs.

The Nomad, Crossbow and Switchblade have all been retuned this year. All are lighter in feel for 2012 with improved tuning and balance.

They have improved the 2012 Quick Link kitebar too.

They have a new surfboard construction with a cork laminate as opposed to wood:

As you can see, it’s pretty strong!

There is a new Freeride board called the Transport – an uber-light-wind twin fin board, based on a detuned raceboard.

Witterings Charity Paddle Race 2011 Results

Posted on by Emile Kott

Surfers Paddle for Charity – Organised by X-Train -2XS and the Shore Surf Club.

Sunday 24th July saw 56 entrants to the Wittering Charity Paddle Race.

Entrants had to paddle against 20 knots of wind from East To West Wittering. The course is just over a mile from East To West Wittering which would normally take (on average) around 20 to 45 mins. However, the windy conditions made it much harder and it took the last competitor just under 2 hours to compete (the fastest time was 24 minutes 39). Even though the conditions were hard, nearly everyone fought on through and there were smiling, happy faces all over the beach at the finish line.

From West Wittering Windsurf Club, it was great to see Oliver Chipperfield and the McKirghans. Emile Kott managed to just squeeze in front of the boss (Simon Bassett) and James Randall managed to beat the old man by a convincing five minutes!

Event Results


The event, which is in its 7th year, brings the surfing community together to raise money for local charities. This year, the charity was The Sussex Snowdrop Trust.

The event raised just over £1000 for the charity and money is still coming in. Everyone involved enjoyed a BBQ at West Wittering Windsurf Club where there was a prize giving at the end of the day.

A lot of people put in a great deal of time to make the event happen, including the Shore Surf Club Team, the WWWC team, Puma Safety, West Wittering Estate Lifeguard.

Thankyou very much to event sponsors 2XS, X-train, The Shore Surf Club, Wittering Surf, Crouchers Country Hotel, The Beach House, Indoboard and Boardshop.co.uk.

The 2012 dates and times will be announced soon on www.2xs.co.uk and www.shoresurfclub.co.uk.

West Wittering Action in July 2011

Posted on by Emile Kott
I am either suffering from amnesia or we have just had so many good days this July that I can’t remember which day was which. My hands are calloused, my feet leave skin wherever I go and I look like I’ve been tangoed.
There isn’t much story to this blog-entry, we just have a load of photos that we wanted to upload. There is a selection from Holly and Simon Basset, taken from the beach as well as some pretty decent ‘self-love’ GoPro shots from Simon and Stuart Holland on his kite-board.
There has been some standout sailing from all the West Wittering regulars this month. Most notably, the kids have been ripping it up – the Goodwins and Pettits are becoming part of the beach furniture and Holly Bassett has been flying around with a new love for the sport. Jess Napper is pretty much a full time kiter (I think she goes to work in her time-off) and is now showing up some of the boys with her skills. Paul Simmons is getting dangerously close to consistent back loops and Justin Goodwin’s forwards are looking very stylish.

Francisco Goya’s Demo in West Wittering

Posted on by Emile Kott

Francisco Goya headed over to West Wittering Windsurf Club on Saturday 9th July. With the help of Rick from Zero Gravity, he brought a selection of 2011 and 2012 Goya boards and sails for demo.

Francisco and Rick arrived in the early morning and were greeted by warm sunshine and a blissful, summer, 20 knot breeze. It was low tide at West Wittering and the ‘trench’ just inside Chichester Harbour mouth provided some of the best possible demo conditions – 5.3 weather, warm water and hot sunshine!

Francisco Goya has an incredible amount of infectious enthusiasm for the sport and was getting everyone on the water on the new gear, running from sail to sail to make sure that not a single piece of gear went out without him tweaking it to perfection whilst explaining exactly what and why he was doing it.

Francisco headed down to the water to coach the kids from the water’s edge and later mentioned that he couldn’t believe how good the sailing was at West Wittering and how perfect it was for everyone to get out on the water together.

The conditions in West Wittering on days like this are always easy and fun for all – flat water in the lagoons and trench and small waves breaking onto the sandbars for jumping.

The day before, actually made Emile and Rossco’s day when they went sailing with Francisco on 4.2s in nice little waves just in front of West Wittering Windsurf Club (unfortunately everyone was having far too much fun to grab a camera!)

Everyone made the most of the Goya demo gear, which included the Goya 2011 Custom Quads, Goya Ones, Goya FXR freeride boards and 2011 and 2012 Eclipse, Guru and Banzai Sails. 2XS have been selling Goya boards for a while now and will be shortly adding the Goya Sail quiver to the website.

The West Wittering Windsurf Club barbecue was fired up for lunch and Francisco, who is normally nearly vegan, was taken in by the smell of Waitrose finest…

It was a truly great day and one of the best demos we have ever seen. The 60 year age range present gave testament to this and more importantly than anything else, everyone had fun!

Mention has to be made of the West Wittering club member Nick De Candole. In his rush to get out on the water with his hero, not only did he forget to lock his van but also to actually turn the engine off… Nice of him to keep the carpark warm for us all…

Francisco Goya in West Wittering – 9th July 2011

Posted on by Emile Kott

Windsurfing legend Francisco Goya is heading to West Wittering on Saturday 9th July from 10am – 1pm

This will coincide with a free demo of Goya Boards and Sails run in conjunction with West Wittering Windsurf Club. All you need to pay for is parking at the beach.

WWWC will be firing up and providing a free barbecue from 12.30pm and it is the perfect chance to meet a windsurfing great and try some new gear!

Please let us know if you are coming down so we can buy enough sausages. Email sales@2xs.co.uk or call 01243 512552

The Witterings Charity Paddle Race – 24th July 2011

Posted on by Emile Kott

Once again the annual paddle race from East to West Wittering is taking place on Sunday 24th July 2011.

The event has become more and more popular each year and is loads of fun as well as a good chance to raise money for a good cause.

The race starts from Shore Road, East Wittering and heads west along the low-tide shallow waters to West Wittering where the event finishes just outside West Wittering Windsurf Club.

There are separate divisions for SUP, kayak and surf and will be prizes for the winners in each division and age category.

To enter, please download an entry form and a sponsorship form.

The entry fee for all divisions and categories is £10 and this includes a barbecue provided at the end at West Wittering Windsurf Club.

To see the photos and results from last year’s event, have a look at this.

If you want any further information, please get in touch with West Wittering Windsurf Club on 01243 513077 or info@x-train.co.uk