Yesterday saw plenty of wind 35knts with gust well into the 50s but some nice waves at levy. Had 3 hours picking off the sets all on my lonesome stacked on my 6m while Ding (www.supersaturated.tv) got some footage for his upcoming UK Wave vid.
Been scouring the coast today but just too blown out and no swell on the south coast due to the 40knt gusting 60 NW winds.
Looks good for tomorrow and the rest of the week so should have plenty more footage for the vid.
ps. Evos Rock
 
 
Picture
Will 1st, Sillsy 2nd, me 3rd
Monday 28th Sept- I left St Ives at 6.45am and drove to St Mawgan to pick up Will B via Doms to pick up the camera. After loading Wills kit, we set off on the long drive to Scotland driving nonstop for 14 hours stopping in Inverness for food and a kip at 9pm.

Tuesday 29th Sept- Will started driving at 5.30am whilst I stayed in the back asleep. We stopped for Sunrise around 7 and were in Thurso checking the surf at the other end of the country, only 24 hours after leaving Cornwall! After checking Brimms and munching a quick bit of brekkie we watched one guy grab a few overhead waves at Thurso East so started getting in the wetties. As the guy got out wearing gloves we both looked at each other thinking ‘it must be bloody cold if a locals got gloves on’ so grab gloves and hats and ran down the reef. As the wind dropped off and the surf got better we were soon both cooking in our new 5/4 West suits and decided to grab a drink and loose some rubber so we could best make the most of waves which were getting better all the time. Fed and minus the hats and gloves we were back on it, 4ft clean and sunny with 4 other guys out. We surfed until we couldn’t paddle any more. Sweet!

We were then back in the van and checking out John ‘o Groats, with the accustomed picture and postcards and off to Fraserburgh. 41/2 long hours, most of which we could see our destination on the other side of the Moray Firth and we were in the hostel having a beer with Mogsy.

Wednesday 30th Sept- Registration at 9.30 and then we were straight down to the beach and the best spot on the day, The Waters of Phillorth. Cross on wind from the left and about 2 foot of mushy waves. Not my favourite conditions!

The seniors kicked off proceedings with the wind a bit up and down. We ran the first round then women and then the men. Dodgy wind which was up and down and a bit weak waves which were crumbling and not good for backside riding meant I went for a bigger kite, to be able to ride frontside. I took the 11 Rebel and went powered grabbing a couple of small ones but not doing enough to take the win placing 2nd behind Genty who progressed straight to round 3 where as I was in to round 2 against Richie Sills on his forehand, who somehow also placed 2nd in his first heat?

After another round of seniors we were back on and the wind had picked up a shed loads so now we were all powered on 7s. With only 2 waves to count and it being really setty I opted to try and grab the bigger ones and ride in my regular stance on my backhand, knowing fore well, Sillsy has a killer frontside snap. I managed to grab 2 good ones but in the end I lost by .5 of a point so ended up the first day a disappointing 6th. Both Will and Sillsy then won their round 3 heats to progress straight to the final, while Genty went through against Elmo from the losers final. With the wind now honking and the waves coming through more and more in sets, it was really a case of who got the best waves and be able to beat Sillsy's fins out hacks. Will just managed to pull it off, grabbing the biggest waves of the day and took 1st ahead of Sillsy and Genty. Celebratory beers with Will and then early to bed for the forecasted jump in swell in the morning!

Thursday 1st Oct- Meeting at 9 the wind was real light but we could hear the waves pounding the beach just over the road. The spot for the day was Burgh or Town End as the wind was more NW which gave cross off conditions and the swell was pumping at around 4-5ft and clean. With everyone looking out thinking it was a bit dodgy, I was keen to get on it as it looked much more my conditions and straight away pumped up the 11. We were up first as the seniors seemed to think it was too big and too light?

This time round I didn’t have any problems and caught a bomb right on the buzzer and advanced straight to round 3 where for the first time in competition I met Will. With the waves picking up and now double overhead, my 11 Rebel was performing brilliantly and allowed me to scoot back upwind to get the next set. I won advancing to the final, while Will placed 2nd and went into the losers final where he defeated Genty allowing me my 2nd crack at beating him.

The final was now set and all strapless. Me on my 6’3 Resin8, Will on his 6’1 Santa Cruz and Sillsy on a 6’0 JP. I grabbed a cracker right on the buzzer and milked it all the way to the beach getting about 5 turns and a nice floater. I could now wait around for the next good set knowing I only needed a back up score. After a long wait I eventually found it and again nailed some nice turns riding all the way to the beach to take the win ahead of Will in 2nd and Sillsy 3rd. Ye Ha!

A lovely treat was fish & chips for lunch supplied by Richard W who was also competing in the seniors.

We then tried to run the seniors but they just complained it was not windy enough, even though it was exactly the same as it had been all day and going off.

With no wind forecast for Friday, the organisers laid on a quiz night in the pub and we all had a nice few cheeky ones!

Friday 2nd Oct- With a lie in and a slight head, we met up at 10.30 and did some interviews for Scottish TV, The Outdoor Show and then went for brekkie at Tesco’s. As the wind swung more offshore we went back to The Waters of Phillorth and found some nice 3ft surf. We then tried some Haggis for lunch before returning to the hostel for a shower and then off out for some ten pin bowling all laid on by the organisers. I drove so as to keep a clear head for the forecasted gales the next day, which lead to great amusement for me as everyone got progressively more drunk and worse at bowling. Genty showed he bowls a lot and almost got a full run of strikes.

Saturday 3rd Oct- We woke up to it howling but not too windy and went back for the 3rd time to The Waters of Phillorth to find small waves and around 30knts of breeze. We went straight in to the seniors and women’s 2nd day of competition and managed to get though quite a few heats before even a 5m kite was too big and it was blowing around 50knts. We finished for the day and headed off to check out the wind near the lighthouse and take some pics. For the evening there was food laid on at the Tufted Duck pub which was all very nice. I drove again keen to keep a clear head with it forecast to be pumping again early.

Sunday 4th Oct- The final day and I rose early to check out several different spots on the way to the 9am meeting. After a bit of disagreement from the organisers we drove to a spot called the Boneyard, which I had already checked only to see for themselves that it wasn’t working before we drove back to Burgh where it was pumping up to triple overhead on some sets and 6m weather. I was straight out pumping up and urging everyone on so that we could get started and finished before the wind dropped as it was forecast to by 1pm. Eventually the seniors got ready and we ran the last of their heats before a round of women and then us.

For my first heat it was still blowing nicely and I was powered on the 6, grabbing a sick wave to start and finishing with a floater onto almost dry sand. I progressed straight to round 3 where I met up with Will and Genty again. By now the wind was dropping fast and I had to go on the 9 Rebel to have enough power. The heat started with a cracking set coming through and I took the first one with Will on the 2nd. Will then found it hard to get back upwind while the Rebel just flew and I was right back in the peak ready for the next set. The next one was even better than the first and I rode it all the way beating will for the 3rd time and progressing to the Final.

Will was then against Ibby in the losers final who was on fire on his 10 Vegas and loving the speed and power of the waves on the new North Kontact. Ibby got a couple of corkers and knocked Will out leaving me, Sillsy and Ibby in the final. With the wind dropping still I wished I had my 11 ready but had no time so had to go with the 9 knowing that I couldn’t win the overall but could still do it for Cornwall and beat Sillsy who had to win to take the 2009 title from Will.

It started off well and I got a sick one as did the others however. Sillsy was then left downwind and unable to get back while I had just enough power to stay upwind. On the next set I took off on possibly the biggest wave of the comp, cranking a nice top turn but hitting a funny bit of sideways chop off the bottom and falling. As I made my way back to try and grab the next wave Ibby powered past and turned onto the wave I needed and rode all the way to the beach. With no more set waves Ibby took the win and best wave prize ahead of me in 2nd and Sillsy 3rd which gave Will, his 3rd UK Wave Master Title in a row.

After prize giving where Will thanked everyone, we started the long drive home, stopping for a sleep in Carlisle before making the rest of the way south and to warm Cornwall where after dropping Will off I drove around the corner to people in shorts and bare tops. A bit of a difference to 3 jumpers, 2 pairs of trousers, woolly hats and coats we had on up there!

Big thanks goes to Mark and Maggie from Synergy, Richard for the fish supper, the BKSA and all the crew and everyone else who made it a cracking event. Especially the Scottish surfers who I found to be the friendliest I have come across anywhere in the world.

An even bigger thanks to my sponsors who have allowed me to have the best wave riding equipment you can get- North Kites, Resin8 surfboards, West wetsuits, Freeriders Surf Shop.

See you soon I hope

Lee ‘Pasty’ Harvey
 
 
Well what a busy week. Starting last Friday I signed onto the North Kiteboarding team which I am really pleased about! Finally no more little brands who just make stuff up they think you want to hear. The new kites and race board turned up on Tuesday just as some wind arrived letting me get a bit of practise in on the new 2010 Rebels 14, 11 and 9 over the next couple of days. Thursday saw a nice evening wave session on the 9 at Gwithian and Friday; the much anticipated swell from Hurricane Bill with WNW winds produced the goods at Porthleven on the 6. With high tide and no sand on the beach I had to get photo man Cabo to suit up, run out in between waves and launch the kite. Using my Resin8 6’3 Tokoro, I got some nice double overhead ones and almost a nice barrel, but as I stalled under the section an unsuspecting gust at the same time as the wave sucked out pulled me off the front and left me body surfing in the keg. Still was a good sesh and the first time on the 6’3 at Lev and I was real pleased as it performed better than any other board there before, even when the wind was occasionally cross on and the wave a bit choppy.

Then went home after a pasty and loaded the van for the drive to Blackpool. Luckily on the way Dad rang saying the bridge at Avon mouth was closed causing a 30 mile tail back so we got off the motorway just in time and drove via Bath. Added about 2 hours onto the trip but the radio said some people had been stuck for 71/2 hours so we weren’t too bad!

Saturday at 9am saw 26 people register for the Course Racing, a few ams, young and old freestylers (as the pros had finished on Friday) and a record 100 land kiters, good job it’s a big beach! With the wind blowing onshore at around 25knts and a big swell, we had to wait until 12 as the forecast was for the wind to drop and the theory was as the tide came in the swell would drop making it easier to launch the boat. I was a bit dubious and wasn’t sure if we would get any races in, knowing what the BKSA are like! At 12 it was still 25knts and big swell, but we had the briefing and were going for 2 races back to back on a triangle with 1 mile legs. After a bit of a delay we got underway with me on the Rebel 9, some on 7’s and one guy on an 11! At the top mark I was super pleased to be on the pace and in 2nd with all the fancy custom boards, huge fins and a load of bigging it up in the car park! With superior downwind speed I pulled out a nice lead, helped by Andy Gratwick sailing the wrong way round a mark I finished 1st. Next race and as the gun went the wind cranked up a notch leaving me super stacked. Coming into the 1st mark in the lead a huge roller broke in front of me launching me 20ft downwind and leaving me not able to make the mark. After 2 extra tacks I rounded in 2nd and put the foot on the gas to get my lead back. Another huge wave then broke on top of me whilst I was doing about 30knts and I had a big crash allowing Denzil and Andy to get through. Still a 1st and 4th at the end of the day on the new production North Race ltd with standard fins made me very happy. A few beers at the sailing club and it was off to bed!

Sunday and a lot less wind from the south (cross shore) made it look like much nicer race conditions. With everyone going for bigger kites the wind started to fill in out back leaving some in a dilemma. I went for the Rebel 14 on 32m lines, some were on 12s and Jason who was on a 11 yesterday went for a 16 crossbow in the hope he could win it after he somehow held onto the biggest kite to win the 2nd race.

The briefing was at 12 and the course which was left out from the day before was perfectly laid but for the other way, so this time we went round to starboard, same format again of 2 back to back.

Off the line I gave it full power and rounded in first to then take out a big lead downwind. Tacking in towards shore I lost out a fair bit and the dropping my last tack, I had to swim after the board which allowed Denzil to get past by about 200 metres. On the last reach I gave it my all and reeled him in to within a foot but as I crept underneath to try and force him off the finish line I spun out and crossed the line in a big ball of spray on my back to grab 2nd.

Race 4 and with the breeze more out to sea I powered off the line on port to round the mark first and never looked back. No mistakes this time and I took out a big lead to finish by almost the whole bottom reach and take my first Kitesurf competition win!

Big thanks to my sponsors- North, Freeriders, West, the BKSA and especially the race boat crew of Mike and his daughter who stuck it out despite being sick and scared in the 8-10 ft swell on Saturday. Let’s hope we can get more people into racing in the UK and make kitesurfing into the Olympics for 2016.

Hope you all make the most of this windy weather and ride safe!
Lee

Thanks to Joe Cockle for the lev pics!
 
 

New video up in the video section of a recent test of the new Eclipse Kima and Resin8 Tokoro surfboard. Filmed by my bro on his first shoot ever the footage is a bit wonky but not too bad for a mediocre day in west cornwall! more to come and ive now got some tachyon waterproof cameras for onboard stuff!!!

more sharks and other wildlife around at sea today and the first sunfish of the year came flapping by for a look. what a life these guys have.

in a bit of a dilemma with germany for the KPWT. to go or not to go? forecast is pretty awfull and its expensive. if i dont go to sylt then i will prob be able to afford to go Brasil, but if go prob not and only portugal, morocco twice + sylt which will work with 2 discards this year for overall but it will be better conditions and nicer weather in Cumbuco so what do i do?

Sponsors needed, can you help?

 
School Talk 03/23/2009
 

Kernow Kitesurf Club in School



            On the Thursday before half term, as part of Mounts Bay Schools, learning week KKC chairman, Lee ’Pasty’ Harvey gave a talk on kites and Kitesurfing to 170 year 7 pupils. With gasps of excitement as the kite inflated, all the youngsters were really keen on trying the sport and were interested in both Kitesurfing and Powerkites.

Lee gave a brief history of kites and the sport of Kitesurfing before showing the different types of kites, boards and harnesses you can use.

            With a lot of questions being asked as well as most of them wanting to have a go (teachers as well), lee in his new job role for Penwith Schools Sports Partnership as school/club links co-ordinator, is now formulating a plan to deliver power kiting within all Cornish schools as part of an after school club, with a view to the youngsters moving onto Kitesurfing through their local kite school.

 

 
 

After featuring in most issues of Kitesurf magazine for around a year, March 2009 sees me feature for the first time in both magazines at once and the same mag as Mick Fanning!

After an epic winter of waves here in Cornwall, its good to see the UK being regognised as having top quality breaks alongside far away dream destinations. Working with top surf photographers, you can be sure to see me in many more mags and websites, such as www.surftwisted.com where they are realising the potential of kites in waves and spreading the word to surfers across the world.

Been some epic days this past week and they got some cracking shots so as well as this months, make sure you buy next monts issues!

Happy Riding

Lee
ps. not showing you all the article and pics, you'll have to buy the mags, loads of good stuff in both so its worth it!!

 
 

Finally i have pretty much finished my website. with the wind and swell now dropping off and it forecasted for 1 degree over the weekend! i am writing up and article to go with all the awesome pics we have from the last 3 weeks. as soon as its done it will be in the news section so keep an eye out!

Over the next few months i will be adding a technique section covering all aspects of riding waves with a kite and a surfboard. planned start is Gybing technique, following on right through to 360s off the lip. if you have something specific you want to see send me a mail and ill try and get my camera men to get the shots to go with the words, to explain all!

been testing boards for kitesurf magazine lately so be sure to pick up the next few issues for all my findings and check back here regulary for all news from my world.

hope you like it?

happy safe riding

lee



 
 

Well the wind and swell is finally dying down after an epic 2 weeks. l with a memorable one last fri at Godrevy, backdooring mutant wedges on waht probably looked like closeouts from the beach and this fri at Leven with some epic rides and more barrels. photos are on the way