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.

Well the wind has finally stopped in Cornwall today after blowing non stop since my return from Cape Verde. Its been stupidily windy and ive only missed a few days on the water, a couple cause it was gusting 10-40knts and new years as was up in London. Other than that ive mostly been out on the 6m Rebel and its mostly been on the south coast with some amazing days at marazion and praa. Unfortunately to huge swell back in mid dec washed all the sand away from the super sketchy launch site at Porthleven making it impossible to get out on the kite. Gutted as a couple of days it would of been cover material 4 times overhead, but hopefully with light winds this week and big tides it will push the sand back?
Got loads of amazing pics going to the mags thenaks to www.jnpevents.co.uk and www.splashography.com where you can view or buy some that arent going to print.
Spaces are now filling up for my Dakhla coacing holiday so if you want to come along to this desert kite paradise be quick, details on website
http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/holidays.html 
Pretty busy this week working on the boat and finalsing my Resin8 Pro models, pretty exciting times and proto boards have been rocking.

Stay safe and if youre in the UK come down to Marazion next sat 14th jan for the www.keronwkitesurfclub.co.uk meet up with demo gear from North and more.
cheers
lee

Well the end of the year is almost here and what a great year it was for Kitesurfing both around the World and at home here in Cornwall!
I finished 10th on the KSP World Tour which was a little disappointing due to my poor result in Mauritius and the lack of waves in Cape Verde. Still had some great times in some amazing places and learnt lots to practise to be ready for 2012 and gain some podium finishes!
In 2011 I have been to Dakhla & Lanzarote for the PKRA, Fuerte for a video shoot, Mauritius, Peru & Cape Verde for the KSP as well as all the trips around the UK chasing waves and competing in race events.
My best trip had to be Peru, due to the amazing long waves, friendly people and the culture. The best kite waves were in Mauritius at One Eye which was 20ft most of the time I was there. My best surf barrel was in Fuerte and my best day of the year was in Lobitos, Peru where I surfed, Kited twice then surfed again getting a load of tubes.
I have met some great friends on Tour, most noteably Mauricio and the Brazilian crew, who are great guys and super passionate as well as being amazing surfers and kiters. I cant wait to visit their home in 2012.

Still some of my best sessions have been at home in Cornwall, riding alone or with friends in amazing perfect waves and no crowds. Just a bit colder but in my West wetsuits you stay nice and warm and only have to stop riding when you are too tired to carry on.
Huge appreciation goes out to everyone involved with pushing the sport of Kitewave riding forward both at home and around the World.
Big thanks to all my sponsors and Joe Cockle of www.jnpevents.co.uk for taking the leatest pics at home.
You can check out the write ups and pics from my year by searching the blog.

I now have a Facebook page so like me and be in with a chance of winning some prizes in the new year.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lee-Harvey/337649682918915 

All the best for 2012
Lee

Join me on an adventure this winter with a coaching holiday in Dakhla or Egypt. Details on website http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/holidays.html 

I travelled out a few days before the event
started on 2nd December with the forecast showing some promise of a swell hitting just in time for the
event to start. Having been to Sal a few times before and getting skunked when I was there for a month for my 30th birthday a few years back, I was a little weary of the swell being too north to get into Ponta Preta.

 Arriving to my friends Phil and Vicky of Cape Verde Imports, I managed to get straight out for some left hand waves at Punta Leme at the bottom of town past the Angulo windsurf centre. After this I went to check in at the Farol hotel which Mitu had arranged with an amazing deal of All Inclusive for 25 euro a night. Thanks! Gorging myself on some amazing food I hooked up with the Brazilians, Ian Glaza & Mauricio Padreira and Portugese champ Nuno Stru and decided to rent a truck together to make the most of any swell we could find. Driving to get the car in an Alluger, the guys ended up negotiating with the driver to be ours for the duration and got it for less than the price of the hire car including driver, Jaouso and fuel. Nice!

 So the first day of the comp saw no waves at Ponta Preta and the call was made for a lay day. We all then headed North to my favourite spot on the island, Curral Jouel to see if there was a wave. It turned out to be small but fun and easy enough to launch on the rocks, which is impossible when its over 3ft and the reason the event could not run there. We all had some fun waves on 12-9m kites and it turned out Jaouso was good fun and keen to film and take pictures. Perfect!

Saturday dawned with magic seaweed showing decent swell with a
large period but with a lot of north in it. We had the riders meeting at 8am at
Ponta Preta with the occasional overhead wave breaking and light winds. We were
  put on hold for the wind to come up and the first heat started around 11am. I
was up in heat 3 with the wind super light, I borrowed Sky’s new 12m Fuse and
rode my 5’7 Resin8 Scoop. With my knowledge of the break I had 5 fairly average
  waves which were all of the sets that came through but then with 3 minutes to
  go of the 15, the head judge called the heat off stating it was too inconsistent. Shame as I was winning by 4.5 points! This turned out to be it for the contest proper which was a massive shame for me as some of the riders beating me in the rankings had never gone right and I was confident of a good result on my preferred direction which would of moved me considerably higher up the rankings! Still we all jumped in for a surf and had fun until dark, when we went back to our all inclusive palace.

 Sunday and yet again we were at Ponta Preta at 8am, but this time it was almost totally flat. The call was for an expression session at Secrets at the top of the island. Knowing it would take a few hours for them to set up, the real wave crew, now joined by Spanish rider Diego Anta, headed all the way to the top and a pumping Curral Jouel. Our plan was to have a quick hour before riding the 3km downwind to Secrets for the expression session with Jaouso driving down to meet us. Needless to say with sets approaching double overhead and only 5 of us out on 7m kites, we ended up riding for nearer 3 hours and by the time we made it to Secrets, we had missed our heats and they were onto the semis. Watching the action while we ate lunch we then sped back for the second session and were greeted with more offshore wind and perfect glassy waves. 7 hours of riding with just friends in great waves really made the trip worth while, especially as most of the other riders were all moaning about the lack of waves! Big congrats to Bear Karry who won the expression session.

 Monday we were yet again meeting at 8am even though no waves were
forecast. The call was expression session at Kite Beach. This turned out to be
mostly jumping, right next to the beach in Onshore winds. The locals showed
everyone how it’s done and Airton took the win with some amazing strapless
tricks while Kirsty showed that the girls can do some strapless jumps too!

With no more waves forecast for the foreseeable future and an upcoming  strike by Tap Air, the contest director decided to call the event off meaning most people could change their flights and fly home instead of being stranded for another 2 weeks. I managed to book a new flight back to the UK and left the next day after a great beach party at Mitu’s centre on the beach in front of the Hotel.

With everyone getting equal points for the event, The top 3 men for the year are – Airton, Mitu & Guilly while the women are – Innes, Marie & Kristin. I ended up 10th which is ok but definitely gives me plenty to work on for next year and my goal of Top 5.

Big congrats to 2011 Wave World Champions - Airton Cozzolino & Innes Correia and to the whole KSP Crew for forming an amazing tour and pushing the sport in the right direction.


I would like to thank my sponsors-
North Kiteboarding, Resin8 Surfboards, Freeirders, West wetsuits, Wiley X & the BKSA for all the support throughout the year and Sportif for the help with my flight to Mauritius. Also Tara and my whole family, whom I couldn’t do it without!

Have a great Christmas and an amazing 2012

Lee

Nice article from my trip to Lobitos after the KSP Pacasmayo kite comp in october. check it out http://www.iksurfmag.com/issue30/ 

After some epic sessions at home lately and a couple of surfs and kites at Porthleven this week, I am now ready and packed for the last leg of www.kspworldtour.com in Cape Verde. In my bag I have- 6'3 Resin8 Tokoro, 5'7 Resin8 Scoop, 6'0 North Wam, 2012 North Rebels 7 & 9m. The perfect quiver to surf and kite and looks like we are going to get some good swell on the weekend. Just hope theres enough getting into Ponta Preta in the next few days to get used to it as not been there for a few years now.
Been testing out the Dynabar from Jay this past week and had some good sessions at Gwithian as well as Lev so tried it out on my backhand as well as frontside. Seems good and allows you to get round a bit more on your turns without twisting your side. Check out the pics where you can see it working. Big thanks to Joe Cockle from www.jnpevents.co.uk for the pics. Be sure to check out the gallerys on his site for all the action here in West Cornwall.

I am running some coaching holidays in the New Year in conjunction with www.sportif.travel
Firstly a wave and freeride camp to Dakhla, Maroc 5th - 12th Feb
and an Improver camp to Sagafa, Egypt 24th Feb - 2nd March
more details on website http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/holidays.html 

cheers
lee

After the KSP comp in Pacasmayo I traveled North to Lobitos for a week of barrels.
I wasnt disappointed scoring some epic surfs despite the crowds and heavy rip. This place is just built for kiting and I scored many great hours either by myself or with a few others. Along with the cheap accommodation and food, this was for sure one of my best weeks of the year! Full story to come in the mags but heres a few pics for a taste.

Coming up I have a wave clinic at home here in Cornwall next week and then I'm off to Cape Verde for the last stop of the year on Tuesday. Be sure to watch it live at www.kspworldtour.com
In the new year I am running coaching holidays-
Sal Cape Verde, Wave Adventure 19-26th Jan
Dakhla, Maroc, Freeride & Beg Wave 5-12th Feb
Sagafa, Egypt, Improver (Twin tip) 24th Feb-2nd Mar
For more details check the website http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/holidays.html 
or contact www.sportif.travel who are dealing with the bookings for Dakhla and Egypt.

Stay safe
Lee