While out in Dakhla recently running the Pasty Adventures coaching camps, I also managed to score a few sessions myself. Conditions were the best I've had yet with wind and waves everyday for two weeks. I also managed to fit in a bit of foil testing for the new Fastafoil freeride wing and had my best freestyle session for many years even landing a few handle passes!
For details of the coaching trip click here- 
http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/news-blog/dakhla-kitesurf-coaching-holidays-the-best-yet 
Here's a video of a few waves :)

I had an amazing month out in Dakhla, Morocco where I ran a 10 day Wave Coaching camp in conjunction with Kite Morocco (see write up here) followed by competing on the PKRA World Tour where they held the only scheduled KiteWave contest for 2014.
As such 49 men entered the waves which is a massive record and more than the Freestyle which had 47 men. This meant they had to run Qualifiers with only the Top 12 IKA ranked men pre-qualifying into the main event. This was a pretty tight system with the likes of Mitu, Airton, myself and many other top wave riders having to qualify.
The first day of waves was Wednesday when we all went to Oum laboiur and started competition around 1.30pm after it took a while to get everyone there and the stuff set up to go. The good thing was as the tide came up it started to pump with nice head high sets reeling down the perfect right hand point.

With only one race crew and just 3 judges, they ran 4 heats of 9 people on the water for 10 mins, with the best 3 from each heat advancing to the main draw. Pretty tight and impossible to get any good waves and even for the 3 judges sat in a bus to see those waves, but I was pleased to make it through.
In round 1, I had No. 1 seed Pedro and Airton, so pretty tough and again only 10 mins to catch 2 good waves which is tricky on a super settie point break.
I felt I rode really well and seeing both Airton and Pedro fall on some good waves thought I had the win? But no I placed 3rd with only 0.33 seperating all of us and on looking at the scores there was a massive split between judges with 1 giving me a 6.9 and the other a 5 with the 3rd a 6.0. That's the problem with having only 3 judges and the reason you need 5 so you can drop the high and low to get the average, which means if one judge misses something you do not lose out.
So that meant into round 2 where I faced a local Moroccan guy. This happened the next day in smaller waves but still nicely rippable. Again I felt I rode well and coming to the beach was told by loads of people I had the win easily including the guys girlfriend, Kirsty Jones. Yet again I lost and looking at my scores they had what I thought was my best wave by far as only my 3rd best. Seems they weren't scoring the inside section as they couldn't see without turning round in the bus!
So that was it for me. The next rounds went down with some great riding but also some more dubious judging. The PKRA really needs to sort their act out if they are serious about running the World Wave Champs and have a seperate crew with dedicated surf judges so that they can run at the same time as the freestyle rather than just an add on!!!!
Well done to Keahi and Moona who were both ripping and deserved the wins.

For the next three days all us wave riders were stuck at the lagoon where the freestyle was running, as Dakhla Attitude would not take us to the point. Didn't bother us that much as it was small apart from sat & sun when it was pumping again! Still the wind was howling, so we all did some strapless freestyle and then watched the freestyle finals. Aaron made 3rd in the singles but unfortunately crashed a few too many tricks in the doubles when it was blowing 30+ knts. Well done to Marc & Gisela who took the wins riding with the most power and landing the most tricks in the super chop!

So that's it for World Wave comps for 2014 unless the PKRA sort it out? Shame as with that many entries it shows their is the demand for a Wave Tour, I would really like to improve on my 17th place!

Thanks to all the friendly people that helped me out during my time in Dakhla :)

We are really excited to be going back to Dakhla, one of our favorite places in the World to Kitesurf.
For 2014 we have sorted out a really great deal with our friends at Kite Morocco staying at the new Dakhla Spirit Surf House.

• 7 Nights - £545 (1st - 8th March) per person (includes 5 days coaching)
• 11 Nights - £675 (1st - 12th March)per person (includes 7 days coaching)
  

Price includes shared accommodation at Dakhla Spirit, 3 meals a day, all transfers in Dakhla, coaching from Lee Harvey & more.
Strictly limited to 6 people per coaching session. (i.e 6 for wave, 6 for freeride).
Private room and beginner packages available, details on request.

Flights are currently around £300-£330, for the 1st - 12th we recommend using Royal Air Maroc, Gatwick - Dakhla 
and for the 1st - 8th we recommend using the RAM Heathrow - Dakhla flight which we have found cheapest with Edreams.
Due to the need for an overnight stop in Casablanca on the return leg we recommend staying at the nearby Relax Airport Hotel (formally Atlas Hotel) which has a free shuttle outside the airport and costs around £60 for the night including breakfast.

Places are strictly limited to a max of 6 for Wave coaching and 6 for Freeride. Please don't hesitate to contact with any questions or queries. We have been to Dakhla many times so can help out with most things!
Email lee@pastyadvnetures.co.uk to book, this is a one off special deal and probably your last chance to visit Dakhla for under £1000!

More info on the website http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/dakhla.html

I look forward to you joining me on a Pasty Adventure in 2014
Cheers
Lee 'Pasty' Harvey

Join BKSA coach and 2013 British Kitesurfing Champion, Lee ‘Pasty’ Harvey in the kitesurf paradise of Dakhla this March. Pasty Adventures have teamed up with Kite Morocco to offer an amazing 11 night package staying at the new Dakhla Spirit surf house. The package includes- 11 nights shared room, 3 meals a day, transfers, 7 days coaching and more from only £675pp.

For this year we are not including flights as there are so many options to get to Dakhla. At the moment you can fly with Royal Air Maroc for only £313 meaning you get 11 nights in Dakhla for under £1000. Limited space so be quick!

For more info see the website www.pastyadventures.co.uk/dakhla

Pleased to announce I am running two exciting kitesurf coaching weeks in Dakhla in March 2014. Week 1 is a Freeride camp with kitesurfing mainly on the lagoon. Week 2 is wave focused and we will mostly be riding at the perfect right hand point break of Oum Laboir. 
Find all the details on the website http://www.pastyadventures.co.uk/dakhla.html
Price from £500 if booked by 1st October. Limited space so be quick.

check out our trip in 2012