10.01.09 – Llangennith Demo Weekend.
Last weekend the ATBShop team headed to Wales to hold a demo weekend in the Gower!
There wasn’t much wind forecast for the weekend sadly but we were as ever very optimistic. We’d already had txt messages from people to say they’d started the weekend early and headed down on Friday and were having a great session!
Marcus and Stu were both green with envy, itching to get out there onto the beach. The whole of Friday was spent on Wind guru and Xc checking the forecast in between serving customers in store and on line.
Armed with the ATBShop team van bursting full of kit, Marcus and Diana headed out on road Friday evening. We had packed every piece of kiting equipment we had and had been loaned extra Kahoonas to try from Best as well as a rather nice sun tent/base camp. On our way up to the Gower we received a call saying the nearest campsite to the beach was full and the next campsite was getting that way!
The weather forecast was sunny so every Welshman and his wife wanted to go to the beach, which was bad for us as we didn’t think we’d get a space!
Luckily we did find a “campsite” (field and portaloo) that night and were up by 7am the following morning after a chilled evening drinking and chatting with other fellow kiters we’d just met!
The following morning we headed down to the beach where we made a quick brew, mushroom and egg bap and then we hit the beach bright and early!
We were so excited we took everything down to the beach and inflated all of the Lei’s. We then kept checking the wind and every time there was a bit we grabbed a kite!
Saturday went to the Flysurfer Speed 2 Silver Arrow. The lack of wind put the Flysurfer to the test but none of us were disappointed as it flew so efficiently in low winds. Unfortunatley there was only the one so we took it in turns, waiting on the shore line for the next person to jump on. Coupled with the Flyboards Medium Door (155x42.5) just a breath of air was enough, kitesurfing was possible in just under 10mph and we were stonking upwind in 12 even through small swell!
It has to be said the combination of the Flydoor and Silver Arrow made our weekend! We are now even more excited about the launch of the Speed 3 and plan to have one on the demo fleet asap! Silver Arrow = low wind insurance policy.
Although all the local campsites were completely full the whole weekend there was still plenty of space on the beach and in the water. We got back late to the campsite after having to drag some people off the beach. Some people who’d come down to the demo hadn’t booked a campsite so we took it in turns having to blag each person into the fully booked site with the farmer.
Luckily the farmer took pity on us and let a few of us stay after he’d turned so many away previously. After a late tea/food out of cans we had a nice evening chilling and chatting so we were refreshed for a full day down the beach.
A little later start saw us on the beach by 9am. Again all the kit but this time the first thing out the bag was the wind meter. A very disappointing start to Sunday morning saw a few desperately trying to see which kite would work in the least amount of wind. Again the Flysurfer's performance was miles ahead of anything.
As Sunday progressed more kiters took
to the beach and gave various kites and boards ago. Finally the wind
picked up late on Sunday afternoon. All the determined kite flyers
who stayed around to get the last bit of wind and sun in were
rewarded with a really good hour session.
Everyone had a kite and board of some description in hand. Smiles could be seen by all from a far. Everyone had been waiting all weekend for this hour and what an hour it was!
The Best Kahoona 11.5m really came into its own with people blasting up and down the beach. Beginners found the kite easy to fly and the more experienced kiters found the Kahoona an awesome grunt machine to boost under.
As for the 19m Speed, that just got more fun! We really had problems getting everyone to share the kite as we only had one! Marcus can’t wait to test the new Speed 3 and 2010 Flyboards later this month in Italy! – It’s a though job but someone has to do it!
Marcus ended his weekend with a bit of dune jumping. As you can see from the photos even the pro’s get it wrong some times! A bit of a sandy Marcus came back. Surely yet another excuses to get back into the water to rinse off? (he thought so)
Everyone came back from the beach feeling beaten! That last hour used a weekends worth of energy as people blasted up and down the beach. It was true to say all of us were considering throwing a sicky on Monday if we could stay an extra night! But sadly someone had to open the shop and we had Best booked in to see the new Waroo 2010 and Nemesis NXG. I think the whole of the country must have had an ace weekend as ATBShop was constantly busy on Monday.
We also had heaps of people calling to say thanks for an ace weekend and when was the next one? Well it will be soon so keep your diary free! It’s going to be a blast!
Thanks for everyone who came and made it such a good weekend. Watch out online or in the newsletter for information on the next one!