Sup Gower Demo day- Its all FREE !!

July 5th, 2009

You may never have heard of Stand Up Paddle Boarding – or you may be a seasoned pro – but either way SUP Gower has the perfect event lined up just for you.  Their SUP Demo Day on Saturday 18th July invites you to come along and try out this fun and exciting sport for free.  Friday 24th July brings you The Bay 6K SUP Distance Sprint, with an awesome first prize of a Drops Fibre Paddle worth £169!  Please read on for more…

SUP GOWER DEMO DAYS

SUP Demo Day
Date & Time: Saturday 18th July 2009 from 2pm
Location: The Watersports Station, Swansea Bay (opposite The Guildhall)

Stand Up Paddle Boarding, or SUP Boarding as it’s become known, has taken the surfing scene by storm, and once you’ve tried this fun and versatile sport you’ll understand why!  Imagine cruising along the coastline at a leisurely pace, stopping off at tiny coves and taking in the marine life and surroundings… Or how about being able to access remote off-shore breaks and experience a heart-pounding adrenaline ride in big swell… welcome to the awesomely versatile sport of SUP Boarding!  Check out the photos uploaded on this page.

If you fancy giving it a go FOR FREE then come along to the SUP Gower Demo Day for a taster.  All equipment and wetsuits will be provided free of charge. 

stand up paddling distance event

The Bay 6K Distance Sprint FREE ENTRY!
Date & Time: Friday 24th July 2009 6pm
Location: Set off from Mumbles slip near Verdi’s Café, finish at The Watersports Station, Swansea Bay

If the taster session whets your appetite or you’re already out there doing it, then charge yourself up for THE BAY 6K DISTANCE SPRINT!  This race is Swansea’s first official SUP race and a pre-runner to the forthcoming BSUPA Championships to be held at Bae Fest 2009 in September. 

The Prizes
1st Drops Paddle (RRP £169) and Winner’s Trophy
2nd Dakine SUP Leash
3rd SUP Gower T-Shirt

The Route

sup gower bay 6k

Please check out the route map on this event page.  Competitors will set off at the slip near Verdi’s Café, Mumbles.  The route will be set by buoys and safety boat cover will be provided by Gower Kite Riders. 
The course takes you N/W to the Marker Post on Swansea Bay then a sharp turn N/W takes you along the final stage to the finishing point.  If at any point during the route you feel you cannot continue, please draw the attention of one of the organisers or safety boat operator who will be happy to assist you.  When you dismount on the shore you must carry your board up to the finishing post where the judges will record the winner.  Please feel free to hang around for a while for a mess around on the Bay and some light refreshments courtesy of The Watersports Station!

Return to Mumbles
If you need to return to your vehicle in Mumbles, you may not feel up to the paddle back across the water so try to arrange for someone to collect you from finishing point!

Entry Criteria
All entrants must:
Be fit and a proficient swimmer
Provide their own SUP board and paddle (alternatively boards are available for hire from SUP Gower at £10 special rate for the race)
Wear apparel appropriate to the weather conditions (Let’s hope it’ll be boardies weather
Agree to the content of the Disclaimer at the foot of this page (Disclaimer must be signed on the evening prior to setting off)
Registration
You must register in advance, either by calling Matt Smith on 07799 0624499 or Jay Doyle on 07970 577879.  Alternatively email  with your name , age , e mail contact to : matt@gowerkiteriders.com 

You must arrive no later than 5.30pm to sign in at the race start point.

Male and female participants of all ages are welcome and although this is a race, it’s all in the name of fun and about building the light-hearted and friendly community of SUP Boarding so you don’t have to win it to be in it!

Kayakers are welcome to participate but the prizes will be awarded to SUP Boarders only.

Any news on the event will be posted here and also on SUP Gower’s official website at www.supgower.com so keep checking in for updates!

Disclaimer
Participation in the THE BAY 6K is undertaken at the participant’s own risk and SUP Gower, its subsidiaries, associated businesses and proprietor shall not be held personally liable for any personal loss, damage, injury incurred by participants to themselves and/or their property. 

ThE Watersports station -NEW beach centre

June 26th, 2009

 Watersports for all, swansea bay watersports, swansea watersports

Gower kiteriders are now based on swansea bay offering all various watersports for all.

On offer from our beach premises we have : Kitesurfing, powerkiting, kite landboarding , kite buggying, stand up paddleboarding, ZAPCAT rides , wakesurfing, slacklining, beach volleyball, space hoppers and a cool relaxed place to chill out on the beach this summer.

call- 07799062447

Drops SUP

June 21st, 2009

DropsDrops SUP the Italian Windsurf board manufacturer has recently commisioned some shapes by Patrice guenole gongsup for their SUP range.
drops SUP

We are hoping to get some 8’10, 8’11 and 10’11 for demo soon – so watch this space for updates.

Swansea Stand up Surf

June 14th, 2009

A fantastic weekend of surf and calm conditions on Gower.

Stand up Paddleboarding is the perfect way to cool off this summer as the heat keeps building.

Come learn on the shores of Swansea bay and Gower – Wales’s only stand up paddleboard school.

September 13th come join the fun – BSUPA distance paddle and SUP surf contest to be held at Caswell bay Gower. check baefest

Zapcat powerboarding

June 7th, 2009

zap cat wales 

Developed in South Africa as a surf rescue boat, these amazingly versatile inflatable catermarans have become the globes fastest growing powerboat race curcuit. Armed with a 50hp outboard engine these crazy bits of kit will fire you across the water with the exceleration of a formula one race car and pull 2G’s as you corner supposedly they have the power to weight ratio of a ferrari Testerossa.

Howard goes for a Ride in the ringo on a stag party activity break on gower

zapcat ringo rides

Anyway we have one and we love it ! – so come down and try your kiteboard behind it when the wind dies off and the water is sheet glass- you wont beat it for pure thrills and boy do you go fast..! hence the name ‘powerboarding’ the other easier but more frightening option is Zapcat ringo – think waltzers meets Water Log flume !!!!

zapcat ringo Howard on the ringo

RADSAILS -AZTEC KITE

June 7th, 2009

The Aztec is RADSAILS  new power kite for beginners. Fast and easy to use, the Aztec will provide a great power feeling without the huge push of the new RS range. Perfect for both children and adults, this starting range grants the whole control and the easy use that today’s most demanding beginners claim.
radsails aztec powerkite
Just like the rest of the range, it counts with a kite killer safety system that allows releasing the kite without loosing it in case of trouble.

Aztec kites come in their exclusive rucksacks which include built-in speakers that will enable you to listen to your favourite music while flying.

aztec powerkite 4m

We tested the 4m Aztec and found it to have great flying characteristics, Nice handles,A great speaker bag and also can be flown on a 2 line bar.
Get yours at Gower kiteriders

Summer of SUP

June 4th, 2009

stand up paddleIf If this summer turns out to be a hot one ! why not try out stand up paddleboarding.

Stand up paddleboarding in wales

What’s the difference from Surfing?
The Difference between modern surfing and the thrilling Stand Up Paddle Surfing is that you do not need a wave. With a SUP, one can paddle on the open ocean, in lakes, in marinas, rivers or any large body of water. One of the advantages of Stand Up Paddle Surfing is the angle of visibility. Because of the standing height over the water, this allows one to see both deeper into the water and further across the surface of the water, permiting better visualization of all the amazing features above or below the waters surface , whether it is the beautiful marine life or the incoming swells of the vast ocean on the horizon marching in towards you.

group stand up paddleboard lessons

SUP’n Fitness Benefits
Health and fitness experts from all over the world are quickly catching on to the outstanding and super beneficial cross-training of Stand Up Paddle Surfing, with personal trainers incorporating the sport into their fitness sessions.

get fit with SUP

Tone up and loose the Fat !
I have seen many people improve their fitness and grow in confidence after mastering this great sport. Not only that but they are also having FUN!”
It is also great Rehabilitation tool for people as you are consistently balancing and working the effected recovering muscles

Stand Up Paddle Surfing is definately a force to be reckoned with when it comes to a great workout! You will rarely see a Stand Up Paddle surfer with a big fat gut!

With introduction lessons @ 30 for 2 hours and hire at 7.50 per half hour there after its a great way to cool off as the temperatures rise !!

KITEIVAL -BKSA EVENT SUCCESS!

June 4th, 2009

Wow what an event !

Swansea Bay delivered big time to give us sunshine, showers and big winds !

swanse bay kiteival

From friday through to monday Swansea bay, south wales delived strong winds to the very large crew of Pros, amateurs and spectators who battled the elements to see the UK’S finest kite crew showing what they do best. We were even lucky to get a show from 5 times world champion Aaron Hadlow who had come to support the event. In 35-40knot wind the World champion showed the large beach crowd various moves from his repoitoir landing in only a foot of water with cat like ability. The event has really inspired Swansea’s kiting community.

swansea bay kite festival

Gower kiteriders who are based on Swansea bay have seen an increase in people wanting to get into kitesports. From basic lots of fun powerkiting, to kite landboarding and kite buggying and then into the water with our ’2 day learn to kitesurf’ course

  swansea bay course race

swansea bay kiteival comp 2009

Fingers crossed the event will be held in Swansea bay next year as part of The BKSA super series event locations.

BKSA RESULT PRIZES

<strong>RESULTS</strong>

Kiteival 09 Swansea

Dates- May 15th-17th Location- Swansea Bay Swansea South Wales

Event Sponsor- The City and County of Swansea Council Co-Event Sponsor- Gower Kiteriders, Flexifoil , North

Tour Sponsors- Red Bull, Deadman, Buff, King of Watersports

Disciplines- Kitesurf, Kitelandboard, Kitebuggy Freestyle and Kitesurf Course Racing

Results after 3 days of non stop wind and 97 competitors !

Kitesurf Freestyle

Pro Men

1 – Toby Raw
2 – Sam Light
3 – Ali Barratt

Pro Ladies

1 – Hannah Whitely
2 – Nicki Rudd
3 – Sarah Silvester

Am Men

1 – Tom Butler
2 – Sam Moore
3 – Ben Todd

Am Ladies

1 – Megan Griffiths
2 – Sukie Robertson
3 – Sherly Confue

Seniors

1 – Pete Whitely
2 – Matthew Davies
3 – Marc Rowley

Juniors
1 – Dan Morrice
2 – Dan Sweeney
3 – Oli Bridge

Course Racing Kitesurf 1 Steph Bridge
2 Andy Gratwick
3 Denzil Williams
4 Steve Stubbs
5 Callum Edge
6 Darren Pompey
7 Jason Mc Caffery
8 James Longmuir
9= Rob Darling
9= Dom Moore
11= Neil Harper
11= Nicky Rudd
13= Alex Laird
13= Matt Smith
13= Peter Whiteley
16 James Edwards
17 Steve Mews

Kitelandboard Freestyle
Mens

1st: Lewis Wilby

2nd: AJ Philipsen

3rd: Nick Austin

Juniors

1st: James Langton

2nd Greg Chilton

4th = Robbie Shire Maidment, Ted Polkey , Jack Daykin

Kitebuggy Freestyle

1st Will McKeen

2nd Neil Oakden

3rd Frazier Cohen
Thanks to everyone involved .

_________________
Richard Gowers

events@kitesurfing.org
chairman@kitesurfing.org
http://www.kitesurfing.org

Kiteival Comp @ Swansea Bay

April 22nd, 2009

15-17 MAY 2009 The BKSA kiteports competition comes to Wales!
Want a new sport to get your teeth sunk into this summer!!!!!
Kiteival will be a 3 day kite extravaganza with all sorts going on over the 3 day festival including:kitesurfing, kiteboarding, kite landboarding, kite buggying,kite course racing, free powerkite lessons, skate park madness and much more.
Kite festival swansea bay

Check this movie if you’re new to Kitesports

Blown – Trailer from main media on Vimeo.

Come and join the fun !!!

Economy Stand Up Paddling

April 21st, 2009

Ok, everyones going through this economic slump and its looks like were not even half way through it!

Talking to a friend the other day about SUP’S we decided the sport will struggle with brands selling boards for extortianate prices due to the weak pound against dollar and Euro. A certain Hawaiin SUP brand has board prices double what they were 8 months ago.

summar stand up paddling gower

Here at Gower SUP we are here to help! – We have GONG boards in stock at great prices in sizes 9’3, 9’11, 10’2, 10’8 . starting at 576 pounds.

Gong paddleboards

Fancy a go,  give us a bell! it really is the sport to try this summer and best of all its Great for you. Imagine those balmy summer evenings crusing over flat glassy water or paddling into your first wave on a clean summer swell at your local beach.

Get in touch – 07799062447 or mail@gowerkiteriders.com