Lots of wind for our new students!
July 12, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
11. July
This weekend 2 friends from Holland arrived, while we were having a great party at the sailingbar. It was the last evening for Joy and Anna and the first for Wilmer and Jesse, and we had a great time together dancing on the afro beats till late. Wilmer made an amazing website for us and as a thanks he gets kitesurflessons for a week!
The next day Wilmer and Jesse had their first lesson, and the wind was really perfect. Also Sergio came by to check if kitesurfing would be something he wanted to try, and there was no doubt he wanted to go with us on the water that afternoon! So after a quick theorylesson, everybody changed his boardshort for a wetsuit and once everything was in the boot, we were ready to rock & roll.
Also Sibi joined us this day, and went kitesurfing the entire afternoon for the first time on lake Garda. He really enjoyed it, and as you can see on the pictures he made some beautiful backrolls!
First Wilmer, our VIP for this week, and Jesse jumped into the water to practise the bodydragging. The only noise we heard besides the wind was Jesse shouting and laughing while Wilmer did the downwind bodydragging. They had so much fun and they did great! Also Sergio jumped into the water with an 11,5m Kahoona to practise the bodydragging and we were amazed how well they all did! After a couple of kilometers going downwind (yes, that´s so great about lake Garda, soooo much space!) the guys got some instructions how to go upwind again. That was a bit more difficult because of your arm which has to be in the right direction and the kite you have to control with one hand. But again they all did great and most of the them found the buoy we dropped in the water which they had to reach by going upwind.
As I said before, the circumstances were perfect, so we were on the water for 3 hours. The last half an hour Mika and Sibi impressed us with their nice jumps, powerfull backrolls, and ass kicking railies. Check the pictures on picasa!
Hopefully tomorrow will be another perfect day, so the guys can go on with upwind bodydragging with a board and practising the waterstart!
a new blog post from Joy!
July 10, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
“Goodmorning!!” With a splash of water in my face I realized that the second lesson had already begon. It’s only 7 am, and we’re on the boat fighting the waves to get to the good side of the lake where the wind is at its best. During our first lesson we learned how to body drag, and to be honest, I would have been fine just body dragging all day; it was so much fun! When you’ve never been attached to a kite before, it’s impossible to imagine what it’s like being pulled forward and out of the water by something so powerful! But, the lessons are going on and of course I’m here to kite surf! So, today it’s time to body drag upwind with the board, and perhaps try doing a water start. The body dragging went fine, and after about 5 tries I got the board under my feet and was ready to ride myself to the other side of the lake..but of course, as you would’ve guessed I only got myself standing up on the board for about 2 seconds instead of 2 kilometers..Mika’s “slowly, slowly, slowly!” started to slowly have it’s effect and my favorite Latin proverb “Vis Temperata Fortior” (controlled power is stronger) started to make it’s way to my bar. After a lot more tries and crashes I made another good water start, but riding to the other side of the lake will have to wait till the next lesson.. 
Wind Riders is running maximum
July 7, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
Joy and Anna from Holland
None of us had a real expectation. We had the idea to just do it. Looking back we’ve had a start we can dream of!
The first month was a bit tough. A lot of things to organizes and too many bills to pay.
But from the moment that I had my first student in the water and he was making a very nice downwind bodydrag I knew where I was working for. It is so much fun to be out there on Lake Garda. My students make kilometers of bodydragging and riding. Which other spot offers this?
After the first month things got easier. Mae came to help me out, So I could focus more on the teaching of the intermediated students and she took over the organisation of the bookings and some assistent work.
She was there when the motor stopped working and we had to get rescued. It was a bit painful but also a good learning experience. Now we know that we can count on our collega’s from other kiteschools to help us when we need help. And of course we will be there for them if they need us.
We have had the most interesting people to teach. From all over the world: USA, Germany, Luxembourg, Scotland, South Afrika, Holland, Italy, Russia, Poland and more! There are students we will remember for a very long time. Not everyday a 70+ year old German shows up to learn kitesurfing. Also the first real Italian guests where so much fun to meet. And than the first Italian guest who only spoke Italian. A challenge but fun.
Now it is the high season and we have to say ‘no’ to people because we are fully booked. We have our first returning guests and we hope of course to see some more coming back to us.
We are looking foward to have more interesting people from all over the world to come and join the ride with us!
Wind Riders on facebook!
July 1, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
Add us as your friends on facebook: Wind Riders, Maayke Tadema, Margreet Meijering
- Check out the pictures which our students post online on facebook.
- Follow the Italian students with there kiteloop challenges.
- Get a good image of how the lessons are built up:
-lesson 1: set up, downwind body dragging
-lessons 2: upwind body dragging.
-Lesson 3: waterstart (riding) and selfrescue
-lesson 4: riding ( upwind riding )
-lesson 5: upwind riding and turning.
And lots more!
The Wind Riders girls
July 1, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized
Our school is a bit special. That is because 2 girls are running the school. At these pictures you see us waiting for wind. Usually we do that everyday between 11 and 1. This is because the northwind stops around 11 and the south wind comes up around 1.
Well we don’t mind chilling and tanning in the sun:)
… As long as we can cool off in the water with a good kitesession afterwards….
