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Brazil brings it on |
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CLINIC BOOKINGS NEWS:
EL TUR – March & APRIL – SOLD OUT
PRASONISI, RHODES;
June - SOLD OUT
Sept – Looping on Sept 2 – 9 and Intermediates / Advanced on Sept 9 -16 are both almost full and have high interest for the last few places!
MAURITIUS – 28 Oct – 7 Nov. ’09 – waiting list already established in anticipation of bookings being taken from late Dec. / Early Jan ‘09
IRELAND – 3 – 10 Oct – available for bookings soon.
You snooze you lose : - )
CALL SPORTIF NOW ON 0044 (0)1273 844919, or email Phil Connor @ SPORTIF on phil@sportif.travel
I am just back from the gloriously warmer climes of Jeri, Brazil, where I was out there getting some pix for my “Wannabe a Wavesailor” technique series in Boards mag, and for my first 'Jeri Joy' clinic. It was great to be back in my apartment from where I could work and showcase the day’s video feedback, alongside a few cold ones of course. John ‘Coxy’ Cox held a barbie for my crew and informed them of his soon to be finished project at ‘Serrote Breezes.’
We had planing wind every day bar one but it was lighter than usual, though 5.8 to 5.0 weather was not be sniffed at. Jeri gives you heaps of different conditions from its tidal range and choice of beaches to go off at. The atmosphere is amazing and the food is cheap, plentiful and very tasty, add to all of this waves, sun and warmth and you get the picture. In addition the staff at Club Dos Ventos and Pousada Hibiscos are so helpful and friendly and make you feel right at home. You can therefore see why it was so popular with the crew.
Thanks and well done to the crew of Jules, Ben, Adam, Ruth, Anna, Clive, Nigel, Candace, Danny and Janne, who were working on riding, jumps, gybes, tacks and loops and we even had a new move invented called the ‘suicide cheese.’ This is where you sheet in hard before taking off, throw the mast forward and to leeward and then crash spectacularly but try to convince one and all it was really a forward – hmmm .. Sheet out and pop I say, then get the rig forwards and across and ……..
So what else is happening out there? Well Boardseeker mag is now free!! Yay, check out all the movies, news, gossip, humour and my technique articles and download their pod cast. I am doing a basic freestyle series right now in the mag which you may want to check out. We are also looking forward to some more of their tests – 85 fsws and 100 freestyles.
If it is tests you want then please check out the complementary tests on the RRD fsw 80 and TWIN 82 in the JAN / FEB issue of Boards. Maybe you have even lined up a subscription to it for an Xmas pressie??
Of course a lot of you have my movie ‘Beginner to Winner’ and are now eagerly anticipating the last in our trilogy of technique movies, ‘Winner to Wavesailor’ (working title). This is now in full steam and you can expect a release in spring ‘09. The free your mind production team are editing furiously and I am writing the last voice overs and will be recording these in Jan ’09. in addition I will be editing the live coaching chapters which were filmed in Brazil, and cover riding, jumping and 'Jem's loop tips'.
So it is defo winter out there and areas of your body are shrinking, and thinking I am not going in the water. But, if the water is above 7 and the air is around 9 – 12 degrees C it is not that bad, arm yourself with a good wetsuit and boots, a decent hood (that can come up and down) and some palmless wetsuit mitts and you are nice and toasty. Wrap up warm to rig and de – rig and invest in a neoprene-rigging jacket AKA windsurfers flasher coat and you are good to go.
Please reflect on your year and think about your strategies to ‘make ’09 your time to shine’. Be honest, set targets, be self aware and self analyse and move your sailing forward. Anytime is a good time to get fit / ter so work on that as well please.
I would like to thank those of you who have joined me in the last 6 years, as it is you who has built the momentum from which I am now reaping the rewards. This has resulted in 2009 being the earliest and fastest booking year I have ever had! Bring it on and I look forward to getting YOU ripping.
Have a very Merry Xmas and an awesome New Year,
Jem
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24/12/2008 |
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Marvelous Mauritius 7/7 |
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BREAKING NEWS:
EL TUR – March & APRIL – SOLD OUT
PRASONISI, RHODES;
June 10th – 17th - INTERMEDIATES – LAST FEW PLACES
June 24th – July 1st – INTERMEDIATES / ADVANCED – 2 PLACES
Sept – Both Looping and Ints /adv are half full and booking fast!
MAURITIUS – 28 Oct – 7 Nov. ’09 – waiting list already established in anticipation of bookings being taken from Early Dec.
IRELAND – 3 – 10 Oct – available for bookings soon.
You snooze you lose : - )
CALL SPORTIF NOW ON 0044 (0)1273 844919, or email Phil Connor @ SPORTIF on phil@sportif.travel
At the end of our glorious autumn my Mauritius clinic beckoned and so after a great weekend down in deepest Devon with the SWA (student windsurfing association) I was off to the Indian resort hotel in Le Morne, Mauritius for my busiest clinic there so far.
What an awesome week not only were the crew super positive, and well up for learning anything and everything, but we were also blessed with 7 / 7 windy / wavey days and then a bit of a light wind ending. The clinic saw the return of some familiar faces and my first 2 American clients plus a Dutchie. The moves of the moment were gybes, jumps, tacks, forwards, wave riding and vuclans. Alongside this copy are some pics of the crew that I screengrabbed off of the video footage.
A big well done to all the posse, John, Maureen, Marilyn, Lawrence, Paul, Nick, Steve, Fionn, Sonia Pavelin (ukwa / pwa competitor), Andy, Roberto, James and Adam. Some serious breakthroughs were made for one and all not least the action of getting the rig forwards and across in the loop. In terms of improvement and attitude it had one of the best clinics ever!
My good mate and sometime co-coach James Cox has a new photo upload section on his awesome weather website BIG SALTY. So please get on there and upload your pics and check out the ones up there already – looking very nice. The site also has lots of great info on beaches and forecasts for your next windsurfing UK ventures.
If you have not had the chance yet please take the time to check out some of the movies I have on the site on my new VIDEO PAGE. There are movies about destinations and teasers for the movies that we have in the ‘feed your soul’ trilogy. Including of course the great ‘Beginner to winner,’ which will make many people very happy this Xmas. Contact me or your nearest well stocked windsurfing retailer to buy one.
The wave movie is being worked on as we speak, I have written a lot of the script, we have bucket loads of footage and the editing is taking place now. Expect more news on this in the New Year and a very possible release for spring ’09. It will be the definitive wavesailing instructional movie and very comprehensive in the manner of BTW and of course their is a trailer on my video page : - )
I have enjoyed getting out in the recent wind though a tad cold on my big baldhead and it is good to see a lot of people out there enjoying it. I could not believe how busy Hayling Island was the other weekend over 2 cold and windy days.
If you are wanting a bit of live Jem coaching inspiration then please check out my freeride and basic freestyle technique series movies on Boardseeker online mag with new ones appearing every week or 2 until Jan '09. These were filmed out in Cape Town last year.
It will be off to Jericoacoara, Brazil on Nov. 28th for a weeks photo shot for my ‘Wannabe a wavesailor’ technique series(download past ones from my blog) in Boards mag and then I go into coach mode on Dec. 5th - 14th for my inaugural clinic there. Wind, waves. warmth, sun, improvement and good times are guaranteed.
Lastly, thanks to Gregor Mozetič for the other images from Rhodes last June. Flat water, wind, waves, warmth, sun and super friendly people in the hotel and the centre plus of course the worlds leading windsurf coach - you know it makes sense. The loop clinic is exactly as it says on the can and for loopers only and I will get you pulling that trigger, either for the first time or improving your technique. See you there in '09.
Enjoy,
Jem
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19/11/2008 |
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Brandon Bay goes off! |
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BREAKING NEWS: EL TUR in association with Oceansource.net – March 22- 29 – SOLD OUT. APRIL 26 – MAY 3 – SOLD OUT.
PRASONISI, RHODES – June – all 3 weeks have limited space with very high interest – you snooze you lose : - ) Book now with Sportif Holidays on 0044 (0) 1273 844919, international bookings welcome.
A huge thanks and welcome goes out to my newest sponsor USPmedia.tv who specialize in high quality video streaming and integrated online marketing. They have provided the platform for us to view hi res and full screen movies on my gallery page just click on the VIDEO tab. The technique page will be getting a facelift soon too.
Lots to tell so thank you for taking the time to read this.
Ireland in the autumn you just can’t beat it. My clients and I have just got back from the emerald Isle and beautiful Brandon Bay. We were blessed with a huge mix of conditions over the fortnight and had wind and waves aplenty. There were tired bodies and rosy cheeks all round. We had side off port tack at Kilcummin, side shore port at Fermoyle, huge side off port at Stradbally and we also had some starboard tack joy at Corner of pleasure (shitties is not a name that does it justice!).
A big well done to all the crew and huge respect to Adrian Cox for cutting his lip open at 9am and then getting stitched up and back on it by 12pm on the big 3.5 Thursday – believe me there was plenty of blood. Thanks to Nick, Tim, Ali, Gerry, Gary, John, Richard, Ciao and Grazi to my first Italian client, Mario from week 1. Further thanks to the week 2 posse, Gavan, Roy, David, Martin, Andy R, Adrian 'Lips' Cox and danke to my first German client, Andreas. Sounds like a Eurovision presentation ....
It was also very refreshing to have everyone keen to learn to surf or even improve, as some windsurfers just don’t get this idea of being a water person so as to develop their wavesailing. The joy of Ireland is that you will get waves almost every day and so you have to surf or wavesail according to the conditions to take advantage of this opportunity.
The twin fins were going really well and I could not believe how they held their rail, went tight and kept speed no matter how powered up they were. The twin fin 82 coped amazingly with overpowered 3.5 and 4.0 so it was great to get to know the twins wind range even further, as well as with bigger sails. My clients all had the opportunity to try all my RRD toys and loved them. The fsw 110 was working well in the lighter winds and was both smooth and loose when equipped with a smaller fin, as was the fsw 95. I also got out on the twin fin 99 which was amazingly loose and easy to catch waves on the lighter wind days.
We can thank Steve Holt and Paul Hopcroft, who are based out there, for the pics so check em out for some pix when you are out in Brandon Bay. They do prints, sequences and all the like. More pics will be uploaded to Pauls site very soon.
Seems like the RRD twins are not holding John Skye back as he has just got 1st place in the waves in Tiree so yes these twins do jump and very well. John just got 5th in PWA Sylt and 14th overall for the year. Hats off to James Cox, Ezzy team rider, as well for his best comp to date, as he has just finished 4th in the double elimination up in Tiree. Updates on Boardseeker.com site and their forum. James comes with me on some of my Rhodes coaching clinics to lend a hand and Skyeboy will also be accompanying me on a clinic next year.
It is off to Mauritius at end of October for me for a clinic out there and just before that I went to the student windsurfing association event ‘Aussie Kiss 7’ down in deepest Devon.
December will see me in Jeri, Brazil for a photoshoot and for my first clinic there. John Cox's apartments, Serrote Breezes. are progressing well, check out the pix. I can't wait to get back into my pad out there as well, we have bookings from July till Jan '09.
Bring on the autumn wind and remember 7/11 draws closer so get those loops sorted please – needs and wants.
Enjoy,
Jem
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23/10/2008 |
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Luscious Loops in Rhodes |
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RHODES - HALF TERM REPORT
A very good day to you all, as I write to you whilst being potentially stranded out in Prasonisi, Rhodes. The collapse of XL airways is obviously a shocker but Sportif holidays are all over it and will get us home somehow. I thought I would fill you in on the exploits occurring out here after 7 days of full on wind in a row and what is coming up for me.
There was a multicultural feel to the loop boost as I had 4 Greeks, my first Austrian, a Pole, an Irishmen and a Spanish Irishmen along with some good old brits. Quite a few were even on their 2nd clinic of the year. There is nothing more heart warming than to see them all line up and take their turn to sail out and pull that trigger for the video camera. It was all good clean fun with no injuries, except some healthy back bruising, and a lot of the crew getting close with some almost sailing away. The most important thing is that their journey has started and they now know how, when, where and why to loop and we can perhaps follow some of their exploits on the loop club thread.
There was lots of excellent improvement in all areas including tacking, gybing, popping, wymaroos, duck gybes, heli tacks. The crew who were not up for the looping also know what to do to move closer to it in the future and that is popping the board, tail grab jumps and light wind wymaroos. A big thank you and well done to Sokratis, Fotis, Kostas, Thanassis, Jurgen, Fionn, Carlos, Pistol Pete, Joe, Caroline, Andy, Martin, Piotr and of course Sophie.
Whilst being out here I have had plenty of time to get to grips with the RRD Twin Tip 110 ‘09 which is both an awesome freestyle board and an excellent coaching board. It is faster, with more pop and is super slidey for those aerial moves, yet still planes early, flies upwind and carves sweetly. The loop week was too windy for the 120 FSW ltd edition so a report on this will follow later but it is definitely very pretty graphics – ah : - )
Talking of reports the RRD Twin Fin 82 has just received an excellent test in Boardseeker online magazine so please check it out. You will see that it is now time to believe the hype. The RRD twin is super loose, easy to sail and you can use a bigger board yet have the turning of a way smaller one – the virtues of twin fins are extolled more fully in the test.
So I am now on week 2 of Rhodes coaching with the gybing and tacking being thoroughly presented and I have a few eager trigger pullers as well. Then I have 2 weeks in Ireland from Sept. 27th and their ARE A FEW PLACES LEFT ON WEEK 2 FROM OCT 4 – 11, SO COME AND JOIN ME AND LETS TAKE YOU FROM WINNER TO WAVESAILOR.
Oh yes, I am going to say it, next year is filling up quick. My clients are finishing the clinic, going home and then booking up for the same week next year so if you would like in for ’09, book early, like now! Sportif is ready to take your booking so make ’09 your time to improve.
Yasu,
Jem
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17/09/2008 |
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We love UK summers and Baja, Mexico! |
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Welcome to the summer – get those G-strings out and all that freeride gear. OOPs wrong newsletter – anyway it is time to seriously think about getting a 3.5 and realising that autumn is here. Last week I was doing a very good impression of a rag doll at West Wittering on Wednesday and enjoying peoples comments that they do not need a 3.5 cos 4.0 is fine - after this they took off and were never seen again. : - ) If you have a small board and like to be in control then a 3.5 and a small mast will see you enjoying some great times – just don’t rig it too flat or loose!
The 3.5 onshore action was a rude awakening after my awesome trip to Baja San Carlos with Solosports in early August. My team of Steve Carpenter, Clive Boden, John ‘Jeri’ Cox, Nick Coleman, Rob Willings and James Yule absolutely loved it. Surfing and SUPing (stand up paddle boarding) in the am, mountain biking whenever and amazing down the line frontside action every day. I will for sure be doing a clinic there in ’09 and please be ready for invitations on 22/08/09 TBC. This will be covered more in depth in a Boards mag travel feature and our very own video travel diary. There is a bit more chat on the Boards forum. Thanks to Clark Merrit, resident photographer, and to El Toro for pictures and video.
I had the great pleasure of getting to know my ’09 Ezzy wave Panthers and RRD Twin fin 90 out there. The panthers are feeling a lot lighter and more manoeuvrable with the shorter booms and new materials and they still have the mind-blowing wind range they are renowned for. The future of wave riding development is defo the twin fin, loose, easy to sail and a great wind range, getting sweet turns back and front side in all wind directions has never been so easy. I will be getting my 82 back from skyeboy soon so I ll tell more then but there is some more info here. The 82 is on test with Boardseeker mag and the results will be available shortly.
It seems that demand for my coaching is high as not only is ’09 El Tur and Rhodes starting to sell but I have now opened a 2nd wave week in Ireland on Oct 4 – 11, so please contact Jeremy at Jamie Knox to reserve your place. jamieknox@eircom.net , 00353 667 139411.
Great news for you and my sponsors ‘Grasshopper Porridge’ as we can now purchase there fine instant porridge from Waitrose supermarket this Sept. onwards – yummy. Check out the coconut and date flavour and treat yourself to some chocolate ones as well. : - )
FYM productions and I are currently working very hard on the wave technique movie and this will be out in the autumn / winter and yes it will rock and be of the usual comprehensive and uber informative style of Beginner to Winner.
All the new Ezzys and RRDs will now be in so please pop on down to your local dealer and check them out.
See you on the water. I look forward to catching up with some of you In Rhodes and Ireland and later on in Mauritius / Brazil which are now both full.
Enjoy,
Jem
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18/08/2008 |
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David Ezzy comes to the UK |
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David Ezzy is coming to England.
Take the opportunity to meet the legend behind the highly acclaimed Ezzy sails. David Ezzy will be here and available to talk through his new and improved wave sail the ‘Wave Panther’, along with his other new sails the ‘Freewave’ and ‘Freeride MKII.’
He will show you how the sails work, how they have been put together and their key features. If there is wind he will sail with you and will also be happy to rig any past Ezzy sail to show you how to get the best out of it.
The Seasprite brand manager, Jem Hall, will also be in close attendance offering tips and help in his own inimitable way.
We look forward to seeing you at one of these venues:
• Andy Biggs Windsurfing, Gosport on Monday 28th July from 10.30 to 1pm - andybiggs.co.uk/ 02392 582 614
• Shoreham Beach in association with Surfladle on Monday 28th July from 4pm till 7pm. surfladle.co.uk/ 01273 465366
• West Wittering Windsurfing Club on Wednesday 30th from 11am to 6pm. 2xs.co.uk 01243 513077
Check out a review of the RRD Twin 74 on the seasprite site by new team rider John 'skyeboy' Skye.
I look forward to catching up with some of you at one of the above venues and hope to see you on the water soon.
Enjoy,
Jem
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16/07/2008 |
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Rhodes goes off and UK summer action |
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A very belated hello to you all seems like ages since I have last contacted you but this is in reflection of my impression of a blue arsed fly at present and also because my brain is confused as to what season we are in. Déjà vu indeed as it seems like only yesterday or even last July I was cold in a 4/3 wetsuit and enjoying summer? Strong winds and so once again Mr Jetstream and Mrs Wind have come up with the goods again – windy, wet and wavey – we love it!
The weekend saw me take in 3 beaches on Sunday and 2 on Monday. Sunday saw good sessions at Hayling, Pagham and West Wittering and great to bump into so many of you at these spots. Monday saw me to go James BIG SALTY Cox’s hangout of Southbourne and then great joy in the arvo at West Witts.
I am just back from a very windy Rhodes where too many clients to mention here joined me for some Mediterranean mayhem and moved forward in stance, gybes, spocks, forwards and all sorts. The international theme continues with my first Singaporean and French clients, it was also a family affair with sons and dads of all ages joining me. My main man, and new Seasprite Sports team rider, Clive Boden knocked up a movie as well so pls check it out here and you can read a review of the NEW Ezzy Freewave sail by fellow new team rider Steve Carpenter here. Lots of my clients got to try it and it proved very popular indeed.
Rhodes continues to improve – the kit, atmosphere, staff, hotel but most of all the wind – even when the forecast is bad we still get usable wind, this is the secret of a great venue!
As well as me getting in touch with you through newsletters and my news page I will also be posting on the Ezzy international Blog so please check out my musings on there but do not expect daily exploits as to how much tuna I have eaten and how long I have lasted in the plank position. I will also be posting my old ‘wannabe a wavesailor’ articles from BOARDS mag UK on here as well so you can download em.
This summer I will be working hard on the wave movie and of course persuading even more people about the deep carving joy of RRD and the fact that ‘everything is easy with an Ezzy.’ Plus I hope to continue to enjoy some more windy action and get out on my new RRD wave twin 90 – amazing riding potential.
Hot off the press is the news that the RRD family has grown and is currently doing battle in Pozo, Gran Canaria. Our top riders Kevin Mevissen (Holland) and Spanish Ripper Alex Mussolini have been joined by Slalom and Speed legend Finian Maynard and UK/ International wave ripper John ‘skyeboy’ Skye. To say I am happy is an understatement – please check out the action the PWA SITE.
End of the month will see the great man David Ezzy join us in the UK to launch his new wave sail – the wave panther and then I will be off to Baja San Carlos, Mexico to check out the amazing wave conditions on offer from the SOLO SPORTS CREW. I will be joined by a few of my client posse to keep me in check and give me feedback on the place – excited is not the word, this place goes off!!
The last place or 2 in Mauritius and Brazil will sell this week and then I am booking 2009. Yes that is right, people are ready to book now for El Tur and Rhodes so Sportif and I will meet there needs. So this is the bit where I say book up early – the majority of Rhodes clients in 07 and 08 said ‘I am coming back’ so spaces will be in short supply for next year on this and all clinics. I thank all of you for putting me in this position as it is you who book and recommend me – you are all awesome. Right enough of that – get fit, go sailing a lot and do your light wind homework please. Phew!
Focus, believe and enjoy.
Jem
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15/07/2008 |
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'09 EZZYS on show at West Wittering this Sun June 1st |
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Even though we had a quick flirt of south west wind yesterday it's still been all about the nor easterlies so it was off to Norfolk last bank hol weekend. I even had my hair done for this occassion. Not really, but my good lady, Sophie, got in some great bump n jump sailing at Hunstanton whilst I scored 3 days of starboard tack sideshore wavesailing at Old Hunstanton. Their is a top crew of people up there and some very fun conditions and it was great to see and sail at a new venue.
We know it’s a bit last minute but Graham Ezzy is stopping at West Wittering Windsurf Club en route from Maui to the PWA events in the Canaries.
It is literally a flying visit, but both he and I will be at West Wittering Beach on Sunday from Midday onwards showing off the brand new 2009 Ezzy Panther and Free Wave sails and giving a rigging demonstration.
For anyone that is interested in meeting a top up-and-coming wave-sailor and seeing the best way to rig the latest kit, this is an opportunity not to be missed!
For more info on Graham’s visit, please call West Wittering Windsurf Club on 01243 513 077
Due to a cancellation we now have a twin room and therefore 2 places available in Rhodes on June 25 for the intermediate / advanced performance boost but please be quick as these will go! If you would like to see a fun movie of the flat water sailing there then check this out. It was made in June last year by Richard Dudley, nice shorts hey!
This year has been the fastest selling and earliest to book up ever so a big thanks to all of you. I really appreciate all your promotion and word of mouth referals and, of course, the fact that a large amount of you re-book!
See some of you in Rhodes.
Focus, Believe and Enjoy,
Jem
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30/05/2008 |
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Summer is here? |
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Good Morning to you,
Hope you are enjoying our mini summer yet wishing secretly, like I am, for the windy SW conditions we had last July. So we are stuck in this Nor East / East flow but there is still great sailing on offer and the East Coast will be going off. There are also many spots that work on the south coast, and I'm sure elsewhere, so seek them out and take the tide into account. For examples my home turf of Southsea is side shore in Nor East and is easy bump n jump at low tide.
Rhodes beckons and all the clinics there are now full. All but one as there has been a last minute cancellation and so there is a space in a male twin share for June 25, you are under starters orders as it is first come first served, phone Sportif now on 01273 844919.
If you wish to join me later in the year then please consider my wavesailing week in Ireland in Sept. or Marvellous Mauritius for intermediates/advanced, perfect for non-sailing partners too, on Oct. 31 or lastly, Jeri, Brazil is already for booking up for the advanced rippers.
My apartment out in Jeri is booking up quick so get in touch and we’ll see how we can accommodate you, check out the Brazil section of the gallery and the brief movie on you tube. Of course when my site receives all the movies on high resolution streaming, courtesy of USPmedia.TV, you will be able to see it right here.
It was National Windsurf week from May 3 – 11, with lots of events, free lessons and a large amount of love for our great sport going on. We had a great weekend at the RRD / EZZY demo courtesy of 2XS and West Wittering Windsurf Club on Sat 3rd and Sun 4th May where lots of beginners were brought down by friends, partners, uncles etc and got their free lessons. I was also on hand to give out tips.
My gills were put under much duress as I headed off to coach at Chase water in Staffordshire on the first of my ‘spread the RRD love’ coaching clinics there. The crew at Boardwise got a great crew together and provided me with sun and wind – brilliant! I will be back there in July and August. You can also catch me and the joy RRD / Ezzy toys at the H20 demo in Poole on July 5/6th.
I am now in the throughs of writing the wave movie, which is the last in the ‘Feed your Soul’ trilogy of much ‘Beginner to Winner’ fame. So it’s head down in the office and then off to editing and voice recording suites (prison cells) in Denmark. So if you want to be a wavesailor then buy it in the autumn.
Use your spare time wisely and remember good windsurfers are built in light winds and are also fit.
Focus, believe and enjoy.
Jem
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15/05/2008 |
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Spring wind and warmth |
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Spring is the air and I like it. Having previously experienced the cold temps of March a warm day now feels like summer and the shedding of rubber feels mighty fine, steady on now, we are talking boots and hoods! We have had some good wind and I have seen lots of happy faces on the water and the best thing about European wind is that you are just so damn happy to get it when you do.
My prodigal return to a massively revamped El Tur was a couple of weeks back. The improvements are courtesy of new owners Ed Texier and Gregg Dunnett (ex Boards) from Oceansource.net and the new uber efficient, friendly and ripping boss, Helen. The place always had great wind and a huge variety of water states and is one of the ‘ultimate windsurfing playgrounds.’ Now you can add refurbed rooms, better food, a beach bar, legend RRD and Ezzy kit and a fantastic atmosphere.
The crew and I were blessed with 5 days out of 7 wind and we also got blown around on 4.2 – 4.7s. The wave beach was going off and it was difficult to wipe the smile off of Mark F and Roy M’s faces. I welcomed some Greeks to an Egypt clinic for the first time, thanks George and Kostas and all the crew worked hard and seriously improved, but then they always do with all my passion and fine coaching : -) Well done and thanks to the rest of the UK crew David, Neil (old skool), Neil (flamer), Neil (new skool), Bianca, Rob and Steve.
Rhodes is now full, so there has indeed been some snoozing by some people who wanted to book this. Please consider wavesailing week in Ireland in Sept. or Marvellous Mauritius for intermediates/advanced, perfect for non-sailing partners, on Oct. 31. Lastly, Brazil is now priced and ready for booking for the advanced rippers. My apartment out in Jeri is booking up quick so get in touch and we’ll see how we can accommodate you.
My new sponsors Usp media have provided me with high quality video streaming for the Cape Verde movie and all my trailers and next lot of movies will be going up soon so watch the site and check out the full page hi res movie. You will need to shut down all other programs running to allow the player to work it's magic and enjoy the hi-res joy. Please give me some feedback on this.
It is National Windsurf week from May 3 – 11, lots of events, free lessons and a large amount of love for our great sport is going down so please get involved. I will be at the RRD / EZZY / 2xs demo at West Wittering this Sat 3rd and Sun 4th May and there will also be free coaching from moi on Sat 3rd and Sat 10th from 12 – 2pm. I am also off to coach at on Thurs May 8th at Chase water in association with Boardwise.
To kick off NWW we had the movie premier of the ‘Windsurfing movie’ at Prince Charles cinema in the ‘west end’ on Tuesday and it was great to see so many people turn up. Was a tad weird for me to be in London and see so many of my clients in suits but the movie went down well and the ensuing refreshments were enjoyed. A huge thank you to Nick F and Sean B for putting this together, lets continue the momentum.
My fellow team rider, James Cox, has put together a great new weather site called Big Salty which some of you are already enjoying. It has beach info, wind reports and accurate localised forecasts - please check it out and give James any feedback.
Get out on the water and seek that ocean realignment and please consider guaranteeing you’ll improve by joining me overseas somewhere. Thanks to those of you who have booked, past, present and future, this is my best year ever and this is all down to you!
Focus, believe and enjoy.
Jem
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01/05/2008 |
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Showing of the Windsurfing Movie on 29/4 |
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A very cold spring hello to you all. I am just back from a very windy El Tur trip which I will tell all about in the next newsletter. Lets now focus on promoting our great sport. Back in the eighties it seemed as if every other car had a windsurfer strapped to the roof and every pond, lake and stretch of coastline was decorated with an array of brightly coloured triangular sails. Since then the sport has taken a lower profile, but all that is beginning to change. Modern design and manufacturing techniques have resulted in equipment that is far easier to learn on, and today’s participants are taking the sport in directions only dreamed of by the original pioneers. It's therefore not surprising that windsurfing is experiencing a worldwide renaissance.
To celebrate this, a group of UK enthusiasts have created National Windsurfing Week, which will run from 3-11 May and feature a host of activities taking place across the country, including many opportunities for the public to try windsurfing free of charge. Full details can be found at www.nationalwindsurfingweek.org
To get things off on the right note, there is going to be a special screening of the iconic film "The Windsurfing Movie" at The Prince Charles Cinema near Leicester Square in London, on the evening of Tuesday 29th April. This will be the first, and probably only, opportunity to see what many feel to be the best film ever made about windsurfing on a big screen.
Tickets for the showing are £10 each, and can be booked in advance by calling the box office on 0870 811 2559, or purchased on the door subject to availability. Please try and drag along some non-windsurfing friends to inspire them into getting into our great sport.
All profits will be donated to the RNLI. Doors open at 6.00pm with the film being shown at 6.45pm
Their is an RRD / EZZY demo that I will be attending on May 3/4 at West Wittering courtesy of 2XS / Seasprite where I will also be giving out free tips on the Saturday and the following Saturday May 11th. This is to spread some more of my coaching love. Please get involved in any events near to you on national windsurf week on May 3 - 11.
This year sees me commencing regular tuition dates at Boardwise in Cannock, kicking off with Thursday May 8, more details and bookings on 01543 505084. More dates will follow in July.
Rhodes is now full so it is only Mauritius on Oct. 31 and Jeri, Brazil on Dec. 5 that are now available to book through Sportif on + 44 (0)1273 844919. For the waveheads please consider Ireland on Sept. 27 and get in touch with me.
Bring on the warm winds and enjoy the spring, see you at the movies.
Jem
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22/04/2008 |
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Spring is in the air |
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It looks like you should be considering some ocean realignment this week with some nice easterlies coming in. Please check out Big Salty for where it will be going off.
Looking to the future and much warmer climes the prices for my Brazil, Jeri clinic are now available. Get your bookings in early to Sportif because you know what I am going to say next, it will sell out quick and 'if you snooze you lose'. There certainly seems to be some snoozing going on in some quarters as people who said 'I am definitely booking up Rhodes' have now missed out. June is sold out and September has very limited space on the looping week from Sept 3 - 10 but the week after is almost closed out.
Thanks to the great sponsors of my website, oceansource.net, the Cape Verde ‘07 movie up is now up on the gallery page. This will give some of you the idea what it is to go on a clinic and the conditions in both Santa Maria and Ponta Preta. Ed Texier worked hard on this and you can see more of his work on the Oceansource gallery, which shows you images and video of his and Gregg Dunnett’s centre out in El Tur, Egypt which is where I have just been for a week of windy coaching joy.
You may see some death defying loops over the next few months as SeaSprite Sports Team have declared the ‘Lords and Ladies Loop (LLL) challenge open which includes prizes for the highest loop captured on a pic. It is trigger-pulling time so get into it!
I am amassing a nice little crew for my virgin voyage to Baja, Mexico for some 'down the line' pure joy. This spot will be on my clinic list next year and is suitable for all from wave novices to rippers and wll be hosted by Solosports.net. Please contact me if you fancy the mission this August, to say I am excited is a serious understatement!
Lastly, this May 3 – 11 is National Windsurf Week. This means we have to celebrate our great sport, teach friends, and attend events and all sorts. There are lots of ideas on the site and in the windsurfing mags at the mo. I hope we all get the chance to play some part in this.
Thanks again to those of you who have booked or have been in touch and I look forward to seeing or coaching you on a beach somewhere. Roll on the spring : - )
Enjoy,
Jem
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14/04/2008 |
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Cape Town best ever and the season kicks off. |
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Summer is here, well not quite, but those flowers must sure be confused, I certainly am by all this warmth. I am just back from Cape Town where I was looking to get my next lot of video footage for Boardseeker online mag technique and some pix for the wannabe wave series in boards.
The trip also served as a challenge to get my knee rehab back on track. So after sailing focussed power hours, getting chiro, hitting the gym and plenty of ice it seems to be all goodness. In a strange way it made me push my sailing harder, going bigger on the jumps, hitting wave sections harder and even re-learning how to push loop. One of the main reasons it was such a good trip was the crew out there, I was sailing with Skyeboy, Chris Audsley, Team Boardseeker, Nayra Alonso, Phil Horrocks and Wemmsy, plus a whole heap of great British sailors – you will obviously have a better time with a great crew and sail better around sailors who are ripping.
I have to thank Cape Sessions for the great pix which will also be in my Wannabe a Wavesailor series in Boards, please check out the link to see what’s on offer out there in Cape Town. One of the local shops, Baysports, persuaded me to do some clinics down at the lake and its great to see how the locals are getting back into windsurfing, well done Waggy!
As my knee got better I was up for some testing so hooked with Andrea from RRD to discuss and test the boards for the next couple of years. I really enjoy being able to put my feedback into the boards especially after all my years testing with Boards mag before RRD and Ezzy took me on.
So I will soon be off to Cape Verde and then the homecoming to El Tur, Egypt. I am looking forward to getting back out there coaching as I really enjoy it and have a really good year put together.
Rhodes beckons in the summer and June is selling out, so thanks to all of you who have booked up and so early as well. I am even getting the autumn clinics sold out with Mauritius already half full. Brazil details will be finalised soon, so as I say if you snooze you lose, make 08 great and your time to improve and book NOW.
As most of you well know I am the very happy owner of an apartment out in Jeri, Brazil and should you want to be in the same boat please contact me as my main man out there is building some more and they represent an excellent investment, please contact me for more details.
If you want to check out some icy stunts then get yourself down to RRD / Ezzy student wavesailing event at Avon beach on 23/24 Feb in association with Spot on Water.
Lastly, I have invited several of you to my down the line waveriding joy trip to Baja in August and if you would like to get on the guest list and are up to it then let me know and get involved.
Be kind, Be fit, Be strong and Be lieve – see you out there
Jem |
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19/02/2008 |
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New year and new El Tur centre! |
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A very happy New year to you all.
BREAKING NEWS - Safaga is switched to El Tur on April 5, due to the newly owned and refurbished oceansource.net centre there.
I hope Santa bought you some goodness and that the hangovers are now put to bed and you are looking now to move on up and seek that ocean realignment. One of my humorous clients has asked me to stop being so damn positive and enthusing you to go to the gym and get out on the water, but it's so hard not to do that. So I enclosed in my last newsletter some shots of Errol Brown (me) and Tina Turner (my lady Sophie) on New years eve and assure you that no gyms or sailing were involved, just booze and very bad hangovers.
I will be off to Cape Town soon for some wave action, R and D on the RRDs, photos for Boards mag and video content for Boardseeker online mag. I love it out there, it has a good vibe, and yes I can get to the gym, go surfing and do some laptop work when I'm not on the water. The knee is healing fairly well, a couple more acupuncture sessions and plenty more gym time should see it right - see there I go again, bloody gym.
It seems as though my site has been inaccurate on bookings therefore I will say Cape Verde is full, Safaga has been switched to El Tur on April 5 and is good to go, Rhodes is booking up quick and with huge interest, Ireland will be booking from Feb, Mauritius will be taking bookings soon and Brazil logistics are being firmed up. And please do not forget I have an apartment out there to rent should you so wish.
Let's make 2008 a kick arse year for all of us in both work and play and both for ourselves and those around us. The people who get the most out of my clinics do the homework I suggest, have focused sessions on the water and yes they are fit or getting fitter.
'I believe in miracles, you sexy thing ...'
Enjoy and see you on a clinic soon
Jem
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08/01/2008 |
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Brazilian Wax |
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Merry Xmas to one and all. Hope the hols are kind to you all and that 2008 brings all that you want from it. 07 has been great and all we need is for the water not to get too cold – ooops 7degrees, too late. Oh well, might be time to think about warmer waters and some time with me to ensure you enjoy a damn fine holiday and really move forward in your windsurfing. Banish those winter blues and join me in Feb or March in Cape Verde for advanced action or Safaga, Egypt for Intermediate introspection respectively. PS Rhodes is booking up quick if you want in on that!
Brazil was the latest venue where I was shooting pix for ‘Wannabe a Wavesailor,’ showing in Boards mag and we also filmed some chapter for the Waves movie and last in the ‘Feed your Soul’ trilogy. All great fun but hard work for the big bald old guy who picked up a knee injury in Mauritius in Nov thanks to a non focussed shuv it aerial crash. Still its healing well and Mike the chiropractor from Pagham has been very busy.
I finally got to see my new apartment – pics and more promo will be up and around soon, you know me! Coxy has built an awesome pad of 4 apartments and is even building some more. Mine is 2 bed with a huge living area and great views from the veranda and a pool for cooling off and doing forwards in.
Its time for the festive season and lots of catching up with family and friends which will be very special after all my travelling. I also need to get some serious time in the gym before hitting Cape Town on Jan 18th for 3 weeks, rehab my knee and get fully strong and fit ready for those big winds, cold waves and hopefully not too many long swims.
Thanks to all of you who have joined me on a clinic this year, or helped spread the word and I hope to see you in 2008. It is time to improve and if you don’t go, you won’t know.
Focus, believe and definitely enjoy.
Jem
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21/12/2007 |
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Magical Mauritius |
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I am just back from marvelous Mauritius where i was running a coaching clinic and then stayed on for a bit of holiday with Sophie, plus Benny and Katherine from Brandon Bay. The clinic was fab with a wide range of conditions and everyone stepping up and working hard. Aside from the windsurfing the island and hotel itself has so much on offer that when people got a break from sailing they went into holidaymaker mode which was great to see. I also saw lots of families enjoying their hols as well. A big thank you and congrats to Jeremy, Liz, Adrian, Sarah, Driss, Jeanette, Xav, Kate, Martin, Andy and James on all their endeavours.
The looping bug was also in evidence with 1/3 of the crew pulling the trigger so across all clinics this year and on many beaches i can say the tide has turned with many more people going for and completing loops, let's get to it! Now the journey towards looping starts with the basics done well so if you want these tuned then please join me on a clinic next year.
With winter drawing in and the darkness taking a stranglehold then please consider beating those winter blues with me in Cape Verde for advanced riders in Feb, or Safaga, Egypt for the intermediates in March. If you want to get some more ocean realignment then you might want to consider getting out on a stand up paddle board. Awesome fitness, great for your balance, brill for surfing and works your core muscles.
Brazil, my new appartment out in Jeri beckons, plus a photo and video shoot, from Dec 1st for a couple of weeks. I will be getting pix for the Wannabe a Wavesailor series and video for the upcoming Wave movie as the last in the 'Feed you Soul' trilogy and sequel to Beginner to Winner. Of course with xmas coming soon you may want to buy the most complete instructional movie to date, great as a present or as a gift to yourself - make it your or your friends/partners/families time to improve. Seasons greetings and thanks for taking the time to read this. I look forward to seeing you in '08 and thanks to all of you who joined me on a clinic this year.
Jem
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30/11/2007 |
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Rhodes and Ireland - hmmmm |
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So where have I been, hmmm, well it was windy, hot and I had some nice waves as well as the usual flat water joy, so I must have been in Rhodes. This year saw me take on 3 weeks in September, and yep you guessed it, windy as. The guys in the centre think I perform witchcraft as I just turn up and the hairdryer goes on, and it saved the windiest till last, and had some huge waves – logo to mast sets and plenty of swimming on one day, but also some nice shoulder high days.
I mentioned in the last mail about all the trigger pulling and you can follow more on this in the THREAD http://www.boards.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=17485&PN=1 on loop club. As well as all this high testosterone action there was plenty of gybing, tacking, blasting and overtaking of big bald jemmy as the crew got faster. Well done and thanks to one and all and I look forward to seeing you next year. Which will (cut throat marketing to follow) fill up very quickly, early bookings and interest are stonking so please BOOK EARLY OR YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. I am doing 10 clinics next year, down from 13 due to my new responsibilities with Seasprite, brand managing RRD/EZZY/ATAN et al.
The prices for Cape Verde in Feb and Safaga, Egypt in March are up now and the clinics are selling quick. Rhodes is also up now, and nearly everyone who came on the 6 weeks this year wants to return next year, and I am doing only 5 weeks, so its first come first served. Please put your name down and then you can pay a deposit when the price comes in, ONLY WHEN YOU PAY A DEPOSIT IS YOUR PLACE GUARANTEED.
So after all that warmth it was time for my first autumn Ireland clinic – all I can say is lovely – warmish water, great fun surfing waves and some good cross off down the line days. Though a tad on the light side, targets were reached – popping up on suirfboards, first blue rides whilst surfing, catching waves in light winds, getting speed and making frontside turns whilst wavesailing – and all with heaps and heaps of positivity and enthusiasm. Learning to surf will seriously enhance your wavesailing – don’t do it and your riding and catching will suck!!!
I even got on a stand up paddle board, great work out, wicked fun and a huge cross over in fitness and skill for your windsurfing and surfing – I think I got a new toy coming very soon : - ) Thanks to Jamie Knox and the crew, Jamie helps out on every week and is a mine of info and enthusiasm, plus we look like the Mitchell brothers.
Without further a do I would like to announce a new sponsor oceansource.net the premier watersports travel website and being developed all the time, get onto it. Expect great things as it’s the same guy who does my jh.com site and our very own Gregg Dunnett who are putting it together.
So, its off to Mauritius very soon and we have the West Wittering wave event on Oct 27/28 (http://www.2xs.co.uk/news/index.asp#42 ) where I will be on hand to offer advice and coaching to all the amateurs we are attracting – get involved. If you are feeling charitable then please make a donation on JustGiving http://www.justgiving.com/jemhall for my toils on the great south run on 28 Oct.
Focus, believe and definitely enjoy.
Jem
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22/10/2007 |
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Jems apartment in Jeri, Brazil |
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Casa do John
Contato: (88)9955 6160 / (85)9615 5627
E-mail: john@jericoacoara.co.uk and leticia@jericoacoara.co.uk
Website: www.awesomeadventures.co.uk
Description:
Located: 588, Rua do Forro, (next to Carcara Restaurant), 250m from the beach.
Area: 1300m2 (garden, swimming pool, bar, barbecue area and 4 large apartments, each one with a living area of 110m2.)
Numbers of apartments: 4 (2 apartments on ground floor with 2 ensuites, living/dining room, kitchen, veranda and 2 apartments on first floor with 2 ensuites, living/dining room, kitchen, veranda and roof terrace with views of the sea and sand dunes).
All apartments are equipped with air conditioning, ceiling fans, hot showers, refrigerator, oven, coffee machine, toaster, Internet (wireless), TV, DVD, sofa bed, sleeps up to 6 people, dining table, storage and cooking utensils.
Breakfast: coffee, milk, juice, butter, cheese, ham, eggs, yoghurt, oat, cake and 3 different fruits
Service: cleaning including change of bed linen and towels every other day.
Extra Services: massages, laundry and food shopping.
Options: Air conditioning and/or ceiling fan. Breakfast included or self catering.
RATES: AVAILABLE SOON
Leticia Lima Cox
Administrator
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08/08/2007 |
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Summertime sun n wind |
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A happy summer to you all, well now that we have one after the fabulously autumnal conditions we had in July. Still 4.5 weather and waves in July is fine by me and by the smiles on a lot of peoples faces and the holes in their hands it’s fine by them too.
I must apologise for the long wait for news but I have been a tad busy, more on that later. So after Ireland stepped up on the wind n wave front in May it was off to Mauritius for the launch of the Year 13 / ’08 range of RRD boards. I had the opportunity to be briefed on, test and discuss all the new toys – nice! The boards have been improved yet further and this has been in recent customers points of view – so check em out.
It was then off to Rhodes for 3 weeks of great coaching, lovely clients and lots of gratefully received wind. By my recollection we had 5 out of 7 minimum planing days of week which is fantastic because the light wind sessions are often the most needed and see the most progression – time and again I see windsurfers built in light winds, from pulling off carve gybes in the ensuing session to getting their spocks sweeter. It's warm and we have some breeze so please practice in these light winds and then you will perform! A big well done to all my international Rhodes posse and thank you for joining me. The centre is continually improving their already high standards of service and kit supply, the hotel are their usual hospitable self and the camper vans are no longer on the beach – local law has banned them giving us less crowded conditions throughout the season.
July saw me going back to my roots as I was coaching at West Wittering in Sussex. It was great to be back out doing 1 to 1s and seeing the huge improvements people make with just some subtle coaching and this was done in all winds. The lagoon gives us flat water at low tide and at high tide the stunt ramps come out. I will be doing some more work there in the autumn and next year and at some other UK locations so please watch this space.
As well as getting around the UK coaching I have also been on the road showing off the new RRD and Ezzy toys in my capacity as brand manager of Seasprite, the UK importer. To add to this I am now involved in the R & D of RRD, what a mouthful, and had some say in the ’08 boards and will be working closely with them on the ’09 boards. So I am now very much part of the RRD family. I also have the opportunity to put feedback into Ezzy sails as my relationship with them develops. All my testing experience has become invaluable in all of this and I really enjoy it.
So August will see me working hard on my marketing and my ’08 clinics are now on the site and most are on sale now. This year has seen the most amount of bookings and the earliest ever, I am doing a few less weeks next year so please do book up early. The usual suspects are there in Cape Verde, Egypt, Ireland, Rhodes and Mauritius and joining the tour are the OTC, in El Medano, Tenerife in May and Jeri, Brazil in December.
As an ever returning visitor to Jeri, Brazil I decided to invest in some property there and along with 2 other Southsea boys we bought one of the four 2 bed ensuite apartments in Casa do John, check out some of the latest pics. Available to rent from September through Sportif, Club dos Ventos and the man John Cox himself. Windy, warm and beautiful and now with fantastic apartments to stay in – see you there.
Enjoy the summer and see you all soon hopefully.
Jem |
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03/08/2007 |
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July coaching at West Wittering |
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Tune up your windsurfing skills this July with some top level coaching from me at the legendary resort of West Wittering. I will be running courses for Improvers and Intermediates; covering all aspects from tuning to turns, beach to water starts and of course ensuring that you are going as fast as possible in all winds. Many high wind skills are learnt and developed in lighter winds so utilise the light to medium winds to improve in a more controlled manner. Choose from:
• Improver Tune Up on 1st July and 22nd – 23rd July
• Intermediate boost on 8th July
• 1 to 1 coaching for all levels, beginner to winner, on 9th - 11th and 24th – 26th July
More details on http://www.2xs.co.uk/xtrain/windsurfing_tuition.asp and please book on 01243 513077 or info@x-train.co.uk. Detailed enquiries to jem@jemhall.com
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25/05/2007 |
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Ireland goes off! |
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Isn’t your home country great when its windy at this time of year, everyone is buzzing about the spring and the water is getting warmer, plus you have all that pent up energy from the winter waiting to be unleashed. I have been fortunate to grab some decent sailing in the England, Wales and Ireland, nearly a clean sweep!
West Wittering was kicking off with some solid 4.2 weather and decent waves – great for jumping and riding. It was after this session that I headed off to North Wales and Rhossy en route to Ireland – scored a great day there on 4.7, excellent port tack jumping. The wacky race continued by ferry and van to Brandon bay in deepest Southwest Ireland for my wave clinic.
This year Ireland stepped and gave us some great conditions and the perfect mix of small, medium and huge waves, plus some bump n jump sailing to mix in with the awesome down the line wavesailing. Fair play to the crew as they fully went for it and even ventured out in 3.7 winds and mast high waves. Thank you and well done to Connor B (Halifax), Rob (Aberdeen), Paul (West Witts), Greg (oil rig) and Clive (IOW). I learnt heaps and it gave me more time to reflect on my wave series in Boards mag and my upcoming Wave instructional movie.
For those of you who fancy some summertime tuition in July then please check out the dates and details on WITTS X TRAIN where I will be running courses for Improvers and Intermediates and 1 to 1 coaching for all levels..
My summer in good old blighty will kick off with my reunion on 30 June where I will be dishing out tuition and tips from lunchtime and then we’ll have a Barbie in the evening, courtesy of 2XS / X TRAIN, with a few shandies in the local pub after. Come down and stay at a B and B or campsite and please email me to let me ascertain as to who is up for it. Please bring food for the Barbie and a party attitude.
In June Boards mag there will be a making of ‘Beginner to Winner’ feature and of course my wavesailing series continues. Whilst Boardseeker online mag continues with all things of a freeride nature, and in video, plus heaps more!
It’s the annual Super x on June 1 - 3 down at Christchurch so get down there and enjoy the sailing, partying and racing.
Looking forward to seeing you very soon.
Enjoy
Jem
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25/05/2007 |
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International El Tur |
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Ready for these easterlies to go away, cos they are, we got a west flow coming in next week and for a wee while. Perfect for some northern Europe windsurfing and perhaps a sojourn to Ireland?? If you are on for some coaching please book up soon as I am about to sell out on many clinics!!
El Tur in Egypt was host to my last coaching week and it was truly international. Norwegians, Hungarians and of course the true Brits all enjoying my highly focussed coaching and colourful language. There were even 4 birthdays celebrated with 3 of the team passing the honourable fully firing @ 50!
A big thank you to my Norwegians – Edvin, Asle, Atle and Godwin, the Hungarian team of Andras and Zsolte, phew this spelling lark is pretty difficult. And of course the Brits – Weymouth posse – David, Des and Ian, King of Southend – Dave green and Gregg, Nick and Jon. Well done on all your stunts and keep up the hard work..
So Ireland stepped up last week for the UK wave comp and it looks like it will do in the next weeks, good timing as I m off there next and then its off to Mauritius for the RRD international conference to examine the 2008 line up of boards and provide more feedback on ’07 toys.
Rhodes is coming up in June and I can never wait to go there. Its pretty booked up and I ll most probably have the fine company of Andy King on the advanced week. I hope to see you all somewhere and soon – maybe the reunion on 30th June?
If you do meet or refer any beginners or improvers this summer then please do suggest that they might enjoy a fantastically helpful movie – Beginner to Winner.
Live life with passion and enjoy.
Jem
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04/05/2007 |
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Cape Verde goes off |
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Spring is definitely in the air in many ways. I have just done my first clinic of 2007 and the days are getting longer, whilst the air and sea temp creep back up. Now if we can just kick off the season with lots of those lovely low pressures we all like then its happy days.
What a way to kick off 2007 my first clinic to the island of Sal, one of the archipelago of the Cape Verde Islands, which also coincided with the best PWA wave competition in history. Its always a little nervy going to a spot for the first time but the club mistral team and my clients were fantastic throughout. We sampled lots of fine food, enough fish to want complete abstinence on our return, and were blessed with 7/7 for wind. Whilst we were grateful for the conditions we received some of the crews hands definitely weren’t. We had 5.0 – 5.9 bump n jump conditions and point breaks up and downwind which were calling us for wave missions. Hats off to my hardy crew who really went for it – old school stance became new school, and step gybes ruled. The overall improvement was excellent – but then I would say that. Well done to Wayne, Carl, John, Mike, Clive, Steve, Mark, Gary, Alasdair, Simon and Ed ‘Herringbone.’
The first PWA wave event of the year with the world’s best wavesailors going apeshit in clean mast high waves stroked by a perfect 20 knots or so side off wind was to be seen to be believed. There were some huge battles and breathtaking heats – but the main man Josh Angulo won the day, as a local to Cape Verde the crowds got a tad excited! This event will be well covered in Boards magazine and Boardseeker online mag. Both of which you can now link to, and get details for subscribing to, from my NEW links page.
So it’s off to Tobago for me now and then I have 2 sold out clinics to Egypt, in Safaga and El Tur respectively. So if you decide this is your time to improve, learn new moves and have a fantastic holiday then it will have to be in Ireland for Wave action in May or Rhodes in June or September. Please note Ireland in October has moved forward a week to Oct. 6 – 13th, giving us better tides and more daylight.
The movie is selling like hot cakes through all reputable windsurfing shops and I even have a limited amount to sell. The feedback is fantastic so thank you to one and all for your words of praise and to the magazines for the awesome reviews it is getting. Check out http://www.beginner-to-winner.com/reviews.html for reviews and feedback.
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08/03/2007 |
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Cape Town and whats coming |
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Normally I would be away testing but I have just fitted in some time out in Cape Town before getting some work done at home.
Cape Town was brill with the usual crew of brits and euros out there training and enjoying some refreshments in the evenings. The Cape is great for that with so much to do and see, as well as the world-class windsurfing, you can score good conditions on most days if you are wiling to travel and do your research. Long term winter resident of Cape Town and UK ripper, Phil Horrocks, really made some great calls and we scored some excellent conditions, including Platboom at Cape Point. I was out there to get some sailing in and get some more pics for my ‘Wannabe a wavesailor’ technique series in Boards Mag. The 2nd part will be in March Boards, so tune in and get wavesailing.
The technique for Boardseeker online mag was also done out there which will be in video format with voice overs and it will cover heaps of moves give you loads of hot tips. You will need to subscribe to Boardseeker now to view this content and you would not want to miss out – would you??
Clinics are still selling like hot cakes, thanks to all of you who have booked up or have given me those, so valuable, word of mouth recommendations. Cape Verde, Safaga and El Tur are all full. Tobago in March has some space, so for all your improvers to intermediates, step up now and get some well - earned winter rest, rehab and ripping windsurfing. Rhodes is selling quick and for the wannabe and developing wavesailors there is Ireland.
Even considering the cold the movie ‘Beginner to Winner’ is selling well both here in the UK and worldwide. This is also reflected in my clinic bookings seeing a big diversity of nationalities booking up, which is great for all parties involved.
With all the fitness work I have been espousing I too am enjoying the benefits of a new gym, and most importantly a more dynamic routine, majoring on core stability and heaps of interval training on the cardio front. Its cold back in good old blighty and the water is not so inviting, so I will for sure be investing plenty of time in the fitness bank ready for my next clinics and sailing sessions – get fit, be strong, live longer and all that!
Its off to Cape Verde on Feb. 22nd for my first coaching clinic there and the PWA will be in town as well, so I am very excited about that trip. I hope to see some of you this year, either if you are returning or if you have finally made that decision to take charge of your windsurfing, and make this your year to improve, by booking your first coaching clinic with big baldy Jem.
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08/02/2007 |
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Luscious Le Morne - Mauritius rocked! |
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From what I hear its been a pretty good autumn and there are certainly some smiling faces around the south coast beaches I ve been to. What was most pleasing was seeing all sorts of sailors improving and generally going for it – I was most impressed with the Pagham posse and all there aerial antics with lots of them looping and trying loops. I have also seen this at Witts and this sailors are, without being cheeky, no spring chickens, so get out there and get on it – be it gibing, jumping, riding, freestyle or looping!
My last clinic took me to Mauritius and the fabulous resort of le Morne where my clients and I enjoyed one of the best clinics ever – awesome hotel, fantastic food, world-class sailing and such friendly people. It was a 10-day hol with 8 days opportunity for sailing; we scored 6 and a half with wind from 5.9 – 4.7 and all sorts of wave joy. The lagoon gives great bump n jump sailing, little reef gives you some jumping and riding action and Manawa is just pure clean riding joy. Thank you and well done to Kate, Henrietta, Mairead, Carl, Nigel, Marti and David – in all your blasting, gybing, riding, spocking and jumping exploits – ’07 will see a very high return rate so book early!
From the joy of the Indian Ocean to Roadford Lake in Devon it was off to the student windsurfing weekend – 300 plus students sailing, partying and mud sliding – all great fun and fantastic organisation with such a committed and diligent committee. The SWA and Team 15 are 2 reasons why windsurfing is moving forward in the UK – so well done them.
Yes, the movie is still being finished but it is very much the last touches and it will be out in mid November – great for an Xmas pressie to friends, partners, and children and to you! You will be suitably impressed.
Next month I will be announcing that I have hung up my testing hat with Boards mag and am now working with RRD boards and EZZY sails alongside Seasprite sports in promotion and brand development. More on this later.
2007 is looming and with the amount of bookings already being made it is going to be a busy year. There is a venue and a date that should suit everyone – and I m coaching all levels from improvers nailing beachstarts and harness work to carve gybes, all the way through to looping and wavesailing. So don’t just seize the day, seize a whole week and make a massive difference to your windsurfing enjoyment and performance!
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31/10/2006 |
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Jem enjoying Brazil |
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Look behind you and sheet-in! |
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Look behind you and sheet-in! |
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