The first BKSA Youth Training of 2010 took place during the final bank holiday weekend of May in windy and sunny Hunstanton.

The weekend was blessed with good wind, and some challenging squalls, which gave the group plenty of time on the water.

BKSA Youth Coaches Karine Nativel and Christian Harris were joined by an inspirational, energetic and committed group of six, with a promising 50/50 boy and girl split.

Present were Polly Crathorne, Joe Mathews, Chloe and Danielle Durrant, Will Makinson and Robert Palmer.

During the two days, as well as training new moves, constructing, practicing and analysing their potential heats from the video footage for the forthcoming competitions, the group also participated in media training and trick progression modules.

Many thanks to Hunstanton Watersports and Hunstanton Sailing Club for their hospitality, and a huge well done to the entire group!

Here’s to the next one in Fleetwood.

North West kitesurfing has just hosted its first BKSA Instructor training course with great success .

There was a full house with eight candidates from all over the UK and Ireland including the Tees Valley, Liverpool, Worthing and Northern Ireland.

The course was so popular we unfortunately had to turn four other people away, I would like to think this was a combination of a great location, excellent BKSA training and the ever growing reputation of the school.

Chris Bull from Hayling Island kite school to delivered the course and hopefully found it to be the perfect location combined with good conditions for the ITC.

Gary Powell the school principal was fortunate enough to be able to observe and be involved in the training for the whole week and took great pleasure in seeing the candidates confidence and delivery increase as the week progressed - He had this to say " I believe eight excellent instructors left the school on Friday 28^th May 2010."

A big thanks to Chris Bull for delivering the course and to Ian, Jason, Karl, Lewis, Mark, Kev, Nick and Josh for choosing to do training with North West Kitesurfing.

Due to the success of the course and having to turn away four candidates we hope to be hosting another ITC sometime in October (to be confirmed).

Please register your interest and receive  some  information via www.nwks.co.uk

Get your children ready to be excited about PE again with the new Junior Power Kiting course for schools. Designed to compliment and slot neatly into the existing schools PE curriculum, the new power kiting course runs over six sessions. During these sessions, students will learn how a kite works, how to use weather conditions to their advantage, steering the kite and eventually hop on a land board using the kite to power them along.

This course is the brainchild of duo Rebecca Lippett, a BKSA power kite instructor, and school teacher, Simon Smith, also a BKSA powerkite instructor. Working with Andy Gratwick, head trainer (BKSA) they have developed the junior scheme which has been fully tested out at the newly recognised BKSA school ‘Extreme Kite Shop’ in Worcester.

Rebecca says: “Having the course approved by both the Ed Excel exam board and the BKSA has left me feeling very proud and excited at what we’ve achieved. The course fits in perfectly with the government’s initiative to get kids focussed on being fit and healthy from a young age - and of course it’s a lot of fun which if they get into it, is something that they can also do with their parents.”

Andy Gratwick, BKSA Head Trainer who has overseen the direction and implementation of the course said: “This course is just what the education system needs - It sharpens children’s concentration and teaches them not to give up. Seeing the wide smiles on their faces after a session is testament to why this course should be lapped up by schools that are interested in endorsing a fit and healthy lifestyle.”

If you’re a teacher and interested in teaching power kiting or a student/kid and you want to have a go then contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more details.