Eamon Armstrong Pro Kiteboarder

Puremagic held their 3rd Annual Battle for the Bay on 30th and 31st of May. Once again they put on an epic show and it was bigger than any kitesurfing event held in Ireland. Agin sadly we had classic Battle for the Bay weather with not so much wind but beautiul sun shine. The beach saw thousands of spectators over the weekend and it was a really good showing of what kitesurfing lifestyle is all about. There was just enough wind for a race which didnt go so well for me as i could have done with a bigger kite and a surfboard but still had a bit of fun poping a few tricks in the gusts. The race was won by my Flexifoil team mates Ryan Coote for the men and Jennifer Kinnear for the ladies. Hopefully we’ll get the wind for freestyle at the next one!

Eamo

Pic by Alexsandra Bondareva

Went to Tarifa in the south of Spain for a few days to meet a friend and check out the spot! The place is said to be the european capital of kitesurfing and it shows with every second shop in the town being a kitesurfing shop! I couldnt believe the amount of them and the size of some of the stores. We got only one day out of 4 with wind but that one day was almost enough as i spend a few hours on the water maxed on my 11m. And after not getting conditions in France I was motivated to realy go for it again! I Had a great session on the water and had the pleasure of sharing it with a few of top kitesurfers in the world, Ania Grzelinska, Aaron Hadlow and Gisela Pulido. Tarifa is home to a lot of professional kitesurfers in the world due to its great variety of conditions, Levante winds 30-60knots blowing from the left or Poniente winds 15-30knots from the right, along with waves and flat water. Due to this the place can be quiet busy during peak season summer months. But thankfully it was quiet enough when we were there.  Tarifa town has an old part and a newer part. The old town is super cool with narrow cobble-stoned streets and high builings all around. Its got a great atmosphere especially at night time. Some cool bars and nice resturants too make the place a nice destination for chilling out with a few mojitos or partying all night with friends. 

I hope to make it back to the place for a bit longer in the future to really give it a proper testing. Also so so so much thanks to Ania for driving me everywhere and showing me the whole place! Your a star!

Eamo

Well, so back from our little trip to the warm and sunny south of france! ….ok I lie, the place was wetter and colder than Ireland!!! It rained for the first 2 days of our trip straight. The wind was super strong, super gusty and cross offshore with near zero degrees wind chill! Following our arrival in Luecate at 1am on the Friday 10th April we recieved an incredible welcoming by Buzz the owner of the local party bar/nightclub with some great hospitality and free shots. We also woke our good friend Ian from his deep sleep in his van outside the Bar and dragged him up to the club to join us. After celebrating the beginning of our first PKRA world championship event the first day of competition had unfotunately not enough wind, but did have torrential rain, so the competition was postponed untill the following day. The next day was 40+knots mega gusty icy cold cross offshore winds that were nearly impossible to ride in. Myself and sean were in the first few heat early that morning as we had to qualify for the main event. Sean was up first and we pumped his 7m only to find it had a leaky leading edge tube and only stayed inflated for 15 minutes or so. His lines were tangled pretty bad when we went to set the kite up and unfortunately he ended up missing his heat beacause of his lines being in a birds nest. I was up next, and had only a 9m and 11m with me. I realistically needed a 7m or even a 5m! So i borrowed seans 7m and we got the lines untangled just in time for my heat. I went out, and just basically began laughing to myself at how bad the conditions were. Having never flown seans kite before either didnt make it any easier! So i cruised over and back about 7 times trying to do a few tricks but never really got the chance between the other guys in the heat getting in the way and the super gusty winds messing me up. I tried a kungfoo but got hit by a lull so only ended up about 4 foot in the air and crashed. I also went for a megaloop that also ended up being too low and near level with the kite so that also ending in a decent wipeout. After that i said to myself i was done and the end of heat whistle went and i went ashore, unable to feel my hands and most of my body from the cold! Needless to say i didnt progress through to the next round so myself and sean didnt qualify for the main PKRA event which was unfortunate.

A massive congrats goes to Jennifer Kinnear the lady of the Irish team who finish 9th overall in the womens catagory! She put up a good show and had a blast in her first world championship event so we will be lookign forward to seeing her continue her good results in the next event she can attend! You did us proud Jen!

So having missed out on the main event, Sean and myself still went kiting a few times and watched some of the top guys and girls in the world strut their stuff on the water. We also in true Irish sportsmen style, enjoyed and supported each evening enterainment that had been organised but unfortunately was not very popular with the rest of teh competitors, who were always in bed early. Sporting our Ireland tee shirts and Hats we represented our country well and got plenty of attention because of it! Word out to everyone we met there and especially the insane french Slingshot team kings of the party!

We’ll be hitting another PKRA tour stop this summer so stay tuned to find out. The irish team are convinced we can do better in the next one so the world better prepare themselves once again!

Eamo

The PKRA better be prepared for the carnage that is about to be unleashed on the Kitesurfing World Campionships!!! The Irish team are on their way and are ready to dominate the competition with all the new tricks and training that were acquired over the long winter season! These seasoned athleles have for years observed the PKRA scene only from the reports that graced the magazines, quietly planning a full take over. Now the time has come! Jennifer Kinnear, Francois Colussi (whos french charms managed to get him a temperary position on the irish team as the team Translator), Sean Murphy, and myself as well as a large entourage accompanying us from the emerald isle, gear up to compete in the first round of the Professional Kiteboard Riders Association (PKRA) in Leucate in the south of France at the world famous Mondial du Vent!

Wish the team luck! But more importantly wish the rest of the competitors luck because they’re going to need it!!!! LET THE CARNAGE BEGIN!!!!

Eamo

So just back from a trip with Puremagic crew to Dakhla, Morocco where we spent 2 and a half weeks there. We were there with 2 groups of kitesurfers from Ireland and we were on hand to help improve their level of riding as well as hang out and enjoy the desert! Dakhla is a town in the very south of Morocco in the western Sahara. We were staying in the camp Dakhla Magic, formaly called Auberge de Nomad. The camp is about 28km from Dakhla city and we kitesurf in this huge lagoon just beside the camp. We also scored a great festival in Dakhla city that had a big stage in the centre of the city. There was also a big downwind race organised for the festivities and some of the top racing riders from all over the world had been invited to come and compete. So we basically had 1 group of students for the first week, then few days off for the festival, and then the second group of students for the last week.

We unfortunately didnt get the wind we hoped for, with only half the time we spend there being windy. And of course when theres no wind what else do you but party hard! As we passed through Paris we all raided the duty free and bought 2-3 bottles of hard liquor each, there being 14 of us…and obviously that wasnt enough as it was all finished before the end of the first week. In between all the boozing we scored some pretty good conditions, 11m, 9, and 7m weather. A 5m would have even got use on at least 2 days! So it was great for training on new tricks in the lighter wind and then trying to get current tricks nice and smooth in the higher winds. My goal for the trip was to learn the frontmobe but didnt get it although i can feel i’m very close now (although considering a french rider folded his leg the day we arrived trying a frontmobe, that kind of freaked me out). I also had a few scary mega loops on my 7m with some savage wipeouts but at least i’m getting a bit more daring and going for it in windier weather.

Even with no wind we got to do some other cool stuff like desert walking, looking at sand, surfing, drinking coke and other sugary drinks, drink more alcohol, and quad biking! The Quad biking was actually quite insane! No signing your life away no insurance documents or anything, just walk in take a helmet and body armour and hop on the quad and cane it! The terrain was great for it, endless desert and sand dunes. We had a guide who brought us on a trial but you basically just follow him doing what you like and rallying the quad to pieces. We had a number of near accidents, we a Steve rolling his, a few people almost falling off, myself almost going over the front and finally the big one, Marco flipping his and it landing on top of him! Well sketch! But he made it out ok so thats the main thing.

The Festival was also a great time! We headed into town to send off the first group of students on the plane then we grabbed a bite to eat and hit a bottle of pre-mixed rum and coke at a ratio of like 5:1. After we checked out the music in the plaza and waited and waited for some artist franz and Toff were dying to see. We waited about an hour for him, ‘Fudel’, the guy who franz said, ‘is quite famous in france but you’d never to his concert if he played there!’. We finally gave up and hit the nearby hotels rooftop bar where apparently the kitesurfers were meant to be partying. We meet some great people at it and had a fantastic, crazy time! Big shout out to the ladies Ania, Jo, Jemma and Sjoukje who all looked like they were going to have a chilled out night sipping on G&T’s until the Puremagic crew arrived in and straight away bought a bottle of whiskey and tequilas and god know what else but great craic was had by all and boy was it messy! So after the rooftop party we had no plan so just followed all the pro riders back to their camp just on the edge of the city. Myself and Larence piled into the riders bus and as we pull away from the hotel theres no sign of Franz or Toff. I then here someone say to me that they’ve just been taken by the police! So bus pulls off and stops at a random dodgy fast food place and we grab some random chicken roll thing, with extra ketcup, that you just know could make it all go horribly wrong the next day…but we went with it anyway! We arrive back at the camp and we freak out, a FREE BAR! Sorted we get stuck in. We were basically handed out slabs of heineken and that was it. Music and all the place was sweet! To top off the night we found beds in these empty tents that had been reserved for this artist Fudel!!! Epic night!

The next morning we woke up and scored some free breakfast in the riders camp then got a lift with them back to our camp on their bus which was bringing them to the race spot. We grabbed ourselves a couple of hours sleep and then pumped our stuff and hit the water and downwinded it to the next camp, Dakhla Atittude. The conditions were sweet, powered on 11m and water was flat and shallow. There was no sign of the race starting so myself and franz went on a freesyling session and considering the night we had had we were riding super good! Some of the local Moroccan crew here were ripping super hard too so there was a great vibe on the water. These guys really have a high level of riding and on another day i witnessed them taking some of the biggest wipeouts i’ve seen guys take, ever! After 20 minutes kites started to head off to the starting area so Franz, Larence and myself. We also entered this downwind race that all the riders had come for. Windsurfers and kiters gathered at the camp just downwind from us where the race was due to start. We had decided in the fun spirit of the Puremagic team that we’d start the race then screw the course and head straight for the finish expecting a big cheer for the what would look like winners arriving first on the finish line. But we arrive and like only 3 people are waiting on the beach, no cheers or greetings or anything! It was a fun downwinder of 27km or so and it was a great feeling to have just 3 of us kiting in the middle of nowhere with no boats or anything just total freedom!

So once again we had a great time there and I hope to be back next year again to party hard in the desert an score some sweet wind and flat water!

Later

Eamo

Held at Nyali Beach, Kenya by Prosurf Extreme Kenya…

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Epic Epic Epic!

Seriously amazing time was had out in Kenya. Super cool event, super cool people, and i’ll be back next year for sure!

I spent 2 weeks out there and had wind every day bar two. Spend the first week tryin to ride off the winder blues and get back to usual form. Few days on 11m and most of the time on 9m, could have done with a 7m a few days too especially for the freestyle event but managed with out. The prosurf centre ran by Fleur on the beach was a great place to chill in the morning until the wind kicked in. Ice cold Tusker beer for lunch break and then ride till dark. The conditions were challenging as it was quiet a choppy spot but it makes you work for it. I met up with the rest of the Ireland crew who had already spent 2 weeks out there. A big group of us headed out for pork chops the first night there, followed by many drinks in Just Drinks. We also hit the casino one night where i lost €20 on god dam roulette. I think i was the only one to lose it all too! So much for my beginners luck!

So much great times were had that only photos can really show! 2 highlights of the trip were a trip to a magical paradise miles of the coast of Kenya, and the comp after party! And i guess also having half my head shaved to raise a bit of extra cash for MEAK.

For the island paradise we got up at 6 in the morning and I grabbed a lift with Adam (or Bundy as he’s more commonly called!) and we drove about 2 hours south of Nyali beach followed by the rest of the crew Keenan, Dave, Dee, Emma, Steve, Jenny, Darren, and James. Once we arrived we bought our tickets for Access to the nature reserve, then piled all our gear into a Dhow (this big wooden boat) and set off for Casidi Island (Dont quote me name of it!) which is located in Wasidi Nature Reserve. On the way we were greeted by some dolphins and half the crew just went mad and gabbed snorkling masks and jumped into the water to swim with them. After checking out the dolphins we progressed on for about a half hour and soon arrived at the island. We moored the dhow off the island and swam all our gear in to the beach which was a sand bank that shows up at low tide. We set up while the wind was building and hit the water once it was strong enough. I spend the day lit on my 9m and had an epic session blazing about the place and buzzing the boat. After about 3 hours riding we packed up and set off motoring back to land. On the way back the crew decided to throw up the sail as the swell was making motoring hard, rocky and uncomfortable. The sail went up and had a few issues unwrapping and began flapping everywhere with ropes trying to take out eyes. The non sailors in the group were starting to get a bit uncomfortable and after a botched recovery attempt the sail got caught on the bow and tore so down it can and that was the end of that. We stopped off for seafood dinner on an island resturant which was included in the dhow trip. The lobster was great! Then it was home time and after a quick walk through the island village we hoped into the most unseaworthy boat i’ve ever been in and we were brought out to our dhow that was anchored offshore. Then once on dry land again we hit the road in the dark for an interesting drive home!

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The comp after party was held again on a Dhow though slightly modified with a bitchin’ sound system and bar! Before setting off we got a complimentary drink also called a Dhow. Double vodka with sugar and honey and limes in it that you crushed up with a stick. Tasty and dangerous! After 2 of these most people were on the way to party land! Having nly got on the boat at 7, we had 2 or 3 dhows and then looked at the blurred watch to find out it was only 8.15! Then most people decided to pace themselves, i.e. me!, and watered them down with a few tuskers and the odd dhow here and there for good measure! We toured around the Mombasa rivers late into the night! The great thing about a party boat is that no one can get off But after a while they did stop back and let some of the older crew off so the kiteboarders could reak havoc into the wee hours of the morning! The event prize giving was held on the boat as well as a raffle where we were forced to by tickets from the lovely Jess and Fleur! Carnage followed the prize giving with Justin climbing the boats rigging Jack Sparrow style and a few going for a bit of a swim of the back of the boat and finding upon returning that there were crocodiles and sharks and all sorts of stuff in the water! Needless to say they didnt go in again isnt that right Andy?! Everyone was wearing their kukoys (like a light towel or scarf worn to cover ones decency.) and most wearing shorts of some degree underneath them. A group of people who will remain nameless decided that I was cheating and that i shouldnt be wearing shorts, so will someone holding me down and two shameless ladies de-panting me i was left in my boxers and had to grab my kukoy and wear it supa tight. Dave then robbed my shorts and hung them up and proceeded to fill the pockets with beer so wearing them again was out of the question! cheers Dave man! So the partying continued for another crazy dhow fueled hours. Again at some point (this stage super blurry) my kukoy was gone and i was left rolling around the floor in my boxers again! Thankfully my shorts had dried out so i threw them on but sadly my kukoy was never to be seen again! Trying to seek revenge it turned out certain people had tied themselves securely into it and there was no hope of gettin it off (we also later found out she had to be almost cut out of it at bed time ahahahah). General craziness and the compulsarary breakdancing session was had then it was time to go back to the hotel for the nightclub (whos idea was that?!). We didnt remember how we got home the next day but andy was thankfull on hand with photographic evidence to refresh our minds! The crew then all started to turn up at the hotel and started to jump off the terrace area into the swimming pool with the security guards standing by shouting but not being able to stop 12 or so people continuously jumping! Finally we hit the nightclub with half the people being refushed for having bare feet or no top on. For the select few that made it in we had the dancefloor to ourselves but it was too quiet and everyone was fading! So after one more beer, it was bed time! Fleur and Johara i’ll get my sweet revenge! EPIC NIGHT!!!

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For the Event itself we had a Race, Kicker, Big Air, Best Trick (piss take event haha) and finally the Freestyle. The results are listed below. To raise a bit more cash for the charity I was sponsor to shave half my head. So I went around for teh duration of the competition making a lot of people smile! The result for the comp are below. Thanks to every who made the event happen and to all the great people I met there! You all know who you are! Also special tanks to the Irish kitesurfing community for donating to a worthy cause to help with heart and eye operations throughout Kenya.

Thanks to:

LSD Kiteboarding, Anne Reidy, Marion Reidy, Paul Rennick, Phil Kealy, Denis Thorton, Marie Martin, Sean, Louis, Medbh, and Eva Martin, David Martin, May Martin, The Gillard family, Kieran Sammon, Conor Heelan, Bartek Splawski, Vinny McDonnell, John Power, Dave Wyer, Rory Stoney, Paul Goldsmith, Tony Humphreys, Alex Bondareva, Kasia Yeates, Colin McCracken, and Dominika Kupciw.

In total we raised €500 from the Irish Community which was a hell of a lot!  In addition I raised €100 for shaving half my head which was a good price to pay for having look like an idiot for a few days! And next year we hope to get a few of you out there to help and join in the competition and the awesome craic that goes along with it!

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I also managed to score a few cheeky pictures in the Kenian Newspaper the Saturday Nation.

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Photos from the Comp and mayhem that went on are available HERE

More photos will be added over the next few weeks when people get around to uploading them!

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Results:

Happy New year to everone! The piece i done with Eileen Magner was shown this evening, New years Eve, on the national 6 one news on RTE. There a good shot of my bro Paul carving around the place, and himself and Paul Rennick crusing out to the lighthouse! Footage came out ok, doesnt show much from that day but weather turned super bad so maybe it wasnt usable footage.

Eamo

Been getting pretty good media coverage lately even though its the middle of winter almost. I got a the cover and a 2 page spread article in the Sligo Weekender’s Arts and Leisure Magazine ‘GO’. Don’t laugh too much when you see it Thanks to Teresa Fawls for doing the interview and the poser photos. Thanks to Treasa Lynch for the use of her action photographs.

Eamo

I did an interview with Eileen Magner for RTE news this morning in relation to my championship win. We  got some great conditions for the shoot and after the interview (god help me i hope i didn’t look and sound like a total eejit!) i then went out on the water for them to get some action shots. Some of the other sligo crew made the effort to hit the water so all in all it looked good with 5/6 kiters out on the water. It was gusty and supa cold, but i managed to hit a few jumps, rolls, loops and a couple of wakestyle tricks with no feeling in my hands or feet.

The interview will be shown over christmas as part of a sports news feature on Six One News on RTE 1. I’ll keep you posted when i find out when its on!

Eamo

So already few plans in mind for 2009. The first of them being a trip to Kenya for the M.E.A.K. Charity Kitesurf Extreme Cup. This event helps raise money and awarness for the Medical and Educational Aid for Kenya www.meak.org. The event is a 3 days competition as well as novelty event such as kicker session, downwinder, and firejumping. We also get to experience a few other things during our stay. The event is being held at Nyali Beach with Prosurfkenya kitesurfign center. I’ll be heading over a week early to do some freeriding and training before the event to brush off those cold winter blues! Fellow Flexifoil rider Jennifer Kinnear will also be joining me and hopefully team Ireland will kick some ass!

So as its for charity expect me to be going around looking for a few quid off you to help support M.E.A.K!

www.meak.org

www.prosurfkenya.com

Keep you updated!

Eamo

Jennifer Kinnear ripping in last years MEAK event 2007!