Fancy a break from the UK when Peter Vanden Busche from Mellow (Flexifoil Europe) said he was holding a demo at his local beach for his shop, I was more than happy to head over and take a little vacation. Sadly it has taken some time to get online, been waiting for some pictures before I could put it online.
Taking an early Eurotunel crossing we arrived in France for 9am, and after a quick stop in Cite Europe for food and drink, we made the 1 hour drive upto the shop. Having been once before I had a rough idea to go, but after realising I had left the maps at home it went down to gut feeling and it worked!
With afternoon low tides we chilled out in the shop for the morning. As the beach started to dry out the wind was blowing between 15 & 20 mph but slightly gusty as of the slights cross off winds that were coming off the dunes. I took out the 6.5 Blade IV which was not too bad, there were two hard patches with a small river between the two. I got a bit confident and starting jumping it and tricking over the river. Ending up down wind on one tack I got pretty close to the river, with only it inches downwind, as I moved the kite to the top of the window a gust came and went and the kite backed into the window, this then powered and slung me into the river! I was frozen, bearing in mind this was end of March it was pretty cold. After being soaked I headed back in and packed up and called it a day. That evening we headed to the local surf bar on the beach and had a few drinks before going out for a meal in a local restaurant.
Saturday Morning brought Sunshine and again slight off-shore winds at around 30mph. The shop was busy with plenty of locals and people wanting to give kiting ago. We loaded up the trailer with all our gear and towed it onto the beach. We set up camp and got the gear out. Peter did lots of teaching sessions and got plenty of people kiting! One thing that was very different to th UK was how many young kids were coming and giving it ago. Most were heading upto the shop and coming back onto the beach with a small sting, and loving every moment of it.
I set up the 4.0m as the wind was still blowing strong. Buggy jumping is not seen in Belgium so this was something that most had not seen before. The 4.0m was powered nicely and pulling off some nice jumps, rotations and kite loops. I was able to get some sweet double kite loops which felt epic and certainly pleased the local fliers. With the speed of the 4.0 you can lob it about, into huge power slides, incorporating downloop turns and really make it look spectacular with the sand blowing from the wind!
Saturday was the Fly High party, and what a party. Karl one of the staff at the shop does some DJ’ing in his spare time most of which he learnt from his dad. Karl did the first set which was great, the party was really in full swing. His dad aged in his 50’s then came on, you think what is this man doing here, but once he starts you are in astonishment. He is very very good and it was an excellent night, morning. Party finishing at around 4am old time, 5am new time it was fully worth it.
Sadly Sunday brought no wind, we chilled out for the morning before heading off to the crossing.
Big thanks to Peter for another excellent event.
