Christian Harris and Karine Nativel kitesurf tuition.I first met Christian Harris in 2000 in Margarita. He was teaching windsurfing, then one of the top windsurfing coaches in the world and I, being passionate about windsurfing then too, was in his class. Christian was amused to see me turning up on the beach before and after windsurfing classes, to practise the new sport of flysurfing, as it was called then (by the French) - now referred to as kitesurfing or kiteboarding. Armed with my Concept Air kite (a water relaunchable ram air kite designed by Benoît Tremblay and Michel Montminy of Quebec Canada) and my 7.0ft directional board shaped by Bill Attlee in Cornwall. In those days Leading Edge Inflatable kites, bars,and bladders were not very reliable and the other choice was a non-relaunchable Flexi-Foil Blade, a ram air kite on handles. A Concept Air kite on a bar was then a good compromise for me to develop my skills. I arrived back to Margarita 10 months later - Christian had learnt to kitesurf and had in this short time become a bit of a kitesurfing guru!
Christian's first course run in the car park in Old Hunstanton, Norfolk. It was blowing Force 9 on the beach, so the car park behind a hedge was the venue! Lined up from left to right: Mick Pilcher (Pilch) was one of the first kitesurfers in Norfolk and the UK. He put a lot of passion into kitesurfing and valued high quality coaching. Christian changed Pilch's style and taught him how to jump, rotate, grab and land. Pilch became the benchmark on the Norfolk coast - with his passion, style and dedication to practice. Guy (Sticky) Speckley was one of a trio to pioneer kitesurfing in the UK and Norfolk in 1998. A UK instructor, he ran one of the first kitesurf courses held in Tarifa, Spain. He also valued high quality coaching from Christian. Jonnie Eisler (jonnie), that's me - I was also one of the pioneering trio, BKSA founder member and one of the first BKSA/IKO instructors in the UK. I started making, inventing, adapting and repairing kites, boards, bars, bridles and lines when it all started. I organised the course - I believe that high quality tuition can be better value than spending money on new kit. Christian Harris the coach - threw our blindfolds away and opened our eyes! Chris Middleton, another of the pioneering trio, BKSA founder member and one-time Kitesurf magazine editor. He now lives and practices kitesurf foilboarding in Montpellier, France and still has time to be coached. Matt Pigden, wakeboard coach and has more watersports qualifications than you can shake a stick at! He now owns and manages SnoWake Bulgaria http://www.snowandwakebulgaria.com/index-1.html . Matt understands the importance of being coached, and was the first person to enrol on Christian's course. Having known Christian and Karine since they brought their style of tuition and learning clinics to the UK, I have reccommended them to my friends and customers - they also believe their tuition has made a real difference. Having coached and been taught for many years, I am always keen to see people improve and realise their potential. Have a look at Christian and Karine's website to find out about their latest clinics - now in fantastic warm, sunny and windy venues (not carparks in http://www.christianharris.co.uk/knowhow.asp
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Tents awnings and covers
