Lewis Crathern Kitesurfer ** August Update **

Picnic In The Park

Picnic in The Park took place this month and the weather was great for the second year running. It’s quite an unusual event for me to attend as its based in a park in land (not where you usually find kitesurfers) but it has a great vibe and offers the public a closer look at Kitesurfing. Families come down through out the day to have a picnic and see all the different stands/exhibitions. It’s a great time for parents to talk to me about kitesurfing, they all usually like the look of it they just need a push to get out there and get some lessons! The kids love it too, I’ve learnt that a bar tied to the van is the perfect simulation for them, they really believe they are on the water kitesurfing!

Church

I’m not a major religious man but I did go to Church in Lancing the other month for “The Blessing Of The Boats”. It’s an annual event which originally involved blessing the boats of the local fishermen. In a more modern way they blessed my kitesurf board and a local sailors Dinghy. It was moving to see a whole church of people focusing some time to care about people using the water. During the ceremony I went up the front and chatted a bit about why Lancing is a great spot for kitesurfing. My local beach I learnt to kitesurf at has the 3rd biggest Kite Club in the Country!

My Own Video

Here’s the latest video I’ve put together from some shots gathered this year. If you haven’t seen me in action lately here is a great opportunity. Some of the angles are great, even some onboard ones so you can get a feeling of what we see as kitesurfers when we go big! https://vimeo.com/48149066

Worthing International Birdman

Last weekend I commentated/presented The Worthing International Birdman event with Dave Hunt my Local Radio Icon. Birdman is a competition for human powered flying machines that take off from a special ramp constructed on Worthing Pier. Seeing as I have some history with the Pier its fitting that I’m involved with the event sharing my flying knowledge!

There are 3 flying classes so prospective entrants can decide if they wish to be a serious aviator or want to take part for fun and raise money for charity. This event brings thousands of visitors to Worthing over the weekend (over 10,000 on Sunday!), gaining both national and international publicity. The exposure is great for me over the weekend as I’m on full screen live broadcast commentating the event to the beach. Most years are windy so I can put on a kitesurfing show for the beach however it was not to be this year but the conditions did suit the flyers well.

See me in action on the event video here http://youtu.be/Ga-6tcpGVyU  and some BBC coverage here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-19310902

Coming up in the next few months….

The Autumn conditions are just round the corner, the most extreme of the year – high winds and big seas I can’t wait. My schools program continues in England and I’ll be off to wales to see Steve Jones http://www.kiteboardinglessons.co.uk/ to work with some of his clients in a Clinic Based Weekend. I also have some great clinics to take in Egypt with African Space (Oct) and Morocco with Wave Riders (Nov)

Lewis