You can now shop with Zephyr online through our new Ebay Shop.
Ebay shop now on-line
November 30th, 20101 space left on the Kenya Trip
November 25th, 2010Join us on our New Year kitesurf trip to Kenya. Only 1 place left now.
Christmas Presents for Kitesurfers….
November 16th, 2010If you need to buy a Christmas present for someone who kitesurfs then have a look at our hand picked selection of gifts, trust us they will love um’ !
Respect to Lewis, another pier conquered !
November 15th, 2010Lewis Crathern harnessed winds of more than 60mph to clear the 50ft structure (Images courtesy of United Magic)
One of the UK’s leading kite surfers harnessed winds of more than 60mph (96km/h) to jump over Brighton Pier.
Professional kite surfer Lewis Crathern, 25, of Worthing, West Sussex, cleared the 50ft (15m) structure during stormy weather on Thursday.
Mr Crathern, who jumped over Worthing Pier in 2009, navigated the waves for about two hours before attempting the feat.
He said: “It’s a nice view. Not many people can say they’ve had that view.”
‘Pretty amazing’
The former British champion said: “I have to be on the water and feel the conditions are possible and it’s on.
“Yesterday I slowly moved down to the pier and assessed the waves - there’s not really an actual process, it just feels right.”
Lewis Crathern kite surfed over Worthing Pier in November 2009Mr Crathern added: “It was pretty amazing, I’d [pictured] it in my brain quite a few times before, you have to do that to prepare for it, so I knew what it would look like, kind of.”
He said safety was important and the jump should not be attempted by amateurs.
“I have a really good team that come and follow me so they’re all on the pier making sure the public can’t get between the area I’ve marked out - where I want to go.
“Safety is obviously a major concern about it and I don’t want to put anyone else at risk,” Mr Crathern explained.
A spokesman for the RNLI said they recognised that Mr Crathern was an experienced kite surfer and cleared the pier with room to spare but urged no-one else to try the stunt.
The Ozone C4 2011 has landed
November 11th, 2010Check out the new C4. What an superb kite. Check the vid link above.
World record attempt
November 10th, 2010|
Kite surfer aims for New Quay in record breaking bid
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People living on Cardigan Bay are used to seeing strange marine craft approaching its shores. These range from the Irish and Viking invaders of the early middle ages to a French invasion force in 1797. But if eagle-eyed locals see a kite surfer approaching land next week they will witness the final throes of a world record attempt. Murray Smith aims to break a kite surf world record by surfing 250 miles in 24 hours before landing at New Quay.
The 25-year-old from Dartmouth will kite surf from Newquay, Cornwall, to Arklow on the east side of Ireland before tacking onto a south east heading wind that will lead him towards New Quay in Ceredigion. The record-breaking 250 mile trip will take up to 24 hours to complete and will see Murray battle fatigue and limited visibility as he surfs through the night, facing large seasonal swells, unpredictable winds and navigates shipping lanes. Swells As a kite surfing instructor Murray’s specialist knowledge of his sport will increase his chance of success. He will be wearing a tracking device which will update his position to the website www.thisisgoingtohurt.co.uk every 10mins. A support team will also accompany him on a Rigid Inflatable Boat.
Murray said: “I can predict what kite to take and how many calories I might need, but the one thing I can’t predict is the weather. “If that doesn’t work in my favour what is already an incredibly tough challenge will become almost insurmountable”. Early November sees large seasonal swells hitting coastlines, and Murray hopes the conditions will work in his favour. Hypothermia But the decision to leave at this time of year could also work against him. November’s cold temperatures also mean that he must keep moving or risks hypothermia, especially during the night. “We’re on stand-by now and I would like to make the record attempt between 12 and 18 November. “The most important factor before I start is that I need 20 hours of wind to complete the challenge. “It is also down to the wind if I manage to finish at New Quay. It is impossible to predict, but I’m sure I’ll be washed up somewhere on the Cardigan Bay coast.” Murray brings a wealth of endurance experience to this record-breaking attempt. In 2008 he was one of three British athletes to appear in the BBC extreme challenge series, Last Man Standing. In 2009 he kite surfed solo and unsupported over 95 miles between the Caribbean islands of Antigua and St Barts. |
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The most important factor before I start is that I need 20 hours of wind to complete the challenge 
Be careful out there Kids
November 9th, 2010Kite-surfer, 28, dies after gale drags him 100mph across beach and drops him from 50ft
A kite surfer has died after a gale-force wind dragged him across a beach at more than 100mph before he hit at least three rooftops and then plunged 50ft into the ground.
The horrific tragedy took place during a storm in the upmarket seaside resort of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, in south west France, yesterday afternoon.
Weather forecasts has warned people about high winds, but a number of men and women were still surfing.
The Saint Jean de Luz resort, near Biarritz in south west France, was where kite-surfer Adrien Monnoyeur died after being picked up and dropped in a gale on Sunday
Adrien Monnoyeur, a 28-year-old from Toulouse, was on a surfboard being towed by a large kite when a particularly strong gust lifted him high into the air.
But rather than racing across the waves at great speed - which is the purpose of the sport - he was lifted high in the air and began to head inland.
Unable to detach himself from his harness Mr Monnoyeur was pulled high above the beach and over St Jean’s Grand Hotel.
An eye-witness said: ‘It all happened in an instant but was truly terrifying.
‘He hit a pier to begin with and then clipped the top of the Grand Hotel.
‘Then he flew along a main street and grazed the top of the seven-storey Eguzkia boarding house, hitting a chimney stack.
‘Then he struck the roof of an adjoining building before finally separating from a harness and plunging to the ground.’
Kite-surfing has become a very popular sport, but is very dangerous in strong winds - last year a kite-surfer died in similar circumstances on the beach at Luzien, some seven miles away from where Mr Monnoyeur was killed (stock picture)
A local resident told Sud Ouest newspaper: ‘I was on the phone to a friend looking out the window. I was telling him to watch the sea when I saw the kite surfer go past me at breakneck speed.’
The woman did not know what was happening at first, adding: ‘It all happened in the space of a second. I even thought I had a hallucination.’
She could see every details of the kite-surfer’s face, saying: ‘He was a very good looking young man. It was so strange.
‘I couldn’t even see fear in his face. It was instead an expression of astonishment, but this is just my feeling.’
The woman, who asked not to be named, rushed out of her apartment block in the storm and saw Mr Monnoyeur lying dead in the courtyard of another building.
He was still in his harness with his tow rope lying next to him.
Emergency services arrived within minutes but Mr Monnoyeur was believed to have died instantly.
An enquiry was launched instantly but nobody else was being sought in what is believed to have been a tragic accident. Local residents including guests at the Grand Hotel were meanwhile being treated for shock.
In April 2009 a kite-surfer died in similar circumstances on the beach at Luzien, some seven miles away.
Kite-surfing is growing in popularity as a sport, with thousands of British people among those taking it up.
BBC cover our sucessfull 80 mile channel crossing !
November 4th, 2010Kite surfing across the English Channel
The three armed forces teams set off from Alderney’s Braye Harbour
Three teams of kite surfers representing the army, navy and air force headed to Alderney in September 2010 to kite surf back to England.
They completed the trip from Braye Harbour to Poole on 10 September after being delayed by lack of wind in June.
Henry Waite from organisers Zephyr KiteSurf said: “People have kite surfed from Dover to Calais, we thought we’d take it a bit further.”
The crossing was designed to raise money for Help for Heroes.
 The kite surfers travelled more than 70 NM in a matter of hours
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The event saw the 18 racers cover more than 70 nautical miles across some of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
Henry said: “The safety crew are doing all the navigation and look at the shipping channel for us. They guide us on our route.”
Each team featured six racers who treated the event like a relay race and the winning team was from the navy, led by Lt Cdr Jon Platt of Poole, a Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, who was also the first to reach the sandbanks at Poole and complete the race.
The teams chose Help for Heroes as beneficiaries as it is something close to all the competitors: “We all know and have heard of people coming back injured, and this is an opportunity to promote it and raise as much money as possible for the rehabilitation of the guys.”
ZK snowkiting Trip. 19th - 26th March 2011
November 3rd, 2010Join us on an exclusive 7 day adventure in Serre Chevalier next March. We have a catered chalet booked in Chantmerle where we have direct access to some of the worlds best ski and snowboard spots and a short drive to the imfamous Col du Lautaret, where snowkiting really started. The trip includes 1/2 board and local transfers for the snowkiting.
A great trip for mixed groups who like to ski/snowboard and snowkite. more details : http://www.zephyrkitesurf.com/serre-chevalier.php
2nd Hand Ozone kites for Sale
November 2nd, 2010
12M C4 2010. £390. immaculate.
14M Catalyst 2010. £290. Good condition. One small repair.
