Windsurf Beauties and Beasts in Morocco 2012

Second year in a row we've had Windsurf Beauties and Beasts camp in the most beautiful and quiet little village of Morocco, Sidi Kaouki. This time we had a nice group of Russian windsurfers very keen to sail waves and improve their skills on the water. First 2 days there was no wind, so we were surfing, traveling and sightseeing until the action began. The swell was not big, just 1-1.5 meter waves with good wind which were the perfect conditions for our girlie "beauties" intermediate group and guys "beasts" advanced group. Sergey (pic below) from advanced group came all the way from Japan to learn a forward loop.

Roxy and Quiksilver were supporting our camp, so all participants got beautiful presents from our favorite brands. Marina keen to go surfing for the first time..  

Igor from advanced group never sailed waves before, he's only been windsurfing in Dahab for a few years and came to Morocco to our camp to learn wave riding. He's 56 years old, fit and very keen to sail better. From the first day he learned to pass the shore break and came back on a wave. Great man and amazing student, here's a Igor going throw the waves..   

A few times after sailing we went sighseeing to Essaouira, a beautiful local fisherman town with a port, old fortress, bazaar in the heart of the city and numerous craft shops. 

Nataly in the fortress posing a bit..:)

All together we've only had 3 windy days and the rest of the time we were surfing and bodyboarding. Of course, that's not enough to get good in the waves, but it's a great start and an unforgettable experience of wave riding in Morocco. All the students left eager to come back and get more air and ocean time, asking when the next camp is gonna take place. Here's Sergey in the waves..

 Me in Essaouira..

The best fresh orange juice we've ever tried is here..in Essaouira, Morocco.

 Sergey and Roman getting ready to go surfing.

 Nataly on a wave..

One of the presents we've got from Quiksilver..thanks guys!

Sergey on a wave..

Me, Sergey and Marina going to surf our local spot in Sidi, right in front of the center.

Me on a wave..

Roman with his dream surf board - the white shark..

 Our only body boarder Igor catching some nice ones..

Marina wearing a Roxy t-shirt, her present..

 When we knew there ain't gonna be wind, we left on a bike trip to Atlas mountains.

 When we got to the beginning of the mountains our car started boiling, but we've solved the problem and got to the top of the hill.

While we were waiting for the car to cool down, someone passed by..

Roman tried to scare the little turtle but she had her secret weapon..pissed all over his hand..

 We finally got to the top of the hills and had the most beautiful trip downhill..amazing virgin nature, everything green and noone around..

Breath taking sunset we've seen after the surf trip to Imesouane.  

 Most of the students already left, but me and 3 other friends are staying another couple of days, so there's gonna be more pics and news. stay tuned! next camp we gonna have is JP NP Young Guns in Dahab at Five Squares windsurf center. For all the info, please, write to Olya here: windsurf.beauties@gmail.com.

Windsurf Beauties going to Morocco and JP NP Young Gun off to Dahab!

It is the last week for me on Maui right now. The whole trip was beautiful, did the JP photo shoot, sailed Hookipa a lot and, of course, surfed the most amazing spots of Maui like Honolua Bay. Here's me dropping on a local (so sorry, by accident!!! i swear ;))))) on a small day at Hookipa..i love this spot, the waves are always great there.

It was such a pleasure to work with Jimmie Hepp at Hookipa. Everyone knows Jimmie, he's a sweetheart and takes very cool pics. Thanks a lot, Jimmie. Hope we can publish some undercover shots (not posted yet) in some mags, Russian ones for sure! :)  

 Sailing starboard tack after a year of port tack was a mission, but it's always great to learn smth new. Would be awesome to come to Maui again and maybe spend a winter here..one day i do it for sure..:))

 Now i'm going to Morocco to do my windsurfing camp called Windsurf Beauties and Beasts. We've got a bunch of super motivated ladies and guys coming up and i'm sure we gonna have a great time. Surfing, sailing, visiting different towns and craft markets, can't wait to do it all. It's gonna be pretty tough for some of my ladies who's gonna learn water starting and planning in the shore break, but they are all strong girls and with the right directions, i know they gonna make it. We will be staying in Sidi Kaoke at Felix Gerl's windsurf center and sailing at a best spots there. Here are a few pics from last year, like this one in Essaouira.

 Our camp has a very good training program incl. sailing, surfing, running, yoga and other outdoor fun activities. We have ROXY and Quiksilver supporting us this year again, so every participant of the camp will get a great present from Roxy or Quiksilver.

 Last year the conditions were perfect for learning, a small friendly shore break and good steady wind in Sidi Kaoke.

 Here are girls from intermediate group learning in Essauoira.

 Right after Morocco we have a JP NP Young Gun camp in Dahab at Five Square windsurf center from 2 until 9th of June. Kids of all levels of windsurfing and age from 6 to 16 are very welcome to join us there. 

 Dahab's a great place to learn and improve your sailing with nice warm water and decent wind. It's a perfect place to come with your kids and have a great time after a hard and long school year. The kids deserve it for sure!

 We gonna have a few groups - younger and older and we'll be teaching in a fun and positive way when all kids socialize and have fun. The last 2 camps we did in August and November were great success and we are looking forward to teach kids again.

 We've got a lot of kids gear at Five Square windsurf center, so we'll be sailing a lot. Apart from that we'll have volleyball, kids yoga, water polo and other fun activities every day that the kids stay active and enjoy there time. Every evening there's a video analysis at the center and cartoons or kids parties.

 JP NP Young Gun camp is a great start for kids willing to be good at windsurfing. Look at our friend Youp Schmit, he got so good at sailing and started as a young gun. :) here's his latest video: 

for all the info, please, contact Olya at windsurf.beauties@gmail.com. Aloha!

Second week on Maui, the wind and swell's pumping. super stocked!

Yeah, these were 2 amazing weeks on Maui so far, freestyling a lot at the beginning but lately only going to the waves, cos the swell's so good. This is how Hookipa looked like this morning..

It's so inspiring to see local guys and girls ripping..

Warm water, beautiful waves and good wind, Maui's a perfect place to be if u surf and sail..

For me Hookipa's a bit hard, rocky and crowded, so i go to sail here..another magical place on Maui, no rocks, just a beautiful reef break..

Well, a bit of rocks on the way out, but it's ok..

A bit of swim pass the rocks and you are out there..

Where's the pink sail?!...;)))))

I've been struggling a lot with the wind from the right, it's not so easy when you are goofy, addicted to port tack and..and a girl..;))))...but today i loved starboard tack sailing so much..the waves were mast high on big sets, perfectly clean and powerful..it's the best feeling ever..

Only a few people out, all enjoying and cheering up each other..i think i started enjoying the wind from the right..

But the cut back needs days,..no, weeks..ok, probably, years in my case of experience..;))) but i'm working on it all the time..;))

what a great day ;)))

thanks a lot to Ralf Simon for the pics..and here's another Maui local..chilling while we are sailing..the best life style..;))

more news soon..Aloha!!!