Amy Winehouse in St Lucia

(Photo: JustJared.com)

And while we're on the subject, there's a new bar opening in Rodney Bay:



Truth is, we're all huge Winehouse fans.
Be well Amy - [group hug]

Sir Richard Branson: New teaching technique rivals IKO methods

Always the innovator, Richard Branson, chairman of the Virgin group of companies, is seen here demonstrating the latest patented Virgin Kitesurfing Instruction Method (VKIM). Sir Richard cites some of the advantages of VKIM over legacy methods which he says are "so last century".

• Personal VKIM instructor provides instant feedback on all manoevres thereby vastly improving the learning curve for newcomers to the sport.
• Not only warns of potential dangers ahead, but reminds the kiter of right-of-way rules at all times.
• Instructor instantly detaches on wipeout.

In the media

Click here to read some words about us published in the Sept 2008 edition of Caribbean Travel + Life. Franck didn't quite make the magazine cover, but the center-spread is pretty good too. Maybe next time Frankie!

And the New York Times also thought our spot was worth a mention. Click here to read.

Barack Obama bodysurfs at Sandy Beach

OK ... that's Sandy Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii. Not Sandy Beach (Anse De Sable), Vieux Fort, St Lucia.

Coverboy David

Homeboy David Hastilow graces the cover of the May 2007 Italian 'Surfers' magazine. Last December, David and four of his team mates from the Cabrinha pro team (Cameron Dietrich, Damien Leroy, Susi Mai, and Clarissa Hempel) toured the Caribbean on a yachting safari, checking out some of the top kiting spots in the region. The tour kicked off from David's home location at The Reef Kite + Surf in St Lucia and took the riders as far north as the islands of St Martin and Anguilla.

According to the magazine's website, the accompanying article is a 'Speciale Caribe, alla scoperta di 5 fantastiche isole dei caraibi' which we believe is an in-depth story about the copious amounts of pasta consumed by the pro team while visiting five fantastic Caribbean islands - but our Italian is not so hot, and the article might be about something entirely different.

David is sponsored by The Reef Kite + Surf.

The man with the midas touch

Edward 'Vaval' Emanus (age 71) dominated the track at the 4th annual senior games held at the national stadium in Vieux Fort. Vaval added four gold medals in the 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m relay events, to his already weighty collection of gold from other senior competitions held both at home and regionally. He puts his success down to a generally healthy lifestyle, regular training and of course the streamlined aerodynamics of his 'go-faster' Reef lycra vest - congratluations Vaval!

St Lucia Kite Fiesta 2007 - a huge success

Limbo dancers, fire eaters, snake charmers, live bands, calypso serenaders ... and of course lots of kitesurfing action - this was the first ever St Lucia Kitesurfing Fiesta held at Anse de Sable beach on 16th - 18th March 2007.

The fun, pro-am competition was one of the fringe events organised for the 2007 Cricket World Cup which is currently being hosted by the West Indies with several first-round matches played in St Lucia. The event was organised by the Southern Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) in collaboration with The Reef Kite + Surf and was sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic, Red Bull, Transcend Clothing and The Reef.

Over a two-day period, riders from Guadeloupe, Barbados, Costa Rica, UK, USA, and St Lucia competed for cash prizes, slogging it out in freestyle, course racing and big-air sessions and wowed the crowds with innovative expression sessions. The mood of the event was fun, fun and more fun.

Cabrinha pro-rider Damien Leroy flew in to judge the event and with the help of David and Rachel Hastilow, kept everyone's eyes glued to the action with riveting commentary. One often heard remark from spectators was: "I didn't think it would be so exciting."

Results:

Women's Freestyle

1. Beth Lygoe (UK)

2. Melissa Gil (Costa Rica)

3. Rachel Hastilow (UK)

Women's Course Racing

Men & women rode the same course and Beth Lygoe was the overall winner.

1. Beth Kygoe (UK) - overall winner

2. Melissa Gil (Costa Rica)

Men's Freestyle

1. Yoann Guignot (Guadeloupe)

2. David Hastilow (UK)

3. Evan Ponka (USA)

Men's Course Racing

1. David Hastilow (UK)

2. Evan Ponka (USA)

3. Yoann Guignot (Guadeloupe)

Want to see more Kite Fiesta action?

Here are two things you can do:

1. Make sure you're here for next year's Kite Fiesta 2008

2. Visit our gallery