BlownAway will be held at Weston-super-Mare on the 18th &19th April 2009.
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Late breaking news - Late breaking news - Late breaking news - Late breaking news
Britan has just smashed the world speed record for a wind powered craft - 126MPH!
The festival is for kite & wind sports being coordinated by the local wind sports club Wind & Wheels in conjunction with North Somerset Council. Given enough support this event could grow year on year. In the future we hope to attract even more support from local and national businesses. We have been given the opportunity to use the beach from the Pier to Uphill for a weekend during the Easter holidays. We believe there should be some spectacular views of this event from the new 40m big wheel on the beach lawns near the Tourist Information Centre.
Further down the page you will find more detail, but what can you expect to see? Well that's going to depend upon the weather - we're hoping for dry weather and moderate winds to allow all aspects of the event to take place; although there will be lots going on. There is to be a children’s kite making workshop, displays of large single-line kites, kite flying competitions using "stunt" kites, traction kite racing on three wheeled buggies (parakarts), mini land-yacht racing (Blokarts), land boarders demonstrating their skills, then onto the water where the kite surfers will be showing off their skills in fancy dress amongst other things! You will also have a chance to get up close and personal with some larger land yachts, capable of hitting 70mph and the chance to win free instruction in one of these land yachts. If that's not enough, for the brave hearted, some have-a-go sessions too, and if that's all too much like hard work, why not just browse the kite shops?
The stalls, offering everything from single-line kites to full blown race buggies, equipment for the water based sports such as kite boards, to clothing, urban sports such as skate boards to circus and air toys. Pay them a visit and start your own obsession.
For links to the organizations below, please click the logos on the main page.
The AKF & friends will have an arena to demonstrate the pleasure of kite flying and promote their long standing club. This arena will be between the Pier and the SeaQuarium with parking between the Tropicana and the SeaQuarium . (AKF, formerly Avon Kite Flyers).
STACK will be hosting the 1st round of the national stunt kite championship in an arena alongside the AKF. STACK hope to complete 10 hrs of competition over the weekend including individual & pairs, teams flying dual line and quad line kites in both precision and ballet routines. (STACK, Sport Team And Competitive Kiting).
The BKSA are running a charity kitesurf & landboard competition featuring teams of 2 in fancy dress. Prizes will be awarded for:
Disciplines – Highest jump
Synchronized - Jumping – Moves in 5 minutes
Race – Kite landboard – Kitesurf combined
Best Fancy Dress etc.
This will be happening to the left of the Tropicana beach car park. (BKSA, British Kite Surf Association).
The BLSA are hosting the 1st round of the national Blokart championships. They will be based at the Uphill entrance to the beach and will race from the windzone all the way down the beach to the kitesurf competition by the Tropicana car park. Blokarts are mini land yachts that pack down easily to fit the boot of your car. (BLSA, British Land Speedsail Association).
The SuperCup will be hosting parakarting or kite buggy racing alternating with the BLSA Blokart racing on the main length of beach. They will be based at the Royal Sands car park. Traffic will be directed to an enlarged Tropicana beach car park. (SuperCup is an organization that brings pilots form many clubs to race kite buggies).
The BFSLYC will be on hand to demonstrate various types of land yacht. They will also be near the Royal Sands car park. (BFSLYC is the British Federation of Sand and Land Yacht Clubs). Wind & Wheels is proud to be part of this national federation that represents our sport nationally, in Europe and Worldwide at FISLY (Federation International of Sand and Land Yacht Clubs).
Camping for participants and others is available at Purn Holiday Park.
www.purnholidaypark.co.uk 01934 812 342
On mentioning Wind & Wheels participants can book a pitch Friday to Monday for £16 per day for up to 4 people - tent, caravan or camper.
Static caravans for up to 6 people are available at £120
For additional camping and accommodation see http://www.visitsomerset.co.uk/site/places-to-stay or you can always contact the Weston-super-mare Tourist Information Centre directly on Tel 01934 888 800 or email westontouristinfo@n-somerset.gov.uk for the latest information.
The 18th & 19th of April has been chosen for the neap tide which will give us plenty of beach for the land based events throughout the weekend, with high tides of only 8.05m at 13.05 hrs on Saturday and 8.09m at 14.54 hrs on the Sunday, also giving us enough sea for the kite surfers.
For more information email info at windandwheels.org.uk
Good Winds
the BlownAway team