The Student Kitesurf Association Chicks Weekend was held at Rhosneigr Beach on Anglesey in North Wales over the Halloween weekend. 28 girls descended on to the small but very highly rated location where the legendary Funsport shop is situated on the beach. With Flexifoil team rider Jemma Grobelaar giving technique clinics to the intermediates and a host of instructors helping out with the beginners, this was the first weekend of the SKA's new beginning.

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It was good to be back on the beach shooting a kitesurf event, especially as we know Rhosneigr well and it's where it all started for us with kitesurfing. Bucky at Funsport is always welcoming and happy to help out as a host, shop or just with knowledge about the local area, which is perfect for a student group. The shop as stated above is on the beach literally, so its not too far to walk if you need something. Jemma also lives 2 doors down so all in all it was a very tight event.

The girls arrived in dribs and drabs late Friday night and well into Saturday morning so were a little late getting to the beach. Only 45 mins behind schedule and it wasn't long before flags and equipment were all out on display ready for the first briefing. Splitting the girls into small groups of around 5 max, the instructors led them across the beach to the flat area by the dunes to start the days teaching and coaching.

The kit, kindly donated by Flexifoil, was put to good use and as the wind was up and down all day it gave the girls a real insight into how the conditions can play a big part in kite flying. With the inconsistent wind and at times heavy rain, they probably learnt more than they would on a any other day.

The conditions unfortunately meant that those on the water were finding it difficult to put into practice the advise they were getting from Jemma and the other instructors. That said, one rider Rajal Patel, was having an amazing time, managing to go upwind in very choppy conditions. Her smiles and enthusiasm caught the sight of the instructors who nominated her for the prize of most enthusiastic person of the weekend!

"This is what the 'girls' weekends are all about" said Charlie Davies, one of the SKA reps for the weekend. "Its about encouraging each other in a way that the lads don't do, talking about achievements, feeling able to make a mistake without ridicule and talking about girlie things, all of which you can't always do with a group of guys."

So this was the thinking behind the whole chick thing; giving the girls their own space to experience this amazing sport. It certainly seemed to work as many of the girls who were 'first timers' when asked said that they would come to another weekend to progress their kite skills and hopefully enter the water.

So with the first day on the beach being an experience to remember, it was off to Hendre Hall for the Halloween Ball .......student style! Being prepared and bring their own props or whipping out to local supermarkets, students are well known for being creative when it comes to costumes and the girls were no different; witches, scary dolls, devil horns and cats were all in abundance, doused with blood, fake I may add and face paint to make the effect even more scary if that were possible. The prize for best costume had to go to a rather scary clown outfit which was amazing. The group split later in the evening; with some of the girls tired from the days activities, they headed back to the hostel for an 'early' night leaving some of the more hardcore party goers to dance the remainder of the night away under UV and laser lights which picked out the skeleton bones and brightly coloured face paints in a psychedelic fashion .

Sunday morning and everyone was at the beach relatively early ..... probably easily done seeing as they all had an extra hour in bed due to the clocks going back, but the wind wasn't playing, having switched direction and dropping there was only just enough to fly the foils and certainly not enough to ride on the water much to the disappointment of many. But that's the UK weather for you and kiting in the UK is about community and sharing and these girls had experienced that; hopefully we will see them back on the beaches very soon.

Charlie would like to thank the industry for the support the SKA have received in restarting: Flexifoil who have been a fantastic supplying loads of kit and helping out in other ways, ExPix for their filming, photography and media & PR services and for spreading the word that the SKA is back and on track to provide students who kitesurf with a sustainable network, Funsport for their tremendous support in providing prizes, instructors and a place to come and 'hang out' and lastly but by no means least Gecko for providing prizes.

You may have noticed that some of the images dont have our ExPix logo on them .... please do not steal these images. They belong to a student who has been working alongside ExPix over the last 6 months gaining hands on experience shadowing our chief photographer Ian Edmondson. Jenny Bullas is the student in question and we believe she  has gained valueable real life work experince working alongside Ian. We can already see a difference in her approach to different projects in following a brief or creating something more from her 'heart'.

We hope to see Jenny working alongside us at more events.

Click here for a link to the rest of the images from the weekend.