Colona Watersports News
  • 25. 05. 2008

    We have the O'Neill Competition here over the next week.

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    Guests such as Kevin Langeree & Jalou Langeree, Sergey Belmesov & Evgeny
    Novozheev here at the moment and Maciek Kozerski arriving in a few days.
    There will be music on the beach every day allot of Media etc.

    The opening party will be on the 26th May here at Colona on the Beach and
    the closing party will be on the beach here on the 30th. There is also a
    Midway party on the 28th at Ministry of Sound with David Long - Minimal Tech
    DJ from the UK Myself DJ Jekson - Russia let me know if you want guest list
    again.

  • 25. 05. 2008

    Russian Open Cup : O'Neill Kite Cup 2008

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    Egypt is one of just few places, which are easily reached, where it is
    summer all year round, where the wind is quite common. It is the land of
    anscient memeorials, endless desert wth miraculous sunsets, and THE SEA.

    Hurghada is the Mecca for the russian windsurfers and kiters. Here is their
    all-year residence and the competitions’ site. Here masters master their art
    and starters start their way. Here everyone can find conditions to their
    liking: from the mirror-even surface to the rolling waves. Here for the
    third time spectaculous show and tornado of emotions rush onto the heads
    locals and the tourists, which is with the name O`Neill Kite Cup, Russian
    Kitesurfing Open Cup.

    May 26 through 30 on the Red Sea on the Colona water sports beach in
    Magawish Hotel prestigious international competitions are to be held.
    Russian Open Cup : O'Neill Kite Cup 2008.

    Russian Federation of Windsurfing and Kitesurfing in association with the
    O’Neill clothing, TEZ Tour company and Ocean Rodeo kites is holding the
    event in the original traditions of the authentic surfing beach culture.

    Famous Russian riders to have started their career in the Russian Open Cup
    are planning to participate: Petr Tiushkevich, who has rated the third in
    the French lap of PKRA in 2008, Evgeny Novosheev and Sergey Belmesov, who
    have started competing in PKRA this year and have rated in the top 15 in the
    Venesuela lap of PKRA.

    High profeciency level of the russian and international competitors promise
    a true nerve-strain and crazy stunts and flights of the riders.

    General partner: O'Neill clothing

    Official partner: Tez Tour

    Partner: Colona Watersports, Ocean Rodeo kites

    Media sponsors: magazines Men`s Health, ProSport, Wave, Extreme, Verticalny
    Mir, PhotoTravel; RBC-Sport, Wind.ru

    Detailed information on the Web-page of the Russian Federation of
    Windsurfing and Kitesurfing: www.kitesurf.ru

  • Video Gallery Now Online!
    14. 11. 2007

    Video Gallery Now Online!

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    Finally we have managed to get our video gallery online. The link for the video gallery is on the Gallery page. Here we will upload our videos as well as cool videos from others that are related to Colona Watersports. Enjoy!

  • IKO Instructor Training Course in April 2008
    12. 11. 2007

    IKO Instructor Training Courses in April 2008

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    06-10 and 13-17 April 2008 are the dates for our next IKO Instructor Training Courses. As usual our favourite examiner Neil Godbold will be here to conduct the courses.

    The IKO certificate is considered to be the worlds leading teaching certificate and is recognized by all good teaching schools.

    Each course last for a full 5 days and covers everything from kite dynamics, lesson plans, safety issues with running a school, powerboat rescue training and practice with "real" students.

    There are a few things that each candidate should have before they start the course:

    • Be at least 18 years old and a certified IKO level 3 kiteboarder for at least 6 months.

    • Be able to ride constantly upwind, perform controlled turns, ride switch, perform a jump.

    • Have an IKO assistant instructor certification or provide an attestation (letter of recommendation) of a teaching experience in a water or aerial sport.

    • Have a valid first aid certificate.

    • Have a powerboat license or equivalent skill level if no obligatory license is required in the home country.

    We expect these courses to fill up quickly so please email us at info@colonawatersports.com as soon as possible for more information and registration.

  • IKO ITC Successfully Completed!
    12. 10. 2007

    IKO ITC Successfully Completed!

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    During the last week Neil Godbold has been here conducting IKO Instructor Training Courses. This time 11 candidates successfully completed their training, 3 of them crossing over from other teaching systems. We congratulate all 11 on their success and looking forward to the next training courses in April.

  • Hurghada cam online again!
    09. 10. 2007

    Hurghada cam online again!

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    As many of you have seen our camera unfortunately malfunctioned and started producing very strange looking images.

    After a long period of testing and re-testing we finally realized that it was nothing to do but having the manufacturer take a look at the camera.

    We contacted IQinVison support and was very surprised to hear that they would FedEx us a replacement camera. This is after almost 3 years usage and no warranty in place anymore. We were even more surprised to later find that they sent us the replacement free of charge!

    This is excellent customer service and we would like to recommend this company to anyone looking for a camera or security solution.

    See more at: http://www.iqeye.com

  • IKO Instructor Training Course in October
    22. 07. 2007

    IKO Instructor Training Course in October

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    As every year we will conduct an IKO Instructor Training Course in October. The dates are 07-11 October and Neil Godbold will be the examiner. We expect this course to fill up quickly so please contact us as soon as possible for more information and registration.

  • Picture of the Day back again!
    15. 07. 2007

    Picture of the Day back again!

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    After many requests we decide to put the Picture of the Day back up online again. You can find the Picture of the Day in our gallery!

  • Newsletter Summer 2007
    10. 07. 2007

    Newsletter Summer 2007

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    It has been a while since we last sent our news letter so we thought we would update you on what has been going on at Colona Watersports.

    New centre in Sharm El Sheikh

    From 1st January 2007 we have a kite centre in Sharm El Sheikh, located in Nabq, just north of the airport, on the same coast line as Dahab, famous for its good wind condition.

    For those of you who been visiting Colona Watersports in Sharm we would like to inform you that as of 1st July we moved location to the neighboring Regency Plaza Hotel, a really nice Hotel with all facilities that you might need. Check it out: www.regencyplazasharm.com

    At the Regency Plaza Hotel we have a brand new centre building and very soon the internet will be connected so that we can install our weather station and camera.

    Kevin Biles and Diane Gainford are our partners in Sharm and they are looking forward to welcome you there. Contact Kev & Diane: sharm@colonawatersports.com


    Colona Watersports Hurghada 5th anniversary:

    Time passes quickly and now it is 5 years since we opened Colona Watersports in Hurghada. We celebrated this occasion with renovating our shop and office; you might remember how small and crammed it was. We broke through the back wall and extended the building backwards and doubled the area. Now we have a separate shop section and the office in the back.

    Of course we threw a party as well, on June 3rd about 80 persons joined us for a nice barbeque at the centre and some good music played by our own Jessica and our DJ friends from Ministry of Sound.


    New Colona Watersports Web Site:

    After 5 years it was time for a change, the web site looked old and stale so we contracted a web design company to help us out, instead of doing it ourselves, and we are very pleased with the result. We feel that the site looks much nicer and is more alive than before. The content is similar but we have added our Hurghada out and about guide and of course the Sharm El Sheikh part. The site will continue to grow with more gallery content and a separate video galley in the future. Have a look and let us know what you think: www.colonawatersports.com

    Mark Shinn Kiteboarding Clinics

    For the third year in a row we had the pleasure of having Mark Shinn here, conducting his Kiteboarding Clinics. This time we did 2 clinics and 15 riders joined to learn from and ride with Mark Shinn. The wind was great for the entire period and the riders enjoyed themselves to the fullest.


    IKO Instructor Training Courses

    Yes we still do them. In April IKO Examiner Neil Godbold was here and trained 8 instructor candidates. All of them passed! We are planning to do 2 ITC’s again in October, the dates will be posted on the web site as son as they are finalized.


    Exclusive Ministry of Sound VIP Club Cards

    Thanks to Ministry of Sound Red Sea we give all our guests a VIP club card on arrival. This card is exclusive to Colona Watersports guests and entitles you to discount on food and drinks in all Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi and Papas outlets as well as free entrance to the Ministry of Sound Beach Club

    With this we wish you good winds and a great kiteboarding summer. We hope to see you here again soon!

    Bengan, Jessica and the rest of the Colona Watersports team.

  • 2007 Mark Shinn Kiteboarding Clinics
    16. 06. 2007

    2007 Mark Shinn Kiteboarding Clinics

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    For the third year in a row we had the pleasure of having Mark Shinn here, conducting his Kiteboarding Clinics. This time we did 2 clinics and 15 riders joined to learn from and ride with Mark Shinn. The wind was great for the entire period and the riders enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

    At the moment we are planning for the 2008 clinics, keep your eyes on our web site for the dates!

  • Colona Watersports 5 Year Anniversary
    02. 06. 2007

    Colona Watersports 5 Year Anniversary

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    5 years in Hurghada has passed. Colona Watersports celebrates 5 years of servicing kiteboarders and students in the Red Sea.

    Over the passed years Colona Watersports has grown from a small kite centre to a complete centre that focuses on safe training and the best service.

    For the 5 year anniversary we have extended our office/shop in to two different areas, the shop with every kite size and spare part you could ever need, and the new office with plenty if room for everyone.

    At the very same time we are doing the Mark Shinn Clinics for the 3rd year in a row, 7 students are on the first clinic and 8 on the second, keeping Mr. Shinn a busy man.

    On Sunday 3rd we celebrate with a small party at Colona Watersports, drinks, some cool music and a Barbeque in the evening.


  • Colona Watersports Sharm El Sheikh is now open!
    04. 01. 2007

    Colona Watersports Sharm El Sheikh is now open!

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    We are proud to announce that we are now open in the Raouf International Hotels, Nabq, Sharm El Sheikh. The centre is the first and only centre in the region, located directly on the Raouf Hotel Beach and allows you to launch directly in to the huge shallow lagoon.

    The Nabq area is located on the North side of Sharm El Sheikh, 10 minutes from the Airport, on the same coast line as Dahab, famous for its constant winds. The wind direction is normally cross to cross on and the wind is very smooth. A short distance to the North of the centre, accessible from land or by riding upwind is a bay with waves rolling in to a shore break. Maybe not a real wave spot, but very different from what you are use to see in Egypt, and a nice playground for the advanced rider.

    The centre is equipped with Naish kites and Naish & Nobile boards. Teaching is done on the 2007 X1 SLE kites and for rental we have 2007 Boxer SLE, Torch and Raven Kites. In the very near future the compressor will be installed and the weather station and internet camera will come online.

    Kevin Biles and Diane Gainford are our partners and centre managers in Sharm and they are looking forward to welcome you to their spot!

  • Mark Shinn Kiteboarding Clinics are back in 2006!
    20. 01. 2006

    Mark Shinn Kiteboarding Clinics are back in 2006!

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    In 2005 we did 5 weeks of very successful kiteboarding clincs with double kitboarding world champion Mark Shinn. Riders from all around the world came to ride with and learn from Mark. The clinics are 5 day intense kiteboarding training clinics designed to maximize your individual progress by riding with and receiving tuition Mark. Each clinic will have a maximum of 6 riders to allow for individual tuition. Video will be used daily to document your riding and your footage will assessed by Mark.

    During the clinic Mark will conduct theory sessions on equipment setup, equipment tuning and riding techniques. We have included free board use so you will have the possibility to ride the latest boards from Nobile and Shinn.

    To get the most out of a clinic you should at least be at a level where you ride upwind comfortably and have started trying your first jumps.

    June 03 - 07, Intermediate - Advanced Clinic for 6 riders. - SOLD OUT -

    June 10 - 14, Intermediate - Advanced Clinic for 6 riders, - SOLD OUT -

  • Aaron Hadlow visits Colona Watersports again!
    24. 08. 2005

    Aaron Hadlow visits Colona Watersports again!

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    Aaron Hadlow is back at Colona Watersports for the second time. His first kiteboarding visit to Magawish was actually 5 years ago when he was first learning to jump at the age of 11, but back then Colona Watersports was not even in the planning stages. In August 2003 Aaron was here for 2 weeks and was blessed with strong wind for the whole time.

    This time around it has been windy again, Aaron has been riding the sand bar every day, practising his latest moves for the upcoming competition in Canada in the beginning of September.

    We asked Aaron what made him choose Egypt and Colona Watersports again?

    Aaron: This is my 3rd visit to Magawish and Colona Watersports, 2 years ago I was here at the same time and I had wind every day so I decided to come again this year, hoping for the same. I choose this spot over other places in Egypt because of convenience, Colona Watersports has a great set up. You can rock up in the morning, your kite's are already here, use the compressor to pump them and head out to the perfect conditions off the sand bar. Most of the time I am riding at the sand bar because it is a great place to learn new moves with smooth wind and water and immediate rescue if it all goes wrong.