Images by: Nick Burton and Oda Johanne
Unforgettable Experience Coaching 3x Windsurf University Camps in Karpathos
This summer, Severne rider Oda Johanne has been busy with her successful Windsurf University clinics. Set up in collaboration with Sarah-Quita Offringa, these events sure seem like the learner’s dream.
Located on the windswept paradise of Karphatos, Greece, a good mixture of newbies, intermediates and pro level riders have been joining these events for an experience of a lifetime.
Here’s Oda’s account of the summer:
I have been on a proper windsurfing roll lately! Right after finishing the PWA World cup in freestyle and slalom X, I jumped on a plane to one of the windiest islands in the world, named Karpathos in Greece! With direct flights from most countries, it is an easy island to choose for your windsurfing holidays! After a 4 minute drive from the airport you arrive at a nice blue windy bay! It is the 4th year in a row that I am hosting our Windsurf University camps with Sarah-Quita Offringa here in Karpathos.
In a sunny paradise where the wind seemed to never stop, three Windsurf University camps took place in the breathtaking island of Karpathos.
Meiky Wieczorek stepped in
The experience was amazing, with perfect wind conditions and a vibrant energy that brought together great groups of windsurfing enthusiasts. All 3 camps were fully booked with 12-15 participants on each camp. The first camp I coached with Severne team rider Meiky Wieczorek as Sarah-Quita was competing in a wave event. Meiky is an amazing freestyler and a very skilled coach, so it was amazing to have him coach with me on the first camp.
Here, Meiky is showing how to do the perfect spock for some of the camp participants who wanted to improve their freestyle skills.
And soon after we filmed, sailed and practised the spock, Matteo who joined the camp landed his first spocks! He came off the water with the biggest smile on the beach! Everyone who practice freestyle, knows how amazing it is to land a new trick for the first time!
More than just windsurfing
As a coach, it was awesome to witness the passion and dedication of each participant as they embraced the challenges of becoming better at windsurfing. The diverse groups from freeriders to freestylers brought a unique spirit to the camp, creating a dynamic and inspiring atmosphere which is the beauty of windsurfing. Someone wanted to get a better stance and feel safer in the harness, someone learnt their first planing gybes and duckgybes. Almost everyone learnt the fast tack and jumps. And someone challenged themselves with freestyle and forward loops!
The participants not only honed their windsurfing skills, but also formed lasting friendships with people from all over the world. We had people coming to join the camps from 15 different nations, which was super cool!
Karpathos, with its great wind stats and sunny skies, provided the ideal setting for this memorable experience. The island’s natural beauty and welcoming vibe, not to forget about the amazing food, complemented the energy and enthusiasm of the camp, making it a truly unforgettable destination for our Windsurf University camps.
Windsurfers can be pretty competitive, so even in the evening during the group dinners we had armwhestling battles, and when we sailed so much that everyone had sore arms, we arranged a morning yoga to recover for the next session.
As much as I love to windsurf and compete myself, I have a true passion for coaching and I love to see people make their dreams come true when improving their skills on the water.
From starting to use the harnesslines to landing their first loop, it is all fun to help them on the road! I can not wait for the next windsurfing camps!
LEARN WITH THE BEST – JOIN SEVERNE CLINICS
Next up will be during “Oda Johanne´s Windsurf Festival” on the 21st of September at Larkollen in Norway, and then the next Windsurf University camp will be 18th-21st of November in Brazil, Jericoacoara! Get in touch with her at windsurfuniversity@gmail.com for more info!
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