Blown Away Kite School was established back in 2006. It is a small locally owned school with a head instructor and a number of part time instructors for the busier parts of the season. Being local, we work with local stores in the area, namely the Bristol Kitestore and UFO, who provide the products we test and recommend directly to you. Between us we offer the best information on how to progress in the sport quickly and safely, offering information and friendly advice on everything we can. Better still, due to our working relationship, these stores offer discounts to our students who will receive a voucher after their lesson.
Matt started kiting while at school at about age 14, and became a professional instructor at age 18. For a few years Matt did equipment reviews and was often featured in Kiteworld magazine and represented a number of companies. Now 29 years old, Matt has worked all over the UK as well as Italy, New Zealand, Australia and more and so brings a wealth of experience to the school instructing all kite sports and snowboarding in the winter too.
Barry has been a member of the Blown Away team for the past few years, and also manages the Weston store UFO. Originally competitive on the stunt kite scene, Barry began racing kite buggies in 2004, and became the open class champion in the same year. He travelled to the European championships of buggy racing in 2005 but now devotes his time to freestyle kitesurfing, landboarding, and of course instructing.
Paul is an IKO Level 2 kitesurfing instructor. Originally a part time member of staff in the Bristol Kitestore while at university, Paul went to the Philippines to qualify during a world tour kitesurfing. Having taught there as well as Perth in Australia and other centres in the UK, paul is a valued and experienced member of the team. Currently teaching in South Africa, we hope to see Paul back once the water here warms up!
Paddy is a new instructor with the school having become an assistant instructor in the summer 2011. An ex member of staff at the Bristol Kitestore, Paddy has kite surfed around the world only chosing to come back to the UK and join us, after seeing an advert online for ‘Kite Caddy & General Tea Maker’. Paddy aims to get fully qualified ready for the 2012 season, so get your orders in quick… mine’s white with no sugar!
Tom, like Paddy, qualified as an assistant instructor in the summer 2011. Working full time as a mechanical engineer, Tom only gets to join us on the weekends, though is often down the beach if the wind’s up during the summer. Originally a student of Blown Away – Tom’s a prime example of what happens once you’ve been bitten by the kitesurfing bug!
Adam is the last of the instructors. He did his assistant instructor course with Tom and Paddy in the summer 2011. His main ambition is to become a physiotherapist, in fact – Adam is in his last year of training, but we all know that there are no jobs available in the NHS, which is why Adam’s going to join us for 2012 too! Well, as long as some one buys him a t-shirt!
Finally, the last member of the team is The Penguin Lady…..Run….RUN!…….little children…. Run for your lives!
Aneta is our fantastic web designer who helped us with this latest edition of the Blown Away Kite ‘Store’. She did a fantastic job, and can be contacted here.
