What Happened at Zero 2 Hero? In association with Flexifoil, Expix, and BeachBreakLive.
Special thanks to Blast Kiteboarding and Bristol University Kitesurfing Club
Prizes donated by KingofWatersports, BeachBreakLive, and Kiteworld Magazine
SO. I have a question. What comes before Part B? … That’s right. PartAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY! I’m finally starting to feel human again after the most intense weekend I’ve had this year. From getting on the train at 3pm on Friday to finally crawling out of the car at midnight on Sunday, Zero2Hero for me was literally DRIPPING with fun, sun, and undead brides. Oh and the best value kitesurfing tuition pictures of the Queen can buy.
First up, we've got a video boshed out by James Grant (Frodo) of Bristol University Kitesurfing Society. It's rad. SKA Zero2Hero Aberavon 2012 |
Saturday
Friday night saw half of our 132 guests arrive and make themselves comfortable in the affectionately named Cat and Dog houses, before breakfast at 8am on Saturday marked the start of the coldest, and probably sunniest, day of the year so far. Not be deterred, everybody made their way to the beach for registration at 9, and, after the arrival of the last few minibuses, Harry Gregory jumped on the mike to introduce the first 32 beginners to their instructors for the day.
 
As they made their way to the teaching zone, Ben Gillespie (that’s me) thrust a saliva moistened finger into the air and reached the conclusion that, given that the wind was blowing straight offshore, he’d better distract the rest of the guests by kicking off the Second Annual Super Sporty Water Sports and Board Sports Sports Day (the best yet in my opinion). For the next 3 hours phenomenally appropriate music, laid on by the Beach Break Live truck, set the tone for a fierce competition between the 4 dominant universities and a fifth highly competitive amalgamation of all the smaller groups. For me, the personal highlight was when two local policeman rocked up to say hello, and DJ PC John ended up on the decks, laying down the soundtrack for a pretty hectic (albeit brief) beach party.
 
After battling their way through the Dance Off, Dizzy Dinosaurs, The Underwear Cartwheel Race, the Human Obstacle course, and a variety of other challenges, the points were roughly tied between Professor Success (Southampton University), Dynamike (Bristol), and The Shreddies (Exeter).
These points carried these three teams through to Round Two, The Halloween Fancy Dress Competition, where they would have the chance to win a Flexifoil Hooligan kiteboard. More on that later. Meanwhile, the wind and sun were proving perfect for our beginners, all of whom nailed the basics of kite flying during their 3 hour lessons. Lunchtime came and went, and at 2pm the second group of beginners hit the sand to get started. The less exhausted of our guests set up a volleyball court and a slackline (thanks to our prize sponsors, Maverick) and spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the rapidly improving weather. Saturday Night Trying to put events like this into words is almost impossible, but when the alternative is letting Ian from Expix put the pictures online, it’s got to be worth a try. After dinner at 6, everybody hit the bunkhouses to get dressed up in their finest Halloween gear, before arriving at the bar at 9pm looking genuinely disturbing. The BeachBreak soundsytem, operated by Bristols very own DJ Moon, provided the soundtrack to one of the most surreal nights of my life. I don't think I've really done it justice... Head to www.expix.co.uk for the pictures.
Sunday Sunday followed much the same format as Saturday, but far more painful. Despite everybody using the extra hour when the clocks went back to drink even more, our beginners were in lessons by 10.30 and the weather stayed just about good enough all day to allow all of our beginners to get on an LEI and get well and truly ready for the water. The wind even picked up enough for some of our guests to get out and shred.
  So that’s it. A phenomenal weekend I hope you agree. It just remains for us to thank our sponsors, to thank you all for coming, and to remind you that we’re doing it all again in four weeks time! Hope to see you there. Woopa. Ben | 
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