July 10^th 2010 was Providenciales’ first annual Race for the Conch 1 mile eco sea swim. There was a huge turnout on Grace Bay beach near Flamingo Bar, with international and local participants. Big Blue Unlimited were a proud sponsor of the race, providing kayak and
paddleboard support during the race, complimentary biodegradable reef-safe sunblock for competitors, and had staff competing in the race.
Staff member Lynn Robinson manned the Big Blue tent and photographed the event, while members Ben Zirin, Cardi Ewing and Will Pollock supported the swimmers from the water on their kayaks and stand up paddleboards. Big Blue racers included Laura Ricketts, Jackie Walker and Alizee Zimmerman. Next year’s race will include both a 1 mile and 2.5 mile event, training begins now!
Wes, Big Blue’s very own kiteboarding instructor and Philip, owner, had 3 of the most epic kite sessions during the summer solstice. The stars aligned. We had massive high tides during the evening as the full moon rose. Winds at 20-25knots meant that we could boost some insane air over cays and mangroves way past our bedtime!! The thrill of getting high never ceases to inspire. Call us, join the fun and come kite boarding here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Turks and Caicos Islands 2010 annual kiteboarding/ kitesurfing event, Windvibes held this May was a huge success. With more kiteboarders and spectators than ever before, the 2 day event had great winds (even if the 2nd riding day was postponed), great events and great winners. The event was organized by sponsored local rider, Hope LeVin (BLUE, BIG BLUE and NAISH) with main sponsors BLUE, THE SURF SHOP and BIG BLUE UNLIMITED providing prizes, time and event organizers/ helpers. Hope’s dedication and love of the sport ensured that next years event has a lot to live up to. The event comprised of course racing, freestyle and for the first time with the aid of THE SHADOW BOX (a 3D GPS) highest jumps and fastest rider categories.
All the Big Blue riders featured and while Hope and Philip did not participate on the final day, the events were dominated by Big Blue Unlimited’s very own pro rider and instructor, Wes Matweyew, who won the freestyle, high and speed categories. Well done Wes! Will Pollock who only started late last year, had an excellent showing and came second in the course racing! Nice one Will.
The event which took place on the south side on Long Bay beach worked out beautifully. Lots of different folks helped to make it a success and the spirit that it created and the interest that it generated only confirmed to us why Big Blue is dedicated to the growth of the sport and has a clear vision to lead this sport in the TCI.
Another great day in the mangroves south of Bellefield Landing, North Caicos. The protected RAMSAR wetlands site continues to offer world class kayaking and birdlife. Ian Cross, legendary Australian wildlife documentary filmmaker & owner of Pilot Productions joins Big Blue together with his son for an afternoon of exploration. The lower tides brought hundreds of fish out from their hiding places including small barracudas (10-20cm in length) and an assortment of Mojarras. The reddish egret we had seen the week before continued to resolutely guard her nest and we were careful not to disturb her. The highlight was probably the flock of Sandpipers that scouted the way for us all the way up the mangroves, showing off their beautiful wings and making plenty of noise. To top off the day we even saw a small group of elusive Wimbrals and a spectacular yellow crowned night heron.
This week’s Good Friday “Edge of the Banks” snorkel safari had a special and rare guest. A 25 foot whale shark off Molasses Reef. Moving to our second stop at the end of Molasses Reef, Lynn spotted what she thought at first were dolphins then realised it was much bigger and actually a whale shark, about 25 ft long. Jackie and a few of our guests snorkeled with it for a short while before it swam away. Cruising along the edge of reef while looking for it again Lynn was just about to give up when she saw it out of the corner of her eye on the far West end of the reef….Lynn and Jackie got in along with a couple of other guests and got some amazing video footage (on Facebook already!)….they followed it for quite a long time…..all the guests got in to snorkel with it…..bloody amazing!!
Check out the video!
< >Good Friday Whale Shark on Molasses Reef.
Filed under: Diving,Team — Tags: Diving, Team — wordpress @ 9:23 am March 28, 2010
The cooler waters of the winter season have brought exceptional pelagic encounters. With lots of reef sharks and eagle rays seen daily the recent highlight had to be a Great Hammerhead, 12 foot long, off the Gulley at West Caicos. Both Lynn and Chris caught sight of this beauty on separate days and it goes without saying that their ancient and perfect symmetry is spelling binding. Guests and dive masters were left buzzing!
Today, after one month we sadly said our goodbyes to Betrand Fleurry (Wainman Kites) and Ian Alldredge (Naish Kites). They had come down with top female rider Tuva Jansen (Takoon Kites) and one of the sport’s leading photojournalist teams based out of Mauritius, Stephane Fournet and Leena Ballack who had left last week, to write and record a kite surfing story in the Turks and Caicos.
They were led by Philip Shearer (Big Blue) and Big Blue’s top instructor and wily pro Wes Matweyew (Cabrinha Kites). Hope Le Vin, our 16 year old local team and sponsored rider (Naish, Big Blue and Blue) was ever present with her enthusiasm and skill as was local rider Stephane Gaudet.
To say we had fun is an understatement. Even if the weather for the month of February was bizarre (with winds blowing out of the south and west for much of the time) and stacking the odds against us for that perfect cross off shore wave, we still managed to score some great sessions both in the flats and in the waves. That said a tremendous of hard work has gone into this story by all involved both in front and behind the camera.
The team were based in Leeward near Big Blue’s base and would venture daily to find waves and wind. We traveled from West Caicos to East Caicos and everywhere in between.
While we wait for the story and images and DVD to be released it is safe to say we enjoyed each others company and vibe a lot. Betrand, Ian, Tuva, Stephane and Leena were welcome guests. We learned from all of them. Stephane and Leena: your patience and professionalism. Tuva: getting the ball rolling. Betrand: great sense of humour and of course a brilliant rider thanks to Wainman Kites. Ian: natural skill and flair with a bit of “I don’t mind, whatever works” thrown in. Hope: infectious passion. Stephane: perfectionist. Wes “handy me my skimmy please” Matweyew: persistent all rounder. Philip “island time” Shearer: the art of self landing a kite!
Thank you one and all. We look forward to seeing you back here for some more cutbacks and sliders!! Safe travels. Philip.
The Humpback whales of the North Atlantic have returned. The last week of January saw the first big wave of their annual migration. Numerous sightings were made on the surface between North West Point, Grace Bay and Pine Cay. By far the best encounter had to be Jim and crew from the Yukon, who marked his return to the TCI and to Big Blue after 8 years with an stunning in water encounter on scuba at the Football field off Pine Cay! Welcome back Jim. More recently Chris, one of new our instructors and captains, has had the rub of the blue on arriving in the TCI with numerous sightings and then coming face to face with 4 whales at G-Spot off French Cay on Wednesday. Epic! The season is in full swing and the whales should provide us with encounters right until April.
In November 2009, Aaron Sales of Kiteboarding Magazine, Sam Light, the UK # 1 and top watersports photographer, Bill Doster joined our team for 10 days on a memorable adventure over and under the water. What we got was magical. Even though the wind was un cooperative, through sheer persistence and hard work we nailed the cover shot with Sam on it and an 8 page spread in the magazine. Big shout out to Wes, Hope, Jackie and Philip for a strong team effort. Pick up the Kiteboarding magazine Feb/ March Issue.
