Λίμνη Βόλβη, Παραλία Κοκκαλούς.

15 Σεπ 2011

Εύσημα στη Βόλβη (και) ως προορισμού... windsurfing!

“Άριστα δέκα!” πήρε η Βόλβη ως προορισμός... wind surf από πρωταθλητές και σημαντικούς windsurfers της διεθνούς κοινότητας αγωνιστικου wind surf, με σχόλια και μνείες που θα ζήλευαν ακόμα και καθιερωμένοι παραθαλάσσιοι προορισμοί του αθλήματος αυτού!
 Όπως μαθαίνουμε, ο Φιλανδός αθλητής και φημισμένος διεθνώς λόγω της δυναμικής του ανόδου στην παγκόσμια κατάταξη, windsurfer Kurosh Kiani, που συμμετείχε στο open race που διοργανώθηκε στη Βόλβη, επιστρέφοντας στην πατρίδα του περιέγραψε την εμπειρία του στην Ελλάδα (πρώτη φορά στη χώρα μας), στην “Thessaloniki” και στη “Volvi”, ως “μοναδική”, τόσο από πλευράς αγωνιστικών συνθηκών και οργάνωσης, όσο και από πλευράς φιλοξενίας, αναψυχής και τοποθεσίας. 
Η διήγηση και τα σχόλιά του στο δημοφιλές μεταξύ των windsurfers, kitesurfers και surfers και άλλων παρεμφερών σπορ, site continentseven.com, είναι πραγματικά μία “ζωντανή” διαφήμιση της περιοχής της Βόλβης και των ανθρώπων εκεί που, με την υποστήριξη του Δημάρχου Βόλβης Δημήτρη Γαλαμάτη, κατάφεραν να την προωθήσουν και να την προβάλουν και ως προορισμό αγώνων windsurf!
Μόνον στην Κεντρική και στη Βόρεια Ευρώπη, οι ασχολούμενοι με το wind surf και το kite surf απαριθμούν μερικές δεκάδες εκατομμύρια!
Θεωρούνται κατά μέσο όρο, τουρίστες υψηλών ποιοτικών και οικονομικών χαρακτηριστικών, ταξιδεύουν αρκετά και συνηθίζουν να εναλλάσσουν προορισμούς ακόμα και εντός της χώρας που επισκέπτονται. Και πέραν των γνωστών και καθιερωμένων προορισμών όπου ταξιδεύουν, βρίσκονται σε διαρκή αναζήτηση νέων, παρακολουθώντας τα μέσα όπου προσφέρουν τέτοιου είδους πληροφορίες. Για αυτό και sites όπως το συγκεκριμένο και οι προσωπικές μαρτυρίες windsurfers όπως ο Kiani, έχουν ειδική βαρύτητα...

Kurosh Kiani in Greece – Report

on 11. September, 2011 – 16:20 / No Comment

Kurosh Kiani (DEN-13), sponsored by Angulo and Simmer Style, had a busy season so far. On the PWA tour he is placed in excellent 25th position after 6 events. Recently he travelled for the first time in his life to Greece to compete on Lake Volvi, what is quite unusual. Greece is well known for its spots on the the seaside. The lake is located near the big harbour town of Thessaloniki, 37 m above sea level and is the second biggest lake in Greece. Read the full report of pro racer Kurosh, who spent a week at Lake Volvi and competed in the downwind Slalom race!

Kurosh Kiani had fun racing on Lake Volvi.

This year has been absolutely amazing for me. I´ve had a full on schedule with the PWA and had the opportunity to concentrate nearly fully on windsurfing for a whole year. What an amazing experience. In between all of this traveling and competing in the summertime, my Greek friends invited me down to their home spot of Lake Volvi in the area of Thessaloniki.

Let me just start by saying that until now I have never been to Greece, so I really didn’t know what to expect. My good friend Ben Van Der Steen was also there doing a clinic, so at least I had one familiar face.

Ben van der Steen ran a clinic at Lake Volvi, Greece.

I was picked up at the airport and we went straight into town for Beers, Baklava and Gyros. And I thought to myself, this must be the best way I ever started a trip.
Next day I woke up to the beautiful surroundings of lake Volvi. Everything was quite and not a wind was to be seen. The lake was totally glassy. Everyone assured me the wind would come later in the day, but the only other place I have seen like this has to be lake Silvaplana.

I spent the beginning of the day just chilling out and getting to know the friendly faces that came by as the day went. The first thing that struck me was that I was looking at a group of people who really were into windsurfing and their passion was indeed shining out of them.
My gear got unpacked, and I was now ready to hit the water, but still there was no wind. Then around 1PM I saw the wind turn direction and within half an hour it was windy enough for windsurfing. Surely I was surprised. My friend Ben was still doing his clinic, so I tagged along and hit the water together with all of the guys, and we had an amazing afternoon sailing nearly until it was dark.

Kurosh enjoys sailing at Lake Volvi till the late afternoon. What a nice light!

After sailing we retreated back to the Stonero sailors club for an amazing Greek style dinner, I was of course in love with the food. In my opinion this spot as a first impression is really a “diamond in the rough”. There is everything needed here for the perfect windsurfing spot. The surroundings are beautiful, there is wind everyday and the conditions are suitable for nearly every kind of wind-or-kitesurfer from beginners stage to pro freestyler. Best of all, there is a great club and the infrastructure needed for you to get to and from the place.

Delicious Greek food at the club! Tsatsiki and much more...

Now I wasn’t there all for vacation. I was meant to take part of the Volvi Lake open race, which would be running over 4 days. After another good days of sailing we sent off Ben, and started the competition. The first day the wind came really late so we just did fun races, which in this case actually was super great fun. All in all a really relaxed environment making everybody feel at home.

The final couple days we really got the full strength of the wind, which was super great to see. The thermic winds here really do a great job, and it really transforms this spot to a great place to windsurf. Over these couple of these we managed to finish 5 eliminations of which I managed to win all of them, but not with ease as I had great competition from my Greek and Bulgarian friends who had turned up at this event. The course was set for a perfect 4 jibe downwind course, which impressed me. The organization was spot on and made sure that everything went according to plans.

Kurosh Kiani (DEN-13) could dominate all 5 eliminations at Lake Volvi and win the event.

Every evening we finished off with Greek style BBQ which I know everyone would love. There is no doubt, that I was putting on weight every evening here as I just couldn’t stop eating this great food.

After windsurfing every single day that I was here and racing in great conditions I was convinced that this spot has great potential for a great windsurfing holiday or even bigger events. All I can say that if you are looking to go to a place where you will truly feel the passion for the sport of windsurfing with the most hospitable people ever, this is the place to go.

At the pricegiving.

After a great week in Greece Kurosh Kiani hopped back on the plane back to Denmark just in time for the Danish Championships, WaterZ long-distance, where he finished in 5th. Now he will prepare for the PWA Worldcup final on Sylt, which wll be started on the 23rd of September.

Until then, Aloha from Kiani