RedEddy Posted June 10, 2007 Report Posted June 10, 2007 Few questions? Do a need to pack a kite pump or do they have them knocking about at the rental place? (for use on my own kit) Do they have a shop in the rental area? Just thinking about repairs or possibly getting a smaller board. Anyone out on the 23rd? Russ Quote
Mark_Sims Posted June 11, 2007 Report Posted June 11, 2007 Depends on where in Ras. At Paradise the CNS crew do not have a shop (well they didn't last year) but do have plenty to hire if you want to try a smaller board. They do have repair capabilities as they use them for their own kits. They also have lots of pumps around, which as you might well be paying them for rescue etc I'm sure they wouldn't mind you using (plus the local guys doing the rescue are always in need of 'new' board shorts and are very happy to take your old ones that you can't be asked to take back home). regards, Mark Quote
RedEddy Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Posted June 11, 2007 ok cool, i mite not bother packing pump then! Know anything about getting a tourist visa for the country? do I have to contact anyone to warn them i'm coming!? I know there is a charge, can that just be GBP cash on arrival? Russ Quote
paulie_amoose Posted June 11, 2007 Report Posted June 11, 2007 You can pay on arrival at the airport dude.... I think I paid in sterling both times I went..... Quote
RedEddy Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Posted June 11, 2007 ok, just paperwork from waveriders sez u gotta call egyptian embassy, but none of the phone numbers get thru to anyone who can help! Didnt wanna turn up and be told that i gotta go home again! Quote
jonathand Posted June 11, 2007 Report Posted June 11, 2007 im goin but not till august 7th , anyone else out then? p.s. going for 2 weeks Quote
Bertie Posted June 11, 2007 Report Posted June 11, 2007 jonathand, im probably going to be out there then for a week, not sure on dates though Quote
paulie_amoose Posted June 11, 2007 Report Posted June 11, 2007 ok, just paperwork from waveriders sez u gotta call egyptian embassy, but none of the phone numbers get thru to anyone who can help! Didnt wanna turn up and be told that i gotta go home again! Honestly dont worry dude, they will let you in!!! You can pay for the visa in any hard currency as far I remember. ($ £ euro's ect). They give you a little card to fill in on the plane, hand it over at the visa desk, pay for the visa, they stick a stamp in your passport, go to passport control and your in!!!! It's only an excuse to get some cash off you really..... Quote
vpas Posted June 12, 2007 Report Posted June 12, 2007 When I went recently, the rep for the company Waveriders sell for, was waiting for us. We all followed him to a desk, handed over £10 and he gave us the visa stamps. If you get to passport control without the stamps, they'll send you back to get them. Quote
benjamin_vine Posted June 12, 2007 Report Posted June 12, 2007 When I went recently, the rep for the company Waveriders sell for, was waiting for us. We all followed him to a desk, handed over £10 and he gave us the visa stamps. If you get to passport control without the stamps, they'll send you back to get them. Correction, If you dont have the visa stamps or you stick them in the wrong place in your passport they will give you an ink stamp stating that you can only stay in Sharm. This is really fun as you then get turned away from the Sharm border checkpoint and have to go back to the airport and back through security to get it re-stamped. I wasnt told it was incorrect, they just stamped it knowing I would have to come back! Everyone else was very helpful though! £10 is all you need, get off the flight and leg it to the thomas cook desk and get your Visa, (the ques suck) then leg it to the visa stamping place (opposite the thomas cook. I wish someone had told us all of this before we ent, it would have saved a lot of grief. Ben Any other questions, msn me. benjamin_vine@msn.com Quote
RedEddy Posted June 12, 2007 Author Report Posted June 12, 2007 cheers people! I'll just go where the herd goes! Quote
kitegirl Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 Just got back. Boy, am i ill. Doubt I'll ever go Egypt again. Nice enough place, although it's something of a lie to suggest you can sail 24/7 as suggested on the Waveriders site. The boat comes in at 6.30pm and you have to come off the water then... one day the wind didn't pick up till 6.30 and most were stuffed.. even though it doesn't get dark till 8.30ish. We asked, but they wouldnt let us ride without the boat. Also, the water is weird.. it has a really strong sideways rip, so keeping upwind in anything under 20mph with a medium board is a real pain. You have to keep in an area between rocks and the boat, which got a little crowded at times.. We needed to call a doctor after 4 days as 6 girls needed injections for chronic upset stomachs, and 2 were put on drips. Wind stats may say it reaches force 5 80+% of days in June, but that could be for just half an hour of an evening.. we really only had 2 'good' days of wind. Apart from that, it barely picked up to doable wind till late afternoon most days... All other stuff about visas etc is A-OK, as said above. Finally, you really need to wear booties/wetshoes. There's some really nasty sharp stuff on the bottom, I cut my heel pretty bad on the 2nd day, so found it hard work pushing my heel edge to get back upwind the rest of the week.. Enjoy, and immodium don't work! Dee PS Tarifa was waaaaaaay better. Quote
paulie_amoose Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 I very very nearly went out to Ras Sudr the week you went Dee... Feckin glad I didn't now... I've been to Egypt twice already, first time in El Gouna was awsome, second time in Hurgarda was almost windless. But Colona are an awsome setup..... Might do Colona in September as Ras Sudr sounds a bit pants.... Tarfia though.. rules! Quote
kitegirl Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 I very very nearly went out to Ras Sudr the week you went Dee... Feckin glad I didn't now... I've been to Egypt twice already, first time in El Gouna was awsome, second time in Hurgarda was almost windless. But Colona are an awsome setup..... Might do Colona in September as Ras Sudr sounds a bit pants.... Tarfia though.. rules! The single boys who were there thought it a bonus to arrive and have 16 girly kitesurfers as company though Ya that was another thing.. we were under the impression we were gonna have exclusive use of the area... but no.. it got pretty busy at times, like a busy day at Hunny or Cleethorpes. And you have to stay beyond 30m away from the beach as the learners use that bit... so our photographer for the trip was not happy, having paid to come and then not being able to get close enough.. they eventually relented on the final day and let her ride in the safety rib. Oh, and one more thing.. they don't provide meals on the plane included so we went about 12 hours without food on the way there, and, due to the chronic Egypt belly, I went well over 24 hours without eating on the way back! So tip is to take a pack-up! Tip for Waveriders would be to up their ante and get a decent boat. Was not funny sitting around in that 38 degree heat when we could have been wakeboarding.. but their boat was only 25hp and they said it wasn't enough to wakeboard with On the plus side, I did have some cracking sessions, and the company was as good as it gets. Tarifa for New Year me thinks! Go big. Quote
ANGELZ Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 The Dr didnt know where we all caught 'Egypt belly' I thought it may have been the sea water but our photographer got it to and she didnt go in the sea. Dee is right, not even 3 immodium plus stops it, the stomack pains stop shortly after the injection and you dont need the toilet as frequently within 24hours but as yet no one is 100% back to normal with 6 of us on 4 different courses of anti-biotics, stomack antiseptics and 2 other lots of tablets I havent got a clue what they are! I went to visit Green Sudr Hotel (airspace) whilst I was there and had a sesion on their lagoon-if I go back to Egypt thats where Im going! No rip, no time restrictions and none of the lads over there got sick and they are on their last day, all of them have kited every day! Reading this back it sounds like we didnt have a good time so I just want to say, we had an AMAZING time, the girls were all great and we were even laughing with each other whilst we were having the injections, it was just the restrictions and the sickness that put a dampner on things. There were girls there who got up on their board for the first time and others who nailed tricks from backloops to surface passes, the girls all supported and encouraged each other somuch, all coming home having had a great experience! Quote
Keakes1599968732 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 Yeah.. the Egypt belly was a bugger but I guess it should be noted that not all of us got it as bad, I missed one day kiting with it but it didn't stop me after that Wicked spot I think though, the flat crystal clear water and temperature make it all worth while, can't believe how much I improved in only a few days.. I guess you just can't have everything !! I'd def go back to Egypt, the amount my kite skills improved is worth a few visits to the loo ! Besides the company was just soo good.. haven't had such a girly giggle week in ages.. well worth it.. bring it on next year Angels Quote
paulie_amoose Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 The single boys who were there thought it a bonus to arrive and have 16 girly kitesurfers as company though Haha.. The guy at waveriders was touting that as a selling point to me!!!!!! And a bloody good one it was too!! If you go out too Egypt again check out Colona in Hurgarda. Hotel is on the launch spot, no tides to worry about and short upwind blast to an awsome sandbar. Plus, the most professional setup I've come across. I had savage pharaohs revenge both times I went, but first time I got hold of strange tablets from an Egpytian pharmacy and they worked a treat. Tarifa from me in Nov/Dec i think... Quote
kitegirl Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 Reading this back it sounds like we didnt have a good time so I just want to say' date=' we had an AMAZING time, the girls were all great and we were even laughing with each other whilst we were having the injections, it was just the restrictions and the sickness that put a dampner on things. Oh ya, it was definately an awesome blast!!! What an amazing experience to kite with so many other female riders, to see the progression of everyone there and to share the laughs. The Egyptians are so helpful.. never had people doing so much for me ever! The water-depth is such a bonus, and when the wind was up I've never seen so many cheesy grins Hospitality was brill, the setup is miles better than many i saw in Tarifa, and on the whole it was wicked. If you pick a good windy week there, and don't get ill, you'd probs think you'd died and gone to heaven. Can't wait for the pictures Quote
kitegirl Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 The Dr didnt know where we all caught 'Egypt belly' I thought it may have been the sea water but our photographer got it to and she didnt go in the sea. Dee is right, not even 3 immodium plus stops it, the stomack pains stop shortly after the injection and you dont need the toilet as frequently within 24hours but as yet no one is 100% back to normal with 6 of us on 4 different courses of anti-biotics, stomack antiseptics and 2 other lots of tablets I havent got a clue what they are! I went to visit Green Sudr Hotel (airspace) whilst I was there and had a sesion on their lagoon-if I go back to Egypt thats where Im going! No rip, no time restrictions and none of the lads over there got sick and they are on their last day, all of them have kited every day! Reading this back it sounds like we didnt have a good time so I just want to say, we had an AMAZING time, the girls were all great and we were even laughing with each other whilst we were having the injections, it was just the restrictions and the sickness that put a dampner on things. There were girls there who got up on their board for the first time and others who nailed tricks from backloops to surface passes, the girls all supported and encouraged each other somuch, all coming home having had a great experience! Oh ya, it was definately an awesome blast!!! What an amazing experience to kite with so many other female riders, to see the progression of everyone there and to share the laughs. The Egyptians are so helpful.. never had people doing so much for me ever! The water-depth is such a bonus, and when the wind was up I've never seen so many cheesy grins Hospitality was brill, the setup is miles better than many i saw in Tarifa, and on the whole it was wicked. If you pick a good windy week there, and don't get ill, you'd probs think you'd died and gone to heaven. Can't wait for the pictures Quote
vpas Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 Tip for Waveriders would be to up their ante and get a decent boat. Was not funny sitting around in that 38 degree heat when we could have been wakeboarding.. but their boat was only 25hp and they said it wasn't enough to wakeboard with Do Waveriders actually own the setup and the boat there? Surely they just resell the holidays. Happy to be corrected though. Quote
RedEddy Posted June 14, 2007 Author Report Posted June 14, 2007 sorry to hear people had a bad trip. Any coping strategies? do you think its the hotel food? is it like a buffet or something? mite just take some uk mars bars ans survive on them! Quote
kitegirl Posted June 14, 2007 Report Posted June 14, 2007 You could well be right there Vpas.. dunno, the shack had Waveriders all over it, and here's their blog which seems to suggest it's theirs.. http://www.waveriders.biz/infopages/Egypt_Ras_Sudr_The_Kitesurfing/230/435 Anyways, like Zoe said, I wouldn't wanna come over like it was a negative experience at all. I just got the worst belly cramps ever and can't move more than 25 steps from a loo When people talk about Egypt belly they don't mention the cramps The beauty was though, other than a little belly upset earlier in the week, my illness didn't kick in till the very moment i left the water after my final session. I got to sail every day (sometimes 3 sessions a day), was the first on the water the first day, and last off the last day. Like I say, if it'd been a bit more blowy and a little less egyptbelly-y, i'd of been 100% chuffed. The restrictions etc are minor compared to the setup they have out there. The water is knee deep for ages and ages. Just stay out back and you have all the space any kiter could ever need! Holidaying with 14 other kitegirls and a photographer was the best part of it all though by far - what a superb group of people. Well done the Angels for organising Roll on the next one. All-girl snowkite trip to Norway?? Quote
RedEddy Posted June 14, 2007 Author Report Posted June 14, 2007 I must say its bloody typical, ive neer heard a bad thing about ras sudr, so i booked it kinda las tminute for me, then less than 2 weeks before i go i hear about all these restrictions and problems with the place (and food/water). How much do they charge for a days lessons? ( mite wanna book when i get there) Also what is the food like? any thing to recommend or stay away from?? Quote
vpas Posted June 15, 2007 Report Posted June 15, 2007 Thanks Kitegirl, that's interesting. I've had the dodgy tummy before over there and yeah the cramps are a kicker. I talked to a local about it and he made me this coffee that was like a double expresso. First I sucked on a quarter of a lime, then drank the coffee. 30 minutes later I was hurling chunks, but after that I felt right as rain. RedEddy, the usual rule is to avoid the local water. Asides from not drinking from the taps, it also means avoid eating the salad or anything else that could have been washed in it. Also useful to clean your teeth using bottle water. Sometimes it's down to the reheated food as well, so buffets can be a source of problems - it's all down to the hotel and how good their standards are. Quote
paulie_amoose Posted June 15, 2007 Report Posted June 15, 2007 Also the money, some of those notes have done the rounds and unless they take money laundering very laterally they wont have been washed!!!!!!! Quote
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