World Champion’s Lanzarote kite board clinics at Sands Beach

TWO KITE BOARD CLINICS, AUGUST 14 TO 16 AND AUGUST 21 TO 23

Kite boarding is a fast thrilling sport that has quickened the pulse of the sporting world. World champion Guilly Brandao from Brazil is a hard man to pin down, but he will be passing on his expert knowledge at Sands Beach Resort Hotel in Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, at 2 special August clinics, backed by Mormaii Surf. This is a great chance for intermediate and advanced level kite boarders to improve their skills. 

Lanzarote is a perfect setting for kite boarding, and has several beaches that are favoured by top professionals and keen amateurs alike. Sands Beach Resort has its own sea water lagoon, allowing a safe environment to learn the basic and advanced techniques, before moving on to the testing waters of Costa Teguise.

• Each 3 day clinic features sessions from 10 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 6 pm with lunch between sessions.
• There are several options, Clinic and lunch only is just 295 euros per person including soft drinks at lunch. Or including accomodation, Studio on B & B, for one person, 3 nights and clinic with lunch 445 euros. Junior on B & B, for 2 people sharing, 3 nights and clinic with lunch 380 euros per person.

For more details, and to book, call UK FREEPHONE 0800 3897491, or (oo34) 928826095 or email reservations@sandsbeach.eu

Windsurf World Cup, back at its Costa Teguise home

The cream of the Professional Windsurf Association are once again gathered in Costa Teguise for the start of the 2009 Freestlye World Cup for men and women. Sands Beach Resort Hotel is pleased to welcome back its many sporting friends, they call Sands their Lanzarote home, as it holds the big press conferences and supports the World Cup in a number of practical ways.

The wave taming action runs from June 29 to July 4 and has drawn competitors from around the globe, as well as the worlds sporting media. Freestyle is at the cutting edge of the sport and every year new moves and tricks join the competitors armoury as they compete for big prize money, 45,000 euros for the male champion. Jose “Gollito” Estredo holds the mens crown, but he faces tough competition from many rising stars including local favourite Antxon Otaequi.

The womens field is just as tough, Sarah Quita Offringa from the Windward Islands will try to hold on to her title, among her chasing pack is another local star, Daida Ruano Morena. The whole event is not just about the competition, but also a vibrant social scene that draws in the residents and visitors of Costa Teguise. Sands Beach Resort Hotel has taken the World Cup to its heart and will use it promote the many sporting activities that are on offer at the resort.

Lanzarote beefs up for Ironman 2009

It’s one of the biggest sporting events of the year in Lanzarote, Ironman is a feast of sporting excellence surrounded by a week of parties and promotions building up to the big day, Saturday 23 May. Some 1,300 athletes will swim 3.8 kms, cycle 180 kms, and then dig deep to run 42.2 kms.

The day starts at 7am with the swimming off the beach of Puerto del Carmen, the bike ride takes the contestants from the flat coastal roads up through the mountains and back, and the running is made up of 4 laps of a 10 km circuit around Puerto del Carmen. Ironman is a major series of World events for the professionals, and those elite sportsmen and women in the Lanzarote challenge will share out 50,000 dollars in prize money.

Many are competing against themselves, trying to stretch their own performances and show the physical and mental strength needed to finish this gruelling course. If all that leaves you feeling exhausted, don’t worry, there is plenty going on away from the sweat and sinew of the race, Lanzarote has embraced Ironman and the whole island gets involved with the big build up during the week.

Costa Teguise is just over 30 minutes away, and a perfect base to dip into the best of the fun and action. Sands Beach Resort Hotel attracts many keen sports people, over to sample the delights of Lanzarote as well as the families that come back year after year because of it’s beachfront location.

Football icon takes a shine to Lanzarote

There was a very special visitor to Lanzarote this week, a shining sporting star of last summer, and a sight to lift Spanish hearts. Football’s European Champions Trophy, won by an immaculate Spain team in a thrilling final against Germany, held visitors spell bound in Arrecife, at the headquarters of the Lanzarote football delegation.

Sports fans queued to pose for photos with the trophy, currently on a tour of the Canary Islands. It may only weigh 8 kilos, and stand at just 60 centimetres high, but the trophy is an inspiration to all young football fans. Arrecife was an appropriate setting, as the Lanzarote capital is the home of the island team, UD Lanzarote, who play in the 3rd tier of Spanish football. Home games are normally at 11am on a Sunday morning, and it’s just a 20 minute journey from Costa Teguise. Some of the Lanzarote players used to have a long term stay at Sands Beach Resort Hotel, it is perfect for the sport minded, with its beachfront setting, 6 pools, tennis courts, and full TV coverage of major sporting events.

 

Team Aqua on the crest of a sporting wave in Lanzarote

The sea of Lanzarote proved to be the perfect racing strip for the start of the 2009 RC44 class sailing World Championship, and Team Aqua from the United Arab Emirates found fair winds to guide them to victory. Canadian skipper Chris Bake celebrated in traditional style by popping champagne in the Puerto Calero marina, with his sailing partner Cameron Appleton of New Zealand.

Barely an hour away from Costa Teguise and the Sands Beach Resort Hotel, a frenzy of World media gathered to enjoy the race and also the delights of Lanzarote. In second place Artemis, flew the Swedish colours under skipper Torbjorn Tornqvist and Team Organika from Poland, came in third under skipper Marciej Nawrocky.

Many spectators will have been inspired by the on sea action, and they will be pleased to know that Lanzarote is the perfect setting to enjoy sailing at any level, as well as many other water sports.

 

Gold Cup sailing action in Lanzarote

You couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting then Lanzarote to launch the third annual RC44 class sailing World Championship. Not only are the waters around the island ideal for top competition, but the home port of Puerto Calero is a modern and well respected venue in the sporting world. Racing starts on February 25 and runs for 5 days, in the full glare of the sporting media.

Puerto Colon is on the south west coast of Lanzarote, about an hour along from Costa Teguise and Sands Beach Resort Hotel. This first event of 6 regattas is for the RC44 Canaries Gold Cup, and has attracted 8 teams from 7 countries, including 2 home entries from Lanzarote. The cream of Olympic and Americas Cup sailing will be pitting their wits against the demanding seas around Lanzarote. The first 2 days features the match race with the main 2 man crews, and this is followed by a 3 day competition featuring the boat owners.

All this on sea action will show off the stunning coast of Lanzarote to an envious world but you don’t have to be a world class sailor to enjoy the island waters. Sands Beach Resort Hotel is a family friendly beachfront resort where wind boarding can be safely learned on the sea water lagoon within the complex. Costa Teguise has a wide range of sea based activities to dive into, and there is always plenty of social life going on once you step back onto dry land.

 

Lanzarote football kicks off a new season

The summer is a long barren time for football fans, but for UD Lanzarote, it seemed an eternity as financial problems threatened the future of the club. Thankfully a rescue package was secured at the last moment and they are raring to go for another season in Segunda B, the third tier of Spanish football.

The rojillos (reds) are based in Arrecife, the capital of the island, a mere 5kms, about 15 minutes drive or bus, from Sands Beach Resort Hotel in Costa Teguise. The ground is just by the bus station and most games are at 11am on a Sunday morning, with entrance just 12 euros. The 2008/2009 home season starts on September 14 against Athletico Madrid B, and ends on May 10 against UD Merida. If you ask at Sands Beach Resort Hotel reception they will tell you when the next game is, or you can look at the official club website, check the left hand column and click on “calendario” for fixtures. For club news in English try the official club merchandise site.

There’s no reason to miss the big British league games while you are on holiday in Lanzarote, the Soleil bar in Sands Beach Resort Hotel will show televised games on a big screen, and all other major sporting events as well.

World of tennis comes to Lanzarote

There’s a chance to see some top tennis action in Puerto del Carmen this weekend, when the 7th annual Fariones Group Trophy takes place at the tennis centre. It’s a pretty cosmopolitan affair with players from 20 countries taking part, all chasing 50,000 dollars of prize money.

Last years winner, Jo Willfred Tsonga, from France, will be back to defend his title and the action should be edge of the seat stuff. The tournament runs from Saturday April 26 to the following Saturday May 3.

All players have to start with games against their friends at a young age, and when you are on holiday on a sun drenched island, it’s the perfect setting. Sands Beach Resort hotel in Costa Teguise, likes to encourage sporting excercise, and has a tennis court for guests to get their lobs and swings to perfection. Of that all gets a bit hot, there is always the choice of 6 pools or the beachfront lagoon to cool down in. Tennis is a great game for all the family to share, and after all, families are what Sands Beach Resort is all about.

Rugby bonds expats in Lanzarote

The lure of Lanzarote’s warm climate attracts people from across the World, and many holiday makers stay and settle, adding their contribution to the islands culture. Sport of all kind flourishes here and Lanzarote rugby club is a great example of this.

In 2005 a keen group of British, Argentinian and Spanish players formed the club and it has gone from strength to strength, with a large youth section giving it a real family appeal. Home for the red and blacks is Argana Alta, inland from the capital Arrecife and away from the beachfront that attracts the majority of visitors. 

Under Irish coach, Leroy Heatley, they have become an important part of the sporting scene and play in a league with sides from the other Canary Islands from December to April. If you fancy taking in a game, try their website or ask at Sands Beach Resort hotel reception.

Ironman, as rugged as the Lanzarote landscape

 

Relax and enjoy your family holiday at Sands Beach Resort hotel, and if you want something more energetic, you can always leave it to the experts. Ironman is the ultimate triathlon challenge and the annual Lanzarote event is seen as one of the most testing on the international circuit. The 2008 challenge has already got it’s full line up of 1,200 competitors, ready to swim, cycle and run from the Puerto del Carmen base on Saturday May 24.

So what’s involved?

Take a deep breath and just imagine this tough schedule. First there is a 3.8 km swim around the beaches of Puerto del Carmen, then a 180 km cycle ride around the island, through the mountains and lava fields, and finally, a 44.2 km run of 4 looped circuits along the beachfront of Puerto del Carmen.

The main event is the climax of several weeks of excitement and social activity in Lanzarote organised by Club La Santa, the centre of sporting excellence in the northern district of Tinajo. Many of the competitors are professionals on the international Ironman stage and despite the name - it does include many women. There is a warm up event on Saturday May 3, the Volcanic triathlon with 6,000 euros of prize money and a reduced course of a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and a 10 km run. For the main event the prize money rises to 50,000 dollars, split between the first 10 professional finishers.

If you are lucky enough to be in Lanzarote in May, you are bound to get caught up in the excitement of a true international sporting event - and you don’t even have to break into a trot.

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