Last updated 13:55, Wednesday, 02 July 2008

WALNEY Island is steadily building up a reputation as on of the Uk's premier kitesurfing venues.
Last month Walney hosted the second roundof the British Kite Surfing Association Championships, atracting competitors from across the UK. The competition even attracted two British ex-pats to revisit their home shores.

READY FOR THE WAVES: Eric Harris, and his wife Jane on the beach at Earnse Bay. STEVE HILLMAN

ERIC and Jane Harris travelled to Earnse Bay from their home in Mumbai, in India, where Eric, works as a freelance photographer.

“We both love to kitesurf and we travel to the UK every year for the competition” said Eric, who is originally from Bournemouth. “I don’t really believe in the competitive side of it at all. We like to watch the competition and kite for our own enjoyment. We know the people and we help out with the setting up and organisation.”

Eric works mainly in the Bollywood industry, doing stills for movies and freelance shoots for the actors and actresses.

The couple are based in the Isle of Wight, where they have an office, studio and a flat, but they now spend most of their time in India. The rest is divided between the Isle of Wight and the mainland.

Jane was blown away with Walney, saying: “We love it. The people are lovely, they always seem to have time to stop and talk, which is becoming rare in England.

I’ve learned a lot of local history from complete strangers, which is great. You get conversation and a history lesson!”

Eric is more familiar with Cumbria, having gone to school in Aspatria for a while as a young boy.

He is also impressed with Walney’s laid-back atmosphere. He said: “Our first morning here there was a knock on the door and we thought ‘Here we go, the man from the council demanding money’. But it was only Gary, from North West Kitesurfing, seeing if we wanted to go kitesurfing!

“Usually you have to pay to park in England, which is daft when you kitesurf, as you often have to wait up to four or five days for the right wind.

“It’s so refreshing being here, it’s fantastic.”

Long term, Eric wants to bring kitesurfing to India, and part of his trip to Walney was to complete his tuition with Gary, so that he can teach in India.

He said: “It’s my dream to teach out there. A lot of films have water scenes, and the film people like English people to handle the safety side of things.”

Bollywood actress Manisha Lamba is known as something of a water baby and has had a kitesurfing lesson with Eric, which attracted plenty of media interest. The dream for Eric is to teach kitesurfing to the stars in Goa.

He said: “Cricket is and always has been a religion there, and soccer is becoming popular. It’s my dream to get them into watersports, particularly kiting. Taking stars like Manisha for lessons will really up the sport’s profile in India.”

Jane was keen to point out that: “If you could bring the sun from India to Earnse Bay, we’d consider moving back. We’ve stayed on Walney longer already than we meant to, and I think we might just sneak back again for a few days before we leave the UK and head back home!”

High praise indeed, and they will definitely be back for the competition next year. But what do the kitesurfing community think of our quiet little corner of the world?

“Earnse Bay is becoming a firm favourite with the kiters,” says Eric.

“They like the out of the way location, as the beaches at lots of the venues are right in the town. It’s also very unusual and very gratifying that you see so many people using the beach here.

“People walking their dogs, windsurfing, fishing, whatever. No-one is getting in anyone’s way or telling anyone what to do. They’re all doing their thing and having a good time. Everyone makes room for each other and it’s fantastic!”