Edge Watersports, 3 The Royal Avenue, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 1EN - info@edgewatersports.com - 01395 222551

THE EDGE TEAM

The EDGE Team are the guys that take care of the day to day running of things at Edge. The guys who will be at the end of the phone and helping guide you through your chosen water sport activity.

As with every great side, you must have some grass roots stuff going on! So the Edge youth team are the boys for the future!

ERIC BRIDGE

Eric is the power rider amongst the Edge kiteboard team. Eric is 'out' when it is too windy for everyone else and will fashion a HUGE smile if the wind is from the east and he can get his fix of down-the-line wave riding action he is known for. Originally known for massive airs and powerful riding "Big Ric" is now known for his strapless surfboard riding prowess and his smooth controlled carves in just the right section.

Eric became an IKO Instructor in the early part of 2003 and soon developed a vision for teaching kitesurfing on the beautiful Exe Estuary. Eric has recently become a BKSA instructor trainer in 2007 and is now running instructor training courses at EDGE, and he is also a powerboat instructor. Eric has developed a great reputation for quality, safe teaching from running Spinnakers Sailing Centre for over 10 years.

Eric is looking forward to perfecting his snow kite skills this winter after carving up the slopes this past season. If you are lucky enough to be travelling on one of our edge holidays look out for Eric's legendary rum and cokes.

STEPH BRIDGE

Steph's won the BKSA women's national trophy in 2006 in the freestyle discipline and swiftly bettered it this year by winning the PKRA womens world kiterace crown.

Steph grew up sailing in Exmouth and developed an incredible knowledge of the wind and racing tactics over many years, this stood her in fantastic stead for the advent of kitesurf racing Steph is hoping to defend her crown next year and is having a custom raceboard created for her, the design is top secret so watch this space for her speeding past you next time your out.

Steph is sponsored by North kiteboarding and Xcel wetsuits two of the top brands in the sport.

After her first North sponsored trip to bring the sport of kiteboarding to Iceland in 2004 Steph got the travelling bug and is now regularly running Kitesurfing holidays with Husband Eric and the rest of the edge team to many of the worlds great kitesurfing spots. Steph is keen to match Eric's strapless freeriding and waveriding prowess and is pushing hard to get those effortless carves and snaps, although Eric is practicing hard to stay ahead and with 2 years extra strapless experience he should be hard to catch.

PAUL RAVEN

Paul is the newest member of the Edge team and is heading the new Windsurfing side of the business. He has many years windsurfing experience and has been involved in the local scene for a number of years. Paul learnt to windsurf in 1984, but really didn't get into it big time until moving to Australia in 1997. Whilst living in Sydney he participated in the New South Wales windsurfing series, competing in slalom and formula windsurfing, but it was not really until taking a 5-month trip around the whole country that he 'found' wavesailing. He qualified as an RYA Intermediate Windsurfing Instructor in 2003 and moved back from Australia around the same time, deciding to settle in Devon.

Paul is happy to get on the water whatever the weather is doing - whether it is longboard cruising, flat water blasting, slalom racing or wave sailing.

OLLIE GIBS

Ollie is our new kitesurf instructor. He is a pretty handy kitesurfer with 3 years experience and is currently learning his powered handle pass moves, but mostly crashing at the moment. He's a bit of a dark horse and turns out to be a bit of a wakeboarder too, landing some cool moves. He has been teaching abroad in Egypt and Venezuela but seems to be coping OK with the UK weather. Check him out on You Tube on this link. Ollie is currently in Brazil learning new moves throughout the winter, the last reports tell us he is loving it.

FIX

Fix joined the edge team back in 2004. He is a kitesurf character and is possessed with the drive to improve - which has lead to him being a very 'complete' kite surfer. With over 7 years of kitesurfing and 5 years teaching the sport, Fix is a good man to approach in all aspects Kitesurfing. Fix recently moved to Portsmouth to continue his career in prosthetics, working at Edge mostly at weekends as a 'relief' instructor. Fix is one of the most experienced in the business. He loves his travelling and often roughs it to make sure he gets to kite the best spots in the world.

PAUL SWEENEY

Paul joined the Edge team in the summer of 2007, he is currently spending his winter teaching in NZ. An enthusiastic team member originally from Bideford, he began by kitesurfing the legendary Saunton sands and other classic spots along the north Devon coastline. Paul also really loves his snowboarding and is keen to give snowkiting a go! Paul has previously taught in Langebaan SA.

THE YOUTH TEAM

OLLIE BRIDGE

Ollie is the oldest of the bridge boys, he has been perfecting his kitesurfing skills all summer after accompanying Mum on her PKRA tour. He is already ripping up and down and landing his first backloops.

TOMMY BRIDGE

The kamikaze kid, tommy is always trying to jump over something on his bmx or skateboard and is already polishing his powerkite skills ready to hit the water! Tommy loves to learn from the best and regularly pushes Tony Hawk to his limits….. Well on the Playstation anyway!

GUY BRIDGE

Guy is a keen sportsman and a great fisherman he is the man to ask if you want to know the best local fishing spots. Having learnt from Grandad spud, guy regularly pulls out some sizeable bass for dinner!