IMAGINE taking to the water on a small surf board - but harnessed up to a giant kite, maybe 15 metres or more across, a kite that fills and grabs the wind and sends you skimming and soaring over the waves, powered between wind and water.

"Instant adrenaline rush," grins Mike Birt. And he should know.

The sport conjures up images of far flung beaches, rolling waves and exotic locations. Yet Surfstore, one of the country's top windsurfing stores - and leader in the exciting new off-shoot sport of kiteboarding - is based on a small lake in an old quarry just outside Stockton. From here, it sells the latest equipment not only all over Britain but all over the world too -including America and Australia.

It's a wind surfing business run and staffed by windsurfers. They know what they're talking about.

Mike was windsurfing at nine years old, and during 14 years of top level competing, won four national titles. But since 1999, he has been spending more of his time testing and developing kite boards, which means he's ridden virtually all the kites and boards on the market.

"When kiteboarding started, people thought it was just a fad, that it wouldn't last. But then the sport just exploded and is developing all the time," he says "At the beginning, it was really just for the gifted people who really knew what they were doing but there's so much new equipment now to make it easier for people to have a go." Mike tries to explain the attraction of kiteboarding. "It's such a visual sport. Then as soon as you're on the water, it's exciting," he says. "And then you can just make yourself weightless."

The business was started - and is still run - by Mike father's John, one of the original water sport pioneers. He used to go windsurfing on Ullswater in the 1980s. Then Bishopton Lake came up for sale and he realised it could be the perfect base.

"He started out 18 years ago with a shed," says Mike. "He lived in a caravan for two years."

The business coincided with the real boom in windsurfing, the adventure sport of the 80s. Now the purpose-built centre is a shop, hire store, mail order office and RYA approved training centre. Oh yes, and a repair base.

Those kites and sails can get some rough treatment and when they are in need of repair, love and attention, they end up with Lynne Muter and her sewing machine. If you can rip it, the chances are that Lynne can fix it. A professional seamstress, she used to make wedding dresses.

"From satin and crepe to spinnaker cloth," she says, surrounded by yards and yards of collapsed kite.

For the windsurfing training courses (a two hour taster session costs £20), the centre provides all the equipment. To buy your own will cost around £750, estimates Mike. And although the top-of-the-range equipment for kiteboarding has made it even more exciting for the experts, the new developments mean it's also easier - and safer - for beginners to master.

And if you think it's just for macho guys, forget it - increasing numbers of women are experts in both windsurfing and kiteboarding, including two - Judy and Holly - at Surfstore.

The Internet revolution means that many Surfstore customers now come from all over the world - Eastern Europe is a big growth area, as well as Saudi Arabia.

But as well as at worldwide exotic locations, there is plenty of good windsurfing and kiteboarding to be had in our region - all those long, wide beaches are ideal. Some of the favourites include Majuba Beach at Redcar, Seaton Carew, South Shields, Berwick and Bamburgh. There are plenty of inland centres at lakes, too.

Mike's favourite is Beadnell Bay in Northumberland. "The water's so clear and beautiful. The conditions are always changing so that there are always new challenges. I've had some of my best days ever there," he says.

Meanwhile, out on Bishopton Lake, with an audience of sheep, a new windsurfer is taking his first tentative steps on board and water. Maybe someone should warn him, it could be addictive...

* Surfstore tel: (01740) 631199. Shop, sale and hire of equipment. RYA approved tuition and training in windsurfing.

Next day delivery available on spares and equipment. www.surfstore.co.uk

www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk

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