• Aussie Kiss
• 2012/13

Getting There

The Student Windsurf Festival is split across two locations; Firstly accommodation and the famous Aussie Kiss party will happen at Bude Holiday Park, this is where to head when you arrive on Friday night (6th November). Secondly, the windsurfing and festival side will be happening at Roadford Reservoir. Here are the details of the venues for your sat nav:

Bude Holiday Park: Accomodation Venue
Maer Lane
Bude
Cornwall
EX23 9EE

Roadford Lake: Windsurfing Venue
Lower Goodacre
Broadwoodwidger
Lifton
Devon
PL16 0JL

Travelling from Bude Holiday Park to Roadford Lake:

What will the wind be like at Aussie Kiss?

The Student Windsurf Festival is split across two locations; Firstly accommodation and the famous Aussie Kiss party will happen at Bude Holiday Park, this is where to head when you arrive on Friday night (6th November). Secondly, the windsurfing and festival side will be happening at Roadford Reservoir. Here are the details of the venues for your sat nav:

Bude Holiday Park: Accomodation Venue
Maer Lane
Bude
Cornwall
EX23 9EE

Roadford Lake: Windsurfing Venue
Lower Goodacre
Broadwoodwidger
Lifton
Devon
PL16 0JL

Travelling from Bude Holiday Park to Roadford Lake:

• Aussie Kiss
• 2012/13

Is this your first Aussie Kiss ? ? ?

First things first…make the right choice!
When your club's committee tell you how "AK is the best event of the year, you are going to freaking LOVE it and you really don't want to miss it"…they are telling the TRUTH! This event will set you up socially for the rest of your university life. So make the right choice and respond with "Hell yes…I. Am. In!".

So you've decided to go….what's next?
You are about to become a lifetime member of the Student Windsurfing Association. "And how much will this lifetime membership of awesomeness cost?" we hear you ask…Well you aren't going to believe this, but a lifetime membership of the SWA and access to tickets for every event (FOREVER!) will set you back the almost unnoticeably small sum of just £5! (We know how you feel, pretty damn kick-ass right?!). You also need to get your hands on your club's super-secret password, just ask your club President. This is to stop non students turning up at SWA events, some of these passwords are pretty damn kick ass too...right?!

OK, so you're a fully-fledged SWA member…looks like it's time to get that all-important ticket!
The diverse range of universities that attend SWA events is undoubtedly the reason why they are so much fun, and we do our best to make sure every one of their members gets the opportunity to purchase this life-changing ticket. To make this happen, tickets are released gradually during the course of the run up to the event. To get your hands on one, simply let your President know you want to go, he/she will sign you up, and then go to the 'Event Payment' link on the 'User Menu' on the left hand side of your screen (hint: you need to be logged in to see this).

Hang on a second, there's more than one ticket to choose from?!
You're exactly right, there are a few different ticket options; but to keep it simple…if you want to windsurf at the event get a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced ticket. If you won't be windsurfing (or miss out on the windsurfing tickets) don't panic…you can still do what hundreds of others do every year and come along for the party and the banter by buying a Party ticket (formerly known as the XSWA ticket).

Now, to put your minds at rest here are a few frequently asked questions answered in typically awesome SWA-style:

How on earth am I supposed to get to Bude?
Don't panic, your club's committee will help you organise this. Ask your President for more information.

Where am I going to sleep?
Bude Holiday Park has hundreds of fully-fitted caravans with a bed for everyone…all you need to do is bring a sleeping bag.

Will I know anyone in my caravan?
YES! We do our very best to ensure you are placed in a caravan with fellow club members next to the other caravans housing the rest of your club. This means you can chop and change and pick your van-mates for the weekend as best suits you.

Am I going to be warm enough?
We really hope so! That said, it can get chilly at this time of year so make sure you bring warm clothes for the days at the lake, something wind-proof and a nice warm hat (although there will also be nice warm hats on sale from the lakeside stalls). The caravans have heaters so you should be fine there but worst case simply make like an Eskimo and share that body heat!

I haven't had a chance to windsurf with my club yet, can I windsurf at Aussie Kiss?
ABSO-FRICKEN-LUTELY!! AK brings together hundreds of windsurfers from all over the country, but even more importantly it single-handedly introduces more beginners to the sport than any other event of it's kind. There will be instructors everywhere and professionally-run tuition for all abilities. Trust us when we say there is no better place to give it a go than at Aussie Kiss!

Are we staying at the lake?
Not exactly. The lake is a short drive from where we will be staying, so you'll need to be prepared for two days away from the caravan site.

Do I need any special footwear?
WELLIES! WELLIES! WELLIES!...it is a festival after all! We aren't talking Glastonbury levels of mud, but it never hurts to bring a pair of good old reliable wellingtons!

So what's this I hear about a fancy dress party?
AK is famous throughout the windsurfing world for throwing the best, most hilarious fancy dress party out there. This is your opportunity to show the world how you and your club roll. Most clubs go with a unified theme which will help you find each other in the club during the party.

Speaking of the party…where exactly is it?
The parties on both Friday and Saturday nights both take place within stumbling distance of the caravans in the onsite venue at Bude Holiday Park. There is a dancefloor, stage, "facilities" and of course (most importantly) A BAR! (The SWA promotes responsible drinking)

Is there food?
YUP! You get breakfast included on both days! During the day there is food available to purchase at the lake and there is a fast food shop onsite at the holiday park. Every caravan has a cooker and microwave so for those who want to cook their own food, you can do that too!

Are there any shops nearby?
There is a supermarket in Bude town centre (about 5 mins by car) and there is a small shop onsite.

Can I get cash out at the Holiday Park?
Sometimes…but it's not guaranteed. Best advice, bring whatever cash you are planning to put behind the bar with you (it'll just avoid unnecessary disappointment!). You can restock during the day between the lake and the holiday park.

• Aussie Kiss
• 2012/13

Getting Tickets

Before you can get tickets to an SWA/PARTY/INSTRUCTOR event ticket you must become an SWA life member for just £5. Simply go to the following link and follow the instructions on screen. You will need a supersecret password from your windsurf club president, just so we can be sure that you are a student.

If you want to go, ask your Club President. He/She will then register you for Aussie Kiss. 
This does NOT reserve or confirm your ticket for Aussie Kiss. Your ticket is only yours when you pay for it.
If all of the tickets are sold before you get around to paying for yours then we are very sorry, but you should have been quicker off the mark.

What this means to you:

- You will get an email saying that your president has registered you for a ticket and that you have a few days to pay for it.
- GO GO GO. Buy it before your place is taken by someone else.
- Log onto the SWA website, go to EVENTS.
      In the buy tickets column, click on the ticket type that you want, Windsurf/Instructor/XSWA.
      Pay for it.
- Congratulations, your place at Aussie Kiss is now confirmed!
- Glory in the news that you are going to the best festival on the planet!
 

SWA Windsurfing Tickets: 

Windsurf, Party, Compete! – Set sail in style and explore! - £55


For the full experience of an SWA event this is the ticket that you need. An SWA ticket gets you full access to the weekend’s activities. Included in the price: two nights accommodation at Bude Holiday Park, breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, an event T-shirt, full access to the Roadford Reservoir, use of all demo gear, participation in tuition sessions/clinics, party ticket for Friday and Saturday night, enjoy all the bands, enjoy the festival.


To get an SWA ticket you must ask your windsurf club president to sign you up to the event. Once you have done this you will then be able to go online to http://www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk/ - on the left had side under ‘user menu’ select ‘event payment’ > ‘event payment’, in the drop down menu chose ‘Aussie Kiss’ and follow the instructions on screen. If you are from a University that does not have a windsurf club and want to come to the event please contact the SWA.

Party Only Tickets:

Relax, Party, Enjoy The Festival – Every ship needs a crew! - £40


This ticket is also available to non-students. A Party ticket gets you: two nights’ accommodation at Bude Holiday Park, breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, an event T-shirt, access to the Roadford Reservoir (Party ticket holders are not permitted to windsurf at Roadford Reservoir), party ticket for Friday and Saturday night, enjoy all the bands, enjoy the festival.

Party tickets are mainly for ex-SWA graduates, but they can (of course) be bought by students who don't want to windsurf. Once you have bought a Party ticket, we cannot upgrade you to a full SWA (windsurfing) ticket, so please keep an eye on how many windsurf tickets are still availiable before buying a Party ticket. Remember, we release the windsurfing tickets in batches.

To get a Party ticket you simply go to http://www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk/ - in the top menu select ‘Events' > ‘Party Tickets', in the drop down menu choose ‘Aussie Kiss’ and follow the instructions on screen. Any problems please contact the SWA.
 

INSTRUCTOR/SAFETYBOAT :

Come to Aussie Kiss as an Instructor/Powerboat Driver - Explorers need guidance! - £30


The SWA expects to see a greater number of beginners on the water than any other UK event. To ensure they are given the best introduction possible to windsurfing, we need instructors.


In exchange for teaching you will receive a ticket at the heavily discounted price of £30 (that's almost half price!!) allowing you all the same benefits as a full SWA ticket: two nights’ accommodation at Bude Holiday Park, breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, an event T-shirt, full access to the Roadford Reservoir, use of all demo gear, participation in clinics, party ticket for Friday and Saturday night, enjoy all the bands, enjoy the festival.

 

How does one proceed?

Instructors: Send your valid RYA instructors certificate, Power Boat Level 2 certificate, and your valid first aid certificate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 
Safteyboat drivers: Please send your safety boat certificate and valid first aid certificate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You will then shortly receive further instructions.


Please note: RYA instructor certificate is normally valid for 5 years from the date of completion of you course, and first aid for 3 years from the date of completion of your course. Safety Boat and powerboat level 2 certificates are valid for life.

• Aussie Kiss
• 2012/13

The Party

The globally infamous Aussie Kiss party returns! This year's theme:

AK14 - Age of Discovery: SWA Rules the Waves

The themes are rolling in...check out the Facebook event to see the 'shotguns' so far!

If you've not heard about the Aussie Kiss party before:

Think hundreds of students packed into one venue. Think a mixture of sing along classics and filthy dub step. Think amazing drinks deals. Think of the best fancy dress you’ve ever seen. Think about a life changing night that will keep you coming back to Aussie Kiss year after year. And don’t think about the next morning!

Click on the photo below to see some of the greatest Aussie Kiss party photos of all time...