Clocks have gone forward, the temperature is rising and wild flowers are blooming – that’s the cue to shake off winter’s mantle and get out into the sunshine to boost the body’s vitamin D supply.

Okay, for those of us who are lucky enough to live on Lanzarote, the arrival of spring doesn’t have quite the same impact for us as it does for northern European dwellers as our winters can be imperceptibly different from our springs and our autumns. But this year we’ve seen some unusually wet and cold weather so we’re just as up for spring as everyone else.

Here at Sands Beach, the arrival of the new season can only mean one thing…time to stretch the muscles and take to the pedals in our third Annual Spring Duathlon. Starting from Sands Beach Resort in Costa Teguise, the event will begin with a 5 km run to be followed by a 20 km cycle ride and finishing with a final 2.5 km run. There will be trophies for first place by group, age and team.

If you’re on holiday at Sands Beach Resort, why not hire a top quality bike from Papagayo Bike (you’ll find the office in reception) and join in the fun for the day.

Fact File
Sands Beach Spring Duathlon takes place on Saturday 16th April 2011 from 4pm – 7pm; information and registration is through Fecantri; registration closes on 13th April. For more information contact  Andres Medina on (0034) 687 844 258

Sands Beach Active recently caught up with World Kite Boarding Wave Champion Guilly Brandao to talk to him about his 3rd World Title Crown and what his plans are for 2011. Here’s what he had to say:

SB Active: First off, congrats on your 3rd World Champ Title. How does this year’s title compare with previous years?

GB: This year was really special for me, the final stop of the tour was in Australia and I lived there for 3 years back in 2000, when I still wasn’t quite sure what to do about life…and soon after that I found kitesurfing and became a pro. So to go back there after 10 years to be crowned the world champ was kind of coming full circle.

SB Active: And what are you up to these days?

GB: Right now I’m in Hawaii for the winter season, awesome waves and good winds..!

SB Active: Tell me about this KSP Dream Tour I’ve been hearing about?

GB: The KSP will be a Waveriding tour with the aim to make the stops on the best locations as possible, with the best media coverage and the best riders.

SB Active: So I guess we’re going to be seeing you again real soon at Sands Beach for the clinic you are hosting. What do you look forward to most about getting back to the Canaries?

GB: Yeah I love the Canary Islands….every time I go there its super fun, lots of wind all the time, really beautiful scenery wherever you look and a lot of nice people to be around…and of course Sands Beach!

SB Active: Well thanks for your time and the best of luck on the upcoming season and hopefully your 6th World Champ title in as many years. See you in Lanzarote!

Guilly will be arriving in Lanzarote just in time for the PKRA Lanzarote World Tour Pro, which is being hosted by Sands Beach Active and La Santa Surf from the 6th -10th of April 2011. Make sure and come on down to take in the action and see some of the world’s best kite surfers from around the globe compete for the top prize of 15.000€.

The first Circuito Canario de Kiteboarding event of 2011 takes to the waves on Lanzarote between 20th and 24th April at Playa Honda and Playa Famara with two kiteboarding disciplines – Freestyle and Waves.

The ‘Waves’ competition takes place at Playa Famara in Teguise on Wednesday 21st and Thursday the 22nd April at Playa Famara (on the opposite coast from Sands Beach Resort – not a long journey by bus or car) and should include the top riders in the Canary islands. After that the competition heats up and heads to Playa Honda near the airport between Friday 22nd and Sunday 24th April for the anything goes ‘Freestyle’ events.

Anyone interested in challenging the Canary Islands’ best riders can register for the event at the Oficina de Regatas at Playa Honda from 5th to 20th April (at midday). The rest of us can just lie back and enjoy the spectacular show from the sunny comfort of two of Lanzarote’s nicest beaches.

Making it into the top ten list of ‘things you may not know about Spain’ is the fact that the Spanish are crazy for basketball. World Basketball Champions 2006-2010, Spain lost their title to the USA in Turkey last year but that didn’t dampen national enthusiasm for the game. Spain will be hosting the World Championship competition in 2014 and clearly, all stops are being pulled out to try to regain the title on home ground. TV sports coverage of basketball is ranked right up there amongst football and just about every town and city has at least one basketball team that gets avid support from the locals. And the Canary Islands are no exception.

Here on Lanzarote, Sands Beach are official sponsors of the CB Grubati team and of the various tournaments that are held in the magnificent sports complex in Costa Teguise. Not only that, but Sands Beach Resort is a home from home for teams competing in both local and international tournaments held in the municipality. With its excellent sports facilities, idyllic position for on and off road training and luxurious accommodation, it’s the perfect base for athletes in training and in competition.

This week sees the start of the Sixth César Manrique Junior Basketball Tournament in which 16 teams of boys and 10 teams of girls will be competing at the Municipal Sports Hall in Teguise and at the César Manrique Cabrera Primary School in Tahiche. Naturally, the teams will be staying at Sands Beach Resort during the tournament.

For existing fans of the sport and those who enjoy competitive sports but who may be new to basketball, the César Manrique Junior Basketball Tournament provides a great opportunity to go along and watch some of the up and coming stars of the sport and to lend your support to the CB Grubati team.