ASI AIR Retreat, Northern Ireland April 2024

More Speakers and topics will be announced soon.

Jennifer Greenlees
Topic: The Ocean, Health and a Fundraising Endeavour
Evening Speaker

Jennifer Greenlees is a wellness practitioner with a love of the ocean and stand up paddling.  She is currently making her way around the Irish coast, on a SUP board, in sections, raising money for various causes.  Jenny aims to be the first person to have paddled around Ireland.   She is an accomplished massage therapist, yoga teacher, SUP instructor and SUP Yoga teacher, who lives in Northern Ireland.  

Jenny will talk about her inspiration, the fundraising causes, and stories about the challenges and the joys of her quest. 

Jenny will be delivering a SUP Yoga session, as part of the afternoon activities.

Click here to read more about her adventures, and to help with fundraising.

Alan Branagh
Topic: Building an Outdoor Activity Community

Alan Branagh is based in Northern Ireland and has been instrumental in creating SUP NI Community.  It’s a group created for Stand Up Paddlers to chat via FB, meet up, races, paddle, surf and share experiences.

Alan talks about the benefits of building a community for outdoor activities, some of the challenges including legals and safety, and the future of community groups like this.

Read About: About SUP NI community

Paul Byrne
Topic: Building a Career in the Outdoors Activity Industry

Paul Byrne has been at the forefront of developing SUP in Ireland, owner of the first SUP school (established 2010) delivering sessions to thousands of students, organising SUP trips to exotic locations,, travels the world training ASI instructors and organises SUP Races and SUP Surfing events. He also regularly competed in stand up paddle racing and SUP surfing competitions at local, national, and international level, and has represented Ireland at three World Championships, where he was also the Irish Team Manager.

Paul will talk about how to build a career in the industry, as an instructor, business school owner or trainer.  He’ll share with you how he got started, his career adventures, what’s great about our industry and tips he has learned over the years that could help you establish a career in the industry.

 Paul will talk about how to build a career in the industry, as an instructor, business school owner or trainer.  He’ll share with you how he got started, his career adventures, what’s great about our industry and tips he has learned over the years that could help you establish a career in the industry.
About Irish SUP

Oona Tibbetts 
Topic: Our Outdoors Playground: Challenges, Pollution and Conservation

Oona Tibbetts is co-owner of Wild SUP Tours, based in Dingle, Co. Kerry, on the southwest coast of Ireland. Her, and partner Ed Lacey, are passionate about being outside, exploration and inspiring others against climate change and marine pollution.  

It’s their belief that outdoor activities show people what we have and why we should care for our planet.  

Oona will talk about how instructors and anyone engaging in outdoor activities can make a difference to help maintain our beautiful environment.

Read About: Wild SUP Tours

Gavin Knox
Topic: Working with Vulnerable Groups in Outdoor Activities

Gavin Knox is an experienced surfer, stand up paddler and instructor, has worked in the Irish Sea in sea farming in sometimes harsh conditions, and has worked extensively with vulnerable adults who have found themselves homeless for various reasons.  Based in Northern Ireland, watersports is a large part of his life and his work at the charity is extremely important to him.  

He talks about how he has combined his interests, to create a SUP School, Good2Go Paddleboarding, and in particular how outdoor activities can benefit vulnerable groups.  

More about Good2Go Paddleboarding 

Activities available on the Saturday afternoon include (to be updated):

SUP Tours
Surfing / Bodyboarding Surfaris
Explore the local tourist attractions

Friday 19 April 2024
This is for people who may be in town, or arriving from other locations. 
6.00pm meet up in a local bar for drinks and networking.
Ownies Bar and Bistro, Carrickfergus  website 

Morning and Evening Session:
The morning session from 9am to 12pm will be held at:
Whitehead
Co Antrim Yacht Club
1 Marine Parade, Whitehead, BT38 9QP Website
(6.6 miles, 14 mins drive from Carrickfergus)

6pm Evening session
Co Antrim Yacht Club
Delicious catered buffet dinner is included.

Afternoon Activities
Activities start at 1pm. 
Based on demand, will include:  SUP tour, SUP yoga. 
Activities held are various locations.
Larne, Islandmagee, Whitehead and other locations, depending on conditions.  (all within 15 mins drive)  SUP equipment is supplied.  Or you can bring your own gear.

 Bring your own boards/ gear - for practical activity sessions.

• SUP boards are included. Or bring your own.

• Surfboards and bodyboards can be rented for a small fee or bring your own.

• Wetsuits can also be rented.

If you are travelling and don't have your board or surf gear, contact us and we can organise it for you
E.  info@academyofsurfing.com

ASI Accredited School, Islandmagee SUP School, is hosting the AIR retreat.  They are located in Larne on the Islandmagee peninsula, and providing a wealth of local information.

Islandmagee is part of the national Trust, and is known for its stunning coastline, birdlife and history. 

Nearby is Whitehead, where the retreat is being held (morning and evening sessions).    Another town is Carrickfergus, where most of the accommodation is found.  Whitehead and Carrickfergus are only 5 mins apart and serviced by train. 

Explore the wonderful natural beauty of the coastline around Islandmagee and Whitehead. Portmuck harbour and Browns Bay beach are hidden gems in Islandmagee with fantastic scenery and a large variety of wildlife. Of particular interest is the Isle of Muck which is an Ulster Wildlife bird sanctuary. Harbour porpoises, bottle-nose dolphins and seals are also seen regularly off the coast of Portmuck.

The Gobbins cliff path, first opened in 1902, was hailed as a “perfect marvel of engineering.  A SUP tour offers the chance to see the Gobbins path from another perspective.

For stand up paddling from Whitehead, you can paddle in front of the famous coloured houses on the promenade, past the newly restored Blackhead Coastal Path leading to the iconic Blackhead Lighthouse.

For surfers and bodyboarders, excellent surf breaks can be found along the coast and at nearby Portrush (1 ½ hrs drive). 

The weather and water conditions can be quite mild in April (mid teens), making it an ideal time of year to host the AIR Retreat.

Tourism Attractions:

Islandmagee
The Gobbins - website   https://thegobbinscliffpath.com/
It’s a walkway of Edwardian engineering, carved through the rocks and suspended over the Atlantic ocean at various places.  It's teeming with wildlife and history

The Rinkha Ice-Cream Parlour.

Islandmagee is the home of the Ballylumford Dolmen. Known locally as the "Druid's Altar", this megalithic monument could date to 2500 BC

Dinosaur remains were found in the area in the 19th century and in the 20th century.

Larne
Carnfunnock Country Park.
Glenoe Waterfall.

Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus Castle

Whitehead
Whitehead Railway Museum.
Blackhead Coastal Path and Lighthouse

Glenarm
Glenarm Castle.

Shaped by Sea and Stone is website with loads of local information: website

Closest Airport: 
Belfast Airport
Car hire:  available at airport.
Train: From airport to Carrickfergus, and Whitehead.   (about 25 mins)
Taxi to Carrickfergus:  £29 - £35 and takes 17 min

Closest train station:  
Whitehead  or Carrickfergus

Closest bus station:  
Whitehead or Carrickfergus

Carrickfergus is the best location for accommodation.
There is a short train journey or 10 minute drive between Carrickfergus, and Whitehead (event venue).

There are also Airbnbs at Islandmagee, Whitehead & Carrickfergus areas.

Carrickfergus

Hotels/B&Bs
Premier Inn Carrickfergus Hotel website
Dobbins Inn  website
Walter's Place B&B  website
Drumgart Farmhouse B&B (from £35/night)  website

Houses/Self Catering
Blackhead Lightkeepers' Houses   Website
Hillcrest Cottage  website

Whitehead
Has an approved area for camper vans to stay overnight also Info