Alpine Elements has been running Winter Ski and Summer Alpine holidays for the past 15 years. With demand from their clients, they are now starting a beach club programme in Greece.

Ocean Elements is the recent conception of alpine sports specialists Alpine Elements; a beach club hotel at the windward end of Vassiliki bay – on the pretty Greek island of Lekfada. Vassiliki is an active sports centre, famous for its consistent thermal wind (Eric) and its predictable flat water sailing.

Here you can learn to windsurf from Ocean Elements own RYA instructors, who will run a beginner course as well as intermediate planing and non planing lessons and expert tuition too (gybes and tricks). All their kit is the latest 2011 product from Starboard – Rios to Kodes – with sails by Tushingham.

Guests can also sail the latest RS and Laser performance dinghies, mountain bike with a guide, try kayaking or get hooked on the new craze of stand-up paddleboarding – and all within a week.

All activities, lessons and kit rental are included with their package, and the best bit is that prices are super cheap this year – given the introductory nature of their programme. Prices start at just £379pp with hotel, flights from Gatwick, instruction and all activities. Call them on 0844 770 40 70 now or check out www.ocean-elements.co.uk

Letter from the MD…

After running our winter and summer alpine holidays for the past 15 years, and having been asked for a good few of those to extend over into the beach market, we’ve finally listened to your requests! So I’m proud to announce that it’s here at last – our new beach club in Greece.

We have chosen the Greek island of Lefkada, because of its more ‘exclusive’ nature, and the lush scenery, mountain ranges and diverse coastline which makes it ideal for walking, biking, sailing and of course sunshine and relaxation! We have chosen the famous active resort of Vassiliki – located on the southern shore of Lefkada, which is a bit of a watersports mecca for all abilities.

Set up has been a thoroughly enjoyable task and I personally have been involved with the basics, just like the old days! The concept wasn’t difficult, we simply sat around a table and said to ourselves, “what would make our ideal holiday?” We then drank lots of coffee, we brainstormed, and then we set about making it happen.

To start things off, we needed the right ingredients. So we took on a very smart beach-front hotel in what is considered to be one of the best locations on Vassiliki beach. It has a decent sized pool, a beach bar, ensuite bedrooms with sea views and is stacked full of active sports equipment, sailing boats and mountain bikes for free use by all our guests! As an added bonus, we also offer windsurf and sailing tuition, kids’ clubs and mountain bike guides for no extra cost.

This really is one of those holidays where you can try all manner of exciting new sports in a beautiful setting; or simply relax and read by the pool and take part in many of the excursions we organise around the beautiful island of Lefkada.

We felt it was about high time that the summer beach world had some of the “Alpine Elements magic formula” injected into it – the stuff that you’ve all come to know and love!

So let me introduce to you Ocean Elements, which I have to say has been a real pleasure in putting together. I for one have rediscovered sunny holidays, high octane sailing and the art of keeping the family happy too!

James Hardiman, Managing Director, Elements Group