BKSA FREESTYLE ROUND 1 WATERGATE BAY CORNWALL 
Date – 18 – 20th April 2008
Hosted by – Extreme Academy in conjunction with The BKSA
Event Sponsors – Extreme Academy Tour Sponsors – Deadman Clothing, Red Bull, ExPix & Buff The British Kite Surfing Association returned to Watergate Bay for Round 1 of the British Freestyle Championships. With good wind forecasted, expectations were high and riders were hungry for the chance to prove what they could do after a winter of hard training. 
Fresh from competing in international events were twice Pro Men’s British Champion Lewis Crathern from Worthing, who is sponsored by Slingshot, Jimmy Lewis, Dakine, Xcel, Relentless, Surface2Air Sports & UK Blinds, Sam Light from Hayling Island, sponsored by Naish & O’Neill, Ali Barrett, from Blackpool, sponsored by Lost Cause & Turbulence and South African rider Taro Niehaus sponsored by Best, 911 Energy Drink Hugo & Hugo Toyota, Island Tribe, Loop Clothing, Dakine & Xelerator.  Following the success of the Youth Training Schemes, the BKSA were delighted to welcome a new bunch of junior riders to the competition including, Martin Tatchell from Hereford, Danny Marrice from Shoreham – by – Sea, Jack Brooks, sponsored by BTS, Alistair Fletcher and Luke Anyon sponsored by Hangtime Kitesports, all from Lancashire, Dan Sweeney from Rustington, sponsored by Airhead , Jack Daykin from Darlington, sponsored by Ozone, Sam Moore from Bideford and Robbie Shire-Maidment, from Dorset, sponsored by Flexifoil International, Fat Face, MBS, Dirty Dog, Lost Cause & Forcefield.
Richard Gowers, Chairman of the British Kite Surfing Association said “With an average age of just 13 these youngsters are proving that development in the sport is working. We are very keen to expand our Youth Training Schemes and make Kite Surfing as accessible as possible to young people. With this in mind, we have more training planned for 2008 with training camps being run throughout the UK. Over 50 riders registered to compete including South African rider, Jemma Grobbelaar, sponsored by Flexifoil, Xelerator, Dakine, Arnette, Pereuko, Lizzy Surf, CTi Ossur & Island Tribe. The Race Crew looking good after being kited out in their new gear thanks to tour sponsors Deadman Clothing and tour sponsors ExPix back onboard to provide media & photographic services, things were looking good for the 1st Round of the Freestyle Championships. Ali Barrett, had spectators holding their breath on Friday when he took to the water to test the conditions. Renowned for his ‘Big Air Jumps’, Ali didn’t disappoint when he reached heights of over 50 feet. Unfortunately the gusty offshore winds proved too much, and the start of the competition was postponed until the Saturday. 
 Saturday & Sunday brought with it further disappointment as the wind conditions failed to improve. Riders chilled out in the tent provided by tour sponsors Red Bull as Ewan & Dave from the Red Bull team had the job of keeping frustrated competitors happy with their specially adapted Red Bull vehicle featuring video and sound systems. Riders also amused themselves by finding new and imaginative ways of wearing the Buff headgear courtesy of tour sponsors Buff! The riders are now looking forward to the 2nd round of the Freestyle event which will be held in Barrow – in – Furness in June. In the meantime some will compete in the BKSA Wave event being held at the Atmosphere festival in Westward Ho this coming weekend. For further information about what kitesurfing is download the following pdf guide to ride leaflet or go to the online flick book Media Partners – ExPix www.expix.co.uk
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