Free 132 page annual Travel Guide supplement! Egypt – Should you still go? Jason Wolcott gallery LA Kiting Israel – Middle East uncovered Bridle designs KSP world tour round-up The moves that won the PKRA World Title
THE YARN: It's about that time of year again; time for us to stoke your soggy winter travel fires with a burning desire to get out there and experience some of the best kiting on the planet. Issue #55 comes with our free annual Travel Guide, which this year will be bigger than ever. New additions to this year's guide include Peru, Taiwan and the Philippines, but as usual we'll be covering most corners of the kiting world.
In the mag Youri Zoon breaks down the moves that won him the world title and we sum-up the first KSP World Tour season. In global affairs, we analyse the recovery of Egypt after the Arab Spring at the start of the year – turns out kitesurfers have been key to the survival prospects of many resorts, Jenna Hannon gives us the local's lowdown on being a kiter in the City of Angels and Yaron Barlev and Eitan Sultin kick-off a series uncovering the riding potential in the Middle East, beginning this issue with a tour of Israel's top spots.
On top of all that we run through subtleties in bridle designs in our technical feature, Pit Lane, Jason Wolcott blinds us with some of his latest and greatest images and we'll have a selection of the latest gear to have been ragged by the test team. Plus lots more!
That's a total of over 260 pages for you to dog ear in January!
-- EPISODE 5 of THE KITE SHOW is now live! Featuring the best web videos of 2011, a chance to win a North Wam, World Champion interviews and more! And if you're on a good connection, hit the HD button and go huge! www.thekiteshow.tv
The BKSA can only announce some of the dates as we are still awaiting confirmation form some major sponsors.
We will announce each one as they are confirmed
We have tried to have fewer events this year which are slightly longer in the School and public holidays in order to save days off work and save on the fuel bills!!
We are hoping to run 4 Freestyle, 3 Race, 1 Wave and 1 Speed
All the dates we hope will be released by February 5th please bear with us
Confirmed
Watergate Bay Cornwall April 21st-22nd Raceboard Racing 1, Waveboard Racing, Westcountry Wave Jam
Hunstanton, Norfolk June 1st-4th - Freestyle, Speed, Twin Tip Racing – Extra Bank Holidays – Queens Jubilee
Other Events –
Shoreham, Adur CentreBKSA AGM April 28th and Revalidation Day
Exmouth, Exmouth Edge Cup June 23rd-24th – Racing
Rhosneigr North Wales August 30th-September 2nd Slider Jam
Entry
All entries must be done online for BKSA events – each link will be placed on website under Entries
Freestyle
Each event will have an overall winner in each fleet – however all rounds of Freestyle will count towards the overall title – so at some events we may be able to run 2 rounds if there is wind on all days
Racing
Each event will have an overall winner – however all races completed in the season will count towards the overall title allowing more discards as per rules to give an overall winner for season
Wild Card Entries
Think you are the best in your area – we are offering 2 free places to local competitors put forward by local club /shop/ School to enter a BKSA event – you must be new to competition - entries must be received 2 weeks prior to events –
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We have some new and existing sponsorship -
“Ion “
Race Crew Jackets and Safety Crew Drysuits
“King of Watersports”
King of Watersports have kindly come on board again to support the best move of the event
Prize value approx. £200 / event – awarded to any rider in any freestyle fleet to have performed the best move of the event.
“Palmera Local “
Clothing supplier – Race Crew
“Best Rookie of the year” – Sponsored by Best!
This is a new awarded to anyone competing in Am Men, Am Ladies, and Junior or Youth categories
Best Sponsorship Deal - two kites and board
Based on Results, Attitude, Sportsmanship, Potential
Announced at last event of the season
“Media Sponsors “
Kiteworld, IKitesurf, Kitesurf, Powerkite, Bluejuice, Barefoot Media
Cancelation-
All events are subject to funding and may be cancelled up to 30 days prior to event – also some disciplines may be added or removed – so please check website and entry conditions for all events prior to going.
Last Updated on Monday, 16 January 2012 13:44
KTE France
Here is a quick round up of our trip to the KTE in France,
Myself, Luke Whiteside and Ben Todd made our way driving over to St Gilles Croix De Vie for the KTE European kite championships. The road trip was awesome and we visited many cool spots- flat water and waves!
The first day of competition we had our skippers meeting at 7am! We had the full day of wind and managed to get the single elimination finished. I won all my heats up to the final and then took 2nd place! Super stoked. Luke won 2 heats and then ended up with 9th place.. I rode my 9m North Vegas which was perfect although there was a lot of tidal current which made it real hard to stay upwind so during our heats we had to do some running!
The next few days were then pretty sunny but with very light wind! The racers managed to get some racing finished. Ben took part in this and had lots of fun! On the second last day there was enough wind to start the double elimination, all heats were ran up to 5th/6th place then sadly the wind dropped! So I kept my 2nd place! :)
The waves were awesome there so we also went surfing everyday! Ben and Luke were ripping!
Thank you to our sponsors and support from the BKSA.
By Holly Kennedy.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 November 2011 14:44
BKSA Kiteworld Wavemasters 2011: Event Report
BKSA Kiteworld Wavemasters 2011
Co-sponsored by: North Kiteboarding, Ion, J&N Kites, King of Watersports, Palmera Local
Day 1: Mon 17th Oct, kicked off (some might say 'wandered' off) with a mad dash to unlock a council controlled gate and allow launching of the rescue ski, but once that was resolved the Ladies fleet swung into action with solid performances across the board. Riders made the most of cross-on, shoulder-high Gwithian and even newcomer, Sammy Wiseman, showed how to have fun on limited experience. The top-tier ladies really turned it up to 11 though, with an impressive final giving Sarah Sylvester the win, followed by Debbie Kennedy in 2nd and Steph Bridge in 3rd.
Day 2: Tue 18th saw the comp back at Gwithian - this time for the Men's Open fleet. Difficult conditions and variable winds had the black flag flying on several occasions, but the pro men made the best of it and hammered on through. The day ended with the Men's Open fleet completed and a first time win for local rider Richard Sills, knocking stalwart Will Bennet off the top spot for the first time in three years! Will turned in an impressive 2nd place though, with Scotland's George Noble taking 3rd.
Day 3: Wed 19th and conditions dictated a move to The Bluff for the Men's Senior class. With the kind permission and assistance of the Kernow Kitesurf Club and Hayle Harbour Authority, the Senior Men (or 'Masters of the Masters') were able to enjoy some cross-shore action in the estuary mouth, albeit in yet more patchy wind. Despite repeated appearances of the dreaded black flag the seniors showed their years of experience and made the best of some pretty challenging conditions. Day 3 wound up with Trevor Hale taking 1st, with Paul Stebbings in 2nd and another Scot, Richard Wiseman, in 3rd.
Day 4: Thu 20th was forecast for no wind, so riders made the most of the rest-day and headed out to enjoy the stunning Cornish scenery and even grab a few (windless) waves… and more than a few Cornish Pasties.
Day 5: Fri 21st and the comp moved back to the golden sands and glassy sets of Gwithian for a rider-judged jam. Riders went out as entire fleets for 30 minutes at a time and were judged by the two fleets not competing. Although winds were light, the surf was small but incredibly clean and the 30 min rounds gave riders plenty of time to run back up wind for another go. Smiles were the order of the day, and with non-competing riders helping tow their comrades back up wind this proved to be a great way to spend a marginal day in the surf. Marc Rowley took first in the Senior's Jam, followed by Trevor Hale in 2nd and Neal Harper in 3rd. In the Ladies, Debbie Kennedy grabbed 1st with Sarah Sylvester and Sarah Meager coming 2nd & 3rd respectively. And finally, the Men's Open Jam saw George Noble take top spot, with Richard Watson in 2nd and Daniel Morrice taking 3rd.
Day 6: Sat 22nd and with high tide around midday things were set to be challenging. Marazion was considered, but launching the ski directly into breaking surf was too risky, as was running the comp in dead on-shore winds with a large sea wall directly down wind. Instead, it was decided to stay at Gwithian and hope for marginal winds and improving surf as the tide dropped. Unfortunately, as the tide dropped so did the surf and the wind, so the second jam comp had to be cancelled.
Despite a disappointing last day on the beach, the riders made it to Sandsifter on Saturday evening for a buffet and the prize giving ceremony. With prize money from title sponsor Kiteworld Magazine, and with product prizes very generously provided by North Kiteboarding, Ion and King of Watersports, riders left with full bellies and a stack of loot. The winner of the King of Watersports 'Best Wave/Trick' prize was Richard Burton and his patented 'dickflip'; a kick flip floater that's quite something to see with a surfboard!
Huge thanks to all the sponsors and supporters of the BKSA Kiteworld Wavemasters 2011, and special thanks to those people on the beach that kept this week-long competition going; Lisa, Tessy, Josh and of course, Phil 'The Skiman' Elborough. Massive thanks also to Richard & Sarah of J&N UK for their support and help, and to the Hayle Harbour Authority for generous use of their slipway and of course to Doug at Sunset Surf Shop & Cafe for allowing us to take over his place for the daily rider briefings. And finally, thanks to all the riders who turned up to show us - and everyone else - just how far the level of kitesurfing has progressed in recent years.
See you all next year,
The BKSA.
Last Updated on Monday, 07 November 2011 21:44
2011 Slalom Championships
The first ever Kitesurf World Slalom Championships was held at Mar Menor in Spain, I traveled down there to represent the U.K at the event and to find out what this discipline was all about having not really done it before!
Slalom racing is normally a very fast downwind race; everyone starts on the water with a timed start over an imaginary line between the committee start boat and a buoy. The racers then precede around 4 buoys changing direction at each buoy then race across the finish line. If you cross over the start line before the green flag goes up then you are disqualified and when you change direction on a buoy can get interesting with kite tangles.
The forecast was for extremely light winds so I packed only 2 kites, a 14m and 10m brand new F-One bandit 5’s which I had never flown before and for boards I took my Course race board and my freestyle twin tip, the plan was to use my Race board for light wind and my twin tip in case the wind got up, little did I know that the twin tip would not even get wet.
I arrived at Murcia airport to some excellent weather, Spain had a high pressure stuck over it so I welcomed the 30’C temperature but not the lack of wind that goes with it. A 10 minute taxi journey and I was at the competition hotel which was a 150m stroll from the beach, all in all a very nice close location. Registration and practice day saw a few of us go out on our largest equipment; everyone was on Course race boards as this is the only equipment that goes in sub 10 knot weather. The wind picked up to about 7 knots for 45 minutes in which I took full advantage and had a blast up and down then I felt it dropping slightly and came in as Damien Leroy and Bruno Sroka went out, the next thing you know the wind went all together and they returned via the safety boat!
The first day of competition had no wind in the morning but in the afternoon picked up to a mighty 7 knots in which they started to run the first rounds. The normal format of Slalom is to run 4 man heats with the first 2 riders across the finish line proceeding through to the next round and the last 2 riders being eliminated. My 1st heat was up against world champion Bruno Sroka and Spanish Champion Pedro, alas I did not make it through! They ran a few more rounds but then the wind dropped completely and they did not manage to finish the racing but would start the next day from that point.
The 2nd day of racing brought slightly more wind, maybe topping out at 8 knots and we ran more racing, they finished the first full race with Damien Leroy from America taking the win, the plan was to run 4 full races a day and then with all the points added together to produce the official ranking. The race crew then went straight into the next race, again I had a tough heat with Damien and the other top American sailor Bryan Lake and sadly I got eliminated again and had to sit out the rest of the race. This time Bryan Lake took the win. For the last race of the day they ran 8 man heats which took a few of us by surprise and thought it might be a tad unsafe but actually turned out fine and meant we got more races completed but with a higher chance of kite tangles.
I did a lot better in these heats making the finals each time but often found that I just could not go as fast as everyone else on the reach’s, my biggest kite was a 14m which is normally all I need but most people were on 16m, 18m and even 21m kites so they had a bit more ummph than me. The next day of racing had the strongest wind which maxed out at an amazing 9 knots and they ran full fleet races a couple of times in which we saw a few kite tangles, one especially bad one which involved the German ‘Gunnar Biniasch’ and saw his kite lines snap under the strain, he was ok except for his pride was a bit dented.
The last day produced no wind and so in the final rankings I came in at 8th place, my goal before I left the U.K was to be in the top 10 and I made that so I am pleased, with hindsight I would have taken a bigger kite and board but that’s the way the game plays!
Men: 1st Damien Leroy, USA 2nd Bryan Lake, USA 3rd Bruno Sroka, FRA
Women: 1st Caroline Adrien, FRA 2nd Kristin Boese, GER 3rd Elena Anton, ESP
Last Updated on Monday, 24 October 2011 09:05
RED BULL BATALLA DE TRAFALGAR- North riders do Battle at los Canos De Meca
3 countries, 1 battle, the best kitesurfers, the waves, the wind and a single goal- Winning. Aaron hadlow was the UK captain & his army included Tom Court, Sam Light, James Boulding, Tom & Steph Bridge. Replicating the same scenario as the legendary Battle of 1805 Cape trafalgar the Brits felt confident this would be their win.
Day 1 involved a downwind race which was an 'Open' & many of the riders took part on twin tips. Over 100 riders were on the start line & with a small upwind to split the fleet it was Steph Bridge who led the way on her North race 69 & 10mtr dyno kite. Leading by a couple of minutes, Steph arrived back at the beach ready to hoist the GB flag however the UK needed 10 people back on the beach in order to get the overall win. Great britain was defeated & spain followed by France won this 1st battle. The following freestyle expression session was clear that Aaron still has what it takes to get the crowds & judges smiling. 500 euro's later Aaron felt confident in his team for the next 9 battles.
Day 2 was a true team affair. Each captain needed to choose one of his 6 riders to do battle for the different style's of heat format. Tactical thinking from Aaron who had to choose which riders to put out on the water to suit the judging criteria for that heat. At age 10 years- Tom Bridge went with Tom Court in a syncronised freestyle session which also involved jumping over cannon's & performing the tricks together. The most impressive heat was in fact with Aaron & Sam Light & the dual just dominated the ocean in a syncronised freestyle show that kept the crowds applauding. The final battle was an all out show down with all 18 riders in the box, helicopter overhead & a huge specatacle of crazy action for 15 minutes. Despite many battles the British lost to the Spannish however nothing will take away the fact that Nelson & his army still won the battle in 1805!!!! Thanks to Aaron for running a great team & to RedBull for organising such a superb concept.
pics & words: Steph Bridge
Last Updated on Thursday, 20 October 2011 15:54
RED BULL BATALLA DE TRAFALGAR- North riders do Battle at los Canos De Meca
3 countries, 1 battle, the best kitesurfers, the waves, the wind and a single goal- Winning. Aaron hadlow was the UK captain & his army included Tom Court, Sam Light, James Boulding, Tom & Steph Bridge. Replicating the same scenario as the legendary Battle of 1805 Cape trafalgar the Brits felt confident this would be their win.
Day 1 involved a downwind race which was an 'Open' & many of the riders took part on twin tips. Over 100 riders were on the start line & with a small upwind to split the fleet it was Steph Bridge who led the way on her North race 69 & 10mtr dyno kite. Leading by a couple of minutes, Steph arrived back at the beach ready to hoist the GB flag however the UK needed 10 people back on the beach in order to get the overall win. Great britain was defeated & spain followed by France won this 1st battle. The following freestyle expression session was clear that Aaron still has what it takes to get the crowds & judges smiling. 500 euro's later Aaron felt confident in his team for the next 9 battles.
Day 2 was a true team affair. Each captain needed to choose one of his 6 riders to do battle for the different style's of heat format. Tactical thinking from Aaron who had to choose which riders to put out on the water to suit the judging criteria for that heat. At age 10 years- Tom Bridge went with Tom Court in a syncronised freestyle session which also involved jumping over cannon's & performing the tricks together. The most impressive heat was in fact with Aaron & Sam Light & the dual just dominated the ocean in a syncronised freestyle show that kept the crowds applauding. The final battle was an all out show down with all 18 riders in the box, helicopter overhead & a huge specatacle of crazy action for 15 minutes. Despite many battles the British lost to the Spannish however nothing will take away the fact that Nelson & his army still won the battle in 1805!!!! Thanks to Aaron for running a great team & to RedBull for organising such a superb concept.
Blackpool Kiteival
Sponsors- Centrica
Location Sponsor- Visit Blackpool
Co- Sponsor- loopingit.com
Tour Sponsors- King of Waters ports, Ion, Palmera Local
So the final Freestyle Kitelandboard, Kitesurf and Race event was to be held at Blackpool for the third row in a year.
Up for grabs were Championship titles in all disciplines 13 in all across all classes.
The forecast for the 3 days was windy to say the least with 40 knots promised on the first day – so windy in fact the Marquee could not be erected on the Wednesday when we arrived
Thursday
Thursday dawned wet and windy – however it soon dried up- it was decided to run a second discipline before the main Freestyle events on the Friday due to the extreme conditions. Riders grabbed there 5 and 6 m kites and hit the water for 7 mins one by one being judged on the following – kite loop, trick and big air .
The ladies struggled in the conditions hitting 40 knots with noticeable absence of Hannah Whiteley who was booked to go to another event. However they all put on a great performance none the less.
In the men’s it was a totally different story with some record high jumps , kite loops and tricks in the extreme conditions – Ali Barratt do some sick kite loops , Luke Whiteside and Ned Taylor do some of the smoothest landings – watch the video .
It was too windy for the land boarders to even put the kites up!
Friday
The rest of the fleets registered with a riders briefing held at the kindly adopted Fishing club who helped us all weekend providing much needed shelter.
The room was packed and start time was called for 11 am to allow the tide to dropdown from the Sea Wall
A full day of competition was held for all except the Racers as it was too windy to get the boat out – it was tried however it was deemed to unsafe for the Race crew.
The Land boarders and Buggies found a great ridge of sand that had been packed hard due to the stormy conditions – The Buggies has some great fun with an epic wipe-out by Phil Revill and Josh Hough having equipment failure in a blown out tyre.
The Lanboarders put on a great performance throwing down some kite loops – Jack Elston and Ash Garwood showing their style to get the two top spots, In the Am fleets Carl Kirton suffered a bad crash leading him to retire leaving Ned Taylor and Will Rose to battle it out – Ned showing some great moves taken from kitesurfing to take the win.
Next up was the Freestyle comp and the riding this year has gone through the roof! All the riders were well powered on anything between 6-9m depending on weights.
The senior men competition was to be a hard fought affair as Pete Whiteley (4 times British Champ) chooses not to compete. In the final was Pete Jones , Steve Mews and Kevin Matthey made the most of the conditions with some great moves including a few pops to blinds showing that at + 35 you can still ride hard – a very happy Pete Jones took the win .
The Ams were next up and Chris Foreshaw was not to be beaten this big man made it five out of five wins followed by Oli Clatworthy and finally a ripping Jack Ridel.
In the absence of Hannah Whiteley the Pro ladies were really excited to see who would take the win – Nicky Rudd was the girl on the day riding really well to take the win.
Luke Whiteside was given a good run from Dan Sweeny to make the final while Ned Taylor did not make the final and his chance of the title slipped away. The final was amazing with Ali Barratt also showing his consistency to make the top 3 again.
The juniors rode really well in the conditions with George Dufty taking his first deserved win of the season. The Youth fleets saw Sam Bull revel in the strong conditions with poor Will Makinson injured – however it was Jack Daykins smooth style that again got him another Podium 1st
The Am Ladies saw 9 riders registered the biggest fleet – they were last on the water and had a lovely lagoon to do there tricks in they and rode almost till it was dark
The Durrant girls again making it to the final with Poppy Hawkins making it an all Hunstanton final, Chloe showing good form to take the win.
With only ½ hour to go – we all left the beach at six thirty.
Friday evening 50 riders hit the Ice Skating ring at Cleveleys – what a great night.
Saturday
A little bit less wind and less waves meant that the racers have a course race – buoys were laid and the 1st race stated just after 12pm. Ben Todd riding fast took a few wins with 3 back to back races . A short break was had while a new course was set upwind and downwind which favoured Denzil Williams and Callum Edge winning some of the races
The Freestylers did a fun comp kindly sponsored by loopingit.com which involved a Le Mans start – (running into the water ) and riding down to a point out of the sea around another object then back to the water and then back to the start
Riders were sent out in fleets with one making it to the final. A great deal of laughs was had – Ali Barratt took the win to bag a lovely Go Pro camera.
Saturday night saw the end of year prize giving held at The Savoy
Full results and End of Year results can be found HERE
Many thanks to all our sponsors for the year and our fantastic race crew.
Last Updated on Thursday, 03 November 2011 21:40
Ayr Kiteival
23rd - 25th September 2011
Location: Low Green, Seafront, Ayr, Ayrshire Location Sponsor: South Ayrshire Council, Ayrshire and Aaron + Events Scotland Tour Sponsors: King of Watersports, Ion, Palmera Local Disciplines: Kitesurf, Kitelandboard, Kitebuggy Freestyle
The 5th round of the BKSA tour and 2nd Kiteival came to Ayr on the West Coast of Scotland with some of the country’s top riders making the long trip north to battle it out to secure their titles ahead of the finals.
Quite a few riders turned up on the Thursday afternoon just missing out on the force 6 which saw the marquee company battle with the elements in the morning.
Pro day and the wind was up varying from South to South West which made it slightly gusty – the tide dropped back on the sandy beach and the KItesurfing Freestyle was on .
The Pro Ladies were first up and with some great riding with a round robin format which meant every rider competed against each other. Nicky Rudd had a storming event winning every single heat taking her first ever podium while Hannah Whiteley ( 2 times British Champion) came in 2nd and Devon girl Sukie Robertson coming in 3rd.
The Pro Men were all using 12m kites and there were some local Scottish riders who were ready to upset the running order. The locals had a great repertoire of tricks and were riding hard with Troon boy Tommy Gaunt putting down some great tricks. However it was no surprise to see the top three with current leader Luke Whiteside taking 1st ahead of Ned Taylor and a first time for Dan Sweeney in 3rd position.
On the Land the Kitelandboarders were going huge with the gusty conditions – Greg Chilton was almost flying! Essex Duo Ash Garwood and Jack Elston were throwing down some great unhooked riding – Current champ and winner from last year Jack took first with Ash in 2nd and Greg in 3rd.
Saturday
After strong winds during the night the dawn broke to a windless yet sunny day. However it was not long before the Southerly wind kicked in.
A lot of riders from all over the country registered for the event including first time Lana Cully and 53 year old Ralph Crathorne for the seniors.
Competition was fierce in all fleets in the difficult conditions – several heats had to be rerun due to the wind shifts and drops.
In the junior section Ellys Bloor rode extremely well with smooth powered riding to take the win with Robbie Shire Maidement taking 2nd after a weekend including a few trashed kites!
In the youths Sam Bull was riding well however it was Jack Daykin despite having a tangle with Will Makinson in the final minutes to take the win.
The Am Men saw some great performances from the Scottish contingent however it was the consistent Chris Foreshaw who took the win – great performance from Jack Ridel who took 2nd and Oliver Clatworthy 3rd.
Am Ladies saw the usual suspects in the final however it was not to be a Durrant at the top – Polly Carthorne took 1st with the sisters taking 2nd and 3rd
In the Seniors Ralph Crathorne made a guest appearance and in his first event and first heat came up against Peter Whiteley ( current UK Champ) – however he put in a great heat with back loop kite loop raileys and some grabs to worry Pete a bit . The final was run in a dying wind however Pete Whiteley managed to still get some great tricks down to take yet another win ahead of riders 10 years his junior!
On the land the wind was gusty however that did not stop the juniors most of whom had been on the water earlier in the day. Robbie Shire Maidement rode well to beat Ellys and Tom landing some great unhooked moves.
In the buggies Carl Kirton entered to give Phil Revill and a fun completion with lots of air being had however it was Josh Hough who took the 1st place.
The Am Men saw a great many kitesurfers taking part with British Champion Ned Taylor taking the win showing a stong powered performance in the gusty conditions
Saturday night saw a great buffet at Harleys together with the famous Rodeo Bull which saw numerous casualties! Richard Flindall held on the longest for 53 seconds!
Sunday
Due to the big night on Saturday it was an agreed to have a slightly later start also with tide was very high so the start time of the Expression session was delayed till 1pm.
About 18 riders hit the water for a rider judged comp – it was great to see juniors and Pros all on the water together – there were some great riding going on in the hour from local girl Holly Kennedy however seasoned competitor Ali Barratt showed how to perform in the difficult conditions to take the King of Watersports prize.
Prize giving was made at 3 pm by the Deputy Provost Mary Kilpatrick after which the heavens opened and riders headed home .
Results
Kitesurf Freestyle
Pro Men 1-Luke Whiteside 2-Ned Taylor 3-Dan Sweeney
Pro Ladies 1-Nicky Rudd 2-Hannah Whiteley 3-Sukie Robertson
Am Men 1-Chris Foreshaw 2-Jack Ridel 3-Oliver Clatworthy
Am Ladies 1-Polly Crathorne 2-Danielle Durrant 3-Chloe Durrant
Juniors 1-Robbie Shire Maidement 2-Tom Ford 3-Ellys Bloor
Pro Men 1-Jack Elston 2- Ash Garwood 3-Greg Chilton
Thanks to all the Race Crew, Craig Media and Barefoot Media
Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 October 2011 09:02
Windfest 2011
September 10th and 11th at Sandbanks, Poole, Dorset
Course Race Open and Freestyle Invitaional
Event Sponsored by - Franklin & Marshall
The forecast leading up to the event was a stormy one – however the wind gods were kind and gave us two breezy days instead of the gale force winds that were predicted added to that some sunshine and we were on for a couple of fun packed days of kitesurfing.
Windfest delivered the customary crowds of people, 13 racers all gathered on the beach on Saturday morning in front of the massive crowds getting ready to battle it out on the water, with the wind between 20-25 knots all the riders hit the water at 11 for the first race which was a upwind downwind course set just off Sandbanks beach which made it really easy to follow the racing for the spectators.
Olly Bridge ( 14 years old ) showed all the competitors why this up and coming lad is the one to beat with some great consistent results however the top 5 places were very close with Steph Bridge ( world Champion mixing it up with the boys – 4 races were run back to back and the racers returned to the beach for lunch .
Next up was the Freestyle Invitational with a real mixer of ages from 40 year old ripper Joe Hockley down to Tom Bridge aged 10 (yet another Bridge!) However it the strong winds the more experienced riders showed there true form with British Pros Ned Taylor taking the win ahead of Richard Flindall in the final with a great effort from Tom.
The ladies fleet did well and in the final saw local girl and first time competitor Lana Culley have a great time to claim 3rd North Wales Sheryl Confue in 2nd and Pro Lady Sukie Robertson in 1st
After a short break it was decided to do another two course races back to back in an extended Triangle form – speed was the key here and Steph Bridge showed the boys who had the stronger legs – Denzil Williams and Ben Todd both did well in the races showing good speed .
After a massive party on Saturday night competitors were ready for Racing on Sunday at 11 pm
Another 4 races were completed with a upwind downwind course to complete the weekend
Open Course Racing
1st Steph Bridge 2nd Olly Bridge 3rd Denzil Williams
1st Ned Taylor 2nd Richard Flindall 3rd Tom Bridge
Freestyle Ladies
1st Sukie Robertson 2nd Sheryl Confue 3rd Lana Culley
Thanks to Richard, Joe & Chris in the boat and Peter on the beach and all the riders who made it happen; Gary & the Windfest Team see you all next year.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 September 2011 12:29
Kite Week - August 22-29 2011
Camber Kite Week August 2011
Having spent the summer photographing kitesurfers, windsurfers and other watersports, Anthony Skinner (aka Ant) and Phil Elbrough (aka Philys), from Camber Kitesurfing invited me along to the Kite Week Festival.
I rocked up to this event and it turned out to be the highlight of my summer ! as it was a collaboration of the various local Kitesurf Centres and their friends to celebrate the sport and the friendships it builds.
‘Ant’ arranged an amazing camping venue on a local farm near Rye, which was very private and set in amongst a natural amphitheatre of trees. Various vans and tents appeared over the first few days and pretty soon a community of water sports enthusiasts from all over the world was formed. Kit was discussed, tips exchanged, venues reviewed and local knowledge shared.
The central point of the camp was the camp fire, which was roaring fiercely every night and we ended up shooting the breeze, listening to tales of kite surf antics and stories of huge air, which did get bigger as the beer flowed !
There was even a hot shower erected, an innovation designed by ‘Ant’, who never ceased to amaze me with his ideas.
A sweat lodge was ingeniously built as well from old kites, and slaps of concrete were heated up on the fire, then placed in the centre of the lodge where water and essential oils were added. IT WORKED ! much to the guys delight as the girls had to get down to their bikinis !! another innovative success.
We drove the short distance to Jury’s Gap Camber Beach and that’s where the action really was.
Camber is an amazing venue for this sport. Enthusiasts drive down from London after a day at work to catch the thermals (pic of suited bloke), which gives Camber a weather climate all of its very own. Clouds build over the headland, producing a wind which provides ample kiting time. At low tide the water is shallow so it is perfect for novices or newbies to the sport, and the waters out the back are edgy and challenging. A wreck off the beach and the knarly wooden groins also add to the dimension of this venue.
At high tide pro riders come into their own, the groins which jut out into the sea give an air of danger. They can board skim on inches of water, and turn sharply to race out to sea again. Chris Calthrop K48 took to the waters to give a spectacular display of aerobatics, and Ant gave a thrilling demonstration of board skills.
From a spectators point of view the beach is a mass of colour and you are able to see the kiters up close, which can be breath taking when they leap and pull off tricks.
The finale party was just as fantastic with the local bar filled with kites to make the stage for the band ‘Undercover’, they got everyone up dancing and the tired legs from a day on the water were forgotten.
So, I can’t wait until next year it can only get bigger and better.
Camber Kitesurfing isn’t just about the sport, it’s about the people too.
Photography by Victoria Shorland, Sea Yourself In Action Photography 07789512825.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 September 2011 14:43
Yourmood Kitecup, 22-28 August 2011 Nazaré - Portugal
::: YOurmOod KiteCup :::
Disciplines: Freestyle and Waves
It's time to heat the second round of the Yourmood Kitecup, this time on water, to be held in Portugal, Nazaré, from 22 to 28 August 2011.
As you know, the Yourmood Kitecup is one of the few events in the world involving a competition of kitesnow and one of kitesurfing. If the spot of winter was one of the most beautiful places in the world for kitesnow , and more, (Bernina Pass, Engadine, Switzerland), the water- sesh will also have place in a very a unique place on the Portuguese Coast.
Nazare is a place to explore to all the national and international kite riders, with good wind and constant waves.
The MOOD crew, together with the support of the Nazaré village is making all the efforts to offer 3 different spots for waves and flat, according to different weather potential.
The concept : to award the best riders for each discipline, but also to award him / her for being the best riders on the water and snow. Even if the rider did not come in the winter session, they have all chances to leave with the prize money. A prize money of 2000 euros will be split between the best riders.
On the agenda for that week, a freestyle competition, but also a waves competition will be set, because Nazaré offers an amazing spot of waves.
We are waiting 40 good riders from all over Europe. Book already your place and get more infos at www.kitecup.net
ABOUT MOOD:
Mood/yourmood is a branded product by cbijoux (trademark in 2001) created by Cedric Chevalley, (kite-addikt too) and jewelry designer for 15 years .
Yourmood has been involved for 5 years in the world of kiteboarding. Very active in competitions it recently attended the slingshot-cpmptetition, Snowkitemaster, 2s echo, little brats, mor then 10 kiteevents are suported each years by mood ...
Several internationally renowned riders are supported by Mood: Jeremie Eloy, Fabienne d'Ortoli, Pauline Boussard, Kari Schibevaag, Nuria Goma ... And National: Thibaut Razeyres, Romain Luppi, Gaudard Goody, Kevin Hoorens, Pink Pack.
Mood is present with ads in kitesurf magazines as kiteboarder, stance mag and Gustav (urban fashion mag), but also through the competition as well as riders representing that brand.
Mood is also very active on the Internet with several publications in the specialized forums as kitesquad, 01 kitesurfing, but also some banners on the sites and windguru, google adword, facebook ad and Windfinder. These various actions demonstrate the commitment that can have this brand in the world of kitesurfing and his universe.
For additional informations and registrations please contact:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thanks to all the sponsors and supporters to make this event possible.:
MAIN SPONSORS - Mood HOST CITY & INSTITUITIONAL PARTNERS - City Hall of Nazare, Nazare Qualifica, CDAN, Regiao de Turismo do Oeste, Qren, + Centro, Federaçao Portuguesa de Kite. SPONSORS - Dakine (CH), North Kites (CH), Sensation Glisse (CH), Quiksilver (CH), KEA(CH), Liquidch (CH), Ozone (CH), Flysurfer (CH), Hot Tension (CH), Kite Surf (CH), Thermiquea (CH), Ozone (CH). OFFICIAL HOTEL:Grupo Miramar(PT), MEDIA PARTNERS - Stance (FR), Gustav (CH), Hanglos.fr,.Conquilha.com (PT), Zona Radical(PT), Windguru.com, Windfinder.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 02 August 2011 11:36
Hunstanton delivers Wind and Rain !
Location: Hunstanton Seafront, Norfolk Event Sponsor: Centrica Location Sponsors : Kings Lyn & Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Green , Hunstanton Sailing Club, Hunstanton Watersports Tour Sponsors: King of Watersports, Ion , Palmera Local Disciplines: Kitesurf Freestyle
Dates - 15th-17th July
This is the 4th time I’ve made the journey to Hunstanton Lifestyles event where the BKSA held the 4th round of the Freestyle tour. Every year this event gets bigger and this year it was no exception. Apart from Kitesurfing (which kicked off the whole event 5 years ago) there were a large group of windsurfers, Skateboarders, Inline skaters, BMX, Street Dancing, Trade stalls, live bands playing on a large open stage to an audience of many hundreds of folk. There is always something going on here and the support offered to the BKSA from the local riders, the council and the sailing club is about as good as it gets. The sailing club in particular lets us take over their club for 3 days to party away from the main crowds and are very tolerant of some of the more enthusiastic antics which occur. So a big thank you to everyone there and Tony’s crew for making this event happen once again.
I need to make two apologies before detailing what happened in the competition; one to you all for having to wait so long for me to put out an event report (after the event JP and I decided to travel around the south with some pro riders chasing wind. Now there isn’t any, there’s time to sit down!) The second one is for a mistake I made at the prize giving where I announced Pete Jones in 2nd place for the seniors and Joe Hockley in 3rd. I had written this down incorrectly and these two positions should be reversed. They were informed immediately after the ceremony. I did this once before at the very first event I ran as Race Director and swore it would never happen again and always made sure things were double checked, but this check was not made on this occasion so I guess I deserved the ketchup soaking two nights before! Pete and Joe, I owe you a beer at the next event in Ayr. With 46 entrants at this event numbers are starting to get back to previous years.
Friday is Pro Rider day and at this event we had a slight increase in numbers with 6 women and 6 men entering. Unfortunately there was hardly a breath of wind on Friday although in his usual fashion Pete Jones did manage to get out, justifying his King of Watersports prize from the last event. Sitting around all day is always pretty mind numbing but there was little else to do apart from send Sukie Robertson off to the shops to get the supplies for tonight’s meal. Along with a bunch of other volunteers they put together a chicken Fajita meal that buzzed everyone’s taste buds with Ali Barrett doing the cooking along with Sukie. No one was partying too hard though as we all knew there would be wind in the morning.
Morning came and the predicted wind was there along with the rain. After a riders brief informing everyone that there were two days of wind expected everyone started to get ready for what was looking like a very wet start to the competition. Because of tides in this location we had to wait until the tide had retreated past a line of stones at the top of the beach. Out first were the Junior’s followed by the Youth Class. For the first time this season the Bridglets arrived on the scene, having been busy for most of the season so far at international events. Some of the regular riders were nervous at the competition but if you want to be a champion, you have to be prepared to compete against all takers and once on the water that is exactly what everyone did, giving a fantastic display of what the youth of the sport in this country have to offer, and their strong desire to win. In the first round Guy Bridge, competing in his first event this year went straight into the final as did tour leader Robbie Shire-Maidment. This left Ellys bloor, Tom Ford, George Dufty and Jordon Hurst to battle it out in the second round for the remaining final spot. Despite having an excellent heat Jordon Hurst was just beaten by George Dufty for that last spot. In the final, Robbie demonstrated why he is the tour leader with a wide variety of moves although George Dufty, in his first season is catching up fast. Guy Bridge demonstrated on the day he definitely has the moves to take that top spot as well, so the last two events of the season should be interesting.
The conditions were pretty testing with heavy rain and strong winds that faded away from time to time. Next up were the Youth section with 9 competitors making it the largest in the event. Both Tom and Oliver Bridge were there to put all the others on edge which they did convincingly by winning their first round heats to put them straight into round 3. Jack Daykin, the current leader did the same - leaving Robert Palmer, Joe Mathews, Will Makinson, Joe Moore (in his first competition), Sam Bull and Jack Brooks to compete for the remaining 3 Places. Will Makinson, chasing for the season top spot, had to win the next heat to stay in with a chance. His win in round two put him head to head with Jack, something we would normally not expect to see until the final, and Robert Palmer secured the last round 3 spot. This was turning into an epic battle on several fronts. Oliver Bridge demonstrated he wasn’t messing about winning the first place in the final as did Will Makinson resulting in the youngest competitor at the event Top Bridge having to battle it out with current tour leader Jack. Jack kept his head together landing most of his tricks taking him into the final with Tom struggling to land the big moves on the day. Will needed to beat Jack to stay in contention for the top spot in Blackpool which he did demonstrating consistency throughout the competition and a developing style, but it wasn’t enough to beat Ollie Bridge who demonstrated strength, power and a wide variety of moves letting the rest of the competitors in this class know that he means to make an impression. This class is by no means finished and we’re all looking forward to more wind and more developments.
In the Am Women the battle at the top is between the local girls of Danielle and Chloe Durrant. On home turf we were all expecting them to perform at their best. Unfortunately in the first heat Chloe, carrying an injury from the last event, had to go into round two for a second shot alongside Rosanna Jury and Charlie Davis. The win in this heat and a place in the final went to Polly Crathorne, keeping her in contention for the final showdown. In the second heat Danielle Durrant powered her way into the final leaving other local girl Poppy Hawkins, who improves with every comp still to try for a final spot alongside Jemima Crathorne. Rosanna Jury managed to win her heat to get into her first final with Poppy Hawkins also going through leaving an injured Chloe to challenge another time. Rest those knees! In the final Danielle powered her way clearly into the lead although for the remaining three the decision was very close and difficult for the judges to make. One thing they did agree on was that Rosanna Jury got the best wipe out demonstrating the ability to achieve height and power, during the competition of the whole weekend, and she still came up smiling!
The Am Men class, still the smallest fleet, had 4 contestants. Chris Forshaw, the biggest guy on the circuit once again powered into the final alongside Oliver Clatworthy who also demonstrated style and a variety of moves. Local rider Jordon Smith was close but had a scary moment doing a low one footer but looped the kite by mistake but despite this he nearly got his foot back in the foot strap! Jake Moore and Jordon went head on head in round two for the remaining place in the final but it was Jordon that came through in the end. The final between Jordon, Oliver and Chris would have to wait until Sunday as we ran out of wind, as we did for the seniors as well.
Bring on the Seniors, always a class to enjoy watching, and who was going to take on this Whiteley guy, can he be beaten? 8 riders in this class making it the second biggest at this event. In round 1 Pete Jones went straight through into the final leaving Kevin Matthey, Peter (Birdman) Sawyer and Joe Hockley to battle with Stephen Mews, Dave Williams and Marcus Hawkins in round 2. Pete Whiteley showed no mercy and went straight in the final. Dave Williams showed good form in round two to secure a final placing alongside Joe Hockley competing in his first comp of the season yet definitely had the moves to take on the main man. Wind stopped play for the day so we would have to hope the predicted wind for Sunday came in so we could finish of the Am Men, Seniors, and all the heats for the pro men and women.
Saturday night’s party went ahead in the sailing club. For personal reasons I won’t say any more although all those in attendance will know why! But outside the sailing club the live music was playing on the big stage and the crowds were out. The race crew had to behave themselves as their hotel locked its doors after 12 midnight, and the owners were always there checking up to make sure we were in. If not, we would get locked out!!!
Sunday morning and the promised wind was here and the rain had gone. With the tide still high and not expected to be far enough out until about 12.30 we decided to put two marker buoys in the water beyond where the known rocks were. Pro riders were sent out first with strict instructions not to trick on the landward side of the markers. We kicked things off with the Pro Ladies. With 6 in this and the pro men’s class we decided a different format agreed with the riders. There would be twice as many heats as normal and all heats will be one on one. Nicky Rudd, back from injury won her first heat as did tour leader Hannah Whiteley. Holly Kennedy came up against newcomer to the tour Beth Lygoe from St Lucia and couldn’t win against Beth’s variety of old and new school tricks. Their heat had to be blacked flagged for safety reasons as the windsurfers safety boat came in straight through our comp zone, as did several windsurfers. The boat then went straight out through the comp zone as well. Holly demonstrated why she is no 2 Seed at the moment by winning the final spot in round 3, putting her up against Hannah. Hannah won through into the final leaving Holly to compete in the runner up final for 3rd spot against Nicky Rudd who was beaten for the second final spot by Beth. In the runner up final Nicky showed she was back to win and took 3rd place resulting in only 190 points for 2nd place in the overall tournament between Holly and Nicky. Hannah Whiteley continued to secure her top spot though maintaining the standard to beat Beth into second place with powered railey’s and s-bend’s to blind. Hannah is definitely not leaving anything to chance as she chases her 3rd successive title.
The pro men went out next using the same format as the women. Ali Barrett in the first heat won a place in round 3 which was instant knockout, leaving Jon Bleiker to take on Dan Sweeney and Richard Flindall who were taken out by tour leaders Ned Taylor and Luke Whiteside respectively. This is the first time Richard Flindall has competed for several seasons but he demonstrated that he can not only talk a lot, but he has style and a large variety of moves as well. To the extent that in the showdown between him, Jon Bleiker and Dan Sweeney, he was here to make an impression. Jon Bleiker had a nightmare tournament breaking a board and kite in the process. Dan Sweeney is so close to those at the top but hasn’t quite made the breakthrough into the finals. In round 3 both Ned Taylor and Luke Whiteside went into the final pushing Richard Flindall and Ali Barrett into the runner up final. This was won by Ali though Flindall once again showed that he is a threat although he didn’t repeat his double s-bend to blind achieved in his first heat against Luke. Luke won the final against Ned with a front blind mobe, followed by a switch low mobe in quick succession. This class is still definitely not over and Ned is consistent enough to keep challenging Luke. Flindall has the ability to threaten anyone in this class but one thing is for sure, he knows how to enjoy himself on and off the water.
Before the pro finals we also ran the Seniors and Am Men finals that could not be completed the previous day. In the am men it was pretty close with Jordon changing kites mid heat as the wind had dropped a bit. But in the end it was Chris who once again took the top spot beating Oliver into second. This class is still not set, Chris is stretching his lead, although Oliver has the skills to take points off him. In the seniors we were all looking for an upset. Someone to put doubt into the Whiteley mind set. Joe Hockley got very close to beating him, something he set out to do last year but unfortunately we ran out of wind. Pete Jones put in a steady performance to take 3rd against Dave Williams, one of the longest serving contestants in this class alongside Pete!
So, a full set of results were achieved over the last two days. A few things learned about how things could be improved for future events and constructive discussions with riders about the future and how it might evolve. Most classes are not set in stone yet so we look forward to seeing everyone in Ayr in September for round 5, and Blackpool for the finals.
1 – Chris Forshaw 2 – Oliver Clatworthy 3 – Jordon Smith
Seniors
1 – Pete Whiteley 2 – Joe Hockley 3 – Pete Jones
Pro Women
1 – Hannah Whiteley 2 – Beth Lygoe 3 – Nicky Rudd
Pro Men
1 – Luke Whiteside 2 – Ned Taylor 3 – Ali Barrett
King of Watersports went to Dan Sweeney for a well executed Blind Judge 3
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 July 2011 15:03
Kite Tour Europe: Italy 7-10th of July.
After the 1st stop of the Kite Tour Europe in Germany I headed straight to southern Italy for the 2nd stop of the KTE in Lamezia. The start of the journey already turned into quite an adventure for me! After checking into my first flight I somehow managed to loose my PASSPORT! "Typical Hannah style" I was really freaking out! I had no other ID and I still had to transfer onto one more flight to get to Italy. I don't know how, but by some miracle I managed to make it through security and onto my next flight without my passport. Couldn't believe it, I did not think they would let me into the country! I appreciated arriving at the beach more than ever! It was a really hot and sunny with light wind. This was such a great change from Germanys challenging conditions! I was straight into my bikini and on the water. I had an awesome mini training session on my 12m kite. Got a nice double S- bend to blind straight off I was happy with! Just to be riding in bikini and board shorts again felt so good! :-)
The event was set up really well. There was a big swimming pool in the riders lounge, massage, indo boarding, and free Nutella Crepes, Yum! The only downside was this spot only seemed to be windy for a day! Perfect for Course Racing, but a struggle for freestyle. We could only get a few heats done each day! My first heat was again st a local Italian girl, It was really light winds, but I still managed to get all my tricks switch and regular. I advanced to the next round against Meike Erichsen from Germany, I had a good heat. I advanced and went up against the Italian Champion Alice Brunacc the heat went OK, but I didn't feel I did my best, it was a close battle but I did not advance. So this meant I when into the semi final against Michalina Laskowska from Poland, however the wind dropped right off and was not enough to run the heat. So I got a joint 3rd place. It was a shame we didn't get some more wind to get the comp. finished. Still really enjoyed the event, I had a great time, met loads of new people, had some awesome pizzas, pasta dishes and got some tan up! Bonus.
When the event finished I did a 4hr detour on the train to Naples to get my emergency passport! So I could fly home!! :-) It was cool to check out the city too!
Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 July 2011 12:21
Kinmel Bay Results
BKSA Kitesurfing Freestyle Round 3, Kinmel Bay, North Wales. 24th-26th June 2011
The BKSA returned to North Wales after a 6 year break and for the first time to Kinmel Bay, just up the road from Rhyl. When the tide is out the beach is over 5 miles of sand with shallow water and numerous pools to play in. For this event we were expecting cross offshore conditions which we were hoping would not be too gusty as the hills were quite a distance away. The event was supported once again my Centrica Energy who have several wind farms off the coast here. Generally these companies only put wind farms in areas where there is plenty of the stuff to give them a good return on the investment, so it makes sense to have wind powered competitions in the same areas. Centrica have made a strong commitment to supporting the communities where their installations exist and the BKSA welcomes the support. During the set up day we also received a lot of support from Steve Jones who runs the local school from the beach, North Wales Kitesurfing. Over the weekend he allowed us to take over his shop will all our kit so a big thanks to him. We also received support from the local council and harbour board.
Pro Kitesurfing this year in the UK has seen a decline in the numbers however those that are turning up are keen to compete for the title and although friends off the water, when on the water the fight for top spot is fierce. Unfortunately on the Friday of the event we had very little wind and no one managed to get on the water. So in the afternoon we did some shopping in the conveniently placed ASDA which was right next to the car park we had taken over as part of the event site. Pro Women’s rider Sukie Robertson and JP, our head judge, did the shopping and were helped by several other pro riders in getting things prepared. The BBQ was lit at 7pm and we cooked for all who huddled into the small marquee we had erected out of the torrential rain that decided to greet us. Throughout the evening Am riders and their families continued to arrive and enjoy the offerings. Packing up at 10.30pm we knew the Saturday was going to be a long day and possibly our only chance to get all the heats done for all seven classes.
Saturday arrived and the promised wind had not arrived. All the heat sheets were drawn up before the riders meeting as a result of the online booking system that is proving to be a great tool in allowing us to prepare for the day’s activities in advance. In total there were 35 riders in all classes. 5 pro men, 4 women although Nicky Rudd could not compete due to an injury sustained in Barrow in Furness. There were only 2 Am men registered in a class that used to be the biggest, but in contrast our largest class, the Am ladies, had 8 registered and this used to be the smallest. Seniors is always pretty well attended with 7 entrants and the Youth class had 6 registered with 5 in the Juniors. This is the highest intake for the season so far and is starting to head towards numbers of previous years again.
We were aiming for a first possible start at 11am and as the hour approached the tide had gone out and the wind started to pick up. A few riders went out and very soon it was strong enough to begin the event which kicked off with the Juniors, although there was enough wind for the pro men as well. Robbie Shire-Maidment riding for Flexifoil and Ellys Bloor for Mutiny kites both went straight into the final, leaving the remaining riders of Jordon Hurst, Tom Ford and George Dufty to fight it out for the final place. George got through into that final and showed he was over the nerves from the first event he entered in Redcar by stealing second place from Ellys, with Robbie once again taking first place and edging out a serious lead on the other riders with 3 events still to run.
The juniors were followed by the Am women which once again proved to be a big fight for top spot. Danielle Durrant went straight into the final after her first heat but sister Chloe was out manoeuvred by Polly Crathorne who also went straight into the final. Chloe managed to redeem herself in the second round and managed a place in the final alongside fellow Hunstanton rider Keira Alwood. In the final Keira managed to loose her kite with a heavy crash and the safety leash came apart. Both Keira and kite were recovered but it meant she had to accept 4th place overall. The Durrant girls once again took the top two spots but with Danielle in first place this time. Polly Crathorne is on form chasing these two sisters and will, I’m sure, step up the pressure as the remainder of the season takes shape. The youngest competitor in the class, Polly’s younger sister Jemima also did well in only her second competition taking 5 equal with Poppy Hawkins, leaving Rosanna Jury and Charlie Davies chasing the rest.
The men’s Youth class is always very intense and Jack Daykin and Will Makinson weren’t to be messed with and went straight into the final. This left Robert Palmer, Sam Bull, Joe Matthews and Tom Verrept to fight it out in round 2 for the remaining place in the final and for the first time this went to Tom Verrept. It’s always good to see riders progress and this result from Tom demonstrates that with persistence podium finishes are there for anyone to challenge for. In the final Jack once again took first place with Will chasing hard for his first podium of the season.
There were only two Am men in the event so Jack Riddel and Chris Forshaw went head to head on three occasions with the win once again going to Chris with a 2-1 win over Jack. It would be good to see more riders in this class. There are a lot of guys out there capable of competing in a class that is often not too far behind the standards of the Pro men, but generally less intense.
For me one of the best classes to watch over the last couple of years has to be the Senior’s. The over 35’s like to do battle just as much as the youngsters, and most of the riders in this section go for the moves as much as the youngsters and pro riders. The first two seeds of Pete Jones and Pete Whiteley showed they were not slowing down by securing a place in the final straight away. They were later joined by Steven Mews and Kevin Matthey after round two. UK speed record holder Dave Williams was there but didn’t quite make it through to the final. Dave has been on the scene for a long time and continues to compete for fun. He likes to win as much as everyone else and it’s good to see him coming back time and again. Marcus Hawkins from Hunstanton had a bit of an off day but like Dave he enjoys competing and will be there again challenging for a podium place. New rider to the group Peter Sawyer from Westward Ho enjoyed his first competition and vowed to be back to challenge for honours. Pete Jones pushed hard for the top sport but once again Pete Whiteley proved he is the man to beat, taking first spot for the second time this season. Kevin Matthey had a good heat taking 3rd place with Stephen Mews in 4th. Who is going to take this title away from the undefeated Pete Whiteley!
The wind continued to blow all day in a cross offshore direction which was proving testing at times with strong gusts and holes that left you looking for more power. The Pro Ladies went out in a one on one format but there were only 3 competing as Nicky Rudd’s injury kept her out of the game. Hannah Whiteley like her father demonstrated she is the girl to beat in this category, although Holly Kennedy was close with powered moves that almost matched Hannah. Sukie Robertson also put on a good show and gets stronger with every event and is still in contention with the points as they stand.
There were 5 pro men registered and as the wind was still there it was decided that they would compete one on one also with every rider having a heat against every other rider. This proved very entertaining for the crowds as there were big moves going down by everyone, big wipeouts, and with short transitions it was proving testing and tiring for the riders as well. Its good to see them getting pushed. There were 10 heats in total and at times it was difficult for them to show their best in the variable conditions. Dan Sweeney has a unique style as does Jon Bleiker, but it wasn’t enough to get them onto the podium. Current champion Ned Taylor was edged into 3rd place by Ali Barrett who still demonstrates to the onlookers that mixing up a bit of old school with wake style is both entertaining and also demonstrates versatility. Big air handle passes that you do not want to miss always impress. But it was the style and consistency of Luke Whiteside on this occasion that got the attention of the judges to take the top spot. When Luke and Ned went into the last heat of the day the way it all stood up to that point was if Ned won, then Ned, Luke and Ali would all have equal points and would have had to go into another heat to get a definitive 1,2,3. However Luke took that final heat to give us the final standings for the day.
It’s always satisfying to finish a day with a full set of results in every class. That’s what we come here for. A number of pro riders were heading off to the European Kite Tour in Sylt, Germany to compete, with Ali Barrett invited over to be a main judge at both the tour venues this summer. Because of this we had a mini prize giving for them all straight away and we sent them packing with instructions to bring back the trophies! The rest of us cleaned up and headed for one of the local bars where the Mayor of Kinmel had provided funding to feed us all. He was at the event during the day and was very impressed with the show everyone put on and is looking forward to seeing us back again soon. Sunday’s forecast was not good although it was dry and warm, but not a breath of wind so we had a prize giving at 1pm for all the am riders before departure. King of Watersports prize was given to Pete Jones because of his enthusiasm. It was picked up by the judges that he had a kite in the air or was on the water whenever he could. His enthusiasm to do something was good to see.
The next stop on the tour is the Lifestyles festival at Hunstanton. This event is worth attending whether you kitesurf or not. There is so muh going on with street events, dancing, live bands, bar-b-q’s, its all happening in Hunstanton 15th-17th July and is once again sponsored by Centrica Energy. None of the classes in the competition are secured yet so there is still all to play for.
Having spent the summer photographing kitesurfers, windsurfers and other watersports, Anthony Skinner (aka Ant) and Phil Elbrough (aka Philys), from Camber Kitesurfing invited me along to the Kite Week Festival.
