There has been much discussion about whether or not this should be allowed. At other UKWA events competitors must fully register and be at the first skippers meeting to be allowed to take part in the event. Whilst we believe Hancock and Mullen made a perfectly rational and good decision, to enter and then come along to the event when it was definitely on, in hindsight this decision has repercussions for the rest of the fleet. Sailors who were knocked out relatively early in the single elimination will now face the reigning champion in the first round of the double, instead of fighting against similar placed sailors. The BWA have now said that in future they will use the same rule as the rest of the UKWA, meaning all sailors will have to be present at the first briefing of the event to be part of the competition.

Do you think the BWA have made the correct decision? Should the BWA allow competitors that have pre-entered but not attended the event from the beginning to join the competition?

Have your say below in the comments…

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The first day in Ireland kicked off with some competition for the pros in tricky, light conditions. They are down to the final four, whilst the other fleets are yet to get any heats in the bag. Check out all the action from the first day of competition here. 

Skippers meeting will take place at 10am this morning, conditions are looking as predicted, a little lighter but with a bit more ground swell running. Today looks like there is a small chance of competition, but we could be looking at some surfing or SUPing action instead of windsurfing. However, you never know with Ireland, there’s always the potential of the west coast delivering!

The second round of the UKWA freestyle tour took place at West Wittering and was sponsored by 2XS,  X-train and WWWC, Boards catches up with the team from the centre and some of the pros to find out more about one of the best freestyle events to hit the UK in a while!

Andy Bubble Chambers

Pics by Simon Bassett /2XS.

With a lack of wind the forecast mid week the event was nearly cancelled but Thursday morning after a wind abyss a 25 knot South Westerly forecast was predicted for all day Saturday.

The event started around 10.30am – the legendary Wittering Trench formed up at low tide and the contest began.  Julian Du Vall, Trevor Funnell and David Bradley were judging, it certainly wasn’t tropical conditions and the heats blasted through as the wind increased.  Heat after heat went through, in the end the beach event crew did four complete rounds.

The Pros had four heats, two a piece for Bubble and Max Rowe which led them into a fifth heat, which was known as the Super Final – both of them were sailing on top form and Bubble just pipped Max in the dying minutes.

This year the amateur fleet are pushing at a really high level with big moves coming from all competitors throughout the event – even the younger kids really going for big moves .

BUBBLE:

“Wow!! What an event!! Literally the best freestyle conditions i have ever competed in! The West Wittering trench was at its best! Great to see so many people on the water having it! The level of freestyle in the UK is getting better and better and with events in places like West Wittering i’m sure we’ll see the UK’s next rising stars coming up. Great competing against Max as it really pushes me! He was ripping on his new sails.”

Max Rowe

MAX:

“It was definitely the best conditions I’ve ever experienced at any contest. The trench is truly a world class spot so it was great to have a contest there. I was battling with Bubble all day for the first place and after winning two rounds each we had a sail off which he went on to win so congratulations to him as he was ripping. I was using the new 2014 North Idol ltd’s and the sails are feeling amazing which gave me loads of confidence.”

Saturday night in The Old House at Home, West Wittering,  there were plenty of tired bodies after a full day of competition and when Sunday came around it was decided not to run a tow in event as the previous day’s competition had been so successful.

Ollie Acton

Ben Lee

Colin Dixon, flaka! Credit Richard Keaney

What are the top moves being performed at the moment: in UK competitions, in the EFPT and in PWA? 

COLIN DIXON: Air moves are the key, doing the whole move in the air is what’s winning! The higher you go and more you rotate the better.

ADAM SIMS: In the UK competitions I think we have seen air funnel into funnel, burner funnels, culos, skopus and regular konos (maybe some of those moves have only been done in tow-in). On the EFPT it is the same as the PWA pretty much, double and triple moves, push loops, etc… Maybe the PWA it is perhaps a tiny bit higher when Gollito gets in the zone in Fuerte, ridiculous one handed air chachoos, we’ve seen double forwards from Koester there before, I’ve seen Steven VB and Martin VO doing doubles and air chachoos outside of heats.

JOHN PALMER: UK Comps – Kono’s, Culos, Burners (By the looks of the footage I’ve seen of Max I’m sure it’ll be super high this year!) EFPT isn’t far off the PWA in standard. Best moves in the PWA at the moment for me are Kabikuchis, and Gollitos massive double air flakas and double burners.

MAX ROWE: The top moves at the moment are mostly combinations such as burner into burner or Culo into Spock. The PWA format allows more top moves to be performed as you get the chance to crash a few times so that makes a big difference. There a still a lot of top moves performed on the EFPT and UK competitions but you will never see them as frequently as on the PWA because of the format.

DANIELLE LUCAS: In the UK events there is a very high standard of freestyle, with some really talented younger riders coming up too.  Top moves I would say are Kulos and Skopu’s, whereas the top moves on the PWA are more like double or triple anything, huge ‘air’ moves. and combinations such as spock kulo’s and so much more!

PHIL RICHARDS: Biggest moves I have seen in heats.

UK: Burners, Culos, Konos and Skopus

PWA: Bonkas, Kabikuchis, Double Burners plus lots of combo moves.

The big difference between the two competitions is consistency, in the UK you see the big moves but the conditions play a big part in what you can and cant do. In the PWA although the conditions play a part in the moves that are seen, the best guys do all their stuff in all conditions light or strong.

Andy Chambers in Weymouth.

ANDY CHAMBERS: The top moves at the moment are being done all over the world.  A lot of the PWA competitors compete on the EFPT and also a few of us compete on the UK circuit.  The big move mainly are the combo moves like Spock into Culo or Burner into Funnel.  Also some no handed power moves aswell.  When the stunt ramps kick up like in Fuerte or Sylt then some of the older moves are being done fully in the air like double rotations, the ‘Pasko’ for example is an air flak into shaka.

JAMIE DRUMMOND: I didn’t do any of the UKWA events last year so can’t comment on the moves being done there. The move skill difference between the EFPT and PWA has narrowed slightly, but in the EFPT you are going to see a lot more moves per heat and this is due to the judging formats. The overall impression format means it helps to get down some Grubbies, Flakas, Spock and Forwards before smashing out a Burner or Skopu. Whereas the PWA Best Move format will see most heats being opened with Burners and Skopus and the more basic moves only performed if the wind is light.

How good do need to be to enter a UK amateur competition? 

COLIN DIXON: Don’t do what I did and wait too long! Every time you enter a competition it will give you experience .

JO WRIGHT: Ladies – seriously, if you can duck gybe you will be well up there!

ADAM SIMS: There is competition at the events for any level, just head along and get involved. You’ll leave the event knowing what you need to practice for the next one.

JOHN PALMER: Come a long no matter how good you are! You will learn something!

MAX ROWE: The UK amateur competitions are a great way to improve as you’ll be pushed by people of a similar standard. Even if you’re not fussed about competing it’s a great way to learn a lot and also have a load of fun.

DANIELLE LUCAS: You should just be up for going out and trying your best! Even if you cannot yet land anything getting out with other freestylers to train, and have a laugh is really helpful in pushing you forward, inspiring you and showing you its worth the learning process!

Danielle Lucas on the water.

PHIL RICHARDS: Freestyle can be anything, from sailing along with one hand, to a heli-tack , a duck gybe, a jump, vulcans, flakas and much more. Ability is not so important, as we all realise that we all have to start somewhere.

As long as you turn up and give it a go, you might not win, however, you will learn lots from it and be inspired to improve.

ANDY CHAMBERS: If you can do any kind of freestyle then you will be welcome at any Uk event.  The more events you attend then the more you will learn as well.  There plenty of people and Pro’s around to give tips on moves and how to sail heats.  As long as you can put a few moves together in a bit of a routine then you’re all good.  A Vulcan with some old school freestyle thrown in will be fine.

What is the best approach going into a heat?

COLIN DIXON: With moves that you can do, not moves you can land one out of ten, All the guys I have coached in the past for competitions I have told them to build the points up first then try the moves you can only land now and again.

JO WRIGHT: With a big grin on your face!

ADAM SIMS: I think the best thing is to do something the I learnt from watching the ASP pro-surfing events, build a house (not literally). Start at the foundations, do the moves you know you will sail away from then add the bricks, the moves you can land but a bit less frequent, then finally if you do all that and have time, throw a roof on and bust out something you may have only landed a couple times. If you still have time then I find competition is a really good motivator for new moves…

JOHN PALMER: Look at it like a timed free sail, and try not to think about the other sailor.

MAX ROWE: You should just go out there thinking about having fun as you’ve got nothing to loose. That’s what I did and then from there you’ll learn about yourself and how you need to prepare. I’m really enjoying the commentating for the live stream on the PWA tour at the moment as I can just jump straight out of the box and on to the water without over thinking before.

DANIELLE LUCAS: Just go out and enjoy it, think about what you do best and try to get it done first, then try your other stuff once you have something in the bag!  Also, try to stay upwind and in the area, this can take some getting used to in short heats!  It depends on how the competition is being run as to an exact way to approach it, but best to just try to enjoy it and take it as something to learn from however it goes!

John Palmer

PHIL RICHARDS: Go out try what you know you can do consistently first, If that goes well try some of the more tricky stuff.

Try not to be nervous, and remember why you windsurf in the first place. Because it’s fun!

ANDY CHAMBERS:  Main thing I think is to have fun with it and just go and sail like you would do normally for the allocated time.  Don’t panic or watch the other person as this will make you loose time and get you flustered when you see them bust out something good.  Sail your own heat and just concentrate on what your doing.  The better you get at heat sailing the more you will understand what you need to do to win.

JAMIE DRUMMOND: Make sure you are powered up, make sure you are in the correct heat and make sure your watch is set to the right time! Give yourself plenty of time to get upwind before the heat starts – if you’re in position in plenty of time you’ll be a lot more confident going into the heat.

It’s always a good idea to start out with some of your more basic or ‘safe’ moves. I try to avoid watching my competitor and just focus on my own thing. Play to what the conditions offer. For example if you really want a double jumping move where a good patch of flat water is ideal, don’t force it in a choppy patch – us the chop to boost a higher air or power move.

Check out parts one to three of the Freestyle Secrets series in the Boards Technique section here. 

Colin Dixon. Image credit Global Shots.

COLIN DIXON: No, it,s only water! Watch a motor cross crash section that should give you a kick up the ass and help you man up!!!!

JO WRIGHT: I used to be very scared, then I saw a 75 year old man going for vulcans, sometimes falling but every time coming up smiling. So I had a quiet word with myself and suddenly all my excuses for not trying became irrelevant! And I guess injury can happen to anyone, anywhere – even going over on your ankle walking down the street, so there is no point worrying too much!

JOHN PALMER: Always now… I remember learning to flaka and that terrified me. But, if you just try it a few times you will realise that the pain isn’t actually that bad! A bit of peer pressure always helps too. I’ve never really got over this kind of fear; have it with push loops now after seeing Dave Williams’ smashed up nose on Facebook a few weeks ago! You just need to keep at the move and the fear will go.

Max Rowe at West Witterring

MAX ROWE: I almost feel a bit ashamed of myself sometimes, I teach people how to Vulcan on land in the morning then they go straight out and try it that afternoon; I remember being very nervous about trying it and always found a good reason not to! I’m having a similar battle at the moment learning the wave moves and the best ways I’ve found of getting over it are to build up confidence first or to just get the first big crash out the way early on then you go for it a lot more.

DANIELLE LUCAS: I am definitely not very confident when it comes to learning some moves.  I’m not consciously worrying about injury but I guess that must be it, as well as smashing my kit up! To get over it you just have to do it, having friends or rivals about definitly helps, that’s how I learnt to vulcan…I had someone working for me who was not as good as me but started learning the vulcan and he was getting close very quickly, that really pushed me to go for it forgetting the fear!

PHIL RICHARDS: I have had problems with minor injuries in the past but it’s important to stay positive at this time and let your body heal. My biggest bit of advice would be to avoid injury by remaining fit and flexible. Do stretches. Also, look after your feet.

ADAM SIMS: Nope, more just afraid of the time off the water! The injury list is starting to build for me but it doesn’t set me back mentally, I just visualise what I need to do a lot and then go out and do it. One time I had a couple beers then went for a pushie session, that softened the over-rotated back slaps…

ANDY CHAMBERS: No not really, except possibly in very shallow water.  If you start thinking “that looks like it’s gonna hurt’ then it probably will as you have it in the back of your mind the whole time and will reduce the chances of you learning it. Don’t think it in the first place! Put it out of your mind if you can.  And if you can’t then wait until you are perfectly comfortable with the conditions, gear etc before attempting a new move.

JAMIE DRUMMOND: Yes! I’ve blown both my knees out (either ACL/MCL/Meniscus or all of them) in the last couple of years. The first time was just messing up a tack in shallow water (radical) and the second was doing a one-handed Ponch, which is sort of my trademark move that I can pull out anywhere! I’ve been lucky so far in that I’ve not injured myself when learning any of the new power moves, even though that’s where you might expect it to all go wrong. So, don’t think about it when trying new moves as you really need to be focused, but funnily enough get more worried trying some of the more basic moves.

Bar injuries? Sharks. Terrifying beasts.

Jamie Drummond

COLIN DIXON: Hard! You just need to try stuff with more power; a lot of people sail under powered so if you’re under powered you won’t go as high or as fast,

ADAM SIMS: They are all hard, the ducking is the hardest part but once you get past that then sometimes the move can be really effortless but still difficult. Maybe the culo and burner are not so hard if you are fully powered up. Any combo which requires power and sliding is normally very, very hard though and really requires a good balance between kit set-up and technique.

JOHN PALMER: Easy! haha, nah they are pretty tough! Coolest move I’ve seen recently is Dieter’s air kabikuchi. I’m pretty sure i’ll never be able to do them!

MAX ROWE: Anything that’s classed as “new” will always be hard because it makes you think it must be because it’s “new”. In reality some of these power moves such as the switch stance kono are becoming a lot more common place because they aren’t that hard, now people are learning them as their first switch move. Best advice would be to have a go and find out as what’s hard for someone else might be really simple for you or vise versa unfortunately!!

PHIL RICHARDS: Not as hard as they look,  they just require more commitment and for you to sail more powered up.

Bubble in Vass. Image credit Global Shots.

ANDY CHAMBERS: With the development of of the new gear (sails especially), the new power moves have got much easier than when we first started seeing them a few years ago.  The hardest part has always been getting the sail duck right, once you are a comfortable ducking the sail then the rest of the move doesn’t take too long to learn.

JAMIE DRUMMOND: The new power moves that are coming out are pretty tricky. Most of them involve a lot of setup before you’re even ready to take off – so getting solid at going switch and ducking the sail is an absolute essential. Practice really does make perfect in this case and repetition will help you get the feel for ducking the sail.

Combo moves are also getting much more technical, so just the SETUP of a move can involve doing a perfect, full-speed Spock, Forward or Flaka – a challenge enough on it’s own before adding a Culo, Flaka or Shaka onto the end!

First of all we look at what moves to start out with, whether to go carving or aerial and the next moves to progress onto.

Max Rowe. Image credit Global Shots.

How can I get started in freestyle? What move would you advise I try first?

ANDY CHAMBERS: The first thing you need to do is get yourself on a freestyle board.  This will make a huge difference when learning new moves.  They are designed to give you lots of pop and rotate easily, also the footstrap positions are inboard which keeps you on top of the board, this is important for all freestyle. If you have the wrong board or equipment set up it would be like trying to drive a bus around a rally course!

Andy 'Bubble' Chambers

The first move to learn is the actual pop itself, as you need to be able to pop into all freestyle moves.  Once you have mastered the pop so you can do it without thinking about it then it will open up a whole heap of moves to learn.  The vulcan is usually the first but as well as that you can try grubbies, flakas and forward loops in the beginning.  Don’t just get stuck on trying to learn one move.

PHIL RICHARDS: Just go out and have fun, for me freestyle is all about pushing yourself further in your abilities but it’s important to just try new stuff and make it enjoyable. It really helps to have some friends to get into it with.

I would recommend trying vulcans as they’re a good move to learn first of all and lead easily into others. I also suggest learning to loop, it’s easier than it looks and conquering this move will give you lots of confidence in your windsurfing.

It’s really important to keep improving all your skills, for example if you want to improve your freestyle, start nailing those heli tacks, up wind 360′s and other non-aerial freestyle as it will help massively with understanding the moves and make you a far better sailor.

DANIELLE LUCAS: Get out on the water and try new stuff, whether you start with a body drag, duck gybe, upwind 360 or straight in to a vulcan; the best way to get into it is just to go out and try something new! If you want to learn aerial tricks such as spocks, flakas and switch moves, learn the upwind 360 on both tacks and nail it, then once you get the jump and slide the end of the move, which is often an upwind 360 should be easy!

MAX ROWE: Have a good look around the internet for some inspiration or a video of something you’d like to learn. The vulcan is the first step for aerial freestyle but you don’t have to start there, even messing around on a big board in light winds is great practice for freestyle moves.

John Palmer at Baby Bay

JOHN PALMER: The best thing about freestyle is you can start anywhere, in any wind conditions. The first freestyle moves I learnt were body drags and heli tacks. I think heli tacks are a great place to start because they start you learning the skills you need for loads of moves – flakas, punetas, skopus, anything with a slidey upwind 360 bit in it.

ADAM SIMS: Most people will say to get on a wide board with a small sail and start spinning in light winds, but if you are already planing then yeh for sure do this also but just start chop hopping and then pick a move you like from the following and go for it (try it on both sides): vulcan, flaka, shuv-it or forward loop.

Also, if you are really serious about freestyle then I would suggest practicing the sail duck from the very early stages, basically when you are on that wide board with the small sail in light winds. On top of that the UK freestyle circuit is a great place to meet like minded freestylers and you learn a lot at each event, I still do and I’ve done a few of them now!

Adam Sims

JO WRIGHT: I think if you have been windsurfing for a while, it’s important to see freestyle windsurfing as a new, achievable challenge that will help you improve all aspects of your windsurfing.  My best tip for getting started, would be to sail around others who are freestyling, whether that be going on an overseas holiday, or heading down to popular freestyle spots such as Poole, Weymouth, Hayling etc. Ask other people for help and advice, set yourself achievable goals and remember falling is learning! Also, never forget the skills that can be learnt from going out in light-winds on a big board and small sail. Nailing heli-tacks, upwind 360′s, sailing switch stance, sailing clew first and many other moves will play dividends when trying to learn freestyle moves in strong winds.

For me, once I become a competent ‘freerider’ e.g. blasting up and down water-starting and carve gybing. I felt that my first freestyle move was learning to duck gybe; this gave me the confidence to try more ‘old school’ moves including the body drag, downwind 360′s and heli-tacks. Aerial moves had always looked to scary for me to try, but on a trip out to Dahab, seeing a variety of people going for vulcans and with the support of other windsurfers around me. I finally mustered up the courage to start trying vulcans and quickly realised they do not result in death! From there found my freestyle windsurfing really started to improve. Try whatever you feel comfortable with and build from there!

COLIN DIXON: Getting started….you already have! Freestyle is anything from sailing one handed to a chop hop, body drag or a forward loop, right up to a flaka. The vulcan opens the doors to new school sliding freestyle once you believe that it can happen (sliding), then its all becomes easy after that – remember keep your head over the mast foot!

Is it better to start with the old school or carving moves, or can I go straight onto trying aerial stuff?

ANDY CHAMBERS: I don’t think the old school carving moves help too much for the new aerial freestyle, except maybe for the Upwind 360.  Instead, I think it’s better to train some lightwind freestyle moves as this will give you more rig control for the planing freestyle moves.  As soon as it’s windy then start learning the aerial stuff!

Phil Richards, enjoying a chop hop!

PHIL RICHARDS: You can go straight in to the aerial stuff, but like I said above learning the non-aerial moves will help you progress and give you a better understanding of the moves.

DANIELLE LUCAS: As I said above you could go either way.  Carving tricks can seem less daunting and they feel great to learn, so may be a good place to start, but there are no rules.  Skills overlap though from carving tricks to aerial tricks and so it’s definitely worth learning both.  It’s also really worth learning moves on both tacks!

MAX ROWE: Personally I jumped straight in at the deep end and started learning aerial manoeuvres, coming from a skateboarding background made that a lot easier. Carving moves didn’t interest me at all back then but they are great fun and a really good way to build up confidence and learn skills that will help you with aerial moves later on.

JOHN PALMER: I think start with what you want to learn, or what you feel confident learning. At the start I’d been watching Harty’s ‘Turn for the Better’ and wanted to learn heli tacks and vulcans. I didn’t think I was good enough for vulcans so went with easier moves for a while until a few mates and I decided we wanted to learn them. There are some people (tend to be the freestyle kids) that can vulcan, spock and everything before they can tack, so it really is down to the individual.

ADAM SIMS: Aerial, that really is what freestyle is about so why not start when you can. If you are not at the point of wanting to take off then yeh try carving for a bit and keep working on those chop hops.

Jo Wright, enjoying the old school.

JO WRIGHT: There is no harm with trying a few old school moves to build confidence (and lets not forget they look very cool!) and then from there learning the vulcan will provide the key to the rest of the freestyle windsurfing world. In between all that, don’t forget to head out in light winds too!

COLIN DIXON: It’s your call really, some kids just learn to vulcan before they can gybe; what I would say is try everything, do not get stuck in a rut, everyone does that!! Keep trying everything and what ever feels more natural go for it!!! Don’t give up; if a move is making you mad then have a break, go for a sail and do stuff you can do, that will remind you what windsurfing is all about. Then, when you’re feeling refreshed go back to it.

I’ve got to grips with vulcans, spocks and that kind of thing, what’s the next move you would recommend I learn?

ANDY CHAMBERS: To be honest whatever moves that you can watch and see other people doing that you can understand in your head are usually the easiest ones to start learning.

The first switch move I learnt was a switch one handed flaka; I guess this was becuase I could already do normal flakas and when I was sailing along switch stance it felt like the more natual and easiest thing to try.  Switch stance moves open up a whole new variety of the moves you can already do.

Also, try small variations on the normal stance moves like one handed or ducking the sail at the end (diablo/cana brava).  Another big piece of advice is make sure you learn the moves on both sides, don’t be a one side wonder!

PHIL RICHARDS: Try some flakas, grubbies, some clew first vulcans and spocks and dabble in some switch stance moves like e-sliders and clew first puneta (switch spock).

If you can vulcan and spock make sure you learn it on both tacks (this is much easier to do as you are just getting in to freestyle and not set in your ways). Plus if you can’t already, learn to loop!

Danielle Lucas

DANIELLE LUCAS: The forward loop is always a crowd pleaser!  It really depends where you are learning and your learning style, but people usually go for flakas and switch-stance moves after the vulcans and spocks, most have been trying them at the same time as the spocks.  It can really vary depending on confidence levels too!

MAX ROWE: I think it’s really important to learn the grubby and flaka as these will open the door to switch stance moves. If you jump straight into switch moves from here you’ll be missing some really important skills that will make your life a lot easier.

JOHN PALMER: Start learning to shaka! They are a cool move and feel awesome. Probably a good time to start learning to duck the rig too for konos as it’s tough to learn.

Colin Dixon, flaka! Credit Richard Keaney

ADAM SIMS: Shuv-its and forwards, they are probably two of my favourite moves but also a move that I’ve been doing the longest. If you are passed that then try switch and then looking at ducking the sail for switch konos or air funnels.

JO WRIGHT: Variations such as spock 540′s, one-handed spocks then I guess grubbies, flakas etc.

COLIN DIXON: Go switch! People can get put off doing this; the hardest part is to learn to keep your speed when in switch. Once you have mastered this and the popping, or should I say catapulting, and can then land sliding normal stance will feel so much easier!

Check out more in the Boards technique section here and coming up in the next part of freestyle secrets we look at equipment advice and strategies for learning new moves. 

Thomas Traversa, known for his super high stalled forward loops! Image credit PWA/JC.

When I did my first forward loop I was 11 years old and windsurfing in Brandon Bay, Ireland. It was pretty light with waist to shoulder high waves coming through the bay providing some nice head on ramps. I was pumping onto the plane and just chucking myself into them when all of a sudden one just clicked, it felt so easy, all my kit went really light and just came round so smoothly and gently. It was the best feeling I have ever had and I have not been able to stop doing them since, the forward got me hooked on windsurfing all over again.

Aleksy Gayda – BWA Amateur Champion 2011

I started forwards with a lot of determination, perhaps too much as I went through some serious back slaps and lung abuse. After a few pointers from Jem (Hall) I started trying wymaroos, getting the rig across my body and my backhand all the way down the boom, which soon had me landing my first flat water spin loops, even on my weak tack. Through watching movies I then picked up how far off the wind I needed to go for big clean forwards, which is especially difficult in onshore conditions. I also found there was a balance between trying to be on the right kit (where you don’t feel too overpowered) and just having a ‘go for it’ attitude.

The best craic is going for forwards with a bunch of mates, where you can all push each other, keep an eye out and have a lot of fun. I still remember landing my first clean loop and sailing away; it was a sweet feeling and left me smiling for days.

Will Barrett - BWA amateur competitor

I started trying loops in Margarita off about waist high waves, I landed on my back a lot and it was so bruised, but I was super hyped! The next day I tried again with a life jacket, but then I popped my eardrum as I forgot to look back…oops! I decided a little self preservation was in order, so I stopped trying for a while. After trying again in the UK, it was in Brazil that I finally landed one; I was so happy! For a relatively simple move it took me a while, but I think it was because I kept closing my eyes so I couldn’t spot my landing and open out the sail so I always got stuck in the same place. I then went to Pozo to learn on the other tack, trying them on a 3.4 in really onshore conditions improved my spin loop technique, and I began landing them on port too.

Sarah Bibby – BWA 2011 Ladies Champion

With forward loops there was no real breakthrough point that I can remember as every attempt is different and you can hardly expect to come out fully planing on your first go (keep wishing)! So here are just a few key points that almost certainly helped me get to a point where I actually enjoy them; weird I know! NEVER (ever!) let go; if you hold on you are way less likely to land in a heap on your kit. Only let go if you really, really have to.

Do practice in light winds; practice catapulting yourself over the front (without your feet in the straps – obviously) over and over again until you are landing on your back or in the waterstart position before you try in strong winds.

Learn with someone; if you’re competing for that all-important win, then your brain doesn’t mind doing stupid things! Good luck and if you can get someone to video your attempts it will provide you with endless amounts of entertainment!

George Shillito – BWA competitor and man in the know at the Polkerris Beach Co.

My first forward loop was during my first season at Club Vass, I landed my 3rd one! I remember I was on an old Neil Pryde Soul 5.8, sailing towards the beach on port tack and I bore right off the wind and jumped off the back of a piece of chop, nose dived and looked behind me over my back shoulder, waterstarted up and hey presto!

Andy Bubble Chambers - Freestyle and wave competitor and windsurfing coach

My very first forward attempt was pretty pathetic. My best mate from school and I sailed into the middle of Brogborough Lake, did a tiny chop hop and flopped onto our sails. I don’t think it really counts to be honest! My first proper rotation however I still remember clearly. I had been trying a few more forward attempts in lighter winds but without much luck, never getting enough rotation and generally crashing face first into the water. The next properly windy day on the lake, I was flying around full power on a 4.0. When I tried my first forward this day, everything happened so much quicker. Instead of crashing into the water like normal, I did the full rotation and slapped down on my back. I can’t even remember if I sailed away or not, but I can still picture the exact spot on the lake and still have the image in my head of the rotation. It was so fast, but at the same time I can remember it all in super slow motion, with the sky, water and land, all flying by. It was such an amazing feeling.

John Skye – PWA competitor and British windsurfing legend

The full issue of the Spring Summer 2012 Boards Annual is still available for purchase here. 

Next up is the freestyler, also making waves on the BWA tour, Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers.

Aerial! Image credit Line Wittrup.

Where are you? 

Cape Town, South Africa.

What conditions have you had recently?  

The first month we had awesome waves and good wind but sometimes a bit lighter.  This month it has been super mental windy and not much swell so mainly jumping and freestyle.  I’ve done a couple of trips both for freestyle and waves. Luckily over here the furthest you have to drive is about two hours and even that feels like a long way!  Most places are with 10 minutes!

Backie at Sunset, image credit Line Wittrup.

Who have you been sailing with?  

Been sailing with the Euro boys and girls! The Dutch Amanda Beenan, Austrians Max Matissek and Manu Grafenauer and Danish Kenneth Danielsen, also Sam Neal and a couple of other UK guys in the beginning and then the main English contingent of Muzza, Max Rowe and Jem Hall turned up at the start of January.  I’m sharing a car with Max which is pretty easy as he’s getting into his wavesailing a bit more now as well.  Muzza is in our house as well which is always entertaining!! Speaking of entertaining, I never realised that Jem Hall was such a disco diva!!

Goiter. Image credit Line Wittrup.

What equipment have you been using most of the time? 

I’ve been using my 2013 JP Quads with the K4 Fins set up.  Depending on if it’s float and ride on bigger days I have been using the more grippy flexies and then on the smaller wndier days I have been using the looser stubbies. Also the new asymetric side fins have been working pretty well.

For sails I have been using the 2013 Neil Pryde Combats in the waves and the Wizard for freestyle.  It’s been so nice having the different sets of sails with me.

Kono at the lake, image credit Lizzie Smith.

What’s in store for you next, how long out you out in SA and where will you be off to next? 

I am staying here until the 12th of Feb and then heading off to Dahab to do some photo and video shooting for JP.  Then also Maui for the main JP and NeilPryde product photo and video shoot.  Events start soon after that in the UK and PWA Tour. Looks like it’s gonna be a busy (and sunny) few months haha!!

Follow more about Bubble on Boards here. 

Andy Chambers in Weymouth. Credit Hanna Poschinger EFPT.

Name:  Andy Bubble Chambers

DOB:   30/06/1983

Sail number:  K540

Years competing:  14

Best previous results:  5th PWA Sylt, 9th PWA Aruba, 3rd BWA Waves 2011, 2nd Tiree Wave classic 2011, Multiple British Freestyle Champion

Title you have won this year:  British Freestyle Champion 2012

Why and when did you first start competing?

I first started competing in Cyprus when I was pretty young.  My parents were living there for a while and our local club had a weekly series and annual championships.  I started doing it because everyone else did!  It was the natural thing to do, back then everyone used to get involved.   It was so much fun to take part and the more events you do the more you want do as well.

As a kid did you dream of becoming a champion?

Definitely!! Surely it’s every kids dream!  I used to watch and read all the mags and videos and could see myself doing the same thing.

Did you love competition straight away?  

It was super fun, which is why I liked it; it also helps if you do well though!

Andy Chambers in Weymouth. Image credit Global Shots.

What has helped you progress from learning how to compete to winning a title?

I think theres a very important mindset that you get from doing any kind of competition for a long time.  You learn what you need to do to win.   You learn to be prepared and be in the right place at the right time and concentrate on what you are doing and not the other person.

What equipment have you used on the UK tour this year?

I have been using the new Neil Pryde Wizard freestyle sails and the new JP Freestyle boards with the K4 Bubble Freestyle fins.  The combo of the new gear, the sails in particular have really helped me to be able to do all the new power freestyle moves with confidence.

Why do you use this equipment?

Obviously I am sponsored by them but I have also had a small hand in the development, so I know exactly how it all feels and what sizes to use depending on conditions.  It’s really important to feel comfortable and happy with your gear and I do with JP/Pryde and K4, therefore it’s the best gear for me to use (and everyone else!).

Andy Chambers heading out at Weymouth. Image credit Global Shots.

What is it about your set up in particular that you like?

It’s all like an extension of your body really! I feel like it does whatever I want it to do.  I can duck the sail when I want and how I want knowing that the board will come with me too.  You almost don’t have to think about popping the board, it’s just attached to your feet.  The super light K4 freestyle fin makes things a lot easier as well.

Who else would you recommend a set up like this?

Anyone wanting to either learn freestyle or get better at it from total beginner all the way through to the most advanced freestyler.  It makes it a whole lot easier trust me!  I can do things now that I didn’t think I would be able to do before.  Usually you get worse at learning new things as you get older and I had that for a couple of years, but now I’m getting better!! It’s epic!

Andy Chambers taking on the night tow-in! Image credit Global Shots.

How and where have you trained for the series this year?

My winter off season training is always in Cape Town, it has everything you need; like a skate park basically!! Choppy warm water lake, flat water, small waves, big waves, side off, side, side on etc etc what more could you want!  It’s a great place to improve your overall sailing skills, waves, jumping and freestyle.  During the summer when i’m not at events i am usually out in Club Vass which combines great freestyle conditions with a great atmosphere on and off the water.  I have also been spending more time around the UK and realising that it too ofers some great allround freestyle spots, West Wittering trench is unreal for flat water!! Also the Esso gargarge at Hayling and Weymouth.

Have you just trained on the water, or what do you do off the water too?

To be fair, I spend a lot of time on the water and usually in windy places so there’s not much time for off the water activities.  This summer I have been doing circuit training with my sister Amy (Army) Chambers!!  In the morning before working at Club Vass.  I would like to do more gym stuff though and hopefully next year I will be spending more time in the UK and settling a bit so I can join one!  Any recommendations??

Bubble in Vass. Image credit Global Shots.

What are your plans for winter? Sailing here in the UK? Or heading abroad anywhere?

I have literally just booked my flights to Cape Town again!! Happy days!! £523!! Epic! I will be there until mid feb and then back to the UK for a bit before starting the photoshoots for JP/Pryde in Dahab and Maui.  I am trying to get some winter UK sailing in though!!  In fact as I am writing this it is windy, so I’m typing fast!

What are you aims for competitions in 2013? UK and international events?  

In 2013 I really want to get inside the top 10 for PWA freestyle, maybe even higher but the level is going nuts!  Also, I would love to win the UK wave title, keep my UK freestyle title and have a go at the PWA Waves.  Possibly some European freestyle events as well.

Follow more on the UK freestyle competition right here on Boards, and for more news and features on Andy Bubble Chambers click right here!

Check out the other Champions of 2012 features:

Day one of the Centaur King Of The Wind EFPT event was packing everything a European championship spectator could wish for.   The early morning featured a classic Weymouth forecast; strong winds, flat water and sunshine.  This accompanied by music and Euro stars was a winning combo.  After briefings the first possible start was at 11am, there were constant heats until just before dark when the wind dropped after a bit of a freak storm.  Just before it died there was some intense wind and the latter heats were quite spectacular as everyone was stacked, even after mid heat sail changes.

All but the finals of the single elimination were completed, so tomorrow morning we kick off with a spectacular show as the final four meet to do battle.  Next the first round of the ladies Femi Pleasure Queen Of The Wind event will run and following that will be the men’s double elimination.

This first EFPT event in the UK had a strong force of home-grown competitors.  There were twelve UK guys and six out of the seven entered girls.  Of these twelve, four got through their heats.  Andy Chambers, Jamie Drummond, Nick Bentley and Adam Sims all made it through to the second round.  Unfortunately three of these were all in the same second round heat (heats of four) and only Andy Bubble Chambers made it through.  Bubble, the 2012 UK Freestyle Champion then cruised through the semi-final and found himself alongside Adam Gavriel, from Israel, for the losers final competing for third place overall (26 riders).

It’s safe to say that Portland harbour has never played host to so much spectacular freestyle action.  In most of the heats it was difficult to watch as you didn’t know where to look, six judges were needed as the top guys would go from move to move in seriously quick succession.  Today we saw  massive shuv-it spock’s, culo’s, skopu’s, futures, flaka-shaka’s and a huge kabakuchi’s  If you don’t know what these moves are, come and watch and you will see first-hand –  we have another strong forecast and fully expect to get the finals run and most the way through a double elimination as the event is now fully set up courtesy of XPLG. The judges have the system tied down under the watchful eye of head EFPT judge Tom Hartmann.

There will be some sick footage and pics to follow.  Rest assured, with three of four dedicated media guys cutting film as we speak, there will be something pretty special appearing on  soon.

XPLG team

For more info and pics head over to the main site here

Busting the moves in Weymouth

Bubble gives it some

Images courtesy of Global Shots

Ben Proffitt

Though not perfect conditions, the top sailors still shone through and proved why they are at the top. Full heat by heat analysis can be seen at the bottom of this post, (Boards will be following all the action over the weekend in the same way so stay tuned!) but it was James Cox, Ben Proffitt, Jamie Hancock and Andy Chambers that made it through to the final. The final was sailed in the fading evening light, it looked tricky to get on the set waves but all sailors were ripping; the result is yet to be announced but we will let you know as soon as it is. Who’s your tip to win?

On route to the final there were many exceptionally close heats; Andy King went out in a marginal decision over Timo Mullen and Phil Horrocks, then Horrocks lost out in an equally close heat with Proffitt and Hancock. On the other side of the draw Sam Neal almost beat Andy Chambers in a very close man on man heat, but Chambers advanced and continued his run of form all the way to the final. This only goes to prove the exceptional level of all the pros and how it really is close at the top!

Registration is currently underway for all amateur fleets so we will be able to fill you in on full entry lists tomorrow morning. The BWA are again expecting a great turn out for all fleets and with the winds looking strong tomorrow morning it should be a quick start for a fleet or two!

As well as our instagram images which you can view here,  the hugely talented Simon Crowther is around taking some exceptional shots all weekend which we will share with you as soon as possible, along with Dave White’s gallery of official BWA shots too.

Boards will continue the coverage of the BWA Cornwall Classic over the whole weekend so stay tuned for all the action!

Event plan:

Friday - 8am briefing for pro’s at Sandsifter unless another beach is nominated.  Amateur registration from 8pm till 11pm at Sandsifter.

Saturday - 8am registration for all fleets at Sandsifter, amateur registration until 9am.  Briefing for all fleets 9am.   Monsters ball at Sandsifter from 9pm – Halloween Dress Code!  BWA Awards if no forecast for sunday.

Sunday - 9.30am briefing at Sandsifter car park all fleets.  4pm Prize giving unless otherwise stated.  BWA Awards.

Check out page two for the intro to the event…

Check out JP Australia/Neil Pryde team rider Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers getting in some solid freestyle training in Dahab, Egypt. Some cool Go-Pro angles and power freestyle from Bubble as he prepares for the first PWA freestyle event of the year at Podersdorf in Austria.

A Cape Town regular now, Bubble spent the winter of 2011/12 pushing his freestyle and wave level in South Africa. Scoring some epic wave sessions as well as some full-power freestyle conditions, Chambers will be a force to be reckoned with on this summer’s PWA freestyle tour. With a 3rd place finish last year on the BWA wave tour, could this winter training see Bubble climb further up the podium?

Josh Willmot from Blacklab has put together another top quality edit, enjoy…

Top British freestyler, PWA competitor and wave sailor Andy Chambers has just returned from a winter training trip to Cape Town.

Bubble ended up extending his trip to test out some new JP board layups and has uploaded loads of great photos to his website. After competing solely in the freestyle fleet for several years, Chambers is now pushing into the wave fleet, finishing an impressive 3rd in the UKWA for 2011. He is certainly keen to improve on that result for 2012 and has been training very hard in the great wave conditions Cape Town offers. Here are a few photos, but be sure to head over to Bubble’s website for the full selection.

Bubble launches an aerial at Sunset Beach. Pic: Debbie Kennedy

Back in freestyle mode, looping in front of Table Mountain. Pic: Debbie Kennedy

The JP/Pryde Freestyle team cruising in Kraal Bay. Pic: Markus Seidel