The Solent Boys

One of the newest members to the SWA Circuit, Solent Windsurf Team was set up only two years ago.  From meeting on their first day at University the boys knew had one thing in common, a love for watersports and windsurfing.  Keen to compete at the 2011 BUCS nationals, Adam Chubbock and Ollie Acton quickly set up the windsurf team at Solent, enabling them to enter the event.

Since then the team has grown considerably, consisting of students of all abilities with a passion for windsurfing and having a good time.

Solent Team

Being in Southampton means the boys have access to some of the South Coast’s great windsurfing locations. Those keen on freestyle head east to Hayling Island or West Wittering for perfect flat water locations, whereas those looking for waves head west to Highcliff or K-bay.

The 2011-2012 academic year proved a great success for the team, with a good number of new club members all attending the SWA events around the country.  Former World Champion Sam Sills joined the ranks, furthering the progression and ability within the team.  The finale to the year included many awards at the 2012 BUCS Nationals and Solent University’s Sports Awards, including:

SWA Team Race Champions

SWA Freestyle Champion – Ollie Acton

BUCS Team Racing Champions – Adam Chubbock, Sam Sills and Ollie Acton

BUCS Individual Racing Champion – Sam Sills

Solent University Sports Man of the Year – Sam Sills

This year the boys are pushing for even more success, attending every SWA event.  The next event is the BUCS nationals at Calshot where most of this year’s tour titles will be decided.  With the Solent boys on home turf they are fired up to dominate!

Ollie Acton

Name: Ollie Acton

DOB: 15/04/1990

I started windsurfing about 7 years ago and really got into it after a holiday to Dahab with my Dad.  I have competed at several UKWA freestyle and slalom competitions, as well as the majority of SWA events.

Ollie Acton, switch chachoo

I’m supported by a local shop on Hayling Island called AndyBiggs Watersports.

I windsurf because it’s so different to any other sport I’ve tried!  I have made some great friends through windsurfing and there aren’t too many sports where travelling around the world is the norm.

Watersports Studies and Management – 3^rd and final year.

Solent Windsurf Team has given me the opportunity to travel around the country, make new friends and compete at the legendary SWA competitions.

My most memorable moment with the team was at our University’s sports award evening.  They presented us with our SWA winnings in front of all the other sports team, on top of that we were awarded with sports team of the year and Sam won sports man of the year, a great  advertisement for our windsurf club and our sport in general! SWA Events have really helped push my own ability but also publicity where through the articles and reports sent out by the SWA Tushingham noticed me and I have recently become a team rider.

Adam Chubbock

Name: Adam Chubbock

Nickname: Chubsey

I tasted windsurfing when I was about 14 but didn’t fully get hooked until I was 18 working in a windy area of South France.  The place was full of good windsurfers flying around and I knew I had to get involved.  Since then my life has changed completely (for the better).

This year I have competed on the full Student Windsurfing (SWA) Tour, which includes Racing, Freestyle, Wave Riding and Team racing. The tour has

Chubsey

taken us all over the country and we have had a lot of fun on the way.  It has been my first year competing in the waves which I have really enjoyed (even managed to finish joint 2^nd).  I have also competed in the UKWA amateur slalom series, which I would recommend anyone to get involved in.

There is no other sport like windsurfing, it has taken me to some amazing places

Who let the Bears out? Bristol SWA!

and I have met some awesome people along the way. It’s more like a way of life really, always offering new challenges and opportunities.  I owe a lot to windsurfing and the amazing experiences I’ve had because of it.

Coaching is another aspect of the sport which I love.  Working at Club Vass for the last three years has enabled me to share my passion for windsurfing and take my coaching to a new level.   I also dabble in a bit of DJing at the famous Globalshots raves.

Apart from a degree in Facebook; Watersports Management 3^rd Year

I am very proud of Solent Windsurf Team and everything we have done in the last two years, from having the best fancy dress on the tour, to winning the BUCS nationals.  We have such a positive attitude within the team and some very talented individuals, I like to think we are a good advert for the university and windsurfing in general.

Sam Sills, Adam Chubbock and Ollie Acton.

DOB: 15/04/93

Years windsurfing and windsurfing level: 10 years, Olympic Transitional Squad

Why you windsurf:  Freedom man

What are you studying?  Yacht and Power craft Design

What do you like about Solent Windsurf team? We smash the party, then we smash the race.

There has been two: winning sports man of the year 2012 at the university sports awards and drawing a permanent tash on Ian from Boardwise and making him part of our crew!

Why do you think you’ve been so successful as a team? We have legendary Zen guru Adam Chubs to guide us.

How often do you hit the water and where do you go? Most weekends, Weymouth or my home back in Cornwall whenever it’s windy.

Solent Windsurf Team would like to say a massive thanks to our sponsors; we couldn’t have done it without their help and support:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/solentwindsurfteam

Like your students a little more feminine? Check out the Exeter Ladies feature here on Boards. 

For student windsurfers, Aussie Kiss X1I offered redemption of the sins of freshers week through the celebration of the lesser known 11th commandment ………..THOU SHALT WINDSURF, to which 600 disciples faithfully abided over one weekend this October

Aussie Kiss 11 gets underway

This yearly student windsurf festival, now 11 years old continues to develop and adapt – in true reflection of the way the sport continues to grow. This year the event proved itself to be not just bigger and better than its previous years, but probably the biggest and the best  of its kind.

The masses congregated late on Friday evening in Cornwall, with accommodation, breakfast and party venue provided by Bude Holiday Park over the weekend and excitement at seeing fellow windsurfers from other universities always leads to parting late into the night . Following an unwelcome early start on the Saturday morning, the minibuses and kit laden vehicles made their way to the windsurf spot about 40minutes down the road just across the border in Devon to Roadford Lake which has supported the event for the past 11 years.

Beginners Rule

There is no doubt that Aussie Kiss attracts some serious talent in the windsurfing world.  But it is not just about devout windsurfers celebrating the sport in all its forms- it’s about spreading/sharing the love (and we don’t just mean at the Saturday night party).

Beginners at AK.

AKXI this year saw 156 beginners take to the water in one weekend – a number unparalleled by any other windsurfing event, making Aussie Kiss the single biggest introduction of beginners to the sport in the world.

An incredible 41 student instructors and powerboat drivers gave up their own time windsurfing (or resisting the allure of a nap in the minibus) to impart their windsurfing wisdom to the new converts. In charge of organising them was SWA’s committee member Simon Garrod-Bell, who having learned to windsurf and gained his own instructors course through his own club at University West of England, is himself a testament to the SWA’s strength not just in introducing new people to the sport but also developing them into life time enthusiasts who can pass on their skills.

Beginner domination at Aussie Kiss

Another undeniably key ingredient to the energy and enthusiasm on the beginners beach was instructor extraordinaire Sam Ross, on board this year to help with teaching and organising the beginners and responsible for one of the weekend ‘s most impressive sights: what may well be a record for the largest balance point game ever achieved.

By the end of the weekend, Roadford Lake was awash with the fluorescent glow of  70 beginners rigs lent by various university clubs along with a generous contribution from SWA sponsors Boardwise. The new troops were able to make the most of excellent light wind on-shore conditions to learn the basics of the sport with the reassurance of ample safety cover from Roadford and their instructors.

This year, extra support from sponsors meant that you didn’t need to be pulling of flakas to win prizes. Up for grabs was the ‘most enthusiastic beginner’ title which Adrian Bell from Liverpool University who was was awarded a free ticket to Beach Break Live student festival next summer, whilst Sooz Kellagher, president of the Cardiff University club was recognised for her hard work and dedication instructing beginners over the whole weekend and won a intermediate instructor’s course courtesy of Sam Ross.

Getting wet whatever

Organising hundreds of students eager to get out on the water and windsurf is no easy task, but slick organisation from the SWA committee headed up by Event Manager Taffy Osbourne meant no one missed out. A huge thanks is also owed to SWA sponsors [Boardwise, Fanatic/North, RRD, Starboard/Tushingham, PatriK/Sailloft]  whose offer an impressive selection of demo kit which plays a huge part in the event, getting the intermediate and advanced sailors out on the water, as well as offering a chance to try out the latest equipment.

AK light wind freestyle

For the less windy lulls and those looking for a bit of variety, this year the lake offered an array of different activities for everyone to try. SUP provided a light wind alternative to try, whilst Roadford Lake offered banana boat rides for those who just hadn’t had enough of falling in the water.

Festival Vibe

This year, the event really expanded it’s festival feel. Whilst the need for wellies and chilly students added to the effect, the real festival vibe was down to Jodie Rimmington’s hard work in gathering sponsors, trade stands and bands to feature.

Chilling in the Red Bull tents

Sponsors Red Bull and Beach Break Live kept the atmosphere and the windsurfers energetic with their Tune Trucks pumping out music all day, whilst free red bull and mouthwatering burgers courtesy of Roadford Lake’s large barbecue helped re-fuel the cold and hungry windsurfers throughout the day.

Spartan wetsuits were also about for anyone looking to refresh their wetsuit wardrobe – with a huge selection of sizes and styles at brilliant prices, even many beginners were tempted by the investment. Anyone and feeling the chill of the fresh Devon air  before even hitting the water had a good excuse to visit trade stands such as Scruff Clothing and Be[anie] Unique, who had a selection of brightly coloured hand made knitted beanies and headbands on sale which proved very popular.

Towards the afternoon, the booming beats from Red Bull were paused and everybody crowed round to enjoy the live performances from talented local artists Sam Green, and Isaac Indiana who played an acoustic set. The afternoon was rounded off by a great performance from innovative music duo De’vide.

The festival even carried on back at the Bude Holiday park on the Saturday evening: if music, food, sport and shopping weren’t enough to round off a pretty perfect festival, the UK premier of André Paskowski’s film Rewarded following freestyle champion Gollito Estredo made it pretty much unbeatable. The film showed everyone just where the sport can be taken and everyone from beginners to pros were left wide-eyed and totally inspired to get trying some new moves or progress to the next level.

Festival vibe and great music

And then…

Of course, when the wind dies and the sun goes down and we can no longer feel our hands…windsurfers hit the dance floor. Student Windsurf events have become pretty much synonymous with insane fancy dress and Aussie Kiss Xi was no exception. Possibly some of the best attempts seen to date, this year’s theme ‘The 11^th Commandment – Thou Shalt Windsurf’ saw a plethora of expected biblical including devils, vicars, and the nativity, not to mention the Spanish Inquisition, bunches of grapes and jesus on a cross.

Once fancy dress was donned, beer jackets were very much needed and the night began with caravan parties and drinking challenges from an enormous 16-person beer funnel constructed by members of Liverpool’s club. You may be wondering where it went from there, and I can confirm that a large proportion of the party-ers are still asking themselves the exact same thing. Drinking did indeed resume through the more conventional vessels of cups rather than funnels, and as the music set in from Isaac Indiana, windsurfers spent the night proving that their dance moves are almost as progressive as their freestyle.

Competitive edge

Alongside the beginner windsurfing on offer at Aussie Kiss, which very much remains the focus of the event, the festival is also the first in the series for all the racing and freestyle action in the SWA each year. For many taking part this will be the first chance to see the competition since the summer when many will have spent time abroad training; so the competition at AK usually has the potential to throw out some surprises.

Tow-in time!

The conditions were a bit on the light side for any planing competition, however the new addition to the SWA of a tow-in event ensured the spectators had plenty to keep them entertained over the whole weekend.  The tow-in saw a total of 16 entrants put themselves forward for the qualification session on the Saturday. With limited places for grabs in the Sundays main competition, running alongside the pro demo session, the students had to pull something big out of the bag to be sure of securing a place. After a briefing and quick demo run from Max Rowe (Fanatic/North/ION) and Adam Sims (Patrick Dielheim boards/ Loft Sails) it was the turn of the SWA’s finest to have their go.  With many finding it hard simply to get up in what is an incredibly technical discipline those impressing the most early on included the usual SWA freestyle suspects of Ollie Action, Nicolas Terenzi and Adam Chubbock. Not to be left behind the list of entrants also saw 3 girls, proof the women’s scene is very much alive and kicking.

With the main beginner sessions and all-important party out of the way Sunday saw the competition get underway in earnest with team racing, a (light wind) freestyle competition and the tow-in final all taking place. University team racing was up first, with 16 teams of 3 taking it in turns on the one design RRD firerace boards in a simple out and back master blaster format. The racing as ever was not without its controversies but after plenty of collisions, shameless blocking and even some dragging of buoys it was to be last year’s champions, Southampton Solent, who were to come out on top bagging their club a fanatic board for their troubles.

With team racing out of the way it was the turn of the ever-popular freestyle event to take centre stage. Several competitors were clearly frustrated at the lack of planning conditions but with all the events counting toward the series, albeit slightly less for a non-planing competition, it was definitely all to play for among the 18 guys and girls taking part. With more flic flacking than you can shake a stick at, rail rides and lots of detached sail madness going down in all the 3 minute heats there was plenty for the spectators on the beach to watch. Impressing the all star judging panel the most was Adam “chubby” Chubbock, fresh from a season in Vass he will definitely be one to watch in the rest of the series. In a close second was last year’s freestyle champion Ollie Acton and Louis Morris came in third, someone better known for his racing talents but showing he also has the skills to mix it up in the freestlye as well.

Finishing AK was the tow-in final, the last on the water activity of the weekend.  Those qualifying from Saturday for the final took their runs with pro’s Adam Sims and Max Rowe thrown in the mix. Offering a taste of what the guys can do when it was windy it was a fitting end to the event with last year’s champion at Aussie Kiss Nicola taking top honors. Following a disappointing result for the Italian in the light wind freestyle, a big one handed air flaka from behind the powerboat was enough to secure him the tow-in title and prove that he will be one to watch when the wind kicks in at the other events.

This is just the beginning…

The masses at Aussie Kiss!

For anyone unfamiliar with what the SWA actually does, you may be surprised to hear that Aussie Kiss is just the first in a series of events. With seven more events to come hosted by various universities over the next six months you may wonder when windsurfers even have time to study, but they would certainly argue they have their priorities right. With these events attracting a heavy following throughout the year, it’s no wonder that the SWA teaches more people to windsurf every year than any other organisation. Watch this space…..

All images courtesy of Supersaturated.

Aussie Kiss 11 – Student Windsurfing Association from SuperSaturated on Vimeo.

SWA Tow In from Josh Willmot on Vimeo.

There are also numerous galleries appearing on the SWA Facebook page, head here to check them out, but beware as you might find more than you expect!

Aussie Kiss 11. Image credit Super Saturated.

SWA Aussie Kiss

Before you can get tickets to an SWA/XSWA/INSTRUCTOR event ticket you must become an SWA life member for just £5. Simply go to the following link and follow the instructions on screen. You will need a supersecret password from your windsurf club president, just so we can be sure that you are a student. SWA LIFE MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT LINK!

SWA:

Windsurf, Party, Compete! – disciples assemble! - £40

For the full experience of an SWA event this is the ticket that you need. An SWA ticket gets you full access to the weekend’s activities. Included in the price: two nights accommodation at Bude Holiday Park, breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, an event T-shirt, full access to the Roadford Reservoir, use of all demo gear, participation in tuition sessions/clinics, party ticket for Friday and Saturday night, enjoy all the bands, enjoy the festival.

To get an SWA ticket you must ask your windsurf club president to sign you up to the event. Once you have done this you will then be able to go online tohttp://www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk/ - on the left had side under ‘user menu’ select ‘event payment’ > ‘event payment’, in the drop down menu chose ‘Aussie Kiss’ and follow the instructions on screen. If you are from a University that does not have a windsurf club and want to come to the event please contact the SWA here.

XSWA:

Relax, Party, Enjoy The Festival – the ever faithful following! - £20

This ticket is also available to non-students. An XSWA ticket gets you: two nights’ accommodation at Bude Holiday Park, breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, access to the Roadford Reservoir (XSWA ticket holders are not permitted to windsurf at Roadford Reservoir), party ticket for Friday and Saturday night, enjoy all the bands, enjoy the festival.
XSWA tickets are mainly for eX-SWA, but they can of course be bought by students who don’t want to windsurf. Once you have bought an XSWA ticket, we cannot upgrade you to a full SWA (windsurfing) ticket, so please keep an eye on how many windsurf tickets are still availiable before buying XSWA. Remember, we release the tickets in batches.

To get an XSWA ticket you simply go to http://www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk/ - on the left had side under ‘user menu’ select ‘event payment’ > ‘XSWA event payment’, in the drop down menu choose ‘Aussie Kiss’ and follow the instructions on screen. Any problems please contact the SWA here.

INSTRUCTOR/SAFETYBOAT :

Come to Aussie Kiss as an Instructor/Powerboat Driver – we need Demi-Gods! - £15

The SWA expects to see a greater number of beginners on the water than any other UK event. To ensure they are given the best introduction possible to windsurfing, we need instructors.

In exchange for teaching you will receive a ticket at the heavily discounted price of £15 allowing you all the same benefits as a full SWA ticket: two nights’ accommodation at Bude Holiday Park, breakfast Saturday and Sunday morning, an event T-shirt, full access to the Roadford Reservoir, use of all demo gear, participation in clinics, party ticket for Friday and Saturday night, enjoy all the bands, enjoy the festival.

How does one proceed?

Instructors: Send your valid RYA instructors certificate, Power Boat Level 2 certificate, and your valid first aid certificate to  instructors@swa.co.uk.
Safteyboat drivers: Please send your safety boat certificate and valid first aid certificate to instructors@swa.co.uk. You will then shortly receive further instructions.

Please note: RYA instructor certificate is normally valid for 5 years from the date of completion of you course, and first aid for 3 years from the date of completion of your course. Safety Boat and powerboat level 2 certificates are valid for life.

So, if you’re a student, or ex student, and you haven’t already booked  your place head here to do it NOW!

Boards caught up with the active club to find out a little more about it’s members and what makes the club so special…

Exeter WIndsurf Club, just checking the conditions....

Exeter University windsurf club has about 100 members and is run by a dedicated committee of nine. Overall the club is split fairly equally between guys and girls, however in the last few years there has been domination by girls both socially and on the water.

Any student can sign up at the Freshers Squash. Last year we had 100 people sign up and roughly 50 active members (keen beans who come to everything).  There is a committee of nine massively enthusiastic people who a responsible for running the club. We have weekly socials varying from chilled pub sessions to mental Dawlish Dozen Trips (everyone piles on a train to Dawlish and do the 12ish pubs all dressed up as pirates then get back on the last train and go out in Exeter when we get back!)

If it’s windy…we all pile in cars at crazy early o’clock and head wherever’s looking best. Exeter has a great location as it’s close to loads of good windsurfing spots. Whether you want waves or Dahab style flat water there’s plenty of places to go for all abilities.

Exeter has had another year successfully dominating the Student Windsurf Association series especially in the female categories.  Exeter University Windsurf club won a prize in every SWA series category except for the wave series. In the British Universities Colleges Sports (BUCS) Championship women’s Beginner racing Holly Stevens was 1^st and Gemma Astbury 3^rd both from Exeter. In the women’s Intermediate individual racing Jenny Manby was 3^rd representing Exeter and in the women’s Advanced racing Kirsty O’Callaghan was 1^st, Jo Wright 2^nd and Alex Powell was 3^rd ALL from Exeter. BOOM!

The Exeter Ladies on the podium at Aussie Kiss

So who’s involved?

Name: Rachael Ince

DOB: 17/09/1990

Years windsurfing: 6 years

Windsurfing level: Advanced

Why you windsurf: Windsurfing is awesome, it’s a great way to meet new people, go to some amazing places, whilst having ridiculous amounts of fun. There is always something new to learn and it provides a continuous challenge.

It’s great that EUWC has such a huge girl presents, for me personally I think it’s one of the main reasons I got so involved, having never really had a group of girls to windsurf with before. As for the reasons there are so many of us, personally I think it’s partially luck that so many of us started at the same time. And because there are so many girls we all got so much more involved and it snowballed from there. With the great Exeter location it appeals to windsurfers, particularly advanced ones, which definitely is one of the reasons that we have such an active club.

Hitting the water

Being an instructor I’m pretty passionate about getting people into windsurfing. In general women tend to be less active than men. Windsurfing is a great way to get active, get outside and have a great time. Aside from this you meet the best people, it’s safe to say I’ve definitely met some of my best friends through windsurfing. Aside from the fact windsurfing with others is the safe thing to do, having a group of girls to windsurf with is amazing, we push each other enough so that we are always progressing but everyone is super chilled and we help each other out loads.

Name: Alex Powell

DOB: 02/06/91

Years windsurfing: 7

Windsurfing level: Advanced

Exeter Windsurf Club at the Student Nationals

Why you windsurf: For that amazing buzz which only windsurfers can understand! It’s a great way to meet lots of cool and friendly people and travel around the world. There is no age limit and I hope to be one of those grannies ripping at 70; and you can always get better and better!

I think the thought/hope of hot and tanned windsurf boys may be a small part as to why so many girls are part of the windsurf club…nahh not really (maybe a bit). The windsurf club at Exeter really is like a big family. No matter what your ability, age or hair colour everyone is accepted for who they are and welcomed with arms wide open! This friendly reputation the club is known for has been the main reason why the club has been so successful and grown so much in the past few years. Everyone is really keen to help others improve their windsurfing and this laid back attitude makes competitions seem less daunting and it encourages everyone to give it a go.

I can’t help but relate back to my previous article “When it all goes Pete Tong”  when I think about windsurfing friends.  Windsurfing with friends is great fun but at the same time essential when something goes wrong.  Windsurfers are known for looking out for each other on the water, but this can only be done when you are not alone on the water! It’s fair to say that windsurfing friends are friends for life, and the likelihood of bumping into a windsurfing friend on a windy beach the other side of the world is ridiculous. It really is a small world, especially the windsurf world.

Alex on the water

Name: Jo Wright

DOB: 29/09/91

Years windsurfing: 9

Windsurfing level: advanced

Why you windsurf: There is no other feeling quite like it, I love the continuous challenge and all the opportunities I have had as a result of windsurfing have been awesome: seasons, travelling, competing, the people, lifestyle etc

This summer I went away to Dahab to work on my freestyle, and then to Tenerife with Rach and Alex for a summer of wavesailing, which was awesome. I got rotating round forwards and really progressed my wavesailing, plus had a laugh with the girls (and Josh of course!).

Jo Wright at Aussie Kiss

Now I want to just carry on enjoying the sport, buy a van and windsurf as many spots on Cornwall and Devon as possible during my last two years at uni. Also, through my roles on both the Exeter windsurf and SWA committees next year, open up windsurfing to more students across the UK, help increase competitor numbers (especially in girls fleets) and hopefully help organise some great events.

Exams got in the way of the first two BWA events, the plan is to make the final one in Gwithian and all SWA events next year. Contemplating about getting back into the slalom and having another dable at the PWA next year too but we’ll see.

Name: Megan Davies 

DOB: 4/11/1992

Years windsurfing: 2 years on and off

Windsurfing level: beginner

Why you windsurf: Being able to travel the country, see amazing places and meet amazing people! Also uni windsurf events are awesome!

At the FLOW girls chat at Aussie Kiss

Name: Phoebe Jordan 

DOB: 06/11/1990

Years windsurfing: 5 years

Windsurfing level: intermediate

Why you windsurf: It’s demanding, exhilarating and addictive! The uni club pushes people to get on the water all year round, which is brilliant to help people progress, I used to just go in the summer and it was back to square one each time! There’s a very welcoming community, windsurfer’s are generally easy going and up for a laugh!

Name: Ali Leonard

DOB: 27/04/93

Windsurfing level: Beginner

Years windsurfing: very sporadically since year 10, so every now and again for five years.

Why you windsurf: because I love the sea and the speed is exhilarating..especially when you don’t really know what you’re doing! Plus an awesome bunch of people do the sport so you’ll always have a good time!

Intermediate session for the Exeter ladies (and guys!)

Name: Jenny Manby

DOB: 26/02/1990

Years windsurfing: 4 years on and off

Windsurfing level: Intermediate

Why you windsurf: Everything about the sport is just so much fun. It’s a great way to spend some time outdoors, come rain or shine it’s such great fun. Windsurfers are a brill bunch of people who, whether a beginner or all-time pro, are up for a laugh, wanna help you out to improve your windsurfing and are all around good eggs. An awesome way to get fit all year round, every session is different with so many different types of windsurfing to do it’s such a diverse activity for all ages and abilities

Name: Rebecca lyons

DOB: 30th November 1990

Years windsurfing: 1 and a half

Windsurfing level: Beginner

Why you windsurf: Because I was at the Exeter society fair didn’t have the foggiest clue what to do, was grabbed by the wonderful windsurfing society and signed up on the spot! It’s possibly the most frustrating yet rewarding sport ever! And it sounds quite cool to say you’re a windsurfer (probably because windsurfers are generally pretty cool people themselves!)

Name: Kirsty O’Callaghan

DOB: 26/03/92

Years windsurfing: Since I was about 4 years old!

Windsurfing level: Advanced

Why you windsurf: I love the buzz when I’m planing, windsurfing with my mates just having fun, and attempting some tricks! It is awesome no matter what level you are and there are always people happy to help. You meet some really cool people, go to some amazing places and have such a laugh.

At the Exeter Sports Awards

Name: Sarah Calascione

DOB: 17/12/1990

Years windsurfing: 3

Windsurfing level: Intermediate

Why you windsurf: The people – it is so great meeting people who have the same mindset as you, to just go out on the water, be active and have fun. Windsurfers are the friendliest, most easy-going group of people I know, and as a sport it is the most rewarding and addictive, and is fun for any ability

Name: Amy Foreman

DOB: 17/06/1992

Years Windsurfing: 7

Level: Advanced

Why you windsurf: there is always something new to learn and always someone there to teach you. Everyone is super relaxed and really approachable. Windsurfing is just generally great!

Keep up to date with the Exeter girls (and guys!) through their facebook group here.

FLOW – For Ladies Of Watersports is a group focussed on encouraging more women in watersports, check out their website here www.flowatersports.com

For more about the SWA and the upcoming Aussie Kiss event head to their website here.

Check out the latest information on their website here and Facebook page here

SWA AK 11

SWA 2011 Festival

Months of planning by a dedicated committee, support from some of the biggest names in the industry, 650 students, 800 Sweetbird Smothies, event T-shirts for everyone who came, clinics from Simon Bornhoff, Max Rowe, Adam Sims and Chris ‘Muzza’ Murray, music and drinks from RedBull, free samples from Burts Bees, amazing bands, Lily & Albert and I Love Lowie knitwear, funzees, an epic X-rated party, competitions with amazing prizes, PERFECT WEATHER. Aussie Kiss X rocked!!!

The Student Windsurfing Year has arrived with the infamous festival that, now in its 10th year, has put Bude Holiday Park and Roadfoard Reservoir on the map. Aussie Kiss celebrated reaching double figures in style.

Full write up coming soon at www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk – meanwhile here’s Jay Haysey’s photo gallery (check www.globalshots.co.uk)

Aussie Kiss student shenanigans

Have you got a ticket yet? These stars from the windsurf industry do: Simon Bornhoft, Max Rowe, Chris Muzza Murray, Adam Sims, Nick Moffat. 

This year with the naughtily themed X-rated Saturday night fancy dress party, so get down to your local fancy dress store and get creative. Have a look at the following link to see the themes shotgunned so far: www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

This weekend of windsurfing will satisfy the needs of complete beginner and those of a far more experienced ability. If you don’t have any kit, don’t sweat, Boardwise, RRD, Ezzy, Gaastra, Tabou, Spartan, Severne, Tushingham, Starboard and Turfdog will be demoing their 2012 wares (kit for all abilities) along with new to the UK KA Sails, giving you the chance to try out some of the newest and shiniest gear on offer and maybe even win yourself a souvenir. 

Making AK X a year to remember…

Red Bull will be kindly bringing along their teepee and beanbags as a chill-out area for a break between windsurf sessions, their DJ VAN to pump out the tunes all day long. Further, keen to capture as much on the water action footage as possible they will be bringing along 2 GO PROS for students to wear on the water. Even more good news, they will be bringing the” Red Bull Milk Float” to the Caravan Park to distribute red bull in the mornings!! Pretty awesome hangover cure!

‘Stage engage’ www.stageengage.com will be providing us with a stage to ensure everyone can see the world record being made and watch the awesome live music being played.

ACOUSTIC MUSICIANS PLAYING at ROADFORD RESERVOIR…

That’s right, AK X will have a chilled out festival atmosphere with a range of artist catering for all music taste providing some background music. Check out the artists playing:

1. Chris Millington – www.chrismillington.com
2. Sam Green – www.wix.com/samgreenlive.com
3. Woodford Green – www.woodfordgreenmusic.com
4. Will and the People – www.myspace.com/willandthepeople.com

STALLS at ROADFORD RESEVOIR…

Some local businesses will be giving all attendees of Aussie Kiss X a chance to take home some local delights. Confirmed as attending so far…

Funzees – like onezies but cheaper! Check them out on www.funzee.co.uk

Jewellery by Chloe – a selection of affordable jewellery! Find her on Facebook by searching ”Jewellery by Chloe” 
 I Love Lowie – From London Fashion Week have kindly given us some knitted socks that Chloe will also sell on her stall. www.ilovelowie.com (she has reduced the price for our event).

BURTS BEES are an American brand who use natural ingredients in all their body products. Not only are we making sure the students have an epic weekend we are also ensuring they have high standards of hygiene too!! 800 mini samples of hand cream, body wash and scrub are being delivered to Bude. www.burtsbees.co.uk

Saturday night at Bude Holiday Park… The host for the evening entertainment. This will be a night to remember!

HOGROAST available Saturday night!
 The gaurenteed to be awesome AK fancy dress party! Theme: X rated! Co Supreme (formerly Phoenix and the Turtle), a band known for listeners on a musical journey, fusing instrumental rock and classical strings, while incorporating sparse vocals, creating a unique sound (check them out at: www.myspace.com/phoenixandtheturtle). This southern California quartet will provide live music to kick of the Saturday night entertainment, making way for a DJ to keep the party going until the early hours.
Firework display for the 10 year celebration!

Competitions and prizes…

Beginners, intermediate and advanced windsurfers are invited to represent their University in fun racing, freestyle and team racing competitions. Thanks to the SWA’s awesome sponsors there are some incredible prizes up for grabs this weekend:

Make sure you enter the North Fanatic freestyle competition for your chance to win a new Maui Ultra freestyle fin and get yourself in pole position to win the series prize, a FANATIC SKATE!!

Spartan are providing a mens and ladies wetsuit for first male and female finishers in the advanced individual race competition.

Simon Bornhoft from Windwise is providing a FREE UK clinic to one lucky individual – other Windwise stash is also up for grabs

One FLYMOUNT will be awarded for best amateur windsurf video taken at Aussie Kiss so make sure you bring your camera and keep that video rolling. For more info about this competition visit: www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

Stash from GLOBALSHOTS and FLOW

Further there is a special prize awarded to the Most deserving student/Best move of the weekend (adaptable rules, just be awesome!). The student awarded this honour will receive a brand new SEVERNE S1 sail!

And don’t forget! Aussie kiss is the first round of the SWA series giving you your first chance to score some points for the years Freestyle, Racing and Team Racing competitions. Taking you a step closer to those awesome series prizes.

North/Fanatic Freestyle Series in association with Boardwise and Turfdog:

Make sure you bring with you your quiver of moves for your chance to win….

1st Prize – North Fanatic – a brand new shiny FANATIC SKATE, along with a freestyle fin from windsurfingfins.co.uk

2nd Prize – Boardwise/North/Fanatic – a North Silver Series boom + a FLYMOUNT

3rd Prize – Turfdog – a land freestyle board

Spartan/Tushingham/Starboard Individual Race Series in association with Windsurfingfins:

One design racing. This simple format has never failed to provide fair and exciting racing….

1st prize – Tushingham – an Aeron boom and a Slalom fin from Windsurfingfins.

2nd/3rd prize–  a quiver bag and set of harness lines

But wait, there’s more…

Thanks to the kind people of Spartan Wetsuits; 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners will also receive Spartan winter, summer and shorty wetsuits, keeping you the perfect temperature all year round.

Boardwise/RRD Team Racing Series:

For 2011/2012 a tried and tested one design race series (everyone using the same board and sail) is being improved upon. An entire fleet of brand new RRD FireRace boards are being kindly brought to all core events by Boardwise for the team race event. Each Uni puts forward teams of 3 to complete in a full speed out and back blast style race. Even more exciting is the fact that the wining team for the series will take home one of the boards. That’s right, one lucky club will win one of these speed machines! Thanks Boardwise!

Can’t make it to Aussie Kiss? You’ll be missed. But not to worry! Aussie Kiss is just the first of many
amazing SWA events coming soon to various parts of the UK. Bring on the good times ahead!

 For more information and event signup, visit www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

For regular updates, make sure you like the SWA Facebook page: www.facebook.com/studentwindsurfingassociation For information on other SWA series and sponsors, visit www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

SWA Aussie Kiss 9, by Javier Choi

Will Jones of the Student Windsurfing Association proudly presents the student windsurfing festival 2011 – Aussie Kiss 10!

It’s once again time for the UK student population awaken from a long summer slumber of endless daytime TV, to head back to Uni for some more day time TV! (and the odd lecture, of course).  However, one other thing which is also due to return from a summer vacation, and will certainly draw some of the student community away from The Jeremy Kyle Show, is the prevailing South Westerly.

It’s every UK windsurfer’s favourite time of year, with a sea that’s been heated by a couple of months of warm (ish) weather and there is still a little daylight still remaining.  Nationally, windsurfers have become fixated by their favourite wind app, anxiously waiting for the Guru to flick the magic switch. But something even more unusual is brewing… an invisible force, combined with the promise of an epic weekend of windsurfing and one heck of a party, is pulling students from far and wide to Bude North Cornwall; time for the annual Student Windsurfing Festival 2011 – Aussie Kiss 10.

Now in it’s 10^th year the nationally renowned student windsurf festival has really grown up. Taking place at Bude Holiday Park and Roadford water in Devon on Saturday 22^nd and Sunday 23^rd October 2011, Aussie Kiss (AK) provides the first taste of the season for student windsurfing, a chance for university windsurf clubs to unite under the mature umbrella of the Student Windsurfing Association (SWA).

Catering for all, AK proudly boasts the greatest number of beginners on the water of any national event providing an introduction for those new to windsurfing and setting the stage for the top UK student windsurfers to show off their swagger. Every year there is record sellout and this year will be no exception, all 600 tickets are expected to disappear faster than electronic goods from Tottenham; proving that Bude Reservoir is the only place to be! Throughout the weekend an army of qualified instructors and some of the UK’s, and the worlds, best pro-windsurfers will be on hand to help take your windsurfing to the next level.

Simon Bornhoft has made it his personal ambition coordinate and run the WORLD’S LARGEST windsurfing clinic.  We of course, welcome a challenge and are working relentlessly to ensure this will happen.  We need YOU! Come and be a part of windsurfing history!  Guinness world records have been informed and depending on their organisational skills, an official may show up to make it legitimate.

The weekend will also feature clinics by other industry celebrities such as Adam Sims and Chris Murray and free sailing will be running all weekend. So if it’s your first time on the water or you’re looking to crack that front loop, there will be someone kicking around who can help you out.  If you don’t have any kit, don’t sweat, Boardwise, RRD, Ezzy, Gaastra, Tabou, Spartan, Puravida and Turfdog will be demoing their 2012 wares (kit for all abilities) along with new to the UK KA Sails, giving you the chance to try out some of the newest and shiniest gear on offer and maybe even win yourself a souvenir. Beginners, intermediate and advanced windsurfers are invited to represent their University in fun racing, freestyle and team racing competitions.

After an epic day at the lake, Saturday night sees the infamous AK party, fancy dress compulsory, carnage guaranteed. The best windsurf party to be found anywhere, this year with a naughty “Aussie Kiss XXX” theme taking the inter Uni competitions of the day to a new arena on the dance floor.

Further support is once again provided by Red Bull who will be bringing a festival atmosphere to the lake with music and enough of their stimulating energy drink to rouse even the hardest party goers.  If you don’t fancy getting wet there will still be plenty to do; FLOW (for the ladies of windsurfing) will be on hand to attract the better sex to this beloved sport, hosting a get-together to talk about ‘windsurf-chick stuff’, Turfdog will be demonstrating some basic skills and also introducing the concept of land based freestyle, the Roadford reservoir assault course will be open to all those brave enough to take up the challenge and a beach volleyball tournament (no doubt a very competitive one) are just some examples of other surprises the SWA has in store for this weekend of dreams.

Can’t make it to Aussie Kiss? You’ll be missed. But not to worry! Aussie Kiss is just the first of many amazing SWA events coming soon to various parts of the UK.  Bring on the good times ahead!

For more information and event signup, visit www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

Nationally renowned, Aussie Kiss is the student’s introduction to the Student Windsurfing Association (SWA). On its ninth consecutive year AK is set to be bigger than ever and is expected to, once again, sell out in record time! Over 900 students will travel from far and wide to participate in the UK’s leading student windsurfing event. AK proudly boasts the greatest number of beginner windsurfers hitting the water of any national weekend event and is further accompanied by intermediate and advanced clinics, a freestyle competition and students team racing for their respective universities, there’s windy satisfaction for all.

FLOW (for the ladies of windsurfing) will be on hand to encourage the fairer sex to hit the water, by having a get-together to talk about ‘windsurf-chick stuff’. Red bull will also be making an appearance with their events team, to provide some extreme festival atmosphere. A guest-list of pro’s will be milling around, running clinics and potentially show-casing some of their skills on the water, with ExPix present to capture all the action.

Aussie Kiss kicks off with a day at the lake but the true carnage takes place at the Saturday night party, this year themed ‘Emergency’. Bude Holiday Park will be rammed with outrageous fancy-dress commitment and the blatant inter-uni competitiveness, which is seen on the water, continuing onto the dance-floor until the early hours of the morning.

Freestyle from last year

The Student Windsurfing Association has earned the attention of industry leaders, this year AK is supported by: Boardwise, Club Vass, Boylo’s, Expix, Fanatic, FLOW, Gaastra, GOYA, North, RRD, Severne, Spartan, Starboard, Tabou, Tushingham, Turfdog and Redcups.

Aussie Kiss is the first taste of the SWA experience and is taking place at Bude Holiday Park and Roadford water in Devon on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th October 2010. There are a further eight events organised throughout the university year hosted all around the country. For more information and event signup visit www.swa.co.uk