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

Max Rowe at West Witterring

Just to remind everyone, this coming weekend (22/23 Sept), we will be at West Wittering for the penultimate event in the series and everything is still to play for in all of the fleets.

Bubble is leading the Pro’s with two event wins but Max, Adam or Phil could still make a late charge, Danielle Lucas is the top Lady at the moment and Nic Hibdige is looking pretty good in the Youth’s.

In his first full season Jamie Howard is on fire in the Junior’s but being chased hard by Ollie Bradley Baker and the Minim fleet has Ike Bradley Baker and Harry Davis on equal points, so that could go either way.

Andy Bubble Chambers

Don’t forget registration is from 09.00 to 10.00 on Saturday and in the evening we are planning on socialising at the Old House at Home Pub. Simon assures me that the food is really good there now but the entertainment is more civilised than it used to be in the early days of West Wittering events when it mostly consisted of fights between the windsurfers and the locals.

At the moment the weather forecast for the weekend is still unclear, it’s possible that ex hurricane Nadine could swing low and bring us plenty of wind or go high and give it to Scotland, so it could be big moves in big wind or Tow In behind the Jet Ski, either way we will have a great event at a great venue.

Looking forward to the final event in the Tour at Weymouth, the dates are 13/14 October and everyone should be there for that one. We will be based at the WPNSA and be working out of OTC but depending on the wind direction will be mobile to get the best point to sail at in Portland Harbour.

Registration will be on Saturday from 09.00 to 10.00 but early arrivals can register with me on Friday afternoon as I will be there all week at Weymouth Speed Week, why not come early and give that a try. The Slalom sailors will also be at Weymouth for the weekend so there is a big party being planned for Saturday night.

There’s plenty of accommodation in Weymouth/Portland but I’m staying at the Chesil Beach Holiday Park which has loads of facilities and is excellent for families, they are offering a special deal of any caravan for £199.00 for a 3 night weekend so check them out on www.chesilholidays.com

The SWA can confirm their plan for BBL:

Windsurf coaching from the legendary – Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, Sam Ross, Jim Brooks-Dowsett and Joe O’Callaghan.

SUP coaching from Pro fanatic SUP riders, Jay Manning and Tony Peters.

SWA at Beach Break Live

Make sure you get involved – SWA HQ based on the beach everyday, look for the silver ION teepee.

SWA camping area – head for the SWA flag & pitch up.

Saturday day jamming in the SWA HQ with Sam Green (acoustic guitarist from AK).

Saturday evening - SWA camping area – Sam’s Jam Sesh – tune up your instruments and warm up for vocal chords…

PIMP UP THE SWA CAMPING AREA:- 

Lets get creative & make the SWA stand out! BBL domination is our game! SWA numbers may be thin on the ground vs snowsports but we can make up for it in style!!

Feel free to bring/make: 

SWA bunting – click here

SWA banners

SWA flags

Tinsel

Solar lights etc!

See you there! 

Find out more from the SWA on Boards or on the SWA website.

Hopefully many of you have been making the most of the weather the past couple of days and looking forward to a good saturday session. Ant Baker was certainly ready for the wind today as he called an impromptu wave clinic and competition today, which will just be coming to a close as this news goes live, we hope to hear an update from Ant very soon!

Sail for Gold has dominated the news this week, with some incredible conditions here in the UK and all the top RS:X racers in the mix.

Sail for Gold – Wednesday Update

Sail for Gold – Thursday Update

Sail for Gold – Friday Update

Nick Dempsey racing at Rolex Miami OCR. Image credit Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR

Some 2013 gear has already been spotted this week, with the release of the NeilPryde Wizard and some brilliant shots of Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers putting them through their paces. Plus, RRD showed us around their dealers conference including a sneak peak of the 2013 ranges.

Finally, Boards posted their second installment of ‘Deals of the Week’ sharing with you all the latest offers from the windsurfing world. Be sure to take a look and grab yourself a bargain!

Last weekend saw windsurfers swarm to Worthing, for the latest round of the BSA and UKWA freestyle competition.

Light winds did not put off the competitors, although the freestyle competition struggled to get underway a great weekend was had by all and the slalom fleet managed a few rounds of close racing.

Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers: 

“A few gusts came through which was enough to pump into a few moves but not enough to run a full heat unfortunately.  Great turn out though and lovely weather! Top weekend!”

UKWA Freestyle Worthing

Mike Archer took part in the freestyle event and managed to score some brilliant images before the wind died. Check out Mike’s blog for the full gallery http://mikewindsurf.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/uk-freestyle-at-worthing.html

Gallery Images: Courtesy of Mike Archer and Ant Baker. 

Picture 6 Picture 7 Picture 8 Picture 9 Picture 10 Picture 11 Picture 12 Picture 13 Picture 14 Picture 15 Picture 16 Picture 17 Picture 18 Picture 19 Picture 20 Picture 21 UKWA Freestyle Worthing Picture 23 IMG_1666 BSA Worthing IMG_1693 IMG_1663 pastedGraphic BSA Pro Results BSA Amateur Results BSA Amateur Results

Boards caught up with Ant Baker to find out exactly what happened at the slalom event organised by the K66 team.

We had port tack conditions at Worthing, wind from the east, which is not ideal for building a sea breeze but we were still positive the wind would come through.

Saturday morning we awoke, hoping that some of the wind from the night before would have stuck around. First thing it was relatively calm, but through the morning the wind built to approximately 13-14knots, light but solid slalom racing conditions.

A five buoy downwind course was set, this was a little tricky in the light winds but we all wanted to make the most of the conditions. We made it onto the water at about 12.30pm and started son after.

The start was a little upwind of the beach, some finding it tricky to make it to the start in time in the light winds. But the first pro heat was set to start, before having to momentarily postpone due to unforeseen circumstances, just before the green flag. Some sailors, including Weymouth winner James Dinsmore, did not see that the start had been abandoned and sailed the full race. When the race was then actually started a few minutes later, this meant that James along with some other top names could not make it back upwind in time.

The second round of the pros then took place, with myself taking the win followed closely by Simon Cofield. I was using a 9.4m Warp and 140litre board with 50cm fin, and just about finding the speed he needed to win the first round.

The pros final then took place, with some more confusion and additional riders taking part. At the first gybe mark I was in the lead, but struggled to maintain my speed over the first reach and was overtaken by Simon Cofield. Cofield kept his lead throughout the race, proving he still has the speed in light winds. I finished in second, with Starboard/Tushingham main man Paul Simmons, finishing in third.

The amateurs got through two rounds, plus the losers final, but didn’t make it to the winners final in the light winds.

BSA Worthing

Saturday night saw a great evening for all racers, with a BBQ and movie played. Unfortunately the wind did not transpire on the sunday, it picked up and generated some excitement for 10minutes but unfortunately faded as quickly as it had come in.

The next BSA event is at Aberdovey at the end of June, and the next freestyle event will be held at Herne Bay this coming weekend. Check out the full UKWA calendar http://ukwindsurfing.com/events/

Lea Spencer of Red Surf Bus and Mike George also report from the event on their own blogs.

Red Surf Bus

Mike George

FULL BSA RESULTS 

AMATEURS

BSA Amateur Results

PROS

Pro Results

A special ONE OFF Freestyle Clinic with 4 x British Freestyle Champion Bubble will run in Vass from the 24th – 30th June. This week will run separately from the normal week at Club Vass. We will eat, sleep and breathe freestyle!!

All aspects of freestyle will be covered from the pop, all the way through to the most advanced freestyle moves known to man!! As well as freestyle kit set up and competitions. Chats from the legendary Jay Haysey from Globalshot Pictures about getting the right shot and marketing yourself. He’ll also be getting awesome pictures and video of everyone.

WARNING!! This week is not for the faint hearted with lots of adrenaline pumping activities, such as mountain biking and wakeboarding. Also, some Suping and Yoga for the chillout sessions too! But mainly the week is about having fun, learning lots and windsurfing as much as possible.

Social evenings will include meals out in the awesome town of Vassiliki and not forgetting the world renowned Club Vass BBQ and social evenings.

Video and on the water coaching will be done everyday and debriefed around the bar in the evenings (depending on wind and other social activities!) All of the video footage will be edited into an awesome action pumping movie for you to take home!

There are only 10 places available at the ridiculously low price of £599!!! If you snooze you loose!!

Phone the Club Vass office on 0844 4630191 and book on “Bubble’s Freestyle Week”

Any questions please email Bubble bubble@k540.com 07909868356

www.clubvass.com 

Probably the best week you’ll ever go on!!

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A FREESTYLE WEEK ONLY, NO GYBERS OR FREERIDERS PLEASE!!

Spin it to win it with Andy Bubble Chambers

Proffitt BWA 2011

With pre-registration open for both events, which run back to back, entry if filling up quickly. Make the most of the discounted online pre-entry:

Register for BWA Wales DISCOUNTED ENTRY

Register for BWA Ireland DISCOUNTED ENTRY

Sarah Bibby and Katie McAnena on the podium in 2011

The BWA have teamed up with the SWA in Rhosneigr, to provide a fantastic weekend competition for all the students and remember ladies get half price entry too, so no excuses!

With the forecast really hotting up, bringing south westerlies for Rhosneigr and a building well for Brandon Bay, the reunited judging ‘dream team’ headed up by Duncan Coombes, are set for a busy week.

Fantastic on water action, combined with great off water entertainment including Ski and Snowboard BBQ, Curry Olympics and of course the traditional Spillanes ‘Big Wednesday’ is sure to lead to a great set of competitions for all.

BWA Wales and Ireland, Boards will be reporting live from both event sites

Find out more about both events on Boards at ‘BWA set for Wales and Ireland’ and check out our interview with Rider of the Month, and previous title winner, Ben Proffitt, who gives the low down on how the competition is looking in the pro fleet and what conditions we could expect to see. 

As previously mentioned Boards will be reporting Live from both event sites, but more on that tomorrow! 

Firstly, on top of the massive reductions on their wide selection of JP windsurf boards, when you order a board online we’ll also send you a free GoPro 960 worth £170. Also, the shipping of your board to anywhere in the UK (excluding Islands and Highlands) is only £1.99.

Bubble with his GoPro

They also have even more reductions on windsurfing equipment with up to 23% off booms, up to 35% off harnesses, up to 40% off masts, up to 45% off sails.

On the wetsuit front, FC Watersports are offering up to 40% off winter wetsuits, as well as having the new 2012 O’Neill and Animal summer wetsuits on sale online.

They now have the GoPro 2 back in stock… buy now before they sell out again!

Also, RED Paddle Co Inflatable SUPs are now in stock.  They have a demo Inflatable SUP for customers to take out and try at The Watersports Academy, 19 Banks Rd, Poole, BH13 7PS.  Also for demo here are RTM single and double sit-on-top kayaks.

New summer clothing is now in stock and FC Watersports have up to 60% off winter stock, so it’s an amazing time to grab a last bargain before it’s all sold out.

And finally, worldwide shipping on clothing and wetsuits is only £1.99, a great price for those out of the EU.

Head to FC Watersports for all the details. 

With some solid winter training behind him, and a surprise goal for the 2012 season, Proffitt seems rather more relaxed than he should be and definitely earns his place as May Rider of the Month.

Proffitt riding high. Image courtesy www.windsurfaustralia.com

Name: Ben Proffitt

Nicknames: Errr..  maybe Proffittaroll

Sail number: K800

DOB: 20/01/1978

Years windsurfing: Oh god..  26 years!!

Disciplines: Wave

Home town: Shrewsbury

Current residence: England

Sponsors: Simmer Sails. Simmer Boards, Simmer wetsuits, O’shea Clothing and Funsport.

Boards: When did you first consider yourself professional?

Proffitt: I would say 2004 after a 5th place in Pozo waves, and a couple of good freestyle results. That was probably when I got to the stage where I was making enough money to be classed as a pro…  but don’t get me wrong it was proper bread and water living!

Before that, from 1997 to 2000 I was part of the Olympic squad and training full time on one design, so I suppose this could be classed as being a professional too!

Boards: As the winner of the BWA tour for the last two years, we all know you’re capable of taking the top spot, but when was your first big UK win?

Proffitt: Technically, the first win was probably 1992 on a raceboard! The first big event win was the Freestyle Nationals in 2004.

Taking the title in Cornwall

Boards: You’ve been posting some pretty successful results on the PWA for a few years now, what has your best result been?

Proffitt: Funnily enough it was my first ever wave event, again Pozo in 2004! I finished 5th in the single, and then made it back up to 5th in the double. I was set to take on Nik Baker but the waves disappeared and we never finished the competition, leaving four of us equal 5th.

Boards: How has your winter training been?  Where have you been and what have you been working on?

Proffitt: Winter was really good! For the first time, in a very long time I didn’t go to Cape Town. After six or seven years there, I went over to Western Australia. I got a lot of really great down the line sailing, maybe not as many full power jumping days as I would have liked, but from what I hear Cape Town didn’t have much of this either, so I don’t think I missed out too much!

I really wanted to work on my doubles and push loop forwards, but unfortunately as I said conditions didn’t exactly play ball, I am hoping to head out to Pozo pretty soon to make up for this though.

Training hard in Australia

Boards: Not all of us have been to Rhosneigr or Brandon Bay, what can each location be like and what sort of sailing can we expect to see at each?

Proffitt:  A typical forecast for Rhossy is a south/south westerly, so this means cross on shore, port tack conditions. It’s a pretty friendly wave, not really a mast snapper, but still super fun for jumping and tricks on the wave. It is like a cross between Pozo and El Medano, when it’s good you can score loads of jumps on the way out, then on a wave you’re not going to score down the line riding. It’s more about nailing your moves.. so back side/frontside 360’s, takas, forwards off the lip etc. A total stunt fest!

Brandon Bay is such a big bay, it works in pretty much every wind directions, and can throw up a whole host of conditions. A good forecast would be south westerly, cross off shore with down the line riding and that’s definitely what I have my fingers crossed for, as it’s what I’ve been sailing in all winter. In these conditions it’s more about the wave riding, and you’re likely to see aerials, goiters and just pure, slick wave riding.

Boards:  After such success last year, do you think you’ve got what it takes to win the tour again?

Proffitt: Well I feel I am riding as well as, if not better than I ever have been. My wave riding is feeling really good, I’m even more comfortable on my gear and I know how far I can push it now. So I don’t see why not! But there is some really stiff competition and as with everything in life you also need a certain amount of luck.

This year, Boards will be reporting LIVE from the event sites with up to the minute information and inside news and interviews.

After a tight battle at the top in 2011, it’s anyone’s guess who could take the top spots this year. We have drafted in a big name on the BWA scene to tell us more, the full feature will be online very soon.

ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!

Register for BWA Wales DISCOUNTED ENTRY

Register for BWA Ireland DISCOUNTED ENTRY

At the first stop, Rhosneigr, Wales, the competition will run from Friday 11th May for the pro’s, with the amateurs joining them on Saturday and Sunday. Competitors will the head straight over to Brandon Bay, Ireland, for a week of competition running from Monday 14th through til Friday 18th May.

With great wind and waves in 2011, BWA Wales hosts FUNSPORT, are hoping for more of the same:

“We had an excellent tour last year with great conditions at all the events, and I’m sure this one is going to deliver again for 2012!” Bucky

Funsport have just extended their shop in good time to provide an even better base camp for BWA Wales 2012. They have hosted the event for many years now and are totally committed to supporting the tour…..as well as some of the best known British Riders like Ben Proffit (Simmer Stye) and Phil Horrocks. The prize fund has been confirmed for the pro’s and local clothing brand OSHEA will be looking after the amateurs alongside our great tour sponsors.

“It’s great to compete here where me and Phil have basically grown up wavesailing, and makes for an awesome start to the tour! Phil always battles hard on home turf so it should be a tough comp just like last year, fingers crossed” Ben

“For the amateur sailors the tour has never been more fun and better supported with prizes, we can’t encourage people enough to come and take part to enjoy the sailing and atmosphere!” Nigel Treacy 

STENA LINE are supporting the BWA by offering all competitors a 30% discount on crossings to Ireland and back between the 11th and 20th of May. This will be on the flexi and premium ticket rates voucher codes to book available very soon.

As STENA LINE  become more involved in supporting UK Windsurfing there will also be a travel prize for the top amateur rider!

Discounted pre-entry runs for Wales BWA until 7pm on Thursday 10th May.

Women – With great thanks to the support of ‘Flo Windsurfing’ we are pleased to offer half price entry at all BWA events for 2012

Students – With great thanks to the efforts of ‘SWA’ and the team that organised their tour this year we are pleased to offer half price entry at all BWA events for 2012

Youth – With growing links to the RYA and in support for the upcoming future legends of our sport we are pleased to offer half price entry at all BWA events for 2012

We will have more details on the Irish leg of the tour very soon, follow all the news on Boards, catch up with last years podcast showing the amazing action in Brandon Bay on our sister site www.boardseeker.com

www.walesbwa.co.uk ‘Like’ BWA Wales 2012 on Facebook.  Follow @walesbwa on Twitter

www.irelandbwa.co.uk ‘Like’ BWA Ireland 2012 on Facebook. Follow @irelandbwa on Twitter

 

The wind is back! Despite the forecast at the beginning of the week we already had a wind speed of 20knt in the morning and the wind was to pick up again in the afternoon. The Young Guns were training hard today – as tomorrow we will hold the competition and you can literally feel how excited the kids are. The first personal goals  were sucessfully achieved and many happy faces returned back from the water today – joy, satisfaction but also a strong will to achieve their next goal was  written all over their faces. Many of the Young Guns were on wave side today and tried to their first jumps and loops today. Everybody was so tired in the evening and so we all went to bed early in order to be in top shape for tomorrow’s competition.