Sara at Gwithian. Image credit Slackography. 

Sara Kellett

Name: Sara Kellett

Age: 18

From: Totnes, in Devon

Years Windsurfing: about 7

Favourite Discipline: Wave

Local Spot: Bigbury

Occupation: Student

Sponsors: None

How did you get into windsurfing?

I first tried it when I was on holiday in the Maldives when I was 9. It was a beautiful place, but at that time of year there was very little wind. Because of this I found it very difficult and frustrating as would just drift down wind and couldn’t turn around.

It wasn’t until a few years later when my Dad and I saw a whole load of windsurfers out at Roadford lake that we decided to give it another try. After a taster session we started regularly hiring kit, and after much perseverance and a lot of falling in, we became hooked!

Sara, already a strong sailor in the waves can pull a few high level freestyle moves too!

What other sports do you take part in?

When it’s not windy I do a bit of surfing and slacklining.

What do your friends think of windsurfing?

When I asked them they said they think it’s cool, but don’t really get it……..

For the last two years I have competed in the BWA Cornwall event. To be honest I have found them pretty difficult. I get very nervous and there is always so much that you have to think about, so I find it hard to totally enjoy myself and relax. At the last event I came back through the doubles and did about 5 heats one after the other. After this I feel a lot more confident that I know how things work, so that should help.

Sara at Gwithian. Image credit Slackography.

Also the competitions are a great way to meet lots of other windsurfers, and it definitely pushes your windsurfing level.

This year I plan to try the Rhosneigr event as well as Cornwall again, but would love to try the whole tour some time in the future, maybe 2014.

I learnt on the lake, but it was always quite a long way to drive so as soon as I felt ready I started sailing down at the coast as it is much nearer. From here there was a natural progression into wavesailing. At first I would only go out on days when the waves were very small/non-existent, but as time went on my perspective of small got bigger and bigger. I think it really helped that there were lots of inspiring locals who I would see ripping up the waves. It made me see what was possible.

Sara Kellett

It’s a toss up between two.

Firstly I will never forget this sail I had a Wimbleball Lake. It was the only time I have ever sailed there and it was pretty windy. It must have been the first time I properly started planning. All I remember is zooming along in the footstraps, sticking my bum out and practically sitting in the water to try and hold the sail down.

The other was more recently. It was a lovely day down at Bigbury with a WNW wind and it was sunny for a change. I had been trying loops for several years by now and must have crashed hundreds. I was beginning to think they were actually impossible but I was coming towards a nice ramp so I sheeted in, looked behind me, rotated and some how, when I landed I was still on my board and sailing along. By this point I was so used to landing on my back in the water that I could hardly believe it. That’s the thing with windsurfing, things always happen when you least expect them.

Well at the end of June I finish my A-levels and am taking a year or two out before going to Uni. First I will hopefully be off to Vassiliki to work as a windsurfing instructor for Ocean Elements. I get back just in time for BWA Gwithian, and would then like to go somewhere sunny, windy and wavy for the winter, just can’t decide where….

Cornwall Trip – Windsurf, Surf and SUP – Sam Latham K15 from Sam Latham K15 on Vimeo.

Prize on offer:

12 Mile Thrill Seeker Helicopter Flight at Cornwall

and

2 hour windsurf lesson (any level) with Chris ‘Muzza’ Murray.

Helicopter trip and lesson with Muzza, could be yours!

Now in its third year, Cornwall Summer Events is offering adventure experiences including fitness bootcamps, sightseeing flights, and falconry experiences, for five weeks only in support of the emergency service, after last year’s events raised almost £13,000.

This year, Hillmotts summer fitness bootcamps will be available over the five weeks from July 26 to August 30 in Falmouth; plus there’ll be the chance to take part in sightseeing flights in one of Adventure 001’s jet-powered helicopters from St Ives; and falconry and clay shooting.

Of course, most importantly for all windsurfers, or those looking to try the sport, Chris Murray will be on hand in St. Ives providing windsurfing lessons for all!

There will also be plenty of fun events planned around the five weeks, for all the family.

The Cornwall Summer Events are all in aid of a great cause too, money from ticket sales is pledged to the Cornwall Air Ambulance; last year almost £13,000 was raised and in 2013 Adventure Events are pledging to raise a minimum of £15,000!

For more information or to make a booking go to www.cornwallsummerevents.co.uk or contact  01753 643 820 or visit www.cornwallairambulancetrust.org

Follow Adventure Events on Twitter and Facebook.

Terms and conditions: The prize must be used between the 1st and 8th August and the helicopter flight up of grabs is the 12mile Thrill Seeker package.  Full details and exclusions viewable here.

To enter the competition answer the question below, closing date 03/03/2013. A winner will be chosen at random from all correct answers and informed by the 05/03/2013.

Debbie Kennedy

 Name: Debbie Kennedy

Years competing in waves: Three

Best previous results:    2010 – 1^st BWA Tiree, 1^st BWA Cornwall, 1^st Overall BWA

2011 – 1^st BWA Tiree

2012 – 1^st BWA Ireland, 1^st BWA Tiree, 2^nd BWA Cornwall

Title you have won this year: British Wavesailing Association Ladies Champion

Why and when did you first start competing in wave sailing?

It was completely by chance when a friend invited me to go to Tiree in 2010. It was not long after I’d started learning to wave ride but Id always wanted to go so I thought, why not and I’m very glad I did!!!

My sister and I were involved in longboard racing as kids, which was great fun and yes, I had all sorts of crazy windsurfing dreams but school then uni took over. When I started to kitesurf, chasing wind and waves became the norm and resulted in a move to Cornwall in 2009. I never imagined I’d start windsurfing again, so the last few years have been a total whirlwind for me with such a steep learning curve, there’s been no time for dreaming, it’s been a reality!!!

Debbie Kennedy at Big Bay

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the comps! I get quite nervous checking forecasts, choosing which sail to use and waiting for heats but when the green flag goes up, adrenalin just kicks in. Although it never feels like I sail quite as well as I would freesailing, as long as I know that I’ve done the best I can during those minutes Im happy. Listening to feedback from the judges has been really encouraging and key for learning how to compete well – making sure to wait for the set waves!!!! The comps have really pushed my riding forward and I’m proud to be part of the growing popularity in girl’s wavesailing.

Debbie carving round a bottom turn

Debbie throwing some spray!

My sails are Hot Sail Maui Firelights, which are super lightweight and manoeuvrable but also powerful, I absolutely love them!!!! The Chinook kids boom I use has also been amazing because of its super skinny diameter, which really helps the problems I have with arm cramps and it’s incredibly lightweight too. During 2012 I had a pair of secondhand twin fin boards (81L and 68L), which I recently swapped for a 62l single fin for my trip to Cape Town because it was the smallest production board I could get. I’ve realised how much difference the fin makes changing to a 17.5” Black Project MiniEpic fin and plan to spend more time testing out different set ups with the Black Project fins. I also hope to get another bigger board for UK summer conditions.

Debbie Kennedy, at on of her home spots of Gwithian

I don’t “train” – I sail whenever I can because I love it!!! I taught myself to waveride by watching and copying the guys with a sneaky head start from my kite wave riding. In Cornwall the wind can be pretty light but there is usually the option to find a down the line riding spot. Sailing in these conditions has been key to learning to wave ride so quickly, giving me the skills of selecting waves, timing and making the most of each wave …add a bit of wind and it just gets easier! I started and finished 2012 in Cape Town, which has become an annual pilgrimage for me and I was also lucky to spend a few weeks of August in Sidi Kaouki, Morocco where we scored a couple of super wave days. Nowhere beats my home spots in Cornwall though where I rarely miss a session!!!

I don’t have any plans for 2013 other than to keep enjoying being on the water as much as possible, riding the waves and avoiding jumping!!!! I’d like to say big thanks here for all the time and work that goes into the events, all the guys and gals I have so much fun sailing with and to Hot Sails Maui’s Chris Freeman who has supported and encouraged me so much the last three years – your all awesome!!!!

It looks like the 2013 women’s tour will be hotly contested, we will of course have all the news and coverage from all BWA events right here on Boards.

For almost as long as the SWA has been around, Exeter Uni has been one of the biggest clubs in the country. As a pretty decent Uni with a lot of windsurf spots just a short drive away it has no excuse not to be. We know a lot of SWA members chose their Uni based on distance from windsurf spots first and quality of course second. Since the beginning of the SWA wave series Exeter have always been one of the Uni’s to host a leg of the competition.

Exeter WaveX 2011!

Plymouth Uni similarly for many years has had a windsurf club with regular active members. Perhaps always just a little overshadowed by their neighbours in Exeter but non the less they are a club that has produced some rippers over the years. This year the decision has been made mutually amongst both Plymouth and Exeter Uni and the SWA to move the competition, traditionally hosted by Exeter, to Plymouth. The reason for this is simple enough, being that much deeper in to Cornwall staying in Plymouth saves an hour on the journey to widely recognised top wave sailing spots such as Gwithian and Marazion. With the high level of ability amongst the competitors on the SWA series this year, the event organisers from the SWA along with lead sponsor Puravida are looking to hold the events at the most challenging locations, where the top sailors will really be given a chance to shine.

Pompey Wave action

Round one of the series was hosted by Portsmouth Uni. The small swell didn’t make for classic down the line conditions but the high wind produced an impressive aerial display from the students. Adam Chubbock and Ollie Acton from Southampton Solent University so far this year between them have dominated the freestyle series, at Portsmouth they definitely showed that they can defiantly cope when the water is not so flat too finishing second and third respectively. With some super slick forwards, and the occasional sliding move for good luck, they will definitely be ones to watch in the coming wave events. Chubsy commented afterwards, ‘I had to work really hard to get that result. Every time I hit a ramp I did a forward.’

The first round of the series is always exciting. Each year it’s great to see new faces coming through and new talent shining. This year was no exception with Ben Page in his first year at Southampton Uni taking first place in the event. We had already been given a sneak peak of Bens ability when he was narrowly beaten into second place by Ollie Acton in the freestyle competition run by the SWA in Liverpool. At Portsmouth his full power forwards on both tacks along with selection of other big air moves secured him his first (no doubt of many to come) victory at an SWA event.

Perhaps the big wave riders amongst the SWA will feel a little hard done by the conditions at the Portsmouth event. In the past glimpses of wave riding brilliance have been shown from Gorege Bolwell from Portsmouth Uni, the boys from Cardiff Uni who usually have the whole of South Wales as their playground are definitely used to bigger swell and the girls from Exeter who spent all of last summer out in windy and wavy Tenerife will all have their fingers crossed for some waves to prove themselves at the coming event. With Puravida providing a custom board and sponsorship deal to the overall winner there is a lot to play for. Round 2 of the SWA Puravida wave series will hit Plymouth the weekend of the 8th-10th February. It promises to be a hell of a show.

All the details of the event can be found here.

Check out more about the Exeter ladies in this feature on Boards here. 

The BWA announce the first two dates of the UK Wave Tour for 2013.

This year Phil Horrocks was triumphant in Rhosneigr, will he be again in 2013?

The competition will kick off in Wales, at Rhosneigr beach on May 17th to 19th. This will involve competition for the pros only on the Friday, they will then be joined by all other fleets on the Saturday and Sunday.

Straight after this it’s onto Brandon Bay in Ireland, May 20th to 24th, for round two.

So they are doing it again….. sailing at Rhosneigr, Wales at the weekend then a frantic road trip to Brandon Bay, Ireland. This back-to-back event has become one of the most dreaded but popular events in the wavesailors calendar…are you up to it?!

Dates for other rounds to follow. The dates have been decided after discussions with other associations in order to avoid conflicts as far as we are able. Please note that like all things ‘windsurfing’ the dates are not set in absolute stone but we will endeavor to stick to them.

This year Boards covered every event, every day; check out more about each of the events here.

Even with minimal breeze and icy temperatures the event still went off in style with plenty of joviality and frolics had by all. Rainbows, laughter and low speed manoeuvres - sometimes a windsurf comp doesn’t need to be extreme to be fun!

More pics here courtesy of Splash Photography.

Andy King at Gwithian. Image credit Matthew Burridge.

It’s been a fair while since I had to dig out my 3.7m but on one Thursday in mid November there was no doubting what to rig…the smallest sail you had!

This became apparent on the drive down to the Gwithian as my van was being buffeted and side swiped by invisible surges of airborne rage.  Having just finished a night shift I set off early and arrived at Gwithian beach as day broke.

The hazy morning light revealed a surprisingly tempting set of conditions; the waves were around head high with logo high sets. These sets were fighting their way ashore against an unrelenting cross offshore wind, which was frantically tearing endless plumes of spray off every wave that dared show itself.

Andy King. Image credit Matthew Burridge.

Although clearly strong, the direction of the wind somehow made it look manageable from the relative shelter of the car park.  Having slipped and slid my way down a saturated donkey trail with a broken toe from a classic Monday sail here and then battled with the whirl winds at the cliff base I was finally rigged with my 3.7m Goya Banzai, ready for its maiden voyage.

You know it is properly windy when walking to the waters edge involves imitating a drunken crab, yet finally at the waters edge I stepped aboard my Goya Quad 78l and was off.

Timo Mullen.

Steve King.

Heading out at Gwithian

Andy King jumping. All images credit Matthew Burridge.

No need to sheet in, in fact probably no need for even a sail at all as the mast and boom would have had enough surface area to have got me planing. This was full power, full on survival sailing. Thankfully the waves weren’t too big, as trying to wave ride with any element of control meant praying for a lull; and these were few and far between.

With an early forecast having finally delivered the goods, a lot of people were at the beach so there was no shortage of sailors willing to give it a bash, quite literally for some.

Jamie Hancock. Image credit Matthew Burridge.

Newly crowned British Champion Jamie Hancock had made the treck down from Southborne and was handling the conditions exceptionally well especially given his slighter stature.  The local boys never fail to put on a good show and there were still some radical jumps and slick wave rides seen in amongst the carnage.  Many, like myself, looked to be pretty over powered and if wasn’t long before the incoming tide forced those remaining on the water upwind to Peter’s point.

Here the waves were a little smaller but they were breaking even harder as the ever increasing wind speed would literally hold them open until gravity and the sheer weight of water in the lip finally brought it crashing down like a man trap looking to ensnare a victim and shatter carbon like bone!

Andy King bail out! Image credit Matthew Burridge.

The wind picked up so much at this point that you could see patches of sea that appeared to be boiling. As these furious gusts hit you would be elevated upwards despite every effort to keep the gear pinned to the water.

After three hours fueled only on Mc Donald’s caffeine I was done and having derigged in the sand storm that was once a beach I started the climb up to the cliff path.  Halfway up I stopped and looked down at Ian Black now sailing all alone as he tacked on to a nice looking swell.  Using his size and strength to his advantage he fought through a super powered up bottom turn and positioned himself perfectly for a sick top turn throwing bath loads of spray about a 100 metres off downwind.  He repeated this feet for the next ten minutes as I watched on from the cliff. Classic Blackie in his element out alone excelling in extreme conditions at his home spot.  

Ian Black. Image credit Matthew Burridge.

On reaching the grassy comfort of the cliff path I assumed my ordeal was now over but no. The wind had got so strong that it physically blew me back to the car park faster than my tired legs could carry me. Not the most elegant of sights but no doubt highly entertaining to a fool hardy dog walker I rocketed past. Delighted to find my van still upright as I slid my way across the car park I managed to reach shelter just as the heavens open and the flood waters that would plague Cornwall for the next week began, but that’s another story…

Andy King is sponsored by:

Goya Boards and Sails

Mormaii Wetsuits

bigsalty.co.uk

Amex rigging solutions

Pat love Accessories

Flymount Camera Accessories

MFC Fins

You might also like to read:

Follow all the news and features from Andy King here.

With a promising forecast, the 5 Oceans crew treat themselves to some time off, or should we say, some ‘product testing’? Have a look at some of the great images of team rider Ian Black below, check out the rest of the shots on the 5 Oceans BLOG and explore their awesome sail range HERE.

Busy times in the 5 Oceans loft

“We are busy, sometimes I think too busy, especially when we are just a little bit behind on the orders, something has to give and the first thing to go is taking the camera to the beach. Its great getting good shots of the sailing, and we have a fabulous backdrop in Cornwall, with some of the best sailors and simply the best scenery so it was nice to take the afternoon off enjoy the sun and warm and get some pictures of Ian Black sailing one of our local spots. I’d be sailing myself….. but the coarse sand that can be seen in the pictures rather puts me off!”

Stunning Cornish scenery

Ian Black in action

All images courtesy of 5 Oceans.

Important note: You can only access this beach, via a steep path, if the firing range is closed.

The prevailing South-west wind is often funnelled along the Hayle river and streams out at the Bluff. This causes cross-offshore winds making for awesome conditions when the waves are big.

Further along the bay, and to the North lies the fabled Gwithian beach with the  notorious ‘goat trail’ access path. Gwithian picks up a lot more swell than the more sheltered beaches to the south of the Bay. In a Southerly Gwithian will give you cross-off, classic riding days from knee to mast high. Steve and Andy King describe…

Note: You will be charged £3 per board during the summer season to sail here as well as parking fees bringing it to a fiver.

The video is filled with some great footage showing Andy doing his thing at various Cornish breaks. You can expect the normal powerful King style of riding and jumping with a bit of freestyle thrown in the for good measure. With some great insights into why Cornwall is such a fantastic windsurfing location with amazing wind and wave stats. Also up for discussion is how greatly suited Cornwall is for beginners, with an abundance of lakes and a varied coastline there is something for everyone.


Published by the Cornwall Marine Network and produced by the Sideways Collective.

The Polkerris team collect their award

The Polkerris Beach Company has finished its 2011 season on a high by scooping the Silver award for ‘Best Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience Of The Year’ at the Cornwall Tourism Awards!

Technically, the award was presented to the centre for their outstanding windsurfing tasters but in practice, the judging panel assessed the business as a whole. With rivals such as the St Mellion International Resort and the world renowned Minack Theatre, manager Lynn Shillito commented “It’s very nice to know that we are up there with the best in Cornwall as once again the region was voted ‘Top Holiday Destination’ at the British Travel Awards. We also won Silver last year, so it was a huge pat on the back for the whole team.”

With windsurfing instructors such as Adam Lewis who ranked 17th at the last PWA wave event and George Shillito who finished 3rd nationally in 2010, Bob said “it is to no surprise that the centre just keeps growing from strength to strength and we look forward to welcoming many more watersports enthusiasts new and old next year!”

Keep an eye on www.polkerrisbeach.com for all the latest news and information.

Pictured above: Bob, Lynn, George on the left, Hollie on the far right, plus host Sue Perkins and the gent from Brewer & Bunney who presented the award. Goes to show they can scrub up nicely when required … and own clothes other than flip-flops and T-shirts!