Just like when you are holding up a kid’s jumper that is clearly too big for the child it is intended for, the temptation when investing in your first lot of windsurfing equipment is to think, ‘I’ll grow into it’.

But according to Sam that is the worst thing you can do…..

Beginner board

It used to be the basic rule of thumb that the newer you were to the sport, the longer the board you needed. Now it is all about width, volume and reserve volume (we will come to that in a moment…)

Sam, who is an RYA Windsurfing Instructor says, significant advances in kit development over the past five to six years means you are now able to get more out of your ‘starter’ kit for longer, as the wider boards provide greater stability and can better handle a much bigger wind range as well as skill range .

That pattern continues as you move up through your intermediate levels before the kit starts becoming more discipline specific the more advanced your skills become.

Windsurfing is easier now than it has ever been.

So, size does matter? Sam provides his top tips on what to look for when buying a board.

For a beginner take your body weight in kilograms and then add about 20kg, which typically accounts for your wetsuit, rig and board.

That figure will give you the amount of volume needed in the board to float you as one litre will float one kilo. Once you have that figure, double it. That will give you a good amount of ‘reserve volume’ which will add sufficient stability to help you in the early stages.

The more volume you have the more stable you will be and the better you will float.

For example if you weight 80kgs, when you factor in reserve volume, your starter board should be about 200 litres, 60kgs would be 160 litres etc.

Minnis Bay Windsurfing Club – beginners Elaine and Lisa get ready

Once you start progressing into intermediate level, where you may have completed a Start Windsurfing course and are going a bit faster or are maybe using a harness, a board 40-60 litres in volume will likely be more suitable.

That volume recommendation drops to 20-40l for higher level intermediates, this will still give enough volume for uphauling but the board will be better suited for stronger winds.

After that optimum board volume largely depends on what discipline you are doing, for example you would probably add 5-10 litres for freestyle or lose about the same for wave.

Whatever you are doing it is all about having enough volume to float you sufficiently.

A board for planing conditions, with a good sized fin to generate some lift, but not too much, for our light weight sailor.

Things like the developments in rigs that can cope in wider wind ranges and the introduction of boards having more than one fin have all contributed to the fact that boards can now be shorter and more manageable in a wider range of conditions.

Having more than one fin means you can expand the range of a board as the size of the fin should marry up with the size of the sail.

This also ties into the conditions – a bigger fin for light airs as they generate greater lift and lateral resistance and smaller fin for when it is windier to stay flatter – whereas previously you may have gone out and bought another board altogether for the different conditions.

You have to feel comfortable in the full range of conditions with whatever you are sailing. If you start finding it harder to control the board in rougher conditions and/or higher winds, for example, it is probably time to start thinking about getting a less voluminous board.

Mark Hosegood, on a smaller board designed for more advanced riders

But do not look at it as a one-board solution; investing in a smaller board does not mean you should get shot of your bigger board.

Your first board can still be a fantastic, advanced piece of kit in light winds. Many Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs) now have windsurfing fittings as well so give you the ultimate light wind compromise with or without a sail. Just take your paddle with you where you go!

The most important thing in all of this is making sure you can spend as much time on the water as possible. The better you get, the more you want to progress and learn new stuff, and that comes back to making sure you have the right board to start it all off with.

To find out more about getting started in windsurfing and RYA Windsurfing training courses visit www.rya.org.uk

 Love Windsurfing?  Then why not join the association that promotes and protects, safe, successful and rewarding British windsurfing.  Join today and support the RYA in protecting your rights and freedoms.  Take advantage of free advice and support on a wide range of windsurfing topics; enjoy free third party insurance, as well as a fantastic range of personal member offers.  Find out more by calling 0844 556 9556, email member.services@rya.org.uk or visit www.rya.org.uk

The newest and one of the most revolutionary shapes on the market has hit the UK; Starboard’s Black Box, developed by Dany Bruch, has the aim of taking the lighter, flatter wavesailing days to a new level.

Our Boards Clones have already tried and tested the board, and loved it as you can see in the Winter edition of our print magazine, but how is it getting on in UK conditions?

Surely the Black Box will be perfectly suited to many UK locations that don’t always provide great down the line conditions? Boards catches up with Sam Ross to find out about his experience with the board so far and where YOU can take one out for a spin. 

The Starboard Black Box, before it hit the UK the Clones put the board through it’s paces in Tenerife

“So far, the board has been used in Bigbury, Mothecombe, Worthing, Hove, Shoreham, my home spot and a few more places too. Before I stepped on it last week I had seen pictures and read a lot about the board, but hadn’t used one.

Kieran Martin

Now 10 years later, despite being rated as one of the world’s most promising young talents and having multiple junior and youth level World medals to his name, Kieran can still recall the excitement and adventure he felt that very first time he got off and running alone.

It’s a feeling that is replicated across the country by hundreds of rookie youngsters every year and it’s the reason windsurfing is more popular and accessible than ever for kids.

“I was a bit wobbly to start with!” the 2010 Youth Olympics bronze medallist admits, “But the feeling of going alone for the first time was really good. There are so many gains you can then make really quickly; it just made me want to keep learning right from the start.”

There were almost 750 entrants nationwide in last year’s Team15 (T15) Inter-Club Championship and these are just the youngsters who wanted to take part in the racing. There were many more young windsurfers, either new to the sport or more interested in exploring freestyle and wave routes who also enjoy weekly sessions at one of over 80 T15 clubs in Britain.

Team 15 racing

There is little doubt that T15, set up by the RYA in 2001 to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grassroots level, continues to play a massive part in opening up more doors for kids to discover a windsurfing lifestyle.

But fundamentally kids have got to want to do the sport in the first place.

So what is it about windsurfing which captures the imagination of youngsters like Kieran Martin, Izzy Hamilton, the Sills family and George Shillito, Team15 graduates who are all now doing amazing things internationally in racing, freestyle and wave.

Sam Ross is one of the country’s top windsurf instructors and a T15 coach. He says over the past two years the biggest demand he’s had has been from kids. He’s in no doubt as to why.

“For sporty kids windsurfing’s a great sport, but for non-sporty kids it’s just as great. You may think you have a nervous group to start with but within an hour they’re throwing themselves about and the confidence, fearlessness and banter just comes out of them.

“Windsurfing is one of the few sports they can be fully independent really quickly. In other sports, like rowing, dinghy sailing or team sports, you always have an instructor with you or teammates around you. But very quickly on a windsurfing board they can be up and running completely on their own. The sense of achievement is massive. You can see how happy they are, and how much they are absolutely loving it the first time they get going on their own.

“The best thing is by the end of a one hour session, they are all doing it. There is no end game when you first start; it’s not about how fast or far you can go, the achievement just comes from standing up and moving, wherever they end up on the water.”

Team 15 fun and games!

Sam backs up Kieran’s experience, that once you get going that first time there are then loads of little steps to improve really early – things like introducing a turn, changing feet position to balance better and adjusting the rig position to go upwind or downwind. Tiny steps in the great scheme of things but each one a massive motivating achievement.

Sam believes the most important thing when first introducing youngsters to the sport is not getting hung up on the right terminology but allowing them to familiarise themselves with the kit and get a feel for it all first and foremost. This includes carrying the board and sails, standing on the board and trying to balance it, then gradually drip-feeding in the names of the different parts. It’s learning through the experience rather than making it feel like school.

He believes that the developments in kit has also made a massive difference in attracting kids to, and keeping them involved in, the sport in recent years.

Sam adds: “When I first learned to windsurf 15 years ago I learned on small adult kit. I remember it being the hardest sport I’d ever tried! The only thing that kept me involved was the enthusiasm of my instructor.

“Now the kit is so much lighter and there are specific boards and sails depending on the size and experience of a child. All centres and schools have realised the value of having this kit and invested accordingly. All kids are now learning on kids’ kit. I’m blown away by the number of kids windsurfing at such an advanced level at such a young age now.”

That ‘advanced level’ can be in racing, freestyle or wave; once a youngster’s grasped the basics and developed a passion for the sport, the world’s their oyster. Windsurfing also becomes a viable career option as you can be become an Assistant Instructor at 14 and an instructor at 16, meaning you can earn pocket money doing the thing you love!

Team 15, a great place for all windsurfing youngsters

Gillian Wright is the RYA’s National Windsurfing Development Officer and a driving force behind T15 since its inception.

She says: “Team15 has always looked to ensure windsurfing skills of all descriptions are nurtured, providing children with a good foundation in the sport, allowing them to take their windsurfing in whichever direction they wanted. It’s fantastic to see the youngsters progressing from Team15 to succeed in a variety of windsurfing disciplines. Whatever they go on to do, we hope that they will continue to windsurf long after their Team15 days.”

Look at the face of any youngster stepping on to a windsurfing board for the first time this summer and you would think that here is a pretty good chance…….

For more information about Team15 and to locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

RYA Advanced Instructor course, get involved!

The Advanced Instructor course has a clinic-based approach, appealing to a wider spectrum. The core content of the instructor course enables instructors to teach the main advanced course in the scheme. In addition, instructors can be assessed during the course to enable them to teach further advanced clinics in advanced carving skills and bump and jump.

Eligibility

Intermediate planing instructor:

Minimum age 18

Minimum of a very competent Advanced certificate holder plus clinics in waterstarting and carve gybing

RYA Powerboat level 2 certificate

Valid first aid qualification*

Evidence of 100 hours logged as an Intermediate planing instructor

If you have any questions or want to book yourself on the course then please contact Sam or Tris.

UKSA in Cowes

It looks like the latest group of future windsurfing instructors are having a great time, despite the cold, with Sam Ross in Cowes. If you’re interested in becoming an instructor in windsurfing or any other watersport you can check out the next UKSA training options here.  The UKSA offer a wide variety of courses from Kickstart programmes, to instructor plus courses, internships and even BTECs.

In further UKSA news, the charity are also recruiting for a Business Development officer. Check out full details below:

Job vacancy at UKSA: Business Development Officer, reporting to Head of Fundraising.

The key objectives are to devise and implement a sustainable, cross-regional, fundraising-led business development strategy, identify prospect organisations with whom to develop relationships of value to the charity, and manage internal relationships to ensure effective response to the requirements identified during business development activities.
This role centres on business development but also requires strong capability in communications as well as the ability to form and retain productive internal and external relationships.

The role requires an entrepreneurial and independent person who can generate sales and other relationships of value as UKSA expands into new markets. The person will therefore have to demonstrate the following characteristics and be: target driven and highly motivated, a strong influencer with the ability to show insight and manage complex discussions and negotiations together with the relationships arising, an independent self-starter with the ability to use own initiative and available resources to achieve targets, the capacity to perform under pressure and remotely from management.

Essential work skills needed: suitable professional and/or academic qualifications and/or equivalent work experience. Proven experience in sales processes within the non-profit sector. A demonstrable track record in resource development, including substantial experience in developing, managing and evaluating sales strategies within the non-profit sector. Excellent written English and a proven ability to write clear and concise reports. A confident communicator with networking skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and prospects of all types. Experience of strategic planning and budgeting in charitable organisations. Excellent working knowledge of MS Office packages.

To apply, please email a CV with a covering letter, to Suzanne Hopkins – HR Co-ordinator, at sue.hopkins@uksa.org . Closing date for applications is Friday 1st February 2013. The role is full-time, 37.5 hours over 5 days

PETER HART MASTERCLASS CLINIC –
9th of June Vassiliki Greece £989pp based on 7 nights, 2 sharing.

Peter Hart returns to host yet another week with Neilson holidays, this year in the legendary Vassiliki, Greece. In a recent worldwide poll called the ‘Top 100’ Peter Hart was voted the 3rd most influential and inspirational windsurfer of all time. At various times known as ‘The Guru’ and ‘Mr Windsurfing’ he has been involved in every aspect of the sport as competitor, journalist, TV commentator, trainer, coach and program maker.

http://www.neilson.co.uk/peter-hart-windsurf-masterclass

Required standard. Planing using the harness 

Sam Ross clinics with Neilson, will you be there?

SAM ROSS WINDSURF CLINIC -  10th and 17th of June Ortakent Turkey. £160 additional supplement to the holiday.

Sam Ross first started windsurfing in 1997. Sam is currently an RYA advanced plus instructor, RYA trainer and has been a member of the Boards test team. He is also an RYA level 2 race coach and has given feedback to different brands on product and their development.

Sam’s focus is on spending as much time on the water as  possible, helping those who want to progress with their personal and  professional development. Neilson are delighted that  Sam will be continuing his long association with us and providing specialist windsurf clinics at Neilson Seaside  Beachclub in Ortakent, Turkey this summer.

Required standard. Planing using the harness

http://www.neilson.co.uk/sam-ross-windsurf-clinics

Neilson holiday offers:

2 WEEK BEACHCLUB HOLIDAYS FOR  THE PRICE OF ONE
Throughout May, June, September and October you can stay at a Neilson award winning inclusive beachclub – relaxing, windsurfing or playing tennis in the sunshine for 2 weeks while only paying for one!

SAVE ON NEILSON SAILING & BEACHCLUB HOLIDAYS
Save up to 5% on a Neilson Sailing or Beachclub holiday when you book online here

Book now here!

Many companies and locations makes it pretty tricky to decide exactly where to go, our advice, why not check out the latest jobs on offer from Neilson? Neilson have a great range of beach clubs across Europe, providing fun filled holidays for many guests. Take a look around their beach clubs below and if you’re tempted check out their employment on offer here. 

Instructor courses are run all around the country by various windsurf trainers, take  a look at the RYA website for more info and for dates check out this link.  Trainer and well known coach, Sam Ross, has recently released the dates of the courses he will be coaching in 2013, it looks like he’s got a rather full calendar!

Boards would especially recommend the courses run at the OTC Puravida Centre in Weymouth, Lagoon Watersports in Brighton and Bray Lake Watersports in Berkshire. So check out the links and get involved!

Want to become an instructor in 2013?

As the temperatures have started to drop and the best conditions begin to roll in Tushingham have decided to focus their next topic Q and A topic on how to prepare for windsurfing during the winter months.

Sam Ross at Ringstead

If you are looking for advice on what to wear, how to warm up or any specific issues to look out for just ask their seasoned panel of team riders who will be more than happy to help.

Click here to head directly to the Tushingham Q and A page.

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As we get deeper into winter and the nights draw in, unless you work night shifts, Mr ‘after work sailing’ has left us for another year!

I was therefore intrigued to find out what other fellow sailors did to keep themselves fit and healthy through the winter month…….how many of us actually do keep sailing (!?), what do people get up to on those ‘less enticing’ days!!

Get kitted up!

Many a dog walker has greeted me with strange looks as I get changed at the back of a van on a cold blustery windy day – I’m sure they must think we belong to some strange sect! But those of you who have braved those days, will agree, we often get blessed with some of the year’s best sailing!

But what if the weather really isn’t playing ball, when it really is just too cold to brave getting frost bite whilst getting changed behind the trusty van, or you best winter ‘get up’, just isn’t enough…….are there such days……….? I caught up with fellow RYA Windsurfing Coaches Jon Metcalfe, (The Army’s Windsurfing manager – a job in which you really can’t be seen to be a sissy!!) and Sam Ross (RYA OB Officer and Freelance Coach) to tell me what they will be up to this winter.

Windsupping; less windchill and you stay drier!

Jon is an all winter sailor, with some great tops tips …….”put as much rubber on as possible, buy yourself a decent single lined winter suit, use mitts not gloves to avoid the cramp, a decent balaclava, split toe boots all the way and don’t live in a mobile home during winter, it tends to lead to colds and flu!!”

Getting back to the serious side, when sailing is just not on the cards Jon’s ‘next best’ alternative suggestion is mountain biking or building a house………whereas Sam ‘no pain, no gain’ Ross, the ‘you can always get out’ optimistic chap, gets on the water as much as he can during the winter months, equipping himself, like Jon, with key clothing such as palm less mits and a hood.

Sam Ross demonstrating a new move on one of those glorious winter days!

With house building not really on Sam’s agenda right now, he spends winter days SUP’ing, as well as something we may not have all considered – Local Racing. “When you are exercising it’s not much different in temperature than going for a run ………..unless you fall in! I don’t just wait for the epic days to get out on the water, big sail weather is great during the winter. The wind-chill is a lot less and you are working hard blasting up and down with less likelihood of falling in” explained Sam.

“I tend to find it’s sweat in the wetsuit rather than cold water…… (Nice! Thanks for that Sam!), so bizarrely I tend to find it’s the lighter wind summer alternatives that make sure I stay active during the winter and don’t dry out.”

Supping gets you on the water rather than in it

But if winter really isn’t your bag, make sure you don’t lose that windsurfing fitness or next years ‘come back’ will just be that little harder!! So for those of you snuggling up to a warm fire this winter, here’s a few health tips from Bonnie at BFit (bonnie@alphaplusuk.com) to help ensure that first dip in 2013 is a good one………

Don’t let winter be a time to hibernate, resulting in your wetsuit feeling a little tighter when you wiggle back in to it and your first time back on the board a struggle. Take the opportunity to work on a different side of your fitness that otherwise gets pushed to the side, as let’s face it time on the water will always come first!

Cross training is a great way to keep in good condition but also rest repetitively used muscles potentially preventing injury. So shake it up a bit and challenge your body to new fitness heights enabling you to spend longer on the water.

Go get muddy in the woods either a mountain bike or with a refreshing runs through the woods utilising a wide range of muscle groups as you duck under branches, hop over tree stumps and leap over puddles.

But what if the British weather really does force us indoors……….. spinning, a challenging cardio or endurance session are all good alternatives, giving a good body workout, getting the heart pumping and burning plenty of calories! Always try and balance it all out with a mixture of core strengthening, posture improving, back strengthening and overall body balancing workout in the form of Pilates.

The centre of the body below your bottom ribs and above your pubic bone is called your ‘powerhouse’ consisting of the abdominals, pelvic floor, muscles around the hip joint and through the lower back. Pilates looks to strengthen these muscles which in turn protects against potential injuries. Pilates will also develop and maintain flexibility and mobility through the joints all which are priceless when jumping back on your board.

And for my favourite part……….food!! Bonnie’s advice is to enjoy nutritious stews and soups full of vegetables containing vitamins and minerals needed to keep energy levels up and the immune system on top form. Instead of filling a casserole pot full to the brim with red meat plump it out with puy lentils which are low GI and provides slow burning carbohydrates for sustained energy as well as a good punch of protein and fibre.

So is 2012/13 going to be the year you brave a full winter on the water……..? Remember there are lots of us out there! If you need a little extra encouragement, make your winter even more enticing by joining a club and meeting lots of like-minded people, taking part in some local racing or perhaps taking a few sneaky coaching tips at by nearest training centre. Details of all of these can be found by visiting ‘Find my nearest’ at www.rya.org.uk

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Boards Wetsuit Guides. 

Boards catches up with Boardwise to find out more about how the demos are run and what’s involved:

Just some of the Boardwise demo equipment set up and ready to go! Image credit Dave White.

“We run a summer demo at Aberdovey which coincides with the BSA slalom event. This is the biggest of the year with support from the town, the Yacht club and all the importers.

When someone comes along to a demo they can try all the latest kit, get advice from the people who really know about the products, but most of all just come to an event which gives them a great feel about the sport of windsurfing!

The main summer and winter demos are supported by brands including: Fanatic and North, RRD and Ezzy, Tabou and Gaastra, and Starboard and Tushingham. Not only do the brands supply top notch NEW equipment, they also bring along some top sailors too.

Demo regulars now include (to name but a few):  former PWA superstar Nik Baker, current Formula World Champion Ross Williams, master of speed Dave White, plus awesome coaches Jem Hall, Sam Ross, etc. They are all more than happy to help not only with rigging, tuning and choosing equipment but also can offer top technique tips too.

Lots of people turn up and sail on Saturday. Then Saturday evening usually involves a few drinks, before getting on the water again to blow away the cobwebs on Sunday morning.

All images from the Boardwise Bonfire Bash 2013 and credit Dave White.

We are usually fairly lucky with the weather, and the huge range of equipment on offer means people can almost always get on the water. But even if the wind doesn’t blow we all have a great weekend; there’s normally a good night out on the Saturday at least!

We also go to all of the student events through out the year; the SWA run a great series of events through the autumn, winter and into spring. They really focus on getting as many people onto the water at all levels; there is a great contingent of beginners and improvers at the student event and we are proud to support them by taking all our gear for them to use! Plus our van goes up to the local club once a week in the summer.

On Guy Fawkes weekend each year we run a Bonfire Bash, it’s a bit late in the year so it can be a little cold, but again we have a great weekend none the less with fires on the beach and an amazing firework display! Check out the full report from Boardwise on the here. 

Whilst most of our demos take place at Aberdovey, we do offer some more local ones and we are looking to do a few more at different venues next year.”

There are lots of clubs, schools, brands and shops that run demos. At Boards we always try to have the latest info on up coming demos online, but if one is happening at your local spot that we haven’t promoted then please do contact amy@boards.co.uk and let us know!

Find all the windsurfing demo news on Boards through this link.

Boards Recommended Demos

Boardwise  - based in Cannock, demos at various locations but regularly run at Aberdovey. Follow all the Boardwise news on Boards here.

Robin Hood Watersports  - based in Yorkshire, frequently run demos at West Kirby.  Follow all the Robin Hood Watersports news on Boards here.

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Juice Boardsports – based in Huddersfiled, regular demos on forecast run at Fraisthorpe announced both here on Boards and through their forum. 

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Bray Lake - based in Berkshire, run occasional demo days. Follow all the Bray Lake news on Boards here. 

Lagoon Watersports -   based in Hove, run occasional demo days (usually with Fanatic/North). Follow all the Lagoon Watersports news on Boards here.

L.A.R. Watersports - based in Pagham, run occasional demo days. Follow all the LAR Watersports news on Boards here.

Puravida Boardriders - based in South Glamorgan, run occasional demo days. Follow all the Puravida Boardriders news on Boards here.

Quayside Windsurfers - based in Norfolk, run occasional demo days. Follow all the Quayside Windsurfers news on Boards here.

Wet n Dry Boardsports - based in Basildon, run occasional demo days. Follow all the Wet n Dry Boardsports news on Boards here.

4Boards  - based in Southampton, run occasional demo days. Follow at the 4Boards news on Boards here.

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Many more demo days and information about similar events can be found on the RYA’s Project Windsurf – UK website. They even have a specific demo events page right here where many chose to share event info. Project Windsurf UK also gives you the opportunity to share what is happening at your local windsurfing spot, so head on over and get involved!

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The kids heading out for a session

Baltic weather and cross offshore winds arrived for the Annual Rippers Wave Camp. The temperatures did not put off the hardcore 15 riders who were put through their paces by Sam Ross and Jamie Drummond.

The course was split into different sections – mental preparation, fitness, breaking the moves into small sections and going for it on the water! The wind on the Saturday was strong 3.7m weather to start with and dropped down to bigger sails on Sunday. James Randall from X-train was on hand to assist over the weekend. The many parents who were the Team support looked like they were freezing on the Saturday while everyone on the water had the first cold session of the season dressed in full rubber hats booties and gloves!

James organised food at the local pub in West Wittering “The Old House at Home” which was a pretty good end to the day on Saturday. Sunday had less wind but Trevor Funnel And Julian Du Vall of the UKWA came to X-train to run a mini comp and look at the preparation and competition tactics on the water. Trevor who is big supporter of kids windsurfing freestyle has been very keen to support the X-train rippers camp.

The mini freestyle comp was held in light winds so lots of spinny style sail tricks were judged by Trevor, Julian, James and Jamie. The heats worked through until the final Luke Williams 1st place, Ollie 2nd, Lucas 3rd and local Wittering windsurfer Jack Pettit 4th – all the riders showed a good effort on the water. There were some small prizes and tshirts for all the competitors .

Sam as usual pulled the stops out with the coaching –his uber positive style got he best out of the crew and it looked from the beach that the group really pushed themselves in trying new moves.

One of the youngsters ripping on the water

Sam’s comments “4 degrees, 30 knots and 15 Young rippers might not sound like a recipe for success but this goes down as one of my favourite weekends coaching I’ve ever had. Whether it was perfecting gybes and their variations, first jumps or forwards and vulcans all the Rippers literally threw themselves into it with incredible enthusiasm and energy. It’s rare to see sailors go from only having dabbled in moves before to be sliding, rotating and staying dry in all sorts of ways. The combination of like minded young windsurfers, location, conditions, and the team in place made it a great weekend so much so I can’t wait another year for the same camp and am now looking at spring for another chance to get a similar group on the water.”

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.

Scottish Windfest – The watersports festival that rivals NWF. Coaching, racing, demos, great music and a lot more. http://scottishwindfest.com/  Big names from windsurfing will be there including Boardwise, Dave White, Jo Wright, plus kiting superstar Holly Kennedy!

Max Rowe at West Witterring

UKWA Freestyle tour at West Wittering. Find out more on the latest from the tour and the upcoming event here. 

Check the UKWA website for more about the organisation and events.

Sam Ross

On Saturday 22nd, Sam Ross will be heading to Queen Mary with the Starboard/Tushingham demo equipment to offer windsurfers the opportunity to try the latest gear, plus get some coaching tips too!

Also on Saturday Ant Baker, and his new company 77 Sports Management, are hosting a kitesurfing and SUK open. Let’s hope Ant has some windsurfing events in the pipe line too, check out the Facebook page for more info on 77 Sports Management. 

FLOW and Lagoon full event info

FLOW and Lagoon Watersports are running a women’s only coaching day, and the first ever women’s only Blue Mile on Sunday 23rd, the event sold out within a week, but more events are planned for the future!

Also on Sunday, GetWindsurfing are running a coaching day at Datchet Reservoir, perfect flat water for all levels. 

Get Windsurfing coaching this weekend