The Tushingham Team at Student Nationals

The 27th – 28th April 2013 saw the final event of the SWA series and with that the National BUCS event held at Calshot. With several titles still up for grabs it was a great event with lots of action both on and off the water

The Tushingham Team was well represented by all our student team riders, each of them delivering the goods once again! here is a summary of their results and a brief write up from each of the team!

Ollie Acton – SWA Freestyle Champion (2 years in a row)
1st in BUCS Team Racing with Solent

Jo Wright – Overall 1st Female (2 years in a row)
4th Freestyle (mixed with boys)
2nd female in BUCS racing

Louis Morris – Second BUCS individual Race
1st Overall SWA race series
2nd Overall SWA (all events combined)

Sam Sills – 1st BUCS Race Champion
1st in BUCS Team Racing with Solent

The action at Student Nationals

Ollie Acton - This year on the SWA Freestyle Tour has been the most epic year ever!  Starting with Aussie Kiss and then onto all the core competitions, no event has disappointed with universities around the country pulling out all the stop to make this year bigger and better than ever.

Determined to win the freestyle tour again, I went to every core event to try to claim the top prize of a brand new freestyle board.  We had a wide range of conditions on the tour this year, with good high wind freestyle at both Liverpool and Nottingham, tow-in at Aussie Kiss and a lightwind freestyle competition at Bristol.  These differing conditions have made it awesome for competition but also really difficult with more students entering with a really high sailing level!

The final event of the series was the SWA Nationals at Calshot, with the wind not playing ball a lightwind freestyle competition was organised.  This style of competition means anyone on their day could have won, with Louis Morris, Adam Chubbock and Will Jones all having the ability to claim the top spot.  I grabbed my 4.2 Edge and spun and twisted just enough to impresses the judges and win the freestyle competition and claim the overall freestyle series!

The SWA tour and the Nationals were a great success for myself and Solent University.  I won the freestyle series again and along with Adam Chubbock and Sam Sills we achieved BUCS gold in the team racing and won the team racing series!  Thanks to Andy Biggs, Tushingham and Sport Solent for all their support throughout this year.

This was my last year as a student so I would like to say a final massive thank you to the SWA for running such amazing competitions over the past few years!  Cheers guys!

Jo Wright - Nationals saw the conclusion of the SWA series and it certainly went off with a bang! I managed to borrow a raceboard for the BUCS racing on the saturday, which took place in a gentle 10-15 knots. I was also using Tushingham’s 7.0 X15 which worked well in the changeable winds. It was my first time on a race board, so the first couple of races were extremely sketchy! The footstrap positioning and huge mast track took a little getting used to but I really enjoyed the challenge and finished 2nd girl overall behind seasoned IMCO racer Kirsten O’Callaghan. Even managing to give the boys a bit of a run for their money in a few of the races!  The boat party lived up to expectations, everyone certainly seemed to be having a great time on the Saturday evening!

Check out more from Jo, plus a run down from Sam Sills and Louis Morris here.

Nationals from Duncan Dumbreck on Vimeo.

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. 

SWA Waveriding Final – Feature from Cover The Cake Productions on Vimeo.

You’ve not heard from me for a couple of months (since I arrived back from Minorca). It has happened for various reasons and I’d like to take the chance to explain why and what I have learned from the experience.

I just got back from a long weekend in Cardiff attending the last of the Puravida SWA Wave Trilogy. This was the only one of the three events that I have attended this year. The main reason I thought was that attending events means taking a weekend off work. The associated hassle and loss of earning with doing this just didn’t seem worth it. Last weekend it got to the stage where the forecasted wind had all but gone, and I hadn’t sorted my fancy dress out, and I thought “is it worth it?” As soon as I heard myself say that I knew something was wrong.

Until last weekend the last event I had attended was in mid November. Moreover the last time I got in the water was further back than that. For someone who used to find it hard to go two weeks during exams without windsurfing, three months of drought is pretty hard.

Find the time to hit the water!

The problem is I find it hard to strike a balance. I am either working hard or I am playing hard and really struggle to find a well-fitted balance. I think this is a problem that a lot of people have.  I was missing all sorts of incredible forecasts and all in the name of earning money to be able to go windsurfing.

To me looking back at it now I ask how did I get to be in that situation? Not doing what I love when I could have, because I didn’t want to miss out on earning money. It is not even as if the money I was earning is good. I work for near enough minimum wage at the moment. WHY?

As I said I think that the balance is hard to strike, work is important, but why bother if you don’t get to do a bit what you love? The trouble is that it is easy to get distracted by other things when you forget how much you love windsurfing.

To stay motivated to earn money to windsurf it is important that you get to go windsurfing, to keep your head in the game so to speak.

This for me is where going to events is key. If a forecast doesn’t happen for two or three weeks it is out of your control and although it may be frustrating it is not down to your lack of motivation. Events happen whatever the weather. People turn up and talk about windsurfing all day come rain or shine, sleet or snow. This for me is more than enough to get me fired up again and so you see an article before you, the product of my renewed motivation.

At this point some people think I’m likely to start spouting off about how great SWA events are, and it would be easy to do so. But for me any event, if windsurfing is involved is enough to re-spark the obsession.

Before I went away to Minorca over summer you might remember that I went to National Windsurfing Festival. Before that I had been in a pretty similar situation to last week, working too much and not windsurfing at all. Again I very nearly didn’t go. I am so glad I did go, as with the weekend just gone I didn’t get out on the water, but being around other windsurfers got me fully fired up again.

Always fun and games at windsurfing events!

So what have I learned? Well one thing is that it is important to be able to recognise when you have lost the love, work play balance is hard to achieve and getting it back once you have lost it can be quite an effort.

What can be done? For me going to events, whether SWA, BWA, NWF, whatever it doesn’t really matter, getting there is the key and I’m sure that for others this cure would also work. Making sure that you have events planned out for the year to keep you eager for another session.

What does this tell us? Well, I’d say that it makes windsurfing excitement contagious. Anyway that is a discussion for another day, but what I will say is I will be seeing you at Nottingham Pondlife, (shameless plug I know!)

The crowd ready for the action!

Exeter University windsurfing club teamed up with Plymouth University’s club to not only offer the second round of the SWA Puravida wave series, but also two days of tuition at Sibleyback Lake for all budding beginners and intermediates. As a result nearly 100 students descended on Plymouth to enjoy what was set to be an epic weekend!

Liverpool University won the award for commitment to the SWA, enduring a grueling 7-hour journey down on Friday evening. However, this was all blissfully forgotten as everybody caught up after the long Christmas break and danced the night away at Bang-Bang.

Saturday morning came round a little to early for some. Jim from Puravida had given the call for all wave sailors to head to the Bluff for 11am, whilst everybody else went to Sibleyback Lake. The wave sailors were met with an overcast sky, low winds and no sign of any descent swell, so this twinned with everyone’s hangovers resulted in a pretty low mood at the beach. However, spirits were lifted when Jim, Sarah Bibby, Stefan Hilder and Ian Ross provided an interesting talk including board design, fins and kit choice, which we all found extremely useful. With the wind showing no sign of improving, Sam Ross and Luke Green from Tushingham stepped up to the plate and tempted everyone into their wetsuits with the promise of a one-design windSUP competition with prizes provided by Tushingham.

Checking out the conditions

17 competitors took to the water and with the help of the increasing sized waves, an enthusiastic commentary from Sam Ross and a bit of friendly competition; everybody was having a great time. Due to the incoming tide, we moved the competition round into the river mouth where we were met with some pretty meaty waves. Shapes were being thrown left, right and center on the SUPs and the final came down to Louis Morris (Bristol), Tom Firth (Cardiff) and Jo Wright (Exeter). Jo was suffering from a knock to the head sustained during a washing machining in the shore-break during her semi, so it was a two horse race between Tom and Louis. Tom caught the bigger waves and impressed the crowd with some death-defying moves to clinch the win.

During the ladies final, argued by some to be highlight of the competition, the biggest sets of the day came through. Rachael Ince (Exeter) risked all to catch the wave of the day, even slicing her lip open in the process to take the win over Jo and Charlotte Stokes (Southampton).

“10 knots of wind and small waves might not sound like the most epic conditions for a wave competition but the SWA crew made the most out of it on Tushingham 5.2 Edges and Starboard Wind Sups, after some early heats that had light wind freestyle on small waves winning through the pushing tide gave us some great punchy waves to play in. A great crowd added to the atmosphere and it was fantastic to see the ladies steel the show when the conditions hit the best in their final Rach Ince picked up the wave of the day”.

Sam Ross (Sam Ross Windsurfing)

Adam Chubbock and Sam Ross checking the action

Not to be out-done, the lake goers enjoyed all that Sibleyback had to offer including beginner and intermediate tuition, wakeboarding and SUPing. Simon Garrod-Bell (UWE), made the most of the light winds even managing to get up on the plane, much to his delight! This was the first time activities had been offered for beginner/intermediates sailors at an SWA wave event and was down to the tireless efforts of the Plymouth University committee, who did an awesome job.

Everybody heading back to Plymouth enjoyed some pizza, doned their double-acts fancy dress (think Bill and Ben, 118, 118 and the Chuckle Brothers) and headed down to Plymouth’s Students Union to enjoy live music courtesy of James Bates, share stories of the days events and out-do each other on the dance floor.

Sunday offered a much more promising forecast, so everyone travelled back to the Bluff for 10am. A similar set of conditions to Saturday morning greeted us but Jim and Ian promised better conditions were on the way and ensured we were all rigged and ready to go. At around 12.30, the wind finally came and with the in-coming tide the waves were improving too, so the heats were drawn and everyone took to the water.

The judging team made up of Sarah, Stefan and Ian commented on the high level of skill shown by all sailors. Due to the onshore conditions, they were judging two wave-rides and one jump. The girls were thrown into the mix with the guys, which definitely helped push their level. In the end the women’s result stood with Charlotte Stoke taking 3^rd, Rachael Ince showing off the skills she learnt in Tenerife to take 2^nd and Jo Wright taking 1^st.

Winds picking up

The overall result was an extremely tightly fought affair with Will Jones (Cardiff), Mike Ellis (Southampton), Jony Price (Cardiff) and current tour leader Ben Page (Southampton) all making it through to the final. Will was competing on Starboard’s 2013 87 Quad, putting it to great use, nearly landing a few back-loops. However, he couldn’t quite find the consistency he had shown in earlier heats, so took 4^th in the final. Mike showed how all his recent time on the water is paying off with a great forward off the lip and some solid wave riding to take 3^rd. Jony who has just returned from his storm-chaser mission to Ireland, stole the show when it came to wave-riding, achieving the highest wave score of the day to take 2^nd. Ben put in a stellar performance throughout all of his heats and after pulling off the forward and the day in the final and showing some great wave riding skills, he took a much deserved win.

“I think the level is good this year, it always fluctuates and the guys this year have a lot of potential, the conditions were very tricky and the top guys stood out, making the most of what was available! I would say the results reflect the stand out guys – Ben Page, making sure he got a clean forward in each round, Jony Price for his wave riding in very hard conditions, in the girls Jo Wright for her wave riding, holding her own against the lads in a hard heat!”

Stefan Hilder (Puravida, Simmer Style, No Limitz Masts and K4 Fins)

Close fought competition

Prizes were in abundance as a result of some generous sponsorship from Silverstick, SUPboarder, Spartan, Supersaturated and Sails & Canvas (a company making bags from recycled retro windsurf sails). The success of the event would not have been possible without the continued support of Jim from Puravida who is not only the main sponsor of the series, but also organizes the safety cover for our events, decides the best beaches to run from and organizes the judging. Also big thank you to Sam Ross and Tushingham for their continued support, as well as Plymouth and Exeter University and all our lovely sponsors. It would not be possible without you!

We look forward to seeing you at the next SWA wave event hosted by Cardiff University (22^nd -24^th February). Check out more about the SWA here. 

SWA results

This weekend the south west produced the goods for the SWA, a light wind windSUP contest followed  by a full on Gwithian wave competition on the Sunday. Check out the shots from Sam Ross on Facebook of the WindSUP here and it looks like Tom Firth took top honours, we’ll have results and a full write up very soon right here on Boards.

This weekend's winner, Tom Firth.

More action at home came from West Kirby last weekend, where some incredible speeds were notched up by some of the UK’s, Ireland’s and Holland’s finest, check out the gallery here and a video from Ant Baker here. 

This week also saw the launch of a great new APP from Puravida Boardriders, making searching the latest info on their windsurfing equipment a lot easier.

And our final highlight for this week is to remind you that entry for the amazing Defi Wind is now open, all the info is here and we look forward to seeing a lot of Brits taking on the event this year!

Until next week….

GetWindsurfing in Ireland

“Join us for an amazing trip to famous Brandon Bay in South West Ireland for a week of windsurfing and other epic watersports.

Whether you are a complete beginner or advanced wanting to jump higher, ride harder and just generally have an awesome time Ireland is a great place to come. The scenery is beautiful, the people super friendly and welcoming, and of course the food and drink well worth the trip too!

So, tell me more I hear you say!!!

When: 24th June – 30th June

(straight on from Beach Break Live for all those heading that way, for those who are not feel free to come over on the 23rd for a cheeky extra day!)

What? : 5 days windsurf coaching with Phil and Danielle from Getwindsurfing, or Jamie Knox for the beginners, 7 nights in a beautiful self catered cottage right next to famous Spillanes Bar….(so close its scary!) and a free surf lesson to all those renting equipment from Jamie Knox, and just 10€ per person for everyone else.

Where: The dingle peninsular, Kerry, South West Ireland.

How do I get there? : The best way to head across to Ireland is with Stena Line, they run ferries from the UK to various Irish ports. Check out their website here for more information. 

Why? : So many people travel away from the UK and Ireland every summer to windsurf when we have such epic locations on our doorstep!

-Ireland is world famous for its conditions and the Dingle Peninsular has great conditions for all abilities and wind and swell conditions..there is always an option.

-With Phil and Danielle from Getwindsurfing on hand for coaching you can really get the most out of your trip.

-Jamie Knox Watersports is situated perfectly to help with kit rental for windsurfing, SUPing and surfing, as well as having a great shop to grab some new windsurf and watersports toys! Jamie will be teaching the beginners too and with so much experience in this location he is definitely going to get you out there loving  windsurfing in Ireland!

-June will be good temperatures to make the most out of what we are so lucky to have so close by….you know you want to come and check it out!

-Last but by no means least, the Guinness is pretty amazing too!

Prices:

Beginners : £330 includes kit, tuition (5 full days), accommodation

Intermediates and Advanced renting equipment : £420 includes kit tuition (2-3 hrs a day) and accom.

Intermediates with private kit : £260 (safety boat included) includes safety cover on all coaching days, tuition (2-3 hrs a day) and accom.

Advanced with private kit : £250 includes tuition (2-3hrs a day) and accom

Single supplement will apply for those not wishing to share a room, limited spaces available.

Any questions, please email getwindsurfing@gmail.com or call Danielle on 07814536372

Ollie will be competing at the upcoming SWA events including the Plymouth and Exeter wave event this weekend. Check out more info here. 

Esso 30-01-2013 from Ollie Acton on Vimeo.

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. 

8^th-10^th February

Both Plymouth and Exeter University windsurfing clubs have been working around the clock to make this the best event yet. They have organised:

• 2 days of windsurfing competition, with the ability to run at some of the best wave beaches in the country – Gwithian, Marazion, Bigbury and Teignmouth.
• Windsurfing guru’s – Jim (Puravida), Sam Latham (North/Fanatic), Sam Ross and Luke Green (Tush/Starboard) will all be in attendance to give out friendly advice and tips and help run the wave competition.
• Beginner and intermediate tuition at Sibleyback.
• 2 big nights out at some of Plymouth’s legendary venues
• 2 breakfasts and 1 tasty dinner
• Chance to win prizes kindly donated by Spartan, Silverstick, Supersaturated and OverBoard.
• SUPing and wakeboarding at reduced prices.

All this for just £15!!!!!

Tickets are selling like hotcakes, so get in there quickly:

www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

For more information on the event visit:

www.facebook.com/events/597564026927657/602749216409138/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

Cornwall wave action