National Windsurfing Week

Not long now until the start of National Windsurfing Week 2011, an 8-day event which aims to raise the profile of windsurfing and introduce more people to this great sport.  Billed as a ‘celebration of all things windsurfing’, the week will see windsurfing festivals, competitions and taster sessions happening across the country and it’s not too late for you to get involved.

Running from the 01 – 08 May 2011, National Windsurfing Week, now in its fourth year, is the perfect opportunity for first timers to get out on the water and give the sport a go, or if you sail more regularly look to develop your skills further.

Some of the events already scheduled for the week include; fundraising events for Windsurfing for Cancer Research in Birmingham, Torpoint and Hayling Island; beginner taster sessions in Northampton, Plymouth and Cornwall; open days in Bromsgrove, free lessons in Berkshire and Bedfordshire, as well as improver clinics in Berkshire and Cornwall. Check out the National Windsurfing Week website for a full list of events and locations.

Gillian Wright, RYA Windsurfing Development Officer and a key figure behind the week said: “It’s great that the windsurfing community has mobilized itself on such a big scale to promote the sport and I think it’s going to really help get windsurfing noticed. I hope that people will really make the most of it and come along to the events taking place across the country and have a go for themselves.

“But, as well as wanting to see a new crowd of people try windsurfing for the first time, I am also keen to see people on the water during National Windsurfing Week who may have considered themselves windsurfers in the past, but have perhaps neglected the sport over the years. It would be fantastic to see these people dusting off their kit and getting out on the water, joining in at their local venue and remembering what it is that they loved about windsurfing.”

The campaign also has the backing of Skandia Team GBR’s Nick Dempsey, National RS:X Windsurfing Champion, who officially launched this year’s event back in March at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show. Nick said: “Windsurfing is an amazing sport and National Windsurfing Week will give more people the chance to experience that for themselves. I think 2011 is going to be a great year for windsurfing!”

To find out how you can get involved in National Windsurfing Week – either as a participant or a club/training centre – and for a full events listing visit www.nationalwindsurfingweek.org

George, his mum Lynn and a Kode, standing in for its owner, Bob!

A windsurfing centre in Cornwall has scooped a tourism award for the quality of its tuition. At the annual Cornwall Tourism Awards, the Polkerris Beach Company collected the Silver accolade for Leisure Experience of the Year.

Polkerris Beach provides a full range watersports both for local people and holidaymakers. The award was judged on the centre’s short taster sessions but the full range of facilities and the business as a whole are scrutinised as part of the process.

Centre Manager, Bob Shillito said “Given the importance of tourism to the Cornish economy, the tourism awards are hotly contested and this proves that a modern, well-equipped windsurfing centre can compete with the best across a huge range of leisure experiences on offer in the South West. The award is a terrific endorsement of our efforts to present windsurfing in the best possible light”.

“With the one-and-a-half hour tasters we aim to give people the opportunity to get out on the water and try something new, adventurous and challenging. They complement our courses and regular Team15 club sessions, for local children and adults.”

Set in a stunning , sheltered location on the South Coast of Cornwall near Fowey, the Polkerris Beach Company operates its watersports centre off a sandy beach protected by a harbour wall. The Company also manages the private beach, as well as operating a shop, cafe and holiday accommodation, all of which are designed to enhance the experience for watersports enthusiasts.

Established in 2008, the family business is run by Bob and Lynn Shillito, with son George – a Tushingham team rider and regular Boards contributor – leading the windsurfing tuition.

More at www.polkerrisbeach.com

Windfest 2009, by Simon Crowther

Animal Windfest Returns with New Features for 2010

What better way to finish the summer fun, than with the Animal Windfest’s three-day programme of events? This annual 12-year strong event will be held on Sandbanks’ blue flag beach from Friday 10^th to Sunday 12^th September and will be jam-packed with free taster sessions, exhibitor stands and pure showmanship from some of the UK’s leading extreme sportsmen, on and off the water.

UKWA British freestyle returns to showcase some of the UK’s best windsurfers, battling it out to be crowned the champion of this year’s event. The RYA Team 15’s is an opportunity for young people to compete for the South Zone interclub championships, while the ‘Master Blaster’ is fun racing open to anyone who simply wants to have a go!

After a hard day of watching, learning and competing, the Animal Windfest team will be presenting another legendary ‘black tie and board shorts’ charity ball on Friday night, raising money in aid of the Richie Keefe Life and Soul Trust.

A Super Hero theme has been introduced for this year’s legendary Saturday night Windfest party, featuring four live bands, DJ’s and the usual antics.

But the entertainment doesn’t stop there, Sunday will wrap up this year’s event with its newest showcase from the Redbull Matadors, a visual feast of planes twisting and turning in the sky with daredevil near misses at rocket fuelled speeds!

Check out the website for entry forms, information and evening party tickets – www.animalwindfest.co.uk Animal Windfest continues to be an open access event, free of charge to the public during the day, every day.

Beginners at Hove Lagoon

Action-packed summer for Lagoon Watersports

Lagoon Watersports have got a few busy weeks ahead with a range of exciting events to keep the community busy, creating a real buzz of activity and giving literally everyone a chance to get involved. Lagoon Watersports have got a stand at the TakePart International Festival of Sport and at Paddle Round The Pier whilst also offering taster sessions at Hove Lagoon on both those weekends, they host the BSA Slalom Event and the very special Windsurf for Cancer party.

You can expect a large crowd heading to Preston Park on Saturday 19^th June from 12 – 5 pm to kickstart the International Festival of Sport, with the Lagoon Watersports team keen to give everyone the chance to have a go at windsurfing and sailing. The TakePart Day is a large scale free event with a fantastic exhibition of sports and physical activities, and you have got 2 options with Lagoon Watersports – taster sessions in Preston Park which are best described as balance tests on dry land (no need to get into a wetsuit!), or alternatively you can head to Hove Lagoon for one of their much sought-after taster sessions on the calm and safe waters of the Lagoon. Adults and kids are offered the chance to try windsurfing or sailing for just £10 per person as part of the TakePart festival, sessions include all equipment and full tuition and are suitable for beginners. There are sessions for different age groups on 19, 26 and 27 June. Check out www.lagoonwatersports.co.uk or call 01273 42 48 42 for more information.

Lagoon Watersports have been supporting the huge charity event Paddle Round The Pier for the last few years, and will be showing their support again this year. The well-known beach festival takes place on Hove Lawns and Hove seafront during the weekend of 3 & 4 July, and the team from Lagoon Watersports are passionate about introducing as many people as possible to water sports, offering kids and adults the chance to have a go at sailing whilst supporting the various charities. Visit them on Hove Lawns to say Hello, have an informative chat to the team and get out on the water.

3 & 4 July will be a busy weekend indeed as Lagoon Watersports also host Round 5 of the British Slalom Association 2010 series on Hove Lagoon. This is one of 8 events, and the first of a mini series of events hosted by North-Sails, Fanatic and iON with prizes provided by Baker Academy and Sportif. Last year Mat Pearch took top honours and it looks like this year’s event is going to be an awesome, adrenaline-fuelled contest with Mat keen to defend the title. More details on http://ukwindsurfing.com/ .

Another date for your diary is 10 July - Lagoon Watersports are hosting a special Windsurf For Cancer party at the Portland Rock Bar in Hove with doors open from 8 pm. Anyone is welcome, windsurfer or not, with one common aim – raising as much money as possible for W4C. The party is a celebration of all things windsurfing with big screens showing windsurfing movie classics, a big windsurf raffle with prizes from Fanatic North and Boardridersguide, and music by Lagoon Watersports’ very own band ‘Twig and The Giggleberries’. For more information on the charity visit www.windsurfing4cancerresearch.org or get in touch with Lagoon Watersports. A big thank you to lagoon.co.uk , Fanatic/North and boardridersguide.co.uk for supporting and sponsoring the party.

For more information on Lagoon Watersports, community events, courses on offer and membership options please visit www.lagoonwatersports.co.uk or call 01273 42 48 42.

H2O Sports

H20 Sports 2^nd big open weekend… June 5^th & 6^th 2010 from 10am at Poole Harbour…

Following on from the success of last year, H20 Sports once again invites all watersports enthusiasts to Poole for their 2^nd Big open weekend… There will be free taster sessions for the following watersports though out the weekend;

Windsurfing / Kitesurfing  / Paddle boarding / Kayaking / Wakeboarding (TBC)

Anyone and everyone interested in any water sports should flock to Poole, for a totally free weekend experiencing water sports… For those already into their chosen sport, it’s a great opportunity to try something new, or chat to the pro’s, test out the latest gear…

Headlining ACTS…

Fanatic & North windsurfing & SUP… World famous Nik & still a little bit famous Ant Baker J will have their latest equipment on hand for testing, tuning and rigging advice, Including the Latest Shox on demo (On demo NOW as well @ H20 Sports) Ant will be running clinics on the day too.

Naish Windsurfing & SUP… The latest Naish 2010 Boards and ground breaking sails, plus their extensive range of paddle boards for all to play with.

Thommen Windsurfing… Blast from the past, back with some very tasty looking boards.

Simmer / Mistral / O’Shea… The line up of Mistrals newly designed boards, coupled with Simmer Sails & O’shea paddle boards, introduced by the god father of windsurfing “Farrel”.

North Kiteboarding… Grasping the course racing by the horns, the race board will be available for demoing, along with the rest of the North Range including the fuse and we’re hoping for a sneak preview of the NEW “Neo”

F-One Kiting… The Bandit III, enough said – You want one kite to do everything… Come and have a test drive…

Naish Kiteboarding… Come and try the freestyle dream… The Torch 2010…

O’Neill Wetsuits… Not got a wetsuit, no problem, Joe from O’Neill will have everything from O’Neill for you to try. From the Ground breaking Psycho 2, right through to the Affordable Epic II…

Kayaks from BIC, RTM & Typhoon… Will be available though out the weekend for everyone to try to find what suits their needs best…

Evening Party & BBQ from 7.30pm onwards… Special Offers in store… Much, much more…

Call, email any member of the team  or check out the website for more information…

H20 Sports Ltd / 91 Salterns Road Poole / BH14 8BL / 01202 733744 /info@h2o-sports.co.uk

www.h2o-sports.co.uk

Carsington Water

Carsington Water, Sunday 2nd May 2010, 10.30am – 3.30pm

A few of the guys at Carsington Water fancied putting on a charity event to help rasie money for Cancer Research as part of www.windsurfing4cancerresearch.org, here’s what they have planned for the day:

• Windsurf Taster Sessions – perfect if you’re looking for an introduction to the sport!
• Fast Forward & Carve Gybe clinics
• Off the beach, fun slalom racing
• Freestyle competition
• Demo kit
• Tasty BBQ for all friends and family!
• Raffle (prizes provided by Boardwise)

Please book in advance for taster sessions and clinics at £10 per head – call  01629 540478

If you’re planning to attend on the day please register your interest here.

There is also the opportunity for you to be sponsored to do something on the day (Lindsay Smith will be windsurfing non-stop from 10 until 3.30 dressed as a smurf!) see the website below for details.

We hope to see you all on the day and rasie lots of money for this very worthy cause.

For more info visit www.windsurfing4cancerresearch.org or email sarah@carsingtonwater.com

With ‘the coldest winter in 30 years’ finally behind us and the ice and snow a rapidly fading memory, many people will be looking forward to the coming summer, getting out into the fresh air and hopefully doing something new and exciting; which is where National Windsurfing Week comes in.

Launched three years ago by a group of recreational windsurfers frustrated by the lack of newcomers coming in to the sport, National Windsurfing Week has grown into an ever-expanding series of events up and down the country, supported by many in the windsurfing trade and hosted by clubs, shops, importers and groups of individuals. It has successfully introduced hundreds of people to windsurfing and created an early season focus for anyone with an interest in finding out about the sport.

This year National Windsurfing Week will be taking place during 1^st – 9^th May, and was officially launched at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show on 6^th March at Alexandra Palace by 2008 Olympic windsurfing bronze medallist Bryony Shaw. A strong supporter of National Windsurfing Week, Bryony commented “The things I love most about windsurfing are the lifestyle and the thrill of being out on the water, so National Windsurfing Week is a fantastic opportunity to introduce these things to other people. The week is about having fun, as it isn’t competitive. It’s great to be able to spread the word about the sport”.

During the show there was a series of windsurfing presentations, hosted by a number of the sports leading personalities, including Bryony and legendary training guru Peter Hart.

Sean Blackmore, National Windsurfing Week Chairman said “We’re really excited to have the support of Bryony once again and an official signing by an Olympian on our stand at the show was a great way to launch National Windsurfing Week 2010 to the public”.

During the week there will be a host of activities taking place all around the UK, including free taster sessions, reduced-cost beginner lessons and fun races.

The first major event kicking off National Windsurfing Week will take place on Sunday 2^nd May – the Sunrise to Sunset charity event. Started last year, it’s organised by Windsurfing 4 Cancer Research (W4CR) a charity formed by windsurfers to raise cancer awareness and promote early diagnosis and healthy lifestyles and to reduce the incidence of the disease. Open to everyone and run simultaneously at numerous venues nationwide, entrants are encouraged to set their own challenge for the day and get as much sponsorship as they can from family, friends and colleagues. Last year Sunrise to Sunset raised £25,000 – the target for this year is £50,000. Details can be found at www.w4cr.org

National Windsurfing Week has already become a great focal point for the UK windsurfing community, but it still needs as much help as possible to help spread the word about our wonderful sport. To take part, whether as a participant in one of the many events taking place, by introducing friends and colleagues to windsurfing, or even by staging events of your own, please visit the National Windsurfing Week website at www.nationalwindsurfingweek.org