Andy King. Image credit BWA/Dave White

The first showings of the Tiree Wave Classic 2012 TV feature with BWA tour highlights and interviews will be on Watersports World, so set your sky box to record:

03/01/13    00:30-01:30     Sky Sports 4
03/01/13    05:00-06:00     Sky Sports 4

More showings will follow across a broad network of channels.

For more details of the BWA coverage from 2012 check out all of the Live reporting from 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.

Now we will look back at some classic features and  incredible retro footage from the 80s, 90s and noughties. First up, Dave White shared this awesome footage to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Tiree Wave Classic last year, but we just couldn’t resist sharing it again!

Check out Duncan Coombs (BWA and PWA head judge!) and co in action way back at the 1987 Tiree Wave Classic – plus Nils Larsen, Stu Holland, Nigel Howell, Nik Baker, Corky Kirkham and many more in 1994 – plus yet more action in video the first video from 1995!

Follow more news about Tiree and the Wave Classic here on Boards.

More Windsurfing Videos

Pros

Most of the usual suspects headed to the beautiful isle of Tiree for the next installment on the BWA tour. The week unfortunately produced some fickle conditions, almost but not quite good enough for an official competition to take place. This however did not stop the top guys taking to the water.

Ben Proffitt winner of the Tiree expression session. Image credit BWA/Dave White.

A round of expression sessions were run in very light offshore winds, with the following pros taking part:  Chris Murray, Sam Neal, James Cox, Phil Horrocks, Aleksy Gayda, Andy Chambers, Andy King and Ben Proffitt.

The first two heats saw some impressive aerials and riding from all involved, with Neal, Proffitt, King and Horrocks progressing to the final. Conditions got even trickier in the final with the winds swinging to bolt offshore; King and Neal looked impressive but couldn’t quite get the waves they had in the previous round. Horrocks scored a couple of incredible waves, but it was Proffitt who took the win of the unofficial competition with a sweet floaty aerial that very almost ended it disaster.

Andy King. Image credit BWA/Dave White

Some pros chose not to compete in the expression session as it looked like there may have been an official competition called on at any moment, unfortunately the conditions did not quite get good enough for this to happen. Congratulations to all that took part and put on a fantastic show, check out the video from the action below:

A non event for the pros leaves Phil Horrocks in the lead on the tour going into the Cornwall event this weekend; and with second placed John Skye not attending this event either it’s Hancock, Proffitt and Lewis chasing down Horrocks’ lead. It’s tight at the top, with it all to play for as we go into Cornwall.

Phil Horrocks.

Boards caught up with Phil Horrocks just before the event; read below for some very insightful answers…

How are you feeling going into the Cornwall event? 

I’m feeling fine thank you.

Are you looking out for anyone in particular?

I’m looking out for one of Cornwall finest ice cream sellers.. I hear it’s the best in the land.

Are you thinking about the title at the moment?

Not right now.. I’m googling tips to fit a roller garage door.

Or just concentrating on the event coming up?

One day at a time and never concentrate on anything too long..

What conditions are you hoping for?

Great conditions

And do you think they will come through? 

Yes, I hope so..

Pro results

Justyna Sniady in Tiree. Image credit BWA/Dave White

Ladies 

The ladies fleet saw an influx of new names in Tiree with around half of the 11 strong fleet being new to competition. This rise in numbers meant they could go through a full heat system in the small, tricky conditions at Crossapol. Amy Carter, Justyna Sniady, Sophia Gilje and Debbie Kennedy battled through to the final in the single elimination where Debbie Kennedy came out on top with some incredible riding given the conditions.

Sophia Gilje. Image credit BWA/Dave White.

With a first, second and third place under her belt Justyna Sniady leads the rankings going into the final competition in Gwithian. It is incredible just to see Justyna back on the water so soon after a broken foot and surgery, despite the injury we are sure her competitive spirit and skill will make her one to watch in Cornwall. Second and third places in the tour go to Sophia Gilje and Lucy Robson, who have both had consistent results through the year, but with Debbie Kennedy in fourth place currently holding two firsts and a DNE the podium positions for the ladies are well and truly up for grabs.

Debbie Kennedy. Image credit BWA/Dave White.

Ladies results

Amateurs

It was another close battle at the top of the amateurs fleet in Tiree, with Ian Ross just edging above Alfie Hart in the final. Ian showed his skill in taking the event win, but with a poor result in Wales (due to missing his heat!) and judging commitments here in Cornwall it’s anyones guess as to whether or not he will compete and take the title.

Ian Ross. Image credit BWA/Dave White.

Alfie Hart is Mr. Consistent racking up seconds and thirds he has put himself in a brilliant position going into the final event. Laying in third in the amateur fleet is Tom Bennett-Lloyd, last year’s youth winner, who again has scored some very consistent results. As with the other fleets the amateurs is far from wrapped up going into the Cornwall Classic.

Tiree 2012. Alfie Hart.

Amateurs results

Masters

Davey Edmiston

Dave White leads the masters fleet going into Cornwall, but things could get shaken up a little with the introduction of a discard. Tiree winner Davie Edmiston looked strong in Tiree as he took his third event win on the Scottish isle in a row. With two event wins already, a strong result in Cornwall could see Davey taking Whitey from the top spot!

Check out an interview with Davey here.

Master's results

Youths

Tris Levie. Image credit BWA/Dave White.

The battle for the youth title looks to be between Luke Raistrick and Tris Levie, as they go into Cornwall with one and two event wins respectively. The level in the youth fleet is fantastic, with the top boys pulling off moves that would see them well in the amateur fleet along with others that are just getting started in waves. Hopefully Cornwall will produce some great conditions and give the youths again the opportunity to show what they can do!

Youth results

 Check out all the action from Tiree here. 

Head to the Cornwall Classic website here for more information on the event. 

You may also like to read:

A great collection of videos from the Tiree Wave Classic 2012; action from the pros expression session, chat with the top boys and much much more!

DAY 6 WEB – Computer from Jim Puravida on Vimeo.

DAY5WEB – Computer from Jim Puravida on Vimeo.

Tiree Wave Classic Videocast 4 from Jim Puravida on Vimeo.

DAY3WEB – Computer 480 from Jim Puravida on Vimeo.

Video from day two…

Here’s the first instalment: The Journey to Tiree!

In the mean time here’s a great gallery of images from yesterday’s action from BWA Tiree 2012/Dave White.

Another early morning call for the pro’s today with a skippers  meeting at 7.30am at Balevuillen. The winds look light again, approx 15mph but with  a few names in the pro fleet already left (Jack Hunt, Alan Jackson, Aleksy Gayda, Tmo Mullen) the heats are mixed up a little!

Phil Horrocks.

Tiree 2012. Ian Ross.

The women and masters started the double elimination, but the flukey conditions meant the competition stopped and started and the double eliminations were not completed. The leaves Debbie Kennedy still in the lead in the women’s fleet, whilst Davey Edmiston is in the lead after the single of the masters.

Big Davey

Boards caught up with Big Davey from Troon at the end of the day today: 

“I’d like to say thanks to RRD, Boardwise and NeilPryde, plus Adrian Jones, Andy King and Alan Jackson etc for all their tips. This time in Tiree has definitely been the best for me so far, winning the single the third time in a row is by far the most special. We’ve had good conditions so far, I would have liked it a bit bigger in the final but I managed a solid forward and a couple of good waves which I think helped me to the win.

I really like Tiree and Rhosneigr, I love the conditions we can get and I would definitely encourage other master’s to come have a go and try it. It’s not all about what you can do, it’s about getting into the competition mindset and I think the tips that Adrian, Andy (King) and Ben (Proffitt) gave me this year really helped me get into that. They showed me a few things with the boom and the sail that really made a difference and meant I wasn’t just wiggling down the wave.”

Davey is hoping to confirm his win through the master’s double tomorrow; the pros are up for first skippers tomorrow at 7.30am at Balevuillen, with all other fleets at 9.00am. Looks like it could be the day to finally get the pro’s on the water competing, so fingers crossed the wind and waves come through.

Check out the gallery of shots from Dave White yesterday as well as Boards images from today. 

TireeD5-218 TireeD5-253 TireeD5-280 TireeD5-305 TireeD5-449 TireeD5-478 TireeD5-512 Ben Proffitt Andy King in Tiree TireeD5-604 TireeD5-613 TireeD5-615 TireeD5-620 TireeD5-625 Tris Levie. Image credit BWA/Dave White. TireeD5-658 TireeD5-662 TireeD5-690 TireeD5-705 Debbie Kennedy. Image credit BWA/Dave White. TireeD5-736 TireeD5-740 TireeD5-747 Sophia Gilje. Image credit BWA/Dave White. Justyna Sniady in Tiree. Image credit BWA/Dave White TireeD5-837 TireeD5-847 TireeD5-908 TireeD5-925 TireeD5-947 TireeD5-984 TireeD5-995 TireeD5-1023 Tiree 2012 Tiree 2012 Tiree 2012 Tiree 2012 Tiree 2012 Tiree 2012 Tiree 2012 Tiree 2012 BigDavey-3
Meeting this morning at Balevuiullen at 9:00am for the skippers meeting. Starboard tack sailing, with around 15knots of wind. Potential for some more competition today, but in the mean time here’s some shots from yesterday on Tiree, all images credited to Dave White/BWA Tiree 2012.

First up the pros took to Balephuil for an expression session in very light offshore wins. After two heats and then a final the results were:

Ben Proffitt

Phil Horrocks

Andy King

Sam Neal

After this the youths, ladies and masters took to Crossapol for some more onshore and smaller conditions, but with a fair bit more wind. The women were up first, taking around 4.7-5.0m sails and their big boards. Debbie Kennedy won the final, managing to find and rip some great waves in the light conditions, Sophia Gilje performed well in the final to take second. Third place went to current tour leader Justyna Sniady, who made an incredible come back at this event after breaking her  foot just a couple of months ago, with Boards editor Amy Carter in fourth.

Davey Edmiston dominated the master’s final with some great wave rides plus a solid forward, with BWA photographer Dave White in second. Keith Shorrock took third place with Stu Tilbury in fourth.

In the youth fleet,  Tris Levie is in the lead with two firsts and two seconds, with Luke Raistrick just behind him in second. All the youths have been sailing incredibly throughout the day, making the most of the conditions.

Skippers meeting is called for tomorrow morning at 9:00am at Balephuil, winds are looking light but with a little swell around. With no official competition for the pro’s or amateur’s yet today these will no doubt be the fleets to focus on tomorrow.

The forecast looks strong for this morning so a skippers meeting has been called at Balephuil for 7.45am with a first possible start of 8.15am. The winds are looking to be solid easterlies which will provide some great cross-off port tack conditions at Balephuil. With competition for all fleets to still get started all could get on the water. If you missed it previously check out the runners and riders piece here to get an idea of the names in the mix for the titles here in Tiree.

Phil Horrocks. Image credit Dave White/BWA Tiree Wave Classic

Who is your money on for each fleet? Can Horrocks maintain his form in the pro fleet? Or will previous tour and event winner Proffitt come through?

Tomorrow it looks like there could be some wind early in the morning, therefore a skippers meeting has been called at 7.45am with the first possible start at 8.15am both at Balephuil. The wind looks easterly, which is cross-off-shore from the left at this location and with a decent swell we could be in for some great sailing tomorrow!

Boards will of course post updated info from the action as soon as possible tomorrow…

There has been an incredible turn out for the women’s fleet this year in Tiree with a record 11 women competing. As well as the pro clinics on land, yesterday Mark Hosegood ran a women’s only clinic on land, which we’ll write up the info from into a women’s guide to competition very soon.

Tiree 2012. Image credit BWA/Dave White

Another sunny but cold morning here in Tiree, but unfortunately the wind is not playing ball just yet. Instead, the plan for today is to all meet at Balephuil at midday for some on land shots with photographer Dave White and a possible surf/SUP competition. Boards will keep you posted on the latest news and any action as soon as we can.

Check out Dave White’s gallery from the action, beautiful scenery and group shots of Tiree …

The plan is now to meet at Balephuil at 12.00 and though the forecast doesn’t look great for the day there is a plan for various on land activities for all sailors today. There is also the potential for a SUP competition later in the day too.

Debbie Kennedy. Image credit Dave White/BWA Tiree 2012

There is however a bit of swell on the island, so even though the wind may not be looking very strong, the good waves means we should only need a little bit of wind to make competition possible. Some of the guys went over to the Maze this morning, no wind but decent waves coming through.

The Maze

Yesterday some of the pros (Chris Murray, Ben Proffit, Andy Chambers and Phil Horrocks) gave a rigging clinic for the other competitors.

Pro clinic at Tiree

There’s a few main points which came up regularly when setting up your boards, Phil Horrocks runs you through these:

Footstraps too tight; if only your toes are poking through your straps it means you can’t get your feet across the centre line of the board. This means wave riding is a lot harder, you need to be able to get your feet all the way across to turn the board.

Also, footstraps were quite often spread wide apart but too low. The straps should be closer together, so the sides of the straps are touching your feet but then they are nice and high to give your foot room.
It’s also important to squash your feet as far into the straps as possible when you are preparing to wave ride. When you’re just blasting along it’s easy for your feet to come out a little so this is really important.

Pros clinic

Today in Tiree unfortunately the wind did not show, however yet again we all made the most of the time. An on land clinic was run by head judge Mark Hosegood, along with some of the other pros, this time talking through wavesailing techniques. The rest of the day was spent on the water for many as they took surf and SUP boards into the over head high waves.

Tomorrow’s forecast is looking changeable, we will provide you with a update in the morning with the latest plan for the day.

All headed to Balevullin, where we were greeted with light winds from the right and small waves. As the day progressed and the tide moved in the waves built slightly which meant head judge Mark Hoosegood called the women’s and youth’s fleets onto the water for their first rounds.

The youth fleet headed out first in a ‘trial’ heat to test out the conditions, unfortunately by this point the higher tide meant that the waves were now sheltered from the wind behind the headland making it even lighter and trickier.

After eight minutes the youth competition was called off, as from the start the wind was very light but Tris Levie shone, managing to get some great waves in the challenging conditions.

Most of the women got on the water before the heats took place; Justyna Sniady took to the water for the first time since breaking her foot and carefully managed some runs whilst Debbie Kennedy showed why she has won the previous years events with some solid riding. Unfortunately the women’s heats didn’t get underway at all, but on a positive note two more female competitors turned up today to push the numbers up to an incredible 11. Dave White took the opportunity to get all the ladies together for a mini photoshoot on the beach, so watch out for these piccies very soon!

Before the winds picked up Ben Proffitt, Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, Phil Horrocks and Chris ‘Muzza’ Murray gave some tuning advice to the other fleets. Light wind days up here are the perfect opportunity for picking up lots of tips on equipment, technique etc, so every day the conditions do not deliver activities like this will be arranged.

Tomorrow, along with images, we will provide a run down of the top tuning tips from the guys involved in the chat and will continue to do this with any other advice offered from the  pros. So, up next we will have further coverage of today’s activities hopefully with some reporting from the windsurfing action too!

Elimination ladders:

Pro ladder

Amateur ladder

Master's Ladder

Youth ladder

Ladies ladder

Check out the previous gallery and intro to the day on the page below….

“Day 1

My good friend Tom The Gun Hughs and I set off from Yateley near Reading by 6.30pm driving through the night up to Oban to catch the Ferry the next morning at 7.00am The drive up seemed to go quickly as we chatted away all excited about what was before us, Bigsalty.co.uk showing it was off the scale for the next few days, which had us a bit worried, thinking that it might be too much for us both. This was not quite the case!!

Tiree glassy waves before the guys head out

Once at Oban a four hour ferry crossing allowed  us to get a quick sleep before arriving in Tiree, next was to find accommodation which took a little while as most places were already booked, best to book in advance, problem was we decided last minute to go. Still we did eventually get a room at one of only two hotels on the island The Lodge at £20 per night, we were over the moon until we found out that in the evening there was no heating in the room which I have to say was very cold! However the beds were comfortable and the electric shower gave the only hot water in the room. Once settled we headed off to a beach called Crossapol this is a long sandy beach where most windsurfers and kitesurfers seem to go, the sun was out, wind cross-shore, nice swell lines coming in about shoulder to head high; rigging 5m we went out and had a fun down the line sail in the gusty conditions.

Day 2

Having driven around looking at other spots we ended up back at Crossapol, again 5m well powered up, wind cross-on giving us a great sail and YT scoring two back loops, pushloop, wave rides and more. Gun was moaning things were not going his way but I can tell you he was ripping, one bottom and top turn off the lip was as good as I have ever seen, a pro would have pleased with that one!!  This boy just doesn’t know how good he is..

That night we were back in bed by 9.00 pm waking at 8.00am in the morning, I haven’t slept that well in a long time..”

Follow the rest of the story with Lee and and guys from LAR Watersports on their blog here.

Lucy Robson

Find out more about the Tiree event here http://boards.mpora.com/news/bwa-tiree-wave-classic-2012.html

And listen to the interview with Lucy below…

All the information will be on the BWA website: http://www.britishwavesailingassociation.com/tiree.php