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UKWA National Series Freestyle West Wittering – Round 2

Amy Carter - Editor — Mon, 13 May 2013 08:08:17 +0000

The second round of the UKWA freestyle tour took place at West Wittering and was sponsored by 2XS, X-train and WWWC, Boards catches up with the team from the centre and some of the pros to find out more about one of the best freestyle events to hit the UK in a while!

Andy Bubble Chambers

Pics by Simon Bassett /2XS.

With a lack of wind the forecast mid week the event was nearly cancelled but Thursday morning after a wind abyss a 25 knot South Westerly forecast was predicted for all day Saturday.

The event started around 10.30am – the legendary Wittering Trench formed up at low tide and the contest began. Julian Du Vall, Trevor Funnell and David Bradley were judging, it certainly wasn’t tropical conditions and the heats blasted through as the wind increased. Heat after heat went through, in the end the beach event crew did four complete rounds.

The Pros had four heats, two a piece for Bubble and Max Rowe which led them into a fifth heat, which was known as the Super Final – both of them were sailing on top form and Bubble just pipped Max in the dying minutes.

This year the amateur fleet are pushing at a really high level with big moves coming from all competitors throughout the event – even the younger kids really going for big moves .

BUBBLE:

“Wow!! What an event!! Literally the best freestyle conditions i have ever competed in! The West Wittering trench was at its best! Great to see so many people on the water having it! The level of freestyle in the UK is getting better and better and with events in places like West Wittering i’m sure we’ll see the UK’s next rising stars coming up. Great competing against Max as it really pushes me! He was ripping on his new sails.”

Max Rowe

MAX:

“It was definitely the best conditions I’ve ever experienced at any contest. The trench is truly a world class spot so it was great to have a contest there. I was battling with Bubble all day for the first place and after winning two rounds each we had a sail off which he went on to win so congratulations to him as he was ripping. I was using the new 2014 North Idol ltd’s and the sails are feeling amazing which gave me loads of confidence.”

Saturday night in The Old House at Home, West Wittering, there were plenty of tired bodies after a full day of competition and when Sunday came around it was decided not to run a tow in event as the previous day’s competition had been so successful.

Ollie Acton

Pro Fleet

Sailor Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Nett	Tie Break	Rank
Andy Chambers	2	2	0.7	0.7	5.4	3.4	1	1
Max Rowe	0.7	0.7	2	2	5.4	3.4	2	2
Nic Hibdige	4	4	3	3	14	10		3=
Oscar Carmichael	3	3	4	4	14	10		3=

Amateur Fleet

Sailor Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Nett	Rank
Kieran Roan	3	0.7	3	0.7	7.4	4.4	1
Ollie Acton	0.7	2	2	2	6.7	4.7	2
Ben Lee	2	3	0.7	4	9.7	5.7	3
Ben Page	4	4	4	3	15	11	4

Ben Lee

Junior U20

Sailor Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Nett	Rank
Jamie Howard	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	2.8	2.1	1
Charlie Jones	2	2	2	2	8	6	2

Junior U17

Sailor Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Nett	Rank
Luke Williams	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	2.8	2.1	1

Junior U15

Sailor Name	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	Nett	Rank
Ike Bradley-Baker	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	2.8	2.1	1
Lucas Meldrew	2	2	2	2	8	4	2

UKWA West Wittering: All the Action

Amy Carter - Editor — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:24:28 +0000

We know the top three finishers in the pro fleet, we’ve heard from Tushingham rider Ollie Acton and now you can check out a video from all the action from the West Wittering round of the UKWA freestyle tour, which took place last weekend. Looks like the conditions in the trench were perfect and the top boys really showed what they are capable of.

Up soon on Boards we will also have a full report from the weekend, so stay tuned!

UKWA West Wittering from Ben Page on Vimeo.

West Wittering Freestyle Competition: Report from Ollie Acton

Amy Carter - Editor — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:27:57 +0000

This weekend saw great wind and mirror flat water down at West Witterings for the next instalment of the UKWA tour, this time Britain’s best freestylers took to the water for another hard fought competition.

Pro top three: 1st Andy Bubble Chambers, 2nd Max Rowe, joint 3rd Oscar Carmichael and Nic Hibdige.

Ollie Acton, competing in West Wittering

Boards will have a full report for you very soon, but first of all we catch up with second placed amateur Ollie Acton.

This was by far the best conditions I’ve ever competed in! 2XS at West Witterings provided the venue for the second event in the UKWA Freestyle calendar, and what a location to hold a competition in.

The wind was forecast to be marginal but by midday I was on my 4.2 Edge fully powered in the glassy flat lagoon, this set the scene for some high class freestyle action. The pro’s were on another level with spock culo’s, skopu’s and other crazy named moves while the amateurs were also pulling off big moves much as funnels, esliders and double flakas in almost every round! I entered in the amateurs and somehow managed to come second after Saturdays competition, something I can be pretty proud considering the level was really high. The pictures below are of the last heat of the day, just as the wind dropped so I changed up to my 5.5 Rock.

Check out more about Ollie on his page on the Tushingham website here and head back to the Boards website very soon for a full event report.

West Wittering Open for Action!

Amy Carter - Editor — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:53:25 +0000

West Wittering Windsurf Club has just reopened at the beginning of March lots of new toys have just been delivered for the EZZY RRD Test centre, new 2013 sails on 100% carbon masts –new ltd edition RRDs –SUPS and kite gear .The centre has just been fully refirbished and is a place where you can join the club,come as day member,hang out or join our amazing Hire Package scheme for the season (we provide all the latest gear all rigged up you just turn up dive in a suit and sail!) If there is no wind we have plenty of SUP action and new windsups from Fanatic all ready to go.We also have loads of kids gear all the Hot sails Maui kids rigs .We even have guest test boards from Goya and Quattro.You can see the action on our webcam or on our Facebook and pics on our news pages.http://www.2xs.co.uk/weather/

2xs

On the coaching side X-train we have loads going on our Rippers program starts from age 5years is now in its 11th season- we teach windsurfing kitesurfing,Sup,surfing and new paddle fit courses.We have clinics coming up from Peter hart,Sam Ross ,Photo sessions with Whitey ,and clinics with our own team James Randall And Roscoe Moore . Again check out our website we have lot going on http://www.x-train.co.uk

We have full facilities right on the beach changing rooms ,showers, wifi ,jet ski rescue and some amazing flatwater and surf conditions –we also have the demo centre and new shop http://www.2xs.co.uk where you can get spares and essentials and try before you buy.We have a UKWA freestyle Event in May,Paddle Surf events ,plenty of barbies planned if the sunshine turns up.

If you would like a brochure ,free tide table or want to know the conditions please call Simon, Chris, James or Roscoe on 01243 513077.

Loop Course This Weekend

Amy Carter - Editor — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 11:34:43 +0000

SAM ROSS – Loop Rollover Course – 1 Day (possible dates: 23rd or 24th July 2012) – £120 at West Wittering.

Sam Ross. Image credit Jon Moy.

This clinic combines all the things you need to get those loops sorted, the right conditions, a like minded group of windsurfers and the coaching that can break this move down and make sure your skills and ambitions match.

We will spend the day, building skills, understanding how the move works and then putting into action. If the loop is a move you have been pondering or dabbling with then this course will help you make the jump from “would like to loop” to “I am looping”. As long as you are already sailing a board around 100ltrs in coastal conditions and can jump, then those are the only skills you need.

Bookings can be done with X-Train. www.x-train.co.uk

Find out more about Sam Ross on Boards.

Work at West Wittering?

Amy Carter - Editor — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:16:48 +0000

X-Train are currently hiring more instructors for the summer season, to work at their tuition centre based at West Wittering beach. Simon Bassett tells Boards what they’re looking for…

Max Rowe at West Wittering. Image credit Simon Mcomb.

We need staff who are qualified as windsurfing and kitesurfing instructors, have a current first aid and powerboat certificates, and either BKSA or RYA qualifications.

It is working five days a week, working weekends with days off during the week. If you have any experience of SUP or surf this will be a benefit.We have a windsurf, kite surf, surf and SUP school plus RRD EZZY test centre, windsurf and kitesurf club.

Please send your CV with a copy of your current certificates to Simon Bassett @ simon@2xs.co.uk, tel: 0774 775 8883.

Join Harty this week for a spring tune-up!

editor — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:30:22 +0000

Peter Hart has a couple of spaces left on his Skills Makeover clinic this week at West Wittering…

Spring is here and Peter Hart is ready to give you the tune-up your windsurfing might need. Over to Harty…

“If you’re struggling to nail a specific move or are just a bit despondent at your general lack of progress, the root causes are usually the same. So on this course Harty, the ‘guru’s guru’, will take a holistic look at your windsurfing and address the details that will make a huge long term difference to your sailing. You can ask him to address a particular skill or you can just ask him to have a look and make you better! Whichever, you WILL emerge a better player!”

Harty with some happy students at West Wittering

Taking place in just a couple of days time, the clinic will be held at the fantastic South Coast location of West Wittering. If you aren’t nearby, hotels, B+Bs and campsites can all be arranged.

The Club
You will be the guests of 2XS and the West Wittering Windsurf Club. The facilities and beach set-up are spectacular. It sits within an immense swathe of undeveloped coastal plane. You rig up on grass. The clubhouse has tea cofee, wi-fi and classy piping hot showers.

Give your sailing a makeover with Peter Hart

The sailing area
The appeal of the sailing area is that it offers everything to everbody at different states of tide. At low water, the sea retreats behind a sand bar to leave a silky smooth, waist-deep ‘gybe-atorium.’ As the tide pushes, waves break on the banks and the more accomplished can strut their aerial stuff.

Running on the 13th and 14th April, the 2 days will set you back just £200, while the benefits to your windsurfing will be immeasurable! To book your place on the course, hurry up and contact Simon Bassett at X-Train via email: info@x-train.co.uk or by phone: 01243 513077.

Sam Ross Clinics – The Latest

editor — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:25:30 +0000

We catch up with Sam Ross to find out what is in store for the top coach…

As summer approaches, it’s time to think about getting out on the water and perhaps getting some top tips from windsurf guru, Sam Ross.

The next clinic from Sam will be held at West Wittering on the 7th April. The ‘Get Freestyle’ course isn’t just for the ‘rubberised youth’, but is a great introduction to aerial freestyle for everyone.

“If there’s a freestyle move you are already stuck on, or you’re fed up of flying out the front, side or backdoor every time you try that illusive Vulcan, Spock or Flaka then it’s time to get some input.

These two days are aimed at adults that really want to get stuck into freestyle and add something different to their sailing. We will use land and water based sessions as well as video analysis to improve your skills on the course as well as take away the knowledge you need to keep progressing.”

Trying to crack the Flaka? Let Sam show you how it's done

Later in the month Sam will be jetting off to Dahab in Egypt to run back-to-back coaching weeks. From April 22nd, anyone happy sailing around upwind, downwind and using a harness can join Sam for his Intermediate clinic. Better planing, footstraps and waterstarts will ensure you have your best windsurfing year yet. From the 29th April, any Advanced sailors who would like to improve their gybes, learn gybe variations, improve their top speed, jumping and anything beyond will be in for a great week. Offering lots of personal coaching with some top ideas, Sam will get you tuned up and flying across the waters of the Red Sea.

Dahab - flat water blasting paradise

To learn more or book any of the clinics, follow the links below and check out Sam’s website HERE.

Freestyle weekend at West Wittering.

Dahab intermediate and advanced weeks.

West Wittering, West Sussex

Letitia Hristodorescu — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 16:47:43 +0000

West Wittering has been a really popular location since windsurfing started in the UK in the late 70’s. The beach itself is privately owned and has been kept rural by the owners (300 locals) who purchased the land to prevent development on the beach. The windsurfing conditions are regarded on the south coast as some of the best with a shallow, waist deep, tidal lagoon at neap tides which is perfect for beginners and intermediates. Surprisingly for the south coast, you can get pretty steep waves for jumping and good riding at high tide, in particular two to three groynes downwind of the Windsurf Club.

Fees: WWWC was set up to allow windsurfers and kitesurfers access to use this privately owned beach. Single membership costs £145.00 per annum and family membership at £215.00 with a joining fee of £40. Or you can buy a season ticket at £80, or pay £12.50 each time you visit (maximum visits 4 times per season and this includes parking). Windsurfing guests can be signed in by a member, and you must have 3rd party insurance and agree to abide by club safety rules. Maximum visits by a guest are 4 times per season.

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Beach Faces:: South
Best Wind Direction:: South-west is cross onshore and can be excellent when there is a good swell running. Westerly is crosshore and great for wave riding and jumping. North-west is cross off and on occasions can be awesome.
Best Wind Direction For Waves:: South-West, West and North-West.
Not Good:: North-East
Tide:: Low tide is perfect for beginners and intermediates. Neap tides are better for the lagoon than spring tides, as you will get a long walk to the waters edge. Low tide can also produce some really good waves to the far left of the lagoon. At mid tide there is a mixture of flattish water and smaller waves. At high tide there is no shore break at West Wittering due to the shallow shelving beach.
What’s On The Bottom:: Sand
Any Hazards:: West Wittering beach has some groynes but there are no obstacles in the water. In an easterly wind, you need to sail before high tide, as once it is on the turn and in the same direction as the wind, it’s game over. See you in Southampton!
Other Water Users:: Kitesurfers, swimmers and some surfers
Suitability / Levels:: Beginners to advanced. The West Wittering Windsurf Club has jet ski rescue cover between April and October. Lifeguards are also on the beach in the summer holiday period.

Wipeout Factor:: Only on exceptional days are you likely to loose your kit in a wipeout. In most directions, you will get pushed along the shoreline and into the beach, or into the harbour mouth at the very worst. If you break your kit out to sea, you are more than likely to get pushed in half way down the beach, giving you a long walk of shame!
Instruction:: West Wittering Windsurf Club has a full-on tuition programme from six year old kids who want to learn, to specialist private lessons on how to loop. There are three windsurf instructors, a kitesurf instructor and private coaching by the UK’s leading windsurf coach, Jem Hall. Call Andy Murray at the club for more details on 01243 513077.
Kit Hire:: This is available from the Windsurf Club. There is a full hire centre including the latest wide style beginners boards, Hot Sails Maui kids rigs, Ezzy sails, JP, Starboard, Fanatic and North. Also available are wetsuits, surfboards, bodyboards and surf kayaks. There is also a Flexifoil Powerkite Test Centre at the Windsurf Club.
Friendly Factor:: There is a good social scene based around the Windsurf Club where everyone launches. Because the beach is private between 1 April and 30 October, anyone windsurfing at West Wittering has to pay a day ticket of £12.50 which gives you the use of the Club, or alternatively join the Club if you are going to become a regular.
No Wind Alternatives:: There is a good social scene based around the Windsurf Club where everyone launches. Because the beach is private between 1 April and 30 October, anyone windsurfing at West Wittering has to pay a day ticket of £12.50 which gives you the use of the Club, or alternatively join the Club if you are going to become a regular.

Facilities:

Toilets	Yes, on the beach
Shower	Yes, on the beach (new toilets and showers are being built this winter for the windsurfing club
Windsurfing Shop	2XS (www.2xs.co.uk) and Shore Watersports (www.shore.co.uk) very nearby
Food	Beach Cafe
Parking	You have to pay and this can be included in your sailing fee

Accommodation:

Call 2XS on 01243 512552 for the latest accommodation or look on their website,www.2xs.co.uk. There are camp sites in West Wittering and a number of B&B’s. For accomodation information in the general Chichester area try www.smoothhound.co.uk/chichester-ratings.html

Local Hotshots:

West Wittering gets its fair share of grade A windsurfers and kiters. Windsurfers include Chris Audsley, Paul Hunt, and Timo Mullen who will travel down if the conditions are good. Also locals Stu Holland, Billy Wheaton, Pete Hart, Jem Hall, Neil Gent, Simon Bassett, Ian Whittaker and Camilla French can be seen out on the water.

Local Knowledge / Secrets:

To get the best waves, wait an hour after high tide or two hours before high tide, and sail 3 groynes down from the Windsurf Club.

Webcams: There is a free webcam including tide, windspeed direction and wave height at www.2xs.co.uk . They also have a mobile GPRS link for phones.

2XS Windsurfing Shop also provides a 24 hour telephone weather line which gives up-to-date information on actual wind speed and direction. The Blowline number is 0906 8518628. Calls charged at 60p per minute.

Extra:

WWWC have organised the Windsurf at Wittering event for the last 7 years in spring and autumn.

West Wittering has been voted the No.1 beach in the UK for many years due to its clean waters and well organised beach site.

Unlike most beaches, West Wittering is private and they charge to park, and you have to pay to windsurf and kitesurf. West Wittering Estate, who run the site, are owned by around 300 locals who purchased the land 50 years ago to prevent development of a holiday camp on the beach. The Windsurf Club, which has been there for 20 years, was a response to preventing windsurfers, and now more recently kitesurfers, from being banned from using the beach in the summer months. Wittering gets more than 1 million visitors a year so there is a need to control the integration of kitesurfers and windsurfers on West Wittering beach.

How To Get There:

Coming from London (Wimbledon area) it generally takes 1 hour 15 mins to get down to West Wittering. Come down the A3 to Portsmouth and take the A27 towards Chichester and Brighton. Upon reaching the outskirts of Chichester you take the A286, signposted to The Witterings, and then follow signs for West Wittering for approximately 7 miles. On entering the village you pass by 2XS on your right hand side, and then 500m later you come across a right hand turning for the beach. A mile down this road you will reach the beach.

Report By:

Simon Bassett

Photo Credits:

Photos by: 2XS

Jamie Drummond West Witts Freestyle, November 2011

Duncan — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:01:04 +0000

Check out K-787 Jamie Drummond testing out his new K4 Fins at The Trench, West Wittering, 2 Nov 2011:

I am now sailing on K4 Fins. I’m really happy to be part of the K4 Team and the fins are incredible. Amazingly light, fast, great upwind drive and they just LOVE to spin. I’ve just had the one session on them so far but they are so easy to pop or slide into double or even triple moves…perfect all round really!

I scored some pretty good conditions at West Wittering at the start of November. Gear: Starboard Flare 91, Tushingham Edge 4.7, 16 and 18cm K4 Freestyle. Thanks to James Randall for filming.

Much more from Jamie on his fully redesigned website at www.jamiek787.com

Max Rowe’s K-20 in Britain 2011

Duncan — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:53:36 +0000

Check out British freestyler Max Rowe‘s latest release:

Surprisingly enough I’ve had loads of time on the water whilst I’ve been at home. I’ve even managed to compile a video with all my footage of sailing at home from September until now. This is a first for me, as I’ve never had enough clips from home to warrant making a video. Could be to do with the amount of time I’ve spent there over the last few years! But now with more events going on at home and having to travel from home to go to events I’ve definitely been spending a bit more time there.

The main spot featured in the video is Point Clear, St Oysth, Essex. It’s not a spot I sailed once whilst I was growing up but after getting to know Whitey ( Dave White ) he couldn’t understand why anyone would bother going anywhere else. So I checked it out a few years ago, I rarely sail anywhere else if I’m at home. It is amazing as far as flat-water freestyle spots go. The rest of the footage is from the south coast whilst I was down there for the competitions. Big thanks to everyone at West Wittering as they’ve been extremely accommodating in letting us sail there and helping out with photographers etc. Check out www.2xs.co.uk yet another amazing spot. The best day we had there I sailed on the waves at high tide with some epic jumping conditions before the tide dropped to reveal the freestyle “trench”. The other main spot is the Esso Garage on Hayling Island.

More at maxrowe.blogspot.com

Jamie Drummond’s Moctober Update

Duncan — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:33:25 +0000

As he prepares himself for extreme moustache duties during Movember (see uk.movember.com) check out Tushingham / Starboard’s latest freestyle signing and Ocean Elements Vassiliki instructor K-787 Jamie Drummond in action at West Wittering and Hayling Island’s Esso Garage back in the UK.

Plenty more at jamiek787.blogspot.com

X-Train Rippers Freestyle Wave Camp – 29-30 October 2011

Duncan — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:02:05 +0000

X-Train Rippers

Simon Bassett at X-Train has been in touch to let us know about their forthcoming Rippers Freestyle Wave Camp – 29-30 October at West Wittering beach. Designed for young guns who can plane on their shortboards, can waterstart who are looking to develop skills to take them to next level.

The course will be full on and fun -for the 2 days with early starts and will incorporate developing new manoeuvres –learning about competing in wave and freestyle –fitness-mental focus –kit tuning and technique and a mini comp on the second day. There will be a push to try new manoeuvres and develop the next techniques and drills to take your windsurfing forward.

We hope to inspire the next level of freestyle wave sailors. We will be having some guest stars inc Jamie Drummond, Adam Sims and others to turn up during the weekend to chat about there competition experience and give some advice.

Sam Ross (PWA freestyle judge top freestyle sailor and RYA coach) will taking the rippers course, along with X-train Team Chris Rainbow, Roscoe Moore and Simon Bassett. There will be still photos and video analysis. If there is a shortage of wind we will concentrate on developing light wind skills-fitness and SUP and equipment tuning.

Saturday Day 1

Arrive at beach register 8.00 am

Briefing outline plan to parents and groups 8.15

Kit rigged and warm up and hit the water 8.30

Session 1 on water

Freestyle fundamentals and transitions

Upwind moves-switch stance –downwind moves

Lunch 12.00

Session 2 on water 12.45

Wave session getting though surf

Jumping and riding the wave

Off water / warm down 3.00pm

Video debrief of water sessions 3.30pm

End of day 5.00pm

Sunday Day 2

Warm up session /hit water 8.15am

On water freestyle recap and new moves 8.30

Comp rules and how to start/finish 10.00am

Lunch 12.00

First comp heats 12.45pm

Finials 3.00

Video debrief 3.30

Prize giving 5.00pm

What you need to bring winter suits –winter boots, hoods, towels, warm clothing, woolly hat, windsurf kit 100 to 90 ltr and appropriate sails sizes. Lunch and snacks and soft drinks. (If you have SUPS please bring them) Also bring your running shoes, shorts and tees.

See West Wittering in action at www.2xs.co.uk

We will provide hot showers changing rooms-light wind gear SUPS, surfboards -

High tide 1.45 Sat

High tide 1.30 Sun (clocks change Sat night)

To book please call Chris Rosco or Simon at X-train West Wittering 01243 513077

info@x-train.co.uk – the cost of the course will be £120 inc a free tee shirt.

X-train Rippers Freestyle Wave Camp is supported by 2XS, RRD, EZZY, ION, NORTH, FANATIC BOARDS, BOARDSEEKER, WINDSURF

Adam Sims’ One Cubed

Duncan — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 06:52:22 +0000

Watch the latest freestyle clip from K-72 Adam Sims – one day’s filming in 50 knots at West Wittering, one day’s editing, one minute of action! More at k669.blogspot.com

Holly Bassett and Reece White – GoPro Playtime at WWWC

Duncan — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:29:52 +0000

Check out Holly Bassett (daughter of 2XS / X-Train / WWWC main man Simon Bassett) and Reece White (son of our very own editor Dave White) proving there is life beyond the parents after all… All things West Wittering can be found via www.2xs.co.uk