Surfing, Kiteboarding, Windsurfing and Bodyboarding News Center. Breaking News, Surfing Games, Surf Movies, Board Size Charts, Surf Videos, Wind and Wave Forecasts, Surf Shop, Surf Spots, Surf Cams, Surf Travel.
66 windsurfers complete the 2009 UKWA National Championships in Bridlington
Thursday, 28 May 2009 11:12

Mark Kay won the Raceboard event in Bridlington

Last weekend the UKWA was again given a warm Northern Welcome by East Riding Council as the 2009 series moved on to Bridlington. Bridlington must be the friendliest venue on the UKWA tour and local interest brings out the spectators literally by the thousand. The promenade was a mass of motor homes, windsurfers, locals and holiday makers all enjoying the spectacle of the UK’s top course racers in action.

66 sailors turned out to race last bank holiday weekend 23rd, 24th & 25th May for Round Two of The Saturday greeted competitors with overcast skies and a light chilly breeze. Scanning the Internet for forecasts gave us little optimism, but the coast guard visited the race office with a promising forecast for the day and this indeed proved to be the most accurate version. Race officer Tessa Ingram and Principal race officer Mike Dempsey took to the water early and a course was soon set. The race officer ran 2 rounds of racing for all raceboard fleets in the morning session.

After lunch as the wind built a further three rounds of extremely exciting course racing for raceboard fleets & three back to back races for formula were held. The race officer then announced another two rounds for formula but as they rebelled, shattered and vocal it was agreed that one more round would be held. In fact this was the right decision as soon after the leaders had finished the wind dropped and the back of the fleet struggled to the finishing line.

On Saturday night there was a Pool Party in the local leisure centre hosted by the council with wave pool and slides, which was enjoyed by all. The leisure centre also provided showers all weekend for competitors and relatives for which we are most grateful.

Sunshine was the order of the day on Sunday but the wind was far more challenging. Big wind shifts combined with gusts and lulls tested even the most experienced campaigners but the race officer was not to be deterred. 3 rounds of course racing for all raceboard fleets tested the strength and fitness levels of all not to mention the saw hands and blisters. Conditions made formula racing impossible and although the wind did at times look promising the fleet never left the beech

Monday morning again saw a light early morning breeze but there was a good forecast from lunchtime on. Unfortunately the wind never filled in and although there was racing for all raceboard fleets the one start for the formula fleet was abandoned shortly after the start to the relief of the sailors. A total of 12 rounds of racing for raceboard, 11 for Techno, 10 for RS:X and 4 for formula made this a quite memorable event for all.

Thanks to East Riding Council for making us so welcome, to Kieran Lawry & Paul Roggeman for all their help behind the scenes, the rescue crews & support boats, the race officers and their team and the admin staff who all contributed to make this such a successful event

Thanks also to Tushingham / Starboard for the product prizes awarded to the raceboard fleet.

Raceboards (10)
1st Mark Kay
2nd Tom Naylor
3rd Chris Gibson
1st Unlimited Andy Mexome

RS:X (11)
1st George Bowles
2nd Charlie Money
3rd Jamie Ingram

Techno (29)
1st 6.8 Kieran Martin(2nd overall)
2nd 6.8 Adam Purcell
3rd 6.8 Joe Bennett
1st 7.8 Stuart Hards(1st overall)
2nd 7.8 Matt Brown(3rd Overall)
3rd 7.8 Laurel Townsend

Formula (15)
1st Rich Jones
2nd Jason Clarke
3rd Ashley Barratt

Freerace (1)
1st Martin Allman


SOURCE: UKWA


 

Join our surfing community in Facebook!   Get the top news stories in your Twitter account!   SurferToday.com on Google +   Follow us on Pinterest   SurferToday on Youtube

Check the Wind Forecast for your surfing region
The best anemometers in the world
The Beaufort Wind Force Scale
Wave Height Forecast
The best windsurfing spots in the world
How to make your own windsurfing sail
The best official windsurfing classes
Board & Sail Size Chart
The best freestyle windsurfing moves
The best surf watches in the world

SURFING

Things you didn't know about surfing
23/05/2013
article thumbnail

The history of surfing is very rich. There are multiple facts and figures surrounding the evolution of wave riding, through time. Some are strange, others are deeply bizarre.
From the innovative surf gear to maritime science, surfing has been collecting stories, records and achievements. Did you know that... The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated archipelago on planet earth.
The windiest surf city in the world is Wellington, capital of New Zealand.
The tallest tsunami ever recorded so far [ ... ]


The surf earplugs that allow you to hear
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

The new Seals Balance Pro by EQ earplugs allow surfers to protect their ears and hear everything when wearing them.
When spring and summer start, everyone surfs more often. Also, all-year round surfers are more exposed to severe ear injuries, such as the surfer's ear (Exostosis) and swimmer's ear (Otitis). This problem can be developed after 3000 hours of cold water surfing. Neoprene hoodies and ear plugs are the best way to avoid surgery.


+ Surfing News

KITEBOARDING

"Kite Surfer" is the new wind riding game for iOS
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

"Kite Surfer" is the latest kitesurfing game for iPhone and iPad.
Lemondo Entertainment has announced the release of its newest game, "Kite Surfer", an arcade kitesurfing game designed for both iPhone and iPad. "Kite Surfer" is an endless running game, in which players take control of a character by swiping on the display or tilting a mobile device.


Pudla Narapichit hailed Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champion
21/05/2013
article thumbnail

Pudla Narapichit and Doque Delos Santos have been crowned the Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champions.
With 120 riders from 30 countries, the final and decisive Chinese stage once again broke all records, at Pingtan Island, also known as Haitan Island. The spot is regarded as China's windiest location - regular wind speeds of over 30 knots are recorded over the winter monsoon season and all of the island's old traditional style stone houses need to have rocks placed on top of their tiled roo [ ... ]


+ Kitesurfing News

WINDSURFING

Dieter van der Eyken dominates the 2013 Belgian Wave Windsurfing season
23/05/2013
article thumbnail

Dieter van der Eyken is one step closer of being crowned the 2013 Belgian Wave Windsurfing champion.
Bredene, in the Belgian province of West Flanders, held an intense weekend of wave windsurfing action. On Friday, all sailors completed the single elimination of the competition, despite the medium size waves and light winds.


Delphine Cousin stands out in the 2013 French Windsurfing Championship
23/05/2013
article thumbnail

Delphine Cousin is shining a light in the 2013 French Windsurfing Championship, with a victory in the second stage, held in Brest.
Despite the difficult conditions - three days of disoriented and gusty winds - sailors were able to complete two races. The organization worked hard to try to get more races, but even if the windsurfing fleet had spent many hours on the water every day, nothing could be done.


+ Windsurfing News

BODYBOARDING

Nuno Azevedo sweeps fourth Luso Galaico Championship title
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

Nuno Azevedo has conquered the bodyboarding division of the XV Luso Galaico Championship, a competition between Portuguese and Galician riders.
Up to 64 bodyboarders and surfers from the North of Portugal and the Spanish region of Galicia have competed at Cabedelo Beach and Arda Beach, in Viana do Castelo. With a mobile structure and a new live scoring system, the level of competition was high in the 2-4 foot waves on offer. Portuguese riders claimed four out of five titles at the XV Luso Ga [ ... ]


What happens in Teahupoo stays in Teahupoo
22/05/2013
article thumbnail

What happens in Teahupoo stays in Teahupoo. Don't tell anyone about the wipeouts you're about to witness.
When surfers are out of the game, bodyboarders go for it. During the infamous mid-May swell of 2013, a group of prone riders decided to taste the real power of the Tahitian barrel. Maui Leetham, Richard Niko, Jurd Heimana, Thibault Casabianca, John Duval prepared their boards, leashes and cameras and paddled into the devil, with fin power only.


+ Bodyboarding News