The final round of the BKSA Kiteival at Redcar was the last event of the year. Over 100 competitors registered for the event on the stunning beach in the Tees Valley.
Thursday kicked off with light Westerly winds; however things soon picked up and the Pros hit the water for the Freestyle. The Wind hit 20 knots and competitors were on 10 metre kites.
The Pro Ladies managed to get all their heats done with tour leader Hannah Whiteley taking the win ahead of Helen Thompson and Nicky Rudd. However with a veering and dropping wind the three Pro Men were unable to complete their final – which was extremely disappointed for all concerned.
Friday the wind forecast from the SE remained light however the course racers managed to get out in-between the 12-foot waves! The racing was hard and fast Denzil Williams showing how to do it most of the way however crashing yards from the finish line, letting Andy Gratwick take the win. However Denzil fought back and took the second race.
The Freestyle Kitesurfers were unable to compete due to the light winds however the Freestyle Kitelandboards and Kitebuggys took to the hard sand’s to strut their moves in a difficult wind.
The Juniors, Ladies Kitelandboard and Ladies Kitebuggy managed to complete full rounds until the comp was called off due to a dying wind.
Saturday saw no wind at all with a good swell – a few going surfing and tow in on the jest skis. Saturday night everyone glammed up for the end of season prize giving – which ended in a very late night!
Sunday the wind was back up to blow the cobwebs away .
The Kitesurfer freestylers went out to please the crowds with a “ please the crowd “ judging criteria. The moves were a mix of old school vs new school and everyone had fun, taking the win was Ali Barrett with some lovely can cans and board offs!
The Kitelandboard and Kitebuggy guys had two hours for a Best trick comp the winners being:
- Buggy: Dave 'Stupid' Roberts, with a seriously powered 1080 kite-loop
- Landboard: Kris 'Floyd' Beech, with a 25ft, fast and super smooth 1080 slapdown
Winner of the King of Watersports Sector nine was kitesurfer Oli Sweeney .
That rounded a big weekend and all the competitors headed back to the 4 corners of the UK.
Pro Kitesurfing
Men’s 1= Ned Taylor, Sam Light and Ali Barrett
Ladies
1 Hannah Whiteley
2 Helen Thompson
3 Nicky Rudd
Kitebuggy Freestyle Ladies
1 Karen Cartlidge
2 Nicola Hammond
3 Sukie Robertson
Kitelandboard Juniors
1 Greg Chilton
2 Ted Polkey
3 Sam Lawman
Kitelandboard Ladies
1 Sukie Robertson
2 Karen Cartlidge
BKSA end of year results in all classes:
All land events and course racing were best of 3 rounds
All Freestyle Kitesurfing were best 5 results of 6 rounds
Freestyle Kitelandboard
Mens
1 Lewis Wilby
2 AJ Philipson
3 Ash Garwood
Juniors
1 Greg Chilton
2 Ted Polkey
3 James Langton
Freestyle Kitebuggy
Mens
1 Will McKean
2 Frazier Cohen
3 Dave Roberts
Ladies
1 Karen Cartlidge
2 Nicola Hammond
3= Sukie Roberston
3= Marie Thorpe
Course Racing Kitesurfing
Mens
1 Denzil Williams
2 Andy Gratwick
3 Steve Stubbs
Ladies
1 Steph Bridge
2 Nicky Rudd
3 Sheryl Confue
Freestyle Kitesurfing
Pro Mens
1 Sam Light
2 James Boulding
3 Ned Taylor
Pro Ladies
1 Hannah Whiteley
2 Helen Thompson
3 Nicky Rudd
Juniors
1 Dan Sweeney
2 Daniel Maurice
3 Oli Bridge
Seniors
1 Pete Whiteley
2 Marcus Hawkins
3 Dave Williams
Am Men
1 Sam Moore
2 Tom Butler
3 Simon Light
Am Ladies
1 Megan Griffiths
2 Polly Crathorn
3 Sukie Robertson
