PRO MEN'S:
1. Sam Light
2. Ned Taylor
3. Martyn Hogg
| PRO WOMEN'S:
1. Hannah Whiteley
2. Holly Kennedy
3. Helen Thompson
| JUNIORS:
1. Dan Sweeney
2. Jack Daykin
3. Robbie Shire Maidment
|
South Beach, Bridlington , 4th-6th September
With a £1500 prize fund up for grabs this freestyle weekend event saw mixed forecasts test our riders ability, and patience. The Friday never really got started as rider Richard Boughton took to the seas for a test run on his 9 metre and joined the rest of the riders in a vote to wait for Saturday as the winds were too gusty for anyone's liking.
Saturday worked mostly in the rider's favour as heats began sharply at 11am. The wind was still strong though and riders were given two minutes to bust their three best tricks, with their best two counting in each heat. For all the rider's respect must be given. Even the Junior events were run in powerful 20 - 30 knot winds!
As the day went on the wind swung slightly more side shore and it looked like with the Pros would be lucky to run a normal comp – the first Ladies heats were run however were both black flagged as the wind backed off and went back offshore.
The pros then all went out in men's and ladies heats respectively to compete for the Best Trick Competition in front of a large, expectant (and windswept) audience. With ten minutes to bust all their best moves it was Ali Barratt with a Back to Wrapped and Holly Kennedy with a stunning F16 who bagged themselves each £100.
Sunday dawned windless and talk was mentioned of possible cancellation at the riders meeting at 10:30am. Luckily though riders were put on standby until 1pm and by midday the wind had started to get some grunt and kick in. Marcus Hawkins was the first to take to the water with a sideoff wind.
The pro event got itself stuck in and 12 and 14 kite's were launched. Holly Kennedy, Ned Taylor and Martyn Hogg had obviously taken their vitamins that morning and looked really on form, however it was tour leaders Hannah Whiteley and Sam Light who stomped the majority of their landings in the gusty winds to take the wins in both the Ladies and Men's fleets.
Prize giving was done at 5pm with a lot of happy and tired riders.
A special mention should go out to Jack Daykin who nabbed the King of Watersports Best Trick with a Kiteloop pass! Sweet!