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Westward Ho! crowns British kitesurfing champions
The British Kitesurfing Association’s (BKSA) 2012 UK tour culminated this weekend as a new set of British champions were crowned at the final event at Westward Ho!.
The RWE npower renewables Kitetastic Finals Week took place from Sunday 14 to Saturday 20 October on Westward Ho! beach, nr Barnstaple in North Devon. Over 100 competitors attended the final event which featured a number of disciplines all propelled by powerful kites, including a Wavemaster division which took place from Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 October.
Competitors faced a variety of conditions across the week-long event with winds reaching 35 knots and waves in excess of two metres during the finals of the RWE Wavemasters competition. Similar to surfing but with the addition of kites, entrants in the Wavemasters were judged on their wave riding ability in the testing winds and powerful swell. Scotsman George Noble took the men’s title and Keira Alwood secured the ladies’ trophy thanks to having the overall highest point score.
BKSA Chairman and event organiser Richard Gowers said: “We have certainly had some frustrating conditions this season - this week in particular has been one extreme to the next. Yet despite that, the sun was out, kites were all over the beach and the standard of the competitors still continues to rise. “The ladies’ pro freestyle event was particularly captivating with both Holly Kennedy and Polly Crathorne winning one round each. Eventually it boiled down to points and Polly just snuck in there to secure the championship win.”
The extreme conditions tailed off by Thursday enabling stand out Dan Sweeney from Worthing to claim the British championship title in the pro men’s freestyle kitesurfing division. Competing on a 12 metre kite with a dropping tide, favourite Sweeney fought off tough competition from John Bleiker and Richard Flindall to claim his first championship win.
In a recent blog post after the event, Dan Sweeney said: “In terms of competition level it’s been tough especially in the challenging conditions, but I’m pretty happy with my overall performance and level. I’ve got my results and I’m stoked to announce I’m now the BKSA Professional Men's Freestyle Champion, winning five out of five rounds and not losing one heat this year.”
Riders travelled from Germany and France to compete in the freestyle kitelandboard and kitebuggy which took place in light winds on Saturday. The judges were particularly impressed with German Emmanuel Norman, who did seven forward rotations in one move. Sadly conditions deteriorated and the competitors were all awarded joint first, giving Laurent Guyot the men’s landboard championship title on his collective point score for the season.
Alongside the action, the BKSA also ran a series of powerkite sessions made possible with support from Sport England, which were enjoyed by local school children throughout the week. The event finished with the BKSA British champions being crowned at a special prize giving evening at the Westward Arms on Saturday.
Craig Harwood Project Development Manager for Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm at title sponsors RWE npower renewables said: "Well done to the champions and congratulations to everyone who took part in what was a fantastic week’s competition. We were delighted to be the main sponsor for this BKSA national final. “RWE npower renewables is one of the country’s leading producers of wind power and the developer of Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm, so we were an ideal partner for this exciting event in which the north Devon wind resource played such a vital role." John Craig, Prospecting Manager at RWE npower renewables and a keen kiteboarder himself, presented the riders with their trophies during the awards ceremony.
The event was supported by RWE npower renewables, Sport England, Torridge Council and co sponsors Kitemare and Flexifoil. The UK tour also received support from Best, Mutiny, King of Watersports, Ion, Ocean Rodeo, Palmera Local and media sponsors Kitesurf, I Kitesurf and Kitegirl.
For more information on the BKSA tour go to: www.britishkitesurfingassociation.co.uk
Overall results of the Year
Freestyle Kitesurf
Pro Men
1st Dan Sweeney
2nd John Bleiker
3rd Sam Bull
Pro Ladies
1st Polly Crathorne
2nd Holly Kennedy
3rd Danielle Durrant
Am Men
1st Dave Wilde
2nd Joe Matthews
3rd Craig Smith
Am Ladies
1st Chloe Durrant
2nd Jemima Crathorne
3rd Rosanna Jury
Seniors
1st Joe Hockley
2nd Pete Jones
3rd Ralph Crathorne
Youth
1st George Dufty
2nd Jordan Hurst
3rd Morgan Tinsley
Men Landboard
1st Laurent Guyot
2nd Ash Garwood
3rd Abe Alzouman
Am Landboard
1st Chris Walker
2nd Will Rose
3rd Carl Kirton
Am Men Buggy
1st Richard Dent
2nd Josh Hough
3rd Phil Revill
Open Race
1st Olly Bridge
2nd Steph Bridge
3rd Callum Edge
Wavemasters
Mens
1st George Noble
2nd Paul Stebbings
3rd Sean Facey
Ladies
1st Keira Alwood
2nd Sarah Rowley
3rd Sammy Wiseman
Seniors
1st Marc Rowley
2nd Trevor Hale
3rd Richard Wiseman
Ocean Rodeo Charger of the year - Pete Jones
Best Rookie of the Year - Dave Wilde