• Event Debrief
• Puravida SWA Wave Tour
• PlymEx
• 2015/16

At the end of last year we saw yet another successful collaboration between Plymouth and Exeter university to bring us PlymEx 2015: Rumble in the Jungle wave event. With the arrival of gale force winds threatening to cancel the competition, only the hardiest of windsurfers were brave enough to challenge the elements head on. The combination of big waves and high winds meant for a spectacular competition with some impressive aerials, turns and even more impressive wipeouts!

Results:

• 1st – Matt Cox (Plymouth, Tabou/GA Sails)
• 2nd – Sara Kellett (UWE, Tushingham/Starboard/Mystic)
• 3rd – Tom Bennett-Lloyd (Bangor)
• 4th – Tom Pidden (Nottingham)
• 5th –  Charlie Gilman (Southampton, Puravida/Severne)

Below is an extract from an article written by our very own Ben Page and posted by one of our sponsors on boards.co.uk:

A forecast for 6m waves and 50knots is something that would have even the most experienced wave sailors quivering with nervous anticipation. This is exactly what the sailors of the Student Windsurfing Association (SWA) had facing them in the run up to the first event of the year on Saturday 5th December.

• Aussie Kiss
• 2015/16

The post AK video is here!!!!!

I can't wait until the next event!!!

See you there!!!!

• Event Debrief
• SWA Core Event
• Birmingham
• 2015/16

Last weekend saw Birmingham play host to one hundred students for their debut event, Up The Brum. This event was the first in the annual core windsurf series, and was eagerly anticipated in the wake of Aussie Kiss kicking off the event tour back in November.

Saturday saw the arrival of the gale force winds the forecast had promised. The advanced guys took to the water to enjoy the conditions on some of the demo kit kindly brought by Boardwise and Patrik Sailoft. After refuelling on a selection of hot food, the windsurfers headed back out for the freestyle competition. With the competition being the second event in the freestyle series, competitors were keen to impress and gain vital points for their rankings. The high winds meant some big moves were attempted by the series favourites, as the beginners looked on in awe from the warmth of the club house. After finishing 2^nd at Aussie Kiss, Charlie Wilson of Southampton was victorious. Also impressing the judges were Alex Parker of Cardiff and Leo Calnan of Southampton, who rounded out the podium.

Celebrating the days’ activities, the windsurfers headed out onto Broad Street in an array of fancy dress, ranging from ‘the chicken and the egg’ to ‘dinosaurs’ and ‘the big bang’.

Sunday saw an early start for a big day of competition. Eager to get out on the water, the beginners got some practice under the supervision of a team of volunteer instructors, working on their tacks and gybes before the racing later in the afternoon.

With the wind forecast to drop, competition kicked off early in the day with the team racing. With all podium teams from Aussie Kiss in attendance, it was expected to be a tightly contested event, and didn't disappoint. Heat one saw Cardiff and Birmingham ease to victory over Liverpool and Birmingham 2; and in heat two Cardiff showed why they were defending champions, easing through their heat, accompanied by Bristol. Imperial weren't able to show the prowess demonstrated at Aussie Kiss and unfortunately missed out on a place in the final. In the end, Cardiff continued their dominance and were victorious with superior gybes and changeovers, with Bristol not far behind. The battle for the final podium position fell subject to a nasty shift in the wind, with Birmingham coming out on top after an upwind fight to the buoy.

Final results

• 1^st – Cardiff
• 2^nd – Bristol
• 3^rd – Birmingham

Coming straight from the team racing, many competitors went straight into the advanced racing. Split into three heats, sixteen guys and girls fought their way round the course. In the end, it was the top three from the freestyle competition who were victorious, showing skill across a range of disciplines. Charlie Wilson narrowly edged out fellow Southampton team mate Leo Calnan, and Alex Parker from Cardiff completed the podium.

Next up was the intermediate sailors. With the wind slightly calmer than the preceding storm, it was the perfect opportunity for them to show what they could do. After a fantastic gybe round the buoy, Lizzy Delva of Birmingham was victorious, closely followed by James Metcalfe of Imperial and Pablo Tarodo of Bristol.

Wanting to put into practice the skills they’d practiced earlier, the beginners rounded off the day’s competition. Managing to avoid the worst of the collision chaos, Lucy Gosling from Birmingham was victorious after much vocal encouragement from her home club. Coming in just behind her was Alice Gwyn-Jones from Keele and Adrian Castro Gavira of Imperial.

The event wrapped up with prize giving, with some fantastic prizes for the competition winners kindly donated by Boardwise. Cardiff were also rewarded for their team race success with a demo day provided by Patrik Sailoft. The event was a great success, with Birmingham having surprised everyone as a windsurfing location, thanks to the accommodating Chasewater Sailing Club. The next event, BrUWE in February is now eagerly anticipated by all.

• Event Debrief
• Aussie Kiss
• 2015/16

#PEDSALERT #FOMOALERT

You might not be aware, but just over a week ago something pretty impressive took place. For the fourteenth year, Bude Holiday Resort and Roadford Lake were hosts to the biggest Student Windsurfing festival in the world: Aussie Kiss.

The event is run by the Student Windsurfing Association (SWA) and has been a mainstay for the student windsurfing community since 2001. Since then, the event has changed location and format a little; but the general theme has been maintained: get as many students windsurfing in one place over one weekend as physically possible.

This time nearly 500 students took over the caravan park, tearing up the dancefloor and dominating the lake. It was once again fantastic to see so many people (both new and returning members) enjoying everything that Aussie Kiss had to offer.

This year the event was blessed with a previously unrivalled audio entourage, provided by the one and only Red Bull and Concert Solutions. Think laser lights, smoke machines, a Funktion One sound system and DJs who had previously played for Radio One! Alex ‘Cuzo’ Mancuso of Duplex Sound headlined, supported by Sam Watson and Saxadan (aka Dan Connor from Patrik Diethelm).

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