Getting ready for an epic event I set off early Friday morning in hope of scoring a pre-competition session down at Lancing, and drove through almost 7 solid hours of driving rain before finally arriving on the south coast.
It was raining in Lancing when I arrived too but the sun soon came out with a moderate cross-shore breeze. I opted for my trusty old 18m as I knew it would keep me going through the lulls, and had a short but refreshing session after such a long drive.
The evening was spent eating fish and chips, sinking a few beers and chatting to people as they arrived. There was a lot of excitement about the forecast and the prospect of some solid kitesurfing conditions.
It was raining in Lancing when I arrived too but the sun soon came out with a moderate cross-shore breeze. I opted for my trusty old 18m as I knew it would keep me going through the lulls, and had a short but refreshing session after such a long drive.
The evening was spent eating fish and chips, sinking a few beers and chatting to people as they arrived. There was a lot of excitement about the forecast and the prospect of some solid kitesurfing conditions.
| Saturday started in a fairly relaxed way, with a mid-morning briefing with Lewis Crathern, Rou Chater and Jim Gaunt opening proceedings. As became the standard for the event, these were done in a playful manner and with good humour. The schedule for the days events was explained - the increasing wind meant that juniors and ladies would start, before moving onto the bigger lads later. It was great to see that multiple world champion Kevin Langeree had come along too! |  Lewis, Rou, Kevin and Jim |
By this time all the brands had covered the beach and nearby grass with tents, feather flags and gear galore, which was an awesome sight to behold and hopefully a vision which will be repeated with events to come.
After everyone had gotten changed and sorted their equipment, competition started with the juniors on kites ranging from 7 to 10.5m. The tide was dropping, leaving nice flat spots between the small waves and it was a pleasure to sit down and watch the action.
Competition rattled on, and the Juniors and am ladies were soon completed, before moving onto the pro classes and masters.
After everyone had gotten changed and sorted their equipment, competition started with the juniors on kites ranging from 7 to 10.5m. The tide was dropping, leaving nice flat spots between the small waves and it was a pleasure to sit down and watch the action.
Competition rattled on, and the Juniors and am ladies were soon completed, before moving onto the pro classes and masters.
Image courtesy of KitePix My first heat was fast approaching; I'd been drawn up against old friends and rivals and Dave Wilde and Kev Matthey. We were all excited about the match-up, and conditions were improving further as the tide dropped, leaving flatter water between the small kickers.
As our heat began I was glad to land a nice clean 313 on the way in, to which Kev and Dave replied to with Blind Judges. I landed a few more smaller tricks on the way out to sea, but repeatedly failed to land a low mobe on the way in. After 3 failures I considered forgetting it, but as time ran out gave it one last try and stomped it with a rather sketchy landing. I wasn't sure how the judges would compare this to Dave and Kev's heats, and we all anxiously awaited the results.
I later found out that I'd done enough to secure first place, progressing me straight through to a place in the third round. Dave and Kev needed to go through the second round to progress, which they proceeded to do so, leaving Kev as my competition again in round 3!
As our heat began I was glad to land a nice clean 313 on the way in, to which Kev and Dave replied to with Blind Judges. I landed a few more smaller tricks on the way out to sea, but repeatedly failed to land a low mobe on the way in. After 3 failures I considered forgetting it, but as time ran out gave it one last try and stomped it with a rather sketchy landing. I wasn't sure how the judges would compare this to Dave and Kev's heats, and we all anxiously awaited the results.
I later found out that I'd done enough to secure first place, progressing me straight through to a place in the third round. Dave and Kev needed to go through the second round to progress, which they proceeded to do so, leaving Kev as my competition again in round 3!
| Next was the turn of the amateur men - a great class with such a variety of styles as handle-passes aren't scored. Big air and loops were mixed up with unhooked moves and board offs - a real kitesurfing Smörgåsbord, and great fun to watch as everyone pushed their limits. The Am's were run right through to completion, interleaved with the insane action from the pro men, and it shortly became time to pack down and make way to the pub for a barbecue and a cheeky pint or two! |  Image courtesy of KitePix |
Amateur men podium After the BBQ was well and truly consumed and some well deserved beers were sank, we were all gathered to hear the results of the day for the juniors, am and pro ladies and amateur men classes.
It was great to see the reactions on the faces of people who had done far better than they expected they could; and awesome to see the industry supporting the competition with some very tidy prizes too!
The Juniors was won by Harry Way, men's and ladies amateurs won by the dynamic duo Dan and Lucie Turner, and pro Ladies by Rosanna Jury.
It was great to see the reactions on the faces of people who had done far better than they expected they could; and awesome to see the industry supporting the competition with some very tidy prizes too!
The Juniors was won by Harry Way, men's and ladies amateurs won by the dynamic duo Dan and Lucie Turner, and pro Ladies by Rosanna Jury.
Early Sunday morning most competitors were awoken by torrential rain as their vans and tents were swayed by the strong winds. An early briefing had been called for 9:30am which was attended by a handful of riders. It was announced that competition would start asap due to the dropping wind forecast.
The wind and sea state hadn't gone unnoticed by anyone - winds well in excess of 30mph and big shore dump - it was clear the conditions were going to be a real game changer.
The wind and sea state hadn't gone unnoticed by anyone - winds well in excess of 30mph and big shore dump - it was clear the conditions were going to be a real game changer.
| The pros were the first to start, and it's fair to say that the heats were very tentative, with not much more than the simplest of handle-passes being scored. After the first round of Pro's were completed, my 3rd round heat was up against Kev Matthey. We both started fairly slow, landing some basic moves in the huge shore dump, until Kev landed a Blind judge on the way in. I tried to reply with a 313, but lost control of the bar on landing. I landed a few more low scoring moves in the difficult conditions, but wasn't sure they would be enough (and they weren't! :)). |  Image courtesy of KitePix |
As the results came in, I saw Kev had pipped me in the horrendous conditions and all props to him for doing so. It gave me the chance to sit back and watch the rest of the competition; the highlight for me was the semi-final between Lewis Crathern and Oli Sweeney. Oli totally shone in the gloomy conditions, as if handle-passing in 6 foot shore dump was routine for him, landing everything he attempted with a real swagger - tricking through the waves with ease as if they weren't there at all.
Image courtesy of KitePix The pro and masters final were very entertaining; the masters particularly so with Kev and Dave Wilde going for new school handle-passes; contrasting against Kevin Maguire's repertoire of hooked in loops, blinds and transitions. It all seemed very close between the three until Kevin Matthey hit a kite-loop just before the buzzer.
This rounded off the weekends action, and everyone packed up and headed to the pub to hear the results from Rou and Jim. It was announced that Olly Bridge had done enough to win the Pro men's title, followed by Oli Sweeney and Sean Murphy. Kevin Matthey had just done enough to push Kevin Maguire into second place for the masters, with Dave Wilde coming third.
It was a great start to the UK championships and there was a great feeling of mutual appreciation from everyone involved; whether it be it organisers, competitors, volunteers or supporters from the kite industry.
It was an epic weekend and a hugely promising start for the championship season, and left everyone looking forward to more... Roll on the Essex event on the 25th July!
This rounded off the weekends action, and everyone packed up and headed to the pub to hear the results from Rou and Jim. It was announced that Olly Bridge had done enough to win the Pro men's title, followed by Oli Sweeney and Sean Murphy. Kevin Matthey had just done enough to push Kevin Maguire into second place for the masters, with Dave Wilde coming third.
It was a great start to the UK championships and there was a great feeling of mutual appreciation from everyone involved; whether it be it organisers, competitors, volunteers or supporters from the kite industry.
It was an epic weekend and a hugely promising start for the championship season, and left everyone looking forward to more... Roll on the Essex event on the 25th July!
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