Sean Murphy kicking things off! The forecast for the weekend was looking pretty marginal, with only a small window of wind early on the Saturday morning. I started the long journey down from the North East on Friday morning, and arrived in Hunstanton mid-afternoon, hoping for a pre-competition session.
Sadly the wind wasn't quite playing ball, so we spent the afternoon chatting to fellow competitors as they arrived in the comfort of the sailing club.
Sadly the wind wasn't quite playing ball, so we spent the afternoon chatting to fellow competitors as they arrived in the comfort of the sailing club.
The evening's events revolved around the BKSA annual general meeting, which was a first for me and very interesting to get some insight into the running of our national governing body. There was a great deal of passion expressed throughout the meeting, and whilst there were some heated debates it was clear that there are a lot of people willing to help in pushing things forward in order to improve matters for everyone.
A 7am briefing had been planned for the following day, and registration immediately followed the AGM, after which most people took an early night to be ready for action the next day.
A 7am briefing had been planned for the following day, and registration immediately followed the AGM, after which most people took an early night to be ready for action the next day.
Oli Sweeney going big! The competition had been relocated to the nearby beach at Heacham which allowed competition to run in the high tide conditions. There was a solid 20mph breeze blowing to start the day, and after the briefing the beach was covered with kites of all shapes and sizes.
Due to the decreasing forecast, the Pro's were the first to take to the water, followed by the masters then am's. The music was cranked up, and Richard Flindall was in fine voice doing the commentary.
As is quite often the case, kite size was a key decision in every heat. The wind was clean, but varying from one minute to the next, and there were quite a few heats in which the competitors had chosen significantly different sizes. The high tide chop reflecting off the beach made conditions incredibly challenging, and the early heats were very tentative but as the tide dropped the conditions improved a little and the riders started to get their repertoires nicely dialed.
Due to the decreasing forecast, the Pro's were the first to take to the water, followed by the masters then am's. The music was cranked up, and Richard Flindall was in fine voice doing the commentary.
As is quite often the case, kite size was a key decision in every heat. The wind was clean, but varying from one minute to the next, and there were quite a few heats in which the competitors had chosen significantly different sizes. The high tide chop reflecting off the beach made conditions incredibly challenging, and the early heats were very tentative but as the tide dropped the conditions improved a little and the riders started to get their repertoires nicely dialed.
Wondering whether I'd soon need to compete on this... As the pro competition reached its climax with the winds slowly ebbing away it was time for my first heat to run. I was drawn up against Jord Smith, a Hunstanton local and regular on the amateur tour a few years back. I opted for my 15m Razor, and Jord went for his 13.5 Obsession.
While the previous heat was in progress, we both tried to get as far off the shore in the marginal winds in order to get in a good position to start our heat. The tide was now starting to back away from the steep foreshore, and the water was pretty flat with just small wavelets.
While the previous heat was in progress, we both tried to get as far off the shore in the marginal winds in order to get in a good position to start our heat. The tide was now starting to back away from the steep foreshore, and the water was pretty flat with just small wavelets.
Before long the green Brazilian flag was up signalling the start of our heat, and Jord was first to trick, going for a Raley to blind which he narrowly failed to land, getting dragged away from his board after landing. The wind was pretty light, but there was just enough wind for me to get a raley to blind in, to set myself up for the rest of the heat. I added a few small tricks whilst underpowered, a grabbed frontroll and a backroll transition, and then saw Jord downwind of me going for a Back to Blind, which didn't fully go to plan.
I was trying to find the wind to go for a Back Mobe, but was having no such luck so just went for a cheeky surface 360 handlepass, and an underpowered darkslide to get a few more points on the board.
As I turned around, Jord went for a Back Mobe himself, but just sent the kite up a bit too much trying to force it in the conditions and ended up in the drink. Shortly after passing him I was powered for the first time in the heat and went for a back mobe, which I was super stoked to land, after which the heat was concluded with the raising of the red flag.
I was trying to find the wind to go for a Back Mobe, but was having no such luck so just went for a cheeky surface 360 handlepass, and an underpowered darkslide to get a few more points on the board.
As I turned around, Jord went for a Back Mobe himself, but just sent the kite up a bit too much trying to force it in the conditions and ended up in the drink. Shortly after passing him I was powered for the first time in the heat and went for a back mobe, which I was super stoked to land, after which the heat was concluded with the raising of the red flag.
As the wind dropped further and the water became shallower, the decision was made to move the event back to the sailing club in Hunstanton. We all packed up and made our way over in the hope of enough wind to complete the rest of the event; but sadly this wasn't to be the case. The competition was called off later in the day, and we all enjoyed the sunshine and chilled out on the beach and outside the sailing club.
As the afternoon drew to a close the prize giving was held, and it was announced that competition would not continue tomorrow due to the poor forecast, meaning that the full championship results would be announced and there would be no holding back on the drinking!
The day's pro results were first up, with Rosanna Jury taking the victory over Sukie Robertson and Danielle Durrant, meaning Rosanna secured an incredible 3rd Pro championship win.
In the men's competition it was announced that Richard Flindall had triumphed over Sean Murphy and Craig Smith, with the overall championship being awarded to Sean Murphy, followed by Richard Flindall and Oli Sweeney.
The other categories remained as they were at the end of the previous event, with Dynamic Duo - Dan and Lucie Turner taking the title for the amateur classes, Kevin Matthey taking the masters crown, and Harry Way being one to watch for the future taking the Juniors championship.
One very nice touch to the event was the raffling off of all the amateur prizes which weren't awarded due to lack of wind; everyone got something ranging from kite apparel up to a board or harness. It was nice to see that nobody went away empty handed.
As the afternoon drew to a close the prize giving was held, and it was announced that competition would not continue tomorrow due to the poor forecast, meaning that the full championship results would be announced and there would be no holding back on the drinking!
The day's pro results were first up, with Rosanna Jury taking the victory over Sukie Robertson and Danielle Durrant, meaning Rosanna secured an incredible 3rd Pro championship win.
In the men's competition it was announced that Richard Flindall had triumphed over Sean Murphy and Craig Smith, with the overall championship being awarded to Sean Murphy, followed by Richard Flindall and Oli Sweeney.
The other categories remained as they were at the end of the previous event, with Dynamic Duo - Dan and Lucie Turner taking the title for the amateur classes, Kevin Matthey taking the masters crown, and Harry Way being one to watch for the future taking the Juniors championship.
One very nice touch to the event was the raffling off of all the amateur prizes which weren't awarded due to lack of wind; everyone got something ranging from kite apparel up to a board or harness. It was nice to see that nobody went away empty handed.
The evening then started to wind up with some simply awesome food courtesy of the Hunstanton sailing club crew. The burgers were simply mouth-watering, and very well appreciated by the ravenous competitors. Most people had started the drinking early, and things were in full swing as the sun slowly went down over the horizon. The tunes were then pumped up and plenty took to the dance floor to strut their stuff until the early hours.
The 2015 Championships were a great reboot of the awesome times we've had on the tour in recent years. There had been problems along the way but they'ed all been worked though, thanks to some brave decisions from the organisers, a small army of helpers from the local clubs which hosted the events, and a great positive attitude from everyone concerned.
There are a lot of people who deserve a whole heap of credit for making the year the success it was : Rou, Jim, Mary, Danielle and their teams for all the organisation and great effort at every event; The clubs who stepped up to host each one and went to great efforts to make it happen; The kite industry who supported come rain and shine and all attendees for their support and co-operation.
Its always sad when the competitive year ends, but it does so with a great deal of hope that this could be the start of something...
There are a lot of people who deserve a whole heap of credit for making the year the success it was : Rou, Jim, Mary, Danielle and their teams for all the organisation and great effort at every event; The clubs who stepped up to host each one and went to great efforts to make it happen; The kite industry who supported come rain and shine and all attendees for their support and co-operation.
Its always sad when the competitive year ends, but it does so with a great deal of hope that this could be the start of something...
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