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| | THE UKWA, youths and
juniors
Mission Statement
To organise and provide first class competition for the members of the
association in whichever classes they wish to compete.
 | To promote the sport of windsurfing in all its branches
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| To protect, promote and represent the interests of windsurfers (UK) both
at a national and an international level
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| To act as an association for all windsurfing classes for racing under ISAF
rules; and to organise events for all types of competitive sailor
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| To encourage and support the instruction and training of windsurfers, and
in particular training for national and international racing
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| To examine, study, investigate and report on all matters affecting the
sport of windsurfing |
To learn more about the UKWA please
visit our Links page
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| British
Open: Bridlington, May 26th to 28th 2007
Normally Bridlington hosts
a UKWA Cup series event towards the end of the season. This year it was
held in May as the venue for the British Open event. With a good
forecast for winds in the Force 4/5 range for the Sunday and the Monday
it was up to Connor to get the best result on the Saturday in low winds
before his favourite conditions arrived. As always the UKWA racing
entourage were able to camp on Alexandria Promenade on Bridlington's North
Beach, which meant it was a great place to spend a Bank Holiday weekend
with a grandstand view of the racing. This year the UKWA Freewave crew
joined the racers and added to the opportunities for spectators to enjoy
lots of dedicated windsurfers enjoying the conditions |
Alexandria Promenade lined
with camper vans, caravans and windsurfing wagons |
Anyone rigging on the
promenade had to be swift to avoid the regular train |
Camp RND |
The UKWA flag ship being
broadsided by the Brid' Pirate ship and Shark boat... |
waves hitting the harbour
wall as the wind picked up |
Techno's moving to the
start line |
anxious fathers awaing the
return of the fleet |
challenging get 205 litres
of Techno out through the shorebreak |
Josh, Harriet and Connor
at the end of the weekends racing |
3rd Prize in the Techno
fleet |
1st - Ali, 2nd - Sam, 3rd
Connor and 4th George |
The Freewave prize
winners: 1st - Sam, 2nd - Finlay, 3rd - Tyson and 4th - Ben |
| Youth &
Masters Event 2nd & 3rd September 2006
This
years Youth and Masters event, which was held at the Weymouth &
Portland National Sailing Academy on Portland Sound, was an exceptional
event. Many of this years UK racing events have been low wind affairs,
so with winds averaging in excess of 25 knots and gusting over 50 knots
all weekend, this was going to be an event to remember with over 170
sailors. Connor managed to complete all 3 races dropping only one gybe,
giving him 1st, 2nd and 3rd places and an overall first place as UK
Champion. In the 3.5 metre open fleet race, which was held in the
slightly less windy area in front of the Sailing Academy, Kai raced well
in what was a very crowded event and after 3 races he placed 3rd
Boy and got a bronze medal to prove it. Connor and Kai both sailed on
Ezzy wave sails. |
Kai with his Bronze medal and
Connor with Gold and the Champions cup |
Off to
the start line
 |
race for the finish |
over the
line
 |
great race start, for a slalom |
gybe action around the second mark |
great
stance across the finish line
 |
leading at the start |
fighting
to keep the board under control
 |
...but just managing... |
gybing ahead of fleet carnage |
Kai
completely focussed on the finish line
 |
K |
Connor
receiving his cup
 |
Bronze and Gold, very cool... |
|
Andy
Funnell Freewave Clinic Christchurch 2006
This was the 3rd year that this
even has run and with 29 sailors and their attendant support staff the
Christchurch Boardsailing Club area was full to bursting. Following a
recognised format the Youths and Juniors spent the first 2 days
fine-tuning their kit and skills with expert tuition from the resident
coaches. The 3rd day was competition day, and with the kind loan of a
Super-X sausage much fun and many first class wipeouts were on view.
Connor won 1st prize in the Intermediate group. Thanks as always to
Trevor and Linda Funnell and Spot on Water for making the bank holiday
weekend a fantastic event. |
Competition beach, everyone waiting
for the klaxon |
Heat 1 of
the advanced group off to fight it out
 |
the wind was perfect for freestyle
most of the weekend |
Connor
became addicted to jumping the sausage
 |
moving the rig upwind for a good
start to the heat |
Robby
Swift giving advice to a rapt audience
 |
Warm up
wind
 |
as soon
as the sausage was in position the sailors swarmed like bees around
honey...
 |
| Rhosneigr
UKWA Freewave Event 27 to 29th May 2006
Connor's first Freewave competition
and a big learning curve. Unfortunately the wind didn't really appear
until the Monday, however, the amateur, youth and junior fleets managed
to get enough heats in to make the event score. Connor got 2 3rds and a
4th out of a fleet of 7 Juniors. Unfortunately the conditions weren't
just right for the Pro fleet to compete... Sam Neal won the Junior
event.
|
Connor and Tom out for heat 1
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Checking
the results board
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Alexya, Tom and Connor out for heat
2
|
heli tack
|
nice jump in pretty mushy
conditions
|
mission
control
|
Sam and Connor
|
Sam
ghekko
|
waiting for the results
|
still
waiting
|
Dave of Funsports and Trevor Funnel
the MC
|
just to
show what a proper camera can shoot...
|
|
Second
outing to a UKWA race event was to Ullswater, where yet again the
necessary amount of wind wasn't really there, so after waiting for a
race all day Saturday and most of Sunday then 3 fun races were arranged
for the race boards. Pumping around all te course was required, but at
least we had winners for the prize giving. I spent most of the time
practicing my freestyle. |
Freestyle waiting for the wind |
More
freestyle whilst waiting
 |
David Dobson wins the prize |
|
September
2005 was when we decided to try a UKWA race event and the first event entered
was at Bridlington. The North Shore Promenade was taken over by
windsurfers. We could only attend for the first day and an ever changing
wind meant that only 2 Free formula races could take place. However, it
was a really nice day and a fantastic induction into the world of UKWA
racing. |
Windsurfers vans filled the
promenade |
Off to
first UKWA race start line
 |
Somewhere out there is the start
line
thanks to Mike Simpson for photo
from rescue boat |
In
between races freestyling
 |
|
Youth
Freestyle Training camp: August 2005 |
| Second year
for the UKWA Youth and Junior Freestyle Training Camp in Christchurch,
and with attendance jumping by more than 50% it was a busy weekend for
everyone involved.
Mark Hosegood led the team of
coaches and windsurfing professionals in teaching the young sailors new
tricks and fine tuning their skills with training both on and off the
water.
The sea was a blaze of colour with
sometimes more than 40 sails in the water at one time (some parents even
got on the water this year).
Thanks go to Spot on Water, UKWA
Safety Crew, Ultrasport etc. for help and prizes.
Trevor and Linda Funnell were
fantastic hosts and organisers, making everyone comfortable and welcome
and making the whole weekend run smoothly, so a special thanks to them.
The Training Camp was set up in
memory of Andy Funnell who died tragically at sea. Andy's memory is
inspiring the new generation of UK windsurfers to incredible levels of
sailing and enthusiasm, so watch out world! |
Clyde with nervous competitors
between heats |
coming in between heats, not
knowing how well I had done |
One of my
Gecko attempts in my heat
|
The Super X sausage comes back to
camp |
Willy Skipper simulator |
Group 2 winners, with a sail as 1st
prize!! |
Training
- synchronised training...
 |
 |
flags and rules |
Group 1
winners
 |
Judges,
parents and Trevor
 |
A sea of sails |
|
Youth
Freestyle Training camp: August 2004 |
| Connor, GBR 678: In August I attended the UKWA
Youths and Juniors Freestyle Training camp in Christchurch.
The event was organised and run by Trevor and
Linda Funnell and this was the first event of its kind.
We had 3 days
of tuition, on and off the water, from Jem Hall, Jim Collis and Iain Hunter as well as top UK
sailors who were there for the Freewave Series 4 event.
The
training camp was supported by the Andy Funnell Foundation, UKWA, Animal,
604 Distribution, Whiteboarders, Ultrasport, and Spot on Water to name a
few. We were based out of the
Christchurch Boardsailing Club house, which has a fantastic view, not only
of the action on the water, but also of the Isle of Wight and the Needles.
|
After a morning of work on tuning our boards and
sails, it was time to get on the water. Here Iain Hunter briefs the
beginner crew on what to go for...
|
Everyone hits the water, apparently a great sight
for the parents to see 22 sailors out practicing all the new tricks.
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We were treated to loads of tips and discussions
with Nik Baker, John Skye, Matt Pearch, Ben Proffitt, Chris Audsley, the
King twins, Head judge - Julian Duvall and Sparky amongst others.
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On day 3 we all sat down to learn how to present
ourselves in order to gain sponsors and how to present the sport and get
our sponsors names in the press.
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Jem, Jim and Iain ran hands on workshops with all
of us. This is Jem ''pushing'' something.
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Jem in full flow. Very serious stuff.
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Iain took everyone back to basics and made the
hardest moves look easy.
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Steve King and Mark ''Sparky'' Hosegood taught
everyone the secrets of looping.
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After the heats we all had to wait around to hear
who had won and why - great to hear how the judges work it all out.
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When not actually involved in coaching, the
professionals listened in.
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...and the winners are...
check out the results on the UKWA Freewave
website to find out...
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The whole team at the prize giving.
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The winners of the beginners group
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The winners of the Intermediates group
 |
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The
winners of the experts group
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Words of wisdom, to the wise...
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and so homeward
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|
Thanks
to Mike Simpson for (unknowingly) providing additional photographic
content. |
|
