British Kitesurfing Championships

Round 1 Report Lancing Beach

We were very excited when we heard the UK Kitesurfing Championship was being re-launched with Kiteworld and IKitemag organising along with the British Kitesports Assocation. Our own Harry Calvert thought it would be a good laugh to enter the Amateur Mens and we heard that most of the industry would be supporting and attending so sounded like a blast! Bring on British Kitesurfing Championships Round 1 Report Lancing Beach.

The forecast on the run up to the week looked sad and there was a lot of fingers being crossed hoping the weather would be in our favour. We decided to go down to check the event out and hoped for some wind, maybe a bit of sun if lucky. Driving down we did the normal kiter thing of checking the trees and flags on route and hoping for the best. Arriving at the event there were a lot of people already there but the wind wasn’t yet. The event registration was up to 11am and then the riders meeting at midday. As the wind was not quite there yet so everyone did what all kiters do while wait for wind, mingle round chatting and hoping that breeze is going to kick in.

True enough as per windguru the breeze started to pick up after midday and people started to get kites into the competition launch area and get setup ready for the off. At the same time some guys were starting to grab some demo kit and hit up the freeride section of the beach. There was so much kit to choose from you were spoilt for choice as to what to take out for a fly.

The competition got underway with the juniors and ladies up first we were all impressed with the level of riding and how many people had entered. Loads of support from fellow competitors too helping people to launch and land on a crowded section of beach. Then the pro’s and masters took to the water and some amazing tricks were being thrown down in the qualifiers and quite a large crowd of spectators were found camped out on the pebble ridge beach watching the comp in what had now become a lovely sunny afternoon with a good solid 10-12m weather wind. The freeride area has also filled up with people practicing before their heats and also those that had finished their rounds and wanted to try the latest new kites while all available.

Finally in the late afternoon the Amateur mens hit the water with our own Harry finally getting out for his first competition ride with the 10m Slingshot RPM and Brunotti Dimension. With some first time nerves hitting in after seeing the standard from the pro level but he held it together and put some solid good tricks in his set but after a good crash and drag had ended up downwind out of the competition area so wasn’t sure if his last tricks counted. Back on the beach we wait to hear if he got through or not… totally to his surprise (as he wasn’t watching the other riders) he placed 2nd so progressed to the next heat! Changing up to the 12m Slingshot Rally for a bit more grunt this time and again he progressed onto the semi finals! Again surprised and impressed he got out there and did his best but it wasn’t quite enough this time and was knocked out in the semi’s but amazing result for his first comp and now knows what to practice for the next round!

We were now running very late on our day trip timing and had to hit the road back to the Swindon even though there was still a lot of kiting still happening in the freeride and more social going on into the evening with a party! Plus the finals of the pro’s and masters on the Sunday with 30+kts forecast! But we had had an awesome day meeting a lot of new and old faces all enjoying the sport we all love on a wonderful sunny day on the south coast beach. There was something there for all kiters not just those in the competition with the support from the trade in attendance, loads to look at and get out for a ride with. So much more to do more than I expected so can’t wait for the next event in the series and will plan to stay for the weekend as just couldn’t fit everything in one day!