OTC 2013 PRE-SEASON SLALOM | TRAINING CAMP 2
PRESS RELEASE
World Champion Ross Williams was with us during the second pre-season training camp to provide his secrets to success in slalom racing. He is going to do most of the BSA slalom events this year, as well as his commitments on the world tour, so will be a familiar face around the UK coastline in 2013.
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Windsurf Magazine
Save Portland Search And Rescue Update
Diane Busby recently got in touch asking you to help save the Portland Helicopter by signing the e-petition.
Portland Search And Rescue Helicopter
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OTC/Puravida Olympic Ceremony
Tris Best reports from Weymouth -
After London’s Olympic Opening Ceremony on Friday, Weymouth hosted its own take of an opening ceremony on Saturday evening from the LIVE site on the beach. The show was called Battle For The Winds and depicted the struggle against the elements to ensure good conditions for the event. We were honoured to be asked to be part of it by show organiser Jon Beedell of the performing company Desperate Men.
Full story here
OTC Olympic Ceremony - Weymouth
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Boards Windsurfing » Windsurfing News
Breaking 40 Knots – A New Approach
Sam Ross interviews Kev Greenslade on a new approach to speedsailing…
Following an instructor course down at Portland Harbour, Sam Ross catches up with Kevin Greenslade. The Weymouth Speed Week Champion for the last two years, Kev certainly knows a bit about going fast. With some great winds and a revolutionary new approach to speedsailing equipment and setup, Kev explains how he managed to break the 40-knot mark.
Also spotted recently was this clip from West Kirby. As hallowed ground for speedsailors all over the country, Chris Bates provides a great onboard view as he really pushes 40 knots, using a handy Flymount.
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Team GBR on the BBC!
Bryony Shaw powering her way to bronze in Weymouth
The Olympic sailing venue at Weymouth and Portland – and aspiring 2012 sailing Olympians – have been under the spotlight this summer at two major regattas which not only tested the venue’s readiness for the Games, but also the form of Britain’s best sailors hoping to fly the flag next year.
A one-hour programme charting the progress of Skandia Team GBR’s best at the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta in June, and the LOCOG Test Event in August will air on BBC One at 1300hrs on Saturday 20 August.
Make sure you tune in to see how Britain’s top sailors fared on home waters against the world’s elite in the Olympic Classes – including, of course, Nick Dempsey’s win at Sail for Gold, plus his silver and and Bryony Shaw’s bronze at the Olympic Test Event.
Freestyle Xpression 2011 Weymouth – Report and Pic Gallery
Adam Sims
Adam Sims reports from the second round of the 2011 Freestyle Xpression Tour in Dorset last weekend. In perfect conditions – 25/30 knots from the west with mainly sun throughout the day. The location – Weymouth Harbour.
Rocking up to the beach at 10am the place was already rammed with freeriders, speedsters and kiters. Rigging up 4.7s were some of the UK’s youngest and dedicated stylerrrs! Many of them having travelled hundreds of miles to be there. The competition started from the word go… who could rig the quickest, who could get into their wetsuit the fastest, who could get on the water first…
After an hour’s practice/free-sail, Nick Bentley and myself called in the 10-12 competitors and set to work with drawing up a rough single elimination, with two man heats and a double elimination on the cards for people to come back through the ranks.
Firing through the single elimination was Oscar Carmichael with a solid performance in each of his heats, landing a huge number of moves in the 7 allocated minutes for each round. Also pushing through the ranks was myself, where I ended meeting RRD team-mate Oscar. We sailed a close final, not making it easy for the judges. Oscar took the lead early on whilst I was mincing about having hurt my recurring foot injury when I crashed my opening move. Putting the pressure on I stepped back in with a real tweaked shuv-it spock 540 in the knee deep water, a one handed bob and a shaka. Oscar meanwhile powered through bouncing double flakas, spocks and a smooth funnel. Showing impressive skill and a consistency for a 15 year old.
Other stand-outs had to be Angus Patrik Webb who crashed sooo hard he won himself a pair of RRD Speedos. Also Julia Slack, who sailed a consistent heat sticking some more old skool maneuvers, and keep the dream alive for the chicks! It’s good to see some female action but I’m sure Julia and many of the guys would love a bit more…
Unfortunately the wind never really came back enough for the double and with the dropping wind the result stayed the same for the rest of the weekend.
A super successful weekend and a lot of fun had by all. Some new faces and young faces were seen and we hope to see them and more at the next one. Keep up to speed with it all via the facebook page and the official blog – keep an eye out for a PWA style live ticker at the next event (via the use of facebook).
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60440946042
Official blog: http://freestylexpression.wordpress.com/
Weymouth Xpression winners
Results:
1st Adam Sims (RRD/RRD/Spartan wetsuits/Turfdog)
2nd Oscar Carmichael (RRD/Windtek)
3rd Nick Bentley (F2/Gastra/K3d)
1st Girl – Julia Slack
Biggest Wipeout – Angus Patrick Webb
Photos courtesy of Dan Hallam and Julia Slack
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UKWA Cup Round 1, Portland 2011 Report
Jon White
When the UKWA fleet arrives at Portland the racers are historically blessed with wind. This year was no exception. Over 100 racers arrived for the CUP 1 series during the May Bank Holiday. The Raceboard Class is growing as champions from other ‘longboard’ classes ( such as Imco, Funboard, even RSX) join the fleet. It is now the hardest fought class with the widest age range of competitors. Tushingham re-entered the Raceboard scene three years ago with the intention of designing a sail that covered the widest spectrum of sailing conditions, allowing racers the opportunity to purchase just one class size sail, rather than registering different models for varying prevailing conditions. Tushingham have since gained two National Series titles with the XR Race sail, and UKWA CUP 1 event is always an indicator for the year to come.
By the end of day one four sailors had tallied a first position which truly highlights the jostling at the front of the fleet.
On Sunday morning the wind blowing off the Portland breakwater was touching 30 knots, which was certainly going to provide ‘heavyweights’ an advantage. This year the UKWA has allowed the Raceboard class to incorporate weight classes – Lightweight below 80kg, and heavyweight above. Dave Hackford sailing the Tushingham 9.5XR Race and Starboard Phantom was lying 5th after the first day, but with the wind to his favour Dave won the four races on Sunday to take the lead into the final days racing on Monday. Last years champion Mark Kay, revived ‘kid on the block’ Jon White and ‘veteran’ Tom Naylor dominated the front of the fleet on the last day, Dave’s consistency with top results ensured he took both the overall crown and the ‘heavyweight’ title for the Cup event. Jon White, also sailing the Tushingham XR and Phantom won the lightweight division and took 2nd. Mark Kay on Demon and Phantom came third.
“If you haven’t raced, and competitive spirit runs through your veins then try a UKWA event when it comes to your region, The atmosphere is superb, and I have to say that windsurfing around the Olympic course, with Nick Dempsey training in the area is inspirational.” says Dave Hackford, originally from Weymouth. Dave Hackford is also involved in the development of the XR Racing sails with Tushingham’s sail designer, Ken Black.
Jon White’s comment at the end of the exhausting 12 race regatta was “Awesome racing, the best for a long time with everyone being challenged throughout the entire weekend”.
Dave Hackford
MEN
1st Dave Hackford – 18points
2nd Jon White – 23points
3rd Mary Kay – 23points
WOMEN
1st Annette Kent
2nd Harriet Ellis
For more info on racing contact: www.ukwindsurfing.com
For more on the Tushingham Racing sails visit: www.tushingham.com
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