British Kite Surfing Wave Championships
Westward Ho
Atmosphere Festival

ROUND 1


Date – 25 – 27th April 2008

Location - Westward Ho!

Hosted by – Atmosphere Festival

Event Sponsors – Greenish Clothing and Edge Watersports


The British Kite Surfing Association came to Westward Ho! for Round 1 of the British Wave Championships. With good wind and waves forecasted, expectations were high and riders were hungry for the chance to prove what they could do after a winter of hard training.

Fresh from riding hard in the waves all winter were a big group of Cornish riders hoping to make their mark.

Friday the event saw a light cross-shore wind from the South West and a reasonably sized 4 ft swell. The seniors kicked off the event with some excellent riders in difficult conditions. Through to the final were Paul Stebbing from Lowestoft, Phil Clarkson from Blackpool and Richard Gowers from Dorset. Paul Stebbing – Stubby to his mates – ripped along the long walls unhooked in a great style to take 1st while Phil Clarkson secured 2nd and Gowers 3rd.

The Ladies were run with Cornish lady Jacinta Perry taking top honours ahead of Debbie Kennedy and Jemma Grobbelaar from South Africa.

Next up were the Men’s division and the Standard was high unfortunately the wind died before the last two heats of the day.

Saturday the wind kicked in with more South making it more Cross Off shore meaning the waves were even cleaner. The losers heat was started with a place up for grabs in the final. Taking that place was Mike Perry.
The final was an all-Cornish affair with all riders close friends.
Taking the heat was 2007 British Champ Will Bennett riding on a standard 6ft 2 unstrapped Surfboard ahead of Denzil Williams and Mike Perry on strapped boards.

Following on from this was 2 heats with the juniors with some excellent riding
1= Daniel Maurice and Sam Moore third was Martin Thatchell

Sunday dawned with the prospects of any wind looking pretty bad after heavy storms – however by midday the sun came out and the wind was dead onshore giving a chance to run an Expression Session for the Men and a Slopestyle Freestyle competition.

The event was an excellent way to start off the year for the Wave events series with results in all categories –

Wave

Men’s

1st Will Bennett (GK, Airjam, Santa Cruz)
2nd Denzil Williams (F-One, Balin)
3rd Mike Perry (Atlantic Riders)

Ladies

1st Jacinta Perry
2nd Debbie Kennedy
3rd Jemma Grobbelaar, (Flexifoil, Xelerator)

Seniors

1st Paul Stebbing
2nd Phil Clarkson
3rd= Richard Gowers + Gareth Morgan

Juniors

1= Daniel Maurice and Sam Moore
3rd Martin Thatchell

Mens Expression Session

1st Denzil Williams
2nd Neal Gent
3rd Will Bennett



Thanks to Dom Moore / Kitesurf Mag for picture

Next event is in Newgale in Pembrokeshire South West Wales on the 17th-18th May.

Slopestyle

Men’s

1st Diarmud Higgins
2nd Denzil Williams
3rd Tom Butler

Ladies

1st Debbie Kennedy

Seniors
1st Gary Powell
2nd Fraser Dooley

Juniors
1st Sam Moore
2nd Robbie Shire Maidment
3rd Martin Thatchell