The weekend of 22/23nd October saw the best of the UK’s windsurfing freestyle riders descend on West Wittering beach for the deciding event on who would be crowned “King of the Trench”, British Freestyle Champion for 2016. The event is a idea between Simon Bassett of 2XS®and Ollie Scott of Club Vass –both decided that we need to promote Freestyle Windsurfing.
Freestyle is a form of windsurfing that is a combination of planing, jumps and tricks and is a high octane version of the sport that is very technical and spectacular to watch. To make it all happen you need flat water; the Trench at West Wittering, a nickname for the water between two sandbars at low tide, and winds around force 4 and above.
The two-day event saw an exhibition of tow surf freestyle on the Saturday when the wind was very light – top riders included BWA World Tour competitors Adam Simms and Max Rowe get pulled behind a jet ski then jump into a manoeuvre and get scored by the judges. Eastbourne local Jamie Howard put in some big moves and probably got the highest scoring move of the group. There must of been at least 200 spectators on the beach who enjoyed the show out on the water as the riders went through their individual runs. Saturday night the party was held at the Old House in West Wittering -the Club Vass Team fired up the decks until closing time …
On the Sunday – the wind was forecast to be between 20-25 knots easterly – but unfortunately the actual wind was more offshore making it hard to run the contest as planned – the women’s heats started in lighter winds and completed 3 rounds of competition until they reached the final. Sarah Jackson from Cheshire came out top lady. Second place was Heidi Jabbari (Eastbourne) and third equal was Claire Elliott (Exmouth) and Daisy Bassett (aged 13) from Itchenor (Daisy was also first junior).
The Mens competitors were poised and ready to go but the wind forecast did not arrive with enough strength – we held on until 5pm but Ollie Scott (Race Director) decided to cancel the event and roll over the prize fund of £1000 to next year. We will get a date in dairy for next season ASAP.
The 2XS demo weekend which was running alongside the event, was well attended even though the wind was light –Dave and Reece White plus Abel Lago from RRD –Nik Baker, Jai Sup Manning from Ion North and Fanatic, Tom Beaton From Ozone, Andy from Goya and Quattro, Adam Simms from Patrik, Wouter and Hutch from Ezzy. Thanks to all the suppliers who supported the event .
