St.Ives Bay 2010 / England kayaksurf / Report by Steve Bowens

Prova de St.Ives 2010 / Report de Steve Bowens e fotos de Pete Copp



Tal como referimos nas NEWS anteriores, aqui está o report enviado por Steve Bowens - NEWS TEAM kayaksurf.net - organizador da prova que decorreu em St.Ives Bay (Cornwall, SW da Inglaterra). Nomes bem conhecidos figuram nos primeiros lugares mas Sam Davenport (Mega Flying Squad), destaca-se an vencer nas classes HP e IC. Full report em baixo!

Just like we said, we were waiting for Steve Bowens report - NEWS TEAM kayaksurf.net - about St.Ives Bay Comp of last weeekend. Great event and huge photos of Pete Copp ;) Well known names reach the finals but Sam Davenport deserves a special attention... he simply won both classes; HP and IC. Congratulations for all and read the great report that Steve sent us.


Pete Copp
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St Ives 2010 / England ranked surf kayak contest
Hot sun, hot surf and very hot action!!!
by Steve Bowens


Steve Bowens / Organizor of the event

Results:

Juniors:
1st Dylan Petherick
2nd Aiden Brackenbury
3rd Harry Uren
4th Tim Holland

Ladies:
1st Emma Wynter
2nd Robin Pearcy
3rd Jenny Long

Masters:
1st Andrew Hawker
2nd John Watson
3rd Andy Wildman
4th Cedric Wynter


Sam Davenport by Pete Copp

International (long):
1st Sam Davenport
2nd James Hawker
3rd Chris Hobson
4th Philip Watson

High performance (Open)
1st Sam Davenport
2nd Chris Hobson
3rd Glynn Brackenbury
4th Philip Watson

This year’s St Ives Bay Open took place on the 26th & 27Th June hosted by Sunset surf cafe at Gwithian Beach. 0800 Saturday morning competitors arrived for registration eagerly anticipating the sun and surf, the sun had already put in an appearance and we had clean small surf to get the contest underway.



The open rounds went first with 5 man heats and a total of 7 heats for round 1. Some fine surfing was had and every heat was of a very high standards. Following this was the International (long) boat heat and with the quality of the swell decreasing these boats were the craft of choice. All the talk of the beach and on the water was of the 4* surf forecast and when it was going to arrive. I heard a comment from one competitor who was trying to decide if he should put his centre fin back in “just in case it picked up” during his heat!

The heats continued and the swell kept dropping so it was decided to have a 1.5 hr break to let the tide start to push in and hot the swell would improve. With the sun starting to ease off (only a little) and the surf still small but clean the junior final got underway and they all fought a ferocious battle, all vying for position and demonstrating what is in the pipeline for the sport in the next few years and I can tell you the sport of surfing kayaking is going to become even more spectacular with these guys who have no fear and the skill to put the boat anywhere on the wave!



Following the juniors the Masters took to the water to show us all what a bit of experience and do for your surfing and again a very high standard of surfing was demonstrated. Another closely fought battle in good waves and some dynamic surfing.
The prise giving for the Junior, ladies and Masters was held at the sunset surf cafe with interested onlookers who were having there dinner in the sun and then Doug (owner of the cafe) fired up the BBQ for a meal and relax into the evening. At about 8pm the swell arrived so most of the competitors who were staying at the local campsite were all out again, we all surfed into the setting sun in perfect 3-4ft glass perfection, cheering each other on, chatting and laughing with each other, what an end to the day!



Day 2
We awoke to perfect surf, a solid 4ft with fantastic shoulders providing lots of opportunity for the next generation of surfers to show us all what is possible in the latest boats. The day started with the ladies final which was closely contested all with very different approaches and styles from the brave and confident surfer to the smart and tactical to the approach of catch as many waves as possible and you are bound to have some good rides.

The rest of the morning was spent in the blistering sun and beautiful surf with heat after heat of fantastic performances. The prize giving was again held at the cafe and everyone said a fond farewell till the next comp at Llangenth on the 17th July.
On a final note, as someone who has not really been on the competition seen for the last 2 years and watching people in good conditions I can with confidence that the sport has moved on considerably in that time. Many of the competitors are consistently getting airs and really tearing the waves apart. There were several comments from board surfers who had never seen a “kayak do that before”!! The sport has an exciting future and within the UK I think the talent of tomorrow puts the UK into a very strong international position so watch out the “rest of the world, UK surfers are coming and they mean business!


Sam Davenport by Pete Copp

Steve Bowens is a lecture at Falmouth Marine School, a Further and Higher education college running courses which marry academic curriculum with outdoor instructor training. Steve would like to give special thanks to Doug and the crew at sunset surf cafe for their support of this (and every other event which has been run there) and also to the local surfers who supported and cheered us on during the weekend.



Thanks Steven and congratulations for the great event ;)


WAVESKI FRANCE
Boas ondas!

luis pedro abreu
http://www.kayaksurf.net/