BKSA Swansea (05/2009)

After many years of failed UK land championships, the land scene is finally getting somewhere! With the help and guidance of the BKSA (British Kite Surf Association) the first round in Swansea went off in style! Not only did it run smoothly, it also turned out to be pretty crazy, the winds really came through and I'd like to think the guys there put on a bit of a show for the public and even the kitesurfers. For me, this is going to be the first time I aim to go to all the rounds and it couldnt have started any better! I picked up a set of Ion 4s on Friday morning and spent the first day of the event getting adjusted to these kites! It really didnt take long because the 4 is everything the 3 was but much much more!

My first heat was against Ash Garwood- We were both pretty overpowered on our 9 and 8.5metres. The heat had to be cancelled half way through because the gusts were going well over 40 mph and it was becoming dangerous. On the restart- I stayed on my 8.5 while Ash opted for his 7m! We both put in some good tricks but I took the win with alot more variation. My next heat was a day later and Ash had won his way back to the semi finals against me- This time we were both out on 7m's, both tricking and kitelooping as hard as possible however Ash took the hardest bail I've ever seen anyone take on land! Somehow he was ok and jumped straight back up. I was pretty shocked at the time so I stopped to make sure he was ok before carrying on to land all my tricks putting me through to the final against AJ Philipson.

The final was very competitive- Both me and AJ ride together back at home and we both knew what each other was capable of landing. I had to have a clean run to win because AJ landed all his good high wind moves. In my heat I landed two big kiteloops- one with an Indy, the other with a barspin, a couple of board off variations, some powered wakestyle moves and some good old fashion big airs with flips and grabs. We had to wait till the presentation to find out who had won but thankfully I had done enough to win the landboard side of the event!

Many thanks to the BKSA and their sponsors for finally giving the land side a chance to show what can be done! Lets hope the rest of the series runs justs as smoothly.

Landboard results-

1. Lewis Wilby
2. AJ Philipson
3. Nick Austin

   

Pictures © Natalie Clarke and thisissouthwales.co.uk