BKSA Grand Prix Tour 2008 - Round 1 Watergate Bay

2008-04-14T18:21:00.002+01:00

British Kite Surfing Championships
Watergate Bay
18 – 20th April 2008

Round 1 of BKSA Championships Returns to Watergate Bay

BKSA GRAND PRIX ROUND 1

Date – 18 – 20th April 2008

Location - Watergate Bay Cornwall

Hosted by – Extreme Academy in conjunction with The BKSA

Tour Sponsors – Deadman Clothing, Red Bull, ExPix & Buff

Event Sponsors – Extreme Academy

Media Partners – ExPix www.expix.co.uk

The British Kite Surfing Association returns to Watergate Bay for Round 1 of the British Freestyle Championships.

Richard Gowers, Chairman of the British Kite Surfing Association said “It is good to return to Watergate Bay at the start of what promises to be an exciting year for the BKSA and for the Freestyle Championships. We have a lot planned for 2008; starting with new tour sponsors Deadman Clothing, Red Bull, Buff and ExPix, who together with our event sponsors, The Extreme Academy, should ensure that Round 1 of the championships gets off to good start. We’ve enjoyed some brilliant competitions in Watergate Bay; It’s is such a fantastic location with excellent conditions for kitesurfing and the BKSA are really looking forward to returning there again this year.

Spectators are in for a treat, kitesurfing is an amazing sport to watch. The standard of riding in last year’s competitions was awesome; some of the best we have ever seen. This year a number of riders have moved up categories resulting in championship titles in the following categories being undefended in 2008: Pro Ladies, Amateur Men’s, Amateur Ladies & Juniors. With over 50 competitors due to take to the water, expect mega loops, huge jumps and some of the newest tricks as the riders fight it out, pulling out all the stops to ensure that they get the head start.

Twice British Champion Lewis Crathern, from Worthing, who is sponsored by Slingshot, Jimmy Lewis, Dakine, Xcel, Relentless, Surface2Air Sports & UK Blinds won at last year’s event in Watergate and will be hoping to do the same again this year to put him well on the way for his 3rd British title.

Hot on his heels however are a core of young talented riders all hungry for success including Sam Light, from Hayling Island, sponsored by Naish & O’Neill, Robin Snuggs, from Weymouth, sponsored by Flexifoil, Dakine & OThree, Ali Barrett, from Blackpool, sponsored by Lost Cause & Turbulence and newcomers to the Pro Men’s category, 2007 British Amateur Men’s Champion, Dan Galemore, from Bradford, sponsored by North, Loop, Roho, Zeal Optics, Lost Cause & Pat Love and 2007 British Junior Champion, Dan James from Dorset, sponsored by North, H2O Sports, Deadman Clothing & C Skins.

Other riders to look out for this year also moving up to the Pro Men’s category are Ned Taylor, from Exmouth, sponsored by Naish & Edge Watersports & Luke Whiteside, from Liverpool, sponsored by North, Lost Cause & Kite It Right.

In the Pro Ladies, Cornwall’s own Andreya Bennett, sponsored by The Extreme Academy, White Stuff & Flexifoil delighted the crowds when she won the Pro Ladies at Watergate Bay last year. The BKSA are hoping to see Andreya compete again in this year’s event. Joining her will be Scotland’s number 1 Pro kitesurfer Helen Thompson, from Glasgow & Tiree, sponsored by North & Xcel, who finished in second place in the 2007 Pro Ladies championships and 2007 British Amateur Ladies Champion, Hannah Whiteley, from Stockport, sponsored by Flexifoil & Hangtime. 2007 British Pro Ladies Champion Johara Sykes Davis, from Llandudno, sponsored by Flexifoil, Jimmy Lewis, Turbulence, The Imperial Hotel/Mint Condition Gym & Conwy County Council will not be defending her title due to competing at international level but hopes to compete at Watergate.

Following on from the success in 2007 of The Whiteley family who took 2 British titles are the Maidments. Robbie Shire-Maidment from Dorset, who at just 11 years old is the youngest competitor will be joined by the BKSA’s oldest competitor, his father 47 year old Paul Maidment. Robbie will compete in the Juniors whilst his father Paul will compete in the Seniors.

Timetable of Events

Thursday 17th April – 2 – 4pm Press Call
Journalists are welcome to attend at any time during the event but are particularly invited to the Press Call where they will have the opportunity to photograph/film competitors taking advantage of a special practice session.
A number of the competitors & BKSA Officials will also be available for interviews with media.

Please note: interviews with competitors/officials can be arranged in advance if required. Some riders may not be able to attend the Press Call on Thursday and as such it may be possible to arrange interviews with riders to take place from Friday onwards.

Please contact Jo Edmondson at ExPix on 0777 333 58 61 or jo@expix.co.uk to confirm rider’s availability and to arrange interviews.

Friday 18th April - Pro Competition
8.30am - Registration:
11 am - Competition Start

Saturday 19th April – Amateur, Junior & Senior Competitions
8.30am - Registration:
11.00 am - Competition Start
Saturday Evening – Ocean Room at The Hotel with ExPix Slide Show

Sunday 20th April
The competition will continue
Prize giving is planned for 4 pm but will be re-scheduled if riders finish sooner or later than expected.

For further information about what kitesurfing is download the following pdf guide to ride leaflet or go to the online flick book

ExPix are Media Partners for the British Kite Surfing Association And Sponsors for the British Kite Surfing Association Freestyle Championships Tour 2008

ExPix, a Media, PR & Photographic Agency offer a ‘One Stop Shop’ for the Extreme Sports and Lifestyle Industries www.expix.co.uk

The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain’s leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski, stand-up paddlesurf and mountainboarding; technical equipment hire; and the Extreme Store, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment. The Beach Hut, located on the ground floor of the Extreme Academy, is well known as Cornwall’s coolest beach hangout, and a great place to eat.

www.watergatebay.co.uk

www.buffwear.co.uk

www.deadmankitesurfing.co.uk

Deadman Storms into 2008

2008-04-03T08:46:00.000+01:00

Deadman Storms in to 2008

Following on from a fantastic year of support from the UK Kitesurfing fraternity, Deadman Kitesurfing have teamed up with the BKSA to support the 2008 Freestyle Grand Prix Tour as it travels the length and breadth of the country from April through to October. This will see the BKSA Race Crew and Competitors wearing the Deadman name. Collectively they have also produced a collaborative BKSA and Deadman 2008 Grand Prix Tour T-shirt which will be available via both the BKSA and Deadman’s own website. Deadman will be present at the BKSA freestyle events – look out for their stand!

2008 also sees the launch of a range of new, more urban style t-shirts, which will compliment their existing, classic range giving more choice to their customers. These will be available from early May with more men’s and women’s clothing accessories expected later in the season. These are expected to include men’s rash vests and women’s t-shirts. Visit their website for more info www.deadmankitesurfing.co.uk or email them at info@deadmankitesurfing.co.uk

Deadman Powers the BKSA

2008-03-25T20:38:00.001Z

2008 sees new clothing company ‘Deadman Kitesurfing’ teaming up with the ‘British Kite Surfing Association’ to become the official sponsor of the BKSA Race Crew at the 2008 BKSA Grand Prix events.

After visiting last season’s events the boys were hooked on everything from the great venues & watching the UK’s finest pulling out the moves, to the friendly party atmosphere the BKSA provide at all the events.

They wanted to be involved straight away, to raise their profile and help the BKSA boost the sport in this country.

It was at the events that they met their 1st Sponsored rider, Dan James who went on to become Junior champion 2007, ending a great year all round.

As part of the deal there will be an official BKSA & Deadman 2008 tour T-shirt being released on both the websites.

At the moment ‘Deadman’ are working on their new more urban range and the 1st ladies hoodies have gone down well so there’s loads more to come!

Deadman are also working with a kite surfing instructors around the UK to offer deals to anyone new to the sport. If anyone is interested get in touch through their website.

You can find information about all their products and services at http://www.deadmankitesurfing.co.uk