NZ Windsurfing News

The Big Downwinder is a long distance downwind fun race. Provisionally Glenorchy to Pigeon Island but maybe a southerly alternative ending at Jardines. See CWA> Events for more...

This year the prevailing southerly winds in Canterbury had us take the competition out to Lake Ellesmere Domain. For both days we had great riding & winds gusting from 10-30 knots. This made for high adrenalin competition in all classes, with 35 competitors. The teenagers were the show stoppers this season with Anthony Hopkins, 15 years from Linwood dominating the competition & taking out the Canterbury title plus the Junior titles. Brianna Boyd also from ChCh won the title for the Canterbury Womans division. It was great to get such a high level of talent from all over New Zealand attend, especially Marc Jacobs, NZ Champion! Organised by 'Canterbury Windsports Association' committee members Blair Cooke & Tim Stockman, this annual event never fails to get a good result here in Christchurch, which was also the location for the very successful 2009 Kiteboarding Nationals.

 

Thanks to those people who came from far & wide, plus our sponsors- Winnie Bagoes Ferrymead, NZ Kiteboarder Magazine, Custom Print, Groundswell, Underground, DaKine, KITESPORTS, OZONE, Cabrinha, Ocean Rodeo, 7th Wave, Sub20, Decay, & The Canterbury Windsports Association.

 

RESULTS:

OPEN: 1.Marc Jacobs 2.Geoffrey Waterson 3.Hugh Pinfold

WOMANS: 1.Su Kay 2.Brianna Boyd 3.Anderson Romero

JUNIORS: 1.Anthony Hopkins 2.Jackson Mills 3.Lukas Walton-Keim

CANTERBURY OPEN: 1.Anthony Hopkins 2.Jackson Mills 3.Alex Bowater

CANTERBURY WOMANS: 1.Brianna Boyd 2.Sandra Upston 3.Kim Bunt

CANTERBURY JUNIORS: 1.Anthony Hopkins 2.Jackson Mills 3.Alex Bowater

MASTERS: 1.Scottie 2.Hugh 3.Matty C

CANTERBURY MASTERS: 1.Scottie 2.Matty C 3.Karl Soulos

WOMANS MASTERS: 1.Su Kay 2.Sandy Upston 3.Ariana

ONE OFF BEST TRICK: 1.Alex B(KGB) 2.Marc J(flat 3) 3.Julian S(2x kites)

BEST TRICK WOMANS: 1.Su Kay 2.Ariana 3.Anderson

BEST TRICK JUNIOR: 1.Lukas

BEST DRESSED MENS: 1.Cookie 2.Julian 3.James

BEST DRESSED WOMAN: 1st Equal.Sandy/Ariana/Kim

 

Myself & young Harrison really enjoyed getting out in the boat & rescuing all of you who needed it during the light winds on the first day. Daniel Romero, you made H's day flying off the back of the boat...Nathan on Cookies jet ski, worth it's weight in gold getting people back to shore time & time again. The fancy dress kiting & then wakeboarding was fantastic! Great party Sat night at Winnie Bagoes...cheers Kim & Scoota for having us over for the prizegiving. Thanks all the helpers, you know who you are:-)

 

Lets do it all again next year!

 

Cheers, Tim

 

Here's a gallery of shots from both days from TalkieT (thanks).

 

There's a small charge to cover expenses (e.g. sound system) plus CWA membership (which provides 3rd party insurance).

Notes: The title of Canterbury Champ goes to the highest placed Canterbury Resident.

Juniors (<19 on Jan 1), Masters (30-39), and Legends (40+).

A panel of judges will award points for style, power, technical difficulty, and consistency – their decision is final. There may also be awards for biggest air, best trick, best dressed (so accessorise!), worst wipeout, and maybe even some border cross or circuit racing. It all depends...

 

This is a fantastic opportunity to boost your skill levels under the expert eye of Su Kay (partner in Decay Kiteboards, and Ozone team rider), while enjoying the company of other female kiters. Spaces are limited, so if you're interested then don't delay, and get in touch with Kim on 027 4349508.

Cost to CWA members is $50, while non-members must join the CWA - Individual membership being $30 (you can register and pay online under MEMBERSHIP). This covers expenses, while membership provides 3rd party insurance and the CWA underwriting the event.

The precise format (and location) will be decided on the day, depending on the weather. The plan is to start with a theory session in the mornings covering safety, equipment, trick progression and competition riding. The afternoon will be spent riding with coaching sessions taken by Su.

No wind? Then we have some other exciting activities in mind, including a BBQ on Saturday night.

NZ Windsurfing and the Dunedin Windsurfing Association, cordially invite you to attend the 2010 NZ Windsurfing Slalom Nationals to be held Thursday 4th – Monday 8th February 2010 on Otago Harbour. (Note: Monday is a reserve day).

This event is recognized and sanctioned by NZ Windsurfing as the 2010 NZ Windsurfing Slalom National Championships. The Local Organizing Authority (LOA) will be the Dunedin Windsurfing Association.

Click the image for more, including an entry form...

Pro kiter Patrick Rebstock came to Christchurch over the weekend of 21/22 Nov enroute to the Mambo Merimbula Classic. He delivered valuable advice to local kiters in two CWA sponsored coaching workshops, covering wave and freestyle riding techniques. Kite position is the key for both surfing a wave and launching a trick - the rest sounds easy! Warm N-NW conditions Saturday enabled some to try their moves at the beach, and a late NE on Sunday provided a flat water freestyle session at the estuary. Now we just have to practice. Thanks Patrick.