Joe shares first youth place at National freestyle at Poole Windfest.

Joe Callaghan won his first National Freestyle Championships at the age of eight on long boards and has continued this success ever since. He has continued to win light wind freestyle Nationals on short boards at the Poole Windfest for the last six years. This year Joe said was one of the hardest with 24 competitors facing choppy water with very little wind. It was great however Joe said to share first place with Graham Woods who is doing some really fantastic moves.

Joe’s greatest love is high wind freestyle. Coming second recently at the Hayling Island Fat Face Supercross competition and spending time in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote has provided some great surfing and some anxious moments. Having waited a week with no wind in Lanzarote Joe was pleased when the five metre weather arrived. On his way in from far out passed the reef Joe heard a crack. The board split underneath him, but he kept sailing for as long as possible, there isn’t much else to do. Inevitably he was hit by a particularly big wave on the reef. The back of the board disappeared into the distance and Joe was left to swim home with the front half which at least was useful for buoyancy. It took half an hour swimming against a cross offshore wind, tide and mast high waves on the reef. He is not keen to repeat it too often but would like to thank the woman who swam along side him for the last ten minutes to keep him company.

Joe is trying to fit in as much high wind freestyle as possible around A levels and Karate training and competitions.

Joe continues to be sponsored by F2, ‘604 Distribution’, Animal, Concept 2 and Poolside Gymnasiums.