Here’s Pura Vida and the BWA Team’s official final report from the Pura Vida Cornwall Wave Classic 2011 – sponsored by Franklin & Marshall. All pictures courtesy of BWA…

Heading back from Tiree, the pressure was on for some good conditions in Cornwall … especially after last year!  Although it looked like we would get 2 solid days over the weekend, only Saturday had the wind to get out – but that was literally epic!  Sunday may have been light, but that was probably a good thing judging by the size…

The number of entries this year was a record breaking 81 in total across all fleets, and although this was a challenge with one day’s wind a lot was achieved against the clock.  With such a great fleet, the confirmed dates and pre-registration will open up early for next year with limited places so keep an eye on the websites for more news.  It was great to see so many new faces sampling the fun of the tour, and that was in no small way helped along by the SWA and FLOWatersports who encouraged a great women’s fleet that impressed the judges no end this year!

Franklin & Marshall are a global college style clothing brand that have been growing their support in the extreme sports and outdoor lifestyle market place, and a huge thanks must go to their marketing team that helped us make this years Wave Classic such a great success.  Franklin & Marshall was founded in 1999 on the intuition of 2 young entrepreneurs, Giuseppe Albarelli and Andrea Pensiero, who since then have transformed their ambitions, skills and ideals into a successful brand that is well known for its college-vintage influenced design.  Thanks to their support we are further keeping windsurfing action on TV and online with the podcast at www.boardseeker.com, and a Sky Sports feature in the coming months.  For more info on the brand and clothing range visit www.franklinandmarshall.com

Sandsifter offered a great base of operations, not only with the legend ‘Tommy Armstrong’ playing out fridays registration, but the famous ‘Monstor Ball’ had over 50 of our competitors out in fancy dress partying into the early Halloween hours of Sunday morning – not to be missed!!

Once again the local Skinners Brewery donated some much needed beer that was eagerly won by the women’s ‘Team Danger’.  And nobody went without some of the delightful goodies from the ‘Chocolate Brownie Company’ at the beach every day.

Competition Day:

The standard was at an all time high in the women’s fleet, as the twelve ladies gave it everything they had got in the tough conditions. Lucy Robson was on fine form all day ripping the waves to pieces to secure her first place finish in the final. Pura Vida and Simmer Rider, Sarah Bibby pulled out all the stops to claim second place, and Jo Wright impressed the judges to finish in third.

In the masters, yellow Jersey Holder Mark Lloyd dominated another event, claiming BWA Masters Champion! Followed by Bill Dines and Ian Overington who put on a great show, and it’s worth a note to some great riding from local boy Chris Jackson on his own hand shaped Wood/Dyneema CJ Custom board.

Luke Raistrick showed great skills in the waves to pip this years Youth Champion, Tom Bennett-Lloyd to take the event win, whilst Matt Cox impressed the judges to third.  These boys showed great skills in some meaty conditions – ones to watch in the future I hope.

The huge Amateur fleet was genuinely stacked with talent, and a few of the tour favourites went out early to some hot contenders!  The student contingency were ripping, and despite the contest waiting for Sunday’s wind that never came, after the second round lost light and tide, the judges pulled out their highest scores and best impressions to call the top 3 spots.  All the winning riders are proud to be on Simmer Sails with Alexy and the twins on Simmer Boards and Lewis on his Fanatic.  In the end it was Pura Vida Teamrider Lewis Merrony that impressed the most with his powerful riding style and a show winning gu-screw off the lip.  Amateur Champ and SX Teamrider Aleksy Gayda earned second place, closely followed by the indistinguishable South Wales Twins Rob & Duncan Sheldon.  Alfie Hart, Ryan Humphries, George Bolwell and many others all gave notable performance in their heats.

There was some of the best sailing on the tour shown by pretty much all the riders in the pro fleet, and with such a high standard it was a challenge to get through.  The judges were looking for the two best wave rides in the powerful conditions, and the sailors certainly delivered. Huge aerials, goitas and super-aggressive slashes saw Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers on JP/Pryde, Franklin & Marshall rider Chris Murray on Tushingham/Starboard and Globalshot’s top man Adam Lewis advance through their heats with great performance, but in the end it was Jamie Hancock that took the well earned victory in the single, with Simmer Rider Ben Proffitt in second and Starboard’s Timo Mullen in third.

A huge thanks goes out to all out supporters and the event crew, BWA and our Cornish hosts at RB sails that work hard to make these events happen!  Most of all thanks for the support from all the new members and those who attended this year to make it the best tour we’ve enjoyed in a long time – the UK truly is a great wavesailing venue jam packed full of talent!

The Pura Vida Cornwall Wave Classic was sponsored by Franklin & Marshall and hosted by Pura Vida Boardriders with support from No Limitz Masts, RB Sails, Chocolate Brownie Company, Sandsifter and Skinners Ale.

For more images and news check out www.cornwallwaveclassic.co.uk

For the overall championship results and news check out www.britishwavesailingassociation.com

And for the opportunity to test and buy the latest wavesailing kit on the market please get in touch at www.puravidaboardriders.co.uk

Have a good winter’s wavesailing from all at Pura Vida and the BWA Team.