People

The Solent Boys

The SWA brings together an obscene amount of windsurfers, for weekends of unrivalled fun and hotly contested windsurf action. Many former student champions are now making their marks on the UK and International scene, with the likes of Adam Sims, Sarah Bibby, Tanya Saleh and many more proving the SWA is a great platform to build your competition skills. Boards catches up with one of the most recently formed but utterly dominant SWA teams: The Solent Boys.

One of the newest members to the SWA Circuit, Solent Windsurf Team was set up only two years ago. From meeting on their first day at University the boys knew had one thing in common, a love for watersports and windsurfing. Keen to compete at the 2011 BUCS nationals, Adam Chubbock and Ollie Acton quickly set up the windsurf team at Solent, enabling them to enter the event.

Since then the team has grown considerably, consisting of students of all abilities with a passion for windsurfing and having a good time.

Being in Southampton means the boys have access to some of the South Coast’s great windsurfing locations. Those keen on freestyle head east to Hayling Island or West Wittering for perfect flat water locations, whereas those looking for waves head west to Highcliff or K-bay.

The 2011-2012 academic year proved a great success for the team, with a good number of new club members all attending the SWA events around the country. Former World Champion Sam Sills joined the ranks, furthering the progression and ability within the team. The finale to the year included many awards at the 2012 BUCS Nationals and Solent University’s Sports Awards, including:

SWA Freestyle Champion – Ollie Acton

BUCS Team Racing Champions – Adam Chubbock, Sam Sills and Ollie Acton

BUCS Individual Racing Champion – Sam Sills

Solent University Team of the Year

Solent University Sports Man of the Year – Sam Sills

This year the boys are pushing for even more success, attending every SWA event. The next event is the BUCS nationals at Calshot where most of this year’s tour titles will be decided. With the Solent boys on home turf they are fired up to dominate!

WHO ARE THE KEY PLAYERS?

Name: Ollie Acton

DOB: 15/04/1990

Years windsurfing and windsurfing level:

I started windsurfing about 7 years ago and really got into it after a holiday to Dahab with my Dad. I have competed at several UKWA freestyle and slalom competitions, as well as the majority of SWA events.

I’m supported by a local shop on Hayling Island called AndyBiggs Watersports.

Why do you windsurf:

I windsurf because it’s so different to any other sport I’ve tried! I have made some great friends through windsurfing and there aren’t too many sports where travelling around the world is the norm.

What are you studying?

Watersports Studies and Management – 3^rd and final year.

What do you like about Solent Windsurf Team?

Solent Windsurf Team has given me the opportunity to travel around the country, make new friends and compete at the legendary SWA competitions.

My most memorable moment with the team was at our University’s sports award evening. They presented us with our SWA winnings in front of all the other sports team, on top of that we were awarded with sports team of the year and Sam won sports man of the year, a great advertisement for our windsurf club and our sport in general! SWA Events have really helped push my own ability but also publicity where through the articles and reports sent out by the SWA Tushingham noticed me and I have recently become a team rider.

Name: Adam Chubbock

Nickname: Chubsey

How did you get into windsurfing?

I tasted windsurfing when I was about 14 but didn’t fully get hooked until I was 18 working in a windy area of South France. The place was full of good windsurfers flying around and I knew I had to get involved. Since then my life has changed completely (for the better).

What’s your windsurfing level?

This year I have competed on the full Student Windsurfing (SWA) Tour, which includes Racing, Freestyle, Wave Riding and Team racing. The tour has

taken us all over the country and we have had a lot of fun on the way. It has been my first year competing in the waves which I have really enjoyed (even managed to finish joint 2^nd). I have also competed in the UKWA amateur slalom series, which I would recommend anyone to get involved in.

Why do you windsurf?

There is no other sport like windsurfing, it has taken me to some amazing places

and I have met some awesome people along the way. It’s more like a way of life really, always offering new challenges and opportunities. I owe a lot to windsurfing and the amazing experiences I’ve had because of it.

What do you do when you are not competing?

Coaching is another aspect of the sport which I love. Working at Club Vass for the last three years has enabled me to share my passion for windsurfing and take my coaching to a new level. I also dabble in a bit of DJing at the famous Globalshots raves.

What are you studying?

Apart from a degree in Facebook; Watersports Management 3^rd Year

What do you like about Solent Windsurf Team?

I am very proud of Solent Windsurf Team and everything we have done in the last two years, from having the best fancy dress on the tour, to winning the BUCS nationals. We have such a positive attitude within the team and some very talented individuals, I like to think we are a good advert for the university and windsurfing in general.

Sam Sills, Adam Chubbock and Ollie Acton.

Name: Sam Sills

DOB: 15/04/93

Years windsurfing and windsurfing level: 10 years, Olympic Transitional Squad

Why you windsurf: Freedom man

What are you studying? Yacht and Power craft Design

What do you like about Solent Windsurf team? We smash the party, then we smash the race.

Most memorable moment with the team?

There has been two: winning sports man of the year 2012 at the university sports awards and drawing a permanent tash on Ian from Boardwise and making him part of our crew!

Why do you think you’ve been so successful as a team? We have legendary Zen guru Adam Chubs to guide us.

How often do you hit the water and where do you go? Most weekends, Weymouth or my home back in Cornwall whenever it’s windy.

Anything else to add?

Solent Windsurf Team would like to say a massive thanks to our sponsors; we couldn’t have done it without their help and support: