Youngsters get ready for first RYA National Windsurfing Champions Cup

After an exciting summer of regional finals the top youth windsurfers in
the UK, will take part in a new prestigious youth windsurfing championship – the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Team15 National Champions Cup.

Team15 (T15) is a RYA youth sport initiative encouraging young people aged
15 and under to learn to windsurf. For the past few months, these young
windsurfers have been developing their skills whilst battling it out to
qualify for the maiden team Champions Cup. To qualify, teams have already
beaten off stiff competition from other local rival teams to claim a T15
regional trophy.

Taking place 15 – 16 October, for the first time ever all nine regional
T15 team finalists (approximately 80 children), from all over the UK, will
gather at Rutland Watersports to compete for the Champions Cup.
Competition will be tough, over the two days, as the best windsurfing
talent compete in a variety of windsurfing board classes. Although a team
event, individual trophies will also be awarded to the top three places in
each T15 class.

Created in 2001 by the RYA and supported by industry leaders Neilson
holidays, Starboard/Tushingham and Ultrasport/BIC, T15 involves a network
of over 80 T15 windsurfing clubs, which meet on a weekly basis to provide
youngsters with everything they need to know about windsurfing. Up to 15
of the best windsurfers from each club will be representing their club at
this exciting national final, giving young people the opportunity to
showcase their windsurfing competition skills, demonstrating who is the
fastest sailor around a course.

Gillian Horne, RYA Windsurfing Development Officer said: “The RYA
Champions Cup is a very exciting windsurfing event which all regional team
finalists want to win, especially as this is the first year that the Cup
has been organised. It will give the competitors the chance to compete
against the very best T15 windsurfers from all over the UK. The
windsurfers have spent the summer honing their windsurfing skills, and
having already been crowned regional winners, I know they are up for the
Challenge and ready to compete against the best T15 windsurfing talent in
the country.”

The T15 clubs have a great mix of girls and boys of all ages. The clubs
are really friendly and all safety aspects are taken care of – the
sessions are run at RYA approved centres with RRYA trained instructors and
T15 coaches. Equipment is available if you donâ?Tt have your own but
advanced booking is essential. Whether you windsurf already or fancy
learning, your local team would love to hear from you – whhat are you
waiting for? Visit the website for further information
http://www.team15.org.uk/ – you’ll find all the T15
clubs listed in ‘THE ZONE ZONE’