Animal Poole WindFest Gears up for another Action Packed Event

14th – 17th September 2006

The countdown is on for one of the hottest events on the UK watersports calendar when some of the world’s top wind and kite surfers will descend upon the shores of Sandbanks to compete in the annual Animal WindFest. Entering its seventh year, with the title sponsorship once again provided by extreme sports brand, Animal, this year’s four day event will run from 14th-17th September.

Recognised as a prime location for watersports in the United Kingdom, Sandbanks, Poole, will play host to the UK Windsurfing Association (UKWA) windsurfing national freestyle, supercross and slalom championships, the British Kitesurfing Association (BKSA) kiteboard supercross championships, Animal WindFest Beach Volleyball Championships and the UK Thunder Cat Championships.

Animal WindFest, which attracts approximately 10,000 people each year, will also feature a number of showcase events such as the Animal Braun CruZer3 Bike Tour, The Coastal Gun Run and Wakeboard Pool Cap Slider competition.

Windsurfers and kitesurfers will battle it out in the Gun Run from Weymouth to Sandbanks, a distance of 30 land miles. New for 2006 is the Wakeboard Pool Cap Slider competition, which will be an invitational showcase wakeboard event that will take place in a man made pool on the beach. The popular Animal Braun CruZer3 bike show will feature amazing stunts and bike control from some of Animal’s top team riders.

The event will stage a variety of windsurfing and kitesurfing competitions, offering a total prize fund of £4000. Spectators will see up to 100 national competitors, both professional and amateur, all hungry for top positions within these prestigious titles.

Other onshore activities will include the Breeze Volkswagen marquee village, which will exhibit the latest kite and windsurfing equipment with special 2007 previews and demonstrations from the experts. A climbing wall and crazy golf will also be on offer to entertain the masses of visitors expected throughout the long weekend.

This year’s sponsors so far include Breeze Volkswagen, who will showcase its latest cars and commercial vehicles in addition to sponsoring main exhibition marquee, and FJB Hotels.

Night-time events promise to be equally as thrilling as the day time action and will include the extravagant SAS Golden Butterfly Ball where the dress code is just ‘GOLD’, which will feature a sit-down ‘meal to share’, the new eating experience which has taken London by storm and live music from the Funk Soul Brothers, to raise money for the charity, Surfers Against Sewage. The now legendary grand-finale Animal Saturday night party will be held in a giant marquee on Sandbanks beach and as in previous years, is expected to sell out quickly.

Founder of the event, Gary Willingham of FCWatersports, says, “Animal WindFest 2006 promises to be even bigger and better than previous years, offering top action on the water, some of the world’s most talented competitors, best brands and legendary parties. The four-day event is designed to entertain everyone from hardcore watersports fans through to families who want to watch the action from the beach.”