The conditions didn’t quite come through for the final stop on the SWA wave calendar, but it certainly looks like the guys had a great time on and off the water!
The frankly horrendous forecast didn’t stop the SWA from having a fun weekend when they descended on Cardiff for the last event of the Puravida SWA wave series. Event organisers Francis (from Cardiff uni windsurf club) and Jim (from Puravida) had an epic backup plan involving a high powered jet of water and a big slide. It’s called the flowrider!
After watching England beat Wales in the rugby, in Cardiff, the night before, most people inevitably turned up to the flowrider a little late, so none of the introductory bodyboard session, we were put straight onto the standup boards. Everyone made impressive progression, and were soon able to stand up and have a go at some carving moves. Of course, every run ended in a pretty brutal looking crash (looks much worse than it is though).
After a relaxed, if chilly SUP on the river (and no Jim, we weren’t too warm in our winter suits and hoods), the afternoon was spend resting in preparation for the big competition on Sunday morning.
Oh yeah I almost forgot, the fancy dress party (rumble in the jungle theme): lots of punch, zebras (on holiday to the jungle), birds of paradise, Southampton Uni students (apparently they’re too cool for fancy dress), and the Cardiff uni students union, all in all, a top night.
When it came to the competition, the level stepped up a notch, with long rides, big carves, 360 and switch stance attemps, drop-ins from the top of the slope, crazy body board moves all going down.
Matt Duffin from Bristol was the clear winner of the standup round with long fluid rides, but couldn’t pull it off in the bodyboard round, so shared 3rd overall with Louis Morris (also Bristol). Ben Page (Southampton) was super consistent, with a 2nd place in both rounds, winning the event, with Leo Calnan (Southampton) also in 2nd.
Definitely a super fun event, hopefully we’ll be back some time! The next SWA event is hosted by Nottingham, where windsurfing action is guaranteed, watch this space for news from that.
Photo’s by Adam Shoreland, Francis Leonard, and Jim Brooks-Dowsett.
