Next weekend sees students flock to Weymouth from across the country for the final event on the Student Windsurfing Association calendar for 2015/16. This weekend serves as a double whammy, with the results being important for BUCS (the inter-university all-sport ranking system) as well as being the culmination of the SWA series’. With many tight competitions already this season, the weekend promises to be a thriller as the students battle for ultimate respect in racing, freestyle and on the dance floor!
Saturday will see the individual racing divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced – with race organisation kindly aided by Colwyn Bay Watersports. In the beginner and intermediate categories it will be all to play for as there are some fantastic prizes on offer from sponsors Horizon Watersports (Beginner) and Lagoon Watersports (Intermediate) and clothing sponsor Supersaturated.
The advanced racing category is sure to be competitive, as the racers fight for the prizes up for grabs (sponsored by Patrik Diethelm), points and ultimate bragging rights. So far this season Charlie Wilson (Southampton), Amy Robinson (Cardiff) and Liath Campbell (Durham) have taken a victory each – so the category is anyone’s to win!
After all the competition on Saturday, the student athletes will head back to refuel and celebrate their successes, complete with obligatory fancy dress – this year’s theme being ‘The Great Migration!’
Sunday will see the culmination of the Team Race series, sponsored by Boardwise. With 5 events counting, and just one discard allowed, it is all to play for in the main event of the weekend. As things stand, Cardiff have won two events making them the sure favourites. Their biggest competition is likely to be Southampton and Durham, who have taken one victory each – and are known to deliver under pressure! Also not to be written off are Birmingham and Bristol, who have been close behind throughout the year – will their consistency pay off overall in the series?
Rounding off the weekend will be the freestyle series (sponsored by Boardwise). Being victorious in SWA freestyle means being able to embrace all conditions – and that is what Alex Parker of Cardiff has done to be leading the field. However, if Weymouth provides high winds, we can expect to see some big moves from Aaron Smith, Charlie Wilson and Leo Calnan who are fiercely competitive and have the big moves.
BUCS National Championships – ‘The Great Migration!’ is on the 22nd-24th April at Weymouth and Portland OTC. Tickets are on sale now on the SWA website.
The post event write up with all the results will be available soon after!
Thanks to the SWA and the sponsors Boardwise, Colwyn Bay Watersports, Supersaturated, Horizon Watersports, Lagoon Watersports and Patrik Diethelm UK.
Begginner races: Horizon Watersports
Intermediate Races: Lagoon Watersports
Advance Races: Patrik Diethelm
Team Races: Boardwise Freestyle: Boardwise
Official Clothing Sponsor: Supersaturated
