This just in from Trevor Funnell:

Hi All,

I’m afraid I’m back! The UKWA has asked me to come out of retirement to get the 2010 UKWA Freestyle Tour off the ground again after it fell by the wayside a little bit over the last couple of years.

For starters, we’ve got three great Tour events for all categories of sailors, which will be run alongside the Slalom events at Bournemouth, Hunstanton and Worthing and then we have the National Championships back at Poole Windfest in September. Entry forms can be found online at www.ukwindsurfing.com

It doesn’t matter about your age or ability, whether you’re a hotshot pro, a young gun or a regular beach sailor; freestyle has something for you. Events are run in flat water or high seas, light winds or gales.

It’s difficult to do well at the highest level, but the diversity element makes it accessible to all grades of windsurfer and working to gain fluidity improves everyone’s sailing in all conditions.

At Hove Lagoon on June 5/6 we have, for the first time in the UK, a European Freestyle Pro Tour Kids Event. We’re expecting 40-60 entrants and it should be a fantastic show … as sea breezes and midday low tides have been pre-booked! The entry form for this event will be out soon, with categories for all age groups. All UK youths and juniors get a guaranteed entry and everyone’s welcome to come along and take a look…

Better still, why not be a part of the Tour this year? We’re going to need of a lot of help running all the events. The sort of jobs available are flags, timing, beach marshalling and, for Hove, collecting and delivering contestants from (and back to) Gatwick Airport.

Event crew jobs are all thankless but extremely worthwhile and we do actually have a pretty good time. They are unpaid but the UKWA can sometimes run to a free lunch and help with travel costs.

If anyone is interested in helping out, even for one day at one event, please get in touch with me at [email protected] or call my mobile 07764 578648. I’m also looking for sponsors for products, food and support for the Hove Event so any suggestions would be gratefully received.

See you on the water,

Trevor Funnell