As we approach what should be a fantastic summer season on the water and land – we are looking forward to several returning events that are back to full strength, as well as new, regional ones in the line-up!
Caption: Summer sessions are coming! / Photo: Nomadic Kitesurf
CALL OUT TO WOULD-BE EVENT HOSTS!
Kiteboarding events don’t have to be just for the serious competitor. Instead, the focus can simply be to help develop community, skills, interest and are usually a huge amount of fun! Relaxed ‘big air’* and wing racing events are gaining interest on a local level around the country. If you run a club or organisation and would like some help / inspiration to get a local event off the ground, get in touch as we are more than happy to assist!
Email: info@britishkitesports.org
*Remember: big air is all relative to how big you’ve gone before. It’s simply about the encouragement to SEND IT!
Caption: Lewis Crathern sending it in Kent! / Photo: Eunice Bergin
KITESURFING ARMADA
The Kitesurfing Armada re-launched in September last year and how refreshing it was to be back mixing and mingling with so many like-minded kiters again… on and off the water!
The Kitesurfing Armada will once again host a national round of our BKC Freestyle Championship, open to pro men and women, juniors and amateurs, too!
Click below to see the video summarising all you can expect to enjoy over the Armada weekend:
Caption: Catch all the action, day and night, at the Kitesurfing Armada this year!
As well as that the music stage will provide the excellent audio backdrop, morning, afternoon and evening, plus you can check out all the latest gear in the brands tent, get involved in a clinic, have a taster session and much more besides!
Early bird tickets were released on Wednesday 11th May, so if you’re keen to hit the Armada click this link to find out more about full weekend tickets!
www.kitesurfingarmada.co.uk/ticket-info
BRITISH KITESURFING CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS IN 2022
RAMSGATE
As well as running an event at the Armada, the BKC will also be hitting Ramsgate once again. While the venue is locked in as a solid host, the exact weekend in early August is yet to be confirmed, but no doubt we always look forward to hitting Kent’s golden sands in the southeast corner of England.
Stay tuned to our website and socials for more BKC event confirmations.
WAVEMASTERS, BRANDON BAY, IRELAND – 2-7 OCTOBER
The classic of the BKSA event calendar will return this year for more wave national championship action, plus the likely inclusion of winging, too!
Caption: Lee Harvey / Photo: Gemma Soloman
SANDS OF LUCE BIG AIR & DEMO WEEKEND IS BACK!
7 – 9 OCTOBER
As many of you will know, the Sands of Luce Big Air Weekenders are a huge hit that attract fantastic attendance with riders travelling from across the British Isles to participate. This event has been blessed with some crazy winds making for sessions that live long in the memory banks.
As well as the great community aspect, this year there will also be kitesurfing clinics, kitesurfing and wingfoil demo kit available and last, but by no means least, the party!
Accommodation enquires: please contact the Sands of Luce Holiday Park.
Find out more info on the Kitesurf Scotland Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/kitesurfscotland.co.uk/
EDGE WATERSPORTS
EXMOUTH, DEVON
Ever-present in the annual event calendar, Edge Watersports will once again run the Exe-Hammer paddleboard challenge in September.
Also look out for upcoming Youth twin-tip racing events. For the keen foilers, every Thursday throughout the season is Steezy Pete’s race night!
More info: www.edgewatersports.com
CS WATERSPORTS – CORNWALL CLASSIC SERIES
The first stop (of four) in the 2022 Cornwall Classic Series supported by Airush Kiteboarding, Shinn and Red Bull will be the Freestyle event on the weekend 4 & 5 June. Held at the new CS Watersports Academy in Hayle, expect perfect flat water conditions to show off your latest freestyle manoeuvres!
The remaining three events will include a twin-tip race supported by Ion and Red Bull 6 & 7 August, a wave riding event supported by SurfDek and Red Bull 29 & 30 September and, finally, a big air event supported by Reedin and Red Bull dates TBC.
After the full season the 2022 Kernow Kitesurfing Kings and Queens will be crowned!
CS Watersports events, run by current BKSA Men’s Freestyle Pro Champion, Craig Smith, are all about inclusivity and encouraging as many people as possible to get involved and share the stoke of some friendly competition! Pro Men, Women, Amateur Men/Women and Youth categories will run.
More information and entry info: www.cswatersportsacademy.com
INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
CS Watersports are also running an ITC (instructor training course) on the week commencing 6 June. www.cswatersportsacademy.com for more info.
BIRTHDAY SESSIONS!
Easyriders are celebrating their first year of having been in their new beach pad in Poole (a new extra beach location – they’ve been in the game since 2004!) Head to Shore road, Sandbanks on 28th May for a fun day of demos, foil, SUP, all things foil, social bbq and summer vibes!
Contact: info@easy-riders.co.uk
SPOT GUIDE – WESTWARD HO
This month’s local spot guide comes from the IKSURFMAG site, and we’ve picked out Westward Ho! in north Devon. Not only is this place so good that it has an exclamation mark in its name, but for many years it’s been host to our BKC national events. A super long beach and, depending on the conditions, this spot can be suitable for all levels (and surfers too!) this is a classic UK venue.
Caption: Looking good! / Photo: IKSURFMAG
AND FINALLY…
Your BKSA membership now also covers you third party for wingfoiling. If you’re interested in the sport, find our guide to wingfoiling right here! Learn to Wing Foil Guide
The GWA Wingfoil World Tour recently completed the first stop of the 2022 season in Leucate, France. If you need a little more inspiration… and have ever wondered what go-karting on the water might be like – check out this drone clip from a single Surf-Slalom heat, eventually won by reigning champion, Titouan Galea.
ENSURE YOUR MEMBERSHIP IS UP TO DATE:
It’s vital to ensure that your BKSA membership is up-to-date. Not only do we work hard on your behalf to make sure that kitesurfing beaches stay open and that the instructor teams and clubs are operating safely, we also cover you for £5 million third party liability should you be in an accident. So it’s a good idea to check that your mates are covered as well!
Here are some more benefits of membership:
The average individual membership is just £42 for the year, but there are discounts for juniors, students and families!
Visit the website for more info by clicking here.
GOT CLUB / EVENT / GOOD NEWS YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US?
We’d love to hear from you and are happy to look at any submissions for possible inclusion in our newsletter. Please get in touch at: info@britishkitesports.org
Take care out there and enjoy the season’s conditions!
The BKSA Team: Andy, Steph, Dan, Phil, Will, Richard, Louise, Russell, Jim and Rosie
Promoting and protecting Kitesports in the UK. Providing insurance, training, events and clubs..