Competitions
Watergate - BKSA round 1
Date: 31st March - 2nd April 2006
Finished: 6th, pro ladies
Not far from ‘Newquay’ (Surfing town) lies ‘Watergate Bay’ with its 2 mile long mass expanse of sand beach and large rolling Atlantic waves.
Friday morning I had a quick peak out of the window of where we staying. The wind was blowing well but the sky was overcast. I headed down to Watergate Bay where ‘The Extreme Academy’ were hosting the event and registered for the Pro-ladies. The wind was blowing a good 20-30 knots and the waves were 6-8ft high. The men’s heats were up first so we waited for the tide to go out and rigged our kites ready.
The wind continued to pick up with strong gusts blowing through and it was certainly looking very challenging. I launched my 7m Fuel ready to go out and test the conditions but I already felt like I was holding a steam train. Jo Wilson was out on her 6m Naish Torch and I was beginning to wish I’d owned a 5m.
To stop the mile long drag up the beach I was held by my harness on the water’s edge until the heat started. The green flag went up for the first heat and I was off, flying here and there like a rag doll with a back flip, duck and dive manoeuvre. After a tough first heat I was desperate to do better in the next ones. Luckily the black cloud seemed to lift and it was time for my second heat. I managed to pull off one of the tricks I had been working and a few routine manoeuvres. Some of the other girl’s decided to play it safe but Jackie, Cornish local and Steph Bridge seemed to soak up the conditions on their North’s. Jackie just pushed it a little further in the conditions with a double-backloop Kiteloop.
I finished my third heat pleased that I pushed myself in the conditions. It was definitely a steep learning curve and possibly the most challenging conditions I had been out in so far!