IWA Contest 1
posted on 12/01/2011
We`re stoked to announce that...
is hosting
Contest no. 1
of the
2011 Irish National Windsurfing Wavesailing Tour
What is it?
The Irish Windsurfing Association (IWA) National Wavesailing tour encompasses Ireland`s best windsurfers at some of the best locations in Ireland, all competing together. From beginner wavesailors to PWA (pro) world standard competitors, the tour travels Irelands most famous windsurfing locations, where competitors twist, spin, rotate, invert, loop and generally push themselves and their equipment to the max!
This is Contest no. 1 on the 2011 national tour, to be held in Coolmaine Beach, in Co. Cork.
So who is entering?
We`ve lined up some international talent for the event, with top RRD and Starboard riders all keen to give the event a shot. Which one of them will turn up on the beach on the morning will remain a closely guarded secret, but with a favourable forecast we might see goiters and double loops!
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"Sounds great...way beyond me though..."
WRONG! We think 2011 will be a new year for wavesailing in Ireland and with our help, we can help you to get out there and enjoy the waves too! So this event is a break from the norm. ANYONE CAN WIN THIS EVENT. If you can plane in 6-10 knots of wind, no matter what kit you have, and you can negotiate a small 1 foot high wave, you just might be able to win this event. But how? ...read on...
We all started out in waves at some point. Ireland`s best windsurfers will be there, and they are really really chilled out people (girls and boys) and they WANT TO HELP YOU learn how to do it. So there will be an emphasis on learning to wave sail over the weekend. Similar to the Irish Slalom Series, if you`d like some FREE guidance on rigging, conditions, kit, waves, or anything, tell us at registration and we`ll have one of the pro`s help you...it`s FREE and everyone is willing to help.
the bigAIR...
An Irish first...and sort of, a world first! We will be running a bigAIR comp. Format is easy...the biggest, and that can be the highest, furthest, or longest hang time jump...wins! No loop, no 1 hand, no 1 foot...very simple..biggest jump wins. If it`s blowing 6 knots and you`re the only one planing to manage the biggest jump ...you win! More details will be explained on the day! So you could win the comp using a 10 year old formula board! Naturally if it`s blowing 30 knots...expect more like 30` jumps to be the norm!
the bigEXPRESSION...
It might be cold...hey it`s February! So rather than running heats where you can get cold, everyone will be windsurfing for as long as possible. The best way to do this is to run expression sessions. A set time period, and do what you want, giving you plenty of time to rack up some good moves. If time and conditions allow for more than one, then we`ll run with it!
the bigPRO...
Well...we have the countries best windsurfers with us...we gotta give them a shot at the title! The latest moves, the best wave riding. Format may be heats, but again if it`s cold, and depending on entry numbers, we may run a series of shorter expressions. More details on the day...but to the PRO`s...expect to be tired when ye`re derigging!
the Saturday Night...
An Irish windsurfing event, would not be an event without an ol` social. Clonakilty is famed for it`s music, food, beverages and pubs. Grab a bite to eat, kick back with your windsurfing buddies, and relive all the days action. Good oppertunity to quiz the pro`s on all their new gear too!
the formalities and other info...
Entry is €25 for both days....cheap as chips!
A windsurfing instructor would charge you that for 1 hour...you`re getting 2 days here!
If you turn up and don`t sail, please contribute a €10 viewing fee!
We`ll donate it to the RNLI who will be on standby if we need them...a very worthy cause.
You must be a member of IWA to enter or to take part...please support the IWA...
IWA members get FREE insurance...if you`re not a member, you have no excuse.
You can join the IWA at the morning registration for €30...also cheap as chips.
Imagine the cost of joining a golf club...
Whether this event will be ranked or not remains to be determined. Either way, you will have a great weekend of wavesailing.
If there is no wind...we`ll be there anyway, SUPping, demoing gear...lots to go around.
Accomodation...plenty of hostels and B&B`s around...check out Discover Ireland to start with.
Conditions...Coolmaine generally gets small waves, so expect anything from 1 foot to 5 foot. We can get mast high waves, but it needs to be a right storm to churn that up. As wave events and locations go, Coolamine is ideal as a first time wavesailing location, that will also keep the pro`s entertained. Plenty of space to sail, and plenty of rigging/parking also.
Queries? Send to: shop@bigsurf.ie and we`ll post your query below (without your name on it).
EVENT UPDATE - 21st JANUARY 2011
We`re delighted to see such a great uptake on this event...the excitment is now setting in! Despite the short notice and the possibility of chilly temperatures, there is huge demand for a ranked round to be completed, so....
We have scheduled 1 no. Ranked Round to be completed on Sunday the 6th February 2011. This round will approximately take 3 hours to complete and will count towards the 2011 Irish National Wave Sailing Championships. This ranked round will be completed as per the IWA Wavesailing Event guidelines.
There will still however be an Intro Wave Sailing session on the Sunday, so if you don`t want to take part in the ranked Round...no problem! We`ll tell you where you will be able to sail, yet you`ll be able to keep away from the competition area.
The event social on Saturday evening will be in Clonakilty...venue TBC. Nothing fancy as they say....just somewhere for us all to relive the days action.
Looking for grub locally...check out the Malthouse Restaurant for good food and good prices.
Some folks have asked us about accomodation. We suggest searching the Discover Ireland website, but alternatively the Quality Hotel Clonakity have advised us of this package that they have on offer....
- Bed & Breakfast €49.00 per adult sharing per night
- 2 Nights Bed & Breakfast with Dinner on 1 Evening €109.00 per adult sharing.
The above quotation is based on 2 sharing in a double or twin room.
While staying with us you have full use of the leisure centre facilities, which include, 20 meter pool, sauna, steam room,
Jacuzzi & Gym.
EVENT UPDATE - 3rd February 2011
We`re all set now for a great weekend of windsurfing at Coolmaine! For the early birds, there will be a few out in Coolmaine on Friday afternoon, so do come along early and get warmed up!
To answer some of your queries...
All of Saturday (5th Feb) will be fun sailing and fun competition. Conditions should be ideal for first time wavesailors...the further off the beach you go, the bigger the waves will get, so you get to chose what size waves you want to sail in. And it should be relatively easy to get out with the forecasted wind direction (cross on), as even if you decide to sail in the shallow water and smaller waves, you will still have the run of the full width of the bay to sail in. There are lots of folks coming who have never sailed in waves before, so we are aware of this and look forward to seeing you there. Also, the Pro`s will be sailing further off the beach, so take a break from time to time and watch them in action!
For the Pro`s...or for the event "ProComp"...the official IWA Ranked Round of competition is on Sunday morning (6th Feb). We can start as early or as late as we like. We`ll be running the heat formats as per IWA Event guidelines...should be good.
Lunch is not provided. Don`t forget your sambo`s!
Saturday Night...we`ve picked
Scannell`s Bar in Clonakilty town for our focal point on Saturday evening. Nice, lively bar, right in the centre of Clon. Directions...as you come into Clonakilty from Cork, at button roundabout take 3rd exit to the right and drive straight down main street until the end where there is a cross roads. Turn left. Then take next left. Car park is half way down this road on the left...tight entrance, big car park. Scannell`s is at end of this road just to the right of the T-junction.
EVENT UPDATE - 4th February 2011
Registration on Saturday morning starts at 09:00am. Briefing is at 10:00am.
Sunday morning start times will be announced on Saturday afternoon...most likely 09:00, but earlier is possible for the bigPRO wave comp...weather conditions will dictate.
Is it going to be windy...check it out below! Forecasts for wave events don`t get much better than this...
So that`s it!
Round 1 of the Irish National Wavesailing Tour kicks off in Coolmaine Beach on the 5th February 2011...looking forward to seeing you there! There will be prizes throughout the weekend, thanks to all our sponsors.
bigsurf.ie team rider Katie McAnena will be there...2010 Irish Ladies Champion
Lip smacker Steve in action... (credit: SW)
