The RYA give us a guide to the RS:X windsurfers of the British Sailing Team due to compete at the World Championships in Denmark this summer.
When the Sailing World Championships begin in Aarhus, Denmark, on 30 July 2018, a new breed of windsurfers will take to the waters to stake a claim for inclusion in the British Sailing Team squad that will go for Olympic glory in Tokyo 2020.
The quadrennial combined World Championships are second only to the Games in terms of Olympic class participation. Looking outside of the numbers, the Worlds effectively begin the trail to Tokyo 2020 as national qualification is at stake and the race to secure spots starts to heat up.
For the British Sailing Team the 2018 Worlds presents an opportunity for talented young windsurfers to stand up and be counted. Three-time Olympic medallist Nick Dempsey retired from competition after Rio 2016 leaving the door open for a raft of young guns to take his place, while in the women’s fleet there is a host of sailors looking to challenge returning 2008 Beijing bronze medallist Bryony Shaw.
Shaw, 35, returns to competition after giving birth to her son Jaddek in June 2017, and is so revered and respected that she will be the British Sailing Team’s flag bearer at the Sailing World Championship’s opening ceremony.
She has already proved herself a force to be reckoned with, winning numerous races in the few events she has competed in since jumping back on a board in January – however she has stiff competition within the team from two youth world champions.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
