Windsurf Magazine OnlineSTUDENT WINDSURFING ASSOCIATION (SWA) SOUTHAMPTON – EVENT ROUND-UP,Boardwise, Student windsurfing

STUDENT WINDSURFING ASSOCIATION (SWA) SOUTHAMPTON – EVENT ROUND-UP

Last weekend, Southampton played host to a fantastic Student Windsurfing Association (SWA) event, welcoming over 100 student windsurfers from across the UK. With a solid forecast delivering plenty of wind, the weekend was a huge success both on and off the water. Georgia Stolliday reports!

Epic photos from: Rachel Titcombe

: Epic new sails for the SWA

“A major highlight of the weekend was the debut of brand-new equipment, with £18,000 fundraised over the Summer and Autumn through a 50/50 split between community crowdfunding and a Sport England grant.

: Erik Sier

This specific event was organised by both the SWA in collaboration Southampton Uni windsurf Club together but the crowdfunding campaign was run by myself and the SWA. The equipment supplied by Boardwise arrived just in time and were raced for the very first time at the event.

: Caitlin Boothroyd Southampton

On the water, students enjoyed a packed daytime schedule including free-sailing, beginner tuition, racing, and a light-wind freestyle competition. There were 9 universities there in total taking part… Exeter, Birmingham, Bristol, Imperial, Bath, Southampton, Cardiff, Warwick and Nottingham. Racing was split into team racing (teams of three per university, with Bristol taking 1st, Exeter 2nd and Cardiff 3rd) and individual racing across beginner, intermediate and advanced fleets.

: Good times in Southampton

True to SWA tradition, the evenings were just as memorable. Two nights out in Southampton saw students exploring local favourites including the Hobbit Pub, Jesters, and live music at the Frog and Frigate. The second night’s themed social, “Music Genres”, brought plenty of colour, with Southampton dressed as cowboys, Exeter as jungle, Bristol as techno and Cardiff repping the 60s.

: Fun on the water

: Blasting

: Philip Clarke imperial Cruising in Southampton Water

: Kate Wilkinson Exeter Duotone action

: Georgia Having a blast

: epic event

Prize-giving featured a special virtual appearance from professional windsurfers Adam Simms and Yentel Caers, who shared their journeys into freestyle windsurfing and inspired the next generation.

: Georgia with Yentel Caers and Adam Simms on call

Prizes were generously sponsored by Circular & Co and Thatchers Cider, with unique 3D-printed trophies designed and made by a Southampton engineering student.

: Prizes galore

: Prize giving

The event was entirely volunteer-led by Southampton University Windsurf Club members, led by President Sophie Wood and Vice-President Caitlin Boothroyd, alongside the SWA Committee. All in all it was a brilliant weekend showcasing the strength, spirit and future of student windsurfing in the UK.

ABOUT THE SWA

The SWA is an association that runs events for students throughout the academic year bringing young windsurfers from around the UK together. The SWA’s aim is make windsurfing accessible to as many people as possible during their time at University, whilst also ensuring young advanced windsurfers have the opportunity to progress and get out on the water with others. We were overwhelmed with the support from the watersporting community for our crowdfunding campaign last year that allowed us to purchase new kit from Boardwise and we hope the equipment will enable us to keep our community going for years to come. Boardwise has supported us hugely since 2005 and we couldn’t do what we do without them!

It is still possible to donate to the SWA crowdfunding page, any additional donations will contribute to things like new harness lines, beginner equipment and repairs.”

Link:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/equipment-for-the-next-generation-of-windsurfers#