2014 British Wave Series kicks off… and it went pretty well! :)

So it’s been a pretty hectic year so far and i’ve had some great trips to Oz and then Maui for the Simmer Style photo shoot…

After maui it was back to the UK and straight in to the British Wave Series…  I have to say i wasn’t feeling exactly fully fit but after popping a few Pills i was good to go!! haha…

Here’s my event review i did for Simmer style…

Last week the first events of the British Wave sailing championships kicked off in style with events in Rhosneigr North Wales and Brandon Bay in Ireland.
i managed to get a 3rd in Rhosneigr and a 1st in Ireland leaving me in 2nd overall with 2 events to go.

Justyna made the trip all the way from Australia!!! to compete and nailed the same results 3rd in Rhosneigr and 1st in Ireland. Which means she is leading the tour in the girls.

She has also just moved on to Simmer boards and after a bit of adjusting in Rhosneigr by Ireland she was fully dialled in and Killed it.

On the other side of it I’ve been using a Prototype Quantum 85 and i have to say it’s working awesome!

I used it both in Rhosneigr (cross on) and Ireland (down the line)… well small down the line) It’s a 5 box but i had it set up as a twin with 2 x 16’s and it was sweet. Especially for all the tricks.

Conditions in Rhosneigr were a real mix from Starboard tack cross shore all the way to Port tack cross on. I was a bit gutted with a 3rd… not that it was a bad result but i really felt i was sailing good enough to win. Just things didn’t go my way. But sometimes that’s how it is… and not to take it away from anyone else. All the boys were ripping and it is such a competitive tour and there are no easy heats.

Justyna in Rhosneigr was killing it and in the semi final nailed 2 perfect back loops and eased into the final. But in the final she didn’t have her best heat.. still that’s how it goes some times.

We both walked away from Rhosneigr a little bit gutted.. but luckily we didn’t have to wait long for the next comp and a chance to put it right.

2am ferry over to ireland and driving pretty much through the night i have to say i was far from ready to compete on the first day of the irish comp. Luckily the wind didn’t play ball so we had a few days off and time to sort our selves out.

In fact it was looking pretty dodgy and it was soon apparent that it would come down the last day. The forecast wasn’t great but it was the best we had so we really needed it to come through… luckily we were in Ireland and it’s rare you have a whole week with out conditions.
OK, Let’s just say it wasn’t massive.. but it was all we had and it was big enough. I got myself into the final in a close heat with John Skye in which he landed a Goiter. so i was pretty relieved. In the final i started off really well and nailed a couple of good waves early on. But towards the end of the heat i got stuck downwind of everyone and with 4 people in the heat i keep getting called off waves so i missed a few good ones at the end.
As i was sailing in i kind of thought i’d messed it up.. so i have to say i was pretty shocked when they announced i’d won!!! haha.. nice shocked that is.. well in a 20min heat it’s hard to remember the start!!..

But after reading Boards mag live update i felt pretty good:

12:38 – proffitt looks to be killing it is this heat, all riders are scoring some solid waves with hacking turns, but so far proffitt seems to be generating the most speed and style through the turns. Just a couple of minutes left in this heat before the winner of the pro single is announced..

But I have to say i was probably more happy about Sniady killing it in the Womens final. Especially after she took too small a sail in the semi and nearly didn’t make it. A wave in the dying seconds saved her. So after a bit of a scare she rigged a bigger sail and sailed an awesome heat in the final. In wobble and ride you have to be patient and it’s an easy thing to say but when the clock is ticking down, every one is catching waves and your wobbling out the back waiting for the set wave. It is really easy to bottle it and catch anything that moves then be on the inside when the set comes.. well Sniady nailed it. Just waited and didn’t lose her head. Picked up the set waves and rode them really well with set up turns, carving turns and good smacks off the breaking sections.!

It’s no often i tell her she’s won when she comes in but this one i knew! Happy Boyfriend

So a really good couple of events and a good way to start the year… All the gear is working really well and i’m looking forward to the World tour starting!
Other stand out Simmer Performances
Rhosneigr:

SurfAdviser.com  ’Stand out sailor’ Award went to Scotty Mcdowell for sailing pretty much dusk until dawn!!

Masters

1st: Dave Ewer totally killed it.. we think he should enter the pro’s – Simmer Black tip
3rd: Dave ‘Bucky’ Buckland.. owner of funsport (my sponsor) killed it on the waves and we think he even invented a new jump move (Helicopter, push loop lazy susan!!) – Simmer Flywave 85 and Black tip

Amateurs:

1st Mike Archer: Nailed a sweet Backie in the final which gave him the edge… nick named ‘Angry Archer’ after he’d packed all his kit up and then got told the final was on.. haha.. he sails better when he’s angry! – Simmer Black Tip
2nd Clyde Waite: Back after a long break.. borrowed my 88 frugal and put it to good use with some slick riding! – Simmer Black tip and 88 Frugal/Quantum 95

Ireland:

Masters:

1st Geoff Hautman.. From what i heard from the judges it was a fins out turn that won it! …Good work House mate! – Simmer Iron’

Amateurs:
3rd Mike Archer… he obviously wasn’t angry enough this time!! haha..

Thanks to Si Crowther and JC for the pics!!

Authors: Ben Proffitt