Weymouth UKWA Freestyle 2-3 November 2013

The week leading up to this event the forecast was looking super windy. I was a little concerned as a good forecast can always get worse very quickly, however I'm pleased to say it delivered the goods. Going into the final event of the year I was in first place and again like the forecast I could only get worse from this position.  As we started going through the first day that's exactly what I did with a fifth in the first round.  I was pleased though to see the best turnout of the year in the amateur fleet and hopefully it will continue to grow. Following the first round and seeing the rest of the guys sailing really strongly and landing loads of clean moves such as shakas, funnels and konos I knew it was going to be tough.

Here are a few shots from the weekend (thanks to Andy Copleston) where I was using my faithful 3.7 Hot Sails bolt that has seen loads of action and what helps in competition is I know the sail inside out.

 

I'm pleased to report that I managed to sail consistently all through the final day and secure the event in first place and this then gave me a first place for the amateur tour for the season. Really pleased with my result and it's thanks to the support I receive from Hot Sails Maui UK and Hunstanton Watersports also couldn't have done it without my awesome Witchcraft freestyle 92 and my K4 fins. Now I need to keep up the practice to be in contention next year as the younger guys seem to improve at an alarming rate while I struggle to stay in the same place. Time will tell....

West Wittering freestyle event 4/5th May '13

The forecast during the week leading up to the event at West Wittering was windless, right up until Friday afternoon when it changed to very promising. The decision was made late Friday night to drive  210 miles to enter the competition on Saturday morning. I set off at 4am from Hunstanton, Norfolk and was in the car park having a power nap by 8am! Emerging from the van to a rigging frenzy I didn't want to miss out so quickly got involved!


My 4.8 Hot Sails Maui freestyle pro and Witchcraft freestyle ready to go:

Here's Bubble and Max asking ME for some competition advice before the event. (Not really!)

The standard was high in the amateur fleet and somehow I managed to come away with a 1st. It could have gone to any of us as we were all fairly evenly matched and this made for some good competition. Following a poor performance in West Kirby I was comfortable in the heats and was able to land most of my moves with a bit of consistency, although still managing a couple of shocking moments with my highlight being a heli-tack!

I managed to avoid the lens of every cameraman for the entire day hence the photos of my kit sat in the car park as evidence that I was there.........

We couldn't have asked for better conditions - even during the lunch break we all carried on windsurfing it really was that perfect.

I will now be keeping up the practice for the rest of the events this year, thanks to all involved in the organising and to 2xs for hosting.

Here's a short clip of myself and Arthur Fox out in the wells next the sea channel in an easterly earlier this month. Unfortunately I accidently deleted the footage from the previous day that was far windier (but still dead flat).  It's an awesome spot that works well in an easterly and a westerly at low tide.

New gear!

My new Hot Sails Maui Freestyle Pro's and Firelights have arrived. With the help of my caddy I've had them rigged and ready to go. All I need now is wind.....

 

 

 

Got myself on the boards website for the amateur freestyle title! Check it out:
http://boards.mpora.com/features/champions-of-2012-kieren-roan.html

Christmas eve eve video clip

I got out for a windsurf on the 23rd December at Old Hunstanton along with a good turn out of windsurfers and kitesurfers. The conditions weren't quite as good as we were expecting from the forecast, but still got out and made the best of it. It was mid to high tide and just enough wind for my 4.5m Hot Sails Bolt on a WSW, a few little ramps on the way out and a few flat spots on the way in. The shakiness is down to the school boy error of forgetting the tripod! Parking and launching from the Ancient Mariner's pub carpark is always good for an after sail beer, that is when you don't have to go straight to work as I did!

Welcome!

Hi all,
First post on my new blog which will see me reporting on my windsurf sessions around Norfolk and the UKWA freestyle events I'll be competing in this year. I'll aim to get as many pictures and videos on from the different locations... Stay tuned....Picture below taken during one of the heats at the West Wittering competition this year.