The Blue Climate and Oceans Project - Para Kite World Event, Portugal

Steph Bridge from Edge Watersports & Spinnakers has just returned to Exmouth with a world title for kite surf course racing. The following is a small diary that Steph kept during the first round of the event in Portugal

It is always good to be part of something that is in the making. That's why kitesurfing was so exciting in the beginning with 2 line kites, directional boards and no quick release. Systems! This feeling of the un-known was a similar feeling to the start of the first ever world racing kitesurf event.

It was 17knots cross/off shore and I was one of the 30 kites lined up on the start line with 10 seconds to go. I was edging up on the line about to dive my kite to generate more speed, the start gun went and we were all away. I was out in front with clear wind and looked back to see an amazing site. All the kites lined up on starboard tack going fast towards the windward mark, it felt really good to be part of something that could really work as an Olympic event. We were so close to the beach with all the buoys and all the spectators were watching, cheering with the commentator also giving it large on the microphone. I was round the windward mark in 4^th with kites all around me as we did a small run down to another buoy before heading up on a long reach towards the leeward mark. It was flat out all the way, downwind going fast on the rocket fish I was holding on. On the longest leg of the course, back upwind this was where the fleet split. I concentrated on going up the middle of the course keeping clear wind, getting into more breeze and making a balance between going fast and gaining ground to windward.

I was battling it out for third still and catching the guy in second upwind but losing him downwind. After another round we were finishing right in front of the beach and I made it to get 3^rd with the rest of the fleet 4 minutes or so behind and the next girl 8 minutes away!

Coming from a dinghy Racing background helped for sure when it came to the tactical side. The start was all about keeping yourself clean and going fast at the gun, no different to any other line start that I had made before. The key issue was getting good speed to windward and this was a learning curve for all taking part except for the French and Americans. They had been racing now for 2 years so had put time into fin, board and kite design.

SO WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

The future is bright for anyone wanting to go racing with kites. It will come as no surprise that we have a new board design which is flat rocker and fins that are angled to windward to generate more lift. The kites that we use fly further forward in the window than most other kites on the market. Body position, foot pressure, stance, fitness, experience all come into play. At the moment there is no rules on the kit that we can use but over the next 2 years I am sure that this will change.

This is a sport that will make it to the Olympics, with over 8 knots of wind racing can begin. It is visual, easy for spectators to work out who is winning and sponsors will love it.

For anyone young getting into the sport is a a great way to gain vital experience of going upwind and getting aware of the 'rules of the road'. In France the events are run through the sailing clubs, at Edge we plan to get a race series underway by 2008!

For any more information look at the website www.edgewatersports.com

Para Kite World Event, Portugal

Introduction