Professional Windsurfers compete in Eastbourne

The best slalom racing windsurfers from around the Pacific are due to descend on Bishop Park Eastbourne, March 24th -26th , for the Hutt City Windsurf Cup, a qualifying event for the Professional Windsurfing Association (PWA) World Tour. Slalom racing is a high octane windsurf racing discipline that has more in common with motorsport than traditional sailing. Sailors reach speeds of up to 80km/h through the short course. Races are often won and lost in the corners – the closely bunched pack, combined with fact there are no rules, means huge crashes and collisions are commonplace.

While much of the spotlight will focus on the pro fleet, the event is equally designed to appeal to the local grassroots competitors and spectators. A food and craft market will be on site for the weekend, promoted by radio station The Rock. Comedian Jimmy James will be MC, calling the racing and giving away spot prizes to the public.

Event organiser, professional windsurfer Laurence Carey, is excited about bringing the event to Wellington.

“Having sailed all around the world, I realised that Wellington rivals any of the premier windsurfing destinations around the world.”

However previous local events have lacked the funding to attract the attention of international competitors, the PWA and the general public.

My vision was to take advantage of the location and create an event that gives competitors and spectators the equals the experience of going to a Pro Tour event overseas.”

Carey will be a favourite to take the overall event win but will face stiff competition from fellow PWA competitors; Jack Holliday from NZ, Issac De Vries and Julien Ventalon from Australia and New Caledonians Fred Morin and Laurent Giovannelli.

For 2017 Hutt City Windsurf Cup will only feature windsurfing. However it is set to become an annual fixture and expand to include other watersport disciplines, SUP, kitesurfing and waka ama.

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