64 COMPSWA 2018 REVIEW
Race Series Freestyle Series
Over 100 competitors raced last season, across four events
and three divisions. Only 1.5 points separated the top two
racers heading into the final showdown; with Matthew Duffin
(Bristol) and Ross Griffin (Birmingham) showing that
consistency is key - neither competitor finished outside the
top six all year. Ross clinched the title with a stellar
performance at BUCS Nationals to get his hands on a new
NorthSails boom from our incredible sponsors Boardwise. Despite an impressive show of aerial tricks from the Club Vass
instructors at last year’s Aussie Kiss event, it was Bristol’s light-
wind-freestyle-master Matthew Duffin who got the top spot by
the end of the freestyle series, by never finishing outside the top
three all year, to bag himself an awesome DryRobe Long Sleeve
Jacket – a much sought-after item for any UK windsurfer for
staying toasty on the beach/lakeside between sessions.
Completing the podium was intermediate Eleanor Southwell
(Swansea) who showed that attending all core events
combined with consistent racing results in the lower fleets,
can result in a fantastic overall score!
1. Ross Griffin (Birmingham) - NorthSails Boom, kindly
donated by Boardwise
2. Matt Duffin (Bristol) – Harness Lines and t-shirt
3. Eleanor Southwell (Swansea) – SWA Sunnies and UJ
Volcano
uk
WIND
SURFING
1. Matt Duffin (Bristol) - DryRobe Long Sleeve Jacket
2. James Arney (Bristol) – Windsurfing Barbie and t-shirt
3. Jane Paddison (Liverpool) – Uphaul and Boardwise t-shirt
Puravida Ion Wave Series
To say the Puravida Ion Wave Series was ‘hotly contested’ could
only be argued by the Baltic temperatures experienced at
Gwithian in February, but this was not enough to stop our eager
bunch of wave sailors. Nick Welsh (Exeter) stole the show at all
the events, with only Rose Greensmith (Bangor) able to stop him