10:45am Wednesday 21st November 2007
Stephen Bowens, curriculum area manager for leisure and watersports at Falmouth Marine School and one of his former students Emily Wollard, spent half term competing in the World Surf Kayak Championships.
Emily, who is now completing her degree, joined Steve in Mundaka, Northern Spain, to compete against the best surf kayakers in the world.
Last year Steve competed in the World Cup Event in Peniche in Portugal where he came in fourth before he broke his rib and was forced to retire.
Emily, who is also in the England team, was introduced to surf kayaking while studying her National Certificate in Watersports at Falmouth Marine School last year. She competed in the individual and ladies event.
Steve said of this year's event: "I am really excited, this is my fourth visit to compete in Mundaka and I always look forward to going back, the people are really friendly and the atmosphere is really relaxed. I also have a lot of luck here coming in second in 2003 and third in the 2004 European Championships.
"It's also really great to see Emily here, representing England and to have two people from the Marine School competing at this prestigious event."
The championship attracts competitors from around the world from as far as California, Australia, Japan and Ireland.
"I am really excited to be surfing against these guys as there is always a great deal of different styles of surfing and some of them are really spectacular to watch. I always learn a great deal surfing with people of this calibre," he said.
John Latham, college principal said: "It is great to see staff competing in such prestigious international events and getting involved at personal level in the subjects they teach. We pride ourselves on the quality of our staff and the practical industry experience they bring to their teaching."
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