Kneeboard championships come to Newquay (From Falmouth Packet)

Kneeboard championships come to Newquay

12:41pm Monday 29th October 2007

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Britain's kneeboarding team made a name for itself at the Kneeboard World Championships in Santa Cruz, California earlier this year. Newquay's Jody Winter claimed the Ladies World Champion title, Natalie Silverthorne from Polzeath consolidated British success by taking second place and the International Surfing Association crowned Richard Smith, also from Polzeath, as the Pro Junior World Champion. Now the medal winners will all be competing on a local break as Fistral Beach, Newquay, will host the Thule British Kneeboard Championships on the 3rd and 4th Novemeber.

Highly ranked kneeboarders are expected to attend from Australia, South Africa and Portugal as well as from across the UK and although Karl Ward of St Ives finished 7th in the Men's Open at the World Championships due to a wave drought during the semi finals, he is widely tipped as a future champion. Karl, among with all other competitors will be looking to prove themselves at the British Nationals and put knee boarding firmly on the map with its stand up surfing and bodyboarding cousins.

Karen Walton, National Director of the British Surfing Association (BSA) said, "The British team really set the standard out in California and have gone from strength to strength. Kneeboarding as a sport is growing year-on-year across the UK and these British Championships give everyone involved a chance to really pit themselves against the best from across the UK and further afield. The kneeboarders are such a friendly, fun bunch so with a mix of awesome riding and a great vibe, the Championships are set to be a spectacular event."

The contest is jointly run by the BSA and the BKC (British Kneelo Club). Chris Cockett and Tony Bonner at Kneeboard Surfing UK, the leading suppliers of kneeboards and accessories have joined forces with top sponsor Thule to provide the prizes.

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