Twelve teenagers, including Team AirBorn, with boards, sails and the rest of our junk descended on the UKSA in Cowes for White Air Youth Week. The forecast was lookin’ good: waves and wind for four days of pure windsurfing!
If I do it I may regret it but if I don't, I will regret it MORE!
The Youth Week is an amazing insight into windsurfing life. It improves your skill both through tuition from top sailors and through the amazing rush you get when you have eleven other windsurfers around you, of the same age, pulling off some sick moves, pushing you to try things that otherwise you would rather watch on a video. This was summed up by our favourite saying: If I do it I may regret it but if I don't, I will regret it MORE!
Having a safety boat around makes it easier to go for it too.
The ability of the sailors ranged from kids improving their carve gybes and waterstarts to kids polishing off vulcans and back loops. Regardless of their standard, when someone pulls off something they have been trying to nail, it’s accompanied by cheers, whooops, and applause off the water and from the beach. The Week also introduces you to competitive action with a fun SuperX and other competition, which sets you up nicely if you plan to go on to the White Air competition, as we did.
John Skye and John Hibbard gave us extremely useful advice on how to rig our equipment, how to become a ‘pro’ and promote ourselves, and how to win a simple wave heat. Triple Crown Ladies Champion, Charlie Connelly, gave us tips throughout the four days which proved really helpful and the Team Whiteboarders van was on hand at all times to give everyone an opportunity to use the Tabou, Gaastra and Severne demo gear.
But the Youth Week’s not all about windsurfing. In the evenings we watched movies and played water polo in the swimming pool. We also went ice skating one night which was really cool.
A great time was had by all and we would like to thank Wayne (our UKSA instructor), everyone who helped, the people who donated the freebies, and Sam the Whiteboarders Van Man.
Cost of Youth Week
£180 including all tuition, ferry from Portsmouth and transport to all island locations with kit, full board and great food from the canteen.
£40 spending money, but you could easily take less if you cut down on the take-away pizzas, which became a late-evening ritual for Team AirBorn!
A few last words if you are thinking about next year: DEFINITELY DO IT! It’s well worth it.
Team AirBorn is Graham Woods, Adam Lewis and George Shillito.
The team is sponsored by Windsurfers World.
Freewave Youth Results in the competition that followed Youth Week:
1. Richard Jones
2. Josh White
3. Joe O'Callaghan
4. Charles Riach
5. Graham Woods
6. Adam Lewis
7. George Shillito
8. Sam Neal
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Report by Team
George, Graham and Adam.
Graham on his way out, Adam on his way in.
George during the Freewave Competition.
For information about next years Youth Week email info@whiteair.co.uk
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