The Melting Pot of British Talent

John Skye
He is always on form, always delivers the goods and the judges love him. This time he goes into the Tiree event on equal points with Ben Proffitt. Whilst Ben is devastating at freestyle and port tack sailing, Skyeboy’s all round brilliance will go in his favour. It is going to be a battle worth making the trip for. Oh and in case you didn’t know, he has just finished 10 th in the world in waves and 12 th in Freestyle. Confidence will be Skye High!!

Ben Proffitt
So determined, so competitive and so good. He is super fired up for both titles. Rhosneigr is his home patch so he has got to be the favourite for that. Tiree, well who knows? Remember that he beat most of the worlds best to come 5 th at the PWA Pozo event.

Chris Audsley
So consistent. We had seen a drop in form and motivation from the start of the year since he has become a full time Bob the Builder. But recently he seems to be more fired up, and he rips on both port and starboard tack. If the draw is right, he will always be in the final and could win both events.

Terry Luxton
Terry doesn’t appear that regularly in the finals, and perhaps surprises everyone that he is actually in the top 4. But he is consistent, organised and is devastating at freestyle. A top 5 finisher for sure.

John Hibbard
Competition brain, consistent, rips in waves but doesn’t quite have the ammunition of the rest. Never discount him though and never mess with the ROCK!

Andy King
Andy has not been abroad to train at all this year. He makes the most of every second of wind in the UK. This has obviously paid off as he came 2 nd in the British Freestyle Championships and 2 nd in two finals at the Bigbury Triple Crown. His wave riding lacks the finesse of the top 3, but with forwards off the lip, backloops when it matters and a little more organisation and support, he could easily win both events.

Phil Horrocks
Phil definitely has all the moves, but has not had much luck this year. He has got to be a favourite for the Rhosneigr event on his home patch. In Tiree, he will cause upsets, but will struggle to make the top three.

Paul Hunt
Paul proved his ability by coming third in one of the rounds at Bigbury, so if it is starboard tack jumping or pure wave riding in Tiree I expect that he will do well. Cross onshore, port tack Rhosneigr will not suit him so much though.

Matt Pearch
Elusive. He has the ability but I am not sure how much desire is there. His attitude to freestyle is rejuvenated after a good result at Bigbury. He is consistent at big back loops, but often fails to fill the scorecard as much as he should when it comes to wave riding.

David Swift
Doesn’t seem to sail with the same killer attitude as his brother, but is still pretty solid. He should edge into the top ten at Tiree. Rhosneigr might not suit him so well though.

Mark Hosegood
Sparky excels in cross onshore conditions with port tack wave riding. I think he will do well at Rhosneigr. He also won a round last year in Tiree. He has left Naish, so I am not altogether sure how much kit he has, maybe I will lend him a sail.

Jamie Hancock
Small, cheeky and injured. Wrecked his ankle sailing on Tiree last week. He’s out of the running which is a shame as he is one of the guys that might not get to the final, but will take any of the top guys out if it is starboard tack.

Will Ward
The best thing about Will is that he treats competition as pure fun. The worst thing is for that reason he doesn’t seem too bothered if he stays in or out. Lots of talent, needs focus.

Andy Chambers
Freestyle supremo whom no one would want in a freestyle heat. He didn’t go to Bigbury, hence his poor ranking, and is an unknown quantity in waves. Another Team Whiteboarders new recruit. Will this help or hinder his sailing?

Jan Sleigh
Jan suffered from a major ankle injury earlier this year and has not had that much time out on the water since. He always seems to put together consistent heat routines and his cheese rolls are his secret weapon. He could surprise us all, especially if it is very windy!

Steve King
Always delivers, but his gung ho approach to competition and windsurfing could be his downfall. His wave riding is super slick and full of surfing influence.

Clyde Waite
Rubbish, utter rubbish. Oh, that’s me, winner for sure, odds on.

Martin Francis
Well he is ginger, and nicknamed Gopher: says it all really. First year in the Pro Fleet and actually does alright.

James Cox
I am not really sure why James is at the end of this list. He was not at the first Triple Crown in Ireland and his Bigbury result didn’t do him justice. He rips on both tacks and his time will come.

Charlie Connolly
Leading the way, she would have to put a couple of feet wrong to lose out on the Triple Crown Title this year. Rhosneigr, however, could be a different matter.

Louise Emery
She could sail a blinder and catch up with Charlie. Smooth at wave riding, an accident at Bigbury has put her a little out of the running, but she is super competitive and is the reigning champion who always manages to deliver.

Sonia Pavelin
UK freestyle champion, ever improving, a good PWA performer and a looper. Not to be discounted at all from either event.

Ruth Elliot
She has got to be a favourite for the Rhosneigr title; her home ground and she does forwards.

Lucy Robson
Lucy is learning so fast it scares me! She is not a title contender this year, but I reckon she could be fairly soon. So confident are Ultrasport that they have snapped her up already and given her a decent sponsorship deal.