2008 British Surf Kayak Open Championship

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th October saw surf kayakers from all over the UK travel to East Strand, Portrush for the annual British Surf Kayak Open Championships.

Conditions on Saturday have a good size surf with very strong off shore winds. The Nookie sponsored Open HP category ran through to the quarter final stages on the first day and saw some of the biggest names in UK surf kayaking compete in the tough conditions.

Sunday opened with lighter winds and slightly smaller surf, allowing the ladies, masters and junior categories to run without delay.
Conditions continued to improve during the day and the finals of the Open HP event ran in great conditions.



The final saw Northern Ireland’s Corin King, Chris Hobson and Jonny Bingham take on Steve Bowens from England.

Chris Hobson – Yellow Bib, Corin King – Red Bib


Jonny Bingham

Steve Bowens

Chris Hobson

Corin King

Jonny Bingham

In what was an energetic final, all competitors showed that the level of surf kayaking in the UK is definitely world class.

After a short wait while the results were tabulated, everyone gathered to see who the judges thought was the new British Open Champion.

The final results were:

1st – Jonny Bingham
2nd – Chris Hobson
3rd – Corin King
4th – Steve Bowens



L-R, Chris Hobson 2nd, Corin King 3rd, Jonny Bingham 1st, Steve Bowens 4th.

Many thanks to Nookie for sponsoring the Open HP category and supporting the sport of surf kayaking.

For more photos of the weekend and full details of all other categories, visit the NI Surf Kayaking website at www.nisurfkayak.com

NI Surf Kayak Committee

Just for fun

Life as a team rider is not all class 5 creeks and huge waves, today Alex and I spent a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon cruising our local run, the Vorderrhein. In autumn there is little water in the canyon but luckily just a enough to scrape down. Crisp light, clear air and blue skies make the perfect backdrop for a few photos with my new wide angle lens. There was of course a very serious work like reason to take to the water, Alex wanted to try his new Assault jacket and I am busy working out the perfect solution for a dry suit. You will all be pleased to hear we both arrived at the take out dry and warm, hooray for good clothing.



It is worth mentioning that the water temperature was under 6.5 degrees, easy white water it may be but make a mistake and you need good clothing to keep you alive, thanks Nookie for keeping me, my friends and other paddlers safe on the river.
James
www.jamesweir.net

Nookie to sponsor HP category in 2008 British Surf Kayak Open

Registration will close on Friday 17th October for the 2008 British Surf Kayak Open which will be held this year in Portrush, Northern Ireland.

The Nookie sponsored Open HP event will be the highlight of the 2008 competition calendar and the stage is set to see some of the UK’s best surf kayakers compete for the title of British Open HP Champion.
The Nookie team will be well represented at the event with Darren Bason, Chris Harvey and Robyn Pearcey set to make the journey to Northern Ireland.

For more details of the event and to keep updated with the results, visit www.nisurfkayak.com

Summer of big air and first times

The summer started when I got my new boat in Lyon and had the first session with it on Hawaii Sur Rhone at a low water level in the right channel. Check out the footage in the first clip. My second premiere I had later in the season at the German Big Air Championships over an artificial ramp. I even could achieve the third place and was more than happy because at the prize giving I was given my first ipod, so finally I got stylish too. But nonetheless I have to admit I rather prefer skis for ramps like that ;-) Check out a few jumps in the second clip.

Fluid premiere in Lyon at low water:


Big Air ramp premiere:




Markus Leppaenen
Nookie Team Rider

No place like home - Leo's perfectly timed return from Gabon

After three months in Gabon, it seems I came back the right week end to France!!! As soon as I arrived I checked the cumecs curves on the internet and I saw it going vertical. I took the van, my kayak and three friends and drove down to Lyon. The water wasn't as warm as in Africa but waves were so incredible that we didn't have the choice to paddle all day long. I met up with all paddlers from Lyon and had good parties with everyone. I'll release a full clip soon with all paddlers and all levels, for now enjoy these two runs in the "Rampe" at 1600 cumecs :)

Leo Carpene
Nookie Team Rider