Team QSW rider Steve Chatten ( Team QSW/Severne/RRD) raised eyebrows this weekend by taking 3rd place overall in the Amateur fleet of the BSA. Steve is in his first year of competitive racing and has already started really shaking up the BSA with consistently gaining respectable placings. This is all the more amazing as Steve is using Severne NCX freeride sails and a Fanatic Ray / RRD Freestylewave board selection. Most of the other racers use full on racing sails and slalom boards.

Well done Steve and I'll keep you all up to date with his progress.

Matt Pearch (North/Fanatic)won the overall event and lifted the Team QSW Cup. Mandy Body won the Windsurfer Of The Weekend Cup for her efforts in the Masterblaster Fleet.

So another Lifestyles Hunstanton event has passed and I hope you had a chance to come and see all that we had there from the 2011 Fanatic boards with Nik Baker, to Jem Hall and his Version 2 RRD selection, Thommen boards with a special appearance from Mark Thoms of Thommen International.
Thanks to all of you who went on the Exclusive Ant Baker windsurf clinic held on the Sunday which was oversubscribed again, and of course the BSA racing we held.
There were a few local sailors representing our area like Kieron Roan who came 2nd in the Freestyle and our own Steve Chatten who came 3rd in the Slalom event. It really would be good to see more local sailors at next years event as we need to represent our patch or we will loose hosting national events like this....

So come on and join in next year for what will be an even bigger event!

So its here. Lifestyles is now upon us and this Friday,Saturday and Sunday we will having a windfest at Hunstanton. Good wind is forecast so there will be plenty of chances for Demoing kit from North, Rrd, Fanatic, Severne and Thommen. There is also racing and Freestyle events being held which you can enter over the weekend. weather also looks great so get yourself along to join us for a great time.

We will also be having a Ant Baker Clinic which costs £25 for the whole day - numbers are restricted so be quick to come onto our stand and put your name down!

Camping is also available with parking for rigging etc.

see you there!!!

neil

So we are now only 2 weeks away from the biggest windsurfing event ever to be held in Norfolk for 20 years. Its really looking good with the British Slalom Association bringing some of the most competitive racing in Europe, and with the Freestyle Series also joining us it looks awesome for the weekend. Everyone can race in the Masterblaster series which is solely centered around fun, light hearted racing - so come and join in. You will really ENJOY it!!

Us at Quayside will have demo boards from RRD, Thommen and Fanatic, and sails on offer from Severne and North. Ant baker will be there offering an exclusive tuition session between his racing for Quayside customers for £20 each. Contact me to pre-book your place on this course.

Camping is available for £30 all weekend and there is lots going on in the evenings with bands and DJ's both Friday and Saturday.See the Lifestyle Website Here

Aberdovey Slalom event

Neil and myself did the long drive to Aberdovey this weekend. Only to leave a fantatic windy weekend on our local beach Wells. (I understand that the guys had a 4.7m weekend!)
We had wall to wall sunshine both days but unfortunately we had very little wind apart from late Saturday when from no ware the wind picked up for about 1 hour.

At this time Neil and myself were out to sea on 9m.. thus we both got trashed.
After making the long sail and walk back to van to change down we went out on 6m perfect!!
Neil had a fantastic sail in the estuary, as I went out 2miles to find the start of the racing.
Only to find I had missed the racing as the wind then went from 25mph to 5mph.
I was in the shit, no wind to water start and the 3 to 4 foot swell with a outgoing fast tied did not let me up hall. (Yes I kept falling of).
So I had to flag down one of the UKWA rescue boots to get me back.
Much to Neil’s pleasure, as he is getting me a buoyancy add for my birthday, Thanks!

So no scores for us but we are still OK Neil is 7th and I am 6th in the amateur fleet.
The next event is Hove on the 3-4th July followed by Hunstanton 10-11th July

Stephen.

Neil and I are of to Aberdovey today to compete in the UKWA Slalom 4, event this weekend.
It’s going to be a long drive, but we hope to get there in time to see the end of the England match tonight. As you may have seen in Neil’s blog the comments regarding us!! we are holding our own in the Amateur fleet. And the pubs!
Will add the results next week
Stephen

Just a note for your diary. The now famous Lifestyles Extreme sports event held in Hunstanton from the 9th - 11th July 2010 is nearly here. The event will have displays from street dancers, BMX riders, windsurf BSA racing and freestyle events on the water. Also kiting will be represented with a full live band playing both Friday and Saturday evenings.

All windsurfers are invited to join in the racing with the Masterblaster series of fun non intimidating racing designed for everyone of ALL levels to get involved in.

Click Here to view Lifestyles website

Click Here to enter the racing over the Lifestyles weekend

Take a look at Team QSW at Weymouth.....


I was the fast one!!!!

Neil

Click here

So after three of the 2010 season events Team QSW riders Steve Chatten and myself are holding our ground well. Steve is flying in his first season ranking 4th place at the moment with Myself just behind him in 7th in the Amateur fleet.

" We are really pleased with how the campaign is going considering we are sailing non Slalom sails this year" said Steve Chatten.

We now have our Thommen V4.0 Slalom boards so we can up our game for the second half of the season.

We will keep you informed as to how we get on.......

See Our Rankings Here

I am over the moon to report that the QSW van has now been found safe and well. It was found in Northampton complete with all its contents minus some loose change, Ion cap and sunglasses.
I cannot thank the police enough for all their help in finding my pride and joy, and will now be fitting a tracker to her to keep her safer in the future.

Thanks to everyone for your help in looking for her and to the other Team riders who lent me kit whilst the van was being recovered.

So.... the shows back on the road and Thommen is back on track!!

Neil

On Tuesday 18th May at 12.35pm the Team QSW van was stolen from my driveway with all the QSW windsurf kit onboard. It contained all the Thommen Demo kit, Severne sails, masts, booms and turfdog and kiting kit.

If you see this Ford Transit Sport (AO09 YNT) van or hear about any of the kit below offered for sale can you let me know on 07717 324440 (Sara's mbl)

Thommen Cross X 87, 97
Thommen Maui Wave X83
Thommen RS84

Severne:
Blade 4.2, 4.7, 5.3, 5.7
NCX 6.5, 7.5, 9.0

North iFront Gold booms 140-190, 160-210, 180-230

Redline masts: RDM 400, 430 x 2
Windgear RDM 400, 430
Arrows Race 490/100
Tushingham Freewave 460/75
RRD Passion 11mtr kite
RRD Placebo kite board

Regards
Neil

BSA Slalom Series event 4- Aberdovey, supported by JP and NeilPryde in association with Boardwise.

"Only prizes will rain in wales!"

The fourth round of The 2010 BSA national tour heads back to the principality of Wales and to the jewel of the Snowdonian National Park Aberdovey. All fleet swill race but for the first time this year the Pro fleet will be competing for their share of an £800 prize fund! and not to be out done the master blast and amateur fleet sailors will all be entered into a draw to win a brand new Neil Pryde Tempo Sail along with other products prizes such as the all new revolutionary flow forged neil pryde X3 boom!

Aberdovey is fast establishing itself on the national windsurfing scene as a superb destination for all windsurfers of any ability or discipline, often described as the Welsh Gorge its local geography lends its self to some fantastic windsurfing conditions where the mountains work to generate some exciting sea breezes in the summer and the estuary's funnel effect often serves to concentrate what wind there is and give the avid windsurfer those extra couple of golden knots! the last 2 years have seen extreme opposites in the wind strength but both have provided a fantastic event whether it was the 45 knot epic of 2008 or the sun drenched chilled out scenic trip to a national park seaside resort in 2009.

A family friendly location for all to enjoy- not just the windsurfer! Bring the family along to enjoy what the picturesque village has to offer from donkey rides for the kids to high fashion for the ladies (and some men!) in the boutique shops. Parking is plenty and nearby campsites will happily accommodate caravans or tents at very reasonable costs, the welsh tourist Board web site is but one resource that can point you in the right direction-

http://www.visitwales.co.uk/holiday-accommodation-in-wales/

Well....

All who took the time to go to Wells last Saturday certainly got their just rewards as conditions were the best of 2010. Steve and I were due to make the trip to Bournemouth to compete in the UKWA Slalom series but decided at the last minute to stay in Norfolk on the hope of a good forecast - and boy it was worth it!

I think the jury is still out on the new reef being created by the dredging of the channel at Wells, but on the NE we had all seemed to be OK. The Holkham end around the West bank was firing with great small waves with lovely flat spots between.

Ray came and saw me the other day with this image of the old shop in Norwich in the 80's. Those were days when everyone had a windsurfer and boards were 370cm upwards in length.Before my time of course....

Here is the video of our Team QSW guys racing at Tenby, Wales over Easter. Look out for Steve Chatten doing his thing...

I went to see Ray at the N & N but had a bit of a shock...........he had escaped!!

I went round his house to find him, well, unbelievably well considering. Take a look at the movie to see how he is. You are more than welcome to contact him at home or on his mobile and go round and see just how well he is recovering...

Everyone on this website, and who has ever dealt with Quayside Windsurfers will know that Ray Page, the founder of QSW. He is the sailor who has been around for as long as we all can remember, and has been there for all of us as we learn this sport, and still sailed in his seventies.
Ray suffered a stroke on Easter Sunday evening. He is still able to talk but is hardly mobile and in hospital awaiting test results. I will let you all know more once I have been to see him.

I know you all will join me in wishing Ray all the best and taking part in adding your comments onto this blog post. Just follow the instructions and add your comment and lets make Ray feel so much better when I go and see him with the comments on this blog.

Ray - Our thoughts are with you mate.

Neil, Steve, Pete

Team QSW took the 7 1/2 hour journey to Tenby, Wales to compete in the first round of the BSA (British Slalom Association). With over 50 competitors from Pro's to newby 'Masterblasters", everyone had a great time racing downwind courses from 13 knots to 25 knots. Steve had a better time than I as my 490 mast broke thus stopping me using my 9.0mtr sail on Sunday. Monday brought 25 knot wind and hellish chop. I had to give up as my hand were either too cold or I got arm pump wearing gloves. Steve stuck at it and completed 3 rounds of MAD downwind slalom - well done mate!

But the biscuit went to Ant Baker who, after slamming through his 7.0mtr race sail (worth £1000) at 35mph and knocking himself out, he came in on the rescue boat throwing up and proceeded to go back out on his......8.0mtr race sail - yes 8.0mtr. This is bearing in mind I was on a 5.7mtr powered up and Steve was on a 6.0mtr!!

The final results were Guy Cribb 1st, Matt Pearch 2nd, and the big Ant Baker 3rd. Just remember the BSA visit Hunny with us on the 10th-11th July.

Fair play Ant...

Here is a picture of our competition winner Jonathan Dutton out in Margarita with Nik Bakers Harness!