European Champion!!!

Wrap up of the 2009 European Championships in Ireland


Ireland is beautiful! The rolling green hills, friendly faces and Guinness all made the trip fun and exciting!

I took the ferry with fellow Brit Dave Williams from Holyhead the night after Halloween and drove down to Dungarvan where the European Speed Championships were held. The event site was next to a quaint old church and had a view of the harbour and at first sight o the speed strip it looked very promising!

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It was cold….very cold! The first day I invested in a pair of booties and gloves-, which was a waste as I couldn’t kite with either of them on!!

Unfortunately we didn’t have much wind on the first two days, which made things difficult, and disappointing…waiting for wind all day is pretty frustrating! But we had faith and it paid off! Luckily the organiser organised a big tent with Guinness on the tap, plenty of hot vegetable soup and divine baguettes!





But then it struck and the wind began to blow as the sky became black. The Green flag went up. The course was open- go as fast as possible ANYWHERE with the gps. This was our chance to get our speeds up so we all went for it!





Dungarvan bay is a tidal zone that becomes very shallow at low tide so on some days we moved the event spot to a beach up the road which proved to have less gusty wind and better conditions although we had to race to the other side which I don’t have a speedboard for..so I used my freestyle OMEGA board! Normally we race to the right and have directional boards that we use.







The local radio station WLR interviewed legendary Monty Spindler and I in the WLR studios in Dungarvan. WLR DJ Ian Noctor asked us about the event from an Irish point of view.
http://www.wlrfm.com/Default.aspx






Prize giving was held on Saturday night at the Dungarvan yacht club. ISA chairman Markus Schwendtner gave us our prizes and I was super stoked to become the European Champion 2009.



Final Results:

European Kite Speed Champions

Jason Mc Caffrey

Jemma Grobbelaar (GBR)



European Windsurf Speed Champions

Andrea Baldini (ITA)

Zara Davies (GBR)



After the prize giving the REAL party started. Jaegerbombs and Guinness. Irish Dancers and Hip Hop. Pub. Club. Hotel. Sleep. Phew. What a night!!!



Thank you to all my sponsors Flexifoil, Dakine, Derveko, Cti, 69 Slam, La Lesso and Island Tribe and to the sponsors of the event. I loved Ireland and had some good times

Day 1 & 2 Euro Champs

DAY ONE
A windless day welcomed the competirors at day one of the Speed Europeans in Dungarvan Ireland. After the mandatory skippersmeeting the competition was put on hold to see if the conditions improve, but it became clear quite fast that there wasnt anything to be expected for the day.

In expectation of the good conditions forecasted for the next three days the competitors were released early. Skippersmeeting will be at 0900 tomorrow, with the low tide at 1300 this gives a window of 6 hours for speedsailing along the sandbank.

DAY TWO
A windless day welcomed the competirors at day one of the Speed Europeans in Dungarvan Ireland. After the mandatory skippersmeeting the competition was put on hold to see if the conditions improve, but it became clear quite fast that there wasnt anything to be expected for the day.

In expectation of the good conditions forecasted for the next three days the competitors were released early. Skippersmeeting will be at 0900 tomorrow, with the low tide at 1300 this gives a window of 6 hours for speedsailing along the sandbank.

CTi Pro Sport Knee Braces

CTi Pro Sport Knee Braces




Check out CTi Knee Braces online! One of the most important things you need for extreme kiting. I wear one on my left knee as I have had multiple injuries with it while kiting and have no ligaments at the moment but use the brace for protection. On my right I wear one as well for protection. Once one of your knees are injured, then you are more likely to face problems with the other knee as it takes all the strain and compensates for the other knee! SO ! Wearing both my Cti Pro Sports gives me the phycological ability to compete and go big! 100% protection!



The website features all the info regarding the product, the technicalities, the team and excting team news! Take a look :)



I am lucky to be on the CTi team along with fella kite buddy Luke Mc Gilliwie



SA Motorcross Champ Brian Capper




Richie Van Der Westhuizen




Lowrens Mahoney




Check out
http://www.cti-brace.co.za

and

http://www.cti-brace.co.za/?PageID=13859



http://www.cti-brace.co.za




kiss from the beach @ isle a anglesey!

European Speed Championships

I am getting ready for the last stop this year- the European Champs which are going to be held in Dungarven, Ireland.

The speed spot looks super good with super flat water, a good angle and the wind forecast is looking sweet!

Check out http://www.irishspeedsurfing.com/ and www.speedworldcup.com

We are happy to announce that the European Championships for both Windsurfers and Kiteboarders are confirmed now and registration is open. The event will be held in Dungarvan, Ireland, from 17.10.2009 till 23.10.2009 with a rollover chance if there is no wind during the first slot.

Please note, that in order to confirm your registration for the event you need to make payment of the entry fee immediately after registering. You can find the link to the registration as well as the payment button on the right hand side of www.speedworldcup.com, and important information, event programme, side activities, equipment transport etc. below.

Event Summary



Main event:



European Windsurfing and Kitesurfing Speedsailing Championships



Organisers:



ISWC

Waldron Event Management

IWA (Irish Windsurfing Association)

Pure Magic Kitesurfing

IKSA (Irish Kitesurfing Association)



Sponsors and supporters:



Failte Ireland

Red Bull

Waterford Leader Rural Development Programme

Dungarvan Town Council

Irish Windsurfing Association

Dungarvan Chamber of Commerce (to be confirmed)

Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club (hosts)



Additional events:



Irish Slalom Series and Pure Magic kite race series



Public activities:



Introductory lessons to kitesurfing: Puremagic, Kiteskool, LSD Kiteboarding

Introductory lessons to windsurfing: Surf Dock, Wind & Wave and BigSurf

Wakeboarding demos and introductory lessons



Kitesurfing 2010 gear test and demo organised by Event partners: Cabrinha, Fone, Best, Ozone etc...



Windsurfing 2010 gear test and demo



Dungarvan Harbour Sailing Club (hosts) are looking at what they can add to the event for the public



Watersports exhibition (Surf Dock, Wind and Wave, Pure Magic, Big Surf and many more)



The RNLI will have an exhibitors stand and all attendees are asked to support this fantastic organisation on which we all rely

Opening and closing parties are open to everyone



Live DJ on site every day



*jemma g*
proudly sponsored by
FLEXIFOIL KITESPORTS
DAKINE
DEREVKO
LA LESSO
69 SLAM
CTi
ISLAND TRIBE

*69 SLAM NEW SPONSOR*

I am stoked to announce a new sponsor- 69 Slam!

69 Slam do awesome underwear, bikinis and apparel and I am so excited to be on their team for 2010.

Check out www.69slam.com



*jemma g*
proudly sponsored by
FLEXIFOIL KITESPORTS

DEREVKO
DAKINE

LA LESSO
69 SLAM
ARNETTE
CTi
ISLAND TRIBE

Rhosneigr Park Jam

Date: 7-9th August

The kite surfing will take place at Rhosneigr beach, renowned as one of the best spots in the North West and open to the majority of possible wind directions. The camping and evening’s entertainment will be at the Anglesey Outdoor Centre with van parking or tents allowed. Included in the entry fee will be Friday and Saturday nights camping, breakfast on Sat and Sun and an evening meal on one night. The other meal will be a bring your own barbi at the beach or the centre depending on the weather.

The main goal of the event is to get some structures in the water and have a rider judged park jam. If the wind is light then we will have ski’s and boats to tow over the park so fun will still be had! If it gets nuking then we will have a freestyle comp until the wind comes down. Either way we will have something fun going down, some prizes awarded, and most importantly a good party!

The structures will range from a 10x5ft Kicker, a 25x2.5ft flat bar and a big A-Frame, so there will be something for everyone.

Prize categories will be Kicker, Slider and Freestyle; with an overall score from all three giving the 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall prizes......these will involve CASH!!! So don’t miss out.





*jemma g*
proudly sponsored by
FLEXIFOIL KITESPORTS
XELERATOR
DEREVKO
DAKINE
LIZZY
ARNETTE
CTi
ISLAND TRIBE

LIZZY

Im so excited about the bikinis from Lizzy for the summer on its way! Hot sexy and stylish...guys you better get your ladies one and ladies get one on!

Check out the video from the bikini shoot and the new summer range of guys clothes (www.lizzardsuf.net) and girls range (http://www.lizzysurf.net/content/products/summer08/)

seriously sweet sexy n fly !

Lizzy has supported me this year and I hope to build our relationship so Lizzard can become more of a kiteboarding brand aswell. I am the first kite surfer that they have ever sponsored and am so stoked to be on their team!

Cant wait to be back in SA and enjoy the summer

Lovin Life..


LIVE TO FLY!
www.kitesports.co.za
*jemma g*
proudly sponsored by
FLEXIFOIL KITESPORTS
XELERATOR
DEREVKO
DAKINE
LIZZY
ARNETTE
CTi
ISLAND TRIBE