Last Saturday, Sheffield held the first stop of the Relentless Pro Tour, and were we lucky? Hell yeah we were!  Now I always try my hardest to get up to Sheffield for their Ten Feet High series, but its the friendly banter that draws me up there, not the weather.  However, on Saturday, the wake gods were looking down on us as we were bless with bright sunshine (enough to actually tan in) and pure glass.  Everything came together for this event that Mr Matt Crowhurst had worked so hard on getting together for us.

Before the comp started, everyone headed out to session the new rooftop transfer rail that was being uncovered just as we got to the lake, it still had the film on the polyprop!  Everyone seemed to be loving it and most opted to hit it their comp runs rather than the a-frame.  The guys were transfering to backlip to 90 off, niiice!

The girls final kicked off with everyone going big.  The competiton run started out of corner two so inverts were being throw right up the top, something you don’t usually see but it was great as it meant people were pushing it.  I had a solid run with a blind 180, dragon slider boned out, new roof top boned then into frontside and 90 out, inside backroll then switch 360 and finishing off jibbing the fun box 180 out.  It wasn’t enough, after all it isn’t called the Pro Tour for nothing!  My second lap I landed my new switch backroll but yet again, it threw me off for my inside roll!  I got a nice front edge that didn’t hit me till Sunday night and by Monday arvo I was in agony and was sent to A&E, fun times.

Results:

Women – 1st Tor Young, 2nd Steph Caller, 3rd Chloe Goudie

Men – 1st Daniel Grant, 2nd Lewis Cornwall, 3rd Connor Jones

The first stop of the Pro Tour was so much fun, great work and a massive thanks to those who made it happen! 

The next stops are:

September 17th – West Midlands Waterski Centre, Tamworth

September 24th – JB Ski, Chertsey

September 30 & October 1st – Quayside Wake & Ski, Mychett

Thanks to Scott Taylor from Watersports World and Neil Christian for the photos 🙂

THAT comp came round very fast this year.  For me, the UK Cable Wakeboard Nationals is the biggest competition that I do in the wakeboarding calendar.  It is also the comp that brings along the most amount of nerves. Ever. I’m pretty much nervous from the British Trials in April for this comp.

This year, it was held at the beautiful set up which is WMSki near Cirencester.  The lake is clean and weed free, the toys are substantial and the cable has a nice pull to it.  They have a cafe/bar which kept me going all day, great camping facilities for the event and a friendly and helpful team.

All riders who weren’t there on the Friday had to be there for the riders briefing at 7am on Saturday morning which meant a 5am start for me trekking from London – and of course not forgetting the standard vanilla latte and blueberry muffin stop half way. 

As the comp kicked off the sun came out to play and the Daisy Dukes could be rocked which made me happy.  They seemed to get through the qualifiers for the other categories really quickly and next up was the Open Ladies being called to the dock, aahhh!  I was first out, which I hate more that peas, and I fell on an inside backroll on my first lap, doh!  As I was in last place, I had to head out first again for my second lap, luckily I landed the backroll, stuck a switch 360 and sliders and rode away.  The qualifiers were good from the ladies, everyone was pushing it and really styling it out on the sliders.

After some more sunbathing, some burgers and a snooze, it was time for the finals.  This time I wasn’t out first!  I put in an ok lap with a switch 360, inside backroll, boned out rooftop, gapped A-frame but then fell on the last toy which was weird as its a flat bar??  By this point I sadly didn’t have enough point for a podium finish, so I had to do something.  My second lap out I landed the 360 then went in for a backroll before corner 4.  Those of you who know me will know that this is a massive deal for me as I have NEVER landed an invert (let alone in switch) before corner 4.  I was kinda shocked that I’d landed it and came around for an inside backroll but due to the cut I had too much slack on the line and fell in after landing it, gutted.  However, this was the first time I have ever been able to do two inverts in a comp run, so that was a new personal best for me, stoooooked!! 

Overall, even though this was my worst result (6th), it was the best Nationals I have been to because it was the largest the Open Ladies category has ever been.  There were nine entered but eight rode.  Seven out of the eight girls were inverting and everyone was really styling it out on the sliders, it was brilliant to see!  I felt like it was the first time that anything could happen as everyone was good and everyone fell on at least one of their laps during the day… It was great to see the ladies stepping it up and progressing the sport in a positive way. 

Thanks to everyone who made it happen!

Ok so I know I go on about the weather but I spend most of my time outside so I can’t help it!  When Sarah and I rocked up for the chicks sesh on Sunday, it was miserable… the rain was pelting down which was just not cool.  However, when the weather sucks that much, you get the girls turn up who absolutely love wakeboarding and will shred no matter what! Its even more fun because everyone there is just so stoked to get on the water, we love it!

We only had a handfull of girls but they were giving it some.  We had a new girl called Steph join in who had never been on a cable before, she managed to get up and to the first corner for the first time!  She went away with the Wide-A-Wake goodie bag.  We were able to pull out the kicker infront of the dock and Anne, Olena and Rosie were trying new tricks and landing that.  We also got some double-ups going which Kyle and Chloe were filming from the boat, we had lots of fun with that!  The Nalu Beads and Two Seasons Prizes went to Sharm who landed a switch scarecrow for the first time!! Her first kicker invert, well done Sharm!! 🙂 

The morning was so much fun.  Thanks to those who got out of bed with the weather looking that miserable and got involved regardless, you girls really do make it!  The next one will be on Sunday 21st August at WakeMK.

Ahhh, post stack stoke…. gotta love it!!