A message of ‘Thanks’ and a quick update

Just a quick note from the organisers (Chris, Jack and Marc) to give you all an update on where we are with the World Surf Kayak Championships 2021 preparation.

First – we would like to thank the Surf Kayak Community for all the messages of support following our decision to cancel the 2020 British Surf Kayak Championships & Home Internationals. We know it was as disappointing for you as it was us, and your backing has been very much appreciated!

So, a little on our progress.

Location

We have now confirmed that Black Rock will be the primary contest location, and have begun detailed planning with the site owners. We have space to create an athlete’s village and also observe social distancing rules in place at the time. The site has 2 main peaks – a left-hand reef break that holds really large swells and an A-Frame beach that has been super fun this year – which will allow us time to get through the contest during the best available conditions. Here is an earlier video of the site, and we will be trying to capture more footage to get you stoked as the autumn swells kick in over the next few months. 

Dates

In accordance with WSKA recommendations, we have now decided that the contest window runs from September 24 to October 3. This provides us with the maximum window to host a full-sized contest in the very best conditions.

Transport

As we have decided upon a single primary site, we will not be providing transport for competitors. Given the remoteness of the beaches from Public Transport links, it is recommended that all teams and competitors have independent transport methods i.e. private vehicles to get to the site. This is in line with previous worlds, and being in rural areas is one of the blessings (and curses) of our sport.

A chance to surf at contest site before the Worlds

Hoping that the global pandemic will have eased and that life is a little more normal, the Shoreline Surf Spectacular Open Surf Kayak contest is provisionally scheduled to take place on 24/25 April 2021. This is an open contest run over 2 days with all the usual divisions, and a super fun handicap contest designed to get newcomers into competition participating alongside world champions until the later rounds of the contest. It is a lot of fun, very competitive (often the best attended contest on the English circuit), and open to all. As soon as entry information goes up on Tournr, we will let you know and we will try to provide a sufficient window for those wishing to travel from overseas.

Other Stuff around the Competition 

Sponsorship – we are working hard to secure some top tier sponsors in the sport of kayaking, outdoor adventure in general, and some cool local brands within Cornwall and Bude itself. As we finalize sponsorship agreements, we will let you all know. 

Tournr – The Tournr development team have been working hard add some new features that the whole Surf Kayak community can benefit from, and we hope to bring you news on that in the very near future. 

Environment – We have established a site local to Bude for a community woodland which will enable us to fully offset the environmental costs of the event (including all competitors’ international travel emissions). We plan to maximise the impact of this initiative via media in order to set the bar for other kayak and surf-related international events, and also to provide an ongoing legacy for the local community in Bude.

Jim Winter

Many of you will know that England Surf Kayak team lost one of our family this year. Jim was a regular on the British contest circuit and also attended the World Championships in Portrush where many of you will have met him. Jim was a quiet, kind and principled man and we will all miss him very much.  Our thoughts go to his wife, Mel and his family. He was a friend to many of us and a great loss to the sport.

We hope to keep the updates coming more regularly as we approach a year to the date of the World Championships. If you’d like to be kept up-to-date then please subscribe to our Website and follow us on Facebook.

Good waves and stay happy,

Jack Barker,

Chris Skardon,

Marc Woolward

World Championships of Surf Kayaking 2021 organizing committee

Spanish Translation / Traducción Española

Primero, nos gustaría agradecer a la Comunidad de Surf Kayak por todos los mensajes de apoyo luego de nuestra decisión de cancelar los Campeonatos Británicos de Surf Kayak y los Internacionales Nacionales. Sabemos que fue tan decepcionante para usted como para nosotros, ¡y su apoyo ha sido muy apreciado!

Ubicación: ahora hemos confirmado que Black Rock será la ubicación principal del concurso y hemos comenzado una planificación detallada con los propietarios del sitio. Tenemos espacio para crear una aldea de atletas y también observar las reglas de distanciamiento social vigentes en ese momento. El sitio tiene 2 picos principales: un arrecife a la izquierda que tiene olas realmente grandes y una playa en forma de A que ha sido súper divertida este año, lo que nos dará tiempo para superar la competencia en las mejores condiciones disponibles. Aquí hay un video anterior del sitio, y trataremos de capturar más imágenes para que se entusiasme con el oleaje otoñal en los

Fechas: de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de WSKA, ahora hemos decidido que la ventana del concurso se extiende del 24 de septiembre al 3 de octubre. Esto nos brinda la ventana máxima para organizar un concurso de tamaño completo en las mejores condiciones.

Transporte: como hemos decidido tener un solo sitio principal, no proporcionaremos transporte a los competidores. Dada la lejanía de las playas de los enlaces de transporte público, se recomienda que todos los equipos y competidores tengan métodos de transporte independientes, es decir, vehículos privados para llegar al sitio. Esto está en línea con mundos anteriores, y estar en áreas rurales es una de las bendiciones (y maldiciones) de nuestro deporte.

Una oportunidad de surfear en el sitio del concurso antes del Mundial: Con la esperanza de que la pandemia mundial se haya aliviado y que la vida sea un poco más normal, el concurso Shoreline Surf Spectacular Open Surf Kayak está programado provisionalmente para el 24/25 de abril de 2021. es un concurso abierto que dura 2 días con todas las divisiones habituales, y un concurso de handicap súper divertido diseñado para que los recién llegados participen junto a los campeones del mundo hasta las últimas rondas del concurso. Es muy divertido, muy competitivo (a menudo el concurso más concurrido del circuito inglés) y abierto a todos. Tan pronto como la información de entrada aumente en Tournr, se lo haremos saber e intentaremos proporcionar una ventana suficiente para aquellos que deseen viajar desde el extranjero.

Patrocinio: estamos trabajando arduamente para asegurar algunos patrocinadores de primer nivel en el deporte del kayak, la aventura al aire libre en general y algunas marcas locales interesantes dentro de Cornwall y Bude. A medida que finalicemos los acuerdos de patrocinio, se lo haremos saber a todos.

Tournr – El equipo de desarrollo de Tournr ha estado trabajando arduamente para agregar algunas características nuevas de las que toda la comunidad de Surf Kayak puede beneficiarse, y esperamos brindarles noticias sobre eso en un futuro muy cercano.

Jim Winter – Muchos de ustedes sabrán que el equipo de England Surf Kayak perdió a uno de nuestra familia este año. Jim era un habitual en el circuito de competencias británico y también asistió al Campeonato Mundial en Portrush, donde muchos de ustedes lo habrán conocido. Jim era un hombre tranquilo, amable y de principios y todos lo extrañaremos mucho. Nuestros pensamientos van a su esposa, Mel y su familia. Era un amigo para muchos de nosotros y una gran pérdida para el deporte.

Managing our environmental impact – plastic pollution

As surfers we have a special connection to the ocean environment. As travelling surfers we are all conscious of our impact on our our ocean playground, which is also one of the most important habitats on our fragile planet.

One of our goals for the 2021 world championships of surfkayaking is to reduce our environmental impact – the cost to the planet of our travel and of our time spent riding waves in our beautiful town. Over the coming months we will be discussing some of these efforts with you.

One of the greatest challenges to our oceans comes from plastic pollution, the buildup of plastic debris which can remain in the environment for hundreds or thousands of years and poison wildlife. Everyone has witnessed the heartbreaking images of dead whales and seabirds with stacks of undigested plastic in their stomachs. We are determined to ensure our contest does not increase the pressure of plastic pollution on our ocean environment.

Fortunately, Bude is the home of Refill Project.

Refill Project ensures that clean, fresh Cornish Drinking water is always available for free from water fountains and cafes / bars around Bude. Each of our contest locations has a free refill site for you to bring your reusable cup to keep hydrated throughout the event. No additional cost, and no additional unnecessary pollution in the ocean!

In addition to free drinking water at each potential contest location you will find Refill locations all around the town.

and at every cafe and restaurant, whether or not you are eating there.

So, don’t forget to bring your reusable cup!!!!!!