Just came home from the first Avon Beach Wave Classic, and what an amazing example of how to run an event when mother nature doesn’t fully play ball! I arrived on the Friday morning to some pretty decent 4.8 weather, albeit without waves, so rigged my 4.8 Freek and 93 Flare for some freestyle fun. No official contesting happened on the Friday as the small ramps dropped off with tide movement but still a great first day.

On the Saturday the wind and waves eluded us once more but Sparkey ran coaching and rigging demos for those interested. Those who weren’t, were busy filling their boots with Conkers mulled gin – who had their bar set up in the 2 tier beach structure – or warming up with Jimmys Ice Coffee’s van which had pots of coffee on the stove. Later it was decided to run a tow in contest for the crowd, and after a few amusing crashes; myself, Nic Hibdige, Adam Lewis, Muzza and Ben Page got the feel for it and landed a few tricks. Later on at the packed out pub we did prize giving.

Winning bottles of Conker Gin in 1^st place was deservedly Nic, 2^nd place was me, and 3^rd Adam, and also winning a bottle, perhaps medicinally, for best crash; Ben!

Sunday we turned up drank more coffee, ate pastries donated by local patisseries and waited for the wind. Although there wasn’t enough to run official competition we were able to get out for freestyle expression session. In the pro draw Nic managed to pull enough moves to get first, Sparkey second, and myself third – more gin related prizes – get in!

All round a great weekend despite not a great deal of wind and waves but a jam packed event and very well attended by competitors and spectators alike! Thanks to the many photographers, Trevor Hibdige, Timmy Vowler and Roger Bushnell.