WHAT CAN A NEWBIE EXPECT AT THE NATIONAL WATERSPORTS FESTIVAL (NWF)?

For starters, whether you are a Newbie to the Festival itself or a Newbie to watersports, how about THE PERFECT venue to improve your skills, join in friendly races or even have your first try at Windsurfing, SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) or Kayaking?

Add to that a friendly, festival atmosphere, with live music, VIP parties, a VERY unique night event (including AeroSPARX motor glider aeriel pyrotechnics display team who performed for the Queen!), a huge trade show with all the latest equipment, a chance to meet and get advice direct from the designers and world-class riders behind the brands, a few top professionals to chat to (Top Coaches, World Record Holders, World Champs and perhaps an Olympian – or two!), exciting races to join in or watch and a host of other attractions to suit all the family, whether they are currently into watersports or not. (Who knows? After the NWF they might be…!)

You can come and enjoy the fun just for a day, an evening – or immerse yourself fully in the insuperable NWF experience for the whole weekend!

Whatever your ability, age (or the age of the kit you ride!) the NWF is open to you. Kids and youngsters are particularly encouraged.

The NWF is a friendly festival. Now in its 11^th year, the NWF is a gathering of like-minded people who share common interests. I would challenge you NOT to speak to the person next to you at one of the coaching clinics, taster sessions or if you are watching or taking part in the fun races! Families, Clubs and Teams are urged to get a road trip together and come along to challenge mates or siblings, or just kick back and enjoy the festival vibe.

Never Tried Watersports Before / Tried it Years Ago?

Even if you have never been on a windsurfer, SUP or kayak, you can try out all of these sports for FREE at the NWF. You are also one of the reasons that the NWF is based at Rutland Water. The smooth, inland waters are as friendly as they can possibly be for beginners and intermediates. There is safety cover, but best of all, professional tuition and all equipment is provided for these free taster sessions, which are included in the entry fee. There is no need to be daunted – modern watersports equipment is light and easy to use and these days, there is smaller equipment designed especially for kids. There is no reason why you won’t be up and sailing or paddling in no time and who knows, it could be the start of a wonderful, watery new path to fitness and fulfilment!

Windsurfing – Windsurfing really has never been easier to learn. The design of windsurfing equipment has changed massively in recent years. The boards are wide and stable and the sails light and well balanced. This is the Carbon Fibre generation – gone are the heavy, narrow fibreglass boards, baggy, canvas sails and wooden booms of yesteryear! You can expect to be sailing around in light winds with just one or two short tuition sessions. Light wind sailing is wonderful fun, with the opportunity to cruise or learn fancy, freestyle tricks, but with a bit of practice and some stronger winds, the unequalled thrill of planing awaits. This is when the board releases and starts to skim across the top of the water like a speed boat. Planing is the point at which most windsurfers become irrevocably hooked for life! For many years, windsurfing held the World Speed Record for sail-powered craft, (the record is now held by a purpose-built hydrofoil speed craft.) The Windsurfing World Speed Record currently stands at 52.91 knots, or 60.89mph, which is pretty exciting! But windsurfing isn’t just all about speed. Once you are up and sailing, a world of riding waves, jumping, freestyle, racing or just burning around your local lake in the fresh air awaits!

SUP – SUP is the fastest growing watersport in the world. SUP has parallels and skills to share with the other NWF sports of kayaking and windsurfing. As with all of the sports, it is also a great way to keep fit! SUP is easy to learn and suitable for the whole family. You can SUP on all kinds of bodies of water around the country and you don’t need wind, so it is very accessible and complements windsurfing – you will see many a windsurfer paddling a SUP on a no-wind day. Simply get your board and your paddle and you can go exploring. You can chill in the tranquillity of nature as you glide almost silently through still waters or practise SUP Yoga or Pilates. If competition or adrenaline is your thing, there is a SUP racing and endurance scene or as with kayaks, you can use your SUP on waves and white water. There are multi-person SUPs to accommodate the family and blow-up SUPs, which are easy to store and transport. There are also WindSUPs  – a SUP to which you can attach a sail if you like and, already having the muscle memory to balance on a board, you can cross straight over to the wonderful world of windsurfing!

Kayaking – At the NWF we have sit-on kayaks, which are the simplest form of kayak. You can jump on and head off exploring or fishing straight away. Sit-on kayaks are light and relatively inexpensive. The open deck is safer in the event of a capsize, as there is no risk of being trapped inside and they are virtually unsinkable! As with SUP, you can kayak in many locations around the country and if you want to take the sport further, white water or sea kayaking can add a whole new dimension.

If the best possible venue, tuition and a free session doesn’t persuade you to try something new on the water, there is STILL plenty to keep you occupied. Other than all the off-water activities that form part of the NWF, which we mentioned at the beginning, Rutland Water Park is a destination in its own right. Set in 4200 acres of countryside, it offers a host of attractions, including a zoo, rock climbing, cycling / walking around the lake, crazy golf, fishing, children’s playgrounds or a cruise around the reservoir aboard the Rutland Belle.

I’m Not Good Enough To Take Part In The NWF, Am I?

What You Need To Enter – Can you sail or paddle out to a buoy and back, even if you have to swim around the buoy? Of course you can! And if you can do that, not only can you enter but there is no reason why you might not end up with a podium finish and a prize! There are race categories for all abilities and you can increase your chances of winning x3 by entering as an individual, as part of a team and you can even win prizes for wearing fancy dress!

If you are an intermediate looking improve or to try a bit of friendly competition, then the NWF is ESPECIALLY FOR YOU!

There is plenty on the circuit for the professionals. The NWF concept has always been to provide an event designed to involve the vast majority – the intermediate, freeride, weekend watersporties… Otherwise known as YOU!

The NWF is all about getting involved. The idea is to get EVERYBODY on the water enjoying themselves, whatever their level and encouraging everyone to try joining in the simple, fun races. There are no complicated rules, age limits or limitations as to what equipment you need to enter. The NWF’s oldest competitors are in their 80s. The youngest that we know of was 6!

On the SUP side, there are also a couple of social SUPs. Places are limited but you can reserve a free place at the event and join in the evening ‘Chill Out Paddle’ on Friday and ‘SUP Adventure Tour’ on Saturday.

How Will The NWF Help Me To Improve – Racing certainly makes you focus on how to squeeze out that little bit of extra performance, but if you want to improve your skills, there are FREE coaching clinics throughout the weekend. These are delivered by some of the top trainers and professional riders in the sports. This is your opportunity to ask questions, pick up those killer tips – and then put them straight into action on the water!

If you are looking to buy equipment for the first time or upgrade as you progress, the range of different types and sizes of equipment on the market can be bewildering. At the NWF, there is a wide range of the latest new equipment on show, with experts and brand managers on hand to discuss your requirements. There will be a range of kit available that you can actually try out on the water, so that you have a chance to compare the different marques and designs against each other to make sure that you end up with exactly what’s right for you.

So, I hope that answers the question ‘What is there for a Newbie at the NWF 2017?’ A perfect venue, lots to do and most of all – a Festival of Freeride Fun!

See you there!

Jackie Lambert

The NWF takes place at Rutland Water on 2-4^th June 2017. Online entry is available from 5th April 2017. Don’s snooze and lose – book your place now! For more information, see www.nationalwatersportsfestival.com