Cardiff - The final round of the K3d Wave Trilogy...

For the second time in the month of February, the most exciting thing to have been  ‘occurin’ in Wales was the hugely successful Student Windsurfing Association’s K3-designs wave trilogy.  This was the widely awaited final event of the trilogy and Cardiff university played host to students from across the lands.  Boasting 20 competitors and generously supported by PuravidaBoardriders, the northwesterly winds brought to life Trecco bay for some clean port tack waveriding.  Previous rounds have seen SJ (Steve Jarvis) running away with the competition, two 1st places have seen him favourite not only to win the Trilogy, but this English lad, much like the present English rugby team, is looking likely to take a grand slam from Wales!  Other hotshot previous contenders include MC Yeates, Duncan Dumbreck, German Joe and Seb Willis the Cardiff host.  Pictures By Harry Clegg and Javier Choi, Sam Burnett reports...

Thanks to some promising conditions early Saturday morning at Trecco bay, the K3d competition action kicked off right away.  A few of the keen SWA pros were straight out acting as guinea pigs testing the cross-off starboard tack conditions.  Sarah Bibby, Steve Jarvis and Stef Hilder were putting out a great display of bobbing out and then charging in on the waves which in turn enthused a lot of reluctant and highly hung over students to get themselves into gear and rig up.  

Jim from Puravida Boardriders utilised his BWA experience and helped to coordinate and judge the heats, of which there were many due to the 20 competitors representing from across the UK.  There were newbie wavesailors out to get a feel for some competition experience and there were clearly some guys who had done all this before.  


Early in the heats, MC Matt Yeates was showing us all how it’s done, some smooth long rides and expert low wind tacking allowed him to get way ahead in his heat.  The beach spectators labeled him “MC Yeates - professor of wave selection”, to which there was a consensus of opinion.



Angus ‘Dumpy’ Web didn’t fail to disappoint.  Having laid down a firm performance at Rhosneigr, once again in his first heat he caught a nice wave and rode that bad boy all the way into the sand!  Despite lots of light wind tacking and wobbling, Seb Willis looked like he wouldn’t catch anything in his heat.  The waves had dropped off a bit and the other competitors had caught some little shore break.  However, Seb’s local experience paid off when a set came through and rose up off the point break.  Lots of nice turns and a little aerial off the top guaranteed him a place in the semi final.  

The semi's featured MC Yates, Harry Clegg, Seb Willis, Angus Webb, Tom Firth, German Joe, SJ, and Carlos.  All these guys were ripping and it was hard to call it, each having had standout performances throughout their heats.  Carlos was consistently getting sweet little rides, MC was fighting the elements, covering loads of water in the search for some waves and scored a couple of beauties, one of which was shared with Seb who was showing smooth fluidity in his transition from rail to rail, making it look easy.  SJ, seemed to consistently catch the biggest wave of every set that passed him, and rather than riding in a long way, he was putting in high scoring sections and dropping off the back in order to position himself to quickly catch another.  MC, SJ, Seb and Carlos made it into the final.



Throughout the heats the conditions had been up and down, varying with the height of the tide.  By the final it had become super clean with rare big sets coming through, so it was a hunt for a wave and with plenty of angry surfers crowding the break, competition for that wave and the opportunity to prove yourself was high.  Persistence and experience were key in these conditions, but all of the guys in the final had stacks of both.  Given the available resources, the level of intensity and skill on show in the final was awe-inspiring.  It's fair to say that the top two clearly stood out here as they did in their heats as clear favourites.  Although Carlos and MC Yeates got some firing waves off the point, they were match for Seb's fluid riding and sweet little airs!  It was SJ who was the clear winner with some of the best and longest rides of the day.  His consistent waveriding was accompanied by a nice air to finish off the final.  Definitely one to watch in the UK amateur tour this year.



We were also fortunate to have enough competitors for a ladies competition.  Bath University’s Emily Hall and Rebecca Kellagher hit the water with local up-coming talent Emily Wood.  In difficult conditions, hats off to the girls for giving it a good crack, they all received joint ladies 1st place.

K3d Wave Trilogy Event Result:

1st    SJ               (Southampton)
2nd   Seb  Willis    (Cardiff)
3rd    Carlos         (Cardiff)
4th    MC Yeates   (ULU)

Once the event was wrapped up we all bundled into our respective transport to rendezvous at the new PuravidaBoardriders shop in Penarth for the prize giving.  We arrived to a warm welcome with tea and biscuits from Jim and Rhiannon; what a wonderful pair.  Puravida graciously donated prizes to accompany the K3d first place carbon extension.  



Now all performance related endeavors were over it was time for the long awaited Cardiff night out.  With a circus theme we hit the Cardiff Union as bearded ladies, strong men, gypsies, clowns, lions and ringleaders among other circus related themes.  Needless to say the conditions were apparently epic on Sunday at Newgale, but due to the distance, not so many students could make an appearance.

In summary, the K3d wave trilogy was a massive success, due to fortunate UK conditions, hordes of enthusiastic UK students and the catalyst K3d prizes and sponsorship offer thrown into the mix.  

We have travelled far and wide chasing the K3d 100% carbon whitestick mast and year long team rider contract.  In the end, with total three way domination it is SJ Steve Jarvis who comes out on top.  SJ convincingly won at Teignmouth; round one hosted by Exeter, cracking out a cheeky forward in the final.  Round two, at Rhosneigr, hosted by Bangor and Birmingham, he closely fought with MC Yeates and German Joe where his backside waveriding skills brought him the upper hand.  Finally, to take the grand slam, he was crowned champion defeating Seb on his home territory with clean frontside transitions.



The trilogy award presentation will take place at the BUCS nationals at the end of the university year, along with the Boardwise freestyle and Spartan race series.  Thanks to Cardiff University and PuraVidaBoardriders for once again hosting such a top event, K3d, the wave trilogy sponsors, and the rest of our SWA sponsors for their continuing support.