Nottingham - Pondlife 7

From the 12th-14th November, while most sane people were wrapped up warm at home, students from across the UK flocked to Nottingham to thrash about in freezing cold water… all in the name of windsurfing.

The University of Nottingham hosted its own windsurf event ‘Pondlife’, for the seventh year, following the SWA windsurfing festival Aussie Kiss. As promised, Nottingham provided a weekend of windsurfing, partying and Pringles, all topped off by a two days of beautiful sunshine and the renowned green jogger stash.

Hosted at Rutland Water, the beginners took advantage of the tame wind conditions in the creek while the intermediates and advanced got out on the reservoir ready for some adrenaline/Pringle-fuelled races.  Boardwise brought down their demo van ensuring everyone had a nice bit of kit to play with and despite the polar conditions, it was all out non-stop action.


The Sunday proved to be particularly interesting due to an absolute lack of wind. The team racers pumped their way around the course, providing entertainment for the crowds with continuous innuendo opportunity and plenty of carnage at the gybes.  The beginners races turned into paddling races, the freestyle competition turned into a dance/freestyle cross-breed as in these conditions, it's about having fun and standing out! Rigs were disconnected from boards and turned upside down, the Macarena made a guest appearance, rigs were used as paddles in an SUP kind of way and there was even some jousting… all on the water. Those who were not brave enough to get out on the water were thoroughly entertained, not to mention well fed as hundreds of boxes of Pringles-Extreme range?? were consumed over the weekend.


Of course Pondlife would not be Pondlife without an incredible party and this year it was held at Dogma. We raved the night away dressed in costumes inspired by west end productions past and present. As always the night was packed with scandal, outrageous dance moves and copious amounts of alcohol. (The SWA does not in any way condone or encourage the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol)

Pondlife is the second round of the SWA Spartan race series and Boardwise Freestyle series.  Results are as follows:


 

1. Beginners Racing
2. Mens
3. Jack (Imperial)
4. Adam (Cardiff)
5. Alexis (Nottingham)

Womens

1. Nia (UWE)
2. Imogen (Soton)
3. Hannah (Soton)

Intermediate Racing
Mens

1. Stuart (Loughborough)
2. Matt (Loughborough)
3. Tom (Exeter)

Womens

1. Amy (Exeter)
2. Equal - Susan (Birmingham) & Lucy (Bristol)

Advanced Racing
Mens

1. Nathan (UWE)
2. Greg (Newcastle)
3. Dan (Notthingham)

Womens

1. Kirsty (Exeter)
2. Alex (Exeter)
3. Lickie(Cambridge)

Spartan Team Racing

1. Exeter
2. UWE
3. Nottingham 2
4. Nottingham 1
5. Loughborough
6. Bristol 1
7. Cardiff
8. Newcastle
9. Bristol 2

Boardwise Freestyle

1. Kirsty (Exeter)
2. James (Nottingham)
3. Greg (Newcastle)

Thanks to the support and prizes provided by the local windsurf store Dave Nobles and the event sponsor, Pringles

Special thanks to the SWA sponsors; 




The next event is Exeter Rave-X on the 27-28th November.