Port Talbot, South Wales 13th & 14th March 2010
Here we are then our first freeride event will be on Aberavon Beach in Port Talbot, South Wales - Map
This beach is South West facing so should get some
decent ground swell surf rolling in from the Atlantic - hopefully!
We have chosen port Talbot for our first event because it usually gets some
good surf, its comparatively close to central UK (compared to say Cornwall)
and the Council have a dedicated area for PW's. We fully acknowledge that it
is a long drive for a lot of people, us included, but we can't help that,
sorry.
Magic Seaweed
forecast for Aberavon
Magic
Seaweed Historic data for Aberavon
Windguru forecast
for Aberavon
The plan for the weekend is to have the Saturday as a day of practice, to learn the surf, learn some new surf tricks and jumps, and hopefully the backflip!
Sunday we will have a competition, the FNT rules are loosely based on the French Freeride rules, not the IFWA rules. Two riders will take to the water in each heat, but are riding for points and not head to head. Each heat will last 6 minutes and each jump or surf will accrue points including a difficulty multiplier. Click here for the Scoresheet. We plan to run at least 2 heats with the top 4 highest scores then having a run off to decide the podium positions. For more rules click me
We are on the main Aberavon Beach and there with Council permission (subject to a meeting in the coming weeks!). The Council are understandably wary of the event so it is important that we don't screw it up for the future. The exact location of the beach front is still to be determined. Their main concerns are safety, and other water users and other beach users:
-Other water users are only really surfers. We unfortunately will probably have to launch through the surfers' area at high tide so we need to be vigilant, enter the area slowly and on your knees, staying in the shallow water. On the water, we must stay out of their designated area. Anyone breaking that Council enforced rule will be asked to leave.
-Other beach users, in March are only going to be dog walkers and joggers etc. We need to keep all walkways clear and any slipways clear for emergency vehicles. Empty beach trolleys will need to kept in a cordoned off area. As the tide changes, so will these areas move up or down the beach.
For Saturday night we have arranged for discounts at
the Aberavon Beach Hotel which is a Best Western Hotel and right on the
beach front. Please make your own arrangements and bookings with direct, but
mention that you are with the jetski event
http://www.aberavonbeach.com/
or tel 01639 884949
Alternatively, we have made arrangements with
South Wales Jetski Club who are based on Llewellyn's Quay in Port Talbot
They have offered camping there at £10 per night. It is barely 5 mins away
and is very secure. Should you wish to ski there, their winter day rate is a
very cheap £10 per day, although valid insurance will need to be shown. Thanks to Ian Wright there.
http://www.jetski-club.co.uk/
For the Saturday evening we will find a bar or restaurant to congregate in for the evening.
We are mid March so will unlikely to be enjoying a heat wave although for some decent surf, we do need a bit of rough weather. We will go ahead rain or shine. Please remember that on Sunday especially, during the competition there will some standing around so make sure you stay warm. If there is a dead flat sea and no waves, we will move to the infamous heated lake that the South Wales Jetski Club have and Oggy (Darren Ogden) has offered to run a freestyle clinic. This is a worst case scenario - nothing personal Oggy!!- with surf in March more likely than not. We have reasonably accurate forecasts the weekend before so stay in touch on Jack's wonderful PWC Forums and also for the latest up-dates, info and gossip.
Insurance is not required for skiing on the sea (although it is for the lake). You will be asked to sign a disclaimer indemnifying both the FNT, and the Neath and Port Talbot County Council. The FNT has increased it's public Liability Insurance to £5 million for this and all its events. You will also be asked to sign an FNT code of conduct which basically just asks you to respect your fellow skiers and the public environment.
In order to help the Saturday training run smoothly, we need to know who wishes to be in the clinic, what skill level you are and what sort of thing you wish to learn - are you up for a backy?????