Kneeboard Surfing UK became a Thule Partner in Sport in 2006. Kneeboarding is a discipline within surfing where instead of paddling on a surfboard into a wave and then rising onto both feet to ride it, the surfer rides the wave face on both knees. A kneeboard is between five and six and a half feet in length, which is considerably smaller than a typical surfboard.
KSUK is part of the British Surfing Association (BSA), which was founded in 1966 to promote the sport of surfing and represent the interests of all surfers in Great Britain and the Channel Islands. A non-profit making organisation, the BSA is recognised by the Government as the National Governing Body (NGB) for all types of surfing, including kneeboarding, is a member of the International Surfing Association (ISA) and is responsible for organising national surfing events and picking the national teams.
Thule sponsored and attended the biggest event in KSUK’s national calendar, the British Kneeboarding Championships, in 2006 and 2007. The annual event is held on Newquay’s Fistral beach and last year took place on November 3rd.
Newquay’s surf hot spot Fistral Beach was packed out when Kneelos from across the nation battled it out in the 2007 British Kneeboarding Championships. The infamous setting and buzzing crowd attracted some of the biggest names in competitive water sports.
The event proved the ideal location for Thule to showcase their diverse leisure range of roof boxes, equipped for holding the latest in water sport products such as canoes, boats, surf and knee boards. Top prizes provided by the company included the Thule wave surf carrier and Thule multi purpose carrier.
Thule’s marketing manager Peter Barker spoke of “the great opportunity to showcase the growing sport of kneeboarding on one of the UK’s most spectator friendly beaches”.
The opening heats kicked off with 15 competitors, but quickly whittled down to four competing for the title. Chris Diplock, Richard Smith, Karl Ward and Richard Hewitt put on a powerful show, with Chris winning the Men’s title in great style.
The Ladies competition was equally impressive as the final three Jodie Winter, Nathalie Silverthorne and Liz Upward performed to their best making the sport look effortless. However, it was Jodie’s driving confidence that put her on the top on the scoreboards.
Karen Walton National Director of the BSA said: “On behalf of the BSA I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the Kneeboarding contest, it really was an awesome display of British talent. The British Kneeboard Championships is always such an exciting contest because the standard is so high. Thanks to the BKC (British Kneelo Club) and top sponsor Thule for providing the prizes and organising such a fantastic competition.”
| 2006 Winners |
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Peter Barker, Thule UK Marketing Manager (right) presents
AAA Winner
Richard Smith with his award. |
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Ladies Final Winner Natalie Silverthorn (left) with
second place
Jody Troth (right) |
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