Into the wild and wind for the KPWT World cup in Canada. // 23.10.09

Leaving to go to Canada for the KPWT world cup event was a tough and difficult decision.

I absolutely love my job, and the travel is one of the best things about it but this was a time when the last thing I wanted to do was get on a plane and fly away. My lovely doggy Sersha became paralysed in one side of her body a week before I was due to leave for the KPWT world cup in Canada, and my Grandma (who is 100) remained unstable in hospital.

It was my Dad and my niece who made the decision for me to go. Dad just insisted I go (and I rarely argue with Dad!) and Rhian, my 18-year-old niece who lives on the West coast of Canada who I hadn’t seen in 4 years, had booked a very expensive, non-refundable ticket to fly over and meet me in Shippagan, New Brunswick where the comp was being held. It was either leave Sersha and Grandma (who were in very safe hands) or leave my niece stranded in a tiny airport in remote North East Canada.

What I decided to do was take my flight to Canada, meet my niece, register for the comp to at least get some points, then change my flight and come back early.

Arriving in Shippagan was immediately calming and therapeutic to my upset mind as the pure fresh air; the green unspoilt landscape and warm-hearted people welcomed us. Rafa, a fellow competitor and good friend picked Rhian and myself up from the tiny airport in Bathurst then we drove an hour along the unspoilt coast to the Region of Lemac and Shippagan where the comp was being held.

On arrival, the first thing we did was wash away the cobwebs and test the water temperature by diving into a surprisingly warm, calm, North Atlantic sea beaming with life and colourful seaweed.

I broke the news to my niece that I would be changing my flight and leaving early to go home but little did I know that Hurricane Bill was on his way and causing chaos with all the flights in this region. As Bill fast approached for the beginning of the event giving us a great wind forecast, he also managed to disrupt most of the Air Canada flights for the coming days,’ making it virtually impossible for me to change mine or Rhians flights for under £1000! Dad once again reassured me on the phone that there was no point in me coming home early as Sersha was now in one of the best specialist vets in the UK having every possible scan and test and being cared for better than anyone in a NHS hospital. Grandma was slightly confused anyway and apparently thought I had a new job working away on a fishing boat so she wasn’t expecting me anyway!

I decided that I should just try to enjoy every precious moment I had been given and stay and do the competition.

Hurricane Bill was kind enough to deliver a substantial amount of wind for the week, In fact a little bit too much for my 7m Evo at times!

The event started with the course racing, then the freestyle that was held at one of the many excellent flat-water spots in the La Meque area.

The single elimination of the men’s freestyle was won by Stefan Permien from Germany with Vincent Tiger (France) taking 2^nd place and Jessi Ritchman (Hawaii) 3^rd.

In the Women’s final was Kari Schibevaag (Nor) and myself, with Kari taking 1^stplace, myself 2^nd and Kris Kinn 3^rd.

As we started the freestyle so early, (7am!!) the race director was able to start the double elimination in the afternoon as the wind picked up to around 30- 38 knots and turned onshore.

I really enjoyed doing the freestyle but was unable to hold onto my 2^nd place in the double elimination without risking damaging my injured shoulder further. I did the best I could but Kris Kinn defeated me in the semi final with her more technical, powerful moves meaning I took 3^rd place in the freestyle with Kris 2^nd and Kari Schibevaag 1^st.

The women and mens Final was run as the wind peaked to its maximum (about 40knots at times!) giving the riders a chance to put on an epic and exciting show!

The men’s final was between Jessie Ritchman and Stefan Permien, pushing each other to their limits and pulling off some extremely daring and powerful moves with breath stopping kite loops! In the end it was Permien who took 1^st with Jessie 2^nd.

The next day was another early start at 7am but this time it was the waves, at another spot on the Meric peninsula. A total contrast in conditions and temperature from the day before… the sea went from super flat to super choppy with temperatures dropping from 28 degrees to 10 degrees!! Despite the waves dribbling in at a measly 2ft wind swell the wave event was run. However, where the waves lacked, the wind was certainly there, blowing onshore between 30-38 knots all day! The only event I didn’t bring a 5 or 6m kite was sure to get ballistic winds!

I trusted my 7m Evo and had faith in its maximum de-power, but while the men were on 5m and 6m kites I knew it was going to be tough to ‘ride waves’ in these conditions!

I made it to the final against Kari but was defeated, unable to ride my best in these interesting conditions taking 2^nd place with Kari 1^st and Kris Kinn 3^rd.

For the men it was Mitu Monteiro (Cape Verde) who deservedly took 1^st place with Abel Largo (spain) 2^nd and Jan Marcos Riveras (DOM REP) 3^rd.

The next day after the wave event was the Kiteloop discipline, which was something I had never entered before.(Probably because I broke my ribs a few years ago doing a big kiteloop!) However, after not having the conditions to allow me to push my limits in the waves I decided to do the kiteloop contest which would be a great way to get the adrenalin fix I was craving and it would be a good opportunity for me to push my limits and see how my 7m Evo kitelooped in strong winds!

This was great fun, as it doesn’t involve much ‘thinking’ or technicality, just going for it and this was just what I needed!

They managed to run a single and double elimination of the kite loop contest with Stefan Permien (GER) winning the Kiteloop double elimination and Jesse Richman 2^nd (HAW)

In the women it was me who took 1^st place with Kari Schibevaag 2^nd and Kris Kinn 3^rd.

That same afternoon they even managed to run the 5^th and final discipline, the slider and kicker contest. (hitting hard objects in the water definitely doesn’t appeal to me!)

This was run as the late afternoon wind finally died down and an amazing sunset marked the end to a successful event in this special and beautiful region in North East Canada.