ISS Galway

After four very succesful rounds of the 2009 Irish Slalom Series, Ireland’s top windsurfers will travel west for the final opportunity to battle it out for the 2009 National titles. The event will take place on Silver Strand beach. Fleets for all levels will be run with plenty of free coaching and the buddy system. An expected turnout of 80 competitors will ensure some exciting racing. Lunches will be provided on both days by Magnetti Italian foods. A special accomadation rate of €95 (2 B&B + 1 Dinner) – check out www.waterfront.ie An event dinner will also take place on Saturday night at the Galway Bay Hotel. Whether your a seasoned windsurfer or just interested in having a look – get youreself down to Silver Strand on Sept 12th/ 13th to witness the high speed action. Check out www.irishslalom.ie for more details.

ISS 5 Cork

August 15th and 16th saw the Irish Slalom Series travel to Co.Cork for Round 5 of what has been a fantastic year so far. With wind at every event this year Cork would prove no different. Saturday morning dawned with a fresh SW breeze. The ISS team hit the road at 7am in search of the most suitable beach. With insufficient breeze in Coolmaine, the event was moved to GarryLucas. By 9am, local event organiser Pearse Geaney (www.bigsurf.ie) was kitting out the beach for the days racing.

With registration complete and the beach awash with colourful sails, competitors were summoned to the briefing. Many local sailors took the opportunity to enter there first event, while Gartan OEC’s John Boycee ensured Ireland’s top young sailors made the 9 hour trip from Downings.  Race officer, Greg Day explained the race course to the 51 strong fleet. The gold fleet course was a 4 mark downwind course, while the silver fleet battled it out on a shorter course. The silver fleet aided by their gold fleet buddies kicked off the racing on the button at 11am. (more…)

Slalom - Cork

After one of the biggest windsurfing events held in Ireland over the past 15 years we are now less than two weeks away from the penultimate round of the Irish Slalom Series.

Downings was a major success with over 130 competitors ranging in age from 6 to 72. Check out the event report, photos and results on www.irishslalom.ie Thanks to all of you who helped promote this event – well done to all involved!!!!

Round 5 being held in Coolmaine, Co Cork on August 15th/ 16th – hosted by www.bigsurf.ie

- Racing for Gold and Silver Fleets only
- Excellent location
- Hot lunches on the beach both days supplied by Cully & Sully
- Excellent prizes – great list of sponsors
- Guaranteed fun on Sat Nite in the famous party town of Kinsale
- Buddy System for Silver Fleet
- Further details, NOR and Party details @ www.irishslalom.ie

Mikey in action at Pozo

Mikey Clancy IR-253 has just competed for Ireland in the PWA World Cup event in Pozo Gran Canaria winning a double elimination round and 25th in the wave event. 19 year Mikey told us “It was an amazing experience to compete at such a high level,the intensity of the competition is unreal. I was really nervous in my first round against Peter Voltwater but really got into it in my Double elimination rounds”. “The heats were 12 minutes duration and I was going for everything including doubles and would have got further if the wind had not dropped when I was up against Robbie Swift “. An exhausted but happy Clancy finally said “We have the best conditions to train in here in Ireland and I know now whats needed for me to break into the worlds top 20 sometime in the future”. See www.mikeyclancy.com and PWA for more reports videos images .

Gold Fleet

In this the 26th Year of the competition over 130 competitors arrived on the beach of Sheephaven Bay to enjoy the fabulous conditions for safe sailing. 12 races were held over the 2 day event with a strong fleet of competitive sailors travelling from throughout Ireland, England and further a field. This event is one of the best attended in the IWA calendar and included support from Tushingham Sails, IWA and Surfdoc.

Gold Fleet – competing in round 4 of the Irish Windsurfing Association Irish Slalom series

1st Overall Pierce Geaney – last years champion from Cork
2nd Overall Paul Simmons – England
3rd Overall Hannes Louet – Holland
1st Grand Master Chris Loughridge – Belfast
1st Lady Marie Buchanon – England
1st U20 boy Matthew McNutt – Downings
1st U20 girl Amy McBride – Downings
1st U17 Boy Joseph Fletcher – Belfast
1st U17 Girl Anna Bonnar – Downings
1st U14 boy John Fletcher – ( age 8 ) Belfast
1st U14 girl Rebecca Fletcher – Hillsborough (more…)

Downings, Co. Donegal

The Irish Slalom Series heads to the North Western shores of Downings Co. Donegal for Round 4.

Register online at www.irishslalom.ie

Mickey in action

Mikey Clancy (IR 253) will compete in the World Cup PWA wave championships at Pozo  in Gran Canaria in July.

Mikey who has been windsurfing  in the IWA events over the last few years has shown great progress in a short space of time.  Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock you’ll be familiar with mikeys website which catalogues his windsurfing journey to-date.  Mikey is 19 years old, lives in Dublin (next to Dollymount beach) and has been studying in DIT for the last year. Keep an eye on how he’s doing in Pozo on mikeyclancy.com.

From all in the IWA….. Good luck man

Gareth
President
Irish Windsurfing Association (IWA)

The Irish Slalom Series Round 3 report from Castlegregory, Kerry is now online at www.irishslalom.ie