ANIMAL WINDFEST: 11-13 SEPTEMBER, POOLE, DORSET
Get down to Sandbanks Beach in Poole, Dorset for this year’s Animal Windfest from 11 – 13 September (that’s this weekend!). The biggest names in windsurfing, kitesurfing and stand-up paddleboarding will all be down on the beach, with both pro and amateur competitions taking place as part of the South Coast’s biggest free action sports festival. The organisers are making a big effort to get as many people involved as possible, so even if you’ve never done it before, you can have the chance to try stuff out – including trying the windsurf simulator on the beach or even flying a kite. On shore, there will also be BMX displays, a wakeboard pool where the pros will be showing off their skills, and lots more to keep everyone entertained.
Event organiser Gary Willingham told us, “The event started because we have a love and a passion for watersports and we wanted to get more people into them. Animal has funded reduced entry fees for competitors to ensure anyone feels welcome and encouraged to participate. There’ll be fun-level competitions as well as having the professionals there doing serious races, so at every level there is something to get you involved. If you just want to come along and watch there’ll be plenty there to excite you, too.”
Professional windsurfer Timo Mullen added that it’s a pretty impressive set-up; “This is every average windsurfer’s perfect chance to race against the Lewis Hamilton of windsurfing,” he told us. “The world’s best racers will all be there, so this is the perfect chance for amateurs to come and mix it up!”
Windfest is the South’s only free, three-day watersports event. Go to animalwindfest.co.uk for more information on parties, competitions and much, much more.
