WingFest 2023 was Easyriders' inaugural wingfoil racing and fun demo event at their centre in Poole, Dorset, UK.

With superb winds on both days, the event managed to complete a full 12 rounds of racing, 7 slalom, and 5 course racing, with over 25 happy competitors.

Alongside the racing Easyriders’ delivered over 70 free wing tasters to local people and all the leading brands were in attendance bringing their fantastic toys along for people to test and try in the flat breezy waters of shore road. With plenty of safety cover courtesy of Easyriders and Ballistic Ribs, the cross offshore breeze made it perfect for all levels.

Shore Road was a fantastic venue for racing and the competition was fierce. The women’s division saw some tight racing, with Anna Colonette taking a well-deserved win in both the women's & youth girls categories. Lucy Davison & Gemma Soloman, both from the Easyriders team, took a close 2nd & 3rd place.

Local hero and championship windsurfer Guy Cribb came 2nd in the men's, sandwiched in-between the visiting Wigglesworth brothers Hugo, 15, taking the convincing win, and Toby, 13, on Guy’s heels in 3rd.

A word from Andy Gratwick, owner of Easyriders & Head of the BKSA, - ‘Im really stoked with this event, it's always a bit of a stress running events, but we got great conditions and I'm lucky to have a fantastic team, and industry support which made it all come together. The racing was fabulous with wingers hitting the line at speed on time and producing some of the most competitive racing I have seen in the UK to date.’

It’s all about having fun on the water and wingfoiling truly lends itself to being safe, easy to learn, and versatile as a watersport, it works inland, on the coast, on bumpy and flat water, and through light to strong winds. Local events like this create a brilliant community buzz and Easyriders hope to build on the event for 2024 and get more people into the sport between then and now. 

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support and help from the Easyriders team and all the brands that came along, supported, helped out, and donated prizes;

BKSA, BPKC, Easyriders, Ballistic

North & Mystic, Cabrinha, Naish, AFS, F-One & Manera, Buccaneer, Lifejacket, Red Bull Spect, Neil Pryde & JP, Funky Peach, & hydration from Liquid Death.

Race Director Arky & his crew Ash and Hannah, and of course the brilliant photographer Howard Shep.

Junior Women

1st Anna Collenette

Junior Men

1st Hugo Wigglesworth
2nd Toby Wigglesworth
3rd Ollie Evans

Womens Overall

1st Anna Collenette
2nd Lucy Davison
3rd Gemma Soloman

Mens Overall

1st Hugo Wigglesworth
2nd Guy Cribb
3rd Toby Wigglesworth

 

By Georgina Monti

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