White Air 2006 review

This year’s White Air festival was the tenth anniversary of the extreme sports festival, and proved yet again to be a massive success. Some of the biggest names in extreme sports flocked to the four day event, with huge crowds on hand and with major titles up for grabs.

Sponsors including Isle of Wight Economic Partnership, Wightlink Ferries and the Isle of Wight Council and the RAF, as well as local sponsors Morey’s and Brandon Hire, helped to welcome extreme sports to the Isle of Wight, showcasing the talent of top competitors across 14 different extreme sports.

The event kicked off on Thursday 26th, with the extreme playground in Yaverland springing to life, welcoming competitors and spectators alike.

The windsurfing kicked off at midday where competitors battled it out on the water at Yaverland. Pro’s, youths, and largely junior competitors were enthusiastic to get out on the water for the first round of the White Air Freewave UK Championship. In first place was Graham Woods from the youth category, Richard Jones from the junior category, and Ben Proffitt taking first place in the pro men’s. Winners from the youth and junior categories were also successful in taking first place in round two this afternoon, although round 2 of the pro men’s was unable to run.

Also on the water was jet skier Gary displaying barrel rolls and tricks before being forced back to shore with water-filled engines.

The big ramps were put to use by the land based sports enthusiasts eager to display their talents. Top mountain board pro’s as well as new and local riders took to the ramps displaying their flair for the sport. Whilst pro’s wowed the crowds with their attempt for the highest jump, new riders have were busy building their confidence. Tom Kirkman made his mark pulling a 540 spin at five and a half metres.

Also on the land, parkour workshops were running throughout the day with spectators having a go at the sport, getting from one point to the next increasing their confidence as they go.

The Graffiti Art Jam began at midday, with Terry, Teck1, Ce Bon and local host Toxic inspiring the audience to try their hand at the different techniques. Workshops ran throughout the day, with the hard graft team bringing their influence from the city to the Isle of Wight.

Thanks to Wight Water, Team Traceur, X-Isle and Trampa, the ‘Have-a-go’ marquee saw enthusiasm from spectators with a large number trying out surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, mountain boarding and parkour.

The second day of White Air (Friday the 27th) proved a huge success with mountain boarders, skaters, and graffiti art pro’s, who kept the crowds entertained all day long.

Showing their appreciation for the massive mountain board ramps built by Makin’ Trax and sponsored by the RAF, a whole host of local riders as well as pro’s showcased their tricks in the open park session. Spectators judged the rider’s tricks by flashing red or green cards; MBS Rider Tom Reed, World Under 16 Freestyle Champion, amazed the crowd with a massive corked five, with local riders also testing their ability in the park.

The Trampa team treated spectators to expert tuition, proving a huge success with the younger spectators, many of them already catching air over the kickers on the hill overlooking the event. Skate and BMX enthusiasts took to the newly built skate ramp with an open park throughout the day, and beginners took part in a skate clinic, once again treated to tuition from the pro’s.

Team Traceur also held workshops to have-a-goers throughout the day, giving a brief history of parkour, followed by warm-ups and the basics of the sport. Davey Walmsley, 16 and Gideon Bridgman, 13 were yesterday’s winners of the parkour competition, sporting a pair of Merrell Chameleon Slam shoes fresh from the Merrell factory.

The Graffiti team continued with their massive graffiti jam, filling the white gaps of their boards with unique character designs and trademark pieces.

In the surf, have a go sessions continued; crowds gathered on the beach at Yaverland to watch the hundreds of enthusiasts try and catch their first wave. Later in the afternoon, due to a lack of action on the water, the Thundercats headed out from Yaverland beach with surfers and competitors from the event in tow; this proved a fun way to end the day

The action continued late into the night with a Party After dark display from the crazy Mountain Board Freestylers a VIP Party at after, followed by the White Air 'Deep Blu' party!; the first huge party night of the event!

On Saturday the 28th , all eyes were on the water as competitors hit the sea making the most of the weather conditions. Whilst kitesurfers and kayakers headed to Compton Bay, one of the UK’s premier surfing spots, windsurfers, the thundercats, and jetskiers battled it out on the water at Yaverland.

The UK RRD BKSA Wave and Big Air Championships took place with top UK and international kitesurfers competing in the Wave Masters at Compton Bay. Event organiser Nigel Howell took first place, with Neil Gent in second place and Denzil Williams in third. Spectators gathered along the cliff and beach at Compton to watch the kitesurfers compete for the Wave Masters title. The kitesurfers finished the day with a big air display back at Yaverland.

The White Air Kayak Surfing Open was held at Compton Bay, a new extreme sport added to the event calendar this year. The event was a huge success, despite the wind picking up later in the afternoon. Andy McCullough took first place in the open category, with Kev Richardson coming second. Over at Yaverland. windsurfers made the most of the wind at where they fought for the Wightlink British Open Slalom Champion title. Niton saw more windsurfers competing in the White Air Freewave UK Championships in association with IWEP (UKWA), combining the skills of freestyle and wavesailing.
The notorious ‘Pierats’ also featured on the water at Yaverland, with jetski displays running throughout the day, and although the waves made it difficult to perform tricks on the water, later in the afternoon the waves were in their favour and the team performed a number of barrel rolls and other tricks.

Back on the land the action continued in the extreme playground; top names entertained the crowds with displays and demos throughout the day. Have-a-Go workshops were yet again a success, as more people were keen to get involved in extreme sports, both on the land and in the water. Top name skaters, Greg Nowik, Bod Grest, Flynn Trotman, Jed Cullen and Mark Churchill descended on the island to perform their best tricks on the skate ramp. Skate clinics were held again as beginners were given advice from top names in the sport.

The Wight Offroad Mountain Bike Challenge started early in the morning, with 100K competitors heading out at the crack of dawn. The keen mountain bikers headed out to find the five checks along the route from Yaverland, through Ventnor Downs, Godshill, St George’s Downs, Brading and back to the event site. The challenge offered three routes; 25K, 50K and 100K.

On Sunday the 29th October – the final day of White Air 2006 – yet more action both on land and in the water took place. With the Windsurfing and Kitesurfing UK Championships decided it was a day for the Jet skis and Thundercats to hit the water. Meanwhile, in White Air’s extreme playground on the land, the RAF Mountain Board MBS European Cup took place with top international riders taking to the ramp. Parkour, skate and mountain bike demos also continued throughout the day and over 700 spectators took up the offer to ‘have a go’ for free at any of the 12 sports on offer.

As the Indian summer arrived seeing temperatures of 26 degrees and a stunning blue sky over the White Air festival site on the Isle of Wight, ten competitors and three additional ‘wildcard’ riders took to the massive mountain board ramps to pull off their best moves in a bid to win the RAF Mountain Board MBS European Cup title. The riders were pulling off huge tricks; 900’s, corked 720’s and backside cork 540’s included. Tom Kirkman triumphed, taking the European Cup title, followed by Tom Read. Joe Dickson wowed the crowds with a double back flip, taking third place in the Cup.

Also on the ramps were the skaters, with Greg Nowik amongst top names displaying one-man demos on the ramp. Skate clinics also ran, as well as have-a-go mountain board sessions.

Jamie Hunt, Bill Pewsey and Lee Hunt made it back to Yaverland after eight hours on the 100K Wight Offroad Mountain Bike Challenge on Saturday. Paul Nightingale was first to make it back from the 50K journey.

On the water the Thundercats thrashed it out in the Powerboat races, with Sean Fisher taking first place, followed by Jason Wyatt and Scott Wilson. These three competitors won the same places overall in the Thundercats Powerboat Racing during the weekend.

After a hugely successful day on the water yesterday, the prize giving for both the Windsurfing Freewave UK Finals Championships and the UK Finals Slalom took place in the afternoon. Taking first place in the Freewave Pro men’s was Ben Profitt, followed by Chris Audsley and Andy King. Graham Woods won the youth fleet, and Richard Jones the junior fleet.

Kitesurfers completed the UK RRD BKSA Wave and Big Air Championship; the Big Air category took place at Yaverland, with Sam Light taking first place, Denzil Williams in second place and Lewis Cratlern in third. In the Ladies category, Jo Wilson took first place, with Johara Sykes-Davies in second. Prize giving was held this afternoon, for both the Wave Masters and Big Air categories. Finally, UK Kitesurfing Championships Pro Wavemasters overall saw Nigel Howell take 1st Place, Neil Gent in 2nd, and Denzil Williams in 3rd.

The weather helped to make the final day of White Air 2006 in particular a stunning one with awesome action on all fronts, with spectators in their thousands lining the arena.
The weekend was a huge success and the biggest White Air Festival to date. Top names in extreme sports flocked to the island from Germany, Poland, Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Russia and many many more countries. Spectators were fully involved with ‘have-a-go’ sessions also being run throughout the weekend. The event would not have been possible without sponsors Wightlink, IWEP, RAF and the Isle of Wight Council welcoming extreme sports to the Isle of Wight for the tenth year of White Air.

Here’s to another ten!