Jamie Hancock wins Ireland UKWA event
From 6 to 10 May 2009 Ireland hosted the first leg of the UKWA wave tour where Jamie Hancock sailed to victory after a tough final against John Skye. A sweet result for Jamie, who just came back from an injury to his knee playing football.
How was the knee?
‘It was going pretty well, I just seemed to get straight back into it with no worries. I was just enjoying being back on the water to be honest.’
What were the conditions like?
‘Before the event it was pretty good but the conditions really peaked during the event week. It worked out perfectly with a joy first day of competition with very strong cross offshore wind and logo high sets all day. The best day for me.’
Sounds pretty hardcore. What gear were you using?
‘My kit was totally sic. I used the 3.3m Gun Sails Steel with my smallest Quatro twinfin. The boards still held the tight turns despite the 50 knots which I think was the key to beating Skyeboy in the final.’
How did the final go?
‘Pretty good, I picked up my highest scoring wave of the day in the first two minutes of the heat so with a total of two waves counting for the heat I had plenty of time to relax and get a second good scoring wave. I knew that the other guys would definitely be ripping so I pushed things a little more with harder, tighter turns and later hits which luckily paid off.’
So you could sit and watch the action in the double elimination.
‘Yes, after the first day of competition they had run most of the double elimination apart from the final six. The next day they took us down the coast to Stradbally where it was mast high plus and blowing about 50 knots; it was going off. John Skye was doing well and made it to the final. It was really cold in the water and I couldn’t see any sets coming in because of all the spray flying around. I didn’t see John once throughout my heat so I had no idea if he was doing well or if he was swimming. He won the first heat but still had to beat me once more to claim the title. Fortunately I beat him in the second final to take the event win! I got a couple of reasonable waves that didn’t just close out and landed my two jumps and I guess the most important thing was that I didn’t lose my kit and swim my hole heat!’
Was this win the highlight of your windsurfing career?
‘For sure it was one of the highlights, winning an event is always good, especially in such epic conditions! I have been to Brandon Bay in Ireland a few times over the years but this was easily the best conditions I’ve ever had there.’
Jamie throwing some spray – photo by Simon Crowther
