Ramsgate will host the final leg of the 2018 National Freestyle Kitesurfing Championships.
The event follows endorsement from record breaking kitesurfing champion Lewis Crathern.
Lewis headed to Ramsgate in November 2016 and jumped a whopping 22.3 metres high, smashing his own British record in the process.
Representatives from Active Ramsgate then successfully concluded talks with the British Kitesports Association (BKA) to become one of just four destinations to host this year’s championship.
Kite Pirates Kite School, based in Ramsgate, was also instrumental in sealing the deal.
Active Ramsgate, an initiative of Ramsgate Town Council, is designed to support economic development in the town by promoting the area to visitors and residents through an inspiring range of outdoor activities. The team at Active Ramsgate are not only hosting the thrilling final leg of the championships, but are a headline sponsor of the whole event across all four championship destinations – Skegness, Hayling Island, Westward Ho!, and Ramsgate.
The final leg of the championships will take place on August 18-19 off Ramsgate Main Sands and around 70 competitors from all over the UK will be competing for the title of National Freestyle Kitesurfing Champion.
Any kitesurfer of competition standard can enter. For more information, visit www.britishkitesports.org
Councillor Peter Campbell said: “This event is a major coup for Ramsgate, and we are delighted to be welcoming kitesurfers from all over the UK later this year. We know that Ramsgate is a fantastic destination for kitesurfers, and its popularity has grown rapidly in recent years.
“Holding an event such as this will only heighten Ramsgate’s profile as an active destination, and it will bring lots of visitors to the area who will all see what a wonderful place this is, and we’ve no doubt they will return time and again!
“We also want to encourage residents to engage with Active Ramsgate, so there are plenty of outdoor activities for everyone to get involved with throughout the year. We hope local businesses will also engage with the openings these championships will present. Check out the Active Ramsgate website, 2018 is going to be the year of kitesurfing for Ramsgate!”
Taster sessions
Active Ramsgate is offering free onr hour kitesurfing taster sessions for adults and children 11years and over on the weekend of August 18-29 to coincide with the event.
The taster sessions will be run by qualified instructors from Ramsgate’s local kite school Kite Pirates and the British Kitesports Association (BKSA).
The sessions are land-based (not in the water) and you will learn how to rig a kite, get it into the air and manoeuvre it. Pre-book your time slot online and arrive 10 minutes before the start time of your session on Ramsgate Main Sands, just along the beach from Wetherspoon’s Royal Victoria Pavillion. Look out for the Kite Pirates flag.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
More details of the National Freestyle Kitesurfing Championships can be found at
www.britishkitesports.org, www.ramsgatetown.org/activeramsgate and www.visitramsgate.co.uk
Find out about kitesurfing lessons in Ramsgate at Kite Pirates Kite School here