http://www.surfkraft.co.uk

PRESS RELEASE – June ‘09

 Yes you read it right, prepare yourself for the first ever British ION- Man competition. 

ION-Man events are held in association with extreme sports brand, ION wetsuits and clothing. It is appropriate that the ION-Man event isbeing held as part of the Eastbourne Extreme event over the weekend of the 18/19th of July. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A CHANGE TO THE PLANNED TEAM FORMAT

The ION-Man competition will take the form of a 2 day event combining a fun series of challenges and competitions to make up the ION-Man final result.  Making up the challenges will be sports including windsurf racing, stand-up-paddleboard racing, kayak racing, a multi discipline relay and will include an evening party. As an added twist, there is the additional ION photo awards element, so don’t forget your cameras in order to submit the best photos from the team efforts from the day and evenings events for ‘bonus points’. 

Numbers will be limited, so it’s essential for teams to pre-enter for the ION-Man event. There will be a maximum of 8 teams, each comprising 3 competitors, competing for the ION-Man title. Each member of the winning team will win an ION summer suit of their choice, courtesy of event sponsors, ION. 

Additionally, as part of the ION-Man challenge, we are re-kindling an old windsurfing favourite from yesteryear in the form of the North One-Hour Classic. This is a competition with a long history and quite a pedigree, and to do it justice we will be opening this element of the event to all-comers, on all sorts of windsurfing equipment. There will be many prize categories set for this race, so dig out your trusty old kit, hunt out your fancy dress, old & young welcome, or just get training and tuned up to head for the front of the pack. 

The ION-Man & North One-Hour Classic is being organised by the UK’s number one and most successful windsurfer, Nik Baker along with Surfkraft’s most enthusiastic windsurfer, Ian Kraft, who has also been one of the driving forces behind the Eastbourne Extreme event from the outset. 

To pre-enter your ION-Man team, or to pre-enter as an individual for the North One-Hour Classic, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to be forwarded event details, schedule & payment instructions.  

Get ready to go EXTREME!

If competing isn't something you are keen to do, then maybe check out some of the taster sessions and clinics being laid on by Spray Watersports & also the Baker Windsurfing Academy throughout the weekend

Also happening this year at Extreme, a new trick hits the beach with a VW Show & Shine event planned for Sunday, cruising down in convoy from a charity bash will be up to 50 elderly VW's .... from hot to rot, and prime to rat, and all cool as mustard in their own way.

Details via http://www.vwbusstop.co.uk/  

UPDATED ION MAN FORMAT

Please note that due to a printing issue with the ION Man rash vests, the format has been altered. The ION Man title will now be competed for by individuals rather than teams.

Maximum entry for ION Man competition is limited to 20 people.

The ION Man event will kick off on Saturday with the North One Hour Classic around lunchtime, to suit the tides, and to enjoy what looks like an excellent forecast.  

Entry for the North One Hour Classic remains open until midday on the Saturday, with entry forms available at Spray Watersports.

All entry fees go directly to Spray Watersports, and any profits from the North One Hour CLassic & ION Man event go towards the Spray Sprite Team 15 funds.  

Lots going on, and with such a good windsurfing forecast, the priority will be windsurfing for ION Man honours, but with a twist

Okay .......

Tomorrow (Saturday) .... Eastbourne Extreme is hosting, amongst many other things, The North One Hour Classic

Plenty of folks asking questions, so .... make sure you've got to Spray Watersports around midday or earlier so you don't miss your chance to enter this classic free-ride friendly race format.

Car parking, for ION Man / North One Hour Classic entrants is free, and is located within the Fort Fun Car Park at the western end (closest to Spray Watersports). You can camp overnight here also. Please keep Spray's car park as free as possible, they need access and will move vehicles parked where they shouldn't be. 

It'll run for an hour, which may or may not surprise a few of you, with start time around 13:00 - 13:30 hrs

Prize giving will be Saturday evening in the nearby Big Apple public house, where fine food and beer will be readily available, along with a band later on for folks to enjoy or endure, depending on tastes etc.

Also kicking off on Saturday will be the UK's first ever ION Man event, and the North One Hour Classic is going to be round 1 of this competition also.

Round 2 will happen between completion of round 1 and beer o'clock, however round 3 may, or may not, occur just past beer o'clock saturday evening.

Sunday, more ION Man rounds .... until we have a champion to crown 'Eastbourne's most Extreme ION Man' ..... and there's no reason why it couldn't be a lady

Given most excellent forecast for wind, focus will be windsurfing related competition, but not your normal stuff ... fun, suitable for regular freeride kit, or wave kit if it really goes off, but with 'leveller' elements thrown in

I thought I was pretty evil with ideas, but Nik ....

Nah ... fun competition is planned, for anyone who fancies showing off windsurfing to a potential audience of 20,000 over the weekend, without them all then looking at a tea bagger and going 'wow, didn't he do a big jump, lucky he's got a parachute'.

This is a showcase opportunity for windsurfers, and any money made goes directly into Spray Watersports fund for their team 15 kids club.

Organised by volunteers, supported 100%  by Eastbourne Borough Council and ION / North (Boards & More), as well as all those trade stands attending the event, and also the Baker Academy.

Free to spectators, and there will be plenty to spectate over the weekend. 

See you there