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There are a heap of reasons why the National Watersports Festival (NWF) should be on your radar for 2017. Taking place earlier than previous years, between 2 – 4th June, the NWF is a non-stop SUP and windsurf festival of racing, club activities, clinics, live music, parties, camping, family fun and a whole lot more.
Here’s the Top 10 quick fire reasons why you should get yourself along this year:
Brand new location: The NWF has moved into a new decade with a new location; Rutland Water in the East Midlands. If you’ve got mates up north or down south; no problem, now you can just meet them in the middle!
The move from the Hayling Island coast to calmer and more predictable inland waters at Rutland means conditions will be super friendly for the whole NWF community; perfect for youngsters, novices and intermediates and the beach area will also create a perfect amphitheatre for spectators.
SUP taking centre stage – With SUP now the fastest growing watersport in the world, so too has the discipline moved up a notch at the NWF.
As well as 3k and 5k races, there are Team Dragon (4 man) SUP and Mega SUP club challenges. You can join in a ‘chill out’ paddle or an exciting evening SUP Adventure Tour of the lake. You can also try out some SUP Yoga or SUP Pilates and for something a little more light-hearted (but probably no less competitive!) there is SUP Polo or SUP Tug o’War!
SUP club focus – With SUP clubs the backbone of the sport in the UK, the NWF is putting on a club-friendly format where you can earn points by taking part in a series of challenges to see how well your club does. Clubs can also enter a junior team into each challenge.
With the focus on something for everyone, the activities planned range from family-friendly tasters to full-on, technical races.
Points will be added up over the weekend and the Prize Giving will take place on the Sunday afternoon, after the main race.
Parties, oh the parties! – The NWF is renowned for its live music and parties throughout the festival and the organisers have just stepped it up a gear with The Grainstore Brewery which is supporting the event and bringing with it some rather special booze! The Grainstore is a local brewery and you’ll have the chance to try out award-winning special ales, such as Red Kite, Rutland Panther and Rutland Beast, as well a range of ‘well-balanced ciders’, all made from British apples! Then party the night away with the live music from well-loved, loyally followed bands from across the region.
Flying fireworks – AeroSparx is coming to the NWF; the only pyrotechnic glider team in the UK licenced to fly at night! AeroSparx performed a spectacular, aerial firework display on BBC’s The One Show to honour the Queen on her 90th Birthday and will be performing at the NWF on the Saturday night! Two gliders will be carving gracefully, performing aerobatics through the night sky. With wingtip pyrotechnics and two fuselages, each covered with 12,000 LED lenses, those on the ground will be in for quite a treat!
Freestyle Night time action – As well as a feast of colour and action in the sky, look out over the water and marvel at the night freestyle action on the Saturday night. The windsurf pros will be pulling out all the stops to create a breath-taking performance of tricks and stunts just metres from the assembled crowds.
Trade Show – All the main SUP brands will be showing off their latest gear and can talk you through all the products and gizmos you’ll ever need at the huge NWF Trade Show. Demo some of the latest boards and find out about all the new technologies and developments and get to meet the industry riders and people ‘in the know’. Dare NOT to be there!
Clinics and demos galore – One of the most popular elements of the NWF are the clinics where the Pros impart their knowledge of the sport to the assembled crowd. These take place on the water, off the water and, in the case of one of our NWF Gurus, a fair percentage in mid-air! The NWF will have free clinics for all competitors across the whole weekend. No booking necessary; just rock up and join in.
Hovercraft Demo – Experience the thrill of hovercrafting with Axceler-8, who will be offering hovercraft demos at the NWF! Axceler-8 will provide a pretty unique experience for visitors, with the latest equipment and technology, ensuring an enthralling time. Check out www.hovercraftcentre.co.uk
Cheaper tickets – To make the NWF even more attractive this year, the organisers have lowered the ticket price from last year. With much of the infrastructure already in place at Rutland Water, organisers have passed on these savings to the people it cares about most; its competitors and visitors.
What’s more, all the taster sessions across the whole weekend are completely free, so bring your mates, your partner, your kids, bring everyone and help make the NWF 2017 the very best year yet. For further information visit the website www.nationalwatersportsfestival.com
The ticket line is now open at www.nationalwatersportsfestival.com