Glossop Young Windsurfer Gets Board
A young windsurfer from Glossop has been awarded exclusive use of a brand new board thanks to the John Merricks Sailing Trust (JMST), the official charity partner of the RYA OnBoard (OB) programme.
Johan Kidger, who sails at Glossop Sailing Club, was one
of 11 successful youngsters, selected from hundreds of
applications after competing in the RYA Zone and Home
Country Championships, which took place at eight venues
across the UK this September.
Johan (11) was introduced to the sport three years ago and
has rapidly adopted it as his preferred sport. "I love
windsurfing because it is social, and it is a brilliant
sensation to be skimming across the waves at high speed."
He has just secured a place on the RYA Zone Squad which
means he needs his own board rather than borrowing one
from the club.
"He takes every opportunity to get out on the water at the
club, not only on the main Saturday sessions for the
more-able windsurfers like himself, but also opts to
attend the sessions for those newer to windsurfing, where
the club allows the good windsurfers to free-sail," said
dad Jasper Kidger.
Jasper himself only took up windsurfing
six years ago.
Johan has the board for two years and then it
automatically passes on to the Sailing Club - by which
time he can expect to have moved on to more advanced
equipment.
He wants to be a competitive racer and also
pleasure sail on windy days. One ambition is to become an
Assistant Instructor so he can help to introduce more
young people to windsurfing.
Tim Snellgrove, Chief Windsurfing Instructor at Glossop
Sailing Club said: "This year Johan has attended over 40
training sessions at the club - this is our best
attendance. He shows enthusiasm to learn and is excited by
the progress he has made this year. Glossop SC is firmly
committed to encouraging those sailors who show aptitude
and interest in racing to progress along the RYA
pathways."
“We are delighted with the number of applications we
received, and selecting recipients was a really difficult
task,” said RYA OnBoard Operations Officer, Cat Ferguson.
“Each sailor selected has shown lots of enthusiasm, talent
and commitment to the sport. This year we have awarded
five Toppers and six Bic Techno windsurf boards, and we
believe these will provide these young sailors with the
opportunity to progress their skills with the highest
quality equipment. Young people who may not ordinarily
have been able to participate will be able to continue
sailing and hopefully go on to achieve their goals”.
Contact UsArticle Published: December 04, 2015 9:22
Article Updated: March 31, 2016 11:38
Tagged with: Windsurfing