British Kneeboarders Crowned World Champions
2007 Kneeboard World Championships
Santa Cruz, California - 9-14 January

Karl Ward slashing at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz

Britain’s continual rise to the highest heights in European and global watersports was continued this week with two immense victories at the 2007 Kneeboard World Championships in Santa Cruz, California, USA. Jody Winter from Newquay took to the podium to claim the Ladies World Champion and the International Surfing Association crowned Richard Smith from Polzeath as the Pro Junior World Champion. Natalie Silverthorne also from Polzeath consolidated the British success by taking second place in the women’s event. These are collectively the best ever results for the British team in the continually growing sport of kneeboarding and represent a major victory for the committed individuals.

Richard Smith excelled in the Pro Juniors final using good contest strategy to dominate the best waves and showcase his surfing much to the delight of crowd. And Jody Winter ruled the entire women’s event, storming through all of her rounds, closely followed by Natalie Silverthorne who also excelled throughout, illustrating that British women have the edge against all other female competitors in the water.

Unfortunately there was disappointment for Karl Ward of St Ives who is being tipped as a future champion by the Australians and the Americans on the USA forum site. He was a victim of the wave drought that hit the semi-finals in the open and so finished 7th, still an exceptional result, in the overall Men’s title.

A delighted Karen Walton, National Director of the British Surfing Association said, “We are so proud of what the team and each of the individuals have achieved in the Kneeboard World Championships. As a British surf team attending a World Championships event, they have set new standards and have gone from strength to strength. With the British Surfing Team bringing home a silver medal last year and Reubyn Ash taking the European Junior title and now two world champion titles amongst our kneeboarders, no-one can deny that British surfing is making an extremely strong mark on the international scene!”

More photos below...

---

---

Notable British results from the competition:

Women
Jodie Winter - WORLD CHAMPION
Natalie Silverthorn - RUNNER UP

Pro Junior
Richard Smith - WORLD CHAMPION

Seniors
Karl Ward - RUNNER UP
Duncan Jones - SEMI FINALIST

Masters
Bro Diplock - SEMI FINALIST

Open
Karl Ward - SEMI FINALIST
Bro Diplock - QUARTER FINALIST

Jodie Winter ripping her way to gold

L-R: Natalie Silverthorn & Jodie Winter - 2nd and 1st respectively

Richard Smith dominated his final in building conditions

---

Contacts:
Jack Beresford, Kneeboard Surfing USA
Tel: (619) 341-1091, jack.beresford@sdsu.edu
Don Harris, Kneeboard Surfing USA
Tel: (415) 250-6400, dharris@ksusa.org

Related Links:
British Kneelo Club - full story and more photos
Kneeboard Surfing USA - contest organisers' site, with full results (follow link from middle of page)

---