PRESS RELEASE

Essential Store ONKWave 2014

After successfully re-launching the Official (Open) Dutch Championship Wave Performance Windsurfing in 2013, and after many years without competition, the Watersport Vereniging Zandvoort (WVZ) has been joined by Jumpteam Scheveningen (JS) to lay the foundations for a Dutch ONKWave tour. ONKWave is recognised and supported in 2014 by the Royal Dutch Watersport Association via the Dutch Association of Competition (wind) Surfers (NVW).

The windsurf ‘community’ partners are also delighted to be joined by Essential Store Scheveningen who not only provide financial support, but share our vision and bring experience and enthusiasm to help the ONKWave establish itself and hopefully expand to include more tour stops in the future.

The Essential Store ONKWave 2014 stops at two previous PWA World Cup venues: Scheveningen, and Zandvoort.

The waiting periods for the first event in Scheveningen are:

• 17 and 18 May
• 24 and 25 May
• 14 and 15 June

The waiting periods for the second and final event of the ONKWave 2014 will be held in Zandvoort, waiting periods are:

• 30 and 31 August
• 6 and 7 September
• 13 and 14 September

Competition days are organized as ‘flash mobs’. Competitors are kept up to date via social media. Organisers closely follow weather forecasts in the days running up to each tour date and the ‘buzz on the beach’ does the rest.

News about the event can be found on the websites of the community partners and the Essential Store. And via:

Facebook: ONKWave

Email: ONKWave@gmail.com

Picture from ONKWave 2013

Windsurf Community Partners

• Watersport Vereiniging Zandvoort

o   website: www.wvzandvoort.nl

o   Facebook: WVZ Watersport Vereniging Zandvoort

• Jumpteam Scheveningen

o   website: www.jumpteam.nl

o   Facebook: Jumpteam-scheveningen

• Nederlandse vereiniging van wedstrijdsurfers (NVW)

o   Website: www.wedstrijdsurfen.nl

What can spectators expect?

Competition wave windsurfing is a jury sport. Sailors are scored on wave riding skills and tricks and jumps. Because you will be watching the Dutch Open Wave Championship, expect to see some of the most radical moves in the most radical conditions. Last year, the event was held in approaching storm force conditions and saw aerial acrobatics from 32 men and 8 women. A short video from the Dutch Water Sport Association of the ONKWave 2013 is available at:

http://sport.nl/video/27521-onk-wave-2013-in-zandvoort.html

But while it is a privilege to watch the best windsurfers, windsurfing is about the ‘stoke’ and when the wind is blowing you have to get out there. For this reason ONKWave also organizes a ‘downwinder’ during each event for windsurfing spectators who also want to get wet.

Downwinder anybody?

What is a downwinder? The currents along the North Sea coast can be strong. Get a buddy with a beach buggy, drive up-wind, get out, get in the water and surf and sail back downwind riding the best waves. You can spend a couple of hours sailing, arrive at the competition area, and kick back, enjoy the hospitality of WVZandvoort and Jump Team Scheveningen and watch the action for the rest of the day. In Scheveningen, the downwinder will take you to start at the Zandmotor.

Do you want to compete?

The Essential Store (Dutch) ONKWave 2014 is an open event (all nationalities) for men and women. Due to time restrictions there is a limit to the total amount of competitors who can join and a seeding system may be applied. Competition experience gives you an advantage but is not necessary if conditions permit enough participants.

The ONKWave 2014 will be held as ‘tour’ over two competition days at two separate ‘breaks’ along our glorious Dutch coast. The (in)glorious weather of the north sea permitting.

Are their expenses for the competitors?

Yes. There are registration costs for both competitions and downwinders. Competitors are asked to pay 20 Euros per tour date but this sum also includes a one-day official ‘racing licence’ from the Dutch Watersport Association. Downwinder registration is 10 Euros. Competition registration includes some drink vouchers, and on the downwinder there is always the chance of some ‘goodie bag’ stuff. Great deals for great days.

Is there a wind limit?

Without wind or waves there is no wave windsurfing. The Essential Store ONKWave 2014 will only take place if the conditions are good enough to run the events.

In Scheveningen: If the conditions allow, the jury expects sailing the whole weekend and will run single and double eliminations. The longer days in May also help. If the conditions are only sailable for one day we will run only a single elimination. Preferred wind directions in Scheveningen are: ZZW, ZW, W, N of NNO.

In Zandvoort: If the conditions allow, the jury expects a one day event and we will run only a single elimination. The shorter days later in the year also create a constraint. Preferred wind directions in Zandvoort are: SSW, SW, (WS)W, NW..

The wind limit will be determined based on wave condition. So light wind to medium wind from SSW with good waves and the competition is on!

Registration for the Essential Store ONKWave 2014

The preparations for Essential Store ONKWave 2014 are well underway. We already have the first competitors. In total we have room for 32 male competitors and we expect to have at least 8 female competitors. Registration forms are available on the WVZ and JTS website or send an email to ONKWave@gmail.com or onkwave@jumpteam.nl.

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