Hi - had a break from the blog but an update to follow

Eventful Twelve Months

During the winter of 2009/10 Max continued to train through sometimes arduous and icy conditions with his hard work resulting in his selection in representing Great Britain in the World Festival on the Beach, Mondello, Sicilly in May 2010. Along with two other windsurfers who were also selected they competed in a team event and an individual regatta with nine other nations. Light winds caused the team to slide from the lead to fourth place where they remained. Max was pleased with his result in the individual competition leaving him again just out of the medals in fourth position. Max spoke of this being a brilliant event and an excellent learning experience. Unfortunately Max sustained an injury taking him out of the racing scene for some eight weeks.

Max has undergone a huge growing spurt which is not unexpected but was the reason for his injury being told that his muscles and tendons could not keep up with his bone growth causing his knee to dislocate when put under pressure. He was not able to windsurf during this time but under the guidance of two Sports Physiotherapists an exercise regime was developed. Because of his recuperation Max found missing a number of events and National Squad training frustrating being keen to get back onto the water. An event in Bridlington in June saw Max commence competition again but under strict instruction not to exert himself finishing in fifth place. In July and just before the Worlds Max found his form once more in attaining second place in Mumbles, Swansea Bay, South Wales in the 6.8 meter Techno fleet.

Knowing Max’s fitness was back we travelled from South Wales to the South of France for the Techno 293 World Windsurfing Championships at Martigues with excitement. The weather conditions were extreme with very high Mistral winds for three consecutive days and a couple of days with no wind at all limited the time on the water to compete. Max was pleased to qualify for the gold fleet in eighteenth place out of ninety-six boy competitors but the last day saw him slip down the fleet with the Russians exerting their strength in light wind sailing. Overall Max said that he was very disappointed with his results hoping that he would have made the top ten.

Following the Worlds Max has now moved up a sail size progressing to the 7.8 meter Techno fleet (under 17). Although Max has experienced disappointment this season with the affects of his growing spurt, missing out on a number of events and his disappointment with his performance at the Worlds, he is delighted to have been reselected for the National Junior Windsurfing Squad once more. Since moving to the larger sail Max has been exerting is dominance in the fleet finishing 5th in the 2010 RYA UKWA National Windsurfing Championships held in Weymouth recently. Max was awarded the annual Robert Cartwright Memorial Trophy for his performance and general attitude, progress and commitment throughout the year whilst recovering from the injury affecting his season and also personifying what windsurfing meant to late Zone Squad sailor Robert Cartwright.

Mondello, Sicily Day 2

More youtube clips...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAR4Z7kYu54&feature=player_embedded

Mondello!

I went to Mondello in Sicily because I was selected to go for the team racing and individual racing representing Team GBR. I was selected to go to Mondello from my results in the races at the Team GBR National Techno Junior Squad training. In these races my overall position was 1st 6.8 Techno. Also there were two other people from the same squad as me, selected to go, who where Saskia Sills and Imogen Sills.

In Mondello there were the top 9 nations in the world. The event happened over 5 days, but also during these 5 days we had 3 days private coaching with the National Junior Techno Squad Coach, Oli Woodcock. We had 3 days of team racing and 2 days of individual races – a total of 28 races. In the team racing Saskia, Imogen and myself (representing team GBR) finished 4th overall. And in the individual racing I finished 4th 6.8.

This was a brilliant event and very enjoyable but at the same time a very good learning experience.

World Festival on the Beach, Mondello, Sicily Day 1

Check this youtube clip out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwUpER4VcWc&NR=1

Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy Webcam - click on the link

Webcam view of the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, click on the link...

http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/home.asp?sv=1308

Sports Award Successes

The following artical taken from North Lincolnshire & Humberside Sailing Club website and the RYA Yorkshire & Humber bulitin ...

Two of our most successful windsurfers won awards at the North Lincolnshire Leisure and Cultural Awards earlier this month.13 yr old Emma Labourne, pictured receiving her award from Nigel Adkins, Manager of Scunthorpe United FC, won the award for Young Female Sports Achiever 2010.Emma, who is now a member of the RYA National Youth Windsurfing Squad, is an outstanding windsurfer and her successes in 2009 would do justice to anyone five or six years her senior.

Also receiving an award on the night was 13 yr old Max Bushell a fellow member of North Lincs & Humberside Sailing Club and the RYA National Youth Windsurfing Squad. Max was runner up for the Young Male Sports Achiever Award. Both youngsters show a fantastic combination of talent, enthusiasm, skill and commitment to their sport.

Photo - Tim Labourne

Article for my School

Hi, my name is Max Bushell, I am 13 years of age and I have been asked to talk about my sport which is competitive windsurfing. The kit I use is the Bic Techno 293 one design windsurfing board, it is a bit bigger than a surfboard you may have seen at the beach but this has a large sail fixed to it. I have the Bic T-Rig one design 6.8 meter sail; the kit is one design throughout the world for all under 15 competitors.

In the summer (2009) I took part in the Techno World Windsurfing Championship and out of 68 under 15 competitors I came 21st in the world. I finished last season by getting 3rd 6.8 under 15 Inland Series which consisted of 5 weekend events all around Britain and in these events you race on inland lakes. Also I achieved 2nd 6.8 under 15 in the Sea Cup Series which consist of a further 6 weekend events around Britain and in these events you race on the sea. At the start of this season I found out that I had been selected for the National Junior Windsurfing Squad which consists of the 18 best under 17 windsurfers in the United Kingdom.

Since I have been in the National Squad I have been to a number of training events. The first event I went to was a Land Day at Chichester University which is where we have fitness tests, weighing, measuring of height, core stability testing, nutritional training, sports psychology and goal setting. I have trained at Hayling Island and Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy twice. When I went to Hayling Island we only had one days windsurfing because it was way too windy for anybody to go out windsurfing on the first day. But we did go out on the Sunday but while I was training I sailed towards the breaking rolling waves and while windsurfing a 12 foot wave came over the top of me and broke on top of me. The damage was so bad that I could not use that sail again, it was wrecked. When I last went to Weymouth it was so cold on the first day that there was only me and two other people left out on the water from our group till the day ended. On the second day all we did was raced and over the time of 3 training weekends and 7 races I am currently 1st 6.8 under 15 boy.

I have been training in between these times but over New Year the lake at North Lincolnshire & Humberside Sailing Club was totally frozen over making it impossible to go use the lake. I spend a lot of time training using a Swiss Ball which improves my core stability and fitness, I use a rowing machine and ride my road bike, but again the snow has stopped me using my bike at times. Fitness and the types of food I eat are very important as well as time on the water what ever the weather.

At the start of this season I found out that I had been selected for the National Junior Windsurfing Squad which consists of the 18 best under 17 windsurfers in the United Kingdom. Since then I have been busy training with the Squad at various places in the UK and at North Lincolnshire and Humberside Sailing Club at Barton where I am a club member. I have sailed or trained every weekend throughout the winter even when it snowed except for one when the lake at Barton was frozen!!

I have still got a few more squad training weekends to attend away from home but am now looking forward to the new racing season which starts in April and to competing again especially when I take part in the Techno World Windsurfing Championship in July which is being held in Martigues, South of France.

Check these photos out

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/bessyboo3

31 December 2009

Sports Grant Aid - North Lincolnshire Council

Thank you to North Lincolnshire Council for a Sports Grant Aid of £250

Youth & Masters Oct 2009

3rd 6.8 - Youth & Masters

Adam Percell receiving the Robert Cartwright Memorial Trophy

Whitwell October 2009

Celebrating 3rd place in the UKWA Inland & Cup Series

Trying out my 4.7 sail - birthday present


North Lincs are the Team 15 National Champions 2009/10

RYA Techno National Junior Squad 2009/10 - CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to both Max and Emma whose base is North Lincolnshire and Humberside Sailing Club for successfully gaining places in the RYA’s Techno National Junior Squad for 2009/10. They are part of an elite squad which recognises their past success and windsurfing potential. The purpose of the National Squad Programme is to feed talented sailors into the Youth and Olympic Programmes.

Duck Gybe & a Hellitak on the mast.

Juice Boardsports Demo Day, July 2009 at Grimwith, Yorkshire Dales

These piccies are from Gumpy’s demo day at Grimwirth. It was a really cool day trying the kit. My favourite sail was the Ezzy Wave Panther and my favourite board was the Starboard Isonic. The best kit together was the Starboard Isonic and the Severn Gator. Jem Hall’s talk was useful with his blast and control and carving tips. Thanks Gump!

IWA Windsurfing Championships, August 2009 - Weymouth

I took part in the International Windsurfing World Championships held at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy at the end of August. I entered the 6.8 Techno boys fleet, there were 68 computers from all over the world. We should have raced over 4 days and 1 rest day and doing up to 12 races. Unfortunately we had 2 days were it was too windy so it would have being dangerous to send us out on to the water to race so in the end we only 9 races in the end. When the event ended I finished 22nd.

North Lincs Invaders are North Zone Champions crowned at Covenham 12 July 2009

How cool is that, we are through to the Team 15 Championships again this year. I was really proud with my results in the 6.8 Techno Fleet as I came 1st. Well done to Emma, Robert, Luke & Joe who are all excellent competitors.

Check out the results http://www.team15.org.uk/page0609v01.htm

UKWA Inland Series held at Derwent on 04 & 05 July 2009 was not such a good event for me this time. I had a few OCS's and needed to go round the pin and shifty wind conditions... not good.

Check out the results http://www.results.eskdale.org/

Latest competition results

Team 15 Event held at Derwent Resiviour on28 June 2009 http://www.team15.org.uk/page0607v01.htm


Event held at Christchurch over the weekend of 20 & 21 June 2009 http://www.results.eskdale.org/

Cool shot of Ian Roberts

Blue Peter Filming

Ali Yates and me get our Blue Peter Badges

Filming took place at Barton

Ian Roberts - my coach, Ali Yates - my coach, Andy from Blue Peter & me

Andy & me having finished the filming for the Blue Peter ‘Take Me On’ feature which was shown on Blue Peter on the 10th June. I helped teach Andy to windsurf and he then took me on at racing at the end of the day.