After a long-awaited return to Scotland for one of our national events, it felt great to be rolling back through the sweeping hills into the Scottish kitesurfing capital of Troon.
Saturday kicked off with a 9:00 AM riders’ briefing, where a buzzing fleet of male and female competitors gathered—smiles on faces, boards at the ready, and eager to hit the water to show the judges what they were made of.
The weather, however, had other plans. With short bursts of wind and longer spells of sideways rain, the day presented tough and unpredictable conditions. Still, by 2:00 PM, the wind settled into a consistent 18–25 knots, and the competition flag finally went up—starting with the women’s fleet.
A strong field of five riders, made up of both international and local talent, launched into a highly competitive first round. From the outset, Georgina Branton made a statement with her impressive height and distinctive style, securing her place in the final. Joining her was her younger sister, Annie Branton, who delivered one of the highest-caliber women’s Big Air performances the judges had seen in some time. Her display of boogie loops, contra loops, and board-off rodeos wowed the panel and pushed her past seasoned riders Lori Provan and Kate Sandeman.
The battle for a second chance at the final was fierce. Lori and local standout Jenny Aitken fought back with consistent performances to earn their places in the final round, setting the stage for a Branton sisters showdown.
As the wind intensified, the finalists scrambled to downsize their kites. Soon, the skies were filled with rotating canopies and spinning riders. Thanks to the new judging system, which emphasized technique, height, risk, and innovation, the team were able to evaluate every trick with precision.
Division 1 riders endured a long, wet wait, clinging to the hope that the wind would finally stabilize. Unfortunately, just 20 minutes after the day was officially called off, the wind filled in. The decision was made to resume the competition early Sunday morning, with an 8:00 AM start.
In the meantime, riders and supporters celebrated Saturday’s results with trophies, prizes, and an amazing BBQ hosted by the South Beach Hotel, accompanied by well-deserved celebratory drinks.
Sunday – Division 1 Finale
Sunday morning delivered, with gusts up to 30 knots and riders rigging their 8m and 9m kites. The action got underway fast.
Kitesurfing legend Andrew McMillan returned to competition in signature old-school style, facing off against veteran and event organizer Grant Clayton, who showcased his experience and consistency to make it into the final.
Joseph Szukalski, hungry for a podium spot, overcame a low-scoring first heat and just managed to edge out local icon Ian Lemon, whose stylish moves unfortunately lacked the height and risk Joseph brought.
Ian came back strong in the second round, landing the highest-scoring trick of the event with a backroll kiteloop late back, earning his place in the final. Andrew couldn’t quite respond with enough scoring tricks to advance.
In the final, Joseph led with a massive backroll kiteloop late backroll, putting pressure on the field. Grant, well-versed in the local conditions, executed a composed and calculated heat, ticking all the technical boxes across trick categories. Joseph went huge but struggled to land his more ambitious tricks—a tough but valuable competition lesson.
Division 2 had a start-stop rhythm as the riders worked around the shifting conditions. Young talent Archie Budd came into the event determined to bounce back from a disappointing result in Round 1 at Greatstone. He delivered a strong, variety-packed performance, earning his place in the final.
Meanwhile, Konstantinos Nikolopoulos edged out James Nicol in a tightly contested heat, showing amplitude and versatility, while James impressed with smooth, stylish old-school tricks.
The second round was a last-chance opportunity, and James stepped up with some unhooked tricks to rejoin the final. Daniel Cain, embracing the rising wind, boosted higher and joined the four-man final.
After several rain delays, the wind finally returned and the green flag was raised for the final. Konstantinos started strong with a clean darkslide, but Archie responded with composed, powerful kiteloops. James struggled early on with a series of crashes, while Daniel showcased consistent variety.
Archie, displaying a maturing competitive mindset, executed a flawless, crash-free heat, filled with creative loop variations. Unfortunately, Konstantinos couldn’t recover from earlier errors, landing only one more scoring trick.
Barassie beach is on the west coast of Scotland approximately 30 miles south of Glasgow on the Firth of Clyde. With a good wind record and an ideal beach set up, this first event north of the border is sure to be popular. Registration is now open.
For those with camper vans the event has overnight campervan spaces for just £10 per night and there are toilets on site (no showers or power)
You simply just pay on the parking app upon arrival. Everyone who parks up must be respectful; it is monitored by the ARA and police.
Big Air