Introducing the Scottish Windfest, Scotland’s Freeride Wind Sports Event!

The Scottish Windfest is a grass-roots inspired event, organised on behalf of the Scottish wind sports community. With on-site camping and live music, plus two days of fantastic wind sports action, the festival is set to be an unmissable event for spectators and participants alike!

Information for Participants

by admin on September 16, 2011

Note that information for Spectators and Beginners will appear shortly. This is for those registered to take part in the event as intermediate / advanced riders

Event Ethos

The Scottish Windfest is a volunteer-run event, that has been put together on a fairly large scale despite a very limited budget. We are committed to putting on an enjoyable event, and everything has been carefully planned to run smoothly. However, it is the first year that we’ve run the event and so if there are some teething troubles or the odd last minute change, we’d ask that you bear with us, and generally adopt a chilled attitude throughout the weekend!

If there is anything that is causing particular annoyance, please don’t moan at the event volunteers or the security staff. Instead, try and seek out one of the organisers (see here for who we are) and we’ll do our best to sort you out… ;)

Registration

Final registration takes place in the event office, which is next to the main marquee. It is open during the following times:

Friday 16th: 5pm – 6pm
Saturday 17th: 8am – 10am
Sunday 18th: tbc

If you have registered online, then you need to bring your paypal receipt and a copy of the participant’s disclaimer (we’ll have spares available on the day if you forgot to print this out at the time you make your booking).

If you are registering and paying on the day, please note that we only accept cash. Alternatively, online registration will remain open until 10am on Saturday morning, where you can pay with paypal or using your credit/debit card.

When you hand in your disclaimer, you’ll receive your partipant wrist band and your entry pack (including rash vest).

Location

The Scottish Windfest is taking place at Barassie Beach, Troon. Barassie beach is the beach situated to the north of the harbour (indeed it is sometimes referred to as Troon’s “North Shore”)



Driving Instructions

  • Step 1: Head to Troon.
  • Step 2a: If you come into Troon via the A79 turn-off (Monktonhill Road): Follow Monktonhill Road (becoming Craigend Road, South Beach, and then Ayr Street) into town until you get to the traffic lights at the corner of Ayr St and Portland Street (first lights you come to). Turn right onto Portland Street. Take the first left onto Jubilee Road, drive past Morrisons and turn right at the roundabout. That is you on North Shore Road. Keep driving along North Shore Road until you see the Windfest site.
  • Step 2b: If you come into Troon via the A78, turning-off into Loans: Take Dundonald Road into town until you come to the traffic lights after you have gone under the railway bridge and the road has turned to the left. At these lights, turn right onto Barassie Street. At the end of the street, turn right onto North Shore Road. Keep driving along North Shore Road until you see the Windfest site.
  • Step 2c: If you come into Troon via the A78, turning off at the B746 (Barassie) exit. Take the first exit on the roundabout (A759 heading to Troon) and then take the first right onto Kilmarnock Road (you have doubled back on yourself by this point). Follow the road into town, and once you have borne left at the foot of the hill, you’ll see the Windfest site.
  • Step 3: Arrive!

Sat Nav

If you can cope with Latitude and Longitude use: 55.557476,-4.657141

Otherwise, try: KA10 6SY (will get you close enough).

Parking

There are two car parks on the Windfest site, with the dedicated participant car park located opposite the Tower Hotel towards the north of the site. The public car park is at the southern end of the site (towards Morrisons). Please ensure that you park in the participants car park if you are camping, as it is located right next to the camp site area.

Both car parks will be signposted.

Camp site

The camp site at the Scottish Windfest is very basic, with only WC facilities and limited bottled water. Please bring plenty of your own water to compliment the stock we have available. We also recommend that you bring some hygiene wipes and/or anti-bac hand gel. You are not permitted to have open fires or BBQs on site, and any cooking must be done using appropriate camping stoves.

Programme of Events

This can be found here (opens new window):

Scottish Windfest Programme of Events

This may change on the day depending on the conditions. Events may be run subject to additional instructions issued by the beach master. The organisers do not warrant that any or all of the stated events may run, and failure to run any or all events does not constitute an event cancellation.

Random Questions

We have put together a Frequently Asked Questions page. If you still need a question answered, it can probably wait until Saturday. However, if it is urgent, post it to our Facebook page and we’ll do our best to answer it!

Photos

If you are taking pictures during the event, please consider posting them to our LiveShare Wall. It is super-easy (just drag and drop) and you can do it from your phone if you get the LiveShare app.

You do have to register, but it is totally free and you can register using your Facebook account (which makes the process take about 5 seconds). The phone app is awesome as you can take pictures from inside it, and they automatically get posted to our live feed (as well as saved on your phone). Search your app store for “LiveShare” (it is by Cooliris).

Our wall is at: http://www.liveshare.com/stream/1632028 or if you are using the phone app, just search for “scottish windfest”.

Introducing Tommy Gaunt…

by admin on September 15, 2011

There is no doubt that Troon is starting to produce some potentially world class kiters.  Everywhere you look the standard amongst the young riders is getting higher and higher, with new tricks being landed virtually every session. One of the riders who is definitely leading the charge is 18 year old Tommy Gaunt and so we were delighted when he popped in for a chat…

[click to continue…]

Surf’s Up with Breaks!

September 15, 2011

The Scottish Windfest team is delighted to announce another ace event sponsor – Breaks Surf Shop!  Situated in the centre of Campbeltown just 10 minutes from the world-renowned Machrihanish surf beach, Breaks stocks a wide variety of gear, including windsurfing kit by Simmer, Mistral and DaKine as well as Slingshot kites and boards.

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An Interview with Holly Kennedy

September 14, 2011

One of the best things about the Scottish Windfest is that it is bringing together wind sports enthusiasts of all levels – from complete beginners, right up to those at the elite level.  Someone who definitely fits in the to the latter category is pro kiter, Holly Kennedy.  Competing on the PKRA World Tour, Holly [...]

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Finesse Marquees, Official Event Partners

September 9, 2011

The Scottish Windfest is delighted to acknowledge the support provided by Official Event Partner, Finesse Marquees. Finesse Marquees are Scottish’s leading wedding marquee and event management company. An established and well respected business, Finesse Marquee has over 10 years experience in devising and installing tailored marquee environments.  They can handle all types of events, from an intimate [...]

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The MaverX Masterblasters!

September 7, 2011

The Scottish Windfest team are delighted to announce that the Windsurfing Masterblasters at this year’s event will be brought to you in association with MaverX masts, the ultimate in reduced diameter masts. Maverx hit the headlines earlier this year when this incredible shot of team rider Will Ward surfaced. It was all the more incredible [...]

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Saase Kitesurfing Signed Up As Event Partners

August 31, 2011

With just a bit over two weeks until the 2011 Scottish Windfest kicks off, we are struggling here in the blogging department of Windfest towers to keep up with all the amazing and exciting festival news. Hottest off the presses today is the news that kitesurfing retail brand Saase Kitesurfing have signed on the dotted [...]

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The Supersaturated Expression Session

August 29, 2011

One of the most anticipated events at the Scottish Windfest is sure to be the Kitesurfing Expression Session. You only have to watch the crews at Barassie and other Scottish beaches in action to see just how hard they are pushing themselves to improve, and just how much fun they are having doing it. As [...]

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Our Mystery Special Guest… Revealed!

August 24, 2011

We were just wrapping up a long team meeting at Windfest Towers, when suddenly Justin Bieber started blasting out. It was Robin’s phone ringing. He glanced at the number and darted off to take the call in private. After what seemed like an age, he returned looking glum: “Guys I’ve got some bad news for you…. [...]

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RYA Scotland – Official Scottish Windfest Event Partners

August 23, 2011

The Scottish Windfest is delighted to announce that RYA Scotland have signed up as one of the Official Event Partners of the 2011 Scottish Windfest. As the governing body of windsurfing and sailing, the RYA plays a massive role in the development and promotion of these sports from grassroots level right the way through to [...]

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