Windsurfing News  

Tiree in running for World Cup date

The tiny Inner Hebridean Isle of Tiree remains hopeful of hosting a round of the 2008 PWA Windsurfing World Cup this October. 
 
Despite the dearth of wind at last year's inaugural event on statistically one of the UK's sunniest and windiest islands, at least one islander is optimistic that the stars of the wave-sailing World Cup will return to its shores in the autumn.
 
"For 2008 we're pretty sure the right boxes have been ticked and it'll be going ahead," said Willie Angus Maclean, proprietor of Wild Diamond Surf on the island.
 
"It's most likely to be a World Cup sanctioned event - maybe not the same level as the grand slam held here last year. It all depends on the money that's available but we'd expect to see some serious (competitor) names kicking about," added Maclean.
 
However, he admitted there remains uncertainty about the longer-term prospects of hosting the spectacular wave-sailing contest in its turquoise waters.
 
Rumours persist that from 2009 organisers may decide to switch the competition to the nearby Isle of Islay. 
 
Tiree's powerful waves have attracted droves of windsurfers, surfers and kite-surfers ever since the first Tiree Wave Classic was staged in 1984.