British Kitesports returning to Hunstanton's Lifestyles Festival

British Kitesports has confirmed it will run two national competitions at Hunstanton’s hugely popular Lifestyles Festival when it returns next month after a one-year absence.

The announcement by the organisation has given the Lifestyles Association a huge boost as the committee puts the final touches to the free event, which is expected to draw thousands of festival goers to the West Norfolk coast.

Peter Shaw, British Kitesports director, said freestyle kitesurfing as well as the exciting new discipline Twin Tip racing will blow into Hunstanton for the festival, which will run from 19-21 September. There will be multiple classes for each discipline with professional men and women categories and senior, junior and amateur events being held too.

Asked why British Kitesports is returning to Hunstanton, Mr Shaw said: “It’s a great venue and location for kitesurfing and it’s a brilliant event to be part of. It's also an established event on the kitesurfing and extreme sports calendar that is well managed and we’ve got every confidence this year’s festival will be the best and most diverse yet.”

As well as the British Kitesports competitions, live music, and Volkswagen show on The Green, festival goers will be able to take in extreme climbing, parkour, BMXing and skateboarding, both as spectator sports and for newcomers wanting to have a try or learn more.
 
Visitors will also be able to begin their kite career with free have-a-go power kiting sessions, take in the work of local street artists at this year’s Lifestyles and learn about the power of renewable energy from British Kitesports and their sponsor Dong Energy.

Chris Howe, commodore of the Hunstanton Sailing Club and Water Sports Centre, a supporter of the festival, said the national competitions are going to be an excellent addition to Lifestyles and encouraged families to visit the resort to watch from the shore as the professionals show off their skills.

“The backing of British Kitesports is a huge endorsement of the hard work carried out by the Lifestyles Association committee in ensuring the festival returns with a bang this year,” he said. “Having professional kitesurfers is going to be a wonderful spectacle during the festival and I would encourage those who perhaps aren’t interested in having a go at an extreme sport, to come along and watch the kitesurfers because some of the things they can do are incredible.” 

Lifestyles Festival has also launched a free mobile app, available on both iPhone and android devices, which is a must have for festival goers with competitions to take part in and prizes to be won. “Packed with important information and news, extreme sports fans can be kept up to date with all things Lifestyles,” chairman Liz Pendleton said. “Featuring live Hunstanton weather, including tide times, people who download the app will be the first to know if the conditions are just right.

“There will also be information about the activities happening at the festival and with more details uploaded as and when they’re released, you can stay up-to-date with everything from sports and music to art and VW.”

The festival, which was first held in 2005, had to be cancelled last year because of funding and management problems but this year is set to be one of the biggest yet after extreme sports fans voted with their wallets to help raise more than £20,000 through a public fundraising campaign and a new headline sponsor in Highline Extreme.

In addition to public funding, support has also come from groups and organisations including the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk which has given permission to use its land for free, and will be providing resort staff to assist the volunteers during Lifestyles. Backing has also come from headline sponsors Highline Extreme, Lingo Design, Hunstanton Watersports, Chicago’s, Barking Dog Media, New IT and Park Resorts, but the Festival is always happy to talk to potential new backers.