Here is the report thanks to Pete Holliday, who finished 2nd on 12’6″ behind Mark Slater. Mark, also on 12’6″ finished 1st overall, beating the 14′ and unlimted boards.

“This was BaySUP’s 2nd Frostbite locally but our first champagne race. Bournemouth University Event students helps organise a fantastic event based at the Hengistbury Head Outdoor Centre. We had a great turnout, Starboard, 404 & Surftech all suplying loads of stunning new demo boards. We had something like 30 paddlers took part, some racing for the first time. We ran a short 1 mile & longer 5 mile race. Cnditions were tough, it was very cold, and a fair bit of head wind. The mass start went well, Matt French riding in the unlimted class got off to a flyer taking the lead with myself, Mark Slater (both 12’6) & Nick Watt (Unlimited) all neck & neck to the first turn.

Pete Holliday Frostbite Race

On the slog back into the wind Slater pulled away for Nick & I, then Nick managed to pull away from me. Nick was riding Starboards new Ace Pro, the first outing in the UK… it looked crazy, but was super fast. The positions remained right up until the end when Slater managed to take Matt just before the finish. A great result for him as he’s off to represent the UK in the World Standup Tour in Peru in a few weeks. There were some other fantastic finishes from Andy Joyce taking 3rd 12’6 and Jocelyn Jones taking 1st in the ladies 12’6 in a superb time of 1hr 7.

A great event & so good to see some new faces taking on the racing challange despite the cold & windy conditions.”
We also briefly spoke to the winner, Mark Slater:
Congratulations, Mark! you won the first frostbite race on 12’6″ beating 14′ and unlimited boards. How did the race go? Was it a start to finish win? 
Thanks Petra, no Matt French set a really face pace from the start on his K15 and I had to really try & pace myself to try keep him within distance to hopefully attempt to catch him in the latter part of the race, but not to exhaust myself to soon, Matt held his lead of about 10m for the first 3.5 miles and I was unable to gain any ground on him, but as we rounded the bridge for the last 1.5 mile downwind stretch back to the finish line he seemed to slow a little, so I made a push to break free, then held the lead to the finish
And now a very British question: How was the weather, I see you wearing shorts in the pics. Here in Munich it’s -2°C and we are freezing our asses off in full suits with hood and gloves….
You’ve got to be pretty hard core to still manage to get some water time in when it’s -2°C, I personally really struggle paddling with gloves on. Tt was a little cold here, but nothing like -2°C, so once we got paddling we soon got warmed up, although I did have to revert to wearing wetsuit boots, which isn’t such a good look with shorts is it! But at times one has to go for function over fashion….
Thanks, Mark, and good luck for the next race!
FULL RESULTS
4.7 Mile Race.
UNLIMITED CLASS
Matt French 54.41
Nick Watt 55.12
Crispin Jones 57.06
14ft CLASS
Marco 1:04.25
Richard Sayers 1:05.30
12’6 CLASS
Mark Slater 54.03
Pete Holliday 56.54
Andy Joyce 59.29
Sam Ross 59.55
Peter Vale 1:00.09
Gary Elford 1:03.44
John Parker 1:04.17
Simon Frost 1:06.45
Jocelyn Jones 1:07.06
Andrew Peiterse 1:07.33
Russell Ackrill 1:10.07
Nick Best 1:14.42
Amy Catford 1:18.12
0.8 Mile Race
Andy Hooper 12.00
Andy Wentworth 12.42
Haydn O’Neill 12.51
Steve Gibson 13.07
Joanne Hamilton-Vale 13.31
Congratulations to all winners and thanks to Andy Hooper for the photos!
Baysup Frostbite Races
There will be 2 more races on February 11th and February 25th. Entry fee is £10 for non-baysup members and £7.50 for baysup members.
Registration is at 9am, race breifing 9:30am and racing will start at 9:45am.
Classes:
  • Funboard
  • 12’6
  • 14′
  • Unlimited
Pre entry is now open for January’s race and can be done via the below link using paypal. Please pre-enter if you are intending to race as it will help us to gauge numbers but you can enter on the day. If you do not have equipment and would like to borrow some, please let us know ASAP and they will make sure there is some available for you.

More 2012 races are here.