Puravarna Windsurfing Rally for His Majesty The King ( Phuket News )
Medal winners from recent Olympic Games and international competitions will be particpating in the windsurfing competition, the "Puravarna Windsurfing Rally for His Majesty The King" being heldon Phuket to celebrate the auspicious occasion of His Majesty The King's 80th Birthday Anniversary.Tourism Authority of Thailand in association with The Yacht Racing Association of Thailand and The Windsurfing Association of Thailand by The Eastern Windsurfing Club will be jointly hosting the event will be titled to be held from January 15 - 20, 2008 off Thailand's famous West coast of Phuket. The rally will commence at Nai Yang, in the North of the island and end at Nai Harn, at the South, passing the world famous beaches of Surin, Patong, Kata and Karon among others, on the way.In addition to a world class entry of top athletes from 21 countries, the Thai national team will also enter the competition. The presence of 30 of the world's best exponents of windsurfing promises an exciting event. The route to be used in the competition cruises along many famous beaches surrounding Phuket island. More than 100 kilometres of breathtaking scenery and marine environment await participants in this world's first windsurfing rally.Another highlight will be the sports equipment, sport clothes, and other accessories which have all been specifically designed to fit with the philosophy and objectives of the event. Even boards, sails, and racing suits have been produced in yellow, the color of His Majesty The King.The Chairman of the National Board of Director, Dr. Suwit Yodmanee, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, commented about several unique points in this rally drawing attention to the world class competitor entries. He went on to add that the competition will be broadcasted to about 170 million households worldwide, providing the great opportunity to showcase Phuket Island, the Pearl of Andaman, and the leading tourist attraction of the region.Event Manager, Thanit Raksanaves of the Eastern Windsurfing Club said that he is thrilled to have such a broad international entry especially from the major European Countries, Scandinavia, North America and Asia and especially the European countries that have produced so many of the world's greatest windsurfers. Topping the list are Christoph Sieber, from Austria who is the Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist; Guy Gribb, UK's number one national windsurfer for 13 consecutive years; French former world professional champion, Patrice Belbeoch; Riccardo Giordano, Italy's number one national windsurfer for 14 consecutive years and former European Windsurf Champion. Representing Asia will be Asian Games silver medallist and SEA Games gold medallist for five consecutive years, Saad Panyawan, along with Aran Homraruen, Thailand's national windsurfer who won several medals at the Asian Games.
