Strong winds ground kitesurfers

Kitesurfers use the wind to soar about the waves

Severe weather conditions have put paid to the second day of a national kitesurfing competition in Cornwall.

More than 50 competitors travelled to Watergate Bay, near Newquay, to take part in the British Kitesurfing Association's (BKSA) three-day event.

Friday's pro men and women's events were also postponed by the weather.

"We can cope with the driving rain, but the strong north-easterly winds have us beaten at the moment," BKSA spokeswoman Jo Edmondson said.

She told BBC News the competition would continue on Sunday if weather conditions improve.

Lewis Crathern from Worthing, Sussex, won the pro men's event last year, with Johara Sykes-Davies from Llandudno in Wales regaining the pro women's title.

Kitesurfers try to harness the power of the wind to pull off freestyle manoeuvres up to 40ft (12m) above the waves.

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