Chris's Costa class

CHRIS HARVEY is among the world's top 10 surf kayakers. On his return from the World Championships in Costa Rica, he declared the trip as having been 'very successful'.

In the open class, Harvey finished ninth, despite not being able to perform to his full potential.

'I'm happy with making the top 10 in the world despite the difficult conditions, which meant I was unable to perform my trademark aerials,' said Harvey.

'I continued to maintain a good level of surfing but I was unable to push the top-end moves until the quarter-finals, where I was beaten by the conditions and some excellent surfing.'

In the longboat class, Harvey did much better than he expected by reaching the quarter-finals and knocking out the British number three in round two.

'The longboat class is not my speciality so I surprised myself with how I did.

'My final ranking in the longboat is yet to be published but it will either be 10, 11 or 12.'

But it was prior to the competition, when the waves were perfect for the free surfing 'expression sessions', that Harvey caught the eye with his aerial manoeuvres, which included two completely new moves - the aerial barrel and the aerial barrel lip punch.

'After the free surfing, I was approached with a number of opportunities, including equipment sponsorship, but the most attractive are two video requests.

'One by surf kayaker designer former USA west champion and video producer Vince Shay, who has asked me to make a video with him in Indonesia in about 12 months' time and the other is from former world champion Jim Grossman, who has asked me to feature in a trip to Hawaii.'