British Freestyle Kitesurfing Championships underway

Kites on the sand in Ramsgate as competitors prepare for the weekend's events

The final round of the British Freestyle Kitesurfing Championships is taking place on the beach in Ramsgate this weekend.

More than seventy competitors from across the UK are in Kent to take part. The event is being sponsored by 'Active Ramsgate' which is an initiative by the local town council to regenerate the area by promoting the outdoor leisure activities on offer.

Competitors warm up for the day's events

The Championships are taking place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August between 10am and 4pm each day. The organisers of the event on Ramsgate Main Sands are also offering visitors and spectators a chance to try kitesurfing for themselves.

The town also hosted the event last year. This time it is the final stop on a contest which spans four locations in what is being called a freestyle tour.

The event can be a springboard to international competitions

Brother and sister, Mattia and Francesca Maini, from Herne Bay in Kent have been competing at Ramsgate in the final leg of the National Kitesurfing Championships 2019.

The two are tipped as potential stars of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Watch our report by John Ryall.