Intro:

Thomas Traversa of France was crowned Red Bull Storm Chase champion after winning the third and final round of the series in Cornwall, England on Sunday (February 9th).

Script:

Gales and persistent rains have made life miserable for many in the British Isles in recent weeks.

But some of the very few people happy to see the adverse weather conditions were the windsurfers competing in the Red Bull Storm Chase, who completed their 2013/14 series with a third and final 'mission' in Cornwall at the weekend.

Hurricane force winds and ten-metre waves tested those in attendance, but also provided the perfect setting for the competition finale following previous stop-offs in County Kerry, Ireland and Tasmania, Australia.

The judges combined the scores of each windsurfer's best five jumps over the two days of competition to determine the podium positions.

First place went to Thomas Traversa of France, who completed a hat-trick after winning the first two 'missions' and sealed a convincing series victory.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Thomas Traversa, Red Bull Storm Chase champion:
"This is the best windsurfing, really going crazy in crazy conditions and I am so happy I could show what I can do, and sharing all those missions (rounds) with all those great riders and good friends and.... it's amazing, it's like something once in a lifetime and winning it, the first one, the second one and then the third one is like.... I don't know, it's like something happens there (gestures towards the heavens) for me and, I'm so happy."

Brazil's Marcilio Browne took second place in Cornwall ahead of Leon Jamaer of Germany, whose compatriot Dany Bruch completed the top four.