VOTE: Worthing kitesurfers: Reckless or spectacular? with video

TWO kitesurfers courted controversy when they exploited high winds to jump over Worthing Pier.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Nov 2009, 14:58 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:06 BST

Jake Scrace, 25, from Goring, and Lewis Crathern, 24, from West Worthing, each leapt up to 60ft in the air as they sailed over the pier '“ which had been closed due to the bad weather '“ at around 10.50am on Monday, November 16.

A crowd of onlookers watched in amazement as the pair '“ both experienced kitesurfers '“ each made their jumps.

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Oneclearshot's video of Lewis Crathern as he flew over the pier can be seen by clicking here.

Worthing Council was less than impressed.

Rescue risk

John Rogers, deputy council leader, slammed the jump as a "selfish act of recklessness", although he admitted it was "undoubtedly spectacular".

He said: "It could have been a very different story if the flyers had slammed into the pier structure.

"This would have not only endangered their own lives but put lives of other people at risk in a rescue operation.

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Lewis, an acclaimed professional kitesurfer who has competed across the globe, said: "We didn't want to put anyone in danger.

Pier is Worthing

"You are always going to get safety people but we had a passion to do it.

"The pier is Worthing to me. That's why I did it."

Lewis described the jump as a realisation of his dreams, but said it was average when compared with previous open-water efforts.

Read the full interview with Lewis and Jake see the Thursday, November 19 edition of the Worthing Herald.

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See a larger version of Colin Winfield's photograph of Lewis Crathern flying over Worthing Pier by clicking here.

Have your say

Do you think the pier jump was a "selfish act of recklessness" or a "spectacular leap"?

Vote in the panel to the right of the screen.

What did you think?

Have Lewis and Jake put Worthing on the international map?

What concerns to you have about copycats?

Share your views, comment below, email the Herald or write in to Readers' Letters, Worthing Herald, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.

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