WHEN the windsurfing elite gathered in Australia for the ultimate challenge of becoming world champion our very own Keith Atkinson from Wilmington was among them.

Although still recovering from a dislocated shoulder the 22-year-old came home from the Formula Windsurfing World Championships in Melbourne with a silver medal in the lightweight class as well as 13th spot overall and a new world ranking of seventh.

Keith was just one of four Great Britons at the event which attracted 120 competitors from 23 countries.

He said: "I dislocated my shoulder when I was coming out of the water during training at Weymouth.

"I was trying to hold onto my equipment when a wave caught my shoulder on the beach at a funny angle.

"The shoulder popped out and in again but did a lot of damage to the ligaments and tendons.

"I could not get back in the water for four weeks and so only had two weeks preparation for Australia."

With hopes of a top five finish overall dashed and a revised target of the top 20 Keith went into the competition run over seven races not knowing what to expect.

He said: "My best finish was a fourth place but the race was binned for reasons which are still obscure. By the close of the penultimate day I had climbed to ninth overall.

"There variable winds through the final day but with a 4pm cut-off time for the final race time was fast running out when suddenly the bay was hit by a storm with 50mph winds, which is too strong for competition.

"But by 4pm the wind abated sufficiently to get the men's fleet out on the water for the final race.

"The conditions were so bad only a third of the fleet finished the race."

Keith was able to hold on to second place behind Frenchman Julien Quentel in the lightweight class and finished 13th overall.

He said: "I was pleased with the way things went as it can be difficult for the lightweight guys because the equipment is so big. The bigger you are the faster you can go.

"It has been 20 years since a lightweight surfer dominated the sport so it would be nice to see some of the smaller guys do well."

Keith, who hit the headlines last year by taking gold in one of the EuroCup series racing events, has set himself targets for this year beginning with retaining the British Championship and moving up to fifth in the world.

He said: "I like to improve a little each year and I took a huge step forward after working with the Polish team last year and I am returning to them in February so hopefully I can take another step up.

"Come the start of the season I should be fully fit and I think I could definitely make the podium at the next world championships."

Although travelling the world with his chosen profession is a wonderful way to live there is a downside.

Keith, who first took the water aged six, said: "My number one issue at the moment is sponsorship.

"I have a great deal to offer a potential sponsor now I have the UK national title and a top 10 world ranking."

He added: "Windsurfing is better than anything else I have tried.

"I could not imagine ever been stuck in an office and it is definitely a nice lifestyle.

"But it is not all good and we have to face some horrendous conditions. I have worked and trained very hard to get where I am and it is getting more intense.

"I am in the gym five days a week and at home I work on a rowing machine.

"Now I can't wait for the new season to get underway."