Finding a windsurfing holiday destination that offers attractions for partners and families can be challenging but FeelViana, a new hotel in Viana do Castelo, North Portugal offers all that and more. Great conditions for all abilities, luxurious accommodation and day spa, incredible food and a range of other activities all set in beautiful surroundings beside a city rich in history. Best of all, it’s within easy reach of the UK.  Finn Mullen reports on a compelling spot, well worth a visit!

Words  Finn Mullen  // 

Photos  Arménio Belo, Bruno Abreu, FeelViana Hotel, Katie McAnena and Finn Mullen.

Originally published within the September ’17 edition.

I’m standing beside José  Sampaio, CEO of hotel FeelViana, taking in the stunning Atlantic view while my daughter plays in the sand. José  is a windsurfer who after travelling the world and enjoying many of the best windsurfing spots had a dream to come home and build a hotel that would not only showcase the beauty of Viana do Castelo but also be something completely different in terms of luxury and facilities. Behind us lies his impressive creation, a futuristic wooden structure that sits seamlessly with its natural surroundings. In front, it’s a windsurfer’s dream – side shore winds, sunny skies and everything from dead flat water to fun waves. To the south, the white sand backed bay stretches as far as the eye can see, to the north the old city lies with its historic buildings keeping watch on our shoulder. As a location, it’s hard to not be seduced by its charm. I ask José  what inspired the name of his hotel, FeelViana. I expect a long answer, a chance for a CEO to extol and praise his project of passion but in typically relaxed Portuguese fashion he merely waves his hand from north to south, pointing to the medieval architecture of the city, the glistening sea and inspiring vistas. You don’t need to sell it, it sells itself.

NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
The area’s natural attractions are obvious, the river Lima meanders to the sea through the verdant hills that fringe the coast. The sea air mixes with the essence of the rich greenery that surrounds for a healthy cocktail to inhale. But perhaps most attractive for a windsurfer is the wind. Thermal by nature, it arrives with clear skies and is accelerated by the local topography of the hill overlooking the beaches. For the thermal effect to work requires a north component to the forecast direction, clear skies and forecast temperatures of a very comfortable mid 20°C., with all that in place you can rest assured that the strength will be much greater than what forecasting services like windguru will predict. Locals claim it has the most consistent wind in Portugal and typical sail size is 4.7 but what really sets the area apart is just how long the wind blows; the wind can settle in as early as 10 or 11 am and blow until sunset. That means you can binge on multiple sessions during the day or relax knowing that it’s there for whenever you need it. The range of water states available is equally impressive. The large breakwaters that form the entrance to the port of Viana do Castelo mean that inside the harbour area is dead flat water for slalom or learning while just immediately outside and adjacent to the breakwaters, the water is again flat unless there is swell, which the breakwaters actually then do a good job of cleaning the waves up into refined peaks which increase in size as you move down the bay. The wind is side shore and if you think all this sounds too good to be true then put ‘Viana do Castelo windsurfing’ into YouTube and you will soon see its potential!

The natural ‘horseshoe’ shape of the bay means you can’t end up in too much trouble, but as an added safeguard the main windsurfing area is well patrolled by lifeguards. Indeed to ensure safety,  José kindly funded a rescue boat for the lifeguards that operates in the main windsurfing season from May to September and offers free safety cover for customers of the hotel’s windsurfing centre. The predominant direction is starboard tack and in the course of the week that I visited in July we experienced the normal summer conditions of easy cross-shore sailing with flat water or some small waves. Local sailors will often sail further down the bay for bigger waves or less crowded conditions and whilst the number of sailors and kitesurfers in the main area was busy, the size of the beach meant it never felt crowded, rather an assuring number of like minded water users to enjoy the conditions with. Indeed the whole beach has a very relaxing vibe with families enjoying the sand and sea, nestling into the natural windbreaks of the dunes if the wind is too strong.

At the main entrance to the beach is the hotels’s hire kit centre and beach bar/café for a refreshing pre or post sail snack or drink. The walk from the hotel to the beach takes about 5 minutes and is a great way to start the day with a beach check by foot or my preferred option – renting one of the hotel’s ‘fat bikes’ with huge oversized tyres that make it possible to cycle on the sand. The paths to the beach are beautiful wooden boardwalks in keeping with the well managed dune systems and nature reserves they cross. Both José  and the local council are very keen that the tourism they develop is sustainable and protects the beauty of the environment that is
the area’s drawcard.

SANCTUARY BY THE SEA
If you don’t feel like checking the conditions at the beach with your toes in the sand then José  has that covered too, the sea facing side of the hotel has captivating sea views and you can check conditions from the decking by the pool or lounge / dining area. It’s worth pointing out that even when the wind is in full swing the pool area is well protected for partners just wishing to catch some rays and the decking area also offers shade for drinks and food ‘al fresco’. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a refreshing thirst quencher, sitting outside being served by attentive but not obtrusive staff while staring at the sea is one of those true holiday moments where the only thought in your head is how such a state of relaxation can be legal!

If you want to remain connected to the world, there is a dedicated business centre for conferences and fast and reliable internet throughout the hotel. The ambiance but is very much a natural, calming environment and perfect for a digital detox! The lounge area is spacious with huge sofas and seats, subtle mood lighting and a library of eclectic books that cover all tastes with some very interesting reading on both the local area and the style and architecture that have obviously influenced the hotel’s design. The décor feels like a millionaire has given a Zen guru unlimited access to his bank account. Natural hues adorn throughout and the cool corridors that access the rooms are sanctuaries of silence with well thought out quiet areas throughout.  The wood construction creates a wonderfully tranquil environment. José  told me that he chose it not just to respect the exceptional habitat and vast pinewood forest where the hotel is located but also because it is said humans sleep better in wooden environments. Sleeping so well in our room, I couldn’t disagree.

The rooms themselves also mix luxury with nature and José  picked some of the best mattresses he could find. As a windsurfer he understood the need to have a good night’s rest to recover from hard days on the water. Our room had a sea view and balcony that overlooked the forest; watching starry nights and trees bend in the wind added to the atmosphere and a passing evening shower one evening was a transfixing sight to watch as the raindrops fell gently on the pine needles. If you like watching weather, I can imagine even a winter visit to the hotel being special, viewing Atlantic storms from the comfort of your room.

FAMILY FRIENDLY
Family accommodation is well catered for with larger rooms or bungalows available for 2 adults and 2 children and the hotel and staff is very family friendly and offer an adventure club for 8-12 year olds. The whole area feels very safe and the amenities of a city such as supermarkets and hospitals are nearby. Portuguese people love children so be prepared for free treats and your dearest to be the centre of attention and affection. They say a measure of society is how you treat your young, old and sick. I can only say from my experience of visiting the local A&E at 2 a.m. with a very sick baby that Viana do Castelo should get an 11/10. From the hotel to hospital staff, everyone could not have been more helpful or caring. We had to visit the 24 hour pharmacy to get medication after our hospital visit and waited quite a while whilst the prescription was prepared – for the whole duration the taxi driver came with us and turned off his meter, such was his concern for baby.  There’s not many places in the world that would happen and I was reminded of when José  waved his hand across the city and its environs to explain FeelViana he added it was just not the place or lifestyle but the people that make it so special, he was right.

HOTEL HEALTH
There is a very holistic approach to your well-being at FeelViana. This isn’t just a great hotel, it isn’t just a windsurfing centre, it’s a one-stop ‘feel better’ shop. If you weren’t relaxed enough by the people and the place then they have a wellness & spa area, where you can enjoy massages and various treatments using the acclaimed Voya organic products from Ireland as well as a sauna, a Turkish bath and heated indoor swimming pool. There’s also a bespoke yoga studio with wood features, streams of natural light and classes for all levels, even catering for group yoga retreats while we were there.  Outdoor yoga sessions, family yoga, SUP yoga, pilates and stretching sessions can all be organised to have you in perfect form for your stay and the hotel also boasts a gym that looks like a professional windsurfer’s dream setup. As well as conventional gym equipment they have all the functional strength and dynamic balance gear that you normally only see at top sports physio’s or Red Bull’s famed training centre! The hotel also offers personal trainers to really whip you into shape.

FOODIE DELIGHTS
If the thought of all that exercise is making you hungry then rest assured the hotel has that covered too. José ’s dream was to have somewhere that not only could you relax and play to your heart’s content but also refuel with the best food possible. Breakfasts were a delicious buffet ranging from fresh fruit, fresh juices, seeds, nuts and cereals to freshly baked breads and pastries and good old bacon and eggs. With such an extensive fare you were easily setup for a morning of exercise before lunch, which again catered for all tastes, healthy to hearty, with vibrant salads, fresh smoothies and amazing burgers just some of the highlights. Evening meals were a tribute to the quality of the local produce and skill of the hotel’s chef, with dishes leaving you feeling as if you’ve found a culinary paradise by the sea. Try the local Douro valley area wines, which offer incredible taste and value for money. Kids are well catered for with their own menu and enjoy friendly service from the staff who offer the fine dining experience with an authentic warmth and service well able for the odd tossed tomato from baby!

ALL SPORTS
If you want to work off all that fine fare or just want other ways to get your sweat on then the hotel also has a full cycle centre offering rental of every sort of bike from full suspension to electric bikes, hybrids, road bikes and fat bikes. For the little ones, cycle seats and child trailers are also available. Every type of terrain is well catered for and the hotel even has a covered pump track to tear up on bike or skateboard. They also offer sales and service and you can even courier your own bike to the hotel if you wish. The staff can point you to local trails or organize group cycles and GPS units are available for hire to aid distant ventures. We opted for exploring the boardwalked trails around the beach, which made for a great start or end to the day. Cycling the ‘fat bikes’ on the beach is a unique experience I’d thoroughly recommend and the area also offers superb terrain for trail running or trekking in the hills. If you want to keep it on the water there is a full range of surfboards, bodyboards and SUPs to hire and plenty of waves within walking distance to accompany them as well as flat water SUP on the river through gorgeous waterways. A great family option is the monster SUPs that can carry everyone on one board. The area is famed for kitesurfing, with hire and instruction also available and they even offer sailboat and dinghy hire and instruction as well as cruises and yacht charter on the river through their parent company – www.FeelDouro.com.

CITY CULTURE
The city of Viana do Castelo is just a few kms away and a great option is exploring it using the hotel’s electric bikes or the hotel has a water taxi that can bring you into town – they will even carry the electric bikes onboard if you’re feeling extra lazy! The old narrow streets beg to be discovered and in an innovative move the local council offers incentives for people to live in the city so ensuring there’s life in the centre rather then deserted streets in the evenings. The range of architecture – Manueline, Renaissance, Baroque or Art Deco – is a rich visual feast but to really appreciate the beauty of the area take the funicular railway to the top of the hill that overlooks the city where you will be rewarded with amazing views and get to explore the ornate 20th-century Basilica of Santa Luzia, the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus built on the western spur of the Santa Luzia mountain that dominates the city’s skyline.

MARITIME CONNECTIONS
Viana do Castelo’s long connection to the sea runs all the way from the Portuguese discoveries to its importance as home port to a large cod fishing fleet and shipbuilding industry. With the fishing and shipping industries in decline in recent times the local council again took another bold move and sought to keep the maritime connection by making sure that the local schools have water sports as part of their program and are keen to promote marine based tourism. In the middle of August the city marks its connection with the sea formally with a celebration of Nossa Senhora da Agonia, the patron saint of fishermen. For three days the streets are filled with parades of floats, towering puppets and colourful local costumes, as well as traditional music and food in what locals call “The biggest party in Portugal!”

HIDDEN GEM
As a destination, Viana do Castelo has so many attractions and great wind stats, it’s a wonder that it is not better known. Perhaps the clue was divulged by a local who confided in me that she knew European windsurfing families that have been visiting for years but often tell their friends they go elsewhere so they can keep this Portuguese haven free from crowds! Being so close to the Spanish border, a good day here will see many Spanish sailors make the trip south. The city provides great facilities for visiting windsurfers in motorhomes and plenty of foreign number plates were visible with many making the area their base for the summer, such is the consistency of the wind.  Hotel FeelViana is a unique windsurf destination offering an exciting range of activities and laid back luxury. It has something for everyone and for families it’s easy to have that mix of sports, culture and R&R. A holiday here leaves you rested and healthy; my only complaint was that we only had one week because once you FeelViana you just want more!

FACT BOX

Getting there
FeelViana is located at Cabedelo Beach, in Viana do Castelo, which is the main windsurfing spot in the area. Closest airport is Porto, which is well served for UK and international connections with EasyJet and Ryanair amongst the numerous carriers operating routes to it. Transfer to the hotel takes around 45 minutes and is an easy trip on a large motorway for most of the journey. The airport has all the major car hire operators, but really the beauty of the hotel is that you don’t actually need a car unless you really want to explore. The hotel has a large Ford transit minibus with roof rack to take gear and offers transfers for 90 euro each way, which is regardless of the party size, so works out good value for a group or family. The airport itself is Portugal’s second busiest, modern and well equipped with lots of shops, restaurants and kid’s play areas for stress free travel.

Windsurf centre
The hotel’s centre offers sales, tuition and hire, with a stock of essential spares as well as surf clothing and wetsuits, sunblock etc. The rental fleet is brand new JP/Pryde kit with boards ranging from small freestyle wave through to freeride and beginner and sails ranging from small Combat wave sails to large freeride. The centre also offers fully equipped shower rooms, ventilated lockers with padlocks to store and dry suits, boards and other equipment should you choose to bring your own gear and these lockers can be hired for 10€/day. Lessons run from beginner through to advanced and the centre’s team are all fluent English speakers and will go out of their way to help you choose the right kit for the day and advise on conditions.

Kit
Locals mostly use a medium sized (85 litre) wave board and 4.7 sails with 4.0 / 4.2 for the rarer, really windy days and then 5.3 and 6.0 with a bigger freestyle wave (100 litre) for the lighter days. It’s a 5 minute walk to the beach from the car parks and some locals used beach trolleys to aid transport of their gear but for anyone used to carrying their gear won’t find it an issue, especially when the path to the beach is so beautiful! Wetsuit wise I just used boardshorts and a rash vest but there was people on the beach in 4/3’s and 3/2 full suits – it really depends on your tolerance – a good summer suit and shortie will be fine for most. A local explained to me that Portugal’s reputation for colder water helped keep some of the mainland Europe crowds away! For anyone from the UK I think the term ‘cold water’ will be extremely relative and not a problem! By the way the locals are very friendly so don’t be afraid to ask for any tips or help!

Best time
The main windsurf season runs from the start of April to the end of September, though locals say some seasons the thermal winds have started as early as February! José  mentioned May as one of his favourite months with good waves and wind and low crowds. In winter, south based winds from fronts do offer port tack cross on conditions, though can be accompanied by heavy swells. In this instance, locals will often launch from within the harbour to avoid the shorebreak and then sail out the back of the waves breaking onto the beach.

Camping
There’s a very good campsite just behind the beach further down from the hotel run by www.orbitur.pt, lots of windsurfers in motorhomes were staying there but there are also dedicated sites provided by the council near the northern end of the beach with water and slush out facilities available.

Other info.
The hotel staff speak fluent English (and quite a few other languages!) and English is spoken widely enough in the city also. Evenings are warm but a jacket or hoodie is probably wise to pack if you feel the cold.
For more info. on Viana do Castelo, check out – www.cm-viana-castelo.pt

Hotel Contacts
Prices depend on time of year but start at €115 for a double room, breakfast included. There is a half-board option for €18.50 per person (drinks not included); children 4-12 pay 50% and children 0-3 are free.
hotelfeelviana.com
info@hotelfeelviana.com
(+351) 258 330 330

The post VIANA DO CASTELO – FEEL VIANA appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Sarah-Quita Offringa and Oda Johanne sailing in South Africa.

Via Oda Johanne

The post SARALEE AND ODALEE IN SOUTH AFRICA appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

WINDSURF MAGAZINE #373 MARCH ON SALE NOW

The March 2018 Issue of the world’s only monthly English-language windsurfing magazine is out now!

---

Subscribe and receive your copy in either 

Print or 

Digital format.
(Prices include delivery anywhere globally 10 times a year.)

Driven – Lüderitz Speed, Faroes Adventure, Tested: 115 Litre Freeride Blasting Boards & 5.7 Crossover Sails, Sarah-Quita Offringa Interview, Harty’s ‘Game Changer’ Tips, Sarah Hauser Profile, RRD Freestyle Designs, Lancelin Ocean Classic, Marco Lang’s Success Story, Freemove Tuning With Jem Hall.

BIG JUICY READS

Far North
The Faroes are little known for windsurfing but Jamie Hancock made an explorative trip to discover more about the islands of the far north.

Lüderitz Lowdown
Lüderitz is THE spot to break windsurf speed records! Pete and Zara Davis give us a compelling insight into the event and the place.

Classic Comeback
Jane Seman, Karin Jaggi, Adam Lewis and Ben Proffitt tell us more about their experiences at one of the world’s longest running windsurf competitions.

Girl On Wave
Sarah Hauser is known for her big wave exploits but is also an engineer and talented musician, JC finds out more about the champion windsurfer.

Raw Elements
With ice-cold temperatures from dawn ‘til dusk, JC, Adam Lewis and Timo Mullen detail the highs and lows of chasing the raw elements in Ireland.

Trick Factory
2017 was a banner year for RRD in freestyle, we learn more about their freestyle kit development program and star rider, EFPT champion Jacopo Testa.

Results Driven
Only one sailor made the podium in all three PWA disciplines in 2017 – Sarah-Quita Offringa. JC interviews the multitalented 14 x PWA world champion.

The Long Game
Austrian slalom sailor Marco Lang tells us about his breakthrough 2017 season, maiden PWA win and how he has played the long game for success.

GEAR SHED

115 Litre Freeride Blasting Boards  
Fast but friendly, we put 2018’s 115 litre freeride blasters under scrutiny in UK waters.

THE LINE UP
• FANATIC BLAST 115 TE
• GOYA VOLAR 115 PRO
• JP MAGIC RIDE 112 PRO
• RRD FIREMOVE V3 110 LTD
• SEVERNE FOX 120
• STARBOARD CARVE IQ 114 L.C.F.
• TABOU ROCKET WIDE 110 LTD

5.7 Crossover Sails
From waveriding to blasting and everything between, we test the all-round capabilities of 2018’s 5.7 crossover sails.

THE LINE UP
• EZZY ZETA 5.8M
• GA SAILS HYBRID 5.6M
• GOYA NEXUS 5.9M
• LOFTSAILS PURELIP 5.7M
• NEIL PRYDE ATLAS 5.8M
• NORTH SAILS SUPER SESSION 5.6M
• POINT-7 SPY 5.9M
• RRD MOVE MK6 5.7M
• SEVERNE GATOR 5.7M
• SIMMER APEX 5.7M 

TEKKERS

When The Light Bulbs Start To Flicker
After a string of windy clinics in and out of the waves, Harty reveals, with the help of his charges, which tactics, tips and technique tweaks, have been game changers.

Move On Up With

Jem Hall – Freemove Tuning
Jem tells us how to get the very best out of Freemove (FM) boards.

BOARDSHORTS

Latest & Greatest
Shiny and new stuff here only folks as we run down this month’s latest and greatest windsurfing kit and offers.

RYA Knowledge
The RYA’s Chief Instructor for Windsurfing, Amanda Van Santen, tells us how you can turn your passion for windsurfing into an instructing career.

Lowdown
Franz Orsi gives the lowdown on how Starboard’s brand new Hypernut 4in1 board concept came to life.

SITTIN’ ON THE DUNNY

Editorial
Driven to sail or sail driven, windsurfers are both but the editor discusses how our sport breeds and attracts driven individuals.

Affairs Of The Hart – What Rules?
Harty takes a humorous sideways look at wave sailing rules. Lots of shouting from various nationalities is rarely backed up by any sound knowledge!

Get your 

Print

The post MARCH 2018 ISSUE ON SALE NOW appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

One Classic day finding some good conditions with Loick Lesauvage.

Music: Andrew Belle – When the end arrives
Thanks to all my sponsors for the support Goya Windsurfing, MFCHawaii, Shamalwindsurfing, Barney Cools, Nexpa, ENERgiA

Via Loick Lesauvage F780

The post ONE CLASSIC DAY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

This summer Ocean Elements is launching foiling for windsurfes at its Porto Heli and Vassiliki resorts, as well as the launch of its new active glamping resort at Club Mayotte in the south west of France.

Learn to foil!

If you thought you’d never master the art of foiling then think again! New for summer 2018 at our Porto Heli and Vassiliki resorts, we are more than delighted to be one of the first tour operators to offer foiling courses for beginner and intermediate sailors. We have a sneaky feeling this is goin to be popular, so make sure you book before you even pack your case!

Windsurf foiling at Surf Hotel and Xenia Apartments in Vassiliki
Hold tight this summer as windsurfing literally takes off! We are one of the first tour operators to offer windsurf foiling and tuition in Greece. Our team of dedicated RYA trained instructors are ready and waiting to teach you the art of foiling. Aimed at the more experienced windsurfer, foiling gives you a real sense of weightlessness and speed as well as the ultimate buzz. You’ll be effortlessly flying across the ocean at close to 30 knots – what’s not to love?

We have two types of dedicated foil boards for you to try out – the Foil 122 and the Foil 147. The Foil 122 is thin for maximum control with 100% razor sharp rail edges for early planing and clean water release, even when touching down. Designed purely as a foil board it allows easier control of the board, better performance and makes it more forgiving to foil compared to using a classic freeride windsurf board.

The Foil 147 is a balanced, stable foil board with a wider outline and wider tail for more power and stability. The 95cm wide outline coupled with a wide tail gives a super efficient shape that planes early and gives a high degree of control and leverage over the foil. The 241cm long board makes it more forgiving when dropping off the foil helping the board to take off.

Our onsite team of trained RYA foiling windsurf instructors offer two levels of tuition – our ‘First Flight’ course – a two hour introductory foiling course – and our ‘Sustained Flight’ course – a two half day foiling course. What are you waiting for?

New Beach Club Destination: Club Mayotte
Alongside our Greek Beach Club resorts we are delighted to announce the opening of Club Mayotte Biscarosse in south west France – a five star lakeside campsite with private beach, sailing, water sports centre, pools, mountain biking and much more.

We’ve been offering active holidays in the mountains and by the sea for over 20 years and now we are bringing our expertise to the lakes. You can try out stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking (no need to hire a board or kayak as these are included with your booking!), water skiing, wake-boarding, kite-surfing, dinghy and catamaran sailing. And don’t forget to check out the surf at beautiful Biscarrosse Plage, just a couple of kilometres away.

When you’re not splashing about on the water, grab your mountain bike (four bikes are included with your booking – see, we think of everything!) and explore the beautiful scenery and surrounding area. You can even book in for a guided bike tour.

The kids are going to love this family-friendly Club; it boasts an impressive water park, four outdoor pools, and an adventure park. Our kids club is open daily, giving grown-ups some well deserved time off. We even have an on-site wellness centre complete with a sauna, jacuzzi, gym, yoga and aqua fitness classes. Or you could just enjoy a bit of beach-time, reading a book on a lounger.

We open for business in May 2018, just in time for half term. The weather by then is already deliciously warm as is the water temperature as Lake Sanguinet is one of the largest warm water lakes in France. You can book now for 7 or 14 nights in one of our mobile homes.

www.oceanelements.co.uk

The post OCEAN ELEMENTS FOILING HOLIDAYS appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

“Head meets heart meets athlete” is the fitting tagline that accompanies Keith Teboul’s bio.  A passionate, extremely talented windsurfer and constant developer, the prolific Maui based shaper’s work is always at the vanguard of cutting edge wave board design. Whilst especially known for his customs, his production line of Quatro boards has an equally strong reputation with its top of the range Pyramid board blurring the lines between custom and production board performance. We sat down with Keith to learn more about its latest evolution.

Words  Keith Teboul //

Photos  Fish Bowl Diaries

---

WS: The Pyramid is your ‘purest’ wave board in the production

range with quite a cult following. In the past, this would have been seen as a ‘custom’ only type of board, what prompted you to introduce such a progressive shape to the market and who is it for?
KT: I think we saw a need for a more pure wave board on the market as most brands don’t have a dedicated side shore board in production. We really worked on the planing to turning ratio to make it the fastest possible without sacrificing turning ability. I think we really achieved this with the new Pyramid. This is a development of a couple years with Levi, Camille and myself. We all have different needs and it was a great project and challenging to meet all these needs in the Pyramid. Drive, quick planing, being able to finish our turns, pivot with thrust and projection, these are all things that come to mind when we were working on the Pyramid.

WS: Where does this leave the custom side of your business when such performance is available ‘Off the shelf’?
KT: Custom will always be a huge part of R&D. It’s the creative side that pushes design and progression. You know I get most of my new and creative ideas when I’m riding my mountain bike or surfing…these are then put into action through our custom factory. Tested, played with, tweaked, approved and then we see if there is a need in the production market. Then I am always working to get better boards for the team between Levi, Camille, myself and all the surf team – Imaikalani Deavault, Cody Young, Matt Meola and many others. This is what drives the innovation that gets put into production.

WS: The 2018 Pyramid is shorter in length, slightly narrower in the nose and with a moderately widened tail – what did you see in testing that made you make those changes.
KT: Again a lot of my inspiration comes from surfing. In general surfboards for performance waves tend to be like this. I just brought this concept into windsurfing. I want to stay closer to the wave and the power of the wave. Wider noses are good for longer, more drivey turns while a little narrower allows you to turn more quickly and have less nose in the way. Wider tails compensate for bringing the stance a bit back and allow you to turn more quickly. It’s really a combination of all of these attributes that make the whole picture of the Pyramid.

WS: The straps are further back with more thickness through the stance, what was the inspiration to make such a radical change in position.
KT: Since the boards are shorter and the noses narrower, we had to do something to compensate for these changes and this was putting a bit more thickness under the stance and a bit fuller outline. Getting closer to the tail allows you to turn more quickly and complete the turn.

WS: The tail is a swallow and has reworked fin positioning, can you tell us more about its development.
KT: In surfing I’ve always loved swallow tails, I like the look and I like the feel. To me it gives you the area of a squash tail but the hold of a pin with a fuller tail. So surface area for stability and planing and than the cut of the swallow for more grip and release when turning. The fin positioning always has to be reworked if you are going to move the stance. When moving fins I tend to find the distance apart I like the cluster, then move forward or back with the cluster depending on where the rider is standing.

WS: How does the bottom shape design contribute to performance on the water.
KT: The bottom is actually a full vee bottom with double running through the whole bottom. Then I added channels off the back for more grip in your turns. I haven’t found a negative with the channels yet.
I’ve found that the vee bottom is the quickest to get planing and to hold your plane. It also allows you to go rail to rail more quickly. The double concave then softens the ride and gives more glide through turns. I’m finding that this bottom configuration is really easy to understand and feel when riding. There is no thinking about when to turn, its just intuitive and reactive.

WS: Finally, why thruster?
KT: Thrusters I feel are the most accessible fin configuration when coming from any board. It gives you some of the feeling of a single fin, but the drive, pivot and thrust of a multi fin board.
I think that the thruster suits my style of riding the best so I pushed for the thruster. It allows me to sail front foot drivey for 30% and backfoot 70%, but then Levi pushes more 60% front foot and 40% back and it still supports his drivey, longer bottom turn. Camille I think is more 50/50 in front and back foot and it supports his style of sailing as well. I think the thruster is the most all-round fin configuration of all.

The Pyramid is available in 71, 78, 83, 88 and 96 litres.

RRP £1949.

“ There is no thinking about when to turn, its just intuitive and reactive. ”

The post LOW-DOWN – QUATRO PYRAMID appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Heading to Portugal just for two days with the forecast under your belt is a great idea… Non stop waves!

Music: Frank Zappa “Blessed Relief”
Edition: Emi Galindo
Footage: Huge thanks to Rafa from BizarrosChannel for filming the whole thing!
Location: Portugal

Via emi_galindo

The post EMI E21 TWO DAYS IN PORTUGAL appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Every sport needs it’s next generation to survive and windsurfing is no different. So how do we inspire and teach our sport to our children. Last year Polish uber-waterman Kuba Gasiewski introduced us to his radical

new teaching technique in one of our most popular articles, ‘Child’s play’. Now, a year down the line, he reflects on its success and developments of his ‘New school’ program at ION CLUB Le Morne, Mauritius together with Timo Mullen and Ben Severne’s thoughts on Kuba’s innovative approach.

Words  Kuba Gasiewski, Timo Mullen & Ben Severne  // Photos  Timo Mullen & David Varekamp | Surfkitephoto.com

Originally published within the August ’17 edition.

Let’s take a closer look at modern life. Comparing it to my childhood is quite difficult, even though it wasn’t too long ago. Nowadays most children have iPhones, iMacs, iThis and iThat. They are even officially called “The iGeneration”. These days everything must be shiny, catchy, easy, accessible and effortless. Where does it lead us to? How does it make this generation different to the ones before?

MAKE IT FUN
When I was a kid there was quite a limited amount of things to do. You could climb trees, play some football or other outdoor games with your friends and there was 30 minutes of cartoons on the TV at 7.00 p.m. That was pretty much it. So when I first got a hold of windsurf gear I just kept trying and trying. Even though back then it was way more difficult. I had a 3.5m sail that felt twice the size when it would fill with water, boom that was moving all over the place and a heavy 3.70 m long and narrow board and I was only 10. Now as an experienced instructor I think about early windsurfing days as a mission impossible. Yet, back then it was possible! Maybe there weren’t so many distractions? Today kids have too many other shiny things to do then lifting up a heavy sail. Of course there are exceptions who like the challenge that comes along with windsurfing but it’s much less likely to happen. Most kids will try a few times and walk off – “this is boring and too hard”. The best way to convince them is by making the experience easy, effortless and entertaining. Making sure they fully like it before facing the hardship of the sport. Why not make it simply FUN? Rather than base teaching on an idea that it’s going to be fun once you learn it, let’s have fun while learning and wait for the right moment to expose the child to the challenges. I think tandem sailing is the easiest way to achieve that.

“ All we have to do as teachers is to take care of the safety part and ensure they have as much fun as possible.”

GROWING
Just few weeks ago I received an email from Timo Mullen saying that he heard that I’m “The man” to teach children and he would like me to teach his daughter Skye. I remember when I was still in the windsurfing kindergarten myself, I was watching videos of Timo throwing forwards and back loops and ripping down the line. For me he was one of the best guys. I was dreaming to one day ride like that. Now such an amazing windsurfer trusts me to teach his daughter. Life is really full of surprises! Ever since last year’s article “Child’s play” I’ve been teaching more and more children in the age group of 3-7. Before, these were just rare occasions. Parents from all over the world are bringing their children to experience windsurfing with me. Now I can truly say that my teaching concept works. Why? because after the session I ask each child what does he/she think about windsurfing and the most common answer is – “It’s FUN!” Don’t you agree that for a child that’s what it should be all about? This was the case with Timo’s daughter Skye. At first she wanted to come only with her Mum. Than we had a little chat and decided to take the tandem sail for a spin. After 2 tacks she already wanted to go out to the waves. We started small and then gradually went bigger and bigger, ending up in head high surf. It’s amazing how much confidence Skye has. She was just smiling in front of barreling waves without even a tiny touch of fear. I think she is really natural in the water – that must be in the genes. Sailing with her was a great pleasure. After 2 sessions we went down to a 150 litre board.  We were tacking like one person, hitting the lips right in the pocket and carve jibing without any effort. I wish I could have taken a picture of Timo’s very happy and surprised face when he was photographing our session. He got really shocked by his daughter saying that she would like to stay out longer on the water while he was heading back to the beach. For me all of that is really priceless.

NEXT STEPS
So what are the next steps in my program. In my head the sail and the teaching method is complete or close to it. I know that I can do it and it works for me. Now I guess it’s time to truly share the concept. Everything always mysteriously lines up and works by itself in my life and so it was when I met another legendary windsurfer – Ben Severne. He is such a passionate sportsman, cool and a very open minded person. One of the “good guys”. It didn’t take him long to tell me – “Let’s produce your sail! That should be easy.” That’s exactly what I was waiting for, a little outside push, backup and support. If we can produce this sail then I can start an instructor teaching program and hopefully implement the idea in windsurf schools worldwide. Soon there will be more and more windsurfing teachers operating with this sail. That means more and more kids on boards. I promise that before we even notice, windsurfing will be back to its level of popularity in the 80s. This year is a little bit special for me. It’s been 10 years since I began to teach windsurfing and fully dedicated my life to this amazing sport. From the very beginning I already knew that working with children is my strongest field. Somehow I know a way to communicate with them and to catch their attention. I have met quite a few instructors who find it difficult to work with our youngest sailors. I guess it depends on your personality. I myself think that with the right approach it is the easiest thing to do. Children just want to have a good time. He/she is not yet confused by thoughts, simply just knows without knowing. All we have to do as teachers is to take care of the safety part and ensure they have as much fun as possible. Passion is essential. If a teacher is missing some of that, kids will sense it straight away and give up before even starting properly. I don’t want to say that I’m gifted or something. I just happened to have a good proportion of passion mixed with intuition and experience.  My plan for the end of this year is to organize “The Family Clinic”. An event in which parents and children would share the experience of being on the water together. Using tandem teaching I can effectively teach kids and their parents at the same time. If you are dreaming of planing along or sharing the waves with your little one and at the same time getting world class tips for your own progression come and join me in Mauritius. First clinic will be in December 2017 (exact date to be confirmed). For more information don’t hesitate to contact me at kubaczwk@gmail.com.

OCEAN EDUCATION
Recently I started in Mauritius a movement against plastic pollution in the ocean. With the help of my girlfriend Emmelyne, a few friends and supporters such us ION CLUB, Boards & More, Paille-en-Queue Air Mauritius social club and small local businesses, we created the plastic consciousness day called “Enn Losean Vivab” (One Ocean Liveable). The main purpose of that day was education about the problem and finding solutions. We gathered over 500 people on the beach. More than 80 children got to try watersports such us windsurfing, diving, sailing and kitesurfing. People learned about the importance of marine life and how we are threatening it by our reckless actions. Recycling, reusing and refusing plastic was a big focus of our program. I believe that by introducing children to activities in the water such as windsurfing we are indirectly preventing the pollution problem. Why is that? During the event one child was asked if it’s good to throw rubbish on the beach. Her answer was: “No, because it’s going to end up in the ocean. Then the water will be dirty and I won’t be able to windsurf.” That’s how beautiful a child’s brain is. Those are the links I was hoping to create by organizing this event. So by bringing children windsurfing we are actually saving the world. Maybe it’s a bit exaggerated to say that, but there is definitely a seed of truth in it. Don’t you agree? It’s time for the windsurfing community to do something to keep the ocean liveable.

TIMO MULLEN
I first heard about Kuba from my brother, Finn. He told me about a great instructor and sound guy at ION CLUB Le Morne, Mauritius who had a rad new way of teaching kids, he also said what an amazing location it was for teaching and how Kuba would spend his days instructing in-between getting barreled surfing at One Eye and windsurfing in some of the best conditions in the world. It all sounded too good to be true but it wasn’t and after having the best family holiday there ever I can’t recommend Kuba and ION CLUB enough. Life as a professional wavesailor for me has always been all about chasing the next swell at the drop of a hat, but a couple of times every year, my wife insists that it might be a good idea that I spend a bit of time away from JC and suggests that just maybe I might consider taking my family on a holiday. The thought of spending a couple of weeks on a Greek Island would turn me into a jibbering wreck! So armed with a list of the world’s best wavesailing breaks I set about finding a location that ticks all the boxes for the family but clearly and most importantly, me! Top of the list has to be Mauritius, it immediately conjures up in my wife’s head images of sipping cocktails by the pool, white sandy beaches and romantic walks along the shoreline caressed by the ocean waves. Meanwhile I’m watching old YouTube footage of McKercher ripping apart the infamous One Eye reef break!!

Yes Mauritius does have it all, so with our tickets booked to stay at the Riu Creole Hotel at Le Morne the Mullen family set off on our 2-week surfcation! My daughter Skye has been windsurfing now for just under 3 years, to be honest she has flat-lined a little bit on her excitement level for windsurfing. Cruising around in the harbour not planing in the summer time for anyone can get a tad monotonous so she really needed a kick start to her enthusiasm. Cue a trip to Ion Club in Mauritius, the windsurf centre based right next door to the Riu Hotel. The centre here has all the latest Fanatic and North equipment and a good safety boat but more importantly it is home to chief instructor and shit hot wavesailor Kuba. Kuba is well known for his innovative style of teaching kids to windsurf and especially for his tandem wavesailing rig. This is what Skye was most excited about trying out, she had seen the pics in Windsurf magazine and was very keen to give it a go, but in her words, “Only on small waves Daddy!” These small waves turned out to be almost double overhead in scale to Skye and barrelling on ‘Little Reef’ at Le Morne. Yes, you heard it, safe in the hands of Kuba, Skye was experiencing the joys of catching and riding waves at the age of 8. Normally Skye is ready to go back to mummy after 20 minutes but her first session with Kuba lasted 2 hours with Kuba having to end the session! In Skye’s words, “Dad, windsurfing is the best, I just want to ride waves, can we do this everyday!!”. To hear that as a dad made every penny of this trip worthwhile. Thank you Kuba and ION CLUB!

BEN SEVERNE
I met Kuba in Mauritius while he was teaching Timo’s daughter to windsurf. He had her so stoked on windsurfing that she didn’t want to come in! Kuba’s developed his own tools and techniques to give kids a sneak preview of high-performance windsurfing. It’s a way to make real windsurfing as instantly accessible as an iPad. And for kids that are used to that world, it’s a real game changer. I’ve seen plenty of kids float around on a board holding onto a little sail, and that’s also a really positive thing. But the look of sheer exhilaration on a kid’s face when they bottom turn into a head-high wave is something else. It’s something I absolutely recognize, as that’s the same exhilaration I get when I do the same thing and the reason why everything I do is all about windsurfing and chasing that feeling. It’s lucky Kuba is into windsurfing and not more lucrative / less legal highs – he’s doing the equivalent of mainlining your kid to get her / him absolutely addicted. The (windsurfing) world needs more Kubas!

“ It’s a way to make real windsurfing as instantly accessible as an iPad. ”

The post TEACHING KIDS – NEW SCHOOL appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

WAVERIDING & FREERIDE XPERIENCE –  ION CLUB LE MORNE

MAURITIUS CLINICS WITH KUBA

Legendary ION CLUB instructor Kuba runs clinics for waves (20-25/5/18) and freeride (2-7/12/18), for further details contact ION CLUB +49 881 9096010, travel@ion-club.de, www.ion-club.net  and see below for more !

WHERE YOUR WINDSURFING DREAMS BECOME REAL STORIES…

Did you ever wonder why does it take you so long to get planning? Are you tired of everybody blasting faster than you? Maybe a bit more confidence and efficiency with your waterstart would do you good? Is the carve jibe still on the list of your dreams? Join our freeride xperience with Kuba and get those all questions blown away with the wind. Experience Kuba`s unique teaching style and methods. Let your windsurfing life change forever.

SPOT:

Why is Le Morne considered as the best windsurfing spot in the world?

• Side-shore wind – hop on the board and plane straight from the beach
• Flat water lagoon – learn, blast and practice the skills
• Little side-shore waves on the entrance to the channel – perfect for jumping and loops
• Medium size waves side/side on at small reef – ideal for your first waveriding steps
• Medium to big size waves, side off winds at Manawa – down the line perfection
• No wind? No problem. Surfing and SUP paradise is right in front of you.
• You can find a suitable place for your level and your practice as well as set your new goals and straight away move towards their realization.

TRAVELDATES: 02.12.2018 – 07.12.2018

• 1 Week / 7 nights incl. 6 days FREERIDING XPERIENCE
• Hotel RIU Creole, in Doubleroom, all inclusive from Euro 1450

FLIGHTS AND TRAVELBOOKING VIA TRAVEL PEOPLE, +49 (0)881 90 96 01-0
https://www.ion-club.net/en/home/1073

MINIMUM WINDSURFING SKILLS NEEDED:

You need to be able to ride up wind in the harness on the board without a dagger and make beach start. Ideal if you have experienced planning already, if not than very soon you will.
Eventprice only: 600.-€, max. 10 participants/min. 4.

BOARDS AND EXTRAS:

You should reserve a board that you feel comfortable with in terms of the volume. The choice is between: Geko, Skate of Freewave. We might end up using various other boards like Viper or SUP, depending on the content of the class or conditions. Harness lines are the most essential factor of your comfort and you must have them long. Still using short lines? Soon you’ll say “Good Bye” to them. Ideal if you bring your own lines. Sizes between 30” – 36”. You can contact Kuba directly if you need any assistance in terms of your choice.

TRAINING:

1. Trim your gear accordingly to the conditions and set it up properly – that’s the first thing you are going to learn.  If your tool is working fine, you have much bigger chances to do the job!
2. Comfortable sailing position and efficient up-wind ridding comes next. The essentials are: 

   Stance – light and free, Sail – light and powerful, 

   Board – light and maneuverable

3. Once you fully understand those principals and can apply them in your riding, getting in the footstraps shouldn`t be a problem.
4. Waterstart is an essential skill that sooner or later you will have to work on. Good thing is that by now you are ready for it.
5. Next step is blasting! Control your speed and learn how to go fast.
6. If you got to this point it means that carve jibe is within your reach. Let`s do it!
7. Coaching will be held on the beach (discussions, simulations, video analysis and sail exercises), on the water (sailing together, demonstration, filming from the water)
8. Daily subject will vary depending on the conditions. We might end up doing jibes, tacks or light wind freestyle moves in the lagoon, wind SUP riding on baby waves , SUP or surf in case of no wind.

PLAN OF THE DAY:

09.15 – meeting on the beach + short warm up

10.00 – training on the water/beach

12.00 – lunch break

13.30 – training on the water/ expression session and filming

16.30 – conclusions from the day

WHERE YOUR WINDSURFING DREAMS BECOME REALITY

Windsurfing on waves is a dream that sits somewhere deep inside every windsurfer. Once you finally catch your first wave than you want it even more and more. You get addicted to the thrill. So what stops you from fulfilling your dream? Are you unsure about your skills? Are you afraid of the challenge? Under watchful and professional guidance you can be sure of your progression and safety. Pack your things and come chase your dreams!

SPOT: Why is Le Morne considered as the best windsurf spot in the world?

• Cross-shore wind – hop on the board and plane straight from the beach
• Flat water lagoon – learn, blast and practice the skills
• Little cross-shore waves on the entrance to the channel – perfect for jumping and loops
• Medium size waves side/side on at small reef – ideal for your first waveriding steps
• Medium to big size waves ,side off winds at Manawa – down the line perfection
• No wind? No problem. Surfing and SUP paradise is right in front of you. You can find a suitable place for your level and your practice as well as set your new goals and straight away move towards their realization.

TRAVELDATES: 19.05 – 26.05.2018

• 1 week / 7 nights incl. 6 days WAVERIDING XPERIENCE
• Hotel RIU Creole, in Doubleroom, all inclusive Euro 1350

FLIGHT AND TRAVEL BOOKING VIA ION CLUB , +49 (0)881 90 96 01-0
www.ion-club.net/en/home/1069

WINDSURFING SKILLS NEEDED:

You must be confident with your waterstarting in strong winds as well as in underpowered conditions. Be able to plane in both footsrtaps on a board max. 20l above your body weight (80kg = max. 100l board) Carve through minimum 50% of your jibes, another 50% we will add in Mauritius. Don’t worry too much about your shortboard tack, Kuba will guide you through it. Eventprice only: 600.-€, max. 10 participants/min. 4.

BOARDS AND EXTRAS:

1 Week Windsurf rental: 225.- €

You should reserve a wave board up to 20l above your body weight ( 70kg = max. 90l, ideal 82l if your ability allows you). Best choices are wave boards (Grip, TriWave) or less ideal but more forgiving FreeWave. We might end up using various other boards like Viper, Skate, Stubby or SUP, depending on the content of the class or conditions. Harness lines are the most essential factor of your comfort and you must have them long. Still using short lines? Soon you’ll say goodby to them. Ideal if you bring your own lines. Sizes between 30” – 36”. You can contact Kuba if you need any assistance in terms of your choice.

TRAINING:

1. Trim your gear accordingly to the conditions and set it up properly – that’s the first thing you are going to learn.  If your tool is working fine, you have much bigger chances to do the job!
2. Comfortable sailing position and efficient up-wind ridding comes next. The essentials are: 

   Stance – light and free, Sail – light and powerful, Board – light and maneuverable

3. Once you fully understand those principals and can apply them in your riding, we will shift our attention to mastering your carve jibes and short board tacks. This by now should become much easier.
4. Wave training will be focused on understanding the safety on the line up, ways of behavior in critical situations, reading the conditions and correct positioning.
5. Once you are safe out there than we can start thinking about bottom turning, cut backs, aerials and whatever you dream of.
6. Coaching will be held on the beach (discussions, simulations, video analysis and sail exercises), on the water (sailing together, demonstration, semi-individual wave coaching session with Bb talking Bluetooth communication system, filming from the water)
7. Daily subject will vary depending on the wave and wind conditions. We might end up doing jibes, tacks or freestyle moves in the lagoon, jumps and loops in the channel, wave riding on Small Reef or Manawa, SUP or surf in case of no wind.

SOCIAL:

Windsurfers do love talking about windsurfing. I think that it’s a quite common thing about all of us. To satisfy that need, we will explore some of the local restaurants. Get our mouths on fire with local spices, drink some delicious Rum, listen and dance to Mauritian Sega rhythms, swim with dolphins and maybe jump from the waterfall. Of course windsurfing comes first and all of those additional possibilities depend on your interest and level of fatigue after a radical day on the water.

PLAN OF THE DAY:

• 09.15 – meeting on the beach, short warm up + visualization
• 10.00 – training on the water/beach
• 12.00 – lunch break
• 13.30 – training on the water
• 16.30 – conclusions from the day

The post MAURITIUS CLINICS WITH KUBA appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Slalom fins are the tyres that shoe the Formula 1 boards of our sport and racers cherish them with an almost unhealthy obsession! A good slalom fin can decide races, contracts and ultimately world championship titles. With so much resting on such a relatively small bit of kit, we decided to ask a selection of the world’s best racers and Rick Hanke of Maui Ultra fins for their thoughts on slalom fins and wrap up with a buyer’s guide to some of the latest designs on the market.

Words Ross Williams, Kurosh Kiani, Antoine Albeau, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, Maciek Rutkowski, Sarah Quita Offringa, Pierre Mortefon, Matteo Iachino & Dietrich ‘Rick’ Hanke (Maui Ultra Fins)

// Photos  John Carter

Originally published within the September ’17 edition.

ROSS WILLIAMS
Your fin makes a huge difference, if you have a bad fin then you are not going to go fast, but the fin is just one piece of the puzzle. If you have an amazing fin combined with a bad mast it can limit your speed. A decent mast, a strong boom and the right sail and board all put together right are essential, that is when you can tell the difference from a top quality fin. There are a lot of people going the same speed, so those tiny fractions are what count. A decent fin needs the right outline, shape, depth, core and strength so it doesn’t snap. You need a stiffness that suites your style of sailing and your weight. The profiles are very important, core length and percentage where they bend. There are lots of things to play around with just with the fin. In Formula racing I spent $1800 on a fin because I wanted to be fast. That fin helped me win the European Worlds and a world title so it was worth the money. That was from a guy in America called Dave Kashy. Now I am using predominantly F-Hot fins. I do the development with Steve in the UK. We have some awesome fins now, the ones I use and race on people can buy as well. I don’t have any secret fins. My fin quiver is priceless. It goes in my special bag and I pack them carefully. If you have a good fin you tend to keep hold of it until you are absolutely sure you have a better one.

“ My fin quiver is priceless. ”  ROSS WILLIAMS

KUROSH KIANI
A long with your sail, how your rig works, your body size and your style of sailing, the fin comes in at a high percentage, maybe 20% of your whole setup. To me it is very important. To change your fin can make as much impact as changing your sail. The difficult part is acquiring the best fins. Some riders are already in with the top fin producers and have access to better fins essentially. Luckily for most guys, F-Hot, Z Fins and Maui Ultra Fins all make fins that perform at a high level. So it has become easier to buy competitive fins. There are still a few guys in exclusive clubs that have access to the very best fins from the custom fin guys. That is a nice one to be a member of. The guys that are making the very best fins are hand making them. They can also produce a fin based on your input and this is a very important part of the whole mechanics of windsurfing. In general a good fin will work for any rider, but if you want to take it next level you could try to buy a fin where the bend curve, the length and the rake fits your size and style of sailing. I have spent close to a 1000 euro on a fin before! But now we have a lot of different brands where you can now buy a fin for a fraction of that price. I have about 20 fins at an event, which normally whittles down to my five favourites. On the road I am constantly swapping fins around to make sure I know how they all work. In some locations a fin can work better than others depending on the wind conditions. My fin bag goes together with my clothing bag when I travel. It is the one thing I don’t want to lose. You build up a fin stash over the years. They are priceless and sometimes you just can’t buy that magic fin again. I am using Maui Ultra fins and their fins come out the same every time and they are getting better and better. I see myself replacing many of my old custom fins with standard production fins that are working just as well.

ANTOINE ALBEAU
There are many brands of fins and many brands of boards. You need to find the right fin that will fit your board. Every year boards are changing, so you need to have fins from all the brands and test them. Even the conditions can make a difference and different fins perform better in various locations. Some fins work better in flat or choppy water, that is why we travel with a lot of fins. I use all the brands of fins, Carpenter, Z fins, ERD, Tectonics and Kashy. I think I once spent 800 euro on a Kashy fin in the time of Formula racing. I know guys who spent way more! On the Asian tour I took twenty fins. On a race day we automatically know which fins to use because we test all through the off-season. You know more or less which fin will work when the wind changes. When it is gusty you cannot put a fin in that will make your board fly too much. If a gust hits and you are already on the edge you can go out of the water. You need to use a fin with more control. This will make your board ride a little bit lower in the water. That is the main thing. If a normal guy wants a Carpenter fin he will have to wait a long time. If you order only one fin, you will be behind all the PWA racers. I make sure my fins do not touch the sand and that they are always in a fin bag. I protect them as much as I can. They are like the tyres on a race car. I don’t train with my best fins. I don’t want to put so many hours on those ones. On a race day I use my best fins and once the day is over I take them from my board and put them back in the cover. All our equipment is fragile and it needs to be looked after.

GONZALO COSTA HOEVEL
I’d say a decent fin is almost more important than the sail or board sometimes. It can make an average board sail much better. We are all now working hard on our fins. Chopper fins from Ludovic Jossin are very good; I used those fins in Sylt last year and came second. Pierre Mortefon is using them as well and he is flying. The same thing happened with Carpenter. This is a Polish brand, when they came out only Steve Allen had them. He gave a couple to Bjorn and that helped him dominate that season. They were the only two that had the fins. It was a secret, so they had an edge. Everybody started getting the fins and suddenly we were all up to their speed. Most of us like to keep a check on all the new brands and trends and always hope that we will find an extra gear on the race course. All the other equipment we use is hard to change really, so the fin is one of the variables that can make all the difference. My mind is constantly thinking about fins. All through the season we can buy new fins looking for that edge while with the boards and sails we have to use the ones we have registered. I spent 450 euros on a Carpenter in Fuerteventura last year. I paid the money because it was there and I thought it could be a decent fin and in the end I did not like it. I bring around thirty fins to an event. I am sponsored now and still have fins I have paid for. I did not bring too many fins to Japan and Korea because we often only have light winds there but in Fuerteventura I would bring ten small fins as well. Every time the wind changes at an event you will see the racers scrambling for different fins. If the wind goes down you could be on a bigger fin that gives you more tracking or keeps you on trim through the lulls. Maybe when you hit a gust a fin will keep you on trim, some fins are more reactive and you hit a gust and you explode. You need to sense all the time what is going on with the wind. The start can change between upwind and downwind, so a fin can make a difference there also. A fin may be the same size but have a little more twist to give you grip and upwind speed. Then you will have an advantage. The guy that is on it all day thinking about these things is the guy that in the end will have an edge and get a good result. If you just stay with one set of gear and don’t change to adapt then you will have no chance at PWA level. The guys that are on it are the guys who will be on top! I try to keep my fins clean and wash them with fresh water. Guys take them home every night! They are precious so we take care of them a lot!

MACIEK RUTKOWSKI
If I had to pick one element of my gear that is the most important it would probably be the fin. Maybe it is because all of the sail and all of the boards are very similar and fins can range from very good to very bad. The fin feels like it makes the most difference. It is one of the elements that you can change and play with. Your masts, battens and fins are the kit you can switch so they can make the difference. It all adds together. We all have decent fins now on tour but you can still get a bit of an edge. If you are exactly on the right fin for the right conditions and you feel comfortable that can help you win races. If your board stays on trim due to a fin when a huge gust hits then that can make all the difference. Guys can get lifted and lose places with the wrong fin choice. My fin quiver is worth a lot of money. I brought 20 fins to Korea and Japan and I paid for all of them. I am looking for a fin sponsor! I easily have 4-5000 euro worth of fins. Back in the Formula days it was crazy, I think I paid $1400 for a Kashy fin. Those times were ridiculous. Kashy drives a Porsche now! There are a huge amount of elements with fins. The outline, most fins are quite similar on. The profile, in theory, most fins are also similar on. Then you have the flex, twist and construction. I have worked on fins based on measurements of the best fin and it had exactly the same flex but because the construction wasn’t the same their reactivity wasn’t the same. You can’t just copy a Carpenter! It is impossible to copy a fin! I heard you can burn a fin layer by layer to find out what is inside but even the layers have different characteristics and carbons. If you have the drive for perfection you can make a lot of money making fins. This guy from Poland, Jack Carpenter, is the most anal guy in the world. He is just slow and meticulous. It used to take him five days to make a fin. Now it takes him three to four days for one fin. He just makes sure everything is perfect. The waiting list is usually over a year. I have known him since I was eight years old but I still have to pay full price! That is the reality! You have to do what it takes to score the best fins. They are that important that you need to make all the effort possible to be on the best.

SARAH QUITA OFFRINGA
I am looking for control with my fins when it’s either very windy or it is light. I want a fin that will help me accelerate quickly and one that helps me get on the plane. If a gusts hit you need to be able to hold the board down. This moment can be everything in a race, the moment you lose control other girls will smoke you. The fin is what brings your gear all together in the end. Right now I have eight or nine fins, not that many compared to the guys. I have two fins per board that I actually use and a few extras just in case. I use Maui Ultra Fins. They have been putting a lot of time into their new slalom fins. They work really well and are very close to the Z Fins and Carpenter fins.

MATTEO IACHINO
The fin is critical. Depending on the conditions you have to keep changing fins. The way the fins work will help you to perform. If you need power in a certain place you need a certain fin. If you need a fast fin that has no power just to go downwind then we have fins to suit. You need to understand which ones are better for all situations. The fin will ultimately give you the right trim for your board. I guess 30% of the whole rig’s performance is down to the fin! I paid $800 for a fin, but when I bought it I was too late and there were already better ones on the market. I use Z fins, Carpenter fins and Drake, a lot of other brands make decent fins. It is all about where you are sailing and what you need from the fin. There is not just one fin that covers everything! I have a feeling if my fin is good or not but then you need to test with somebody else to see if it is really fast. One thing is being comfortable and the other aspect is speed. You need a balance between these two characteristics. On the Asian tour I brought 28 fins with me. They cost me between 350 and 500 euros so it is quite a valuable stash! I always keep the covers on, I don’t leave them in the sun and I don’t really touch them. I never dig them in the sand or drag the board when I come out of the water. I try to split my fins when I travel just in case the airline loses a bag!

PIERRE MORTEFON
I think Formula One or Moto GP tyres are the equivalent to our fins! The fin is critical and can make the difference to winning races or not. I use Chopper Fins from Ludovic Jossin and am really happy with the big and medium fins and the small ones should be really good for Fuerteventura. In the Canaries you need a fin that will keep your board down in the water but that is also really fast. We all use production equipment so the fin is the only piece you can change. It is the place where you can score an advantage. I spend between 3-4000 euros each winter on fins. You always want to have the latest fins just to test in case they are faster than what you have. You can’t afford to miss anything on the market. Sometimes a new fin can be useless but you need to know how they perform. The cost is going to be even bigger with the foils now! I don’t normally train with my best fins, but now I am trying to have my best ones in double so I can have that sensation while I am training. I will keep my best ones just for the race. My best fins come out like a new tyre! On the beach they are always in the cover, I race on them and when the day is over they come out of the board and get packed away. I am scared to have my fins stolen. If somebody stole my car or van, my fins would be the item I would be most scared to lose. Some fins you need to wait for years to replace.

DIETRICH ‘RICK’ HANKE, MAUI ULTRA FINS
Rick Hanke, founder and fin designer of Maui Ultra Fins, is renowned for his standards in fin design, combining his passion for windsurfing with his professional background in aero and hydrodynamics ( study of aeronautics at the University of Braunschweig, Germany and his long time scientific work on flight mechanics and flight simulation with the German Aerospace Agency, DLR). Rick’s fin design and development work follows a scientific approach by using computer assisted foil design (Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD) and CAD design (Computer Aided Design) for the final 3-dimensional fin. With a successful range of fins across all disciplines, we asked Rick for his specific thoughts on slalom fin designs.

Rick Hanke – “Slalom fins have a very specialised design brief that includes:
• Wide wind range from about 9 knots to force 9 and beyond.
• Wide range of angles on course and speeds are needed.
• Any slalom fin – responsible for directional stability – has to compensate the varying leeward-forces of the sail with a minimum of drag.
• Depending on course angle and sail trim, the needed forces vary a lot. That means that the fin, defined by lift over drag at different angles of attack, has to cover the whole polar range.

The consequence for slalom fin design is one profile has to be developed that works in high angles of attack without spin-outs and that has a low drag at low angles of attack at high speeds. The matching profiles / designs have a relative thickness between 9 and 10 per cent, high aspect ratio for minimum resistance / drag and must be stiff enough not to break, so to withstand the side forces.

The size needs to be defined by fin area as it counterbalances the sail forces – therefore fin lengths can be misleading (our Slalom-Race fins are wider and have more area than the Slalom / Slalom-Pro so can be used about 2-4 cm shorter).

The fin area needed mainly depends on the weight of the sailor, the board size / width and sail size.
Slalom fins need to have a certain degree of flexibility (flex) to create a vertical force (lift) at the tail of the board – to get a flatter water line and reduce drag – and to keep control at high speeds.
Slalom fins have to match the rider’s requirements, more so than with freeride, wave or freestyle fins and different designs are needed.

Maui Ultra Fins therefore has designed:
• Standard slalom fins with a moderate thickness and the thickest point further forward for early planing.
• Wider high performance slalom fins like the ‘Slalom-Race’ in G-10 and carbon that plane earlier and facilitate “easy” high speeds.
• Narrower / even flatter and therefore faster designs with the ‘Slalom-Pro’ (also G-10 and carbon) with even better control in heavy chop / high winds.

Too much / little lift in a fin can be completely or partly be compensated with sail and board trim to create more lift. I carefully calculate profiles and outlines using fluid dynamics calculation before first prototypes are made. Those prototypes are then validated by experienced slalom sailors and improved. The focus here is often on the flex behaviour.

According to our experience, fins up to a length of 36 / 38 cm are more often made of G-10. Beyond that size, most riders prefer carbon slalom fins. Those benefit from freedom in design as the bend / flex can be defined through the different layers and positioning of fibres – independent of the profile. Carbon is very light and stiff so that these fins can get a narrow / thin profile without breaking.

Maui Ultra Fins decided to produce the carbon fins at a very experienced German producer of carbon composite parts. THM in northern Germany manufactures our fin in a steel form in an RTM procedure (RTM=Resin Transfer Mould). This production process allows for the highest precision and same quality for all fins (weight, bend curve etc.). A special high-end resin is heated and vacuumed into the steel form that already contains the fibres that are cut and laid up. As the resin is not brushed by hand upon the fibre, there is absolutely no variation in quality.

These fins are absolutely high-end due to the inner construction and finish. They are also the lightest on the market. Maui Ultra Fins offers three different carbon fin types. On top of the above mentioned
Slalom-Pro and Slalom-Race-Carbon, we offer a weed version, the Slalom-Race-Carbon-Weed with a rake of 45 degrees.”

The post SLALOM FINS – THE LEADING EDGE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Kevin Pritchard’s wanderlust brought him to the land of the maple leaf, Canada. A country whose wilderness he first found love for snowboarding but felt compelled to return and discover with his new love – wind foiling. Read on as Kevin shares his experience from the journey and his wind foiling highs and lows.

Words  Kevin Pritchard, Finn Mullen  //  Photos  Ian Boyd

Originally published within the October ’17 edition.

Clickity-clack, Clickity-clack, Clickity-clack, wind whipping by your face, the fierce power of the sail in your hands, your feet grasping tightly to every grain of grip on your board. Then finally, you lean back, hook in and glide through the water in ecstasy. Likely if you are reading this, you felt that feeling 20 years ago when you first got planing and into your footstraps. Want that feeling again? Try to get your hands on a foil for your windsurf board.  After all the travelling I’ve done in my life, there are not many places in the world I really want to go back to. However, I have really come to enjoy Canada’s playground and have been back three times this year already. This past winter as the foil craze was unfolding in warmer weather, I was enjoying the scenery of Canada on a snowboarding trip. Since people love new trends and new inventions, I thought let’s add another element of new and photograph it in the picturesque setting of Canada. Canada you ask? Why not?, I say – the beauty of windfoiling is that you don’t need somewhere that is super windy. That’s right folks, we can finally have a blast right off our docks in 7 to 10 knots or less! You get up on the wing of the foil and you can ride it through the gusts, through the lulls and enjoy that flying feeling that first brought us all into windsurfing back once we had our first planing run. Planing might have been the demise of our sport but now it is back and windfoiling makes “mowing the lawn” fun again. So off I went, looking for that perfect mountain spot to take the foil out in with a stunning backdrop and some fun places to adventure through. Only catch was, I hadn’t ridden a foil yet.

ON THE ROAD
Squamish in British Columbia is located near the end of the Howe Sound, which is a network of deep tidal water channels North West of Vancouver. The clean wind funnels down the inlet from the ocean and creates some of the best flat water conditions in the world. The action takes place on a spit in an estuary where the Squamish River meets Howe Sound and offers some exquisite backdrops to sail in with its mountains and old-growth forests.

Squamish was my first idea seeing as there hasn’t been a windsurf travel story to Canada in a long time and this location is quite windy in the summer. It turned out actually to be too windy for most of our foil sessions, so I headed north to Whistler. My original idea was to catch some insane mountain biking and do my windsurfing travel story, but it turned into me having more fun windsurfing everyday on Alta Lake than going mountain biking. What this trip really did was open my eyes to what a mountain town like Whistler has to offer in the summer. The biking is world class for sure, but it is not just that. The beauty, the nature, the hiking, the events set up for kids, the restaurants, river rafting, everything that you could possibly want…and to top it off, windsurfing! Windsurfing in Whistler? Well, maybe it isn’t your dream windsurfing destination, but I’ll tell you what, if you have a family with young kids that are into learning windsurfing, it is pretty dang good.

MISFIRE
As I pulled up to my friend’s house on Alta Lake, I was pretty excited to get out there and try the foil. I had ridden a couple of rigs for a few short sessions along the way up to Whistler. This experience would be the first time on my own foil that I could get comfortable with for longer than the few 25-minute sessions I’d had prior. I was amped! It was not too windy but windy enough. The lake looked perfect and I got ready to get out there. The first thing I noticed is that it is not totally “plug and play” the first time setting up the foil. I am used to a 5-minute rig up and getting on the water. With this, you have to set it up, put what foilers call the mast together and attach the wings and then you have to make sure that you have the right bolts for it to fit into the board and make sure that everything is perfectly in order before you jump in the water. So I hurried along, rushing to the water, not reading any instructions of how to set up the foil and neglecting that I didn’t have any of the necessary parts I mentioned above. It looked right, so yeah, should work, or so I thought. I jumped off the dock and tried to get up on the foil but nothing happened.

I sailed around trying for a while longer, trying to get up on the foil but still no luck. When back at the dock, I scratched my head and thought this thing doesn’t work. I got straight on the phone to Pio at MFC and told him just that, “this thing doesn’t work!” He calmly asked, “Do you have it set up right?” “Looked right to me,” I said. “Do you have it snuggly fitting in the fin box?” he continued. “Seems like it,” I replied as I could see half the foil sticking out of the box because my fin screws were too long. But what’s 1 cm of the base of the foil sticking out of the box, right? I guess that is the wave sailor in me thinking that it will all be fine. He said send me a photo. I hesitated but ended up doing it and all he could do was laugh. The answer to the failure lied in my poor assembly skills – that 1 cm out of trim at the back of the foil base, transferred to 5 cm of change of rake angle down by the foil where you actually ride and so totally changing the angle of what you are riding on. Moral of the story, make sure you set up the foil correctly.

GAME ON
Once I slowed down and got my setup working, it was game on. I got on the board, gave one or two pumps to the MFC foil and it was lift off! Here I was, 3 feet out of the water gliding around with a beaming smile over a sensation that was just like that first glide I felt 25 years ago down a long and skinny percolation pond in Palm Springs. I was up and down and back and forth on the foil, grinning from ear to ear. One minute leaning back too far and having it fly into the air, then over-correcting and having it smash down into the water. The excitement to get it right had me jumping back on the board trying to get it hovering across the lake. I was loving it! Having a challenge like this on a windsurfer was something that I had not had for quite some time, especially on a lake. The feeling of floating across the water was incredible. I began to see why people love foiling. The glide with no sound, hovering above the water, having that ultimate sensation that you were indeed flying. No noise, not too much pressure in your hands, mostly out of the harness, a total sensation of ease and glide that kept that sensation going all day long. I was hooked. I just wanted to keep getting better and better at it.

#BOYDLIFE
I ran into the Boyd family on their family #boydlife vacation. Ian Boyd needs no introduction to windsurfing – a freestyle and wavesailing legend from windsurfing’s heyday. They had an entire week long vacation planned but what they weren’t really planning for was Max and Syd wanting and getting to windsurf everyday when they were in Whistler. The wind and water at Alta Lake is perfect for kids learning to windsurf. The wind is light, the water is warm, the lake is flat and with very little consequence if you get stranded. Max was out, back and forth, and living the good life. As he would say it, “LYYYFEEE is good!”. I had a lot of fun cruising around with them on the lake. I would get on my foil and blast around and try and coach them around into jibing and tacking and all sorts of fun stuff.
Finally, after I got a little better at the foiling I was like, “Ok Max, let’s give it a try. Lets go tandem on the foil.” Well, while Max weighs in at 70 pounds and I am around 185, my initial thought was there is pretty much no way that we will be planing around on a 7.5 in 7 to 10 knots, but who knows the foil had impressed me up to this point. My other thought was, who in their right mind would take their kid out on a foil board with a 100 cm long dagger sticking into the water with two winglets off the bottom of it…pretty much no one. Well, Ian’s wife had already left and Max was super pumped on it, so I was like “not my kid, let’s give it a try!” Sure enough we got the foil up and planing around and Max was like “OOOOOHHHHH, we are FLYYYINGGG!!!”. It was pretty fun and to have 255 pounds flying around in 10 knots was totally incredible. Too bad Ian didn’t get “the shot”, but oh well, we had a great time nonetheless.

FANTASTIC
So there it was, windsurfing and foiling, what would we call it? Foiling? Windfoiling? Who knows? Regardless, we had the foil up and flying for two days in perfect light wind training conditions, along with some epic bike rides and some delicious pizza at Creekbread. Yeah, if you have ever been to Maui and gone to Flatbread, this is one of their sister stores and for me added an element of home. After all that, it was time to go down to Squamish to see how we could do with a little more challenge of some bigger wind and colder water but holding the potential for some scenic shots.

I met up with the Starboard importer who was also stoked on the new possibilities of foiling and we went for a blast around Squamish. I was actually impressed that it was almost easier in the higher wind. This time I was using a 5.8 Zeta, your typical five batten wave sail, instead of the 7.5 Cheetah freeride sail and it worked amazingly. The smaller sail this time made it easier to manoeuvre the rig. Once you get up on the wing of the foil you actually don’t need a big sail. Really, all you want is enough sail for you to get up onto the foil and then you are flying and I mean, you literally get the sensation you’re flying.  The wind in Squamish is definitely reliable. Everyday I was there, there was wind. For slalom sailing, freeride and freestyle this place is amazing. The town is super cool and the locals are pretty friendly. I did get some bad looks on my ebike, but hey who doesn’t scowl when someone right next to you is having twice as much fun instead of suffering up a mountain.

In both Whistler and Squamish I had a blast. I can’t tell you in words why the foil feels so cool. Is it the hovering across the water with no chatter form the board whatsoever? Is it just being so far out of the water that it actually feels like you are walking on water? I don’t know but once you feel it, you really feel it. It gets you so stoked that it is almost like a new sport. I think people who have grown tired of heading to the lake and not having enough wind to get up and going would do well to try windfoiling. Some might consider it a trend but then again, when you’re flying around in no wind and it feels so good, it is one trend I’ll ride. Oh I see another puff of wind, I am going to go catch it. See you out there!

Whistler Must Do’s
Rent a mountain bike and get a lift ticket and have the lift take you up as you have run after run of fun, fun, fun! Even if you are not the avid mountain biker there is definitely a trail for you. I remember the first time I hit the ‘Crank It Up’ trail at the Whistler Bike Park, it was like something you dream about when you are a kid. Having a lift take you up and you just get to go down again and again and again until you can’t feel your body. It is crazy how much of a workout you do just going downhill all day.

Peak to Peak gondola. This is a must do with the family. I did it in the winter time out of necessity but it is a huge gondola spanning the two mountains from Blackcomb to Whistler Mountain. Everyone that went on it this summer said it was just amazing, it’s simply a must do. Green Lake. You can see it from the Peak to Peak gondola. Simply stunning. Alta Lake. If you hit Rainbow Park on a hot sunny day, it’s a great place for everyone. Perfect for everything from cruising on your stand up paddle boards to windsurfing around the lake. It is on the less busy side of the lake so if you are in need of a little less hustle and bustle it is definitely the place to go for windsurfing and a nice dip in the lake to cool off on a hot summer day. Creekbread. Well maybe it is just nice to have a home cooked meal when you are far away from home, but the Mopsy’s Pizza is an all time favourite. You can’t go wrong if you like the modern day pizza.

Squamish Must Do’s
Known as the ‘Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada’ – within a 10-minute drive of Squamish you have Base jumping, Paragliding, Hiking, Skiing and Snowboarding, Rock Climbing and White Water Rafting. For Mountain Biking, it offers probably the best non bike park mountain biking you will ever experience. The ‘Full Nelson Trail’ in Squamish is one of the world’s best MTB tracks and if you like flow trails, the “Half Nelson” is the best flow trail for all levels riding that I have ever been to hands down. I guess what I am saying is, if you go to Canada, bring your mountain bike. I don’t think I really even scratched the surface. The Chief. If you are into hiking, the Chief is the place. The Chief, officially known as the Stawamus Chief Mountain, is a granite dome located adjacent to the town of Squamish. You can see the people going up and down it as you windsurf on the sound and the views are definitely worth the walk. The place to eats is Mag’s 99 Fried Chicken and Mexican Cantina. It says fried chicken on the sign but don’t let their poor marketing and appearance fool you. The food is awesome, if you have the time; it took a very long time to get my food, but I rarely say this, it was worth it. It had a unique flavour that kept me coming back for more. The burritos had their own flair but what looked amazing was their Chimichunga, that looked so good. As I was staring at my neighbors Chimi, he said, “Yeah, it’s the best thing on the menu!”

Getting there
Squamish is just an hour’s drive away from Vancouver International Airport and just 30 minutes from Whistler. There’s lots of great camping spots in the Squamish / Whistler area so renting a motorhome is a popular option for getting around.

The Spit
‘The Spit’ is where you go to windsurf in Squamish. While filled with a lot of kiters, it is still the windiest place in British Columbia. It blows everyday, at least when I was there and it blows strong and steady. The kiters think that they are cooler than windsurfers, but all in all they are generally friendly enough. The wind in Squamish is thermally driven with the main season running from April to end of September and is very reliable, with at least a force 4-5 most days. The wind results from the temperature difference between cooler Vancouver to the south and warmer Pemberton inland to the north and a big temperature difference between the two results in a SW wind being sucked through the ‘Sea to Sky’ corridor. To access the flat waters of ‘The Spit’ you will need to pay a daily or yearly membership to The Squamish Windsports Society (SWS), a non-profit society. Prices start at 20$ / day or $165 for the year – other options available, see www.squamishwindsports.com for full details. In return you get access to the spot, plenty of parking, changing areas, bathrooms and a rescue service.  The water is cold from glacial runoff so a decent wetsuit and booties are advised if you want to keep warm and it’s worth bringing a full quiver of clothing from boardshorts to jackets to keep up with the changing weather.

The post KEVIN PRITCHARD – CANADA BY FOIL appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

A few sickeningly gorgeous images from Peter Hart’s recent clinic at Pigeon Point Tobago – but be warned – it’s even nicer than it looks!

Via Peter Hart

The post HARTY MASTERCLASS TOBAGO 2018 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

“Seeing a strong levante forecast, we decided to gamble on a quick trip to Portugal in search of down the line wave sailing conditions. We scored two fun days on the water, sailing with just a few close friends in an idyllic setting. The gamble paid off handsomely!”

Music: Portugal. The Man “Feel It Still”

Edition: Emi Galindo

Footage: Huge thanks to Rafa from BizarrosChannel for filming!

Location: Portugal

Via emi_galindo

The post WINDSURFING IN PORTUGAL – MARIA ANDRES appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

The post CHASING 50 KNOTS OISIN VAN GELDEREN appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

This Valentine’s Day we are dreaming of romantic windsurfing getaways, shared with the two loves of our lives. The team at Planet Windsurf Holidays loves planning active honeymoons and romantic holidays for amazing couples and they believe the best honeymoon is one filled with exotic locations, unspoiled getaways, quiet beaches away from the crowds and of course, amazing windsurfing conditions. And that is just what these destinations deliver…

Magical Mauritius – it’s more affordable than you think

In Le Morne, Mauritius, you will find the ultimate luxury windsurf resort at The St Regis. Making Mauritius more affordable than you think, The St Regis is offering up to 55% off your stay in 2018. Here you can avoid the crowds and searing temperatures of Europe while making your partner’s holiday dreams come true and enjoying the world’s best windsurfing!

Limnos Island – the hottest new spot in Greece

This Grecian island of Limnos is quickly becoming one of the favourites for the team at Planet Windsurf Holidays. This fantastic unspoiled island destination is untouched by mass tourism and offers an authentic location for true adventure lovers to explore. A brand new boutique hotel within walking distance of the windsurf centre and spot offers the perfect escape for that time away with your loved one.

Beautiful Bonaire – the Caribbean dream

Bonaire is the Caribbean at its most affordable. With an extended wind season that lasts from December till June you can enjoy Bonaire’s sparkling turquoise waters and fantastic beachfront accommodation for longer. You can also look forward to a brand new centre with the latest kit on the Caribbean’s best windsurf lagoon. And when you’re not out on the water, the island offers a tranquil haven where you can simply kick back and relax with a cocktail and good book!

West Portugal

– an authentic getaway

The brand new sports hotel of FeelViana is becoming a popular spot for windsurfing and travellers alike. With flat water and amazing waves, West Portugal caters to a wide range of skill levels and it’s just a short flight away from home so is perfect for a shorter getaway. This authentic location also offers so much for couples to see and do including bike riding, wine tasting and cultural tours.

So what are you waiting for? Treat your Valentine this year to a romantic windsurfing holiday or windsurfing honeymoon they will never forget!

The post WINDSURFING HONEYMOON appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Sit in the passenger seat as Lena Erdil rides some bombs in South Africa at Scarborough!

The post LENA ERDIL VLOG #14 – RIDING BOMBS appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Inflatable SUPs transformed SUP sales with their portability and compact storage and kitesurfers regularly cite the compact nature of their kit as one of the reasons for its popularity – so in the age of minimalism and less is more, is windsurfing due a ‘compact’ revolution? RRD’s sail designer John Skye certainly thinks so and is on a mission to make windsurfing rigs more compact and in turn easier to travel with and overturn the perception that our sport requires ‘bulky’ gear. John gives us the lowdown on his latest developments with the ‘Compact Wave’ rig.

Words  John Skye // Photos  John Carter

Originally published within the October ’17 edition.

John Skye – “The Compact Wave has been one of the most interesting projects I have worked on so far and I am really excited by how it has developed. I believe it has the potential to transform windsurfing for lots of people, making it simpler and easier to go windsurfing. The project started over 3 years ago when my boss, Roberto Ricci, asked me to design a sail to go with an inflatable windsurf board prototype he was working on. At the time I came up with a simple 1 batten Dacron sail that folded up nice and small. However the moment I stepped on his inflatable board and realized how much performance it had, it was obvious that we needed more from the rig. Our inflatable Airwindsurf Freeride board is a fully planing hull and for that we needed a stable, multi batten sail to really get the most from it. Therefore we went back to the drawing board and came up with the first performance folding windsurf sail, the Airwindsurf rig.

By using a Dacron stripe running vertically down the middle and using a 2-piece batten system, we were able to fold the sail down the middle, halving the width of the rolled up sail instantly. Splitting the boom into 2 parts was easy with an additional clip in the middle. Then finally we worked on a 5-part mast, which meant the WHOLE rig would fit neatly in a backpack. From the very first test session it was clear that this was something really special! Other than a slight increase in the weight of the mast, the rig functioned exactly the same as a normal sail. Plus the convenience of having everything in a backpack turned out to be amazing. Straight away I wanted more and started creating the next level of the project… firstly a wave sail and then a full wave quiver! Starting from the base of our highly successful Vogue wave sail, we made a first prototype of a 4.6. Performance wise the sail worked great from the beginning but the geometry needed some changes to make it fold properly. Once this was resolved and it was clear the sail worked, we started looking at the concept as a whole. The Airwindsurf sail had been designed as a 1 sail package to go with the board, however no wave sailor ever goes anywhere with 1 sail. Thinking about what I normally travelled with when I went away, I started to work on the concept of a wave quiver. 3-4 sails to cover all your wavesailing needs plus rig components to make it all work well, and have the whole lot fitting in a backpack!

Starting with the sails we opted for 5.3/4.6/4.0/3.5. The idea was that the larger 3 sails make for the optimum larger rider quiver, whilst the smaller 3 sails are perfect for the lighter rider. Then we had to make the mast work nicely on all sails, ideally without the need of a vario top and the mast sticking out. The solution after a lot of testing was a 4 part 340 mast, with 60cm extender to make it a 400 mast. The first versions ended up being too soft in the base, so we worked really hard to make the bend curve the same as a standard mast, so we didn’t lose any performance. The 5.3 and 4.6 both rig on the 400 mast, whilst the 4.0 and 3.5 rig on the 340. The boom was simple again to split in 2, but for wavesailing the clip ended up always getting in the way. Thankfully, because the wave boom is a bit smaller, we didn’t actually need to split it exactly in half and therefore we had room for repositioning the clip. By moving it as far forward as possible it ended up being just behind the harness lines and now it rarely, if ever, gets in the way at all. We also wanted this to be an absolutely no compromise product, so as well as the standard aluminium version, we also worked on an RDM carbon boom. The end result is a 25 mm super slim front section, with a slightly larger back section to give maximum rigidity. This worked perfectly in practice with the front slim section reducing arm fatigue massively and the back section keeping the whole boom stiff and offering top performance.

So finally we had all the pieces together and it was time to start testing and I booked a ticket to head out to Roberto’s place in Cape Town. Taking an inflatable SUP bag, about the same size as a normal suitcase, I packed 3 sails, the mast, boom and extension all together and even had enough room and weight allowance to include my wetsuit and harness. This whole thing came out just under 23 kgs and was checked in as a normal hold bag, free of charge.

Whilst in Cape Town I only used the Compact Wave and not once did I wish for anything else. In all conditions, from high wind jumping through to light wind riding, the sail and rig performed exactly the same as a normal sail. The whole rig fitted perfectly in the back of a standard hire car with the board inside too and even leaving room for passengers. The first test proved to be a huge success. Next was Maui, not only a step up in terms of the power of the waves, but also time for the rest of the team to start testing it too. Up stepped Alex Mussolini and put on a show that proved beyond doubt that there were no performance sacrifices. Goitas, tweaked airs, huge back loops, all no problem. Alex could probably do that with anything, but what made me happier were his comments that he would be happy even to compete on the sail if there were more sizes. It wasn’t all plain sailing though. We had been experimenting with some innovative new forms of batten tensioners, which didn’t quite stand up to the power of the Hawaiian waves, but that’s what testing is for.

So after travelling and testing around the world the final outcome was a big thumbs up from everyone who tried it. It will be available in 2 versions of the rig. The standard version with RDM alloy boom, 80% carbon mast, high-end alloy extension and a backpack that will fit 3 sails inside. Then the absolutely no compromise “PRO” version with full carbon boom, 100% carbon mast, carbon extension and a deluxe trolley style backpack with wheels. The sails will be sold separately to make your perfect quiver, whether it’s 1 sail, 2 sails or 3.

Quite what or where the market for this is I am still not 100% clear. For me, as somebody who travels a lot, the convenience is incredible and the reduction of excess baggage has been huge. Furthermore, as a father of 2 young kids, I know how much ‘stuff’ we end up carrying wherever we go. We have a van and even with that it is full to the brim of bikes, skateboards, buckets and spades. Having your complete quiver neatly packed in a bag, tucked in the corner of the car makes taking windsurf gear with you that little bit easier. From my days as a student I remember living in a tiny shoe box of a room. Having a board propped up in the corner was like having a work of art to decorate the area. The rest of the stuff cluttering up the place was not so pretty. Having a complete quiver that can fit in the wardrobe would have been amazing back then and I am sure it is the same for people living in cities around the world. There are also camper van owners that no longer need to haul quiver bags off the roof, as well as boat owners where every inch of space saved is like gold. Whoever or whatever the market is, I am sure that for many people this will become the future of their windsurfing, and carrying around normal windsurf gear may quickly become as old as carrying 1 piece masts on the roof of your car!

The post LOWDOWN – RRD COMPACT WAVE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Drone footage with the 2018 SC Race and 3XS. Rider Ben Newson. Aerial footage by Johan Lindstrom.

Via Simmer Style

The post 2018 SCR appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Big plans afoot to extend the appeal and reach of the Round Hayling Race in September 2018

The annual Round Hayling Race is having a massive makeover to transform it into the Hayling Island Sailing Club Boardsports Festival with much greater reach and broader activities for all ages to enjoy. Save the date in your diary for 22nd-23rd September 2018, Hayling Island Sailing Club.

The event is being opened up to include windsurfers, SUPs and a number of the canoe classes (OC1, OC2 and OC6). The aim is for the event to appeal to both experienced competitors who relish the thrill of this iconic long-distance race, while at the same time we will have activities for the less experienced who just want to get involved in fun-based activities on their windsurfers, SUPs and canoes.

Saturday 22nd September will see a three-leg race from HISC to Langstone Bridge; Langstone Bridge to Hayling Ferry and Hayling Ferry back to HISC. Experienced competitors can complete the full circumnavigation of Hayling Island, as normal. New for 2018 will be the Relay Race Option where three-person teams can do one leg each.

Dinner, party and entertainments are being hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club and accommodation is available for early bookers! For full details and information visit:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1412293448880066/ and the HISC website http://www.hisc.co.uk/open-events-at-hisc/windsurf-round-hayling/

Sunday 23rd September will see fun races for all windsurfers, SUPs and all types of canoes and kayaks to take place in the sheltered waters of West Mud and the HISC lagoon. The weekend will be finished off by a ‘Water ‘Person’ Challenge’ a three stage race to include swimming, SUP and windsurfing! Entries can be either by individuals or teams of three (with one person completing each leg!).

There will be prizegiving for all the events shortly after racing on Sunday afternoon.

Commenting on the exciting plans for the event, Andy Partington, Vice Commodore Sailing at HISC said, “We’re hoping to make this a ‘must-do’ event in the boardsports fixtures list. By expanding the classes and introducing a fun day of activities on the Sunday we are hoping to attract families and teenagers to take part as well as new areas of the watersports community that we don’t normally engage with. This is shaping up to be a really exciting event and we will be issuing more details in the coming months.”
Hayling Island Sailing Club (HISC) is an RYA Centre of Excellence, occupying a magnificent site at the entrance to Chichester Harbour. In its 97-year history, HISC has played a leading role in British sailing encouraging innovation & development, hosting Olympic, National & World class events & nurturing many generations of sailing champions. http://www.hisc.co.uk

The post ROUND HAYLING RACE 2018 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

RS:X Riders getting a first taste of the feeling of windfoiling with the RS:X Convertible at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club in Miami.

Find out more about the RS: X Convertible here: www.neilpryde.com/pages/rsx-c…

🎥: Theo Quenee

Via NeilPryde Wind

The post RS:X CONVERTIBLE SHOWCASE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.