PHILIP KOESTER | HOME SCORE

He may be known for his onshore skills and incredible ability to make the most out of decidedly average conditions, but Philip Koester loves to score down-the-line riding just as much as the rest of us. Fiji, Western Australia and Mauritius may be his usual haunts to get his cross-off fix but his latest score was a lot closer to home, about 20kms in fact! We all know 2018’s summer was exceptional in temperature, but the unusual weather threw a favourable curveball swell wise to the Canaries and a juicy south swell lit up rare spots to the south of Pozo in Gran Canaria; Philip breaks down the resultant epic sessions.

Words Philip Koester // Photos Manca Notar

ESPECIAL
This was a very special day as far as down-the-line wave sailing goes in Gran Canaria. The last time we had a south swell like this was about four years ago. I missed that session due to commitments with Red Bull in Japan, so I was really fired up to sail down-the-line on this rare set of conditions. Nobody knows how strong the south swells will hit in Gran Canaria, so you just have to wait for the day and see what happens. Normally I check the Tenerife forecast which gives me a better idea of what will hit Gran Canaria.

ARINAGA
The first day I sailed in Salinas de Arinaga, which is just upwind from Pozo near the big harbour wall. This place is normally a spot for beginners to sail, as it has the protection of the harbour wall from the prevailing NE winds, but with a south swell the waves come straight in. At the top of the break on the left hand side there is a tonne of surfers who don’t really tolerate windsurfers, but downwind it was still pretty fun. When I sailed most of the other guys had left already, so I pretty much had the waves to myself. Word soon spread though and more sailors started to show up.time we had a south swell like this was about four years ago.

“ This is my favourite spot in Gran Canaria for wave sailing on a south swell.”

PEELING
The wave peels down the headland and sets up for about four or five turns. These sort of conditions don’t happen in Gran Canaria often so you have to make the most of them. As I mentioned previously, four years ago I was in Japan for the last major south swell. Juan Grande was working then and it definitely hurt missing the best day of the year on my home island. All I saw was the pictures of other guys destroying it! This session helped ease that long held pain!

I sailed this time for about two hours. I was on my 4.2m and 93 Litre board so I could float out in the gusty inside section. On the wave I was just right with that equipment. In Salinas de Arinaga it was also side offshore and I sailed with a 3.7m. I would give the Juan Grande session a nine out of ten for the conditions! I would have liked it bigger but logo high was still awesome. Most normal sailors on Gran Canaria know about this spot but most guys never know when it’s working. I think Scott McKercher has sailed there a few times. Right now it is a bit of a forgotten spot. It was nice to sail it on our own! I live for these days in Gran Canaria! I’d compare it to sailing in Gnaraloo in North West Australia or Esperance in South West Australia.

It is a similar setup, maybe the wave is not so powerful but it was still an all-time session for home. I did not have to travel fifty hours for this one at least. That evening I just checked all the pictures that my girlfriend Manca Notar took as I was pretty much dead from the session! There was no celebration, I just went to bed early! I was sailing both sessions on a twin fin, I didn’t even think to find a quad fin setup for waveriding on Gran Canaria, but I guess it would have helped a lot in the bottom turns. I really feel confident on a twin fin setup and rely a lot on the rails of my boards, I can use them for down-the-line waveriding and onshore playing around. Quad fin boards are in my eyes perfect for down-the-line where you are really looking for a lot of grip on the wave, it gives you that extra bit of confidence and drive. I would never choose it for side or side-onshore conditions since I look for a more loose feeling for tighter turns and sliding moves.

I look all the time for great forecasts around the world with great-down-the-line conditions, I love to travel and I think those kind of conditions are the ones I windsurf for! It’s a dream come true when you have a long wall ahead of you!