CATEGORIES

West Kirby

West Kirby is a town on the north-west corner of the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside, at the mouth of the River Dee and famed for being one of the best speed sailing spots in the UK. Speed sailing legend Farrel O’Shea gives us the lowdown on his local speed strip.

Lake Balaton

Hungary isn’t the first place that springs to mind when you think of great European windsurfing destinations, but it is home to Lake Balaton, a freshwater lake in the west of the country and the largest lake in Central Europe. Chris Pressler explores its windsurfing and reports back on a spot full of freeride potential, set amongst protected wetlands and scenic volcanic hills.

Nuking Nortada

Who can possibly forget the iconic images of racers screaming round buoys in breaking surf in windsurfing’s heyday! Since then, slalom has become a little tamer due to world cup events in surf locations often having a wave event taking priority when the surf is up, or it simply being too dangerous to lay a course! All that changed in Portugal at that the inaugural Viana World Cup as racers dodged waves, each other and took to the skies, voluntarily or involuntarily, in some of the most extreme slalom dogfights in modern times. John Carter assembles a collection of windsurfing’s finest to look back at a thrilling event and finds out how the riders coped with racing in the nuking ‘Nortada’ winds of Cabedelo Beach at Viana do Castelo, North Portugal.

Speed Demons

The speed demons of the windsurfing world converged in the Canary Islands in July for their annual battle for top honours and the conditions did not disappoint! Pete Davis reports from the 2018 ISWC Speed World Championships in Fuerteventura and we hear from Andy Laufer, working dad of 3, on how he ended up as vice world speed champion! Finally, if you feel suitably inspired after reading all that to get your speed fix, world champion Zara Davis gives her tips for getting into speed sailing.

Gybe Manipulation

Like the golf swing, it looks so simple when done well. And yet the humble carve gybe continues to frustrate generations of Windies. Peter Hart describes how relatively simple changes of habit, like adjusting your stance height, can prod you to the next level, especially in chop.

Move On Up

JUMPINGOne of windsurfing’s greatest sensations is feeling the freedom and excitement of flight. In this month’s technique piece I will look at the various aspects of jumping, with tips and strategies for different conditions, fault analysis and the motivating factors for making your first flights.

2018 Winter Travel Guide

Swapping thermals for t-shirts and boardies in the depths of winter is a treat that never gets old. The joys of a winter break are easy to sell, but did you know there’s a great body of scientific knowledge out there but that definitively proves that going away windsurfing when the rest of the country is freezing their blue bits off is actually good for you? Leading Professor of madeupology, Candice B. Fureal, said “We’ve looked at a cross-section of windsurfers and they all said the same thing, carve jibing in shorts improves your suntan and appetite.” So there you have it, whether it’s studying your tan lines or ordering your post sail burger from the beach bar, winter travel is beneficial to you and your body, fact. Fortunately we have a handy winter travel guide this month to help you research further this often neglected field of medicine as Jane Faughnan from Sportif Travel and Marcus Bull from Planet Windsurf pick their favourite winter getaways and we provide micro-guides to a selection of windsurfing hotspots. So in the interests of further non-rigorous medical analysis and the benefit of mankind, read on and book a winter break before the fake news police catch us!

Don't Be Fooled By Randomness

To be happy in our sport, you have to embrace the unpredictable, explains Peter Hart.

MAUI – THE BOX IS TICKED

Harty mentors a first time Maui survivor

Starboard Freeride & Foil122

Starboard Freeride & Foil122

Slingshot Hover Glide Fwind1 & Levitator 150

Slingshot Hover Glide Fwind1 & Levitator 150

Pleasure And Pain

For every great gybe, jump or reach comes the inevitable crash, splash and fail. At Pe’ahi / Jaws in Maui the stakes are high and navigating the thin line between the ride or wipeout of your life is a mix of adrenaline, fear and extreme skill. Antoine Martin and Marcilio “Brawzinho” Browne tell how they manage the challenge as they recount a session from the beginning of the 2016/17 winter in Maui.

Inside Arnon

Seasoned racer Arnon Dagan from Israel has been a stalwart of the PWA scene for well over a decade but he is a man of many talents - musician, tester for both RRD and Neil Pryde and a fresh role as a husband and father. John Carter caught up with Arnon for an insight into one of the professional tour’s most interesting characters and Israel’s foremost windsurfing competitor.

Weymouth Speed Week 2017

The stars aligned for Weymouth Speed week 2017. With Hurricane Ophelia and Storm Brian on the horizon, the event’s forecast had more purple than a Prince tribute concert. But would these strong winds be enough to break the existing event harbour records? With all the improvements in windsurfing equipment would the windsurfers smash it or would the kitesurfers have their time in the history books? It was back in 2008 that the event had such an amazing forecast and the big Swede, Anders Bringdal, and the UK’s Zara Davis set the men’s and women’s event harbour records of 38.38 knots and 32.44 knots respectively. Pete Davis reports on how the action went down.

Truly Classic

The 2017 Tiree Wave Classic boasted one of the largest entries in recent years and a host of international sailors. Most importantly it was windy, very windy! We hear from some of those involved in all the action on and off the water and why this year’s event was one to remember.

What's In A Name?

There are several examples in life where the name or brand of an object becomes so synonymous with its function, that it actually becomes adopted as the very description of its intended use. The obvious example is of ‘Hoover’ being used instead of vacuum cleaner; Sellotape for clear adhesive tape … or one that we come into contact on a regular basis as windsurfers - Velcro. There are also instances when the design, purpose or requirement of an object changes over time,rendering it (or its name) nonsensical. Coca Cola is an example we have all heard of - formulated and founded by a Confederate Colonel, John Pemberton, in the late nineteenth century. He was wounded in the American Civil War and had become addicted to morphine so started on a quest to find a substitute for the problematic drug. Originally called French Wine Coca, when he came up against prohibition legislation in 1886 he renamed his medicinal concoction Coca Cola after its two main ingredients - Cocaine (the coca leaf) and the Kola nut for caffeine. The original amount of cocaine in the mix was not insignificant and was of course removed from the ingredients in 1903 … and yet the name lives on.

Stylin

Do you have a style? Do you want one … or a better one? Do you care? It’s a bit abstract but Peter Hart, abetted by some names you may well recognize, contends that by focusing on a waveriding style, you can improve both technique and the overall experience.

Windsurfing For All

Windsurfing with disabilities is challenging, but the barriers are being broken down with new programs and developments, the RYA tell us more.

Triple Crown

When three World Champions – Traversa, Fernandez and Angulo, are sailing at the one spot, you just know there has to be a story. The three legends share their tales of how they all answered the call of the wind to end up in Portugal and score some sweet sessions south of Lisbon and the renowned Guincho beach.

Competition Goals

GOALS Earlier this year we featured Elise Gire’s fast track progress to windsurfing, from beginner to short boarder in 50 days. Elise’s next goal was to enter a wavesailing contest and true to her word, she did! From conquering nerves to finishing in the top 5, Elise tells us about the experience of her first event.

The Charge Of The Lightweights

As much as our test team have a real love and passion for wave sailing, it is eminently apparent that the devotion is identical amongst the brands on review here.

The Happy Hipster

 What level of impairment does it take to stop us challenging the upper levels of windsurfing? Two new hips? Apparently not.

Radiculo

25 year old Balz Müller from Switzerland goes by the handle ‘radiculo’ on Instagram, and if you follow any of his antics you’ll know why. Pushing the limits of windsurfing and taking the proverbial are what he’s known for, not to mention the most painful crashes you’ll ever see. But there’s more to this young innovator than what you see in his must watch videos; read on for an insight as Balz talks triples, freestyle foiling and strapless windsurfing.

Bavarian Highs

Despite being landlocked, Bavaria in southeast Germany has a thriving wind surfing scene due to its plentiful number of lakes that sit high above sea level in beautiful countryside, fringed with views of the hills and mountains. Andy Lachauer and Michael Krumm give us a guide to some of the area’s best spots.

Big Trucks And Open Prisons

Many dream of jacking it all in for a life by the sea. Harty talks to a couple who have turned alternate living into an art form.

First Time Foiling

If you are new to ‘flying’ on a foil then read on, as Wyatt Miller gives us tips for first time foiling.

Devon Dreams

Huge southwest swells pound UK shores a few times a year, but lining them up with sailable easterly winds is more of a once in a decade occurrence. Fifteen years after scoring an epic mast high plus port tack session at Bigbury, John Carter rolled the dice on a mission to the famed south Devon spot, hoping for the stars to align once more and score a repeat performance! The lucky crew that scored pick up the tale.

Sustained Flight

You’ve had lift off and you’re hooked! The next question is how do you turn this bucking bronco of a ride into that serene image of cruising along above the water without the thought in the back of your mind that the kit is at any minute going to try and kill you! In other words, how do I get sustained flight and start windsurfing in 3D?

The Magheroarty Mission

After a three year wait, the Red Bull Storm Chase finally found the weather system they were looking for, storm ‘Gareth’, to green light the event and in keeping with the Storm Chase’s history, produce one of the most spectacular wavesailing contests ever! Rain, hail, snow, an 8 metre swell and force ten plus winds tested the riders to their absolute limits at Magheroarty, county Donegal, NW Ireland; John Carter caught up with the competitors and contest organiser Jobst von Paepcke to find out how it all went down.

All In Good Time

Harty this month suggests that improvement may lie focussing not so much on ‘how’, but ‘how long.’ It’s all about time and timing