A Cape Town regular now, Bubble spent the winter of 2011/12 pushing his freestyle and wave level in South Africa. Scoring some epic wave sessions as well as some full-power freestyle conditions, Chambers will be a force to be reckoned with on this summer’s PWA freestyle tour. With a 3rd place finish last year on the BWA wave tour, could this winter training see Bubble climb further up the podium?

Josh Willmot from Blacklab has put together another top quality edit, enjoy…

Top British freestyler, PWA competitor and wave sailor Andy Chambers has just returned from a winter training trip to Cape Town.

Bubble ended up extending his trip to test out some new JP board layups and has uploaded loads of great photos to his website. After competing solely in the freestyle fleet for several years, Chambers is now pushing into the wave fleet, finishing an impressive 3rd in the UKWA for 2011. He is certainly keen to improve on that result for 2012 and has been training very hard in the great wave conditions Cape Town offers. Here are a few photos, but be sure to head over to Bubble’s website for the full selection.

Bubble launches an aerial at Sunset Beach. Pic: Debbie Kennedy

Back in freestyle mode, looping in front of Table Mountain. Pic: Debbie Kennedy

The JP/Pryde Freestyle team cruising in Kraal Bay. Pic: Markus Seidel

We are pleased to present the K4 ‘Bubble’ Freestyle Fin and the K4 ‘Stubbies’. Both new models have been in the RandD stage for the past 6 months with Bubble playing an integral part in the freestyle fin.

K4 Stubbies: We designed these with heavy weight riders in mind. They have a more stubby surf style template, giving more area for each length of fin. They are stiffer to give more early planing and we reduced the rake to keep the fin loose.

K4 Freestyle : A unique combination between sweep and upright. Tested in all conditions the fin is light and slidey but still has enough grip to enter into moves.

More at k4fins.com

Filmed by www.sofa-movielab.com and on Bubble’s GoPro! Edited by Cold Water Productions Bryan Metcalf Perez – www.bryanmetcalf-perez.com

Max Rowe, Windfest UKWA Freestyle 2011 winner

Following last weekend’s finale to the UKWA Freestyle season at Poole Windfest, we hear that Max Rowe finished first, Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers second, and Adam Sims third. Which makes Adam Sims the 2011 UKWA Freestyle Champion, followed by Bubble and Max. More (soon?) at www.ukwindsurfing.com and www.windfest.co.uk

Meanwhile check out the first picture gallery from our man on the spot, Josh Willmot…

JP / Pryde Young Guns look and learn

Christof Kirschner reports from the fifth full day of the 2011 JP / NeilPryde Young Gun Camp on Prasonisi…

The exhaustion from the last days of intensive training and the trip to Lardos yesterday evening is now clearly evident. For most of the kids day 5 began in ‘slow motion’. Many kids had to be knocked up out of bed today . But the morning allows for a little breather and some light wind training – but only for a short time, because after lunch the wind starts picking up continuously.

The waves are getting higher and higher, and while the youngest among the kids bravely struggle with the tough conditions, others prepare themselves for a first wave session with Kauli. Excitement and nervousness increase significantly. Tomorrow is competition day and everyone is still working hard on their moves in order to give a great show.

In the evening, when the waves were already mast high and the wind picked up even more , Kauli, Andy and Youp showed us what windsurfing is all about – meter high jumps, loops and a lot of sick freestyle action. After dinner everyone was off to bed quite early. After all, tomorrow everybody wants to be well rested for a big day.

More at www.prasonisi.com

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JP / NeilPryde Young Guns 2011

Christof Kirschner reports from the second full day of the 2011 JP / NeilPryde Young Gun Camp on Prasonisi…

A glass of orange juice, toast, fruit – the start of the day 3 of the Young Gun Camp is much quieter. For two days the Meltemi has been blowing incessantly and one short glance on the water from our breakfast table confirms another day of full – power! As if the Aegean Sea would feel that the arrival of wave champion Kauli is coming closer decent crest of waves start building up on the west coast and slowly but surely we are preparing ourselves for a Big Day.

Windsurf kit used becomes smaller and breaks between sailing hours longer – but all kids are fully motivated and enthusiastic to show what they have already learned and they constantly keep on working on new moves. For the very young ones among them the training day has become long. Andy Bubble and Youp ease the training with cool moves but also they are continuously coaching the kids and contribute on their success.

Many hands are taped but the happy faces of the kids shine all over the beach – even the coaches have some visible signs of exhaustion. Pius Gaensler is celebrating his birthday today and even though his deepest wish – to make the Air Jibe – hasn’t come true on this day he was celebrated duely at dinner! But the week is not over yet and maybe he will see a belated birthday present.

Tomorrow’s training programme will be tight: loop training, wave sailing, and flat water training. After dinner we will head for a go-kart race to Lardos, and then we will relax and let the evening fade away in a beach bar.

More at www.prasonisi.com

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JP / NeilPryde Young Guns Camp 2011

Christof Kirschner reports from the beginning of the 2011 JP / NeilPryde Young Gun Camp on Prasonisi…

Registration Day: Wind gusts over 30 knots swept over the sandy beach at the opening of the JP / NP’s Young Gun Camp! You could literally see the tension written on the kids’ faces before their first ‘performance’ on the water… But to start with the participants had to sign in for the camp and take their lycras and caps . After a first grouping of the camp participants and a few explanatory words from Steve and Manuel (coaches), the Young Gun’s were ready for the water. For some the strong wind was hard but they didn’t give in and were fighting all day with the tough conditions. The level of the camp participants has become much higher and so we saw right from the very first day Air Jibes and Spocks. And we are indeed very curious what what we will see at the end of the week. The first star to arrive at the camp was Youp Schmit (NED 27). He came in for lunch but when he saw the great conditions he didn’t lose a minute to rig up his kit to show us a number of cool moves on the flat water side just in front of the Pro Center! A promising start and a huge field of Young Guns dominated the first day of the camp. The forecast for the next few days promises strong and stable windy conditions and tomorrow after the official opening and the final grouping we let it rock.

Day 1: Yesterday evening, the last participants and Andy Chambers arrived in Prasonisi. Andy was afraid that his windsurf kit had remained in Athens, but after he had spent 2 hours of waiting time at Rhodes’ airport his kit finally showed up. The official opening, the introduction of ​​the coaches, the camp doctor and the video team was the first item on our agenda after breakfast. Thereafter each group briefly discussed its daily programme and out they went on the water. Again Prasonisi is at its windiest side. And the forecast for the next few days looks very promising. Fully concentrated the kids practice their moves. Again and again the little groups gather around their coaches on the beach to get new instructions which they put right away into practice out on the water. The second day of the camp is over, exhausted but happy faces come back from beach and all kids are alredy looking forward to seeing the new video!

More at www.prasonisi.com

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BOARDS August 2011

Contents 276 – BOARDS Magazine, August 2011. Covershot: UK freestyling sensation, Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, by Jerome Houyvet

Features…

LANZAROTE – SPOT X

You’d think all the ‘secret’ spots would have been discovered by now, but during a speculative photoshoot Thomas Traversa and Alex Mussolini chance upon a rich seam of unexpected Canarian gold…

HOME GROUND – CAPITAL WINDSURFING

For some, coastal sailing is king, but for the majority of UK windsurfers it’s our lakes and reservoirs that reign supreme – and nowhere is this more true than in our capital…

MINI TEST – RDM EXTENSIONS

There’s nothing more frustrating than an extension that doesn’t work well, so to help you decide what you should be ramming up your mast, Adrian Jones puts 12 of the latest models through their paces…

BSA ABERDFYFI

The BSA crew rocks into Wales for round 3 of the national slalom series. Michael George reports…

DAHAB FESTIVAL

Recent developments in Egypt have had a huge impact on tourism, with all bar the Brits reluctant to return.  Time then to organise a little something to lure them back!

SELF SERVICE

If you’ve mullered your mast don’t throw it away, as our very own doyen of DIY has a cost effective solution that will see your beloved pole stand proud once more…

RUTLAND MARATHON

Bob Ingram reports from an epic weekend at Rutland Water, host to UKWA Inland 3, RYA Junior Nationals, and, of course, the legendary Rutland Marathon…

UKWA FREESTYLE ROUND 2

The UK’s finest freestylers explode into action at a sunny and windy Minnis Bay. Will Rogers reports…

WHITEY BREAKS 50!

Probably best if we step away and let Peter Hart explain all…

NEW TO WINDSURFING – PART 3

If you’re looking for the best possible introduction to the world’s best sport then look no further – everything you need to know to get you started on the path to windsurfing enlightenment is right here…

PWA CARRIBEAN

The turquoise waters of Bonaire and Aruba play host to windsurfing’s crazy contortionists as they embark on a multi-island freestyle extravaganza…

Regulars…

DROPPING IN

NEWS

FULLER’S WAY

A SHOT OF JD

SB WINDWISE

POND LIFE

BAKER ACADEMY

READERS’ PIX

NEXT ISSUE

Bubble on K4 Fins

Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers has been in touch to let us know about his signing to K4 Fins…

When I was out in South Africa this winter the boys in the house had some K4 Quad Fins and they had been raving about them! I thought well I need all the help I can get! I was having problems with loosing grip at the top of the wave on my stock fins that came with the board. The boys were hogging the bigger sizes so I was left to try out the small set 13′s at the back and 8′s on the front. I actually had more grip then before!! I was amazed! I could push as hard a I could and still not loose grip but then when I did loose it a couple times the fins almost sprig back and bring the board underneath you again. The main thing for me was I had more confidence and control on the wave which is when my wave sailing started to improve. I thought “I have to have these!” But they were more of a set for the boys to test, so I stole them!! The way I saw it I wouldn’t have the confidence to compete in the waves with the top boys without them! As it stands I came 3rd in Wales and 3rd in Ireland in my first full year competing on the wave tour and I was using the K4 fins!

I then got in contact with Steve about possibly making a freestyle fin. It was new territory for both of us as we didn’t know how the material would work for freestyle. The great thing with Steve is that he actually listens to everything you say! So we came up with a couple of shapes and Steve moulded them up super quick! It was also the windiest week in the UK so far so perfect for testing the shapes! I tested them in my new secret freestyle spot at Rye Watersports (not so secret anymore!) so I got the chance to test them in all sorts of chop and flat water. The first thing I noticed was that I couldn’t feel any difference between the plastic ones and the G10 ones! Which meant we had a great opportunity to change and play around with the shape to get the ultimate freestyle fin. The other main things to consider are the weight and the cost, which are both a lot less than normal G10 fins! I took the prototypes straight to the UKWA Freestyle event in Minis bay and won the event using them. I have that much confidence them. We are now just tweaking the shapes and design a little and I am taking the fins on to the World Tour for the whole year and really looking forward to getting on the new ones!

My results in the UK Waves and Freestyle so far this year have been directly attributed to K4 fins and I’m feeling super stoked to be a part of the team. A brand made by windsurfers for windsurfers who listen and innovative and are just hell keen on getting out on the water and going sailing pushing the limits of themselves and their equipment to the max!

More at www.k4fins.com / www.k540.com

UKWA Minnis Bay freestyle men's winner Andy 'Bubble' Chambers

Last weekend saw the UKWA freestylers hit Minnis Bay in Kent for the second round of 2011 UKWA Freestyle competition. We hope to bring you a full event report very soon, meanwhile we can tell you that Bubble took first place, followed by Adam Sims, John Palmer and Will Rogers. More from their blogs at www.k540.com / www.k669.blogspot.com / www.k718.co.uk / www.windsurfingwilly.wordpress.com – but meanwhile here’s a MASSIVE pic gallery from Josh Willmot of Blacklab Films…