Adam Sims

Sims not only competed in the tour but was one of the key organisers of the Weymouth event, it was surely the combination of these two talents that has seen him become sailor of the year.

“We had a fantastic time this year on the tour, there was a lot of support from the industry, the event organisers and the competitors themselves. The idea behind this competition was to help highlight the supporting industry brands of the EFPT and to promote the sailors and the tour through the public vote. We had a number of important characters from all over Europe within the draw, which saw almost 1,200 LIKES and 250 SHARES. Our final winner really deserved it due to his consistent and great overall result (8th place) but also for being a huge driving force as one of the organisers of the final EFPT stop in Weymouth, England. This was also a first for the UK and we hope to return there at the end of this year. Congratulations to all the nominees and competitors on this years European Freestyle Pro Tour.”

Follow more about the EFPT right here on Boards and on their own website. 

The rider with the most Likes and/or Shares will be awarded EFPT SAILOR OF THE YEAR 2012.

Dieter van der Eyken

This first thing that caught our eye this week was the awesome video released from the King of the Wind in Weymouth; it was a hugely successful event and brilliant to have such a great show on British shores as you can see!

The records continue to fall in Ludertiz, first we caught up with Zara Davis and then Antoine Albeau smashed the record again taking it over 52knots!

Boards also heard that Olympic silver medalist Nick Dempsey will be campaigning once more, for the 2016 Games in Rio now it is confirmed that windsurfing has retained its place.

Christmas is coming up quickly now, which means fantastic offers are around from many shops. Robin Hood Watersports and Zero Gravity both have fab offers on in the lead up to the festive season, whilst Club Vass have announced they’ll be running a competition to win a holiday for two! Plus, Boardwise have a Black Friday deal running for today only!

Andy Chambers in Weymouth. Credit Hanna Poschinger EFPT.

Name:  Andy Bubble Chambers

DOB:   30/06/1983

Sail number:  K540

Years competing:  14

Best previous results:  5th PWA Sylt, 9th PWA Aruba, 3rd BWA Waves 2011, 2nd Tiree Wave classic 2011, Multiple British Freestyle Champion

Title you have won this year:  British Freestyle Champion 2012

Why and when did you first start competing?

I first started competing in Cyprus when I was pretty young.  My parents were living there for a while and our local club had a weekly series and annual championships.  I started doing it because everyone else did!  It was the natural thing to do, back then everyone used to get involved.   It was so much fun to take part and the more events you do the more you want do as well.

As a kid did you dream of becoming a champion?

Definitely!! Surely it’s every kids dream!  I used to watch and read all the mags and videos and could see myself doing the same thing.

Did you love competition straight away?  

It was super fun, which is why I liked it; it also helps if you do well though!

Andy Chambers in Weymouth. Image credit Global Shots.

What has helped you progress from learning how to compete to winning a title?

I think theres a very important mindset that you get from doing any kind of competition for a long time.  You learn what you need to do to win.   You learn to be prepared and be in the right place at the right time and concentrate on what you are doing and not the other person.

What equipment have you used on the UK tour this year?

I have been using the new Neil Pryde Wizard freestyle sails and the new JP Freestyle boards with the K4 Bubble Freestyle fins.  The combo of the new gear, the sails in particular have really helped me to be able to do all the new power freestyle moves with confidence.

Why do you use this equipment?

Obviously I am sponsored by them but I have also had a small hand in the development, so I know exactly how it all feels and what sizes to use depending on conditions.  It’s really important to feel comfortable and happy with your gear and I do with JP/Pryde and K4, therefore it’s the best gear for me to use (and everyone else!).

Andy Chambers heading out at Weymouth. Image credit Global Shots.

What is it about your set up in particular that you like?

It’s all like an extension of your body really! I feel like it does whatever I want it to do.  I can duck the sail when I want and how I want knowing that the board will come with me too.  You almost don’t have to think about popping the board, it’s just attached to your feet.  The super light K4 freestyle fin makes things a lot easier as well.

Who else would you recommend a set up like this?

Anyone wanting to either learn freestyle or get better at it from total beginner all the way through to the most advanced freestyler.  It makes it a whole lot easier trust me!  I can do things now that I didn’t think I would be able to do before.  Usually you get worse at learning new things as you get older and I had that for a couple of years, but now I’m getting better!! It’s epic!

Andy Chambers taking on the night tow-in! Image credit Global Shots.

How and where have you trained for the series this year?

My winter off season training is always in Cape Town, it has everything you need; like a skate park basically!! Choppy warm water lake, flat water, small waves, big waves, side off, side, side on etc etc what more could you want!  It’s a great place to improve your overall sailing skills, waves, jumping and freestyle.  During the summer when i’m not at events i am usually out in Club Vass which combines great freestyle conditions with a great atmosphere on and off the water.  I have also been spending more time around the UK and realising that it too ofers some great allround freestyle spots, West Wittering trench is unreal for flat water!! Also the Esso gargarge at Hayling and Weymouth.

Have you just trained on the water, or what do you do off the water too?

To be fair, I spend a lot of time on the water and usually in windy places so there’s not much time for off the water activities.  This summer I have been doing circuit training with my sister Amy (Army) Chambers!!  In the morning before working at Club Vass.  I would like to do more gym stuff though and hopefully next year I will be spending more time in the UK and settling a bit so I can join one!  Any recommendations??

Bubble in Vass. Image credit Global Shots.

What are your plans for winter? Sailing here in the UK? Or heading abroad anywhere?

I have literally just booked my flights to Cape Town again!! Happy days!! £523!! Epic! I will be there until mid feb and then back to the UK for a bit before starting the photoshoots for JP/Pryde in Dahab and Maui.  I am trying to get some winter UK sailing in though!!  In fact as I am writing this it is windy, so I’m typing fast!

What are you aims for competitions in 2013? UK and international events?  

In 2013 I really want to get inside the top 10 for PWA freestyle, maybe even higher but the level is going nuts!  Also, I would love to win the UK wave title, keep my UK freestyle title and have a go at the PWA Waves.  Possibly some European freestyle events as well.

Follow more on the UK freestyle competition right here on Boards, and for more news and features on Andy Bubble Chambers click right here!

Check out the other Champions of 2012 features:

After a successful King and Queen of the wind events the EFPT went behind the scenes to find out more from competitor and event organiser Adam Sims. Another event we have heard a lot about this week in the SWA Wet Dream Four….Play; with this event passed and the Northern Monkey event this weekend there is a lot going on in SWA land. Check out all the latest student windsurfing news and features here.

The other big news this week of course cam from Ludertiz, where all sailors have been increasing their top speeds day on day. Zara Davis and Farrell O’Shea have both broken records, but the top news is that Antoine Albeau and Anders Bringdal both broke the 50knot barrier. Find out more about Antoine, including some words on the record from the man himself here.  With more promising forecasts around the corner, we will continue to follow all the action in Luderitz, fingers crossed more records will be broken in the near future.

We finish up the news this week with a video from Juice Boardsports and their recent demo at Fraisthorpe beach.

Ladies at the EFPT. Image credit Slackography.

Thanks to Amy Carter and Flow – For Ladies Of Windsurfing, there is a very positive feeling surrounding women’s windsurfing in the UK at the moment; we are certainly growing in force!

A few weeks ago I headed to Gwithian for the BWA event where we had 16 female competitors, which was great to be a part of! I then travelled down to Weymouth for the Queen of the Wind EFPT event. Adam Sims and Sam Burnett of XPLG decided to run a ladies competition too, securing sponsorship from Austrian clothing company ‘Femipleasure’.

In the week before the event we only had four female competitors, but some last minute facebook and email rallying, brought the number up to seven by Saturday morning. Unfortunately wind and light limitations meant a full female event couldn’t be run but we did sneak out for a cheeky expression session on Sunday, which we all came in smiling from.

Jo Wright

Jo Wright. Image credit Global Shots.

The biggest thing that struck me in the run up to and during this event, is that as a female windsurf competitor you do not need to be pulling off aerial moves; far from it. There are many ladies out there that are more than capable of giving freestyle competition a cheeky dabble, (Yes I mean you!).

So the idea behind this article is to break down some of the common misconceptions associated with female freestyle competition and talk about future opportunities to get involved in.

Firstly lets take a look at the ladies who competed at the Queen of the Wind.

The facts:

• Seven female competitors
• Aged from from 14 – 28
• Local spots including Hayling Island, Exmouth, Torpoint and Notts county.

• Occupations ranging from student to Events manger.

Danielle Lucas. Image credit Get Windsurfing.

Danielle Lucas. Image credit Get Windsurfing.

Ladies what freestyle moves are you pulling off at the moment?

Lara: Heli-tacks, downwind 360s, duck gybes, carve gybes, chop hops and seriously comedy vulcan attempts!

Alex: Chop hop, carve/duck gybes, heli-tack and body drag.

Danielle: Spock variations, grubby, switch chaco, clew first puneta, downwind 360, upwind 360, jumps, duck gybe, push tack, heli-tack.

Ina: Carve gybe, duck gybe, chop hop, tack, heli-tack (in light winds on big gear), sail 360, splits haha, switch stands, clew first, 3/4 of a downwind 360…so maybe a 240?

And what are we aiming to crack in the near future?

Ina: Proper downwind 360, backwind gybe, duck tack, forward loop, vulcan (probably further future!).

Emily: Hopefully by the end of next year I will have got the vulcan and begun trying some geckos

Julia: Downwind 360s in the straps and vulcans!

Julia Slack

Julia Slack

Why did you enter the EFPT at Weymouth?

Julia: To support the girls and to show you don’t have to be a top freestyler to enter, carving moves are enough or just trying new moves gets you points! Plus, it’s great to get on the water with more girls

Emily: It looked like a fun event and an amazing opportunity to me.

Why do you think other women should enter UK freestyle events next year?

Lara: It’s great fun, with lots of support and competing makes you push yourself and try nutty moves harder than you have done before. You meet some great people and I guarantee you will come in from your heat smiling – no matter how it went!

Alex: All the girlies are super friendly and nice. It’s a great opportunity to get some hints and tips from the others and it really will improve your windsurfing. And the parties are always really good fun…

Ina: Because I want to get to know you all! The best part about the weekend was to get to know more women who are keen on windsurfing. So now we can go for a sail together, which is great, as you normally always only meet guys at windsurf spots. I really love the atmosphere amongst all the windsurf ladies down here in the UK! Everyone is so keen to just get on the water together and have a fun time windsurfing. Competition sounds quite serious, but it really is totally relaxed and more about just meeting more girls, go for a sail together and learn from each other. So get involved!

Danielle: Freestyle is not only for boys but so many girls are put off thinking they are not good enough, freestyle to me is about messing about, trying something different; whether it’s sailing on one leg, clew first, jumping, or just carving it up, it’s about trying new stuff and having a good time.  The aerial moves are hard to achieve but it’s not impossible and by getting out and trying new stuff you can work towards it if you want to, but the carving tricks look just as cool if not better.  By getting girls out together it’s more encouraging to try new stuff, and you have others around to ask questions if you are not sure where to start or what to do next!

Lara Johnston

Lara Johnston

Biggest tip for improving your windsurfing:

Danielle: Sail with others, ask for advice when trying new skills and locations, and don’t be afraid to go and get some coaching.  Sometimes the simplest tip can change everything for the better.  Coaching helps you learn new things, it can help you to learn to self-assess your mistakes, and also gets you sailing with others who may be better than you or may be passionate to be as good as you, which can help push you and allows you to help encourage others too.

Emily: Enjoy it and get out on the water whenever you can

Ina: Always try. Ignore these (really reasonable seeming) thoughts that you could not possibly do a certain move. You don’t know until you have tried. And if you do fail you still make a step forward! Because now you know what you have done wrong so you can work on it and do it better next time.

Julia: Don’t be afraid to try something new and make the most of whatever the conditions are, every time you go out you WILL improve!

Ina Gross

Alex Powell

Emily Hall

The biggest message we all want to portray across to other female windsurfers out there is that female freestyle events are FUN, relaxed and a great way to improve. From the events I have been a part of, the ladies tend to decide how and when our heats are run (would we want it any other way!?).  Another problem that all competitors are faced with is when a job involves nine hour days, five days a week, which means it is hard to then commit to spending the whole weekend at an event. However, as my boyfriend, Josh put it very aptly: “Spending the weekend on a beach, blasted by fresh air and having a great time with lots of like minded people definitely gives you the best chance of turning up to work on Monday morning with a big smile on your face!”

Ladies at the EFPT. Image credit Josh Wilmot.

Just incase you needed any more persuasion, remember UK female windsurfing competitions are:

- Fun

- Inclusive

- Have a great social side, whether that be laughing about the days events at the pub or partying away.

- You don’t need to be pulling off lots of moves: a carve gybe and a tack will do nicely!

- They make Monday mornings much more bearable.

- And finally we can’t wait to meet you all and make women’s competitions bigger and better in 2013!

Excitingly in 2013 Sam Ross is also planning to hold some Ladies freestyle weekends aimed at getting lots of females on the water, improving their windsurfing and having a good laugh (he leads a hard life!)! So stay tuned to www.sam-ross.co.uk for more information as these weekends will provide the perfect stepping-stone to competing at an event!

I look forward to seeing you on the water and hopefully at an event soon!

Jo is sponsored by Tushingham/Starboard, Sam Ross Windsurfing and Exeter University.

If you have any questions please email jowright12@hotmail.com

For more information on the events stay tuned to www.boards.co.uk plus head on over to:

www.ukwindsurfing.com

www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk

www.britishwavesailingassociation.com

www.flowatersports.com

Adam Sims in action at the King of the Wind

EFPT: Adam your name appears everywhere on Facebook at the moment with people complementing you for the first ever EFPT event in the UK. Looking back now on the event, how satisfied are you with it?

Adam Sims: Yeh that’s kind of cool but it was by no means just my effort. To set-up something that works like this took the help of Sam Burnett as well, he was a huge benefit to the event and I think we both enjoyed working together, we drew a lot of motivation off one another and hope to have set-up something that lasts. I guess time will tell.

In terms of satisfaction, yeh I’m really happy with what we achieved in just two months but still the critic in me knows what needs to be worked on in order that next year can happen.

EFPT: What was the hardest part concerning organization and running it?

Adam Sims: I think setting up that damn marquee. The rest was easy enough just time and commitment. I just wanted to pull together everything that was cool about other events into our event. It’s a shame the budget was limited to what it was as I would have liked to have done a lot more…

EFPT: You have been an EFPT competitor on the whole tour and you organized the event. For most of the people one of these two things would have probably been enough. How did you manage all of this?

Adam Sims: Haha, I think I learnt that the two most important things to make something like this happen are having a mobile phone and an internet connection. The rest was just making sure I had enough time in the day to achieve what needed to be achieved. Fortunately I was part of a good team and a lot of people were behind the event and offered their support to pull it together so really they are the ones to thank and I wish I could find a way to thank them all properly!

 To check out the rest of the interview head right here to the EFPT website.

Just as forecast the wind didn’t really start to fill in today here at Weymouth. After discussions of starting either another single elimination or to run a big move supersession, most of the riders seemed to be quite happy with the decision from race director Tom Hartmann, who called it a day around noon. For the reason that many of the competitors had to travel home by car we also decided to advance the prize giving ceremony to 3.00pm. 

 This time we would not only announce the event winner for the Centaur King of the Wind, but also the overall 2012 European Champion. This year really proved itself as a successful one for the EFPT. After the debut in Austria with the first ever European tow in championship, we’ve seen every tour stop with good wind. Sigri started of in August with flat water and moderate wind, France fully kicked in with over 40 knots and wavy onshore conditions and England delivered different wind speeds with flat to choppy water. In general we can say that whoever managed to do well in all of those conditions is well worthy of the overall title!

Even though the fight for the title of the EFPT champion 2012 was a hard one from the start, with top riders like Davy Scheffers, Youp Schmit (JP/Neilpryde), Andraz Zan (F2/F2) and Adrian Beholz (Sailloft) already getting involved in the 3 Style Area Cup in Sigri. The level was already high and the likes of Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard), Rick Jendrusch (F2) and Tonky Frans were all missing at that point. Before the event in France started the outcome for this year was still open, yet we’ve seen familiar faces amongst the top five after every single and double elimination so far.The battle on the last events was not so easy as all the riders tried their best to climb up the ranks. However, as many predicted way back at the start of the season, 20 year old Dutch sailor Davy Scheffers became the new European champion. Davy impressed with a lot of style, power and diversity in all kinds of conditions and always seemed to have his head screwed on. Like this he managed on this tour what he couldn’t yet achieve on the world tour, losing hardly any heats that he sailed. However, after he lost against Belgium pro rider Van der Eyken in France and ‘only’ finished in third place, Scheffers succeeded at the Centaur King of the Wind. 

 We caught up with Davy about taking the event victory and the overall title: 

 ’Ever since I got into professional windsurfing it was always a dream for me to become European champion one day. What I reached today shows me that you can get everything you dream of as long as you keep going for it and work hard. I really like the EFPT because I can travel here with my friends, we are all really close and the sessions on the water are a lot of fun even though it is competition. I am in this sport because I love it and not for the money side of it. I want to keep up the spirit of this tour and hope that we will have even more stops next year!’

The Champ - Davy Scheffers

Already named Big Monday on the schedule, expectations were high, and the day certainly delivered.

Not just big in action but also in names turning up to show their support for the event. Nick Dempsey, Olympic bronze medallist and Ross Williams, Formula World Champion and number one UK rider on the PWA World Tour both in waves and slalom, found themselves watching on as spotlights lit up the bay during the night tow-in super session supported by Red Bull.

With a 9am skippers meeting the day got off to a prompt start. Unusual north-easterlies filled the harbour but provided some nice small ramps for the competitors to launch off of as they spun through their heats. Rick Jendrusch showed one of the most impressive performances as he fought his way back through a number of heats and dispatched of some world class talent on the way. In one heat he managed to land over 15 moves in the 7 minute time frame and sail in with dry hair. Taking home a well deserved fourth place, Jendrusch found his form in this competition and will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the next years.

Despite this it was Davy Scheffers who really stole the limelight during the day time as he not only secured the win for 2012 Centaur King of the Wind but also the title for the 2012 European Freestyle Pro Tour. A double win for the new European Freestyle Champion within the shores of Weymouth where the Olympic Games saw so many other champions crowned there this summer.

The legacy continues!

And so it did, right on into the night. The competitors relocated to the Weymouth Town beach for a tow-in show to remember. As fireworks were ablaze and a bonfire roared over 15,000 spectators filled the beach that evening. Perfectly timed, the finest European freestylers hit the water as the masses arrived, by the final runs the town was watching on as Austrian tow-in weapon Max Mattisek launched into an explosive and perfect double funnel diablo to take first place and a large chunk of the prize money that was up for grabs. Matissek also shone this week as he made his way into the top 10 for the event and finished 7th in the final EFPT rankings.

A special mention to Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers who re-instated himself as the UK freestyle champion just over two weeks ago. He found himself standing in second place on the podium after landing a clean, ankle dry culo in the shallow Atlantic waters. Right in front of the judges, they were suitably impressed to award him the position and he too went home with a healthy chunk of the prize money.

On into the night.

For the competitors and fans of windsurfing, Globalshots laid on a party to remember in the Lazy Lizard. Covered in fluro paint and wrapped to the hilt in glow sticks everyone came together and celebrated not just their results but an epic finale to the tour. Check out plenty more photos from the night and the entire day on facebook.com/globalshots

Bubble slides In The Dark

Globalshots Party Time!

Pics courtesy Globalshots

All the girls put on a great show so a big pat on the back to all who entered.

Here’s to more Girl Power UK windsurfing!

Jo Wright (centre) Expression Session victor

Scheffers wins!

Check out the second video instalment. Here Adam Sims interviews Tom Hartman and gets his thoughts on the event so far.

Editing courtesy of Blacklab.

Day one of the Centaur King Of The Wind EFPT event was packing everything a European championship spectator could wish for.   The early morning featured a classic Weymouth forecast; strong winds, flat water and sunshine.  This accompanied by music and Euro stars was a winning combo.  After briefings the first possible start was at 11am, there were constant heats until just before dark when the wind dropped after a bit of a freak storm.  Just before it died there was some intense wind and the latter heats were quite spectacular as everyone was stacked, even after mid heat sail changes.

All but the finals of the single elimination were completed, so tomorrow morning we kick off with a spectacular show as the final four meet to do battle.  Next the first round of the ladies Femi Pleasure Queen Of The Wind event will run and following that will be the men’s double elimination.

This first EFPT event in the UK had a strong force of home-grown competitors.  There were twelve UK guys and six out of the seven entered girls.  Of these twelve, four got through their heats.  Andy Chambers, Jamie Drummond, Nick Bentley and Adam Sims all made it through to the second round.  Unfortunately three of these were all in the same second round heat (heats of four) and only Andy Bubble Chambers made it through.  Bubble, the 2012 UK Freestyle Champion then cruised through the semi-final and found himself alongside Adam Gavriel, from Israel, for the losers final competing for third place overall (26 riders).

It’s safe to say that Portland harbour has never played host to so much spectacular freestyle action.  In most of the heats it was difficult to watch as you didn’t know where to look, six judges were needed as the top guys would go from move to move in seriously quick succession.  Today we saw  massive shuv-it spock’s, culo’s, skopu’s, futures, flaka-shaka’s and a huge kabakuchi’s  If you don’t know what these moves are, come and watch and you will see first-hand –  we have another strong forecast and fully expect to get the finals run and most the way through a double elimination as the event is now fully set up courtesy of XPLG. The judges have the system tied down under the watchful eye of head EFPT judge Tom Hartmann.

There will be some sick footage and pics to follow.  Rest assured, with three of four dedicated media guys cutting film as we speak, there will be something pretty special appearing on  soon.

XPLG team

For more info and pics head over to the main site here

Busting the moves in Weymouth

Bubble gives it some

Images courtesy of Global Shots

More UK windsurfers taking top spots were Saskia Sills and Kieran Martin, who both bagged silvers at the RS:X youth worlds, click here for the full story!

Still on the competition topic, but in a very different way NWF have launched a new Facebook page and to encourage you to Like it are giving away an entry into the festival each month, read more here. 

Coming up this weekend are two huge windsurfing events. Up in Aberdovey Boardwise are running their annual Bonfire Bash with guests including Nik Baker, Ross Williams, Jem Hall and Dave White. Whilst in Weymouth freestylers unite for the first EFPT on UK waters! You can still get involved and enter for the event right here and of course follow the event for all news.

King and Queen of the Wind is on!

EFPT action!

With Hurricane Sandy making it’s way across the Atlantic Ocean we could well find the UK under a blanket of wind. Many of our competitors are currently competing in France where storm force winds have warmed them up nicely for the final stage of the European Freestyle Pro Tour that will take place between the 3-6th November within the shores of Weymouth Harbour.

Four days of action packed freestyle will entertain the public as they come to watch these athletes perform moves that were just not possible even five years ago! All the action throughout the wind powered side of the event will take place at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy where this summer the Olympic Games sent waves of action pulsating across globe.

A special addition to the agenda will be the night tow-in supported by Red Bull on Monday 5th November. With the beach set to be packed by up to 15,000 spectators ready to witness the annual spectacle that is the Weymouth Fireworks display, the finest freestyle windsurfers in Europe will warm up the crowd with a show of acrobatic like moves. A 45 minute floodlit tow-in session will crown the tow-in master for the first ever King of the Wind event.

Danielle Lucas

On top of the action from the guys, a number of girls will be attending to take place in the first ever Femi Pleasure Queen of the Wind. Femi Pleasure is a lifestyle clothing brand within Europe, keen to extend their reach they are excited to be supporting the event with prize money for the ladies. A first for UK women’s freestyle  windsurfing. One such entry will be UK windsurfer Danielle Lucas who is currently ranked at 7th in the world.

With €5750 prize money up for grabs in total the riders will rip the waters of Weymouth and once again leave shock-waves just like those of the Olympics.

Professional photograpers and videographers will be on hand to provide daily photos and video podcasts of the event to the worlds media. For those wishing to join the media mailing list please contact us through our website.

An evening social program will keep the young and the young at heart entertained with two GlobalShots organised raves in the ever popular Lazy Lizard. Where the professional windsurfers, the public and fans of the EFPT will come together until the small hours.

For all the details on how to enter, how to get hold of those limited party tickets or where to watch the action, head over to www.kingofthewind.co.uk