Some of the world’s best windsurfers travel to what could be the most stunning of all the tropical islands, on an epic forecast. What more could you want from a windsurfing video?

Sit back and enjoy Brawzinho, Keith Teboul, Bernd Roediger and Kevin Pritchard absolutely shredding the most beautiful of waves. Watch out for Brawzinho, he is absolutely on fire throughout, and takes some big almighty crashes too (especially at 3mins 21secs!), plus some very in your face action and KP showing he’s still got all the moves with some full power gauging turns.

Marshall Island Windsurfing Exploration from Kevin Pritchard on Vimeo.

Lampie’s Blues – Martin Ten Hoeve H999 from BJ Productions on Vimeo.

Cold Pendowerkernow from Andy King on Vimeo.

Air Time from Bernd Roediger on Vimeo.

Over the winter many of the UK’s windsurfers head to sunnier climes, but who’s going where and why? In this feature we will regularly catch up with a variety of windsurfers who are seeking some winter sun and wind.

Next up Quatro and Goya rider, Tanya Saleh has been on some incredible trips of late and she now reports from Puerto Rico.

Tanya Saleh

Where are you? 

Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. This place is insane! Like a cross between Mexico, South America, and the Carribean with sick waves and really friendly people.

What conditions have you had recently? 

The main spot to sail here is called Shacks and it’s usually float out and ride in wave sailing. It’s not the most consistent place which is probably why PR isn’t famous for windsurfing, but we’ve had it pretty good and been on the water about 60% of the time. The waves have ranged from small knee high to well over mast high close out bombs.

The best days have been those somewhere in between when it’s cleaned up nicely. Shacks can’t handle a big swell so it just resulted in giant closeouts everywhere. Getting out with the flukey wind on the huge days was like the gauntlet. Shacks is on our doorstep but if you want flat water you could drive to Dorado (two hours) which has a big lagoon inside the reef. The only way to drive here is just like the Puerto Ricans; break lights and indicating are not necessary and if in doubt, floor it!

I’m really loving getting into surfing these days and there are some great waves around the north west of the island. Because of the inconsistent wind, this is probably a better destination for windsurfers who also like surfing, kitesurfing, or island exploring. If you are expecting to be windsurfing every single day then this definitely isn’t the place for you.

Tanya Saleh

Who have you been sailing with?  

Darin unfortunately broke a rib during the first week so he’s been beach bound with the camera for a few days

Tanya Saleh

What equipment have you been using most of the time? 

I’ve been using my Quatro 78 litre quad LS and a 4.7 Banzai. I am in love with this combination; 78 litres is usually a pretty big board for me but this one is something else. It gives me the extra volume to get out easily in light winds, but I don’t feel over-boarded at all on the way in. It always used to be a sacrifice on the wave if I went out on a larger board; I knew it would feel like too much on the wave, but not anymore. This board is awesome, and the Banzai’s are super light and really responsive. Thanks Zero Gravity!

What’s in store for you next?

We leave here at the end of this week and then back to Bristol. In a couple of weeks I’m heading to San Diego for a little surf and hopefully by the time I get back to the UK again it will be warming up. To be honest I’m then planning on staying put in the UK for a while, I’ve finally gotten to know some of the South Wales windsurfing crew (who are awesome) and getting the spots dialed so I’m looking forward to some sailing around home over spring. In the pipeline for summer could be a revisit to Baja; I miss it so much after having left San Diego, and we might try to time that around the AWT.

Marcilio Browne , hawaii 2013 from Ocean4Hawaii on Vimeo.

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We’re not sure if these guys actually made it out, with the sea so icy it could be pretty tricky, but they get full points from us for even standing in the ocean when it looks like this!

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With many more European lakes frozen Eva and many Dutch windsurfers have taken to ice windsurfing too!

ICE-SURFING 2013 from Eva on Vimeo.

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Most of the UK and Ireland has been well and truly snowed in this weekend, with cars abandoned many are taking to other modes of transport. Move over snowboarding, snow windsurfing is back!

Did you get out on the snow this weekend? Did you opt for snowboarding, skiing, sledging or snow windsurfing like John Gilhespy? Let us know in the comments below!

Head on over to the 4Boards website here to check out all that’s on offer.

These and many more available now in the 4Boards sale!

Saskia Sills. Image credit Dave White.

This week kicked off with the news that top youth racer Saskia Sills had scooped another award, this time being crowned the YJA Pantaenius Young Sailor of the Year. More young windsurfers were then in the news as Fanatic and North take on the talents of Arthur and Alice Arutkin, Maxime van Gent and Caesar Finies.

There are many offers and deals on at the moment, our top picks being: 2013 early discounts from Club Vass, the RoHo january sales and Wet n Dry snow offers.

Also in travel news Windsurfing Into the Unknown have released their Jeri video guide and Neilson are inviting you away for a summer of sun!

Staying a little closer to home our favourite video this week showcases the abilities of a 2 year old windsurfer, loving his new Goya board.

And finally we can’t finish this weekly news round up without mentioning the upcoming SWA wave event run by Plymouth and Exeter universities, it promises to be a weekend and a half!

Until next week….

Roho January Sale!

15% off Point7 orders

20% off limited Goya boards and sails

Incredible deals of second hand equipment

Options to hire a whole range of gear

Plus much more!

Check out all the windsurfing offers currently running here. 

ARE YOU A PARENT LOOKING TO INTRODUCE YOUR KIDS INTO WINDSURFING?

Answer…..START EARLY!

You're never to young to get involved in windsurfing! Image credit Thorsten Indra.

Venturing into windsurfing at a young age is the best way to ensure rapid progression and become part of a sport without limitations! If you’re young and want the opportunity to try the best sport in the world, get your parents to sign you up for a windsurfing lesson NOW!

You’ll pick it up so quickly that you’ll soon be way better than Mum and Dad! You’ll impress all your mates, get fit, strong and the rush windsurfing gives you is better than any other sport or video game. There’s some amazing user-friendly kit around to make your whole experience on the water sensational. You have to give it a go.

You too could learn to blast fast, do tricks, maybe compete, ride waves and impress your friends. If you’ve got parents who don’t windsurf, join a local windsurfing club, they can help you with kit and you’ll meet and sail with others of your age and ability. So whilst your mates are wondering what to do in their spare time, you’ll be screaming about on the water with an awesome feeling of independence and a rush adrenaline running right through you. It feels even better than all the amazing pictures in this magazine!

Jumping! Image credit Thorsten Indra.

PARENTS

More then ever, windsurfers from the 80’s & 90’s are getting their kids into windsurfing. So if you’re a parent, what’s stopping you? It may even increase your own windsurfing opportunities. Saying, “I’m just off to the beach” on a weekend can be a tough call, but take the kids with you and it’s much more likely to happen. Yes initially you might become an under-appreciate caddy, but the long term benefits of getting the family involved has to be a good thing for everyone. But, it’s really important to go about it the right way, otherwise those wetsuits will only be used once and Facebook will regain control of their lives.

Here’s our BOARDS BASICS guide to get and keep young people windsurfing in a fun, safe and enjoyable way.

Parents FAQ – on page two.

Kids Kit – on page three.

Andy King. Image credit BWA/Dave White

The first showings of the Tiree Wave Classic 2012 TV feature with BWA tour highlights and interviews will be on Watersports World, so set your sky box to record:

03/01/13    00:30-01:30     Sky Sports 4
03/01/13    05:00-06:00     Sky Sports 4

More showings will follow across a broad network of channels.

For more details of the BWA coverage from 2012 check out all of the Live reporting from Boards here.