Mike has been getting to grips with Ho’okipa too, a pretty daunting and tricky break to sail as many of you will know, but what’s helped Mike? A brand new custom Quatro, that’s what! You can check out a full blog post about Mike’s adventures here and check out the gallery below.

2013 Butterfly Effect Maui from Tatiana Howard on Vimeo.

Well we couldn’t have timed it better… as after nearly a month of crap wind in Maui, we got straight off the plane and scored it right off the bat. A solid swell and good wind meant Hookipa was firing but due to my Shoulder (and me being a pussy) and with it being Justyna’s first time to maui, plus her 2nd -3rd time ever on Starboard tack i thought it would be best to go easy and sail Lower Kanaha.

Ben Proffitt

With there being such a big swell running it was still pretty big down there (Logo.. mast + sometimes) but it was super fun and great way to ease Ourselves in.. my shoulder wasn’t great but it was doing the job and so nice to be back on the water!

Justyna Sniady, a small day at Spreks

We sailed down there for 3-4 days in a row. Which looking back was probably the best days of the trip… the rest was a real mixed bag of conditions.

So when the Simmer shoot kicked off we really had to work it… as the conditions didn’t play ball… But it all came together in the end and i think we nailed a couple of good days topped off with a nice Heli shoot right on the buzzer… (I’ve seen some of the pics and they look great!)

Check out the rest of the story of Proffitt’s blog here, trust us it’s worth a read and includes locking keys in cars, shovels, hitch hiking and some very cheesy photos!

This clinic runs from Nov 10th to the15th and is part of the Four Seasons Unforgettable Event Series on Maui. This unique opportunity is for anyone who has ever wanted a safe and fun introduction to water sports while staying at a five star hotel in Hawaii.

For more details email shawnacropas@gmail.com

Or check out our last March Four Seasons Aloha Clinic event: http://www.shawnacropas.com/four-seasons-unforgettable-event-series/

For booking please check out: http://www.shawnacropas.com/alohawindsurfingclinics/fourseasons/

Air Time from Bernd Roediger on Vimeo.

Sails designed to win PWA slalom races have different requirements in the different sizes:

1. Large sizes need to inflate very easily so that when you sheet in or pump the sails the power comes on instantly for immediate acceleration.

2. The smaller the sail the more focus is set on having the draft locked in (both horizontally and vertically) and the sail not moving around excessively.

NorthSails Warp

Usually sail designers tend to use the same design parameters (twist pattern, aspect ratio, sail foil tension) across the whole sail line. This results in some sizes being much more competitive than others. For example our last years’ 7.8 was perceived as the most competitive on the circuit. On the WARP F2013 Kai went one step further. He and his team checked the best sizes of all competitor sails and then went into individually adjusting the flexibility of each and every size. This we call SIZESPECIFIC.FLEXIBILITY.

In general you can say that the smaller sizes (up to 6.3) have a lower flexibility. This allows for the board and rig to be placed in the optimum trim for top-end speed (locked-in characteristic). You just keep on getting faster and faster the harder you sheet in and the stronger the wind gets.On the other hand the larger sizes have a higher flexibility. This improves the low-end acceleration as the deep profile pulls you onto a plane while the reactive top reacts as a “valve”. This higher flexibility also makes these sails much easier to pump. The outcome is simply amazing. The smaller sizes are even faster now. The biggest improvements though were made on the larger sizes. The 8.6 is the most competitive sail we’ve ever made in this size. It is much more flexible which makes it easier to accelerate and pump, yet the high-end control and v-max is on the same level than last year’s model.

The 9.4 got replaced by a 9.2 and a 9.6. This enabled Kai to individually design this biggest size of your quiver to the rider weights: riders below 90kg should take the 9.2 as their biggest sail as it still has an even better acceleration and low-end power than last year’s 9.4. The new 9.6 is designed for heavy and powerful riders above 90kg. It is the most powerful slalom sail we’ve ever built.

2013 North Warp. Maalaea, Maui; Hawaii. November 2012.

Key Features

[NEW] [01] SIZESPECIFIC.FLEXIBILITY Individually adjusted flexibility for each size to perfectly match the conditions and different rider weights.

[02] PRONOUNCED.PROFILE.DEPTH for advanced camber-rotation, deeper profile and more punch when accelerating, without compromising the handling

[03] Radical weight reduction thanks to the 7.BATTEN.DESIGN makes it the lightest racing film sail on the market

[04] MODERATE.CUTAWAY.CLEW Reduced “blow-out”effect for increased power and direct acceleration

[05] INSTANT.ROTATION Much faster acceleration after shifting through HYPER.CAMS and modified batten profiles

[06] Continued weight reduction due to minimalized MINI.PROTECTOR and super light iROCKET batten tensioners

[07] INDEPENDENT.SHAPING.CONCEPT improves rotation, control and acceleration

[08] TWIN.TRIM.CLEW allows for individual tuning increasing the range of use

Kai Hopf:

“Across the board the sails have become softer. Biggest changes are in 8.6 and bigger with the addition of 9.2. The 9.2 was introduced as some of the team felt for their weight last years’ 9.4 was too big. By the time racing occurs with PWA wind minimums they were already overpowered. Goal with 8.6 and bigger was to drastically reduce the amount of force it would take to inflate the sails. This helps to improve the out-of-jibe performance and getting planing both static and by pumping. I believe we found the right compromise as going too soft makes the draft / center-ofeffort less defined. Key to performance sailing is being able to trim your equipment to the optimum position, having a rig where the center of effort is constantly shifting makes this task difficult. What we have achieved on 8.6 and bigger is that you can pump yourself on the plane in less wind then you can actually keep planing. The smaller sails get more emphasis on the center of effort being completely locked in making it even easier to find that optimum trim and holding it to continuously increase your speed.”

2013 North Warp. Kanaha, Maui; Hawaii. December 2012.

Peter Slate:

“When developing the Warp F2013, we focused on improving the perimeter tension in the smaller sizes (7.8m and down) and softening the bigger sizes (8.6m and up). In the smaller sizes, we achieved the our goal by reducing the luff curve in the top third of the sail, which improved the twist and keeps the fullness focused in the middle and bottom of the sail. In the bigger sails, we reduced the overall luff curve, and increased the negative shaping to double down on softening the sail.

Testing against our 2012 Warps and other competitor brands, we are very happy with the softness and increased ability to pump the bigger sails. The reduced luff curve and new shaping allows for a very stable sail that is fast and light in the hands.

We are very happy with the Warp F2013, and are confident you will be too.”

To find out more about the North Sails Warp check out their website here. 

Ant Baker, coaching at a previous Maui clinic.

“Maui is more then just a windsurfing venue, it offers each person with the opportunity to live there dreams with Pro riders cruising around as well as watching photo shoots. We’ll sail at some of the best beaches in the world from Ho’okipa to Spreaklesville with everything captured on my new HD video and stills cameras.

Check out more on Victor on Boards here.

Keith is now off in the Marshall Islands with none other than British photographer Si Crowther, UK wave sailor Tanya Saleh and a few more names too. We look forward to seeing some awesome shots and yet more video from the trip, but for now check out the video below.

In March, the stand out French rider Julien Taboulet went over to Maui for the Naish photoshoot, along with two friends. This video show the awesome riding and jumping Julien is still producing, rock n roll windsurfing at it’s best!

Maui Movie from Julien Taboulet on Vimeo.

Timo Mullen also took some time out in Maui:

“I’ve been waiting on the release of the new 2013 kit to release this vid from Maui in April.

Timo Maui 2012 from Tam Mullen on Vimeo.

Muzza launches a nice aerial

As photoshoot season on Maui wraps up, Globalshots’ Jay Haysey leaves Hawaii and shares the final selection of shots. With some action from UK sailors Chris ‘Muzza’ Murray and Ben Proffitt, as well as all the other big names in wavesailing, head to Globalshots.co.uk for the full album.

Trying to outjump the heli...

Top Tushingham/Starboard rider Muzza has been out in Hawaii for the Starboard photoshoot and some product testing. Join him now for a candid look at what windsurfing means to him and the ‘tough life’ he’s been living on Maui! While some of the dialogue may seem familiar for anyone who’s seen ‘The Windsurfing Movie’, be sure to check out some great action from Muzza!

Undoubtedly one of the sailors who contributed the most to the Freestyle discipline in his career, Ricardo Campello continues to push the boundaries in his new sole discipline of wavesailing. With sick Air Takas, Goiters, and insane Backloops off the lip, Ricardo shows why he is one of the top ranking riders on the World Tour. Combined with some awesome footage from Jaws, this is a clip you definitely don’t want to miss!