The second week of this years Wave Camp in Moulay, and once again the conditions fired. In fact to be honest I think we had a bit too much wind. Everyone was dying after a few days. Great thing about Moulay is that even when its howling, there is always a part of the day that is a bit more forgiving. This week saw every single person try a forward. That is the first time ever for one of our wave camps. Not all of them were caught on film, but the effort everyone put in was outstanding. Check out the video, hope you enjoy it and check out Oceansource.net for details of next years camp.

John and Nayra’s Wave Camp 2012 – Moulay – Week 2 from John Skye on Vimeo.

Check out the introduction to the pro quivers and profile one from fifth placed rider Adam Lewis here. 

Second up in the series was Ben Proffitt, find out what he has in his van here. 

John Skye with his RRD and Mystic quiver. Image credit Duncan Dumbreck.

Name: John Skye

Current BWA Ranking: 2nd

2011 PWA Ranking: 12th

Sail Number: K57

Height: 179cm

Weight: 82kgs

Sponsors: RRD boards, RRD sails, Mystic, MFC.

John Skye in Ireland. Image courtesy BWA/Dave White.

Favourite conditions: Fun playful conditions. I don’t care whether it’s port or starboard tack, onshore or sideshore. But I like to be able to try stuff without too many consequences.

When your equipment works best: My equipment right now is probably the best it’s ever been, working in everything from down the line 5.7 weather, through to 3.4 onshore.

Describe your sailing style: Tricky one to answer. I pride myself on being pretty good whatever the conditions, probably never the best, but up there no matter what. I like to sail with more sail power than most as well.

Sails:

3.7 4.2 4.5 4.7 5.0  production. RRD Fours.

5.3 5.7 prototypes for next year. RRD Fours.

I flew in from the Canaries, so to save weight I didn’t bring my 4.0, which annoyingly was what I needed in Rhosneigr.

For next year we are trying to put a little bit more power into the Four, which is why I used prototypes in my two bigger sizes. The extra power in the prototype 5.7 was definitely useful on the first day of Rhosneigr!

I use the Four because 4 battens seem to give a bit more feedback and response in the hands, which I like. I like to feel when I have power in my hands. I’ve been using these for two years now, I don’t use any five batten sails anymore.

There was a bit of a cross over last year, when sometimes I would still use the Superstyle (our five batten sail) when it was a bit more onshore. But we’ve worked a lot on stabilising the Four now and giving it a bit more drive, so they seem to work well in a bigger wind range.

John Skye in Ireland. Image courtesy BWA/Dave White.

Masts:

Again because I flew over I couldn’t bring as much as I would have liked.  Mainly I have the carbon 75masts for the smaller sails, and the carbon 100 for the bigger sails. The carbon 100s are a bit stiffer, which works really nicely with the big sails, whereas I prefer a bit more flex with the smaller sizes.

Booms:

I have 3 standard 145-195 booms so I can rig whatever sail I’m using, plus one above and one below just incase the wind drops or picks up. I also have a bigger boom for the 5.7 too.

Boards:

RRD 91 Hardcore Wave Contest edition Production Quad – incase we had some classic Gary Williams! It’s super turny for a big board, but this is more built for a Ho’okipa style wave, which isn’t generally what we get at the UK and Ireland competitions, although I think I’ll be out on it in Gwithian.

RRD 90 Wave Twin Contest edition Production – I only use this really with 5.7 in really light conditions, I’ve had different versions of it for four or five years now and I know I can rely on it when its really light winds. This is the contest version, which is a bit lighter.

83 and 75 – RRD Wave Cult Custom Quads – I don’t use too many customs, but these were prototypes for next year’s Wave Cults and worked so well I had to keep hold of them. In South Africa over the winter we worked a lot on the development of these, so what I have now is basically what the 2013 shape will be, aside from some minor changes to the tail. It sounds like a cliché, but the new shapes quite honestly plane earlier, go faster and turn even better.

John Skye in Ireland. Image courtesy BWA/Dave White.

Set Up:

90WT with 5.7

83WC with 5.3 5.0 (and 4.7 if it’s onshore.)

75WC 4.7 and below.

As I am a bit heavier than some of the other guys on the tour I probably find light wind, 5.7 weather, the hardest! When we get small waves, around waist high, with light winds my gear works well but I definitely find it harder to get good turns. I think the smaller guys on smaller equipment seem to adapt better to these conditions, but it’s always more of a struggle for me to really turn well until I at least get some power in the sail.

Fins:

I use all the MFC QS series. Generally, I put slightly smaller fins than normal, on both the front and back. Mainly because with takas etc using smaller fins makes the board a little looser and easier for these. If you go too small you can suffer with the jumping being a little less directional so it’s a tough balance. I’m playing around a bit still, sometimes I use a smaller front fin and a bigger back fin, for example if I was using a 90 quad, to give it more of a twin fin feel and make it a bit more skatey.

On the 91 Hardcore I’ve some big 10cm wider based front fins, if it’s really good riding I then put bigger fronts and smaller back fins in to give it a more equal feel, this gives it a bit more drive and grip through the turns.

John Skye in Ireland. Image courtesy BWA/Dave White.

Accessories

8’11 super SUP, plus a 5’8 surf board. I always take them both on tour with me, it’s great to get out on the water when the conditions are good and when’s the competition’s not on.

Wetsuits wise, I use Mystic suits. For these contests I had the Voltage 4/3 and High Voltage 4/3. Both were perfect. They are really warm so I can get away with a much thinner suit than normal. In general for contests I don’t like thick suits! I’m always boiling in the heats so I wear a thin suit, but always try to have a couple of spares so I can keep warm by getting changed and then putting on a fresh dry suit when we’ve had a bit of a break.

Also pretty essential are all the hoodies, jackets and hats that Mystic make. Have multiple layers is the number one essential for contests. If you are cold before you even hit the water it’s a nightmare!

Hidden Talents is a series of interviews, by SWA media man and Boards columnist Will Jones, uncovering both UK born riders, and those talented youngsters that now reside here. Originally, this series was on our sister site www.boardseeker.com now on Boards, we will use the series to showcase the best of British.

Our May Hidden Talent is Nic Hibdige, a future star on the freestyle scene who, who at the age of 16, is already busting out the big moves.

Nic in action

Name: Nic Hibdige

Age: 16

From: Lymington, South Coast

Years windsurfing? 

I think I first got on a windsurfer when I was about eight, but probably started to get into it properly when I was 11.

Favourite discipline?

Freestyle

Local Spot?

There’s a few around, Avon beach, Mudeford Harbour and just two minute drive away is Tanners Lane, which is pretty good if the winds the right direction.

Nic in Bonaire

Occupation?

I’m currently in my last year of secondary school, with my GCSE’s coming up. Starting my A-levels next year in biology, psychology, business and economics, and sports science.

Sponsors?

Simmer sails,  Mystic and 24/7 Boardsports. Also Starboard helped me with a board.

Nic Hibdige Bonaire 2011

How did you get into windsurfing?

My whole family windsurf and I was lucky enough to first start in Bonaire. I had been on a board with my dad a few times, he has been windsurfing since the beginning.  At first in Bonaire, I wasn’t that into it but when I met the locals out there like Kiri and Youp that got me into it massively.

My parents have a house in Bonaire now, I think when we’ve finished school my parents want to move out there. I’m pretty lucky, the house is right on the beach and we normally go out there twice a year. It needed quite a bit of work on it when they bought it, but now it’s nice. We normally go in the summer for about four weeks and Christmas about three weeks. 

When I came home after that first trip I tried a bit of racing with my local club but that wasn’t really my thing. I then got into freestyle when I was about 13, I got some more kit and started sail in the UK.

What do your school friends think of windsurfing?

Most don’t really know anything about it! I got a few friends to come and try, they quite like it and one of them has even started coming to Bonaire with us.

Nic ready for the competition

Tell us about your UKWA experience?

Last year was my first main year competing, the year before I went to a couple of events. Last year I missed the first one, then we were going to the second but the van broke down. I managed to compete at the other three though!

It is always great to see more people that are into windsurfing and it’s good to get to know people who you can windsurf with.

My first competition was at Windfest in 2010, I got third (age 14).

First 2011 event was Mumbles in Wales, I came second (beaten by Oscar Carmichael). Also that year, I got second in Worthing and at Poole Windfest I came first in the under 17 category.

This year at the first event in West Kirby I got first place in the flow style, and third place in the tow in amateurs.

PROFILE

Name: John ‘Skyeboy’ Skye
Profession: Windsurfer!
First year you stepped on a windsurf board:  Aged 8 in 1986 (That sounds a really long time ago now!!!!)

When did you first consider yourself professional:
I remember in 2001, I had just signed with F2 for basically nothing and went to the European Championships in Guincho. I won the European Freestyle title and finished 2nd in the waves. When I got back they sent me a couple of thousand as a bonus. That was really the first proper sponsorship payment.

First UK event win:
I won the UK amateur Championships in Waves, Freestyle and Racing in 1998 but never had any good pro results until 2003, and then suddenly it all came together. I think I won all 3 wave events that year and took my first UK Pro title.

Best ever PWA result:
3rd Fuerteventura Super X. 4th Guincho Waves. 4th Fuerteventura freestyle. I think I finished in the top 10 of every discipline I did at some point throughout the years: Waves, freestyle and Super X.

Sponsors:
RRD boards, sails, accessories. MFC fins. Plus I have just added Mystic wetsuits and clothes to the list which is great.

YOUR TIME IN CAPE TOWN

Boards: You are by far no ‘newbie’ to Cape Town, when did you first travel to SA and how many months would you say you have spent there in total?
JS: My first trip to Cape Town was with Chris Audsley and Ross Williams back in 2001 I think. It was so cheap that year with the exchange rate that we all felt like kings. Since then I have been back every year, normally for about a month. In total I guess its probably close to a year spent there. Compared with most guys I think my trips have normally been shorter, but I like that about Cape Town. You can go for less time and use that time more intensively, which for me always ends up more productive.

Boards: For someone coming out on just a two-week trip what dates would you pick for them and why?
JS: I have nearly always gone mid January, and have had a pretty good success rate with wind. It seems to me that between December and February, you cant really go wrong. Outside of those months I think it gets a bit less consistent, but probably the quality is higher when you get it.

Boards: Looking back at 2011, how did the year pan out for you in terms of competition, travel and work?
JS: It was a bit of a crazy year really. Nayra and I got married in July, just before Pozo. I hadn’t really thought through the emotional side of the process, and when it came to the contest, my head wasn’t really in the right place. It meant the year started badly, but I managed to claw back up to 12th. I really needed one more result in Sylt, and then I could have done a lot better, but there was no wind. I took a break from the UK events last year, with the exception of Tiree, but in hindsight I wish I had missed that one too. I lost to Ben on the final day of the comp and it was probably the most painful loss I ever had! Work wise it has been great. I have been getting more and more involved in the R&D for Roberto and its been really interesting so far.

Boards: What’s next on John Skye’s calendar and what are the 2012 plans?
JS: Right now I am in China visiting the sail production factory. Again it’s been a great learning experience. Next stop is Maui for the annual product photo shoot, then back out to GC to train for the summer. Hopefully I can fit the UK comps into that schedule too.

Multiple times UK Wave Champion, and one of the top PWA riders, John is one of the most charismatics sailors on Tour. Whilst his roots remain in the UK, he now also calls Gran Canaria his other home. Between  trips to Maui, South Africa, Morocco and of course the PWA World Tour stops, he is always on the move, getting the best conditions year round.

 “I am super happy to join the Mystic team. I had my first glimpse of what Mystic was a couple of years ago when I stopped at the HQ with Boujma. I was blown away with both the range of gear they produced and the high quality. Its great to now be part of that team, and I am looking forward to another great year!”

Doing what he does best, John Skye soaring mid tweaked pushloop

We caught up with Skye and asked him a couple quick questions about the change:

Boards: Can you tell us why you moved to Mystic?

Skye: The main reason for change was that Mystic seem to be really pushing the windsurfing. They already had a really good team, with Bjorn and Boujma amongst others, but yet they are still pushing, with me and Swifty both joining the team along with lots of others. Its great to see a brand get behind our sport and see what potential it has.

Boards: What are the suits like and is it just wetsuits or will you be joining them for their full range of gear?

Skye: The suits are great. So far I have been mainly using the short arm 3/2 Crossfire, and it has been comfortable and warm enough even for the freezing waters of South Africa. Now I am looking forward to getting all the new gear which looks amazing, both wetsuits, clothing and accessories.

Check out the full Mystic range at www.Mysticboarding.com

The latest addition to the Mystic windsurf team is John Palmer and he is loving the new wetsuits and accessories. On a recent trip to Ireland John was out sailing in the new gear and couldn’t of been warmer!

Check out Palmer’s blog to keep up to date with all his news…

John and his new Mystic gear...

More at mysticboarding.com

More on Pierre at pierregarambois.over-blog.com, more from the BAR Team at la-bar.over-blog.com