Mark Hosegood. Image credit Dave White.

Name:        

Mark Hosegood aka: Sparky

DOB:            

21^st February 1979

Windsurfing History:      

A lot! PWA judge for the last five years and instructor/coach for the last 16! Loads in between including managing windsurfing shops in the UK, managing and setting up watersport centres around the world including helping to set up The OTC in Tenerife and equipment tester for UK and international magazines and manufacturers. I was also semi pro which involved competing in a range of competitions, national and international plus “trying” to teach Jeremy Clarkson to windsurf for the BBC’s Top Gear (most incompetent student ever…don’t worry, I’m sure he’d agree with me!)

Who has inspired and influenced you in windsurfing?

Robby Naish was, and still is, my childhood hero and Francisco Goya is one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Nowadays, I think the guys like Kauli, Brawzinho, Jaeger Stone and Philip Koster are the most inspirational and awe-inspiring windsurfers around. Then you have some of the young English guys who I was lucky enough to be involved with from a very young age: Graham Woods, George Shillito and Adam Lewis. Being the “old” man now it’s an inspiration seeing how successful they are, all in their own way and are fairly unique in the directions they’ve taken and are now heading. The boys over in Somerset that I grew up sailing with also had a massive input in my early years, especially Stu B, who taught me how control my fear, by mainly convincing me (or convincing each other) that it’s a good idea to do some really dim things, normally with Dad there watching with his head in his hands!

Mark Hosegood SUPing with Roberto Ricci and many others at NWF. Image credit Dave White.

Why did you enter NWF?

Because I was there helping out on the Ezzy and Seasprite stand.

What fleet did you enter, where did you finish and what was the experience like?

I went in for the pros light wind freestyle event and I won! Beating guys I normally judge on the PWA Freestyle World Tour….with a bit of luck! The wind was actually picking up in the afternoon finals session so we switched from old school longboard freestyle to high wind new school freestyle, which definitely favoured everyone but me. In the end the wind didn’t come through and with no-one planing I went into sail spin mode, in which I love to flow from one move to the next, combining as many moves into one until I run out of ideas. Luckily for me the judges scored me higher for that then some of the more difficult technical individual moves the others were doing.

Mark Hosegood spinning his way to victory. Image credit Dave White.

What was your favourite part of the event this year?

I loved the whole thing! But in particular it was seeing a lot of old friends that I’ve not seen in a very long time having lived in Tenerife for the last five or six years and been out of the UK windsurfing scene.

Have you entered any other events this year?

I had a go at The OTC slalom event in Weymouth earlier this year. My first slalom event and it was great to get some competitive fire back!

What’s next for you?

I’m out to Denmark and then Sylt judging and then have a very exciting windsurfing project starting up in Tenerife in November…. Watch this space!

What do you want to progress with your windsurfing?

I’d like to change my mindset with windsurfing. I injured my knee very badly about four to five years ago and have had major problems with it since. I’ve had to be really careful in the way I sail now, where as before I’d go for stuff and figure out the consequences later, now I basically can’t crash badly. Because of this I’ve not learnt anything new for years. But now my knee is feeling much stronger, I’ve been lucky enough to find a very high quality Ossur CTI carbon knee brace that’s kept me injury free since I got it three years ago and I’m now a Personal Trainer and utilising that knowledge, managed to train and build up the knee to a much better condition.

Mark Hosegood on the top of the podium. Image credit Dave White.

Check out the rest of the NWF Stars series:

Oscar Carmichael

Simon Bornhoft

Adam Sims

Megan Kraft

Plus, The Only Way Is The Beach aka a day in the life of George Shillito!

]]> http://boards.mpora.com/features/stars-nwf-mark-hosegood.html/feed 0 http://boards.mpora.com/news/nwf-means.html http://boards.mpora.com/news/nwf-means.html#comments Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:09:33 +0000 Amy Carter - Editor http://boards.mpora.com/?p=42830 Many of  us have a distance to go to head to NWF each year, but Roberto Ricci flew all the way from his home in Italy to come to the event for the second year running. Roberto loves the atmosphere of the event, and couldn’t wait to join the masses for NWF again this year. Plus if even looks like it may be back next year too! Dave White sat down with Roberto to find out exactly what draws him back to this event again and again.

NWF – what’s it meant to you from Dave White on Vimeo.

The revolution is here! RRD has developed the most exciting and performance driven range of slalom boards to ever hit the windsurfing market. The all-new X-Fire V4 sets a new standard in slalom sailing with the introduction of the ‘TT Tail’ ( stands for TORO TAIL ), the next generation of design concepts that will take the world by storm. A comprehensive design and testing program has produced 5 all-new designs that will be the market reference in 2012. One look at these racing machines and you will agree!

RRD X-Fire LTD V4

The X-FIRE LTD V4 features:
• Fastest boards ever produced in windsurfing. Period.
• TT Tail creates unrivalled control and stability, simply an amazing feeling on the water.
• TT Tail cleverly releases the wetted surface area drag underneath the back foot.
• TT Tail makes these new boards machines accelerating away from the gybe mark.
• Increased wind range on all boards, especially the TT models. Better low and high-end
sailing!
• New rail design = better gybing.
• Reduced volume and thickness in the nose = reduced weight and easier handling.
• Full-carbon laminations for the 114, 122 and 129. Super lightweight yet exceptionally
strong.
• Revised scoop-rocker lines for all boards.
• Maximum attention and accuracy for individually tailored bottom shapes for each new
model.
• Revised cut-out designs for all boards (98, 105, 114, 122 & 129), giving increased
controllable lift with better acceleration.

Technology:

Models 129-122-114 LTD V4:
EPS / Full PVC 3 mm top and bottom/Biaxial carbon 100 grams on deck/80 Grams UD 80 on
bottom / Custom made technology

Models 105-98-90 LTD V4:
EPS / Full PVC 3 mm top and bottom/ 80 Grams UD 80 on Deck + Glass / 160 Grams Glass
Bottom /Custom made technology

For even more specs then download the PDF by clicking HERE

To find your closest retailer, head to RRD UK importers seaspritesports.com

RRD Fire Storm Ltd

RRD introduce their sporty new Fire Storm Ltd Edition freeride board…

“Enthusiastically fast and fun”, the Fire Storm line is the latest addition to the RRD freeride family. Based on the scoop rockerline of the hugely successful X-Fire boards, the thinner volume configuration and narrower tail allow these designs to be highly competitive with burning acceleration after gybes, yet also fantastically comfortable freeriding machines. The real Gran Turismo line of windsurfing!

FEATURES: Each board has a different length and width to accommodate the appropriate balance of the average rigs you are going to use on them. A simple vee with double concave bottom, and a slight flat vee tail release, simplifies the water dynamics and creates a very effective, sharp feeling, compact and fast board in all conditions. Thick 8mm deck-pads with extra moulded grip smoothen up the ride. The Firestorm Limited Edition is equipped with a fast G-10 CNC RC 2 Maui Fin Company fin with a Powerbox base and superior DaKine Primo straps to complete the package. Available in 111, 120 and 138L with widths of 68, 72 and 77cm respectively.

TECHNOLOGY: EPS. Full PVC 3mm top and bottom. 80g UD 80 on deck and glass. 160g glass bottom. Custom Made technology.

Available from all good dealers – check www.seaspritesports.com for a full list of outlets, click www.robertoriccidesigns.com for more…

BOARDS October 2011

Contents 278 – OCTOBER 2011. Covershot: Andreas Olandersson (S-66), Cape Town, by Tomas Ärlemo

features

LOVING LESBOS

Chris Pressler discovers the delights of Sigri, an unspoilt fishing village and a new spot on the Greek windsurfing map…

TESTED – 5.3 POWER WAVE SAILS

What, exactly, is a ‘power wave’ sail? What is it designed to do, in what conditions, and for whom? Test editor Adrian Jones reveals all, ably assisted, as always, by the Clones…

LEGENDS OF TIREE

The Tiree Wave Classic has long been the British Wavesailing Tour’s most prestigious event, and to mark its 25^th anniversary we take a nostalgic look back at some of the legendary characters who’ve contributed to its success…

ROBERTO RICCI – RISING FROM THE ASHES

Dave White gets up close and very personal with Roberto Ricci, who rose from humble beginnings to create RRD, one of the world’s most successful windsurfing brands…

NATIONAL WINDSURFING FESTIVAL

If you were unlucky enough to miss out on this year’s incredible event, sit back and take a look at Dave White’s pictorial record while scribbling next year’s dates into your diary… …

SETTING YOUR OWN RULES

Whether we’re blasting at our local spot or lining up to take our chances Weymouth, we all get a kick out of speed. And thanks to modern technology, these days you don’t need to enter an event to join the speedsailing ranks…

LIFE ON TOUR – WORLD CUP ROUND-UP

Ed Sinclair brings us up to date with the action from 2011, which has been one of the most exhilarating years yet for the PWA…

regulars

DROPPING IN

PICTURE DESK

NEWS

FULLER’S WAY

SB WINDWISE

WANNABE A WAVESAILOR

POND LIFE

READERS’ PIX

NEXT ISSUE

Adam Sims on the RRD Twin Tip V2

Seasprite Sports introduce one of RRD’s highest selling ranges, the RRD Twin Tip V2 – which is seen as a reference freestyle board.

As the level of freestyle performance is redefining the word ‘windsurfing’, RRD’s custom factory has committed to redesigning two new progressive shapes that represent this change. The shapes are modern, compact, lightweight, easy to plane and pop in the blink of an eye. The new Twin Tip V2s are simply a new tool to express your desire to write a new page in freestyling, and they are a whole lot faster than their predecessors.

Shorter outlines on both boards compared to the previous versions, the 90 features a much narrower width compared to 88 lts V1. This reduced lengths allows the boards to be popped easier and then thrown around for double manouvers. Much thicker in the tail, the new twintips V2 are easier to plane and reach top speeds, an essential for new school manouvers. The new deck shape with their highly recessed area allows a better grip and control of the board while riding on choppy water.

RRD team rider Adam Sims said: “After 3 months of testing I can safely say the new board is like no other freestyle board on the market; it is fast, it pops high, it feels light under your feet, it carves well and it is controllable through sliding rotations, in chop and in the air. The major changes to the board have really made it very exciting but more important is that it is extremely current and fits in well with all the modern trends of the latest freestyle board; being shorter with sharper rails and a more radical outline. It is a huge step on from the classic TwinTip shape that RRD is famous for and an impressive step in the right direction.”

The range currently includes a 90 and a 100L model, each tooled up with MFC Powerbox Freestyle fins of the right length to slide to your heart’s content.

More details on www.robertoriccidesigns.com . The Twin Tip V2 is available now from your nearest legendary RRD dealer, catch it if you can – check out www.seaspritesports.com for your list of retailers.

Roberto Ricci

Simon Bassett of WWWC / X-Train / 2XS has news of a very special guest due in West Sussex next Friday…

We are very pleased to announce that Roberto Ricci will coming coming to UK and will be visiting 2XS and X-train and he will be launching 2012 new RRD product at WWWC -West Wittering – the RRD EZZY test centre.

Roberto will have the new 2012 RRD Freestyle Waves, Contest Quad Wave, The New RRD Super SUP, and the new 2012 RRD Kites THE religion 2-New, Obsession Pro and Obsession MKV -RRD kite wave boards-the new 10 knots LTD.

Roberto will be on hand to answer any questions and will introduce the new RRD toys.

Neal Gent RRD 2XS team rider and Chris Rainbow, Roscoe Moore and James Crowe from 2XS and X-train will be on hand to help with any enquiries.

It will be at West Wittering Beach at the windsurf club WWWC . http://www.x-train.co.uk/about-west-wittering-windsurf-club/location/

The RRD launch will be on Friday 2nd September, starting at 4pm, BBQ 6pm, finish 7pm – we are providing free barbie and beers all you have to do is pay your car parking on the beach

Please let simon@2xs.co.uk know if you would like to attend, or call the beach on 01243 513077

www.2xs.co.uk

Dario Ojeda at home at Pozo

RRD are proud to announce the Canarian waverider Dario Ojeda has officially joined the RRD International Team. Dario will ride RRD windsurfing and SUP boards and will be one of the riders to look at during this 2011 season. Dario is undoubtedly one of the most “Hard Core” waveriders in Pozo, so we’re sure he will bring RRD Hard Core Wave boards on the top stages of next wave competitions he will attend.

Dario said: ”I’m really stoked to have signed with the Italian company RRD boards for 2011, RRD has been in the scene for a long time with good experience in the shapes and doing good boards. I’m really confident with my new quiver and also really motivated for this year wave events where I hope to do a good work specially in the Canaries events”.

More at www.robertoriccidesigns.com / darioe211.blogspot.com

Dario and his new RRD Hard Core

Skyeboy on the RRD Cult Quad Contest in South Africa

Seasprite Sports introduce the highly acclaimed Wave Cult Quad in a Contest technology. This is the lightest yet toughest technology of construction a waveboard can be built.

The Wave Cults are for ”everyday conditions” all over the world. Sharp, instinctive and very sensitive to footsteering these boards will never let you down in the testing ‘Euro’ conditions you sail in and still they excel in ripping it up when the waves are going off. They have the widest range of use in RRD’s comprehensive wave collection. The QUAD fin set-up allows the boards to have looser bottom turns and very sharp precise top turns, alongside great control, grip and stonking upwind performance.

As RRD’s custom factory keeps making progress not only in terms of shapes and design but also in terms of new construction technologies, the reflections of these developments go directly into the production line. They have created a separate full custom scaled production line with only special materials used and a special finishing level, to produce the lightest and best performance wave boards in the market today.

The range now includes a new 100 litre size at 62cms wide, perfect for bigger riders or lighter winds. This adds to the 92, 83 and 75 litre rippers, the latter getting a great test in this fine mag. They now come equipped with New slot finboxes for the front fins and are tooled up with MFC fins.

More details on www.robertoriccidesigns.com . The Wave Cult Contest Quad is available now from your nearest legendary RRD dealer, check out http://seaspritesports.com/dealers.php for your list of retailers.

TwinTip Twinzer deck

Seasprite Sports introduce the new Twin Tip Twinzer to ‘Roberto Ricci Designs’ highly acclaimed and hugely popular freestyle board line. The twin fin set up allows these freestyle boards to be even looser and improve the potential for multiple executions of manoeuvres whilst improving pop and slide for your basic stunts. Adam Sims, Rrd’s freestyle ninja, has this to say about them.

‘The new twinfin TT has a whole new feel about it. It is a loose feeling board yet gives drive when you want to get speed for power moves. It still slides incredibly well as one fin seems to cause enough turbulence for you not to feel the second fin. Effectively this feels like you are sliding on one very small fin. That drive as previously mentioned adds to the already massive pop that you can get from the board. Massive shakas, high forwards and even air flakas off dead flat water are all possible now just because of the addition of the extra fin. Many people will find this board slightly more suited to them than the single fin as the speed in a straight line is near enough the same but the drive off the fins allows you to keep up wind that little bit easier but more importantly pop that bit higher, making the unachievable even more achievable.’

These rippers come in a full sandwich Limited Edition construction and in volumes of 88, 100 and 109 litres with respective widths of 62, 64 and 67cms, and a length of 233cms and are equipped with MFC Twin Pro fins in US boxes. More info on www.robertoriccidesigns.com and available now from your nearest legendary RRD dealer, http://seaspritesports.com/dealers.php

TwinTip Twinzer hull

John Skye and Nayra at Pozo 2010. Photo: PWA / JC

On 2nd September at Crouchers Hotel, between 6 and 8pm, top World Cup windsurfer John Skye and coaching guru Jem Hall will present the brand new Version 4 (2011) RRD Quad and single fin waveboards.

2XS will have the first public preview of the Hardcore Quad, Wavecult Quad and Hardcore single fin waveboards.

John Skye, who has been developing the boards with Roberto Ricci in Hawaii and South Africa will be on hand to discuss the performance of the boards. Jem, who will just have returned from Baja, Mexico, will have the latest information on the new Wavecult Quad.

More at www.2xs.co.uk