James Dinsmore puts the 5.1 away after 40 knots for 40kms!

Day 1:

No wind but there is an air of anticipation as the forecast for the following three days is perfect. We meet fellow Severne teamrider and Dutch speedsailor extraordinaire Jurjen van der Noord. It also turns out we are parked next to Patrice Belbeoch who, like Jurjen, is great to chat to.

Day 2:

The 60 minutes countdown to race one starts mid-morning. With 20 knots at the start I take a R4 7.8m/iS107/Ca 36.5 fin. The powerful combo takes me cleanly through the chaos of a start line with 800 other people on it. However, by the time we reach the first mark, 10km away, 35knot gusts are being recorded. I am well in the top 20, which inspires me to grit my teeth and hang on. I flatten off the adjustable outhaul and muscle the gear for the next 30km to the finish. Thirteenth place is a good start in a big field with competitors from over 30 different countries.

The second race is delayed and run over only one 20km lap. I take a R4 6.2m/iS87/Vector Volt 34 combination and am right up there until about 4km from home when I suddenly lose speed and start to struggle to point upwind. People start to overtake me and I fear that I will not make the finish line. About 10 metres from the line I have to unhook and pump and just bounce off the downwind finish buoy and over the line. On the beach I discover that the fin head has cracked and the fin has been leaning over in the box. I am lucky to have finished in 23^rd but the need to find a replacement fin is to have negative consequences on the following days. Sebastien Bonhomme Allaire leads overnight and I am 14^th overall.

Day 3:

Two races are run, each of 40km. In the first I go with the R4 6.2 (now tweaked after advice from Jurjen)/iS87 and untested loan Nik Baker 34 fin. As with the previous day I start at the upwind end of the line well away from the bulk of the top sailors. The problem with the upwind end is that it takes the rabbit boat 45-50 seconds to get there from the pin end. However, the wind is clean and so it is a strategy that enables a safe start but from which you are unlikely to ever win the race as you have a significant time handicap.  Anyway, things feel comfortable after a clean start and I come in 14^th position. Race 4 in the afternoon does not go so well.  The wind is now hitting 45 knots on the course and the direction has shifted. My R3 5.1 comes out of the bag with the same board and fin. The upwind start does not work so well with the wind having swung and I am just outside the top twenty at the first mark. The return legs are now tight upwind and I find it difficult to make the board head up enough with a fin that I then realise does not have the pointing potential of the broken Volt. I struggle but do make the finish line in one reach and still just outside the top twenty. Many sailors need to tack to make the line. Andrea Cucci is the overnight leader.

Day 4 

For the fifth and final race I take the R4 6.2/iS87/Deb SL3 34. I try the fin for the first time on the course beforehand and it feels quicker and more comfortable than the NB one. I get a decent start at the pin end and am in contention for a top 20 finish until the fourth and final leg.  The wind has backed and I cannot point enough to make it back to the line. It is gutting to see sailor after sailor stream over the line as I tack back up to the finish. The saving grace is that a couple of other top twenty guys have to do the same.  On the beach the rest of the British crew tell me I was an idiot for taking a downwind slalom fin. Thanks lads! Why didn’t you tell me before?

The flying Patrice Belbeoch takes the overall win on his birthday. I have come a respectable seventeenth overall and just ahead of Danny Aeberli as the top Severne sailor. We are lucky to have been able to take part in a Defi event with some of the best conditions ever. I will go away with my smaller sails tuned better, quite a bit wiser about fins and generally inspired.

So what is the attraction

Well the first and most obvious attraction is the tan you’ll come home with. Aside from this you get to be the star of the beach as guests come and go and see you, the instructor, as the blazing beach icon that is so typically stereotyped. You’ll be able to impress all day long with your smooth chat on the beach and awesome windsurf moves during lessons. On top of this you get a free place to stay, you get time off each day for your own activities and you even get a salary that is often split so that you can’t spend it all whilst there, which means you end up with a nice lump sum at the end of the season. Did we forget to mention the chance to work on your own windsurfing skills and perhaps become the next UK windsurfing star… If we just sold it to you then read on.

Where should you go

There are a large number of options, some more obvious than others the question really is what are your aims and targets. If you fancy getting to grips with windsurfing a bit more whilst teaching and maybe building up your experience and qualifications at the same time then a more chilled out location may suit you, a place that sees slightly more subdued wind strengths than that of say Vassiliki. Locations like Nidri offer the perfect chance to teach both windsurfing and dinghy sailing whilst enjoying the company of other instructors. More about this destination here – alpineelements.co.uk/beach-holidays/resort/nidri.html

However, if it is action, lifestyle and higher level windsurfing you are after, then Vassiliki really sits at the top of the food chain, offering the instructor quality on water time during peak season but at the same time a chance to mingle with guests who may be a little more experienced. Vass is really a place where many of the UK’s finest windsurfers have developed their routes so it has a strong history of raising the profiles of the young and driven individuals who work there. More on this location here - alpineelements.co.uk/beach-holidays/resort/activity-holidays-greece.html

What is on offer

Right now many of the jobs have already been snapped up, the London Boat Show is one of the best opportunities to sign up, take your C.V. and talk to the big dogs, you can really get your foot into the right door by doing this. However, all is not lost there is still time to speak to the holiday companies, and one such company is that of Ocean Elements, sister company to Alpine Elements. They have two opportunities available, the first is for an Advanced Windsurfing Instructor, where you will find yourself on the water everyday, the second is for a Mountain Bike Guide who will lead groups off into the trails for a break from the water. Read on to find out more and send your applications in to jobs@alpineelements.co.uk.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Job Title:

Advanced Windsurf Instructor

Activities Manager

To work under the supervision of the Beach Senior, delivering safe and fun Windsurf  tuition and equipment use for adults and children.  Ensuring that all practices meet RYA and BCU governing body criteria.

Duties and Responsibilities: (this list is not exhaustive)

• Attending daily staff meeting to discuss lesson plans and duties for the day
• Opening and securing all beach equipment, including lifting and  moving equipment and security cages
• Tidying and preparing communal areas ready for guests arrivals
• Preparing teaching areas, teaching aids and simulators
• Preparing equipment for tuition, including lifting and moving equipment ready for launching
• Routine maintenance checks on all equipment and completion of maintenance records
• Preventative and as necessary maintenance including board repair and GRP repair
• Assisting guests with the rigging, carrying, launching and landing of equipment
• Taking bookings for activities
• Interacting with all guests in a professional yet relaxed fashion
• Creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for guests to learn new skills
• Carrying out first aid and completing accident forms as necessary
• Providing safety cover for water users from a power boat
• Providing safety cover for water users by surveying the area  from a tower vantage point
• Teaching groups of adults new skills in line with the governing body syllabus
• Teaching groups of children new skills in line with the governing body syllabus
• Providing private watersports tuition if  requested ( commission based )
• Being responsible for all safety aspects of your session whilst you are afloat, including considerations for ability, weather conditions and suitable craft to use.
• Socialising with guests in the evenings,  including handing out awards on their last night
• Carrying out monthly stock takes
• Showing guests to their rooms and helping with their luggage
• Assisting other departments as per operational needs

Experience / Qualifications required:

Experience working on an RYA beach, preferably with BCU knowledge also.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Job Title:

Bike Guide

Reporting to:

Activities Manager

To ensure that all bike guiding and free riding is offered in a safe, professional and enjoyable manor. To be solely responsible for the maintenance of the fleet.  In addition to the role of bike guide you will assist with beach operations when required.

Duties and Responsibilities: (this list is not exhaustive)

• Attending weekly staff meetings to discuss bike feedback and duties for the week
• Ensuing maintenance, cleaning and any other bike duties are carried out in a timely fashion
• Responsible for the opening and set up of all bike equipment at the start of the day, inc manual  labour
• Responsible for ensuring all bike equipment is securely locked and stored properly at the end of the day
• Ensure all bike storage areas are ready for guests arrivals
• Ensure helmets in safe working order and safety packs are kept stocked up
• Complete essential weekly maintenance checklists for each bike
• Give each bike a full service at once a month
• Ensure accurate maintenance records are kept
• Archive all bike maintenance records
• Complete the weekly H&S audit
• Plan a varied weekly program of guided rides to suit all abilities
• Produce route cards for guests to use when free riding
• Advertise rides and update daily
• Train colleagues in basic bike maintenance and guiding techniques
• Creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for guests of all abilities to enjoy biking
• Carrying out first aid and completing accident forms as necessary
• Being responsible for the overall safety aspects of all biking program
• Writing risk assessments for bike activities
• Provide a bike Welcome Speech to all guests at the start of their holiday
• Ensure a full safety briefing is given before every guided ride
• Obtain any relevant medical information from all guests before departing on a guided ride
• Socialising with guests in the evenings,  including handing out awards on their last night
• Carry out monthly stock takes
• Showing guests to their rooms and helping with their luggage
• Assisting other departments as per operational needs, in particular you will spend a portion time at the beach each day: see job description for instructor.

Experience / Qualifications required:
Strong maintenance knowledge, able to build a new bike and maintain it with weekly servicing. Instructor or Teaching qualifications in any discipline an advantage. Trail leader Award. First Aid.

EXTERIOR

INTERIOR

With one complete interior and exterior the boys hit the road for their first major trip, the long drive down to Tarifa. On arrival their clinic awaited and then it was photo shoot time. These pictures were taken just yesterday and show the final finished beast. If you fancy taking on your own project then Colin is certainly worth chatting to as he will point you in the right direction and offer some sound advice.

A final word from Colin – “A really big thanks to everyone that made it happen, we are stoked to be on the road and she is behaving beautifully”.

More here – windsurfcoaching.com/blogs/news

It’s been a long hard 3 months but getting some good feedback and every one loves the van. Finally just finished an unreal week clinic in Tarifa so nice to have a nice van with everything we need!

FINAL SHOTS

My top tip would be to get yourself out there, don’t be up your own ass, talk to people smile and be a happy person, approach people, help them out, don’t be shy to ask , show the sponsor what you have to offer and just love and enjoy the sport! – Colin Dixon (Club Vass superstar, Club Dahab Centre Manager and Co-founder of Windsurf Coaching)

The first level of sponsorship is being a “shop rider”. In this case, you are sponsored by your local windsurf shop/school and help them promote their products. Once the shop puts you on their “team”, you would push the shop to prospective customers and push the products the shop sells in your local area or online. You usually represent the shop at local competitions, demo days, or clinics, and you might even think about working for the shop itself. This level usually gets the rider discounts on products sold at the shop, and possibly some free gear. This is the level most riders start out at, and it’s the best way to get your foot in the door to the next step.

The next level of sponsorship is a “brand team-rider”. In this case, you may still be linked to the shop you set out with but you are now promoting one specific brand who sees potential in you. The brand or brands would ask you to also promote more on a national level, perhaps asking you to attend certain events like the National Windsurfing Festival and/or demo days. Being a “brand team-rider” usually entitles a rider to discounts on that brands products perhaps a bit better than the Shop Rider with some potential expenses covered to attend demo events (where you may also be able to compete, further improving your profile).

On an equivalent level to the “brand team-rider” is being a “rider/rep” for the company. This is similar to being a “team rider”, but it goes a bit further. In addition to doing what a “team rider” does for the company, the person also pushes the company and its products to shops. This can lead to discounts and/or free gear, as well as commission for sales to shops. This is more common for older riders, who have already gone through the competition route and who plan on maybe settling back in their home country. It is likely you would get all your kit on loan as part of a demo fleet which you would travel the country with.

The next level of sponsorship is being a “national level” or “low-level pro” rider. Usually this means that you’re on a company’s pro team under a contract (this can be a verbal contract). This contract usually entitles the rider to free gear, normally as loan equipment and perhaps some monetary incentives to help towards event travel and costs. A rider of this level will travel around the country competing and attending events to promote the brand, results are important but also exposure in magazines and online. Especially now in the times of social media, it can only work in your favour to regularly update about events, travels and new gear. In most cases the brands would want to see some video exposure also. As a “national level” rider there could be some exposure within the brands promotional material and opportunity to have your feedback on equipment reach the actual board designers or sail makers (this is a little dependant on the brands size and set-up).

The final level is being what most people think of as a “pro rider”. These are guys like Robby Swift, John Skye, Ben Proffitt, Adam Sims, Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, Max Rowe, Adam Lewis, etc… etc… This level of sponsorship is only given to the best in the country who then go on to represent their brands on the World Tour. Most will be within the top 3 in the UK and making good results on the European and World Tour. They will be submitting travel articles on their winter training and creating videos on a monthly or bi-monthly basis. These guys will be seen on the PWA Live Stream, may make TV appearances and could even be European/World Tour event organisers themselves (for example Robby Swift has sealed the deal on the 3 year contract to host the PWA in Chile from this December and Adam Sims managed to organise and run the first ever European Freestyle Pro Tour event in the UK last November). the brands will expect them to attend events, get the best results possible, create exposure not just in their country but worldwide yet at the same time they must still keep a strong link to their home country, perhaps attending some UK events and showing their face at the National Windsurfing Festival. In the best cases these guys will be paid a full salary for their work, travel and competition expenses will be covered and they will receive a healthy kit allowance depending on how many disciplines they do.

I would say you need to really be friendly and approachable but at the same time really passionate about what you do and pushing the brands you are supported by. I’ve always chosen the kit I like the best, then gone about asking that brand, maybe the slightly harder approach but then I always know that I can speak truthfully about what I use to the public – Adam Sims (2011 UK Freestyle Champion, 2012 European Freestyle Windsurfer of the Year)

The most common misconception that riders have is that they think they must be sticking the latest moves and getting the best results. This is not true at all. Obviously, being a great riders is very helpful and important in gaining a sponsorship at the very top stages where you want to be considered a pro.

However, it’s not necessary to have any certain number of tricks or skill level to start getting sponsored by a local shop or as a regional team rider. What’s truly important when trying to get sponsored is your attitude towards windsurfing and you’re ability to promote the shop or company in your local area. Nobody wants to sponsor someone who is full of themselves and their windsurfing skills, so don’t be that person. Being nice to others, passionate about the sport you do, complimentary to people and the equipment you use and just showing heaps of enthusiasm will get you well on your way.

Besides your attitude, you need to show a potential sponsor how you can promote their product. Are you good at talking face to face with others? Do you compete at competitions? Will you help at demo days/trade shows? Can you judge at local competitions? Do you help push and maybe even run local events? Do you have the ability to promote their products on the internet? Are you going to be in videos? Nobody wants to sponsor a rider who’s just going to ride at their home spot with their mates all the time, they want to sponsor a rider who is out there in the public eye promoting their produts in a positive manner and pushing the sport up. These guys are the ones any brand want on board, whether or not they choose to admit it.

If you have a great attitude and can promote well, you can probably step into the early stages of sponsorship without even having a huge skill set. However, if you want to get past the shop sponsor or rider/rep levels, you’ll need to have a certain amount of advance skills to go along with your promotion and good attitude. Much of this can be learnt on the Advanced Instructor Courses that the RYA offer but from there you have to take the learning into your own hands and focus on the disciplne/s of your choice. There are no rules on what moves you should learn or techniques you should adopt. The best advice we would give you is to adapt your own style, stand out from the crowd and make sure you have some ‘interesting’ moves under the belt.

Promote yourself, get a good camera, and talk to everyone you can. All sponsorship I have was really through people I know – John Palmer (Club Dahab Centre Manager and regular in the top of the UK Freestyle Pro scene)

How To Get Noticed

You’ve got the right attitude, you are positive about the sport and getting others interested in it, how do you go about getting noticed? There are a lot of techniques you can adopt but you do not always need to utilise every single one, don’t be pushy is the key thing, so see what you think you might be able to achieve from the following and put a plan in place over a certain time period to see if you can achieve it.

• Get in good with your local shop. Try getting a job there, or catch up with shop employees and join them on windsurf sessions/trips, just let the natural course of friendship guide you there. In the end this will allow you to meet the company reps that sometimes appear at your local shop and it is never a bad thing to have your name heard of with these guys. You’ll meet other good riders in your area, get to know what’s going on in the scene, etc. and at the same time learn a lot about the sport. This is also a good way into shop sponsorship and often the first and last step for many who don’t want to progress any further but are happy receiving some discounted gear for bringing new customers along. Be careful not to see the brand reps as the next step and try and skip out the shop, you won’t do yourself any favours by closing doors. In 99% of cases it is good to keep connected to a shop for as long as you can possibly hold onto them, even many of the PWA riders still have shops as one of their sponsors and it is always nice to have a base in the UK to report back to about events, etc…
• Participate in local competitions, demo days, and clinics. Most areas have competitions or demos of some type in their area. Go to these events, talk to as many people as you can, make connections, be friendly, and try to ride as well as you can. Don’t take competing so seriously it drives you crazy, but the better you finish the better your chances. However, finishing 1st in a competition doesn’t mean you deserve a sponsorship or anything of the sort. You can also offer to judge, help out with the event and do other things at a competition. You can usually ride in your discipline and help out in other ways, often you see the top guys also judging at UK events, whilst the most keen youngsters and fresh faces are standing over their shoulders seeing what scores the best. Shops and brands appreciate that hard work and like a person who is known in the scene.
• Start your own competitions or clinics. Maybe there aren’t any events in your area. Try starting some. This shows your initiative and your ability to promote. Invite the local shops and brands to participate in your event, and they’ll get to know you and what you can do for them. Often your shop will be only too happy to offer out some demo equipment for an event but make sure you check your public liability and insurance. There is also an easy solution for this, your shop may well be covered for small events and once again another positive about being connected to your local retailer.
• Try finding out who the brand reps are through your shop and try to be in store when they come and visit, you not only get to chat with them and get a face put to your name but you get to see all the new kit. Find out if they have time to hit the water in your local area, many reps like to also windsurf in different places and would jump at the opportunity to have someone to sail with, quite often you might pick up a few tips for moves off them as well.
• Meet riders who are already sponsored. Sponsored riders usually have connections, so it’s good to meet these people and start riding with them and again you can only learn more from them if they are better then you.
• Promote yourself on the internet. There are many web sites like Boards.co.uk and Boardseeker.com that love to receive content. You can post pictures of yourself, videos, participate on the forum, write articles, write trick tips, and do other things to get your name out there. The forums are a great channel for getting tips and travel advise also.
• Further down the line think about producing a half decent video alongside a windsurfing CV to give to brands that interest you. Make a rider CV similar to a job CV that lists information about you, your contest results, best moves, how you feel about windsurfing, copies of exposure and how you can promote and benefit that particular brand. Send that all in to the Team Manager and follow up a week or so later to check that they watched it, these guys are busy so it is a really good idea to follow up. If you make it on to the team these guys will become good friends and it is always good to send them exposure that you make, they may not notice it or just miss it, so send them a short email with a link.

There are a lot of good windsurfers out there who deserve to be sponsored, but there aren’t that many companies offering sponsorship. So don’t expect sponsorship just because you can do a certain trick or you won a competition. These companies and reps meet lots of riders, so you have to be exceptional with your attitude, promotional ability, and riding to get noticed.

Obviously, you also need to start small with your local shop and local reps. It’s also helpful to start pursuing sponsorships with smaller brands who are making their way into your country. These are the ones most likely to have openings on their teams. It’s hard to just get a sponsorship from the biggest brands like Starboard/Fanatic/Tabou. Usually riders have to get sponsored by their shop, then follow the chain up, but as we said keep hold of the shop for as long as possible, after all if all things cock up with one brand you will always be able to go back to them and begin to formulate a deal with another brand and remember they are your local shop, you’ll be seeing these guys for your entire windsurfing career.

Good Luck.

We also noticed that Thorpy was on the scene during that session with his dog running around in the background… Talking of Thorpy, it looks like he is heading to Namibia later this year to take part in the the Speed Sailing World Record attempt. Considering his speeds at West Kirby in the past we certainly will be keeping an eye on him, once he hurdles over that €4000 entry fee and travel costs!

In this video Timo catches a couple of waves using a camera placed on the beach. You’ll need to go full screen to really appreciate the clip but it certainly looks like Timo scored it. More from him:

“Couple of waves filmed with my soloshot camera. These were my first 2 waves as i bust my boom by accidentally hooking onto my boom arm with my harness hook so didn’t get the rest of the session. Jamie Hancocks girlfriend Becki videoed later on so hopefully see some stuff from those guys! Really was a special day as there has been no wind for a long long time and it was sunny which added somewhat to the 5 degree air temp!”

Colin Dixon. Image credit Global Shots.

COLIN DIXON: No, it,s only water! Watch a motor cross crash section that should give you a kick up the ass and help you man up!!!!

JO WRIGHT: I used to be very scared, then I saw a 75 year old man going for vulcans, sometimes falling but every time coming up smiling. So I had a quiet word with myself and suddenly all my excuses for not trying became irrelevant! And I guess injury can happen to anyone, anywhere – even going over on your ankle walking down the street, so there is no point worrying too much!

JOHN PALMER: Always now… I remember learning to flaka and that terrified me. But, if you just try it a few times you will realise that the pain isn’t actually that bad! A bit of peer pressure always helps too. I’ve never really got over this kind of fear; have it with push loops now after seeing Dave Williams’ smashed up nose on Facebook a few weeks ago! You just need to keep at the move and the fear will go.

Max Rowe at West Witterring

MAX ROWE: I almost feel a bit ashamed of myself sometimes, I teach people how to Vulcan on land in the morning then they go straight out and try it that afternoon; I remember being very nervous about trying it and always found a good reason not to! I’m having a similar battle at the moment learning the wave moves and the best ways I’ve found of getting over it are to build up confidence first or to just get the first big crash out the way early on then you go for it a lot more.

DANIELLE LUCAS: I am definitely not very confident when it comes to learning some moves.  I’m not consciously worrying about injury but I guess that must be it, as well as smashing my kit up! To get over it you just have to do it, having friends or rivals about definitly helps, that’s how I learnt to vulcan…I had someone working for me who was not as good as me but started learning the vulcan and he was getting close very quickly, that really pushed me to go for it forgetting the fear!

PHIL RICHARDS: I have had problems with minor injuries in the past but it’s important to stay positive at this time and let your body heal. My biggest bit of advice would be to avoid injury by remaining fit and flexible. Do stretches. Also, look after your feet.

ADAM SIMS: Nope, more just afraid of the time off the water! The injury list is starting to build for me but it doesn’t set me back mentally, I just visualise what I need to do a lot and then go out and do it. One time I had a couple beers then went for a pushie session, that softened the over-rotated back slaps…

ANDY CHAMBERS: No not really, except possibly in very shallow water.  If you start thinking “that looks like it’s gonna hurt’ then it probably will as you have it in the back of your mind the whole time and will reduce the chances of you learning it. Don’t think it in the first place! Put it out of your mind if you can.  And if you can’t then wait until you are perfectly comfortable with the conditions, gear etc before attempting a new move.

JAMIE DRUMMOND: Yes! I’ve blown both my knees out (either ACL/MCL/Meniscus or all of them) in the last couple of years. The first time was just messing up a tack in shallow water (radical) and the second was doing a one-handed Ponch, which is sort of my trademark move that I can pull out anywhere! I’ve been lucky so far in that I’ve not injured myself when learning any of the new power moves, even though that’s where you might expect it to all go wrong. So, don’t think about it when trying new moves as you really need to be focused, but funnily enough get more worried trying some of the more basic moves.

Bar injuries? Sharks. Terrifying beasts.

Jamie Drummond

COLIN DIXON: Hard! You just need to try stuff with more power; a lot of people sail under powered so if you’re under powered you won’t go as high or as fast,

ADAM SIMS: They are all hard, the ducking is the hardest part but once you get past that then sometimes the move can be really effortless but still difficult. Maybe the culo and burner are not so hard if you are fully powered up. Any combo which requires power and sliding is normally very, very hard though and really requires a good balance between kit set-up and technique.

JOHN PALMER: Easy! haha, nah they are pretty tough! Coolest move I’ve seen recently is Dieter’s air kabikuchi. I’m pretty sure i’ll never be able to do them!

MAX ROWE: Anything that’s classed as “new” will always be hard because it makes you think it must be because it’s “new”. In reality some of these power moves such as the switch stance kono are becoming a lot more common place because they aren’t that hard, now people are learning them as their first switch move. Best advice would be to have a go and find out as what’s hard for someone else might be really simple for you or vise versa unfortunately!!

PHIL RICHARDS: Not as hard as they look,  they just require more commitment and for you to sail more powered up.

Bubble in Vass. Image credit Global Shots.

ANDY CHAMBERS: With the development of of the new gear (sails especially), the new power moves have got much easier than when we first started seeing them a few years ago.  The hardest part has always been getting the sail duck right, once you are a comfortable ducking the sail then the rest of the move doesn’t take too long to learn.

JAMIE DRUMMOND: The new power moves that are coming out are pretty tricky. Most of them involve a lot of setup before you’re even ready to take off – so getting solid at going switch and ducking the sail is an absolute essential. Practice really does make perfect in this case and repetition will help you get the feel for ducking the sail.

Combo moves are also getting much more technical, so just the SETUP of a move can involve doing a perfect, full-speed Spock, Forward or Flaka – a challenge enough on it’s own before adding a Culo, Flaka or Shaka onto the end!

Morenotwins_Episode 2 2013_Winter Sessions from morenotwins on Vimeo.

Danielle Lucas

Name: Danielle Lucas

DOB: 25.10.1984

Sail number: K825

Years competing: 18 months

Best previous results: PWA 7th place overall 2012

Title you have won this year: UK Freestyle Ladies 1st, PWA Freestyle 7th

Why and when did you first start competing? And how did you get involved with competition?

I actually helped host two events in Egypt, entering those and also the Dahab festival in 2011.  Then in 2011 I was travelling to Fuerteventura with my partner, Phil Richards, who was to enter the mens PWA Freestyle, and as my sailing standard was good enough I decided to enter the ladies event.  I really enjoyed the event, and hoped to do the whole PWA World Tour for 2012, but unfortunately all but one ladies event were cancelled this year, so once again I only got to compete in Fuerteventura, which is a shame as I feel I would have had really improved on my results at the other spots!

As a kid did you dream of becoming a champion?

I didn’t start windsurfing until I was almost 21, and when I did I never imagined getting to where I am now!

Danielle Lucas

Did you love competition straight away? What has helped you progress from learning how to compete to winning a title?

I loved organising the events in Egypt, but to be honest I found Fuerteventura really hard. It’s a very difficult sailing area and super windy, 3.3 is too big most days, so training is hard.  The competition was great though as the other ladies all supported me and at the end of the day you can only do your best!

This year was much better as I knew what to expect, had a better understanding of judging and how to try to plan my heats.  The UK competition has been harder as there are not enough girls, although sailing with the boys is great and good to push me.

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

Severne S1 sails 3.7-5.0, Severne Blade 3.3 for mega windy days, and F2 Rodeo 90 litre with 16.5 B72 Choco fin.

Why do you use this equipment?

The board is amazing, super fast and rotates so fast I landed new moves straight away when I got it as I had no choice but to rotate!  90 litres can be big for me in strong wind but I am lazy so it works for me most of the time, 80 litres would be ideal though at times!

The sails, I have used Severne for three years now, they are super light, but powerful, and easy to handle.

The fin makes a massive difference too, when I first got a decent fin I didn’t know if I would notice it, but immediately I could feel it was faster, I experienced so much less spin out and it just felt so good!

Who else would you recommend a set up like this?

Everyone! Especially ladies and smaller people for the lightweight sails!  The fins are amazing and make a big difference, and the boards is sweet for getting extra rotation and speed!

Danielle Lucas, heading out in Fuerte.

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

This year, we have been working loads in the UK having relocated our business, Getwindsurfing, to the UK, so training has been hard.  I had three weeks in Egypt before the Fuerte competition, but the wind wasn’t so great sadly. Other practice has mostly been in Eastbourne, which is not flat at all, but a great way to improve.

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

Other than windsurfing, I am trying to get more into running and also I do loads of SUPing.  I really feel the difference if I don’t get regular exercise and variation of exercise too. Also, it’s vital that I eat a good diet and adapt it for when I am sailing, as well as keeping myself hydrated, which is vital too.  It makes a huge difference to my energy levels when I am out windsurfing.

Danielle with the ladies at the EFPT Queen of the Wind, Weymouth.

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

I wish we were going to Cape Town to train but sadly we can’t go this year (unless we win the lotto!) but we plan to do coaching and training in the UK as much as possible, as well as really promoting next year and expanding our coaching sessions both in the UK and abroad.

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

I am really not sure for 2013, as I am working hard to push our business forward even more in the UK market and expand our teaching locations abroad so we’ll have to wait and see whether I can take the time to train and compete or not!  I will definitely try to be around the UK tour, I would really like to enter the BWA next year as I am loving getting into the waves too!

Check out more news, features and technique with Danielle right here on Boards. 

Solution Wave Coaching

Post any of your questions about the camp in the comments below….

In this second part we cover:

Gybing – how to enter and exit

and

Top Speed – how to go as fast as possible

Simon Pettifer

Gybing

Simon Pettifer: Anyone can gybe down their local beach on their own when they choose to do it, it’s when there are eight or nine people around you it can get tricky. I find that if I take it easy I make a mess of it, so I have to try to go for it almost as if the other guys aren’t there, but you do have to make sure that contact is avoided and this can involve a bit of swerving around as people do fall off and if you pile into the back of them then you’re race is over. Try to come out of your gybe close to the buoy, so you’re upwind of any of the sailors around you, you don’t want to be down wind of a couple of sailors both pumping their sails to get on the plane, you will come off the plane and sit in their bad air.

Also, try to gybe on a wave or swell to help keep you on the plane, even try to come out of the gybe down chop, anything to help you get through the mess of wakes left by the sailors around you.

Simon Cofield: When gybing I’m always look for a bit of swell or a trough to go down while I’m flipping the rig and changing my feet; this allows you to keep momentum and exit the gybe with speed.

Kev Greeneslade: Really just focus on the exit speed and try not too leave too much space for others to sneak through; and don’t fall off!

Another top racer, Sam Latham, shows us the perfect slalom gybe below…

Sam Latham K15 – 3 fully planing gybes from Sam Latham K15 on Vimeo.

Ant Baker: It’s very important to make your exit a priority, meaning it doesn’t matter how it looks as long as you come out fanging!

James Dinsmore: If in doubt it is much better to go in wide and come out tight. If you come out upwind you will have clean air in which to launch an attack on any sailors ahead and you are also in the best position to defend your position.

If it is super windy and rough then it may help to head into the wind to shed speed and gain control just before you initiate your gybe.

Kev Greeneslade

Top Speed

Simon Pettifer: Sailing on your own is great for some things, but to improve your speed I think you need to sail with other people. We all know it sucks to be passed by other people so we try harder, if you get passed by your mate, go in pull on an inch of downhaul go back out and see if you can beat him, if doesn’t work try changing your fin – put a smaller one in – it’s all about finding out what makes a difference.

Simon Cofield: Sail – I like to sail fully powered, putting as much of my weight through the harness lines as possible, be fully sheeted in and keep the sail as still as I can. I find this the best way to go fast.

Board – You want to be riding right on the fin, with just the back section of your board touching the water. To achieve this you need your deck plate in the right position, to far forward and the board will stick to the water = slow, to far back and you will be tail walking in the big gusts = slow. Experiment with positions to get it right.

Kev Greeneslade: I am fortunate to be 6’4″ , 98kg and use the fastest sails in the world, eat pies, drink beer, sheet in, job done. Being maxed is key for speed, however I do like to get on to smaller than 9.5 and 140 as soon as posable my 8.6 /123 combo is just much more efficient for me.

Ant Baker: I get asked all the time how my kit feels and I answer with: “it feels horrible… but I’m fast.” Pro windsurfers can get their kit tuned to the limit, but for most it’s about getting round the course, not falling on gybes is the most important thing then you can start to crank things up a bit to get some top end. I like to use small fins and big sails, this means the power I generate from my rig goes forward not up in the air. I also use a Shox North mast base which allows me to stay sheeted in through bad chop, but don’t tell anyone

James Dinsmore: The first thing to say is that having overall good speed around a slalom course is very different to achieve a peak speed with a GPS when sailing on your own.

The time it takes to get to top speed is vital in slalom and may be more important than the top speed itself.  Having good acceleration is key at both the start and when exiting gybe marks and can win or loose you a race.  In the real world you may well not hit the start line at top speed but if you have good acceleration then you can get into clean air quickly and then have an advantage over your competitors.

For good acceleration you want to be able to sheet in with the backhand and immediately feel your sail drive you forwards. Taking a relatively big and full sail will tend to give you this ‘power on tap’ feeling. In order to achieve a better maximum speed with a GPS you may well choose to use a smaller sail and fin than you would on a slalom course. With a GPS you can time your runs with the gusts and then make the most of the efficiency and less drag of a smaller sail and fin. If you take a fin that is too small on the slalom course then you will struggle to point. Even on a ‘downwind’ slalom course it is vital to be able point upwind as this allows you to find clean wind and overtake. Finding the right fin for your board and sail is vital as you want just enough lift to allow you to point but not so much so that the boards threatens to take off.

Next time on Slalom Secrets we will cover: Tuning and Training. 

You may also like to read: 

Famous for hosting the PWA Slalom in Costa Brava, the Bellena Allegre camping and bungalow park has become a venue for 2013 Starboard and Severne International Dealer Conference. Retailers and dealers from all over Europe had a chance to see, try and understand the complete collections from Starboard Windsurfing and SUP, Severne and Airush for the upcoming season. This was also a great opportunity to understand the ideology behind the brands along with in-depth information on individual products coming directly from their designers and shapers.

Starboard’s Brand Manager, Tiesda You explained in great detail why Starboard’s ideology of INNOVATION has resulted lead to the success of the brand. Their cutting edge designs became a bench mark in windsurfing and set the brand as a leader in PWA Constructors Championship second year running. The meeting was also a chance to see the first ever inflatable windsurfing board. The design featuring fully compatible and easy to fit windsurfing fin, dagger and mast base will revolutionise the windsurfing teaching and accessibility to the sport!

Highlight of the Severne presentation was the new Reflex 4, the fourth edition of the sail which you could read more about in BOARDS Summer Annual! Their approach in producing the highest quality product with no compromise and dedication is clearly visible when looking at the 2013 products.

Great amount of SUPs and kites allowed the participants of the conference to get on the water in the light wind conditions. Even hardcore wavesailors, like Chris “Muzza” Murray, were dipping their toes in some kite action.

Along with presentations from each brand there was a chance to catch up with the likes of Scott McKercher and talk about his experience and history of designing the wave line for Starboard. Boujmaa Guilloul came over straight from Tahiti where he “surfed the most radical wave in the world” Teahopu’o. For those whose potion is SUPing, current leader of the Tour Sean Poynter was on spot to answer all questions and tell the stories from the tour.

The highlight of the meeting was a visit from the London Olympic windsurfing Champion Marina Alabau. Everyone had a chance to have a word with her and have a closer look at the GOLD Medal – some even had a go trying it… Marina had shared here experience and feedback on getting to the games and winning the Olympic Gold.

Till the next year!

The Revolutionaries project involves shops such as Bray Lake Watersports, Boardwise, Juice Boardsports, Quayside Windsurfers and Puravida Boardriders, who are all selling the brand new Severne equipment which has just landed in the UK. Each shop will be looking for riders with a good local presence to act as an ambassador and be a extra contact for customers on the beach.  You don’t have to be a top pro, being active in your windsurfing community is a lot more important.

Want to join Bjorn Dunkerbeck?

Logistics 

Each shop stocking Severne will have up to three Revolutionaries who will be featured on the shop website, the national distributor’s website and the Severne International website. Each Revolutionary must be highly active in the local windsurf scene (especially with a strong presence on the beach) and be able to produce content which can be promoted online through various social media channels. Through these activities they will be able to build the reputation of the brand in the local area as well as be a point of expertise outside of the shop environment.

You do not need to be the next big thing! You could be a member of staff, a local hot shot or an instructor at your local school. You will have access to a 20% discount on the UK trade price on all Severne products which will need to be ordered through one of the 12 UK Severne Dealers. There will be a full quiver of Blades, Overdrives, NCX’s and Gators available for each rider to use for demos to help promote the equipment in the local area which will be delivered free of charge to your affiliated shop for the event. Severne will also provide you with other promotional materials to help brand the event and use to maintain a constant presence on the beach.

Terms and Conditions

In order to become a Revolutionary you will have to complete an application form which will be sent to Severne HQ in Western Australia for approval before being granted permission to join the Revolutionaries project, if you are successful in your application you will be agreeing to the following terms and conditions:

1. You will effectively be acting as a brand ambassador for Severne in the UK and as such your actions will reflect on the brand, therefore you must ensure that you are approachable on the beach and seen as a valuable source of information,

2. As an ambassador it will be your responsibility to develop and maintain a good knowledge of the Severne product range to include all sails, masts, booms and extensions.

3. Any content posted on your own websites/social media sites can be associated to the brand so you should conduct yourself in a way which reflects the brand in a good light.

4. Provide technical help and feedback on a national level and be a point of contact for enquiries.

5. Organise and run at least one local demo event each year in association with your affiliated shop.

6. Attend (not necessarily compete) at least two National and local windsurfing events each year.

7. Create regular content to be featured on the Severne UK Facebook page be that videos, blog pieces or photos (at least two posts per month).

8. Assist in gaining customers for your affiliated shop from the beach and directing them to the store.

If you are interested in joining the Revolution, then fill out the application form and send this to your local Severne dealer which you can select from the list below:

Boards recommended retailers involved in the Revolution:

Boardwise – cannock@boardwise.com

Bray Lake Watersports – info@braylake.com

Juice Boardsports – team@juiceboardsports.co.uk

Puravida Boardriders – jim@puravidaboardriders.co.uk

Quayside Windsurfers – nikki@quayside-windsurfers.com

Other retailers who are part of the Revolution: 

Rat Rigs – ratrigs@aol.com

Surfstore – sales@surfstore.co.uk

Wet n Dry Boardsports – info@wetndryboardsports.com

Williams Windsurfing – aaran@earthwindwater.co.uk

Andy Biggs – info@andybiggs.co.uk

Boardworx – info@board-worx.com

Liquid Motion – steve@liquidmotion.co.uk

Once you have sent them your application they will select the riders they wish to have representing them to Severne International for approval. If your application is approved you will then receive a welcome pack and will be contacted regarding kit ordering through the shop.

So, will you join the Revolution? Download an application form - Severne Revolutionary Application Form

In this first part we cover:

Starting – What process do the top guys use?

and

Covering your position – Is it worth it?

James Dinsmore

Starting

James Dinsmore: Try to have the discipline to practice starts on your different boards and in different conditions. How far you want to be from the line with twenty seconds to go is different in 12 knots to 25 knots of wind. You need to practice to be able to rely on judgement rather than luck.

The easiest practice can be done on your own and simply involves selecting a buoy or any fixed object in the water and running through complete start sequences until you are arriving at the buoy at zero seconds going full tilt.

Different approaches to the start suit different circumstances. For example coming late and at speed from behind the pack can sometimes work well, but in very light winds it can easily go horribly wrong as it is hard to maintain speed coming through the dirty air of the pack.

Simon Pettifer: You must have a start watch, one of the big yellow racing ones ideally, as you’ve got to be able to see it easily. Hang around the start boat once you’re heat flag has gone up, hit your 3 min start sequence when you hear the horn sound and the flag goes up, then sail away from the boat for 30 secs, gybe and come back to the boat ready to press the sync button on you’re watch when the 2 min flag comes down. This is to make sure you have  the count down bang on and you know you’ll have the best chance of hitting the line bang on the gun.

There are different ways of approaching the whole start thing, at the moment I’m having the best time with this one: after the two minute flag has gone up I gybe and once again sail away from the start boat, not at full speed just taking it easy. Then just before the 1 minute flag I’ll gybe again, all the while taking note of who’s around me.

Simon Pettifer

At this point there tends to be a few of you together starting to gather in a line ready to put the foot down. So you’re one min from the start if you sail real slow,  so you know you can cruise up toward the start picking you’re time when you sheet in, you’re in the straps hooked in and planing toward the start. From the warm ups sailing around the start line you’ll know when to sheet in and go for the line, it’s all about knowing how far you travel at full speed, only practice can tell you this.

There are a couple of things you can do to get over some mis-timing probs. If you’re too early for the start and you think you’re going to be over the line, bear away down wind so you’re no longer heading straight for the line, therefore you take longer to get to the line but you don’t have to slow down and you don’t lose the speed that you’ve just tried to get up. This can involve cutting people up a bit as you’re going to sail straight across the top of them, they will not be happy but remember you want to be hitting the line at full speed – hopefully somewhere near the front of the pack. If you’re at the back at the start then you’ll have a hard time catching up, your only hope is people making mistakes at the gybe but this doesn’t happen all that often.

Simon Cofield  I sail away from the start boat at 3 minutes and gybe at about 1.5 minutes. I try to leave some room downwind of me as I’m coming towards the start, this allows me to bear away and hit the start line at top speed.

Kev Greeneslade

Kev Greeneslade This is dependent on the conditions and sometimes the venue. First up sail the course, secondly check the bias on the start line and take a transit if possible.

My preferred method of starting is to wait by the boat for the 3 minute signal then sail towards the first gybe mark for 25-30 seconds, and then sail back towards the boat. In theory so long as I haven’t fallen off I should be able to check my watch at 2 minutes, now sheeting in to full speed sailing away from the boat. Next up is to gybe at 1 minute ish and make it a good one as falling off here is not an option! Then it’s flat out towards the preferred end of the line, normally the the pin; as I approach the line I try to leave space down wind of me to bear away into just incase I am early.

The start is probably 80% of the race so it’s crucial to get right as everyone is so bloody fast.

Ant Baker  Everyone goes around the starting process differently, personally as a fat bastard I like to only put in 1 gybe; so I sail from the start line on the 3min flag and gybe at 1.5 mins then fang towards the pin end and then aim to first to mark one

Ant Baker

Covering

James Dinsmore: It is certainly important to be aware of the sailors around you in order to defend your position. However, especially when you are inexperienced, it is easy to get put off and make unnecessary mistakes because of distractions. If I am leading I hardly ever look back and prefer to concentrate on looking forward and sailing my own race as I find I make less mistakes that way.

Simon Pettifer So you’re going down the first reach someone is right behind you gaining, what can you do? Make it hard for them, push them up wind, off the sailing line and don’t back off unless they’re going much, much quicker than you.This will slow them up and therefore distract them from the job in hand. That’s about the only covering I seem to do, apart from that I’m usually trying my best to go as fast as I can and not go over the front of the board!

Si Cofield

Simon Cofield I sail the shortest route to the next mark at top speed, I don’t get involved with altering course to much, it just slows you down.

Kev Greeneslade I normally race my own race and rely on board speed and good starts; once you’re in the lead it’s easier if you can hold your nerve. Covering doesn’t really come in until after a few rounds, then becomes evident who you are racing and for what position. Then you can start doing stuff like sailing over the top of your nearest rival off the start etc.

Ant Baker Sheet in!

Next time we will be covering gybing and getting to your top speed.

For more technique on Boards check out the all features here.

Dreaming of that full speed bottom turn, your first loops or even looking to get into coastal sailing? Then this is the clinic for you! It offers the ultimate wavesailing tune-up with top 5 PWA sailor Dany Bruch and rising star Adam Lewis. A coaching clinic designed to transform your sailing to a level you always dreamt of. For advanced sailors looking to get into coastal sailing, or if you’re already a successful wave sailor and want to get higher or turn harder. With two elite athletes covering the coaching, there is no excuse!

Solution Coaching Dates

Aiming to cover these topics plus more:

• Getting out over waves
• Wave selection
• Carrying speed through turns
• Tuning equipment for waves
• Jumping
• Looping
• Tacking
• Upwind sailing and acceleration
• Preparing for wavesailing
• Dealing with the impact zone
• Full HD Video coaching

Competing around the world and expertly analysing every move, wave and technique puts Dany and Adam in a unique position to give your sailing the ultimate makeover. Using full HD video coaching, in depth video de-brief sessions, loads of water time, loads of fun and practical real-world guidance to build your confidence and level. Nurturing you into a ‘no holds barred’ wavesailor with skills that would otherwise take years to develop.

Tenerife is undoubtedly one of the greatest places to learn and improve, with 3 different world class sailing locations next to each other; a forgiving beach break leading into a fun and easy wave at the Harbour Wall and then a full power cross-onshore jump-fest at Cabezo. A true playground only 10 minutes from Reina Sofia Airport in the south of the island. With an average air temperature of 22 degrees Celsius and over 250 days of planing conditions a year, the only question left is where to sign up!