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Def Con #1? – Wave Heads Take Note!

co.editor — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:00:09 +0000

It’s a little way off yet but if the current run of forecast models comes to fruition then the UK is in for a serious spell of waves.

Check the image of the wave model and try not to get too excited!

It’s a week away yet but it might be time to check and tune your best wave kit…

Now That's A Wave Forecast!

Video – Stephen Gibson in Fuerte

editor — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:42:59 +0000

Pura Vida team rider and Fuerte ‘local’ Stephen Gibson has been enjoying some winter waves on Fuerteventura…

“It’s been freezing over here this past month (down to 17 deg!!!), but I have been braving the elements and have in fact just put together a bit of video from a couple of days earlier this month on the North Shore…”

Despite the ‘severe’ cold, Stephen is still ripping and enjoying the wave conditions in the Canaries – check him out below.

UKWA 2012 Events Calendar

editor — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 23:43:44 +0000

Introducing the provisional UK windsurfing calendar for 2012…

Click here to see the full 2012 UKWA calendar

With most events already set in stone, there are just a few that need to be confirmed. So grab your diaries and be sure not to miss out on what is set to be an incredible year for UK windsurfing.

One of the biggest highlights we can expect will be, without a doubt, the Olympics coming to town. Where we will see our top RS:X sailors take to the waters of Portland Harbour, to do battle against the worlds finest athletes, in the hope that they will take away the highest of all sporting achievements. An Olympic gold medal.

Aside from this, there will be the exciting BSA Slalom series kicking off in April at Hayling Island. Will Ant Baker hold his title for 2012 or will we some of the the young up-and-comers take the top spot.

Also in April, the UK’s freestyle fleets will hit the waters of West Kirby. Spinning into a whirlwind of moves on these incredibly flat waters, it is the perfect start to the new 6 stop tour (one event more than last year). The big question is who will be crowned freestyle champion by the time the tour finishes at Weymouth speed week in October. Will Adam Sims remain UK Freestyle champion for another year or will the likes of Oscar Carmichael (UK Junior freestyle champion), Max Rowe (PWA freestyler) or Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers (3 times UK freestyle champion) take the title.

Then in May we see the start of the now legendary BWA 4 Nations Cup. Where the UK’s finest wave sailors will take on the biggest swells the Atlantic can throw at them. Ben Proffitt took the title this year but Phil Horrocks was snapping at heels all along the way. Will either of them be the 2012 champion or will Adam Lewis, John Skye or Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers, who made a tremendous impact on this years Pro fleet, be crowned the UK’s number one wave sailor for 2012.

It’s a hard one to predict with such huge talent across all the disciplines, and we know we missed many names off the likely contenders for the top spot. So be sure to keep an eye here, as we bring you the highs and the lows, for what is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years ever on UK shores.

KIA @coldhawaii PWA Klitmoller – 2011 Event Round-Up

Duncan — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:50:11 +0000

Philip Koster at Cold Hawaii

KIA @coldhawaii World Cup – event summary: Klitmoller lives up to its name of Cold Hawaii and provides insane conditions for the third stop on the men’s wave tour, allowing Philip Koster to claim the world title with one event spare.

Winds reaching well over forty knots and waves breaking over mast high thrashed the Klitmoller coastline for three days of epic competition. The ferocious storm brought with is some of the fiercest conditions witnessed on the world tour in 2011. The combination of the amazing conditions and the world’s most radical wave riders led to an insane show and the third stop on the men’s wave tour to be completed in record time. The crowds were treated to monster jumps, huge forwards and super-aggressive slashes as the sailors battled their way through each heat.

As the most interactive event on the tour, the 2011 KIA @coldhawaii world cup has broken records in the way that windsurfing is shared online, with live scoring for each heat, a live chat roll and all the action streamed live for thousands of people to tune in a catch the amazing show.

Single elimination

After a gentle morning spent registering and rigging on the first day, Klitmoller came alive, the waves started to peel over the reef and the wind blew up to twenty knots allowing the first seven heats of the single elimination to be completed.

PWA legend Lars Petersen (JP / NeilPryde), made his return to the competition scene with his perfect wave selection allowing him to sail past his opponent, along with Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra), Mikkel Asmussen (RRD / Simmer / MFC), Andreas Olandersson (Simmer, MFC), Adam Lewis (Point-7), Kevin Mevissen (Mystic) and Germany’s Florian Jung (RRD / Gun / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins). The sailors looked super comfortable sailing on the North Sea and ready to face their higher seeded opponents.

The storm had really kicked in for the second day of competition, bringing with it really extreme conditions and forcing the sailors out on their smallest equipment.

With two wave rides and two jumps counting towards their scores, the sailors were fired up and quickly pulling their most impressive moves to fend off their opponents. The second round of competition saw many of the top seeded sailors quickly take their positions in the following heats and a few surprise exits from major players, Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauSails), Eleazar Alonso (Naish / Naish) and Camille Juban (Gun / MFC).

The third round of competition saw exceptional sailing from Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) to dispose of his team mate Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra). Traversa went on to face the Brazilian Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde), and despite his enormous jumps, it wasn’t enough to stop a very on form Seadi.

Also reveling in the crazy conditions and working his way past his opponents on his home ground, local legend Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer) was flying high throughout the day, and ripping the waves to pieces to secure a well-earned fifth place. It took the might of Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) and his extreme double forward loops to put an end to Danielsen’s advances in the single elimination.

Brits John Skye (RRD / RRD / MFC) and Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra) were fighting hard in the tough conditions and both sailors made their way into the top eight, with Skye defeating fellow countryman Jamie Hancock (Tabou / Gaastra) with his precise jumps, and Williams slaying heavy hitting Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC), by picking up a gigantic wave and putting in one of the longest rides of the day.

It was no surprise, the top four spots were filled with the masters Seadi, the 2010 world champion Victor Fernandez Lopez (North / Fanatic / MFC), Campello and the current tour leader Philip Koster (Starboard /NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins). Having finished in ninth place in Tenerife, Fernandez Lopez was eager to rectify his position and quickly went about landing perfect double forwards and delivering some smooth wave rides to secure his place in the winner’s final, knocking Seadi in the losers final.

Campello was the man on fire in the radical conditions, taking every opportunity to launch into his most impressive jumps. Campello wowed the crowds with a gargantuan double forward loop and a well-executed pushloop forward. Koster tried his hardest to make his jumps but he wasn’t looking his usual self against Campello. Campello was rewarded for his bravery and he cruised into the final, pushing Koster in the loser’s final for the first time this season.

A wild battle between Seadi and Koster saw both parties charging around for the largest ramps and finest waves to ride, Seadi had been selecting the best all day, but this time it wasn’t enough to stop Koster from taking the win. Koster nailed his jumps early on in the heat and then focused his attention on wave riding to take third place.

Winners Final

Campello’s winning streak continued into the winners final and he went onto defeat Fernandez Lopez with his astounding double forwards and an 11.5 point scoring pushloop forward. Fernandez Lopez tried to match Campello’s moves but he was unable to gain the same height in his double forward’s.

Double elimination

With the opportunity to improve their overall scores and a second chance in the competition, the sailors were eager to take advantage of the nuking conditions and continue straight into the double elimination.

Mevissen took the double elimination by storm and sailed each heat like it was his last, hitting each ramp with as much speed as he could to launch into amazing pushloops and super stalled forward loops. Mevissen took down some of the finest of the international competitors including, Mussolini, Kai Lenny (Naish / Naish), and Skye. However his rampage through the ranks was stopped by Danielsen with his enormous pushloops and backloops, leaving Mevissen in seventh.

Experienced competitor Volwater made up for his initial mistakes in the single elimination and conducted his heats with a well thought out strategy. Volwater ensured that he didn’t let the current wash him away and made sure he was always upwind to catch the biggest waves, the steepest ramps and most importantly he was in front of the judges. Volwater passed through three heats until Horrocks took him down with a well-executed double forward loop.

Ojeda and Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL 360) each delivered mind-blowing performances to make their way into ninth position and seventh position, with Ojeda throwing one of the only frontside aerials in the competition and Bruch squeezing past Marcilio Browne (Fanatic / North / MFC) with a double forward in the closing seconds of the heat. Bruch went onto sneak past Williams with a perfect wave in the closing seconds of the heat, whilst Ojeda was taken out by Danielsen.

The sailor that caused the most carnage in the double elimination was Traversa. Traversa made his way into fourth position by ripping the waves to pieces taking down Horrocks, Danielsen, and Seadi. Seadi put up a big fight, by selecting the largest waves in the heat but Traversa was obviously in his element and enjoying the onshore port tack conditions.

Having sailed four astounding heats, Traversa was still firing with all guns blazing in his heat against Koster, throwing big backside aerials and super aggressive frontside hits, whilst Koster spent the first half of the heat looking slightly underpowered. However in one swift minute Koster stormed into the lead with a perfect bolt upright double forward loop and a humongous backloop, allowing him to advance onto face Fernandez Lopez.

Just one heat separated Koster from the world title, if he defeated Fernandez Lopez he would walk away as the 2011 world champion, and if he lost, Fernandez Lopez would be in with a chance of taking the title. Not one to let the pressure get the better of him Koster sailed the heat of his life, with a planning double forward loop, a backside 360 and reverse on one wave. Shortly after Koster was awarded the 2011 world champion title, having won the heat with a 5-0 decision from the judges.

Final

However the battle wasn’t quite over and he still had to face Campello for first place. With the adrenaline pumping through his veins, Koster wowed the crowds with his scale-braking wave rides where he was awarded twelve points for one ride that included an insane one-handed goiter and a taka. Campello tried his hardest to slay the master with his double forward but there was no stopping the wonder kid. Aware of how the heat had gone, Campello made his way back to the beach to prepare for the super-final.

Super-final

The hard work still wasn’t over for Koster, in order to win the event; he had to defeat Campello for a second time. Obviously enjoying his moment, Koster went on to up his game even higher as he launched into a wave 360 where he landed back in the wave, and then he boosted straight into a huge double forward on the way out. Campello replied with a monster double forward in front of the judges, but Koster was on fire.

Having sailed four mind-blowing heats, Koster was awarded the world title and the event win to the cheers from the crowds on the beach.

Super-session

With the competition completed in record time there was plenty of time left to run a super-session. With heats made up of ten men each, the sailors had twenty minutes to launch into the most radical, and daring jumps to advance into the final.

As one of the finest jumpers on tour Campello was the man in charge throughout the super-session, seeing him win the final with a particularly impressive and perfectly landed pushloop forward. The new world champion Koster flew into second place with a spectacular double forward loop and Fernandez Lopez stole third with a double forward of his own.

The Kia @coldhawaii community SUP session

The fifth day of competition witnessed Klitmoller deliver perfect SUP conditions, with light winds and waves peeling in around waist high. Seadi and Bruch we quick to prove they had the skills on the surf, transferring their unique styles from windsurfing on to the SUPs, but it wasn’t enough to fend of the SUP professional Casper Steinfath (Naish).

What next?

The final stop on the PWA world tour will take the sailors to the brutal shores of Sylt in Germany, for the 28^th anniversary of the event. Sylt is the largest event on the calendar and attracts well over 200,000 spectators; it will also witness the conclusion to the men’s slalom series, the men’s freestyle series and the men and women’s wave series. Make sure you tuned into the PWA website from the 23^rdSeptember – 2^nd October for ten days of intense competition.

PWA Klitmoller 2011 Winners

The 2011 PWA KIA @coldhawaii World Cup Results

1^st Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)

2^nd Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)

3^rd Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)

4^th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)

5^th Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)

6^th Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer / Mystic)

7^th Kevin Mevissen (Mystic)

7^th Daniel Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL 360)

9^th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)

9^th John Skye (RRD / MFC)

9^th Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra)

9^th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC)

The 2011 men’s wave overall results  (after 3 events)

1^st Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)

2^nd Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)

3^rd Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)

4^th Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)

5^th Daniel Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL 360)

6^th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC)

7^th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)

8^th Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra)

9^th Marcilio Browne (Fanatic / North / MFC)

10^th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)

Scope the action

For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com

Here you can use our:

- Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins

- Check live elimination ladders

- View results

- Read daily news summaries

- Browse awesome action photo galleries

Follow the event live, with top class commentary from pros and industry insiders and interact with the event on the dedicated website at www.worldcup.coldhawaii.eu

Follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coldhawaiipenguin and follow the Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/coldhawaii

KIA @coldhawaii PWA Klitmoller – Day 4

Duncan — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:35:01 +0000

Ricardo Campello

KIA @coldhawaii World Cup – Day four: Insane jumps, monster loops, and massive crashes from the world’s best jumpers in the SURF Magazin super-session.

With the wind and waves still firing, the world champion crowned and the official competition completed, the crowds on the beach were still hungry for more entertainment and action from the world’s finest wave riders.

Cue the SURF Magazin super-session. The format was simple, the riders would be separated into two heats of ten men each and the sailors had twenty minutes to perform their most radical jumps. The five riders from each heat with the most extreme airs would advance into final, where they were fighting for one of three iPad 2’s. However there was a twist, if one of the sailors dare pull the first ever triple loop in competition, they would be awarded with all three Ipads.

Heat 1
Local ripper Christopher Friis kicked off the proceedings with a super clean tweaked pushloop; however he was soon upstaged as the sailors hunted for ramps. The newly crowded world champion Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins) was next to make a move, with his world famous bolt upright double forward loop, moving him straight into first place. Next up Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North) stepped up to the table with a double forward of his own, along with Marcilio Browne (Fanatic / North / MFC). British wave maestro Adam Lewis (Point-7), diversified the jumps with an incredible shove-it cheese roll, scoring seven points from the judges. Towards the end of the heat it was a fight for fifth place with Peter Volwater (Fanatic / MauiSails), Andreas Olandersson (Simmer / MFC) and Friis all delivering a great show, Olandersson managed to step ahead with a super clean one handed backloop but he was soon over taken by Eleazar Alonso Sanchez (Naish / Naish) for his one handed backloop, keeping his back hand off all the way around.

The top five advancing sailors were Koster, Fernandez Lopez, Lewis, & Browne for their perfect double forwards, and Alonso for his one handed backloop.

Heat 2
Moving quickly in the second heat, Timo Mullen (Starboard / Severne) opened up with huge backloop out the back of the arena. The German jumper Leon Jamaer (Fanatic / Hot Sails), nailed a one handed backloop, but crashed hard with a pushloop-forward attempt. High flying Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) then spotted his ramp and launched into an enormous 8.5 point scoring double forward loop followed by Frances Jules Denel (Exocet), as he flew around his own double forward loop. Mixing things up a little, Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) pulled an incredible one footed backloop out the back. Brazilian Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde) was late to make his move but sealed the deal with a perfect double forward loop.

Campello, Denel, Seadi, Mussolini and Jamaer made their way into the final for their exceptional jumping.

Final
All eyes were on Koster and Campello in the final, and hopes were high for the triple loop, however it looked particularly tough to find a perfect ramp in the onshore conditions, however that didn’t stop the pros putting on an outstanding performance. Lewis was first to move and he wowed the crowds with a forward loop, ejecting his equipment mid maneuver sending it flying. Following that the sailors filled the air with a quick succession of jumps launching into anything from forward loops, to pushloop and backloops. Browne shone straight through into first place with a perfect double forward scoring 9.5 points, Koster then matched him with his own bone-dry performance. But really impressing the judges was Campello with an ankle dry, super-high and perfect pushloop forward. Campello was awarded twelve points for his efforts and he went straight into first place. Seeing Campello’s jump, the sailors tried to match him with non-stop double forward loops. Jamaer was the only other sailor to try the pushloop-forward but he was unable to hold the landing. In order to confirm his position in first place Campello then flew into the highest double forward loop of the competition to close the heat.

The SURF Magazin super-session results:
1^st Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
2^nd Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)
3^rd Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)

There will be plenty more action coming your way over the remaining days out here in Klitmoller, the skippers meeting is scheduled for 1pm tomorrow, so make sure you stay up to date on the PWA website and the event website.

Scope the action

For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com

Here you can use our:

- Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins

- Check live elimination ladders

- View results

- Read daily news summaries

- Browse awesome action photo galleries

- Follow the event live, with top class commentary from pros and industry insiders.

Interact with the event on the dedicated website at www.worldcup.coldhawaii.eu

Follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coldhawaiipenguin and follow the Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/coldhawaii.

Or for more information, please contact the PWA office via info@pwaworldtour.com

KIA @coldhawaii PWA Klitmoller – Day 3

Duncan — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:16:06 +0000

2011 World Wave Champ, Philip Koster

KIA @coldhawaii World Cup – Day three: Scale breaking waverides and colossal jumps put Philip Koster in the top spot in Klitmoller, and with three event wins under his belt, he walks away as the 2011 men’s world wave champion.

Klitmoller is blessed with a third day of world class wavesailing conditions, allowing the PWA crew to pick up the action where they left off yesterday, and the remaining twelve sailors to fly, spin and slash their way through the double elimination.

With the winds still blowing strong and the waves slightly cleaner than yesterday, the judges opted to keep the format the same with two jumps and two rides counting towards the sailor’s scores.

Double elimination

First onto the water was Brit John Skye (RRD / MFC), against a very on form Kevin Mevissen (Mystic). Having battled his way from the bottom of the ranks, Mevissen was eager to continue with his winning streak. Both sailors launched into their finest jumps, matching each other on points and then spent their time working on the waves, in the end it came down to a 3-2 decision from the judges with Mevissen just taking the advantage for his super-clean pushloop.

On the other side of the elimination, Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360) went head to head with Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra). Bruch opened the heat with a double forward and a backloop, whilst Williams opted to focus on waves. The pair continued with this strategy for the whole heat and their scores were fairly similar throughout, until Bruch managed to score an amazing wave in the closing seconds, knocking Williams out of the competition.

The tight heats continued with local boy Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer / Mystic), taking on Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC). The pair matched each other move for move, but eventually Danielsen’s local knowledge pulled through and he hit the steepest ramp sending him skywards. Danielson’s superb sailing saw him blitz past Mevissen in the following heat and on to face France’s Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra).

Having taken down Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra), Traversa was full of confidence when it came to facing deadly Bruch. The pair matched each other on the jumping front, but Traversa secured two amazing wave rides by flowing effortlessly from rail to rail, to secure his pass into the next round.

Tremendous Traversa continued with his warpath through the double elimination, bumping his score all the way up to fourth place. Danielson was next to fall victim to Traversa’s frontside aerials and super-tweaked forward loops. Brazilian Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde) put up a big fight, by selecting the largest waves in the heat but Traversa was obviously in his element and enjoying the onshore port tack conditions.

Having sailed four astounding heats, Traversa was still firing with all guns blazing in his heat against Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins), throwing big backside aerials and super aggressive frontside hits, whilst Koster spent the first half of the heat looking slightly underpowered. However in one swift minute Koster stormed into the lead with a perfect bolt upright double forward loop and a humongous backloop, allowing him to advance onto face the 2010 world champion Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North).

Just one heat separated Koster from the world title, if he defeated Fernandez Lopez he would walk away as the 2011 world champion, and if he lost, Fernandez Lopez would be in with a chance of taking the title. Not one to let the pressure get the better of him Koster, sailed the heat of his life, with a planning double forward loop, a backside 360 and reverse on one wave. Shortly after Koster was awarded the 2011 world champion title, having won the heat with a 5-0 decision from the judges.

Final

However the battle wasn’t quite over and he still had to face Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) for first place. With the adrenaline pumping through his veins, Koster wowed the crowds with his scale-braking wave rides where he was awarded twelve points for one ride that included an insane one-handed goiter and a taka. Campello tried his hardest to slay the master with his double forward but there was no stopping the wonder kid. Aware of how the heat had gone, Campello made his way back to the beach to prepare for the super-final.

Super-final

The hard work wasn’t over for Koster In order to win the event; he had to defeat Campello for a second time. Obviously enjoying his moment, Koster went on to up his game even higher as he launched into a wave 360 where he landed back in the wave, and then he boosted straight into a huge double forward on the way out. Campello replied with a monster double forward in front of the judges, but Koster was on fire.

Having sailed four mind-blowing heats, Koster was awarded the world title and the event win to the cheers from the crowds on the beach.

Words from the world champion

Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)
“I feel amazing, I can’t believe it, it’s a dream come true. I am so happy I have won another event and now I am the world champion. I can’t imagine a better day, I am so stoked!”

What’s the plan?

With the official competition completed and four days still to go, there will be plenty of action to keep you entertained, starting with the SURF magazine super-session. The skippers’ meeting will kick off at 1pm with the first possible start at 2pm. The sailors will be throwing their biggest and most daring moves for a taste of the prize money.

The 2011 PWA KIA @coldhawaii World Cup Results
1^st Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)
2^nd Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
3^rd Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)
4^th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
5^th Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)
6^th Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer / Mystic)
7^th Kevin Mevissen (Mystic)
7^th Daniel Bruch (Patrik / Severne / AL 360)
9^th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)
9^th John Skye (RRD / MFC)
9^th Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra)
9^th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC)

The 2011 Men’s overall results
(after 3 events)
1^st Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)
2^nd Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
3^rd Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)
4^th Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)
5^th Daniel Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL 360)
6^th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC)
7^th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
8^th Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra)
9^th Marcilio Browne (Fanatic / North / MFC)
10^th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)

Scope the action

For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com

Here you can use our:

- Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins

- Check live elimination ladders

- View results

- Read daily news summaries

- Browse awesome action photo galleries

- Follow the event live, with top class commentary from pros and industry insiders.

Interact with the event on the dedicated website at www.worldcup.coldhawaii.eu

Follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coldhawaiipenguin and follow the Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/coldhawaii.

Or for more information, please contact the PWA office via info@pwaworldtour.com

KIA @coldhawaii PWA Klitmoller – Day 2

Duncan — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 07:06:16 +0000

Ricardo Campello pushloop-forward

KIA @coldhawaii World Cup – Day two: Howling winds and enormous waves thrashed Klitmoller’s coastline for the second day of competition, ensuring insane action and allowing Ricardo Campello to fly through the single elimination.

Relentless winds and waves pounded the world’s wave specialists for eleven intense hours of competition. Some of the most extreme conditions seen on the 2011 tour fuelled the wave fleet through the single elimination and all but the final eight heats of the double elimination. Waves reaching well over mast high and winds blowing over forty knots, put the sailors on their smallest equipment and ensured the spectators were treated to an action packed display of insane jumps, monumental wave rides and a number of spectacular crashes.

Single Elimination

Picking up the action from where they left off yesterday, the PWA crew kicked the day off at round two of the single elimination, where the top seeded sailors entered the mix.

With two wave rides and two jumps counting towards their scores, the sailors were fired up and quickly pulling their most impressive moves to fend off their opponents. The second round of competition saw many of the top seeded sailors quickly take their positions in the following heats and a few surprise exits from major players, Peter Volwater (Fanatic / Maui Sails), Eleazar Alonso (Naish / Naish) and Camille Juban (Gun / MFC).

The third round of competition saw exceptional sailing from Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) to dispose of his team mate Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra). Traversa went onto face the Brazilian Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde), and despite his enormous jumps, it wasn’t enough to stop a very on form Seadi who having won the event in 2010 was very dialed into the conditions Klitmoller was delivering.

Also reveling in the crazy conditions and working his way past his opponents on his home ground, local legend Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer / Mystic) was flying high throughout the day, and ripping the waves to pieces to secure a well-earned fifth place. It took the might of Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) and his extreme double forward loops to put an end to Danielsen’s advances in the single elimination.

Campello was the man on fire in the extreme conditions, taking every opportunity to launch into his most impressive jumps. Campello wowed the crowds with a gargantuan double forward loop and a well-executed pushloop forward. Koster tried his hardest to make his jumps but he wasn’t looking his usual self against Campello. Campello was rewarded for his bravery and he cruised into the final, pushing Koster in the loser’s final for the first time this season.

Winners Final

Winners Quote

Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
“I am really, really happy, it has been a long time since I have won a single elimination, since my freestyle career. I am really pleased with my sailing in the last two heats; I really needed it, as Philip and Victor are so good. I landed a push-forward in both heats, which is so hard in the conditions today. It was super hard to stay upwind but I managed to work it out, there is a lot to go, but at least I am safe in the top two.”

Double Elimination

Kevin Mevissen (Mystic) took the double elimination by storm and sailed each heat like it was his last, hitting each ramp with as much speed as he good to launch into amazing pushloops and super stalled forward loops. Mevissen took down some of the finest of the international competitors including, Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra) and Kai Lenny (Naish / Naish). Mevissen currently sits in ninth places and will move on to face Skye tomorrow.

Experienced competitor Volwater, made up for his initial mistakes in the single elimination and conducted his heats with a well thought out strategy. Volwater ensured that he didn’t let the current wash him away and made sure he was always upwind to catch the biggest waves, the steepest ramps and most importantly he was in front of the judges. Volwater passed through three heats until Brit Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra) took him down with an amazing double forward loop.

Ojeda and Dany Bruch (Patrik / Severne / AL 360) each delivered two mind blowing performances to make their way into ninth position, with Ojeda throwing one of the only frontside aerials in the competition and Bruch squeezing past Marcilio Browne (Fanatic / North / MFC) with a double forward in the closing seconds of the heat. The pair will move on to face Danielsen and Williams respectively tomorrow.

Special mention also has to go to Christopher Friis, Stefan Gobisch (JP / Simmer), Ben Proffitt (Simmer) and Horrocks for working their way through the double elimination and raising their overall scores.

Wave of the Day

The highest scoring wave of the day came from Browne in his battle against Mads Bjornaa (Fanatic / Simmer). A fine choice saw Browne on one of the largest waves of the day, he opened up with two super smooth backside turns, an enormous backside 360 off the lip and an aggressive frontside hit to finish. Blown away by the insane ride, the judges awarded Browne straight ten’s for his remarkable sailing.

After an epic day on the water with eleven hours of competition completed in the insane conditions, the sailors were released for the day at 7pm. The final heats of the double elimination will continue tomorrow, kicking off with the skippers’ meeting at 10am and a first possible start to competition at 10:30am.

Results

1^st Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC)
2^nd Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)
3^rd Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fin)
4^th Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde)
5^th Kenneth Danielsen (F2 / Simmer)
5^th John Skye (RRD / RRD / MFC)
5^th Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra)
5^th Ross Williams (Tabou / Gaastra)
9^th Daniel Bruch (Patrik / Severne / AL 360)
9^th Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra)
9^th Kevin Mevissen (Mystic)
9^th Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Simmer / Dakine / MFC)

KIA @coldhawaii PWA Klitmoller – Day 1

Duncan — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:01:38 +0000

Philip Koster warming up at Klitmoller

KIA @coldhawaii World Cup day one: Klitmoller bursts into life for the world’s most radical waveriders, allowing a dramatic start to the opening round of competition as the sailors ripped, slashed and turned their way through each heat.

An exquisite start to the 2011 PWA Kia @coldhawaii World Cup witnessed forty-four of the world’s finest waveriders register for the third stop on the men’s wave tour. Gentle winds and small waves caressed the Klitmoller shores whilst the sailors rigged their equipment and prepared for the week’s competition.

Once the formalities of the morning were completed, head judge Duncan Coombs placed the sailors on standby, well aware of the impending storm on the horizon. The winds and waves built throughout the afternoon until they were thrashing the coastline, and were big enough to tempt the elite riders away from the comforts of the beach. Once the conditions were at a suitable competition standard the PWA crew wasted no time in kicking off the proceedings and swiftly worked through the action-packed opening round of competition.

PWA legend Lars Petersen (JP / NeilPryde), made his return to the competition scene with his exceptional wave selection allowing him to sail past his opponent Thomas Wessel Svensson (Gaastra) with ease, whilst Phil Horrocks (JP / Gaastra) went about landing a clean set of aerials, earning him enough point to defeat his contender.

Mikkel Asmussen (RRD / Simmer / MFC) was next up to impress the judges with his wave rides and a tweaked pushloop, obviously comfortable sailing on the North Sea. As was Andreas Olandersson (Simmer / MFC) in his heat against, Stefan Gobisch (JP / Simmer). Olandersson pulled a super-high pushloop and a backloop when the wind was at its most deadly.

The slickest wave rides of the day came from Brit, Adam Lewis (Point-7). Lewis ripped each wave to pieces with his super-aggressive top turns, both impressing the judges and guaranteeing his pass into the second round.

Despite missing the initial three minutes of his heat, Kevin Mevissen (Mystic) came back with a vengeance and made a superb recovery. Mevissen picked up a head high wave and worked it for all it was worth pulling a backside hit, two frontside smacks and a taka on the end for good measure.

Closing the day’s competition, Germany’s Florian Jung (RRD / Gun / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins) whipped up a frenzy on the waves, and pulled a series of smooth turns on a record number of waves to secure his victory against Casper Lykke Pedersen (Fanatic / NeilPryde).

Eager to take advantage of the down time earlier in the day the PWA caught up with the pair currently in joint second place, Kauli Seadi (JP / NeilPryde) and Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) about their plans in Klitmoller.

PWA: How are you feeling about the year so far?

Campello: “It could be better, I haven’t had the best results but it could be worse as well. I always like to be on the podium, but the level is super high so anything can happen. I hope we get great wind tomorrow.”

Seadi: “I think the year is going great, the standard is really high and the boys are all over-prepared. Each year the standard gets higher and higher, a lot of the guys have been training the jumping and I think that really helps on the tour. I am happy to be in second.”

PWA: Have you done any special training for Klitmoller?

Seadi: “I have been at home, it’s port tack there now. We had some really strong days and I have been on 3.6 and 4.2, so that’s good practice for here.”

Campello: “I hope that the forecast comes tomorrow, and then it will be the conditions I really like. Port tack, big waves and strong wind, I am going to concentrate and try my best to get through each heat.”

PWA: Any special plans to take on Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Dakine / Maui Ultra Fins)?

Seadi: “I think Philip is really solid, but anything can happen now. I think anyone in the top nine can make it onto the podium. I will just try my best to get through the heats.”

PWA: Have you been training any special moves for this event?

Campello: “I have been training all the moves and depending on who I come up against I will try the pushloop forwards and the big double forwards, I think they are the moves that score the most.”

With an epic forecast on the cards and rumors of the fifty year storm on the way, the second day of competition promises ferocious waves, howling winds and insane action as the higher seeded sailors enter the competition. The skippers meeting will kick off at 7:30am with the first possible start to competition at 8am.

Scope the action

For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com

Here you can use our:

- Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins

- Check live elimination ladders

- View results

- Read daily news summaries

- Browse awesome action photo galleries

- Follow the event live, with top class commentary from pros and industry insiders.

Interact with the event on the dedicated website at www.worldcup.coldhawaii.eu

Follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/coldhawaiipenguin and follow the Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/coldhawaii.

Or for more information, please contact the PWA office via info@pwaworldtour.com

Wannabe a Wavesailor with Jem Hall: Gu-Screw

Duncan — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:28:03 +0000

Jem's gu-screw

In this instalment of his comprehensive series examining every aspect of wavesailing, Jem Hall continues the all-out assault on your frontside frolics and gets you all gu-ey. Photos: Dave White

Even with the winter chill and all that rubber, you’re still ready and willing to add some more weapons to your waveriding armoury. So let’s get you all revved for the gu-screw. This move opens the door to rotational stunts around the lip of the wave, and is the one to be cracked on your path towards the elusive wave 360. (The ‘gu’ bit comes from the resurgent Mark Angulo, now with added fame on the Windsurfing Movie II.)

It’s quite a versatile move, as it can be performed in most wind directions, and, because you’re landing the move behind the wave your timing isn’t as important or critical. The wave 360, on the other hand, is performed on the wave-face or even just above it, and you actually land back on the face. It’s an altogether toothier animal to tame.

As with many wave moves, the gu-screw presents the challenge of getting up vertical while still going fast, so working on this move will also improve your general riding. Time is of the essence though…

Einstein once said that “The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” He’d have made a good wavesailor. As is the case in so many moves, time is a key ingredient, and in the gu-screw your bottom turn is a lot further in front of the wave to give you sufficient time to get enough space to turn and get back up the wave vertically and continue the rotation.

This is a fun move and requires timing, speed, a vertical attack and then some aerial scissoring and rig steering skills similar to the actions in the forward, so it will even improve your forwards too. Even more of a bonus!

You can do a lot of the movements in light winds while practising those wymaroos that you’re no doubt doing to facilitate both learning and improving your forwards. (The wymaroo got its name from American ’90s ripper Chris Wyman, who in terms of moves was way ahead of his time.) You can even have a shot at it when planing as you do half a carve gybe into a forward loop spin, and hey presto you’re a freestyling machine.

You’ll see sailors performing the advanced version of the gu-screw in both cross-onshore and cross-shore conditions, so the opportunities are endless. As all good wavesailors are comfortable with being uncomfortable, I have no doubt that you’re itching to ‘have some’ of this move.

Poor Whitey was kept waiting quite a while during these shots as I worked on getting it better, and he missed the best sequence as he nodded off. [You’d nod off after 9 hours too. Whitey.] Still, writing these articles means that I’ve got to step up too and get comfy with some new moves, so here we go…

Who? Riders who want to step it up and work towards the wave 360. Yup, your only limits are the ones you place on yourself.

Where? On fairly steep, clean waves, or on sections that aren’t too critical and threatening. As you get more into them you choose the more powerful parts of the wave.

When? As for all moves do it when you’re fresh in your first hour of sailing after getting a couple of waves under your belt to warm up. Have a session on it of 30 minutes and no more, and do one or two on every wave! This really worked for me.

Why? It feels great and will get you improving in other areas of your wavesailing while you conquer it.

What? A vert attack up the wave as you jump switch clew-first and spin the kit round in the air. Not as hard as it sounds!

How? Let’s go to that now…

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 269 article in full…

Wannabe a Wavesailor with Jem Hall: Lip Sliding

Duncan — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:12:27 +0000

Jem goes lip-sliding away...

In this instalment of his comprehensive series examining every aspect of wavesailing, Jem Hall adds a bit of slide to your frontside top turn.

Winter is coming, and while the unenlightened masses moan about the cold and prepare to hibernate in their centrally heated homes, for us wannabe wavesailors it’s truly a time for celebration as we relish the prospect of feasting on the succulent swells that this season brings to our fair shores.

To make sure you make the most of them, let’s get you freeing up those top turns and getting acquainted with some sweet lip-slides. This is a great move, and definitely one of my favourites as it really lets you get to know both the wave and your board much better. Plus of course it looks and feels amazing. In cross-onshore conditions it’s often a must to depower the sail as you head back towards the wind and then reconnect with the wave before you take the usual route into another backside turn to set you up to go frontside again.

The move’s all about counterbalance, as you’re pushing the tail out with the back leg to get the slide, but pulling down and leaning forward to get some purchase on the vee under your mastfoot. Although you’re sliding over your back foot, the lip-slide will help you appreciate that you must initiate your top turn off your front foot so as to use your whole rail, and not just slide out and go out the back of the wave with all your weight over the back foot.

If you’re wanting to get all funky and new-school then you can take your slide into a taka, where you slide out and aim to do an upwind 360 as you pivot over the nose of the board. When they are good you stay in the wave, when they’re not so good you go out the back, and when they’re ugly you get to wear the sail!

Different strokes

Now, as you all know I’m not much of a salesman and don’t promote buying new products all that much, but I’ll give it a go here. The new-school multi-finned boards with their wide noses, relatively narrow tails and loose slashy turning abilities really assist you in not only releasing the tail but also controlling this slide, as with fins in proximity to the rails you have the grip needed to bring it all back on track. These boards also allow you to initiate tight turns off the back foot and take advantage of this in smaller waves and some of the not so pristine onshore conditions we have here in the UK, while of course fully firing in ripping cross to cross-off winds as well. Best get shopping then!

I will revert to my trusted formula for this move:

Who? Riders who are controlling dynamic top turns and want to spice it up a bit.

Where? On fairly steep clean waves or on sections that aren’t too critical and threatening. You can also do it off some white water sections too.

Why? The ability to control different types of turns at the lip of the wave is paramount to adding fluidity and style to your riding.

What? A controlled spin-out at the top of the wave as you perform a top turn, which is then pulled back on track.

How? Let’s go to that now…

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 268 article in full…

Wannabe a Wavesailor with Jem Hall: Layback Jumps

Duncan — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:22:48 +0000

Jem gets laid back

In this instalment of his comprehensive series examining every aspect of wavesailing, Jem Hall helps you to get more laid back with your jumping. Photos: Dave White

Now that you’re all embracing the hands-free moments of joy in your top-turns, I thought I’d go back to some good old jumping this month.

As you will all no doubt agree, windsurfing is a path strewn with unique moments, and these are the freeze frames that we remember best in the future and enjoy most at the time. With this in mind, and with one eye on learning to push loop, I aim to inspire you to once again find comfort in discomfort as I ask you to commit to learning the layback jump.

This move was introduced to me by my good old mate and ex-testing colleague, Ian Leonard, who loved to look right back and check out the view on the beach as he was mid vertical jump. You can also witness the rubbery prowess of pro riders as they arch into some amazing back loops. (Alex Mussolini is a particularly deft exponent of the art.)

The layback jump is a move which, like so many moves, has no real function except that it feels both weird and great. It does however equip you with yet more in-flight control, and also gives you a head-start and view on where your vision goes in a push loop… Which you are all, of course, gagging to learn!

I will revert to my trusted formula for this move:

Who? This move is for sailors wanting to increase their fun quotient, enjoy a unique view and be ready for call of duty in push loop club.

Where? Off small to medium ramps with good space between them, and relatively steep in nature so you get more time to see what’s happening back there.

When? As for all moves, do it when you’re fresh – i.e. in your first hour of sailing after getting a couple of runs through the break under your belt to warm up. Have a session on it of 30 minutes and no more, and do one on every run!

Why? This is another stunt in your arsenal, and it’s a trigger move that will boost your confidence, in-flight technique, orientation, and ready you for push loops.

What? It’s a vertical jump in which you look straight back behind you as you’re going up so you can check out the beach action

How? Just jump, look behind you, and then land. Simples!

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 267 article in full…

Wannabe a Wavesailor with Jem Hall: One-Handed Top Turns

Duncan — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:26:50 +0000

This month Jem Hall fully engages in his frontside series once again as he invites you to rejoice in the joyous freedom of one-handed top turns.

Photos: Dave White

Jem goes one-handed up top

Jem Hall fully engages in his frontside series once again as he invites you to rejoice in the joyous freedom of one-handed top turns. Photos: Dave White

I’m just back from another great trip to Punta San Carlos (PSC), Baja, and as with all my coaching weeks I’ve learnt a great deal from my crew and my tutoring of them. The group comprised a mix of more experienced wavesailors wanting to step up their game and relative novices who were keen to join Waveriding Club – although we all know that doesn’t exist, right?

What was amazing was that if I set them targets and they actually did them well then they moved their sailing forward. One of the targets was to get out there and do some one-handed top turns so that their hands were surfing the boom as much as they surfed the waves. Those that did a lot (more than 10) made more progress, and most importantly achieved that crucial feeling of being comfortable with being uncomfortable. In fact my main man Clive ‘El Toro’ Boden did so many that he was almost nonchalant about them, where at first he was somewhat tentative. As always the standards you set and the targets you aim to achieve will strongly affect how much you improve.

I have to say it – I love one-handed moves. I feel more free and they force me to counterbalance with more finesse while giving increased feedback from the board and rig. Over this series I have set you many challenges, so how about stepping up and doing this one?

One-handed moves get you to really counterbalance the pull of the rig using your body, and force you to consider the position of your head, hips and hands. This is crucial to developing some style in your wavesailing, and particularly in your riding. When I get people sailing one-handed their stance transforms. If I get them going one-handed front-to-sail they truly understand sail control, and if you do tail-grab jumps… Well, you know what that does for you.

I will revert to my trusty formula for this move:

Who? This move is for people who are happy making frontside bottom and top turns in cross-off to cross-on. You don’t have to be ripping to do it.

What? As you’re going up for your top turn it’s a dropping of the front hand as you drive through the wave to redirect.

Where? Off small to medium and relatively green waves – i.e. not too steep or critical and on an open face, and perhaps as a cut-back to the steeper section of the wave.

Why? This is another trigger move that will boost your confidence, technique, hand positioning and style.

When? As for all moves do it when you’re fresh in your first hour of sailing after getting a couple of rides under your belt to warm up. Have a session of 30 minutes on it and no more – and do one on every waveride!

How? Just let that front hand drop and feel the joy.

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 266 article in full…

Wannabe a Wavesailor with Jem Hall: Frontside Aerials

Duncan — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:37:15 +0000

Jem's frontside aerial

Fully rested after a month off, Jem Hall is straight back into his frontside series as he gets you having it on some frontside aerials.

Now that you’re hungry for some real progression in your riding and your all-out attack on the lip you’re about to launch into one of the best moves there is: the aerial. The feeling you get when you connect with a good section and boost an air off it as you fly in front of the wave and look back towards the beach is amazing. I should know, as between you and me I’m going to let you into a little secret… I’ve only been doing some half decent ones in the last couple of years. There – I’ve said it. But now I’ve ’fessed up and come out of the closet I’m on a motivational mission to inspire you to do some aerials – and there’s no better way to get the positive vibes across than when yours truly is fully fired up and working super-hard on something himself.

On my 2009 Baja trip I just fully went for it, and after an hour a day getting worked on this and many moves I got my aerials moving forward and in front of the wave. Added inspiration also came from my clients’ unbridled passion and commitment to the cause…

The move is dependent on:

• Wave selection

• Speed down-the-line

• Timing

• Jumping competency (on both tacks)

Your timing when hitting the section will improve as you work on getting more vertical in your ventures up and at the lip. As you get more wave time you’ll enhance your psychic powers to predict when a wave will break. The timing of your run-up to hit a section, accept its energy, jump and project you and your kit to land in front of the wave will become much more refined. This is, after all, essentially what an aerial is. Of course, there will be times when instead of you hitting the lip it’s the lip hitting you, but this is all part of the fun. If you don’t go, you just won’t know.

The best conditions are definitely in cross or cross-off winds, and you want to make it easy at first by keeping your line high and along the wave where the energy is. So it’s a bit of a speed run along the wave and then a direction change to jump off the section you’ve been eyeing up.

The more vertical you go in your bottom turn the harder you make it for yourself as your timing has to be spot on, so take our suggested line for your aerial to make your connection and land back in front of the wave. As you progress, because you believe you will, you can go more vertical when your timing and aerials get better.

The key tips for this move are speed and timing. If you go faster the board is better able to release from the wave, and you can be more aggressive and hit the section a bit later. Then with good timing you can use all of the energy the wave has to offer you. This move is great fun and scary enough to get that focus we all need and want. Enjoy!

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 265 article in full…

Wannabe a Wavesailor with Jem Hall: Backside Waveriding

Duncan — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 16:30:18 +0000

Jem shows off his backside

Jem Hall continues to give you a break from his fully frontside series as he gets you working on your backside waveriding. Photos by Dave White

As we move into summer and find ourselves out in smaller waves and perhaps onshore conditions we should now be looking to show our backsides with pride.

Backside is not often practiced. People who sail in waves as opposed to wavesailors often ignore these enticing lumps on the way in as they boy-race their way through the break, and advanced sailors just want to go frontside, dude! But backside done well is great fun. You can make it rad and it can lead you into your frontside turns in cross-shore winds, as the wave forms up while you’re stalling for this to happen. It will also enable you to work sections of the wave before you go frontside in cross-on – but more on that later.

The jumps you’re now doing will help with backside aerials and jumps – backside airs on the way in mean you get good at jumping both ways. Getting proficient and eventually vertical backside leads to some great turns and will improve your frontside as your timing, aggression and technique will be constantly improving. You can’t but be impressed by some of the backside antics our illustrious pros get up to in sloppy conditions like Pozo or Sylt – and of course in quality waves like the left at Lanes, which you see in a lot of vids.

It’s all in the name. When you’re waveriding backside you have your back to the wave and you are indeed using your arse and hips to help you change direction. As you are backside you’ll be going upwind and there will thus be less power in the sail, and as such it’s a good initiation into easy riding. You are more able to suck it and see as you develop your gentle turns into more vertical and aggressive riding.

The rules…

The basic ground rules follow the guidelines for all your fundamental windsurfing skills. Basically it’s all about the head and hands!

The head Where your head goes your body will follow. Exaggerating this movement of the head is often the easiest way to improve your riding and all-round sailing.

The hands While waveriding your back hand should really be working up and down the boom. The front hand should also not be too far forward on the boom.

At first I suggest not going for top or bottom turns, but just practice staying on the wave while unhooked, which will help you when you get into your top turns.

Aim to make little turns on your heels and toes, heels towards the bottom of the wave and toes towards the middle or top of the wave. You can also do this in rolling swell to get a feel for it.

Turn your head to look upwind for your heelside turn, and then look downwind to come back down the wave and get your speed back up.

These will be your first backside bottom and top turns…

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 263 article in full…

Wannabe a Wavesailor with Jem Hall: Jump!

Duncan — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:24:38 +0000

Jem jumps

Jem Hall gives you a break from his fully frontside series to get you focusing on, believing in and enjoying the freedom of flight as he covers the basic jump. Photos by Dave White

As spring moves into summer l hope you’re all managing to get some sailing in – and, it goes without saying, doing so with passion. How are the tips working out? Are you working harder in light winds to get your fundamentals firing? What are the key tips that are helping you to be a better sailor? Have you considered getting equipment that will help you to improve faster? Are you thinking about travelling to get some much needed consistent conditions? Are you praying for some low pressure systems to ease your pain and put all these tips into practice? And finally, are you the pilot and not the passenger?

If indeed you are looking to move your sailing up, forwards and enjoy it more, then this article is for you as we’re now going to look at the basic jump. As you’re now looking to make changes to your sailing you will already have identified that you need to work on your mental preparation, tuning, gear selection, and, of course, application of technique.

If you’re not yet jumping then there’s no better way to take you out of your comfort zone then to get you airborne, and for those already getting it up regularly it’s time to do so more efficiently and with more height. There’s a great view to be had up there, and the higher you are the longer you get to enjoy it.

Many of you wannabe wavesailors may already be jumping a little when you flop off a wave or meaty bit of chop, but I’m now imploring you to put much more in, for what you reap is what you sow – and the more you sow the higher you go. Jumping higher and with more efficiency will give you more time and smooth your path to learn more radical jumps in the future. In some conditions making decent jumps is the difference between getting out the back and taking a beating – or a ‘learning experience’ as us coaches like to call it.

Jumping is one of the best parts of windsurfing; nailing your first jumps and getting fully confident in the air are memorable indeed. Chop-hops and wave jumps can be done before you’ve gained proficiency in many other moves (such as gybes and tacks), as once you have good speed in the straps on smaller boards you’re fully ready for some aerial action. Many lighter or younger sailors nail some sweet jumps but aren’t yet strong enough for some of the more powerful moves like carve gybes and hard-hitting waveriding.

Tuning

First up, your tuning is very important so be sure to check out my Jem’s Gems section. Your board selection should be 111L and downwards, and freestyle-wave, freestyle or a waveboard, as their rockerlines are more eager to take off.

Analyse this… and that

To get properly airborne a bit of a ramp is handy, so you’ll need to analyse the water for some juicy lumps and bumps. Just as wind awareness and really seeing gusts and lulls helps your stance and board speed, so too does seeking out the most suitable ramps. These observations are the first part of your journey into airtime action.

Fasten seatbelts and prepare for take-off

Your take-off will be slightly into the wind and with board’s tail in the trough, which brings the nose up and feeds air under the board. However, speed is your friend here so your sailing line shouldn’t be upwind for too long. More speed means more height and the more you put into taking off the more you get out. The board will not jump for you, so you have to be the pilot not the passenger and give the kit the technique that is required to get it airborne.

The biggest tip to get you off the water is that your stance should be quite different pre-jump to ensure that the kit’s in the right position for taking-off. This is the most major change you’ll make in jumping well, so forget about being outboard and motoring – think more about getting over the board and be ready to ‘ollie’ as you would in other boardsports. Read on for the nitty gritty…

Click here to read Jem’s Wannabe 262 article in full…