BSA WEYMOUTH & TEAM 15 GALLEY
Plenty of Racing over the WKD in Weymouth. Thanks to Dave White for the Galley.
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This guide first appeared in the May 2015 issue.
SRP: £239.95
Info: www.ion-products.com
It’s different! ‘’With red mélange on the outside and some stunning features the ONYX AMP is for every rad performer who wants to stand out of the crowd’’ say ION. The new Ninja_Knees feature uses the same high elastic material used in the arm panels resulting in an amazing freedom of movement while bending your knees. Additionally K_Type Neoprene pads (Crash_Padz) at the shins protect this sensitive body area against impact injuries. The Onyx Amp also features S_Seal – ION´s approved highly elastic liquid seam sealing glue for outstanding water sealing and even greater bomb proof tearing strength of GBS_Seams.
SRP: £149.00
Info: www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk
Super lightweight, super flexible is what the 3mm Orbixx is all about. ‘’A suit you can put on and forget, letting you concentrate on nailing the latest move or cracking those gybes. Equally at home surfing as windsurfing, with the power stroke system on the suit arms to propel you efficiently through the water, it is a fantastic addition to any waterman’s kit’’ say Mormaii. Available in sizes; S/M/L/XL. Features include; anatomic design, Super Stretch X3 in all the suit, seal tape – blind stitched with double seal, Titanium Reflex Technology, chest zipper, Powertex knee pads, key pocket and super light foam.
SRP: £219.95
Info: www.mysticboarding.com
Mystic’s all new suit, the Majestic, is packed full of all the technical features of its bigger brother, winter version. With a renewed pattern to maximize the stretch of the suit, it’s got a front-zip construction that gets you in and out of your suit faster and adds more flex to the back panel compared to a back-zip model. It’s super light, super flexible and features include 100% waterproof 100% stretch seams, the latest M-Flex neoprene for ultimate stretch and comfort and is available in Black or Navy colourways. Be a King on the water this summer with the new Mystic Majestic Fullsuit. In stock now at your local retailer.
SRP: £249.00
Info: www.npsurf.com
‘Redefine the concept of motion’ say NPsurf. The Mission FZ is built for unrestricted freedom of movement and superior warmth. Designed for multisport use, it is constructed from 100% Apex Neoprenes and loaded with features such as the ultra-warm Fireline insulation and P-Skin taped seams, providing the ultimate combination of warmth and flexibility. Other features include Bamboo Charcoal fibres woven into the wetsuit lining for their anti-odor and antibacterial, warming and energising properties, SCS Neck seal, Armortex 4-way stretch knee pads, key pocket, ankle cinch loop with detachable ankle cinches, glued and blindstiched seams and griplock wrists and ankles.
SRP: £139.00
Info: www.osheasurf.com
O’Shea describe their mission as ‘’To produce the best wetsuit to insulate the rider from the worst conditions possible’’. The Cyclone 3/2 is, they claim, ‘’A no compromise design with a perfect 360 anatomical fit, combined with ONLY the very best materials available today! The O’Shea premium wetsuits are made exclusively from 100 percent limestone based neoprene, the ultimate in stretch, warmth, fit and durability. The Cyclone 3/2 also uses Mitsu seam tape technology, making it very warm for a given suit thickness. We are one of very few companies using this material and technology in the global wetsuit market’’
SRP: £278.00
Info: www.robertoriccidesigns.com
The Celsius offers, RRD say, ‘’Extreme flexibility where pattern design is combined with market leading neoprene. Fully made with Superstretch limestone neoprene, the very best material available today, the Celsius Pro is the wetsuit made with the lowest number of panels in the RRD collection. Less panels mean more flexibility. In addition, it is fabric taped inside only on stress points for maximum flex and liquid taped only on side legs and kneepads for antiskid protection. Other features include glue and blind stitched airtight seams and 100% built in SuperStrech neoprene with 4 ways stretch back panel.’’
The post SUMMER WETSUIT GUIDE 2015 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
OVERVIEW
Offering a range of 7 sizes from 7.2m to 4.2m, the Move is the RRD loft’s one-sail-does-all, the 5.7m given 5 battens to aim squarely at the “bump, jump and blast” market. Possessing slightly shorter and squatter dimensions than the average in the group, it has relatively little luff curve, making it easy to apply the downhaul tension. Setting conventionally, there is also a large tuning range available, the leech falling away progressively as more tension is applied and using the outhaul to fine-tune the power delivery.
BRAND CLAIM
“The Move is without a doubt, the most versatile sail range in the RRD line. The concept … is to provide the ultimate sail no matter what the wind strength. The 6.2 and 5.7 feature 5 battens and are the perfect match for a sporty freestyle wave / freemove board. Blasting, jumping, gybing, they do it all.”
PERFORMANCE
With an upright stance the Move generates a good amount of useable power in marginal winds and can be used to pump onto the plane effectively. The style of feedback is quite soft and manageable, going relatively neutral in the hands as you ease out with the backhand. This makes it fun to throw-about and use in old-school, perhaps even some new-school freestyle tricks, whilst not feeling out of place around a break. The response might not be as instantaneous, sharp or precise as the manoeuvre-specialist may demand, but its manners and measured power delivery is welcome for most. Such is the control, that you feel you can venture out into whatever terrain is in front of you – go for a blast on flat water or do battle with a coastal arena, safe in the knowledge that you are backed by your sail. In overpowered conditions, you can continue to apply the tension to let the sail twist off and break, spilling any excess power and locking the centre of effort forward. We were quite surprised just how tunable the Move was. With such an upright leading edge, we thought it would experience behavioral issues at the top of its range … but none of it! It is a great example of a conventional feeling all-rounder which will happily partner most board styles and perform dependably.
THE VERDICT
A well built, easy-to-use and versatile sail that retains its manners throughout its vast, tunable wind range. The Move has a familiar set and feel that makes it easy to get the most out of.
The post RRD MOVE 5.7M 2015 TEST REVIEW appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Photos Martin Schoppler & Karel Tyc
Forwards are very much en vogue now with so many learning, improving and getting obsessed by them, so a hoorah to that and I salute you.They are getting higher by all levels of sailor from weekend warriors to top PWA pros. The move is seen as easy and less technical but actually there is quite a lot going on, thereby giving you many areas to improve in, and also focus on. What is great about this move is that you can make so many attempts/rotations, as there are many more opportunities to get round, from big chop to sweet lined up ramps. The low level fast rotations also really help you move towards getting your forwards higher and breaking into the ‘delayed forward’ club.
I will now let you into the first tip of many. The most important skill required to get your forwards higher is that you have to be able to competently and relatively fearlessly, jump higher, feel comfy at the apex of a jump, have confidence steering and controlling this position, whilst keeping your tail up and maintaining forward momentum. So please go out and build confidence in this area and know that I will be covering this in a future article.
“ Sliding your backhand way down the boom will help you steer more and ready you for rotation ’’
Here is your next huge tip; the major effective rotational technique in the forward is actually your aerial steering, both through your legs and your arms. Your new mantra for higher forwards is to ‘jump, steer, rotate and sheet out to land.’ Please remember that ‘the targets you set are the targets you attain,’ anon. Therefore get on and start pulling the trigger and stop putting it off, commitment is very necessary, as is the ability to enjoy the journey and roll with the crashes.
Forward phases
It is important to highlight the phases you go through in your forward loop journey.
Phase 1: This Learn to forward; downwind take off, early preparation (i.e. back hand back and get over board) and a low level rotation that sees you aim to improve upon steering, sheeting in and tucking up your legs as you look to get round further.
Phase 2: Improve; a more across the wind take off, still relatively early preparation(back hand down boom just before take off), more height in the jump before rotation. Main adjustments are just how important the active steering is and getting your timing better.
Phase 3: Advanced; moving your forwards higher into delayed territory. This can see you jumping slightly into the wind to get higher and then in the air, the hand moves down the boom to steer and rotate. The rig and legs are very active to steer the kit off the wind and get the nose pointing down before initiating the rotation. At this phase there are lots of subtle tweaks to our technique going on and timing becomes very important!
// Jump, get that tail up, steer the nose off, then push and pull the kit through the rotation, and get active upon landing.
Photo Martin Schoppler
The Component parts
The higher forward has three main parts, and like all great books it encompasses a fantastic beginning, middle and end. In these parts you are concentrating on these areas:
1. Beginning – controlled speed and boosting height through your jump. Become good at this and you will get higher loops, so spend some time getting very competent at this, as it is a core skill! Getting the sail light and your board speed up by bearing away before the ramp gives you more momentum to steer/ bear away in the air and means you will not go vertical in your rotation and then into a doom pole vault forward of death.
2. Middle – aerial steering and scissoring. This is done by bringing the tail up and getting the rig across you to bear the board away, and exaggerated by extending the front leg and pulling up and in on the back leg to scissor the board downwind. This also drops the nose, and NOTE: no mention of excessive sheeting in here as this starts the rotation too early.
3. End – pulling the trigger. Once you’re in position and coming off the apex of your jump it’s time to push and pull forcefully. Push the front arm and leg down and away and pull up and in on BOTH the back arm and back leg. All that will get you rotating, and as you get better you’ll develop more of a feeling for how much push and pull is required to increase or reduce your rotational speed. Lastly, your best landings come from sheeting out prior to landing for a clean getaway.
“ Be ready to stamp off the back leg and pull up on the boom to get decent height’’
// Steer with the rig and legs whilst keeping your speed through the air’ Photo Karel Tyc
The technique tips for higher forwards
The main tips are:
• Getting high; front hand is back and the backhand is forward to get you high first and not rotating as soon as you take off. The backhand will slide down later. Open sail up slightly to lift the nose to boost height and be ready to stamp off the back leg and pull up on the boom to get decent height.
• On the way up; fly the board up and start to bear the board away through scissoring your legs and bringing the rig across you. As you soar sliding your backhand way down the boom will help you steer more and ready you for rotation. The sail should have some forward drive, i.e. be a bit sheeted in to keep your forward speed!
• Hitting your height; at the apex of the jump you’ll need to really bear away off the wind using the rig and your legs. The nose will be off the wind and you will be starting to drop so get that nose down and be ready to rotate by pulling down on the front arm and front leg.
• Rotate, rotate, rotate; now it’s time for relative aggression. Looking behind you will assist you in pulling up AND in hard with that back arm, and because your back arm is way back you have maximum leverage. Throughout the rotation you’re pushing down and away on the front arm and front leg. The back leg really pulls up and in as well.
• Landing; as you come in to land it’s time to open the sail and throw the rig up to catch the wind. If you keep your front arm extended here you’ll get up and away sweeter. Continued leg scissoring also takes you around those precious few degrees more and means you land with a nice bent back leg.
Kit:
Generous straps to allow feet right in to bear board away and get your toes down Long lines enable you to sail fast over bumpy water and with your front hand back, which aids getting rig across.
// Get that tail up and nose down and work those legs hard! Photo Karel Tyc
I have finely tuned my forward technique many times, and rebuilt them over many years. My most recent learning insights are to:
• After initiation and moving rig across, move the rig further forward and after this ensure I sheet in hard at the right time. This is quite an advanced tip, so use once you are competent enough to really fine tune your flight path 
• Really scissor the board through the rotation by extending my front leg, this is very very effective!
• Get my hand far back in every loop, you can never get it too far back!
• Be more compact, when rotating I now come in closer to the rig and have moved from a straighter front arm to a more bent front arm.
Most important tip is to just do it, commit, attack, crash, enjoy and self coach.
“Procrastination is, hands down, our favourite form of self-sabotage.”Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby (American manager and author).
// ‘Boost that height with your back hand forward, and be ready to slide it back for steering and rotation’ Photo Martin Schoppler
Conditions:
Medium sized ramps that have some kick and steepness to them but not that threatening. Clear space before the ramp so you can set up and choose your take off spot and keep speed and be settled
Go to the right spot to get the right conditions Side shore to side on is best.
RRD boards, wetsuits, softwear, Ezzy sails and Pro Sport Sunblock sponsor Jem Hall. Get him live and direct on one of his highly acclaimed coaching holidays and check out www.jemhall.com for further details.
The post JEM HALL MOVE ON UP appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
THE LOW-DOWN
The second smallest of a four-board line-up, the 94 tested here comes in Ltd construction, with a 28cm MFC fin.
BRAND CLAIM
“As the trend of wave boards shapes keeps going towards multifin hulls, we have preferred to retain a “classic”, reliable and fast planing single fin board line that would be suited for those who wish for a “do it all” type of short board. The new Freestyle Wave boards, Version 3, are four new simple, refined, retuned shapes that will cover the whole range of use of this program.”
PERFORMANCE
The Freestyle Wave from RRD has had real heritage and following over the years, being the benchmark in the crossover category for many, so it would be interesting to see how the third generation of this range performs. Slightly longer yet narrower than its predecessor, the first thing we noticed as we stepped onto the 94 is that it certainly feels smaller underfoot than its volume would suggest. Whilst in the minority here with its single-fin set up, the outline and rocker of the 94 would dispel any thought of it possessing a straight-line freeride bias. Its rounded plan-shape, narrow rounded tail, domed deck, tapered rails and pointed nose boasting a good amount of rocker has ‘overgrown wave board’ written all over it! All this translates into a very interesting ride. Despite feeling smaller than the stated 94L, it can carry a 6.4m fine and accelerates progressively if not exploding from the blocks. It has a fantastically controlled nature, never bucking or doing anything untoward and was the first choice for the more nervous rider in harsh coastal chop/slop. The single fin provides the security to drive against up to a good speed and the fittings offering the comfort we’ve come to expect from the RRD stable. It’s in the carve though that the 94 really excels. Whether the water is flat or a bubbling cauldron of mush, the rails of the board bite so effortlessly it can nurse even the most timid rider round the arc. Enter with a more confident style and the board will grip as tight a path as you dare to prescribe. It is an ideal contender for those progressing into stronger winds and looking for the platform to explore diverse coastal conditions for the first time with confidence. Equally, it is a fantastic board for the more experienced sailor, seeking an impeccably mannered, dependable machine so that they can concentrate in pushing their own ability to the next level.
THE VERDICT
An eye-catching board that answers the ‘crossover’ riddle in a very different approach to others. With the looks of a large wave board, the third generation FSW from RRD oozes control, giving you the confidence that you can take it into any arena and be left beaming from ear to ear.
The post RRD FREESTYLE WAVE LTD 94L 2015 TEST REVIEW appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Are you sitting comfortably ?, then let us begin our buyer’s guide to the top harnesses to put on your bottom! Firstly though, eyes firmly on the page for a lesson from our professional windsurfer in residence, the indomitable Peter Hart on just why it may be time for a change of hook.
I don’t have the figures to hand but I’m suspecting the ratio of seat to waist harnesses sold is currently 90% in favour of the latter. There are good reasons to wear a waist harness but amongst them is not the fact that everyone else seems to be.
Length of shorts, colour of rashie – yes these are things that can be influenced by fashion but the fundamental ability to harness and distribute power as efficiently and comfortably as possible, is not.
On clinics I have changed more lives by persuading people from waists to seats than the other way round.
If you’re pondering the choice, these are the criteria that might push you towards extra bottom support.
Comfort
If despite your every effort to stand up and direct the power into your lower back, the waist harness still rides up, then you have no choice but to buy a seat. There’s a hint in the title – so if you haven’t got a waist and the harness can’t tuck under your ribcage, it’s not going to work.
But it’s not just a chubber issue. I was teaching a girl last week, who was skinny as a rake – but she had an unusually high waist which left the hook at around throat height. As a result she couldn’t commit her whole bodyweight to the harness and transmit enough power into the board to release it.
Moving to a seat, the transformation was so immediate that it brought a tear to the eye. Asked why she’d gone for a waist harness she said she wanted to go into waves – and was told that everyone wears a waist harness in the waves.
What are you going to do?
Indeed most wave sailors and freestylers use a waist harness for the extra freedom of movement around the groin. The higher hook also suits hooked in moves.
But if you think about waves and freestyle, it’s not about locking down huge amounts of power for long reaches – it’s about getting planing and then doing something – usually hooked out.
There are some slalom sailors using waist harnesses these days but across the classes, including the Olympians, the vast majority favour a seat because it simply offers more support. The hook lines up with your centre of gravity. You can make better use of your weight and lock down the power. Whenever I go out testing sails over 7.0, I slip on a seat harness.
So if your sailing is more about about speed than manoeuvres, seriously think about it. It may be an ‘as well as …’ not an ‘either or …’ question.
Buying tips
Things to consider as you sample a seat.
Sliding hook?
This is a style preference thing. Personally I like the hook to slide a little within the webbing so that as I crank the hips forward to go upwind, the hook slides back a little. Equally I know those who like it to be fixed.
Hook height.
The hook on seats used to be very low – as low as winkle in some examples, which took some getting used to and made catapults very severe. On my own seat harnesss, the seat hook is only a couple inches lower than the waist harness – just below belly button, so I don’t really have to change my style much.
So check the hook height – on some it’s adjustable.
Technique
This is the subject for another time – but the top tip is just because it’s got ‘seat’ written on it, don’t sit down … well at least don’t squat and get defensive.
As you hook into a seat you immediately engage more bodyweight and power through the legs. You wont go faster by sitting down more. Yes, drop the hips but try and stay tall and go with the flow – and there’ll be plenty more of that!
Flying Objects say the Transit was developed “through a need for practicality and functionality, a dual function harness that combines a waist with a seat”. This concept provides both the high back support and hook height of a waist harness but with the secure fit and feel of a seat. Features include an independent tension belt, seat attachment, neo leg straps, quick release hook and a bar hold-down strap. Construction is a 3-D Thermo-formed Outer Skin with Full Neo Inner Skin and there’s even a nifty Key Pocket!
RRP £129.99
The ION design team are known for innovation and with the Peak harness have took the best of both worlds and combined the comfort of a seat harness with the performance of a waist harness! Other highlights include Quick_Fit 2.0, the new lever buckle system which allows superfast and effort-saving tightening of the harness; Cross_Link, an internal load spreading system; Wrap_Tec, the harness is not flat, it wraps itself around your hips ! and the 3D shaped seat part, improving comfort and support. The Peak is the perfect option for all speed addicts and intermediate free riders.
The Balance is an ergonomically shaped seat harness that combines lower back and hip support, with the freedom to move. The strategic synch strap placement puts the hook in a low position to allow the body full range of motion, while supporting the lower back and waist Other features include contoured side shape, neoprene buckle covers, soft fabrics, soft round edge, dual tension belt, split side load-spreading patches, 3D-fit technology and a click-in, integrated spreader bar.
RRP £119.00
NP bring to market a Convertible Harness System . The laminated EVA inner of the Gravity Seat multi-sport harness is split into three segments to provide dynamic support while the pre-bent shape allows for the harness to completely wrap around the hip and seat area. Click in leg straps are uniquely angled for exceptional fit and freedom of movement. Other features include Anti-chafe seams, Adjustable back support, Replaceable straps and Tie-down system.
The NP Surf S1 Windsurf Spreader Bar features a Straight and narrow hook with three attachment points for maximum stability.
A Freeride and Slalom seat harness with adjustable back support and anatomical shape. Featuring a quick release spreader bar system and lumbar support with Neoprene padded leg straps for extra comfort. In addition, neoprene padding on all edges of the harness. Other highlights include: Ergonomic fit, rear handle, extreme comfort and a new innovative and patented SPQR Spreader bar system with bar pad.
RRP £89.00
www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk
‘Full contact windsurfing’ is how P7’s PWA riders describe the performance of their seat harnesses. Designed using a minimal structure with no padding to keep the direct feeling from the entire rig but still giving the comfort needed to achieve great average and top end speeds with full control. In addition their Slalom seat harness can be adjusted to the millimetre ensuring the optimal fit, comfort and output from the sail.
RRP £85.00
www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk
The Rambler is a Freerace/racing harness. It has a medium high profile for support and allows maximum sail power to be carried at all times. The double buckles combined with the high profile allow a big adjustment of where the power from the sail can be directed into the harness body.
Other features include true 3D seat shaping, an elastic slalom belt, cruising optimized outline profile, an MPL Quad belt attachment, patented pin Release bar System and neoprene cushioned legstraps.
RRP £95.00
The legendary Italian brand have drawn on the experience of their World Cup winning PWA World Tour Slalom team in the design of their latest WR seat harness. Using the best materials and technology process available today to construct it, detailed features include, spreader downhaul to adjust hook height, very good load distribution to seat area, neoprene legstraps, spreader protector and neoprene edges. Available in sizes: XS-S-M-L
RRP £114.00
The post SEAT HARNESS BUYERS GUIDE 2015 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Coming soon – new RRD Wave Cult V6. Check out the clip and sick shots of Alex Mussolini and John Skye putting the RRD WAVE CULT V6 through its paces. For more info. on this renowned wave board line check out
RRD 2015 Sailboards – Wave Cult HD 1080p from RRD International on Vimeo.
PRESS RELEASE:
RRD introduce the new four new shapes that make the new Wave Cult V6 line up. 74, 82, 90 and 104.
With so many thoughts its hard to say which was the key decision along the way, though if pressed I’d have to say starting with a blank sheet opened the possibility to analyze and re-think what the perfect wave board you’d use every day would look like.
We were influenced by a new line of short boards that appeared to have their nose and tail cut off, it’s what we now call the COTAN board (Cut Off Tail and Nose).
While we found lots of innovative inspiration, going for a radically shorter length and accompanying wider tail and nose we were limiting the “allround” nature of the board which is a key feature of the Wave Cults.
– – –
<ENDS>
The post RRD WAVE CULT LTD V6 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
The Duck gybe is a natural progression from the carve gybe, and has been around our fab sport for 30 years or more, it is old school but feels so so good it will never go out of fashion.
I will breakdown this feature on what the Duck gybe is, who it is for, whyand where we should do it, when to duck the rig and how to go about the whole process. The tips for the relevant stages of the move will be covered in a similar style to last month’s Gybe feature. You can of course get even more info on my fab ‘Beginner to Winner’ Coaching dvd, but then you already knew that.
What
The duck gybe is a great way to turn around downwind while planing and with speed. The sail is changed (ducked) early and then the board is carved / turned out. It is a simpler gybe then the step gybe.
Who
If you are making 30% of your carving step gybes and going into them with speed and getting your sail light then this move is for you. It is also for the thrill seekers and for the people who want to improve faster and enjoy their sailing even more!
Why
This feature is already scattered with a myriad of reasons. It is fun, it will improve you, it keeps you inspired and it feels great. Lastly, it is a little bit scarey and just might yield your first planing gybes – hoorah!
Where
Choose a flatter section of water, either on flat water or between waves. As you nail them, and yes you will AND you can, then go for the duck gybe onto the wave or even off the wave
When
First tip and one of the most important and well used is duck it early. Make the move off the wind (on a broad reach for those in the know) and when the rig is light from your amazing set up and blistering approach speed.
How
As Bruce Lee says ‘don’t think, feel,’ it really does pay not to over think this move and just go for it, after a healthy amount of visualization of course.
// Get low and prepared, go fast to get the sail light and thereby ready to duck’
Tips to rip through the duck gybes
// Tackle the duck gybe challenge and work up to bigger sails’
Kit
Boards that turn well work best like Freestyle Wave and Freemove boards. The sail should not be too big to learn the move, so 6.0 and under is ideal and then once you have it dialled you can use as big as you dare!
Conditions
It is a move to be workedon when low to medium powered, i.e. when you go downwind the sail goes light and is not making you fear for your life. If it is marginal I will often duck gybe as it is more fun and I am more likely to come out planing as I can get the power on again early.
The How Part
The preparation is as per a Carving step gybe, hand back, unhook, get low and bear away using the same steps covered in last month’s Gybe feature.
// Get low at the end and this gets you planing and in control
The Duck
• Roll forward into the approach as per a carve gybe to keep the sail light, set the rail and keep the sail ready for ducking.
• Whilst still on a broad reach go for the duck!, going for it early and when the sail is light.
• Front hand releases and crosses over to the very back of the boom, whilst the old back hand tilts rig forward towards the nose of the board. This keeps the mast out of the water, makes the back of the boom available to you and stops you getting dismissed.
• Whip the rig back past your ear like you are wiping sweat from your brow, with your new back hand (old front hand).
• Take on the mantra ‘Duck, pull and look.’
• Pull the rig across you as you look to your exit and get low with your hips across. Honestly, it will feel natural.
• Be aggressive with the pull across, yet subtle in the initial push and positioning of the rig forwards.
• Try to move your free hand towards the water like you are the one handed duck gybe master as this will get you low and dynamic and your hips will naturally shift. All this keeps the board carving.
• Pull the boom hard across you and only grab the boom on the new side when the front of it is available. Patience please and no boom walking!
• On big sails you are actually letting go of the boom and launching it forward pre duck.
• The sail will be hands free at moments in this beautiful move so enjoy these and relax.
// Gybe off front foot, cross hands, duck, look, pull and then carve and switch feet – do it! – do it!’
The Carve
• The duck part of the move helps you get low and facilitates a smooth carve, further aided by looking at your exit.
• When the boom is in both hands (near the lines) and the arms are extended then you can focus on carving hard through the back foot to take you through the wind to the new direction, broad reach to broad reach.
• Really bend your front ankle and your back leg and imagine pushing your inside knee into the water.
• Feel your arc; go wider when it is windy and you are well powered, go narrower when less powered.
• Think ‘sail away, body low and carve the board.’ This will feel natural as the sail change is done so early.
• It is really important to actively sheet the sail out so as not to get pulled over the handle bars or stall the sail.
• Imagine the rig is moving to the outside as the hips move to the inside, just like a carve gybe.
The Exit
• You are so nearly there now so eyes on the prize.
• Keep spotting your exit (new direction) and as your hips are carving nice and low to the inside then your feet are ready to shift and switch.
• If it is a big board, then change your feet earlier
• If it is a smaller board, then you can come out and sail switch (old front foot still in its original strap) for a while.
• Both of the above are down to personal preference and for me I go for the early feet change.
• Carve out on your heels, as per a gybe.
• Get low and keep the rig away and strap up before hooking in.
// Try to drag your free hand in the water to add dynamism.
Finally, learn the move in both directions to keep your techniques in balance. This move has a lot going on but like all moves, keep it simple, focus and just go for it. You will have a few crashes but ‘failure is one step towards success’ and you are already ‘comfortable with being uncomfortable.’ The Duck Gybe is a flowing move that I truly love to teach, the more we duck the faster we grow and why we will always want to improve it.
RRD boards, wetsuits, softwear, Ezzy sails and Pro Sport Sunblock sponsor Jem Hall. Get him live and direct on one of his highly acclaimed coaching holidays– see
www.jemhall.com for further details.
The post JEM HALL – MOVE ON UP appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
PE’AHI AWAKES a powerful Pacific winter storm lights up Jaws. Polakow, Swifty, Morgan, Levi and Marcilio Browne tell their big wave tales.
BJORN DUNKERBECK, RETIRED BUT REBOOTED. JC finds out from the man himself why we have far from heard the last of Bjorn.
CODE BLACK An exceptional storm threatened 60 foot waves. Finn Mullen and John Carter seek, retreat, score and report on the big black blob !
DAYMER BAY Daymer is beautiful but has waves that can wreck any sailor. A story of two storms and a local’s guide to this must visit spot.
FUERTE’ ON FIRE Atlantic activity lights up Fuerteventura’s famous shores. Jules Denel and a cast of locals and visitors enjoy the spoils !
A FORCE 10 ADVENTURE The making of Red Bull Storm Chase, the Movie. An exclusive insight to the most elaborate Windsurf production of all time.
LANCELIN OCEAN CLASSIC The world’s longest running windsurf competition celebrates its 30th year ! JC reports from the beach.
SEAT HARNESS BUYERS GUIDE Peter Hart explains the benefits of sitting down alongside our run down of the latest bums in hooks on market.
PETER HART MASTERCLASS – Harty on high winds. When the wind really blows, Captain Hart gives his tips on how to steady the sail..and board !
MOVE ON UP – Getting flight into your forwards. Jem Hall brings us his top tips for getting your forwards higher.
EGYPT WINDSURF GUIDE Egypt is a windsurfing Paradise, Peter Hart explains why. Read his tales, tips and our resort guide.
LOWDOWN : INTO THE COLD CHAMBER Gollito Estredo goes deep deep freeze, testing ION’s Fall/ Winter wetsuits in a cold lab !
LOWDOWN : STARBOARD RIO LONG TAIL Starboard have a new beginner board and concept, designer Tiesda You gives us the lowdown !
LATEST & GREATEST The freshest gear, the new design ideas, all here !
EDITORIAL – STORM FORCE Storms, the greatest force in windsurfing also gives the greatest lesson. Challenge and be beautifully humbled.
AFFAIRS OF THE HART Brazil, paradise with an edge. Harty on the good and bad of a country famed for both but always worth it for a windsurfer.
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THE LOW-DOWN
The second smallest of a four-board line-up, the 94 tested here comes in Ltd construction, with a 28cm MFC fin.
BRAND CLAIM
“As the trend of wave boards shapes keeps going towards multifin hulls, we have preferred to retain a “classic”, reliable and fast planing single fin board line that would be suited for those who wish for a “do it all” type of short board. The new Freestyle Wave boards, Version 3, are four new simple, refined, retuned shapes that will cover the whole range of use of this program.”
PERFORMANCE
The Freestyle Wave from RRD has had real heritage and following over the years, being the benchmark in the crossover category for many, so it would be interesting to see how the third generation of this range performs. Slightly longer yet narrower than its predecessor, the first thing we noticed as we stepped onto the 94 is that it certainly feels smaller underfoot than its volume would suggest. Whilst in the minority here with its single-fin set up, the outline and rocker of the 94 would dispel any thought of it possessing a straight-line freeride bias. Its rounded plan-shape, narrow rounded tail, domed deck, tapered rails and pointed nose boasting a good amount of rocker has ‘overgrown wave board’ written all over it! All this translates into a very interesting ride. Despite feeling smaller than the stated 94L, it can carry a 6.4m fine and accelerates progressively if not exploding from the blocks. It has a fantastically controlled nature, never bucking or doing anything untoward and was the first choice for the more nervous rider in harsh coastal chop/slop. The single fin provides the security to drive against up to a good speed and the fittings offering the comfort we’ve come to expect from the RRD stable. It’s in the carve though that the 94 really excels. Whether the water is flat or a bubbling cauldron of mush, the rails of the board bite so effortlessly it can nurse even the most timid rider round the arc. Enter with a more confident style and the board will grip as tight a path as you dare to prescribe. It is an ideal contender for those progressing into stronger winds and looking for the platform to explore diverse coastal conditions for the first time with confidence. Equally, it is a fantastic board for the more experienced sailor, seeking an impeccably mannered, dependable machine so that they can concentrate in pushing their own ability to the next level.
THE VERDICT
An eye-catching board that answers the ‘crossover’ riddle in a very different approach to others. With the looks of a large wave board, the third generation FSW from RRD oozes control, giving you the confidence that you can take it into any arena and be left beaming from ear to ear.
The post RRD FREESTYLE WAVE LTD 94L 2015 TEST REVIEW appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
OVERVIEW
Offering a range of 7 sizes from 7.2m to 4.2m, the Move is the RRD loft’s one-sail-does-all, the 5.7m given 5 battens to aim squarely at the “bump, jump and blast” market. Possessing slightly shorter and squatter dimensions than the average in the group, it has relatively little luff curve, making it easy to apply the downhaul tension. Setting conventionally, there is also a large tuning range available, the leech falling away progressively as more tension is applied and using the outhaul to fine-tune the power delivery.
BRAND CLAIM
“The Move is without a doubt, the most versatile sail range in the RRD line. The concept … is to provide the ultimate sail no matter what the wind strength. The 6.2 and 5.7 feature 5 battens and are the perfect match for a sporty freestyle wave / freemove board. Blasting, jumping, gybing, they do it all.”
PERFORMANCE
With an upright stance the Move generates a good amount of useable power in marginal winds and can be used to pump onto the plane effectively. The style of feedback is quite soft and manageable, going relatively neutral in the hands as you ease out with the backhand. This makes it fun to throw-about and use in old-school, perhaps even some new-school freestyle tricks, whilst not feeling out of place around a break. The response might not be as instantaneous, sharp or precise as the manoeuvre-specialist may demand, but its manners and measured power delivery is welcome for most. Such is the control, that you feel you can venture out into whatever terrain is in front of you – go for a blast on flat water or do battle with a coastal arena, safe in the knowledge that you are backed by your sail. In overpowered conditions, you can continue to apply the tension to let the sail twist off and break, spilling any excess power and locking the centre of effort forward. We were quite surprised just how tunable the Move was. With such an upright leading edge, we thought it would experience behavioral issues at the top of its range … but none of it! It is a great example of a conventional feeling all-rounder which will happily partner most board styles and perform dependably.
THE VERDICT
A well built, easy-to-use and versatile sail that retains its manners throughout its vast, tunable wind range. The Move has a familiar set and feel that makes it easy to get the most out of.
The post RRD MOVE 5.7M 2015 TEST REVIEW appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Photo Martin Schoppler & Karel Tyc
Wave Selection
One of the key points in moderate surf is finding the best set waves to ride and then adding the skill of tacking or gybing on to these waves, as on smaller days you never know when another good wave will come. If you are looking for a good wave to ride then these will often come in sets and they will have 2 – 3 waves in the set and they will be defined from quite a distance away and look longer and steeper. On the way back in you will either have turned onto a wave / swell that you have predicted may turn into something bigger and better or you will be sailing upwind looking for a swell that is forming up. As you get better you may even stop to wait for a wave outside the break! Progressing as a wavesailor is about a change in mindset – looking for waves to ride and not just blasting straight back in, seek and ye shall find. On smaller days you may have to go in and out 2-3 times before you find a decent wave to ride (and/or jump), so one of the best tips I can give you is to go through what I call the ‘stunt zone’ as many times as possible and with your eyes scanning for opportunities to, well, do stunts! What do I actually mean by this? I am saying do short reaches and again, try really hard not to blast for miles out to sea, looking for the shipping lanes.
In summary your targets are:
• Keep an eye out for good waves and get better at predicting whether they will peak up.
• Tack or gybe onto good waves, even if you are only just past the break or maybe even only half way out.
• Do short, fast reaches, think ‘high tempo’
• Remember to sail where the action is, looking up and downwind to assess for the best peaks and take the tide into consideration.
“ Progressing as a wavesailor is about a change in mindset – looking for waves to ride and not just blasting straight back in ’’
Riding: Backside and Frontside
On these small wave, side to side onshore sessions, there are often opportunities to waveride both upwind and downwind, called backside and frontside respectively. Now before you go charging off trying to ride these waves, your first bit of strategy is to actually enjoy being on them unhooked and find where the energy is and then look up and down the wave to see which part is breaking better, like jumping, you are looking for the best bits of the wave to use to have fun on. In these small wave sessions you may be on a good wave, but actually the best part of it may be way upwind or downwind so you have to be very observant and get yourself to the peak. These waves will also bend slightly, either towards or away from you, and so you will have to mix up both back and frontside turns so let’s look at these next.
Backside
Here are some basic tips to ride backside upwind.
• For the first few waves just look to work with the wave changing the boards direction through heel and toe pressure heading upwind, whilst unhooked.
• Now start at the top of the wave and drop down it and carve upwind on your heels to initiate your ‘bottom turn’ in order to get back up the wave.
• As you carve, move rig back and body forward to keep speed.
• Upon carving back up the wave and way before you reach the top, change the carving pressure to your toes in order to perform your top turn and come back down the wave.|
• Look upwind to carve upwind and then look down wind and down wave to carve back down the wave.
• As you progress aim to carve the board harder at the bottom to get back up the wave so you can hit a steeper, more throwing part of it.
• To really smash the wave, you have to fall over hard on your toeside and almost backwind the rig as you really turn your head to redirect you.
• Jedi tip: as you improve, look to get a backside hit which helps you redirect the board to then get frontside. Let the wave help you and work with its power and flow.
“ One of the key points in moderate surf is finding the best set waves to ride ’’
Frontside
Riding downwind or down the line is a bit more challenging than backside riding and it can be described as gybing off the wind with both feet in the straps and then turning back upwind, all whilst on, or in proximity to the breaking wave. Gybing skills come to the fore here and how you gybe is definitely how you waveride, so look to ensure you are competent and working hard at your step gybes.
• Essentially you are turning the board again with your toes and heels and this time you begin on your toeside and then carve on your heelside to turn back upwind and drop back down the wave. Your timing will improve, just go with it.
• Start at the top of the wave and drop down it and carve downwind by getting the rig forward and carving hard off your toes, really bending your ankles. Your hand slides WAY down the boom just like a gybe.
• In order to get back up the wave you have to open the sail and get more weight on your carving back foot as you swing your hips to the inside of the turn.
• Keep the carving pressure up and aim to get up the wave to a steep section and then turn your head and bring your hands back together as you transfer the weight to your heels to turn back upwind.
• Jedi tip: if you want to turn tight and vertical, then throw the rig forward and get it open as you get your hips down and arse back and to the inside, this will allow you to carve more on the back foot and the rigs forward position will keep the board flat
The frontside riding tips above are for more side shore winds. I will now touch upon some brief tips for more challenging, cross on, frontside wave riding:
• Look to use an upwind peak to bank off and really throw the sail more open to keep the wind in it.
• If you have a steeper peak then hit it and use its energy. Getting back and high on the wave will give you the position to drop down it, gain speed and make a better frontside turn.
• If the upwind peak is quite shallow, then be more subtle in redirecting frontside and as you drop down the wave, get that rig forward and relatively open.
• For the top turn, ensure you get the rig forward and away from you so as not to oversheet the sail. This is all made easier by getting your back hand back up the boom and really turning your head to look back upwind good and early.
• Jedi tip: go hit the section. You will either get a great hit/turn or you will learn that you need to go earlier or later, or get your weight more forward. Charge, carve, hit, repeat!
Kit:
Generous straps and long lines as ever. A big enough board and sail to get you going on the inside. Rig for the action zone not for out the back!
RRD boards, wetsuits, softwear, Ezzy sails and Pro Sport Sunblock sponsor Jem Hall. Get him live and direct on one of his highly acclaimed coaching holidays, check out his site www.jemhall.com for details. You can also follow him on twitter / Facebook and Instagram
The post JEM HALL MOVING ON UP – WORKING THE WAVES appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Words FINN MULLEN // Photo JOHN CARTER
Hard or soft
There’s no denying it, the market for windsups has blown up, pardon the pun! Inflatable sales now account for an extraordinary amount of sales in the market. Brian Johncey from Blue Chip Windsurfing, one of the longest running shops in the UK, estimates conservatively that inflatables make up at least 95% of his sales. For myself, there is still nothing that can replace the feeling of a hard board gliding under your feet, especially in waves where the finer rails offer greater transitional ability in the surf zone. But the performance gap is closing fast. Advances in construction technology are being driven by the SUP community as the demand for stiffer, finer railed inflatable boards is encouraging manufacturers to develop and innovate ever more refined products. The advantages of inflatables for storage and portability on cars, planes, bikes and backs are obvious !, but they also offer another benefit as our test editor and owner of the OTC, Tris Best, explains, “The relative early planing ability of inflatables often surprises people. They aren’t earlier than a conventional windsurf board but they plane easier than you might think due to the thick high volume rails, where they lose however is when the wind starts to pick up and conventional windsurf shapes soon take over. A hard, wave biased, windup typically has a lot of tail rocker for manoeuvrability in the waves which has little disadvantage at non planing speeds but does hinder planing performance”. There are limitations to inflatable’s performance, Peter Hart explains, “Of course you can take inflatables into the waves so long as you understand the limitations. Fine straight-lining on white water – not so good cracking off hollow lips.”
For the nervous beginner, kids, curious family and friends, there’s something inherent in the softer, tactile feel of an inflatable which seems to naturally instil a sense of comfort and curiosity. In addition inflatables have an attractive ability to withstand dings and shoreline abuse. In short, hard boards offer greater performance in the waves and will always be the preference for those who still like foam under their feet but inflatables are the popular choice and well worth a look and very far from being a gimmick in their modern guise.
Length
Brain Johncey of Blue Chip sees most sales in the 10 foot range, being a good compromise size. Go shorter if you want more surf performance, longer if you wish more flat water glide. In hard boards, for surf and flat water use I’ve always found 9’5’’ – 10’5’’ a go to size, big enough to still have glide onto a wave or paddling, yet not so long as to impair surf use. 9 foot boards start to swing the bias even greater into waves while still having just enough volume and tracking to make flat water paddling possible. Sub 8’5’’ you are definitely into the specialist wave use for most average weight people but don’t discount the genuine performance of these boards under paddle or sail, Starboard designer Scott McKercher or Fanatic’s ripper in chief, Victor Fernandez are just some of the pros that can regularly be seen making these boards look anything but a compromise on the wave face and a lot of fun in light winds in the right hands.
The market
UK Champion windsurfer and paddle boarder, John Hibbard, is a founder of one of the world’s largest SUP brands, Red Paddle Co. Having been in SUP at the very start of the sport, how has he seen the windsup market develop. “At first we were focussed very much on making the company a specialist SUP brand and keeping windsurfing a distinct sport but there is an obvious crossover which we have responded to with a windsup model. Paddle boarding when it’s windy isn’t fun and even novice paddle boarders are soon keen to explore windsurfing on their boards, so it has been a great backdoor to introduce people to windsurfing while gaining unexpected sales from windsurfers too”. Brian Johncey agrees, “We definitely see more paddle boarders taking up windsurfing, they are soon converted once they see how much fun they can have in light winds messing around with a sail. I don’t like the industry concocted term – ‘windsup’, to me that belittles windsurfing. If you put a sail on a board it’s windsurfing, simple as that. That said, I always recommend people to buy a board best suited to their paddling needs first”. Tris Best again sees an encouraging uptake in the market, “Windsup is a great summer sport and family board option. We see paddle boarders taking up the windsurf challenge and moving onto regular windsurf boards as they progress, anyway we can get people into windsurfing has got to be good”.
Advances in the market that Red Paddle co envisages are improving the upwind performance of the boards. John Hibbard explains, “Most advanced windsurfers won’t have a problem staying upwind with a windsup but for the beginner we are looking at methods to improve this. In Inflatables be it retractable daggerboards, centre fins or even tail fins you have to be conscious of the durability of any fittings under hull. Those are easy to repair on a hard board but not on inflatables which is why you need to make sure your board’s fittings are robust. Fixed centre fins help but can be prone to damage on groundings, retractable daggerboards while better can be expensive but we are developing a system which addresses cost, performance and durability, watch this space!”
Rigs
Less is more when powering a windsup. Small sails or even sails with no or one or two battens are best suited for non planing fun and performance with 5.0 to 6.0 the popular size band. Mistral even have gone so far as to include a picture in their marketing of a vintage soft sail being used on their boards! Most of the brands now offer a modern soft sail standalone product or a keenly priced package which Tris Best has seen stealing customers away from buying kayaks as their summer beach toy when they see the “2 sports for the price of 1” rig and board deals on offer. Brian Johncey commented that windsup has seen him reduce his quiver right down to 2 boards and 3 sails, “My biggest sail is a 5.7, in light winds I mess around on the windsup, then once it’s windy, change boards to my short board. In the old days I carried a mountain of gear to the beach, now it’s just my sup, Kode 94, a 5.7, 5.0 and 4.5. It’s less hassle, allows me a light wind option and still keeps it fun!”
The coach’s view
Sam Ross is a highly experienced SUP athlete, instructor and windsurfing guru. An enthusiastic advocate for windsup, he explains why.
“Productive time afloat has got to be the main reason for windsups being a must have piece of kit. They allow you to make the most of light winds and with the absence of a longboard or dagger boarded board in most people’s quiver they actually offer some performance in light winds rather than just a platform. The usual light wind board of choice for many people would be a big freeride board; short wide and with no waterline length. Whilst all time on the water is usually of benefit, these boards don’t give the sailor great feedback on skills they are trying to improve. With its extra glide and usually less than excessive width, a windsup gives a great platform to experiment and try things whilst also giving the sailor an enjoyable time. The comfort and performance of the kit also allows windsurfers to dabble with new environments especially waves.
We usually venture into waves in high winds and small boards and for many sailors they may well be operating well outside their comfort zone – kit and conditions wise. A windsup allows the sailor to go out on something they feel comfortable on in conditions they might not feel comfortable in. In addiction there is more time to read and understand waves and therefore improving the decision making process later down the line. If it’s not windy then you can still get on the water, keeping your fitness up and getting more in tune with waves and conditions on the water.”
Retro good
With a wide range of product on market, we asked several brands for an example from their range and cover them in the following pages with a market overview. Some may view these as just another industry retro fad but is retro really that bad? Riders in other sports embrace the different feelings alternative vintage inspired products offer. Surfers swoon over classically styled single and twin fin boards, many keen cyclists are fixated with fixed gear bikes and the biggest market growth in skateboarding right now is replicas of the boards used in the 70’s. Windsups are the modern reinvention of our sport’s roots and give us a chance to reclaim the fun of light wind windsurfing we all had when we started. With windsups now included in almost every shop and brand’s demo fleet, grab a free trial this summer or better still bring family and friends along to try them too. As an introduction to windsurfing, you never know where that might lead!
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 135 litres
Length 8’3’’ / 253 cm
Width 29.5’’ / 75 cm
Weight 8.5 kgs or 8kgs for Carbon
THE LOW-DOWN
The SeaLion concept is a unique Wind Sup (Windsurf board cum SUP) concept putting you on the water on any day. With outstanding performance when light wind windsurfing and free riding or when stand up paddle surfing, the SeaLion will allow you to have great sessions in any condition – waves, flat water, strong or light winds – you just need one board to experience it all.
FEATURES
Our SeaLion concept is based on retro-fish surf boards, in order to mix speed and manoeuvrability even in light conditions. Along the years we have further refined the shapes for the SeaLion to ensure great performance when planing in strong winds, as well as when paddling in the surf. A wide board along its whole length, with moderate thickness makes it a stable and accessible board, without sacrificing radicalism in all conditions.
Features include:
Balanced volume distribution; Continuous and slightly hollowed V bottom; Thin rails at the tail; Fish Tail; Evolving array of graphic colours to choose from; Carbon version available with extra reinforcement and lighter weight.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SEALION
SeaLion XL – 9’0 – 150 litres: For larger riders or for those who are looking for more ease of use and accessibility when paddling or sailing. It also offers the option to fit a large fin as a centre board, thanks to the power box located at the board’s centre. The summer board full EVA deck version is outstanding for families and centres.
SeaLion 8’3 – 135 litres: Both accessible and radical. This is a good compromise between the XL and PRO.
SeaLion Pro 7’6 – 115 litres: For smaller riders and also for experts who are looking to maximise redirection ability and radicalism.
SeaLion Wings 7’6 – 109 litres: Our latest baby, ultra reactive and radical, you’ll be able to use it windsurfing or stand up paddling or with a foil.
FINAL WORD
The Sea Lion (Wind Sup) for me is the perfect solution to enjoy windsurfing way more. It’s a must have toy for both windsurfing and suping, perfect for those light wind days when it’s just impossible to use your short board, the Sea Lion does beyond the job by putting a huge smile on your face especially when you go sailing with some friends! It turns just like any well shaped short board, so you can attack the wave however you want, what I love most about it is that it’s strapless which for me helps to improve my wave skills, balance and gives unlimited learning potential – Diony Guadagnino.
CONTACT
Kai Sports Ltd • +44 (0)2380 840 777 • info@kaisports.co.uk
Price £999 • Web www.fanatic.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 290 litres
Length 10’4’’ / 315 cm
Width 33.5” / 85.1 cm
Thickness 6” / 15 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted) 10.5 kgs
THE LOW-DOWN
Lighter and tougher than traditional boards, the Viper Air is the ideal watersports toy. Pure fun for the whole family, schools and clubs. Windsurf enthusiasts and SUP lovers are equally stoked about the diversity the Viper Air has to offer. With years of experience in building the best entry level windsurf boards; we made sure that the Viper Air is spiced with similar characteristics; optimum glide, stable platform, great turning potential and all round manoeuvrability. These classic traits are rounded off with our high quality Double Layer Technology for optimum stiffness and light, hassle free handling.
FEATURES
Without a doubt the most desirable inflatable WindSUP ever, it is lighter and tougher than the traditional boards. Safe, straight forward and utterly sensational, features include:
• High Quality Double Layer Technology with top materials and manufacturing
• Comfortable and grippy footpad, towing eyelets and comfy carrying handle
• Deck net to attach luggage
• Mastfoot insert for windsurfing option
• Two removable fins (rear & centre) make it easy to switch from Windsurfing to SUP and adjust the Viper Air to your needs.
• For super easy transportation, we’ve packed the Viper Air in our premium Wheely Backpack with padded straps, belly belt and compartments to have all the accessories in place, including our new ergonomic Fanatic Double Action Pump.
FINAL WORD
The Viper Air is an Inflatable Windsurf board which is also perfect for SUP. Thanks to the new parallel outline the board sails and paddles really well in a straight line. The new model is longer compared to 2015 but the same width. It offers 2 fin options so beginners can optionally use a centre fin (also good for SUP beginners for tracking help). Due to the heavy duty construction, the board is stiff and durable and offers lots of volume for maximum stability and water flow. Perfect for family fun! – Daniel Aeberli (Product Manager).
CONTACT
www.k-66.com • +44 (0)1903 368 253 • info@k-66.com
Price £699 • Web www.jp-australia.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 330 litres
Length 335 cm
Width 87 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted) 8.5 kg
THE LOW-DOWN
The 11‘0“x34“ is a new size that will suit most people getting into stand-up paddling and windsurfing due to the added width for stability and length for directional glide. The integrated mast plug makes attaching the rig super easy without having anything big left on the board and the additional centre fin gives you all the upwind performance and directional stability you need.
FEATURES
The LE stands for “Light Edition” – Light weight, Light design and Light on your pocket! The drop-stich material itself is thinner than our standard JP ‘DOUBLE LAYER’ construction. Therefore the boards are lighter, yet they retain a very similar stiffness to the standard JP construction inflatables. This has been achieved with a special lamination bond during the material production. The new material that we use for LE boards is very unique and not to be compared with other “single skin” inflatables on the market which are often not 100% airtight and are much softer than a standard construction board. The advantages of the LE construction include the fact that the boards are almost half the weight of some of the competition boards in the same size, they can be rolled tightly and therefore take up almost half the space of some of the competition boards. This led us to developing a more compact bag. To keep the boards light on your pocket we opted for a minimalist design in white color. We supply the boards with a high pressure single-stroke pump and they come in a single fin option (the Windsurf option comes with an extra centre fin and box). The fin-box is an all new US-box compatible system! and suits short base US box fins. Unlike most fins for inflatable boards, these new fins are foiled.
FINAL WORD
Windsurfing Inflatable SUPs is a great way of getting either yourself back into windsurfing or sharing our great sport with friends or family without breaking the bank or the issue of storage. You are getting 2 sports for the price of 1!! – Andy Chambers.
CONTACT
www.agenteight.co.uk • +44 (0)1202 620 299 • info@agenteight.co.uk
Price £1399 •
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 190 litres
Length 10’4’’ / 315 cm
Width 33’’ /83.8 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted): N/A kg
THE LOW-DOWN
The idea for the Glide was to create something easy, stable, and fast to paddle, yet have a shining spark in its manoeuvrability. The biggest asset and capital of our brand is not its rocker stick archive or its CNC machine, or its carbon weaves. The biggest difference that sets Quatro apart is made by the people creating and riding our products, which coincidentally are one and the same people. The Glide also comes in 8’6’’, 8’8’’ and 8’10’’ sizes.
FEATURES
This board comes with solid rockers and full outlines, giving it a completely different level of stability and comfort, greatly enhanced by our new Integrated Stability Deck ISD, which serves as an ergonomic stance platform. ISD works slightly against the convex deck dome, offering a more solid stance. The nose rocker has a lower entry for ease of paddling and a very constant glide, hence the name. The bottom transitions from a single to double to v for an agile and maneuverable board. The board comes with a set of perfectly corresponding FCS fin models and sizes to complement its superior shape and a custom tailored single density pad, giving you cushion under your heels and perfect grip throughout and has the option to attach a windsurf rig.
FINAL WORD
To me the Glide is the go to board for cruising and small waves. This is the SUP that my girlfriend and I grab and go to the South Side, throw our dog on board and ride the fun waves. – Keith Taboul.
CONTACT
www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk • info@zerogravitydistribution.co.uk
+44 (0)1924 445 594
Price £745 • Web www.redpaddleco.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted): 296 litres
Length 10’8” / 325 cm
Width 34” / 86 cm
Thickness 4.7’’
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted): 12.9 kgs
THE LOW-DOWN
Inflatable SUP’s are becoming more and more popular because of their versatility, practicality and durability. With the 10’8” Windsup, you get another dimension on top of the usual benefits with the ability to screw a windsurf sail onto the deck and the board comes with a US fin box at the back, to assist with tracking. The combination of overall width plus the wide tail creates an unbelievably stable platform. This makes it the perfect board in our range for a windsurf version for those that want to have their first goes at windsurfing. As a regular SUP it still has fantastic glide and stability which is perfect for families, larger riders or teaching new people to get into the sport.
FEATURES
At Red Paddle Co we are obsessive about quality. Our boards are made of the most innovative materials and we use pioneering manufacturing techniques to ensure you have an authentic paddle boarding experience. Our Tec Air construction is not a product, it’s a process. We looked at how we built boards, and by focusing in on the key areas of the production process, we have been able to refine each process to make the very best boards. All Red Paddle Co boards are built using our Tec Air specification to ensure the best possible build quality. Our strength comes from the inside. The liberating thing about an inflatable windsup is how easy you can take it everywhere with you. Once at the beach with the world’s best pump you will have your board inflated in half the time and half the effort than any of our competition! Just one inflation is all you need to understand the progress that we’ve made with our new High Pressure (HP) pump. Inflating a board over 15psi is now much, much easier. The board also comes with the best back pack as standard making getting to the beach easier than ever!
FINAL WORD
“I miss the days of being an instructor and playing around in light winds. The main reason I don’t do it more back in the UK is because of the justification of purchasing a heavy floaty windsurf board that in reality I wouldn’t use very much. But having the 10’8’’ Ride windsup is a lot more of an attractive purchase. I have a board that is easy to transport and store. It is a brilliant board for my girlfriend to paddle or to teach a friend on. It’s a lot easier for me to take down to the beach with a group of friends to put a rig on and go for a cruise around the bay or practice some light wind freestyle on. The board has 296 liters of volume, it gives you a great feeling of stability but doesn’t feel like you are windsurfing a huge weighty beginner board. It cruises around effortlessly, turns easily and is a pleasure to windsurf.” – Jamie Harman – Red Paddle Co.
CONTACT
Red Paddle • +44 (0)1803 712 140 • info@redpaddleco.com
Price £740 • Web www.robertoriccidesigns.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 160 litres
Length 10’2”
Width 32 inches
Weight N/A
THE LOW-DOWN
One board that does it all, ok, so it comes in three sizes, just pick your size, 9’8”, 10’2” or 10’4” and you’re set for whatever the weather throws at you no matter what your level. While the AirSUP is the perfect playmate for all the family it’s more than a summer toy, throw it a challenge and it’ll step up to the plate, no matter if it’s your first time SUPing a wave or setting out on a windsurfing adventure, the AirSUP Convertible Plus will take you all the way.
FEATURES
The new inflatable SUP board program is equipped with a windsurfing mast attachment and an innovative removable centre and rear fin system that is stiff, strong and easily removable for packing or paddling. All our boards are made with our durable, stiff and light drop stitch construction. The boards can be used both as a SUP board or as a special inflatable windsurf board. Used in combination with the new SUP Sail and rig, each CONV PLUS+ model is now the perfect choice to discover watersports with the whole family.
The AIRSUP 9’8” CONV PLUS is the perfect small/mid size board, good to ride waves as a SUP, and enjoy learning how to windsurf. Planing on this board and jibing is a pure thrill. Very manoeuvrable, quick to plane and lightweight!
The AIRSUP 10’2” CONV PLUS is the central size of the range with which we have started our Inflatable Boards collection. It’s the one-for-all board that will introduce anyone straight to any watersport in the blink of an eye.
The AIRSUP 10’4” CONV PLUS is the most appropriate type of SUP board to also learn how to windsurf. With its 34” of width, it makes it super easy for anyone to step on, paddle or uphaul a sail. It’s the most popular size for families who wish to find a board to satisfy everyone. Also available with a 6” thick profile, to enhance stiffness for heavy weights, it’s an easier board to paddle or windsurf, thanks to its increased floatation.
FINAL WORD
Don’t often do what if, but having been the proud owner of the first Windsurfer in the UK, I wonder what we were doing. While many of us battled through the difficult years, Windsup’s are the answer for anyone who says, “I tried windsurfing once”. The stability and multi functional use of the windsup opens the world of windsurfing to everyone, adding the latest AirSUP technology into the mix affords windsurfing a durability and convenience of travel never seen before. If I could go back, I’d be taking an AirSUP Convertible with me to double or quadruple my time on the water – Dave White.
CONTACT
Dave White • +44 (0) 1206 890 814 • RRD@whiteboarders.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 238 litres
Length 373 cm
Width 75.0 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted) 14.3 kg (Electric) & 14.1kg (ASAP)
THE LOW-DOWN
Surf the local break, cruise the lagoons with the kids, teach them to windsurf or sail out into the open ocean. Essentially, Starboard’s WindSUPs utilize the same shape and fittings as their SUP counterparts but add a mast track to attach a sail and a retractable dagger board in the Electric models or centre fin in the ASAP models, to keep the board upwind. WindSUP 12’2” x 30” Freeride (planing) brings back the authentic Windsurfer with a unique planing glide, it absorbs the chop thanks to the deep-vee double concave nose, and performs as a fast all-round racer as a stand-alone SUP board. Hop on and travel back in time!
FEATURES
As the wind increases, the board accelerates naturally and gets planing completely smoothly without ‘energy hump’. The rider naturally moves him or herself into a planing body position. The special distance between the mast insert and the tuttle box and their position relative to the geometry and centre of gravity of the board allows the Freeride to track upwind and glide beautifully in light non-planing winds. The tuttle finbox option is recommended for the innovative glide-planing experience. It’s the easiest board to get planing on, with no extra skill required and a lighter board weight. Recommended also as a cross-sell for paddleboarders. The daggerboard option is aimed at windsurfers preferably and is recommended for easier handling off the water and storage.
• Traditional soft rails up front with sharper rails in the midsection for planing release
• Daggerboard option or tuttle fin box – ‘Planing’ option available
• Square tail for planning release
The WindSUP Freeride is aimed at everyone looking for a very fun toy for light wind conditions. It’s for anyone looking to rediscover windsurfing the way it was back in the day, with a performing board that remains accessible and that provides good sensations and an overall nice feeling.
FINAL WORD
The WindSUP 12’2” Freeride is the waterman’s board, great for paddling on flat water, open oceans and for windsurfing. It’s especially as a windsurfer that the board becomes the most fun, gliding fast and accelerating on to a plane seamlessly. Because of the board’s forward fin position, it handles small-sail glides with beginners all the way to fully powered planing sessions without the need for a daggerboard. It’s a true family board, for all conditions from zero wind to 20 knots. We also package it as the Waterman Package, complete with a WindSUP sail and paddle, for a complete Back to the Future experience – Tiesda You.
CONTACT
Tushingham Sails Ltd • +44 (0) 1803 712140 • info@tushingham.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted): 320 litres
Length: 11’0’’
Width: 34 inches
Thickness: 6 inches
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted): N/A kgs
THE LOW-DOWN
You can now transform your inflatable SUP into a perfect windsurfing beginner’s board with the FLOW windSUP option! The FLOW windSUP’s come with a two fin option for the user to transform their board from a regular iSUP by adding an additional centre fin for windsurfing. The new FLOW’s also include a US Fin Box system; this popular system gives many options for fin sizing and is much stronger than regular fin boxes. Our highly durable and versatile collection of iSUP and windSUP’s are ideal for beginner SUPers and Windsurfers.
FEATURES
The completely new FLOW range is our multipurpose all round range of boards that come in 3 different sizes (10’4’’, 11’0’’ and 12’6’’) and are suited to a tight budget.
Features include:
• 2x fin option for rear and centre fin windsurf option
• Secure ‘lock in’ inflation valve
• Slide in and lock fin technology
• Double layered rails to maximise stiffness
• EVA pad on deck
• Soft handle for convenient board carrying
• Heavy duty leash attachment on nose and tail
• Tall high pressure pump designed for ease of use
• Comfortable heavy duty backpack with pockets for extra storage options
• Easy to use repair set
• On deck rope storage system
FINAL WORD
I love the total idea of the windsup; it can suit the whole family for summer beach fun, but at the same time can be used for more serious training as a sup. It’s super easy to put together and take apart. You can put it in your car along with the rig pack and off you go. I think everyone can use it for something and progress from there. The complete rig and board packages are the best buys of the season!!! – Ross Williams.
CONTACT
Ross Williams Windsurfing • rossgbr83@mac.com • 07583 314 276
The post WINDSUP BUYER’S GUIDE 2015 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Photo Martin Schoppler & Karel Tyc
Wave Selection
One of the key points in moderate surf is finding the best set waves to ride and then adding the skill of tacking or gybing on to these waves, as on smaller days you never know when another good wave will come. If you are looking for a good wave to ride then these will often come in sets and they will have 2 – 3 waves in the set and they will be defined from quite a distance away and look longer and steeper. On the way back in you will either have turned onto a wave / swell that you have predicted may turn into something bigger and better or you will be sailing upwind looking for a swell that is forming up. As you get better you may even stop to wait for a wave outside the break! Progressing as a wavesailor is about a change in mindset – looking for waves to ride and not just blasting straight back in, seek and ye shall find. On smaller days you may have to go in and out 2-3 times before you find a decent wave to ride (and/or jump), so one of the best tips I can give you is to go through what I call the ‘stunt zone’ as many times as possible and with your eyes scanning for opportunities to, well, do stunts! What do I actually mean by this? I am saying do short reaches and again, try really hard not to blast for miles out to sea, looking for the shipping lanes.
In summary your targets are:
• Keep an eye out for good waves and get better at predicting whether they will peak up.
• Tack or gybe onto good waves, even if you are only just past the break or maybe even only half way out.
• Do short, fast reaches, think ‘high tempo’
• Remember to sail where the action is, looking up and downwind to assess for the best peaks and take the tide into consideration.
“ Progressing as a wavesailor is about a change in mindset – looking for waves to ride and not just blasting straight back in ’’
Riding: Backside and Frontside
On these small wave, side to side onshore sessions, there are often opportunities to waveride both upwind and downwind, called backside and frontside respectively. Now before you go charging off trying to ride these waves, your first bit of strategy is to actually enjoy being on them unhooked and find where the energy is and then look up and down the wave to see which part is breaking better, like jumping, you are looking for the best bits of the wave to use to have fun on. In these small wave sessions you may be on a good wave, but actually the best part of it may be way upwind or downwind so you have to be very observant and get yourself to the peak. These waves will also bend slightly, either towards or away from you, and so you will have to mix up both back and frontside turns so let’s look at these next.
Backside
Here are some basic tips to ride backside upwind.
• For the first few waves just look to work with the wave changing the boards direction through heel and toe pressure heading upwind, whilst unhooked.
• Now start at the top of the wave and drop down it and carve upwind on your heels to initiate your ‘bottom turn’ in order to get back up the wave.
• As you carve, move rig back and body forward to keep speed.
• Upon carving back up the wave and way before you reach the top, change the carving pressure to your toes in order to perform your top turn and come back down the wave.|
• Look upwind to carve upwind and then look down wind and down wave to carve back down the wave.
• As you progress aim to carve the board harder at the bottom to get back up the wave so you can hit a steeper, more throwing part of it.
• To really smash the wave, you have to fall over hard on your toeside and almost backwind the rig as you really turn your head to redirect you.
• Jedi tip: as you improve, look to get a backside hit which helps you redirect the board to then get frontside. Let the wave help you and work with its power and flow.
“ One of the key points in moderate surf is finding the best set waves to ride ’’
Frontside
Riding downwind or down the line is a bit more challenging than backside riding and it can be described as gybing off the wind with both feet in the straps and then turning back upwind, all whilst on, or in proximity to the breaking wave. Gybing skills come to the fore here and how you gybe is definitely how you waveride, so look to ensure you are competent and working hard at your step gybes.
• Essentially you are turning the board again with your toes and heels and this time you begin on your toeside and then carve on your heelside to turn back upwind and drop back down the wave. Your timing will improve, just go with it.
• Start at the top of the wave and drop down it and carve downwind by getting the rig forward and carving hard off your toes, really bending your ankles. Your hand slides WAY down the boom just like a gybe.
• In order to get back up the wave you have to open the sail and get more weight on your carving back foot as you swing your hips to the inside of the turn.
• Keep the carving pressure up and aim to get up the wave to a steep section and then turn your head and bring your hands back together as you transfer the weight to your heels to turn back upwind.
• Jedi tip: if you want to turn tight and vertical, then throw the rig forward and get it open as you get your hips down and arse back and to the inside, this will allow you to carve more on the back foot and the rigs forward position will keep the board flat
The frontside riding tips above are for more side shore winds. I will now touch upon some brief tips for more challenging, cross on, frontside wave riding:
• Look to use an upwind peak to bank off and really throw the sail more open to keep the wind in it.
• If you have a steeper peak then hit it and use its energy. Getting back and high on the wave will give you the position to drop down it, gain speed and make a better frontside turn.
• If the upwind peak is quite shallow, then be more subtle in redirecting frontside and as you drop down the wave, get that rig forward and relatively open.
• For the top turn, ensure you get the rig forward and away from you so as not to oversheet the sail. This is all made easier by getting your back hand back up the boom and really turning your head to look back upwind good and early.
• Jedi tip: go hit the section. You will either get a great hit/turn or you will learn that you need to go earlier or later, or get your weight more forward. Charge, carve, hit, repeat!
Kit:
Generous straps and long lines as ever. A big enough board and sail to get you going on the inside. Rig for the action zone not for out the back!
RRD boards, wetsuits, softwear, Ezzy sails and Pro Sport Sunblock sponsor Jem Hall. Get him live and direct on one of his highly acclaimed coaching holidays, check out his site www.jemhall.com for details. You can also follow him on twitter / Facebook and Instagram
The post JEM HALL MOVING ON UP – WORKING THE WAVES appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
PRESS RELEASE:
RRD introduces the new move collection. Our premimum line of move orientated sails to cover every need for those who want to push their limits. With a new focus on weight reduction, together with enhanced performance across the line the new collection is the best we have ever had. 5 sails to cover all your needs:
Vogue Pro MK7- Vogue HD MK7 specs
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The post RRD NEW MOVE 2016 SAIL COLLECTION appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Photo Martin Schoppler & Karel Tyc
Wave Selection
One of the key points in moderate surf is finding the best set waves to ride and then adding the skill of tacking or gybing on to these waves, as on smaller days you never know when another good wave will come. If you are looking for a good wave to ride then these will often come in sets and they will have 2 – 3 waves in the set and they will be defined from quite a distance away and look longer and steeper. On the way back in you will either have turned onto a wave / swell that you have predicted may turn into something bigger and better or you will be sailing upwind looking for a swell that is forming up. As you get better you may even stop to wait for a wave outside the break! Progressing as a wavesailor is about a change in mindset – looking for waves to ride and not just blasting straight back in, seek and ye shall find. On smaller days you may have to go in and out 2-3 times before you find a decent wave to ride (and/or jump), so one of the best tips I can give you is to go through what I call the ‘stunt zone’ as many times as possible and with your eyes scanning for opportunities to, well, do stunts! What do I actually mean by this? I am saying do short reaches and again, try really hard not to blast for miles out to sea, looking for the shipping lanes.
In summary your targets are:
• Keep an eye out for good waves and get better at predicting whether they will peak up.
• Tack or gybe onto good waves, even if you are only just past the break or maybe even only half way out.
• Do short, fast reaches, think ‘high tempo’
• Remember to sail where the action is, looking up and downwind to assess for the best peaks and take the tide into consideration.
“ Progressing as a wavesailor is about a change in mindset – looking for waves to ride and not just blasting straight back in ’’
Riding: Backside and Frontside
On these small wave, side to side onshore sessions, there are often opportunities to waveride both upwind and downwind, called backside and frontside respectively. Now before you go charging off trying to ride these waves, your first bit of strategy is to actually enjoy being on them unhooked and find where the energy is and then look up and down the wave to see which part is breaking better, like jumping, you are looking for the best bits of the wave to use to have fun on. In these small wave sessions you may be on a good wave, but actually the best part of it may be way upwind or downwind so you have to be very observant and get yourself to the peak. These waves will also bend slightly, either towards or away from you, and so you will have to mix up both back and frontside turns so let’s look at these next.
Backside
Here are some basic tips to ride backside upwind.
• For the first few waves just look to work with the wave changing the boards direction through heel and toe pressure heading upwind, whilst unhooked.
• Now start at the top of the wave and drop down it and carve upwind on your heels to initiate your ‘bottom turn’ in order to get back up the wave.
• As you carve, move rig back and body forward to keep speed.
• Upon carving back up the wave and way before you reach the top, change the carving pressure to your toes in order to perform your top turn and come back down the wave.|
• Look upwind to carve upwind and then look down wind and down wave to carve back down the wave.
• As you progress aim to carve the board harder at the bottom to get back up the wave so you can hit a steeper, more throwing part of it.
• To really smash the wave, you have to fall over hard on your toeside and almost backwind the rig as you really turn your head to redirect you.
• Jedi tip: as you improve, look to get a backside hit which helps you redirect the board to then get frontside. Let the wave help you and work with its power and flow.
“ One of the key points in moderate surf is finding the best set waves to ride ’’
Frontside
Riding downwind or down the line is a bit more challenging than backside riding and it can be described as gybing off the wind with both feet in the straps and then turning back upwind, all whilst on, or in proximity to the breaking wave. Gybing skills come to the fore here and how you gybe is definitely how you waveride, so look to ensure you are competent and working hard at your step gybes.
• Essentially you are turning the board again with your toes and heels and this time you begin on your toeside and then carve on your heelside to turn back upwind and drop back down the wave. Your timing will improve, just go with it.
• Start at the top of the wave and drop down it and carve downwind by getting the rig forward and carving hard off your toes, really bending your ankles. Your hand slides WAY down the boom just like a gybe.
• In order to get back up the wave you have to open the sail and get more weight on your carving back foot as you swing your hips to the inside of the turn.
• Keep the carving pressure up and aim to get up the wave to a steep section and then turn your head and bring your hands back together as you transfer the weight to your heels to turn back upwind.
• Jedi tip: if you want to turn tight and vertical, then throw the rig forward and get it open as you get your hips down and arse back and to the inside, this will allow you to carve more on the back foot and the rigs forward position will keep the board flat
The frontside riding tips above are for more side shore winds. I will now touch upon some brief tips for more challenging, cross on, frontside wave riding:
• Look to use an upwind peak to bank off and really throw the sail more open to keep the wind in it.
• If you have a steeper peak then hit it and use its energy. Getting back and high on the wave will give you the position to drop down it, gain speed and make a better frontside turn.
• If the upwind peak is quite shallow, then be more subtle in redirecting frontside and as you drop down the wave, get that rig forward and relatively open.
• For the top turn, ensure you get the rig forward and away from you so as not to oversheet the sail. This is all made easier by getting your back hand back up the boom and really turning your head to look back upwind good and early.
• Jedi tip: go hit the section. You will either get a great hit/turn or you will learn that you need to go earlier or later, or get your weight more forward. Charge, carve, hit, repeat!
Kit:
Generous straps and long lines as ever. A big enough board and sail to get you going on the inside. Rig for the action zone not for out the back!
RRD boards, wetsuits, softwear, Ezzy sails and Pro Sport Sunblock sponsor Jem Hall. Get him live and direct on one of his highly acclaimed coaching holidays, check out his site www.jemhall.com for details. You can also follow him on twitter / Facebook and Instagram
The post JEM HALL MOVING ON UP – WORKING THE WAVES appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Test Editor Tris Best // Second Tester Maurin Rottenwalter
Photos Nick George // Test Location OTC, PORTLAND
This test was originally published in the May 2015 issue.
Step forward a few years and a different trend began to emerge that threatened to eclipse the small freeride board. Riding off the success of their smaller siblings, the Freestyle-Wave or Crossover board ranges of most brands began to balloon, encroaching on (and in some casews pushing well beyond) the 100L threshold. They began to steal the limelight, offering enough performance and versatility to entice even the most ardent high-wind rider to expand their board quiver. Add into the melting pot the splinter-group freeride discipline of ‘freerace’ (offering applicable near slalom-like straight-line potential), and the poor ‘bog-standard’ small freeride option was looking like a bit of a lost soul. The default was for it to adopt an easy, forgiving and dependable role, which all too often translated into a safe user-friendly board for the progressing intermediate … but a dull uninspiring ride for the more experienced. The board class was becoming obsolete; a dinosaur of a past era.
So step forward again into 2015 and we can honestly say that testing this group of boards has been one of the more enlightening tests we’ve ever done. The small freeride contender is back … and it means business!
FINDINGS
“What has changed?” I hear you ask. Well, the simple answer rests with the now established ‘thin’ concept – making wide boards significantly thinner in depth, thereby thinning their rails and allowing more effective use of volume. It has taken a few years and several incarnations for the idea to really crystallize; some of these boards are already a brand’s second generation of the concept. But the results have seriously transformed this class of board, from being a compromised stepping-stone for the progressing intermediate, to one of the most incredibly diverse and appealing options available, capable of catering for nervous intermediates to the most demanding expert sailor. As with any ‘technical’ sport, windsurfing has seen its fair share of fads over the years, but thin and wide is a fantastic iteration in board design development that is undoubtedly here to stay. Embrace it and you won’t be disappointed.
SUMMARY
Reading through the test reports verdicts, you would be forgiven for coming to the quick conclusion that we loved all these boards. But the truth is that there are some simply stunning boards here, which most people reading this would get on fantastically well with. Having had some in the OTC centre since they were first released last autumn, we have had a chance to fully appreciate their massive range of appeal.
So much so that I know I’m going to be fighting one of our regular intermediate clients for use of one of these boards when we get the conditions for a planned downwinder out of the harbour. She loves the board so much we have actually nicknamed it after her! But change the straps, load it with a powerful sail and it has a killer mix of ability and ease that will make it a pleasure to use in challenging conditions. In fact, I’m actually more worried about wrestling the board off Lily than I am about doing battle with the conditions!
There is also a good deal of diversity amongst the boards on test here. The Atom IQ is unchanged for 2015 and remains an electrically fast and exciting board to use. It is also the JP’s second year, offering early planing and a lively engaging ride, skimming and skipping over the water rather than pushing through it. The Gecko meanwhile comes from the other end of the spectrum, with its pronounced vee parting the water like Moses and calming the wildest seas.
We then move onto the new Firemove 102 from RRD, which has an ease and tuneable practicality to make the most of any environment, even a small wave break. Last but by no means least, we have the two boards that have taken the ‘wide-thin’ concept to new heights – the Tabou Rocket-Wide and Simmer Freemove. They both offer a fun engaging ride, yet combine it with unwavering stability and poise that seems to defy logic.
THE OTC
This test was conducted at the Official Test Centre (OTC) at Portland, Dorset. The OTC centre is based within the grounds of the National Sailing Academy that hosted the Olympic sailing classes in 2012. With the best wind stats on the south coast, mirror flat water in prevailing winds and a safe launch area with excellent facilities, it provides the ideal test venue. Much of the kit is still on site, so why not go and try some of it for yourself?
THE LINE-UP
The post 105L WIDE FREERIDE BOARD TEST 2015 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
THE LOW-DOWN:
The second smallest of a four-board line-up, the 94 tested here comes in Ltd construction, with a 28cm MFC fin.
BRAND CLAIM:
“As the trend of wave boards shapes keeps going towards multifin hulls, we have preferred to retain a “classic”, reliable and fast planing single fin board line that would be suited for those who wish for a “do it all” type of short board. The new Freestyle Wave boards, Version 3, are four new simple, refined, retuned shapes that will cover the whole range of use of this program.”
PERFORMANCE:
The Freestyle Wave from RRD has had real heritage and following over the years, being the benchmark in the crossover category for many, so it would be interesting to see how the third generation of this range performs. Slightly longer yet narrower than its predecessor, the first thing we noticed as we stepped onto the 94 is that it certainly feels smaller underfoot than its volume would suggest. Whilst in the minority here with its single-fin set up, the outline and rocker of the 94 would dispel any thought of it possessing a straight-line freeride bias. Its rounded plan-shape, narrow rounded tail, domed deck, tapered rails and pointed nose boasting a good amount of rocker has ‘overgrown wave board’ written all over it! All this translates into a very interesting ride. Despite feeling smaller than the stated 94L, it can carry a 6.4m fine and accelerates progressively if not exploding from the blocks. It has a fantastically controlled nature, never bucking or doing anything untoward and was the first choice for the more nervous rider in harsh coastal chop/slop. The single fin provides the security to drive against up to a good speed and the fittings offering the comfort we’ve come to expect from the RRD stable. It’s in the carve though that the 94 really excels. Whether the water is flat or a bubbling cauldron of mush, the rails of the board bite so effortlessly it can nurse even the most timid rider round the arc. Enter with a more confident style and the board will grip as tight a path as you dare to prescribe. It is an ideal contender for those progressing into stronger winds and looking for the platform to explore diverse coastal conditions for the first time with confidence. Equally, it is a fantastic board for the more experienced sailor, seeking an impeccably mannered, dependable machine so that they can concentrate in pushing their own ability to the next level.
THE VERDICT
An eye-catching board that answers the ‘crossover’ riddle in a very different approach to others. With the looks of a large wave board, the third generation FSW from RRD oozes control, giving you the confidence that you can take it into any arena and be left beaming from ear to ear.
The post RRD FREESTYLE WAVE LTD 94L 2015 TEST REVIEW appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Words FINN MULLEN // Photo JOHN CARTER
Hard or soft
There’s no denying it, the market for windsups has blown up, pardon the pun! Inflatable sales now account for an extraordinary amount of sales in the market. Brian Johncey from Blue Chip Windsurfing, one of the longest running shops in the UK, estimates conservatively that inflatables make up at least 95% of his sales. For myself, there is still nothing that can replace the feeling of a hard board gliding under your feet, especially in waves where the finer rails offer greater transitional ability in the surf zone. But the performance gap is closing fast. Advances in construction technology are being driven by the SUP community as the demand for stiffer, finer railed inflatable boards is encouraging manufacturers to develop and innovate ever more refined products. The advantages of inflatables for storage and portability on cars, planes, bikes and backs are obvious !, but they also offer another benefit as our test editor and owner of the OTC, Tris Best, explains, “The relative early planing ability of inflatables often surprises people. They aren’t earlier than a conventional windsurf board but they plane easier than you might think due to the thick high volume rails, where they lose however is when the wind starts to pick up and conventional windsurf shapes soon take over. A hard, wave biased, windup typically has a lot of tail rocker for manoeuvrability in the waves which has little disadvantage at non planing speeds but does hinder planing performance”. There are limitations to inflatable’s performance, Peter Hart explains, “Of course you can take inflatables into the waves so long as you understand the limitations. Fine straight-lining on white water – not so good cracking off hollow lips.”
For the nervous beginner, kids, curious family and friends, there’s something inherent in the softer, tactile feel of an inflatable which seems to naturally instil a sense of comfort and curiosity. In addition inflatables have an attractive ability to withstand dings and shoreline abuse. In short, hard boards offer greater performance in the waves and will always be the preference for those who still like foam under their feet but inflatables are the popular choice and well worth a look and very far from being a gimmick in their modern guise.
Length
Brain Johncey of Blue Chip sees most sales in the 10 foot range, being a good compromise size. Go shorter if you want more surf performance, longer if you wish more flat water glide. In hard boards, for surf and flat water use I’ve always found 9’5’’ – 10’5’’ a go to size, big enough to still have glide onto a wave or paddling, yet not so long as to impair surf use. 9 foot boards start to swing the bias even greater into waves while still having just enough volume and tracking to make flat water paddling possible. Sub 8’5’’ you are definitely into the specialist wave use for most average weight people but don’t discount the genuine performance of these boards under paddle or sail, Starboard designer Scott McKercher or Fanatic’s ripper in chief, Victor Fernandez are just some of the pros that can regularly be seen making these boards look anything but a compromise on the wave face and a lot of fun in light winds in the right hands.
The market
UK Champion windsurfer and paddle boarder, John Hibbard, is a founder of one of the world’s largest SUP brands, Red Paddle Co. Having been in SUP at the very start of the sport, how has he seen the windsup market develop. “At first we were focussed very much on making the company a specialist SUP brand and keeping windsurfing a distinct sport but there is an obvious crossover which we have responded to with a windsup model. Paddle boarding when it’s windy isn’t fun and even novice paddle boarders are soon keen to explore windsurfing on their boards, so it has been a great backdoor to introduce people to windsurfing while gaining unexpected sales from windsurfers too”. Brian Johncey agrees, “We definitely see more paddle boarders taking up windsurfing, they are soon converted once they see how much fun they can have in light winds messing around with a sail. I don’t like the industry concocted term – ‘windsup’, to me that belittles windsurfing. If you put a sail on a board it’s windsurfing, simple as that. That said, I always recommend people to buy a board best suited to their paddling needs first”. Tris Best again sees an encouraging uptake in the market, “Windsup is a great summer sport and family board option. We see paddle boarders taking up the windsurf challenge and moving onto regular windsurf boards as they progress, anyway we can get people into windsurfing has got to be good”.
Advances in the market that Red Paddle co envisages are improving the upwind performance of the boards. John Hibbard explains, “Most advanced windsurfers won’t have a problem staying upwind with a windsup but for the beginner we are looking at methods to improve this. In Inflatables be it retractable daggerboards, centre fins or even tail fins you have to be conscious of the durability of any fittings under hull. Those are easy to repair on a hard board but not on inflatables which is why you need to make sure your board’s fittings are robust. Fixed centre fins help but can be prone to damage on groundings, retractable daggerboards while better can be expensive but we are developing a system which addresses cost, performance and durability, watch this space!”
Rigs
Less is more when powering a windsup. Small sails or even sails with no or one or two battens are best suited for non planing fun and performance with 5.0 to 6.0 the popular size band. Mistral even have gone so far as to include a picture in their marketing of a vintage soft sail being used on their boards! Most of the brands now offer a modern soft sail standalone product or a keenly priced package which Tris Best has seen stealing customers away from buying kayaks as their summer beach toy when they see the “2 sports for the price of 1” rig and board deals on offer. Brian Johncey commented that windsup has seen him reduce his quiver right down to 2 boards and 3 sails, “My biggest sail is a 5.7, in light winds I mess around on the windsup, then once it’s windy, change boards to my short board. In the old days I carried a mountain of gear to the beach, now it’s just my sup, Kode 94, a 5.7, 5.0 and 4.5. It’s less hassle, allows me a light wind option and still keeps it fun!”
The coach’s view
Sam Ross is a highly experienced SUP athlete, instructor and windsurfing guru. An enthusiastic advocate for windsup, he explains why.
“Productive time afloat has got to be the main reason for windsups being a must have piece of kit. They allow you to make the most of light winds and with the absence of a longboard or dagger boarded board in most people’s quiver they actually offer some performance in light winds rather than just a platform. The usual light wind board of choice for many people would be a big freeride board; short wide and with no waterline length. Whilst all time on the water is usually of benefit, these boards don’t give the sailor great feedback on skills they are trying to improve. With its extra glide and usually less than excessive width, a windsup gives a great platform to experiment and try things whilst also giving the sailor an enjoyable time. The comfort and performance of the kit also allows windsurfers to dabble with new environments especially waves.
We usually venture into waves in high winds and small boards and for many sailors they may well be operating well outside their comfort zone – kit and conditions wise. A windsup allows the sailor to go out on something they feel comfortable on in conditions they might not feel comfortable in. In addiction there is more time to read and understand waves and therefore improving the decision making process later down the line. If it’s not windy then you can still get on the water, keeping your fitness up and getting more in tune with waves and conditions on the water.”
Retro good
With a wide range of product on market, we asked several brands for an example from their range and cover them in the following pages with a market overview. Some may view these as just another industry retro fad but is retro really that bad? Riders in other sports embrace the different feelings alternative vintage inspired products offer. Surfers swoon over classically styled single and twin fin boards, many keen cyclists are fixated with fixed gear bikes and the biggest market growth in skateboarding right now is replicas of the boards used in the 70’s. Windsups are the modern reinvention of our sport’s roots and give us a chance to reclaim the fun of light wind windsurfing we all had when we started. With windsups now included in almost every shop and brand’s demo fleet, grab a free trial this summer or better still bring family and friends along to try them too. As an introduction to windsurfing, you never know where that might lead!
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 135 litres
Length 8’3’’ / 253 cm
Width 29.5’’ / 75 cm
Weight 8.5 kgs or 8kgs for Carbon
THE LOW-DOWN
The SeaLion concept is a unique Wind Sup (Windsurf board cum SUP) concept putting you on the water on any day. With outstanding performance when light wind windsurfing and free riding or when stand up paddle surfing, the SeaLion will allow you to have great sessions in any condition – waves, flat water, strong or light winds – you just need one board to experience it all.
FEATURES
Our SeaLion concept is based on retro-fish surf boards, in order to mix speed and manoeuvrability even in light conditions. Along the years we have further refined the shapes for the SeaLion to ensure great performance when planing in strong winds, as well as when paddling in the surf. A wide board along its whole length, with moderate thickness makes it a stable and accessible board, without sacrificing radicalism in all conditions.
Features include:
Balanced volume distribution; Continuous and slightly hollowed V bottom; Thin rails at the tail; Fish Tail; Evolving array of graphic colours to choose from; Carbon version available with extra reinforcement and lighter weight.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SEALION
SeaLion XL – 9’0 – 150 litres: For larger riders or for those who are looking for more ease of use and accessibility when paddling or sailing. It also offers the option to fit a large fin as a centre board, thanks to the power box located at the board’s centre. The summer board full EVA deck version is outstanding for families and centres.
SeaLion 8’3 – 135 litres: Both accessible and radical. This is a good compromise between the XL and PRO.
SeaLion Pro 7’6 – 115 litres: For smaller riders and also for experts who are looking to maximise redirection ability and radicalism.
SeaLion Wings 7’6 – 109 litres: Our latest baby, ultra reactive and radical, you’ll be able to use it windsurfing or stand up paddling or with a foil.
FINAL WORD
The Sea Lion (Wind Sup) for me is the perfect solution to enjoy windsurfing way more. It’s a must have toy for both windsurfing and suping, perfect for those light wind days when it’s just impossible to use your short board, the Sea Lion does beyond the job by putting a huge smile on your face especially when you go sailing with some friends! It turns just like any well shaped short board, so you can attack the wave however you want, what I love most about it is that it’s strapless which for me helps to improve my wave skills, balance and gives unlimited learning potential – Diony Guadagnino.
CONTACT
Kai Sports Ltd • +44 (0)2380 840 777 • info@kaisports.co.uk
Price £999 • Web www.fanatic.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 290 litres
Length 10’4’’ / 315 cm
Width 33.5” / 85.1 cm
Thickness 6” / 15 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted) 10.5 kgs
THE LOW-DOWN
Lighter and tougher than traditional boards, the Viper Air is the ideal watersports toy. Pure fun for the whole family, schools and clubs. Windsurf enthusiasts and SUP lovers are equally stoked about the diversity the Viper Air has to offer. With years of experience in building the best entry level windsurf boards; we made sure that the Viper Air is spiced with similar characteristics; optimum glide, stable platform, great turning potential and all round manoeuvrability. These classic traits are rounded off with our high quality Double Layer Technology for optimum stiffness and light, hassle free handling.
FEATURES
Without a doubt the most desirable inflatable WindSUP ever, it is lighter and tougher than the traditional boards. Safe, straight forward and utterly sensational, features include:
• High Quality Double Layer Technology with top materials and manufacturing
• Comfortable and grippy footpad, towing eyelets and comfy carrying handle
• Deck net to attach luggage
• Mastfoot insert for windsurfing option
• Two removable fins (rear & centre) make it easy to switch from Windsurfing to SUP and adjust the Viper Air to your needs.
• For super easy transportation, we’ve packed the Viper Air in our premium Wheely Backpack with padded straps, belly belt and compartments to have all the accessories in place, including our new ergonomic Fanatic Double Action Pump.
FINAL WORD
The Viper Air is an Inflatable Windsurf board which is also perfect for SUP. Thanks to the new parallel outline the board sails and paddles really well in a straight line. The new model is longer compared to 2015 but the same width. It offers 2 fin options so beginners can optionally use a centre fin (also good for SUP beginners for tracking help). Due to the heavy duty construction, the board is stiff and durable and offers lots of volume for maximum stability and water flow. Perfect for family fun! – Daniel Aeberli (Product Manager).
CONTACT
www.k-66.com • +44 (0)1903 368 253 • info@k-66.com
Price £699 • Web www.jp-australia.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 330 litres
Length 335 cm
Width 87 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted) 8.5 kg
THE LOW-DOWN
The 11‘0“x34“ is a new size that will suit most people getting into stand-up paddling and windsurfing due to the added width for stability and length for directional glide. The integrated mast plug makes attaching the rig super easy without having anything big left on the board and the additional centre fin gives you all the upwind performance and directional stability you need.
FEATURES
The LE stands for “Light Edition” – Light weight, Light design and Light on your pocket! The drop-stich material itself is thinner than our standard JP ‘DOUBLE LAYER’ construction. Therefore the boards are lighter, yet they retain a very similar stiffness to the standard JP construction inflatables. This has been achieved with a special lamination bond during the material production. The new material that we use for LE boards is very unique and not to be compared with other “single skin” inflatables on the market which are often not 100% airtight and are much softer than a standard construction board. The advantages of the LE construction include the fact that the boards are almost half the weight of some of the competition boards in the same size, they can be rolled tightly and therefore take up almost half the space of some of the competition boards. This led us to developing a more compact bag. To keep the boards light on your pocket we opted for a minimalist design in white color. We supply the boards with a high pressure single-stroke pump and they come in a single fin option (the Windsurf option comes with an extra centre fin and box). The fin-box is an all new US-box compatible system! and suits short base US box fins. Unlike most fins for inflatable boards, these new fins are foiled.
FINAL WORD
Windsurfing Inflatable SUPs is a great way of getting either yourself back into windsurfing or sharing our great sport with friends or family without breaking the bank or the issue of storage. You are getting 2 sports for the price of 1!! – Andy Chambers.
CONTACT
www.agenteight.co.uk • +44 (0)1202 620 299 • info@agenteight.co.uk
Price £1399 •
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 190 litres
Length 10’4’’ / 315 cm
Width 33’’ /83.8 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted): N/A kg
THE LOW-DOWN
The idea for the Glide was to create something easy, stable, and fast to paddle, yet have a shining spark in its manoeuvrability. The biggest asset and capital of our brand is not its rocker stick archive or its CNC machine, or its carbon weaves. The biggest difference that sets Quatro apart is made by the people creating and riding our products, which coincidentally are one and the same people. The Glide also comes in 8’6’’, 8’8’’ and 8’10’’ sizes.
FEATURES
This board comes with solid rockers and full outlines, giving it a completely different level of stability and comfort, greatly enhanced by our new Integrated Stability Deck ISD, which serves as an ergonomic stance platform. ISD works slightly against the convex deck dome, offering a more solid stance. The nose rocker has a lower entry for ease of paddling and a very constant glide, hence the name. The bottom transitions from a single to double to v for an agile and maneuverable board. The board comes with a set of perfectly corresponding FCS fin models and sizes to complement its superior shape and a custom tailored single density pad, giving you cushion under your heels and perfect grip throughout and has the option to attach a windsurf rig.
FINAL WORD
To me the Glide is the go to board for cruising and small waves. This is the SUP that my girlfriend and I grab and go to the South Side, throw our dog on board and ride the fun waves. – Keith Taboul.
CONTACT
www.zerogravitydistribution.co.uk • info@zerogravitydistribution.co.uk
+44 (0)1924 445 594
Price £745 • Web www.redpaddleco.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted): 296 litres
Length 10’8” / 325 cm
Width 34” / 86 cm
Thickness 4.7’’
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted): 12.9 kgs
THE LOW-DOWN
Inflatable SUP’s are becoming more and more popular because of their versatility, practicality and durability. With the 10’8” Windsup, you get another dimension on top of the usual benefits with the ability to screw a windsurf sail onto the deck and the board comes with a US fin box at the back, to assist with tracking. The combination of overall width plus the wide tail creates an unbelievably stable platform. This makes it the perfect board in our range for a windsurf version for those that want to have their first goes at windsurfing. As a regular SUP it still has fantastic glide and stability which is perfect for families, larger riders or teaching new people to get into the sport.
FEATURES
At Red Paddle Co we are obsessive about quality. Our boards are made of the most innovative materials and we use pioneering manufacturing techniques to ensure you have an authentic paddle boarding experience. Our Tec Air construction is not a product, it’s a process. We looked at how we built boards, and by focusing in on the key areas of the production process, we have been able to refine each process to make the very best boards. All Red Paddle Co boards are built using our Tec Air specification to ensure the best possible build quality. Our strength comes from the inside. The liberating thing about an inflatable windsup is how easy you can take it everywhere with you. Once at the beach with the world’s best pump you will have your board inflated in half the time and half the effort than any of our competition! Just one inflation is all you need to understand the progress that we’ve made with our new High Pressure (HP) pump. Inflating a board over 15psi is now much, much easier. The board also comes with the best back pack as standard making getting to the beach easier than ever!
FINAL WORD
“I miss the days of being an instructor and playing around in light winds. The main reason I don’t do it more back in the UK is because of the justification of purchasing a heavy floaty windsurf board that in reality I wouldn’t use very much. But having the 10’8’’ Ride windsup is a lot more of an attractive purchase. I have a board that is easy to transport and store. It is a brilliant board for my girlfriend to paddle or to teach a friend on. It’s a lot easier for me to take down to the beach with a group of friends to put a rig on and go for a cruise around the bay or practice some light wind freestyle on. The board has 296 liters of volume, it gives you a great feeling of stability but doesn’t feel like you are windsurfing a huge weighty beginner board. It cruises around effortlessly, turns easily and is a pleasure to windsurf.” – Jamie Harman – Red Paddle Co.
CONTACT
Red Paddle • +44 (0)1803 712 140 • info@redpaddleco.com
Price £740 • Web www.robertoriccidesigns.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 160 litres
Length 10’2”
Width 32 inches
Weight N/A
THE LOW-DOWN
One board that does it all, ok, so it comes in three sizes, just pick your size, 9’8”, 10’2” or 10’4” and you’re set for whatever the weather throws at you no matter what your level. While the AirSUP is the perfect playmate for all the family it’s more than a summer toy, throw it a challenge and it’ll step up to the plate, no matter if it’s your first time SUPing a wave or setting out on a windsurfing adventure, the AirSUP Convertible Plus will take you all the way.
FEATURES
The new inflatable SUP board program is equipped with a windsurfing mast attachment and an innovative removable centre and rear fin system that is stiff, strong and easily removable for packing or paddling. All our boards are made with our durable, stiff and light drop stitch construction. The boards can be used both as a SUP board or as a special inflatable windsurf board. Used in combination with the new SUP Sail and rig, each CONV PLUS+ model is now the perfect choice to discover watersports with the whole family.
The AIRSUP 9’8” CONV PLUS is the perfect small/mid size board, good to ride waves as a SUP, and enjoy learning how to windsurf. Planing on this board and jibing is a pure thrill. Very manoeuvrable, quick to plane and lightweight!
The AIRSUP 10’2” CONV PLUS is the central size of the range with which we have started our Inflatable Boards collection. It’s the one-for-all board that will introduce anyone straight to any watersport in the blink of an eye.
The AIRSUP 10’4” CONV PLUS is the most appropriate type of SUP board to also learn how to windsurf. With its 34” of width, it makes it super easy for anyone to step on, paddle or uphaul a sail. It’s the most popular size for families who wish to find a board to satisfy everyone. Also available with a 6” thick profile, to enhance stiffness for heavy weights, it’s an easier board to paddle or windsurf, thanks to its increased floatation.
FINAL WORD
Don’t often do what if, but having been the proud owner of the first Windsurfer in the UK, I wonder what we were doing. While many of us battled through the difficult years, Windsup’s are the answer for anyone who says, “I tried windsurfing once”. The stability and multi functional use of the windsup opens the world of windsurfing to everyone, adding the latest AirSUP technology into the mix affords windsurfing a durability and convenience of travel never seen before. If I could go back, I’d be taking an AirSUP Convertible with me to double or quadruple my time on the water – Dave White.
CONTACT
Dave White • +44 (0) 1206 890 814 • RRD@whiteboarders.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted) 238 litres
Length 373 cm
Width 75.0 cm
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted) 14.3 kg (Electric) & 14.1kg (ASAP)
THE LOW-DOWN
Surf the local break, cruise the lagoons with the kids, teach them to windsurf or sail out into the open ocean. Essentially, Starboard’s WindSUPs utilize the same shape and fittings as their SUP counterparts but add a mast track to attach a sail and a retractable dagger board in the Electric models or centre fin in the ASAP models, to keep the board upwind. WindSUP 12’2” x 30” Freeride (planing) brings back the authentic Windsurfer with a unique planing glide, it absorbs the chop thanks to the deep-vee double concave nose, and performs as a fast all-round racer as a stand-alone SUP board. Hop on and travel back in time!
FEATURES
As the wind increases, the board accelerates naturally and gets planing completely smoothly without ‘energy hump’. The rider naturally moves him or herself into a planing body position. The special distance between the mast insert and the tuttle box and their position relative to the geometry and centre of gravity of the board allows the Freeride to track upwind and glide beautifully in light non-planing winds. The tuttle finbox option is recommended for the innovative glide-planing experience. It’s the easiest board to get planing on, with no extra skill required and a lighter board weight. Recommended also as a cross-sell for paddleboarders. The daggerboard option is aimed at windsurfers preferably and is recommended for easier handling off the water and storage.
• Traditional soft rails up front with sharper rails in the midsection for planing release
• Daggerboard option or tuttle fin box – ‘Planing’ option available
• Square tail for planning release
The WindSUP Freeride is aimed at everyone looking for a very fun toy for light wind conditions. It’s for anyone looking to rediscover windsurfing the way it was back in the day, with a performing board that remains accessible and that provides good sensations and an overall nice feeling.
FINAL WORD
The WindSUP 12’2” Freeride is the waterman’s board, great for paddling on flat water, open oceans and for windsurfing. It’s especially as a windsurfer that the board becomes the most fun, gliding fast and accelerating on to a plane seamlessly. Because of the board’s forward fin position, it handles small-sail glides with beginners all the way to fully powered planing sessions without the need for a daggerboard. It’s a true family board, for all conditions from zero wind to 20 knots. We also package it as the Waterman Package, complete with a WindSUP sail and paddle, for a complete Back to the Future experience – Tiesda You.
CONTACT
Tushingham Sails Ltd • +44 (0) 1803 712140 • info@tushingham.com
VITAL STATS
Volume (Quoted): 320 litres
Length: 11’0’’
Width: 34 inches
Thickness: 6 inches
Weight (‘Naked’, Brand Quoted): N/A kgs
THE LOW-DOWN
You can now transform your inflatable SUP into a perfect windsurfing beginner’s board with the FLOW windSUP option! The FLOW windSUP’s come with a two fin option for the user to transform their board from a regular iSUP by adding an additional centre fin for windsurfing. The new FLOW’s also include a US Fin Box system; this popular system gives many options for fin sizing and is much stronger than regular fin boxes. Our highly durable and versatile collection of iSUP and windSUP’s are ideal for beginner SUPers and Windsurfers.
FEATURES
The completely new FLOW range is our multipurpose all round range of boards that come in 3 different sizes (10’4’’, 11’0’’ and 12’6’’) and are suited to a tight budget.
Features include:
• 2x fin option for rear and centre fin windsurf option
• Secure ‘lock in’ inflation valve
• Slide in and lock fin technology
• Double layered rails to maximise stiffness
• EVA pad on deck
• Soft handle for convenient board carrying
• Heavy duty leash attachment on nose and tail
• Tall high pressure pump designed for ease of use
• Comfortable heavy duty backpack with pockets for extra storage options
• Easy to use repair set
• On deck rope storage system
FINAL WORD
I love the total idea of the windsup; it can suit the whole family for summer beach fun, but at the same time can be used for more serious training as a sup. It’s super easy to put together and take apart. You can put it in your car along with the rig pack and off you go. I think everyone can use it for something and progress from there. The complete rig and board packages are the best buys of the season!!! – Ross Williams.
CONTACT
Ross Williams Windsurfing • rossgbr83@mac.com • 07583 314 276
The post WINDSUP BUYER’S GUIDE 2015 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Words &
Photos JOHN CARTER
(This feature originally appeared in the August 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)
JC: When we think windsurfing legends, Robby Naish carved his name in the history books in the 1980’s, Bjorn Dunkerbeck dominated the 90’s but surely since 2000 onwards Antoine Albeau is the undisputed legend of the current generation. Albeau started windsurfing on ‘l’île de Ré’ in France at the age of five and was taught by his father Jean-Marie, who was one of the first windsurfers in France. Even today Antoine helps run his father’s windsurfing school back at home, not too dissimilar to the relationship Bjorn has with his dad and their school in Gran Canaria. His first year on the world tour was 1994 and he brought home his first racing world title in 2004. Since then he has pretty much dominated PWA slalom racing and even now at the age of forty three, his rivals still fail to crack his code and edge him from the top of the rankings. So what is Albeau’s secret? There are guys who are taller than him, there are guys that have access to the same equipment and guys that can match him in the light winds of Costa Brava or when it is nuking in Fuerteventura. My assignment during Costa Brava was to observe Antoine at work and monitor the way he goes about his business each day. Each evening I chose an opportune moment to quiz him on what he had been up to and try and build a picture of one of the true icons of our sport.
AA: “I came to Costa Brava two days before the event start. Normally I would come earlier but I have been busy helping my father set up our windsurfing school back at home in France. I drove six hours to get here from ‘l’île de Ré’, so it is one of the easiest events for me. I really like to come here. I load the van, leave in the morning and am at the camp site by the afternoon. It is super easy. It is quick for me to come and I managed to train with one day of light wind when I arrived, which is kind of how the conditions normally are in Costa Brava.
I like to arrive a few days before an event, so I am not tired and I have time to organize everything. I bring all my equipment in double. That means twelve sails and six boards so everything has a backup. That is enough! I am hoping that we are not going to race in super light winds; that is my biggest fear. There are some very strong guys when it is marginal, like Steve Allen, Arnon Dagan and Pierre Mortefon. You never know what you will get in Costa Brava, we will see! The first day of an event I try and stay calm but there is always some stress, everybody has stress otherwise you are not normal! Today we have registration and first possible start at 2pm, so there is quite a bit to do. They say this will be a no wind day but I am not taking any chances. I have rigged all my sails, registered, put all the event stickers on and then I am ready. I feel ready for the event. Normally I would have done some training in the gym before an event but I have been so busy at home working with my dad so I was a bit tired. I did not sail a lot prior to the event but I feel ready, I had a couple of good night’s sleep”
JC: On the second afternoon we had light wind racing during the afternoon; when I say ‘light’ we are talking wind dipping right down to the minimum 7 knots required for official racing, Antoine’s biggest fear! At the end of the day he stepped away with third place in the only completed final with team mate Arnon Dagan walking away with the first victory of the week. I was kind of expecting Antoine to be disappointed with this result but far from it, when I caught up with him while he was packing his equipment he was grinning like a Cheshire cat!
AA: “We were not expecting so much wind today. The race crew were on it early and pushed hard for the start. They were right because the wind was super light but enough to race. After the first half an hour it picked up, there was plenty of wind. I was not fully powered on my 9.6m but it was enough. The final had decent wind so nobody could complain. I am super happy to start with a third. In these conditions it is very easy to go out in an early heat. There are a lot of fast sailors in light wind. We are using such big sails that if somebody covers you at the start, you can get really bad wind. When it is light it can be tough to recover, it is hard even to make a quick gybe with these big sails. I was not pushing too much and still managed to make the final. Third was a good place considering the conditions.
I want to make the finals at every event, that is my goal. I try to do my best for sure in the final but at the end I need to be consistent for the year. I can’t afford to make mistakes, so I have to wait for the right time to push. I don’t want to push too much, for sure it can go well but it can go bad too. I think we will get some more of these conditions so I just try and stay in the game.
In the evening we have a physio here with the French federation so we get a massage as well. We have a trainer here, they film all the starts and some of the action so we also have a debriefing so we can check it out and see what to do and what not to do. No beer for me in the evenings. I will not drink during an event, I am not really a drinker anyways! We have dinner here at the camping site, everybody eats there so it is quite nice and a good atmosphere.
I am sponsored by Orange in France and it is in my contract to put up posts on Facebook and Twitter. I think it is useful to do anyways, you get a lot of people following what you do and it is all good promotion. I have a lot of kids following me and hopefully that will inspire some new people into the sport. They love it; they like to see what we do at events and in our free time. It is good advertising for our windsurfing school too at home in France. I was at the French Tennis last week in Paris; it is quite cool for people to see this sort of thing”
JC: Today was a lay day. A‘no winder’ as we call it, so I kind of left Antoine alone as he was busy filming with a French TV crew. Half of the game at events is to be ready to race at a moment’s notice so for the likes of Albeau, it is a day on standby, waiting around until the final announcement.
AA: “We were hoping for wind today but the sky was super white and kind of hazy. The sea breeze did not come. Our French guy who knows the weather forecast predicted this and he was right. Now we wait. I still prepared my equipment and took it all down to the beach; you have to be ready and not running around at the last minute if it picks up.
I have been working with a TV crew from France who are here to do a profile on me. They are a big national channel. I went out on a bike tour with Cyril, just for an hour to warm up a little bit. Tonight I might go again. The first no wind day I am not bored, there is plenty to do. If tomorrow is the same maybe I might play tennis or something. I have my girlfriend here also, we travel most places together, she helps me a lot. The travelling is fun. Sometimes I don’t like it when I need to leave home but in the end it is good to go and see places. If I stay too long at home I get a little bit bored. After this event I actually stay here and around this area to test with NeilPryde. We normally do this every year. This is good because it is going to be the sails I will be riding next season. I like to do this and I will be working with Arnon Dagan again. After that I go to Lake Garda, which is a promotional trip for RRD. It is a beautiful place, I really like it there. It is amazing for windsurfing and the food is awesome too.
I actually think I take the job too seriously compared to some guys for sure. I think I do too much! I even do extra things for my sponsors that they don’t ask for. Later in the year I will go to Namibia for one month to try and break the speed record. Nobody asked me to do this and nobody is paying me to do this. I just do it for me. When I do it for me I still use NeilPryde sails and the RRD boards!”
JC: Clouds and rain cut out the normal thermal effect of the wind so it was another day lingering around in the camp site at Costa Brava. Today I thought I’d probe a bit deeper and see if Antoine would reveal any of his secrets as to why he has dominated racing for the past decade…
AA: “Today was stormy with rain. We had some waves so I went surfing a little bit. I always try to find some stuff to do. We just have the weekend to go now and they are not calling for much wind.
In the light wind days there are a lot of people who can win the slalom. The level all round is very high right now. Compared to five years ago the whole level of the fleet around me has improved. The pressure is just the same. I am always fighting for first place. In terms of pressure it is not so much for me these days because I have so many victories under my belt. It is always better to be in first place but consistency is more important. Second place is fine, I don’t mind coming to an event like Costa Brava and finishing second for instance.
I don’t want to make a mistake like I did in Turkmenistan last year again.
It can be bad luck and can happen. If you look at all the sports like Moto GP or Formula One it is like this. Most events are not all the same winner. At the end there is one winner and it is usually the same guy.
You just have to be up there on the podium, not necessarily winning. I think my strength is that I am good in all conditions. There is no secret, if there was a secret to winning somebody will find it and win. There are a lot of guys taller than me. Everybody is strong and they all train through the winter. You don’t have to be super tall, you have to be strong, fast, good in the start, good in the gybe and have the right mind. Arnon blew it in the second round here with that over early in the first round but this happened to me many times too. This is bad luck but it happens, it is part of the game. When this happens it can really ruin the day. It lingers on your mind. Going out early in one of the first rounds means you know you have to fight through a few more eliminations without mistakes before the discard. I don’t wake up in the night fretting about it but when I go to sleep I often lie there thinking about any bad mistakes; it is not a good feeling. Everybody is like this!
Without Dunkerbeck around it is no different for me. His last few years he was not super competitive it was only in 2011 that he beat me and won the title but those years were good battles. Now we have Pierre Mortefon, he is very consistent, Cyril is fast and could have won last year, Julien Quentel, Matteo, Ben Van Der Steen, Arnon and Ross Williams, there are a lot of guys now!”
“ There is no secret, if there was a secret to winning somebody will find it and win ”
JC: It was another frustrating day at the office in Costa Brava, with fickle winds never materializing for any official racing. Today I decided to probe Antoine about what happens on the race course these days, is it a fair game out there or do a few of the guys bend the rules or even cheat!
AA “I was expecting more wind again today but even though it is sunny there are super high clouds. I don’t think the sea breeze will pick up because of this. I don’t know if we will even do a heat today. We tried to start a few times but it is really different because it is easy to make mistakes or do an over early when it is on the edge. You need to be in the front in this kind of light wind and that means having a good start. It is part of the game so it is ok. I am in the first heat, I am ready. It is kind of the worst heat to be in on a day like this because we are on standby mode for much of the day so I have to be on the beach ready to race. We tried one heat but it was cancelled while I was leading. I think a few guys were fake pumping at the back of the pack; some of the guys are pro at doing this! If it is super light and you are on the edge and you are not in the top four, a lot of guys try to stick at the gybe and make fake pumping. If two or three guys do this maybe the race director will call it off. I normally don’t do it (Smiles!). I usually try my hardest because you never know if they will abandon a race. At the end of the day the race director is there when it is really light and it is his call.
There are not too many dirty tactics that go on these days. At the gybe you can go on the inside if you think there is space but now with the experience of the ‘no rules’, if you go on the inside, you can take yourself out in the process. Sometimes it is just better to go on the outside. On the start line some people start at the boat and at the last minute cut across down to the pin crossing everybody full speed. If somebody does this it is not cool, it is a tactic a few racers do. I don’t get angry anymore, in the past yes but with more experience I realize nothing is going to change. For sure a few years ago I kicked the sail or I kicked the board a few times but what do you do? I even broke a sail once and I needed to fix it. Now I just get pissed off and I stay in my corner! A few times I have really been sure that I was not over early and they call you over, for sure you get annoyed but at the end you are not the guy looking on the start line so you have to believe them. If they tell me now I am over early I just accept it. It is like this, it is just the decision of the judge. I had a bit of an argument with Julien Quentel in New Caledonia last year; he told me that I pushed him out of a race. I was leading at the gybe, he was on top of me and I didn’t make it. At the end of the day I had right of way. I was leading and I go where I want! If I want to go gybe ten metres after the mark I can! That is it!
The equipment is all checked by the race crew, there is a lot of talking about this, that racers have modified their sails but the sail or board factories don’t have so much budget to make special sails or special boards. Some riders sand the bottom of their boards but that is usually if they have not come out accurately from the Cobra factory. That is why you see that some boards have been sanded on the bottom. Anybody can come and check my boards if they want, I am not scared of anyone checking my equipment! I don’t listen to nobody anymore when they talk about cheating with equipment, I don’t care. For sure most of the time racing on the PWA is a fair game. The only variables are the mast, boom, fins and battens! You can make a sail have more shape, be more powerful or flatter with different battens so that can make a big difference. The fin is like the tyre for the car in Formula One and you can spend a lot of money to have the best fins. A lot of riders keep their best fins secret but at the end there are not so many factories making custom fins. Most guys know what the best fins are, after that the only thing you can hide is the softness or the size you are using.
With NeilPryde we have a really good team; we have Arnon, Julien and myself as the main riders and also Sebastian, Enrico and Malte. For sure if one of the guys is out then you can ask them to caddy or help you on the beach. If it is difficult to choose the right equipment on the beach they will do it, even for me! and I help them too.
On any race day I always check the course before a race and try and check the shortest distance to the first mark and things like that. Personally I prefer to start alone in my own corner than fight at one end of the line in a pack. When you push too hard sometimes it can go well but other times you just get screwed. That is why I am not pushing quite as hard as in the past years and just going for more consistency”
“ My strength is that I am good in all conditions ’’
JC: I was expecting Antoine to go bananas today after he was knocked out in the quarter finals of the second elimination but far from it. Light wind racing in marginal conditions made for tricky tactical decisions and Albeau was helpless at the back of the fleet after a bad start. With potentially his whole bid for the world title down the pan, Antoine stayed cool calm and collected and returned to the beach and sat out the rest of the round. There was no screaming or shouting, no punching sails and no yelling at the race officer, he took his punishment like a man and dealt with it without working himself into an anger frenzy. At the end of the day, lady luck shined his way and he took fifth in the last final which gained him third place on the podium for the event. Just like he said earlier in the week, consistency paid off, he never panicked, stayed calm, got on with the job and possibly saved his 2015 world title hopes in the process.
AA: “I was not so happy today. We did my quarter final five times and I was all the time in the top three until the last one which was valid and I was 5th. I did not make the cut, I was a bit unlucky but it is like this, it is part of the game. I did not scream or get angry, it is just very marginal conditions, what can you do? If you finish in fifth it is your fault! For sure the wind was light but I am not the last one to get planing. I am pretty fast in light winds. I just had a terrible start, I thought we were going over early so I braked but it was a good start. I was pretty much last at the first mark; I had a decent gybe but could barely get planing again. At that moment I thought the event was over for me but we started another round. I thought the race crew were pushing pretty hard for those conditions but we kept on competing. The last race I made 5th place which was enough to help me finish on the podium so it wasn’t too bad considering that bad result in the second round. Everybody had one bad result except Ross and Matteo. Third was a great result for me, I am happy with that! Pierre is behind me, Cyril is behind me, it is all good so far this season.
The result is the important thing for me rather than the money I win. I think about the end of the year and the title. You don’t make so much money winning events, for sure five or six thousand euro is not bad but in the end that is not a lot of money. When you add it up at the end of the year, you always spend a lot of money on travel and all the other costs involved. It is better than nothing but I don’t think about the money! I just want to be world champion and then I get the bonus from my sponsors!
I am not money orientated, but I don’t like going to events for free where there is nothing to win. This is what I don’t like. Do you know anybody that works for free? It is bad to have events with no prize money; at the end of the day windsurfing is our job! I have a good lifestyle for sure but I am not a millionaire, far from it, maybe in Venezuela I would be but not in France.”
JC: Antoine is a consummate professional there is no doubt about that. Sure he is highly competitive and doesn’t like losing, but name a world champion who isn’t? I think it is fair to say at the age of forty three, he is older and wiser than most of the fleet and his racing experience, as well as exceptional skill, is a large part of his winning ingredient. This season he seems relaxed enough to stay consistent and let others around him make the mistakes. With multiple world titles already under his belt, the pressure is on his rivals to push and take chances, while Albeau mops up and usually comes out on top anyways. How long will he stay in the game, well in his words “For sure when you can’t move around the mark I think it is time to move on! But at the moment I plan to do a few more years on tour. I just turned 43 and time will tell me when to stop” There is no doubt the level around Albeau is at an all-time high with many racers spending their time in dedicated training camps over the winter months but it will still take one hell of a campaign to beat him over a season. Albeau is human after all; sure he makes the odd unforced error, but come the end of the season you can rely on him to be there or thereabouts when the title is decided in Noumea.
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