SUP International
A New Perspective
In the interest of field research, we’ve been conducting an experiment on an unwitting participant. You might know that we edit this magazine from a clifftop lair overlooking the Atlantic Ocean which also serves as an instructional base for ocean sports, and recently, we’ve tasked one of our new coaches, young Frankie, with paddling every single day after work regardless of conditions.
10+ min |
Issue 25 - Mid Summer 2019
SUP International
Applied Force
Whether you’re paddling into a relentless headwind, sprinting to catch a race leader, frantically digging for a set wave, or even towing clients back to base, there’s the same dominant factor working against you: the force that pushes back against your blade as you paddle through the water.
2 min |
Issue 25 - Mid Summer 2019
SUP International
A Forgotten Place
At sea for a year and a half on our sailboat Maloya, an Océanis 411, we are sailing around the world in search of ideal spots to enjoy our favourite watersports of SUP, kiting and windsurfing.
4 min |
Issue 25 - Mid Summer 2019
Windsurf
50 @ 50 With Bjorn
Bjorn Dunkerbeck was born on July 16th 1969 and during his illustrious career has achieved legendary status as one of the greatest windsurf competitors of all time, racking up an incredible 42 world titles! John Carter caught up with the big man in Gran Canaria during his 50th birthday celebrations for an appropriate return of the ‘big 50’ interview!
10+ min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
True Champion
Victor Fernandez is one of windsurfing’s good guys. His third PWA wave world title may have come in strange circumstances in 2018, but it was thoroughly deserved nonetheless. Known for his unassuming demeanour on land, but a complete competitor on the water, his windsurfing skills are testament to both a unique talent and a relentless work ethic. Victor normally lets his sailing do the talking, but we managed to get an insight into his life with these candid words from the man himself.
10+ min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Windsurfers' Rights
The RYA tell us of their work in promoting and protecting windsurfers’ rights.
3 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
The Big Stuff
Tenerife has become the winter go-to spot for slalom sailors, but let’s not forget Tenerife in winter can also offer huge Atlantic surf on more exposed parts of the island. Visiting Polish PWA racer Maciek Rutkowski took a break from training round the buoys to sample the big stuff.
8 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
The One Hour Classic
The ‘One Hour Classic’ is a unique windsurfing race held in Lake Garda and 2019 marked its 30th anniversary. The aim of the race is to reach in 1 hour the largest number of laps around a course defined by two marks positioned on opposite sides of the lake. John Skye flew the flag in the event for the UK and his sponsor RRD; he recounts his experience of the event.
10+ min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
New Foil Army
The advent of foiling on the PWA tour has brought a new group of men and women racers to the fore, John Carter takes a look at the Olympic windsurfers upsetting the rankings and asks the PWA elite for their opinion of the new contenders.
9 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Back Up And Riding
Harty tells us why Dave ‘Whitey’ White, 2 years after a stroke, takes resilience to a new level.
5 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Starboard Supercruiser Foil And Foil X Board
When Starboard released what they called, “Our easiest foil ever”, the “SuperCruiser”, we heard that there was actually a top secret new design of foil board in the works too. Starboard’s head of brand and design, Tiesda You, gives us the lowdown on both their new 2020 Foil X board and SuperCruiser foil.
4 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Stance
Getting your stance right is a bit like eating your vegetables. We know it’s important and done right could have a dramatic impact, but it’s maybe not as exciting as other things we could be getting stuck into! However, stance is the one bit of windsurfing that joins every single move together, so if you get it right it will allow a huge amount of progression. It’s also the most important thing for sorting your entry to moves, which is where most issues occur.
4 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Pushing For Victory - The Push Tack
This month Peter Hart dissects an old favourite, the push tack. It’s vaguely functional, happens on, rather than above the water, but still introduces elements key to many new skool stunts.
10+ min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Energise
“The key that unlocks energy is desire. It’s also the key to a long and interesting life. If we expect to create any drive, any real force within ourselves, we have to get excited.” Earl Nightingale
4 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Guadeloupe
John Carter and 2016 PWA slalom Champion, Matteo Iachino, head out to explore the windsurfing paradise of Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean. Hosted by fellow Severne and Starboard world tour racer, Tristan Algret, and avid local sailor Bruno Kancel, the planned itinerary was to windsurf as many of the island’s best locations in a mere six days. John Carter reports!
10+ min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Foil Racing UK
2019 has witnessed an explosion of UK Windsurfing Association (UKWA) foil racing; Rod Davis of the UKWA gives us an insight into the competition series.
2 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Big Cornwall
John Carter muses over the dilemma that many of us face when weighing up weather forecasts. Do you go out searching for that pot of gold, or do you stay at home in your comfort zone, but spend the day fearing that your mates are scoring a session you are going to live to regret missing?
8 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
2019 Winter Travel Guide
Need help planning your great winter getaway? Life can be tough enough, let alone having to figure out what corner of the planet is warm and windy. It’s like trying to pick a favourite child …or biscuit. Fear not though, in your greatest time of need, we are here, sometimes, unless it’s above 12 knots then we are very busy finding excuses to leave the office. But regardless of our dodgy work practices, let us park your thinking cap and relieve you of your burden with our specially designed pages of winter travel information, wit and wonder. Well, maybe just information, but it’s the thought that counts. So if you fancy swapping your booties for board shorts then read on as Jane Faughnan from Sportif Travel and Marcus Bull from Planet Windsurf pick their favourite winter destinations and we provide micro-guides to a selection of windsurfing spots that don’t need seven layers of neoprene for a session in January!
10+ min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Starboard Hyper Nut 4 In 1 7'4
WEB SUP.STAR-BOARD.COM PRICE £1325
3 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Sealion WINGS 7'6
WEB WWW.KAISPORTS.CO.UK PRICE £1599
3 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Waves Anyone? Entry-Level Wave Sailing
Peter Hart has been leading courses into swells for a few decades. Backed by comments and reflections from clients who’ve taken on the challenge, he describes the true nature of the game. Here’s a clue – it’s not all about the wind but about preparation and revisiting the most basic skills.
10+ min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
The Simple Beauty Of Sagres
One sail, one windSUP and the simple beauty of Sagres – Franz Orsi gives us a guide to this beautiful corner of the southern Algarve in Portugal and reflects on why windSUP is one of his preferred modes of travel.
7 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
The Life And Times Of The Windsup
In keeping with the windSUP theme this month, Harty relates his personal 13 year relationship with these overgrown surfboards.
4 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
TEAM15
The RYA tell us more about their Team15 programme for young windsurfers.
3 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Rig Tuning Basics
In keeping with summer, the high season for newcomers to windsurfing, we go back to basics this month and look at the fundamentals of rig tuning. Getting your rig to its optimal state is all about finding a base to work from and then tune, experiment and reflect from there. This piece is not going to disappear off in a haze of luff curve, flex response time and other fancy jargon, but rather provide you with the basics that I have seen benefit hundreds of people I have coached. The main areas we will cover are: harness line length, spread and position, boom height and the main trimming variables of both outhaul and downhaul.
6 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Progression
““Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” George Bernard Shaw.
4 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Life Of Dorian
Thirty-year-old Dutch windsurfer Dorian van Rijsselberghe is the proud owner of two RS:X windsurfing Olympic gold medals. He won his first at the 2012 Olympics in Weymouth, and second at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. And needless to say, he has his eyes set on number three in Tokyo in 2020! Dorian gives us an insight into his life, thoughts on foiling and the PWA and just what it takes to be an Olympic champion.
9 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Kids Rule
Whatever sport you look at, there is no doubt youths are the future. They will ensure the survival and the development of a discipline, especially in windsurfing. In the past, perhaps this was forgotten in terms of specially adapted and efficient equipment for youngsters. Today though, kids can finally find boards and rigs that will boost their progress. All they have to do is to spend time together in the water, because kids loving being with other kids and pushing themselves to progress. So ignoring the rule of never work with children or animals, I organised a mega trip for a bunch of talented kids in their school holidays, with the aim to get everyone on the water as much as possible, this is the story of how my ‘Water Academy’ went down!
8 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Island Of The Winds
Mykonos may be known as a playground for the rich, but it’s also famous for its consistent winds. Chris Sammer tells us why it’s ideal for a family windsurfing trip.
9 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Flying On The Edge
High wind foiling with big sails is not for the faint hearted. The 2019 Catalunya Costa Brava PWA World Cup saw some of the wildest professional wind foil racing to date as sailors battled raging Tramontana winds. On the flip side, the opening day of the event saw some of the lightest winds yet encountered for professional foil racing and then, later on in the event period, for the first time in the PWA, the sailors competed in slalom foiling. The event put the sailors on the edge of foil performance in a variety of conditions; John Carter asked the pros their opinion of the limits for foil racing being explored to such extremes?
9 min |