Boating-sailing
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
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
Windsurfers' Rights
The RYA tell us of their work in promoting and protecting windsurfers’ rights.
3 min |
Issue 389 - September 2019
Windsurf
Sword Wars
The quest for the legendary Tiree sword attracted 86 like-minded windsurfers to this remote Scottish island for the 32nd Tiree Wave Classic. 50-70 knot winds greeted those that arrived early, whilst also playing havoc with the ferry timetable for those due to arrive on the opening day. With extra ferries organized and everyone in place, a second storm loomed and duly delivered with competition taking place from dawn until dusk at the Maze on Tuesday. Our senior highlands reporter, wee Willie-John McCarter, put on his best wellies, kilt and tartan and flew to the Hebrides to snap some bonnie shots and find out what the various locals and Sassenachs present thought of this year’s event.
9 min |
Issue 382 - January/February 2019
Windsurf
Super Kai
It’s not that Kai Lenny needs no introduction, it’s where do you start. Universally accepted as the greatest all-round surf sport athlete on the planet right now, his talent transcends normal human performance. He holds multiple world champion SUP titles, has won a professional big wave surfing contest and is a former kitesurfing wave world vice-champion, not to mention the unofficial king of surf foiling. But windsurfing was what started Kai’s watersports career and to this day he still remains true to his roots and, as anybody who has seen him sail, is still able to give the best in the world more than a run for their money. Gifted, smart and articulate, Kai is a sponsor’s dream and has a list of blue-chip companies who support his class act. John Carter sits down with the affable Hawaiian to learn more about the secrets behind his skills and success.
10+ min |
Issue 383 - March 2019
Windsurf
Footloose: Gybing Footwork
This month we look at footwork in the gybe. It is not as complex as you think and specific actions will make you light on your feet and put precision into your gybes. Get this phase right and the nirvana of either your first gybe exit, or even a planing gybe exit, is so much closer! The best news is you can really practice the footwork at slower speeds in light winds and on bigger boards.
5 min |
Issue 383 - March 2019
Windsurf
The New Dimensions Of Joyride
Fast freeride, freerace or blasting boards - call them what you will, the idea is to go as fast as possible, as easily as possible, no matter what the sea state. It is all about gaining maximum straight-line return for minimal rider input, flattering the rider and leave them buzzing from their session. Freerace was the natural progression when the freeride phenomenon took hold, bridging the gap between the passive freeride (read a propensity for ‘dullness’ in the eyes of experienced riders) and the downright terrifying in a slalom board.
10+ min |
Issue 383 - March 2019
Windsurf
A Rising Influence
The birth and subsequent growth of stand-up-paddling brought about a positive and much needed injection of interest into watersports in general. One of the key drivers was that it was easy to understand, and more importantly easy to access, bringing the sport into the mainstream. Simply grab a board and paddle, and away you go! And with the first boards that hit the market being long and wide, the early-adopting windsurfing brands quickly realised there was an opportunity for some crossover between the two sports. So not long after the dawn of SUP production came the emergence of the windsurfing-SUP board – a.k.a. windSUP.
10+ 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
A Swell Sou'Easter
Southeast winds and south coast swell prove the perfect ingredients to fire up Dorset’s finest wave, Kimmeridge, for some rare port tack down the line action. On scene to score it with the lucky locals were Timo Mullen, Andy Chambers and Paul Hunt. They tell us just why it was a day to remember.
7 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
TEAM15
The RYA tell us more about their Team15 programme for young windsurfers.
3 min |
Issue 388 - August 2019
Windsurf
Freerace Sails Test
There is nothing quite like going flat out on a windsurfing board. It is very likely to be the reason most of you reading this were drawn to the sport in the first place. In the sport’s brief history, if you took a snapshot from any activity-focussed beach with a variety of watersports going on, it would always be the windsurfer that would grab the attention and limelight. Your eyes (and the cameras) naturally follow whatever is moving the fastest!
10+ min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Wave Board Tuning
I have previously highlighted how one of the ‘greyer’ areas of our sport is kit tuning. So as we welcome spring, I examine how to get the very best out of our wave boards, explaining what we can change to extract better performance across a range of conditions and levels. You can also refer back to previous pieces on tuning Freemoves and FSW’s for reflection and comparison.
10+ min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Hellenic Odyssey
Jono Dunnett continues to inspire with his epic journey round Europe. We join him this month as he recounts his passage along the Greek coast and onward to Turkey, where after much consideration his journey takes a pivotal step. Read on as Jono reflects on his winter travels.
10+ min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Ice And Irony
Austrian freestyle pro Max Matissek always wanted to visit Iceland and windsurf amongst the icebergs. To make his dream a reality would not be easy though; a test of patience and an ironic twist to the tale, read on as Max tells us more about his mission.
6 min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Get Hooked On Windsurfing!
The RYA tell us more about their initiative to get more people hooked on the best sport in the world – windsurfing!
3 min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Redcar Wind Power
The northeast coast of England on its day has some of the best surfing and windsurfing conditions in the UK, but many of the spots are a closely guarded secret or off the beaten track. Redcar though is a well known windsurfing beach and its credentials as a windy spot not in doubt given the huge wind farm just offshore. John Carter, Timo Mullen and Steve Thorp fill us in on a recent Redcar session, one of the North Sea’s top windsurfing spots.
9 min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Northern Exposure
With the recent news that the magnetic north pole is on the move and speeding rapidly towards Russia, we’re taking the opportunity this issue to recalibrate our editorial ‘compass’ and review windsurfing’s northern latitudes.
3 min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Sardinia
Sardinia offers conditions for all levels of windsurfer and every sort of water state from waves to flat water, all served with a healthy slice of Italian style. RRD’s International Marketing & Team manager, Matteo Guazzoni, gives us a guide to the island and why it is a favoured base for their distributor meeting.
8 min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Deutschland Days
Maui born and bred, Graham Ezzy seems an unlikely transplant to Germany, but for part of year the Hawaiian swaps Ho’okipa for Hamburg and Pacific swells for North Sea surf. Graham reflects on his Deutschland days.
4 min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Northern Lure
A land of rugged beauty with stunning seascapes and mountains, the beauty of Norway’s Lofoten Islands drew freestylers Adam Sims and Oda Johanne Brødholt north to explore its windsurfing. Adam and Oda report back on their adventures.
9 min |
Issue 384 - April 2019
Windsurf
Black Sea Tales
We last caught up with Jono Dunnett on his round Europe windsurf adventure as he landed in Istanbul. Here he picks up the story as he continues his epic voyage, venturing further into the Black Sea along Turkey’s coastline and into Georgia. Read on as Jono reflects on his journey.
7 min |
Issue 387 - July 2019
Windsurf
Flight's Primary Ignition
The parameters suggested to the brands for our inaugural wind foil sail test were left incredibly broad and open, for one simple reason. We wanted them to decide which product to put forward, and in doing so provide some understanding of their design direction. A sort of litmus paper test to gauge whether there was a consensus amongst the largest sail lofts.
10+ min |
Issue 387 - July 2019
Windsurf
Slick Sticks
In days past slalom boards used to be precocious beasts, demanding constant attention and input from the rider, and if they caught you off guard for a moment, they would buck and spit until you relented.
4 min |
Issue 376 - June 2018
Windsurf
South American Dreams
The vast continent of South America has long been the backdrop for adventures. Inspired by its coastline’s potential for windsurfing, young Italian sailor Federico Morisio hit the road with the International Windsurfing Tour to compete and fulfil his South American dreams.
9 min |
Issue 376 - June 2018
Windsurf
Slick Sticks
In days past slalom boards used to be precocious beasts, demanding constant attention and input from the rider, and if they caught you off guard for a moment, they would buck and spit until you relented.
4 min |
Issue 376 - June 2018
Windsurf
Wings Of Change The Great Foil Debate!
Foiling – are you in or out! It’s the debate that’s raging across our beaches. Judge John Carter presides over the hearing as an assembly of professional windsurfers voice their opinion on foiling, for and against!
10+ min |
Issue 368 - August 2017
Windsurf
Hit And Run
Kai Katchadourian has a long distance relationship with Cabo Verde. He prides himself on keeping his passion for Ponta Preta alive by fly in fly out strike missions for the best swells. He recounts one of his latest ventures on the island nation and the highs and lows of commuting from Northern Europe to Africa in search of wind and waves.
6 min |
Issue 368 - August 2017
Windsurf
New School
Every sport needs it’s next generation to survive and windsurfing is no different. So how do we inspire and teach our sport to our children. Last year Polish uber-waterman Kuba Gasiewski introduced us to his radical new teaching technique in one of our most popular articles, ‘Child’s play’. Now, a year down the line, he reflects on its success and developments of his ‘New school’ program at ION CLUB Le Morne, Mauritius together with Timo Mullen and Ben Severne’s thoughts on Kuba’s innovative approach.
9 min |