Beach Telegraph

Hot or Not?

Some thoughts on Twin Fins from Ola Helenius.

Congratulations to Stephane Etiene's winning team involving Boujmaa Guillol and Robin Goffinet for winning the Fuerteventura Wave Classic, and to Thomas Traversa for taking the vote on 'Best Rider of the Contest'.

 Photos, videos and write-ups all at the event website.

New Zealand Freestylers get an event to showcase their skills at.

A guide to Front Loops for Dummies.

More success for MauiSails racing.

Grey & gloomy Maui footage. But hey - it's still Hawaii!

Some new talent on the Ezzy Sails team. Looks like some nice sessions been going down on Sardinia...

Following a successful and popular feature at Boards magazine it's time to take the test and see if you're a 'Claimer or a Flamer?'

A guide to another potential Cabo Verde Goldmine. (German Language.)

Watch out for a new mini-poll later...

Environmental Poll Results

The final results of the Poll asking:

(Jan/Feb 2009)
Should the Board and Sail manufacturers donate more to environmental organizations such as Surfrider?

were...

51.2 % They all should. The materials we use are toxic. We should give something back to nature.

36.4 % No. It's up to the individual to choose who they support.

12.4 % I'd only support brands that did this.

So it seems around 2/3 of the sample in this survey feel strongly that the industry should be doing more to counter the use of toxic materials used in the manufacturing processes.

As consumers we are not innocent either. We also use fuel to fly and drive to beaches worldwide, so perhaps a slice of what we spend on new equipement should go to good causes such as Surfrider or SAS?

I'd be interested to hear some reaction from the industry on this adn what they'd be willing to do about it.

In my opinion someone could make a good marketing case for themselves by publicizing their contributions and boasting their support of such organizations.

Gaastra did this in the late 90s but as far as I know only Boards magazine in the UK have a long-term partnership with the Pressure Group SAS (Surfers Against Sewage).

Please leave your opinions or reactions to this in the comments section below. Thanks.

Kicking Off

Let's push-start the what's hopefully going to be a big-action week online and on the water.

The Fuerteventura Wave Classic holding period has begun. The teams have been announced and so far the conditions look good for Tuesday onwards, and even better for the weekend.

Check out the event website for updates and interviews et cetera.

Here's some updates on event dates from the PWA:

The planned Indoor in Madrid will now not take place in April. The event is now expected to take place towards the end of 2009.
 
The Austria Slalom World Cup will now run from the 5th May until the 10th.
 
The Korean Slalom World Cup will take place from the 16th May until the 22nd.
 
The proposed Guincho Wave World Cup is now provisionally scheduled for the 16th to 21st June.

WSJ interview a super-philosophical Francisco Goya after his comeback appearance at The PWA Cabo Verde World Cup. Here's the Google Translated page.

Simmer report that their PWA Slalom star Ben Van Der Steen is in Chile filming a documentary.

Shark!

Jellyfish!

GP Cammaro needs a day off but he stuck a little Go Pro video of sideshore Kanaha online for you.

Tatiana Howard scored Honolua Bay with just a couple of mates.

Boards posted news of 2009 Pro Clinics with European windsurfing tour operator Club Sportif.

CaboVerdeWorldCup.com  posted a video interview with runner-up Kauli Seadi.

It's windsurfing movie night on Friday in Wellington, New Zealand.

Ola left an interesting comment and link after reading about Kelly Slater's event-winning 'self-shaped' board in a post here last week.

Can you imagine what would happen if we left GP alone with the shaping software?

More later. Please leave any links to good stuff in the Comments section below - no sign-in required. Thanks.

Hot Content

First-up is a nice shot sent in by George from the Live2Sail Blog. Thanks George.

Here's a really short interview with PWA Wave Tour leader Josh Angulo on Maui.ee.

A Chilean adventure on video with Fabrice Beaux.

Some boom-Cam action from Seatex Boards on Windsurfmag.it.

After scraing some seals, GP is being cruel to Oceanic mammal life. Again. This time he's taken on a Sea Lion.

Don't you just love these vintage magazines. I love the smell and feel of these old issues crammed with great stories and less ads than in many you see today. (Even with the recession.) Check out the great surf books there too.

Speaking of Surf books, PWA and legendary surf scene photographer Alex Williams has launched a new book of some classic  shots of British Surfing in the 70s in a new publication titled 'Atlantic Surfers'. (You can preview the first 15 pages online.)

The March issue of Boards is out and I've got two articles published.

(That's Canadian PWA Freestyle rider Phil Soltysiak on the cover by the way.)

First up I've a review of the career of Scott McKercher followed by an investigation into the new Freestyle Classix format.

If you've read these I'd love some feedback on either the articles or the subject. Thanks.

WIND Mag issue 333 is also out now and it's a monster test issue. Check out the huge list of gear they've tried out.

Any other new issues of magazines out? Please leave the details in the Comment section below. Thanks.

U-Ride have a link to some video of Slalom racing action in The Gorge.

With the Fuerteventura Wave Classic a few days away, WSJ have posted a link to video of Spew Pits cranking on the island from last week to whet your appetite.

UK Windsurf and SUP pro John Hibbard wrote in; 'The main right peak at this beach is rammed with Surfers everyday and is a  100% No Go Zone for SUPers. 

The left in between the main break and the rivermouth is empty but it's hard to catch - not on my Starboard 8' 5" though!'

And finally. The Hustle Project. We've got a winner of the Fanatic T-Shirt contest.

So congratulations to Rudie from Holland correctly answered that Fanatic won 4 World Cup events in 2008 - World freestyle champ Gollito won Podersdorf and Lanzarote and world number 2 wavesailor Victor Fernandez won in Pozo and Sylt.

Rudie said 'I really like Fanatic because one of their boards got me back in to windsurfing big time!! And they are not through with me because I still want the freewave 86 ltr!'

Rudie - I'll be in contact about the details. Let's see what the rest of the industry can come up with for you guys? I guess you'll shout loudly about what you got from them at the beach  hey? Power to the people! Lets get you some stash.

Winter Rocks.

Maybe I should've put these boards inside before it snowed and froze over? I guess it's that cold in the cargo hold of a plane right?

Good news. The waves on Maui will be a little less crowded around photoshoot time this Spring.

The Bad news. Starboard and Severne won't be there to gather images of their new equipment. It's OK. There's more good news. WIND mag report that the two brands have more or less already completed their shoot in Western Australia and plan another in Bonaire.

WooHoo. (Hope there's more of the same from the 14th onwards...)

Spanish PWA rider Rafael Cervero wants you to check out his Freestyle video. Thanks Rafa.

Isn't she a beauty? And not a Quad-fin in sight.

I agree. Winter Rocks. Apart from when you gotta dust snow off your gear.

More clinics in the sun  -this time with Boards magazine's Simon Bornhoft.

Someone else warming-up for Ponta Preta.

If you can't stop thinking about Cabo Verde then here's some more to fuel your addiction.

We've got another T-Shirt winner too. Congratulations Rob Hennessy who correctly answered that Fanatic's shaper Seb Wenzel has been using CAD since 2004.

Rob said "I'm a student so I've run out of clean Ts and I can't be bothered to do my laundry".

Great reason Rob - you've got yourself another days wear. I'll be in contact about the details.

Wide World

Surferworld announce the Vassiliki Watersports Festival in Lefkas, Greece.

Former racing World Champ Micah Buzianis has relaunched his website for 2009.

Windsurf Journal report that Campello's ditching Freestyle for 2009...

Boards Magazine have deals on travel for their subscribers.

Hatteras looks like it's been fun...again. I wanna get lost there!

Here's some more Wide-Angle action from the Go-Pro camera courtesy of Epic Sessions.

The injured John Skye took a tour of the RRD HQ in Italy.

Tatiana Howard's giving something back again.

There's going to be loads of people down in Cabo Verde reporting on the PWA event next week - -starting with Francisco Porcella's Dad Pietro. Looks like he already spotted some Pirates.

And we have a winner of the Fanatic T-Shirt competition. Congratulations Peter from Hungary who knew without doubt that the longest running name of a board model in the current range is the...VIPER. I'll be in contact about the details.

Peter also predictably said he's  "a Fanatic too" but he reckons he can prove it with a catalogue from 1989. Fanatic HQ have confirmed this fact.

Thanks to everyone who entered and sent in great answers and reasons why they wanted to win.It's amazing how many of you are broke and need clothes or are "emotionally attached" to your Fanatics.

So I guess we should run with the next question to give the rest of you addicts another chance?

OK. Question 2 for a Fanatic T-Shirt:

When did Fantic's shaper Sebastian Wenzel start working with CAD?

Rules: 1. No pros or sponsored riders or dealers are allowed to answer. We will know who you are! 2. I'll think up more rules as I go along.

Please leave your answer in the Comments section below stating why you want the shirt and like the brand for when I choose the winners, AND mail me at hotgossip@beachtelegraph.com 

Fins and Spins

Surfer Today announced this great looking contest down in gnarly, sharky, Tasmania.

UK board builders Moo suggested you take a look at their Super Moo.

The Peconic Puffin got caught in a [Sharky] spin.

I noticed on WSJ that Seadi is trying out Quad fins at Cabo Verde. It's funny 'cos today I was going to ask if anyone had read the 'Naked Ambition' profile I wrote [last year] of Kauli in the latest Boards Magazine?

In that feature Kauli says he'll not be playing with Thrusters or Quads, but sticking with Twinzers.

We also talked about how he likes to wear those Speedos and stay in the buff around the house. Anyone read that piece? What do you think? (About the article and the Quads - not the nudity. Well you can talk about that too if you really want.)

I got a mail from George who's suffering from serious Maui withdrawal symptoms. Hang in there and get well soon George.

Maui Ultra Fins have welcomed Florian Jung onto their team.

I was thinking. Let's hustle the industry and get you guys some stash. How about some free T-shirts or bags or something?

I can post questions here, you answer, I choose the winners and the brands send you the booty? Sound good?

Let's see who's reading and what they've got. No easy questions mind you. You've got to deserve this gear and know your stuff. Please leave any suggestions in the Comments section below. Thanks.

Brand Managers - please drop me a line and let's tee it up.

PS. I just got this PR from the Fuerteventura Wave Classic with the confirmed entries. Nice event poster too.

Hi all,

Please find enclosed the final entry list of the confirmed riders we will welcome on the first edition of the Fuerteventura Wave Classic, Feb. 28th to March 10th 2009.

16 riders : 4 locals and 12 of the world top waveriders, which makes 8 teams of 2 riders (very certainly drawn lots)

International guests
_Jonas CEBALLOS
_Klaas VOGET
_Marcilio BROWNE
_John SKYE
_Alex MUSSOLINI
_Boujmaa GUILLOUL
_Francisco PORCELLA
_Philip KÖSTER
_Anthony RUENES
_Dario OJEDA
_Thomas TRAVERSA
_JB CASTE

Local guests
_Yannick ANTON
_Will WARD
_Stéphane ETIENNE
_Ilya ESCARIO

You can find all the informations, poster, logos, pictures, portraits and details of the Fuerteventura Wave Classic on our "blogsite" www.fuertewaveclassic.com ! Stay tuned!