Beach Telegraph

New Toys?

I stuck a new Poll up to the right of the page so please get voting and let's see if there's any indication of growth in the sport. Thanks.

Flo Jung Cape Town Clip. 

I wanna ride this wave so bad.

Sometimes the bruises are worth it.

Old and New

A new website from UK Freestyler Tom Parsons.

Bad luck and a good effort regardless by Allison Shreeve on her Bass Straight Crossing.

Speaking of mammoth crossings, it'll be 25-yrs this Fall since Aristocrat and pioneering legend of Windsurfing  - Baron Arnaud de Rosnay  - disappeared. He may be gone but he'll never be forgotten.

Thumbnails of 2010 gear and Ho'okipa action.

Some good 'ol Super 8 [surfing] film for a grainy retro feel.

Video lessons with Bill.

A new event added to the the EFPT Schedule.

Crazy CapeTown on U-Ride.

A Point 7 demo event in Sardinia. (German)

Another JP Australia Young Guns' Camp  organized by the PRO CENTER Christof Kirschner in Prasonisi, Rhodos, Greece has has been announced.

Guest stars will be 3x Wave World Champion Kauli Seadi BRA-253 and Andy Chambers K-540 from the JP team.

Here's the official Press Release:

YOUNG GUN CAMP

Prasonisi – 6-13th August 2009

Starting 6th August a one week freestyle and wave training for youngsters will be held at the Pro Center Christof Kirschner. A maximum of 40 participants will be coached by the world’s best riders and professional coaches in the disciplines freestyle and wave.

Kids from many nations will share their passion for the sport and improve their skills in an amazing way!

A professional video team will accompany the youngsters and record hour by hour. With all their experience they will cut the daily video immediately. Only a few hours after the training the video will be ready and presented to the kids on a wide screen. We’ll also put it straight on the internet.

So all friends, parents and relatives have the opportunity to follow the camp on a daily basis.

This year's big surprise: the world cup heroes Kauli Seadi and Andy Chambers will join the other coaches and show some sick action on the water!

Like last year Steve Chismar will be head coach. Steve has been working as an editor and tester for the German Surf Magazin for more than 10 years. He started windsurfing at the age of 12. Steve managed a windsurf school on Corsica for 2 years, thereafter he worked as a head-instructor for Naish Hawaii on Oahu and as a centre manager for MichelBouwmeester for 12 years. His motto: Windsurfers for peace!

We are also very happy to have the coaches Manuel Vogel and Jonas Holzhausen with us again!

Manuel is windsurf instructor at the University of Kiel in Germany. He speaks English and French and is a licensed VDWS surf instructor. Manuel has been testing for the German Surf Magazin since 2004 and is a true walking freestyle – move library.

Jonas is an educator at the Russee youth centre in Kiel. His focus is on experiential education and he arranges organized activities for young people. In addition he is a licensed VDWS surf instructor and teaches windsurfing at the University of Kiel. Since 2004 he has been part of the test team of the Surf Magazin and like Manuel he is a real freestyle pro.

 For further details check out our website

www.prasonisi.com

e-mail: procenter.prasonisi@eunet.at

phone : +43-316 318606

Meaty Mothers' Day

Only Timo Mullen could persuade his Mom to fly over from Ireland to England to see him on Mothers' Day, then miss the return flight home and drive overnight to Scotland to take shots of him windsurfing World-Class reefbreak Thurso instead.

Here's Timo's side of the story. "I couldn't get anyone to do the 14 hour drive with me so I drafted in  my Mum and Dad who were over visiting from Ireland...

Only problem was that Sunday was Mothers' Day, which meant missing my wife's first ever Mothers' Day as well as dragging my mum all the way in a van to the cold cold north of Scotland.

Anyway 'we' scored some amazing conditions, 3.7m logo high point break on the first day, then two sessions the next day both side shore, 4.2m  on a pretty hollow and shallow break in front of a Nuclear Power station!

I was using my Evo 70 and a Kode 80. It's one hell of a drive but well worth it for the conditions!"

Well the family that plays together stays together I guess? Thanks Mrs Mullen. You're a gem. And a pretty hot shooter too.

Wind reports on Google Maps - well done Windfinder. (Also check out and/or add a listing to the biz directory.)

German star Michiel Bouwmeester's opening a new Pro Center in Sardinia.

Not very windsurfing related but very important news.

Kauli goes SUPing at home.

GP's knackered. But not too tired to post you shots of gusty, windy Maui.

A link to some nice Galician conditions on Continent Seven's homepage.

Video of Alice Arutkin in South Africa and pics of Boujmaa Guillol who's currently in Marseille on U-Ride.

A front loop gurantee.

Here's a Press Release from JP Australia:

JP / HARRY NASS WINDSURFING CAMP IN DAHAB
20.-27 August 2009
with Micah Buzianis US34 and Robby Swift K89

powered by JP Australia and
Harry Nass Surf and Action Center, Dahab/Egypt

After the successful events in 2007 and 2008 this one is going to be even bigger a better.

Many windsurfers would like to become faster, some have considered to compete in a Slalom event – just for fun - but were not sure if they are actually good enough to do so? Or they simply want to get their jibes finally to perfection? If you are one of those guys - this camp will be excellent for you.

Micah Buzianis, US34, top PWA Slalom Racer from Maui Hawaii, Robby Swift top PWA Wave rider and Slalom Racer and head coach Dirk Muschenich, former winner of the German Windsurf Cup and now professional windsurf coach plus Harry Nass and his team will tune your speed and jibing to perfection.

Don’t worry this camp is not aiming at semi professionals – while they are still welcome – but  at people who simply love windsurfing, enjoy speed, want to get faster, improve their jibing and maybe get a bit involved in racing. Or some might simply join because they enjoy sailing with  a group of people.

In groups of maximum 10 people you will find out about how to
- trim and fine tune your equipment
- get faster (GPS)
- improve your jibing and bring it to perfection
- jibe around a buoy in the middle of a racing fleet
- do Lemans beach starts
- do boat starts
- get your body ready for slalom and speed (Gym, Nutrition)
- win races

As you can see jibing is a very important point. Jibing is the one thing which decides between enjoying windsurfing or hating it and most races are won by the best jiber in the fleet.

To achieve this you and your coaches will use the latest equipment
- start boat
- video analyses
- GPS devices to check your speed

At the end of the camp we will have a Slalom competition. The winner will get a brand new JP Slalom board.

If you are concerned that this sounds all too serious - don’t worry, there will be plenty of fun. We really want to emphasis that you don’t need to be a top-level windsurfer to enter this camp. If your main goal is to become a confident jiber and get that bit faster so that you can upset your friends a bit by overtaking them – you will enjoy this as well as everybody who wants to start racing and get ready for it or those who already race and want to get better. There will be various training groups with various levels and goals for the week.

The EUR 190,- package price include:
- one week camp with Micah, Robby, Dirk, and Harry’s team
- a JP/Harry Nass Windsurfing Camp Lycra
- participation in the final race
- price giving party

You can bring your own equipment or rent the latest JP and NP stuff from Harry Nass.

Art for Art's Sake

I'm in a Thursday arvo, hurry-up-the-weekend daze. Maybe you will be too?

What a shot and what a Blog from Pozo Pro Photographer Dani Miguel.

Looks like these guys have a lot of fun surfin' and sailin' together - and on the Med too.

Yes. You're right. I've been drifting through a load of Blogs looking for ones with arty shots and a wholesome feel.

Aaarrgh watch out - Killer Fish! (Personally I wouldn't trust any shaper who didn't wear a Ramones T-Shirt. Would you?)

Finally, WIND magazine invite you to snap out of being mellow with some snaps of World Cup Slalom Superstars Albeau and Buzianis testing JP Australia Prototypes in South Africa and a super-radical UMI Pictures video of Ricardo Campello at Pozo.

I think I'll take the Air Taka or Goyta Poll down after the weekend so please watch the video and vote now in the Poll to the right before I remove it Monday morning. Thanks!

Pre-Weekend Roundup

Finn Mullen sent in a couple more pics of his session on the North Coast of Ireland - thanks to his youngest brother Tam for taking the shots.

You can also see a sweet sequence here too.

The Fuerte Wave Classic's now showing a video link.

WIND Mag also have some nice shots from Gilles Calvet along with some [French but you can use google translate] commentary.

I guess WIND see that this event's going to be spread all over the net anyway and have decided to cover it well themselves? A good move but I'm sure they'll save some good stories for the print edition!

The Quick Interview quiz Ricardo Campello.

Phil Horrocks talks about his JP experience in Cape Town in a nice action video.

The PWA find out Kevin Pritchard's 'Kode to success'.

However this 'Kode' might not be exactly true...most pics of KP at CV appear to show him on a twin fin...not the single-fin Freestyle/Wave model Kode.

That 'aint no Kode! Pic JC/PWA.

Once again, it seems strange to make a big deal of something when it's perhaps not strictly the truth eh? Perhaps KP only used it in the single elimination final then chose his regular boards when they arrived?

We've discussed this here before, and although people understand pros use customs and protos, it's another thing to make a claim that they don't, which causes damage to the brands that do actually act as they say they do.

Cutting Lines

Another video of wavesailing in Chile with Fanatic Team Riders Klaas Voget and 08 PWA Tour runner-up Victor Fernandez.

Doh! Hope that mends soon Matt.

Here's a movie made in South Africa by Czech PWA rider Tom Malina.

Tom said "Sorry about the interviews in Czech language but that was part of the deal with the sponsors."

The PWA's negotiated a special offer on insurance for pro windsurfers. You can find out more via info(at)pwaworldtour.com or see more at www.sportsinsurance.com

Coaching guru Jem Hall's posted a trailer to his soon-to-be-released 'Winner to Wavesailor' DVD. (See list on right-hand side of page.)

Have a look at this vintage footage from Ho'okipa of Dave Ezzy and many other 'back in the day'. Classic.

I thought it was interesting in this interview that Kauli Sead doesn't think that the judges are 'ready' for the sailing style his Quad fins might lead to.

What do you think about the surfing style vs. traditional windsurfing style? Is a surfing line for surfing and windsurfing a different turning approach?

Why should windsurfing always copy surfing? Maybe surfers should take a more aggressive line by watching Angulo or Polakow on a wave at Ponta Preta? Please leave any comments below. Thanks.

Also, if you haven't voted in the new PWA World Tour Webcast Poll I'd be grateful for your views.

Bring it Back

Good news. The 'Bring Back the Swansea-Cork Ferry' campaign has raised 2.5 million Euros. Bad news. 500K more is needed by Friday March 6th.

If you're a lover of Irish waves and want the quickest and best way to travel between the UK and Ireland to resume service , or you own a business dependant on tourism in Ireland or South Wales, please pledge money now and buy shares at the Bring Back the Swansea-Cork Ferry website. Thanks (Not sure if the shares entitle you to discount on crossings or Guinness in the bar yet...)

The joy-filled Scott McKercher has a new Blog at the Severne website.

You'll notice I put a new Poll about PWA Webcasts on this page. Please vote and let's see what people think.

The tour's kicked-off already but I'm addicted to the Fantasy Surfer game already.

Here's a nice little Cape Town clip from UK wavesailor Adam Lewis.

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are offering a limited amount of free subscriptions to eco-mag Surfer's Path to anyone signing up to join. Hurry while the offer lasts!

Jem Hall says to look-out for his new Wave technique movie ‘Winner to Wavesailor’ due out end March and that he’ll be sending me some chapters to review.

How Serene...

Some Jericoacora action video from RRD's new insider Blog.

Don't forget to stay up-t0-date with the Fuerteventura Wave Classic...

Bonaire Beats

Another windsurfing MC. This time Bonaire PWA Freestyler Ruben Petrisie is laying down tracks and has dedicated a tune to top lady competitor Sarah-Quita Offringa from the neighbouring island of Aruba.

You can  listen to Ruben's music at his MySpace page.

Here's a great new [Spanish language] website for Chilean windsurfers and visitors to Chile.

Speaking of windsurfing in Chile, Tine Slabe has some nice pics of his time there so far at the RRD Insider Blog.

Tatiana Howard's been filming for Conde Nast Video magazine.

If 9 World Titles aren't enough, now Kelly Slater's pushing for a 10th on boards he's shaped himself.

Imagine Seadi or Fernandez sweating over some blocks of foam? Angulo and McKercher have board-building skills though I guess.

U-Ride have clips of Angulo vs. Pritchard and Angulo vs. Seadi on their front page, as well as PWA wavesailor Klaas Voget's latest movie from Cape Town.

WSJ check out AHD's new Concept Wave multi-fin board line. (Google translated page link.)

Planche Magazine's March special test issue is on newsstands now.

I'm out on a training course all day but please check out the Links Page for more or leave any hot URLs in the Comments section below. Thanks.

Spring is in the Air

Timo Mullen scored some great conditions at home with his brother Finn in the North West of Ireland. See the end of the post for more pics.

Thanks to Timo and his brother Tam who took the shots.

U-Ride have a couple of new video links up including footage of Victor Fernandez training in Cape Town.

The Boardseeker February Podcast is available to download now or to view on their homepage player.

Watch out for Pirates...

There's some good news on SurferToday for those thinking of a Spring Break or visiting Guincho for the PWA World Cup about TAP airlines and surfboards.

French speakers and lovers of the famous Gruissan spot, please pledge your allegiance to this campaign. Thanks.

Windsurf Journal have a great Go Pro video on their player of World Slalom Champ Antoine Albeau drag racing with fellow PWA Slalom racer Cedric Bordes.

Remember - don't forget to check Pin up of the Day each time you visit WSJ. It's great for swimwear fashion ideas ladies...

  Windsurf Italia's March edition is out now featuring John Skye on the front cover.

Surferworld.it report that top wave sailor Anne-Marie Reichmann has joined the Starboard SUP team.

Does this mean she's going to be competing on Starboard on the PWA Tour too instead of Naish?

MadWindsurfing have some shots of waves on Curacao in the Dutch Antilles.

Here's some more of those shots from Ireland.

Here's a sequence of Finn.

 

 

...and the rest           

I Just can't Get Enough

Check out Mad Maarten's Windsurfing Wallpaper collection.

A little present from WIND mag and the Traversa family.

It's not quite Windguru but...(Thanks to Hugo for the link.)

SimmerStyle are showing video from Cape Town, plus an interview with Cyril Moussilmani and some Maui snaps from Kai Katchdourian.

Boardseeker are also showing a movie of the Big Bay Classic wavesailing event.

Windsurfing Magazine have their latest board test videos online.

I can't get enough of this Air Funnel. While you're at Continent Seven why not read their interview with Peter Volwater?

Carbon Art shaper James Dinnis won the New Zealand Slalom nationals.

Next year the organizer's want to attract racers from all over the planet to join the fun in their beautiful country.

You can read a more detailed summary of this year's event at Surfer Today.

Time to visit Dr. Schmock.

www.MauiWindcam.com has tons of fans, but if you're not one yet you can become a groupie and tell your friends about it at Facebook.

German PWA Freestyler and filmaker Andre Paskowski's entered the Blogosphere.

No news yet from Normen Günzlein, but I'll post something as soon as Normen or perhaps his sponsors are in contact.

Uncut

Maui's Top Dog Blogger GP Cammaro gives it to you uncut.

And Tom from Hot Sails went boom-cam crazy too.

Chris Pressler's been testing Starboards  in 'Nam.

The Black Local enjoyed Ho'okipa too.

JP sent out a Press Release containing an interview with Antoine Albeau.

I've uploaded the [Word] file so you can read it uncut. Antoine's contract with JP/NeilPryde started February 1st.

WIND magazine (French) have an interesting piece on how up-and-coming youngster Camille Juban was refused entry to the Cabo Verde World Cup.

 With old-skool riders like Goya being allowed in instead, Juban is feeling the cold wind outside of the PWA Top-32.

However some youngsters such as Kai Lenny and Graham Ezzy have been given Wildcards, which is great in terms of seeing fresh blood, but a bitter pill to swallow for a youngster with experience.

What are your views on this? Should Juban have been given his chance? Please leave any comments below. Thanks. (No sign-in required.)

Continent Seven posted something 'Baltic' to contrast those balmy images of Maui. Check out the link 'Halliday' on their front page.

Boards Mag report a new Ocean Source clinic in Morocco with John Skye and Nayra Alonso.

Mind you, 'Skyeboy' is out for a while after picking up an injury in Cape Town. Let's hope that heals swiftly before Cabo Verde.

Planche Mag 316 is out on the stands.

That's all for now folks. Please leave any news of other new print issues out or hot links in the Comments section underneath. Thanks.

Fresh Air

JP have a video from the Big Bay Classic won by international team rider Phil Horrocks on his geniune Werner Gnigler boards...

World Champ Kauli Seadi just went on a boat trip to the Caribbean. I'm not sure if this is set to be published in magazines but personally I'd prefer to read this kind of story in print.

Lot's of websites got sent the PR for this trip but I hope by putting it online so briefly it's not spoiling what could be an extensive feature in a 'real' windsurfing publication.

Windgirls magazine focus on a future star - another feature that would be a good read on a beach between sessions. What do you think?

GP  takes you for a ride at Kanaha. A perfect piece of online windsurfing journalism.

You gotta love U-Ride for scoring original content. Today they're showing a Freestyle clip of the Bonaire crew raising the bar for the 2009 PWA Tour.

Fuerteventura Wave Classic Press Officer Steve Palier enjoyed some storm-force sailing at Brutal Beach in the South of France. Steve also sent links to more pictures of the action from Prisca and Fred.

Something handy for Tow-In teams.

Some good news for Ben Proffitt.

Shaka Sir

U-Ride are showing some clips and videos of the recent storms in France on their homepage.

Windsurfing Democrat John Kerry didn't make it into the White House but someone else shows-off their Hawaiian upbringing here. (Remember his bodysurfing skills too?)

Robby Swift finished editing his footage of Lanes from last week.

World Freestyle Windsurfing Champ Gollito enjoyed a special day out. Congratulations Gollito.

No wind in Cape Town means chaos for up-and-coming young British Pro Chris Murray.

Here's some sadder news from South Africa though.

Steve Bodner has some photos to share from the Alex Caviglia Blue Water Classic in Miami. Thanks Steve.

Here's those Irish Speedsailing event dates mentioned yesterday.

Check back for more later. Please paste any interesting links in the Comments section below. Thanks.

Perfect Storm

A big storm caused havoc across France and Spain this weekend with many windsurfers dodging the chaos to enjoy a few survival sessions. (More pics here and here. Muchas gracias to Rafa for the links.)

GP Cammaro has a bit of a back-log of stuff to post for you but he's working on it...starting with some cool pics of Levi Siver at Ho'okipa.

The Italians are taking over the world. Here's another cool Blog to follow by old-skool Windsurfing legend and Sardinia Waterman event organizer Pietro Porcella - father of PWA star Francisco Porcella. (Francisco just signed for Drops by the way.)

Surferworld report about Victor Fernandez's planned trip to the Fanatic Boarders Center on St. Martin.

Heating it all up for the PWA event next month, Josh Angulo files another Cabo Verde report - including a video of Traz Leo, or 'Little Ho'okipa" for you.

Continent Seven report on the latest entry status for the Fuerteventura Wave Classic event.

Mikey Clancey is churning out the videos for you guys. Check out his latest effort from Ireland and let him know that you like them - especially as he's about to hit Cape Town and is sure to collect more sick footage.

It's not all about waves on The Emerald Isle. Irish Speed record holder John Kenny recorded the 'fastest 500m time ever done on Irish waters by any sail powered craft with a speed of 39.15 knots this weekend - and that was under powered on a Severne 5.6 Code Red. Dungarvan looks like it has a lot more to offer...'

John discovered the Speed World Cup event site at Dungarvan, which was then organized by Martin Waldron who has since announced 5 dates for Speed events in 2009, and an Irish GPS Speed ladder. There's a new website set to go live any day now but in the meantime you can find out more at John's website.

Please check back for more later...or leave any links in the Coments section underneath. Thanks.

Winter Warmer

Francisco Goya is confirmed as a Wildcard entrant for the PWA World Cup in Cabo Verde. In a Press release, event spokesman Josh Angulo said “Seeing all the requests for wildcards coming in from abroad both to the organizers and the PWA, I certainly wouldn’t want to be in the position of the PWA board members in having to choose the 4 remaining slots. On our side the decision was relatively easy as Djo, Mitu and Titik are the 3 hottest local guys and we by all means will continue to invest in and push our local youth.

The decision to issue Francisco a wildcard was also an easy choice. Francisco, a World Champion, proven Ponta Preta ripper and windsurf legend, he was the first international sailor on our wildcard list and as a country and event team we eagerly await his presence and look forward to him once again bringing his incomparable style to Ponta Preta - Welcome Francisco !”

You can read more and see further updates at the official Event Website.

The January Podcast from Boardseeker is now available. You can either view it on their home page or download it from iTunes. There are also previous compilations to view in their player.

The Downwind Dash debacle was finally resoved with Ross Williams declared the winner ahead of fellow PWA Racer Benoit Moussilmani. You can see pics of Ross' new Technora Race Sails at WSJ.

GP published his 5th episode of Kona action including a HUGE Aeriel from Polakow.

Andy sent a link to a great piece on coping with cold water from his 'Lost in Hatteras' Blog. Thanks Andy. I'm going to check out those DaKine and Glacier gloves too. Hope they still work when covered in Vaseline...

Bill's Outer Banks Blog looks at how to handle gnarly [winter] shore dumps and whitewater.

Does KP need a bigger truck? By the way, you can enter a prize draw for a sails at the Pritchard Bros Pro Shop. Details of that and Baja clinic dates at the PWA news pages.

Vandal sails are dropping hints. What are they on?

Please leave any hot links in the Comments section below - no sign-in required. thanks.

Green Light

It's great to see so many contests being confirmed for 2009. A really positive sign in fact.

The latest event getting the green light is The 2009 South American Championships confirmed for March 20th to March 23rd in Potrerillos, Mendoza, Argentina. 

This festival event will decide the continental champions for 3 classes : Formula, Raceboard, and Techno 293. You can find out more at www.amwindsurf.com.ar

France is also lucky to have a Speed event confirmed too. (French).

Stehsegelrevue (German language )interviewed Andre Paskowski about his Road Trip film.

George Markopoulos  has been enjoying his Maui experience.

Here's some nice shots of Klaas Voget and Victor Fernandez training at Melkbos in Cape Town from the Fanatic website.

French PWA Pro Leo Ray took on the chill and currents of France's River Rhone. Don't forget, if you're a fresh water freak, there's always gallons of fast flowing action to be seen at RiverRippers.net

Epic Sessions are all excited by new Waterproof HD cameras.

Continent Seven have a Cape Town spot tour and their Blog confirms the comments that Thomas Traversa left here clarifying that he's staying with Tabou. Thanks for clearing that up for us Thomas and good luck for 2009.

Jonas Ceballos has a clip of Pozo action posted a few places but where better to see it than at his Blog?

More Later. As usual, any interesting links left in the Comments section below are much appreciated.