Beach Telegraph

Strap Up

Windsurfer International Magazine is proud to join these sponsors for the 2010 Hatteras Windsurfing Festival Series.

Thanks to Lars who spotted these footstraps.

WindsurfingTour.com get the story behind Point-7 Sails.

LocalSailing.nl interview Karin Jaggi.

The PWA announce a Women's only Slalom finale in Almanarre early September.

Steven Van Broeckhoeven wins the EFPT Tour as the final event in Naxos is cancelled due to financial crisis.

Gibbo filmed another view of the PWA Freestyle event in Fuerte.

Skyeboy, Ross Williams, Guy Cribb and a bunch of journos are lording it up Scandia Cowes Week racing against massive yachts. There should be stories of the event in mags around the world soon. <<UPDATE>> Ross Williams 3 - Pindar 1 See pic 3 here at the Extreme Sailing Series website. More later>>>

 I got this PR from The Taranaki Wave Classic.

<<PR

Push your limits: it’s 2010 and Taranaki’s classic conditions have been firing… are you ready?

Carbon Art and Rodgers Dental are once again proud to present New Zealand’s ultimate wavesailing competition – the Taranaki Wave Classic 2010. The TWC 2010 will combine everything great about wavesailing and add a little sprinkle of magic to give you the best October long weekend you’ll ever experience. Classic waves, consistent wind and great camaraderie; combined with cold beers, cool prizes and a cranking BBQ. See what I mean?!

 These cooler months can often see some downtime for New Zealand wavesailors, but not here in Taranaki. This winter has been providing some consistent and quality wavesailing conditions along the stunning coastline. Pungarehu has regularly fired into life, including a weeks worth of south-east ‘trade winds’, combined with solid pulses of logo  high swell, to keep local wavesailors very, very happy indeed. The locals are saying: “If this is winter, then how good is spring going to be…!”

 If you’re a new or intermediate wavesailor you’ll find the TWC is an awesome way to get out into the surf with fellow sailors of all ages and experience; to learn something new and push your skill level up. For the more experienced sailors, you get to see what other wave gurus from around the country have been practicing in their own backyard and to pit yourself against the top guns. You also get to check out the latest Carbon Art boards and 2010 gear from the wide range of TWC sponsors. The action will be awesome and this is your chance to step up in front of the crowds.     

Check out www.taranakiwaveclassic.com for more details and to see some of previous years’ awesome action. Download the 2010 entry form and get your $75 registration in. The TWC 2010: we want you here!

Windsurfers vs. Surfers

Dutch Surf magazine is out now!

The Swiss publication Surfmag.ch is now online.

Carbon Art spotted this apocalyptic clip at Sessionlogs - windsurfing in the Sydney Dust Storm.

 The Ho'okipa 'Surfer Rule' debate rages on.

'Brawzinho' has a new website.

Team Fanatic took-out the ION Man event in Lake Garda, Italy.

More later.

What is Stoke?

All done-and-dusted in Reunion. 

Alex Mussolini, pictured above, won best wipeout!

C7 interview Fanatic Brand Manager Craig Gertenbach.

Lars Peterson hit New Zealand, New Caledonia and Tasmania. (German language but use Google translate to choose your preference - here's the English version.)

Windsurf Review's added the NeilPryde 2010 gear to their pages.

Stoke defined.

Show us a Sign

The “DWC – German Windsurfcup” tour has scored a lucrative sponsorship deal with Aussie brand Roadsign.

This is great to hear during a time of cut budgets. (Click here for details in German.)

Steve Gibson's spent 14 years living and teaching windsurfing in Fuerteventura and is available for tailor-made video clinics.

Check out his page for details and great technique sections.

Josh Angulo's Center Manager's get some water time at Ponta Preta.

A nice Chile movie from Continent Seven.

C7 also report that the Podersdorf Slalom event entry list was over-subscribed and has been raised from 64-man to a mammoth 80-man fleet.

There are still 5 or so wild cards available via long-distance race qualification.

Boujmaa Guiloll's 'Bouj Adventures' center in Morocco is open for the 2009 season.

Yoli de Brendt says there are also still places available on the Fanatic 'Windsurf Labor Wave Special' camps in Morocco.

Taty Frans' pre-season Slalom preparation is off on the right track.

The Four Dimension movie team posted an interview with 'Brawzinho' on their Blog.

Nice shot from Vandal.

PWA wavesailor Phil Horrocks has signed with Plasma.

Worldwide Whirlwind

A Cyclone windsurfing adventure from Sean. Yikes.

WINDNews magazine [Italian language] is out now.

Some Polish MauiSails riders enjoyed Western Australia - includes a short Margaret River wavesailing clip.

Continent Seven have a link to a clip of wavesailing in Tarifa (Andalucia, Spain) and Carro (France).

Weird.

'Kous' takes you wavesailing near Athens, Greece.

Some more recent Maui windsurfing shots from Makani's Maui Windsurfing Blog.

Victor Fernandez 'getting high' at home.

Planche mag have a video link to footage of the new XO brand sails in action.

Finally, if you didn't see the video or vote on the Goyta/Air Taka Poll to the right, please check it out and register your opinion! Thanks.

That's all for now folks. Gotta dash and see about some real work...

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.

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.

Back in Effect

Many wave-crammed days and a training course later and Beach Telegraph is back in action.

With the dust settling from the Cabo Verde event it's time to get back up-to-speed with everything going on.

So much has happened that I gotta draw a line in the sand and just start from here instead of catching-up.

Actually, just sticking in Cabo Verde for a minute, you'll see that Graham Ezzy won the Super Session.

www.Windinfo.eu sent the flyer above for the Boardshort Picnic Windsurfing Camp (German language) in Gargano Italy.

Continent Seven editor and PWA racer Chris Pressler's been enjoying himself and winning in Vietnam.

Epic Sessions has been giving great webcast service in Maui during the past week. And GP thinks it's about time the PWA offered even a low budget version themselves. What do you think? Should they wait until they get a high-quality rig and the extra budget to staff it and host it, or should they just give us action in any way possible?

Just bear in mind though that although it's easy to park at Ho'okipa and do this, but other competition areas are harder to capture as the contest areas are huge and you'd need extra people to film edit and commentate, plus all the additional radios and someone to coordinate - which all costs money even on a low budget scale.

Don't forget to check GP out on the Flowrider at Kihei too.

Hotsails have been enjoying some Tandem action.

Before the 'line in the sand' WIND mag sent these links to videos of  Thomas Traversa and friends in Big Wave action in France and the consequences.

Boujmaa Guillol is now Blogging.

I saw this Reggae outfit on Twitter thanks to Ms. Porter. I wonder if he inhaled?

Let's not forget 'The Hustle Project' where I hassle the industry for free gear for you guys. Although I've been offline for a week I'm still holding the Fanatic T-Shirt comp open for at least today.

Here's a reminder of the question and details:

How many PWA Events were won by Fanatic Riders in 2008?

Please leave your answer in the Comments section below AND mail me at [email protected] stating why you want the shirt and like the brand for when I choose the winners. Thanks.

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.

More soon. Please leave links to anything you think I've missed in the Comments section below.

Outta Here

OK so I've seen a forecast for wind and waves and have decided to hit the road for a few days while the PWA have the spotlight in Cabo Verde with their live ticker updates, daily summaries, up-to-the-minute elimination ladders and photo galleries.

There's a couple of Bloggers covering the event too like  Spirit of Ponta Preta, Pietro Porcella (Italian language) and Andre Paskowski - plus don't forget the official event website.

The forecast says it's gonna be pumping there this weekend and early/midweek again. Hopefully it's gonna go off where I'm headed too...

Elsewhere, www.EpicSessions.tv are streaming live from Ho'okipa, Maui! You can live chat the camera and ask for specific zooming-in et cetera. It's in 'Beta' so please be patient. 

Please be sure to send a big thank you to David Troup for bringing you this service.

Quite a few sites are running the Pre Cabo Verde PR sent out by Fanatic. You can see that release and the pics at Boardseeker and www.Surferworld.it

SailLoft invite you to visit their newly-launched website.

If you're hungry for more news and content then please look at the list on the Links page - and feel free to add more suggested links in the Comments sections.  Thanks.

Enjoy the contest and I'll be back in action as soon as the wind and waves back off. I'll also announce the winners of the Fanatic T-Shirt competiton then too...so please keep sending your answers and I'll pick the winner when I'm back.

Tales from the Road

A hairy 24 hours in Cabo Verde for PWA wavesailor Dario Ojeda.

With that in mind, should you plan trips thouroughly ahead or Roll the Dice?

The Moussilmani twins though have been enjoying life at home in the South of France...

While big bro Cyril enjoyed his first ventures on his new Starboards in Western Australia...and joining in boss Svein Rasmussen's SUP madness on the way home in Bangkok. (French language - or use Google translate.)

But, Starboard team mate Boujmaa Guillol got battered with a 5 thousand US excess baggage bill (French) leaving the WA photoshoot. Ouch.

The UK announce their 2009 GPS Speed Ladder and posted the final 2008 top speeds.

U-Ride have a link to a wavesailing video from Gran Canaria.

The PWA report on Alex Mussolini's new deal with Tabou boards. Hopefully their Cabo Verde Event Preview will go online today or tomorrow too with the first pictures of the warming-up.

Here's Skyeboy's on-location report of what's happened, or not happened, so far.

OK back to the 'The Hustle Project' where I help you score great stuff from the industry. Once again there's another Fanatic T-Shirt to be won for a person who correctly answers:

How many PWA Events were won by Fanatic Riders in 2008?

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 AND mail me at [email protected] stating why you want the shirt and like the brand for when I choose the winners. Thanks.

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 [email protected] 

Globe-Trotting

Windsurf Journal (French Language and Google translated page) have a useful news link to a windsurfing travel resource on Maui, Morocco, Maui, Australia and more by globe-trotting Frenchman Jérôme Pajaud.

Roberto Hoffman, who's also the PWA's excellent commentator, is hosting clinics with Italian Tour Operator Hollywind in Dahab, Egypt next month.

Here's some more pics of Kauli's Quad - looks like the Quatro logo's been removed now...

The Fanatic T-Shirt comp is still open...a lot of you are really showing your age.

Quadimoso

Here's some news from Kauli Seadi in Cabo Verde.

And here's what Josh Angulo says about Kauli and those much talked about Quatro/JP Quad-Fin boards. "Kauli showed up early in Cabo Verde. His hunger to win here again is evident and his sailing is looking up to the task.

Just  as most people are striving to try and mimic his unique style by riding similiar twin fins, Kauli has been sailing here on a  little Quad.

He's shown some clear moments of brilliance on it and looks as though, when he gets them in the groove, that he's got great drive to propel him to where he wants to be on the wave.

All in all , I'd say Kauli is definitely on the extreme edge of R&D, and here in Cabo Verde he will be the main challenger for the title."

Windsurf Journal (French language) have a great story on a great achievement by a great man. (Google translated version here.)

Some nice pics of Chile on the Ezzy Blog.

Nayra Alonso's still in WA on the Starboard shoot. Is McKercher letting one rip in that underwater shot?

Phew. It's hot in here.

Gulp. These'll cool you down.

Hee's some information on the 2009 Raceboard and Mistral One-design World Championships.

Please check back in for more later - and who knows? Maybe I'll announce the first winner of the Fanatic T-Shirt quiz?

Stash

Bad news for youngster Philip Koster. The queue to get into the Cabo Verde World Cup just got one body shorter. Here's wishing Philip a speedy recovery.

And a change in gear for Nik Baker according to Windsurf Journal. (French language - or Google translated page here.) Congratulations to Nik too on the growing family.

NeilPryde treat you to a video adventure in Morocco with Fabrice Beaux. What a great 'double frames section'.

Andy had a 'sick-o slick' session on a new stick.

I wonder if Baker, Mistral  and Pryde want to contribute to our 'Hustle' project to get you guys some booty? Let's see.

First out of the blocks to toss-out the freebies is Fanatic who've got some T-Shirts for questions I'll be asking in the coming days - plus you have to say why you want the shirt and like the brand for when I choose the winners.

Please leave your answer in the Comments section below AND mail me at [email protected]

I have to say there have been some great offers so far, but some of the goodies won't even be available until the of the month, and some are coming in April - so there's lots to look forward to - and hopefully even more.

OK. Question 1 for a Fanatic T-Shirt:

What is the longest-running name of a board model in the current Fanatic range?

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.

Tuesday Late Edition

GP mounted the Go Pro on his mast. What do you think?

There's swell headed towards Hawaii - but not enough to run The Eddie. I'm sure our Maui Bloggers will capture all the action at Ho'okipa for us though.

Josh Angulo took some time to talk you through his new Magnum Slalom board range. (I wonder if he'll launch any Higgins, Rick, TC or even any Zeus and Apollo models?)

C7 interview Jonas Ceballos.

WIND are showing a clip of Levi Siver on his new Goya sails with English text from Levi, sail designer Jason Diffin, shaper Keith Teboul and the Snr. Goya himself.

Here's a Press Release I got from the Fanatic Boarders Center in Fuerteventura about some girls camps.

FBC Fuerteventura (Flag Beach) will be offering exclusive GIRLS ONLY KITE and SURF CAMPS this summer. Held over 7 days the camps will include all instruction and equipment, self-catering accommodation, all transfers, beach parties, yoga, daily lunches, girlies goodie bags with lycra, t-shirt, Aloe Vera beauty packs and more..! Camps will be held over various dates in June, July and September and are suited to beginners and intermediates. Book early to avoid disappointment!

For more info and bookings [email protected]