Beach Telegraph

Give us a Clew

If you live near Sydney, it's the Aussie (Asia Pacific) Premiere of The Windsurfing Movie II on August 12th! You have to go - it's for charity...

The Butterfly Effect is hitting Cabarete.

K4 Fins (as-featured in the June issue of Windsurfer International Magazine) now have a Blog and new Quad models available.

WIND Magazine are fascinated by Finian Maynard's Magic Clew...

The Freestyle starts today at the PWA Fuerteventura Grand Slam.

It's hard to find details of the 2010 Maui race Series online, but this weekend it's the 2010 NeilPryde  State Championships at Kanaha. 

I heard a rumour about free beer and food but otherwise there's a new organic food van to help you refuel at Kanaha Beach Park - Aloha Grinds!

Spartan Warriors

Here's a couple of snaps of Mikey Clancy (shot by his Dad - MC) from our super-fun weekend session on the beautiful west coast of Ireland.

Mikey, Oisin, myself and a few others hit Belmullet and enjoyed a nice little reefbreak wave and a sweet beachie right next to it - you could ride both waves on the same run back in.

Thanks to Cormac (below - on the reef) from Coláiste UISCE center for sharing his waves with us.

MC Senior even took one of me when the sun came out. Thanks Mr C!

You can see more great shots of Mikey in a slideshow at his website and Blog.

Slammin' at Mexicos.

WIND magazine 335 is out now!

May's issues features the low-down on a winter's development with Cyril Moussilmani and the 2010 Starboard iSonic Slalom boards, plus, Fabrice Beaux reveals his discoveries from a 9-month exploration in Indonesia.

There's also an extensive investigation into Quad fins after some solid testing and quizzing of top riders and shapers on Maui.

More talk from Gollito about the possibility of the PWA swoopin' into El Yaque in May...although some say that event might be scheduled for the end of the year..let's wait and see.

I promised you that The Hustle Project would be back - and it is - bigtime!

This week you can win some sweet Lycras/Rash Vests from generous, quality British wetsuit brand Spartan  - who are also offering a Wetsuit to the winner of the 'Grand Finale'  quiz this Friday.

If you want dedicated windsurfing wetsuits, tough enough and warm enough to survive a British winter, (or even a British 'Summer'!), then look no further.

So to kick things off today, for a Rashie, please answer this question and say why you want a Spartan Rash Vest so much.

Q1 In what year did Spartan first start making wetsuits?

Please leave your answers in the Comments section below and mail your answers to me. Thanks.

Over the Falls

(Timo Mullen - Ho'okipa April 1st)

Congratulations to Taty Frans for his record-breaking crossing.

A new iPhone surf check app from Oakley.

News of a new inland comp called 'Bavarian StyleKing' in Germany, which is set to attract big names as well as talented locals on the landlocked scene.

EFPT and PWA rider Ruben Petrisie is already booked-in

Couple of good (French language) April Fool's gags from WIND magazine we missed yesterday...including Dunkerbeck's switch to Kiteboarding and the new PWA Masters Tour.

Guru coach Jem Hall sent in some good news from the Bring Back the Swansea-Cork Ferry campaign which many of you readers have supported.

Jem says it's looking good for trips to County Kerry for travelling to one if his wavesailing clinics in October!

A Whale of a time on Maui.

Speaking of Maui there's a treat for you guys in store this weekend from David of the Epic Sessions Blog.

David says "Keith Teboul, Jake Miller, Pascal Bronnimann, Levi Siver and I are joining forces for a team webcast - though I think Levi is still in Europe judging a snowboarding comp. Still, its gonna be sick!

We should be webcasting all days - Friday/Sat/Sunday."

A bit more April foolery from Timo Mullen (pictured top) who sent in these pics from Hawaii.

"First day on Maui, just getting into sailing starboard tack again, Ho’okipa was good size, logo/mast high but loads of east in the swell so not exactly epic, anyway I get worked on this one wave, swam for my gear and sail back out, then I see my arm has a gaping open cut!

The new fins I had been trying were pretty sharp and I guess I must have hit them when I went over the falls.

(Nice Gash)

The Lifeguards patched me up before heading to Maui Memorial hospital for some stitches. 

(Matt's Cutty)

I'm staying at UK PWA slalom sailor Matt Wemms' house while in Maui so you can imagine how surprised I was to see Matt turn up at the hospital one hour after me with a pretty deep cut on his chin, somehow he had got washed on the rocks and slipped and hit his face on a lump of coral! 

(Matt's Cut)

Fortunately the Dr who stitched us both up was Dr Ben Massenburg winner of his age group at the Da Kine Maui  Slalom series so we were in good hands and hopefully with his help we can both get back in the water ASAP!! 

(Dr Ben)

Other casualties that day were Micah Buzianis, who I heard hurt his [previously injured] leg wavesailing at Ho’okipa."

Many thanks to Timo, Matt and their photographic assistants.

Here's some more windy windy Maui GoPro footage from Kanaha Kai.

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!

Samba and Rap

Two new videos to announce today. Here's the most important one first.

There's been a lot of windsurfing rap videos out recently. Too many.

But I'm sure you'll agree this is the best one...and hopefully the last word on the issue. Please. (Thanks to Andy and Sjors for the heads-up and performance.)

Andre Paskowski's new 'Samba' flick, supported by WindJeri Pousada, was released today. There's a bunch of new tricks in there so get watching.

It's gonna be everywhere so here it is directly.

WIND Magazine noticed this Severne 'compact' proto in Morocco, here being used by Nayra Alonso. Interesting foot and bottom batten cut huh?

Naish or Ferrell?

Pietro Porcella is a proud father indeed. (Images and Italian language.)

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.

Frothing

Loads going down today so here we go with a 4th posting for all you foaming-at-the-mouth wind-news-hungry freaks. If it 'aint on here it 'aint happened yet...or I'm asleep.

Bart wrote in and suggested we have a look at his great new insight-into-Maui-life Blog from Kanaha Kai Surf Shop.

It's already rammed-full of video and pics so my bet is we're going to be seeing a lot more from the KK gang.

North posted this video of their UK rider Graham Woods training in Cape Town.

There's tonnes of Cabo Verde Super session clips posted around the web, but here's a couple 'o good 'uns from WIND mag.

Angulo posted video of his heat against Kevin Pritchard during the PWA Cabo Verde World Cup.

Boardseeker have some deals from windsurfing Travel Co. Club Sportif posted to destinations such as Tobago and Mauritius travelling from Europe.

Please leave any links to anything else hot in the Comments section below so I can get some frickin' rest. 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.

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.

Quiet Before the Storm

Chris Pressler got some pics of Bjorn Dunkerbeck on his new wave sails in Fuerteventura.

WIND TV have a nice little flick of young PWA Carribean wavesailing star Camille Juban and Oliv' Lafleur in action at home in Guadaloupe. (French language.)

It's the 'quiet before the storm' elsewhere with most sites running the PWA's Cabo Verde Event Preview. 

During the event I'll try and pick the best of the bunch of all the bloggers and sites covering the competition for you.

I really hope all the good non 'time sensitive' stories don't leak onto the web and that there's some quality tales and images saved and developed for print magazines.

More Road Trip mishaps - this time for Nayra Alonso.

Now, you know my rules about not mentioning K*^tesurfing on these pages? Well here's another exception due to a local byelaw ruling in the U.K as posted by Boardseeker. (Tip: Click on image to enlarge.)

Don't forget the chance to win another Fanatic T-Shirt competition is still open...

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.

Sunrise to Sunset

GP gets up early and enjoys Pro-less Ho'okipa. I'm glad he liked yesterday's weather link too...

Windsurf Journal put Kauli And Victor Head-to-Head.

Freestyle film wizard Andre Paskowski announces another new release due March 9th - including 5 new moves from Gollito.

An interview with Josh Angulo at Maui.ee

Some good fun had in Asia with Chris Pressler and the Starboard crew.

Various pics from a heavy session at the 'Isle of Cows' in France including Thomas Traversa, Thierry Belbe'och and Erwan Jauffroy at U-Ride and WIND. (And in another post at WIND.)

Gollito went racing.

Hot Sails have signed a new Speed Sailor.

I see the Starboard Futura Charity Auction has crossed the 2 Thousand bucks mark. I don't know what the charity or cause is? I'll ask them. I wonder if it's something environmental like Surfrider as mentioned in our Poll?

An event to mark something important for Italian readers.

Someone lucky's off to Maui.

Shut Down

***EDIT*** The link apearing here earlier to a story regarding the alleged retirement of PWA Freestyle sailor Normen Gunzlein has been removed at Normen Günzlein's personal request.

Günzlein stated that the Q&A interview with him that  appeared on windsurfersmag.de was factually incorrect and has demanded that it also be removed. 

In the meantime I have asked that Normen clarify the situation directly for you himself on these pages as soon as possible.

Here's some hope for the next generation  - according to WIND magazine (French language) Camille Juban has finally earned entry to the PWA Cabo Verde World Cup.

Get bidding people - it's for charity.

Island life.

More Go Pro action from GP.

Manu'i day from The Black Local.

Totally Twisted...

A week or two ago I forgot to mention this UMI Pictures video of Victor Fernandez in Brazil on Boardseeker. Watch out for more from UMI in the coming weeks.

Windsurf Journal have an exclusive interview with Karin Jaggi. Here's the Google translated page.

Fresh from the water at the Farmers' Market.

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.

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]

How Deep?

Deepfried.tv went deep. Real deep.

Happy Birthday Naish.

Be afraid. He's back.

Bill loves the smell of fresh print in the morning.

Another great 'on-forecast' competition format in the UK. This time for Freestyle.

Severne officially announced their signing of Karin Jaggi today. Isn't that amazing that she's got 27 world titles? How many sportspeople could say that?

Apparently Bjorn Dunkerbeck is the most successful sportsperson ever in terms of world titles. He has won 35... so far...and like Jaggi also sails for Switzerland and Severne sails.

WIND magazine are like a dog with a bone with the PWA right now. First there was the Defi Wind date clash with the PWA Korea World Cup, and now they're outraged that Albeau (French language) can't get into the Cabo Verde event.

It's tough, but a lot of riders, including some who did well at Ponta Preta last season, can't even get into this 32-man limited entry event. I guess that proves how high the standard is.