viernes, 31 de enero de 2020
Surfest 2019 Newcastle, Australia - Finals Day
Surfest 2019 Newcastle, Australia - Finals Day
Surfest 2019 Newcastle, Australia - Finals Day
Surfest 2019 Newcastle, Australia - Finals Day
Surfest 2019 Newcastle, Australia - Finals Day
Surfest 2019 Newcastle, Australia - Finals Day
Surfest 2019 Newcastle, Australia - Finals Day
#Windsurf DEFI WIND JAPAN 2020 PREVIEW
DEFI WIND JAPAN 2020 PREVIEW
DEFI WIND JAPAN 2020 – Top guns and weekend racers are in the starting’s blocks!!
Quick brief
The Defi Wind Japan kicks off tomorrow in Miyakojima!
Albeau, Dunkerbeck, Mortefon, Cousin and many more top guns will compete!
107 riders includings pros and amateurs are expected on the start line tomorrow.
The north wind allowed some good training over the past days and should blow tomorrow.
Blessings and traditional shows opened the event tonight.
REPORT
The Defi Wind Japan 2020 begins tomorrow! More than 100 riders will be gathered on the starting line from tomorrow on and for four days on the heavenly spot of Maehama beach in Miyakojima (Okinawa, Japan). Japanese and European weekend racers will have the opportunity to take on the many champions who have made the trip, such as the reigning PWA Slalom world champions Pierre Mortefon and Delphine Cousin. Of course, they will also be able to compare themselves to the living legends Antoine Albeau (25x World Champion) and Björn Dunkerbeck (44 x World Champion). For this first competition of the season between the best windsurfers in the world, we can definitely trust Arnon Dagan, Taty Frans, Jordy Vonk, Antoine Questel, Julien Quentel, Alexandre Cousin, Marion Mortefon or Kevin Grosjean and many others to give the crowd favourites a run for their money. The game is extremely open so clever is the one who could bet on the podium for tomorrow’s long distances. The north wind has been blowing well those past days to delight the participants already present, with many able to work on their perfect gear setups! Wind should continue to blow tomorrow to start the first race in the morning. According to local tradition, the Defi Wind Japan 2020 was blessed through a traditional prayer gathering all the participants tonight.
After the lively opening ceremony of traditional Miyakojima shows, the start time was given as 9 am local time tomorrow morning! Stay tuned !
The post DEFI WIND JAPAN 2020 PREVIEW appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/3b08np2Nat Young Crowned in Morocco, Pro Taghazout Bay Highlights
jueves, 30 de enero de 2020
#Windsurf 2019/20 UKWA WINDSURFER OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED
2019/20 UKWA WINDSURFER OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED
The UKWA is proud to announce the winner of the 2019/ 2020 Windsurfer of the year has gone to James Dinsmore and say, “James is a very worthy winner of this prestigious award and will top off a great season for him winning for the 7 consecutive years the UKWA Slalom champion. Which has never been achieved before. This is despite tough competition from seasoned racers and up and coming youngsters. James is a fantastic windsurfing ambassador and well respected by all those who come in contact with him and he always finds the time to assist those around him within the windsurfing community.
In addition to his racing credentials, he just such a modest, approachable guy. He was also instrumental in and continues to coordinate the local Windsurfing Slalom Training series on Hayling Island, many of those racers of all abilities have benefitted from his dedication and a true ambassador to the sport.”
Bob Ingram UKWA chairman said, “I am very pleased to be presenting James with this award, having know him for many years and his lovely family. I couldn’t think of a more worthy winner and glad that the public thought so as well. I am convinced he will use this year as Windsurfer of the year to good effect and inspire others to take up and reap the rewards of windsurfing competition.”
Well done to all the other praiseworthy nominees who gave a James a run for his money this year, Pete Young (speed), Clare Elliott (Freestyle), Mark Kay (Racing), Phil Horrocks (Wave) all of which have done an exceptional job in their discipline and we wish them all well for the upcoming season.
The post 2019/20 UKWA WINDSURFER OF THE YEAR WINNER ANNOUNCED appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/2GFl8rg#Windsurf THE HARTY 2020 JERI MASTERCLASS
THE HARTY 2020 JERI MASTERCLASS
Yet again Peter Hart’s Jeri Masterclass found that perfect blend of fun, coaching and action in one off the world’s most vibrant venues.
Via Peter Hart
The post THE HARTY 2020 JERI MASTERCLASS appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/38VA4h4Breaking Down The World's First Double Backflip On A Snowmobile | w/ Daniel Bodin
miércoles, 29 de enero de 2020
Surf Breaks | Gabriel Medina, Billy Kempler, Kai Lenny, Remembering Kobe Bryant, Paige Alms
Anchor Point Fires for Moroccan QS, Pro Taghazout Bay Highlights
It's ON! Day 3 of the SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach
It's ON! Day 2 of the SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach
It's ON! Day 1 of the SLO CAL Open at Pismo Beach
#Windsurf JEM HALL | SPIN LOOP
JEM HALL | SPIN LOOP
Jem Hall talks us through this loop clip;
Check out some nice angles of the forward loop, AKA Spin Loop, shot in Tobago, and pick out how I get over the board and pop the board & then steer it downwind in the air as I really throw the rig forwards and across me initiate the rotation. Then it is all about pulling up and in on the back arm and leg as you see the clew (LOOK BACK). Get out there and DO IT 🙂
The post JEM HALL | SPIN LOOP appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/2S3yQt2Alone On The Wall: Fabian Buhl's Rope Solo Mission | Living Legends S4 Ep3
Air Copeland on WSL PURE | One Ocean presented by Outerknown
martes, 28 de enero de 2020
Epic Surfing in Morocco, Pro Taghazout Bay Highlights
#Windsurf SAM ROSS | WINDSURFING QUICK TIPS: STANCE
SAM ROSS | WINDSURFING QUICK TIPS: STANCE
Quick tips from Sam Ross, here he explains how your stance can affect your sailing.
Learning to windsurf and unlocking new moves can be challenging, but with this weeks windsurfing quick tips you will learn how to have a better stance. Keeping and increasing your speed is all about having the correct stance. Being able to quickly adapt to choppy conditions is a prerequisite for all else.
Quick Tip: Hook In – squeeze out and backwards with your hips
Keep an upright back to keep an upright rig so you can keep your board flat.
Looking for a new board to suit your style, Starboard has the widest range of windsurfing boards in the world so you can be sure to find the perfect board for you, no matter your weight, skills or discipline.
Check out Starboard 2020 Range and find the perfect board for you: https://windsurf.star-board.com/produ…
You can find more information about Sam Ross and his work as a windsurfing coach here: http://www.sam-ross.co.uk/windsurfing/
Video By: https://www.lightboxfilm.co.uk/
The post SAM ROSS | WINDSURFING QUICK TIPS: STANCE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/2O3qSPmlunes, 27 de enero de 2020
Thiago Camarao Dominates Day 3 in Morocco, Pro Taghazout Bay Highlights
#Windsurf KOS | THE FORGOTTEN PARADISE
KOS | THE FORGOTTEN PARADISE
Flo Ragossnig and Olli Anderson put the spotlight on Kos.
The post KOS | THE FORGOTTEN PARADISE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/2tYch11domingo, 26 de enero de 2020
Round 1 Completed at Anza, Pro Taghazout Bay Highlights
sábado, 25 de enero de 2020
Rio Waida Lights Up at Anza, Pro Taghazout Bay Highlights
viernes, 24 de enero de 2020
What Happens To Your Body When You Climb | w/ Shauna Coxsey
Jadson Andre | The Lineup | WSL Podcast
jueves, 23 de enero de 2020
Kolohe Andino Talks Tokyo 2020 Olympics | Surf Breaks
miércoles, 22 de enero de 2020
WSL Big Wave Awards Nominees Announced! | Surf Breaks
Leith Sharp on WSL PURE | One Ocean presented by Outerknown
Proudly Moroccan - The Ramzi Boukhiam Profile
What Happens To Your Body When You Climb | w/ Pro Climber Shauna Coxsey
Winter Bouldering In Triassic || Cold House Media Vlog 103
martes, 21 de enero de 2020
Surfer in the Super Bowl?! 49ers Raheem Mostert's Surfing Background | Surf Breaks
Matthew McGillivray Battles for CT Qualification, Vans World Cup of Surfing | Sound Waves
Travel 7 Days Across Europe Using Only Red Bull as Currency
lunes, 20 de enero de 2020
Isabella Nichols' s Gorgeous Edit from Indonesia | SURF BREAKS
domingo, 19 de enero de 2020
Triathlon LIVE Feature: Mario Mola (Spain)
Save The Shark, Mick Fanning's New Documentary | SURF BREAKS
viernes, 17 de enero de 2020
El Eterno Debate Del Grado: "Viaje Morfo" Decotada De 9a+ a 8c | EpicTV España #7
jueves, 16 de enero de 2020
Bouldering In Ceresole Reale Is Like Nothing We've Seen Before
#Windsurf SAM GREEN | JERICOACOARA
SAM GREEN | JERICOACOARA
Video from Sam’s 6 week trip to Jericoacoara in 2019.
The post SAM GREEN | JERICOACOARA appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.
Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/2QWpBf0miércoles, 15 de enero de 2020
Custom artwork by Lea Hoffman on triathlon products
Rally Car Driver Tries To Survive A Stunt Plane Flight | w/ Catie Munnings & Philipp Haidbauer
WSL PURE | One Ocean presented by Outerknown: Episode 7 - Léa Brassy
martes, 14 de enero de 2020
LA GRAVIERE ON FIRE - 2020 Winter Swell in Hossegor
lunes, 13 de enero de 2020
#Windsurf JEM HALL | STRATEGIC MOULAY MOVES
JEM HALL | STRATEGIC MOULAY MOVES
JEM HALL
MOVE ON UP – WINDSURFING TECHNIQUE
STRATEGIC MOULAY MOVES
One of my favourite questions on a coaching clinic is, “What is more important sailing strategy or good technique?” The answer is often technique, yet unless we have a sound strategy we cannot utilise our technique. So with the help of two of my students – Gøril Hjelseth and Martin Delaney, I will highlight the strategy of how to sail a side-shore wave sailing spot, using the example of Moulay in Morocco, and give general pointers to help you get the best out of your local wave spot.
With Jem Hall // Photos Nicolas Jones.
www.jemhall.com
(This feature originally appeared in the Nov/Dec 2019 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available.
THE ESSENTIALS
These are the main areas we should work on:
• Fitness and strength. Without fail, the fitter and stronger people on my clinics, and also the most determined, get the best out of themselves and the location. They can handle harder conditions and they also recover better too. Moulay can be brutal, the warriors survive more battles.
• Tough Hands. This is one of the many challenges we have in our sport. My recommendations are get in the water, this being WindSup in light winds, foiling or freemove sessions on bigger sails. Gym time, kettle bells and the Concept II rower also helps. My last tip is not to ‘over sail’.
• Trinity. My fastest improving wavesailors have the best basic skills and have the trinity of skills needed to develop and control power; i.e. – early planing (learn to get planing from the straps), board speed and upwind sailing. You can build these skills up on a freemove board.
• Wind range. Moulay, and many wave breaks, will call to account your ability to cope with both light wind sessions and fully overpowered sailing. Therefore, if the wind drops, stay out and learn to wobble out on your gear, or try and keep planing. And if the wind really cranks, get comfortable with being uncomfortable and learn to keep the board in the water and get the sail light when you can.
• Tail up jumps. Yes you have heard this before and yes you definitely need this skill so get out there and jump a lot, few are jumping as much as they could. A good tail up jump with a slick getaway will see you having more fun and also actually getting out the back.
“ Unless we have a sound strategy we cannot utilise our technique.”
Launch in the right place & walk carefully on the weed at Moulay.
The wave riding over the main peak rocks at Moulay can be smooth even when very windy.
AREAS TO ADDRESS
To formulate our strategy, these are the areas we should focus on:
Tides
The correct tide makes a big difference to a spot. High tide in Moulay is hard, riding the wave downwind can be safer than you think, but you can lose your gear on the rocks so be sure you really want to take the risk. Low tide is fantastic upwind in front of Lawama’s guesthouse, with one hour either side of low tide for the best ramps and rides.
Area
I have already mentioned that high tide can be hard at Moulay and it is best to sail the peak more downwind and that low tide is best upwind, so we are now left with the main peak, which is best on mid tide. For a beach at home this might mean you move up and downwind to find better sandbars. For example, I might have had a good session at low tide Lawama’s and then as mid tide comes in I head back downwind, come in and tune and get some food so I am ready for mid tide mayhem at the main break.
Launch
It sounds obvious, but launch at the right spot and follow local guidance. In Moulay, Bruno at Magic Fun and the local legends like Soufian, Fettah and Boujmaa can show you the spot where the rocks aren’t as bad and this is almost right in front of Magic Fun. Launch and land there too, or you can end up in some of the deep rock pools! If you are on the beach and someone loses their gear then go in the water and try and hold onto it to keep it off the rocks. If you are heading out and you think you are not going to make it, do a chicken gybe / tack and live to fight another day. Take time to see where the channel is (deeper water and less steep waves) and use this to get out. In Moulay it runs from just upwind of the police station, at a diagonal.
Jumps
• Absorb, spot and choose – this is your mantra. Get over all the bumps and see the peak you want to do a bigger jump off and hit it.
• Take time to locate all the peaks, as on a rock break the waves peak at the same spot.
• If it is bigger, then jump off the last wave of a set.
• If you are learning to forward loop, then do it early in your run so you don’t get intimidated by the bigger ramps further out.
• If you want the back loop then do it off the steeper ramps; right ramp = right rotation.
• Long flat planing jumps are very very useful so have them in your repertoire so you reach the bigger peaks fast and ready to fly.
• Port tack jumping finesse will help you learn / improve aerials.
Rides
• Set waves rule, so find these and get into the rhythm of the ocean and if you have made a bad call get off the wave onto the one behind but make that call early.
• Even when it is windy, and there are plenty of bumps, wait for a good wave, as these will be way smoother.
• You can get some great empty waves by tacking or gybing onto a wave that looks very appealing.
• It is easy to get dragged upwind on the main break and then ride the less good section of the wave, so ensure you wait on the wave and be ready to charge downwind to get the better bowls.
• Don’t ripple ride! If it is a small wave, get off it or take it upwind to get in position for a full speed jumping run.
• Hit the right sections that are makeable and know that most of the peaks in Moulay don’t throw top to bottom, so you can hit the lip later than you think, if you have the skills and timing!
Even when small at Moulay, there are so many jump and loop options, perfect for learning.
Do the right jump off the right ramp.
Transitions
• Gybing on a good wave can give you a great ride, so even if you might not be upwind enough still take what you have been given.
• On bigger waves when a big peak confronts you it is very clever to gybe downwind onto the wave to pick up the less steep part so you can get a clean face.
• Tacking onto a sweet wave is a great feeling and also can sometimes give you priority and a great starting position.
• Tack on the inside where there is space and the waves are further apart, and also earlier than you think to avoid the rocks.
• Gybe off the wave before it gets too shallow.
• Know that a fast planing inside step gybe will get you a great jumping run on the way out, so get good at these.
• Upwind at Lawama’s, gybe / tack close to the inside rocks so you get the time to get speed for both the inside and middle peak for jumps.
Recovery
My last tips are to find some time to work on your recovery by stretching, getting on a foam roller and a light jog / fast walk to ‘flush the toilet’, i.e. wash out the waste products and soreness from all the action. Don’t ‘over sail’ (a.k.a. under learn / practice mistakes) and hydrate effectively.
Tuck up, fly and enjoy.
Kit
At Moulay I use 5.3 and 4.0 sails mainly, and 4.7 perhaps the least. I use my RRD 82 Wave Cult board the most, but also use my 92 a lot; bringing 2 boards is highly recommended. Many bring smaller sails and use them!; the hairdryer has a lot of power in Morocco.
Gøril Hjelseth’s Moulay tips
Age: 45.
Favourite spots: In Norway – “The Beach”/Alby, Framnes, Moss. Abroad – Punta San Carlos, Mexico; Moulay, Morocco and Hanstholm/Fish Factory, Denmark.
My top tips for the spot:
• Always listen to tips from coach Jem and Bruno from Magic Fun, especially regarding tide, when to go out and where to launch and sail.
• If waves and no wind – SUP! You will learn to read the waves and it will improve your ability to catch waves when windsurfing.
• Waves and a light breeze: take a bigger board and go for wave rides, even though you are not planing.
• Learn to tack both ways before getting to Moulay. It will help you catch more waves and stay upwind. In light winds, heli-tack on the inside.
• Use the last part of the wave/whitewater to get upwind.
• Try to get out through the channel where there is less whitewater.
• Body drag to avoid the potholes coming in, and on the way out to get you to deeper water and over the rocks.
• Do not eat too much of Cecilia’s delicious food if you are going windsurfing after lunch!
• Bring earplugs if you want to sleep through donkeys, prayers and roosters!
Martin Delaney’s Moulay tips
Age: 50.
Favourite spots: Avon, my local, Kimmeridge and Gwithian.
• Avoid rush hour. Moulay is popular these days and can get busy, which can sometimes make getting the best waves a bit of a bun fight. Get in an early session when the wind is a bit lighter and there’s less people out and if you can save something for an evening session when every else is too knackered, it’s often the best session.
• Sail Lawama’s. If you’re looking for a confidence building session, or are a newbie to wave sailing, head upwind to the break in front of Lawama’s at low to mid tide. It is quieter than the main break and you can get some nice waves for riding and jumping, but the wave tends to go fat on the inside resulting in a nice easy area to gybe/tack and then get some speed back out for jumping.
• Hit the peak. Once you’re a bit more dialled in, hit the sections on the main break. It’s all too easy to keep riding the wave upwind and away from the action, take the plunge, gun it down the wave, crank some sections and then gybe out downwind of the main break, it usually results in an easier sail out as well!
• Bootie call. It can be a tough walk out at low to mid tide over the rocks, but I’ve finally manned up to sailing without booties. Probably worth throwing some in your bag though just in case you do hurt your feet and you need to keep sailing.
RRD boards, wetsuits & softwear, Ezzy sails & Black Project fins sponsor Jem Hall. Get him live and direct on one of his highly acclaimed coaching holidays, but be quick as they are selling out – check out his website www.jemhall.com for more details. You can also follow him on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram.
www.jemhall.com
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Windsurf Magazine https://ift.tt/2Rc2CeVWeek in Review, Jan 11: Slater's Space Mission
2020 Cabreiroá Pro Las Americas Teaser
domingo, 12 de enero de 2020
#Windsurf PRO LIFE | LIVING THE DREAM?
PRO LIFE | LIVING THE DREAM?
Are the current crop of pro windsurfers living the dream, or has life as a pro sailor become a stressful job involving pressure with a tonne of associated hard work for meagre
rewards? John Carter does some research whilst on assignment for the Starboard team’s photo shoot in Western Australia.
Words John Carter, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Lennart Neubauer, Boujmaa Guilloul, Jaeger Stone, Matteo Iachino & Gonzalo Costa Hoevel // Photos John Carter
John Carter – “The playing field has vastly changed for a professional windsurfer over the past decade. With the advent of social media, stiffer competition and less money in the pot, even the world champions have to work harder to justify their salaries. Competitors halfway down the fleet have now closed the gap through hard grind in the gym, winter training camps and boosting their profile and sponsorship opportunities by promoting their lifestyles and passions on the internet. All in all though, life as a pro sailor has become a tough survival of the fittest battleground as sailors vie for the limited sponsorship deals up for grabs. So with this increased competition and workload in mind, I posed the question – are pro windsurfers still living the dream? Of course there are benefits and perks, but with the amount of hours they put in, is the training and testing all worth it at the end of the day? Let’s face it, back in the heyday of windsurfing, most of the guys at the top did a lot less and were paid shed loads more!
I decided to investigate and what better place to do some research on the subject than on a ten day trip to Australia with the Starboard ‘dream team’ on their annual photo shoot, as surely trips like this are the icing on the cake for any pro rider? The sailors invited were Philip Koester, Matteo Iachino, Jaeger Stone, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Boujmaa Guilloul, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, and young German freestyler Lennart Neubauer, with the team all piling into seven heavily laden vehicles for the mobile shoot. It was a good mix of world champions, experienced campaigners, up and coming talent and even a young grommet. Taking part in something like this, an all expenses paid shoot in Australia, is surely what these sailors dreamed about when they were aspiring pros? Complaints about being a pro windsurfer would probably seem churlish to most but perhaps there is a side to their profession that we don’t get to see; read on and decide for yourself if they really are ‘living the dream’!
SARAH-QUITA OFFRINGA
Are we living the dream? To me that depends on how you look at it. From the outside I feel like it looks very glamorous, which technically it is, but I can assure you that everyone is hustling hard to make this life happen. Travelling and windsurfing for a living is a lot of fun, but it can be a bit lonely some times, and carrying all this baggage with you all the time is the least fun part. But for now I would still choose this life over a ‘stable’ 9-5 job simply because of the freedom I have right now.
Generally it’s a very free life and you get to fill in your calendar the way you want to. Nobody tells you what to do. As a professional windsurfer you are your own manager. So this is definitely what makes all this fun but that’s also exactly what makes it hard. To sum up a couple of aspects. There is no coach that tells you what to do, you need to motivate yourself to go to the gym, to put the hours in on the water (which is usually a lot of fun), but I also have days where I completely lose motivation because I’ve been out there too much, or I just can’t land a certain move, so I need to remind myself every now and then to enjoy my sessions. There’s no manager, so you book your own tickets, organize accommodation, and promote yourself on social media since that has become so important to sponsors. When the contests come around, it shows if you were able to put it all together to finally perform the way you want to. I think the hardest part at the moment is that from windsurfing itself no one is earning as much as before, so everyone is working to a small budget, or they have extra jobs on the sides. Everyone hustles a lot to be able to live this windsurfing life. So for that reason I think that literally everyone is in it for the love of the sport. There are only a handful of riders that are earning enough to live off of it, but not enough to say they’re in it for the money. Talk to any windsurfer on tour, and they will all explain it in their own way, but the underlying feeling is that they’re all in it for the love of windsurfing.
I love competing, but the moment the contest is over, I’m probably happier to go out for “free sessions” again without time limits or move restrictions, just to enjoy the pure joy of windsurfing itself. In my opinion something that sets windsurfing apart from other sports, is for example, when people retire from the tour and travelling from contest to contest, you can be sure you will meet them in Cape Town, Australia, Mauritius, Brazil or the Canaries, any of the hot spots of windsurfing really, still chasing the best conditions and looking to improve. I mean, I’m sure that’s what I’ll be doing after my pro career.
Right before the competitive season, I feel like it’s a nine to five job when I’m behind the computer a lot looking for the cheapest tickets, finding accommodation and organizing car rental. Once I have that stuff done and am actually on a trip it’s a lot of fun. Once I’m at my training destination then I fill my days with going to the gym and hours on the water. And this is the fun part. So being on tour is both my favourite thing as well as a grind. I love all the people I’m surrounded with and have an absolute blast sailing with the best in the world and all the adventures we go through together make for ridiculous stories. At the same time we’re competing which adds some pressure and stress to your days. And when it’s a couple of contests in a row, for example for me when I do all three Canarian events, even though I love it, when I arrive in Tenerife after 6 weeks in nuclear Pozo and 10 days being sandblasted in Fuerteventura, I’m absolutely knackered. Then the European leg is up, which I do enjoy, but the wind isn’t as consistent so we don’t get enough sailing, unlike in the Canaries, and after 2 months that usually starts getting to me. So I’m quite happy around October when I get to fill in my days with my own trips for the off season.
As for the photo shoot, I would say that the Starboard trip to Australia is ‘living the dream’! We discover beautiful places and get to sail spots in breathtaking surroundings. But it is hard work. We often put in 12 hour days. And it can get stressful for everybody if the conditions aren’t the best and we all know we still have a bunch of boards to shoot. In the end it’s not about one sailor and one board, it’s a joint effort to shoot the whole range and end the photo shoot successfully. Even though this year for example I was struggling a bit to keep up with the demands of shooting, by the end of it I’m always satisfied, because I think we’re working together under special circumstances and there’s always highlights and experiences that I’ll remember for a long time. Whether it’s a big BBQ with the crew and the local kids, or that one time we were chatting so much while driving to Esperance and we didn’t notice we were running out of gas. We ended up on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Thank goodness the next gas station was 8 km away. And it only took an hour to hitchhike there and back.
The main highlight is just sharing amazing sessions on the water with my teammates, like great conditions at Margaret River or sunset sessions at Esperance. Overall I feel a photo shoot promotes the carefree and fun spirit of windsurfing amongst the riders and feels a bit magical. Usually when I’m training somewhere I try to make it to the gym 3 times a week depending on the conditions. If the conditions are great I will go to the gym less and just try to get a lot of time on the water. I have on and off computer days depending if I need to organize trips or not. When I’m in transit in Holland or in Aruba for a break I try to meet up with friends and family as much as possible. And if I’m on a trip I just enjoy the time I get to spend with the people there. Lots of BBQ’s, and drinking coffee are normally involved. As for social media, when I’m on a roll I’ll post once every day on Instagram and a couple of ‘Instagram’ stories. Which is usually only during contests where there is some news every day to update my followers. On Facebook I share more articles and interviews rather than just picture updates. But everything I post is usually windsurfing related. I rarely share more personal things, except for my coffee and banana pancake habits. The other stuff I’d rather keep to myself.
I do feel a bit of pressure to perform well and stay at the top to be able to sustain the lifestyle I have now. As far as I’ve noticed, if you’re at the top in one discipline as a guy you can be okay. But maybe that’s only the case for slalom and some of the wave sailors. I know the freestylers are struggling. I’m good, because I’ve been in the top in all three disciplines. As a woman you don’t earn enough from one discipline even if you’re at the top. Not from the sponsors, and not from prize money because there aren’t enough events, keeping in mind that technically you’d have to travel all year to train for these contests. Ultimately that’s just where the windsurfing industry is at the moment. Windsurfing is a much smaller sport than what it used to be and I think maybe even the companies’ business models aren’t adapted to a smaller market. Gear is really expensive, which makes it less accessible to the broader public. I mean, I also don’t know exactly what the solution is. All I know is that this is an amazing sport and people should experience it! Once we figure out how to make it more accessible and the sport grows, everyone will benefit again.
BOUJMAA GUILLOUL
Oh yeah, you hear it? Photo shoot in Australia! Who doesn’t dream of doing such job!? We might look annoyed sometimes by the way the shoot is organized to make the most out of time and forecasts, but it has to be done that way and in the end I am very happy to be part of such an experience. Being a pro sailor is not like it was at the beginning of my career, nowadays every cent counts when you are travelling and trying to keep a spot within the team. The brands are having a hard time to survive themselves with production getting more expensive and all the other factors that affect gear price. At the end of the day it is not a tough life, we still get to do what we are most passionate about. I still have the chance to travel places and windsurf with the most talented people around the world.
I personally have a simple contract where I get travel costs covered to go places I want to go and sometimes places where windsurfing is important. I don’t like writing reports as part of my work, but in general I have nothing to complain about compared with regular people’s jobs, like working in an office 9-5! I have never felt like the life of a pro sailor was a job! When I am home in Morocco my days are mostly spent teaching windsurfers who want to improve their skills. I love to be able to inspire other windsurfers, but after teaching is done in the afternoon, I still spend a lot of time sailing myself.When I try to work on my windsurf centre and do all of the paperwork and keep it professional, that takes energy out of me, but windsurfing for Starboard, Severne and Mystic is a dream life I could never have imagined of when I was a kid, and I am very grateful to have been given such an amazing journey.
“We still get to do what we are most passionate about.”
PHILIP KOESTER
I think we are living the dream honestly. You get to travel a lot and if you are doing well on the tour you can make a pretty decent living. It is not like a football player’s salary, but for windsurfing we can still do pretty well. Right now it is harder to make money because there are less events than there used to be and there are a lot more social media duties. A lot of brands just check to see how many followers you have and judge you from that. That is basically the new kind of work we have to do. Years ago it was just magazines. They are still important but now people are also looking at your daily posts. It is just a bit more of a mixture of how you promote yourself. Years ago an interview on the TV was the biggest thing and now if you have 50/60,000 views on a video it is also very valuable. I find it a little bit weird, but now it is a bit easier for everyone to connect with the general public. It is part of the job for me. I probably should do more to get more followers, but I am doing ok right now! I try to focus more on contests, media in Germany and magazines but I think I am a bit old school. I have 35,000 followers on Instagram and Facebook, that’s not too bad. I never really worry about it.
Photo shoots are still the dream and Western Australia shoots I enjoy the most. You get to sail so many spots and it is quite relaxed. I never see it as a job, it is just a few hours a day. You are just doing things you enjoy anyway, we are sailing and taking pictures, what is not to like?
“I never see it as a job, it is just a few hours a day.”
MATTEO IACHINO
I think it all comes down to how passionate you are. It’s not an easy life but I would say that there are much worse jobs out there! For sure it’s not like how it was back in the 90s, you have to work more and for less money. Either way we are still windsurfing for a living and that’s it. If you don’t like it, it might become a nightmare, but if you love windsurfing it’s another story.
Whilst in Western Australia this year I competed for the first time in the Lancelin Ocean Classic, which was a really fun competition. I managed to win it and then we moved north to Geraldton and then Gnaraloo with the Severne guys to wave sail. It was all really cool. Back in Perth I started working with Ben Severne on the 2020 racing sails until the Starboard photo shoot began. We mostly travelled in the south of the state, chasing the wind, waves and light to get the best shots possible. I loved W.A., it was my first time and I really hope I’ll be able to get back there soon. I had the chance to visit all the coast from Gnaraloo all the way down to Esperance and I really like the conditions for windsurfing and surfing and the vibes form the Australian people. So when this period of time comes under the role of my job duties you could say I am ‘living the dream’!
Aside from the shoot my main duty is competing in the racing disciplines in the PWA World Tour. Basically every PWA slalom and foil event. Then I have to be ready to go testing with the R&D team two or three times per season and I have to be available for one photo shoot per year. These are the major duties nowadays of pro sailors. I try to be as professional as I can and to put in all the working hours every day. But I like this too. I like competing and I love travelling.
And if I compete I love to be as ready as possible knowing I did all I could to be the best in the next event. Like this I live my days better, more relaxed and I actually enjoy it quite a lot, even if that means a lot of training in and out of the water, testing and so on. Usually at home I try to get on the water as much as possible windsurfing. If there are waves I love to be on the water surfing too. I try to go to the gym two or three times a week and one or two times on the mountain bike if it’s a week without much wind. Then I also have some duties for my non windsurfing sponsors. As I travel a lot, when I’m back home I’m loaded with stuff I couldn’t do because I was away and I spend a lot of time solving these problems. As for social media, I don’t love it, but I just see it as something you have to do if you are a professional athlete these days. I try to post minimum four times a week. It gets easier after a while. You have a lot of cool pictures and videos and you just try to use them the best way possible.
GONZALO COSTA HOEVEL
In the past, for sure the photo shoots were a living the dream situation, but after more than fifteen years doing it, it feels more like a part of the job duty. I obviously still enjoy it, but these days I want to spend as much time as possible at home with my family as I am away for events a lot during the year. I would say it is still great to be a pro windsurfer nowadays, for sure the job is slightly tougher than some years ago, but we still travel to beautiful places and we live the beach life all year long, so you can’t complain. On the racing side we now have foil as well. So there is more time on the water required than years ago as we can now sail in lighter winds. In the past it was hard to be fast in all wind conditions in one discipline, imagine what it is like with two now.
When travelling to events we end up taking a lot more gear – all the slalom kit plus all the additional foiling stuff, so for sure the hassle at airports has not become any easier. We have many events, around 7 PWA on the racing side, so plenty of trips during the year. I am also pretty involved in developing sails, boards and foils, so besides my normal quantity of hours sailing for myself, I have to sail a lot for the testing side of things. It is a lot of fun as I get to try a lot of different designs and have learned a lot, but the days are tougher for sure! I would say most guys are doing this for the love, not the money. Sure the top guys make some decent money, but if any of us would have been aiming to become “rich” we would have certainly took other jobs. Some periods of the year you need to train or sail more and you have to make an extra effort until it feels good and you are happy with the results. I live in Tarifa, in the south of Spain, if you ever have been here you would know everything starts pretty late! I spend the morning with my wife and daughter, followed by a mid-morning gym session for around 2 hours. Then it’s a good lunch, some more family time and then an afternoon session testing or training for around 3 to 5 hours and finally back home at 8 p.m.!
“I try to be as professional as I can.”
JAEGER STONE
Ha ha! Life as a pro windsurfer is definitely not as tough as so many other jobs. I think no matter what, we’re all pretty lucky! Being a professional windsurfer is a great opportunity and it’s also a choice. The hardest thing for me is probably missing home, friends and family, but there are so many positives to being a professional windsurfer. You get to travel, learn and experience unique opportunities and basically get paid to look after yourself and go windsurf! Now who can complain about that? As everybody is aware, the windsurfing market isn’t booming, so budgets are always going to be tight. I think even the best paid guys are still doing it mostly because they love windsurfing and realise how good a life we live.
Taking part in the photo shoots is still a very cool experience! Western Australia is so amazing for windsurfing, so to be able to prioritise 10 days to chase the best windsurfing conditions, with some of the best windsurfers and photographers in the world is heaps of fun. There are requirements that need to be met though and that nearly always creates an element of stress, particularly if the weather doesn’t play ball, but that all makes it more rewarding when it does come together. Photo shoots in Western Australia are always fun though and I love sailing sick breaks like Esperance with a bunch of friends. We are showcasing the new gear and representing our sponsors and windsurfing in some of the best conditions in the world! We are all filmed and photographed doing what we love, you can’t complain! Most days in Geraldton during the summer are windy all afternoon so I’ll usually surf or go to the gym in the morning and then windsurf. It’s always best late, so I often stay at the beach until around sunset, then eat and sleep. In Maui and the Canary Islands it’s a similar routine, but I often windsurf earlier in the day and have a couple of sessions. I also enjoy trying to do some regular work as well though, so if the opportunity is there I’ll often try and do some physiotherapy work when I’m at home. It’s nice to have a balance. I think the most important aspect of being a pro sailor is to represent your sponsor in a positive light. That means promoting their products and representing their values.
Every brand and company is different but I think they’re the main points. Then there are the other duties such as social media or general media requirements, representation, attending certain events, competing, research and development and photo shoots. I would say most of my life is based around windsurfing though. That’s my priority so everything else has to fit in around that. Sometimes I don’t feel like windsurfing, but I think that’s like anything, you go through phases and sometimes just need to take a step back or mix things up to keep it fresh.
LENNART NEUBAUER
It was one of my biggest dreams to go to Australia generally, but to go there for the annual photo shoot from Starboard was even better. Since I started windsurfing my one goal was to reach the top, become world champion and a professional windsurfer, that’s still the one BIG goal for now. Being a pro sailor is definitely my dream job! But I know to achieve that takes a lot of very hard training and many hours on the water. I had a lot of highlights during the trip, such as sailing in over mast high waves at Margaret River while being followed by a helicopter. Also testing the newest 2020 gear at some off the most beautiful spots in the world like Esperance was amazing. That was just a taster of being a pro and now I am hungry for more!
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