no. 44. December 2008
Maui, Hawaiian Islands
Peter Volwater joins MauiSails MauiSails is celebrating thirty years of windsurfing with the addition of Peter Volwater (NED 24) to their International team of representatives. Peter, 34, began windsurfing in the late 1980’s and has been a top performing competitor since 1996. He has been recognized for results in Speed, Slalom, Formula, and Waves and his hard charging attitude and dynamic presence always make him a standout at any event. Barry Spanier remarked, “I got to spend a lot of time with Peter at the Formula Worlds in Melbourne, Australia in 2005. He was using some of our sails and there was a good connection. Now I am so pleased to be able to develop and tune with him, and expect to see exciting things starting soon in the New Year. I would love to be part of helping to crank up the ‘Voltmeter’.”
Peter will be using MauiSails TR-5 racing sails for all events in 2009. He’s already had some fantastic big wave days at his home break at Margaret River, Western Australia to test the new Legends. He said, “From the first impression using MauiSails in Margaret River, I love my new wave sails! They are soft, powerful and they have a springy (spring loaded) feeling. Especially when the wind is a little onshore and you normally lose power turning up onto the face, you notice the advantage of these sails. And they feel very light in the hands too.”
“Peter brings a depth of professional experience as well as dedication to hard training and raise-the-bar focus and determination. His expressive wave sailing certainly adds to the growing image of MauiSails as a major force at the highest levels of competition and we are looking forward to his involvement in our training and development program.” said Phil McGain, Product Manager and Team Captain.
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Maui Monthly | Our Experience Your Reward no. 44. December 2008
Maui, Hawaiian Islands
Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo from Josh Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo..... Those are the words ringing through the streets of Santa Maria as we come into the end of this great 2008. December was a special month for us. We went over a few hurdles in our business here in Cabo Verde as well as with Angulo boards. I turned thirty-four on December 12, and Jesus turned 2008 on December 25. The swells have started kicking in here in Sal and we’ve had some great down the line wave sailing at Ponta Preta and Little Ho’okipa . As I write this, it looks like it’s lining up for some more good days right at the year’s end. For me December is a culmination of planting seeds early in the year to see them sprout and bring the fruit and the harvest as the new year kicks in. Finishing up the year makes us start getting psyched up and amping for the year in front of us.
When they brought me on a year ago it was a new experience for both of us. Working closely with all of them, and especially Barry, Phil and Artur has encouraged me at a time that coincides with feeling even more comfortable in my own skin on this wild ride called life. The whole MauiSails vibe and level of professionalism really is a step above. I am constantly humbled by the clear authority in what they do and I am right in there watching their back and ready to do what needs to be done at any moment. The windsurfer’s brand, MauiSails... Thanks Guys. I love all you old farts! Josh Angulo, CV-1
Through 2008 I’ve written in a lot of my Maui Monthly’s about my personal life and business ventures etc., and I’d like to take this chance to extend a really big Hug and heartfelt thanks to all the team at MauiSails.
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Maui Monthly | Our Experience Your Reward no. 44. December 2008
Maui, Hawaiian Islands
Many good moments this month I had many good moments this month. December is always very good here in Brazil. Now its time for party and do everything I want with my family and friends. My parents they have vacations now and we are going to the beach everyday. Also me and my dad we are playing tennis almost everyday. Play tennis is my favorite hobby, its a nice game that mix the mental and phisical power. I think I getting in a better shape now doing this everyday. I’ve been doing a lot of sports during the day.Normally I’m going to surf or wavesailling in the morning ( the waves here now are very good,always some nice north swells ) or if the wind is light I practice slalom or Formula, in the afternoon I go to the gym with my aunt,she is my personal trainer, we have been doing really nice trainings at the gym.At night I have the tennis battle with my dad.And sometimes we play some doubles with the guys there.
My brother and our friends they just arrive from Maui.They had an amazing time there.They bought so many things. They arrive here with a quiver of Kazuma surf boards,all kind of shapes.Now I’m starting to practice a little bit of surf with my friends.But I think I’m not so good doing this!!! Our Christmas was amazing.All the family together for a big dinner at my grandmother’s house.Now we are planning our new year’s party.I think we are going to a nice beach in the north of Fortaleza,there we can surf and go for wavesaling. Aloha, Gabriel Browne BRA-50
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Maui Monthly | Our Experience Your Reward no. 44. December 2008
Maui, Hawaiian Islands
Another year bites the dust! Good bye 2008, wow another year bites the dust! I started December on top of the world, well 10,000 feet anyway looking down on Maui from the Haleakala Crater. It was Jessie’s Birthday on the 1st and we thought what better way to start the day than watching the sunrise. It’s pretty surreal driving up in the dark and then getting out in the sub freezing air wearing as many cloths as possible and still being cold. Then heading back down to the beach and being hot in shorts! The rest of the month was spent here on Maui, there were some more great wave sessions early on and still loads of other pro’s on the island which always makes it fun going sailing. Peter Volwater was also here for most of the month and we both got stuck into a high intensity gym program which is always a good idea before the festive season really kicks in and being healthy goes out the window!
As Christmas approached most of the guy’s headed off to the 4 corners of the world, to spend it with family or friends. The wind also headed off in a funny direction and got stuck coming from the east, which makes the North shore a bit too offshore and a little gusty. I took this opportunity to have a little break from sailing and took the last week or so to recharge the batteries and enjoy a family Christmas with Jessie and her Parents on the West side. I hope all you guy’s had a good 2008 and would like to wish you a great 2009 with lots of wind and waves. Aloha, Dan Ellis
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Maui Monthly | Our Experience Your Reward no. 44. December 2008
Busy last month of the year for Artur December was another busy month starting with a trip to China to finalize the TR-5 designs. I had a chance to check all pre-production samples at the factory and give them one last round of fine-tuning as they are sent to production. We have developed a good relationship and communications with the staff and Management of the factory and this really helps when overcoming any bumps in the road and achieving the final top quality product. Despite having established a very rigorous collection of design details and assembly procedures it is still important to occasionally meet, face to face, with the factory staff to ensure correct execution. It is also great to get to know the actual people, on the other side of the world, that you are exchanging emails with every day. I am afraid however that it’s going to take me many more trips before I go for the big, black, chicken feet for lunch. Once the last of the designs was complete and off to production it was time to take a breath, pack up and head home to Maui. The TR-5’s are going to be sick.
Maui, Hawaiian Islands
It was a great feeling to come home and see my wife and 3 year old daughter. I was only gone a week but I think that’s a long time in a 3-year-olds mind. The holidays arrived at the perfect time and it was nice to relax at home with the family. We are already back to work on the 2010 wave sails and waiting for the first samples to arrive. The 2009’s were already working really great but we still have some good ideas for tuning them up even more. Our objective is to continue in the direction of good power and range with super-light handling and a soft feel. We also have some exciting new materials planned. The forecast looks promising for the wind and waves to kick back up so we should have some good “testing” sessions coming up. Aloha, Artur Szpunar
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Maui Monthly | Our Experience Your Reward no. 44. December 2008
Maui Christmas! December is history December is always the month when everything gets wound up like a watch and ready for next year. There was absolutely no shortage of things to do and challenging situations. But as with most things in life, another day brings solutions and relief from worry. Art went to China in the first part of the month to finalize the TR-5s and make sure the production QC is all organized. While he was gone, we were communicating hourly as the details and changes made themselves apparent. Art did superhuman efforts the last two days to assure all the sizes would be ready for measuring and registration with the PWA, and I’m sure when he got home he was ready to rest. If you get one of those killer new designs, you have to be thankful for all his dedication to getting things right.
Maui, Hawaiian Islands
At Christmas I had the gift of a visit from my eighteen year old son, Cutter. It’s been a few years since we had these holidays together and those days were very happy and satisfying. Our celebration was mild, but being able to have both sons at the table made the season a real blessing. I hope that all the readers here will be having a happy and prosperous New Year, and that you make every jibe, and never have to walk back upwind for any reason. 2008 has been an absolutely fantastic year and is closing with nothing but positive thoughts for the future. There are still plenty of dreams to chase, and lots of room for everything to get better and better. Remember, if you feel bad... go sailing. It’s the CURE! Aloha, Barry Spanier
We saw the opening of Josh’s center in Cabo Verde with a huge new collection of MauiSails and began to organize a possible Phil/Barry/Josh slalom clinic for the spring. And there have been several additions to our competitive level in both Formula and Slalom, as well as a top wave sailor and a major name in freestyle. The New Year will see us making formal announcements of our new associations. There is already a stream of feedback that will help to continuously improve all aspects of the MauiSails range.
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Maui Monthly | Our Experience Your Reward no. 44. December 2008
Maui, Hawaiian Islands
A year to reflect on success Another year gone by and MauiSails had an extremely successful year both on and off the water. Products are getting better, our business logistic’s have gotten more streamline and we are continuing to look at improvements in all areas. We continue to hear from our loyal customers that they love and enjoy our products and we are gaining more happy customers each week. Art took a trip to China in December to put our TR5 race sails to be bed and prepare for an on time production run. We made the deadline for the PWA sail registration for the 2009 racing season and registered all sizes from 10m to 4.3m for PWA slalom racing.
Work has already begun on the 2010 products, which always poises the question, “how do you improve an already great product”. We will with baby steps and careful planning in the R and D department. Now already into 2009 we look forward good winds, good sails and good health. Aloha, Phil McGain
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