Windsport Vol.29-3 No.125 by Pete DeKay

INSIDE:

HOW TO VULCAN : : MARGARITA RIDE GUIDE : : NAISH’S NILS ROSENBLAD NORTH AMERICA’S WINDSURFING MAGAZINE

GO BIG LEVI SIVER BACK LOOPS 52'7" AND WINS HO'OKIPA JUMPOFF +

LARGEST SAIL TEST EVER!

EARLY SUMMER 2010

DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 31, 2010

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c e r o F THe YoUNGeST WINDSURfeR eVeR?

At only 19 months of age, Samuel Hintner may be the youngest windsurfer on the planet. Here in Abu Soma, Egypt, this rookie finds perfect conditions along with beautiful sunshine and warm water. His parents, Egon and Franzi, manage the Planet Windsurfing centre here and have made a custom 0.8 m2 sail for him to ride. With this early start to his windsurfing career, who knows what the future will hold for Samuel. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Axel Reese

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t s a c e Samuel shows perfect form. Reemedia.de photo

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Features 54 Project Reflex

Does Severne Sails have a perfect balance between athlete, designer and technique?

60 Go Big or Go Home

Three takes on the Windsport/ShadowBox/ EpicSessions.tv Ho’okipa Jump-off.

66 Positively Mozambique

Spreading a needed message while windsurfing in this African country.

74 Exposure

Our big and beautiful photo gallery.

80 Sail Quiver Test

The Windsport test crew evaluates 30 sails… this is more than ever before.

On the Cover

Rider: Levi Siver Photographer: Maxime Houyvet “It was a perfect day for jumping at Ho’okipa, so I was very happy to be shooting the Jump-off event. I’ve never seen windsurfers go that big before and Levi Siver definitely deserved to win. I hope we can do it again next year.” —Maxime Houyvet

contents one

Volume 29, Issue 3, Number 125

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Racing in Martinique. K. Pritchard photo

exposure

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contents two Volume 29, Issue 3, Number 125

Upfront 12 Forecast: The youngest windsurfer 18 Launch: I suck at golf and racing! 20 Balance Point: Love letters and hate mail 23 In the Wind: How to windsurf through life

Departments 38 Radar

Going big with Philip Köster 40 Quiver

Sarah-Quita Offringa’s new gear 42 In the Lab

Naish sail designer Nils Rosenblad 44 Ride Guide: El Yaque, Margarita

Critical info about this hot spot 46 Get Better Here

The best way to learn how to Vulcan 96 Getting Real

With writer Huck Fairman 98 Close Out

Gingrich’s take on The Windsurfing Movie 2

Filming Four Dimensions in Egypt. Persson photo

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launch I Race like I Golf… If my enjoyment of windsurfing had continued on the path from what I experienced at one of my first competitions, I would have given up long ago. It was on Lake McConaughy, in Nebraska, at a late-’90s Toucan Open. I remember schlogging off the starting line on my 152-litre Bic Techno amidst the massive pack of longboards. I manage to bear-off onto a plane and hold a super-long reach in hope of making the upwind mark in only one tack. A respectable three tacks later I find myself alone at the mark in utter amazement. Did I miraculously find the only wind on the course and make it here first? I feel the adrenalin suddenly start pumping though my veins when out of the corner of my eye I spot my closest competition tracking me in their sights: a rotund 60-ishyear-old lady on a prodigious Mistral Prodigy. I watch in stunned amazement as she cruises up to the buoy, throws down a sick rope-tack and is off past me toward the second mark, leaving me in her dust and in last place. She even had the gall to smile at me as she passed rubbing salt into my wounded ego. Game on! I had a new reason to race: to beat this nice old lady (although I didn’t use the words “nice” or “lady” at the time) like she’d never been beaten before. We exchanged places frequently around the course with her getting the last laugh (literally) crossing the finish a few board lengths before me. I can still hear her shrieks of joy and see that distinguished look of victory plastered across her face. Sucking up my pride I approach her to offer my congratulations. It turns out she didn’t even know I was out there, let alone racing against her. She is simply stoked to have just finished her first-ever race. It will be a memory she will never ever forget… and she is not alone. Ever since, I have been competing in about four or five racing events or freestyle competitions per year. How do I do in them? The closest comparison I can make

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is to my golf game. Most of my shots are pretty bad but passable; probably about what I’d expect for not playing very often. As long as the ball goes forward and can be found, I’m happy. However, every so often I’ll surprise myself. Like the time the group of golfers ahead let us tee-off before they finished putting out on a par three and I hit the flagstick. But I also have the ability to unleash a shot so bad that it ricochets amongst the cars parked a full 90-degrees off the angle I’m aiming. Regardless of whether I come last in a race or am running away from cars that I just hit, it’s that hidden gem that I know I have the ability to produce that keeps me from even contemplating giving up either sport. My proudest competition moment to date (my hole in one so to speak) is from an event I didn’t even attend: the Ho’okipa Jumpoff (see “Go Big or Go Home,” pg. 60). My good friend Casey Hauser just started working for a company called Shadowbox and was traveling to Maui for a month of epic wavesailing. Shadowbox makes cool waterproof GPS units that mount on your board and not only measure the usually data like speed and distance but can also measure how high you go while jumping. During one lengthy phone call we came up with the idea and parameters for what I call an “un-contest” that would attract a lot of attention from the windsurfing world. I call it this because there is no money to be won, no official sponsors and no real reason to compete other than to have a fun time trying to go as big as possible with a group of fellow windsurfers. However, it didn’t hurt that Jake Miller filmed all the action, producing a sick online video, and that I’d promised to try my hardest to run a feature story with a big photo of the winner in this issue of Windsport. I am stoked to give Levi Siver our cover for landing a 52.7-foot Back Loop… congrats! —Pete DeKay, editor

Who wants to play? Fraser photo

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balance point VOLUME  | ISSUE  | NUMBER 

Write iN aND WiN

PUBLISHER EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR ART DIRECTOR

Dakine’s Coast Cooler Pack is a must for all die-hard windsurfers. Keep your brews cold in the bottom half and ﬁll the top with whatever else you need to bring to the beach. drop us a note at letters@windsport.com and you may win.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR COPY EDITOR

PWA CORRESPONDENT

John Carter Andy Brandt

PRODUCTION DESIGN

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Patrick Bergeron

INSTRUCTIONAL EDITOR

ADVERTISING TRAFFIC COORDINATOR

SUPer InSPrItAtIOn

I really enjoy the magazine and especially the equipment reviews. In the spring issue I was excited to see what all the manufacturers were up to. The way the review was broken down was a nice way to compare the boards. However, my favourite brand, Mistral, was not included with any of its new boards in the review. I realize Mistral boards are more popular in Europe, but I was wondering if there was any reason why it was slighted? Feels like someone didn’t ask my girlfriend to dance because she wasn’t good enough for them. Is the brand in trouble? Ryan Gerber, London Ont. The new Mistral boards were not available at test time, but look for them soon. Check out windsurfing.mistral.com for the latest. —ed.

Stephanie Lake

Franck Berthuot, Jock Bradley, John Carter, Nancy Erickson, Richard Hallman, Jerome Houyvet, Maxime Houyvet, Ingrid Johansson, Clark Merritt, Kevin Pritchard, Axel Reese, Michael Sumereder, Benjamin Thouard, Paul Van Driel

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Where’S MIStrAL?

Luke Fox

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGS

TEST EDITOR

Just got the new mag, and it’s so great to think about the idea of windsurfing again while I’m working 24/7. Do you think Andy [Brandt] will like the idea of the SUP Yoga? He should add this to the ABK Boardsports clinics when there is no wind. I really like the idea and plan to get a SUP this season. Nancy Peck, San Francisco, California Everyone should e-mail ABK and suggest adding on-water yoga to their clinics! —ed.

Dan Parsons

Manu Bouvet, John Carter, Graham Ezzy, Huck Fairman, Mitch Gingrich, Whit Poor, Brendon Quinn, Emma-Rose Rossoff, Phil Soltysiak, Fiona Wylde

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

I enjoyed last issue’s “Build The Perfect Quiver” feature. I totally agree that using complementary boards helps cover a broader range of conditions. For many years, I shrugged off larger boards and sails. I was a 22-year-old New Jersey wind snob. The only board in my quiver was a custom 85 litre and my largest sail was a 5.9 m2. I loved this kit. One day I attended a clinic hosted by Ian Boyd and a local shop (Island Surf & Sail). Ian advised us, “You live in New Jersey and should be investing in bigger sails and boards to take advantage of the local conditions.” I thought, “Ian doesn’t understand how hardcore I am.” It took a long time to realize Ian’s wisdom. I eventually broke down and got a 120-litre JP X-Cite Ride and a Sailworks Retro 8.0. Nothing beats highwind sailing, but on light-wind days, I prefer rippin’ on this stuff to doing the underpowered herky-jerk, and I get many more days on the water. The X-Cite, as your article suggests, is the perfect companion to my JP Freestyle Wave. For days when it’s really crankin’, I pull out my old F2 sinker, and if the 8.0 is too small… I pull out an ice-cold Corona. Paul Mertz, Mahwah, New Jersey I hope you make use of this awesome new Dakine Coast Cooler Pack to keep those Coronas cold while you read this issue’s “The Perfect Sail Quiver” (p. 80). —ed.

Pete DeKay // pdk@sbcmedia.com John Bryja

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MAUI CORRESPONDENT

WInnInG Letter

Steve Jarrett

CIRCULATION AND PROMOTIONS MANAGER CIRCULATION AND PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR CIRCULATION ASSISTANT WEB ADMINISTRATOR ADVERTISING SALES AND PROMOTIONS ADVERTISING DIRECTOR ADVERTISING SALES EVENTS CONTROLLER

Derek Rijff Evan Sue-Ping Michael Moore x243 Mariangela Tesoro Stevie Shipman, Stevie Visser, Mike Fraser Mike Hartman Christina Raymond x252 Ilissa Maiatico Kevin Davis Rick Bruner 509.493.4930 Matt Aiken x223 Jamie Reekie x230 Bill Jones, Peter Jones, Todd Elsley Brian Jarrett

On occasion, our subscription list is made available to organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you would prefer not to receive such information, please write to us at the address below. Windsport magazine is an independent publication published four times a year —Buyers’ Guide, Spring , Summer and Fall—by SBC Media Inc., 2255B Queen St. E., Suite 3266, Toronto, ON, M4E 1G3 Phone: (416) 406-2400 • Fax: (416) 406-0656 E-mail: info@windsport.com • Website: www.windsport.com

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Attention postmaster: Send post office returns, change of address and subscription orders to Windsport, 2255B Queen St. E., Suite 3266, Toronto, ON, M4E 1G3. Publications, mail registration #40036843. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index ISSN 0826-5003

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4/30/10

10:10:11 AM

ITw IssuE 

GeAr, AdVICe & enTerTAInMenT

PEER PRESSURE

Questions for pWa slalom champ Valérie Ghibaudo

THE SKINNY

Graham Ezzy’s perspective on life

PRODUCTS WE LIKE two books by windsurfers for everyone

HEROINE

rs:X racer Nikola Girke is Fiona Wylde’s hero

In THe wInd

GROM WELLNESS MACGYVER INSPIRATION

Girls out cruising. m. houyvet photo

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Valerie Ghibaudo.

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translatIon by PatrIck bErGEron | Photo by John cartEr

Peer Pressure

VaLerie gHiBaudo answers Questions from 10 feLLow pros For current PWA women’s slalom champion Valerie Ghibaudo, 2009 was a year of extreme highs and lows. Find out more about this brave competitor as she responds to questions from her windsurfing peers. PATRICK BERGERON: What’s the

best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? I’ve never been given much specific advice but instead built myself up through perseverance. I have found it important to develop a strong mental game and not give up when the results are not so good. In addition, I think I’ve always had a natural gift for speed on the water, but this is something that I just can’t explain.

SARAH-QUITA OFFRINGA: Do

you credit anyone with helping you win the ’09 slalom title? It was my will to fight along with the ability to manage my stress and turn it into a positive that made 2009 the year it has been. I wanted to work hard for my husband, who passed away last september following a very long battle with an illness. I wanted to leave him this as a message and dedicate this title in his memory. I am very proud to bear his name.

LAURE TREBOUX: What’s your

impression of the women’s slalom tour? this was a great season on the women’s tour. the ability level of the girls has risen a lot. there are more girls on the starting lines, which increases competitiveness

so everyone is more aggressive— though sometimes I am not sure about the fair play of some of the others. resorting to squeezing off the start is not the right way to beat your opponents. otherwise, the atmosphere is relatively good, but all the women competitors need to stay together to keep making a difference to the tour both on and off the water. MATT PRITCHARD: List three things to help improve women’s windsurfing? Equality of recognition for women’s windsurfing, more support from the sponsors and greater respect for the women during the events. LEVI SIVER: Do you think the women deserve their own tour? I don’t think that would be a good idea. sharing events with the men is better in terms of media exposure and from a public relations standpoint. a separate women’s tour would feel far too isolated. mixing of the sexes is important. RICARDO CAMPELLO: You are

really good in slalom; how come you don’t do waves as well? unfortunately, ever since my childhood I’ve been stuck with the ability to only do slalom and speed sailing.

TATIANA HOWARD: Do you ever plan to train in other disciplines such as freestyle? my shoulder handicap also impairs me for this discipline. I do cross-train a lot by mountain biking, which is not recommended by my doctors. I also admit that since my husband left for a better place I don’t do much anymore. I am having a hard time finding a meaning for my life… only my daughter has kept me from giving up on a lot of things.

TINE SLABE: Do you ever find traveling diﬃcult since you always take your daughter with you? I try to bring my daughter to every event though sometimes it’s a little complicated with school. on the other hand, seeing other cultures, meeting new people and communicating with them can be positive for her. We have learned to trust each other when I am on the water. she waits for me to finish racing and I’m never worried about her. I believe this will be a plus in her life. having a child is not a burden to life, but quite the opposite. We have to involve them and let them participate in everything.

FRANCISCO GOYA: How is being

JOHN SKYE: Is your daughter

a shoulder injury in 1996 left me with a lifelong handicap preventing me from trying to compete in the waves. the doctors are still puzzled as to how I can still even windsurf at all.

a parent inﬂuencing your racing performance? my daughter brings me a lot and I want to leave her with memories of an athletic mom who loves nature and the outdoors. she helps me always move forward and when she comes to the racing events with me she shares in my victories and never misses a prizegiving ceremony. Perhaps this can be inspiring to other female athletes who are also aspiring to motherhood. With a little organization, it is possible to be both.

windsurfing yet? margaux, who is nine, windsurfs in the summer the same way she practices other sports such as judo and horseback riding during the winter. I will never push her into sports. I don’t necessarily wish for her to take the same path that I have, as I believe individuals have to make their own path in life. so she can follow the path of her choosing… under the watchful eye of her mother of course.

VALERIE GHIBAUDO: SEVEN YEARS TO REMEMBER : My adventure started when I won back in windsurﬁng prime time at the Tarifa Slalom event. I was sailing a Fanatic Mamba.

: I traveled to Maui for my very first time for an international slalom final. I ended up finishing third overall.

: Beating Nathalie Lelievre at her home spot in Almanarre, France in front of a crowded beach that awaited the winner.

: I stopped racing that year because of a lack of girls competing on the slalom circuit.

: My big return to competitive racing. Margaux, my daughter, had already turned ﬁve years old.

: Winning the PWA slalom title that I thought I’d win years earlier. I dedicated it to my husband who passed away in September.

: We’ll see what happens this year!

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Grom

Words by PEtE dEkay | Photo by hylkE bakkEr

youp scHmit

Age: 15 Sail number: nb-12 Home: bonaire Sponsors: starboard, o’neill, reptile masts, dakine, Jibe city Best trick: culo and kono Trick goal: burner Future goals: to become world champion in freestyle

Hero: kiri thode

If you are looking for a top under-16 freestyler in the world, a great place to start is in bonaire, and in particular with youp schmit. Fresh off winning the under-18 class at the extremely competitive ‘10 curacao challenge (and finishing third against the adults), he is already a standout on any day on bonaire’s lac bay. look for big things from youp in the nottoo-distant future. Youp, mid-Kono.

WHO’S NEXT: UP-AND-COMING KIDS FROM THE DUTCH ANTILLES AMADO VRIESWIJK, bonaIrE

JURGEN SARAGOZA, bonaIrE

STEVEN MAX, aruba

This 14-year-old is equally good in both slalom and freestyle.

At age 12 he is already beating much older racers in slalom.

This 11-year-old is a multiple jr. champ in slalom and freestyle.

Nicholas photo

Carter photo

Nicholas photo

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Wellness

by Emma-rosE rossoFF Photos by Jock bradlEy

SUP YOGA: Lesson tHree

Any workout in a yoga studio is good, but an on-water yoga session using a big SUP or beginner windsurﬁng board is even better on a no-wind sunny day.

Warrior Two (advanced): From downward Facing dog (see Windsport Issue 123, p.28), place your left foot between both hands, shifting your hips open as you bring the outside edge of your right foot perpendicular to the board. tuck the belly in as you lift your torso up and extend the arms wide apart, reaching, but softening the shoulders, elbows and fingertips. keep your spine over your hips and breathe being sure that the forward knee tracks toward the centre of the forward foot, and not in toward the big toe.

Reverse Warrior (advanced): reverse your Warrior two by drawing your torso forward, slightly shifting in your hips and midsection as you activate them to remain stable. reach your left arm toward the sky while gently soften in the shoulders and allow the right arm to gently rest on your right hamstring. Pull the navel toward your spine to activate the muscles of your core. continue to work here by dropping your hips more toward the board. reach your left arm toward the sky to stretch and expand the rib cage and left oblique. breathe, and gently return to Warrior two on an exhale. Emma-Rose Rossoﬀ owns Annahata Yoga in Hood River, Oregon. Find Emma’s previous lessons at Windsport.com/issue125_extras.

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The Skinny

Words by Graham Ezzy | Illustration by Don Jackson

Life lessons learned… from windsurfing

Now is the time when my classmates at Princeton are applying for summer jobs. They say words like JP Morgan, investment banking, money, hedge funds, Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, money, resume, job, career, etc. The more adventurous students try to get jobs at boutique hedge funds or foreign investment banks. And a few stray farther from the norm by doing research jobs or, God forbid, something fun. I, however, will spend my summer windsurfing. Windsurfing as much as possible. When my friends ask me about my summer, I look away and try to change the subject by asking them about something else. If they persist with their curiosity, I have two options: 1) I can fake a seizure or 2) tell the truth about windsurfing. The seizures get a bit tiresome and I don’t like pissing myself, so I’m left with no choice but to tell the truth. I phrase it like, “And I might, maybe, I think, be competing. Or something.” And when they ask, “What do you think you might maybe be competing in?” I’ll respond, “Oh. Windsurfing probably.” Then they’ll become either patronizing (as if I am somehow disadvantaging myself) or simply confused as to how one competes in windsurfing (a sport reserved for Caribbean vacations every five years). Either way, none of these students understands windsurfing, or for that matter, life in general. Windsurfing teaches the most important lessons in life. Windsurfers are a tribe that spans every economic background. The beach bum who dedicates his entire life to the sport rigs up right next to the affluent doctor who spends every nonworking hour hunting for wind. Windsurfers are everybody— actors, engineers, construction workers, chefs, artists, retirees, and politicians—but become just

windsurfers on the water, everyone is equaled by our common master, the ocean. Windsurfing’s second life lesson is about movement. Windsurfing is traveling. The sport has shipped me all over the world—Japan, Mexico, Africa, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Eastern Europe, and more—with culture after culture expanding my worldview. This is obvious. But the guy who never leaves his local lake travels no less. Moving across the water, he still feels the frustration and friction of moving from point A to point B and the elation of finally arriving at B (only to turn around and do

Windsurfing teaches the most important lessons in life. 30

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it again and again and again). At the base level, windsurfers are simply more enlightened than normal people because the sport is one of the truest forms of meditation. People and travel, are both important, but even at its simplest level, windsurfing is still supreme. Moving with the wind, swerving through the chop, and gliding over the water, a windsurfer truly becomes one with the world. The mind actually dissolves and becomes hyper-aware at the same time as the body reacts without any thoughts. This is true living; you know the feeling. The other students are missing out on nothing less than life itself. They let their jobs eclipse everything. With 80-hour weeks, every minute that is not dedicated to work is reserved for either

sleeping or drinking (their only stress reliever). They counter any argument by saying, “When I’m old, I’ll be rich enough that I’ll be able to do whatever I want.” They don’t consciously realize that they are actually trading their youth for money (albeit lots of money). James Merrill (whose father founded Merrill Lynch) said in a poem on the early days of Wall Street, “time was money in those days/…But money was not time.” And that is precisely the problem. They are trading their only asset, time, for money, which cannot be used to buy a second youth. Not everyone should spend all their summers or their lives windsurfing, but everyone should try to get in as much time on the water as possible because, in the end, we should be using our time for living.

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Outer Banks

VACATIONS

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tune your saiL on tHe water

Words by dErEk rIJFF | Photos by PEtE dEkay Everyone knows that changing the downhaul tension can increase the wind range of your sail and help you tune it to your needs. The problem is that once you hit the water there’s no easy way to make adjustments so you just stick out the session with what you’ve got... until now.

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It’s easier to do this in shallow water where you can stand, but it can be done it deep water as well. start by positioning the board across the wind with the clew towards the tail.

dig out the downhaul rope from the extension but leave it fully tensioned in the cleat. tie a bowline knot in the rope leaving yourself plenty of slack to work with.

hook the bowline’s loop to your harness’ spreader bar and settle your body back into the water so you can get both feet up against the board’s rail.

Push with your feet. catch the rope back in the cleat by swinging your body towards the nose of the board. unhook and secure the rope and go enjoy your new downhaul setting.

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Inspiration

a cHange in LifestyLe – part 2

he day I had to oﬃcially declare myself homeless in order to renew my california driver’s license was when I fully understood the expression “unconventional lifestyle.” With no permanent roof over my head, except the abk boardsports conversion u-haul, I am living the nomadic life of a gypsy—that being the windsurfing version, with driver’s license. I am the Windsurfing Gypsy. not long ago I was wearing a suit and tie more often than a harness, getting to sail only a handful of times when it was blowing 30 knots, and I had never experienced a windsurfing session further then 100 miles away from my home. now, just a little over 18 months, 30,000 miles driven, and 355 days of sailing later, flushable toilets have become

Follow the Windsurﬁng Gypsy’s blog at windsport.com

Meet the Windsurﬁng Gypsy. ABK photo

windsport

a luxury right up there with television, microwaves, and lamborghini murciélagos, but at least now I own a passport. of course there are many other forms of windsurfers out there living the lifestyle, maybe less gypsy-like, but most likely better smelling than me. let me give a few examples. the odd-jobbers are people who travel around trying to make enough money doing whatever wherever to go sail whenever. Part-timers are people who work full-time hours half of the year in order to windsurf fulltime hours in some windy destination the other half. Finally, there are the professionals who are folks working hard and playing hard while sacrificing what little spare time they

have for the sport they love (at least they have a flush mechanism on their toilet). but once on the water enjoying our sport, we all know that whatever the path was that led us here it was surely worth it. regardless of any bad experiences along the way, the end of our journey justifies any means we go about getting there. so, if you are wondering what life is like on the road, struggling to find ways to add adventure to your sailing, or merely looking for some entertaining reading for the john (whether it flushes or not), join me on my ride as the Windsurfing Gypsy on a path less traveled. —Brendon Quinn

“flushaBle toilets haVe Become a luXury.”

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recommended reading THE BARE CHRONICLES

by barry sPanIEr simply put, this autobiography is a fantastic insight into an adventurous soul. spaniers’ book is a captivating collection of correspondence between him and his mother, tales of adventure in the Pacific, and recipes collected from a lifetime of experiences. the letters are the true beauty of this book. From beginning to end, this read will have you smiling at the elegance of living simply and experiencing life through the eyes of barry spanier. —Todd Eversole

NOAH’S CHILDREN

by huck FaIrman the protagonist of Noah’s Children, ham Warring is a newspaper writer with such strong views concerning environmental issues and our inaction to make things better that it has a real impact on his life. this novel positions mammoth issues like global warming and pollution at a more personal and readable level. Find out more about author huck Fairman’s windsurfing connection in GETTING rEAL, p.96. —Pete DeKay

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Heroine

Interview by Fiona Wylde

Junior racer Fiona Wylde looks up to Nikola Girke Up-and-coming Gorge racer Fiona Wylde sent Windsport some questions she has for Nikola Girke, North America’s top finisher in the Beijing Olympics RS:X women’s fleet. Hopefully Wylde is on the way to following in her hero’s footsteps. Do you remember your first day windsurfing? I just turned 16 when I started to windsurf. My dad and I decided to go to Costa Rica for the Christmas holidays, he wanted to see Volcano Arenal and I wanted to go to Lake Arenal (which I had just

read about in an issue of Windsport) to learn how to windsurf. I fudged the truth a bit and said I already knew how to windsurf, which I totally didn’t! So once we were there he was expecting me to show him what I could do. My first day it was blowing 20 knots

Inspired Fiona Wylde Home: Hood River, Oregon and Los Barriles, Baja, Mexico School: I am in seventh grade at Hood River Middle School, and in the winter I attend the Escuela General Numero 32 in Baja. Favourite gear: Starboard Futura 93 with my Sailworks Ripper 4.2 m2. Launches: North Beach in Los Barriles and the Hood River event site. Best result: Winning the women’s long distance crossing and course racing at the 2010 La Ventana Classic.

Wylde in the Gorge. DeKay photo

windsport

Motivation: When I’m on the water, I love going fast and also the sensation of feeling like I’m flying. This is why I windsurf… it feels great.

and I was on an 8’6” short board. I was determined to not let my white lie be known. Perseverance beats resistance every time and after eight hours I pulled off my first waterstart and was sailing back and forth on the lake. When did you start racing? My first race really was the Canada Summer Games in 1997 on the Mistral One-Design (IMCO), where I somehow managed to win a bronze medal. I had won the trials to represent British Columbia at the Canada Summer Games because the wind was light and I could just get myself around the race course; however, I couldn’t even sail when it was windy on that board. It was super-tippy and completely different to a short board, which I was used to sailing on. Was it difficult to balance school and a racing career? During high school I was on the National Youth Sailing Team, which had me traveling a few times per year, but I definitely still put a lot of work into school. Immediately after high school I continued my studies at the University of British Columbia and earned my Bachelor of Human Kinetics degree. I windsurfed during my time off, and it wasn’t until after I finished university that I put my athletic career into full swing—that’s when I decided to move to Maui and give my goals a good nudge. After a year and a half of pursuing my windsurfing dream, I was asked to crew on a double-handed 470 sailing dinghy. Although I continued to windsurf as a hobby, I focused on the 470, which had my team finishing 13th at the Athens Olympic Games. I really missed

windsurfing, and thus decided to give Olympic windsurfing a shot— on the new RS:X equipment. Do you also do any wavesailing or freestyle? Absolutely. I lived in Maui for a year and a half a few years back and that’s when I really learned how to windsurf. I love wavesailing, jumping and slalom racing, but never really got into the freestyle, although I can do a trick or two! How often do you train? Whenever I can. It’s usually fivesix days per week on the water. I do heaps of dry land training, too. It all keeps me very busy. Where is your favourite place in the world to sail? I love New Zealand! More often than not there is good weather, warm-ish water and good wind that can blow from all sorts of directions, so conditions are always varied. There we sail everything from flatwater or onshore waves. What piece of advice has helped your windsurfing the most? Racing, and windsurfing in general, is all about commitment— especially when it comes to jibing. What is your main windsurfing goal? To win a gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games and to have fun doing it. Is RS:X your favourite type of windsurfing? Hmmm... I’d be hard pressed to honestly say “yes.” Although the RS:X is fun a lot of the time, if given a choice I’d rather jump on a waveboard or slalom kit any day.

Girke in New Zealand. Johansson photo

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radar

Köster always goes big!

PHiliP KÖSter WoRDS bY PeTe DeKAY | PHoTo bY JoHN CARTeR/PWA After winning the ’09 Grand Prix wave event at his home beach in Pozo last year at the age of 15, Philip Köster should be on everybody’s radar this season. He has an impressive array of big air tricks in his arsenal like huge Double Forwards, Tabletop Push Loops ,and he’s not afraid to go for the Push Loop to Forward. Go to windsport. com/issue125_extras for a collection of his best videos. Sail Number: G-44

Age: 16

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Home: Gran Canaria, Spain

Sponsors: Neil Pryde, Starboard, Dakine, Mercedes

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Sarah-Quita’s gear.

SaraH-Quita oFFringa’S FREESTYLE SETUP

PHoTo bY PAUL VAN DRIeL PWA women’s freestyle champion Sarah-Quita Offringa shows off her new gear in front of a windblown divi tree in her home of Aruba. This is the gear that helps her stomp all the latest freestyle moves keeping her at the top of her ﬁeld.

STARBOARD FLARE 88 This board pops really well, which is important for the power moves that are ruling the freestyle world today.

VIKTEAM GIRLS HARNESS This harness is super comfortable. Plus, I love the graphics. VANDAL RIOT 5.2 M2 This sail has loads of power, and the high cut under the boom makes it easy to handle during technical moves like the Kono or bob.

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HOST OF THE CANADIAN MASTER’S WINDSURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

oody

a. W st a.k. o H , h t odwor

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PERFORMANCE CLINIC Thursday, AUGUST 5th Instruction provided by Andree Gauthier

PRO-SHOP

RENTALS

LESSONS

CASH & PRIZES We’ll see you at the ‘Goon @ Sandy Be ach P a rk

in the lab From New Jersey to Maui.

NAISH’S nilS roSenBlaD WoRDS bY PeTe DeKAY | PHoTo bY JeRoMe HoUYVeT For someone who is the brains behind countless number of sails I have ridden over the years, it’s amazing how little I know about Naish’s Nils Rosenblad.

Tell us a little about yourself?

Do you get out on the water much?

I grew up in New Jersey sailing on the east Coast of the U.S. one of my first summer jobs was at a local sail loft when I was 15. I built my first windsurfing sails in my garage in 1985. I’ve always been a “designer.” even as a small kid, I was able to easily sketch anything I could see in my head, and my brother and I built tons of model sailboats and cars completely from scratch. I studied mechanical engineering and industrial design at Pratt Institute in New York City and engineering at the University of South Florida. I relocated to Maui (after living all over the place) in 1987, and have never left. I am also a professional musician.

Way too little at the moment! The birth of my daughter and my ridiculous schedule, plus the fact that my seven-year-old is totally focused on surfing has really cramped my style. everything is finally getting under control, and I will be back on a full sailing schedule by summer. My favourite conditions are using a 4.7 m2 in sideshore winds and logoto mast-high surf.

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What is so great about the new X-166 Ultralight scrim you are using at Naish?

X-166 is real sailmaking material! It’s USA made, ultra light (less than 40 per cent of the weight of most windsurfing laminates),

strong, yet flexible with excellent ripstop properties. The windsurfing industry approached technical laminates from the “wrong” direction: monofilm. Monofilm was an inexpensive alternative to woven materials that turned out to also have a performance advantage due to its extreme low stretch and non-directional nature. When durability suffered, we just laminated yarns onto existing film thicknesses to add some ripstop properties. The result was the opposite of what was happening in high-tech yacht sails, which was to rely on technical yarn structures, Kevlar and Spectra for example, to carry the primary loads, and just use the film to stabilize the mesh.

In 2010, after months and months of “secret” testing (Robby Naish and product manager Michi Schwieger wanted to be 100 per cent sure), we took the plunge with sails that are more than 50 per cent X-166. To achieve this we developed a new “parallel radial” panel layout, and numerous construction details that have resulted in our toughest sails ever. At the same time, we switched to a titanium clew ring, making Naish sails the lightest and strongest on the market. What are you most proud of from your work at Naish?

The fact that I was able to bring serious yacht sail technology to windsurfing sails, by providing better durability, handling, wind range and a lighter weight. None of this would have been possible without Robby and Michi’s commitment to making the best possible product. None of these advances were cheap, but they are well worth it.

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ride guide El Yaque Beach is located on the south side of Margarita Island, not far off the Venezuelan coast in the Caribbean Sea. The trade winds blow from November until May with January through March being the most consistent months for the strong 20-30 knot winds. The wind generally

starts off light in the morning and peaks mid-afternoon. The water is shallow up to 400 yards directly off the beach. beginners take advantage of this area during the morningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light wind and flat water, while the stronger afternoon wind makes this area ideal for intermediates working

on their jibes and pros perfecting their spins. Past the shallow water, sailors can venture out into bump-and-jump conditions created by the wind swell, perfect for the advanced freerider. Windsurfers should avoid venturing too far upwind near the beach, as this is a designated

WoRDS bY PHIL SoLTYSIAK | PHoTo bY RICHARD HALLMAN

Margarita iSlanD, VeneZuela

IND

WINDSURFING CENTRES AND BEACH BARS: THE BEST GEAR AND DRINKS IN THE CARIBBEAN

windsport

kite-launching zone. The remainder of the beach and sailing area is strictly a no-kiting area. A small pier at the downwind end of the beach is a good visual marker for how far downwind it is safe to sail. Past that pier is a light current taking you downwind, possible nasty sea urchins on the

ride guide bottom and most importantly you are out of view of the rental centresâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rescue crews. There are numerous options for people looking to rent equipment or take lessons in el Yaque, including Vela Margarita and Club Mistral to name just two. You can basically pick your centre by

what equipment you want to ride and which languages you want to speak on your holiday. Right before sunset, at around 5 p.m., the rental centres close and beach bars are open for happy hour drinks. oftentimes the local pros, including Gollito estredo and Ricardo Campello, will head

out for an opportunity to have the water to themselves and show-off their latest tricks. They always put on a great show as the sun-soaked exhausted windsurfers at the bars start confusing Konos, cuba libres, Culos and coco locos.

THE OUTSIDE: WIND SWELL PERFECT FOR BUMP-AND-JUMP SAILING

MAIN SAILING ZONE: NICE AND WARM CHEST-DEEP FLAT WATER

SHOW-OFF AREA: AVOID BEGINNERS AND SWIMMERS

DOWNWIND PIER: STAY UPWIND OF HERE

windsport

get better here

How to learn the right Vulcan

Words by Andy Brandt Photos by Pete DeKay

The Vulcan is one of the most challenging moves to learn, yet necessary in order to enroll in the new school of freestyle. There are at least 10 things happening in a half a second during just the take-off alone, so here is what I want you to do: change your gear setup, the way you sail, make your favourite sailing spot the flattest water nearby, try at least 20 times a session knowing you are going to crash for at least another 657 times, and quit you job (optional). I know a eight-year-old and a 60-year-old that can both Vulcan, so quit putting it off… I promise you’ll regret not trying sooner. Getting started. Although not

mandatory, it’s easier to learn on a freestyle board with a small fin. Space your footstraps slightly wider apart than normal in the forward and inboard insert positions and adjust them to fit your foot all the way up close to the ankle. Mast base position is a personal choice with some preferring the faster spin when set back in the track, while others feel a slower spin allows more control. Finally, the small fin makes long harness lines necessary to keep the sail upright and forward away from the fin to prevent constant spinout while sailing in a straight line. It’s best to try on flat water as you’re not trying to pop out of the water very high and a wave can really throw off the timing. Sail on a beam reach (across the wind) in comfortable wind conditions. If over-powered head slightly upwind to allow more control of the clew.

The centre of rotation. In any

freestyle aerial you control the tail of the board with your body and the nose with the rig. Therefore, the centre of the horizontal spin is halfway between our feet and the mast base. It’s easy to understand the kicking of the tail,

windsport

but controlling the board’s nose might be a new concept (read last issue’s “Demystifying New-School Aerials” now online at windsport. com/issue125_extras). Learning to control the nose with the mast base is one of the keys to landing Vulcans consistently. Three types of Vulcans. The Vulcan is the starting point for all new-school aerials. Learning with a proper technique will get you to the next level, the Spock, and beyond much faster. Let’s look at the three types of Vulcans to see which will make life easier down the road. The first I call the “Hucker” Vulcan, which is performed by jumping and spinning the board with only your feet. Kids master it quickly due to pure physical talent and no fear. The board spins around the mast base and the sailor hangs under the boom during the spin. The front arm is extended the whole time making it difficult to pick the sail up on the new side after landing. Unfortunately the “hucker” is nearly impossible to Spock from. Next is the “Loop ’n’ Go” version. Upon take-off the freestyler flies high above the boom with a straight front arm. The nose is

driven backwards with the mast in a forward and windward position, much like in a Forward Loop. As the nose touches down, the mast is thrown back to where it came from and the new side of the boom is grabbed late in the slide. Here, the sail moves forward and back unnecessarily making both the Vulcan and Spock more difficult than they need to be. I believe the “Pop ’n’ Flip” technique is best because it looks the smoothest and leads more easily to future moves. During the “pop” the nose is pulled back and pushed down with the mast, while the rig remains raked back at the correct angle for the landing. Adding a clew snap helps the sail “flip” into its proper final position. Look at the photos on pgs. 4849 showing each Vulcan type at the half-way point. You’ll spot that the “Pop ’n ’Flip” looks the best. A twisted setup stance. Don’t rush or skip any setup steps, as it gives you the best chance of Vulcaning successfully. Place your front hand all the way up to the mast on the boom to help drive the mast base down while vaulting around the boom head. Reach the rear hand back to aid popping the clew

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get better here

on the bounce. Jam your feet all the way into the footstraps and twist them towards the board’s tail. Twisting your knees and feet back helps you wind-up for the spin and will drive the board backwards when sliding. Unhook and hang down in-and-over the board with bent knees. Finally, twist your pelvis (belly button) forward towards the nose and keep your head forward over the board. Try to practice keeping your board speed up while sailing along in this twisted setup stance. The S-turn entry. From this twisted setup stance, imagine doing an S-turn or carving up a wave face and back down again. To carve up the face you open the sail slightly, weight your heels and open your hips forward. before the top you sheet-in, allowing the sail to pull you over the board, rolling your entire body onto your toes to carve back down the wave. In a Vulcan the goal is to bounce the board right at the end of this S-turn feeling. Try doing a real S-turn on your first few pops, but once you have the feeling you can simply fake it. Instead, start your Vulcan with just the motions of opening and closing the body and sail combined with popping the board while on your toes.

Correct Pop ’n’ Flip hand-work.

Proper handwork is key to the Pop’ n’ Flip Vulcan. After sheeting-out slightly on the board’s compression, pull up on the boom with both hands as you sheet the sail in turning your head and shoulders towards the tail. Now, pull the boom back and leeward to yank the nose downwind. once the fin clears the water, release your backhand by snapping it from the boom while both arms are still pulling in and back. This will cause the front arm (and mast) to attack your body. Snapping the backhand hard against the sail’s pull will help it fly across toward your back hip. The more it flies on its own the less you have to push it across later on. Continue to push the mast down and across your back hip (see the “climb out of the pool” analogy next) as you reach for the new side. Continue to push the boom from the new side in a back and windward direction, trying to keep the mast at its original take off angle. If the mast travels forward during the take-off it will end up too far back on the landing. You want the sail to be waiting for you in the proper position as you land, so continue to work on fast and early handwork.

The Loop ‘n’ Go Vulcan.

Climbing out of the pool. This

analogy from AbK instructor brendon Quinn helps you get your body over the boom to ensure a nose-first landing. Imagine trying to climb out of a pool with the wall at boom height. With hands on the pool’s edge you compress your body and then jump upward. on the way up your hands pull down and then push down to continue a steady upward motion until you can flop onto the deck. In a Vulcan this also works. Try pulling down on the front arm after take-off and then pushing it down across your body early in the rotation. This vaulting motion directs your body up into the air higher than normal and keeps the nose low and weighted. Your body’s rotation. on take-off

The Hucker Vulcan.

windsport

the upper body starts rotating towards the tail as the nose takes off causing the lower body to lag behind. once airborne the hips, legs, feet, and tail of the board must catch up and pass the upper body for a balanced landing. It

helps to twist up aggressively during your setup, spin fast once in the air, and keep your back foot tucked-up until the rotation is finished. even if you land short of 180 degrees, a good body-spin followed by a leg-push on landing will drive the board the rest of the way. Landing your ﬁrst Vulcan. As the board lands try to balance over your front foot weighting the new side of the boom with your hands. extend the back leg keeping your weight over the mast base. Gradually start to sheet-in and stand-up to head in the new direction. If you’re not comfortable sailing in a switchstance position, then practice sailing this way in both light and high winds by jibing without switching your feet.

Look online at windsport.com/ issue125_extras for more Vulcan tips including some intentional “crash-drills” that will help your progression. ABK Boardsports owner Andy Brandt is sponsored by Fanatic, MauiSails, Dakine, Jibe City and Ozone Online.

A GOOD LAND SIMULATION

The Pop ‘n’ Flip Vulcan.

Find a table or railing that will easily support your weight. Stand with your feet close to its base, spaced apart as if in the footstraps, and place your hands on top of it at the appropriate Vulcan width described in the article. Pick a direction to practice the Vulcan and twist your body into the exact setup posture. Next, jump into the air launching off of your front foot and then pushing down on your front hand propelling your body forward into the 180-degree spin. Try to land on your front foot again beyond your original front hand that is still on the table while crossing your old backhand over top of it. You may keep your head down for this exercise. You get a minor feel for a few elements of the Vulcan, such as: “jumping out of the pool,” spinning past your front hand and balancing on your new front foot upon landing.

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Graham Ezzy, Maui, Hawaii. Photo: Jérôme Houyvet

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Don’t even ask how we test for durability.

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1/27/2010 9:59:29 AM

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NEW AND ARCHIVED GEAR TESTS Find extended coverage of our 2010 board and sail tests along with archived reviews from previous years. Now you can compare gear by model and by year all in just a few clicks of the mouse.

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS Sorry, guys, but this isn’t what you’re thinking. Our “Girls” coverage is exclusively by women for women… and I’m sure we’d all be stoked to get even more ladies excited about windsurfing.

THE ULTIMATE 2010 EQUIPMENT GUIDE Are you shopping for a new board or sail? Compare all your relevant choices in one easy online source: windsport.com/gear guide_10. We call it the Perfect Gear Match Survey because it will help get you hooked-up right!

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PROJ Designer, sailor and sail.

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JECT REFLEX

IS THIS THE PERFECT BLEND OF ATHLETE, SAIL DESIGN AND TECHNIQUE? WORDS AND PHOTOS BY JOHN CARTER

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Bjorn preparing at Lancelin.

ATHLETE:

BJORN DUNKERBECK THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER HE’S BEEN DOGGED BY THE NICKNAME "THE TERMINATOR," IT’S AN IMAGE BJORN DUNKERBECK DOESN’T PUBLICLY ADMIT TO LIKING BUT WHEN YOU SEE THE WAY HE REFUSES TO BE RETIRED AT 40 YEARS OLD, REMAINING AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME, YOU CAN’T HELP BUT THINK THERE IS SOMETHING ROBOTIC ABOUT HIS SUCCESS. DELVING DEEP INTO BJORN’S FAMOUSLY STEELY PSYCHE, JOHN CARTER PROBES THE RECORD-BREAKING CHAMPION ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR FURTHER TERMINATION ON THE START LINE WITH HIS NEW SEVERNE REFLEX RACE SAILS. I have been hearing a lot of gossip about the new Severne Race sail, the Reflex. Tell us how you were involved in its development? I have been working with Ben Severne on this new sail since April 2009. Over the summer we have made a lot of prototypes, and then in the autumn Steve Allen joined the team and we spent quite a lot of time in Australia testing and improving the design. I have to say that I am very happy with the end product we have achieved. It has a really wide range and it is just fun going out there and sailing with it because it is so easy to use. For the World Cup one thing we learned is that you need sails that have a much wider wind range rather than an excellent sail in its specific range. For the Reflex we have really opened up the range of every single size.

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So what is it like working with Ben Severne? Ben Severne is amazing to work with. He’s young and is a very good sailor. He likes wave sailing; he is one of the best in Australia. He sails slalom a lot with me and for his size he is very fast. At the end of the day he wants to make the best sails and I think he has got what it takes. Ben comes across as an easy-going character but behind the scenes he is an extremely hard worker. He has a technical mind, and the combination of being a very good sailor and actually listening to what Steve and myself have to say helped us reach our goal in the time frame that we had. This idea behind the sail is far from the end but I think it is a huge step forward. So with your new secret weapon, do you think you are going to be

back in contention to take the title from Antoine Albeau? Absolutely. This year I am going to have a sail that is totally competitive and I am going to go for first this year both in speed and in slalom! Hopefully the wind will be medium to strong, which would also help. My boards are also going really well, so overall my equipment has taken a huge step forward. Antoine has been sailing very well for the last few years. His board-sail combination has worked very well for him. Let’s not forget it took him more than 10 years to get to the top! Was it frustrating for you last season when a few times you were struggling to make the finals? In some wind conditions it was harder than others. I also struggled with the short courses,

which made room for no mistakes at all. I also seemed to have a lot of unlucky crashes last year that cost me a lot of places. Is the level of sailing in racing a lot higher now than when you were dominating in the ’90s? I think the top level back then was as high as it could go without the restrictions on equipment. Right now the level is back up there as well. The Equipment rule 42 or 63 makes it more tricky to be on the right board for the wind at times, especially for a big guy like me. Whether this is good or bad it is hard to say, the luck factor is definitely bigger now than in the ’90s! Don’t you feel after all these years like giving up with all the travel hassles? My season looks like there will be seven slalom and three speed

contests this year. So my schedule is not too overloaded. It’s not like I have to do 20 contests. I am going to do 10 events and a couple of long distance races. I kind of need the competitions still. I don’t feel like quitting and just going windsurfing for fun. I need to have a target and goal of going to compete against the best in different places. My body is still strong and I have no pain anywhere. As long as my fitness keeps on holding up as good as it has, I will continue competing because I don’t believe in quitting.

Are you still just as motivated as ever? I pretty much windsurf every single day when I am anywhere there is water and wind. When I don’t windsurf I usually go standup paddling, surfing, mountain biking or street biking or occasionally jogging just to keep fit. Basically, I need to do three hours of sports every day or else I am impossible to have around. I like to finish a day nice and tired, and feel satisfied I have done my exercise. That’s the sort of person I am. Windsurfing is what I have

done all my life and I still love sailing around either practising or even just for fun. I love the sport and have no intentions of stopping while I still am fit and healthy. Right now I try and do as much as I can to promote windsurfing. I love the sport and would love to see it grow a lot more. Actually, I just try and show windsurfing exactly the way it is. It’s a fun sport, it’s very healthy for you and it gives you a great feeling like no other sport. You feel like you are born again every time you have a good session.

“YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE BORN AGAIN EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A GOOD SESSION.” —BJORN DUNKERBECK

Bjorn lays down a jibe.

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“THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF VARIABLES THAT CAN HAPPEN, BUT LET’S SEE HOW BJORN AND STEVE DO ON THE RACE COURSE THIS YEAR… I CAN’T WAIT!” —BEN SEVERNE

How to go fast!

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Ben Severne and the Reflex.

WITHOUT THE BEST GEAR THERE IS NO WAY AN ATHLETE CAN EVEN CHALLENGE FOR THE PWA SLALOM CROWN, NO MATTER HOW MANY TITLES THEY HAVE WON IN THE PAST. JOHN CARTER FINDS OUT FROM BEN SEVERNE WHAT INCREDIBLE INNOVATIONS IN THE SEVERNE REFLEX RACE SAILS MAY JUST HELP BJORN DUNKERBECK GET BACK ON TOP.

SAIL DESIGN:

BEN SEVERNE How did you start developing the Reflex sails? The way the PWA now limits the number of sails to six, which need to cover all possibilities has really changed the way we have develop sails. Now sails need to be fast in all conditions, so wind range is a much higher priority. Bjorn was very adamant that we get Steve Allen onto our program, as he wanted somebody with a lot of experience to help develop the sails. Steve raced last year without a sponsor and picked the sails that he wanted to race on, which were the Neil Pryde ones. He had tried a bunch of options and he was most confident racing on the Pryde’s. Working with us he was pretty clear that they were the benchmark to beat. For us it gave us a clear direction. Tell us about the Reflex concept. The whole concept comes from hang glider and airplane wings where “reflex” describes the way the camber reverses at the trailing edge. A traditional airfoil has a single curve whereas a “reflex” has a double curve, so towards the trailing edge it curves in the opposite direction. When Neil

Pryde came out with their racing sail last year, a key element was the big cut away at the clew, which was really enabling that lower section around the boom to flex back the other way under load. So we started working on ways to get more of the sail working like this, rather than just that isolated little section. The key was figuring out a mechanism to isolate the batten tension in from the leech, which enabled us to get the whole leech able to reflex. What does “reflex” in a sail do? The main thing is it keeps the draft forward. Once the tension point is moved in from the perimeter, it stops the profile getting round when overloaded: if you take a batten and push it from the back end, the more you push it the rounder the batten gets. Now hold it three quarters of the way along its length and do the same thing—the back of the batten stays straight. The back part of the sail, which used to get all that back hand pressure when you are getting overpowered is now able to flex independently of the rest of the sail. This translates into a wider wind range and you

are not getting overpowered as much. The other thing our Reflex system does is it creates a lower drag airfoil. Just going through the air it’s a faster profile than a single curve. Pretty much all hang gliders now use “reflex” technology. When they started using it they improved their gliding range by up to 50 per cent. What does the future hold? We went into this project knowing we only had a certain amount of time to make something work so we could meet the PWA deadline. It was a calculated gamble. We had to submit it in time to get all the measurements for the PWA regulations. So far we have really just opened up the door in terms of what is going to be possible with this new system. We now have infinite possibilities with how much tension we can put in the front and back sections of the sail, how much flex we want in the trailing edge, and how far up the sail we want to use these Reflex profiles. There are still a lot of variables that can happen, but let’s see how Bjorn and Steve do on the race course this year… I can’t wait!

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WORDS BY WHIT POOR | PHOTOS BY MAXIME HOUYVET

THE HO’OKIPA JUMP-OFF

GO BIG OR GO HOME

Boujmaa Guilloul. Mauiwatershoot.com

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Katchadourian heading out.

N ONE OF MAUIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST INTENSE DAYS THIS YEAR, a trial run of what will soon be known as a

Shadowbox Jump Contest was conducted. Eight pro riders, including Levi Siver, Kauli Seadi, Boujmaa Guilloul, Kai Katchadourian, Kai Lenny, Camille Juban, Russ Faurot and myself, took to the water at Hoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;okipa in mast-high swell and wind gusting over 35 knots to partake in what will go down in history as one of the most innovative concepts in windsurfing competition. The idea was simple. The riders, armed with the latest in 3d GPS technology from Shadowbox and GoPro waterproof HD video cameras from EpicSession.tv on their rigs, were to go out and not only jump as high as they could but complete a Back Loop in the process. The winner, decided by the GPS raw data, would be crowned by event organizer Casey Hauser. Up for grabs was not only a guaranteed picture in Windsport Magazine, but a free Shadowbox. Jake Miller, of Snake Bite Films, was also there to capture the action, and his insane video has caused an Internet sensation. This was not just another contest. The following will give you a feel of what went down from three different perspectives of this groundbreaking trial event: spectator and industry rep Dave Wissink, competitor and contest veteran Kai Katchadourian and the Jump-off winner Levi Siver.

Hauser hooks Lenny up.

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Seadi is excited.

Whit Poor. K. Pritchard photo

“THE BEST PART OF THAT DAY WAS SEEING PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE SPORT SO EXCITED ABOUT IT.” —DAVE WISSINK

AVE WISSINK HAPPENED TO BE AT HO’OKIPA THAT DAY. He is a well-respected member of the Naish Development team, and very involved within the windsurfing industry. Finding himself at the beach, he was able to witness the competition from not only a spectator’s standpoint but that of an industry insider as well. Wissink recalls, “I showed up at Ho’okipa that day, and you could tell it was gonna be one of those gnarly days. The wind had been cranking since the morning, and we were just on the downside of a pretty big swell. I sailed a bit in the morning, probably at about 11:30 a.m., and was over powered on a 4.5 m2 with mast-high sets rolling through. Already out there were a couple of big names , but you could tell it just wasn’t really a waveriding day. I headed back to the beach, and next thing you know all of the big guys were out there at once. It’s like the level just skyrocketed. Guys were doing huge Back Loops, Kauli was throwing doubles off mast-high waves, Levi was jumping for the horizon, and there were people on the beach screaming like they were at an NFL game. The whole atmosphere was pretty electric. Levi was definitely a standout, as he had some insane stock airs, you could tell he really knows how to work this place and it was impressive to say the least. The best part of that day was seeing people outside of the sport so excited about it. I mean, it was just an impromptu deal and there were cars pulling over and even the surfers were watching.”

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Siver's huge stock air.

EVI SIVER WAS IN FULL COMMAND OF THE BEACH ON THIS DAY winning with a Back Loop measuring 52’7”.

His mega-backs and stock airs displayed not only a supreme knowledge of the area, but solidified his place as one of the most radical riders in the business. With casual humility, Siver describes the events that transpired, “Coming around the corner at Maliko, I saw white caps and swell lines, and approaching Ho’okipa realized I haven’t seen a day like that in years. I remember the energy of that session. Everyone was doing speed laps at 30 miles an hour lining up with mast-high waves. I remember just putting my head down driving the board as fast as I could through the water. I wasn’t even lining up with waves; I was just trying to sail as fast as I could and then try to get lucky with a set. Two or three times, the steepest mast-high bowls set up right in my path. The view is always sick on those Back Loops because you get to see the whole coast from the air. When I came down, I had to drive the nose of my board forward real hard to break the surface tension, and hope that I timed it right. For me, it’s all about fun and progression. It’s more about putting on a show for people and pushing each other. It’s the beginning of something special and I’m just stoked to be a part of it and see all those guys having fun going huge”

Organizers Hauser and Miller.

On the podium.

“WITH OR WITHOUT A SHADOWBOX, EVERYONE WAS STILL PUSHING THEIR LEVEL AND THAT WAS GREAT TO SEE.” —KAI KATCHADOURIAN

S A PAST WINNER AND VETERAN OF MULTIPLE HO’OKIPA SHOOTOUTS, Kai Katchadourian knows

Ho’okipa as well as anyone and brings an interesting perspective as a competitor. Katchadourian sums it up, “This one brought me way back to when I was 16, and I was at my first contest: the 87’ O’Neill Classic. It was the first time endos were being thrown, and [Brett] Lickle, [Mike] Waltz, and [Matt] Schweitzer were just going off, in similar conditions. It’s been a long time since that has happened. Part of the thing with Ho’okipa is that for the past few years it has been dominated by waveriding. So much attention has been placed on it that this day managed to bring that focus back onto jumping, and even better was the fact that we could measure how big everyone was going. It took the judging from being subjective to objective and allowed the riders to be a part of an undisputable result. Overall, we had to wait for the right day, and we definitely got it. With or without a Shadowbox, everyone was still pushing their level and that was great to see.”

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S THE RIDERS EXITED THE WATER THAT DAY, almost

everyone had a smile on their face. It was great to see that such a small concentrated effort could produce such amazing results. The evidence is clear; the beach was not only teeming with spectators, but has become a veritable gold mine for the online community. Miller’s video had more views in just a few days than most windsurfing videos do in their existence. Without this medium the stoke of the event is impossible to maintain, and much thanks goes to Jake for spending countless hours editing and filming to make that possible. It has been a long time since action like that has been seen at Ho’okipa, and hopefully we won’t have to wait that long again. I was stoked to be a part of it, and can’t wait to get at it again wherever the next Shadowbox Jumpoff is held. Special thanks again to Casey Hauser from Shadowbox for providing us with a platform for this event. Look for him in the future at the next comp you are at!

Huge Double by Seadi.

WHY SHADOWBOX? TOP SIX THINGS TO TRACK Get better, go faster and go bigger with Shadowbox, the only waterproof GPS device with 3D ride display capabilities. Here are six things you can track either directly on the unit or through the free software program RideTracker. —Casey Hauser (Shadowbox) The Shadowbox unit.

SPEED: You can see your speed at any given point in your session, including while you’re in the air.

HEIGHT: You can view from any perspective all of your jumps and see your maximum height.

DISTANCE: You can measure the point-topoint or actual distance you traveled at any given time in your session, including during jumps.

HANGTIME: You can measure the duration of any section of your ride, including sections that you’re flying through the air.

ROTATION: You can see how fast you spin through freestyle moves or how fast you flip through forwards. BOARD TRIM: You can see the trim of your board, side to side and fore and aft, and direction at any given point.

LEARN MORE AND DOWNLOAD THE FREE RIDETRACKER SOFTWARE AT SHADOWBOXLIVE.COM

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Positively Mozambique Wind, waves and social change in Africa Positivo Mozambique is the name of a humanitarian organization that spreads an important message of proper hygiene and awareness of HIV/AIDS to the local youth through music. Carine Camboulives, Manu Bouvet and Charles VDM travel to the far shores of Mozambique to go on the road with them and experience an adventure combining music, windsurfing and humanitarian action. Words by Manu Bouvet | Photos by Benjamin Thouard

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Our own private wave.

a [Pierre] works hard raising money, organizing workshops and playing at concerts all over the country, so general awareness towards HIV and AIDS can lead to true results.

s we walk outside the airport terminal I notice that Charley isn’t wearing his usual happy expression today. He says, “Instead of taking a tour of Maputo’s strip clubs I found myself going to church with a Mozambican girl! I took advantage of the situation to pray that the rest of the trip will be better than it has started.” Charley continues, “I left half my windsurfing gear in Johannesburg because Etihad Airways wanted to charge me $2,000 to bring everything. And that’s not all; they dinged the board pretty badly and my board bag has holes all over!” But the joy of us all getting together for a trip we’d worked hard for suddenly takes over. Our motto will be Positivo, which means positive in Portuguese, the language spoken in Mozambique. And this is the right kind of attitude to have, especially in Africa! We spend the first two days cruising around Maputo, Mozambique’s capital and largest city, a place that Carine and I first visited five years ago. Few things have changed. The markets are still colourful and lively while the streets are still very dirty. The nickname first given to this place by Vasco da Gama when he landed here in 1498, terra de boa gente (land of good people) still fits the locals perfectly. The people come across as polite and friendly, and sincerely not after our tourist

dollars like so many other impoverished areas of the world. We noticed this on our last trip here and it still amazes us. After our time in Maputo we drive north to a village close to Inhambane. We’ve heard rumours that there may be one of the best waves of Africa in the area and if the wind blows from the south it should be sailable. I have an old picture on my computer from here of a perfect right-hander peeling around a rocky headland and ending on a beautiful sandy beach. The other reason we are here is to meet Pierre Dufloo, Charley’s brother and leader of the music group from which we took our trip’s motto: Positivo Mozambique. Despite graduating from France’s prestigious HEC business school, Pierre has no regrets trading in his accounting and ledger books for a surfboard and saxophone here in Mozambique. Even though the purpose of his work is nowhere even close to the same as when he was a proper businessman, Pierre’s dedication is unmatched. He works hard raising money, organizing workshops and playing at concerts all over the country, so general awareness towards HIV and AIDS can lead to true results. There is no drama or guilt in Positivo’s message; just love and some fine tunes. Pierre goes off when he’s on stage. He bounces around with his Mozambican, Austrian and British bandmates.

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o get to know them better we go on the road for a workshop in a village in the bush. After a bouncy five-hour drive we finally end up under a massive tent where 50 kids from ages three and 13 are waiting for Positivo to deliver some good music and social messages about hygiene for kids and HIV awareness. All the kids sing along with the band so they can be back-up vocals on the upcoming Positivo record. During the show each of us has to introduce ourselves on the megaphone with the few words in Portuguese we know. When it’s our four-year-old daughter Lou’s turn, she grabs the megaphone and starts singing her favourite silly French song about having a hole in her pants. No one but us gets a word of what she says but all the kids watching are cracking up just by looking at her singing! The whole experience is amazing and the atmosphere is full of joy and laughter. We give out a bunch of Oxbow and Neil Pryde caps and T-shirts, but at the end of the day we all wonder who gave the most to whom. For a long time I’ve been living an amazing life traveling and having great experiences all over the world, but I keep asking myself, “How can I give more or in a better way?” I’ve heard that giving to others is giving to oneself first, and that it is a way to get a clear conscience, especially for a westerner in Africa. Then I watch my daughter Lou take her shirt off and hand it to a local girl her age that she is playing with. Maybe the right way to give is the more spontaneous one, the one that comes straight from the heart. “Esta listu!” our cook Paolo yells. The food is ready! Grilled shrimp and rice followed by chocolate mousse is on the menu tonight. We are living like kings. Outside is cold now that the austral winter winds kick in. When

a low pressure comes off the South African southern tip, up the Indian Ocean the weather gets stormy, humid and cold. The good thing is that it has been blowing a steady 20-knots for a week now and the wave I’ve dreamed about for this place is starting to go off. Charley was right. The wave starts peeling off a nasty rocky point but once past that first section it’s all sand and turquoise water. At the end we have to kick out before it shuts down right on sand where there is no more wind. Going back to the peak is hard due to a strong lateral current but the company of many whales and dolphins makes it enjoyable. Launching from the beach is a little tricky due to the cliff that blocks the wind from coming all the way into the beach. Timing is essential. After several failures to launch, Charley tries to jump off the cliff into the surf, which could be an option unless your timing is off and a set washes you back in, which happens to Charley. When the low pressure passes by, the wind turns more offshore or dies completely and the wave gets unreal for surfing. It becomes a turquoise cylinder peeling over the sand-covered bottom. It is so good that we can’t get out of the water. We start with a standup paddleboarding session, waiting for the wind to pick up, and then switch into windsurf mode. We get nine days in a row of these perfect conditions. “I could never imagined it would get so good,” says our photographer Ben Thouard after a quick morning surf session. And this is coming from someone who now lives full-time in Tahiti! Setting out this time to Mozambique, I promised myself to try to experience something we could not on our last visit five years ago. The place I have in mind is the Bazaruto Archipelago and I feel I am getting on everybody’s nerves while suggesting

“I’ve heard that giving to others is giving to oneself first, and that it is a way to get a clear conscience.” —Manu Bouvet 70

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Manu enjoying nine consecutive days like this.

Carine SUP wavesailing.

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“We’re perfectly set-up here, right in front of a beautiful wave and enjoying grilled shrimp and chocolate mousse!” we try this adventure. “Forget about your boat trip to these islands,” they say. “We’re perfectly set-up here, right in front of a beautiful wave and enjoying grilled shrimp and chocolate mousse!” Plus, the nine-hour bus ride to get to the boat we’ll need to take makes it a hard sell. “You’re right guys,” I respond. “Why would we want to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip riding aboard an actual Dhow (a boat introduced to the Indian Ocean

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by Arabic merchants in the 15th century) to camp for three days on this incredibly amazing archipelago.” As we load the bus in the dark I tell myself, “I’d better be right.” We finally get to Vilanculos, the harbour from which we’ll depart, where we look out over the immense turquoise sea that blends perfectly into the sky at the horizon. In the distance the Bazaruto Islands appear as if they are floating in the air. Our boat quietly cuts through

the turquoise water while we all remain speechless simply enjoying our surroundings. Rogiero, one of the three crew members, wears a wool hat and large round sunglass, and it feels like Peter Tosh is on board. He’s in charge of the barbecue, a small fire right at the bottom of the boat, where he prepares crab, rice and mixed salad for lunch. We set the anchor in Mangaruque, the closest island. These islands have luxurious lodges nearby that offer complete

service for a great expense, but as far as we’re concerned we’d prefer to enjoy every single moment, like this lunch, under the sun in absolute calm and beauty. After three days our time is running short. There is one reef that looked so promising for windsurfing on the map and none of the expatriate boat drivers working for the lodges would give us a straight answer. “Waves around here? It’s all about diving around here,” they would answer. I think to myself, “Then why is this guy wearing surf shorts and a rash guard?” I don’t believe in coincidences… we’ll have to come back to make sure.

Manu on an incredible wave near Inhambane.

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YARDEN MEIR, DAHAB, EGYPT. SUMEREDER PHOTO

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JESSE BROWN, HO’OKIPA, MAUI. J. HOUYVET PHOTO

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NICK ALLEN, THE HATCHERY, WASHINGTON. BRADLEY PHOTO

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2010 SAIL TESTS

e Perfect Sail Quiver HOW TO OWN LESS GEAR AND SAIL JUST AS MUCH

Last issue we tested two-board quivers with an ultimate goal of showing how new technology allows you to get away with owning less gear than ever before. Here we apply the same idea to 10 sail quivers to help you save money by becoming a gear minimalist and create even more space in the garage.

TEST EDITOR: DEREK RIJFF TEST TEAM: ANDY BRANDT, PETE DEKAY, TOM LEPAK, BRENDON QUINN, DEREK RIJFF, JON SASSONE

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or Windsport’s biggest and most comprehensive test ever, we asked sail brands to send us a quiver of three sails that would cover a wide range of windsurfing conditions, but with two rules attached. First, the sails can be from no more than two different model lines to help maintain a consistent feel within the quiver. Second, only two masts can be sent to rig the quiver. We were amazed when Severne and Hot Sails Maui were able to send us a complete quiver from one sail line, while the quivers from Naish and Hot (once again) both cover huge wind ranges and rig on just one mast! Over the next 10 pages you’ll find the individual test write-ups for each sail along with our evaluation of how each quiver does. Four critical aspects of each quiver are evaluated: feel, rigging, sail sizing and rig parts.

FEEL: While windsurfing we balance

ourselves against the pull of the sail. Since the wind fluctuates in both strength and direction, we learn to constantly make small corrections in order to maintain this balance. If you can get all the sails in your quiver to have a similar-feeling pull, then it stands to reason that you’ll be able to teach your body how to make these reactions a lot more easily. This can be the difference between developing skills in months instead of years. There are two key elements to getting the same pull, or feel in your hands, from different size sails: the stiffness and draft position. For stiffness, you’re looking for similarity in how a sail expands when sheeting-in and twists-off in the head. In other words, sails reacting to the wind in a similar fashion will give you the same feedback to your hands through the boom. For draft position it’s a combination of where the pull comes from, both height-wise and distance forward or back, in the sail. Of the two, draft height affects your balance

more, so choosing sails that share a similar draft height is more important. Through tuning you can adjust the draft placement, but it needs to be in the ballpark from sail-to-sail to find some consistency. This is why sail designers and shops suggest purchasing sails from one maker and even from the same model if possible.

RIGGING: No one likes rigging! We

just want to get onto the water and ride. To avoid any hassles it’s not only important to have the right parts to the puzzle, but to have puzzle pieces that are user-friendly. So what makes them user-friendly? The parts have to fit together easily and let you know visually when you’ve got all the pieces in place. This means that the mast should slide in the sail without complaint. It should be easy to preset your mast extension at the proper length. The sail should give you indications, either from the manufacturer or by easily training your eye, to know when the downhaul and outhaul are properly set. Windsurfing gear is at the highest level of user-friendliness it has ever been, but every year at least one brand comes up with a “why didn’t they think of that sooner” idea that makes rigging that much easier.

SAIL SIZING: In the old days jumping more than a half-metre between sails was difficult and you needed a different mast to rig every sail. Today, not only have the gaps between sails been widened but you can get away with owning fewer masts as well. All the brands sent us sails in the core sizes that would be in the middle of most people’s quiver, so you could build on either side to fill in your needs. However, some sent sails with jumps that stretched the limits, while others spaced for consistent performance. While widely spaced sails are friendly to the wallet, they can seriously limit your fun. The only way to make a

huge size jump is to tune your sail to maximize the wind range. This creates two problems. It complicates the rigging process forcing you to spend time with each sail learning how the subtlest changes in tension affect it. Second, it changes the feel of the sail. With the draft moving slightly every time you change the tension, it affects how you balance against it. The feedback the sail gives you changes and you have to re-learn how to react to it. This is something that even the most advanced rider finds frustrating and is the reason why a pro’s quiver has sails ridiculously close in sizing. You don’t need as many sails as a pro, but adding a sail to a quiver in the right place can go a long way to maintaining consistent feedback throughout the quiver.

RIG PARTS: Don’t start trying to

become a gear minimalist by hacking boards and sails out of your gear quivers. Instead, dig deeper into the recommendations and specs of your sails to see if you can do with fewer masts, booms and extensions. Unfortunately, there is no way to get as big a range from one mast as you can from a boom, however, with a little research its not difficult to put together a complete quiver that performs perfectly on two masts (and some even just one). And further, choosing sails with luff lengths that are close to normal mast lengths (i.e. 460, 430, 400, etc.) will usually give you the flexibility of rigging on one of two mast lengths. Now there is a shift in mast technology where reduced diameter masts (RDM) are working in sails that only standard diameter masts (SDM) used to work. Building a quiver with only one diameter-type means your extensions will be interchangeable and that your boom will fit without needing major adjustments to the boom clamp. These small perks make life easier and ensure replacement parts are always available should something break or get lost.

Every year at least one brand comes up with a “why didn’t they think of that sooner” idea.

ONLINE TESTS

Go to windsport.com for expanded coverage on these sails and more.

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Aerotech FREESPEED 7.2 AND 5.8

ON THE WATER: The first thing we

notice unrolling a 2010 FreeSpeed is a much improved look over last year’s edition. This along with some small improvements to the already awesome onwater performance and you have a fast freeride sail that impresses. It has a light weight feel that isn’t normally found in a seven-batten all-grid sail, which makes it more fun in transitions than a sail this big should be. Part of the light feel comes from a draft that lowers with a moderate tug on the downhaul and a cut-away

clew that makes for a short boom length. A little more shape has been cut into this year’s model adding power and stability to an already efficient sail. The draft is high enough to work on wider boards, but really balances best on speedier shaped boards with slightly narrower tails. RIGGING: The no-cam FreeSpeed comes together easily to get you on the water as quickly as a 7.2 m2 can. The provided rigging specifications are a little vague, so it may take you a couple tweaks before you find your

particular sweet spot. Your best guide becomes learning how to read the changes downhauling makes to the sail. As you add tension watch and take note of the looseness in the leech area and how far the first batten above the boom is pulled across your mast. Once at your preferred tension you can use the interactive rig guide at the bottom of the sail to help remember your settings. FINAL WORD: The FreeSpeed is a fast-and-stable no-cam sail that gets you on the water with as little hassle as possible.

A similarity in feel allows these sails to ﬁt perfectly into a quiver, despite different design intentions. CHARGE 5.5 ON THE WATER: Even though this

is Aerotech’s hardcore wavesail, it still has plenty of speed and efficiency for bump-and-jump use as well. The batten below the boom is cut a little lower than on most wavesails and helps keep the lower part of the sail stable. Its low draft and unique clew-cut also combine to make the Charge feel way lighter than the beefy allgrid construction would imply. The flat profile and soft head give it the neutral handling in transitions needed in wave and freestyle conditions. These features also make

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it more reactive to fluctuations in the wind, so that advanced riders are never without feedback from the sail and can use the wind for maximum efficiency. We recommend that heavier riders (unless you are an efficient sailor) tune to the minimum downhaul setting to give it a slightly deeper draft. RIGGING: Despite a huge recommended tuning range, the Charge is fairly easy to figure out thanks to the clean manner in which the leech twists-off. This makes it much easier to actually observe what adding downhaul tension is

FEEL: A similarity in feel allows these sails to fit perfectly into a quiver, despite different design intentions. If you prefer more manoeuvreability then sub in a Charge 5.8 for the smaller FreeSpeed and you’ll be set.

doing to your sail, plus the interactive rig guide will help you remember your preferred tuning setting from one session to the next. It doesn’t take much rope movement to make adjustments, so take care while duplicating your favourite setting. The straight luff curve leads to less outhaul tension, so there isn’t a large adjustment range. As with the downhaul, familiarity will let you see and feel minor adjustments. FINAL WORD: The Charge is an efficient wavesail that’s ready to rip some turns.

RIGGING: We loved the

fact that the leech in both sails reacts similarly to downhaul tension, but the amount of rope movement to make these changes is noticeably different. The Charge reacts more quickly and noticeably to added tension, so take note.

SAIL SIZING: At test time we weren’t able to get a smaller Charge than the 5.5 m2. We would recommend choosing a Charge 5.0 for a proper jump in size down from the FreeSpeed 5.8. RIG PARTS: Despite testing these FreeSpeeds on

a 460 centimetre SDM and the Charge on a 430 centimetre RDM, both are designed to work with either mast-type, and by using the adjustable top cap most models can be rigged on your choice of two lengths of masts.

Goya FXR 7.5

ON THE WATER: The FXR line of

freeride sails extends from 3.8 to 9.0 m2 with the smaller models having six battens and this 7.5 m2 and larger having seven. This additional batten increases the stability by helping to lock the shape into the sail. If you’re looking for user-friendly speed then this is a sail for you. It was one of the fastest no-cam sails, with acceleration that maxed-out most of our freeride boards. Like other Goya sails we have tested, there is a bit of softness to the feel. This helps increase the low-end

power by letting the sail expand quickly once sheeted-in. The only downside is it can become a bit unruly in huge gusts. The softness also makes it one of the smoothest-rotating seven-batten sails we’ve ever ridden. The FXR has the large foot and look of a true freeride sail, but during transitions it pleasantly adopts more of a wavesail feel than sails this fast normally exhibit. RIGGING: A firm yank is needed to downhaul it to the recommended setting shown by the on-sail guide. You’ll notice the leech loosens

up nicely, and this is the setting where most will find the best performance. If you own a wider or a less-efficient board or are a heavier rider, then decrease the downhaul slightly to raise the draft and increase power. Adding downhaul increases the wind range slightly but we preferred the medium setting most of the time. The FXR is built with numerous details (like the Dacron head) that will make it last for years. FINAL WORD: A smooth and efficient sail to help you go faster than you ever have before.

The FXR and Eclipse have a similarity of feel making them very compatible as a quiver. ECLIPSE 6.8 AND 5.7 ON THE WATER: Goya’s all-new

Eclipse is Levi Siver’s signature sail that helps him push his stylish wavesailing to new limits. We tested it in two of the larger sizes and found that there is more to this sail than just ripping up waves. It has the requisite soft feel and quick depower that any wavesail must have, but with designer Jason Diffin’s innovative Stretch Control System there is still plenty of stability to have fun on flat water as well. Of course, if you’re just looking to blast back and forth all day long it may be

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best to go with a complete quiver of Goya’s more dedicated freeride FXR line. However, the Eclipse’s added manoeuvrability and control makes it the choice for working through freestyle tricks and boosting big air off chop. RIGGING: When you roll the Eclipse out of the bag there is no mistaking that it’s built to handle a ton of abuse. There is a slight weight penalty for its robust build so it’s important to downhaul the Eclipse, allowing the leech to become loose all the way to where the on-sail guide says you should

FEEL: The FXR has a hint of wavesail-like softness allowing it react to gusts and depower in transitions similar to the way the Eclipse does. Despite being designed for different uses, these sails have a similarity of feel making them very

(or even slightly beyond). This helps to lower the draft and make the sail feel lighter in the hands. At the recommended downhaul setting we found plenty of pop for freestyle and decent pull to help set the rail in the waves. However, for our flatwater testing, we preferred the maximum setting for a more comfortable lower draft and increased stability. FINAL WORD: The Eclipse is a robust wavesail that can be thrown around in bump-and-jump conditions as well.

compatible as a quiver. RIGGING: Both the FXR and Eclipse react to tensioning in similar ways. Plus, the super-helpful downhaul and outhaul guides make tuning easy. SAIL SIZING: The wind range of the FXR 7.5 completely covers that

of the Eclipse 6.8, so we would recommend eliminating it and adding an Eclipse 5.0 instead. The only problem is you will need to own a different mast for each sail. RIG PARTS: Goya’s new RDM masts are made in the USA and worked great

even in the 460 centimetre length required by the 7.5 m2. While not all manufacturers agree that an RDM can perform as well in this longer length, there is no arguing an RDM’s durability.

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Hansen FREERACE HCL 7.1

ON THE WATER: The FreeRace

is a three-cam sail that follows a growing trend of camber-induced sails that can be rigged on a RDM. As expected from the sail with the most camber inducers and battens in the test, this is the stiffest and raciest sail of the bunch. The Hansen Control Leech (HCL) helps the sail progressively twist open in overpowering gusts and we were hard pressed to even find the sails maximum upper wind range. So long as we had the guts to keep sheeted-in, the FreeRace was willing go. But there’s more to

this sail than just going fast. The relatively long boom length provides plenty of get-up-and-go for wide and slow-to-plane boards. Using a crank-tool to put serious tension on the sail lowers the draft to what we’d call mid-height for its size, which means that even in this setting it is still best on more modern boards that have some width in the tail and two rear straps. As expected with all these cams and battens providing stiffness, stability and speed, the FreeRace is a little more cumbersome in transitions.

RIGGING: The FreeRace rigs up relatively easily for a three-cam sail. Simply slide the cams onto the mast as you thread it up the sleeve and use outhaul tension to help keep them on before downhauling fully. The only tricky part is the tack strap at the sail’s bottom, but this adjustment gives you another way to control the shape and tension in the sail to increase the wind range even farther. FINAL WORD: The FreeRace is the fastest and most stable sail in the test.

Advanced riders will be stoked riding the perfect sails to perform in their own speciﬁc conditions. V-WAVE 6.3 AND 5.6 ON THE WATER: Hansen’s new V-

Wave is a manoeuvre-oriented sail with a higher cut foot compared to sails in their B-Wave line. All the sensations you’d expect to find in a wavesail are present. There’s the flat profile that allows it to depower easily and keeps the sail neutral in transitions. It has elasticity, allowing it to expand and power up yet still twist off at the head despite a relatively tight leech. These features also make the sail reactive to the wind providing great feedback in your hands, and compared to most high-end wavesails the

feedback is rarely overwhelming. The draft height is set for boards with a single rear strap. Adding downhaul transforms it into a more controllable bump-and-jump sail, while decreasing downhaul gives it more torque to throw you aggressively into a bottom turn or new-school freestyle trick. RIGGING: The V-Wave’s we tested were first-run production sails without recommended settings, but regardless of their exact numbers both sail’s luff specifications are so close to standard mast length that they can be easily rigged on one of two length

FEEL: Jumping from the

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raciest sail in the test to one of the softest most manoeuvre-oriented sails leads to very different sensations. Advanced riders will be stoked riding the perfect sails to perform in their own specific conditions,

masts. Having the choice for a 6.3 m2 to be rigged on a 460 or 430 centimetres is not uncommon, but you will be hard pressed to find a 5.6 that rigs on either a 430 or 400 centimetre mast. Impressively, Hansen has done this without the sail developing any rig quirks, meaning that the normal tuning indicators of leech twist and sail depth work the way they should regardless of the mast’s length. FINAL WORD: The V-Waves performs in waves, freestyle and bump-and-jump conditions, plus the 5.6 m2 fits on a 400 centimetre mast to boot.

but this won’t help an intermediate sailor. RIGGING: There is also little similarity in the rigging of sails that are so different. The FreeRace has a different look to the V-Wave and the amount of tension for each sail is also very different.

SAIL SIZING: With a seemingly limitless upper wind range in the FreeRace, you can make huge jumps in sail sizing as long as you’re willing to hang-on. We had no problem jumping all the way to the V-Wave 5.6 (and could have gone to the 5.1 m2).

RIG PARTS: These sails may not be very similar, but at least they easily share rig parts. The minimalist will love that the 5.6 rigs on a 400 centimetre mast allowing them to skip a mast length if you jump from the FreeRace 7.1 all the way to the V-Wave 5.6.

Hot

LIQUID 7.5

ON THE WATER: The Liquid line is

looking to make a windsurfer’s life easier than ever before. Without compromising performance, it spans a large range of sizes with each model tailored to best suit the conditions it will likely see. The 7.5 m2 has a moderate boom length and finds a good balance between a powerful and a slippery efficient feel. The draft is high enough to work on wider boards, yet it feels very light in the hands, at least until becoming overpowered. There is a bit of a wavesaillike softness here that works with

the light feel to make it one of the most enjoyable big sails to jibe. This lightness and soft-feel also give it a playful manner letting you throw the rig around while waterstarting or trying carving tricks. There aren’t many sails this big that make these things as easy. RIGGING: When we unpacked the box from Hot Sails Maui we were a little confused to find a 430 centimetre RDM as the longest mast accompanying a 7.5 m2 sail with a recommended luff length of 475 centimetres. That is until we found the 45 centimetre Hotrod

extension and were assured that it was OK to extend it all the way for this sail. Despite some initial hesitation, after being rigged-up and sailed for a few weeks, we forgot our worries and treated this setup like any other sail. We would have liked to try a little more downhaul at times, but the maxedout extension length is appropriate for all but the windiest days. FINAL WORD: The Liquid 7.5 can rigs on a 430 centimetre RDM and feels lighter than the competition.

The Liquid quiver maintains the most similar feel from 7.5 to 5.0 of all the brands in the test. LIQUID 6.0 AND 5.0 ON THE WATER: In the 6.0 m2 and 5.0 m2 sizes, the Liquid’s draft gets lowered slightly, but they still will work well on boards that have two rear straps. Downhauling the sails to their extreme lowers the draft enough to be ridden on single rear strap boards as well, but they might not be the best choice in the Hot Sails Maui range for smaller riders. A wavesail-like softness is present allowing feedback from changes in the wind to be transferred to the rider. This adds comfort for anyone riding in choppy conditions and can also help more advanced riders

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get more performance from the sail. Having six battens in a 5.0 m2 is noticeable compared to other sails its size, but it doesn’t noticeably harm its weight, and it actually helps maintain a consistent feel through the entire quiver. From 5.0 m2 up to 7.5 m2, you’ll be dialed in every time. RIGGING: Hot Sails Maui once again confused us a bit by only sending the top half of a 400 centimetre RDM to go with a complete 430 centimetre RDM for rigging the quiver. We have used mis-matched length masts ourselves to help minimize our

FEEL: This quiver from Hot Sails Maui maintains the most similar feel from 7.5 to 5.0 of all the brands in the test. The similar elasticity, depower and draft height gives riders a familiar pull to balance against and any level of rider will appreciate this.

gear, but it is rarely given as a recommended setup. The result was a 415 centimetre mast to be used on the 5.0 m2. It worked brilliantly and this smaller sail ended up being everything that the 6.0 m2 was on the 430 centimetre mast. And if you’re really looking to save money, this entire Liquid quiver can be rigged on the same 430 centimetre RDM and Hotrod extension. FINAL WORD: The Liquid hits the mark as a go-to model for all gear minimalists who want to maximize their fun with lightweight easy-to-rig sails.

RIGGING: The Liquids are incredibly easy to rig with the recommended settings being the tuning range’s true mid-point. All responded to tension similarly and the effort needed to pull was relatively light. SAIL SIZING: The jumps in the quiver provided are as

big as you can go and still be covered for all winds. To get the sails to make these jumps you also need to do some fine-tuning for the conditions, which can be confusing for lesstechnical riders. RIG PARTS: We were a little hesitant about using

the 7.5 m2 with the 430 centimetre mast and extremely long extension, but it worked without an issue. The 5.0 m2 is designed to work on a 430 centimetre mast, if necessary, making this the biggest sail range to fit on one mast.

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MauiSails SWITCH 6.4

ON THE WATER: The Switch is a

proud survivor of the PWA Super Cross Format, which combined an equal part of all the things most windsurfers aspire to most: speed, jumping and jibing. These are the exact things that the Switch does best! Its stability helps push you to impressive speeds while still being soft enough to depower and rip through transitions. At the minimum to medium recommended downhaul setting the Switch is perfect for riders looking for a no-nonsense sail that simply gets them on the water and having fun.

It still feels light in the hands despite the higher draft placement that helps to power wide-tailed and double back footstrap boards onto a plane. Increasing the downhaul lowers the draft just enough to turn it into a speedy bumpand-jump sail for anyone wanting to drag race in more challenging conditions. Your eyes may be blurry from the speed but fear not, the Switch still has all the control you need to boost huge air and rip through fully powered jibes. RIGGING: The Switch at 6.4m2 is about as versatile a sail you

can find. Not only will it rig up on either a 460 centimetre or 430 centimetre mast, but you can use either a SDM or RDM as well. We tested it with both a 460 SDM and a 430 RDM and were pleasantly surprised that it didn’t lose much stability when switched to the shorter RDM (and it even gained a hair more low-end punch). Going with the longer SDM mainly just gave the sail a stiffer and less elastic feel. FINAL WORD: The Switch is a fast and light sail that is versatile both on the water and while rigging up.

Here is the ideal quiver for anyone living in a consistently windy place. LEGEND 5.3 AND 4.7 ON THE WATER: When MauiSails named its top-of-the-line wavesail the “Legend,” the company put it right out there that it was creating a sail to push the limits of the sport. On the water it’s a perfect blend of everything an advanced rider could want. It’s stable enough to be ridden overpowered, without giving up any of the elasticity that lets it depower at will. The power is easy to find, plus experienced riders can tap into its efficiency allowing them to ride a smaller size than normally expected. The build is impressive with numerous types of X-ply being put to use for

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durability, yet the draft position and attention to detail make it feel lighter than other sails built completely of monofilm. Add to all this a reasonable amount of tunability and you’ve got a sail that anyone from an aspiring bump-and-jump sailor to the world champion in waves will love. RIGGING: MauiSails supplies all of its sails with helpful info on how to rig and best care for your new rig. This includes an on-sail guide for setting the mast extension properly for the recommended dimensions. This is a perfect starting point, but there

FEEL: Both react to the wind with a similar feel. Their different draft positions allow each to accommodate the conditions they will see most. The Switch’s longer boom generates plenty of planing power to get up to speed while

is also a tuning range beyond the company’s suggestions. Larger riders and freestylers may like it rigged with a little less downhaul, while smaller people and anyone looking for supreme control in nuking winds should try adding a touch more. Regardless of which downhaul setting you like, the Legend will maintain an impressive outhaul range to adjust for power. FINAL WORD: The Legend is a perfect blend of stability and efficiency for ripping in bump-and-jump, freestyle and wave conditions.

the Legend stays light and manageable in more chaotic conditions. RIGGING: The Switch’s leech is looser, but both models react identically to similar changes in tension. The outhaul range is also similar, so you’ll quickly gain an innate

sense for how to tension each sail to your liking. SAIL SIZING: Here is the ideal quiver for anyone living in a consistently windy place. Plus, both models are offered in a plethora of bigger and smaller sizes, so you can also build the perfect quiver regardless

of whether you sail in light or strong wind (or both). RIG PARTS: We not only loved that both can be rigged on an RDM or SDM, but the fact that the Legend 5.3 works with both a 430 or 400 centimetre mast, which allows even more rigging options.

Naish BOXER SL 7.0

ON THE WATER: Not only is the

Boxer SL a camber-induced sail that rigs on an RDM, but it also uses a mast that fits most sails two metres smaller. Plus, Naish has found a way to do this without any loss in performance. Tuning the Boxer SL with less downhaul gives it an impressive amount of power for matching up well on wider boards and for helping heavy-weight riders get planing. Flattening it out with increased downhaul tension provides performance that almost gives race sails a run for their money.

However, setting it up this way for maximum speed requires a more efficient board that has some get-up-and-go and a rider that can handle it. In general, cams don’t make transitions any easier, but Naish’s version is well designed using micro-rollers that snap through the rotation with less effort than you’d think. The new composite luff sleeve and use of X-166 scrim in the sail’s upper half makes the Boxer SL extremely light and also more durable than ever before. RIGGING: As with any cam sail

rigging requires a little more effort, but if you follow Naish’s instructions everything will come together smoothly. The key for getting the cams on the mast is to outhaul the sail before completely downhauling it. We loved that Naish was able to get this sail to fit a 430 centimetre RDM as it gives highwind sailors a perfect option to expand their sailing range into far lighter conditions without having to buy a new mast. FINAL WORD: Here is a top-performing 7.0 m2 sail with cams that rigs on a 430 centimetre RDM.

Naish’s quiver covers a huge wind range with all sails rigging on the same 430 RDM. ALL TERRAIN 6.0 AND 5.0 ON THE WATER: Naish has put

its entire sail range on a serious weight-loss program for 2010 with impressive results. The use of X-166 Ultralight scrim and a new clew configuration makes the All Terrain noticeably lighter than previous editions. As the name suggests, this is a true crossover sail that is equally at home on flat water or waves. At the recommended downhaul setting, the high draft, moderate boom length and slightly lower foot batten make it an ideal match for wider-shaped boards and huskier riders. For bigger riders looking

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for a sail to get them out into the waves in the lightest of winds, look no further than the robust All-Terrain. However, average- to lighter-weight riders and owners of narrower boards should tune to the maximum end of the downhaul range for a lighter and more manageable feel. In transitions, the All Terrain willingly drives you with plenty of power into any jibe or jumping manoeuvre you can think of. If not for the slightly lowered foot batten this would be an ideal freestyle sail. RIGGING: Not only has Naish’s design team tweaked how they

FEEL: The Boxer SL, with its cams, has a very different feel than the All Terrain. If you’re still learning to get in the straps or jibe this will not increase your learning curve. However, more advanced riders will appreciate that the Boxer SL is the right tool for flat

build a sail to make it lighter, they have also worked diligently to add a brilliant new downhaul pulley to all their sails. This pulley is set perpendicular to the sail making it more intuitive and easier to thread. In fact, if you make use of its 4:1 system you will never have to remove the rope from your extension’s pulleys and cleat. It might not sound like much, but this little differences can gain you more runs per session. FINAL WORD: The Naish AllTerrain is a powerful performer designed for all conditions from flat water to waves.

water while the All Terrain covers everything else. RIGGING: The Boxer SL requires a lot more downhaul tension than the All Terrain, and if you haven’t dealt with cams before you’ll have to plan for a few more minutes rigging before you hit the water.

SAIL SIZING: The Boxer SL has such an impressive wind range that we could have easily jumped to a smaller sail than a 6.0 m2. Plus, the one-metre jump between All Terrains is a little on the large side. RIG PARTS: Naish’s quiver covers a huge wind range

with all sails rigging on the same 430 mast with a regular length mast extension. Add a Naish CT 160-210 centimetre boom and you’ve got all these sails fitting one boom as well. Naish helps you sail more with less gear.

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Nor DUKE 5.9

ON THE WATER: The Duke is

North’s high-performance freestyle wavesail boasting the PWA Freestyle World Champion Gollito Estredo as its signature rider. On the water the sail powers up quickly from a noticeable amount of seam shaping, but has a soft feel providing good feedback from the wind that experienced riders can make the most of. A middle-ofthe-road draft height balances well on our test boards in the 100-litre range. In particular, it felt great on the less-efficient freestyle wave boards that needed an extra nudge

to get up onto a plane. In transitions, it depowers best for tricky freestyle moves when tuned with a fair amount of outhaul. When bagged out with less outhaul it holds power deeper into a jibe, but cannot be thrown around as easily. RIGGING: North has created informative guides for every tuning point on their sails. Most importantly, the maximum and minimum markers are perfectly placed with every tester finding their happy place within these guidelines. When used by bigger riders or when matched with bigger boards,

we suggest downhauling to the min setting, while more efficient riders preferred the slippery and efficient feel found at the max setting. This makes the Duke super easy to rig and makes it one of the few sails that will be set perfectly the first time you hit the water with it. We tested the Duke with the recommended North 430 SDM, but all of North’s manoeuvreoriented sails are now compatible with RDM masts as well. FINAL WORD: This is a true freestyle sail blending low-end punch with a neutral feel in transitions.

North goes the extra mile when it comes to helping you get more from each sail through tuning. ICE 5.3 AND 4.7 ON THE WATER: The Ice is an

all-around wavesail. On flat water the sails softness dampens its power, but the nice tradeoff is once you’re into chop or waves it provides better control while accelerating. This softness also allows efficient sailors to plane early by providing feedback from the wind that they can adjust and trim to. A slippery feel makes it faster than most wavesails, plus its impressive upper wind range will keep you on the water when conditions change. With full downhaul the draft is on the lower side compared to other test sails,

which our smaller testers loved. With the downhaul backed-off the draft rises a little, but you will want to match the Ice up with a more manoeuvrable board with the footstraps centred. The Ice shines in transitions or on a wave. It’s here that the depower lets you position the rig however you need without affecting the trajectory you want to send the board. RIGGING: With various on-sail guides for every conceivable adjustment, the Ice is one of the easiest high-performance sails you’ll ever rig and tune. The only reason you might not hit the water

FEEL: An advanced rider

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will immediately notice the difference in sail shape between the Duke and Ice, but to most riders these differences would be negligible. The Duke gets up and going a little easier, while the Ice de-powers better in transitions.

before everyone else is because there’s so much info on the sail it will take you a moment to digest it all. North is also way ahead of the curve on the minimalist front with it being possible to rig the entire Ice line, from 3.4 to 5.7 m2, on a 400 centimetre RDM and the North 42 centimetre Pinlock.XT extension. The Ice HD (heavy duty) is North’s all-gird version that’s more durable both on the water and against the suns harmful UV rays. FINAL WORD: Here is an easy-totune sail that excels in both wave and bump-and-jump conditions.

RIGGING: North’s design team not only provides the best on-sail downhaul guide, they also give you informative guides for outhaul tension, boom length, boom height and harness line placement. These were the easiest sails to set up perfectly the first time

unrolled from their bags. SAIL SIZING: This quiver is spot on for a freestyle or wave sailor. If your local conditions require a bigger sail then a Natural 8.0 would fit well. RIG PARTS: North is very progressive in designing sails that allow consumers

to own less masts. The entire Ice line can rig on a 400 centimetre RDM. We would have loved to try the Duke on an RDM as well so both sails could be rigged with the same diameter mast extension.

RRD

EVOLUTION 6.5

ON THE WATER: If you love your

RRD board, then why not look for a sail, mast, boom and extension from the same brand to match. The Evolution is a freeride sail designed for all-round performance on flatter water. Its most striking quality is its lightness in weight. Most sails at this size have at least one more batten than the Evolution’s five. This made it a joy in transitions and the most loved sail of intermediate testers who found it more manageable than any other “big” sail in the test. It was not the fastest sail, but it’s one

of the most fun to ride. For use on wider boards and by heavier riders, we downhaul to the recommended setting for a higher and deeper draft with more power. On the speedier more efficient test boards, we added tension slightly beyond the recommended setting for a crisper and more slippery feel. This also allowed it to handle more wind than you’d expect of a sail with five simple rod battens. RIGGING: You won’t find a sail easier to rig than the Evolution. With no-cams and only five battens, it goes together with minimal effort,

especially with an RDM. There is a relatively large downhaul range and it takes a decent amount of adjustment to produce a noticeable reaction from the sail. We did find a little bit of leech flutter at maximum downhaul when we were trying to pit it against the raciest sails in the test. It’s also worth noting that the Evolution can also be rigged on a SDM. FINAL WORD: The Evolution is a simple and light sail that will help any freerider progress as quickly as possible.

With all three sails having no-cams and ﬁve battens, there is a similarity to how the sails feel. SUPER STYLE 5.8 AND 5.3 ON THE WATER: To most windsurf-

ers RRD (Roberto Ricci Designs) is known as a highly regarded board brand. Over the last few years the company gradually pieced together a sail and rig component line with a similar performancedriven attitude. The Super Style is RRD’s crossover sail line. It has a little more shape than its Wave Vogue wavesail and is built with a concern for weight. We found it to be a true do-everything sail. It’s super sensitive to tuning, but in all but the most tensioned settings the draft is rather high and there is just enough shape sewn-in for

it to power-up quickly. These two features make it a dream for more advanced freestylers and slightly larger riders. It maintains enough depowering ability to go neutral during transitions and to give experienced riders feedback to trim for added efficiency. All this makes it a one-sail wonder that any rider can have fun on whether you’re blasting back and forth fully powered-up, throwing down freestyle moves on perfectly flat water, or even riding San Carlos’ perfect peeling waves. Finally, the price is also right, as the SuperStyle is considerably cheaper than

FEEL: With all three

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sails having no-cams and five battens, there is a similarity to how the sails feel. However, if this is as big as you want to go in your quiver it may make more sense to go with either an entire quiver of SuperStyles

other sails of its pedigree. RIGGING: Getting the SuperStyle rigged-up properly does take a bit of a fine touch for tuning. Small movements of rope make for noticeable changes in the look and feel of the sail. However, you’ll be able to dial this in after a couple sessions once your eyes and senses are recalibrated to its more subtle nuances. When you get it right you’ll find just enough outhaul tension to keep the sail stable in transitions and still have a leech that can dampen big gusts. FINAL WORD: The SuperStyle is a true do-it-all sail for any level rider.

(6.8 to 3.7 m2) or Evolutions (9.0 to 4.5 m2). RIGGING: Both come together easily and in a similar fashion. However, the tuning is different as the Evolution requires noticeable tensioning to alter its feel, while the SuperStyle is sensitive.

SAIL SIZING: The jumps between sizes are perfect for an avid windsurfer looking to avoid the need to fuss with fine-tuning before changing sails. But gear minimalists may have trouble with spacing jumps in the mid- to small-size sails.

RIG PARTS: All three sails have luff lengths very close to the common mast lengths. So you should have no problem getting a minimal number of masts to cover your quiver, and also be able to rig for changing conditions without taking anything apart.

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Sailworks RETRO 7.5 AND 6.0

ON THE WATER: We have tested

the Retro year after year in the 7.5 m2 size, so it was great to try a smaller version of one of our favourite freeride sails. Just like the larger size, the 6.0 m2 gives you an incredible tuning range allowing it to transform from a powerhouse into a cam-like race sail as you increase downhaul tension. The draft is relatively high, so both match best with boards that have slightly wider tails and two rear footstraps. The powerhouse setting is perfect for taller sailors or for getting stubborn

boards up onto a plane. There is still decent power in the racier setting too, only now you have the stability and efficiency that no other no-cam sail in the test can provide. The only downside of all this straight-line goodness is that the rotation is more noticeable compared to other no-cam sails. RIGGING: Sailworks provides an on-sail downhaul guide, but you’re missing out if you don’t experiment and try different settings. The Retro has an amazing downhaul range allowing you to tune for both wind conditions and your

sailing style. We tested the 6.0 m2 with the two provided masts (460 centimetre SDM and 430 centimetre RDM) and found the RDM made for a slightly softer feel and no significant loss in performance. Some testers liked how this softness made the rotation smoother in transitions while others felt the SDM provided a little more stability. FINAL WORD: The Retro is still the most tunable and stable nocam sail on the market.

The impressive tuning range from both the Retro and Revolution makes this a perfect quiver. REVOLUTION 5.2 ON THE WATER: Sailworks contin-

ues to refine a proven performer in the Revolution. The biggest change we notice is a substantially lighter feel over previously tested models. This has been accomplished through design shaping and the use of durable yet lightweight X-ply materials in specific areas of the sail. This lighter feel helps you push your limits and be more aggressive no matter what conditions you’re riding. From flatwater freestyle to down-the-line wavesailing to backand-forth recreational blasting, this sail performs. The moderately

THE QUIVER

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high draft placement will get you planning quickly and there is still all the speed performance that has gained the Revolution its following. This sail has power to get you up and going yet remains controllable, even in overpowered bump-and-jump conditions. For smaller or lighter-weight riders, we found that the draft can be lowered with maximum downhaul, but take care with the amount of outhaul applied, as the foil will already be fairly flat. RIGGING: Like in all Sailworks sails, there is a large tuning range in the Revolution. The on-sail

FEEL: Both are similar in how the top head section twists while reacting to gusts and fluctuations in the wind. The Retro has a slightly higher draft that is locked in for straight-line joy while the Revo is built for manoeuvrability.

downhaul guide’s recommended setting is the perfect starting place, especially for freestyle or wavesailing. We found ourselves going a little beyond the maximum recommendation for poweredup bump-and-jump conditions. The outhaul is sensitive to small adjustments, so take care when you rig to keep from over outhauling and killing the sail. We loved that Sailworks was able to make the sail lighter without any noticeable loss in durability. FINAL WORD: The Revolution is a tunable all-around wavesail that feels lighter than ever before.

RIGGING: Even though the shape in the lower half of these sails is very different, the top of both look similar and react to downhaul tension in a similar manner. The Retro takes a much firmer pull to loosen the leech, but for a similar amount of

rope movement you get a similar change in each sail. SIZING: The impressive tuning range from both lines makes this a perfect quiver. Plus, both are offered in a ton of sizes allowing you to put together a quiver for any conditions no matter where you live.

RIG PARTS: Careful planers will notice that these three sails can be rigged on two different mast lengths. Start by building your quiver with the Retro 6.0 m2 as it performs equally well on both a 430 centimetre RDM and a 460 centimetre SDM.

Severne GATOR 7.5

ON THE WATER: The no-cam Ga-

tor line is one of the best you can find to help simplify windsurfing. Sizes range from 3.7 to 8.0 and the design changes from having five to six to seven battens as they get bigger to best suit the water conditions for their particular wind range. In the larger sizes, like this 7.5 m2, there are two battens that extend below the boom giving it more area in the foot, which helps the stability by locking shape into the lower-half of the sail. With minimalist head construction and drive from

down low, the Gator felt light for a 7.5 m2. It was one of the few big sails we felt comfortable trying carving freestyle tricks with, and testers commented that it almost had the depower of a wavesail. Through tuning this sail can be run on wide boards, but with so much depower you’ll need to be a more efficient sailor if you’re looking for torque off a race’s starting line. We loved the sails efficiency and drag-free feel, something testers often call “feeling slippery.” RIGGING: At 7.5 m2 the Gator is not a wavesail, but the wave-like

comparisons extend to how it rigs and looks as well. There are no tricks needed to put it together, and with its flattish profile it doesn’t even need a wide racestyle boom to perform properly. The head and leech may not be as beefy as a wavesail, but the all-grid construction provides plenty of durability to make for a long-lasting freeride sail. FINAL WORD: The Gator 7.5 is an efficient performer that does everything well.

Along with a similarity of feel and rigging, this quiver covers a huge range of wind and water conditions. GATOR 6.0 AND 5.3 ON THE WATER: We have grouped

these two sails together here despite the 6.0 being a six-batten freemove design and the 5.3 a five-batten wavesail with a higher cut foot. On the water these changes don’t really make for as big a difference in a straightline as one would expect. Both sizes twist off at the head in a similar manner through gusts, while a supple elasticity in the body gives a perfect balance between stability and rider feedback. The draft is slightly higher on the 6.0 m2 but it still balances well on the same single back strap boards that the

THE QUIVER

5.3 prefers. With a good balance between depower and stability, these smaller Gators have a slippery, drag-free feel, providing the rider with just enough feedback to improve their efficiency. It’s in the transitions that the diffences between the two sails is noticeable. The 6.0 goes neutral in transitions and feels very light in the hands, but is a little stiffer feeling than the 5.3. The 5.3, with its smaller foot and quicker depower, has a feel that is very close to that of a hard-core wavesail. RIGGING: We sailed both of these with the same 430 centimetre

FEEL: As you’d expect from having all sails of the same model, there is ample familiarity to be found here. They power-up and depower in a similar manner even though the extra batten and slight alteration in each size does change

RDM, plus the 6.0 m2 was also rigged on the 460 centimetre SDM from the Gator 7.5. As is usually the case, the RDM gave it a little softer feel that felt better in transitions, while the longer SDM provided a little more stability when fully powered-up. Severne has done a great job of making this simplified sail line easy to rig as well. Changes in tension in all sizes are easy to both see on land and feel on the water. FINAL WORD: True do-everything sails that will feel great in the hands of any level rider.

the performance of the sail to better suit its intended conditions. RIGGING: There is also similarity in how the sails rig. The fact that these are about as easy to rig as you will find just makes this quiver of Gators that much more attractive.

SAIL SIZING: This quiver covers a huge range of wind and water conditions. We had no problem making the jump between sizes and love that each sail is designed for the conditions you will likely find. RIG PARTS: Whether by design or not, a number

of the Gators have luff lengths close to the standard lengths masts come in. This makes it easier to build a quiver with a minimal expense on masts as you can usually pick from one of two length masts to rig each sail.

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getting real

HUCK FAIRMAN A writer observed, “Writing becomes its own reward. What more do you need from others—except a little money—if you have satisfied the stern critic in yourself?” Another noted that, “A novel is a meditation on existence…” What more do you need? Well, immersing yourself in nature is certainly one additional, immeasurable joy, as windsurfers know. Writing, if you solve the income part, allows both the meditation and the immersing. I usually write in the morning, into the early afternoon. But then, if the wind is blowing at the Jersey shore, bay or ocean, I make the hour-plus drive, often arriving as the afternoon south wind is picking up. I used to be impatient with the packing and rigging, but now I consider it part of the workout. The entire experience complements the sedentary, almost out-of-body hours bent over a page watching as the words appear magically from somewhere. —Huck Fairman

Read Noah’s Children by Fairman. Erickson photo

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Isthmus owner Gary Stone at Rock Creek photo: Ali Stone

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What happens when you put one of the world’s best windsurfers together with an artistic and dedicated film crew and talk Red bull into footing the bill? one hell of a Windsurﬁng Movie 2. In what promises to be a thrilling, character-driven sequel to the original, Levi Siver, Jace Panebianco, Mark Angulo, Kai Lenny and many others race us around the world in search of the soul-satisfying conditions that make all windsurfers, everywhere, drool. The movie centres on Siver and his life as a professional windsurfer, following him and his friends from scenes as remote as the Marshall Islands to the more familiar waters of the Gorge and Jaws. It gives you an artistic and action-packed glimpse into a life most of us can only dream of. but, that’s not why I’m so excited about this movie. There’s something even more special happening here. Talking

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Jace ﬁlming Levi.

with Panebianco and Siver about the making of The Windsurﬁng Movie 2 makes me think this one’s going to turn out truly epic. It’s not just the windsurfing either. It’s a little deeper, more literary, and more artistic. Siver and Panebianco (who aren’t alone in this project) both stressed their love of the art. Their various types of passion compel. For Panebianco, making movies became addictive. Finding new angles and new lighting grew into near obsession. The shots he toiled for weren’t just about the action, but about replicating and adding something more to each moment in time, capturing and rendering it for the world to enjoy. He spoke about the movie much like a violin maker would of a Stradivarius. While working on the movie, Panebianco became a father, rediscovered moments from his past and now emanates a

maturely artistic and refined perspective. It’s an ebullient passion that makes Panebianco slightly nuts, and it’s crazy people like him that give us greatness. Panebianco utterly refused to take much credit for this movie, insisting time and again, that there are many talented people involved, Johnny DeCesare in particular. That may be the case, but having his refined perspective, obsession for the art is going to make this movie something special. Something you’ll want to see. Passion, as with Jace, provided the motivation for Siver. However, it manifested itself in a somewhat different and intriguing way. It’s the passion that the movie captures. It’s the sense of camaraderie forged between people while experiencing the new and unique, when pushing each other to new heights, and through the long tedious hours of

travel. Siver described a trip to the Marshall Islands, where few, if any, windsurfed before. They didn’t plan the trip for a particular swell, so when they showed up it was flat. The next day, WHAPoW, it was double-mast high. None in the crew knew what to expect but they went anyway. With each reeling wave, Siver and company pushed each other a little deeper into the pitted unknown. To hear him express it leaves you with a sense of exploration, not just of the reef and island, but of his soul and those of his friends. The danger, the pressure, the camera’s unrelenting demand for blood… er… perfection shoved Siver and friends together and forged the type of friendship only possible through windsurfing. And then there’s a twist. It’s still passion, but it’s one that was once lost and now found. Mark Angulo is back and killing it. His return ties the piece together and demonstrates the never-ending appeal windsurfing possesses while contrasting past and present (Angulo and Siver). Admittedly, Angulo never completely left the picture, but his talent failed to present itself to those not paying close attention. To most of us, he fell off the planet. Since Angulo was one of my windsurfing heroes growing up, I’m incredibly excited to see this. It’s old school Maui; Angulo was prime in the waning years of windsurfing’s golden age. Whether it be Panebianco’s passion for the art and deepened perspective, whether it be Siver’s affinity for sharing adventure, whether it be the sentimentality of rediscovery and Angulo’s return, there’s one thing that’s clear: the searing tenacity these guys, and all those involved in making the movie, display will seep into the movie in overt and subtle ways. The lust for action, life and adventure they get to live, they share with you. It’s going to radiate through the screen and breathe life into your (hopefully) sore biceps and blistered hands. It’s going to make you feel like Panebianco, Siver, Angulo and all the others fortunate enough to make a life out of passion. The Windsurfing Movie 2 premieres July 4th in Hood River. Breathe deep, it’s going to be sick.

WINDSPoRT, USPS #20522, is published quarterly by SbC Media Inc., 2255 b, Queen St. e., Suite 3266, Toronto oN, M4e 1G3. Periodicals Postage Rates paid at Niagara Falls, N.Y., 14304. U.S. office of publication 2424 Niagara Falls blvd, Niagara Falls, N.Y. 14304. U.S. Postmaster send address corrections to: Windsport, box 1081, Niagara Falls, N.Y., 14304.

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