Windsport Vol.29-4 No.126 by Pete DeKay

INSIDE:

ZANE SCHWEITZER : : TATY FRANS : : ED ANGULO : : 2010 HARNESS SHOWCASE NORTH AMERICA’S WINDSURFING MAGAZINE

BLOWING UP THE MARSHALL ISLANDS COLOMBIA DIARIES RIDING INTO THE UNKNOWN PISTOL RIVER WAVE BASH THE RETURN OF A LEGEND BUILD A DREAM BAJA BASE CAMP!

RIDE GUIDE

JERICOACOARA, BRAZIL

DISPLAY UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2011

SUMMER 2010

WINDSPORT.COM $5.99 US

Trim Size: 412.74mm X 276.26mm

Forecast

windsport

The Ocean Jump

Coming up with new aerial moves is getting more difficult as the complexity of the tricks is definitely increasing. Check out my Ocean Jump, which is a switchstance back-to-sail Forward Loop. I named it after a sail-skateboarding competition held in Germany that involves launching tricks off a ramp into water. I figured out the rotation off the ramp and was ready to try it for real. This spring, on a windy day in Morocco, the conditions were perfect so I started to go for it. I needed some time to get a feeling for a clean landing, but the rotation wasn’t too hard. It feels strange to jump facing backwards and not really see what is going on. At the end of the day, after some hard wipeouts, I finally worked it out… and here is the evidence to prove it. —Flo Jung

Jung’s Ocean Jump. Gottschall photo

windsport

Features 52 The Bash Is Back

This Pistol River, Oregon wave contest returns with a vengeance.

60 Colombia Diaries

Trictionary author Michael Rossmeier shows Phil Soltysiak his secret South American hot spot.

68 Blowing Up the Marshalls The cast and crew of the Windsurfing Movie 2 share stories about these incredible South Pacific islands.

80 Exposure

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all about the photography.

88 Harness Guide 2010 All the info you need to go shopping for your next harness.

On the Cover Rider: Boujmaa Guilloul Photographer: Jerome Houyvet

Boujmaa, one of the most progressive riders in the world today, sends a relaxedlooking air off the lip at Hoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;okipa.

contents one

Volume 29, Issue 4, Number 126

windsport

Jesse Brown, at the Pistol River Wave Bash. Hallman photo

2010 Pistol River Wave Bash

windsport

contents two Volume 29, Issue 4, Number 126

Upfront 06 Forecast: The Ocean Jump 12 Launch: Robby Naish at the Bash! 14 Balance Point: Love letters and hate mail 17 In the Wind: How to windsurf through life

Departments 36 Radar

Alice Arutkin is a star in the making 38 In the Lab

Master shaper Ed Angulo 40 Quiver

A dream camp in La Ventana, Baja 42 Ride Guide: Jericoacoara, Brazil

Put Jeri on your â&#x20AC;&#x153;must-doâ&#x20AC;? list 44 Behind the Lens

Meet legendary photographer Darrell Wong 96 Getting Real

With Rudy Castorina 98 Close Out

All about Jeff Henderson

Patrick Bergeron, off the top. J. Houyvet photo

windsport

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launch When ROBBY naISh SpeaKS… Sam Bittner, organizer of the 2010 Pistol River Wave Bash, had to be feeling great with how her event was going. As of the third night’s wrap-up party, everything has been decided except the winner of the expert division, which would go the following day. There has been wind, waves, stoked competitors, fun parties, friendly town locals in Gold Beach, world-class professional photographers, worldwide web coverage, industry support and even the arrival of Robby Naish. How could things get any better? So just before the awards ceremony when Robby Naish got up

and said a few words to the crowd about Sam Bittner and this great event, it gave me goose bumps. I can only imagine how Sam felt! In a short off-the-cuff speech Naish told us about Sam’s dream for this event, all her hard work and how we need to support events regardless of whether the conditions are epic or not. It suddenly hit home for me how special the 2010 Pistol River Wave Bash is and how important this event really is for windsurfing in North America. Imagine if the stoke generated here can be carried forward into an events on Maui and Waddell Creek and maybe

even a full U.S. wave tour. Look at what Sam’s dream has started. I’ve always had the utmost respect for organizers whether they put on wave, racing, freestyle or demo events. I know the work it takes to put on any event, whether it’s big like the Bash, U.S. Nationals and Calema Mid-winters or smaller (but growing), like the East Coast Windsurfing Festival and Hatteras Wave Jam. Thank you, Sam and all others event organizers who put in countless hours of work for a pat on the back just because you love windsurfing. —peTe DekaY, eDITor

Naish, at the Bash. Carter photo

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balance point VOLUME  | ISSUE  | NUMBER 

wrITe In anD wIn let us know what you think of our mag in an e-mail to letters@windsport. com and you may win a new Aeron v-grip boom. The V-grip’s unique arm shape is super comfy on the hands and provides 40 per cent more stiffness compared to other aluminum booms. since stiffness is the most important quality a boom can display, you’re going to love winning this prize.

PUBLISHER EDITOR SENIOR EDITOR ART DIRECTOR EDITORIAL DIRECTOR COPY EDITOR

John Carter

INSTRUCTIONAL EDITOR

Andy Brandt

PRODUCTION DESIGN CIRCULATION AND PROMOTIONS MANAGER CIRCULATION AND PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR CIRCULATION ASSISTANT

windsport

Patrick Bergeron

PWA CORRESPONDENT

ADVERTISING TRAFFIC COORDINATOR

I’m so stoked for another edition of the SUP Yoga in your WELLNESS section of Windsport. I’ve been meaning to write in and tell you that not only is WELLNESS one of my favourite lil departments, but also all the female content you have goin’ on. I especially dig the PEER PRESSURE article featuring Valerie Ghibado. Big props to you guys for keeping the ladies in the loop and showin’ us some love. Keep the good stuff comin’ my way, Windsport! Fynn Malloy, Nelson, British Columbia I’d like to thank a group of ripping ladies from the Gorge that includes Katie Crafts, Ingrid Larouche, Zoe Najim and Tanya Ferguson for selflessly helping to make this happen. —ed.

Stephanie Lake

Franck Berthuot, Jock Bradley, John Carter, Shawn Davis, Bjorn Gottschall, Richard Hallman, Jerome Houyvet, Maxime Houyvet, Kevin Pritchard, Sandra Schennach, Bill Steinbeck, Richard Strom, Benjamin Thouard, Bogo Trepka, Dave White, Darrell Wong

PRODUCTION MANAGER

KeePIn’ LADIeS In the LOOP

Luke Fox

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGS

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION AND DESIGN

SUP is really becoming mainstream here on the Delmarva [a peninsula covering Delaware, Maryland and Virginia]. We have been following the Windsport WELLNESS series on SUP yoga… what a great idea. Water adds a third element that makes the yoga experience quite extraordinary. It’s really causing quite a stir here in our area. Also, we’ve had Entomology graduate students from the University of Maryland laud the ability to go places on a SUP that they never would have been able to otherwise. One of them told me that, “It’s a new and wonderful means of conveyance, allowing us access remote locations and conduct research far exceeding anything we’ve ever been able to do before.” But the “shot heard round the Delmarva” was the result of our newest offering: SUP-Yoga. Our local instructor Dimitra Kotanides was blown away by her first experience on an RRD SUP-11. The element of water adds another dimension to traditional yoga poses that really is creating a buzz. We’ve already got clients lining up to get on board… literally!

Dan Parsons

Manu Bouvet, Carine Camboulives, Mitch Gingrich, Jem Hall, Flo Jung, Jace Panebianco, Michael Rossmeier, Emma-Rose Rossoff, Levi Siver, Phil Soltysiak, Keith Teboul, Rick Whidden, Darrell Wong

TEST EDITOR

WhAt’SUP UP DeLMArvA?

Pete DeKay // pdk@sbcmedia.com John Bryja

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

MAUI CORRESPONDENT

George Markopoulos, Milford, Delaware We are stoked to see stand-up paddling and windsurfing growing on the Delmarva Peninsula. Everyone in the area should check out Delmarva Watersports at delmarvaboardsportadventures.com for more info. —ed.

Steve Jarrett

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

SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1 year (4 issues) $17.98 Canadian ($17.98 U.S.) 2 years (8 issues) $29.98 Canadian ($29.98 U.S.) 1-800-223-6197 E-mail: subscriptions@windsport.com CHANGE OF ADDRESS USPS PLEASE SEE PAGE 98

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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GEAR, ADVICE & ENTERTAINMENT

PEER PRESSURE Fellow pros interview Taty Frans

20 gRoM

Zane Schweitzer rips at age 16

WE SURVEY

Polling teenagers about learning to windsurf

SaIL MaTES

Who’s really behind Robby Swift’s success?

32 gURU

Learn to jump at Jem Hall’s boot camp

IN THE wIND

WELLNESS SWag MaCgYVER PRoDUCTS WE LIKE HERoINE

Delmarva-lous SUP yoga. Markopoulos photo

windsport

I T w photos by John Carter/pWa

Peer Pressure

taty franS anSWerS QueStionS from 10 felloW ProS After winning the last freestyle event of 2009 and the first one of 2010, Taty Frans appears to be at the top of his game. Let’s find out what 10 of his windsurfing peers want to know about him and his life on and off the water. KEVIN PRITCHARD: What is it

that makes you win one contest and then finish sixth at another? If you can win one event, why don’t you win them all? Winning a title is not easy. I almost won the title in 2006 but I got too excited and lost my concentration. I was beat in the last heat that could have made me the world champion. I really don’t know what it will take, I just don’t think about that too much. I just go to the events and do my best. If in the end, what I have trained for the whole winter deserves a title then I’ll accept it. It’s not an easy task because it will all depend on the conditions at each event.

SARAH-QUITA OFFRINGA:

In 2006 you were at the top and suddenly your results started to slide. How have you reinvented yourself after a few years of not-so-great results? Well, that’s a secret [laughs]. I can’t tell you how I managed to reinvent myself. the only thing I can tell is that racing slalom made a big impact. I was putting more time into slalom and leaving freestyle behind. but really what I’ve learned is that by looking back and thinking about what you want to achieve that you will find strength… with this strength you get the needed motivation… and when you are motivated you

windsport

will find the people that will help you to believe in yourself. I thank God, my grandmother and esther offringa who all helped me to reinvent myself, and that’s the truth. TYSON POOR: When you

competed on the PWA slalom tour, did you ever feel intimidated by certain riders? I never really felt that fear for the slalom guys as I had been competing a lot during my early years on olympic boards. so I really knew what the game was all about. Finian [Maynard] can be the worst but I am always ready for battle. I need to gain at least 40 pounds to be successful and I don’t know if I can gain that much weight right now. but yes, I am willing to do slalom one day again.

WYATT MILLER: When you

figure out a new move, do you tell Tonky and Kiri the secret to learning it as well? We have no secrets from each other. We all sail and try new moves together and this is how we learn what is possible on the water. but we rarely tell each other what to do because most of the time we already know what to do, just by looking.

JOHN SKYE: Would you expect

your family members Tonky or Kiri to let you win a heat if it

gave you the world title? I don’t really expect or think that they would ever just let me win. We can be cool and all that, but when we are against each other in the heats, I think tonky and Kiri go full-power to win. I really don’t believe there’s ever any teamwork. If the three of us worked as a team then Kiri would have been world champion two years ago, but tonky beat him… so you be the judge. JOSH ANGULO: Does the govern-

ment of Bonaire give you any financial support? no… nada… nothing. I guess you have to give me some tips on how to make them support tonky, Kiri and myself.

MAARTEN VAN OCHTEN: A lot

of pro freestylers have transitioned successfully into waves. Will you ever follow this path? I want to try waves but I am not very good at waveriding. I can go crazy from time to time in jumping, but I would like to get a waveriding style like Kauli and the control in jumping like philip Koster. then, for sure I will be unstoppable for many years [laughs].

WHIT POOR: What sort of training do you do for the tour? I spent some time in the gym. that’s enough on land and I just sail as much as possible. plus, I

still do slalom and Formula every now and then. KAULI SEADI: You have been doing freestyle at such a high level for so long. How does your body respond from all the long hours of training? My body is still healthy and I still have no broken bones. I guess I still play pretty hard but with some care as it takes two or three weeks to learn some moves. now I try to take my time and sail as much as possible as the more I train the easier all the moves get. ever since I got back to bonaire from the 2009 Fuerteventura World Cup with that bad result, I have spent about five to six hours on the water training every day to get my level back to where it has to be in order to perform at a top 5 level. now I feel that I’m almost there. FRANCISCO GOYA: What were

the most important things that helped you win at Austria and Sylt? the most important elements were heat preparation, keeping focused and mentally ready, and just a general relaxation. through both competitions I was comfortable and confident about my performance.

Taty Frans

TATY FRAN’S TOP 7 CAREER HIGHS

Winning gear

. getting sponsored by Starboard in 2004, and having the opportunity to help in the development of its freestyle boards.

. Coming ninth at the ‘07 PWa Slalom in Pozo. I was having so much fun jumping and still finished ahead of a lot of big names.

. Watching Tonky claim the crown at the 2002 PWa King of the Caribbean. This provided a huge boost for both our careers.

. The ‘09 Bonaire to Curacao challenge raising money for Erwin Miller’s doctors’ bills. He was the first windsurfer on Bonaire.

. Finishing as the ‘06 PWa freestyle vice world champion. Standing on the podium for finishing in the Top 3 overall was a dream.

. Winning the ‘10 PWa Freestyle World Cup at Podersdorf, austria. I knew it would be tough as it was the year’s first event.

. Winning the Sylt grand Slam last year. I’m very proud at how quickly I raised my freestyle level to win the biggest tour event.

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I T w Fun at essaouira.

ZAne’s Top  fRom moRocco 5. The food: I especially recommend trying couscous poulet a le goum… trust me. 4. Surfing: boujmaa Guilloul took me to some great local breaks with Moulay being my favourite. 3. Making my movie: since the trip I’ve edited together a movie. Find it at windsport.com/ issue_extras. 2. Windsurfing: sailing high in the sky with great friends from around the world. 1. Camel surfing: Kai Katchadourian, nick Warmuth and I had a blast riding these beasts along the beach.

Camel surfing. schweitzer photo

Grom

Words by pete deKay | photo by MaXIMe hoUyvet

Zane ScHWeitZer Age: 16 Home: Kahana, Maui Sponsors: starboard, north, dakine, Mean Line Fin Co. Hero: My dad… Matt schweitzer Best tricks: tweaked aerials and push Loops Trick goals: push Forward and doubles

It’s incredible that by age 16 Zane schweitzer can not only boast competing at windsurfing contests on every continent (well, other than antarctica), but that he was included in the stacked field of the by-invitation-only 2010 essaouira Wave Classic. after the event he gave his board to a local competitor named abdel Fettah. responding to why he did this, schweitzer says, “[Fettah] is a ripper, but had broken his board during the event. so I decided to give him my board since he loves windsurfing and was such a great host to us!”

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We Survey

Words and photos by Pete DeKay

High School Students Learning to Windsurf

On May 26, 2010, Dan Thomson brought his 12th grade class, from Parkside High School, to the Toronto Windsurfing Club on Lake Ontario to try windsurfing. Windsport was there to survey the students, both before and after the session, and record what exactly teenagers think of the sport.

Pre-session Survey: Have you ever tried windsurfing before? Yes 2 No 19 Do you have any friends or family that have ever windsurfed? Yes 5 No 16 Do you think windsurfing looks...? Not too hard… I’ll easily get the hang of it. 6 A little challenging… it’ll take some effort. 13 Difficult… one lesson is not enough. 2 Janine Jackson

Marshall Rivest

What trait do you think helps the most in learning to windsurf? Balance Strength Perseverance Coordination

13 4 1 3

When Mr. Thomson told you were coming windsurfing, you immediately thought: Windsurfing should be pretty fun. 18 Yeah… road trip! I love leaving school. 3 I don’t think I’ll like windsurfing. 0

Post-session Survey: Ben Sutherland

Hanah Mosher

What did you think of windsurfing? It was easy. 6 It was challenging but I did OK. 12 It was way too difficult. 3 Are you interested in trying again? Yes 20 No 1 Did you like the board you were using? It was more stable than I expected. 8 It was tippier than I expected. 2 It was exactly what I thought it would be. 11

Breanne Suckel

windsport

Mitchell Davis

Who would you like to see show up at a group windsurfing lesson you are taking? A good friend (4 times), my teacher Mr. Thomson (3), Brad Pitt (2), my instructor from today Max, Blake Lively, Janis Joplin, Tiger Woods, Bob Marley, Chuck Norris, Charles Manson, Stephen Hawking

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Wellness

by Emma-Rose Rossoff Photos by Jock Bradley

SUP Yoga: Lesson FOUR Whether you’re trying yoga on your SUP or just paddling around, you’ll find that owning one of these boards will keep you smiling, healthy and fit.

Headstand (advanced): Begin in downward facing dog (see Windsport Issue 123, p.28) with hands and feet equal distances from the centreline. Transition into headstand by bringing your hands together at the centreline, lowering forearms onto the board and drawing the crown of your head between your elbows. Walk your feet in towards your face then raise your hips toward the sky as you straighten your spine. Breathe and, when ready, lift both legs. Notice the view of the water and your world upside-down as you enjoy for several breaths. Come down slowly, softly placing feet equal distance from the centreline to stay balanced as you return to downward facing dog.

Paddle Handling and Stance: Choosing the correct board and paddle is key to avoid frustration. The board’s width is a good indicator of its stability. For easy paddling and yoga, an ideal board is at least 29” wide. The paddle should be one head-length taller than you are, and when using it, keep your arms shoulder-width distance apart, straight, but loose and relaxed allowing the movement to come from the core and not from arm strength. Place the paddle in the water a few feet in front of you and draw it towards you alongside the board. Pull it out of the water once it reaches your body, as any stroke beyond is a waste of energy. Emma-Rose Rossoff owns Anahata Yoga in Hood River, Oregon and is on the web at yogahoodriver.com.

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Swag

gadgetS to make your SeSSionS more memorable

GoPro HD HeRo not only is the Gopro hd hero video camera waterproof, small and lightweight, but it also captures high-quality action footage and is easy to work with. With a little ingenuity you can mount it almost anywhere on your person or gear and shoot professional quality (up to 1080p at 30 frames per second or 720p at 60 fps) video. add a 32Gb sd card and you can record up to nine hours of action. you can also set it to shoot automatic 5Mp photos at up to two-second intervals. We recommend the helmet hero kit ($299Usd) and adding the handlebar seatpost mount kit ($19.99 Usd) for attaching it to your rig. goprocamera.com

H2o Audio Waterproof Armband do you perform better with your own personal music soundtrack playing in the background? If so, check out this awesome new amphibx waterproof armband ($79.99 Usd) from h2o audio thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s made to fit larger digital music players like the ipod classic, touch, iphone or other Mp3 players. We recommend pairing it with h2o audioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surge Waterproof headphones ($59.00 Usd) that we found did an amazing job of blocking out the noise of the wind so volume could be kept at a reasonable level. h2oaudio.com

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I T w

Outer Banks

VACATIONS WIND WATER COMFORT

MacGyver

HoW to loVe Your a-BaSe finS

Words by dereK rIJFF | photos by MIKe Fraser Windsurfers are so technical they don’t even use normal screws. This may sound like the punch line to a joke, but it’s kind of true. Are you tired of losing that A-base fin screw or plate while messing around taking the fin in or out of the board? Here is an easy fix to help.

20 Days A Month.

409 Square Miles Of It.

With a grinder (or a file and some patience) you can make an a-base screw that never has to leave your fin... ever! this will make putting the fin in the box and taking it out way easier. From the halfway point along one side of the plate,

grind to one of the corners in a straight line. next, rotate the plate 180 degrees and grind from the halfway point to the opposite corner. the result will be a parallelogram-shaped plate with the screw hole in the middle. thread the plate a few

turns onto the screw so that when the long sides are parallel with the fin, the ends slope down from left to right. slide the fin into the box and tighten normally. notice that the plate

has now twisted to hold the fin securely in the box. simply remove the fin by loosening the screw, which will cause the plate to twist back parallel with the box.

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THE SLOT BOX

starboard photo

here is a new waveboard fin box looking to take over: the slot box. at only 77 grams it is far lighter than the bulky 300 gram U.s. box, which is a huge factor for today’s multi-fin boards. slot box fins will be available from drake and Maui Fin Company, and are already installed on many starboard and tabou waveboards (with other brands soon to follow).

windsport

I T w to be honest, they do work hard. It’s just that since he loves what he does, he’s one of those few people that enjoys working. You film videos for JP-Australia. Do you like filming or do you just do it cause he wants you to? I started doing it because he wanted me to and because that meant not being apart. Now it’s grown on me and I’m enjoying getting better, using different techniques, getting shots from different angles and working at the beach. But my favourite part is editing the videos, as I love the process of it and the results.

Heidy Clawson

What else do you do when you’re not filming? I started a small business with a friend designing shoes, bags and jackets made entirely of Argentinean leather. It’s called Bai Res, named for Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires. We’re selling the products in Argentina and in Maui. It’s a very small but exclusive business that is doing OK, and it also allows me to follow Robby around the world.

Words and photo by Kevin Pritchard

Sail Mates

Heidy & Robby Lend a Hand

Heidy Clawson dishes dirt on Robby Swift Let’s find out if the saying, “behind every good man is a good woman” is true in the case of Robby Swift. Not only has his Argentinean girlfriend, Heidy Clawson, been there for his jump to third in the PWA wave ranks, but also she works on tour filming podcasts for JP-Australia.

How did you meet Robby? It was at the famous Jacques’ North Shore Bistro in Paia, Maui. I was dancing with some friends when five guys came up to talk to me, which I thought was odd. I found out later that he was just too shy to come on his own and had dragged all his friends just to talk to me. What is something that most people don’t know about Robby? He’s more “lovey-dovey” than me! You’d never believe a tough pro

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Robby went from 13th to 3rd since being with you. What did you do to him? Since we’ve been together he’s definitely had a healthier lifestyle. The going out and partying is much less and that always helps! But he has definitely trained really hard and not only just by windsurfing; doing pilates, yoga and all sorts of other activities has helped him inside and out.

windsurfer could be so loving… and so are the rest of the windsurfers on tour! You should see them all in their hotel rooms talking on cell phones with their girlfriends; they’re all “machos” until they call them, and they even change their tone of voice. Sorry, boys! Is being a pro windsurfer all it is made up to be or is it really hard work? He sometimes says, “OK, bye. I got to go to work.” When he’s actually going to the beach to have fun! But

Heidy, Robby and his brother David Swift are raising money to help the surf-windsurfing town of Matanzas, Chile that was devastated by the February 27 earthquake and tsunami. As of this issue’s printing they have raised 58 per cent of their £ 20,000 (approximately $28,700.00). Please go to justgiving.com/ChileEarthquakeResponse for more info and to make a greatly appreciated donation.

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Guru

Words by Jem Hall | Photos by Dave White

Jumping Part One: The Take-Off

Jumping is one of the best parts of windsurfing. Chop hops and wave jumps can be done before many other moves, such as jibes and tacks, are proficient, since once you have good speed in the straps on smaller boards you’re ready to catch some air. In this first of three articles I’ll get you taking off whether you’re new to this move or you just want to get higher. In order to get airborne you need to analyze the water for bumps, chop and ramps. Just as wind awareness and seeing gusts and lulls helps your stance and board speed, seeking out the most suitable ramps helps your jumps. Your take-off will be slightly into the wind and with the tail of the board in the wave trough. This brings the nose up and feeds air under the board. However, speed is your friend here so your sailing line should not be upwind for too long. More speed means more height and the more you put into taking off the more you get out. Your stance should be different pre-jump so that the gear is in readiness for taking off. Forget motoring and leaning outboard, instead get over the board to be ready to pop or Ollie. Spot the ramp and get set up with your body inboards and low after unhooking. Bend the back leg and get your head below boom height. Face up the board to weight the tail and bring the nose up, which also opens the sail, and push down aggressively through the toes of the back foot as you bring the rig back towards you. The more you do this the higher the nose and therefore the board will go. Next, pull the front leg up and forward as you simultaneously pull up and forward on the boom. Finally, as you start to fly into the air you will then pull the tail up. Remember to push, pull and pull in taking off and then pull the tail up while in flight. Jem Hall (jemhall.com) is sponsored by RRD, Ezzy and Flying Objects and will look at in-flight control and landing jumps in later issues.

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Jem’s Gems: Quick Tips for Jumping Kit Board type Freestyle wave, freestyle and wave boards make jumping easier. Strap size Make them big so you can weight your toeside efficiently. Fin size A smaller fin makes it easier to get positioned over the board prior to take-off. Mastfoot position Move it back a few centimetres to get more pop.

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Heroine

interview by Nadia Pfister

Nadia Pfister and her hero Junko Nagoshi You can never be too good to have a hero. Nadia Pfister throws huge Loops on big Maui days and still looks up to the hard work and smooth style of Junko Nagoshi. Pfister sent us the following questions to learn more about her her hero’s life and sailing. When did you start windsurfing and what has kept you going ever since? I started windsurfing in 1996, while I was in University in Japan. Since my first try, I always wanted to be good at this sport and catch up with anyone better than me. Who is inspiring you? Everyone who is working on developing a good sailing style or is trying to learn new moves. There are so many of them out there! What are your goals? There are so many moves I want to learn this summer. In freestyle, I want to land the Shaka more often, and finish the Switch Chacho. For waves, I want to learn to do a really high Back Loop—mine is still low altitude—and different aerials like the Taka. These things are one after another, so technically there is no ending for me. My long-term goal is to be able to help bring more people to the sport of windsurfing. What does your normal day look like? I get up at sunrise and work until about 1 p.m. I work a couple of days a week at a neighbour’s farm in Kula, and the other days I take care of our own farm business. After that I am free to go windsurfing. I check out the wind and wave conditions first, and then I go wherever it’s best and sail hard. After that I sometimes have coffee with my friends or go home to a good dinner with my husband. Finally,

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I check e-mail, watch video clips, think about what was good and wrong during my sailing session, watch Two and a Half Men on TV and laugh hard. Then I go to bed. Is there anything that you miss doing because of your dedication of windsurfing? Windsurfing is the first priority for me. Nothing is missing from my life because of it. Would you want to live on Maui, even if you couldn’t windsurf anymore? For the first couple of years on Maui, I thought this place was just for windsurfing. But after living here for more than 10 years, I fell in love with this place. So, yes… I would live on Maui regardless. Do you follow a specific training and nutrition plan? Eight years ago, when I used to race, I was doing a lot of cross training like lifting weights, cycling, swimming, etc., which was really good for racing. But now I only do wave and freestyle. For those disciplines I find that balance, quickness, flexibility and having a relaxed mind is most important. So I listen to my body carefully, stretch a lot and try not to do too much weight training. I try to eat right—like high protein foods and good organic vegetables—and also getting plenty of sleep is very important. What is your advice for anyone who wants to spend more

time windsurfing but doesn’t live in a really windy place? When my husband lived in Utah, a place with very sketchy wind conditions, he would go to work bringing along a weather radio. He bought an old ambulance with a red light on top and all his gear stored inside. When the radio said the wind was up, he would turn on the siren and flashing light and head to the lake. What this means is you should always have your gear ready to go. Watch the wind forecasts and call in sick to work a lot. The next thing to do is watch a lot of videos of the type of sailing you like to do. Even try to do the move in your living room or on the lawn with your gear rigged up. Finally, the best thing you can do is quit your job and move to a windy spot, like Hawaii or Hood River. Life is too short to miss a great day on the water. How do you learn new moves to keep improving? For waveriding, I watch others whose style I like and try to do the same. For freestyle, I watch videos or ask around for advice from others who can do the trick that I want to learn. Then I just go out and try several million times. Sometimes photographers send me photos so I can see my incorrect form or my friends will watch me and give helpful advice. Anyone with a hero and a decent photo of themselves in action can appear on this page by sending their submission to info@windsport.com.

Junko Nagoshi. J.Houyvet photo

Inspired Nadia Pfister Where do you live? I live on Maui most of the time studying at Maui College, but during the semester breaks I go to Switzerland. What is your occupation? I am self-employed and my business is called Maui Touch (mauitouch.com). I offer services in personal training, fitness instruction, massage and body-work. What is your favourite gear? This year I got a custom 58-litre quad-fin board from Quatro, which I love to use at Hoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;okipa. My favourite sail is the Goya Guru 4.2 rigged on one of the new Goya masts. What are your goals? To be on the water as much as possible; to share the passion and fun with others; to train and improve my skills; and to always be inspired by the many other active windsurfers. What is inspiring to you about Junko? I see her on the water for hours almost every day. She is always focused and trains at all the spots around Maui. But what I admire most is how she skillfully rips at Hoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;okipa.

Nadia Pfister. mauiwatershoot.com photo

radar School’s out for summer.

aliCe arutKin words by JÉrÔMe LIMousIN | Photo by JohN carter/Pwa at only 17 years old, alice arutkin is already becoming well known in the windsurfing world. when not attending high school classes, she’s on the water landing Forward Loops or perfecting her racing starts and jibes. she joined the Pwa in 2008 and was elected rookie of the year. this season she is looking to better her last year’s results (fourth in slalom and sixth in waves) and is off to a great start finishing third at the slalom world cup in ulsan, Korea. Sail Number: F-111

Age: 17

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Home: wissant, France

Sponsors: starboard, North, oxbow, deboichet Best discipline: wave

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in the lab

MASTER SHAPER ED ANGULO WORDS BY PETE DEKAY | PHOTO BY JEROME HOUYVET You may be familiar with the colourful life stories of pro windsurfing brothers Josh and Mark Angulo. We’ll here is a short interview with their father Ed, a legend in his own right from years shaping boards under the family name.

How did you get your start shaping boards? I’ve been working on surfboards in some capacity for about 42 years. I started in my dad’s garage hacking away at stripped-down longboards. It makes me sick to think of the wonderful old longboards that I ruined. I shaped my first windsurfing board when guys from Kailua approached me to build some boards with Kevlar. Tell us a little about the business side of Angulo Windsurfing? Josh runs the Angulo Windsurf brand while Mark does the custom stuff. I’m around as an adviser or consultant. The three of us communicate regularly about

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shapes and designs, and now with computer-shaping programs we can design and modify in a more precise and calculated manner than all my years of shooting from the hip. My personal interests are now focused on stand-up paddling and golf. I have a partner on the SUP side and he and I paddle and peddle SUP boards and products [check out angulodesigns.com]. Briefly outline what a “perfect day” would look like in your life? I pretty much get to live a perfect life. I live with my wonderful wife here on Maui. I get to paddle regularly, teach and play golf and I get to build boards with my son Mark. I get to go to a great church with

a bunch of great loving people. I love what I do so I don’t really feel like I’m working. I’m very blessed and I thank God for it all. Can you pick a moment in both Josh’s and Mark’s windsurfing careers that you are especially proud of? I am most proud of their sobriety and how their lives have been completely turned around by God’s grace. Josh’s retirement with a world title is really cool and the way Mark is ripping at 42 years of age is great. They both make me proud daily, and to me it’s a compliment that they both wanted to continue working and building the family watersports brand.

Do you have any advice for parents looking to keep their kids in the family business? Our family business just happened. We were blessed along the way with many good things, and in spite of quite a few mistakes I have made along the way, the Angulo brand keeps growing. Mark and Josh both came to me and expressed their desire to get involved and they both have put their nose to the grindstone and are on their way to doing some very amazing things. If you ask me what I did… well, I just prayed for them and for their families.

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quiver Casey Hauserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Baja Base Camp words by casey hauser | Photo by BILL STEINBECK Located on the Sea of Cortez side of Baja, La Ventana is truly a hidden paradise offering great windsurfing conditions all winter long and many other activities as well. You can fly in for a short stay or figure out your work schedule and set up camp here for the entire winter. Here is what my styled-out home in the La Ventana public campground looks like.Â

2007 E-250 Ford Van This ultimate windsurfing vehicle fits five people, 12 boards, 20 sails, camping gear and a futon.

Dakine T4 Harness The T4 is the most rad harness there is. Why windsurf with any other? MauiSails Legend 4.7 and Loco 4.4 The Legend handles everything including wave, freestyle and just blasting around, while the Loco is an ultra-light freestyle sail.

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Tabou boards for demo I brought a few different models of Tabou boards down for people to demo, including the Pocket Wave, Twister and 3S.

Rob Warwick’s Tent This is pro freestyler Rob Warwick’s palace featuring a 6’5” tall ceiling. RRD Wassup 8’5 and Standup Eleven The RRD 8’5” is a super-turny SUP, while the Eleven is an easy-and-stable cruiser (both can handle a windsurfing rig).

ShadowBox GPS unit Record every aspect of your board’s performance, including speed, jump height, spin rotation, acceleration out of jibes and more. MauiSails for demo Various-size models of the MauiSails Legend, Global, Loco and Switch are lined up and ready to go.

ProMotion Shorty Wetsuit It’s windy and warm, so most of the time all I need is a shorty.

Chinook extensions and universals Durable and easy to use, it’s no wonder most people choose Chinook.

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ride guide Have you ever traveled thousands of miles for a windsurfing vacation only to show up to no wind? Getting skunked is no fun, so my advice for at least from August through December is to go to the most skunk-proof destination on the planet: Jericoacoara, Brazil. Jeri is not super easy to get to, so I’d recommend staying least 10

days so you’ll have a full week of solid sailing action. Start planning your trip by contacting Vela Windsurfing Resorts (velawindsurf. com) to arrange accommodation, gear rental and to get answers to any questions you have about where you’ll be going. You’ll need to get a Brazilian tourist visa, book a flight to Fortaleza and

arrange land transport to Jeri, so plan well ahead. Daily life in Jeri is like in the movie Groundhog Day, when actor Bill Murray keeps reliving the same day over and over again, but instead of being trapped in wintery Pennsylvania you’re stuck in windsurfing paradise. You’ll sleep in late, as the wind doesn’t pick up

until 11 a.m. at the earliest. After breakfast, leisurely make you way down to the Vela/Club Ventos windsurfing centre and pick the 4.0 to 5.0 m2 and 80 to 100-litre board that suits your individual size and sailing style. Sail all afternoon, with a short break for lunch, and return to the centre to enjoy a Caipirinha (the local cocktail) at

Words by PETE DEKAY | Photo by Richard STROM

Jericoacoara, Brazil The Outside: Cruise amongst the huge swells.

Side to side-offshore wind

The point: Ride or jump off the breaking waves.

Beach at high tide: Jeri has a huge tidal range.

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ride guide the crowded bar. Hit up the town for a nice dinner and any nightlife, not worrying how late you stay up, as you know you can sleep-in the following morning. There is wavesailing here but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not usually the epic powerful conditions found in places like Baja or Maui. However, Jeri is the ultimate place to have your first

wavesailing experience. Freestylers will love the big-air opportunities that abundant ramps provide and the glassy flatwater between the waves is ideal for spinny flatwater tricks. Bump-and-jump freeriders will love cruising in the massive swells running outside the area of breaking waves. This is not the easiest place for beginner

and intermediates that are not already in the footstraps and waterstarting. However, talk to the folks at the centre and maybe you can arrange a day trip by dune buggy to sail at one of the nearby local lagoons. One last highly recommended option is to book a combo windsurfing trip to both Jeri and

Icaraizinho, Brazil (see Windsport Issue 121 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ride Guideâ&#x20AC;? p. 48). Icaraizinho, located 50 miles east of Jeri, also hosts a Vela Centre and offers conditions more favourable to beginners and intermediates, but still very enjoyable to advanced sailors as well.

Malhada beach: Go watch the locals and pros send huge jumps.

Vela/Club Ventos Resort: Great gear, food and more.

Walk of shame: Do this if the current gets you.

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behind the lens

Darrell Wong Words and photos by Darrell Wong

Darrell Wong

Go-to Gear I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. I grew up near Diamond Head and Waikiki, and I’ve been surfing Waikiki since forever. I got the photography influence from my dad who was an amateur photographer. He was always shooting pictures for the charity clubs he belonged to and, of course, our family. I never thought anything of his hobby until I found old photos of our family in Waikiki with the old Queen’s Surf restaurant in the background. That classic building

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is long gone, but here it was still in this photo. I thought, “This is cool!” Like most surf photographers, I started shooting photos of my friends surfing. Eventually, I moved to Oahu’s North Shore in the mid-’70s and tried shooting some of the pro surfers, but I was surfing too much and didn’t really succeed in selling many photos to the magazines. In the early ’80s, some of the pioneers of windsurfing were cutting their huge windsurfers in half, putting

footstraps on them, and starting to wavesail Diamond Head… this piqued my interest. I knew the surf breaks at Diamond Head well, and I started shooting these guys waveriding and jumping these humongous boards. I learned everything I know from Steve Wilkings, the original windsurfing photographer. I followed him around like a puppy dog, and he gave me advice on everything. Steve has done it all. He came from a formal photographic

I use Canon equipment and have the usual array of pro bodies and lenses ranging from a 15mm fish-eye to a 500mm telephoto. Here’s the gear I’m using most these days. Body: Canon 7D Lens: Canon EF-S 17-85mm Water housing: Taro Pascual custom Floatation: Custom-made body board

Naish rips as hard as the kids.

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behind the lens

Robby Naish, Nose Ride.

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Kai Lenny, at Tidy Bowls.

My all-time favourite photo is a speed blur of Robby Naish nose riding at Diamond Head.

background and shot surfing all during the ’60s and ’70s. And of course, he was the first to shoot windsurfing in the early ’70s for Hoyle Schweitzer. I like to shoot speed blurs. From the very beginning of my career, I have always experimented with shooting blurred images. This influence comes from my interest in auto racing and the photographers shooting it. My all-time favourite photo is a speed blur of Robby Naish Nose Riding at Diamond Head. I’m old school and getting this nose ride was good enough for me, but to get it as a speed blur was fantastic. Shooting speed blurs from the water is very difficult... the percentage of

usable shots is probably one per cent. Another memorable photo came from a 1999 helicopter shoot at Hookipa where I first tried shooting waveriding speed blurs. No one had done it before and the conditions were perfect— light offshore winds, perfect downthe-line waves, nice afternoon

light, and no crowds. I got a shot of Kai Katchadourian cutting back down the face of a wave. My advice for aspiring photographers out there is to learn the business side of photography. Join a photographic association as they will teach you how to run your business, respect your work and rights, and not sell yourself

short. I belong to ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers), which was founded in 1944 and is the oldest trade association for photographers. Dues cost me $300 per year, but I tell apprentice and young photographers this is probably what you would spend on Starbucks coffee and beer, so there’s no excuse not to join.

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RIDER BLOGS Bernd Roediger, Matt Pritchard, the Windsurfing Gypsy and others are blogging for windsport.com. Tune in for advice and entertainment from what’s going on in their lives.

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Carter / PWA photo

THE BASH IS BACK 2010 Pistol River Wave Bash Goes Off Words by Rick Whidden Photos by John Carter 52

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2010 Pistol River Wave Bash Goes Off

Kevin Pritchard, in winning form.

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Walking back after a heat.

Southwest Oregon coast waves are no sissies. No one escapes getting pounded a few times.

he Pistol River Wave Bash returned in force from a 10-year hiatus to the remote southwest corner of Oregon. The rugged and pristine Pacific coastline returned the favour with exceptional wind and waves to challenge 81 competitors aligned in five divisions. By every measure, the Bash delivered a classic windsurfing competition in all

Huddling behind the rock.

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elements of a dream event. And the winner was, drum roll pleaseâ&#x20AC;Ś windsurfing. Of course, every division had a winner too, but the Bash had that special energy, indescribably delicious, the feeling of being part of something incredibly special. A clear reinforcement of the dynamics of a great sport and the heights your windsurfing experience can reach with some friendly competition.

At the core of the 2010 Pistol River Wave Bash were the superb organizational skills of newcomer Sam Bittner, a passionate sailor only a few years removed from college with a degree in sports marketing. Bittner, with a never-say-die attitude, assembled a coalition of industry support, aligned an exceptional team of passionate windsurfers to cover judging and ran it all with an infectious smile and positive attitude. If a stone was left unturned no one noticed or were too tired to care. Scheduling the Pistol River Wave Bash in mid-June is primetime for the Pacific to unleash the opposite of its namesake. Many who arrived days before the Bash were blown away by a powerful prevailing northwesterly and dug deep for the smallest sails they owned. On the first day of the contest a building breeze matched mast-high faces and the heats just kicked off like clockwork under the experienced eye of head judge and retired PWA veteran, Matt Pritchard.

Katchadourian riding to third place.

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All the marbles were in play as KP and Cisco traded scorching wave rides and Double Forwards.

Another huge Back Loop from Goya.

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Southwest Oregon coast waves are no sissies. Pistol River is a sandbar break, which can often make for tight spacing, and every point in the tide cycle delivers a unique personality. Incoming water has to go somewhere and the current just off the beach is a river. No one escapes getting pounded a few times. Get pounded enough and the chilly water rewards you with an ice cream headache and fingers so numb, grabbing the boom on a new tack is like learning to sail all over again. Lesson learned, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get pounded! With the Bash just days away from the summer solstice, the yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest day, a full single elimination played out on Day 1 with Kevin Pritchard taking the event lead. Those talented sailors saw a gorgeous cloud-free sunset and earned the satisfaction of being the best among the very best from a solid day of wavesailing. With a complete single elimination, Bittner had her first event already in the bag no matter what happened next. But, why stop there, with good food, live music, great camping and more fun wave sailing to be had? The following days gave everyone at least another heat as the Bash progressed into double-elimination mode, and for many, a lot more sailing as they battled back into position to fight against the top seeds from the single elimination. The most heats went to many of the juniors who took the opportunity to sign-up for more than one division. Eventual junior winner Zane Schweitzer, and runner-up Bernd Roediger seemed to be on the water constantly battling the top men in the expert division. Against the experts, Roediger (11th) edged out Schweitzer (13th) in a class of 31 pro-level sailorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;solid sailing from these dynamic wave rippers from Maui.

KPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s winning one-hand one-foot Back Loop.

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The expert division offered the opportunity to match bottom turns with PWA stars such as Kevin Pritchard, Francisco Goya, and Kai Katchadourian. The balance of the top spots at the end of the day are all solid sailors, Whit and Tyson Poor, veteran Gorge sailors such as Nathan Mershon and Sean Aiken, Maui standouts like Jesse Brown, Nat Gill and Skylar Heywood and top Irish wavesailor Timo Mullen. Give talented sailors a venue and an amazing event unfolds. The women, amateurs and masters all featured great contests inside the competition. The women’s group, despite being small in numbers, sailed a series of heats with Gorge freestyle veteran Ingrid Larouche leading the way in her first wave contest. Thirteen-year-old Fiona Wylde sailed every women’s heat and her junior heats as well, and despite getting pounded on occasion in the big surf, she earned the respect of everyone for not only her ability but the persistence and tenacity to match. The amateur men’s story was Lars Bergstrom. Veteran sailor, journalist and yes, event organizer; Lars produced the Pistol River

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2010 PISTOL RIVER WAVE BASH RESULTS Expert: 1st Kevin Pritchard 2nd Francisco Goya 3rd Kai Katchadourian 4th Whit Poor 5th Nat Gill Junior: 1st Zane Schweitzer 2nd Bernd Roediger 3rd Morgan Noireaux Masters: 1st Attila Tivadar 2nd MacRae Wylde 3rd Royn Bartholdi Amateur: 1st Lars Bergstrom 2nd Allemand Emanuele 3rd Ruben Lemmens Women: 1st Ingrid Larouche 2nd Tanya Saleh 3rd Christine Vogt

Whit Poor battles his way to fourth place.

Wave Bash for years through the ’90s. Coming back as a competitor and unselfishly offering Bittner all the advice she asked for; Lars also sailed an impeccable event to win over a surprisingly international group of sailors. Not to be outdone by the youngsters in the amateurs, the masters saw 12 guys defy their youth and sail a single and double elimination with the title going to Attila Tivadar in a come-from-behind win over MacRae Wylde. As with every dream event, the final heat in the top division puts the Top 2 guys mano a mano. All the marbles were in play as the final expert heat at the Bash had Kevin Pritchard and Francisco Goya each with one loss fighting for the title late on Day 4. Bittner and head judge Matt Pritchard

KP and Goya on the podium.

put their patience on the line and were fully rewarded with a building breeze and head-high sets rolling in. KP and Cisco traded scorching wave rides and Double Forwards; but in the end, youth served KP over experience brought forth by Cisco, and the well-earned title went to Kevin, which he gladly shares with the sport of windsurfing. Rick Whidden is the MauiSails International sales manager and competed in the masters division at the Bash. He earned the event’s Good Sportsmanship award for helping a fellow competitor with a broken mast at the expense of one of his own heats. For more info on the Wave Bash and the complete sponsor list, go to pistolriverwavebash.com.

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Puerto Velero.

Old town of Cartagena.

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Phil and Rossi as bikers.

THE COLOMBIA DIARIES WINDSURFING INTO THE UNKNOWN WORDS BY PHIL SOLTYSIAK AND MICHAEL ROSSMEIER PHOTOS BY SANDRA SCHENNACH Colombia may be South America’s best-kept secret as a windsurfing destination. Tricktionary author Michael Rossmeier (a.k.a. Rossi) has adopted it as his winter training ground, and this year Phil Soltysiak, North America’s top-ranked freestyler, joined him. They explored the windy coastline along with guide Camilo “Zowi” Galeano who competed at the PWA freestyle event at Lanzarote in 2009 and is also producing a movie about the trip called Colombia: Windsurfing into the Unknown to help promote windsurfing in the region.

Tourists wear shirts!

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MARCH 2 Rafael Núñez International Airport, Cartagena Phil: I arrive to an interesting welcome. Stepping outside of the terminal I drag all my equipment bags into the smoldering heat and humidity only to have my suitcase ripped out of my hands by a sprinting Colombian. I am struck by panic as I watched a greasyhaired local make off with my bag. There’s no way I am going to chase this guy to pursue my few pairs of board shorts and T-shirts and risk leaving my treasure-filled equipment bags behind. What should I do? I look over to Rossi for help, but he appears completely relaxed despite the situation. Rossi: I knew this wasn’t Phil’s first trip to a sun-soaked country this winter, but to my surprise he’s looking rather pale when we pick him up at the airport. I didn’t think Zowi’s joke about stealing Phil’s suitcase is very believable, but clearly Phil is easily taken in.

Laguito region of Cartagena.

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The snack lady. The beach in Cartagena.

MARCH 2 Avenida Santander, Cartagena Phil: Why Zowi puts all my equipment directly on the roof of his brand-new Honda SUV without roof racks I do not know. It’s even more worrying that he seems to have no idea how to strap it down properly and this is only a third of the equipment we will be traveling with on the 800-mile tour of Colombia’s Caribbean coastline. I start having some doubts about the future of Zowi’s car, our equipment and the trip itself. Evidently, Zowi is completely relaxed about it, cutting-off four motorbikes, two pickup trucks and an 18-wheeler, all while honking

and waving at his friends who are walking down the street. I have never been good at sleeping on road trips and my worries make this one no exception. Rossi: The commute from the airport to the old city is always one of my favourite drives. There’s a nice view of flying sand and whitecaps on the car’s starboard side while on the port side is a view of the outside of the walls surrounding Cartagena’s downtown area, which is also known as colonial Cartagena or the old city and is designated as a world heritage site. It is the fifth largest city in Colombia and home to over one million permanent residents.

Phil, loving the Mar de Leva conditions.

set breaking top-to-bottom over the Escollera de Bocagrande, which is a man-made under-water rock wall built in 1778 to keep big ships from entering the city and attacking its forts. The rocks stretch from our launch at the Mokana windsurfing school a full mile and a half across to the island of Tierrabomba. During Mar de Leva, these rocks create a short area with breaking waves perfect for starboard tack jumping. The onshore waves allow for one or two turns before heading back out to lineup some more ramps. Four days and 20 hours of sailing in these conditions and I’ve already got my money’s worth on this trip.

“A MAN-MADE UNDER-WATER ROCK WALL CREATES AN AREA WITH BREAKING WAVES PERFECT FOR JUMPING.”—PHIL SOLTYSIAK MARCH 6 Escuela Mokana, Cartagena Rossi: Our apartment is eight floors above Escuela Mokana, the local windsurfing school, and has a beautiful 270-degree view of the Caribbean Sea. It overlooks all three of the main sailing spots in this beautiful area of Cartagena called Laguito. A check of the wind simply involves yelling in Spanish off the balcony to our buddies below at the windsurfing school. Phil is really lucky to score on his first four days in Colombia with conditions known as Mar de Leva, which is a rare occurrence of large swells on the Caribbean Sea. Phil: I was really glad I brought my wave board. If this is what sailing in Cartagena will be like, then I’ll be using it a lot over my freestyle stick. From our balcony the waves always seem small, but of course once in the water it’s a different story. My first memorable windsurfing experience in Colombia comes from turning too late on a

MARCH 13 Tourist boat dock, Cartagena Rossi: Juan Trucco, a local sailor from Laguito, invites us over to check out his vacation house in the Rosario Islands located 29 miles southeast of Cartagena. They are a group of reef islands now protected by the Colombian government as a national park. The easiest way of getting there is by a pre-arranged tourist boat. Zowi and Trucco are in charge of planning the trip. It takes me some time to convince them that we need fresh water to drink on the island instead of just coconut water. The other problem is they had not realized that these tourist boats would actually be full of other tourists. Phil: The crew on the tourist boat gives me a look of despair as I carry over our third board bag. I thought that the five of us would fit around our equipment quite comfortably along with the twoperson crew, so I had ignored their worries. Once we finish filling the boat up with our bags, I watched in shock as a tour organizer leads a group of 30 or so senior citizens to our boat and proceeds to load them on. For some reason these seniors assume we don’t speak any English and continued to openly moan and complain about the size of our luggage.

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MARCH 13 Juan Trucco’s house, Rosario Islands Phil: We arrive to light wind on Trucco’s island, so we take advantage and check out the reef over which we will be sailing the next few days. The colours of the reef, water and tropical fish are unbelievable. It truly blew my mind. Never have I seen anything like this. The lunch we have after our snorkeling session is also an unforgettable experience as I discover arroz de coco (coconut rice). This is a typical side dish of the Caribbean coast of Colombia and is basically made of white rice, coconut milk, coconut meat, salt and sugar. I plan to make it a staple of my diet wherever I travel in the future. Rossi: Phil seems to be obsessed with the food, but a common obsession between us is our unbelievable addiction to windsurfing and we hope tomorrow will bring better conditions. MARCH 14 Early sailing and playing tourist, Rosario Islands Rossi: The wind this morning is light, but just enough to get planing. I am mesmerized by the ever-changing shades of green, blue and turquoise the reef bottom creates underneath me in the morning sunlight. Then I hear the sounds of another board planning across the small chop and I look up to see Phil waving and grinning from ear to ear. Board shorts, warm water, a nice breeze and our newly invented law of “no switch” before breakfast leads us to daily relaxing morning sessions.

Cartagena at night.

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Phil: The windsurfing here is terrific, but my most memorable experience is when we are given an opportunity to swim with four trained dolphins at the Aquarium San Martin de Pajarales. The aquarium is owned by Rafael Vieira and is situated on his family’s island in the Rosarios. In the aquarium you can see sharks, groupers, sea rays and dolphins. A tour of the aquarium lasts about an hour and includes the live feeding of the sharks and a dolphin show. We take a small taxi boat to the island with the aquarium and first watch the dolphins put on a show for the audience. We convince the dolphin trainer, Margarita, to let us touch and feed two up-and-coming show dolphins. Margarita quickly gains trust in us and offers to let us swim with the four show dolphins. We swim and play with them for nearly 30 minutes before these smart mammals realize we have no fish for them. Things get interesting as the dolphins seem to start losing patience with us and I vividly remembered Margarita explaining to the audience about the more than 80 sharp teeth that dolphins possess. MARCH 18 Pacho’s house, Puerto Colombia Rossi: I met Pacho on my first trip to the city of Barranquilla, located 80 miles northeast of Cartagena, and he didn’t fail to showcase the Colombian hospitality that keeps me coming back here every year. He invited me to stay at his place

whenever I wanted to sail at the nearby beach town of Puerto Velero. I take him up on his offer this year as Phil and I want to spend a couple weeks here working on our freestyle training for the upcoming competition season. Phil: I find Pacho’s house to be very cool in a simple way. He’s a veterinarian and works a lot with cows. His love for these animals is clearly reflected in the paintings around his house and even in the graphics on his windsurfing board. Hammocks, coconut trees and other fresh fruit trees complete this tropical laid-back surfer house. The mango tree is full of perfectly ripe fruit and I eat at least five on our first day here alone.

Rosario Island locals.

“WE PLAY WITH THE DOLPHINS FOR NEARLY 30 MINUTES BEFORE THESE SMART MAMMALS REALIZE WE HAVE NO FISH FOR THEM.”—PHIL SOLTYSIAK

Rossi, in freestyle paradise.

MARCH 20 Nautica Velero, Puerto Velero Rossi: Puerto Velero is about 10 miles from Pacho’s house in Puerto Colombia, so we need to find a way to cover that distance to catch the daily wind. Neither of us has a motorbike license or in fact even driven one before, but of course renting one is the most reasonable choice as a mode of transport. Phil: Puerto Velero has two options for sailing from the Nautica Velero windsurfing centre. The bayside has little coves with mirror-flat water ideal for freestyle tricks. The ocean-side is just a

short walk with your equipment to where you find side-onshore starboard tack wave conditions. The wind is blowing and the forecast looks good for us, so we decide to split our upcoming days between the two spots to work on both flatwater freestyle and big-air jumping. Nearby is a perfect place to enjoy a cheap local lunch of el corrientazo. This full meal was created for the poorer labouring social class and consists of soup to start, followed by a main course of beef, chicken or fish, coconut rice, salad and fried plantains.

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MARCH 30 Highway 90 to Cabo de la Vela Phil: It’s time for our big adventure to Cabo de la Vela. We overload Zowi’s rack-less SUV roof with our gear for the 400-mile drive northeast along the coast road. The drive takes us through Tayrona National Park (one of Colombia’s most visited nature parks covering 37,000 acres and ranges in altitude from sea level up to 3,000 feet), around the scenic city of Santa Marta, briefly into near-by Venezuela to fill up our tank with bootlegged cheap gas, and even over a desert where we put a lot of trust in our GPS. It’s a difficult drive with the fully loaded

Rossi sends a Back Loop.

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vehicle often bottoming out on the last 60 miles of off-roading. Rossi: What’s up with all the military stops? Every 20 miles or so there’s a police or military check point. They usually ask a few questions and see if they can take a couple pesos off you. Zowi is really making me laugh as he always acts like a best friend to the interrogators and we never have any serious issues. One young soldier looks really tired and hot in his full army uniform and complains about the heat. Zowi gives him some money for a drink. It is the most politically correct bribe I’ve ever seen.

A nice catch on Rasario Island.

APRIL 1 Cabo de la Vela, La Guajira Rossi: Upon arrival at Cabo de la Vela, our last stop of the trip, we are met by the trade winds blowing off the beach across the beautiful flat blue water. We don’t waste any time and are instantly sailing fully powered on small gear. We try to keep upwind because right near the beach is where the flattest water is. There are tons of fishing boats anchored to the shallow water near the beach with their anchor lines pulled tight against the stiff off-shore breeze. This leads to a super-cross-inspired sailing session with everybody jumping or catapulting over the lines. Phil: After sailing we climb a giant hill known as El Pilon de Azucar. This triangular rock or hill has always been considered sacred. At the top is a shrine of the virgin of Fatima and El Pilon is also known as Kamainshi, the Lord of the Things of the Sea. The view of the blue water and yellow desert is incredible. The heat makes us quickly retreat back down for some water where we meet a small group of 10-year-old Wayuu Indian girls selling anklets. There are about 140,000 Wayuu Indians inhabiting the Guajira region of Colombia, which includes Cabo de la Vela. Normally I’m not a person for jewelry, but this time I’m easily convinced to have one put on my leg. But only after one of the girls ties it on too tightly does she tell me that taking it off will lead to bad luck for the rest of my life. I decide the possibility of losing circulation in my foot is still a better option to a life of bad luck.

Phil throws down.

“PACHO DIDN’T FAIL TO SHOWCASE THE COLOMBIAN HOSPITALITY THAT KEEPS ME COMING BACK HERE EVERY YEAR.”—MICHAEL ROSSMEIER

APRIL 25 Cherry Beach, Toronto, Canada Phil: Sailing here in the early spring is always memorable, but not in a good way. The air is about 45°F and the water is significantly colder. I only last about 15 minutes before my hands are in incredible pain from the cold. I think to myself, Did Colombia really happen or was it just a dream? I somehow get my frozen hands to work and pack up to head home for a nice warm dish of coconut rice… made from imported coconut concentrate and not real coconuts, of course. APRIL 25 Malcesine, Lake Garda, Italy Rossi: It’s another sunny clear day in my windsurfing career. I step on my board, sheet in my sail and am immediately planning. Suddenly my feet are stinging from the cold water of Lake Garda. It makes me miss the warm-water paradise we had windsurfing in Colombia. Maybe I should have stayed longer? When I get home, I’ll start checking out flights for next winter.

Lunchtime!

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BLOWING UP Y the Z

MARSHALL ISLANDS STORIES FROM THE CAST AND CREW OF THE WINDSURFING MOVIE II Photos by Maxime Houyvet Now that the Windsurfing Movie II has been released, you may have seen the epic footage shot in the Marshall Islands. Fresh off this trip of a lifetime and long before editing was complete, we ask some members of the cast and crew including Jace Panebianco, Keith Teboul, Levi Siver, Manu Bouvet and Carine Camboulives for stories that really tell what this Micronesian nation of islands and atolls means to them.

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Jace panebianco

My father went to the Marshall Islands back in the '80s. It was a big deal to my family as he was going to the other end of the Earth. My twin sister and I were six, and it was the first time he had left for more than a weekend. I remember clearly the crackly phone call we got three weeks later. Even with

Camboulives freeriding.

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his voice delayed by the VHF relay, Dad sounded excited. He told us stories of an endless string of islands with palm trees stretching off into the distance. In the ocean there were even more amazing stories—giant clams, black tip sharks and windsurfing triumphs, like learning how to waterstart in the lagoon.

In the 25 years since, I’ve dreamed about going to the Marshall Islands and seeing this otherworldly place my father still reminisces about. When Manu and Keith suggest we make it the last filming location for The Windsurfing Movie II, I jump on the chance. In today’s world of instant communication, it’s refreshing

to still feel isolated. We are busy with the filming work, but there is still lots of time to explore and think. You’ll have to wait for the movie to really understand what we find, but believe me, it’s special enough to warrant two more decades of stories.

A nice little house.

keitH teboul

“Here tHere is no electricity and no running water, but only beautiful Jungle and crystalclear lagoons.” —carine camboulives

Originally I’d planned to go to Christmas Island with Manu and Carine, but find out the wind isn’t the right direction being straight offshore. So we look for alternatives and come up with the Marshalls. When I first tell Levi he doesn’t sound too excited about it, but I keep telling him it’s a place with huge potential. Although I really don’t know anything about these islands and am speaking from blind faith, I just have a good feeling about it. Finally we commit, pulling the trigger on the tickets, and things just start to flow. With so many people involved it’s always a challenge to coordinate dates and so on, but this particular trip is just falling into place. To top it off, a check of the swell forecast right before leaving shows that it’s going to be off the hook! There is a medium-size swell coming in moving into a fat one. This will provide just enough time to get acclimated and ripping before the big waves hits. The way everything is flowing before we’ve even left Maui is unprecedented. I just know this trip will be something special.

carine camboulives

Coral.

Here we are in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands. It’s a long a narrow island crowded with buildings and very busy with people. Majuro is where a lot of the Marshallese come look for work, far away from their homes on one of the many smaller paradise islands that make up the Republic. Here, many of these people end up living in misery. Our first night is spent uncomfortably in a noisy motel room where only our daughter, Lou, gets any sleep, sharing her pillow with three big cockroaches. The next morning we head to a different small island. The crossing is gnarly and wet on the tiny motorboat. Lou doesn’t have time to digest her breakfast while Levi immediately regrets drinking coffee. I can’t wait to see land! A green line finally shows up on the horizon and what a shock it is compared to the capital. Here there is no electricity and no running water, but only beautiful jungle and crystal-clear lagoons. The wind is blowing

strongly over this place that will be our home for the next 10 days. Francis, our local contact, is waiting on the dock. We load his old truck that we have to push-start to get going on the only road that splits the island down the middle. However, the view of the ocean to both the left and right is similar, so it’s no wonder that these atolls are supposed to disappear within the next 20 years due to the rising sea level. There is not even a slight hill, dune or high point of any kind on the island that can protect people. During the highest tides people are evacuated. We arrive at our home on the beach, and what a beach it is! I can’t believe my eyes looking at the endless sandy stretch and the lines of coconut trees in the back. Not a single building can be seen for miles around. The sun is high in the sky and the wind is still blowing strongly. The boys leave to check the waves while Lou and I make our way to explore the island and meet the local children.

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Siver, in the zone.

LEVI SIVER

We ride some small days in the beginning, but once the first big day hit I don’t think any of us had realized just how powerful and clean the waves here would be. From that day forward it’s been guns blazing with just the three of us on the water. However, we have to work like a team dragging gear through the jungle and over sharp coral reef. I can feel every pound of every bag we brought. The village kids come and help carry the camera gear to the places with choice angles for filming. Johnny [Decesare] tells the kids our names and they yell to us after we land aerials and other tricks. These kids love watching us windsurf. They’ve seen surfing before but tell us that we are the first windsurfers they’ve ever seen. It’s a special feeling to be the first windsurfers to ride some of these spots. Life is slow here with thousands of miles of ocean surrounding empty beaches. With little else to do but enjoy the ocean, the Marshallese seem to have been busy procreating. The lack of adults and number of kids makes it feel like we’ve landed on Peter Pan’s Never Never Land.

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Panebianco makes some new friends.

KEITH TEBOUL

A unique look at Teboul.

Now that we’ve arrived, it’s nice to have time to surf and sail the breaks that look to have the most potential on smaller days to build our confidence. We check the reef to find any shallow spots and see exactly where you don’t want to be when the conditions get bigger. This mentally prepares you for putting it all on the line when it’s really on. When it does happen, a few days later, it’s like butter, breaking at six to 12 feet with amazing colours, power and wind. For me personally, it’s some of the biggest and cleanest surf I have ever sailed.

“ONCE THE FIRST BIG DAY HIT, I DON’T THINK ANY OF US REALIZED JUST HOW POWERFUL AND CLEAN THE WAVES HERE WOULD BE.”—LEVI SIVER CARINE CAMBOULIVES

Kids love to SUP.

The houses here are colourful and basic; made out of wood and surrounded by well-maintained gardens with flower-covered graves where their ancestors rest in peace. Some people are busy maintaining their homes while others relax under the giant sacred Polynesian Tamanu trees. I feel like I am part of a Gauguin painting and find the atmosphere extremely calm and peaceful. I introduce myself around and find some women who speak English, which makes things easier. Since kids don’t seem affected by the same language barriers as adults, Lou joins the other kids hunting for shells on the beach. The young Marshallese know that foreigners, whom they call rubelas, meaning “dressed people,” treasure shells greatly. More than a century ago the “dressed people” thought they had to teach the local women that showing their knees or elbows was inappropriate and forced them to put on clothes. Nowadays, the local women are fully covered under a burning sun

Hanging with the locals.

while the rubelas only come back occasionally to visit and work on their tans wearing skimpy bikinis. The bikini bathing suit was named after the sadly famous atoll not too far from where we are. It’s designer, Louis Reard, used the name of this atoll for his revolutionary

bathing suit that he introduced to the world just days after the Bikini Atoll was the test site for a U.S. nuclear bomb. He was hoping that the excitement caused by the bikini bathing suit would equal that of the nuclear bombs detonated here in the Marshalls.

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“IT’S LIKE BUTTER, BREAKING AT SIX TO 12 FEET WITH AMAZING COLOURS, POWER AND WIND.” —KEITH TEBOUL Catching a ride.

Amazing.

MANU BOUVET

Bouvet looks for the lip.

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It’s Day 4 here on “Atomic Atoll” and we’re all starting to get into a rhythm. I’ve probably sailed more perfect waves in the last three days here than all last winter on Maui. We gradually get into a routine that we love. We wake up early and take the 15-minute walk out to the point to see if the waves are still pumping. So far they have. Next we go to Captain Action’s house to tell him we need him today. He gets his boat ready for us so we can go ride at the island just up north that has a great righthander. Today I sailed there on a 4.5 m2 and there was absolutely no chop on the wave face. It’s pretty amazing considering such strong wind. We spend all day on the water under the burning sun and can’t wait to get back out there again tomorrow.

Teboul, in his happy place.

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Camboulives heads to the beach.

On the second day of the big swell we sail four hours straight at our favourite spot. After derigging, while on the 45-minute boat ride back home, we noticed that a particular surf spot closer to home is six to eight feet and firing. It’s getting late so we rig quickly and go for another sail. All I have is my 4.5 and it‘s super light, but the wave is so perfect we have to try and get at least a couple. I have to just wait until the wave picks me up and then point down-the-line praying for the best. If I get on a roll it peels down-the-line for 100 yards. This is pure wavesailing: using the power of the wave to generate your turns and speed. Timing is everything. I do a huge aerial and barely make it. I land hard and don’t have anything to hold onto because there’s no wind in my sail. After, I go for a quick surf while Levi is still sailing. At one point, the set of the day comes in and I am way too deep. I see Levi screaming down-the-line and know I’m going to get super worked, but I simply sit back and watch him put so much power and commitment into this wave it’s unreal. We get back on the boat and are just glowing. What a day!

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Teboul, off the lip.

“He was hoping that the excitement caused by the bikini bathing suit would equal that of the nuclear bombs detonated here in the Marshalls.”—Carine Camboulives 76

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CARINE CAMBOULIVES

The Marshall Islands are famous for hosting U.S. nuclear tests from 1946 to 1958. To learn more about it, I’ve brought several articles on the subject to read. But it’s pretty crazy in the house right now with Lou and all her new friends singing, drawing and running around. I pull out our DVD of Cinderella and instantly 25 kids are staring at the computer screen in awe. Walt Disney is a blessing! I quickly get into one of the articles written by Fabienne Lips that tells the story of a young Marshallese girl named Lijon Eknilang. Her story starts like a fairy tale with Lijon growing up in this island paradise, until the day of her eighth birthday when suddenly a “star” explodes between the earth and sky. This star’s name was Castle Bravo, the code name for a thermonuclear bomb 1,000 times more powerful than the one

detonated in Hiroshima. Lijon’s testimony is detailed and disturbing and I start to feel uncomfortable. Half a century later women here are still giving birth to what they call “baby monsters” or “jelly fish babies” and the percentage of chromosomal anomalies, cancer and leukemia are really high. The army said it was an accident and

Castle Bravo remains the strongest bomb ever tested. I stop reading to look at the kids. Coincidentally they are watching the scene when Cinderella can’t go to the royal ball and cries in the arms of her fairy godmother. The kids all try to hide their tears and so do I.

Stoked kids.

Ahoy, matey!

KEITH TEBOUL

For the last part of the trip we leave the waves behind and board a sailboat to cruise around the beautiful atolls. The water is crystal blue and the reefs are so alive. I have never seen anything like this in all my travels. The last day before we are to head home the swell picks up a smidge and we end up surfing a small wave until just before dark. Now we have to choose whether to stay the night and maybe have bigger waves in the morning or sail through the night and potentially find a new wave

at another atoll. Manu and I have a feeling we should move on and find something new and special. I am the first one up the next morning as I slept on deck and I can just make out our destination up ahead. As the others rise, we ‘re getting closer and can actually see the waves peeling down the reef. We’re in the water by 8 a.m., and it’s the most amazing setup for a wave I have ever seen. A little outcropping of rocks protects the wave from chop as it peels into a little bay. It starts at about two feet and grows to six feet as it

turns the corner and hits the reef. Johnny is on the beach filming and at one point there are about 20 kids hanging out with him. Every time you catch a wave the kids would go nuts screaming and waving coconut fronds. We end up leaving all our extra gas for the locals and they give us coconuts and bananas… I think we end up with the better deal. Today we got to sail an incredible wave and enjoy a place that is so unspoiled and pure. I will remember these waves and sensations for the rest of my life.

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“I’VE PROBABLY SAILED MORE PERFECT WAVES IN THE LAST THREE DAYS HERE THAN ALL LAST WINTER ON MAUI.”—MANU BOUVET

Siver, on a monster.

MANU BOUVET

It’s our last day aboard Sauvage, the 60-foot aluminum mono hull we’ve spent the last 10 days on. Today is amazing. It started 24 hours ago when we set sail on an overnight 12-hour crossing between two atolls. The night was pretty smooth (although Levi may disagree) and Sauvage was going eight knots powered by the steady trade winds. At dawn we finally got our first view of a point we spotted on the map a couple days before. As we sailed along

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the coast towards the white lines peeling in the distance, everybody is jumping out of their cabin onto the deck. It is one of those magical moments you sometimes get when on a search mission… you show up to perfection. As the swell hits the headland, it bends into a bay making the wave grow and peel along the jungle-bordered shoreline. The wind is strong and perfectly sideshore at the beginning of the ride and slowly fades while turning

side-offshore. We spent seven hours in the water today. The swell just keeps growing during the day and the session is one of the very best each of us have ever experienced. We are all dead tired from the action but there is a lot of energy on the boat as we tie all the board bags on the deck one last time. Tomorrow morning we’ll be on the plane back to Hawaii with the Marshall Islands to dream of until we come back.

Fitting in.

LEVI SIVER

We finished our 10 days of living and sleeping on a sailboat by rolling the dice and heading north to try our luck with a wave we knew little about. The crossing is violent and I roll in my bed like a sausage in a pan. It is so bad that I actually started laughing, which somehow puts me to sleep. I suddenly wake up to calm waters and stars shining through the deck’s window. For

the first time in 10 days I enjoy a moment of calmness. I fall back asleep remembering the captain saying, “Once we hit the calm waters, we’ll be on the leeward side of the island with just one hour sailing to the break.” I’ve always dreamed of this moment and it played out like a movie. Keith yells from the deck, “Levi, it’s firing!” Of course, I laugh like its a joke, but I roll out of bed

and see mast-high waves with sideshore wind. We are a halfmile away and can already see how good it is. I can’t believe my eyes… another great spot in the middle of nowhere. My last wave is one of my best of the trip. After, I sail to the boat and exhale with total contentment. What a place! And to know we’ve captured it all on film is the icing on the cake.

Strolling.

Ouch!

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Nicholas Slijk, Lake Garda, Italy. FotoFioreCanon photo

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Wyatt Miller, crissy field, San Francisco, California. Davis photo

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Iballa ruano Moreno, Fuerteventura, Spain. Calvet photo

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Marcilio Browne, Cape Town, South Africa. Carter photo

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2010 HARNESS SHOWCASE HOW TO FIND THE ONE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

WORDS BY DEREK RIJFF Once upon a time Goldi-spocks got to the beach to go sailing and realized that she had forgot her harness. Luckily, a family of three windsurfing bears had just come off the water and offered to lend her one of theirs, so she immediately tried all three on. Papa bear’s was fully molded and stiff offering maximum back support; Mama’s bear’s was super soft and flexible; and ripper baby bear’s was somewhere in the middle balancing manoeuvrability and support. Well, none fit exactly like Goldispocks’ own… so she jumped in her car and drove home and got it. Here’s a guide to what’s important when shopping for a harness so you’ll be able to find the one that you’ll never want to leave home without.

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WAIST VS. SEAT HARNESS

If you haven’t yet used a harness, then choosing between a waist and seat model is a critical decision, as once you get comfortable using one type you’d rather not have to switch. Don’t let anyone tell you that a particular type of harness cannot be used in certain cases as it all comes down to individual preference. I’ve heard of Formula racers who swear by a waist harness and wave sailors who prefer a seat model; however, these cases are definitely far from the norm and usually due to a specific reason. Let’s look at who usually chooses which type and why. Most windsurfers today use a waist harness. This wasn’t the case 10 years ago, before designers figured out how to beef-up the back support they provide. So who uses them today and why? First, they provide a noticeable advantage to beginners learning to hook-in for the first time by naturally encouraging a proper hips-in sailing stance (known as the number 7 stance). If you sit-down in an improper stance it rides up becoming uncomfortable. Second, if you see yourself using smaller sails (below 7.0 m2) exclusively in the future, then you’ll likely prefer a waist harness. The lower draft on smaller modern sails matches perfectly to a waist harness, providing you have a modern stance as well. Finally, the waist harness should be the first choice for aspiring wave, freestyle and bump-and-jump sailors who put a premium on manoeuvrability. It may only take a fractionally less amount of effort and time to hook in and out, but it can make a difference, as timing is everything. Seat harnesses were a must back in the days when sails were high-drafted, forcing riders to have to sit down against this pullfrom-above. You have more leverage against the sail’s pull when connected to it at your hips and butt, and this does provide a few advantages for some windsurfers today. First, if you live in a lighter wind area and plan to use larger sails (above 7.0 m2—especially if they have camber inducers) most of the time. Second, if

you’re a racer or speed sailor who loves to sail overpowered or just someone who likes to sail really long distances, then a seat harness may be more comfortable and keep you in better health. Third, if you suffer from back pain; however, today’s stiffest waist harness will provide ample support for all but the worst cases. Finally, super-heavyweight riders may be forced into a seat harness simply for a proper fit. FIT AND LOAD DISTRIBUTION

Fit is a critical factor when buying a harness as it determines where the pressure from the sail’s load is distributed to your body. An ideal choice will provide a wider area of load distribution and avoid pointloading particular problem areas for your individual body shape. A proper-fitting harness should be in contact with your body as much as possible. There should be no gaps along the edges and no voids in the small of your back. Another factor affecting load distribution often has to do with how the spreader bar is connected to the harness and how the straps or buckles are configured with re-enforcements and load-distributing panels. You can research online about all the different technologies brands use to accomplish this, but the true acid test comes by securing the proper-size harness to your body and seeing how it feels when you simulate the sail’s pull.

Generally, molded harness, when cared for properly (stored away from the heat and not folded and crushed), will last and stay comfortable longer than non-molded models. Many harnesses today are hybrids offering a mix of molded and non-molded materials for a widespread range of support and manoeuvrability depending on the specific design. THE SPREADER BAR

Against popular belief, there is no such thing as a safety-release system. If you are scared of getting trapped under your sail and not able to unhook, then you should concentrate more on “holding onto the boom.” On the other hand, many brands have its own proprietary version of an automatic or integrated system that helps you fit the harness to you body perfectly every time. Whether it has some fancy system or not, what’s important is finding a harness that feels good and fits right. Just as people and harnesses come in different sizes so often does the spreader bar. Using a bar that is either too big or too small

for your harness and body size will likely cause the sail’s load to be distributed improperly. Make sure the ends of the bar rest just inside your hips and on the ample padding provided by the harness. Another option is a stationary bar versus a sliding bar. This is a completely personal choice, but the former is more prevalent and can be loaded up more aggressively on the water. A sliding bar can be easily made stationary by wrapping the webbing around it; however, making a stationary bar slide requires a kit like the one made by Dakine. The reactor bar is a final option that has a roller instead of a hook. This can help prevent wear on the lines as they can roll along as you trim the sail. PRICE

Try not to look at the price of a harness until you are down to your final two or three choices. Fit and comfort trumps price every time! Usually, a more expensive harness will have more materials or more molded materials and this means it will likely better support a rider over a longer life span.

COMFORT AND STIFFNESS

Believe it or not, it’s possible to find a perfect-fitting harness that is not at all comfortable to you. It may be too stiff, impeding your range of motion, or too soft, which doesn’t give adequate support. A harness’ stiffness comes from its construction. In general, molded materials are stiffer (and remains stiffer over time) than neoprene-covered foam and plastics, so depending on how these materials are used there can be variation to how the harness feels. Also, these stiffer molded materials need to broken-in over a few uses before true comfort is found, so don’t necessarily write one off just because of its rigidity.

Waist versus seat for racing. Carter photo

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2010 HARNESS SHOWCASE

FRESH TRENDS

DAKINE T4

PROLIMIT TEAMWAVE

DAKINE NRG

PROLIMIT TYPE T

DAKINE WAHINE

PROLIMIT PURE GIRL

Redesigned with a three-part outer panel for a perfect wraparound fit to provide ultimate support and flexibility. dakine.com

Built with a unique hybrid technology that provides excellent performance and incredible support for your back. prolimit.com

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS: The use of

new and improved molded and pre-shaped materials allows harnesses to better balance support and flexibility for optimal comfort and performance.

BETTER SUPPORT:

Some models of waist harnesses now provide incredible support so you’ll never worry about back pain again.

Its pre-curved inner structure is inspired by the shape of your back and hugs to your body for maximum comfort and support. dakine.com

SPREADER BAR SYSTEMS:

Every brand is different, but they all work for a better and more secure fit than ever before.

Designed to provide maximum freedom of movement with unmatched comfort and moderate back support. prolimit.com

MORE CHOICE:

Whether you rock a waist or seat harness, your ideal harness match is out there… don’t settle for any discomfort.

Specifically designed for women, and has pre-curved inner to fit perfectly to your back for ultimate comfort and support. dakine.com

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Developed for high performance and maximum comfort with a medium amount of back support. prolimit.com

NAISH BOLT

Its lightweight and ergonomic fit allow for unrestricted movement for wave and freestyle sailors. naishsails.com

RRD E-QLZR

Internal molded support and reduced wall thickness allows it to mold itself around the body for a perfect fit. robertoriccidesign.com

MFC WAIST

A thermoformed harness designed to perfectly blend comfort and support. mauifin.com

In the shop. Quinn photo

THE IN-STORE HARNESS TEST:

ION TORQUE

MFC LOW PROFILE WAIST

MYSTIC RAZOR

DAKINE SONIC

PROLIMIT RAMBLER

MYSTIC SUPPORTER

An urban-style waist harness with excellent flexibility and put together with good support. ion-essentials.com

A combination waist and seat harness (without leg straps) offering an adjustable spreader bar height. dakine.com

Designed with a lower profile and lighter weight to better fit some riders. mauifin.com

The ultimate performing seat harness; offering a medium to low hook height. prolimit.com

Built with a combination of materials and features to provide an excellent balance of comfort and support. mysticboarding.com

High-performance seat harness with a thermo molded exterior and a high back for maximum support. mysticboarding.com

Try on every model of waist or seat harness that the store has in stock in your size and hang off the simulated boom they have installed. Try sitting down in the harness and see if it wants to rise up. A proper-fitting harness will stay in place. Even when you are sitting down the spreader bar should stay centred and not come up over the waist belt and padding. If this occurs try tightening the buckles or a different size before dismissing it right away. Finally, check your manoeuvrability by bending at the waist forward and back as well as side-to-side and judge how it feels. Immediately eliminate those that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t contact your body well and ones that severely dig in to you causing pain. Take into account that a molded harness should feel stiffer and more rigid before eliminating it, as this feeling should go away after a few sessions.

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getting real

ruDy Castorina while on my second trip to Maui, I met my girlfriend bella rosa resta, who was very interested in designing jewelry. with my background in graphic design, I got into it and we started ruebelle. besides, I realized that to support my windsurfing lifestyle here in hawaii I needed to work. we have been running ruebelle for seven years now and I take care of the administration, visual imaging, web and marketing departments. as much as possible I try to organize my days around the forecast and sailing conditions. I definitely have a number of hours to put in every week to make sure the company is running smoothly and it gets diďŹ&#x192;cult during the winter swells! but lucky me, the wind picks up only in the afternoon, which helps, as long as I stay organized. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Rudy Castorina

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Rudy loves his work. M.houyvet photo

Henderson, ripping in Fiji.

getting super freaKy words by MItch GINGrIch

Jeff Henderson, the man behind hot sails Maui, comes across as a passive listener; not the sort of person you expect to come up with radically interesting, efficient designs. his reticent nature shows neither his insane intellectual flexibility nor his ebullience and enthusiasm for helping the caustically passionate windsurfer. It’s the contrast between his personality and the results of his action that make him one of the most interesting characters in windsurfing and a bleeding-edge sail designer. when you talk with Jeff, he’s quiet. he doesn’t nod his head or utter the normal affirmations to prove he’s listening. It’s somewhat disconcerting at first, but once you realize that he doesn’t feel the need to prove he’s paying attention, because he has every intention of applying what he’s hearing, it creates a calm rapport.

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It’s a rare quality for someone as high in the pecking order in a business. usually, the boss listens for a minute or two before cutting you off and declaring a decision. It creates a tension and strife. when the conversation regards a product, it’s terribly detrimental to the design process. the product, and ultimately, the business suffer. this never happens at hot sails Maui. the Gridlock, superFreak, and diva provide great examples of Jeff designing and producing sails far outside the norm. the Gridlock, now out of production, was a super-lightweight wave/ freestyle sail with ¾ battens. Jeff realized the sail would stabilize itself while neutral or powered and figured the weight saving would benefit many sailors. It worked. the superFreak stepped even further out given the mainstream monopolistic use of mono-film. Jeff’s superFreak design basically

looked at the mold, held up its right hand and slowly raised the middle finger. It’s a classic piece of non-conformism aesthetically and functionally. Far from being just a flashy statement, the superFreak employs the material differences in its paneling, using dacron where the sail needs to stretch and stiffer reinforcements where necessary. Plus, Jeff doesn’t restrict you to what he and his abetting designers think looks cool. his approach is like a shotgun of colours, ensuring that everyone finds what they want. oh yeah, and they’re cannon proof. that’s not just a line either. My friend carl and I shot a civil war style cannon he built at a superFreak. brian caserio filmed the whole hoopla. after five rounds, the ammo finally penetrated the sail. and that was only because we hit a seam perfectly… five shots! and we can’t forget the ladies;

Jeff was the first guy to design a sail just for women. the diva went feminine in a big way, and when no other company (aside from dakine) even knew women liked to windsurf. the flowers and ribbons finally stole pink back from robby Naish. crazy-ass designs like these must be why Jeff’s so quiet and focused. he blows all his mental energy out in fits of brilliant design. there’s another side to Jeff and hot sails, though. I’m not talking about its more traditional sail designs. It’s the degree and lengths that Jeff and his counterparts will go to help out a windsurfer with passion and hunger. there are far too many recognizable names to list of young men and women that got their first chance or a leg up through hot sails. they were my first sail sponsor. Guys like Jace Panebianco and Nick warmouth (surprisingly he has a very wellbehaved mouth) can attest. web Pedrick made his way up with a hand from Jeff. It’s a story common among many windsurfers. often they’ll move on and secure a bigger check from companies willing to spend more, but anyone that had some help from hot sails always remembers the eagerness Jeff showed to help them out. Most will tell you point blank that if Jeff hadn’t been around, they wouldn’t be windsurfing today. combine that with the emphasis Jeff places on youth windsurfing and the family experience, and you have a company with far more heart than an economist could possibly recommend. sponsorship for Jeff isn’t solely about the cash or marketability of the rider. It’s philanthropy in a symbiotic relationship with his business, and if I had to guess, I’d say it’s one of Jeff’s favourite parts of the business. Not many people like giving things away, but a precious few get huge smiles and warm hearts from it. Jeff’s one of those guys that listens, reacts and appreciates others. he’s one of those rare few that enjoy breaking molds, designing form and function. he’s one of those guys that care more about the happiness of his sailors than the contract they sign. Jeff’s just one of those guys that we’re all better for having around. hot sails Maui is just one of those companies.

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