Windsport

We sadly pass on the news that Jeff Young of Hood River, OR passed away while windsurfing at Three Mile Canon on Monday, April 3rd.

“Jeff was one of the most consistently nice guys in the Gorge, and one of the strongest sailors out there."—Dayna Reed

Please read the full report by the Hood River News.

The event crew made every effort to get competition underway, but the frustratingly light winds forced the competitors to remain on standby for the full duration of the day.

Getting Tricky
When the one gust of the day did hit, the professionalism amongst the competitors was outstanding. With a chance that the competition could run at any moment an elite entourage of freestylers were on the water and ready to rock out their radical tricks. The current world champ, Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic, North), was seen throwing down many a move during the one-minute period of wind including a clean cana brava. Hopefully it’ll blow for long enough tomorrow to allow official competition to commence.
 
Tense Times In The Tent
Being on standby for the whole day with the threat of competition imminent, the sailors can get rather frustrated at times, and if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, you definitely know about it! Mid way through the afternoon, a group of the world’s most fierce freestylers were seen arguing over which moves should be scored the highest. According to the sailors, a willy skipper in Fuerteventura is as difficult as a chachoo in Bonaire! Head judge, Duncan Coombs, commented: “Generally we all agree that a regular chachoo is perhaps the most difficult move to perform, but it does all depend on the conditions, and moves will be scored accordingly.”
 
Chat Show
Here in Podersdorf there are often a few new faces on the world tour. We hooked up with two of freestyle’s freshest to rack their brains about their exciting new experience…
 
PWA: What’s it like coming to your first PWA event?
Max Rowe (Mistral, Simmer): “It’s all a bit surreal sitting here with all the guys that I’ve watched so many times in the videos. I’ve met a few of them before but have never seen them all in one room like this. It’s pretty exciting really. I just hope we get some wind!”
 
Dieter Van Der Eyken (Starboard, Severne): “It’s really cool. I remember just last year, looking at the pictures in the magazines and wishing I could go to the events. I decided to join a while ago and the last six months have gone really quickly.
 

How do you feel right now? Anxious or scared?
MR: “I do feel a little bit anxious, but I’ve got Andy Chambers (JP, NeilPryde) in my first heat. I’m hoping that by having a familiar face on the water it’ll make it easier, and perhaps take the pressure of the whole event.”
 
DVDE: “I’m quite scared of the scoring format because I haven’t practiced that many power moves recently. I was landing Culos fairly consistently during my training though, so hopefully they’ll help to push me through.
 
Do you feel star struck with the current world champion, sitting right next to us?
MR: “I’ve met Gollito a few times before when I worked in Margarita so it’s not too bad with him. I’ve only just met the guys from Bonaire though, so I was a bit scared of them, but they’re all super friendly. Everyone is very welcoming.”
 
DVDE: “Not really because I’m used to sailing with quite a lot of the guys. One good thing about having such great sailors in the heats is that you can either learn from them if they beat you. Or, if you beat them, it means you have a better chance of going further through the contest.”
 
 
Why have you decided to join the PWA world tour?
MR: “I think I’m at the right level now to join, and hopefully it’ll make me push my own personal sailing so that I improve further. Plus, I think it’s really good for the sport if we have more people competing at the highest level, and the PWA events definitely attract the best sailors in the world.”
 
DVDE: “I wanted to have fun and meet all of the top sailors in the world.
 
 
Where are you aiming to finish? Or are you simply here for the experience?
MR: “I suppose I’m here for the experience mainly, but it would be nice if I could break into the top 16. I’d love to be at that sort of level.”
 
DVDE: “Hopefully I’ll be able to get a top 16 finish. I didn’t train as much as I wanted to this winter, but at the EFPT event prior to this, I came 2nd which was a real shock to me. So hopefully a top 16 place here isn’t out of my reach. If I get kicked out in the first round, I’ll just try my hardest in the double elimination. Also, all of the guys have been training really hard this winter whereas I’ve only sailed a handful of times because I’m still at school, so there’s no shame in being beaten by them.”
 
 
Are you going to do the whole tour this year?
MR: “That’s my plan.”
 
DVDE: “I told everyone that if I got a top ten finish here then I would definitely do everything, but I’ve also got my exams to think about for the following few months. I would really like to go to them all though for sure. I mean it’s the highest level of competition in the world, and I’d love to be a part of it – I’ve been dreaming about competing on the PWA tour since I was nine years old!”

Light winds plagued Podersdorf for the third day in a row, but this didn’t stop the world’s finest freestylers from busting out their best tricks in front of the crazy Austrian crowds.

Following head judge Duncan Coombe’s dawn patrol, the hoards of spectators were treated to another full day of hanging out in the sun with the PWA’s stars. Unfortunately, we’ll all have to wait yet another day for the start of official 2010 world tour competition.
 
Mid afternoon, the same seven sailors that took part in the tow-in jump contest the previous day were saved from any bone breaking ramp action, and were instead asked to put on a show just yards from the beach. With reputations to uphold and fans to please, they invested every ounce of skill into styling it as best they could. The young Belgian, Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2, Gaastra), took full advantage of his extensive armoury of tricks and pulled off the most technical move, a culo, to win with emphatic style.

Winners And Losers
No official result, but Van Broeckhoven claimed first place in the tow-in freestyle exhibition, with Bonairean style master, Taty Frans (Starboard, MauiSails) in second after landing an amazing double flaka, and French showman, Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard, Gun) followed up in third with a stylish one-handed air flaka.

Move Of The Moment
Van Broeckhoven – Sailing away from a Culo is extremely impressive in the most idyllic freestyle conditions. But, being towed behind a Jet Ski at 30kts, and then launching into the move in front of thousands of spectators, with no wind whatsoever, is in a completely different league.
 
Biggest Breakthrough
Wind or no wind, the crowds were entertained. Competitors throwing themselves round the most difficult moves, in quick succession, and in ankle deep water is definitely a winner. Perhaps we should adopt this format of competition for the future…

Worst Wipeout
Tonky Frans (F2, Gaastra) – His back foot fell out of the strap whilst being towed at full pelt behind the Jet Ski. It looked nasty. But, he still came out smiling!

Beach Side Banter
Power Balance. Does the frequency given off by these wrist bands really help to improve your balance? Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers (JP, NeilPryde) gave it a go during a demonstration this morning, and it seemed to have a positive effect. Whether or not it helps on the water, or in a practical sense in everyday life remains to be seen. He parted with €35 for one! And, he’s been asking about frequencies that can have a negative effect, so anyone sailing against Bubble this season should watch out. Have your foot-straps had anything hidden in them?

Quotes Of The Day
Antxon Otaegui (JP, NeilPryde) to Andre Paskowski (Fanatic, North)
AO: “Hey Andre are we going to go with the jet ski or what?”
AP: “No way man, we’re too old for that!”
 
Andy ‘Bubble’ Chambers (JP, NeilPryde)
“There’s no way I’m falling over now” – talking about his frequency enhancing wristband.
 
Taty Frans (F2, Maui Sails) – talking about Podersdorf
“I love the crowds… especially the women!”

Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic, North) to the Jet Ski driver.
JE: “Full power, full power, full power”
Driver: “This is full power!”
 

The forecast looks promising for tomorrow, so be sure to tune in for some explosive action on the PWA world tour.

 Day 1:
Registration started for the PWA Worldcup season 2010 at 10 am. After receiving all the event stickers and  lycras it was time for a little interview and few photos. After all the participators had registered we had a big welcome meeting from the organizers and whole EFPT/PWA crew regarding the information for the upcoming days. As planned, we were suppose to start with the competition at 12:30, unfortunately the wind was to light. After having waited until 7:30 pm we where released for this day.

Overall impression: The event organisers did a really good job with the size of the event. To describe the whole scene in one word... "HUGE". Besides the windsurfing competition and booths from all kinds of windsurf and watersport related brands, there's also a lot partying going on in 7 different areas. This will also give you kind of idea how many visitors they are expecting... thousands (over 5,000).

The weather: The forecast for now doesn't look to promising. Warm and not to much wind for upcoming days. But according to the locals here, the wind can be quite surprising in this area even when there's a really bad forecast. Let's hope for the best!

Riders presentation/VIP: Around 10:00 am we had the riders presentation and this was mainly about introducing all the  the riders to the audience. There we got a special VIP area and some extra tickets so we could let some special people in.

Day 2:
After the announcement that the chances where really slim of having any wind today, it was super windy from 6:00 until 8:00 in the morning. The wind literally woke me up. After having the skippersmeeting at 9 the wind already decreased. At 9:30 heat nr.1 was ready to go, but now the conditions became even worse. After waiting... resailing the heat 2 times... there was not enough to finish the heat. So the PWA crew decided to prospone the competition every 15 minutes hoping the wind increases. Unfortunately it didn't pick up enough for the running of a proper competition! Tomorrow the skippersmeeting will be at 6 am and first possible start will be at 6:15. I'll have to be an early bird again, because I'll be riding my first heat in heat nr. 3a.

Austrian TV "hottest rider contest": Today there was a contest organised by ATV looking for man and riders rating. The whole idea was a model working for ATV had to check out our butt, chest and upper body. Highest score rating was 5 points. I scored 2 x 5 and 4+ finishing 2nd overall. Really stoked... hahha.

Tow-in windsurfing and beach side games provided plenty of entertainment for the thousands of spectators lining the shore of Lake Neusiedl on the second day of competition.  

With a promising start to day two, the first freestyle heat launched into action promptly. However, the wind quickly moderated leaving the sailors unable to even pump onto the plane. The race crew made every effort to re-start the competition throughout the day, but the wind refused to play ball.
 
The huge crowds hung out on the beach in the blazing hot sun with the world’s best freestylers until late in the afternoon when the young Belgian, Steven Van Broeckhoven (F2, Gaastra), decided to put on a show for them. After being towed along the shore at full speed behind a jet ski, he let go of the towrope, and threw himself round a perfect ponch on the glassy lake. On his next attempt, he exited a clean flaka diablo, which impressed both his peers and the spectators, reassuring everyone that he’ll be one of the main title contenders this season. Taty Frans (Starboard, MauiSails) also muscled in on the light wind action in preparation for the tow-in jump contest, which had been scheduled for the early evening.
 
Lured by the prospect of claiming a share of the €1000 prize purse, some of the craziest guys on tour signed up to be towed towards the huge mass of metal and plastic anchored just off the shore to throw down their extreme moves in front of a beach heaving with spectators.
 
Entrants for today’s qualifiers included Tonky (F2, Gaastra) and Taty Frans, Nicolas Akgazciyan (Starboard, Gun), Van Broeckhoven, Max Matissek (Fanatic, North), Tom Hartman (Naish, Naish), and Daniel Bikich.
 
Tonky had a small advantage, having been towed into the ramp the previous day, and Bikich also had a head start having built the ramp himself! All of those involved, put on an amazing spectacle for the partygoers of Podersdorf, and the moves that they managed to land included massive air flakas, ponches, and forwards. Other tricks were attempted but generally ended up as face plants and nasty looking crashes! The judges decided that Taty did the best move, followed by Bikich, and then Tonky. However, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see who claims the prize money.
 
 
Following the tow-in session, we caught up with Tonky to find out what makes this crazy man tick, and how he feels about being towed into the jump ramp.
 
PWA: What does it feel like to hit the artificial ramp at full speed with no wind in your sail?
Tonky Frans: It actually doesn’t feel totally alien to me because I’ve done it quite a few times now. I gave it a go in Holland at an exhibition, and I’ve had a fair few attempts here. It does feel a little bit strange I suppose, but when they let go of me as I approach the ramp, I have some apparent wind in my sail so it’s a bit like doing a normal jump.
 
Isn’t it a little bit more frightening though? A normal ramp is just made out of water, this thing is made from a ton of metal and plastic!
No, I have no fear. In my mind I know it will work. It does get the adrenalin pumping a little bit more than usual, but that’s because I’m doing it in front of thousands of spectators. As a freestyler, I’ve crashed so many times before that it doesn’t really bother me anymore.
 
So what moves do you think are possible when it’s absolutely glassy on the water and there’s not a breath of wind in the air?
I think that air flakas, air chachoos, and forward loops are all possible. If there’s a little bit of wind then back loops and push loops would also be ok, but you definitely need some sort of breeze to land those rotations.
 
The video of you doing a forward on the PWA website looks unbelievable. How did it feel?
I can’t really explain it, but when everyone is watching, and I do it perfectly, it’s just amazing. I love it when I come back to the beach and everyone is smiling. I just want to be remembered as a legend in this sport. One day when I retire, I really want people to say, ‘hey there was this guy called Tonky Frans and he was a legend’. All the things I do now are to remind people that I was here, and I was helping the sport. I love it so much, it has enabled me to travel the world and live a dream life. I owe it everything.
 
The organizers remain hopeful about the current forecast and will make every effort to get the main competition going at first light tomorrow morning.
Earlier in the day a minute’s silence was held in tribute to the former Czech freestyle champion and PWA competitor, Andrew Erban.

The atmosphere around Lake Neusiedl heated up as the PWA’s hottest freestylers rocked up and tuned in. However, after waiting patiently all afternoon in soaring temperatures, light winds halted any form of competition from taking place.
 

The competitors were greeted with a relaxing first day on tour, giving them the opportunity to prepare their gear and acclimatize to the Austrian lakeside lifestyle. A total of 46 sailors registered their intention to compete, including the current world champion, Jose ‘Gollito’ Estredo (Fanatic, North), Kiri Thode (Starboard, Gaastra), and Tonky Frans (F2, Gaastra), amongst many new comers including British born rider Max Rowe (Mistral, Simmer), and the young Belgian Dieter Van der Eyken (Starboard, Severne).
 
During the opening ceremony the organizers unveiled another exciting activity. The competitors have been given the opportunity to win themselves a further €1,000 by launching themselves off an indoor style jump ramp. Qualification for the finals of this mini competition will take place tomorrow, and on Sunday those that make it through the initial heats will battle it out with the best. If the wind fails to show up on cue, the competitors will be towed towards the ramp at full tilt, which will ensure a crowd-pleasing spectacle occurs!

Whilst the sailors were on standby we took the opportunity to chat to the current world champ, Estredo, to find out what he’s been up to, and see if he’s nervous about all the newcomers that have turned up here in Podersdorf.
 
PWA: How have you been preparing for the 2010 freestyle tour?
Estredo: I’ve been at home in Venezuela for quite a while, but I’ve also been to a spot in Columbia which is really good for freestyle with Diony Guadagnino (Hot Sails Maui, MFC).
 
What were you working on?
Instead of learning anything new, I’ve been concentrating on improving my style, and also the consistency of the moves that I can already land.
 
Having trained without the other key players on the tour, and not learnt anything new, aren’t you a bit scared that there might be a few people who have overtaken you?
There’s definitely a chance that there could be people that not only surprise me, but also the judges, and everyone else. We’ll just have to wait and see when the competition starts.” 

What’s the most difficult move to land in freestyle at the moment?
It’s got to be the Escudo which is Davy Scheffer’s (Tabou, Gaastra) move. It’s a bit like a kono into a flaka, which makes it really difficult to land. It’s a crazy move.
 
Can we expect to see Scheffers and yourself landing such moves here on the lake?
If we get some strong winds then we will be able to give it a go, but in lighter winds it is virtually impossible. I think it will be a move that you’ll see later in the year at venues like Fuerteventura.
 
How does it feel when you land such a complex and difficult move?
It feels great when I land one in training, but to land one in competition would feel really special. To land something like that in front of the judges, all the crowds, and the media, just feels amazing, I can’t really explain how good it feels.
 
How do you feel right now? Are you nervous or more excited because it’s the start of the season?
At the moment I just want to get on the water as quickly as possible so that I can assess everyone else’s level. Once this has happened, I will know what I need to do myself in order to finish where I want to.
 
So you’re worried about the current level then?
I’m not so worried here because it’s difficult for everyone to pull off the newest moves in the lighter winds, but as I said before, if the conditions get really good, the level will be extremely high. I’ve been practicing in these lighter conditions quite a lot though, so I’m confident that I’ll be able to land plenty of technical moves here.
 
Having won a world title under both the old format and the new, are you still a fan of the best move concept?
I much prefer the new one to the old. It not only makes freestyle much easier to follow for both the spectators and the judges, but it also means we can show off more complex moves in each heat, without having to worry about getting more moves in over the opponent.
 
What’s your game plan now then? Do you still do a few safe moves first and then bust out the more complex ones? Or do you go all out as soon as the green flag goes up?
I still start with moves I know I will land because we can only fall twice in a heat. But, after the first four moves, I start to up my game and try complex moves which I can’t land quite as consistently. The second half of a heat definitely starts to get more interesting!”
 
What goes through your mind when you’re in a heat?
It depends who I’m up against. If it’s someone who’s not quite at the top level yet then I’m fairly relaxed and don’t worry too much. However, if I’m in a heat against someone like Kiri Thode (Starboard, Gaastra) I have to think about what I’m doing much more because I do get a little bit nervous. In those situations I just go out and sail the heat for myself, and try to forget that I’m sailing against someone else and just do my best.
 
With or without wind, it looks like the action will definitely begin to unfold tomorrow. For more information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, click on www.pwaworldtour.com

2010/11 Carbon Art Wave

New Shapes, New Graphics, 2 Year Warranty!

Carbon Art is excited to announce the release of our 2010 wave range. An extensive amount of work, testing and tweaking on the waves of Taranaki and Maui has gone into our entire range. All three of our wave shapes have been fully refined to give you better performance and more benefits than ever before. The sheer smoothness of the Wave Vee (WaveV) puts you in control 100% of the time, the power and responsiveness of the Wave Single Concave (WaveSC) is more than impressive and the varied style of turns the Wave Thruster (WaveTH) offers is a huge amount of fun.

Along with the shape refinements we’ve been researching and testing new materials to give you the best possible performance and value for money. The end result is the integration of Innegra fibre into our leading edge composite construction. Innegra has delivered amazing results in our testing, especially in the form of increased durability, allowing us to now offer a 2 year warranty on all new waveboards! There’s also an added bonus, it’s made from recycled plastic using a green manufacturing process; an important issue for us here in New Zealand and worldwide (click here to read more on Innegra).

We’ve learned a lot about the thruster fin setup over the last few years with the development of the WaveTH and other prototypes. This experience and understanding has enabled us to now offer thruster box setups as an optional extra on the WaveV and WaveSC. It gives you the ability to fully personalise your board, tuning it to your sailing style and local conditions, and expand your sailing experience by exploring the multi fin concept without going to a specific multi fin shape.

To coincide with this year’s big developments we’re also introducing a completely new look exclusive to the wave range. The new graphics range combined with our 6 different board colour options really gives you the freedom to individually customise your style on and off the water.

Here’s a run down of each of the 3 models and the refinements we have made:

Wave Vee

This is our most versatile of the wave range and will perform well no matter what conditions are thrown at it. A true pedigree and at home anywhere.

(1) Refined nose rocker + increased volume under load bearing area =Earlier planing

(2) Refined rocker = Faster + better control at speed

(3) Softer rails forward of the mast track = Smoother initiation into turns

(4) Refined rail and vee profile =More drive thorough out turns.

(5) The introduction of super tough Innegra cloth to replace glass = better dampening, flex properties and ding resistance = stronger and a 2 year warranty

(6) Optional thruster boxes = more personalisation and tuning options

(6) New Graphics plus existing choice of 6 base colours =  more customisation for you

Wave Single Concave

Our down the line specialist, really lets you go anywhere on the wave at short notice. Get into the critical areas and crank some powerful turns, lends itself to a real surf style of riding.

(1) Lower nose rocker + increased volume under load bearing area =Earlier planing

(2) Refined rocker and + increased concave between fronts and back feet = Faster + better control at speed

(3) Softer rails forward of the mast track = Smoother initiation into turns

(4) Deeper concave and refined rail profile =More drive thorough out turns.

(5) The introduction of super tough Innegra cloth to replace glass = better dampening, flex properties and ding resistance = stronger and a 2 year warranty

(6) Optional thruster boxes = more personalisation and tuning options

(7) New Graphics plus existing choice of 6 base colours =  more customisation for you

Wave Thruster

Our multi fin specific board. It offers new school style of riding, making the most out of smaller mushier waves with super fast explosive turns.

(1) Refined nose rocker + increased volume under load bearing area =Earlier planing

(2) Reduced tail width + increased concave between front and back feet = Faster + better control at speed

(3) Softer rails forward of the mast track = Smoother initiation into turns

(4) Deeper concave and refined rail profile =More drive thorough out turns.

(5) The introduction of super tough Innegra cloth to replace glass = better dampening, flex properties and ding resistance = stronger and a 2 year warranty

(6) New Graphics plus existing choice of 6 base colours =  more customisation for you

Click here to go to carbonartwindsurf.com

Watch the video to find out...

The "Surf Worldcup Podersdorf 2010" will start tomorrow (April 30th) at Podersdorf, Lake Neusiedl, Austria. From the 30th of April until the 9th of May the village of Podersdorf will host the first PWA freestyle tourstop and the second tourstop of the EFPT during the first six days of the event. During the whole event all visitors have the possibility to test the latest windsurfing equipment or be part of the many side events.

Besides the sporty action during the day, the evening program will surely be acclaimed in equal measure. The Bacardi Party week and the Seaside Festival will offer great entertainment during the nights, with parties, DJ´s and many music live acts.

The organizator expects more than 100.000 people joining the event.

More info:
After a one year break the world´s best freestylers will be back on the exciting Lake Neusiedl in Austria. The "Surf Worldcup Podersdorf" takes place for the 13th time and was initiated for the very first time in 1998 by Gerhard Polak, who is still organizing it.

The Austrian freestyle event will be the first event of the 2010 PWA season. From the 30th of April till the 5th of May the world´s best men freestyle windsurfers will fight on 6 days for the title at Podersdorf. The event result will count to the PWA ranking and as well to the EFPT ranking. 30.000 € prizemoney can be won, which will be splitted within the top 16. Top favourites are the reigning world champion Gollito Estredo from El Yague, who has won the last PWA Freestyle event at Podersdorf in 2008, the gang from Bonaire with Kiri Thode, Tonky and Taty Frans, who has won the final PWA Freestyle event on Sylt in October 2009. But as well, the Belgium freestyler Steven van Broeckhoven, who dominated the EFPT tour last year and won already the first tourstop of the EFPT in Leucate, will have his say for the title during this event. But there are more names to mention, who could surprise at Podersdorf: German Andre Paskowski, Normen Günzlein or Adrian Beholz, French Nicolas Akgazciyan, Russian Yegor Propretinsky, Canadian Phil Soltysiak, Spanish Antxon Otaegui, Andraz Zan from Slovenia or Austrian Michi Roßmeier, Alex Seyss, Florenz Forstenlechner or local Max Matissek.

Gollito Estredo, who has won the PWA tour title in the Freestyle discipline three times already, announced the following statement before the event start: “I will do everything to be the best at Podersdorf”. Event organiser Gerhard Polak is as well looking forward to the event: “We decided to run an event for the Freestyle windsurfers and have a break for the racers in 2010. The great plus is that we have a big show organised, if there should not be any wind on. We will drag the worldbest sailors with a strong motorboat with around 35 km/h above a big iron ramp. So we can guarantee spectacular jumping action on the water in case of low or no wind conditions.”  

Parallel to the pro-event a windsurfing test will take place at the eventarea. Almost all big brands – North Sails, Neilpryde, Severne, Naish, RRD, JP, Fanatic and Starboard - will present  their latest 2010 gear and everybody can test the new stuff on the water. The programm contains as well courses for windsurfingbeginners, Stand Up Paddle contests, a Surf Simulator, Slackline acitivites and much more.
As well the evening hours with several concerts and parties on five floors will offer great entertainment.
Thousands of spectators are expected to visit this 13th edition of the Surf Worldcup in Podersdorf and be part of the programm during the day and the night.

(Maui, Hawai'i) April 22, 2010 - Over 130 wahines showed up on Saturday, April 17th for the 4th Annual Maui Butterfly Effect, also raising $1,000 to benefit Women Helping Women.
 
A worldwide water woman movement promoting women and ocean sports, The Butterfly Effect brings women together in a non-competitive gathering celebrating community and love of the ocean while instilling confidence in women of all ages and skill sets. 
 
Novices and professionals alike joined together in support of each other, as the butterflies braved high surf advisories to windsurf, kite, stand up paddle and kayak along the North Shore of Maui.  The group, initially planning to launch from Ho’okipa and land at Kanaha, adjusted launch to Sprecks due to the eight foot waves on the North Shore. 
 
Professional athletes that participated included Ann-Marie Reichman, Annita Blanch, Junko Nagoshn, Talia Gangini, Tiffany Ward, Nayra Alonso, Tonia Farman, Tomoko Okazaki, Resi Stiegler and Tatiana Howard.  

The Butterfly Effect began in Hawaii in 2007 by water women, Tatiana Howard and Juliana Shelef.  Since then, the founders have flown around the world to organize affiliated events in Brazil, New Zealand, France, Oregon, Germany, Tahiti, Dominican Republic and Australia, and hundreds of international women have joined the movement.
 
The main featured sports of The Butterfly Effect include, but are not limited to, windsurfing, stand-up paddle and kiting.  Other participating sports include wake boarding, surf and kayak. The standard event agenda also includes group sessions, clinics, safety and stretching sessions, food and gear from local sponsors and fundraising for local charities.
 
The Butterfly Effect will be going on world tour this summer, with events being held in: Italy, Hood River (Oregon), Fiji, Dominican Republic and Brazil.
 
"Maui, being the home of Aloha, is the perfect base for The Butterfly Effect, an event that celebrates feminine values, camaraderie and self-empowerment rather than judging and competition,” says The Butterfly Effect founder Tatiana Howard.  “Although it is an all-women event, I hope that the success and enthusiasm that each event brings will be an inspiration to all."
 
Sponsors of The Butterfly Effect Maui 2010 included: LuvSUP, Matiko, Dakine, Café Mambo, Green Banana Café, Wings Hawaii, Olukai, Neil Pryde Maui, Cohen Landscaping, Grace Delivers, Flatbread, Naish, Kaenon, HonBlue and Paia Yoga.
 
The event was documented by: photography by Nate Volk, Batel Shimi, Jimmie Hepp and Dan Rayburn; by helicopter with video and photos, Kevin Pritchard; and video from both land and sea, Jonas Marpot.

World Windsurfing Week starts in a few days on May 1st!

During this event, windsurfers all around the world will organise events for non-surfers to promote the sport. Please help us by organising your own World Windsurfing Week (WWW) event and by spreading the word about WWW and our website www.worldwindsurfingweek.org. On this site's blog, all participants of WWW-Events can post their videos and photos and win windsurfing amazing windsurfing prizes!

Hot Sails Maui announces their "Hot Facebook Game"... where you can win your own personnalized Superfreak, a carbon 100 Hot Rod mast or a Playmate boom.

Here's how to play?

1)  Add "Hot Sails Maui" as a friend on Facebook...CLICK HERE to do this

2)  On Friday April 30th at midnight in Hawaii, when the attached  picture comes out on our Facebook
 page, tag yourself on the item you would like to win... either the sail, mast or boom.

3)  Comment on the photo with a new slogan that you make up!

The WINNER...

• The 3 Best Slogans will win what they are tagged on

Last Friday (April 23, 2010) we decided to hit up Patrick Bergeron with 10 quick questions to see what is going on in his life and what is going on right now on Maui. Well...we got more than we could ever bargin for! Thanks Patrick!

1. Where are you reading these questions from right now?

From the comfort of my bed as I am waking up to yet another beautiful sunny and windy day on Maui…

2. What is the #1 place you would like to be right now?

Right now, right where I’m at! It’s not too bad with the birds chirping and the wind making a nice hissing sound as it brushes over the corrugated metal roof …a good Aloha Friday ahead!

3. Do you have any trips planned for the near future?

I do plan on spending most of the summer on the mainland... probably starting in early June. This will be a change for me as I’m more used to split it between Maui with short stints in Canada and the Gorge. But this time, it should be all mainland… and I do have my ticket to the U2 show with friends in July... I can’t miss that. I also have a couple of SUP boards I intend to use, hang out with friends, family and maybe a couple of road trips, work on personal projects, etc… It should make for a fun summer with a little bit of everything!

4. Is dropping in on someone allowed/tolerated during photoshoot season on Maui?

To be or not to be? HA...HA...HA!  When the heli is spinning overhead at upward of $1,000 an hour, everyone understands that there are little slips here or there, especially if the conditions are not ideal. If there are no helis, then it’s a different story, especially for the large teams who can overtake a spot with more than a dozen or more top riders. Ideally, companies try to manage their time at Hookipa based on the conditions and time of day.

5. Have you dropped in on anyone lately (maybe by accident)?

I never do …or at least, in my interpretation of the “rules of the road”, I always try not to get in anyone’s way.

6. Who’s dropped in on you and have you forgiven them?

If you go to the beach and talk story with the people, you’ll find out real quickly who the usual suspects are. As for how it makes one feel, you can’t change the past, but you can change the future... so as much as it can be annoying or frustrating when it happens (especially when it’s blatant) you’ve got to move on. Then again, if you catch one on the outside and then someone jumps on it as it’s about to break... you’re willing to share it, and after you let them through they block you or ride you on the flats... let’s just say it’s harder to forget. Down-the-line, there are ways to let someone know without getting into a pissing match. Otherwise, I tend to see people for who they are and how they act, not their sailing abilities. So snaking goes a long way in getting to “know” people. Most Maui “regulars” are very respectful. It’s a small place and the gain of a few waves is not worth the bad rap that comes along with it. The culprits are typically the off-islanders who come here thinking they will become the next Robby Naish in the course of two or four weeks. Egos run high at certain spots, but they should understand they are not really doing themselves a favor, and that such stardom is built first with rare natural skills, and second with a lot of time.

Speaking of which, I could say that guys like Mark Angulo, John Skye, Manu Bouvet and so many more are first-class!  Even Robby himself never uses his star status to drop in on anyone, which probably explains why to this day he is and remains Mr Windsurfing. There are a few guys who should take notes.

7. Who has impressed you the most with there sailing this winter?

Philip Koster was one to watch for pure improvements. He was no stand-out, but he was definitely “most improved” in my book. Being a Gran Canaria guy, starboard tack was (and appeared!) quite foreign for him when he first arrived this year. But shortly after, he was going after it and gaining confidence and skills every wave of the way. The kid is massive, surely the German roots, but he’s a natural and after his 2009 win in Pozo, he could rapidly become a household name for many years to come.

For skills, Levi [Siver] is always putting on a great show of style and skills. Kauli [Seadi] follows right besides him. In the air department, Kauli’s got those push-forwards down, but Boujmaa is still “king of the insane”, somewhat crash and burn, but definitely innovative and the most fun to watch! He’s got his trademark Black Shot (a Crazy Pete into switch stance forward) as well as the push-forward. I very much view him as the new modern-day Robert Teritehau …interestingly; I believe he stays at Robert’s place when he comes to Maui, go figure!?

Mark Angulo with his experience, flair and innovative style also spends more time on the water than anyone every single day. Look out for more from him in the future I am sure.

8. What is the most impressive thing you have seen on the water recently?

The most noticeable thing this year is how far the limits of wavesailing and jumping are being challenged. Most notables are first Mark Angulo’s mutants or wave 360’s. He spends the bigger part of his day and his waves chasing those two moves, and he has them down and more stylish than anyone out there. His timing is always spot-on, sometimes it’s ridiculous how it almost seems like the water gods will make a lip wait for him if he seems a little late, I think there is definitely collusion between him and the Hookipa gods.

Then, just yesterday, Brawzinho (Marcillio Browne) threw the first double air taka (that I’ve ever seen or heard of…) which he landed clean, but just behind the wave. At this juncture, it’s only a matter of hours before he sticks that trick back on the wave. Boujmaa was reported throwing a tweaked aerial which he then tried to convert in to a double forward …we’re talking over the lip of large Hookipa waves with the ensuing consequences, this deserves some attention and respect!

 
9. Who will win all the PWA titles this year?

• · Wave (men)

Well, with the world cup still being held in places that are sometimes more jump-oriented or port tack, it’s never a bad idea to put your dollar on all-around guys like Kauli Seadi or Victor Fernandez. If it were pure wave events, guys like Levi, Josh Angulo and Kevin Pritchard would probably get their share of attention. Brawzinho can’t be forgotten either and Ricardo is focusing on waves this year.  Should be an interesting year.

• · Wave (women)

Same comment applies here, and the Moreno twins are typically right at home in their Pozo backyard. Then again, we see more and more women pushing the envelope of windsurfing and their level is rising every year. Nayra Alonso is one that’s charging bigger and bigger all the time!

• · Slalom (men)

You can “arguably” bet the ranch on King Tony! Antoine Albeau has been so dominating; it’s great to see this someone at the top with everyone chasing after him. Sort of gives a Tiger’esque dimension to the sport.

• · Slalom (women)

The European girls do quite well in this department. It seems like every year there are more and more girls competing at the international level which I think is great.

• · Freestyle (men)

I take great fun seeing all the incredible things the top guys can do, particularly the amount of amazing moves they can pack in such a short amount of time. But quite honestly, the sport has progressed so much, it’s almost difficult to watch in a contest format because even as a decent sailor, I don’t know what is really going on or what is the most difficult maneuver for those guys. Plus, most freestylers don’t really spend much time on Maui, so I really don’t know who’s on top these days…  But still amazing to watch the stuff they do when they come for the photoshoots. It’s also great to see new videoclips of new tricks pop up on Facebook and other websites every week. Then I guess Gollito is probably king for a reason.

• · Freestyle (women)

Sara-Quita Offringa has been giving the Moreno twins a run for their money in the discipline. Her attitude is second to none and she’s always smiling, so that’s enough for me to vote for her! Her 2009 championship hints at an easy pick as well.

10. What is your favorite gear combo right now?

Like most, I’ve been dabbling with quad setups for waveriding at Hookipa. Works great in that department. Not that I would ever be the guy to redefine the bottom turn, or any wavesailing maneuver for that matter, but it’s interesting to experiment with new lines on the wave-face. The board also grips like there is no tomorrow in the bottom yet you can slide the top turn if you push it right. Then again, for planning, going upwind or even jumping, quads (or twins or thrusters) are really not the ultimate option. So I still go out on a single from time-to-time, especially if I’m not riding at Hookipa. Jumps are still one of my favorite aspects of the sport and nothing beats a single there …better release off the wave, lighter board in the air, earlier planning between waves, etc… RRD is coming with the new boards for the photoshoot next week. I’ve heard of some new rocker lines which I can’t wait to try!

For sails, the Sailworks Revo 4.6 is my favorite sail. That particular size in the Revo’s packs some serious punch while remaining very maneuverable. Many times I prefer to head out to Hookipa on the Revo 5.0 as it’s a bit too light for the 4.6 more often than not …I somewhat prefer power to maneuverability, probably comes from spending 18 endless summers in the Gorge. It’s also easier to get waves that way.

(For photo credits and captions hover mouse pointer over photo!)

Click on the address to have a look at the new and improved www.ezzy.com. Ezzy has overhauled the site to embrace community interaction. Now, you can easily post questions directly to David Ezzy while sifting through gobs of new photos and videos of the 2010 in action. Also, a brand new mast configurator is in place making it easy to determine the best mast configurations for performance and for your wallet. Team rider blogs keep you up to speed with riders from Maui, US, and the UK (thanks to key rider Jem Hall). Have a look at the new site and be sure to check out the new Panther2, Freeride4, and 2010 Infinity.

Hylke Bakker travels the world shooting video and taking pictures of the windsurfing world (and other watersports). Check out his new website for all the latest windsurfing moves and some cool photos:

CLICK HERE to go to hylkebakker.com

Get ready for the start of the PWA season with  the PWA Surf World Cup at Podersdorf, Austria. All the world's best freestylers will be there, including top North American Phil Soltysiak (10th overall in the world last year). This event will also be a huge gear demo where attendees can try all the latest toys from Starboard, Fanatic, JP, Naish, RRD, North, Severne and NeilPryde.

For a list of confirmed entries (46 to date!), click HERE. And to find out more info from the dedicated event site, check out www.surfworldcup.at.

Watch this short video to see all the different conditions available at El Tur, Egypt. Everything from perfect flat water to waves...start planning your next trip!

The crew at Big Winds is super stoked to announce our Big Winds Beach Bash on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at the Hood River Event Site. The latest new gear from all our great brands in Windsurfing, Kiteboarding and Stand Up Paddleboarding will be available for free demos from 10-5. Check our website at www.bigwinds.com for details.

It’s going to be awesome….You gotta be there!

Hello Fellow Windsurfers,
it is time to announce the 2010 Midwest Speed Quest. We would like to thank everyone who has participated in past years, and invite everyone back again in 2010. We have been working hard all winter long to make this year's event even better.

The speeds recorded in this event can be compared with speeds recorded anywhere in the world. We work closely with the team at GPS Speed Surfing in Holland (http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/). These guys support all forms of Speed Sailing.

Thanks to the Support of our Sponsors, we have over $4,000 in Cash and Prizes to award to the racers. We will pay $1000 CASH to the fastest windsurfer on Lake Okabena in 2010. Speed shall be measured by the "The Best Ten Second Run." The 2010 Midwest Speed Quest follows the rules and methods set out by GPS Speed Surfing (http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com).

The "Economic Stimulus Package" was a success in 2009, and shall be repeated again in 2010. Stay Tuned for more information!

The event shall run from April 15th to October 15th, 2010 on an open schedule. Pick a windy day that fits your schedule, and come on down. Let us help you with discounted lodging and great food.

We have the best demo gear in the world for use by the visiting racers.

Please visit our Web Site (http://www.midwestspeedquest.com) for complete information.



This is the 6th year of the Midwest Speed Quest. Every year we try to something new and different. This event is designed for sailors of all skill levels, from beginners to the top racers. This event is about participation. We want racers from ages 6 to 96!!! No matter your skill level, we will be there to get you started Speed Sailing... right?!!

As always, this event is FREE!!! There are no fees or charges. You may enter as many times as you like all season long. We want you to participate as often as you can.

We will provide the GPS unit . The official GPS unit of the Midwest Speed Quest is the GT-31 by LOCOSYS Technology (http://www.midwestspeedquest.com/page31/page31.html). This is the finest handheld GPS available. With over $1,000 on the line, our racers will want to use the most precise GPS device available.

New for 2010, there will a 500 Meter Alpha Racing Category. This is an event where your best average speed is measured through a jibe. This sounds complicated, but is really quite simple, and is easily calculated by the GPS Speed Software. We want to reward those racers who have excellent technical skills on the Race Course. This is a unique way to rank the Racers on their jibing ability.

For 2009, the Top Alpha Speed was recorded by Ed Melechson of Omaha (http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=45739&uid=1288) with a speed of 19.06 knots.

This Midwest Speed Quest runs on a completely flexible schedule over a 6 month period. You decide when you want to race. The National Weather Service Forecasts (click here for link) are extremely accurate up to 5 days in advance. Find a windy day that fits your schedule, let us know you are coming down. We will meet you on the Beach with a GPS ready to go.  See the "NOTICE OF RACE" Page for more information.

There will also be a number of Scheduled race Days as well. On these days, we will provide free refreshments and snacks on the beach, and a hot meal at the end of the day.

Spectators are always welcome. This is a great opportunity to meet the Windsurfers and find out more about this Sport.

Again in 2010, the Midwest Speed Quest has collaborated with Jeff Hegwer and the Therapeutic Winds Windsurfing School (http://www.wgtn.net/therapeutic/index.htm) to provide free windsurfing lessons to interested youth. It is important to support and encourage new windsurfers. If you know of a young person who would appreciate a free lesson or perhaps cannot afford one, please contact Craig Bergh at cbergh@iw.net.

Sponsors are the ones who make this all possible. Please visit our "Sponsors Links" Page. As you buy your gear in 2010, please support the people and companies who make this all possible.

Thanks to the generosity of our Sponsors, we have the highest Speed Sailing Prize Money in the USA. We also have lots of demo gear and prizes for visiting sailors from such fine companies as:
Carbon Art International (http://carbonartwindsurf.com/)
Windsurf Deal (http://www.windsurfdeal.com/)
Select Hydrofoils, (http://www.windsurfdeal.com/)
KA Sail Australia (http://www.kasail.com/http://www.kasail.com/windsurfing/index.html)
Vector Fins Maui, (http://vectorfins.com/new/index.php)
Murrays Wind and Water (http://www.select-hydrofoils.com/en/fins/)
Dakine (http://www.dakine.com/)
Chinook Sailing (http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/)
Aquapac International (http://www.aquapac.net/)
Gath Helmets Australia (http://www.gathsports.com/productsingle.php?id=4)
Gusts.us (http://gusts.us/)
LOCOSYS Technology. (http://www.locosystech.com/)
Red Bull Energy Drink (http://www.redbull.com/)
Enxco Wnd Energy Services (http://www.enxco.com/)
Onit Pro Xtreme Cream (http://onitpro.com/)
Windsport Magazine (http://www.windsport.com/)
Deb's Healing Massage and Day Spa (http://www.midwestspeedquest.com/page4/page49/page49.html)

We also welcome our newest Sponsor The Windsurfing Movie II (http://www.thewindsurfingmovie.com/WMIIStage/index.html). This new movie is due out in June 2010. We will be giving away DVDs all season long. Thank you Jace Panebianco

We have a number of discounted Motel Rooms at the AmercInn of Worthington (http://www.americinn.com/hotels/MN/Worthington) available to visiting racers, as well as discounted meals at La Azteca Mexican Restaurant of Worthington (http://www.midwestspeedquest.com/page4/page84/page84.html), the finest Mexican Food and the best Margaritas anywhere.

We want to thank local Worthington Businesses for their support of the MSQ. These include the Worthington Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau (http://www.worthingtonmnchamber.com/), the Avera Specialty Clinics (http://www.averamckennan.org/amck/regionalfacilities/worthingtonspecialtyclinic/index.aspx) Guidepoint Pharmacy, and (http://guidepointpharmacy.com/index.cfm/preset/home) United Prairie Bank (http://www.unitedprairiebank.com/). It is great to have your local support!!!

Stay tuned for even more announcements in the near future.
We look forward to seeing you on Lake Okabena in 2010!

Sincerely,
Craig Bergh
The Midwest Speed Quest
133 Lake Avenue
Worthington, Minnesota 56187
www.midwestspeedquest.com

email: cbergh@iw.net

Check out the full-length video of the Windsport Magazine / Shadowbox / Epicsession.tv Ho'okipa Jump-off Showdown by Jake Miller of Snake Bite Films: