The Syncro is in its third year of production as
Mistral’s manoeuvre-oriented wave/super-X board.
One of our favourites in this category last year, it
would be interesting to see how the 103 has been
refined for the new season, with the stated aim of
improving its wave/freestyle performance.
Possessing plenty of nose rocker it sees the
introduction of a quad-panel shaping through the
length of the hull intended to extend its carving
potential, whilst the deck has a pronounced dome
in the rear, home to Mistral’s excellent shock
absorbing deckpads.
Ride and Handling
The Syncro is undoubtedly one of the fastest in
this group onto the plane, with a low planing
threshold that sees it accelerate to a steady
cruising speed. In marginal conditions it retains
quite a large waterline along its length, its tail
sticking to the water whilst the board’s shoulders
sit high and dry from any rogue chop. Used in fully
powered conditions with a four-strap configuration
it can be lifted and released further, using the
improved feedback from the fin to find its sweet
spot and push its speed … although its trim on the
water was quite technical to master and maintain.
Similarly, in extreme conditions we often found
ourselves backing off to control the balance of the
board and keep its nose down. As such we believe
the Syncro’s strengths lie in being used in a more
manoeuvre-oriented role with a single strap set up,
where the sailor can fully appreciate the 103’s easy
responsive nature, allowing it to make light work of
any sea state in comfortably powered conditions.
Manoeuvres
The dome of the deck and thin rails in the tail help
the Syncro to prescribe a progressive carving arc,
making it an excellent tutoring platform for the
intermediate sailor. Power in assertively by
stamping hard on the tail, however, and the fin
regularly lost traction, spinning sideways and
allowing for only one, very wet, eventuality. Instead
we found you had to get well forward in the turn if
you wanted to commit with any confidence,
engaging the rails like a wave-board and taking
much of the pressure off the fin, which we believe
is largely the root of the problem. Used for
freestyle, the 103’s thin tail does require more
effort to release, yet once sliding in reverse the
Syncro displays good control and precision, aided
by the chimes in the nose.
For: Easy responsive nature for handling any
coastal environment.
Against: Fin and stability in over-powered conditions
2 Mayıs 2009 Cumartesi
JP Freestyle 100
In the past the JP Freestyle series has offered
some of the most versatile flat-water boards
around, possessing real freeride performance on
top of an ease and potency for new-school
manoeuvres. Intrigued to see how the latest
freestyle designs compare to other manoeuvreoriented
boards of this volume, we have chosen to
include the JP in this category to represent the
dedicated freestyle hull. Signature model of world
champion Ricardo Campello, it is the middle
design of a three-board range, and has a very
short round outline with a distinctive boxy tail bevel
and domed deck. Available in Wood and Pro
construction, it comes supplied with a 26cm
freestyle fin and looks like it means business.
Ride and Handling
Whilst not releasing onto the plane as quickly as
we have come to expect from a JP Freestyle
board, the 100 responds instantly once its
threshold is reached, accelerating purposefully to
an impressive speed. Compact and light underfoot,
it provides an exciting and controlled ride, sitting
high on the water’s surface and skimming over
choppy sea states. Happiest when comfortably
powered, the fin begins to provide enough
feedback to drive against it and trim the board flat,
reducing the board’s waterline and increasing its
responsive riding sensation. As power increases,
the 100’s manners never wane – even in confused
conditions and violent gusts, it remains supremely
composed and forgiving in a straight-line.
Manoeuvres
Although its carving abilities are nothing
extraordinary, the 100 cuts a smooth predictable arc,
the rails biting confidently whilst its width provides
the stability to recover from any mistakes made. Not
surprisingly though, it is in a freestyle mode that the
100 excels, keeping low and sliding back on its nose
with such ease and control that it will have you
conquering that elusive new-school manoeuvre in no
time. It does take a little while to get used to the
board’s pop, the extra volume in the tail giving it
some noticeable swing weight as you rotate…
although you soon get accustomed to it. Get the
slide a little wrong and the 100 will provide plenty of
warning and margin for error, the tail buffering off the
water’s surface so that the rider has every chance of
completing the stunt. With the control and manners
to be used in confused sea states, the 100 is a
practical and fun freestyle machine, inspiring the
rider to try that next manoeuvre.
For: Controlled slide, compact and lively riding
sensation when powered.
Against: Early planing isn’t as potent as
anticipated, but as a freestyle specialist weapon,
it cannot be faulted.
Verdict
Whilst undoubtedly more dedicated to freestyle
than ever before, the Freestyle 100 is a wellmannered
and practical board for flat-water and
coastal chop, best suited for those that are keen
to push their freestyle boundaries.
some of the most versatile flat-water boards
around, possessing real freeride performance on
top of an ease and potency for new-school
manoeuvres. Intrigued to see how the latest
freestyle designs compare to other manoeuvreoriented
boards of this volume, we have chosen to
include the JP in this category to represent the
dedicated freestyle hull. Signature model of world
champion Ricardo Campello, it is the middle
design of a three-board range, and has a very
short round outline with a distinctive boxy tail bevel
and domed deck. Available in Wood and Pro
construction, it comes supplied with a 26cm
freestyle fin and looks like it means business.
Ride and Handling
Whilst not releasing onto the plane as quickly as
we have come to expect from a JP Freestyle
board, the 100 responds instantly once its
threshold is reached, accelerating purposefully to
an impressive speed. Compact and light underfoot,
it provides an exciting and controlled ride, sitting
high on the water’s surface and skimming over
choppy sea states. Happiest when comfortably
powered, the fin begins to provide enough
feedback to drive against it and trim the board flat,
reducing the board’s waterline and increasing its
responsive riding sensation. As power increases,
the 100’s manners never wane – even in confused
conditions and violent gusts, it remains supremely
composed and forgiving in a straight-line.
Manoeuvres
Although its carving abilities are nothing
extraordinary, the 100 cuts a smooth predictable arc,
the rails biting confidently whilst its width provides
the stability to recover from any mistakes made. Not
surprisingly though, it is in a freestyle mode that the
100 excels, keeping low and sliding back on its nose
with such ease and control that it will have you
conquering that elusive new-school manoeuvre in no
time. It does take a little while to get used to the
board’s pop, the extra volume in the tail giving it
some noticeable swing weight as you rotate…
although you soon get accustomed to it. Get the
slide a little wrong and the 100 will provide plenty of
warning and margin for error, the tail buffering off the
water’s surface so that the rider has every chance of
completing the stunt. With the control and manners
to be used in confused sea states, the 100 is a
practical and fun freestyle machine, inspiring the
rider to try that next manoeuvre.
For: Controlled slide, compact and lively riding
sensation when powered.
Against: Early planing isn’t as potent as
anticipated, but as a freestyle specialist weapon,
it cannot be faulted.
Verdict
Whilst undoubtedly more dedicated to freestyle
than ever before, the Freestyle 100 is a wellmannered
and practical board for flat-water and
coastal chop, best suited for those that are keen
to push their freestyle boundaries.
Angulo Sumo 105
The Sumo 105 has had a graphic makeover for
2006, giving a new lease of life to a design that is
entering its third season of production. Supplied
with two fins, it comes complete with Angulo’s longawaited
new straps, produced courtesy of Da Kine.
One of the wider boards in the group at 64cm, it has
a relatively round tubby appearance (depicting its
name well!) with a flat deck and squared-off nose
and tail. An excellent all-round contender when
tested a couple of years ago, it would be interesting
to see how it compared to the latest designs.
Ride and Handling
Provided with two distinctly different fin designs,
the character of the board can be altered
significantly by utilising them and changing the
footstrap configuration accordingly. With outboard
straps and the large fin in place, the Sumo
releases onto the plane smoothly, the wide deck
providing the stability to cater for a 7.5m, whilst the
voluminous tail enables the rider to adopt a
comfortable stance, loading the fin to cover
distance with ease. In more powered conditions
the small 24cm fin and inboard straps expose a
whole new dimension to the 105, introducing a
definite buoyant wave board quality to its riding
style. Completely controlled irrespective of the
conditions, it never seems to buck or play up, but
offers a composed responsive ride, making it a lot
of fun to use. Still one of the finest examples of a
versatile freemove board, the Sumo is an excellent
option for coastal sailors with a penchant for wave
riding, yet don’t wish to fully immerse themselves
down the freeride path.
Manoeuvres
The Sumo’s supreme versatility extends into the
gybe, with an awesome level of aggressive bite
captivating the expert rider, yet with enough ease
and margin for error to tutor the intermediate.
Carving a smooth progressive arc, the width in the
tail maintains the speed through the turn, whilst the
flat deck provides the stability to allow for clumsy
footwork, (also evident in the tack). In fact, the
Sumo’s control belies its ability, making it feel
almost reserved underfoot, yet as soon as you try
something it always delivers. This is particularly
apparent in freestyle, where it pops surprisingly
well and slides smoothly on its shoulders, the
support supplied by the straps and deckpads
providing the rider with a real sense of control.
For: Supreme versatility. Unquestionable waveboard
style heritage.
Against: Just one setting for inboard back strap –
may be an issue for large sailors that like a wide stance
Verdict
A fantastically versatile board, the Sumo has
lost none of its potency or charm, making it an
excellent all-round option irrespective of rider
weight, style or ability.
It comes well recommended.
2006, giving a new lease of life to a design that is
entering its third season of production. Supplied
with two fins, it comes complete with Angulo’s longawaited
new straps, produced courtesy of Da Kine.
One of the wider boards in the group at 64cm, it has
a relatively round tubby appearance (depicting its
name well!) with a flat deck and squared-off nose
and tail. An excellent all-round contender when
tested a couple of years ago, it would be interesting
to see how it compared to the latest designs.
Ride and Handling
Provided with two distinctly different fin designs,
the character of the board can be altered
significantly by utilising them and changing the
footstrap configuration accordingly. With outboard
straps and the large fin in place, the Sumo
releases onto the plane smoothly, the wide deck
providing the stability to cater for a 7.5m, whilst the
voluminous tail enables the rider to adopt a
comfortable stance, loading the fin to cover
distance with ease. In more powered conditions
the small 24cm fin and inboard straps expose a
whole new dimension to the 105, introducing a
definite buoyant wave board quality to its riding
style. Completely controlled irrespective of the
conditions, it never seems to buck or play up, but
offers a composed responsive ride, making it a lot
of fun to use. Still one of the finest examples of a
versatile freemove board, the Sumo is an excellent
option for coastal sailors with a penchant for wave
riding, yet don’t wish to fully immerse themselves
down the freeride path.
Manoeuvres
The Sumo’s supreme versatility extends into the
gybe, with an awesome level of aggressive bite
captivating the expert rider, yet with enough ease
and margin for error to tutor the intermediate.
Carving a smooth progressive arc, the width in the
tail maintains the speed through the turn, whilst the
flat deck provides the stability to allow for clumsy
footwork, (also evident in the tack). In fact, the
Sumo’s control belies its ability, making it feel
almost reserved underfoot, yet as soon as you try
something it always delivers. This is particularly
apparent in freestyle, where it pops surprisingly
well and slides smoothly on its shoulders, the
support supplied by the straps and deckpads
providing the rider with a real sense of control.
For: Supreme versatility. Unquestionable waveboard
style heritage.
Against: Just one setting for inboard back strap –
may be an issue for large sailors that like a wide stance
Verdict
A fantastically versatile board, the Sumo has
lost none of its potency or charm, making it an
excellent all-round option irrespective of rider
weight, style or ability.
It comes well recommended.
THE KEY TO SUITABILITY
Below is a key to the suitability
charts so that the information can be
gathered from them at a glance:
Suitable
Unsuitable
Rider Ability
Intermediate: Getting to grips with
planing techniques (namely the
footstraps and harness), the
intermediate is undoubtedly in the
most exciting period of their
windsurfing career so far, learning
something new every time they step
on their board. Lacking the technical
knowledge and instinctive ability to
deal with complicated kit, their
progression can be greatly advanced
using stable and forgiving equipment.
Competent: The competent sailor is
comfortable in a variety of planing
wind strengths, and can cover
distance without issue. Using the
footstraps and harness confidently,
and learning to adjust their stance
instinctively in gusts and lulls (as well
as on different points of sail), the
competent sailor is in the throes of
getting round the corners, with the
infamous carve gybe being the big
stumbling block at present.
Expert: With years of experience,
expert sailors are diverse characters
with very different goals, but all share
the same drive and enthusiasm to
push their equipment to the limit in
order to test their own capabilities.
With a real passion for the sport, they
may even enter some local or national
amateur competitions, safe with the
confidence and technical knowledge
to back them up, whatever the
conditions.
Professional: Production equipment
is now used regularly at the top flight
of competition, and with this in mind,
the final definition is fairly selfexplanatory.
It is attributed to
equipment that is believed to hold that
extra cutting-edge ingredient that will
make it devastating in the hands of
the professional sailor during
competition. Enough said!
Rider Weight
Rider weight is very much an
approximation as it greatly depends
on the rider’s sailing ability as well.
However, as a rough guide, these are
the boundaries we use:
Light 45-65kg
Medium 65-85kg
Heavy 85-105kg
Discipline
Wave: Ideal for use in a break, with
enough response and carving
potential to perform on a wave face.
Freestyle: Suitable for new-school
stunts, with loads of pop and a
controlled reverse slide.
Freemove: Easy and forgiving to sail
in a straight-line, a freemove hull also
has a lot of manoeuvre potential and
can tutor the intermediate/competent
sailor effortlessly through their first
planing transitions.
Freeride: With excellent straight-line
potential, the freeride hull likes to be
loaded and driven with a more
locked-in stance, and can reach a
respectable speed, remaining wellmannered
in difficult sea states.
charts so that the information can be
gathered from them at a glance:
Suitable
Unsuitable
Rider Ability
Intermediate: Getting to grips with
planing techniques (namely the
footstraps and harness), the
intermediate is undoubtedly in the
most exciting period of their
windsurfing career so far, learning
something new every time they step
on their board. Lacking the technical
knowledge and instinctive ability to
deal with complicated kit, their
progression can be greatly advanced
using stable and forgiving equipment.
Competent: The competent sailor is
comfortable in a variety of planing
wind strengths, and can cover
distance without issue. Using the
footstraps and harness confidently,
and learning to adjust their stance
instinctively in gusts and lulls (as well
as on different points of sail), the
competent sailor is in the throes of
getting round the corners, with the
infamous carve gybe being the big
stumbling block at present.
Expert: With years of experience,
expert sailors are diverse characters
with very different goals, but all share
the same drive and enthusiasm to
push their equipment to the limit in
order to test their own capabilities.
With a real passion for the sport, they
may even enter some local or national
amateur competitions, safe with the
confidence and technical knowledge
to back them up, whatever the
conditions.
Professional: Production equipment
is now used regularly at the top flight
of competition, and with this in mind,
the final definition is fairly selfexplanatory.
It is attributed to
equipment that is believed to hold that
extra cutting-edge ingredient that will
make it devastating in the hands of
the professional sailor during
competition. Enough said!
Rider Weight
Rider weight is very much an
approximation as it greatly depends
on the rider’s sailing ability as well.
However, as a rough guide, these are
the boundaries we use:
Light 45-65kg
Medium 65-85kg
Heavy 85-105kg
Discipline
Wave: Ideal for use in a break, with
enough response and carving
potential to perform on a wave face.
Freestyle: Suitable for new-school
stunts, with loads of pop and a
controlled reverse slide.
Freemove: Easy and forgiving to sail
in a straight-line, a freemove hull also
has a lot of manoeuvre potential and
can tutor the intermediate/competent
sailor effortlessly through their first
planing transitions.
Freeride: With excellent straight-line
potential, the freeride hull likes to be
loaded and driven with a more
locked-in stance, and can reach a
respectable speed, remaining wellmannered
in difficult sea states.
95-105L BOARDTEST
The way to decide which board type is
best for you, is for you to ask yourself
a couple of key questions. First of all,
what is your ability and style of riding? This
will enable you to determine what type of
performance you are looking to get out of
the board. Are you an ambitious
intermediate looking for a stable and
comfortable platform on which to master the
initial planing techniques? Are you an
experienced sailor who is happiest blasting
around in a straight-line and hitting the odd
ramp; or are you a wave rider at heart,
looking for a large floaty board to enjoy the
lighter breeze, but are cautious of
wondering down the ‘pure freeride’ path?
These are just a handful of instances, of
which there are many more, but the great
thing is that there are plenty of board
styles available to match every rider
preference. By reading the reviews and
looking at the ‘Suitability Chart’ for each
board, you can determine exactly what
type of rider we believe the board is
appropriate for.
The second question to ask yourself is where
do you sail predominantly and what are your
aspirations? Are you looking for a board that
planes early and has the efficiency to handle
itself in a drag race in any environment? Do
you mainly windsurf on flat-water and have
aspirations to making inroads into newschool
freestyle; or are you a coastal sailor
that needs a board with the range and
manners to cope with severe chop? The six
boards under the spotlight this month
epitomize the blend of boards available on
the market in this category. You have the JP
that despite being a stunning freestyle
machine, has the versatility and ease to fulfil
a freemove/ freeride role. There’s then the
Vector – essentially an electric freeride board
with a sharp responsive nature that loves to
be loaded and driven off its fin, making bump
and jump sailing in coastal conditions a
dream. And then there are all-round boards
such as the Sumo from Angulo and the
Rocket from Tabou – real chameleon boards
that can put their hand to pretty much any
discipline, from light-wind wave riding,
through to freeride blasting. The choice is
yours, but remember there are several more
in store next month!
THE EXTENDED TEST TEAM
In addition to the established test team of Tris
Best, Mark Hosegood and Jim Collis, we
were joined in Egypt by several guest testers,
each offering feedback and a valuable insight
into the kit’s performance from their own
varied perspectives. Firstly there was Pete, a
veteran windsurfer having taken up the sport
during its pioneering days of the early
eighties. A very accomplished sailor, he is a
true speed fanatic at heart and rarely misses
a gybe at the end of each run. Committing
confidently into duck gybes towards the end
of the trip, he is self-confessed plug-and-play
sailor, rarely finding the time to windsurf in the
UK. Next up are Chris and Andy, both just
bridging the gap between competent and
advanced. Comfortable in the footstraps and
harness, they showed a impressive turn of
speed getting from A to B and by the end of
their stay were getting round most of their
carve gybes. Last but not least was Rachel, a
level three instructor having worked for the
last three summers out in Vassiliki. The first
women to participate on one of our tests, she
is also light at 55kg, providing feedback from
an altogether different perspective. A keen
freestyler capable of various intricate carving
manoeuvres such as upwind 360s and push
tacks, she is also at the stage of trying her
hand at some ‘new-school’ aerial trickery. Our
thanks to everyone involved for their support
and helpful feedback on the equipment.
NEXT MONTH
The second instalment of this 95-105L
board review will look at seven boards,
each with a definite leaning towards
freeride. That’s not to say they aren’t easy
to turn or inapplicable for new-school stunts
… far from it! The reason we have broken
the group into two is to help expose the
variety of board styles available in this
volume range, and to allow you to
determine which is most relevant for you.
Next month we will present the tests of the
following boards: AHD Fast Forward 106,
F2 Stoke 106, Fanatic Eagle 101, JP X-Cite
Ride 105, Mistral Screamer 105, Starboard
Carve 101 and the Tabou Rocket 105.
THANKS
The test in Egypt would not have been
possible without the help of a few people.
Thanks to Sportif for getting us to and from
Dahab safely with all the kit intact! Thanks
also to the Hilton in Dahab for putting us up
for the two weeks and Harry Nass for
putting up with our untidiness!
A big thank-you must go to Zero Gravity for
providing us with some excellent Amex
booms for the test. With an excellent arm
diameter, comfortable grip and large
extension range, they served us proud and
were a pleasure to use. Finally, thanks to
Simon Bassett of 2XS for supplying us with
Pro Sport sun cream so that we didn’t
frazzle in the sun!
best for you, is for you to ask yourself
a couple of key questions. First of all,
what is your ability and style of riding? This
will enable you to determine what type of
performance you are looking to get out of
the board. Are you an ambitious
intermediate looking for a stable and
comfortable platform on which to master the
initial planing techniques? Are you an
experienced sailor who is happiest blasting
around in a straight-line and hitting the odd
ramp; or are you a wave rider at heart,
looking for a large floaty board to enjoy the
lighter breeze, but are cautious of
wondering down the ‘pure freeride’ path?
These are just a handful of instances, of
which there are many more, but the great
thing is that there are plenty of board
styles available to match every rider
preference. By reading the reviews and
looking at the ‘Suitability Chart’ for each
board, you can determine exactly what
type of rider we believe the board is
appropriate for.
The second question to ask yourself is where
do you sail predominantly and what are your
aspirations? Are you looking for a board that
planes early and has the efficiency to handle
itself in a drag race in any environment? Do
you mainly windsurf on flat-water and have
aspirations to making inroads into newschool
freestyle; or are you a coastal sailor
that needs a board with the range and
manners to cope with severe chop? The six
boards under the spotlight this month
epitomize the blend of boards available on
the market in this category. You have the JP
that despite being a stunning freestyle
machine, has the versatility and ease to fulfil
a freemove/ freeride role. There’s then the
Vector – essentially an electric freeride board
with a sharp responsive nature that loves to
be loaded and driven off its fin, making bump
and jump sailing in coastal conditions a
dream. And then there are all-round boards
such as the Sumo from Angulo and the
Rocket from Tabou – real chameleon boards
that can put their hand to pretty much any
discipline, from light-wind wave riding,
through to freeride blasting. The choice is
yours, but remember there are several more
in store next month!
THE EXTENDED TEST TEAM
In addition to the established test team of Tris
Best, Mark Hosegood and Jim Collis, we
were joined in Egypt by several guest testers,
each offering feedback and a valuable insight
into the kit’s performance from their own
varied perspectives. Firstly there was Pete, a
veteran windsurfer having taken up the sport
during its pioneering days of the early
eighties. A very accomplished sailor, he is a
true speed fanatic at heart and rarely misses
a gybe at the end of each run. Committing
confidently into duck gybes towards the end
of the trip, he is self-confessed plug-and-play
sailor, rarely finding the time to windsurf in the
UK. Next up are Chris and Andy, both just
bridging the gap between competent and
advanced. Comfortable in the footstraps and
harness, they showed a impressive turn of
speed getting from A to B and by the end of
their stay were getting round most of their
carve gybes. Last but not least was Rachel, a
level three instructor having worked for the
last three summers out in Vassiliki. The first
women to participate on one of our tests, she
is also light at 55kg, providing feedback from
an altogether different perspective. A keen
freestyler capable of various intricate carving
manoeuvres such as upwind 360s and push
tacks, she is also at the stage of trying her
hand at some ‘new-school’ aerial trickery. Our
thanks to everyone involved for their support
and helpful feedback on the equipment.
NEXT MONTH
The second instalment of this 95-105L
board review will look at seven boards,
each with a definite leaning towards
freeride. That’s not to say they aren’t easy
to turn or inapplicable for new-school stunts
… far from it! The reason we have broken
the group into two is to help expose the
variety of board styles available in this
volume range, and to allow you to
determine which is most relevant for you.
Next month we will present the tests of the
following boards: AHD Fast Forward 106,
F2 Stoke 106, Fanatic Eagle 101, JP X-Cite
Ride 105, Mistral Screamer 105, Starboard
Carve 101 and the Tabou Rocket 105.
THANKS
The test in Egypt would not have been
possible without the help of a few people.
Thanks to Sportif for getting us to and from
Dahab safely with all the kit intact! Thanks
also to the Hilton in Dahab for putting us up
for the two weeks and Harry Nass for
putting up with our untidiness!
A big thank-you must go to Zero Gravity for
providing us with some excellent Amex
booms for the test. With an excellent arm
diameter, comfortable grip and large
extension range, they served us proud and
were a pleasure to use. Finally, thanks to
Simon Bassett of 2XS for supplying us with
Pro Sport sun cream so that we didn’t
frazzle in the sun!
perfect day for surfing
With technological advancements almost an everyday occurrence we can now
rely more so than ever before on the weather to tell us when and where the
pressure systems are going to intensify or dissipate.
In some instances it’s not the technology at fault, but our own! Lack of
knowledge with regards to metrological weather and dissevering accurate
information can cause a potentially disastrous trip. Understanding the weather
and waves will greatly improve your chances for a successful trip. We didn’t
know it yet, but we were about to experience first hand, the trials and tribulations of a very shaky trip.
Low-pressure systems adhere to known patterns
but are in a constant state of flux. The weather and
waves they produce cannot be reliably predicted
beyond three or four days. You have to be ready to
travel anywhere at the drop of a hat. The downside
to such spontaneous decision-making is the
immediate costs involved. Ticket prices soar, direct
flights are often oversold, girlfriends are pissed off
and photographers have already made
arrangements with other clients. Is it all really worth
it? You bet your little arse it is!
Based in Australia during certain months of the year
I have the entire Indian and Southern Oceans at my
fingertips. Spanning from the Tahitian Islands
through to Fiji in the east, to Indonesia in the north,
I have the luxury of monitoring the winds and swells
that are born in Antarctica and slowly grow as they
make their way north in the cold seas of the
Southern Ocean. Like a dog on heat, I wait
feverishly for the right moment, trying to find the
right bitch to ride!
Five hours by plane will get me to any one of these
tropical locations.
Jealous? Well, you should be!
The first spine-tingling moment came around the
beginning of May, with a huge low pressure moving
upward from Antarctica about to slam itself into
Balinese waters. Myself and my buddy ‘Dog’ were
debating whether or not we should go, as there
seemed to be a good size low pressure at home in
South Eastern Australia. We had made the decision
to stay at home and try to sail this solid right-hander
near my hometown. With all our knowledge of local
weather and vast amounts of information we still
made the wrong call. They say that two heads are
better than one, which I guess means that between
the both of us we barely passed for one! Indonesia
was apparently 15-18 foot for three days, with
strong trades. We ended up sailing 3 foot mush at
home. What a mistake! You see, the weather is such
a fickle thing. If you take her for granted or ignore
her too much, she’ll eventually turn around and slap
you in the face. Like all women, she needs
understanding and respect … well maybe not all
women. Lessons in that department seemed to be a
common occurrence for us too!
It wasn’t until mid-August that we saw another low
pressure developing, ripping up the waters of the
Southern Ocean. The size and magnitude of the low
was almost that of the previous low, which hit
Indonesia with such brute force that not one surfer
was seen in the line-up G-Land. The forecast for
Indonesia estimated that the wind was to be a
moderate trade direction with swell readings topping
out at 12-16 feet at twenty seconds. If this was our
reward for our continued patience with the weather,
then ‘she’ must have blessed us with wisdom and
understanding; or maybe ‘she’ was baiting us,
waiting to play another cruel and twisted joke. At any
rate, we had made the decision to go. Neither hell
nor high water was going to stop us now!
The early afternoon arrival into the airport meant
that we had just enough time to check out the
location upon which most of our research was
focused – Uluwatu. It’s a world-class surfing wave on
Bali, with numerous barrel sections and vertical walls
to throw huge cutbacks and airs. A basic description
of Uluwatu would be that it’s like a huge big ball
sack that faces about three hundred degrees of
ocean, and this combined with the myriad of bluffs,
coves and bays means there’s usually a swell/wind
combo. Pathways that look more like tunnels have
been etched through the cliff rock, eventually
weaving their way down to the shoreline.
We had heard stories of wind on the upper part of the
Uluwatu reef. Super glassy waves that break too fast
for surfers and peel down the reef, eventually
connecting up with the main break. It was time to
make these stories our own! As the coastline bends in
and out, soaring majestic temples stick out on the cliff
top faces. One such temple is the Uluwatu temple,
which perches high on a needle of rock at the
southwest extremity of Uluwatu. The temple is
considered as one of the region’s main temples that
every Indonesian will come to pray at during a temple
ceremony. As for the rest of the area, there are more
people living in this mountainous bluff region than
meets the eye, and during certain times of prayer or
festival, thousands seem to appear out of thin air.
Upon my first look at the Uluwatu break, I was
immediately worried about how the wind would
funnel down the sheer cliffs and remain constant as
it hit the waterline. The surf had not yet arrived and I
could not really make out where the outside reef
was. Photography was also going to be a major
problem. The cliff tops made it difficult to get the
correct angle, and there was no real channel for a
photographer and ski to sit. It wouldn’t have been a
problem for us to sit and take shots in the impact
zone, but to convince a photographer with $20,000
of camera equipment to was quiet another,
especially when he had a newly appointed
Indonesian driver behind the wheel. I knew my task
was going to be difficult and the next time I would
see Uluwatu would be from the water.
From that moment, things just went from bad to
worse. A high pressure had stalled the low’s
advances, and the swell that was meant to hit within
24 hours had now been delayed for two days. The
‘old girl’ had obviously wanted to teach us one last
lesson! Essentially, our three days of epic 10foot
plus had turned into only two days with ‘nice’
waves. Predicting the weather is much like playing a
game of golf: you never F-ing get it right!
Doubts that the swell would ever arrive were quickly
answered by a loud pounding on the outside reef at
around 11.30pm that night. Morning saw some of
the shoreline washed away, indicating that it was a
good size. Dog had taken the ski from the hotel and
was on his way to pick me up at another famous
surf break called Pedang, which is just about the
closest beach access to Uluwatu. With two
surfboards, one sailboard, two masts, two sails and
a boom, the ski was definitely overwhelmed with
equipment. We looked more like a Jacque
Cousteau expedition than a couple of surfers!
Rounding the point we could see that Uluwatu was
pumping. Nobody was out at the main break. It was
big albeit not super clean, but further up the reef it
was reeling off super-fast – I could see these glassy
barrels heading towards me. The current at Uluwatu
was so strong it was unbelievable. We tried to
anchor the windsurf equipment on the outside by
tying the anchor-line to the footstrap. With the
combination of the sets and current the entire
windsurf equipment would disappear underwater for
thirty seconds and then pop up again 50yards away
from where we were! I swear, at one stage I felt like
we were in the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber’. We tried
to tie the front of the ski to the anchor-line and
almost lost the entire vessel underwater!
Windsurfing equipment and surfboards floated
away; hats and sunscreen sank; and somehow a
knot at the front of the ski appeared, which even the
best Boy Scout would have had a problem undoing.
I have been up to ‘Jaws’ so many times and had no
problems. I guess it was some kind of Voodoo cure
that had been put on us by the weather Gods. It
seemed that the only solution was to take the
windsurf equipment to the beach and then tow surf
until the breeze started kicking in…
The morning tow session saw sizable sets rolling
through the upper part of the reef known as
‘Outside Corner’, which needs a low tide for it to
start barrelling. It was still high tide, so we just
dropped into a few bombs to familiarise ourselves
with the conditions while we waited for the tide to
drop. There was also a slight bump in the water,
which made the wave a little tricky to ride. Further
down the reef towards the main break, the wave hits
a spot called ‘Race Tracks’, which is basically the
mid-section of the reef. The wave gets really
smooth, fast and hollow. An 8foot set on the outside
seemed to grow as it hit Race Tracks, barrelling and
growing as it made its way along the jiggered reef. I
watched as Dog pulled into an 8footer that grew to
about 10foot plus. It was so hollow that it reminded
me of Teahupoo in Tahiti when I was there in 2000.
With no way out of the barrel, the poor bastard got
nailed!
With that Voodoo curse still hanging on our
shoulders, I then wipe out, hitting my head hard on
the reef. Blood was washing over my face and I
knew I was hurt. I asked Dog if he could take a
look. He replied, “No mate – it’s just a scratch!”
Now, when it comes to medical emergencies Dog is
without doubt the last person you need to be asking
advice from! A hole in your head the size of a
gunshot wound would simply be ‘a slight chafing of
the skin’. Naturally I took his advice with a pinch of
salt … and kept surfing.
Around 2.00pm the breeze started to ever-so-slightly
fill in on the outside line up. I decided to grab my
windsurfing gear and see if I could get into a few
cheeky waves. Venturing past Race Track was
almost unbearable. All I could see was barrel after
barrel, with these huge perfectly shaped walls
peeing towards me. If only there was enough wind it
would have been the best session of all time. The
huge cliffs that span the entire beach seemed to be
the obvious reason why the wind couldn’t fill in
here. Maybe on the perfect day you could score it,
but all the elements would have to be in perfect
harmony. Even the Outside Corner seemed to be
affected by the cliffs. Wind swirled around, and
glassy spots would appear out of nowhere.
rely more so than ever before on the weather to tell us when and where the
pressure systems are going to intensify or dissipate.
In some instances it’s not the technology at fault, but our own! Lack of
knowledge with regards to metrological weather and dissevering accurate
information can cause a potentially disastrous trip. Understanding the weather
and waves will greatly improve your chances for a successful trip. We didn’t
know it yet, but we were about to experience first hand, the trials and tribulations of a very shaky trip.
Low-pressure systems adhere to known patterns
but are in a constant state of flux. The weather and
waves they produce cannot be reliably predicted
beyond three or four days. You have to be ready to
travel anywhere at the drop of a hat. The downside
to such spontaneous decision-making is the
immediate costs involved. Ticket prices soar, direct
flights are often oversold, girlfriends are pissed off
and photographers have already made
arrangements with other clients. Is it all really worth
it? You bet your little arse it is!
Based in Australia during certain months of the year
I have the entire Indian and Southern Oceans at my
fingertips. Spanning from the Tahitian Islands
through to Fiji in the east, to Indonesia in the north,
I have the luxury of monitoring the winds and swells
that are born in Antarctica and slowly grow as they
make their way north in the cold seas of the
Southern Ocean. Like a dog on heat, I wait
feverishly for the right moment, trying to find the
right bitch to ride!
Five hours by plane will get me to any one of these
tropical locations.
Jealous? Well, you should be!
The first spine-tingling moment came around the
beginning of May, with a huge low pressure moving
upward from Antarctica about to slam itself into
Balinese waters. Myself and my buddy ‘Dog’ were
debating whether or not we should go, as there
seemed to be a good size low pressure at home in
South Eastern Australia. We had made the decision
to stay at home and try to sail this solid right-hander
near my hometown. With all our knowledge of local
weather and vast amounts of information we still
made the wrong call. They say that two heads are
better than one, which I guess means that between
the both of us we barely passed for one! Indonesia
was apparently 15-18 foot for three days, with
strong trades. We ended up sailing 3 foot mush at
home. What a mistake! You see, the weather is such
a fickle thing. If you take her for granted or ignore
her too much, she’ll eventually turn around and slap
you in the face. Like all women, she needs
understanding and respect … well maybe not all
women. Lessons in that department seemed to be a
common occurrence for us too!
It wasn’t until mid-August that we saw another low
pressure developing, ripping up the waters of the
Southern Ocean. The size and magnitude of the low
was almost that of the previous low, which hit
Indonesia with such brute force that not one surfer
was seen in the line-up G-Land. The forecast for
Indonesia estimated that the wind was to be a
moderate trade direction with swell readings topping
out at 12-16 feet at twenty seconds. If this was our
reward for our continued patience with the weather,
then ‘she’ must have blessed us with wisdom and
understanding; or maybe ‘she’ was baiting us,
waiting to play another cruel and twisted joke. At any
rate, we had made the decision to go. Neither hell
nor high water was going to stop us now!
The early afternoon arrival into the airport meant
that we had just enough time to check out the
location upon which most of our research was
focused – Uluwatu. It’s a world-class surfing wave on
Bali, with numerous barrel sections and vertical walls
to throw huge cutbacks and airs. A basic description
of Uluwatu would be that it’s like a huge big ball
sack that faces about three hundred degrees of
ocean, and this combined with the myriad of bluffs,
coves and bays means there’s usually a swell/wind
combo. Pathways that look more like tunnels have
been etched through the cliff rock, eventually
weaving their way down to the shoreline.
We had heard stories of wind on the upper part of the
Uluwatu reef. Super glassy waves that break too fast
for surfers and peel down the reef, eventually
connecting up with the main break. It was time to
make these stories our own! As the coastline bends in
and out, soaring majestic temples stick out on the cliff
top faces. One such temple is the Uluwatu temple,
which perches high on a needle of rock at the
southwest extremity of Uluwatu. The temple is
considered as one of the region’s main temples that
every Indonesian will come to pray at during a temple
ceremony. As for the rest of the area, there are more
people living in this mountainous bluff region than
meets the eye, and during certain times of prayer or
festival, thousands seem to appear out of thin air.
Upon my first look at the Uluwatu break, I was
immediately worried about how the wind would
funnel down the sheer cliffs and remain constant as
it hit the waterline. The surf had not yet arrived and I
could not really make out where the outside reef
was. Photography was also going to be a major
problem. The cliff tops made it difficult to get the
correct angle, and there was no real channel for a
photographer and ski to sit. It wouldn’t have been a
problem for us to sit and take shots in the impact
zone, but to convince a photographer with $20,000
of camera equipment to was quiet another,
especially when he had a newly appointed
Indonesian driver behind the wheel. I knew my task
was going to be difficult and the next time I would
see Uluwatu would be from the water.
From that moment, things just went from bad to
worse. A high pressure had stalled the low’s
advances, and the swell that was meant to hit within
24 hours had now been delayed for two days. The
‘old girl’ had obviously wanted to teach us one last
lesson! Essentially, our three days of epic 10foot
plus had turned into only two days with ‘nice’
waves. Predicting the weather is much like playing a
game of golf: you never F-ing get it right!
Doubts that the swell would ever arrive were quickly
answered by a loud pounding on the outside reef at
around 11.30pm that night. Morning saw some of
the shoreline washed away, indicating that it was a
good size. Dog had taken the ski from the hotel and
was on his way to pick me up at another famous
surf break called Pedang, which is just about the
closest beach access to Uluwatu. With two
surfboards, one sailboard, two masts, two sails and
a boom, the ski was definitely overwhelmed with
equipment. We looked more like a Jacque
Cousteau expedition than a couple of surfers!
Rounding the point we could see that Uluwatu was
pumping. Nobody was out at the main break. It was
big albeit not super clean, but further up the reef it
was reeling off super-fast – I could see these glassy
barrels heading towards me. The current at Uluwatu
was so strong it was unbelievable. We tried to
anchor the windsurf equipment on the outside by
tying the anchor-line to the footstrap. With the
combination of the sets and current the entire
windsurf equipment would disappear underwater for
thirty seconds and then pop up again 50yards away
from where we were! I swear, at one stage I felt like
we were in the movie ‘Dumb and Dumber’. We tried
to tie the front of the ski to the anchor-line and
almost lost the entire vessel underwater!
Windsurfing equipment and surfboards floated
away; hats and sunscreen sank; and somehow a
knot at the front of the ski appeared, which even the
best Boy Scout would have had a problem undoing.
I have been up to ‘Jaws’ so many times and had no
problems. I guess it was some kind of Voodoo cure
that had been put on us by the weather Gods. It
seemed that the only solution was to take the
windsurf equipment to the beach and then tow surf
until the breeze started kicking in…
The morning tow session saw sizable sets rolling
through the upper part of the reef known as
‘Outside Corner’, which needs a low tide for it to
start barrelling. It was still high tide, so we just
dropped into a few bombs to familiarise ourselves
with the conditions while we waited for the tide to
drop. There was also a slight bump in the water,
which made the wave a little tricky to ride. Further
down the reef towards the main break, the wave hits
a spot called ‘Race Tracks’, which is basically the
mid-section of the reef. The wave gets really
smooth, fast and hollow. An 8foot set on the outside
seemed to grow as it hit Race Tracks, barrelling and
growing as it made its way along the jiggered reef. I
watched as Dog pulled into an 8footer that grew to
about 10foot plus. It was so hollow that it reminded
me of Teahupoo in Tahiti when I was there in 2000.
With no way out of the barrel, the poor bastard got
nailed!
With that Voodoo curse still hanging on our
shoulders, I then wipe out, hitting my head hard on
the reef. Blood was washing over my face and I
knew I was hurt. I asked Dog if he could take a
look. He replied, “No mate – it’s just a scratch!”
Now, when it comes to medical emergencies Dog is
without doubt the last person you need to be asking
advice from! A hole in your head the size of a
gunshot wound would simply be ‘a slight chafing of
the skin’. Naturally I took his advice with a pinch of
salt … and kept surfing.
Around 2.00pm the breeze started to ever-so-slightly
fill in on the outside line up. I decided to grab my
windsurfing gear and see if I could get into a few
cheeky waves. Venturing past Race Track was
almost unbearable. All I could see was barrel after
barrel, with these huge perfectly shaped walls
peeing towards me. If only there was enough wind it
would have been the best session of all time. The
huge cliffs that span the entire beach seemed to be
the obvious reason why the wind couldn’t fill in
here. Maybe on the perfect day you could score it,
but all the elements would have to be in perfect
harmony. Even the Outside Corner seemed to be
affected by the cliffs. Wind swirled around, and
glassy spots would appear out of nowhere.
1 Mayıs 2009 Cuma
freestyle equipment
What kind of equipment do the top freestyle guys use during
practice and in World Cup competitions? How do they tune
their equipment? What kind of thoughts do they have regarding
tuning and the development of new equipment? How much are
they involved in this development? Is the kit they use relevant
to competent sailors who want to start learning some moves?
In windy El Yaque we spoke to Ricardo
Campello, current freestyle world champion,
about his freestyle set up.
How does your kit sail?
What all the top freestyle guys want is to have fun,
and have easy kit to practice on. This is how the kit
sails, and I think this is the same as normal sailors
want their kit to sail.
In El Yaque you always use a particular board
and sail. Is that your favourite combination?
No, you might think that, but it’s not so. The wind
here in El Yaque is perfect most of the time for my
Neil Pryde Expression custom 5.0 and the JP
Freestyle 100, so that’s what I use. At night I will
leave that equipment at the hire center and it will be
there until the next session.
And your JP Freestyle 100 is better then all the
custom-made shapes that are available to you?
Yes, in as far as that the production board’s shape
is perfect for me, but the weight isn’t close enough
to the prototype I use.
I had the pleasure to use your equipment and I
have to say it, it was awesome! The individual rig
and board components are perfectly adjusted
and balanced with each other. It was noticeable
that in low to middle winds range (for a 5.0m sail)
you have to shift to the front part of the board in
order to get the best board tuning. And now I see
you with a 5.0 in winds below 12knots.
That’s correct. Sometimes the winds look stronger
than they really are, so I take out the 5.0m, which is a
bit too small, instead of a larger sail. I don’t have any
stickers on the 5.2. If I were sailing around and my
sponsors were to see that I would be in big trouble!
Underpowered sailing is pretty impressive on
your freestyle board; it seems to glide through
lulls really well. The boom feels really high
though; did you copy that from your team
colleague Jason Polakow?
You’d think that, but what Jason needs for riding the
waves doesn’t have anything to do with freestyle
moves. I just like this height because it’s more
comfortable even when just windsurfing in straight
lines. I windsurf with 28” harness lines. I think a
higher boom gives more control when doing the
freestyle moves and that’s really it.
And when do you use your JP custom-made
boards? After all, they seem to get a bit dusty
just lying around the center not getting used!
I use the board prototypes just before and during
the world cup competitions. I need these things for
the contests themselves! I don’t want to break them
practicing moves on them.
What’s the difference between the production
boards and your large custom-made board?
The production 100L board is more stable (Ricardo
falls off the chair as it breaks). That is, I can practice
new moves without constantly having to concentrate
on the landing. The board holds up all my moves,
unlike this chair. But seriously, I haven’t broken a
standard board in ages even though I am on the
water all day, every day, giving it 100%. When I am
out there, then I always push it and go the limit.
And in any case, the production board gives me
what I expect from a board. It basically is “my
shape” and compared to the prototypes it slides
even a bit better. The proto with a lower weight has
better glide characteristics and in contests I can do
my moves even faster and higher. Or, to describe it
differently, I can do the moves more explosively.
Your 5.0m custom Expression sail seems to be
the only one you ever use here at El Yaque.
It’s my favorite sail size, because it’s not too big and
not too small and because this size often feels so
powerful. And, it’s light in weight and good in every
aspect for maneuvers. The only reason that it’s not
in series is that it is not part of the Expression line. I
use the entire sail line from 6.9m down to 4.2m, with
custom Expressions down to 3.3m, the really small
sizes just get used in Gran Canaria and the really
big Expressions perhaps in Bonaire.
I haven’t used other sails from Neil Pryde because
the Expressions are perfect for me, even when
wavesailing. I have a 5.7 made of super light carbon
that might come into series next year. I use the sail
sizes 6.1/6.5/6.9 only in World Cup competition, and
the 5.0 here at El Yaque when the winds are F4-6.
And in most cases I just keep surfing even when the
wind eases up.
How many boards do you hide behind the
surfstation?
Well, first of all the production JP 100 and 91
freestyle boards, and also some custom freestyle
boards, 105, 95, 85 and, uh, I have to think…three,
no four JP Custom Waveboards. I’ve got two for
sideshore conditions and two for side-on-shore
conditions. I use the larger board with 5.3 and
smaller; the smaller board with a 5.0 and smaller.
Once a year I get a new JP production boards and
twice a year I get new custom boards. I can say that
I have a lot of equipment, but in order to have fun
and practice here at El Yaque, I only need one
board and two sails.
The extra boards are just to make sure I have
exactly the right kit for competitions.
Fins?
I only use two fins when freestyling! I’m using MFC
ones as you can see. Not long ago I sawed off
some freestyle fins in order to get better settings. I
really should look after my fins more though.
The former world champion Björn Dunkerbeck
had huge teams that developed new material for
him. And with two titles now you don’t think it
necessary to test new material?
Well, a little bit at least. The experiences with
custom sails and boards flow into the evaluations
for the production equipment.
Speaking of awesome freestyle windsurfing, what
are your favorite new moves?
Hey, wow, just yesterday I landed my first switchstance-
shaka! I can do this one now windsurfing out
against the choppy water. I practiced this move with
Gollito a few times further out.
One last question concerning your “equipment”:
Rumours have it that you have “big wheels” on
your pick-up, because your buddy Cheo had
some before you.
No way, I got those wheels because I think they are
fresh and not because Cheo has some. I choose
my own equipment, not copy others!
practice and in World Cup competitions? How do they tune
their equipment? What kind of thoughts do they have regarding
tuning and the development of new equipment? How much are
they involved in this development? Is the kit they use relevant
to competent sailors who want to start learning some moves?
In windy El Yaque we spoke to Ricardo
Campello, current freestyle world champion,
about his freestyle set up.
How does your kit sail?
What all the top freestyle guys want is to have fun,
and have easy kit to practice on. This is how the kit
sails, and I think this is the same as normal sailors
want their kit to sail.
In El Yaque you always use a particular board
and sail. Is that your favourite combination?
No, you might think that, but it’s not so. The wind
here in El Yaque is perfect most of the time for my
Neil Pryde Expression custom 5.0 and the JP
Freestyle 100, so that’s what I use. At night I will
leave that equipment at the hire center and it will be
there until the next session.
And your JP Freestyle 100 is better then all the
custom-made shapes that are available to you?
Yes, in as far as that the production board’s shape
is perfect for me, but the weight isn’t close enough
to the prototype I use.
I had the pleasure to use your equipment and I
have to say it, it was awesome! The individual rig
and board components are perfectly adjusted
and balanced with each other. It was noticeable
that in low to middle winds range (for a 5.0m sail)
you have to shift to the front part of the board in
order to get the best board tuning. And now I see
you with a 5.0 in winds below 12knots.
That’s correct. Sometimes the winds look stronger
than they really are, so I take out the 5.0m, which is a
bit too small, instead of a larger sail. I don’t have any
stickers on the 5.2. If I were sailing around and my
sponsors were to see that I would be in big trouble!
Underpowered sailing is pretty impressive on
your freestyle board; it seems to glide through
lulls really well. The boom feels really high
though; did you copy that from your team
colleague Jason Polakow?
You’d think that, but what Jason needs for riding the
waves doesn’t have anything to do with freestyle
moves. I just like this height because it’s more
comfortable even when just windsurfing in straight
lines. I windsurf with 28” harness lines. I think a
higher boom gives more control when doing the
freestyle moves and that’s really it.
And when do you use your JP custom-made
boards? After all, they seem to get a bit dusty
just lying around the center not getting used!
I use the board prototypes just before and during
the world cup competitions. I need these things for
the contests themselves! I don’t want to break them
practicing moves on them.
What’s the difference between the production
boards and your large custom-made board?
The production 100L board is more stable (Ricardo
falls off the chair as it breaks). That is, I can practice
new moves without constantly having to concentrate
on the landing. The board holds up all my moves,
unlike this chair. But seriously, I haven’t broken a
standard board in ages even though I am on the
water all day, every day, giving it 100%. When I am
out there, then I always push it and go the limit.
And in any case, the production board gives me
what I expect from a board. It basically is “my
shape” and compared to the prototypes it slides
even a bit better. The proto with a lower weight has
better glide characteristics and in contests I can do
my moves even faster and higher. Or, to describe it
differently, I can do the moves more explosively.
Your 5.0m custom Expression sail seems to be
the only one you ever use here at El Yaque.
It’s my favorite sail size, because it’s not too big and
not too small and because this size often feels so
powerful. And, it’s light in weight and good in every
aspect for maneuvers. The only reason that it’s not
in series is that it is not part of the Expression line. I
use the entire sail line from 6.9m down to 4.2m, with
custom Expressions down to 3.3m, the really small
sizes just get used in Gran Canaria and the really
big Expressions perhaps in Bonaire.
I haven’t used other sails from Neil Pryde because
the Expressions are perfect for me, even when
wavesailing. I have a 5.7 made of super light carbon
that might come into series next year. I use the sail
sizes 6.1/6.5/6.9 only in World Cup competition, and
the 5.0 here at El Yaque when the winds are F4-6.
And in most cases I just keep surfing even when the
wind eases up.
How many boards do you hide behind the
surfstation?
Well, first of all the production JP 100 and 91
freestyle boards, and also some custom freestyle
boards, 105, 95, 85 and, uh, I have to think…three,
no four JP Custom Waveboards. I’ve got two for
sideshore conditions and two for side-on-shore
conditions. I use the larger board with 5.3 and
smaller; the smaller board with a 5.0 and smaller.
Once a year I get a new JP production boards and
twice a year I get new custom boards. I can say that
I have a lot of equipment, but in order to have fun
and practice here at El Yaque, I only need one
board and two sails.
The extra boards are just to make sure I have
exactly the right kit for competitions.
Fins?
I only use two fins when freestyling! I’m using MFC
ones as you can see. Not long ago I sawed off
some freestyle fins in order to get better settings. I
really should look after my fins more though.
The former world champion Björn Dunkerbeck
had huge teams that developed new material for
him. And with two titles now you don’t think it
necessary to test new material?
Well, a little bit at least. The experiences with
custom sails and boards flow into the evaluations
for the production equipment.
Speaking of awesome freestyle windsurfing, what
are your favorite new moves?
Hey, wow, just yesterday I landed my first switchstance-
shaka! I can do this one now windsurfing out
against the choppy water. I practiced this move with
Gollito a few times further out.
One last question concerning your “equipment”:
Rumours have it that you have “big wheels” on
your pick-up, because your buddy Cheo had
some before you.
No way, I got those wheels because I think they are
fresh and not because Cheo has some. I choose
my own equipment, not copy others!
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