If you were reborn in a new life, would you rather be alive in the past or future?

Probably in the past because I am always hearing “it was better before” from old windsurfers - so just to check if  it’s true! 

Would you rather be free or be totally safe?

Difficult question … But I choose to be free! I prefer to live the life I want rather than be safe and have to stay home all my life. 

Would you rather Have free Wi-Fi wherever you go or have free coffee where/whenever you want?

Free Wifi, I don’t like coffee … 

Would you rather lose the ability to read or lose the ability to speak?

I prefer to lose the ability to speak. You always find a way to communicate with each other, but if you can’t read you can’t be independent.

Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?

With all travel we do no hesitation to choose unlimited first class tickets.

Would you rather be forced to dance every time you heard music or be forced to sing along to any song you heard? 

Dance, I think I am really not a good singer, but not sure whether I’m a good dancer either…

Would you rather travel the world for a year on a shoestring budget or stay in only one country for a year but live in luxury?  

I am already travelling the world with a short budget, so let’s try living in a luxury for one year! 

Would you rather have a horrible job, but be able to retire comfortably in 10 years or have your dream job, but have to work until the day you die? 

No hesitation, have my dream job but work until the  day I die! I can’t imagine doing a job I don’t like!

Would you rather be able to land every move in the world right now and never crash again or still be able to still learn new moves, but crash 10 times more frequently than it usually takes you to land a new move?

The feeling to do a new thing is just amazing, so I prefer learning new moves even if I crash! 

Thanks, Delphine.

Ricardo Campello: “Crashes, big waves at La Perouse, jumps , wild animals, GoPro shots and the best, my new 2020 Naish Equipment!

Stay home and enjoy 3 minutes of windsurfing action! If you are bored at home and you love windsurfing you will like this video , fortunately in Hawaii we are still allowed to go to the water with social distancing.

Watch it, love it, hate it and most importantly enjoy it. if you do like it please share it so your friends can enjoy it too and make sure you subscribe to my channel!

Remember keep calm and stay positive! Aloha!

You can Ricardo Campello's 'Quarantine' @ https://youtu.be/2-FhHD3yrhg

Michael Rene Friedl Morales, take us back to the memory of your very first windsurf experience.  

Where were you?

It was at Bahia Forma, a flat water beach in Gran Canaria, near pozo.

When was it? 

A few years ago, I don't remember it well, but maybe when I was 7 years old, around 2009.

Who were you with?

My father was teaching me the basics about windsurfing.

What do you remember from that very first ‘session’? 

It was horrible because I remember about being alone in the water and I didn’t know how to make a gybe, so I started crying jajajaja, and suddenly I saw my father swimming towards me and he got on the board and took me to the beach again, on the way back to the beach I was sitting on the nose of the board and smiling.

Who was your local hero? And why? 

My father, because he taught me how to surf and when I started windsurfing at Pozo he gave me some tips.

What gear were you using? 

I don't remember which gear I used when I tried it when I was 7, I think it was a NeilPryde sail with a René Egli sticker - I remember this because I’ve seen this sail quite a lot at my father's office, and a very big and old board.

Describe your feeling when you were planing for the first time...

I was so excited because I was used to sailing slowly and suddenly the wind picked up and I started planing.

How did you realise you were becoming a professional windsurfer?

I started competing in the pro category last year (2019), before that I used to compete only in the Youth category, and I liked that, I don't feel like a professional windsurfer, I feel like someone who loves windsurfing and shares this passion with friends, family and when competing I like to see the progression of others and get motivated about improving myself!

Give a tip for the next generation?

My tip for the next generation is to enjoy this sport as much as possible and when you go out to the water give your best, don't get depressed if you don't get the place you wanted in a competition, remember, every defeat is a chance to learn.

Thanks, Mike.

1. Why are you so passionated about windsurfing?
    
Windsurfing makes me feel alive. I just have an addiction to find perfection in windsurf conditions and I love that whole hunt for waves, and when it everything finally comes together, it feels amazing to go on the water! 

2. What quality do you like most in other people?
    
Mostly honesty, but also the ability to be grounded. 

3. What annoys or frustrates you the most?    

When people are not honest. And of course when there are no windsurf conditions for a long period. 

4. What do you most like in yourself?    
    
I always have the best view. I try to be an honest person and I try to say my true opinion. 

5. What do you dislike in yourself?    

My broken feet. It effects my whole body and I have to keep myself going everyday or else I’m in pain. 

6. What has been your best moment on tour?    

Moments where I manage to sail in competition like I do when I free sail. That’s those times when everything came together in a heat, and I did a good job in heats. 

7. What has been your worst moment on tour?
    
When I broke my foot during the PWA in Klitmøller four years ago. That messed up my whole my body for a long time. 

8. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when your career started?    

Be nice to your body! When you break something, give it time to heal before going back on the water again. It messes up so much not listening to your body. Also be more grounded in your mind. 

9. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
    
“Breath Mother Fucker” - by Wim Hof 

10. What would be your perfect day?
    
To go windsurfing with perfect down-the-line conditions, in sunshine and a little nap in the car, and go for second session again in the afternoon with my girlfriend on the water. Did that already many times! Good life.. 

11. Do you have any superstitions?
    
No.. 

12. Which living person do you most admire?
    
There are of course a few! But in the windsurfing world I’ll mention a few. Marcílio Browne, Leon Jamaer, Kauli Seadi, Marc Paré, Julian Salmonn.. Well the list is long! 
.
13. What is your greatest fear? 
    
To die and not having lived the life I wanted. 

14. What is your most treasured possession?
    
My car

15. If you weren’t a professional windsurfer, what would you like to be?
    
I love working with wood and designing furnitures

16. Where is the best place you’ve been?

Those days where my favourite spots in Denmark and Holland work, that’s the best place to be. 

17. Where would you most like to go to that you haven’t been to yet?
    
Chile 

18. Who would you most like to have as a dinner guest, dead or alive?
    
Wim Hof, h’es the man, and he knows how to heal the body, would love to have a chat with him about that!

19. First App you open in the morning?
    
Facebook/Windguru

20. A phrase you live by?
    
Where there is a will there is a way

Thanks, Martin!

Hi Niklas, can you take us back to the memory of your very first windsurf experience - Where were you? 

I was at the WestWind Surfshop in Bork Havn in Ringkøbing Fjord, opposite where the Hvide Sande PWA World Cup has been held. 

When was it? 

2006, I was 5.

Who were with you? 

I was with some friends of my parents, who ran and still run the surf shop. 

What do you remember from that very first ‘session’? 

I struggled to carry the 1.0m2 sail to the beach, probably weeped a bit also, and my dad told me I had to man up, or I could just take my wetsuit off and get back in the car, haha. Good decision to carry the sail the rest of the way.

Who was your local hero? And why? 

My first windsurf instructor, Anders. He told me he had broken several masts, and I was impressed and thought "Wow, I also want to sail so fast my mast breaks." 

What gear were you using? 

JP Young Gun 114 and 2.0 sail. 

Describe your feeling when you were planing for the first time?

Ecstatic, but scared like hell.

How did you realise you were becoming a professional windsurfer? 

I don’t consider myself a professional yet, but the first time I realised I had reached a very good level, was at my first World Cup in 2018, when I sailed against people I had had on posters in my room as a child. 

Give a tip for the next generation! 

Follow your dreams, with the right amount of commitment everything is possible.

Thanks, Niklas!

Several weeks prior to that though, Ben Proffitt (Simmer / Simmer Sails) put together a preview in anticipation for the start of the season and it’s well worth a watch with a lot of interesting opinions from many of the world’s top racers… You can see that preview @ youtu.be/YdD7gP9md7k

WindsurfingTV: “The 2020 PWA Slalom Preview is here…

OK, okay… with all this Corona Virus, things have changed a bit but we thought we’d release it anyway!!

The made topic is obviously ‘Foil vs Fin’ and in this preview, a lot of top riders give us their opinion.

Although we are already hearing in Tarifa training last week the 7.8 on the Foil in Gusty conditions is now competitive… let’s see!

Hope you enjoy it.. stay safe and more videos on the way."

Martin ten Hoeve: “On these corona days I'm looking back on some pretty epic sessions from February.. It's been a windy one! That spot in Denmark has been funky last year due to extreme sandblasting messing up the banks, but finally it came together again like good old times! Here is some footage of a few different days…

Thanks Sara for filming!
Music from Kenzo
FLIKKAboards Ka.sail Acernum
Stay healthy!”

Take us back to the memory of your very first windsurf experience…

Man... I was 4 or 5 years old, I don’t remember!!

Where were you?

Ile de Ré, the island where I live.

When was it? 

I was 5 years old.

Who were you with?

With my dad.

What do you remember from that very first session? 

I don’t remember, at this time windsurfing wasn’t like it is today. There was no gear for kids, even the adults had problems to lift up the sail out of the water. It was the beginning of the beginning! My dad made me a little sail that I still have. He cut the very top out of the triangle sail, which was the standard sail back in the days and made me a tiny sail.

Who was your local hero?

At this age only your dad is your hero!

What gear were you using? 

A self-made sail by my dad, the top of a triangle sail. 

Describe your feeling when you were planing for the first time?

I don’t remember my first planing because when I was starting windsurfing, planing didn’t exist!! It came slowly with the evolution of the gear, so it was no first planing.

How did you realise you were becoming a professional windsurfer?

I never realised, I started to follow the Olympic Class and on the side I was doing the funboard class. I started doing a few events on the tour in 1992, like Almanarre, Aruba, The Netherlands and Sylt.

Give a tip for the next generation!

Spend hours on the water, but don’t forget to study!

Thanks, Antoine.

Like most winters, Stillrich travelled a place he loves… Cape Town - where he teamed up with fellow Simmer teammate Markus Rydberg (Simmer / Simmer Sails) to shoot a brilliant short documentary, which contains an explain blend of trademark jumping, wave riding and exclusive interview footage with Alessio.

You can see the aptly named ‘Alessio’ @ vimeo.com/397032009

With most of the world temporarily on lockdown that has given Rutkowski a chance to cast his mind back to Denmark and he’s just released an excellent special edition of #windsurflife which documents his emotions on the journey to that maiden podium.

Maciek Rutkowski: ”The back end of last year was amazing for me. After a few years of competing full time on the PWA World Tour I’ve come really close many times to get some great results. But, there was always a ‘but’. A little detail here, a big meltdown there, a piece of trash in Korea, whatever it was there was always something in the way, even if at times I felt like I had the skill to compete with the best. That didn’t change but I managed to work out the ‘buts’ and finally get some strong results in the bag in 2019. The cherry on top of that cake? PWA Denmark. But as you will see in my new video, it was still a hell of a rollercoaster with a ton of stress and big emotions. But i guess that’s what I live for, that thrill of competing and no matter the result it always feels good to battle the best in the world. Hope you enjoy the video and hope everybody stays safe in this uncertain time!”

You can see Maciek Rutkowski’s journey to his first podium in Denmark @ youtu.be/6AOtp3dmHu4

You can see Adam Lewis catching up with the Fanatic and Duotone team @ youtu.be/PqvWt9MAcuU

Lucas Meldrum: “Join me & Miguel Chapuis on another day in Cape Town but this time we go down south!! 
Scored a great day with wave riding action at Scarborough and mega jumping at Witsands + everything in between.

Road trip 1:30
Wave riding 2:30
Jumping 6:10
Monkeys 8:50

If you like this sort of style please let me know and we'll do some more!!

Subscribe and stay tuned for the next videos!”

You can see Lucas Meldrum’s and Miguel Chapuis’ down day South @ youtu.be/7hbZ-X5Lo0w

From the look of Campello’s latest video he’s sailing better than ever with huge turns, 360s and air takas all looking seemingly effortless, while his jumping is second to none (as usual).

You can see Ricardo Campello’s latest edit here.

1. Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?

Windsurfing is the most addictive thing in the world for me. My passion for it gets bigger and bigger every day because every single day is different, with different incredible feelings and with unique experiences. It allows me to disconnect from all my  problems and I get out of the water with a big smile on my face. It's kind of a meditation for me.

2. What quality do you like most in other people?


The quality that I value the most in people is sincerity.

3. What annoys or frustrates you the most?

What frustrates me the most in life is not being able to do something. In daily life I always strive to learn how to do everything, no task is insignificant. In windsurfing, what frustrates me the most is not being able to correct a manoeuvre and crash it over and over again.

4. What do you most like in yourself?

What I like most in myself as a person is my simplicity. In sports, my perseverance.

5. What do you dislike in yourself?

I overthink things too much: I try to reach perfection without hurting anybody.

6. What has been your best moment on tour?

Every single moment on tour is amazing. But the most special moment was when I finished second in an expression session in Pozo, and Duncan dedicated some words to me.  

7. What has been your worst moment on tour?

My worst moment on tour was last year. Before the first stop of the 2019 tour I was feeling better than ever. But three weeks before the Pozo event I got injured and I couldn’t compete 100%. I felt utterly impotent.

8. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when your career started?

I would have started earlier and I should have had the help of my father-in-law since the beginning. Every professional windsurfer needs a trainer.  

9. What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Believe in yourself

10. What would be your perfect day?

The one that combines having a great time with the family, friends and a perfect windsurf session
 
11. Do you have any superstitions?

No. I’m not superstitious

12. Which living person do you most admire?

My dad. 

13. What is your greatest fear? 


My greatest fear is that someday I won't be able to windsurf.

14. What is your most treasured possession?

My family.

15. If you weren’t a professional windsurfer, what would you like to be?

I would like to help people to learn and improve their skills. I would like to be a trainer, hahah exactly what I am!!

16. Where is the best place you’ve been?

Maui. I love it. 

17. Where would you most like to go to that you haven’t been to yet?

Chile, I have wanted to go since 2016 but I haven't found the right moment…

18. Who would you most like to have as a dinner guest, dead or alive?

My family, especially with my Mum. 

19. First App you open in the morning?

Windy. hahaha

20. A phrase you live by?

Enjoy every single moment. 

Thanks, Pons! 

If you are in Pozo and want to take your sailing to the next level you can get in touch with Pons to be your coach - just visit http://www.ponstraining.com/ and send him a message. You can also see numerous testimonials, which vouch for Pons as not only a world class sailor, but also a world class coach.

You can see Pons’ latest video @ https://vimeo.com/397383179

This winter has been an extremely windy one in Europe and Caers scored a super breezy session on 3.6 in the pool… the action is ridiculous with huge power moves showing why he is the current world champion.

You can see Yentel Caers’ latest explosive clip here.

Marcilio Browne (Goya Windsurfing): “For me there’s two ways to do the pushloop… For the traditional one you want the same kind of ramp as for a backloop, so a very vertical ramp… then you jump off the ramp, but I think it’s important to know that you don’t have to rush the rotation. Instead you need to try and feel that you are at the highest point of your jump and then just look back as though you are trying to look at the top of your mast. As with everything in windsurfing your body follows where you head goes, so then you’ll end up on top of your sail… when you get to this point it’s going to feel like you are going to land on your sail, but it’s fine, you just need to push on your backhand so that the wind hits from under you and helps you to complete the rotation. To avoid flat landings, once you are back upright sheet in slightly to land softly. 

The other variation is the tweaked pushloop, which requires a completely different technique… For the tweaked pushloop I feel like you still want a vertical ramp, but you setup by going a little bit more downwind. Once you are in the air I’d say that you want to give it a bit more time than the traditional before starting to rotate. You also don’t throw your head back like the traditional one… instead you need to throw your sail almost as if you are going for a goiter or ponch. At this point you just need to remember to keep your back leg straight - that’s what allows you to get the tweak. From there you really just need to push on your backhand to come back upright. If you feel out of control you can just let go with the backhand.”

Adam Lewis (Fanatic / Duotone)

“First of all the best conditions to learn to pushloop in are when you are really powered up and on as small a sail as possible because this makes the whole rotation really easy. One of the most important things is choosing the right ramp, so you are looking for a ramp that is like a backloop ramp, but not quite as steep, this helps you to keep some forward momentum as you come round to finish the move. When you jump you want to throw your head right back so that you are looking at the mast tip. As you did this you need to pull you front arm in and push out with your backhand. To try and make the rotation a bit easier try and tuck in your with legs to make yourself more compact.”

John Skye (RRD / RRD Sails)

“The number one thing is to make sure you have a lot of speed and power. You definitely don’t want to be underpowered for pushloops. When you take off throw your rig slightly more into the wind than a backloop. One of the key things for me is really pulling your front hand in as you go through the wind. As you come round, having your front hand bent then allows you to straighten it to stop the rotation.”

Jamie Hancock (Tabou / GA Sails)

“You don't need a massive ramp for the pushloop, but you do need one that’s steep to send you straight upwards. As you come into the wind you really have to pull in your front hand and sheet out the back slightly, while trying to focus on getting your body above your equipment as you reach the apex of the jump. The more pulled in your have your front hand the more control you have to stop the rotation by extending it once you have rotated. It’s all about finding the right balance and once you have that you can keep the control through the entire pushloop. 

Kenneth Danielsen (Flikka / Simmer)

“My tip for learning the pushloop is to find a steep wave to take off of. As soon as you leave the wave, sheet out with your backhand as hard as you can, and at the same time throw your head back. This will start the rotation of the pushloop. When you are fully rotated spot the landing by looking under your back arm. Try to land on the tail of the board for a soft landing.”

If you can already pushloop and fancy trying your hand at tweaking them try these tips:

Leon Jamaer (JP / NeilPryde)

“I think it is important to not think of it as a pushloop! You rather take off like you are going for a backloop. When you initiate the rotation you have to separate the movements of your upper and lower body from each other. Your upper body (head, shoulder, arms) starts the rotation while you lower body (hips and legs) remain in the old position for a while. Thats pretty much it!”

Alessio Stillrich (Simmer / Simmer Sails)

“To help trying to learn tweaked pushloops try and throw the mast to your back ankle.”

Good luck with your pushloop journey.

Valentin Böckler (Starboard / GUNSAILS / Maui Ultra Fins) was on hand to capture the action and has released a nice new edit of Voget’s final Cape Town session for 2020.

You can see Klaas Voget’s early morning mission here.

Photo credit: Maleen Hoekstra 

Antoine Albert: “Here is another dedicated waveriding short clip in New-Caledonia, but this time not in Ténia but in another spot in front of Nouméa, with a wave more offshore and hollow and with a sharper reef.
Filmed by Gill CHABAUD / EyeFlyPacific
Music: Somebody Got Murdered performed by The Clash”

You can see Antoine Albert’s latest video @ vimeo.com/394109835

Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?

Windsurfing is just so awesome!!! I’m just completely addicted to it. Windsurfing gives you a unique feeling and the best thing about it is that you can’t reach a maximum level, you can always keep learning, that’s why I think I love it so much. The feeling of learning a new trick or doing a sick and different kind of turn, is just the most rewarding and indescribable feeling ever.

What quality do you like most in other people?

I guess just being nice people overall. Someone that you can have a good laugh with, talk about anything and someone that’s going to help you if needed.

What annoys or frustrates you the most?

Probably when I crash or do a bad double hahaha.

What do you most like in yourself?

When I want something, I go for it with everything I have. I’m quite persistent.

What do you dislike in yourself?

I tend to overthink stuff sometimes. 

What has been your best moment on tour?

I had a few good moments on tour, but probably the best one was getting 6th place in Pozo this year.

What has been your worst moment on tour?

Probably one of those dead on-shore Sylt heats that you get kicked out not even being able to perform a bit at your level.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given yourself when your career started?

Enjoy what you are doing and sail as much as you can, the rest lays in the small things you can train outside the water. 

What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Just go for it! hahaha

What would be your perfect day?

A day windsurfing with my friends in great conditions, a beer with them in the evening to celebrate the session, a good dinner afterwards and going to the cinema to finish off the day!

Do you have any superstitions?

I have quite a few actually! But it’s not something I like to talk about hahaha.

Which living person do you most admire?

My dad!!!

What is your greatest fear?

Not sure about my greatest fear, but as a competitive person losing might be one of them.

What is your most treasured possession?

My windsurfing gear! I would say especially my first 2 custom boards I made a couple years ago.

If you weren’t a professional windsurfer, what would you like to be?

I like surfing and mountain biking a lot, so either one of them!

Where is the best place you’ve been?

Chile, no doubt about it!

Where would you most like to go to that you haven’t been to yet?

Either Cabo Verde or Skeleton Bay, both places look so epic!

Who would you most like to have as a dinner guest, dead or alive?

My family!

First App you open in the morning?

Instagram

A phrase you live by?

Do what you love, love what you do.

Thanks, Marc!

You can stay up to date with all of Marc Paré’s latest news and adventures via his Social Media Channels:

Facebook: @marcparericoe334
Instagram: @marcpare334

The 20-year-old excels in the cross onshore conditions - powering through perfectly executed front and backside 360s, radical goiters and frontside airs as well as showing off a nice variety of turns.

You can see Loïck Lesauvages 'Unleashed Mediterranean ' @ https://youtu.be/9DzMqcZ5Atg

Victor Fernandez: “I had an amazing trip to Gran Canaria with my team mates Marc Paré Rico - E·334 & Adam Lewis . Thanks Tom Deburchgrave for the great video.

I am excited about the new season, thank you so much for the support:
Fanatic Windsurf International, Duotone Windsurfing International, ION, Equipo, Movistar, Turismo El Ejido - Costa de Almería, SWOX Surf Protection, Nova Organic Energy, MFC Hawaii.”

You can see Offseason here.

How did Love The Sea start? 

Love the Sea began as a coalition more than 3 years ago between Surfrider, Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Sea Cleaners NZ, and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii in support of a local & global network of ocean stewards, working towards the eradication of plastic pollution and marine debris in the world’s oceans, achieved through effective direct action, innovative educational outreach and strategic policy making campaigns.

Is this a world wide organisation or just on Hawaii?

Love the Sea works on projects locally as well as globally. Our most recent projects included our Hard to Reach Beach Clean Up on the island of Lana'i and our efforts last year included a global voyage across the pacific to 7 island nations named Eat Less Plastic. We work hand in hand with organisations addressing the issues not only in Hawaii but across the globe.

Are you always doing beach clean-ups or also inland clean-ups? 

We not only host and support shoreline clean ups but we help host the Annual Lahaina Town Clean going on 16yrs making it the largest and longest ongoing town clean up in Hawaii covering nearly 14 miles including the town of Lahaina, two boat harbours, over 7 surf spots, and many local neighbourhoods.  It was the first project I helped organise and found when I moved to Hawaii. Luckily the town of Lahaina has adopted the clean up and we now act as one of the many support organisations.  

Recently the ‘ghost net’ came onto the channel - can you tell us a bit more about this?  

What an awesome experience. There was a lot of concern for a large net floating into our channel during Whale Season. The story made it across the US and onto CNN. Kahi Pacarro from Parley for the Oceans and Mary Crowley from the Ocean Voyages Institute were highly motivating to get hands on with this so we took a helicopter up, worked with NOAA, Hawaiian paddle Sports, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The Coast Guard and local fisherman attempted to track the net. We were unable to find the original net due to extreme weather conditions but located a smaller ghost net which we tagged from the Helicopter and recovered by boat! 

Check out the stories at CNN here and here

How can people help out with Love The Sea? 

As a newer organisation and non-profit we have significantly grown our programs. This year we will be constantly fundraising to fulfil an operating budget of nearly half a million dollars. 6 months of our year are dedicated to clean ups and programs supporting an entire years worth of volunteers equal to every hour of 2020 being volunteered for. It's a huge jump from small and kind donations but we are excited about the future and dedicating our full time supporting our coalition and Ocean Initiatives. Please donate at www.lovethesea.org/donate.html or email matt@no-spam-pleaselovethesea.org to volunteer.

You can see a video from one of Love The Sea's latest projects @ https://youtu.be/pDZklDbbb8w

The duo have now dropped their edit of that mission and it’s a must watch with the level of freestyle continuing to go through the roof with trademark double air culos and even a spock into double air culo all being landed. Plus there’s a crash reel to show the amount of effort that goes into continually raising the bar.

You can see Amado Vrieswijk’s and Dieter van der Eyken’s Brazil trip @ youtu.be/92oD-oIoiJs

Sarah-Quita Offringa (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins): "For the front loop:

The forward loop is a very dynamic movement where your arms, legs and your head all have different tasks.

It only becomes more and more fun as you get better at it!

So the main tips are mostly :

- Moving your backhand as faaaarr back as possible (you can never be too far down) right before you hit the ramp. 

-As you launch, move your rig up and forward across your body and then sheet in as hard as possible. 

- Tucking in your head and looking down to your feet between your arms will make you rotate vertically, so as you’re sheeting in remember to exaggerate looking over your (back) shoulder to get a more horizontal rotation. 

- Other than that, get really small by tucking in your back leg under your butt. Combine this tucking in of your back leg, with sheeting in hard with your backhand and getting your body close to the boom.

Last but not least, go with speed! I used to slow down before the ramp and just launch into a really out of control loop because my sail would feel heavier and would be harder to control. Whereas if you go with speed the loop will feel more effortless."

Oda Brødholt (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins): "Make sure you know the technique on how to get the rotation before starting.  And when you do try, go for it and be committed! Put your backhand far back. Remember to get the board out of the water beeeeefore sheeting in and look backwards. On flatter water (without a ramp) you get the board out of the water by lifting the front foot up at the same time both arms up and forwards - slightly downwind! And right after sheet in with backhand and tuck up your back leg and look over your back shoulder. Life is too short to not loop! It’s easy to learn - never give up!”

Lina Erpenstein (Severne / Severne Sails): “Choose a short and steep little ramp. While going up the ramp, slightly downwind, get over your board and open your sail while putting your hand far back on the boom. As you take off, put your sail against the apparent wind, keep your backhand close and as far towards your hips as possible, while the front arm is fully stretched out. Look back as you rotate and try to orientate by spotting your landing.

As you land slide your hand forward a bit to open the sail and smile because you’ve just landed a perfect forward ;)”

Antoine Albert: “Early February 2020 the cyclone Uesi hits New-Caledonia bringing some strong north east wind opening up some new spots in the south. We sailed two different spots in one day, the first one is in Nouméa in the morning and the second one is the Yaté lake, down south of the island, that we scored in the afternoon, in between the mountains and in the red dirt.

Here is a short clip recap, filmed by Gill Chabaud / EyeFlyPacific”

You can see Antoine Albert’s latest edit @ vimeo.com/392878386

You can see Thomas Traversa and Julien Taboulet taking on the raw power of Galicia here.

As with the Japanese event, we fully expect Korea to return to the PWA Calendar in 2021.