The Spaniard, who finished 7th overall in 2018, recently visited Fuerteventura on an ideal looking forecast and he certainly found what he was looking for with world class waves. However, with the wind looking pretty light that meant that as well as delivering some epic hits, he also had some hard bailouts. 

You can see Alex Mussolini in action @ https://vimeo.com/305574827

I'm super stoked with not only the sailing but also with the style in which this Vlog was filmed and edited by my friend Ener. How do you like it and would you like to see more like this?”

If you missed the earlier link here it is again https://youtu.be/NE-cAFnCQJ0 

Stenta performed very consistently on the PWA Wave World Tour this year, which saw the Italian record 3 joint 9th places in Morocco, Gran Canaria and Tenerife respectively, while the 31-year-old recently enjoyed great success at the ISA World SUP and Paddleboarding Championships - securing a silver medal in the sprint.

Caterina Stenta about her latest edit: “Cape Town again and again! 5th winter spent in the Mother City and many more to come! Hope you enjoy my last edit of my 2018 winter months in the Cape Peninsula.

Thanks to Tom Deburchgrave for filming and Julian Robinet for the water filming!

Thank you GMM Productions for the edit and Maui Ultra Fins for the support.

Music: ODESZA - Higher Ground (feat. Naomi Wild).”

You can see ‘Down South’ @ vimeo.com/305309622

After four flights, a car ferry and a long taxi drive I finally arrived at my secret Indonesian destination after four days of travel. My first view of the ocean did not come until I was dumped on the road from the airport bus in a remote village. It was low tide and I could see about 700 metres of dry reef with tiny waves breaking on the outside.

The local people who help out surfers in this area were not used to all my oversize bags. All the surfers rent scooters with side racks for there surfboards but I needed something bigger. After walking with my gear along the road for about half hour, one of the local stores had a three-wheel motor bike with a loading box on the back that I later found out was used for garbage runs. It was perfect solution for transporting my gear and after negotiating with seven local Indonesians, I had my ride for the week.

The next obstacle was trying to find a boat big enough for all my equipment and that could motor outside the reef. All the small boats stay inside the reef so I had to find a large fishing boat that would be willing to venture outside the reef and close to the surf.

After about an hour of paddling and chatting with the local fisherman we found a fishing-boat big enough that would accept my terms. The boat itself was super sketchy and probably about 40 years old. The guy would spray a fuel cocktail into the carburettor to get the old girl fired up and the captain steered the boat with two pieces of rope that were tied to the keel. I was loving it!

The next day before the swell we spent the day looking at passes in the reef and trying to figure out the best location to windsurf. By the end of the day I had picked about three possible locations including one of the main spots the surfers go to. We also had to consider where to put the photographers to keep them safe as the exposed reefs on low tide fill up with water quickly, especially with a pumping new ground swell. I went to sleep that night nervous and hoping it would all work out.

By first light I could see the swell hitting the outside reef. We motored straight to a location that was on the top of my list. A few surfers were already out and I could see instantly, there was no need to check my other locations. Perfect six- to eight-foot waves peeled for an eternity down this reef and there seemed to be three main sections to this wave. Surfers were getting sick waves but they had trouble connecting all the sections to this wave, primarily due to the speed and distance between each of the sections. I was basically looking at the most perfect windsurfing wave ever. I could not believe my luck. This almost never happens. I started to freak out on the boat and I could not wait to hit the water.

I rigged on the boat, jumped into the water and was in the line-up in minutes. I could instantly tell that it was almost straight offshore making conditions very gusty. This coupled with very light winds made this location a battle all day long to catch the right waves, but I’ve sailed many locations around the world like this, so for me it was just another day.

To consistently catch waves, I found that one of the best ways was to be out of my straps and wait right at the bottom of the breaking wave. I would get sucked up the face of the wave and as it broke I would then air drop down the wave and shuffle my feet into the straps. It sounds impossible but the wave itself was quite a soft wave, so doing this type of take-off was actually super fun. The only drawback to this was you had to be in exact perfect spot. If you were too far outside and the lip did not catch the board you would peel out the back or if you were to far inside you would get hit, resulting in a very long swim and even longer walk on the reef to get back out to the channel and into the line-up.

The best waves were the ones that had a long wall that looked like they would close-out. The best set-up was to catch them at the top of the reef and if your speed and timing was right you could make all the way down the reef, passing the three sections and gybe safely into the channel

I had my mojo going by midday and I was getting a few turns at the top section of the reef then I would blast about 100 metres down to the mid section where the wave had its best wall and shape. You could bust a few airs and hacks, then blast another 100 metres down to the last section where you would still have a good wall to air or slash off a few times. I had so much fun trying to time each of the sections perfectly so I would arrive at each part of the wave at exactly the right time.

Some of my rides were so long I was getting tired towards the end of the ride and once you pulled off into the channel the top of the reef was at least 500 metres away. Due to the offshore winds I could hug the line-up all the way to the top of the reef and tack at any point along the reef to catch waves that would pop along my journey upwind. It was actually so offshore I could sail from the channel to the reef starboard tack. Not ideal wind direction but still good enough for me to have a blast.

At one point during the day I was almost able to catch every big set and then get back into the line-up within minutes. This is one of the reasons I love windsurfing. We can catch so many perfect waves and put ourselves in the perfect spot every time. When you only get one epic day you want to maximise your time and windsurfing is the perfect tool for that job. Some of the view-points I had during my day would never be seen by a surfer. Being so deep and looking way down the line to your next point of entry is the best feeling in the world!

At times I was the only person in the line-up, watching these perfect waves go unridden. Equally as weird is catching any wave you want at anytime. I'm so used to jostling for position with paddle surfers, SUP guys and kite surfers it's really is a big component to what we do on the water. But here on this lonely reef all that is gone. It's such a great feeling to just concentrate on waves alone.

By the end of day I had put in six straight hours on the water and there was still enough light to catch more but I was just too tired. We all celebrated that night with a couple of Bin-tangs at the bar and very happy we scored epic conditions.

You can watch this epic new movie @ https://www.redbull.com/int-en/jason-polakow-windsurf-indonesia

Text and Photos: Jason Polakow / Red Bull

1. Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?

Not sure if I could explain that in one, but I just bloody love it. I guess when I was younger it was an amazing sense of freedom and such a great escapism. I guess that’s still part of why I love it today. It’s also such a challenge, a constantly changing environment, it’s like a bike track or a skate park that is brand new everyday, it impossible to get bored. 

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

Courage but kind

3. What annoys or frustrates you the most?

Probably windsurfing in general haha, I guess professional sports in general give you some of the best highs you could ever imagine but then it doesn’t half snap you sometimes too.

4. What do you most like in yourself?

I think I’m pretty good not staying bummed out for long, normally whatever the problem I’d like to think I could put my head down and overcome it. I’m pretty stubborn too. I would say that helps a lot with windsurfing. 

5. What do you dislike in yourself?

Always hard to judge yourself, I’ve got a horrific attention span and I am terrible at putting off things I’m not to keen on.

6. What has been your best moment on tour?

Winning that semifinal in Tenerife this year, I knew that put me in to the winners final and I’d be on the podium whatever… Hard to describe what that feels like, incredible.

7. What has been your worst moment on tour?

I’m not sure, in hindsight there doesn’t feel like any real bad moments. Losing feels like the end of the world at the time, but after some time you remember its just windsurfing. I guess that would be my least favourite thing about being on tour is how self absorbed you have to become to win.

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

Well I guess it would be more life advice in general but simply if you want to do something don’t wait for anyone else just get on with it.

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

For my career would be from John Hibbard and Nik Baker I believe when I attended a youth camp, they basically said if you want it to be your job treat it like one. I would say the same to any would be pros.

10. What would be your perfect day?

Wake up earlyish to glassy pumping surf, maybe over head, surf till you cant paddle, come in big buffet lunch, cheeky lie down just for the wind to pick up for some side/side off as walled up and bowly as possible. Couple of sunset beers and bed, do the same again the next day.

11. Do you have any superstitions?

Umm not really… I get a bit hung up when a few things don’t go my way the day of competing, but normally I sort of forget all that as I get all my gear ready! 

12. What is your greatest fear? 

Hmmm tricky one, I would say not being able to be active and in the water.

13. What is your most treasured possession?

Would have to say answering the question above, my health…. Or a surfboard ;)

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

Well, I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was younger but I really don’t know. I started a plumbing apprenticeship just as I join the tour and then the tour took over. 

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

I really couldn’t say. There are so many places that I love, they all have there own plus and minus points. Maybe North West Aus or Indonesia I love the back to basics you get from places like that, no internet just the wild and the sea, I love coming home to Cornwall. (I’m not sure I could say it’s the best place I’ve been though)

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

I’ve just watched the Windsurf Project clip from Skeleton Bay, right now I would say there haha.

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

Ernest Hemmingway, my favourite book is ‘The Old Man and the Sea.’ 

18. First App you open in the morning?

Normally WhatsApp if I’m traveling and away from my Girlfriend, pretty bad at browsing on Instagram in bed with a coffee in the morning.

19. Most visited website?

Stab Mag I think 

20. A phrase you live by?

Dunno all those phrases sound a bit cringy,.. Do what you love?

Thanks, Adam. You can stay up to date with all of Adam Lewis' latest news and adventures via his Social Media Networks:

- Facebook: @AdamLewisK516 
- Instagram: @adamk516 

Jason Polakow: ”I had dreams in my head on how would like this trip to turn out and it takes a lot of what I expect to be great: perfect waves, cross-offshore winds, no crowds and so on and so forth...It's really hard to get that but I managed to do it here for 3 days, so I'm incredibly stoked" - Quote from my upcoming Indonesia Video that is dropping on Friday, stay tuned!" 

You can see a little snippet of what’s to come @ https://www.facebook.com/JasonPolakowKA1111/videos/577771005991729/

Lina Erpenstein: “More than excited to share this really personal short clip with you! Windsurfing and DJing make me enjoy life to the max. Check out the link to find out how! Production: Julius Wenzel”

You can see Lina Erpenstein’s new edit @ vimeo.com/303286636

Up to no Sims - who edited the movie - has released sneak peaks and behind the scenes footage, but now the full movie here. You can view this brilliant new edit @ youtu.be/z9CbTxDYQaQ

Intro 

Beatrice used to be one of the tourists that would come to Jeri to just enjoy the caipirinha’s and watch the windsurfers sail into the sunset.

Until one day she was very curious to find out what the fuss was about this windsurfing and why these windsurfers would spend hours and hours on the water. She gave it a try and loved it! Now she’s trying to convince her friend Magdalena to give it a go as well.

Magdalena really loves coffee so it could be hard to get her on the water. This is the story of 2 tourists trying a new sport, and before they know it they fall in love with it. 

And…. ACTION!

This year again Sarah-Quita Offringa met up with Oda Johanne on her yearly trip to Brazil.

It was another amazing two weeks sailing at the lagoon, Jeri and Maceio. The cherry on top were two days of really fun swell in Jeri.

Filming for “Lovely Holiday”  was probably one of the most fun sessions in Maceio. For an hour we were sailing in our dresses and hats without harnesses trying to synchronise our moves. It was almost impossible because the waves in Maceio don’t come in one line.

So you may have noticed that our synchro shots are not so synchro! We also learned that backslaps after a failed forward are brutal without a harness.

Other highlights of the trip were Magdalena (Sarah-Quita’s alter ego on the water) launching into her first double forwards, and Oda pushing to new heights on her pushloops on the big wave days!

Brazil delivered once again!

You can see the super fun and radical ‘Lovely Holiday’ @ https://youtu.be/U1-y_ix_3rQ 

The first edition of the Victor Fernandez PWA Youth World Cup Almerimar in 2018 was a great success. 36 kids from all over the world came to compete at the first tour stop of the PWA in the wave discipline. We will expect even more competitors for 2019. We already have almost 20 local riders, who are training hard for this event. 14 kids from the Víctor Fernández Club and 3 kids from the Windsurf Mar Azul Club. 

The Victor Fernandez Club is very proud of their own young talents. Last season, three riders of the Víctor Fernández Club placed 3rd overall in the PWA Wave World Ranking. 

Jose Antonio Casanova U17 (Fanatic / Duotone)

Regina Villegas U20 

Miguel Casanova U15 (Fanatic / Duotone)

One Week with the Best Windsurfing 

The future of the sport will meet in Almerimar to compete in the best conditions for Slalom & Wave. This event is more than a competition itself. It is about parents, children, spectators and competitors that are sharing the same passion.

Since the opening in 2012, thousands of water sports fans have visited the Victor Fernandez Center. The main focus of the centre is to work with children and to build a group of young talents and to support them. That's why we worked hard to make the 2nd edition of the Victor Fernandez PWA Youth World Cup Almerimar possible and our plan is to make the home of the 3x PWA Wave World Champion a regular stop in the PWA calendar.

How to Sign Up?

If you a budding young youth who would like to pit your skills against the best in your age category then you can find more information @ http://victorfernandezcenter.com, while in order to enter the event please fill out the registration form on the home page and then send to info@no-spam-pleasevictorfernandezcenter.com. 

Federico Morisio (JP / NeilPryde): “I’m really really excited to show you this NEW VIDEO!!! I wanted to share with you more details and personal thoughts about the most important competition of the year: the 2018 IWT Aloha Classic / PWA Qualifier! The video is a highlight of my competition, my emotions and my point of view! 

I sincerely hope you will like this new kind of content and I really please you to comment if you enjoyed it and tell me if you would like to see more about my trips, competitions, daily routine or whatever!! 

Feel free to like, comment, tag who could love this video and share it with your friends!”

To watch Federico Morisio’s new edit visit @ https://youtu.be/Ip2_YPem638

Ricardo Campello: “Very sad to announce that I won’t be riding Point-7 sails for 2019 , after 4 great years with great results it’s time to say goodbye and thank you for the good and bad things! I still don’t have a position for 2019 but soon I will be letting you know my plans!”

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

Facebook: @ricardocampellov111 
Instagram: @ricardo_campello  

Description: “A video about the flying PATRIK windsurfing team that performed very well on the final of the PWA world tour in Sylt, Germany.

Julien Quentel speaks about how he won a wave heat against 2017 world champion Philip Koster and like that knocked him out. What and amazing performance!

Alexandre Cousin was sailing very good all event long to finish on the podium! He shares with you his thoughts.

Steve Allen is happy about his sailing.

Mattia Fabrizi sailed superb to come for the first time in his career in the elite top 10 windsurfing freestylers in the world.

Adam Sims shows us an incredible back loop and made this video possible.

We are looking forward to 2019 PWA tour!

Enjoy the action!

Credit to @adamsims.k72 / @adamsims_productions”

You can see Team Patrik in action @ youtu.be/Ty7-VdYlrtU

1. Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?



I’m hooked on windsurfing. Every time I go out on the water, wherever I am,  I have the urge to go even higher and faster. Has to be every move or gybe more perfect than the one before. It remains interesting to find new moves so I can challenge myself. Also every session long or short gives me a sense of freedom.

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


I like people who are motivated to achieve their goal, no matter what. And honesty is very important. 

3. What annoys or frustrates you the most?


When you drive to a perfect spot to train and the wind drops when you’re rigged and ready on the beach. Besides that it frustrates me when you have an appointment and the other person is late or does not show up at all without any notice. 

4. What do you most like in yourself?


It is difficult to give an opinion about yourself, but I am quite proud of my perseverance. Sometimes when things are not going well, I have to lose my frustration but can go on positive afterwards. I am always open to a sportive challenge.

5. What do you dislike in yourself?


What I do not like about myself is that I have no patience to do "office" work,  although it is very important now and then. 

6. What has been your best moment on tour?

My best moment was that exciting week in Costa Brava in June this year in the foil discipline. Such a good start, then a lot of tension and losing my first place and then getting it back on the last event-day. Never forget that moment crossing the finish line and winning my first PWA – Foil event. 

7. What has been your worst moment on tour?


My worst moments were in both 2016 and 2017 during the Freestyle Finals in Sylt.

Realising the wind dropped during the heat and that I should have gone out with a bigger sail. 

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

I would not change a thing and do it all over again. 

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


Very cliché but “Go Big or Go Home”.  Go for it 100%, be focused and believe in yourself. 

10. What would be your perfect day?


Waking up at 6.30am – breakfast – gym – wind is up – my food ready to take to the beach – have an am and a good pm session, go home, chill with the playstation or watch a movie – hang out with friends – good night sleep and next morning repeat! 

11. Which living person do you most admire?


My mom, Nancy! Besides her work at our company, she is day and night available to help, organise and arrange all kinds of things even though she is on Bonaire and I’m somewhere else on the globe. Always encouraging and pushing me and even travels with my heavy boardbags if necessary. She’s my manager and I couldn’t wish for a better one. 

12. What is your greatest fear?


I’m a fearless person! Life comes as it comes. You only live once so make the best of it and don't let fear stop you from doing everything or anything you like.   

13. What is your most treasured possession?


My van, my home on wheels and storage for my windsurf equipment during the competition-season! 

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

A Formula1 driver. Racing is already my 2nd passion for a long time and this summer I even got my racing-license to race on a circuit. 

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

The best place will be always Bonaire for me. It’s home but as long as the wind blows I have all I need. 2nd place is Cape Town and already look forward to visit it again in January for the 3rd year in a row. 

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

I’m very curious about Colombia River Gorge near Portland in the USA. I saw some great videos of the windsurf spot there and really want to look into the possibility to visit this place in the near future. 

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

Dutch F1 driver Max Verstappen. I admire his perseverance, his guts and professionalism. 

18. First App you open in the morning?

Spotify! I always wake up with my favourite music. Get pumped up and start an active new day. 

19. Most visited website?

Youtube 

20. A phrase you live by?

It’s stickered on my van: Wind, water and windsurfing gives me adrenaline, a sense of the ultimate freedom!

Thanks, Amado! 

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

Facebook: @AmadoVrieswijkNb20 

Instagram: @amado_vrieswijk_nb20 

The Windsurf Project releases its second project featuring Thomas Traversa, Camille Juban, Flo Jung and Leon Jamaer. We headed to Namibia in search for a wave never windsurfed before. This is what we found..

thewindsurfproject.com

facebook.com/thewindsurfproject

instagram.com/thewindsurfproject

Produced: Old Dog Studio - olddog.studio

Film: Julien Robinet | Jamie Hancock

Photography - Pierre Bouras - pierrebouras.fr

Music Credit:

Artist: Clapton Fox

Song: Departure

Artist: The Walking Who 

Song: Have You Seen the Colours

Artist: Clapton Fox

Song: Marching Into Morrow

Thumbnail Image: Pierre Bouras

Riders Thomas Traversa (Tabou / GA Sails) | Camille Juban (Quatro / Simmer Sails) | Leon Jamaer (JP / NeilPryde) | Florian Jung (Starboard / Gun Sails)

Film: Julien Musluk | Jamie Hancock (Tabou / GA Sails)

Hey Jordy, you enjoyed your best year to date on the world tour - finishing 4th overall - you must be delighted with how 2018 panned out for you?


It’s been such an amazing year! It’s the 3rd year in a row I improved my ranking and to be 4th now is unbelievable. I saw some calculations which showed I qualified for 74% of all winner finals, comparing those numbers to the years before is insane. 

Having come so close to breaking into the overall top 10 last year - just missing out on count back to Basti Kördel - it must feel even sweeter to have cracked the top 5 now too? 


Sometimes not reaching your goal motivates you even more to reach it again the year after! Not making the top 10 by equal points felt sh*t at that moment, but on the other hand I was happy to improve my ranking again and making it so close in a year with ups and downs, I confirmed for myself I’m able to reach it in the future. To actually make it the year after with a 4th definitely feels sweet! 

After last year’s performance did you already up your aims for 2018?

Well after finishing my studies in 2016 I already said to myself: Next year (2017) I want to be top 10 and the year after (2018) I want to be top 5. As I didn’t make the 2017 goal nothing changed, many people asked me: will you make the top 10 next year? But secretly I was already aiming higher. But let’s face it, I guess I would have been happy with a top 10 finish anyway with the level we have! 

In 2017 you showed glimpses of what your are capable of with one podium and one top 10 finish, but in 2018 you took your game to a new level with 5 top 10 finishes from the 6 events… what do you think helped you the most to be able to consistently perform at such a high level?

We all know experience is very important in racing and in 2017 I’ve had it all. Knowing how it felt to be in a podium spot in Japan, crashing lots by myself in Denmark, only hitting 18.5’s in Costa Brava and some solid racing in Sylt/New Caledonia. I’ve analysed lots and found reasons for my mistakes. I guess 2017 helped me a lot to be more consistent in 2018!

Out of all the events this season which was your favourite and why?

I loved the 2 days of racing in Fuerteventura, but I guess this year’s favourite was Portugal. We didn’t know what to expect and the spot delivered big time! Although I had a rough week due to some private matters, it was just awesome being out there flying on our small gear in a beautiful place. 

The events saw a range of wind conditions… which do you prefer… nuclear slalom or light wind racing, which is more technical, right?

In general I really like high wind slalom, but also I never want to miss out on some light wind racing. Both have such nice characteristics. High wind being on the edge of control and fighting with riders until the finish compared to low wind where you try to take the maximum out of your gear while there’s absolutely no room for error! 

You just got back from Bonaire… was that your first time there and how was it?

Yes I decided to do a short holiday in Bonaire after the season. I’ve never been there and Amado invited me to come to his place. It was an amazing time, hitting the gym everyday, cruising with slalom or foil gear on some amazing waters and mostly getting adjusted to the very relaxed Caribbean vibe to get some rest :) It’s a small island but an absolute paradise for windsurfing! 

Best thing about being on tour?

Being able to fight with the best windsurfers in the world to reach my dream/goal: become PWA Slalom World Champion. 

Worst thing about being on tour?

You have to leave quite some things like friends/family behind to travel around the world +/- 9 months a year (incl. training). You won’t hear me complaining about it, but it’s an aspect some people don’t see! 

One thing you couldn’t live without?

If that thing could be a feeling, it’s definitely the ultimate feeling of freedom you get on the water on whatever gear you choose.

What are you up to for the rest of the close season?

I’ll be heading to Cape Town! I enjoyed that place so much last winter and I still have lots to discover there. Also there’s lots planned this time, like some clinics, SA championships, video shoot, gym program and of course wave sailing! 

Thanks, Jordy. Congrats on a great season. Have a great winter and see you in 2019!

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

Facebook: @jordy.vonk.69 

Instagram: @jordyvonk

In Sylt, Müller stole the show on a couple of occasions as he took his Foil to the waves landing shifties, shakas, pushloops and burners to name just a few. Since then Müller has continued to progress this exciting new discipline at an impressive rate and his latest video shows him landing one and no-hand burners, one-hand air funnels and skopus.

You can see Balz Müller’s latest movie ‘Winter Whistle’ @ vimeo.com/301381382

With the fire power on offer between 3 of the world’s best Freestylers - prepare for an explosive display packed with the latest air moves and combos.

You can see Frans, Schmit & Vrieswijk in action here.

U20s

In the U20 Boy’s Miguel Chapuis (JP / NeilPryde) takes top honours after winning one event in Pozo, while backing it up with a 2nd in Almerimar and a 5th in Tenerife. Meanwhile, the podium is completed by Takara Ishii (RRD / RRD Sails) and Jake Schettewi (JP / Hot Sails Maui), who won the U20s Aloha Classic. In the Girl’s Tessa van der Meer takes first place ahead of Nikki van der Meer and Regina Villegas.

U17s

In the U17 Boy’s Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails) and Marino Gil (Goya Windsurfing) finished the season tied on 29,800 points, but having won in both Tenerife and Maui it is Sugi who claims the U17 world title, while Jose Casanova Perez (Fanatic / Duotone) completes the podium on 29,350 points. In the Girl’s 15-year-old Mar de Arce (Loftsails) walks away as the champion having won the opening event the year in Almerimar before recording two second places. Alexia Kiefer Quintana (Fanatic / Duotone) and Julia Pasquale (Fanatic / Duotone) both recorded a victory and a second place, but with both only able to attend two events they have to settle for 2nd and 3rd place. 

U15s

14-year-old Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) follows up success in the U15s Freestyle by also taking the top prize in the U15s Wave discipline. The young German won both the events he attended in Almerimar and Pozo to win ahead of Nicolo Spanu, who won in Maui, and Miguel Casanova. Maria Morales (Goya Windsurfing) sailed consistently throughout the season and with 3 second places she wins the Girl’s U15s ahead of Alexa Kiefer Quintana, who won both of the events in emphatic fashion, but with no 3rd result to count she misses out this time around. The podium is completed by Elena Cantón.

U13s

Denmark’s Tobias Andersen (Fanatic / Duotone) is the undisputed champion in the U13s after winning all 3 events he attended in Almerimar, Pozo and Tenerife. Carlos Kiefer Quintana (Fanatic / Duotone) finishes second ahead Miguel Mirón.

Congrats to the Youth’s for showing such a high level over the course of the season and of course for their respective victories.

JF Films: Lennart is a 14-year-old windsurfer who lives on the Cycladic island of Naxos in Greece. He is currently the U15 world champion in both freestyle and wave disciplines. During summertime he enjoys the perfect conditions of his home spot in Naxos. Check him out blasting a firework of moves in his latest video!

►Follow Lennart on social media:

Instagram: @lennartneubauer_g_734 

Facebook: @lennartneubauer.G734

You can watch Lennart Neubauer’s latest edit @ https://youtu.be/FENesztgnrU

Martin ten Hoeve” “What is the best birthday gift you can ask for as a windsurf kook?? South swell hitting Agger, with side off and warm sunshine is one of them!! Big gear Quantum 115L & 5,6 icon.”

You can see Martin ten Hoeve celebrating his Birthday in style here.

The vice Freestyle world champion has just dropped a new edit ‘La Baie’ which highlights the skillset which saw him come so close to a maiden world crown.

You can see Adrien Bosson’s ‘La Baie’ here.

This year’s Aloha Classic acted as a Qualifier for the PWA World Tour - run by the International Windsurfing Tour (IWT) - which was eventually won by Camille Juban (Quatro / Simmer Sails), while the Women’s contest was won by Sarah Hauser (Tabou / Simmer Sails). However, as well as acting as a Qualifier the Aloha Classic also hosted the final stage of the Youth PWA Wave World Tour and they once again showed that windsurfing is in safe hands with an incredible set of performances.

U20s

In the U20s division Jake Schettewi (JP / Hot Sails Maui) dominated the final with his rail game. On his best wave, he produced 4 powerful varied hits blowing the fins with a 12 o'clock vertical approach, gauging the open face and throwing buckets to take the coveted top spot. 

It was then a close call for second place, between Japanese riders - Takara Ishii (RRD / RRD Sails) and Takuma Sugi (Tabou / GA Sails) with both boy’s knowing Ho’okipa well and snapping critical turns before lining up for their aerials down the line on the end bowl. However, Ishii did just enough to secure 2nd place with Sugi completing the podium ahead of Nicolo Spanu.

U17s 

Having competed in the U20s Final Takuma Sugi then dominated the U17s final as he again showed great reading of the wave to throw more aerials and turns. Spanu, his closest opponent, also went to the air and was able to back up those aerials with some nice turns to take second place ahead of Luc Guidroz  and Z Schettewi.

Next week we'll take a look at what that does to the overall Youth rankings. Congratulations to all.

All Images: Si Crowther

The Italian, who finished 12th overall on the Freestyle World Tour, spent last January in Cape Town, South Africa and has just released a stunning new edit of his time there.

You can see Francesco Cappuzzo’s latest edit @ youtu.be/S05RPgOPnKs

However, this season Bosson seems to have found a consistent winning formula as he consistently racked up some of the highest scoring heats of the year, which saw the 27-year-old finish 2nd in Fuerteventura. With just two Freestyle events this year though that meant that there was absolutely no room for error in Sylt with no safety net of a discard to protect his excellent second place.

Bosson’s new level of consistency was never clearer than during the single elimination in Sylt when he posted 3 consecutive heats of 155.4 points to win his first ever final on the world tour. Ultimately, Bosson couldn’t quite stop teammate Gollito Estredo (Fanatic / Duotone) from claiming a 9th world title, but the Frenchman walks away from 2018 as the vice-world champion - his best result yet - while also firmly establishing himself as a genuine world title contender for the coming years. After his best season to date with caught up with Adrien for an interview:

Hey Adrien, how’s it going?

Everything’s alright, just came back from La Torche where i took part in the Wave Games, an event mixing windsurfing, surfing, SUP and kitesurfing which is super fun to do! Now I'm at Six-Fours les plages at home relaxing between windsurfing lessons, surfing and family/friends.

Congratulations on a great season… how does it feel to be vice-world champion?

Feels really good! Happy i could achieve this after all the dedication it took to get there. It is my 7th year on the tour and I'm windsurfing since I'm a kid and it is has been a pretty long journey to be able to be part of the top 2 PWA Freestyle men rankings. With two events and no room for mistakes I'm stoked I could confirm my good result from Fuerteventura in Sylt.

The last couple of seasons you’ve been part of the overall top 10, and had a few podiums along the way, but this year it looks like you really stepped things up… did you do anything different or did something just click?

Since I had podiums in 2016 I knew it was possible to get to the top. I did train less on the water this year but did more workouts & physical prep with my coach. I have been training in February and March in the south of France, in hard conditions with the temperatures, and then didn't really sailed in May, June, August & September. But the few times I had wind and the time, I was 100% focused and having fun on the water. 

With 4 Freestyle events in total this year, I really wanted to enjoy the season and be happy with my sailing, doing the good moves I trained for without thinking too much about the results. 

You won the single elimination in Sylt and then were just 1 point away from winning the final in the Double Elimination… you must have been a little bit gutted to not quite win the event and take the title race to a deciding heat?

It was an exciting season fighting against Gollito for the title, that first heat of the double elimination in Sylt was so close and I'm of course a bit gutted that I couldn't do one more for the world title. Conditions didn't play on my side that day!

In the single elimination, it was a lot windier than the double… do you think that the conditions in the single suited you more and are strong winds your favourite?

Of course, strong winds are my favourite! This is what we get the most in my hometown and pretty much everywhere in the south of France. Lighter winds are good too, it is a different way of sailing and once I get used to it I really like. But with strong winds and chops or waves, all the freestyle moves are much bigger, longer airtime, landing planing and feeling the best.

Just before the first final of the double, the wind dropped and I was underpowered with my 4.4m - like that it becomes a lot harder to do a proper freestyle heat as it takes more time to get the speed, find the right place for each trick and go high. 

Favourite setup?

SKATE 93L & IDOL LTD 4.4m

Favourite location?

Home & Cape Town in the winter. But I guess I have many other favourites that I've just never been to yet.

Favourite move and why?

I'm doing a lot of shiftys. I think I really like this move right now. It can be scary, even if you know how to do them because they can go wrong at any time, the feeling is sick when you land flat and timing is everything ;). 

Why are you so passionate about windsurfing?

I started windsurfing when I was a kid, my father gave me his passion and I dreamed of travelling while windsurfing. Since I'm 20, I have able to travel to the some of the best windsurfing places in the world, the lifestyle is awesome and seeing friends and people, sharing the passion in different places is pretty fun!

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

I would be a windsurfing instructor but I am already actually… I guess I would be an orthoptist, this is the studies that I stopped when I decided to live off windsurfing only. 

If you could invite one person dead or alive for dinner, who would it be? And what would you eat?

I would eat meat with Pauline Tantot.

How did you celebrate your best year on tour yet?

Popping bottles of champagne and enjoying a few parties in Sylt, as well as in Holland and of course once back home!

How will you be spending the winter?

I'm flying tomorrow to Jericoacoara for two weeks, Cape Town in January and then home for February and March.

Thanks, Adrien. Congrats again on becoming vice-world champion and have a great winter.  

The Spaniard has just released a new video which shows him shredding Ho’okipa to pieces with his usual flow and style.

You can see Victor Fernandez in ‘Surf Beats’ @ vimeo.com/298069402

The 21-year-old Frenchman finished 8th overall for 2018 after a joint 9th and 5th place in Fuerteventura and Sylt respectively. 

You can see Sam Esteve’s latest video @ youtu.be/I--MFMQu7o4

You can stay up to date with all of Sam Esteve’s latest news and adventures @

- Facebook - SamEsteveF79 

- Instagram - sam_esteve 

Filmed in Paulilles / France by Baptiste Vigneau

This season they completed the podium in 4 out of the 6 events, while between them they won 5 out of the 6 events with Albeau and iachino winning two events each, while Mortefon won the final event of the year in Sylt. The only other man to win an event this year was Finian Maynard in Costa Brava when all 3 of Albeau, Iachino and Mortefon missed out on the only winners’ final. As such dominating figures in the world of Slalom, we thought we’d take a look at these racing machines in numbers…

 So, while Iachino may have had the highest qualification rate for winners’ finals with 89.47% after qualifying for 17 out of 19 winners’ finals this season, the Italian still just missed out on a second world title after crucially missing out on one winners’ final in the finale in Sylt. Meanwhile, Albeau and Mortefon both qualified for 16 out of 19 winners’ finals - 84.21%.

And if you delve slightly deeper into the numbers you can begin to see why Albeau has won 25 world titles as once qualified for the winners’ final the Frenchman had a win rate of 68.75% this season compared to 29.41% for Iachino and 6.25% for Mortefon. It is Albeau’s ability to win winners’ finals that makes him so dangerous as even with one bad race he can quickly convert consecutive bullets when needed. This instinct to win can be clearly highlighted this season when Albeau won all 4 eliminations in Fuerteventura. 

If you then take a look at the next closest rival - Jordy Vonk (Fanatic / Duotone) - who finished 4th overall this season (his best ever performance) the flying Dutchman qualified for 73.68% of winners’ finals, which is still an excellent percentage, but still not a match for any of the top 3 and you can see why the big top 3 are so dominant as a result. 

Furthermore from the 19 winners’ finals completed this season Albeau, Iachino and Mortefon won 17 out of those 19 eliminations (Albeau 11, Iachino 5 and Mortefon 1) - 89.47%. The only other people to win an elimination were Finian Maynard as previously stated in Costa Brava and Cedric Bordes (Tabou / GA Sails) in Portugal.

Can anyone rival the big top 3 next year? Perhaps, but based on this year’s performance the rest of the fleet would require a big step up from one of the chasing pack or for one of them to falter - however on recent stats that looks unlikely as it is that unbelievable level of consistency that currently separates Albeau, Iachino and Mortefon from the rest of the pack.