SIMON BASSETT: LIVING LIFE 2XSSIMON BASSETT: LIVING LIFE 2XSSimon Bassett has been at the heart of British windsurfing for decades. From launching 2XS at West Wittering in the 80s to running iconic wave events and introducing countless people to life on the water, his influence runs deep.We caught up with Simon just after the 2XS Wave Classic to talk about how he brought back competition to the South Coast, the origins of 2XS and a lifetime spent chasing wind, waves, and doing thingstrue to formthe 2XS way.As Simon says, Dont just scroll Instagramgo live it. Be the one doing it.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: So, first of all, the 2XS Wave Classic came back with a bang. What was the inspiration behind getting an event back on the south coast?Simon: Well, wed been thinking about it for a couple of years, and when I heard the Cornish event was on in February of 2025, I decided to drive down there and meet Willy MacLean and have a chat about the reality of running an event. We ran an event for probably 10 or 12 years back in the day.As an event organiser, you get frustrated with the issues its expensive to runso we ran our course and decided to stop. But watching the Cornish event, there were 80 people there, the rain was pouring down, it was horrendous to be on the beach as a spectator, but the conditions were amazing and the riders were incredible. The last time I saw waves like that, I was at Hookipa watching sets rolling in. It was inspiring to see that in Britain.Ive not been up to Tiree or Rhosneigr or the Welsh events, but seeing it live reminded me how amazing windsurfing is. So yeah, we thought wed bring it back.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: Back in the day it was some epic events and memories to look back on?Simon: Yeah, there were a lot of great riders who came here the late Danny Seales, the Bakers, Jamie Hawkins, Stu Holland, Nigel Howell, Julian Anderson, Chris Audsley, Neal Gent, Billy Wheaton and Bel Stanley there was a big crew of people really into windsurfing. For 2XS, windsurfing is what weve been about since we started, so it was right up our street to get back into it.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: We see that you love all that nostalgialooking back on the epic days and windsurfing history?Simon: I think so. I started windsurfing in 1976my dad got into it in 74and we went windsurfing whenever we could. Back in the 70s, windsurfing was this new, weird sport no one had seen before. We were on big long boards, seeing pictures of Robbie Naish, Mike Waltz, Thor Horgen and the Schweitzers in Hawaii. That was the dream. We were inland at the time, but it was the inspiration to get on and do it.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: So, when did you move to West Wittering?Simon: I moved here in the mid-80s. I worked down here for Dee Caldwell on the beach, and thats when it all started.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: And how did the whole 2XS get started?Simon: A friend Id met in Vass in 83 84 came up with the branding of 2XS. I asked him to come up with some nameshe said, Ive got two: Uber or 2XS. We chose 2XSUber was a bit German for us, and 2XS could morph into different sports. It wasnt based around my namejust a cool idea: take it too excess.We registered the trademarkeven had a legal fight with Walmart, who tried to take it from us. That took a couple of years, but one of our members, James Mellor, helped us resolve it. Weve kept it goingit works well.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: So when did the shop start?Simon: In 1989. We started in West Wittering, we rented half a shop next to a baker. As business grew, we took over the whole shop, bought the building and went from there. It was hard at firstinterest rates back then were 15%. We got a Princes Youth Business Trust loan, which came with a mentorJack Chapman, a local businessman. I knew about windsurfing, but nothing else, so he somehow helped stop me spending all our money on more boards!WINDSURF MAGAZINE: What sort of boards were you selling back then?Simon: At first, Lodey and Alpha, then F2, Lightwave, Mistral and Tiga. We imported boards too Naish customs, Jimmy Lewis boards and Quatro when they started. We always tried to get the lightest, best, coolest boards stuff that worked. Production boards were good, but back then the customs had that special edge.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: So, you were a keen sailor yourself?Simon: Yeah, I was semi-pro for a while. I knew I wouldnt win everything, but I was usually in the top 15 or top 10 in wave and race events. I did 15 years of longboard racing in the original windsurfer class, Division 1. Then came funboard events wave boards, slalom speed and race boards we all had huge roof racks full of gear! It was a lot of fun.Looking back, we went through so much gear because it didnt always work properly, but it looks great on the wall now!IWINDSURF MAGAZINE: Youve got all those old boards here at Witterings are youre a bit nostalgic about them?Simon: Definitely. When you bought a custom board, you could smell the foam dust and fiberglass. The shapers were artistseach had their own belief in design, pushing limits to find what worked. Back then, people went wild with ideasnow shapes are more uniform, but back then it was crazy creative.Youd open a magazine or go to France or Maui and see designs 10 years ahead of what we had. I travelled a lot and managed to get connected with shapers and designersit was an exciting time.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: When did the beach club come about?Simon: I took over the beach club in 91 at West Wittering. The local estate was going to ban windsurfingit was huge back then, 150200 people out on busy days. There were collisions with swimmers and nearly a million beach visitors during the summer.The estate said we could keep windsurfing if we delivered safety zones and management. It was hard work at first, but in 32 years weve had no serious accidents between windsurfers and swimmers. Our safety record is because of the club, our system, and our teamit works well.WINDSURF MAGAZINE: How important is your team?Simon: Your team is everything. The right people make the right decisions. Theres one of meand my wife Jane manages the business too, but our beach team (Sam, Tara, Rob, Ted, Arthur and others) do an amazing job. Both our daughters, Holly and Daisy, help out on a part time basis tooWINDSURF MAGAZINE: What does the club offer?Simon: Members can windsurf, kite, or wingfoil year-round. We provide full safety from March to Octoberweve got a jet ski and sled, all trained for rescue. We can launch and be on the water in under six minutes. If you called the RNLI, it could be 40 minutes.The clubs also social people come down, meet friends, sail together. Weve got changing rooms, showers, coffee and tea, broadband (so you can pretend youre working!), and loads of new kitbeginner boards, surfboards, Goya, Ezzy, Duotoneall top-end. We replace it every year, so its like being at a rental centre abroad!WINDSURF MAGAZINE: So your whole lifes has revolved around windsurfing?Simon: Yeah. I left home at 17, determined to become a pro windsurfer. I never really did, but windsurfing became my career. I wanted to spend my life on a beachand I did! Not paid to sail but paid by the sea. Ive spent the last 30 years looking at the ocean. Cant complain!WINDSURF MAGAZINE: And the 2XS Wave Classic it mustve been satisfying to pull that off?Simon: Absolutely. Seeing the photos felt like a renaissance of windsurfing. Its always been my single goalno plan B. Watching everyone out there. doubles, aerials and the energyIt was inspiring.Everyone was committed: riders, photographers, safety crew. Were not in it for cashjust passion. Even Nik Baker was out. Old friends like Julian Anderson made trophies. Theres a magic to it all.Chris Audsley was hereinjured, but still came down and told me before I could answer: Youre running it next year. And yes, we will. I just wish we could control the wind wed do it more often!WINDSURF MAGAZINE: Whats the most satisfying part of your job?Simon: Teaching. Watching little five-year-olds go from scared of the sea to loving windsurfingthats special. If you teach people the right way early on, it becomes a lifetime hobby.This year will be my 50th year of windsurfing. My dad introduced me, like so many dads and mums do. I know what its given me.and Id tell anyone: dont just scroll Instagram, go live it. Be the one doing it!Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, SUP, Surf Equipment Shop 2XSBRIEF HISTORY:SIMON BASSETTSimon learnt to windsurf in 1976, aged 11 (before a lot of the rest of the 2XS team were born!) He competed in Windsurfer Class Div 1, UKBSA, Johnnie Walker Speed Events, Smirnoff and the South West Funboard Cup. He became the Production Board Speed record holder in the UK on a Klepper 272! He was an IWA (International Windsurfing Association) Instructor at 16 and then became an RYA Level 5 Windsurfing Instructor.He co-founded the British Speed-sailing Association was a committee member for the BWA. Simon was the test editor of On Board and also became test editor for Windsurf Magazine and a Carlsberg/Mistral team member, one of the first pilots/sailors of a wind glider (a hanglider/windsurfer crossover) called the wind weapon.He has worked in Vassiliki and Tarifa as an instructor and has travelled to some of the best windsurfing and SUP spots on the planet including Ireland, Cabarete, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Barbados, Egypt, Fuerte, Maui, Hawaii, California and Baja, Mexico.Simon set up 2XS in 1989 with wife Jane and started selling mountain bikes, windsurf gear, snowboards and power kites.Simon:We had a grant from The Princes Youth Business Trust and a superb PYBT business advisor called Jack Chapman. We came second in a national business contest and received an award from HRH Prince Charles. We took over the Windsurf Club at West Wittering in 1991 when windsurfing was nearly banned on the beach and set the first beach zoned windsurf safety system in the UK. Since then, we have added kitesurfing to this.2XS moved its entire operation online to www.2XS.co.uk in 2005 and sold the freehold on the shop site.Simons involvement in water sports has been extensive, he was one of the first paddlesurfers in the UK in 2006, cofounded BSUPA and has been Joint Head Coach and Chairman. Simon did a team world record attempt channel crossing in 2010 on an SUP to raise money and awareness for Surfers Against Sewage charity and raised 10,000. Simon has also co-written, with Andy Gratwick, the BSUPA teaching scheme which has over 100 schools and more than 20,000 students a year completing BSUPA courses. The BSUPA syllabus and safety information has been taught to the now 100,000 clients who have completed a BSUPA course.Simon has been a trustee and works with Dan Charlish, Julia, Andy Gratwick, Chris Bull, Lewis Crathern and his team on the Virgin Kite Armada and the SUP Armada as charity fund raisers (raising more than 120,000 to date) and has notched up 4 Guinness World Records as an event organiser and competitor (SUP).In 2018 Simon wrote a book in conjunction with Fernhurst booksStand Up Paddleboarding: A Beginners Guide.Simon has been at the forefront of the foiling crazes, being an early adopter of windsurf foiling, and then moving quickly across to wing foiling right at the beginning when the discipline emerged. Simon now teaches plenty of wing foiling, and is both an RYA and BKSA Wing instructor!The post SIMON BASSETT: LIVING LIFE 2XS appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

With one month to go, Paddle UK is gearing up for The Big Paddle Cleanup 2026 a two-week event dedicated to cleaning up our nations waterways.Individual paddlers, clubs, and other volunteers from all over England will take to canals, rivers and the sea, to collect plastic waste and other junk.Since its inception in 2022, volunteers have retrieved 8,000 glass bottles from the water.Thats why we are urging the government to rethink the exclusion of glass bottles and jars from the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).The Big Paddle Cleanup 2026 will run from 23 May to 7 June, acting as a reminder of the importance of keeping our waterways clean and mitigating the impact of pollution on wildlife.Chantelle Grundy, Access and Environment Manager, said,Thousands of volunteers make a huge difference to our waterways, and were so proud and grateful for their efforts.Glass bottles in rivers pose a danger, and volunteers have collectively retrieved 8,000 since 2022.Broken glass is a hazard to animals and people, causing cuts to pets, wildlife, and swimmers.Paddle UK is disappointed by the exclusion of glass from the DRS and would like the government to rethink this decision.The two weeks of action will once again be supported by Decathlon and Sportscover Europe.The campaign followed a record-breaking 2025, when 4,228 volunteers over 500 more than the previous year participated.These individuals, clubs, delivery partners, and community groups spent about 8,130 hours on our precious waterways across the country, filling 2,129 sacks of rubbish from canals and rivers.Volunteers collected 6,851 plastic bottles, 4,059 cans, 10,804 food wrappers, and 2,013 glass bottles.The UKs Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers (https://defraenvironment.blog.gov.uk/2025/01/31/introducing-the-deposit-return-scheme-for-drinks-containers/) will begin on 1 October 2027 across England.The scheme will introduce a small, refundable deposit on plastic (PET) bottles and metal cans (150ml3L), aiming to increase recycling and reduce litter.The Big Paddle Cleanup continues to draw high-profile support, with Olympians, including Adam Burgess, and the Paracanoe team including Paralympic gold medal winners Charlotte Henshaw MBE and Emma Wiggs MBE, and silver medalist Jack Eyers all having taken part in previous years.

PLATINUM SERIES SLS BOOM 140-200 DESIGN: DUOTONE TECH TALKPLATINUM SERIES SLS BOOM 140-200 DESIGN: DUOTONE TECH TALKFor the latest Duotone Tech Talk video, Liam Dunkerbeck delves into the design behind the Platinum Series SLS Boom 140-200.The post PLATINUM SERIES SLS BOOM 140-200 DESIGN: DUOTONE TECH TALK appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

The post GBSUP Removes Minimum Board Weights from 2026 Rulebook appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

The post Black Project Unscripted Episode 2 appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

ANTOINE MARTIN: REWRITING THE RULEBOOKANTOINE MARTIN: REWRITING THE RULEBOOKAfter finishing 3rd at the Maui Pro Am, Antoine Martin has once again stamped his name on the progression of wave sailing. Landing the first-ever no-handed goiter at Hookipa during competitionand doing it under pressure! Martin continues to cement his reputation as one of the sports most innovative riders, constantly experimenting, refining and pushing wave sailing beyond the limits. We caught up with Antoine to break down the move, the mindset and the moment that had the beach going wild.Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries / WWT/ PWAWINDSURF: What sort of wave are you looking for when you line up for a no handed goiter?ANTOINE MARTIN: When I do a no handed goiter, I need a section thats big and pushy enough to really project me forward, otherwise, you can lose the sail or land awkwardly which is risky for your ankles or knees ha-ha. I set it up like a normal goiter but once Im engaged, I let go about a quarter into the move. The momentum flips me around and I have to keep the right speednot too fast or Ill over-rotate, not too slow or I cant re-catch the sail. That balance of projection and control is what makes it all come together.WINDSURF: Can you talk us step by step through the technique for the no-handed goiter?ANTOINE MARTIN: To do a no-hand goiter, its like any manoeuvre. You really have to build it step by step. You need to start by mastering a regular goiter in small waves and be able to land one of those perfectly.Then you should be able to do a one-hand goiter.The step before the full no-hand is doing one hand one hand which really helped me progress. Basically, you need to take it step by step, do hundreds of them and have at least a 90% landing rate before thinking about going for the no-hand goiter. Its important to land normal goiters perfectly, especially in all types of wave sections.WINDSURF: Were you planning to do a no-handed goiter at the Maui Pro Am, or was it spontaneous?ANTOINE MARTIN: It was totally spontaneous. I had been training the no-hand goiter from time to time when the opportunity came up during sessions, but it wasnt something I was specifically preparing for in competition. Even though I knew I wanted to land one in a contest someday, I wasnt ready to do it at the beginning of the season, especially with the consistency I had at the time. During my heat, I got a wave that was a bit different from the others and I started thinking about what I could do with it. I wanted to do a wave with a lot of combinations, but it didnt really allow for that. So, I thought, What can I do to improve my score? and decided to go for a big move. Even if I fell, I felt like it wouldnt impact my heat too much, so thats what pushed me to go for it.WINDSURF: What did it feel like when you landed it so perfectly?ANTOINE MARTIN: Wow, it was incredible. The moment I put my hands back on the boom and the board started sliding, I already knew I had landed it, even before finishing the manoeuvre. Then I started hearing the crowd going wild and I got this huge adrenaline rush. My celebration just came straight from the heart. It was pure excitement. The only downside was that I got so hyped afterward that I could barely land anything else. I think I was a bit overhyped! Luckily, I already had my scores.WINDSURF: Did that boost your confidence that you could go on and win the event?ANTOINE MARTIN: It definitely gave me a boost but there are so many factors that come into play. I was really focused on everything I did throughout the event and gradually raised my level, but I wasnt at my absolute best in every round. So, for me, it wasnt something that made me feel like I had the event in the bag. In competitions at that level, nothing is guaranteed.. .you have to question yourself in every single heat.WINDSURF: What was that new board you were riding?ANTOINE MARTIN: Its a funny story. That board was shaped for me last year for light wind conditions. Its a 90L board, which is quite big for me since Im a lighter rider. I brought it to Guadeloupe to train but ended up lending it to a friend for the whole winter, while I was mostly riding a smaller board. So, I barely used it.Before leaving for Hawaii, I wasnt even planning to bring it, but my friend insisted so I decided last minute to take it just in case. During the contest, even though there were waves, the wind was quite onshore and tricky, so I had to use a bigger board. Since I only had smaller ones with me, I went for that one. It wasnt my first choice and I didnt know it very well, but as the heats went on, I started to understand it better and really enjoy it. In the end, I used it all the way to the final and Im really happy with that decision.WINDSURF: How did it feel to be a part of the Goya Quatro team at the event?ANTOINE MARTIN: Im stoked to be part of the team. It was a choice I made last year and Im still really happy with it today. What I really appreciate is having your sponsor support you directly during an event. Ive had sponsors in different countries before and distance makes things different compared to direct face-to-face interactions.Having the whole team on the beach, making sure everything is set up so you feel good and well-equipped for the competition, takes a big weight off your shoulders. Its one less thing to think about and it allows you to focus even more on your performance.Quatro BoardsGoya WindsurfingThe post ANTOINE MARTIN: REWRITING THE RULEBOOK appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

The post Head of the Dart SUP Challenge 2026: Fast Times, Tight Racing appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

JP MAGIC WAVEJP MAGIC WAVEThe 2026 JP Magic Wave is the brands compact, ultra-versatile wave boardrefined and ready to perform across a huge range of conditions. JP has given us a closer look at whats new for the latest version and how the updates translate on the water.Weve also included links to the excellent Windsurfer Magazine test, along with valuable insights from top riders Robby Swift and Morgan Noireaux. They break down how they set up the Magic Wave, when they reach for it, and the conditions where it really shines.JP MAGIC WAVESome brands aim for Mars. We aimed for something harder: a wave board that works everywhere.Wave conditions are wildly diversefrom messy onshore ramps to clean down-the-line walls and building one board that excels in all of them is the real space race. The new Magic Wave is our breakthrough. Compact, versatile, and now even lighter in S-TEC, it accelerates earlier, jumps higher and carves with more flow and precision than ever.A refined outline and bottom shape deliver full control in radical turns and rotations, while the updated design dramatically broadens the usable range. Hard-core or soft-core wave spots, big ramps or small wind-blown nuggetsWHATS NEWUPDATED OUTLINE:brings new balance between control and manoeuvrability.MORE CENTERED BALANCE POINT:allows quicker rotations and more radical transitions on the wave.SLIGHTLY NARROWER NOSE:adds precision without compromising overall stability.MORE PARALLEL TAIL OUTLINE:adds grip and precision, supporting both front and back foot riding styles.WIDER TAIL WITH THE FAMILIAR SWALLOW:improves early planing and enhances manoeuvrability, especially for radical turns in smaller waves.STANCE AND FIN BOXES SHIFTED FURTHER BACK:for powerful back foot turns while maintaining exceptional control on the wave. The Magic Wave adapts, performs, and keeps pushing higher.Robby Swift:The original Magic Wave was a breakthrough board for me, one board that let me ride anywhere from Sylt to the Canary Islands and even small days at Hookipa comfortably and perform well. Challenging ourselves to create a worthy replacement took five years of hard work and the new Magic Wave incorporates lessons learned from the Ultimate Wave. The result was worth the wait. The new S-TEC construction made them some of the lightest production boards Ive ever felt.Windsurfer Magazine test:Windsurf Magazine OnlineJP MAGIC WAVE S-TEC 85L REVIEW | WINDSURFER MAGAZINE | Windsurf Magazine Online JP MAGIC WAVE S-TEC 85L REVIEW | WINDSURFER MAGAZINE, JP Australia Magic Wave test reviewIN THE BOARDROOMWindsurf Magazine OnlineJP MAGIC WAVE S-TEC: IN THE BOARDROOM WITH ROBBY SWIFT AND MORGAN NOIREAUX | Windsurf Magazine Online JP MAGIC WAVE S-TEC: IN THE BOARDROOM WITH ROBBY SWIFT AND MORGAN NOIREAUX, JP Australia, NeilPryde, windsurf magazine, Robby Swift, Morgan NoireauxThe post JP MAGIC WAVE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

For more information visit here: https://www.cokethorpe.org/Cokethorpe pupils complete 125-mile international canoe race during Easter weekendPupils from the leading co-educational independent Cokethorpe School completed a gruelling 125-mile canoe race during the Easter weekend.Four pupils from the Witney-based school finished the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race, renowned as the Canoeists Everest.The unique annual challenge, which starts in Wiltshire and ends in London, has taken place over the Easter weekend since 1948. This year, competitors from Cokethorpe completed the endurance challenge over a four-day window, navigating 77 locks along the way.The mission included three nights of independent camping and early starts, including a 03.15 wake-up call to align with the tides. The route included paddling past Windsor Castle and the Houses of Parliament.Oli Tribble and Josh Rosenow placed 16th overall in the junior category, while Ben Picking and Evie Walker came in at 33rd.Sarah Squire, Head of Cokethorpe School, said: Our pupils were utterly amazing and have made not just themselves, but the entire school, proud of their determined efforts.The race was a true endurance test of both physical and mental stamina, and everyone involved learned so much about resilience and teamwork.What made their achievement more remarkable is that three of them are in Year 11, so are revising for their GCSEs during the Easter holidays, and all four only started kayaking in Year 9 through the school.It was fantastic to join the parents, pupils and their families in Marlow to cheer them on. It was a challenge for the parents, too, who navigated the route by car to meet the participants at each portage.International Canoe Race is organised by the Devizes to Westminster Organisation Ltd, a not-for-profit which charges all competitors a race entry fee to cover the cost of running the event. Paddlers have raised an estimated 2 million for charity over the years.Cokethorpe pupils enjoyed a busy Easter period, taking part in various co-curricular activities, including a skiing trip for Prep School children, a rugby weekend in Sedbergh, and sports residential trips to Bournemouth and Cardiff.It is an independent, co-educational day school for children aged four to 18, located on a beautiful 150-acre parkland site near Witney, Oxfordshire.Founded in 1957 and becoming co-ed in 1992, it provides a research-informed education in a happy, rural environment that caters for and celebrates a diverse range of talents.

CRAZY NEW FREESTYLE MOVES! PWA 2025 RECAP!CRAZY NEW FREESTYLE MOVES! PWA 2025 RECAP!The PWA look back at some of the crazy new freestyle moves that went down on the tour last seasonand that brings us to the questionWill the riders take things to new heights this season? No doubt they will of course, but for now, lets enjoy some of the inspirational moves the riders pulled out of the bag in 2025!PWA: With so many new moves dropping in the 2025 season, we asked the riders behind the moves to break it down and share their inspiration for the moves. From double moves and unique combos to the first ever triple power move ever seen on the PWA World Tour some crazy stuff went down. Where will this leave us going into the 2026 season? Balz Muller dropped some interesting thoughts about the conflicts between innovation and competition and gives us a sneak peak into some of the things hes working on for this year!The post CRAZY NEW FREESTYLE MOVES! PWA 2025 RECAP! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.