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SCORE MORE, STRESS LESS: CHILE WAVE CAMPS WITH FINN MELLONSCORE MORE, STRESS LESS: CHILE WAVE CAMPS WITH FINN MELLONOver recent years, Chile has been put on the map by the epic IWT/ PWA tour events and as a consequence become a wave sailing location that many of us dream aboutendless left-hand point breaks, relentless Surazo (south) winds and miles of untouched coastline. For Finn Mellon, that dream became reality a few years ago and ultimately something worth sharing.What started as a one-off trip to the evet in Matanzas, quickly turned into a vision to bring others into that world through his guided wave camps in Matanzas. Blending world-class conditions with his acquired local knowledge, logistics dialled in and a crew of like-minded ridersFinns trips offer more than just great sailingthey deliver a full immersion into one of the most incredible wave sailing destinations on the planet.THE DREAMFINN MELLON: Three years ago, I travelled to Chile for the first time. It had always been somewhere in the back of my minda place I associated with perfect, sand-bottom left-hand point breaks and long, peeling waves. That dream became reality when Lucas Meldrum floated the idea of heading there for an upcoming World Cup event. I didnt need convincing, I was in immediately.We were lucky enough to stay with Victor Fernandez in the beautiful Chilean home he shares with Klaas Voget. Both Victor and Klaas were early adopters of the region, buying property there over 14 years agolong before Chile became a serious destination on the windsurfing map.Victor showed us around Matanzas and the surrounding coastline, and from day one it was clear this place was special.THE CHILE ROUTINELife quickly fell into a rhythmand it was an amazing one. Early starts chasing the morning wind. Long sessions on the water. Then the drive back to Matanzas for an evening sail, followed by beers in a wood-fired hot tub, swapping stories as the sun disappeared over the Pacific. As daily routines go, it doesnt get much better.That first sojourn remains one of the most enjoyable windsurf trips Ive ever experienced and more importantly, one of the most memorable.FROM TRIP TO VISIONThat feelingpure windsurf stoke, in such an incredible locationis something I knew I had to share.This year, I set up two Windsurf Wave Trips in Matanzas. The idea was simple: a 10-day experience where you live the windsurf lifestyle like the pros. Everything is taken care offrom logistics and planning to choosing the right spots each dayso the guests can focus entirely on scoring the best conditions possible. I would say this type of windsurf camp is more of a windsurf experience and guided tour rather than an out and out full coaching course. Of course I still give coaching pointers and we run video analysis of our daily windsurf clips but I would say the main focus and goal for me is to provide a once In a lifetime type trip for you In one of the worlds most amazing places. And maybe so easy that it doesnt have to be once in a lifetime!And one of the biggest surprises? Doing it this way often works out significantly more affordable than trying to organise a Chile trip solo.MORE THAN JUST A TRIPThese camps arent just about sailing incredible waves, theyre about the full experience.From scoring world-class sessions on endless left-hand point breaks, to sharing houses with like-minded riders, exploring remote waves and immersing yourself in Chiles unique coastal cultureit is designed as a trip that goes far beyond windsurfing.But dont just take my word for it.VOICES FROM THE WAVE CAMPSTo get a better picture of what the experience is really like, I caught up with a few of the riders who joined me on these trips. From first impressions to standout sessions, their stories give a real insight into what makes Chileand these wave camps.so special.SANDY RAMUS SOUTH COAST WINDSURFERFor Sandy, the trip was about finally turning a long-held idea into reality.You hit a point in your windsurfing lifesomewhere north of 50, when one day needs to become this season. That moment came over a Guinness with Finn after a clinic in Brandon Bay. He just said: Chile, mate. A few months later, we had a crew, a plan and Chile 2026 was on.Arriving in Matanzas, the tone was set immediately, clifftop accommodation, empty beaches and a tight-knit coastal community.This wasnt a hotelit was our mission headquarters.But it was the sailing that defined the trip.Turning the corner and seeing that point break for the first time was unreal, logo-high waves peeling perfectly down the line. Two-kilometre rides, four-hour sessions and it just kept delivering. Without question, the best down-the-line wave sailing Ive ever experienced.OLLIE SARGENTOllie hadnt even considered Chile before the tripbut quickly realised how accessible it was.Id never thought of Chile as a windsurf destination, but it was way easier than expectedflight via Madrid, a short transfer from Santiago to Matanzas and youre there.What stood out most was the setting and overall experience.Its an incredible place, amazing food, clean beaches, friendly people, and our house overlooking the ocean was unreal.And on the water, it exceeded everything.We had three days at this spot a couple of hours drive South of Matanzas where we were staying. They were, without question the best windsurfing conditions Ive ever sailed: mast high peeling waves, consistent cross-off 4.5m wind, a sandy beach (no reef), blue water and sunshine. Followed by ceviche and beer overlooking the surf!Even the intimidating reputation didnt quite match reality.Its less terrifying than you think. The waves are big, but once you understand the spot, it was manageable and having Finn there made a huge difference.SARAH JACKSONFor Sarah, Chile had been on the radarbut the logistics were the barrier.Id thought about going for years, but its not a straightforward trip. Multiple locations, off-road driving its not like the Canaries. Seeing Finns trip made it an easy decision.The reality? Challengingbut rewarding.The sailing was harder than I expected, bigger waves and lighter winds, but that made it more rewarding. Having Finn there to guide us and put us in the right spots meant we scored way more than I would have alone. The challenge made it more rewarding and knowing Finn was keeping an eye on me and also putting us in the right places to score the best conditions made a huge difference. I know I wouldnt have scored as many days if I wasnt with Finn!And off the water, staying with a group of passionate windsurfers makes a huge difference too. It was so much more enjoyable to be with friends and likeminded people. Some of the people in the group I knew in advance and others I didnt but windsurfing brings people together and it was fun to be around other people with a similar level for the trip.And the group dynamic played a big role.Being with other windsurfers made it. It pushes your level and makes the whole experience more fun.My standout momentPichilemu was amazingyou can just ride forever and on the shoulder theres almost no consequences so you can grow your confidence and decide how deep you want to ride. This is such a win and makes for so much fun, especially in new places. A lot of the best waves in the world come with a pretty high tax (e.g. the rocks in Hookipa) which definitely saps some of the enjoyment factor, but Pichilemu is just dreamland. Endless waves and a fun crowd is the perfect recipe for the best sessions ever!LESSONS LEARNEDMatt Scott: I learnt that its totally worth the effort to travel to the best waves in the world! Having windsurfed for almost 40 years, its incredibly rare and rewarding to ride perfect waves in the sunshine with friends. Finding those waves would be impossible without Finn guiding us.My other learning is dont be afraid to get deep and start your bottom turn in the white water to stay in the pocket! And lastly, learning to aerial in your 50s is totally possible!!Ola Pettersson: I would say I improved my general wave sailing focusing on my stance on the board, looking down the line in front of the sail, actually getting onto the better waves, and riding them in the better sections!THE VERDICTAcross the board, the feedback is consistent: Chile delivers.Its not the easiest destinationbut thats part of what makes it special. With the right guidance, it becomes one of the most rewarding wave sailing experiences out there.And with Finn Mellon leading the way, its not just about finding good conditions, its about making sure you score the sessions you came for.CAPE TOWN VERSUS CHILEIf you are toying with the idea of either Cape Town or Chile here are the views from Sarah Jackson and Finn Mellon Sarah Jackson: Both locations have a lot of opportunities to sail different locations and having a guide definitely helps in both, especially if you havent been before. I havent done Finns clinic with Dieter in Cape Town, but they are known for being the crew that are always scoring! Ive done quite a few trips to Cape Town so Im a bit more in the loop and get the info from the locals on wheres going to work each day but if you dont have that then you can really lose a lot of sailing days in both places! Conditions wise, they couldnt be more different to me!I dont head down south of the city much in Cape Town so the conditions are mostly bump and jump with some fun wave days, but you can almost always find somewhere to score. Chile is the oppositeit is all or nothing, but when its on, its epic! Which would do I prefer? That is hard to say! I think Chile offers so much more with big waves and performance riding whereas Cape Town is a lot friendlier conditions. Both have good steak, good wine and a fair bit of driving involved if you want to score the best spots, so ultimately it depends on which conditions youre looking for!Fin Mellon: Cape Town is a solid comparison to Chile, as almost everyone heads to Cape Town for their winter windsurf trip nowadays. Surprisingly Chile,is not that much more expensive than a trip to Cape Town. Flights are actually cheaper to Chile than Cape Town. Accommodation costs are pretty similar, food is more expensive than Cape Town that is for sure. Once you are in Chile, I would compare the cost of living similar but slightly cheaper than Ireland and the UK.More info about Finns camp here!Finn Mellon Coaching Wave CampsCHILE WAVE CAMP VIDEOThe post SCORE MORE, STRESS LESS: CHILE WAVE CAMPS WITH FINN MELLON appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

THURSO OR BUSTTHURSO OR BUSTJohn Carter and Timo Mullen are no strangers to punishing road trips and when it comes to chasing waves, their fear of missing out (FOMO) is relentless. Drawn by the promise of a 7.5m swell and screaming northwest winds, the duo set their sights on Thurso, Scotland, embarking on yet another wild mission to score that elusive session!Photos: John CarterClick any photo to scroll and enlargebest viewed on a big screen!THE CALL OF THE NORTHWhen you scan a winter swell chart for UK, theres almost always somewhere going ballistic. Most sane people stick to obsessing over their local breaksnot eyeing up waves at the complete opposite end of the country, like its a casual day trip. But if you want it badly enough, there are sessions to be scored somewhere. The catch? Eye-watering fuel costs (especially at the momentThanks D.T!), endless miles on the road and the very real possibility of a full-blown skunking that can leave you crying in your beer and deflated for weeks.Sothe question is: how much is scoring epic windsurfing worth to you? Are you willing to roll the dice, torch your bank account, and gamble it all for a shot at a once in a lifetime session? Are you hungry enough or like the Motley Creware you stupid enough!For JC and Timo, the decision was a no-brainer. A heaving 7m swell with a 17-second period lit up the charts for Thursoand that was all it took to alert the infamous Motley Crew red phone into a frenzy. Within moments of total disregard for rational thinking, logic was out the window, the van was packed and another completely unhinged mission to the wild north coast of Scotland was underway.JOHN CARTERMAUI OR MADNESS?I must admit before this trip I was already toying with the possibility of flying out to Maui to go shoot the Maui Pro Am, which was another kind of ludicrous scheme, as I was planning to go for a mere five days. But as I was hovering over the confirm button on United Airlines, a message Timo pinged up on the phone mentioning Thurso and a 7m swell. I was intrigued. Now Maui or Scotland (in March), I am not sure which location most would choose, but I was actually drawn in by the thought of chasing something wild in Scotland as opposed to shooting the best in the world shredding Hookipa. I guess its officialI must be a glutton for punishment. The allure of the storm chase or the FOMO of missing it, had me hooked. The fuel bill alone for the Scottish Sojourn, was enough to make your eyes water. But Timo, ever the optimist, figured if we kipped in the van, we could just about make it work. Our original plan and I use that term loosely was to roll out of Southampton at 7am on Friday, squeeze in a session somewhere in Northumberland that afternoon, push on to Thurso, score all day Saturday and still be back on the south coast in time for a Sunday roast. Simple, right?In reality, it was a brutally ambitious schedule, stitched together with caffeine, blind optimism and a complete disregard for comfort. There were definitely going to be moments that felt less like a road trip and more like torture.But Thurso it only happens a few times a year. Its one of my favourite spots to shoot and the charts were lighting up with this mega swellproper, full-throttle conditions. The kind that could deliver an all-time session while quietly hinting it might also be a complete write-offWhat if it was too big? Too wild? Too out of control?Then again, if anyone was going to give it a crack regardless you could always count on Timo.So, for various personal as well as professional reasons, I ditched a week trip to Maui in exchange for a three-day mission to Scotland where we would be sleeping in the van and driving nearly 1500 miles. Now sometimes you really do have to question your own sanityright?THE LONG ROAD NORTHEn route to Bantham we stopped for an obligatory photo at the Angel of the North and to let Timos dog, Teddy stretch his legs. By the time we hit Bamburgh mid-afternoon, reality had already started chipping away at the dream.Forecast: 1.6m swell.Reality: 1.6cm waves.The wind was howling, the castle looked majestic, the light was perfectbut there were absolutely no waves. Classic.After another five hours driving later, bringing the days tally to about ten hours Timo was toast and decided to pull over on the side of the road, just after Inverness to sleep. At this stage huddled up in a sleeping bag in the back of the van with Teddy at my feet, the thought of Maui started to sound quite appealing once again. Maui over Scotland was definitely the ongoing theme here.The next morning it was icy outside (Maui was in the mid 80s) and we were up at 7am, ready to hit the road for the final two hour stretch to Thurso. The sun was shinning and I was already feeling a bit guilty that we were not already on location to catch the first light. We were not running with our normal military precision, that was for sure! Around 9.30am, we finally pulled into Thurso, which is apparently home to the founder of the Boys Brigade according to the sign at the entrance to town, and headed straight to Tesco to grab the obligatory breakfast bapa stalwart tradition after our past few trips up here. Our first glance of the ocean from the Tesco carpark revealed walls of white water breaking across Thurso BayIt looked massive. Or were we seeing a wavy mirage through our tired eyeswe would soon find out!Finally, we pulled into a spot we call The Spur just outside of town. You have to drive down a long narrow track and through a few farmers gates but once you get to the little bay at the bottom the detour is always well worth it. Not surprisingly we were totally alone at the spot. No other idiot would be stupid enough to drive up to Scotland in March for a 7m swell and 40 knot winds. The swell was not quite as big as we had hoped after seeing that white water in Thurso Bay. To be fair it was still over mast high and solid, but we had been hoping for double mast high and out of control. The wind was howling however, the sun was shining and it was still looking epic, so we could not really complain too much.DRONE VERSUS SCOTTISH WINDWhile Timo rigged up, I launched the drone. Big mistake. Getting it out over the break was easy. Turning it around was a different story. The wind had other ideas. Full throttle on the controller and the drone just hovered there like it had given up on life. The battery was dropping and my panic levels rising. Eventually, I steered it lowjust above the waterand crawled it back at a tediously slow rate. Somehow, it survived.HAIL, WIND & COMMITMENTTimo headed out on his Duotone 3.7m and 84L Grip and was soon out in the thick of the chaos looking to drop in on the biggest sets he could find. The temp was a frosty 7 degrees and once again the thought of landing in Maui to balmy temperatures crossed my mind.Timo seemed a tad underpowered on the 3.7m and lasted for about an hour before a crazy squall hit sent hailstones the size of marbles hammering from the sky. But at least we were underway with some action in the bag. Surely, we would score plenty more before the day was done. Or would we?THE CLASSIC MISTAKEThe next few hours were more than frustrating. We had always planned to sail at least two spotsmaybe three, so we packed up at The Spur and went exploring. For one reason or another, most of the other breaks just didnt look quite right. Meanwhile, the sun was shining, the waves were firing and the clock was tickingwe ended up just driving from break to break wasting precious time. In shortwe achieved absolutely nothing.There is one saying that I always kind of remember from the past isNEVER LEAVE WIND AND WAVES! We left wind and waves!RAW REDEMPTONEventually, we crawled back down the track to The Spur. It didnt look amazing. But wed learned our lesson and stuck with it. Timo rigged a 4.0 and headed out.Then it happened. The clouds lifted. The light turned on. The sets started stacking. For the next hour, Thurso delivered clean, powerful lines, mast-high plus sets and that magical, crystal-clear Scottish light! It was proper raw conditions. Unforgettable. This was the moment wed driven 1,500 miles for. Then, as if on cue, the hail returned to shut it all down.Once again, we broke the golden rule and started driving and looking at spots again. But this time the cloud lingered and there was nothing on offer to outdo what we had just scored.OF COURSE THERES MOREOn the way up Timo had been casually mentioning skiing quite a bit into the conversation, which seemed a bit oddSuddenly on the way out of Thurso I figured why. Apparently, there has been some fresh dumps of snow in the Aviemore region. Most people would call it after the session in Thurso. Not Timo. Hidden in the van: skis, helmet the works.Next stop: Aviemore.Fresh snow. Blue skies. One more session this time riding slopes not waves. Because apparently, one extreme sport per trip for Timo just isnt enough.SO WAS IT WORTH IT?With all boxes tickedwindsurfing, skiing, mild psychological damage, we faced the final challenge: A 10-hour drive back to Southampton. Somewhere around hour six, Maui crept back into my thoughts again. Warm water. Palm trees. Hookipa. Hmmm. But heres the thing. Trips like this rarely make sense on paper. Theyre expensive, exhausting and finely balanced on the knife-edge between scoring and complete failure.But every now and then, everything lines upjust enough to remind you why you do it. The cold. The chaos. The uncertainty. That one session. And suddenly, it all makes sense.Maui will still be there. But ThursoThurso only goes ballistic a few times a year. And this timeWe were there!As it turned out, by the time I got home the Maui Pro Am still hadnt even started, bad weather had halted proceedings. Hawaii was still on the tableBut then a fresh forecast lit up in Cornwall. And just like that here we go again!The post THURSO OR BUST appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

FIJI BEHIND THE SCENES: PAUL VAN BELLENFIJI BEHIND THE SCENES: PAUL VAN BELLENPaul van Bellen captures some interesting behind the scenes moments that you dont usually see from the Fiji Wave Classicfrom life on the beach to the raw reactions of sailors returning to the mainland after an unforgettable day on the water.The post FIJI BEHIND THE SCENES: PAUL VAN BELLEN appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

The post 2026 Duotone SUP Paddle Range First Look / Our Off and On-Water Feedback appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

WINDSURF TRAVEL HACKS: LENNART NUEBAUERWINDSURF TRAVEL HACKS: LENNART NUEBAUERLennart Neubauer guides us through check in the latest of our latest Windsurf Travel Hacks series.LENNART NEUBAUERMy top travel hacks:LN: Always register windsurf equipment in advance by calling the airline. Be at the airport at least 2 / 2.5 hours before departure.Make sure to check the airlines windsurf baggage policies! Some airlines example KLM and Ethiopian are stricter with checking weight etc.Always be friendly and patient at check in, theres a chance they have never seen windsurf equipment before.Avoid booking with multiple airlines, as you will get charger for both airlines meaning you pay the windsurf gear twice.A bonus hack: If you know youre overweight, but the board bag on the scale at the airport and lift it slightly with your heel. Dont forget to play it cool :)BOOKINGLN: I usually look for flights on Sky Scanner and then end up booking directly on the airlines website. That way, in case of delay or cancelled flight I can talk to the airline directly instead of dealing with a third-party company.PACKING LN: I always pack my board bag in a specific way. If its only one, Ill put the board on the bottom, following the sails, then the mast and at last the boom. You want to have the boom as far away from the board as possible, as its quite easy to damage the board with the boom head. If you want it extra light, leave out the sail bags, weighing a couple hundred grams each, that can quickly save a kilo. The harness you can put at the nose or tail of the board for extra protection.ONBOARDLN: For long haul flights, I always have a pillow, noise cancelling headphones and a lot of water with me. Top tip here. Put the pillow on the table in front for good sleeping position (reminds me of school). Also, I usually ware warm clothes as I easily get sick from the airplanes AC.SEATSLN: I almost always choose / buy seats at the isle. Im quite tall so I like stretching out my legs from time to time. Sitting at the window can be nice for a better sleeping position, but a bit annoying if you want to stand of from time to time. Try to avoid getting sandwiched in the middle if possible.CHECK INLN: For the sweet talk, its good to be respectful and not too pushy at first, especially if you have time. If asked how much it weighs, never say the real weight, if you know youre overweight. If the limit is 32kg and your bag is 35, say it weighs 28. Some airports for example in Athens, Greece dont weigh the bags, they just ask how much it weighs. Avoid saying the exactly 32kg, so they think your unaware of the limit, so at 28 for example they wont get suspicious mind games.TROLLEYSLN: For trolleys, I just load everything on to one trolley and proceed to say excuse me and sorry for about 100 times till I get to the check in counter!The post WINDSURF TRAVEL HACKS: LENNART NUEBAUER appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

FULL VASS SPOT GUIDE: GEORGE GRISLEYFULL VASSILIKI SPOT GUIDE: GEORGE GRISLEYIn his latest video, George Grisley gives us the inside track on his home spot Vassiliki Bay, which he reckons is the best windsurfing location in Greece! George explains how the wind works, when is the best time of year to visit and guides us around the centres including the legendary Club Vass!CLUB VASSThe post FULL VASS SPOT GUIDE: GEORGE GRISLEY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

Kayaker takes on epic south coast challenge to raise funds for the Nautical Archaeology SocietyKayaker, diver and maritime heritage advocate Alex Denny is set to undertake an extraordinary unsupported kayak expedition along Englands south coast to raise vital funds for the Nautical Archaeology Society.The South Coast Shipwreck Heritage Paddle will see Alex cover 44 nautical miles (50 miles / 81 kilometres) from his home in Brighton to Fort Cumberland, near Portsmouth, the headquarters of the Nautical Archaeology Society.Taking place between 6th-9th July, the challenge will require Alex to paddle the equivalent of a half-marathon each day, navigating one of Britains most historically significant stretches of coastline entirely under his own power.The stretch of coast from the Seven Sisters to the Solent hosts numerous historic and protected shipwrecks, including the Klein Hollandia, Holland 5 submarine, the Black Cat wreck, The Hazardous, and the A1 submarine. Many of these sites have been researched, documented, and protected through the work of the Nautical Archaeology Society and its network of volunteers, helping to preserve stories that might otherwise have been lost forever beneath the waves.For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by both history and the sea, says Alex Denny, who is also a Trustee of the Nautical Archaeology Society.Nautical archaeology brings those passions together in a unique way. It allows us to connect directly with our seafaring past, not just through written records, but through the remarkable traces that still survive beneath the water.Shipwrecks are extraordinary time capsules. Every wreck has a story waiting to be discovered, understood and protected. The Nautical Archaeology Society plays a vital role in safeguarding that heritage, and I wanted to take on a challenge that would help support that work.Alex chose the paddle because of its direct connection to the charitys mission and the rich maritime history of the coastline he will follow.I wanted to undertake something that felt genuinely meaningful and closely linked to the Societys work, he says. Kayaking from Brighton to Portsmouth seemed the perfect fit. Its a journey through historic waters, past harbours and wreck sites Ive dived myself, travelling slowly and under my own power. Its a powerful reminder of how deeply Britains history is connected to the sea.Funds raised through the challenge will provide the Nautical Archaeology Society with much-needed unrestricted funding one of the most difficult types of charitable income to secure, yet among the most valuable.These funds allow the Society to direct support to where it is needed most, helping deliver education programmes, community outreach, heritage protection initiatives, archaeological research and volunteer development. In doing so, the charity continues to inspire people of all ages to explore and protect Britains and the worlds rich maritime heritage.By supporting Alexs challenge, donors will help ensure that important stories from our shared past continue to be discovered, recorded, and preserved for future generations.To find out more or support Alexs South Coast Shipwreck Heritage Paddle, visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/heritagepaddleFor more information on the Nautical Archaeology Society, visit: www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/