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  • Join the 2026 SUPboarder Challenges! challenge 1 - get up and go!
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  • SUPBOARDERMAG.COM
    Chris Bertish Reflects on TransCat Expedition
    The post Chris Bertish Reflects on TransCat Expedition appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.
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    400km on Foil: Guy Bridges Epic Journey Along the South Coast of England
    The post 400km on Foil: Guy Bridges Epic Journey Along the South Coast of England appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.
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  • I'd Recommend This Kayak to Anyone... Almost | Delta 17 Review
    If you're shopping for a touring kayak that's fast, light, and comfortable enough to paddle all day, the Delta 17 deserves a serious ...
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  • WWW.WINDSURF.CO.UK
    NAVELA PROJECT: EPISODE 2
    NAVELA PROJECT: EPISODE 2NAVELA PROJECT: EPISODE 2Episode two of the awesome new documentary from the Navela Project is out now! Check out all the behind the scenes action from the Womens event in Pozo last summer!The Womens Wave Tour arrives at one of the most iconic and demanding windsurfing spots in the world: Pozo Izquierdo, Gran Canaria. This episode from the 2025 Pozo World Cup takes you behind the scenes of the event, following the worlds best female sailors as they prepare to compete in extreme conditions. Beyond the spectacular action on the water, discover the stories of fear, commitment, resilience, and the evolution of womens windsurfing through the voices of the athletes themselves.This is Part 2 of a four-part series following the Pozo World Cup 2025. Stay tuned for the next episodes as the competition unfolds and the battle for the podium intensifies.About NAVELA NAVELA is a documentary series following the Womens Wave Tour throughout the 2025 season. From Chile to Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Hawaii, the series captures not only world-class windsurfing, but also the inspiring stories, personalities, and journeys of the athletes behind the results. Whether youre passionate about windsurfing, sport, or powerful human stories, NAVELA offers an inside look at one of the worlds most spectacular sporting tours.Edited by Rafasoulart Directed & written by Sarah-Quita Offringa & Pauline KatzVoiceover by Sarah JacksonFootage by Rafasoulart / Alberto SorianoMusic by Epidemicsound / Artlist Sound Design by RafasoulartFEATURING Alexia Kiefer Quintana, Cori McFarlane, Daida Ruano Moreno, Elena Dominik, Julia Meijer, Justyna Sniady, Line Bang Wittrup, Lisa Wermeister, Lisa Kloster, Lizzlotte Schilling Andrew, Maria Schlin, Maria Morales Navarro, Maria Behrens, Milanka Linde, Natsuki Wakasa, Pauline Katz, Sol Degrieck, Sybille Bode, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Fumi Akita, Trine Gobisch, Lale Helena Derya, Emma Miron, Frida Miron, Isabel Van Noesel, Marcilio Browne, Victor Fernandez, Robby Swift, Dieter Van der Eyken, Lennart Neubauer, Bjorn DunkerbeckSUPPORTED BY Severne Windsurfing Starboard Windsurfing MB Boards PozoWinds LPWSThe post NAVELA PROJECT: EPISODE 2 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.
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    SUMMER HEATWINTER WAVES
    SUMMER HEATWINTER WAVESTIMO MULLENS IRISH SUMMER SWELL MISSIONSummer swells in Ireland are usually the stuff of wishful thinking. Forecasts often promise more than they deliver and with the Atlantic notoriously fickle at this time of year, most windsurfers would think twice before booking flights, arranging travel and gambling on a sketchy forecast.But when Timo Mullen spotted a window that had potential for a summer wave session at one of his favourite spots, he decided to take the chance.What started as a low-expectation mission turned into one of those rare sessions: sunny skies, strong wind, empty peaks and waves far bigger than anyone expected.We caught up with Timo to find out what made him pull the trigger, what he found when he arrived, and why sometimes the best sessions come from simply saying: Sod it, lets go.Photos: Tam Mullen and This_is_Sligo (Instagram)WINDSURF: What caused you to pull the trigger and book a flight last minute to Ireland?Timo Mullen: Well, actually, that was a funny one because I wasnt really watching the Ireland forecast too much. Its summertime and anytime you see a swell forecast in summer, its usually never quite as big as they say its going to be, so you dont normally make it a priority.I also had to be in Gwithian on the Saturday to do the changeover for my Airbnb, so my focus was on that. It was windy there anyway, so I knew Id be windsurfing regardless.But while I was cleaning the house, I thought to myself: You know what? Its summertimethis might be the only chance to go wave sailing on the west coast of Ireland this summer.So, I just thought, sod it, Ill book it.I paid a lot more than I normally would because it was summer, but I figured it was worth the gamble. I could have flown cheaper from Bristol, but it was only 50 extra to fly from Southampton, which is just 45 minutes from my house.The Southampton to Belfast flight with Aer Lingus is actually a great option. They allow you to take gear, and its only 45 each way for a 32kg bag, so 90 return, which is pretty decent.I knew Id get sailing anyway because it was windy, so even if the swell didnt arrive, Id still have a session. There was no wind forecast on the south coast, so I thought it was worth taking the chance.WINDSURF: What conditions were you expecting when you booked the trip?Timo Mullen: Honestly, I wasnt expecting much. The spot we go to is pretty fickle. If you want guaranteed conditions in winter, youd normally head to Magheroarty. But when the swell is less consistent, this spot actually picks up more swellit just rarely works. Maybe we only sail it two or three times a year.I was expecting head-high waves at the most. Maybe two to three foot, side shore, and probably quite a few surfers because there hadnt been much surf in Ireland for a couple of weeks. So yeah, expectations were pretty low!WINDSURF: What was your reaction when you arrived and saw the beach?Timo Mullen: My expectations were definitely low. With webcams these days, I checked the Bundoran webcam before leaving my mums house, and it looked pretty flatmaybe two foot maximum. So, I was pretty confident the forecast was going to be what I expected.But when I pulled up to the beach, it was absolutely pumping.It was logo-high, with some bigger sets coming through. It was windy tooreally windy. I rigged a 4.7m which is rare for that spot. Normally youre on a 5.3m or bigger, so that gives you an idea of how windy it was. It was also sunny, which is super rare there. I literally couldnt rig up quick enough.WINDSURF: How was the session?Timo Mullen: Action-wise, I got a couple of good aerials and some nice cutbacks, but the best thing about that spot is the smooth bottom turns you get. Theyre big, steep bowls that you drop into. Because the wind was a little onshore, you dont get as much of an open faceit becomes more of a shoulder, but it was still really good.The swell just kept building too. There were some proper waves coming throughmast-high sets for sure.WINDSURF: Who else was out and talk us through your best waves?Timo Mullen: There were a few of the local crew aroundFinn, Colin Harris and Danalthough they were all out at different times. Colin had a really good winging session in the morning. The wind was slightly more side-off then, and I reckon that would have been an amazing windsurfing session too. Dan Keeley joined me halfway through my session.Rob Creane, whos from Dublin, doesnt really sail that much, but he came down and gave it a go. He had a couple of nice waves too. My brother Finn had his daughters dance final all day, but he still managed to get a great cross-off beach break session at nearby Streedegh later on and he said it was amazing. My brother Tam also joined me to come and film as well as a local photographer, Instagram handle, this is SligoIt was good to see Tom Bennett Lloyd. I dont know if anyone remembers Tom from, he won the amateurs for quite a few years in Tiree. Tom lives out in Ireland now and he came along for a session as well.For my best waves, my second wave when I first went out was probably the one that stands out. The wind was still a bit more southwest and I got a couple of really nice turns. Then the swell started building and halfway through the session there were some proper bombs coming through.I had one wave that was well over mast high. I got an amazing view of it and I also had a couple of smaller but really fun ones. One right-hander came through, which is unusual there and I managed to smack the lip. That was a pretty special one.WINDSURF: What gear were you riding?Timo Mullen: I was on my Duotone 94-litre Ultra Grip and the Super Hero D/LAB 4.7m.The 94 quad is my go-to board in Ireland. It just works everywhere. Even with different spots and conditions, its ridiculously easy to sail.WINDSURF: Looking back, was the gamble worth it?Timo Mullen: Yeah, 100%. Definitely worth it. My other option was going to go to Rhosniegr because there was a Gwithian demo day happening on the Saturday and I was going to head up for the Sunday. But it turned out they didnt even run the demo on Sunday, so I had actually got the dates wrong. That would have been a disaster if Id gone there. Instead, I got an amazing Ireland trip.I even got up super early on Monday morning and sailed Magheroarty on my own from around 8am until 10:30. That was super good fun5.3m conditions with chest to head-high waves on the beach break. So, I managed to squeeze another session out of the trip.TAKING THE CHANCE!Timos Ireland mission is a reminder that some of the best sessions dont come from perfect forecasts or guaranteed conditions. They come from taking the chance.A questionable summer swell, a last-minute flight, and a bit of optimism turned into one of those rare Irish days: sunshine, strong wind, and waves that were far bigger than anyone expected. The gamble paid off.The post SUMMER HEATWINTER WAVES appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.
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    Monthly Round-up of SUP / June 2026
    The post Monthly Round-up of SUP / June 2026 appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.
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  • WWW.WINDSURF.CO.UK
    MAYO MAYHEM 2026
    MAYO MAYHEM 2026MAYO MAYHEM 2026Registration is officially open for the Mayo Mayhem event in Ireland which is scheduled for the 25th 27th September 2026, with a a rollover set for the 2nd 4th October. This year there will be a dedicated under 18 fleet as well as over 5000 prize money and over 3000 worth of sponsored equipment and prizes! Looks like it will be an epic event as usualall the details on how to enter are below!Bookings Open for Mayo Mayhem 2026 Irelands Premier Wave Windsurfing Event Returns for its 9th EditionMayo, Ireland Bookings are now officially open for Mayo Mayhem 2026, powered by RWE, as Irelands flagship wave windsurfing competition returns for its ninth edition.Recognised as one of the countrys leading windsurfing events, Mayo Mayhem once again holds 3-Star World Wave Tour (WWT) and Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) World Tour ranking status, attracting top Irish and international wave sailors to the spectacular Atlantic coastline of County Mayo.Building on the success of previous years, the 2026 event introduces several exciting developments designed to improve the competition experience while continuing to encourage new participation in the sport.New Under-18 FleetOne of the biggest additions for 2026 is the introduction of a dedicated Under-18 Fleet, with free entry for all junior competitors. The initiative aims to encourage the next generation of Irish wave sailors by providing young riders with the opportunity to compete in a professionally organised international event.Competition numbers will also remain capped at 24 riders per fleetacross the Pro, Pro-Am and Womens divisions, ensuring maximum water time and a high-quality competition experience.Event FormatMayo Mayhem operates on a forecast-based format to guarantee the best possible wind and wave conditions.Primary Event Window:25 27 September 2026Rollover Window:2 4 October 2026Should conditions not materialise during either window, organisers may announce an additional rollover later in the season.The competition will once again be held in either Achill Islandor Belmullet, with the final venue confirmed just days before the event based on the best available forecast.Over 5,000 Prize MoneyCompetitors will battle for:The Mayo Mayhem Champion titleTheir name engraved on the iconic Mayo Mayhem Battle AxeIrish Windsurfing Association (IWA) ranking pointsOfficial WWT and PWA World Tour ranking pointsMore than 5,000 in prize moneyOver 3,000 worth of sponsored equipment and prizesCustom Mayo Mayhem trophiesThe Mikey Clancy Future Pro TrophyProfessional photography, video and drone coveragePrize money includes:Gold & Womens Fleet1st: 1,0002nd: 6003rd: 300Silver Fleet1st: 5002nd: 3003rd: 150More Than Just a CompetitionMayo Mayhem has earned a reputation for combining world-class competition with a welcoming atmosphere that appeals to riders of all abilities.Entry includes rescue cover, lunch and refreshments, event T-shirt, evening entertainment, and the opportunity to sail some of Irelands best wave locations alongside many of the countrys top windsurfers.If the competition is held on Achill Island, competitors will also enjoy the atmosphere created by the popular Battle for the Lake Festival, adding even more excitement to the weekend.Perfect for First-Time CompetitorsThe event is designed to welcome newcomers as well as experienced competitors.Organisers encourage anyone who can waterstart, gybe and is beginning to jump to take part, with experienced sailors available throughout the weekend to offer guidance and encouragement.Spectators, recreational sailors and non-competitors are also encouraged to attend, with plenty of opportunities for free sailing alongside the competition.Registration Now OpenEntry costs 70, or 50 for students, while Under-18 competitors enter free of charge.Places are limited to 24 competitors per fleet, and last years event reached capacity well before registration closed.All competitors must hold current Irish Windsurfing Association membership or provide proof of suitable insurance.Registration is now open at:www.mayomayhem.ie/registerMedia ContactMalcolm ScottPhone: 087 637 6412Email: info@apt.ieWebsite: www.mayomayhem.ieThe post MAYO MAYHEM 2026 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.
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    TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH ROBBY SWIFT
    TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH... ROBBY SWIFTTWENTY QUESTIONS WITHROBBY SWIFTAfter more than two decades at the very highest level of windsurfing, Robby Swift is entering a new chapterone that combines family life, business coaching and still plenty of time chasing perfect waves. From the challenges of stepping away from full-time competition to pushing his limits at Jaws, testing boards, training with Mauis elite sailors and finding new motivation away from the tour, Robby shares his thoughts on the sport, the future of professional windsurfing, and what keeps him fired up to keep pushing his sailing!Photos: Fish Bowl DiariesMaleen HoekstraJohn Carter/ PWAWINDSURF: You just got back from Fiji, tell us how the trip worked out for you?ROBBY SWIFT: FIJICloudbreak in Fiji is probably the best place on earth to windsurf on a wave. Its just insane how good the conditions are there. I had decided not to compete in international events this year, but when I heard about Fiji, I couldnt pass up the opportunity to sail in my favourite wave with just a couple of other people out, so I knew I had to go.The conditions this year were even more insane than we have ever had in the past. The waves were pumping and it was extremely windy (borderline too windy at times with the offshore angle of the wind this year)!I stayed on a catamaran with Morgan, Antoine and Camille and it was a fantastic choice. We were out there all day and could pick and choose the best moments to hit the reef. We got in plenty of surfing, sailing and fishing and had an awesome time during the event.I had a bit of a hard first heat, being seeded alongside Jaeger Stone and I had just had one of the worst wipeouts of my life before the heat started, so I had had a bit of the confidence knocked out of me before that heat started. I managed to pick out some good waves though and rode the first ones pretty conservatively but managed to rack up some OK scores. I then waited for a big set at the end and was able to pick off the best wave of my heat for my last wave. Jaeger was on the first wave of the set and I saw him go for a big aerial so I knew I had to go for it on this one. I ended up hitting the first section and getting lifted way up in the air and just about managing to hang on and land it right in the bowling barrel of the wave, did my best not to nose-dive and then squeezed in 1 more turn before the wave closed out. Jaeger had hit the second section of his wave and fallen, and it turned out in the end that that was the wave that broke his foot, so I was really sad for him that he didnt make it. That was the highlight of the event for me, hitting that aerial, probably one of the highest of my life, and managing to hold onto it through that gnarly barrelling section.Unfortunately I think all the judges were looking at Jaegers crash right when I was doing the aerial so I only got a 4.5 for my wave (you will have seen Jaegers crash on Paul Van Bellens video, so I know why everyone was looking at that), and I didnt make it through the heat but I was proud of myself for going for it and happy that I pulled it off. Hoping for a speedy recovery for Jaeger as it was awesome to see him in the water again. I had had a close up view of his insane wave before the heat, with an aerial and 2 amazing turns, so I knew I had my work cut out for me and it was inspiring to see him on the water!Having not made it to the semi finals, I had to watch the rest of the event from our boat and I was blown away by the pure adrenaline charging of all the guys. It was really, really heavy out there and everyone put on an amazing show, with no safe-sailing at all.Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to the event crew for putting on this incredible spectacle. Thanks to the local Fijian crew @fijisurfco for their ongoing support of this amazing event.WINDSURF: How was the winter season in Maui this season. Did you get to ride Jaws much?ROBBY SWIFT: This was probably one of the slowest winters I have ever seen on Maui. We did sail a bit, but the wind completely shut down for around 3 months so it was by far the worst windsurfing winter on Maui I have experienced since 2000.I sailed Jaws twice, it was as fun as always, but having been spoiled with 5-8 sessions up there the past few years, I was definitely left hoping for more next year!WINDSURF: Have you still got any bucket list destinations you would still like to go a mission and windsurf?ROBBY SWIFT: Yes, definitely. I am actually going to start working on my bucket list this summer. Im going to Indonesia for 4-6 weeks with the family and will be taking my windsurf gear so hopefully we will be able to do some good strike missions during that time!WINDSURF: What does it feel like now you dont have to go and compete in the Canary Islands this seasondo you feel a sense of freedom or will it be strange missing out?ROBBY SWIFT: I am definitely feeling weird about it. When Braw and Morgan go off to the other side of the island to train, I really miss it and it will be very strange watching the contests and not taking part in them. I am really happy that they are doing Fiji this year though, plus 2x events on Maui so if I do them and Chile, Ill still be doing enough of the tour to get a ranking so Im not 100% weened off it yet!WINDSURF: Who do you think has the best bottom turn in windsurfing and why?ROBBY SWIFT: I like Levis bottom turn is really solid. I would go with him.WINDSURF: What four guys would you like to take on a trip to Fiji and why?ROBBY SWIFT: Braw, Ricardo Campello, Jason Polakow and Morgan Noireaux, I think. That would be really fun. Jason has to come as he is nuts and would push us all to and past our limits. Braw is Braw and I have travelled with him for 20 years, its always great to have him around. Ricardo is fun and also pushes us all to surpass our limits, plus he always brings his drone and various other cameras so he makes us all look more professional! Morgan is my teammate and he rips, plus he is nice and calm and easy going so we have fun together when we go to Jaws etc.WINDSURF: Who do you think has the best jumping game at Pozo and why?ROBBY SWIFT: It would have to be between Philip and Marino I think, with Marc Pare right up there too, and Braw also. Braw is probably as consistent as Philip and Marino, but I think those 2 jump the highest and do all the tricks. Marc can go as high as Philip and Marino but sometimes lacks a tiny bit of consistency, or he has in the past, its quite possible that this year he will be at the same level as he seems to get better and better exponentially!WINDSURF: Who do you think is the most competitive wave sailor on the world tour?ROBBY SWIFT: Between Marc and Braw I would have to say!WINDSURF: Are there any new moves out there you have been dreaming of?ROBBY SWIFT: I almost did a double 360 the other day, it was more like a 360 into a forward loop. I think that is perfectly possible (but very scary!) I will probably keep trying that, but I keep breaking gear doing it and its getting tougher to do now I dont have all that free sponsored gear to destroy without feeling the financial pain!WINDSURF: What new challenges are you facing now you are not competing full time?ROBBY SWIFT: I have been building a few other businesses up to try to make money while not making money from windsurfing, but getting my head around not really having a budget to go on the trips I would like to do and having to pay for gear that I break is something is hard to get used to. I just want to go for it on every wave and have been lucky enough to never really think about that in the past. Its kind of annoying to go sailing and take it easy!! (sorry to everyone who always had to do that), but yeah, that is tough to get used to when you have been lucky enough to get all your gear replaced when broken since you were a teenager!WINDSURF: What are you interested in outside windsurfing?ROBBY SWIFT: Surfing, and thats about it ha ha! No, I enjoy planning, designing and realizing building projects. That has been something that has been in my family since I was born, since my dad built and ran a roofing company in the UK. I work with my dad and brother now on those projects and enjoy them. We also have several other businesses that I enjoy overseeing, my wifes brand clhei.com started in 2013 and has grown into something really amazing now. That was just the 2 of us for about 8 years and my brother and his wife joined for the past few years to take it to a new level.We have a rental car business called North Shore Maui Rent a Car which is part owned by myself and Brawzinho. We also have a small caf and I am the distributor of NeilPryde and JP in Hawaii, so all of those things take up my time and are fulfilling in different ways. I enjoy teaching kids how to surf and windsurf and wing etc. and I run a clinic on Maui every year for adults which also gives me quite a lot of satisfaction when the people who come enjoy themselves and progress. There is nothing that really beats a sick wave at Jaws, or performing your best and doing well in a contest, but these other things have less ups and downs emotionally and I guess quite a bit less risk so as I am getting older, I am starting to enjoy them more and more!WINDSURF: What is a typical day for you at home in Maui in the winterhow busy do you boys keep you with all the lifts to the beach?ROBBY SWIFT: We wake up around 5:30 and try to get into the water at around 5:50 to surf before school. I have to drop the boys at 7:45 at school, so we usually get 1.5 hours of surfing in before that. Then I have Gym from 8-9 and then I try to finish all my work between 9-2pm which is school pickup. As long as I have all my work done, then we either surf again, or windsurf or wing after school, before the high school kids get out at around 3:30. Then we come home to do homework and then either go to the skate park or back to the beach for the late evening session (usually surfing as the wind dies in the evening). Its pretty full on and we go hard like that for weeks and weeks on end but its the most enjoyable way to spend my time, so the 8:30pm exhaustion is actually quite a nice feeling!WINDSURF: How do you know when you have found a magic board when testing?ROBBY SWIFT: I dont like boards to be too slow, so as soon as I step on them off the beach, I can feel the speed and I like them to get going quickly in that first little gust. The first gybe on the way out is also pretty tell-tale, but really on the very first bottom turn, you get an amazing amount of feedback from the board. Generally if I dont like that first turn, it is hard to imagine loving the board in the long run, but I do, diligently, work thorough all the different foot-strap and fin positions, mast foot position etc. to see if I can improve the performance. Its normally possible to tune up a board, but generally the first bottom turn to cutback is the most telling moment. I like to be able to go really fast on the wave, lay into the bottom turn as hard as possible and just concentrate on timing as I head up to the lip. Then I like to be able to push as hard as I can off the top and really feel the rail bite. I dont like it when the board slides out at all off the top (unless I want to make it slide out) so the grip off the top is really important for me. I like to have control 100% of the time, and the ability to go from front foot to back foot quickly, so I can adjust my turns in the middle of the bottom turn if I want to go steeper or more vertical, or cut the turn short to re-direct back towards the beach for a goiter or aerial. The boards have to be pretty special before I call them magic!!WINDSURF: Are you going to keep up the physical training?ROBBY SWIFT: Yes, 100%, we train with Sarah Hauser 3 times per week and I do yoga or stretching the other 2 days of the week and just surf / windsurf / foil on the weekends.WINDSURF: Do you ever worry about getting old?ROBBY SWIFT: I do and I dont. I really feel great at the moment. As long as I dont let the training slip for too long, my body feels good. I am slowly allowing myself to accept missing out on certain sessions when I have other things that I have to do which are more important (although it is hard!) and I think that that kind of thing happens slowly and gradually so that eventually you end up being happy with whatever it is that you are doing at the time. My kids are so into surfing / windsurfing / winging that I know they will be keeping me young. They literally go from the bed to some kind of board (either surf or skate) by 6am and then continue in that vein throughout the day until they are ready to pass out at 8:00pm so I think they will keep me young!WINDSURF: How did the Maui Pro Am work out for you and were you impressed with the general level of sailing you saw in the finals?ROBBY SWIFT: It went well. I sailed as well as I could in every heat. The heats were super short so you had to go from it from wave number 1 and I did that every time, I think I landed a goiter and a 360 in every heat plus backed them up with some kind of turn on most waves, so that was really all you could possibly do in each heat. If you look at the Liveheats scores from the heats, they were often so close, it was hard to tell 2 people apart, and in the B Final, I lost to Bernd (who won) by 0.23 of a point, so it was as close as splitting hairs to get to the final. I got a wave right on the buzzer and did my best 360 of the heat, along with a turn on that wave, so I really performed in a clutch moment to 100% of my ability and have to be happy with myself for that!WINDSURF: What do you think of the sailing style of Bernd Roediger?ROBBY SWIFT: I think he is the most fluid and surprising sailor out there at most waves. His connection with the ocean and with the wave he is riding on is uncanny. He is really confident in his decisions to wait for sets and then executes incredibly well on every wave. I dont think anyone else has the same flow as him, and his ability to pull moves on really gnarly sections where you think there is no chance of doing anything but a closeout hit is what really sets him apart in many heats.WINDSURF: What is it like to have training partners like Morgan Noireaux and Marcilio Browneare you guys always competitive when free-sailing?ROBBY SWIFT: Yes we are super competitive but we are really respectful of each other and its amazing to sail with them. We train in the gym with Sarah together and we are kind of competitive there, and then in the water always looking at what each other does and trying to show off for each other. It actually makes it insanely fun and I dont know what life would be like without that, like I said before, Im sad when I know they are going to the south of the island to train and Im not there any more, but at Hookipa we always sail together and it makes every session much more fun when they are out.WINDSURF: How do you see the way the WWT / PWA world tour is working out?ROBBY SWIFT: Honestly I was pretty burned out at the end of my involvement with that and I have enjoyed not looking at it too much in recent months. I try not to share my opinion much at all anymore unless there is something obvious, I can see that would solve a potential problem. They have their way of doing things and, as a competitor who was involved in the management of the PWA, some of the things that changed werent particularly great for me or my peers in the short term (massive reductions in standards for sailors and much more liberal judging standards being the main things), but we were not able to get events in places we wanted to go before and having the sailors involved in the decision making on standards probably held us back from achieving that for many years. Hopefully in the long term it will be good that theres a more dictatorial approach now with the new system and the sailors are one step removed from the decision making. We certainly have a lot more events in a lot more places in the world now and its much more interesting as a spectator, so I hope that sponsorship will follow and then the sailors will be able to get more reward back for their efforts and turn professional windsurfing back into an actual profession again.We are actually in the process of trying to organize a small event in Brazil (hopefully even 4*) together with Braw and Jason, at a hotel that we all invested in down in Icaraizino in August, so I very much like that the events have become more accessible to organizers due to this new event platform. This kind of thing would never have been possible with the full standards that we used to require of organizers.Im going to do a clinic before the event, possibly even 2 clinics, hopefully together with Jason and Braw, so it will be a fun thing for people to be able to sign up to do to train before the event and then participate in a starboard tack jumping event which is something we have had very little of on the tour in the past.Preliminary details about the clinic are here, but there will be a lot more information coming out in the next week or 2 once we have things finalized for the event: https://robbyswift.com/products/brazil-experience-campWINDSURF: What sailor inspired you when you were a young rookie on tour?ROBBY SWIFT: Jason Polakow, Josh Stone, Nick Baker, Bjorn and Kevin Pritchard mostly.WINDSURF: How are you going to keep motivated now you are not competing full time on tour?ROBBY SWIFT: I guess if you have read this far you can see that my days are full to the brim from sun up till sun-down each day. Maui is a mega expensive place to live so keeping yourself the right way up is motivation enough! Trying to manage my life so I have time to maximize time with my kids while they are at this precious age is my main focus, and building up the JP / NeilPryde brands again in the US seems to be a fun way to do that and hopefully it will end up being something I can work on with my children in 10 years or so when they finish school!The post TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH ROBBY SWIFT appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.
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    PBA GRAN CANARIA 1995!
    PBA GRAN CANARIA 1995!PBA GRAN CANARIA 1995!If youre already getting in the mood for Pozo, which kicks off this weekend, this video from 1995yep, over 30 years ago.should get you in the mood!The event back then delivered wild, windy slalom conditions and epic wave action, with legends like Bjrn Dunkerbeck and Robby Naish in their prime, alongside Nik Baker, Vidar Jensen, Jason Polakow and many others making their mark on the scene. A proper throwback to the golden era of Pozo!Slalom races and wave competitions were held, at Pozo Beach. In those days, double loops were starting to be attempted during competitions. Vidar Jensen was the avant-garde for performing (attempting) them on the professional circuit. Bojrn Dunkerbeck (a then resident of Gran Canaria) wound up winning both the slalom and wave competitions for men, while Nathalie Lelivre did the same for women. Other Noteworthy competitors featured: Anders Bringdal S10 Robert Teriitehau F35 Robby Naish US1111 Nik Baker K66 Patrice Belbeoch F81 Jutta Mueller G680 Jason Polakow Matt Pritchard Mathias Holmberg and (then) race director, Alex AguieraThe post PBA GRAN CANARIA 1995! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.
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