Meet the all-new Mikey February Shorty. This sleek looking thruster marks a return to Mikeys high-performance shortboarding roots. From his early amateur days in South Africa to his time on the WSL Championship Tour, Mikeys foundation has always been precision surfing. Developed with Britt Merrick, this model carries his signature Swirl Hex and has become a go-to for many of our WSL tour surfers.In feel, Mikeys Shorty sits between the Two Happys user-friendliness and the 2.Pros high-performance sharpness, emphasizing the flow and freedom of both. Youll want to size this model as you would a normal shortboardThe Shortys staged rocker creates balanced drive and control, suiting both front- and back-footed surfers with a large sweet spot. A subtle hip near the fins tightens turns and quickens response in the pocket. The high-performance outline delivers clean speed and release without losing flow, while foiled rails maintain sensitivity. Beneath, a single-to-double concave runs from front foot through the fins for lift, control, and seamless rail-to-rail transitions.Refined power with range, Mikeys Shorty channels his signature style from lined-up points to punchy beach breaks.STOCK DIMENSIONS58 x 18 x 2 3/16 23.6L59 x 18 3/8 x 2 24.8L510 x 18 5/8 x 2 5/16 26.2L511 x 18 7/8 x 2 3/8 27.6L60 x 19 1/8 x 2 7/16 29.1L61 x 19 x 2 30.4L62 x 19 x 2 9/16 32.0L63 x 19 7/8 x 2 5/8 33.7L64 x 20 1/8 x 2 36.3L66 x 20 x 2 7/8 39.6LAvailable now at your local surf shop or here

Words and photos: Sarah Thornelywww.supjunkie.co.ukWed love to draw your attention to one Bruce Iron Smith, a great friend and someone who has been around the SUP racing scene for a good number of years.We met Bruce at the Naish One Design race series in 2018; he was there with his partner Karen Greener as part of the Northern SUP Race Club. What drew us to him was not just the love and warmth between him and Karen, but also the steadfast way he handled the racing. Solid, dependable, fun we knew we needed to be in Bruces camp!So why did he get involved in SUP racing? Bruce was an Ironman and Ultra Distance Runner competing in events like the Marathon des Sables, but a serious ankle injury ended his ability to run and had a profound effect on his mental health. He was spiralling back to a dark place that he had already been in his life. A chance meeting with biomechanics coach and stand-up paddle enthusiast Anna Little got him on the water, and he at once realised the benefits it could give him. Like many of us, he fell in love with it straight away. It would be suitable for his rehabilitation and, more importantly, for his mental well-being.Bruce is from County Durham and regularly paddles on the River Tyne, Derwent Reservoir and the stunning coastline by Bamburgh Castle. It was here that he first started training and realised the huge benefits it offered in keeping him focused and motivated. It was a truly healing process for Bruce.He was soon competing, first in the UKN1SCO One Design series, where everyone raced on the same board over one or two days; the competition included sprints, tech and distance, was inclusive, and always had a big family vibe. It was not long before he was on the podium. Next up came one of the toughest races in the country, The Battle of the Thames, a ten-miler in Surbiton. He was immediately making an impression both on and off the water, placing well in his age category.Bruce has been a regular competitor in the National Series, where he has become a firm favourite and serious contender. His love and support for those around him have made a massive difference to everyone in the SUP community.Northern SUP Race TeamHe has since competed in endurance races such as the Norfolk Ultra, Paddle Skedaddle, The Eliminator, Trent 100 and SUP Twelve, which he won in 2023. Going back to his running days, Bruce felt it was a solitary sport, so he really embraced his time with others through SUP, team events, and being part of the Northern SUP Race Team. He is a huge part of that team, devising training programmes, but more importantly, encouraging and motivating club members, new or old.But Bruce had other things on his mind. Once an endurance athlete, always an endurance athlete!The call to Last Paddler Standing (LPS) was strong. A serious SUP endurance race held in Florida since 2022 caught his attention, and he decided to compete in 2023.Now, for all of those who do not race or just enjoy community paddling, let me give you a brief idea of how LPS works. Paddlers start at 09:00 on a Saturday, paddle a 3.33-mile loop within that hour and then get off the water. On the next hour, they go again. If they miss the start, they are out of the race. If they do not finish within the hour, they are out of the race. Once paddlers have completed 48 laps (yes, 48 hours!), the lap length increases to 4.9 miles, and the same rules apply. This longer lap is called the Super Loop.During their time off the water, the paddlers generally have a support team that feeds, waters, massages, and wakes them if they are having a nap. It takes dedication and organisation to make this work! Bruces team included his partner, Karen, Ryan Gillikin, and Randi Evans, mother and daughter, who travelled 10 hours to support him. Another was Julie Mitravitch, who was racing but came to assist once she was finished. In Karens words, He had a harem of women.The whole event is covered by live commentary throughout the day and night. It is a thrilling race to watch, not for speed but for consistency. Towards the latter end of the race, the odds stack up, which creates more excitement. Paddlers have their own goals, which may be one or two laps; others brave it for as long as they possibly can.At the 2023 Last Paddler Standing event, Bruce was a top contender, paddling an incredible 49 laps (over 49 hours), showcasing immense endurance but ultimately being overcome by the demanding 8km Super Loop before the final winner was decided. He was among the final few paddlers standing after two days and nights of paddling, impressing everyone with his performance.December saw the 2025 edition arrive, and having missed 2024 due to Too much stuff going on, Bruce was back. We were lucky enough to be on the media team, so we were there to witness his incredible paddling firsthand.Superb drone footageThis year, the Last Paddler Standing race took place at Lake June, Lake Placid, Florida, and at 09:00 local time on Saturday morning, 33 paddlers (10 women and 23 men) took to the water. Another new aspect of the event was some superb drone footage shot by Craig Sawyer/The SUP Coach, a huge part of the production and media team. It was a game-changer to showcase the event.The new course consisted of four right-hand buoy turns, with one of them out on the main body of the lake, and this indeed became known as the Buoy of Doom, causing paddlers difficulties with heavy side chop and windy conditions, especially on the Saturday.Karen was there too; she always is, and she had decided to enter the race and complete just one lap, having recently had knee replacement surgery. To give you a flavour of the kind of man he is, Bruce made sure that he paddled alongside Karen during that first lap he would not have dreamt of leaving her behind.We saw him steadfastly paddle, consistently keeping his pace with everything superbly organised when off the water. He had a great team behind him, and all he had to do was walk to the camp, and they would do the rest. He often refers to himself as their puppet, saying that when he is at his camp, they do everything for him!This year, we had a thunderstorm with lightning, so everyone was off the water for two laps in the early hours of Monday morning. 09:00 arrived, and after 46 laps, Bruce was still there, regularly cooling himself by diving into the shallow waters from the beach directly after getting off the board and before going to his camp.We were now into Super Loop time! Bruce had been one of seven paddlers who had been paddling together since lap 38, the rest having dropped out one by one. You can choose at any time to leave the race, but the Super Seven all decided to test themselves over the longer course. This is a real test of mental ability, and we know Bruce has that in abundance.Speechless and exhaustedSuper Loop 1 tick! And now there were three paddlers left. Super Loop 2 tick! And still there were three paddlers. Super Loop 3 this is where Bruce left absolutely everything out on the water he had given his all and did not want to let anyone down, and we saw a lone figure paddling back to the beach and knew he was done. Bruce Smith completed 46 laps + 2 Super Loops! He was speechless and exhausted when he was back on the beach, but the hugs that kept coming his way were incredible. He saved the biggest and longest for last Karen. Always there, always calm (or appeared to be!) and always smiling. What a team!Bruce has certainly written himself into the history books of not only SUP racing but SUP endurance racing there are very few paddlers anywhere in the world who could do this, and we applaud every ounce of you, Bruce. Small in stature and humble, but mighty in strength and resilience. From those first moments of stepping on a board to this? Its a truly remarkable story of how you can bounce back from PTSD and a serious injury by finding your sport and your tribe.For those of us who are used to fast-paced racing and dynamic start lines, LPS is a whole new level every hour, the slowest start to a race you will ever see, but the twists and turns will hook you in and have you wondering if its at all possible for you to have a go. It is, and you should think about it as the LPS family vibe is strong its a small, supportive community and everyone who turns up has a huge sense of achievement, regardless of the laps completed.When a paddler decides to retire, Race Director, Greg Wingo hands them a poker chip, signs their race number with the number of laps completed and makes them feel a million dollars for just showing up. Private and respectful words are spoken by Greg just for that paddler.Ive watched this race almost every hour for the last three years, have been totally addicted, and to be there live, well, it really gave me a better understanding of why this race draws you in. To be there to witness Bruce achieving yet another LPS milestone was an absolute honour. We implore every level of paddler to have a go; you will not be disappointed, and you will leave with something truly special in your heart.I asked Bruce about his thoughts on LPS and Greg Wingo. Its hard to put into words what it means to be honest. Its special, and Greg makes every single competitor feel like they are special, like family. Its not just the competitors; so many spectators just turn up to support Greg, and they make you feel a million dollars. I know the word family is thrown around too much, but thats how it feels to me.Thank you, Bruce, for being such a big part of our lives and personally, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being such a supportive friend.We cannot wait to see what you achieve next, and huge congratulations to every paddler who took on that first lap and stepped up to be a part of Last Paddler Standing we cannot wait to see you all in 2026! Dates have just been released as 5/6th December, bearing in mind that if you have the ability, you may well be paddling into the 7th!www.lastpaddlerstanding.comwww.instagram.com/bruce_ironsmithwww.facebook.com/bruce.smith.92775838

TAKUMA SUGI: WESTERN AUSTRALIATAKUMA SUGI: WESTERN AUSTRALIAJapanese ripper Takuma Sugi just wrapped up a month-long strike mission in Western Australia and by the looks of it, he scored big time. One of the fastest-rising stars on the PWA / WWT world tour, Sugi is fearless when it comes to attacking a heavy lip and WA delivered the perfect playground. Power, commitment and zero hesitation. This ones definitely worth a watch.Filming by: UNLEASH MEDIA HOUSE / PVBThe post TAKUMA SUGI: WESTERN AUSTRALIA appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

WORTHING WATERSPORTS MAKEOVER: ONE BRANDENDLESS PASSIONWORTHING WATERSPORTS MAKEOVER: ONE BRANDENDLESS PASSIONSam Latham from Worthing Watersports has just completed a full refurbishment of his shop as we head into 2026! We caught up with Sam to find out what inspired him to take the plunge into retail, how the renovation came about and what its like running a specialist Duotone water-sports store on the south coast.WINDSURF: Tell us why you bought Worthing Watersports?SAM LATHAM: Short answer, I was unhappy in my previous job, especially through Covid. It felt relentless, and I knew I needed a change. I was helping to co-manage a friends very successful, high-pressure company, which gave me the confidence that I could run something myselfalthough, looking back, I was definitely a bit nave about how hard it would be. Id been running my own water-sports sticker printing business https://southeastsignage.com/ alongside which gave me confidence.The opportunity came about quite organically. I was having a cup of tea with Nik Baker he mentioned that someone might be selling their shop. That instantly got my attention, and from there things moved very quickly. I think that initial naivety actually helpedI put the blinkers on, focused on making it happen and only really realised how big the challenge was once I had the keys!Learn more about Sams background: https://worthingwatersports.com/pages/about-usWINDSURF: Was there a lot to learn and many challenges moving into retail?SAM LATHAM: Masses. Retail is extremely tough, and water-sports is a particularly challenging niche. The equipment is expensive, margins are tight, and the market is very competitive, especially post-Covid and with the wider UK economy.That said, theres something really nice about selling toys to like-minded people who just want to get on the water and enjoy themselves. The biggest challenge is balancing the financial side of a niche sport with the seasonal ups and downs, but the reward is being part of a community rather than just shifting boxes.WINDSURF: We hear youve just done a big renovation. Did it feel like the right time for a fresh look for 2026?SAM LATHAM: Its something Ive wanted to do from day one, but realistically, we just didnt have the budget or time early on. A full renovationfloors, walls, lighting, everything costs tens of thousands of pounds, so at first it was just a light spruce-up.Over time it became clear that while our website was performing well, the physical shop wasnt matching the standard of the products we sell or the service we pride ourselves on. Winter is naturally a quieter period, so it felt like the right window to do a full renovation properly. A local kitesurfer with plenty of building experience helped give me the momentum to get it moving. Im massively grateful to Glen for the sheer amount of hard work he put in, and to my dad, David, who gave up weeks of his time to help make it happen.The goal was to create a proper showrooma space that shows off the value of the gear and feels welcoming for both customers and staff. The difference is huge. We genuinely enjoy coming to work more now, and the customer feedback has been incredibly positive.WINDSURF: Youre a Duotone specialist shop what does that mean exactly?SAM LATHAM: At the moment, we only sell Duotone products and thats deliberate. I dont want to sell equipment I dont fully understand or havent used myself. Duotone already covers windsurfing, kitesurfing, winging, foiling and paddleboardingeven having that detailed knowledge of one brand is a lot to keep up with.Ive had been sponsored by Duotone and Boards & More for many years and raced at a high level, so I have a long-standing relationship and a lot of respect for the brand. By focusing on one manufacturer, were not clouded by conflicting designs or sales pitches. It allows us to be far more precise and honest with our advice, because its all based on real experience rather than brochures.WINDSURF: How important is product knowledge when advising customers?SAM LATHAM: Its absolutely fundamental. When someone comes into the shop, I want them to feel confident and safe in what theyre buying. Sometimes that means telling them not to buy something because what they already have is right for them.Were not about hard selling, and that approach really shows in the feedback we get from customers. Beginners in particular can be easily misled, and thats something Im very conscious of. If people end up on the wrong kit, they wont enjoy the sport and they wont stick with it. Good advice keeps people on the water and thats what really matters.Google Reviews: https://share.google/LSxhT4pDlbnmH38I0WINDSURF: Whats it like having Nik Baker as the Duotone importer and distributor?SAM LATHAM: Honestly, the business side almost comes second. Whats more important is having someone like Nik on the water locally. He grew up sailing here, has travelled the world, and his ability, especially in small, mushy UK wavesis on another level.From a young age, sailing alongside him has been hugely motivating. I just tried to copy him and sailing with him always made me feel like I was progressing. Nik also incredibly driven when it comes to learning new equipmentthe only way to really understand it is to use it and that feeds directly back into the shop. Its motivating, its fun and having Nik behind the business and out on the water benefits everyone.WINDSURF: What happens when the conditions are firing at home how do you fit in your own water time?SAM LATHAM: If I stop getting on the water, both my mental health and my product knowledge suffer. One of the main reasons I made this change was to spend more time sailing, enjoying my life and Im very lucky to live about 100 metres from the sea.I couldnt do it without my staff, especially Declan. Hes hugely capable, has an instructor background and gives me the confidence to step away when its windy. Sessions dont need to be longa quick lunch break or an hour after work is enough. Being that close to the water makes a massive difference.WINDSURF: What do you love most about having Worthing Watersports?SAM LATHAM: When its going well, youre basically helping people enjoy what they love. Youre selling exciting equipment to people who are passionate about their sport. On windy days when new kit is arriving and customers are buzzing, it just feels like chatting to your mates about your favourite thingexcept thats your job.WINDSURF: Do you enjoy testing products personally?SAM LATHAM: Its the best part of the job. I studied product design at university and Im very hands-onI learn by feeling equipment, not reading about it. Im also dyslexic, so practical experience is everything for me.Theres nothing better than taking a new piece of kit out, feeling the differences, and then being able to explain that clearly to customers and staff. Its also just great funwho doesnt enjoy opening a new toy and going for a blast?A customer in the first year told me I should have a YouTube channel after explaining a product to him. It was scary at first, but I did just that, and it has become huge part of product testing now!Worthing Watersports YouTubeWINDSURF: What product trends are you seeing at the moment?SAM LATHAM: Its hard to predictthe industry moves quickly and brands quite rightly keep things close to their chest. I dont think anyone saw winging coming and now its one of the biggest parts of our business.Foil assist and e-foiling have been huge too, especially here. They open up conditions that were previously unusable, and our local wave spots work brilliantly with them. I think the big focus going forward will be versatility and accessibilitymaking equipment that covers more conditions and more people.WINDSURF: Is the south coast still a UK stronghold for wind sports?SAM LATHAM: I think its often underestimated. Yes, we get south-westerlies and mushier waves, but its incredibly reliable. Where we are in West Sussex, the South Downs create strong thermals, so we often see winds five to ten knots stronger than forecast.When its windy, there are waves, and the consistent beach angle means theres usually somewhere usable across the tide. Its not always easy, but that actually makes people better sailors. Were very lucky with what we have here.See live conditions and forecast in front of the shop: https://worthingwatersports.com/pages/live-weatherWINDSURF: What are the most popular wave boards you sell locally?SAM LATHAM: The Grip 3 is the most accurate design to suit our conditions. The extra tail volume and fin lift really help in onshore conditions and strong currents. Its forgiving and gets people out through the break more easily.The Ultra Freewave is also hugely popular, especially in summer as a bigger board for bump and jump conditions. Many customers pair a Freewave with a Grip 3 as their smaller, rough-water boardits a really versatile combo for local conditions.Sams review on the Duotone Windsurfing 2026 board range:WINDSURF: How do you like the Duotone 2026 wave line-up?SAM LATHAM: Its very strong. The D/LAB wave sails have been exceptional for years, and the current range is incredibly versatile. Theyre expensive, but the performance, especially with the carbon reflex panels is unmatched.We run demos and once people try them, they usually understand the value straight away. Paired with a 100% carbon mast and a five-year warranty, its a serious package. Between us, the shop has full SLS and D/LAB sail ranges and Grip and Ultra boards available to try. We always encourage people to test the gear before purchasing.2026 Duotone Windsurfing range: https://worthingwatersports.com/collections/2026-duotone-windsurfing-equipment-boards-future-sails-worthing-watersportsRegister you interest to try the latest duotone equipment for free at Worthing Watersports here: https://worthingwatersports.com/collections/try-it-now-latest-duotone-equipment-to-testThe post WORTHING WATERSPORTS MAKEOVER: ONE BRANDENDLESS PASSION appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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ITS ON AT NITON!ITS ON AT NITON!After battling through gusty wind, strong tides and long periods of tricky sailing, Ross Williams was finally rewarded at his home break. What began as a tough, drawn-out session at Niton the conditions turned on, into a rare down-the-line windowIt was a magic just 20 to 30 minutes where everything clicked. No crowds, no surfers, just hometown conditions delivering a handful of special moments that made the grind worth it.Click on any photo to scroll and enlargeBest viewed on the big screen!Photos John Carter and Pete Box.JOHN CARTERSun, wind, and waves at Nitonclose to home on the Isle of Wight. Honestly, what more could you ask for?After plenty of winter strike missions to the mainland, it was finally time for a spot just twenty minutes from my front door to deliver the goods. WNW winds, a 2.5m swell, and the promise of clear skies after months of rain made this forecast a no-brainer. Staying local and shooting one of my favourite breaks felt long overdue.STAY LOCALRight down on the southern tip of the island, at the end of a winding, bumpy track, sits a raw and rugged bay that feels like stepping back in timea place to properly escape-from the daily grind. When it is on, Niton is also a seriously epic windsurf spot.The thing with Niton is that it can be fickle. The waves often hit the bay slightly diagonal to the wind, bending away just as riders go for the lip. Still fun but it can be frustratinghowever when the wind and swell line up perfectly for cross-offshore riding, it is rare. When it does happen though, Niton turns from moody to magic very quickly.The launch doesnt mess about either. Rocky, wavey, no sandy beachjust one small keyhole at the bottom of the track. If things go wrong here, theres a very real chance of swimming for survival!Aside from the stars lining up and the conditions coming together favourably, a big outgoing spring tide was the one potential spoiler in the mix. That said, either way it was all shaping up to be a solid day of wave sailingNiton style.IT IS ON!When we arrived, the waves were already solid. The tide had just turned, the lineup was cleaning up nicely, and there was only one surfer in the wateralways a welcome bonus. Ross Williams took his time rigging his trusty 4.8m Gaastra Manic and Tabou Da Curve 88L before heading down to launch, while I readied the cameras.For the first thirty minutes the wind was light on the inside, and Ross struggled to connect with the waves. Then the wind flicked init was game on. Suddenly Ross was flying around the bay and steadily clocking up his wave count.After an hour or so of wrestling with being overpowered and dealing with waves bending away, Ross came in for a breather while the conditions settled. He had a gut feeling things were going to turn on later in the afternoon.Niton is an epic spot to watch the action unfold, so we kept a close eye on things as the tide drained out and the waves began breaking further down the bay. Ross patiently sipped on his green tea, waiting for the moment. When the sets started firing and the wind swung a touch more offshore, that was the cue. Time to ride.It wasnt long before Ross was back in the thick of it. The sun punched through the dark clouds in short bursts, bringing with it some stronger gusts. He picked off the better sets and scored some solid rides despite the ever-tricky conditions. Eventually, the clouds won their battle with the sunbut just as the weather turned for the worse, the sailing turned on.UNICORN SESSION!All of a sudden the wind eased slightly, flicked into the perfect direction, and solid sets began hitting the reef. Ross had grinded it out and was now in his element, picking off the best sets and deservedly scoring a proper cross-off, epic window of sailing.As quickly as it arrived, the magic faded, signalling it was time to come in. Back at the beach, Ross was grinning ear to ear after making the most of that short but special opportunity. With spirits high, it seemed only polite to accept his offer of an aprs-windsurf debrief at the Spyglass Inn on the way home to Ventnor.All in all, an refreshing pint of Guinness was the perfect way to top off an epic day at the local.ROSS WILLIAMSIt felt like three sessions in one. We rocked up and it was quite offshorehigh tide, windy out the back and fat wavesjust a standard Niton session in survival mode. Then the tide dropped, the waves started to shape up and what looked average from the land turned into proper head-high sets. I was totally out of control at first, but the wind flicked to west-northwest and suddenly it took the edge off on the wave.I had this 2030 minute window that was unrealproper down-the-line, bottom turn and hit the lip stuff, which we dont get that often here. I was out nearly three hours for that half hour where everything clicked and that was the moment bit that lights the fire for me as a windsurfer again.I was on my usual 4.8 and 88-litre boardnormally Im over or under-powered on it, but in that moment it was perfect. Not scary, just fun. Hometown vibes, no one out, no surfers a total unicorn session.The post ITS ON AT NITON! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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THE NEXT GENERATION: JAKE GHERETTITHE NEXT GENERATION: JAKE GHERETTIJake Gheretti recently took second place in the Pro fleet at the Margaret River Four Star event after impressing the judges with his huge aerials and power turns at his home break. The local standout young ripper took on some of the best sailors in the world and proved he belongs amongst the next generation of elite wave sailors. Riding a wave of confidence, we talked to Jake to discuss home-break pressure, his windsurfing ambitions, sailing with his idols and why Margaret River remains the ultimate proving ground in wave sailing.Photos: Scott Bauer and John CarterWINDSURF: Congratulations on the second place in the pros at Margaret River! How does it feel to have beaten some of the top sailors in the world at your home break?JAKE GHERETTI: It was a little bit surprising if Im being 100% honest. I was beyond happy with that result. It almost felt like winning another world title. Id be stoked to come second in any four-star event, but being at my home break, makes it even more special just doing it front of my friends and familythat was insane!WINDSURF: Were you feeling nervous or did you just go all out and sail like you normally do? JAKE GHERETTI: I was more nervous in my first two heats, because I felt more pressure to do well and I wouldnt have been happy if Id been knocked out early. But once I got to the semis and had Philip Koster in my heat, I changed my attitude and shifted more from playing a smart strategic heat into just a go big or go home mindset. Youre not going to beat the top sailors playing it safe and I knew I could land big aerials, so I thought I may as well try to find the biggest and best waves and pray a little bit that I land them!WINDSURF: How were the conditions on finals day?JAKE GHERETTI: It was really sick to have Margs with a building swell. Its always a lot more consistent and more powerful when the waves are coming up. That worked in my favour. It was cross offshore winds which also suited me. Conditions were perfect for the comp, I couldnt have asked for anything better!WINDSURF: You landed some monster aerials did you feel like you had to go big?JAKE GHERETTI: I feel like after the Pro Juniors, I had built up my confidence. Going into the competition I knew I could land aerials pretty consistently. Prior to that I hadnt sailed for just over two weeks because of the concussion. At the doctors, I failed the balance test, so I thought windsurfing would be quite difficult. Going into the Pro Junior Boys, I didnt know how I would do, but after that I could tell I could still windsurf the same. I almost think the concussion helped me somehow.WINDSURF: What gear were you riding and how do you like the Severne Stone board?JAKE GHERETTI: I was using the latest Severne S1 4.4m.The sails are really amazing theyre really manoeuvrable, especially at Margs where you need to do really tight quick turns. The 68L Severe Stone board is just magical. Its quite light so in your aerials, nothing drags you back down or restricts the height and quality of aerial. Its still quite good for Margs when its big and bouncy, because it has a surfboard feel. It picks up speed really easily, but once you have that speed, it holds its line and when it encounters bumps, it can hold its rail. In turns, it doesnt slide out. The board is exceptional for proper down the line wave riding.WINDSURF: What was it like sailing against the likes of Jaeger Stone etc in the final?JAKE GHERETTI: It was really cool to sail against everyone in the final. It always feels pretty special when I have a heat with Jaeger. Hes been my biggest windsurfing idol since I first started. Even before starting. I used to just sit in the car at main break when I was around six years old and watch him. So, it was like a dream to be in the final with him, and it was really cool that my scores were so close to his. It was also sick to have Julian Salmonn in the final because hes on the Pro tour and does really well. Its really special when the top pros come to main break and compete. It brings a new atmosphere and its nice seeing really good sailors windsurf. Each international rider has their own unique style and way to windsurf Margs. Julian did a massive wave 360 and they are just so hard to do at main break because its such a powerful wave. Its really good to see the pros push the bar for windsurfing at Margs.WINDSURF: You also won the youth event so all in all you must be pretty happy?JAKE GHERETTI: Yes, I am pretty stoked. I really want to try to defend my world title and go to the grand final in Chile. I had a really disappointing event in Geraldton so Id love to go somewhere else to try and better that result, so I can go into the grand final with some more secure points.WINDSURF: How long have you been sailing at Margaret River and what do you love about the break?JAKE GHERETTI: Ive been sailing Margaret River now for 8 years, and started when I was 11 years old. For me, I love that its 5 minutes down the road and its also one of the most powerful and raw waves that you can windsurf. Its a really good training ground, because if you can land something at main break, you can land it anywhere in the world. Ive gotten more confident over time to do better and bigger moves on bigger waves.WINDSURF: How did it feel when you found out you advanced against Kster in the semis?JAKE GHERETTI: My first reaction was fu** yeah, Im going to win some money now. Thats always a bonus. But it didnt really hit me until after the final. It was such an unfortunate way to beat Philip because he had a few wipeouts, but he is the nicest competitor Ive ever met. Just before the semi-final when we were sailing out the back to get into position, he was saying how well Id been sailing and maybe that made me sail betterbecause Philip Koster was saying I was sailing really well.WINDSURF: What is your ambition in windsurfing?JAKE GHERETTI: Im not really sure yet. Obviously, Im going to keep competing for the next couple of years and see how it goes with Uni. Hopefully this year goes well. I feel like it will be manageable to do Uni online. It would be pretty sick if I could do the Pro Mens and maybe one day win a world title in the Pro Mens division. WINDSURF: How much has your mum (Jane Semen) helped shape your windsurfing career so far and what is it like to share the sport with her?JAKE GHERETTI: Mum has been the biggest and only reason I first started windsurfing. She has always supported me by funding competitions, getting me ready and helping me with training. Its pretty sick that shes always keen and gets me keen to go travelling to places. Shes always looking at forecasts of where we can go and she likes the similar waves that I like too. But sharing gear has its problems!WINDSURF: Do you have another job aside from windsurfing?JAKE GHERETTI: Yes, I work at Italian windsurfer Ivan Zeccas pizza businesses (Pizzica, Rucola Pizzeria, Salento Catering) and Margaret River Bakery to get money for fuel and my car to get myself to windsurf spots.WINDSURF: What is your favourite country you have travelled too?JAKE GHERETTI: Chile would be my favourite. Its got a lot of surf that is very similar. Its nice and cross offshore and a bowly wave. Locals are super friendly and theres a good atmosphere around the whole event.WINDSURF: What do you love about windsurfing?JAKE GHERETTI: I love windsurfing because it means I can surf when its windy! WINDSURF: Who are your windsurfing idols?JAKE GHERETTI: Jaeger Stone. He has the best wave riding technique and style. His power and flow is just unmatched. And hes a pretty great bloke. I really like Morgans style as well. The tricks he can do on the wave his goiters and wave 360s have a real surf style. He really uses the wave to do them, it almost seems if you removed the sail he would still be able to land them. Its a lot nicer to watch!WINDSURF: What style are you trying to achieve in your wave riding?JAKE GHERETTI: Because I was a surfer who became a windsurfer, Ive always respected and have a lot more desire to surf the wave more than windsurf the wave and thats why I feel Jaeger is the best windsurfer in the world. Im always trying to make my windsurfing more like surfing. In windsurfing its big powerful controlled turns and massive aerials. Its so much fun to be launching massive aerials because its so raw and powerful and when you land it, it feels pretty good!The post THE NEXT GENERATION: JAKE GHERETTI appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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