FMHAR: AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELANDFMHAR AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELANDFmhar: Autumn in the West of Ireland is a short film by Finn Mellon and Stanley Vaughton, capturing the mood and movement of Irelands west coast over the course of a week-long autumn mission. Accompanying the film, Finn offers a behind-the-scenes look at the journey, while Stanley discusses his creative background and passion for shooting on the water.FMHAR AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELAND Fmhar Finn Mellon: Fmhar meaning Autumn in the Irish Language, is a short windsurf film by Stanley Vaughton and myself. It is the result of a week long Irish trip for Stan, The forecast for our week was pretty bleak to say the least but we still got some fun sailing and nice weather. Thats kinda Ireland in a nutshell sometimes the forecast might not be great but you have to be there and in the right place you might still find some gold.Im lucky enough to of travelled a fair bit and been to a lot of the top windsurf destinations and Ireland definitely ranks right up there with the very best. Guess the saying Aint no place like home fits hah.I consider myself to be very lucky that I was born in Brandon Bay. I grew up by the sea, learnt to windsurf and surf as a teenager and it has most certainly shaped the person I am and the life I live today.I am very proud of where Im from and I love to show people around Ireland and all its beauty.If you would like to tour around Ireland with me you can on the Irish Wave Chasers CampsMore info https://www.finnmellon.com/irish-wave-chasers-weekWhich brings us back to our video. I would like to introduce Stan, the guy behind the lens.Stanley VaughtonStan is a French photographer, filmer and windsurfer. We got to know each other while working together teaching windsurfing in Greece. I have always admired Stans work and have wanted to go on a trip with him to make a windsurfing film. We first went to Tiree in 2024 to cover the event, that was fun however I hurt myself during that event so we never quite got to film the parts we wanted. Still had unfinished business, Which bought us together in Ireland.Hopefully this is only the first of the windsurf and travel films you see from us.So Stan, who are you and what do you do?Im a sports filmmaker, mainly focused on ocean and marine environments. I specialise in water-based filming, especially using camera housings to get as close to the action as possible. Over time, the more I worked in the water, the more I wanted to push into windsurfing, and thats really where Finn came in. Meeting Finn was a big part of that progression. His passion for the sport and his knowledge of the conditions made it possible for me to step further into wave sailing and keep developing my filming in that environment. I mainly focus on sport-driven content, especially around windsurfing and surfing, with a strong emphasis on being in the water and capturing things from that perspective.What got you into filming and photography?It started from being an athlete myself. Ive always wanted to try as many sports as possible and really be involved in them physically. Along the way, I naturally began filming my friends and taking photos during our trips and sessions. I realised I enjoyed capturing those moments just as much as living them. I started o filming more in the mountains, and then when windsurfing came into my life around 2014, I began to push both the sport and the filmmaking side together, to see how far I could take it.What struck you most about filming in Ireland compared to other locations?I started out filming in flat water conditions in places like Vasiliki in Greece, and then moved into wave sailing in South Wales. But Ireland felt like a completely different level. The swell, the power of the ocean, and just understanding how everything moves, it all demanded a lot more awareness and timing. The conditions arent easy either. You dont always get perfect weather, but when it does come together, its incredible. And because of that, you have to be fully ready, more focused, more intentional with how you approach each shot. Theres definitely more pressure, but also a lot more reward.How was your Ireland trip?It was an incredible experience. Ireland is just such a scenic place, especially when the conditions come together. Youve got amazing coastlines, small towns, wild beaches theres so much character everywhere you go. What made it even better was being there with Finn, he really knows the area, so we were able to move around and find the right spots. To have good conditions and be able to film a sport I love in a place like that, it was a pretty special trip.What was your favourite moment on the trip?One of my favourite moments was being in the water with my camera housing, filming Finn. Whether the conditions were challenging, strong wind, gusty, unpredictable, or just clean and easy, those moments in between are what really stayed with me. Its that feeling of being ready waiting for the next wave, positioning yourself, anticipating whats about to happen. Theres a kind of calm in it as well, just being out there, surrounded by the sea, with the quietness and the wildlife around you. You still have that adrenaline, but its controlled. Its just you, the water, and the moment youre preparing for. And what made Ireland special was how empty it felt. Finn was often the only one out, no crowds, no distractions. So for me, it became very simple: one subject, one environment, one moment to capture. And that made it really powerful.What was the hardest shot to get during the trip?There was a session near Brandon Bay where the swell was strong and the current made positioning really dicult. The clips from the first part of the video were from that session.When youre in the water and theres reef around you, its all about timing and placement, being in exactly the right spot as the wave comes through and as Finn hits it.That day, everything had to align, the wave, Finns line, and my position, and that made it really challenging. Its the kind of spot where experience really counts, so I think going back there in the future would make a big difference.How did the Irish light, weather, and landscapes influence your shooting style?The landscapes are unreal, but the weather and light are constantly changing, so it becomes a bit of a chase. We spent a lot of time driving, trying to find the right bay with the right wind and light. Its not just about where Finn can sail, its also about where I can actually film effectively, whether thats from the shore or in the water. But when it all lines up, when the sun breaks through the clouds, hits the hills and reflects on the water, its honestly one of the most beautiful environments Ive filmed in. There were moments in the water, just waiting for the next set, where I stopped and thought this place is unreal.Do you have any ambitions or future plans within the windsurfing world?Yeah, definitely! My main ambition is to keep pursuing my passion, especially in the world of camera housing footage, pushing myself to film in bigger waves, stronger swells, and different locations. The more experience I can gain in varied conditions, the better. Its something Im really looking forward to developing over time, because filming in the water like that is not only very technical, but also something I genuinely find exciting. From the moment I started using a housing, I felt like it was something I really wanted to pursue. In general, I just want to keep filming more and more, working with different riders who are truly passionate about windsurfing, and with brands that are constantly evolving and pushing the sport forward. What I find so interesting about the sport is that the deeper you go into it, the more technical it becomes, from board choice to sails, to how everything adapts to the conditions. And Id love to keep capturing that progression and see how the sport evolves over time. You can follow along with Stans work here on his instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stax.prod/The post FMHAR: AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELAND appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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

The post Dunlop and McAsey Lead Full Spectrum of Winners at 2026 NZ SUP Nationals appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

DOMINICAN VIBES: 2026 JP WINDSURF & WINGFOIL COLLECTIONDOMINICAN VIBES: 2026 JP WINDSURF & WINGFOIL COLLECTIONFor the 2026 shoot, the JP team headed to the Dominican Republicchasing wind, swell and a fresh perspective. The mission turned into something much more than capturing images; it evolved into the crew discovering a new playground while riding the latest gear, blending exploration with performance in true Caribbean style.The post DOMINICAN VIBES: 2026 JP WINDSURF & WINGFOIL COLLECTION appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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

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

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