NICO PRIEN: HIGH WIND CONTROLNICO PRIEN: HIGH WIND CONTROLThe next time the wind is howling and you are planning to head out for a blast, it might be worth watching this video by Nico Prien; as he shares his best tips for staying in control in high winds and what mistakes to avoid!Edited and filmed byby Lars WichmannSony A7rV Lumix S5II & S1H Insta360 X4 // ACE PRO // Go3sThe post NICO PRIEN: HIGH WIND CONTROL appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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PATRICE BELBEOCH: WINDSURFER LT MAKES ITS DFI DEBUT!PATRICE BELBEOCH: WINDSURFER LT MAKES ITS DFI DEBUT!For the first time ever, the legendary Dfi Wind will welcome the Windsurfer LT class to the starting line! We caught up with windsurfing icon Patrice Belbeoch, the driving force behind this exciting addition, to find out what inspired him to bring the Windsurfer LT class to the event and how he believes this classic board will handle the extreme challenge of the race.WS: Can you tell us how the inclusion of the Windsurfer LT at the Defi wind came about?PB: The Windsurfer LT by Exocet boards has a very impressive versatility. Andits great to hear that its one of the best-selling boards worldwide, second only to iQFOiL. I got talking with Philippe Bru about giving the board its own class at the Dfi event and he thought it was a fantastic idea, especially since it can handle lighter winds and still perform well. The fact that it can reach speeds of 25 knots, really highlights its capabilities. Plus, its connection to the origins of windsurfing makes it a meaningful choice for showcasing the sports history and evolution.WS: Will you be taking part yourself?PB: Yes, I will, I did many Dfi on different boards and I am now really keen to give it a try on the Windsurfer LT too! I am hoping to finish around mid fleet in the fin division but lets seeWS: If it is nuclear winds how tough do you think it will be on the Windsurfer LT without foot straps?PB: That is the question everyone is thinking, but the board can handle quite some wind, and we have on offer a 5.0 and a G10 fin as an additional option! This will allow the board to handle wind over 35 knots! Of course, the big question will still be what about the 50 knots? But then it will be hard for everyone on any equipment!The board does not have foot straps but still it remains very easy and balanced in strong wind! With this kind of board if you are overpowered you can just move the rig really forward and step back a lot on the board to get maximum leverage, you cannot do that on a short board and therefore the wind range is a lot bigger for the Windsurfer LT!WS: How many Windsurfer LTs do you think will take part?PB: Our goal was to reach 40 participants for this first edition, but I think we will be around 50 or more, so I am pretty happy with that many for the first Dfi!WS: Why do you love the Windsurfer LT and this concept?PB: The good think about the LT is the weight class that makes it very fair but also the fact that you windsurf or race in really light winds and still enjoy a nice glide.WS: Are you guys all racing just for fun or will there be an element of competition amongst the class?PB: The goal at the Dfi is to first promote windsurfing and show that a Windsurfer LT by Exocet is not only good in light winds. For the event we are not following the official class rule of the Windsurfer LT class because we have the option of an additional fin and sail! The racing format is also very different with in and out racing in a long distance spirit. For sure there will racing between the participants! No one really knows what to expect but that is the fun of it!WS: What size rig / fin will you take in strong, medium or light winds?PB: We have regular LT package with 5.7m sail and the 5.0m and 30 cm G10 will provide more comfort and speed on those long reaching legs! The 5.7m depending on your weight can handle winds up to 35 knots, the 5.0 will provide an extra 10 to 15 knots of wind range!The 32 G10 fin is also a big factor on those reaching legs because it does handle better the drive of the board and should allow for the sailors to complete the race back and forth on the fin!WS: How much skill level do you think you need to race a Windsurfer LT around the course at the Defi?PB: I think the wind will decide on that point like it does with the level of a short board sailor, but my guess is that any sailor that is going to sail the Dfi will have already a pretty decent skill. Completing the Dfi is an impressive achievement for anyone who makes it!WS: Do you think the windsurfer LT could be an important concept to get people back into windsurfing?PB: Windsurfer LT or similar boards using dagger have been a bit the magic sauce of the windsurfing success in the past with board that can raced in light wind and secure events! Weight class and the same boards be used by skilled and unskilled recreational sailor especially in light wind!Foil racing is far away from it!DEFI WIND 2025Exocet OriginalExocet Windsurfer LT Complete Package Windsurf | H20 Sports | H2O SportsExocet Windsurfer LT Complete 4boardsThe post PATRICE BELBEOCH: WINDSURFER LT MAKES ITS DFI DEBUT! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

CLUB VASS: SET-UP DIARIES!Club Vass Set-Up DiariesAfter a winter of hibernation, Club Vass has officially launched its 2025 season in Vassiliki! Getting the club ready for a busy summer takes serious behind-the-scenes effortbut this crew are the best in the business. Theyve been perfecting this finely tuned operation since 1987 and this major operation runs like a like a well oiled machine! From rigging sails to fine-tuning every detail, were taking you backstage to see what it really takes to get one of the worlds most iconic windsurfing clubs ready for action. Let the season begin!Countdown to Summer 2025Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Club Vass? Winters here are almost eerily quiet; the bay is reclaimed by fishermen, many of the locals migrate to Athens and most of the cafs and tavernas are shuttered. The Club itself is stripped back to a skeleton to hunker down for winter, with most of the kit sold to make way for the incoming brand-new selection the following season. While the weather stays fairly mild, there can be storms and that renowned thermal summer wind becomes distinctly less reliable. But come spring its game on again!The Swallows ReturnBy April, Vassiliki shakes off its short winter hibernation and the endless-summer-swallows start to make their way back. Among the first to fly in is manager Ollie Scott, fresh from his winter adventures, which this year included Cape Town, Bali and Sumatra. Max Rowe and Adam Chubbock (Watersport Nomads) are already in place, having spent quite a bit of the winter here, with their kids attending the local school, which just shows how infectious this place is. Hotel Manager Sarah arrives after a spell working on the yachts in Palma, followed by some of the senior team, including Tom, Benita and Eoin, having also wintered in exotic climes. Chefs Tim and Brad along with Greek coach Tilemachos head over from the Alps and Dan and Hannah arrive fresh-and-freestyled from Bonaire. Its a tough life, but someones got to do it! With around two weeks to go before opening, the rest of the set-up squad trickle in from various corners of the globe and its all goSpring is in the AirMeanwhile, Vassiliki village begins to stir, with Greek Easter usually marking the unofficial start of the season, and the tavernas begin opening up. The island is beautiful, lush and vibrant at this time of year. The beaches are blissfully empty, Agiofili beach is sunbed-free, and all you can hear is the gentle lapping of that crystal-clear Ionian seaWildlife, welding and wrenches!The first task for Ollie is a full site inspection walk-through, when he assesses the state of the hotel and beach facilities after their winter nap. The main occupants are feline and there are usually some surprises; this year its a litter of kittens in the harness box! Getting power, water and internet fully functioning is a top priority and local tradespeople are now in hot demand across the island, often working on a very Greek just-in-time basis (which, to be fair, somehow always works out). Cue the Clubs top trade team, which includes Vassili (electrician/plumber), Vangelis (welder, carpenter, boat driver, fireman, you name it), and Lee, AKA Mr. Maintenance himself. Its all hands to the pump, often quite literally.Controlled chaosThis is where the magic and the muscle come in. Hotel, restaurant and beach teams get fully briefed on everything from service and safety protocols to emergency procedures. Its a pretty slick operation these days, and Ollie (with 20 years at the helm) keeps things surprisingly calm. Still always expect the unexpected is his main maxim, with freak storms and late lorries almost predictable challenges.Its full-on and physical, requiring plenty of good old-fashioned elbow grease to deep clean and polish the hotel, restaurant & bar. Just call those blisters pre-season windsurf prep! The beach bar is rebuilt and fitted out with fridges, dish-washers & the all-important ice machine for keeping everyone in the necessary frapps, freddos and cocktails throughout the season.An army marches on its stomach!Expert chefs Tim and Brad fine-tune the menu to ensure the hungry windsurfers every need is fulfilled, with all options covered from healthy to hearty. Food is fuel for the troops at this time; the boys keep the team well fed with substantial set-up meals and no ones slacking on their portions. Meanwhile, under Sarahs eagle eye, hotel rooms get the full five-star treatment. Health & safety is always a priority, from fire extinguishers to first aid kits, everythings checked and everyone learns the drill.Gearing UpAll hands on deckBeach-side, its time to turn attention to the star attraction: the beach and all that glorious kit.First, the team rebuilds board and sail racks, sets up the watch tower, organises rental areas, and lays down grass carpets and decking, for comfort-launching and to protect all that precious equipment. Every year, a huge batch of brand-new windsurf and wing gear arrives via lorry (usually from the Far East via Athens). When the truck rolls in, its all hands on deck, with everyone mucking in to unload and carry the gear to the rigging area.Rigging upThen comes the rigging marathon, with over 300 sails to be expertly rigged on high-carbon masts and booms. Quality control (AKA Beach Manager Tom) takes no prisoners, theres no place for a baggy un-tuned sail at Club Vass! And screwing in foot-straps and deck plates on over 300 boards takes precision (not to mention resistance to repetitive strain), a windsurfers rite of passage if ever there was one.Team Building & BondingWork hard, play hardClub Vass runs on its amazing people, many of whom return year after year, clients and staff alike. Every season brings new faces, keen to become part of the legend and the new team bonds at work, on the water, and over beers at the beach bar. Its definitely work hard and play hard here. Everyone mucks in, chefs help unload boards, bar staff rig sails (under careful supervision of course) and the beach team are more than happy to lend a hand with the beer barrels. Theres a palpable sense of pride and a lot of laughs in pulling it all together.The knowledgeThroughout this time, instructor development is also prioritised, with refresher courses in crucial elements like driving the power boats and first aid. It goes without saying that the Club Vass beach team are all fully qualified and experienced (of course many have been coming back for years). But new faces need to be brought up to speed on how it all works, the particular conditions here and what it takes to be amongst the best of the best. The veterans are happy to help pass on their knowledge to the rookies and assist in developing individual coaching styles. The underlying ethos here is on tirelessly fine-tuning the tuition program. The new instructors trial-run their sessions on new members of the restaurant & bar team.Newbies and rites of passageThis is one of the great perks of coming to work at Club Vass as a newbie; you get to use the kit and everyones on hand to help you learn. Some of the instructors first discovered their passion for the sport while working on the bar. And of course, there are the rites of passage that have been handed down over countless generations; look out for the tartan paint and the long weight (if you know, you know)!The RewardsEmpty bay & early blasts!Sure, the pressures on, but the energy during set-up is something else and the excitement just builds as opening day approaches. One of the biggest rewards? Those dreamy early-season cross-shore days with barely a soul in the bay. And this year, late April and early May have already delivered the goods with some mega days. OK, the waters not bathtub warm just yet, but no ones complaining.Cross-Shore ApartmentsAnd new for 2025, right next to Club Vass theres a uber-luxurious complex with an exclusive choice of spacious 1 and 2-bedroom apartments. Theyre amongst the highest quality accommodation on the island, fully equipped with no detail overlooked. The location of course could not be better, with outstanding views and all this with Club Vass literally on your doorstep. Theyre nearly ready and will be available soon, so watch this space!Fine-TuningA few days before opening, its soft launch time, a full days test-run of hotel and beach operations to snag any last-minute issues. Everyones focussed now and nothings left to chance. Even the beach bar gets tested and of course the beer and cocktails dont escape quality controlyou can trust the CV teams endless enthusiasm and attention to detail!May 18th 2025: Opening Day!The wait is finally over, the first transfer coach rocks up, the hotel and restaurant are ready for first guests, the racks are full of box-fresh top gear, the bars open and cross-shore is kicking inUp and runningNow the tried and tested operation, honed over many years, beginsEveryone soon settles into the rhythm, with a weekly cycle of incoming and outgoing guests, including some new but many familiar faces; once youve experienced the Club Vass magic its hard to stay away. Ollie kicks things off with the Monday morning staff meeting, where the team debriefs the week just gone and gears up for the one ahead, all with the goal of maintaining that trademark passion and excellence throughout the summer. After that he introduces the team to the clients on the terrace and runs through whats happening and how it all works. Then its straight into coaching groups and out onto the water, with gentler starts for newcomers and full on cross-shore afternoons for the more advanced.Of course, windsurfing and winging are the main events, but theres plenty more here for the action-addicts, including yoga, SUPs & mountain biking. And the aprs-surf scene is awesome, from post-session sundowners at the beach bar to the legendary Club Vass BBQ to round off an unforgettable week.The Club Vass team are expecting youHeres to an awesome summer 2025!Club Vass | Windsurfing & Watersports Holidays In Greeceinfo@clubvass.net01992 874566Photos:Miles Taylor @protographyofficialThomas VandewalleOllie ScottThe post CLUB VASS: SET-UP DIARIES! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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A surf leash is probably something you haven't put a lot of thought into, but Channel Islands has. There is a lot that goes into making the worlds best leash and thisvideowalks you through what those key features areall of which are built for maximum reliability, durability, and comfort.CI is the only brand that offers two styles of surf leash cords: our patented Hex Cord, which provides less drag so you can go faster, as well as the traditional Round Cord. All of CIs cords have been specifically formulated from high quality German urethane. After deciding on the cord type, we offer thickness options that are optimized for the conditions youd be using it in. CIs Comp Leash is 3/16 for smaller waves and competition surfing, while the Everyday Leash is to hold up in all-around conditions, and our Step-Up leashes are 5/16 for those maxing days. A lot of thought went into the ankle cuff to ensure its both strong and comfortable. CI has specifically sourced its hook and loop material (what many call Velcro) for maximum hold and durability. On the inside of the cuff, we offer a custom textured material that is super comfortable and doesnt move around while on your ankle, so as to minimize any distractions while surfing. To keep things light around the ankle cuff and rail saver, we also chose materials that dont soak in water.Where the cuff connects to the cord is a strong, self-lubricating, surgical quality stainless steel swivel that prevents corrosion and ensures a tangle free experience. Extending beyond the swivel and molded leash end is our patent pending Flex Ring that acts as a buffer to minimize any snapping of the cord.Other features worth noting are the rail savers shape which is designed to have minimal drag. CIs custom molded leash ends also offer the perfect combination of flex and rigidity.After narrowing down your choices for a CI leash thats best from you, the final decision simply rests on which color you want.Shop CIs Leasheshere

FULL VAN TOUR: GEORGE GRISLEYFULL VAN TOUR: GEORGE GRISLEYIf you are into kitting out your van for your windsurfing needs then check out this new video from George Grisley who reckons he has built the ultimate windsurfing van! Check it out and see for yourself!In this full van tour I give you a full breakdown of all the aspects of my new self-built camper van. From the garage to the kitchen, I give insights into how its built and the reasons behind it as well as all the little details that make the van home The post FULL VAN TOUR: GEORGE GRISLEY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

THE UKWA ONE HOUR CLASSIC: CALSHOTTHE UKWA ONE HOUR CLASSIC: CALSHOTGet ready to kick off the season with the first UKWA One Hour Classic at Calshot! Test your endurance, see how many laps you can rack up in 60 minutes and enjoy the thrill of racing alongside a great community of like-minded windsurfers. Dont miss the action.its going to be fast and a hell of a lot of fun!June 13/14th sees the first 2025 edition of the UKWA One hour classic supported by K-66, Duotone and the sup co at Calshot.The event is for everyone that can windsurf and wing foil. The idea is simple, to see how many laps of a 1KM course you can do in an hour, conditions permitting we will have 3 sessions per day, one for fin, one for wind foil and one for wing foil.The venue is excellent with ample parking, camping, facilities, a cafe and bar, most importantly though it works well in all wind directions and is easily accessible for all abilities , if you can go straight and turn round youre good enough!We will start in any wind, from the lightest breeze to a full on snotter so bring all your gear, all your friends and get ready for a weekend of full immersion in your favourite sport.Finally, if you cant make this weekend there will be another one at Lee on Solent, another class venue with all the facilities and the cosiest club house on 30-31 August, see you there!Sign up now athttps://ukwindsurfing.com/events/2025/one-hour-classic-challenge-event-1-Sup-co-Duotone/The post THE UKWA ONE HOUR CLASSIC: CALSHOT appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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