THE CORNISH CONUNDRUM: GWITHIAN GAMBLETHE CORNISH CONUNDRUMGWITHIAN GAMBLEAfter pitching battle trying to call the shots on the forecast for Cornwall, John Carter and Timo Mullen eventually struck liquid gold at Gwithian with all the elements aligning. However, the trip packed a punch in more ways than oneWords: John Carter.Photos: John Carter.CONUNDRUMSitting outside A&E at Newquay Hospital was not quite how I had planned this last-minute mission down to Cornwall panning out, but that is the way it can roll when you take on big waves and gusty winds at Gwithian.WEIGHING UP THE FORECAST / ON THE FENCERewind about sixteen hours and I am happily sat at home sipping on a mug of tea watching Saturday night TV when the phone pings with a message from Timo Mullen Headed to Cornwall at 5am, should be big!. Now that might seem a normal text to most folk, but this message was coming from Ireland where Timo had just been sailing huge waves for the past few days. He was somewhere between the west coast of Ireland and Dublin Airport and still hungry for more. Surely he must have had his fix by now? But we are talking about Timo Mullen here meaning that even at the slightest sniff of wind and quality wave sailing hes on it. What puzzled me was that the forecast didnt look that special on paper. The swell was 1.9m at 14 seconds, slowly dropping throughout the day, along with gusty southerly winds blowing anywhere between 15-30 knots. Plus the forecast I was looking at was saying it was going to be overcast, while the chap on BBC Weather also mentioned that a cloud of Sahara dust was also bound for the UK due to some unusual circumstances. Hmmm, this was a tough call, and the evidence was looking weak to me that Cornwall was going to be epic. There would be waves for sure, but possibly just head high with cloudy weather, so I wasnt totally convinced, to say the least!LEAP OF FAITHBreaking down the facts maybe Timo was onto something since Surfline was promising a window of sunshine between 9am and 11am, and the long period swell was due to be hitting from the northwest, so that should pump into Gwithian without being blocked. My wife had plans for Sunday, so she encouraged me to do something exciting and take a chance! It is not often I am granted her permission to go on a windsurf trip at such short notice, so something was telling me to take the chance. With this rare green light up for grabs, I decided to pull the trigger and take a chance on this Cornish puzzle and hope that Timo had figured out all the clues correctly come the morning. As the best tides were early doors, we had to commit to leaving for Cornwall at 5am with no prior chance to check the waves etc on the webcams. This was an act of faith, which would hopefully pay off.I made it to Poole on the last train on Saturday night around 11.30pm, which was the exact time that Timo made it back after flying in from Dublin to Bristol and then driving back home. The alarms were set for 5am and then we were in for a bleary-eyed 4-hour drive down to Gwithian. Our commitment here was pretty big compared to the locals who could just rock up check the conditions and if it was not on, just turn around and simply go to bed in the comforts of their own homes. I would be nine hours away from my Sunday roast, which would mean eighteen hours of total travel both ways. Thats almost a whole day on the road! I could probably make it to the Canary Islands, if not the other side of the world, in the same time!MILITARY PRECISIONBy 7.30am we were about an hour away from Gwithian, working our way through diversions as they continue to build the new A30, which will hopefully cut down the travel time to Cornwall once the roadworks are complete. By now we could grab a glimpse of the webcams pre-dawn and I could definitely make out waves in front of the lifeguard hut at Gwithian. An hour later we were finally there for the real live view and thankfully Timos theory of solving this weather puzzle was much more accurate than mine. The waves were pumping and easily mast high in the sets. We were just in time to see Chucky AKA Ian Ross coming off the water. He looked gutted. Is there no wind?, we asked. No, Ive got a bloody family meal today on my day off, the wind is just kicking in and it is going to be epic. He was definitely not a happy man!DANGER ZONETimo reckons the dropping high tide provides the primo conditions at Gwithian and that is why we had left at 5am to be here for the early session. The dilemma now was what equipment to choose. The wind on the inside had some glassy patches, but the gusts on the outside looked much stronger. With the wind being light on the inside, this was exactly where the danger zone was as there were plenty of big sets detonating on the sand bar. If you are underpowered and drifting through here, you are pretty much a sitting duck, and it would be like crossing no mans land with waves firing at you. After toying with the idea of taking his 5.3m and his 107L Grip 4, Timo finally decided to take the same sail, but with the 99L instead. The trade-off would make him more vulnerable when heading out, but offer him greater manoeuvrability when on the wave I left that decision to him!DOWN THE GOAT TRACKTo get down to the beach at Gwithian at high tide, you basically have to gather your equipment and clamber down a tiny goat track, which is made even trickier thanks to it usually being damp and slippery underfoot. There have been plenty of sailors who have come a cropper navigating this trek and a lot of guys prefer to split their gear and do two trips. It is another decision that needs to be made, and of course, there was only one option for Timo down in one! Despite logo to mast high waves and sketchy wind on the inside, there were still four or five sailors, plus a couple of kiters, who were also up for the challenge.A TRICKY STARTOn his first run out, Timo launched upwind close to a small outcrop of rocks where there was a rip to help him drift through the impact zone. He got lucky and crawled over a couple of sets and was out the back ready to pick off his first wave. It wasnt long before a big set started looming and Timo lined up on what he thought would be the primo wave of the set. Moments later he was gunning down the line on a mast high bomb looking to launch a monster aerial, but the wave just didnt offer the right section and there was no moment of glory. So now he was back on the inside having to navigate his way back out again. I swear for the next hour he took about ten different poundings dealing with the tricky current and light winds on the inside. The reward once out the back were beautiful clean waves that were offering multiple turns and a massive aerial section if you were bold enough to hit it. The sailing was as tricky as it comes and definitely hard work, not to mention tiring.SLICE AND DICEMidway through the session, Timo came back to the beach and I could see another sailor looking at his head, which didnt look good had he bashed it? However, a few minutes later he was heading back out again on yet another mission to navigate no mans land, so I assumed the knock on the head couldnt have been that bad!As for the weather, there was no sign of the Sahara dust I had seen on the news and once again Timo had called the shots correctly, as at around 11am the sun briefly appeared from behind the clouds. All of a sudden Gwithian lit up in glorious wintery light. I could tell Timo had clocked this and knew that this was his moment to go big or go home. By this time the wind was howling and it must have been 30 knots out the back. I was struggling to hold my camera down from my position perched on the rocks down in front of the car park.ALL OR NOTHINGRight on cue a flawless set presented itself downwind and I could see Timo flying down towards the lighthouse in search of glory. Moments later he was driving up into a huge barrelling lip for a manoeuvre that was either going to go incredibly right or incredibly wrong. It was one of those moments as a photographer that I was praying my camera would not do something silly, lose focus, a battery dies or be on the wrong settings. Fortunately, Timo hit the lip with perfect timing, my camera managed to fire away and capture the moment, and I managed to hold everything down while being hit by a 30-knot gust. That was an exceptional aerial and I was pretty sure we were not going to outdo that anytime soon, especially when a new wave of grey cloud rolled in from the west.NO PAIN, NO GAINTen minutes later I made my way down to the waters edge to catch up with Timo as he was walking his rig back upwind. On closer inspection, I now got to see what had happened to his head. He had a nasty inch long slice from a fin, but at least it wasnt bleeding. We decided that we should head to the nearest hospital just to be safe, but in true Timo fashion, he still wanted to catch a few more waves before packing up. As he turned around, I noticed a huge slice in the back of his wetsuit, and I could make out a huge bruise on his back underneath. There is not a lot that can stop Timo from windsurfing when the conditions are firing. Enough said!An hour later, it was just about time to call it a day. The wind was now nuking and Timo was done and dusted after so many swims and altercations in the waves. Out on the water, the likes of Ian Black, Steve Thorp and a few locals got their just rewards for bracing the conditions as they tucked into some epic rides. However, with the tide now at dead low and the waves becoming increasingly hollow, it was game over. Before leaving, I was desperate to fly my drone, which almost proved to be a costly error, as my case with all my spares was blown over in the sand. Meanwhile, I was trying desperately to get the drone to return home in the nuking winds. Luckily, I managed to get it back otherwise that would have been a sour note to end an otherwise epic day.DOCTOR, DOCTORAround 2pm we arrived at Newquay Hospital to have Timos head checked. Funnily enough, the nurse recognised him from a previous Motley Crew trip where he had sliced open his foot at Mexicos, which required several stitches. This time round, they managed to glue his head wound, which looked worse than it actually was, fortunately.COMMITTED TO THE CAUSESo that was that. It turned out that Timo had managed to solve the riddle of the weather far more successfully than any of my own analyses. Gwithian was firing on all cylinders and there was no sign of the Sahara dust whatsoever. With the early start, that also meant an early finish and even factoring in the hour stop in Newquay I was home by 9pm, which included a four-hour drive, an hour on a train, a thirty-minute boat ride, and finally, a thirty-minute drive home! Not too bad!The post THE CORNISH CONUNDRUM: GWITHIAN GAMBLE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

CRASHES AND BATTLES: PWA SYLT WORLD CUPCRASHES AND BATTLES: PWA SYLT WORLD CUPCheck out the crazy foil action from the first day of racing in Sylt as Nico Prien and his camera man Lars look back on an epic day of high wind foil racing!Edited and filmed Lumix S5II & S1H Insta360, ACE PRO, Go3s by Lars WichmannThe post CRASHES AND BATTLES: PWA SYLT WORLD CUP appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

DUOTONE SLICK 5M TEST REVIEW 2024DUOTONE SLICK 5M TEST REVIEW 2024The VerdictThe Duotone Slick offers useable power thats easy to find. The Slick is comfortable in the hands and excels in its handling, responding well to rider input to allow the Slick to raise your winging game, whilst keeping you comfortable and settled at all times.The only wing in the category to use a boom, the Slick is easy to inflate and attach the boom. Slot and Velcro the boom in before inflation, and then inflate just like any other wing through its single valve. Duotone has a unique valve system, so the use of the correct Duotone adaptor is crucial if you want to inflate it to the recommended PSI. The mini boom SLS, which is sold separately, is 125cm long with a slim 25mm diameter grip, which fits all Duotone Slicks and Slick SLS from 2.5m-7m, making it perfect for building a quiver of wings without needing to buy an extra boom. Plus there are two other boom options from Duotone that also fit the same spectrum of wings. The Slick has a tight canopy with two mini battens on the trailing edge on either side of the strut to stabilise the power and trailing edge. There is a nice amount of dihedral in the Slick, which is enough to boost its performance without hindering someone who is just starting their wing career. Duotone doesnt provide a leash as standard, allowing the rider to choose a leash that suits them but just be sure to purchase one before your first outing. The Slick is a tidy package that on first appearances looks like a simple wing, however, its adequate dihedral shape, tight canopy, slim-line boom, and bright yellow and grey graphics suggest otherwise likely offering some level of performance mixed with usability.Brand ClaimIntroducing the 2024 slick, the freeride & freestyle wing available in eight sizes ranging from 3.0 to 6.5m. Experience absolute control with the mini boom, offering direct steering and unlimited hand placement options.PerformanceSqueezing on the power on the Slick, you notice the pleasant, direct power you can easily generate and find. The Slick is very easy to place and the boom allows seamless, smooth hand transitions when getting started. Up and foiling, the Slick settles quickly, with its power remaining evenly distributed even through lulls and gusts. In the gusts, the Slicks stiff frame and profile deliver extra speed and stability, while in the lulls, you are pulled through with minimal adjustments. There is a little extra in the backhand if you desire more punch out of the Slick when boosting into the air, or extra performance out of the already adequate angles the Slick naturally delivers. Manoeuvrability is where the Slick really starts to shine, especially when entering with speed. It remains comfortable yet still encourages a plethora of gybe variations as it naturally behaves as expected, while its tighter canopy tension allows you to whip the Slick around in any form or way the rider chooses without the trailing edge catching. Through tacks you experience minimal drag, allowing you to take your time and you dont have to be overly aggressive unless you want to. Working the Slick in the low end, its stiff frame means your effort isnt wasted. Each higher cadence pump, to match its tighter canopy, generates oomph for you to work the board and foil with. Flagging out while stationary on the beach, you notice a slight bit of swing to the slick, but flagged out when on a bump with some speed behind you, the Slick sits nicely and is manageable. Regaining the wing is made easy with the boom, which sits further forwards to the leading edge, which makes the reach very manageable. The Slick offers easy and reachable power that will suit a spectrum of riders from those starting out, to those looking to enhance and develop their manoeuvres, which is where the Slick really shines.www.duotonesports.comDUOTONE SLICK 5M TEST REVIEW 2024VITAL STATSPrice: 939Size: 5mWeight: 2.2kg (Without Boom) 2.53 kg (With Boom)Canopy Style: TightSpan: 331cmStrut:Recommended PSI: 8psiHandles: Boom (Mini Boom)Harness-line Fixings: No, attach to boomSupplies With: BagAvailable Sizes: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5OTHER WINGS IN THE LINEUPEnsis Score 5.2mGA Cross 5.2mKT Wing Air DD 4mNaish ADX Nvision 5mNeilPryde Fly II 5mBACK TO TEST OVERVIEWThe post DUOTONE SLICK 5M TEST REVIEW 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

The post Monthly Round-up of SUP / September 2024 appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

Day 5 Hard day on the Water.. but the cream rise to the top!! Are you a Windsurfing.TV Member? HELP make videos like this possible JOIN the Membership program To become a member all you have to do is support the channel with Beer Money Go to: https://windsurfing.tv/beer-money/

The post New PPC Foiling M1 Range appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

ENSIS SCORE 5.2M TEST REVIEW 2024ENSIS SCORE 5.2M TEST REVIEW 2024The VerdictThe third generation of the SCORE is light and well-engineered, with a positive forwards drive upfront as soon as the wind fills the canopy. The SCORE remains light and nimble when powered, floating through manoeuvres promoting a relaxed riding style.The LowdownImmediately when unrolling and pumping up the SCORE, it feels very well-engineered, and remains light. Its stitching and shaping are accurate and substantial, while the strut has two ergonomically oval-shaped handles for comfort and easy handling, along with a dump valve for easy packing away. The SCORE is inflated through one valve on the leading edge with a range of 6-8psi, depending on whether you want a softer or stiffer feel. This variation in inflation will influence aspects of the Scores performance and personality.Along the seams of the leading edge there is some subtly stitched-on abrasion-resistant material to help prolong the life and increase the resilience of the SCORE. Its not as obvious as others in the category, but it subtlety helps reduce the overall weight of the SCORE. Ensis have also reduced weight in the leading edge by 35% with its Hybrid Leading Edge construction, using a new lighter Dacron material in the wingtips to reduce swing weight while riding, whilst still remaining stiff. Claiming to give a more comfortable ride, more control and direct feeling. Its canopy is well-fitted and taut from its front to midsection, transitioning to a looser and more flexible trailing edge. The draft is deepest in the front of the wing and then shallows out towards the trailing edge, suggesting that the power is primarily generated in the front end of the wing. Three small windows on either side of the strut are made from clear, flexible PVC. Four soft stabilising mini battens on the trailing edge increase stability and reduce flutter in the canopy. Topping off the SCORE is a bungee leash which goes around the wrist and can be attached with one hand and then locked off with Ensis leash lock. Again, this is another small, but nice touch to keep the wing within your grasp.Brand ClaimThe ENSIS SCORE III impresses with its easy handling and direct power. The perfect combination of stability, power and forward drive will get you flying before you know it.PerformanceFor its well-built engineering and features, the SCORE has a natural ability to flag out in a well-balanced manner. Its ability to be flipped over without resistance is impressive, making it easy for the rider to get up and going with minimal fuss. The handles are comfortable with a subtle oval shape to each handle and they are large enough to shift your hands to suit conditions and riding style. Performing and feeling at its best when nicely powered, the noticeable draft upfront at rest in the SCORE fills up and gives a positive pull. Up and foiling, the SCORE holds its shape and profile, showing minimal signs of weakness in the gusts, to provide balanced and stable power you can commit to and work with. If you match the lulls with a slight change in your sailing line to keep the SCORE delivering its grunt upfront, you will be pulled through the lulls having only sacrificed a smidge. With its personality definitely swaying towards light manoeuvrability, the SCORE has the ability to float like a cloud. Its light and natural ability to flag and go neutral when not powered really delivers here, especially when tacking when the grunt upfront helps pull you out of the exit, making it easy and almost effortless to handle. Pushing the SCORE in a lighter breeze, you begin to notice its limits and where some refined technique is needed to extend the light wind capabilities. Not the most natural to pump, the SCORE needs bigger, more exaggerated, and lower cadence pumps with maximum effort to get you up to speed and promote flight. Once up and flying in the lighter end of the wind spectrum, be gentle and more refined with the backhand as due to the grunt and draft being held upfront, its easy to over sheet and stall the SCORE. The SCORE has a nice gentle usability that many riders will enjoy, from balanced handling to a floaty character in manoeuvres when out in powered conditions.https://ensis.surfENSIS SCORE 5.2M TEST REVIEW 2024VITAL STATSPrice: 949Size: 5.2mWeight: 3kgCanopy Style: Tight with some looseness in the trailing edgeSpan: 340cmStrut: 194cmRecommended PSI: 6-8psiHandles: Two handlesHarness-line Fixings: No, attach to handlesSupplied With: Bag, leash and pump adaptorAvailable Sizes: 2.8, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.2, 5.9, 6.6OTHER WINGS IN THE LINEUPDuotone Slick 5mGA Cross 5.2mKT Wing Air DD 4mNaish ADX Nvision 5mNeilPryde Fly II 5mBACK TO TEST OVERVIEWThe post ENSIS SCORE 5.2M TEST REVIEW 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Day 6 Loooooong day at the beach today.. Action from Both Freestyle and Slalom.. Citroen Windsurf World Cup Sylt 2024 Are you a Windsurfing.TV Member? HELP make videos like this possible JOIN the Membership program To become a member all you have to do is support the channel with Beer Money []