GEORGE GRISLEY: WINDSURFING IN A SWIMMING POOL!GEORGE GRISLEY: WINDSURFING IN A SWIMMING POOL!UK freestyler, George Grisley competed at the first stop of the newly branded FPT Tow-in World Series at the Boot Dsseldorf and finished on the podium in secondplace behind freestyle world champion, Lennart Neubauer. Check out his latest video with lots of behind the scenes insights on how the event unfolded. We also have the full event highlights from the incredible media team at the FPT for you to enjoy!FULL EVENT HIGHLIGHTSDuotoneFREESTYLE PRO TOURThe post GEORGE GRISLEY: WINDSURFING IN A SWIMMING POOL! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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JULIAN SALMONN JOINS NAISH!JULIAN SALMONN JOINS NAISH!We have been waiting for the transfer news regarding Julian Salmonn and can confirm he has joined the Naish team. Julian has been spotted touring around Australia recently so it will be interesting to see how he gets on at theMargaret River Wavesailing Classic which should kick off tomorrow!Photo credits: Jens HogenkampNaish say:Were thrilled to welcome Julian to the Naish team! As one of the most exciting riders on the scene, Julian brings passion, skill, and dedication to the watermaking him a perfect fit for Naish. With his deep love for windsurfing and multi-discipline approach to water sports, we cant wait to see what we accomplish together.Why Naish?Julian has always been drawn to Naishs long-standing heritage in windsurfing. Naish is one of the most traditional windsurfing brands that exist, and I am incredibly proud to work with such an amazing brand, he shares. For Julian, joining Naish is about more than just ridingits about collaborating to develop and promote the best windsurf and water sports gear out there.What truly sealed the deal? The fact that Naish is a multi-water sports brand, allowing him to spend as much time on the water as possible. Naish provides all the gear I need to maximize my time on the water. Its the perfect fit!A Passion for WindsurfingJulians journey into windsurfing started early, thanks to his parentsboth passionate windsurfers themselves. I was hooked from a young age, he says. Moving to Tenerife gave him the opportunity to train extensively, and from then on, he dedicated every free moment to improving his skills.That dedication has paid off in competition, with back-to-back podium finishes on the PWA World Tour last year, including second place in Pozo and third in Tenerife. But beyond contests, Julian cherishes the moments spent at remote point breaks with just a friend and a camera crew, capturing the pure essence of windsurfing.Balancing Competition & FunCompeting at the highest level requires more than just time on the water. Julian stays in top form with a mix of training, including downwind foiling, road biking, and other outdoor sports. Off the water, he finds balance in spending time with family and friends, enjoying his favourite activities together.Looking AheadWith Naish by his side, Julian has his sights set on the ultimate goalbecoming a world champion. Thats my main focus right now, and Im excited to work with Naish to put myself in the best position to achieve it.Beyond competition, Julian sees his role at Naish as a chance to inspire others. The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do. Whether its through content creation, gear development, or simply pushing the sport forward, Julian is ready to make an impact.Advice for Future ProsFor those dreaming of a pro career, Julian has simple but powerful advice: Spend as much time on the water as possible. Consistency is key. Keep working.Julian, were stoked to have you on board. Lets take it to the next level!By Linda van LakwijkJan 31, 2025NAISHThe post JULIAN SALMONN JOINS NAISH! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Words: Tez Plavenieks Photos: Oli Lane-Pearce & Tez PlavenieksSUP foiling has fascinated me for a while now. Recently, the discipline has evolved to incorporate three distinct areas: SUP foiling in waves, downwind SUP foiling, and flat water paddle-ups. For any experienced paddler in open tidal water, SUP foiling is more accessible than you think.SUP foiling typesYou can split SUP foiling into three distinct areas. SUP foiling in waves is an evolved form of SUP surfing. Using breaking waves to ride on foil and surf albeit in elevated form. Downwind SUP foiling is a step on from downwind SUP. Chasing bumps and using wind and rolling wave power to drift surf along the coast has caught the attention of many flyers.SUP foiling paddle-ups is perhaps the trickiest thing to master. Paddling flat out from a standstill, riders aim to generate enough speed and momentum to pop up on foil before pumping around until their bodies give up. Learning takes a while, but it is no less possible with the right gear and paddle technique.Paddle technique is everythingAs the title suggests, SUP foiling is all about paddling technique. There are ways to bypass this, such as using electrical foil assists like FoilDrive. But for the purist, theres a challenge to SUP foil sans additional propulsion.By default, any long-time stand-up paddler will have developed enough technique to SUP foil. Paddle-ups require more refined strokes and power. With downwind SUP foiling falling just behind. SUP foiling in waves, meanwhile, isnt quite as susceptible to bad paddling. But still, youll need your chops sorted and be able to call on a variety of strokes. Seasoned got this over and above those wanting to learn the art without prior paddle-boarding experience.SUP foiling kitGear for SUP foiling has evolved considerably. High-aspect foils now offer an efficiency not previously available, while Barracuda style downwind foil boards (used for all types of SUP foiling and light wind winging) deliver super early release and the ability to get the job done.Quality paddles, meanwhile, are available to all riders and have been for a few years. A paddle defines stand up paddle boarding as a whole, which is still valid when discussing SUP foiling. So, the best paddle you can lay hands on is always worthwhile.SUP foiling in wavesIf you have any SUP surfing experience, foiling in waves is a logical step. Paddle boards have always offered the opportunity to exploit lesser-quality surf. Foils now lower the threshold even further and turbo-charge the experience.You may choose to ride a longer, thinner downwind style foil board for the earliest release possible. Combined with the right foil, this can result in takeoffs from unbroken waves. Alternatively, a stubbier foil board will also work fine for those who have a crumbling or breaking peak to play with. Foil size is dictated by wave power. Although you dont need anything big or with too much oomph.Downwind SUP foilingCatching wind-blown bumps and riding for miles along the coast is extremely addictive. And with a foil beneath you, wind strengths and bumps sizes dont need to be excessive. Theres a period of learning that can be frustrating at first. But stick with it, and youll get there.In time, youll be zooming atop the chop with the best of them. Logistics do need to be considered every time you do a run. This is why some riders favour wing foiling upwind, packing down their wing before downwind SUP foiling back to base.Flat water SUP foiling paddle-upsIdeally, you should have a solid foiling technique before attempting flat water SUP foiling paddle-ups. Youll need to know how to pump your foil and time it correctly with paddle strokes. After that, its about choosing the right venue and investing the time.Sheltered flat water will help massively. A stretch devoid of chop is a lot easier than wind-blown spots. And then its practice, practice and more practice. It took me a while to unlock the flat water paddle up. And still, to this day, it can catch me out. But its worth the hassle when it comes together.Following onHaving gotten to grips with all these areas of SUP foiling, the next step is to challenge yourself further. So bigger waves with surf environments in mind, longer downwind runs, and quicker pop-ups are all goals that can be aimed for.In each instance, you may need to address your gear. For instance, a small, more performance-orientated foil is needed for bigger waves. Or a narrower, downwind board for paddle-ups thatll release even earlier. However, this presents further challenges also. To be honest, foiling never stops being a challenge. But thats part of the appeal.Summing upIve always chased the performance end of stand-up paddle boarding, away from recreational SUP. And for me, foiling ticks all the boxes. Super versatile, and like paddling on steroids, it encompasses all the skills learned on fin over the years and ramps this up.If youre thinking of getting involved, Id urge you to do so. While theres certainly a period of learning required, its a quicker process than youd think if you commit. Take the plunge and learn to fly!

WINDSURF MAGAZINE ONLINE: NEWS BULLETINWINDSURF MAGAZINE ONLINE: NEWS BULLETINTRANSFER NEWSWell, it was a busy Friday in the transfer market, with breaking news that Womens PWA Foil Slalom World Champion Justine Lemeteyer has joined Patrik. This move comes shortly after the team also signed Johan Se. With Lemeteyer and Se joining forces, Patriks race team is shaping up to be a formidable contender on the PWA race circuit in 2025.Over on the wave scene, we hear that Julian Salmonn has signed up with Naish Windsurfing and will most likely be unleashing his new gear at the Margaret River Windsurfing Wave Classic over in Australia. It wont be an easy ride for Salmonn as we have reports that Severne riders, Philip Koester and Jaeger Stone will also be in attendance as well as a bunch of hardcore locals such as Scott McKercher! The womens fleet will also be a big battle with the likes of Aussie ripper Jane Semen going up against Polish wave sailing specialist Justyna Sniady who will be looking to impress on here new Flikka boards.WINTER STORMSWell, we had a bunch of epic storms in the UK and there were some amazing moments went down at the Bluff in Cornwall as a few brave sailors headed out in the XXL waves produced by Storm Herminia. Well, we thought it was huge until we saw the images of Thomas Traversa and crew over in France where the waves were next level massive. They did have a Jet Ski to be fair! Traversa was joined by the fastest man in the world, Antoine Albeau as well as some hardcore French local who all sailed two different spots on Monday and Tuesday!The day after the Bluff in Cornwall saw an epic session go down at Marazion in north westerly winds and we will have a full gallery up sometime next week as well as some interesting insights of the day from Andy King and Timo Mullen.COMPETITION SCENEINDOOR TOW-INWell UK freestyler almost won the two in event at the newly branded FPT Tow-in World Series at the Boot Dsseldorf, only to be pipped at the post by freestyle world champion Lennart Neubauer with the final move of the contest. How unlucky was that! In the womens competition Maaike Huvermann came out on top ahead of Elena Dominick. There is a video up on the site if anybody is interested!LANZAROTEThe iQFOiL Class are currently battling it out at the 2025 Lanzarote iQFOiL Games.When we last checked Emma Wilson was narrowly ahead of Shahar Tibi in the womens class and in the Mens Johan Se was leading from Nicolas Goyard. It sounds like they have had some windy racing and this is the first time they are using the new size sails. Under the newly approved changes, Women and Youth Women will transition from the 8m sail to a 7.3m (new design) sail and Men will switch from the 9m sail to an 8m (current Women and Youth design) sail.AROUND THE WORLDIt looks like Maui has been hit by a severe storm with nuclear Kona winds, flooding and possible snow on the mountains. Over in Cape Town Ben Proffitt and Colin Dixon are in full swing with their Send It clinics while, Dieter Van Der Eyken and Fin Mellon are about to kick of a week-long course starting Monday. It looks like a decent season down in South Africa if you a prepared to drive to find the wind and waves. Meanwhile down in Cape Verde, it looks like Victor Fernandez has been scoring with non stop wind and waves! The wind continues to blow in the Canary Islands and we heard some of the racers had to switch over to wave sailing this week as nuclear winds hit Tenerife. RRD sail designer John Skye was incredibly unlucky in Gran Canaria and suffered a nasty cut on his foot after a crash while testing. We wish him a speedy recovery! Up in Cold Hawaii, Marc Pare is back from Cape Town and has been scoring solid waves while testing the latest Simmer wave boards.PWA CALENDARThe 2025 PWA tour calendar has just been published and there are quite a few interesting editions to the tour including racing events in Guadeloupe and China! The stalwart Canary Islands racing events are still to be confirmed, while the Youth side of things looks strong with stand-alone racing events lined up for Aruba, Bonaire, Turkey and Miami ,while Denmark will once again host the Youth World Cup for racing and waves. It looks like Tenerife will become a Grand Slam event hosting all the disciplines while there will be two events in Maui, albeit one of them a 4 star in April. The 4 star event at Shacks in Puerto Rico also sounds like a tasty edition to the wave tour! The first 5 star wave event looks to be in Chile on the 24th March to the 6th of April. Remember it they scored an epic swell last year for final day!NEW FEATURESWe have plenty of new features in the pipeline! Marcilio Browne, Victor Fernandez and Marc Pare will talk us through their board quivers, how they set them up and what they ride in different conditions. We have some spicy Windsurfing Dilemmas ready to be unleashed as well as the return of the BIG FIFTY, if any readers remember our mammoth list of questions, we asked the stars! Ben Proffitt will be one of the first to come under the cosh when he finally gets round to answering. Ooh yes, we also have an epic feature from those braving the conditions provided by Storm Darragh at K-Bay from back in December. Plus, Andy Chambers will tell us all about his twelve seasons at Club Vass! There are a few incriminating photos he sent us which we are still debating whether to publish. Peter Hart is sharpening his pencil to bring us his latest Affairs of the Hart ramblings, while we may also have some new technique features from Jem Hall. Anyone prefer Jem to do his technique by video??ADVERTISE!!Please dont forget to support all our amazing advertisers by clicking on the banners and if any new advertisers are interested, please contact us by email at jc@windsurf.co.uk The limited spaces are almost full so dont miss out!The post WINDSURF MAGAZINE ONLINE: NEWS BULLETIN appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

EUROPEAN PRO WINDSURFING TOUR: EBELTOFT, DENMARKEUROPEAN PRO WINDSURFING TOUR: EBELTOFT, DENMARKJohn Carter caught up with Finn Noer, the mastermind behind the European Pro Windsurfing Tour to find out the concept behind this tour, his aspirations and plans for the future.Words: Finn Noer // Photos: John CarterTHE CONCEPT The European Pro Windsurfing Tour is all about making competitions around Europe for riders that are talented and want to see a future within windsurfing. Mostly it is for the young guys coming into the racing scene, who may not have the money to travel to places like Japan or New Caledonia. On this tour they can look forward to a bright future where they can drive in their van, bring their friends and travel together with the minimum of costs. That side of it is very important for me. That reminds me of the time when I was young. I just wanted to compete, but of course couldnt afford to travel everywhere or anywhere. When I could afford to go, I just loved that. I can see the fire in the eyes of these new kids on the scene. A lot of these young guys are training really hard, but in reality, what are they actually training for?THE IDEA Two or three years ago I came up with the idea that we needed a European Tour. Something affordable and accessible to the majority of the riders. In reality, unfortunately, there isnt that much money in the sport and its expensive! Windsurfing isnt for everyone, Formula One isnt for everyone and all the expensive sports are just not for everyone, but we can try and make it less expensive travel wise by having a tour in European spots like here in Denmark, Germany or Lake Garda. It will be a tour with four day events to also help keep the cost down. As you can see here in Denmark, it is also very important that we can entertain the people on the beach. Otherwise, it is just a closed party for the windsurfers. We want to entertain the people on the beach with a huge live screen and with Ben Proffitt as the commentator. It is really important for us to engage with the audience and make the sponsors happy. I dont want that at the cost of the windsurfing quality.RULES Another aspect that is very important is to come up with rules that give a possibility for lighter riders to be able to compete with the heavier guys as normally in racing the lighter sailors have no chance. To combat this we are allowing them to use a weight vest. I was very light when I was racing and at that time it was allowed to use a weight vest also, which was a game changer for me. I have been watching talented riders like Sebastian Kornum, who is not that tall, but very strong, but just doesnt have what it takes to compete with the taller heavier guys. I felt so sorry for those guys. These weight jackets are available for everyone. Another very important thing we are working on is that we have no custom gear, but otherwise riders are not restricted. We can race in the lightest winds possible so all the crowds on the beach can always watch some racing. The foil has given us this opportunity to go racing when it almost seems impossible. Also, in the high winds aspect the foil can manage some pretty heavy conditions. With those rules we get happy sailors, happy organisers and happy sponsors.THE BIG PICTURE It isnt ending there! I actually want to take the tour a step further. I have been producing a few productions for Eurosport and Sky Sports, so I know it is possible to bring sports to these bigger platforms for media. I believe with foil windsurfing that that is possible. We have the stories there and we have talented people working here. When they see the action and feel the thrill that windsurfing is giving a lot of people I think it will go down well. A lot of people here in Ebeltoft had never seen this type of racing before and thought it was so crazy and cool! They were just blown away by this exciting format of racing. I have always had that feeling that we can bring this sport to life when we have the right stories told by the right people on the right platforms. I hope we can help make this sport grow and make it more attractive for young people. I want other non-windsurfers to say, Wow this looks like a cool watersport, lets try windsurfing!. That is the main goal.When we gain access to these bigger audiences, hopefully it will bring more money in the sport, so these athletes can make a living out of it. There were some riders who would have loved to come here, but they have to work as they cant make a living out of the sport, even some of the guys at the top of the rankings.OTHER TOURS We are not trying to be rivals with the PWA or any other tours. We have no intentions to be rivals to any other tours. We have a good relationship with the IFCA Tour, and I respect all these big tours. We will never put on an event which clashes with these tours where possible. We are windsurfing lovers. We would never put two windsurf events on at the same time. We are only working with the adult scene and within foil racing. We want to have a strong fleet and to be as professional of a fleet as possible. I am setting our bar high! If we dont shoot for the stars, we wont reach the moon! We really want to put a lot of effort into this.SHOOT FOR THE STARS The tour will hopefully be affordable, fun and provide a nice adventure for riders going to events in their vans to compete. I hope we will give riders an opportunity to do something affordable which may help them gain sponsors and have the chance to compete. The name European Pro Windsurfing Tour should be self-explanatory. I hope we can make this scene bigger for the young riders! I am watching everything on the foil and slalom scene. I stay up all night to watch the Japan PWA foil races! I just love this style of racing and am very passionate to help the young riders have a chance to compete and get more involved.The post EUROPEAN PRO WINDSURFING TOUR: EBELTOFT, DENMARK appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Mario Kmpel : The beginning of the 2025 Freerace Project!

The post Monthly Round-up of SUP / January 2025 appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

PATRICE BELBEOCH: FROM WORLD CHAMPION TO EXOCET CEOPATRICE BELBEOCH: FROM WORLD CHAMPION TO EXOCET CEOPatrice Belbeoch broke Bjrn Dunkerbecks wave domination in 1996 to become the PWA Wave World Champion. We hear from the Frenchman about his background, his early interest in equipment development, taking over Exocet and his overall outlook.Words: Patrice Belbeoch // Photos: Timm FleissgartenBACKGROUNDI left school pretty early on and then joined the PBA Tour in 1986, my first time on a windsurf board was in the summer of 1982. I got pretty hooked on the sport very quickly and then it was clearly the sport I preferred besides other sports such as track and field and basketball, which I had a decent level at too!I did some local races back in 1985, and my first PBA event was in La Torche back in 1986, I did fairly well and was offered a contract with Mistral.HIGHS & LOWS?For me traveling around the world to sail in amazing places was a high. Of course the low side of it was the nightmare of travelling with so much gear all the time. I would say that gaining several titles both nationally and internationally was also very fulfilling.THE OLD DAYSIndeed, back in the day the tour was well funded, the windsurfing scene was also thriving with many big brands being involved. I would say it was easier to secure events as we had multiple disciplines that would allow us to sail in really light wind too. For a lot of sailors, the overall ranking was the most important so I was training for all the disciplines, I never really saw myself more as a racer than a wave rider though.EQUIPMENT THEN VERSUS NOWBack in the days there were no restrictions on equipment and we were not limited to production boards or sails, the tour was the forefront for new R&D. I can see that for many years now the tour has been shrinking a lot. I think it started to go downhill when the race board discipline was dropped from the tour as from that time onwards we needed a lot more wind to sail and secure events, so it became more and more risky for organisers in terms of guaranteeing a result.WORLD TITLEThat year in 1996 we had only few events and they were mainly in Europe, so it was more my field. The Hawaiian sailors were struggling more in European waves, while us Europeans were also struggling on Maui because they were really good at that spot. I dont think you can compare the two. On Maui you can significantly increase your level just simply because of the amount of time you can spend on the water there, but the same could also be said for sailors who lived in the Canary Islands especially Gran Canaria so it was no shock that their level was always amazing as there is wind almost everyday day in Pozo.BOARD DESIGN & EQUIPMENTI have always been keen to understand why some equipment was faster than others, so from that point I always felt as though skill wasnt the only factor needed to be successful. It was also crucial to know your equipment, how to tune it and being aware of what changes to make to create improvements. From that perspective I became quite technical and I became involved with R&D for my sponsors in the early days.EXOCETExocet was establish in early 90s by Olivier Chretien, when he passed away, I kept using those boards on the tour and some designs were created for different brands. In 2000, I was getting a bit tired of travelling, and budgets were getting tight, so I positioned myself as an investor to launch Exocet into production and then a few months later I assumed the role of CEO.EXOCETS AMBITIONI believe Exocet have always been associated with innovation and over all this time we have designed some pretty timeless products.RANGEOur current range covers all the disciplines. I have been involved developing foil equipment, but we also have a race board that is still going strong. I think we have some really nice products such as our slalom board and crossover boards. One of my favourites is the Breeze as I really like the concept of wave sailing in marginal conditions with perfect waves and the Breeze really unlocks these conditions.R&DI create the base designs and then we run various tests with a panel of sailors who possess different skills to make sure we achieve the feeling and performance we were originally looking for. I am personally involved in the R&D process as well and I will test any component that has been designed or proposed.HOME BASE?I am located close to Brest in Brittany where we are often blessed with some great wave sailing conditions.WINDSURFER LT CONCEPTI didnt personally design that board, but I am supporting the project 100% as it is simple and affordable, which opens up the door for many sailors to participate all over the world. The Windsurfer LT is simple as its a one design class with only one sail and one board, which covers a wide range of conditions and people dont have to worry about changes as thats the purpose of a one design class. The class brings back the origins of windsurfing by allowing sailors to sail by weight group, which makes it very fair in any wind conditions.XO SAILSXO Sails was created about 10 years ago, the purpose was to have access to sails matching Exocets boards, nowadays the range changed a bit because Equipe Trading took over XO sails and Exocet, so my role now is to overview a wide variety of designs from Exocet, XO, Loftsails and Unifiber.FOIL RACINGIn my opinion wind foil and windsurfing are totally different disciplines and should never have been mixed up. It created a lot of confusion for many sailors. I personally like foiling a lot and I have spent quite a lot of time on R&D on it over the last few years and still today even. The thing that makes foiling really special is that you can sail in really marginal and patchy wind.FOIL TECHNICALITIESFoil is technically very tough and requires a lot time and effort on R&D both on and off the water. I feel like foil equipment development has reached a level these days that makes it suitable for any level of sailor. The level and speed that the racers are going now is quite impressive, but I still think it remain a bit extreme for the end consumer.TIME ON THE WATERI enjoy a bit of all types of sailing when conditions allow it, but I am wave sailing a lot less now because I suffered quite a few serious ankle injuries back in the day and I really dont want any more.OUTLOOKThe PWA should display disciplines that are closer to the main stream. In the early days the PBA did well by having riders sailing on longboards, although I personally think they should have kept the weight group format from other one design classes.Anyone who wants to learn to windsurf or wind foil should start on boards that use a daggerboard, but we have no champions sailing and promoting those type of products. On the other side of the scene the Windsurfer LT is probably the most sold racing board out there on the market. The right approach would be to check whyI think mixing foiling was a mistake and we saw lot of riders quitting the tour in the last two years and now we even have slalom with jumping over obstacles what rider does that on a normal day? I dont have a magic wand, but returning to the basics always works.BOARD DESIGN ENJOYMENT AND NUANCESThe high is when you have sailors enjoying a design and of course the low is the opposite! What attracts me to designing is when there is a project to work on that is totally new and it requires lot of thinking.The post PATRICE BELBEOCH: FROM WORLD CHAMPION TO EXOCET CEO appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

ANDY CHAMBERS: SEASONS OF CHANGE:ANDY CHAMBERS: SEASONS OF CHANGE: 12 Years of Fun, Friendship, and Freestyle!Andy Chambers first headed out to Vassiliki, Greece in 2001 when he was 18 years old. He worked across all 3 Club Vass centres (including Club Dahab and Club Margarita) for 12 years, immersing himself in the windsurf scene, whilst making a name for himself as a professional freestyle windsurfer on the PWA World Tour. As life progressed, Andy transitioned into a new chapter, getting married and settling down with a UK-based career. But his passion for windsurfing and his connection to Club Vass are stronger than ever. Every year, he dedicates a month to returning to the centre for a (working) holiday, reconnecting with lifelong friends, whilst enjoying plenty of time on the water. We caught up with Andy to hear how the journey started, what it was like to work at the Club and why he still returns every yearPhotos:PROtographyHOW IT ALL STARTEDAndy ChambersI grew up in Cyprus, where I first got into windsurfing, and by the age of 17 I got my level 1 RYA Instructor qualification. Whilst at college in Chichester, I saw an advert for Flying Fish (an instructor training company running courses at Club Vass) in Windsurf Magazine! I went to their open day in Hammersmith, and found out about their instructor courses and working a season at Club Vass. I just thought it sounded amazing, so I booked myself straight onto a level 2/3 courseBack then freestyle was just taking off and I was learning to Vulcan. I knew there were some really good freestylers working at Club Vass and I was super excited to get there I actually flew out on 9/11/2001! When I saw the magic of Club Vass for the first time, I just thought this is where I need to be. I came from a military windsurf club in Cyprus, which was all very official. In contrast, my first day at the Club was mind blowing I had never seen anything like it. I remember Sam Ross and Rad Hart-George were teaching board design theory, dressed in white lab coats, with thirty clients around them typical Club Vass humour! That afternoon there were fifty or sixty people on the lawn, doing Thai Chi Tacking. There was always a lot of crazy but brilliant stuff happening at Club Vass.After gaining my qualification I was offered work experience and I worked as hard as I could to show how keen I was. At the last night party, manager Christian Harris came over with a tray of tequilas and offered me a job for the following season. I downed my shot and joined the team; the rest is history as they say!WORK, PLAY, REPEAT: THE DAILY RHYTHM OF A WINDSURF INSTRUCTOREvery week was fresh, with new faces and new challenges. When new people arrived, your motivation would reset, as you were always teaching different things to the various levels, from total beginner to very advanced. It did not feel like real work, although it was still hard getting up every morning! Wed generally teach (theory and light wind) in the mornings until the afternoon cross-shore kicked in. Then wed teach higher levels on water and help run the safety, manning the rescue boats and tower, whilst trying to grab precious time on the water. It was full-on all day, and then most evenings youd have a beer with clients or there would be set social events (including the legendary Club Vass BBQ). We had a bit of sleep deprivation and big bar bills, but they were good times! You learn so much working at a place like Club Vass.NEW TRICKSI was lucky enough to work in all 3 centres, so I learned loads about windsurfing and was quickly able to accelerate my level (especially at Club Margarita, sailing with the likes of Ricardo Campello and Gollito Estredo). Everything was new in freestyle back then; we were learning something new almost every day. Being around guys like Benny Harrison, Simon Hurrey, Colin Dixon and Ollie Scott was amazing. Max Rowe used to come out on holiday with his parents and we taught him in Kids Club!THE MAGIC OF CLUB VASSThe vibe at Club Vass is just unbeatable and the windsurfing is outstanding; I went there last summer for a month and it was windy every single day. The whole place is full of windsurfers of all levels, so youre surrounded by like-minded people its just pure windsurfing! It especially amazes me how many beginners there are; all these people coming specifically to Club Vass to learn, having never windsurfed before. I have been to loads of windsurf holiday destinations around the world but no place matches Club Vass. If you think windsurfing is dead, then go to Club Vass and have your eyes opened!TOP NOTCHAll the kit is brand new every season. It is the best kit! Full carbon masts, the best construction boards and the best brands like Goya, Duotone and Severne. Because of Club Vasss reputation, they have the pick of the crop in terms of staff. That really comes across, the level of tuition at Club Vass is second to none. There are not many centres you can be taught such a high level of freestyle, with many of the instructors having competed on the world tour.SUPPORTI was very lucky that Club Vass supported me to go to events, in conjunction with Boardwise (they have a very strong relationship). Without that support, I would never have been able to do half of what I have achieved I still have Club Vass stickers on my sail. I believe in Club Vass so much I would push anyone to go there on holiday, whatever their level or situation (single, couple, family etc.). Theres nowhere better, you can windsurf every day, on amazing equipment and there is just so much to do. Vassiliki itself is a beautiful place, its not commercialized its still a little fishing village with great bars and tavernas.MOVING FORWARD: LIFE AFTER CLUB VASS AND NEW BEGINNINGSIt was tough when I first left Club Vass after 12 seasons, I was actually pretty depressed. Many people who leave Club Vass after working seasons feel the same; they cant believe how much they miss the place, the lifestyle and working there. Its like an addiction!My wife Philly and I moved to Bournemouth for her teacher training, but I struggled to find work in the UK as I wasnt qualified for much other than windsurfing. By a stroke of luck, Chris Martin left Pryde Group UK to start his own agency, representing JP/ Pryde (who had already been sponsoring me for 10 years). Chris offered me a job which was a no brainer as there arent that many openings in the industry. He was very supportive and it was a great start as a proper job before my next move to Goya.THE PULL OF THE PASTI still go back to Club Vass every year on holiday and Im able to work remotely for Goya, which is great. Many faces have changed, but good friends are still there, including Max Rowe, Ollie Scott and obviously owners Tony, Marianne and Roger. I know these guys really well and always support Club Vass as much as possible. Ive helped out with clinics like Speed Week with Whitey (Dave White). Its a great chance to test a huge range of gear (especially freeride, free wave & freestyle) and get instant real world feedback from clients, which is really valuable for product development. The branding also sticks in peoples minds when they use gear at a centre like Club Vass. For me its the perfect place to combine work and pleasure.Philly and I love to go back to our second home every year. We can both windsurf or wing every day but also take time to just chill out and relax. Its great to catch up with guests Ive known for ages; many people go back year after year, it is such an addictive place.WINDSURFING GENERATIONS: FAMILIES CREATING NEW TRADITIONS AT VASSMany families are bringing their kids out to Club Vass to learn windsurfing these days, which wasnt the case when I first worked there. The singles and couples I knew then are now coming back with their kids. When they first arrive, a lot of these kids have zero interest in windsurfing or water sports. Theyre so busy on their phones 24/7 they barely even socialise. On Day 1 they are still not that interested, but by Day 3 they have got mates, they are out on the water and they are transformed! I have seen parents totally amazed by what the place has done for their kids. They are getting out on the water, being active and there isnt a phone in sight! Its having a big positive impact on the families.CLUB VASSTHE SCHOOL OF LIFE!My upbringing in Cyprus was awesome, but there was no future there for me. Club Vass opened up a whole world of windsurfing and so many opportunities. I ve met some amazing people along the way who have supported me both competitively and professionally. Basically, working at Club Vass pretty much shaped the path of my whole life. It was definitely the school of life!CLUB VASSThe post ANDY CHAMBERS: SEASONS OF CHANGE: appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.