THE JOURNEY OF A WINDSURFING SAIL: ANDREA CUCCHITHE JOURNEY OF A WINDSURFING SAIL: A Masterpiece of CraftsmanshipAndrea Cucchi of Point 7 reveals the intricate craftsmanship behind every sailhours of precision, countless hands, and a relentless pursuit of perfection before it reaches the rider.Photos: Point 7 / Inna Bru / John Carter.ANDREA CUCCHIHave you ever wondered how many hands touch your sail before you even unroll it on the beach for the first time? At Point-7, we take you behind the scenes to our production facilities at Aquadynamics, in Sri Lanka, where precision, expertise, and dedication come together to create a windsurfing sail like no other.POINT 7A Sail is Born: The Art of Handcrafted PerfectionA windsurfing sail isnt just another factory-made product, its an intricate, handcrafted masterpiece. While components are assembled in series, every single sail is meticulously crafted, piece by piece.Bringing a sail to life is a journey filled with countless steps. From the moment it is designed to the first time it catches the wind; each phase is executed with passion and precision.The factory is a huge structure with over one thousand people working. We remember the first time we were at the factory, just looking at the number of bikes, which now turned into motorbikes, cars and tuk-tuk. It seemed like we were entering a small town. Time has evolved, but still, the way sails are built is still similar to 20 years ago as there is no technology that can replace such handcrafted work, especially for the numbers of our industry.From Concept to Creation: The Development PhaseIt all starts with feedbackdirectly from our customers and from elite PWA pro riders pushing the limits of performance. Hours of testing in diverse conditions, racing, jumping on the course, traveling, nights at the loft, and engaging with windsurfers worldwide to shape the final product. This invaluable data is fed into the design process, where new files are created, graphics are refined, and materials are sourced globally. Prototypes are evaluated rigorouslysail, tweak, test, repeatuntil perfection is achieved. Its a nonstop work that is not rushed, but where the developers are always thinking about the next steps to improve the rig. Its not only the sail.When smiles light up the water, production is given the green light. There are so many details to give to production that the worksheets are full of details, as also the quality of the thread and colour need to be explained for each part of the sail, and this can even change according to the size, to improve the performance, quality and looks.Production Begins: Engineering ExcellenceOnce the final designs are locked in, the production facilities take over. With around ten sail lines and eight sizes per line, thats eighty unique models. Each race sail comprises over two hundred individual patchesif you factor in hardware, battens, and reinforcements, that number climbs to 250-300 per sail. Multiply that by eighty models, and youre looking at over 20,000 individual components. And that is before we even count sail bags and packing!Contrary to widespread belief, sails dont just emerge from machines at the push of a button. Each file undergoes scrutiny by production experts to ensure flawless execution. They assess every detailverifying patterns, identifying potential challenges, and ensuring seamless print integration across materials as the panels once assembled have shapes.The Art of Graphics: Precision in Every DetailGraphic design for a sail isnt just about aesthetics: its an engineering challenge. Every print must align perfectly across panels and materials, considering shading variations and shape contours. Unlike simple scale-downs, each sail size demands a custom redraw of its graphics to maintain fixed points such as boom openings and clew positions.Did you know? A single sail can require up to 30 individual prints per side, effectively doubling the number due to port and starboard orientations. With eighty sail models, this amounts to an astronomical number of screen prints, each carefully prepared and aligned for a seamless look. Also, when making graphics of the sail, you need to consider the fact that the stitching, prints and materials cannot be in some places, and every change made in graphics needs to be evaluated to make sure that it does not affect the performance. The materials ordered need to fit the graphics style, but in the first place they need to be working efficiently for performance. In our case performance to make sure our sails are giving the biggest wind range, created by power and control, is priority to everything.The materials come from five different nations. China is providing the rubber protections, USA is where we decided to have our monofilm made, other components like carbon are made in Italy and Germany and some of the other components are made in Sri Lanka. So, to get everything in time in production is also one big challenge; the shipping and production from everyone can take months, and when the style changes every year, its a race.Nesting: The Tetris of Sail CuttingNestingthe strategic arrangement of sail panels on raw materialis a skill in itself. With material rolls typically maxing out at 1.4 meters in width, every piece must be positioned for maximum efficiency, minimizing waste. While computer algorithms assist, human expertise still reigns supreme in this process. Each production is different according to the order of sails models, and when nesting there is a total cross over of materials taking account of the full order, not one sail at the time. A job that needs to be done lets say for every 300-500 sails at the time, as this is what fits in a container.Imagine the stock needed, and the calculation in ordering materials 9 to 12 months ahead over forecast which depends not only on a global scale of economy and geopolitical happenings, but also if it will be a windy season and on how many kiters and wingers will be back to the roots of the pure sport of windsurfing to get some real power over the water!Precision Cutting and Quality ControlOnce the nesting is finalized, material rolls stretch across kilometres before being fed into cutting plotters. Each cut piece is scrutinized for perfection, ensuring the monofilm and other materials remain pristine. The monofilm alone passes through 177 different hands before assembly. If a single person attempted to build a sail solowith todays precision and detailingit would take 597 hours per sail with the type if prints and finish. Made solo without this finishing expectation, it would take 3-5 days but would look poor compared to what we are used to.If a panel presents a ding or a pinch, its thrown away and cut again. Unfortunately, monofilm is not easy to be produced and in one roll there can be many areas which need to be discarded. Sometimes, they are minor pigment mistakes or already pinches in the material. There are not many suppliers who are now producing these materials as it is not a straightforward process.If you try to take 1m of monofilm in your hand, and try to just pick it up and put it down on a different place, you will realize how hard and careful the process of making a sail is, in just trying not to crush or scratch the materials during the process. It cant be ironed. Each panel after cutting, has a thin paper place over and under attached with some tape in order not to scratch it. Each time its being worked, this paper is taken out and then placed back.Some reinforcements, such as Dacron tapes and internal stripes, are still cut by hand for speed and often accuracy as materials can still move or stretch under a plotter.Printing: A Test of Patience and SkillSail printing is not a quick process. Each panel requiring a four-color design must be printed four separate times, with each layer drying for four hours. That means 16 hours per side, 32 hours for a complete panel. Multiply that across all sails, and you realize the sheer magnitude of effort involved. The screens need to be made for each print, each colour, each sail size, and every time that a colour needs to dry up, it needs space to rest to let the next panel be printed. Space for the screens to be stored when not in use. Imagine just printing our Italian flag on our sails on both sides. It is 12 hours for each side, meaning that the panel needs to stay in the printing department 24hours of work, before being ready.Once printed, panels undergo yet another quality checkonly flawless prints make the cut, otherwise once again this panel, needs to be re-cut, and printed slowing down the production process. Does it happen? Again. Take a panel in your hand and see how difficult it is to handle without making one small crease. The workers are professional and experienced, but human.Batten Production: The Work Never StopsBattens are the backbone of sail structure, and their production is a 24/7 operation. With an average of five battens per sail, each varying in length, stiffness, and material composition, this process is a blend of technology and meticulous handcrafting. In total, four hundred different batten specifications must be produced and refined.Sail Bags: The Unsung HeroesThink a sail bag is a simple add-on? Think again. Each one undergoes the same rigorous process as sailscustom printing, material selection, nesting, cutting, and assembly. Even the zipper placements are meticulously planned to accommodate various diameters of the sails according to their size once rolled.The Grand Assembly: A Symphony of ExpertiseWith all components ready, assembly begins. Eight specialized teams manage different sections, ensuring absolute precision at every stage. There are over 80-100 people working along this production assembly section dedicated fully to windsurfing.Panel and Mast Sleeve Preparation These two critical sections are assembled separately before being stitched together with pinpoint accuracy.Batten Pocket Installation The first major structural component added to the sail. There are so many different constructions, and they need to follow the profile of the panels. This also needs a lot of experience as again; the sail is not 2d.Mast Sleeve Integration The most delicate part of assembly, requiring expert hands to achieve the perfect alignment. There are very few people who do the mast sleeve assembly as its difficult and needs to be precise. Especially with race sails, where a mast sleeve is not easy to fold and attach over the mast body. 1mm mistake can be seen with a huge wrinkle once rigged. There needs to be the right starting point, a right pressure and technique.Final Stitching & Reinforcements The sail takes its final shape, with every stitch ensuring durability and performance.At this stage, 220 individual pieces have been seamlessly combined, having passed through 180 skilled hands, five departments, and thirty workstationsall while maintaining absolute flawlessness.The Finishing Touches: A Commitment to PerfectionThe sail now undergoes meticulous final refinements:Thread Trimming & Eyelet Installation Precision cutting and reinforcement additions ensure longevity.Polishing Fingerprints and markings are removed using coconut oil, leaving the sail spotless.Batten & Camber Insertions The final structural elements are added including the eyelets.Quality Inspection A final, exhaustive check ensures every detail is perfect.The Journey ContinuesOnce approved, the sail is carefully rolled with protective carton and paper, fitted with stickers, accessories, and spare parts, and placed in its customized sail bag. Each sail is individually boxed with serial number tags, documentation before embarking on its next voyagewhether by air or seato windsurfing enthusiasts across the globe.But the journey doesnt end there. Each year, new patterns, graphics, materials, and hardware innovations bring fresh challenges and refinements, ensuring the relentless pursuit of windsurfing excellence.Unroll, Rig, Ride The next time you rig up your sail, take a moment to appreciate the engineering marvel in your hands. Behind every panel, every stitch, and every curve lies the dedication of hundreds of skilled craftsmen, designers, and innovators. If there is a small ding on the monofilm, now you can imagine why. Dont worry though, the monofilm used for example, on our sail, are full anti-uv laminates, and if there is a mark it will stretch back with some use, and it will not create a chance for future cracks.This is not just a sailits a performance masterpiece forged by passion, expertise, and an obsession with perfection.Ride and enjoy the experience of your sail, which has been traveling a lot of kms of the seas already, and what might look expensive, has behind a lot of work and costs.The post THE JOURNEY OF A WINDSURFING SAIL: ANDREA CUCCHI appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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LEVI SIVER: FLOW STATE!LEVI SIVER: FLOW STATE!Levi Siver reflects on his experiences at Jaws, his evolving approach to the gear he rides, and his continued passion for wave riding. From scoring memorable sessions on Mauis north shore to fine-tuning his wave quiver and embracing a teetotal lifestyle, Siver shares his insights on his performance, personal projects, and the ever-evolving journey of his windsurfing lifestyle.Photos: John Carter and Fish Bowl Diaries.JAWSLS: I have only been up to Jaws a few times in the last few years. The most memorable day for me was black Friday 2023. It was a classic windy, fun Jaws day, and we were running laps on the sets with only a handful of sailors. Then, this winter, I scored a session on my birthday, December 23rd. My wife and I were supposed to be in Kauai for the holidays, but I stayed behind one day to sail Jaws, and then I met her there afterward. That felt good coming off a Jaws session and then drinking eggnog by the Christmas tree with family in Kauai.JAWS GEAR SET-UPLS: I rode a Hookipa board in both of my last sessions at Jaws. If the board is a little stiffer and holds a good line, it will work at Jaws. I usually space the fins apart and move them back to drive a more prominent line. Ive had Jaws boards in the past; some worked well, and some didnt. At least with a Hookipa board, you know how it rides. But generally, you want more rail line, length, and more pulled-in throughout the outline.A good session at Jaws depends on the quality of the conditions. I took a hiatus for some years because I got tired of the ego in the line ups, not from the windsurfers but from people towing in on jet skis. Everyone knows or should know to respect surfers in the pit who are catching waves with their own two arms, but for some reason, people with engine water-crafts felt inclined not to share that respect with windsurfers.But because Jaws is such an epic windsurfing wave, I was drawn to come back to it, and Im glad I did. Its the best big wave Ive ever seen. Its the best feeling ever when you line up a smooth one and rip a turn in the pocket.TEETOTALLS: For me, that decision was a to give up alcohol was a long time coming. I wish I wouldve done it years before.Alcohol takes more than it leaves, and I was getting sick of that exchange.I was feeling more and more the side effects from even casual drinking, and I knew that my sailing performance was going to start its gradual decline into my 40s unless I stopped poisoning my system. For me, being a Christian, I never felt comfortable sharing my faith and drinking. It doesnt affect some believers, but for me, it does. Its a personal thing.MAUI BASEDLS: Since Im not traveling as a Pro windsurfer, I spend most of my time on Maui. I usually sail Hookipa because its always better than the other spots. But when the different sides of the island turn on, Im happy to go for a session there.OBJECTIVES FROM A SESSIONLS: My fire hasnt been deemed because my competitive side is the performance. Im happy when everybody is ripping, but not when everyone is ripping, and Im not, lol. Windsurfing is a very technical and rewarding sport. You cant do this sport half-heartedly. If you want to continue feeling that magic, you must continue growing. That can mean facing your fears, working on techniques, working on your gear, or even being more present and patient with the ocean. It is a lifelong school that none of us will graduate.HOOKIPA QUIVERQuatro Quad!LS: The main board file Ive been riding is 88L Quad. I continue to make adjustments to it to improve its overall performance. I test my boards through weeks of sailing and filming to see if my performance improved. I dont believe in trying a board in one or two days and you think you know what it is. I have misjudged boards many times, and a lot of times, theyve turned into my magic boards. I like boards that ride smoothly and flow with you. My philosophy is a board should be like a Mac computer. The design should feel intuitive and complement an intermediate rider and a pro.BANZAI SURFLS For me, this is our breakthrough year in sails.Previously I always jumped around on the different sail models because I never really found a home. Not this year; I love the Banzai Surf. For me, this is a classical wave sail. It accelerates when you want it to, it depowers when you want it to, and its soft, which is non-negotiable when it comes to wave riding.BEHIND THE SCENESLS: I enjoy taking on a position that requires structure and creativity. The foundation of this position is that I believe in the story behind these brands. The rest is to articulate the storytelling of why we love what we do. Ive seen these brands from their inception in 1994, and I admired the risky decision they made to do their own thing and turn down the paved road of riding for bigger companies. The risk was worth the reward in the long run, as people see something different about how weve functioned through the ups and downs of the windsurfing industry. If this wasnt about passion, the doors wouldve been closed years ago. Everyone at the Pauwela Cannery typically leaves to surf or windsurf by 2 pm. They either work early or come back and work evenings. Thats the dream, and we get to continue living it.FUTURE PROJECTSLS: Right now, Im focused on improving my gear. I know some breakthroughs can be reached with some lines I want to take, but the gear needs to accommodate it. Its the ever-alluring rabbit down-the-hole syndrome. If I leave for windsurf travel, it would have to be better conditions than Maui, and Im in!SPARE TIMELS: I have a property in Haiku, and the upkeep is never-ending, but its fun because Im learning many things that I wouldnt have learned otherwise. My wife and I love to travel and be outdoors together. She talked me into returning to Europe again because I was a little burned out from traveling to Europe with tons of windsurfing bags, so its fun going back with her with only a suitcase and just being a complete tourist.GOYA WINDSURFINGQUATRO WINDSURFINGQUATRO WAVE RANGE!!Why Windsurfing is the Most Underrated Sport Ever! (w/ LEVI SIVER) LENNY BROS.The post LEVI SIVER: FLOW STATE! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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KAI KATCHADOURIAN: TRIPLE STRIKE MISSION, CABO VERDEKAI KATCHADOURIAN: TRIPLE STRIKE MISSION, CABO VERDEWith instinct, experience, and a dedicated crew, Kai Katchadourian recounts three unforgettable strike missions to Cabo Verde, where perfect waves, legendary sessions, and a deep love for the sport define his season.Photos: Ayrton Dias, Tozat Photography.LA NINAKai Katchadourian: Weather patterns are what they are, patterns. Being able to decipher and interpret the signs nature is giving us is crucial to being able to successfully hunt down the best moments we can find to make a planned strike.Once the Northern Hemisphere season began in early October of last year, Hookipa did send some signals. We had a solid Aloha Classic, but with challenging conditions and not always perfect.This gave way to what the experts had foreseen. A La Nina pattern. This sent my immediate attention away from the Pacific Ocean realms, and a well-trained watch on the Northern Atlantic began and Cabo Verde, my go to spot for the past 29 years was in the focus. Again.Well aware that keeping eyes on both oceans was a must, and also certainly motivated and very fortunate to make the most of a very kind offer to stay in front row Kuau on Maui, thanks to Dawn and JP Pooley, (Thank you again you two) it was important to make it count.This was a very delicate scenario, made absolutely more difficult by my long time forecasting tool the FNMOC becoming classified again.Flying nearly blind in this situation made it almost a scenario where one relied on instinct.STRIKE 1End of November, the first signs were there. Strong trade winds on Maui well past the due date for Winter. Time to fly back to Finland and get my boys Kian 13 and Owen 10, to return to 5-star Maui, experience for a few weeks and celebrate Christmas in California.First however was the convenient appearance of a solid set of swells for Cabo Verde. Mission #1. Keep in mind, I leave my gear on the island and had absolutely everything at my disposal upon arrival. 99 litre board, 5.0m and 5.3m, and a priceless quiver of surfboards by Stretch. I flew in with a backpack and a harness.A lot of classic surfing on that trip, with none other than Lord Phil Bennett, a long time Cabo Verde resident and strike mission partner, has seen it all that is for sure.Mission #1 did have a sneaky scenario. An alternate swell direction had turned the focus on another part of the island, and Phil and I stole an empty session at Ponta Preta, mast high, about 8-12 kts float and ride, knowing the 99 Flywave was the ticket in the early season, which it was. The wind kicks in more around January.I chalked it up and left after less than a week. Felt strongly about another mission happening.Upon the continuation of this delicate act of trying to be in the right place at the right time, it did seem I was on fire in that aspect.Maui turned on in historical fashion, for my boys a lifetime memory of seeing Peahi at enormous levels, possibly some of the biggest waves ever seen, was very impressive.That swell followed us to California and Mavericks also saw its day of days.STRIKE 2January arrived and my focus again was to score any conditions in Cabo Verde as soon as possible.Right on cue a Swell pattern emerged looking somewhat more significant. This was tricky, flying from California, to Finland, to drop the boys off with Mum, and begin the second strike.With me were some new Stretch boards and a few new sails, most notably my new Simmer Style Evoq. A bit more low-end than my usual Blacktip, and in the bigger sized 5 batten profile, which would prove very beneficial later onwards.Once again Lord Phil and I formed a strike mission team, only this time under rather unfortunate circumstances as Phil had just survived a serious head on car wreck. His trusty truck was totally destroyed. He had escaped with injuries, but not life threatening, thankfully.Much more Windsurfing on Mission #2, Alibaba, and Ponta Preta on the menu, and to the delight of us all, not that crowded.DEVELOPMENTI help a fair bit with development at Simmer Style for the boards and sails. I have been seeking a bit of a change up in my wave boards and have been very motivated to get a tri fin specific design in the works. This was one of the main boards I rode during this mission, its a 90L prototype code-name Zenith. Ola has done a spectacular job again, interpreting my various insights and visions into actual numbers and a design which features extremely fast rocker for the waves that I ride out here because they are much faster than the normal waves I ride elsewhere during the year. I have been very influenced by Tomas Traversa and also the Quatro Pyramid, which I consider the blueprint for a tri fin specific board. I tip my hat and while I dont seek to replicate it, I do feel there is room in the Simmer line up for something similar as far as being a specific thruster set up.Flikka has also been involved in providing me some very great fins for this project, Im very grateful to them because it is a vital part of the equation. I am mainly using 17 or 18 centre fin with 9 fronts. There have been some variations, but those are the basic parameters of what has been working the best .Its also become very clear to me that as far as Cabo Verde is concerned is that its very important to have a very floaty board at your disposal, and I was on a 99 Simmer Flywave for much of this season as well, which gave me the opportunity to score very uncrowded sessions and to pick apart the line up placement and capture some absolute gems in the light air.With the bigger volume boards, I like to set them up with a quad fin set up. This allows more bite with the bigger volumes and thicknesses. Theres a certain amount of momentum you get from generating speed with a quad, which is very unique and also very compatible with the point break waves we ride in Cabo Verde.My Sail of choice this entire season has been the new Simmer Evoq. This has become my go to design. My quiver is 5.3m, 5.0m, 4.7m, and 4.2m.Ive used all the sizes, but it seemed like the 5.0m was the main one.Not long ago, I mentioned to head designer Tomas Persson that I had a little theory about the number of battens a Sail should have. My thinking is 5 m = five batten, 4 m = four batten and so on. Its nice to see it in the line up and it makes a lot of sense.Evoq clearly possesses the widest range of any of the wave sails in the line up, and also the best low end power generation.On several occasions, my 5.0m Evoq was put to the test with the extreme amount of apparent wind at spots like Alibaba. Having five battens clearly stabilized the profile and allowed me to make it through some extremely challenging moments with more control than I wouldve had on a four batten sail.Surfing, is also one of the main attractions of any visit to Cabo Verde. Simon, Jack and I all had several stand out moments surfing these magical waves its clearly part of the overall program. Ive been getting boards from Stretch in Santa Cruz for quite a while now , they work unbelievably well. Those who know me well know that I have a quiver in every continent.STRIKE 3Once that short mission was over it would have been understandable to call it a season, yet a lingering sense of unfinished business kept my focus on any forming favourable pattern.Cabo Verde went into a very strong wind mode, with minimal swell at times. Then it happened. On the long-range charts, what looked like a back-to-back pattern, or even further emerged.Right away another veteran Cabo Verde Strike mission partner, Simon McGee messaged me I am heading down, booked my tickets, what are you doing?Holding off on making any quick decision, and well aware that long range charts can be deceptive, the stare down began. The outlook kept improving.Without hesitation, a one-way ticket was the call. Let us see how long this pattern lasts and adjust accordingly.What the next 12 days consisted of, was a historical rally of sustained conditions met by a dedicated crew of chargers from around the globe.Four separate swells graced the coastline, and these images tell the story that our completely blown minds cannot.All the spots, Ponta Preta, Alibaba, Fontana, Curral Joul, and more, had their moments, many times we sailed all those spots in a single day.Simon and his son Jack were gracious enough to house me the entire time. We were witness to several incredible moments, doing our best to fit the surfing in amidst the peak winds of February.Ali Baba at one point did connect all the way from the Tree to the Launching spot, 1KM long.I made two waves all the way, my Norwegian friend Terje Tuft, made one all the way also and we were super amped!! It is a rare thing to be able to do, a lot of things have to align.Simon has decades of experience here; it shows with every ride. A true connoisseur of the finest Cabo Verde has to offer.It was clear to us that we were witnessing something truly special yet again, in what has become my favourite place to wave sail for almost three decades now.Watching these breaks happen on the levels we were witnessing left us in the usual awe, with a sense that our years of experience was also coming into play as we simply could not miss and were on all the sessions right when we needed to be. Things were working perfectly there, and our usual trusty Ayrton Dias of Tozat Photography had done it again, offering a unique perspective of these well celebrated waves. It was nice to see the song remains the same.CRITICAL MOMENTThings came to a peak on February 22nd, at a spot so consequential it reminded us that perfection is deceptive to inherent danger.It was also 12 years ago to the day when historical Alibaba occurred. Many who were there that day also were out on the water, as well as a lot of riders who were on hand for the first time.Phil at this point had thankfully mostly recovered from the accident, but he had a scary wipe out on his first wave of this session.I watched Phil drop in way too deep.only to see him get fully smoked by the white water.After shaking that off, he rebounded to have a most incredible session along with Simon, and myself, and many travelling wave sailors who joined us, even Pros Leon Jamaer, Henri Kolberg, and Laurin Schmuth, all made it count, all catching some stunning rides with aggressive, precise riding. Noah and Josh Angulo, my usual sailing partners, were only on some select sessions as well this season, keeping the continuity going and the stoke flowing.SIMON MCGEEIve been lucky enough to have a place here in Sal since 2006 when my wife and I lived here and ran a business I remember sponsoring Mitu, Djo and Titik as wildcards in the 2007 PWA and Mitu placed 5th (windsurfing!).The morning of the comp I had a very memorable session on the right that comes off The Left at Ponta I think thats the closest Ive come to getting barreled on a windsurf!The recent run of conditions started in January and this is my 3rd strike mission to Sal this year its been a really good year for producing the type of storms that bring waves to these islands. Not the biggest but just great fetch and direction. You get to spot the patterns after obsessing about it for two decades!KAI KATCHADOURIANVictor Fernandez is now a local Cabo Verde rider as he spends much of his Winter season here, and busy as he was, always stoked to be riding with cutting edge levels and pure stoke. The crew of travelling and local riders worked well generally the line ups were in harmony.We all celebrated this moment together, all the moments of this long run of conditions combined to make this a true classic we will always remember.As we all began preparations to leave, it was clear this was a classic run, and who knows? There is still March and AprilSIMMER STYLEThe post KAI KATCHADOURIAN: TRIPLE STRIKE MISSION, CABO VERDE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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WINDSURF MAGAZINE: NEWS BULLETIN!WINDSURF MAGAZINE: NEWS BULLETIN!Yes, folks its that time again when we shamelessly spill the beans on all the latest windsurfing news and gossip! Yet again our team of critically acclaimed journalists have been working night and day, digging up the dirt to bring you our latest news bulletin. Andits all for free!TRANSFER WINDOWANTOINE MARTINMost of the big news seemed to have dropped until Antoine Martin came out of his social media hibernation in Japan and unleashed the news he will be riding for Goya and Quatro in 2025! That Goya wave team looks pretty darn strong this season!Antoine told the press: Im beyond excited to join the Quatro & Goya team! These brands are part of a long-standing legacy in the sport and Im truly honoured to contribute to its story. Im committed to giving my absolute best on the water and representing at the highest level possible. Cant wait for the journey ahead!Quatro shaper Keith Teboul commented:Antoine has always sparked my interest as a rider. His passion for windsurfing and wave riding his spontaneity and almost reckless abandon when he throws himself into moves and just pulls it off.Ive always had it in the back of my mind what if he was on the most progressive wave boards what would happen?Now its happened and we all get to enjoy the show and progression.Welcome to the Quatro family Antoine!!!!GOYA WINDSURFINGQUATROTIM VAN DAMSANCHIDRINJOINS BRUCHTim van Dam Sanchidrinis now 100% Bruch as he will now be riding Both Bruch Boards and sails! Bruch announced: He has been riding with us since 2022 on Bruch Boards, and now hes taking it to the next level fully powered by Bruch Sails too! 100% Bruch, 100% commitment.Last summer in Tenerife we spotted Ricardo Campello using Bruch Boards.maybe he could be a perfect fit for the team now they are making sails as well? That is pure speculation by the way!!COMPETITION TIMEWWT JAPAN WAVESWhile we are on the subject of Antoine Martin we may as well mention WWT. We knew Goya were sending a strong contingent to the event, but it was a dream come true for the brand when the final was an all-Goya Quatro affair with Marcilio Browne taking the victory in icy cold conditions, Antoine Martin runner up and Takara Ishii taking third and filling out the podium! Marcilio reckoned it was the coldest weather I ever windsurfed in! Maybe we should invite him over to the UK next time we have easterlies in February?Takara managed to snap one of his front teeth in half during one of the heats so lets hope he knows a decent dentist. There were also plenty of other notable performances from the likes of Takuma Sugi, Jahdan Tyger and Loick Lesauvage. In the womens division local legend Motoko Sato won the final ahead of Natsuki Wakasa.PUERTO RICOThe tour is currently in action on the sun-drenched beaches of Puerto Rico (We are not jealoushonest). The forecast for Shacks doesnt look epic but they have already scored some light wind action and heats are underway! There are lots of awesome images from the event already, so lets hope they score some results.WWT?In case you were wondering what the new logo WWT stands for, (formerly IWT) we asked Simeon Glasson for the lowdown!In the first two years of unification the tour was clumsily named PWA IWT Unified Wave Tour.That was a mouthful, and it proved unattractive to sponsors who saw two entities with no one entity being the clear controlling entity with which to do business. The investors and sponsors were interested but because of the perceived and real complexity, they stayed away.So, we proposed a subtle but important name change to make it easy to present to media for instant name recognition, and easy to present for commercial deals to attract investment and sponsorship for growth.We changed it to the World Wave Tour,presented by the PWA and IWT.There is now a formal proposal to restructure the legal entities behind this so that we form a single commercial entity (the WWT) with a single athlete union entity (the PWA). Similar to the very successful Formula 1 management structure.The final details of this restructure will take time to work through for all stakeholders.The future of the sport relies significantly on the successful restructure matching successful sports structures like F1, the NFL, NBA, soccer, cricket and more. The restructure will set the sport on a major growth trajectory by making it an attractive entity to investors and sponsors.WORLD WAVE TOURPWA WORLD TOURThe PWA have updated their calendar on the website: PWA 2025 EVENTS CALENDAR. And five star wave action should be kicking off in Chile later in the month (23rd March to the 6th April) followed by racing in a new exciting destinationGuadeloupe (April 22nd to the 26th).Meanwhile, Katrine Kock Frandsen has joined the PWA as the new Event Manager. She commented on her social media This will be fun..! I am looking very much forward to be joining the PWA World Tour; follow the ride!Katrine is a vastly experienced event organizer from Hvide Sande, Denmark and has worked with the PWA, GKA, GWA, IFCA and ESF SUP events, as well as being project managed forWATERZ festival and together with a partner run a business collecting and recycling ocean plastic from the Westcoast of Denmark. We wish her luck in her new role!You can read an interview with Katrine here:Katrine Kock Frandsen, the interview Windsurf Journal 05/03/2025PWA WORLD TOURCAPE TOWN / FREESTYLE PRO TOUROver to Cape Town where the Freestyle Pro Tour saw a crazy forecast looming and gave the green light for a freestyle frenzy, which kicked off on the lake and finished in style in epic conditions on the oceanhow cool is that!The final boiled down to shoot out between Lennart Neubauer and Jacapo Testa with full power wave action on the Atlantic Ocean in 50 knot gusts. There was some epic drama when Lennart snapped his mast landing a huge back loop, but somehow managed to dump his rig and surf his board back into the beach where his back-up rig was waiting.Apparently, the whole episode took less than a minute before Lennart was out casually throwing another push loop on his way to victory! Cudos also has to go to Jamie Howard from the UK who fought valiantly to take third place after throwing some monster moves on both side of the highway over the two days. And that ties us in nicely to our next event over in Cornwall in the UKRESULTS1. Lennart Neubauer2. Jacopo Testa3. Jamie Howard4. Manolis ChrysopoulosFREESTYLE PRO TOURCORNISH COLD WATER CLASSICWell, we have covered this event comprehensively already on the website but thought wed mention Jamie Howards efforts to make it to the event on time. He flew in from Cape Town and landed the night before the event, jumped in his camper, made it to Cornwall and slept in a layby forty minutes from the event. He was rewarded by being thrown into the gladiator pit at Gwithian with mast high bone crunching waves and screaming south winds, a far cry from the warm sunshine in Cape Town. Fair play to him. The first day really was mental and the pictures kind of do the talking!After a day of sunshine and light winds, we were straight back into it on Sunday at Mexicos in with a fresh pumping ground swell feathered by fresh SSW winds. Every fleet put up a show and there was never a dull moment on the water as big crashes and brave hits were the order of the day.And of course, head judge, Duncan Coombs saved the best until last with the pro expression session where the riders were allowed to unleash their big manoeuvres in the increasing waves.If we did have to make a tiny criticism about the weekend, that pesky rain on Sunday was not ideal for the film crew with their expensive cameras. But that is the nature of the beast and once we had made it up the hill and everything had dried out, the beer tasted even better! JC even made his ferry to the Isle of Wight by the skin of his teeth, so it seemed like the Gods were with us that very special weekend!BWAUKWAThe UKWA racing calendar is out now and there are lots of exciting events to look forward too. We will be getting updates from the UKWA as the season progresses.You can check out the full calendar on their website here:UKWA The home of competitive Windsurfing | UK Windsurfing AssociationWANT TO BE A RIDER IN THE EXOCET / LOFT PHOTOSHOOT?There will be minimal rider egos at the next Exocet / Loftsails photoshoot as they are recruiting passionate windsurfers to take part. Apparently, there has been no shortage of applicants with over 160 CVs already being assessed! Dont worry you still have until March 15th to apply! The lucky few will be told their destiny by March 30th and be flown out to the shoot, receive all the glamour and glory of being in the spotlight and also be rewarded with a Loftsails 2026 sail (we are not sure if beer is included).Application link hereOn the subject of photoshootswe heard through the grapevine Duotone were out shooting their new wave equipment in the epic conditions of Cabo Verde, while Starboard are currently shooting in Fuerteventura! So, there should be plenty of awesome images and new products from those shoots to drool over later in the year!PETER HART Peter tells us he has a couple of spots available on his Tobago clinic 25th of March to the 2nd of April so contact Sportif if you want to improve your skills under his excellent guidance in the sunny warm Caribbean!PETER HARTSHOPSWORTHING WATERSPORTSWorthing Watersports have a lovely Duotone D/LAB Grip 3 in stock, plus Duotone platinum masts, Power XTs and a selection of used Duotone Sails! They also have the amazing new Skybrid bamboo construction boards, plus Duotone Float wings and the Glide 2 D/LAB foils. The Unit 2023 wings are discounted 30% off!Plus, the awesome new 2025 ION range also goes live in early March and the stock has already arrived, including some new harnesses! Head to the website www.worthingwatersports.com or give them a call on 01903 247742.WORTHING WATERSPORTSROBIN HOOD WATERSPORTSTell us As I sit here in the shop, looking out to an absolute blue bird day here in West Yorkshire it feels like spring has arrived! Were fully stocked for the spring/summer with good levels of 2025 stock at the shop, especially Goya and Quatro. There hasnt been a better time to refresh your kit with some huge deals on the biggest brands in windsurfing. All NeilPryde booms at 35% off, 25% off last years Goya/Quatro kit, over 50% on Dakine harnesses, over 40% on our remaining Fanatic stock, the list goes on! Whether youre new to the sport or a seasoned professional we also offer a personalised package deal in which we can tailor a package to suit your specific needs. We combine new, used and special offer items to make the most cost effect package possible. Dont miss out on this free service.ROBIN HOOD WATERSPORTS4BOARDS4Boards have a 10% discount across the board with no minimum value for all in-stock items, excluding SALE or USED items. There are great deals to be had on Windsurf and Wing Foiling Boards, Wings, Sails and lots of other Equipment. Use the following code to grab that bargain!! Discount code for 10% is 4B10.4BOARDSHOLIDAYSCLUB VASSWe all love a good windsurfing holiday, dont we? Now is the time to book your spots at Club Vass for the May Half term or any of the summer weeks where the places are being snapped up fast!CLUB VASSHARRY NASSIf you fancy a trip to Egypt, then Harry Nass are open year-round and have excellent centres in Dahab and Hurghada offering amazing conditions for all levels of sailors and we hear they have fresh stock of the latest JP boards being delivered anytime now.HARRY NASSWINDSURF.CO.UKAs normal our team of journalists are working tirelessly to bring you some fun and interesting features! Ben Proffitt is almost done with his BIG FIFTY now he is home from Cape Town. We are also planning to run and old feature with Mark Angulo from 2006 (Possibly tomorrow!) and have been chatting to Mark for some updates of any possible plans to return to the water! The Playlists feature is nearing completion (slight delay while we edit a huge in depth play list from Maciek Rutkowski), while we also have some more epic action from the UK, which includes two mental road trips from the Motley CrewAKA Timo Mullen and JCWho else would drive 1500 miles there and back for four hours sailing!We hope you are liking what we are doing now online and please dont forget to click on the banners from the amazing brands and shops that are supporting us!The post WINDSURF MAGAZINE: NEWS BULLETIN! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

MARK ANGULO: REFLECTIONS (2006)MARK ANGULO:REFLECTIONSWe revisit a powerful and insightful interview from way back in 2006 with wave sailing legend, Mark Angulo, marking his return to the water after a challenging period of rehab.BACK STORYJohn Carter managed to dig out the CD with the interview and pics from his archives buried in the loft of his house. When he went to pull the CD (believedto be the only copy in existence) out of the box, rather than press the release the button in the middle, he levered the CD out, and to his horror, it snapped clean in two! Distraught he then had to crawl around the eaves of the house and hunt through boxes of old CDs, hoping there was another copy. Lo and behold after two hours of crawling around in the dark for nearly two hours, he found onephew!We also had a quick chat with Mark to make sure he was all good with the interview!MA: I am 56 now. I still feel like I am 21 (laughs). I am living in North Carolina, right on the border of South Carolina. The last time I windsurfed was in Puerto Rico around 2016. It has been a while bro! but I am itching to get out there again. There is talk of people trying to get me to Maui at the end of the year but I really feel like I need to build myself some new boards first. I need to get my shop up and running. I have to go back to Maui sometime. Robby Naish is still sailinghe will be ripping until the day he dies! I still follow the sport. I love giving credit where credit is due. I dont care if I have bad history with the rider. That does not matter. I dont care if me and him had a fight one night (laughs). I will give them credit bro I am going to call it as i see it! I feel like i have earned my stripes to be able to say if something is good or not. There is a lot of amazing talent out there right now! It is pretty easy pickings.Brawzinho is always on the top of the list. Campello, although I know he has had his sponsor troubles. I think he is one of the best that there is. We never really got along, but I feel like he has got the talent and can make stuff happen.Kster of course is great. There is some great up and coming Japanese guys to, there is some talent coming from there. I love the old guys too. I always root for Levi Siver and all those guys that have been around for so long! He is still just tearing it up. The list could go on and on. Look at Kai Katchadourian! He is not going to win any contests right away but he is still one of the best survivors of our time. I also root for Dunkerbecks son Liam and Noah Angulo. Another sailor I love is Alex Mussolini. I think he was one of the best sailors on the earth! Ill say that straight! He is not crazy like Campello, he is what he is. Antoine Martin is also incredible. He took his beatings and he has learned. He is the best windsurfer I have seen in the past few years. He has talent.Check out Marks original artwork which is available here:RAD 80sMARK ANGULO:REFLECTIONSINTRODUCTIONWave 360s, Goitas and contorted tweaked aerials Mark Angulos innovation and natural abilitylead to the creation ofmodern wave sailing and many of hismoves are still the inspiration and aspiration for our sports top athletes today.While his contorted style drew him event wins and worldwide accoladesin thegolden days of the sport,his head and body were twisting him in other ways too.In a frank and powerful interview with John Carter, Angulo tellsabout conquering his demons and finding his way back to the water, where already hes inventing new moves and being recognised asthe onetowatch at Hookipa.Photos: John CarterBACKGROUNDMark Angulo was born in California in 1968 and then raised in Oahu during the seventies and eighties in the heavy surf environment of the North Shore. His father Ed Angulo was attracted to the surfing scene like a magnet and after gaining a reputation for shaping in California brought the family over to Hawaii in 1969. Brought up in the Mecca of surfing the infamous waves of Oahus North Shore were the perfect place to develop the raw talent and water skills of the Angulo kidsMA: My dad wanted to shape boards so we moved over from California. We were a surf family; my mum would take us down the beach to play in the shore break when we were young while my dad was shaping boards. The family moved over to Maui in 1986 just as I was graduating from high school. So pretty much my whole school life was on Oahu. As we were growing up we were just surfing everyday. We were raised in a surfing environment. My dad shaped for all the big companies over in Oahu. Lightning Bolt, Town and country and Local Motion. My best friends were all great surfers. One of them was Ricky Irons who is the cousin of Andy and Bruce Irons, I hung out with Mark Thomas who runs Rip Curl and Jack Johnson the singer. We grew up amongst a lot of surfers and talented people. We were just a bunch of kids hanging out at the beach. Every year we would watch the pros roll into town. Tom Curren, Martin potter, Shaun Thomson and all those guysHARDCOREWe were just kids so we did not understand what our environment was until we got older. One thing about growing up on the north shore of Hawaii is that you naturally become a really competent water person without even trying or knowing it. Every day you are in the shore break playing in probably the most dangerous beaches in the world. You are having fun without realizing the danger of the ocean. You become a good surfer really early. Yeah it was pretty hardcore. I learned to sail in Oahu. I used to sail Backyards and Monster MushMAUIThe family moved over to Maui in 1986 where the Angulo family became a heavy influence on the world of wave sailing. Windsurfing was huge back then and the success of Eds shapes and the talents of Mark and his younger brother Josh helped make the name Angulo one of the leading names in the sport.MA: Id finished up High school and I had just started touring. We had already been coming over to Maui for windsurfing a bunch. I had already been competing for a while and I was sailing pretty well. We would normally come over for the contests in March April and October November. I was making money. At that time not through sponsors but mostly through winning contests. I was just a grommet but I was placing up in the top five of the big Maui wave contests. Back then you could get four or five grand for third or fourth so I was doing pretty well. My dads business was also thriving and he was making a name for himself as one of the leading sailboard shapers.IN THE LIMELIGHTI remember going to the Gorge in 1986. I was riding for North I believe at the time. Over there I met Barry Spanier and Jeff Bourne from Neilpryde and they wanted me to ride for them and offered me some money. I was likeWow thats great for sure! By the time I got back home I had a whole new quiver of Neilpryde sails. Right around that time I really started to do well. I started winning contests and then I started traveling around. From 86 to 89-90 there was a lot of stuff happening. There was a lot of good stuff and also a lot of bad stuffit was a real flurry. I was making a lot of money. My friends were back home waiting tables and smoking pot and back then for my age I was pulling in $70,000-$100,000 a year. That was good money. Maybe today it is not so great but right now I would still be happy with that (Laughs)INNOVATORThe King of Aerobics as Mark was also called, he made a name for himself by pushing wave sailing to a whole new level. Innovative, exciting to watch and unpredictable on the water, his fiery surf style, raw talent and guts lead to the creation of new moves and possibilities within the sport. Even to this day Marks sailing back then has inspired the likes of Alex Mussolini, Boujmaa Guilloul and Levi Siver to emulate his contorted and tweaked variations of many windsurfing maneuversMA: A bunch of moves I created and became know for, were kind of accidents. For one I was a great wave sailor. Growing up on Oahu and having the surfing background really made me an exceptional sailor. When I came to Maui and met all the windsurfers, a lot of them surfed but they were not great surfers. I am not trying to brag on myself but definitely I immediately rose to the top in the wave sailing scene because I had been exposed to unbelievably good surf all through my life. A bit like Robby Naish. My windsurfing was a natural progression. As I got better things like the 360 happened. That move started as an accident. I remember on a windy day I kind of blew out of a wave and spun around and almost landed. Then I kind of figured out that the move was possible. Craig Jester and all those guys from backyards used to call me Baby Gu, so I ended up naming the 360 the Gu Screw. My dad did not like the word screw in word so he changed it to aerial 360! I really liked to try and learn a lot of new moves. People would laugh at me while I was trying but then I would make a new move. That would be itthe other guys would have to learn the new moves too. At the time one of my goals was to always stay one step ahead. I may not have seen it at the time but I was actually a pretty competitive person. At the contests I might have seemed all laid back but I was determined to do as well as possible in the big Maui eventsDREAMERA couple of things happened with me and they still do actually. I would actually dream stuff. I would be asleep at night and dream about new moves. I would wake up remember it and then go and try it. Sometimes it would work out. The Goiter was like that. I dreamt that man! (Laughs) I remember waking up going Wow that was a weird dream. On the other hand a lot of my moves would happen from falling. I could be in the air and out of control and something would happen and you would flip with the wind and land a different way. Then you figure you could do that move. The whole back loop thing I used to do with the arched back and twisting my head, I dont know where that comes from. When I used to surf on Oahu they used to call me Noodle Boy because I used to get into some contorted positions. I dont know why. I am not that limber or anything really I am kind of tight. Something just happens to me in the water. I got a big head!it swings around a lot (Laughs)JOSHFollowing in Marks footsteps his younger brother Josh made his first entrance into professional windsurfing at the age of twelve. With a brother like Mark and comparable talent, Josh was a shooting star and he was soon recognized for his similar reckless abandon on the water and no compromise style of wave sailingMA: Josh was just a rat! He was just a kid and got exposed to some pretty hardcore situations from an early age. He used to have to sit and watch us while we surfed. We would park at the beach and leave him with no water, no foodwe would just leave him to sit in the car and watch. Needless to say at a young age he realized he did not want to sit on the beach so he ended up in the water. Out of all of us he ended up in the water in bigger waves at an earlier age. You know where that is going to end up! He got better than everyone elsetougher. Josh kind of ended up having a similar type contorted style on the windsurfer. I dont know where it came from. It must be on my mums side! Its a Mexican thing. (Laughs)THE TOURWith his career booming Mark found himself as one of the key players in Neilprydes marketing campaigns and was unleashed around the world as an ambassador for the company to show up and compete at events.MA: I did not do all of it but I did events in Europe, Japan and Australia. On port tack I was just worthless, still to this day I suck. For one, I am a regular foot surfer. I have spent so much time surfing that for me to sail port tack is like pulling teeth. I cannot for the life of me bottom turn. I still travelled the world and I was still able to do ok in the waves but at that time in my career Neilpryde were happy for me to show up and sign autographs and do promotions. I was like the Neilpryde show off kid. All the dealers wanted Mark Angulo at their contests and that is what I didLOSING GRIPThe do or die attitude of the Angulos on the water was a key ingredient of their success on the water but also played a key role in causing trouble on the land. Their stardom was a door opener to parties, drink, drugs and aggressive behaviour and before they knew it they started to become the Bad Boys of windsurfing and the problems spiralled downwards!MA: At that time I was staring to slip off the rails. I would turn up at events, drink and be a full trouble maker. It wasnt all bad I have a lot of good memories about those years too. As much as there was a lot of bad stuff, there was a lot of good stuff too. In the World cup event in England I got in a fight with Terry Weiner the tour manager. I was kicked out of the PBA. He was the head guy and I punched him. Those were bad days. I did not know Neilpryde that well but I remember being at ISPO in Germany and he took me aside. He did not tell me in such words that I was fired but he said that he could not handle my actions and behaviour. When I got home the checks stopped flowing in!WILD SIDEI dont know where I got my wild streak from. We were raised pretty strictly. We were a Christian family and went to private school and then a public school. I was exposed to plenty of good stuff and plenty of bad on Oahu. I think what happened for me, people will dispute this but if I really look back at what was going onI did not know how to deal with what was happening. I wasnt shy but I kind of just liked to do my thing. At that age without any preparation I was thrown into the limelight. I was put on a pedestal, centre stage with plenty of money in my pocket, I had people asking for autographs and all kind of stuff happening. Part of me was really scared while the other side of me was thinking this is the greatest thing in the world. There was no balance; I did not have any checks or control on my behavior. I had my dad but he did not travel with me and he was not aware of half the stuff I was up to at home or away. The situation really lead to some out of control action. At first I think that alcohol was a really good way for me to be able to cope. I was totally out of control in all aspects. This was around the early nineties. I would drink and party like any normal person but then it really developed into something more of a daily affair. Alcohol became part of my life. I did not realize it. I was drinking every single day. Even my rowdy friends, would not always be drinking but I would just keep going. Then I realizedYou know what. I AM THE WORST of all my friends. I kept thinking that I was hanging with some bad people but I ended up the baddest of them all (Laughs) Even the bad guys didnt want to hang out with me! (Laughs) Agh funny!CAREER BLOWNMarks Career started falling apart at the beginning of the nineties after losing Neilpryde as his major sponsor. With his alcohol addiction taking over, Marks windsurfing suffered too and nobody will ever know how far he could have pushed the sport if he had remained focused one hundred per cent on his sailingMA: I think looking back now with the changes I have made over the last two years. If there is one regret it is that I wont be able to truly know what I could have done. There is a gap of ten years where I was not myself. What I could have done in those ten years would have changed the world of windsurfingMaybe notIts hard to say. But I dont live on regret. I know that we all go through different things for different reasons. That period was just one of those things that was part of my life. A good example that I learned from was Occy the surfer. I remember when I was young that the same thing happened to him. He would paddle out in the line up and just reek of whisky. Everyone was calling him a loser and he was hanging with a lot of bad dudes. I kind of relate to him. He pretty much lost everything he had. He called it the couch years. But you know whatlook at what he didhe came back and won the world title. He was the oldest guy ever to win it. He is still considered one of the best surfers ever. For mewhat a great inspiration. I cant dwell too much in the past because yesterday is gone for me. I had some bad years. It is something that just took me a long while to get through.After I started losing control with the alcohol my contracts kind of slowly dwindled. I went on for few more years. I was still good enough on the water that people wanted me on their team. Even at my worst stages I could still sail. After a while that got old too and you become a liability. I was with Simmer for a while and they used me for what I was worth. Then they got over me! It was fair enough. That is about all I was worth back then. It got to the point where I was not really contributing to any cause. Media wise I was good. I would always be in the limelight. But after a while every body got tired of my attitude and my actionsBAD BOY BROTHERSAround the same time Josh Angulo was also getting mixed up with drinking and excessive behavior and at some point for both brothers this melting pot was all set to explodeMA: Josh went through a very similar phase. It didnt last as long as mine but he was just as volatile. Id like to think if I taught him one thing besides how to bottom turn was that he needed to stop the drink and stuff a lot earlier than I did. He moved on. We still make mistakes. Nobody is perfect so now there is a real kind of microscope over me and him where everybody are just waiting and watching for us to slip off the rails.At my worst I could not just go have one beer. Or just go out for one night. This thing just would not stop. It would not stop until basically there was smoke and flames coming out from somewhere! (Laughs) This was an addiction. I spent a lot of time in re-habs probably accumulative of two and a half years. I was locked up in places that were not conducive to the ocean and windsurfing. I ended up in these places reflecting about my actions and decisions. A lot of the time I dont even like to think about the places I have been. All I wanted was to be happy again and have my family back. I just wanted to get home and maybe get to enjoy the ocean a little bit. To be quite honest I feel I have got much more than that. God has really restored my family environment. I would not say my career but I have my windsurfing again. I still have my health. I am fine. I am not all broken. I got into some pretty heavy duty car wrecks and I know it was only God that helped me walk away from those alive and with my limbs attached. If you go through stuff like that, you learn what is truly important.There was a lot of stuff that happened during those ten years. My wife divorced me. She was over me. I ended up living in this real crappy little house. I wasnt even sailing anymore. I was sick all the time. All I had was just drinking. I still was doing a bit of stuff once in a while with my jet ski and occasionally helping teach kids to tow surf. I remember I had these two kids a good friend of mines son and his best friend. I was going to take them tow surfing. We were scheduled to go out on a particular day. They showed up and I was just blind. As much as a lot of my stuff I cant remember, I still remember the looks on their faces. A lot of times when you are a hard core addict you think you are only hurting yourself and not affecting anyone else. That day made me really think how I was hurting so many people. I remember seeing the look of disappointment on their faces. I felt I was such a loserOUT OF THE DARKNESSDetermined to shake off his alcohol addiction Mark checked into a re-hab on Maui in late 2004 where he spent over a year working hard labour and studying the bibleMA: It was a place called My brothers keeper It was a Hawaiian family who came from Oahu. They had both been Ice addicts from the most hardcore place on the island. They developed a Christian based programme. I lived with them for a year. That was the hardest year of my life. It was also hard because it was on Maui. I did not intend to stay for the whole year. I was thinking like thirty days and I would be out of there. I had to come to terms with the way I had lost everything I had. I wanted to show the people around me and the community that I was serious. I dont think people really believed that I was going to make any changes until after about eight months. It has now been a year since I have been out. That was a hard year. A long year. I went in the ocean twice. I had to work. Hard labour man. Straight up work. Work and the Bible! Wake up. Bible study. Work all day. Bible Study. Go to sleep.We built a restaurant over in Kapalua. I did a lot of yard work and a lot of community service kind of work. There was no alcohol in the house. I was a safe and sober environment but you could leave the house anytime you wanted. Within the first week I was working at a restaurant actually building the bar. If I wanted to access alcohol I could have. About one hundred people came and left the house and I think I was the second one to graduate. I saw people come and go everyday but I just said nobody was going to stop me this timeBACK TO THE REAL WORLDMark checked out of My brothers keeper a year later and immediately set about rebuilding his life. Free from the addiction of alcohol the old Mark Angulo started to re emerge and it was not long before he returned to the water with a renewed enthusiasm and a lot of time to make up forMA I was shocked when I came back out from the re-hab. We would get up at five AM every morning. By the time most people were crawling out of bed we would be cranking for two hours. I remember the first night I came home. Throughout this time my wife Eleanor started visiting me again. We kind of fixed our relationship. The real me came back. Before I was just drinking Vodka all day. I did not even drink beer by the end. I just drank Vodka all day long. The real me started to emerge again. The person she fell in love with back in 1988. So we decided to get re married. I remember waking up the day I came out of the rehab and I did not know what to do with myself. In the rehab we spent most of the time in quietness, focusing on yourself. You had to think about why you had made the choices you had made. That fact was that I made those choices. I did it. Most people will tell you there are physiological and physical reasons why you become an alcoholic and of course there are. Maybe its something in peoples background that makes you slip of the rails but I did it. My friends did not do it to me. It wasnt the fact that I was windsurfing too young with too much money. I realized that I made those choices. I paid the price for my actions. Once I came to terms with that and then I realized I did not have to go back to alcohol. It made me at peace with myself. It is ok now. It is ok to have a good life. Not drink all day. Not self destruct. Not all resentful and angry and trying to blame everyone else.ALCOHOLI have not drunk in over two years now. No beer no cigarettes no nothing. I feel great. I dont even miss it. Its sort of odd. When I see alcohol around I think about how radically it changed my life. Now it seems really quite mundane and un-interesting. You still have to be careful not to let down your guard. I wont do that. I know where drinking is going to take me. I have been to jail and sat in horrible places. I know exactly where it takes you. It aint no fun placeASPIRATIONSWith his renewed enthusiasm and passion for sailing Mark has been out on the water most windy days on Maui. Despite his age and time out of the loop, Marks raw talent timing of the wave and innovative style has never left him and his sailing style is as radical and unpredictable as it was in his heyday. At 38, maybe its too late to launch a new career but Mark still sees himself as an inspiration to many for his qualities both on and off the water.RETURN ON THE WATERMA: I had some old equipment. I went sailing after about a week out of the re-hab. I was just a kook. I remember getting beaten around. I remember getting one wave and just busting the biggest fattest goita ever! I ate it in the pit! I just remember laughing. It came back to me that I just love windsurfing. I then started working at the shop for my dad. That started to become my new life. The shop and the beach. That is now my little loop. No deviations. No reason to go anywhere else. I just wake up early. Do my computer work. Go to the shop, take care of my responsibilities. Go to the beachgo sailing or surfing. Before I had all these mental and emotional ties with windsurfing and the beach. The fact is that one day I woke up too and realized that it is my responsibility to be down the beach. I am one of the best windsurfers in the world. I love windsurfing and I gotta go windsurf. I dont complain anymore about the wind or the conditions. I go down, enjoy myself and remind myself of everyday of when I was locked up in Washington State in the middle of no where nobody cared about the ocean or windsurfing. Every time I think about thatwoo I am right out there (Laughs)Of course we all like to think that we are good enough to get paid to windsurf but I dont think about it in those terms anymore. I think that because of who I am and what I am doing I am in a pretty good position. Now I am involved with the shaping, designing and the Angulo board line with my ability of what going on the water. I think I would probably be the best deal that is going! But the fact is I am 38 years old. I had my day in the sun. The way I have things going I will have plenty more time in the water. I will get some magazine coverage and stuff like that but my main goal now is to be happy and live a good life. I would like to be a good inspiration and a good example for younger kids.There are a lot of young guys out there just in the same position I used to be. I can see some of them partying and getting bad. I would now like to set a good example.At the moment I dont even get free boards. I earn my boards. I got to pay for my boards. I make them at the Angulo custom factory so I get the best price possible. But I pay for everything. Nothing is free because it has got to come out of somebodys pocket. My dad aint gonna pay for my boards anymore. Actually Robby Naish gives me sails, booms and masts. He and Michi Schweiger have really helped me out. Robby was really a good friend. He stepped up to the plate. I called him and said I needed some stuff. I went down there and they loaded up my truck with sails. That was really cool. Robby does not have to anything like that for nobody. I really appreciated thatANGULO ON TOPWhile Mark went through his dark phase of alcohol addiction and reckless behaviour, Josh somehow managed to pull through his problems and keep his career intact. With his world title victory in 2003 and recent victory at the Aloha Classic Josh has been flying the flag for the Angulo family during Marks absence from the competitive side of the sportMA: I always kept an eye on Joshes career. He was my little brother. He went through bad stuff too with drugs and alcohol. I felt partially responsible for him. He looked up to me when he was little. In a way I felt like I let my brother down. He would not have gone through any of this if I had been on it more. At the end of the day just like I had to come to the conclusion that I made my own decisions and was responsible for my own choiceshe was too. He was responsible for his actions and stuff but I did not help any! He was six years younger than me and when I first got sponsored he saw me with all these new Oakley sunglasses and Billabong shortshe wanted that toobut I could have definitely been a better example. I can be todayand I can tomorrow. Any time that he needs somebody to talk to he can call me up. I know all about itI have been there.OLD GUARDAt 38 years of age Mark reckons he still has at least four years of solid windsurfing left in him. His gauge is Robby Naish who seems to be sailing harder and stronger than ever at the moment. What has really impressed Mark is the way the latest generation of sailors have been pushing the sport just as he did back in the late eightiesMA: I trip out these days. Robby and I are the old guys. Even Jason Polakow I consider to be young. When I was really cranking along Jason was still a little grommet. Now as time goes by they kind of throw us all into the same mix. But really I look around out there at Hookipa and its me and Robby and a bunch of kids. What a great inspiration Robby is. I guess he even looks down on me as young. I was the little kid out there when he was sailing backyards. He is only like four years older than me. Its nice to know I have got four more years. When he goes down I will really start to know that I am on my countdown on the water (Laughs).I watch all the new guys out there. I felt there was a long period of time for about ten years where nobody came along and broke new boundaries. Nobody stepped up to the plate and did anything new. Lately it is so nice to see the new energy out there. I love it. Right now I really consider Levi Siver to be the best wave rider in the world. When it comes to the full bag of all round performance. I think that my money would be between Josh and Levi. I am a little biased with Josh because he is my brother. Boujmaa and all those guys I dont even know half of their names but they have been pretty impressive out there too. They are all eighteen or twenty years old and going off. You still cant hide from somebody that is a good surfer too, that is what makes the difference. There is no comparison. I can see right through doing jumps and tricks on the wave versus riding the wave. They are getting better at hiding it but some of those guys are not surfers. If you watch Kai Lenny he will separate himself from the other kids because he is a good surfer. That is the real key. It is a real exciting time to be around the world of windsurfing at the minute. I am pretty happy about it. I am glad I am still around I am really blessed and fortunate you know to be any small part of it!JAWSMark Angulo was a key rider in the first ever photographed session at Mauis infamous big wave spot Jaws. Literally risking their lives with this un known beast Mark and a few other hardcore Maui locals jumped form the rocks and sailed mind blowing thirty to forty foot waves!MA That whole time in our life was a really cool period. I was hanging with Laird Hamilton, Mike Waltze and Dave Kalama and Jaws was one of the places we were watching for years. Then one day Laird suggested we go out sailing there. It was windy so we went out. We all jumped off the rocks. It was scary. I was the first one off the rocks and I had to paddle my rig about 40 feet to get into the wind. You had to time it. There was a big shore break and a lot of rocks. It was real stupid actually. I made it out and all of a sudden a big set came and the other guys had to wait. I was out there on my own for about half an hour. I got like ten covers from that first session. Everyone else finally made it out. Oh my goodness that was a day to remember. It was scary. Kai got caught that day and broke all of his stuff and went on the rocks. After that we started taking our boats up there and then jet skis came around. They were pretty fun years. We sailed it plenty after that. The first time was the one! I have not been out there in a long time. I would love to sail it again. Its a great wave. With all the crowds out there now its getting more dangerous. People have to drop deeper. I am not sure if I want to take a thirty foot wave on my head again. I did a couple of times and I am telling you it is not something you want to do often. Sooner or later somebody will drown.STILL DREAMINGIt is remarkable to see that Mark Angulo has returned to the water with new enthusiasm and is sailing as well as ever. No longer is his presence on the water a fading memory but Angulo is back out there at Hookipa re inventing and re inspiring. His story is a loss for windsurfing from the point of view of what could have. He was certainly one of the few that could of taken wave sailing into a new level and what he could of achieved we will never no. At least he has overcome his demons and survived through some pretty gnarly times with his health still intact. Mark Angulo has never been afraid to learn new moves, never afraid to fall and never stopped pushing the boundariesIts great to have him back and its still not too late for him to be an inspiration both on and off the water to many of the new generation.MA: I am feeling like I am just now getting to the point where I feel I can start pulling off some serious moves. I feel like my timing is good enough to launch and get forward projection, height and momentum all together. There is a lot of stuff to do. Without going into too much detailreally the next stuff is going into double rotations on the waves. There is a lot of inverted stuff it is really the sky is the limit. The problem for me is that I dont have a place to train a hundred waves a day with nobody in my way. If I had that you just cant imagine what you can do. Its hard to learn and do good stuff at Hookipa these days and that is one of the best places in the world to learn. A lot of times you will only get three of four set ups in a day. I get so excited when I get good set up. Sometimes I just melt so I rarely put it all together to make it happen.LIFEI am just enjoying having my life back. It has taken me all year to get used to the fact of really living life. Today I can do what I want to do. As long as I take care of my responsibilities I can go sit on the beach and just do nothing if I want. I can work all day, sail or listen to music. I know I missed out on what could have been a great career but on the other hand those years could have killed me. I can write off a list of twenty people I have known over the last ten years that are dead from alcohol. Its easy to speculate what could have happened in my career. Jason Polakow probably took my place. I had my name on the Neilpryde sails; Neil was probably grooming me to be in that position. Jason was in the right place at the right time. Good for him. I am proud of him, he is a good guy.My parents were telling me, my friends were telling meand I did not want to listen to nobody. I was stubborn and I paid the price. The Price has been paid. I am free and clear. I have no debts to nobody. I am not looking over my shoulder. I am all good!Its all good in the neighbourhood!A FEW WORDS FROM 2010 (CATCH UP INTERVIEW)JC: So what is your daily routine in the wind and wave season?MA: I basically own Angulo custom. I do all the custom work for our company. Anything Josh wants custom, I build, I make a lot of prototypes and also build all my dads custom stand up boards and all his custom windsurf stuff. Its a lot of fun for me because I get to do a lot of glass work and a lot of building and I like that type of workI like to build. I am not the greatest business man or manager in the world. My brain works better experimenting and having fun with designs. I have a great little system now. I wake up anywhere from 4-5am in the morning and I go to the factory and line up a bunch of things. Maybe I will wrap some boards, drop some boxes in, do a couple of laminations and a hot coat and then while everything dries ill come down and sail all afternoon. Its perfect. My wife loves to sail to so we spend time down at the beach together and then go home and compare stories.I cant complain. I dont live on Maui to just work 24/7. I have been stuck in that rut before so I am really trying to balance things and keep the lifestyle going. Staying at the beach is the most important to me. Sailing as much as I do has gotten me to the point where I can actually build good boards now. Everyday it is windy I get to come down to the water and test all the stuff.JC: I saw you land three or four Mutants today at Hookipahave you finally got that move nailedMA: I finally have it now where I can nail five or six Mutants in a session or a day. I am getting to the point now where my goal is to be able to do at least ten really good rotations everyday. Five 360s and five Mutants or two 360s and eight Mutantswhatever but I like to go home with some solid sailing under my belt. Not only the rotationsI like to hit some decent airs and to just better myself as a sailor. I only feel now that after all these years that I am starting to become a good sailor. Ive taken my hits and been down pretty low in the past but everything is coming together right now. I am really blessed to have Maui and Hookipa as my playground. I get to build boards for a living and I get to come down and windsurf. I cannot complain at all, its a great life for sure.JC: Is there anybody else that is even trying them?MA: There are some rumblings in the woods. I can here guys talking about the Mutant and I occasionally see guys trying them. The truth isonce a couple of guys start doing them and make the breakthrough; they will realize that out of all the rotations, it is the best strongest one for doing a double rotation. The power you get coming out of the first rotation is ridiculous especially if you project out in front of the wave. If you do it properly it is an insane feeling and a great move. Its definitely the best move I can do as yet. People are probably getting sick of watching it but its taken a long time to get it dialled. Last year I was just landing my first ever ones. It used to be three or four months between making one. Its come a long way. I am pretty happy with the progression.JC: So what other new moves do you have in the pipelineI saw you also sailing clew first a few days ago?MA: Its time to do some new stuff I think. Ive got a few new moves in the pipeline. I have made one or two clew first aerial 360s. Thats a cool way to attack the lip and do some airs. You can really start twisting and rotating weird. I like the moves where you get contorted. Me and Kauli were talking about it a little bit. I have an appreciation for his way of attacking the wave and its similar to mine. You knowits all about fun and keeping sailing exciting and different. Thats why we try new boards, new designs, new fin set ups and new manoeuvres. Thats what it is all aboutIts just about having fun!MUTANT SEQUENCE!The post MARK ANGULO: REFLECTIONS (2006) appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.