2024 CITRON WINDSURF WORLD CUP SYLT: ARE YOU READY FOR IT?2024 CITRON WINDSURF WORLD CUP SYLT: ARE YOU READY FOR IT?With the ever changing conditions in the churning waters of the North Sea, Sylt provides some of the most challenging conditions in the world. We hear from a selection of sailors to see how they coped both mentally and physically.Words: Marc Par, Marcilio Browne, Robby Swift, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Johan Se, Pierre Mortefon, Matteo Iachino and Justine Lemeteyer // Photos: Carter / pwaworldtour.comMARC PARSylt is such a tough place to compete. The conditions can change from minute to minute. It is one of the only spots on tour where you really need to have the whole quiver of gear ready on the beach. You can sail on a 4.2m and a 5.6m sail within thirty minutes, which makes it very demanding as a wave sailor because right in the middle of a heat the conditions can change completely. Most of the time we expect to get these tricky straight onshore conditions, which are not our favourite conditions, but you have to train in onshore conditions to be ready, which is what I did in Denmark. Even when it was perfectly side-shore at Hanstholm I just stayed at a straight onshore spot, but in the end, I think it paid off.ALL BASES COVEREDFor Sylt I brought all sail sizes from 3m to 6m. It was funny looking at the forecast in the lead up to the event as it looked like it was going to be epic and firing all week, the best Sylt ever, but in the end, we only had conditions on one day.LEARNING TO LOVE BOLT ONSHOREIn a way sailing bolt onshore is fun. When you get the hang of it, you can find the love for it. You start the heat really far out and then you try and link a wave all the way to the shorebreak. It is tricky to find the right angle to take off on the ramps. It is a challenge, but I enjoyed it. I think I had a bit of an advantage in the last couple of heats as I was actually enjoying it, weirdly.SHOREBREAK CONUNDRUMThe shore dump is a really fine line. The wind is a lot lighter on the inside and there is a lot of current and water moving along the beach. You need to hit it because that will score the big points, but if you mess up and you fall, then your heat can fall apart in seconds. You have to plan your heat and decide when to go for it.WAITING GAMEOnce the wave day was over it was tough as they switched to racing. You have to keep your mind busy and keep yourself busy. But at the same time all you can do is wait. I feel you can get more tired from waiting and resting, so you still need to move your body. I went to the gym and went out biking and walking. Just getting out helps my brain as well. We competed the first day and then just waited for the next nine days, which was tough. It is different in other locations, but in Sylt you never know what can happen with the forecast. That is just Sylt and you have to embrace it.CROWDS AND A CADDYWe are not used to the crowds, so it is nice to see all the people watching in Sylt. We dont normally get many people watching on the beach, so Sylt feels special in that sense. I had Josep Pons as my caddy this year. I have been saying for a few years that I should take somebody to help me. There are so many trips up and down from the sailors tent to the beach with all the gear. Then if you need to change rigs during a heat you are running up and down. If you go through a whole single, you also need to bring the gear back up after a long day on the water. I was exhausted for three days after the first day of competition. It was very draining. Having Pons there allowed me to be a bit more relaxed and it relieved the pressure also. In the end I made my own decisions, but Pons also gave me advice on what gear he thought I should use when we were not sure about the wind. You really dont want to mess up on gear choices in Sylt.MARCILIO BROWNEBATTLING CRAMPSYou learn how to enjoy riding in Sylt because over the years of coming here, we know that there is a big chance that we will face bolt onshore conditions. Over the years we have developed gear for that and trained to ride in onshore conditions also. That is now part of the whole game. It is not something you wish to sail in, but you train for it and you have gear ready for it. So you want to see how well you are going to perform when you have to. Personally, I enjoyed it. Every time we come to Sylt and we get a result I am stoked as it can easily happen that we dont, so it validates the trip. There was a bit of an angle in the morning when we sailed, so it wasnt bolt onshore. I woke up early and went for a warmup at 7am. My first-round heat got cancelled twice. My second-round heat was also cancelled three times! I think by the end of the day I had sailed eight or nine heats by the time I reached the final. I started cramping and the cold was aggravating it. It was such a long day and by the time I finished the heat with Antoine Martin I had some cramps starting. At the end my leg was stiff and one of my arms was cramping. I was bummed because I knew that those cramps tend to only get worse. When I came in, they did the winners final first, so we had to sail out six minutes after I came in to be there on time. My body was not there for the final and I was disappointed that I didnt have the chance to fight a little more.FULL QUIVERI brought a lot of gear with me. People always laugh at me, but I always end up using half or more of my gear in Sylt. The day we competed I used a 4.2m and also a 5.7m and some sizes in between. I had eight boards with me, and I changed boards a lot, so I am glad I had them with me. It can be side-shore with a crazy shorebreak where you need a board that fits better in the pocket. Or it can also be straight onshore with very light winds, so you need a board that can just move around. We are jumping too, so you need backups in case you break something. If I am going to put the effort of coming all the way from Hawaii to Germany, I am going to bring everything I need. I have around eight boards every year. I have back ups of the main sizes and a couple of really big boards in case of no wind.DAILY ROUTINEAfter the event I was pretty destroyed so I rested for two days. After that I have been running in the morning and then coming back home for breakfast. Then I do some stretching and computer work. I have also been going to the gym in the afternoons. It wasnt bad and was nice to have a little rest. I dont like being away from the family, but Sylt is a nice place, we have good food, a good gym, decent coffee and a lot of friends there, so I am not bummed out to be in Sylt.ROBBY SWIFTNOT SO SIMPLESylt is a complicated place. I have had a lot of fun days in the past, but this year, it was really difficult with the wind being straight onshore. It made it really hard to do anything. It just needs a bit of an angle one way or the other and then it is easier. It is never easy because the shorebreak is super heavy. You really need to calculate your heats well and try and execute your jumps early on. Then you can come in and risk wave riding in the impact zone. It is a really different experience competing in Sylt compared to other places because everything is more calculated and the scores are a lot lower. It is still competition and just requires a different way of doing things. When it was bolt onshore, I didnt really enjoy it that much, but normally Sylt is a fun place to sail. The waves are normally pretty decent here when it is windy. You dont get that many opportunities here too, so you have to make them count when they come.NO REST FOR THE WICKEDI spent the remaining nine days working on the new NeilPryde website, so I was ten hours a day on my computer sat in my room. I have been running and going to the gym. It has been a little holiday with a lot of work and no children to get in the way of working. I tried not to eat too much also. You never know what Sylt will throw at you. There are normally a few nice sunny calm days too. It is a pretty nice island to go cruising around.SARAH-QUITA OFFRINGAPREPARED FOR ANYTHINGWhen you come to compete in Sylt you need to be prepared for anything. Expect the unexpected, basically. We did actually go out in the toughest conditions that you can compete in. It was bolt onshore, not too windy because I was on my 5.3m. I started my first heat on my 5m. My mindset was not to have too many high expectations, so I actually had a lot of fun for the first heat. I just went with the flow. So I had fun in the first heat, but in the second heat I thought I would be fine on the 5m again, but a squall came through and the wind dropped. Because I saw the guys changing to their 5.3s, I thought I would be fine on my 5m still. I ended up getting stuck in the shorebreak, while sailing against Sol Degrieck. Both of us ended up downwind. I eventually switched to my 5.3m and I got one gust on port tack, and I made it through the shorebreak and I did a quick forward. I thought I would be safe with that. Then I saw Sol actually do a better forward. Thank goodness that I saw it because in the end I passed the heat by 0.1 of a point just because I did this last wiggle on a wave at the end. I did a stint earlier in the live streaming booth and I saw many moments where the rider just needed a tiny move on a wave to advance. I kind of had that in my mind during my heat as any tiny move can count and make the difference. For me, thats what saved me in that heat.CALLING UPON EXPERIENCEThen the smartest thing I did for this event was to use my experience and then stay out on the water after that heat for the final. I was on my 5.3m and I just stayed out. I found out the result from the last heat from the jet ski driver. I didnt want to come back to the beach because it was so light and onshore. I had to wait for one heat and then I was into the final. Unfortunately, Alexia [Kiefer Quintana] didnt make it out through the shorebreak, so it was a bit confusing being out there on my own. I just didnt see my competitor. I saw Alexia walking along the beach towards the end of the heat, so I figured I was against her. It was a weird way to claim the win like that. On the one hand I made a smart decision to stay out, but on the other hand I wanted to battle for the victory fair and square. Alexia had been sailing incredibly for the whole day. I think my experience from sailing in Sylt over the years paid off. A few small things swung my way like the heat against Sol. I could have been last, but in the end, I was first. That is Sylt! The same rules apply for everyone. At this event anyone can win!JOHAN SEREADY FOR ANYTHINGYou really need to be ready for everything. This year we had a lot of offshore winds. It was flat water but then we had the weed to deal with. Sylt can also have waves and a really big shorebreak. We can race in high winds, but its most likely that well race in light winds and choppy conditions, so you just never know. You just dont know what to plan for. You have to be as ready as you can for anything and everything to have the best chance of doing well. I used 5.8m, 6.8m and 7.8m also. I started one heat with an 8.8m, but that one got cancelled. So basically, we can race on anything. I had Finn Noer to help out on the beach this year to have everything was ready. When you change gear on the beach you have to be really fast so having somebody to help you really helps out. I had to change wings and get a new sail ready in just a few minutes in between heat, so having Finn there saved me a few times as I needed smaller equipment, and he already had it ready when I came in. It would have been be much more difficult on my own, I might not have even bothered coming in to change. Sylt is cool with all the crowds. The cold is not a problem for me as I am from Denmark, so I am used to it. The racing was intense with the strong winds. There were a lot of tempers flying on the water. I just tried to stay focused and kept calm. I dont like to shout at the boat or anything, I am just ready for anything.PIERRE MORTEFONUNUSUAL CONDITIONSSylt is special because we have all the other disciplines. In the other events we sail when the conditions are good, but here we sail when the conditions are not right for the waves and freestyle fleets. It can be a little frustrating like that. On the other side it is an event where we always race. There are plenty of people watching and it is one of the biggest, if not the biggest event on tour, which is cool. The fact it isnt is what makes it special. It can be offshore, side-shore or onshore for racing. You try to prepare for it, but you are never really ready. This year we had the weed which threw a spanner in the works. I was using settings that I never used before.ON HOLDThe other disciplines can be released for the day, but we are never released. The wind can arrive at 4.40pm and you can go for one race late in the day. You really have to be ready at any time. I enjoy some aspects of it, but others not so much. On one side it is our job, so it is good that we are there to race. On the other side, sometimes you feel like you are here as the side show to the other disciplines.CONSISTENCY IS KEYThe racing is so intense. My goal is just to stay consistent as you never know how many rounds of racing we will do. You could just do one race in a week, but this year we did seven rounds. You just never really know. When I came to island on the train, the forecast was pink for the whole ten days. In the end, they just wave sailed on one day. You have to be ready for the whole ten days which is a long time for an event. This summer we had five-day events in the Canary Islands. After five days you are exhausted. Here is ten days and we have been on the water almost every day. We didnt have many days off. I tried to sail on registration day in the waves as I like to be active every day. If I do nothing, I find it tricky to sleep.MATTEO IACHINO14 AND COUNTINGSylt is a really special event that has been running for so many years. I have been to the event fourteen times so far. It is tricky for racers mainly because we have many disciplines, so we never know if we are going to be competing. With the racing we kind of cover whenever the other guys are not running. It is more difficult to run the wave and the freestyle because they need stronger wind. We have to wait for them not to be on, and then we go. But then it can be offshore, and we race in strong winds also. The forecast changes day by day so it is tricky. We never know what to get ready for.CAUGHT BY SURPRISEThis year I was more prepared for light winds as that is mainly what we get in Germany for racing, but we ended up competing in strong offshore winds. There was also seaweed in the water. It was conditions where we had to race, but I was not fully ready for it. I expected something different. I only remember one other year when we raced in offshore winds, which was many years ago on fin. You just have to be ready for anything. The luck can be a big factor. I won here a few times and also had many years with bad results. You have to go for it and its tricky and cold. It is a tough event that is for sure to compete at a high level. We know that we can be racing within half an hour. There is no point training earlier in the day as the conditions can and most likely will change before your race. You also dont want to waste your energy and get cold. We are just on standby for many hours some days and you dont want to be in a cold wetsuit. We actually spend 90% of the days on standby, waiting for the conditions from the other fleets to deteriorate and then we might be on. That is the tricky part of it for us. The wave guys know on most days if they are on or off. We barely get time to test the course when it is offshore, and the course is a mile out to sea. There is no point testing two hours before a race as conditions will almost certainly be different. The conditions change completely with the tide and the wind dropping.40TH ANNIVERSARYWe are not used to all the crowds at other events, so it is cool to see windsurfing alive and so many people interested. There are some people I have seen coming here every year to watch the windsurfing. It is one of the only places where you feel like windsurfing is a big sport. This was the 40th year of Sylt, so there is a lot of history that is connected to this event also. Windsurfing needs this type of event and it has been great commitment by the organisers to keep pushing.JUSTINE LEMETEYERMENTAL GAMEThere are a lot of people watching, so that is really cool. For us on the water the conditions were really difficult, not because of the shorebreak this year, but more because of the algae in the water. The wind was pretty strong in the offshore easterlies also which I was not expecting. It was an awesome event. As a racer it is a bit like Pozo, you just never know what is going to happen and if we will be called out to race. When you wake up you have no idea if you will be racing or not. You need to stay relaxed and to know how to disconnect from the race. Otherwise, it would be a crazy ten days for your nerves! The racing for me went amazingly well. I have put a lot of hard work into my training, at the gym, on the water and also mentally. I think the mental side makes a huge difference. I have done a lot of work with a mental coach and I am feeling a lot calmer. I have a better feeling on the water and on the beach, which is my main difference compared to last year. I have had a mental coach for over a year now. We have a few tools in my head that I use when the nerves are getting too high. You have to train these tools so that has taken time. Now it is really paying off. It is a lot more comfortable to race knowing how you can control your mind. I also have a physical coach and have workouts six times a week. I also push a lot in the gym, but it is paying off. There are two or three bike sessions in a week and then three times in the gym. I trained six days a week for the whole winter, which has made a huge difference. I feel so strong, and I can push the gear harder, race for five days in a row and still feel that I am able to push. The combination of everything has paid off. Last year I didnt have my equipment tuned, but now I have the right board and the right sails and my foil is working well. The gear works, physically I am there and mentally I am there, so that combination is all working very well.The post 2024 CITRON WINDSURF WORLD CUP SYLT: ARE YOU READY FOR IT? appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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ALEX MUSSOLINI: EARNING HIS WINGS!ALEX MUSSOLINIEarning His Wings: Alex Mussolinis Journey from the waves to the skies!We caught up with Alex Mussolini, who has transitioned from being one of the worlds best wave riders to soaring through the skies. After an incredible windsurfing career where he finished, he has discovered a new passion as a Ryanair pilot, embracing the challenges of aviation. Now based in Madrid, he continues to chase adventure; this time flying through the air instead of across the water!Photos: John Carter and Alex Mussolini (click any picture to enlarge!)PILOTAlex Mussolini:I started working for Ryanair in August 2022. So, I am already coming up to three years as a pilot. In the beginning I was based in Palma, Majorca and after that I was at various airports until I received my first permanent base in Dublin. I was based out of Dublin for about a year. That was quite tough because I was not at home with my family. I was commuting back and forth. The flying conditions were hard, so I learned a lot. It was always windy and raining. So, I liked that aspect of the flying. I was in Dublin five days in a row and then I would get four days off. That is how it works with Ryanair. We fly five and we rest four! So, on my days off I would come back to Spain and then go back each time I had to work. Now finally since November I am based where I live in Madrid. That works out much better for me.FIRST FLIGHTIt was exciting I have to say. I actually think that windsurfing helped me a lot to keep calm in that aspect. I have windsurfed so many crazy places, that flying has a similar rush. Slowly flying is getting less exciting from my early days. I am a lot more experienced now. Every flight is different though. When you take off and when you land it is always different conditions. It is a bit like windsurfing. That side of flying. A windsurf session is never the same and you have to launch and come back in and while you are out the weather and conditions are always changing.When we are cruising, I am normally reading or chatting with the other captain next to me. I meet a lot of other pilots from lots of countries. I really enjoy this new life as a pilot. The excitement I used to get from windsurfingnow I get that from flying. I actually love doing this job. We fly over the Alps and some approaches are stunning from the air. I fly a lot to Gran Canaria and I fly right over Pozo!It is incredible to look down and think I used to windsurf there, and now I am flying a plane over where I used to compete. I also fly to Lanzarote as well. So, I go to a lot of places I used to go to for windsurfing. Now I am flying there! This is kind of nice. I cant really chuck my windsurf gear in the hold though!Hopefully in the future I might get taken out of base for a short period to a destination where I can windsurf. I could be based for three days in Lanzarote for instance. I could just go and borrow equipment from friends over there. I dont care too much anymore about the equipment that I ride. If I grab someone elses equipment, it does not matter to me. I am just happy to be out on the water.WINDSURFINGI actually went windsurfing last week in Barcelona. The conditions were not amazing. But I dont care about that anymore. Just to be able to windsurf is enough! I used to be very picky before. I was always complaining the conditions were not quite right. Now when I windsurf, everything is fine for me. Before that session I went to Fuerteventura with Thomas Traversa, which was a real baptism of fire! Thomas normally picks the weeks when it is going to be huge! I literally windsurf about once a year now. I have to say that I didnt forget how to do it! I am sure I was not as on it as I used to be, but I could still throw down some moves. When I was windsurfing in Barcelona I landed a taka on my first wave. It is not like I forgot everything. After that day I had a lot of cramps, so I am definitely not windsurfing fit! My forearms were burning!THE SCENEI try to stay in touch with what is going on in windsurfing. When there is a livestream, I will try and follow my friends. Guys like Thomas Traversa and Antoine Martin. I like to follow the guys that I had a close relationship with when I was on the tour. I am not really into watching a whole event anymore. I follow a lot of the posts on the Windsurf Website (Huge round of applause!). I like to follow the cool stuff.You wont find me watching the livestream at three in the morning, waiting for a heat to start at Hookipa (laughs). I will watch the replay the next day or something. I like to see my friends doing well.MOVING ONI moved forward in life. I have a real job with a lot of responsibility and also my family time is important to me. I think leaving the windsurf scene was easier because of flying. If I had gone to an office job, leaving windsurfing would have been tough. I would have been looking out the window of the office at the wind blowing the trees. Now I look out the window of a plane and I see the Alps and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and nice approaches.Flying is so dynamicit is definitely not like an office job. There is still a lot to study to keep up with everything. Before you fly, you always check the weather and the wind. It is quite exciting to know you are going to take off in one place and land in another country in totally different weather. It is a bit like when you are heading out windsurfing! You have to look at the forecast at what is going to happen. Every sailor is their own pilot for their journey on the water.FLIGHT PATHI have to talk to the passengers sometime before we land and after we take off. Normally just before the descent, we tell the passengers about the approach and make a briefing. We tell them we are about to descend, what the weather is and blah, blah, blah! I kind of like doing those speeches! The passengers like to hear this information, when they will arrive and what the conditions will be like on the ground.Now I am flying the 737 aircraft with 196 people on board. It is around 200 people we are responsible for. I have to say that sometimes I look back out of the cockpit and look at all these people. I am flying these people from one country to another. When I see all the people getting of the plane, I sometimes stand at the door and say goodbye. It felt quite shocking to do this at the beginning. But not anymore. In Ryanair we land manually. It is not the plane on autopilot that lands itself. When it is really windy and you are moving the controls and you land nicely it feels pretty satisfying. Then I see all the passengers disembarking, that feels quite rewarding.Most of the time we are flying and cruising, it is quite relaxing. I dont mind a bit of small turbulence and have never had to deal with any major turbulence so far. I get the best view on the plane, that is for sure. This is really nice. I see a lot of sunrises and amazing sunsets while we are up over the crowds. I like flying to the Canary Islands. When we make the approach, it always looks nice. The UK is always raining and miserable (laughs). I fly to Stanstead quite a bit and go over London. When you have clear skies that is amazing to see it from the sky.I am really enjoying this new job and lifestyle. At the end of my windsurfing career, I was not really enjoying it. I didnt know if I was going to get enough money each year to survive from my sponsors. For me it was too much. I know a lot of my windsurfing friends are struggling and that would have been me, if I stayed in the game. It is a little bit sad, but it is what it is!The post ALEX MUSSOLINI: EARNING HIS WINGS! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

CLUB VASS THEN AND NOW PART 2: ENDLESS EVOLUTIONClub Vass Then & NowPART 2: Endless EvolutionAfter our initial look back into how Club Vass initially started, we look into how the Club has evolved over the years into the phenomenal success it is today. Marianne Booth delves into how the Club has built its team, provided the very best kit, catered for kids, the other activities available and of course those infamous parties that have kept the guests entertained over the years.Photos: Protography Official // Global Shots // Jono Carmichael // JC!The Ultimate Toy Shop: Committing to the KitTony & Roger understood early on that commitment to providing the right kit was key and theyve put their money where their mouths are and always invested massively. Having a great choice of the best gear, with the majority replaced annually, really helped make it a stand-out operation.Attention to detail has always been crucial, for example having kit properly maintained and rigged (on light carbon-rich masts and high quality booms) and sails stored boom-on goes above and beyond most centres. Offering an inclusive pool system, unlike the more standard book a board system (offered by many centres) has allowed clients to swop & change kit as they liked and really sample all the toys on offer.The biggest change is the tuition and the kit, its so much easier to use and so much lighter, people learn in a fraction of the time. It took me 2 seasons to learn to water-start and as for gybing, I was called One Tack Tony! Tony BoothTeam BuildingIncluding group lessons in the holiday was key; guests loved the sociability and found it made learning so much more fun at all levels. Club Vass have always prided themselves on their outstanding team and its really become the gold standard as the place to work as an instructor.Associations with instructor training outfits Flying Fish and now Watersports Nomad have helped Club Vass pick the best of the best coaches.On-going training and mentoring, under the expert guidance of Manager Ollie Scott, has helped maintain an ultra-professional crew who simply ooze enthusiasm for their sport. This is no mean feat when you consider its gone from a just a handful of staff to a team of over 60.Its always been about making windsurfing accessible to everyone and encouraging newcomers to the sport and keeping the fun factor. At the other end of the spectrum Club Vass offers exceptionally high-level coaching, with more advanced level instructors (including PWA competitors) than any other centre; there arent many places that run regular looping sessions!Kids on BoardAs the original clients grew older and started to bring their young families, a Crche and Kids Club was introduced, primarily to give the youngsters a taste of windsurfing. With increasing demand for more full-on windsurfing for kids, ProKids was launched, generally for older kids and those who are really keen. Childrens kit has evolved significantly and is far more user-friendly which has allowed youngsters to start earlier and really get a sense of achievement. The Club Vass team work tirelessly to put the fun factor in and make kids genuinely want to get out on the water with their mates (and off their screens). The progress is unbelievable to see; many notable champions of the past and present started out on these kids programmes, including Max Rowe and George Grisley.Getting Multi-activeWhilst windsurfing has remained the core, Club Vass understood their clienteles energetic outlook and were always quick to embrace new trends. Mountain Bikes and SUPs were added as both sports started to grow, and were quickly embraced by those wanting to get active in the mornings whilst waiting for the wind. Yoga & Pilates were also introduced as great complements to windsurfing, run from the rooftop studio with amazing views over the bay. Mornings at the Club are now a hive of activity with guided bike rides & SUP fitness sessions setting off whilst the sun salutations are in full swing its certainly a far cry from the early days of slow, slightly hungover starts!Taking OffAs foiling started to become established, Club Vass were quick to embrace this latest evolution in water-sports. They wasted no time in setting up a separate dedicated Wing/Foil centre, run by Max Rowe, applying the same commitment to kit and coaching as they did for windsurfing. The centre is now fully stocked with an array of top-notch Duotone gear and there are clinics most weeks for beginners and intermediates and private instruction of the more advanced. Again, theyve managed to make it accessible to everyone (whatever their level), whether its to allow more time on the water or for pure passion.Freestyle MeccaLed by Club Vass, Vassiliki has become is one of the worlds top spots for freestyle and their staff have always been at the forefront of developments in this most challenging area of our sport. Some of the Europes top freestyle champions over the years have honed their skills here, including Andy Bubble Chambers, Max Rowe, Jamie Howard and George Grisley. At the end of a great day on the water, over a chilled beer at the bar, one of the highlights for many is watching the mind-blowing skills of the staff at play in the trick zone just off the beach.The Inimitable Club Vass VibeWindsurfers tend to be a like-minded bunch, but theres something more about Club Vass, theres an intangible vibe about the place. For many it just feels like home; guests and staff alike return year after year and theyre the ones whove made it all happen. Long-lasting friendships, marriages and families have been forged at the Club over the years and there are enclaves of ex-Club Vass crew to be found all over the globe. Many of the current staff have grown up spending their holidays and learning to love windsurfing in Kids Club/ProKids. In many ways and for many people its so much more than just a holiday.Word of mouth speaks volumes and it has played a huge role in the growth of the Club. Back in the early days the Vass Class helped put CV on the map, not only as an incredible spot but also as a great party place. Strong bonds over the years with the likes of Pete Hart, Guy Cribb, Whitey, Ian Gregorelli from Boardwise as well as Windsurf Magazine have also helped cement its reputation. The Club has been a major driving force in Vassiliki for nearly 40 years, and its strong connexion with the local Greeks has been an essential part of that. In particular,George Kiriakos, who ran both the old Centre 1 and current restaurant before setting up Nautilus Dive operation (close Club Vass associates), has very much been part of the clubs journey over the years.Let Them Entertain YouRight from the start, CV has played a major role in defining the Aprs Surf scene in the bay. The Friday night BBQs have gained legendary status. In their heyday the Mega Parties at the end of Speed Week resembled mini festivals, with live bands, DJs and fireworks. The talented team have always pulled out all the stops and put on the most incredible shows, with much of the entertainment rooted in the early days, including the Club Vass Song and the unforgettable Plate Dance (now reserved for Diva Weeks, outside school holidays!). And some of the films produced for Oscar Week, like the Top Gun Maverick re-make are clearly award-worthy. This party spirit has evolved over the years but its always been underpinned by a uniquely quirky sense of humour.Sarah Bradford (Hotel Manager:) I love the history of the entertainment, The Song for example and how the charm of a small centre or Club hasstayedIts the personal touch for returning and new customers, it is very unusual if the staff dont know the guests names by day 2 despite the volume of the operation.People PowerA lot of the soul of Club Vass is down to its incredible crew, who have passed on the baton over the years, with notable mentions of Roddy Coull (sadly departed but forever greatly missed), Neil Fish Salmon, James Smiley Waters, Christian Harris, Simon Hurrey, Andy Bubble Chambers, Colin Whippy Dixon, Benny Harrison, Sean Jamieson, Marco Wedele, Pip Pardoe, Adam Chubbock and Jonny Freshwater, to name but a fewBut a special shout out has to go to Ollie Scott whos been at the helm for over 20 years now and has been pivotal to the Clubs evolution throughout that time. His exceptional people skills are constantly in evidence as he handles all aspects of customer service with professionalism and a personal touch. He prioritises the development of his team, nurturing their talent both on and off the water. Hes literally a force of nature to be reckoned with; hes still one of the top sailors in the bay and he shows the way when it comes to fancy dress and getting the glitter ball out on a Friday night.Ollie Scott (Centre Manager) Id say its gone from being a great Windsurf Club to a Mega Club in that it is by far the biggest club in the world. But we still keep it all personal and runningsmoothly, especially with regards to customerservice, and wevemanagedto keep that vibe intact, even though its grown so much.The post CLUB VASS THEN AND NOW PART 2: ENDLESS EVOLUTION appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

WINDSURF NEWS BULLETINWINDSURF NEWS BULLETINYes, its time to dig into the latest thrills, spills, and behind-the-scenes gossip from the world of windsurfing. We have a new CEO at the helm of the PWA, fresh rivalries brewing on the competition scene down in South America, and a last-minute transfer shake-up to keep things interesting. So, lets dive in and find out whos riding high in Chile, and whos been sent packing! Hang on to your harnesses and get ready for our latest Windsurf news bulletin! Dont miss it!PWA CEOThe PWA has announced a new CEO Alberto Zschiesche who is Spanish and has a background global brand strategy and marketing at multinational communication companies! Here is the official word from the PWA!The Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) proudly welcomes Alberto Zschiesche as its new CEO. With a background in global brand strategy and marketing at multinational communication companies (Havas, BBDO), and environmental advocacy at Greenpeace, Alberto brings a clear vision that unites windsurfing, fuels sustainability, and strengthens the future of the sport.A United FutureWindsurfing is in a strong place, with a passionate community and growing interest. We can continue to strengthen it by embracing a more collaborative approach. By coming together to share our stories and values, we can amplify the sports reach and impact.The PWA, as a nonprofit organisation, is committed to driving this vision forward, uniting efforts to elevate windsurfings popularity worldwide.Alberto Zschiesche:Our goal is to bring to life the incomparable sensation of being on the water, and convey that same feeling and the culture of our sport at the beach and via our media channelsa diverse, open, connected environment where windsurfers can thrive from Youth to the highest level. That bond between windsurfers is what makes this sport unique. Its what will carry us forward. My desire is to contribute to the growth of what I consider the best sport in the world. I aspire to achieve this through active collaboration, innovation, and by promoting windsurfing as the ultimate global watersport.A Stronger Windsurfing FutureWith Albertos leadership in growth, sponsorships, and sustainability, the PWA is entering a new era of opportunity. His focus? Strengthening the foundation, expanding the tour, and ensuring windsurfing thrives across all disciplines, genders, and age groups.Join us in not only welcoming Alberto Zschiesche to the PWA, but also looking forward to building a stronger, more united future for windsurfing.PWACOMPETITIONPWA/ IWT 5 STAR CHILE WAVESWell, the action is really hotting up over in Chile with the challenger rounds completed and the first days of amazing action in the mens and womens pro fleets already done and dusted. Apparently, Baptiste Cloarec has been sailing with a broken foot, while last years winner Camille Juban also has a broken toe. Both sailors were knocked out in their opening heats but fought back through the pain barrier to win their redemption round heats to make it through to the elite top 24 elimination round.Philip Kster who stayed home to witness the birth of his second baby, flew straight in to Chile and romped through his heat alongside Arthur Arutkin into the elite round.Apparently, the beach went wild when local rider Benjamin Fabres won his opening heat causing an upset leaving Camile Juban and Thomas Traversa to fight through the redemption round. Traversa was consequently knocked out by Baptiste Cloarec and Dieter Van Der Eyken.The WWT reported from the Fabres heat as follows!WWT: One of the biggest moments of the day came from local favourite Benjamin Fabres , who stunned the field in Heat 5 of the mens R6 CT Seeding round. Against seasoned global veterans including last years champion Camille Juban and tour veteran Jules Denel , Fabres rose to the occasion in front of his home crowd, delivering a series of committed, critical turns and stylish aerials and a spectacular goiter to score 11.13 one of the top heat scores of the day.As Fabres kicked out of his final wave and returned to the beach, the crowd erupted. Hundreds of fans lining the shore cheered wildly, chanting his name and rushed toward him as he stepped back onto the sand. With flags waving, music pumping, the beach commentator going wild with excitement, it had an atmosphere more reminiscent of a football stadium than a surf event, it was likely a moment that will go down in Chilean windsurfing history.To win a 5 star champions rounds heat at home, in front of his family and friends, after fighting his way through a huge field of challenger riders, it must have been something hes dreamed about. It was a very special moment for him and for this community so proud and excited by their hero. And theres a good chance hes not done yet!Lucas Meldrum from the UK failed to advance from the opening round of the competition and was then defeated in a tough redemption round heat up against Camille Juban and Adam Warchol who both advanced to the last 24.In the womens competition Sarah Quita Offringa sailed into the next round despite an excellent performance from German Maria Behrens who clocked up the highest wave score of the day from the ladies with a 5.97.Fearless Sol Degrieck and Lina Erpenstein also sailed safely through to the womens quarter finals alongside Justyna Sniady Pauline Katz and Maria Moreles.Competition was eventually abandoned during the womens redemption round when the wind died late in the day.Lets see how the event pans out over the next couple of days and make sure you tune into the live stream to watch the action unfold!WWTSOUTH WALES WAVE CLASSICDespite a dodgy forecast the Trecco Bay delivered some excellent conditions on Friday for the South Wales Wave Classic. We already have a report from the action packed day which you can view here!Windsurf MagazineSOUTH WALES WAVE CLASSICResults were as follows!MENS RESULTSBen PageLouis MorrisLuke SmothNick WelshWOMENS RESULTSIzzy AdcockPing YinGeorgia StollidayBWATRANSFER NEWSARTHUR ARUTKINArthur Arutkin formerly a Duotone rider left it until he landed in Chile to announce his new sponsors GUNSAILS and Flikka boards. GUNSAILS published this short interview as they welcomed Arthur into the team!GUNSAILSGUNSAILSArthur Arutkin, one of the most talented windsurfers of his generation, is starting the 2025 season with GUNSAILS.Hello Arthur, it is with pride and enthusiasm that we welcome you to our team. Welcome! Can you tell us a few words about your choice this season?AA: Its really an honour for me to join GUNSAILS this season! Its a brand Ive admired for a long time, especially for their wave sails, which are not only powerful but also super responsive. My choice was quite natural as GUNSAILS offers equipment that perfectly suits my wave style. The goal is to reach my full potential while working with such a passionate and dedicated team.What are your goals and ambitions for the 2025 season, and how does GUNSAILS fit into those plans? How does their equipment help you to perform at such a high level?AA: For 2025, my main goal is to continue to improve in surfing, be it competitively or in pure practice. I want to get even closer to the best and perform well at international events. GUNSAILS plays a crucial role in my ambitions as their wave sails are some of the best I have ever tested. They offer great manoeuvrability and perfect stability, so I can have maximum fun while focusing on performance. Im looking forward to taking part in competitions like the PWA World Tour and testing new limits with equipment that really suits me.How would you rate the development of your career in recent years? What was your biggest challenge?AA: The last few years have been very drastic, especially in terms of progression. Ive worked hard to refine my style in the wave and adapt to different types of conditions, which has been a real challenge. The wave discipline is demanding and every competition brings new challenges. But Im happy with the results, even though I know I can still achieve more. My biggest challenge has been to stay consistent in my performances while exploring new spots around the world, always looking for the best conditions to develop.What role does GUNSAILS play in your equipment and how does it help you to perform at such a high level?AA: GUNSAILS is a key partner in my progress. Their equipment, especially the wave sails, are exceptionally good for working on responsiveness and manoeuvrability in different conditions. This type of sail is crucial when sailing on waves and spots that are sometimes capricious. GUNSAILS sails are super light yet robust and offer excellent control in complex manoeuvres. Working with them has helped me become more precise and gain the confidence I need to tackle the waves with composure.How do you see the future of windsurfing? And what advice would you give to young windsurfers who want to follow in your footsteps?AA: The future of windsurfing in the wave is very promising, especially with the development of the foil and the way this is changing the practice. Young people now have access to technology that allows them to progress faster than we could back then, and thats a big advantage. My advice to them would be to really focus on understanding the waves and practicing in as many conditions as possible, because those are the key elements of this discipline. Of course, you also have to be prepared to work hard, accept setbacks and, above all, never lose sight of the fun of sailing. With passion and the right equipment, like the one I use at GUNSAILS, anything is possible!The post WINDSURF NEWS BULLETIN appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

https://www.valleyseakayaks.com/Down but (hopefully) not out!Valley Sea Kayaks, one of the longest-established brands in the industry, suffered a major blow to its business in the early hours of Sunday morning (30th March) when an arsonist targeted a trailer containing its demo fleet. The devastating incident happened outside the proprietors house, destroying the trailer, 18 sea kayaks, multiple vehicles, and the property.Valleys other co-owner, Peter Orton, commented, This truly is devastating, not just as a business but also for Jasons family, having this happen on their drive, with a genuine risk to those asleep in the house. Were all shocked. When asked what damage this does to the business, Peter continued, Its a blow; weve worked really hard over the winter, launching a new model recently at the NEC and really encouraging people to these early-season demo-events.Then we literally lose our whole demo fleet, trailer, promotional stuff, the lot! All on the night before the very first event of the year. Its heartbreaking! When asked, what now? Peter replied, I dont know. I guess we can scrabble! Insurance will be a while and a three-way fight between property, business and vehicle policies; I fully expect some will fall through the cracks, and yes, there will be a loss! But its the timing, rebuilding the demo fleet, replacing stuff, and getting back on our feet.We are a seasonal business, and the Spring period is really important. It couldnt have happened at a worse time. Im sure we will bounce back, but its not going to be easy. Peter finished with a small positive, What has been reassuring is the messages of support from the paddling community; it shows we are part of something special.There is an ongoing police investigation. The initial indication is that whilst the act was deliberate, it doesnt appear to have been directly targeting Valley as a company. Hopefully, someone will eventually be brought to justice, as this could clearly have been more serious than it was. Valley thanks everyone who has shown their support and hopes to see them on the water again soon.

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CHILE WORLD CUP: FINALS DAYCHILE WORLD CUP: FINALS DAYMarcilio Browne and Jane Seman emerged as the champions of the 2025 Chile World Cup after an intense and action-packed finals day at Topocalma. The competition saw breathtaking performances, epic rides, and dramatic moments as the worlds best wave sailors pushed their limits in the challenging offshore conditions. In the end, Browne and Seman rose above the rest as the celebrations began after the finals. We hear from the top four men and women after this epic conclusion to the pro event!Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries.MENSIt seemed like Marc Par had the event wrapped up after he clocked up a colossal 8.83 scoring wave alongside a 6.0 but towards the end of the heat Browne busted out a perfect goiter alongside several powerful turns to clinch the victory with a 7.17 and 7.97.MARCILIO BROWNEIt was a super fun event and it was amazing to finish in perfect conditions in Topocalma. I was on a 4.5m with my small board. I could not ask for more. We had so much sailing and I had a blast. The biggest part of the heat was just getting a wave. Everyone was trying to get priority out behind the rock, and then youd come in just hoping the texture would stay in the water because sometimes it would just vacuum the wind out. You never knew. Im so happy, stoked.MARC PAREThe contest was great for me and in the end I finished second so I am pretty happy about that with such tough competition. I used my Simmer 4.5m and 84L and then switched to the 4.7m and 88L during the heat. It was a dream to make the final, I was leading most of the way but Braw had that killer wave at the end of the heat. Maybe I should have waited outside, but I came in with a set thinking it was going to be a good one and then it just faded out.BAPTISTE CLOARACIt has been amazing in Chile, we had sick conditions and we moved to Topocalma for the finals. I was on a 4m Pro Black Ribbon from RRD. I was on a production board with K4 fins, 13.5 and 7s. I hurt my foot two weeks before the competition. It was a bit broken and hurting me a lot. I did not know if I could compete. In the end I managed to go to the final and third is amazing for me. Everyone was ripping!CAMILLE JUBANI was on a 70L board with MFC fins, which is a copy of one of my original magic boards. I was on a 4.2m Catalyst sail. Being injured I was happy just to get to the final. Even though I was last it was ok. I am happy for those guys that made the podium. I heard Braw and Marc both deserved it. I did not see their waves. Overall, it was an epic event and it was once again amazing to be in Chile.WOMENAussie ripper Jane Seman stole the show in the womens final with a go hard of go attitude, attacking the waves with no remorse to take the top spot. Time after time, jane Launched into aerials and attacked the lip with no remorse as she set the bar in the 27-minute final.JANE SEMAN (mobbed by Team Australia in a wild beach celebration after the final!) The final was fantastic. The conditions were quite tricky being offshore and super windy. But that was so good for aerials, so that is what I concentrated on. I was just trying to smack some lips and get some big scores. I was overpowered on a 4,4m. Chile has been fantastic. I came here with Jake my son and he just got third in the pro junior final. We also brought over Sarah Kenyon and Pete, so it was awesome to have an Aussie crew! We have had a blast in Chile!ALEXIA KIEFER QUINTANAIt was amazing! I lost my first round at Matanzas but that helped me to realize the mistakes I was making. To finish in second twice in Chile feels amazing. It was great to be in the final with Jane, Maria and Sarah, congratulations to all of them.SARHA QUITA OFFRINGAI felt like I had a good mindset for the whole event, so I am really happy about that. For the final we moved to Topocalma, but I had not sailed there before. I was pretty nervous to sail there. It was tricky catching the waves because right behind the rock there is less wind. I was on 4.2m, with an 88L Hyper, which was the same size as the other girls. I was fine on the wave. I switched to 4.7m so I could manoeuvre a bit more. I am a bit disappointed as I wanted to go for 1st place. Third place is not what I was aiming for, but I am really happy with my riding in the final. Wave selection is what I need to work on. Overall, it was a really great final to be a part of. Just to be part of such a tight final with so many good riders; kind of like the young generation, Alexia and Maria, against the old generation myself in my thirties and Jane a Master! It was really cool to be a part of that.I think the final was my worst heat in the competition, I think I sailed better in the juniors final! I was on a 4.2m in the final which was ok. It was super gusty. So next year, Ill train a lot and I think it will be better!The post CHILE WORLD CUP: FINALS DAY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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