MFC: MAUI PRO-AMMFC: MAUI PRO-AMMark your calendars! From April 14th to 18th, the legendary shores of Hookipa Beach Park will once again come alive with the return of theMaui Pro-Am sponsored by MFC; a celebration of wave sailings roots, progression and future. With the likes of Kai Lenny, Marcilio Browne, Morgan Noireaux, Robby Swift, Bernd Roediger, Liam Dunkerbeck, Takara Ishii,Lisa Wermeister and Maria Andres already entered the action is sure to be epic when the event kicks off next Monday! Check below for more details from the organizers!Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries.THE STORYThe Maui ProAm is more than just a competition; its the birthplace of modern wave sailing.First held in the spring of 1982 at Hookipa Beach Park, this historic event introduced the world to a new level of high-flying windsurfing actionThe strong spring trade winds, mixing with lingering north swells, create the perfect conditions for radical manoeuvres. It was here that early aerial attempts morphed into singles, doubles, and 360s on the wave face, fuelling the progression of the sport!As we look ahead, the question becomes: will we soon see triples or backs off the lip? If the wind and waves cooperate, theres no telling how high this years riders will fly.THE MAIN SPONSORMFC HAWAII (Maui Fin Company)was founded in 1986 with one mission: pushing fin design forward. Since pioneering CNC shaping in the early 90s and introducing innovative prepreg technology soon after, MFC has remained closely connected to watermen worldwide.Its a privilege to support the return of the Maui Pro/Am, the event that put Hookipa on the map and propelled our sport into the future. Words cant express how honored I am to give back to the community that has been my life and my family. Mahalo to everyone who keeps windsurfing alive and thriving!Pio MarascoRicardo Campello, Kai Lenny, Marcilio Browne, Sarah Hauser, Levi Siver, Jason Polakow, Kauli Seadi, Marino Gil, Victor Fernandez, Antoine Titoun Martin, Gollito Estredo, Marc Pare, Adam Lewis, Takara Ishii, Hayata Ishii, Josh Stone, Kevin Pritchard, Boujmaa Guilloul, Francisco Goya; the list runs deep. MFC Hawaii has arguably assembled the largest team and most decorated collective of world titles in windsurfing history.Pio Marasco puts it bestI never imagined the team growing to this extent. But what are you going to do when youre surrounded by these incredible athletespeople who pour their love and energy into the same sports Ive dedicated my life to? Im starstruck every time I see them ride or they walk into the factory. And when I hear them talk about the gear, every word resonates. It brings us right back to the rootswhy we do this in the first place. Over the years, those relationships naturally turn into friendships, beyond business. Im really proud of each one of themtheyve been the heart of MFC since day one.Pio Marasco reflects on supporting the 2025 Maui ProAm and when askedwhy take on sponsoring events when youve already got your hands full with work, family, traveling,Events are where sports comes tolife, where the community meets, where we share experiences, and the next generation gets inspired. It gives me and the team something to focus onsomething that keeps us moving forward until the next one. This is what drives windsurfing. And honestly, theres no better feeling than giving back to the athletes whove worked so hardand shining a light for the youth coming up.MAUI FIN COMPANYMaui Fin Company was founded in 1986 and its always been on the cutting edge of fins and accessories designs and technology. With 34 Windsurfing World Titles, 2 x WSL XXL Big Wave Awards title and 8 x SUP World Title, it is currently one of the most versatile and awarded companies in water sport industry. Most of the best surfers and windsurfers athlete are or have been riding MFC fins due to its advance molded technology and innovative profiles and design, such as Francisco Goya, Dave Kalama, Darrick Doerner, Kai Lenny, Keith Teboul, Marcilio Browne, Levi Siver, Bjorn Dunkerbeck, Jason Polakow to mention just a few.MFC has been The First Fin Company to introduce the CNC Machine shape technology in 1992, and an innovative Molded Prepreg Technology in 1999. Consecrated to merge the gap between design and technology on the manufacturing of products available to the market, MFC moved from custom fin development to mass production at the highest level of technology by conducting its production form overseas without loss of quality. This transition could not have been possible without Cobra International and its expertise in production.OPENING BLESSING2025 Maui ProAm Opening Blessing:Auntie Mopsywill open the event with a traditional blessing ceremony on Monday, April 14t at 9:00 a.m. at Hookipa Beach Park, sharing Hawaiis cultural and spiritual values with the MFC Maui ProAm competitors, crews, and spectators!JUDGES:Luis Maria Pick Escribano: Widely regarded as one of the most experienced head judges in windsurfing history. Pick will lead the judging panel at this years MFC Maui ProAm. Its an honour to welcome him to the event that started it all back in 1982a sleeping giant of a competition thats returning to Hookipa after two decades, ready to showcase just how far our sport has come. With Pick at the helm, riders can rest assured their performances will be judged by one of the finest professionals in the sport.Matt Pritchardis a multiple-time World Champion and a former Head Judge, bringing decades of top-level competition insight to this years panel. His combination of championship experience and judging expertise ensures a sharp eye for performance and progression.Kevin Pritchard: As one of the most World Cup-winning riders across multiple disciplines and the 2000 Maui Pro-Am champion at Hookipa, Kevin brings an invaluable blend of experience and heritage to the event. His inclusion in the judges panel not only honours the rich history of the Pro-Am but also brings the sport full circlecelebrating the culture and passion that we all live by.Angela Cochranis the most decorated Aloha Classic competitor of all time, an avid sailor, and a two-time World Champion (1989 and 1991). Her deep expertise and history at Hookipa and the World Cup make her a perfect fit for this years judging panel, bringing unmatched insight and passion to the event and the progression of wavesailing.MEDIA TEAMPaul and Sofie (Fish Bowl Diaries) are award-winning photographers whose instantly recognizable style has been commissioned by leading windsurfing and surfing brandsincluding Goya, Quatro, Naish, and Fanatic. With over 30 magazine covers and multiple Photographer of the Year accolades to their name, they bring a wealth of expertise to the 2025 MFC Maui Pro/Am, capturing every wave-riding moment both on and off the water.KAI KATCHADOURIANWe are thrilled to presentKai Katchadourianas the 2025 MFC Maui Pro/Am presenter. With the longest track record in windsurfing; dating back to the first Hookipa event, Kai has been chasing the perfect ride all around the world. His lifelong passion for the sport, enriched by his love for music and family, embodies the true spirit and culture of our global windsurfing community. Welcome, Kai!Feeling the Spring Maui vibe !Maui has not seen a Spring Event since the PWA Event in April 2005, two full decades ago. It is great to have it back on the schedule as The Maui Pro Am. If one goes back into the history of wave events at Hookipa, some of the most memorable competitions were held in the Spring during the long standing ONeill Invitational which ran from the early 80s to the mid 90s. DaKine, Chiemsee, and even corporate sponsors like Jeep, sponsored events at Hookipa in the Spring.Maui always comes alive with abundant energy as we see the Worlds Best Windsurfers take to the water and challenge the elements. Kai KatchadourianIts great to have the spring windsurfing event back at Hookipa. Spring events usually offer better wind. Itll be great to see the current generation of pros showing their stuff. Aloha, Robby NaishMore details here:Maui ProAm 2025 presented by MFC HAWAIIAnd enter here:Hawaii: 4 STAR Hawaii World Cup World Wave Tour (PWA IWT) | LiveheatsThe post MFC: MAUI PRO-AM appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

SOUTH WALES WAVE CLASSIC: THE FULL STORYSOUTH WALES WAVE CLASSIC: THE FULL STORYAlfie Hart has been locked away in his editing cave and was only allowed to leave now he has finished the FULL STORY of theBWA South Wales Wave Classic hosted in style by Puravida Boardriders at the Coney surf Beach Cafe!! The forecast looked dodgy but in true Welsh fashion the sun came out, the wind blew and the waves rolled in for some epic action!So grab your cuppa (or something stronger), sit back, and enjoy the full video ride!The post SOUTH WALES WAVE CLASSIC: THE FULL STORY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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PLAYLISTS OF THE PROS!PLAYLISTS OF THE PROS!Youre sitting on the beach, anxiously waiting for your next heat. The suns blazing, your adrenalines pumping, and your headphones are on. Nows the time to rock out. But the big question is Whats on your playlist? Is it a chill track to calm your nerves, some soothing opera, dance beats or a head banging anthem to get you hyped enough to pull off something totally insane?We got curious and asked a spicy variety of top pro windsurfers this burning question:What tracks do you normally blast, and why? Get ready to rock!Photos: John Carter, Sailing Energy and Fish Bowl Diaries.BERND ROEDIGEROh, it is a ritual to listen for and find the right song that will unlock that secret hidden superpower innate in every moment of the day. And thats not just a wuwu surfer thing, thats an audiophile thing, thats a compulsive Spotify playlist maker thing, where a list of songs for washing dishes is as critical as the study beats and the workout tunes and the road trip discography.There might be that one song from Sinead OConnor that somehow occupies the same space in your life as Kanyes Runaway: theyre both songs for running the long cold shores of Omaezaki in full moon light, dead calm seas, wind exhausted after long days of epic conditions, another contest in the books, another seemingly impossible mess of emotions circumambulated in haphazard heats when reality was a pressure-cooker. Ritual is habit, is pattern, is music. The sequence of satisfying sessions and days follows the meter of the music you love, not necessarily the song but the sound and style, and so you listen to whatever music makes you feel like life is a passionate affair with the melodious unfolding of its own eternal beat.That love can be fiery arid flare, it can be dripping with sensuality and oozing style, it can rise to the highest ideal and shatter the darkest doubt. Ill often times spam the shuffle button until the most unexpected but totally fitting emotion washes over the world in front of me, within me. I am the only sailor on tour taking his music with him into training and competition, so far.So the song that flew across the radio while I was speeding home the night before might find its way into my downloads and becomes the anthem I take with me in my drybag for that critical heat, and I think thats just my way of experimenting with the multitude of influencing factors and exposures we soak up in our lives, how we cannot censor or suppress them but can embrace/harness/focus them into our actions! And we can also curate them, so for the next session, itll be Whipping Post (At Fillmore East 1971) by the Allman Brothers and Pulsar from LImperatrice!KAI LENNYHere is my playlist ahead of the Maui Pro/Am:Perry Mason Ozzy OsbourneEveryday is Exactly the Same Nine Inch Nails Almost Over Limp BizkitNo Excuses Alice In ChainsBeat it Micheal JacksonBetter Living Through Chemistry Queens of the Stone AgeHeavy Is The Crown Linkin ParkOblivion Thirty Seconds To MarsCollie Man Slightly StoopidEMMA WILSONBeautiful things Benson Boone.. It reminds me of 2024 Worlds! I think it was going viral around that time and I guess it reminds me of what I achieved that week even if the ending wasnt what I wanted.Sweet Caroline It just puts me in a good mood! Good energy!Honey Honey from Mamma Mia from my favourite movie!!!Then I think anything chill, I like listening to chill music before I race, I have enough adrenaline already!!LENNART NEUBAUERThese are my top five tracks right now!1 LAX by Division of Laura lee. This song is played in one of the first Windsurf Movies I watched when I started windsurfing, so it has a lot of meaning to it.2 Anasana. A Greek rap song Ive been listening to a lot before sessions lately!3 Funeral by the Band of Horses. This song played in Minds Wide Open and is one of my favourites of all time to get me into the mood for a session.4 When Im small by Phantorgram. Another track from Minds Wide Open I think, really worth a listen!!5 Bobby by Johnossi, probably also from the Minds Wide Open movie and my favourite song for in the car.SARAH (SWIFTY) JACKSONSo obviously as a massive Taylor Swift fan, there is normally some T-Swift in the mix mostly it depends on whether I want to hype up or relax or if I just need to get some nerves out of my system before I start the day. Starting with the later, if I need a therapeutic scream (normally because Im nervous) then it has to be The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived- the bridge is just magical and Im a whole new person after Ive belted this one out in the car on the way to the beach!!On a similar level is Dont Blame Me and this was my go-to before The Tortured Poets Department Album was released. Depending on how long my journey to the beach is, All Too Well (10-minute version of course) can also be thrown in as I find it really snaps me out of whatever headspace Ive been in before!If I want something just to feel good then normally its just a mix of the Red (TV), 1989 (TV) and Midnights albums and nowadays thats normally whats in my headphones if Im just going to the beach for a session.However, if were talking hype for racing then Jordy Vonk was the guy who told me that listening to Taylor Swift wasnt going to get me in the mood to race properly and aggressively we were in Croatia in 2022 for the 3* Foil event and I was having a SHOCKER! Over earlies, dropped jibes and I was falling apart completely. On the morning of Day 3 we were rigging up next to each other and I was pretty grumpy and he asked what was on my playlist and I showed him my pop mix lets just say he wasnt a fan! He said something along the lines of well your racing cant get any worse than it currently is (the truth hurts) so maybe lets spice things up and he put on some Dutch Dance / Electronic music and it fully worked! I finally got myself together and put out some solid races, including a win on the last race of the contest! So, when I want hype, normally I just ask Jordy to put on a playlist of some Dutch music and go from there!JORDY VONKWhen Im on tour, Amado Vrieswijk and I are known for loving rough electronic music. We dont just listenwe play it full power! On tour stops we turn on our van speakers with subwoofers sometimes, and at some events in Holland, our after-parties have even become a thing!For me, rough electronic music gets me hyped for racing. Since I do No-Rules racing, that high-energy, no-limits sound is the perfect match for going full speed.But I dont just listen to crazy hard musicIve put together five songs I really like, and theyre all a bit different:Bass Modulators ImagineMelodic hardstyle with a singalong vibe (if you know the song). It has a higher BPM, so it keeps the energy up but still has some feeling in it.Dither We Always RiseThis one is just full gas! I get that some people dont even call this music anymore, but for me, its pure energy. It makes me want to go full speed all the time!Headhunterz Live ForeverA bit slower but still has that rough, powerful energy. A solid track that keeps the mood going.Martin Garrix High on LifeYes, peopleI do listen to normal music too! This is still dance music, but more like what most people know. DJs like Martin Garrix, Hardwell, Avicii, and David Guetta always bring good vibes.Linkin Park The Emptiness MachineSomething completely different rock! I love electronic music, but sometimes, I just need a change. Linkin Park has that raw energy that fits perfectly in my playlist.So, whether its Hardcore, hardstyle, Rock, or normal Dance music, its all about getting me pumped before I hit the racecourse. Loud music, fast racingno rules, just pure adrenaline!BALZ MLLERThese songs playing in my head while surfingTake a Ride, Al CampbellOpen Your Eyes, Guano ApesNew Skin, IncubusMy Own Summer, DeftonesShould I Stay or Should I Go, The ClashSARAH QUITA OFFRINGAI always listen to music to get in the mood for a windsurf session.Its so important to me to get this hyped up feeling before getting on the water.So usually when I rig up, I blast the speakers of my car to get in the mood.For competition Ive had the same playlist since 2019. Its called Hype up.Its a playlist of Soca and Power Soca songs.There were some epic tracks produced around that time,and theystill get me going a few years later!Soca is carnival music from the Caribbean and its all aboutgood vibes, good times with friends and enjoying life. Having been to Soca events with friends I get a really euphoric feeling listening to these songs, and thats how I want to feel on the water as well. I try to remind myself that even though Im nervous for the contest, I cant let it get the best of me. Its such a privilege that I get to do this for a living and that above everything I just love to be on the water.So, playing these songs, I get into this happy zone quickly!Dont worry! Im not bouncing around all the time. I listen to very chill music most of the time.But for competition Im really looking for that high energy feeling!These are some of my favourite hype-up songs from that playlist:Famalay- Machel MontanoBuss head Machel Montano & Bunji GarlinRun wid it- Mr. KillaSoca Kingdom- Machel Montano, super blueYear for love-VoiceFeteland-Kerwin du BoisMARCILIO BROWNEIt is very rare for me to wear headphones these days before heats. I tend to already have so much adrenaline that I just try and calm myself down as much as possible.I used to do it when I was younger, used to listen to Offspring, Foo Fighters, Metallica, Tool, Dire Straits, Men at Work, Bob Marley the list goes on ha-ha so many different ones. But it was often just on shuffle mixing it up with everything. I was never the one to be organizing playlists. I still listen to those bands from time to time, just not before heats.Last but definitely not least we have Polish racer Maciek Rutkowski who has gone to town and given us a full detailed run down of important music that has relevance to many of his windsurfing highs and lows!MACIEK RUTKOWSKIIm one of those guys that have a few (or even one!) songs on repeat for a few weeks at a time play the hell out of them on one trip or one situation and then the next trip or next month is a new set, so looking back I really remember which song I was binging at which contest and have some pretty strong associations the music really makes me remember the vibe of the place and moment in time and what happened at that given trip, event or time of my life!Rob Zombie Dragula (around 2000)This is the soundtrack to probably the best windsurfing video part of all time. Thats 4th gear flat out says Polakow, proceeds to jump a 50 meter gap on his dirt bike and from there the action only gets better.. Insane tail throws, massive jumps, big bails, just the absolute essence of windsurfing. This movie is still soo relevant today, that style is super timeless and will never be outdone + the editing is fast and really fits the music. I like Tonix, I like Taylor Steele I like a bunch of winter stuff but growing up Chili Video was the shit! It wouldve been the best windsurfing video part soundtrack if it wasnt for(https://youtu.be/SEejUnl07q0?si=k3HHkBg2-qwa4ed7&t=1618)Phantogram When Im small (2011)This song is insane. You can play it loud and get absolutely pumped on it, you can play it in the background and chill out to it. Plus, that part of Minds Wide Open with the guys absolutely ripping Cabo Verde must be one of the best of all time. Its a vibe by itself. The only song that could ever possibly beat it for a windsurfing video is(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozNR9G32fyw)Pendulum The Tempest (2011)This song has everything a slow-paced intro for some impressive scenic shots, a powerful guitar section for some insane action and then that drum n bass-ish finish for a crash part! When I listen to songs that I would use for a windsurfing edit I can see the shots before my eyes. And for this one I feel like I simply dont have big enough action yet, so Im saving it for a time when I sail good/strong enough to match that intensity. Chile could be the place, Id really love to go back there! Hope nobody steals the song before though, now that Ive put it out there haha! Actually, its been out there for years, the teaser of All I Can, a pretty sick ski film has it, so maybe thats why nobody touched it afterwards(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmxLE9RDPk4)Pearl Jam Deep (Tenerife, 2014)This is from probably my first edit that I can still watch without cringing haha! Some of the turns are actually pretty good for a Polish guy ha-ha! Super powerful song; would love to see it live and still blast it once in a while. Pearl Jam Twenty is a pretty great documentary as well!(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUinUKIPj-E)Eddie Vedder Into the Wild OST (South Africa, 2014)Before we move into the rap phase of my life, this is the album I had on repeat while driving around South Africa with Timo Mullen in 2014. Luckily in separate cars, cause Into the Wild is a pretty great film, gets me quite emotional and somehow this album really connects me to that pure, emotional, flow-y part of self. Great to calm down but not recommended before a big day of battling 100kg slalom guys in Pozo!(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39A7vRFfO6U)UNDADASEA Jaszczur (Poland, 2018)I love music but cant sing for shit. But I love words and storytelling, so Ive been writing raps since high school, not really showing them to anyone except the occasional freestyle with my beatboxing friend in history class when things got super boring. But in October 2018, right after sailing some pretty epic conditions in Poland I was meant to record a voiceover for a commercial for one of my sponsors. So, I went to my friends studio in Gdynia, did the voiceover quickly and before I knew it, it turned into a bit of a rap party. Everyone was playing beats, we finally decided to use this one super hard beat and write some words to it. Few hours later the song was ready and few weeks later it had a million views on YouTube. Thanks to that I got to perform in front of a few thousand people which is something I will absolutely never forgetP.S. This might be the most viewed windsurf video of all time ha-ha? If you count those 3 little clips of me windsurfing cut into the music video that is!(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f4OZRI3ujc)Eminem Lose Yourself (Denmark, 2019, first PWA podium and bullet)I mean thats pretty obvious Is there a better hype-up, motivational, me-against-the-world song then this?In 2019 I was slowly starting to find my stride. In Fuerte I came 6th after an up and down performance but it was my best PWA Slalom result to date. Next up was Denmark. The second day served us 40-knot winds, big chops and even bigger rain squalls. I was pretty much the only guy to be consistent that day and climbed up into the top three. We had a lot more racing, but I managed to stay in 3rd util the last day, tied in points with the magician Julien Quentel and one point ahead Mr. podium himself, Ross Williams. Last day came, they announced it will be one elimination, the conditions were light, by far my least favourite. But somehow, with the help of this song I managed to get myself into the mindset of: put it all on the line and whatever happens, happens and truly put myself in the moment. Ben Proffitt came for an interview, asked me about the song and I rapped the whole thing on the PWA livestream, so safe to say I was pretty pumped. Ross lost on the semi, so it was me and Quentel in the final. I sat on him before the start, not caring about anything else but beating him. He knew exactly what was going on and went slightly early. In the last second, he slammed on the breaks, but I had a feeling we were not over early and went for it. It was a perfect start, I came down the first reach first, won the final and got the podium! All thanks to some moms spaghetti(https://youtu.be/6AOtp3dmHu4?si=HovyAP4a2LFnws8u&t=668)Taco Hemingway W.N.P (Croatia 2021, probably best PWA event win)Taco Hemingway is probably my favourite polish artist. The lyrics are quite often super insightful, clever and totally about things specific to my generation. Here where it gets weird. This song is about the fact that my generation generally had a normal upbringing, mostly 2 loving parents, yet sexual stuff was still super taboo, and nobody really spoke about it. Everyone secretly watched porn and at every school there was guys that somehow had it, sold it on CDs and then everybody kept it on their computers in folders like Baldurs Gate or biology presentation. The song is not like the best song ever but I got hooked on these 2 lines that go like When a guy watches the Matrix he wont go around jumping buildings, but when a guy watches step sisters hell start dreaming of his cousins. Sounds way better in Polish and I just had that verse in my head every race, every first reach. I was flying that event, won 5 eliminations in a row across 3 days and won the event with a day to spare. Great memories with a very weird soundtrack!(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtYLfO08GiY)Queen I Want it All (Japan 2022, PWA World Title)In 2022 I was leading the Sylt event for 9 days, just to lose it on the very last one to Amado. I was a little bit tentative on the last day, trying my best not too loose and I lost. Coming into the title showdown in Japan I was looking for a similar mindset like in Denmark 2019. Do your best, be greedy for it, but dont care what happens if you lose.I needed something for that greed part. I was going through some old rock playlist on Spotify and that song showed up. I want it all perfect! That Japan event was one of my best performances compared to the guys I was fighting I was quite slow. But I kept finding ways to overtake people and pass heats. I kept choosing the right gear, the right settings and despite missing top speed I managed to bring the title home in some crazy circumstances!(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x5V6VaYXIU)Nicholas Britell Succession (Garda 2023, event win)The 2023 season opener was in Garda. Normally May there is sunny, windy, amazing. We got super unlucky, and the temperature never really got above 12 degrees, we had a lot of rain and very little wind. A lot of waiting, in and out of a never-drying wetsuit, super easy to get into a negative, nagging mood and not wanting to go racing. I had something to prove though I won a world title without winning an event and of course I wasnt the first one to do it that way but people tend to have short memories. In racing to perform sometimes one has to find that inner motherfucker, that bastard that doesnt let up, that fights for every centimeter, is (again) greedy and doesnt care what anyone else thinks. And who embodies that more then Logan Roy? So I was playing that on repeat before racing and it put me into exactly that ruthless motherfucker mood. And again I wasnt even close to the fastest guy out there but I managed to find a way to win the event, which was nice statement coming off of a world title.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0WzqanwlG0)Central Cee & Dave Sprinter (Pozo 2024)Since this is a British magazine, I figured I gotta put some UK sound in. Bonus points for saying SUVs are too small and one needs a Sprinter van. I guess we need it for different reasons, but still I had this on repeat during Pozo 2024, the first ever event of Slalom X it was mega fun!Kendrick Lamar man at the garden (Currently..)Since this latest GNX album came out in November Ive had it pretty much on repeat. Theres at least like 8 great songs on there and I pretty much have a new favourite every week. Its gloria feat. SZA if Im driving and wanna sing and dance, reincarnated if Im working out, but man at the garden hits home every time. Being a pro windsurfer, having this amazing life, its quite easy to suffer from something like impostor syndrome. The verse I deserve it all clears that up pretty good. On the other hand it helped endure the long, gnarly contract negotiations of 2025 when at time you really think Am I really worth that little?So Tell me why you think you deserve the greatest of all time, motha.?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiALRpD0ZtgThe post PLAYLISTS OF THE PROS! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

CAPE VERDE 2007: THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED WAVE SAILINGCAPE VERDE 2007: THE MOMENT THAT REDEFINED WAVE SAILINGQuatro shaper Keith Teboul, reflects on the groundbreaking Cape Verde event of 2007, where he witnessed Kauli Seadis revolutionary approach to wave sailing. Riding a twin-fin board with unmatched style and innovation, Seadi carved his way to the final, going head-to-head with local legend Josh Angulo. Looking back, Teboul sees this event as a pivotal moment; one that reshaped the future of wave sailing forever.Quatro say: In 2007, something shifted. A shorter, twin-fin board, shaped by Quatro, opened the door to a new way of riding waves. In this short film, Keith Teboul reflects on the evolution of wave board design, the role of Mauis shaping scene, and the moment in Cape Verde that redefined what was possible.TranscriptThe post CAPE VERDE 2007: THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED WAVE SAILING appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

AMADO VRIESWIJK: CRUISING IN BONAIREAMADO VRIESWIJK: CRUISING IN BONAIREJoin windsurfing powerhouse Amado Vrieswijk as he carves through the turquoise waters of Bonaire, pushing limits and perfecting his craft in this epic training session as he builds up to the next PWA event in Guadeloupe!Video by:KUMAMOVIE7The post AMADO VRIESWIJK: CRUISING IN BONAIRE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

GAUDELOUPE DISCOVERED: MATTEO IACHINO AND TRISTAN ALGRETGAUDELOUPE DISCOVEREDWith the Guadeloupe World Cup just around the corner, we thought it was the perfect time to kick things off with a taster for this stunning Caribbean paradise. Join us as we rewind to an unforgettable 2019 trip featuring PWA slalom champ Matteo Iachino and Guadeloupes own Tristan Algret. Here goesWORDS AND PHOTOS: JOHN CARTER AND BRUNO KANCELJohn Carter and 2016 PWA slalom Champion Matteo Iachino head out to explore the windsurfing paradise of Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean. Hosted by fellow Severne and Starboard world tour racer, Tristan Algret and avid local sailor Bruno Kancel, the planned itinerary was to windsurf as many of the islands best locations as possible as well as experience a wide variety of the islands cultureall in a mere six days: John Carter reports!GETTING THEREI jetted out with Air France via Paris leaving Heathrow at bright and breezy at 6.20 am which meant leaving my home on the Isle of Wight the night before. Coincidently the evening I left home was the same night the annual Isle of Wight pop festival was finishing so it turned out to be a hectic scramble to squeeze on the ferry along with the thousands of muddy and tired festival goers that were on their way home, I certainly saw some sights! Half asleep, I arrived at Heathrow two hours before check in opened at 4am so that meant trying to get some kip on the floor next to my bags. By the time I woke up there was a huge line at Air France, but I eventually managed to check in and ready for my first flight to Paris! So far I would not call this luxury travel but I was sure it would be worth it by the time I reached the Caribbean!At time of writing the connection in Paris meant a change of airport from Charles De Gaulle over to Orly about a one hour transfer via free buses before boarding the final leg of the journey my final destination Pointe-a-Pitre in the heart of Guadeloupe. If you ever travel this route, make sure you leave plenty of time for the transfer since it was Monday morning traffic when I crossed Paris and only just made my connection by the skin of my teeth. Finally after the 8 hour flight from Paris to Guadeloupe, I touched down into the balmy Caribbean heat ready for a six day whirlwind tour of the Island. Everything for myself and Matteo had all been organized by Tristan Algret and his friend Bruno Kancel who both share the dream one day to host a PWA event on the island. With the travel side of the equation completed now it was time to explore this windsurfing paradise and let the fun begin!GUADELOUPEGuadeloupe is an archipelago of over a dozen islands that offer a wide variety of coastline, consistent winds and a perfect playground for all types of windsurfing from freeriding to down the line wave riding. The two main islands Basse-Terre and Grand Terre resemble the wings of a butterfly and are separated by the Salee River. The left wing Basse Terre boasts more mountainous terrain with stunning rain forests and a majestic volcano while Grand Terre, the eastern island is known for its reef protected waters, pristine beaches and the infamous Pointe des Chateaux rocks at the very end of the island. As well as PWA slalom sailor Tristan, the likes of Camille Juban and Antoine Martin also reside here in Grand Terre while not on tour. The island is French belonging to the European Union with the Euro the official currency so there is no immigration to pass once you land at Pointe--Pitre, the islands historic capitol.DAY 1 SETTLING IN AND THE TI-PUNCH KNOCK-OUT! After stepping out into a beautiful warm breezy afternoon, Tristan and Matteo, who had arrived the day before, were at the airport to meet me and once Tristans Volkswagen was loaded we drove about 30 minutes straight to the BWA Chik Hotel in St Franois on Grand Terre, our headquarters for the next three days. Located right next to a stunning 18 hole international golf course the accommodation was awesome and we were given a bit of time to relax before a dinner which had been arranged at the nearby at the Colombo restaurant. As I scrutinized the packed itinerary Tristan had planned for us, any temptation of playing this luxury golf course appeared pretty slim but on the bright side it looked like we has all sorts of fun and interesting activities planned both on and off the water. Tristan was keen not only to show us the best sailing and foiling spots on the island but also to immerse us in the islands culture and history as well as take us to experience the most scenic locations.Before dinner Matteo was keen to have a quick drive around to help shake off jet lag, so we headed up to the stunning Pointe des Chateaux is also known as Castle Point at the easternmost tip of the island. As soon as I set eyes on this stunning bay and dramatic rock formations in the sea, I knew we had to try and windsurf here even though it was not part of Tristans hectic schedule.Back at the hotel Tristan was in the reception waiting to take us to dinner. It seemed rude not to accept a welcome drink so instead of my normal ice cold beer, Matteo and I agreed to participate in a Ti-Punch, a local rum drink made up of white rum, lime and sugar cane syrup. Upon the first sip I almost choked after this 50% alcoholic concoction definitely lived up to its name! We mentioned the idea of sailing Pointe des Chateaux to Tristan but he was adamant it had never been attempted before and it was too wild. After a few more Ti-Punches Tristan mysteriously started warming to the idea and agreed to give it a try, I was determined to hold him to his promise at the earliest possible convenience! The day was capped off with a gorgeous meal at the local Colombo restaurant where we were treated to a feast of fresh lobster and a few more icy beers. Not a bad way to kick of this sojourn in Guadeloupe, I was already liking this place and the flow of the trip!DAY 2 LAGOON SESSION AND POINTE DES CHATEAUX ADVENTUREAfter breakfast we headed to Saint Francis lagoon close to the hotel where it was already blowing around 15 knots. This is one of Tristans local windsurfing spots boasting perfect turquoise, flat before several reef passes lead out to the choppier more challenging sailing in the deep blue open ocean. Matteo and Tristan spent a few hours well powered on slalom gear blasting around with a crew of locals who were all excited at the prospect of sailing with their PWA heroes. Out in the lagoon were some pretty cool house boats which we used to shoot from, which can be rented for around 300 a night if you ever fancy a bit of luxury.After a delicious local style lunch of Caribbean fish and chicken on the beach Tristan had organized a trip over to the islands know as Petite Terre. We were picked up in an exclusive luxury power boat and blasted through the choppy 6 mile crossing in about 30 minutes before hitting these two uninhabited islands. The islands are a protected area with the lagoon brimming with turtles, sting rays and small sharks. Climbing on the shore you feel like an explorer, on the pristine white sand beach with swaying palm trees and wild Iguanas running around. We spent a few hours exploring and swimming before heading back to St Francois ready for the one last mission of the day, sailing at Pointe des Chteaux which Tristan had reckoned was too wild and impossible. Nothing like a challenge!By the time we had packed and driven up to the easternmost point of the island we had about two hours of daylight left to complete our quest. Matteo and Tristan tentatively rigged while myself and Bruno prepared cameras and checked the location. Bruno is the best drone pilot on the Island an runs a business called Aeroworx so was going to capture the mission from the air while I covered the bases on the land. Although the sea is rough at the Pointe des Chteaux within a few tacks and a bit of scrambling through the dumping shore break, Matteo was first to make his was out into open water and was soon cruising on his 8.6m slalom set up. Tristan was not far behind on this ground breaking mission and despite tricky conditions we managed to score an hour of beautiful light as the two sails blasted in front of this amazing backdrop.After the boys were back on dry land I headed to the car and somehow managed to knock the keys from their hiding place on the front suspension into a cavity beneath the engine and the skid plate. The next hour or so was quite entertaining as we battled to retrieve the keys with Matteo and Tristan having to take over the hard work after my failings. Needless to say I was not so popular after this mission to recover the keys but after a lot of sweat and crawling around underneath the front of the car Tristan triumphantly managed to retrieve the key from an almost impossible situation.MATTEO IACHINOI loved sailing the Pointe des Chteaux. Its a wild place and you feel in the middle of the Atlantic. This is the first point of the island you would touch if you sail through the Ocean from Europe or Africa. It wasnt too bad in the end launching which is what Tristan was worried about and once through the shore dump we were fine. Bruno was flying his drone so close to the water I was sure he would crash it on a wave but he certainly knew what he was doing as he never touched anything. In the meanwhile JC was happy to shoot us as he loved this place since the first second he saw it. We had some great speed runs, jumps and gybes close to the rocks before heading back just before sunset. We didnt know we had another challenge ahead after Carter lost the keys which was almost a disasterBack at the hotel myself and Matteo polished off a few ice cold Caribs before heading to the local market to sample some delicious local food. It had been a long but very satisfying day and in my books an ice cold beer was a necessity. When we hit the market, delicious spicy Caribbean chicken from a local vendor was the order of the day. One thing I was already learning about Matteo is that he likes to eata lot! So when it comes to meal times he can easily chow down twice as much as most of us mere mortals. So after I was content at a decent portion of chicken and rice, I was not surprised to see him going back for a second portion! I guess that is what it takes to fuel a world champion!DAY 3 PICTURE POSTCARD ISLAND AND CULTURAL VISITLooking at the itinerary for day three, I had a feeling we were going to be busy again and I was not wrong! Our first port of call was the Gosier Mariana where Bruno had rented a boat as a shooting platform so we could head to the Ilet du Gosier which put into simple terms was a picture postcard tropical island, with white sand beaches, crystal clear water, palm trees and an old lighthouse. It was windier today, around 18 knots and perfect for slalom blasting. The boys reached the island before our boat had arrived and by the time we were close Matteo and Tristan had already discovered some small waves on the reef and were launching some huge jumps on the slalom gear.We managed to park the boat pretty close by and caught them flying over the lighthouse a few times with Tristan almost sailing into Matteo on one occasion. Back in the bay the boys were blasting from the mainland towards the island and throwing gybes in front of the palm trees. This was pretty much how you imagine windsurfing in paradise, azure flat water, a tropical island fringed with palm trees and perfect 18 knot trades. Bruno had packed a cool box on the boat laden with ice cold beers and water. I was starting to feel I could get used to this lifestyle rather than working 15 hours a day at events!Back on dry land we de rigged and then moved onto the next part of the plan and cruised with the boat up the coast to Pointe a Pitre the islands capitol. After meeting at the tourism office we headed for a delicious local lunch in a boat building yard where of course we had to sample some more Ti-Punch!Next on the agenda was a stop at the Memorial ACTe museum of slavery on which was built on the Darboussier site which used to be a sugar factory and opened in 2015. The building alone is stunning, the structure is around 240 metres long and is covered in a silvery mesh containing a black box. The museum gives a full history about the perils and heart breaking story of the slave trade which was finally abolished in the French colonies in 1848.After a very informative interactive guided tour we headed back to our boat and pressed on up the river through the mangroves up to the end of the runway at the airport where we watched an Air France flight land right over our heads. After dropping the boats off our final port of call was for an evening meal at the stunning La Toubana Hotel situated on the cliffs overlooking Sainte Anne Bay. The breath taking views from this hotel are amazing and to the right we were looking down at a perfect point break set up which is one the local wave sailing regularly spots sailed by local wave sailing legend Antoine Martin. Both Antoine and fellow wave sailor Camille Juban live in Guadeloupe and Tristan told us that there are plenty of sick wave sailing and surfing spots scattered around the islands at the right time of the year. We finally arrived home around 11.30pm after a long but very successful day sailing and touring around the island. Tomorrow we had new plans which meant we would finally leave the BWA Chik Hotel and head over to Basse-Tere for some new discoveries.DAY 4 RUM TASTING AND ISLAND HOPPINGWe opened the day with a tour of the Reimonenq rum distillery and museum where we learned all about the process cutting the freshly cut sugar cane and eventually fermenting the juice into rum. I was handed a glass in the factory and took a sip which was apparently 60-80 % alcohol, Jesus that was strong. Some of the juice is eventually put into barrels and aged for at least three years for a rum to earn the title old. Upon leaving we were all presented with two bottles of rum each as gifts from the distillery which was a very generous touch! After lunch at Claras in the bay of Sainte Rose we moved onto the windsurfing schedule for the afternoon. Located on the north coast of Basse-Terre we were about to explore the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin nature reserve and venture out to the ilet Fajou inside the huge lagoon. Today the boys decided to use the foil boards as their tool to explore this vast flat water lagoon.Myself and Bruno packed the cameras and of course a couple of icy colds into a small boat and headed out into the mangroves to meet Matteo and Tristan and a few friends who had come along to sail with the boys. Out inside the lagoon there are many tiny mangrove islands. These plants manage to adapt to this highly saline environment and are able to grow because of their waterproof routes which filter as much as 97% of the salt away. Starboard of course have their important mangrove planting operation in process in Myanmar as part of their aim to improve their environmental impact. Out on the water we spent the afternoon exploring this amazing flat water paradise and Matteo and Tristan both clocked up over 60km on the foil boards in a few hours. A few miles offshore there were some tiny mangrove island rising out of the sea and it was cool to watch the guys foiling around these surreal islets. Our final port of call was ilet Fajou surrounded by what they call the blue lagoon, an incredible strip of turquoise water. Unfortunately today was slightly overcast, weirdly due to Sarah dust blowing right across the Atlantic, also known as the Calima in the Canary Islands so we did not see the blueness of the lagoon to its full effect. Even so it was still a fantastic afternoon and the boys were flying high after exploring this vast lagoon by foil.MATTEO IACHINOThe 4th day started with a real punch for me as heading into the rum factory we got two shots of rum back to back at 10.30 in the morning. The temperature was quite high around 32 and sunny and the Rum went straight into the blood making the touristic tour into the Reimonenq a special one and probably I enjoyed it even more because of this. As I thought the shots were done, we then had the strongest one of the trip, almost raw alcohol in the factory. As we were watching the incredible column through which they distil and clean up the rum creating one of the best flavours in the world. The engineer on this operation offered me a shot of the rum straight out of the column, 80 alcohol, which was quite an interesting experience. After lunch we went sailing in the lagoon and it was an amazing foil session. This turquoise part of the ocean inside the reef is a natural playground to blast around with the foil discovering endless islands and mangroves bushes. I loved it and I enjoyed the adrenaline rushes when Tristan was telling me to stay high as we were flying over some shallows on the reef with the sun in our eyes and only 30 cm of water below our foils.After this incredible session was over we moved into the awesome Langley Resort Fort Royal Hotel for the final two nights of my stay.This part of the island has stunning stretch of coastline better known by many folks at home for the TV series Death in Paradise which is filmed in the next bay up from the Fort Royal. I made it up to my room quite tired from the full days we had so far and was greeted by a welcome pack from the hotel containing two more huge bottles of rum.Blimey I was now up to four gifted bottles of rum in one day, at least my wife would be happy when I bring all this contraband home!DAY 5-PLEASURE AND PAIN! WINDSURFING AND WATERFALLSWe stored the windsurfing equipment at the hotels water sports centre, Surf and Sail and were rigged up early as it was already blowing 15-20knots straight after breakfast. This part of the island is not protected by the any outside reef but the water today was relatively flat although there are said to be some quality waves here at the right times of year. With the wind funnelling through the channel between the hotel and Kawan Ilet, the water out in the middle was pretty choppy. I could tell Matteo was enjoying the more challenging sailing and Tristan was also having a blast on the freeride gear throwing huge jumps off of every available ramp. The boys sailed full power back and forth across the channel for about an hour and a half and returned back to the beach pretty exhausted from the hard core session.After a very pleasant lunch at the hotel beach bar the plan was to head inland to hike to a waterfall in the rainforest. Not sure which camera gear to take I decided to take a backpack with a spare lens and my lighter camera body for the hike, all in all about 5 kilos worth. We parked the car and headed to the trail which turned out to be a 3km decent down a steep winding trail through the rain forest. By the time I was at the bottom I was definitely feeling it and Matteo and Tristan had to wait for me several times while I caught them up puffing and panting. After a quick dip below the waterfalls for some shots we headed back up but this time around I was determined not to be outdone by the youngsters. I headed up the hill full speed with my extra 5 kilos, no matter the consequences and must have been close to a heart attack by the time I reached the top. I had also made the big mistake not to take any water on the hike so spent much of the rest of the afternoon in a state of recovery from dehydration but at least I had held my own up the hill.We finished the day at the Karacoli Bar on Grand Anse Beach where I had just about recovered enough to manage an ice cold Carib as well as plenty of water. My final evening dinner of the trip was back at the excellent restaurant in the Fort Royal Hotel, which could possibly be the venue to host the PWA if an event goes ahead.DAY SIX HOMEWARD BOUNDOn my final day the dust from the Sahara had lifted and we were left with amazing blue skies and puffy white clouds, the typical day you dream about in the Caribbean. The weather was so lush we decided to abandon a plan to visit the Les Saintes Islands and stay put to shoot one last session of windsurfing outside the hotel. The boys were having a blast once again especially Tristan who was jumping as close to our boat as possible and finished the session by almost going straight over us and landing just a few feet clear. After my final lunch at the beach bar it was time for me to pack and head to the airport for a 5.15pm Air France flight back to Paris and then onto London.SUMMARYThere was never a dull moment on my whirlwind trip to Guadeloupe thanks to the excellent organization from Tristan and Bruno. Not only had we seen many of the best windsurfing spots on the island but we had also immersed ourselves in the culture, tasted the local cuisine and of course sampled the local rum and icy cold beers! Now that is my kind of trip, thanks Tristan and Bruno!TRISTAN ALGRETThis trip was totally amazing! Myself and Bruno are pushing to promote Guadeloupe over the world. We had this idea to invite John Carter and another rider since three years and finally the chance to be supported by the Tourism Office of Guadeloupe and plenty of local sponsors came to us.After many trips with Matteo, he was naturally the man for this Guadeloupe trip. I had the chance to come to his home place few days before the Asian world cup and it was clearly my turn to show him my playground. Out of this Matteo became a good friend during the past years and having him on the Island was a great honour and also the chance to make this trip even more famous.During the trip I also discovered news places on my own Island, I sailed on new spot (Pointe des chateaux) and met lots of new people, a chance that was not possible without all our partnersFACT BOX:Tourism Office of Guadeloupe Islands:http://www.lesilesdeguadeloupe.com/tourism/en-FFLIGHTS TO GAUDELOUPE:Air France fly to Guadeloupe daily from Orly airport in Paris.Air Caraibes (Orly) / XL Airways (Charles de Gaulle) / Corsair (Orly) / Level (Orly) all also fly!Air Canada fly several times a week from Montreal.American Airlines fly from Miami every Saturday.HOTELS WE STAYED AT:BWA CHIK HOTEL: (bwachik.com/hotel-guadeloupe/)LANGLEY RESORT FORT ROYAL: (www.langleyhotels.eu/en/our-hotels/resort-fort-royal/)RESTAURANTS:Colombo St Franois.La Toubana Hotel St Anne.Clara St Rose.Ti Bo Doudou Les Saintes Islands.Chez Forbin Pointe a Pitre.The post GAUDELOUPE DISCOVERED: MATTEO IACHINO AND TRISTAN ALGRET appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

As winter winds down, Britt Merrick and CI's global team manager Brent Power recap how the last thing they expected was a late season run of swell in our backyard.Winter is a welcome time of year for Britt and the CI team to work on new testing new designs, so having another crack was a bonus. As luck would have it, some great surfers were in town like Mikey February, Barron Mamiya, Tomas Hermes, Bella Kenworthy, Talia Swindal and Dane Gudauskas, along with local usual suspects like Bobby Martinez, Parker Coffin, Eithan Osborne, Kilian Garland, and Josiah Amico.Special thanks to Merrick Lager for rounding out the good vibes.