Dont Miss Out: Gear Up for SUP Season 2025! New April SUP Mag UK available nowPay by credit card with Stripe or Paypal. SUBSCRIBE HERE and receive your first issue of the full subscription of four magazines yearly starting with the current issue: April 2025 issue 44. CoachingQ&AsTravel and adventuresPaddle UK featuresRegularsSUPM supports and gives airtime to the UK SUP scene 100%. And were the only mag that does.The latest April 2025 issue of SUP Mag UK in print is available to purchase now Digital edition available @ https://joom.ag/UqjdFeaturing a huge array of SUP stories from across the planet and the crme de la crme of UK stand up stories, its a must have read for anyone into the art of propelling themselves forward on a board with a paddle.Available to order now.Any questions? Give us a call on 01480 465081 we will be glad to help.

Kate has found solace, strength, and a renewed sense of peace, purpose, and community through paddleboarding.Fifteen years ago, Kates life changed in an instant. At 39, she suffered complete paralysis following a rare brainstem stroke. Once an avid fell runner, covering 70 miles a week, she was told she would never regain her physical independence.But Kate refused to accept that. At Ogston Sailing Club in Derbyshire, she worked with instructors Katie and Chris to achieve something she once thought impossible: standing on her board. Throughout three sessions, they helped adapt Kates stand movement. With every session, Kate grew stronger, and the SUP community became vital to her life.Words by Kate AllattI had my first lesson in May 2024. I considered it for two years but wasnt confident enough to give it a go until I actively decided to pivot my life. I wanted to do something active, challenging, yet peaceful. Paddling seemed to provide me with all those things, so I took the plunge, literally!Katie and Chris at Ogston Sailing Club were extremely patient and videoed the standing action on my phone to embed it in my brain. I was re-wiring my brain all over again! Thats exactly what I did at 39 to bring back to life every nerve, sinew, and muscle in my body in the hospital.Then, I had an I will not fail mindset. I still have it. So think it. Dream it. Try it. Fail at it. Then try it again. You cant but achieve. Its a simple strategy that works. Its not impossible, but Im possible. Ogston Sailing Club has been a fantastic base for building my confidence and community. I live close to Ladybower Reservoir, which is stunning, and I plan to paddle at Runswick Bay, Beadnell, and Lake Bala this year.The power of this communityMy paddling tribe has helped me find myself again. They accept me for who I am not for being disabled or for my past as a global advocate, but just as me. Thats the power of this community. I also think being labelled a disabled paddler is a label I would be uncomfortable with. I dont have that at Ogston; Im just one of their SUP community members who enjoys the water with everyone else at the same time as everyone else.Paddleboarding helped pivot my personal life, which was a bit stuck, unhappy, and lonely. Ive been accepted and connected with paddlers who have become dear friends. When I discovered paddle boarding, I discovered a community that made me feel accepted and comfortable with the woman I am. I always felt safe with fellow young stroke survivors, but truthfully, I have always had a 70-mile-fell-runner mindset trapped in a less able, broken body since my stroke a source of much anxiety over the years.I imagine many people with an acquired disability have similar feelings. Most importantly, paddling has finally allowed me to enjoy a level of personal acceptance in my loss cycle.I find paddling so peaceful, and it is mindfulness personified. I cant think about any stress in my life because Id fall off! Peace is a priority in what has been a very crazy life. The connection with nature allows me to take lots of landscape pictures, my other passion. Paddling also improves my coordination and balance.The hardest thing is having the confidence to take the plunge. Im very motivated, but I struggled with my confidence. One day, I was going to book my first lesson, but the next day, I convinced myself paddle boarding was a ridiculous pipe dream. Our biggest battle is with the tricks our minds play on us. So, my best advice is to silence the self-doubt by trying it. Whats the worst that can happen? You dont have a second lesson?Increasing inclusive engagementSince connecting with Paddle UK and being a guest on the SUPfm podcast, my goal has been to support and help develop inclusive paddling among stroke survivors in the UK. I want to use my networking, speaking, and training to increase inclusive engagement in paddling. I hope the paddling community can help me.Thank you, Kate, for sharing your story with us. If youve been inspired by Kate to try SUP, find your local club (https://gopaddling.info/blog/local-paddling-services/find-paddling-clubs/) or paddling centre: (https://gopaddling.info /blog/local-paddling-services/find-local-paddling-centres/).You could be our next Paddler Spotlight feature!Wed love to hear about your journey into paddling and the great work happening in the community. See how you can get involved and share your story with us here: https://paddleuk.org.uk/ share-your-stories-for-the-paddler-spotlight/.

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

AMADO VRIESWIJK: ON THE GRIDAMADO VRIESWIJK: ON THE GRIDWe hit up Amado Vrieswijk during the first PWA event of the season to find out how he has adapted to his new Point 7 sails.Photos: PWA / CARTERWS: Okay, first of all, you finished with Severne after many years and now youre with a new brandPoint-7. How was that transition?AMADO VRIESWIJKYeah, I was with Severne for 13 years. Its not that I wasnt happy there anymore; I just wanted something new. A new challenge! The opportunity to sail for Point-7 came up, and I had already been talking with Taty, like, That would be so cool to be on the same team. Then this deal came along, and I took it with both hands.WS: How easy is it to adapt to a new set of sails?AMADO VRIESWIJKSailing-wise, its not too hard. But its the tuning stuff, thats where it takes a bit more adapting. The sails are completely different, and they require different rigging, different settings Obviously all the equipment is different, but I am already getting used to it. But honestly, it was fun to figure it all out. It really motivated me to get on the water and experiment.WS: You seem to enjoy the development side of windsurfing?AMADO VRIESWIJKI love it. I love racing and all the little details you can tweak; I enjoy that kind of stuff a lot.WS: It also looks like youve lost some weight, what was the reason behind that?AMADO VRIESWIJKI just wanted to get fitter. The new gear is more powerful, and I figured with less weight I could go smaller, and smaller gear is always faster. It was just something I wanted to try. But Im stronger now, and fitter, so I feel better overall.WS: How much weight did you lose?AMADO VRIESWIJK I was around 100 kilos, and now Im around 93 or 94. So yeah, a decent chunk!WS: Wowthats quite a bit! Was it through diet?AMADO VRIESWIJKYeah, I spent two and a half months back home on a strict diet, training a lotlots of hours on the water. Then I went to Tenerife and kept it going. And now, I feel stronger than ever!WS: How hard is it to keep that discipline?AMADO VRIESWIJK Thats what I like. People call me crazy, but I love that part the suffering, in a way. You push your body, but you see the results, and it motivates you to keep going. Its not easy though; youve got holidays like Christmas, and Im there with a bottle of water, no carbs, while everyone else is eating all this delicious food. But I enjoy it. Youve got to be dedicated.WS: So how are you liking the new sails?AMADO VRIESWIJKI love them. Like I said, theyre completely different, but they really suit my style of sailing. Im really enjoying it and cant wait to start the season.WS: Whats it like working with Andrea Cucchi? AMADO VRIESWIJKHes super motivated. Its so easy, I can just call him anytime with any question, and hell answer. The way we can quickly change and improve things is incredible.WS: What are your goals for the season?AMADO VRIESWIJKWell, I think you know the answer to that. I feel better than ever, the gear suits me more than in previous years, and everything just feels more comfortable and steadier. Now I just need to see if its fast enough. Time to get out on the racecourse and find out.After the event we went back to Amado for a recapWS: Its the end of your first event of the season. Tell us how all the gear was working, how the racing went?AMADO VRIESWIJKYes. So, the positive is that I was really comfortable on the gear. I think the speed was good, the gybes were decent. In general, the racing itself was very good. I just made three costly mistakes in the finals.WS: What happened in the finals?AMADO VRIESWIJKThe first one, I was too powered up on that 9m, it was super windy. My front foot came out in the first gybe.A gust came in out of nowhere, and I was trying to fight with Matteo and Pierre. They were on 8ms, so it was already tough, but I guess I just over-pushed it. The second one, I was in an easy third, but I took it too easy in the gybe. I back-hooked in the jibe and crashed, which was stupid, but, well, its racing. And in the last one, I had seaweed from the start, so I couldnt get off the line. All of this happened in the finals.WS: At least you made all the finals?AMADO VRIESWIJKYeah, I made all the finals. Considering everything, finishing fifth isnt super bad, but it could have been way, way better.WS: So with a bit more luck, you could have definitely been up in the mix for the podium?AMADO VRIESWIJKExactly. Thats the positive; I know I have the level to be up there. It just needs to click a bit better, and then it should be fine.WS: How are did you find the Point7, F1 on the racecourse?AMADO VRIESWIJKThe Point 7 F1SL more powerful. For me, it suits my style of sailing way better. I felt comfortable in all positions, starting below, on top, in the gybes. I had some good overtakes in the gybes, which was a bit harder last year. So, for now, it just feels like a positive that the gear is working. Now I just have to work on my racing. The ingredients are all there. I just have to connect everything and thats it.POINT 7The post AMADO VRIESWIJK: ON THE GRID appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

THE DAY OF ALL DAYS AT K-BAYTHE DAY OF ALL DAYS AT K-BAYJohn Carter looks back on a truly legendary session at K-Bay earlier this yearwhen the Motley Crew came closeto blowing it. Thankfully, Timos instinct and common sense prevailed, leading to what he reckons was thegreatest day of wave sailing he has ever scored in the UK!THE FORECASTFifteen years ago, Bigbury delivered a day so insane its been burned into my memory ever since. Mast-high bombs, perfect side-off winds, and a line up stacked with UK legendsRobby Swift, John Skye, Timo Mullen, Ross Williamsand they were all sending it like a full-on world tour final. Since then, any forecast flashing southeast wind combined with a southwest groundswell usually sets the Motley Crew Red Phone on high alert.This storm had been brewing for a week. It was serious. Nazare-big. The kind of swell that had the WSL granting the green light for the Big Wave Challenge, calling in the worlds heaviest chargers. Even Kai Lenny was on a flight from Hawaii to chase it in Portugal. This was the real deal!For me? My focus was Bigbury. That bay is a photographers dream, with insane backdrops and the potential for epic conditions. But, as always, other spots were in playback home on the Isle of Wight would probably be firing, while K-Bay had its own whispers of magic on the cards. Timo Mullen was frothing too, but leaning towards K-Bay, his home break. We agreed to make it a first light mission and check the cams at dawn. If Bigbury was firing, wed gun it west. If not, K-Bay was the call. Simple.Come 6 a.m., I was squinting at the Bantham webcam, trying to read the swell in pitch-black nothingness. As daylight crept in, so did the reality check, it wasnt that big at Bantham. High tide can be deceptive, but this wasnt stacking up to drive three hours west. By 9 a.m., after a webcam marathon that included checks on Nazare, the Isle of Wight, and everywhere in between, we called it. Bigbury was a no-go. K-Bay it was.EXPECT THE UNEXPECTEDWe took our time and eventually made our way to Kimmeridge about 10.30am. To be honest I didnt really have any expectations. As we cruised over the hills by the firing ranges and K-Bay came into view, our jaws dropped. By gosh, it was pumpingand windy. Out of nowhere our excitement levels were through the roof. Down in the parking lot there were already two or three other windsurfing vans camped out but eerily not a soul to be seen on the water. We hastily walked down around the cliffs to check out upwind and lo and behold, our missing guys were out charging at Super Tubes. Andit looked bloody epic! Jesus, this crew made the Motley Crew look like a bunch of amateursthey were on it!Timo was already on his way back to the van and wasted no time rigging his 5m Duotone D/ LAB and plugged it into a Grip 4 94L, D/LAB. I could tell he was frothingthis was Kimmeridge as good as it gets. Clean powerful waves, not too windy, perfect side offshore and. wait for it nobody out at the Ledges. I was left in charge of the van and Teddy the dog while Timo hit the water, on a mission to make the most of every moment possible of this rare epic day at his home break.I knew from bitter past experience that trying to shoot the Ledges and Super Tubes from low level was tricky and straight into the milky sunlight. So, I hatched a daring, yet slightly reluctant plan to hike up to the top of the cliffs, where the Clavell Tower looms over the action like a medieval fortress, for a better vantage point. But before committing to my trekking aspirations, I decided to ease into things by perching on a small ledge near the car park to get something in the bag.It didnt take long for Timo to get stuck into the action.Within fifteen minutes, he was already carving through mast-high bombs like a man possessed. Down in the car park, however, something suspicious caught my eyethe back doors of Timos van were flung open, and someone was rummaging inside. Was it somebody stealing Teddy the dog? I was responsible for van security and Timo would never forgive me if that happened. Moments later, the mysterious figure emerged from the van, and I realized it was Jamie Hancock. Of course, it was Jamie. The giveaway? He was still using the same battered old board hes been riding for the past eight years!As it turned out, Jamie had also caught wind of the epic forecast and somehow managed to convince his parents to drop him off at Kimmeridge while they took his wife and two kids to Monkey World for the day. A true master of negotiation is Jamie! Not quite sure how he managed to pull that one off but once in a while mast high waves have to take precedence over Monkey World.THE CLIMBBy the time Jamie had finished rigging up, I finally worked up the courage to embark on my gruelling ascent to the cliffs. Now, let me tell you, climbing those steps while weighed down with waterproofs, Wellington boots, a heavy-duty tripod, a monster of a lens, and a spare camera is not for the faint of heart, especially at my age! I was already gasping for breath after the first twenty steps when I overheard a family coming down casually mention that there were a mere 130 steps to the top.I briefly considered rolling back down the hill and embracing my fate as a low-angle photographer, but duty called. Step by step, with the determination of a man possessed, I pushed on. When I finally reached the top, victorious but barely alive, I surveyed the view. Maybe it wasnt quite as dramatic as I had hoped, but I had a perfect vantage point of the entire session, spotting the biggest sets rolling in and catching sight of the other sailors who were scoring upwind. And most importantly, I didnt die.At the top of the cliff, I felt a renewed surge of energy and worked my way along the coastal path, stopping to shoot at various points. Timo and Jamie had moved up to Yellow Ledges while the other crew still had Super Tubes to themselves. The waves were still solid and seemed to be cleaning up even more with the outgoing tide.Timo and Jamie were having an epic session trading waves, both picking off mast high bombs, hitting airs and carving right off the lip in the sketchiest sections. After an hour atop the cliffs, I decided it was time for a fresh perspective. I needed shots from below, so, back down those pesky steps I went, searching for new angles. I grumbled to myself all the way down, questioning my life choices.By the time I reached the bottom, the wind had picked up a notch or two. It looked like Timo was coming in for a breather or maybe to change down. As he clambered along the rocks, he was grinning like a Cheshire cat, already claiming this as the best wave sailing day hed ever had in the UK. And it wasnt over yet.Sure enough, he was only off the water for a quick rig change, dropping down to a purple SUPER-HERO 4.7m, still on the 94L Grip 4 D/LAB. Meanwhile, Jamie was still scoring epic waves up at Yellow Ledges, while his poor wife was doing a heroic job dragging the kids around Monkey World.TIME UPTimo wasted no time and headed back out while over in the car park I spotted Jamies wife Becky who had arrived and was scuttling around after their two girls. It was time for Jamie to trade waves to get back to family duties and I am sure he would not be complaining.By mid-afternoon more crew had rocked up and there were now six or seven guys out on the water scoring, all eager to squeeze every last drop out of this epic day. Around 4 p.m., the wind finally called it quits, signalling the end of Timos session. Still buzzing, he remained adamant, this was one of his best wave-riding days ever in the UK.Kimmeridge had delivered, and Timo had absolutely nailed the call. I, on the other hand, had to eat a hefty slice of humble pie. My original plan had been to head to Bigbury, but thankfully, common sense (and peer pressure) prevailed. The added bonus? Wed dodged a three-hour driveproof that sometimes, the best decisions involve less time in a car and more time on the water.DILEMMABut now, the next time a similar forecast pops up, the dilemma of where to head is going to be even tougher. Do we stick with Kimmeridge, the proven golden ticket? Or do we roll the dice and head west, risking the dreaded Shouldve gone with Plan A regret? One things for sureTimo will be reminding me of this day for years to come.The post THE DAY OF ALL DAYS AT K-BAY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

DUOTONE WINDSURFING: FREERIDE AND RACINGDUOTONE WINDSURFING: FREERIDE AND RACINGWell summer is here and it is time to dust the cobwebs off your freeride or race gear and get back into the action! Or better still why dont go out and treat yourself to some fresh new kit! To get you in the mood, Duotone have just released their freeride and race highlight clipso check it out to get you in the mood!!!The post DUOTONE WINDSURFING: FREERIDE AND RACING appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

BERND ROEDIGER: NOWNESS IN PUERTO RICOBERND ROEDIGER: NOWNESS IN PUERTO RICOBernd Roediger reflects on his experiences at the WWT Puerto Rico event, blending personal storytelling with a playful, experimental writing style to capture the moments as he lived them.BR: I hadnt the slightest idea where I was going or how I was getting there, but it always just fell into place.BR: I hadnt the slightest idea where I was going or how I was getting there, but it always just fell into place.SAN JUANBR: So, Puerto Rico, this time I think Ill dispense with the introductory fluff and begin my story in much the same way that I experienced it: only half coherently, with almost no structure or forethought as to a plan, I just showed up, vaguely aware of two people as I met them on my first day in San Juan.At the airport I stumbled with my windsurf bags, wingfoil bags, surf bags and Nelson picked me up, I picked up on his vibe, stressed, excited and wild with enthusiasm, manic with a thousand conflicting concepts ready to implement but 100% dependent on the mutable conditions, which were less than positive.Irene, his partner, flowing as always and presenting a casual energy, cruising in and out of her marketing lectures and classes while arm-wrestling local officials and processing the tired and poor windsurfers washing up on her shores. Components of trophies scattered on her kitchen table, wooden blocks needing stain, ceremonial masks of African origin, plaques for each place and division. Multiple phones ringing from various rooms in the house, a small mountain of government paperwork leering in magnetic stasis on the fridge, random assortments of promotional material varying wildly in their usefulness, this is the typical scene of an event organizers home the week before their contest is set to start. I slept in their son Benjis bed the first night, outside San Juan streets were alive with sounds of both city ambience and waves crashing.PICK UP TIMEThe next day seemed to open me to the whole dynamic as it stood for the Puerto Rican wave comp, and from what I gathered from the night before, there was essentially no better place to be than with Nelson, helping him as he organized van rentals and pickups for riders/staff, he needed drivers throughout the day in San Juan, and to me that sounded like I was assuming a role in exchange for free vehicle access. This is something I like to think of as commandeering, is it mine, not technically, but why couldnt it be if no one else comes to claim it?Marc Pare also arrived the night before and was recruited for gear transportation, this would become a partnership of sorts as he would be responsible for board bags, and I would be handling passengers. As the afternoon came, a group would be coming in: Antoine and his friends from Guadeloupe, and Federico Morisio. Now there was an Airbnb waiting for us in a place called Aguadilla, which was the town closest to Shacks from what I understood. It was perfect because most of the guys staying in those houses were coming in on the next flight, so all I had to do was play bus driver and get them, then jet off to surf. Upon arrival, Antoine insisted he get a rental too, which I thought was kind of frivolous and unnecessary as I had successfully commandeered a van.In any case I could see from my seat in the van, looking into the car rental shop, that something wasnt working out, so I stayed and eventually I saw Antoine throw his hands up and walk out, back into the van, and on to Aguadilla with Fede, Antoine, his girlfriend Julia and our beloved cinematographer, Matteo.MAUIZAPASThe plan was to stop in a place called Mauizapas for a quick sail before heading to the house, it was a place that according to Nelson got a little more wind than Shacks usually. I was wired but ready to cruise highway speeds in a Ford Transit, I love that van as its so easy to drive, so comfortable and yet such a great hauler. However, driving in Puerto Rico quickly became a drag as we left the six-lane freeways of San Juan and enter more rural territory in our approach to Mauizapa. I woke Fede up with a bump on the head as I slammed into a pothole and set him into the ceiling. He woke up with a wince and looked out to see dirt roads, jungle, and asked hey guys where are we going, then, is it safe? No one answered. We were literally only a minute away from the pinned location Nelson gave us and, honestly we had no way to confirm or deny Fedes valid question, it was a grassy field clearing in the middle of a mass of jungle foliage, classic Caribbean grove, there was a vague sense that the ocean was just through a pass in the trees, so we made for that and I parked the van nearest the path.LOSTWe all filed out and into the clearing, I was reminded then of Lost, all of us still in our flying clothes, headphones, neck pillows and suitcases littered about, standing in the midst of a jungle, peering into its shadowy depths looking for clues as to what might be waiting within. We pushed our way in. It really wasnt long until we heard the shore break and wind filling into the canopy above, the thick jungle gave way to groves of palms waving in the breeze, we peered around a corner and found a perfect beach oasis, plus a little a-frame with about 18knots of wind. In the afternoon light, it was a spitting image of Sprecks back home, some submerged reefs here and there, forming a very distinct line of breakers foaming out the back, glass on the inside, rollers on the horizon, after all the travel, I wanted in badly.So, we dove back into the leaves, this time navigating it like someones overgrown side-yard and got to pulling board bags out of the van. It wasnt much of a sail but boy did I make the most of it, after having missed Japan, I think I was extra amped to get dialled-in to some technical bump-and-jump riding. At the time, it didnt register that running here would mean fighting with the best for what little waves were on offer, instead I just flowed with the bros and caught what was coming to me, dropping little freestyle tricks mid-face, executing tight precise turns in the side-walls of windswept rollers that crumbled in over the shallow reefs. At times the waves seemed lined up and some poppy aerials were possible. Nelson brought up the rear in the convoy, coming out for a sail with us, I ended up borrowing his pre-rigged 4.6, this would extend the commandeering trend to windsurf gear, an arrangement that went well into the Finals Day of the contest and beyond. He was more than cool with it. I realized just how amped he was to sail, of course all the boys being here was a massive contributing factor to his stoke, but he really lived for windsurfing and was just as happy to get a session in to clear the stress from these critical pre-contest days. He kept asking what do you think Bern, we can run here if we need to, its good enough? And I would try to punch a lip with extra force to respond in the affirmative.We stayed out for about an hour as the sun got low, I was ready to head out before dark so we could get checked in at this Aguadilla spot. We sailed back in over the exposed reef, this time I noticed all the urchins, yikes, we rinsed, derigged, changed and piled in, looking like surfers again and not castaway characters from a surrealist cliffhanger series. Im glad I had the intuition to leave a bit early to accommodate the drive, but I was woefully unprepared for how defunct the traffic situation was when driving to Aguadilla from San Juan. Leaving at 6:30, it wasnt until 8:30 that we rolled into town. And the whole time I felt like we were winding through a maze of food desserts, shoulder less lanes through what Im sure were cute neighbourhoods that unfortunately felt uninviting in the night, followed by precarious and poorly lit hot-wheels tracks through the hilly jungle terrain, punctuated by brutally punishing potholes.We were desperate for food and tried Google maps, then just looking out the window at random places with lights still on, finally we did the smart thing and thought about the locals we knew: namely our tour-friend Charlie Rovira who we knew to be the Shacks local. To our great relief, Charlie picked up his phone and told us he was eating at a great spot in Aguadilla with Takara and the rest of his crew, he pinged the location and we sped there with reckless abandon. There we shook hands with guys wed later come to know as the core lords of the Puerto Rican surf scene, including Michael Gutierrez, former pro-skater/surfer and Caribbean Oakley rep. But at the time everyone was just a purple blob of conglomerate headlight trauma burned in my retinas, I introduced myself with a thousand-yard stare, thoroughly rattled and ready to be horizontal in an Airbnb somewhere. After food, we checked the Frenchies into their spot, then I finally -at about 11:30- joined the others in my Airbnb. They were kind enough to save me the twin bed, thanks guys.TOUR GUIDEI would learn over the next days that being the bus driver was a catch22. In many ways it was a lot of fun, zipping around Aguadilla learning the roads and routes to various breakfast spots, surf-checks, rental houses and necessary locations for running errands. It would become tedious when the crew wanted to hit Mauizapas, which was basically everyday, since Shacks was pure glass with no end in sight, Charlie told us we had just arrived when the wind blew out after a month-long spree of perfect conditions, and its called Sarapas, not Mauizapa, thats Nelson calling it that, not us. So, each day I would get behind the wheel to run the gauntlet of slow country road yet bumper-to-bumper somehow intensely competitive but inept and dysfunctional-traffic w/ periodic-pothole-roads to get the gang to MauiSapatos as Marc Pare came to call it, a way of appeasing both the Aguadilla and San Juan camps, or infuriating both, Im not sure. Still, we quickly learned that regardless of the name, this was a consisted fishing hole for bump and jump sailing, and we would be very grateful to have it as the holding period started and the prospect for sailing -even once- at Shacks looked dismally low.COMPETITION TIMENow, Im sure if youre reading this you followed the contest on social media and I can spare you the details of how each and every heat went down. My first heat of course went comically bad, but not entirely unexpected as Ive proven to everyone that Im just as capable of completely throwing for 17 minutes as I am pulling out Hail Marys in the last 30 seconds. What you didnt see was the eyerolling and lamenting on the beach as Morgan and Antoine predicted the inevitable fallout of my nosediving into the Redemption Round, knowing that Id then likely pull up hard to squeak out of Round 2 and break formation with all of the other seated riders, thoroughly disrupting the bracket and creating massive turbulence in the subsequent rounds, which is exactly what I did. You see, Morgan Noireaux, Antoine Martin and I represent the Triumvirate of IWT wave sailors and I, being the Mark Antony of the group, most often break this unspoken understanding that as gentlemen we can run our courses in parallel. It was a quiet ride home in the van after Day1 of competitionStill, I couldnt help but wear a ridiculous grin. Each morning the surf in Aguadilla got better and better. I hit up the only local I knew outside of windsurfing: Max Torres, and he showed me some of his home spots, turns out there are a lot and they are all quite good! I enjoyed the town and its whole Caribbean/Bali vibe. The wind was still not looking great, and we spent a few more afternoons lying in the sun at MauiZapatos postponing, cancelling, prolonging. But at this point I was also more acquainted with the local community of windsurfers in Puerto Rico, many of which came to the beach to support and interact with the event, we had many a tasty authentic meal at the behest of these fine dudes, and I was really enjoying the pace of the contest. Even the driving improved as we found out about a toll freeway, it greatly improved the drive time, and we only occasionally dimpled the ceiling with our domes.LIGHT WINDSo far, I was in a losing position, but there was also now some hope on the forecast, and it looked as if wed sail Shacks in the next days. I went out wing foiling one afternoon at Shacks, spending my time around the lower break with deeper water and softer waves. The waves were forecasted to come up, and it was giving Fiji and Upper Kanaha, I was very intrigued as I foiled around the reef and peered in from outside various sections, the sun plunged into turquoise rising seas and in my mind arose a eros for this down-the-line racetrack of a wave.The next morning I had two agendas, (1) go to Michael Gutierrezs house to borrow a particularly cool Campbell Brothers Alpha/Omega twin-fin shortboard, an item I immediately desired when Michael had taken a group of us to tour his board collection (which was an extensive throughline of performance surfing from Buttons to JJF) (2) meet Morgan at Shacks to paddle out and get thoroughly acquainted with the wave. I stopped by Michaels place and found Takara sleeping amidst Slaters 2010 quiver and a carbon Pyzel of Johns, slipping past him on tip-toe I found my prize and made for the door. It was only a few minutes down the road to get to Shacks and I could tell it was pumping.SHACKSOnce there, I saw that Morgan was already out, the coolest and most collected dude on tour was playing the frothmeister, practically running over dry reef to have a taste of the corners roping off the west end of the reef. I will spare the details to avoid writing overly erotic surf fiction, and will actually compress two days in one. The first was an incredible feeling out of this new wave, a really worthwhile surf session in the morning transitioned into a lovely light wind (and I mean light) sail where I spent 40 minutes trying to get out the first time, then caught three waves in as many minutes, and on the fourth pulled a pretty hilariously underpowered goiter using the racetrack section of the reef I had espied from my foil the night before. When I came back in, I walked all over a family of sea urchins, just totally disrupting their lives and commandeering valuable spines from their collections, but Nelson told me that I had just landed the very first Goiter at shacks, which made the spiney-foot less annoying.On day two, the surf really turned on. Again, my faithful Tonto Noireaux came with me to a slightly smaller Shacks, this time we sat right up the point where the locals drop in. Theres a ledge that breaks off of submerged (but notthatsubmerged) reef -its an important spot for the wave as well as the plot of this ramble- and we watched two local uncles teeing off on the reef ledge as each and every set bent around it the same way. We cleaned up the unridden corners on the inside, happy to be getting a couple in a very chill crowd, but eventually the guys got tired and handed us the keys. Before leaving, this ol salt who looked very tuned-in to the spot casually paddled past and said its about to drain out and get good and I deeply under-appreciated how right he was. Within 30 minutes the wave had gone from a very good serviceable point break to a Tavy-Rights type wave and Morgan and I were essentially alone on the peak, cruising into only the choicest ledges that opened into wide growing high-performance faces of extreme rippabiity. I was in literal heaven, and mind you I was still riding the Campbell twin, I was once again commandeering: a little more than borrowing, a lot less than renting, definitely exercising some unwarranted possessiveness. But I couldnt help it, this board was just so good, and so well suited to this high-performance draining reef-pointbreak that was too epic to leave unridden, despite our exhausted arms and burnt faces. We stayed out for three hours, becoming thoroughly fried despite the afternoon being a potential contest day, but we couldnt possibly care when all that we wanted was right there, and yet I knew it was working at probably 40% of its true potential.I dont want to talk your ear off about every surf session, theres really still a lot to cover here. I am looking at a photo from an entirely different session in a totally different place riding vastly different conditions compared with what we ended up competing in and Im honestly at a loss for how to continue telling this story. There are kind of conflicting climaxes here, what I just described was a surfing climax for sure, but there comes the competition, and all that went down as the waves kept coming up, theres the ledge I was alluding to earlier, then theres the outer reef free-sail at Caballos and the Michael Gutierrez arc.REFLECTIONSYou have to realize that Im at Starbucks in Newark now and I didnt take down any notes during the trip. The moments of pure stoke are not clear in my mind, so much as an overall sunset glow of slow-burning bliss that comes from realizing desires as they manifest in real time.What I wish to convey is not so much how the contest played out, what my final felt like, or where I had my best windsurf wave -although I can say it was in San Juan surprisingly enough- no I just want to cherish a period of seamless coherence with a stream of pure experiences, synchronicities and connections that I can only describe as Nowness.You see, Im pretty seasoned at this point, enough to know that a place like Puerto Rico opens up like this only once. Fiji was like that, you know, that first year was just like stirring in a dream, it happened so fast and so bright yet so softly that I scarcely believe it was real. Each subsequent trip had unbelievable adventures, that second year was super challenging and I had all that crazy stuff happen with snapping my board in half, it was by no means bad, it was exhilarating, it was a progression. That first-time experience is like an Overture, it hints at the patterns that will be played out with each revisiting of the music, it gives all the beautiful potential in a single medley. This trip to Puerto Rico was like that, with so many various themes woven together, and as some faded out others came into sharp relief. This current moment that were on together, Morgan and I surfing Shacks, is the swelling into what I felt was some truly delightful high notes of wave sailing beauty. Though, theres some controversy as to whether the windsurfing at Shacks was actually good or bad. Anyways, my butt is sore because Starbucks now seems to hate people sitting down comfortably. I think Ill leave it at that and pick up again with the first day of competition at Shacks, when I fight my way back against self-sabotage in the Redemption Round and almost lose to even more self-sabotage.CHAPTER 1I hope you enjoyed chapter 1, its very unpolished, even for me. But I want to experiment with a style that could feel Im just telling the story in person, stripping away some of the grand language Ive tried to wield at other times. I love that stuff, dont get me wrong. But I also like the idea of trying something that feels more approachable for the both of us, the reader and the writer. Im very fortunate to have, despite my woefully infrequent publishing, actual readership, and you guys tell me what you think of my work, which is really fantastic. Just the other day a paddleboarder stopped me at Shacks and said he liked my Fiji story, and thats definitely contributing to why Im here writing right now. Mainly though, theres this overwhelming feeling of deep appreciation that, as I said, I sometimes fall into with these trips, where I know its personally important to write about it, process and explore it through this specific medium.Thanks guys, Im gonna get up and walk around before writing more!The post BERND ROEDIGER: NOWNESS IN PUERTO RICO appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

In 2024, 3,699 amazing volunteers collected 1,888 sacks of plastic waste and other junk from our precious waterways.How to get involvedClearing your local canal or river of junk can be hugely beneficial, and not just for the environment. Participating in a Paddle Cleanup can also be great for your mental well-being.Here are a few tips to help you organise your own paddle cleanup with family, friends or colleagues.Gather friends or family and make a planFirstly, consider where you want to do it and any barriers you may face. Do you need a river licence for that stretch of river, for example?Consider whether cleaning your chosen waterway is safe. Completing a risk assessment is key to ensuring you prepare for all risks.Remember, not everyone needs to be on the water, people can clean up the banks from paths and walkways next to the water.Think about equipmentSetting off with all the kit youll need is essential. Here is a quick checklist of our must-haves:GlovesBags/buckets/basketsHand sanitisersLitter pickersFirst Aid kitSharps boxTips for completing a cleanup on your SUPIt might be easier to kneel on your board rather than stand. You need stability when grabbing litter from the water surface or the bank.To gather your rubbish, a plastic washing basket is ideal for attaching to a SUP using a bungee cord.The baskets holes are great for drainage, but you dont want them too big as your collected rubbish could end up back in the river!Builders bucket tubs could also work, but they wont sit as securely on your board as a basket. Always wear a good pair of gloves to protect your hands when handling rubbish, especially when youre reaching into thorny bushes.Its important on a SUP to know your limitsTheres always the temptation to go for something big in the water, but you shouldnt stretch yourself physically. Theres also the risk of capsizing and spilling the rubbish youve worked hard to collect. Collecting litter can be so immersive, as youre doing so much good, and you soon lose track of time.Wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Keep your bottle clean and dry; you dont want to ingest anything that could make you ill.Ensure your SUP has plenty of buoyancy, and of course, always wear a personal floatation device (PFD).Ensure you have your phone with you, too just in case!Promote your cleanupSocial media is a great tool for promoting a cleanup. You can reach new people outside your usual group, making the event even bigger. Make sure to tag Paddle UK and use #BigPaddleCleanUp on your posts.Please tell your local MP and newspapersMake sure your local MP knows. Invite them along to help out. If they accept, make sure you reach out and let us know! Write to them after the cleanup, telling them the difference youve made and how much rubbish you have taken away. It is important they know about the great work going on.You can also contact local news outlets, such as local newspapers, radio stations, and Regional TV. They love good news stories about people doing great things.We arent saying they will definitely get back to you or report on your cleanup, but who knows?Tell us about your cleanupOnce youve disposed of the rubbish properly, cleaned your kit and hands, and had a well-earned drink, let us know what you found! We love to know how many bags of rubbish people clear from our waterways.Upload your Paddle Cleanup to our map here: https://paddleuk.org.uk/paddle-cleanups-map-and-upload/We try to share as many stories as we can. So why not send us a quick write-up along with some photos to mediaenquiries@paddleuk.org.uk?We collate all the information you send us to support cleaning up our waterways, including the shocking statistics about what people find in cleanups each year.Good luck! We hope this years Big Paddle Cleanup is the biggest yet.