LEVI SIVER: CREATIVE MINDSLEVI SIVER: CREATIVE MINDSLevi Siver experienced an illustrious career as a pro windsurfer culminating in winning the prestigious Aloha Classic in 2013 Levi tells us how his role has transitioned since integrating even deeper into the Quatro / Goya ethos.Words: Levi SiverPhotos: John CarterBACKGROUNDI have always been involved with filming, making movies and the media side of the sport. I have worked a lot on editing and that side of things, so I knew after I finished competing that I wanted to work within the industry in some shape or form. In my earlier days I was more focused on sailing projects, whereas now my role has now transitioned into a much broader set of responsibilities from testing to marketing and the media side of things, which is so integral to any business these days. I have a lot of passion when I sail and I work for Quatro and Goya now for a living. The way Francisco wants to build this brand is just the way his company started with the riders involved. He wanted to create this avenue where he keeps that legacy going forward. Its a way that talented people can find themselves with time to shape and mould themselves.SELF-TAUGHTWhen you are a professional athlete it is really difficult to find the time to learn how to diversify and learn new things. When you are on the tour, it occupies and consumes your focus as you have to put so much into it. When I was a pro rider, I wasnt spending hours and hours learning all the programs to improve my editing and social media skills. When this job came up, I sat and digested what it takes to learn all the things I needed to know with the production of the brand videos. I learnt all the programs and basically how to run the marketing side of the company. It was like a late university for me. I would say I am the Marketing Manager for Quatro and Goya. We all work together in terms of what we are producing. When a new product line comes into production, I will think about the essence of the product and how should we market it and what kind of videos we should make for it, as well as how should we construct the advertisements. We have a team of people like Bjorn, who not only creates our graphics, but also works on the advertising. Bjorn focuses on the graphical elements, while I focus on the digital and visual elements.RESPONSIBILITIESIm also in charge of Goyas media scope basically everything that is digital and online. Im responsible for all the platforms and also corresponding with the magazines. It is a bittersweet world because there are pros and cons to the whole thing. Making posts creates a lot of noise, but at the same time you need to physically connect with your customers, who are the people that like your brand and are integral in being able to synthesise that connection. It is pretty powerful.POWER OF THE INTERNETIf you are not online or dont have an online presence these days, it is almost like you dont exist, unfortunately, even if your products are great. So basically, I am working to forge the gap between what we are doing with the brand and the channel, so that we connect directly with the people who are interested in our brand as much as possible.UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTWe have a unique office in Maui where we are building boards from scratch. We start with a blank piece of foam and finish with an air brushed product right out the door here in Haiku. You dont see that very much these days.CREATIVIE JUICESI like to use my mind a lot and be involved with the creative side of things especially the film production side of the job. I like the idea of telling the story of a company or a product. I feel that I do have a gift at doing that. I felt like I have always had that and I used it already a lot during my windsurfing career.ALTERNATIVE ROUTEI didnt necessarily take the standard competition route as I was instinctively always drawn more into the movies side of things attempting to showcase the lifestyle and behind the scenes action to a broader audience. I feel like I have always been naturally drawn to that side of the business, so this job is an extension of that.PASSION TO SURVIVEI feel like there is always a dividing wall between the companies, and the riders, for good reasons, as everybody has to remain professional. When you are on the industry side you become a fly on the wall that hears all the conversations about what is happening within the company. There are a lot of real struggles that take place. It is not easy. From the athlete side there are a lot of challenges also of course. We had Covid and all of the manufacturing disruptions that went with it. I feel like at the end of the day, if your heart is not really into this industry, you are not going to survive. You have to have that energy to say, I want to be here and I love this sport and this lifestyle, which is similar to the professional side right now. It is tough for the riders at the moment. Being a professional windsurfer is almost like working for minimum wage after you pay for all the travel and training. I cant imagine guys are really making bank right now.MILLION DOLLAR QUESTIONI would imagine a lot of riders are struggling. That is where Francisco Goya does have a vision of trying to expand the sport. I feel like we need to make some big changes. Our sport is amazing, but I feel like it is dwindling and ageing, even though I do see all these young guys coming through. The professional side is amazing in terms of the amount of talent in the sport I think there is a greater breadth in depth than there has ever been across every level. However, I feel we need to make some big changes to try and grow. The million-dollar question is how do we do it?ON THE WATERI still love my windsurfing. That never changes, but I am definitely more into sailing when the conditions are firing at Hookipa, then Ill get excited, but I dont have the heart to go train in average conditions, and I am not really competing anymore. I just compete at the Aloha Classic, which is once a year contest, here in Maui at my home spot. I want to be part of what this is about.PERSPECTIVEI feel like the benefits of working at Goya are that I get really amazing gear. I have really good boards, fins and great sails, so I feel like I am in the right place. This is the top-of-the-line equipment and I get to go sailing at Hookipa. It doesnt really get much better than that. I was able to travel and embrace that whole lifestyle for a while. Now I feel like I am in windsurf paradise. This job has given me the balance to do something creative, whilst still sailing at one of the best waves in the world.PALPABLE PRESSUREI am not sure whether it is super healthy to remain in the athlete world for too long. I think the phycological element of only having a year-to-year contract can be a heavy burden to carry there arent many long term contracts around anymore, so the riders never truly have that peace of mind. If you do that for a couple of decades, it definitely takes its toll. Even down at the Aloha Classic I could feel the pressure on the guys. There is a lot more at stake than just their results. To be honest, I am so thankful to have had my career when I did. I would not change that for anything. I had a great time in the sport and there were still some residual economics to have a sustainable career. There was still a ladder to climb whereas today even if youre at the top there is no guarantee.GOYAWhen you think about it, if you are on Maui, whether working for us, or getting a piece of equipment, it is just a matter of time before you walk through the doors of the Goya office. Even [Jason] Polakow recently became a part of the family. If your heart is in the right place and you want to make incredible gear, this is the place to be and it is what energises us. I love the high I get when I perform on the water because of a board or a sail. That resonates with people and they want to feel that. Once they experience that, they want to be part of the Goya ethos.POLAKOW PRESENCEI talked with Jason a little bit about how we were going to announce him coming to Goya. He didnt know what to say. I said the best thing is to keep everything focused on the future. I think there is a tendency to look at the past, to say thanks for the career he had and the brands he rode for, but now with Jason he wants to ride big surf at Jaws and that is what inspires him. We have the facility, and the minds, to create whatever he wants, in terms of equipment at least. It is more to get him excited with his windsurfing. Keep him on the water and keep him inspired. Jason has inspired all of us. The sport is better off having him on the water, so if our new boards and sails get him fired up to get on the water, then I think that can only be a good thing. We just want him out there. I just told him to say: I am turning the chapter and looking forward to keep riding big waves. It is cool to have him on the team. I believe he was thinking about being a part of Quatro back in the nineties, which obviously didnt happen then, but he is with us now.DEVELOPMENTThe computer files are extremely important as that is what the CNC machine is going to cut. If you have a few minds working together it certainly helps when we are thinking about new developments. Francisco is really good with all the rockers and details, while Keith just has that wealth of experience. Sometimes I will have a couple of people there when we are looking at a file. When it comes off the CNC machine that is basically when we try to bring out the best in what that board represents. I have ridden boards in the past that had a lot more rocker and were more surf-orientated, but nowadays I dont want to work extra hard to catch waves. That is where Brawzinho has been exceptional he has found that fine line between high performance wave boards, while still being super-efficient. Francisco has worked with him on that. Between them they produce so much equipment and test so many boards, which we have all benefited from. You learn so much when you are producing board after board. Brawzinho is on the water every single day and they are measuring everything down to a fraction of a millimetre to ensure that they get it right. That level of attention to detail is imperative to be successful in windsurfing. You cant just say: Ah its s a bit off, but that is ok.. People may think that racing is the only really technical part of our sport, but thats not true as the wave gear is just a technical when you are getting down into the nitty gritty. When you are competing against guys that are twenty-five pounds lighter than you, in light winds, you will need to be on a pretty incredible piece of equipment. It has to be efficient, while still being capable of turning.COMPETITION VS FREE SAILINGI enjoyed moments of the 2023 Aloha. When I was on a good wave and it came together on the end bowl. There were some good moments when I nailed a few decent moves. Competition is such a different frame of mind compared to free sailing. When you are free sailing, you just put everything into one move, whereas in competition I might be on a set wave thinking that this might be the best wave I get during the heat, so I dont want to do just one move. You have to kind of put together a bit of a package, which can spoil that one move. Sometimes it may be better to just free sail. If it works your way, then it goes well and if not, you are probably going to lose. With the level as it is at right now it is so tough. I just want to sail well when I compete now. I was fighting in the light wind, so was happy with that. Light wind is definitely a challenge for us bigger guys. I feel if I am sailing at my best, I feel like I could still win, but I cant play that mental contest game. I just have to try and free sail though as that is when the best stuff happens for me.THE TEAMThe wealth of talent we have at Goya and Quatro these days is amazing for designing equipment with the likes of Teboul, Goya, Polakow, Kai Lenny, Brawzinho and myself. All those names have so much knowledge when it comes to gear and designs. Polakow is so tuned in on sails. He can literally pump a sail and can immediately tell what changes are needed. He has a great feeling for what will be a great wave sail. Even though he is not competing, the brand is going to greatly benefit just from his input. We have a lot of people who bring plenty to the table and drive innovation, which is ultimately what keeps us inspired. We want to continuously be innovating. Kai Lenny makes things completely different from everybody else. He does not follow what other people are doing and breaks the mould. If you look at his boards, even at the Aloha they dont look like anybody elses. His fin set ups and everything are different. It is cool to have such a variety of input. (Hear more from Kai on his unique approach to equipment in the next edition of Windsurf.)THE FUTUREI feel like I am just collecting knowledge right now, while gaining experience. I want to be in the field of storytelling, the creative aspect of filming and making movies. I want to take the brand and try and make it bigger and truly find the essence of what makes a company special. This field of work can grow and I like this side of the sport. Ive used my mind and my experience as a rider. I have ridden for Red Bull and have seen how they market athletes. I have had such a rich experience in the sport of windsurfing. The brand has done such a tremendous job of marketing their story.WORK / LIFE BALANCETo switch off from work it is incredibly easy. We just go windsurfing. Of course some days we just work, but when the conditions are good, we are out of the office by 2pm and just go sailing. It does not feel right if myself and Keith are working when Hookipa is firing. Mast high Hookipa comes first!The post LEVI SIVER: CREATIVE MINDS appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

This is the first year that M2O has held a foil-only race dedicated to SUP and Wing foil crafts. It is always such an honour to cross the Kaiwi channel. Doing it on a foil alongside [&hellip... Read More

Words: Sam Rutt. Photos: Alex Thornhill XT-SUP & Helen Dennison Saltwalk EventsI write this article with a mix of emotions, one likely shared by the whole SUP community, on learning that this is the last year of the iconic Trent 100. What started with humble beginnings and an event that attracted just 31 paddlers has grown to be a bucket list event for any SUP enthusiast wanting to test their skills, ability, and teamwork. Each year, the event has grown in participant numbers and offers excellent live music, fantastic food, top-class entertainment, and arguably the best showers you will ever find on a campsite! Paddle UK was incredibly proud to sponsor this event not just this year but in previous years as well.The Trent 100 is famously not a race (its not, honestly we all know its not!). But all joking aside, what was the Trent 100 if not a race? And why will we all miss it from the SUP calendar? Heres what the team had to say.The Trent100 is not just another race; its a team challenge over two days, a test of endurance, camaraderie, and the human spirit. Unlike traditional races where individuals compete against the clock, the Trent100 invites teams to embark on a collective journey, each member contributing their unique strengths and quirks to the paddling party.In a race, youre alone in your preparation, at the start line and pushing through to the finish. The emotions you experience are yours and yours alone. But in the Trent100, its a different story. Each paddle stroke is a collaborative effort, a synchronised movement of determination and teamwork.Throughout the events, weve witnessed the bonds between teams grow stronger, forged in the fire of shared experiences and shared laughter. From the nervous anticipation of the starting line to the jubilant celebrations at the finish, the Trent100 is a journey like no other.Anyone fortunate enough to attend this event will have some amazing memories, stories to tell, not to mention lifelong friendships. I think collectively; we have all been teased by the cooling towers; anyone who knowsknows! They arent as close as you think and move as if by magic from in front of you to behind you, to beside you, taunting you as you paddle the 57km of the first day, trying desperately to get to base camp for the finishers hug.To the Trent 100 team and to all of you who have been involved over the years and have contributed to making this such an iconic event, I am sure I speak for the whole SUP community and everyone who has been lucky enough to start this epic challenge when I say thank you. Thank you for everything you have done to provide us with an event (its not a race) that will be forever a legacy of SUP Adventure and teamwork!So, what is next for the team? After I caught up with them, this is what they had to say.Who knows, but I have sent a few emails today! I am sure this will not be the end of Saltwalk Events; always bigger and better! Watch this space.

Interview: Peter TranterPhotos: Reed ChillcheaterA chat with Chris ReedCelebrating 25 years of ReedMany thanks, Chris and huge thanks to Jane Carley, for all your help and taking time out of what I know is a busy schedule we appreciate it.Before we start Chris, please tell our readers a little about yourself, your family, your background, etc.My two brothers wanted to shoot me with their BSA air rifle and Gap Gun, so I had to make a protective leather outfit to run over the fields while they shot at me. It was important I made protective stuff right from the get-go.I used to make my stuff as a kid, and my mum was a great influence as she always had a sewing machine out. Eventually, I thought Id have a go at fashion, so I did a degree at Newcastle Poly back in the 80s. It was fashion design, marketing, and industry-based, not flouncing around doing pretty drawings and making lovely ball gowns. This was about proper industry, which was great. Its where I got the basis of learning about textiles and the technical aspects of textiles, how they perform and how they cut great patterns, grades and sizes. I then worked in the industry for ten years Marks and Sparks, C&A, Littlewoods, British Home Stores and other large High Street companies, and for people on the markets, banging out loads of basic but fancy stuff.I then started my own business producing a special kind of textile suitable for kids on the beaches to stop them from burning or getting cold. I had a couple of my own by now, born in the early 90s, and I found that neoprene on the North Devon beaches wasnt a very good option for young children. I developed the Aquatherm fabric, my special invention, and put a few separate items together to start with. I sold one or two a day, and then it got bigger and bigger. I started to produce more and more, added to the range, and moved into surf lifesaving and paddle sports. Eventually, the range grew to what it is today. As for me, I am lucky enough to live in the very beautiful North Devon with my partner Jane and Mr Socks the cat.You began sea kayaking over 30 years ago and havent stopped since. What made you start?I was a surfer, so surfing brought me to the ocean. It was just really pleasant when you started to move away from the ego-based sport of surfing into the gentle and kind bunch of people who were the sea kayakers, and Ive never looked back since. Theyre a really lovely bunch of people without big egos, and you can find the very best in the world kayaking with the newest people in the sport, and its always fun.How does kayaking on the ocean give you particular satisfaction?I love the vast, vast spaces of the ocean. Often, people ask if youre a mountain or sea person. Well, Im certainly a sea person. I love the fact that the horizons are endless, and there are no limits to where you are. I dont feel at all afraid, even at depth. I think its great fun being out on the ocean its like a playground on your doorstep, isnt it? So fabulous.What kayak and equipment are you using?Over the last ten years, Ive moved across to using Greenland paddles, the traditional sticks that look peculiar. They were constantly ridiculed, and very few people used them, but over the last four or five years, there have been many more enquiries. For many paddlers now, I think this is an important part of their arsenal, and once you get used to the versatility these paddles offer, you realise how much youve been missing out on just by using a traditional Euro Blade.Alongside that, I paddle the Rebel kayaks as we deal with them. They are ideal for paddling day trips or weekend trips because they are not a great big heavy craft but very comfortable, easy, light, manoeuvrable, responsive kayaks. Of course, I wear my Reed gear! Cag decks tend to be my favourite, where youve got the deck and the cag all joined together, so you havent got much bulk around your waist. Also, the transpire fleece, which is a base layer fleece, all year round, summer or winter. Im fortunate because I can always make and develop newer products for myself, but I use a cag deck most of the time.So, you own Reed Chillcheater. What gave you the idea of manufacturing paddlesports and outdoor clothing?Well, you kind of get pushed into this scenario. Often, you think that going for a volume market is the best thing, but we just decided over time that getting into a niche market and then into super niche markets is a much safer way of doing things.We were making for anybody on the water to start with. Still, it quickly became noticeable that it was a much more receptive market for surface water paddle sports rather than the triathlon or surf market, which is in and under the water and much more brand-orientated. They want the Quiksilvers, the Billabongs and the ONeills, the big surf brands, and its very difficult even to scratch the surface of those areas where these brands are super dominant.We must be attentive to our customers and on the ball, so communicating is essential to what we do. We dont get it right all the time, but weve got tens of thousands of customers now, and the office staff are great at keeping in touch with them and ensuring we can offer personal service.Whats been your proudest achievement with Reed Chillcheater?Keeping it British. Thats the biggie, and we have done this and are celebrating 25 years this year. From small beginnings in the shed in the garden, the compressor in the scullery, and the office in the front room, we moved into a modest workshop, a slightly bigger unit, and two and three units. Weve grown and kept the whole thing reasonably modest, but I think during the recessions and the pandemic, Im proud that weve wholeheartedly used British sources for all our materials, trims, threads, and machinery. All our manufacturing is UK-based, and thats a real achievement.We are also fully sustainable. There are plenty of awards that you can chase and win out there, but I think the way that we see our sustainability and judge our eco-footprint is that we waste nothing, and our products and raw materials travel minimal distances. We know the provenance of our filaments, knitting, and coating there is nothing from overseas: it is all UK-based, and we waste virtually nothing. Our electricity comes predominantly from solar panels and green sources, the factories are super insulated so we hardly have the heating on (that is partly because I am super mean and northern) and we are really careful about ensuring that despite the tempting idea of going overseas and having products produced for a quarter of the price, weve always stuck with what we do, and thats my thing; I want to make sure we stick with what we do.So whats the advantage of UK manufacturing?We manufacture virtually all of our products in the UK; the advantage is control. We can produce one, 50 or 1,000, depending on the demand, and we can produce them almost immediately. One of the lesser-known areas that we manufacture for is the film industry. We have a prosthetic flesh-coloured Aquatherm fabric that we manufacture as skin suits or under suits or very tight dry suits for the film industry, so when you see heroines or villains in water scenes who look like they are wearing normal clothes, they have often got our flesh-coloured thermals underneath to keep them lovely and warm.Examples of films we have worked on are the Harry Potter films, James Bond, and Game of Thrones, to name drop a few, and we are very well known throughout the film industry. The great thing about us being able to produce all of our fabrics and all of our products in-house is that we can turn completely bespoke items around within hours, so we often get films calling up in a blind panic and wanting ten sets of thermals for A list actors which get sent out the same day, jetting off to Pinewood, Warner Bros and locations all over the world.Are there any little secrets in the Reed Chillcheater pipeline that you can tell us about?We are constantly striving to maintain our quality, but there are always a few tweaks in terms of growing the range. The range is big enough; there are 140 styles over four or five colourways and seven sizes. Thats tens of thousands of different skews that we must try to ensure are in stock to keep our customers happy. We have recently been working on, and are about to launch, an adjustment to our Tuiliq, which is a Greenland-style garment. It is a deck and a cag with face and wrist closures that keep you pretty warm and dry when youre rolling endlessly, and we have adapted the face closures with a neoprene fabric, so watch this space.When preparing for long periods at sea in challenging conditions what are the qualities you look for in a fellow sea kayaker?I dont do too many long periods at sea; I tend to stick within a mile or two of the shore. I think companionship is a good thing; you have to make sure you get on with the people you are out with! We support many expeditions, which are pretty lengthy, and with plenty of time when youre away from civilisation, people always come back in and talk about how they have (or havent) got on with each other. Keeping it fun can be challenging, and I suppose you only test some of these traits when conditions are tricky, when conditions get bad, when storms kick up, or when you have to lockdown for a few days or weeks. Some people have been locked down in Iceland or other places for weeks, and thats when I think friendships are tested.Which are Reeds most popular sellers?Undoubtedly, the spray decks are what we are better known for, but customers also love our ankle, knee and thigh-length socks, which are great sellers. Of course, as soon as the winter comes and the cold weather kicks in, the base layer fleeces; our unique transpire fleece base layers are also absolute winners.Do you have any favourite conditions for sea kayaking, or are you happy with whatever Mother Nature bowls your way on the day?I love most conditions, and I feel confident now in my ability to cope in most situations. Im not stupid; I think if the conditions are awful, like maybe a force five or six, and its blowing a hooley, Id rather be in the pub or on my push bike or doing something on land. So lets not get foolish, but I love a bit of everything.Whats the most enjoyable encounter with wildlife that youve had?I got hit on the head by a shag, and it shat all over my back when I was paddling an open crossing in the Outer Hebrides (is that enjoyable?) It came off the rocks and looked as if it was aiming directly at me, but it was probably aiming for the sea and didnt have the option to divert. It just came straight down and bounced off the back of my head, crapping all over me and covering me in oily poop. Well, it made everyone laugh.If you could capture just one feel good moment in your time on the ocean which would it be?Those crystal-clear winter paddling days when you get the sunshine, the blue skies, the clear water, you know your gear is alright, and youve got a few friends around these are the feel-good days I savour.After all your years on the ocean, what still scares you on a paddle?The packing, the preparation. I wonder if Ive got the right stuff, but I guess once youve done it dozens or hundreds of times, you get better at it. I probably underpack and rely on luck, if anything! I dont put too much stuff in, but Ive never been caught out yet. Theres still a chance. Yep, here I am, admitting that packing for a trip scares me.Any other types of paddling or sports interest you?Yes. In the winter, when the weathers rubbish in the UK and theres not much light, I use an ocean-racing ski. Once or twice a week, I meet up with a group of friends and go out on the river from Barnstaple. We normally do about an hour or 10 kilometres and just keep our paddling fitness up. We have a good laugh and often end up in Spoons for a pint afterwards as well. Good times.Im a paddler and going on vacation; where would you recommend apart from your own backyard?Well, I wont give you my favourite destinations because you might visit them! But on the fringes of the season, when its still a bit miserable in the UK, I like to head south. The key places that are beautiful for kayaking are the Bay of Morbihan in France, the Deception Pass in America, around the Mediterranean, north of Barcelona around Palamos, and some of the Greek islands, which are fabulous.What advice would you give your younger self?Do the same again; its been brilliant. Apart from a few personal things that I would do differently, on a business front, I would just do the same again. Its always tempting to go for the big bucks, but I have really enjoyed keeping under the radar. Not striving for the bigger things means you dont get as wealthy, but its nice to have less stress.Whats your favourite day-trip paddle?My favourite ones are the ones closest to home with great mates because you dont have to worry too much about logistics. The North Devon coast is a real gem; weve got some beautiful, committing paddles around here, and when you know all the put-ins and get-outs, where the most stunning wild beaches are to stop for a brew, its a winner. You cant beat your own back yard really.Do you have an ultimate achievement?I would like to live a bit longer. Im getting a bit older now, and Id like to see some kind of transition for Reed from me being in charge. I dont have a master plan yet, and Im still enjoying it, which is great, but at some point, Ive got to start thinking about a succession plan or moving it over to ensure continuity. Then I will have more freedom to travel more, and then Ill get on my bike and cycle somewhere.Where do you see yourself in 20 years?With my current partner very much in love (Jane told me to say that)!Um, in an old peoples home eating Spam and sucking on Werthers Originals. Otherwise, Id like to be like my mum; she is still body boarding at 86, dancing three nights a week and swimming every other day, so hopefully, those genes have rubbed off a bit. That would be nice.What do you do in your leisure time?Sport and being outdoors. Apart from Viz, I dont read, but I would like to read more when the rest of me doesnt work. Im not discounting reading, but theres too much other stuff to do. I am a member of the Croyde Surf Life Saving Club and train with them weekly. I cycle on my road bike, swim, play tennis, and enjoy growing some vegetables in our garden!Quickfire questions:If you could paddle with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be?My Dad. He would just love to have seen how good everything has got.Pick two celebrities to be your parents.Morecambe and Wise.Which one sports person has inspired you?When I was a boy, there was a football coach called Maurice Setters (Sheffield Wednesday) who had great, big, muscly legs. He told me a couple of things. He said dont pick your nose and rub it in your eyes, and also do stuff every day to get big, strong legs. So I listened.An ideal night out for you is?Its not really a night out now. It is more like an evening with loads of friends, lots of food, fun, joking and laughing.What one luxury item would you take with you on a desert island?A fishing rod. A gold fishing rod.Whats in your fridge right now?I got tons of fruit and veggies from mending a friends dog basket. It was massive hes a huge, slavering beast.What would you prepare for us if we came to your house for dinner?Squires Fish and Chips from Braunton the very best in the UK. At home, I would make hummus dips with loads of garlic for starters, homemade pizzas for mains, and, of course, apple pie and custard for pudding!Who are your kayaking buddies?Greenie (Paul Greenway), Chris Mitchell was but hes in America now, Darren, other great mates from Devon, and Jane.If you could be a wild animal what would it be?A vulture they just float around on the thermals all day and they can eat anything as theyve got very strong stomach acid.What would you do with 10 million?Give most of it away, get a new push bike, and clear off.Favourite sports personality?I cant choose.Favourite team?It was Sheffield Wednesday, but now it is the Croyde Masters Surf Life Saving Team.What three words describes you?Alive. Happy. Tasty (like an ice cream).Finally, any final shoutouts?To endless amounts of people who are just very kind and have been involved in helping in my life and business. But a huge shout out to the whole world of kayakers who I have been lucky enough to work with and get to know for the last 25 years. You are a truly great bunch of people.

SEVERNE ALIEN 145 TEST REVIEW 2024SEVERNE ALIEN 145 TEST REVIEW 2024The Verdict Versatile, and performing well in all areas, the Alien encompasses the essence WindFoiling. The Alien is capable of handling a huge range of rigs and a spectrum of foils, while it remains familiar and balanced while keeping the rider in control, which allows you to decide on your foiling future.The Lowdown The Alien certainly looks like it was crafted and produced by a space agency. Its grey and silver deck with white and red detailing makes it looks like it is ready for flight. As one of the narrower boards on test, its the only board that looks slightly similar to a large freeride board, which will make it easier for the rider to jump on and not need to adapt or learn how to handle it. Its volume is distributed in a friendly manner through its parallel outline, with more volume being placed under the straps, while keeping enough volume running towards the nose thanks to a gentle nose kick, which also assists with any unwanted touchdowns. Its deck pads cover a greater area to suit the available footstrap options, allowing the Alien to be adjusted to suit the foil its being paired with or your style of riding. Rolling over and inspecting the hull, you immediately notice two large cutouts in the tail to reduce surface area, increase release and assist with changing the angle of attack. Its hull shape starts upfront with a single concave which morphs into a flat section and then again into a single concave at the tail. The front half of the Alien is all about managing those touchdowns, while from the mast track back its all about takeoff with sharp rails and a flatter rocker, which are the two main areas you want the board to work for you when foiling. The Alien is available in two constructions, Custom Precision and Moulded, of which only the 145L and 120L are available. The Alien looks sleek and carries some smart thought processes that should promote an adaptable, well-balanced, and usable ride.Brand ClaimPurely designed as a windsurf foil board, the Alien enables all the variables to work in harmony and move beyond simply balancing on a foil to windsurfing on a foil. A functional foil board with refined details that makes foiling both accessible and desirable.PerformanceInstantly, the Alien feels stable and comfortable. Its handling, outline, and slightly further back mast track position provides more room upfront, sailing off the foil, it doesnt feel too dissimilar to a freeride board, breeding a familiar confidence in the rider. Generating speed easily, the Alien accelerates comfortably as you work back into the easy-to-find straps, with its volume in the tail supporting you. Rising up onto the foil in a controlled manner, the Alien allows you to remain in control. Meanwhile, the Alien possesses adequate width, while a broad range of footstrap positions enable it to be used with quite a broad range of sail sizes and also foils. The Alien is not going to put you at the front of the pack on a race course, but it will certainly allow you to manage rigs of some size. Responding well to the rider, the Alien never feels too playful or out of control, while it feels incredibly comfortable, balanced, and settled through the gybes, but the Alien truly thrives with drawn out gybes. As one of the narrowest boards in the category, it makes the step across and foot change akin to that of a freeride board, not having to overstretch or overreach to gain control or wobble through your gybes. Touchdowns are dealt with swiftly, with the tail cutouts releasing the water, while the length and rocker in the nose prevent the nose from catching or blinding you with spray; it simply guides you back up into flight. The Alien encourages a well-balanced and well-controlled ride on all points of sail.www.severnesails.comSEVERNE ALIEN 145 TEST REVIEW 2024VITAL STATSPrice: 1849Volume (Quoted): 145LLength: 210cmWidth: 80cmBottom Shape: Single Concave into Flat into Single Concave in the tail.Weight (Naked): 8kgSail Range (Quoted): 4.8-8.0mSizes Available: 105, 115, 120, 125, 145, 155OTHER BOARDS IN THIS TESTExocet Freefoil V3 AST 132LGoya Bolt 4 Carbon 129LStarboard Foil Freeride 85 Wood 160LBACK TO TEST OVERVIEWThe post SEVERNE ALIEN 145 TEST REVIEW 2024 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Check out some of WAs best stand up paddle boarders preparing to converge on the states mid-west this weekend for the 2024 @standupsurfshopfreo WA SUP Championship presented by @thinkmentalhealthwa! The Batavia coastline has become synonymous with [&hellip... Read More

Please tell us more about your paddling experienceI had paddled in my late teens, often as one day out experiences. When my wife, Rhona, and I moved to Scotland in 2002, we bought a kayak, and I mainly paddled on lochs. In 2014, a friend suggested I try SUP. Six months later, we spent three days paddling the 92km Caledonian Canal. I was hooked and spent the next five years taking on various challenges, sometimes solo and sometimes with friends. In 2018, I injured my foot during the 11-city non-stop race, so now I do prone paddleboarding, which I absolutely love.What has helped or supported you the most to continue paddling?Being blind, it isnt always safe for me to take on some challenges alone, so having Rhona or friends as sighted guides has made my bigger adventures possible. I also started racing, and the support I get from the organisers is invaluable. When I started doing extreme sports back in 1998, I would regularly encounter issues when I mentioned the blind thing. GBSUP, SSF, and other UK event organisers have always been very positive and inclusive, for which I am very grateful.Trust in your guide is a major factor and can take some time to build. I have a really good friend, Patrick, who has been my guide on several adventures. During a trip to St Kilda, we arrived at an island called Haskier to spend the night. Patrick told me that the only way to get onto the island was to leap up from my SUP, grab a narrow ledge that I couldnt see, and then pull myself up onto it. I leapt at the cliff from my SUP, and as my hands hit the rock face, it was flat, and I began to slide down it. Just as Id come to terms with the fact I was about to take an early bath, my fingertips felt the ledge. I grabbed onto it and was then able to pull myself up.What should people consider when supporting blind or visually impaired paddlers on the water?When Im paddling with friends, I appreciate people describing the trees on the hill or the old castle. I also like it when they tell me about the state of the water, whether its lumpy or if there are boat wakes. For guidance, I work best with clock-face directions, such as Go to 11 oclock instead of Go left a little bit.I have one friend who has used my blindness to our advantage when we were in a kayak race. He would tell me that a boat was catching us up and I needed to pick it up a gear. I later discovered that there was no boat, but he knew what motivated me.Find out more about Deans story over on the Paddler UK website.https://paddleuk.org.uk/https://paddleuk.org.uk/

Words: Caroline DawsonCaroline DawsonPhotos: Amazon Challenge & SUP Lass AdventuresAmazon Challenge 2024Team: Caroline Dawson, Jonathan Gill & Matthew Phillips Why paddle the Amazon? The Amazon is a unique place, a vast and primarily uncharted region spanning an area twice the size of India. It teems with adventure and mystery and hosts some of Earths most fascinating cultures and wildlife. However, it faces significant threats such as deforestation, narco-trafficking, illegal mining and wildlife poaching, with nearly 20% of the rainforest having been lost over the last 50 years.What is the Amazon Challenge? The Amazon Challenge is a unique paddle challenge for both canoes and SUPs. It involves navigating 335km of the Madre de Dios River, one of the main tributaries of the mighty Amazon that rises in the Andes. The challenge is a fully self-sufficient journey carrying all your own gear, including a camping kit, dehydrated food and water. Paddling swift currents and multiple rapids up to grade 3 whilst dealing with high humidity, temperatures 30c +, no-stop zones and uncontacted tribes.Safety training and navigation dayBefore heading into the water, all teams were required to complete essential safety training on the river. Our training included demonstrating self-rescue techniques and flipping a fully loaded board, carrying approximately 25 kg-30 kg of equipment packed into our waterproof Mustang bags.A navigation session was held, providing each team member with a Garmin Inreach to load GPX files and a full set of 40-year-old paper maps. The river section we navigated was extremely remote and forever changing its course. Soon after starting our journey, we discovered that neither paper nor electronic maps gave much away! We had to go with the flow and utilise our river skills and knowledge.Day one: 48kmRapids, rescues and big cat paw printsThe first stage began with swift-flowing, high-volume water and within 300m of the start, we hit our first rapid. All teams faced a demanding test dealing with big boils and unforgiving eddy lines. Matt impressed everyone with his adept rescue skills, aidingfellow paddlers.For lunch, we savoured chicken, rice, and a hard-boiled egg wrapped in a banana leaf on a sandy riverbank adorned with jaguar paw prints. This peaceful break was interrupted by the arrival of pesky sandflies, a constant pest on our whole journey downriver.Our journey commenced from Pillcopata to Shintuya, the land of the Harakmbut people. Here, we refreshed ourselves in waterfalls, listened to stories from village elders, and even got our first Jagua fruit tattoos by the campfire.Day two: 34kmBoils, smiles and bowl fulls of MascatoThe day began with a Real Turmat breakfast sat in a jungle hot spring while we appreciated our new Jagua tattoos.Despite being the shortest stage of the Amazon Challenge, it was filled with excitement, featuring some of the largest boils and whirlpools we had ever encountered as paddlers. The reason for the shorter day was to maximise our interaction with the Shipetiari community. They wanted to treat us to Masato, a traditional Peruvian drink made by boiling, peeling, and fermenting yuca. We were warmly welcomed in their village banana plantation and spent quality time playing with the children did you know 11 kids can fit on a 14 McConks board?Day three: 55kmTree graveyards, none-stop zones and pooping next to TarantulasEveryone felt a bit anxious as we travelled through the land of the uncontacted Mascho Piro tribe make sure to research them! We had to paddle through almost 40km of continuous zones, with strict instructions to stick to the river right side.After navigating the non-stop zone, we entered what seemed like a forest graveyard. The Madre de Dios River deposited massive amounts of tree debris, some over 50m long. We had to stay alert, as the strong currents and debris posed challenges, particularly for the canoe teams.We took a quick break at Boca Manu for a required medical check (to look for things such as foot rot which the socks from Sealskinz certainly helped with), a refreshing beer, and grabbed some super sweet orange chomps, which had become a team favourite snack!Resuming our journey down the river, we reached our forest camp for the night. Setting up our tents, we later discovered we had camped less than 10m away from a nest of tarantulas Caz spotted them during her trowel walk.That evening, Brodie, a passionate photographer who has been working with the Manu Biological Station for the past year, led us on a nighttime forest walk. We got to use the red light on our waterproof Exposure Lights head torches. He shared a wealth of knowledge about Horned Frogs, Wandering Spiders, False Coral Snakes, and more!Day four: 68kmGiant Amazonian otters, cocaine production and piranhasFrom this point on, the rivers flow decreased while the meanders length increased. The temperatures remained above 30C, with high humidity making it challenging to stay cool. We wore the UV tops from Mustang Survival, factor 50 suncream from Lifesystems and our Waterhaul sunglasses daily to cope. Every day, we consumed our full allowance of six litres of water from our boards and even more at camp, ensuring we replaced essential salts by taking our Phizz tablets. Water was a constant challenge due to pollution from gold mining operations affecting the river, so we had to rely on once-daily refills from the local support crew.On day four, we had an unforgettable wildlife encounter, observing endangered giant otters playing in a nearby back channel. Navigating the river involved choosing the right channels, as some areas split into multiple branches, including cocaine laboratories emitting a distinctive silage-sweet odour as we paddled past.Day five: 76kmMisty mornings, armadillo families and gold feverThe biggest and longest paddling day nine hours on treacle-like water, which had by now turned orange due to mining activity. Today, the scenery changed quite a bit it felt like we had left the untouched rainforest and entered an area on the frontline with man the forest looked thinner, diesel engines chugged, and piles of waste stone heaps grew in size. We were now in the heart of gold country and nearing the wild west town of Bocu Colorado a real hotbed of gold, poker and hookers! A place we left as quickly as we arrived to try and make the 17:00 checkpoint cut-off we were the only team to make it on time, with 30 seconds to spare!As the sun set, we watched as Macaws returned to their roosts a truly magical sight! One of the most memorable sunsets of our trip.Day six: 54kmGiant wasps, endless meanders and finish-line celebrationsOn the last day of our adventure, we encountered our sole medical emergency while navigating the river. A swarm of large Amazonian wasps started chasing us, and unfortunately, Matt got stung on the hand 10km from the end of the challenge. Caz swiftly opened up her Lifesystems first aid kit and administered antihistamines, possibly giving him a little bit more than needed! We alerted the safety team since we were uncertain about the seriousness of giant wasp stings in the rainforest. Despite the ordeal, Matt trooped on!With one final effort around the largest meander of our journey, we spotted the finish line. Cold celebratory beers and the wide smiles of the support crew awaited us at the finish. It was a remarkable accomplishment for all who took part, especially for Caz, who had only a few weeks earlier had emergency surgery. She became the first woman to paddle this Madre de Dios River section on a SUP.Our fundraisingAs a team, we raised almost 2,500, which will be split between the indigenous communities and the biological stations we visited.Our Supporters We would like to thank the following businesses for their support: McConks, Mustang Survival, Ainsworth Paddles, Lifesystems, Base Camp Food, Kelly Kettle, Exposure Lights, Sealskinz, Waterhau,l Phizz, Hydration, Target Trees, Agronomic Digital Innovation. FANCY GIVING IT A GO IN 2025? Learn more via the Amazon Challenge website: https://www.amazoncanoechallenge.com Social media @amazoncanoechallenge

NAISH ADX 2025NAISH ADX 2025The new Naish ADX wing is out now:Unrivalled ExperienceThe 2025 ADX is the perfect balance between low-end power and top-end speed, with easy handling, its a solid choice for anyone wanting a versatile wing that caters universally to all conditions and riding styles. Optimized shaping and new innovative technology make this years ADX a force to be reckoned with by pushing the envelope and aligning to consumer demand through critical testing within our passionate and experienced R&D team. Major changes to the profile and decreased dihedral shaping grants a more balanced flight and helps to achieve heightened overall low-end power. Experience a lighter and more responsive feel thanks to increased draft stability, offering a more predictable ride and higher jumping ability with the increased air-frame stiffness. Feel at ease while scooping and pumping with a longer front handle, refined positioning of hand placement. This allows you to flag easily and optionally ride with a harness line, while the center-strut shape is scalloped for ergonomic knuckle space. There designed window shaping and radial panel layout with dual luff panels reinforces strength throughout the wing and provides direct feedback when handling, minimizing stretch and further increasing durability and longevity of tension. Enjoy the best of bothworlds with the 2025 ADX, the perfect balance between optimized performance and versatility. www.naish.comThe post NAISH ADX 2025 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Josh Ku Challenges the local legends Simeon from @voyagerfoiler5976 and Jack Ho @jackfromtown to a race at their local HAWAII KAI run in Oahu. Who wins... Read More