Interview Motion Magazine; cover and 8 page interview
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Author: Maarten van Ochten
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Movie | Air Chachoo
Air Chachoo by Maarten van Ochten H73 from Hn3 Productions on Vimeo. Filmed @ Sunset Beach, Cape Town 2012.
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SEQUENSE |Double loop
Double forward 2011 South Africa
Photos: Jonas Roosens
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TRAINING | South-Africa
Training | South Africa 2012
We’ve had some nice conditions since I arrived here in South-Africa, all though I have to say, the weather is kind of weird sometimes. The wind kicks in late, around 2pm and temperature variate a lot too. Normally in Cape-Town the wind starts building around 10am and thann it will continue to build during the day. Combining both freestyle and wave disciplines is just the best fun. On the not average days the conditions at Sunset have been really good for free-wave. The conditions allow you when going out practicing a various amount of jumps. When going in towards the beach there are some flat areas between the waves, great for the flatwater power moves. Right now I’ve been to several spots here for both freestyle and wave. When it’s windy in Cape-Town we mostly have Freestyle session on Rietvlei (which is a nearby lake). Usually after that we’re going freestyling in the waves.
When it’s not windy in or around Cape-Town, there’s really often wind at Langebaan, Kraalbaai, Sharksbay, just one hour away from Cape-Town. Kraalbaai, really reminds me of Bonaire with turquoise blue water and the shallow areas. This spot is located in one of the few national parks around here. Bsides the good windsurfing conditions the whole area is just simply breathtaking. Ultimately when there’s no wind at all, than it’s always good spot for SUP (Stand Up Paddling). The other day there we had awesome conditions, just in front of the house where I was staying. 14 second period and five set wave. It was just perfect, long lines from 1,5m. up to sometimes 2,5m. high. Great. Then around the area where I currently live there are numerous of wine-tastings and of course there’s Cape-Town where there’s always plenty to do. For me South Africa is providing a good situation, on the light days I first start of at the gym. They have all the facilities to do a good work out and for stretching (Yoga), strength, endurance. etc. Mostly in Cape Town it’s windy for five days and then the wind takes a break for 2 or 3 days. This is perfect to give your mind and body a little rest and to be fit and ready for the next windsurfing sessions after!
Photos: Rick Jendrusch
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Training | Brazil
TRAINING | Brazil Jericoacoara
Right now I’m already for well over a week in Jericoacoara. But let’s start with the beginning my journey; first of all I flew with a lot’s of equipment including a bag Marcillio Brown BRA 105 who asked me to bring a bag with only eight sails. Yeah right! And a bunch of mast, wetsuits and other stuff. I was very lucky at the check-in counter. I met the most helpful member of Iberia and she helped me out that everything was running smooth for me. Eventually I was flying with at least 170+ kg. Iberia only charged me a little for the amount of overweight I was traveling with. But never the less, this could have for sure gone terrible wrong, as Schiphol is known to be really strict in there regulations.
Finally after a good thirteen hour flight I arrived in Fortaleza Brazil. Another five hour drive, first to Incarazinhio and than back to Jericoacoara. The last two hours of the trip was mainly over sandy beaches, dunes, quite a bumpy and interesting ride. Jericoacoara; this different from any locations I’ve been yet. First of all it’s a natural protected area so the only traffic in Jeri you’ll see is a few cars (buggy’s), some donkey’s and cows walking over the beach. Most important the windsurf spot from Jericoacoara, It has lot’s of variety good jumping, flat water and chop. Right now it’s high season really crowded too. It makes it hard to practice moves without hitting somebody. So tomorrow I will go with bunch other people to Camocim (just a two hour drive from Jericoacoara).
Photos: Cleison Silva
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MOVIE | Interview
I was invited by Neilpryde helping out at with the new 2012 gear at the Neilpryde R&D centre.
A dream come true, having spent loads of time on the water. It was time for a video created by my friend and fellow team rider Dean Christener.
Video: Dean Christener
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PWA | 9th. Overall
PWA 2010 9th. place in the Worldcup
I just came back from Munich, where I had a highly interesting distributor meeting from JP Australia and Neilpryde. Looking back to this year we’ve had 4 PWA competitions. We started of in April in Podersdorf, Austria. My preparation for the 3rd year on the PWA Worldcup tour was a little different than other years. After having a big injury in 2009 during the Worldcup in Lanzarote, I could slowly started windsurfing by the end of October. In between I’ve had to face 4 months of recovering, which field forever. By the time I received my new gear, temperatures where already getting cold in Holland. All tough I was more than stoked to boost my level a lot even in those temperatures. Cold weather didn’t do me ant harm and windsurfing was so much fun whilst others were complaining about the cold. My next stop this year was the Caribbean where I arrived the 1st of January. The first one half month in Aruba was absolutely great everyday really strong wind good for 5m2. My next stop was Bonaire where I almost stayed for an entire month. Shortly after my departure from Bonaire I flew straight to Holland where, I had a short pit-stop befor leaving to Podersdorf. A twelve hour drive Austria. This huge event started of good for me. I ended up being on 5th. position which was a great start for the season. After the competition I went back to Holland where there was no wind at all for couple of weeks. Just one week before leaving to Lanzarote I decided heading to the North of Denmark. Denmark was just great. Wind nearly everyday and all sorts of conditions, couldn’t wish any better.
Lanzarote
when I arrived I was quite amazed because of the flat water conditions. It was such contracts if one would compares it to previous year (3-5m waves ). Light winds and no waves, which was quite a surprise for everybody in this competition. I managed to reach the top 10 again ending on the 9th place in Lanzarote. At the same time in the overall ranking I kept being 5th overall! After the competition I went back to Holland and disastrous no wind for a couple of weeks again. Just one week before my advanced departure to Lanzarote in decided heading to the North of Denmark. Denmark was in one word GREAT, everyday wind and really good spots for windsurfing in wavy conditions or just on choppy water on the local lakes.
Fuerteventura
This location is always challenging, it’s windy pretty much everyday for 4,5m2 and smaller. Mostly combined wind choppy/ flat and sometimes wavy water. Before the competition I was hit by the flue, which was already popular during my to stay in the hotel from Lanzarote. After being out of the water for almost 9 days, I wasn’t not really in shape competing. My body was stiff from the high fever I’ve had and I field really weak. But never the less I was still motivated competing for a high score at this event. After sailing the first and second day a good performance things went wrong on the third day. The fourth day I found myself chrasing really hard during the first heat. My overall score was horrible and I was upset about my ranking.
Sylt
Before heading to Sylt I had the opportunity training in Egypt, Dahab. Dahab is just great, providing winds everyday. Also the water conditions were great flat, choppy and even on the outer reef little wavy and big ocean swell. This location “Kamikaza” is quite similar to the sometimes hard conditions in Sylt, Germany. Having sailed a lot I field prepared for Sylt and was ready to fight my way back in the top 10. During the competition in Sylt the wind was really light and I was sailing on my biggest gear a 5.7 Firefly 2011 and my JP Australia Pro 107. Having a few good heats I managed to end up in 9th position. My last heat felt great for this year, my really strong against my opponent Taty Frans NB 9 Vice World champion. This heat was so close end it just kept me away for advancing another round going for 5th place. This gave me again a good feeling what will be more possible in the near future.
Overall
This year was hard start but I was more motivated then ever and my main goal was top 10 overall in the Worldcup. At the same time I was aware that this goal was definitely possible. But still I had to face really tough seeding after competing in just one event last year. Right now the level in Freestyle is extremely high and it’s really challenging putting it all together in the heat of the moment. After being 5th overall in the world after two Worldcup event it felt surreal, great and hungry for more! Than having an upset moment in one event where I couldn’t perform my best dropping a lot on the overall ranking (14th overall). Fighting my way back in the Final big PWA Worldcup in Sylt securing 9th place overall in the World! Finishing as best Dutch rider in Freestyle and best performing Dutchmen in the Worldcup overalI! I reached my target for this year and it’s a satisfying feeling. I’ve been been proven and I know, there’s way more possible in the near future! Special thanks to all my sponsors, family and friends who believed in me and support me since the start of proffesional career!
Photos: John Carter and Tom Brendt
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PWA | SYLT – Day 6 and 7
PWA Sylt 2010 Day 6 and 7
Yesterday and today started of sunny, but no wind at all. For these days the slalom racing had a high priority and suppose to be the first discipline to run.Though yesterday the freestylers were having a chance for tow-in-windsurfing, unfortunately for me the news came to late so couldn’t register.
Team mate Ricardo Campello V 111 still managed sneaking in the competition and performing some really fast and high rotation like Airfunnels and Burners. Actually he was taking quite a big risk hooking in the bar instead of holding it like everybody else did. One time it almost went wrong because he couldn’t hook out on time, before flying on the dam. My friend and travel budy Steven van Broeckhoven from Belgium, showed the best performance and won the super session!
Top 3 winners from the tow-in-windsurfing super session:
1. Steven van Broeckhoven B 72
2. Golitto Estredo V 01
3. Taty Frans NB 9
Photos: John Carter