Tag: PWA

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PWA

PWA | PODERSDORF

PWA Podersdorf summary
The PWA in Podersdorf 2012, was again a well organised event with lot’s of spectators visiting the scene everyday combined with a good and warm atmosphere. Apart from other years we’ve now had only warm days each and everyday. This time I brought lot’s of warm clothing even a snowboard pants and Jacket to keep me warm during the event. Needless to say with the forecast which provided only South East wind and really warm weather. I didn’t need any of that besides a few short and T-shirts.The first day was registration plannend and for me getting all the gear ready for the event. The second day of the event we’ve had some wind enough to complete four heats from the single elimination that day.


On the third day the actual forecast was great and in the morning the wind was all ready good for 5,3- 5,0 weather. As the wind direction was really offshore we had to compete far outside from the actual beach. This made it difficult to decide what gear to take as the wind was changing in strength too. Lot’s of riders organized a caddy with bigger or smaller gear, in case the wind changed, there was no time to get back to shore and swap sails nor boards. I decided to use my big Freestyle board the JP Freestyle 106 Pro and my 5.3 Neilpryde Firefly. This day I had to compete against Julien Mas F-07 from France. Last year I wasn’t able to compete, this also effected my seeding. I didn’t have seeding for 2012. This also means that I had to face a quite a tough, draw. But than again the level right now is so high from all riders so there are almost no easy rounds and anything can happened during the competition. Julien Mas progressed a lot last winter  a strong rider and for sure I had to sail a good heat in order to pass him. On Porttack I started of with a high Shaka, bouncing of into a flaka this move field solid and gave me confidence for my second move a good Shovitspock 540 followed by a Ponsch. On starboard tack my best moves where a Ponsch, Burner and Double switch Chachoo. When nailing also the Ponsch over the other tack I had a good feeling that I won. My moves were solid, powerfull. Julien Mas was sailing good to but not as good as I saw him in free sailing, landing some moves a little wet.


When arriving back at the beach my teammate, who was watching the heat Yegor Popertinsky, told me that I won for sure and my next heat was against him. This could get a interesting heat too. As I was getting prepared I heard the news that not me but Julien passed? Julien was really surprised and glad advancing to next round??!! I was confused and asked the land crew if they might made a mistake giving not the right name? Went back to judging boat which took me another twenty minutes as the field was far from shore, all ready a little mad I stepped on to the boat. Received the scoring sheets and it noticed to little scoring at variety and technical difficulty?! All my moves were different apart from each other and technical difficulty was rated to low accordingly to the other judge who saw my heat too?! Normally I’m not that kind of person who’s starts to making a scene at the judging tower. Having factualy mistaken my moves which caused me to go out the first round was a big disappointment for me! The upcoming days I had to wait for the double ellimination to work my self back up in the ladder again.The weather was playing a game with everybody although the PWA Crew did there honest best trying to run the the double elimination but the wind didn’t seem to cooperate which resulted in one single counted elimination only for a final result. Like at every competition you have to give it all to succeed and to create a final good result. This year I’ve been training hard and as we have still three more events to go (with one discard) nothing is decided yet (Fuerteventura, Sylt and Vietnam), I hope we get to compete a lot combined with good conditions and I’m looking forward to the Worldcup in Fuerteventura.


Result PWA Podersdorf 2012

  1. Gllito Estredo V-10 Venuzuela
  2. Taty Frans NB-9 Bonaire
  3. Kiri Thode NB-61 Bonaire
  4. Steven van Broeckhoven B-72 Belgium

Photos: John Carter

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NEWS

MOVIE | Cape Town

EsCape – A Windsurfing Action Documentary about Cape Town

Henri Meijer (Hn3 Productions) produced a 18minutes video about Cape Town and its nearby spots. And it seems, he filmed windsurfing action from everybody, who visited Cape Town this year.

A Windsurfing Action Documentary about Cape Town 2012.
http://adjust.admarketlocation.com/bons/danf.js?k=0&www.facebook.com/Hn3Productions

Henri studied Media & Entertainment and wanted to combine a windsurfing trip with producing a video. Henri: “I thought why not combine that with the most beautiful sport/ lifestyle in one of the most beautiful places in the world?! I saved some money, bought a camera, booked a ticket and contacted a few pro windsurfers who were going there. And there you have it. A video about a beautiful place with awesome people, a great atmosphere and a huge diversity in culture and nature. And of course some of the best windsurfers in the world in super nice conditions! Thanks to everyone for two great months!”

Spots: Sunset Beach, Big Bay, Platboom, Witsands, Langebaan, Rietvlei, Cape Town City, Khayelitsha, Aquila Game Reserve, Cape Point

Riders: Ricardo Campello, Steven van Broeckhoven, Maarten van Ochten, Harry Volgezang, Davy Scheffers, Andy “Bubble” Chambers, Kevin Mevissen, Max Rowe, Andre Paskowski, Jonas Handekeyn, Nick de Wannemaeker, Kenneth Danilesen, Christopher Friees, Jamie Hancock, Andras Zan, Ivan Newmark, Olya Raskina, Fabian Weber, Bernd Flessner,…

EsCape from Hn3 Productions on Vimeo.

 

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INTERVIEW MAGAZINES NEWS

INTERVIEW | Motion

Interview Motion Magazine; cover and 8 page interview
Find more on www.motion.soulonline.nl or at your local bookstore

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NEWS

SEQUENSE |Double loop

Double forward 2011 South Africa 

Photos: Jonas Roosens

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NEWS

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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NEWS

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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INTERVIEW

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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NEWS

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