The quest for the legendary Tiree sword attracted 86 like-minded windsurfers to this remote Scottish island for the 32nd Tiree Wave Classic. 50-70 knot winds greeted those that arrived early, whilst also playing havoc with the ferry timetable for those due to arrive on the opening day. With extra ferries organized and everyone in place, a second storm loomed and duly delivered with competition taking place from dawn until dusk at the Maze on Tuesday. Our senior highlands reporter, wee Willie-John McCarter, put on his best wellies, kilt and tartan and flew to the Hebrides to snap some bonnie shots and find out what the various locals and Sassenachs present thought of this year’s event.
MARC PARE – 1ST PRO MEN
I am twenty years old and I live just outside Barcelona. I started windsurfing when I was five and my dream is to win a world championship title one day. I came to Tiree because I thought it was cool to visit somewhere new and different. Last year we sailed every day in different types of conditions and I had an amazing time. I like hanging out with all the windsurfers of different levels and from different places. I was so close to winning the sword it made me want to come back. The single was a shocker for me. I did not sail well. I was really upset and I just went and sat in the van. In the double I was pumped up. It was rewarding to come back through all those heats against the top British guys. I was looking the whole day for wave 360’s and I was happy with a few of my turns when I hit the wave at 12 o’clock on my big board! I was using a prototype board which is basically a beefed up version of the 92 litre Flywave production board. I am pretty happy with it as it keeps so much speed in the wave and is a safe board to ride. On a 5.3 it was perfect and I had it set as a thruster. I am going to be playing around now with fins for that board and see what kind of conditions it will work in. I think I will come back next year; I like it because it is so chilled and I want to win that sword again. This is the sort of place I would like to have a house. I don’t like crowded places, but right now I don’t have the money to buy anything, but maybe one day!
ADAM LEWIS – 2ND PRO MEN
Denne historien er fra Issue 382 - January/February 2019-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 382 - January/February 2019-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
