Maui Report

After a couple of days off from sailing the wind returned two days ago. Its been pretty offshore, but quite strong. Yesterday we had a super fun session at Hookipa. Normally the wind is quite light and there are not many jumps to be had, but yesterday in the gusts it was full power for jumping. Boujma had some sick ones and Brawzinho even nailed a double.

Its actually been a lot of fun sailing. Today everyone went to Sprecks and it was a really cool atmosphere on the water. Conditions weren't the best as the wind was up and down, but everyone was having fun anyway. Ricardo, Brawzinho, KP, Nayra, Camille, Leo Ray and even Antoine joined us later. Best moves I saw were Camilles sick cheese roll things. Super stylish! And Leo was doing Kulo's (I think) off waves and looking super nice. Brawzinho also seems to get higher than most, even when underpowered. He goes so vertical in his backloops, but they look really good.

In the end the wind went too gusty so we headed to the Movies with Boujma and Anita. We watched THE BOX... It was pretty poor! Anyway Nayra just bought a new SLR camera and is training to be the new JC. Here are the first of many shots!

Maui

So far its been amazing. Sailed everyday until today, with at least
head to logo high waves most of the time too. Quite a few guys out
here, but the atmosphere is really chilled. Taka's seem to be the move
of the moment, with all the guys busting them out at every
opportunity. Brawzinho, Graham Ezzy, Ricardo and Camille all seem to
have the dialed. Even KP who by his own admission normally sticks to
more classic moves is nailing them all the time. Actually he is
ripping at the moment, looking very relaxed and like he is enjoying
himself.

For me, I am still relearning goitas, but they are starting
to come back now, so maybe I will start on Taka's soon!

Thanks KP for the sequence.

UK CHAMPION

Just won the final event of the year and with it took the BWA UK title. It
has been one of the best years ever for the UK comps and the overall
came right down to the wire. The top 3 all won an event this year and
whoever won the last event would take the title. In the end it was
really close. I just beat Ben by a point. He has been sailing really
well this year so happy to get ahead. Jamie was also ripping and
seemed to be a bit unlucky when it matter most. I think next year will
be even harder. Now that has finished... next stop Maui. Cant wait!!

Tiree over and out

No more wind in Tiree meant the result stayed the same. Timo takes his
first Wave title, I finished 2nd and Dany Bruch was 3rd. We all won
swords which is probably the best prize ever. Coupled with my shield
from last year, I am now pretty much equipped for highland battle,
should the need arise! Despite the lack of wind we had really good
conditions for paddle boarding all week. Me and Hunty were out 3 hours
every day. Check out the shots from Chris Hughes. The overall title
race now sees Ben leading by 0.3 of a point going into the final event
of the year in Gwithians. Not sure what I need to do to take the
title, but a win would probably be the best! Lets see what happens in
2 weeks time!

Supping in Tiree

Its the last day in Tiree and I think there is now no chance to finish
the double elimination. Forecast for today is not great so I think
congratulations to Timo for his first Wave win. I imagine he will be
celebrating quite heavily tonight. Despite the lack of wind however me
and Hunty have been out on the paddle boards everyday. Yesterday was
the highlight, with glassy waters and solid over head high waves.
Hunty was a paddle board legend and together we caught about a
thousand waves! Looks like the same today again, so off to the beach
now, before preparing for tonights carnage at the prize giving.

Tiree

Tiree got underway on Sunday with an almost completed single and
double elimination. Things went really well for me when all my overall
title contenders got knocked out in the first round. Not sure what
happened as they were all ripping, but didn't seem to get it together
in their heats. I got to the final and came second to Timo. Was
brilliant to see him win, he was sailing really well and has deserved
something like this for years. In the double Ben was on a rampage and
came storming through about 6 or 7 heats taking down everyone in his
path. He eventually came head to head with Horrocks and in what must
have been a pretty close heat advanced through to the top 5. His
performance means, that by our (probably wrong) mathematics, he is
leading the series, but with wind likely tomorrow its not over yet.
Lets see what happens tomorrow.

5th in double

Well after waiting around all day, it was Klaas Voget who came through
the double elimination to fight for the 4th place. I hoped he would be
knackered and I would have it easy, but he was on fire at this point
and coming out cold was pretty tricky. I did my best, but tactically
made a few errors and in the end it cost me. On one hand I am super
happy with 5th, but I know I had a good chance to get further up the
ranking, so its a little bit disappointing too. Anyway I now have a
couple of days to recover before heading up to Tiree. The forecast is
looking insane, with wind almost everyday and from all directions.
Think it will be a very tough contest, but hopefully I can come out on
top. I need to finish in 1st really to have any chance of taking the
UK title, so that is the goal!

4th place Sylt

What a day! We ran the single elimination I managed to make 4th place.
I lost to Antoine in a super close heat for 3rd place, but still
really happy. Big congratulations to Alex for his first ever PWA win.
He was ripping today and finally got his moment after many years. It
looks very likely that we will have some sic port tack conditions on
Saturday for the double, so its not over yet!