Friday 31 October 2014

Winter has begun...

Can't believe I forgot to post this photo! Like I said in the last post we had a big swell a couple of weeks ago and one afternoon the wind got up from the SW (only to about 10-12 knots) and it was enough to tempt a few sailors out along the northshore. Most people launched from and sailed at La Caleta but a couple of the boys headed along to Acid Drop and caught a few bombs along there- this is a great snap of Marcel heading back out after a ride. Pretty awesome...

Wednesday 29 October 2014

Bit too much calm before the storm...

My blog has been incredibly quiet of late and that's mainly because there really has been zero wind in the Canaries for a very long time now. The last time I windsurfed was back at the beginning of August, but since then it's been non-stop SUP perfection almost every day! I've done a few SUP wave clinics but mostly just been out enjoying myself in glassy waves and soaring temperatures- it's still not cool enough for a wetsuit yet although that is likely to change this weekend when the forecasted wind kicks in so it'll be on with the shorty and off to Punta for some incredible jumping action if I can remember how to do it! Looking forward to busting out the windsurf kit again, some of it is still brand new in the packets as I haven't had the chance to use everything since I picked it up in August. It's supposed to get windy on Sunday with some decent swell so fingers crossed...

The SUPing has been awesome so far this autumn though so I'm not complaining too much. We had a monster swell a couple of weeks ago so had some big days at Rocky Point and loads of good days at an unusually uncrowded Majanicho (that won't last). We also got a lend of a GoPro (thanks Basti) so I should be able to start putting up the odd pic again now and then, which is useful as I don't really like to post on here without photos. Speaking of which, here are a few GoPro pics from one of my morning Majanicho sessions a few days ago- glassy, head high waves and not too many out, although you still get the odd idiot with negative attitude- check out the blatant drop-in pic- that guy has been out most days with me but is sooo cool he can't speak or smile and would appear to have a total misunderstanding of surf etiquette, (and current hairstyle fashion come to mention it). Anyway, he seems to enjoy himself paddling around glaring at strangers and dropping in on people then telling them to 'use their eyes' so who am I to argue. Glad that's off my chest, check out the pics...









Welcome to the site!
Aswell as regular features and news updates from Fuerte, I am going to be using this site to promote my windsurfing clinics.
After 15 years on the island,having competed in the PWA freestyle world cup and now representing Fanatic Boards and North Sails, I have decided to give something back to the sport which has given me so much over the years.
My aim is to provide clinics "tailor-made"for each individual, with a strong emphasis on practical in-the-water instruction, backed up by on-the-beach tuition and video analysis. The consistent conditions here in Fuerte make learning so much easier and, perhaps equally important, more fun than the typically inconsistent, cold UK - why not come over for a week and improve your windsurfing by a year!!!

I can help with any manoeuvres from carve-gybe through to advanced jumping and freestyle, just email me with your wish list and we'll take it from there! Over the next few months, I am going to be video-chronicling manoeuvres which you can check out on the right in my tricktionary sections. This will give you some idea of the things we can work on, or, if you can't make it over here, you may find them useful to help understand and break down a manoeuvre you would like to learn (hopefully, the slow-mo will help in this respect!).Just click on the trick and scroll down..........
Anyway, keep checking it out as I have loads more in my bag of tricks and will be updating as and when I get the footage.
If you're interested, e-mail me on gibboinfuerte@yahoo.co.uk
See ya in Fuerte?
Stephen.............