Sunday, 20 February 2011

A bit of everything...

I´ve just got back from a week (in the freezing cold) in the UK visiting friends and family, which was great as always, and while I was away the Fuerteventura Wave Classic was on over here. It looks like once again they had big, big waves but no real wind (pretty typical for February I have to say), which is a shame. They did get some pretty decent video footage though, particularly from Puertito again- it seems as though Yannick was the man of the moment, flying the flag for the local posse. He is definitely the man in waves over here (although you probably haven´t seen much of him as he´s not big into self-promotion and tends to just get out there and do it)- you´ll always find him out wherever the waves are biggest and gnarliest, often alone, and always making it look so easy. Check him out in this short vid...

Fuerte Wave Classic 2011 - Day 10 from ROX Production on Vimeo.

Just before I left for the UK I got my new SUP- a Fanatic Fly 10´, and I had some awesome sessions getting to grips with it. It´s so much fun to be a total beginner at something again. I struggled a little on the first two days due to the wind (I now realise that even the smallest bit of offshore breeze makes it difficult to catch waves on an SUP!), and also due to the fact that I misjudged the size of the waves before going in- 4m is too big for learning, I now know. The last day before I left was amazing though, only me out on the outer reef at Rocky Point, breathless, 25 degrees in shorts, and 2.5m waves. Probably the best surfing I have ever had (not including on a windsurfer obvoiusly!). I am looking forward to more days like this, I would recommend it to everyone.

While I was back, I heard about an indoor wave machine in nearby Gateshead leisure centre and quickly convinced my brother and his kids to book a session together on my last day. What a laugh! We were part of a group of 8 so only really got about 10 minutes each, most of it on a bodyboard in the beginning, but we all got it reasonably dialled in this short space of time (although none of us mastered turning it). My niece, nephew and brother have booked their next one already and will be popping airs and 360s with ease by the time I take my next shaky steps on it, haha. My pa made this short video of our wipeouts, hope you enjoy it...



Looks like some wind is coming for this week so it´s back in the footstraps again, yeehaw. All you people who have been in touch about clinics will be getting emails in the next couple of days, now that I´m back in action so sit tight.
And a last reminder that there are still a couple of places left in our luxury villa for the Puravida Clinic in April which promises to be the best yet. Grab ´em while they´re there....
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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.............