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Windsurfing News
Tom Ashley is the 2008 New Zealand Sailor of the Year
Tuesday, 02 December 2008 14:34

Tom Ashley

Tom Ashley, a young man described as having one of the brightest minds in the sport, has been granted the title of Singapore Airlines New Zealand Sailor of the Year.

The reigning World Champion board-sailor cemented his place in yachting history when he won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics this year, sailing a near perfect regatta and final medal winning race.

The 24-year-old from Auckland’s North Shore is fluent in four languages and has been sailing since the age of eight. He has won six of the ten regattas entered since 2006 and his gold medal at Qingdao was the first for New Zealand sailing since 1992. Tom’s considerable success at grand prix level was also enough to earn him finalist status in the highly prestigious Rolex World Sailor of the Year Awards, announced on 12 November in Madrid, Spain.

“Tom is a very special young New Zealander,” says Yachting New Zealand Chief Executive Des Brennan. “In the end he carried all of our Olympic dreams on his shoulders in Beijing, and delivered. Tom is gifted with intelligence, athleticism and endurance. His contribution to the sport in such a short space of time has been remarkable and he has a very bright future in front of him in whatever he decides to do. I hope that sailing will be included.”

Peter Burling and Carl Evans once again took the Young Sailor of the Year title. The high school students, from Tauranga and Auckland, are ranked number five in the world in the men’s 470 class and are consistent top-ten performers at international level. They are also two-time winners of the Open 420 World Championships.

“There is something remarkable about Peter and Carl, who have achieved so much at such a young age, particularly in the Open 470 class, which is one of the most technically and physically challenging classes,” says Des Brennan. “They hold so much promise and we are very excited about their prospects for the future.”

Peter Burling and Carl Evans are no longer sailing together but are each part of Yachting New Zealand Olympic Development Squad. Carl remains in the 470, while Peter has migrated to the 49er, a boat more suited to his size and weight.

Read more...
 
Gonzalo Hoevel conquers the 2008 FW Grand Prix Series
Tuesday, 02 December 2008 11:08

2008 FW Grand Prix Series

Last day of racing would decide the places 2nd to 5th in the 2008 Wind Brasil Grand Prix.

The chasing pack would know their fate at the end of the last race of the series - there is a local saying here in Fortaleza, the last race decides the winners!

Similar winds to yesterday were forecast, but to make racing more interesting there was a swell to contend with, and two "gates" ( marks of the course) to negociate.

Race 14, and two sailors were over eager to get a good start, the individual recall flag was hoisted on the start boat, but the sailors did not return. Fabio Melo (BRA74 ) and Hubert Mokrzycki (POL25) were later disqualified.

Three sailors, leading contenders for a podium position, battled it out for the top points. It was Ross Williams (GBR83) who crossed the finish line ahead of close rivals Willhelm Schurmann (BRA999) and Gabriel Browne (BRA50)- a result that after 14 races moved him into second overall.

Race 15, and the spectators on the harbour wall in front of the Marina Park Hotel were treated to a thrilling finale to this final race of the 2008 Formula World Tour. This time Fabio made no mistake at the start, and with brother Victor (BRA2497 ) led the sailors to the first, windward, gate.

Ross, followed by Gabriel, was close behind and needed to keep one place ahead of Biel to retain second place overall. As the sailors fought their way around the second lap it was Gabriel who moved ahead of Ross, and held off the challenge of Willhelm Schurmann (BRA999) who sailed a storming 2 lap to move ahead of Ross into 3rd place. Fabio retained his lead to the finish; and Gabriel's second place in race 15 earned him second place in the overall event ranking.

On the podium at the prize giving were :
1st Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG3)
2nd Gabriel Browne (BRA50)
3rd Ross Williams (GBR83)

Read more...
 
New 100m hawaiian speed record of 41.4 knots set by Pieter Bijl
Tuesday, 02 December 2008 10:52

Pieter Bijl

Dutchman Pieter Bijl buries the hatchet to secure a new 100m speed record in hammering Maui trade winds.

Maui seems to be the place for wind right now. We’re inundated with reports of relentless wind and pounding waves, day in and day out.

With all the ingredients necessary for some serious speed, it comes as no surprise that the Maui crew have been pushing the limits of windsurfing.

This time round, it’s the speed guys that have made their mark, namely Dutchman Pieter Bijl. The newly adopted Maui local has set a new Hawaiian state 100m speed record of 41.4 knots.

Armed with a Fanatic falcon and NeilPryde prototype sail, Bijl blasted his way to the record at Kanaha beach in winds gusting over 35 knots. Here’s the numbers that matter:

max:
  time        m    km/h    knots
16:33:12    21.7  78.0  42.2

100m:
  time        s    km/h    knots
16:33:14     4.7  76.4  41.4

10s:
  time        m    km/h    knots
16:33:15   201.3  72.5  39.2

Pieter currently tops the open section of the 2008 Maui Vmax Speed ladder.

Read more...
 
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SURFING

Surf stars keep riding at the Oakley Pro Bali 2013
19/06/2013
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Top seeds have fought back to earn a ticket to Round 3 of the Oakley Pro Bali 2013, at Keramas, Indonesia.
With clean four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metre) waves on offer at the primary site of Keramas, Kelly Slater smashed wildcard Jack Robinson by capturing the day's high 18.17 out of a possible 20 for a masterful display of forehand tube-riding and power turns. "There are some really good waves out there when they come. Still though, I'm two for two on slow heats. The waves are fun when they [ ... ]


John John Florence pulls biggest Alley-Oop in pro surfing
18/06/2013
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John John Florence scored one of the biggest airs ever seen in competitive surfing, during the Oakley Pro Bali 2013, at Keramas, Indonesia.
John John Florence was surfing against his Hawaiian compatriot Sebastian Zietz, when he decided to go for a full rotation up in the sky awarded with a 10-point ride. Unbelievable Alley-Oop.


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KITEBOARDING

ISAF publishes the "Beginners Guide to Kiteboarding"
19/06/2013
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The "ISAF Beginners Guide to Kiteboarding" is a complete wind riding manual for starters, with launching, safety, self-rescue and pack down lessons.
Aspiring kiteboarders can enjoy numerous experiences, setting personal goals at every level. Learning well is part of the process of becoming a good rider. The sport combines the best elements of windsurfing, sailing and wakeboarding all in one and not only offers the fastest performance but has the highest and longest 'airtime' potential.


Largest amateur kiteboarding race hits Hood River
19/06/2013
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The 7th Annual Kiteboarding 4 Cancer (KB4C) will take place in Hood River, Oregon, between 13th-14th July, 2013.
The largest amateur kiteboarding race in North America expects to attract 200 riders racing and raising funds for Athletes 4 Cancer's Camp Koru Survivorship Program. The Kite Derby challenges the tenacity of the most advanced and novice kiters alike with a six-hour endurance race. Kiteboarders race around a three-mile course on the Columbia River, spanning more than 100 miles per  [ ... ]


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WINDSURFING

Monfalcone crowns 2013 Raceboard Youth and Masters world champions
18/06/2013
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Giuseppe Zerillo and Pawel Gardasiewicz have been crowned the 2013 Raceboard Youth and Masters world champions, at Marina Julia, Monfalcone.
The final day of windsurfing races saw one more race being run, for a total of six counting for the overall results. Light wind specialists Giuseppe Zerillo and Pawel Gardasiewicz made it clear right from the start that they were in it to win it, taking bullets in every single race.


Antoine Albeau sails to victory at the 2013 PWA Catalunya World Cup
17/06/2013
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Antoine Albeau has conquered the 2013 PWA Catalunya World Cup, in Spain. The final took four hours to be completed, due to the gusty and shifty winds.
Albeau has tasted his inaugural season triumph, on the beautiful shores of Costa Brava, to halt Bjorn Dunkerbeck from claiming the title, for the first time, in three years. The French sailor demonstrated his perfectly timed starts time and time again, along with a phenomenal top speed to blow the competition out of the water.


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BODYBOARDING

The Jeff Wilcox Memorial Classic returns for 16th edition
18/06/2013
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The Jeff Wilcox Memorial Classic has been revived. One of the longest running independent bodyboarding events in Australia will be run for the 16th year, since 1990.
"You don't have to reach the top to be a champion, just be the best you can be". Jeff Wilcox's quote has never been so updated and real. Inspiring the new generation, that is what the event's all about. Jeff was a brilliant sportsman with amazing potential, excelling in bodyboarding and hockey. He passed away with only 14 years  [ ... ]


The King of the Box 2013 debuts in New South Wales
18/06/2013
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The King of the Box 2013 will attract more than 180 of Australia's best wave riders to the Box Beach, in Port Stephens, Australia.
The world's best bodyboarders have been visiting the Box Beach, in New South Wales, but this year the competition will be opened to surfers, too. An innovative contest structure will have a two-week waiting period to ensure the best possible conditions. The two selected windows are September 5th-8th or September 12th-15th.


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