Red Bull Storm Chase 2013

The format of Red Bull Storm Chase is simple: 10 riders will compete in the first mission, after which six will advance to the second mission. In the final mission, the top four riders will battle for victory. To guarantee raging conditions, Red Bull Storm Chase will be mobile, with a four-month holding period and just 48 hours to mobilise riders and global contest crew on-site before the storm strikes. The starting flag will drop as soon as the wind exceeds 100kph.

Red Bull Storm Chase will be held in association with the Professional Windsurfers’ Association (PWA), with World Tour head judge Duncan Coombs overseeing the contest: “Red Bull Storm Chase gives us a dream contest. We’ll travel to the storm instead of waiting for it to find us. We can expect to pull off a competition in the most extreme wind and wave conditions, in new found places. We will do our best to push the boundaries of competition and to explore the world’s most radical conditions.”Top PWA wave rider Klaas Voget (GER), a participant in the first Red Bull Storm Chase back in 2006 and location explorer for the current event, loves the new format: “The first round in Europe was a real blast. Now, storms can be chased all over the world with the chance to fight against the world’s best windsurfers in awesome conditions. This Red Bull Storm Chase is the ultimate challenge.”So far, more than 100 windsurfers, from 21 countries, have applied to participate in the global hunt for three storms beyond force 10 winds.Among them, legends, past Red Bull Storm Chase participants, prominent PWA professionals and hot-shot amateurs – all ready to kick ass and hungry to make the shortlist of the top 50 selected by the judging panel, headed by windsurfing legend Robby Naish.

To find the best regions for storm wavesailing Red Bull Storm Chase asked you for your favorite spots around the world. “The feedback was stunning”, said sports director Klaas Voget, who assisted windsurfing legend Robby Naish, Duncan Coombs and John Carter with the decision-making. The main criterion for the locations was obviously a great chance to get massive storms in the four-month holding period. Additionally the spot options for changing wind directions, the safety infrastructure and the worldwide approach of the competition influenced the experts’ final decision. “148 locations were suggested by the community. As the contest format requires maximum flexibility we spontaneously decided to pick seven instead of six spots: Brittany (FRA), Galicia (ESP), Cape Hatteras/US-East Coast (USA), the South West Coast of Iceland, the North West Coast of Ireland, Omaezaki at the South East Coast of Japan, and the North West Coast of Tasmania (AUS).”If you don’t want to miss any action you’d better hook yourself intowww.redbullstormchase.com. There you’ll find first information about the seven nominated locations, the rider profiles and event updates.

2013Windsurfing’s Most Challenging Contest

After last year’s unexpectedly calm storm season, Red Bull Storm Chaser is back with a vengeance in 2013.3 fat storms above 10 Beaufort, 10 sailors, and the entire planet as a stage. These are the breathtaking ingredients for the most challenging windsurfing contest of all time. To guarantee raging conditions, Red Bull Storm Chase is mobile to the max, with two waiting periods and just 48 hours to mobilize competitors and global contest crew on-site before the storm strikes.

Over the course of two waiting periods (Jan 10-Mar 22 and July 22-Sep 10), the world’s best windsurfers will battle it out to find and ride the most extreme storm conditions imaginable. Three missions (the third and final of which will be completed in the second waiting period) with destinations and dates still to be determined will test the riders’ skills as they are whittled down from an opening field of ten in mission one, down to six in mission two and finally four in mission three.

With just 48 hours to mobilise on-site before a major storm strikes, these sailors will have to be ready at all times.

 

COMPETITORS:   10 STORM CHASERS – the competitors this year

Contest Details:

TWO WAITING PERIODS

Jan 10 – Mar 22   /   Jul 22 – Sep 10

GLOBAL PLAYGROUND

7 possible destinations around the globe

ONLY ONE WILL TRIUMPH.

3 rounds of competition

ELIMINATION PROCEDURE

MISSION 1 – STARTS WITH 10 SAILORS

10 COMPETITORS: THE BATTLE OF MAN VS. MAN VS. NATURE BEGINS.

MISSION 2 -STARTS WITH 6 SAILORS

6 COMPETITORS: NARROWING DOWN THE FLEET OF STORM CHASERS.

MISSION 3 -STARTS WITH 4 SAILORS

4 COMPETITORS: WHO WILL MAKE THE PODIUM?

           

MISSION SCHEDULE

ALERT : 96H BEFORE MISSION – STORM ABOVE FORCE 10 APPROACHING A DESTINATION.

GO: 60H BEFORE MISSION

STORM CHASERS RECEIVE THE OFFICIAL GO AND GET READY.

LAST OPTION TO CANCEL IN CASE THE STORM FADED.
48H BEFORE MISSION

TRAVEL:

A THOUGH JOURNEY BEGINS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

MISSION: RED BULL STORM CHASE IS ON INSIDE THE EYE OF THE STORM.

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Contest Format

The contest format is simple: 10 sailors compete in the first mission. Six of them advance to mission number two. In the final mission the top four sailors will battle for the ultimate Storm Chaser’s crown.

During each mission, the fleet will be divided into sessions. This is to ensure a manageable number of sailors are in the water at the same time. The number of sailors in each session will be decided by the head judge, depending on the actual conditions on location.

All sailors have to wear safety equipment: Weatherdock GPS-System, IONimpact vest and helmet. A Sea-Doo watercraft for rescue will be in the water. Shelter will be provided by a supersized Heimplanet inflatable tent.

Judging Process

Each round of competition will be judged by three judges:

• 

  DUNCAN COOMBS

  Head judge for the whole competition. His long-standing experience in this position on the PWA World Tour has earned him respect by sailors and organizers alike.

• 

  KLAAS VOGET

  Second judge on the panel. Aside from his position as Sports & Athletes Manager for the event, Klaas will be on the judging panel for all three missions.

• 

  GUEST STAR

  Third judge on the panel. This will be a different guest star for each mission. Expect to see some guys from windsurfing’s hall of fame in this position!

Waves and jumps are scored on a scale from 1 to 10, comparable to the PWA-judging-system. However, there are some notable differences: Focus is on radicalness and height. An extremely high jump without a clean landing can get higher scores than a clean landed one. In order to incite sailors for variety, points will be deducted for having the same move two (-1 point) or three times (-2 points) in the top 5 scored moves.

The constellation of sessions will be drawn by the judges and changes for every session. Competitors will be mixed and drawn by the head judge.

Every sailor will have the opportunity to go out for multiple sessions. Judges will present the actual ranking after every complete round of sessions. The 5 best jumps and the 5 best waves from all sessions during the mission will be taken into the final score.

At the end of the day, the crew, judges and all “non sailors” will vote for the highest jump and sickest wave ride. Competitors will be awarded with 5 extra points for these. If two competitors have the same amount of votes, the extra points will be shared.

Video: Blown away by Red Bull Storm Chase

Watch the world’s most extreme windsurfers battle 137kph gusts on the storm-lashed coast of Ireland.

10 top windsurfers, from eight countries, completed an incredible, physically-demanding competition in Kerry, Ireland, during the first mission of Red Bull Storm Chase in what is undoubtedly the craziest windsurfing contest there has ever been!

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Video Clip 2

JANUARY 26-31, 2013

Great Moves on Mission 1

PREVIOUS POST: TEN WHO SLAYED A STORM

It has possibly been the most radical day in windsurfing history. With wind speeds peaking at over 70 knots and angry, 20-ft waves, athletes pulled off ginormous moves.

Here are four of the most notable ones, stitched together as sequences for your viewing pleasure. Kudos to these guys!

SWIFTY’S AMAZING PUSHLOOP-FORWARD COMBO

According to Head Judge Duncan Coombs, “the sickest, highest, most delayed and controlled pushloop forward I’ve ever seen.”
– Photo-Sequence by John Carter

Robby Swift (K-89)

“It was way windier than all of us expected and it was definitely the strongest wind i’ve ever sailed in. This was a great experience and I was over-the-moon to score the highest-scored jump of the event, even though I broke a board. The contest format was cool, with great variety and a nice change from the stress of a regular week-long contest, but it was all over so fast. I can’t describe how happy I am to make it through to the next Mission.”

DANY’S BREATHTAKING STALLED FRONTLOOP

Showing great skills at timing his runs out through the impact zone, Dany fearlessly launched into this super-high and delayed forward loop.
– Photo-Sequence by John Carter

Dany Bruch (G-1181)

“It was definitely windier than we could’ve imagined and the windiest conditions I’ve ever experienced – it was stormy for sure! The contest itself was a cool format with all of us being good friends and able to push and motivate each other. It was super-hard to score well – if you could land one good jump and compete a wave ride you had done well. We all had fun and appreciate having been a part of it.”

THOMAS’ INCREDIBLY CONTROLLED WAVE 360

To the judges’ delight, Thomas managed to throw in a perfect Wave 360 over the savage shore-dump.
– Photo-Sequence by John Carter

Thomas Traversa (F-3)

“It’s hard to describe how windy it was – there was way more than I ever anticipated. I saw that everyone was about as out-of-control as me, but we all tried our best, nobody complained and the most important thing is that everyone is safe. I like the contest format a lot and I think that for Mission 2 we’ll all be more prepared, relaxed and will know what to expect. I don’t think it could really be any windier and still possible to sail – but I have a 2.5 that I’ll take on the next one for sure!”

VICTOR’S STRATOSPHERIC ROCKET AIR JUMP

A hurricane-strength gust not only catapulted Victor amazingly high, but also downwind as much.
– Photo-Sequence by Guillermo “Willy” Loosa

Victor Fernandez (E-42)

“This is an amazing, once in-a-lifetime chance to compete with the elite of the windsurfing world in unbelievably wild storm conditions. My 3rd round heat at Hell’s Gate saved me from being knocked-out and I’m so stoked to advance. Making it to Mission 2 means I’ll hopefully get to visit more spots around the world and continue this amazing adventure.”

RED BULL STORM CHASE | ΔΑΜΑΖΟΝΤΑΣ ΤΑ ΚΥΜΑΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΙΡΛΑΝΔΙΑΣ!

26-31 Ιανουαρίου 2013

10 από τους καλύτερους windsurfers από 8 χώρες του κόσμου, ολοκλήρωσαν μια απαιτητική αποστολή, στο Kerry της Ιρλανδίας, την 1η αποστολή του Red Bull Storm Chase! Στον πιο δύσκολο διαγωνισμό windsurfing όλων των εποχών, οι αθλητές που έλαβαν μέρος βρέθηκαν αντιμέτωποι με καταιγίδα και ανέμους που έφταναν τους 74 κόμβους, σηκώνοντας άγρια κύματα 20 μέτρων. Ύστερα από την πιο extreme αναμέτρηση στην ιστορία του windsurf, 6 surfers προκρίθηκαν στην δεύτερη αποστολή!

Όταν μιλάμε για μέρη στα οποία δεν θες για κανένα λόγο να βρίσκεσαι, η χερσόνησος Dingels της Ιρλανδίας είναι σίγουρα ένα απ’ αυτά. Αυτή η απόκρημνη και βραχώδης άκρη γης που μπαίνει στα παγωμένα νερά του Ατλαντικού, κρύβεται μέσα σε απειλητικά, μαύρα σύννεφα που συνήθως κουβαλούν βροχή, χαλάζι και ανέμους που πνέουν με 130χλμ/ώρα, σηκώνοντας κύματα 20 μέτρων!

Ενώ για πολλούς ένα ταξίδι εκεί θα έμοιαζε με επίσκεψη στην είσοδο της κόλασης, για μια τολμηρή παρέα από 10 windsurfers, που διαγωνίζονται στο Red Bull Storm Chase, είναι ένας αγώνας. Από τον Αύγουστο του 2012, οι αθλητές από την Βραζιλία, Ισπανία, Αγγλία, Γερμανία, Δανία, Μαρόκο και το Πράσινο Ακρωτήρι (ναι – είναι χώρα), περίμεναν να ξεσπάσουν οι πιο ακραίες καταιγίδες του πλανήτη φέρνοντας τεράστια κύματα κι ανέμους.

Η Βρετάνη στη Γαλλία, η Γαλικία στην Ισπανία, η νοτιοανατολική ακτή της Ιαπωνίας, η βορειοδυτική Τασμανία και η ανατολική ακτή των Η.Π.Α είναι στη λίστα παρακολούθησης των αθλητών. Αλλά πουθενά στη γη τα κύματα δε φουσκώνουν όπως στην Ιρλανδία. Με τις ειδικές στολές που έχουν ενσωματωμένα GPS, οι windsurfers πήδηξαν στα νερά για μια πραγματικά αξέχαστη εμπειρία!

Στο Red Bull Storm Chase δεν αρκεί να νικήσεις τη Μητέρα Φύση, πρέπει να το κάνεις με στυλ! Υπό τα βλέμματα των κριτών και μερικών γενναίων που αψήφησαν τις συνθήκες, οι (6 καλύτεροι) Victor Fernandez (ESP), Thomas Traversa (FRA), Julien Taboulet (FRA), Robby Swift (GBR), Marcillio Browne (BRA) και Dany Bruch (GER) κατάφεραν να ξεχωρίσουν σε super-high aerials και προκρίθηκαν έτσι στη 2η αποστολή-καταιγίδα που αναμένεται να χτυπήσει μέχρι τις 22 Μαρτίου. Η τέσσεροις καλύτεροι του δεύτερου γύρου, θα διαγωνιστούν στον τρίτο γύρο, προς τον Ιούλιο. Ο νικητής του τρίτου και τελευταίου γύρου του Red Bull Storm Chase θα στεφθεί ‘βασιλιάς των καταιγίδων’.

ΔΕΙΤΕ  ΤΑ  ΒΙΝΤΕΟ  :

Video clip 1

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WINDSURFING MIX 2013

Last September at the Vienna airport I bought (at the cover indicated price) the PM test 2012 issue, which is the compilation of the year’s windsurfing equipment carried out by the restless Arnaud Deschamps and his team.

What makes the results of these test more interesting to me – apart from the professionalism of the testers, is the fact that one of the major testing spots is the place I do most of my windsurfing, that is New Golden Beach – Paros island!

Two months later, on the rush to catch my plane at the Athens airport, I got a copy of Boards magazine, failing to realize that I was paying more than double the cover price. When I did, I got upset. Of course most of the rip-off blame goes to the Hellenic Distribution Agency, but the Boards magazine has done nothing to protect its readers. The least thing they can do, is to print a country/region suggested retail price on the cover, just like PM does. As a reward gesture, I subscribed to PlancheMag.

During the same period, I decided to  partly renew my sails quiver, substituting the old (1996?) Neil Pryde V8 6.5 sail, and adding a 7+ sail, to be used mainly with the Thommen eXperience 165.

I dislike the “patchwork” aesthetics of  the last 2 years – there were instances I did not even want to hold one of the nicely sailing/awfully looking North sails of Paros Surf Club…, while I appreciate the clean shapes/colors like the ones of the Ka brand. Unfortunately even Severne has recently started to deviate from the clean aesthetics.

For the ~6.5 size, I looked for a Naish sail, biased favorably by the Red Line sails of my brother that I have used a lot. It sounded to me like a good deal to get a brand new 2010 Sprint 6.6 for 300euro (now reduced to 265). The finish as I judge it, was inferior to the Red Line I had used, looking cheap in a Chinese way. Rigging it, I noticed that there were creases all around the batten pockets on all battens, no matter the battens tension, like if the sawing of the pockets was done with the pockets material not being flattened on the monofilm. In addition to this there were contradicting mast markings on the sail and on the sail bag. I had a rather silly feedback by the shop about hard top mast requirement, so I sold the sail at a 30 euro loss, having sailed it only once.

For the 7+ sail, I got a reasonable offer by the importer and I got a brand new full x-ply yellow 2011 Ka Koyote 7.4 – Very nice.

For the 6.5, I decided to spend 320euro  for a brand new blue 2010 Gaastra Matrix. Gaastra is unfortunately shifting to the patchwork design with its new sails

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TRACK DAY @ MEGARA RACE TRACK

Well, on Saturday 26 of January, the weather was bad, so we did not  take the Reynard to the track. Thanks to the frequent program of the Hellenic Trackdays of George Lazarakos, we took the chance to go Thursday the 31th, this time with good weather conditions.

This was my first acquaintance with the track and my second ever race track drive since 1987 at the Maggione track in Perugia, on a Formula Italia monoposto.

Makis & Christos drove the Maglivera’s truck with the Reynard to the site, Giorgos Magliveras came riding his elegant scooter, while I went on the 911s in order to drive around and familiarize myself with the track.

While the team was preparing the Raynard, Giorgos drove the 911 for 3 rounds, while I was sitting next to him, listening about the gear changes & the braking distances.

As the competition group was very small, the F3 would enter the track 30′ later, so I had time to glimpse some other interesting cars participating.

I started with the white FIAT 128 rally pitted next to me – you know I have an attraction to these cars. If I am not mistaken, this was the only lady driver that day.

Then there was the fastest car on the track – no surprise here – it was a CABILIS Performance prepared white GOLF

And there was also this nice looking British open sports car 

My turn, was rather unhappy. Although we have moved the pedals to the front as much as possible, and molded a seat with minimal back thickness, the legroom is cramped. My problems started without even hitting the track: Trying to get off from our box, I stalled 4 times, before Giorgos understood that nobody had told me that the first gear in the Reynard’s box is BACK left instead of front…

Then I used the first 2 laps to warm the tires; it seems I did not warm them enough, so entering the 3rd lap I spun to the grass! I drained the battery without bringing the engine back to life, just to have Makis diagnose, that the fuel pump was not operating, and added some tension to the connecting wires of the pump, seemingly fixing it.

Back to the pits Giorgos decided at last to try the car himself, in order to speed-up the setting. On the first lap, the engine died and the Reynard was towed back to the pits. The fuel was taken out of the tank, the bulkhead incorporating the pump connections was unscrewed and the reason of our problem was revealed: the soldered + wire connection was worn out due to corrosion, so the proper repair needed to be carried out at the workshop. END OF THE TESTING SESSION

Not to end this report in a gloomy mood, here is a 2012 photo of Giorgos Magliveras driving his RALT @ the Megara track.

The idea of bringing the 911 to the track saved my day, because I lapped the track for maybe 20′, so at least next time I will not be a total newbie.

WATCH  the VIDEO trailer

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