There are places we visit year after year, and such places are connected with people who have accompanied us on our journey and thanks to their presence our memories are so pleasant to recall.
Paros for me came into picture, when my friend Thodoris (Teo) Theodoridis set up in the remote & sand dunes covered large Santa Maria, his first windsurfing station, housed in containers. A few years later, as we became aware of the more windy spot of Tserdakia, we moved there and never left since.
Inevitable touristic evolution, brought the camping site in Santa, flattening most of the sand dunes, and the vast construction of new houses blocked the North wind coming from the left, spoiling the airstream inside the bay, while a shortsighted law application, restricted the operation of the long-established canteen of “opa” kyr -Vangelis & his wife kyra-Leni, that for many years offered the only (and excellent) snack option in the area for the avid windsurfers. But by then, we had already relocated.
This season, I decided to enjoy more than test equipment. Most of the new boards that I see are not of the kind I enjoy, while on the other hand, my testing abilities steadily fade.
First of all, I was asked by John to sell him the Gong wingboard, and with high expectations, I replaced it with a hybrid RRD Pocket Rocket 180 (120L)RRD POCKET ROCKET E-TECH 180 TEST REVIEW by WINDSURF magazine
Well although my wing coach Alekos tried to support my efforts, I understood that to get it to plane, I needed such wind force, that I would be able to windsurf with the biggest board /sail combination I had with me, and losing my patience, I sold it to Peter who was willing to try harder, all year long. I’m sure next summer he will be capable of joining the growing wingfoiling community.
So freed from all winging activities, I went windsurfing with my loyal windsurfing partner Kostas, who was eager to try his new Goya Custom 3 Pro 91L thruster board.
Myself, I had to try a new high-wind FW board, a Patrik F-Wave 75, my first ever 3fin-thruster board.After a 2 year Covid imposed absence of the Planchemag testing team, it was a great pleasure to see Arnaud, Nathalie, Jade & Frank sailing, making the best out of the material on test, while I’m thankful to Arnaud who took some nice new photos of me, something my other friends rarely do!
And as most reputable riders sailing this spot, have their signature moves, it is time to show you mine, the Onefoot aerial – strapless landing…:)
What really motivates me, is the sight of really passionate sailors of all ages sailing around.
There were some tiny girls having fun on untrimable kids rigs, under conditions that only experienced windsurfers were sailing.
Gelly did not miss a single day of the slightest wind, windfoiling with her husband and taking breaks to breastfeed her 2m.o. daughter.
Sasha as usual must have spent more sailing hours than anyone else. I spot him in most of the recorded photos.
So, I wish a Very Happy Year to everyone, with plenty of sailing of any type you enjoy!
Happy New Year! Wonderful pictures as always and so fun to see everyone out on the water.
Happy New Year William! I look forward to get you into this year’s photo gallery…:)
Λιτό αλλά πολύ καλό. Εύχομαι και αυτό το καλοκαίρι 2024 να ξαναμπεί η φωτογραφία μας στο post σου.
Ευχαριστούμε Δημήτρη για τις ωραίες αναμνήσεις που μας τις ζωντανεύεις
Όπως είπα και στον Αλέκο, με ομαδική προσπάθεια θα έχουμε περισσότερες ωραίες εικόνες. Τα καλύτερα έρχονται!
Με βάση αυτό σου αφιερώνω το τραγούδι “As Good as I Once Was”, με έμφαση στους στίχους:
Now my body says “You can’t do this boy”
But my pride says “Oh yes, you can”
😉
Ευχαριστούμε Δημήτρη. Και του χρόνου η νωρίτερα) με ανυπομονησία.
Kαλά νά’μαστε και με περισσότερες ομαδικές φωτογραφίες – άντε και κανένα αεροπλανικό με wing!