Simmer Website

I was told yesterday by Peter from Simmer International that I have made it onto the website as one of there UK riders, have a quick look at the site, Simmer Team page

Puneta

Here is a video of me doing my first Puneta at our recent trip to El Tur

El Tur

Recently myself and some of the other guys that have been working for Neilson this year were offered an amazing trip to El Tur with the Getwindsurfing crew (Phil and Danielle) and the guys at Moses Bay Hotel. We decided to head over on the Tuesday night with the promise of some great conditions on the Wednesday. Thankfully the conditions did arrive but it did start off a bit light which was annoying at first.

Towards the end of the day I was fully stacked on my 4.5, having an amazing time in switch and going for Burners and anything else, the only down fall to the trip was that I snapped my boom in the afternoon which ended my session early.

A huge thanks to Phil and Danielle from Getwindsurfing and the all the people at Moses Bay Hotel especially Mr Dear who looked after us very well

Tow-In

Over the past few days and with the no wind here at the moment,  I have had the opportunity to give tow in windsurfing ago for the first time. Way harder than what people have been making out to me!!! I don't think the chop from all the wakeboard boats helped but once you get it up and going you can have some sort of control, which is nice.

Phil and Danielle at Getwindsurfing were able to get some photos of us all giving it ago, plenty of crashes but some nice moves landed as well.

4.5 and 98 Rodeo

Phil Richards

New Kit

Blacktip 4.2

Rodeo 98

Recently I have taken purchase of my 2012 kit from Simmer and F2. I have gone for a quiver of Simmer Blacktips in 4.2, 4.5, 4.7 and 5.0 and then the 98 Rodeo from F2. Now that I am back in Dahab I am hoping to get out on it as often as I can and see what it is like to ride.

Blacktip 4.7 and 5.0 the same

Blacktip 4.5

Poole Windfest

Windfest is still the amazing event that it has always been, I unfortunately didn’t get to go last year as I was working in Dahab, but I was able to attend this year.

The event still lives up too it name, not only was there loads of windsurfers there but the Animal bike team, beach volley ball, extreme Frisbee and kitesurfers competing.

On the windsurfing side of things there was something like 30 entrants in all categories, which was split over juniors, youths, ladies, amateurs and pros. This year they saw a massive turn out from the ladies with 7 entrants who competed there way through 6 rounds.

As for myself I took part in the amateurs for the weekend which saw some amazing conditions, we were all out on around 5.0’s for the Saturday and then around the 4.5’s for the Sunday. I came 5^th in the Amateurs for the weekend which gave me a ranking of 9^th in the UK. 

A huge thank you must go to Trevor Funnel and the rest of the team which help to organise it all, plus being there to judge the event.

National Windsurf Festival

The National Windsurf Festival was incredible as it is every year. The amount of people that go to this event is becoming impressive, it was so much bigger than the previous years I have been. The master blasts were as successful as ever and seeing 300plus people all trying to leave the beach at one time is a must see. The Saturday night entertainment by the Heathrow Jets was amazing, played some really good songs and they got the crowd going.

For myself on the Saturday I didn’t go out on the water but it was awesome to see people that I haven’t seen for such a long time. My reason for not going out on the water was that I was being a wimp as I had only just come back from Dahab 2 days before and was feeling the cold.

The Sunday at the National Windsurf Festival saw the masses out on the water again but the rain had also arrived, with this I decided that I wasn’t really up for spending the day in the rain so left around 11, having heard that when I got home I should have stayed as it cleared up and the wind kicked in making some nice conditions for the Freestyle boys to go out in.

A huge thank you to Allan Cross and his team who put so much into the event to get it running and make the iconic event of the year which it has now become., I am looking forward to next year’s already which is going to be on the 8-9^th of September. 

Sponsored by F2

On the 25th of August I was fortunate enough to be contacted by F2 and was offered a National Team Rider package, an opportunity I was more than happy to accept. I know there boards are the best on the market, as well as having an outstanding team.

As of the middle of September I will be riding the 2012 Rodeo 98, a board I cant wait to get my hands on!!!
Hopefully the board will be able to push me to the next level of Freestyle.

I will keep you all posted on when I get the board as well as putting some pictures up as well.

The offical F2 website

Double Flaka

A short clip of me getting a double flaka in Baby Bay in marginal winds thanx to James Bushnell who was recording  

Finally an up date

Yo guys

Wow it has been ages since I lasted up dated, I need to get on it more!!!

I am now in Dahab and have been here for the last 5 months working for Neilson, teaching mainly windsurfing to anyone of any ability.

Since I have been out here my personal level has improved loads, getting the 2011 100 TE skate just before I came out here has appeared to help me loads, I have found a board that I got comfortable with straight away which let me focus on myself and my personal level more.

Since arriving in Dahab I have finally managed to make my flakas click and are now my most consistent move, I have also learnt Switch Chacoo’s, Eslider, Funnel, clew first Puneta and bobs, plus many variations. Not only have I learnt loads but my consistence has gone up as well, so pretty happy all around.

Before I come to leave this place I will be looking to make my moves bigger and learn as many more as I can in the next 3 months plus.

I have got some photos from the last 5 months, thanks’ to Steve Flack and Chris Bedwell 

Dahab for 2011

During the month of January when I was in Brazil, I was informed by Neilson that I will be doing another season with them in Egypt Dahab, from the 3rd April 2011 to the 15th November 2011.

Just about 8 months in the sun isn't bad for some of us.

I am looking forward to getting out there for another year, as there are a lot of the same team that we had last summer, with James Hoare, Andy Jeffcoat and all the Egyptian lads.

I hope that with the 8 months I am there for my own ability will improve.

I hope to see some of you out there or on the water during my time there, you might even be lucky/unlucky enough to be taught by me.  

Jericoacoara

From 11th November 2010 to the 31st January 2011, I decided to head to Jeri for the winter months with the warmer waters rather than spending them here in the UK.
Something which I am now thankful for as it appeared to have been one of the coldest Christmas's that the UK has seen for some years.

I had an amazing 3 months out there with Jamie Drummond, Marco Wedele, James and Will Hoare, and many other UK guys that came out to visit or where there already when we arrived.
I ended up staying there in a house for the 3 months rather than in a Pousada which is something well worth doing if you are going for the same amount of time.

During the months of November and December we had some amazing winds which blew well over a force 4 90% of the time, but during January the wind wasn't as reliable and there was a lot more rain coming through than what we had seen over the months of November and December.

Here are some photos that i managed to get whilst i was out there for the duration of the 3 months, unfortunately i didn't manage to get that many as none of us that went out had a decent camera with us

I hope there are going to be more trips like it in the near future.