Had a tough day at the office today. Not only did I have a really tough heat with local by Dario Ojeda, I went out there and my mast broke after a huge back loop. To top it off, my brother of all people was suposed to organize me a caddy..I know trust no one but yourself but I was just on my way to ask someone and he said I will organize someone... he was in contest mode himself so I guess the thought left his mind.. and I was out there for a couple minutes just letting the heat go by.. Pretty dissapointed in the old bro.. but it is just a contest right.. just one that your livelyhood depends on.. Anyhow.. SO I didnt advance and now I have a long long road to the winners circle. Sailed one more heat in the loosers round and made it through that, so that was a positive note.
Now to the winners. I can't wait to show you guys the video.. I am not going to work on it tonight but... WOW!! Those guys are ripping. I got some of the sickest video ever. Victor Fernandez and Kauli Saudi were head and tails above everyone else.. Leaving most of the beach speachless after the final. I was sitting there myself and going like.. WOW>> these guys are ripping.
Ok I am off to bed.. hopefully have a super long day with a lot of heats tomorrow.
Today is registration day and it is suuuuupppperrrrr windy.. 48 KNOTS tegistered at the airport today and it is usually even windier here in Pozo.. We are getting ready, rigging and getting everything ready for the week. Looks like we will be going straight into the waves.
Well I didnt win but super stoked! Not too bad of a finish considering at one point I was lucky to be in the top ten. I had a great opening race finishing second and then they changed the starting line and I had a hard time to get off the starting line in a good position... Anyhow I made the adjustment and went hard for the final round of the day. It was a close one. If I didnt make it into the final and Bjorn won then he would jump past me into second. And so I knew hzc go put the hammer down. In the semi final I almost didnt make it. I was in 2nd at the gybe behind Finian Maynard and he did a terrible gybe and crashed right in front of me. I was in last place and I knew that I needed to get into the final. I fought hard and some how managed to work my way into the final. I was stoked! Just by getting into the final I know that I would finish in second. Antoine had already sealed up the win and so I knew that I couldn't go forward or backwards so I was really happy. So for Lanzarote I finished second. I know it is not a victory but pretty good. Last year I came third here in the Super X so I guess it is a step in the right direction!
Tomorrow is a travel day to Gran Canaria and then registration day and then back on to more competition!!
What a day for me.. Finally a good one.. I am super stoked with winning 2 out of the three races we did today. I had good starts and good speed all day today. Went out with my 8.4 TR 3 and my Starboard 122 Isonic and a new Debiochet fin that was rocketing. It was a 42cm fin and was feeling really nice. It almost felt like I didnt have a fin on the board the way it just went forward without too much lift. I was loving it! Good starts and good speed. Just need another day like that tomorrow and I will be really stoked! One more day left here. Wish me luck!
Well when you get a day off in the Canary's you enjoy it. Today was set for Freestyle so I went back to the hotel and took a nice day of rest! Felt pretty good although I am hungry to get back on the race course and make up some well needed points. I put together some more clips for you guys and hope that you enjoy!
Man, I always feel like I am having bad days lately. Today was another tough day for me. In the first round, I was fighting to get into the final and just didnt have a good enough start. I managed to make up quite a bit of places but I just couldn't do it. I was pretty bummed out so I went back to the drawing board. I knew it was my starts so I just had to start really pushing it more. Everytime I thought that someone was overearly they weren't so I started to push the line more and more. The first race of the second round was a sucess with a good start and a win in the first heat. The next heat I got sucked over the line early and put me into the loosers final once again. Man I was bummed.
The next round started at 6:30 in the evening and went until 7:30 and that made for a hungry stomach. I went and was straight back in it.. Needed a good start. In the semi final I had a terrible start!! I mean terrible.. there was no wind in my sail, it felt like I was sailing under a helicoptor the wind was so bad.. It seemed as I was in last place and then the wind hit everyone that was in front of me right at the gybe. I come in dead last and come out in 4th, as we charge to the outstide the wind keeps getting stronger and stronger as we hunker down, I manage to pass Bjorn on the way out and went into 2nd! I was stoked! I just put in a new Debiochet 34cm fin and it was feeling great on the way out. All I needed was a good start and maybe just maybe I could get some sort of good result. SO for the Final there was no more messing around. I finally stepped up to the plate and went for a good start. I went for it but the only problem was so did Bjorn and he had a great start. He went flying over the top of me but still I was in good position and managed to get to the mark in third behind him and Albeau. I was stoked. Finally an OK finish to finish in third. I am still sitting in sixth but hopefully can pull something together!!
I am still fighting for it and hope to move up a couple of positions!
Well it started off about the same as yesterday! With chaos and bouys floating away.. Didnt get started until around 1 and then busted through 4 rounds of pretty hard racing. Antoine Albeau was the man today by only registering 7.8 as his smallest sail and it was a solid open ocean 25 knots. Pretty impressive that he can hold down a sail that big. I was on my 6.6 and was pretty dang powered up that is for sure. I had some bad starts and just couldnt get it together going fast enough. I dont know what it is but I was really trying hard. Taty Frans was on Maui Sails and was going really fast. He went over the top of me like I was standing still. Oh well. I just need to get it together, get better starts, and get more aggressive. I will be back tomorrow!
Day 2 and still no racing. Was a great for it but they could not get the boats anchored and all sorts of other stuff. It was going to be one of those classic surf slalom days but it just didnt materialize. Too bad. We havent had surf slalom for years and this would have been one of those days.. Hopefully tomorrow. In the end they had a good day for Freestyle and that was pretty cool to watch. There are some pretty good kids out there doing tricks that I could only dream of doing! Anyhow that is all for now!!
Well since I have been lacking in the photo department I figured I would put up a training video for you guys to check out. Not my best production but.. Good for a watch anyhow!!
Today was the first day of Lanzarote and was used for registration. Everyone had to make the decision for what to register today for the event. It was a bit of a lottery on what to register as it can be any conditions here. I registered my big stuff with 9.2, 8.4, 7.6 and 6.6 with a 122 and 101. I hope it is not too big but we will see.. Hopefully it will be the right thing to do!
Tomorow is the big day. When the flag drops the .... stops!
We are on the move to another Island. We are off to Lanzarote for a slalom event! I am looking forward to doing some racing and getting this summer series on the way! Gran Canaria has been pretty flat making for some nice slalom weather. I am
Today was another windy day. Went out slalom sailing and boy was it windy. Did some board testing with Taty and that was good fun. I was on 5.9 and he was on 5.1 and we both pretty powered up!
Went up to the mountains yesterday and had a nice touristy dinner on the cliff! Could have got some better picts but thats the price you pay for going with a group. It was fun nonetheless..
Well we had another good day at Pozo. Some waves still left over and some good wind too. Today sailed on 4.5 and was fun. The waves were alot smaller but still fun and good to get around and get the sore body out and about. These past 4 days of training are taking a toll that is for sure! Oh well..you play hard you pay hard!
Today had some of the best waves I have ever seen in Pozo!! It was some logo high sets with some closeout waves. I even got worked a couple of times and that is pretty rare for Pozo! Sailed on 4.2 Legend and that sail felt really nice. The new Maui Sails are really working great. It is always nice to have a 4.2 sail that is working great. Feels like a big sail but small. It breaths it opens up it isn't super twitchy.. all the things necessary for a good time in windy conditions!
Yesterday was super fun with some wind and waves. Was one of the most fun days I have had sailing Pozo for a couple years I think. The waves were up, it was nearly sideshore.. I am on my way to get a couple more waves before they dissapear!!
Today was the first day out on the water in Gran Canaria. Pretty windy and sailed on 4.5. Looks like it is setting up for a turbo nuclear day tomorrow.. We will see. I will try and get some shots for you tomorrow. Been getting everything ready and organized and trying to get on the water as well.
Well we made it to GC and all is good. Check out our great great appartment here in Gran Canaria. We found it through Hollywind which is a great place to go and find out some great european vacations. Check out http://www.hollywind.com/if you are interested in going to the Canary Islands. The wind is kicking in and we are getting organized to get some good sailing in! I had to put up two shots because one has the moon in it. This is our view from our veranda!
Had a nice day in Barcelona filled with walking walking and walking. On the plane to Gran Canaria with a nice hour delay sitting on the runway! All good though. Made it here safe and have some great accomadations and ready for a week of wind and training. Forcast looks great so we will be on our way!
Whoo.... well that was a pretty good day for me. I managed to make up from 26th place to 6th place along with winning a round. I was pretty stoked to come back after a terrible start to go ahead and win a round. It was super hard conditions. Gusty shifty winds, making it hard to pick the right sail. In the end I was on my 7.6 Tr 3 with my Starboard 101 with Deb SL 2 38cm fin. I think that I could have switched down a size in the fins but in the heat of the battle I thought that the 38 with the 7.6 was the best call. I am stoked to make a strong comeback. I hope to continue on it for the next race in Lazarote on the 29th. We are off to Barcelona to try and take some photos of Barcelona so it will be interesting to see what we can come up with. Then off to Gran Canaria for a week of training and then to Lanzarote. Photos by Carter/PWA
Well it is cloudy and a little bit of rain here in the Bay of Roses. The outlook is well.. there is none. But there is a glimmer of hope left for the last day tomorrow. We will have to wait and see!
Blog 
