Jeri 2009 Week 3

Week 3 and its been an up and down one.

Had some dodgy conditions at the start of the week, so sailed the lagoon the past two days, and got some nice clips for movie. got my first Burner today which was awesome, literally on a mission to land it, and everyone was packing almost ready to leave and I was like I'm not leaving till I land this, just as everyone was almost ready to go, I was like one more run...crashed it...tried again...crashed it then when I was like, I really have to call this the last one I managed to get it...awesome feeling getting a move I've been wanting for a while.

I know I said more video soon but, I'm saving the clips for my movie, I have a few I may put together over the next couple of days so keep an eye out.

More soon..

Jeri 2009 Week 2

Just come up to the end of the second week and we have been getting some nice conditions, 4.2 with some nice waves. I've done a few evening sessions in a row now, and it's been brilliant, like 3 or 4 people downwind and then sailing back just after the sun has set.

We are hoping to get some footage today so I'll try and get a couple clips up this eve or tomorrow.

That's all for now, more soon

So I've been out in Jeri for a few days now and it's like paradise!!! It's amazing, the wind is 4.2 every day, the locals are really friendly and the cocktails are good.

Anyway I've learnt a load of moves in the 3 and a half days I've had on the water which is cool and we have been getting some awesome footage with this new camera I got just before I came out here. The footage is filmed at 300 fps slowed down to 30 fps and the quality is ok, just don't blow it up full screen, it also shots full HD at 60 fps so at the end I should have a whole load of decent clips for a movie...slow mo makes the crashes look good to..see for yourself

Anyway the standard is super high out here, so I'm off to practice some more...

more soon..

14th Overall Pro on BWA

So it's my first year competing/finishing the UK wave series (now the BWA series) and I'm really happy with not just my overall result but also my individual results for each event as I have managed to improve each time on the previous event also beating slightly better people each time. I've learnt heaps this year when it comes to wave sailing and although I considered myself more a freestyler at Uni I'm now really enjoying the waves as well. That said I'm off to Jeri in a few hours for 5 weeks which will be mainly freestyle, although I hear the waves are big enough for backies/pushies so I'll get them sorted and a whole load of other tricks hopefully.

Anyway keep an eye on this blog as I'm planning to upload a little video update each week, maybe with a move in and a few tips on how to do it.

Bring on Jeri and next years BWA....

Gwithian BWA final event

I almost didn't make this event as I had already decided not to go because the cost of getting all the way down there and entering, etc. was close to making me bust before Jeri (leave on Wed...siiiick).

So I was sitting in the office earning precious pennies on the Thursday, looking at the forecast a lot, and after a number of phone calls I managed to arrange a place to stay with my Uni flat mate and his girlfriend (Ed and Anna) as Ed was entering the Amateurs. With that i left straight after work in my suit... not fully prepared but with most of my stuff from Tiree in there still, I got down pretty late and straight to bed. I was lucky enough to enter late and although I missed the single elimination I managed to make it out for the double.

First heat..Chris Murray, Nick Moffat were in it..not an easy one as I knew Murray had spent the previous winter in cape town and Nick was ripping at the moment and I'd been at Camber all summer...starboard tack cross-on...the only practice I had was in Tiree when we had one port tack day. Anyway, first wave in was a 6 so pretty happy with that one and then a 4.5 later, not so great but not bad either. The judges put me 1st, 2nd and 2nd which apparently put me on a draw with Moffat so I won it on highest wave score.

Second heat...couldn't water start for half the heat, caught one wave and it closed out on me, the second wave didn't happen either...literally the worst heat of my life so that's one to leran from and put behind me.

Packing for Jeri now.......