Surfersblog

Since it’s invention the ponch has become a staple on the PWA Freestyle World Tour and is still seen regularly on today’s circuit, while also progressing into futures (ponch in flaka) and carrying a heavy influence on moves like the burner and culo. If you can flaka then you are ready to try this move, but although the ponch may not be the most technically difficult move it will require a certain level of bravery to throw yourself into your first rotations

Adrien Bosson (Fanatic / Duotone / Maui Ultra Fins): “For the ponch, I would recommend that you should be able to control perfectly the flaka because the approach is the same and the pop similar. The easiest conditions are with side/side off wind and waves, like this you can use the waves to pop and just work on the rotation or with onshore winds off the back of the swell/chop.  On flat water you will need a solid pop, which makes it harder to learn. 

For the first try it is better to not be too overpowered, it is important to have the timing with the chop/waves and to be sailing fully downwind to have no power in the sail. The ponch isn't a technical move, commitment and speed are the most important. With the speed you can pop and neutralise the sail and rotate with commitment. 

For the rotation, while throwing the sail upwind you will need to twist your body to put it above your boom. Important: your board has to follow your body otherwise you’re gonna stop the rotation, plus push on your arms to keep your sail stable without wind. You can look at the top of your sail, this will eventually help.

For the landing, be ready to bend your legs (the landing can be hard) and lean backwards (to the wind) to pull up your sail.”

Good luck on your ponch journey.

When you first think of the Middle East, windsurfing probably isn't the the first thing that pops into your head. However, as Federico Morisio (JP / NeilPryde), shows there is an abundance of wind and waves if you know where to look...

Federico Morisio: "This week's new YouTube video is about and it's about my last trip to the Middle East: yes, there are sick waves over there!

Oman has a special meaning to me because it's where 6 years ago I had my first real waveriding trip 

Last year, in July, I decided to go back to train pure starboard tack conditions for the upcoming International Windsurfing Tour events and also simply to enjoy to the max long, fun, uncrowded waves!

I also got filmed a bit by my dad and some friends, so I realized it would have been cool to show you more about those conditions!

Thank you so much to Nic Van Ysendyk that actually edited the video and motivated me to share it!"

You can see Federico Morisio's latest trip to the Middle East @ youtu.be/R2EevqWKyV4

Another installment of siblings on tour. This time with the Spanish Alabau sisters! Marina Alabau (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil), who became Olympic Champion in 2012, & her younger sister Blanca Alabau (Starboard / Severne / Starboard Foil), who finished 4th overall on the PWA Foil World Tour in 2019. Over to the girls...

- Who are you, how old are you and who is your sibling?

Hi, I am Marina I am 35 and Blanca is my little sis.

Hi, Im Blanca I'm 24 years old and we are 11 years apart.

- At what age did you start windsurfing?

M: When I was 11, and started to competite
B: I tried when I was 9 but started properly when I was 11 years old.

- Were your parents also windsurfing?

They don't windsurf, they prefer to stay on the beach or ‘en el chiringuito’.

- Did you both work towards competing at a high level in windsurfing?

M: We are training together most of the time, and is my favorite part of training.

B: We used to train together most of the time, until Matteo Iachino arrived in my life.

- How is it to travel to the same events all over the world?

M: Lovely, I love to share this big experience with my little sister, it always has been in my dreams, she is my biggest motivation and who pushes me to keep competing.

B: Lovely, I love to share this big experience with Marina, because we are really close.

- Are you helping each other during an event or are you focusing on your own event only?

M: We always help each other, we have the same equipment and always work together on the tuning and choosing equipment together.

B: First my own, if I’m free and she needs me, I always help.

- What’s a weird habit of your sibling?

Marina has a power nap of 10 mins before partying.

- What do you both have in common?

Almost everything, work, family, hobbies, humor...

Only one word answer possible, your siblings name or the word ‘me’.

Who is faster? Blanca

Who takes longer to get ready to go on the water? I take more time to get to the water (except when Marina have the influencer mode and she wants to do 1000 videos and pictures before going).

Who has more windsurfing gear?

I have more gear because I also have Matteo’s gear.

Who has won more windsurfing medals?

Marina has more medals.

Whose room is a mess? I will say depends of the day but we are both getting better at it.

Thanks Marina and Blanc's. 

Dieter Van der Eyken (Severne / Severne Sails) spent the majority of his summer in El Medano, Tenerife. 

The Belgian, 2015 PWA Freestyle World Champion, continues to compete on both the Freestyle and Wave World Tours and his latest clip is focused purely on wave sailing - shot in El Cabezo where the Tenerife PWA World Cup is usually held. 

You can see Dieter Van der Eyken's latest edit @ https://youtu.be/MlniYCVV9DM

Having been couped up in Poland for two or three months, Justyna Sniady jumped at the first opportunity to escape in the search for wind and waves, which she found in plentiful supply in Gran Canaria...

Justyna Sniady (Naish / Naish Sails / AL360): "I'm currently stuck in quarantine (after arriving in Australia) but have been keeping myself busy trying to go through all the footage from over 3 months of sailing.. almost every day! What a summer it has been in Gran Canaria. There's been only a handful of days I used anything bigger then 3.0 or 3.4. It has been weird to be in Pozo without the PWA World Cup on but it gave me a chance to test my new Naish Force4 sails and Assault Custom Quad boards and I had a blast doing it! I have so much footage that for the purpose of finishing this video before the end of quarantine and... staying sane! I had to give up on going through all of the folders. That means there might be a part two coming.. or maybe the next video will be from here in OZ as next week is looking solid up north :) I have spent quite a bit of time locked up in quarantine or in country lockdown this year due to pandemic and I am so so grateful that the time I did have freedom for was so windy and wavy. You have to love Gran Canaria! I hope you enjoy this edit, and I hope we can all meet in Pozo for the PWA event next year. Stay safe everyone x."

You can see Chicks Can Fly @ youtu.be/cyFS46YqLrk

Struggling with spinouts? Well, luckily Nico Prien (JP / Neilpryde) is on hand to explain not only how to avoid those spinouts, but also the science behind what causes them in the first place.

You can see Nico Prien's latest tutorial @ https://youtu.be/ya1vCfzpvS0

Up next in our 'Siblings' feature are another pair of next generation windsurfers - both of whom compete on the PWA Youth Freestyle World Tours, so without further ado its over to Lina Eržen (Flikka / Duotone) and Val Eržen (Flikka / Duotone). 

- Who are you, how old are you and who is your sibling?

Lina: I am Lina Erzen  and I am 15 years old. I am professional windsurfer from Slovenia.

Val: I am Val Erzen from Slovenia and I am 13 years old.

- At what age did you start windsurfing?

Lina: I started windsurfing when I was about 7 years old.

Val: I started windsurfing when I was 5 years old with my sister Lina.

- Were your parents also windsurfing?
 
Our parents were windsurfing, but just for fun. My father still joins us on the water sometimes!

- Did you both work towards competing at a high level in windsurfing?

When we were little we both started windsurfing just for fun. In 2016 Val joined his first ever windsurfing competition (Martini EFPT Croatia). Since then we both wanted to compete. The feeling of competing and being on tour with friends its just amazing. This year me and my brother did only 3 competitions and to be honest it feels like the season  haven't even started yet.

- How is it to travel to the same events all over the world?

Lina: I am always super exited when we go to some competitions around the world because i know i will meet lots of new friends and also see lots of new places.

Val: I always love to travel around the world for competitions because I always meet new friends, get some new experience and see a lot of new beautiful places.

- Are you helping each other during an event or are you focusing on your own event only?

We train together all the time and help each other on the water and out. When it comes to competitions we always help each other.

- What’s a weird habit of your sibling?

Lina: Whenever we go somewhere with a car my brother always wants to seat in the front also if it's my turn.

Val: My sister when she wakes up always goes to see our cats first never something else. 

- What do you both have in common?

One thing about me and Lina is that we are both super competitive.

- What is the funniest thing that happened on tour together with your sibling?

It was in 2018 at EFPT Brouwersdam competition. It was a day before the competition started. Some of our friends from Slovenia texted us and just said "see you there in a few days". Of course we didn't take it serious. We just remembering that moment coming out of the water and seeing them cheering for us. It felt like we were home!

Only one word answer possible, your siblings name or the word ‘me’...

Who is faster? Val
Who takes longer to get ready to go on the water? Val
Who has more windsurfing gear? Same
Who has won more windsurfing medals? Lina
Who room is a mess? It’s funny but our rooms are most of the time clean

Thanks Lina & Val, keep on pushing the sport and your skills! 

The Meltemi winds continue to blow in Naxos and Lennart Neubauer (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins) has been enjoying the idyllic conditions at his home spot...

Severne: "Lennart Neubauer is one of the most promising talents on the Freestyle scene. With a top16 results on the 2019 PWA tour in the bag, even bigger things were expected of him this year. Due to the pandemic, there was no official international world cup season, but this didn't hold Lennart back from improving his freestyle skills for the upcoming year. After receiving his brand new 2021 Severne Freek sails in Naxos, Lennart took them straight out on the water and sent us back this amazing clip."

You can watch Lennart Neubauer's latest edit @ https://youtu.be/Yt0NBpUAgvA

Maciek Rutkowski is back after a short break with episode 15 of #WINDSURFLIFE. This time the Pole investigates whether a racing board from the 90s can compete with today's offerings.

Maciek Rutkowski (FMX Racing / Challenger Sails): "It's time to dust off the channel and kick things off in style. This time, I'm testing out the 1999 Mistral Windsurfing Board and seeing how it can perform in a real competition. I will be comparing it to the current racing gear, having a look at the differences and similarities and seeing what it's actually like to sail in some real life heats.

The video was shot in March 2020 in Rewa, Poland, during one of the Polish National events."

You can see episode 15 of WINDSURFLIFE @ youtu.be/cIt43e3rhPs

- Who are you, how old are you and who is your sibling?
My name is Tonky Frans (37) and my younger brother is Taty Frans (36). We are no twins!

- At what age did you start windsurfing?
Tonky: I started windsurfing with 11/12 years old.
Taty: I think when I was 11 years old.

- Were your parents also windsurfing?
No…our mom is a nurse and our father is working in construction.

- Did you both work towards competing at a high level in windsurfing?
Taty: I believe it all came natural, when you windsurf everyday and you come to a certain level that you have to go out there and see what all the hours you invest into windsurf is about. Competing at a high level was a dream and the day we had the chance we just took it in full force.

- How is it to travel to the same events all over the world?
Tonky: It’s fun, also in between the years I knew what I was gonna expect in wind or sea conditions. So I was always happy to go to the same events and meet the people for the first year and to see them the next year again.
Taty: It's amazing to me.

- Are you helping each other during an event or are you focusing on your own event only?
Tonky: When is time to help always
Taty: It all depends, I mean if I am out and Tonky is still in, of course it comes natural to help him out, with whatever. I never felt rivalry/ envy or whatever towards Tonky, since we started windsurfing, we are always happy for one another if he beats me that's okay. No hard feelings ever.

- What’s a weird habit of your sibling?
DO the fact that people always confuse Tonky and I for each other counts as weird?

- What do you both have in common?
I guess windsurfing and a lot more.

- What is the funniest thing that happened on tour together with your sibling?
Tonky: Was not funny but when I was too late for my flight from Amsterdam to Vietnam.
Taty: I can't remember at this moment. (shame on me).

Only one word answer possible, your siblings name or the word ‘me’.
Who is faster? Taty
Who takes longer to get ready to go on the water? Me
Who has more windsurfing gear? Taty
Who has won more windsurfing medals? Taty
Who room is a mess? Me

Only one word answer possible, your siblings name or the word ‘me’.
Who is faster? Guess I am.
Who takes longer to get ready to go on the water? Tonky
Who has more windsurfing gear? Me
Who has won more windsurfing medals? Me
Who room is a mess? Tonky

Thanks Tonky & Taty