Fuerteventura - March 2011

We've just come back from Fuerteventura, Canary Island, where we spent one week off... I took the opportunity to try the KiteHero accessory with the GoPro and the video above is the result.
We've been quite lucky: the wind never stopped blowing during the whole week. I managed to kitesurf almost everyday, if we exclude the only day when the wind reached more than 30 knots (getting out with my 10sqm Rebel would have been really crazy).

Let me spend some word about this trip and off-season holiday. We booked the flight ticket, the hotel and car rental really late (just one week in advance). Price was quite ok, especially if we consider that due to the current geopolitical situation in North Africa and Egypt almost all tourists were diverted to Canary Island and most of the hotel are fully booked till October. We stayed at the Melia Gorriones which is in front of the spot, few hundred meters from the Rene Egli Wind and Kite center. The hotel is quite good, food is delicious (well, especially after 4h kitesurfing), some pools for the baby and your couple... maybe too far away from night life (Costa Calma is 10min from there by car, but if you really want to live the Spanish "marcha" you should go to Puerto del Rosario, 45min drive). If you like waveriding I strongly suggest you to go to the north part of the island to El Cotillo and to Corralejo (Flag beach). Unfortunately I discovered this two spots (especially the first one) only the last day we stayed on the island, and they are both incredible. I can't tell you more about flag beach since there were no wind that day. We moved to El Cotillo (which in reality is a small fisherman village) and there were 20/25 knots cross shore, and 2mt waves. It was too late to get into the water so I just stood at the cliff and watched the show.

Broken Kite

I've been waiting for one month and finally, yes, the wind's back again. Unfortunately today a nasty gust lifted my kite... and broke it, somehow. I'm really pissed of...

RC Helicopter and GoPro

Somebody sticked a GoPro Camera to a RC helicopter and took the video above. More or less this is something I would like to do with a Parrot Drone. Nice and interesting project.

I'm sorry but since the last sessions we had at the beginning of January, we didn't have any opportunity to get into water. No wind and very few waves. Luckily this week things will change a little bit, a consistent swell coming from the north is going to hit the Basque coastline. Time to get into the water again.

Mavericks, Injured surfer

Talking about big wave riders: some days ago, Joacob Trette was found unconscious after wiping out at Mavericks, CA. Trette was rescued by a jet ski in the impact zone after being dragged by 25ft wave. Trette was taken to hospital and placed in an induced coma. He has since regained consciousness. 

Francisco Porcella

Tow in at Jaws 2 Nov 2010 from Happysurfer on Vimeo.


Let me spend some words on this guy here. Francisco was born in Sardinia, Italy. His father Pietro was one of the first windsurfer in Italy and it seems that his mother was windsurfing during her 9th month of pregnancy. Can we say that Francisco is one of the youngest windsurfer ever?
During year 2000 he convinced his parents to move to Maui and convert himself in a professional athlete. At age 25, he's a windsurfer, a surfer, and a big wave surfer (which is not the same).
Francisco is now probably the best Italian representative of the PWA tour. There's a reason for that. Just watch the video above...it's not windsurfing, I know, but if you manage to surf a 25ft monster waves you surely have all the skills needed to become a champion. Have fun!

Kelly Slater and Pipes

Slater from Future Enigma on Vimeo.


No wind, no waves during the last two weeks. Let's delight our eyes with this video: Kelly demonstrate, once more, why he's considered the best surfer of all times.

Practicing SUP

Iniciaciòn SUP - Somo, Cantabria - 15.01.2011 from Francesco Fucelli on Vimeo.

Last Saturday Northwind Kite surf school organized a stand-up paddle surf course for beginner in Somo, Cantabria.Thanks to the sunny and warm day and to the fact the course was free of charge lots of people attended. The organization was almost perfect, lots of paddle board available. Instructors divided people in groups so everybody could paddle "out" (actually we stayed in the lagoon for obvious reasons) and have some fun for almost one hour and a half. The video above is the result of this day.
Drawback: I screwed my GoPro... water leaked somehow into the camera housing, salt did the rest.

Great start

What a start! I was just back from Italy where I spent some days with my family and friends, and weather conditions gave me a wonderful surprise: the wind has been blowing strong during the last days allowing us to sail in Kanala and Laida beach.
Not everything went well, anyway: usually southern winds are really gusty there, so you can find yourself sailing with winds ranging from 15 to 30 or more knots. It could be a nightmare. Thanks to god, temperatures at least were higher than the average for the winter season, so I didn't need to wear neoprene gloves and shoes.

On the 5th we've been in Laida sailing with the 10sqm North Rebel kite. Flat water as usual, few kites in the lagoon (actually only two!) and all the space to jump and have fun. The session lasted only one hour and a half, then the wind dropped. Time to get back home.
On the 7th we decided for Kanala, two km upwind Laida (see map here). To get to the spot, you need to park your car on the side of the main road and follow the path down to the beach. There are several steps to get there: not a problem before you start your kite session, but a big issue when you're coming back tired and with all you gear. Get prepared! Since we didn't had any idea of the wind conditions, we brought two sails with us (for me there was a 13sqm Crossbow and a 10sqm rebel). Once arrived the wind was so gusty it was almost impossible to sail. I mounted the crossbow and waited patiently.... till some fresh wind appeared. Good. It was not the best session overall, of course, but ok, who complains? At least I can't say I did several steps for nothing...
On the 8th a common friend told us that a photo shooting session with the GIN kiteboarding team was scheduled in Laida. When we arrived, the wind was already blowing strong, but the tide was so low there were few space left to sail... if the spot get crowded as usual it could be dangerous to sail there.  So we decided for Kanala once again. This time conditions were almost OK. I went into the water for the first session, which lasted one hour and a half. Then the GIN team appeared on the spot, and I took the opportunity to shoot some pictures of those crazy guys. Once the cameras stopped we get back to the water: at half past three, almost low tide and a terrible gusty wind, I keep on sailing till it was possible. The last gust (>30kn) scared me a little, I think I made the highest jump ever... but it was too dangerous, time to pack everything and put an end to the session. What a wonderful start!

Why Kelly won 10 ASP world titles

At age 38, and still ruling in the ASP tour. Almost 20 years have passed since the first world title, and this guy still rocks. This sequence, taken out from a Hurley Pro Championship video, show one astonishing maneuver: how to loose your board while riding a double overhead wave...

and NO! wait, he's still there (and everyone wondering how he made it...). I love this guy!

Wish you a Windy New Year 2011!