Portugal to host 2008 Windsurfing Grand Prix

The 2008 Portugal Windsurfing Grand Prix will take place in Sines, between the 6th and 10th May.

 

This is an important year for windsurfing. The Formula Windsurfing Grand Prix series goes global. Where better to start the world tour than in Portugal, home of so many international events and championships.

 

At this years Sines-Portugal Grand Prix we will be unveiling our bid to represent olympic windsurfing in 2012: the Formula One-Design.
Overpower have consistantly delivered quality events; and we look forward to a long association with the municipality of Sines.

 

Check out the NoticeOfRace

 

SOURCE: IWA

Günzlein Normen conquers the Toro Andaluz

Tarifa, often called the European capitol of windsurfing didn't disappoint us at all. What more an you wish for the first event in a new season? Nothing!!! Sure a second double elimination would have been great, sure a bit more stable condition would have made it easier but as windsurfers we're used to life with compromise and what we got here again was just perfect!!! No doubt…

 

Normen takes home a lot of points for the overall title, that's for sure. He is the one that the guys will be chasing now but as the young German is a pro he will handle the pressure for sure. Competing for many years on the tour, having a lot of experience he will take good care to stay in leading position.

 

Kevin Mevissen (RRD) on the second place is fully on fire, coming to Spain he had not much freestyle practise on his account, you might say none. His awesome performance on the water infected him again and its clear that we will see him on some other efpt stops as well.

 

Antxon Otaegui (JP/NP) takes the third place, amazing start for the Spanish rider. Coming from the cannaries you can't say that he's a local so it was not easier for him at all to compete here and the third place shows how well Antxon is prepared and motivated to go on tour this year.

 

The man of the event has to be Steven van Broeckhoven though, almost unknown to European riders he kinda appeared out of nowhere, eliminating big names all over the ladder. The Belgian magazine cant wait to get him close for some interviews and reports how he did but we can tell you straight away: GREAT!!!

 

The first event of a season is always a good place to see what to expect over the rest of the season. In this case Tarifa was amazing, the well known riders in the event have to watch out for the newcomers and also know now which moves they need to get in first positions.
so the next weeks before Podersdorf will be full of practising and preparing for that one, especially as it will be a combination with the PWA.

 

We sort of had a foretaste of what to expect, Raimondo Gasperini (Starboard), who was practising in Jeri this year started a project to support young talents and he brought some brasilian hotshots as well as Italiian styler to the Andalusian beach. The X-Ray project is fantastic; supporting riders to give them some event experience is just great. Although the brasillians cant become European Champion obviously they still improve their contest sills and push the level massive…

 

Wow, we had a immense competition fleet and its so hard to mention all riders, 35 riders from 15 nations hit the water leaving impressed spectators behind. Moves like double flaka, ponch, switch chachoos, super high shakas seem to become standard and if a rider is not able to do it at the beginning of the event he practises them between the heats and shows (or tries to show) it in his next heat. The excitement in this competition was amazing so if you have the chance to visit a event near you, that's definitely something you should do.

 

As the forecast for the last day was not good the complete (and it was complete) efpt family met at the "café del mar" in tarifa city. A super nice place, stylish as hell so it was just the perfect place to celebrate the start of the tour and the end of the event. The group went crazy all night and could only be stopped by the fact that the police shut down the place in the morning hours. Nevertheless the guys continued in tarifa downtown and surprisingly were all present at the today's super session at one pm. For the last time in this year they showed the crowds on the beach what first class freestyle is all about!!! Smiling faces all over the place showed once again that they're not just amazing competitors but a bunch of good friends who live for this sport, travel the continent and just want to know who will be the best in the end.

 

Hard to say our "good buys" once again to the friendly people who organize the event and support us with all we need to run the competition. But gypsies as we are we have to go and can only promise to be back next year…

 

As great and fantastic it was the stories told around the world about tarifa and the region of Andalusia will be just the best. We highly recommend this place to everyone in Europe and around the world. Every windsurfer and kitesurfer who wants to have a good time, great conditions and stay in a place which is fully addicted to water sport will be damn happy to come here!!!

 

RESULTS:

 

01 Günzlein Normen GER G-186 JP/NP
02 Mevissen Kevin NED H 79 RRD
03 Otaegui Antxon ESP E-169 JP/NP
04 Van Broeckhoven Steven BEL B72 F2
05 Roßmeier Michael AUT AUT 256 Exocet/the Loft
06 Popretinskiy Egor RUS RUS-11 JP/NP
07 de Weerd Remko NED H-23 Tabou/Gaastra
07 Paskowski Andre GER G-2 Fantic/North Sails
09 da silva danilo menez BRA bra 83 Fanatic/North Sails
09 Olandersson Andreas SWE S-66 Fanatic/Simmer Style
09 Stråhlén Niklas SWE S-4444 RRD/Simmer Style
09 Sumereder Michael AUT AUT-9 RRD/North
13 Akgazcyan Nicolas FRA F 400 Starboard/Gun Sails
13 Kosmowski Jakub POL POL 288 Tabou/Gaastra
13 souza de pedro edvan BRA bra 250
13 Žan Andraž SLO SLO 49 RRD/the Loft
17 De Rycker Roeland BEL B67 The Loft
17 Dixon Colin GBR k 99 Tabou/Gaastra
17 Forstenlechner Lorenz AUT Aut-7 F2
17 Janssen Kenny BEL B34
17 Kruse Stefan GER G 360 F2
17 Petrisie Ruben/Bang NED NB-50 Exocet/the Loft
17 Slabe Tine SLO SLO 6 F2/Naish
17 Spadea Nicola ITA I 44 Starboard
25 Alvarez Mauricio AUT AUT 86 Tabou/Gaastra
25 Caers Jelle BEL B 47 F2/the Loft
25 Caers Rolien BEL B74 F2
25 Pollet Arthur FRA BRA218
25 scheuble pete SUI sui 969 JP/NP
25 Seyss Alexander AUT aut-61 Naish/Naish
25 teixeira francisco samuel BRA bra 64 Starboard
33 Cervero Rafael ESP E-13 The Loft
33 Gasperini Raimondo ITA i 157 Starboard
33 Van der Eyken Dieter BEL B35 Starboard

 

SOURCE: EFPT

Kite Gen to compete with nuclear power

Kite Gen is pioneering a revolution on how to produce clean energy from wind, with the aim not only to compete within the current wind industry but, as still too rarely happens with renewable sources, to move the battlefield into the territory of fossil fuels.

 

Today's technology is just capable of scratching the surface, in few favourable points, of the enormous energy field contained into the wind (see Wind data). Wind turbines cannot reach higher and touch altitude wind, they are already close to their dimensional limits: difficultly hubs can be positioned at more than 100 m above the ground, the holding structure grows exponentially heavier, more unstable and above all more expensive with the height.

 

This situation may be compared with what happened in oil drilling, where only after having found better and better solutions it was possible to move away from the ground - downwards, in this case - and to reach the deepest and most profitable fields. To help visualizing the existing unexploited potential, just consider that the flight prohibited area over a nuclear power plant can easily get to contain 1 GW of wind power, equal to the power of the plant itself.

 

To reach altitude wind and exploiting its higher kinetic energy, the Kite Gen project starts from a radical change of perspective: no longer heavy and static plants like current wind turbines, but instead light, dynamic and intelligent ones. In the air, to subtract energy from the wind at an altitude of 800 / 1 000 m, power kites, semi-rigid automatically piloted high efficiency air foils. On the ground, all the heavy machinery for power generation. To connect the two systems, high resistance lines transmitting the traction of the kites and at the same time controlling their direction and angle to the wind.

 

SOURCE: Kite Gen

Flexifoil presents Ion3 hybrid kite

The Hybrid with Teeth

 

The Ion3 is the next logical step in the progression of the Ion range, delivering the highest performance hybrid kite on the market. The Ion3 retains the versatility the Ion series is recognized for, but ups the stakes with a kite that will help you push your riding to places you hadn't even considered.

 

The Ion3 will maximise any wind conditions, whatever the discipline, leaving you feeling in control and free to unleash your true potential. Its massive wind range delivers more de-power, an aggressively responsive performance and faster turns to take you exactly where you want to go. The Ion3 is a kite which will give you the added confidence to ride higher and harder, simply through its level of controllable performance.

 

Light steering with a solid driving turn and lightning quick through the window, the Ion3 takes the hybrid design and gives it more bite. Whether you like smacking waves on a strapless board or boosting through the ceiling on the latest twin-tip, the Ion3's performance will free your riding and allow you to maximise your session.
Tested and approved in a huge range of global conditions from the light winds of the US east coast to the sand-blasting winds of the Brazilian hotspots, the Ion3 is the world-traveling kitesurfer's dream.

The Ion3 is available from March 2008 in six versatile sizes - 7m, 8.5m, 10.5m, 12.5m, 14.5m and 16.5m so you can fly whatever the wind conditions.
4 and 5-line options on the bar give you two differing configurations to suit your riding style and you can choose from three different Flexifoil colourways.

 

SOURCE: Flexifoil

Kitesurfers fighting against Power

 

 

 

Kitesurfers feel that OÜ Nelja Energia puts their lives at risk.
 

 

The company has set in place kaytserferov favourite, on the northern cape Ristna in Hiiumaa, with the mast anemorumbometrom. Against the mast no one has danger fastening ropes, which may add kite surfers.
 
If someone still does not know Kite Surf - so if simplistically say, when people dressed in suits on the board for surfing on the waves slide and pulls his kite, or air snakes.
"First of all, it's dangerous so long straps that can be entangled in Dublin tether mast, and then the kite becomes impossible to manage. He can draw on track for a "ropes - has expressed concern kaytserfer Yaano Martin Ots.
 
In a more three-page treatment steam tens unions investigates why when installing masts not taken into account the requests and suggestions of experts on safety surfers.
 
Power workers argue that they did not receive any offers, the more so that the mast is installed there, for two years, and its installation consistent with the service of environmental protection and township government. Try, razberis those rights.
 
"We contacted the Estonian Union Kitesurfing lessons and trying to find a compromise, especially on the issue of security - noted director of the company has approved the mast Martin Kruus. -- As one of the steps we are prepared to reduce the period to one year of measurement, and to enhance the security necessary to install warning signs. "
 
"It is clear that the responsibility for the safety of himself kaytserfer, evaluating potential risks. Our mast is a factor that must be taken into account. Other facilities located on the bank of trees, rocks, buildings, electric lines, parked cars, even when other people have also provided a threat "- adds Kruus, who hoped to find a common language with surfers

Kitesurfers fighting against Power

 

 

 

Kitesurfers feel that OÜ Nelja Energia puts their lives at risk.
 

 

The company has set in place kaytserferov favourite, on the northern cape Ristna in Hiiumaa, with the mast anemorumbometrom. Against the mast no one has danger fastening ropes, which may add kite surfers.
 
If someone still does not know Kite Surf - so if simplistically say, when people dressed in suits on the board for surfing on the waves slide and pulls his kite, or air snakes.
"First of all, it's dangerous so long straps that can be entangled in Dublin tether mast, and then the kite becomes impossible to manage. He can draw on track for a "ropes - has expressed concern kaytserfer Yaano Martin Ots.
 
In a more three-page treatment steam tens unions investigates why when installing masts not taken into account the requests and suggestions of experts on safety surfers.
 
Power workers argue that they did not receive any offers, the more so that the mast is installed there, for two years, and its installation consistent with the service of environmental protection and township government. Try, razberis those rights.
 
"We contacted the Estonian Union Kitesurfing lessons and trying to find a compromise, especially on the issue of security - noted director of the company has approved the mast Martin Kruus. -- As one of the steps we are prepared to reduce the period to one year of measurement, and to enhance the security necessary to install warning signs. "
 
"It is clear that the responsibility for the safety of himself kaytserfer, evaluating potential risks. Our mast is a factor that must be taken into account. Other facilities located on the bank of trees, rocks, buildings, electric lines, parked cars, even when other people have also provided a threat "- adds Kruus, who hoped to find a common language with surfers

Timo Mullen

Speed is so hot right now!!!!
It has just been confirmed that Timo Mullen equalled the Irish Speed Record going at 40,44 knots, the same speed than the current one hold by John Kenny.
Timo knew he was going really fast (he was only on 4,7m Severne Red Code, what shows how hard the conditions were), but he had to wait all week for the confirmation from the WSSRC.
It took a while for the WSSRC to confirm it. The day of the run the weather was pretty miserable, with loads of rain that made really difficult to get good video footage from the sailors, which is necessary for the official confirmation, but finally it could be confirmed. Now John Kenny and Timo Mullen need to fight to get ahead in the Irish Speed Record competition.
With this new achievement, the Driven by the Wind event at "the Ray", in Southend, is getting all the attention from the speed sailors.