A fast edit of the Morocco AWT 2016 in may, always so cool to share good times with the Moroccan people, they are so nice!!!! A big thanks to my family, my sponsors, and all of my friends for their support!
Two world titles, one of the best sailors at Ho’okipa and a constant threat to the PWA wave podium,
Marcilio ‘BRAWZINHO’ Browne is widely respected amongst his peers as a driving force in modern wavesailing. Born in Brazil, he made the decision to turn ‘pro’ at 12 years of age and has since matured into one of the most focussed and competitive sailors on tour. Now resident for most of the year in Maui and heavily involved in R&D for his sponsors Goya,
John Carter caught up with the champion for the lowdown on his new island lifestyle.
Words & PhotosJohn Carter
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JC: Describe a typical day for you in Maui?
MB: Normally I wake up around 7am and do some cross training before breakfast, either running, cycling or in the gym. Than back at home I eat breakfast, answer my emails and go down to Ho’okipa around 11. I normally stay there until 5pm or later if it is firing, but I take breaks in-between sessions. After I arrive home, I do a stretch and roll out before dinner. Than eat some food and try to watch a movie, but I normally pass out during the first 20 minutes as I am so tired from sailing.
JC: How did you develop those crazy tweaked airs you have been throwing at Ho’okipa?
MB: There was a day that the wind was really light and I was going to try an air off a really small wave, but could not really tweak it. So I used my head to try to dip that low so that my legs would come up. It was a kind of accident. A few days later I saw a really cool shot somebody had taken of it. So after that I have been trying a few more when the right set up comes along. I am not totally sure about those head dip airs, sometimes the board does not tweak as much as when you do a regular tweaked air. It really depends on the set up of the wave. Some waves help you tweak the board around further. If you have a wave where you can go vertical and you are not going too fast, the head dip helps to get the tail up higher. When you swing your head down low your legs naturally go up more. The most important thing is the speed I have when I am approaching the lip. If I am not going too fast, then that helps to tweak the board a little further. Sometimes I can be completely upside down, it is a sick feeling. I am almost looking back at the rocks and the photographers on the hill although I don’t really see anything in the middle of a move; it is all black to me!
“ I just keep on telling myself that all I have to do is to enjoy my windsurfing and that usually helps me into a positive mindset. Then I end up sailing better. ”
JC: What style of turns are you working on at the moment?
MB: We had a long stretch of no wind here in the winter so I hardly sailed for two months. Right now I am trying to get back into my rhythm of sailing every day. I try to focus on sailing with speed plus I like to try and link more than one move per wave and just try and do all the moves faster and with more power. I really want to be tuned up also since I have not sailed much. In my turns I try and get the board all the way around, that is my goal. I don’t want to finish the turn on the half. I want to go all the way round back into the white water. That is what I have in mind, it does not always work. I look at surfing turns a lot; guys like Mick Fanning, Pancho Sullivan, Kelly Slater, there are so many amazing ones now. I like surfers who ride with style, speed and power.
I think the way that windsurfers read the wave nowadays is very similar to pro surfers. I would like to draw lines like they do in pro surfing. Those guys are obviously a step ahead because they are faster, but that is what I want out of my turns. That is what I look up to and I would love to link a couple of turns together that look that way. It depends on the day, most of the waves that we sail when we windsurf we obviously have wind, which makes those waves a lot choppier and it would be amazing to sail a wave with a clean face. I’d love to sail clean waves at Bells beach or Cape Verde which is the closest we get to perfect smooth surfing waves. A lot of the waves we sail are open ocean waves meaning that they have big chop and can be all over the place, even Ho’okipa! You have to make the most of it; here and there you can find a good set up for one or two sick turns.
JC: Do you look for jumps at Ho’okipa?
MB: I don’t really look to jump in Hawaii, especially Ho’okipa. I have a board I really love right now for wave riding so I don’t like jumping on it. Sometimes if I am frustrated with the crowd and the wind is good I let out my frustration and switch up to a jump session for a little bit. So when the wind is howling and it is crowded and I can’t get the waves I want, then it’s jump time! There have been some moments this spring when there have been a lot of people in the water. Even if you go all the way outside, wait for a set and come in on the wave, there could be four guys on the same swell! For jumping you don’t have to rely on anyone so you can just go and jump. Because the wind is offshore at Ho’okipa, you can get those gusts that swing in really strong and it means you can go really high!
JC: What is it like sailing alongside Levi and Keith Teboul? How do they inspire you?
MB: It is amazing, I grew up watching them, the first time I came to Hawaii, I felt weird even saying hi as those guys were my idols. Sailing with them everyday, and having the chance to watch from close is a dream. Those guys are so solid on the water and with them there are no mellow days at Ho’okipa. Every time they sail they go for it harder than the day before and that is what I love about Maui, the way riders really push each other. I don’t think you get that anywhere else in the world.
JC: What moves are you dreaming of right now and what sort of conditions do you need to need to pull them off?
MB: I have been dreaming about the double air taka; for that I need strong offshore winds and clean waves, so I can really get all the speed and calculate where I am going with precision. But more than anything I am trying to improve my top to bottom sailing, I just look forward to try and perform powerful fast turns; in my opinion that is easily the hardest part of wave riding, performing sick turns consistently well!
JC: How many times during a Ho’okipa session do you get the perfect set up to bust out the moves you want?
MB: Sometimes it takes days to score the perfect set up, sometimes it happens a couple times per session. Mostly it depends on wind and swell direction and the crowds. It is easier to find set ups for goiters and takas I would say. Getting the ideal set up for a big rail turn or a carving 360 takes more time, at least for me. The thing is, Ho’okipa as a location is great, the waves are good, consistent and super fun to sail, but most days they are choppy, and to find those clean spots is hard. To nail a rail to rail turn your board has to be on the water the whole time, the cleaner it is that becomes easier obviously. For takas and goiters you are spinning in the air, so all you need is to find a lip that can you push you up and that’s it.
JC: What boards are you riding right now?
MB: At Ho’okipa I ride an 86 litre Goya quad pretty much every day. I love quads, the speed, the projection, the drive. They really accelerate as you turn, without requiring too much wind on the sail, and that is what I love about them, the forward drive they have. Also the quads are great for finishing turns all the way around, without skipping out towards the end.
JC: Are you pushing the limits every time you windsurf or are some sessions magical and you feel you can really cut loose?
MB: It really depends; all sessions are different for me. It depends on the conditions, on how rested I am and what my goals are for the day. If the conditions are firing, then windsurfing is instantly fun. A decent session still can happen anytime. And on other days we can all feel a little bit off. I don’t know, things don’t always come together as we want them too; you can get out of sync or a million other factors. I try not to put pressure on myself, like ‘I have’ to land my moves. I just keep on telling myself that all I have to do is to enjoy my windsurfing and that usually helps me into a positive mindset. Then I end up sailing better. If I go out thinking that I have to land this and that it usually takes the fun out of it and I don’t sail so well. I think there are so many variables in wave sailing that you cannot plan what you are going to do. What makes people improve the most is to love what they are doing and therefore be excited about it. That is why it is fun sailing with Levi and Keith; we enjoy it and naturally push each other.
JC: Do you treat every session as training for the world tour or are you ever just sailing for fun or for photos?
MB: Sometimes before the events I train a bit for heats and stuff. I also try to get a few hours sailing either under powered or over powered, that helps as sometimes you just have to deal with having the wrong sized gear during events. Some locations it is hard to change gear at the beach, or the wind goes up and down a lot, so you just have to do your best with what you have. But my favourite thing to do is trying to collect video footage. I love watching action segments from other riders, so I also get fired up to try and get a couple of good moves on camera and work on making edits. That also shows me a lot about my sailing and makes me improve I think, there is nothing better than seeing your mistakes. I promise that video is way more effective than someone else telling you what you are doing wrong.
JC: How conscious are you that there are photographers always shooting at Ho’okipa; does that effect the way you sail?
MB: I am very conscious as they are right there at the end bowl, sometimes we get really close. I love getting good shots and working with photographers. There is a lot to work with when Hookipa is on. First of all the crowds, getting a wave alone is not easy. Apart from that the wave has a million different sections and can break also deeper on every single set depending on the size; it is so hard to line up a nice water shot, but when you do, it’s very rewarding too. When I am shooting with someone, I do try to line up as much as possible to try tricks where they are in the water, but sometimes it is really tough. I would say if you get three or four decent shots in a water shoot session, you should consider that a great day!
JC: What sailors do you like to watch or ride with at Ho’okipa and why do they inspire you?
MB: Kauli, Levi, Victor, Keith, Ricardo, Graham, Polakow, Swift and Kevin Pritchard. Those are the main guys I like to watch and the guys I love to ride with. When any of those guys are in town and Ho’okipa is firing you can bet your bottom dollar they will be out there shredding. Riding Ho’okipa is what we love to do, it’s our ‘playground’ and that is what many of us get paid for; yep we are living the dream!.
“ Riding Ho’okipa is what we love to do, it’s our ‘playground’ and that is what many of us get paid for; yep we are living the dream! ”
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Part three in the TWS series of instructional videos – TWS Wave Technique Series together with Marcilio Browne and professional windsurf coach Colin Dixon www.windsurfcoaching.com
How to get a better bottom turn and top turn. How to get massive spray and as many turns on one wave as possible. From hand position to your knee and body position. This will make your cut backs much better!
Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the loveliest tints of azure. Consider also the devilish brilliance and beauty of many of its most remorseless tribes, as the dainty embellished shape of many species of sharks. Consider, once more, the universal cannibalism of the sea; all whose creatures prey upon each other, carrying on eternal war since the world began.
Words FINN MULLEN, CHARLES ‘CHARLIBOY’ VANDEMEULEBROUCKE //
Photos TIM MCKENNA, BEN THOUARD, CHARLES ‘CHARLIBOY’ VANDEMEULEBROUCKE Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Consider all this; and then turn to the green, gentle, and most docile earth; consider them both, the sea and the land; and do you not find a strange analogy to something in yourself? For as this appalling ocean surrounds the verdant land, so in the soul of man there lies one insular Tahiti, full of peace and joy, but encompassed by all the horrors of the half-known life. God keep thee! Push not off from that isle, thou canst never return!” – Herman Melville, Moby Dick. American author Herman Melville saw Tahiti as paradise, literally and metaphorically, but what is it like to actually live and windsurf there. Charles ‘Charliboy’ Vandemeulebroucke is a French physiotherapist/chiropractor and windsurfer that moved to Tahiti’s famous break of Teahupo’o four years ago. He tells us his reflective tale of life at his adopted home.
“I wish I was not working today, I would even say that today I wish I wasn’t living in Teahupo’o. Living in ‘paradise’ isn’t all play and no work; it just makes those working days harder! It’s 7am, on my way to the office …one of those days you just don’t want to go, as like most of the days here, heaven is just a mile away. The pristine waves are thundering on the reef, I can hear them and I can see them behind every tree. Crystal clear blue water with a wash of white on the reef behind. I wish I didn’t have 12 patients this morning and the same in the afternoon. I wish time would fast forward to my lunch break; I would drive back home and prepare to battle the waves like a gladiator before his fight.
Every 20 minutes I’m tracking and checking the wind and waves on my phone, trying to predict the weather and figure out the best options to sail. I wish my heart could calm down. I wish I could sail Teahupo’o today but I know I have to wait for the conditions to be right. Swell too west and you’ll get swallowed by the west bowl. Wind too light and you’ll be stuck in the impact zone. I wish I could sail Teahupo’o and survive and my brand new gear survive it too!
I wish I could have a clear sunny sky and trade winds to go with that perfect swell. Get back home, get in the speedboat to take me out and have the spot to myself. I wish I could rig my one and only Goya Fringe 5.0 and my Quatro Quad, my best tools to knife into the glassy bowls. I wish I could have the best session of my windsurfing life. And hopefully I’ll get pics from Master photographer Tim McKenna to remember it by. And if things go well I wish I could get back to work on time without bloody cuts. I wish I wasn’t dreaming. I wish I was living a perfect day. I wish I was today!”
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“ Living in ‘paradise’ isn’t all play and no work; it just makes those working days harder! ” CHARLES ‘CHARLIBOY’ VANDEMEULEBROUCKE
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THE LOW-DOWN The One remains in the Goya line up as their thruster freewave performer for use in any environment, from flat water to coastal chop and into waves. The series has been extended with the addition of two new small sizes to compliment the five already in the range, with each size produced solely in the brand’s Pro Carbon construction. The 105 is the second largest and comes supplied with an MFC thruster configuration to improve versatility, complimenting its other excellent fittings, including easily adjustable MFC straps and Varidens deckpads. The outline of the 105 is as distinctive as its graphics, with a narrow rounded tail shape tapering to wide shoulders, before narrowing quickly to a pointed nose. The deck of the 105 is domed evenly, accentuating what seems like relatively little rocker in the nose, whilst the rails in the shoulders and nose are very rounded.
BRAND CLAIM “Fast rockers and narrow tails provide you with way more time in the air. On the wave or in flat water, speed is what excites us, so our first and foremost focus throughout the development of the new One has been to leave the water behind for as long as possible. Applying a narrower, more parallel tail outline and sharper rails, balances velocity with control.”
PERFORMANCE Having tried the 105 last year and been impressed with its manoeuvre-oriented nature, it would be interesting to see how it compared against the new breed of crossover contenders in the group. Supplied here with a 28cm MFC Freewave fin, we tried the board in flat-water and coastal chop conditions initially. Compact and balanced underfoot at rest, it is capable of carrying a 6.5m sail with ease and responds instantly as power is applied, accelerating smoothly, the straps easy to find. It doesn’t possess a particular ‘blasting’ character, encouraging a more upright stance over the board, yet its low shoulders and nose help it to hug the water’s surface, making it easy to trim and control. It has a lively and active feel, the fin providing plenty of traction, whilst the dome of the tail and the excellent deckpads and straps provide plenty of connection and feel through the feet. And it’s this feel that the One should really be praised for. For the progressing rider it is certainly inspiring, cutting a safe and secure path through the water, with a real sense of control to balance its alert personality. You can just feel the board loves to be put on its rail. Carving transitions come easy, the rails doing most of the work for you. Put the thruster set up in the board before taking it out into a wave break and the responsive feel becomes even more defined. The 105 is undoubtedly one of the most capable in the group, with manners that a dedicated wave board would be proud of. It points upwind well, feeling compact underfoot as you boost the inevitable air. On the wave it carries its speed through the turn effortlessly, transitioning from rail to rail in full confidence and releasing cleanly on the top turn. It certainly wouldn’t look out of place as a light wind stick in a dedicated wave rider’s quiver, such is its ability.
THE VERDICT The One takes Freewave to the next level, coming into its own when tuned to take on a wave break. Balancing ease and practicality with a loose lively nature, it is has the carving potency to match its eye-catching appearance.
Test Editor Tris Best // Second Testers Maurin Rottenwalter & Joe North
Photos
Alex Best //
Test location Portland Harbour
Small freeride boards have their work cut out for them. The demand on their ability is high, but from two potentially very conflicting directions. The word ‘freeride’ gives it away in the first instance – the boards should be easy to use. Easy to step on, easy to plane and comfortable for long periods of use (including over varied terrain). They should glide through carving transitions as if on rails, tutoring those that are at the stage of progressing their cornering, and forgiving clumsy footwork or misuse of the rig’s power. But in addition to all this, the boards NEED TO BE FUN! After all, that is why we windsurf isn’t it – to have fun? And striking that balance right between ease of use and a fun captivating ride is the million dollar conundrum that is often hard to assess at the developmental stage, not least because the goal posts are different for every sailor.
This test was originally published in the March 2017 issue.
Let’s look at it another way – all the brands that have submitted boards for this test also have a freerace and/or slalom board range in their 2017 line-up. That is to say that their in-house shapers are more than capable of designing and shaping no-compromise boards that will be competitive at national and international circuits … and be better classed as hell-raisers for the nervous recreational rider! So performance is not an issue. Everyone can design a fast, electrifying platform. The trick therefore is to build into the design a large dose of practicality and control that enables the performance to come easy. There is nothing more fun than racing your peers and passing them as if you’re cruising and they’re fighting. Everyone has visions of grandeur in their mind when they’re sailing – that they’ve reached speeds as fast as the local pro, or landed an aerial that Campello would be proud of. But if it comes easy, it encourages the rider to push harder next time. Get the balance wrong and it feels like the board is holding the rider’s progression back … and that’s when it soon finds itself at the bottom of the favouritism pile, soon to be listed on eBay. In the not too distant past, there was a major board brand that initiated a marketing campaign, stating that it was the ‘family brand’. Whilst with good intent (promoting a community feel etc), it was a disaster for one simple reason. Even if an individual was a family guy and could only get on the water when commitments permitted, when he did get out there, he wanted to feel that he was pushing boundaries, part of the whole attraction to this radical sport of windsurfing. If a brand’s design can make sailors think that they are on the limits … they’ll be hooked. And above all, they’re sure to be having fun every time they go on the water.
FINDINGS The first obvious point worth noting is that the wide-thin concept is well established and not going anywhere. It compliments both divisions of the ease/fun balance, the extra width (and flat deck) making the board easier to use, whilst the reduced thickness makes the board’s volume work harder. It means experienced riders can realistically look at lower volume boards and therefore opt for a more agile platform for the same wind range as their old freeride board. The second observation is that every board here has a mass of footstrap placement options. Vary your stance on the board and you can dramatically alter its character. Every board here can be fine-tuned for the individual pilot and it is well worth spending time tinkering and getting the strap positions just right for you. Encouragingly, one design variable that has (unwittingly?) been agreed upon between the brands is the fin box type and fin size. The Power Box is used in every board here … and all bar the Tabou are supplied with 36cm fins. The fin shape is definitely varied though – more on that in the individual reviews.
So the biggest variable in the ease/fun balancing game is you, the rider, and the demands you have. In analysing your own requirements (and this is the part where you need to be brutally honest with yourself), only then can you begin to narrow the field to the right platform for you. You could be a progressing rider – you may well still own your first 140-150L ‘short-board’ and are looking to compliment it with a smaller platform for the stronger wind days. You may be an experienced rider (a weekend warrior, or someone returning to the sport after time away), looking for a board that just gets you on the water with minimal fuss, so that you can enjoy the precious moments you have. Bottom line is – if you’re looking at a 100-105L platform, you’re actually already a very good sailor – undoubtedly water starting and having a stab at carve gybes at the very least. There are some fantastic platforms in the line-up in this review – choose for where and how you sail, not where and how you dream to sail.
SUMMARY The Fanatic Gecko is the veteran amongst the ranks, having been around nigh on since the inception of the wide-thin freeride path. It is a stunningly easy, forgiving board to use and would make a great tutor for the progressing rider. Fanatic are quick to point out that they haven’t been standing still for the last few years though, and also have the all-new Blast in their range – a board with a real performance base, evolving from the new ‘compact’ design concept first seen in their Stubby wave boards. We shall find out more next month when the Blast 130 takes to the stage in the Freerace test. The only other ‘old’ design here is the Starboard Atom IQ, the 104 shape now in its second year of production. With plenty of feature and fitting refinements for the new season however, it is as if it is a new board, providing incredible blasting comfort once you tap into its unique feel underfoot. All the other designs tested are new for 2017. The Goya Volar and Tabou Rocket Wide are the two stand out designs, pushing the wide-thin concept to new highs. Super stable at rest, they plane effortlessly, accelerate at will and feel electrifying to sail … whilst actually remaining perfectly in control at all times, and always possess the manners to relax into an upright stance if desired. The choice between the two is a tough call, but boils down to the style of the ride and the type of feedback you yearn for. The JP Australia is an involving board to sail, dynamite upwind and a lot of fun through the turns. Just get an extra fin to really explore its full wind range. And that leaves the Firemove from RRD. Now into its third generation, the board that really set the wide-thin snowball rolling has altered its course away from that of most of its rivals. The Firemove is much more about manoeuvre-oriented sailing than simple straight-line blasting. Happy in any environment, it will encourage the rider to explore and develop skills rather than simply race in comfort from A to B.
MICRO GUIDE : DUNKERBECK PRO CENTER, BONAIRE, DUTCH CARIBBEAN
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DUNKERBECK PRO CENTER BONAIRE, DUTCH CARIBBEAN
THE LOW DOWN:
Bonaire, located in the South Caribbean, is outside of the hurricane belt, but still makes use of the constant ocean winds. Windsurfers gather in the east of the island, where the famous Lac Bay lagoon is found.
CONDITIONS AND WHEN TO GO:
The huge Lac Bay lagoon in Bonaire boasts shallow and warm waters. This means space for a windsurfer of any level! The winds are constant all year round, which makes Bonaire one of the best spots for windsurfing for the entire family!
LOCAL SPOT:
The Lac Bay lagoon right in front of the Dunkerbeck Pro Center is loved by beginners as well as advanced windsurfers, due to its safety, space and onshore ocean winds, with a reef that shelters the bay from ocean swell! It’s perfect for any level!
ABOUT THE CENTRE:
The Dunkerbeck Pro Center offers Starboard, Goya and Simmer Style rentals, and professional instruction for any level. The centre even has an option for ones interested in learning or renting foiling! The centre also organizes clinics for children, as well as private lessons with headsets. Everything is served with a Caribbean smile!
WHERE TO STAY:
The centre is located in Sorobon Beach Resort. The resort is relaxed beach wellness accommodation with fully equipped apartments. You can find a beach bar, restaurant, spa and a beach yoga deck, with daily classes. An unforgettable experience!
2XS® DEMO WEEKEND + KING OF THE TRENCH – 20/21ST OCT 2018 – WEST WITTERING
Club Vass and 2XS® will be running the UKWA National Title freestyle event alongside the 2XS®Demo weekend. It will turn into a tow event if the wind is light. Club Vass Team will be here in force over the weekend to add this event to our demo weekend. We are expecting some of the UK’s hottest freestylers including
Max Rowe, Jamie Howard, Adam Simms, Nick Hibdige, Andy Chambers, Ollie Townsend, Sam Green, Claire Elliot, Heidi Jabbari and Sarah Jackson.
The
2XS® Demo is back for 2018 – over the weekend we are excited about the new 2019 gear and it gives you not only the chance to talk to the suppliers but also understand how the gear works and try the product before you buy!
Over the weekend there will a free BBQ lunch Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting)
Party sat night theme 1980s starts at 9 .00pm Old House at Home West Wittering – wear plenty of neon. We will have test kit from –Ezzy, RRD, Goya, Quatro, Fanatic, Duotone, Slingshot, Starboard, RRD, Foils, JP Custom, GA sails, Tabou, Ozone, RRD kites, Dakine, ION – Windsurf, Kitesurf, SUP and Foiling.
Register at the 2XS Club office before you demo. We will be selling off our 2018 Demo Gear over the weekend – so if you are looking for some great priced gear please contact sales@2xs.co.uk call on 01243 513077 . Location 2XS®,West Wittering Beach PO20 8AU.
2XS have the new 2020 models from Goya and Quatro arriving at their Test Centre at West Wittering beach – Book a “test drive” on one of the following models:
Quatro Power Pro
Quatro Cube Pro
Goya Custom 4 Pro Surfwave Quad
Goya Custom 3 Pro Surfwave Thruster
Goya One 3 Pro Freewave Thruster