2011 American Windsurfing Tour (AWT)

The American Windsurifng Tour (AWT) is something that is finally a reality. For many years sailors have been questionning why countries such as the UK etc. have great wave tours but the USA with so much potential had vitually nothing.

Sam Bittner has changed all that and last year re-introduced the Pistol River Wave Bash and has worked hard to develop a full tour taking in both East and West coasts, Hawaii and Mexico. This is a proper WAVE tour with stops in great locations. At a time when there seems to be only a few wave events on the PWA calendar maybe a few more pros will be tempted to compete for a title and some exposure.

Unfortunately due to prior commitments I cannot attend the early events but have myself signed up for the Hatteras Wave Jam and the Maui Makani Classic and I am hoping that in 2012 I will be able to do the full tour.

OK so what does this mean for me? Well about time to get my competition shoes on. I have for many years dabbled at best with contests but competing in Hawaii last summer gave me that buzz again and perhaps had forgotten how much the pressure of being ranked against your peers makes you strive to raise your game. And raise my game I will sure have too as I feel that I have slipped somewhat. I'll have a good couple of months bump and jump training this summer in Maui and I used to live in NC and Hatteras was my local spot so it will be great to make a week of it and maybe visit some friends too.

You can be sure I will be taking my GoPro with me!


I will document my progress in preparation for the evenst here and be following the earlier tour stops. My wife Liz and I are currently packing our Bahrain bags, we have been splitting our time between Bahrain and Maui for 4 years and we are now finally moving back to the US full time this summer so all is coming together nicely.

Anyway more soon, but I just wanted to get it out there and kick start my prep, after all making it public makes you push harder.

Wind is on the way this week looks like 25knots bump and jump so that could be great :)

More to follow...

Fin Box Talk

So what box have you got in your waveboard these days? It seems that there has been an explosion of fin box designs after it all seemed like we had all settled for the traditional US box. Personally I have my own ideas of what is best and what I think should be in productions boards going forward but I would love to hear your views/comments.

Check out this thread on the Black Project FB page:

What fin box to do you have on your waveboard?

Some Black Project Multi-Fins ready for a bit of slot box quad action!

Andres Martinez shows of his pair of Multi's to Jimmie Hepp at Ho'okipa the other day... These ones have a US box on them.

Andres again slashing his Multi's. Pic Jimmie Hepp

Fast Fins

Wanna go quick?

Well check out this article by SpeedSurfingBlog.com and Black Project which looks at the BPF Type S speed fin and possible future developments.

Black Project Fins Type S - Interview Tom Hammerton or

Check out the BLACK PROJECT FINS website

A Closeup of the Type S - mms do matter!  

More to follow..

MAUI MISSING PERSON PLEASE HELP

It is will great sadness that I write this post. My long time friend SAGE BARRON daughter of my friend Phil Baker is currently missing in Maui. Sage is 16 yrs old and lives in Haiku. She was last heard from on Saturday 8th January via a phone call, she said that she was in Kahalui.

Sage, 16 years old, missing in Maui.

Sage Barron is the step daughter of Phil Baker long time Maui resident and windsurfer, if you have any info please email me or call the Maui Police Department immediately.

PLEASE POST THIS ON YOUR FACEBOOK AND BLOG AND LOOK OUT FOR HER.

MAUI POLICE DEPARTMENT PHONE NUMBER: (808) 244-6400

More updates will follow...

Fins

Ok so I have been rather quiet recently on this blog. To be honest I have been working hard with Black Project Fins and wanted to share this pciture of a pair of 14's that we'll be sending to 2010 UK Wave Champ Debbie Kennedy.

Nice pair of 14s ready for use.



Was great to start the new year with some sailing a couple of days back, not epic but 20C, not a cloud in the sky and a bit of fesstyle action. Jan and Feb are somewhat colder than the rest of the year here in Bahrain but still beats the cold of Europe! 

It looks like more wind is on the way in the next few so should get some decent action, will try to take the GoPro with me so that I can share some shots.

More to follow...