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WINDSURF NEWS BULLETIN!

Summer’s rolling into Europe and that means one thing; the windsurfing season is about to crank into overdrive! Meanwhile, the PWA racing season is about to heat up with the first event in Guadeloupe, while over in Hawaii the MFC Maui ProAm has been firing on all cylinders. And just when we thought the off-season shuffle was done and dusted, the transfer market’s thrown us a couple of spicy curveballs. So, let’s hook in and find out what has been happing in out there in the wonderful windsurfing world!

Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries! / John Carter.

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MFC MAUI PRO-AM 4 STAR!

World Wave Tour

PWA

Well, there was no hanging around in Maui for the MFC Maui ProAm. The opening day saw nuclear winds (for Maui) and a tasty long period swell that only meant the action was absolutely nuts right off the bat! The crazy winds meant jumps came into the equation and we saw the likes of Hayata and Takara Ishii sending it to the skies at Ho’okipa with some monster forward and back loops. The Japanese crew is definitely not here just to make up the numbers making this year, and there is plenty of hungry talent joining the tour that can definitely cause some major upsets.

Despite the stacked fleet competing in Maui, which included the likes of Kai Lenny, Levi Siver and Camille Juban, once again it was the three-time world champ, Marcilio Browne that delivered! Yep, Brawzinho bagged another win; his third in a row this year. The guy’s on fire. Again, finishing just behind him (as in Chile on port tack a week or so ago) was the ever-consistent Marc Paré, who will be happy with two seconds, but will no doubt be out to get his revenge on Browne in the Canary Islands. Rounding out the top four were Takara Ishii and Robby Swift, both going full beast-mode with some crazy goiters, doubles, and towering back loops.

But what is it going to take to beat Marcilio this season?…He is on fire…with three straight wins! Browne’s next battleground will be Pozo, Gran Canaria, where he only finished in 9th last season, so that will be a real challenge with the likes of Marino Gil, Philip Koester and Marc Pare gunning to take him down!

MARCILIO BROWNE

“It means a lot to win any event in Maui. Ho’okipa is almost like a different place in the Spring to the Autumn event. The Aloha is normally light winds and bigger waves. In the spring we get to have a jump. That brought a lot of variety to the table. We don’t really have many starboard tack jumping events. I think that adds a lot to the tour. It is a key time of the year in Maui. A lot of the sailors are out here anyway! The community seemed really stoked. It was also great to see the youths here and that was a great eye opener to see them ripping.”

MARC PARE

“It almost meant more to me to come second in Maui than to come second in Chile. I have spent so much time in Maui and I think it is the hardest place to sail. It feels good that all the hard work is paying off after all those years coming here. I had a lot of tough heats and beat some big names, so I am very happy about that!”

TAKARA ISHII

“It is so good to make the final, that is three podiums in a row for me. I am stoked!”

ROBBY SWIFT

“I have competed in Maui about twenty times and my goal has always been to make it to a final. I was in the semi final a bunch of times and never quite made it before! It was special to make it but at the same time a bit annoying to come fourth. It is the one place you don’t want to get in a four-man final. There were only twenty-four guys in the event but every heat was tough. It was fun to have jumps too because that mixed it up.”

Thanks to Anne Marie Reichman for helping out with these quotes!

In the women’s competition Marine Hunter from France showed a similar approach to Jane Seman in Chile with her go hard or go home attitude! Her full throttle, vertical style and big hits, earned her the victory in Ho’okipa’s wild waves! Lisa Wermeister from Guadeloupe is starting to shine on tour and took second ahead of Maria Andres in third, with Collette Guadagnino taking fourth.

MARINE HUNTER

“I was really trying to detach myself from the result. I have been on a losing steak in competitions for the past two years, so I was getting a bit depressed. I was just trying to focus on doing what I really like. I felt a bit detached from the contest as I was just trying to sail the way I want. Obviously, I am really happy I won. I know that my winning streak is not going to last forever. It was anew sensation for me to win. It meant a lot to me because I have had some very rough moments during the past few months. It was nice for me to go out and perform like that. It was a great surprise for me to finally win and it meant a lot!”

LISA WERMEISTER

“It was my first ever final and first ever podium. That is a huge achievement for me. I feel amazing. Maui is my favourite spot to sail so that makes it feel even better.”

MARIA ANDRES

“My goal was to reach the final. I would have liked to have won but the level in Maui is really high. You don’t see the locals on tour, but they rip. So, I was happy to make the final, but I really wanted better than third. I am happy for Marine, she really sailed well to win it. It was great to see Collette in the final too. What a great event!”

COLLETTE GUADAGNINO

“It was amazing to be out there in that final. I entered just to have some fun. It was a few years since I sailed Ho’okipa. There was just a great atmosphere and camaraderie on the water with the girls.”

Thanks to Anne Marie Reichman for helping out with these quotes!

The only downside was the fact the event was over in a couple of days but when Ho’okipa is firing you just have to go for it!

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RACE MODE: GUADELOUPE INCOMING

The first racing event of the season is only a few days away now and many sailors will be jetting across the globe compete in beautiful Guadeloupe. Just when we though the dust had settled this transfer season…bam! … plot twist, two big names decided to shuffle the deck…

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MACIEK RUTKOWSKI

Right before the off…the news dropped that the 2022 world champion, Maciek Rutkowski has signed with JP Australia for the upcoming race season. That makes him fully onboard with JP / NeilPryde for 2025!

Here is the joint social media post between Maciek and JP:

It is with utmost pleasure that JP-Australia and Maciek Rutkowski announce the start of their partnership for 2025 and beyond.

Maciek: “Super happy to finally share the news! A JP Freestyle Wave 78 was actually the first board I owned and I always felt things will come full circle sooner or later! It took over 20 years but now we’re here! Last year I chose to ride JP for Slalom-X and felt incredibly comfortable and confident, so with the S-Tec being an upgrade I can’t wait to put them through the World Title chase again! Hopefully I can also contribute in R&D and other areas so I’m beyond excited to see what this collaboration will bring in the long term as well!”

JP: “We’re extremely pleased with this signing. With Maciek riding Neilpryde last year we got to experience his intense drive, dedication and professionalism so we felt very strongly about bringing him onto JP-Australia as well. With the right mix of talent, energy and experience we feel Maciek is a good bet for the top positions on the PWA racing tour in both disciplines, but we feel like by now his presence goes beyond just racing as well. And with the Guadeloupe World Cup around the corner, we can’t wait to watch him fly on his new boards.”

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BRUNO MARTINI

One of last year’s most promising big guns on the racecourse…Bruno Martini…has just announced he has switched from JP / NeilPryde to S2 Maui sails and I99 boards! We don’t know if that is a result of the Maciek signing at this stage! His comment on social media was a bit cryptic…

“New sponsor, new energy. I could spend a lot of time explaining everything that happened this winter and the reasons behind these choices, but I’d rather not. Instead, I’m heading back into the water with a fresh mindset and a team of new partners who support me 100%. Thank you to everyone who enjoys watching me race, and to all those who have always been there…even through the tough times.

Next stop Guadalupe!”

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MISSING PERSONS!

JOHAN SOE

From what we can see right now Johan Soe is not currently on the entry list for Guadeloupe! Apparently Johan, AKA ‘The Beast’ is focussing on the iQFOil racing this season and in particular the world championship in Aarhus/Denmark later this year. We will confirm later when we hear from him directly!…Ooh we heard back! “Hi Windsurf, I would have really liked to be in Guadeloupe, but I won’t be coming due to my priorities being on the IQ especially until the worlds this summer in Aarhus (my home). I decided together with the team that this would be the best plan to have the best possible preparation before that💪🏼”

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ENRICO MAROTTI

Also, world number three Enrico Marotti is absent from the entry list in Guadeloupe, we are not sure if he managed to sign a new contract with his sponsors but will also find out more later!

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BEN PROFFITT

Our favourite PWA commentator and Windsurfing TV frontman Ben Proffitt has some news that doesn’t involve fins or foot straps! Ben and his partner, Vilma just welcomed their second child, baby Rubi to the clan! Big congratulations to the growing Proffitt family (two daughters, two dogs and a windsurfing TV empire…Ben is going to have his work cut out managing all of that!).

Ben won’t be in Guadeloupe this time, but don’t worry; he’ll on the microphone remotely from Portugal. So, while the rest of the crew is enjoying sundowners and spicy rum, Ben will be doing his commentary in between nappy changes. Now that’s true dedication.