windgirls waterworld

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2010-04-19T22:56:00.001+02:00

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2010-04-12T23:39:00.002+02:00

Greta Benvenuti in El Medano

2010-03-30T08:22:00.002+02:00

Nayra on Maui

Frank Berthuot of Mauiwatershoot took this awesome pic of Nayra Alonso, who just arrived on the island - and obviously hurt her thumb recently. Ride on, Nayra!

2010-03-24T00:35:00.002+01:00

Accident Evi Tsape. Questionnaire.

Greek top wavesailor Evi Tsape recently survived a very severe accident during a session in the Korinthian Gulf. The good news: "I had the worst injury there is, but got away with it with the minimum damage." Read Evis breathtaking report here.

The International Windsurfing Association (IWA) has started a women windsurfing Campaign to boost women in windsurfing some months ago in order to improve the position of women in windsurfing in media, at events or have a better market position. In order to further develop this campaign the IWA has taken the initiative to spread a questionnaire to all the female pro-windsurfers. This questionnaire includes questions about: How do you feel about the position of women in windsurfing ? How do you feel about trainingcamps ? And what you would like to see in such a camp?

Filling in this questionnaire will also help to make one of the projects of the women windsurfing campaign a success: The trainingcamp that will be organized prior to the Texel World cup in June. You can have a say in how this event is going to be organized! Fill in the questions and help womens windsurfing! Filling in the questionnaire takes about 10 minutes. The IWA will give away 25 Women Windsurfing Calendars among the participants.

2010-03-10T10:05:00.003+01:00

Butterfly Effect Fiji

The Butterfly Effect Fiji Expedition
~June 19th- 26th, 2010~

The B.E. Fiji Expedition will be a trip not to be missed!
The all inclusive package will take care of all your needs once you arrive. It is completely hassle-free and friendly, and will be way too much fun! The package will include the following and a whole lot more:
7 day accommodation
All meals
Transportation (on land and boat)
Clinics
Training Sessions
Photos
Video
Non-wind activities ( Snorkel, SUP, fishing, wake, waterski)
Down-winders
Boat trips
And so much more!
The package for all the above is only USD $1,190 for all Butterflies (A.K.A. water women!). Airfare sold separately.
(Packages for couples, kids, families and groups are available upon request)

Please contact us for any questions and to reserve your space!

Hope you are all out in the water enjoying every moment!

Much Love and Aloha,
The Butterfly Effect crew

www.betheeffect.com

2010-02-24T23:19:00.003+01:00

PWA Women Marketing

After a big disappointment (the PWA wave event "cold Hawaii" in Denmark will be men-only) PWA Womens Marketing and Event Manager Marion Raisi has unveiled a pdf-presentation in order to raise female participation again.

Marion writes that women ... "play a great role the PWA World Tour by giving a smoother touch to this world, mainly composed of men. They had to adapt and to find themselves a place, that they finally found by using their talents to seduce the public, the media and the sponsors." Whether we tend to agree or not is not the point. :-) But Marion is certainly right when she points out that "the implication of women riders in the windsurfing world is a great value added to any event today, and this is time to make it burst to everyones eyes."

The presentation offers short portraits of some of the top girls as well as fresh ideas for event organisers like fun races, clinics, SUP demos and more. If you are interested in the file, just leave us a note, eg here or on our Facebook page.

2010-02-22T21:58:00.000+01:00

4 Girls join Fuerte Wave Classic

Top pro riders Daida Moreno, Iballa Moreno and Nayra Alonso, together with local rider Nicole Boronat, will join the FWC! The four teams which will now be formed by 4 guys/1girl. All riders, girls and guys, will be competing against each other in the same conditions making for an amazing contest.

"The participation of the women in this event has been a long time project of the organisation and now that is finally done we are sure that not only enrich the great spectrum of the professional windsurfers taking part, but also make evident the importance of the female rider in a minority sport, such as windsurfing. We hope that with this addition, the event will prove to be more well rounded and will not only serve as a media to promote the island of Fuerteventura, but also to continue the development of the female side of the sport."

Find interviews here (pdf)!

2010-02-13T11:45:00.001+01:00

Kanza Stott wins Australian Nationals

photos: Colin Leonhardt/birdseyeviewphotography.com.au

Kanza Stott, 16 year old Naish Windsurings Teamrider, (see also www.windgirls.com/youngmauiwindgirls.html) officially finished all of the windsurfing competitions that Australia has to offer. She placed 2nd in the Lancelin, 1st in the Greenhead Competition, sending her to Nationals in Margaret where she took home 1st place in the Womens Divison!

The forecast predicted a large swell for the day of the competition and the day before sets were peaking at 15 feet. Luckily it calmed down a bit for the event and the waves were a little over mast high. (source: Naish)

2010-02-02T13:01:00.000+01:00

Moreno Twins on Starboard/Severne for the first time!

2010-02-01T08:56:00.001+01:00

Yoli de Brendt Female Athlete of the Year

Venezuela. At Sunday the 31st of January the price giving for the athletes of the year of the Island of Margarita took place at the University of Margarita in the City of El Valle at the Island of Margarita. For the first time Yoli de Brendt could win the price for best female athlete. Winning every single national Windsurf Competition in 2009 and her third place at the Fuerteventura Worldcup and the fourth place overall at PWA in 2009 were reason for the Jury to announce Yoli de Brendt as winner.

2010-01-27T21:15:00.005+01:00

Sarah Quita Offringa from NP to Gaastra

Official Press Release: "Gaastra Sails are proud to announce the signing of womens PWA Freestyle World Champion Sarah-Quita Offringa! At just 18 years of age, she is one of the new-school up-and-coming freestylers that has made history by dominating the womens tour. Sarah-Quita will be working to defend her Freestyle title as well as get her feet wet on the PWA Slalom tour... "
Read the full interview by Gaastra team manager Matt Pritchard on the Boards Magazine website .

A little bit more background is offered in a short interview with French windsurfjournal.com, where Sarah is quoted that "leaving Neil Pryde"..."is a decision that has been imposed on me". translation
As we think - also an incomprehensible decision by NP, that makes this brand (with rare exeptions like beautiful freeride model Carine Camboulives) even more a "boys-only"-show...

2010-01-24T12:56:00.003+01:00

Why (should Girls) windsurf?

Greta Benvenuti from Italy just opened her GIRLS CORNER at her sponsors (Point 7) Academy. Here is her first article:

"Lots of girls are windsurfing or at least tried at leat once in their life; many of them have started because their father, brother or boyfriend\husband were active windsurfers themselves. I also ended up more then 1 time with a sail and a board in my hands over my teenage time, but never understood why it actually took time before I really got into it and understanding what wonderful sport this is.

I live by the ocean and it has always been an important part of my life from when I was a kid, I loved dreaming to be a fish, learned swimming, and learned a lot of different sports but was never really into any, till one day... a classical late summer afternoon, I saw all these windsurfing sails speeding and jumping around my home waters, I was flashed by the beauty and action they were offering.

I could not understand why I never realized of that magic. So I decided to go to the first course, and at the age of 19 I was first time in love with this amazing sport and lifestyle of windsurfing."
more at Point7

2010-01-21T18:03:00.002+01:00

Nikola Girke North American RSX Champ!

Nikola Girke (CAN-17) reports:
"After three days of racing in a wide array of different conditions, we were able to get 7 races completed. There was only 6 of us girls but we raced with the guys fleet so we had more competition to race against, but we also are on different size sails and fins so it was definitely more challenging. Although there was only 6 of us, it was really tight racing - the group included two of my training partners that I was in Mexico with and the British Bronze Medalist from the Beijing Olympics.

Saturday started off really windy, 20-25 knots. Our race committee was having some sort of problems with our course area and thus we ended up waiting for over an hour before they got the first race under way. We eventually did and it was a long race - two times windward leeward (2 laps of up and down). I led to the top mark but lost my lead to the British girl on the downwind, but with another good upwind, I regained the lead and kept it this time on the downwind... to cross the line first. After this first race we all got sent in for lunch (we sailed to an island and they provided lunch for us). By the time we were back on the race course, the wind dropped a lot. We were able to get two more races off in the late afternoon in these light to marginal conditions (not my strongest condition), but I fought hard and finished 2nd in both races!

Sunday once again started off with strong winds as a front was moving through. The sky was ominous and the clouds over to the right side of the course looked very threatening. Thus, the right side of the course looked very favoured to me, so I decided to do a port tack start (see the picture attached). My timing was a bit off... about a second or so too early but I was committed to crossing the fleet... Yikes!! The over early flag went up, I knew it was me so I exonerated myself by going back to dip the start line. Then it was catch up time! I was doing my best when the wind did over a 90 degree shift to the right and thats when the race committee abandoned the race and sent us to shore. Those scary clouds were now above us and were about to cause havoc. Heavy rains soaked us on the way in. We waited onshore for the weather to clear and then were sent out for two more races. Although the weather had settled, the wind was far from stable. My position changed numerous times throughout the race, but managed to finish in 3rd and 2nd.

Mondays forecast did not look promising, but luckily we did manage to get some wind and were able to get two tricky races off. I was leading the first race on the first lap, but got left behind in a puff that didn't reach me. I quickly went from first to a distant 4th. The next race was not much easier... the race was won already on the first upwind and there was no chance of catching up. I finished 4th once again.
Having managed to sail a fairly solid regatta, I finished 2nd overall to Bryony Shaw of Great Britain... and claimed the North American RSX Womens Title!
Now for a bit of rest, recuperation and some more training before the World Cup - Miami Olympic Classes Regatta starts next Monday the 25th."

2010-01-13T12:28:00.003+01:00

Sponsor Roundabout

New sponsors for some of the worlds top "windgirls" for 2010:

photos courtesy of Naish, NP/Jerome Houyvet, Severne

French Speed Queen Sarah Hebert, who had been riding Naish sails for three years now, will be on the Naish board line as well in the future. Sarah Quita Offringa will be leaving Neil Pryde for her part, (unconfirmed) rumors say. Iballa and Daida Ruano Moreno, in recent time sailing with North Sails and - remarkably enough - with no board sponsor at all, will be on Severne Sails from now on!
Iballa: "I am personally really happy to join this new team. I feel very motivated to train hard and keep defending my titles as well as promoting the sport in any way I can. Severne is a sail brand that suits us perfectly and the fact that they support top women of the sport really gives them extra points. We will work really hard to promote what it is now the best windsurfing sail brand." This means the twins will be in a strong team with Karin Jaggi, Nayra Alonso and others. One question is obvious: Will they manage to get into the Starboard team, too?

2010-01-08T21:46:00.002+01:00

Jeri with Sarah & more!

Great freestyle action in Jericoacoara with Sarah Quita Offringa and more top sailors. Found on C7/YouTube.

by Cometocino Producciones CR. Cam: Yoyo Salfate / Yeiyei Ferreira. Music: Fernando Lasalvia, DJ Dero.

2009-12-31T16:17:00.003+01:00

Iballa Ruano rips !!

Olya and Sveta had a nice clinic with the Russian ladies down in Dahab. theiy are the ...
...WINDSURF BEAUTIES!

2009-12-08T23:39:00.002+01:00

Eva in Paradise

Wave windgirl Evi Tsape is happy about new sponsors (F2, North), as she told pwaworldtour.com these days. The Greek loop queen - one of not too many girls pulling incredible push loops - also unveils her plans for this winter. And she shares some impressive moments in her Pozo 2009 video!

Evi: "As well as supporting me with all my equipment, North Sails, F2 boards, and ION wetsuits, we discussed the windsurfing camps I have been organising in Greece these past few years, and they want to support those as well, which is great for the sport. This decision turned out even better when Dani Aeberli from F2 offered to send in 3 boards for me. It is the first time I have had such a good deal, I have had to pay for all of my boards up until now. So I would like to thank Dani too! ... Overall it is great to receive all this support and the whole renewal is also great… New colors, new feelings, everything new!"

Evis plans for the winter ahead:
"As you might (or might not) know, besides competing on the PWA tour for 4 years now, I also have a normal job in Athens, where I live. I work for my father, in a ship management company. Of course I can go sailing here as well, but I also have work to do every day, and when it is not windy I stay at the office really long hours. So I do not have the possibility to be away from Athens all winter, as most sailors do.
However, Athens is not the best place to train for waves, so I will have to go away if I want to improve. It is ok to stay here if you want to maintain the same level of sailing, but if you want to improve, you have to go away. My plan is to stay here for autumn and beginning of winter, and after Christmas do a trip or two somewhere, not sure where yet. I have been to South Africa twice, in February 2007 and 2008 and it was really great, but I think I would like to see and sail a different spot now. I think I might fly on a good forecast to the Canaries or Morocco, and for sure I will try to sail at more spots here in Greece. So many of the Greek islands get good conditions in wintertime, like Crete in the south of the Aegean, where I have never sailed, or Rhodes, which both have a few degrees higher temperature in winter, it would be awesome to go there. I think I will focus more on my training as spring gets closer."

2009-12-03T00:26:00.003+01:00

Olympic Stunt(Wind)Girl in Wavesailing Heaven

A lot has happened in Nikola Girkes life recently. Here is her report:
"It sure has been a really busy time for me. I came home to an incredible end of the summer - it got me outside doing all sorts of exercise, mainly biking but also got some Vancouver short-board windsurfing in! Between trying to stay fit, working, doing some school talks, getting fitness tested, started up a new fitness program and trying to organize/plan my next years leading up to London 2012... I had my hands full.

It was about mid-October when I was asked to audition for a stunt-double part in a movie (for a sailing scene). I got the part! It was only supposed to be a two day ordeal, but I quickly learned that's not how the film industry works. We went up to Port Renfrew, on the west coast of Vancouver Island to do the shoot, which ended up being a 6 day adventure. Attached are a few pictures of where we were and what we were doing - check out the nice surf spot! On the boat there was a total of 6 of us - 5 guys doing all the work and then hiding for when the helicopter came to take the shots of me sailing the boat "solo". It was a treat to sail on this Open 50 racer.

Early November I flew to Maui for a bit over two weeks. I have not been back for many years so it was so wonderful to be back to my old stomping grounds. Before I started 470 sailing in 2001, I had lived in Maui for 1.5 years to pursue my windsurfing goals and dreams. Needless to say, there was plenty of catching up to do with my friends and trying to cram what seemed like 8 years of not really short-boarding and surfing into two weeks! It was part of my "cross-training" plan to go and play there - to get back to why I started windsurfing - jumping in the waves, wave riding and surfing. Luckily, even after so many years went by, I could still do it. I guess it is like riding a bike... kind of. It's great training for when I get back on the RSX - as there are so many parallels, one must be more precise/sensitive on a short board as it's not as forgiving as the RSX (big board & big sail). I arrived at a perfect time - for my first day on the water I was greeted with mast high (4m face waves) and wind. I was in wave-sailing heaven. I guess that's Maui - I did not get eased into it....rather I got absolutely launched into it. I loved it.

My next stop was Toronto. I was elected to be the Female Athlete Rep for the Canadian Yachting Associations Board of Directors, thus, needing to attend the AGM. The night I arrived to Toronto, November 20th was also the Canadian Yachting Association 2009 Rolex Annual Awards Banquet. I was honoured to receive this years CYA Female Athlete of the Year Award. This award really means a lot to me. Although I have received this award twice before (2001 & 2004), both times was while I was sailing the 470. Changing sports from sailing to windsurfing in 2005 was a really daunting task, full of challenges, many pride swallowing moments and some doubt. Slowly and surely though, my hard work and determination has started to pay off. A 17th place finish at the Beijing Olympics left me with unfinished business - my goal is to bring home a medal from London 2012. Being the recipient of this award means that I've been doing something right and that I am on track towards achieving my goal! Thank you to all those who have helped me get to where I am today.

I am home for two weeks before I head off again - this time to Mexico for a training camp with 4 other RSX girls. Looking forward to getting back on the board!"
Nikola Girke (www.nikolagirke.com)

2009-11-26T22:22:00.002+01:00

Sarah Quita reports from Jeri

Hi all!
Right now I am in Brazil, Jericoacoara for some freestyle training. It has been one of my biggest dreams to go to Brazil and now it has finally come true! I love it here! The language is so beautiful and the people are all very kind. I still have to get used to the fact that it's windy everyday! I have sailed 10 days non stop. I even broke my board one day but they fixed it and I was on the water the next day already.
Jericoacoara has one main spot that is usually very crowded so Monday we decided to go to a lagoon where we could sail on flat water. We were supposed to leave at about 10:30 but there was a misunderstanding so we ended up going 2 hours later. It was all worth it though! I went with Anxton Otaegui, Steven van Broeckhoven, Damian Portier, Jelle Caers and Dario. I was fully powered on my 4.3 and loved every minute of my session. I finally learned to do the normal stance Kono's so I was really happy at the end of the day! (source: Starboard)

2009-11-12T21:25:00.004+01:00

Zara Davis wins Speed European Championships 2009

After a very frustrating week wind wise, the result from ISWC European Championship held in Dungarvan Ireland was down to the 11th hour, the wind all week had just not been enough to race till the final day when a chance came midday, Zara was ready with her new Simmer race sails and Mistral boards and hit the start when the flag when up. Little did she know the wind was to last only 10 minutes out of a 90 minute round. She managed to get the two runs in that see needed to take the Womens 2009 European Speed Crown.

Zara said: "I was very lucky to be ready for the start and got my two runs in, a lot of riders did not get the second run in the time, I took my Mistral Slalom 95 and Simmer SC4 7.0m which was a bit big but I wanted to get two safe runs in then change down, but I did not get the chance. The site has definitely got potential with the right wind." (source: Pete Davis)

2009-11-01T22:22:00.001+01:00

Baby, get shaky

Nayra Alonso presents her latest video - lots of nice wave rides and really clean backloops!

2009-10-22T19:59:00.001+02:00

New Video - Butterfly Effect Dominican Republic 2009

Visit www.betheeffect.com to be a part of the next event!

Butterfly Effect Cabarete 2009 from charly on Vimeo.

2009-10-04T21:35:00.002+02:00

Hard. Hardcore. Sylt!
Iballa wins. Daida takes wave title.

photos: PWA/Carter, text: PWA, windgirls.com

Daida and the beast...

The 2009 PWA tour just has come to an amazing climax, with storms pounding over the North Sea with up to 40 knots and powerful, sometimes masthigh waves - including the infamous Sylt shorebreak of course...
While the men had come to the beautiful, rough islands in the north of Germany to compete in no less than 3 disciplines (slalom, freestyle, wave), the girls battled it out in the waves only. To make it short: Iballa Ruano Moreno sailed perfectly in these challenging conditions and was able to win the double elimination and thus the event. This ment that Iballa and twin sister Diada stood at equal points for the 2009 wave ranking and would have to go out for one last and decisive heat in the stormy Sylt seas. If only... both had showed up on the water...

Daida twaked and sailing better than many men

But no Iballa in sight (later it was said that she had suffered an injury...), so this meant Daida Ruano Moreno was - without additional struggle on the water - could be crowned the (more than worthy!) PWA wave champ for 2009!

Iballa - queen of Sylt 2009

And this is how it all happened on day 8:
Iballa Ruano Moreno (North) was sitting pretty at the top of the single elimination, so by the time it came to her first heat she had barely sailed. Her sister Daida Ruano Moreno (North) on the other hand was already in tune with the conditions having sailed against Nayra Alonso (Fanatic, Severne) to defend her position. Daida upped the level and actually sailed a better heat than most of the men did in their early rounds, landing huge tweaked push loops to beat her sister. This meant a second final would have to take place to decide the event winner. Second time round, both of the Moreno twins were pushing hard and getting some excellent jumps and riding in.

Nayra had not needed to "shit my pants" :-) - 3rd place!

Iballa however pushed the sailing a notch higher and landed a huge push loop followed by a high scoring ride, which just edged her out in front, winning her the heat, and the event.
All of the women sailed extremely well in the tough conditions but some better than others. Evi Tsape (Fanatic, NeilPryde) stood out in the early rounds with some great forward loops and an excellent riding style, but she was halted in her tracks by an on form Alonso. Alonso was hitting heaps of sections with plenty of power, and going for some frighteningly high push loops. Laure Treboux (Fanatic, North) also looked more comfortable in the port tack conditions and was unlucky not to progress further.

Results

2009-09-18T00:00:00.005+02:00

PWA: Fuerte Video and Rumors
WOWI celebrates Birthday

Watch Sarah-Quita freestyling and talking about her formula of success, her smiles...

There have been rumors about a women only slalom event in France recently...
Source: www.windsurfjournal.com

The Women of Windsurfing Ireland celebrate their 10th birthday - congratulations!!

2009-08-29T09:43:00.003+02:00

SURF MAGAZIN Girlscamp Naxos !

sept 6-13 and 13-20!
Info: www.flisvos-sportclub.com