Last week two of the world’s most respected wavesailors, Jason Polakow and Levi Siver, visited the UK as part of Oxbow’s ‘Totally Bananas’ European tour to launch their new movie – The Oxbow Watermen Experience. Having already taken in Spain, Portugal and France alongside fellow Oxbow riders Laird Hamilton and Kai Lenny, the guys stopped over in London on Tuesday en route to the Netherlands for the final ‘premiere’ screening.
They weren’t here long, but still managed to get out on the water off Essex’s own ‘Valley Isle’ – Canvey Island! After a morning of wakeboarding, Jason and Levi arrived at Wet’n’Dry boardsports in time for a traditional English fry-up, followed by a meet-and-greet and autograph session in the Basildon store. The bonus was the naturalised Hawaiians had brought some long overdue wind with them – hardly epic, but enough to tempt the locals onto the water for the first time in a while just down the road at ‘The Point’ on Canvey. Already out enjoying the sunshine were guys like pro fleet veteran Mark Bell, national junior wave champ Aleksy Gayda, and freestyle up-and-comer Steve Thorne of Xpression fame. Ho’okipa it decidedly wasn’t, but Polakow and Siver took no persuading at all (OK – Levi thought twice, but couldn’t argue with Dave White’s assertion that “I flew half-way around the planet to sail your backyard, so the least you could do is sail mine whilst you’re here!”) to borrow some kit and hurl themselves at the Thames before heading back uptown for some sightseeing and a club.
Here’s a picture diary of their day, photos by Dave White...
2pm – meeting the guys at Wet’n’Dry
2.30pm – signing autographs and hanging at the shop
3.30pm – checking out The Point
4pm – in they go!
6pm – seeing the sights back in Old London Town
11pm – taking in a club
The early hours – Levi starts to stray!
For more on ‘The Oxbow Watermen Experience’ click www.oxbowtotallybananas.com or check out the trailer at http://video.mpora.com
For more on Wet’n’Dry go www.wetndryboardsports.com or join their Facebook group at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123510641015987&ref=ts
