The NeilPryde Windsurfing Racing Series is unique in that it provides a platform for windsurfers of all levels, ages and ability to compete together on a level playing field on the ISAF windsurfing one-design class, the RS:One.

The Myanmar event started with the pre-Sea Games regatta – a big practice run for the 2013 Sea Games to be held in December at Ngwe Saung Beach. The RS:One Class represented the biggest fleet (27 racers) amongst other sailing classes such as the Optimist, 420 and lasers. Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia sent their best racers to battle in the rough Myanmar sea. Thailand was initially dominating but Myanamar’s young racers, who started windsurfing only eight months ago, delivered memorable performances and results.

The next two stops of the Series were Singapore and Qindao, in collaboration to the Extreme Sailing Series™. As Official Windsurfing Supplier to the Extreme Sailing Series™, the NeilPryde Racing Series warmed up the Extreme Sailing Series™ audience in the breathtaking race venues of Marina Bay in Singapore, right in the middle of the city, and in the impressive Qingdao Olympic venue and its nautical stadium.

Finally, the NeilPryde Racing Series joined the 2013 TOGR (Top of the Gulf Regatta) for its second collaboration featuring an international fleet of 29 competitors from Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and India, racing in stadium regatta configuration with courses close to the shore and audience.

“Being part of the 2013 TOGR Regatta was a good opportunity for our junior sailors to participate in an international event at home, and to compete with the RS:One one-design ISAF Class. Our youth sailors enjoyed two wonderful days of racing giving them encouragement for the future”, said Prapart Sangngern, a teacher at the Pattaya City 7 School and coach-cum-initiator of the Windsurfing Association of Thailand (WATH) Youth Development Programme.

In June, the NeilPryde Racing Series will fly to Istanbul with the Extreme Sailing Series™ and to Dunkerque for its first 24 hour team relay format race course. This will lead the fleet into the RS:One European Championships to be held in Brest in the first week of July.

Read more . . .

Day 1 and the Opening Ceremony

With some wind forecast for the morning many of the big named riders opted for an early night. With the likes of Steven Van Broeckhoven, Phil Soltysiak, Dieter Van Der Eyken, Adrian Beholz, Max Rowe and many more ready to do battle the riders were up for a quick breakfast then straight down to the beach, however they were greeted by calm waters as the stronger wind had blown through in the small hours of the night. For the rest of they day the conditions gradually declined and so did the chances of competition. However, all was not lost as a DIFFERENT climbing competition was put together by the hotel owners where the riders went head to head with each other as they scaled two different walls as fast as possible, their times were averaged and a winner decided and awarded a pair of DIFFERENT sunglasses. In the end it was Adam Sims from the UK who took the top spot with a rapid time of 39 seconds, followed by fellow team rider Adrian Beholz who did it in 41 seconds and Rick Jendrusch in 3rd with 43 seconds.

The evening program consisted of an opening ceremony with all the riders being introduced to the locals in both Russian and English. Light winds were predicted for the following day and so the opportunity was taken for a bit of a party with the organisers and crew involved in this event, check out the official Opening Ceremony video below, which includes a fire show, some light wind freestyle action and some funny shots of the riders.

Read the official EFPT Day 1 report HERE

Day 2 – Light Winds = Tow-In

Tow-in windsurfing was really the highlight of the day, with practice runs taking place all afternoon and into the night the tow-in was fine tuned so that the official competition for €1000 at the end of the week will run smoothly. Other than that some of the riders took the chance to visit the local markets in town and just chill-out at the pool. Check out the video clips of some of the tow-in runs below and read the full report from day 2 HERE.

Day 3 – Wind Forecast

A long day for the crew and competitors as wind was forecast from lunchtime onwards, with a promising start there was a hive of activity as the crew set up the event area and the riders prepared their kit. The postponements begin and not long after a few people hit the water and made it through a few moves, however they were few and far between so the competition was put on hold again and again. The day continued much like this until 8.15pm when it was finally decided to official abort any attempts to start the competition and so the evening program begins. With a climbing show put on by some of the local hotshots, followed by a trampolining display from Russia’s Olympic Team, who train here in Eysk, then finally wrapped up with a Karaoke night the Aqualeto Hotel really know how to entertain their guests. Pictures and video are to come, so stay tuned and join us tomorrow for more updates and news on this battle for €10,000 prize money and the title for EFPT Russia.

Words from the crew:

When was the last time you changed the weather purely with your mental strength? In this short movie, Steven Van Broeckhoven, Phil Soltysiak, and Max Matissek, did what seemed the impossible: WINDBREEDERS…
Dead calm, no wind at all. The scorching Egyptian heat was unbearable, and it seemed like an endless spell. There was no sign of change. We summoned every last bit of strength we had, and made it OUR mission, to bring back the wind.
We sped up time
Meditated
And even did some crazy voodoo shit.
Only god knows which of our actions brought back the wind, but one thing is for certain, we never want to suffer 3 windless days, ever again!

A Lake Alliance Production; be part of it: facebook.com/lakealliance

Every shot of this Clip was filmed with a GoPro Hero 3.

The riders:
Steven Van Broeckhoven – stevenvanbroeckhoven.com
Phil Soltysiak – philipsoltysiak.com
Max Matissek – maxmatissek.com

Check out the pictures and Oda’s full report on her website – odajohanne.com

In this following video interview we get to meet the outstanding Sam Bittner and hear all about where the AWT came from, did her University Degree help her, is she fully committed to the AWT now, will there really be a PWA event this year in Maui and much much more… An inspiring interview for those also organising or planing on organising their own events. We wish her and the AWT the best of luck for the coming year.

Find out more: www.americanwindsurfingtour.com