The Windsurfing Podcast: Recent Episodes
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The Windsurfing Podcast is where we dive deep into the world of professional windsurfing. World Champions, legends, shapers, activists, industry members, media people... they will all get grilled by Maciek Rutkowski - a professional windsurfer himself, PWA race winner, podium finisher and, by his own admission, the sports biggest fan. Sit back, grab a drink and enjoy an exclusive look into the minds of windsurfing's most interesting people.
We catch up with Sylt Winner and World tour Leader Marc Pare before he heads off to Hookipa, maui for the Final stop on the tour.
lots beem going on in the windsurfing world.. world cup in germany coming up.. and gear chat
Beach Finish? Love it or Hate it?
Lots of things have happened over the summer... so lets have a catch up and discuss!
Antoine Albeau signs for Severne is it a good move? or Bad? Legends of the sport... how much value do they still have? Albeau is still active and winning.. will he keep winning!
Today, we’re joined by a true pioneer in the world of wind sports—Pete Cabrinha. From carving waves on Maui in windsurfing’s golden era to launching one of the biggest kiteboarding brands in the world, Pete’s influence is stamped across the entire water sports universe. But before all the kites, foils, and wings—it started with windsurfing. In this episode, we dive into his roots on the North Shore, his take on how windsurfing shaped modern water culture, and whether he still grabs a rig and heads out. Let’s jump in.”
Working with Patrik D, F2, Choco, Fanatic and now the Production Manager at Duotone... we catch up to hear Dani's full story
Who is the BEST windsurfer in the world... right now? How do you pick them? Alrounder? get involved....
we are down to the top 4... men and women... Who will win? Who will miss out.. lets look into together!
The first 5 star PWA/IWT wave event of the year is just kicking off in Chile. But who has been looking good in the warm up? who's i for a shout of the title? We bring in Lucas and Finn to help us get the word from the beach.
Yes.. times have changed.. and size does matter!! Lets talk about how big is big? What is big enough? What is too small? Whats in your quiver?
There has been quite a lot of Movers and shakers in the transfer market this year.. so we thought we'd take a look at the big moves!
Bjorn Dunkerbeck Dominated the sport of windsurfing for well over a decade... now it's time for a NEW Dunkerbeck to make his mark! We are catching up with the up and coming Talent that is Liam Dunkerbeck 26th Feb LIVE.. so tune in
We chat to Fabio who is the main man behind Club Ventos after discovering Jeri over 20 years ago!
Luderitz LIVE stream.. not sure how this will work as a podcast.. but such an epic day.. i'll add it in here
PVB talks us through his recent trip to maui.. touch on Wave Rally, sponsorship and the state of windsurfing
Aloha classic finished a few hours ago with Sarah Hauser and Bernd Roediger taking the wins... and Browne and Sarah Quita taking the world titles. Lets have a look back at how it played out on the last day...
PVB caught up with JP on his own channel (make sure to check it out) so we thought we'd have a chat about how that went plus Finals day at the Aloha classic is coming up tonight!
The Aloha Classic is about to kick off. World titles will be decided and we are here to have a chat about it :) PVB is also over there in Maui... so we can get the inside scoop!
Just home after a CRAZY 3 weeks in Pozo. What did you think of the World cup this year? Slalom X.. Better than you thought? Worse? Who loved the Sausage?
Yes.. Top DJ (and keen windsurfer) Martin Garrix has sponsored Top Windsurfer Ricardo Campello to do the world cup in Pozo... tune in Live to chat about whats going down in Pozo.
Lets talk about the perfect windsurfing event.. what makes it? What elements are needed? Party? Pros vs Amateurs? Brands? Media?
The Defiwind starts today.. but really it started yesterday with a practice race. Fully windy.. but now wind disappears!
With the start of the racing season coming up fast. We catch up with Maciek Rutkowski to see what's happening in the racing world... and him personally.
Meet current World number 1 in the wave ranking - Morgan Noireaux... As we get him in for a chat.
As the start of the racing calendar is getting closer we thought we have a chat with Patrick Rider - Michele Becker. Becker in his first FULL year of the World Tour last year finished an impressive 5th overall!! What has he been up to? Where's he been training? Who's going Fast? Gear etc etc.. tune in LIVE
Winners in Both Pro Men and Women - Lets talk about the Moves that mattered, style and how it all played out.
Quick look back at day 4 in Chile for the IWT/PWA world cup.. lets have a look back over the action!
More epic conditions in Chile for the IWT/PWA world cup.. lets have a look back over the action!
Final of the Trials and Pro Men and Pro Women have been in action.. lets have a look over it.
With the 2nd World cup Wave event of the year kicking off in Chile in less than a week. We thought we'd take a look at the forecast and see how the heat draws have come out.. favourites for the competition etc..
Sorry.. for the power cut.. lost me half way through
Yep.. we have a NEW PWA President. Marc Pare is going to be joining us.. plus we see who wins what in the Simmer Style Web shop Competition
I think it's time for a catch up.. lets have a chat about all things windsurfing. Including the shock NEWS that Marc Pare is out of the Next PWA event in Chile
Interview with IWT/PWA Event Winner in Japan Bernd Roediger and Event Organiser - Hisa Ishii
The PWA have just announced they are Splitting Foil and fin for 2024... So it will be foil Slalom and a new format of fin racing called: 'Slalom X' What is 'Slalom X?' well it's pretty much normal fin slalom on steroids.. as it can include Wave slalom, beach starts, beach finishes and maybe jumps plus.. thoughts?
I know i know... it's impossible to say but intrested to hear your thoughts. As the PWA/IWT release the Constructors rankings from the tour
Wow.. didn't see this coming!! One of the most hard working and talented guys in the windsurfing world has been dropped by their sponsors!!! Lets discuss...
We are joined by Willem Blaauw.. sail designer for NeilPryde, Gaastra then Arrows ack in the 80,90's and 2000's
The myth the legend Guy Cribb is on the Podcast... tune in to ask your questions and hear his story... Top Competitor - Top Coach... and now a Winger!!!!!
The Legend that is Antoine Albeau is joining us in the LIVE studio from Luderitz. So any questions on Speed, Luderitz or Windsurfing in general tune in!
We look back over the Aloha Classic and work out the Winners and losers! ...plus go into Windsurfing scene and competition scene in general
Things are finnally starting to heat up in maui.
This podcast goes through the build up for the event.. then off into Maui storiesfrom proffitt.. secret spots etc!
Ex Windsurfer.. No Wing foiler Jason Breen was hit by a Whale while riding his Wing Foil near Sydney NSW Australia. We catch up with him to get the low down!
The Draw is up for the Aloha Classic 2023... and there are some pretty tasty match ups!!
Surely it's Ricardo's time!!! In the women it's SQ's title to lose but in the men it's much closer... as Browne and Pare will have a say... and maybe lets not right off Antoine Martin! Thumbnail - Jimmy Hepp /Ricardo Campello
11 Windsurfing Questions some are visual... so i apolagise for the audio only!
Paul Dunn from Boom windsurfing is the Quiz guest!
Sorry about the Echo (it wasn't me!! haha) it gets sorted about halfway through the podcast.. sorry if it's unlisternable.
But i've uploaded it anyway for the hardcore...
It's Legends Week... let's discuss who makes the Windsurfing 'HALL OF FAME' Special guess.. Quiz.. plus chat!! :)
We chat to NEW boy on the PWA world tour Michelle Becker on how it's going so far... i mean he's 7th in the World rankings so we guess pretty good.
Ben Proffitt and Paul VB teaming up for a weekly podcast (every Thursday) Featuring: Industry News Beach Rumours/Gossip Windsurfings Biggest Brain Plus loads more.. Tune in...
Well the Fiji Pro has just finished and maybe it's motivated a few of you out there to get into wave sailing... or maybe take it more serious. So i thought we'd do a LIVE questions and answers about getting into wave sailing and useful tips and information you will find handy. Colin Dixon will be joining me... so any questions fire them in.
Fiji Pro is kicking off tomorrow... we get the low down from Fiji with Paul Van Bellen. Also Graham joins us in the chat.
So if you've been following the channel you will know we decided to follow Michele Becker through his first FULL season on the PWA. We the first even is over and guess what... he finished 5th!!!! Lets hear what he has to say...
The season is about to kick off so i thought it would be a good time to catch up with last years World Champion and Podcast host Maciek Rutkowski to get his thoughts about the coming season. plus ask him what has changed since becoming the champ!
Do you want a change of lifestyle?
Well maybe being a Watersports instructor is the way to go!
The Speed World Championships 2023 - Just a quick round up from the boys on the beach about the action so far and what to expect in the coming days.
Michele Becker is about to start his first FULL Season on the PWA Slalom World tour. We thought it could be cool to follow him through out the year.. to see how he gets on. So before the first even in Garda now is your time to get to know him and hear his thoughts.
Michal polanowski has followed his passions for windsurfing and business... now he’s the combining high level windsurfing with a successful green energy company!! Maciek chats to him to find out how it all happened.
This Week it's Wave ripper Marc Paré.. but it wasn't in the waves where it all started!
We had a viral video!!! 500k view in 48hrs... which is kind of ridiculous when you see the video!!
Is it real.. it Bots?? I get PvB back in to discuss...
The Myth, the legend that is Paul Van Bellen is on the Podcast... TUNE in to ask anything!! For those who don't know.. he's a Top Ninja Drone pilot, A Die Hard windsurfer and he's dropped more Bangers on his youtube channel than a David Guetta Ibiza set...
'WeONE' are the NEW Brand in town... so we thought we would catch up with Paul Simmerl (Brand Manager) and Head of racing department... Ex PWA Racer: Ben Van der Steen to Ask them all about and see how it going.
Host Maciek is joined by Ben Proffitt and Craig Gertenbach (Fanatic Brand Manger) to Pick their Dream teams going into 2023... But there are some rules:
7 people per team
2 wavesailors
2 racers
1 freestyler
1 legend
(has to be retired from competition)
1 wildcard / free choice
minimum 2 girls
maximum 2 world champions
(legends excluded)
One of NP/JP longest serving riders (26 years ) who has been there and done it in nearly every discipline... and he's still going strong today. it is of course... Robby Swift!
0:00 Teaser 1:48
Intro, PWA/IWT merger
11:30 Starting in UK, Parental support, Sponsors
18:40 Oceans Academy, Learning to be pro and parties
33:57 Freestyle world titles, Ricardo, learning moves
45:54 Super X period, Slalom
56:21 Waves and future wave champs
1:04:22 Being a contest sailor
1:13:10 JP/NP relationship
1:17:18 Quickfire
Join Ben Proffitt and Jordy Vonk to get the lowdown of what went down in Sylt for the 2022 PWA World cup.
Ester Ledecka talks to Maciek about her windsurfing history and windsurfing at home. They chat about her amazing success at the 2018 olympics and the similarities with trying to maintain a world class level in two different disciplines. Ester tells us about the crazy windy Defi Wind experience and how she sees the windsurf community in comparison to the snow community. Ester's enthusiasm for windsurfing shines through as she tells us about her goals in the sport.
No wind in Pozo so thought we'd go LIVE.
Josep Pons joining me... so if you need any wave sailing or jumping tips... get involved.
This week we have an all around legend... Biggest smile on the beach and always giving off good vibes. In Windsurfing terms he's got all the skills - Freestyle, Slalom or Foil.
Who is it.. it is of course Taty Frans
A NEW series of LIVE podcasts where we bring on Experts in the field to answer your questions.
You can do it LIVE or comment on the social media channels before it happens.
Let me know if you like the concept... and don't worry the normal podcasts are NOT going away.
This week we have a Slalom giant, fresh from competing in the Defiwind.
Super fast in all disciplines and a hell of a nice guy.
He rides Duotone and fanatic... so fire your questions in.
Who is it.. it is of course Jordy Vonk
North Windsurfing research and development team Peter Bijl and Chris Williams talk to Maciek about the new sails they've been working on using 3Di technology.
A NEW series of LIVE podcasts where we bring on Experts in the field to answer your questions.
You can do it LIVE or comment on the social media channels before it happens.
Let me know if you like the concept... and don't worry the normal podcasts are NOT going away.
First up in Patrik Diethelm - Ex F2 Shaper and currently has his own Windsurfing brand where he not only design boards also Sails now.
If you've NOT been following the IQ Foil tour/ranking... this podcast should get you up to speed!
Talking about the movers and shakers and which countries are pushing on.
plus best bets for European glory and a load of technical trimming tips and tricks.
3 Girls from 3 different countries but with one shared goal... an Olympic Gold medal!
Yes... the 'World of Windsurf Girls' are on the podcast this week!
This week we get the inside scoop from Ex PWA tour rider and world tour challenger – Alex Mussolini
This week we get the inside scoop from the main man behind Challenger Sails - Claudio Badiali
He won his first World Cup he ever took part in and never won one again. He went from being the hottest kid in town to working construction, back to being a pro again. He fell in love, he got fired, he got beat up and he got back up. Sounds like a new Netflix character? No, it’s Diony Guadagnino
Do we really need to introduce Bjorn Dunkerbeck?? Im pretty sure we dont! Worlds most decorated not only windsurfer but athlete of all time joins Maciek for a chat about everything from his early days in Gran Canaria, his intimidating presence, his ugly battles with The Team all the way to being a full time dad introducing his son Liam to the World stage. A man of actions rather then words this is definetely the Worlds longest Terminator interview!
This week Maciek catches up with Jordy Vonk, one of the household names of the slalom tour to discuss everything from their rivarly during the junior days all the way to wild parties and competing for a World Title. Sit back and enjoy!
This week on the Podcast Maciek catches up with Bruce Wylie. Who is the Main point of contact for the Windsurfing Industry at the biggest production board factory in the world - Cobra
The Main man behind RRD... Roberto Ricci up first!
0:00 Teaser
1:30 Beginnings, shaping with Drops
8:30 Maui/Italy 80's shaper/rider, starts RRD '89
14:40 Maui experimental time
18:16 Friends with Sven, still competitive
23:05 '93 Almost burnt family house down, changed outlook
29:28 Driven by winning machines and making all-round funboards
32:55 Antoine effect, what happened to dream team, current tour
41:15 Looking to all-round watersport riders
44:09 Encouraging new shapers, keep riding/testing
49:35 Being manager of large company
53:10 Follow your passion, have fun
58:36 Comparing the windsport markets
1:04:01 'We were uncool before uncool was cool!'
1:07:43 Future in foil boats
Peter Thommen has been making windsurf boards for over 40 years and in this podcast he goes back to the start when it all began... from his first jobs with Hifly and F2, working with a young Bjorn Dunkerbeck and then on to starting his own brand. More recently Peter has been making custom boards clients but is still as sharp and knowledgeable about the industry than just about anyone!! Maciek gets a full lesson here on the things to consider when designing boards, question is how good a student was Maciek?
Windsurfing legend Fred Haywood joins the podcast and tells us some great stories, from swimming greatness with Mark Spitz to the early days of big wave riding in Maui. Fred has the kind of attitude that take people places and he leads by example, so when he decided to be the fastest windsurfer in the world it wasn't long before set the new record and burst through the 30knt barrier in the early eighties! Then locked in a battle for the outright sailing record Fred tried out all kinds of weird and wonderful designs on the windsurfer. Now Fred living on Maui has a book out and tells us what to expect in it. This is one podcast Maciek takes the backseat and lets Fred do the talking.
Sandy Clunas has been presenting his own podcast 'The After Hours Lounge' this is his latest podcast with windsurfing legend, Dave White! Whitey is an ex-professional windsurfer and all-round windsurfing legend having spent his early years setting speed records and holding the production speed record for many years. We discussed his recent life threatening situation in Mauritius, suffering a stroke whilst out sailing and the resulting rescue story. This was followed by another massive stroke which put him in a position unable to talk and move but in true Whitey fashion he has stayed mentally strong and with the support of those around him begun the incredible journey of recovery. Now 4 years on, he is here talking with Sandy and explaining the challenges he has gone through and the goals he has set himself, including doing 50 knots at Luderitz and learning to foil. Dave is always great with stories and although sometimes now unable to put his thoughts into words this is an epic listen!!
Follow Sandy on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67cn0OM...
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theafterhou...
Twan Verseput is one of the first new generation speed-focused pro windsurfers and currently the Worlds 3rd fastest man on 500 meters. But is he actually a pro? What does it take to go down the Luderitz canal at 100kph peaks. What kind of gear and training does he use? Does being absolutely massive help? And what does he think about the Facebook Speed World Championships? This and much more on the newest installment of The Windsurfing Podcast!
Timo Mullen is the most passionate windsurfer we know. His whole life, his job, his private life revolves around chasing swells. From travelling to Gnaraloo for a weekend to booking 6months of tickets every week in case its good Timo is just one of kind. And all that with an irish wit and loads of stories - cant do much better than that for the latest installment of The Windsurfing Podcast!
Adam Sims is a windsurfer, traveler, filmer, and recently appointment CEO of the European Freestyle Pro Tour. How does he juggle so many hats? What's the cost of running an event? How much work does it take? Why are freestylers different from other windsurfers? Can he play the didgeridoo? This and much more on the newest installment of The Windsurfing Podcast!
Ola Helenius is not your typical shaper. Instead of being covered in dust all day his day job is math professor at the University of Stockholm. When he designs boards he starts with numbers and then translates it into curves, which is the exact opposite of what most designers do. He shows us live how he does it and shares his thoughts on fin setups, current market situation, brands with multiple shapers and so much more. Tune in!
Dany Bruch has a story like no other. Just as he was starting to gain traction as the „next best thing” to come out of the Canary Islands, he was forced to stop windsurfing to save a family business. Few years later he clawed his way back all the way to podium finishes in multiple stops on tour and established himself as an R&D expert. He takes us thru that journey and countless up and downs with openess and level of detail you’re not gonna get anywhere else!
Amado Vrieswijk is an undisputed modern-day windsurfing superstar. And absolute air moves master can also hold his own in waves and slalom but even has an event win to his name in the foiling discipline. Why do it all? Is that the reason for the freestyle World Title eluding him for the past 5 years? Did he really go out the night before his World Title heat? That and much more in the latest installment of The Windsurfing Podcast
Casey and Sarah Hauser are both charging Jaws and pushing the limits in Maui. Coming from different worlds, Casey lake sailing in the US and Sarah growing up in the paradise that is New Caledonia they found each other in Maui. It is a crazy story from Sarah driven to pursue professional windsurfing finds herself in the mecca of wavesailing and meets a chatty guy who helps her on that path. Now established as one of the best female wave riders in the world Sarah has taken an interesting pathway to achieve most of her goals. Listen to one of the top windsurfing couples take on everything from hosting Maciek to the state of windsurfing in the US.
Lena Erdil has tried her hand at all disciplines of windsurfing and now is part of the PWA management team. In this podcast she goes back to the start and tells us how she found windsurfing and the love for slalom racing. Almost braking the women's speed record at Luderitz was also a highlight and we hear some great stories from this period. The motivation for wave sailing ended with injury but she's fighting back in the slalom and now with the IQ foil competitions. Recently her influence has helped see equal prize money come into the sport and Lena and Maciek have a good debate about all the pro's and con's. Lena's knowledge and experience comes across in this compelling podcast, sit back and enjoy!!
Todays guest needs absolutely no introduction. He’s been on many of our guests top5 of all time lists. We’ve been chasing him for a while and we finally managed to do it. Live! Maciek sits down with Antoine Albeau to talk about absolutely everything from the comradery to the rivalry, from spocks to T-Bones, from foils to speed suits and from late beginnings to winning a PWA Slalom World Championship first time at 34 years old.
Legendary brand manager Martin Brandner is BACK!! In this second appearance on the podcast the conversation heads back to the start and his route into windsurfing is an interesting tale. From landlocked Austria to running a top team from the glory days of windsurf competition in the 90's. Like many in Europe at the time he enjoyed the party that was the global windsurfing boom years and found a path to working in that industry throughout the 80's. Hear all about the stories from these years and just how different running a major brand in that era was from the world that we know today. Martin gives us great insight to all aspects with his usual honest and open style. Sit back and listen and if you have questions just leave them in the comments - we might even have Martin on again for Brandner 3.0!
Hoyle Schweitzer was the co-invented of the original Windsurfer. His son Matt was the first World Champion. Matt’s son and Hoyle’s grandson Zane is an elite waterman. Who better to give us a history lesson! And a super fun one as well, with zero BS, just as we like it on the Windsurfing Podcast. Right from the very beginnings all the way to Zane and Maciek partying it up in Peru and the Schweitzers new movie - Broken Moulds.
Adam Lewis rips. And hes been ripping for years now. But his path to becoming a pro windsurfer was far from easy. Late starter for many years he had to teach the sport in order to do it. What finally tipped the scales? How did he get to the PWA podium? How was the first time at Jaws? And how was it in Australia with 2 other unknown riders: Maciek Rutkowski and Balz Muller....
If you followed the PWA tour in the late 90s in early 2000s you definetely heard of the Maximum Performance Group - MPG. The man behind those 3 letters competition absolutely dreaded is Scott Sanchez. An Olympic skier himself he’s coached an incredible variety of athletes - from NBA players to skiers, windsurfers and even F1 drivers. Get comfortable and have a listen to Scott go behind the scenes of training your favourite windsurfers including Jason Polakow, Francisco Goya, Micah Buzianis, Kai Lenny, Marcilio Browne, Levi Siver and so many more...
One of the most radical and progressive wave sailors of recent times. Boujmaa comes from humble beginnings telling us just how he came to find windsurfing as his passion and his work. He highlights some of the crazy stunts he has tried, almost costing him his life but giving him a new perspective and new goals... such as sharing windsurfing in developing countries. He compares the two major tours where he has tasted success and battles with the Moroccan internet in his own casual but stylish way. Sit back and enjoy listening to a truly remarkable story from a truly remarkable person.
Legendary brand manager Martin Brandner is like the Godfather. Ruthless and mega effective, yet the ones working with and for him adore him. Specially after its done. He assembled some of the best, most succesful teams in windsurfing history for F2 and JP and now, retired he tells us all about it. From applying Nike’a startery in windsurfing to almost starting a new brand with Peter Thommen and Bjorn, signing a young Ricardo Campello, Kauli Seadi always being late and not owning a phone, Antoine Albeau not being able to develop boards and a possible comeback to the business Martin really spills the beans. Sit back and listen and if you have questions just leave them in the comments - we might have Martin on again soon as there is so much left to talk about!
Ross Williams is probably the best all around windsurfer of the 2010s. Top5 across 4 disciplines, the Isle of Wight native never won a Slalom or Wave World Title but he’s one the most respected competitors on the scene. Why? And why did he not win that elusive slalom title that he came so close to? How did he even get there coming from pretty modest beginnings? And is the end for Ross or is the competitve hunger gonna come back after taking a year off in 2021? All that and much more on the newest Windsurfing Podcast!
Keith Teboul is now a household name. Marcilio Browne won a World Title on his boards, Kai Lenny does his thing exclusively on KT’s designs and he’s shaped for most of big names in pro windsurfing, surfing and stand up paddling. But where the hell did he come from? Wasnt he supposed to be Quatro’s accountant? What led to him taking over the job of Sean Ordonez? Is it a course to be able to test your own products? And how boring is it to build flat water boards? This and much more on the latest episode of The Windsurfing Podcast
Sandy Clunas has been presenting his own podcast 'The After Hours Lounge' though-out 2020. This is his last podcast for 2020 with fellow Club Vass legend, Max Rowe! 'Max is a professional windsurfer and all round UK windsurfing legend having spent almost a decade on tour competing and 4 of those years within the top 15.
We discussed his late start into windsurfing and his attitude of keeping professional, yet trying not to put too much pressure on himself and enjoy the journey. We talked sponsorship deals, both good and bad, and the stresses of always trying to stay relevant and keep your job within a small industry.
After that we moved onto more serious territory. I remember being in Cape Town with Max one winter and him jokingly ask me to feel this hard lump on his stomach. A few months later he was in a hospital in Austria at the first event of the year being told it was a tumour...
Luckily, it was benign, but it still needed removing through highly invasive surgery. A truly life changing and altering experience even for someone as chilled as Max.
Finally we moved onto going bald and why in the grand scheme of things it's not that bad and becoming a new dad and balancing that with a lifestyle of traveling the world.
A huge thing we kept coming back to throughout the chat was how Max's experiences changed his perspective, from being dropped by sponsors, having a 17cm tumour removed from his stomach, to having a baby.
Not as mental health centric as other episodes but an awesome conversation nonetheless!’
Follow Sandy on
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67cn0OMKX5BaKucMr7RdzI?si=BYTCorXnTI-JFYTVueiK6w
Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-after-hours-lounge/id1503664779
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theafterhourslounge/
Graham Ezzy is Hawaiian windsurfing royalty. Son of sail designer and brand owner David Ezzy, Graham was pretty much destines to be involved in the sport one way or another. He did however get a Princeton degree and interviewed for a finance job in New York. Why he decided to change course, what the sport means to him, how he decides which wave is his and much more on the new Windsurfing Podcast.
You might know Kai Katchadourian as the voice of the Aloha Classic. But did you know he locked in multiple semifinal appearances in that very contest going head to head with all the big names of the 90s? Did you know he was a part of the first „real” Jaws session? Did you know he was crowned Worlds Fastest Drummer? And in our opinion one of the most historically knowledgable windsurfers out there. yet lives in Finland out of all places. This and much more in the newest installment of The Windsurfing Podcast.
Gonzalo Costa Hoevel has been around, that’s for sure. Mistral One Design Youth World Champion, Formula Windsurfing World Champion, multiple PWA Slalom podiums and finally a PWA World Title in Foiling is a hell of a resume for the 40 year old Argentinian. Now just 2 years removed from his World Championship he moved into a new role - IQ Foil Class Manager. How does a class get elected to the olympics? What does its manager actually do? How did he convince all those countries to vote for it? And why is he the national hero of Austria? All that and much more in the newest Windsurfing Podcast, hosted by Maciek Rutkowski.
John Skye had pretty much no chance of becoming a professional windsurfer. Growing up in Luton, landlocked minus a local lake, started windsurfing late, full university degree and a late start on the freestyle tour doesnt sound like a recipe for a great career. Yet hear he is almost 20 years and multiple podiums later having carved out a hell of a life for himself and his family, now also designing sails for RRD. How the hell did he do it? Tune in and find out
Maciek Rutkowski is your weekly podcast host. But he just happens to be a professional windsurfer himself. From getting his ass handed to him to sailing Jaws and winning a PWA World Tour event the Pole has been through almost every possible emotion a person can go through while pursuing a career in the sport. And he shares it all right here, with Ben Proffitt stealing his usual interviewer role. Strap in for a tale of sleeping in equipment tents, fistfights on the racecourse, dirty secrets of sponsorship deals and how to perform at the highest level.
6x Indoor World Champion, Aloha Classic Winner, 4x Wave Vice World Champion and a Course Racing Vice World Champion Nik Baker is a 90s legend. He takes us from his humble beginnings at Brighton when he dreamt to become a professional windsurfer like Robby Naish, to beating the King in the Aloha Classic final. Super candid and very talkative this is for sure up there with the best podcasts we’ve done so far. And the Polakow impersonation is a cherry on top of the cake. Let us know if you agree!
Oda Johanne Broedholt is a household name in womens freestyle windsurfing. If it wasnt for Sarah-Quita she’d probably have a couple World Titles to her name. Not bad for someone that almost became a professional handball player! In a conversation with Maciek she dives into all the similarities and differences between the two sports, as well as her analytical prowess, what would it take for her to beat the Queen and of course gender equality in windsurfing.
Svein Rasmussen's story is like no other. From getting dragged out of the water by the police because it was too cold to windsurf to leaving restaurants because they wouldn't serve tap water hte founder and owner of Starboard is like no other. He started the now iconic brand at 32 years old with 10.000 dollars in his pocket and became market leader 7 years later. How? And why does he feel guilty about it ever single day? Dive in to an absolutely amazing story with a person so passionate you can feel it through your screen... or we do at least!
Pierre Mortefon. The 2019 PWA World Slalom Champion. Some might say well overdue as already in 2015 he was very close to getting it. He lost on a tiedbreak to Antoine Albeau and to make it worse it took hours after the racing was done for him to find out since nobody knew what the rules were. How did that change him? What is his relationship with Matteo Iachino and Antoine Albeau his title ever-present title rivals? How did his aproach towards no rules after the life-threatening crash with Taty Frans? Do you get slower when your first child is born? All that and a lot more in the newest installment of The Windsurfing Podcast.
Andrea Cucchi has been in the business of windsurfing for 25 years now. As a competitor he did his first World Cup in 96 and just as he was about to enter his prime years he decided to start Point-7. „Cookie” takes us through all the trials and tribulations coming with that. Suppliers, designers, materials, workers, teamriders - what does it take to be successful on the market? Do you need to be a shark among the fish? How does a World Title affect the brand? This and much more from 2 guys with a long personal relationship - Andrea sponsored Maciek for 2 years and that got a little... ankward?
Do we really need to tell you who Robby Naish is? Guess not! What we can tell you is that Maciek didn’t take it easier on him then anyone else. How did he even become so good? Why did he stay on tour after he stopped winning? Why did he start a brand when he said it’s the last thing he’d do? Why didn’t he want to give custom boards to Kauli and Brawzinho? What really happened with Bernd Roedriger? And how far can one stick ones head up ones ass? For this and much more tune in. The King is in the house!
Balz Müller has skyrocketed into windsurfing stardom in the last 18 months or so. But he was the same crazy stoked Swiss, wearing that same helmet, with that same all-or-nothing attitude already 10 years ago. What changed? Is foil freestyle the future? Is winging here to stay? How does it feel to get knocked out cold by his own board? This and much more in the newest installment of the Windsurfing Podcast!
If anyone know modern racing history they know of Phil McGain. On this podcast Anders Bringdal "credited" him with destroying the fun in windsurfing by profesionalizing the sport and especially the equipment side of things. After claiming his maiden World Title in 1989 he later famously focused on "The Team" project whose goal was simple - defeat Bjorn after over a decade of dominance. He discusses all that and more, including what he would give to salvage his relationship with once apprentice and friend Kevin Pritchard and why did he decide to become a triathlete at 50 years of age...
Kevin Pritchard (KP) needs no introduction. 1999 Vice World Champion and the guy who finally took down Dunkerbeck after 12 years of domination in 2000. How did he and The Team manage it? What was it like at the end of the 90's era? What kind of contracts where being discussed? Why did he retire early? KP gives Maciek candid answers to these.. and many more classic stories!
Patrik Diethelm shaped 6 boards before he got a job at F2. Was he that good or just lucky? How did Peter Thommen react to him? What happened between him and Ricardo Campello? And how is it to work with our host Maciek Rutkowski? Find out this and much more in the latest episode of the Windsurfing Podcast
S-10 needs no introduction. 1987 and 88 World Champion had to then take 12 years of Dunkerbecks domination. How did it feel to be always second? What was it like in the golden years? How fast will a windsurfer go? Anders gives Maciek candid answers to these.. and many more!
Arnon Dagan is one of the sports most interesting characters. The Flying Camel tells us how hard it was to become a pro windsurfer coming from Israel, not even having money for a shower all the way to winning an event and starting his own brand. He also tells us what he thinks his missing in the sport and what is the story of the XXL harness.
Ricardo needs no introduction. Teenage freestyle phenom turned ballziest wavesailor of all time, he sits down with Maciek to talk about it all. From why he didnt finish school to how he refused to ride a thruster at a JP photoshoot - one of the many times he made brand manager Martin Brandner absolutely crazy. Candid as ever Ricardo opens up about working on his mindset, maturing and what if he never gets that Wave World Title he so dearly craves.
Sarah-Quita Offringa is pretty much the modern day Bjorn Dunkerbeck, the most well-rounded windsurfer to maybe ever step on a board. 17 World Titles and counting SQ takes us from her beginnings in the island of Aruba to her adolescent freestyle years on tour and the current days where she’s dominated slalom and won the waves in an impressive fashion. She also talks about the everlasting problems women endure in the sport of windsurfing and what to do to improve their situation
There are not many people who are World Champions but you don't think of them primarily as that. Almost as if the Title was the least of their accomplishments. Thomas Traversa is definitely one of those people. An absolute charger TT talks to Maciek about how he didn't even want to be a pro, how the hell does he find all those amazing spots and how he wins at racing... shopping carts.
Craig Gertenbach has been in the sport for 40 years now. First as a grom in South Africa, then a top10 PWA competitor, finally brand manager for Fanatic that’s currently the sales leader on the windsurfing market. He takes us behind the scenes of running a brand, what he thinks the regular customer doesn’t understand and this one time he had a bidding war for a rider against a rival brand.
Marcilio Browne needs no introduction. You would really need to look beyond to find someone that rips harder then Brawzinho right now. How did this come about? What did his parents think when a 20 year old Kauli Seadi took the 14 year old Marcilio on the World Tour? How does he feel so comfortable in Jaws? And why is the water in Portugal freezing... according to him at least!
Jimmy Diaz is the president of the PWA. But before becoming windsurfing's most powerful influence he was just like any of us: a guy from a small place with some big dreams. In this episode El Presidente really opens up about the mental struggle of becoming a pro windsurfer, the glory days, how much money he would spend on boards, windsurfing in Colorado and why he wants to decrease the prize money for future events.
2016 World Champion stormed to the top of the slalom world seemingly out of nowhere. While his archrival Pierre Mortefon was already on tour Matteo was still skating the streets of Albisola. How did he become pro? What made him loose the title in 2015? How is his relationship with Mortefon after teamracing accusations? How is it to date a windsurf girl? These and more questions will be answered!
Josh Angulo is one of Hawaii's favourite sons. Insanely talented, younger brother of late 80s phenom Mark he busted onto the scene at the age of 17. He would go onto win 2 World Titles, build a succesful business and a loving family. But it definetely wasn't all smooth sailing. Josh takes us deep into the darkness of his drug addiction, the golden era of windsurfing and that time he had to fly halfway around the world to get his fins...