windsurfing.lepicture.comManu's Windsurfing Blog

MANU'S WINDSURFING BLOG en français en français Sessions & Blog Tips & Tricks Loop Quest Storm Chase Board Tests The Store This site is dedicated to my passion, the sport which keeps me fit, motivated, challenged, intrigued & fulfilled: windsurfing. Here you will find my videos, findings, tips & tricks, and blog from my latest sessions. Follow me on Facebook or Instagram ! As a father of two girls, I am fortunate to live minutes away from the windsurfing spot in Cabarete , Dominican Republic. With a background in web development, I created and maintain this website to share knowledge and entertain. Please do contact me with any requests. Happy sailing! *NEW* Now open, the STORE ! Looking for original gift ideas for windsurfers or for yourself? This is ZE place! All designs are original and unique. They are available as apparel, home decor items, cell phone accessories, stickers, and much more. More details on the brand new SHOP page. Looking for gift ideas for windsurfers? I decided to start making my own windsurfing designs! Check out my all new STORE page for more awesome products such as retro t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, hats, and even home decor! Each of the following models is available for women, men or kids in a variety of colors. Please, do forward me your ideas or requests, I may totally create something for you. Come back often for updates :) Windsurfing Backloop t-shirt Windsurfing Defying Science Periodic Table Elements Design :) Windsurf for Life t-shirt Proud Windsurfer!! t-shirt Windsurf for Life t-shirt Turning into a kid when getting a new board? This is YOUR shirt ;) ! Girl Version Turning into a kid when getting a new board? This is YOUR shirt ;) ! Boy Version Addicted to your GPS? Nothing like a full-speed planing session Landed your first forward? Wear this one with PRIDE :) Enjoy SENDING IT??? You'll make this look GOOOOD! Fall 2019: This is WINDSURFING, Believe the Impossible - An inspiring video to remind us that no matter how remote things may appear to us, we need to believe. Believe the impossible, and it may just happen! #believetheimpossible Latest Sessions Summary of my latest sessions 2019 ION Club Duotone Photoshoot! Browse more photo albums on Facebook here . Some nice windsurfing material and gift ideas :) ! Unleashed Windsurfing Movie Windsurfing By Peter Hart Tricktionary 3 !!! Don't Let Go Best Of Windsurfing Sessions & Blog top ⇧ These are some of my latest sessions from Cabarete, Dominican Republic. I average about 200 sessions a year. Conditions vary from bump & jump (with at least 1m waves to jump, only scarce) to massive mast high side wave riding (rare). Most sessions are side-on 15-25 knots with 1.4m to 2.4m waves. Most times I wear a rashguard (or 2!) to stay cooler, have some padding, and to put less sunscreen on, sometimes (in the winter 25-27C) I put a shortie on to be comfortable but it's not necessary. (It's easy to become used to the warmth here!) May 2019: A short vid to show the spot. Come visit me!!! May 2019: The dreaded CATAPULT! This one made my head ring. I think it landed flat on its side, glad to be wearing foam ear plugs ! April 2019: 30 knots, a bit overpowered, landed a few speed loops and working on higher backloops. December 2018: Intense early Christmas session with landed front loops, back loops, wave riding, fast tacks, and clew-first waterstart. December 2018: A magical sunset session! September 2018: My first captured speed loop! A bit more wet than my previous ones but at least this one is caught with my GoPro :) Also landed a backloop in the same session, a first! April 2018: First time sailing at Encuentro, 2m waves, a bit out of my comfort zone (sea urchins, shallow waters, etc.) but amazing experience! February & March 2018: My first landed backloops. The first one came as a total surprise. It was the one and only jump for the day where I sailed my 5.0 which I'm not completely comfortable with... crazy feeling! January 2018, a low-pressure system hit Cabarete over three days. Winds varied between 15 and 45 knots in gusts and violent squalls side swiped the spot. Go to the Storm Chase page for awesome photos and videos. January 2018: Over a year of sessions summarized in a series of videos demonstrating why I love windsurfing. Episode II. January 2018: Over a year of sessions summarized in a series of videos demonstrating why I love windsurfing. Episode I. July 2017: 3 days working on spin loops, Day 3 is obviously much closer with some decent crashes too! 2016-2017: 100% Crash, summary of one year of windsurfing to work on moves. White water climbing, frontside wave riding, backloops, frontloops, wymaroos, jibes, jumps and transitions, but only crashes! December 2015-January 2016: Little wind but strong swell! From 2 to 4m high waves, it allowed me to improve my white water climbing and surf sailing skills. November 2015: Not a whole of wind in November here, perfect opportunity to make a light wind freestyle video! October 2015: Few waves but still windy. After realizing that I wasn't ready mentally for loops, I'm announcing the Return of the Wymaroos! September 2015: Freestyle, wave riding, jumps, and of course the best crashes of the month! August 2015: A little comedy but yet inspiring version of what it can be to windsurf waves with friends along with some tips too! July 2015: Upon landing a light-wind jump, my front foot left the strap and with the back foot still in, my knee got tweaked and the kneecap got dislocated. It hurt like hell but healed pretty fast. June 2015: With an entertainment touch, here are this month's adventures. Jibes, tacks, white water, cutbacks and heli tacks. Do you find Windsurfing HARD? May 2015: After many years, I have finally purchased a new board. Read the full test of my 2013 Starboard Quad 82L here on my board tests page. April 2015: Brief summary of the month. Huge jumps with very good wave riding hits. April 2015: The full crew at work, Dominique, Franzie, Tiki & Tony. Surprise visit of Boujmaa Guilloul. April 2015: April was windy but a little disappointing wave-wise. So perfect opportunity to focus on entertainment, enjoy the vid! March 2015: After a long wait, good conditions are back! On the menu: white water, high jumps, loops (not by me... yet), tweaked jumps and front-side wave riding. Changed to 960p, athough it does flatten the water a bit, in the end more gets in the picture. January to Mid-February 2015: Wow wow wooooow, so much rain! Small waves, rare wind, need to be ready to go out whenever. So perfect timing to try various boards without worrying about wasting sessions... On the Line: 2010 Fanatic NewWave Twin 86, 2010 Starboard Quad 86, 2011 and 2012 JP Single Thruster 82, 93 & 99, 2012 Starboard NuEvo 86, 2014 Angulo Chango 74. Find all tests here on my board tests page. (Update 3/27/15: now with even more tests!) Late December 2014: I'm happy with the 1080p rendering which I find quite accurate. We have light wind days here (15-22 knots for this specific day), and taking out my 105L board setup with a 22.5cm freewave fin allows me to make the most of them (70kg rider). I can keep planing further while still benefiting from a very loose board. My front footstraps are all the way to the front and most importantly the rear one is all the way to the back. Late November 2014: I set the camera to 1080p (R5) and it did render the waves in a more realistic way than it does in 720p. The narrower angle does require more precise camera centering. Waves were quite large that day: 2.3m with a 8-second period. I intentionally left the parts where I'm crossing the reef running to show what it's like to go over the breaking waves on a big day in between sets. Late November 2014: 1 day after my birthday, huge session, wind was full side. November 2014: More aggressive wave riding with lip contact, bigger more tweaked jumps, smoother jibes, successful duck jibes. July 2014: Freewaving action with jum...