Relaunch of free weather service Windfinder
Windfinder relaunched its website with exciting features. Go to www.windfinder.com to check wind, waves, weather and tides for your location for free.
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Better usability and readability
Windfinder is now optimized for touchscreens and displayed perfectly even on high resolution displays (Retina).
Feedback
Do you like the re-launched website? Just send us a mail to info@windfinder.com!
Kiel Week: World’s biggest sailing regatta
The Kiel Week, one of the biggest sailing regattas in the world and the largest summer festival in Northern Europe has opened today. 4000 sailors from more than 50 countries are coming to Kiel/Germany, which is the home of Windfinder, to compete in 43 sailing classes like 470, 49er, Finn, Laser, Nacra 17, RS:X on 10 race courses from June 20 to June 28 off the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Photo
©
Nadine Rathjen
As the partner of Hamburg the city of Kiel wants to host the sailing competitions of the Summer Olympics in 2024 for the 3rd time after having been the venue of the Olympic’s sailing venue in 1936 and 1972. The Kiel week has lost the status of of sailing world cup in 2012 and is looking to regain this status due to some difficulties with the Intenational Sailing Federation. Hamburg’s bid for the Summer Olympics 2024 could help regain this status.
Spectators get to see daring moves and jumps at the at Ocean Jump in the city center. Windsurfers and BMX bikers compete for the world title by jumping off a 30 meter high ramp with a windsurf sail mounted to a skateboard or mountainboard or with a BMX bikes and doing crazy tricks and moves in the air before slumping into the water of the Kiel fjord.
One of the highlights of the Kiel Week is the Windjammer parade on the final weekend of the Kiel Week. The parade of more than 100 traditional and tall ship is headed this year by the German sail training ship “Gorch Fock”. The Polish three-masted full-rigged ship “Dar Mlodziezy” and the biggest traditional windjammer of the world, the Russian four-masted barque “Sedov” also belong to the official parade. The three-masted topsail schooner “Gulden Leeuw” (Golden Lion) from the Netherlands, the Kieler topsail schooner “Thor Heyerdahl” and the 5-star cruise sailors “Sea Cloud II” are also part of the maritime finale of the Kieler Woche. In addition, many other major international and traditional sailing ships, steamers and escort vehicles and many small boats and yachts cruise the Kiel fjord at the windjammer parade.
Photo © Bodo Quante
Windfinder provides a forecast and live weather from Kiel Lighthouse which is located about 5 km offshore off the coast, right in the middle of the racing areas. Check the wind, 3 hourly wind, waves and weather forecast from Kiel Lighthouse, as well as the 1-hourly superforecast and the live readings from the weather station at the lighthouse.
Photo © Bodo Quante
Marc Jacobs and Gisela on top at Big Air competition @ Virgin Kitesurf World Championships Venezuela
Isla De Coche, Venezuela (Saturday, June 13, 2015) - The second stop of the Virgin World Kitesurf Championships (VKWC) ended today with male and female big air event. Despite light winds, the competition saw many local competitors together with the world best riders. They all managed to deliver aerial manoeuvres that delighted the crowds. Congratulations to the big air winners Marc Jacobs (NZ) and Gisela Pulido (ES) who have been crowned during the closing ceremony of the event held at partner Hotel Coche Paradise.
After the qualifiers yesterday, the show took place today in front of a large Venezuelan audience that came to support their local riders. The competition saw some of the big names of the discipline such as Kevin Langeree (NL), current leader after his victory in Dakhla (Morocco), powerhouse rider Marc Jacobs, flying man Reno Romeu (BR) and also local star and multiple times windsurfing world champion Ricardo Campello (VE). Besides windsurfing, it turns out that Campello is also an avid kiteboarder.
Hebert Augusto and Hernan Arends were the two local men on form of the day. They managed to advance to the semifinals up against Eudazio Da Silva (BR) and Kevin Langeree. People were screaming at every jump attempt of their country-mates to encourage them. But despite performing aerial handle passes and up to five rotations, they could not match up the two experienced riders’ level.
The men final saw kiwi Marc Jacobs, number one Kevin Langeree, Reno Romeu and a surprisingly aerial Alex Pastor. The four competitors did their best to impress judges and offered a great spectacle with a host of double handle passes, inverted rotations and technical board offs.
Thanks to his crowd-pleasing moves and impressive style Marc Jacobs claimed the victory of the second big air event of 2015 showing that he is an accomplished rider. Kevin Langeree placed 2nd, Reno Romeu ranked 3rd and Alex Pastor 4th.
Marc Jacobs: “Conditions were tough, I was on my biggest kite and I wasn’t expecting to win because I’m one of the heaviest guys competing in big air. But luckoly I spin fast and I ended up doing some really good tricks. I’m happy with what I did, a Kung Fu pass spin and five flips with a grab the whole way. For the conditions I think it’s pretty good. I’m stoked and happy to finally win in big air because coming second in Morocco just made me want to win the next one. I hope it keeps going and I keep winning in big air.”
Kevin Langeree: “The competition to me was ok. It wasn’t really as good as I had hoped for of course. The wind was really light and for the big air the main thing we need is strong wind. We didn’t really get it here which is really unfortunate but it can happen, you never know. Of course I wanted to win but I’m pretty happy with this second place. Hopefully I can win on the next event and I’m looking forward to it. I think that Marc and I should have the same amount of points now so it’s going to be an interesting year and it’s only the beginning.”
In the middle of the afternoon, all eyes were focused on the girls fighting in their arena. The final saw a high level as well with several times world champion Gisela Pulido who felt very comfortable with big air tricks. She was opposed with British newcomer Hannah Whiteley (GB), Annelous Lammerts (NL) and Annabel Van Westerop (AW).
Lammerts, Whiteley and Van Westerop decided not to make it too easy for their opponent and tried hard to deliver clean and well-composed board offs, jumping nearly as high as guys did.
However the fierce competitor Gisela showed no mercy and finally snatched the lead from her contenders by landing a high handle pass rarely seen in girls battles. With this second win in big air discipline, Gisela secures her first position in the ranking closely followed by Hannah Whiteley who once again finishes second. 3rd and 4th spots are respectively for Annelous Lammerts and Annabel Van Westerop.
Gisela Pulido:“I’m really happy because I was third in freestyle and to be first in big air gives me more motivation. I’m also happy because the level of the girls in this discipline is getting better and better because now it’s more professional. You have to work for it and to do all the tricks of the categories, you have to make them as high as you can and it’s tricky. Today the wind was not so strong so it was even more difficult to go as big as we could. But we had fun and it’s the most important. There is a really good atmosphere between all the girls in big air. In freestyle it’s more tough, there is more rivalry. In big air we try to enjoy!”
Hannah Whiteley:“It was really nice to compete and I had so much fun. Big air is really what makes kitesurfing stand out of the other watersports. In windsurfing for example, you can’t jump so high. For me it makes kitesurfing special. I really enjoy freestyle but big air feels really fun when the wind is super strong and it’s too much for freestyle. Today it was light wind, more a freestyle day but I had lots of fun and I’m happy of this second place. Congrats to Gisela and the other girls! I’m looking forward to next stop in Tarifa.”
More pictures are available on VKWC Facebook page. Pictures credit: Rodrigo Ungaro
Karolina Winkowska and Liam Whaley win Virgin Kitesurf World Championships Tour stop Venezuela
Isla de Coche, Venezuela (Friday, June 12, 2015) - Virgin Kitesurf World Championships (VKWC) second stop saw a thrilling day of kiteboarding with freestyle male and female finals. Under a blazing sun and with constant wind blowing 18 knots reigning world champion Karolina Winkowska (PL) as well as current number one Liam Whaley (ES) claimed their respective second victories on the trot.
The firsts to take to the water today were long time contenders Youri Zoon (NL) and Alex Pastor (ES). Both riders know each other very well and knew they had to give it all to advance into the next round. Pastor started his heat with commitment but soon showed some difficulties with several wipeouts - certainly because of stress. Youri Zoon slowly built up his heat finishing with several extremely powered double handle passes such as a Slim 7, Backside 317, and a KGB 5 sending him to the semi-final.
Male mini final
Aaron Hadlow (GB) vs. David Tonijuan Colomer (ES)
After losing against Youri Zoon despite landing his first ever Back Side 317, David Tonijuan Colomer tried his best to beat five-time world champion Aaron Hadlow (GB), doing his utmost to keep momentum and show what he is made of. But the experienced Aaron Hadlow delivered several consistent tricks stopping the Spanish newcomer and securing his spot on the podium.
Male winners final
Liam Whaley (ES) vs. Youri Zoon (NL)
In the men’s final we saw Liam Whaley (ES) opposed with Youri Zoon (NL) in a healthy competition. It was announced as the clash of the titans and it actually was. Both current frontrunners delivered a host of amazing double handle passes pushing the boundaries. Liam came out strong with a “go-for-broke” approach pulling off a massive Front Blind Mobe as soon as the buzzer sounded, followed by his signature grabbed Back Mobe 5. Pressure was at its height as Youri suffered several crashes before he actually started landing his first moves. He soon narrowed the gap between them by performing a seldom seen 319 scoring as high as 9,45/10. Current number one finally managed to snatch the win over Youri in an extremely close heat (40.23 vs. 40.08) achieving his second victory of the season.
Liam Whaley: “I’m so happy with this result. I’ve been riding in quarterfinals and semi-finals having really good heats. With Youri we both had a pretty insane one. Apparently it was really close so I’m just stocked to win two events in a row. It’s definitely the best year of my life and I hope I can keep on winning.”
Youri Zoon: “I got second at this event which is not too bad. I always want to win but the guys are all riding super well and I didn’t come super prepared to be honest. But during the event I was building up and started to land my tricks again. In the last heat I didn’t ride super good, I waited a couple of times two long in order not to cause an interference. If I look back to the heat I could have gone but I just didn’t want to risk it. Our scores are so close! But it’s alright, I’m happy with it.”
Female mini final
Gisela Pulido (ES) vs. Annelous Lammerts (NL)
A stiff competition saw Gisela Pulido putting pressure on Annelous Lammerts by landing solid moves right after the horn. Nine-time world champion showed no mercy as she had to grab points after losing in an epic semi-final against her biggest opponent Karolina Winkowska on Wednesday. But Annelous did not get flustered and answered back with some consistent tricks as well. That said, the Spanish champion won with a commanding lead over Annelous sealing the deal by pulling off more powered tricks.
Female winners final
Karolina Winkowska (PL) vs. Bruna Kajiya (BR)
2009 world champion Bruna Kajiya was on form during this second leg of VKWC and mastered most of her heats until the final against the fierce competitor Karolina Winkowska. Both riders kicked off the heat pretty well but soon Karolina set the tone delivering several strong moves, showcasing her strength and commitment. Bruna fought hard performing powerful manoeuvres but lacked consistency and could not match Karolina’s well-constructed heat. Winkowska is clearly hunting for the world title and dominated the competition.
Karolina Winkowska: “It’s awesome! It always feels awesome to win. It is what I work for and what I compete for. It’s the best thing ever. Bruna is one of my biggest opponents so I knew I had to go big and try really hard tricks because she’s a really tough competitor. I didn’t see what she was doing because I’m always so concentrated on my stuff but I was hoping for the best. I was so happy when they announced the results!”
Bruna Kajiya: “The spot here is really perfect and I had an interesting heat with Karolina. I think we were both overpowered and I was trying to go as big as possible with nothing else on my mind. I crashed quite a lot but I’m happy for giving it a try and I’m really happy with some of the tricks I landed. So yeah, stocked!”
Tomorrow - last day of the event - will host the big air competition. Competitors meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. (GMT -4:30) with a first possible start at 11 a.m.
More pictures are available on VKWC Facebook page.
Pictures credit: Rodrigo Ungaro and Juan Santiago Monteverde
Measuring Waves: An Alternative Scale?
8 foot and peeling, double overhead, 4 foot Hawaiian? Judging and communicating wave sizes can be a tricky business – different scales and methods abound, and everyone has their own peculiarities.
Some surfers tend to exaggerate like fishermen (it was THIS big!), while the more nonchalant prefer to play it cool and understate sizes. We’re an odd bunch, and amid the mix of egos, trends and flavours of the month, perspectives shift around as much as the peaks at your local beachie. Things get even more complicated when you consider where you view the waves from, or try to judge from photos and videos. The only constant is that the waves were ALWAYS better yesterday!
In general, there are two main scales to measure waves:
© Red Bull Media House
The Hawaiian Scale
Hawaii’s monster waves breed some of the gnarliest surfers on the planet, who need their own equally gnarly method of judging sizes. The Hawaiian scale understates the size of waves – a 6 foot wave in normal parlance might be called 3 foot Hawaiian. The reasons for this are murky and controversial – some claim that they measure the backs of the waves, while others say they simple halve the size to deter the tourist crowds. While they seem to like it, the scale becomes problematic when you consider heavy slabs like Teahupo’o – the back of the wave can be relatively small, while the face sucks water in, forming a bowl-like pit of doom that far exceeds the power and size the Hawaiian scale would suggest. Which is probably exactly what they want…
The Face Scale
Most of the world works on the face scale – the height of the face of the wave from peak to trough. This is generally more useful and intuitive for most surfers, as it is the part of the wave that we actually ride. As wave and set sizes vary even during the same swell, it’s normal to estimate the average wave size – therefore if your buddy tells you the waves were 6 foot, you might assume they were 4-8 feet. Unless you know he’s a barefaced liar, in which case halve that…
© Red Bull Media House
We can use surfers riding the waves to help estimate the face height – if a surfer is 5 foot crouching, then a head-high wave will be approximately 5 foot. On bigger waves, we can stack the surfer up to gauge the real size – if we can stack 4 crouching surfers above each on the face, we have a 20 foot wave.
The Problem
Judging wave sizes is inherently open to bias, as much depends on the individual’s experience and perspective, and where you view them from – everything looks and feels much bigger from the lineup than from the cliffs above! Things get even more distorted when looking at photos and videos – photographers are very adept at making waves look bigger and more impressive than reality!
Perhaps the best example of this is the Portuguese monster Nazare, a touchy subject within the big wave community. The waves are undoubtedly HUGE, with claims of 100 foot waves ridden, but the controversy lies in just how huge. The problem is that most photos are taken from the overlooking cliffs. The faces of the waves are almost incomprehensibly big, yet as the wave isn’t as steep as other big wave spots like Jaws and Mavericks, the apparent face length often exaggerates the real face height. This isn’t such a big deal for normal surfers in normal waves, but makes life hard for the Billabong XXL judges, for example.
© Red Bull Media House
Which brings us to the second point: is face height really the most important feature? I’ll make no bones about it: Nazare is simply enormous. It’s a huge, mountainous, mammoth of a wave, pure Armageddon and utterly deadly; the surfers who dare to ride the incomprehensibly vast mounds of water there deserve all the respect and accolades they get. And yet, is it as difficult and dangerous as a more top-to-bottom wave like Jaws? The lip at Nazare often tends to crumble down, and it’s rare to see it really pitch out and break to the bottom. While it deserves way more respect than the contemptuous ‘mush burger’ label some like to apply to it, it’s a fair point that we’re not always really comparing like for like, and that a fair portion of the face isn’t always steep enough to ride.
What about speed, power and mass, though? They all contribute at least as much to how big and dangerous a wave really is, yet are much harder to quantify (short of a load of expensive wave buoy and sensing technology). Just picture the lip on Chopes hitting a human body… If they’d known about it, the French wouldn’t have needed the guillotine during their revolution!
© Red Bull Media House
Much of the debate is fairly superficial, of course – outside of the small and artificial world of competitions all that really matters is whether you’d go or not. Whether the waves look like your idea of fun, or cavernous death pits you want no part of, and for the most part numbers don’t do a great job of communicating that. Sure you need to know the size of the swell when reading the forecast to decide where and when to take your next trip, but once you’re actually at the beach looking at the lineup do you really care if the waves are labelled as 4 foot, 12 foot or 20 foot? Chest high, overhead and triple overhead are a more useful representation of what the ocean is throwing at you – then you just need to decide whether they’re a ‘yes or no’ for you.
In light of that, we’d suggest the following simpler and more descriptive scale:
- Not worth getting out of bed for
- May as well go get wet – that counts as a shower, right?
- Betterthan a whack in the face with a rusty poker
- Better than expected
- Actually pretty damn fun!
- Best day EVER!
- Err, you sure about this?!
- Hawaiian best day EVER!
- Absolutedeath/fun day out for Shane Dorian
- Natural disaster/time to head for high ground
What do you think?
Matt Clark – LUEX Surf Travel