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The discovery of Dakhla
"Only desert and sea" can be found at the south-western tip of the Sahara, which surf editor Steve Chismar explores. Rumours of a new spot are doing the rounds, combining flat water and waves. Rachid Roussafi, Moroccan windsurfing legend and Olympic competitor, set up a tent camp at the then still godforsaken spot. Endless freeride areas, speed slopes, a wave spot for jumping and two point breaks can be found in the immediate vicinity. There is "always" wind, as Rachid emphasises, due to the Saharan thermals and the jet effect of the lagoon, which is intensified by the trade winds in summer. Anything over 4.7 is then unnecessary. Can it be better? Yes, because there are dolphins in every session! An up-and-coming talent, 19 years old at the time, also travelled to Dakhla by coach especially for the photo shoot with the European journalists: Boujmaa Gouillol. However, the crew's departure was delayed: no aeroplanes could take off for an indefinite period due to a plague of locusts. Never mind, the spot has enough to offer...
Exciting details in the freeride test
The surf test team took a close look at freeride sails around 6.5 and 145-litre boards. Some of the all-round cloths are equipped with up to 2 camber, several manufacturers have both options in their programme, but the camberless variants are gaining ground. Transparent mono film is used everywhere, the sails can only be identified by small colour applications. The boards are becoming wider, and the first manufacturers are beginning to include this value in the model name instead of the volume. The RRD Avantglide looks particularly modern, but the board puts you off with its straps, which can hardly be used. Bic sent a Blast, today this name appears in the Duotone range. The comparison between the first Xantos and a 2004 board in particular clearly shows the development. We have recently tested this again from today's perspective!
Finian Maynard and the speed record
Because he was not allowed to take part in Björn Dunkerbeck's record attempt, Finian Maynard quickly leased his own speed channel in the south of France. The PWA rider wants to break Thierry Bielak's record and is doing a lot to achieve this: not only is he organising his own event, he is also eating his way up to 120 kg body weight: "Several ten-litre cans full of Multipower protein powder are stored above the extractor bonnet," describes the surf author. "Pallets of eggs from supermarkets are stacked up next to the gas hob, and family packs of rice, tins of tuna and a few bottles of soya sauce are in the cupboards. Somewhat hidden behind them is a family jar of Nutella." Hidden because Maynard is focussing on muscle instead of fat. It should pay off, he will break the then magical 46-knot mark three times during the stand-by phase. Faster than 50 knots, so the theory goes, is not possible. "Wait and see," says Finian defiantly - he was proved right. In passing, the native Irishman tells an anecdote from his early days: at 17, he bought a second-hand board from Matt Pritchard for his first World Cup. The deal: Pritchard got half of the prize money. "We both laughed about it," says Finian. "Completely surprisingly, I came second and got 11,000 dollars in my hand." After his active career, Finian went on to found the FMX Racing brand - and won several world championship titles with his boards within a short space of time.
And what else?
- Small news, big impact: "Cisco Goya is going his own way", it is said, he is planning his own board and sail brand. Today, Goya is one of the biggest brands on the scene.
- VHS gold: The third part of Dunkerbeck's "The Search" and a complete review of the 2003 PWA tour are available as video cassettes.
- Mistral would like to set up its own "Hall of Fame" and is looking for board legends. Donors will receive a brand new board in exchange.
- Patrik Diethelm takes over board development at F2 and some of the first designs have a viewing window in the bow.
- Birth of an evergreen: North introduces the first Power.XT extension. To this day, thousands of surfers love the simple trimming with ratchet ratchet
- An anthem is being sought for the "Surf Republic of Wind", four surfer bands have composed a song and readers can vote online
- Reader spot of the month: Lake Singlis near Kassel, now Nick Spangenberg's home spot
- Windsurfer against mega-catamaran: Jochen Krauth competes on his slalom equipment against the racing catamaran CropScience, on which he is normally a crew member. surf editor-in-chief Andreas Erbe is also on board
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