HWR Fin Development
VMG Blades is proud to be the recipients of an early release HWR board from Starboard. Many thanks goes to Starboard for arranging VMG Blades the HWR board early and also for the opportunity to test board prototypes in Thailand earlier this year.
The new Starboard HWR board has significant changes compared to its predecessor the Starboard 162. VMG Blades recently completed tests of our fin range with the HWR in a variety of conditions. The HWR has proven to work well with all VMG fins. It is a freer board, easier to ride downwind and has a wider groove overall.
Due to Starboard’s design changes, VMG Blades are creating the ultimate fin to compliment the new boards.
“The Starboard HWR has proven to work well with all VMG Blades fins.
… A Big Thanks to Starboard. Having the new HWR early has allowed us to start the development process for the optimum fin.”
Chris Ting, VMG Blades
The Australian Formula racing season officially started two weeks ago and the conditions have been kicking in already. With many international and local riders testing during the ‘downunder’ season, VMG Blades is well down the path to developing the ideal fin.
If you would like to pre-order or register your interest in the fin, send an email to info@vmgblades.com.
To visit Starboard for Chris’ full report on the HWR, click here.
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VMG Blades
Niklas Strålhen 5th overall in EFPT
Just got back from the finals of European Freestyle Pro Tour at Naxos.
With early mornings we got through a nice competition even though the wind
was a bit up and down. One single and one double-elimination were made
during Thursday and Friday where I ended up on a 9th place. During the
weekend we did some jibing where we got dragged to planning behind a boat
and so on. A really good time, great organization and of course a great
show! EFPT is really stepping it up at the moment, putting a lot more
effort in making the comps something to watch. Great for the tour, riders
and spectators!
So this was the last competition of EFPT 2009, which gives us an overall
result of the year that looks like this:
EFPT overall result
1. Steven Broeckhoven
2. André Paskowski
3. Niko Akgatzian
4. Davy Scheffers
5. Niklas Stråhlén (Simmer/RRD)
6. Edvan Souza (Simmer/RRD)
7. Yarden Meir (Simmer/Fanatic)
Thanks to my sponsors who made this possible!
Simmer Style, RRD, Surfers and RipCurl
Schredd hard! Blacktip is the shit guys!
Niklas Stråhlén S-4444
S-4444.com
Surftrip.se
EFPT.net
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SIMMER STYLE - world news
Ben Proffitt @ Tiree
Tiree: Day 2 ...Single Elimination
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
...It didn't go well!!
Knocked out first round... Total shocker.. i didn't think i sailed bad but still lost on count back!!
Pretty annoying... i won on one sheet and drew on the other 2... so you'd of thought i'd have got it... No... i lost on best wave on the 2 drawn sheets!! ...As you can imagine i wasn't best pleased!!
Even worse, i was knocked out by Hunty... Hunty is a PWA judge and sailed about 5 times this year after getting over knee surgery!! Gutted!!
...and what was worse... the forecast for the week is not looking great!! British title down the tube!!!
I was pretty low... although things started to look up when Hancock and Horrocks got knocked out early too!!
But like usual Skye didn't didn't buckle and cruised into the final!!
Advantage skye... again!!!!
Single results:
1st Timo... one pretty happy chappy!
2nd Skye
3rd Danny Bruch
4th Jack Hunt
Move of the day:
Jack Hunts suicide aerial... you can see it on the boardseeker update... god knows how the hell he managed to safe that!!! haha.. nice work fella!!
Tiree: Day 2 ...Double Elimination
I'm on the come back... pheewwwwww... i was pretty worried after the single.... especially as i knew the route through the double would be loaded!!
To just get back to the top 5 i would need to beat... King, Cox, Hancock, Hawkins, Hunt and Horrocks... plus others.... bloody nightmare!!!
But i was fully fired up.. i had a bit of a moan at the judges because the conditions were awesome and we wasted about 2 hrs for lunch!!!
I think if i'd been sitting in first i wouldn't have cared but sitting in last place i knew we needed to get moving... i was fully charged!!!
So i went out free sailing which i think was a good move... it tired me out a bit but i got in the zone!!
Luckily everything went my way and i managed to advance through 4-5 tough heats... beating Horrocks man on man to get to 5th...
Next up was Jack hunt... if i beat him i would move into 4th... i started good as well... some nice early waves came my way and it was looking good... but half way through the heat the wind swung totally off shore and we couldn't even get on a wave!!! Canceled.... Gutted!!
So that is how it stands so far... i'm super happy to make it back up to the top.... but we need more conditions if i'm to get my chance to move up further!!!
I bloody hope so as i really don't want to finish 5th... especially after coming through the double so far!!
Still I'm a happy bunny again... and if it all stopped now i would be leading the title race again.. 0.3 ahead of skye!!! (Once Danny Bruch is taken out!)
So it's all looking rosy again after a near disaster!!!
God.. i don't make it easy on myself!!
...I should mention... I used the new Quatro Quad 85... and it is ripping!!! (not out until jan though!!)
I used Simmer 5.0 icon and Quatro quad 85!!! Sweeeeeeeeeet.. i love my kit!!
Cheers
Ben
--------------------------------------
www.thewetdream.co.uk
Sponsors: Quatro, Simmer, Oshea, Gul, Da Kine, Funsport
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SIMMER STYLE - world news
Calle Nyberg ripping it up!
Our Simmer Style videographer and filmmaker, Calle Nyberg just sent us some smoking hot shots from his latest session at his local break, Toro just outside of Stockholm Sweden. Well, it sure shows where Calle spends his time when Sweden is frozen over, yeah that´s right.... Ho´okipa.
Photo Credits: Pontus Altin and Fredrik Hallander
www.carlnyberg.com
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SIMMER STYLE - world news
On The Podium
VMG Blades are on a winning streak. Currently holding 4 National Championships in Great Britain, Australia, Norway and Greece.
- 1st Place – James Briggs – British Open Championships
- 1st Place – Sean O’Brien – Australian & Oceanic FW Championships
- 1st Place – Sean O’Brien – Norwegian FW Championships
- 1st Place – Vassilis Solidakis – Greek FW Championships
“I think for me the most important thing to happen at a race event is to not have to worry about your gear. Starting off the race with the best fins means I can concentrate on my tactics, not how to tune my gear for each race. I have great fins working in all conditions now; I’m really happy with everything this season”.
Sean O’Brien - VMG Blades Team Rider
www.AUS120.com
Congratulations to James, Vassilis and Sean for their respective wins at each of these events. VMG Blades are proud that these great riders have chosen to use VMG Blades fins and we hope that they will continue to collect their competition bullets. Well done!
Results to Date
2010
1st, 2nd, 3rd Oceanic & Australian Championships (1st Australian)
1st Penang Regatta for Formula and Marathon
2009
1st British Open Championships
1st National 11m Class, Great Britain
1st Dutch National Championships (Round 3)
1st Norwegian Nationals
1st, 2nd Greek National Championships
1st, 3rd Oceanic & Australian Championships
1st, 2nd, 3rd NSW Formula Championships, Australia
2008
1st Australian Formula Championships (Australian result)
1st Greek National Championships
1st, 3rd, 1st Master NSW Windsurfing Series, Australia
2nd FW World Championships (Women)
2nd Nordic Championships
2nd Penang Cup, Malaysia
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VMG Blades
MATT MEOLA JOINS THE SOS SURFBOARDS TEAM
We are so stoked to announce that Matt Meola is now a team rider for SOS surfboards. Matt joins the team along with Albee Layer and Paige Alms. Matt has been loving his 5'10" LIFT model, tuning in his pro model that will soon be available to the public. Matt Meola is a great addition to the team, and plans to continue putting in work as a freesurfer, opting to not compete in contests, and rather do photo and videos. Stoked to have Matt Meola on the team!
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SOS SHAPES BLOG
MATT MEOLA JOINS THE SOS SURFBOARDS TEAM
We are so stoked to announce that Matt Meola is now a team rider for SOS surfboards. Matt joins the team along with Albee Layer and Paige Alms. Matt has been loving his 5'10" LIFT model, tuning in his pro model that will soon be available to the public. Matt Meola is a great addition to the team, and plans to continue putting in work as a freesurfer, opting to not compete in contests, and rather do photo and videos. Stoked to have Matt Meola on the team!
Click here to read more:
SOS SHAPES BLOG