Double Joy

If the click on the pic above does not work, you can watch the video by clicking HERE.

Well... Nice and easy. :-)

Emina, the first time in both foot straps (yeeee!) - JP SuperX 106, Neil Pryde XMove 5,3
Adrian, helmet camera, - Fanatic Blast 130, Neil Pryde Speedster 8,2

Out in the Blue

If you only knew...
It is like a prayer.
A deep meditation,
and, oh, so much more...

If you only knew...
How it is out there
without a mask, without a shade
just now and everlasting here...

A daily ritual, abiding sacrifice
to vibrating, living peace...
The burden lost, the thoughts gone...
If you only knew...

If you only knew,
you would not miss it for a world!
You would be here,
with me,
right now...
out in the Blue.

Silence in the Wind

Karpathos is practically my homespot for windsurfing, since I am there every summer, without much chance to windsurfing during the rest of the year. And that is, by the way, the reason I somehow put my soulwindsurf web reports on hold. But I didn't stop windsurfing. No way.

On beautiful windy Sunday, 8th July 2018, the weather forecast was not promising, announcing some 13-16 knots of wind. On the spot, however, it was more like +30 knots! After a nice breakfast I was in a hurry to start dancing with the wind, but while taking some staff out of the suitcase, I saw my helmet camera and the thought came - why not!

This is a 5 minutes unedited recording of one round "from here to there and back". Seemingly, there is nothing special on that recording - just some nice easy sailing from starting point in Devil's bay, over the reef and on, to the next bay without a name. I like the gentle sound of the wind in my ears, the turquoise shining of the see, and the sound board makes while accelerating over the small waves. It is a recording of the moment of silence I found out there, thinking nothing, just being, enjoying, celebrating, living...

***

However, just a note to few of my advancing windsurfing friends who asked me for some details of windsurfing in Devils bay, much has happened during this couple of minutes. For example, going upwind I had to clear the way for one windsurfer sailing back (1:40). He was on the starboard course (right hand first), and I had to slow down a little bit and head downwind to avoid collision. After he passes, I continue upwind. At the end point of the route, I just stepped down from the board. It is quite hard to gybe with 6,3 and 80 lit slalom/speed board, so I took a little rest while in the water, before water starting again.

On the way back I went through rather narrow passage between two rocks on the reef (4:30). The passage is 1,5 meter wide, water is shallow - 40 cm. But if you are careful, with smaller fin this can be done. The advantage of this somewhat risky action is that you can enter the area after the reef with more speed, and more upwind. Namely, that area is almost completely silent; no wind, just with occasional strong gust. If you find yourself there on a very small board, not going fast enough, you will be in trouble.

Anyway, I passed that area and started the speed run (5:10). Btw, max speed was 37,65 kt. However, if you are speeding on Karpathos you have to be very careful with the rest of windsurfing people. In the last part of recording, at the very end of speed run, you can see one windsurfer crossing my speed path, and than gybing back. It does not seem like a dangerous situation, but it was dangerous! Namely, it is not easy to change the course of the board at such speed. And you have to know that the right of passage in this situation is not with speedsurfers, coming fast downwind, but with regular windsurfer, being first downwind from speedsurfer, and then, after finishing the gybe, coming from the right side. So, it is on speedsurfer to clear the path, if (s)he can, of course. So, be careful while doing this.

If you watch the recording again, you will see that I had to first gybe left to avoid the crash, and than turn sharp right to safely return to starting point. 

Soulwindsurf moments you can't forget... Early morning on Karpathnos, 22.6.2017.

Video Karpathos 2015

With some delay, but just on time for the announcement of summer 2016: video created by Ingolf van Oostveen with the material provided by Johan Huitema.

Aqacity Crew

Yes, we are much older that we would like to be, but still young in heart! The four of us (Zok, Adi, Korda, Jura) started the windsurfing club Aquacity Varaždin, Croatia, some 20 years ago. And here we are, on the same small inland lake, on a warm sunny day with nice south wind. Precious.

Karpathos, 2015

For more than 10 years, from my very first visit to this magic island, Karpathos has been my winter dream; a place you are longing for when days are short and nights freezing cold. Each summer, at least for a short while - and preferably for as long as possible - I have been able to fulfill that dream. And after each visit, in spite of any shortcomings, I know I will be back.

There is only one ferry, one boat, taking tourists and supplies from and on to the island - the legendary Prevelis. After boarding it, while watching familiar streets and houses of the port of Pigadia disappearing in the distance, I was thinking how strange is this passion of true (soul)windsurfers. It can take you far away from home, just to catch right gust of wind. It can fill your thoughts with blueness when everything is white around you. It can make you wonder about the meaning and purpose of anything else beside windsurfing. Or, if you are lucky, it can give that meaning and purpose to everything else.

Karpathos feels the climate rhythm of the Europe. The island is always sunny, always warm. But, if you are a windsurfer, you can sense the change in the wind. This years weather was strange. The Europe was either to hot, or to stormy. Consequently, I have never experience so many windless days as this summer. But, there is nothing to be worry about. As my friend Johan Huitema from Netherlands says: "Waiting for the wind is better than waiting for nothing." And, all in all, we didn't wait for too long. "No wind" on Karpathos usually means enough wind to have fun.

One of the reasons I like windsurfing so much is that you never stop learning. This year was no exception. I am returning home with many new insights. I have learned a lot from people I have met on Karpathos. The only problem is that I always get the feeling of needing just one more day to try this or that new thing I have learned about. The dream is always one day too short.

Maybe, that is exactly the reason why it is so attractive, and in the same time so utterly indescribable to outsiders. How can I tell you about the minute corrections in the stance; about the releasing or adding the pressure on the fin; about the details in trimming the lower batten or, in general, making the sail looks like it should look (the one thing I am never getting right, it seems)? There are only few people who would understand that, and, honestly, it may be that I am not one of them. But, I like to listen. I like to make small adjustment and make experiments, even if they are not practical or successful. One more pearl I have heard from a Karpathos friend from Norway, Morten Knutsen: "The beauty of windsurfing is that there is always one more door left unopened."

For me, it is more than one, for sure. But, I am young, and I still have time. I can learn. Until next year, on Karpathos.

PS
The video below is basically inspired by the playful peace of music by Antonio Bazzini, La Ronde des Lutins (The Dance of the Goblins), played by violinist James Ehnes). The shots are taken on one busy day (thank you, Linda!), with lot of freriders and freestylers interfering with speedsurfers. If you look at the bay from the above for long enough, your head starts to spin a little, and all you can see are strange lines and forms made by seemingly chaotic movements of windsurfers. There are few interesting scenes to see, if you know what to look for. I am leaving to you to decide who are the goblins in this dance. :-)

No wind day on Karpathos

When you see the weather forecast telling you that there will be no wind on Karpathos, do not believe it. Because, instead of silence, you will probably get something like this:

Karpathos pictures

Folow Soulwindsurf on Facebook or Twitter for fresh pictures from Karpathos in July and August 2015.

Jadrija, Šibenik. Croatia

Sometimes, you just can't  take your eyes of of the beauty: the see, the wind and the sails... South wind, moderate strength; warm weather, sunny... All is well. :-)

Jadrtovac, again

Almost ideal forecast for jugo (south) wind. Not so ideal in practice, but anyway, some of Croatian speed windsurfers enjoyed again in Jadrtovac, the fastest speed spot in Croatia.

More photos on Soulwindsurf FB page.

Oh, that is how I like it!

Long winter, cold weather, old bones... but it is finally over now! Today at Srima, nice bora (for 8,6 sail, with completely flat water), middle of the week, no people, no sailboats- just me and the easy wind.

Nobody around to make pictures, so one selfie should be enough as a proof I was there. :-)

2015. Season opening

Middle of February - quite late for season opening. But, cold and snow, mist and clouds, and me being in the north and traveling pursuing business maters... all that contributed to a little delay. However, here it is - a sunny afternoon, the village of Žaborić, little bit south from Šibenik, and weak south wind (jugo) - barely enough for 8,6.

Nevertheless, it was - ...amazing!

Wind prayer

It's a simple wish: to have this 3 moments everyday: 

 

moment no. 1

moment no. 2

moment no. 3
Karpathos, Greece, 24.08.2014.

 

(Of course, that means you have all what happens before, after and in between! :-) ) 

 

 

 

Soulwindsurf Team on Karpathos

After two weeks with gusty Karpathos wind, clear blue Aegean Sea, some great results and lot of fun, there is a smile on happy faces of ladies and gentlements from GTC Soulwindsurf Team!

Vladan Desnica, Urška Kavčič-Desnica, Linda Vrljevac and Adrian Kezele

Another day on Karpathos

There is no need for too many words... See the gallery on Soulwindsurf Facebook Page, and find out how it looks (16 photos) in the kingdom of the wind!

Nice bora in Karin, Croatia

After a long time it was a bora (NE wind) of your dreams!

Like in old days, some 10 years ago, before climate change became palpable in the wind, making it more changeable and hellishly gusty in Karin, it was everything you could wish for a perfect windsurfing session!

Constant 20 kt, +/- not more than 2 kt, warm, crispy air, blue turquoise Sea... Ahh!

Bora

After quite some time, I was back on the water. Not very successful, although very happy!

Jadrtovac, small bay near the city of Šibenik, salty water, but more like a sweet water swamp - shallow and sometimes dangerous for fins. Until now, I thought it is good only for south wind. However, today, I realized, that also on Bora (NE wind), it can be interesting to chase some good speed.

Some interesting photos were taken by Emina. Two of them are here, and the rest you can check on Soulwindsurf Facebook Page.

First time in 2014.

There was some very windy and beautiful days already in 2014. However, my sails were safely dry, while I was pursuing means for paying my bills. First windsurfing happened this Sunday, on light wind (12-15 knots), but enough to make me happy and smile. Košljun bay, island Pag, Croatia. Can't wait for the next time!

Srima, Croatia, 23.09.2013.

It was the first day after equinox - the first day of autumn. The air temperature was around 25 degrees C, and the see temperature just few degrees less. Maestral is usually summer wind, but this time it came like a gift for the beginning of somewhat colder season.

The channel between the mainland and island Prvić was free from see traffic - just here and there some motor boat would spoil the harmony of nature .

Such days are really enjoyable! On the video you can see some two minutes of this joy. Wind was 15 to 20 knots, just enough for RRD X-Fire 114 and Loft Blade 7,8.