CONCEPT
WAVE CLASSIC INVITATIONAL : “another vision of waveriding…”
Windsurf is not Dead !
What image do you have in mind about windsurfing in waves? Certainly some old pictures where you see guys jumping and surfing, going straight through the waves. Perhaps have you ever been stucked in the time where the sails were triangular and the boards too long and too heavy to carry?
Since the 80’s, windsurfing has taken a great dimension, still fun oriented but back to its origins: surfsailing. With the advent of freestyle in the 90’s where the young guard blew another spectacular part of the sport, windsurfing in waves is actually even more extreme, more radical and more hardcore.
The dream of every good waverider is now to push his limits and his surfing skills in perfect waves conditions – top and clean barrels perfectly peeling with a cross offshore wind – in order to maximize these liquid walls and let express the “surf spirit.”! « Windsurf is not dead, surfsailing is here to stay ! »
From this state of mind established since the 1st stage of the Wave Classic in 2009, the organization hopes to meet the riders in search of these ideal conditions to capture and produce the finest images and finally prove that Windsurfing still and will always make the people dream …
The idea…
We commonly know windsurfing wave contests in the individual form where each rider is in competition with another one in a “man on man “ duel. Most of the riders spend more time waiting for their heat on the beach, than being on the water surfing or jumping waves with their friends.
On a brilliant idea of Thomas Traversa & JB Caste, professional windsurfers, launching a new windsurfing concept by teams appeared in winter 2008. A first challenge was then organized and took place in Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) in march 2009. The event gathered some of the world best windsurfers in huge wave sessions on the “North Shore” of Fuerteventura. A great success!
The 2nd event took place on the island of La Reunion, Indian Ocean in September and once again, the choice of the spot was perfect as the conditions were pretty awesome. Some new top riders joined the contest for a real extreme show which delivered plenty of radical action and a wide media coverage in press, web and TV!
The “teams concept”…
Sent by team of 3 to 4 riders on this “free session” challenge, the dozen of invited pro-riders fought in extreme conditions and allowed not to crown one single man as a champion, but a team. This new format also allows 4 to 5 riders to sail in the same heat in a minimum of 30 minutes, but each one is fighting to bring a maximum of points to his team. The riders who are not sailing judge the others with a simplified scale format, approved by all the riders who took part to the first “Fuerteventura Wave Classic”.
This concept will be adapted according to each stage in 2010. A title of “best team” rewards the team that has scored the most points, but other ranking categories also allow all participants to shine and to show up individually. After a general vote at the end of the event, 4 riders are crowned following their performance: “best rider“, “sickest move“, “worst wipe out” and “best local“.
The ultimate goal…
At the end, nothing to win, no prize-money but different rewards for only one thing : the images and the show! The main goal on each stage of the « Wave Classic Invitational » remains the same : push the limits of wavesailing, do the show, capture the most radical images of windsurfing, share the trip & promote the sport ! Less talk and less time out for more action, for the great pleasure of the public and media gathered on the beach! With no pressure on the shoulders and an amazing collective motivation, the participants are “getting loose” and push their limits to the maximum.
The ultimate goal is to ride the most beautiful, the highest and strongest waves of the day, adapting their style with radicality, taking risks, fluidity, choice and knowledge of the wave. If there is nothing to win for these extreme riders on the “Wave Classics”, they offer us by return exceptional pictures of extreme surfs, taking advantage of a large media coverage.
An ecological role…
“The Ocean does not belong to us. We belong to the Ocean…”
In direct relation with the natural elements that are the wind and the ocean, the windsurfing is a non-polluting sport which drags a positively ecological image. The passionate windsurfers are all sensitive to the environment and are respectful of these spots where the practice is accessible to them. Whether it is on a lake or on a sea, nobody of them appreciates that the water is polluted, nor that their beach is soiled by garbage or fuel oil.
So on each stage of the “Wave Classic Invitational”, because the sea is their most beautiful playground, the professional sailors take advantage of it to make the public sensitive to a local environmental cause, in partnership with a local organization or association. Beach cleaning, discovering a protected marine park, spread the message to the local TV’s … Because protecting the environment concerns everybody!
