AV News

OTC Race Results

2010-06-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

We didn’t do the two last races, as the wind was a constant 45 knots, gusting 65 – we hadn’t packed small enough kit, we were chicken ... plus a-million-and-one other excuses where those came from!

Roger Clark: “After two years of no wind this event really did live up exceed my expectations, following my first successful Defi Wind in 2007. The tenth Defi Wind went off – 1,000 competitors racing on flattish water (that many windsurfers creates a lot of chop) in windstrengths that we dream about here in the UK made it truly epic. It was a serious endurance event. Each race was over a 40km distance and completed in around 50 minutes, that’s a 30mph average – now to build up some serious brownie points with the wife so I can go back next year.”

Dan Macaulay: “The Defi Wind event was insane this year! When you're on the water it’s completely overwhelming. The scale of everything is almost too much to take in - so many competitors, so much wind. You're going flat out at 35knots and it just feels like you're standing still because there's so many sails around you. With over 80km of racing per day it's a super-tough event both mentally and physically, but there’s nothing else like it. I’ll be going back again next year for sure.”

find out more visit the Team OTCs guide to def1 wind 2010

Update 2 from SUP World Tour in Anglet France John Hibbard

2010-05-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

Well I've been here a week now and we've had a real mix of conditions and weather. It's been a very interesting trip. The trials have been a real battle. Not only have we had to work out what the judges are looking for, but we've also had to contend with some pretty small waves along the way. Brit surfer Rob Small (big wave surfer now living in Lanzarote) has only been paddling for a few months so it was pretty impressive to see him throw around a small sub 9' board in his first SUP contest (you might regonise Rob as Ewan McGreggors surfing double in the brit surf film Blue Juice). Gareth Grant Aussie/Pom from Guildford was unlucky to be in the last heat before they cancelled running heats due to poor conditions. A sprited quest from Gareth still couldn't get the judges to re run the heat so he was knocked out first round as was Tito (Gower Kiteriders instructor) and Rob Small.

Chris "Guts" Gritffiths and myself managed to slip through to the second round. All we had to do was advance through 2 more heats and we would make the main event. The second round was run in windy onshore conditions, not too dissimilar to a day in Bournemouth! Guts styled his next heat, mixing cross stepping slickness with raw power cutbacks in the waist high surf. It was a very close run thing, but the Brit crew (with adpoted Aussies and South African's) all had him down as 2nd, which would have been enough to see him into the final round of the trials. The judges saw it differently and this was to be the end of the road for Guts, which is gutting as he is such a stylish surfer.

I slipped through one more heat in the onshore mush, turning on my "milking machine" tactics of making as many turns on the waves as possible.

This morning I was all fired up for the final showdown in the trials against some good French Stand up riders when it was realised that not all the trialists had shown up and therefore there were enough places in the main event to put all Trialist finalists into the main event...Saved me a job I thought, until I saw my main event draw, which had me up against former longboard world Champion Colin McPhillips and Hawaiian power house Ekolu Kalama.

I was approaching this heat with a feeling of just going out there and having fun. The conditions were clean waist to chest high surf with shifting peaks. Colin McPhillips was ripping straight off the bat, with two solid waves. I managed to hook a couple of nice head high lefts that formed up in the middle of the beach and stayed open long enough for me to get a couple of decent hits and cutbacks.

I didn't see what Ekolu had got and although the other paddler in the heat had bagged some waves he had fallen on all the ones I'd seen. I was pretty sure I was in third place (top 2 go through) and had already eyed up a few peaks outside of the contest area that I thought I'd go and ride. As I came out of the water the camera man came rushing up to me and asked me how I got on, which made me think that I might have got top 2, but I didn't want to believe that, until I saw Rob Small coming down the beach looking calm and holding up 2 fingers in front of his head and nodding. Holy & I'd just beaten Ekolu, wow, what a feeling. I respect Ekolu hugely and have been lucky enough to have travelled and surfed with him many times. Watching him pull into 10' Teahupoo is a memory that never fades. I guess though that 3ft beach breaks in the rain are more my thing than his and although he must be gutted I'm stoked to have made it through to the quarter finals in this the European leg of the SUP World Tour. I think it now qualifies me for a place in the Teahupoo event, later this month, but I don't think I can make it, which is gutting as I'd be keen to take another trip to Tahiti.

We now have to wait until tomorrow for the Quarter finals to run. I'm going to go into the heat with the same attitude as before and you never know! I'm happy though, to have made the trip down here and made some headway through the event.

I will update more as the week progresses. Time for a celebratory beer I think now! Thanks to ActionVan for getting me here in a pimp van, Starboard for giving me some great boards to ride and to Xcel Wetsuits for keeping me warm in some colder than expected conditions.

We have loads of pictures but they are stuck on the camera until we can find a USB lead!

Stand Up Paddle Boarding UK - The UK's Online SUP Community...
The number one goal of Stand Up Paddle Boarding UK is to bring you a range of information about SUP and to allow you to have a hand in the content - Once logged in you can submit stories to the home page, post in the forum, add dates to the calendar, If you own a shop or school why not sign up to take advantage of our listings tool...www.standuppaddlesurf.co.uk

Update from SUP World Tour John Hibbard

2010-05-12T02:19:00.000-07:00

The surf hasn't been that consistent, but we have made it to the last 2 heats of the first round of the trials. Gut and myself have advanced to the next round. Waves were small, but we made the most of the conditions we were given to compete in. Check out the video below:

(by some fluke I made the opening surf clip - small waves huh!).

Been really fun hanging out with Guts, Gareth Grant, Paul Gill, Rob and Julie Small and Dave Muir (Aussie SUP charger).
Hoping the swell is coming up soon.

Some pics of the holiday, sorry I mean serious competition trip. More to follow

Talking shapes

The Flip Flop waiting for action.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding UK - The UK's Online SUP Community...
The number one goal of Stand Up Paddle Boarding UK is to bring you a range of information about SUP and to allow you to have a hand in the content - Once logged in you can submit stories to the home page, post in the forum, add dates to the calendar, If you own a shop or school why not sign up to take advantage of our listings tool...www.standuppaddlesurf.co.uk

Ready for the off - John Hibbard

2010-05-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, the van is packed and I'm ready to go. Solo road tripping then picking up Rob Small and his good lady Julie once down there. Looking forward to meeting up with Guts and Tim Mellors when down there as well. Here's my stash of boards.....

8'5" Pocket Rocket, 8'5" Pro x 29", 7'11" 29.5", 7'4 Pod and then at the back my 6'6" x 30" it's called the impossible but I prefer Flip Flop!

The van is the ActionVan hire T5. Here's all the boards inside

Right I better dash off to the ferry...

Stand Up Paddle Boarding UK - The UK's Online SUP Community...
The number one goal of Stand Up Paddle Boarding UK is to bring you a range of information about SUP and to allow you to have a hand in the content - Once logged in you can submit stories to the home page, post in the forum, add dates to the calendar, If you own a shop or school why not sign up to take advantage of our listings tool...www.standuppaddlesurf.co.uk

WIN! WIN! WIN! WIN!

2010-02-24T11:29:00.000-08:00

A sailor’s dream van for the weekend

Y&Y has teamed up with van conversion specialists and hirers ActionVan to offer one
lucky reader a free long weekend’s van hire* - the perfect solution for an open meeting or regatta weekend.

* Hire Friday to Monday, dates subject to availability, van may
differ from that pictured.

HOW TO ENTER
1. Go to www.yachtsandyachting.com/actionvan
2. Fill in your details
3. Answer a few simple questions:
a) What do you sail?
b) List your favourite 3 features in this issue of Y&Y.
c) What was your least favourite?
d) How would you use a van for sailing? (50 words max).

download Y&Y PDF for terms & condition

A Van for all Seasons

2010-01-15T06:50:00.001-08:00

2010 see the launch of ActionVan's NEW Hire Service to compliment their popular Bespoke Van Conversion Business.

ActionVan has combined their "Park & Ride" and "Two Berth & Surf" models, based on the Long Wheel Base VW T5 to give you the flexibility and comfort for any Event, Road Trip or Festival you have planned.

All of our hire vehicles are up to the job using hard-wearing materials with functional design features.
Whether you are planning a Surfari to the West Coast, a Trek in the Scottish Mountains or a Weekend Regatta, an ActionVan will get you there and provide comfortable accommodation throughout your stay along with adequate storage for all your favorite toys.

Added features include: Heating, Roof Racks, Bike Racks, Board Racks and Tow Bars so no excuse to leave anything at home!

If you are thinking of having a conversion done, why not try before you buy!
A great way of deciding just what you want in your own ActionVan conversion.

Put your Dreams into Motion - Go online to find out more about our Conversions and Give us a call to book your ActionVan adventure! 01489 799980

You can also come and see us in conjunction with Yachts & Yachting at the Dinghy Show 6th & 7th March 2010 - Alexandra Palace.

view hire gallery

Hi Actionvan

2009-11-19T06:45:00.000-08:00

The van has had its first 'full payload' trip with three people, three bikes, two boards, sails etc for a week in Dorset - everything fitting snugly inside with room left over for Louisa's pram, toys etc along with smart clothes and presents for a Golden Wedding anniversary celebration at the end of it. - Mission accomplished and loving the artwork - makes it very easy to spot the van at a busy motorway services during half term.

The Long Haul

2009-10-06T03:21:00.000-07:00

Olympic medallists Sarah and Nick Dempsey have spent years of their lives on the road, but now they travel in comfort, as Helen Fretter found out - warning, you will be envious!

You'd think a decade on the Olympic campaign trail would put you off travelling for fun. After endless trips with a dinghy in tow, or flying bulky windsurfing kit around the world, you could be forgiven for spending your holidays checking into a hotel for some serious pampering. When double Yngling gold medallist Sarah Ayton tied the knot with Mistral bronze medal winner Nick Demspey last year they opted not to have a traditional wedding list, instead suggesting guests contribute to their honeymoon instead. But the donations weren't going towards long-haul flights or a luxury resort, instead they were put towards bicycle racks, a pull-out bed, and dry-lining a VW van... Nick and Sarah wanted to spend their honeymoon with just the two of them, roaming as they pleased, on a windsurfing trip in Scotland! And that's where the van came in... Nick explains: 'We had been looking at our honeymoon for quite a while and it was looking expensive so we decided money would be better spent on the van than a holiday, then we could use the van for our honeymoon around Scotland. I had bought the van and, rather than getting gifts for our wedding, we decided to have a wedding fund towards the conversion.' So the new Mr and Mrs Dempsey began their married life - appropriately enough - on the road, and on the water. 'We left on our honeymoon the very next day, up to Scotland. We loaded up with windsurf kit, surf boards, fishing rods and bikes,' recalls Nick. 'We had a new dog - Ringo - who was loving the travelling and being very well behaved.'...read on...

ActionVan - Yachts & Yachting magazine Sept 2009 see PDF

WINDSURFING GURU PETER HART VISITS CALSHOT FLYERS

2009-06-22T05:49:00.000-07:00

Windsurfing guru, Peter Hart, came to visit the Calshot Flyers Windsurfing Club, last week, Wednesday, 3 June, and he was most impressed at just how quickly kids can learn.

The conditions were perfect: the sun shone and a reasonable breeze was blowing. Some 25 club members had the opportunity to windsurf with Peter, and take part in a freestyle jamboree having a go at boardless forward loops, pirouettes and 360s. Everyone had to get their hair wet: "Part of the reason people don't improve is because they don't want to get wet" laughed Peter.

A fantastic evening was had by all, and they have all been inspired to practice some freestyle moves. Nic Hibdige (13) said: "A big thank you to Drew of Action Van for organising such a brilliant evening. It was well cool sailing with Peter, he's a legend, and he's given me some tips for perfecting my spock."

Based at the Calshot Activities Centre on the Solent, Calshot Flyers Windsurfing Club is for 8-18 year olds. It meets Mondays and Wednesdays every other week, and is aimed at those who already have some windsurfing experience (RYA level 1 or similar). It is an RYA Team 15 Club, which means there will be the chance to compete with other clubs in the south zone.

ROLLING BEACH SIDE

2009-06-22T05:34:00.000-07:00

We're not suggesting a complete overhaul, or that you spend thousands of pounds on
a new pimped Vito. What are we are saying is that there are small and large modifications we can all make to our vehicles to make them that bit more convenient. Find out how below!

ActionVan - Windsurf magazine april 2009 see PDF

AV secure hire company conversions

2009-05-12T05:59:00.000-07:00

East Mids Hire have chosen ActionVan to convert 4 of their existing van fleet to weekender campervans.

The new style conversion will be available for hire from the May 23rd. ActionVan will also be designing and producing its first motorhome for East Mids Hire. Based on a Fiat Ducato, this is an exciting new project encompassing modern styling and functionality for active people.