2010 Florida Wave Challenge

[cagjr21150]

...is a wave sailing contest, a one day event, held on the first windy Saturday or Sunday of a 3 week contest window. The November contest's weekend date will be: 6 or 7 / 13 or 14 / 20 or 21. Detailed event information is found on the Florida Wave Challenge website: http://www.floridawavechallenge.com/. Event organizer, Bruce Thomas, started the Windsurfing Forecast: http://www.floridawavechallenge.com/report.html. This page houses the daily windsurf forecast, on the scene video reports, the offshore buoy forecasts and Tweets during the event. Also new this year is FWC Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Wave-Challenge/137108373000958?v=wall. Check out the Event Tab at the top of the FB page.



As a judge who has watched every heat of every event, I'd like to share a few of the best tips from this Boardseeker article by Ben Proffitt:

•Take bigger kit than you would when freesailing. You need to be able to get upwind, plane and get height in your jumps so you don’t want to be underpowered!
•Position yourself in front of the judges. It’s amazing how much better things look to a judge when it’s closer up!
•Fill your score-sheet quickly and then build up from there. It’s no good doing ride after ride if you’re lacking a jump.

Ben offers 11 tips in all. Read the entire article, Checklist of Champions: http://www.boardseekermag.com/features/windsurfers/ben-proffitt-checklist-of-champions-128.html



These are the judges' scoring guidelines which show the point range for wave rides and the different moves (click image to enlarge).



Source: http://danewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/2010-florida-wave-challenge.html

[jingebritsen]

forecast looks strong for Sat the 6th. hope it happens.

[bthomas]

I'm bullish about the weekend, but I'm not yet sure which day. IWindsurf's current forecast has slightly more wind on Sunday and bigger waves.

[jingebritsen]

tough choices to make. keep in mind, it's all a matter of statistics. from that stand point, another term for a house of cards.....

first windy day, or best windy day of weekend? tough choice indeed.

on top of all that, the tide is friendlier at Cherie or Jetty compared to PAFB.

side off on Sat at PAFB. side to side on at Cherie or Jetty on Sunday. i'm happy to see wind this weekend, and could care less which day.

[WaterKook]

Latest meteogram looking good for you all on Sunday!!! Stoked for you guys!!!!
Would love to catch it but heading down on the 11th until the 16th.
to visit Mom in Sarasota.
Looking like some fun stuff!!!! Rip it up and have a blast!!!!!
STOKE!!!
....Jerry

[bthomas]

This is our best forecast ever for the Florida Wave Challenge! I'm obviously optimistic about tomorrow's conditions. Come out to Cheri Down Beach Park and enter or watch the event that brought back wavesailing competition.

[WaterKook]

Looks like you had some nice side off wind how was the swell?

[cagjr21150]

Cheri Down Beach Park, Cocoa Beach

The fourth annual FWC was completed yesterday (November 7th) in side-off winds that gusted to 25 mph and waves that averaged three feet with an occasional five foot set. Two rounds of four heats begin after lunch when the wind belatedly arrived and the final heat ended near 4:30pm as dark skies on the horizon added to the drama. The offshore winds were light near shore, so most sailors struggled to maneuver in the impact zone. There were, however, blazing down-the-line rides on the bigger sets and good jumps on the outside once the sailors reached stronger winds. A nearby squall during the semi-finals produced gusts so strong that the judges stand was nearly blown away. Dozens scurried to secure the area while the diligent judges remained focused in the midst of the chaos. It was a memorable moment.

Despite winds that varied dramatically from heat to heat, the finalists were consistent with their scoring. They also had the endurance for four total heats. The first place sailor was John Campbell of Jupiter, FL who found a couple of good waves to rip and set the standard for high scoring wave rides. He had the speed and awareness to find and hit the peeling wave lip and he often made his move directly in front of the judges. The second place finalist was defending champion Eddy Patricelli of Orlando, FL who impressed the spectators with his looping finesse. His forwards in the light wind final were the highest scoring jumps of the heat and got him close to repeating as winner. John Ingebritsen of Titusville, FL placed third this year in his fourth year as a finalist. After a powerful performance in the much windier semi-final, John was challenged by the lighter winds of the final. He used his years of experience in similar conditions, however, to get high scoring down-the-line rides and managed to generate a total score that was only marginally behind the leader. Once again, we had a tight competition and an exciting finish.

A huge thank you to our sponsors who provided a great collection of giveaways for the participants: Dakine, Chinook, Hot Sails Maui, Aerotech, Exocet and Windsport magazine. Also, thanks to IWindsurf whose forecast was essential in scheduling the event.

Thank you to Bruce Racicot, Boe Marshall and Clyde Giesenschlag for judging and to Claire Dupont, Peggy Giesenschlag, Dr. Sirpa Autio and Anne Thomas for their assistance.

Pictures and video will be arriving soon to the website: www.floridawavechallenge.com. and FWC Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Wave-Challenge/137108373000958?v=wall

Until next year,

Bruce Thomas, Florida Wave Challenge

[bthomas]

Two videos are up at www.floridawavechallenge.com. One features the excellent wave riding of our finalists. The other is the local news coverage of the event. Check 'em out!