Back at it
After months of lockdown, windsurfing is now back on the Canary Islands with a bang. A good number of Severne riders are located on the Canaries. In this unprecedented situation, athletes around the world have been forced to sit at home and ride out the coronavirus pandemic.
Spain recently eased lockdown measures and people can now enjoy sports such as windsurfing all day long in places like the Canaries. Check out what some of our riders have been up to here below
How was that first session and how were the conditions?
Liam Dunkerbeck (Gran Canaria)
“The first day was only windy for 4.7 with not much waves but still fun. From then on the next two weeks were very good on my 3.8 and 3.4 Redback.”
Dieter Van der Eyken (Tenerife)
“To get back into the water was simply amazing, everyone in El Medano was excited to be back allowed on the water and luckily we got some wind on the first two days, only enough for foiling but that first time flying over the water again and feeling the freedom was just amazing. “
Kurosh Kiani (Lanzarote)
“I’ve got to say it was a pretty amazing feeling. And it made me realise how much I miss sailing on a regular basis. There is nothing that beats that! We started out with some typical North East strong trade winds”
Kurosh Kiani foiling in Lanzarote. Photo: Noah Vocker
Liam Dunkerbeck wave sailing in Pozo, Gran Canaria. Photo: Jose Pina
That post quarantine motivation. Is it still high?
Iballa Moreno (Fuerteventura)
“Quarantine was hard for everyone. Not only for now being able to go outside but also the uncertainly about the virus, about the future of the world. Things are going slowly back to normal and surely being able to go back to training it’s making life a bit easier.”
Liam Dunkerbeck (Gran Canaria)
“If normally I’m super motivated and excited about any session I sail imagine the first one I made after quarantine”
Dieter Van der Eyken
“I’m still super keen to get on the water each day but also just to do outdoor sport in general, if it’s not windy enough for sailing I will be mountain biking or surfing. There have been plenty of sports I’ve missed doing so depending on the day there is a different one I do! “
Kurosh Kiani (Lanzarote)
“Simply put, it is as high as ever.”
Iballa Moreno sailing in Fuerteventura
Any fun sailing conditions?
Iballa Moreno (Fuerteventura)
“We have had a few good days. Enough to enjoy being in the water! As I said, to be able to touch the water again was an amazing feeling, almost feeling like normal life. Except having to wear a mask everywhere we go now…“
Liam Dunkerbeck (Gran Canaria)
“The conditions have been very regular here on Gran Canaria. I have been sailing both at Pozo and in Vargas with strong wind & nice waves nearly every day for the last 2 weeks!”
Dieter Van der Eyken (Tenerife)
“Actually the best they have been since the Quarantine started, to get out of 50 days lockdown into some of the best days of the season so far at Cabezo just felt amazing. The first days were light for 5.2 and 4.8 but at the end of the week I sailed on all my sails down to 3.6 with plenty of good waves!”
Kurosh Kiani (Lanzarote)
“We’ve had some of the good old tradewinds blowing since day one. It has been awesome!”
Dieter Van der Eyken throws a 360 in El Médano, Tenerife. Photo: Benji Zoltan
Iballa Moreno out on a bike ride
Did you get any jumps in?
Iballa Moreno (Fuerteventura)
“I had some good wave sailing in Fuerteventura and mainly been concentrated on my riding.”
Liam Dunkerbeck (Gran Canaria)
“I’ve made some really nice and high jumps at Pozo and also improving my wave skills with manoeuvres like backside 360 and frontside taka’s”
Kurosh Kiani (Lanzarote)
“Uff no jumps.. Just lots of foiling”
Dieter Van der Eyken (Tenerife)
“The first session was on the foil than on the freestyle board with wind from the right, let’s say doing a backloop felt extra weird on that side. At Cabezo last week I had some really good waves and managed to get in some good jumping including a double so it seems like we are back on track to keep improving on the water.“
Any special summer plans?
Iballa Moreno (Fuerteventura)
“At the moment continue training as usual. Even if we don’t have any competitions ahead I will continue sailing as usual”
Liam Dunkerbeck (Gran Canaria)
“I was excited about the Pozo event this year but a few days back the event got cancelled and we will need to keep training strong for the 2021 events “
Kurosh Kiani (Lanzarote)
“The first plan is to get back in shape, and then to slowly get back to a good rhythm. I would also like to spend more time sailing locally and go around on the Canary Islands over the summer”
Dieter Van der Eyken (Tenerife)
“No exact plan yet, I will be doing some work most likely here in Tenerife in the new Surf hub that opened beginning of this year and hope to work on a few video projects. If travel is back allowed between the islands I hope to do a few trips to Pozo as well for jumping and see everyone there again. Spending as much time as possible on the water is probably the main goal! “
Get any blisters on the hands?
Iballa Moreno (Fuerteventura)
“Hahaha no. But the first day in the water I was dizzy. Lucky during quarantine I was training indoor! Making myself busy and fit so I didn’t lose so much my form.”
Liam Dunkerbeck (Gran Canaria)
“My hands are still very good without any pain but had a bit of pain in my shoulders during the first few days of sailing. But now I feel better than before the quarantine even started.”
Dieter Van der Eyken (Tenerife)
“Yes, the first one in about 10 years I would say, although it was just a small one and I can remember way worse hands when I was young after winter, guess 2 long session a day did wear out my hands and body quite a bit! “
Kurosh Kiani (Lanzarote)
“No blisters yet. I would say maybe I didn’t sail enough but I literally have been sailing until I was totally worn out from day one. So maybe after all of these years, I’m ‘blister safe’ haha ”
