This month we proudly introduce Philip Soltysiak from Toronto/CANADA as river ripper of the month . Philip is a world-class freestyle windsurfer, he is currently ranked #6 on the PWA freestyle world tour. After finishing the event at Lake Neusiedel/Austria in 6th place, Philip stayed in Vienna where we had the chance to meet up with him at Danube River.Read more...

This month we introduce Katie Crafts as river ripper of the month. She lives in Hood River / USA, is an addicted & well know Gorge Ripper and director of the Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association (CGWA).Read more...

Ripper of the month

In the following interview we introduce Julien Mas, one of France's shooting starts in freestyle windsurfing, ranked 26th in the EFPT (European Freestyleprotour) freestyle tour 2010.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, where are you from and how come you got into freestyle windsurfing?Hi, I’m Julien Mas and I’m 21. I come from France and I live in Grenoble close to Lake Monteynard. That’s where I began windsurfing and where my passion for freestyle started. At that time, I used to watch teenagers who were practicing this discipline and they looked so cool and relaxed. So I wanted to become like them. I started windsurfing at the age of 6 and  practicing freestyle at the age of 13. I live near a town with many rivers that are all quite dirty. The nearest river from where I live is the Isère. I have never surfed there because it is forbidden by the law and it is said that the Isère river is very toxic but it’s my dream to go one day. When the winter arrives Lake Affrey starts to freeze, so I start my car and I drive in the direction of Lyon until I reach the Rhône River that is also a bit dirty. Fortunately there’s a McDonalds next to the spot where I can recover from a session afterwards :)

   copyright photo by Alexis Fernet

What has been your greatest success on the EFPT tour so far and how did you feel back then?I finished 5th at the EFPT at Leucate in 2010. It was the first time that I took part in a competition, so I was able to see how it looked like. A competition is very different from a free session, you have to contain your stress, to manage the moves of your opponents but also succeed in performing your own moves so that you don’t finish out of the limit. I’m working very this year to improve my skills.

How and where do you prepare yourself for the tour 2011 that is kicking off in Europe with a show event in Podersdorf / Austria?From October to December I trained in different spots in Brazil and since mid-January I’m training at Bonaire until beginning of April.  Ya , I heard that the freestyle competition for the EFPT will start with such a night session towin.

What are your favorite moves and what's the latest move you're working on ? Air funnel and Skopu.

                 Julien does the Skopu :: source: vimeo.com

Your favorite playgrounds are? I like when it’s quite flat with a few chops but I try to train in every condition because it is important for the competition.copyright photo by Alexis Fernet

Can you describe a typical big day on Rhône River while sailing with your buddies?A dirty day !! Some wind and some sun! It starts with a phone call to my friend Alexis Fernet who comes and shoots the session, then we drive in direction of St Alban du Rhône (90km). After St Alban du Rhône there’s town that stinks of cat litter and when you get this smell it means you’re nearly there. Generally, the conditions are quite good in the morning. A good day is 4.2 fullpower, good chops. In the afternoon it gets a bit irregular. I ride for 2 hours and when I come out of the water my skin starts to itch. The water is a bit dirty. After the session I always go and eat at MacDonald’s to clean the inside :)

Your latest magic moment while sailing Rhône River ?When I came out of the water and I haven’t swallowed any water.

copyright photo by Alexis Fernet

What are you interests beside Windsurfing ?Well I practice wakeboarding from time to time.I like spending my evenings chatting with my friends and brainstorming  new crazy moves. 

Your plans for the future?

I hope I will be successful in this year’s competitions and I would like to enter the top 5 on the European Freestyle Pro Tour.

Julien is sponsored by the following brands: boards: Patrick Diethelm fins & booms: mb-fins.com apperal: vikteam-webstore.com For more info please visit Julien's website http://julienmas-f7.blogspot.com/

copyright photo by Alexis Fernet

 

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This time we introduce Nick Allen from Hood River/USA as ripper of the month .

Nick is a dedicated/talented freestyle windsurfer and snowboarder who calls the Columbia River Gorge and Mount Hood his local playgrounds.

In an interview he talks about his life and passion for river windsurfing:"Now (13 years later) life has improved alot, I have really grown to love it here. I work in the snow sports industry, allowing windsurfing every day in the summer, and snowboarding every day in the winter. The mix of seasons will keep me from ever getting burned out of one thing..."

InterviewPlease introduce yourself in a few sentences. My name is Nick Allen, I grew up in Ohio and moved out to Oregon in my van when i was 17 to windsurf every day! Been here ever since. :: Nick Allen video clip - (C) by coldwater productions ::     How is life in Hood River with the Columbia River Gorge as your local playground in summer and nearby Mt. Hood in winter? Now (13 years later) life has improved alot, I have really grown to love it here. I work in the snow sports industry, allowing windsurfing every day in the summer, and snowboarding every day in the winter. The mix of seasons will keep me from ever getting burned out of one thing. Plus there are a ton of other hobbies outdoors i love here, fishing, mushroom hunting, golfing, the list goes on... :: shove-it - (C) photo Jock Bradley ::     Please tell us a bit about your passion for freestyle windsurfing, why you love & practice the sport and if you have any idols on the water? Well i have to say the feeling of learning new tricks windsurfing fuels me everyday to go out there and practice. It really doesn't get any better than a day out there with your buddies throwing down tricks in each others faces!! haha :) thats what keeps us all motivated out there. My friends are my biggest idols on the water because they are always down to load up the van and organize a fun day on the water! :: Flying high at the Pistol River Wave Bash 2010 / Oregon Coast (C) photo by Richard Hallman - FreelanceImaging.com ::     What are you favorite freestyle moves and what moves are you currently working on? My favorite moves are anything that you come out of fully planning, although as of right now I love to try burners every reach if i could!     What boards and sails do you ride and why? I am really stoked, I just got on RRD sails and boards!!! for the newer tricks the gear has really helped me progress, and it looks rad on the water too! :: stylish cliff drop with the Gorge in the background - (C) photo by Richard Hallman - FreelanceImaging.com ::     Your favorite playgrounds are? Hatch, Bingen, Dougs, Avery , Wall , Arlington. Especially in the cold offseason when its just you and your buddies on perfect untracked water! thats when we learn the most!     Your latest magic moment while windsurfing the Gorge ? The first day on my new RRD gear with all my friends on the water!     Either/or? Twinser or Quad? twinser river, quad waves Kauli or Gollito? Kiri Barefoot or booties? If i had a choice barefoot, but booties save me all the time if its cold, i have an annoying cut, or slippery duck tape on my foot RAP or Rock? Miike Snow/Pandora - try it out Tatoo or not? not Mac or PC? Mac, but normally i have a cheap-o pc     What goals and plans do you have for the near future - any trips, contests etc.? All the local contests for sure, really focusing on unique places for photo and video opportunities with my new gear this fall. :: Nick is riding RRD boards & RRD sails - (C) photo by Nick Allen::

Julien Sanchez from Lyon/France is our latest  ripper of the month. Julien is a professional sports filmaker, photographer and ambioned windsurfer who calls the Rhône River his local playground.In an interview he talks about his passion for windsurfing and his profession."I filmed my first flicks along the Rhône to document our windsurfing sessions on this powerful river. From then on I knew, that I had to go on and make this my life's work. Later, I set up a project with Jérome Houyvet, the French photographer, Keith Tebooul, Carine Cambooulives and Manu Bouvet, filming backstage on a windsurfing trip. This led to production of a film called "THE TRIP"."