THE CREW
Joining us at the Fanatic Dealer meeting was no other than ex PWA world wave champion Victor Fernandez, six times freestyle world champion Gollito Estredo, the UK’s most successful wave sailor Nik Baker, the German big wave and gnarly conditions specialist Klaas Voget and Fanatic’s crazy all round waterman Airton Cozzolino. Also on the island was Austrian big wave charger Uli Hölzl who had heard about the big swell hitting and had extended her ticket to hopefully charge One Eye in mast to double mast high conditions…fair play!
Sure enough the reliable Mauritius trades and constant Indian Ocean swells delivered the goods as all the dealers and pros feasted on the conditions out in front of the hotel. Nik Baker was having an amazing trip with his group of UK dealers out on the water from dawn ‘til dusk with the added bonus of all-inclusive drinks in the bar to top off the evenings. I couldn’t help noticing every guest was smiling ear to ear once off the water. Looking at rainbows in the spray and incredibly lush mountains in the background from the boat in Manawa it was not hard to figure out why!
Gollito and Airton were also having a blast on the inside and at middle reef freestyling and kiting alongside each other and fooling around swapping over gear in the evenings. Once Gollito is in his element there is no stopping him on the water, of course he is an amazing talent but as one of the world’s greatest freestyler’s, he is also an amazing entertainer and loves to show off for the crowds. Not only could he strut his stuff just a few feet from the beach on the inside, the first reef was well within range for him to bust out some ridiculous air moves that had everyone on the shore hooting and hollering.