KLAAS VOGET
“There was this massive lip growling at me and I knew if I hit it I was going to get worked real bad but it was the photo shoot so I just hit it anyway! I came down hard in an avalanche of white water and just about survived!”
ADAM LEWIS
“The Freeride shoot is an absolute ball, I always have such a laugh, it is normally too windy and you are trying to sail around in 4.5m weather on a 7.2m and make it look easy! There is normally some good crashing and the whole team is involved so it is always good fun trying to sail close to one another flat out under the chopper. I always try and get my hands on the Gecko; that board is such fun to ride!”
VICTOR FERNANDEZ
“I try to not have pressure as I sail better without it but sometimes in that one hour of the helicopter photoshoot I feel I need to land at least some good moves, especially for the video. I try to sail as if I am free sailing but sometimes it almost feels like a competition where I have to push myself as the other team riders are also going for it under the helicopter! I love watching everyone trying crazy stuff, I really like that!”
EVA OUDE OPHIUS
“There was pressure on me to stay in one piece! Last year on the shoot I crooked my front teeth, got a stitch under my foot and had nasty reef cuts on my upper leg! During the helicopter shoot I took a huge wave and it gave me so much adrenaline, I wasn’t scared at all anymore, the waves maintain my addiction to windsurfing and give me positive energy! A bit later I went back up to the top of the wave again but I was too late. The lip fully hit me and I can remember getting pounded so hard. I was lucky my gear was still in one piece and I only got a big bruise on my upper leg!”