Australian windsurfer Jaeger Stone wins Red Bull Storm Chase as 131kph wind gusts and 8m waves batter the Irish Coast!

After a relatively calm start to the day, storm winds and waves arrived in full force for theworld’s toughest windsurfing contest.

March 12th – The powerful forces of a massive North Atlantic storm battered the beaches of northwestern Ireland. Eight world-class windsurfers, who had traveled in from all corners ofthe globe, braved the wind and waves for Red Bull Storm Chase, the world’s toughestwindsurfing contest. Having waited over three years for such a storm to arrive, the competitors and crew could hardly believe their eyes at the conditions in front of them.

Taking home the trophy: Australian Jaeger Stone, sailing in the coldest conditions of his life.“It was absolutely insane to compete in these conditions,” said the 28-year-old. “It wasballistic, massive, and freezing. Winning the contest feels unreal, and it still hasn’t sunk in yet – I’m still just trying to warm up my hands!”

Although there was a warm-up day on Saturday, and a first day of competition on Sunday, alleyes were on ‘Big Tuesday’ when wind and waves were expected to peak. Driving over the hill in front of Magheroarty Beach, conditions initially looked calm – but quickly ramped up to the real deal as the tide dropped and the wind increased. As helicopter and jetski safety crews looked on, competition got underway.

The eight riders headed out in pairs for 20-minute heats in practically balmy 8o C temperatures. Judges watched from above the reef as wind and waves increased in magnitude throughout the day – providing an incredible canvas for breath-stopping wave- rides and eye-popping aerial acrobatics.

Competition during the first two rounds took place on the reef upwind, focusing on wave rides, but as the wave size increased and wind direction changed, competitors moved to the beach break for one final round of short heats – with winds gusting to 131kph.

At the beginning of the day, Philip Koester, Jaeger Stone, Leon Jamaer, and Thomas Traversa led the standings – but with a new wind and wave situation, anyone could win the contest. Highlights of the second day included a nearly-landed double push-loop from Ricardo Campello, and incredible Air Taka from Philip Köster, and several seriously large aerials from