004-005 Contents Pages ISS04V01.qxp
16/9/10
14:46
Page 5
contents
50 52 56
Wild Weekend
Ian Morrow swaps the road for the river on a CANI recreational paddle trip
flannel panel
Ray Mears
Ahead of his appearance in Belfast, we talk survival tactics with Ray Mears
Surf Body Conditioning
Waveski
DANCE TO Marty McCann explains why pulling off a successful waveski trick depends on the shape, size and power of the wave…
F
In the first of a new series Aaron Wilson looks at the importance of a body warm-up
Bread and butter skills The essential skills required here are ‘bottom turns’ and ‘top turns’. Top turns involve turning at the top of the wave to position the ski to enable it to drop down the wave face. A bottom turn requires turning at the bottom or mid face and climbing the ski back towards the lip to regain height. Another essential skill at this stage is the ability to ‘cut back’. A cut back is essentially changing direction on the wave and surfing momentarily, back toward the white-water (cutting back). By cutting back the waveskier can regain enough power and speed from the pocket to execute their next manoeuvre. Having a sound basis of these ‘bread and butter’ moves, and the ability to perform them in varying conditions, is the key to progressing to the next level.
motocross
57
The Frontside Cutback
Going for air As timing and awareness of body and ski position develops the rider can perform reentries. Re-entries are like an extended top turn or higher top turn, performed on the lip of a pitching wave or off the lip of an oncoming breaking wave. A well executed re-entry can dramatically increase the speed of the ski which is essential in the set up of high end moves such as aerials. For many years the aerial was the holy grail of waveski surfing, everyone aspired to launch their skis skyward feeling weightlessness as they were momentarily
Iain Gilmore talks you through another surf essential, the frontside cutback
33
Skateboarding
58 60 64 65 66
ollowing on from the
introduction to waveski in issue two, it’s time to look at a few essential moves, and a couple of manoeuvres that most waveskiers aspire to. It’s safe to assume that as waveski is a surfing sport, many of the moves that are required by other surf disciplines to maintain speed and time on the wave, are also at the core of waveski surfing. The rider surfs parallel to the wave, face climbing and dropping (trimming) as they do, so as to maintain speed and position on the wave.
THE WAVE
paddle Waveski sports
Andre Burger performs a powerful re-entry
everyone aspired to launch their skis skyward feeling weightlessness as they were momentarily liberated from water to air... liberated from water to air. Many a false claim was made as the slightest sensation of weightlessness was claimed as ‘Air’ only to be dismissed by fellow surfers. During the late 80’s and through the 90’s this was the domain of a handful of select elite athletes. However sports development, coaching and modern waveski designs have made aerials more attainable and they are now a regular sight on the competition scene in Europe. Just like music dictates dance, the shape, size, formation and power of the wave dictates the timing and appropriateness of each manoeuvre. Because of this there are many variations of all surfing manoeuvres. The cut back for example can be a round house cut back, a simple cut back toward the white water, or it can be slashed or gouged releasing the fins (or sometimes the entire hull of the ski) from the water. Currently the world’s top waveskiers are developing new and exciting variations of the aerial including inverted airs, deck flashes and air reverse 360’s - a move adopted from the bodyboarding world which demonstrates
Steve Farthing bottom turns and looks for the ramp, Bali. Photo by Ming
the cross pollination of surf sports. Riders coming to waveskiing from surfing, bodyboarding and kayaking backgrounds adapt skills, experience and knowledge from these disciplines to the ski.
of late. Barrels for many surfers are the essence and deepest expression of contact with the ocean and it will be great to see how waveskiers adapt to incorporate this move into their skills portfolio. Watch this space...
o
Bagging a barrel Barrels are a good example of this. The point when time slows and the rider and nature come together was mostly the domain of stand ups and bodyboarders for years. However thanks to surf sport cross over and shared knowledge, more waveskiers are getting barrels today and it will be exciting to see how the sport develops over the next few years. Getting barrelled on a ski seems to be the focus of many world waveski riders
French rider Coralie Jouset, bottom turning at Emerald Beach Australia. Picture Fletcher Burton
big dog: Robert Doherty email: rob@uberdogmagazine.co.uk telephone: 077 1184 6246
58 www.uberdogmagazine.co.uk
www.uberdogmagazine.co.uk 59
editor: Tara Craig email: editorial@uberdogmagazine.co.uk telephone: 078 1740 1844
Dance to the Wave
Marty McCann reveals the waveski tricks everyone wants to be able to pull
sales: Andy McCombe email: andy@uberdogmagazine.co.uk telephone: 077 0860 9872
Join the Hood
Keep up to date with Team Woof at
Hang out in one of the lastest
www.facebook.com/uberdogmag www.twitter.com/uberdogmag
hoodies
For exclusive magazine updates visit
Pawed & Tested Our new product review page
ng it a go?
not video your empts, whether ful, disastrous or ain daft, and email them into rdogmagazine.co.uk
channel at orial that should s.
41
www.uberdogmagazine.co.uk
überdog magazine
Tales from the Trail
ISSN 2043-7048
A report from the 2010 Oxfam TrailTrekker
Volume 2: Issue 4 was published by
Pig's Ear Publishing llp.
Let Battle Commence
paddle Sports
ns deteriorated, but as Elaine reveals, never far away: “Local knowledge pedition like this is key and can stop making some big mistakes. The ound the coastline were extremely nd shared useful information freely. I have done it without all the help and received along the way. In the bad got very frustrated that I wasn’t ny progress, but fortunately I gained n and help from a friend, Adrian n (www.justkayak.ie) whose ledge of the tides and sea state d me to get round the Inishowen sula. That was definitely one of the est parts of the journey.” e Elaine had made it round Malin the wind and swell were with her he began to make real progress was soon back on track. With a er of paddling partners she ed from Glengad Head to Shroove nto Portrush and Ballintoy in strong From Fairhead and Torr Head the weather began to ease and Elaine made it on as far as Cushendun where she had her second acquaintance with the emergency services as she reveals: “I passed a boat heading the other direction who t have radioed the coastguard to they saw a kayak out at sea in ons. When I arrived at Cushendun guard van close to the shore that g to see I made it to shore safely. the first two things people say to come ashore are, ‘What are you weather conditions like that?’ and ar about my expedition they ask, ?’ she laughs. Elaine paddled on to Glenarm, itehead then across Belfast gor in the small window available uldn’t have to deal with the wake Stena HSS. From Bangor the a turn for the worse again when g into the south east, meaning deal with the wind head on. horeline for safety she found n several eddies making her tougher. urprised by the tidal range on and with the strengthening it felt like I was paddling eals. “I must have been too ore, but I didn’t want to venture d in case some unexpected in.”
e, er
47
email: info@pigsearpublishing.co.uk web: www.pigsearpublishing.co.uk
Graeme Livingstone compares the different styles and techniques required for indoor and outdoor airsoft
printed by
W&G Baird, Antrim
event
bowto thekin g
71
Investigate, Spectate and Participate
event A few words from the King… Dave Wylie
Bow to the King
mountainboards
S
ATURDAY 21st of August and it was time for Ireland’s mountain boarders to find out who would be crowned King of the Dirt. An impressive turnout ensured it would be a tough contest across the two categories to find the Junior and Senior winners in the ultimate boarding duel.
A series of practice runs in the morning set the speed times for the head-for-head races in the afternoon. A heavy shower had dampened the dusty course improving visibility and making the event more competitive than ever. There were some fantastic finishes (and a few face plants) as
A. It was the summer of 2003, so I guess I must have been 13. This place (Surf’n Dirt) had just opened and about 20 of us started to learn to mountain boarding and the scene grew from there. Q. WAS THIS YOUR FIRST COMPETITION WIN? A. No, I won the King of the Dirt here two years ago, so it’s great to have the crown back. I’ve also won the G3 Irish Open. Q. WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? A. I’m not a big freestyle person, I like to race. They call me ‘the unstoppable force’ because I go so fast - nothing gets in my way. I’m a real adrenaline junkie!
the guys pushed their bodies and their boards to their limits. A bad start in the final race resulted in Leo Gorman losing out on first place in the Juniors to Tomas Cairns who put in an impressive run against this formidable component, with third place going to Shane Hood. David Wylie cruised to victory in the Seniors with Sam Gorman placing second and David Marshall third. The official racing may have been over, but that wasn’t enough for the boarders who celebrated the end of a fantastic day with a ‘wacky’ free for all race down the mountain, described by Tomas as the ‘scariest thing I’ve ever done!” What a way to end the day!
74
We reveal who was crowned the King of the Dirt for bike and board at the recent event in Surfin’ Dirt
79
Bogginzine Irish Skater of the Year
Discover who pulled the tricks out of the bag at Belfast’s Skater of the Year contest
www.uberdogmagazine.co.uk
www.uberdogmagazine.co.uk
web: www.wgbaird.com distributed by
Q. WHEN DID YOU GET INTO MOUNTAIN BOARDING?
Surfin’ Dirt was the venue for the two most hotly contested competitions in the country, the King of the Dirt for bikes and boards...
This issue: Kitesurfing
74
team woof:
Leo Gorman pulls a back flip
75
EM News Distribution Belfast & Dublin web: www.emnewsdistribution.com Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. All prices and dates correct at the time of going to press but are subject to change. überdog cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material or photographs or for the views and opinion of our advertisers. For competition terms and conditions visit www.uberdogmagazine.co.uk The views expressed by contributors and correspondents in articles, reports, reviews and other contributions do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Accordingly, the publisher is not responsible for any such view, nor for any act or omission on the part of any such contributor or correspondent. Neither is any responsibility accepted by the publisher for any loss or damage caused to any person relying on any statement in, or omission from überdog magazine.
5