Original source: TWS Tenerife Windsurf Solution
This video from TWS Tenerife Windsurf Solution covered a lot of ground. Streamed.News selected 7 key moments and summarises them here. Everything below links directly to the timestamp in the original video.
Imagine trying to call an offside in soccer or a false start in track, but with athletes moving at 30 knots on water. This isn't just about fairness; it's about pushing the boundaries of human perception in high-speed sports.
Technology Enhances Windsurfing Race Officiating Accuracy
Officiating windsurfing races, particularly making precise over-start calls, presents immense challenges due to the high speeds and fine margins involved. Speakers detailed how officials on the starting boat struggle to make real-time judgments, often facing situations where calls are "on the freaking edge." This difficulty led to inconsistencies, with early events often only penalizing the first visible over-starter while others went unnoticed.
To address this, the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) introduced tablets and GoPro systems around 2019. These technologies allow officials to make a live call (clear or over early) and then review video footage to confirm who was actually over the line. While this system isn't always live on the water for training, it has drastically improved accuracy, leading to more consistent penalties for multiple riders and fundamentally changing how athletes approach the starting line.
"Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it's so on the freaking edge that, yeah, I mean, I've done a lot of starts but I would not know. Yeah, it's insane."
Guia Recounts Grueling Start to Windsurfing Training Role
Guia, an integral figure in windsurfing training, described his challenging introduction to the role, admitting he had "no clue" about slalom windsurfing races, flags, or timing when he started. His initial days were marked by immense physical strain, particularly managing a small boat in waves exceeding 22 knots and struggling to pull heavy anchors in two-meter swells. He recounts a moment of emotional breakdown when Harco had to assist him after he lost all strength.
Despite the initial hardships and a steep learning curve, Guia expressed pride in his contribution, highlighting that his efforts directly help riders improve their rankings and training. His experience underscores the significant physical and emotional demands on support staff in high-performance sports, often unseen by those who only focus on the athletes' performance.
"I was pulling the anchor... I was getting close to the moon and Harco came and he jumped on the boat, he helped me to leave the anchor. I was crying because I couldn't do nothing else. I just was crazy, no energy else."
TWS Training Evolves from Collective Effort to Streamlined Service
The early days of TWS windsurfing training were characterized by a demanding, collaborative environment where riders and staff collectively contributed to operational tasks. Participants had to manage everything from pumping up deflating marks to dragging equipment through windy streets before and after training sessions. This shared responsibility fostered a strong team spirit, driven by the understanding that mutual assistance was essential for training to occur.
Today, the TWS system operates as a "smooth machine," offering a streamlined service where participants simply pay and show up ready to train. While modern conveniences like better boats and marks have improved efficiency, this shift highlights a broader trend in professional sports: the evolution from communal, self-supported endeavors to highly organized, service-oriented training centers. Despite this change, a strong team spirit persists among riders, who still support each other in emergencies.
"Before we were… a team working all together to try to train, we knew that if we were not helping each other, we wouldn't be able to train. Now the training is happening and you are taking part of it, so that's the main difference."
Price Hikes Spark Crisis at Windsurfing Training Center
After two years of consistent service, tensions escalated at a windsurfing training center when Sparky, the operator, unexpectedly raised prices without improving services. This decision prompted top riders to collectively refuse the increased fees, leading to multiple confrontational meetings. Sparky's inflexibility ultimately alienated the elite athletes, who were the primary draw for other trainees.
This dispute created an opportunity for Harco, who was completing a university internship, to propose an alternative. Utilizing his own boat, he initiated unofficial training sessions, laying the groundwork for a new organizational model for the center. This pivotal moment underscores how pricing and service quality directly impact athlete loyalty and can catalyze significant shifts in sports training infrastructure.
"Basically the top guys said like, 'look, I actually had a couple meetings personally with him... to like try to approach and tell him, look, we are not gonna pay double.'"
Early TWS Training Demanded Extreme Physicality from Athletes and Staff
The initial years of TWS windsurfing training were characterized by an exceptionally arduous physical regimen, demanding peak performance not only from the athletes but also from support staff. Daily training involved four fin sessions, gym workouts, and CrossFit, pushing participants to their limits. Managing the course marks and boats in rough conditions was equally challenging; one vivid anecdote recounts Bruno's incredible strength in single-handedly pulling heavy marks through waves when others struggled.
The constant exposure to cold, even in seemingly mild 20-degree weather, compounded the physical toll for those on the boats. This period highlights a 'destroy ourselves' mentality, prioritizing sheer volume and endurance over what might now be considered optimal quality. It reveals the foundational grit that shaped early TWS athletes and the unsung physical labor of the support crew.
"He was grabbing the mark and pulling all the way and we're like, 'Bruno, wait, we need to go on the top of the anchor to pull it up.' He was pulling sometimes the boat was underneath the wave."
Windsurfing Community Upholds Strong Team Spirit and Mutual Support
Despite being individual competitors, the windsurfing community at the training center exhibits a remarkably strong team spirit and mutual support, especially in emergencies. Riders consistently help each other in situations ranging from drifting marks to serious accidents, demonstrating a deep-seated trust and camaraderie forged over years of shared training. This collective knowledge and experience enable quick, effective reactions in challenging on-water scenarios.
This intrinsic teamwork contrasts sharply with an incident where a rider was run over by a boat propeller during an event rescue, highlighting the critical importance of reliable support. The ingrained habit of looking out for one another ensures safety and continuity, proving that even in highly competitive individual sports, a strong community foundation remains vital.
"You know how to react, you know what to do, what not to do… it's like and the trust is there so it's like you kind of, I don't need to think that you're gonna like…"
Arduous Daily Routine Defined Early Windsurfing Training
The initial year of windsurfing training was marked by an exceptionally demanding daily routine for all participants. Mornings began with picking up Sparky and collecting heavy anchors and gas tanks, often involving multiple trips through challenging routes to the harbor. Once at the pier, the arduous task of loading the boat commenced, followed by rigging and intense training sessions.
Throughout the day, a constant battle against deflating, water-logged marks required continuous pumping and repositioning in windy conditions. The evening mirrored the morning's logistical challenges, reversing the process of transporting equipment and dropping off Sparky, often culminating in gym sessions. This grueling schedule, offering minimal discount for the immense effort, highlights the sheer physical and logistical commitment required to make early training possible.
"I was pumping those marks, bringing them down the windiest part of the beach... and I had to bring the marks and go in the water and hunt them to Sparky when he came, well yeah, and I was getting like a 50 Euro discount, I guess, like for that."
Summarised from TWS Tenerife Windsurf Solution · 34:20. All credit belongs to the original creators. TWS summarises publicly available video content.
