XAVER WALSER / ENGLISH VERSION

The director passionate about waveski



Xaver Walser: Director. Born in South Africa but somehow made his way to the Alps and nowadays snowboarding in Switzerland. Xaver runs a production company in St. Moritz where he supplies news and current affairs to broadcasters from around the world.

Age: 36
Occupation: Filmmaker
Paddling since: I was 17
Gear: KS Designs
Website: http://www.subgraviti.com/
Sponsors: KS Designs, Worldriders Clothing

Hi Xaver. What can I say... you've done an excellent work with subgraviti.com !! Remind us how all started...
I started Sub Graviti as a production company with my first waveski video (then still on VHS) called Open your Mind. It was about 3 years travelling around the world with a small simple video camera 15 years ago. www.subgraviti.com went online in 2003 so that I could distribute and market my films to a worldwide audience. That was the one half of my motivation. The other 50% is just purely out of the love for the sport of waveski and seeing it grow and leaving a legacy behind.

B-Sides, Gateway to Sorga, SGP News... lots of movies. I know that they all are important for you but, what video production would you like to highlight from all these?
Its actually now my 9th video that I am working on for waveski. Open your Mind, Mutual Addiction, Cryptic Meanings, SGP News Vol 1.0, KaziLines, Amaza Africa, Gateway to Sorga, B-Sides and now Project P10.
My favorite would probably still be my first one Open your Mind. Just because it was complete freedom with very little worries travelling the globe with my brother. Chasing empty waves, experiencing different countries and its because of that film that I am doing what I am doing today.

Now about Project P10. Present us this new adventure...
Project P10 was just the name that I used to hide the film project while I was still searching for a name. It will be a combination of 5 different destinations all in one film. J-Bay South Africa, Australia, La Reunion Island, France and now Portugal. I wanted to do something very energetic with very young riders to set this film apart from anything that I have done before.

Who are the "stars" of this project?
There will be a few of the usual suspects and then the new young generation. Usual Suspects: Mathieu Babarit FR, Rees Duncan AUS, Caroline Angibaud FR, Malan Calitz RSA, Travis Best AUS and Neal Stephenson RSA
New kids: Tyler Lausten (22) HI, Lionel Angibaud (23) FR, Chris Hobson (21) IRL, Mathieu Jonneaux (17) FR, Coralie Jousset (23) FR, Virgile Humbert (18) GUAD, Arthur Schott (16) RUN, André Burger (22) RSA

Is this a project mainly done due the Worlds in Portugal?
It was partly my motivation since we will use Worlds 2011 together with the Ocean Spirit Festival as the official world wide premier for the new film (we are working closely together with the organisation of the Ocean Spirit to ensure a spectacular world wide premier at the festival). But mostly since I was super impressed with what Watertech was doing in Portugal and seeing so many good things happening for waveski in Portugal that I wanted to bring the worlds best here to show and motivate the Portuguese waveskiers. Then lastly since Portugal has got so many amazing uncrowded waves and it was about time that I did another visit to this great country.

What are your expectations regarding next Worlds?
I believe Bruno Melo knows what he is doing and that Worlds is in excellent hands for 2011. Its a great privilege for waveski to have guys like Bruno and Rui Calado as part of the sport. To see such a lot of motivation and always finding a solution to any problem is refreshing and motivates people like myself to do more for the sport.

How do you see waveski and kayaksurf evolution in the world?
This was another huge motivation why I was all amped to work on P10. Seeing Dave Speller (Surf Kayak World Champion) ripping it up this year at the European Waveski Championship in France made me realise that surf kayakers are hungry for more speed on the waves. To see what Chris Hobson (famous surf kayaker from Ireland) was doing after just 2 weeks of waveskiing in Portugal was just mind blowing. He struggled to paddle, but when he got on the waves the sky was the limit. Then, when you see whats happening coming from the kayak manufacturers side is another exciting development.

To my knowledge Rotomod Kayaks started it with the Slide waveski and now the Mathieu Babarit Pro model waveski. WaterTech is also making waveskis and started now the production of their beginner Easy board. Mega made their first waveski. Future Kayaks is starting to make waveskis. Its really a good thing to have so much competition since this will push the manufacturers to make better boards faster and provide the riders with the best equipment so that we can take the sport to a new level of riding and filming.

You have an incredible trip experience worldwide. Which are your favourites surf spots?
The best waves I have ever surfed was the Mentawais. I believe it does not get better than this. I did not know waves of that quality could exist. I have been many times to Indonesia but the Mentawais are in a league of their own. After that probably the west coast of Australia.

And about Portugal... did you already knew it?
I have been in Portugal 15 years ago hitchhiking through the country with my waveski and tent. It was a very hard 3 weeks in November with the worst storms Portugal experienced in 20 years. 23 people died during those 3 weeks and I was in a tent. Was a life changing experience but that I would not want to change for anything.

Did you knew kayaksurf.net?
I have heard a lot about Kayaksurf.net and think its great what Luis Pedro is doing for bringing the sports together. He motivated me to bridge the gap more between the Kayaksurf and Waveski. Its the future and I believe 100% in it.

"This success story is dedicated to the norm. The norm that pushed me to where I am today. Thanks to them I proved the un-imaginary for my life." - this is a great line... explain us...
Well this line says it all for me. I am not following the typical path the world wants us to follow, but thats also why I waveski and waveski gave me everything my heart could ever desire for.

Last words...
I am looking forward to the next year and the build up towards Worlds 2011. I am positive its going to be a big show and amazing things will come out of it from riders to manufacturers.

Thanks a lot Xaver! Meet you in Ocean Spirit ;)

ALL THE PHOTOS HERE:
http://www.kayaksurf.net/XaverValser.html