TYLER LAUSTEN / ENGLISH VERSION

TYLER LAUSTEN / TL WAVESKIS



Name: Tyler LeBaron Lausten
Age: 23 till Nov 16
Address: Maui, Hawaii and Central Coast California
Occupation: Waveski shaper, builder

Paddle since: 2001
Other sports: right now none!
Main sportive achievements: 2x US waveski Champ, 11th 2009 worlds Australia

Hi Tyler! You started in whitewater sports...
Yes I was whitewater rafting by the time I was 8 or 9. I was always watching the kayakers dart about and play in the river features. I wanted to be like them...


After that, and according to your website, these three surfers influenced you a lot - Vince Shay, Fletcher Burton and Randy Phillips. How was that?
Vince put together The Search II and planned a trip to Maui. I met them when they came in Feb 2003. The were and still are great mentors of stoke! I got my first modern waveski from Fletch and now I build his boards. We travel together and he is crazy! Vince lit so much fire under my ass by filming me and putting me in his movie i still have it burning! And Randy is a classic great ambassador and a humble ripper who holds it all together.


And then, Neil Decker from Dekka Waveskis had also a main role in your shapping evolution...
Yes after the 2007 worlds in NZ I spent 6 weeks on the Gold Coast of Oz and he shaped a ski for me while I was there. Was such a cool feeling being in that room with the lights and watching the thing take shape. Planted the shaping seed there! Not to mention Neil is an awesome maniac!

Now, about these worlds in Portugal Ocean Spirit Festival, what did you think about it?
Unbelievable setup and organization! It felt amazing just to take part. I would have liked to surf better but what can you do? It was great to see the 2 french juniors (Pablo and Virgile) make it to the finals.

It's your second time in Portugal... like our country?
Love it! Could spend a lot of time from Ericeira to Santa Cruz and Peniche!

How do you see the evolution of waveski worldwide?
Well Europe is definitely carrying the torch right now. the sport needs juniors and there are none anywhere else. Here in the US we have gotten organized again and hold annual comps at the best breaks of the east and west coasts (Ventura c street and florida sebastian inlet) that are open to international competitors... definitely need to keep pushing the envelope and blowing minds to get people intrigued.

And about the skis... do you think that there is still much to improve?
Depends. if you are content with what you are riding then no. as for me I am always thinking of the next ski I am going to build! I always learn more and want to apply it as well as try new things! there is lots of room to play with waveskis! I also like to play with construction as strength is quite important.

What are your future perspectives regarding TL Waveskis?
Ill be making my first million dollars within the next 2 years... I just want to offer a new and different quality product and so far there has been a bit of interest from the US and abroad so that keeps me going!

Planning to go till Brazil 2013?
Of course!

kayaksurf.net website...
The BEST (and only) universal paddlesurfing encyclopedia! Luis you do an amazing job of keeping the world updated and informed!

Last words...
Keep checking my youtube, surf hard, and see you in the water!!!

Thanks a lot Tyler and come back again!

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

STEVE FARTHING / ENGLISH VERSION

World Masters Waveski Champion 2011



Name: Steve Farthing
Age: 45
Address: Australia

Occupation: I’m over working, now just surfing as much as I can;
Paddled Since: Waveski 1980, Kayak 2009
Other sports: anything that involves waves and a paddle

Website: Started up http://paddlepower.blogspot.com/, haven’t done much lately but there’s heaps of stuff on it. I’m a regular on facebook.

Main Sporting achievements: 2009 Masters World Kayak HP champ and 2011 Masters World Waveski champ. Heaps of other waveski results over the years but these are my 2 favourite trophies.

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WWST2011:
The 2011 Ocean Spirit World Waveski Titles in Santa Cruz Portugal was a well run event from the challenging surf conditions to the judging and organization, this event had professional written all over it. It was great to see the emergence of the young French talent, which has put the previously dominant countries of Australia and South Africa on notice by pushing up the performance level. You can check out the daily “Ocean Spirit on my mind” reports to get a good perspective of what went down.

GEAR:
Personally I think the waveski is close to the top of the design cycle. There are numerous brands available in the market. I chose wavemaster because the single to double concave is fast. But hey Virgile Humbert, the new world champ rides a KS and Pablo Arrouyss the world junior champ rides an Ombak, its pretty hard to go wrong these days.

Where’s the sport heading?
In one word, France! The time and effort invested in their junior development is now starting to pay off. Australia, South Africa, UK etc. need to do the same or they’ll just be left behind. In terms of competition structure, a fairer seeding system needs to be implemented. I’d like to see everyone ranked in in terms of their ability not whether they turned up to the last world titles of not. There were quite a few stacked heats in Portugal, which affected the whole dynamics of the event; hopefully it will be sorted out by Brazil. Another thing I would like to see is the Kayak and Waveski Worlds on alternate years and then we just might get some of the hot young kayakers giving waveski’s a go and vice versa.

BRAZIL 2013:
I’ll be there; I’d encourage everyone who’s got the competitive flair to go. World Titles are the best competition the sport has to offer and a great place to catch up with people with like-minded interests.

World Surf Kayaking Championships USA 2011:
I’ll be reporting for kayaksurf.net on the World Surf kayak Titles in North Carolina from Sept 28. If you’re on facebook, don’t forget to link yourself to Kayaksurf Portugal Facebook page, the one stop shop for all your waveski and surf kayak info. Its going to be a big show again, many of the worlds top riders have entered and I know the level and equipment has progressed a fair bit in two years, an air fest I think.

Last Words:
Be careful if you get into Waveski’s or Surf Kayaks, you might just become as addicted as I am.

Thanks Steve! And all the best for USA ;)

ALL PHOTOS / HERE:
http://www.kayaksurf.net/SteveFarthingWWST11.html

GALEN LICHT / ENGLISH LIGHT VERSION

GALEN LICHT / Santa Cruz Kayaksurf Festival Winner 2010 & 2011



Name: Galen Licht
Age: 23 years old
Occupation: Energy Conservation Consultant
Address: California

Competition records:
1st place SCKSf 2010,
1st place SCPF 2011,
3 times placed top 5 in world championships

Paddling experience: I have been paddling since I was old enough to hold a paddle.

Sponsors: Valley Suf Kayaks, Kokatat Water Wear, Werner, Snap dragon
Gear: Valley rush +, Werner Stikine Bentshaft paddle, Gath helmet and Kokatat lifejacket and paddling top.

Hello Galen, do you remember how you started in kayaks?
My dad got my brother and I in boats before we could ride bikes. He taught us to roll when we were 7 years old.

Do you have any other paddling experience?
I have competed in river competitions since I was 13 years old. When I was in 8th grade I traveled with a kayak school training for river kayak contests. I am a Sea Kayak instructor during the summers as well. Other than surf kayak contests the only competing I do is down river extreme races.

Now, about this second victory in Santa Cruz... what's the secret?
It is to have as much fun as possible. I think it is important not to get psyched out. A lot of good paddlers come from all over the world to compete but I have to remember my biggest competitor is myself. All I can do is surf my best and that is what I try to do when competing. If I surfed my best and lost then I know I did all I could and need to train more. I am confident that when I surf my best I can place well so that is what I focus on.

This year the event was quite peculiar...
This was a hectic year. The organizing committee did a great job adapting to the conditions and weather. Leading up to the event the waves were great which allowed time to get comfortable at the lane again. I have to say that the waves on Saturday were very intimidating. The winds made it hard to predict where the waves were going to break and line up. Even though the weather didn’t cooperate all the competitors stayed positive and tried their best. Only once a year do we have the chance to surf the lane with just 3 others so I will take it any way I can. I am already looking forward to next year.

Besides Santa Cruz, where do you usually surf?
I have been living in the Mountains this winter so I have not been surfing much. Before I moved to the mountains I only surfed in Santa Cruz. But if I am not close the ocean then I try to get on the rivers.

What do you think about the evolution of surfkayaking worldwide?
I think surf kayaking is evolving and becoming more accepted in the surfing community. My favorite thing about the big contests is that it brings kayaks from all over the world that are pushing the sport.

And about riders… do you have anyone in special that admires very much?
Dave Johnston was the first one to take me kayak surfing and since then we have traveled the world competing. I think he has very good style, smooth and he is not afraid of the big waves. I also admire Steve Farthing’s surfing. I think he is pushing the sport forward as much as anyone else in the world. He is bringing a very dynamic style of kayaking adapted from wave sking. ,

How often do you participate in surfkayak competitions?
Whenever I can afford to travel, which is typically not very often. I love competing though and always looking forward to the next one.

Best memories about Portugal World Cup Finals 2006...
The big ship stuck on the beach, for sure.

When do you'll come again till Portugal?
No plans at the moment.

Do you follow kayaksurf.net?
I do, it’s the only place to see what other events are going on around the world.

Are you going till USA East for the Worlds?
I am planning on it.

Give us some suggestions for those who want to start kayaksurf...
My advice is start slow and with small waves. There is no rush to surf big waves. I think the most important thing is to build confidence and try to relax and enjoy the ride.

And that's all Galen! All the best for the Worlds ;)

ALL PHOTOS HERE:
http://www.kayaksurf.net/GalenLicht.html