Alex Mussolini won the “Wave World Performance” event at Omaezaki in the beginning of April. Alex: “It was a great event and I am super happy to have won there, in front of all that crowd. It’s special winning there also because I had to compete against some amazing sailors, specially on the finals with boys that rip so hard in starboard tack conditions. Thanks to all the people who made this event possible and to Oishi. He has taken good care of me in Japan! By the way, now I am flying to Maui.”

Omeazaki is a former Worldcup spot in Japan, located around 240 km southwest from Japan’s capital Tokio. At the “Wave World Performance” the best Japanese sailors compete against invited foreign windsurfers. This year the invitees included Francisco Goya, last year’s winner Graham Ezzy, Bernd Roediger, Morgan Noireaux and Alex Mussolini.

We wanted to know more about this windsurfing event on the other side of the windsurfing world and asked Graham, Bernd, Alex and Morgan to send us some words about the event. Graham’s “words” resulted in a longer story, allowing us a closer view on a windsurfing event in Japan.

The winners - Wave World Performance 2014

The winners – Wave World Performance 2014

A story by Graham Ezzy

In high school, I didn’t have many friends because no one understood why I was obsessed with “that weird windsurfing thing,” so Alex Mussolini was one of my closest friends when I was a teenager. Being 5 years older, he was a mentor in addition to sailing buddy. My first year on the PWA (2005), Musso was the one to travel with me and show me around (I think my dad made him promise to keep me alive). In every PWA contest that year (and since), we were on opposite sides of the bracket and we’d joke: “ See you in the finals!” Neither of us ever made it to the finals in those years. Now, almost a decade after my first summer traveling with Musso, we have drifted apart as the currents of life pull in opposite ways. He spends most of his time in Tenerife with his 2 kids and wife. But on the first weekend of this month, Musso and I finally had our final together—IN JAPAN! I had not planned to go to the World Performance event this year because April is a bad month for waves in Omaezaki. However, the day before the event, windguru showed full stars for the contest weekend. I called my friend and former Japanese pro Shoji Ogura and he confirmed: “It’s going to be good!” I booked a ticked and only had a few hours to pack and nap before I had to catch my flight.

 

Graham Ezzy at the Wave World Performance at Omaezaki

Graham Ezzy at the Wave World Performance at Omaezaki

 

The World Peformance Event is Japan’s inclusion of the western windsurfing world into theirs. The best Japanese sailors compete against a group of invited foreign (or “Gaijin” in Japanese). More than any other windsurfing event in the world, the western professionals feel like rockstars in Japan. Lots of photographs, lots of autographs—even to the point of discomfort. At first glance, the Gaijin pro feels on the giving side of the deal—smiling for photos to the point of cheek cramps and signing not just posters and papers but shoes and iphones and handbags. But to think this is a mistake. We Gaijin windsurfers were very much the recipients of a great gift: inclusion in Japanese windsurfing culture. Japan is a very closed country. Immigration is incredibly difficult. Before Admiral Perry opened Japan to trade (by force) with the Convention of Kanagawa, Japan was closed to the world for 200 hundred years. Japanese seclusion still exists. Case in point, there are Japanese professional windsurfers that live off of windsurfing but never leave Japan to compete or publish stories in the western mags. To attend the World Performance Event as a foreigner is a great honor. We are invited into this special world that is self-sufficient and without outsiders. They give us sushi and sake. They show us their windsurfing. We are the lucky ones.

 

THE CONDITIONS

Omaezaki is similar to Guincho—strong onshore starboard tack winds with a heavy wave pounding sand (mostly) and pointy rocks (rarely, thank god). On the day of the double elimination, we had 4.2 wind and logo high surf. “Best day of the year,” I heard a local say.

Before I mention anything else about the sailing, I need to declare that the Japanese windsurfers were much better than any of us Gaijin at turning on the punchy waves. With superb timing and bravery they pushed their boards into the throat of the waves with faith they would be thrown to glory. And sometimes they crashed! Hard! Us Gaijin were better at the tricks and more versed in jumps, and this allowed us to claim the top 4 spots.

Sitting in 3 and 4, Bernd and Morgan (respectively), greatly impressed me with their contest awareness (which they proved at the Aloha Classic too). At 17 and 19, Bernd and Morgan are way better competitors than I was at their age—or am now for that matter!!! Bernd is devilishly consistent when he needs to be, reminding me of a reborn Kevin Pritchard, landing the tricks on command when the competition becomes do-or-die.

Graham Ezzy

Graham Ezzy

THE FINAL Me vs Alex Mussolini

I saw Alex do one of the highest backloops I have ever seen. Remember those massive pumping backloops that Jonas Ceballos did in Pozo back in 2003? You thought he couldn’t go any higher and then he would pump in the air and carry himself another 4 meters. This Backloop from Alex was like that—huge!

 

Alex Mussolini

Alex Mussolini

 

With a frontside 360 and a Goiter, his waverides were solid too. In the final, I had my best heat of the event with a fast Taka, a Backside 360, and a one-handed Goiter. For jumps I had some 1-handed Pushloops, Backloops and a wet double. The final was marked by 2 pro Japanese judges and the audience. Alex won one judge and I won the other meaning that the audience was to decide our fates. Alex and I waited side by side while judges tallied votes. The final score arrived: 86 to 81 with Alex Mussolini in 1st. I hugged him happily. I sure as hell wanted to win but I sailed well, and was happy to see my close friend win. In that moment, I learned something about competing: I sail best (in a comp) when I like my opponent and can be happy to see him advance. Somehow the lack of negative energy helps me focus on the waves rather than the heat. Losing isn’t so bad if you sail your best. The crowd continued to cheer and something happened that I’ve never seen in a windsurfing contest: they asked for an encore.

 

Graham and Alex

Graham and Alex

 

So Alex and I went back out on the water to sail—just us 2—for a heat length. No judging this time, just 2 friends windsurfing. I’m a fan of windsurfing just as much as I am a pro—I love to watch a legend like Alex Mussolini rip and win in conditions other than Europe. The windsurfing world seems to forget that Alex grew up on Maui and his first podium was Guincho back in ’05. Musso may live in Tenerife now, but he is not limited to onshore port tack 360’s and Takas (of which he is also masterful). This fall, Alex turns 30 and I 25. We each step into a new era and if this event in Japan is any indication, it’s going to be a good one.

 

Bernd Roediger (3rd place): “This contest was really special for me because it brought out what I love most about Japanese windsurfing.  That undying stoke, and level of energy when it comes to windsurfing, is intoxicating!  And during this event I was happy just to be a part of that passion.  The vibe on the beach, paired with an amped level of sailing, not to mention some really good conditions during the final… perfect ingredients for taking a competition to the next level.  And I think when you get to experience something like that, win, lose or draw, you come out ahead. Placing 3rd was just a bonus!  I’d like to thank my sponsors for bringing me out to Omaezaki, the local crowd for making the event possible, and especially to the head of Quatro Japan “Hiromi-san” for giving us the five-star treatment out there!  Mahalos!”

Bernd Roediger at the Wave World Performance at Omaezaki 2014

Bernd Roediger at the Wave World Performance at Omaezaki 2014

 

Morgan Noireaux (4th place): “Jeff (Henderson) talked to me about the contest asking me if I wanted to go to represent Hotsails. I had never gone to Japan prior to this so I gladly accepted. I had never really seen much from Omaezaki or the event before so I wasn’t sure what we were going to get as far as condition goes but I was really surprised with how good it was. The first day I sailed started off with a 4.9 and ended up on a 3.4 fully powered. It was the windiest I’ve ever sailed in. The competition days where a little mellower though which was good. I ended up in 4th after the double which is pretty frustrating. Lately I’ve been ending up 4th every time I’m in a final. I still had a great time though. The people are super friendly. All of us where super well taken care of. The amount of stoke the people have is crazy. They all wanted to take pictures with us and get out autographs which is something I’ve never experienced before.They where super into the whole event. I was also very impressed with the level of sailing over there. The Japanese sailors are very good. I’m not sure if there will be any World Performance events at other spots but I’m pretty sure the event will happen once again next year.”

Morgan Noireaux at the Wave World Performance at Omaezaki 2014

Morgan Noireaux at the Wave World Performance at Omaezaki 2014

 

VIDEOS FROM THE EVENT

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©continentseven.com 2014

 

 

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