Windsurfermag "How to make a thruster" article and Facebook Page

Hey guys and gals, couple quick updates (new and old):

If you don't already know we contributed to a discussion about thruster fin systems in windsurf boards in the (online) Windsurfermag. It also includes a "HOW-TO" section to make you very own thruster. The whole article is a good read and interesting to see everyone's similar but different perspectives. Check it out HERE>>>

And secondly, we have created a Thruster Project facebook page. By the time it may replace our blog, but in the meantime it will complement our blog and twitter to reach out to windsurfers in the FB community. If you like our project and NZ wave-sailing, help spread the word by "Liking" and becoming a "Fan" of the facebook page. CHeers, hans.

Bringing back the cheeseroll !

A sunny day at Lyall bay with heaps of t-baggers to weave through... started working on the cheeseroll. Seen a couple clips of B-jama and UK rider doing full powered up planning ones. Looks sick and gonna bring it back!

EPIC Windies !!!

Few of the welly crew headed over the hill and some scored an epic session!!! Read about the session HERE.

(you can add captions to photos here______!!!)

Lyall X-off scored

A select few had Friday morning off to play in the left over 2-3ft South groundie and increasing off-shore winds.
Read about Hans's (TP team) session HERE, and from Chris brown HERE.
Only a few photos captured (by Chris Brown) and I (hans) still don't think they do complete justice as it was epic earlier on!
(photos of Hans cracking a few aerials on the shore-break on some of the smaller sets)

more desktop backgrounds

Bored of your old PC/mac background?... Well I just added some more, actually a whole lot. It took a while and that's not even half the photos I have taken!

The backgrounds are some of my favourite pictures and resized for a WIDESCREEN 1280x850. Just give me an email if you like a pic and want it resized for your PC.

Click on the tab of 'links we recommend' above, or HERE TO VIEW BACKGROUNDS.
I'll still be adding more from time to time so keep checking it out if you remember ;)

Enjoy, cheers!

WLG Freewave RND 3 - 6.11.10

Before the weekend round 3 of the freewave was stated as being freestyle dedicated and judged (as we already had 2 wave events).

Funny enough Friday night saw a massive Southerly front pass and Saturday still had nuking winds (3.7-4.0) and a southerly swell rolling in of 3-4m on the exposed coasts.
It was too windy at the normal freestyle spot "the ditch" so only place to hold the event was at Lyall Bay, in the waves. Swell was smaller on the low tide in the morning so some good action went down for the brave (I think this last round saw the least number of entries this season).

Here is some of the action of the day caught by Anton: ---> picasa web albums

Be a Vandal and join the Riot !!!

Yep, Hans is using Vandal sails now. It's been ages since I (Hans) bought a new sail but I have something to be stocked about again. I tried the Vandal "Riot" 3 times and then had to get one!

The sail is super smooth, soft, stable and the wind range is impressive. Still gives me all the power and drive I need (without the backhand pull). The construction is bomb-proof and specs are "new school" super short mast (up to a 4.8 rigs on a 370; so less kit) and longer boom.

Super stocked and this new sail had made sailing fun again!
Click on the links at the top of this page if you want more info on Vandal Sails or just ask me on the beach ;) .



Vandal sails 2011 V-manual ----> click here

TWC 2010

Taranaki Wave Classic 2010 - No wind for the event this year. Good weekend away... sun, surfing, BBQ and beers on the beach for 3 days. This vid by Jase sums it all up quite nicely: Youtube link

Wellington Freewave Round 2 - OCT 9, 2010

WWA event report : HERE
Again some epic conditions, right infront of the judges!
A few photos here by Anton (aka the 'Russian'): here

Wellington Freewave Round 1 - 18th SEP 2010

Held at Plimmerton beach on the weekend that a storm the size of Australia crossed the country. Awesome action and nuking winds!
Thruster Project Team was out due to sickness and a perforated ear drum(!) but we still turned up to judge the event.
WWA event report link here.
Photos of the event: Thruster project (see photos on the right of this blog), Sportshotz, Marvel Media, Markg. Good effort guys!
Round 2 OCT 9,10, stay tuned!

SHARK FIN

New design US box fin shaped by Nico (TP team), see photo. Nice and short and looks like a shark fin (hence the name). Our thruster board design has evolved again: it now has 3 equal fins... side fin "cant" and "tow"... super strong side fins with 10+ layers of fiberglass and the rear shark fin.

THRUSTER PROJECT TEAM IN ACTION

Snaps of the TP team (Nico and Hans) in action. We will just add new photos as they come available. Just a pushloop sequence for now in 40+ knots, CLICK HERE

When the team is not behind the lens, or working on boards, this is what our other talents are ;) Photographer credit as stated in individual photo descriptions. Thanks for the photo efforts!

Local Wellington photographers are Craig Olsen (www.sportshotz.co.nz),
and William (www.marvelmedia.co.nz)

Maui photo shoots, Quad vs. Thruster's this season...

Well it's that time of year in maui and they just had some wellington conditions with nuking 3.7 and winds, and massive surf.

Main think I noticed (from the photos) was that we may see the quad vs. thruster in the new season waveboards this year (why does no one listen to me!)... hmmmm...

See photos: Look for KP and Victor running quads much like twins (with 2 rear large fins, and two smaller sides; and note that this is different to what starboard originally showed us). And look for Mark Angulos sick move, and sick little thuster; as well as a thuster that we may see from Naish this season?!...

See some of the photos and vid of the pro's going big, HERE.

SICK NEW FINS!!!

The strongest I can find... 14 layers of glass when they make them and super nice!!! As strong as any windsurf fin for sure!

twc09 vid coming soon...

twc09 coming soon from Thruster Project Team on Vimeo.

UPDATE 3.1.10 - Reinforcing...

* TWC 09 video coming soon...
* New thruster project approved US/FCS box (see picture)
* New backgrounds up today
* The fin testing continues on the surfboard (see pic)
* TIPS: "things we have learnt" (below)
* Repairs on my quad still going (after I snapped it in half!)
* Reinforcement of the fin plugs on my JP thruster... using my hawaii style proto board in the meantime with the sick custom Thruster Project graphics (see pic)

We had a rare side-shore wind the other day at Plimmy, waves were average but heaps of steep ramps (and perfect jumping direction)... after a few sweet pushies decided that I must start to learn the backloop aswell! I blew a fin plug after a few attempts cos I wasn't sheeting in enough or the ramp wasn't steep enough (to kill all the power) so I was powering up on the last bit of the rotation, and the fin took all the impact.
I didn't use any fiberglass cloth with the plug install (thinking it would be plenty strong).

On the note of the thruster, it's friken awesome!!! Don't know why many more manufactures don't do it?! It just works so sweet!!! Look at surfing!
3x 11-12cm fins is plenty for a windsurfer!

As the FCS fins go, I have been trying the super nice looking AM-2 with the lightweight Performance core construction and inside foil technology. Super nice fins but they just can't take the abuse I give them, and cracks have shown around the base. I am going to save up and get the strongest (I can think of) fins by FCS in the full layered fiberglass construction.

After plenty of RnD, here are some fin TIPS to get ya started with your own project: (we have it pretty much figured out now)
- 3 EQUAL sized (thruster) asymmetrical fins (or 4) work better than a single or twin!!! (with a wave bias)
- Go quad if you need more grip, control, speed, big wave (and I'm not saying a thruster can't do all that either... just a different feel).
- FCS fins are best: easy to install and a huge selection (and easy to get hold of). Best are Glass flex (cheaper to replace) or save up and get the strongest full layered fiberglass sick looking ones (PG-7 or 5)
- use fiberglass cloth with plug install (for a super strong box) or use new FCS figure-8 plug if available
- make your own US box if you want a super strong centre fin (the long-board adapter just looks like it wont 'cut it' if you are likely to encounter rocks or shallow sand).
- Just go ahead and get started!!!

And... if you think that is too much work... we can make one for you!

More FREEWAVE - RND 2 Action 21-11-09

Misty day with wind up and down, and steep ramps. We were able to hold a few rounds but the wind deserted us for the finals. The Thruster Project Team boys gave it a crack (look out for the bright yellow/green, and blue Naish sails, JP boards, and bright pink Thruster project logos). Photos of the event from William and Craig (click on name).

More Lyall Bay Epicness (photos+vid)

More lucky conditions... Lyall Bay Cross-off with a ground swell. Video and a few PHOTOS:

Epic Lyall (14th) from Thruster Project Team on Vimeo.

Pungas TWC Warm up photos 23-10-09

Latest photos we took:
Pungarehu, NZ. Some sick action from the friday before the TWC event. Some of the best waveriding conditions in the world! [Photos part1] (photos part 2)

TARANAKI WAVE CLASSIC

Is this weekend!!! The site is here for all the info, and stay posted for digital media and links from the event.