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Right after winning the Red Bull Storm Chase final mission in Cornwall, Thomas Traversa came to the island of Tenerife to test new sails. We managed to score some good conditions around the island, trying some new spots in El Poris (sailing together with Alex Mussolini) and in the north of the island.
Here is the short video where Thomas speaks about winning the competition, his travels in chase of the big waves, and equipment.
Thomas Traversa was crowned champion of the 2013/2014 Red Bull Storm Chase. The 3rd and final mission wrapped up yesterday in Cornwall, England, where they battled hurricane force winds.
Enjoy the teaser video above as we wait for the official video to be released by Red Bull today.
Red Bull Press release:
Frenchman Thomas Traversa was crowned the champion of the storm surfing universe. Despite weighing just 60 kilos, Traversa won the final leg of the Red Bull Storm Chase in hurricane conditions off the coast of Cornwall in front of Marcilio Browne from Brazil and Leon Jamaer from Germany.
ST. IVES BAY (Great Britain) – When the conditions are so rough that fisherman won’t dare to go out to sea, or when people on shore start to nail their windows and doors shut and schools close down, that’s when “action time” starts for the world’s most fearless storm surfers. With building-high waves and gusts of wind reaching 70 knots (80 mph / 130 km/h), only the best were nominated to participate in the “Red Bull Storm Chase”. During an 18-month holding-period, ten of the world’s best windsurfers waited patiently to catch three of the biggest storms on oceans around the globe to determine who was the very best. After Mission 1 in Ireland (January 2013) and a second mission in Tasmania, Australia (August 2013), Red bull Storm Chase picked the storm-ravaged coast of Cornwall, U.K., for the third and final location for a showdown between the remaining four.
Thomas Traversa of France proved that massive size wasn’t needed to master the elements. Despite weighing just 60 kilos, Traversa’s “fighting weight” was enough to handle the waves and wind better than any of his rivals. He took first place ahead of world champion Marcilio Browne of Brazil and Germany’s Leon Jamaer.
Red Bull Storm Chase, Final Results:
1. Thomas Traversa (France)
2. Marcilio Browne (Brazil)
3. Leon Jamaer (Germany)
4. Dany Bruch (Germany)
About Red Bull Storm Chase: Red Bull Storm Chase is the most-challenging windsurfing contest of all time, with a waiting period that started back in August 2012. By hunting down three massive storms around the globe, ten of the world’s best sailors entered the battle for the crown of ultimate storm windsurfer. With waiting periods spanning the main global storm seasons, ten courageous windsurfers – nominated via public voting – were on standby to hunt down three massive storms, with seven previously nominated destinations featuring as possible competition spots. Four of the original fleet were eliminated during the first mission in Brandon Bay, Ireland, at the end of January 2013. From July 22, 2013, the six remaining windsurfers were on standby for the second mission, held in Tasmania, Australia, last August. Out of these six athletes, four emerged as qualifiers for the third and final mission to crown the victorious Red Bull Storm Chase Champion of 2014. To catch raging conditions, the participants had to be flexible-to-the-max during the holding period with just 48-hours to mobilise on-site before the next storm struck.
Video Copywrite © Red Bull Media House
Team France windsurfing at third event of the the PWA Wave World Tour in Klitmoller, Denmark, aka Cold Hawaii. Featuring Jules Denel, Antoine Martin and Thomas Traversa.
The open day of Mission #2 of the Red Bull Storm Chase saw a full round of competition completed in challenging side-on, starboard tack conditions at ‘Temm’ in the North West of Tasmania. Strong winds reaching 64 knots and large swell up to 25-foot facesmeant it was game on!
Temma
A series of reefs near Temma Harbour offer good side-shore (wind from right) options in North or North West wind directions. The access is good with plenty of grassy areas for the crew infrastructure and athletes to prepare their equipment. Having a harbour and slipways nearby aid the safety backup crew and provide further launching options for competitors in large surf conditions.
The Heats
Competitors were divided into two man heats, with a twenty minute duration. Head Judge Duncan Coombs made the call for competitors to be towed out of the more sheltered bay behind the main foreshore and beyond the wind line in the middle of the bay.
Instead of a knockout format, the scoring system counted each riders best two jumps and wave rides, the total of which will be used to determine the overall winner following each further round.
The Action
The first heat between Leon Jamaer and Marcilio Browne was cancelled as both riders struggled to get into position for set waves or to line-up jumps. Rainbows followed heavy showers and, as the wind built, peaking at 64 knots it was game-on!
At the end of the day Thomas Travers dominated and took the highest score for wave rides and jumps. Head judge Coombs said, “said “Thomas rode the surf in the most critical situations and looked totally in control – it was like he was playing with the storm while others were struggling in comparison”.
Marcilio Browne also impressed with a very hight tweaked push loop and some solid wave scores. Leon Jamaer went for gnarly wave 360s off vertical sections, showing little fear for the insane conditions.
In another heat Dany Bruch ended up on the rocks after getting caught by a massive set. Luckily the only casualty was his sail
A couple of weeks ago Alex Mussolini and Thomas Traversa went to Portugal to enjoy some great conditions and hang out with some talents as well!
The Carro Wave Classic took place last week in Carro, France, a small fishing village in Marseilles, and one of the best wave spots in the Mediterranean. The top 3 men were, Thomas Traversa, Julient Taboulet, and Peter Voultwater respectively. Fanny Aubet took the girls division, and Justin Denel won the youth. The video is in Fench but the action is what it is all about!
Sophia Regerbis of Double4Production produced this awesome clip of Thomas Traversa on his recent road trip to Brittany, where he scored big wind and waves.
Prepare your van, hit the road and go somewhere… then try to have fun, it usually works.. this time we drove to Brittany ( France ) and to be honest it was pretty cold and rainy at times. but the waves… – Sophia Regerbis
We can expect two more clips from them soon as they travel to Portugal and Iceland.
On February 5th Thomas Traversa, Thierry Belbeoc’h, Robin Goffinet and Fred Debuire drove from the South of France to Brittany, and joined a group of hard-core locals at the big wave spot I’lle aux Vache. Wind speeds hit 45 knots and waves up to 8 meters hit the spot, and the video is one to watch!
Mission 1 of The Red Bull Storm chase is done! The These six competitors to move on are: Thomas Traversa, Marcilio Browne, Robby Swift, Julien Taboulet, Victor Fernandez and Dany Bruch. You can read the full report here, but it’s all about the insane action. Check out this Hi-Res gallery from Mission 1 of The Red Bull Storm Chase in Brandon Bay Ireladn
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13 slices of surfing life, with Thomas Traversa, Antony Ruenes and Yarden Meir daydreaming in South of France.
All of the footage was shot over 2011 and 2012 and put together by Sophia Regerbis from double4productions. The whole clip is deffinitley worth a watch and showcases a variety of spots, and awesome windsurfing talent in both Wave and Freestyle disciplines.
Philip Koster, Victor Fernandez, Alex Mussolini, Ricardo Campello, Dany Bruch, Thomas Traversa, Kauli Seadi and many others pulling out crazy moves in Cabezo beach, Tenerife! And some guy telling you “Don`t Give Up“… but anyway enjoy the video, maybe turn the sound off and pump your own music.
The fourth day of the PWA KIA Cold Hawaii World Cup saw the double elimination completed as Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) took on the 2011 and 2012 PWA Wave Champion, Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) in the super final. With the conditions looking marginal throughout the morning the sailors and the crowds had to wait for a few hours before the action began. Shortly before 1pm the wind picked up a touch and after a brief warm-up session to check the conditions head judge, Duncan Coombs, made the call to begin the final. With the light winds and waves, the super final consisted of the best two waves over a duration of twenty-five minutes. This is a film produced during the KIA cold hawaii PWA World Cup in 2012.
This video is pretty fucking entertaining! Here is the blurb from Vimeo, and enjoy,
this video is about windsurfing at your homespots, with your friends… it is about training, or maybe not…? this is actually about what Thomas Traversa, ranked 7th in the port tack waveriding world tour, does when he´s in France: having fun in the friendly mediterranean ( starboard tack ) conditions.
“Training is useless unless you have a purpose ” …
Yesterday we showed you Graham Ezzy’s off the lip and new move called ‘the hangover’. Here is Thomas launching his own Grubby off the lip at the 2010 Reunion Wave Classic. What do you think is it a new move or not??
