Monthly Archives: March 2011

CHILE : LAST DAY IN MATANZAS AND COMEBACK TO SANTIAGO

Thank you Matanzas!!!!

Every good moments comes to an end… This third and last day has just confirmed what we were thinking about the spot, awesome! Even if the swell has gone down a bit compared to yesterday, wind is still really consistent. 30 knots this time, you have to go and get the waves much closer to the rocks and of course, there, wind is a bit more gusty… Not so easy but everybody finds nice waves to enjoy, and we rode one more time till we are dead! Just the time to take a shower, to pack all the gear and it’s already the time to hit the road. Guided that time by Michel (owner of Nautisport, surfshop in Santiago), local french rider who came to Matanzas to windsurf, road is a lot quicker and it took us only 2h30 to arrive and to reach our headquarters, the great Hyatt Hotel Santiago. We are welcome by Yvan, Chief Executive of the hotel, french kitesurfer, who really took care of us (thank you for the chocolates!!!) and with who we share the pics taken during the trip. A new expedition will be organized for sure!!!

Benoît riding backside again!

Little nice aerial!

"escape" roller before the closeout!

Sunset roller for Xavier

We are flying back this afternoon, going first to Paris then to Marseille, and i will be probably at home Friday afternoon. A HUGE thank to all the people who made this trip possible and so cool, firstly Xavier of course but also Laura who spent hours on the beach taking pictures, Benoît, Michel and Yvan! We do a new one in Matanzas whenever you want my friends!!!

31 March 2011, 16h01 -
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CHILE : MATANZAS, A GREAT DAY AGAIN!

Our Hotel, the Surazo, directly on the beach in the middle of trees...

This time, no need to spend all the day inside the car, looking after the perfect spot, it’s just where we are right now, Matanzas! Waking up with the fog all over the bay, the most motivated guys go for a surf session but i decide to stay at the lounge to work a bit on the website and to give you some news…

The wind is picking up just after lunch, quickly reaching 20 knots and the swell is still there. Some nice sets coming, wind is a bit gusty but still ok, but the waves orientation is just perfect, lightly side-off and we don’t left the spot all the afternoon, right in front of the house! Pure happiness to be just on our own, and just a lost windsurfer is sharing the waves with us!

Xavier, Bandit Dos 9m, facing Matanzas Hill

We ride till we are dead, taking an innumerable number of waves…

Today, wind is forecasted a lot stronger, and i will probably ride my Bandit 4 6m, still my lovely 5’10 Bamboo under my feet, hope the swell will still be with us to end perfectly this trip. Yes, it’s already the time to hit the road again, going back to Santiago in our headquarters, to fly back on thursday afternoon.

Stay connected ;) !!!!!

Benoît, Legend 2 under his feet, riding easy backside

La Roca del Lobos, the "Wolf Rock"

Roller facing the Roca del Lobos

Floater in Matanzas

Tube attempt ;)

30 March 2011, 14h17 -
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LAUNCHING OF RIDESESSIONS.COM, ACTION SPORTS INTERNET PORTAL BY ORANGE

RideSessions : Le portail Sports de Glisse par Orange

I have the chance to enter in last december the “Team Orange”, a team of sports men and women specialized in action sports!!! Big french names already in “Da Team” : Lee-Ann Curren (surf), Jeremy Flores (surf), Mathieu Crepel (snowboard), Kevin Rolland (ski freestyle) or Xavier Bertoni (ski half pipe). We are all grouped inside the same internet portal, the brand new website RideSessions.com. News from all the riders, competition for Orange clients, take some time to have a look at it, it’s a great one!!!!

30 March 2011, 11h58 -
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CHILE : FLIGHT, SANTIAGO AND DISCOVERING OF MATANZAS

Survol des Andes

Hier matin, arrivée à Santiago du Chili après 14 heures de vol, passées comme un éclair grâce au confortable siège business du Boeing 777-200 de chez Air France. Un vol qui restera bien gravé dans ma mémoire, avec notamment un passage au dessus des Andes, une arrivée sur Santiago, calée entre les montagnes et un atterrissage aux première loges. Merci Xavier!
Le temps de passer prendre un petit déj et une douche au Hyatt Santiago, récupération du 4×4, chargement du matos et nous voilà parti, direction la côte ouest et le spot de Matanzas.
Après presque 3h30 de route (et quelques détours involontaires…), on touche le Graal et le spot déjà mythique. Un hôtel posé sur la plage, le SURAZO et son architecture magnifique, bois et grandes baies vitrées qui donnent directement sur le spot nous ouvre ses portes et nous jetons en 5 minutes les valises dans les chambres.

Hotel Surazo, Matanzas

Un passage par la plage pour rejoindre la “Pierre carrée”, montage des boards, gonflage des ailes, et c’est parti!
Deux heures de ride au milieu des phoques et des pélicans, un bon 20 noeuds et de bien jolies vagues (2m dans les séries) finissent de nous achever pour la journée… Et oui, on commence à ressentir un peu la fatigue des heures de voyage! Mais c’est vraiment extra de se dire que la veille, on était à plus de 10 000 km de là!!!
Une belle journée s’annonce encore aujourd’hui, stay tuned donc!!!!!

29 March 2011, 16h25 -
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EXPRESS TRIP TO CHILE, LEAVING NOW!!!!

Drapeau du Chili

When my friend Xavier, professional pilot, asked me if i was interested by an express trip to Chile, it didn’t took me long to say a big YES of course!!! It will be my first time in this country, i heard a lot about the great conditions we can get there and of course i’m really amped! But you have to “deserve” this country as it’s a 14 hours flight, plus 2 hours driving to the spots, on the west coast. We are boarding in 2 hours, just the time to let you know what i will do in the next days. My favourite photographer won’t be there this time, but i hope i will be able to bring you some footage as i took my Go Pro with me ;) . See you “on the other side”!!!

27 March 2011, 19h40 -
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ZENITH INVITATION AT BASELWORLD 2011

Baselworld 2011 : The World Watch and Jewelry Show

I had the pleasure this week to be invited to the 2011 Baselworld, the World Watch and Jewelry Show, which is organized every year in Basel, Switzerland. To celebrate the opening of the show, Zenith was holding a cocktail in their booth, the perfect occasion to introduce to the press and clients the novelties for 2011 and also their ambassadors! Great time spent with Jean Louis Etienne (french explorer), Felix Baumgartner (trying to break the sound of wall free falling!), Johan Ernst Nilson (swedish environnemental explorer) and Alain Thebault (Hydroptere skipper).

A huge thanks to all Zenith team to set up such a great booth and to organize this cool party!

25 March 2011, 16h03 -
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FRANCE 2 : “VIVEMENT DIMANCHE” DEDICATED TO FRENCH ACTOR JOSE GARCIA


José Garcia dans Vivement Dimanche sur France 2


20 March 2011, 17h38 -
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EXCLU : VIDEO PROFILE BY BAND ORIGINALE

AC21 Rider Profile from Alexandre Caizergues on Vimeo.

Here is my new profile video, enjoy!!! It’s a compilation of all images i got from 2010, shot and produced by the Band Originale crew, in Port Saint Louis (home spot), Namibia, Cabo Verde, Dominican Republic and Mauritius. Thanks a lot to all the people who made it possible!

14 March 2011, 12h26 -
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NATIONAL DAY FOR PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF SKIN CANCERS THE 19TH OF MAY 2011

National Day for Prevention & Detection of Skin Cancers the 19th of May 2011

For the second year in a row, i will be the ambassador for the “National Day of Prevention and Detection of Skin Cancers” organized by Dermatologists Syndicate and supported by the National Cancer Institute. Save the date : 19th of May 2011!

More informations to come but from now here is the poster of the event. A facebook page and an iphone app “Soleil Risk” will be online soon, but i will talk about that next time.

Since then, think about protecting your skin, even during winter!!!!

10 March 2011, 10h52 -
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DAKHLA FESTIVAL (MOROCCO) – WAVES VIDEO

Here is a video of our first day in Dakhla, conditions were there, a very high level in surf shortboard and longbaord, SUP, kite and windsurf… but although an incredible atmosphere in the water!!!

3 March 2011, 7h42 -
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DAKHLA FESTIVAL (MOROCCO) – WHAT HAPPENED NEXT AND END

Full speed in Dakhla Lagoon - Photo by Jean Souville

After the first days in the waves (and what a wave!!!) in Oum Labouir, the place where we were sleeping, it’s time for the long distance competition. The organisation chose a 40 km downwind course, perfect to go fast!

Equipped with my special long distance board and a Bandit 4 12m kite, i took a really good start but after the first buoy, a 12km tack not enough downwind killed my speed… I finished 4th, behind 4 windsurfers (no, i’m not so bad in maths but the organization redress one of the guy), but with a reduced gap compared to the last years, who makes me think i’m progressing.

The end of the Festival, which was supposed to be a great moment for the local population, has been messed up… I will not explained more because it’s not my role as i’m a simple sport guy, hope you will understand that.

1 March 2011, 9h42 -
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