Diony & his crew at Funeral Point

After many years of traveling the world Diony has been working a number of plans recently to rediscover the magic that can be found a little closer to home. Isn't funny how we rush around and around but sometimes miss the gems that lie in front of us!

Funeral Point - what a beautiful location... 

Diony enjoying a few waves on his FireLight & his Pro Model DG wave board

Deivis (right) & Reinaldo (left)

 6am 1st session

"The new season is just starting here in the Southern Caribbean so everyone is quite desperate for some swell, Margarita is just above the equator and enjoys good climate year around but good swells here are not easy to get since we have all the islands blocking us north and east from us, so you got to be on top of the forecast!

We headed north west to this spot called Funeral Point, (discovered by my friend Carlos Vasquez and a friend of his called El Megatronico) the name doesn’t sound very attractive but I can assure you that it was the contrary, super peaceful and completely isolated in the cactus field of the dessert! We did not even have telephone signal incase of an emergency! It felt great to totally disconnect with the world, we arrived at dawn before the sun came out with a few good friends, Deivis Paternina (Pro Freestyler), Edwing Fernandez (Free Surfer) and Reinaldo Aparicio (Kite Surfer and Free Surfer) I was the first one to get into the water, the surf was epic, long perfect peeling glassy left and rights!

 Edwing Kelly 

Diony back side

Diony (right ) & his crew

The wind started to fill in early at 9am since it was a bit stormy so I jumped on my new AHD Sea Lion Pro SUP to get a fewwaves before it got too windy! At 10am I was already on the water wave sailing with Deivis, it was his first time on the waves here, he had a funny style but it was great to see one of the El Yaque boys wanting to learn how to wave ride, it was a little side on with occasional gust to do a couple jumps and to hit a few lips! 

Diony on his Sea Lion Pro

Reinaldo 

Diony backing

DG foam climb

I’m really looking forward going to Los Roques very soon! Just waiting on the catamaran that will be taking us there! Conditions are looking great for the next days, Los Roques probably going to be mast High or more, hope to get some conditions here on Margarita also!" Diony Guadagnino V69


Photos: Diony, Deivis & Reinaldo

More to follow very soon!

DG Bequia video

Here is a short video I did of my last trip to Bequia Island St Vincent and the Grenadines where I grew up.



Diony Guadagnino Bequia from Diony Guadagnino on Vimeo.


Enjoy!
DG

DG WAVE PRO MODEL

Playa Parguito

This is truly a dream come true for me and I have no words to describe just how pleased I am to have this opportunity to introduce my new line of wave boards DG Pro Model together with AHD International!

Below you will find complete details with board specs, photos and some additional information how this project began together with AHD by Tridenn!

AHD: We are therefore only too happy to launch the very first « Pro Model » to his name in his “long” career, one that is a true testimony of our gratefulness for his involvement and his commitment to our small brand.

Before joining AHD, Diony has closely worked with outstanding shapers such as Richard Greene and later Mark Nelson.

Along the years he developed his own sailing style and triggered a typical shapes.

In full logic he has wished to pursue further development of his rationale with our own Pascal Gerber and Bruno André, bringing a new spirit and focus to AHD « wave » line.

What, first and foremost, attracted us to Diony’s philosophy was the fact that he always and successfully used the same boards, whatever the wave and weather conditions and on any spot: from Jaws to Gran Canaria or Ho’okipa, side-off or side-on, in strong or lighter winds.

From the first prototypes Pascal made, we were struck by the difference and … performance of the new boards.

With a “twingle” fin configuration (close to each other twin-fins which combine the grip of a single fin with the maneuverability of multi fins) the DGWave boards are fast, precise and maneuverable!

Their inherent « drive » is complemented by an exceptional ability for curves. Very stable on the rail they allow more precise and more powerful curves. Those shapes provide a feeling of absolute safety in curves, whatever the wave size.

When sailing out, or in on-shore winds, the “twingle” configuration provides the grip of a single fin, ensuring a fast speed at any wind-angle, boosted as it is, in the aft two thirds of the bottom, by a double concave morphing in a deep single one.

The veed forward section provides added control and helps lifting the forward part of the rail so that no curve is baulked at.

On a compact outline, all these parameters result in a very pure wave-machine.

True to the concept of an exact pro-model in production they carry the very graphics Diony drew by himself on his older prototypes with a « Posca » paint-marker, inspired that he was by the latest trends in Surf.

“The DG Wave for me is pure freedom, when my feet are locked in everything feels so close to perfection! My first step on the board I couldn’t believe how easy and responsive it was to my body movements! It’s the first time ever going from my favorite custom board to a production and not wanting to go back on my custom! Love it!” Diony Guadagnino

http://www.ahd-boards.com
http://www.facebook.com/DGV69 

Shape specificities:

-Compact outline

-Curved scoop

-Bottom: vee forward, followed by double concaves then a single concave aft.

-Round Pin Tail

-Shape: Pascal Gerber / Diony Guadagnino / Bruno Andre

Model	DGwave 83	DGwave 93
Length	227 cm	230 cm
Width	57,2 cm	60,6 cm
One Foot Off	35 cm	37,4 cm
Volume	83 L	93 L
Weight	6,3 kg	6,7 kg
Technology	Sandwich Epoxy	Sandwich Epoxy
Fins	Twingle 14.5cm (Select Prowave Evo)	Twingle 15.5cm (Select Prowave Evo)
Sails	3.5 – 5.8	4.2 – 6.2

Diony's Bequia Story Part #1

Diony recently returned to Bequia Island, a place that he calls in many ways his real home, here is there first part of his account of his trip.

"My family moved to Bequia Island when I was 7 months old, straight from the concrete jungle of LA in the 80's to a tiny West Indy Island lost in the Grenadines that was awaiting for us!

I was the youngest out of us 3 brothers, Amancio my older brother with seven years of age and Colette two & a half! So I was the lucky one to have discovered the paradise as I started life! I wouldn’t have asked for a better way to grow up! Gratefully having it all! Not a materialistic life! No Nintendo! But the ocean! When I say all I mean the real richness of life! An Island we never have thought the existence, loving people, true Grenadine culture and Beauty that can only be experiences physically there!

After so many years doing my thing I finally returned from where my roots truly came from! 21 years it has been since I last stepped on Bequia Island!

Everything was the same except in 21 years we do change! Some people couldn’t recognize me so it was funny! But probably 60% did! My best friends King King and Robin surely did, it was cool to see them after so long! They even knew how to windsurf, which I had no idea! So we all sheared my gear!
Bequia surprised me with its wave conditions! 

Awesome port tack with super fun size surf and good trade winds everyday! I realized we had it all with great wind and reef break right in front of Friendship Bay Hotel my parents use to own! Back then all I wanted to do was spearfish, grab lobsters and make coconut sailboats! Ouuu and once in a while grab on to my dads windsurf while he dragged me and Colette to almost Petit Nevis Island for a cruise!" Diony V69

Story to be continued...

All in a Day's Works for Diony in Margarita

Diony reports from his travels around Margarita...

"It was a calm day, with an unusual South West wind heat and humidity blowing through the channel of Coche and Margarita!


Every thing seemed so calm and weird! I told my friend to do something since it was there day off, it turned out to be an amazing day discovering some beautiful scenic locations around the Island!

We stopped by Playa Guacuco first to get a dip and to slash up a few small waves paddle boarding! Then went to Playa Parguito for some light wind wave cruising! Then an awesome late afternoon coast run at this secret spot we found!

There are so many things to do even if it's not windy, the bonus is that all this is close to home and no need for planes and airports!" Diony V69

More to follow...

Diony scores in France

France trip was super fun, productive and awesome conditions for the month of September! I went to do some work with my sponsors! We had an awesome weekend with the AHD Sea Lion event with over 66 competitors! Cool to see it growing every year! Its a good concept to get every one on the water despite wind or wave conditions! Waves were about head high during the event good for everyone! But we also had a couple of days wave sailing and surfing before the event with solid 18 Foot waves!

I was happy to get 1st place in the waves category! Cool that Jeff Henderson (President Hot Sails Maui) made it over from Hawaii! was awesome he won the overall!

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to launch my signature model DG Wave together with AHD Boards!

Brittany is definitely on my list of favourite venues in France! Friendly people! Every one seemed very natural and healthy! I couldn't believe how we did not miss  one day of action 15 days straight! That was unbelievable!!

Thanks to Bruno Andre and Fabienne d'Ortoli for everything and their amazing hospitality!

DG

Photos: Loic Olivier

France Cap Sizun!!

Just arrived a couple days ago in France, Bretagne, Cap Sizun to get together with AHD and the HOT SAILS MAUI team to do a bit of fun work I would call it here at the Brittany coast! probably some of the best uncrouded beach and point breaks around this erea! Jeff Henderson will be joining us shortly to shear some positve vibes on the water coming from Hawaii! Bruno Andre and Fabi have always been so wonderful letting me stay at there house! GRACIAS FAMILIA! looking forward to have some good times on the water with everyone and hope to see some new young blood show up!

Swell looks good for the coming days with a slight off shore breeze!! stay tuned for more updates soon! Keep on shredding and thanks for the support everyone! DG V69

Diony Reports From PWA Aruba

Competing in his first PWA event of the season in Aruba, Diony the seasoned Hot Sails Maui professional sent us this brief report from the beautiful shores of Aruba

"It's been about 16 years since they had a PWA Slalom event here in Aruba, the first time I was here was in 1999 I won the junior's Slalom, last year 2010 was my second time winning the Aruba Hi Winds Slalom Pro, today was the third day of the PWA Slalom, the level is super high, today was my best day so far placing 6th in a Loser Final, tomorrow is another day, hope to do better!

This 29th of June they will start the traditional Aruba Hi Winds again, I'm sure it's gonna be a blast!"

Diony is currently lying in 25th spot after 7 rounds of slalom with one more day to go, tune into the PWA Webiste to watch the action on the LIVE ticker.

All pics courtesy of Carter/PWA

More to follow...

Margarita Wild Winds Report by: Wilhelm Schurmann

Riccione to Margarita…by Wilhelm Schurmann

After the formula Grand Prix in Riccione, I drove up to Milan together with my fellow countryman, Gabriel Browne, Mathias Pinheiro and Aldo Maya (Bebeko) to board my flight to Brazil which would connect through JFK in New York.

As I arrived in JFK, I bumped into Micah Buzianis who was heading back to Maui, returning from the event in Costa Brava. He told me all about the nuclear wind conditions they had in Costa Brava and I told him about the Riccione GP racing where we had very light winds and raced in minimal conditions.

Windsurfing is amazing, we were racing on what was the same day on 12.0s with winds around the 6 to 8 knots range, super light and tactical, while a bit further away they were racing on the smallest size they had, with winds gusting over 45 knots. In both these events, Neilpryde took top spot, showing that the sails are working well from 6 – 45 knots.

From JFK I went to Sao Paulo and arrived there the next morning, a friend came to the airport and picked up my formula gear, as 4 hours later, I was due to board to Venezuela.

My flight got delayed and by the time I arrived in Caracas I missed my connection to Margarita, with this I had to sleep in Caracas and wait for the next morning’s flight. I eventually boarded to Margarita with “also” a 2 hour delay, by the time I arrived in Margarita, it was around 11am (62 hours after I left Riccione).

With no time to loose, I rigged my slalom gear that friends had brought from Brazil for me and hit the water for the start of the event the same day…


MARGARITA WILD WINDS 2011
El Yake (El Yaque) needs no introduction, blessed with trade winds and warm waters; the spot is one of the best in the world for Slalom and Freestyle. It is also so convenient with the hotels and windsurfing club just a few meters from the beach, not to mention the warmth of the local hospitality.

The event went on for 5 days (8th -12th June) and during the first two days the winds were lighter and most sailors were on 8.6 sails and big boards. However the winds picked up on the last three days and sail sizes went between 8.6 and 7.8 well powered up.
We did a total of 7 long distance races and 10 slalom finals.


In the long distance races, I managed to keep consistent with 3 bullets and 4 seconds, thus winning the Long Distance which counted for 20 % of the overall.  Second Place went to Diony Guadagnino followed by Juan Marino in third. Sergio Mehl, who has won the event more times than any other sailor, took 3 bullets on the long distance, but unfortunately severe blisters on his foot prevented him from competing on the two last days.
In the slalom, which counted for 80% of the overall, Diony and I had a good battle right to the last and deciding race. At the last race, we were so close on the second leg, that Diony's board was touching my harness, I could have sat on his board. By the third jibe, I got overpowered on a jibe and went to0 wide, Diony seized the opportunity and went inside to take the lead and win the last race, with this taking the slalom title by 0.25 points ahead of me, what a race.

Third Place went to Ricardo Campello, who is no stranger to the Wild Winds and showed that he can be very competitive on slalom gear and not only wave and freestyle. In fourth was Colombia’s top sailor, Jean Paul Liht, followed by Juan Marino in Fifth.

The Margarita Wild Winds has many different categories, such as Master, Amateur, Kite slalom and Freestyle, Pro, Junior, Grand Master, Women, kids and super kids, the last one being one of the most amazing, as you see the very young generation ripping out there as young as 5 to 6 years old.



A special thanks to Victor Martin for making the event happen, all the people from EL Yake and for the Photos provided by: Alain Galarneau.
For all Photos go to Alans face book page at:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.129448153802242.34130.100002111757973&l=63c7cfec20 Photos: Attached Photo Credit: Alain Galarneau