Christof Kirschner reports from the YOUNG GUNS CAMP 2014 in Prasonisi:

Day 1

30 knots is an all inclusive with the Young Guns Camp it seems. The 8th edition of the famous Freestyle Camp in Prasonisi on the Greek island of Rhodos started off with blasting 30 knots putting big smiles on the faces of 30 registered Young Guns from 9 nations. The one goal: improving new moves and having fun out on the warm Greek waters.

To achieve this goal Christof Kirschner, owner of the JP/Neil Pryde Pro Center and organizer of the Young Guns Camp hired four professional coaches:• Tilo Eber, German freestlye pro and freestyle teacher,• Frank Lewisch, the famous surf magazine tester from Austria,• Marius Gugg, surf magazine tester and windsurf teacher from Sylt and• Steve Chismar, editor in chief of the SUP mag, ex-surf editor and tester and windsurf teacher from the USA.

The two windsurf stars Steven Van Broeckhoven from Belgium and Youp Schmit from Bonaire are on their way from the world cup in Fuerteventura only to miss out on an outstanding windsurfing day in Prasonisi:

The upcoming pros were nailing big moves. Lucas Nebelung (13) from Germany broke his boom trying a Scopu (a switch Cono upwind 360). The winner of last years’ Young Guns Camp Niclas Nebelung has improved his freestyle repertoire. His coach Tilo acknowledges: „He is not only showing new moves, but jumping them at least half a meter higher than last year“. Coach Tilo was also stoked to nail his first Flaka into Shaka showing it to his students. Nice job Tilo! It will be interesting to see, what these youngsters are capable of doing next, since the wind forecast is looking magnificent.

Day 2

While Steven van Broeckhoven was still on his way from the World Cup in Fuerteventura to Rhodes Island, the Young Guns of Prasonisi had to battle the wind of their lives: The entire bay was fuming and most of the windsurfers out there were indeed wearing lime Young Gun lycras: The survival of the fittest. Yes, even the roaring 40ies couldn’t keep the youngsters from practicing new moves and smiling from ear to ear. While the coaches were using 4.0 sails, the youngsters were equipped with 3.0s and 4.0s. On the flat water side the air jibe and spock mania was up while the two advanced groups with Marius and Tilo decided to rip logo high waves on the windward side. The Austrian Felix Kurzmann was the only one to break a mast. His Dad, who is also spending his vacation here, just told the coach leisurely: „Felix didn’t break anything for four years, I can live with that loss!“After lunch the wind kicked-in even harder. After two hours most of the kids needed a life saving ice tea break at the Cantina, a little mobile bar on the beach. This was probably the very first time that the Camp had such extreme conditions.It didn’t take long for the energetic bunch though to gulp down their drinks, devour their burgers, tape the blistered fingers, wrap the bleeding shin bones and strap on their harness to venture back out into the howling 40ies, all eager to pull-off new moves again and again and again…

Day 3

The wind god Poseidon had some compassion for the Young Guns today: The roaring 40ies turned the throttle down to the whistling 20ies – a welcome treat for the aching muscles, burning blisters and throbbing rashes. The urge to go out on the waters of Prasonisi ceased and was replaced by thorough Flaka and Spock simulations on the beach by world champ Steven van Broekhoven, who finally arrived on the Island. And it was him who then flew higher than any other light weight on the water, proving again: he is from another planet ignoring the laws of gravity: With his brand new 5.1 Neil Pryde sail and his 2015 JP freestyle board he was able to pump effortlessly onto a plain and to pull-off an incredible show of Flaka-Shakas and Airfunnel into Burners. The super star proved to be a great trainer and motivator at the same time luring the playful bunch into the liquid blue. With the World Champ as their personal coach, every Young Gun forgot the pain of yesterday. Ole for example just learned the Power- and Duck-Jibe the days before taking an example of van Broekenhoven: He almost nailed his first Air-Jibe and intuitively figured out how to initiate a Willy Skipper. After his surprise landing, he asked Steve Chismar quite thrilled: „What was that?“ „Oh, just a Willy Skipper. It took me two years to nail one of those,“ the surprised coach answered.The second freestyle star Youp Schmid had to cancel his trip to Prasonisi due to an ongoing knee injury. Poseidon didn’t give the kids time to regret his absence: At the end of the day the furious wind God unleashed hell. Only the fittest stroke back and as last year the Nebelung-Brothers from Germany couldn’t get enough of the strong winds. They sacrificed their dinner for the divine breath and if it hadn’t been for the sunset, Nebelung and Nebelung would still be out there..

Day 4

Not a cloud in the sky, warm, turquoise waters and steady moderate wind: enough to blast with slalom equipment. Most windsurf destinations around the world would consider that paradise conditions. Prasonisi is spoiled though with strong Meltemi wind. The Young Guns were keen to practice light wind moves. Tilo Eber admitted: “Some of my students are better at that than I am.” In the afternoon the coaches split the bunch into three: A stand-up and surfing group on the wave side with SUP specialist Steve Chismar, a slalom race group with surf test guru Franky Lewisch and the rest was captivated by the freestyle simulations and explanations of Steve van Broeckhoven. The German freestyle pro Tilo was surprised how reflected and well the Belgium World Champ explained the hardest moves to the kids.The fourth day was topped-off with a go-cart race on the east coast of Rhodos. Again, it was Steve who was fighting for the top rank position on a cart to be beat only by last years’ Young Guns freestyle winner Niklas Nebelung.

Day 5

The Young Guns Camp in Prasonisi seemed not to know the word ‘rest’, unlike the wind switching from full blast to a soothing ocean breeze. To nurture the waterman in each of the kids, the coaches organized a three team triathlon rally (windsurfing, stand-up paddling and swimming ), with swimming being the biggest challenge of all. After a tough water battle and a well deserved lunch, a game of beach baseball followed in the afternoon and afterwards a light wind session on the water. 30 sails were rotating and flapping like beautiful butterflies on a big field of flowers. Panos from the Peleponnes, Greece seemed to have all his sail moves wired. He just couldn’t stop flipping his sail over and over again. Sail control in light winds is in fact he best training for all the top level freestyle moves. The magic on the water didn’t stop until the planing wind kicked-in again before sunset, giving much hope for next day’s freestyle competition.

Day 6

Competition day at the Young Guns Camp. If you think this was only a fun competition, then you’re right and you’re wrong. You’re right because the main focus was to have fun on the water even if the kids had to perform in a heat. You’re wrong when you think it was only fun. Felix Kurzmann from Austria came running to the head judge and made sure the judges on the tower saw his Air Jibe. Or little Jan Gradwohl was so enthusiastic after sailing away from a Helicoper-Tack during his heat. No, the kids were dead serious and even the girls wanted to give their best. Poor Metaxia Papadaki couldn’t close her boom front during the heat and burst in tears even though she had no chance against the German top contender Shania Raphael.In the afternoon the action was on: The final heat for the Young Guns under 14 years was held in 20 knots of wind. 11 year old Jan Malej from Slovenia had no chance against the incredible Lucas Nebelung from Germany, who nailed some nice switch moves. Lucas won a Neil Pryde sail of his choice.It was time for his older brother Niclas Nibelung, who won the Young Guns Competition last year, to wrap it all up and celebrate a double victory for the Nibelung clan. His sailing skills were close to professional and even though the rest of the Young Guns gang like Panos from Greece, Thomas from Belgium or the German Lukas Shill from the Pro Center Shill on Karpathos were outstanding freestylers, no one had a realistic chance to overcome the German teenager. Lukas had a tough and close battle with Panos Germanakos in the semifinal. Both pulled-off nice Flakas, Spocks, Airjibes and Speed Loops. It was Shill who took the lead and earned his way into the final.The final heat was a freestyle celebration: One handed Flakas, Shakas, switch moves and loops. Niclas sailed 10 minutes without falling into the water and deserved his second Young Guns victory at the age of 16. Nebelung will be a name to be remembered in the future of freestyle. The main prize, a JP Windsurfing board of choice didn’t go to the winner of the competition though. Since Niklas won a board the year before, the coaches decided to have a lottery. That way every one had the chance to win the board and it was lucky Evelina Papioannou from Athens who took the prize with surprise. Niclas took the decision with great sportsmanship and was happy with his sail.

Day 7

D-day in Prasonisi: Again the roaring 40ies kicked-in at the Pro Center C. Kirschner. Wind, wind, wind during the last day of the Young Gun Camp. Sail check, board check, nervous beach check. Were the sails small enough? The coaches were all on their 4.0’s and 4.5’s. Steven van Broeckhoven decided to test his 4.7 prototype. The action was on in the freestyle corner: blasting wind, flat water and a freestyle celebration from young to older. The winner of the competition, Niclas Nebelung, nailed dry Kabikuchies, a move that separates the talented from the pro. Even Tilo Eber pulled-off a new move in perfect conditions: a double Burner. After a few hours the kids were starting to lick their wounds and sore muscles. Top athlete van Broeckhoven didn’t stop and for the first time in his sailing carrier he sailed away from a one-handed Funnel into no-hand Burner. The kids were ecstatic. On the beach he admitted: In this wind this place is the best free styling spot in the world.In the afternoon the waves were pumping on the windward side. Most Young Guns, the coaches and of course Steve van Broeckhoven took advantage of the conditions. Steven showed off his talent and flew and rotated through the salty air of Prasonisi executing perfect air Kabikuchies, back loops and Shakas. Even a wave world champion would have had a hard time beating this guy in world class onshore conditions. As always the Young Gun Camp experienced a windy and happy end.

See you next year again.