Guincho Beach. 29th November. 2016 After checking the forecast again the evening before, I thought it would be good! Took my little hero Milo to creche (the coolest son ever), my lady went to yoga and work… and I went to pick up some surf students from The Salty Pelican Hostel (a very cool new hostel to stay near Cascais with super cool owners!) As soon as we drove over the brow of the hill and saw the waves I knew it was ON!! Got Sebastian on the phone… he was on his way down anyway with a couple of Fanatic Stubby boards for us to test. Sent the surf students out with the instructors for some white water action!… and YES… green light and some nice new toys to test with Seb. And just to put the icing on the cake… I met French Mat, a great photographer just coming out of the water from his surf session… “mate I’m going to take some photos”… so voila!! The tide was coming in, the wind was offshore, and as you can see from the pics there were plenty of nice waves coming through. It was great to have some nice walls infront of me to really get a feel for the board. After a full stomach of waves the tide was almost too high so it was perfect timing! Back up to the surf school and Bar de Guincho for my favourite milky, sugar loaded coffee! Then back to the Salty Pelikan with some very happy surf students who also had a great time learning to surf. Everyone super happy and a win win day for us all! PERFECT!

A big thanks to all my friends who helped make this day and memories possible : Fanatic /Quiksilver/ Sebastian Wenzel/ Mat Pelikan Photography.

Words – Alex Unwin (Moana Surf School)

Photos – Mat Pelikan Photography

Having tested the new Fanatic 8’6″ Stubby in all swell sizes here’s what Alex has to stay about the board…

“The 8’6″ Stubby is super easy to paddle onto the wave with and is really versatile. It turns really well too, especially when you get your back foot right on the back of the tail pad. Acceleration and speed is something we have been working on with the prototypes and with constant testing… and we seem to have nailed it! The acceleration and speed is key to the bottom turn and all the other manoeuvres, and with the stubby 8´6” it all comes together perfectly. The 8’6″ Stubby is stable and user friendly and I am sure will bring back some very positive feedback from riders across the globe.” – Alex Unwin

So… Alex is enjoying the 2017 Fanatic Stubby but what’s the SUPboarder verdict going to be?!! The SUPboarder Team look forward to getting their hands on one soon. Watch this space!

If you’re going to the Lisbon / Cascais area for SUP or Surf and need any tips then be sure to get in touch with Alex at [email protected] or tel: 00351 964449436. He’s the man to know in the area!

  Guincho firing with Alex and the new Fanatic Stubby

Conditions have recently been firing at Guincho, Portugal, and Alex Unwin from Moana Surf School was one of the lucky guys to be able to get out and make the most of the perfect peaks… and even luckier to capture it all on camera!

Guincho Beach. 29th November. 2016 After checking the forecast again the evening before, I thought it would be good! Took my little hero Milo to creche (the coolest son ever), my lady went to yoga and work… and I went to pick up some surf students from The Salty Pelican Hostel (a very cool new hostel to stay near Cascais with super cool owners!) As soon as we drove over the brow of the hill and saw the waves I knew it was ON!! Got Sebastian on the phone… he was on his way down anyway with a couple of Fanatic Stubby boards for us to test. Sent the surf students out with the instructors for some white water action!… and YES… green light and some nice new toys to test with Seb. And just to put the icing on the cake… I met French Mat, a great photographer just coming out of the water from his surf session… “mate I’m going to take some photos”… so voila!! The tide was coming in, the wind was offshore, and as you can see from the pics there were plenty of nice waves coming through. It was great to have some nice walls infront of me to really get a feel for the board. After a full stomach of waves the tide was almost too high so it was perfect timing! Back up to the surf school and Bar de Guincho for my favourite milky, sugar loaded coffee! Then back to the Salty Pelikan with some very happy surf students who also had a great time learning to surf. Everyone super happy and a win win day for us all! PERFECT!

A big thanks to all my friends who helped make this day and memories possible : Fanatic /Quiksilver/ Sebastian Wenzel/ Mat Pelikan Photography.

Words – Alex Unwin (Moana Surf School)

Photos – Mat Pelikan Photography

Having tested the new Fanatic 8’6″ Stubby in all swell sizes here’s what Alex has to stay about the board…

“The 8’6″ Stubby is super easy to paddle onto the wave with and is really versatile. It turns really well too, especially when you get your back foot right on the back of the tail pad. Acceleration and speed is something we have been working on with the prototypes and with constant testing… and we seem to have nailed it! The acceleration and speed is key to the bottom turn and all the other manoeuvres, and with the stubby 8´6” it all comes together perfectly. The 8’6″ Stubby is stable and user friendly and I am sure will bring back some very positive feedback from riders across the globe.” – Alex Unwin

So… Alex is enjoying the 2017 Fanatic Stubby but what’s the SUPboarder verdict going to be?!! The SUPboarder Team look forward to getting their hands on one soon. Watch this space!

If you’re going to the Lisbon / Cascais area for SUP or Surf and need any tips then be sure to get in touch with Alex at [email protected] or tel: 00351 964449436. He’s the man to know in the area!

Many years have passed since SUPboarder did their first interview with the young gun, and so after his recent win at the BSUPA UK SUP Surf Nationals we thought it was about time to catch up with the slightly bigger and hairier Aaron Rowe…

A little less hairy but just as many boards!

SB/ So Aaron, where are you living now and what are you up to aswell as SUPing?! AR/ I’m currently living on the sunny island of Jersey, working full time as a welding and fabrication apprentice. This year I mainly focused on work and a few competitions e.g the BSUPA series. And when I’m not working or competing I’m probably just kicking back or surfing normally.

SB/ You’ve got where you are today by working hard on and off the water. How did you manage to do it all? – SUP and study? AR/ As long as you have the correct balance between work and play its easy. But there’s usually more play than work haha…

SB/ You could have easily gone off and chased more of the competition scene, but instead when you left school you decided to get an apprenticeship. Was that a tough decision and do you feel it was the right one?! AR/ I don’t feel as if it was a tough decision it felt like the right thing, as once I have a trade I can take it all over the world and use it to set my self up.

SB/ You’ve been working with Lokahi for a few years now. How ‘s it all going? And what kit are you riding at present? AR/ I’m loving it, the guys are all super cool and accommodating. They listen to feedback and work on it. I feel we have a really close working bond. I’m currently riding the 7,4×26 custom pro. For race I have the Canoa 12,6×24 and my secret weapon is the 14×21!

SB/ Congratulations on your recent win at the BSUPA British SUP Surf Nationals. You’ve come close many times before, so how does it feel this time to have finally won ? AR/ Yeah probably the best feeling to date, I’ve been chasing it since I was 14 and it feels so good to have finally accomplished one of my goals.

SB/ Competition surfing is very different from free surfing, and not for everyone. Which do you prefer? AR/ I would probably have to say I prefer competition surfing as I love the edge and competitiveness. But on the other hand nothing beats a good free surf. The key to both is just have fun.

Photo : Tim Axford

SB/ What changes have you seen in SUP since you started paddling? AR/ SUP has changed so much since I started. The boards have got smaller, narrower and a lot more progressive. It has also grown so much, theres a lot more people paddling now and definitely more surfers making the switch.

SB/ Paddle height is always a hot discussion topic in the SUP world. What height do you have your paddle set for surf/racing and why?  AR/ My surf paddle is about level with my nose, and my race is below a full arm extension. For racing my paddle is longer so that i can gain more reach with my paddle strokes, I also have a shorter race paddle that i use for sprint races or BOPS as the shorter race paddle allows me to have a quicker paddle stroke. My surf paddle is short as it’s easier to manoeuvre around whilst on the wave and isn’t getting in my way, the shortness also allows me to sprint for waves.

SB/ Who should we be looking out for on the SUP grom team at the moment? AR/ I would have to say the Axford brothers ( Sam & Toby) they’re both killing it at the moment.

UK BSUPA Nationals Photo : Tim Rowe

Footage filmed by Time Rowe at the UK BSUPA Nationals. Competition surfing isn’t always about surfing in epic waves. It’s about speed, flow, paddle changes and making as many changes of direction as possible in the critical section of the wave. So watch and learn kids!

SB/ Tell us your best SUP moments to date AR/ Winning the World Tour trials at La Torche Getting a wild card into the main event in la torche a year later Representing Great Britain in Nicaragua Competing in the trials of the world tour in California Winning the British Title

SB/ Everyone seems to have a SUP wish list. Whats on yours?!!  AR/ I would have to say anywhere with barreling left handers with the sun shinning and a pizza and beer waiting for me when I’ve finished! Oh and I’d like a trip to the wave pool in Dubai as haven’t been there yet.

Aaron competing in Nicugrua Photo : Simon Bassett

SB/ What are your 5 top tips for younger paddlers wanting to get into SUP? AR/

Don’t listen to the haters

Stay focused

Work hard

Set goals

Most importantly have fun

SB/ What advice would you give to someone wanting to paddle a more unstable board? AR/ The key is to find the balance point of the board, set a nice comfortable stance up and just relax for the more you tense up the more you’ll wobble and be swimming with the fishes.

And this photo pretty much sums Aaron up. Racing ASBO style. Give him a free ride and he will take it but always with a smile on his face. Photo : Tim Rowe

SB/ And finally, what are your goals for the year ahead? AR/ Finish my apprenticeship, hold on to my British title, and work on doing some more contests abroad.

Great catching up with you again Aaron. The SUPboarder team wishes you all the best over the next year on and off the water. 

About time / Aaron Rowe interviewed

Aaron Rowe or ‘ASBO’ as he’s better known in the SUP world, has grown up with a board under his feet.