surf-matic

Here is a new move from me. It’s an evolution from Josh Angulo’s sick ANGover– a front side floater 360. I think I’m the first one to do the alley-oop version. Here’s an interview with Josh and the move is below:

I love windsurfing. Even as a child, I would go through old windsurfing magazines from the 80’s and read them to learn about the early days of the sport. As my dad (David Ezzy) has windsurfed at Ho’okipa longer than anybody, I often turn to him for stories about the old days. Now as a professional windsurfer, I am still obsessed with the histories and intricacies of our sport.
A long time ago, Josh Angulo invented a move he called the ANGover. Basically it is a frontside floater into a sliding 360 (for you freestylers, think of a floater to grubby). I’ve only seen Josh and Nat Gill come close to pulling them. And I saw Camille rotate something similar by accident. It is a rare move, and I don’t think it has ever been caught on camera. A few years ago I started working on it, I tried a bunch and made one or two wet ones, but then I got frustrated and focused on other moves instead. Time to get a clear head and refocus!

Hi Josh, I hope you’re doing well and it’s not too cold on the East Coast!
Josh: ‘Howzit Graham? Actually it’s been a record breaking warm winter over here and I’ve spent five weeks of the winter in Cabo Verde, so quite smooth.’

You’ve been an inspiration for my sailing. And I want to do an interview with you for the web about the latest inspiration: a move I’ve started doing. Years ago, you invented the Gu Press or Hangover (I’ve heard both names for the frontside floater 360). How did you come up with the move? And which name do you prefer?
Josh: ‘I actually called it the ANGover (no h). I guess taking a page from my brother who used GU in the GU screw. It’s basically a surfing move that’s done a dime a dozen by surfers, but is significantly more challenging on a windsurfer. I did a couple of em many years back and I’ll still try one every now and then, just because it’s a cool feeling move.’

It’s a rare move; in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one landed. I’ve seen you get really close and Nat Gill too. Have you seen anyone else do it? Do you have any footage or photos of you landing one?
Josh: ‘The first one I ever did, I think Dave Nash was filming, but he missed it. It was the best one I ever did, a long slide over a barrel and when I pulled the clew in, it was just the right timing and it shot me out into the flats and I landed it dry. Kai Katchadourian was right there and saw the whole thing. I think that’s the only real proof.’

I kind of feel like no one else has done it for a while; it’s almost as if it was forgotten in the last ten years. Any thoughts on why? Maybe it’s too hard?
Josh: ‘It’s a pretty hard move… like why isn’t anybody except Mark doing Mutants? It’s so much a timing and finesse move that comes from a surfing background and not so many windsurfers have a strong surfing background. I think some of the neat stuff my brother and I have come up with is because we see a move in our mind and we go sailing with the excitement to pull that particular thing off and then pay the necessary dues until we do it.’

Do you think it’s the hardest of the main modern moves like takas, 360s, goiters and backside 3’s?
Josh: ‘I wouldn’t even call it a modern move because nobody does it. 99% of the world won’t know what you’re talking about… seems to me that the moves that aren’t done and getting perfected by the general pro population is because nobody can do it. Guys try and give up, so I guess by default that makes it harder, similar situation to the mutant that my brother does, but his I’m sure is even harder. I wouldn’t even know where to start on that. His is so rad that MauiSails even named a sail after his move.

Did you feel any pressure on yourself after seeing your brother invented the two other standard moves?
Josh: ‘I’ve never felt in competition with Mark. He’s been my windsurfing hero since I was a little boy and still is. That guy really is in a class of his own. I just get fired up watching what he does and chuckle to myself as he continues to stump all the youngsters who will pretty much never be able to touch his level.’

I’m trying to be a link between classic Hawaiian windsurfing and the new school. What do you think I should focus on and learn from your generation of wave riding? What about the generation before you?
Josh: ‘First important tip I can give you is to make sure you give waves to me and older generation Ho’okipa sailors who were out there when you were in diapers. Jump back on a single fin every now and then to remember how much more drive you can get and “burst” off the top, but mainly that first tip is the most important.’

I’ve been trying the hangover a ton of different ways: in the air, floater to sliding down, and a combination of the two. But any way, it’s a bitch to land! The problem is coming up on top of the sail at the end of the move. Any tips?
Josh: ‘It’s all about the right wave. You almost want it slightly bending away from you, but it needs to have power, get up on the top slow and once you get those fins free, you need to get some speed down the line on top of the barrel from the power of the wave and the wind, then just flick the sail around when it feels right.. You can force em all day long and land wet, but it’s when you get that slippery one on top the barrel and you’ll get launched so quickly around that you’ll land planing… that’s the one!! Double shaka!’

So I returned to the ANGover. I started out doing them the traditional Angulo way. But after a month of working on the move, I saw a new rotation inspired by the original. I took out the floater and put the spin in the air. So now my variation is like an air grubby off-the-lip or an alley-oop in surfing. This move is totally indebted to ANGover, and so as to keep the lineage alive, I’ll refer to it as a Hangover.