01
Apr
2005
Christopher Curran
Interview
You are from the Victoria area, one of the
places where you sail is the Squamish River. Could you please
describe what's so magic about that place ?
Squamish is a beautiful spot to sail. The
combination of tides, river current, and sandbars creates a
constantly changing set of conditions to play in. Some days the
water will be silky smooth in the rivermouth for sliding tricks,
while on other days nice steep ramps will form for throwing loops
or aerial tricks. The scenery is hard to beat. It's like sailing
in an Ansel Adams photograph!
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| :: squamish scenery :: (c) elliot english |
Please tell us more about yourself as an
enthusiastic windsurfer...
I've been sailing for over 20 seasons now and find
windsurfing more attractive and exciting than ever. My father
bought three Windsurfer One Designs in the late '70s and I used
to watch him and my brothers sail back and forth on the lake. I
was too small to pull up the sail on my own then and had to wait
a few years before I was strong enough to sail the early gear. I
grew up in Alberta, Canada learning to sail on lakes and light
winds. It wasn't until I began making trips to Maui with my
family as a kid that I really understood what kind of potential
windsurfing had in high wind and waves. Early on I had a love for
slalom sailing and raced in a number of competitions within
Canada. In recent years I have discovered a love for freestyle
and wavesailing, and this has infused my sailing with more energy
than ever. And to think I nearly gave it all up for kitesurfing!
Whew! I now live in Victoria on Vancouver Island, where I can
chase wind all year long.
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| :: table top :: (c) chris curran |
Your favorite playgrounds are?
The Gorge is a true playground. I'm like a kid in
Disneyland there with all of the swell and strong wind to play
in. I love the Oregon coast for it's scenery and waves. Columbia
beach near home has always been a favorite for wavesailing and
jumping. Maui will always be Mecca! I get tired of peeing in a
5mm wetsuit all winter, so it's a treat to sail in just boardies!
Just kidding. I only pee in my suit when it's REALLY cold.
What boards and sails to you ride ?
Currently I sail a Starboard Evo 74 and a custom
Quatro 64cm x 250cm x 100L freestyle board. I'm sailing 2005 Ezzy
Wave SEs.
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| :: (c) chris curran :: | :: (c) chris curran :: | :: (c) chris curran :: |
What kind of jump/freestyle trick gives you the
ultimate kick?
I'm a simple guy. Clean forwards and high
backloops make me happy. For freestyle I love the feeling of a
high speed Haas tack or a long, sliding vulcan. I'm pretty old
school with my freestyle skills still, but I'm working on some of
the new stuff.
The latest trick/maneuver you are working on
?
I'm starting to work on pushloops, spocks, and not
spraining any extremities.
Your latest magic moment on the
water?
I've had so many magic moments this past year. A
particularly memorable one was following a classic session at a
local spot. My friends and I were standing on the beach in the
waning breeze, the sun was starting to set, and the mountains
were silhouetted in the blazing sky. Suddenly a pod of six or
seven killer whales casually swam by within two hundred meters
off the beach. Sometimes I can't believe that we get to share the
water with such beautiful and powerful creatures.
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| :: magic moments :: (c) ron niebrugge |
About your life and your future?
I feel incredibly lucky to be able sail as often
as I do. Windsurfing has brought so many good things and people
into my life, and it has taken me to many places I'll never
forget. I hope to keep this passion in my life for years to come
and hope to continue to share it with others.
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| :: (c) chris curran |
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