2006-09-20
Rider - Introducing Storm Chaser Denmark #1 - Robert Sand
Time to introduce the riders – Robert Sand, Age 31, surfing since 17 years, the hellrider of the Norther terretorial waters!
1. What was your motivation to sign in for the Chase?
Well to be quite honest, probably the same as most of the other guys who got chosen; I want to show windsurfing from the most radical angle, with extreme conditions, howling winds and massive waves. It also gives me an opportunity to show my home spot Klitmøller from it´s best side and people are able to see why the area is being described as "The Cold Hawaii". I hope that when we get the "GO" it will be going off in Klittiland.
2. How did you promote yourself?
The two biggest danish websites, did a write up about the top 5 and I
sent an email to the people I know. I was close run in the end between
Lars, Mads and me, but in the end Mads and I got through. Mads is a
very good sailor, so we are going to do our best to show that we were
the right people to choose. The people behind the Cold Hawaii Project
are also stoked to see Klitmøller as part of the RBSC, since it brings
awareness about the S2S campaign they are running, to try and keep our
surfspots open.
The Red Bull Storm Chase Team want´s to encourage all surfers to support the activity of Surfers-2-Surfers by spreading the words!!!
The Storm Chase region Klittmöller – one of the best spots in Northern Europe is about to be permanently closed for surfing. S2S is a campaign, managed by local surfers, to fight for this region by huge effort! We asked Surfers-2-Surfers about the current situation and development:
“We have had a lot of positive response. But there have been some major
misunderstandings regarding the S2S campaign. Therefore it's extremely
important to emphasize that the intention of the campaign never was to scare
people away from Thy and the Klitmøller area.
Illegal camping is the main reason why surfers in the Thy area over the
years has had a bad image and therefore a very weak voice in debate.
Therefore we also wrote: Earn and return respect - don't be a sponger, -
meaning think about it: what do you return for the things you get while
staying in Thy?
We realize and fully accept the fact that not all people have the needs that
comes form staying at a campground. Therefore we also wrote that we would do what we can to promote new customs and thereby the idea of getting spots where it is possible to camp cheap with a minimum of facilities.
We have experienced our profound weakness while trying to save our spots -
most prominently Vandet Sø and Middles in Hanstholm. Both spots are still
under heavy threat of being permanently closed for surfing.
The local angler association in cooperation with The Danish nature
conservancy association is very much against us surfing at Vandet Sø - and
trust me those guys you don´t want to mess with.
The harbor is still keen on building the pier and windmills at Middles. The
Save Middles campaign managed to create some attention. But the main reason why they haven´t been able to go on with plan is first of all that the
Danish ministry of transportation made it clear that the project was against
harbour law. Just recently it became clear that apparently it´s not illegal.
What´s still illegal though is for us surfing up there. We have tried and
tried again to make an official deal with them to let us sail up there one
year at the time while the fait of the project is under consideration with
out any luck just yet. We are still in that process.
They can close the spot tomorrow.
What surfers got to understand is that there is no alternative. It´s not
like we can just let it be and then in some mysterious way wild camping and
surfing at for instance Middles will be allowed.
We simply got to adjust. Being the ones that actually do something we might
bring ourself in a situation where we can negociate. Being so there is a
change that adjustment will be to better for us - hopefully everyone.
That´s why we are acting and that´s why surfers that like to stay in the
Thy area should be glad to corporate.”
