Tuesday, June 28, 2011

RB Rockets Pozo video by Red Bull Media

Here's the latest from Red Bull Media on the RB Rockets event last Friday. Stay tuned for EpicSessions' full trip video with Rockets plus the guys as they train for the upcoming PWA event in Pozo.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Red Bull Rockets results!


Congratulations to Dario Ojeda (pictured here) for boosting a 36.28ft jump and taking home 3,500 Euros cash for highest air in RedBull Rockets!

Spectators flocked to the shores of Las Salinas de Pozo to watch as 16 windsurfers set out to defy the laws of gravity for biggest air, best trick, and hardest wipeout. Split into two groups and equipped motion tracking devices provided by EpicSessions.tv, the riders hit the water for three different sessions throughout the day. On 5.0s and 5.4s the riders put on an incredible show, launching dry double forwards, tweaked pushloops, lofty backs, one-footed one-handed forwards, and more in 15-25mph of wind.

In the end, it was Ojeda who lined up the ramp, sheeted in and boosted an impressive 36.28ft jump to claim highest air of the day. Close on his heels was Ricardo Campello, Philip Koester and John Skye. Philip proved his incredible ability for aerial acrobatics by stomping a high, fast, clean double usually only seen in much stronger winds to take home Best Trick. No surprise was crazy aerial talent Ricardo Campello, going for broke, literally breaking his board, to take home best wipeout. (note - the riders in the last (black) heat were treated to the best wind and wave conditions and benefited as a result)

Props to all the riders who went out and put on one hell of a show, and the sponsors RedBull, Cutre Boardshop, Ayuntamiento Santa Lucia, Asociacion Espanola Funboard for supporting this new era of free-form competition for action sports!

The future is in Motion!

Top Jumps by Rider (height in feet)

Dario Ojeda - 36.28
Ricardo Campello - 35.74
Philip Koester - 34.44
John Skye - 33.10
Robby Swift - 27.23
Aleix Sanllehy - 25.73
Elezar Alonso - 25.27
Danny Bruch - 24.56
Marcillio Browne - 24.22
Jonas Ceballos - 23.21
Klaas Voget - 22.84
Yannick Anton - 22.63
Marcos Perez - 21.38
Kai Lenny - 20.87
Victor Fernandez - 20.35
Bryan Metcalf-Perez - 19.97

The full video and more photos for Red Bull Rockets will be released soon! Stay tuned!

Friday, June 24, 2011

CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF!



Red Bull Rockets is cleared for take off in Pozo! The winds are blasting, the waves are jacking up nicely and everyone is stoked to get it on today!

Some details are still being worked on - namely live video. Even if we're unable to get the interwebs working here on the dark side of the moon, you'll be seeing video from us and Red Bull Media in short order regardless.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Red Bull Rockets Update!

Windsurfing's craziest jumpers and the EpicSessions.tv crew are headed to Gran Canaria at the end of the week. They're gonna boost, we're going to measure how high. On the best day between June 24- 30, the rider with the highest stock air, best trick, and epic wipeout will win cash. Get ready for RedBull Rockets!

Often times the best conditions are in the most remote of locations. Developing innovative ways to make it easier for people to see and appreciate the raw talent of athletes, regardless of location, is what we’re about at EpicSessions. A few years back we were the first to live-stream action from Jaws, Hookipa and the Gorge. Now almost every major surf event in the world is live-streamed. Today we have the ability to track riders in 3D live. When a rider boosts during RedBull Rockets, their jump heights will be immediately broadcasted to the judges as a factor for best trick, to spectators at the beach, and to the web for anyone, anywhere to check in on the action.

The extended forecast for Pozo looks sick. The tech is tested and ready to go. The riders are ready, the format set, and 10,000 euros are up for grabs. Check the EpicSessions.tv facebook page and website for updates as we get ready for the big event!

Riders:
Philip Köster
Víctor Fernández
Kauli Seadi
Jonás Ceballos
Darío Ojeda
Kai Lenny
Eleazar Alonso
Marcilio Browne
Ricardo Campello
Yannick Anton
Danny Bruch
Klaas Voget
Robby Swift
Josep Pons
Marcos Pérez
Bryan Metcalf Pérez

Format:

16 Riders. 4 Sessions, split into 2 groups, 8 riders each

Each group gets 20 minutes on the water per session, with a 10-minute transition in between.
In order for a jump to count the rider must still be in control of their rig when they hit the water. A mid-air bailout will not count. However, if the rider lands soaked, but is able to keep the sail somewhat up and quickly sail away, the jump will count.

Highest Air will go to the rider who lands the biggest jump of the day, measured with realtime 3D motion tracking technology provided by EpicSessions. 3,500 euros

Best Trick will go to the rider whose tweak and style at maximum amplitude leaves the best impression with the panel of judges at the end of the day. 1st - 3,000 euros. 2nd - 2,000 euros and 3rd will take home 1,000 euros

Best Wipeout will go to the guy who eats it the hardest going big and tweaking it just beyond the point of control, as decided by the panel of judges. 500 euros

The final preps for the Red Bull Rockets contest are coming together and in 48 hours the EpicSessons.tv team will jet over to Pozo where we'll commence the 7 day holding period for the contest. The location for the event is just around the corner from the beach that the PWA wave event is held at and this location was chosen to maximize the wave/wind angle to enable the competitors to get the highest jumps possible. Its a little off the beaten path from town, so infrastructure is being installed - scaffolding, stage, PA system, helicopter landing pad, etc.

Get ready for Liftoff with Red Bull Rockets and EpicSessions.tv!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Ready for LiftOff!?!


Pozo. Just the thought conjures up images of nuclear winds, out of control crashes, mind blowing jumps and arial antics.

The EpicSessions.tv crew is totally stoked to be headed to the Canary Islands - Pozo to provide Red Bull with our 3D motion recording/broadcast system to track 16 of the best Spanish national and international riders as they compete for the highest jump, best trick and best wipeout.
Red Bull "Rockets" is a winner take all Jump Off style event being held from June 24-30 ; right at the new moon, to measure just how insane the world's best sailors can push the limits in the best that Pozo can dish up. We've all seen the videos, now its time to find out just how massive those boosts are!

More information to follow soon - you can keep track of this event at RedBull.es/Rockets, on the EpicSessions.tv website and the ES Facebook page for daily updates.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Epic Maui Test


As the month long holding period for the Oxbow Ride The Sky - Presented by Naish, drew to a close, conditions didn't present themselves to hold the official event. That didn't stop the EpicSessions.tv crew on Wednesday April 27th from holding a live test of the realtime jump data system and we opened up the livestream video to the world as we let the world's best windsurfers get wired with the latest in sports motion capture technology.



The concept is simple - take the best sailors and cut them loose on the water with the goal to hit the highest jumps possible. The technical challenge is anything but simple. EpicSessions.tv had to equip the riders with technology that measures their performance in realtime and transmit the jump data to our servers back on the mainland and then world-wide to the audience online.

It was an amazing day. We were scheduled for 2 hours and ended up broadcasting for 4+ hours and the riders had a gas doing what they do best. Going big, hanging with their friends and just having fun. No worries about getting screwed by the judges. After all, if you wanna win, you gotta go bigger than anyone else. Its objective scoring at its best, and it showed as the riders were relaxed and stoked when they went big, or their buddies boosted even higher.

We have a lot more in store this summer, not only in Windsurfing, but in other amazing sports as well. We invite you to stay tuned as we venture into uncharted territories with this groundbreaking technology.

The results are as follows :

Leo- 28.2ft
Jesse- 25.3ft
Jukno- 15.7ft
Levi- 21.6ft
Brawzino- 30.9ft
Patrick- 21.76ft
Bernd- 20.51ft
Fillippi- 28.39ft
Francisco- 25.53
Ricardo- 31.32ft
Kai K.- 18.39ft
Polakow- 35.8ft
Nico- 26.58ft
Glen- 21.34ft
Diego- 24.54ft
Timo- 20.8ft

Huge props to all the riders for their patience, feedback and stoke about our little project. Their stoke feeds ours and in turns, drives us to create products that enrich their experiences and spread their stoke across the globe.