Actually I’ve been slow finalizing the review of “Just like that” but believe me, I almost did it on purpose. Contrary to what was happening some ten years ago where having a production of a DVD meant that we were counting the seconds until it finally made it to our postbox, today we’re watching a bunch of new videos coming out every day and with some of them being rated so high in terms of action, filming and editing that many times makes you wonder why you shall pay for windsurfing DVD. So I ought to see it again and again…

Alex Mussolini going big at Tenerife. Still from the wavesailing film “Just Like That”

Mid December it was announced that kick-ass video producer, umipictures -whose activities seem to be suspended lately-are back with a new wavesailing action film starring Thomas Traversa and Alex Mussolini. Actually it’s a new DVD featuring footage that has been recorded the last 5-6-7-whatever years and finally put together mainly by Jamie Hancock.

When I received the DVD I really didn’t know what to expect. OK the teaser was more than promising but there was nothing but the teaser. This added some magic to the whole thing.

Alex Mussolini aerial off the lip at New Caledonia. Still from the wavesailing film “Just Like That”.

One hour and nine minutes later (which is the duration of the main movie) I found myself typing weather related URLs at several tabs in my browser, hoping that the forecasting models will reveal any possible chance to get to RIDE some waves in the near future. Having seen any windsurf related DVD/VHS the last twenty years makes it difficult to get easily excited on a new one. But this one totally worth it. If the movie “Just like that” was a food dish, it would have probably been a traditionally prepared Pesto Genovese. Forget about the super slo-mos, the x-thousands frames per second cameras and the helicopters flying next to the riders. That’s pure soul. Thomas and Alex are not riding because there is someone filming (which is not bad at all). They are riding because they love it. And it shows.

Thomas Traversa going vertical in Ireland. Still from the wavesailing film “Just Like That”

The movie has been filmed in numerous locations around the globe. Galicia, Ireland, Chile, Gran Canaria, Barcelona, Cape Town, Brazil, Cape Verde, Reunion, Morocco, Tenerife, New Caledonia AND Indonesia.

To be honest I can’t recall any movie with a highest percentage of rides/minutes so if you’re stuck with doubles and push forwards then this DVD might let you down. You might also notice that there is no Ho’okipa footage which to me is not bad at all. You don’t buy a movie to see another part from the most filmed and photographed windsurfing spot in the world

Dany Bruch riding bombs at Tenerife. Still from the wavesailing film “Just Like That”

Among the best parts of “Just like that” is the one in Galicia, a region at the north of Spain which is considered as a surfing spot but has also big windsurfing potential, Tenerife (you’ll see Alex riding some bombs with Dany Bruch and afterwards saying that he doesn’t consider himself as a big waverider…) and New Caledonia with the super quality waves. Unquestionably the parts that will count the more plays will definitely be Ireland and Indo. The last time that Ireland has been featured so extensively was ten years ago on a great movie called “Greenie” produced by the Mullen bros. Actually there are 3 Ireland parts in the movie where you see Thomas, Alex (and their host Timo) riding some perfect mast high super long lefts at temperatures that we ordinary people would not dare to think anything else but order a hot cup of tea. And then there is Indonesia. Those who have seen ”Minds Wide Open” know what to expect… until the moment that Thomas starts dropping on a mast and a half walls that break in front of dry reef, with no wind, going down-the-line at Mach 2 speed and then hitting lips that make you believe that he had already written his suicide letter…

I really do hope that it won’t be long untill umipictures release another movie. For now you may order “Just Like That” via their webshop.

Authors: Zakel Windsurfing ( www.zakel.ws ) - Chris