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English Version Follows
Nikos Vardalachos: pronto per la Prince of Speed
(Greek Outright Speed Sailing Record Holder 500mt and Nautical Mile)

Nicolaos Vardalachos is part of that handful of Speed Windsurfer autumn 2012 have crossed the threshold of 50kts in Luderitz (the first was Anders Bringdal) … fully one Speed Knight! The interview for Riwmag his close friend Prince Baldini …

Principle: Hi Nick! Welcome to Riwmag and romantic Speed Knights!
Nikos: Hello Prince, It's always a pleasure to be with you and talk a little bit about Speedsurfing.

P: You have conquered 3 times the Greek Record Speed (and you still): Fuerte 2006, Walvis Bay 2006 and Luderitz 2012. We start from the latter … What were the tuie sensations in 2012?
N: Ludertz 2012 It was by far my best Speed Event ever. It was the reward of 8 years searching for my Outright personal Record.
To be honest I didn't think then 50kts about 500mt on that occasion it was possible … but already the first day I realized that you could do … and after some test drive I put in a pretty farmhouse 48, 94kts!
From there I began to understand that the 50 you could do and I began to believe that it could also be the target of a rider who isn't a pro of the PWA. The atmosphere was electrifying!!!

P: When you come up with a fever of Speed?
N: The fever of Speed, This virus was injected into 2005 during a trip to Gran Canaria where I bought a Board Speed from Bjorn Dunkerbeck (a custom wide 43 cm) and I used it to Arinaga.
So the infection has spread in me … and took me to many places around the world and I did meet amazing people!

P: What was your first emotion in Speed?
N: Certainly the first time I went through the wall of 40kts about 500mt: Walvis Bay (Namibia) 2006.

P: How tall are you how big were you during the record in Luderitz?
N: I'm 190 cm and my weight then was 110kgs.

P: How did you feel before, during and after your Run from 50, 56Kts in Luderitz (faster than Patrik Diethelm and less 1.5 kts by King of Speed Antoine Albeau)?
N: The night before risucivo not sleep ... felt a strange energy and impatience to go in the water. Farrel (O’Shea), my roommate will remember for sure!
I arrived at Channel at 11 a. m. and unlike the others who were waiting for the wind to rise over 40kts went into the water toward the 12 and I was alone in the channel ... and li’ gradually at most five.
The first run with the 5.5 chock was over 49kts, then 49,90, and the third 50, 15kts ... then it was as if I was released from a cage that was firing only 49 and 50kts. I finished the day over 50 several times with a best time of 56kts 50, about 500 meters. That is my Personal Best and the Outright National Greek Records.

P: What do you think of Speed Sailing?
N: The Rush, The Maniacal work for details, the search for the Magical Run ... and that acceleration that you literally blows your mind and makes you feel alive ...

P: How was your first national Record?
N: My first Record Graco was during the stage of the World Cup on Fuerteventura 2006. I made 35, 64kts out of 500. The race wasn't easy, waves of 1.5 mt and super chop ...
But it was a great feeling to have pushed your limits going better and better.

P: You signed up for the Prince of Speed 2018 at The Palms, Palge du Rouet (Aude, France)? What do you think about this event?
N: First of all I love this place: The Palms is a great spot to do speed and the scenery is amazing. The format of this event is just as it should be, a limited competition with the waiting period to get the best deal. The success of the event is guaranteed.

P: You'll meet again several friends … This is the good part of our world ...
N: This is definitely the highlight of our sports, dating friends with whom you've shared epic days.

P: What is your gear now?
N: Today I have the tablets Patrik and sails Loft. I am very happy with my materials because both brands are of high level windsurfers that know what they are doing and why they do it ... The result and’ I have in my possession of secret weapons with which I want to do my best.

P: By Buiness construction, the love for Speed ... and your passion for the Sea you also have a technical store: 800.surfshop.com … How is your working life?
N: Now I am very busy because I'm Ingegnre and civil Project Manager in a construction company and at the same time I take care of my shop www.800surfshop.com where the amount and distribute Patrk, Loft, AL360 and other brands here in Greece. My average day is super busy.

P: Hey now you're a super happy dad ... must be a wonderful feeling I guess … So you did 50 KTs again
N: This was my best and burst the best run ever!!! Now I understand those who have experienced this and wish all of you the chance to experience the paternity or maternity …

P: How do you train for Speed (not like we used to do at Luderitz 2013 )?
N: Bike, race, core training and certainly windsurfer.

P: What was your hardest day in Speed?
N: The day I dislocated my shoulder in Karparthos 2009 (Greek Open) during the Greek League (gusts over 60kts ndr.) where I was leading the standings and then I had to stay and watch all those days with wind 40kts … However on that occasion I understood a lot of things on my equipment but even more on the behavior of people.

P: What message to young people or those who are approaching at speed for the first time?
N: Don't waste time wondering, get the right equipment for spot that frequent and enjoy the ride as much as possible!

P: What question do you want to do?
N: I'm going to beat my record of 50.56 kts about 500mt or I'll stay forever so?

P: Then what would you still win nice Speed?
N: 54KTs about 500 meters and over 45kts on 500 m Open Water and the Nautical Mile.

P: Then when you're ready to risk for these lenses?
N: If you don't feel ready for this ... will never happen!!!

P: So Nick "Fastalachos" … See you soon in France!!!
N: See you in France!!!

Forever Speed!!!

 

English Version

Nikos Vardalachos: ready for the Prince of Speed
Greek Speed Sailing Record Holder 500mt and Nautical Mile

Nicolaos Vardalachos is one of the first riders that broke the 50kts barrier (the very first one was Anders Bringdal ) in 2012 at Luderitz. He gain “cum laude” to be part of the Speed Knights. Here for RIWmag in a nice talking with his great friend Principe.

Principle: Hi Nick!! Welcome on RIWmag and welcome to the Speed Knights!
Nikos: Hello Prince, always a pleasure to be with you and talk about speedsurfing.

P: You become 3 times Greek record Holder: Fuerteventura, Walvis Bay 2006 and Luderitz 2012 … We start from the last one … how was your feeling that year?
N: 2012 Luderitz event was by far the best speed sailing event of my life. It was the reward of an 8 years pursuit for the Outright Personal Record. To be honest I didn’t have in mind that 50kts avg. on 500m. would be possible until the very first day there that I managed to do 48.94kts avg. after some tuning runs.
After that I started to focus and believed that 50kts avg. can be done by a non PWA pro sailor. Finishing the event we 7 guys over 50kts avg. and only 2 of them were not PWA pro sailors. The feeling and the attitude was more than exciting.

P: When did you get the speed fever?
N: Speed fever and the general virus has been inserted into me back in 2005 where i had a trip to Gran Canaria, bought my first speed board from Bjorn (a custom 43cm wide) and sailed in Arinaga.
After that, the infection has driven me to several locations around the globe for speedsailing, and meeting amazing people.

P: Which was your first big Speed emotion?
N: Definitely the first time I hit 40kts avg. on 500m. at Walvis Bay, Namibia in 2006.

P: How tall you are and how was your weight in the record day at Luderitz?
N: My height is 190cm and my weight back then was 110kgs.

P: Which was your feeling before, after and during your record run at Luderitz (faster than Patrik and less than 1.5kts from the Speed King Antoine)
N: The night before couldn’t sleep and I had a weird energy and impatience to go into the water. Farrel will remember how annoying was as a roommate then.
I went to the spot around 11:00 a. m. and unlike everybody who were waiting for the wind to pick up and go over 40kts I hit the water at around 12:00 and it was only me, and not more that 5 riders sailing.
First run was super powered on my 5.5 and was over 49kts avg. Second run 49.90kts and third run 50.15kts. After that I was like unleashed from a cage doing 49s and 50s all day.
I finished that day with having done over 50 several times and a 50,56kts avg. on 500m. as a personal best and Outright National Speed record.

P: What do you like about Speed Sailing?
N: The rush, the quest for tuning, the pursuit of the magic run and the acceleration that literally blows your mind and makes you alive!!

P: How was your first Greek record?
N: My first Greek Record was at the Fuerteventura Speed World Cup in 2006 where I did 35,64kts avg. on 500m. The course was not easy then as it was wavy and choppy but it was a great feeling to be able to push yourself and get better and better.

P: You are registered for the Prince of Speed 2018 at La Palme (France), what do you like of this Event?
N: First of all I love the place, La Palme is a great spot for speedsurfing and the scenery is unbelievable. The concept of the event is just as it needs to be, invitational with stand by mode for the best forecast. The success of the event is guaranteed.

P: You will meet again a lot of friend … maybe this is a good part of our world …
N: This is definitely one of the best parts of this sport, you meet friends that you have shared epic days on the water with.

P: Which is your gear now?
N: My gear now is PATRIK boards and LOFT sails. I am more than happy with my gear as both brands are owned by very good windsurfers who know what they do and why they do it.
The result is that I have in my possession the secret weapons I want to do my best.

P: From real estate business to the Speed love … and with your water passion you are running also your shop 800surfshop.com. Tell us a bit more about your job life …
N: My job life is quite busy actually as I am working as a civil engineer and project manager in a construction business and at the same time I am running a web shop www.800surfshop.com importing and distributing PATRIK, LOFT, AL360 and other brands in Greece. Overall my days are endlessly busy.

P: Hey Now you are an Happy Father … good feeling I guess … So you did 50kts another time!!!
N: That was my biggest gust and the best run ever!!! I fully understand those who had done it and really wish for everyone to have the chance and live the parenting moments!!!

P: Which is your training for Speed Sailing (no like we did in Luderitz at the Gym )?
N: Biking, running, some core training and sailing of course.

P: Which was the most tough speedsailing day of your Speed life?
N: The day I dislocated my shoulder in Karpathos during the Greek National Championship in 2009 while I was leading the ranking and missed all those days with 40kts of wind.
However I did learn a lot then about gear and mostly about people’s behaviour.

P: Which message would you like to give to the youngs … or to the guys who approach for the 1st time the Speed?
N: Do not waste your time asking yourself, get the right gear for the spot you have available and enjoy the rides as much as possible.

P: Which question would you ask to yourself?
N: Am I going to be faster than 50.56kts avg. on 500m. or will I stay forever with this???

P: What would you like to achieve more in the speed?
N: 54kts avg. in 500m. and over 45 in open water both 500m. and nautical mile.

P: How much are you ready to risk for it?
N: If you wait to be ready for it it will never happen!!!

P: So Nick Fastalachos … See you soon in France!!!
N: See you in France!!!

Forever Speed!!!

 

interview: Andrea Baldini 4 www.RIWmag.com
Photo: Courtesy Nikos Vardalachos