We’ve just arrived on the desert moons of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, for the PWA World Cup which begins on Friday. It’s been blowing +35 knots the few days we’ve been training here with the Italian team so the new 5.6m AC-1 is the only sail that’s been out of the bag yet. Five more days of training and shooting some videos then the 6 day World Cup competition begins. (Photos by PWA/Carter).

So two windsurfing families have come together in Poland; my best dutch buddy Markus Bouman married his sweetheart Natalia on the weekend in Warzsawa. I was lucky enough to have the role of best-man, and was introduced to a “polish wedding” which can only be described as ridiculous, fun, crazy, fun, scary. haha! Let’s just say there were churches, wakeboarding boats, hotels, squash courts, suits, good friends a nothing shy of 180 bottles of Zaladkowa vodka.

I just arrived on Lago di Garda (Lake Garda), Italy for a few weeks of working and sailing on one of Europe’s most famous windsurfing locations with the Point-7 team. I’m working from the new P7 head office in Arco, a few mins from the lake and surfing from Malsecine in the mornings and Torbole in the evenings; couldn’t be better!

A quick update before I fly out to Europe next week on what I’ve been up to and my plans for the summer season.

The new ‘For-Sale’ section on AUS120.com has just been launched. Check it out to find all Sean’s 2nd hand, race-tuned equipment for sale. View the entire range of equipment, photos, information on the products and pricing as well as ask questions about the gear.

www.AUS120.com/for-sale/

Last week we had the first PWA World Cup event in Ulsan, Korea. This was my first Slalom World Tour event in about 3 years and it was great to see how much has changed on the circuit. All the usual parties, chaos and lost hotel room keys were in full effect. All photos are by PWA/Carter and Sean O’Brien.

Sean’s new website for 2010 launches! A new layout and colour scheme focuses on keeping up to date news using Twitter and now features a * LIVE EVENT COVERAGE * page with latest photos, blow-by-blow updates through Twitter all on this site.

Sean has won his 4th Australian & Oceanic Formula Windsurfing Title at the FW Oceanic Championships at Hawks Nest, NSW. World #5 ranked Brazilian sailor Wilhelm Schurmann (BRA-999) won the event outright despite Sean nipping at his heels in every race and finally taking a bullet from the Brazilian in the final race of the event. On top of the stress of competing Sean had taken it upon himself to organise and run the media coverage for the event which meant super late nights and early mornings to get everything running smooth for the competitors (not the best preparation for an important regatta!). The location for the event was a town in beautiful Port Stephens where dolphins, sharks, turtles and even a friendly whale were spotted on on different parts of the course. This place had amazing flat water slalom areas, big swells on the course area and a fantastic point-break for surfing, SUP and swimming. For Sean’s efforts he took home the big Australian Title trophy made by VMG Blades and some new phones from the event sponsor Blackberry.

For more information on the event check out www.FW-Australia.com.

Down in Melbourne before Christmas ’09 I did a cool photoshoot with Shawn from BlinqPhotography.com at Sandringham Yacht Club then later one early morning session at St Kilda pier. The results were really cool; here’s a few teasers. More will be published on www.AUS120.com soon!

About 6 months ago we had a party at my parents house in Brisbane before I left for my Europe tour in 2009. I thought these photos were lost forever but they were given to me today. A few snaps from the craziness. We had a daiquiri machine pumping out drinks all night and beats played by CMT. Even fashion designer Daz from April’s Chance label came for a drink.

For New Years Eve, the last summer party of 2009 I took my friends down to the Gold Coast, for a big night of parties, fireworks, girls and some of the best clubs in Australia; staying at my friend’s beautiful Penthouse on the waterfront (see the last pic!).

Sydney produced one of the best racing weekends on record at the 2009 NSW Formula Windsurfing State Championships. After two days of super windy 15-30 knot races, Sean streaked the field of top notch Australian sailors (and a few internationals), winning 6 out of the 8 races to take the title back from last year’s winner Sam Parker (AUS-3) who finished 2nd.

Arriving in Sydney the week before to coach Olympian Jessica Crisp (AUS-15) – who also competed at this event – at the Sydney International Regatta on RS:X, Sean only brought his 11m Point-7 AC-1 sail with him and was forced to hang on to it in winds up to 30 knots on both days! With the help of some new VMG Blades fins, Sean was able to fend off attacks from Sam Parker and Brett Morris (AUS-8) to finish the event with 6 bullets despite missing one race to drive in to town to buy some supplies for the drive to Melbourne (9 hours) later on Sunday night to get Jessica ready for the SailMelbourne ISAF World Cup Regatta starting the next day!