Monday, April 16, 2007

Billabong XXS Global Small Wave Awards

I received my new GoPro waterproof camera.

Here's why I think it's a fantastic product for 140 bucks:

- now there's two batteries that last a long time. I can leave the camera on and either film everything and then edit at home (like I did in the video below) or, if the camera is mounted within the reach of my hand, click the shutter to pause it and start it again when the action is about to happen
- it takes an SD card up to 2GB. That means either 54 minutes of video 640x480 (even on full screen the resolution is good) or tons of photos
- it can take still pictures (eventually also a sequence of three pics with one shutter click): 3 megapixel, 2048x1536.
- it has a wrist band that you can easily paddle with and take photos of the surfing action from the water

The result of the first water test was way beyond my expectations. Here's what I think is the coolest little video I did so far.


What do you think? I wish you could see the original (dropshots compresses it and reduces the quality) on full screen...
And those were one foot waves. Imagine on a ten foot wave... too bad the winter is gone! But the south swells are just round the corner... Sooner or later, I'll take you surfing double overhead waves at Dumps...
I also filmed a downwind on the one man canoe. Stay tuned for that.

Randy saw me at Launio and went to buy the camera right away (Hawaiian Island in Kahului has it). Here's his first funny little video. BTW, if you need ski, snowboard or wakeboard equipment, here's his website.

And, since I am in advertising friends' businesses mode, here's Wardog (a man, a myth) website for all the mainlanders' surfing and windsurfing needs.
Maui sailors know already where to find their Hot Sails Maui and Starboard gear.

Let's move on to the windsurfing action that happened in the afternoon of the same Friday 4 13.

The three sailors of the day were Brouwsino, Graham Ezzy and Alex Mussolini. They were throwing rotations at every single wave. Check some of the action here.

Here, instead, I feel like posting photos of the best looking wave sail on earth. It's the new Hot Sails Fire.
Here's Glenn's backloop 32,414.


Dioni Guadagnino is a new Hot Sails teamrider.






This is another team rider: 10 years old Kalani Hunt.

18 comments:

Sharon said...

That little camera rocks AND it has sound. Now that Ulli is a man of leisure I want you two to compare the waterproofs, that way I’ll know which one to buy!

BTW nice one-man wet short competition, I think all this water camera stuff is just a cover for you to offer up more ‘exposure’!

cammar said...

ok... I got your request for a one-man naked standup video...
I'll see what I can do...

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the camera has sound! It will be in the canoe video.

Anonymous said...

Nice video, Giampaolo!

Like I said before, I think that camera works best as a P.O.V. camera. It would be great as a supplemental camera boom or mast mounted while my helmet cam was shooting the rest of the action! Have you figured out how to mount your camera on a helmet yet? I like the ability of starting/stopping the camera while you're on the water, which my camera doesn't have. The only reason why my camera can't do that is because there's no lan-c connection on the body of the mini-DV camera (many cameras have this feature). I do have an external buttonwith a cable that would work if it did. Anyway, videotape is cheap and I don't mind wasting it!

Anonymous said...

ciao gp, ma ricordami un po'.. hai modo di scattar foto con UNA mano (cavetto flessibile o altro?)
ciao

Anonymous said...

Very cool video! Nice laid back longboarding style. Your one foot waves is more than we are getting here at the moment. No wind, flat as a pancake :(

Lano said...

I want one! Now $140US, what is that in Aussie dollars? $1,000,000AUS? :)
Love the vids GP, Showed the office this one.....lets just say the ladies were impressed

Sharon said...

LOL-you just nailed the ONLY reason GP does any of this shit!

BTW-I'll have a pint of the same.....

Lano said...

Sharon, the beer in question is Coopers Pale Ale, my drink of choice....and its GP's blog, he can flaunt himself as he wishes! :)

cammar said...

Ely I built my custom helmet mount long ago... http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5193/923/1600/IMG_0002.1.jpg
Videotape is cheap? Videotape is prehistoric!
Just like a 2GB memory card will be prehistoric in one-two years...

Nico, guarda la foto qui di sopra e capirai che non c'e' nessun cavetto, ma solo un pulsantino da premere.

Robin, thanks. How is the forecast for the SF meeting in Holland?

Lano, do those two girls in the photo on the right top of your blog work at your office?
I'm afraid not...
Well, in that case you should post a photo of the ladies that work in your office...

cammar said...

Ops, add _0002.1.jpg to the photo address...
Anyway, it's in the Sept 15 2006 post... now the archive dates are correct.
And this is the same board mount I used:
http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger
/5193/923/1600/313862/DSC04283.jpg
(dic 19 06)

cammar said...

damn, add G_0002.1.jpg I mean.

How lame is it that you can't edit comments and it doesn't link web addresses in comments?!

Lano said...

The two girls in 'that' photo do not work at my work, although the blondie is a local barmaid, lovely girl, she is good at pouring jugs! Will update Blog with pics of workmates soon!

Anonymous said...

The forecasts for the Superfreakmeeting could be better, thanks for asking G.P.

It will be sunny (so no complaints there), there is a possibility of some swell (again, no complaints there), max forecasted wind: 7 knots. Unlucky for us, no S.U.P. 's in the country yet, could be a nice day for promoting this part of the sport. Jeff will arrive on Friday, looking forward to meeting him.

Anonymous said...

Hey GP, Aloha from Portland--cold and rainy. I'm freezing my ass off after three months in Maui.

I picked up one of the GoPros the week before I left. I agree with you, they're good. A little more wide angle lens than the Oregon Scientific camera. I used it once before I left.

Now that I'm back on the mainland these cameras are going to be used for in-car racing cameras for the next four or so months, then back to Maui and the water. I'm going to try one on my helmet and one facing backwards. We'll see how that works out.

See you in November.

cammar said...

Hi Bill,

I think you (or Norm) told me that the Oregon Scientific camera does NOT take still photos...
That puts it automatically on a lower level than the GoPro.
What I liked about the O.S. is the head band (even though Norm lost it at sea doing a forward with it... it needs a safety leash), but GoPro is coming out in August with helmet and board mounts...

Sharon, for what I've seen, Ulli's camera pros are that it doesn't need a waterproof housing and it has a lcd screen...
Here's the cons:
- 350 bucks!
- it doesn't come with any kind of wrist or head mounts. Hence, it's pretty much useless in the surf (at least, I wouldn't take it out...).

Good for snorkeling or tubs... :) and that's exactly what it is designed for... not an action shots camera.

Rambo said...

Hey Cammar, you must be my Blogging twin. I'm doing all these same things as you are. I paddle OC1, make videos, was in Maui for 2 OC1 races in April 2006, i'm just as crazy as you are, except i'm an Aussie. Check out my Blog, http://rambos-locker.blogspot.com
only the OC1 Time trial,OC1 Dreaming and OC2 Assault videos are mine. Just ordered a Gopro too, as my JVC camcorder don't like H2o. Shit, it must be a parallel universe mate.

Cheers Rambo

Victoria said...

Hi GP

Question about the Gopro - Is there a limitation as to the length of movie you can take...i recall reading somewhere it was 10secs only?


Did you splice a load of these together for your movie? Or was it longer cos you added your own bigger mem card?

Many Thanks,
Steve

cammar said...

Rambo,
I'm sure there's a bunch of us out there in the world...

Steve,
this is a newer model of the Digital Hero camera. It hosts a 2 GB SD card and can take up to 54 minutes of continous video. Beeter resolution too. Check http://www.goprocamera.com/