Powering the Media Machine - FPT x AALVAA Media x OWC | Paros 2025

Unlike stadium sports, freestyle windsurfing doesn’t unfold under spotlights or in enclosed arenas. It happens in open water – unpredictabe, action-packed and fast-paced. That makes storytelling essential. If you’re not standing on the beach watching in person, the only way to experience the action is through our media channels, pushing content and the action to you as it unfolds.

That’s where AALVAA Media comes in.

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In our latest feature produced in partnership with OWC, we dive into the media workflow that keeps the Freestyle Pro Tour connected to fans around the world. From sunrise to long after the final heats, the crew shoots non-stop: following riders into choppy lagoons, filming from motorboats and the shoreline, and pushing progressive, often risky filmmaking to capture one-of-a-kind moments. The goal is simple: showing what makes freestyle so addictive, and inspiring the next generation to take up our one-of-a-kind sport for themselves.

But capturing magic is only half the battle. Getting it online fast is just as important- this where OWC makes the difference.

With lightning-fast cards and rugged drives, the media production workflow becomes a high-speed relay. A big move on the water is often online within minutes: clipped, backed up, edited, posted. The efficiency enabled by OWC means fans worldwide can follow the action almost in real time, while riders, brands, and media channels get instant highlights from each day.

“Managing the demands of a tour and the lightning fast ‘as-it-happens’ expectations of modern day media is perhaps one of the toughest challenges.” – says Freestyle Pro Tour and AALVAA Media C.E.O. Adam Sims – “Media in itself has changed vastly in the last 10 years, from traditional magazines to multiple social media platforms fighting for our time and interaction, it has become a side-quest of mine to see how we can be ever more efficient.”

The biggest improvement after switching to OWC? Finally having media gear that performs as hard as the riders do: fast, tough, and ready for anything. In freestyle, every moment counts, whether it’s a massive move in the heat of competition or a spontaneous clip between heats. The ability to capture, back up, and deliver footage instantly has transformed how the team works on-site and how quickly fans get to experience the action. Here’s what Adam has to say:

“From the first introductions to OWC and their media solutions a few years ago, I have never looked back. Our environment for producing media has some extra unique challenges, that come in the form of midday sun, blistering heat, flying sand, endless sea spray – pretty much everything you avoid when it comes to cameras and media cards – so it was pretty clear that these crushproof, waterproof, drop resistant, pull-the-plug-anytime kind of drives and cards were a no brainer. The added bonus is the lightning fast speeds, which contribute to not just time saving and increased productivity but also earlier finish times.”

As freestyle pushes the limits on the water, the media team has been pushing just as hard behind the scenes to keep pace. The shift from sleepless nights to near-instant delivery has reshaped how the sport is shared, bringing fans closer to the action than ever.

“Just 10 years ago hard drive speeds were not what they are now, for those around me at that time, they would have seen me finishing at 2-3-4am and starting at 6-7am for the next day, these are times I do not wish upon anyone, and I’ve done everything I can to reduce that. OWC truly helped in this, for that I am very grateful and excited to spread this experience not just within our team but now also to the Freestyle Pro Tour riders who gain high speed access to our day to day media – thanks to the OWC Drives each one of them received during our FPT Paros event”

Freestyle windsurfing deserves to be seen. With OWC powering the backend, we can deliver stories at the pace they happen, keeping the fire alive far beyond the beach.