MARCO LANG: BEYOND THE FINISH LINEMARCO LANG: BEYOND THE FINISH LINEAfter more than a decade competing at the highest level of professional windsurfing, Marco Lang stepped away from the PWA tour at the peak of his career. Since then, the former Sylt champion has swapped the pressure of race starts for the demanding world of product development at Duotone Windsurfing, working alongside legendary designer Kai Hopf to help shape the next generation of equipment. We caught up with Marco to look back on his racing career, relive some unforgettable adventures and find out what life is really like behind the scenes in one of windsurfings leading R&D teams. Photos: PWA/ Carter / DuotoneWINDSURF: Tell us why and when you decided to quit racing on the PWA tour?MARCO LANG: I made the decision during COVID. That period gave me the time to really reflect on my future and what I wanted moving forward. I realized that I had already achieved all my goals on the PWA tour. I had an amazing time competing, met so many great people, and it was truly an incredible life experience. During 2021, I came to the conclusion that it would be my final year on tour.WINDSURF: What were the highlights of your racing career?MARCO LANG: I had so many great moments during my time on tour. It wasnt just about what happened on the waterI also had amazing experiences off the water. We traveled to so many beautiful destinations, like New Caledonia, and got to experience a wide variety of cultures.There are a lot of special racing memories that come to mind, from making it into the runners-up final for the first time to winning my first winners final. But winning Sylt was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career.WINDSURF: You were originally a freestyler, what made you switch to racing?MARCO LANG: Freestyle has always been and probably always will be my biggest passion. I love the creativity, the constant progression, and the fact that theres always a new trick to learn. That feeling never gets old.At the same time, I discovered a completely different kind of passion in racing. I fell in love with pushing my limits, chasing every fraction of a second, and constantly improving my speed and performance. The intensity, precision, and competition of racing motivated me in a new way.WINDSURF: You also did some pretty epic trips back in the daywhich were the most memorable??MARCO LANG: Sailing in front of the Perito Moreno Glacier was definitely one of the most iconic experiences of my life. I still get goosebumps when I think back to that trip. Im incredibly grateful to my sponsors for giving us the opportunity to explore such a beautiful country. What made it even more special was the amazing crew we had with us: Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, Stefan Csaky, Matthias Zimmerman, and John Carter. Its a trip Ill never forget.WINDSURF: Tell us about your current role with Duotone, what would you call your job description and what does that entail?MARCO LANG: Im currently working as a Product Manager in the Duotone Windsurfing division. In this role, Im involved in developing and refining our products, making sure they meet the highest performance standards and reflect the needs of riders and end consumers.I have the privilege of working closely with some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the windsurfing industry, such as Daniel Aeberli and Kai Hopf. Together, we focus on innovation, testing, and continuously improving our gear to push the sport forward.WINDSURF: Have you always been into the R and D side of windsurfing?MARCO LANG: During my whole windsurfing career, I had the chance to work closely with Kai Hopf and learn a lot about our equipment and the development process. From the first time I met Kai, I was hooked, I immediately felt that this was something I wanted to do long-term. That experience really shaped my interest in the R&D side of the sport, and I knew early on that this is what I want to be involved in for the rest of my career.WINDSURF: How closely do you work with Raoul Joa and Kai Hopf?MARCO LANG: Raoul and Kai are actually both at the very top of my favourites list on my phonethat probably says it all. I work very closely with both of them, and were in constant contact, whether its about product development, testing, or ideas.WINDSURF: What is it like working with Kai?MARCO LANG: Im incredibly grateful to work with Kai. When you work with him, youre constantly in a learning process. Sometimes its honestly hard for me to believe how much knowledge he hasthats why we all call him the genius.For me, Kai is one of the most experienced designers out there. It doesnt matter if its sails, boards, or finshe can design everything. Working alongside him is both inspiring and a huge opportunity to keep improving every day.WINDSURF: Did it take a while to understand each other and reaching the same goals with the equipment you are testing?MARCO LANG: Ill never forget the first time I went to Maui in 2014 to work with Kai. One thing that really stayed with me was when he said, If you work hard and have a good feeling for the products, then youre my guy to work with. That meant a lot to me.At the same time, it definitely took a few years for us to fully understand each other and align our goals. Developing that mutual understanding, especially when it comes to feeling and feedbacktakes time. But over the years, we built that connection, and now Kai is able to translate my feedback very precisely into the products.WINDSURF: Do you test all the boards and sails for Duotone?MARCO LANG: The R&D team, made up of Kai Hopf, Daniel Aeberli, and myself, shares the workload both on and off the water. With three very experienced windsurfers putting a lot of energy and effort into every single product, I believe thats one of the key reasons our brand is so strong. That said, Daniel and I are the main testers for the full range of boards and sails.WINDSURF: Talk us through a typical day on Maui when you are on a test trip?MARCO LANG: Definitely long days with plenty of work. I normally wake up around 6:00 a.m. for a quick breakfast, and then head straight to the harbour to start testing some freeride equipment. Anyone who has been to Maui knows that youre not really allowed on the water before 11:00 a.mexcept in the harbour, so we use that time as efficiently as possible.I usually try to be back at Kais house around 10:00 a.m. to discuss the morning test results and work on recuts for the prototypes. After a short break, we prepare all the equipment for the afternoon session, which is mostly focused on wave or freewave gear.I like to be at Hookipa around 11:00 a.m., before it gets too crowded. Sometimes I go back to Kais house in between sessions to make further adjustments to the sails and then head back out to test them again. That process makes everything very efficient. Im usually home around 6:00 p.m. for dinner and a short break, but the day isnt over yet. Because of the time difference with Europe, I often have meetings in the early evening. The days are long and exhausting, but I really cant complainmy workplace is where other people go on holiday.WINDSURF: What are the highs and lows of the job?MARCO LANG: The biggest highs are definitely when you receive great feedback from customers. For me, it feels almost like winning a finalits a very similar kind of satisfaction and reward for all the work that goes into the products.On the other hand, since COVID the economy has been quite unstable, which also affects the windsurfing industry. People are sometimes more cautious about investing in new equipment. But despite that, we keep pushing hard on the R&D side to continuously improve our products and make sure our customers can have fun and create unforgettable moments on the water.WINDSURF: Do you also organize the photo shoots for Duotone and is that fun or is it a big stress?MARCO LANG: Yes, thats also part of my role alongside being a product manager. In the past, I was mainly involved in photo shoots as a rider, which was definitely less stressful than organizing them. Organizing shoots comes with a lot more responsibility and can be quite stressful at times. But in the end, all the effort is worth it when you see the final results after the shoot.WINDSURF: What else are you into aside from windsurfing?MARCO LANG: Definitely skiing. During my professional career, I usually spent my winters in warmer destinations to train and prepare for the upcoming season, so I didnt really have the chance to go skiing. Since my retirement, Ive been trying to spend as much time as possible in the snow. Besides skiing, I also love spending time in the mountains with my bike.WINDSURF: What do you love about windsurfing?MARCO LANG: Being on the water means freedom to mejust me and my equipment. All I can hear is the sound of the wind and the board gliding over the water. Windsurfing makes me the happiest version of myself. Its more than just a sport for meits my life.WINDSURF: Do you love windsurfing in Austria and the Lakes?MARCO LANG: Windsurfing in Austria is definitely not as well known as in some other countries, but we still have several great spots to get on the water. For me, windsurfing at home is something really special, because this is where everything started for me. Its always a great feeling to come back and enjoy every single minute on the water here.WINDSURF: Where is your favourite place to Windsurf?MARCO LANG: My favourite place to windsurf is Lake Traun in Upper Austria, where my grandfather taught me how to windsurf. Its a very special place for menot just because of the conditions, but because its where everything started.WINDSURF: If you can just go and windsurf for funwhat conditions would you love to sail in?MARCO LANG: In the last five years, Ive definitely spent more time sailing in waves, and Ive discovered a real passion for it. Riding waves is such an incredible feelingits hard to compare it to anything else. If I could just go windsurfing for fun, Id choose good wave conditions, with clean wind and nice, flowing lines. That combination gives you the freedom to really express yourself on the water, which I enjoy the most.WINDSURF: Tell us about some of the other behind the scenes work you have to do?MARCO LANG: My job is very versatile, which is what makes it so interestingno two days are ever the same. Besides my work in product management, I also support my colleague Alex Hasch with marketing and team activities. That side of the job helps me a lot to better understand the market and stay connected with what our customers and team riders really need.WINDSURF: Have Duotone got some interesting ideas / concepts in the pipeline?MARCO LANG: The motivation is definitely there, and we always have some exciting ideas in the pipeline. Were constantly working on new concepts and improvements, pushing the limits of performance and innovation.At the same time, our main goal is to make windsurfing as easy as possible while maximizing the joy it brings. We want to create equipment that helps riders progress faster, feel more comfortable, and ultimately have the best possible experience on the water.WINDSURF: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?MARCO LANG: Hopefully still in the windsurfing industry. My goal is to inspire more people to get into windsurfing and to see those happy faces when they come off the water. Thats what its all about for me.The post MARCO LANG: BEYOND THE FINISH LINE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

NICO PRIEN: WILD MISSION TO MADAGASCARNICO PRIEN: WILD MISSION TO MADAGASCARAfter an epic trip to Mauritius, Nico Prien and Lars head on a wild adventure to Madagascar! Just the journey to get their looked like a mission in itself! Worth a watch!The post NICO PRIEN: WILD MISSION TO MADAGASCAR appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

GEORGE GRISLEY PROGRESS FROM THE PLATEAU: THE DOWNWIND 360GEORGE GRISLEY PROGRESS FROM THE PLATEAU: THE DOWNWIND 360In the latest of his Progress from the Plateau series George takes a look at mastering the Downwind 360a stylish move that you can add to your repertoire of carving manoeuvres in windsurfing.George: Welcome back to Episode 5 of the Progress From the Plateau series! In todays episode, were taking on one of the most stylish carving manoeuvres in windsurfingthe Downwind 360. Whether youre looking to land your first carving 360, or youre already working on the move and want to make your technique smoother and more consistent, this video breaks down everything you need to know. Well look at the key steps, technique and timing to help you understand the manoeuvre and start putting it into practice on the water.The post GEORGE GRISLEY PROGRESS FROM THE PLATEAU: THE DOWNWIND 360 appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

MARIA BEHRENS: OFF THE GRIDMARIA BEHRENS: OFF THE GRIDTake a look at the latest in the ION Off the Grid video series which follows the journey of Maria Behrens from a 12 year old learning to windsurf with her parents to becoming a world tour competitor and member of the Duotone team for wing and windsurfing.You can also read our interview with Maria Here!Windsurf Magazine OnlineMARIA BEHRENS: THE NEXT WAVE | Windsurf Magazine OnlineION Water | HomeThe post MARIA BEHRENS: OFF THE GRID appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

SWIFT BUSINESS: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH... ROBBY SWIFTSWIFT BUSINESS: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITHROBBY SWIFTAfter more than two decades at the very highest level of windsurfing, Robby Swift is entering a new chapterone that combines family life, business coaching and still plenty of time chasing perfect waves. From the challenges of stepping away from full-time competition to pushing his limits at Jaws, testing boards, training with Mauis elite sailors and finding new motivation away from the tour, Robby shares his thoughts on the sport, the future of professional windsurfing and what keeps him fired up to keep pushing his sailing!Photos: Fish Bowl DiariesMaleen HoekstraJohn Carter/ PWAWINDSURF: You competed in Fiji earlier in the season, tell us how the trip worked out for you?ROBBY SWIFT: FIJICloudbreak in Fiji is probably the best place on earth to windsurf on a wave. Its just insane how good the conditions are there. I had decided not to compete in international events this year, but when I heard about Fiji, I couldnt pass up the opportunity to sail in my favourite wave with just a couple of other people out, so I knew I had to go.The conditions this year were even more insane than we have ever had in the past. The waves were pumping and it was extremely windy (borderline too windy at times with the offshore angle of the wind this year)!I stayed on a catamaran with Morgan, Antoine and Camille and it was a fantastic choice. We were out there all day and could pick and choose the best moments to hit the reef. We got in plenty of surfing, sailing and fishing and had an awesome time during the event.I had a bit of a hard first heat, being seeded alongside Jaeger Stone and I had just had one of the worst wipeouts of my life before the heat started, so I had had a bit of the confidence knocked out of me before that heat started. I managed to pick out some good waves though and rode the first ones pretty conservatively but managed to rack up some OK scores. I then waited for a big set at the end and was able to pick off the best wave of my heat for my last wave. Jaeger was on the first wave of the set and I saw him go for a big aerial so I knew I had to go for it on this one. I ended up hitting the first section and getting lifted way up in the air and just about managing to hang on and land it right in the bowling barrel of the wave, did my best not to nose-dive and then squeezed in 1 more turn before the wave closed out. Jaeger had hit the second section of his wave and fallen, and it turned out in the end that that was the wave that broke his foot, so I was really sad for him that he didnt make it. That was the highlight of the event for me, hitting that aerial, probably one of the highest of my life, and managing to hold onto it through that gnarly barrelling section.Unfortunately I think all the judges were looking at Jaegers crash right when I was doing the aerial so I only got a 4.5 for my wave (you will have seen Jaegers crash on Paul Van Bellens video, so I know why everyone was looking at that), and I didnt make it through the heat but I was proud of myself for going for it and happy that I pulled it off. Hoping for a speedy recovery for Jaeger as it was awesome to see him in the water again. I had had a close up view of his insane wave before the heat, with an aerial and 2 amazing turns, so I knew I had my work cut out for me and it was inspiring to see him on the water!Having not made it to the semi finals, I had to watch the rest of the event from our boat and I was blown away by the pure adrenaline charging of all the guys. It was really, really heavy out there and everyone put on an amazing show, with no safe-sailing at all.Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to the event crew for putting on this incredible spectacle. Thanks to the local Fijian crew @fijisurfco for their ongoing support of this amazing event.WINDSURF: How was the winter season in Maui this season. Did you get to ride Jaws much?ROBBY SWIFT: This was probably one of the slowest winters I have ever seen on Maui. We did sail a bit, but the wind completely shut down for around 3 months so it was by far the worst windsurfing winter on Maui I have experienced since 2000.I sailed Jaws twice, it was as fun as always, but having been spoiled with 5-8 sessions up there the past few years, I was definitely left hoping for more next year!WINDSURF: Have you still got any bucket list destinations you would still like to go a mission and windsurf?ROBBY SWIFT: Yes, definitely. I am actually going to start working on my bucket list this summer. Im going to Indonesia for 4-6 weeks with the family and will be taking my windsurf gear so hopefully we will be able to do some good strike missions during that time!WINDSURF: What does it feel like now you did not have to go and compete in the Canary Islands this seasondo you feel a sense of freedom or was it strange missing out?ROBBY SWIFT: I am definitely feeling weird about it. When Braw and Morgan went off to the other side of the island to train, I really miss it and it will be very strange watching the contests and not taking part in them. I am really happy that they are doing Fiji this year though, plus 2x events on Maui so if I do them and Chile, Ill still be doing enough of the tour to get a ranking so Im not 100% weened off it yet!WINDSURF: Who do you think has the best bottom turn in windsurfing and why?ROBBY SWIFT: I like Levis bottom turn is really solid. I would go with him.WINDSURF: What four guys would you like to take on a trip to Fiji and why?ROBBY SWIFT: Braw, Ricardo Campello, Jason Polakow and Morgan Noireaux, I think. That would be really fun. Jason has to come as he is nuts and would push us all to and past our limits. Braw is Braw and I have travelled with him for 20 years, its always great to have him around. Ricardo is fun and also pushes us all to surpass our limits, plus he always brings his drone and various other cameras so he makes us all look more professional! Morgan is my teammate and he rips, plus he is nice and calm and easy going so we have fun together when we go to Jaws etc.WINDSURF: Who do you think has the best jumping game at Pozo and why?ROBBY SWIFT: It would have to be between Philip and Marino I think, with Marc Pare right up there too, and Braw also. Braw is probably as consistent as Philip and Marino, but I think those 2 jump the highest and do all the tricks. Marc can go as high as Philip and Marino but sometimes lacks a tiny bit of consistency, or he has in the past, its quite possible that this year he will be at the same level as he seems to get better and better exponentially!WINDSURF: Who do you think is the most competitive wave sailor on the world tour?ROBBY SWIFT: Between Marc and Braw I would have to say!WINDSURF: Are there any new moves out there you have been dreaming of?ROBBY SWIFT: I almost did a double 360 the other day, it was more like a 360 into a forward loop. I think that is perfectly possible (but very scary!) I will probably keep trying that, but I keep breaking gear doing it and its getting tougher to do now I dont have all that free sponsored gear to destroy without feeling the financial pain!WINDSURF: What new challenges are you facing now you are not competing full time?ROBBY SWIFT: I have been building a few other businesses up to try to make money while not making money from windsurfing, but getting my head around not really having a budget to go on the trips I would like to do and having to pay for gear that I break is something is hard to get used to. I just want to go for it on every wave and have been lucky enough to never really think about that in the past. Its kind of annoying to go sailing and take it easy!! (sorry to everyone who always had to do that), but yeah, that is tough to get used to when you have been lucky enough to get all your gear replaced when broken since you were a teenager!WINDSURF: What are you interested in outside windsurfing?ROBBY SWIFT: Surfing, and thats about it ha ha! No, I enjoy planning, designing and realizing building projects. That has been something that has been in my family since I was born, since my dad built and ran a roofing company in the UK. I work with my dad and brother now on those projects and enjoy them. We also have several other businesses that I enjoy overseeing, my wifes brand clhei.com started in 2013 and has grown into something really amazing now. That was just the 2 of us for about 8 years and my brother and his wife joined for the past few years to take it to a new level.We have a rental car business called North Shore Maui Rent a Car which is part owned by myself and Brawzinho. We also have a small caf and I am the distributor of NeilPryde and JP in Hawaii, so all of those things take up my time and are fulfilling in different ways. I enjoy teaching kids how to surf and windsurf and wing etc. and I run a clinic on Maui every year for adults which also gives me quite a lot of satisfaction when the people who come enjoy themselves and progress. There is nothing that really beats a sick wave at Jaws, or performing your best and doing well in a contest, but these other things have less ups and downs emotionally and I guess quite a bit less risk so as I am getting older, I am starting to enjoy them more and more!WINDSURF: What is a typical day for you at home in Maui in the winterhow busy do you boys keep you with all the lifts to the beach?ROBBY SWIFT: We wake up around 5:30 and try to get into the water at around 5:50 to surf before school. I have to drop the boys at 7:45 at school, so we usually get 1.5 hours of surfing in before that. Then I have Gym from 8-9 and then I try to finish all my work between 9-2pm which is school pickup. As long as I have all my work done, then we either surf again, or windsurf or wing after school, before the high school kids get out at around 3:30. Then we come home to do homework and then either go to the skate park or back to the beach for the late evening session (usually surfing as the wind dies in the evening). Its pretty full on and we go hard like that for weeks and weeks on end but its the most enjoyable way to spend my time, so the 8:30pm exhaustion is actually quite a nice feeling!WINDSURF: How do you know when you have found a magic board when testing?ROBBY SWIFT: I dont like boards to be too slow, so as soon as I step on them off the beach, I can feel the speed and I like them to get going quickly in that first little gust. The first gybe on the way out is also pretty tell-tale, but really on the very first bottom turn, you get an amazing amount of feedback from the board. Generally if I dont like that first turn, it is hard to imagine loving the board in the long run, but I do, diligently, work thorough all the different foot-strap and fin positions, mast foot position etc. to see if I can improve the performance. Its normally possible to tune up a board, but generally the first bottom turn to cutback is the most telling moment. I like to be able to go really fast on the wave, lay into the bottom turn as hard as possible and just concentrate on timing as I head up to the lip. Then I like to be able to push as hard as I can off the top and really feel the rail bite. I dont like it when the board slides out at all off the top (unless I want to make it slide out) so the grip off the top is really important for me. I like to have control 100% of the time, and the ability to go from front foot to back foot quickly, so I can adjust my turns in the middle of the bottom turn if I want to go steeper or more vertical, or cut the turn short to re-direct back towards the beach for a goiter or aerial. The boards have to be pretty special before I call them magic!!WINDSURF: Are you going to keep up the physical training?ROBBY SWIFT: Yes, 100%, we train with Sarah Hauser 3 times per week and I do yoga or stretching the other 2 days of the week and just surf / windsurf / foil on the weekends.WINDSURF: Do you ever worry about getting old?ROBBY SWIFT: I do and I dont. I really feel great at the moment. As long as I dont let the training slip for too long, my body feels good. I am slowly allowing myself to accept missing out on certain sessions when I have other things that I have to do which are more important (although it is hard!) and I think that that kind of thing happens slowly and gradually so that eventually you end up being happy with whatever it is that you are doing at the time. My kids are so into surfing / windsurfing / winging that I know they will be keeping me young. They literally go from the bed to some kind of board (either surf or skate) by 6am and then continue in that vein throughout the day until they are ready to pass out at 8:00pm so I think they will keep me young!WINDSURF: How did the Maui Pro Am work out for you and were you impressed with the general level of sailing you saw in the finals?ROBBY SWIFT: It went well. I sailed as well as I could in every heat. The heats were super short so you had to go from it from wave number 1 and I did that every time, I think I landed a goiter and a 360 in every heat plus backed them up with some kind of turn on most waves, so that was really all you could possibly do in each heat. If you look at the Liveheats scores from the heats, they were often so close, it was hard to tell 2 people apart, and in the B Final, I lost to Bernd (who won) by 0.23 of a point, so it was as close as splitting hairs to get to the final. I got a wave right on the buzzer and did my best 360 of the heat, along with a turn on that wave, so I really performed in a clutch moment to 100% of my ability and have to be happy with myself for that!WINDSURF: What do you think of the sailing style of Bernd Roediger?ROBBY SWIFT: I think he is the most fluid and surprising sailor out there at most waves. His connection with the ocean and with the wave he is riding on is uncanny. He is really confident in his decisions to wait for sets and then executes incredibly well on every wave. I dont think anyone else has the same flow as him, and his ability to pull moves on really gnarly sections where you think there is no chance of doing anything but a closeout hit is what really sets him apart in many heats.WINDSURF: What is it like to have training partners like Morgan Noireaux and Marcilio Browneare you guys always competitive when free-sailing?ROBBY SWIFT: Yes we are super competitive but we are really respectful of each other and its amazing to sail with them. We train in the gym with Sarah together and we are kind of competitive there, and then in the water always looking at what each other does and trying to show off for each other. It actually makes it insanely fun and I dont know what life would be like without that, like I said before, Im sad when I know they are going to the south of the island to train and Im not there any more, but at Hookipa we always sail together and it makes every session much more fun when they are out.WINDSURF: How do you see the way the WWT / PWA world tour is working out?ROBBY SWIFT: Honestly I was pretty burned out at the end of my involvement with that and I have enjoyed not looking at it too much in recent months. I try not to share my opinion much at all anymore unless there is something obvious, I can see that would solve a potential problem. They have their way of doing things and, as a competitor who was involved in the management of the PWA, some of the things that changed werent particularly great for me or my peers in the short term (massive reductions in standards for sailors and much more liberal judging standards being the main things), but we were not able to get events in places we wanted to go before and having the sailors involved in the decision making on standards probably held us back from achieving that for many years. Hopefully in the long term it will be good that theres a more dictatorial approach now with the new system and the sailors are one step removed from the decision making. We certainly have a lot more events in a lot more places in the world now and its much more interesting as a spectator, so I hope that sponsorship will follow and then the sailors will be able to get more reward back for their efforts and turn professional windsurfing back into an actual profession again.We are actually in the process of trying to organize an event in Brazil in 2027 (hopefully even 4 or 5 star) together with Braw and Jason, at a hotel that we all invested in down in Icaraizino, so I very much like that the events have become more accessible to organizers due to this new event platform. This kind of thing would never have been possible with the full standards that we used to require of organizers.We are doing a clinic this August 2026, together with Jason and Braw, so it will be a fun thing for people to be able to sign up to and be ready for next years event!WINDSURF: What sailor inspired you when you were a young rookie on tour?ROBBY SWIFT: Jason Polakow, Josh Stone, Nick Baker, Bjorn and Kevin Pritchard mostly.WINDSURF: How are you going to keep motivated now you are not competing full time on tour?ROBBY SWIFT: I guess if you have read this far you can see that my days are full to the brim from sun up till sun-down each day. Maui is a mega expensive place to live so keeping yourself the right way up is motivation enough! Trying to manage my life so I have time to maximize time with my kids while they are at this precious age is my main focus, and building up the JP / NeilPryde brands again in the US seems to be a fun way to do that and hopefully it will end up being something I can work on with my children in 10 years or so when they finish school!The post SWIFT BUSINESS: TWENTY QUESTIONS WITH ROBBY SWIFT appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

ROBIN HOOD SPECIAL OFFERS!ROBIN HOOD SPECIAL OFFERS!The guys at Robin Hood Watersports have just updated their previous-years Goya Windsurf sail range with some serious discounts! You can check on their website or give them a call to get all the info!Robin HoodWhat a start to the summer! Warm and windy, we hope youve managed to make the most of the conditions and spend plenty of time on the water.With the season in full swing and autumn fast approaching, now is the perfect time to replace any worn-out sails, fill the gaps in your quiver, or simply treat yourself to a shiny new addition.Weve just updated our previous-years Goya Windsurf sail range with some serious discounts. The Banzai 11, Banzai Max, and Banzai Surf are all available and ready to ship immediately.And dont miss our updated multibuy offer below, buy 3 or more sails and save 25%.GET DISCOUNT HERE:The post ROBIN HOOD SPECIAL OFFERS! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

EPIC CLOUDBREAK ACTION: PAUL VAN BELLENEPIC CLOUDBREAK ACTION: PAUL VAN BELLENThe action at this years Fiji wave competition was nothing short of insane, with Cloudbreak delivering incredible conditions for some of the worlds best wave riders. Paul Van Bellen was right in the thick of it, capturing all the action from above with his drone. Hes just put together this epic highlight reel, giving us a birds-eye view of some seriously epic sailing from one of the worlds most iconic waves.The post EPIC CLOUDBREAK ACTION: PAUL VAN BELLEN appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

RECORD BREAKER: MACIEK RUTKOWSKIRECORD BREAKER: MACIEK RUTKOWSKIGuinness World Records confirms Maciek Rutkowskis record for the fastest windsurfing crossing of the Baltic Sea! Maciek Rutkowski is a six-time windsurfing world champion, undertook a gruelling attempt last September to cross the Baltic Sea from Sweden to Poland on a windsurfing board. He completed the 227.5-kilometre route in a record-breaking time of 8 hours and 28 minutes. Fastest crossing of the Baltic Sea on a windsurfing board (male)!Maciek Rutkowskis achievement has now been officially recognised by Guinness World Records under the titleFastest crossing of the Baltic Sea on a windsurfing board (male). The Polish athlete and his team had to wait 10 months for the record to be formally confirmed.We waited for so long that, mentally, I think I had already come to terms with the possibility that the record might never be confirmed. This was something completely new for me and the entire team. We had to meet a huge number or requirements. You start to wonder whether you will be able to meet the standards of such a legendary institution, one that is so difficult to gain recognition from. When I found out we had done it, I was in shock. Even though we had fought for it, I tried not to convince myself that the record would definitely be mine, says Maciek Rutkowski.Watch the full record attempt: During the record attempt on 18 September 2025, Rutkowski faced waves of up to three metres and strong winds. At times, he reached speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour. It was the most gruelling and dangerous challenge he had ever undertaken, despite regularly competing on the PWA World Tour.After a few hours, my nervous system started shutting down. There were moments when I did not know where I was supposed to be going. Your vision gets worse and your senses become weaker. You have to force yourself to drink. Waves are coming at you from three directions. You have to force yourself to eat. I started getting cramps in several parts of my body at the same time. It was much harder than I had expected. When I saw Rozewie, I burst into tears, Rutkowski said after reaching the finish line.The post RECORD BREAKER: MACIEK RUTKOWSKI appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.