CLUB VASS: SET-UP DIARIES!Club Vass Set-Up DiariesAfter a winter of hibernation, Club Vass has officially launched its 2025 season in Vassiliki! Getting the club ready for a busy summer takes serious behind-the-scenes effortbut this crew are the best in the business. Theyve been perfecting this finely tuned operation since 1987 and this major operation runs like a like a well oiled machine! From rigging sails to fine-tuning every detail, were taking you backstage to see what it really takes to get one of the worlds most iconic windsurfing clubs ready for action. Let the season begin!Countdown to Summer 2025Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at Club Vass? Winters here are almost eerily quiet; the bay is reclaimed by fishermen, many of the locals migrate to Athens and most of the cafs and tavernas are shuttered. The Club itself is stripped back to a skeleton to hunker down for winter, with most of the kit sold to make way for the incoming brand-new selection the following season. While the weather stays fairly mild, there can be storms and that renowned thermal summer wind becomes distinctly less reliable. But come spring its game on again!The Swallows ReturnBy April, Vassiliki shakes off its short winter hibernation and the endless-summer-swallows start to make their way back. Among the first to fly in is manager Ollie Scott, fresh from his winter adventures, which this year included Cape Town, Bali and Sumatra. Max Rowe and Adam Chubbock (Watersport Nomads) are already in place, having spent quite a bit of the winter here, with their kids attending the local school, which just shows how infectious this place is. Hotel Manager Sarah arrives after a spell working on the yachts in Palma, followed by some of the senior team, including Tom, Benita and Eoin, having also wintered in exotic climes. Chefs Tim and Brad along with Greek coach Tilemachos head over from the Alps and Dan and Hannah arrive fresh-and-freestyled from Bonaire. Its a tough life, but someones got to do it! With around two weeks to go before opening, the rest of the set-up squad trickle in from various corners of the globe and its all goSpring is in the AirMeanwhile, Vassiliki village begins to stir, with Greek Easter usually marking the unofficial start of the season, and the tavernas begin opening up. The island is beautiful, lush and vibrant at this time of year. The beaches are blissfully empty, Agiofili beach is sunbed-free, and all you can hear is the gentle lapping of that crystal-clear Ionian seaWildlife, welding and wrenches!The first task for Ollie is a full site inspection walk-through, when he assesses the state of the hotel and beach facilities after their winter nap. The main occupants are feline and there are usually some surprises; this year its a litter of kittens in the harness box! Getting power, water and internet fully functioning is a top priority and local tradespeople are now in hot demand across the island, often working on a very Greek just-in-time basis (which, to be fair, somehow always works out). Cue the Clubs top trade team, which includes Vassili (electrician/plumber), Vangelis (welder, carpenter, boat driver, fireman, you name it), and Lee, AKA Mr. Maintenance himself. Its all hands to the pump, often quite literally.Controlled chaosThis is where the magic and the muscle come in. Hotel, restaurant and beach teams get fully briefed on everything from service and safety protocols to emergency procedures. Its a pretty slick operation these days, and Ollie (with 20 years at the helm) keeps things surprisingly calm. Still always expect the unexpected is his main maxim, with freak storms and late lorries almost predictable challenges.Its full-on and physical, requiring plenty of good old-fashioned elbow grease to deep clean and polish the hotel, restaurant & bar. Just call those blisters pre-season windsurf prep! The beach bar is rebuilt and fitted out with fridges, dish-washers & the all-important ice machine for keeping everyone in the necessary frapps, freddos and cocktails throughout the season.An army marches on its stomach!Expert chefs Tim and Brad fine-tune the menu to ensure the hungry windsurfers every need is fulfilled, with all options covered from healthy to hearty. Food is fuel for the troops at this time; the boys keep the team well fed with substantial set-up meals and no ones slacking on their portions. Meanwhile, under Sarahs eagle eye, hotel rooms get the full five-star treatment. Health & safety is always a priority, from fire extinguishers to first aid kits, everythings checked and everyone learns the drill.Gearing UpAll hands on deckBeach-side, its time to turn attention to the star attraction: the beach and all that glorious kit.First, the team rebuilds board and sail racks, sets up the watch tower, organises rental areas, and lays down grass carpets and decking, for comfort-launching and to protect all that precious equipment. Every year, a huge batch of brand-new windsurf and wing gear arrives via lorry (usually from the Far East via Athens). When the truck rolls in, its all hands on deck, with everyone mucking in to unload and carry the gear to the rigging area.Rigging upThen comes the rigging marathon, with over 300 sails to be expertly rigged on high-carbon masts and booms. Quality control (AKA Beach Manager Tom) takes no prisoners, theres no place for a baggy un-tuned sail at Club Vass! And screwing in foot-straps and deck plates on over 300 boards takes precision (not to mention resistance to repetitive strain), a windsurfers rite of passage if ever there was one.Team Building & BondingWork hard, play hardClub Vass runs on its amazing people, many of whom return year after year, clients and staff alike. Every season brings new faces, keen to become part of the legend and the new team bonds at work, on the water, and over beers at the beach bar. Its definitely work hard and play hard here. Everyone mucks in, chefs help unload boards, bar staff rig sails (under careful supervision of course) and the beach team are more than happy to lend a hand with the beer barrels. Theres a palpable sense of pride and a lot of laughs in pulling it all together.The knowledgeThroughout this time, instructor development is also prioritised, with refresher courses in crucial elements like driving the power boats and first aid. It goes without saying that the Club Vass beach team are all fully qualified and experienced (of course many have been coming back for years). But new faces need to be brought up to speed on how it all works, the particular conditions here and what it takes to be amongst the best of the best. The veterans are happy to help pass on their knowledge to the rookies and assist in developing individual coaching styles. The underlying ethos here is on tirelessly fine-tuning the tuition program. The new instructors trial-run their sessions on new members of the restaurant & bar team.Newbies and rites of passageThis is one of the great perks of coming to work at Club Vass as a newbie; you get to use the kit and everyones on hand to help you learn. Some of the instructors first discovered their passion for the sport while working on the bar. And of course, there are the rites of passage that have been handed down over countless generations; look out for the tartan paint and the long weight (if you know, you know)!The RewardsEmpty bay & early blasts!Sure, the pressures on, but the energy during set-up is something else and the excitement just builds as opening day approaches. One of the biggest rewards? Those dreamy early-season cross-shore days with barely a soul in the bay. And this year, late April and early May have already delivered the goods with some mega days. OK, the waters not bathtub warm just yet, but no ones complaining.Cross-Shore ApartmentsAnd new for 2025, right next to Club Vass theres a uber-luxurious complex with an exclusive choice of spacious 1 and 2-bedroom apartments. Theyre amongst the highest quality accommodation on the island, fully equipped with no detail overlooked. The location of course could not be better, with outstanding views and all this with Club Vass literally on your doorstep. Theyre nearly ready and will be available soon, so watch this space!Fine-TuningA few days before opening, its soft launch time, a full days test-run of hotel and beach operations to snag any last-minute issues. Everyones focussed now and nothings left to chance. Even the beach bar gets tested and of course the beer and cocktails dont escape quality controlyou can trust the CV teams endless enthusiasm and attention to detail!May 18th 2025: Opening Day!The wait is finally over, the first transfer coach rocks up, the hotel and restaurant are ready for first guests, the racks are full of box-fresh top gear, the bars open and cross-shore is kicking inUp and runningNow the tried and tested operation, honed over many years, beginsEveryone soon settles into the rhythm, with a weekly cycle of incoming and outgoing guests, including some new but many familiar faces; once youve experienced the Club Vass magic its hard to stay away. Ollie kicks things off with the Monday morning staff meeting, where the team debriefs the week just gone and gears up for the one ahead, all with the goal of maintaining that trademark passion and excellence throughout the summer. After that he introduces the team to the clients on the terrace and runs through whats happening and how it all works. Then its straight into coaching groups and out onto the water, with gentler starts for newcomers and full on cross-shore afternoons for the more advanced.Of course, windsurfing and winging are the main events, but theres plenty more here for the action-addicts, including yoga, SUPs & mountain biking. And the aprs-surf scene is awesome, from post-session sundowners at the beach bar to the legendary Club Vass BBQ to round off an unforgettable week.The Club Vass team are expecting youHeres to an awesome summer 2025!Club Vass | Windsurfing & Watersports Holidays In Greeceinfo@clubvass.net01992 874566Photos:Miles Taylor @protographyofficialThomas VandewalleOllie ScottThe post CLUB VASS: SET-UP DIARIES! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

PATRICE BELBEOCH: WINDSURFER LT MAKES ITS DFI DEBUT!PATRICE BELBEOCH: WINDSURFER LT MAKES ITS DFI DEBUT!For the first time ever, the legendary Dfi Wind will welcome the Windsurfer LT class to the starting line! We caught up with windsurfing icon Patrice Belbeoch, the driving force behind this exciting addition, to find out what inspired him to bring the Windsurfer LT class to the event and how he believes this classic board will handle the extreme challenge of the race.WS: Can you tell us how the inclusion of the Windsurfer LT at the Defi wind came about?PB: The Windsurfer LT by Exocet boards has a very impressive versatility. Andits great to hear that its one of the best-selling boards worldwide, second only to iQFOiL. I got talking with Philippe Bru about giving the board its own class at the Dfi event and he thought it was a fantastic idea, especially since it can handle lighter winds and still perform well. The fact that it can reach speeds of 25 knots, really highlights its capabilities. Plus, its connection to the origins of windsurfing makes it a meaningful choice for showcasing the sports history and evolution.WS: Will you be taking part yourself?PB: Yes, I will, I did many Dfi on different boards and I am now really keen to give it a try on the Windsurfer LT too! I am hoping to finish around mid fleet in the fin division but lets seeWS: If it is nuclear winds how tough do you think it will be on the Windsurfer LT without foot straps?PB: That is the question everyone is thinking, but the board can handle quite some wind, and we have on offer a 5.0 and a G10 fin as an additional option! This will allow the board to handle wind over 35 knots! Of course, the big question will still be what about the 50 knots? But then it will be hard for everyone on any equipment!The board does not have foot straps but still it remains very easy and balanced in strong wind! With this kind of board if you are overpowered you can just move the rig really forward and step back a lot on the board to get maximum leverage, you cannot do that on a short board and therefore the wind range is a lot bigger for the Windsurfer LT!WS: How many Windsurfer LTs do you think will take part?PB: Our goal was to reach 40 participants for this first edition, but I think we will be around 50 or more, so I am pretty happy with that many for the first Dfi!WS: Why do you love the Windsurfer LT and this concept?PB: The good think about the LT is the weight class that makes it very fair but also the fact that you windsurf or race in really light winds and still enjoy a nice glide.WS: Are you guys all racing just for fun or will there be an element of competition amongst the class?PB: The goal at the Dfi is to first promote windsurfing and show that a Windsurfer LT by Exocet is not only good in light winds. For the event we are not following the official class rule of the Windsurfer LT class because we have the option of an additional fin and sail! The racing format is also very different with in and out racing in a long distance spirit. For sure there will racing between the participants! No one really knows what to expect but that is the fun of it!WS: What size rig / fin will you take in strong, medium or light winds?PB: We have regular LT package with 5.7m sail and the 5.0m and 30 cm G10 will provide more comfort and speed on those long reaching legs! The 5.7m depending on your weight can handle winds up to 35 knots, the 5.0 will provide an extra 10 to 15 knots of wind range!The 32 G10 fin is also a big factor on those reaching legs because it does handle better the drive of the board and should allow for the sailors to complete the race back and forth on the fin!WS: How much skill level do you think you need to race a Windsurfer LT around the course at the Defi?PB: I think the wind will decide on that point like it does with the level of a short board sailor, but my guess is that any sailor that is going to sail the Dfi will have already a pretty decent skill. Completing the Dfi is an impressive achievement for anyone who makes it!WS: Do you think the windsurfer LT could be an important concept to get people back into windsurfing?PB: Windsurfer LT or similar boards using dagger have been a bit the magic sauce of the windsurfing success in the past with board that can raced in light wind and secure events! Weight class and the same boards be used by skilled and unskilled recreational sailor especially in light wind!Foil racing is far away from it!DEFI WIND 2025Exocet OriginalExocet Windsurfer LT Complete Package Windsurf | H20 Sports | H2O SportsExocet Windsurfer LT Complete 4boardsThe post PATRICE BELBEOCH: WINDSURFER LT MAKES ITS DFI DEBUT! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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NICO PRIEN: HIGH WIND CONTROLNICO PRIEN: HIGH WIND CONTROLThe next time the wind is howling and you are planning to head out for a blast, it might be worth watching this video by Nico Prien; as he shares his best tips for staying in control in high winds and what mistakes to avoid!Edited and filmed byby Lars WichmannSony A7rV Lumix S5II & S1H Insta360 X4 // ACE PRO // Go3sThe post NICO PRIEN: HIGH WIND CONTROL appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

Watch an average day in CI's backyard with Bobby Martinez enjoying his signature model: Bobby Quad. This session is captured as is with no editing. Enjoy!Bobbys shortboards are 58 but for this customized four-finner he was thinking we ought to take it down to 52 to 5'3" range. By shortening the rail line and distributing the volume into the width throughout the plan shape he said he'd be able to skate over the flats and carry enough speed to still fit in his signature gauges.The Bobby Quad has a low entry rocker that goes into a flat planing surface under the gas pedal portion of the board that provides the speed to get into waves and over those flat sections. The exit rocker and bottom contours are designed to be all business - with performance oriented flip and generous double concave for added lift to help Bobby boogie down the line in gutless waves. Its tail rocker profile, combined with some width in the tail and modified swallow, provide speed and hold during quick directional changes.The model is designed to be ridden 3 to 6 shorter and to 1/2 wider than your shortboard. For reference, Bobbys dimensions are 52 x 19 x 2 5/16. From other team riders weve since learned that the Bobby Quad is versatile enough to be scaled up for those wanting to increase their wave count. The rail stays nicely foiled (not chunky) at fuller dimensions, so to maintain the integrity of the design we recommend adding thickness over width to hit your volume. As for fins, we recommend you run your favorite quad templates.See more on Bobby Quad here: https://cisurfboards.com/products/bobby-quad

BACK TO BASICS: THE JOY OF FREERIDE!BACK TO BASICS: THE JOY OF FREERIDE!Forget the podiums and double loops for a minute! Freeride windsurfing is where the soul of windsurfing truly lives. Remember the first time you got in the straps, hooked into the harness and felt that magical sensation of planing? Yepjust you, the wind and your board flying across the water, that is the real joy of windsurfing! Well maybe it is time to get back to basics! Word on the street is that shops are seeing a fresh surge of interest in freeride gear. So, with that in mind, we reached out to a cross-section of top sailors to find out what they love about this timeless side of windsurfing and what kit they are riding. Heres what they had to sayPhotos: Si Crowther, Defi Wind, Fish Bowl Diaries, Club Vass, John Carter, Andrea Cucchi, Stefan Csky, Gunsails andPhilip Mackenbrock.BEN PROFFITTObviously Im lucky because we live in Sagres, Portugal so there are plenty of days I can go out for a blast on the freeride kit. Ive been freeriding a lot more recently since weve had kids. It feels like I appreciate free ride more now than I ever have done, because now I dont get every opportunity to go sailing. Ive got to work, we have kids and I have a lot going on with my property so any chance to go sailing is welcome. When I get a window, I look at the forecast and freeride ticks more boxes easier than anything else.We get lots of perfect free ride days and we have flat water. Ive got this G6 Monster freerace board, which is super comfortable and fast and then Ive got a 6.6m V-Max no cam sail which for me is much easier to use than anything else. So, I usually I go with the 106L freerace plus the 6.6m V-Max. I dont even need to ring anyone. I just go for a cruise and its weird because Ive, Ive never truly appreciated that. Ive always enjoyed slalom and racing, but just going out there, especially with the GPS now, its kind of fun you can play around with your personal best speeds. If theres another guy down the beach, you can also have a bit of a drag race so that is fun too.I love racing for fun. It doesnt matter what gear you are on, a race is a race. I could be on the beginner gear. If theres someone else out there and we race, I find it fun anyway.We also have this perfect little spot for doing like lay down jibes and like a really hard carving jibe. And for any wave sailor out there will know that drive off the bottom is an amazing feeling and you can get that on a free ride just cranking a big lay down.When you are out there, you appreciate that quiet you get when you are blasting. People who have kids will know it only too well. Youre just out there and you know I love the feeling of steering the board through the chop as you fly across the water. That kind of feeling doesnt get old. You want a good fin and you want the board to be comfortable so you can press it on the gybes and push on the straight line. It is a freaking good feeling. Its a shame that some people never ever have that feeling, you know, people that have never windsurfed.Simmer Style | Windsurfing FRANK ROGUET (Head of testing for Wind Magazine France!)Freeride windsurfing is the best medicine. It should be enforced by the government. One you get into the straps and planning that is it. You get rid of all of your pain and stress. Your mind is free. No hassling with the wife! Nobody shouting at you, it is pure joy! Windsurfing helps energize your body, even if you feel tired. You jump on the board and you gain energy and power. You come back after your session and you just feel much better in your head and in your body. Windsurfing is the best medicine. Just blasting and gliding. Gybes can be really exciting too. With different levels you start wanting to go faster. There is a huge range of different boards and sails out there, according to your level. Freeriding for fun is just fantastic! I have been testing boards for twenty years so close to 100 boards a year. That is about 2000 boards and I still enjoy jumping on a board for a blast. Every board is different and there are boards that fit your skills and what you are aiming for. If you want to go fast, plane quicker of find the foot strap easily. There is a board for you. It is not easy to find the right one but that is why we do good test reviews!ANDY CHAMBERSTheres nothing better than getting out on freeride gear and letting loose, especially when the UK summer breezes roll inor when youre somewhere like Club Vass, chasing that perfect mix of adrenaline and freedom. Modern freeride equipment has taken things to a whole new levelits lighter, faster, and more efficient than ever, giving you full-speed thrills without compromising on comfort.Recently, weve had a great run of warm easterly winds here in Bournemouth, and Ive been putting the new Goya Carrera to the test. Honestly, its probably the lightest freeride board Ive ever sailed; an absolute rocket. Blasting across the sunlit, choppy waters, it felt like skimming over the glassy lagoons of Bonaire: pure speed, pure freedom and pure escapism.Todays gear makes it easier than ever to go fast, stay comfortable, and just enjoy being out there! Whether youre carving your own lines on an empty stretch of water or drag racing through the busy playgrounds of places like Club Vass. Every windsurfer should have a freeride setup, one board, one rigready to answer the call when the conditions light up. Because those are the days that keep the windsurfing dream alive.https://goyawindsurfing.com/MARCO LANGWindsurfing freeride is pure freedom. Its you, the board, the wind and nothing else.The moment the sail catches the breeze and you start to glide over the water, all your stress disappears.My favourite combo for freeriding, is the Duotone Blast SLS with the E_PACE SLS. The Duotone Blast SLS isnt just a freeride board, the board offers you wide range of use for all types of blasting. The range of use with the Blast is insane and the board is really controllable which helps you go faster! The gybes on the Blast also feel effortless and for me the potential to have fun on this board is limitless!DUOTONE WINDSURFING Boards Ultimate Wave, Freeride, Race & FreestyleNIK BAKERI love going out on the sea at home on the Duotone Blast and E-Pace no cam. Personally, I prefer when it is windy and there are ramps so I can do big jumps and navigate the chop and swells on a freeride board. Now as my kids are getting starting to get more and more into it, Ill probably end up doing more and more freeride with them. That is the joy of windsurfing, just being hooked in and flying across the water and Id love to be doing that alongside my kids.SARAH QUITA OFFRINGAI love going out for a free ride session.It takes me back to the beginning and why I love windsurfing. Its this feeling of pure freedom and no pressure. Just enjoyment. I enjoy riding the Starboard Futura as it still has the fast feeling of the iSonic, but is much more forgiving and easier on the legs.And for a sail I enjoy riding the NeilPryde, Speedster. I like to go a bit bigger on the free ride sail because its much softer than a slalom sail so I will still feel that power and get this ultimate blasting fun feeling.FLO JUNGTheres hardly anything more liberating than blasting across the water with a few friends by your sideCape Towns sun behind you, wind in your face, flying over turquoise waves. Windsurfing is often seen as a solo sport, but especially when youre freeriding, it becomes something deeply shared.You push each other, laugh, scream with joy, and just let loose. No competition, no pressure; just pure stoke, freedom, and connection. The ocean has a way of bringing people together. Thats the kind of flow I live for. My favourite freeride gear is the Starboard Futura 120 and the GUNSAILS Rapid 6.7m!GUNSAILS | Join the familyANDREA CUCCHII often find myself rigging up no-cam freeride sails, sometimes for testing, sometimes for photo shoots, but honestly? A lot of the time its just because I love riding them. Theres something incredibly satisfying about taking these sails out and chasing down my friends on full, blown race gear. Its like showing up to a sprint in flip-flops and keeping up.Heres the thing: modern freeride sails have seriously levelled up. The performance is through the roof, and the materials are top-notch. Were talking about the same high- quality construction, reinforcements, battens, and detailing youd find in high-end race sails, unless, of course, a brand intentionally makes a budget version. So, when it comes to bang for your buck, freeride sails might just be the smartest choice out there. Its not a downgrade; its just a different tool for a different kind of fun.To break it down a bit, freeride sails come in a few flavours. Youve got the 5-batten options that lean towards free, move style, and the 6-batten sails like our AC-F that blurs the line into free, slalom territory. These arent full, on slalom sails without cams, like the AC-0, but they are fast, efficient, and ridiculously fun.What really gets me stoked about these sails is how alive they feel in your hands. The lightness in the luff curve, the softness that lets the sail breathe with the wind, it all comes together to create a ride thats smooth, forgiving, and playful. They plane early, stay light, and they never wear you out. Compare that to race sails, where youre often locked in, every muscle firing, just trying to squeeze out max performance. On a freeride sail, its like youre sailing in board shorts all year long. Its freedom, pure and simple.Honestly, I sometimes wonder why more people dont go for this experience. We keep pushing racy, aggressive gear, but if your goal is to spend more time on the water, to have more fun and less fatigue, then freeride is where the magic happens. I call them freedom sails because thats exactly what they feel like.When Im out on my pure slalom board with a freeride sail, Im still flying fast, smooth, and loving every second. And with the new trend of freerace boards hitting the scene, the pairing gets even better. You get that extra speed and drive, but with less effort and more joy.Instead of cruising around on a freewave setup just to gybe or jump, why not turn up the stoke a bit? Freeride gear brings a whole new level of excitement and ease, especially if youre feeling beat after forty minutes on a full race rig. Maybe its not about downgrading, maybe its time to upgrade to something that keeps you out longer, smiling wider, and feeling more alive on the water.And thats why, when I really want to have fun, when I want to feel the windsurfing stoke, I reach for those freeride sails. Because every session becomes a mini, vacation, and I never want to stop. No last run. No need for breaks. Just pure, effortless joy!GRETA MARCHEGGERTheres just something magical about blasting in 1520 knots on a perfect fin setup; full power, full control, and a smile you cant wipe off your face. To me the 2025 Super Ride hits the perfect balanceits sporty and fast like freerace gear, yet accessible and fun like a true freerider. It doesnt matter if Im blasting around in my flat water home spot Lake Garda, anywhere else in Europe or the choppy and windy tropical coasts of Brazilthe new Super Ride keeps delivering that unbeatable feeling of pure windsurfing joy. Whether Im carving turns, pushing speed runs, or just enjoying the ride, this combo brings endless fun on the water.Coming from racing gear, Ive found the Super Ride to be the perfect transition, it lets me dial back the intensity without giving up the thrill. Its performance with a touch of ease, speed with a dash of relaxation. For anyone who loves windsurfing in its purest, most enjoyable form, this board is a dream come true. Obviously paired with a NeilPryde Speedster or Ryde sail, the setup is complete.Thanks to several key upgrades that enhance its performance and comfort like early planning, control and exiting jibes fully planning became even more easy. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the board that goes wherever you go and rides however you want! NeilPryde WindsurfingWERNER GNIGLERJP Australia shaper Werner Gnigler explains a few fundamentals about freeride board shapes and why JP offer three different models in their range!Windsurf Boards JP AustraliaFreeride Boards are designed for versatility, ease of use, and good all-around performance in a wide range of conditions. This makes it very difficult to combine all these criteria into one shape.Therefore, at JP we offer three Freeride models;Most sporty: Super SportEasy allrounder, best to learn gybing: Magic RideIn between, sporty, controllable, gybing: Super RideBOARD LENGTHThe Magic Ride is the longest shape in our line-up. Getting on the plane is the most important criteria for freeride customers. A longer hull makes it easier to accelerate and move from non-planning into planning. Length gives directional stability and helps you jump over the planning barrier.This is why the Magic Ride is the longest and the Super Sport the shortest board in our range. Advanced riders will be able to pump the sail efficiently and get themselves onto the plane. Freeride customers are looking for easy planning that does not require too much active pumping.Part of the length is the volume distribution. While Magic and Super Ride feature a very balanced volume distribution, which makes them very forgiving,especially when not planning and when tacking. The more performance orientated Super Sport carries more volume towards the tail, which generates more power that needs to be tamed.OUTLINEThe outline must also support the volume distribution as well. Therefore, the nose and tail are kept proportional wide to offer maximum stability and flotation especially when not planning, nevertheless it helps to get on the plane as well.Very important is obviously the board width. The width gives stability and offers planing surface. The magic ride is wide and therefore supports early planning. The Super Ride is slightly narrower for a sportier feel, more comfortable in choppy conditions and allows for more radical fast gybes.FOOT STRAP POSITION AND RAIL SHAPE.The more performance you want to get out of a board the more radical the trim / foot strap set up needs to be. Comfortable freeride boards feature a smooth deck shape and rail shape. This allows us to offer various foot strap options to find the most comfortable position. They are not too far back and not too far outboard. This makes it easy to get the feet into the straps and start cruising. They also offer the perfect options whatever your skill level or body size may be. With the correct deck shape many positions work great.Looking for more performance like a Super Sport or Slalom board the rails become almost boxy and thick towards the tail. This in combination with very outboard and far back positioned straps gives the rider the ability to distribute maximum power towards the fin and pus for maximum speed.Part of the rail shape is the tuck line. Freeride shapes require forgiveness when turning. Therefore, the tuck line is shaped a bit rounder which makes the board behave very smooth during turns and allows the rider to adjust their arc. Hard super sharp rails have good release for maximum performance but are very critical and not most comfortable to ride.Windsurf Boards JP AustraliaThe post BACK TO BASICS: THE JOY OF FREERIDE! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

NICO PRIEN: ROCKET AIR!NICO PRIEN: ROCKET AIR!Nico Prien gets tuned up on the fin gear in readiness for the up-coming Defi Wind next week! The wind was howling so that meant he was tempted to throw some huge floaty jumps.check it out!The post NICO PRIEN: ROCKET AIR! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.