NICO PRIEN: NEW JP FOIL BOARDNICO PRIEN: NEW JP FOIL BOARDNico Prien takes a look at the new JP foil board and discusses the quite major changes to the design and how he needs to adapt his sailing style to unleash its potential!The post NICO PRIEN: NEW JP FOIL BOARD appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

JOE KELLY: OBITUARYJOE KELLY: OBITUARYJoe Kelly, windsurfing pioneer, outdoors retailer, internet entrepreneur and global business consultant sadly passed away on October 1st.A man of rare energy, creativity and generosity, Joe lived every chapter of his life to the fullestfrom the windswept shores of Tiree to the cutting edge of the early internet age. His passions, friendships and ventures spanned continents, but his warmth, humour and quiet determination were constants wherever he went.He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.When Joe Kelly put his mind to something more often than not it happened. Whether it be forward or backwards loops on a windsurfer in huge waves, co-founding, developing and successfully selling a major internet company, mentoring people in business for free, renovating houses in Greece or classic cars in England and Scotland, Joe Kelly managed major projects and everyday minor successes with the quiet satisfaction of having reached that goal. And at their conclusion, perhaps a pint, before moving on to the next few things on his agenda.Sadly, at their beautiful and historic new home near Dundee, where he, his wife Wiz and their son Alex had hoped to build their life together after moving from London this Spring, time ran out all too suddenly for Joe on the 1st October.His plans for the magnificent house, the restoration of a classic barn find 1972 Aston Martin, spending more time in and on the water as well as with his family and friends in Scotland, were all scuppered by cancer.Joe grew up in Bathgate, West Lothian and was always fiercely proud of his roots. Bright and capable at school, he attended Bathgate Academy, but his real passions were fixing and driving cars, along with watersports and skiing. With his lifelong friend Gordon Ritchie, he became an accomplished canoeist, first learning at Linlithgow Outdoor Centre encouraged by schoolteacher Harry Lochrie. It was there that George Thomson introduced the pair to canoeing and dinghy sailing, quickly recognising Joes natural talent and application. We had many adventures in the early 1970s on river kayaking trips and kayak surfing around the coasts. Joe was very talented in all the activities we enjoyed together, recalls George Thomson, who remembers pulling Joe from the River Awe by his buoyancy aid after he became trapped against a barrage and broke his canoe in two. As manager of the Scottish Surf Kayak Team, George was proud to guide Joe to win the British Junior Surf Kayak Championship title on Wales Gower peninsula. Joe and Gordan Ritchie went on to share countless canoeing trips and other adventures together. It was also Gordon who helped introduce Joe to windsurfing on an early Sea Panther board he had bought and he acknowledges he struggled to master.George Thomson introduced Joe to his good friend, the late Clive Freshwater, a legendary, uncompromising task master who started and with his family- built Loch Insh Watersports Centre by Aviemore. Joe thrived there, teaching watersports in the summer and skiing on Cairngorm in the winter. On his first day Joe recalls being shown to a shed where Clive told him he would be living. You will have to make your bed. Clive told Joe as they approached. Joe was not concerned, his dad and mum had instilled a similar self-reliance and discipline in their son. And even when the door was opened to reveal several planks of wood, a hammer and nails to construct his bed from Joe did not miss a beat. He was proud to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations for the centre.Joe recognised the business potential in windsurfing which was booming in the 1980s and which he had become expert in. In Andy Groom he found a like-minded friend and business partner and the duo opened the first 7th Wave windsurfing shop on Old Dumbarton Road, Glasgow. Their total immersion in the nascent windsurfing community, welcoming customers of all abilities with equal enthusiasm, from offering pragmatic advice to beginner families to sharing the exotic dreams and surf expeditions of their expert, committed clientele they gave it everything. Their enthusiasm was boundless. They supported up and coming riders, ran dozens of events locally on Loch Lomond and at Troon and Largs. 7th Wave became well known in Scotland and the duo built a lifelong reputation in the windsurf and surf community in the UK.Joe was one of the earliest pioneers of windsurfing on the Hebridean island of Tiree. In 1985 he was on one of the first windsurfing expeditions to Tiree, research having revealed it to have high average windspeeds, hours of sunshine, waters warmed by the Gulf Stream, and surf beaches facing each point of the compass rose. 7th Wave were instrumental in popularising and running the globally renowned wave sailing championship The Tiree Wave Classic at different key stages across a distinguished event history which stretches this year to 41 years. Joe was an exceptional competitor and a seemingly fearless windsurfer who enjoyed successes in waves and on race and speed boards. He competed at events around Britain although his time on the water was often limited by the need to run the retail business in Glasgow.On an evening drive to Macrihanish, his car topped with many windsurfers on the roof rack and jammed to the gunwales with like-minded pals, Joe was moving (very) swiftly down the twisty Kintyre road. Lets just say he was unaware of the car following him, or trying to chase him. After many miles the blue light came on. Whats the hurry? was the obvious question to which Joe politely replied, We are heading to windsurf at Macrihanish and would like to get there before the pub closes. Well, the pub closes at the end of October so youll be OK. However, I have never seen anyone driving as well in all my years.. but please, ease it off a bit.In 1991 Joe and his photographer wife Avril welcomed their son, Sean, into the world. Avril says of Joe he was always a magnet! People were drawn to his warm, caring and fun-loving nature. He was very inclusive. His return to Scotland brought all of us back together. He was the catalyst that did this whatever country he was in.It was a natural development to expand the shop operation into skiing and snowboarding, moving to premises in Charing Cross Mansions. They shook up the established snowsports retail market in Glasgow and the West of Scotland. But successive poor winters and the economic crash took its toll.His business partner and friend of over 40 years Andy Groom says We have lost a true legend, a natural snow & water sportsman, enterprising, innovative, generous, always there to help, never fazed, party animal, a true friend Joe returned to teaching and worked in Greece at Club Vassiliki. Joe was a patient and talented instructor, his communication and understanding of the dynamics of the sports made him stand out, as did his dance moves of many anevening in Vassiliki, indeed everywhere.One of Britains pro windsurfers, coach and instructor Peter Hart says, Every time we met, and this is the hallmark of a good friend and a top bloke, is that we picked up immediately where we left off. No awkward small talk just immediate connection, hilarious reminiscing and a lot of wisdom (from him not me obvs). Beneath the banter a rare intelligence and his wonderful kindness always shone through.Tommy Armstrong, surf entrepreneur, designer and musician recalls Joe taking time out to visit his son who was in rehab in San Francisco, Joe navigated all the rules and got to see our son, Paul in Delancey Street, San Francisco, during his rehab there. It was a testament to Joes kindness and determination; he got to visit our son. It was a truly awful time in our family, and Joes perseverance with the good people of Delancey Street enabled him to see Paul and check in on his progress This went against all of Delancey Streets rules and regulations. As all who knew Joe can testify, when he was on your side, he was there for you on your side in any and every way.After Vassiliki he spent time in Glasgow and then Joe & second wife Wiz, settled in Oxford where along with Wizs brother Jonathan Patterson, they started FDD. From the early days in the Glasgow shop Joe had taken an interest in computer technology, developing and refining stock control systems and computing and the internet was a natural starting point for the next phase of his business life.Ever the entrepreneur Joe had an instinct for spotting opportunity long before others saw the wave forming. It was in 1996 Full Diesel Design (FDD) was started, soon riding the very crest of the emerging dot com boom. Joe and Wiz and FDD moved to London. The company offered everything from domain registration to full e-commerce solutions for clients such as Siemens, Kodak and The Telegraph. His energy and vision helped shape the early days of the internet in the UK when so much of what we now take for granted was still being imagined by the likes of Joe!In 2001 FDD was acquired by Netscalibur, a major competitor backed by Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. Joe, ever gracious and forward looking, was quoted at the time as saying: We were impressed by Netscaliburs combination of scalability and entrepreneurial spirit. We feel the company has an innovative business model and management with talent and vision. Those who knew him often smiled at that line because it described Joe perfectly. After a short sabbatical Joe returned to the IT industry in 2003 with enthusiasm launching the UKs first pay-as-you-go broadband provider, Lixxus, with friend James Kershaw. Determined to challenge the dominance of traditional telecom operators Lixxus quickly made its mark as a true disruptor, competing with the likes of BT and Cable & Wireless. One of his proudest achievements came from powering hundreds of Swisscom public WiFi hotspots across the UK at a time when such connections were rare and novel.In 2004 Joe and Wiz welcomed son Alex into the world. Joes ventures often reflected his boundless curiosity and his ability to bring people together. Through his extensive network of friends Lixxus became involved in the inaugural GP Masters series a motorsport event that reunited Formula 1 legends such as Emerson Fittipaldi, Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet, giving fans a taste of racings golden era once more.His entrepreneurial ethos was at the heart of a business career which flourished in diverse areas operating as COO, CEO, CTO, Sales Director of many start-ups and growing companies in Cloud Computing, ISP, XaaS, tech consulting and Telecoms working around the world in Europe, Bhutan, South Africa, Buenos Aires, Dubai and the USA. Alongside all this he also ran a ski lodge in Kicking Horse, Canada for two years with Kershaw.His windsurfing and skiing exploits became somewhat more challenging when he broke his back in four places during COVID, doing a big windsurfing loop. But he never let it stop him, though some would say he learned his limits. Along the way Joe was a pilot and achieved a childhood dream flying a Spitfire, he wrote a book on World War 1, he was an accomplished big boat sailor as crew and skipper, racing on the West Coast of Scotland and beyond. He touched the life of so many people, his broad infectious smile, immeasurable kindness, humility and sense of humour always to the fore, but he achieved so much in his all too short time with us.Wiz said I met Joe through windsurfing but he later taught me to sail, ski, snowboard, surf, waterski and wakeboard. He took my whole life in a totally different direction which involved over thirty years of risks, laughs, love and beautiful people.Joe will be truly missed by us all, but no doubt more so by his loving close family Wiz, Alex, Avril, Sean, Joe Senior & his sister Sue.The post JOE KELLY: OBITUARY appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

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PHILIP KSTER: THE NEXT LEVEL!PHILIP KSTER: THE NEXT LEVEL!OK, technique time but lets be honest, these next-level moves are probably beyond what 99% of us mortals will ever consider trying. Still, its always fun to hear how they should be done by someone who actually can. Over to Philip Kster, to share his top tips on two moves that most of us will only ever dream of trying the no-handed goiter and the stalled double forward.NO HANDED GOITERWINDSURF: Let us kick off with the no-handed goiter. Whats the secret to that?PK: Well, basically the key is finding the right position for the sail so its neutral, so you dont have any power in the sail, then you have to let it go. Otherwise, yeah, you get too much wind in the sail and you cant really let it go.WINDSURF: And what sort of wave are you looking for?PK: The perfect wave for goiter is normally a broken one that comes towards you, kind of a bowl, yeah, so you can jump more forward and have more time to do that with the sail.WINDSURF: And what about when its cross-onIs it easier to do a no-hander goiter than side shore? PK: I think side shore is OK still, but side-off, you cant do it. This one was actually the one time that I landed it in the strongest wind, but Ive done them in lighter winds, which is a bit easier maybe and less scary.WINDSURF: How did you get scored for it?PK: I did not get scored that much, but overall, I was kind of happy with the scoring in Gran Canaria this year. I mean, jumps and wave rides were kind of how it should be. OK, now the no-hander goiter was something new in the heat, but I would have loved to have scored a bit more to encourage me to go for more moves like this.THE STALLED DOUBLEWINDSURF: Do you actually go higher on the single part of a stalled double than a high single? PK: Yeah, you have to hit the ramp at full speed, otherwise you cant make high enough of a stall to do two rotations. You have to go very fast, otherwise youre not going to make a good double or not even get a second rotation in. So, speed is the key to the double forward. Some people might be scared to even try a double, but if they slow down before the wave, its not going to work out. So youve got to go fast, got to be committedthats actually the best tip you can get.And yes, you have to actually really go high up and at the highest part start the double.WINDSURF: Are you trying to get lift?PK: You have to get lift and then also the right rotation, otherwise you go a bit vertical and yeah, you dont want to do that from that height. Then obviously, the wave shouldnt be too steep, also not too flatit should be kind of rounded, a nice ramp. Not too far down the line, not too far upwind. There are a few things you have to look for, but basically, speed is the most important thing and to be confident.WINDSURF: What is the difference between a regular double and a stalled double?Well, the double forward where you dont do it stalled is kind of a safe double, I would say. I think 99% of the time you land it. Thats one of my safe movesI know I can land it almost always. Whenever I get the chance with the right ramp, it works out.Its a great contest move. If you have a great double like that, its solid. But then if everyone does this kind of double, youve got to make it better. So how do you make it better? You do it stalled.The stalled doubles are a bit more complicated. You have to really time it wellon the way up and down, depending on how much height you have. And then see if you land it right. There its really about how well youve trained your other doublesyour rotation has to be strong so you can land it well!WINDSURF: So, when you get to the top of a stalled doublewhat happens?PK: Its different to a normal double where youre just covering a lot of ground. Well, mastering stalled forward help you learn the stalled double. Its just a different timing than to do the double, but I guess you learn it with tries. But yeah, you need to have a different timing.you need to know how much height you actually need to be able to complete the rotation.WINDSURF: And if you feel ones going wrong, are you able to like un-stall it or un-double it?PK: No, you cant really stop the rotation. Like in the normal flat doubles, you can actually after the first one open the sail and kind of stop the rotation and maybe even land in the normal forward. But stall doubles, you cant really stop the rotation nicely. Youre going and you have to let go. Otherwise, you really injure yourself.WINDSURF: And what about the landing?PK: Youre coming down from quite high and quite fast. You just rotate and hope you land. You crash a lot when youre learning. Normally, its not that risky but its hard on the body. Once you get it right and youve trained it, the stalled double is actually its not that hard. I think push forwards are harder to land than stalled doubles. With the stalled double, even if you land good, you still get bruises on the legs and on the side of your body. Its a pretty aggressive manoeuvre.WINDSURF: Just say it was like nuclear Pozo with a logo-high ramp, and if you just did a massive jump, you could go 60 feetyou wouldnt want to do a stalled double then, would you? Or would you still do it?PK: You can try. I still havent injured myself in a high double. Ive only seen a few stars a few times. With the stalled doubles, you can go very, very high. You should definitely wear a bit of protectiona protection wetsuit. Sometimes thats enough, but I think you should wear something extra. Maybe a helmet too, in case you get it wrong. If you dont have a controlled double, its very dangerous. But if you know what youre doing, you can go for it.WINDSURF: For the regular lower double youre just initiating it early, flying around, and almost landing planing. Is that your technique for that?PK: Yeah, thats the technique. I think if you can land double forward loops planing, you can progress further. You can go for the higher ones. But if you dont land planing or arent confident and you dont land that many, then you shouldnt go for the stalled doubles.WINDSURF: So the stalled doubleyoure not going to land that planing?PK: No, I dont think so. Not really, no. You come down very fast, and you have to land it on the tail of the board. Otherwise, if you land flat, youll destroy yourself. Id love to see someone land planing and still be fine afterwards, but I dont think youll see that many times.Then theres also the tabletop stalled double, which is also great. Ive done those a few years ago, but not this year. If you have to do it, if you ever take it that far, then yeah, you do it. But its a bit more complicated to get into the rotation.The post PHILIP KSTER: THE NEXT LEVEL! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

First Kayaking Book Shortlisted for Prestigious Boardman Tasker AwardFor the first time in its 40-year history, theBoardman Tasker Prize for Mountain Literature has shortlisted a book centred on kayaking.There Will Be Headwinds: Kayaking the Northwest Passage by adventurer and author Mark Agnew has been recognised in the 2025 shortlist, marking a milestone for paddle sports in a prize traditionally dominated by mountaineering and climbing narratives.Since its founding in 1984, the Boardman Tasker Award has celebrated the finest writing about mountains, climbing, and exploration. Past winners include some of the most iconic names in mountaineering literature, but Agnews book is the first to showcase the challenge and allure of an expedition by kayak.There Will Be Headwinds recounts Agnews groundbreaking journey as part ofThe Arctic Cowboys, the team that became the first to kayak the entire Northwest Passage. In two tandem kayaks, Mark joined West Hansen (Expedition Leader), Eileen Visser and Jeff Wueste. Over 102 days, Agnew and his teammates battled freezing seas, relentless winds, polar bears, and the crushing weight of exhaustion to complete one of the most formidable challenges in modern adventure it has been ranked in the Top 10 Greatest Kayaking Expeditions of the Century (so far), byPaddling Magazine.Mark Agnew said, I cant believe it. I keep thinking, surely the book cant be that good! The adventure was one of the best experiences of my life, and I owe so much to my teammates, West Hansen, Jeff Wueste and Eileen Visser. It was a wonderful experience, not just because of the wildlife, but because I shared it with them. So much of the book centres on our dynamic, which was inevitably fraught at times, but ultimately, we came together to achieve our goal. As I say in the final chapters, without them, I may never have started. Without them, I definitely wouldnt have finished. Undoubtedly, it was enjoyable because I got to share the experiences with them.I am relatively new to kayaking, which may surprise some. I started during COVID-19. But I was immediately captivated by the sport and by the community. The Boardman Tasker has recognised so many wonderful mountaineering books, and I hope my book helps shine a light on the growing interest in kayaking and the wonderful experiences it can facilitate. Even if you arent passing icebergs and polar bears, kayaking is still the perfect way to challenge yourself and to commune with the coastal environment. Ive had wonderful adventures in Scotland and Hong Kong, passing tuna, eagles and dolphins.The 2025 shortlist includes seven works ranging from mountaineering memoirs to Himalayan history but Agnews story withThe Arctic Cowboys stands out as the first to chart a course by paddle.The winner of the2025 Boardman Tasker Prize will be announced at the Kendal Mountain Festival in November.

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MORGAN NOIREAUX: ALOHA X 4!MORGAN NOIREAUX: ALOHA X 4!We caught up with Morgan right after his incredible victory at the Aloha Classic to talk about how the event unfolded.from tight heats to his competition mindset, gear choices and what it feels like to once again stand atop the podium at one of windsurfings most iconic events.Photos: Fish Bowl Diaries / WWT / PWASOMETIMES THE BEST WINS ARE THE ONES YOU DONT SEE COMING!WINDSURF: Congratulations on winning your 4thAloha Classic how are you feeling right now after taking the victory?MORGAN: It honestlyfeels a bit surreal. Im obviously super happy but I think the difference compared to my past Aloha Classic victories is that I was absolutelynot expecting to win. I was convinced I was 2nd or 3rd coming into the beach. I broke my mast base on my verylast wave at the end of the heat, so while I was swimmingaround trying to reconnect my gear and I saw Marcilio go in and he wasnt getting the cheers that he had won, and then I saw Bernd go in and it was the same thing and at that point I kind of started to get a feeling that I might have won. It was pretty funny and a good feeling.FROM SETBACK TO SUPREMACY!WINDSURF: What was your mindset coming into the event?MORGAN: I honestly had a pretty bad year on tour. Heading into Sylt I was 17th. I finished 9th in Sylt which got me up to 14th but at the same time I sprained my ankle during my 1st heat of that event. I ended up having to resailmy 2nd heat 4 times and then the next day I had to travel back to Maui on it. It was a balloon by thetime I got to Maui, so I took a week off and didnt sail until the day prior to the event and it was still sore at that point.I think my ankle helped me though in the sense that I stopped thinking about winning the event and just focused on the heat in front of me. That released a lot of the pressure I normally put on myself as I really just had to trust in myself and just focused on my sailing and maximizing what I could do on each wave without making my ankle any worse. For my first three heats I basically focused on just making it through the heats without doing too much. By the time we ran the Semis and Finals a few days had passed and my ankle was already feeling quite a bit better and at that point you really cant hold back anyway.TRANSITIONWINDSURF: How was it transitioning from riding in Sylt, back to the wind and waves of Hookipa?MORGAN: I dont really mind. I usually use different boards for both those eventsso its not as difficult to transition back to using my Hookipa boards again. I think the conditions are so different that it actually makes the transition easier.WINDSURF: Did you feel this event was back in your territory after fighting it out in Pozo / Tenerife and Sylt?WINDSURF: Sylt is a lottery in terms of conditions so I dont mind as much. Pozo and Tenerife are so tough that its hard to keep your confidence when you see how easy the top guys make it look there so it definitely felt good to be back on Maui.GEAR STATSWINDSURF: What gear did you ride through the contest boards, fins sail sizes etc?MORGAN: I used my NeilPryde 4.7m Combat up until the Semis where I used 5.0m and 4.7m (I switched down during the heat) and used 5.0m during the final. Since I didnt get to sail much before the event I went back to my 85 and 89L JP prototypes from last year. I received some new boards before Sylt, but I didnt spend much time on them and I just wanted to use the boards I felt most confident and familiar with. For fins both my boards were set up as quads and on my 85L I had a pretty eclectic combination of MFC rear fins, one Black project front fin, and one Flikka front fin on the other side. A bit strange but it worked really well! On my other board I had really old set of Black Project fins that Im just really comfortable with and I know works in anything.STRATEGYWINDSURF: What was your strategy going into the final sailing wise?MORGAN: I went into the final telling myself either Im getting 1st or Im getting 4th, and I guess that did happen but it really didnt feel like things were going to plan. I was super out of rhythm with the ocean, while I kept seeing Bernd and Braw getting a bunch of good waves. At some point I told myself I wasnt going to win by not sailing, so I got a medium wave were I got a decent hit and then a big air. I didnt really know how it was going to score so in my head I still needed two scores. I started to try to just ride a few more waves without waiting for the bigger sets. I fell on a few waves and then I finally got the wave with the 360 and head dip, which felt good but I still thought I needed another score to win. Im glad I was wrong haha.FINDING THE FLOWWINDSURF: How did it feel when you nailed that 360 into a head dip aerialwe saw you do a claim on the live stream?MORGAN: I didnt feel like I had really done much until that point. I watched the replay of the final and Bernd had so many rides while I felt like I was waiting for a wave that didnt exist, so when I kicked out of that one I was just happy that I finally got a wave that felt like a good score and that put me back in the heat.WINDSURF: What was the general level of sailing like at this years Aloha?MORGAN: The level has gotten so high. The level of sailing wasnt necessarily much lower in 2014, 2015 when I won the first two times but I think that we hadnt had consistent Aloha Classics prior to that so not a lot of people were coming to Maui to train specifically for the Aloha anymore. People were a lot more focused on all of the European events. Now in 2025 weve consistently had events at Hookipa for a little over 10 years and people know there is going to be an event, so people train for it and I think thats made a huge difference. I won the Aloha in 2015 without doing a single goiter, taka or 360. That is impossible right now!WINDSURF: How did it feel to go into the final alongside fellow JP NeilPryde rider Robby Swift, into the final?MORGAN: I was so happy for Robby! Hes one of my favourite people to sail with and one of my favourite people in general and he really deserved to be in that final. He absolutely smashed his semi. I think it was his 1st Aloha Classic final ever, although he did make the final in the spring event we had earlier this year so hes definitely on a roll. I know he was really bummed getting 4th but we were both really out of rhythm with the good waves in the final unfortunately.WINDSURF: Did you guys feel bad that you eliminated Marc Pare who was desperately competing for the world title?MORGAN: Honestly not really. I think it was pretty fun to play a small part in the world title. I was rooting for Marc but obviously if Braw managed to win the event I felt like he would have really deserved it as well. But in the final, I just wanted to beat everyone and I knew if I won the event it wouldnt change anything and Marc would finish number one anyway, which is ultimately what happened. Im incredibly happy for him. Both him and Braw are the two hardest working wave sailors on tour and he really deserves it. Its inspiring to watch and hes pushed me and my sailing a lot over the years.POPPING THE CHAMPAGNEWINDSURF: What did you do to celebrate?MORGAN: I took it pretty easy. My birthday is on the 23rd so Ill probably celebrate a bit more at that point.WINDSURF: How were the conditions this yearwas it tough or pleasurable sailing?MORGAN: I had a blast. Weve had singular days of better conditions in the past but for a 5-day window we had really good wind and good waves. It was pretty bumpy at times but thats just part of the Hookipa experience.BEACH VIBESWINDSURF: How was the general Vibe at the competition?MORGAN: It was great. The windsurfing community on Maui really comes together to make this event happen so its really hard to not be grateful for that. A lot of people donate their time as well as their money to make it happen. Plus having a good forecast made it a bit easier to run, I imagine and we had a great livestream this year which was really cool.INTO 2026WINDSURF: What are your plans for the rest of the year and into 2026?MORGAN: Im going to spend the next few months on Maui enjoying the winter and the conditions, which Im excited about. I havent done that in a few years and then I think Ill go to Chile at some point to sail some port tack. No concrete plans beyond that though. Ill see where the wind takes me!The post MORGAN NOIREAUX: ALOHA X 4! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

DUOTONE FALCON_FIN SLSDUOTONE FALCON_FIN SLSDuotone have just released the exciting new Falcon_Fin SLS, which is easier to sail than ever and also lighter, offering the best weight vs. durability ratio in its class. The SLS technology replaces most carbon layers with exclusive S-GLASS+, making the board smoother and more forgiving in rough conditions. Check out all the details from Duotone here:DUOTONE FALCON_FIN SLS Falcon_Fin SLS in a nutshellThe new Falcon_Fin boards are easier to sail than ever, requiring no more skill than the JAG while offering greater comfort and speed. A refined rail shape, with the apex moved up in front of the front straps, smooths the ride, while a shorter length reduces nose lift for better control: because control = speed. The SLS technology replaces most carbon layers with exclusive S-GLASS+, making the board smoother and more forgiving in rough conditions. Besides the construction, there are two more differences from the Falcon_Fin D/LAB: a less radical recess deck for comfort in floating and easier planing, and more inboard footstrap options for a easier and relaxed ride.FreeraceSizes:98 | 111 | 118 | 129 | 139PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:Most competitive fin racing shapes yet super easy to rideBest in class weight-durability ratioDUOTONE FALCON_FIN SLSOne of the most frequently asked question from freerace customers about the 2026 range is why we have discontinued the JAG SLS. Well, on the one hand the brand-new BLITZ offers even more performance compared to its predecessor, the BLAST. But even more important the new generation of FALCON_FIN boards are that much easier to sail. In fact, they dont require a higher sailing level than the JAG.We have achieved this primarily through a sophisticated new rail shape design. The apex of the rail in front of the front straps has been moved up. This has a tremendous effect on the riding comfort, as everything just becomes a lot smoother.Secondly, we have reduced the overall length, which reduces the nose lift and this increases control again.Yet due to the golden rule control = speed these boards are even faster now, which is particularly noticeable when compared to the JAG.Last but not least the SLS technology comes into play. The majority of the carbon layers in the D/LAB version are replaced by our exclusive S-GLASS+, which makes the FALCON_FIN SLS a lot smoother and even more forgiving in rough conditions. So unlike youre a top level competitor in the end this slightly more forgiving construction will make you a faster sailor.But thats not all HERE IS WHATS NEWFULL CUSTOM SLS TECHNOLOGYSwitching from the industry-standard semi custom technology to our exclusive FULLY CUSTOM TECHNOLOGY enabled us to reduce the weights by up to 250 grams. With this these boards offer the best weight vs. durability ratio in their class.AI_BOARD_3DThe curves of the key elements rocker, outline and rail get synchronized to perfection using artificial intelligence to avoid that the curves work against each other which lifts the performance to a whole new level.Higher railsMake it very easy to maintain the perfect trim. Completely redesigned tail Provides more release and keeps the board accelerating.Shorter in every sizeLess nose lift and incredible control.Bigger medium boardThe 118 medium board got bigger improving power and accelerationLess radical RECESSED MAST TRACK AREA than the D/LAB version Makes it more comfortable to stand when starting planing, or floating around.MULTI FOOTSTRAP PLUGSOptional inboard footstrap position for a more relaxed riding style, more control and easier entry and exit.No panic by the FALCON name These boards are fast AND still very easy to ride.FALCON_FIN SLS we are very convinced that the combination of the most competitive shapes and ourFULL CUSTOM SLS TECHNOLOGY can take on every (free) race board out there at your local spot or even national competitions.Benefits most competitive fin racing shapes yet super easy to ride best in class weight-durability ratioMore details here:Falcon_Fin SLS 2026 | DUOTONE WindsurfingThe post DUOTONE FALCON_FIN SLS appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

TIREE WAVE CLASSIC: THE BATTLE FOR THE SWORD!TIREE WAVE CLASSIC: THE BATTLE FOR THE SWORD!Alfie Hart from Windsurfing TV has done it again, capturing all the drama, power, and Scottish grit of this years Tiree Wave Classic. With the event extended to chase the forecast wind and swell, the riders went head-to-head in truly wild conditions. Grab your kilt (and maybe a dram) and relive every moment as the riders battle for the infamous Tiree swords in the full event edit!The post TIREE WAVE CLASSIC: THE BATTLE FOR THE SWORD! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

ALYSIA GIBSON - WINDSURFER COURSE RACING WORLD CHAMPION!!WINDSURFER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025, ATHENS NAUTICAL CLUBALYSIA GIBSON WINDSURFER COURSE RACING WORLD CHAMPION!!Fresh from an incredible week of racing in Athens, Alysia Gibson has been crowned 2025 Windsurfer World Champion in Course Racing! The event brought together over 120 competitors from around the world for five days of close, tactical sailing in a mix of light and windy conditions.Windsurfer LT enthusiast Roger Turner caught up with Alysia on her return to hear all about her experience, from the highs of taking the course racing title to the narrow miss of the overall crown.just one point shy!ROGER TURNER: So, youre 2025 Windsurfer Course Race World Champion! How does that feel?ALYSIA GIBSON It feels really good, Im super happy to have won the course racing, out of the 3 disciplines (course racing, slalom and marathon) this is definitely the one I wanted to win the most so Im super happy with that, however my goal was to win the overall title, which I just missed out on by one point so its a bit of a bittersweet feeling. Im really proud of the win, but its hard not to think about how close I was to taking the overall too.ROGER TURNER: Yeah, that makes senseTell us how the regatta went for you, what were the conditions like?ALYSIA GIBSON: I think the regatta went really well, I had only been on the kit 4 times since last years worlds so I think to just step on it and win the course racing was pretty cool, but I wouldnt have been able to do it without the help of the other competitors helping me tune the rig properly.I made a few too many mistakes which ultimately cost me the world title, most notably going to the wrong gate mark on the penultimate race and losing the slalom title on the line!Once I got the settings dialled in though, I felt a lot more comfortable on the kit and noticeably faster.We had three days of light winds and then two windy days so it was really nice to experience a full range of conditions throughout the week.I should also mention that it was an extremely well-run event one of the most efficient events Ive ever been to. The Race committee and the event organisers really did an amazing job, and Athens nautical club were fantastic hosts.ROGER TURNER: Great to hearHow many female competitors, plus how many in total?ALYSIA GIBSON: We had 24 female competitors and 125 total which made for a really fun marathon race (everyone together on one start line)ROGER TURNER: Such a beautiful sight too.How long have you been on the Windsurfer LT? Still on the iQFOiL too?ALYSIA GIBSON: I first got on the Windsurfer LT in August 2024 and then did the 2024 worlds in Spain where I was able to finish second in the course racing. And then this year I bought some IQFOiL kit back and have been giving the 7.3m (originally 8m) a go which Ive been really enjoying so far and definitely hoping to do more of in the future!ROGER TURNER: What do you like about the LT? Where does it fit in for you?ALYSIA GIBSON: I really like the class its a great bit of kit and actually super technical too. With no adjustables, you have to get the settings right before each race, because you cant change them once youve started. I love one-design racing, and I love racing with a daggerboard! With the Olympic classes now being foiling, its nice to go back to a non-foiling board and put all the skills I spent years developing on the RS:X to good use.One of the things that really stood out to me this year was seeing two Olympic gold medallists come back to compete at the event including the first ever Olympic gold medallist! It says a lot about the class; it attracts such a wide range of sailors, from newcomers to some of the best in the world. It shows how fun, competitive, and accessible the LT really is, and I think that mix is what makes it so special. Im also seeing more and more old-school legends joining the classworld champions and big names who havent raced in decadesso its really exciting that this is the class bringing everyone back out of the woodwork.I also love how quick and easy it is to rig and get out on the water thats definitely a huge part of the appeal. And its just a fun bit of equipment overall, I take my dogs out on it with me sometimes, and it doubles as a paddleboard on the no-wind days!ROGER TURNER: Yep, its a proper versatile bit of kit and so accessible Whats your involvement with the RYA?ALYSIA GIBSON: I was part of the British Sailing Team for four years, competing in the RS:X and iQFOiL classes. During that time, I also worked as Emma Wilsons training partner in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, which was an amazing experience and a huge learning opportunity.ROGER TURNER: How was the social side of the regatta? We know thats a big part of the LT scene.ALYSIA GIBSON: The social side of the regatta was amazing. Everyone is super friendly and always willing to help, and theres such a great sense of community around the class. Its really nice meeting new people, catching up with old friends, and seeing sailors who havent competed in years come back to join in again.I was also racing with my father, which is always really special and a big reason as to why I do these events I think there were around five to ten other parentchild duos competing as well which was really nice to see.The class also does a great job with the social events. There is always a class dinner on one of the evenings where everyone gets invited, which is a great way to bring everyone together and meet new people, along with a happy hour each afternoon after sailing which was a nice way to chat and unwind after a long days racing.The post ALYSIA GIBSON WINDSURFER COURSE RACING WORLD CHAMPION!! appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.