ED’S NOTE 3
WIND
SURFING
uk
TEZ PLAVENIEKS
FOR THE
BETTER…
To echo sentiments
elsewhere in this
issue of Windsurfing
UK (by Pete Davis) it
really annoys me
when comments are
banded round
suggesting
windsurfing has had
its day. If that was
the case we wouldn’t
have as many brands
vying for your hard
earned coin as we
do, beaches wouldn’t be stacked with riders every
breezy period and windy holiday destinations
wouldn’t be reporting increasing visitor numbers.
I’ll admit there may have been a slump in equipment
sales around the time of the economic crash a few
years ago. And it may have been a slow claw back
from the brink. Brand spanking new wave boards might
not be everyone’s priority but I’m still seeing new (or
newer) gear being rigged up on beaches and smiles
miles wide post-session.
New technologies are being put in place as far as
manufacturing goes and then of course there’s the
foiling element that’s on everyone’s mind and which
we dedicate a large chunk of this issue to.
Windsurfing: dead and gone? I think not! The thirst for
more brine time is as tangible as ever. It’s also nice to
see (finally) sailors broadening their horizons in terms
of getting out in all kinds of conditions on all types of
gear. Marginal wind, strong wind, waves and flat water
it’s all good!
These days floating about in light airs seems more
popular than ever. Maybe we’ve all realised that time
on the water, outside and away from the
screen/phone, is more important than chasing full
power conditions. It’s nice to see and be part of – long
may it continue.
OCTOBER 2017
Twitter: @tezwoz
Instagram: @tez_plavenieks_sup_wind
Foils (again)
Yes, I know, it’s that term again! Sorry to keep on but
the fact is windsurf foiling, windfoiling, freefoiling or
whatever (however) else you want to describe it looks
set to stick. There are still teething issues surrounding
the kit – in particular its expense. There’s also a
fundamental change in thinking needed to become a
fully immersed hover boarder. But there’s no denying
the traction foiling has gained in 2017.
WSUK started the year having shined a testing
spotlight on AHD’s Shark foil board and AFS-1 foil. We
round out our journey by re-examining the same foil
coupled with the brand’s Sealion Wings 7.6ft – a very
different kind of board to the Shark and one which is
arguably more accessible. I appreciate there’s now a
raft of other flying gear available but AHD were one of
the first to bring the whole thing to market so it makes
sense to focus on the French based company. Stay
tuned though as we’ll be looking at more foiling
equipment moving forwards.
The rest of this issue of Windsurfing UK has a whole
heap of other windy goodness for you to lap up. As we
head into autumn/winter hopefully you’ll be scoring
conditions – whatever/wherever they may be – and
having a ruddy good ole time afloat. Enjoy the mag and
we’ll see you again, back at it, in the New Year. Now,
go rig up.
uk
WIND
SURFING