Indiana Foils continues to make waves in the world of hydrofoiling with cutting-edge innovation and record-breaking performance. Known for their precision-engineered equipment, the Swiss brand has garnered global attention through standout products like the Condor XL, the world-record-holding pump foil, and the Barracuda, a high-aspect foil designed for speed and versatility. Key to Indiana’s success is athlete and developer Gunnar Biniasch, whose design expertise and competitive experience have helped shape the brand’s elite-level gear. From endurance pumping to downwind racing, Indiana Foils is setting new standards in the foiling scene.
In this video Gunnar Biniasch is going over the latest front wings by Indiana:
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The Barracuda M High Aspect Front Wing is designed for foilers seeking extreme efficiency and speed. With an area of 850 cm², a wingspan of 950 mm, and an aspect ratio of 10.6, it excels in wing foiling, downwind, surf foiling, and pump foiling at a professional level. When paired with the Barracuda L Stabilizer and M/S Tail, it becomes highly efficient and easy to pump, ideal for IWSA regattas and GWA FreeFly slalom races in light winds. Using the Barracuda S Stabilizer makes it more agile, perfect for surf foiling and downwind SUP Foiling.
Key Features:
Gulwing Shape: Combines performance and stability, offering maximum planing and progressive lateral stability.
Extremely Efficient Glide: High aspect ratio of 10.6 enhances glide, lift, and direct pumping feel.
High Speeds: Designed for performance, enabling impressive speeds for adrenaline seekers.
Monobloc System: Integrated design improves stability, responsiveness, and reduces drag.
Introducing the 2024 Marlin M Front Wing. Designed for riders of all levels, this foil offers a smooth and exciting ride on the water. With an aspect ratio of 7.5, the Marlin foil provides excellent speed and control, making it easier to navigate waves and perform aerial tricks.
The Marlin is perfect for the rider looking for a High Performance Mid-Aspect Foil that seems to have no limits.
The Marlin is fast and agile, and therefore is the perfect foil to let you rip it up in the waves and also perform the most advance Freestyle tricks.
The new MonoBloc connection system is perfectly streamlined and extremely stiff. This gives the Foil a very direct feel which results in more confidence pushing the foil.
The perfect foil for someone who wants to start wing foiling.
Ride is the Mid-Aspect-Ratio series, primarily designed for wing foiling. The wings perform well across a wide range of conditions, from flat water to waves, guaranteeing fun for beginners and experts alike.
The design is very user-friendly with an early takeoff and a low stall speed. The behavior is very pleasant and controllable. The Ride front wings are very fast and have just the right touch of agility and stability, making them excellent all-rounders. When carving, the wings have outstanding tip breach recovery, meaning that the tips can break through the water surface without drawing air and causing an unpleasant stall.
This front wing was developed in collaboration with Jérôme Baudoux, the first man to pump continuously for over 3 hours, and is the next step in the development of long distance pumping. Thanks to the perfectly calculated profile, the Condor XL is not only hyper-efficient, but also turns surprisingly tightly for its wingspan.
Length: 1696 mm
Width: 173 mm
Thickness: 22.5 mm
Volume: 2829 cm3
Area: 2274 cm2
Weight: 1790 g
Aspect Ratio: 12
Recommended Rider Weight: 60 – 100 kg
Note: The Condor XL should only be used with aluminum masts. No guarantee is given on carbon masts.
Codes unique foil designs offer exceptional versatility in maneuverability and superior glide. Dedicated to relentless testing and innovation, they proudly deliver the world’s finest hydrofoils. As an Australian-owned company, their products are designed for uncompromising performance, ensuring that every hydrofoil meets the highest standards of quality and excellence.
As the foiling season kicks into high gear, we caught up with Marcus Tardrew from CODE Foils to talk about their latest developments, gear recommendations for European conditions, and where you can get your hands on their equipment this summer.
We last met Marcus at the Boot Show in Düsseldorf, and it was high time to get an update!
Aloha Marcus,
Thank you for your time. It was back in January when we saw you in Germany at the Boot Show. Now that the dust has settled, can you tell us how CODE was received in Central Europe?
G’day Mike, CODE was received really well! We had a bunch of people visit who had never seen or tried CODE but had heard a lot about it. Quite a few tried it in the pool and were blown away — that will definitely help spread the word. We also met Kai from Foilit, who is our latest dealer in Germany. We can’t wait for the gear to be available for testing and purchase in this area!
Now that summer is here and people are getting out there, downwind foiling has really captured the attention of ocean enthusiasts as well as lake foilers. What product are you recommending for ambitious riders looking to step up their game?
We’ve been working really hard on our bigger foils to help beginners get into dock starts and paddle-ups in flat water, or for their first downwind experience. The 1540 S has proven to be a great option for both of these. And if you’re not a complete beginner and you’re looking for even more efficiency — something that pumps forever or works great for super light downwind conditions — then the 1250 is the weapon of choice.
You have two major front foil lines. Can you describe them both and tell us what style of foiling each is best suited for? Let’s talk about the R and S series.
The S series is our all-rounder. It does everything well — it has enough glide for downwinding but also surfs really well. Its efficiency makes it great for learning how to link up waves in the surf, and the huge low-end power makes it forgiving and easy to use for dock starts too. Personally, the S series is my favorite for wing foiling because you can flag it out and surf wind bumps easily, carve tight in the waves, and it’s also great for freestyle.
The R series is higher aspect, so it’s all about efficiency. It doesn’t turn quite as well as the S series, but it has a lot of lift for its size and will pump all day long. You’ll want to use the R series for downwind racing and for more advanced dock starting.
Can you give a recommendation for a setup that would suit the shorter wave intervals of Northern Germany and lake waves?
For pure glide efficiency, it’s all about the R series. However, the small, tight, and slow bumps you get on lakes might actually be better suited to the S series. It lets you maneuver more easily around the tight troughs and prevents you from outrunning the waves all the time. Speed isn’t really a beginner’s friend in these slow conditions, because they’ll just end up pumping in a straight line trying to stay on foil. A slower, more maneuverable foil matches the speed of these slow bumps, so you can ride them for longer without getting too tired.
Are you currently working on any new foils?
Yes, we have a lot of projects in the pipeline, and many of them are in the later stages of testing. We’re getting very close to some exciting announcements — stay tuned!
Anything you can share with us and our readers?
Unfortunately, not much for now — but what I can say is that nothing new will replace or make our current range obsolete. We’re simply adding more options to cater to different price points and specific foiling disciplines.
Finally, if someone is in Europe and wants to test CODE Foils in action, where should they go?
Yes! Get in touch with Kai at Foilit in Germany, or Xavi at Wind Paradise in Spain — they’re your best bets for demos. Foilit is about to launch their webstore, but you can already find their contact details on our website: codefoils.com.
Thank you very much for your time, Marcus. We’re looking forward to seeing more CODE action this summer!
S Series Front Wing
Available in eight sizes, each offering unique characteristics to enhance the rider’s quiver, this foil is the ultimate all-round wing, suitable for beginners to advanced riders. It excels in prone, wing, SUP, and downwind foiling, demonstrating versatility across all disciplines.
Adept in critical sections, it can draw smooth, flowing lines, making it suitable for all levels of riders. The High Modulus wings, specifically the 1130 and 1300, are ideal for heavier riders in all disciplines.
500S
Span: 695mm / 27.3in
Area: 500 cm² / 77.5 in²
A/R: 9.5
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The high modulus front wings are designed for the growing discipline of downwind SUP foiling. The 860R High Modulus and 770R High Modulus wings, used by World Champion James Casey to win major races in Hawaii in 2023, are now part of the range. The 860R won the Molokai 2 Oahu Downwind World Championship, while the 770R won Paddle Imua, a sprint-style race.
The R series also includes larger sizes, 960R and 1075R, which are user-friendly for learners and enable experienced riders to foil in almost windless conditions. These wings are lightweight with phenomenal stiffness, ideal for fast and far rides in downwind conditions.
600R High Modulus
Span: 880mm / 34.6in
Area: 600cm² / 93in²
A/R: 13.0
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The Association of Paddlesurf Professionals (APP) is gearing up for its first event of 2025, the India Paddle Festival, set to take place in Mangalore from March 7-9. However, with the APP having hosted only two events in 2024 and still no full 2025 tour schedule, questions remain about the future of the organization’s racing calendar. Will the APP be able to deliver a full-fledged tour, or is the sport’s premier global tour struggling to regain its footing?
India Paddle Festival Returns for a Second Year
After a successful debut in 2024, the India Paddle Festival is back, promising another action-packed weekend of SUP racing. Last year, the event saw breakthrough performances from Fernando Perez Serra, Christian Anderson, and Antonio Morillo, while Espe Barreras dominated the women’s division. The festival is more than just a race—it provides an immersive cultural experience in the stunning coastal city of Mangalore, blending India’s rich traditions with world-class competition.
Competitively, the festival stands out for its hybrid race conditions. The long-distance race takes athletes from the open ocean, through the surf, and into a winding river before bringing them back to the challenging surf zone for a dramatic finish. Meanwhile, the surf sprint racing delivers an intense, spectator-friendly format, ideal for close-up race action.
Entries for the event are open, and participants can coordinate travel and logistics through the India Paddle Festival’s contact page (India Paddle Festival).
A recap video from the 2024 edition is also available, offering a glimpse into the event’s atmosphere, competitive racing, and breathtaking scenery.
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Despite the excitement surrounding the India Paddle Festival, the bigger question looms: What’s happening with the rest of the APP Tour?
In 2024, the APP only managed to hold two events—the Busan SUP Open in South Korea and the Gran Canaria Pro-Am in December. The long-promised full tour schedule for 2025 has yet to be released, leaving both athletes and fans in the dark. With the India Paddle Festival now confirmed as an APP event, speculation is growing about whether it is a one-off race or the start of a more structured tour.
The SUP community has been waiting for clarity, and with only a few weeks until the India Paddle Festival, the APP will need to address these concerns soon. Will we see a fully-fledged APP World Tour in 2025, or is the series at risk of fading into obscurity?
For now, all eyes are on Mangalore as the racing season officially kicks off—but the future of the APP remains uncertain.
It is great to see how the excitement for Flatwater Pumpfoiling is growing around the planet. In Poland the sport is already arganized and the Polish Pumpfoil Association has held a legit contest in multiple disciplines. This is the PR we just received.
On July 27, 2024, the picturesque beach in Łeba became the arena for the exciting Fly Resort Duotone Pumpfoil Challenge 2024. The event, being the first stop of this year’s edition, attracted the attention of enthusiasts of the dynamically developing water sport—pumpfoil.
The competition was organized by the Polish Pumpfoil Association, with support from main sponsors: flyresort.pl and Duotone Polska. Radio Kaszëbë provided media patronage, contributing to the promotion of this innovative sport. The competition gathered 14 ambitious participants in advanced categories and six debutants in the Newbie category. The rivalry took place in five categories: Slalom, Sprint, Race, Freestyle, and Newbie.
Slalom Category (timed): Competitors had to demonstrate not only speed but also agility and quick decision-making skills. The course required navigation between buoys, where maintaining fluid movement while maintaining high speed was crucial. Precision was as important as speed, as every mistake could cost precious seconds. Result: In the Slalom category, Piotr Szymiec (GONG) triumphed, ahead of Bartek Kulczyński (F-ONE) and Olek Czapla (SABFOIL).
Sprint Category (speed): Competitors had to achieve the highest average speed in one minute. The competition required a perfect balance between maximum acceleration and maintaining stability. Speed was measured using a GPS watch. Result: Sprint brought victory to Olek Czapla with an impressive average speed of 21.5 km/h. Piotr Szymiec (20.8 km/h) and Bartek Kulczyński (19.0 km/h) took the next places on the podium.
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Race Category (timed): This was a classic time trial on a specified course around buoys. The competition combined elements of sprint and tactics, requiring participants not only to maintain high speed but also to maneuver skillfully, especially around the buoys. Wind strength of about 8-10 knots posed an additional challenge for competitors, especially making it difficult to sail upwind. Result: The Race category was also won by Piotr Szymiec, with Olek Czapla in second and Bartek Kulczyński in third place.
Freestyle Category (style): Competitors had 3 minutes to showcase their most impressive technical skills on the pumpfoil. Difficulty, execution style, and overall artistic impression were evaluated. Not only technical perfection counted, but also innovation and fluidity of transitions between elements. Result: In the spectacular Freestyle category, Piotr Szymiec triumphed again, ahead of Olek Czapla and Jakub Balewicz (DUOTONE).
Newbie Category (beginner): A category for beginners who tried to stay in levitation as long as possible. It was an ideal introduction to the world of pumpfoil, requiring focus, balance, and basic equipment control skills. Perseverance and determination counted. What particularly increased the attractiveness of this category was that the most valuable prize of the competition—a professional handmade pumpfoil board—was awarded in this category, emphasizing the importance of supporting new adepts of this sport and encouraging further skill development. Result: The Newbie category, dedicated to beginners, ended with Jan Lipiński’s victory, with Filip Antonowski in second and Szymon Walczak in third place.
Overall Classification: After a series of intense competitions, the PUMPFOIL CHALLENGE 2024 in Łeba revealed its winners. The podium showcased the full range of exceptional skills and versatility of the competitors. The champion was Piotr Szymiec (GONG), whose dominance in most competitions ensured him a well-deserved victory. Second place was taken by Olek Czapla (SABFOIL), impressing especially in the Sprint competition. Bartek Kulczyński (F-ONE) completed the podium, demonstrating remarkable versatility and consistency. This trio not only presented the highest level of skills but also embodied the spirit of sports rivalry and passion for pumpfoil, inspiring many observers to take an interest in this exciting discipline.
“The Fly Resort Duotone Pumpfoil Challenge 2024 in Łeba is just the beginning of the excitement associated with this fascinating sport,” says the Polish Pumpfoil Association. “The next stops will take place in August in Kuźnica on the Bay of Puck and in Rewa, where the final of this year’s series will be held.”
The goal is to promote pumpfoil as a new, exciting water sport. It aims to promote physical activity among people of all ages, from youth to seniors, and above all, to ensure that participants have a good time. “We want pumpfoil enthusiasts to meet, exchange experiences, and enjoy this sport together in a spirit of friendly competition,” the organizers emphasize.
Photos and videos from the event will be available in the coming days.
Starboard just announced their 2024 Dream Team and the field of athletes is stacked with talent and diversity across all SUP disciplines. When it comes to SUP Racing, the legacy brand remains to be a power house if not THE power house. If you look at pictures of racers on the podium or just races in general you can avoid Starboard riders and Starboard SUPs.
The 2024 team is 22 athletes deep and features some of the most decorated SUP Racers, such a Connor Baxter, Michael Booth, Noic Garioud, Esperanza Barreras and Fiona Wylde. But its not only the top of the top that makes the team. Starboard also considers, young and upcoming riders such a Cecilia Pampinella who just joined the team. There is also Germanys SUP Hero Ole Schwarz and other well know paddlers from all over the world, such as Rai Taguchi from Japan or Aaron Sanchez the Spanish long-distance champion 2023.
Bart de Zwart is the team manager and a well known pioneer in the SUP world that made a name for himself with many ultra long-distance SUP expeditions. These are his words:
“I am proud to introduce our 2024 Dream Team to you. We have an incredibly diverse and talented group of athletes. Diverse because our riders, men and women, cover the whole SUP spectrum from race, wave, sprinting, adventure, and expeditions to big waves, with World Champions in every category.
Talented also, every rider deserves to be on the Dream Team in their own right, but especially this year, we have a lot of fresh new talent working their way up through the ranks. Watch for our bright orange noses sticking out in front of the pack.”
Who are the athletes to look for this year:
Connor Baxter
Connor has the most seniority at Starboard, he has been with them since he is a kid. Riding the Tiki for more than 14 years. Connor is also the GOAT of the sport as he has been dominating since the early days and continues to wind medals at big events like the ICF.
? Pan American Games 2023 ? ICF World Championship Technical Race 2023 ? ICF World Championship Sprint 2023 ? APP in Alicante 2023 ? APP Sprints Portugal 2023 ? Gorge Paddle Challenge 2023
Michael Booth
Michael is a multi paddle champion not only in the SUP world but also in other paddle sports. Despite 2023 not being his best SUP year, he is force to reckoned with inb 2024. This year he would like to focus on key events, train, and perform to his true ability. This means following a structured program, committing to it, and continuing to enjoy his paddling.
? Scharbeutz Euro Tour 2023 ? Punta Ala Euro Tour 2023 ?ICF SUP World Distance Race Champion 2022 2 x ? ICF iSUP World Distance Race Champion 2022 / 2023 ? Carolina Cup Champion 2022 / 2023 ? Euro Tour Overall 2023 ? Euro Tour Nordhousen 2023
Noic Garioud
In 2023 Noic was not as busy as in previous years but he showed up at all the key races and he won most of them.
? ISA Sprint World Champion 2023 ? ICF Sprint World Champion 2021/ 2023 ? ICF Technical Race World Champion 2021 ? ICF Long Distance World Champion 2023
Esperanza Barreras
Espe knows only one place and that is the top of the podium, she dominated the EURO TOUR in 2023 and the SUP Worldranking all together.
? ICF World Champion Technical Race 2023 ? ICF World Champion Long Distance 2023 ? Euro Tour Champion x 2 ? SUP Woman of the Year – SUP Connect 2023
Fiona Wylde
Fiona is a true asset to the Starboard team. As an overall water woman we fits the brand very well. She won multiple SUP World Titles in the past and after having to sit out due to a shoulder injury she returned with a bang winning the APP race in Spain as well at the Wing Foil Tour in Marokko.
In 2024 Fiona is shifting her goals in 2024, stepping into more of a coaching and supporting role compared to racing. She still plans to participate in many races, but not as frequently as in years past.
The main objectives for 2024 include developing Wylde Wind & Water, the non-profit organization founded by Fiona to provide watersport and water safety education, with numerous community projects. Additionally, Fiona is stepping into a completely new role as the new Class Manager for the first-ever Wing Foil One Design equipment called X-15 Class produced by FreeWing and Starboard. In this role, Fiona will develop an internationally recognised one-design class and provide a pathway for the sport of wing foiling.
? Sprint World Cup Champion at APP Alicante 2023 ? Gorge Paddle Challenge Champion 2023 ? Sarasota ICF World Cup 2023 ? ICF Distance Race World Champion 2021 ? ICF Technical Race World Champion 2021 ? Euro Tour Champion 2021 ? Euro Tour Champion 2022
Our interview from the boot show 2024 in Dusseldorf.
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Zane is Starboards “crazy” waterman and has one of the biggest hearts. He is taking care of the kids in Maui and stepped up in the community after the Lahaina Fire. Zane is also a big wave surfer and charges Banzai Pipiline on Oahu like no other.
Benoit has been a SUP Surfer for about as long as the sport has been around and for the same amount of time he as been winning competitions.
? ISA World Champion 2023 ? APP World Champion 2023 ? European SUP surf champion 2023 ? European longboard champion 2023
Rai Taguchi
Rai’s excellent start with the Starboard Dream Team in 2023 gave him a strong push and desire to achieve his main goal for 2024 – winning the gold medal at the World Championships. He is planning his training program to strengthen his muscles to reach an even higher level this year.
? SUP Asian Championship Winner 2023 ? ICF World Championship Long Distance 2023 ? ISA World Championship Long Distance 2023 ? ISA World Championship Technical Race 2023 ? APP World Tour in Busan Long Distance 2023 ? APP World Tour in Viana Long Distance 2023
Cecilia Pampinella
Cecilia just joined the team as she was stolen away from mistral. She is a junior power house and a highly motivated SUP Athlete with a great future in the sport.
? ISA Junior Technical World Champion 2023 ? ISA European Champion Junior in Portugal 2023 (x 3) ? ICF World Cup Long Distance in Greece 2023 ? Eurotour race in Punta Ala 2023
Aaron Sanchez
Aaron has set his goal for 2024 to improve upon all the results he achieved last season and to participate in races he has never entered before. He plans to continue working hard with clear objectives and, above all, to give 100%.
? Spanish Championship Long Distance 2023 ? Battle of Hercules Euro Tour 2023 ? 4th ISA World Championship Long Distance 2023 ? 4th ISA World Championship Sprint 2023 ? SUP race festival Scharbeutz
Ole Schwarz
Ole has been a competitive paddler in Germany since he was a junior. He continuously makes podium at the German SUP Races.
? German Sprint Championship Duisburg 2023 ? German Champion Tech Race and Long Distance 2023 ? Euro tour Berlin ? Euro tour Namur
Riki Horikoshi
As a Japan rising star for SUP surfing, Riki is getting closer to his big world titles in 2024! Gearing up for big waves and aiming to become the APP SUP Surfing World Champion are the main plans for Riki for the upcoming season.
? SUP surfing national tour champion 2023 ? KAKEGAWA SUP contest 2023 ? Maboroyal Cup 2023 ? SUPA national contest 2023 ? TED CUP 2023
Fernando Perez
Getting more power and speed for all the aspects of SUP racing, Fernando set his 2024 goal to stay on a top 3 at the ISA and ICF World Championships. Looking forward to the results of this young Spanish Dream Team racer!
? APP Korea Champion 2023 ? Spain Championship Long Distance 2023 ? 7th ISA Long Distance 2023 ? 5th Euro Tour SUP Long Distance 2023 ? 5th Euro Tour Sprint 2023
Clement Colmas
Focusing on favourite disciplines and getting good train plans for 2024 events, Clement is excited for the year. His main objectives are the Défiwind and Molokai 2 Oahu events, both of which he is determined to win!
? European championship long distance 2023 ? European champion technical race 2023 ? Madeira SUP race Euro Tour 2023 ? World paddle festival Alicante ? 7th ICF World Championship Technical 2023
Linus Karlsson
The Swedish Champion has been training hard and with just a few results in 2023 he is setting out with big goals for 2024. Linus has chosen the strategy to take in the moments even more and don’t rush through anything. That mindset surely will reach a new level of performance for him! He plans to continue working on becoming even more comfortable in race situations and ocean conditions.
? 2 x Swedish Champion 2023 ? ICF technical race in Italy 2023 ? Planet Baltic Race 2023
Camille Dubrana
With plenty of 2024 European and World championships planned to dominate, Camille’s plan for the year is to improve her Longboard SUP skills and also SUP surfing backside attack as well as keep cross-training to be in the best possible shape to enjoy every session & competition.
? SUP Surfing European Champion 2022 ? APP LongSUP World Championships ? 6th ISA World SUP & Paddleboard Championships 2023 ? 2 x 5th APP SUPSurf World Championships 2023
Alba Frey
Alba consistently prioritizes her goals, aiming to train harder and smarter while enjoying every moment of ride. We believe this approach is her personal secret to achieving high results over the past few years. In 2024, she plans to focus on race training, while also indulging in enjoyable surfing, foil, and windsurfing sessions.
? APP Sprints Alicante SUP open 2022 ? Gran Canaria Pro EuroTour 2023 ? Alicante Eurotour 2023 ? 4th Technical Race ISA Worlds France 2023 ? 4th Sprints European Surfing Association 2023 ? 5th Technical Race European Surfing Association 2023 ? 5th Technical Race ICF World Championship 2023
Cameron Tripney
One of the youngest members of the Dream Team, Cameron is looking forward to attending as many international events as possible in 2024 to gain more experience on the international race scene. Intending to win a medal in the 200m ICF Sprint format, he is also focusing on improving his technical racing skills to succeed in that category as well.
? 3 x South African Open Mens Race Champion ? Freedom Paddle 22km Champion ? ICF Junior Sprint World Champion 2022 ? Robben Island Freedom Paddle 2023
Tim Oliver
North America champion Tim Oliver is taking 3-steps approach for 2024 training season. First – is the gym working on strength. Secondly, it’s doing 1 – 2 technique sessions per week filming and analyzing parts of the stroke with Larry Cain as a coach. The third area of focus – is at least 1 over distance workout per week but keeping the intensity very low to keep the endurance capacity topped up!
? Canadian Champion Distance and Technical 2023 ? Chattajack race 2023 / 2021 ? Carolina Cup 10th 2022 ? Ontario SUP race Series Champion x3 ? Eastern Canadian Champion x2 ? Muskoka River X 130km record
Marie Buchanan
After showcasing impressive results at the ICF World Championship 2023, and securing two world titles, Marie continues to focus on refining her pacing, both on and off the water. In 2024, her attention turns more to UK races, moving towards the ultimate dream goal – to take part in the Molokai 2 Oahu World Championships either on a SUP and eventually on a foil!
? ICF World Championship Masters Long Distance 2023 ? ICF World Championship Masters Technical race 2023 ? Ladies Technical Race 2023 ? Waterborn SUP the Creek - Distance Race 2023 ? GBSUP Falmouth Bay Long Distance 2023 ? GBSUP Falmouth Bay Technical race 2023
Bart de Zwart
Famous for his huge amount of crossings and thrilling expeditions all over the years Bart continues to include new SUP adventures in his plans for 2024. He always strives to find new places to explore and plan adventures to inspire others to do the same, as well as setting new ultra-distance challenges for himself.
? SUP 11-City Tour x4 ? The Yukon 1000 – the longest race in the world ? Winning almost all ultra-distance races in the world at least once ? Setting the 24-hour SUP distance world record ? Ocean Crossings and expeditions in Greenland, Zambia, French Polynesia, Hawaii, Vanuatu, Nepal and many more
Bruce Kriby
Travelled to 85 countries and six continents in the last thirty years of guiding expeditions, Bruce is setting an inspiring plans for the upcoming year as well. He is working towards paddling every inch of the Canadian West Coast- a big goal to complete by 2025. This summer, together with Norm Hann he plans to traverse an exposed section of Vancouver Island. He is constantly striving to increase his efficiency and speed on long trips and follows a periodized program focused on strength, technique and speed.
? Rounding Cape Scott, Vancouver Island – 200km, 7 days ? Grease Trail, Great Bear Rainforest – 230km, 5 days ? Crossing Lake Ontario, Solo – 50km open water ? Vancouver Island Outer Coast Solo – 500km, 11 days ? Vancouver to Victoria – 150 km, 5 days
Building on the legacy of our first HA (high aspect) foils initially released in 2021, the new HA range offers an unprecedented combination of rippability, easy pumping and endless glide that expands the potential of intermediate to expert surf, downwind and wing foilers. Seven sizes – 580, 680, 780, 880, 980, 1080, 1180cm2 – deliver a full quiver of options. The new HA range is the essence of foiling.
Standout Performance
Best of both worlds.
A newly developed section shape, outline and profile give the HA range a remarkable “best of both worlds” ability to carve beautiful lines and easily stay high in the pumping power zone for maximum wave riding potential. The foil section is adjusted incrementally at points across the wingspan (evolutive section shape) to provide a big boost to gliding efficiency and consistent lift at various bank angles and flight speeds. For those already riding the previous generation Armstrong HA range, we recommend downsizing one foil size, for example: from the older HA925, move to the new HA880 to maintain familiar pumpability with a substantial overall performance increase.
Features
High aspect ratio
9.63-9.8 AR across the range of sizes
Broad size range
Seven sizes from 580 to 1180 for intermediate through expert surf, downwind and wing foilers.
Evolutive section shape
The section shape is tweaked at various stations across the span for hyper-optimised water flow across the wing.
Flat profile
Enables responsive turning in carves, even at wider wingspans.
Toray carbon fibre
Built from premium Toray high and intermediate modulus carbon fibre for exceptional stiffness and light weight.
A+ System
Our proprietary connection system offers industry-leading strength, durability and modularity.
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Meticulously engineered to push your fun on the water.
The HA range benefits from two years’ worth of research with a leading CFD team in the hydrofoil sailboat world. These foils turn beautifully and their section is optimized to stay with the wave, allowing smooth flowing connections between swell lines. Excellent lift means riders can drop down one full size from their previous HA foils for improved carving and speed range while maintaining an easy low end.
Stay tuned for the release of this video on Thursday
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The Armstrong Downwind Performance foil range is bred for the raw energy of deepwater offshore swell. Amplify your downwind experience.
The first foils in our new Armstrong Performance Series, the Downwind Performance range was specifically developed to race in the SUP downwind division across Hawaii’s interisland channels. Already a proven Molokai2Oahu World Championship podium-finisher under the feet of team rider Oskar Johansson, the DW Performance range is tailored for expert level SUP downwind aficionados seeking next level freedom in open water.
Offered in 3 sizes from 685 -930cm2.
Access ultimate speed
The product of cutting edge hydrodynamics and foil technology.
Project development began with collecting waveform and real world riding data from Hawaii’s interisland channels to set specific design parameters.
Leading fluid dynamics (CFD) resources helped optimize a foil shape that had extreme top end glide with accessible low end flight speeds for race starts in milder conditions.
The result is remarkably stable at high velocities.
“These foils have a speed range like nothing else I have ridden. They have a low enough stall speed for getting on foil, but then have an incredibly high top end that allows you to ride the fast open ocean swells. The foils also have a very neutral front and back foot pressure that doesn’t change with different speeds, giving a comfortable feel at highspeeds.”-Oskar Johansson, Armstrong team rider and 2023 Molokai2Oahu 2nd place finisher.
Features
Maximum glide
-Aspect ratio (AR) 13.0-13.55
Ultra-premium construction
Made from Toray intermediate and high modulus carbon fibre
Stable at speed
A thin section and subtle anhedral to dihedral shape becomes more pitch and roll stable at higher speeds without feeling locked in.
Evolutive section profile
The foil section is slightly different at each station across the foil span for maximum efficiency.
The A+ System
Foil assembly system
The A+ System is our proprietary foil assembly design that joins the mast, fuselage, front foil and stabiliser together for a solid and smooth feeling on the water.
Hexagonal carbon fibre fuselage with a titanium rod core has progressive flex qualities that balance stiffness with a uniquely smooth feel underfoot.
Minimises flex from the extreme torsional forces produced by high aspect foils.
Premium 316 steel and titanium hardware eliminates corrosion and provides a naturally snug fit, no tef gel required.
Polycarbonate Pro shims allow for half degree incremental changes to stabiliser pitch for incredibly easy tuning of the foil’s flight characteristics. 5621
Performance Series
On the cutting edge
Our Performance Series represents the pinnacle of Armstrong foiling equipment. Created to push boundaries in design process and material selection, these products invite advanced riders on a truly next-level riding experience.
930
Area: 930cm2
Span: 1100mm
Aspect Ratio: 13
755
Area: 755cm2
Span: 1000mm
Aspect Ratio: 13
685
Area: 685cm2
Span: 960mm
Aspect Ratio: 13.55
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We are now one week away from one of the most thrilling races of the season in Hawaii: The Molokai Holokai. This event is not just a single race but a series of races spanning over 2 days. The excitement begins on Friday the 14th with the M2Molokai Challenge. The 27-mile race course, starting from the west side of Maui and ending in Molokai’s main town, Kaunakakai, promises exhilarating waves and bumps for downwind enthusiasts.
For those seeking a repeat of the most exciting part of the race, there is an opportunity to stay on Molokai and participate in the 10-Mile Kamalo Run on Saturday. This section along Molokai’s south shore offers the perfect conditions as wind waves converge into shallower waters, creating incredible formations. We have all witnessed the awe-inspiring glides captured in videos and pictures of Connor Baxter.
If the Kamalo Run is not your preference, there are various activities taking place on Molokai on Saturday. Enjoy fun runs along the coast, immerse yourself in cultural activities, and even join a skate jam. There’s something for everyone to enjoy and make the most of their time on Molokai.
As we all know, Hawaii has shifted away from traditional SUP and is now pushing the boundaries in foiling. SUP pioneers like Dave Kalama and Andrea Moller have dedicated years to perfecting SUP foiling. Dave Kalama, in particular, introduced the “Baracuda Shape” to the world, making SUP foiling more accessible and easier to learn. We look forward to see him at the starting line on Friday.
Next to Dave Kalama and Andrea Moller we have an great field of local and international participants such as:
Fred Bonnef – French SUP and Foil pioneer and EURO TOUR Team Member.
Olivia Piana – French SUP and Foil pioneer with multiple SUP World Titles
Armie Armstrong – The Mad Foil Professor and SUP racer from the very first days
Tomoyasu Murabayashi – Japanese SUP Athlete from the early days
Matt Nottage – Australian SUP pioneer
Gabriella Bella – On of the few girls on Maui mastering SUP Downwind Foiling and promising water woman
Dave Kissane – Australian SUP pioneer
Rachel Bruntsch – Hawaiian SUP pioneer
Marcus Tardrew – Australian SUP and Foil shaper since the very first days
Jeffrey Spencer – Maui / Canadian young gun and 2nd at the M2O in 2019
Kane de Wilde – Maui local and dark horse for the M2O, developing after market foil stabilizers
Shep Nelson – Maui local foil pioneer
In total, we have a count of 39 SUP foilers set to cross the channel, and in a way, this will serve as a training run for the upcoming M2O race in two weeks. We anticipate some last-minute entries as the forecast models get more accurate.
The story of this year’s downwind month in Hawaii will undoubtedly revolve around SUP foiling. This young sport is currently at the stage where traditional SUP was back in 2010. The individuals who have mastered this sport are experienced water enthusiasts who have played a role in shaping it in various ways. Simply by participating in these races, they are contributing to the sport’s history.
While the results may not be the primary focus at this stage, showcasing what is possible and setting new records in the channel will be memorable moments in the history of this sport. The number of people mastering this technique is growing rapidly, and if we follow a similar trajectory as SUP did in 2010, SUP foiling has a promising future across waters worldwide.
Stay tuned for all the action over the weekend as the Stand Up Magazin will follow all racers across the channel trying to keep up and participating in the Wing Foil Division.
Winning must be in Fionas DNA, the multible SUP World Champion as once again proven that she can also win in other sports. We know she had to sit out an entire SUP season due to a shoulder surgery and when she had her comeback in Alicante the APP Race she got first. Now she was back in Europe but not to compete in SUP but to be at the Wingfoil Racing World Cup in Silvaplana Switzerland and… she won.
IWSA media / Sailing Energy
This is the Wingfoil Race World Cup press release:
No wind on the final day of competition on Silvaplana Fiona Wylde wins a World Cup at her first attempt Alessandro Tomasi wins his first World Cup of 2023 Italy and France dominate the men’s top 10
Fiona Wylde (USA) and Alessandro Tomasi (ITA) respectively have become the women’s and men’s champions at Wingfoil Racing World Cup Silvaplana.
With no wind for the final day, the results all hung on the 10 races from the first two days. Tomasi, the 2021 World Champion, earned two crucial wins in the long distance races of the opening day. The dominant performer of the past six months or more has been Mathis Ghio (FRA) who battled hard with Tomasi on that first day but finished runner-up in both long distance heats.
The results from day one proved to be the decisive difference in the eventual outcome because from there the men’s fleet was split into two qualifying groups, yellow and blue. Day two brought the best breeze of the competition with eight short-course races completed in winds ranging from 10 to 20 knots. Tomasi was the master of yellow group, winning seven of the eight heats, conceding victory only to Luca Franchi (ITA), one of the other strong riders in the ever-improving Italian squad.
Meanwhile over in blue group Ghio was proving even more dominant, winning all eight heats. However, this still wasn’t enough to close the gap to Tomasi. The Frenchman would have to wait until the gold fleet finals to be able to take the fight directly to Tomasi and the other Italians.
Unfortunately for Ghio, and all the other competitors, those much-needed races would never materialise. The wind had evaporated from the Swiss Alps. This means Tomasi takes his first World Cup gold of the season, with Ghio in silver and Franchi taking bronze. French and Italian riders dominated the top 10, with 10th-placed Rafferty Read (GBR) being the exception.
Tomasi commented: “I have been working hard, training hard to improve my winging and it feels great when all the work pays off. This week is a reminder that you need to push every moment of a competition, you can never relax and you should never give up because you never know what can happen until the final race is run.”
Fiona Wylde had travelled a long way to see how she would shape up against the proven best in the world. Only recently returned from a shoulder injury and surgery that kept her out of action for almost 18 months, Wylde was keen to get a gauge of the standard in the fleet, which is changing all the time.
Maddalena Spanu’s (ITA) recent victory at the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Campione on Lake Garda is one example of how the women’s fleet is becoming increasingly competitive. A few months ago reigning World Champion Paula Novotna (CZE) had been untouchable but the standard of competition is going up month by month.
Spain’s Montse Sole won the opening long distance race, but victory in the next long distance went to the 16-year-old Spanu. Wylde finished up the first day in third overall, and then on the eight-race day of short-course competition the American rider really came into her own. Out of eight short-course races, the 26-year-old from Hood River, Oregon, took three wins, four seconds and a fourth. This moved her well clear of the chasing pack, which was bunched by just a couple of points.
It was a pity the wind never allowed the rest of the women’s competition to play out. First-time World Cup competitor Wylde earned a well deserved gold and has shown she is one to watch for the future. Spanu adds a silver to her recent Garda gold, and Orane Ceris (FRA) clinched bronze on a tiebreak with Karolina Kluszczynska (POL) who finished fourth overall.
Wylde commented: “It feels incredible to win here, even if I would have loved to do more racing. I was pretty nervous today, I hadn’t done a Medal Series before and I was looking forward to finding out what that was going to be like. I came here to learn, so more time on the water would have been my first choice, but it’s still been a great week, meeting incredible people and hanging out in beautiful Silvaplana. The two days of racing we had were phenomenal. I’m going to keep thinking about those days, they will excite me and motivate me to come back for more World Cup racing in the future.”
There were 10 races completed for the men’s and women’s fleets and while the riders would have enjoyed more, they never wasted their time. Instead they threw themselves into alternative contests in balance boarding and pump foiling, always keen to test their competitive instincts.
For the fortunate and talented few, they will meet at the ANOC World Beach Games in a few week’s time in Bali. It will be a great opportunity to showcase this fast-growing and very accessible sport to a global TV audience. The next Wingfoil Racing World Cup takes place in Sardinia in October.
Where is Fiona going next? Maybe Scharbeutz EURO TOUR?
For sure it is the most advanced technology available. The PARADOXA is build in real prepreg autoclave manufacturing process. This is the most environmental friendly, most durable and most lightweight way to build high end aeronautique, formular racing equipment.
PARADOXA UD PREPREG CARBON HOLLOW CONSTRUCTION
The PARADOXA is not wet laminated, the fibers are pure unidirectional carbon layers. There is no fiberglas, gelcoat or lacquer necessary to seal the construction. As a result it is super lightweight, durable with less flex than any other construction bringing all your paddle power to drive you forward.
But this is not why we claim “is this the most sexiest SUPRACEBOARD in the world?”. It is the magic shape! The entry is sharp and finds the right golden ratio in the front 3rd part to release into fast and stable stance area. It subtles from a round part into slight concave, into a plan area with sharp edges to release the water with less turbulences. The wide tail offers lot ́s of stability and ease in handling at buoy turns. The stance area is below waterline and this features gives more leverage to your blade plus even more stability. This works as we have invented a drainage valve system. The rocker line is unique and you will realize once you can observe. LIGHTBOARDCORP® is well known for very compeNNve boards such as the SIGNATURE models which need skills in handling, but as we always mention:” The longer you use, the faster you get!” Now with the PARADOXA we designed a series of boards that will equipe our pro team to drive results, but also makes the army of amateurs a threat to proven top racers.
2022 was an outstandingly successful race year for the Starboard SUP Team. The athletes of the Starboard Dream Team paddled the Sprint and Allstar models to the podiums in all important races internationally and nationally. Right from the first important US race of the season, the Carolina Cup, they dominated: Michael Booth won the Long Distance in an outstanding way, Connor Baxter took gold in the Tech Race followed by teammate Noic Garioud. At the ICF SUP World Championships in Poland, Connor Baxter, Michael Booth, Esperanza Barreras and their teammates took seven gold medals, among others. Baxter and Barreras also captured the overall APP Racing World Tour titles and various other podium finishes in other races. Listing Baxter’s many wins is beyond the scope here, as are the many national champions, including Zane Schweitzer, who not only won the longboard and SUP divisions at US Nationals. Leonard Nika paddled the 204km SUP 11 City Tour fastest while his brother Claudio Nika can call himself “The Fastest Sprinter in Europe” by winning the EuroSUP Sprint title. Italian Caterina Stenta showed what the 23 Starboard Sprint Zero board can do. She paddled away from all the ladies at the SUP Alps Trophy and also left the majority of the men behind her, but not the German Ole Schwarz.
Picture: Andy Klotz for SUP Alps Trophy Caterina Stenta on the new Sprint Zero and Ole Schwarz at the SUP Alps Trophy
Ole Schwarz and his teammates from the German Starboard Team also took off in this first real race year after the Corona Break. The 25-year-old Ole Schwarz from Bonn comes from canoeing and won the gold medal at the multi-sport event “Finals 2022” in Berlin, is German Champion in SUP Sprint (SUP DM Radolfzell), German Champion Long Distance and Tech Race (SUP DM Fehmarn) and second overall in the SUP Alps Trophy. Team manager Carsten Kurmis, who himself also defended his Sprint title at the Open German SUP Championship, is also focusing on young talent. The Junior U15 team did very well in its first race season and these names should be kept in mind: “Tinca” Thien-Catrin Tusche, Laila and her brother Marlon Daskiran, Lukas Steinwagner and Lasse Sauerteig occupied the podiums at the Open German SUP Championship at Lake Constance.
The boards of the winners are called Starboard Sprint and Allstar
The special feature: These are series models. From spring 2023, the new arrow-quick boards with the red noses will be available for sale to everyone. The Sprint, the fastest flatwater board, has been given a new hull shape with a higher, pointed nose, rounded rails and a new drainage system – all for faster acceleration and top speed. After more than six years of development, the board Sprint also comes in the new Zero construction. Caterina Stenta was already able to use it at the SUP Alps Trophy: “The water was flat, so I chose the new Sprint Zero and tried it despite the many buoy turns. The Zero was amazing, felt super connected and stable – even in the turns!”
The Starboard Sprint Zero is the new benchmark for lightweight race boards and with “zero EPS foam a game changer”. It is three board lengths faster than the carbon sandwich construction at 50 paddle strokes. Weight comparison for the 14.0 x 25.5 shape: Starboard Sprint Zero construction 9.6 kg Starboard Spring Carbon Sandwich Construction 12.1 kg
The fastest board for all conditions, the Starboard Allstar continues to come in Carbon Sandwich and Carbon Wood construction. The shape updates for faster acceleration and speed: speed advantage due to the narrower nose and flatter rocker in the underwater hull. Higher rails and drainage system minimize water in the stance area. The Allstar Shape plays its strengths in upwind, downwind and choppy conditions.
Before summer comes to an end Indiana already started planning for the next season. The majority of the collection stays the same for the 2023 season. But don’t worry Indiana still delivers new products and developments of the SUP, FOIL and SURF range.
SUP Highlights
Indiana 12’6 S Touring and Ocean Touring Inflatable
This summer we launcher the 12’6 S Touring and the 12’6 Ocean Touring successfully. The S comes with narrower width of 29” for a sportier paddle style and the Ocean Touring is developed for tours in the ocean or choppy conditions with its rocker. In classic touring manner are both boards equipped with the known SUP 2.0 features.
Indiana LTD Edition Touring Inflatable
The limited edition is the absolute high end of the whole Indiana Inflatable SUP collection. Limited, unique design and best performance. It doesn’t get any closer to a hardboard feeling than with our limited edition. Check out the detailed board review.
Indiana Race Hardboards
The 14’ Race Hardboard series has also been newly developed and was successfully launched in the competition and high-performance scene. DHC, All Water or Open Water, the series offers the ideal board for every race type and condition.
Team rider Manuel Lauble already achieved great results and podiums at several competitions with the DHC and even got invited to the finals in Berlin with live transmission on ZDF.
Lookbook 2023 click on the image
NEW: Indiana 12’6 Touring S Carbon Wood
Towards the new season we will launch the 12’6 Carbon Wood S with a sportier width of 27.5”. The board comes in the known and pretty paulownia-wood veneer, as well as carbon fins and offers sporty paddlers great glide in all conditions.
SUP Accessories and Restube
Not to forget. We offer a full range of SUP accessories, such as leashes, battery pumps, paddles, fins, bags and carry-belts and safety equipment from Restube. With our accessory range, we let every paddler heart beat faster.
FOIL Highlights
Wingfoil 81L Carbon
The wingfoil bestseller this season. A truly complete wingfoil machine, that combines design, performance and usability. Watch the detailed board test on gleiten.tv.
Inflatable Wingfoil Boards
The ideal choice for your next foil vacation. Practical, compact yet still high performing. The integrated 10” tracks with extra reinforcement of the boxes and the embedded foot strap appliance in the fiberglass foot base, make our inflatable board range a great deal.
LeDoigt 3’7 Pumpfoil Board
The best mix of weight, volume and durability, make this board one of the most pumped boards in Switzerland. As an add-on we developed the brand new pumpfoil backpack, that opens up a whole new spectrum of possibilities and makes transportation of the whole equipment a lot easier.
High Performance Foil Series
With the high-performance series to the next level.
Hydrodynamic optimized fuselages, 7 new frontwings, 3 new stabilizers and the perhaps lightest and still very stiff full carbon masts in 72 and 85cm length will catapult your foil experience to a whole new world.
In cooperation with the Swiss company Carbo-Link AG developed, will the carbon masts and four of the wings manufactured in Europe, Kosovo.
To give you a proper overview of which wing is suitable for which foil sport and level check out our description overview.
With the Paris event in the books the APP is looking towards their 2022 season. No doubt Tristan Boxford and his team had a difficult 2020 and the recovery in 2021 also seemed not to have gone as planned. Several events had to be cancelled. Before we copy and paste the Newsletter, there are some items here that caught our eye and raised some questions.
The APP announces a EUROPEAN CUP: This seems a bit confusing to us. Why is the APP, in addition to their World Cup, adding a European Cup? We just had the announcement that there will be European SUP Championships by the ESF in Denmark and off course we have the EURO Tour that been going on for years. Are we now going to end up with 3 European SUP Champions? Why not using these regional races a qualifiers for a 2023 World Tour rather than crowning another EURO Champion? For now these are some open questions that might answer themselves next year.
For now here is are the APP News as we received them:
APP will deliver an exciting line up of World Class Racing Events at high profile venues in 2022 for a truly Global Championship Tour
Ericeira Portugal, Thursday 9th December: The APP is excited to announce its 2022 season for Racing that consists of high profile venues across the globe that will deliver World Class action and an unforgettable journey towards the crowning of Men’s and Women’s World Champions. Here is the line up:
Santa Monica, USA: 26th – 28th June
Spain: 5th – 7th August (tbc)
London, UK: 19th – 21st August
Osaka, Japan: 16th – 18th September (tbc)
Busan, Korea: 23rd – 25th September
Maui, Hawaii: 5th – 10th October
Paris, France: 2nd – 4th December
Middle East Finals: 8th – 10th February (2023)
With the return of spectacular venues from past years such as London, Osaka, Maui and Paris complimented by the introduction of exciting new venues in Los Angeles, Spain, Korea and the Middle East, the 2022 APP World Tour will not only challenge the World’s best in a complete cross section of conditions to determine World Champions, it will bring the sport and the spectacle to high profile venues across the globe in a truly inclusive manner.
In addition to the World Championship Tour line up, stay tuned for news on specialty events to take place in the Middle East, the Americas and Asia in the lead up to the start of the season in June, providing a full season of competitive action here on the APP World Tour.
The APP announces its revamped European Cup, celebrating the Sport’s staggering growth on the European Continent
As the sport of Stand Up Paddling experiences unprecedented growth across the European Continent, the APP is proud to re-introduce the European Cup to celebrate this growth and deliver an exciting line up of events for this European Series in 2022.
In addition to the World Championship Tour stops in Spain, London and Paris, Zug, in Switzerland will host a high profile Prime event, to be joined by several other venues to be announced soon.
The goal of the European Cup will be to crown both Official European Champions at the conclusion of the Cup Series in Paris, but also International Champions of this European leg of the Tour.
Here is the current line up for the 2022 European Cup:
Spain: 5th – 7th August
Zug, Switzerland: 12th – 14th August
London, UK: 19th – 21st August
Paris, France, European Cup Final: 2nd – 4th December
As will all APP Events in 2022, the focus will be on bringing World Class performance together with inclusive participation for a unique celebration of the sport in all its forms.
APP World Surfing Tour announcement coming soon with exciting new venues to complement existing favorites for the 2022 season
With incredible venues now locked in, the APP is working with the events to finalize dates for an imminent launch of the 2022 World Tour Surfing Schedule. The 2022 Tour will feature events in Africa, Europe and the Americas, with World Class Conditions to provide a fitting showcase of Stand Up Paddlesurfing at its very best on the APP World Tour.
The news from Messe Düsseldorf quickly made the rounds when it was announced last week that the new date of boot is now in April. I wanted to know a bit more and contacted the PR department of the fair with a few questions about the new date and the impact on 2022 and the trend sports industry.
I myself am very happy about the new date, because we can now present the spring issue with the re-launch of the magazine in April at the boot. The days will be a bit longer and we won’t freeze our hands and feet during the assembly and disassembly.
In this sense, many thanks to Petros Michelidakis Director of boot for his answers and the wise decision to move the boot to April.
Aloha Petros,
Thank you for taking the time to read Stand Up Magazine. The water sports community in Hall 8a has long speculated about what will happen in January. Most of the people I talked to have all already guessed in September that the boot will not take place in January. Many manufacturers in Beach World have therefore not registered.
Why did you wait so long with a final decision at the fair? Or asked in another way: what is so important on the January date that it took so long to reach a final decision?
Aloha Mike. We have always said that we will keep an eye on the January deadline and assess the situation as it stands. With our current decision we offer our exhibitors and of course the whole international water sports community a good planning security. We had and have the support of the boat and yacht manufacturers, of which the market leaders are on board. For the shipyards, the date in January is actually the better one, as they can then present their premieres in time for the start of the new season.
And for many decades, boot Düsseldorf has had its position as the first trade fair in the series of shows. However, since the companies also consider a presence at boot Düsseldorf in 2021 to be indispensable, most of them will be on board at the new date from April 17. to 25.
The situation is somewhat different for surfing. Here, in the current worldwide C19 situation, April is very accommodating to the providers. People will plan their leisure and sports activities in the coming year very close to the start of the season. I believe that we can give surfing a considerable boost with the new date. With warmer temperatures, the longing for water sports will be even greater and we will certainly be able to welcome an enthusiastic audience to boot 2021.
I am sure that many local politicians were involved in the decision process to postpone the date. Despite the security concept, what finally tipped the scales to cancel the January date?
In Germany, as in many other countries, there is currently a regulation that events are completely prohibited, including trade fairs. However, on December 3, the Economics Ministers of the German federal states issued an appeal to the German government to launch an initiative to safeguard and further develop the German trade fair industry. The decisive factor for the postponement of boot 2021, however, was above all the planning reliability towards our boat manufacturers. We had to make this decision by the beginning of December at the latest, since that is when the yachts are sent on their way to Düsseldorf. And we didn’t want to leave any exhibitor sitting on these high transport costs. With the date in April we can now plan and we will be able to welcome the first yachts at the end of March.
Why exactly in Arpil?
When planning the postponement, only this date was actually considered. We expect that the warmer temperatures together with the start of vaccinations will lead to a containment of C19. In addition, the date is ideal for surfing and diving as well as for the travel and charter industry. It falls in the beginning of the travel season and I think that many people are hoping for this start of the season. Furthermore, for many manufacturers a date later in the year is simply not possible due to the deliveries of their boats to private customers and charter bases.
Will this postponement have an effect on boot 2022?
Definitely no! From 2022 on we will go back to the proven date in January. This is what the industry expects from us and we will keep it as “learned”.
If I may I have a few more Beach World specific questions:
We see how Nautique in Paris has established itself as a meeting place for the international SUP elite. But the infrastructure at Beach World seems to be the better one. Beach World has enormous potential to attract more international starts from the trend sports scene and yet we see the activities on the water for active athletes getting smaller every year. What is the philosophy of the fair here?
Petros and Christian Andersen SUP Athlet from Denmark
During the Salon Nautique, Paris has established a SUP race on the Seine with many international stars. This is unfortunately prohibited by the authorities on the Rhine because of the current and commercial shipping traffic. The Beachworld and “The Wave” have been attracting just as many international stars for years, who often stay with us throughout the fair and who visitors can meet. However, I do not agree with the fact that our activities are getting smaller, on the contrary. The Wave, Foilsurfing, Foil-Pumping or also SUP-Yoga have been established at the boot in the last years. We still follow the trends and present them together with the protagonists of the scene at boot. Industry experts like Flo Brunner from Starboard even consider “Wingfoiling” to be a similarly booming sport as windsurfing was in the 1980s. To have extremely much fun on the water with compact and light equipment is certainly a wish that many water sports enthusiasts fulfill. At the next boot in April we will present the topic “Wing-Foiling” especially prominently. Here the community will show great interest in the products and how and where you can experience this fascinating kind of water sports. For this we will deepen our pool and use wind machines. For this purpose, a grandstand is planned, which will allow a larger number of spectators while observing the rules of hygiene.
In any case, I am already looking forward to the new date and I am sure that we will experience a Beach World in April as we remember it from 2020.
Thank you very much for your insight.
Boot Düsseldorf ist from 17. – 25. of April 2021.
Memories to a boot from a pre-corona world.
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We are looking optimistic into 2021 and hope for a great SUP Season. Unfortunately the APP seem to have not been able to get a permit for their legendary Sun Set SUP Surf Contest. Hopes are alive for 2022. The opening of the Season still seems uncertain. We are waiting on a date and location for the kick off event in late May early June. We also see a withdraw of the organizers in Denmark which was a tour stop on their preliminary schedule.
Looking forward to a European Tripple Crown.
The European Triple Crown
London, UK: 31st July – 2nd August
Switzerland: 6th – 8th August
Paris: 3rd – 5th December
This could be great and rumors have the Switzerland race will take in the City of Zürich.
Aside all of our excitement this is the official news release from the APP:
Ericeira, Portugal, Friday 4th December: After a frustrating ‘leap year’ for global sport, the APP is proud to announce its return to action for 2021 with a full line up of events spanning the globe and set to provide the World’s Best Athletes with a phenomenal and well rounded challenge in their quest for the World Title.
2021 sees the most high profile line up of City Events yet for the APP World Tour as its City Paddle Festival approach goes from strength to strength and will provide a welcome return to the outdoors for World Class action and all inclusive fun.
Meanwhile for Surfing, while the timing for Sunset Beach (February) is too challenging for us to move forward with its inclusion in the 2021 schedule, it will be a welcomed return to Tahiti, a new adventure in Portugal and a homecoming for the Grand Final and crowning of the 2021 Surfing World Champions in Gran Canaria.
There have been a few important changes to the schedule since our provisional schedule announcement last month, namely the postponement of Sunset Beach and Denmark to 2022 and the replacement of Barbados with Portugal. We are also awaiting a final decision on which of two venues will host the presitigious World Tour Opener for 2021. More detail is included below, but here is the final line up for 2021:
World Tour Open, location tba (Race 1): Late May / early June (final dates tbc)
London, UK (Race 2): 30th July – 1st August
Switzerland (Race 3): 6th – 8th August
Tahiti (Surf 1): 11th – 18th September
Osaka, Japan (Race 5): 24th – 26th September
San Diego, USA (Race 6): 1st – 3rd October
Maui, Hawaii (Race 7): 14th – 17th October
Portugal (Surf 2): 9th – 14th November
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Surf 3): 20th – 28th November
Paris, France (Race 8): 3rd – 5th December
While all dates and venues have been locked in and all precautions have been taken and possible scenarios planned for as it relates to the global pandemic, we still remain at the mercy of national and global restrictions and other effects of the current global crisis. However, after a frustrating 2020, the APP has taken every step possible to ensure that the show can and will go on in 2021! We look forward to seeing you all there.
Sunset Beach:
The APP has been working tirelessly to figure out a solution for the complex challenges and uncertainty facing delivering a World Tour event in February in Sunset Beach, and is disappointing to have to announce that it will not be possible in 2021.
Given the global surge in Covid-19 cases and uncertainty surrounding global travel for the next few months, coupled with the challenges of hosting an event in a public beach park in Hawaii during this pandemic, we have been forced to postpone our iconic Sunset Beach event until 2022.
However, the APP will be back on Oahu’s North Shore in February of 2022, as one of the most iconic events in the sport’s history will once again take center stage.
Tahiti will open the Tour in style in 2021
1. Tahiti: 11th – 18th September, 2021
While we have been forced to skip Hawaii for Surfing in 2021, we will remain in Polynesia for the Opening event of the surf season, with the welcomed return to Tahiti in September. With a new venue in the works for 2021, we are excited to be back in this South Pacific paradise, and to include a World Class lefthander into the mix to challenge the World’s very best SUP Surfers.
The timing could not be better for a return to Tahiti, with the reigning World Champion, Poenaiki Raioha hailing from the Islands together with the need to add a World Class left to the mix of spots on the Surfing World Tour.
It is also the return to a venue steeped in heritage for the APP World Tour, where history was made in 2010 with the inaugural and groudbreaking event at Sapinus and a legacy was built over the years in a destination where Paddling and Surfing are so firmly entrenched in the culture.
Portugal replaces Barbados
2. Portugal: 7th – 14th November
Given the challenging year that 2020 has been for global tourism, we are disappointed to announce that Barbados has been withdrawn from the calendar for 2021. However it is not a goodbye, but a see you soon, as we continue to work hand in hand with Barbados Tourism to bring the APP back to Barbados as soon as is possible.
We are however proud to reinstate Portugal into the 2021 calendar! This is a development that we are extremely excited about, not least because of the incredible run of swell that this wave rich coastline has been blessed with during the month of November this year, with the official dates for the 2021 edition running from the 7th – 14th November.
This also provides an ideal pairing of events with the Final in Gran Canaria, being just a short 2 hour flight from Lisbon and with the two events running back to back. This facilitiates real economies for our travelling athletes and a phenomenal close to the 2021 season.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria will be a homecoming for the Tour
3. Gran Canaria: 20th – 28th November
We are once again excited to return to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for the climactic close of the 2021 season, at a venue that has delivered so much over the past few years of action on the APP World Tour.
From the Island’s laid back vibe, to the incredible surf that we have witnessed over the event’s history, with climactic closes to both the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
We expect no less in 2021, and look forward to returning to this ideal European Winter escape to wrap another spectacular surf season on the APP World Tour.
The APP World Tour will feature defined regional legs in 2021 in the creation of a truly global and high profile Championship Season
2021 will bring the City Paddle Festival Concept to life across our global program, providing participation opportunities for all and a showcase of World Championship Tour action at the heart of some of the World’s most recognizable Cities.
The 2021 APP World Tour will also provide a regional focus to the global program, with logical legs for the Tour and a manageable schedule for our global Athletes.
World Tour Opener
We have an interesting scenario for the World Tour Opener, where we have two venues vying to host this prestigious event that will kick off the 2021 season. Given the current global environment, this process has taken longer to conclude than we would have hoped, but we expect to be able to announce the location and final dates within the next few weeks.
However, we can confirm that the window for this Opening event will be late May / early June, to allow sufficient time for the World to stabilize and global travel issues to ease.
The European Triple Crown
London, UK: 31st July – 2nd August
Switzerland: 6th – 8th August
Paris: 3rd – 5th December
We are extremely excited to announce the launch of our new European Triple Crown: a series of 3 high profile World Championship Tour stops and City Paddle Festivals held in some of Europe’s most recognizable Cities. This trilogy of events will provide some of the most magical backdrops imaginable coupled with some of the most dramatic race courses the Tour has ever seen, utilizing the natural environment to deliver both technical elements for the racers and a dramatic sporting showcase for spectators.
It should be noted that Denmark has been withdrawn from the 2021 schedule due to sensitivity at a City level of too many events taking place in the metropolitan area too early during the exit from the global pandemic. However, we are happy to report that the multi-year commitment from the venue for the hosting of an official stop on the APP World Tour is set to kick off in 2022.
With a prestigious Triple Crown Title on the line for the World’s Best at the culmination of the 3 events and the Tour in Paris, the competition will be that much more intense, set to the backdrop of some of the world’s most iconic landmarks. It will be a show not to be missed, and there will be an opportunity to participate across all 3 stops, regardless of age, gender or ability: in short, there will be something for everyone.
Asia (September)
Osaka, Japan: 24th – 26th September
It will then be a return to Osaka, Japan for the 5th stop of the Tour, as the APP will build on the foundations laid with the inaugural event in 2019 to deliver another World Class and immersive experience at the heart of this unforgettable City.
With some exciting new changes for 2021, Osaka promises to be one of the real highlights of the APP World Championship Tour and certainly one not to be missed.
US Cup (October)
San Diego, California: 1st – 3rd October
Maui: 14th – 17th October
The Tour will then return to the US for this two venue Cup that will provide some of the most specatcular conditions of the year for the World’s Best.
Reigniting the global pilgrimage to Southern California at the end of September / early October, the APP World Tour has found a new home in San Diego California. The venue is so perfectly suited to the City Paddle Festival concept of getting people out on the water and active, but also to deliver an impressive mix of open ocean, surf and flat water conditions to challenge the World’s very best Athletes.
The Tour will then move onto the Island of Maui for a mix of World Class Downwind Racing and the ultimate Surf Sprint Racing at Ho’okipa Beach. With a 4 day holding period and 2 days of action to be held on the best 2 days for each respective discipline during the holding period, the Maui event will deliver some of the most spectacular racing action of the year held on the sport’s most infamous natural racing arenas
The Final (December)
Paris, France: 3rd – 5th December
It will then be the welcomed return to Paris, France to combine the annual pilgrimage down the River Seine with a supercharged indoor event inside the Salon Nautique to provide a dramatic final weekend of action that will close the 2021 APP World Tour in style and crown the Sport’s Racing World Champions for both Men and Women. And remember, this will also be the closing event of the European Triple Crown, with this new and prestigious Title on the line for the World’s Best.
For thousands of paddlers around the world, 2020 prevented them from their annual pilgrimage to Paris on a cold December morning. However, all the fun and spectacular action will be back in 2021, as the Paris SUP Open will once again come alive and welcome the world in for a show to remember.
Logistics solution integrated for the 2021 APP World Tour
Please also remember that the APP will be adopting a Container solution for the year to transport Athlete’s boards from Europe in May, all the way around the World to each of the events and back to Europe for the Final in Paris. More to follow on this solution by early 2021 to allow plenty of time to plan.
We just received the news that the PADDLEexpo will continue under the name PADDLE BOARD EXPO in Kassel and no longer in Nuremberg.
Apparently the original organizer Horst Führsattel retired. Therefore I would like to thank him for the 10 years of cooperation and wish him all the best. This is the message on the website:
Canoe fair, SUP-Expo and PADDLEexpo 2003 – 2019
The PADDLEexpo series is over, the 2019 event was the last PADDLEexpo.There are no plans and no date for another PADDLEexpo
Dear Sir or Madam, we will hold the PADDLE-BOARD-EXPO trade visitor fair in Kassel from 23.09. -25.09.2021, as a continuation of the PADDLEEXPO The PADDLE-BOARD-EXPO will be the leading trade fair for the paddle & SUP sport. The latest products around kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddling, foil boards & boats, folding and inflatable boats, paddle clothing, accessories and equipment will be presented.
As the engine of the industry, the fair is a global marketplace and at the same time an international meeting place for the industry and the scene.
It also functions as a central information and contact point for the rental business, event and incentive travel and water sports tourism.
The venue is the Kassel Exhibition Center in the center of Germany. We are expecting more than 150 exhibitors from all over the world, including all well-known brands from the canoe and SUP scene. Additionally, various workshops & lectures will be offered during the fair.
There will be lectures and discussions about useful topics such as marketing, insurance, digitalization, environment, sales, etc. by experts from the respective industry. We would like to involve you as a strong media partner in print & online magazines of the Kanu & Sup scene. This cooperation can be successfully implemented as media partner & advertising partner as well as exhibitor at the fair itself. If you are interested, please contact us and send us in advance your media data and conditions for advertisements in your magazines.
With kind regards
“
The man behind the new fair is Stefan Bretthauer and we will publish an interview with him shortly. Then we will also find out how the canoe industry has reacted to the new name.
Insiders have known for a while that BIC will disappear one day with the acquisition of TAHE. But now it is official:
With the launch of the new collection for 2021, BIC Sport becomes “TAHE”. This new water sports brand is based on the fusion of BIC Sport and Tahe Outdoors and combines both tradition and innovation. Following the new slogan “Endless Play Time”, TAHE aims to make time on and in the water unforgettable and as easy as possible for everyone.
TAHE’s mission is to offer particularly user-friendly water sports products. These are both reliable and innovative and are largely manufactured in France in a sustainable and resource-saving manner.
TAHE is also heavily involved in the youth sector with the Techno 293 OD and the O’pen Skiff and is committed to developing competition formats for young water sports enthusiasts around the world.
TAHE: new name, new dynamics, proven roots
The TAHE brand stands for a likeable image, innovative new products and exciting projects in the future. Nevertheless, much of what is known about BIC Sport remains. A large part of the products will continue to be manufactured in France and the product categories will be continued. Products such as the Techno-Windsurfboards, the kayak models Trinidad, Borneo and Bilbao, the Cross and Performer SUP-Range as well as the proven ACE-TEC and TOUGH-TEC technologies are all integrated into the new TAHE brand. Together they ensure continuity in connection with new products and technologies. The production facilities will also remain the same: TAHE/ex-BIC Sport will produce at its site in Vannes, France. The original brand Tahe Outdoors continues to produce primarily kayak products in its factory in Tallin, Estonia.
The TAHE brand can look back on 40 years of combined experience of the legendary brands BIC Sport and Tahe Outdoors. BIC Sport’s sports culture, manufacturing expertise and focus on fun for the whole family are now combined with Tahe Outdoors’ dedication to development and craftsmanship.
Exclusive distributor for Germany and Austria is Choppy Water GmbH from Stein near Kiel, which has been responsible for the distribution of BIC Sport products for more than 15 years. Four sales representatives support the specialized trade and a large number of water sports centers. The products are shipped from the 2,500 square meter warehouse within sight of the Baltic Sea.
BIC SPORT
Born out of the windsurfing culture of the early 1980s, BIC Sport built its image on the pursuit of fun, living the Hawaiian dream and searching for the perfect wave. This passion inspired the development of the world’s best-selling windsurfing boards. After numerous successes at windsurfing world championships, BIC Sport expanded into other water sports such as surfing, kayaking, junior sailing and stand-up paddling (SUP). Countless successes in each of these sports have made BIC Sport THE authoritative water sports brand for beginners and enthusiasts alike. This “open to all” strategy also drove the development of water sports with the introduction of two integrative “one-class” regatta sections for young sailors. Fleets of Techno 293 OD windsurf boards and O’pen Skiff dinghies are now found in over 60 countries worldwide. These innovative concepts have turned the sailing world upside down with new, fun-oriented competition formats that are both dynamic and accessible to everyone.
TAHE Outdoors
In the late 1980s, far from the palm-fringed beaches of Hawaii, Tahe Outdoors built its own legend and conquered the cold, inhospitable seas of Northern Europe. A group of hardcore athletes created a series of powerful, super-stable kayaks to enable extreme expeditions into the harsh, icy landscapes of the Great White North. “TAHE” means “the will to succeed” in Estonian. An appropriate principle for the founders of this Estonian company, which in its early days was supported by the Finnish Kayak Federation. From this business idea, two brands have emerged: Zegul and Tahe Marine. Their products were the basis for legendary expeditions to some of the most remote places on earth.
