Articles by Tez Plavenieks

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

Three of a kind – Mistral Quikslide 100L, 110L, 120L freeride windsurf board comparison test

Words: WSUK Pics: James Jagger, WSUK You’d be forgiven for thinking Mistral parked their involvement with windsurfing a while back. Yet the recognisable red dot brand has always remained, just bubbling under the surface these last few seasons. Towards the end of 2018 Mistral announced they were fully back in the game with introduction of their line of Quikslide freeride […]

Windsurfing history encyclopedia

P – Peter Chilvers: inventor of the windsurfer

Peter Chilvers is credited as being the godfather and inventor of the modern windsurfer as we know it. Pete created his sailboard in 1958 and used the waters surrounding Hayling Island, south coast, UK, as testing grounds for his invention. During the 1980s a lawsuit was filed against Chilvers/Tabur Marine by Windsurfing International who disputed Pete’s patent. The court eventually ruled in […]

Windsurfing history encyclopedia

A – Arnaud de Rosnay: windsurfing pioneer, adventurer and photographer

Arnaud de Rosnay was a French windsurfer, adventurer and photographer. His sailing featured many long distance, solo windsurf crossings including navigation of the Behring Strait, sailing between the Marquesas and the Tuamotu Archipelago, crossing the waters between Florida and Cuba and crossing the Strait of La Perouse between Hokkaido and Sakhalin. He was eventually lost at sea whilst attempting the crossing […]

Windsurfing UK Articles

Head honch – the UK Windsurfing Association’s Bob Ingram in profile

Interview: WSUK Pics: Andy Stallman Bob Ingram has held down the position of UKWA head honcho since 2009. A fan of all aspects of windsurfing – not least raceboard and formula – Bob’s still as hungry as ever and super keen to get afloat, deliver the goods in terms of events and generally spread the good word of windsurfing. Here’s […]

Windsurfing UK Articles

Windsurfing obsession – Mark Dowson windsurfer profile

Interview: WSUK Pics: Russell Groves Regular Windsurfing UK contributor, Lanzarote loving, committed wave sailor and (now) BWA press officer Mark Dowson’s enthusiasm for windsurfing is second to none. Frequenting many different UK beaches, as well as putting in hours across the drink in Lanza, he’s a committed wave hound and a nice guy to boot. We caught up with Mark […]

Windsurfing UK windsurf travel

Club Vass family windsurf holidays (or: getting your kids hooked on windsurfing)

Words: Tez Plavenieks Pics: Tez & Fi Plavenieks It’s a dilemma for anyone into windsurfing with offspring. Imparting enough inspiration/information and encouraging your kids without being overly pushy can be tricky. If the magic happens then they too will have their imaginations pricked and soon be blasting back and forth with mum and dad (if both parents sail). The difficulty, […]

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

Fly toy – Duotone F-Type 5.8m 2019 windfoil specific windsurf sail

There’s a lot to be thankful for in terms of design with the arrival of windfoiling. With a new discipline comes all manner of out of the box ideas and concepts that could straddle standard windsurfing in time. Not least a new brand name Duotone’s spangly foil specific F-Type 5.8m is a case in point. Once unfurled it’s obvious the […]

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

Inner fire – Ride Engine APOC 5/4/3 hooded winter wetsuit 2019 review

It used to be that any windsurfer looking for a new rubber onesie would be eyeing up single lined, shiny wetsuits. Thinking was that double layered (rough material) were more for immersive watersports such as surfing. Single layer suits, due to less evaporative cooling effects, were deemed more applicable for activities above the brine. These days wetty technology has evolved […]

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

Old school, new school (engagement) – Windsurfer LT One Design windsurfing kit test

Words: WSUK Pics: James Jagger Just recently there’s been a resurgence of interest in the lighter wind end of windsurfing’s spectrum. Maybe attributed to windfoiling coming on the scene or maybe it’s because we all just want to get wet and have fun. Whatever the reasons we were stoked when Bruce Wylie from Cobra International (one of the original windsurfers […]

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

Signature series – KA Sails Koncept 7m slalom windsurf sail test 2018

Pics: James Jagger KA Sails were pretty commonplace around UK shores a few years ago. Still going strong, however, we decided to re-visit the Netherlands based windsurf sail brand to see what the score is with their signature slalom/race/speed sail the 7m Koncept. The first thing that strikes you is the sail’s livery. It’s a good looking sail and we […]