thepaddler – Page 3 – Windsurfing UK

Putting in the mileage – Steve Thorp profile

Interview: Windsurfing UK Pics: Joe Cockle, Duncan Coombs, Steve Thorp, Mark Ingram Pounding the miles in an effort to score killer conditions on a fickle forecast, Steve Thorp is the ultimate nomadic wave slayer who has one eye on speed sailing too. Based in the middle of the country puts Thorpy in an efficient position for hitting any of the […]

Winds of change – RRD Airwindsurf Freeride inflatable windsurfing board and 7m review

Words: Windsurfing UK Pics: Windsurfing UK, Dave White A planing inflatable windsurfing board? Who’d a thought it? Blow up technology isn’t a new thing, as many will no doubt be aware. Our stand up paddle boarding brethren have been enjoying this type of craft for a while. Within SUP, blow ups are the most popular types of vehicle – at […]

Hobbitual ‘rock’ dweller – Russell Groves and Lanzarote’s windsurf scene

Profile: Windsurfing UK Pics: Russell Groves If you’ve ever had the fortune of travelling to Costa Teguise, Lanzarote, to windsurf, then you will have probably come across Russell Groves. A UK transplant to the island, Russell has been a permanent face on ‘the rock’ since 1989. Affectionately known as the Wave Hobbit, Russell has been coaching, filming and sharing the […]

Need for speed – Zara Davis in profile

Words and pics: Pete Davis Zara is probably one of the best known female windsurfers in the UK. With two world records and numerous European and World titles in speed sailing to her name, it’s not surprising. But what a lot of people don’t know is she is a qualified Osteopath and holds down a full time job running her […]

Dahab – open for windsurfing business…

Words: Fi and Toby Gibson Pics: Fi and Toby Gibson, Julia Toms British couple Toby and Fi moved to Dahab, Egypt, 10 years ago, having finally set up their own watersports holiday business. It’s no secret that Egypt is suffering due to its geo political situation, but how is it now on the ground at one of the world’s best […]

Real world champ – James Dinsmore profile

Words: James Dinsmore Pics: PWA/Dave White/Bartosz Wozniiak James Dinsmore is quite an interesting character, when you consider his status as BSA UK Slalom Champ, pro sailor – but having a hectic day job and being a committed father and husband. As much as he competes across most events in the UK, and some overseas, James is in the same boat […]

Fourth time lucky – Max Rowe scoops UKWA Windsurfer of the Year 2016!

Freestyler Max Rowe has been voted UKWA Windsurfer of the Year 2016. In a very hotly contested vote for this coveted award he was up against some big names from the world of windsurfing including Ross Williams, John Skye. Sarah Hilder and Louis Morris. Max, after being nominated four times over his career, secured enough votes this year to lift […]

Design for life – Tiesda You (Shamal Windsurfing, Starboard) profile

Words: Tiesda You Pics: Shamal/Starboard Tiesda You’s whole life has been about design and coming up with on point products that look great, have huge amounts of user appeal; all without losing sight of the key ingredient: functionality. Having been indoctrinated into the Starboard family Tiesda has been able to bring many of his board shaping ideas to fruition and now with Shamalin […]

Major Sailor – Allan Cross (NWF) profile

Profile: Windsurfing UK Pics: Allan Cross, Chris Bilkey Allan Cross is the people’s windsurfing champion. If you need evidence of this then simply scope out the National Watersports Festival where the everyday freeride participant is at the heart of why the NWF exists. But what about the man behind the event – Allan Cross? Windsurfing UK caught up with Sgt. […]

Stoke Foil Boost foil assist review.

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

The Stoke Foil Boost foil assist is one of a number of foil assist products I’ve tested over the last few years but the Stoke Boost is the most attention-grabbing. Looking radically different from anything else on the market the Stoke Boost looks more like a torpedo than a gadget to help get you flying. Words: Tez Plavenieks. Additional pics: […]

Wing foiling apparel brand FLYTE launches in the UK.

Windsurfing UK News

Wing foiling apparel brand FLYTE launches in the UK with clothing products aimed wingsurfers of all skills levels. Sam from FLYTE got in touch to tell us more. ‘Being keen water people and recently taking to Wing Foiling we became hooked with the sport and became inspired to create something unique for the Global Foil community.’ ‘When we started building […]

Sroka wing foil gear test – Skyrider 5’5, 1350 HA L foil & 5m Wing V3.

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

Sroka will probably be a new name for some but with Bruno Sroka at the helm (an ex-pro kiter and all round knowledge watersports bod) you can guarantee the equipment will be solid and high performance. Based in France Sroka sent us their Skyrider 5’5 wing foil board, their 5m Wing V3 and the 1350 HA Lift foil. Here’s what […]

Challenger Sails Ikaroz 5m wing review.

Windsurfing UK Kit Tests

Challenger Sails may be a new name for some wingfoilers. But Claudio Badiali’s Italian sail brand has been around for a while. Taking the PWA Slalom Windsurfing title in 2022, with pilot Maciek Rutkowski standing tall on the podium, Challenger Sails are held in high regard by many windsurfers. Challenger Sails Ikaroz wings are also gaining favour among the foiling […]

Foilshop UK’s: ‘how to become a wingsurfer’ – an in depth guide to real world wing foiling.

Wingsurf UK

Foilshop UK – our friends of all things foiling – have just published their ‘how to become a wing foiler’ article. As they say this is a post based on personal experience as well as extensive and multiple conversations with other real world wingers. Wing foiling is often billed as super easy. Especially if you have previous watersports experience. But […]

2022 Challenger Sails deals from Foilshop UK.

Windfoil UK

Whether foil or fin the Challenger Sails are championship winning (as was proved recently during the PWA slalom event where Maciek Rutkowski took the title). And now’s your chance to own a slice of that good stuff and bag a deal in the process. As it stands the UK’s pretty blowy with plenty of opportunity to get out sailing. There’s […]

Learning to windfoil, with Dave Ludgate.

Windfoil UK

Irish windsurfer Dave Ludgate has recently begun his windfoil journey. The man from Cork says it’s been on his radar for a while. But only recently has he had the chance to get stuck in. Whilst he’s learning Dave is also aiming to document his progress via a series of vlogs. These are warts and all stories from each session […]

Wingsurf and windfoil knowledge tips & tricks.

Windfoil UK

Whether learning or improving with either wingsurfing or windfoiling (perhaps both) there’s no accounting for knowledge. Particularly wing foiling, which for many riders is a completely new concept. Windfoiling calls on those windsurfing foundational building block skills riders have honed over many years. Wingsurfing is a completely different kettle of fish. But even windfoiling, once you start to levitate, becomes […]

Tahe Techno Wind Foil 6.3m sail test with Tom Pringuer.

Windfoil UK

Pics: Jonny Williams, Mike Pringuer. Words: WSUK, Tom Pringuer. Over the past few weeks we’ve been putting the Tahe Techno Wind Foil 6.3m windfoil specific sail through its paces. We’ve tested it in every kind of condition from super light wind (less than 10 knots) to more solid blows (up to 25 knots). To shed more light on the Tahe […]

Feathery unique – Nautix Windsurfing Freeride 5.2m windsurf sail test.

Windfoil UK

Words: Tez Plavenieks Pics: Tez Plavenieks, Oli Lane-Peirce Designed by the highly regarded Teiva Sails of France I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with the new Nautix Windsurfing Freeride 5.2m. A four batten, multi use windsurf sail this is a step up in terms of performance for long time brand Nautix. Being designed by Teiva Sails (who also produce […]