Mark Dowson - Windsurfing UK

It’s not all about the winning… is it? Notes on competing in the British Wave Sailing series.

Words: Mark Dowson. Photos: Richard Whitson It was just after the Cornwall Wave Classic that I was posed an interesting question by a fellow windsurfer via the ‘ethersphere’ known as Facebook. Adrian has never competed in a BWA wave event and is a prospective competitor in the Master’s Fleet (over 40’s). Adrian West ‘Be interested in reading an interview with […]

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 […]

The TOP 3 – ‘Fintastic’ battle at the RHOSNEIGR WAVE CLASSIC!

Words: Mark Dowson/BWA Pics: Mike Spencer, Mike Gibbens & Ollie Laddiman. Round 1 of the BWA 2018 Tour for the Pros kicked off at Rhosneigr on the 11th of May. BWA Press Officer Mark Dowson caught up with the three riders who topped the podium and asked them about their competition, kit tuning and pre-season training. Interestingly, all of them were […]

Five beach fortnight – Mark Dowson’s two week windsurfing binge

Words/vid: Mark Dowson Pics: Alex Parker, Justin Goodwin, Ian Whittaker, Steve Laddiman & Tracy Dennington The BWA Cornwall Wave Classic in October half term was one of the first dates to be pencilled onto the calendar hanging on our kitchen wall. The plan was that Helen would go to the Canaries with her sister and soak up the rays, whilst I […]

Mastering the masters #2 – Mark Dowson’s Cornwall Wave Classic victory

Words: Mark Dowson Pics: Kyle McGinn Regular Windsurfing UK contributor Mark Dowson scored an awesome result last weekend during the Cornwall Wave Classic. In a hard fought battle Mark took the masters division victory in some tough conditions. Following on from his Mastering the Masters Rhosneigr article (featured in Windsurfing UK’s summer 2017 issue) we caught up with MD to […]

The ultimate windsurfing selfie – shoot yourself POV style

Words: Mark Dowson Pics: Mark Dowson, Steve Thorp, Steve Laddiman The windsurfing selfie seems to be synonymous with the GoPro action cam fish-eye type shot and it is pure Marmite, in so much as people seem to either love them or hate them (especially long, long videos). Personally, I’m firmly in the ‘love ‘em’ camp, and this is why… It’s […]

Summer carving – teaching your mates to carve gybe

Words: Mark Dowson Pics: Russell Groves, Mark Dowson This isn’t a technique article. This is about helping out your mates, seeing them progress and watching them evolve. This is an article about helping a fellow sailor push on and reach that next level. We all can do this. Mark Dowson describes one such scenario. I can’t quite remember how I started trying to help […]

Aqueous Layline Carbon 6m & 4.5m foil wing test.

Wingsurf UK

Aqueous wings first came to my attention at the start of 2024 when I spotted a number of luminaries within the wing foiling world using them. Further pricking my interest the Aqueous main USPs are the wing’s use of monofilm in the canopy (which is the most obvious), fully battens across the canopy and the use of Dimension-Polyant P85 (comparable […]

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 […]

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 […]