NAISH
I sold the operating companies with Naish. I still own the Naish trademarks worldwide and I am the licensor. The guys that bought it - Kubus Sports - are the licensee and they were my biggest European distributer. It made a lot of sense to do it that way. They had an investment company that basically bought them shortly afterwards. It is a bit complicated trying to get everybody up to speed, but I have been trying to work with my team here to get to grips with working with the guys in Europe and getting them to understand the nature of the business. The atmosphere for our industry and the outdoor sports industry is probably in the worst situation it has ever been, so it is difficult times. The post COVID market has been pretty messed up. It was booming because everybody was sitting at home with free time and free money. The government was handing out cash to everybody and telling them not to travel. So, people were buying toys. It was kind of a boom. However, of course that boom is now over and a lot of brands are sitting on inventory. Sadly, it is a great time not to be in the business. For me, it is awesome because I am still involved with the development, so I ride with Michi [Schweiger] and test with the kite guys. I am really involved with the wing testing also. I am having fun because I don't carry the stress of the business side of it anymore. I am at the beach pretty much every day.
FUN FACTOR
This story is from the Issue 434 - June 2024 edition of Windsurf.
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This story is from the Issue 434 - June 2024 edition of Windsurf.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
