What was the trigger for the launch of Lite Venture?
Myriam: An accident. Before that, we had nothing to do with water sports, either professionally or in our free time. We originally come from a cycling background. I'm a designer and Anne is an engineer. A torn ligament thwarted our plans to cross the Alps by mountain bike. As an alternative, we organised a trip in a kayak lasting several weeks - it was easy on the feet, but still allowed us to work off some energy and experience the outdoors. The borrowed kayak was extremely cumbersome. We were used to light, stiff equipment from cycling and we researched ways of travelling more lightly on the water and on the way there - even with luggage and on longer trips.
Anne: Until then, we had nothing to do with water sports, that was in 2014. The desire for lightness led us to SUP. The simplicity and the possibility of travelling for several days with one board was just right and got us on the board. After many great experiences, we decided to develop our own products and founded Lite Venture. The name stands for "carefree adventure" - the initial idea is in the name and characterises everything we do to this day: How we develop our own products and also the selection of kayaks that we present. We now also sell the very light kayaks of the Stellar brand throughout Europe.
What is special about your SUP brand?
Myriam: In Germany, we have our own sense of aesthetics. German design is known for well thought-out concepts, a solid choice of materials and technically sophisticated execution. Products must be ergonomically designed, their form should express their function and optimally support their use. This also requires a timeless appearance, a one hundred per cent result of good design.
Anne: Lite Venture boards always show what they are made of: the combination of technology, high-quality material and functionality creates a unique design language. We receive feedback from many people: "I really like your boards!" That's great recognition. Achieving timelessness and fine aesthetics that everyone intuitively understands - regardless of age, gender or sporting motivation. We reach a lot of people at events, who get to know us there and perceive the boards as special, regardless of their age. That makes us very happy, because SUP is a sport that offers great experiences for all age groups and all levels. Personally, this is worth much more to me than the Red Dot Design Award, which the Touring Hardboards were honoured with in 2020.
How important are hardboards for you?
Anne:I am convinced of this! We feel that this is slowly reaching more people. If you want a racing bike to ride Alpine passes, you don't buy a folding bike just because it fits so well in the boot. With SUP, we are still experiencing a pragmatism that consumers make the most important part of their purchasing decisions. This is less pronounced with kayak paddlers. They first decide which kayak they really want and then put it on the roof rack or in the clubhouse. Transport is not seen as a problem in kayaking, it is simply part of the process.
Myriam: The targeted mouldability of the hardboard is exciting, especially when it comes to shape and layup. But even with inflatables, there are now great options for making them as stiff and performant as possible. I don't take such a narrow view. A lightweight inflatable like the Ultra Light makes it possible to completely dispense with the car during transport. I think this will also become more important in the future and also offers enormous flexibility. I can go on a river trip and simply have everything I need with me. And when I land, I don't have to rely on someone to pick me up.
You're not just developing the boards for yourselves - who have you got in mind?
Anne:For people who are looking for a durable product, very well made and with top gliding properties, but which also looks good for a long time. When paddling, the experience should take centre stage, not the board. It should look good, but not distract attention from nature. What I like for a long time and works exactly the way I want it to will have a longer life cycle, which is also an aspect of sustainability. This is another reason why we don't offer classic entry-level boards: Most people quickly get over the phase in which short, wide boards seem appealing and then something new is needed.
Myriam:It is important to us that everyone has the opportunity to test and find the board that suits them best. That's why we currently offer tests and advice via our partners at the test stations in Hamburg, Krakow am See, Potsdam, Halle/Saale, Moers, Heilbronn, near Freiburg and in the Salzburg Lake District. We have also found a great partner in the Netherlands in Janneke. The cooperation with The Sup Week is new: this year, the Lite Venture Boards are part of the programme as part of the boat trips in Croatia and Greece.
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Stephan Gölnitz
Deputy Editor in Chief surf