New surf magazine: Surf 08/2025 is here - early gliding, Brouwersdam, drones and much more!

Glide is the magic word to explain the fascination of windsurfing. Ever since the first fun boards in the 1980s conveyed the weightless feeling of flying over the water, windsurfing has taken the world by storm and even today - let's be honest - windsurfing is a different sport once the gliding threshold has been overcome. Anyone who has experienced it once wants to experience this feeling again and again, more and more often and, if possible, earlier and earlier.

And that's the crux of the matter. The laws of physics cannot simply be overridden. We need more or less fast-moving air in order to start gliding. Depending on the material, the planing threshold can ideally be reduced to single-digit knots of wind speed. In the regatta sector, for a while these were one metre wide formaboards, equipped with 70 centimetre fins and twelve square metre sails - this equipment certainly had its fans, but for the hobby surfer it was more of a deliberate physical injury.

Foil, fin, long or short - what is the ultimate early gliding material?

Nowadays you can achieve a similar early gliding experience with a foil and a sail half the size. Nevertheless, early gliders with fins have become shorter and wider in recent years. A development that has not necessarily made life easier, especially for those returning to the sport or switching from older shapes to new material. Some manufacturers are therefore now offering longer and slightly narrower boards again, which enable a harmonious transition from dumping to gliding - just as we know it from the past.

But what is the ultimate early planing material - long and moderately wide, short and wide, fin or foil? As so often in life, the answer is: it depends! And that's exactly what the surf test team clarified for the new issue. Eight different concepts were put to the test on Lake Garda. There was the rather rare phenomenon of the testers fleeing from too strong a wind in order to experience the true potential of the products. Their conclusion: "In the selection, every surfer will find the perfect early glider for them personally."

The other topics in the August issue of surf:

• Brouwersdam History: Over 30 years ago, Uwe Jendrusch came to the Brouwersdam with a mobile surf school. Today, his son Rick is the second generation to run one of the largest surf centres in Europe
• Riding technique Air Jibe & Spock: The Air Jibe and the Spock are your ticket to the world of freestyle. With the right tips, you can buy your ticket quickly and safely
• Spot Guide South Africa: The Western Cape region around Cape Town is a centre of attraction for windsurfing winter sports enthusiasts from all over the world. We present all the spots in detail, from flat water to hardcore wave spots
• Drones in windsurfing - Part 1: Breathtaking aerial shots while windsurfing are suddenly also possible for hobby pilots thanks to drones. We provide expert tips on photo and film technology, etiquette and the law
• Moulay Kids: The children at Morocco's best wave spot emulate their idols with the simplest of means
• Who is Max Körner? On his way to the Olympic Games - first by sailing boat, now by windsurfer. What drives the Starnberger?

New products in surf 08/2025

• Waveboard Goya Nitro 2
• Freerideboard HiFly Pro 125
• Freestyle sail Severne R4D
• ProLimit Type-T and Teamwave waist harnesses
• Insta360 Hand Grip
• Helmet Forward WIP Wipper 2.0
• New boom front pieces at GunSails

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