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Suspensions are widely used in biking and other sports, but as a windsurfer you still have to be shaken 1:1. Really? In 2010, North launched a mast extension with in-built suspension. surf tester Stephan Gölnitz gave the shock absorber a thrashing over the choppy Fuerte piste with slalom equipment and his verdict: "It works - and it works really well!" The comfort is significantly increased, but the speed hardly at all. In the wave and freestyle area, the damped connection between the mast and board ensures that the board runs more smoothly and makes it easier to switch stance, for example. Hard landings are also more comfortable, but in light winds the suspension seems to swallow up some power. A fork with a spring element was also tested, but hardly any effects were felt. And the trapezoidal ramps with suspension filter out rough gusts in particular and are a price-performance tip for comfort fans.
The inventor of the Power.XT
And who actually comes up with things like the spring-loaded extension - or even an evergreen like the Power.XT? The man behind the inventions, at least from North, is Uli Bitterolf, who dedicated himself to tinkering with windsurfing equipment after a period as managing director of an electrical company. "It was somehow also thanks to surf magazine," he says. Because when it came to the perennial topic of luff trim, Uli came up with a rotating vang clamp, the centrepiece of the Power.XT. He showed his invention to various brands, North took him up on it, and Uli set up his own engineering office to develop the idea to series maturity. Most inventors fail between prototype and finished product, according to Uli. Still on hold in 2010 is the "Grip Shift", a trimming device in the boom with a twist grip similar to a bicycle, a fin that clicks into place and a foot strap that can be attached to normal plugs without tools. Incidentally, the GunSails trapeze bar also comes from Uli's think tank - as well as many other parts from the leisure sector!
Lars and Stefan Gobisch - the surfing doctors
Today the name Gobisch in the young talent sector very present, in 2010 the focus was on the parents' generation with Lars and Stefan Gobisch. According to Klaas Voget, the two brothers surf "almost at World Cup level" - and are already very successful doctors in their early 30s. Having grown up in the GDR, they inherited the windsurfing virus from their father and largely built their own equipment in the early years. In 1988, they fled via Hungary - naturally under the pretext of a "surfing holiday" - and later studied in the surfing capital of Kiel. With the start of their careers, it became more difficult for the brothers to take as many windy days with them as possible. "We make absolutely no compromises when it comes to windsurfing!" emphasises Lars in Flo Gebbert's surf report. All weddings, birthdays and other social events are mercilessly cancelled when it's windy. On normal working days, the van is packed up in front of the clinic and Klaas Voget provides them with wind updates via text message. Once they are out on the water, the action continues until dark. Only one thing falls by the wayside: the medically recommended warm-up and stretching. "When are we supposed to do that?" asks Stefan. "We'd rather drink our beer straight after surfing!"
And what else?
- John Carter reports on a chaotic trip to Oregon for the Pistol River Wave Bash - including a session under the Golden Gate Bridge. Important to know: The more sun, the more wind, the colder the water - nothing works there without a hoodie-neo!
- Helge Wilkens surfed over the water bridge of the Mittelland Canal. The turbulence prevented him from gliding, but he did have a nice chat with the water police afterwards.
- F2 announces another comeback: With a complete range, new owner Bernd Flügel wants to make the former market leader great again. Today, the brand focuses primarily on iSUPs, with windsurfing playing only a minor role.
- How long do the pros ride their harness ropes? surf has measured: While Köster, Gollito and Seadi use very long ropes, freestylers Normen Günzlein and Antoine Albeau still use relatively short loops.
- Tilo Eber introduces freestyler Mathias Genkel - back then on his way to graduation, and still a regular GFB starter, author of travel stories and top freestyler today!
- The World Cup in Pozo in mini format: only confirmed shortly beforehand, only waves instead of a full programme and hardly any spectators. Fernandez wins by a wafer-thin margin ahead of Köster in the re-sail of the final.
- André Paskowski surprisingly takes part in the Windsurfing Cup on Sylt - still in the middle of chemotherapy after his first cancer operation.
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
Tobias Frauen
Editor
