John Skye's move from RRD to PATRIK marks the start of a new chapter for him - and one that is sure to be exciting for the windsurfing scene. After 15 years as a formative designer, the Briton is now bringing all his experience, his fine instincts and his wave expertise to a brand that has so far caused a sensation primarily in the racing and foil sector. In the interview, Skye talks about his new role, why the collaboration with Patrik Diethelm almost feels like a return to old roots, how PATRIK wants to further expand the wave segment - and why team spirit and joint decisions play a central role in this.
Hi John, what exactly is your new role at PATRIK Windsurfing?
Firstly, I'm basically a mixture of a brand manager and a product manager for a wave project that we're working on. Almost everyone in the top 10 in foil slalom is riding the PATRIK foil. They do everything they can to develop the best gear. We want to try and feed this energy into the wave. The gear is already amazing, so the aim is to refine the details to ensure that everyone has the perfect set-up, no matter how good they are in the waves and where they sail.
We want to try to feed the strong energy from racing into the waves.
You've gained a lot of experience in the development of wave gear in your career, haven't you?
Yeah, you know what's funny, I've already worked with Patrik (Diethelm, editor's note) about twenty years ago, as a team rider at F2 back then. Some of my favourite boards in my shed are still shaped by Patrik. When I jumped on the current boards for the first time recently, it was like putting on my favourite shoes again - it felt smooth and comfortable.
So you've already had a chance to test out the latest boards and sails?
Yes, a few team riders like Simon Thule or Sammy Ferrero left me their equipment when they left the Canary Islands in the summer. I had a lot of fun with the F-Wave, for example. This tireless drive to constantly develop everything further can be felt in every detail. I'm looking forward to contributing my experience and commitment to the brand, especially when it comes to the wave sector.
How is it looking in the wave team? Will there be new riders?
The plan is definitely to bring more young riders into the team. I think right from the start it's really important that we're all happy with everything, so finding someone we get on really well with. It's like a kind of family team here at PATRIK. And the way they organise everything, it's like they involve all the team riders in all the decisions regarding the races. It's not like Patrik says: "We're going to do this and that!" but rather: "Guys, what do you want?" They say: "I prefer a 6.2 instead of a 6.0", and then it's: "Okay, we'll work on it together as a team". And yeah, we want to do the same thing in wave, and I think in wave it's probably even more important because I think in slalom and racing the goal is so clear, which is to win the race, whereas in wave you have all these different feelings and emotions and styles, and I think it's really important to get a good mix of information and data and then figure out what to do with it afterwards.
I've already worked with Patrik Diethelm around 20 years ago.
Will you still be able to use Gran Canaria as a base for testing and development and live there?
Yes, Gran Canaria is an ideal place to work for me. The wind here blows reliably all year round - not constantly 50 knots, what we know from the Pozo event, but the number of days with more than 20 knots is simply incredible. At the same time, Fuerteventura is only a short ferry ride away and the conditions there are completely different: Usually a little less wind in the north, but fantastic waves. Together, the two islands offer a variety of conditions where you can practically test all year round. The climate also remains pleasantly constant all year round. In addition, PATRIK has a strong base in northern Germany and Klitmøller, Denmark. This gives us access to a wide range of spots worldwide - ideal for developing boards and sails in the most diverse conditions possible and ensuring that they perform convincingly everywhere.
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