Air cushion vehicle: Starboard with the first inflatable freeride board

How important are inflatable boards for Starboard?Tiesda: The airplanes can help us to open up new markets. We have high-performance boards, we have robust boards at a good price and now - with the "inflatables" - we also have material with a high fun factor. I hope that the invention of the airplane will be a milestone in the evolution of windsurfing equipment and reach new target groups that have completely different expectations.

Was it exciting for you as a designer to take on a completely new challenge? In any case. "Inflatables are nothing new, so it was particularly exciting to add new ingredients to make the old dream come true. There is the drop-stitch technology (ed.: construction method of inflatable boards that makes stiff hulls possible at all, in which the top and bottom are connected with thousands of threads), then our "fast box system", which makes it possible to install long fins and also the new edge construction method made of our extruded special rubber. These were the critical innovations that made the development of the Airplane possible in the first place.

How did you come up with an inflatable board in the first place? It wasn't a conscious choice, we just wanted to have a bit of fun. Many companies are trying to attach sharp edges to inflatable boards. With solid mouldings, with EVA foam and what have you - the idea is not new. We just tried something different and it worked well - very, very well. The Airplane exceeded our expectations, especially the Airplane 255.

What about the inflatable WindSUPs? Our new WindSUPs also have "rail edge technology". This means they can also glide and because they now glide and are easy to paddle, they are even more exciting. Uncomplicated fun boards that cover paddling, plus light wind cruising, learning, progressing and now glide surfing. That's pretty cool.

What is "rail edge technology"? This is the key invention that allows inflatable boards to glide and detach from the water. We use a special rubber compound that has to fulfil a wide range of requirements: It has to be hard for good water release, but also soft and pliable for rolling up. It also has to adapt to the outline of the board and be easy to glue.

How much do the boards weigh? Compared to a normal board in terms of length and width, they are much lighter in terms of volume.

What do the shapes look like compared to a normal board? Many "basics" are the same. The outline follows the same rules. You just have to be careful with the footstrap position and the flat deck. The feet need to be closer to the predetermined rounded part. The rocker line needs special attention because of the flex in the board. The shapes must also be able to tolerate larger tolerances. Whether because of manufacturing tolerances or simply for ease of use. You want a "plug-and-play" product. That's the difference to a hardboard, where the requirements have become extremely technical over the years.

What sizes did you work on? The Airplanes come in three sizes for windsurfing: 255, 285 and 300 cm. The 300 has a retractable centreboard with sealing lips. The 285 is available with a centreboard or finbox in the middle, the 255 only with the centre finbox. The WindSUPs are available from small children's sizes up to the 12'6" touring shape. All models have rail-edge technology.

How much fun is it on an inflatable board compared to a conventional one? It's really fun and fast too. When you talk about an inflatable windsurfer, people always think of an underpowered toy. But try the Airplane 255 and you'll see just how far inflatable technology has come. We measured 27 knots of speed with a 6.5 sail on a normal Maui day. And we are only at the beginning.

How much pressure does it need? How transportable is it for travelling? It needs 18 psi, then it is nice and stiff. Rolled up in the bag, it is as manoeuvrable as any inflatable board or kite. The rig is more difficult. I think that's the next task.

How far do the possibilities of inflatable boards go? We can achieve a lot. We have started working on high-performance models, smaller sizes and lightweight, high-tech designs. Inflatable boards will be very powerful very soon. It's certainly an exciting time for designers.