The Patrik A.I.O. on land:
"A.I.O." stands for "All In One". The board is designed for windfoiling, wingsurfing and foil SUPing, but the 5'9'' and the tested 6'6'' sizes are theoretically also available as pure wingboards without a mast rail. The small sizes of the A.I.O. with 35/50/75 and 90 litre volumes should also be reserved for pure wingfoilers.
The A.I.O. WS 6'6'' is equipped with both a double rail and a foil box. At 2249 euros, the comparatively expensive but, at a measured 8.54 kilos, lightweight board in full carbon construction is sold over the counter. According to the manufacturer, the transition between the boxes has been made particularly stable.
Instead of a carrying handle, a mini fin can be mounted in the underwater hull to act as a handle. This is designed to offer less water resistance compared to the usual carrying handles and also does not weaken the structure of the board. Shaper Patrik Diethelm has given the voluminous tail of the crossover board generous cut-outs, hard tear-off edges should ensure that the board does not get stuck during the acceleration phase. On deck, the A.I.O. offers a multitude of strap plugs - for wingfoiling, as expected, far inwards, but for windsurf foiling only far outwards in a sporty position.
The most interesting features of the Crossoverboard can be found in the following picture gallery. Click through!
One for everything? The Patrik A.I.O. on the water:
The Patrik concept is no slouch when it comes to wingfoiling. On deck, the board is stable and, thanks to its 135 litre volume, even a heavyweight can still stand securely, and the strap positions can be varied in terms of angle and position. Despite the rather short length of 198 centimetres, the crossover board quickly reaches take-off speed; the striking cut-outs in the voluminous tail obviously ensure a clean water break. Fortunately, the phenomenon of having to pump yourself over a bow wave before taking off does not occur with the Patrik; the transition is almost seamless.
In the air, the Patrik A.I.O. is nice and compact despite its 135 litres - ideal for first wing experiences or as a permanent solution for heavy surfers or extreme light wind areas. Only for jumps and freestyle tricks does the A.I.O. have a little too much meat on its ribs.
If you swap the wing for a windsurfing sail, it is obligatory to switch to the loop position further out. The footpad, which is pulled far forwards towards the mast track, is a bit of a hindrance when attaching the mast foot, but apart from that the concept is absolutely coherent. Due to the rather sporty positioning of the strap plugs on the edge, the board is noticeably better suited to fast freeride or freerace foils (and riders who already have some foil skills) than to very thick-profiled cruiser foils with a low aspect ratio. Perfectly trimmed and with the best control over the foil, you can stand on deck even at high speeds, and in manoeuvres the flat and wide deck offers plenty of space for foot changes.
Conclusion:
The Patrik A.I.O. is perfect for sporty windsurfing foilers in combination with fast high-aspect foils as well as freeride or even camber sails. The wing suitability is also impressive, but is limited to very heavy wingsurfers (>95 kilos) and beginners.
Compact dimensions; equipment; gliding behaviour
Mini fin rather uncomfortable to carry
Price; pad in the mast track area
You can find more crossover boards for wingsurfing, windsurf foiling and SUPing HERE
