UisceBeatha forum posts in last 60 days

I reckon for 75kg your current boards are pretty big and if you downsized to a 60-70l board, would take a little getting used too but wouldn't take long - presuming you are powered up :) if its lightwind you are after stick with what you have.

I would search around for a cheap secondhand wing board to get a taste and see what works for you, or as the lads said try and demo or test a few. I'm 75kg too, started on a 90' and went to a 75l, 4'10' x 22.5 and stayed on this for around 2 years as it did everything I needed it to. Short is fun. I'd say you'd pick up something like that cheap enough in current market :)

Actually I'll caveat that by saying a small board, the get up and go skill takes some learning as the board can be pitchy etc. If you are nimble and getting to your feet quick then go for it. If you are used to getting up on that aircraft carrier of an aviator slowly then might take a little longer to get used too !

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MProject04 said..
Huge transition this is. So first you fire all the talented people only to have to hire and build the whole thing in the other side of the world. Because you didn't believe in remote working / virtual meetings etc. I'm based in Europe and regularly work with Pacific counterparts. Yes the time diff is big but not insurmountable.

They just ditched the NZ / Auckland yachting / sports maritime innovation hub sphere, where they enjoyed great conditions waves etc plus local competition (Axis, Armstrong) to go and sit in offices in Katwijk, Netherlands.

And then they will move product development and testing to where? Again to another wind/wavy hotspot like South Africa? Tarifa? Portugal?

What a massive undertaking

Agree 100%. However we have no idea on the company finances, how much revenue the foil program is creating versus their cost - which cannot be much. I'd be fairly sure there was a business case to it behind the scenes. New CEO comes in, doesn't understand the sport (making assumptions here), looks at the bottom line, can only get details on at awkward times of day and no day to day alignment on strategy - boom, end of story.

Of course, this could be a new direction for North and greater things might grow from it - or could just be the end - we'll know in time. Either way I feel bad for Mike and his team - I think they designed and built product that gives plenty of enjoyment and fun to a lot of folks.