Fanatic Windsurfing 2020 - English by Fanatic Boardriding

W I N DS U R F I N G

2020

A D D I CT E D TO R I D E B OA R D R I D I N G S I N C E

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A DA M

L E W I S

W E LCO M E TO T H E NEW

CRAIG GERTENBACH Brand Manager

SEASON

As we move towards almost four decades in business, Fanatic’s ethos remains just as strong as it has “Since 81”. We are dedicated to producing the highest quality boards for you – our fellow windsurfers – drawing on all of our team´s vast experience and technical know-how, combined with innovative shapes & construction. 2020 introduces our new logo and a fresh new look for the brand (though we will keep some retro surprises for our 40th anniversary!). We have made major upgrades to the entire ranges of our Grip TE and FreeWave, with new shapes bringing manoeuvrability to a whole new level. Meanwhile the legendary Gecko will continue to cement its place as the most successful Freeride board ever, with improved performance in the bigger sizes, while we focus our attention on upgrading the smaller Falcon TEs for highwind slalom and speedsailing. It goes without saying that performance is built as default into every one of our products – and while we are proud to make boards that will satisfy our World Champions (or future Champions) – our motivation comes from building boards that will allow you to enjoy the stoke, and progress in our wonderful sport, no matter what level you are at. G O L L I TO

E ST R E D O,

A D R I E N

B OSS O N

Enjoy the 2020 range!

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W E A R E FA N AT I C

2020

Founded in 1981, our brand represents over three decades of windsurfing history and an ongoing promise to you: to deliver quality, innovation and service. Our reputation as one of the world’s leading windsurfing brands has been built upon a resolute passion for the products we produce. Only the very best will do. Because we love to windsurf just as much as you do!

We are very proud of our world-title winning waveboard the Grip TE. It will blow you away with its outstanding increase in manoeuvrability. Victor and the rest of the team achieved the dream board – super loose, but still quick to plane, fast and controllable.

W H AT W E STA N D F O R Fanatic is driven by our unwavering desire to create dream boards. That vision may sound simple, but achieving it is not. We stand for everything that makes it possible: quality, innovation, knowledge, experience, consistency, integrity, Ocean Minded spirit and above all else, passion. Value is important to us because we know it matters to you. Designing more usable range into each of our boards has allowed us to offer the most concise board range of all the top windsurfing brands. This means you’ll get even more use from your new Fanatic board across a greater range of conditions. Customer service is as important to us as our products are. Looking after you completes the picture for us. Your questions and feedback help us to better understand your needs, provide you with relevant information and to develop future ranges. There is always an ear waiting for you at an approved Fanatic dealer. Or you can chat to us online anytime at our international forum on www.fanatic.com.

Thanks to a further evolution and refinement of the efficient Stubby concept, our legendary FreeWave has also gained a huge boost in looseness. The new outline makes its turning ability so good; it rivals many ‘pure’ waveboards! Speed, control and planing power are also improved; this is a board that can take all conditions in its stride. For the freeriders, the Gecko continues to offer the very best route to performance on the market. Last year the updated 100 & 110 litre models proved a huge success, and this season we complete the update of the range, with the three bigger sizes. No boards can provide more pure enjoyment to so many people! The exciting world of foiling has already revolutionised light wind windsurfing, and is now further evolving into stronger wind conditions, and different styles of flying. We are delighted to take this challenge head on with our brand new free foilboard – the Stingray – where ease of use and versatility are the key to getting your wings! When it comes to the performance end of flying, the new Falcon Foil 180 is ready to take on all challengers. Its powerful new outline and stance are optimised for the highest performance and giving maximum control while flying at speed around the racecourse. Meanwhile, our Falcon Slalom has already proved its pedigree by winning the first PWA World Cup event of the season under the feet of Pierre Mortefon. The range also receives its full upgrade, with the two smallest sizes getting a mm by mm overhaul in line with the bigger boards. Acceleration and control at maximum speed are the main ingredients, while the smaller 80 litre also focuses attention as a light wind speedboard. Whatever you choose, be assured that our boards are ready to deliver!

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K A R I N

G E RT E N B AC H ,

K L A AS

VO G E T,

C R A I G

G E RT E N B ACH

CRAIG GERTENBACH Brand Manager

DANIEL AEBERLI Product Manager

As Brand Manager for Fanatic, Craig divides his time between testing, sales, team management and boardbag packer at photoshoots. South African born and bred he took up windsurfing back in 1982, joining Fanatic as a rider and PWA World Tour competitor in 1995.

Having first stepped on a windsurfing board at 7 years old, Daniel discovered his passion for slalom and racing at the young age of 15 years when he hit the competitive circuit. Securing Slalom Swiss Champion and multiple freestyle titles, he pursued his love for the sport by getting involved in R&D and technical development over 13 years ago.

K ARIN GERTENBACH H e a d of M a r ket i n g Karin is the Head of Marketing for Fanatic and is working in the industry since 1991. Having joined the brand back in 1999, she has evolved and worked hard to grow its image as much as she can. Married to Brand Manager Craig, and with two kids who love to windsurf too, she lives the job 24/7 and is truly ‘Addicted to Ride!‘ KL A AS VOGET H e a d o f Wa v e R & D & M a r k e t i n g M a n a g e r Top 10 PWA competitor Klaas Voget spends as much time possible on the water developing the range, as well as taking care of Marketing collateral. Having signed his first rider contract with Fanatic back in 1999, he entered the PWA Tour in 2000, and got involved in the R&D in 2005 and Marketing in 2015. STEFANIE GSENGER Sales Manager An avid outdoor sports enthusiast, Stefanie has risen through the ranks of Customer Service, right up to Sales Manager. Her energetic and organised character perfectly balances the rest of the team, to ensure products are delivered on time with the best service you’d expect from a market leader!

SEBASTIAN WENZEL Shaper Sebastian Wenzel started windsurfing back in 1981, a time when he also began to create boards of his own. From 1985 – 2000, Sebastian competed in all disciplines. Filling the role of designer and shaper for Fanatic back in 1994, he introduced the premium CAD design process into windsurfing in 2004. His creative eye and passion for sport makes him a fundamental part of the progression and evolution of our lines, and the sport in general. VASI N SI R I TO Product Engineer Vasin is a passionate windsurfer with years of experience in the composite industry. He is the key link between our R&D / Product Management teams and our suppliers, making sure the great products we test year round, end up in the hands of our customers!

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N E W F O R 2020 – 8 –

G R I P

T E

The 2020 Grip is our most versatile waveboard. The entire range has been completely re-shaped, resulting in the most manoeuvrable boards we have ever produced. We have added new 86, 92, and 102 sizes to complete the range. › › Multiple fin options and a shape designed to work both as a quad and tri-fin, even in the biggest sizes › › Feel smaller than they are when on the wave, particularly larger sizes › › High top speed and excellent comfort in chop, thanks to the double concave / V bottom shape › › Exclusive high-end Biax Innegra Carbon construction

F R E E WAV E The FreeWave Stubby outline has evolved, with a new shape concept across the entire range. The nose and tail shape have been refined, which increases control and manoeuvrability, while the rocker is adjusted to increase planing power. › › New tail shape and outline boosts manoeuvrability and control over previous FreeWave STB › › Faster rocker line boosts planing power especially on the larger sizes › › New 75 litre version to complete the range › › Offered in three construction options: Biax Fibre, Biax Innegra Carbon and TeXtreme®

– 9 – ST I N G R AY The Stingray free foilboard was introduced in spring 2019. Designed to make foiling fun, easy and accessible to all. New for 2020, a 110 litre model completes the range for higher wind foiling. › › 100 % foil optimized design › › Boosted width and parallel rails for comfort and performance › › Plenty of vee and scooped nose section for a smooth touch-down › › Track Foil Mount and Tuttle Foil Box options for the use of different foils › › Available as durable HRS or lightweight LTD version

OT H E R

N E W

S H A P E S:

GECKO 122 / 135 / 148: Three new sizes of our legendary freerideboard have been updated with a wider more parallel outline, to improve speed, acceleration and early planing. FALCON TE 80 / 90 / 97: This year we complete our update of the range with all new 80, 90 and 97 litre models; concentrating on maximum control in rough water, and better acceleration coming out of gybes. The Falcon 80 is the ultimate high wind slalom machine, and also replaces the Falcon Speed 56 as a light wind speedboard.

T E C H N O LO GY 2020 B I A X

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I N N E G R A

C A R B O N

BXIC BIAX INNEGRA CARBON L I G H T F I N I S H T E C H N O LO GY G r i p T E , S t u b b y T E , F r e e Wa v e T E , S k a t e T E

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1 Light finish and weight saving graphics 2 90° fibre layer

3 45° Biax Innegra Carbon layer 2

3 5

4 Extra strong heel wood patch 5 Biax Innegra Carbon heel force patch

6 High density PVC sandwich core 10

7 Biax Innegra Carbon reinforcement 8 90° Glass reinforcement 9 Ultralight fibre layer 10 Super light EPS core

45/45 degree Biax Innegra Carbon fibre, with an additional 90 degree fibre weave layer on top. This combination of precisely placed fibres caters for a perfect balance of flex and stiffness. Extra wide Carbon and Innegra fibres with a linear alignment for best strength and efficiency of each individual fibre. Our unique Biax Innegra Carbon Light Finish technology has proven to be the ultimate construction for our Wave and Freestyle boards. Fanatic took the initiative to take the next technical step by introducing this new and exclusive high-end fibre finish into all TE models, meeting the high demands of our World Cup team.

P E R F O R M A N CE

F E AT U R E S

› › Absorbs force from impact extremely well due to 45 / 45 degree weave, and achieves maximum strength via an extra layer of fibres on top with a 90 degree weave › › Added durability and 3 % stronger due to the woven fibre of the Carbon and Innegra › › Perfectly balanced (50 / 50). Strong, forgiving and impact resistant Innegra combined with a durable Carbon weave

BXF B I A X F I B R E / F U L L P V C S A N D W I C H L I G H T F I N I S H T E C H N O LO GY

CFWC C O R K F L A X / W O O D C O M P O S I T E L I G H T F I N I S H T E C H N O LO GY

G r i p X S , F r e e Wa v e , B l a s t LT D, G e c k o LT D, G e c k o F o i l LT D, S t i n g r a y LT D, J a g LT D, Falcon Lightwind

G e c ko E c o

1 7

3 5 4

2 9

1 Light finish and weight saving graphics

2 90° fibre layer

2 Ultralight fibre layer

3 45° Biax fibre layer

3 Uni-Directional natural Flax fibre layer

4 Extra strong heel wood patch

5 Biax Glass heel force patch

5 Natural Cork Sandwich core

6 90° fibre reinforcement layer

6 90° Glass reinforcement

7 High density PVC sandwich core

7 Ultralight fibre layer

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8 Biax Glass reinforcement

8 Super light EPS core

9 90° Glass reinforcement layer 10 Ultralight fibre layer 11 Biax Glass T-Stringer 12 Super light EPS core

When combined with the sandwich construction, this high quality

Built with Flax, Cork, Bamboo and Bio Resin instead of the

Full Biax Glass and full PVC specification provides an optimised

classic Glass and PVC sandwich, our Eco technology uses

weight / stiffness / flex ratio.

sustainable plant based raw materials wherever possible, without compromising performance.

P E R F O R M A N CE

F E AT U R E S

› › Absorbs force from impact extremely well due to 45 / 45 degree weave, and achieves maximum strength via an extra layer of fibres on top with a 90 degree weave › › Light and durable › › Full PVC construction › › Biax Glass T-Stringer for maximum stiffness › › Light weight finish

P E R F O R M A N CE

F E AT U R E S

› › Natural Flax fibre composite offers a very good strength / weight / flex ratio and replaces the classic oil based Glass / Carbon composite layup › › Cork sandwich is not only a natural source, but it also brings superior shock absorption properties and replaces the oil based PVC sandwich › › Sicomin’s GreenPoxy® Bio Resin contains a higher degree of plant based elements than traditional resin. Bio Resin is used in all models throughout the Fanatic range › › Wood Veneer is used across the entire base of the board for superior optics and a unique flex response

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F U L L BXC A N D BXC FULL BIAX CARBON SANDWICH L I G H T F I N I S H T E C H N O L O G Y (DECK & BOTTOM)

HRS H I G H R E S I STA N C E S K I N B l a st H R S, G e c ko H R S, G e c ko F o i l H R S, S t i n g r a y H R S , V i p e r, R i p p e r

Falcon Slalom TE, Falcon Speed TE, Falcon Foil TE

1 2

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5 3

3 8

1 Light finish and weight saving graphics

1 HRS finish and weight saving graphics

2 Biax Carbon layer

2 Glass HRS layer

3 Biax Carbon heel force patch

3 Heel Glass patch

4 High density PVC sandwich core (low density in nose)

4 Wood sandwich from tail to center

5 Biax Carbon reinforcement

5 Glass reinforcement layer

6 Biax Carbon reinforcement layer

6 Ultralight fibre layer

7 Ultralight fibre layer

7 Glass rail reinforcement

8 Wood rail reinforcement patch

8 Super light EPS core

9 Biax Carbon rail patch 10 Super light EPS core

This top quality and technologically advanced high-spec Biax

High Resistance composite technology is a durable construction

Carbon, has a perfect weight / stiffness ratio as a result of its

for everyday use. A thick, durable outer skin gives the hull

very fine weave and dynamic flex. Full Biax Carbon is used on the

maximum strength, as well as making it ding and impact resistant.

deck and bottom of the bigger Falcons and Falcon Formula for

Strategic use of fibre reinforcements ensure adequate stiffness. In

maximum stiffness and lightest weight possible.

combination with the user-friendly EVA deck, HRS can be seen on

On the smaller 80 – 97 Falcons and on the Falcon Speed boards, it is used solely on the deck for better flex of the board in choppy conditions. When combined with the PVC sandwich technology and Glass reinforcements, the Biax / Carbon provides a balanced stiffness / flex / weight ratio.

the standard Gecko, as well as the Viper / Ripper ranges.

DL LIGHT D O U B L E L AY E R L I G H T T E C H N O L O G Y

DS LIGHT D R O P ST I TC H L I G H T T E C H N O LO GY

V i p e r A i r P r e m i u m , Ta n d e m A i r

Vi p e r A i r P u re, R i p p e r A i r WS P u re

3 6

1 5

7 3

1 Extra rail-band reinforcement

1 First PVC rail layer

2 Second thin PVC rail layer

2 Second PVC rail layer

3 First PVC rail layer

3 Diamond grooving footpad

4 Diamond grooving footpad

4 Strong Tarpaulin layer

5 Light and printed Tarpaulin layer

5 V-Drop Stitch core

6 First Tarpaulin layer

7 V-Drop Stitch core

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The Double Layer Light technology is our Premium inflatable

Our single layer Drop-Stitch Light technology provides a

construction. Featuring a second PVC layer, which is welded

lightweight and quality construction without reaching deep into

directly to the core layers and around the V-Drop Stitch material –

your pockets. Still produced at one of the world’s most renowned

the heart of each Fanatic Inflatable. An additional third layer of

manufacturers, this inflatable technology is created with top

coloured rail bands round off the highly durable and premium

quality materials and production standards you’d expect

quality, with stylish optics of the deck print.

from Fanatic.

The benefits of the Double Layer Light construction when compared to the standard Double Layer technology is a 20 – 25 % reduction in weight, and around 25 – 30 % increase in stiffness. Simply the best inflatable technology out there!

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TXTR / BXIC TEXTREME® / BIAX INNEGRA CARBON LIGHT FINISH T E C H N O LO GY

F r e e Wa v e Te X t r e m e ®

1 TeXtreme® Carbon reinforcement patch 2 Full Oxeon TeXtreme® bottom finish

Lightweight. Stiff. Incredible. The TeXtreme®

line is the most exclusive, high-performance

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construction in windsurfing. The Oxeon-built fabric allows for incredibly light PVC sandwich layups, with the added bonus of fully visible Carbon bottom graphics. The FreeWave TeXtreme® takes advantage of Innegra’s Resin absorption ability, weight reduction, stiffness, impact protection and UVresistance, to create the strongest board possible in the lightest and stiffest board construction available today. Less resin, more strength, less weight; it doesn’t get better than TeXtreme®.

CONVENTIONAL CARBON FABRICS

TEXTREME® CARBON FABRICS

(Regular Tow)

(Spread Tow)

S P R E A D T O W F A B R I C S F O R U LT R A L I G H T C O M P O S I T E S 1 The Spread Tow structure makes it possible to achieve thinner laminates. 2 Straighter fibres with reduced crimp optimize and strengthen the composite. 3 Lower crimp reduces the amount of excess plastic, thereby minimizing weight.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

With a lifetime of passion for our sport, this year Sebastian Wenzel celebrates his 25th year designing and shaping Fanatic boards. His phenomenal experience and meticulous attention to detail shows in every board range that we produce, and he is a key player within the Fanatic team. Utilising our powerful Industrial 3D CAD platform, Sebastian has created a database of shapes that dates back to 2004; allowing him to access the minutest details of the vast number of boards he has designed, developed and tested. His huge experience and ability to interpret this information, means that following feedback from our R&D and design teams; he can quickly adjust prototypes or create entirely new designs with absolute precision. Not that anything is rushed; in some cases a concept or shape may be refined and continually tested for a number of years before it is deemed good enough to launch on the market.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 16 â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

oc e a n d e d n i m

OUR OCEAN MINDED SPIRIT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND O U R PA S S I O N T O C R E A T E A N D I N N OVAT E . CO M P L E M E N T E D BY O U R E T H OS O F ‘ P R OT E C T I N G W H AT YO U LOV E , ’ W E C E L E B R AT E T H E

OZONE-FREE FOAM B L A N KS

C H A L L E N G E S W E F A C E E A C H D AY T O C O M E U P W I T H N E W W AY S T O CO M B I N E B OT H.

Acknowledging the part we play in creating a cleaner, greener environment we work hard to source ethical and raw materials to utilise in the production, packaging and distribution of our products.

keep it green Green is the prime colour of the world and we intend to do everything we can to keep it that way. As we evolve our brand and create new products, our primary goal is to reduce the ecological impact on the environment by using ethically sourced materials. Each year significant gains are made, from using ozone-free foam cores and coloured resins vs spray paints, through to smart packaging and audited facilities. We embrace the challenges ahead and our Gecko Eco is a huge step in the right direction.

L E S S PA I N T M O R E PICTURESQUE

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PA C K A G E SMART

AUDITED FACILITIES F O R H E A LT H I E R WORKERS

G E C K O E C O

THE BOARD WITH THE ECO FRIENDLIEST M AT E R I A L S

Eco friendly Flax / Cork and Wood Veneeer layup with FSC sourced Wood from sustainable forestry Built entirely without oil based PVC Uses Sicomin’s

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GreenPoxy® Bio Resin

to coat and laminate

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PRODUCT MANAGER DANIEL AEBERLI A B O U T T H E G E C KO E C O : The Gecko Eco is at the forefront of many, many steps already happening behind the scenes at Fanatic on our sustainability program. It represents a significant move in the right direction, and was achieved by looking at things in an entirely different way. Rather than taking a performance construction and trying to make it more eco-friendly, we went the whole distance and started with an eco-friendly construction and then developed its performance. The internal component of the Gecko Eco is still made of closed cell ozone free EPS blanks. We then add a layer of cork instead of PVC onto the deck, and as an alternative to Carbon fibre: Flax fibres are woven together to create a mesh material, which is then laid over the cork – giving the fine finish that can be seen on the deck of the board. For the base we’ve replaced PVC with an FSC certified wood veneer, sourced from responsible forestry. This veneer is what gives the Gecko Eco its visually striking natural matt finish. The entire board is coated and laminated using sustainable Bio Resin, a product we’re using throughout the entire Fanatic range.

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M A R Í A

A N D R É S

D E S I G N E D TO S H I N E R A D I CA L WAV E GRIP XS / GRIP TE / STUBBY TE WAV E / F R E E ST Y L E F R E E WAV E FREESTYLE S K AT E T E

A RT H U R

A R U T K I N

W F

A R

V E

E E

/ S

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A R T. N O . 1 3 9 0 0 - 1 0 0 2

G R I P

A R T. N O . 1 3 9 0 0 - 1 0 0 1

G R I P

T E

68 / 75 / 82 / 86 / 92 / 102

A R T. N O . 1 3 9 0 0 - 1 0 0 0

ST U B BY

T E

76 / 82 / 89 / 99

The Grip XS is our dedicated performance waveboard for the future stars of our sport. Designed specifically for lightweight riders, every detail is built in proportion so that smaller rippers can unleash their potential without limitation.

The highly adaptable Grip TE enables you to ride your wave – your way, without compromise. Fast and loose, the entire range has been re-shaped for 2020 to help you unleash your potential, no matter where you wavesail.

The Stubby TE is the game changer for less than ideal wave conditions. The efficient compact shape will leave you grinning from ear to ear while you bag more waves and boost more jumps per session than everyone else.

Based on our world title winning Grip TE, the XS is shorter and narrower with thinned out tail and rails that – when paired with increased rocker and quad-fin set-up – offer the ultimate in manoeuvrability and control in all wave conditions.

This year’s board achieves the ultimate goal: vastly improved waveriding performance, without sacrificing any of the accessibility, speed and early planing.

The Stubby TE planes super early, giving blistering speed and agility around the break, thanks to the low drag from the parallel rails and wide diamond nose and tail.

Through subtle changes to the outline, tail width and bottom shape, the new Grip TE offers a new level of looseness and control – particularly in down the line conditions.

On the wave, the compact outline and rearward stance gives you the control to turn on a dime, yet always maintain high speed and flow through every turn, particularly in onshore conditions.

In short, it’s the most versatile waveboard we’ve ever produced.

The Stubby TE turns poor conditions into a fun day on the water – every time.

The footstrap position and stance are ideal for smaller riders and smaller sails; it is truly the best board out there for groms.

– A R T. N O . 1 3 9 0 0 - 1 0 0 6 ( T X T R ) | 1 3 9 0 0 - 1 0 0 5 ( T E ) | 1 3 9 0 0 - 1 0 0 7 ( B X F )

F R E E WAV E 75 / 85 / 95 / 105 / 115 An evolution of the Stubby outline blended with our legendary FreeWave DNA, the all new 2020 FreeWave is the true chameleon – ready to adapt and excel in all conditions. We took our low-drag FreeWave STB a step further and refined the nose and pulled in the tail shape, resulting in increased control and manoeuvrability that rivals any classic waveboard on the wave face. That left us room to increase planing power through its rocker line, making the 2020 range clearly the most powerful FreeWave of all times! From flatwater blasting to bump & jump to waves, the new FreeWave is the one board that takes it all in its stride, and will boost your level across a bigger range of conditions than ever.

A R T. N O . 1 3 9 0 0 - 1 0 0 8

S K AT E

T E

85 / 92 / 99 / 108 Full power with limitless potential; Gollito Estredo's style and board requirements have shaped the past, present and future of modern freestyle. The Skate TE is the exact board of 9 × PWA Freestyle World Champ Gollito Estredo and 2018 Vice World Champ Adrien Bosson! It delivers explosive acceleration and top speed, leading to massive pop for dizzying spins & rotations. The compact shape ensures you can land the move in complete control, ready to turn or pop again. The low nose is forgiving for sliding moves, while the powerful tail ensures you maintain speed while going switch or hunting down your next stunt ramp. Shaped for zero compromise, the Skate TE will bring you to the next level, no matter what your desire is. Rotate, slide, rinse & repeat – the ocean is your skatepark.

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K L A AS

VO G E T

/ E

F L

R O

E P

E M

S E

T N

D R I V E N BY P E R F E C T I O N I N T E R V I E W W I T H FA N AT I C H E A D O F WAV E R& D K L A A S VO G E T A B O U T T H E FA N AT I C WAV E R A N G E

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INTERVIEW FA N AT I C WAV E R A N G E 2020 WITH KL A AS VOGET

THE NEW GRIP TE B A S I C A L LY, YO U C A N RIDE A LARGER B OA R D T H AT – 26

TURNS LIKE

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A SMALLER ONE.

Hi Klaas, it looks like you’ve put some heavy focus on the Wave and FreeWave range for 2020. Please tell us what’s new.

Sounds too good to be true! The previous shapes have a lot of fans out there – what exactly makes the new boards so much better?

Last season, we left our Grip, Stubby and FreeWave unchanged in the 2019 range, as the feedback was really good and honestly – we also didn’t manage to improve them.

Let’s start with the Grip. As I said, we went with the same rocker line in the end, as the planing performance of that rocker is just too good. To not affect it, we added vee in front of the widest point, in order to lift the rails. You don’t see much of this change, but it makes the board follow your lead much better and tighter through the turns – once using the front foot and bringing the rail into the water. On the back foot, it still has that same great snap and planing power, as the change is mainly in the front part of the bottom, and not really hitting the water when just planing in a straight line.

Every year Sebastian and I work on lots of new custom boards with our team riders, and last year we managed to improve on some points, especially the turning; but that always lost some of the planing power. We tried to make a turnier rocker line plane as good as the production board, but we never really managed to achieve a result we were completely satisfied with. Towards the second half of last year we went the other way around, and worked on making the same fast rocker line turn better – through subtle changes to the bottom shape and outline. This was the game changer for the Grip! Thanks to the success of these prototypes – we developed an entirely new range with six sizes from 68 up to 102 – all with greatly improved turning, without any real compromises on the planing side. The FreeWave was another board we tried to improve for more than a year. The parallel rail concept changed the classic FreeWave into a much faster, livelier and sportier FreeWave 3 years ago. The efficiency and control of the Stubby concept was the spice needed for the evolution of the FreeWave – one of the most successful boards out there. For 2020 we finally achieved the ultimate goal: We increased both the playfulness on the wave, and the straight-line performance when blasting.

At the same time, we reduced the tail width – especially on the larger sizes – making the new 86, 92 and even 102 feel super close to the new 75 and 82, which were our favourite sizes of the 2018 / 19 range. Basically, you can ride a larger board that turns like a smaller one. For the FreeWave, we started playing with the outline. We pulled the nose and tail in – and turned the double diamond tail into a wide swallow tail. The result was unreal wave performance, even though we initially wanted to focus on the other end of the spectrum. Next, we reduced the rocker curve on the models 95, 105 and 115. The result was a faster, earlier planing and overall more userfriendly FreeWave with even better manoeuvrability compared to its predecessor. The smaller models ride slightly higher, more waveoriented while the larger models have a bit more focus on Bump & Jump and power to get going. All sizes beat our own expectations, so we’re pretty excited really!

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V I C TO R

F E R N A N D E Z ,

K L A AS

VO G E T

I’m sold! But why did you only change Grip and FreeWave and not the Stubby? I mean FreeWave and Stubby have the same DNA right?

F R E E WAV E

We tried applying the changes to the Stubby similar to what we already did with the FreeWave. Victor and Adam ordered Stubby protos in that direction right after trying a new FreeWave proto, as they both ride the Stubby a lot in competition.

WE INCREASED B OT H: T H E P L AY F U L N E S S – 28

O N T H E WAV E

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AND THE STRAIGHT LINE

Even though we managed to have some awesome turns on these new Stubby protos, we were not convinced that a pulled in nose helped the (much shorter) Stubby become more user-friendly, as the effective rail line gets really short. For now, we decided to keep testing more prototypes and playing with that concept for the Stubby. It is already a favourite – especially for its really easy behaviour in poor conditions – and we want to make sure we don’t lose any of that!

PERFORMANCE

OK understood! Last year the Grip came with 5 boxes in the key sizes. Will that concept stay the same? Can they be still used with Quad and Thruster setup? What about fins for the new FreeWaves?

W H E N B L A ST I N G.

The new Grip comes with 5 Slot Boxes in all sizes from 75 up to 102. The smallest 68 and the Grip XS still only come with Quad option, as that’s the preferred set for lighter riders and also windier conditions with these shapes. 75, 82, 86 and 92 come with Quad fin set and a centre box to opt for thrusters for anyone who prefers

that. The 102 comes with a Thruster set, but has the option to change to Quad fins. Like this, the range is adaptable to different spots, rider weights, levels and riding styles. We personally really like the Quad set that comes with the Grip, so that’s a safe option if you don’t want to experiment any further. The FreeWave Team Edition and Textreme ® models come with the same MFC Thruster Set that we’ve used previously – except the 115 and all BFX models, which come with single fin. All FreeWave boards have a Powerbox centre fin, and slot boxes on the sides – that can be covered for single fin use for flatwater performance – or used with side fins for better manoeuvrability and wave performance.

– 29 –

A L E SS I O

ST I L L R I C H

– 30 –

A H E A D O F G O L L I TO E ST R E D O 9 × PWA F R E E ST Y L E WO R L D C H A M P I O N

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T H E GA M E V I CTO R F E R N A N D E Z 3 × PWA WAV E WO R L D C H A M P I O N

31 –

–

32 V I CTO R F E R N A N D E Z A N D G O L L I TO E ST R E D O SH A R E A N I N CR E D I B L E 11 PWA

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WORLD CHAMPION TITLES BETWEEN THEM, AND EVEN AFTER SO MANY YE ARS C O M P E T I N G , T H E Y A R E H U N G R I E R T H A N E V E R T O S T AY A H E A D O F T H E PA C K .

W E CAU G H T U P W I T H V I CTO R A N D G O L L I TO J U ST A F T E R T H E P H OTOSH O OT O N M A U I T O H E A R A B O U T T H E I R P R E PA R A T I O N S F O R T H E S E A S O N .

Hi Victor, Hi Gollito! Like the Fanatic brand, you have both been in the game and competing for a long time and have had massive success! Firstly, congratulations! What does it take to constantly achieve excellence? Victor: Like many people, I just love windsurfing. I am very passionate and thankful of what I do. I really like to compete – every year is a new start on the PWA World Tour and I really like to feel that I am able to compete against the best windsurfers in the world – in any type of conditions.

Gollito: I think the training I do is very physical. Training every manoeuvre for hours motivates me, so I cannot have any excuse not to achieve it in each heat. It needs a lot of time in the water; as with any sport, it requires practice. Victor, you have a successful business and sponsors, and now could just hang out in Chile or Maui chasing big waves. Gollito, some would suggest that after 9 world titles you would be satisfied and relax a bit. What motivates you both to keep competing, and keep pushing yourself so hard?

V: I really enjoy the pressure, because more than anything it makes me improve in my windsurfing. I love to push my level in free sailing, but being able to prove myself against the best in the world in 12 minutes heats is really exciting. G: On the one hand my family motivates me a lot and on the other it’s the sport I love, and what I love doing every day. I would like to get number 10. I think I’ve worked really hard for this and it would be another big dream to reach this goal.

There must be a lot of sacrifices? V: There is a lot of training behind the scenes. Many hours, months and years in the water at different spots around the world; and then working on developing the gear, as well as physical and mental preparation, staying healthy to avoid injuries. G: I’ve had many injuries while sailing and some have been quite bad; but nothing will stop me achieving my dreams. Being under a lot of pressure is not easy at all, but once I’m in the water it kind of goes away. Are there still new moves you want to learn, or is it about trying to perfect what you do already? V: Yes, I want to improve and go higher and faster in moves that I know how to do, but I also want to learn some new moves and ride more radical in the waves. One of the main reasons I love windsurfing is because there is always something new to learn every time you hit the water. G: There are always new manoeuvres to practice a lot, and combinations of moves are very important. Right now, I think it’s about improving every manoeuvre, and trying to make everything higher and double. Do you ever reach a point where you don’t know what improve? V: No, it has never happened to me, I always try to learn something new even if I crash. Victor, we haven’t seen you do push-forwards in competition; do you feel pressure to do this? V: I have tried some and it is a move I need to improve, but it is not something that makes me crazy. Even if you do a push forward, it does not mean that you will win the heat if you don’t also make good wave riding scores.

Gollito, where do you see the future of freestyle? G: Freestyle is getting more and more beautiful due to the new moves we are doing; If we keep going, it will get very far. I have many ideas in my head, I would like to achieve them all but let’s go step by step. Being at the highest level and pushing performance must be hard mentally and physically. How long will you keep pushing? V: I don’t have a date to say until when I will compete. I don’t like to think so far ahead. As long as I feel healthy and motivated, I will try to compete against the best – if I am in a high level and I think that I am 100 % ready. I have more experience now than ever, so I am not going to stop when I reach this moment. G: I’d like to continue at least until I’m 34, and I hope to get there in good shape. I like to train in the gym, running, cycling … Doing always something different helps me to maintain my performance. When you get older, you have to train twice as hard. What kind of support do you have behind you to help you win world titles? V: My sponsors: Fanatic, Duotone, ION, EL Ejido, SWOX and MFC Hawaii. My family support, my trainers, and my friends. They are all very important to me. I am riding for Fanatic for the last 19 years, so it is great to be in the team. I have incredible boards and support, and the equipment helps me so much to be at the top. How would you say that using Fanatic boards has helped? V: We always had an incredible board range, so I could choose the best boards for any type of conditions. Sebastian is an incredible shaper, and getting feedback from the rest of the team really helps us have better boards for all conditions.

G: We also have some of the best freestyle sails. Being able to constantly change details for improvements, is what gives us the ability to achieve the results we have now. We’ve worked very hard to make these boards the best, and I’m very proud to sail / ride with the best freestyle board. Are there new ideas that you would like to see? Or are excited to see coming? V: I think the boards and amazing. I was lucky to see the new graphics during the last 3 weeks of April in the photoshoot on Maui. Do you enjoy sharing your experience with the young generation? V: I do love it. I like to see young people coming up with great level and motivation. I have been in this position before, and I never lost the hope, but I also worked very hard and put all my time into windsurfing to reach my dreams. G: It’s one of the things that I enjoy the most; I love sailing with the children from my town and not just that, I love showing them how freestyle works and how to do the moves. Finally, would you like to make a comment on each other? G: Victor is such a great person. His sailing style is unique, he is so consistent in his manoeuvres – he surprises us every year with his way of sailing. V: Gollito is a machine! To be dominating the freestyle discipline for such a long time is just unbelievable! His rivals are pushing so hard and somehow he always still comes out on top. His talent is scary – not only in Freestyle, also in the waves he’s becoming a major threat for the top seeds! Other than in your heat, he’s a really good person to have around ;) !

Thanks guys – as always we thank you for your hard work, and wish you the best of luck for the season!

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G O L L I TO B E ST

E ST R E D O

R E S U LTS:

Freestyle World Champion 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017 & 2018

– 34 –

V I C TO R B E ST

F E R N A N D E Z R E S U LTS:

PWA Wave World Champion 2010, 2016, 2018

– 35 –

S E C R E T TO S U CC E SS PERFORMANCE FREERIDE BL AST FREERIDE G E C KO FREERIDE / ENTRY FOILING G E C KO F O I L

J U L I A

PAS Q UA L E

P E I R A N O

– 38 –

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 0 9 ( LT D ) | 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 1 0 ( H R S )

A R T. N O. 1 3 20 0 - 1 01 3 ( LT D ) | 1 3 20 0 - 1 020 ( E C O ) | 1 3 20 0 - 1 01 1 ( H R S )

B L AST

G E C KO

100* / 115* / 130* / 145*

100 / 110 / 122 / 135 / 148 / 156

The parallel rail concept delivers serious freeride performance, combining effortless speed with pure gybing pleasure. Just like its Stubby Wave siblings, the narrower width compared to equivalent freerideboards gives the Blast an increased level of efficiency. The wider nose and pulled in tail offer blistering acceleration, but also a stable platform to drive from, giving you tons of speed and control over chop. Push as gentle or as hard as you want in the corners, and the Blast responds immediately to bring you out the far side with ease. Performance has never come so easy!

The Gecko is the most accessible freerideboard on the market, designed to grow with your level – stable and forgiving for your first planing and footstraps – fast and super smooth to gybe once you progress. The key is the compact outline combined with a wide and thin profile that makes the board more stable at rest and quick and comfortable to plane. We updated the three key sizes (122 / 135 / 148) with a wider and more parallel outline, improving acceleration, while the slim rails and tail width support your gybes and help maintain speed through the turn at any level.

– A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 1 2

G E CKO

DAG G E R B OA R D 156+

The general concept behind the Gecko is wider, thinner and with less volume. These attributes offer a great deal of balance and stability for easy gybing, as well as a fun responsive feeling beneath your feet. The increased length and more parallel outlines in the larger sizes (120+) cater to the rider’s needs with extra stability and planing support. Regardless of your level, the Gecko will carry you through your gybes or have you planing in the footstraps for the first time. With plenty of performance features built in, the Gecko will execute any move effortlessly. Additional footstrap options, plus daggerboard versions of the Gecko 156+ make this range the perfect companion for your progression from the first steps to planing through your gybes. It will leave nothing but a smile on your face.

* Approved for foil use. All foil approved boards have this sticker.

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 1 4 ( LT D ) | 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 2 2 ( H R S )

G E CKO

F O I L

135* Switch effortlessly between freeriding and foiling with our versatile Gecko Foil – and enjoy the widest range of riding sensations available from one board in light to medium wind conditions. Based on our all-new Gecko 135, in classic freeride mode with a regular 44 cm fin, you can enjoy the progressive planing, effortless gybing and engaging ride that the Gecko is renowned for. However, when you are ready for a new challenge or if the wind decreases, don’t rig a bigger sail – simply exchange the fin for a foil and the board will fly in total control thanks to its wide outline and forgiving nose.

39 –

W E LCO M E TO YO U R F L I G H T FOILING S T I N G R AY / F A L C O N F O I L F LOW F O I L

P I E R R E

M O RT E F O N

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A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 2 6 ( LT D ) | 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 2 7 ( H R S )

ST I N G R AY 110* / 125* / 140* The Stingray is our dedicated free foilboard with an incredibly easy and fun character. All details of its shape are designed to make the world of foiling as accessible and fun as possible, and it will grow with you as your skill and performance level progress. Its foiling-optimised stance comes from the parallel rails and boosted wide outline, making early takeoffs and controlled efficient flights easy. The forgiving nose with bevelled rails aid smooth out landings and recovery from touchdowns. Versatility and performance are built in: both Track Foil Mount and Tuttle Foil Box mounting options give you room to play with all types of foils – while the extra long mast track caters for all sail types and sizes.

* Approved for foil use. All foil approved boards have this sticker.

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 1 8

FA LCO N

F O I L

T E

180* Our dedicated performance foilboard, the Falcon Foil is designed not only to get you up and foiling in the lightest winds, but also to give you maximum control of a high-powered foil around a race course. The wide tail and parallel rails give a very balanced stance out on the rail, which is crucial for control when foiling at top speed – whether you are hiking upwind or reaching. The new shape optimises your stance for use with large race sails, so that you can effectively drive the foil hard to gain every ounce of performance, while the nose has softened rails and vee to absorb those occasional touchdowns without slowing you down.

– 43

A R T. N O . 1 3 9 0 0 - 3 5 5 5 | 1 3 9 0 0 - 3 5 5 4

F LOW 1250 Sizing

–

F O I L 900

Front Wing

Back Wing

Fuselage

Mast

Front Wing

Back Wing

Fuselage

Mast

1250 cm2

215 cm2

90 cm

900 cm2

215 cm2

90 cm

Material

Carbon Composite Wings / Aluminium Mast & Fuselage

Character

Super early lift, Great stability, Light wind performance

Great top speed, Stable and controlled, Accessible performance

Ta r g e t Rider

Entry to intermediate level windsurf foiler looking for a hasslefree setup for lighter winds – with upgrade-options towards higher performance

Intermediate to advanced level Windsurf foiler looking for a hassle-free performance foil – with upgrade-options towards lighter winds

From your first take-off to frequent flyer in no time! Our Flow Windsurf Foils got completely redesigned for the new season to cover your windsurf foiling experience all the way from beginner to performance level. Both wings are interchangeable for easy upgrades. Our new 90 cm Aluminium fuselage with 215 cm Carbon composite back wing adds great pitch and roll stability to both foil combos. The special profile and wider chord length of the newly designed 90 cm Alu mast adds rigidity and response to these foils making you believe you’re riding pure Carbon. For shallow waters we’re offering a shorter 75 cm mast version.

– 44 –

G O L L I TO

E ST R E D O

A R E YO U R E A DY F O R TA K E - O F F ? INTERVIEW WITH PRODUCT MANAGER DANIEL AEBERLI

Hi Daniel, Fanatic has launched their new foil collection in April including the Flow Windsurf Foils and also the Stingray – a dedicated foilboard was released into the market earlier in the year. Please tell us about these products. The Stingray and the Flow Foil is all you need in windsurf foiling, unless you’re competing, then you better look at the Falcon foilboard. For anyone else, the Stingray / Flow Foil combo covers everything from total foil beginners to really advanced foilers. The secret of the board is that it’s wide to get you out of the water super early with maximum control over your foil. At the same time it’s extremely forgiving in all the usual mistakes in the beginning – which gives you the confidence needed to try and learn quickly. The box configuration gives you the freedom to ride pretty much any foil out there, whether it’s Tuttle- or Track Foil Mount system. The new Flow Foil is the perfect match for the board though! It got completely redesigned and every little detail has been analysed and improved by a new task force in cooperation between Fanatic and Duotone Kiteboarding. The Carbon wings offer much higher efficiency,

increased range, improved control and really smooth and predictable turning. Also, the mast, the fuselage and all other individual parts were greatly improved which makes a massive difference on the overall performance. Some of these changes are not visible at first glance, but once you take off you’ll feel the difference immediately. Sounds great! Which sizes are available? The new Flow Foil programme consists of two different Carbon front wings – 1250 and 900, two incredibly stiff Aluminium masts – 90 cm and 75 cm, one 90 cm Aluminium fuselage and one 215 back wing. These make two combos, one for light wind / entry, one for performance free-foiling. With the optional adapters you can use the Flow Foil in any box system, whether it’s a Track Foil Mount, Tuttle or even Power Box*. The Stingray comes in 3 sizes this year, 140 and 125, plus a new 110 – for stronger winds, lighter riders, or more advanced and manoeuvre-oriented foilers. You also offer the Gecko Foil and many other windsurf shapes which can be used for Foiling. Isn’t that

more attractive for a windsurfer to be able to make both ‘sports’ with one board? Do I need a Stingray? Yes, we offer multiple boards which are approved for foil use, including the Gecko Foil Edition, the Blasts, Jags, and some of the Falcons. All of these are the original windsurfing shapes, so they are developed to be used with a fin for normal windsurfing. The Gecko Foil has a longer and more scooped nose, which helps for touch downs, the Blast has a compact shape, which is great once you’re up on the foil and the Falcon Lightwind brings the width for early lift in light winds and great control over the foil. The Stingray combines all positive aspects for foiling in one shape. Compact, wide and with a nose rocker that makes you recover easily in touch downs. The stance is optimised for foiling and on top that comes with bevelled rails in the nose section for a really neutral behaviour. This makes this board the best choice for anyone who just wants to foil with it – there are no compromises like in the other boards. The additional Track Foil Mount system allows to move the foil back and forward for trimming options, which you never have with Foil Tuttle Boxes.

– 45 –

That makes sense! Can you give us more details on the technical side of the new foils? You’re using Carbon Composite and Aluminium – that’s nothing new right … ?

J O R DY ' S F O I L I N G

– 46 –

T I PS

1 . Take it step by step, only put your front foot in the strap for your first run. Once you get comfortable you can sheet in a bit more, hook into the harness lines and use the back foot strap too.

2 . It’s easier to understand the foil when it’s a bit windier, so i’d recommend to start with medium winds as mentioned above. Later you can go in much lighter winds.

3 . Watch out for the wingspan and length of your foil! I’ve seen quite a few injuries of people accidentally kicking their wings under water during their water start! If you’re about to crash, make sure you hold onto the boom. This way you’ll avoid hitting your foil. Also make sure you don’t sail into the shallow waters!

The material itself is just one piece of the puzzle, but even here you can have massive differences. People tend to think Aluminium is Aluminium and Carbon is Carbon, but in reality there are different grades of both materials. We use a very high-grade Aluminium mast which is engineered in Germany. It’s about 30 % stiffer compared to other Aluminium masts and it’s not easy to beat that rigidity with Carbon. But even more important is how the different parts are connected. The connections are usually the weak spots and the engineering team took enormous focus on making the connections bulletproof! Stainless steel helicoil threads make sure you can load the M8 screws with 1.2 tonnes each. The glued and screwed connection of mast and base plate further improves the impression of riding a solid piece instead of some connected parts. The mast fits nicely into a pocket in the fuselage for better steering transitions and the wings itself sit on a large bearing surface which spreads the load nicely. Also that system will not wear out and never gets stuck like any kind of pocket solutions which you’d often need a rubber hammer to disconnect. The layup of the wings is a mix of unidirectional and 30° oriented Carbon fibres, for highly improved torsional stiffness. We took the long road with different suppliers for the different pieces, but like that we ended up with top solutions for every single part and a high quality product which is still affordable.

*No warranties are given with the use of a

Sounds like someone’s done their homework! It was about time for Fanatic to release something special in the foiling segment! We’re used to see top notch stuff in all other areas, but foiling was a bit left behind it seemed … ? Yes we must admit we were not amongst the fastest with our foil programme. Even more so we wanted to come with a fully developed and highly efficient range now to set a mark. At the same time we want to keep things simple and easy to understand, without too much confusion, so our range is still lean, but easy to upgrade and tune to everyone’s needs. We want to make foiling fun, easy and accessible for a large number of people! One last question – everyone is talking about wing foiling these days – what’s Fanatic doing here – and is that part of your windsurf foiling division, SUP / surf foiling or is that more kiting? Hehe that’s a good question! There is a lot of excitement about the new trend of wing foiling, and it actually touches a lot of different sports. The Duotone Foil Wing looks like a kite without lines, but then has a boom and you hold it more like a windsurf sail. Then the boards used here are SUP or surf foilboards such as our Sky SUP and Sky Surf and the right foils for it are our Aero Surf foils, which we have launched also in April in 4 different combos and with the same highend engineering as the windsurf foils. As the boards and foils used here are the same as for SUP foiling and prone surf foiling, you can find all these products in our SUP brochure and on our website.

M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N O N :

foil in boards with Power Box! Only use your

FA N AT I C.C O M / F O I L O R

foil with a board that is approved for foil use!

D U OTO N E S P O R T S.C O M / F O I L-W I N G

F M A ST – B A S E P L AT E CO N N E C T I O N › › Glued and screwed connection of mast and base plate for extra rigid connection

MAST

and maximum durability

› › Formula 1 aluminium fusion technology mast – made in Germany – with special profile and

B A S E P L AT E / A DA P T E R S

increased chord length for 30% higher stiffness

› › Track Foil Mount base plate

compared to other Alu masts

› › Mounting adapters for both Tuttle and Power Box available (sold separately – only use with foil approved boxes! Use with Power Box at your own risk!

MAST – FUSEL AGE CONNECTION › › Aluminium fuselage › › Pocket connection

FUSEL AGE BACK WING

› › Improved steering impulse transmission

CONNECTION

BULLETPROFF CONNECTIONS

› › Redesigned screw positions

› › Helicoil-threads in mast and fuselage

› › Avoid twists of the back wing › › Individual tuning through

for longevity and maximum strength

supplied wedges – changes

connections

angle of attack

SIDE VIEW

TO P V I E W

CARBON WINGS › › Carbon front wings with 30° layup for maximum performance with direct flex response and minimal weight › › Full Carbon back wing with winglets – light, durable and with great track stability FUSEL AGE FRONT WING CONNECTION

› › Interchangeable wings for upgrades and tuning according to conditions and rider level

› › Recess in front wings › › Avoid abrasion › › Never getting stuck – No hammer needed! › › Large mounting area for maximum load spread

BAG › › Flow Foil bag including covers for wings, mast and fuselage for safe transport of your foil and all accessories

– 47 –

A LWAYS O N E ST E P A H E A D FREERACE J A G LT D SL A LO M / F O I L I N G FA LC O N S L A LO M T E FA LC O N L I G H T W I N D SPEED FA LC O N S P E E D T E

J O R DY

VO N K ,

P I E R R E

M O RT E F O N

– 50 –

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 0 3

JAG

LT D

1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 1 5 ( 9 0 – 1 2 1 L ) | 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 1 7 ( 1 3 0 L , 1 4 0 L )

FA LCO N

S L A LO M

T E

94 / 108* / 125* / 135*

80 / 90 / 97 / 106 / 115 / 121 / 130* / 140*

The Jag is your No. 1 choice when you want slalom board performance, but in a more accessible package. It’s fast enough to win races, yet comfortable enough to sail all day long.

The Falcon TE are out & out racing machines, designed with only one purpose in mind: putting you on the top of the podium.

The free feeling of the Jag comes from its narrower outline, tail and flatter rocker line. These same attributes also allow it to reach maximum velocity without having to be driven as hard as a dedicated racing board, and be more rewarding to gybe. Essentially a slalomboard you can live with, the Jag is designed to blast over distance in total control, and will excel with any style of sail.

To achieve this requires blistering acceleration; warp speed in total control, and the ability to gybe with 100 % focus on the mark and zero focus on the board. Our R&D team has worked tirelessly; testing, tweaking and tuning every mm of the Falcon TE to make sure they leave all other boards in their wake. This year we complete our update of the range with all new 80, 90 and 97 l models, concentrating on maximum control in rough water, and better acceleration coming out of gybes. The boards are slightly narrower overall, which – combined with more parallel rails – also improved gybing and better upwind glide.

– A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 1 6

FA LCO N

L I G H T W I N D

13200-1023 (44 L) | 13200-1024 (52.5 L)

FA LCO N

S P E E D

T E

159*

44 / 52.5

For the days when everyone else is stuck on the beach, the Falcon Lightwind will get you – and keep you – flying in the most marginal breeze.

Whether it’s in La Franqui or Luderitz, the Falcon Speed is designed to take you far beyond your limits and smash your personal GPS record.

The light wind slalom specialist, the Falcon LW takes design cues from our racing program, so efficiency and speed are guaranteed.

These state-of-the-art shapes are optimised to help you lock down the power with total confidence, and transfer instant acceleration into maximum velocity.

It is shaped to be more user-friendly than a race board, so you can enjoy the pure speed sensation all day long. The strap positions give reaching comfort, while the tail shape and cut-outs ensure control and gybing are a breeze.

Speed is nothing without control however, and the Falcon Speed machines excel when the going gets tough. The deck, rails, bottom shape and stance are all tuned to perfection for maximum control, so you can concentrate on pushing them even faster.

Offered solely in our affordable Biax fibre construction, the LW is also foil approved, which truly makes this board the ultimate light wind machine.

When your only limit is finding the perfect conditions to unleash these boards, the Falcon Speed range is ready to deliver records.

* Approved for foil use. All foil approved boards have this sticker.

51 –

R&D W I N N E R O F M U LT I P L E P W A E V E N T S A N D C O U N T L E S S N A T I O N A L T I T L E S , AS WELL AS TWO VICE WORLD CHAMPION TITLES AND TWO IFCA WORLD T I T L E S ; N O B OA R D H A S B E E N T W E A K E D, T U N E D, T E ST E D A N D TO R T U R E D M O R E T H A N T H E F A L C O N T E I N I T S C O N T I N U A L Q U E S T T O B E T H E B E S T.

– 52 –

– 53 –

We caught up with Daniel Aeberli (Fanatic Product Manager) and World Cup team riders Pierre Mortefon, Jordy Vonk and Marco Lang to find out more about the R&D process.

improvements or changes they would like to get. As we also work very closely with Duotone sails, we must stay up to date on what they are working on to ensure that the boards and sails match perfectly in every size.

Hi Guys, for slalom racing, what would you say is the hardest feature to design – speed / control / gybing / range – what are your most important criteria?

After that, I will have the first chat to Sebastian about the changes in the feedback report. He will make the first CAD drawings according to our wish list, and then we have a closer look together at the file, before sending a final CAD file to our special Fanatic R&D and custom factory. They build us the prototype according to the CAD file, and then ship it to whatever destination we require to test this particular shape for the first time. Some team riders will join the testing, and we also get many local and national riders involved in testing the prototypes. I will then get all information and feedback together again after every session.

Pierre: You need to find a combination. A board has to be fast, plane good, gybe easily and stay comfortable – even in hard conditions. Sometimes you will have a rocket that is not gybing, or the opposite. You need to play with all the different aspects to find the right magic potion.

– 54 –

Marco: I guess everybody thinks the fastest board will win, but that’s only 50 % true. Without acceleration, early planing and control you will never win any races. You cannot build a board with the ‘best’ of everything, so you have to find a balance between all these features. How far ahead of the season do you start testing new prototypes? And what does that process involve? Jordy: It really depends per board. We are basically over one year ahead. So the moment the 2020 boards are on the market, we are already working on the 2021 range. Daniel, you look after all product development. Aside from testing, you are the link between Sebastian and the team riders. Can you tell us the process of how that works? Daniel: A well-organised R&D and testing process is the key to producing a winning board at the end of development. First, we get as much feedback as possible on the current boards from our dealer network and all the international and national team riders; and filter all the information to learn what

Most important is having a work shop close to the test location, so I am able to modify the boards right away if there is any need to update any details on the shape. As a benchmark, we also keep the current production board as reference. If the board is better, we send the master to production. If not, we start to make the next prototype until we reach our goal to get the next ‘Magic Board’.

way that we’re on the edge of control; but in general we see that a board with amazing control is always fast, it just has to be alive enough to have it working on the racecourse and in gusty conditions. We’re always testing one-on-one, which is an easy way to see the differences in speed and control. In the team, what happens if you don’t all agree on the best board? Pierre: When it happens we continue to test trying to make everybody happy because at least all the customers will not like the same thing, so it has to be nice boards for the maximum of people. Marco: We have a high racing level in our team and everybody is really experienced. So it’s the job of Daniel and Sebastian to find a balance between all the riders, but mostly we all agree with the decision of them! When developing prototypes, do you test boards from other brands? Pierre: Yes, and it’s important to compare to the other brands for various reasons. You can learn a lot trying some other board about shaping, but also about your opponents’ skill and tactics. When something is good from another, why not try to be better!

Do you find that the fastest proto types generally are the ones that are easier to sail, or do the fastest boards always feel like they are on the edge of control? What makes you decide on which one is best?

Jordy: We sometimes try other board brands to get a feeling / understanding of what they’re doing. But our ‘old’ model is always the reference while testing.

Pierre: It has to be a good mix; I will never choose the fastest one. I will take the easy one to go fast for as long as possible around the course. For sure you are sometimes on the edge, but you definitely need something comfortable to be fast on the track.

Would you say that the wind range has increased in the boards – especially in big boards?

Jordy: Control = speed. But of course too much control won’t be fast. We always tune up in a

Pierre: Yes for sure, now I can sail my big board from 8 to 20 knots – medium from 14 to almost 30 knots and my smallest board is a 97 l. The wind range is certainly the point we progress the most in the last few years.

– 55 –

P I E R R E

M O RT E F O N ,

J O R DY

VO N K

– 56 –

P I E R R E

M O RT E F O N ,

J O R DY

VO N K

Jordy: Definitely. We can get so much more control in boards now, that you see that all boards have gotten a touch bigger. For example the medium board is 71.5 cm wide now instead of 70 cm wide a couple of years ago. It’s bigger, so better in light winds; and due to the amazing control you can still hold it very good in strong winds. A bigger board with more control creates a bigger range.

THE MORE CO M F O R TA B L E YO U R G E A R I S, THE MORE PLEASURE IT W I L L G I V E YO U – AND THE FASTER Y O U W I L L B E !

When it comes to tuning, is there an optimum place for the mast track? Jordy: There’s not one optimum place, as usually we can use different sizes with the same board, which sometimes also need another mastbase position. Also when people are using another sail brand on the board it can be different again. So in the end it’s just possible to give riders an indication instead of one exact point. Can you tell us what the technical difference is between a race- and freerace board (like the Jag)?

Pierre: The main goal of the freeraceboard is to win races. For this you need to have a fast board but also something comfortable that helps you to focus on racing, and not on driving your board. But it’s true that’s a freeraceboard is easier to sail. The goal of those boards is just to have fun rolling some friends – our Jag is the perfect example for this! Marco: The main difference is the control and the comfort. For a hobby windsurfer it is much easier to reach the top speed with a freeraceboard. The real freeraceboard is more alive and

physical to sail but you reach a better top speed. What effect do the cutouts (and tail shape) have on the performance?

Daniel: The tail section is the most important on every board shape, as it’s the part that is most of the time in the water. We spend a lot of time refining the tail section, to find the right balance of control and top speed – and also of the general trim of the board on the water. It is really detailed work at the end of the day that will define a true winning board. – With the three smaller boards updated this year, can you tell us what you did, and what impact it has on the water? Daniel: High wind boards are very special, as you need to focus mainly on the balance of top-speed / maximum control and great gybing. We started on the new 97 l first, and found an outline that gave us incredible control, and where all of us were automatically faster in a straight line because of its great balance and ease of ride. So based on the same design concept, the 90 l was also updated to have the same riding sensation. The new 80 TE is not just a high wind slalomboard. It’s also the perfect light wind speed machine for all the guys who want to make personal GPS best on sail sizes up 7.5 m2 sail sizes. Thanks guys.

57 –

STA RT S O M E T H I N G N E W ENTRY VIPER / RIPPER VIPER AIR / RIPPER AIR

V I C TO R

F E R N A N D E Z ,

C E SA R

F I L I P P I

– 60 –

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 2 1

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 0 2 5

V I P E R

R I P P E R

75 / 80 / 85 / 91

112

The Viper is widely recognised as one of the most successful beginner windsurfing board of all time – the board of choice for over 200 windsurfing schools worldwide. Every detail has been refined to make learning to windsurf as fast and easy as possible, and to perfectly enhance your progression throughout the stages of the sport. The overall width provides excellent stability for uphauling, while the length and parallel rails keep it tracking well in a straight line when at lower speeds. As you work your way to stronger wind, various footstrap options will help you harness more speed, while the retractable daggerboard and classic pintail will provide you with pure planing pleasure and carving gybes.

The Ripper is designed grow with your kids – as they quickly progress from their very first steps, right through to planing and carving gybes. The soft deck allows them to master the basics in comfort, while the stable compact shape makes uphauling, tacking and gybing a breeze. The removable centre fin will keep them upwind and tracking well in safety. Once ready, the easy planing shape will allow them to get sporty, and the child specific footstrap options and can be moved back and out to suit the growing junior and even adults for classic freeriding. If you want to share your passion with your family and your kids, the Ripper is the best solution to get them hooked as quickly and as easy as possible!

– 61 A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 1 4 9 ( P R E M I U M ) | 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 1 4 8 ( P U R E )

V I P E R

A I R

355 With two sports seamlessly built into one lightweight board, the Viper Air combines the best of both worlds in one highly versatile package! Lighter and more convenient than traditional Windsurf or SUP boards, we designed the Viper Air for the whole family to enjoy. Windsurfing or Stand Up Paddling: you choose depending on your mood, spot and weather! Thanks to its generous volume, the Viper Air provides great stability and flotation; in fact the comfy soft deck is a great platform for passengers! Its stretched outline means the board glides effortlessly under sail or paddle power; and you can even catch small waves on it. Who would believe that you could fit so much fun into a backpack!?

–

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 1 4 7

R I P P E R

A I R

187 The Ripper Air WS is built specifically to get more kids on the water – providing a safe stable platform so they can confidently take their first steps into windsurfing or SUPing. Its low weight inflatable construction means it’s super easy to carry and set up. The compact dimensions provide great glide and manoeuvrability – whether under sail or paddle power – and the built in performance will keep them coming back for more! Versatile, fun and hassle free; the unbreakable Ripper Air stows away in a backpack, so it’s the perfect toy to have in your car wherever you go!

S H A R I N G T H E

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STO K E W I T H S H A W N A C R O PA S & T O M B R E N D T

S H AW N A

C R O PAS,

C E SA R

F I L I P P I

R A F

F I L I P P I

Nothing is better than sharing the stoke of windsurfing, and it’s now easier than ever to learn our sport and experience the thrill and freedom of gliding across the water without a care. We are proud that our classic beginner range – the Viper – is used in almost 200 windsurf centres worldwide, and has introduced thousands of people to the sport; while our inflatable Windsurf/SUP boards now make it even easier and more accessible for kids and families to get hooked on windsurfing. Progression is made simple for intermediates on our legendary Gecko range, while the youths can become the future stars on the Ripper or Ripper Air. We are also proud to support world-class coaches such as Tom Brendt (Venezuela) and Shawna Cropas (Maui) – who through their clinics have been spreading their knowledge and stoke for over 20 years around the world. When Shawna is not shredding waves at Ho’okpia on her Grip TE, she is coaching intimate groups on building all their core skills. Such is the uniqueness of Maui’s North Shore – flat water on the inside and waves further out – she can teach beginners and intermediates at the same time. The fundamental skills required for both are the same, such as mast foot pressure, stance or hand positioning. Here, Shawna goes even further in her praise for this sport. The belief windsurfing is a core skill as important as growing food and building houses. If our civilisation collapses you’ll need to know how to sail away and wind-fish!

SHAWNA CROPAS:

“In life I think we are all in pursuit of joy & connection with each other, with ourselves, and (for us water-lubbers) the ocean. At the end of our days we will not think about our clean houses and all the money we made. We will remember peak states where we were alight with living. We will smile at all the fire moments in our lives when we were ablaze, hitting a lip that terrified us or planing on a windsurfer for the very first time, screaming, “YES!” with selfsatisfaction. For me, it will be the laughing with friends in huge Irish seas where the wind blew us off the water. Memories of huddling for warmth against a gale behind a friends van before we headed into the storm once more. I will hold on to smiles shared, huge Ho’okipa waves and all the friends I have made at the beach. I always joke: learning Windsurfing is a core life skill like building homes, growing gardens, making clothes, and basic mechanics. Sailing boats are how man has travelled well before horses, cars trains and planes. Should civilization ever collapse you will be happy when you are able to sail out and wind-fish, or get to the next island. This makes everyone laugh at first, and then they stop and ‘hmmmm’ while calculating the

logic of my logic. Friends who don’t windsurf immediately ask me for lessons. LOL. Friends who windsurf go out and buy fishing tackle. Windsurfing is a release from all worldly contrived pressures. It feels like bliss and most say it’s the ultimate freedom. A way to literally walk off the earth – with all its straight lines and rules – and simply set sail. Away. Alone. Chilled. Relaxed in full immersion with nature. A landscape that is void of roads and signs. Nothing keeps us in shape like windsurfing. It is grace and balance. It’s the pureness of harnessing and transferring nature’s powers via your body. Health is our wealth and time is the new valued currency. “Collecting moments and not things” is our 2020 mantra. Windsurfing is so full on, it requires all our attention. It allows no room to think about anything else (let alone problems) when we are balancing the fluctuating power of wind and liquid sea states. Focused moments create a meditational state of mind. Success floods our bodies with dopamine, which makes us happy and makes us desire more. And so it all is, in this bizarre existence where we spin on a planet around a ball of fire and call it home. Might as well live to the max and enjoy sails, wind, sea, and stars.”

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT O N S H A W N A’ S C L I N I C S A T: W W W. S H A W N A C R O PA S . C O M

– 63 –

– 64 –

S H AW N A

C R O PAS,

B E N

G E R H A R DT

Tom loves nothing better than to help others make the move they’ve always dreamed of and get them hooked on windsurfing. Here he thanks all the newest developments in board design, which makes his job so much easier for him, and so much more rewarding for the rider. TOM BRENDT:

“You get back to the beach, your heartbeat accelerating, don´t know whether to smile or scream, run and tell your friends – your family. How good was that? The first time sailing on a windsurfer, turning around and coming back to where you started from – and it all felt so easy. You want to tell everyone, dream about it all night but first, have some drinks with your friends at the beach to finalise that perfect moment. This is the reason I started coaching, having felt that same way many times. Could there be anything better than helping others to get to that point? Get hooked to our amazing sport with ease and lots of fun. This for me – besides learning the basics right – is the key for progress.

If now you also find the companies to produce exactly the right gear to reach this goal, share the same passion; make windsurfing easier and coaching even more, I couldn´t think of anything better. Not only getting people on board and into the sport, also give them the possibility to improve easily, to practise more frequently by building boards that work in a much wider range, all sort of conditions. I definitely enjoyed all the changes in boarddesign and new boardtypes that came out since I started coaching about 20 years ago. The shorter and wider Vipers provided maximum stability for the very first steps; while turning much faster and controlled into the basic transitions, going upwind and coming back home with ease. Steps like beach and waterstarts, harness use and first planing with controlled board-speed became so much easier on these board shapes. And the best part, a very similar board for kids – the Ripper – came out that actually grows with them and their level. All of this could only be topped, by creating those boards as inflatable Windsurf / SUP boards. When the shorter and wider Geckos came out, a whole new world for intermediate windsurfers opened up; hop on, enjoy, and improve in fast-forward mode! All these new shapes gave us the chance to get going with less speed. Focus better and easier on body positioning and sail techniques, and concentrate on the manoeuvre you were about to try, practise and learn. The progress I can see on those boards is just amazing.

“

IT HAS BEEN MY FIRST EXPERIENCE IN A WINDSURF CLINIC AND HAS BEEN A B S O L U T E LY G R E A T I N A L L S E N S E S . T H A N K YO U V E RY M U C H F O R A L L T H E T I P S A N D M O S T LY F O R Y O U R D E D I C AT I O N TO T H E G R O U P A L L T H E T I M E, B OT H I N A N D OU T O F T H E WAT E R . O F C O U R S E I W I L L R E P E AT AS SO O N AS I H AV E C H A N C E.

J o s e M a n u e l ( o n e o f To m ´ s c l i e n t s )

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT TO M ’S C L I N I C S AT W W W.W I N D S U R F L A B O R . D E

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– 66

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R I P P E R

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 8 1 0

R I G

R I D E

S U P

A R T. N O . 1 3 2 0 0 - 1 8 1 1

R I G

R I D E

R I G

1.5 m2 / 2.5 m2 / 3.5 m2

4.5 m2 / 5.5 m2 / 6.5 m2

5.5 m2 / 6.0 m2 / 6.5 m2

We know from experience with our own kids, that sharing the thrill of windsurfing with the next generation is so much fun! So we created the Ripper rig – a compact, light sail design that performs great, is effortless to use, and will have them ripping in no time!

Easy to sail and effortless to uphaul, the Ride SUP rig is the ideal solution for light wind windsurfing on SUP boards (with mast track insert), or Windsurf / SUP boards such as our Viper Air and Ripper Air. All components are designed to make rigging as simple as possible, so you can just rig and go in as little as 30 seconds!

Simplicity is key with the Fanatic Ride rig, our modern performance sail that is designed to work with a wide range of boards. Easy to rig and trim, with a great wind range, these complete rig packages are the ideal partner to get you from beginner to winner with as much fun as possible.

RIPPER RIG

RIDE SUP RIG

RIDE RIG

Sizing

1.5 m2

2.5 m2

3.5 m2

4.5 m2

5.5m2

6.5 m2

5.5 m2

6.0 m2

6.5 m2

Mast length

200 cm

260 cm

285 cm

415 cm

435 cm

475 cm

445 cm

460 cm

478 cm

Mast

RDM Alu 200 cm (2-piece)

RDM Alu 260 cm (2-piece)

RDM Alu 285 cm (2-piece)

RDM 410 cm (4-piece)

RDM 430 cm (4-piece)

RDM 450 cm (4-piece)

RDM 430 cm (3-piece)

RDM 460 cm (3-piece)

Boom length

125 cm (2-piece)

150 cm (2-piece)

170 cm (2-piece)

180 cm (4-piece)

185 cm (4-piece)

200 cm (4-piece)

176 cm (2-piece)

184 cm (2-piece)

196 cm (2-piece)

– 67 –

V I C TO R

F E R N A N D E Z ,

C E SA R

F I L I P P I

T R

– 68 –

G O L L I TO E ST R E D O V-10

PIERRE MORTEFON FRA-14

V I CTO R F E R N A N D E Z E-4 2

KL A AS VOGET G-4

A D A M L E W I S K- 5 1 6

ARTHUR ARUTKIN FRA-1111

ADRIEN BOSSON FRA-296

ALESSIO STILLRICH G-95

– 69 – VINCENT LANGER G-1

ARRIANNE AUKES H-131

M A X M AT I S S E K A U T- 9 7

J O R DY VO N K N E D - 69

R I CC A R D O M A R C A I TA- 9 8 8

M A R C O L A N G A U T- 6 6

MARÍA ANDRÉS ESP-2

– 70 –

Nothing is more satisfying than sharing the stoke of windsurfing with the next generation. We pride ourselves on developing the ideal boards (such as the Ripper and the Grip XS) for them to enjoy every single moment on the water – and possibly help them to become the future stars of our sport. For the motivated talents on our Fanatic Grom Team, the future looks bright indeed! Ranging from 11 to 17 years old, all of them already have many years of experience on the water, windsurfing, surfing, and SUPing every moment they can. They all list Victor Fernandez as their inspiration, and none more so than Victor’s protégé Jose Antonio Casanova Perez from Almerimar. Already working on his Double Loops and Pushloops, time will tell if the Spanish Junior Champion can follow in Victor’s footsteps. The Spanish talent continues with Julia Pasquale Peirano, our 16 years old Pozo local who joins her brother and parents on the water to make it a family affair! It’s no surprise living in Pozo, that Julia is also pushing hard to get her Push Loop & Back Loop even higher!

The Pozo connection continues with siblings Alexia and Carlos Kiefer Quintana (13 and 11 years), whose German father moved to Gran Canaria to get more quality time on the water – and it paid off with Alexia and Carlos becoming PWA Youth Vice World Champions, and both training on improving their Takas and Loops. From Carro, César Fillippi (13) is working on his freestyle moves inspired by Gollito Estredo at his homespot, but loves the Grip XS and waveriding. This year he was charging for the first time in Ho’okipa! Finally, our Danish Ripper Tobias Bjornaa (12) might have been destined to become PWA Wave Youth World Champion, thanks to windsurfing with his father – Mads – since he was 5 years old. The Cold Hawaii local’s main aim is to improve his waveriding and make it to Warm Hawaii one day!

CÉSAR FILIPPI

A L E X I A A N D C A R LOS K I E F E R Q U I N TA N A

– 71 –

J U L I A PA S Q U A L E P E I R A N O

TO B I AS BJ O R N A A

J OSE A N TO N I O CASA N OVA P E R E Z

T- S H I R T A D D I C T E D

T- S H I R T F

T- S H I R T LO G O

T- S H I R T FA N AT I C

13202-5020

13202-5021

13202-5022

13202-5023

STA R GA Z E R

WHITE

C I TA D E L B L U E

H E AT H E R G R A P E R E D

S – XXL

– 72 –

Z I P P E D H O O D I E FA N AT I C

HOODIE ADDICTED

SW E AT E R FA N AT I C

K I DS S H I R T FA N AT I C

13200-5225

13200-5226

13200-5227

13200-5228

DA R K H E AT H E R G R E Y

H E AT H E R G R E Y

H E AT H E R G R A P E R E D

WHITE

XS – XXL

S – XXL

5 – 6, 7 – 8, 9 – 11, 12 – 14

G I R L S S H I R T FA N AT I C

G I R L S TA N K FA N AT I C

CAP ADDICTED CAMO

C A P FA N AT I C

13203-5025

13203-5008

13200-5811

13200-5812

WHITE

C R E A M H E AT H E R G R E Y

BL ACK

DARK GREY

S – L

S/M, M/L

N E T C A P FA N AT I C

NET CAP F

NET CAP BOARDRIDING

BEANIE ADDICTED

13200-5813

13200-5814

13900-5810

13200-5810

LIGHT GREY

B U R G U N DY

H E AT H E R B L U E

DARK GREY

S/M, M/L

ONE SIZE

– 73 –

M A R Í A

A N D R É S

GRIP XS

GRIP TE

A r t . N o.

13200-1002

13200-1001

Sizes