RRD: Hi John, tell us about the concept and how you came about the idea with RRD?

JS: I was blown away the first time I tried the production Airwindsurf Freeride. I couldn’t believe the performance level possible from an inflatable board. I came straight off the water and immediately started hailing Roberto for a Wave inflatable. At the same time Dave White was hassling him for a speed version and somehow I ended up with them both.

RRD: Is this inflatable speed board in production yet?

JS: The Freeride version is available in the shops now, but the wave and speed boards were just tests to see how far we could push the concept. I don’t think there was any real plan to put them in production initially, but the results and interest world-wide has been mind blowing, so I think RRD are looking into it seriously now.

RRD: What’s the highest speed you’ve reached on the inflatable?

JS: So far I just had one day on the board at Arinaga, which is not really that good for speed and it wasn’t even that windy. I had a peak of 34.8kts (64.5km/h) and an average speed over 250 with a 7.0 Firewing. I am sure with a 5.7 or 5.2 I could add 2-3kts to that, and on a proper speed course like La Franchie or Southend I think 40kts should be pretty easy. Beyond that I don’t know.

RRD: How does the board feel on the water, is there any similarity to a production ‘hard’ board?

JS: These inflatables with the 3x SBS Sandwich Dyneema belt stringers are incredible stiff, really. Even on such a tiny board, with a relatively big sail 7.0, it was planing really easily and once up and running there was really not much difference. Actually one positive is that it absorbs the chop really nicely. I spent most of the session trying to stay on the really flat waters close to the beach, but it was hard to get a good gust. Finally my best run was at the end when I just pointed straight out to sea through all the chop. The board just absorbed it all and felt more controllable than a normal hard board!

RRD: How many litres is it roughly?

JS: I don’t actually know. The dimensions are a secret for now, but the board is thicker through the nose than a normal hard board so maybe that adds another 20 litres. I would guess the speed board is around 80-90L.

RRD: Do you think this is the future of windsurfing, and speed windsurfing in particular?

JS: If these are the results with the first ever inflatable speed board I think it has so much potential. Whether it can take over completely I don’t know? Maybe the control through chop can actually be a real benefit and whilst in places like Namibia chop is not really an issue to going fast, somewhere like Gran Canaria where I sail, maybe it could actually end up being quicker.

RRD: Seeing as this is version #1, is there much more to come?

JS: I hope so, we’ll see what Roberto and the team decide. We hope to make more of them because I think the possibilities are endless. We also made a wave version, which was more or less a copy of the Wave Cult 90, but because the board is thicker it became a bit too big for a wave board. I definitely want to try something a little smaller.

RRD: Any plans to give one to Antoine Albeau for the speed event?

JS: Definitely. I am also desperate to get Dave White on it, as it was his suggestion in the first place, and then next time Antoine goes to Namibia he will definitely need one. I am quite enjoying being an unofficial World Record holder at the moment, and pretty sure as soon as those guys get their hands on it, that will be gone!!

RRD: So are you now (technically) the fastest inflatable windsurfer in the world!?

JS: I am claiming an unofficial World Record. I might even make myself a trophy!! hahaha

RRD: Is there any plans in seeing a compact speed/slalom sail in the pipeline?

JS: The Airwindsurf Rig (compact sail) is already in production and available in the shops. The feedback and response has been amazing so far and I really believe this can be the future for sails. I already started working on wave version and its working very nicely. I guess the next step is speed/slalom!!

RRD: Lastly how does it compare to the Air Windsurf Freeride that RRD currently have in the shops?

JS: Obviously its a bit smaller, but the feeling and concept is exactly the same. The main feature is the incredible fin box. I know Werther (RRD’s kite/fin/CAD designer) spent a lot of time on the internal fin-box and it’s really what makes RRD’s inflatable boards so special. On the Airwindsurf Freeride version you can stick a huge tuttle-box fin in and really drive upwind to get that feeling of a high performance windsurf board.
Text from John Skye and RRD
Pics by Bartek Jankowski

Check out the AIRWINDSURF FREERIDE , currently in shops and hitting high inflatable speeds!