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MARCO LANG: BEYOND THE FINISH LINE

After more than a decade competing at the highest level of professional windsurfing, Marco Lang stepped away from the PWA tour at the peak of his career. Since then, the former Sylt champion has swapped the pressure of race starts for the demanding world of product development at Duotone Windsurfing, working alongside legendary designer Kai Hopf to help shape the next generation of equipment. We caught up with Marco to look back on his racing career, relive some unforgettable adventures and find out what life is really like behind the scenes in one of windsurfing’s leading R&D teams. Photos: PWA/ Carter / Duotone

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WINDSURF: Tell us why and when you decided to quit racing on the PWA tour?

MARCO LANG: I made the decision during COVID. That period gave me the time to really reflect on my future and what I wanted moving forward. I realized that I had already achieved all my goals on the PWA tour. I had an amazing time competing, met so many great people, and it was truly an incredible life experience. During 2021, I came to the conclusion that it would be my final year on tour.

WINDSURF: What were the highlights of your racing career?

MARCO LANG: I had so many great moments during my time on tour. It wasn’t just about what happened on the water…I also had amazing experiences off the water. We traveled to so many beautiful destinations, like New Caledonia, and got to experience a wide variety of cultures.

There are a lot of special racing memories that come to mind, from making it into the runners-up final for the first time to winning my first winners’ final. But winning Sylt was definitely one of the biggest highlights of my career.

WINDSURF: You were originally a freestyler, what made you switch to racing?

MARCO LANG: Freestyle has always been and probably always will be my biggest passion. I love the creativity, the constant progression, and the fact that there’s always a new trick to learn. That feeling never gets old.

At the same time, I discovered a completely different kind of passion in racing. I fell in love with pushing my limits, chasing every fraction of a second, and constantly improving my speed and performance. The intensity, precision, and competition of racing motivated me in a new way.

WINDSURF: You also did some pretty epic trips back in the day…which were the most memorable??

MARCO LANG: Sailing in front of the Perito Moreno Glacier was definitely one of the most iconic experiences of my life. I still get goosebumps when I think back to that trip. I’m incredibly grateful to my sponsors for giving us the opportunity to explore such a beautiful country. What made it even more special was the amazing crew we had with us: Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, Stefan Csaky, Matthias Zimmerman, and John Carter. It’s a trip I’ll never forget.

WINDSURF: Tell us about your current role with Duotone, what would you call your job description and what does that entail?

MARCO LANG: I’m currently working as a Product Manager in the Duotone Windsurfing division. In this role, I’m involved in developing and refining our products, making sure they meet the highest performance standards and reflect the needs of riders and end consumers.

I have the privilege of working closely with some of the most experienced and knowledgeable people in the windsurfing industry, such as Daniel Aeberli and Kai Hopf. Together, we focus on innovation, testing, and continuously improving our gear to push the sport forward.

WINDSURF: Have you always been into the R and D side of windsurfing?

MARCO LANG: During my whole windsurfing career, I had the chance to work closely with Kai Hopf and learn a lot about our equipment and the development process. From the first time I met Kai, I was hooked, I immediately felt that this was something I wanted to do long-term. That experience really shaped my interest in the R&D side of the sport, and I knew early on that this is what I want to be involved in for the rest of my career.

WINDSURF: How closely do you work with Raoul Joa and Kai Hopf?

MARCO LANG: Raoul and Kai are actually both at the very top of my favourites list on my phone…that probably says it all. I work very closely with both of them, and we’re in constant contact, whether it’s about product development, testing, or ideas.

WINDSURF: What is it like working with Kai?

MARCO LANG: I’m incredibly grateful to work with Kai. When you work with him, you’re constantly in a learning process. Sometimes it’s honestly hard for me to believe how much knowledge he has…that’s why we all call him “the genius.”

For me, Kai is one of the most experienced designers out there. It doesn’t matter if it’s sails, boards, or fins…he can design everything. Working alongside him is both inspiring and a huge opportunity to keep improving every day.

WINDSURF: Did it take a while to understand each other and reaching the same goals with the equipment you are testing?

MARCO LANG: I’ll never forget the first time I went to Maui in 2014 to work with Kai. One thing that really stayed with me was when he said, “If you work hard and have a good feeling for the products, then you’re my guy to work with.” That meant a lot to me.

At the same time, it definitely took a few years for us to fully understand each other and align our goals. Developing that mutual understanding, especially when it comes to feeling and feedback…takes time. But over the years, we built that connection, and now Kai is able to translate my feedback very precisely into the products.

WINDSURF: Do you test all the boards and sails for Duotone?

MARCO LANG: The R&D team, made up of Kai Hopf, Daniel Aeberli, and myself, shares the workload both on and off the water. With three very experienced windsurfers putting a lot of energy and effort into every single product, I believe that’s one of the key reasons our brand is so strong. That said, Daniel and I are the main testers for the full range of boards and sails.

WINDSURF: Talk us through a typical day on Maui when you are on a test trip?

MARCO LANG: Definitely long days with plenty of work. I normally wake up around 6:00 a.m. for a quick breakfast, and then head straight to the harbour to start testing some freeride equipment. Anyone who has been to Maui knows that you’re not really allowed on the water before 11:00 a.m…except in the harbour, so we use that time as efficiently as possible.

I usually try to be back at Kai’s house around 10:00 a.m. to discuss the morning test results and work on recuts for the prototypes. After a short break, we prepare all the equipment for the afternoon session, which is mostly focused on wave or freewave gear.

I like to be at Ho‘okipa around 11:00 a.m., before it gets too crowded. Sometimes I go back to Kai’s house in between sessions to make further adjustments to the sails and then head back out to test them again. That process makes everything very efficient. I’m usually home around 6:00 p.m. for dinner and a short break, but the day isn’t over yet. Because of the time difference with Europe, I often have meetings in the early evening. The days are long and exhausting, but I really can’t complain…my workplace is where other people go on holiday.

WINDSURF: What are the highs and lows of the job?

MARCO LANG: The biggest highs are definitely when you receive great feedback from customers. For me, it feels almost like winning a final…it’s a very similar kind of satisfaction and reward for all the work that goes into the products.

On the other hand, since COVID the economy has been quite unstable, which also affects the windsurfing industry. People are sometimes more cautious about investing in new equipment. But despite that, we keep pushing hard on the R&D side to continuously improve our products and make sure our customers can have fun and create unforgettable moments on the water.

WINDSURF: Do you also organize the photo shoots for Duotone and is that fun or is it a big stress?

MARCO LANG: Yes, that’s also part of my role alongside being a product manager. In the past, I was mainly involved in photo shoots as a rider, which was definitely less stressful than organizing them. Organizing shoots comes with a lot more responsibility and can be quite stressful at times. But in the end, all the effort is worth it when you see the final results after the shoot.

WINDSURF: What else are you into aside from windsurfing?

MARCO LANG: Definitely skiing. During my professional career, I usually spent my winters in warmer destinations to train and prepare for the upcoming season, so I didn’t really have the chance to go skiing. Since my retirement, I’ve been trying to spend as much time as possible in the snow. Besides skiing, I also love spending time in the mountains with my bike.

WINDSURF: What do you love about windsurfing?

MARCO LANG: Being on the water means freedom to me…just me and my equipment. All I can hear is the sound of the wind and the board gliding over the water. Windsurfing makes me the happiest version of myself. It’s more than just a sport for me…it’s my life.

WINDSURF: Do you love windsurfing in Austria and the Lakes?

MARCO LANG: Windsurfing in Austria is definitely not as well known as in some other countries, but we still have several great spots to get on the water. For me, windsurfing at home is something really special, because this is where everything started for me. It’s always a great feeling to come back and enjoy every single minute on the water here.

WINDSURF: Where is your favourite place to Windsurf?

MARCO LANG: My favourite place to windsurf is Lake Traun in Upper Austria, where my grandfather taught me how to windsurf. It’s a very special place for me…not just because of the conditions, but because it’s where everything started.

WINDSURF: If you can just go and windsurf for fun…what conditions would you love to sail in?

MARCO LANG: In the last five years, I’ve definitely spent more time sailing in waves, and I’ve discovered a real passion for it. Riding waves is such an incredible feeling…it’s hard to compare it to anything else. If I could just go windsurfing for fun, I’d choose good wave conditions, with clean wind and nice, flowing lines. That combination gives you the freedom to really express yourself on the water, which I enjoy the most.

WINDSURF: Tell us about some of the other behind the scenes work you have to do?

MARCO LANG: My job is very versatile, which is what makes it so interesting…no two days are ever the same. Besides my work in product management, I also support my colleague Alex Hasch with marketing and team activities. That side of the job helps me a lot to better understand the market and stay connected with what our customers and team riders really need.

WINDSURF: Have Duotone got some interesting ideas / concepts in the pipeline?

MARCO LANG: The motivation is definitely there, and we always have some exciting ideas in the pipeline. We’re constantly working on new concepts and improvements, pushing the limits of performance and innovation.

At the same time, our main goal is to make windsurfing as easy as possible while maximizing the joy it brings. We want to create equipment that helps riders progress faster, feel more comfortable, and ultimately have the best possible experience on the water.

WINDSURF: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?

MARCO LANG: Hopefully still in the windsurfing industry. My goal is to inspire more people to get into windsurfing and to see those happy faces when they come off the water. That’s what it’s all about for me.