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WINDSURF NEWS BULLETIN

Just when we thought the dust had settled on the transfer market…bosh! News has just dropped that 27-time world champion Antoine Albeau is making the move to Severne. This major shift could rock the world of speed now Severne have both Bjorn Dunkerbeck and Antoine Albeau on the team…more about this major news as we get stuck in to the bulletin!

Meanwhile, as the European windsurfing scene transitions from waves to racing and freeride, it’s the perfect time to catch up on everything happening across the breaks, speed strips, beaches, and lakes. We’ve got a full round-up of recent competition highlights, plus a preview of what’s coming up next in the unpredictable world of windsurfing.

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ANTOINE ALBEAU

The signing or Albeau a massive move for Severne and will mean the brand will now have both Albeau, Dunkerbeck and Matteo Iachino on the racing team. No doubt the main focus of this signing will be Antoine’s speed campaigns and Severne will no doubt be hoping he breaks the world record again this Autumn in Lüderitz. Apparently, there could be some new developments in the pipeline so stay tuned for any updates!

Severne tell us:

A Legendary Decision

After an unprecedented 28 years with the same brand, Albeau’s move to SEVERNE represents more than a sponsorship change; it’s a declaration of intent from one of windsurfing’s greatest legends.

“Yes, it’s true that after 27 years, changing is a really monumental shift,” explains Albeau. “But in the end, every story has an end. I saw that Severne is progressing significantly with their development. They’ve been improving a lot in terms of performance these last few years. So why not join them? This will give me motivation as well.”

R&D and Innovation Focus

What truly excites Antoine about joining SEVERNE goes beyond racing – it’s the return to active equipment development.

“I’ve been involved in development all my life. I was testing a lot with the designers, sails and boards, and this was missing in my past few years,” he explains. “To start again, to test the sails, to test the boards, to try to make the best, the best of the best, is really a target for me.”

Albeau will join SEVERNE as a rider and an R&D crew, working alongside Cedric Bordes and reigning World Champion Matteo Iachino to push the boundaries of performance across SEVERNE’s race lineup—from the Mach and Hydro to cutting-edge speed prototypes.

Breaking the 100 km/h Barrier

While Antoine may have stepped back from PWA racing, his hunger for speed records burns brighter than ever. Since breaking his first speed world record in 2008, no one has matched his achievements; a record he’s broken multiple times, most recently in 2024.

“Since 2008, when I first broke the world speed record, no one has beaten it. Next November, I will be in Lüderitz, and I hope that we are going to reach 100 km/h,” Albeau declares, his eyes firmly set on windsurfing’s ultimate speed barrier.

A Team of Legends

Albeau joins an already stellar SEVERNE roster including reigning World Champion Matteo Iachino, 42-time World Champion Bjorn Dunkerbeck, five times Wave World Champion Philip Köster, and legends Jaeger Stone and Scott McKercher.

“Matteo was one of my biggest competitors in the past few years on the tour, and we are good friends as well,” says Albeau. “I think it’s going to be amazing to be with him in the team, as well as Cedric, and sail together, compete together, and develop together.”

The Cedric Bordes Connection

Central to bringing Antoine to SEVERNE was team rider Cedric Bordes, whose friendship with Albeau spans decades of training together on the PWA World Tour.

“I always say that he’s part of my titles, my success as well, because he was a really important training partner,” Antoine reflects. “The fact that Cedric is in the Severne team, testing and developing, is really great for me because we are good friends. I think it’s going to be amazing to test together again and create the best equipment.”

Here is Severne’s interview with Albeau about the new signing!

Antoine, after 28 years with the same brand, this is a monumental change in your career. What ultimately led you to make this decision to join the Severne team?

Yes, it’s true that after 27 years, changing is a really monumental shift. But in the end, every story has an end. I saw that Severne is progressing significantly with their development. They’ve been improving a lot in terms of performance these last few years. So why not join them? This will give me motivation as well.

One of the leading people in getting you into the Severne brand was Cedric Bordes. What is your relationship and history with Cedric?

It’s true that it’s a long story with Cedric because we spent many years training together on the tour. I always say that he’s part of my titles, my success as well, because he was a really important training partner. The fact that Cedric is in the Severne team, testing and developing, is really great for me because we are good friends. I think it’s going to be amazing to test together again and create the best equipment.

What aspects of Severne’s technical approach to product design excited you the most as an athlete who has always pushed the boundaries of performance?

I’ve been involved in development all my life. I was testing a lot with the designers, sails and boards, and this was missing in my past few years. To start again, to test the sails, to test the boards, to try to make the best, the best of the best, is really a target for me. It’s very important to have a new goal and create the best equipment. Joining Severne is really good for me because I’ve been talking with them for a few months now. I spoke with Ben Severne first, and all the other guys working with him, and we connected really nicely.

Beyond the competitive aspect, what personally excites you most about this new chapter with Severne?

Joining Severne is really good for me because, as I said, I’ve been talking with them for a few months now. I spoke with Ben Severne first and all the other guys working with him, and we connected really nicely. They’re really interested in having me in the team, and I think we’re going to do something great. They’re going to push me the way I want, and we’re going to make nice sails and nice boards.

You’ve recently broken the speed world record again, proving your continued dominance. How does joining Severne match your ambitions to continue pushing those boundaries and possibly break that record again?

 Since 2008, when I first broke the world speed record, no one has beaten it. It has always been mine. I’ve broken it many times now, and the last time was in 2024. To do that, you really need to have serious people behind you, pushing you to the limit, making the best equipment, making exactly what you need for that. Next November, I will be in Lüderitz, and I hope that we are going to reach 100 km/h.

 The windsurfing world has evolved significantly throughout your career. How do you see this partnership contributing to the next evolution of the sport, especially for the next generation of riders?

It’s good that the sport has a lot of evolution. Windsurfing is not dying, and it’s a great sport. It’s amazing. I try to go windsurfing all the time, as much as I want and can.

You’ve been one of the leaders of windsurfing innovation for decades. How do you see your involvement in Severne’s R&D program shaping the future of Severne’s racing products?

Actually, I will be working with Cedric and Matteo. Matteo was one of my biggest competitors in the past few years on the tour, and we are good friends as well. I think it’s going to be amazing to be with him in the team, as well as Cedric, and sail together, compete together, and develop together.

If we were to look back on this partnership five years from now, what would you hope to have accomplished together with Severne that would make this decision truly historic?

If we look five years ahead, I would like to break a lot of records again, maybe win some world titles with Severne. That would be amazing. And just enjoy as much time as possible on the water.

You have won basically anything there is to win. What is your focus now?

My focus now will definitely be speed. I’m working a lot on my Zephir project to achieve the World Record. My focus now is to go to Lüderitz and break the world record, and pass the barrier of 100 kilometers per hour. We’ll see what we can do in the Défi Wind as well. I would like to have a good result there, and why not win?

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PWA GUADELOUPE

Well, there was only one day of wind in Guadeloupe with three rounds of racing so that made it do or die for many of the sailors. Matteo Iachino was without doubt the outstanding sailor in the fleet with three straight bullets while Pierre Mortefon was a clear second with Alex Cousin taking third. To be fair there was quite an array of conditions with light medium and strong wind over the three rounds, but any mistake meant that you were out of the game as there were no discards to count. Apparently, the fact there were only three rounds of racing in the men’s means that the points accrued from Guadeloupe will only count as the equivalent to a 4^th place in an event that has four or more valid races. That seems a bit harsh but rules are rules.

In the women’s racing there was a major battle with world champion Justine Lemeteyer putting here new Patrik gear to the test for the first time and delivering a victory against Lina Erzen of Slovakia with Blanca Alabau taking third.

The next events on the PWA race tour should be in July with the likes of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Tenerife all pencilled in on the PWA calendar.

PWA WORLD WINDSURFING TOUR: 2025

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DEFI WIND

Obviously, it is that time of year when all eyes will be on the Defi Wind at the end of May. The windsurfing races will take place on the 29^th of May to the 1^st of June and if you are thinking of taking part this year we have a ‘Get Defi Ready’ feature on the website here! Expect to see in excess of 1400 racers line up on the start line in Gruissan, which will be an amazing spectacle and shows windsurfing is definitely alive and kicking!

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PRINCE OF SPEED

Just when you thought the competitive career of Antoine Albeau was slowing down, he has just managed to clock up another world title at the Prince of Speed event in France before his upcoming move to Severne as mentioned already. That makes it 27 titles and shows Albeau is still on his A game in speed. His faster run was an impressive 43.53 knots on the speed course at La Palme. Second place went to Vincent Valkenaers with youngster Brendan Lorho doing incredibly well to take third against some stiff competition including Matteo Iachino and Ben Van Der Steen. Word record holder, Jenna Gibson continued here speedy run of success by taking the women’s world title ahead of Heidi Ulrich and Blanca Alabau in third. Jenna’s faster run was 39.05 knots…not too bad!

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BEN PAGE

Congratulations to Ben Page and his new wife Emily who got married last weekend…we wish them all the best!

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SHOPS

H20

The guys at H20 tell us they will be showcasing the Windsurfer LT at the Queen Mary Sailing Club Demo Day on Saturday May 24th. It is a free event in conjunction with Point 7, just need to register here:

https://www.queenmary.org.uk/book/add/p/448

Remember unlike most demo days we will be on the water whatever the wind! Come and join in the ‘retro revolution’!! In case you missed Roger Turner’s excellent review of the Windsurfer LT you can read it here:Windsurf MagazineTHE WINDSURFER LT: ROGER TURNER

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WORTHING WATERSPORTS

Sam from Worthing Watersports has introduced a loyalty scheme on the website – so people will get points back to spend on future orders…check it out here… – https://worthingwatersports.com/pages/worthing-watersports-loyalty-points

The shop also has a filter on their website so you can see what stock we physically have in our shop or that is available from Duotone / ION warehouse!

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2XS

2XS -UK’S no1 Windsurf and Wing foil Rental centre

2XS tell us: “At 2XS West Wittering we have the best hire gear for windsurfing and wing foiling in the UK! Our Centre has a full line up of brand new 2025 gear…Goya Windsurfing boards and sails; Ezzy sails; Duotone foils, wings and boards; KT foils and boards and Axis foils.   We have a flat-water Trench for blasting at low tide; and waves at mid and high tide.  We have at the 2XS Club – changing rooms with showers, rescue service, lifeguard’s and West Wittering has been awarded a Blue Flag beach for the last 20 years for water quality.

We have rentals by the hour and hire packages for the season which is the cheapest way to use our 2025 gear.”

https://www.2xs.co.uk/club/hire/  Call us on Tel:  01243-513077 Email: [email protected]

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4BOARDS

The lads at 4Boards tell us they have plenty of bargains going down in their sale at the moment including wingfoil gear, windsurfing equipment, bags, wetsuits, accessories and clothing.

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ROBIN HOOD WATERSPORTS

There are some great special offers at Robin Hood Watersports currently on their website: check them out by clicking here: Special Offers | Robin Hood Watersports | Robin Hood Watersports

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BOARDWISE

Boardwise have some insane bargains to be scored in their windsurfing sale which you can view here: Windsurfing Sale – Boardwise