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The best official windsurfing classes
Thursday, 04 August 2011 11:16

Techno 293: the Optimist of windsurfing

The International Windsurfing Association (IWA) is the governing body for the sport worldwide. If you ever thought of buying yourself a completewindsurfing kit prepare to learn more about the most famous classes.


Formula Windsurfing
was born in France, in 1998. The first race was held with the best French Funboard sailors in 12-knot winds. After conquering several new enthusiasts with its incredible performance, FW got the support of the Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA). The Olympic dream has grown and Formula Windsurfing is considered the biggest windsurfing class in the world.

Techno 293 is seen as the "Optimist" of the windsurfing classes. It was designed for the youngest windsurfers willing to reach the Olympic Games with the RS:X equipment. From 2009, the class has adopted One Design rules, with the BIC One Design 6.8 and 7.8 sails.

Raceboard is a windsurfing class open to several manufacturers. AHD, Alpha, BIC, Exocet, Fanatic, F2, Kona, Lechner, Mistral, Neil Pryde, Starboard, Surfers Group and Tiga have been producing gear for this popular class adopted internationally in 1990.

Funboard is a popular all-round windsurfing class, with enthusiasts in the entire world. The International Funboard Class Association was adopted as an international class in 1987.

Formula Experience was introduced in 2001 as an affordable and simple racing class. BIC and Starboard were the first manufacturers. Today, Starboard and Severne are working together for the One Design and the Experience windsurfers are actually finishing in front of the Formula Windsurfing racers, particularly in the youth category.

The Mistral class was founded in 1978 and is one of the oldest ways of getting into windsurfing. The Mistral One Design (MOD) board was first produced in 1989, by Mistral Sports. There are an estimated 30,000 boards worldwide. In 2009, Anders Bringdal acquired the Mistral license and has committed his company to the relaunch of the MOD class.

 

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Tom Butler and Sebastian Steudtner had a busy winter chasing huge swells around Europe.
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