Introducing windsurfing to 100% of the under 25s in 10 years
In 2017, Decathlon decided to open its range to niche technical sports and develop products accordingly. Like the Tribord 5S for sailing - whose test we presented on our site - the sport and leisure giant launches the Tamahoo inflatable windsurf board. The objective? To introduce as many people as possible to windsurfing, which has been stagnating for the past 15 years.
"Windsurfing has always been present at Decathlon since the 80s. It's a very popular sport in France and it was very successful in the 80s. There are a lot of practitioners, in the different disciplines and great French champions. But for the last fifteen years, the number of practitioners has stagnated. Windsurfing has become very technical, difficult to understand and learn, expensive and cumbersome. Many courses are proposed in France and in Europe. People test the discipline, but do not come back. We don't make people loyal to the sport.
As a windsurfer from a very young age, we wanted to create a product that would allow us to have 100% of the under 25s discovering the joys of windsurfing in 10 years explains François Bodin, Windsurf product manager.
Facilitate access to the practice with a compact product and an affordable price
For this project, the specifications were as follows:
- A product that facilitates access to the practice with learning to turn around in less than 10 minutes without gybing or tacking
- A reasonable price
- Minimum space requirement with a compact product
"It's a singular and offbeat project whose innovative use revolutionizes access to the board. How to make sure that children and adults start quickly and know how to turn around in less than 10 minutes to return to the starting point. It's anxiety-provoking for both parents and children who find themselves far from the edge says François.
To realize this new windsurfing access product, the team collaborated with the UCPA, with round tables and meetings on the technical and pedagogical aspect, but also large scale tests of the different prototypes.
This is how the Tamahoo inflatable windsurfing board was born in 2021 for sizes between 1.15 m and 1.95 m. It consists of an inflatable board made of drop-stitch (the material of SUP) of 2.20 m long, 1 m wide and 15 cm thick. In total a volume of 245 l to inflate at high pressure at 15 PSI and available in two colors. If it is much bigger than a traditional board for beginners, its height on the water is reassuring, and does not make it less fast, explains François.
The sail is also inflatable and is offered in two sizes depending on the size of the person: -1.60 m and + 1.60 m. Without a traditional mast, it inflates at a low pressure of 7 PSI. With a weight of 3.5 kg for the smallest and 4.5 kg for the largest, they have a height of 2.50 m and 3.20 m respectively. The equivalent sail area of the smaller one is 2.5 m2 and 4 m2 for the larger one.
"The board was simple to make, since it was inspired by SUPs. The sail was more difficult. It had to be compact, easy to handle, light and have total navigability, so power to go upwind, with stable points of sail and an easy start. We worked with the design office of the Incidences sail factory in La Rochelle for the first prototypes developed with our partners." explains François.
The result is a sail similar to the kites, with a bladder contained by a double dacron textile skin for volume and a central transparent window. There is no boom, as there is no need to go around the sail, but a simple grip bar. The link between the board and the sail is made of foam and is assembled with a backpack type buckle. Finally, the two fins and the centerboard can be attached without tools, just like paddles.
With this inflatable system, the board and the sail are easily transportable in a bag for a total weight of 14 kg, easy to fit in any car or boat trunk. In total, it will only take 10 minutes to inflate and assemble the board - manual or electric pump not included with two different valves for each element - and 5 minutes to deflate.
"L' iRig One had solved the problems of space with an inflatable sail. But there was a mast, port and starboard sides and maneuvers to do. We were inspired by traditional naval readings and schemes, but also by boats that had neither bow nor stern, such as the Praos or the Drakkars, with symmetrical shapes and capable of sailing in both directions." says François.
Revolutionizing the use of windsurfing
If the installation is easy, the practice is apparently even easier, to be confirmed after a sea trial.
"The real difference and uniqueness of the board is found on the water. We then use the same principles as for the bike, it's the eyes that help guide" explains François.
Once on the board, you just have to lift the sail by the elastic on the side of the direction of departure. The hands stay on the side where you want to go too. You position the front foot in the same position by placing it in the yellow tab that covers the board and helps to choose the right position. It allows to turn the pelvis and the shoulders in the right direction. To do a half-turn, nothing could be easier, just reverse the position of the feet and change the hands to the side. The sail pivots and after a short time of inertia, the practitioner goes in the other direction. Thus, no more tacking and gybing, no need to move around the sail.
The Tamahoo windsurf board can be used in winds of up to 30 km/h (15 knots), on calm water, to meet the needs of its initiation and discovery program.
"In addition to the democratization and access to the practice of wind sports, we revolutionize the practice. There is a break in usage: no more booms, no more masts, a foot of sail that is above the daggerboard and no longer in front of it. It's a completely unique approach. As a former sailing instructor, I know how essential it is to learn to turn around. It is a great limit in the pleasure of practice. It was important that it was no longer a hindrance to the pleasure and above all not an anxiety inducing factor. The Windsurf Tamahoo will allow us to find a new pool of windsurfers, to give back the desire to a generation to rediscover this sport. It is the family board par excellence", concludes François.
The product manager ensures a quick and easy start in less than 10 minutes for a child between 8 and 10 years old and between 5 and 10 minutes for an adult.
A windsurfing board that is easy to transport, to install and uninstall, and above all, to handle. This is Decathlon's challenge to help young and old discover the joys of windsurfing! What do you think about it? Can't wait to test it?
Rates
Inflatable board : 350 euros
Inflatable sail S/M : 250 euros
Inflatable sail L/XL : 300 euros
