Tez Plavenieks - Content - Writing - Editing

www.tezplavenieks.wordpress.com

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Foil boards - the longer and narrower design trend for all foiling disciplines.

Foil boards are constantly being tweaked by designers and shapers. The emergence of hyper efficient downwind foil boards, with their uber narrow widths and pronounced pin tails has seen an about turn within foil board shape trends. Longer, for extra glide, with narrow width efficiency and all round early take off hulls are now set to dominate all foiling disciplines. Not just the downwind…

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Wing foiling - the wing thing continues, and then some!

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Windsurfing UK test the Hyde Sails Blast 5m wing foiling wing.

Windsurfing UK test the Hyde Sails Blast 5m wing foiling wing.

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Indian Surf & Foil foil board test - first run: SUP foil mode (Jan 10, 2022).

Indian Surf & Foil foil board test – first run: SUP foil mode (Jan 10, 2022).

This morning I managed to get out for a first run on the Indiana foil board I currently have on test. Indiana is a new brand Foilshop UK is about to start working with via Lyon Watersports. Stay tuned for more from Indiana foiling products moving forwards. https://www.facebook.com/652145643/videos/pcb.10165960708780644/1073926519847328

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Wing foil is all the rage - wing foil content links.

Wing foil is all the rage – wing foil content links.

Wing foil is all the rage within watersports. If you’re not doing it then you’re probably thinking about doing it. And in my case writing/creating wing foil content. Of which some examples can be found below. Check out the links below if wingin’ pricks your…

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Foilshop UK is go! (Well, it has been for a year already...).

Foilshop UK is go! (Well, it has been for a year already…).

At the tail end of 2020 Foilshop UK was launched. With my ongoing work in and around hydrofoiling (wing foil, windfoil, SUP foil, eFoil, foil surfing, foil pumping and so on) I hit upon the idea of creating ‘something’ around the topic. I didn’t want to strat a new printed magazine – for various reasons. SO playing to my strengths of content creation/strategy, SEO/tech SEO and writing/editing I…

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Tooled up! – Loco Guppy 8’6 x 31” x 130L 2020 hard SUP review.

Tooled up! – Loco Guppy 8’6 x 31” x 130L 2020 hard SUP review.

Review & pics: Tez Plavenieks.

Observing NE based brand Loco evolve over the years has been interesting. Having started out as a hardcore surf SUP brand Loco has now become a more all round stand up paddle boarding company (UK based) that embraces all elements of the sport, including inflatables, after resisting initially. That said Joe Thwaites (Loco’s head honch) still retains the company’s…

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Light life – O’Seah 12’6 x 32” x 320L GTS HPX infltabale SUP review.

Light life – O’Seah 12’6 x 32” x 320L GTS HPX infltabale SUP review.

Review & pics: Tez Plavenieks

In a long line of O’Shea inflatable SUP tests the 12’6 GTS, HPX constructed, latest is yet another example of a premium air board from the (now) iconic yellow brand. HPX constriction is billed as being the lightest (20% lighter in fact) and stiffest technology you can buy. There’s no question that for a 12’6 sled it’s incredibly feather weight. There’s simply no…

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X–free! – McConks Go X-Wild 11’ x 32” x 6” white water SUP racing/touring board review.

X–free! – McConks Go X-Wild 11’ x 32” x 6” white water SUP racing/touring board review.

Words: SUPM

Pics: Nick Kingston

A white water, river touring iSUP that’s perfectly applicable to any stretch of water? Yep, that’s pretty much what you get with McConks’ Go X-Wild sled. Manufactured in premium Dropstitch lay up it’s a durable and robust paddle machine that boasts distinct graphical livery. You can pretty much spot a McConks from a mile away these days.

But it’s not just…

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Bang it! – Gong Zuma Wood 6’9 x 31” x 140L SUP foil/wingfoil board test.

Bang it! – Gong Zuma Wood 6’9 x 31” x 140L SUP foil/wingfoil board test.

One of the biggest criticisms of SUP foil/wing foil boards is their inaccessibility. Whilst those who can would describe sleds with less than 120L volume and 30” width easy, those who can’t (or rather, who don’t have experience) would say that’s not the case.

France based, long time SUP brand Gong are getting people involved – and in the most cost-effective way possible. It’s no surprise…

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Got wood? – Redwoodpaddle Spoon 10’ x 28” x 115L 2020 (Pawlonia) longboard surf SUP test.

Got wood? – Redwoodpaddle Spoon 10’ x 28” x 115L 2020 (Pawlonia) longboard surf SUP test.

There’s something about woodies… And we don’t see too many pure wood SUPs, minus deckpad, within the world of stand up paddle boarding too often. So hats off to Redwoodpaddle on that front alone. We’ve tested previous versions of the Spoon – the French brand’s high performance longboard surf SUP – so couldn’t wait to lay hands on this machine.

Supplied with five fins – a larger centrally…

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Hot stepper - Loco Logger 10’6 x 31” longboard surf SUP test.

Hot stepper – Loco Logger 10’6 x 31” longboard surf SUP test.

Pics: Nick Kingston

For a few years SUP brands have been keen on delivering a true longboard experience to stand up paddlers. It’s a tricky prospect as SUPs by their very nature are long boards, unless you’re talking sub-8fters. And then there’re the styles of longboarding. Do you subscribe to performance longboarding or the more trad, trim and nose ride version?

Loco SUP need no…

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Hover joy – JP Australia Foil Slate 7’8 IPR 2020 SUP foil board test.

Hover joy – JP Australia Foil Slate 7’8 IPR 2020 SUP foil board test.

Pics: SUPM, James Jagger

This isn’t the first time we’ve tested a mutli-discipline sled, in fact our foiling journey started proper atop one.

If you stand up paddle as well as windsurf then you may already be familiar with JP’s Slate concept. One of the original parallel rail, stubby/no nose affairs it was well received when early versions came on the same. The Slate’s tail is more rounded…

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Top drawer – SIC Maui RS (Rocket Ship) 14’ x 26” x 315L 2020 SUP test.

Top drawer – SIC Maui RS (Rocket Ship) 14’ x 26” x 315L 2020 SUP test.

Every now and again we come across SUPs in our test section that are truly all encapsulating. Getting hold of something from renowned brand SIC has been a long time coming. With the launch of 2020’s RS (Rocket Ship) range this finally came to fruition and we have to say (again) that we’re in awe of this 14fter.

First off the lightweight Super Fly construction is bang on. It’s not often you can…

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In flight - McConks Go Fly 5m wingfoil/wingsurf/wing SUP wing V4 test

In flight – McConks Go Fly 5m wingfoil/wingsurf/wing SUP wing V4 test

Regular readers of SUPM will be aware we were given McConks’ SUP wing V1 prototype a while back. Having tested and come to some conclusions the Cotswolds based brand dived off to tweak. Skipping a few modification models we’re here again with V4.

First off we have to say the colourway McConks’ Go Fly features is much more aesthetically pleasing. The white inflatable struts may get dirty over…

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Acceptance – SUP in waves with Real Surfing Magazine’s Steve Halpin.

Acceptance – SUP in waves with Real Surfing Magazine’s Steve Halpin.

Words: Steve Halpin

Pics: Steve Halpin, various

Steve Halpin is owner/founder/editor of Real Surfing Magazine. RSM aims to represents what’s really going down on UK beaches and among surfers in this neck of the wood with a slight leaning towards the nostalgia end of the spectrum. There’s also quite a bit of banter aimed at stand-up paddlers who frequent wavey venues. As such, and with a…

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Lifestyle obsession - SUP, windsurfing, foiling, watersports and coastal family living.

Lifestyle obsession – SUP, windsurfing, foiling, watersports and coastal family living.

Note: This was written pre-COVID-19. Whilst things still remain relatively teh same a few things have had to change in the short term. But the principles are unwavering.

Words: Tez Plavenieks

Pics: Tez Plavenieks, Fi Plavenieks, James Jagger, Nick Kingston, Sportography.tv

We’ve touched on the topic of lifestyle before in SUPM but how this plays out for each individual who do see and act…

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