Fanatic becomes Duotone

03/09/2023

In the ever-changing world of board sports, here's an announcement that's sure to get everyone talking! The Austrian group Boards & More, world leaders in kitesurfing, windsurfing and wingfoiling, is taking a bold step by announcing that the products of its windsurfing and wingfoiling division, formerly known as Fanatic, will now be marketed under the Duotone banner.

Boards & More has taken the bold decision to combine its windsurfing and wingfoil divisions under the Duotone brand, abandoning the historic Fanatic name. This strategic decision is motivated by the desire to consolidate Duotone's expertise and excellence in the board sports sector and to offer its customers superior quality products. This merger is more than just a name change. It embodies Boards & More's vision of not only providing products, but also creating exceptional customer experiences that add real value for riders.
In the windsurfing sector, this merger should allow for even closer collaboration between the development teams. The brains behind the sport, Daniel Aeberli for boards and Marco Lang for sails, will now take on more important roles as product managers. The entire team of professional riders and senior designers (Kai Hopf for sails, Sebastian Wenzel for boards) remains unchanged, guaranteeing the continuity of the product ranges under the Duotone brand, all under the direction of Raoul Joa.

The wingfoil division is not left out of this merger. Craig Gertenbach, previously responsible for the Fanatic brand, will take over as Director of Sales for the Wingfoil Division, while Klaas Voget will become Director of Product and Marketing for the Wingfoil Division. Together they will oversee the Duotone Wingfoil division, which includes wings, boards and foils. For foil enthusiasts in all its forms, compatible mast-fuselage combinations will be available from 2024, suitable for kitesurfing, wingfoil and windsurfing, as well as other sports. Specific front wings and stabilisers will also be available. In general, product development will be cross-sport rather than sport-specific. Synergies in the development of different sports will allow to go much further in the products we offer to consumers.
While this change of name and reorganisation marks the end of the historic Fanatic brand, the merger is intended to herald a new era for Boards & More, consolidating Duotone's position as a key global brand, bringing together its know-how and development synergies.