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With dozens of German titles and a few international ones to his name, Vincent Langer is a windsurfer who counts on the international scene and in Germany in particular. Not content with still being a formidable competitor, he is taking on a new role as Windsurf Category Manager for North Windsurfing. Speaking to Windsurfjournal.com, he tells us about his new job to relaunch the brand, which is returning to the forefront in 2022.
Windsurfjournal.com: Could you first introduce yourself to those who don't know you yet, you who enjoy a great reputation in your home country of Germany?
Vincent Langer: My name is Vincent Langer. I’m 39 years old, originally from Kiel, Germany, and I live there with my wife and two kids. I’m a passionate windsurfer and I used to be a professional windsurfer. I’m still competing in some national events, and I also really enjoy wingfoiling.
WJ: Can you detail the specific responsibilities of your role as Windsurfing Category Manager at North Sails and how this position fits into the overall organisation of North Windsurfing?
VL: From the beginning of 2026, I took over the leadership of the Windsurfing Category at North. This means I’m responsible for all decisions, from day-to-day business to long-term strategic direction, shaping North Windsurfing for the years ahead. My role includes defining where we position the brand in the windsurfing market, while protecting and strengthening the North brand vision. North has one of the strongest windsurfing heritages of any brand worldwide, and my goal is to build on that legacy and drive the category forward.
WJ: In your opinion, what are the main structural or strategic challenges for repositioning North Windsurfing in the market?
VL : The most challenging aspect is the market itself. The windsurfing market is getting smaller, while more and more small brands are entering the scene, which makes it anything but easy. To succeed, we need to stay fully up to date with our products, deliver outstanding customer service, maintain a strong presence at events, and win races. At the same time, we also need to remain price-competitive.
WJ: North Windsurfing positioned itself from the outset on technical products. Which customer segments or windsurfing uses do you think should be prioritised now?
VL: In my opinion, the only way to strengthen North’s strategic position is to cover the entire market: from beginners and freeriders all the way to high-end equipment capable of winning World Cups. This uncludes 3DI!
WJ: As your career progresses, how will your experience as a competitor influence your approach to technical product development at North?
VL: For sure, I will test new equipment and share my experience and feedback from a competitor’s perspective. However, Pieter Bijl as Product Manager and Alex Udin as our sail designer for conventional sails, together with our World Cup team, will be leading the full development process. I’m really looking forward to that, because I truly believe that with North’s yacht know-how and engineering background, we can create products that outperform anything else on the market.
WJ: North Windsurfing is working on new products for 2026. What role will you play in defining the racing, freeride, freemove and other categories?
VL: In the freeride segment, I believe we already have one of the best products on the market with the Freespeed. Now our next step is to expand this range with products that are more affordable and accessible to a wider audience. We are already busy working on new products, and some of them will even launch in 2026, which is extremely exciting. Our goal is to deliver the best possible products, and we hopefully will be able to prove that already this season with our new World Cup team that will be annouced soon.
WJ: After all these years in windsurfing, how do you perceive the evolution of the industry and what role can a brand like North Windsurfing play in this dynamic?
VL: Honestly, I think some of the smaller brands will disappear, while only a few of the bigger ones will remain. In terms of disciplines, I expect windfoiling to decline further as we have already started to see. Wave and freestyle will likely stay at a steady level, and freeride as well. Fin racing will grow again. When it comes to equipment, I believe we will see products with a broader range of use. Most likely, we won’t see many brands offering multiple separate wave and freeride lines anymore. Instead, product ranges, for example in sails, will become more compact and streamlined. My goal is to simplify windsurfing and make the sport accessible to a wider audience.
Source: Vincent Langer
Photos: North Windsurfing
