Duotone Magazine No. 06

When we started D/LAB, it was an experiment, a bold idea: to push the boundaries of what is technically possible. Regard- less of the price-performance ratio, without thinking about a business model. Our claim: We think completely freely, in a new way, testing materials that have never been used in our sport before. We wanted to find out: How early would a kite fly if we used only the best of the best? The results were overwhelming. We found ways to make these materials ready for production. Today at Duotone we offer kites, surfboards, wings, foils, sails and boards in the D/LAB series. D/LAB is at the forefront of technology in each of these areas. With clear objective advantages in each case. You have to pay more for the added value of D/LAB. But many watersports enthusiasts are happy to afford this high-end technology concept. Till Eberle, our CEO, puts it this way: “D/LAB is somehow an irrational product: it’s crazy expensive, it doesn’t necessarily make you a better kiter, winger, foiler or windsurfer - but once you have it in your hand, you don’t want anything else, and customers are crazy about it”. We wanted to know: What makes D/LAB products so special? To find out, we asked customersandour developers, teamridersandahappiness researcher. Hereare their answers. The sessions with a D/LAB are another dimension, ultra fast response with a smooth transition, the feeling of being one with the equipment, it does what you expect and helps you to be the best you can be at any level of riding, from beginner to pro - like it’s teaching you to be a better rider. You can be aggressive or calm, it’ll help you in every way. It’s a game changer at any level. The better you get, the more you can unlock the seemingly endless potential. Elliot Watts, Manager Interior Design Models Style Porsche, Kiteboarder It’s hard to put into words what D/LAB feels like. Somehow ‘fat’, but it’s actually the exact opposite! Everything is absolutely light, direct, stable, precise and agile. No matter what the conditions are and how they change unexpectedly, whether it’s in the low end or when it’s pumping, I always have the perfect setup and optimum performance during my sessions. And I am fascinated by the fact that I can feel the will of the whole Duotone team at D/LAB to push the limits of what is possible with every product and in every detail. To provide us ambitious Kiteboarders with the best material to get the most out of every session. This spirit inspires me and has made me a D/LAB maniac since the beginning. Adone Kheirallah, Managing Director Oval Agency, Kiteboarder Everything feels easier andmore fun with a D/LAB sail. The light weight is so important to me. I can do every turn and every trick faster and higher, and I always have a lot of fun in very marginal conditions because the equipment allows me to get on the wave early and surf really free. Victor Fernández, Windsurfing TeamRider DUOTONE 16 B L I S S