When it comes to professional windsurfing equipment, the details are crucial. In an in-depth interview with PWA pro Michele Becker, we were able to gain exciting insights into his personal setup.
The sail: Patrik Race HA (High Aspect)
Michele relies on the Patrik Race HA sail series (High Aspect). The design remains constant over the years - a testament to its reliability and performance. The larger sizes will remain unchanged for 2025, only the smaller sizes will receive updates.
Michele's tip:
If you have the choice between two lengths for the extension, you should always go for the longer one. Example: If the sail has a 31cm extension, use 34cm. This allows more trim options and better control over the sail trim.
Boom setup: Stability is crucial.
The Harness setup: Liberty Carbon Harness + FreeFall Hook.
Michele relies on the Liberty Carbon Harness in size S, which is optimally designed for his weight of 93-95 kg. His choice of a special "Free Fall Hook" from France is particularly interesting. This innovative solution is an important safety feature: In the event of strong pressure, such as that caused by a catapult fall, the hook opens automatically. With a price tag of around €200, this investment may seem high at first, but Michele's reasoning is convincing: "A single serious crash that would have damaged the mast, sail or boom already makes up for the investment." The handling is extremely simple - once released, the hook can be easily pushed back in and you can carry on.
The AEON Foil: A new era of performance.
The Patrik AEON Foil has not only established itself in the professional scene, but is also increasingly inspiring ambitious recreational windsurfers.
The 550 front wing has emerged as his favorite. "It's buttery smooth in corners and on the reach," enthuses Michele. The comparison with previous setups is interesting: whereas he used to ride with significantly larger wings of 620 or even 725, today the more compact 550 is sufficient for comparable conditions.
The 150 back wing is his choice when it comes to maximum speed - although he recommends this mainly for advanced riders. The 160 back wing, equipped with additional winglets, offers around 20-30% more control and is therefore also interesting for ambitious windsurfers. For particularly demanding conditions, Michele opts for the 195 back wing, which is characterized by excellent gliding properties and superior control in wind holes.
An important piece of advice from Michele concerns the choice of size for the foil board: "Don't go by the liters, but by the width!" He himself rides with a width of 85 cm - a value that has proven itself in his setup.
The underestimated role of Rake Shims.
Michele pays particular attention to the Wind Lounge shims box in the Carbon version. These often underestimated components play a decisive role in the performance of the foil.
Michele opts for the long version of the shims, which fills the entire foil box. This is a well-considered choice: The longer version allows a much more consistent adjustment of the foil angle and distributes the pressure more evenly over the entire length of the box. Another advantage is the avoidance of angle errors that can occur with shorter shims.
"Even as a pro, I sometimes struggle with the perfect rake," admits Michele openly.
Conclusion
Michele's detailed setup shows impressively that success lies in the sum of the details. The perfect balance between performance and control makes the decisive difference between a good and a perfect setup.
You can find the full interview and other videos with Michele Becker on our German and English Youtube channels. Have a look.
As a team rider at Wind Lounge , Michele is also available to advise you on all Patrik products. If you have any questions, please contact us by email willkommen@windlounge.de
