At a time when foiling has revolutionized light wind conditions, there is still an enthusiastic community of windsurfers who appreciate the classic style of windsurfing with fins in light winds. In a detailed conversation between Mario Kümpel and Arnon Dagan, it becomes clear why the Future Fly Dark Horse 132 not only has its raison d'être, but remains the first choice for many surfers on light wind days.
The special fascination of light wind surfing
"I've always specialized in light winds. That's where I've achieved my best results," says Arnon, explaining his passion for large boards. "I love the technique involved. I like the fact that you have absolute control in light winds. It's not like in strong winds, where you fly around everywhere—here you can really use your technique."
Mario shares this enthusiasm, remembering the unique "hovering" feeling in particular: "When I was in Tarifa for the first time and experienced this hovering – it was just so good!" This special characteristic of the board, which allows you to literally float above the water, makes the Dark Horse 132 a special board in the world of windsurfing.
Technical sophistication in detail
The 226 cm long board features several well-thought-out design features. Arnon explains the special features of the shape in detail: "Compared to the rest of the board range, the large boards are usually slightly shorter and have a stronger rocker line (curve from nose to tail). This curve helps to put the board on edge."
The underwater hull was developed with particular care: "You have a double concave in the bow that transitions into a single concave," explains Arnon. "The water is forced into a very fast shape by these two channels, and that gives you lift." The cutouts, whose dimensions are precisely matched to the width of the board, are also particularly important. "If you get the cutouts wrong, the board either feels sluggish or becomes too loose," says Arnon, explaining the importance of this feature.
Market development and future prospects
Despite the growing foiling trend, Arnon Dagan still sees a stable market for large windsurf boards: "These boards will always sell in the end. There are still quite a few people who can't get used to foiling, perhaps older people or people who are afraid of foiling. They feel safer with these boards."
Arnon also emphasizes the board's performance: "You can easily ride this board at speeds of 30 to 33 knots. It's still an extreme board—a high-performance board that's really fun to ride."
The versatility of windsurfing
"What makes windsurfing fun is the variety of disciplines," explains Anron. "You can do speed, freestyle wave, bump and jump, and now foiling, which is a whole new dimension. Windsurfing is all these disciplines combined." Future Fly as a brand sees it as its mission to support and develop all these disciplines.
The Future Fly Dark Horse 132 is an impressive example of how traditional windsurfing with a fin still has its own unique appeal in light winds. With speeds of over 30 knots and the unique feeling of "hovering," it offers a compelling alternative to foiling. As Mario Kümpel aptly sums it up: "It feels really easy to control. With the perfect fin, it just glides along smoothly."
The board proves that there is room for different approaches in the dynamic world of windsurfing. With its thoughtful design and unique riding experience, it appeals to both experienced surfers who appreciate the technical aspects of light wind surfing and those who don't yet feel confident with foiling. The Dark Horse 132 is therefore more than just a relic of days gone by – it is an important part of the present and future of windsurfing.
Further details and insights into the Future Fly Dark Horse 132 can be found in the detailed video review on the Wind Lounge YouTube channel, where Mario and Arnon present and analyze the board:
