JOHN SKYE: THE NEXT CHAPTER
JOHN SKYE: THE NEXT CHAPTER
JOHN SKYE: THE NEXT CHAPTER
After an incredible 15-year journey as a designer with RRD, John Skye is stepping into a bold new chapter of his windsurfing career. John has joined forces with Patrik and will be bringing his experience and creativity to a brand that has been making waves across all the disciplines. We caught up with John to talk about the move, his new role and what lies ahead for the next chapter at Patrik.
Photos: Moritz Mauch
MAKING THE MOVE
WINDSURF: How excited are you about this new move over to PATRIK?
JS: “It was a huge decision for me to make the change. It’s actually something that Patrik and I have been discussing for many years now, mostly joking about it over a beer when our paths have crossed around the world. However, this time they presented a really interesting offer to me that was hard to turn down, to take control of a new wave project. It was something quite new for me and different from what I have been doing, so now I am just really motivated to get going and see what we can make together.”
THE ENERGY AT PATRIK
WINDSURF: It seems like PATRIK is an ambitious brand at the moment, are you looking forwards to working with the team?
JS: “It’s so nice to see that energy going into the sport and they are pushing so hard in all the windsurfing disciplines and even winging. They have this outstanding AEON foil system that not only their team riders are using to win, but also nearly all the other competitors on the World Cup are using. Patrik himself does all the products from boards and sails to foils and that drive and desire to always make things better just shines through everything. Now I hope to add all my knowledge and energy into the brand, especially in the wave sector.”
A NEW ROLE AND NEW GOALS
WINDSURF: What is your new role going to be with PATRIK…will you be involved in wave boards and sails?
JS: “To start with I am basically a mix between a brand manager and a product manager for a new wave project. Together with the PATRIK R&D team we are going to create the ultimate wave collection to cater for everyone that wants to enjoy their time in ocean in the waves, whether its mast high down the line all the way down to small waves bump and jump sailing. The gear is already amazing, so the goal is to really fine tune details and work hard to make sure that everyone will have the perfect set up whatever your level of wave sailing and wherever you wave sail.”
WORKING WITH PATRIK AGAIN
WINDSURF: You rode for Patrik Diethelm back in the F2 days have you always admired him as a designer?
JS: “We worked a lot together back in the day. I think pretty much his first production wave board we kind of made together. Back around 2003 when he took over as the F2 shaper I went to see him to work on my personal wave boards.
We spent a full week discussing, arguing, measuring, analysing, discussing some more and at the end we created the base that he then took forward. I think that same DNA pretty much still lives in the boards, so when I first stepped foot on the boards again with PATRIK, it was kind of like putting back on my favourite shoe and everything felt just so smooth and comfortable.
The boards felt great from minute one, and I can’t wait to push Patrik to make them even better. He is so motivated to create perfection so I am confident we can make something really special together.”
RIDERS AND TEAM SPIRIT
WINDSURF: What riders will you be working with and what do you hope to achieve with Patrik?
JS: “PATRIK already have a really nice young team with Sammy Ferraro and Simon Thule. I was able to talk to them a bit out in Gran Canaria at the end of the summer and I even got to go sailing a bit with Sammy before he went home. Both guys are young, really positive, super friendly and pushing hard, so it’s going to be fun to work with them. The idea is to get some more young riders into the team too as we move forward. The more input we get the better the gear can be.”
GRAN CANARIA – THE PERFECT TEST BASE
WINDSURF: Will you still be able to live in Gran Canaria and use that as a base for testing and development?
JS: “Gran Canaria is such a good base to work from. We have really consistent wind all year round. It’s not always howling 50kts like you see in the Pozo contest, but the number of days we get over 20kts is crazy. Plus, from here it’s less than 2 hours on the ferry to get to Fuerte and over there you have the complete contrast of conditions, with generally lighter winds in the north and amazing wave riding conditions. So, between the two islands you can really cover absolutely everything pretty much all year long. Plus the temperature is just perfect all year. PATRIK also have a good set up in Klitmøller, Denmark and Patrik and Karin currently live in Margaret River, Western Australia… so lots of options for testing and a variety of conditions that allow us to make sure the boards and sails work well anywhere in the world.”
LESSONS FROM 15 YEARS AT RRD
WINDSURF: What did you learn during your many years at RRD?
JS: “I really learnt so much. I cannot thank Roberto enough for everything he did for me. When I started with him, I was just a pro windsurfer travelling the world to go sailing. He gave me the opportunity to develop into a top sail designer and more importantly learn how the windsurf world works, being involved in everything along the way from marketing, product development, communicating with suppliers, logistics and working with teams.
Really there are so many skills one needs to survive in the windsurf world and thanks to Roberto and also the sales manager Dylan Duffus I have gained so much experience.”
WHY NOW? THE STORY BEHIND THE SWITCH
WINDSURF: How did the move come about?
JS: “When I started at RRD 15 years ago the sails and rigs needed quite a bit of work. Together over the years we turned into a top sail brand, making some amazing products, with some really good innovations along the way. I felt that now the whole sail range was really complete and there was not so much more I could do. At the same time PATRIK approached me with this really interesting proposal to lead the new wave project. It was a new and exciting opportunity that I really felt would make a good change and take me out of my comfort zone and push me forward further.”
WINDSURF: Thankyou and good luck with your new project!
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