Pierre Mortefon will be racing NeilPryde sails at the upcoming PWA Tenerife.
Neil Pryde group announces: “Over the last few days, many of you have asked us why Pierre Mortefon will be racing NeilPryde sails at the next Slalom World Cup in Tenerife: we don’t want to leave you without answers.
Since Pierre found himself in a difficult and uncertain situation, we sat down and found a way to help him with NeilPryde sails. We all agreed: we don’t call it sponsorship. It’s an attempt to support one of the best slalom racers of the last decade, allowing him to do what he does best: compete at the highest level. And we also believe the sport benefits from his presence on the starting line.
Of course, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for him and wishing him all the best for the next event in Tenerife. We’re confident that his new NeilPryde sails will once again prove their worth, and that Pierre, with all his experience, won’t let a few training sessions with his new sails slow him down.
This is the story of Pierre and Neil Pryde. Let’s see what the future holds. The future brings with it.
PWA: The Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) wishes to clarify the facts surrounding Phantom Foiling’s suspension from PWA membership. While a full explanation was already shared directly with PWA member brands on July 10, we feel it is necessary to publicly reiterate the key points to avoid confusion.
Premise
Phantom Foiling has accumulated significant outstanding membership fees for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons. These include unpaid membership fees, equipment registration fees (boards, sails, and foils), and performance-based fees. Despite repeated contact and the offer of several flexible payment plans, Phantom has refused to reach an acceptable agreement.
Contrary to public statements, this was not a voluntary withdrawal from the tour. Due to Phantom’s continued use of the PWA’s competitive platform and media materials despite non-payment, the PWA had no choice but to suspend his membership in order to uphold the principles of fairness and responsibility towards the rest of its members.
Membership Framework
The PWA operates as a membership-based organization. The current fee structure, developed in collaboration with the brands, was created to ensure fairness, proportionality, and financial sustainability. Brands contribute through a base membership fee and performance-based fees that reflect their performance and visibility on the tour.
In return, brands receive:
- Full equipment registration rights
- Access to media and videos produced by the PWA
- Global brand visibility through the world’s leading professional windsurfing tour
- Voting rights in PWA governance
This model ensures that all participating brands contribute equitably to the system from which they benefit.
The PWA does not require membership. Any brand is free to leave the tour at any time. However, to participate in PWA events and enjoy the related benefits, brands must be active members and fulfill the same obligations as all others. Suspension occurs only after all reasonable termination options have been fully exhausted.
Addressing claims on social media
Phantom’s recent public statement omits key facts regarding their long-standing non-payment and refusal to seek workable solutions. Their claim of being penalized for success misrepresents the performance-based fee structure, designed by the brands themselves to replace high fixed fees with a more equitable, performance-based system.
Additionally, Phantom continued to use PWA content and trademarks without fulfilling the financial obligations associated with those rights, which is unacceptable by industry standards.
Commitment to sport
The PWA operates as a non-profit organization, meaning all revenues, whether from events, industry partners, or members, are reinvested directly into the sport. These funds are used to support PWA governance, invest in media production, and contribute to the development of events around the world that elevate the sport and its athletes to the next level.
We’re not a profit-driven organization, but a company created by windsurfers, for windsurfers. Our mission is to create the best possible platform for the world’s best athletes to compete and enable brands to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the global stage.
Unlike many other sports, the PWA does not rely on television revenue. Our events rely on the tireless efforts of passionate local organizers and community support, enabling world-class competitions to take place around the world.
We are proud of the commitment and collaboration demonstrated by our organizers, our athletes, and our member brands, without whom none of this would be possible.
To the windsurfing community at large: thank you for your continued support. We remain focused on building a fair, transparent, and sustainable future for everyone involved.
