After more thane 15 years working for the number one French windsurfing magazine " WIND ", I decided to leave it to begin a whole new career as airline transport pilot… Lucky me, the airline company Aviation Defence Service just offered me a first officer pilot job to fly on Beech craft King Air 90 and Super King Air 200 ! Hospital flights or business, the missions are always very challenging with no routine around all Europe and even the North of Africa !

Between 1992 and 2006 I was journalist and editor at Wind Magazine for which I was also in charge of all the gear testing (boards, sails and equipment…). During all these years, I travelled around the world to find new places for windsurfing, I also competed on the French circuit and on the world cup when I was able to organize that with my job at the magazine. A real dream for me as my passion for windsurfing was totally filled with action, surprises and amazing people encountered all over the globe.

In 2006, I went back to my other passion, the airplanes, and as I used to be a student fighter pilot at the French air force, it was kind of natural to start again a new training program to become a professional airline pilot ! Two years after I entered the formation, I now got all the licences and qualifications to work in this field and windsurf for the simple pleasure that it always gave me ! Either in the waves or on the flat water, I want to windsurf as soon as possible in between my flights ! Based at N?mes and Montpellier, I'm pretty closed to the numerous and various spot of the Mediterranean coast in the south of France… Carro, Marseille, La Coudou, Gruissan… there is plenty of amazing locations with good winds and also good waves when it rocks !

Few years ago, when Severne Sails arrived on the French market, I discovered a fresh and innovative brand with really amazing products. After my first tests, I was already stoked ! Ben Severne is a great windsurfer, polyvalent, stylish and really underrated, and as a sail maker, he shows a true and unique feeling in its designs. The sails are strongly built and the performance is also killer in all kind of conditions…
My choice for the Severne Sails was totally evident, as I like their feeling and their big range of use. For the wave, I always loved to get a slightly soft feeling, that's why I picked up the Blade's models from 3.7 to 5.3… For the racing and slalom, the Code Red represents a competitive choice, with this super clean shape that gives power and top end control in the highest range… I feel confident for my next races !!!

See you on the water !

Benjamin Bard