Alex and Arne are very good product designers and problem solvers. I had been impressed by the handsome deck shapes and designs from the website
www.wefunk.de , but being a comparatively new company, the boards had yet to make an appearance in the European slalom races such as Paris or Greuningen (I may yet be corrected on this).
Koln was a good opportunity for a closer look.
As you can see from the rider in the third image, I was not alone.
Even from a jobbing Am as myself, Alex was keen to glean what one would look for in a deck, and why. Typically I ride a Roe S-Camber with Radikal trucks. I happened to mention that I liked the wider tail with the S-Camber shape in order to cover the bases of foot placement error, but not so wide as to cause oversteer. A forgiving, yet still purposeful shape, if you like.
On the Saturday Arne's S-Cambers were prototypes on a stand. By Sunday, in time for the TS, one deck (above) had been built up ready to race. It was as yet untried.
As fate had it, Alex was drawn against me for the qualifying; he in the left hand, more slippery track, myself on the traction-loaded right-hand-side.
A parallel start ensued with Alex in my peripheral view. After around cone twelve I heard a loud German curse as my fellow competitor blew out of the course.
New board, new setup. Not surprising.
We were soon called again for the second run, tracks reversed. Again a comparable start, but Alex had obviously adjusted his trucks in the interim and now was charging down the right hand course. He crossed the line just a fraction ahead of me, but the times might not so relate because he caught an extra couple of cones on the way down.
That he could feel so comfortable and ride so aggressively on a new deck with untried setup speaks volumes for these boards. That they can be custom made to one's own specs adds to their attraction.
It is very healthy and exciting to see European companies such as Airflow, Indiana, Kaliber, Ettsexett and Wefunk producing decks that are comparable to the best of American product.
Choice has become that little bit more difficult. Good work, gents!