Kona Windsurfing

Kona is all about love for water, active lifestyle and a relaxed attitude, no matter if we are windsurfing or paddle boarding. Our history goes back to the golden era of windsurfing when community was at the heart. We have taken the best from those experiences into where we are today and where we are going.

We only aim for top quality with our products. Timeless lifestyle design always guides us simply because we are convinced that good looking boards are more fun to ride or paddle and will be used for longer time. Our business model enables us to offer high quality to very competitive prices.

Kona was founded 2006 in Sweden as windsurfing company, but paddle boarding dates to the company’s origin. Already then Kona boards were used for paddle boarding. Ever since, these initial experiences have guided us in the development of new products, inflatable as well as hard paddle boards.

Our call to you is: Get on board! You will not regret it.

Story behind Kona One

Our crown jewel is still Kona One, a windsurfing board that today is one of the major one-design classes globally. It is a unique class since boys and girls, men and women compete together thanks to the handicap system with different sail sizes equalizes differences in body weight. We stand strong as a class and continuously attracts new sailors into our global community. Every year the Kona One World Championship marks the peak of the season.

The same is true for paddleboarding. People want to paddle and enjoy the time on the water together. That is way we constantly develop new concepts and events, for long distance, yoga or fitness training. We have proven with our ideas that paddle boarding is an all year round sport, also in the northern hemisphere, thanks to our indoor concept.

Joachim Larsson

CEO and founder

Joachim’s international windsurfing record dates back to the early 1980’s when started competing internationally. Since then he has competed in more than 15 world championships and European championships winning several medals. After retiring from windsurfing in early 1990’s he founded an industry company which had a turnover of more than 10 million USD when he made a successful exit some ten years ago. The love for water drew him back into the windsurfing business and he founded Kona Windsurfing in 2006. His main responsibilities today is operations and he is deeply involved in product and concept development together with client relations.

@ joachim@konawindsurfing.com

Jan Strindler

Sales Director

Jan Strindler with a history in windsurfing, has now returned to the sport he loves. Jan Strindler is responsible for the company’s sales/market development and will be available for our business customers. Jan is a committed guy with lots of energy, when Jan doesn´t work, he lives for paddleboarding and his bulldogs. If you are lucky you maybe meet him and the dogs on water next summer, get on board dear partner!

@ jan@konawindsurfing.com

Johan Lyreborn

Business Development and e-commerce

Water-sport enthusiast since 10 years of age with a focus on scuba diving and water skiing. New and addicted to windsurfing and SUP since 2012. Civil engineer in computer science. Co-founder and CEO of Configura, a software company with 150+ employees in three continents. Chairman of Kona Windsurfing. His favorite windsurfing spot is Varamon bay in lake Vättern, Sweden. Johan’s vision is to deliver the Kona lifestyle to families around the world.

@ johan@konawindsurfing.com

Sam Sills

Designer

24 years old,

Sam is a 2 x World Champion Windsurfer, holds a 1st class BEng in Naval Architect and was a top 3 finalist in the 2014 RINA ( Royal Institute of Naval Architects) Innovation design Awards. Currently racing on the Olympic Circuit his sporting goals are set on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Alongside his Olympic campaign Sam focuses on design, engineering, shaping, 3D modelling, materials, optimisation, and testing. When not competing or designing, Sam loves to surf, SUP, kitesurf, windsurf, foil, climb, run, mountain bike. Often travelling Scandinavia with friends looking for unique spots to explore. Sam grew up on the UK’s North Cornish coast and has vast experience on the water.

@ sam@konawindsurfing.com

Kajsa Larsson

Social Media

Kajsa Larsson is the true multisporter in the Kona crew. She grew up with trampoline, windsurfing, surfing and skiing. At an early age she represented Sweden internationally and won several medal in national championships in trampoline. When she was 11 windsurfing came into her life and she soon proved to have talent. In the 2012 Kona Worlds she won the female class. Just as many other young Kona sailors she had grown a love for surfing and went on a round the world tour to find the best spots. In 2014 she competed in Swedish Big Mountain Championship and came back with the title “Rookie of the Year”. Today here prime focus is studies and the Marketing and Management program and Jönköping University. Parallel to her studies she runs the Kona Boards Instagram account and act as the sounding board to the Kona management team. And, she is also seen at freeride competitions around the world, time permitting.

@ kajsa@konawindsurfing.com

Åsa Renström

Graphical Designer

Åsa joined the Kona Team in 2012. She holds a master’s degree in industrial design. She mainly works with product development and the visual interpretation of the Kona brand. Åsa has a solid professional experience in reflecting and communicating brands through products. Among her previous clients are Volvo, Brandon and others. She is a determined team players and values highly her family and an active lifestyle on water and on land.

@ asa@konawindsurfing.com

Daniel Nordlund

PR & Media Relations

Started windsurfing in 1983 and have competed in several world championships and European championships. Daniel joined Kona in 2009, initially responsible for media relations at the international championships. Over time his responsibilities have grown and today he works with everything from marketing material to social media and brand strategies. Daniel has more than 15 years of experience of strategic communications and PR in an international setting. His favorite spot is the outer archipelago of Lysekil on the Swedish west coast.

@ daniel@konawindsurfing.com