New Year. New Tricks.

Words by Peri Roberts

There’s something about the first session of the year that always feels different.
The wind doesn’t care what day it is – but you do. A fresh calendar. A clearer head. That internal promise that this year you’ll ride a little better, commit a little harder and spend more time doing the thing that actually makes you feel like yourself.

It’s not about resolutions – who even sticks to those past February 1st? Nobody needs another list they won’t keep. It’s about momentum. That first reach of the year. Salt on your lips. Cold hands warming back into muscle memory. The tricks you almost landed last season, still sitting there, unfinished.

To kick off the new year, we’re here to help you lean into that. We spend our lives on the water – chasing progression wherever we can find it. So consider this your reset button: refining what you know, pushing what you don’t, and finding new ways to level up, session after session.

New Tricks: Progress Looks Different for Everyone

Progress isn’t always difficult  tricks or higher numbers. Sometimes it’s more subtle than that. Cleaning up the basics. Riding smoother. Making fewer mistakes… or better ones.

For some riders, it’s the first proper gybe that finally clicks. For others, it’s dialing consistency instead of chasing something new too early. And for plenty of us, it’s simply getting back on the water more often and trusting the process again.

The start of the year is a good reminder that progression isn’t linear. You fall. You stall. You surprise yourself. You slow down to speed things up. And when it clicks, it feels earned – not forced.

Progress doesn’t end once you land something new. It evolves. It shifts. And it shows up differently depending on how and what you ride. If you’re looking to level up in 2026, here’s one simple focus to take with you into your sessions.

Progression Prompts for 2026

• Kite | Big Air
  Commit to control before height – focus on clean take-offs and stable landings before pushing bigger.

• Kite | Twin Tip
  Ride powered but relaxed – edge less, trust speed more and let the board work underneath you.

• Kite | Surf Style
  Slow it down – trim your kite earlier and let the wave dictate the line, not your instincts.

• Wing | Surf Style
  Look through the turn – head and shoulders lead everything, the wing will follow.

• Wing | Race
  Dial efficiency over force – smoother pumps and cleaner angles beat brute power every time.

• Foil | Downwind
  Link bumps, not speed – read the water two bumps ahead and think in sequences.

• Foil | Parawing
  Work on clean wing handling – less movement, better timing and deliberate placement.

• Foil | Surf Prone
  Focus on entry, not just the ride – better positioning makes everything downstream easier.

• Foil | Race
  Refine your starts – small gains off the line add up over the whole course.

• SUP | Adventure
  Plan longer lines – efficiency and pacing matter more than outright speed.

• SUP | Race
  Clean up your catch – one strong, consistent stroke beats ten rushed ones.

• Windsurf | Surf Style
  Commit to the rail – trust the turn and stay connected through the exit.

• Windsurf | Slalom
  Prioritise jibes under pressure – smooth exits win more races than top speed alone.

Anyone who’s spent enough time on the water knows this truth: consistency beats ego every time. Showing up, even when conditions aren’t perfect, does more for your riding than chasing the biggest moment of the season. Robby Naish told me this in the office once, and I’ve never forgotten it. The riders who progress the most aren’t always the loudest; they’re the ones who keep coming back.

The Year Ahead

More time on the water, fewer distractions, and a commitment to riding for the right reasons. Progress will come when it comes. Trips will happen – or they won’t. What matters is staying curious, staying stoked and choosing sessions over excuses whenever you can.

New Year. New Tricks. New Spots.
We’ll see you on the water.