AHD history

AHD was founded in Australia in 1987 by Harry Germann and rider Tom Luedecke. The brand soon moved to the USA to pursue its expansion on the famous “Columbia River Gorges” spot.

1990

Christophe Piaget buys the brand, repatriates the molds and sets up a production plant in Collombey, Switzerland. AHD marked the arrival of the first production sandwich boards, with flagship models such as the race slalom 289, the slalom 26, the Swell City 250 and, of course, the Eliminator. New models followed, with Roberto Ricci at the helm.

The Raceboard Eliminator dominated its class, with Sven Rasmussen winning the first world title in 1991. He followed this up with the European title the following year.

1993

In 1993, it was on the new AHD 288 that Sébastien Carle won the World Championship in Egypt, before coming 2nd on the same production board at the World Cup in La Torche, demonstrating the efficiency of the new production boards against the world’s best prototypes.

1996 saw the arrival of Breton duo Patrice Belbeoch and Jean-Marie Guiriec (shaper). This marked the birth of the ultra-popular Convertible 267, a Wave/Slalom – Trifins/Single shape.

It’s also the year of a new world title for the brand and the first wave title for a Frenchman in the World Cup (P.Belbeoch).

1997

1997 marks the beginning of an era of total domination by AHD boards until the early 2000s. AHD welcomes multiple French Champion and future World Champion Antoine Albeau with Jean Bouldoire in the shape.

1998

Bruno André joins the brand’s R&D department. AHD surfed on innovation and new disciplines. This was the era of the first compact racing boards (Diamond), freestyle boards and Super-X “Maxxride” boards.

Swiss-made hollow boards (NT) are a Formula! hit!

Maxxride dominate the freestyle events: Antoine Albeau wins his first world title.

AHD riders rounded out the podiums, taking victory after victory in various countries.

The best riders dream of joining the AHD team, which already includes some of the greats (A.Albeau, M.Pritchard, J.Taboulet, C.Moussilmani, W.Pedrick, J.Hawkins, Paula Daian,…).

In 2002 AHD relocated its production plant to Tunisia.

Change of shaper in 2003, AHD welcomes Pascal Gerber and creates a new R&D center in Tunisia.

Brazilian rider Kauli Seadi became the effigy of the brand, and in 2005 he won the world wave title on his Kauli Pro Model!

2006

Waveboards are getting shorter and shorter, and in 2006 AHD launched the Seal, the float that would become a popular concept in the future. The Seal is a 2m10 Thrusters waveboard that marks the beginning of a revolution in lightwind wave riding…

2007

In 2007 Thierry Pen, Jean-Paul Riou, Pascal Gerber and Bruno André founded Tridenn. This new company took over the reins of the AHD brand with the motto “innovation in the forgotten 0-15 knot wind range”.

Development is focused on low-speed take-offs and light winds, with less cumbersome equipment.

In this lightwind niche, the equipment that allows you to glide is a 1m-wide formula and a 12m!

The first AFS-1 baord dedicated to foiling is 100 liters and 65cm wide. And with a 7m sail, it flies in the calm.

Its shape is atypical, with an opening at the front to keep the rail length essential for gliding in light winds with a low load-bearing volume. The opening reduces the impact of the wind on the board in flight.

In 2009, the first carbon production float/sail combo is presented at the Paris Boat Show. AFS becomes a brand in its own right, with a production plant in Brittany.

2010

In 2010, parallel work on the foil made it possible to practice wave surfing with a foil, in complete autonomy, using the paddle. The sealion can do it all: windsurfing, surfsailing, supfoil and windfoil!

For the rest of the “traditional range”, AHD relies on value shapes that are efficient and durable over time (Expressions, Fast Forwards, Zen).

The Venezuelan Diony Guadagnino embraced the concept and accompanied the brand for a good decade, with magnificent images on the world’s different spots on his “DG Pro Model”, and some great performances in PWA and Défi Wind on Slalom boards that are still performing well from generation to generation (SL1, SL2, SL3).

Forever associated with the AHD image, the thousands of ambassadors who have accompanied us over the years.

Like Sylvain Hernigou, who has been riding our boards since 1997! We can’t list them all here.

Thank you so much!

With Foil becoming increasingly important, in 2018 Tanguy Le Bihan and Thierry Pen created Foil&co and set up a production plant in Brittany. Tridenn and Foil&co merge.

Foil&co takes AHD’s destiny into its own hands.