Weapon of Choice: Indiana Easy Style Board 52L Carbon

Easy Style by name, easy style by nature for this freestyle, freeride and wave friendly wingfoil platform from Indiana. And teamrider Valentin Hiermeier has been putting in the hours on it…

Rider: Valentin Hiermeier

Weapon: Indiana Easy Style Board 52L Carbon

Rider Height: 170cm

Rider Weight: 63kg

I have been riding the Easy Style for about four months now, with more than 40 sessions on the board. During this time, I’ve used it in a wide range of conditions, from light wind sessions around 8-10 knots to stronger wind and big wave conditions. I had several big wave sessions in Spain, including Tarifa, Almería, and Mallorca, as well as in Sardinia at Capo Mannu. I also used the board a lot on my home spots like Rottachsee, Mandichosee, and Hopfensee. This variety of conditions really helped me understand the board and get comfortable with its performance.

I used to ride the Freewave Carbon 50L. Compared to that, the Easy Style has a much better and earlier take-off due to its shorter length. It also offers more pop and re-pop, which makes a big difference for freestyle. The board feels significantly more stable, especially in challenging conditions. Overall, it’s more compact and responsive, with lower swing weight, which makes rotations and tricks easier and more controlled.

For me, the most important characteristics in a board are low swing weight, direct response, and control. I want a board that reacts instantly and feels light under my feet. Stability on landings is also key, especially when learning new tricks. In addition, good pop and an efficient take-off are important so I can get on foil quickly and ride smoothly.

My favorite feature is definitely the low swing weight. It makes a huge difference for rotations and freestyle tricks, as the board feels very light and easy to control in the air. This allows me to rotate faster and with more precision. At the same time, the compact shape and wide outline give a lot of stability on landings, so I can push new tricks with more confidence. It’s a really good balance between control and performance.

I like to pair the Easy Style with a fast and responsive freestyle foil setup. I currently ride the Hyperdrive mast 86cm, the Marlin XXS front wing, and the Dolphin S tail XS monobloc stabilizer. This setup gives me early lift, good speed, and a lot of control, which works perfectly with the board. In extremely light wind conditions, I switch to the Dolphin S front wing to get on foil even earlier and benefit from more glide. I also use the Dolphin S in very small waves, where its glide and efficiency really help to keep speed and flow.

Although I haven’t ridden any dedicated prototype boards yet, I have been involved in giving feedback on new boards and taking part in the product development process. It’s interesting to see how even small changes can make a big difference in performance. I always enjoy the opportunity to test new prototypes and can’t wait to share new gear and experiences with the surf community.

One of my best sessions on the 52L board was in Almería, Spain, riding in solid four-meter waves with strong sideshore wind on a 2.4m wing. The conditions were powerful and quite demanding, with a lot of energy in the water and strong gusts, but that made it perfect for pushing my limits. The board handled the speed and power well and stayed very controlled, even in critical sections of the wave. I felt confident going into bigger turns and trying more committed maneuvers. Everything came together that day, and I was able to fully trust the board both on the wave and during high-speed runs, which made it one of my most memorable sessions so far.

I ride the Easy Style in all conditions, from light wind around eight knots up to strong wind over 50 knots in big waves. I really like to keep my setup consistent, because it helps me build a better feeling for the board and improves my overall riding. The Easy Style is versatile enough to handle a wide range of conditions, so I don’t feel the need to switch boards. Whether it’s lightwind freestyle sessions, choppy conditions, or powerful waves, the board performs reliably and gives me the confidence to push my limits. Over time, I’ve learned to adapt my riding to the conditions instead of changing equipment, which also helps with progression and consistency.