F-One builds a board for kites

Raphaël Salles started windsurfing in 1976 at the age of 13, turned professional in 1981 and raced the World Cup against Robby Naish. F-1 was his sail number. In 1994 he and Sophie Salles founded F-One near Montpellier, as a brand of windsurf boards.

In 1997 F-One made its first kiteboard, the red 215. According to the company, it left everyone speechless, and the two could hardly keep up with demand. A French history of the sport calls it the first series-produced kiteboard; Wikipedia credits Salles, together with Laurent Ness, with developing the first specialised kiteboards.

Until then kiters had ridden water skis or surfboards. A board built for the pull of a kite was the other half of what the inflatable wing had started. F-One went on to make kites as well, starting with ram-air kites in 1999.