The release of the new Infinity SUP all-around all water design to replace the favourite Blackfish Dugout got the SUP community talking. The main goal behind developing EVERREADY, the brand’s all-around “distance” model, was to create one board that can race in any conditions at any time. A one-board quiver providing lots of efficiency for the flatter conditions and longer distance races with the “all around” attributes to navigate through bumps, chop, up and downwind and sprinting style technical paddling.
The EVERREADY has undoubtedly lived up to the hype, securing a series of podium finishes for the Infinity Speed Freaks Team worldwide. To gain an individual perspective on its performance, TotalSUP caught up with Donato Freens, 12× Dutch SUP Champion and Infinity and Black Project SUP Team Rider, who’s had a spectacular season to date, currently ranking second overall in the EuroTour circuit.
Known for his explosive paddling style and relentless dedication to training, Donato walks us through the key features of the board that make it a transformative for serious SUP athletes.
Photo by Si Crowther
Hello Mathieu! I am very happy with how the first half of the season has turned out. At the start of the season I obviously had ambitions to do well, but I also expected that the competitions in 2024 were going to be tough. It seemed that a lot of top-level riders would go to the majority of the EuroTour races, and races such as The Lake Rocks and Spring SUP races, where decent prize money could be earned. I almost got a podium in each and every race I entered, with only one or two races where things did not go my way, but that’s racing. So, yeah, I am very pleased with my results in these stacked races.
Hands down, the highlight of my season so far has been winning The Lake Rocks Festival in Austria. It was very special to race head to head, going toe to toe with my childhood hero Michael Booth, and coming out on top.
The racing was strategic, and tactical the whole way, and exploded in the last 2 kilometers or so, and to then come out on top, was a dream come true. Moreover, it was a victory I could bring home to my new team, Infinity, and Dave Boehne, who put so much trust in me and signed me up.
Photo by Andy Klotz | The Lake Rocks Festival
Ideally, as a racer, you want to have a single board that works well in a variety of conditions, for a variety of race formats. And I think that Infinity nailed it with the EverReady. It works in all types of water conditions, flat or moving water, and for whatever race or situation you want to use it in.
Photo by Si Crowther
The EverReady is a board that has an ideal scoop rocker line and volume distribution for open water type racing, while also having a proper glide for flat water racing. Whenever I need to travel to a race and I am not sure what the conditions will be like, I will chose the EverReady because I know it can handle swell or is fast on dead flat water, and can always be comfortable that I have the board that I need for racing day.
Photo by Si Crowther
I would recommend this board to top level athletes, aspiring racers or to intermediate paddlers who wants to get more serious about touring or recreational paddling. This board has great stability and due to its volume distribution handles a fair bit of chop. You can trim the board to your liking by changing your standing position.
Photo by Si Crowther
It’s been a very warm welcome since day one of joining the team. Dave had brought me into the team at the start of the season without even having met me in person. He saw me for who I am and shares my passion for paddling. I feel I am a part of a family of people who love water, ideally in surf type conditions, and have fun doing water sports.
The support from HQ in Dana Point, California, Leo and Andrea in Italy (Infinity SUP Europe) and my team mates has been a big factor in my joy for doing what I do, and my drive to want to represent Infinity to the best of my ability, and how I have been able to perform out in competitions. The team has done so well and I think that even Dave is surprised about how well his boards are working out. Haha!
It’s now summer season in Europe and I am spending as much time as possible outdoors. The past 9 months it seems it has rained nonstop here in the Netherlands, so going out when the weather is good is already a big plus. Training wise I am mixing things up by doing as much different things as possible. This keeps me fresh, motivated and allows me to develop in all kinds of areas.
My main goal is to do well in the upcoming ISA World Championships in Denmark this September. I have watched the broadcasts of the 2017 edition so many times over the past few years and I love how vibrant and well attended those world championships were in the heart of Denmark’s capital, and I am eager to go there this year to experience hopefully that same atmosphere, and do the best that I can.
Photo by Si Crowther
Thank you Donato and good luck with the rest of the season – We can’t wait to catching up in Copenhagen!
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