Ben, Al, and Chris collectively have more than 50 years of windsurfing and racing experience on the San Francisco Bay.  They also span the range in size and sailing styles for the optimal test team. Ben has a very powerful style which enables him to foot upwind for speed and better VMG. Al and Chris tend to go for angle and spill off extra power. This allows F4 to deliver the best fin designs for formula racers of all sizes, sailing styles as well as wind and water conditions.

Al Mirel

Al has been racing competitively for more than fifteen years. After campaigning for the 1996 Olympics, Al turned his attention to Formula Windsurfing where he has been one of the top contenders in the highly competitive San Francisco Bay fleet. Recently Al has dominated the St. Francis Yacht Club Friday Night Series with his keen course racing tactics and downwind speed advantage. Al keeps his skills race ready while at the same time training his two sons Kaan and Kai for the next generation of windsurfing. Al provides the ideal feedback we need to ensure F4 fins keep him at the top of the fleet.

Ben Bamer

Ben has been racing and training in the SF Bay for many years and really caught everyone's attention after winning the UN Challenge a couple of years ago. Ben's was the only challenger to Seth Besse during the US Nationals in San Francisco 2007 and continues to blow everyone off the water, particularly when the wind is up. According to Ben, the windier it gets, the more it relaxes him. Ben's strength and speed are ideal for testing racing fins, since he puts them into a zone that other's can't.

Chris Radkowski

Chris has been actively racing since his first fateful competition in Berkley in 1981. Chris eventually dominated the competitive Fleet 18 one design fleet, winning the Golden Gate Crossing, Round Alcatraz Race, Tahoe Crossing, and two national championships. He campaigned for the 1988 Olympics as a member of the US Boardsailing Team, finishing 6th in the Olympic trials. Chris finished second overall in the 1993 Nationals and won the masters slalom title in 2004. Chris continues to compete in formula racing in the SF Bay and would be happy if he could just take one from Ben and or Al.