“All We Do” delves into the story of F-ONE, filled with passion, innovation, and family. This original documentary explores the roots, evolution, and relentless pursuit of excellence that define F-ONE and its legacy in the realm of windsurfing, kiteboarding, wing foiling, and beyond.
Through archival footage and intimate interviews with the pioneers and key figures in the story of the brand, immerse yourself in the world of F-ONE and its unwavering commitment to adventure and innovation over the last 30 years.
The History of F-One
The history of F-ONE is intrinsically linked to the journey of Raphaël and Sophie Salles. Built from passion, intuition, trust and innovation, the company reflects an everlasting love story between Raphaël and the sea, and the adventures of a close-knit family.
In 1976 at the age of 13, he took up windsurfing- and as they say, the rest is history. By 1981, his professional career had taken off and he quickly became one of the best windsurfers of his generation.
Raphaël then competed in the World Cup riding with the sail number F1, which stood for his country and his world ranking. However, by the early 1990s, he decided to follow a different path.
His passion for the sport was still very much alive, but he wanted to express it in a different way. Always inquisitive, he had already been spending hours roaming around R&D workshops, brainstorming ways to design the best windsurfing board possible.
“I wanted to work in the R&D department of any company but there were no jobs available. So, instead of waiting around, I just decided to start my own company!”
Back then, kiteboarding was still in its infancy, and he naturally couldn’t resist giving it a try. After only a few sessions, he could already tell that this blossoming sport had huge potential. In 1997, F-ONE unveiled its first kitesurfing board, the red 215. The company became the only one to offer such a board on the market worldwide.
It left everyone speechless, and Raphaël and Sophie struggled to keep up with the demand. They often resorted to scavenging for discarded cardboard boxes outside shops so they could ship their own boards.
As Raphaël traveled around the world to demonstrate what kiteboarding was all about, he started to build a network and to establish trustworthy, long-standing relationships with shops and local retailers. Most of them are still relevant and active today.
