Rise and Glide S2E9: Chris Freeman - Black Project SUP and industry changes
Chris Freeman, the owner and founder of Black Project, discusses his journey in the water sports industry and the development of Black Project in the SUP and Windsurf worlds. Chris transitioned from competitive windsurfing to stand up paddling (SUP) and began creating high-performance fins and paddles in the process.
We learn about how good quality fins and paddles can dramatically improve your paddling experience. Chris emphasises what goes into product development and how Black Project finds the right balance between timeless designs and introducing new, exciting products.
Chris goes into detail about the testing and feedback process for developing new products; the creation of prototypes, how they get tested in different conditions, and feedback from paddlers with the goal of continuously improving the performance and quality of the products. Chris understands the needs of different paddlers and explains how he adapts the products accordingly. We chat about the evolution of stand up paddle boarding and he explains what’s changed with fins and paddles based on changes in the sport, such as board designs and racing trends.
We look at the rise of entry-level boards and the impact on the industry; the frustration of retailers with the quality of inflatables and the difficulty new paddlers have at distinguishing between high-quality and cheaper products.