Jerome Cloetens on Duotone Concept Blue: Pioneering Eco-Friendly Wingfoil Gear

With Duotone’s latest release, the brand’s iconic Unit wing is now available in a Concept Blue version, as was the Slick model a few months earlier.With the expansion of this line-up, the brand takes a bold step towards more eco-conscious wingfoil equipment. This innovative range combines high performance with sustainable materials, trying to set a new standard in the industry. In this interview, Jerome Cloetens—a longtime Duotone rider and seasoned athlete with roots in Tarifa—shares his insights on Concept Blue, discussing both its environmental impact and performance on the water. From his career journey to his gear choices, Jerome gives us an inside look at what Concept Blue means for him and for the future of wingfoiling.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

Hello Jerome, and welcome to TotalWing! Can you introduce yourself, your rider career, and your journey with Duotone?

Hi there! I started as a grom in Tarifa with Belgian roots. My parents moved to Spain right after I was born. My dad got me into kiting when I was 10. At first, I hated it, but he kept believing I would love it. After my first 100 meters and a little jump, I was hooked. From that day on, I was pushing my dad to get in the water, not the other way around.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

I competed for five years on the kiting world tour, won European and world youth championships, and became a two-time senior national champion. Not long ago, my dad got into wingfoiling, which I thought looked horrible back then. He kept saying I’d love it, but I didn’t believe him. Then, just like with kiting, after my first 100 meters and jump, I was completely hooked.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

Duotone has sponsored me since I was 13, and they’ve always supported me. When I started spending more time on wingfoiling, they loved it too. Duotone is a brand I have a lot of respect for, especially for what they’ve done for the sport in the last decade.

Duotone has just unveiled its 2025 range of boards, foils, and new Unit wings. Which quiver have you adopted from this new range? 

I’m all in for Concept Blue. The new Unit with the wing is insane! When I landed my first Palau a couple of years ago, I told everyone that, from now on, everyone would want to ride with booms, just like when Alex Pastor won a comp in boots. Nobody believed me, but now you’ll see all the serious riders using booms!

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

I love every size of the Unit, even the 2m, which I ride quite often. My favorite board is the Sky Style 55L, and for foils, I use the 650 front wing, 90 mast, 165 back wing, and a short fuselage (63, I believe).

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

What are the specific materials or manufacturing techniques that make these Concept Blue wings more environmentally friendly?

There are three main things:

1. No color on the wing – the materials used for coloring are slightly toxic and bad for the environment.
2. Biodegradable materials – the bladder is made from biobased materials, and if you touch it, it feels different.
3. Recycled parts – some smaller parts of the wing, like the deflate valve, are made from recycled materials.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

These changes don’t make the wing perfect for the planet, but it’s a step in the right direction. I admire companies that invest in improving sustainability, even though they might face backlash. It’s still a long road, but this is a good start.

In terms of performance, how does it compare to a “normal” Unit or Slick wing?

The new Unit Concept Blue is my favorite wing by far. It’s better than the normal Unit, and while the DLAB version is great for lighter winds, the Concept Blue takes the lead for me in most conditions.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

In your opinion, how can we, as riders of a sport that has a certain environmental impact (gear, travel to windy spots, etc.), reduce our impact?

It’s tough. I do feel a bit hypocritical sometimes, working on environmental issues with my company while using all my favorite gear. I think the best thing is to keep your wing in use for as long as possible and push the brands you ride for to invest in R&D for sustainable products. We should also ask them to build systems where products stay in a circular cycle and don’t end up as waste. It’s hard for any company to do this on their own.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

As for travel, I used to go everywhere, so I can’t say too much. Lately, I’ve been exploring spots closer to home instead of thinking overseas trips are always better. That’s the best advice I can give for now.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

I’ll leave you with the last word. What are your next ambitions?

I really enjoy coming up with new moves that haven’t been done before, like the Palau or the Backmobe. I have a couple of tricks in mind that I’d love to bring to life soon.

Photo : Samuel Cardenas

Thank you very much Jerome for your answers and for your commitment to more environmentally friendly wingfoil gear.

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