Excess partners with Duotone and Valentin Garat for the Riders' Edition
As part of the rollout of its Riders' Edition, Excess Catamarans is joining forces with world leader in water sports, and Valentin Garat DUOTONE , the , freestyle kitesurfing champion and professional wingfoiler.
Through this collaboration, the three partners share a common vision: making adventure a way of life and pushing the boundaries of exploration. Far more than an equipment pack , the Riders' Edition was designed by Excess as an invitation to turn every anchorage into the starting point for a new adventure. At sea and on land, it allows owners to easily take their outdoor gear on board and extend their experiences beyond sailing.
WIND AS A LANGUAGE
A passionate wingfoiler and freestyle kitesurfing champion, Valentin Garat travels the world in search of untouched spots, from tropical archipelagos to secluded lagoons. His days are guided by an almost obsessive reading of weather forecasts: Windguru is his compass. A DUOTONE ambassador and internationallevel athlete, he perfectly embodies the values behind the Riders' Edition. To take this collaboration further, Excess met Valentin in the heart of his playground, between strategic anchorages and exploration sessions . An immersion into the world of wingfoiling that reveals many similarities with sailing: reading the elements, respecting them, and turning them into a form of absolute freedom. « Being able to fly above the water, and the possibilities that foiling offers, are incredible. Combining the boat with the wing always adds something to the mission. It gives me the opportunity to spend even more time on the water, and the foil has transfor med conditions that weren’t optimal into incredible ones. »
DUOTONE, PARTNER OF THE RIDERS' EDITION
This encounter also puts the spotlight on DUOTONE, the world leader in water sports for more than 30 years. With wings and foils designed for both performance and accessibility, DUOTONE enables riders to reach spots that would otherwise be inaccessible. Easy to transport and secure on board a catamaran, DUOTONE equipment naturally fits into the philosophy of the Riders' Edition. Lightweight, durable and versatile: characteristics that bring the worlds of DUOTONE and Excess together. With the innovation of Foil Assist, a discreet electric assistance system that makes wingfoiling accessible within a few hours rather than weeks, DUOTONE demonstrates its belief that the dream of flying above the water should no longer be reserved for elite riders. “Wingfoiling is about flying above the water, in silence, carried only by the wind. Ten years ago, it was science fiction; today, it is accessible in a weekend.”
THE RIDERS' EDITION: A NEW PLAYGROUND FOR ADVENTURE ENTHUSIASTS
Launched in April 2026 on the Excess 11 and Excess 14 , the Riders' Edition was born from the desire to offer an experience designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Packrafts, wingfoils, mountain bikes, paddleboards and hiking gear: each piece of equipment has been selected to allow owners to explore further and turn every stopover into a new opportunity for adventure. Through this collaboration with Valentin Garat and DUOTONE, Excess is pursuing its ambition: opening up the world of catamarans to new communities passionate about exploration and shaping a new way of experiencing life on the water.
A SERIES OF ENCOUNTERS TO FOLLOW
Following a first encounter with Paul Aubertin and JAWS around extreme kayaking, then Lucas Frigout and SUNN around exploration mountain biking, this collaboration with Valentin Garat and DUOTONE marks the third chapter in the “Excess Meets Riders'” conten t series. Over the coming months, Excess will meet other athletes, adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts who each embody the brand's values in their own way. A series of portraits that simply illustrates one thing: adventure doesn’t stop at the boat.