WEAPON OF CHOICE: CORE Halo Pro

Rarely found out of the water when the wind is on, CORE team rider Florian Scharscher is now a big fan of the brand’s new Halo Pro wing, with its distinctive Aluula Gold leading edge. He told us why…

RIDER: Florian Scharscher
WEAPON: CORE Halo PRO
SIZES: 4m & 5m
RIDER HEIGHT: 183cm
RIDER WEIGHT: 85kg

I have been riding the Halo Pro for a year. I started out on the CORE XC wing, which is a more forgiving wing with a see-through window built in. It has more flexibility in the frame and canopy and absorbs wind gusts in a gentler way. On the other hand, the Halo Pro is more direct and powerful, therefore feedback in your hands is greater. Weighing less, it flies earlier and allows for ultra precise steering and maneuvers. The boom on the Halo Pro gives me more freedom and confidence in critical situations.

I look for either simplicity or performance in a wing. In critical conditions I like to have the most feedback, power delivery and precision I can get. Ultimately it allows me to perform maneuvers closer to the critical section of a wave and respond faster to the ever-changing environment we are playing in. A lightweight wing lets me access difficult places like volcanic reefs with more confidence and in a less tiring manner.

A wing that is durable and reliable gives me piece of mind. I feel the Halo has a healthy mix of reinforcement while maintaining the bare minimum weight. Using a wing that squeezes maximum power out of every size is another aspect I enjoy as a heavier rider.

When I’m training I like to change it up and I use the XC a fair amount. I think it makes me more rounded and adaptable. Getting closer to a competition I then like to stick to the model that I’m going to be using in the event.

It’s pretty common for me to change my wing setup depending on the type of competition I’m in or the water conditions. The wing's size, shape, and aspect ratio can significantly impact performance, and choosing the right wing for the conditions can provide a huge competitive advantage.

My favorite feature about the Halo Pro is its light weight. I can’t help but be mesmerized every time I lift up the Halo Pro, wondering how light it is. It literally feels like picking up a sheet of paper, which is insane. Going into a maneuver like a jibe or tack, this very feature allows me to handle the wing with only two fingers.

Typically I like to combine the Halo Pro with the 45L CORE Roamer S board and the 900-1200cm2 Spectrum front wing. In lighter winds I use the 70L Roamer board with front wings up to 2000cm2!

I have been able to build my own prototypes in the past. This is a process that allowed me to dive right into the deep end of all aspects of design and production. After working with CORE on the media side I would like to get the opportunity to help out on the R&D side in the future!

I am privileged to live and train in the Canary Islands where I can get out on the wing all year around. One particular session that stands out to me was when a decent swell arrived at Flag Beach on a low tide. I was out on a 5m Halo Pro catching waves that were carrying me downwind for a minute or more. In this session it seemed like the effort of going back upwind was so little compared to the seemingly endless leg-burning ride back down.