Telstar Surf

What Telstar Surf does

Telstar Surf is a Netherlands-based specialist watersports retailer and e-commerce operator headquartered at the Strand Horst location in Ermelo. The company sells a multi-brand assortment of windsurf, kitesurf, wingfoil, SUP, wakeboard, and funsports equipment, plus wetsuits and surfwear, sourcing from premium brands including Duotone, Mystic, North, Prolimit, ION, O'Neill, Fanatic, Naish, F-One, Starboard, Cabrinha, and Unifiber. It markets itself as offering the largest surf-equipment assortment in Europe and has operated for over 40 years (founded circa 1984), serving both Dutch and broader European enthusiast customers.

The business runs a hybrid physical-and-digital model: a megastore showroom and adjacent surf center enable a "try & buy" program for kites, boards, and complete sets, while six localized e-commerce storefronts (Dutch, English, German, French, Spanish, Italian) handle cross-border online orders fulfilled from store inventory or via dropshipment directly from suppliers. The technology backbone is a Magento e-commerce platform, with supporting tooling for cookie-based analytics, retargeting (Criteo, Facebook Pixel, Microsoft Clarity), email marketing (Spotler), and an AI chatbot ("Jeffrey de Instructeur" by YouShouldAsk.ai) that routes lesson and rental inquiries to the Viking Bookings system. Pricing is unit-based in euros with free shipping from €50 and a 30-day return policy.

Revenue is generated from one-time retail sales (physical and online), surf school services (Telstar Surfschool, offering windsurf, kitesurf, and SUP lessons and rentals), and gift cards. Telstar Surfschool operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary. The company is privately held (no disclosed funding, parent, or institutional ownership), employs roughly 20 people, and holds a 4.70/5.0 "Excellent" rating across 3,605 Trusted Shops reviews.

Name

Telstar Surf

Legal name

Telstar Surf

Website

https://telstarsurf.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Telstar Surf is a Netherlands-based specialist retailer and e-commerce operator selling multi-brand windsurf, kitesurf, wingfoil, SUP, and surfwear equipment across six European markets, supported by a physical megastore with try & buy testing and an on-site surf school.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watersports Equipment Retail

NAICS

Boat Dealers (441222)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Sports & Marine Recreation Retail (Paddle/Surf/Dive/Boat Accessories) (CRAMABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Surfing & Kitesurfing Experiences (Lessons, Camps) (THAJAJAJ), Surf & Beach Sports Retail (Surfboards, Bodyboards, Skimboards) (CRAMAIAE)

Keywords

• Watersports equipment retail
• Windsurf gear sales
• Kitesurf equipment store
• Wingfoil and sup boards
• Surf school services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ermelo

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales - Physical Store: Revenue generated from in-store sales of kitesurf, windsurf, wingfoil, SUP, wakeboard, and surfwear merchandise at the Telstar Megastore in Ermelo (Strand Horst). Customers can test gear via try & buy before purchasing.
2. E-commerce / Online Sales: Revenue from online orders placed through telstarsurf.nl, including items shipped from store inventory and via dropshipment from suppliers. Free shipping from €50, up to 30-day return policy.
3. Surf School (Telstar Surfschool): Revenue from windsurf lessons, kitesurf lessons, SUP lessons, and surfboard rental services offered at the adjacent surf school located 400m from the surfshop. Services booked through www.telstarsurfschool.nl.
4. Gift Cards: Sale of Telstar Surf gift cards (Telstar Surf cadeaubon) as a revenue stream and customer acquisition/gifting mechanism.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Telstar Surf is a multi-brand water sports retailer specializing in windsurf, kitesurf, wingfoil, SUP, wakeboard, wetsuits, and surfwear equipment, operating Europe's largest claimed assortment via a physical megastore in Ermelo (Netherlands) and a multi-language e-commerce platform. The company also operates Telstar Surfschool, providing windsurf, kitesurf, and SUP lessons along with equipment rentals at the Strand Horst beach location.

Product overview

Telstar Surf is a multi-brand e-commerce and physical retail platform for watersports and beach lifestyle equipment, operating the largest surfshop in the Netherlands. The product portfolio consists of six core product categories: Windsurf Equipment (sails, boards, masts, booms, fins, bags, trapezes, accessories), Kitesurf Equipment (kites, kiteboards, bars, lines, harnesses, accessories), Wingfoil Equipment (wings, boards, foils, e-foils, accessories), Wetsuits (men's, women's, and children's suits in various thicknesses, plus boots, gloves, caps, Lycra, and neoprene accessories), SUP Equipment (inflatable and hard boards, paddles, clothing, bags, pumps), and Funsports / Clothing (skateboards, power kites, wakeboards, beach games, surfwear). Supporting services include complete pre-configured equipment sets, a Try & Buy test centre, Telstar Surfschool (kitesurf/windsurf/SUP lessons), gift cards, and a Bazar section for secondhand gear. Products span dozens of third-party brands including Duotone, Mystic, North, Prolimit, ION, O'Neill, Neilpryde, Fanatic, Cabrinha, F-One, Naish, Starboard, Severne, and Unifiber, alongside private-label offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Windsurf Equipment Complete windsurf gear including sails, boards, masts, booms, bases, fins, bags, trapezes/harnesses, and accessories across disciplines such as Wave, Freestyle, Freeride, Freerace, Slalom, Windfoil, and Family/Kids.
• Kitesurf Equipment Full kitesurf gear including kites, kiteboards (Twintip and Directional), control bars, lines, leashes, trapezes, bags, pumps, boots, impact vests, helmets, and accessories across styles including Freeride, Big Air, Freestyle, Wave, Wakestyle, and Foil/Lightwind.
• Wingfoil Equipment Complete wingfoiling gear including wings (standard and parawing), boards (Allround, Midlength, Downwind, Inflatable, Prone and Dockstart), foilsets, frontwings, backwings, masts, fuselages, e-foils, trapezes, protection, bags, pumps, and accessories.
• Wetsuits Full range of wetsuits for men, women, and children in various thicknesses (6mm, 5mm, 4mm, 3mm, Shorty) with different zip types (Backzip, Frontzip, Zipperless). Also includes surf boots, gloves, caps, beanies, impact vests, helmets, neoprene and wind jackets, Lycra shirts, ponchos, and maintenance/repair products.
• SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboard) Equipment Inflatable and hard SUP boards across styles (Wave, Allround, Race and Tour, WindSUP), paddles (1-piece, 2-piece, 3-piece, Aluminium, Junior), SUP clothing for men and women, plus accessories including bags, leashes, and pumps.
• Funsports Equipment Diverse fun sports gear including skateboards, longboards, mini cruisers, power kites (2-line and 4-line with bars and harnesses), wakeboards, wakesurfers, waterskis, funtubes, beach games (balance boards, volleyballs, frisbees, golfsurfboards), and beach accessories (towels, sunglasses, beach bags).
• Surfwear and Clothing Surf-style clothing for men and women including T-shirts, sweatshirts, vests, jackets, pants, shorts, boardshorts, swimwear, bikinis, caps, watches, bags, backpacks, beach slippers, and sunglasses. Brands include Brunotti, Duotone, O'Neill, Roxy, Salty Crew, and Quiksilver.
• Telstar Surfschool Professional kite- and windsurf school located approximately 400 meters from the main surfshop, directly on the beach at Strand Horst. Offers windsurf lessons, kitesurf lessons, SUP lessons, and surfboard rental. Bookings routed through www.telstarsurfschool.nl.
• Gift Cards Digital Telstar Surf gift cards available for purchase on the website, allowing customers to gift surf equipment, lessons, or rentals to others.
• Telstar Surf Bazar Secondhand and pre-owned surf equipment section featuring used kitesurf and windsurf gear at reduced prices, complementing the new product assortment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.70 out of 5.0 'Excellent' rating from 3,605 Trusted Shops reviews

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DuotonecoreOthersDuotone is a major windsurf and kitesurf equipment brand carried by Telstar Surf. Duotone products including kites, kiteboards, and wings are featured prominently in Telstar's catalog and are available for try & buy testing at the surf center.
• MysticcoreOthersMystic is a key brand partner supplying wetsuits, harnesses, and surfwear. Mystic products (e.g., Mystic Warrior Windsurf harness, Mystic Marshall wetsuit) are among the featured picks on the Telstar website.
• NorthcoreOthersNorth (formerly North Sails) is a brand partner for windsurf and kitesurf equipment including sails, boards, and foils, featured in Telstar's product range.
• ProlimitcoreOthersProlimit is a wetsuit and water sports brand partner supplying a wide range of wetsuits (4mm, 5mm, 6mm) and accessories featured in Telstar's neopreen category.
• F-OneminorOthersF-One is a kitesurf equipment brand featured in Telstar's kitesurf assortment, supplying kites and kiteboards.
• NaishminorOthersNaish is a windsurf, kitesurf, and SUP brand featured in Telstar's catalog, supplying boards, kites, and wingfoil equipment.
• FanaticminorOthersFanatic is a wingfoil and SUP brand partner supplying boards and foils available at Telstar Surf.
• StarboardminorOthersStarboard is a SUP and wingfoil brand partner supplying boards and foils in Telstar's assortment.
• IONminorOthersION is a watersports accessories brand supplying wetsuits and neopreen gear featured in Telstar's product range.
• O'NeillminorOthersO'Neill is a surfwear and wetsuit brand featured in Telstar's clothing and neopreen categories.
• NeilprydeminorOthersNeilpryde is a windsurf equipment brand (masts, sails, wetsuits) featured in Telstar's product catalog.
• CabrinhaminorOthersCabrinha is a kitesurf brand supplying kites and kiteboards in Telstar's kitesurf assortment.
• BrunottiminorOthersBrunotti is a surfwear and wetsuit brand partner featured in both Telstar's kitesurf and clothing categories.
• ReedinminorOthersReedin is a kitesurf brand featured in Telstar's kitesurf product range.
• OzoneminorOthersOzone is a kitesurf brand featured in Telstar's kitesurf product range.
• QuiksilverminorOthersQuiksilver is a surfwear brand featured in Telstar's clothing and surfwear product category.
• UnifiberminorOthersUnifiber is a Dutch windsurf accessories brand (founded 2003) specializing in hardware and accessories including masts, booms, fins, bags, and foil components. Telstar carries 147 Unifiber products across windsurf, kitesurf, wingfoil, and SUP categories.
• KlarnaminorOthersKlarna is a payment method option offered by Telstar Surf at checkout. Klarna may perform its own credit check or share payment data with external credit institutions based on legitimate interest. Customers can object to this at any time.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Boards & More Group: Manufacturer and wholesaler of Duotone, Fanatic, and ION — three of Telstar's most important supplier brands. Ecosystem-level adjacency rather than direct competition; relevant as a supplier dependency rather than a market peer.

Direct peers

• Blue Tomato: Austrian/German action-sports retailer operating online and physical stores across EU. Comparable omnichannel European specialty in action and water sports with multi-brand supplier relationships.
• Surfdome: UK-based multi-brand online water sports and surf retailer selling kitesurf, windsurf, SUP, wakeboard, wetsuits, and surfwear. Directly comparable to Telstar as a European multi-category online specialist with overlapping brand portfolio and customer base.
• Kitemana: Netherlands-based online kitesurf retailer serving Dutch and broader European customers with a multi-brand kitesurf, kiteboard, and accessory assortment. Directly comparable in geography and core category focus.
• KiteWorldShop: European online kitesurf retailer with a broad multi-brand portfolio spanning Duotone, North, Cabrinha, and others. Directly comparable as an online specialist serving the same enthusiast buyer across EU markets.
• Magic Kite: German kitesurf specialist retailer with a strong focus on kitesurf equipment, lessons, and surf school services. Directly comparable to Telstar's kitesurf category depth and European specialty positioning.
• Pierre2sons: French online surf retailer with kitesurf, windsurf, wetsuits, and surfwear assortment. Comparable multi-discipline European specialty retailer with overlap on categories, geography, and customer segment.
• Wetsuit Centre: UK specialist retailer focused on wetsuits, drysuits, and neoprene accessories from premium brands. Comparable as a category-deep European online specialist within Telstar's broader assortment.

Broad incumbents

• Decathlon: Global general sporting goods chain with a significant water sports category (kitesurf, windsurf, SUP, wetsuits) at scale. Broad incumbent offering overlap with Telstar's categories but at much larger footprint and assortment depth.
• Rip Curl: Global surf brand and direct-to-consumer operator across wetsuits, surfwear, and accessories. Broad incumbent with significant overlap on Telstar's surfwear and wetsuit categories, particularly through brand-direct DTC channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@telstar_surf
• Facebookfacebook.com/telstarsurf
• Instagraminstagram.com/telstar_surf
• TikToktiktok.com/@telstarsurf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/telstar-surf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Telstar Surf