Sky High, kitesurf craftsman in Einsiedeln

Sky High is a sail loft specialising in the repair of wind sports equipment, located at Birchli on the shore of Lake Sihl (Sihlsee) in Einsiedeln, canton of Schwyz. The workshop is run by its founder, Robin van Baarle, a Dutch-born trained sailmaker, former junior windsurfing world champion (1990) and windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing instructor. Founded in 2003 (the workshop says it has repaired this kind of gear since 2002), the business has been run since 2019 by the company Sky High GmbH. It repairs kites, wings and windsurf sails, as well as paragliders, harnesses and outdoor gear, for individuals and for shops, schools and brands across Switzerland; it is listed in the Ozone network as a service centre for Switzerland.

The workshop has 11 sewing machines and a laminating process for small tears, bladders and laminated fabrics. It uses original fabrics wherever possible, with stitching close to the manufacturers' own, replaces bladders and valves, remakes spliced bridle lines (Ozone and Flysurfer, for example) and supplies spare parts and lines for most brands; it also builds prototypes and custom modifications. Every repair carries a one-year warranty and usually takes one to three weeks, longer in peak season. Gear must be clean and dry, with the damage marked with tape; it can be posted with the repair form or dropped in the locked cabinet outside the shop.

Sky High is also a foil and wing foiling school on Lake Sihl: private lessons only, taught by the founder on weekdays, with a support boat, video analysis and Armstrong equipment, in German, English or Dutch. The shop rents out wing gear and sells online, through armstrongfoils.ch, Armstrong foils and boards, Ozone wings and parawings, Foil Drive assist units and Forward WIP gear.

No fixed opening hours: the shop and workshop receive visitors by appointment, including on Saturdays or after work. Call or WhatsApp +41 79 557 40 88 before coming; on windy days the founder is often on the water and calls back later.

Usually reachable Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 17:30. A locked cabinet outside the shop allows repairs to be dropped off and gear to be collected at any time (code on request).

Wing foiling lessons on weekdays only, usually starting around 12:00 depending on the wind; customers suggest two dates and the better one is chosen. Weekend rental possible on request.