Hydrofoil board / Kitefoil offer for the Worlds in May 2012

[Europ2]

The first Kitefoil Race World Cup, will be held soon in La Ciotat, France, from 17th -20th May 2012
http://www.mer-vent.com/site/index.php/presse-kitefoil

This IKA competion starting in a few weeks, I thought it might be useful to list the brands which produce standup hydrofoils boards or kitefoils for short as named by the french cousins:
The used materials can be carbon / G10 / billet aluminium. I have chosen to list here only the manufacturers who produce kitefoils rideable without boots.

This list (in alphabetical order) will be upgraded with your links and pictures (manufacturers from oceania, asia, africa are welcome)

- Carafino, USA since 2006, the legacy design, Mango CARAFINO designer aka "our father", http://www.carafino.com,
- Magma Foilboards, Spain, since 2010, developed by Helmut WIRTZ and Manu TAUB, http://www.magma-customboards.com/de/hydro-foil.html,
- The Lift by MHL Custom, Puerto Rico (USA) since 2011(?), Nick LEASON designer , http://www.mhlcustom.com/#/home
___ MHL Facebook page with nice picts of The Lift
- Moses Hydrofoils, Italy, Since 2010, Ruben PANZAVOLTA designer, http://www.moseshydrofoil.com/index%20e.htm,
- Ketos by Orana, France, since 2010, Pierre & al designers, http://www.3gcomposite.com/boutique/index.php
___Orana Facebook page (in french) for picts: updated weekly (Google translation not accepted by FaceBook)
__ Orana Blog In (Google) English
- Radical, France, since 2010, Jerome CAILLET designer. http://www.radical.fr
- RistaFins, USA since 2011 (manufacture), Paolo RISTA designer http://ristafins.com/foil
- Skyski, USA since 2010 for the Ripper without boots, ? designer http://skyski.com/store/ripper-foilboard.html [Manuel from Puerto Rico Vmax is 27.8 knots]
- Spotz, France, since 2010, Jerome COURTOIS & al, designers, http://www.jc-kiteboards.fr,
- Zeeko-kites, France, since 2012, Renaud BARBIER designer, http://www.zeeko-kites.com/index3.php#/Home

Pictures of the 2012 models to be published soon in the following post.

[Europ2]

Pictures of the 2012 models. They are presented in 2 families, legacy design (Carafino, Magma, Moses-Ristafins-Skyski-MHL) and high-AR designs (Orana, Spotz, Zeeko, Radical).
Obviously, the French designers are 100% into the high-AR option...

Low Aspect ratio

Carafino - Magma - Moses 2012

Ristafins - Skyski - MHL 2012

High Aspect ratio

Orana - Spotz - Zeeko 2012

Radical 2012
With a trendy moustache ...

5_Radical_60pc.JPG (26.55 KiB) Viewed 9894 times

Last but not least, the RistaFin high AR prototypes, pure gems, only seen in waves... with boots Unique designs with the G10 front wing going through the fuselage. Could somebody please post picts / comment without boots ...
I would be sooo interested to know the Vmax of each protos with a kite and straps ...

[tautologies]

[Bille]

My friend Tommy T from SD says :
"Put on a Helmet when Ya learn to ride one of these ---
your going over the nose & that Damn foil comes around and,
Nails Ya in the HEAD" !!

Bille

[Peter_Frank]

Awesome

In a race a strapless board does not make much sense.

But for freeride it would be awesome to ride smoothly on a flying carpet

Will look forward to good pictures and videos from the event

Peter

[alexrider]

My friend Tommy T from SD says :
"Put on a Helmet when Ya learn to ride one of these ---
your going over the nose & that Damn foil comes around and,
Nails Ya in the HEAD" !!

Bille

You've got legs of steel, Bille; it's no reason not to advise "protect your leg" as well!

[Europ2]

The list has been updated with RistaFins and Skyski.

The Skyski Ripper made from billet aluminium in this list with such a raw front wing profile ?
With a Vmax of 27.8kn / 32mph, yes because Manuel (proud owner from Puerto Rico) rides it without boots, just straps.
Here is his comment about it: Source: The kitefoil Forum

Question from "Foiler":
Bravo kiko, congratulations!
Besides your riding skills I find it very interesting that your low aspect frontfoil is so competitive. I guess these foils are flat without any profile?

Manuel answer:
The front foil is very flat, although it does have a slight camber in the top and i shim the back ( foil) for more or less lift . the biggest difference is going downwind is much faster than the carafino, but also very dangerous because it is aluminum and has very sharp edges, also the ride is very smooth (no vibrations).

[Bille]

...
You've got legs of steel, Bille; ...

REALLY ?? -- I Hadn't noticed !!

If That's true then :
Well Those guys wear Boots ; wonder if i could unscrew my Feet
& just stick these foils to the bottom of my SS & Carbon fake Leg's ?

Bille

[Zeeko]

Hi,

The way of riding (boots or no boots) depends on the shape of the foil.
Some of them need boots some not.
Below, you can find one pic showing you can ride without any straps I love that ride as this is the real freeride set up (even if the pics was shoot during a racing contest 3 years ago).

Foil riding a very unique with new opportunties in termes of feeling and way to check your favorite kite spot!

Ride easy,

nicolas

[alexrider]

I have yet to try one of these foils (preferably the high aspect ratio ones).
I don't know if the report I've got (that they require constant adjustment of trim in order to remain at the right "altitude") is true for all the boards described here. So my question is:
Why aren't there any canard configuration? This should solve the requirement for the rider to adjust to the proper trim angle.

A reminder for those not familiar with canards:
The canard is the wing configuration whereby the front (stabilising) foil is forward
The smaller front wing has higher angle of attack than the main lifting wing, so that it stalls first, thus providing the negative feed-back that stability requires.