It has been 10 years since the French brand Bic Sport had released a new windsurf board. With the Techno Wind Foil, Bic responds to a demand from riders in a market that is recharging itself with the recent enthusiasm for foil riding.
Sailing in foil is like entering a new universe at full speed. Indeed, here, the sound of water on the float has disappeared, only a foliage and an increase in the wind in the ears remain. By lifting the float out of the water, the foil reduces the drag to its maximum. This makes it possible to sail with much less wind and much faster. The Techno Wind Foil's objective is to take off with 10 knots of wind.
A hybrid windsurf board
The new Techno Wind Foil model, designed by Jean-Marie Guiriec ( NDLR: renowned shaper ), was born from a hybrid shape between a slalom board and a foil board. With a length of 2.30 m and a width of 82 cm, it offers a volume of 130 L. With extensive experience in board, wave and slalom design, BIC has built on its know-how in versatile slalom shapes, resulting in the eye-catching rails on the rear half of the board.
Adapt the board to the practice of flight
But the challenge is to successfully adapt this board to the practice of foiling, hence the particular hull design. For example, we will see the appearance of a convex on the front part that will avoid planting the already well rounded quarters at the reception. Indeed, the practice of flight is above all the learning of takeoff and landing. There are many settings to adjust the rider's lateral position, as well as the stance ( NDLR: Leg spacing ) to adapt to all and monitor progress in learning. (At first we are centered on the board for balance and then we shift to the outside by taking more power).
Two manufacturing options
The board is manufactured either in carbon (8 kg) or with the ACE-TEC process exclusive to Bic Sport (9 kg), in Vannes, in the brand's factories. The board in any case will be delivered with adjustable footstraps and a very deep slalom fin. The foil - as an option - is developed and manufactured by Foil&Co in Quimper, very well known in the young world of foiling. Its construction is 100% carbon to obtain maximum stiffness, essential, considering the speeds achieved.
Bruno André, ( NDLR: pioneer in the foil field) developed the combination of board and foil (mast size, sail surface and longitudinal position of the foil).
Bic Sport, or how to popularize many board sports
Bic Sport is one of the major players who popularized windsurfing in the 1980s. We remember that time when each family had one or more boards in their garden.
It is moreover the great strength of this French industrialist, world leader, to have been able to transform an elitist practice into a popular movement. Over the past decades Bic Sport has accompanied many beginners in their learning of sliding sports such as windsurfing, surfing, kayaking, light sailing for children and recently, stand-up paddle.
With the Techno Wind Foil, Bic hopes to achieve the same objective, through sailing schools and individuals, by offering a very successful product at a reasonable price.
Price excluding foil: 1?299 ? (9 kg). ACE-TEC manufacturing technology
Price excluding foil: 2?249 ? (8 kg). Carbon manufacturing
