Duotone Magazin No.01 2019

related design parameters to these new materials is then another big challenge, as every little change in material behavior has a significant impact on the overall flight characteristics. K: For the new Mono we took an approach that is different in some ways. For one, we didn’t have to focus as much on weight because a one-strut design is inherently lighter than a three-strut design. Of course, in keeping with the Mono’s new greater emphasis on foiling performance we did go to some lighter materials and less emphasis on Dacron. The bigger issues with a kite that has few struts, like the Mono, are canopy flutter and wind range. Lack of tip struts can cause problems on both points. We’ve tried higher aspect ratios in the past – particularly when there was less interest in foiling – but it turned out that going to a lower aspect ratio gave the results we wanted for foiling. Lower AR helps reduce flutter, makes a kite turn quicker and more easily, improves relaunch, increases drift and, because it reduces flutter, gives better wind range. So, basically, we went to a Mono that has more playful, surf-oriented handling. T: For me the new Juice and Mono are inspiring kites because in researching how to meet the new demands of the foil market, they’ve unlocked new performance properties which we can adapt to our other models. The next Evo generation will be definitely bench marked against the new Juice in terms of water relaunch. The way a Mono turns is interesting for waveriding, so I would be not surprised if the next Neo has a lower aspect ratio. OK, that brings us up to where we are today with a little glimpse to where you guys may be heading next, let’s skip forward five or ten or fifty years into the future. Where do you guys see the industry going? Better yet, what is your dream for where kiteboarding eventually could be? K: Well the theoretical perfect yacht is one dream. It basically consists of a wing under the water and a wing over the water connected by a rope. Do you follow? Um ... K: The idea has been around for a long time. I think there are some French guys who have done something like it. You have a wing under the water that’s a hydrofoil, only it’s pulling down rather than lifting up, and you have a wing over the water, up in the air, which is a kite, and it pulls up. The only thing connecting the two is something like a kite line. It’s probably not very practical, but it might be fun. It might be fast. Or it might permit the rider to be 3 meters above the water. R: I see foiling as a big chance to push the boundaries of the sport further. In combination with the Olympic Games, there will be additional momentum in the market, leading the industry to become more specifically driven by high tech materials and solutions. I personally love the idea of riding in 4 knots of wind on a clear mountain lake, being able to see through the water while riding as there will be barely any disturbance on the surface. 4 knots of wind is not a lot and it would increase the chance to go on the water during your summer vacations drastically, regardless of the location. This could scale up the kite market by quite a bit. To achieve this goal, several parameters have to be adjusted. We are currently under development to reach this target. I would love to talk about it more in detail, but so far it is still confidential. Another interesting point is kite-parameter- validation. Together with the University of Berlin, I have been involved in an automated test-bench, which allows us to judge flight characteristics objectively. This is a massive step for me and the industry, as it will professionalize the market in general. Till? T: OK well fine, I would love to see wireless kiting! K: Funny you mention that. We are already developing wireless kiting of a sort with our hand-held inflatable wing. It has the construction of an inflatable kite, but the rider doesn’t use kite lines to control it. It’s hand-held, which makes it wireless (haha). Of course, the hand-held wing is an old idea. There was a rigid, non-inflatable wing called the Skimbat in Finland some years ago. People used that with skis and skates on the snow and ice. Over the years there have been many variations on the theme. In our case we’re reworking the old concept to fit the new reality that a lot of people have big hydrofoils for surfing and downwinding. It started when I had a sore shoulder. I didn’t want to miss out on the downwind foil runs – which we do all summer long here on Maui – but the sore shoulder was keeping me from paddling. So, I designed an inflatable wing that would power me up onto the foil. Riding it turned out to be a lot of fun. I can surf the trade wind swells for miles, just like the downwind foilers do with paddles, but I don’t have to be a super athlete with Iron-Man-level cardio conditioning to do it. It turns out the wing can go crosswind and upwind as well as downwind. It’s easy to jibe, a little less easy to tack, and it’s not very expensive. It’s a good windy- day accessory for anyone with a SUP foil board. Whoa. So it sounds like Till’s future is much closer than I imagined. T: Unless I can control it with an app on my phone, it’s not MY kind of wireless. But no matter what, progress surely continues to move and often so in unexpected ways. “OK well fine, I would love to see wireless kiting! ” T R U E 7 1 T R U E 70 T A L K I N G K I T E S