Behind The Design: BLITZ D/LAB

DEVELOPMENT & CONCEPT

What was the main inspiration behind the Blitz D/LAB?

We started getting more requests from our dealers and customers for an updated fast / free race foil which would fit our current DLAB mast and tail ecosystem.

In the past we have built more dedicated race foils in the form of the Daytona and Daytona DOS, but they both had their specific mast to fuselage connection and couldn’t fit with the rest of our Dlab range.

We took inspiration from these two previous race foils, the Daytona and Daytona DOS. We also had a look at other high performance foils from other brands and tried to pick design features which seemed to work well for them.

How does it cater to freerace and speed-focused riders?

The Blitz front wings are very easy to control at high speed thanks to the shape and profile of the front wing and stabilizer but also thanks to the new longer 47cm fuselage tail.

What categorises this product into a freerace rather than a full on race foil, is the little compromise which we did in the design process to accentuate the ease of use and control over outright top speed.

What were the biggest challenges in designing a foil that prioritizes top-end speed and stability?

This is always a tricky combo to find, since often stability comes from compromising some of the top speed potential. We worked hard simulating profiles that would allow us to have both. Often you would like to use very thin profiles but you also have to keep in mind the structural limits. We have opted for using some high modulus carbon fiber in the front wing to achieve our designed thickness whilst still having a stiff front wing.

PERFORMANCE & RIDING EXPIRIENCE

What makes the Blitz D/LAB stand out compared to other performance foils in the Duotone range?

None of our other front wings can reach as high top speed with the level of control you get with the Blitz.

How does the 550cm² version compare to the 800cm² version in terms of speed, control, and pumping ability?

They are both very similar in feel, but obviously the 800 generates a bit more speed at a given speed versus the 550 so the 800 is more suited to lighter winds, upwind courses or heavier riders. As you would expect, the 800 also pumps better than the 550, even though that is not really an area where this wings excel.

What kind of conditions and disciplines does the Blitz D/LAB excel in?

The Blitz is perfect for fast freeriding whether kitefoiling or winging. It jumps alright too, since you can take a lot of speed before taking off.

 It is also a great front wing for slalom racing.

You used the Blitz D/LAB yourself winning the Langebaan Downwind Dash & Wing & Wind Cup in January. What setup did you have and are there any specific tuning tips you would recommend?

Yes I have used the 550 Blitz with the 47 tail and R190 stab mounted on the 94cm D/Lab mast for all the races. We got fairly strong winds, over 18 knots, for all four days of racing so for my 72kg, I never needed to jump up to the 800 Blitz.

I was riding it with the -0.3deg and sometimes -0.6deg shim under the stabilizer.

My mast was positioned further back in the tracks of my Skybrid, quite a bit behind the middle, and my footstraps were on the widest possible stance, all the way forward at the front and all the way back at the rear.

FUTURE & INNOVATION

How do you see performance foiling evolving, and where does the Blitz D/LAB fit into that vision?

I believe that the key will be to design future race front wings with as much ease of use as possible. When you want to go fast, you must be confident in your setup and must trust it 100%. This is a design parameter which I believe we have achieved very well on the Blitz and which I intend to improve even more on future designs.

Were there any key learnings from testing and development that might influence future designs?

The amount of rigidity required in the complete setup, when you want to go over 30 knots.

The holy grail is to be able to be as thin as possible with all the components of the assembly, without compromising the structural integrity of the            foil setup.

If you had to describe the Blitz D/LAB in three words, what would they be?

Fast, Control, Win!