Foil kites fly, Inflatables Float - Will they ban foils?
Foil kites, or Ram Air kites have taken the scene by storm this season.
The Ozone Chrono and Elf Joker are quite literally the only two kites on the podium at any event around the world, and it’s had a devastating effect on racing scenes.
It was the ‘bow’ kite of the racing scene. One product release completely transformed racing, so much so that those riders with inflatable kites, like the Ozone Edge and North Dyno are now at the back of the pack, no matter how good a rider they are.
There looks to be two main reasons for the proposal, which will go to the IKA later this month for a decision. The first being of a safety concern, has to do with the wind dropping altogether and foil kites sinking. Without struts to keep the canopy raised above the water, foil kites are hard to see.
They also lack the safety factor of staying inflated as a pseudo-life-raft in extreme circumstances. While this is of course a valid point, some are arguing that in light winds, foil kites stay in the air longer than inflatables, resulting in less chance of such an occurrence.
On the other side of the debate, is a dirty great elephant in the room. While North have quickly jumped on board with ELF to brand Jokers in North liveries, other companies like Cabrinha have nowhere to go, with nothing for their paid riders to race.
Obviously displeased with the proposal is Luibimtsev from ELF, saying earlier in the week,
“Now ram air kites are going to be declared outlawed. But this is outrageous! I have been around as a rider and coach. I have not seen a single accident because of a foil ‘lacking safety’. What I have seen is that sometimes inflatables float while foils fly. I know it hurts.”
With ELF and Ozone citing performance reasons, and the PKA going in to bat with a list of safety concerns, who will win?
If the votes are there, foil kites will be banned from competition for at least a few years. If the votes aren’t, other kite companies are going to release foils in 2015/2016 for certain, or bow out of racing all together…
Duncraig, WA
