So if you're only a winger and don't prone or talk to prone surfers and don't do social media or other forums you may have missed the most exciting thing to happen since both foils and wings became available
www.instagram.com/reel/C2siGzMyUkX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
imagine getting up on foil in 8 knots on a 4'2". Ok stop imagining, check the clip and watch it happen.
I was going to move from one board to a 65litre board for waves & an 80L downwind style board for downwind wing missions. mall purchases now on hold until I can get one of these. For both winging and prone.
as the sickening ad that on during the cricket goes 'shut up and take my money'
Definitely exciting tech. Lots of questions to be answered and options to be weighed. Prone and DW it will be really cool. Winging, less so IMO. Prone DW though... that would be pretty cool!
Well the weight of that board will be 6,5-7kg as said on the post. Not comparable with under 5kg board in waves. For light wind you could get 2-3 custom 5kg Kalamas for the price this board will be.
I had foildrive for a short while for this exact use: to be able to wingfoil in light wind with small board and foils. I found it pretty boring. In 8 knots you cannot do anything special other than driving around. I actually enjoy winging in light winds but I found out that major part of it was the challenge to get up and rewarding feeling you get when you do that. Also when on foil you have to concentrate 100% on driving in order not to mess up. That's addicting. I found out that with motor assistant, just driving around got absolute boring quickly. There was no challenge, no reward.
Also now with dw boards i can pump to foil when there is barely any wind to keep on foiling without pumping. Maybe this is okay for beginners who just need to practice foiling. Or older people that want to cruise around without too much physical effort. But for me i see no value for winging. For downwinding, prone surfing etc, this would be amazing.
Well the weight of that board will be 6,5-7kg as said on the post. Not comparable with under 5kg board in waves. For light wind you could get 2-3 custom 5kg Kalamas for the price this board will be.
I had foildrive for a short while for this exact use: to be able to wingfoil in light wind with small board and foils. I found it pretty boring. In 8 knots you cannot do anything special other than driving around. I actually enjoy winging in light winds but I found out that major part of it was the challenge to get up and rewarding feeling you get when you do that. Also when on foil you have to concentrate 100% on driving in order not to mess up. That's addicting. I found out that with motor assistant, just driving around got absolute boring quickly. There was no challenge, no reward.
Also now with dw boards i can pump to foil when there is barely any wind to keep on foiling without pumping. Maybe this is okay for beginners who just need to practice foiling. Or older people that want to cruise around without too much physical effort. But for me i see no value for winging. For downwinding, prone surfing etc, this would be amazing.
Agree with your observation. If you use DW board the limiting factor is the wind and the foil itself. There is no point if you can get up (on gust or using a motor) but can't sustain the flight in lulls.
Winger 12 you make some very valid points I just wanted to chim in.
I am the creator of the AMP board. Yes the 4'2 board is around 7kg but it rides very different to a DW board that is even 6kg. Main reason is most of the additional weight is balanced perfectly over the centre of lift from the front foil so the swing weight is much less.
What I really like about this solution is if it is windy enough I just put the blank cartridge in wing it like any other prone. If the wind drops out its a quick trip (hopefully not a long swim) back to the beach slide the jet cartridge in (takes all of 5secs) and back out I go. It also means I am using the one board for prone (with or without Jet) Winging and DW. It's going to be epic to travel with ;-)
I used to ride 3 boards to wing a 90L for the grovel days, a 60L most the time and then if it was windy enough a prone. We are also creating wing boards that you can use like you every day wing boards but if the wind is light you can just slide the jet in. I personally not a fan of big foils or big wings (5m max for me) And I would much rather ride my 800cm foil and 5m wing with the jet rather than a 1200cm, 6m and DW board.
It might not be for everyone but the people that have used is so far absolutely love it.
At the end of the day whatever you use if it work for you then that's perfect. Hopefully we have created a solution that get people out more often and a better experience overall.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Cheers, Chris
Well the weight of that board will be 6,5-7kg as said on the post. Not comparable with under 5kg board in waves. For light wind you could get 2-3 custom 5kg Kalamas for the price this board will be.
I had foildrive for a short while for this exact use: to be able to wingfoil in light wind with small board and foils. I found it pretty boring. In 8 knots you cannot do anything special other than driving around. I actually enjoy winging in light winds but I found out that major part of it was the challenge to get up and rewarding feeling you get when you do that. Also when on foil you have to concentrate 100% on driving in order not to mess up. That's addicting. I found out that with motor assistant, just driving around got absolute boring quickly. There was no challenge, no reward.
Also now with dw boards i can pump to foil when there is barely any wind to keep on foiling without pumping. Maybe this is okay for beginners who just need to practice foiling. Or older people that want to cruise around without too much physical effort. But for me i see no value for winging. For downwinding, prone surfing etc, this would be amazing.
Same, had the Foildrive for light wind winging (still used for prone), but with a 5 mtr wing and 74ltr light wind board I'm going now in 6knots so no point carrying the extra weight. Ok for beginners I guess, or those that can't pump.
Doubtful it will be epic to travel with. Airlines would not allow the battery onboard. From what I hear this is a real pain for efoil enthusiasts, even to the point where people are shipping the batteries ahead or renting and even buying batteries at their destination. I haven't heard much about this for foildrive, I wonder if anyone is traveling successfully?
(EDIT) unless maybe the battery is somehow under 160Wh which is the upper limit for air travel...
What I really like about this solution is if it is windy enough I just put the blank cartridge in wing it like any other prone. If the wind drops out its a quick trip (hopefully not a long swim) back to the beach slide the jet cartridge in (takes all of 5secs) and back out I go. It also means I am using the one board for prone (with or without Jet) Winging and DW. It's going to be epic to travel with ;-)
Hi Chris, So if the weight is 7Kg with the jet and battery in. How light is the board with the jet and battery removed (lets say its super windy and you just wing it like a normal sinker)?
Doubtful it will be epic to travel with. Airlines would not allow the battery onboard. From what I hear this is a real pain for efoil enthusiasts, even to the point where people are shipping the batteries ahead or renting and even buying batteries at their destination. I haven't heard much about this for foildrive, I wonder if anyone is traveling successfully?
(EDIT) unless maybe the battery is somehow under 160Wh which is the upper limit for air travel...
Yes the batteries are under 160wh ;-) there is two which you are allowed to travel with and they connect together with some super smart tech to create a 300wh battery.
Well the weight of that board will be 6,5-7kg as said on the post. Not comparable with under 5kg board in waves. For light wind you could get 2-3 custom 5kg Kalamas for the price this board will be.
I had foildrive for a short while for this exact use: to be able to wingfoil in light wind with small board and foils. I found it pretty boring. In 8 knots you cannot do anything special other than driving around. I actually enjoy winging in light winds but I found out that major part of it was the challenge to get up and rewarding feeling you get when you do that. Also when on foil you have to concentrate 100% on driving in order not to mess up. That's addicting. I found out that with motor assistant, just driving around got absolute boring quickly. There was no challenge, no reward.
Also now with dw boards i can pump to foil when there is barely any wind to keep on foiling without pumping. Maybe this is okay for beginners who just need to practice foiling. Or older people that want to cruise around without too much physical effort. But for me i see no value for winging. For downwinding, prone surfing etc, this would be amazing.
Same, had the Foildrive for light wind winging (still used for prone), but with a 5 mtr wing and 74ltr light wind board I'm going now in 6knots so no point carrying the extra weight. Ok for beginners I guess, or those that can't pump.
Thats impressive that you can get going in that little wind. I must weigh just a fraction more than you ??
What I really like about this solution is if it is windy enough I just put the blank cartridge in wing it like any other prone. If the wind drops out its a quick trip (hopefully not a long swim) back to the beach slide the jet cartridge in (takes all of 5secs) and back out I go. It also means I am using the one board for prone (with or without Jet) Winging and DW. It's going to be epic to travel with ;-)
Hi Chris, So if the weight is 7Kg with the jet and battery in. How light is the board with the jet and battery removed (lets say its super windy and you just wing it like a normal sinker)?
Not final weights but board only is around 3.3 -3.5.
Winger 12 you make some very valid points I just wanted to chim in.
I am the creator of the AMP board. Yes the 4'2 board is around 7kg but it rides very different to a DW board that is even 6kg. Main reason is most of the additional weight is balanced perfectly over the centre of lift from the front foil so the swing weight is much less.
What I really like about this solution is if it is windy enough I just put the blank cartridge in wing it like any other prone. If the wind drops out its a quick trip (hopefully not a long swim) back to the beach slide the jet cartridge in (takes all of 5secs) and back out I go. It also means I am using the one board for prone (with or without Jet) Winging and DW. It's going to be epic to travel with ;-)
I used to ride 3 boards to wing a 90L for the grovel days, a 60L most the time and then if it was windy enough a prone. We are also creating wing boards that you can use like you every day wing boards but if the wind is light you can just slide the jet in. I personally not a fan of big foils or big wings (5m max for me) And I would much rather ride my 800cm foil and 5m wing with the jet rather than a 1200cm, 6m and DW board.
It might not be for everyone but the people that have used is so far absolutely love it.
At the end of the day whatever you use if it work for you then that's perfect. Hopefully we have created a solution that get people out more often and a better experience overall.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Cheers, Chris
Thanks for comments Chris!
How much is the weight difference between blank cartridge and jet? I guess that board is not made for jumping?
For traveling i can see this is could be really nice one board solution as board is small and no need for taking big wing's and foils with you. I don't prone but could imagine that on windless days on vacation this would allow guys without surfing background to prone pretty easily.
I guess the battery is small because this is used only in short bursts to get up. So airline travel should be possible.
Hopefully the controls has been made easy. I remember all the taping of foildrive controller to wing handles. It never got it in comfortable position so that i could use wing handles without worrying about accidentally hitting the throttle.
Hey Winger
Not final weights but we are trying our hardest in production to maintain the proto weights but the AMPJet with batteries is around 3.5.
Haven't jump the board my self we are just getting into load testing the boards in the Lab. All the protos held up really well and Adam breaks everything!! So they have survived that so far. The should be pretty strong. They cavity in the board was designed as an i beam connecting the custom tracks with the deck. We have hit sandbars and reefs at full speed with no effects so far.
The software is next Level. There is the launch Pad on the deck that you use when proning. You just have to press the button and the rest is taken care of from acceleration to thrust and timing and it knows once you are up on foil or have fallen and turns the Jet off. We are even working on an auto mode that know when you are paddling for a wave and turns the system on for you. For winging you attach to your front handle a super small remote that just has a single button. That button talks with the launch Pad and just tells the system to go. Then it handles the rest. Once you are up on foil it knows so even if you accidentally hit the button it wouldn't do anything. ;-)
Well the weight of that board will be 6,5-7kg as said on the post. Not comparable with under 5kg board in waves. For light wind you could get 2-3 custom 5kg Kalamas for the price this board will be.
I had foildrive for a short while for this exact use: to be able to wingfoil in light wind with small board and foils. I found it pretty boring. In 8 knots you cannot do anything special other than driving around. I actually enjoy winging in light winds but I found out that major part of it was the challenge to get up and rewarding feeling you get when you do that. Also when on foil you have to concentrate 100% on driving in order not to mess up. That's addicting. I found out that with motor assistant, just driving around got absolute boring quickly. There was no challenge, no reward.
Also now with dw boards i can pump to foil when there is barely any wind to keep on foiling without pumping. Maybe this is okay for beginners who just need to practice foiling. Or older people that want to cruise around without too much physical effort. But for me i see no value for winging. For downwinding, prone surfing etc, this would be amazing.
Agree with your observation. If you use DW board the limiting factor is the wind and the foil itself. There is no point if you can get up (on gust or using a motor) but can't sustain the flight in lulls.
Sustaining a flight by pumping the foil and the wing takes a lot less energy than the initial getting going, even with a DW board. If your gear is easy to get going but you have difficulties maintaining the flight then something is off, perhaps the board is too big and clumsy for your foil, or something else. Also, think of a scenario of riding waves in light winds - the aid could help you to navigate to the wind line, and/or to take off using a small wing, and then the day would be only as boring as boring are the waves in your spot. When on a wave the lulls in the wind don't matter at all, you would be using the wave to keep going.
I feel like this would be amazing somewhere like Manawa, if the wind sketches out you can still get up on the foil and get home.
what's the lead time for production Chris?
I appreciate the design, and it might be more necessary for prone and DW, but I really don't need my wingfoiling hobby to be even more expensive. The price of wings are already ridiculous enough. Sorry to kill the vibe.
I appreciate the design, and it might be more necessary for prone and DW, but I really don't need my wingfoiling hobby to be even more expensive. The price of wings are already ridiculous enough. Sorry to kill the vibe.
This will probably reduce your wing quiver to 1, while increasing the range. And it will last longer than any wing. IMO, because few like big wings and foils, electric assist will be the default in a few years.
I appreciate the design, and it might be more necessary for prone and DW, but I really don't need my wingfoiling hobby to be even more expensive. The price of wings are already ridiculous enough. Sorry to kill the vibe.
This will probably reduce your wing quiver to 1, while increasing the range. And it will last longer than any wing. IMO, because few like big wings and foils, electric assist will be the default in a few years.
I'm not so sure. I mostly rig my wing for how powered I want to feel on foil. I see the benefit for ultra low wind, but I would never put down the money for the benefit. With an efficient board and foil you can get up in little wind, and you still want some wind to have fun once on foil.
I appreciate the design, and it might be more necessary for prone and DW, but I really don't need my wingfoiling hobby to be even more expensive. The price of wings are already ridiculous enough. Sorry to kill the vibe.
This will probably reduce your wing quiver to 1, while increasing the range. And it will last longer than any wing. IMO, because few like big wings and foils, electric assist will be the default in a few years.
I'm not so sure. I mostly rig my wing for how powered I want to feel on foil. I see the benefit for ultra low wind, but I would never put down the money for the benefit. With an efficient board and foil you can get up in little wind, and you still want some wind to have fun once on foil.
As a winger and prone efoiler, it's hard to compare the two. I prone efoil up to about 15 knots, gets too hard to battle the wind getting back to your start point in anything stronger. Many will say, ""you can wing in that", yes you easily could but it's a different feeling having no wing in your hand
There are two of us who wing and prone efoil, both surfers As we are at least an hours drive from real surf we have tailored our Foildrive's to work in our bay mush, small prone boards with good sized wings We both agree a good prone efoil session is at least as good or better than a wing swell session, so much freedom without having to hold a wing
The jet system wouldn't work for us, we need to foil back upwind but the prop option would work
Back in the day at the start of wingfoiling it was 1 board, 1 foil, 1 wing (ok maybe 2 wings) This sport is cheaper than windsurfing! Practical, budget friendly. Look where we are now.. ![]()
What's next? AI?
I appreciate the design, and it might be more necessary for prone and DW, but I really don't need my wingfoiling hobby to be even more expensive. The price of wings are already ridiculous enough. Sorry to kill the vibe.
This will probably reduce your wing quiver to 1, while increasing the range. And it will last longer than any wing. IMO, because few like big wings and foils, electric assist will be the default in a few years.
I'm not so sure. I mostly rig my wing for how powered I want to feel on foil. I see the benefit for ultra low wind, but I would never put down the money for the benefit. With an efficient board and foil you can get up in little wind, and you still want some wind to have fun once on foil.
With electric assist taking care of the bottom end, we may see new wings optimised for greater wind range.
Back in the day at the start of wingfoiling it was 1 board, 1 foil, 1 wing (ok maybe 2 wings) This sport is cheaper than windsurfing! Practical, budget friendly. Look where we are now.. ![]()
What's next? AI?
That first gen gear was awful though.
I appreciate the design, and it might be more necessary for prone and DW, but I really don't need my wingfoiling hobby to be even more expensive. The price of wings are already ridiculous enough. Sorry to kill the vibe.
This will probably reduce your wing quiver to 1, while increasing the range. And it will last longer than any wing. IMO, because few like big wings and foils, electric assist will be the default in a few years.
I'm not so sure. I mostly rig my wing for how powered I want to feel on foil. I see the benefit for ultra low wind, but I would never put down the money for the benefit. With an efficient board and foil you can get up in little wind, and you still want some wind to have fun once on foil.
As a winger and prone efoiler, it's hard to compare the two. I prone efoil up to about 15 knots, gets too hard to battle the wind getting back to your start point in anything stronger. Many will say, ""you can wing in that", yes you easily could but it's a different feeling having no wing in your hand
There are two of us who wing and prone efoil, both surfers As we are at least an hours drive from real surf we have tailored our Foildrive's to work in our bay mush, small prone boards with good sized wings We both agree a good prone efoil session is at least as good or better than a wing swell session, so much freedom without having to hold a wing
The jet system wouldn't work for us, we need to foil back upwind but the prop option would work
Airsail - your situation is exactly the same as me. Foil drive has allowed me to surf the crap I get at my local beach. I see winging as a tow in to waves but I still find my handling of it clumsy. My Gen 1 FD is still doing the job after 19months and I still love it. It's improved my overall foiling massively.
Back in the day at the start of wingfoiling it was 1 board, 1 foil, 1 wing (ok maybe 2 wings) This sport is cheaper than windsurfing! Practical, budget friendly. Look where we are now.. ![]()
What's next? AI?
Its mad to watch from the sidelines and pretty awesome imo. Harnessing these different technologies so we can ride energy and have fun - keep on bringing it.
activechris
Make sure we can buy the board and battery/jet separately. That way I can buy the board then buy he propulsion when I can afford it.
Mike
Winger 12 you make some very valid points I just wanted to chim in.
I am the creator of the AMP board. Yes the 4'2 board is around 7kg but it rides very different to a DW board that is even 6kg. Main reason is most of the additional weight is balanced perfectly over the centre of lift from the front foil so the swing weight is much less.
What I really like about this solution is if it is windy enough I just put the blank cartridge in wing it like any other prone. If the wind drops out its a quick trip (hopefully not a long swim) back to the beach slide the jet cartridge in (takes all of 5secs) and back out I go. It also means I am using the one board for prone (with or without Jet) Winging and DW. It's going to be epic to travel with ;-)
I used to ride 3 boards to wing a 90L for the grovel days, a 60L most the time and then if it was windy enough a prone. We are also creating wing boards that you can use like you every day wing boards but if the wind is light you can just slide the jet in. I personally not a fan of big foils or big wings (5m max for me) And I would much rather ride my 800cm foil and 5m wing with the jet rather than a 1200cm, 6m and DW board.
It might not be for everyone but the people that have used is so far absolutely love it.
At the end of the day whatever you use if it work for you then that's perfect. Hopefully we have created a solution that get people out more often and a better experience overall.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Cheers, Chris
I'am not sure what's happening here?
A few questions:
1) Do you pop out a battery cartridge that is part of the board and replace it with a blank cartridge when you don't need any assist?
2) Is the mast and fuse with front wing and stab integrated with the "jet" and form part of the package?
3) When you don't need the assist can you use any mast, etc.?
4) Can you provide some more description or pictures of what the various components look like separately and together as a complete board?
Thanks ![]()
Hey Winger
Not final weights but we are trying our hardest in production to maintain the proto weights but the AMPJet with batteries is around 3.5.
Haven't jump the board my self we are just getting into load testing the boards in the Lab. All the protos held up really well and Adam breaks everything!! So they have survived that so far. The should be pretty strong. They cavity in the board was designed as an i beam connecting the custom tracks with the deck. We have hit sandbars and reefs at full speed with no effects so far.
The software is next Level. There is the launch Pad on the deck that you use when proning. You just have to press the button and the rest is taken care of from acceleration to thrust and timing and it knows once you are up on foil or have fallen and turns the Jet off. We are even working on an auto mode that know when you are paddling for a wave and turns the system on for you. For winging you attach to your front handle a super small remote that just has a single button. That button talks with the launch Pad and just tells the system to go. Then it handles the rest. Once you are up on foil it knows so even if you accidentally hit the button it wouldn't do anything. ;-)
Hey Chris. Thanks for all the info. Super stoked. Just sent you a PM!
activechris
Make sure we can buy the board and battery/jet separately. That way I can buy the board then buy he propulsion when I can afford it.
Mike
Yes you can buy the components. ;-)
Winger 12 you make some very valid points I just wanted to chim in.
I am the creator of the AMP board. Yes the 4'2 board is around 7kg but it rides very different to a DW board that is even 6kg. Main reason is most of the additional weight is balanced perfectly over the centre of lift from the front foil so the swing weight is much less.
What I really like about this solution is if it is windy enough I just put the blank cartridge in wing it like any other prone. If the wind drops out its a quick trip (hopefully not a long swim) back to the beach slide the jet cartridge in (takes all of 5secs) and back out I go. It also means I am using the one board for prone (with or without Jet) Winging and DW. It's going to be epic to travel with ;-)
I used to ride 3 boards to wing a 90L for the grovel days, a 60L most the time and then if it was windy enough a prone. We are also creating wing boards that you can use like you every day wing boards but if the wind is light you can just slide the jet in. I personally not a fan of big foils or big wings (5m max for me) And I would much rather ride my 800cm foil and 5m wing with the jet rather than a 1200cm, 6m and DW board.
It might not be for everyone but the people that have used is so far absolutely love it.
At the end of the day whatever you use if it work for you then that's perfect. Hopefully we have created a solution that get people out more often and a better experience overall.
Feel free to ask any questions.
Cheers, Chris
I'am not sure what's happening here?
A few questions:
1) Do you pop out a battery cartridge that is part of the board and replace it with a blank cartridge when you don't need any assist?
2) Is the mast and fuse with front wing and stab integrated with the "jet" and form part of the package?
3) When you don't need the assist can you use any mast, etc.?
4) Can you provide some more description or pictures of what the various components look like separately and together as a complete board?
Thanks ![]()
1. Yes when you don't want the assist just slide in the blank cartridge. I do it all the time. I usually start without the Jet Assist until I run out of steam or the tide fills in. Then swap the blank for the AMP Jet and go back out. Take all of 5seconds. We have spent a long time getting the weight right so you don't even need to move your mast. Also I have winged a few times when it not enough to get up with a 5m and 800cm foil so I use the Jet. Then we the wind builds I come back to the beach and pull the jet out, then go back out.
2. No the tracks even though they are custom 13" with easy exit to get your foil without removing the bolts are standard width so bolt on you favourite foil ;-)
3. Yes
4. au.fliteboard.com/pages/flitelab
Cheers, Chris
activechris
Make sure we can buy the board and battery/jet separately. That way I can buy the board then buy he propulsion when I can afford it.
Mike
Yes you can buy the components. ;-)
Great thanks