53 riders + The Hydroptere as a guest Star



A superb video that summarizes it all : "There are some events that make the history of a sport"
http://vimeo.com/42574035



At 3:26 Marc Blanc says "Today, we go beyond 30 knots on a foil [Board] so it's starting to be impressive". You can spot him very easily on the video as he has the red combo (Flashy Orange board + red B5 Fone kite]

Men results http://www.kiterace.fr/uploads/Result%20Kitefoil2012Men.pdf
Women results http://www.kiterace.fr/uploads/Result%20Kitefoil2012women.pdf

Max Nocher only 17, Foil board World Champion and Top Kite Racer


The competition as seen by Karla from the Puerto Rico crew (6 competitors)
http://www.kitegoodwinds.com/blogs/news/6072888-goodwinds-lift-team-at-the-2012-foil-kite-racing-world-cup-in-france
So Karla, will you and the guys organize the event in Puerto Rico next year ?

Galeries:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150875524924360.429634.176332814359&type=3
(2 pages)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/akunamatata/sets/72157629789142106/

Were helmets mandatory for the race or did everyone just decide to wear them? Probably a good idea in case you fall in front of one of those hydrofoils wizzing by just below the surface.

Another picture gallery Credit Jean-Francois from photos2sports
Day 2 : May 18th 2012 https://picasaweb.google.com/108543322950291462968/1ereCoupeDuMondeDeKitefoilALaCiotatLe18052012
Day 3, May 19th 2012: https://picasaweb.google.com/108543322950291462968/1ereCoupeDuMondeDeKiteFoilALaCiotatLe19052012

To answer to your question, I don't think that a rider would take the risk to remove his/her helmet during an IKA competition. This picture was probably taken between the finish line and the beach.
Actually, no person were injured despite the pace of the races and despite the high number of competitors.
So it is a bit like cycling on the road. I don't say that accidents never happen. However when everybody looks around him/her, is careful and can avoid obstacles, things are OK.

Nice!!!! I would be a clear winner on my foil around here since I am pretty much the only one that rides one.

After watching the above video, more and more of your fellow countrymen will realize there is a new Foil Board manufacturer in the US who has ranked 2 competitors in the top 10. So you should have many "neighbours" very shortly !
Nice job Nick from MHL !

I wonder why Carafino was not more "visible" at this event.

Who is it?
I know Rista was going to make a foil blade, but does he make a whole board and setup?

Taut', I've spent so much time gathering information for this post, http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2374988 that you granted me with a 2x thumb up in march

Actually, to my knowledge is located in the US or administrated by:
1 - Carafino manufacture Board + Foil (yours ?) - from Hawaii
2 - Rista last september was manufacturing the T bar + wing + stab only - No board - Presently, the Foil range of his shop is under construction - from Hawaii
3 - since march 2012, MHL (Nick Leason) from Puerto Rico manufacture the Lift, board + full foil
see http://www.facebook.com/mhlcustom -

\

Ahh true. I can blame the lack of coffee

Yes I have the low AR foil from Carafino. Have not been able to take it out as much as I want, but fun when I do. I had the first model he made, and then now just got a newer one.

A.

Mint! I had a go on one of Mango's foils one time, they get one hell of an upwind angle in light winds.

Do they beat the best box rule raceboards? maybe in certain winds? what are they like in 25 knots +?

A friend of a friend has a very large "fishing" experience towing with a foil - all the more exciting.. errr i think!

2012 foils weight 8 pounds (4 kg all equiped foil only) painless for the shoulder between the car and the sea, the thickness of Max Nocher T bar (vertical bar) is 10 or 12 mm which assures him a superior upwind angle.


Until end 2011, foil boards were slightly inferior due to the downwind leg
Upwind : better
downwind : inferior
cross wind: equal

Since March 2012, things have changed, and need to be validated;
The first four foils of the worlds could go over 30 knots (Marc Blanc is said to have a Vmax of 35 to 36 knots with his current model)
A new Foil brand is going to be released soon which incorporates these breakthroughs (Remi Delhaye design) mixing high speed and comfort.


The foils are not called the magic carpets for nothing
I am not sure wether the race boards would have sustained the worlds last day conditions (30 knots) with as much ease as the foilboards have ...