10 years of experience in the manufacture of SUP
In 1999, Chris Defrance founded Redwoodpaddle, an SME based in Perpignan, specialized in the manufacture and sale of paddles. Ten years later, he is about to launch the PWR Foil, an electric foil that allows you to fly on water. Because the trend today is to steal in the water sports and in the glisse?!
"We have been SUP manufacturers for more than 10 years and mainly surf paddle manufacturers. When the foil started to become more democratic, we were able to surf and paddle, but we soon found ourselves frustrated that we couldn't use it more often." explains Chris Defrance. Indeed, in a classic foil, you need a propulsive energy - wave, wind - to take off.
Want to fly on the water at any time
So it was by following the trend that he came up with the idea of developing an electric foil. Here, no need for natural elements to fly, it is the electric motor that provides the energy necessary for lifting . In the classroom Ideal for lakes, inland seas and other water bodies where waves are rare..
"It's nothing extraordinary when you see what's being done in the field of electricity: boat, propulsion... We can't say we invented it because there are similar projects that are born on the left and right."
If - to use Chris Defrance's words - there is nothing extraordinary about designing a foil, the team has struggled to make the engines watertight. It is thanks to their meeting with Stéphane - head of the main design office - in Paris that they were able to finalize this long project, started two years earlier.
"While we were in our infancy, he was already flying a SUP, on his knees, with his wired remote control, more than two years ago." chris explains.
"We have been SUP manufacturers for more than 10 years and mainly surf paddle manufacturers. When the foil started to become more democratic, we were able to surf and paddle, but we soon found ourselves frustrated that we couldn't use it more often." We spent a lot of time in the water, making 3D drawings, tests, welding... There are many moments when we almost gave up. But it was an interesting adventure, in the sense that it exceeded my technical skills. We had to find the right people, especially for the electronic part." he adds.
A foil that fits on several boards
If you hadn't understood it, the PWR Foil is sold alone, without a board. Because the objective is to be able to adapt it to any board: surfing, stand-up paddle, kite, etc., but especially to any person.
"In sliding sports, the board is adapted to the size and level of the person. If the person evolves in his or her practice, he or she will change boards. Within a family, we wanted everyone to be able to use a foil without having to use the same board. The same goes for the rental companies... For us who come from the world of sliding, it was obvious to offer a single power pack" explains the founder of Redwoodpaddle.
What do you mean marche??
The PWR Foil is therefore composed of a foil, integrating a propeller and an electric motor, a mast and an electronic unit that contains, among other things, the batteries and the cooling system. It is this block - of 27 kg - that is then fixed on the board thanks to an insert system, which you can have made by a shaper.
Because the advantage is that you can use this foil with your old planche?! Whether it's SUP, surfing or wakeboarding. If you are more interested in the inflatable, you can buy a SUP directly from Redwoodpaddle who will assemble it at the factory. Count between 400 and 600 ? for an inflatable paddle.
Then, you just have to get on your board, choose your level on the remote control between the three modes and naturally follow the movements of the board, like surfing. You can start taking off from 5 knots (10 km/h) and you can go up to 20 knots (35 km/h)?!
Allow about 1 hour and a half of autonomy - which will nevertheless depend on the wind, the user's weight, his practice, etc. - and 2 hours and 30 minutes of loading.
Finally, you don't need to be an expert on the foil to appreciate the toy, even if a certain balance may be useful. "The idea is not to create a toy for those who already have plenty. We want to bring the feeling of flying over the water and foiling to everyone. All you have to do is like eau?! Even someone who's not used to it can take off, on their knees, after 15 minutes."
Delivery at the beginning of July
The first orders were due in June, but manufacturing - the boards and foil are made in Asia - and assembly - the batteries are made in Montpellier - takes longer than expected. The first foils will therefore be delivered at the beginning of July.
Count 4990 ? for a single foil and about 5500 ? for a complete set (board and foil). But you will have to wait a while because even before its official launch, the first 50 PWR Foils have already been vendus?!
