INBOUND: AFS HA Ultra Foil

Prior to this interview, all we knew was that there was some AFS Designer Laurent Borgna magic baked into this new high aspect foil from the AFS crew. So, we hit up AFS HQ in France, and got hold of both Laurent and AFS’s International Business Developer Richard Boudia, to get their take on the new HA Ultra.

Well guys, this looks like another Laurent Borgna winner… Tell us the thinking that went into this one. 

Richard: Yes, it is! I’ve tried to get Laurent Borgna back into SUP downwind foiling – he was one of the pioneers back in 2017, then stopped for a couple of years. Having the experience of the great Pure 800, Laurent wanted to make a high performance DW foil with the biggest range possible while maintaining a great manoeuvrability. 

Laurent: The work done by all the players in the downwind discipline has led to the emergence of a new category of very streamlined boards. The Black Bird is a perfect example of this trend. This type of board allows for the take-off of smaller and more efficient foils than before. Like many other disciplines, this one is constantly evolving, always seeking to find a combination that is both high-performing and accessible.

This one is built for downwind performance. Is this for the experts only, or would downwind newbies enjoy this one too?

Laurent: The answer is yes for experts and intermediates, without hesitation. A suitable board, an ULTRA 750, and two sizes of stabilizers will allow many to cover a very wide range of conditions. However, in my opinion, beginners will still need to go through the essential step of mastering take-off, which, despite significant advancements in equipment, remains easier with a larger foil size, such as the ENDURO 1300 or 1100. 

Richard: Yes, on SUP, it’s perfect for intermediate light weight or expert all weight, on the wing it’s a great foil for nearly any level apart from pure beginners. 

Does it cross over into other disciplines at all? If so, in what context?

Laurent: Yes, of course, this type of foil is particularly interesting and enjoyable to use in light wind conditions. It offers a speed-to-angle ratio that allows you to quickly and efficiently climb upwind on the spot, making the most of its glide during the descent. Its pumping efficiency and relative maneuverability also make it great for surf foiling sessions in waves that aren’t too steep. It’s great for winging, prone and SUP, and it works well for wakefoiling too. 

How does the ‘tubercles’ concept bridge into such a high aspect design?

Laurent: I anticipated that this question would come up, which is why I didn't include it in the overall product development discussion! The “bumps” have a proven, albeit slight, but real effect on making low-speed stalls smoother. This, in turn, delays and eases control in minimal conditions, in other words, improving the low-end range of the foil.

In our range of performance wings, the Pure 800 and 1100 were our reference points. The goal was to gain a bit in low-end range, takeoff, and pumping phases without compromising maximum speeds. We've achieved this with the ULTRA 750, which, in the end, has a very interesting range of use.

It's important to highlight that the effect of the bumps mentioned above allowed us to maintain a rather smooth profile, which is quite different from one of the current trends toward high camber.

I'll conclude by saying that the ULTRA 750 wasn't developed as an ultra-performance and technical foil belonging to a range with many sizes (which would make things more complicated and expensive for users), but rather as a high-performance foil with an ULTRA wide range of use.

Richard: For me, I think it gives it forgiveness and predictability around stall speed, and this makes it highly user friendly for a high performance foil. 

It’s available in 750cm2 currently. Are there plans to increase the range? 

Richard: Yes, we are working on a smaller size, around 600, and a larger one around 900 – it’s in development. We weren't entirely satisfied with the initial tests. Stay tuned!

What’s the feedback been like from the AFS team out riding it?

Laurent: Alex and Richard are my two main contacts for the development of the ULTRA. They both have a few years of experience, different builds, sometimes different expectations, but the same passion. It’s crucial for me not to work with riders who are in a phase of significant progression, as it can quickly lead to misinterpretations. Just to be clear, I'm not saying that Alex and Richard aren't progressing! Haha. I'm simply saying that their experience and technique are essential for validating things throughout the tests. This means it’s necessary to have a good understanding of your physical and technical level, and to be able to put things into perspective from one test to another because we've observed that conditions might have slightly changed, adjustments were different, stiffness was different, etc. There are other riders testing as well! 

Richard:  For me it’s a huge high-performance range, a great foil to go faster and longer on downwind runs. All the team is seriously pumped about it since day one. As you can see on social media, one of our main US ambassadors, Gwen le Tutour, has been loving it since he received it and here is his feedback: “The 800 Pure was one of my favorite foils out there for DW SUP foiling, but when conditions get a bit light, it becomes a bit too physical and technical to be comfortable. I find the 750 Ultra to have everything I loved about the 800 Pure, that feeling of unrestricted glide, speed, flow, fast turns… but with a range that extends those feeling to marginal conditions. The 750 Ultra has a really easy and early take off, so I never question whether or not I would be able to get up right away. From DW SUP foiling, to winging, to flat water pumping, the 750 Ultra is incredible. If I had to keep only one foil, it would be the 750 Ultra. I am so in love with this foil!”