FLITELab* AMP_Jet

At the time of writing, new brand FLITELab* will soon release its highly anticipated range of products which include the AMP propulsion systems and boards, RAW ultralight prone boards, UHM high mod masts, and FLUX performance wings. We were lucky enough to demo one of their proto 4’2 x 17.5 x 27L AMP_Boards with its ingeniously hidden AMP_Jet propulsion cartridge for the assist. The hype surrounding this system has been huge and we were absolutely frothing to bolt a foil on and take it for a burn.

Electric-assist foiling has emerged in recent years as a way to supercharge your foiling experience. Chip up onto minuscule waves, chip into massive waves, take the effort out of paddle ups, spend more time on foil, accelerate learning and progression, dial in new gear, avoid crowds… The list goes on. However, some brands have found it challenging to get the design right, offering predominantly mast-mounted solutions which can create drag through the water or throw off the weight and agility of the board. Fortunately for us, this new FLITELab* range promises to offer the next step in the evolution of these products. The unprecedented design of AMP_Jet places a powerful jet cartridge inside the reinforced tail cavity of the AMP_Board, making it a fully integrated but removable propulsion unit. It adds only 4kg to the overall weight of the board yet can provide up to 25kg of thrust at the touch of a button. That’s a serious kick! Better yet, FLITELab* have engineered the AMP system to situate the center mass of the cartridge directly above the pivot point of the wing to ensure the board remains agile and responsive.

Their LaunchPad user interface is the finishing touch: it’s an ergonomic, tactile control-center embedded in the board’s nose which wirelessly connects to the motor. It has two big buttons. The first is for Boost. Its intention is to be used as a rider starts paddling for a wave or chop: pick the bump, swing, hit the Boost button, and witness your superhuman strength as your paddle strokes multiply with the jet’s powerful thrust. During our testing we found it so easy to get up on literally anything that came our way, our wave count no doubt doubling compared to normal. Even better, we could chase peaks we wouldn’t normally be able to paddle, helping us escape the crowded lineups altogether.

The second LaunchPad function is Paddle Assist. This is essentially a low power, yet sustained propulsion which can be toggled on and off to help you paddle back out. Be careful, it’s absolutely addictive. We really enjoyed this capability when foiling the AMP at a beachie where the waves were breaking way out the back with a wide gutter in between. The Assist made paddling the small board across the expanse effortless, even with a fair bit of water moving. On other occasions, when we were exhausted from pumping around for five minutes, the Paddle Assist let us rest and catch our breath while the board towed us back out to the peak! Rest assured, there is ample battery capacity so you can lean heavily on both Boost and Paddle Assist features during your session without needing to be conservative. We managed a three-hour super session on the last day and didn’t even feel fatigued.

The 4’2 AMP_Board we rode had the AMP_Jet and both AMP_Cell batteries installed weighing a combined total of 7.2 kg. We noted that pumping and turning felt surprisingly normal and that the extra mass was not really noticeable. Hard carving felt similar to a conventional prone board, and intriguingly a touch more solid through maneuvers, especially when hitting the foam. Perhaps the distributed weight and inertia helps to smooth out the ride in a predictable, positive way. And because the jet is surprisingly quiet and tucked away inside the board, it’s so low key that it’s hard for anyone to even notice it. Like a silent assassin, you can hunt wave after wave while other foilers sit and wonder just how you’re able to catch so many.

If you’ve used up all your charge and the waves are still firing, the batteries can be swapped out in seconds for Round 2, or the AMP_Jet cartridge can be removed altogether and replaced with a foam blank, restoring the board from 7.2kg to a feathery 3.2kg au naturale. Make no mistake, these boards are slim, performance-style shapes that can be shredded with or without motorized support.

We’re told that the AMP_S boards in the current range will include 4’2, 4’6 and 4’8 variants – intended for prone. The AMP_M boards will be 5’0 x 18” @45L and 5’8 x 20” @75L – suitable for prone, wing and downwind. This range of sizes is also expected to expand after the initial launch. Anyone looking to ride AMP can usually downsize a few liters due to the help of the assist, and the idea is that with the AMP system you no longer need to buy multiple boards for different disciplines because this one board can do it all.

We haven’t yet had the opportunity to test the AMP_Mast, which looks to be a next-level mast-based solution compatible with the AMP_Board. It will offer riders Boost and Paddle Assist functions whilst also enabling them to maintain propulsion while up on foil. For this system, a different cartridge is inserted into the AMP_Board’s tail cavity which contains the AMP_Cell battery packs and the control system of the AMP_Mast. If the eFoils already offered by FLITE are anything to judge by, this mast-based system promises to offer a new level of streamlined power and performance.

What else did we like? The LaunchPad gives full control to the rider to adjust the delay, power and duration of the assists according to their preference. It also gathers insightful session stats including wave count, distance and top speeds which sync to the FLITE App automatically. The initial release will also feature the performance-focused RAW prone boards. Compared to the AMP boards, these will have a slightly different shape which has been optimized for non-assisted riding and hence won’t have the tail-cavity. No doubt designed and constructed to the same outstanding quality as all FLITE products, we’re told that in the not-too-distant future further models will be available for winging and downwinding applications.

FLITELab* will also be pushing out a UHM_Mast and some insane looking FLUX mid-aspect “fast carving” wings optimized for peak glide and pumpability, tested relentlessly by Adam Bennetts and a whole team of froth-lords to ensure they are perfect. Undoubtedly, the range will just keep growing as magical creations from the FLITE R&D cauldron continue to come to life.