It's now iQFoil

trademark issues...

windsurf.star-board.com/new-name-for-the-olympic-foiling/

" So happy to say that we at Starboard are well on our way to meet World Sailing's February 2020 ex factory shipment date request of the new Olympic windsurfing gear. Going forward the class will be named the iQFoil class. The evolution came about since we were informed that our trademark request for iFoil was not accepted in Germany and the USA. Looking forward to see Innovation and Quality engraved into our Olympic foiling future, the same way as we at Starboard have promoted IQ as our slogan over the last 20 years."

not sure other windsurfing brands will be thrilled

I think multi manufacturer will only work if the board is popular and volumes are there. Will it be manufactured in same factory ? or will it be a different factory ? Foiling sailing classes are less popular than non foiling sailing classes. Just compare the WASPZ to the Laser as a simple case in point. I might be wrong but I can't see more than several hundred iQFoils globally since it is an elite Olympic class like the RSX. It won't be easy to get an iQFoil either since most of the initial manufacturing stock will go to Europe since it will be ready for the start of the Euro season. Australia might be late 2020 before iQFoil arrives. Compare to the LT class where we have close to 500 just in Australia and thousands globally now with over seven cobranded manufacturer distributors.

Lucky it's not a test, or I'd fail it.

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RichardG said..
I think multi manufacturer will only work if the board is popular and volumes are there. Will it be manufactured in same factory ? or will it be a different factory ? Foiling sailing classes are less popular than non foiling sailing classes. Just compare the WASPZ to the Laser as a simple case in point. I might be wrong but I can't see more than several hundred iQFoils globally since it is an elite Olympic class like the RSX. It won't be easy to get an iQFoil either since most of the initial manufacturing stock will go to Europe since it will be ready for the start of the Euro season. Australia might be late 2020 before iQFoil arrives. Compare to the LT class where we have close to 500 just in Australia and thousands globally now with over seven cobranded manufacturer distributors.

There must be 400 just sitting in garages

If there was an LT test it would probably be in the Foil section anyway cos that's where they seem to be most interested.

I believe it's more expensive than a windsurfers LT but don't quote me on that.

Amazingly cheap so there will be at least as many iQFoils as RSX. Most RSX are in garages or sheds like the 10 more or less in Perth at WAIS RPYC. Can't wait.

Deliveries should begin Jan 20
www.surfertoday.com/windsurfing/iqfoil-windsurfing-equipment-to-launch-in-january-2020

"World Sailing, the world governing body for the sport of sailing, announced that the initial 50 orders will be supplied by the end of January. The equipment production will then increase to 150 boards in February, 200 boards in March, 300 by the end of May, and 400 onwards. The Paris 2024 windsurfing gear will be distributed equally among all Member National Authorities (MNA).

The International Windsurfing Association (IWA) will be responsible for managing the iQFoil class, alongside Formula Windsurfing, IFCA, Raceboard, RSOne, Techno 293, ID2CA, and ISWC. World Sailing and IWA have also confirmed that the Techno 293 will remain as the conventional board sailing equipment of choice for making the bridge between junior and top-level, high-performance racing. The new Techno Wind Foil 130 will serve as an intermediate platform between Techno 293's classic One Design and the new iQFoil."

This should be a great relief to those who've been concerned about the lack of iQFoil numbers at their local races and the perceived lack of affordable OD foilracing (e.g. the Techno Foil).

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Subsonic said..
Not buying an IQ foil, but im going ahead and getting the race gear ive been putting off, while its still available.
Windfoil is still be a bit niche and the race equipment's been hard to get a hold of without it being in the olympics. Now all the olympic hopefuls are going to be buying it up on top of that.

Good plan. I think that is likely what most consumers will do looking to upgrade foil racegear, since the iQFoil probably won't be in Australia for a while. The cheaper option will be to plug and play with existing kit or get more advanced and more readily available race gear, possibly cheaper than the iQFoil. On the other hand if Starboard wants to they can supply cheap iQFoil gear to enthusiasts here on a heavily discounted initial basis and create a one design class immediately in Australia. They probably won't do that, since Europe will get the gear first and so it will remain an elite class. There is a room for the development of a cheaper one design foil race class I think if there are enough foil racers interested.

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t36 said..
"I think that is likely what most consumers will do looking to upgrade foil racegear"

1. no - most foiler will not use full-bore-race-foils (one reason is, that they need formula like foilboards and dedicated foil racing sails) they will go for low-aspect or medium/high aspect foils (mostly on their regular freeride/freerace/slalom-boards).

2. Starboard will produce a limited number of iQ foils - in first line for the olympic class. I was told about altogether 500 2020 - maybe someone can confirm this number? This will not be a realistic option on the used stuff market for years.

3. NP produced >2000 pinkies (I don't know the number of the 2019 AL one) - so if we talk about large scale development - the AL NP foils were much more important.

4. what should I do with an iQFOIL in 2 years? Foiling is still developing very fast - If I want race stuff - I will buy the new developments and nothing outdated from 2019 (what was developed 2018).

5. "I think if there are enough foil racers interested." yeah racing - I learnt from your LT-bubble, that everyone loves the LT, because you can do racing. Next april, when the season will start in bavaria, 2 friends will visit me for a couple of days to learn foiling from me. Both are excellent slalom surfer - they will never do foil races race in their life ...

Thanks for your perspective. Not sure why you raise the issue of the one design longboard, which I did not mention in the post to which you responded, I have learned that foilers don't like that name being uttered here, regarding it as obscene and taboo.

Foiling is a great thing. I was never suggesting all foilers were interested in racing but rather I was just was referring to those who are or might be looking at race gear.

It seems, unless I have misunderstood your post that you seem to suggest foil racing will not be a big affair, since many foilers are not interested in racing.

I gather that you suggest also that many of those who like foil racing will not adopt a one design class rule due to being obsessed with development and the latest gear.

All of these factors you reference, support the case that foiling is not yet ready to be an Olympic class and that it would have been better to wait for foiling to mature before a class is selected for the Olympics. Many commentators including Bruce Kendall suggested this was the case and that it might be better to wait until 2028 for foiling to develop a cheaper and more accessible class but interestingly the foiling interest groups argued this iQFoil was best for the sport. It sounds like the promoters did not really give World Sailing the correct picture. It does sound like iQFoil will be as rare as RSX and the iQFoil class may not be that popular nor accessible as a one design class. Have I misunderstood your comments ?

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RichardG said..

Many commentators including Bruce Kendall suggested this was the case and that it might be better to wait until 2028 for foiling to develop a cheaper and more accessible class but interestingly the foiling interest groups argued this iQFoil was best for the sport.

Hi Richard,

you are talking about that Bruce Kendall who promotes/promoted the Glider thing that was in the race for the 2024 olympic games? Righty, probably one of the most objective voices then. A one-design class is probably never the most popular or the most innovative class. The IQ-Foil class has a big wind-range so fits into the olympic thing very good, as it turned into a huge TV-show at some point and they have to deliver. In the end, there is no easy or cheap olympic gold, even if you just need a pair of running shoes for that short 100m gold medal :)

In Germany the trials are somehow "open", mixing the existing foil class with the IQ-Foil class for races. We will most likely host one of the races at our lake, I am really interested how that turns out in the end. But I can see, that foiling brings a lot of action back to our spot, because a 3-4 wind force day can be a good day for all of us, from 60-120kg, without fighting that big chunky sail....

David