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LesFoilz (FZ): What are the plans of flysurfer in the short run (2-3 years) in terms of R&D and future kites (future big speed 4 and Viron excluded)?
Armin Harich (AH): We keep a lot our R&D Details secret. We are working on a lot of different new exiting new projects. We continuously increase our R&D Team, to be able to do that. Time will tell which products will make the big step from a research project into serial production. We have a lot more research projects than products that will finally get out . We only want to release products that are worthy. But that is it how it is if you want to be a step in front of other brands.
FZ: Would you go for only one model like F-one is doing with its bandit, that would be sort of allrounder for all uses or several types of kites (speed 4, psycho 5, Unity) to answer specific needs with a specific public for each model (beginner, old school / freestyle, waves)?
AH: F-One has 2 Kites (Bandid and the cheaper Revolt). We try to develop products with a as wide as possible usability. Our Foils perform very well on Water, Land and Snow. The SPEED is a specialist for hangtime and upwind. But it is also excellent for freestyle. Dylan just won with it a lot of dutch freestyle competition with the SPEED.
FZ: Is the psycho 4 done? If yes, when will you stop producing it?
AH: We have PSYCHO4 in Stock and will produce it as long as customers want it. We know that new products will allways reduce sales of existing products. But we let the customers decide which product they prefer.
FZ: Waveriding (with or without straps) is an activity which is developing very fast nowadays (there are for instance many surf kites produced by different brands). Do you think that flysurfer and, more generally, foil kites have advantages and therefore a role to play in wave riding?
AH: Foil Kites do have their place also in Wave riding. The stability when depowered due to the light weight and the durability are unrivaled. In certain situations the reverse launch ability of a Foil will save you. When being washed a Double skin Foil has more a a chance of being pushed in front of the wave instead of being pulled under by it and therefore will survive a full ejection better than a Tube kite. But at the end, it is a personal preference what someone prefers.
Thanks
FZ: Many thanks again Armin for participating to this interview. It is very much appreciated and I am sure that members of this forum and others have enjoyed reading it.
Stef for LesFoilZ.com