Bic has produced their first new design in ten years for foiling. Also looks like they dropped Kerfoil in favor of AFS for their branded foils. Kerfoils were expensive and I read a couple reports of failures under heavier riders.
translated:
2008, 10 years , is the exact date since the French brand Bic Sport no longer produced a "new" windsurfing board , based for a decade on shapes that have proven themselves as the Techno 293 OD , the Techno (133, 148, 160D and 185D) without forgetting its Beach range for schools. 10 years so that Bic Sport no longer produced new windsurfing boards in France until the rise in power in recent months the windfoil discipline ...
In partnership with Jean-Marie Guiriec, Bic Sportshould make a comeback on the windsurfing scene, and not least, since it will propose a new model next spring, the Techno Wind Foil! As its name suggests, this board was developed for the practice of foil but not only since it will also be a classic freeride board for use with a fin. Long 230 cm, 81.5 cm wide for a volume of 130 liters, this board will be offered 2 versions, an ACE-TEC construction exclusive to Bic Sport and built in the factories of Vannes in Brittany and a Pro version in C-TEC (carbon sandwich).
And the French brand does not stop there since it will also proposea foil developed in partnership with AFS Hydrofoils , a carbon model, freeride, evolutive with other AFS wings and made in France, too!
Bic Sport logically wants to register as a player in the development of foil and it will be interesting to note that the French entity is visibly very motivated in deciding to relaunch its production in France for the ACE-TEC model of this Techno Wind Foil!To learn more about Bic Sport: http://www.bicsport.com
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Nice to see Bic is moving into Foilsport in a big way. I always liked their products. I'm a little confused by the quote - are they saying they didn't produce any windsurf board for 10 year? Or they produced them overseas but not in France? Or they didn't have any new designs in the past 10 years?
BTW - 230 CM long - I recall when the Hypersonic was thought to be a crazy board because it was so short and wide (227 and 75 or so).
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Lots of pics here: https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/It-s-been-a-while--Bic-is-back?page=1
Randy, first new design in 10 years. The Techno series has served them well and serves a segment of the market especially in Europe vs more expensive epoxy sandwich boards. Some discussion too that since the Techno OD is a feeder into the Olympic class (and a big seller for them), they wanted something that would succeed it to feed into the likely Olympic foilboard for 2024.
More info: https://www.windmag.com/video-video-zoom-techno-wind-foil-bic-sport
Looks like Bic Sport is changing ownership, too
I wonder if it will still be "Developed and Produced in France" once it is under new ownership?
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I imagine they'll still be made in France as it would be a bit expensive to move the facility since they use molds for much of their production. That's just a guess.
Ace-tec version of the Techno Foil showing up in France for about 1,299.00 € and carbon is about 1k more. Expect to see something similar to those prices in dollars here. I imagine the Ace-tec version might be compelling for an intro point foil board especially since it can also take a fin.
I thought Bic made their ACE-TEC models in France but their higher end construction was made by the cobra factory, But looking at their webpage, I cant tell if they are only making one model now. I always liked their stuff.
Gene
Gene Mathis
A few French companies (Horue for certain) are getting their boards built by Flikka in Slovenia. Solid reputation from what I've read. Shameless plug: Tillo's boards are well-priced vs a lot of production boards. Just be patient though.
"to relaunch its production in France for the ACE-TEC model of this Techno Wind Foil!"
"the board is made either of carbon (8 kg) or with the ACE-TEC process exclusive to Bic Sport (9 kg), in Vannes, in the factories of the brand. "
Not that it matters, but their write ups could be saying only the ACE-TEC is produced in France.
Gene
Gene Mathis
Yeah, apparently the French are suggesting the carbon will be a Cobra board and a few aren't exactly happy about it.
The foil is the AFS85. Price should be the same under either badge but you may be able to find the AFS cheaper. It's a nice foil, btw.
User review in France: (google translate) This is the Ace-tec version (the cheaper one). Note that both Bic and Exocet have Acetec boards that are fairly reasonable for a new board (approx $1300).
Last test of this Bic 130 last night in more solid conditions, very irregular wind in force and direction 11-25 knots in 7.8m ². ...
As expected this board is super easy all the time and especially in these conditions where it never rears. She keeps her plate in the risqué / soft sequences with a good performance without having the feeling of concentrating to death. The power is there to negotiate the replacement and the near. The accelerations are not logically worth a slalom light but in the length it pulls the pin of the game.
At this little game, I spend the most gusts in the (?) without fear of going to fault. It's hot at times in 7.8m ², the board rises from the rear, the wet surface becomes very weak, it traces ... 34.66knots in Vmax in a joke unfortunately too short to make a good 500, I jibe off again 34.3 in Vmax and 31.93 on 500, this board can be a cannonball There is still potential downhill wing and sail size: not bad at all this techno wind foil
https://www.windsurfing33.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=114229&p=839960#p839960
Test and review (French) https://marseille.glissattitude.com/blog/windfoil-test-combo-techno-windfoil.html