First new Bic design in decade for foil

Last post
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
First new Bic design in decade for foil

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.

source: https://www.windsurfjournal.com/article,news,bic-sport-de-retour-dans-le-windsurf-et%E2%80%A6-en-foil,7225

translated:

Quote:

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

0 Like
Randy's picture
Randy
Offline
Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
Posts: 4656
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

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.

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

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.

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

More info: https://www.windmag.com/video-video-zoom-techno-wind-foil-bic-sport

Quote:
The rise of the windfoil inspired BIC Sport : the brand announced the release in spring 2019 of a new board model, the Techno Wind Foil . As the name suggests, it will practice the foil but will also be used as a classic freeride board . Its dimensions: 230 cm in length, 81.5 cm in width and 130 liters in volume.

Looks like Bic Sport is changing ownership, too

Quote:
As a reminder, BIC Sport was the subject, at the end of November, of an offer to purchase from Tahe Outdoors , an Estonian company established mainly in kitesurfing and paddling sports. The finalization of this operation should take place on 31 December 2018, but does not sign the end of BIC Sport, one of the world leaders in sliding sports. BIC Sport products will indeed be manufactured and distributed under license, alongside the SIC and Oxbow brands ...
0 Like
Randy's picture
Randy
Offline
Joined: 05/05/2002 - 10:38
Posts: 4656
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

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.

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

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.

0 Like
gene_mathis's picture
gene_mathis
Offline
Joined: 05/17/2002 - 05:00
Posts: 2142
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

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

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil
gene_mathis wrote:

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

I saw this blurb this morning
Quote:
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. The board in all cases will be delivered with adjustable footstraps and a very deep slalom fin. The foil - optional - is developed and manufactured by Foil & Co in Quimper, highly recognized in the young foiling world. Its construction is 100% carbon to obtain a maximum stiffness, paramount, given the speeds reached. https://www.bateaux.com/article/29751/bic-techno-wind-foil-une-planche-de-windsurf-mixte-entre-foil-slalom

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.

0 Like
gene_mathis's picture
gene_mathis
Offline
Joined: 05/17/2002 - 05:00
Posts: 2142
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

"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

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil
gene_mathis wrote:

"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

Yeah, apparently the French are suggesting the carbon will be a Cobra board and a few aren't exactly happy about it.

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil
Quote:
1 Ace Tech version made in Vannes (France) .. the one that will sell 1 version Carbon made at Cobra ... for the image and the tests Biggrin Biggrin

On our side, we wait for the AceTech version to test it because we know that it is where customers and clubs will buy : Wink

https://www.windsurfing33.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=114229&p=830030#p830030

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.

1 Like
FoilDodo
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil

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

0 Like
webguy's picture
webguy
Offline
Joined: 12/31/2000 - 22:01
Posts: 13783
Re: First new Bic design in decade for foil
0 Like