Andi Widmann, long-time shaper at the custom forge WARK from Constance, is making his expertise available for Indiana. We asked him for an interview.
SURF: Andi, how did the co-operation with Indiana come about?
AW: Indiana approached me a few years ago after I started shaping race SUP boards and they were very successful. Since then, we've been expanding the portfolio bit by bit, including wave riders, wakesurf boards and now also windfoil boards.
The Indiana Wind Foil is a pure foil board. Why not a hybrid for windsurfing and foiling?
I think a pure foil board is simply better for beginners. The volume is concentrated far back, you can get into the loops while still dangling and then take off in a relaxed manner. The short nose helps to keep the board stable in the air. Nevertheless, it was of course important to me to keep enough volume in the bow to be able to launch the sheet safely.
In which sizes is the board available?
It is built in 110, 125 and 140 litres, each with a full carbon deck and reinforced nose and edge areas. It is designed to match the typical freeride foils, with a clear focus on simplicity. Especially as a smaller brand, it is important not to go too extreme, but to serve the core target group first.
Indiana also offers foils. Which one suits your windfoil board best?
Definitely the 850S, the name refers to the wingspan of 85 centimetres. The foil offers a lot of lift and has a very smooth sailing behaviour, ideal for learning. It is therefore best suited for sail sizes between 5.0 and 7.0 square metres, i.e. for all those who want to have fun with small sails in a simple and uncomplicated way. The profile is only moderately thick to make it fast.
The wings are made of carbon, the mast of aluminium - why does that make sense?
The wings are very light because they are made from a milled foam core laminated with carbon fibre. To make the whole thing as torsionally rigid as possible, we use a very thick and solid aluminium profile for the mast; the connections to the fuselage and board are made using inserted metal plates, which are very rigid.
How much do Indiana foil products cost?
The board costs 1680 euros, the complete foil set with wing, fuselage and mast 1447 euros. Everything is modular and can be replaced individually.
Note: In surf issue 6-2020 you will find a test of the Indiana Foil package and other foil products. To make sure you never miss another issue with tested new products, you can find our favourable subscription offers here: https://www.delius-klasing.de/surf
