Rider: 78kg, normally strapless surfboard
Board on test: Konrad Versa Foil
Kite: Eleveight WS 2018, 7m and 9m
Disclaimer: I do not work for Pro Kite or Konrad Versa Foils or for anyone in the kite business, however I am open to offers and happy to support good products and great customer service in the kite industry.

Ladies and Gents

I have recently purchased a Konrad Versa Foil from James at Pro Kite in Kurnell, NSW and thought I would provide a short review for newbies and those looking to buy a foil.

I have been kiting since around 2005, having initially learnt in Europe and spent till around 2011 on a twintip and then moved to a strapless surfboard I had almost no experience in using a foil apart from a couple of hours, mostly porpoising and crashing in around 2012 in the Dominican Republic.

I moved to Australia? Northern Beaches in the last 18 months and have spent many a Southerly on a surfboard thoroughly enjoying it and many a NE having less fun and seeing the foilers zipping a long at great speed. After talking to a few of these foilers, all sharing the stoke, I decided to to look to purchase and invest some time in one.

After posting an ad on a FB kite group looking for a 2nd hand foil, James from Pro Kite reached out to me and offered an opportunity to demo the Konrad Versa Foil. I immediately took him up on his offer and went over to Pro Kite in Kurnell to pick up and demo this setup at Botany Bay.

On first viewing, the product look aesthetically pleasing and the components, aluminum mast and G10 foils all appeared very well engineered. The foil kit comes with a 40cm, 60cm and 90cm mast and having already given foiling a go 5 years previously I though hell I?l jump straight to the 90cm mast - not the best idea however after porpoising my way through the afternoon on a 7m and around 25kts of wind I started to feel, certainly on one tack that I was starting to get it and it appeared a lot easier then my attempt years previously - I was sold.

I went back had a coffee and long chat with James and bought the full Konrad Versa Foil package, board with the 3 masts and headed back to the northern beaches waiting for the chance to go out in the next NE. I didn't have to wait too long for a 15kt NE to come around and I went out thinking lets start at the beginning with the 40cm mast, remembering that until now I have probably spent 4 hrs total on a long mast and was mostly struggling.

Unboxing and setting up the foil from its padding carry case is a breeze and it all the components bolt together very easily, added the board and a front footstrap and 20mins later I was out riding on the 40 cm mast - sooooooooooo easy, couldn't believe it I was riding both directions a little bit of porpoising however because you low on the water you just glide back on and continue. Spent the best part of 40 mins on this mast and came in and did a quick swap to the 60cm mast and back on the water.

The 60cm mast certainly makes it some what harder however I was already comfortable with the glide, it was now just the additional height and slightly splashier come down that I had to manage but by the end of the 1 hr I was getting some long runs in on both tacks and feeling super stoked with my purchase.

Since then I have been on a surf trip to WA where I took the foil along, only rode it for probably a couple of hours (mostly surfed) over 3 sessions in pretty strong wind and choppy conditions however on every session i felt an improvement and the comfort on the 60 cm mast.

Back on the Northern beaches I went out again this week, was thinking about moving up to the 90cm mast but instead decided to remove the front footstrap. Removing the front footstrap definitely added a little complexity on the water start however once you get the front foot positioning it all slots into place and I was very quickly back to the level with my footstrap and even catching some of the bumpy landings no problem. Ended a 2 hr session with a couple of attempted tacks on the flat, getting my feet close, however all in all totally happy with my progress.

Overall I have had around 6 sessions on the Konrad Versa Foil totaling around 6 - 8hrs and although I? still a complete kook, I? enjoying the learning curve of every session and on windy days even struggling to make the choice between the surfboard and the foil - next step 90cm mast.

I strongly believe that i have learned more and progressed much further on the 3 mast setup then I would have if I had started on the long mast and I have less bruises to prove it. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or give James a call at Pro Kite, I highly recommend the Konrad Versa Foil setup and he seems very happy to chat on all levels of kiting with many a tips on foiling.

On a final note, ignore the level of abuse you?l get from your strapless surf mates on taking up foiling - they will all join the revolution at some point

www.prokite.com.au

www.konradboarding.com/products/versa-foil/