Behind the Design of the Duotone Unit Wind Wing

August 05, 2020

Behind the Design of the Duotone Unit Wind Wing

Home WA Surf Kiteboarding & Foiling Blog Behind the Design of the Duotone Unit Wind Wing

PERFORMANCE IN WAVES AND RIDING DOWNWIND REQUIRES A SHAPE THAT IS POWERFUL TO GET YOU GOING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE; STABLE, IN ORDER TO HANDLE THOSE GUSTY CONDITIONS OFTEN SEEN AT WAVE SPOTS; DRIFT AND FLAGGING, THAT SWITCHES THE WIND POWER OFF AND TUNES INTO WAVE’S ENERGY. SO HOW DID WE ACHIEVE THIS ALL FOR THE 2020 DUOTONE UNIT?

Here we go behind the design with Ken Winner.

Tell us about your test team and what do they bring to the table?

I first started designing Kites for Duotone when the sport was in its infancy. Jaime Herraiz was my first test rider back in the day and his feedback has always been on the money. Sky Solbach was another one who pioneered the sport, later bringing attention to the surfing style and growing the discipline through products. So, when it came to developing the new sport of Wing Foiling, Jaime was raring to go and Sky is an extremely good tester with a real talent for communicating feedback from the product. We’ve been doing this for 15-20 years and the results speak for themselves.

Performance driven design features:

We achieved a stiff Leading Edge by balancing our use of materials with an optimised wing diameter. This maximises upwind performance and ensures consistent delivery of power, especially when pumping. The structural design, carries the aerodynamic load, reduces drag and prevents oscillation caused by the air flowing around the strut in flight. Optimised canopy and leech tension, is maintained all directions to provide stability and harness the power of the wind via the Unit’s distinctive shape. Dacron provides a smooth canopy surface for minimum friction against air molecules.

Talk us through the Unit’s design features and size range.

With the growth and development of Wing Foiling, there was a demand and need for a 100% inflatable model that could be used anywhere in the world. The Unit has EVA covered handles for maximum grip and long-lasting comfort. The middle handle comes into play when on a wave or flying downwind. Large window panels are cleverly placed into the Unit’s canopy so you can spot your take off, visualise your line and avoid the crowds. Coming in four sizes, the Unit is effortless to rig, easy to transport and the ultimate travel companion for your next adventure.

In a Nutshell

The Unit is a top performer, simple in design and light in weight. Blending structural design with materials, the Unit is balanced, easy to use, fast to set up and suitable for a wide range of disciplines.

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