INBOUND: INDIANA MONOBLOC DOLPHIN FOIL SERIES

It’s always a pleasure to speak with the Indiana crew. So when we got wind of their new Monobloc Dolphin Series arriving onto the scene, it gave us a great excuse to have a little chat with Indiana shaper and foil developer, Andi Widman.

Where did the idea for the Dolphin Series begin, and what gap were you looking to fill in the range?

The idea was born on a trip to Denmark almost two years ago. There was this day with nice soft rollers running into Klitmöller bay paired with a pretty light wind. For my Marlins, the interesting part of the wave was just a short stretch from it getting steep until it broke on the beach. That’s because the Marlin is only AR7.5, it's very fast and turny but doesn’t have that much glide in such soft, slow rollers. We have the Barracuda in our lineup with AR10.6, which has a lot of glide and speed and it let me flag out for a long way, but unfortunately with my riding style and ability I just couldn't turn it as much or easy as would have liked to do. After that session I knew I wanted to have something in between, the ease of use and turn-ability of the Marlin paired with glide and pump-ability of the Barracuda! From then on my thoughts circled around that new foil. How could I get as much of both worlds into one?

The Monobloc construction is central to this platform. How much does that construction influence the feel once you’re on foil?

The Monobloc construction is stiffer, more direct and has less drag, due to less connection points and less surface area. This translates into a more precise and predictable riding with a smoother and more fluid feeling in turns and at speed.

Speed in the water can often come with compromise elsewhere. How did you keep the Dolphin a reliable option when pushing harder?

I kept some design features of the very predictable and confidence-inspiring Marlin. Namely the anhedral curve and the twisted tips. Then I focused on the profile to be very thin with a linear lift and no nose-down behavior at high speed. The reduced surface area, combined with the twist through the tips, helps keep lift under control in the outer sections of the foil, where leverage forces are greatest. This allows you to go straight fast without wobbling and turn hard at full speed.

The size M sounds like the all-round hero. If someone wants one foil to do almost everything, is this the one?

If you are in the 65-85kg range then yes, that Dolphin M could no doubt be your one and only foil!

Rob von Roll called the Dolphin M his new go-to for medium to large wave downwinding. Have all your ambassadors enjoyed the new series?

Not yet, as fortunately we have more ambassadors than pre-series Dolphins. But everyone who has had the chance to try it has really enjoyed and loved it.

How much difference does stabilizer choice make, and what should riders think about before choosing one?

Stabilizers can make a big difference on how a foil performs and can change the riding almost completely. They are maybe the most underrated part of the equipment for the majority of riders. 

When choosing a stabilizer a rider should focus on his/her level, conditions and whether you want more performance versus forgiveness. You can choose between different sizes and between different models of stabilizers. Smaller is faster and looser but less forgiving, bigger is more stable and controlled.

So if someone is already happy on their current setup, what’s the standout reason they should jump on a Dolphin and give it a go?

Effortless wide range of use with lot of flow and fun. The AR of 9.5 is quite new to the market and in this number lies the most interesting reason to try the Dolphin. This AR makes that nice mix of speed and glide for surfing or doing maneuvers. It also has a lot of reactivity for a lively feel. 

We understand you also have a brand-new board line just released. Can you tell us a little more about that?

You’re talking about the Easy line. It's the successor to the very popular Flatwater/Allround line and is now divided into three volume specific shapes. This line focuses on an easy and stable ride with early take off. The Easy Ride in 115 and 135 liters targets beginners or heavier riders with a very stable platform and best passive take off. The Easy Carve in 80, 90 and 100 liters is for intermediate and lighter riders with a more mid-aspect shape for a good balance of stability and maneuverability. The Easy Style in 42, 52 and 66 liters with its more compact shape is the most performance and playful board in the Easy line.