The flight of the Condor XL with Indiana’s record breaking foiler Jérôme Baudoux

TotalSUP sat down with Jérôme, Indiana’s Brand Ambassador and former biathlon pro athlete and National Champion turned record breaking pump foiler, to discuss his design and collaboration process with Indiana.

We also caught up with Gunnar Biniasch, Wingfoil World Champion and Indiana’s Head of Development & Marketing, to get his perspective on the Condor XL:

Hi Gunnar, the Condor was designed in collaboration with Jérôme Baudoux, could you tell us more about the process and how such collaboration looks like in practice?

After setting the record on the 1396P Jerome approached us with his concept idea for the Condor XL. He wanted a foil that could easily break the record he had set. So we were happy to collaborate with him. The process of developing a product together with a rider differs from Rider to Rider and depends a lot on the vision of the rider and their technical abilities to design it. In Jérôme’s case he already had a very good rough design drawn up so we put him in touch with our Engineer Jan Pütz who worked together with him to work out the finer details and also construction questions.

Condor XL has established a strong track record with multiple world records. How have users responded since its release?

Users have responded great to the Condor. People love the stupendous pump efficiency of the foil that allows them massively increase their personal best pumping times, and also allowed them to start exploring their local spots more by having this effortless pumping ability. We have seen a big demand for the Condor XL from all levels of riders. We have even added two smaller sizes to the Condor range (M and S) for riders who want something faster and more agile, but with the same easy pumping ability.

Hi Jerome, welcome back to TotalSUP! What have you been up to?

Hi Anna, hi TotalSUP! Thanks for reaching out! Summer time has been quite busy for the WindUP Winch project (*The WindUP winch is an ultra-light, compact and portable winch dedicated to foiling) but still I have spend a lot of time on the water 🤙

We’d like to chat about the new Indiana Condor XL wing that has sparked a lot if interest and hype in the SUP & Foil community. What’s the story behind developing Condor XL?

Yes, the hype around this wing was crazy and really enjoyable! The story began when I did the pumping world record of 1h37 with the 1396P front wing. It was a really easy wing but I knew we could squeeze much more efficiency out of a foil. I was really into long distance pumping and Maurus Strobel, Indiana’s Boss, also encouraged it. This is why he proposed me to design the new long distance pumping wing.

How did you come up with the idea? Was there a gap in the market that you’ve identified?

With the emergence and growth of pump foiling, the big challenge for a lot of pump foiler was to sustain flight for the longest possible. And we already see pump foiling as both a fun activity and a cardio workout. The Condor XL was the wing that would let anyone pump foil distances and spend time above the water. This wing is also the solution for anybody that wants to do endurance cardio workout. It for example greatly replaces running, as it’s easier for the knees and back and very fun!

What key features make this “front wing is next step in the evolution of long distance pumping”?

It’s challenging to pick one key feature as every parameter is optimized but I’d say that what make it efficient is that the Condor XL is a one size design. I mean that every Condor XL’s parameter is precisely picked to fit its very own use case.

Could you tell us more about the process and how collaboration with Indiana looked like in practice?

I first went in contact with Jan Pütz, (he is the mind behind the 1396P). We discussed a bit so that I had in mind Indiana’s production process and to confirm that we agreed in the requirements of this wing (an easy and ultra efficient pumping front wing). The next step is some hydrodynamics calculus so that I could dial in the very best dimensions, outline, characteristics and select he right wing section along the span of the wing.

Then I 3D designed and simulated the flow around this wing to make adjustments. Jan did the final touch adding the fuselage/wing connection. We also discussed the process along the way.
I also named it “Condor” for it’s majestic flight and proposed a graphic design with tips feathers that is now on the 2024 range.

In our interview about your World Record you mentioned something that resonated… With Condor XL, are you getting closer to achieving that “infinite flight”?

I think we can say that infinite flight is achieved on the gear side. The thing that now stops us from pump foiling all day long is how much water and food we want to bring with us 😅 And for any pump foiler, the Condor XL will open possibilities to go from dock to dock and travel distances on most bodies of water.

Could you tell us more about the Condor’s range of use? Is it suitable for SUP foiling and downwinding?

The very first use case of the Condor XL is dock start and flat water long distance pumping. But since it’s been released many use cases emerged. You can easily downwind it in marginal conditions (I discovered downwinding on my 2km long local lake 😄). You can also SUP foil on flat water, its efficiency makes it quite easy and enjoyable with SUP foil board or even any wing board. And with wing foiling it’s a zero wind weapon.

We’ve got to ask 😊 You gave a shoutout in one of your Instagram posts to Nicolas Iten, who used Condor XL for his WR challenges and is, I quote: “enjoying pumpfoiling and XC foiling and pioneering with me”. Have you ever done a pumpfoil session together? Or are you planning to, or perhaps thinking of setting a challenge together?

I was very pleased to finally met Nicolas in June and we had a session together in Zurich at Indiana’s HQ. It was great to pump foil together and with a whole fleet of Condor XL!

The thing is we live quite far away from each other but if we happen to meet at some point, It would be great to share a great crossing of a lake!

Are you planning any more World Records and marathons?

For now I mostly train on freestyle, wake thieving, winch foiling, wing foiling as they are fun summer activities. But I will obviously go for another attempt for the World Record. I’ve already done some other long run near the marathon length and even participated in a paddle race (the “Big Paddle Challenge” along Lake Zurich). For the next challenges, I’d like to try to cross the length of the Lake Geneva or the Annecy Lake.

Another great new possibility that I would like to do more is to cover distances in many steps and with faster foils, with the help of boat waves if possible. Guys like Seb Saugy or Yvon Labarthe are already killing it at this game 🙂

Thank you Jérôme and keep flyin’ high!

To find out more about Indiana Paddle & Surf, visit:  Indiana Paddle & Surf

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*Images courtesy of Jérôme Baudoux