TAAROA SWORD 108 UHM Technology: For Every Innovative Rider

Research, design, and quality engineering are integral to Team TAAROA’s philosophy, and none of our hydrofoils reflects this philosophy more than our heritage SWORD 108. Selected as an Olympic series production foil for the new Formula Kite class debuting at Paris 2024, the SWORD is manufactured with the highest quality technology, materials, and utmost attention to quality control. This foil brings exclusive TAAROA technology to all determined and aspiring riders at an accessible price point.

WHAT ARE RIDERS SAYING ABOUT THE SWORD?

The SWORD is a foil designed for serious riders, and motivated kitefoilers getting into Olympic racing can select this very competitive, straightforward foil right away to give them a head start. Leif Given, pro rider, team manager and instructor for Captain Kirk’s Watersports in Long Beach, CA, says, “The SWORD in its third iteration has become stiffer and more stable. It is very fast, especially in light air where it shines. We can get upwind angles close to America’s Cup boats for a fraction of the cost. The TAAROA SWORD is really for people who want to be on that kind of level with the other Olympic class race foils.”

Performance

Leif adds, “The real thing I love about this foil is the smoothness and stability through the transitions like tack and jibe. Once moving, the foil has such a low stall speed that the tack can be pushed back and forth against the wind, even in light air, without worrying about coming off the foil. Most other race foils require a more snappy rotation and risk of a stall. One last feature that is extremely noticeable, and what TAAROA is known for, is the rigidity of the mast. Incredibly stiff, so when hammering down on a close or broad reach or swinging between the two at 35 knots, the foil has no wobble from flex or cavitation.”

Setup

“The foil is very easy to set up, simple plug-and-play. The real adjustments are in a few different places. The rear stabilizer wing can be moved forward or back. Adjusting the stabilizer paired with front foot strap placement is huge. I have the rear stabilizer wing the furthest back it can go, which increases the front wing’s lift as well as front foot pressure in a combination of increasing stability. This is really beneficial in light wind. This is also an adaptation to my style, and I always like a lot of front foot pressure. A lot of people may like back foot pressure, and can therefore move the rear wing forward. Footstrap placement is similar, in that the further back the straps, the more front foot pressure, and the further forward the less front foot pressure. The feeling with the foil is amazingly stable and fast in light wind. With my personal setup, I usually need to make an adjustment if the wind picks up too much, but if the wind increases, you can make a small adjustment and hold a lot more speed comfortably without over-foiling the front wing.”

SWORD Technology: At the forefront of the next big wave surfing innovations

Michael, a big wave rider from Sydney, Australia, is a waterman pioneering in big wave surfing. Alongside a group of innovative and disciplined expert big wave riders, Michael is using the TAAROA SWORD and JOY kitefoils for tow-in surfing due to their speed and stability. “A fast foil is easier to tow up to speed with the jet ski. I’ve already been up to 60 km/h (30 knots) on foil gear, and on a regular day with waves of about 4-5 feet, we’ll easily hit 40 km/h (20+ knots). The engineering of the SWORD is really good, and it’s fast and stable without much cavitation,” he says about his foil.

Big wave surfing is an exceptional and high-level sport, and not very accessible to the average person. Long-term commitment and passion, access to equipment like jet skis, and the right mentality are critical. For now, Team TAAROA is thrilled to be helping these advanced surf riders innovate in their sport and create new designs according to their feedback.

TAAROA SWORD 108 UHM Technology: For Every Innovative Rider
FLY 4 ALL SA, Corentin Legris 19 March, 2021
Share this post
TAAROA iUP: Actuated Foil Technology (by the Foiling Magazine)