For 2022, the team at CORE Kiteboarding has announced an exciting expansion to their product range! In this Q&A, we learn what inspired the new CORE Protective Gear lineup and what makes their products unique!

Congrats on the expansion of your accessories line! Gear bags are fairly new to the CORE family of products. I have to ask; what was the reason for holding out on producing gear bags for so long?!

Thanks, Crystal! It has been the root of CORE and one of our mission statements to invest all our energy in the "core" material of kitesurfing: kites, bars and boards. Nothing else. No fashion, no neoprene, no accessory gear and no sprawling model range. Why? To ensure our little product range is high in performance and quality and guarantee a perfect kitesurf experience for our customers. 

Over the years, the sport evolved and became much more diverse. We knew it was time to widen the product range in order to offer our customers more specified products in whatever field of kitesurfing they would like to progress. When we introduced the CORE Foil SLC, it was evident that we needed transport and protection solutions for each part of it to ensure its performance and longevity during transport. The accessory line was born. 

With our new accessory designer Jan-Derek Kuster on board, who brought immense expertise in the accessory segment to CORE, we decided to open the "Protective Gear" line for all transport and protection demands. And actually, we stand by our original mission. Because only with the perfect cover or bag for your beloved board or foil part can you ensure its longevity and high performance to enjoy many more perfect sessions.

As loyal CORE customers know, quality is something you can count on in your products. How have the gear bag designers elevated the quality of the simple kite bag? What unique features do your bags include?

As with all CORE products, the key question behind our new protective gear line initially was what right of existence will every single new product have and what is the exact value we can add in this category. Jan-Derek identified a lot of potential in designing lighter, stronger and more refined accessories compared to most other bags on the market. We wanted to achieve better accessories regarding sustainability aspects with a decluttered design and exceptionally long-lasting materials and workmanship. 

We only use 420den HD Nylon fabric. The high-density weaving with PU and DWR coatings is significantly stronger, lighter and more dirt resistant than conventional 600den Polyester fabrics. Fins, rails and transport stress are the crucial areas of bags and covers. With extremely robust reinforcements and 1000den texturised heavy-duty Nylon for extra-strong abrasion protection on bottom and corners, seams and webbing straps, we are convinced we have achieved the maximum.

Two of the newest products to arrive are the Kite Foil Quiver Bag 140 and the Kite Foil Wingsuit 80, which we're sure the foiling community will be wanting to take a closer look at! For those just finding that foil addiction, why is it so important to protect your hydrofoil? How much do dings and dents affect foil performance?

Everyone who has tried a few different foil set-ups of the same kind knows how much they can differ from each other. Even two sets of the same model can show slight differences in certain aspects. Defects and damages can have a negative effect on the speed and glide performance and even cause stalling. The tips and trailing edge of the wings are extremely important for an undisturbed laminar flow and also for noise development - every foiler has experienced how annoying a whistling set-up can be.

Let's talk about the Quiver Bag 140, designed for storing disassembled foils. That's a lot of compartments! Will this bag fit all foils in the CORE lineup? What is the capacity of the board compartment?

Transporting and carrying foil set-ups, assembled or disassembled, is always a mission. We wanted to ease that and offer various solutions for protecting your foil on the way to or from the beach. 

The Quiver Bag 140 is quite unique in its idea and function. With two separate compartments, one for a kite foil board and the other for the foil components, you have one convenient, perfectly padded bag for a complete kite foil set. In the foil compartment, you have velcro patches for attaching the optional CORE Foil Covers to protect each kite foil component. In the mast pocket, you have the option to store your mast even with a mounted base without damaging the board. A long velcro opening at the tail of the board compartment allows keeping the mast and foil assembled mast. So the Quiver bag is good in both protecting your assembled and disassembled kite foil. It's big enough for all CORE Kite Foil components and boards up to ca. 140 x 51cm / 4'7" x 20".

There's not much more stress-inducing to the travelling kiter than baggage fees and board damage! Is the Quiver Bag 140 travel friendly? Any recommendations on additional steps travellers can take to ensure their foil board arrives in one piece?

Our CORE bags use significantly lighter and more tear-resistant materials than most other ordinary bags on the market. We have extremely robust reinforcements in all crucial areas, and our seams and webbing straps prevent ripping even when fully loaded. The bags feature 5mm PE foam padding plus extra-thick 10mm padding on the nose and tail. Simply add lightweight blister foil, your wetsuit, or a CORE Single Board Bag for extra flight protection.

The Wingsuit 80, designed for storing assembled foil wings, looks like the perfect grab-and-go bag for the foiler that needs some added protection in the car on the way to the spot but still wants to get on the water ASAP! What features and functions did your designers prioritise in the design of this product?

Correct, the goal was to have a quick and easy cover of the foil "plane" without needing to disassemble the mast. You have full protection and rigidity due to solid 10mm foam padding plus surrounding webbing binding. Another feature is the super-robust premium YKK Racquet Coil zipper #10 with an extra big opening and grippy zipper pulls in a bright colour for easy access. 

Does the Wingsuit 80 fit all CORE foils? What is the maximum size foil it can accommodate?

The Wingsuit 80 fits all CORE kite foils or other brands with a maximum size up to ca. 80cm/32" front wing, ca. 45cm/18" stabiliser, and ca. 85cm/34" fuselage.

For Wingsuit 80 users, are there options in the CORE Protective Gear line to add a foil board bag or mast cover?

Yes, sure! For the mast, choose the optional CORE Mast Cover 92 or 71. Your board is perfectly protected in the board compartment of the Quiverbag 140, and soon, there will also be a Single Board Bag Foil 4'5 " available in the range.

Are there any more accessories to come from the team at CORE?!

Nothing that we are ready to talk about! 😉

By Crystal Veness
Editor at IKSURFMAG, Crystal Veness hails from Canada but is based in South Africa. When she isn't busy kitesurfing or reporting on the latest industry news for the mag, she is kicking back somewhere at a windy kite beach or working on creative media projects.

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