LAB* Q&A : A PEEK AT THE PROCESS.

FLITELab*s AMPJet board offers foilers the powerful assistance of a timed boost at the touch of a button. AMPJet’s unprecedented design places the jet cartridge inside the tail cavity of the board, eliminating the cumbersome drag of a mast-mounted motor. Once you’re boosted up and riding, it’s as if the motor was never there.

From backyard invention to company kick-starter, how did AMPJET and FLITELab* come to be? And what series of fortunate events led to Adam Bennetts stroking this board prone into some solid double overhead freight-train right handers on Australia’s east coast this winter, when towing-in was the only other option?

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It’s true that electric-assist foiling products have been opening up new wave-riding options for watermen who just need a chip in to start shredding. But what about the advantages for novice foilers, crowd avoidance and finding new waves? Compared to other electric assist brands, FLITELab* appears to have raised the bar.

Here’s a little Q and A with between 2 FLITELab* aficionados to shed a little more insight into this disruptor company’s inception. FLITELab*s Product Architect, Mr Chris Reynolds and Flite Team Rider, Adam Bennetts.

 

Chris, can you remember the moment you decided to invent a jet board?
What gave you the idea?
Yes I remember it like it was yesterday. I’ve always loved to build things and to have a project on the go, or a new sport to learn. I was down at one of my local breaks around the corner from Bells Beach foiling back in 2019. I had only been foiling for about 4 months but was obsessed and was getting out most days. The break is a low tide only break and just gets too fat by mid tide for even the Mal riders to take off. The ultimate dream is to surf or foil without a crowd and what I had learnt so far with foiling, was that fat unbroken waves were so much fun to ride, which had blown my mind. I was trying to come up with ideas while sitting out there on how I was going to get onto these waves and have the ability to ride this break at mid to high tide with no one else out.

My first thought was to use the tech from an eFoil, but mount the motor on the mast just below the board. I knew I wanted to use a battery that was much smaller and lighter than a typical eFoil battery, because I would only need it for a short boost to get up. My mind started to fill with so many ideas that by the time I got home I was just buzzing with excitement. I had motor on mast ideas, I had Jet in board ideas, I had batteries in mast ideas, I had compressed air for propulsion with turbines instead of batteries, the list went on and the ideas were coming in faster than I could write them down. I love a good project but there was something that felt extra special about this.

Playing with tech in the shed, mixing this new obsession with foiling, was about to take over every spare minute I had. That night I spent hours researching and found an image of Lift who had mounted the eFoil motor towards the top of the mast back in 2018. And here was me thinking I was the only person thinking about this. It didn’t stop me though, as it was all about making a setup feel as close as possible to a regular prone and that really was a modified eFoil. This also pushed me towards my idea of having a jet in the board. I was always going to try many of the ideas but rather than do them all at once I needed to focus on one at the start and prove the concept.

 

Chris, what kind of hard yards did it take to build the first working prototypes, capable of withstanding the harsh use of a foil-obsessed waterman?
There were definitely some hard yards to say the least. I had a huge amount to learn about building a jet. I didn’t know how much thrust was needed and with the biggest goal of making this feel as close to a regular prone board as possible, I had some pretty big restrictions on size and keeping the weight as light as possible. I knew weight was going to be the enemy as heavy boards greatly increase your swing weight. I also had the challenge of if it was even possible to create enough thrust in a jet that size, and have a battery light enough to push enough amps to drive the Jet. I bought a couple of hobby jets that I could mount in a box and tape to the bottom of a surfboard just to get an idea of how much push I would get. The jets created around 15lbs of thrust which simply wasn’t enough. I had estimated I need around three times that. So I bought a 3D printer, built a huge plume tank (a tank for testing thrust) down the side of my house and got to work.

Anytime I wasn’t doing my day job, I was designing jets and printing impellers and stators that were within the constraints of fitting inside a regular prone foil board. It took many motors, 100’s of impellers and stator combos and 6 months of work to get to 40lbs of thrust which I thought could be enough.

Another of the many challenges I had to solve was installing a jet into a board where the inlet of the jet was going to be directly under the mast. I had already come up with ideas to do this and had tested them in the plume tank, so I was ready to carve out an off-the-shelf board to install the Jet. This was a proof of concept, so there was no cartridge at this stage but that was the end goal for simplicity and the ability to swap between boards, or ride without when the conditions suited. Another month later I had built the test board, designed some electronics in the front of the board to control the jet, and written some code.

The very first day I tested it, was a day I will never forget. I had paddled out after the surf crowd had come in due to the tide filling in. I was ready as the first lump rolled through the bay. I hit the button and went to paddle but the board just slipped out from under me and took off until it reached the end of my leg rope. Not what I expected but a mental result. I did another couple of take-offs while holding the nose of my board, but realised I really needed to work out my acceleration curve of how the jet would start.

So it was back to the realms of some pretty bad software coding and I was back in the water the next day. Not perfect on the next session, but more than useable. Plus I’d proved that we had plenty of thrust, I was catching waves that I would never even dream of paddling for. After a few waves I got used to the extra weight as I had spent much effort getting it as close to the lifting force of front wing that I could, on this proto. And I was pleasantly surprised how well it rode. Many more ideas spawned and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Chris, when did you link up with Fliteboard and their team of talented engineers, and how did it give wings to your homegrown project?
After another year into my journey of designing the next proto in CAD and doing a huge deep dive on the industry, I flew up to Byron to have a chat with David Trewern, the Founder of Fliteboard.

I had really admired Fliteboard’s approach to design and technology and had spent plenty of time with David in the early days of Kitesurfing. Chatting to David to get a better idea of what I was really in-for to get this to market, he could see the potential of something like this, and was keen to expand Fliteboard into the dedicated surf side of foiling. He said we should chat further about the possibility of bringing the project under the Fliteboard brand with me helping develop that side of the business.

This is when FLITELab* was born and I moved to Byron to join the team at the beginning of 2023. It’s probably the best decision I’ve made for the project, as my ambitions and crazy ideas are being embraced by the best engineers around. The team I work with blow me away every day and they’ve even got used to my over passionate froth factor! Haha.

It’s also been an absolute pleasure working so close with Adam. His riding level has to be seen live to be believed. Not saying he makes my life easy, as his standard for board and wing design feels like it is impossible to achieve some days, but then when he comes off the water and starts losing his mind at me, I know we’ve achieved something beyond greatness. We definitely both bounce off each other’s energy, it’s an epic combo.

Adam, when did you first become involved in FLITELab* and AMPJet? When did you start working with Chris and his team?
I first became involved with FLITELab* about 18 months ago when Fliteboard decided they wanted to expand into the hugely successful and growing realm of non-powered foiling products. I met Chris probably 6 months earlier when he brought his product to David (Trewern) and David decided to bring it under the Fliteboard umbrella. It was love at first Flite haha!

Chris, It’s hard to imagine the power of the boost you get using these boards... What kind of thrust are we talking about?
I have been using it for a long time now. We now have 55lbs of thrust when you set the thrust to Max (10), I usually use 7/8 to save battery and it still gets me into almost anything. Like with any new toy you need to learn how to use it – like the timing to catch the super fat waves, or how to get up when the downwind conditions aren’t pumping, when using our smaller boards.

Sometimes, when I only ride AMPJet for days, I get a little spoilt and start to think I probably could have caught that last wave without the boost, so I transition back to riding without the Jet and can’t believe how hard it is to paddle for a wave - it feels like you are dragging an anchor. I think the best feedback I get nowadays is everyone's first reaction when they use it. Every single time the first comment is. “I didn’t expect it to have that much thrust”.

For the people who have spent enough time in the water and know what it takes to catch a wave on different surf crafts I can easily out paddle an 11 foot long board and sit wider and further out than they can.

Chris, tell us about the LAUNCHPad - Can you explain the design ideas that went into it and what it is capable of?
It’s something that I designed from the get-go, but it has evolved a huge amount. I never imagined using the Jet with a remote in the hand. It goes back to the brief I had given myself and that was to create a board that helps you catch the impossible, while still feeling as close to the original concept of a surf foil board or wing board. It’s the brains behind the board and controls the jet with precision.

We have installed so many sensors and components into the LAUNCHPad, both for now and for future ideas as the software develops - so we don’t have to change out the hardware. This also allows us to know exactly what the board is doing, so we can detect with accuracy if the rider has made the take-off or not. If they have, the jet switches off. If they’ve fallen, the jet or prop on the mast stops, for a greater level of safety.

Having the LAUNCHPad mounted within the board where the rider can have full access to the menus, to change any parameters while out on the water, really helps. Especially in the early days as they figure out what works for them. It also gives them access to all the metrics of their session, like number of waves, distance travelled, top speed, longest wave etc. And we have many more metrics to record and track in future releases of the software. The system was designed with large buttons that are slightly recessed below the deck line, so it’s easy to press without looking. We have also integrated wireless charging that is compatible with common wireless charger, so if you forget your LAUNCHPad charger on a trip, you should be able to find a backup plan to keep you on the water.

Adam, can you recall the first time you properly put one through its paces? How did you find it as a performance shred stick and silent jet-ski all in one?
The first time I rode Chris' original prototype was in November 2022. He was in Byron meeting with David to discuss the partnership moving forward. The waves were maybe shin height and dumping right on the shore break - impossible to ride with a standard prone setup. To my surprise, the AMP jet allowed me to get into the tiny waves way before they broke and I was able to pump and connect multiple waves with ease. I was mega impressed, especially considering Chris had built this whole thing in his garage on his own. I knew I’d be hooked from that moment on. Adam, that day out in [Secret Spot] looked like it was firing...

What was it like using AMPJet rather than a tow assist to get out the back and into those bombs? It looked all time. Were you also riding some FLITELab* proto wings?
Yep, that day was amazing! Without the AMP board, there is no way I would have caught any waves. It was the perfect tool for those kind of waves. We had a lot of fun testing the board as well as some prototype foils. Gimme more!

Chris, speaking of other FLITELab* products, how far along in production is AMPMast? What makes it better than competitor (clamp-on) types?
Our focus has been the Jet and all the technology like the battery, LAUNCHPad and any future ideas, to make sure the ecosystem is going to be compatible for years to come. Now that we’re into production on all of that, we can spend more time focusing and finishing off AMPMast. I am stoked with how it’s coming along.

We are going down a different path to most, and fully integrating the motor into the mast for the least amount of drag. Plus being a fully sealed unit will greatly reduce the amount of servicing. Safety is a no.1 priority, so a huge amount of work has gone into this already. From a performance point of view, designing and making the mast has a very clear pathway. We are still experimenting with custom motor diameter and weight, to find the perfect balance between power and drag. Lastly, we want a solid and reliable connection system at the base to be compatible with other major brands’ fuses, so riders can foil their favourite setup.

Adam, and what about the range of foils, masts and boards we’ve been hearing about from FLITELab*?
The FLITELab* boards and mast will be real game-changers in the market due to their exceptional design and quality - the mast is the stiffest, fastest thing I've ever ridden. Like ever! They surpass anything currently available in the market, making them next level in the industry. The foil prototypes I have been riding the last 6 months, are also on par with the best wings available in the market. The fact that these are still in the early stages of prototyping, indicates that the final product will be nothing short of breathtaking. It will earn the FLITELab* gear a prestigious place in the industry on release. Remarkably, the FLITELab* gear features an unparalleled level of control while riding waves, unlike anything I have experienced on any other gear - and I have ridden it all. I can now perform at levels that were originally unimaginable - it's going to revolutionise the sport. I cannot wait for it to be released into the wild! Get excited!

Chris, based on feedback so far amongst your foiler mates, do you think AMPJet will take over? Does it have a place in everyone’s quiver?
It removes the quiver haha! I think what works for one person, their style, and their location, doesn’t necessarily work for the next person. It certainly has had a huge response and I can’t imagine going anywhere without it. Traveling is absolutely gold and to travel with one board that is so much fun in the surf, winging and downwinding, is certainly a dream come true. I hope the majority of the community get to experience it and it brings more water time and froth to more people. That will feel like a bigger achievement than anything else.

Chris, not to mention that this electric assist advantage can be used to open up new, uncrowded breaks for an AMP rider. How good is a chip in?!
So good! The times I have found a break that no one can ride - and knowing that I’ll have the whole thing to myself is simply priceless.

Chris, and what about etiquette in the busy lineups. It’s an increasingly important issue, what do you think coexistence looks like for electric-assisted vs other foilers and surfers?
Definitely. People really need to respect the line up. The whole point of assist is to get away from that. And Safety is also the no. 1 priority. We all need to fill our bucket but not at the expense of other people. You have a device that gives you a big advantage to catching more waves in a greater range of conditions. Use it to your advantage and get away from the crowd.

Will we see SUP and wing versions of AMPJET available soon? What else can we expect to see from FLITELab*?
Adam: Definitely, we are working on boards that are more focused towards winging and they will be available in the first half of next year. And we’ll continue to work on different board designs next year to expand the range. Whether SUPs are part of that board range or not is yet to be decided.