Standup Zone Forum

The Foil Zone => Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP => Topic started by: Seattle-Wind on September 29, 2019, 09:46:27 AM

Title: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: Seattle-Wind on September 29, 2019, 09:46:27 AM
I received my Gong 5M Wing a week or so ago and finally had enough wind locally yesterday in Seattle (Lake Washington) to give it a go. This was my 2nd time trying Wingfoiling, the first time was with a 5M DuoTone. The first time I only got up on the foil for a few seconds. I am using a Gong XXL foil setup and a Takuma BX Hybrid 7'10" x 30", 138liters. I weigh about 175lbs with all gear - I ride with a full face mountain bike helmet as well for added protection.

The build quality of the Gong Wing seems as good as any kiteboarding kite that I've used. The handles are nice and rigid, they don't feel floppy. It feels lighter than the 5M DuoTone I've ridden. It packs down real small and would be great for traveling. 2 battens are included, but they're really hard to pack up into the bag because you have to torque them into a "circle" or loop, if they come undone from the string while in the circle they could take an eye out. The batten design is the low-point of this Wing IMO. Overall the build quality of the wing seems very good for the price, which is almost half that of other wings on the market of a similar size. I had no issues with shipping/receiving, other members on this board haven't been so lucky, as some have had issues with customs.

On the water the wing handled great, it behaved nicely in gusts and was predictable throughout the wind range. The wing didn't feel floppy, except a bit when pumping it hard in the lulls. I was out in 16 - 21mph wind, which was the ideal wind speed for this Wing, anything less and I don't believe I could've popped up onto the foil at my skill and with my gear. I did need to pump the wing and the board in order to get up and flying, even in the higher gusts. But for my first time out on this setup, and only 2nd time trying Wingfoiling, I was getting long flights of 30 - 45 seconds before crashing or coming down. After good flights I was hooting, a similar feeling to catching a great wave while surfing! On goofy foot tack I was very wobbly on the foil and wasn't able to stay up wind as well as on my regular-foot tack. After about an hour and 15 minutes I was downwind a few hundred yards from where I started. With some more practice I think staying up wind won't be a problem.

Thanks to Pono, Admin, Dwight, and the others who provided tips and tricks for dialing in this new sport! Here are some pics (low-quality phone pics)

(https://i.ibb.co/3WTCxM0/IMG-1463.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WFH2rPc)
(https://i.ibb.co/ys88JHz/IMG-1467.jpg) (https://ibb.co/88jjV1y)
(https://i.ibb.co/qMsP9m8/IMG-1462.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C57TvVy)
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: PonoBill on September 29, 2019, 10:38:20 AM
That's a lot of board, must be hard to pump. Mr. Fugly is HUGE and it's 7'2" X 33".
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: Seattle-Wind on September 29, 2019, 11:10:19 AM
Ya, it's hard to pump. It's nice from a stability standpoint though when it's choppy. Maybe someday I'll move down in board size.
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: Califoilia on September 29, 2019, 06:25:03 PM
Nice write up Rasta...thanks! Sounds and looks like you did real well for only your 2nd time wingfoiling...and pleased to hear the GONG wing works well, and is quality made.

Haven't had my GONG 7m out yet, and in all honesty...not all that anxious to do so. I was never into wind sports of any kind, and now having second thoughts about why I even bought the darn thing. Just thinking out loud... :-\


Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: PonoBill on September 29, 2019, 07:55:39 PM
Nice write up Rasta...thanks! Sounds and looks like you did real well for only your 2nd time wingfoiling...and pleased to hear the GONG wing works well, and is quality made.

Haven't had my GONG 7m out yet, and in all honesty...not all that anxious to do so. I was never into wind sports of any kind, and now having second thoughts about why I even bought the darn thing. Just thinking out loud... :-\

Go for it. You'll be hooked.
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: Admin on September 30, 2019, 02:49:31 AM
After good flights I was hooting, a similar feeling to catching a great wave while surfing!

Yeah!  Way to go Rasta.
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: Califoilia on October 27, 2019, 02:10:44 PM
Nice write up Rasta...thanks! Sounds and looks like you did real well for only your 2nd time wingfoiling...and pleased to hear the GONG wing works well, and is quality made.

Haven't had my GONG 7m out yet, and in all honesty...not all that anxious to do so. I was never into wind sports of any kind, and now having second thoughts about why I even bought the darn thing. Just thinking out loud... :-\
Well, turns out my "thinking out loud" turned into...Yep, "I was never into wind sports of any kind, and..." still won't be.

Got the wing, went out a couple times with the true intentions of using it, but after seeing the conditions, and a couple other guys trying to use theirs...thought nope, this ain't for me (did I ever mention that I hate the wind?), never took mine out of the bag, and made a great trade for something else that I'd much rather have, actually use, and is worth a lot more to me than that goll darn wind wing thing.

Have fun all you sailors, but I'll take my usual indoor location or take to our local MB trails when it gets too windy to surf or foil.  ;D
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: PonoBill on October 27, 2019, 06:35:27 PM
It's definitely NOT for everyone, though there are a lot more people doing it than I expected.
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: Seattle-Wind on October 28, 2019, 05:01:36 PM
I guess it's not for everyone, but I've sure been having a lot of fun progressing with this sport! I have a handful of sessions under my belt now with my 5M Gong, surprising how much wind range this thing has. I feel like I can pop up onto the foil around 12mph now and can sheet out in gusts that are approaching 30. Here's some pics from last weekends session. I tried carving jibes for the first time, lots of wipeouts, but so fun!

(https://i.ibb.co/Jn5ZT1T/IMG-1777.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CBhLycy)
(https://i.ibb.co/n3Gzsd2/IMG-1780.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LQFnzjw)
(https://i.ibb.co/3BLZR6S/IMG-1794.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dGzYmCk)
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: PonoBill on October 28, 2019, 07:02:47 PM
Yeah, it's pretty much all I want to do, which has some of my good friends a little pissed at me. I also have major projects swinging in the wind, racecar on the rack with the engine half-built, stuff pushed off to corners, electronics spread all over the place. Nothing is really progressing as it should. But hey, I'm not on a timeline, no one is paying me. And the wind is gonna blow tomorrow though it will be an east wind and the air temps are going to hover around freezing, might even drop to twenty. I'll get my drysuit out and hope it doesn't fall to a pile of flakes, put on my new O'neil Technobutter gloves (awesome, by the way), stick on the booties, and go again. Even though cocoa with schnapps and some home-made cream scones by the fire sound just lovely. Got to earn those.

Get out there.
Title: Re: Gong 5M Wing Review
Post by: GL on October 28, 2019, 07:17:06 PM
Rastaman, I enjoyed the pictures as I use the same board and have never seen what it looks like foiling. I have no problem pumping the board while on the foil, allow though am sure it would be more responsive with a smaller one. I do like how easy it is to stand on while not up on the foil especially with the colder water this time of year.
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