Standup Zone Forum
The Foil Zone => Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP => Topic started by: blueplanetsurf on February 06, 2021, 02:12:25 PM
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Welcome to the Blue Planet Show! This long form interview with Zane Kekoa Schweitzer is the first episode of the Blue Planet show where I will interview athletes, designers and thought leaders on the cutting edge of Wing Foiling. The interviews are recorded on Zoom with screen shared videos to go along with the conversation and will be available on our YouTube channel and as a podcast.
If you want to skip the bloody accident and start watching where we start talking about wing foiling, skip ahead to 30 minutes.
A big thank you to Zane Schweitzer for being my first guest. For more information and to contact Zane, please visit Zane's website:
https://zaneschweitzer.com
Please let me know what you think of this new show, I will add new shows to this thread.
https://youtu.be/-9LOww3u738
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Thanks for putting this together, and for being a good foil steward and including PSA's. I was prone foiling today with a buddy who's a beginner. As the lineup starting filling up, I had to remind him to move down from the crowds. Nice interview learning about Zane . Besides being an elite athlete, He seems like a cool guy.
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Yes, Robert I love that you’re doing this.
One interesting tech tip. My wife has been editing Zoom sessions for a non profit (Blue Endeavors! Super cool.) and she’s using Descript. Check it out as it might help you edit faster and if nothing else, you can use it to remove “um’s and ah’s” and stuff like that which can make interviews hard to listen to.
Can’t wait to check this out.
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Thanks for the tip surfcowboy, I used Descript to edit the audio file for posting as a podcast, made it super easy to edit out the um's.
The podcast is now also available on apple and android devices, just search for "Blue Planet Show" on the podcast app to listen to these long form interviews while driving or doing other things.
I just posted the second interview with Balz Muller, his moves are inspirational and he has been pushing the progression of the sport at an amazing pace.
https://youtu.be/k9HuU3-GLvs
Balz Müller wing foil interview- Blue Planet Show episode 2
In this second episode of the Blue Planet Show, I speak with Wing Foil expert Balz Müller at his home in Switzerland by zoom call. Balz talks about his background, different sports, the evolution of wing foiling, competing in Brazil, technique, the future of the sport, gear and more.
The Blue Planet Show is now also available as a podcast, search for "Blue Planet Show" on your podcast app. Questions and comments are always welcome.
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Great content Robert, you definittely have a subscriber. ;).
As the equipment evolves we need more technical conversations.
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Thanks for doing that, Robert. I love the Progression Project but it can get weedy. It often feels like a little brother listening in on his big brother's phone calls. Add some folks from lower down the mountain, like an Alan Kadiz, who can discuss the early hurdles for newbies, etc.
If you are getting echo - hang some cheap carpets a few inches off a wall ..a small-town radio trick, pre acoustic foam.
For those who prefer the 'big screen' at home (I take the Americas Cup home), there is iTubedownloader. (for Mac) It speed-downloads any Youtube video to the desktop. I carry USB sticks home so I don't have to stay up for the best bits of Saturday Night Live, etc. I also use AUDIALS on a PC to dnld Amazon Prime, etc. as there is no broadband or strong cellular at home. (Within 100mi of the Whitehouse as the crow flies.)
Jim
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Robert, I took away two things from your Balz interview: 1) keep wing foiling simple from an equipment point-of-view and 2) a wing with a "real" boom would help with his style of winging. Maybe Ensis will have a boomed wing soon.
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I loved hearing Blatz’s windsurfing roots affecting his design choices on handles/booms. Also great to hear windows must return for safety.
Sounds like a brand I can ride and stick with long term. We think alike.
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Thanks for the feedback Jim, I think Alan Cadiz would be a great guest, I will contact him.
downloading the youtube videos before the interview is a good idea as well.
deja vu, agreed, keeping it simple is the way and a stiff boom allows small wrist movements to control wing better than soft handles.
Dwight, I agree that windows make it safer but they also add weight and are more sensitive to damage, so it's mixed bag. If you wing in a crowded spot, windows are very helpful. I find I don't really need a window as I can just bring it higher and peek under the wing.
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Just finished the Zane episode today. The 2nd episode isn't coming up in my podcast feed though. I'm using "overcast" app on an iPhone.
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Just finished the Zane episode today. The 2nd episode isn't coming up in my podcast feed though. I'm using "overcast" app on an iPhone.
Thanks for the feedback.
I just published the Balz Muller interview to the podcast, so it should be available through your overcast app feed now.
You can also find it here: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-hwbni-fad423
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That did it. Thanks!
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This is the third episode with Alan Cadiz- great history lesson, the new Duotone Slick wing, technique and more:
https://youtu.be/sLG1i2rVAg8
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Great interview with Allan. There's about 200 years of experience stuffed into that guy.
And yeah, Zane is an amazing guy. I've been fortunate enough to be enjoying him since he was about 14. He hasn't changed a lick. When we did the SUP board test on Maui back in 2006 or 7 Zane was the first guy into the water and ran flat out, all day long. He'd come up, fill out the review paperwork as fast as humanly possible, grab another board and run flat out into the water. At 14 he was polite to everyone, respectful of everyone, nice to everyone, always helpful. Hasn't changed.
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Great interview -- I loved the questions about the equipment Alan is using and his response -- background, people who developed the equipment, etc.
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Zane was the first guy into the water and ran flat out, all day long. He'd come up, fill out the review paperwork as fast as humanly possible, grab another board and run flat out into the water. At 14 he was polite to everyone, respectful of everyone, nice to everyone, always helpful. Hasn't changed.
No he hasn't. He was at Sano a couple three years ago, and was the most stoked, charismatic, and friendliest guy on the beach. It was like you'd known him of years on the first greeting, and he treated all like he'd known them for years, and was best friends with everyone. For someone I consider a professional athlete, he didn't exhibit one once of "I'm better or more special than everyone" like so many
pro athletes can do. Incredible young man.
Kai Lenny was another one just like Zane when he passed through Sano several months before Zane...two of the nicest, most down to earth guys you'd ever meet. Their parents (and community) raised them right. More parents and kids nowadays could/should take lessons from those families.
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Robert -- you discussed with Alan one of the main issues some have had with the Echo, that being the tendency of the Echo, when in the water to sink at the rear. There is a simple and inexpensive solution to this issue. Purchase a pool noodle and cut off 6 to 10 inches and slide it over the rear (the extension) of the boom. This will provide enough flotation at the rear of the wing to eliminate the problem. The 6 to 10" of poole noodle will be very stiff on the boom due to the small hole down its centre and this will keep it from sliding around on the boom's extension. You just need to pull the boom's extension out of the main part of the boom and slide the noodle over the extension and then attach the draft line before sliding the extension back into the main part of the boom -- adds about 10 to 15 seconds to the process. To remove the draft line you once again pull the extension out of the boom (leave the noodle on the extension). By adding the a section of the poole noodle to the boom you are in essence adding a mini centre strut to the boom.
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Robert -- you discussed with Alan one of the main issues some have had with the Echo, that being the tendency of the Echo, when in the water to sink at the rear. There is a simple and inexpensive solution to this issue. Purchase a pool noodle and cut off 6 to 10 inches and slide it over the rear (the extension) of the boom. This will provide enough flotation at the rear of the wing to eliminate the problem. The 6 to 10" of poole noodle will be very stiff on the boom due to the small hole down its centre and this will keep it from sliding around on the boom's extension. You just need to pull the boom's extension out of the main part of the boom and slide the noodle over the extension and then attach the draft line before sliding the extension back into the main part of the boom -- adds about 10 to 15 seconds to the process. To remove the draft line you once again pull the extension out of the boom (leave the noodle on the extension). By adding the a section of the poole noodle to the boom you are in essence adding a mini centre strut to the boom.
That's a great tip, thank you!
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Thank you for all the great feedback. I just posted episode #4 long form interview with Annie Reickert, a talented young water woman from Maui. We talk about surfing, big wave riding and Jaws wipeouts, foiling, and, of course wing foiling.
https://youtu.be/xQZHLpLGYTo
You can also listen to the audio only interviews as a podcast on apple and android apps or here:
https://blueplanet.podbean.com/e/annie-reickert-wing-foil-interview-episode-4/
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Rob Whittall is co founder and head designer at Ozone and a partner at Armstrong. He talks about his background, the Wasp V2 design, the Armstrong A+ system, and more good stuff you will enjoy if you are a diehard windfoiler:
https://youtu.be/tLOelPbv28A
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Excellent interview Robert! 👍🤙
Although I get the impression he is being modest about his 'Average Joe' abilities if he's getting foiling on a 4m in 10-12 knots!
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Yes I really enjoyed this one. Thanks.
Haha yes a 4m in 10kn even at 60 kg yeah nah ;D
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Although I get the impression he is being modest about his 'Average Joe' abilities if he's getting foiling on a 4m in 10-12 knots!
I feel like it is a load of bs on his part. I am almost 2 years in my winging journey and I have only tried original 6m wasp. Power wise it felt somewhat between 4-5m swings that I have. It was around 12 mph winds that day when I tried it and I WAS NOT able to get up on the foil with 6m wasp and I was dancing circles on my 5m Swing. The same story with the 6m S25 Naish. Not great wings in my book. So I am quite skeptical of those statements. Original duotone 5m had a great power delivery but was unruly in the surf.
Interesting to see what they have done with v2 version.
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gone_foiling,
When windsurfing was a young sport, there were years where board design drove sail design. Then there were years where sail design drove board design. Those days are mostly over, thankfully.
With wing surfing, we are at a stage where two items affect wing design and how it works. Foils “and” boards. Then throw in so many different techniques, from different users, and what a shit show of opposing opinions we get.
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DW,
When you put different users on different setups and one works particularly well for all while others suck, then you can draw some conclusions. I understand all the different aspects of foiling but when everything worked but then you introduce a new variable and it doesn’t anymore that tells me something. All I know wasp and naish were designed for much windier spots so “average joe” can just stay home if it is 10kn unless you are into self mutilation. It’s just my shitty opinion.
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Yes I really enjoyed this one. Thanks.
Haha yes a 4m in 10kn even at 60 kg yeah nah ;D
Unless he is winging somewhere with lots of current. Ozone do a lot of their testing in Raglan, New Zealand where the outgoing tide is at least 5 knots.
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Huge factor in getting up on foil is how flat the water is.
Even more so with modern thin foils,they need boardspeed to rise.In chop it can be really frustrating,even more in cross chop.
But if the water is flat...
https://youtu.be/KyEXhYHhDBQ
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I weigh 65kg and with a gl180, 70 litre board and wasp 4 I can definitely foil in 10 knots on a lake. Hard to start but once up I can have fun. The wasp is stiffer than the fone and nothing like the naish. Maybe your 6m try on the wasp could have done with some air in it as the wasp was the stiffest out of the early wings and still holds up well against some of the newer wings. The handles were not good. Fone may have been better on the apparent wind but not low down. My opinion.
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Huge factor in getting up on foil is how flat the water is.
Even more so with modern thin foils,they need boardspeed to rise.In chop it can be really frustrating,even more in cross chop.
But if the water is flat...
https://youtu.be/KyEXhYHhDBQ
I've been having huge frustration getting my 65kg ass up in 10 knots and I've just bought a narrower, pointier board to try and help get through the chop in the lighter stuff, but I know my foil pumping technique needs to improve if I'm going to get 10 knots cracked. Currently nowhere near doing it on a 4m but will continue to plug away at it.
I appreciate the video, but I'm suspicious of the wind speed claim. Really looks more than 10 knots to me. 10 knots is a gentle breeze which doesn't pull at much as it appears at the start...
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I appreciate the video, but I'm suspicious of the wind speed claim. Really looks more than 10 knots to me. 10 knots is a gentle breeze which doesn't pull at much as it appears at the start...
I am a bit suspicious because there were what looked like wakes/whitecaps coming off the back of his board to leeward. HOWEVER Gunnar is a Wind-Ding superhero. And he showed the wing graphs.
You have to compare your number of sessions and experience against his.
I am not calling BS on anyone that has 4X or 10X the number of winging sessions that I have (I am around 30). At this point I have to sit by their knee and listen.
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I appreciate the video, but I'm suspicious of the wind speed claim. Really looks more than 10 knots to me. 10 knots is a gentle breeze which doesn't pull at much as it appears at the start...
I am a bit suspicious because there were what looked like wakes/whitecaps coming off the back of his board to leeward. HOWEVER Gunnar is a Wind-Ding superhero. And he showed the wing graphs.
You have to compare your number of sessions and experience against his.
I am not calling BS on anyone that has 4X or 10X the number of winging sessions that I have (I am around 30). At this point I have to sit by their knee and listen.
For sure. I'm not denying he can do it, but I'm just calling what I see. I've been involved with wind sport for over 20 years wasted many hours waiting for breeze to fill in, so know what 10 knots looks like. Not calling BS either - perhaps the images are misleading or there were 10 knots periods during that session, but when compared to Balz's video of getting going on his 4.5 on his sinker with barely a few ripples this does look significantly windier. Whatever, I'm on my own journey, and would be massively grateful to have just 5 mins in Gunnar' body just to feel how he does it!
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I would say that you can get up on foil in pretty light wind on a 4M wing with the right foil and good pump technique, but you might need to wait for a 12 knot gust.
These are my first impressions of the Wasp V2, can you believe how easy the setup is?
https://youtu.be/gCGic1x6BMk
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In this episode#6 of the Blue Planet Show I talk to Sam Loader, the designer of the PPC Wing which is my favorite wing.
Watch it on youtube or listen to it as a podcast, just search for the Blue Planet Show in your favorite podcast app, thank you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO222jWvCJM
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We are posting a new Blue Planet Show this morning, an in depth interview with Kane De Wilde about wing foil design and technique. We are posting it as a video premiere at 7 am Hawaii time with live commentary and Q&A, please join use here:
https://youtu.be/NtJ0bWpw41Y
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Robert, thanks for doing these.
I’m not even jibing on foil yet but I can tell you one thing I’ve learned is getting on foil in light wind. My wind speed needed to fly drops monthly. If you’re struggling, be willing to get help and spend some time on flat water on light days practicing. It’s not super fun but it pays off. Also if any of you are still flapping the wing when you pump instead of keeping it full of air and pulling, that will help a ton. Someone needs to make a video of this because I thought I was pumping the wing until I reeeeally pumped the wing. All of a sudden the world opens up and it feels like you are paddling your board. Smooth pumps are a whole different thing. (Insert dirty joke here.)
And now, thanks to Kane there, I’m evaluating my foil and board position and setup. I have a strong suspicion that a wind wing allows you to overlook a lot of issues with your rig as far as balance, box position, etc. You can power out of bad setups with wind. But if it’s right it’ll be easier. I’ll bet all our rigs could be tweaked for easier riding. Damien LeRoy talks about this on a recent video too.
But I have to warn you guys, do NOT watch the Kane video. You will lose a whole day since you will want to watch it about 4 times to get all the info. I’ll be going back to this one for a while. Thx Robert.
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Robert -- at the 32 minute mark of the video you talk about a method you use to determine where your mast should be located in the track to balance the board and foil. Is this just a starting point or is this a foolproof method of finding the right spot for your foil every time? This works for both HA and LA foils?
As soon as I get a chance to get back on the water I'm going to give this a shot -- find the thickest part of the front foil and using that spot lift the board off the ground. The board should be parallel to the ground. If not, move the mast either forward or backwards until the board is parallel to the ground.
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That was a theory KDMaui talked about on "the progression project" a year or so ago. It's a nice way to find a starting point. He has since clarified that point. You can start there, then if you're digging rails in turns, you move the mast back towards the tail for more lift. If you're getting launched off the board and can't keep the foil in the water, you move the mast forwards towards the nose for less lift.
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Thanks for the reply.
I'm a little confused. My experience has been that moving the mast (foil) forward gives me more lift, not less -- by moving the mast back (foil) there is more body weight in front of the foil to counter the foil's lift [front foot heavy move mast (and foil) back -- back foot heavy move mast (and foil) forward]. Am I out to lunch?
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Thanks for the reply.
I'm a little confused. My experience has been that moving the mast (foil) forward gives me more lift, not less -- by moving the mast back (foil) there is more body weight in front of the foil to counter the foil's lift [front foot heavy move mast (and foil) back -- back foot heavy move mast (and foil) forward]. Am I out to lunch?
Here you go,from KD himself:
https://www.foilfeed.net/forums/topic/foil-placement/
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Thanks for the reply.
I'm a little confused. My experience has been that moving the mast (foil) forward gives me more lift, not less -- by moving the mast back (foil) there is more body weight in front of the foil to counter the foil's lift [front foot heavy move mast (and foil) back -- back foot heavy move mast (and foil) forward]. Am I out to lunch?
Here you go,from KD himself:
https://www.foilfeed.net/forums/topic/foil-placement/
Yeah, think you got that the wrong way round Dontsink. KD says:
"In conclusion, breaching tips in turns = foil back and touching rail in turns = foil forwards."
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That was a theory KDMaui talked about on "the progression project" a year or so ago. It's a nice way to find a starting point. He has since clarified that point. You can start there, then if you're digging rails in turns, you move the mast FORWARD towards the NOSE for more lift. If you're getting launched off the board and can't keep the foil in the water, you move the mast BACKWARDS towards the TAIL for less lift.
I typed that up to fast and had it completely backwards. Sorry about that. Couldn't edit old post.
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You can also move your foot/ weight placement in relation to the foil but having the center of gravity line up with the center of lift seems to make everything feel easier to control and more balanced and is a good starting point.
I'm working on a video on setting up your wing foil gear that will cover this as well as foot placement, using footstraps, etc.
If you lift up your setup from the thickest part of the foil, the board should be more or less level to the ground and not nose or tail heavy. This seems to be a good starting point for most size boards and different foils, try it!
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https://kdfoils.myshopify.com/blogs/foil-info/hydrofoil-balance-tuning
Some good info here!
https://kdfoils.myshopify.com/blogs/foil-info
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https://kdfoils.myshopify.com/blogs/foil-info/hydrofoil-balance-tuning
Some good info here!
https://kdfoils.myshopify.com/blogs/foil-info
Those are good tips from Kane. I also posted this new video on foil placement, what board to use, where top place feet and using footsteps:
https://youtu.be/4_Fyom6kerw
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Whether it's swimming with sharks, wing foiling in big waves a day before giving birth, or "toiling" on smooth North Shore walls with her smooth, flowy foil surfing style, Glennel Jordan lives a full life and openly shares about her background, surf foil and wing foil technique and equipment, her Macaw, her husband Zack and baby Raven, adventures, stories and how she keeps a positive outlook.
https://youtu.be/qkG0wtXKFwI
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I posted a new episode of the show today, an interview with Gunnar Biniasch. His tips helped me pull off the upwind 360 spin right after this interview, stoked.
https://youtu.be/ZGyA-7fpj-E
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My favorite interview. Well done Robert.
At the 1:05 mark, Gunnar digs into why straight tails are best (planing wing board designs, no tail bevel, or tail notches). The opposite of what Dave Kalama just said on the Progression Project podcast. Dave said if you want your board to plane, you’re doing it wrong. The difference in opinion, comes from Dave not being hard core into winging, in my opinion.
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I have been riding different boards, including Kalama's.
My conclusion is that Kalama's light (not sharp) tail bevel are the best by far.
This allow you to increase the angle of the front wing just enough, and even stay there for a second accumulating lift.
Same experience with Fone's tail bevels, that are also not very pronounced.
Straight tails are harder to pump.
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I have been riding different boards, including Kalama's.
My conclusion is that Kalama's light (not sharp) tail bevel are the best by far.
This allow you to increase the angle of the front wing just enough, and even stay there for a second accumulating lift.
Same experience with Fone's tail bevels, that are also not very pronounced.
Straight tails are harder to pump.
I think it really matters what kind of foil you are on. Our wing boards are designed to pop up on the foil before you reach planing speed- with tail bevel/ rocker that allow you to pump up on foil easily. A flatter planing shape will accelerate and reach planing speed easier but also makes it harder to increase angle of attack to pop up on foil earlier. This planing start works better for small, thin, high aspect foils that need more speed to create enough lift and will stall at high angles of attack. The foils most of us use can lift off well before reaching planing speed though. I prefer having a board that allows you to pop up on foil but can also see the merits of an early planing shape for high aspect foils.
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I have been riding different boards, including Kalama's.
My conclusion is that Kalama's light (not sharp) tail bevel are the best by far.
This allow you to increase the angle of the front wing just enough, and even stay there for a second accumulating lift.
Same experience with Fone's tail bevels, that are also not very pronounced.
Straight tails are harder to pump.
I think it really matters what kind of foil you are on. Our wing boards are designed to pop up on the foil before you reach planing speed- with tail bevel/ rocker that allow you to pump up on foil easily. A flatter planing shape will accelerate and reach planing speed easier but also makes it harder to increase angle of attack to pop up on foil earlier. This planing start works better for small, thin, high aspect foils that need more speed to create enough lift and will stall at high angles of attack. The foils most of us use can lift off well before reaching planing speed though. I prefer having a board that allows you to pop up on foil but can also see the merits of an early planing shape for high aspect foils.
I believe that a tail with a an angle around 20-30º is sufficient to increase the angle of attack, and will help you to prevent the foil stall you mention.
I had f-ones and Kalama with this light bevel/rocker and they are the ones going up easier and earlier. To much bevel is trickier as you can easily pass right angle. K
My Kalama goes out of the water in 6 knt, so easy compare with other small lighter boards.
At least, this is my theory Robert; I'm going to test this in my new downwind board.
Perhaps, you should bring Mr Kalama to the show; he can explain why the tail rocker seems to be a constan in all his experiments.
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https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPGrD_cDFac/?utm_medium=copy_link
Another brand joins the straight tail bandwagon
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Very interesting - I'm seeing the difference of opinion here may come down to which foil we're riding and what our weight is. On an early lift foil that can get out of the water at slow speeds, we aren't thinking about planing before getting out of the water. But on some of the thinner high aspect foils, we need more speed to get it going and the longer waterline flat bottom will plane up easier.
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https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPGrD_cDFac/?utm_medium=copy_link
Another brand joins the straight tail bandwagon
A narrower and 4" shorter version of the Boom 94 is similar to what I was designing in my head for a light wind board. Like the look of that...
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Very interesting - I'm seeing the difference of opinion here may come down to which foil we're riding and what our weight is. On an early lift foil that can get out of the water at slow speeds, we aren't thinking about planing before getting out of the water. But on some of the thinner high aspect foils, we need more speed to get it going and the longer waterline flat bottom will plane up easier.
Hi,
Yes that's a factor. Another is getting use to it, if are used to find limit of what the board can lift up, you are probably going to miss it.
I'm riding the gofoil GL240 in light winds.
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hmm wonder who will come out with a board with a removable wedge so you decide what tail shape to have on a given day/foil.
or back the flex tail ideas..here is a newer version than the 1980 tinklers.... https://witchcraft.nu/boards/flex-tail/
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This is the mod i did to straighten the tails.Working very good.
More pics here https://mega.nz/folder/ce4HEQZD#vZ8qI-9JVnqVBJpuDUlA9g
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Robert -- you should consider having DW on your podcast to talk about board, foil and wing design. He seems to be at the forefront of the equipment being developed for this sport and designs and builds boards. I'd sure be interested in his opinions about where he thinks this sport is going and why. Just a thought.
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Robert -- you should consider having DW on your podcast to talk about board, foil and wing design. He seems to be at the forefront of the equipment being developed for this sport and designs and builds boards. I'd sure be interested in his opinions about where he thinks this sport is going and why. Just a thought.
Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I will try to get DW on the show soon. Right now I have already recorded 3 more interviews and will edit and post these soon:
Mark Raaphorst
Titouan Galea
Damien LeRoy and Gwen Le tutour
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Robert -- you should consider having DW on your podcast to talk about board, foil and wing design. He seems to be at the forefront of the equipment being developed for this sport and designs and builds boards. I'd sure be interested in his opinions about where he thinks this sport is going and why. Just a thought.
Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I will try to get DW on the show soon. Right now I have already recorded 3 more interviews and will edit and post these soon:
Mark Raaphorst
Titouan Galea
Damien LeRoy and Gwen Le tutour
can't wait to watch them! Thanks!
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I just posted the latest episode with Mark Raaphorst, what an interesting guy! He moved to Maui when he was only 16, worked building boards, started SIC and now makes custom foil boards under the Flying Dutchman label:
http://youtu.be/-pK-B0vgIHc
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Here is what the Oahu Crew has been up to:
https://youtu.be/Wf0BMRbPgxY
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Titouan Galea needs no introduction, he's the current world champion wing foiler. He talks to me from his current home in Montpelier, France all about wing foiling, advanced technique tips, including back flips and 360 spins, equipment, and life. Enjoy the show on YouTube or as audio only podcast, just search for the "Blue Planet Show" on your podcast app to listen to it on the go.
https://youtu.be/yVmihqCcsAI
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Damien Leroy and Gwen Le Tutour have been on a roll, posting two great instructional videos per week and helping lots of people getting started in the sport. They are humble but are clearly exceptional humans and motivated by a desire to help people.
https://youtu.be/gUVKIDex3LU
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Please check out the latest episode with 12 year old ripper Kaden Pritchard and Kevin Pritchard:
https://youtu.be/S_i33RQhCfs
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Alex Aguera started GoFoil and plays such an important role in the development of the sport. He basically invented the foil that allowed Kai Lenny to do downwinders on a big long board and basically kick-started this whole sport of foiling in the surf and now with wings. We talk about the new wing foil boards and wings that GoFoil is coming out with.
https://youtu.be/phPsjPyX1S8
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Excellent interview. I watched it from beginning to end. Really enjoyed hearing about the early days of windsurfing right up to now with the early days of wing foiling.
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Great interview. Thanks, Robert.
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All hail Alex , Godfather of Surf Foiling! We all owe him a lot of thanks for our stoke (and probably a percentage of what we paid for foil gear - dodged patent royalties by manufacturers)
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I'm stoked you liked the interview with Alex, here is the latest show, posted today:
New Blue Planet Show interview with Armie Armstrong of Armstrong Foils, going in depth about his background, how he grew the business into an international brand and all about the gear. Watch it on YouTube or listen to it on your favorite podcast app.
https://youtu.be/1ARMvkQuvDQ
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Great interview Robert thanks!
Adrian @ Axis next ? 😎
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Robert
I just thought I’d say thanks for the great show. I think we are super lucky to have you, James Casey and the progression project putting out so much great foiling content! Really appreciated! Cheers HB
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Alex Aguera started GoFoil and plays such an important role in the development of the sport. He basically invented the foil that allowed Kai Lenny to do downwinders on a big long board and basically kick-started this whole sport of foiling in the surf and now with wings. We talk about the new wing foil boards and wings that GoFoil is coming out with.
https://youtu.be/phPsjPyX1S8
Really enjoyed this one, thanks for this Robert and for taking the time with all of these. It's appreciated. I also greatly enjoy your crew video recaps, next best thing to being there, you guys really share the stoke.
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Welcome to Season 2 of the Blue Planet Show. It's been a while but I'm planning to put out more great interviews this summer. Starting off with a group of 5 of us talking all about wing foiling with tips for all levels of wingers.
We talk about wing handling in onshore waves, jumping off the lip and landing back in the wave, back loops, getting up on foil, equipment tips, and tips for beginners and those getting started.
https://youtu.be/wvUqrJQCqd8
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Season 2, Episode 2:
Alan Cadiz comes back to the Blue Planet Show for this interview where we start with very basic beginner tips, the top five tips for beginners, and then we get into more advanced technique, racing and equipment as well.
https://youtu.be/squzSdZp5wM
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In today's interview, I speak with Adrian Roper, the man behind AXIS foils. We get into some tips for beginners, talk about his background and how he got into watersports at a young age, and then we talk in detail about foil design, how to set up the foil properly, how different aspects of the foil setup affect how the foil performs, new designs he is working on, the mast, importance of stiffness, the fuselage, the angles of the foil. So many cool technical things. I learned a lot from this show. I hope you do as well.
This new Axis brochure has the shim guide Adrian mentions on pages 41,42: http://www.axisfoils.com/current-brochure
https://youtu.be/JXmIZhpxglw
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Thanks Robert, that was excellent!
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hell yes! best one yet. All hail Adrian the Wizard!!! Mahalo Robert. Nice work, as usual. Go Axis!!!!
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For those reading but maybe not watching these, the Adrian Roper one is great, no matter what brand you ride. It actually helped me understand Lift foils a lot better for example.
About every 5 minutes he explains some baffling part of foil design that we all wonder about but never quite "get." Thx Robert!!
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Wow! that was a master class on hydrofoils! I usually listen to the podcast on my drives to work. This one I had to come home and watch it again on video. I think I only understood 20% of what he was talking about, will have to rewatch.
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Good to see Adrian's smiling face, since Covid he hasn't been back to Hood River. It's always fun to talk with him. The first time he and I started talking I was supposed to meet some folks for dinner, I got so wrapped up in our conversation I showed up when everyone was starting dessert. They weren't pleased, and I couldn't say that I'd found someone more interesting to talk to than my friends. An excellent episode other than your wacky autofocus. I could tell it was distracting the heck out of you Robert.
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Thank you Robert:Great interview with Adriaan Roper. I was flying the Axis 1099 and, in my head, thanking him for building a windsurfer as a kid.
What I love about foiling and foil design is that there is far, far less wiggle room for BS. With surfboard design rails and tuck and rocker were largely subjective. Fins added speed and drive and . .. what????
Aspect ratios, center of lift (usually 1/4 Chord point), foil shape and cambered vs asymmetric designs and the effect of stabilizers have ~120 years of history in aviation. Having a degree in Aerospace engineering I listened to the podcast and he was spot on. Add the benefits of computer simulation, reduced time to test, iterate, the scientific method and we get Products that work GREAT and keep improving. I am a believer in Axis and Adrian's approach.
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I'm stoked you liked the interview with Adrian from Axis foils. This next interview was with Clifford Coetzer, the founder and designer at Unifoil who designed some of the first high aspect surf foils. We go over tips for wing foil beginners, his background, how he started making foils and started Unifoil, foil design evolution, construction, stiffness, tradeoffs, testing prototypes, foil characteristics, and more, enjoy.
https://youtu.be/EovlfQ05k9M
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I'm stoked you liked the interview with Adrian from Axis foils. This next interview was with Clifford Coetzer, the founder and designer at Unifoil who designed some of the first high aspect surf foils. We go over tips for wing foil beginners, his background, how he started making foils and started Unifoil, foil design evolution, construction, stiffness, tradeoffs, testing prototypes, foil characteristics, and more, enjoy.
https://youtu.be/EovlfQ05k9M
Enjoyed hearing him explain why back foot pressure foils are bad and his attempt to create a series of tails to transition back footed foilers to front footed.
I owned a couple of back foot foil brands and really disliked that style. I often tell friends it’s like standing on a squirrels back. All stability gone to shit whenever you have to apply even more back foot, like when going down swell, as Clifford talked about.