Messages

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: 2022 New Wings Thread

« on: August 10, 2022, 09:14:23 AM »

I ride KT wings but have had the opportunity to try a pretty wide selection of brands with various handles and materials including Aluula. I really like the Slicks despite the added weight of the boom. Units are very nice too.  Duotone strikes me as having some of the most refined-looking wings on the market. Interesting thing is that going back to back with a current Aluula wing with all of the bells and whistles and then to my KT which looks quite minimalist in comparison, it's not like I'm disappointed in the performance of the KT. It's quite impressive the performance you can squeeze out of the KT and it's only a V1! Price for performance is pretty insane too. The long front handle on the KT makes tacking even in strong wind a snap as you can slide ride up behind the leading edge and shove it through the eye of the wind effortlessly. The KT just chills and hovers flagged out while you wave ride and the frame has good pumping/low end stiffness (something critical to me). All of this despite using Aluula or Hookipa, and keeping the price reasonable. Easy to fly one handed too as they nailed the balance of the centre handle. While I like seeing the exotic materials pushing the design envelope, it's also cool to see what designers can do with standard materials while keeping costs in line and performance as high as possible.

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Foil SUP / Re: Foiling along and BAM …. Aeration? Cavitation? Nope

« on: June 19, 2022, 07:10:36 AM »

One of the inlets we sail here has moon jellyfish for part of the season. It's like foiling at high speed through a bubble tea! At least they can repair themselves if you do some damage. Thankfully they don't tend to make you crash unless you're riding slowly through a swarm of them.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: crappy day - punctured my wing

« on: May 31, 2022, 08:07:31 AM »

If I haven't put at least one hole in a wing from random crashes in the span of a month or two I'm pleasantly surprised. For now it's a lame part of the whole winging experience, especially if you have a light, HA foil that loves to flip upside down.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Ginxu step hokum

« on: May 31, 2022, 08:02:39 AM »

I've not tried one myself and have all the initial doubts about the design as well but guys I've chatted with who have actually ridden them sure seem to like them! For now I'll ride a more conventional KT shape until I'm certain the step tail is the bomb diggity bomb.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Anyone ridden a Slingshot 99cm and Armstrong 2400?

« on: May 17, 2022, 01:05:50 PM »

I'd echo staying on the 99 a bit longer. I spent about 10 sessions learning on the 84 before getting the Armstrong 1850 rig. I was glad to have the 84 prior to the 1850 and I still really love the ease of use and turning of the 1850 despite owning a few HA foils.  The 2400 is really a foil to use a few times as a complete beginner or heavy rider before stepping to an 1850 or smaller. I'd skip it and stay with the 99 until you feel dialled. I love the HA wings for fanging around and gliding but also appreciate the turning and ease of use of lower aspect wings.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: 2022 New Wings Thread

« on: May 17, 2022, 12:48:35 PM »

The new KT wings are an amazing V1 effort. It's clear they've looked at many of the previous wings on the market and have added many of the desirable attributes such as low end power, stiff frame, drift stability, light weight and good handle interface. The handles are simple and light weight but it may be cool to to see Cabrinha style rigid/soft handles in the future for these wings. Like an Armstrong, I think you can size down a half size as they are pretty grunty. Even the 3m has pretty amazing low end. High end is surprisingly good too. Windsurfers familiar with the Goya brand of sails are used to a high end/premium/refined product from Jason Diffin. It'll be interesting to see where his KT wing development goes!

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Which is the best low end 5m to 5.2m wing for shorter people?

« on: March 05, 2022, 03:23:49 PM »

I have a 5.2 WK Takuma for my big wing at 200 pounds plus wetsuit etc. It has insane low end but is on the heavy side and flies a bit nose heavy flagged out. Otherwise it's a nice option and likely close to the Ensis 5.2 in power. Once you figure out how it likes to be flown it's a great wing. Just don't ride it over powered as it becomes a real handful. It's a pretty compact design.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Which is the best low end 5m to 5.2m wing for shorter people?

« on: March 05, 2022, 03:23:17 PM »

I have a 5.2 WK Takuma for my big wing at 200 pounds plus wetsuit etc. It has insane low end but is on the heavy side and flies a bit nose heavy flagged out. Otherwise it's a nice option and likely close to the Ensis 5.2 in power. Once you figure out how it likes to be flown it's a great wing. Just don't ride it over powered as it becomes a real handful.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Ocean Rodeo Glide-Allula

« on: March 05, 2022, 07:56:17 AM »

Regarding the reluctance of the OR wing to change tack, I found steering the wing more actively by either placing a hand briefly on the leading edge and giving it a little push over to the new tack (toeside-heelside) worked well or by actively pushing the backhand away while steering up wind in a heel side tack really helps. The "floppy/narrow" setting on the soft handles accentuates the vague input and reactivity too much IMHO. Set up wider and with more tension the handling gets better. I haven't tried the carbon handles on the OR but to me it seems like they'd be ideal and would make such a big difference in handling.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Best board leash for winging in waves

« on: January 10, 2022, 08:17:23 AM »

My reel leash board clip snapped in a SUP foil over-the falls incident (The system was second hand and pretty old) but for winging I really like it. I'll sometimes use a 6' coiled ankle leash which has been secure, doesn't drag, and has yet to trip me or get in my toes while winging unlike the straight ankle leashes I've tried.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Switching from CF300 v1 to HS232 v1: what performance changes can I expect?

« on: December 29, 2021, 12:15:15 PM »

The 232 will feel a fair bit easier to turn and will be faster but a bit less stable. Try the faster +1 shim on the 300 first, see how it runs then try a -1 if you can and see what difference you feel. Then try the 232 at 0, +1, -1. Eventually you won't use the 300 much at all and you'll be chopping the 232 down. Which aspect of jibing is making you struggle? It could be more of a subtle technique change than the tail choice holding you back.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Reedin Super wing

« on: December 24, 2021, 03:57:20 PM »

So as we look to the next generation…what is hidden in the design of the OR making it so smooth?
The only design detail, this wannabe amateur wing designer can spot is the massive wing tip washout, just like hang gliders. I have not seen this in any other wing on the market.

The OR designer has a solid history of hang gliding, windsurfing and kiting to draw from. I've wondered about the effect the tip washout is having myself. Perhaps it's part of that nice high end/gust eating feel but this would potentially take away from the low end grunt? Sort of like a windsurfing race-sail that has lots of leech twist for increasing the top end manners and gust eating ability, but maybe not ultimately optimized for the best low end (like a tighter-leeched freestyle windsurfing sail is?)

 I would love to try the Reedin Super Wing on my HA725 foil to see how top speed compares with my current wings just for fun. All of these wings have something unique to offer; I wish it was easier to demo them before buying.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Reedin Super wing

« on: December 16, 2021, 09:50:38 AM »

I haven't tried a Reedin Super Wing yet, but have ridden a few of DG's previous designs and they all have a signature very "grunty" low end feel with tons of forward drive, which I appreciate as a 200 pound rider on smaller foils. His wings tend to pump super well out of the hole in my experience but are on the heavier feeling side while flagged out. There's also truth behind not only focussing on the weight of a wing comparing specs between wings. How they fly matters more than a pound or so of weight IMO, though the larger Super Wing sizes will suffer in drifting in very light air compared to an A-series wing. The Aluula Glide, while you can't describe it as grunty, needs more technique or a size up to get moving early in its wind range. So mentally it can feel like a bummer that you are needing a 6m, but it still handles like a 4m in practice as it has so little inertia. Flagging the A-series wing out for wave riding is top of the class. Calling the A-series Glide "harsh" or too stiff is super odd to me though, as it is super smooth through the air and so well behaved once up and riding. The frame is rigid but flexes enough at the tips to not feel harsh. You feel this pumping, too. The advantage that OR has is that they already have the materials needed to make a crazy light wing but they can easily engineer more low end grunt or any other aspect of performance as required in the future.

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Foil SUP / Re: Armstrong FG 5.11 riders?

« on: November 10, 2021, 04:18:35 PM »

Finally got the 5.11 in the surf (head high plus) in challenging/shifty conditions. Broke my leash after 2 hrs but definitely got a decent sense of this board. Pumps well for the size (used setting 8, 72 mast, 212 tail, 1250, +1 shim). Turns so much better than my previous board. Does feel somewhat hefty for a a premium board, but if it holds up I can live with it. The recessed deck will take some getting used to as it takes a little width away from what's actually available, but it's quite stable in the sweet spot. Can't wait for more sessions.

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Foil SUP / Re: Armstrong FG 5.11 riders?

« on: November 01, 2021, 09:41:12 PM »

I went with the 5.11 for SUP (couldn't get a 5.8 before January). but took it out for its first go with a wing the other day in 3' surf and 15 knots. For winging it's definitely a big board, but I was truly amazed with the ease of launch and flagged out turning/maneuverability of this board due to the FG track placement. Compared to the previous Sunova 115L there's no contest primarily due to the foil finally working with the board properly. HUGE difference. I think it'll paddle well for me no problem, though the recessed deck takes some available width away for standing. I'll report back after I get some sessions on it. So little user info on these boards!