Topics

46

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Anyone wing foiling in Maine/NH?

« on: May 31, 2020, 01:26:38 PM »

Back up in southern Maine for the summer ( Kittery Point).  Any wing foiling Zoners in  the area?  Looking forward to a few chilly sessions, although I am not sure this area is a wind magnet in the summer.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Foil progression question

« on: May 08, 2020, 08:31:29 AM »

 I have learned to wing foil on to the Fanatic Aero 2000 long fuselage foil.  It has 2000 front wing/500 rear, 75cm mast and 80 cm fuselage.   Love the foil, gets me up in an instant and from all I know, a great riding foil.  I have progressed quickly from day 1, but like I said it's all I know and wonder if it is limiting me.

What are the advantages of going to smaller size foil wings, and/or a shorter fuselage?

Yesterday was out in some big  winds with my 4.0 Duotone. Some of the gusts were close to 30 but the foil and wing were very much in control and I enjoyed the speed at which I was riding.

I am guessing smaller wings = more speed , less stability?

thanks for input as always

48

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Hex key and hardware question

« on: April 28, 2020, 09:22:17 AM »

I needed new hex keys to assemble my Fanatic Aero foil.  The original are cheap and don't say the size....The bolts used are sizes M8 and M6 , so I ordered a set of metric t handle hex keys.  I guessed incorrectly that the M8 is 8mm and M6 is 6 mm but obviously this is not the case.  Luckily there were many different sizes, and it turns out the hex keys from the new set that fit the heads of my bolts are the 5 mm and 4 mm....? They do fit, but afraid they aren't exact and I wouldn't want to strip the heads.   Maybe there is a more exact hex key for them

can someone please explain to me what M8 and M6 sizes are/mean?   
thanks for any info

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Carving jibe wing foiling

« on: March 07, 2020, 08:38:01 AM »

Ok just came in from a great session, best one yet, but having a crazy time figuring out carving jibe while still up on foil.  Watching videos it looks like most DO NOT switch stance and ride backside. I am guessing this a kiting thing? I have more windsurf background and switch stance.

I have the finesse of a bull in a china shop, so while carving the jibe on foil as soon as I try and switch my stance, slam! I come off the foil and board hits the water.  Should I be switching stance well few before starting the jibe?   How can you delicately switch stance without disturbing the foil?

  I tried riding backside and might keep trying , but wasn’t comfortable at all although I was able to stay up a bit.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / packing up your wing

« on: February 13, 2020, 12:10:14 PM »

Just curious how everyone packs up their wings?

 I usually don't have enough time to wait for the wing to dry completely so its wet and covered with some sand especially along the bladder. I do my best to brush off excess sand, but no way to remove it all. I then roll up the wing (Duotone) and put in bag. When I have time at home, I unpack and then brush off all remaining sand and re pack.  By then wing is usually dry too

unfortunately I don't have a grassy area to rig, just a sandy beach so it's a bit of a mess packing up..

How do you goes do it?

51

Foil SUP / Great lubricant for foil hardware

« on: February 07, 2020, 10:02:55 PM »

I found a convenient lubricant that I use on my foil hardware.  “Boat zipper and snap lube” It’s by a company called Better Boat I’ve used it for a while on zippers at my home in the Grenadines ( board bag zippers, seat cushion zippers and snaps) it’s much like a glue stick and easy to apply as a lubricant and anti corrosive on your foil screws and nuts.  I use this and Teflon tape.
It’s available on Amazon

52

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Up and riding the foil..woo hoo!

« on: February 05, 2020, 05:22:14 PM »

Ok I thought my time in the Caribbean struggling in very challenging conditions was a waste of time and a blow to my confidence, but I learned today it was well worth it.  Back in Florida and today had an amazing day on the water with my Fanatic Sky SUP and Aero 2000 foil and Duotone 4m.   Dwight was right, the larger foil made all the difference.  The flat water and cooperating winds also helped and compared to last week, really favorable conditions.  It was my first time on the water with the set up . I had 1 1/2 hrs behind a jet ski with the board and foil back in November.

The wind started out light, and like windsurfing you need more wind and speed to enjoy this sport..schlogging is not fun.  Once the wind kicked in, it was amazing and I was up and riding the foil in no time..2 hrs and only two crashes, although I did hit bottom with the foil a number of times due to shallow water...(Note to self to buy a 24" mast)  I am still grinning ear to ear.  Had a number of downwind rides where I was up on the foil 30 + seconds which for me seemed like an eternity.  Best part was that initially the foil controlled me, but after a while I was controlling the foil.

Thanks to all Zoners for advice, suggestions, input etc.  Can't tell you how stoked I am that I figured this out.

53

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Duotone wing harness lines?

« on: December 22, 2019, 09:11:09 AM »

I see that the F-One Swing has an available harness line.  Has anyone put a windsurfing harness line on the boom of a Duotone wing, and if so what length did you find worked best? Seems like Duotone is even more suited or a harness line than F-One

thanks

Don

54

Foil SUP / SUP foil board leash length?

« on: November 14, 2019, 06:35:08 AM »

After my recent foil lesson, I learned you have to have a leash or be ready for a long swim. Can’t believe how fast foil boards drift away.  The don’t use a leash when teaching behind a jet ski..

What kind of leash do you guys use and what length?  I’d hate to have a foil board snap back into me after a wipe out.

55

Foil SUP / First lessons on Foil Sup behind jet ski

« on: November 13, 2019, 06:17:44 AM »

Ok after weeks of anticipation, I finally had my first two Foil Sup lessons with Good Breeze kitesurfing in Cocoa Beach (thanks Dwight for the recommendation).  First off these guys were great, and I highly recommend them and learning behind a jet ski.

I had studied videos and asked questions for weeks (many on this forum) about Foiling on a SUP so I was fairly prepared.  My goal is to ride a foil SUP in surf and ride with a wing and prepare for Caribbean downwinders alone.  While I had played with a wing on land, this was first time ever on a foil.

I have to say it was easier than I had expected getting up and riding the foil, as all the board and foil want to do is rise up out of the water.  You spend the balance of the ride battling to keep the board level and the nose from rising up and foil rising too far out of the water.  Although it was easier than expected, it is far from easy and this will take many sessions to learn foiling and even more to pair with a wing.
Today my thighs feel like a ran a marathon.

My first lesson was using their equipment a Jimmy Lewis Flying V 7'3" i think and 152 liters.  It had a GoFoil Maliko 200 foil under it..nice set up. The board was VERY stable and I would start from a  standing position . The foil was eager to lift me out of the water yet was easy to control.  I couldn't believe you could ride a foil at such slow speeds..that was really cool.  After a few trips up and down the coastline, I ventured out over the wake to the other side of the ski. This is where it got really fun..despite all the turbulence and chop, the foil cut through the water like a knife through butter. That was one thing that was so surprising..with each approaching wave or chop, I was expecting impact like on a sup or windsurfer, but it never came. That took some getting used to, but in a good way.  The board would quickly accelerate to where it wanted to pass the ski and i would have to let up.  Really fun and eye opening session.

My next hour I was on my Fanatic SKY SUP 6'6"x30" 115 liters.  I had a Fanatic Aero 2000 long fuselage foil.  First time riding either.   I could still start from a standing position but it was a lot less stable than the Jimmy Lewis.  I needed for the jet ski to get going right away once I was standing..no time to balance.  Like the Maliko, the Fanatic foil popped me up almost instantly and I had a hard time fighting to keep the nose down and had a couple of classic wipeouts.  Lesson learned.  I moved forward on the board and it took care of that problem. I think my limited snowboarding experience really helped with my foiling, knowing to keep weight forward and on front foot not back.  The Fanatic mast is about 4 inches taller than the Maliko and it was very evident right away as I kept climbing and climbing. Felt pretty high up there at times, and I learned to listen to the foil which saved me a couple of times from breaching.  I did pearl the nose a couple of times descending too quickly into the face of some chop.  Slow subtle movements are how you keep from crashing.

All in all a very fun day and I learned tons.  It gave me a lot of confidence going forward.  I highly recommend learning in a  controlled environment such as behind a ski.

I may have another lesson behind the ski, but want to try floating around wing in hand and see what happens.  This is going to take some time, and why I want to get started right away.

I am 6' 185 lbs  40 + years of surfing and windsurfing and 10 years SUP surfing experience. 

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Good video of learning on Duotone

« on: September 28, 2019, 06:57:02 AM »

Good video of an average Joe learning to sail the Duotone Wing and Fanatic Sky SUP foil board. 

57

SUP General / I hope to God this sport doesn’t take off

« on: September 27, 2019, 05:56:54 AM »

Spending a few fun days in Burlington, VT and came across this video
As if the lineups aren’t busy enough..I’d hate to see these things catching on.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Are these wings durable?

« on: September 23, 2019, 03:04:45 PM »

Just unpacked my new Duotone 4 m wing and my first impression is. Wow! This thing is so light and flimsy. Compared to my Ezzy windsurf sails it seems like a pool toy.  I dont know anything about kiting or wing foils, but the materials are similar. Are these wings durable? Once I inflated it it felt like it could easily pop with the right crash. But I imagine the kites crash time after time from lofty highs and high speed, so maybe this isnt the case.  I hope not as there are no dealers around me. Do i need to buy a lot of patches etc?  Thanks as always for your advice

59

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / How does everyone transport their boards and foils to the beach?

« on: September 16, 2019, 03:42:14 PM »

Would love to see how everyone is transporting their boards and foils to the beach?  I saw a few creative bicycle set ups on this forum, but for the average car or SUV  (not van) how do you do it?  Do you assemble and attach the foil each session and remove after?  Put it on the roof racks assembled?

thanks for your suggestions

60

SUP Gear Reviews / Newly Acquired / On Order / L41 Bruce Wayne custom

« on: September 13, 2019, 06:12:06 AM »

Just received  my new L41 Bruce Wayne custom SUP.   It's 8'10" x 30" x 4.49" @ 130 liters with a notch swallow tail.  I don't know the weight as yet, but it feels lighter than my very light Hobie Raw of the same dimensions but 118 liters.  I decided to join the 30" club as the Hobie's 28" width is getting to be tiresome in a choppy lineup.  I feel like Carl Wallenda balancing on a tightrope.

It has multiple fin options, but believe I will ride it as the recommended quad.

First impressions on the L41 Bruce Wayne are WOW what a beautiful board.  The construction is so impressive and feels bombproof boosted with the carbon rails and stringer. The finish is gorgeous,  The components are all top quality (deck pad, handle, fin boxes and fins). The thing I like most about this board are the step down rails.  There is some good volume in the deck and it looks like it will be very stable, but the board tapers down at the rails so they aren't quite as beefy.  This board looks and feels like it is going to rip and just what I needed.

If you are thinking about an L41 Surfcraft SUP or on the fence, go for it. It's my first custom SUP, but this is as impressive a board and construction as I have seen.  I also ordered it with a custom Vitamin Blue board bag and that is killer as well.