Messages

31

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Too many wing companies

« on: April 14, 2021, 07:48:47 PM »

Right now, wing companies seem more regional. The brands we have access to here on Maui aren’t the same ones in Aus/NZ, the Euros have their own brands. Some folks order stuff online, but most buy what’s in stock at their local board shops. It’s almost like cars. There are many brands in the world, but they are not offered everywhere and people buy what is available locally. So there aren’t “too many” wing companies, there are just lots in different places.

As for sticking to “known” brands, that strategy has had mixed results for me. It all depends on how much R&D the company is doing for winging. There is a big “local name” board maker who made a bunch of boards for the first Wing Surfers, the boards never made sense to me. Then I found out that the owner does not wing, and has no interest, thus the boards are off. For my first board, I went with my favorite SUP company, but they too weren’t into winging, so their shape made no sense either.

32

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: New NORTH wing

« on: March 09, 2021, 02:53:46 PM »

Window location seems odd on land. But on foil they were in the right spot for me. I was able to see traffic in front and to the side.

33

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Maui trip in April/May - Where to wing foil?

« on: March 09, 2021, 12:18:51 PM »

The beginner spot on Maui is the Kahului harbor. From the westside it'll be an hour drive in the summer with all the visitors back. There is plenty of parking but no bathrooms or showers. The rules are simple, have plenty love and aloha for everyone else and when there are ships in the harbor, stay inside the red markers.

If you are new to the sport, an impact vest and a helmet will save you a visit to the ER. Might want to consider shin guards and knee pads to save your legs.

You can rent foil boards from Hi-Tech sports and Kanaha Kai

You can rent wings from Kanaha Kai (Air Rush), Second Wind (Doutone) and Adventure sports.

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Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: New NORTH wing

« on: March 05, 2021, 01:00:44 AM »

Got to ride the 4.2 Nova yesterday. Wow! Is all I can say. Currently I ride Armstrong A-wings. The Nova was everything good about the A-wing (great grunt, upwind, power, punches above their weight) with improvement over everything bad about the A-wing (weight, window location, price). The Nova I tried felt like it was half the weight of the A-wing 4.5. When I laid it on top of the A-Wing it was nearly identical in size and shape, only a couple of inches shorter. The windows were in the perfect spot. While on foil it was easy to look through and see thing in-front of me.

My wife also had some rides on it, she is just getting on foil and still has to do the “walk” a lot. With the North wing, she was coming back a lot closer to where she started. It basically cut her walking distance in half.

The handles were super comfortable, there was shaped foam inside, comfortable like the Doutone Unit, but solid and not floppy. It also came with a good wrist leash (like the Ozone one, but with the cuff like on an Airrush).

Lastly the bag is very nice quality, well padded. Rectangular like the Armstrong bags, but double wide and a bit longer. Has a padded shoulder strap and a saddle and strap on the side to hold a pump securely.   

I’ve tried a bunch of wings, and this is the first one that had me thinking about moving on from my current quiver of Armstrong and Duotone.

35

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: 30:1 -- wing sales vs. kite sales

« on: February 24, 2021, 11:51:12 PM »

On Maui it was a combination of:

People locked down looking for something to do.
Beaches being open when nothing else was.
No cruise ships and much less cargo ships leaving an empty protected harbor
No tourists buying new kite and windsurf gear and crowding up the water
Free .gov money from “stimulus” and the unemployment $800/week add on

It was like Christmas season in all the board shops all year. Nothing was in stock! People jumped into winging with both feet. Some came from foil surfing, many from kiting and windsurf. But also lots of folks with water but no wind experience picking up a wind-sport for the first time.

New wings and foil boards lasted about a week on the shelves. Used gear sold fast near new prices. Everyday in the harbor there were new folks learning the sport for the first time.

36

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: V1 Armstrong Base Plate

« on: February 15, 2021, 04:41:30 PM »

You can try Kevin Collins on Maui. He's been listing these all summer

https://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/spo/d/paia-armstrong-foils-95-cm-and-85-cm/7257106337.html

37

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Wing Foil Videos

« on: January 15, 2021, 04:40:39 PM »

Hey that’s me in the background doing the walk of shame. Gotta call my agent to see if I should be getting royalties for this.

38

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: What arm muscles does winging workout most?

« on: January 10, 2021, 08:12:41 PM »

I have a flare up of tennis elbow after three straight days of winging. Legs are tired for doing the walk of shame.