Getting some new gofoils, what to get?

[sharksupper]

Hi guys!

I'd like to try some new foils, currently have the lift 170 (as in 170 sq-in).  I'm going to get a gofoil set, just want to be sure what I should go with...

I'm riding surf only in N. Calif, don't do any downwinding.  That said, sometimes the waves aren't breaking and I'd like to catch the large swells too.

My current foil is super fast and efficient at speed, but I have to think the fatter foils are going to be able to slow down and keep lifting better.

I was going to go with the IWA and Maliko 200, but I was told if I was going in the waves not to use the Maliko... instead it was recommended I go with Kai and IWA.

.. so what do you think?  I'm trying to compliment my lift 170, not necessarily replace it.

I'm going to be using a tuttle to track mount adapter, in case it matters...

Thanks!

[Beasho]

If you want to go with 1 foil only:

IWA

If you want to go with 2 foils:

IWA
Maliko 200

I weigh 185 and can't see any reason to use my Kai foil again.

The IWA is super effective.  I have surfed it from 4 foot faces to 10+ foot faces. 

When the waves are going to be reliably 5 feet and less I will put on the Maliko 200 and fly all over the place.  Groovy, manageable flights. Not falling in sometimes for 2 hours. 

I was recently on the IWA flying inside Mavericks the buoys were 11 feet at 12 seconds.  The IWA was lit up, but flying up to 23 mph.  Longest ride 510 yards AT SPEED.  The second longest ride shown below was 340 yards.

[Southbay]

Its only a couple hundred bucks more and you can get all three.  I'm 175lbs and I use my Kai all the time.  Its true that the Iwa is crazy versatile, but still nice to have one for steeper waves.  I'd opt for the three pack and  get the Maliko 200, Iwa and Kai.

[Califoilia]

What's the thought from all you Skinny Bones Jones for us lard buckets 200+ lbs and up in dinky Sano waist high and below mush melons most of the time? IWA still work, or should I just go with the Maliko 200, and call it good?

[sharksupper]

I got tired of debating, so I just got the kai, iwa, and m200 as a set, problem sovled!   

Thanks for the help!

[Califoilia]

I just got the kai, iwa, and m200 as a set, problem sovled!

Sweet!!, and if you don't mind me asking....where'd you get 'em, and what'd you have to give for 'em (picked up or shipped)?

[sharksupper]

Big Winds seems to be a big dealer and they're the closest to me with no tax.  I've used them for a long time, so I went with them.  No special deals, they are in high demand.

[Subber]

I got tired of debating, so I just got the kai, iwa, and m200 as a set, problem sovled!   

Thanks for the help!

Give us reviews as you try them out.

[sharksupper]

I got tired of debating, so I just got the kai, iwa, and m200 as a set, problem sovled!   

Thanks for the help!

Give us reviews as you try them out.

Most definitely!  I'm so curious to try something other than the Lift, since that has been my first and only foil that I've learned on.

[PonoBill]

200 up it's Iwa. M200 and maybe an M280 though it's a really huge thing. I use the M200 constantly, the Iwa a little and I'm 232 this morning.

I found something new today, or rather a prone foiler told me and it was a huge benefit--Don't hold your paddle with two hands once you're up in the air as a beginner. Probably once you really have control of the foil you can do other stuff.  but holding the paddle in the usual position pulls my body back sideways when I'm flying and the foil gets twitchy. With the paddle in one hand and my arms out and down I had at least twice as much control.

[Califoilia]

Big Winds seems to be a big dealer and they're the closest to me with no tax.  I've used them for a long time, so I went with them.  No special deals, they are in high demand.

Thank you for the info sharks, I'll check them out.

200 up it's Iwa. M200 and maybe an M280 though it's a really huge thing. I use the M200 constantly, the Iwa a little and I'm 232 this morning.

I found something new today, or rather a prone foiler told me and it was a huge benefit--Don't hold your paddle with two hands once you're up in the air as a beginner. Probably once you really have control of the foil you can do other stuff.  but holding the paddle in the usual position pulls my body back sideways when I'm flying and the foil gets twitchy. With the paddle in one hand and my arms out and down I had at least twice as much control.

Thanks for the board, and technique advice PB. I'm looking at the Iwa as I weigh in at about 207 now, and that seems to be the one I see most of the guys using at Sano now, and really swearing by.

[PonoBill]

Iwa is a great foil, The M200 is a little more stable for me, and I can get it rolling in dinky waves a little better. In bigger stuff the Iwa is easy money because it comes up in a more controlled fashion. I can manage the M200 in shoulder high, steep waves if I remember to keep my weight hard on my front foot and bring the board up with a quick pull up, strong push down. the Iwa allows this to be a little sloppier. If I blow the push down a little bit with the M200 the board will pop up to the point the wing is nearly broached, hand there far a few moments--just long enough to scare the crap out of me, then crash nose first as the front wing blows out.

[sharksupper]

I finally recorded one of my sessions yesterday.  The waves sucked, not even breaking, so lots and lots of hard paddling and thrown back afterward (ugh).  I was off my game that day, but it was still pretty fun!

This is with the Lift 170 foil.  I'll try to get some comparisons with the GoFoils when I get them.

[sharksupper]

GoFoils arrived!  Big Winds rocks, thanks TJ!

Maliko 200 / IWA / KAI set

Weights (all with mast/wing mounting screws, but not foil->board screws): 
Lift 170 = 6.6 lbs.
Kai = 6.9 lbs.
IWA = 8.3 lbs.
Maliko 200 = 8.8 lbs.

Note the lift has a 28" mast vs the 24.5" GoFoil mast (when I actually measured from the main wing trailing edge to the board mounting surface it's a 4" difference).

I will be adding a 1.5 lbs. aluminum tuttle to plate adapter until I can get a lighter carbon one.  The metal adapter isn't here yet so can't try them out right away.

These GoFoils look AWESOME!  They obviously used UHM carbon, they sound like pieces of solid titanium when you rap them with your knuckles... more of a bell ringing sound than a thud.  The level of stiffness is astounding, the unit hardly flexes at all in any direction.  The finishes are also amazingly clean and smooth, very nice!  I cannot wait to go try these out!!!!!!!

The Lift 170 and Kai main wings are almost identical in outline, but in all other ways they are totally different.  The Kai is about 3-4x thicker in chamber, huge difference.  The Kai also has very downturned wing tips.

Super stoked!... now just to save up for a real foil board...

[JBinGulfShores]

So which board will you pick?
Following this!