The end of the beginning - SPG Wings (photo heavy post)

[Julie_Scheyer]

Ken, Sky and I choose no footstraps.  When I fall I want to get away from the hydrofoil and I do, especially always holding onto the hand wing.  Straps have potential to scissor.  If you have to use straps to get flying there is likely something wrong with the setup.  With the hand held wing it should be easy to get flying if the hydrofoil is the right size. 

I keep reading these posts and you guys are trying everything.  One thing you could try is to see if your hydrofoil setup is good and experiment with hydrofoil wing sizes and position towing behind a jetski. 

BTW- not all foilwings are created equal.  Some are way harder to ride and catch the tips in the water or have less rigidity etc etc so that’s another variable.

[Admin]

Hi,

Footstraps feel awesome (even when slogging around in chop).  You should try them!  I hope to work out a good position so I can get the back one on again.  Likely very helpful in a non-crawling waterstart also...someday.  That is the dream.

[Julie_Scheyer]

Ken adjusted my backwing 1/2 degree down, and it was amazing how much easier it was to fly downwind.  Just a tiny adjustment is significant..

[Admin]

Ken adjusted my backwing 1/2 degree down, and it was amazing how much easier it was to fly downwind.  Just a tiny adjustment is significant..

I am a believer.  We are using GoFoils so we have no fuselage length options or individual wing shim options but we are now finding that small positioning adjustments mean a lot.  We have 28.5 inch masts (one is 33.5 because of the Tutttle adapter).  Our big hang up so far has been that we were (air) wing limited.  Because we had lost our 4 meter we have been limited to one wing each, 5 for myself, 3 for Chan.  Bill has been limited to a 4 meter.  At the end of each day, one of us says, "that was perfect" while the other two scowl .  In seriousness, I think that this will be helpful long term.  If not, it has made for some great slapstick.  We are completely stoked to have the middle size back now and I can't wait to try it.  I have a feeling that 4 will be my money size and I know that it will be more fun for Chan on those really light days. 

[PonoBill]

If I can't get a five, maybe this would work:

[Julie_Scheyer]

Bill that’s too small still. Hehe.

I’ve been “bagging out” my 3m on down winders in the middle of a run, if it gets light.  I have a new boom adjustment strap. Really helpful.  Give that a try with the 4m and “bag” it out.  If the carbon boom can’t adjust, I would go back to the AL

[Dwight (DW)]

For me, this confirms the Gong 7m is NOT too big. So when is the 6m being released by Slingshot, Duotone, and SPG!

If I can't get a five, maybe this would work:

[Califoilia]

If I can't get a five, maybe this would work:

Wait...what!? I just ordered their 7m yesterday, and saw or heard nothing wrt a 9m when ordering at their website, and talking with them on multiple emails. Waddupwitdat? 

[PonoBill]

Bill that’s too small still. Hehe.

I’ve been “bagging out” my 3m on down winders in the middle of a run, if it gets light.  I have a new boom adjustment strap. Really helpful.  Give that a try with the 4m and “bag” it out.  If the carbon boom can’t adjust, I would go back to the AL

My carbon boom is already set at the fully bagged setting. I have some one-inch rings I can add to tighten the wing, but I've never used them.

That reminds me, I still have a carbon mast for you. Ken said you already had some.

[Rider]

Question? ....with all the new interest in foiling, is basic sup racing dead? It seems so yesterday....

[Rider]

I mean, really, what were they thinking?

[Admin]

I mean, really, what were they thinking?

Who you mean by they?

[Rider]

OK, I am not really sure what I meant. Funny thing though....After doing a few circuits on the bullets at the hatch yesterday, driving out we saw a guy on a 14 v2. My first thought was, where did this guy come from....

[Admin]

OK, I am not really sure what I meant. Funny thing though....After doing a few circuits on the bullets at the hatch yesterday, driving out we saw a guy on a 14 v2. My first thought was, where did this guy come from....

Race participation and certainly the number of racing events has faded but I am still seeing a good number of recreational SUP downwinders coming through.  Of course, some have migrated from SUP to other downwind sports for variety.  As a whole downwind traffic seems higher than ever.  There are a handful of regulars who SUP foil downwind here but that aspect of the sport seems to have a brutal learning curve particularly as a first foiling activity.  I don't see wingfoiling as cannibalizing SUP in any major way.  For many it will just add function to their existing SUP gear (surface or foil).  For those with the SUP downwind bug, I don't see wingfoiling downwind as a major tug.  The physicality of SUP downwind and the technicality of linking swells is a huge part of it.  This isn't going to touch that.  It is a different beast.

[PonoBill]

My downwind boards have been gathering dust since I got a wing. Not because I have been doing wing downwinders, just that if there's wind, I'm trying to wing it.