Axis Foils

[Admin]

I did a fun session on the 1010/460 yesterday and reminded myself that this is a big wing.  In terms of lift it is a beast.  I mention that because for mid weight riders this may sound like a step down (lower lift) wing but I don't think it is.  This is an alternate big wing.

[PonoBill]

I didn't realize you were on the 1010/460. We were on the same setup. I thought you were on the 1020 since mine seemed a lot faster. Probably just a wing size issue--the 6M is a beast. I was catching you quickly on the starboard tack. Hard to say on the port tack since I was falling on the jibe. I think I see what DW was saying about the flat wing (1010) losing speed on turns. Even when I committed to the jibe my speed dropped substantially as I turned downind. I need to either turn harder or maintain speed better. I'm always looking for equipment to compensate for my shortcomings.

I think I'm going to drop back to the 1020 to work on jibes. I also need to either ditch my front straps or learn to foil heel/toe instead of switchfoot. I can't get my foot out of the strap until I move my back foot forward, and even then it's a concentration break. If I try to slide the front foot back the board rises and keeps my foot in the strap. I'm really pissed that my jibes have been set so far back--I was getting close while I was on Maui, now I'm back to square one.

[Thatspec]

Temira was way off on the forecast yesterday, wind kicked in just as I turned around to head into it on my paddle

Thanks to all you guys again for the personal experiences! I wasn't able to draw out the research and shopping experience as long as I'd hoped and after an almost instant response to queries from 'Lenny" at Axis, a 1010 / 390 combo should be on the way next week when 390's come in  (went to directly through the Axis site).
Nobody specifically mentioned that combo but if 340's and 370's work ok... I just like the shape of it, one I'm used to and no pointy carbon bits pointing upward toward me

[Admin]

I didn't realize you were on the 1010/460. We were on the same setup. I thought you were on the 1020 since mine seemed a lot faster. Probably just a wing size issue--the 6M is a beast. I was catching you quickly on the starboard tack. Hard to say on the port tack since I was falling on the jibe. I think I see what DW was saying about the flat wing (1010) losing speed on turns. Even when I committed to the jibe my speed dropped substantially as I turned downind. I need to either turn harder or maintain speed better. I'm always looking for equipment to compensate for my shortcomings.

I think I'm going to drop back to the 1020 to work on jibes. I also need to either ditch my front straps or learn to foil heel/toe instead of switchfoot. I can't get my foot out of the strap until I move my back foot forward, and even then it's a concentration break. If I try to slide the front foot back the board rises and keeps my foot in the strap. I'm really pissed that my jibes have been set so far back--I was getting close while I was on Maui, now I'm back to square one.

Bill, you were screaming on starboard.  I was cheering for you on one run.  It was hysterically fast.  I was edge of disaster most of the time on the 5.0 / 1010.  The 1000 / 4.2 would have been the call for me.  My 4.2 is getting repaired or I would have been on it.  I need to improve a lot at going downwind overpowered to kill the wing.

Thatspec, it is going to be good again today.  Come join us.

[Thatspec]

Thatspec, it is going to be good again today.  Come join us.

Thanks, I will in the very near future, still kinda recovering from "something" and I'd be in the water too much. SUPing on glass is a different level of commitment. Next 70+ sunny day though...

[Admin]

I've revisited the 920 this week.  Chan is liking the 820 more now so the 920 may have some vacancies going forward.  The 920 may not be the sexiest Axis wing but it is great compromise wing for super gusty spring conditions.  We have had a lot of 12-30 with fairly strong current (choppy unsettled water).  I have been finding the 1020 and 1010 to be like bronco riding when it is like that.  The 1000/370 is so fun once it is going but it is definitely more work to get started in this current.  I am really digging the mellow consistency of the 920/400.   

[Dwight (DW)]

Yeah, I lost access to my (her) 920. Jacky retired, she can ride everyday.

Did you order the 390? Mine shipped yesterday.

[Admin]

No, we just got the 370 and 340 which are great additions.  One thing that I hadn't considered is that a smaller tail lets you pressure your back foot more or spread out your stance when you are overpowered.  Having to be too forward or narrow stanced when it is really bumpy and gusty is a pretty awkward thing and these new (for us) tails mellow that out a lot. 

Right now I am using:

1020/440 when it is super light.
1010 /460 also for really light conditions.
920/400 as my windier but junky setup.
1000/370 windy and steady.

The conditions here have been fun but nutty.  The only legit Covid launch is wind shaded by an island and then once you are past that the river is flowing at 300 beneath the Dalles Dam but we are also just below the Hood and the White Salmon rivers so we are getting that extra flow and confusion.  It is really fun but also really challenging. 

[Dwight (DW)]

I asked Evan why the 390 was so magical. The anhedral? He said it’s a different foil section than the others. The testers liked it so much, they ordered a production run right away.

[Solent Foiler]

Right now I am using:

1020/440 when it is super light.
1010 /460 also for really light conditions.
920/400 as my windier but junky setup.
1000/370 windy and steady.

If you had to choose two of the four (I know it's probably like choosing between children right  )

Interested to see if you'd choose both HA foils (given the market hype) or you'd still keep a high lift shape...

[Admin]

When the wind is good (over 18 and not too rangy) the 1000 is my favorite.  It is really fun, quick and smooth.  The downside is that I would miss days if it was my only wing.  You could match that with either of the big wings (1010 or 1020) and cover a very wide group of conditions.  Both of those big wings are great.  I haven't outgrown the 1020 yet.  It foils in surprisingly little wind and is a very stable wing.  It is not a speedster but I am still at the point where it all feels exciting and all foiling is fun foiling.  When it is really light I end up putting it on more than the 1010 because it is a sure thing.  The 1010 lifts almost as much, stays foiling almost as long and is noticeably faster but the key there is almost.  I am starting to think that if I could have only one it would have to be the 920.  It gets up really well and stays manageable until it is crazy windy. 

We also have the 900 and the 820.  The 900 takes a lot of wind for me to get going and it wants to drop pretty quickly at any lull.  We also have the 820 which I only have one day on.  It was also too much work for me.  Chan uses the 920, 820 and 900 like I am using the 1020, 920 and 1000.  The 1010 is kind of redundant but I loved it when we were getting days of 12-15 and no current down in Baja. 

Consider these as new foiler comments.  I am sure that riders who can really work the foil could get a lot more out of each one of these. 

[Solent Foiler]

When the wind is good (over 18 and not too rangy) the 1000 is my favorite.  It is really fun, quick and smooth.  The downside is that I would miss days if it was my only wing.  You could match that with either of the big wings (1010 or 1020) and cover a very wide group of conditions.  Both of those big wings are great.  I haven't outgrown the 1020 yet.  It foils in surprisingly little wind and is a very stable wing.  It is not a speedster but I am still at the point where it all feels exciting and all foiling is fun foiling.  When it is really light I end up putting it on more than the 1010 because it is a sure thing.  The 1010 lifts almost as much, stays foiling almost as long and is noticeably faster but the key there is almost.  I am starting to think that if I could have only one it would have to be the 920.  It gets up really well and stays manageable until it is crazy windy. 

We also have the 900 and the 820.  The 900 takes a lot of wind for me to get going and it wants to drop pretty quickly at any lull.  We also have the 820 which I only have one day on.  It was also too much work for me.  Chan uses the 920, 820 and 900 like I am using the 1020, 920 and 1000.  The 1010 is kind of redundant but I loved it when we were getting days of 12-15 and no current down in Baja. 

Consider these as new foiler comments.  I am sure that riders who can really work the foil could get a lot more out of each one of these.

Great to have your insight - thanks for sharing. I will be getting a HA foil later this summer but not yet sure how it would fit into my current setup or if it really is HA for everything, even for 'new' foilers.

[obxDave]

So I have a question on the 1000 and 1010 wings. Is anyone in the 170# and up range tacking (not jibing) to both sides (toe-to-heel and vice versa) on this wing and consistently staying up on the foil throughout the tack?

[Dwight (DW)]

So I have a question on the 1000 and 1010 wings. Is anyone in the 170# and up range tacking (not jibing) to both sides (toe-to-heel and vice versa) on this wing and consistently staying up on the foil throughout the tack?

Never tried with those. But can rank them in two categories.

The 1010 will stay airborne at a slower speed than the 1000. Then pump back up after a fail easier.

The 1000 will glide farther “when banked”. So if enough wind, the 1000 should carry more speed, farther through the eye, without wing power. The 1000 is my 18+ wind wing.

[obxDave]

So I have a question on the 1000 and 1010 wings. Is anyone in the 170# and up range tacking (not jibing) to both sides (toe-to-heel and vice versa) on this wing and consistently staying up on the foil throughout the tack?

Never tried with those. But can rank them in two categories.

The 1010 will stay airborne at a slower speed than the 1000. Then pump back up after a fail easier.

The 1000 will glide farther “when banked”. So if enough wind, the 1000 should carry more speed, farther through the eye, without wing power. The 1000 is my 18+ wind wing.

So Dwight, here is what I’m grappling with. I ride a lot in these gusty 17-30 mph ish conditions. Good ole OBX.  And I think in the higher winds I should be riding a smaller wing than my 1900 sq cm XL pro.  So I rig my smaller Moses 790 (1550 sq cm, Mid aspect ratio and thin profile). It works great for general riding and jibing. Jibing always seems to be a no brainer regardless of foil or wing-a-ding for me since the “windage” is helping to keep the speed up. 

But with tacking it’s just the opposite.  It’s like I’m not carrying enough extra speed going into the transition with the smaller 790 wing to compensate for the higher stall speed and screaming headwind, so I end up coming off the foil easily.  Turning into a 25-30 mph direct head wind while tacking is like riding into a brick wall!  Even with a couple of extra mph going into tack, that head wind slows me down friggin fast regardless of how “glidey” my foil is.  For some reason that XL pro has just enough high end and low end to get me through the tack on the foil (albeit, with a pretty tight turn) so much easier.

I watch really good wingers floating around on tacks effortlessly but they seem to be doing it in what seems like far more tame winds, perhaps on far more efficient wings than my XL pro and more efficient wing-a-dings than my well worn V1 Duotones. I keep thinking I want a foil like the 1000 that’s easy to carve, but I want it even thinner (less volume) and one notch up in size at around 1500-1700 sq cm. Maybe that is what Axis is working on. I listen to Fanatic talking about their new HA winging foils and Patrice at Gong also talking about his new HA Veloce foils and think, ok maybe that’s what I’m looking for.  Mostly I think I have too much bloody time on my hands geeking on this wing stuff, and that my skills are lacking!

Here are some tacks I’m talking about where the XL pro keeps me up on foil. I just can’t pull them off as easily with my 790.