Author Topic: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?  (Read 5095 times)

Oahuwaterwalker

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Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« on: September 02, 2021, 04:05:53 PM »
Hello All, I'm currently riding the HS1250 and HS1050 and love them both, but I'm also curious about the performance of the HA925 for winging in surf conditions. I've watched what's available on YT, but curious if anyone here has any experience with this?

Thanks
165lbs
Riding
Jimmy Lewis 4'8 69L Custom
Reedin Superwing and Superwing X
HA925 and HA725
Chopped Flying V tail

808sup

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2021, 08:19:34 PM »
Not a winger but hoping to get one to prone on.

radair

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #2 on: September 03, 2021, 05:31:08 AM »
I had my first day winging on the HA925 yesterday. It is an amazing little blade and I highly recommend it. It pumps and glides like no other foil I have used (I also have the 1850, 1550V2 and 1250) but also turns great too. Conditions yesterday were gusty 20-30 mph with small groundswell but decent wind swell. This will be my number one foil choice anytime we have decent wind. I am not super proficient with the wing yet but getting there.

This IG clip was my first time on it: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTCSfQlFOv2/ . No learning curve or getting used to it at all. I had one other boat session on it before winging yesterday.

Velasco

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2021, 08:46:04 AM »
I've prone surf foiled it at WPB.  It is not plug and play like the HS1250 or 1050.  It may be me, but it is twitchy in pitch and roll. 

I've prone surf foiled and wing foiled the HA1125.  That foil is a bit more stable (funny because lined up there really isn't that much difference in span, chord, thickness, etc between the 1125 and the 925 - it is just a slightly smaller version of the 1125), and it handles the lulls.

I need to spend more time on it prone foiling and get it out on the wing.  If you don't have an HA1125, definitely get this - using the HA foils helps expand your skill set - just don't expect your first sessions to be game changers right away.  You'll have to learn to fly these as they aren't the same as what you are using now.

For reference I weigh 185 and I change up my wing size depending on the wind speed (5.2 most days, down to a 3.6 when it is nuking).  Also, the front foil I use the most is the HS1550 with a chopped 300 stab.  Prone foiling I use the HS1250 and the CF1200 (and a chopped HS1550).

Oahuwaterwalker

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2021, 02:09:19 PM »
Thanks for the replies. I just got back from using the 1050 in 15-25mph with some head high and occasional bigger rollers. I really love the surfy feel and speed of the 1050. Most of my runs included peak speeds between 17-19mph on GPS.

After today, I'm inclined to wait a bit before grabbing a 925, but still curious how that would feel on a wave face.
165lbs
Riding
Jimmy Lewis 4'8 69L Custom
Reedin Superwing and Superwing X
HA925 and HA725
Chopped Flying V tail

Oahuwaterwalker

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2021, 05:55:16 PM »
I had my first day winging on the HA925 yesterday. It is an amazing little blade and I highly recommend it. It pumps and glides like no other foil I have used (I also have the 1850, 1550V2 and 1250) but also turns great too. Conditions yesterday were gusty 20-30 mph with small groundswell but decent wind swell. This will be my number one foil choice anytime we have decent wind. I am not super proficient with the wing yet but getting there.

This IG clip was my first time on it: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTCSfQlFOv2/ . No learning curve or getting used to it at all. I had one other boat session on it before winging yesterday.

Out of curiosity, what was the stall speed behind the boat?
165lbs
Riding
Jimmy Lewis 4'8 69L Custom
Reedin Superwing and Superwing X
HA925 and HA725
Chopped Flying V tail

VB_Foil

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2021, 06:09:18 PM »
Thanks for the replies. I just got back from using the 1050 in 15-25mph with some head high and occasional bigger rollers. I really love the surfy feel and speed of the 1050. Most of my runs included peak speeds between 17-19mph on GPS.

After today, I'm inclined to wait a bit before grabbing a 925, but still curious how that would feel on a wave face.

If I’m out in head high swell, I’d be on the 1050 vs the 925. It’s hard to beat the 1050s performance/user friendly carves. If I really wanted to push it, I’d go for the 925.
I’m a 5’9” 65kg rider:

Boards:
   4' 27L Armstrong FG Wing/Surf
   4’5” 34L Armstrong FG Wing/Surf
   4'11" 60L Armstrong Wing/Sup
  
  

Foils: Armstrong HA525, HS625, HA725, HA925, HS1050, HA1125, HS1250, HA1325
Wings: BRM 2M & 3M, FreeWing Nitro 4M, OR 5M & 7M Glide

Velasco

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2021, 09:39:24 AM »
I wing foiled the 925 yesterday at Hickam Harbor.  This is the fastest foil I've been on.  I had a 5.2 Ensis pumped up.  I was purposely in testing mode so I did not go out to Firsts and just mowed the lawn. 

Based on this limited time on the 925, I would say the HS series foils are more user friendly for those situations where you don't want to spend time concentrating on your foil (riding head high + waves) - but if you want to explore the upper end of the speed realm, this is the one to go to.  That said I have not winged with the HS1050 (but based on prone surfing it, but for me there is only a slight difference between the HS1050/HS1250/CF1200), so I still can't comment on that comparison.  And the wind is shutting down for the next week....

Time to prone!

radair

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2021, 01:08:44 AM »

Out of curiosity, what was the stall speed behind the boat?
I’m not sure. My boat doesn’t have a speedometer.

Oahuwaterwalker

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #9 on: September 06, 2021, 08:54:09 AM »
I wing foiled the 925 yesterday at Hickam Harbor.  This is the fastest foil I've been on.  I had a 5.2 Ensis pumped up.  I was purposely in testing mode so I did not go out to Firsts and just mowed the lawn. 

Based on this limited time on the 925, I would say the HS series foils are more user friendly for those situations where you don't want to spend time concentrating on your foil (riding head high + waves) - but if you want to explore the upper end of the speed realm, this is the one to go to.  That said I have not winged with the HS1050 (but based on prone surfing it, but for me there is only a slight difference between the HS1050/HS1250/CF1200), so I still can't comment on that comparison.  And the wind is shutting down for the next week....

Time to prone!

Nice! Middle of the bay in Kailua was pretty good on Friday.

I appreciate your post, it has me thinking that the 925 is probably not in line with what I'm after. It seems that a better addition to my quiver (HS1250 and HS105) would be a HS850 for some of the bigger faster swell days, that also include 20+ winds, we get during the winter. Undoubtably, I still have plenty of room to grow on the gear I have, but this sport sure presses the GAS button in me.

I haven't tried prone foil yet, feel like I need to have some days where I can still get work done... 
« Last Edit: September 06, 2021, 09:48:04 AM by Oahuwaterwalker »
165lbs
Riding
Jimmy Lewis 4'8 69L Custom
Reedin Superwing and Superwing X
HA925 and HA725
Chopped Flying V tail

Oahuwaterwalker

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #10 on: September 10, 2021, 01:19:50 PM »
I had my first day winging on the HA925 yesterday. It is an amazing little blade and I highly recommend it. It pumps and glides like no other foil I have used (I also have the 1850, 1550V2 and 1250) but also turns great too. Conditions yesterday were gusty 20-30 mph with small groundswell but decent wind swell. This will be my number one foil choice anytime we have decent wind. I am not super proficient with the wing yet but getting there.

This IG clip was my first time on it: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTCSfQlFOv2/ . No learning curve or getting used to it at all. I had one other boat session on it before winging yesterday.

Out of curiosity, what was the stall speed behind the boat?

BTW: Amazing video, nicely done!
165lbs
Riding
Jimmy Lewis 4'8 69L Custom
Reedin Superwing and Superwing X
HA925 and HA725
Chopped Flying V tail

Oahuwaterwalker

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2021, 03:51:22 PM »
After watching a local wingfoiler do amazing things on the 925 in very marginal surf, I ended up biting the bullet and grabbed one. I've been out twice now in 12-18mph winds with chest to head high ocean rollers with some occasional peak sections.

In terms of wind, it really doesn't take that much than the 1250 more to get the 925 going with my Armstrong V2 4.5. Once on foil, the speed and glide is just incredible and you can pump through lulls with ease.  Generally speaking, I found the 925 to have exponentially more glide than the 1250 and the ability to shoot across to sections with sustained speed that makes linking up long rides almost easy.

In my session today, I hit a new personal speed record of 19.9mph on the GPS. Even at this pace, I did not feel like I was on the edge of destruction. In fact, the ride remained very stable and easy to keep in the water. I suspect on some of the bigger days or when the waves are more critical I'll be able to push into the lower 20mph range without a problem. As far as turning goes, I'm just uncovering what is possible, but I would say that it is very similar to the 1250.

While I will not be selling my 1050, after my session today, I listed my HS1250 on Craigslist.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2021, 03:53:09 PM by Oahuwaterwalker »
165lbs
Riding
Jimmy Lewis 4'8 69L Custom
Reedin Superwing and Superwing X
HA925 and HA725
Chopped Flying V tail

VB_Foil

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Re: Anybody winging in surf with the Armstrong HA925 yet?
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2021, 05:29:11 PM »
My personal best speed last session on the 925 as well…19.7 mph haha. Mine was right before a breach at the top of a chest high wonky windswell runner. Epic swan dive followed.
I’m a 5’9” 65kg rider:

Boards:
   4' 27L Armstrong FG Wing/Surf
   4’5” 34L Armstrong FG Wing/Surf
   4'11" 60L Armstrong Wing/Sup
  
  

Foils: Armstrong HA525, HS625, HA725, HA925, HS1050, HA1125, HS1250, HA1325
Wings: BRM 2M & 3M, FreeWing Nitro 4M, OR 5M & 7M Glide

 


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