I am 90kg (+ wetsuit) 49 yrs old and have windsurfed for >30 years, Sup surf for 5 years, and Windfoil (windsurf) for the last 1 year
I want to get a new Gong Wing set up is its over 3.5k AUD (?2k gbp) cheaper than a Naish or Fanatic setup that I would normally go for but cannot justify the big price delta as an intro to the sport!
I live in an area of light winds and want it for 10-20 kts...typically 10-15kt
Gong do a starter pack and I'm thinking of
i) the Zuma FSP board 6'6 (120) or 6'9 (145)
ii) the XXL foil (GONG WINGFOIL ALLVATOR RISE ALU) with a Wingspan of 100cm for a (projected) area of 2175cm2 (2487cm2 developed)
ii) I'm torn between the 5m or 7m Plus wing...there is no 6m option in their pack unfortunately
Q. Could i learn on a 7m or is that just stupid?
My concern is the 5m won't deliver in the lower wind speeds I'm looking for....or do I need the smaller 5m to learn effectively?
Cheers
Northy
I had Gong 5m v1, sold it and got 7m v1, now also have an ozone 4m. I use a Gofoil Maliko200. About 75kg.
Initial experience with wing: takes more wind than anticipated. My dream was wind assisted sup foiling on those 10kt days where it's too light to kitesurf....and while you may be able to get up in 10kt once good as this, it's also much like kiting, you need a bit more power to make it work in proper surf.
My 7m isn't as powerful as the newer plus version. Mine gets going at about 12-15kt, when you see light caps on the water. Below that it's a whole lotta pumping and not a lot of success or fun.
I'd suggest going with 7m and then if you find it too much, sell it and get the smaller one later. It'll be good for learning. Plus, these things spill off power easy, you should be able to use it up to 20kt. And you find you want to use it above 20, then get a 4m to go with it.
Definitely don't need a 7 especially with your wind surfing back ground 5m will be fine .
I am beginner (last session first time on foil for a couple of seconds)
about 80kg with gear
light wind lakes (10 - 15 kts)
have the Duotone 5m (2019) and 7m (2020)
Indiana 6.0 inflatable board
Gong XXL wing
stoped windsurfing 15 years ago and just got back to windsport
I started last year on my ISUP with the 5m Wing, but since I have the 7m I haven't used the 5m. I think as a beginner the additional power makes things easier. I do admit that the handling of the 7m needs a bit better skills - like you have to learn to flip the wing over with the wind instead of trying to force it. On the 5m I could get away with pushing it harder.
And of course the wingtips are going to touch the water easier.
So I actually I started foiling with the 7m. :)
I used to own the Gong XXL curve pro foil, found the original Gong mast was thin and flexy, so I drilled out the fuselage to accept the Axis 19mm mast giving a very stiff strong setup. The huge Foil wing combined with the Gong 7m version one was a great setup to learn on and get going in 12 knots. The downside was the 7m wing was very big to flip, had battens which means unless removed every time requires rolling up the wing to store. Gong gear is excellent quality and price however might be pricy and slow to source given the reduced freight into Australia
I use and recommend the F-one 6m wing being perhaps more powerful than the 7m. I'm 82kg by the way. Then any large foil setup will do, the bigger the front wing in light conditions the better. Good luck
Or you if you definitely want a Gong wing maybe look at a 6m Gong Pulse or Superpower- they are the latest wings and apparently more rigid than earlier generations ( which includes the Plus). It is really important with bigger sizes that they have good rigidity so that your pumping efforts get translated into foil lift . A 6m should work for 10-15kts with good technique. Personally I wouldn't get an older less rigid wing even if it was cheap - will make learning a lot harder than it needs to be. I learned this the hard way
Select to expand quotemikesids said..
Or you if you definitely want a Gong wing maybe look at a 6m Gong Pulse or Superpower- they are the latest wings and apparently more rigid than earlier generations ( which includes the Plus). It is really important with bigger sizes that they have good rigidity so that your pumping efforts get translated into foil lift . A 6m should work for 10-15kts with good technique. Personally I wouldn't get an older less rigid wing even if it was cheap - will make learning a lot harder than it needs to be. I learned this the hard way
X2 ... unless really cheap! My Gong V1 is flappy. Needs to be pumped up extra hard. I vary between having crap sessions and hating it, to having the best day ever in 12-15kts and knee high surf. When it's good it's great, so it definitely isn't a complete dog. I reckon at about $300ish used it would deliver good value.
Select to expand quotejuandesooka said..
Initial experience with wing: takes more wind than anticipated.
+1, from the various feedbacks on the Gong forum, at 90kg a 7m will feel heavier than a 5m, but is needed for learning in 10-15 knts without ending frustrated.
On the model itself, plus 7 (the v1), pulse 7 or superpower 6, I don't know. The plus spills extra wind more easily, but also its shape tries to have some "autopilot" avoiding getting vertical and dipping a tip, which helps the learning phase. You may want to also mail the gong team for extra advice.
Disclaimer: I do not Wing, I just read about it ;-)
Colas...is plus the v1? Then there was "pro".
..I kind of lost track of versions from there.
Interesting point about autopilot. I have read lots of complaints online about dipping wing tips with big wings but I've not really experienced any issues. So maybe that's why.
I think the "pro" referred to the foil wings, and that foil wings were once called "normal" and "pro" but got renamed to "rise" and "curve"... Dont worry, I get a bit confused too :-)
On the wings, the entry level sail, the "Plus" is not exactly the v1, it is an evolution specifically designed for beginners, or easy rides, in the same "ecological niche"
- as light as possible (no windows, usable without battens)
- soft feeling, not tiring, spilling power in gusts (kind of auto-regulating power), usable for hours without a harness.
- with a shape making it want to return to the horizontal, so very forgiving. The other models then tend to seek the more efficient vertical position, but the rider must be experienced enough to control it.
In a nutshell, the Plus tries to have has much "autopiloting" features as possible, but this means a good rider will get more performance with the other models. A bit like an automatic transmission on a car.
I'm in the same situation, looking to get my first wing and debating between the Gong pulse 6 or 7.
I have ordered the Gong XL beginner foil and want to use both on my Starboard foil 147 board for now on light wind flat water.
Does anyone know the actual tip to tip width of these wings? I think for me the 7 will be more future proof, I'm just concerned about handling the physical size of it.
From a heavy weight POV and wind conditions you describe and you being close 200lbs definitely a 7m and just learning no doubt! You might consider the airush/starboard freeride best 7m I've tried so far with good range to boot,had a V1 Gong 7m too.perhaps newer gongs have gotten better? More power the better learning IMO at your weight
I would go big -- you might find some really good used wing foil gear now (seems a lot of people are changing out gear all the time, especially wind wings). Go with a big foil wing and big wind wing on a floaty board to begin with. I can't emphasis the big floaty board enough -- yes, you will progress quickly and out grow it pretty fast, but you really need some support at the beginning.
Whatever you do, do not treat the wind wing like a windsurfing sail! I did and my first experience was humiliating. The wing is more like a kite so to begin with keep it high, which helps to keep the wing tips from catching. If a tip does catch the water use your back hand to push the wing forward, which will help release the tip. Once up on foil you will learn how to bring the wing down for more power and speed.
This sport is a lot more challenging than the pros make it look. It is also very addicting.
