Wind wings mmmmm

What wing?

It's a hard learning curve when the wind is too light. The 4m wings need a good 15kts + to get going easily when learning, the more wind the easier it is. Was just out in 12 knots on a Gong 7m, could fly only one way though. Definitely like using a single loose front strap too. Buy a 5m to learn with if your average winds are 15-20kts. Have fun too.

I was just about to put up another post of another one of my failed attempts. I need a lift!
This time I got pretty close but struggled for nearly 3 hours.
It was prime time with wind averaging 20 knots. My weather site stated max wind at 27 knots & 18 at least. And the wing pulled hard but not enough to get me flying. And I pumped both wing & board in all ways possible.
Also sailed against current flow which had me at a stand still in the strongest section.
I was on a JP 6ft 8" 96 litre foilboard with Neil Pryde large wing with rear stabilizer wing with one washer under its rear bolt to assist lift. Foil all the way forward. I weighed 79 kilos max.
Using a Naish 4 metre wing surfer.
I knew it could be done as a mate of mine had the same foil wing & got up in lesser wind. But he was at least 5kg lighter than me and a better foiler.
So now decided to give it up until I can purchase a Neil Pryde XL wing.
And if that doesn't work in 15 to 20 knots then I'll be selling the wingding.
I could feel fatigue in my shoulders by the second hour. My forearm muscles to fingers hugely fatigued like doing a serious bodybuilding weight training for biceps & back. You know it when pulling your fingers backwards to stretch the forearms. Yeow!
So my advice to anyone learning. Get your big XL or XXL foil wing at 2000 cm2 surface area or more first before getting a 4 Metre wingding.
Cheers.

I am coming from 3 seasons of kite foiling. Going to start with an Armstrong 2400 front wing, 85cm mast and 6 foot 7 Fanatic Sup at 125 ltrs with a 4 mtr Wasp. At 100kgs, I hope to get up and foiling in 15 knots. Just waiting on the 2400 wing to turn up. Will keep kite foiling until I have the right gear for wing foiling

Thanks guys. One thing I did notice when using my NeilPryde large wing compared to the medium when surfing. The large wing for some reason needed coaxing to get up in small waves. The medium wing seems co operate. Why? Not sure. I'm guessing the surface area of the large wing may have some sort of braking in the early stages but fine when up & running. Weird I thought.
Thinking now of trying the medium foilwing to compare in the next similar conditions. Or will get my mate to try my set up.
Other than that. Looks like I will have to try a downwind session in my local lake.
Or. Maybe take the 6mm wedge out?
Just about summer with it's strong mid to afternoon winds arriving anyway.

Good to know

I plan to end up with a 1200 , 1550 and 2400 wing. The 1550 looks to be the most fun, once you gain the basic skills.
I want to ride the foil, free from kite lines. Looking forward winging out and foiling the bumps back.

Hi Warwickl: I am also kiting and sup foiling. I got a wingding attempting to chase a specific condition: wind 10-15kt, rolling swells, use the wing as a tow-in, then sup foil the swells until need another boost (downwinding) or to get back to peak (surfing). It's early days for me, unclear if it will work or be worth it, but that's the goal. The worth it part means the time and $ investment ... the opportunity cost is giving up either low-wind wave kiting or sup/surf foiling when it's choppy.

I got a Gong 5m, have only tried it 6-7 times. As a beginner it needs 20kts to get up on foil. It is hard on your arms until you get up, then it's easy and nicely balanced. That is with SS 84 wing, mast far forward as it gets for max lift. I am sure that with expertise, it would be doable on that wing with 15kts. I have added hooks to my sup foil to help with the pumping, not tried yet.

BUT: that fails the objective, because with 15kt and surf, I will be kiting a 12m or 10m and ripping! So, I sold the Gong 5m and got a 7m -- not yet used, no wind. And then in the meantime I found a sweet deal on an Ozone Wasp 4m, so got that too, also not yet used. This is partially to test them side by side, but also with hopes of enticing my wife into #windaddiction as she is scared of kiting.

Something to keep in mind: word on the street is the Gong initial release wings are weaker than many in light winds. EG a gong 5m vs FOne 5m or Ozone 4m, then gong is noticably less strong. Just like kiting and grunty 12ms, the trade off will bethat it'll be doable at higher winds than these other ones. Gong is just releasing a Pro version which will have greater low end power. Point being: the Gong is cheapest, but know what you're buying going in. And now, 3 months into this craze, we are starting to see used wings come up, from people who tried it and didn't like it, or people upgrading to different models or new versions.

I figure I'll need minimum 10 flat water sessions to be comfortable enough to get into some surf. Our dependable wind season is over, so I suspect this is going to end up a next-year thing for me.

Lots of great Wing-Ding action at Merimbula this week..

Can highly recommend the F-one swing wing. Been using the 5m and find 15kts comfortable to get up and foiling. ~10-12kts need all the stars aligned to get going.
Have just ordered a 3.5m for heavier days.
Jack at f-one australia has been great to deal with.

I'm really enjoying the simplicity of sling winging. After 34 years of carting around multiple sails, rigs and boards it's an absolute joy to pump the wing, bolt on the foil and fly in less than 10 minutes.

Finally due to hectic work and life commitments all my ducks lined up with the wind and I was off!!!! Raced down the beach with the 4m Naish Wingsurfer, Naish 110 Hover and the big kahuna Naish Jet 2450 front wing. Wind was about 15-18knts and everything just clicked! The 2450 Naish Jet wing made it sooo easy!

Smooth easy constant lift. Had so much fun. Long long runs heal and toe side.

That combo was perfect. The Naish 2450 front wing was the secret to learn with. We have this combo available now for you to demo at Ocean Addicts
Hover 110 or 125
4m Naish Wingsurfer
Jet 2450

Drop past the shop and have a go and see for yourself how easy and fun it is.

(that's if you can pry the gear out my hands! Haha)

Hooked Yew!

Luke