Hi
I'm about to buy a new windfoiling board, probably the jp freefoil, doubting about volume and some of you have given me very good info I want to show here for everybody
Boardsurfr explained perfect in another post the different ways to take off.
I'm light and use small wave sails and big foil, focused only in light winds, basically planning with big sails and small foils or pumping with the opposite .
In the second option, a bigger board has any value? Another experienced guy explained me a bigger board unsticks less from the water, so it's useless if I don't want to use big sails.
I admit I'm lazy for slogging and uphauling so a bigger board would help me in this, but does the big board has any other cons for windfoiling? I know it's not cool 130 l for 70 kg. I know there would be some more swing weight, but the length is very close from 115 to 130, and when you are flying the volume doesn't disturb, right? 0,5 kg more is so much? I don't want to jump, I go strapless
The clear biggest con of a big board I was told by most is on progressing winging.
Thanks
I think 15L more volume produces more positives in light air than disadvantages even with small sails. I feel that tail volume and width are the key things that help with early take off with big and small foils. The other consideration is where the foot straps are located on a big board. Probably for small sails big wings you want more inboard set up. Also you probably want the ability to have mast base a bit closer to your foil mast.
At 77 cm wide the Freefoil is on the narrower side, under 80 cm, and that will help in unsticking the board. Lots of deck padding which is good for strapless. I like the color on the ES but the lower weight on the LXT. Built in nose protection, but would still add a nose protector.
FWIW,
I'm 62kg and got the SS114 having never foiled before. I bought it on an educated guess that it would be big enough. I was sort of correct on my decision, but the first 2 months, I was wishing I got the 130. Uphauling in deep chop, especially with a sail >5.0 was a chore. I had to re learn slogging as well with the short nose. Uphaul and move feet back quick. After a year, I love it now. I can slog home in any condition but also don't use any sail >5.2.
Having said that the 130, would open up to bigger sails, but would still be fine with smaller sails as well. CoreAS is killing it on his SS130.
Are you already windfoiling? Flat water or shore break, big swell/waves? I'm 62kg , freewave no harness,large foils, only front foot straps,all the way forward/inside used 10%.. had bigger boards for foil, 206cm length and 86/91cm x120l. Now already got one 172x80x118l in use Miami and another on order for Cabarete slightly less volume 114l. I can still tack my new boards. New board, less swing weight, more responsive, easier through shore break, overall more instance direct feel, should work good as a wing board(didn't try), cons: took 2-3 weeks to re-work my technique, would not recommend if you start windfoil and/or don't like pumping.
Go big or go home!
That board looks sweet! The only con to the 130 is the extra weight when carrying but with the bottom handle it should be easy.
That board looks really nice honestly. With the option of tuttle/track and center rear position as well as all those plugs it should be super versatile.
I'm trying to compare it to the other foil boards I've ridden and it's a little longer (207 vs 193) and a little wider (77 vs 71) than the foilx 145, with the sail mast track a little further forward. I really like my foilx but I'm also quite a bit bigger than you at ~90kg. I do wish the 145 had a center rear strap, as instead it has two outboard positions on both front and rear. The 125 and 105 have a center. Also would be nice for it to have a track AND tuttle instead of just the tuttle.
There is also a guy here that is closer to your size, maybe a little lighter by a few kg, and he got a Severne Alien and rides it with small and larger sails and foils down to 650/725cm2. I think his is around 120l but I don't remember exactly, but it's an all around board for him.
The Wizard 114 was too little for me to reliable uphaul in swell. There's another guy here, however, in the exact same conditions that is your size that loves his 114 and uphauls it in the same swell that would put me in a Situation. And the 114 has track mounts, which I really like on more freeride oriented foil boards.
The foilx has tons of float but the volume is very centered. I can tack it in swell but it took getting used to as it's more like a cork than my other boards.
JP looks to make great boards, wish there were more around here to see.
Big board with small sail works. I have two friends here who use 125 liter boards with 2.8 sails on windy days. The launch geography requires them to uphaul, then slog out to the wind line, then katy bar the door in 30 mph winds.
I've seen another factor to take into account. I'm used to the rails of a traditional windsurfing board for windfoiling two years and first attempts of winging, which have been quite unstable although I practice supsurfing with 100 l board. Maybe the vertical rails of the specialised windfoiling and winging boards are more stable for uphauling and kneeling and allow to use narrower boards?
I use my Levitator 150 with sails from 3.0-8.2
I'd love a smaller board, but for me and the conditions we generally have, the Levitator 150 works great. I can play in Lake Michigan on some waves and ride flat to choppy conditions too. What I really like is that up hauling is no problem.
I can't waterstart due to some shoulder issues so that's not an option for me. If the wind dies, it's an easy board to schlog home on.
I'm 6'4" and 225lbs and 53 years old.
Select to expand quotemiamiwindsurfe said..
Are you already windfoiling? Flat water or shore break, big swell/waves? I'm 62kg , freewave no harness,large foils, only front foot straps,all the way forward/inside used 10%.. had bigger boards for foil, 206cm length and 86/91cm x120l. Now already got one 172x80x118l in use Miami and another on order for Cabarete slightly less volume 114l. I can still tack my new boards. New board, less swing weight, more responsive, easier through shore break, overall more instance direct feel, should work good as a wing board(didn't try), cons: took 2-3 weeks to re-work my technique, would not recommend if you start windfoil and/or don't like pumping.
Thanks all. I've windfoiled for two years now, not many days and not very good equipment, traditional windsurf board, big surf foil and small wave sails, strapless, stable flights and S paths, no jibes.
I don't have many days as my priority is wavesailing, so I want something easy to uphaul and shlog, to progress every day only in light winds.
You say something easy to uphaul and schlog. A foilboard will have better geometry than a windsurfing board. Two boards that are sorta big but still easily foilable, and still easy to uphaul and schlog, are the pre-2022 Fanatic Stingray (140 liters, 85 cm wide), and the Exocet Freefoil 132 (132 liters, 86 cm wide). I have both, and don't like anything else. There are plenty others in this same volume range.
At your weight with your goals maybe consider a 106L Hypernut.
I use one at 90kg for both light wind wavesailing and windfoil.
Thanks, I have a 100l sup surfing board , but I like it longer, 7'11" to catch waves easier. I think sup surfing has very different requirements from foiling (thin tails and longer boards). IMO the most similar sports to share the same board are winging and windfoiling, at least at an entry level.
Regarding the width, I don't think I will go bigger than 77 cm
If you're in US , i think you can order a copy of my board from Tillo International directly if you hurry, estimated arrival November/December, the width is 80, but do to large bevels on sides the footprint on water is more of a 60cm board. As I wrote, for a lightweight, one can tack and uphaul it.
Wing and windfoil boards are not very similar at all. Unless you want to wing in very light wind then windfoil in high wind.
For instance a wing board doesn't need width at all. 62-64cm is lots. They also don't need that much volume. Bodyweight +5L is fine even in light wind.
That doesn't work for windfoiling.
The Hypernut catches waves extremely well even at my weight and the parallel rails go very well upwind.
Select to expand quoteGrantmac said..
Wing and windfoil boards are not very similar at all. Unless you want to wing in very light wind then windfoil in high wind.
For instance a wing board doesn't need width at all. 62-64cm is lots. They also don't need that much volume. Bodyweight +5L is fine even in light wind.
That doesn't work for windfoiling.
The Hypernut catches waves extremely well even at my weight and the parallel rails go very well upwind.
I said at entry level, as indicated in the video from Slingshot
