I'm trying to show the superfun of ocean downwinding - hard to capture the speed and excitement with a GoPro but reasonably happy with this one considering the smallish swell and lightish wind.
I reckon downwind carving is similar to the intense buzz of foil-surfing a wave - but you can downwind for miles and carve until your legs burn - then easily fly back upwind in one tack.
Definitely encourage anyone past the beginner stage to give it a go, guarantee you'll be hooked when you feel the acceleration of your first turn downwind on a swell. And the stoke only increases, with practice you go faster and carve harder in stronger winds and bigger swells.
Endless space for everyone out the back, the more the merrier.
Summer SW downwinders, Cott to Swanbourne are next-level fun ![]()
Slingshot Wizard 105, Infinity 65 wing
Music - Azymuth Carambola
Nice carving![]()
That sealion is what everyone looks like when they're seeing downwind carving for the first time![]()
sorry, just noticed you included you were on the 65 infinity. Is that your high wind wing? How does it compare to the 76? I'm loving my H4 (space skate) for when the wind picks up but am thinking of going even smaller.
fwiw, when I get a chance to downwind, I've actually gone to a slightly bigger wing (1100cm2) to allow me to go slower. Still carves well but the smaller wing kept outrunning the swells (we just have a tight wind swell here).
But yeah, this is the thing that folks who don't foil don't quite grasp many times when it starts blowing 20+ and they want to grab a small finned board. The ability to go up and downwind allows you to do some really cool things that are almost out of reach on a finned board.
Super nice video. I am a big fan of windfoiling in swell as well. Most of the time I prefer the larger 76 as I can stay on the foil when my sail is depowered for riding swell. But in a few situations i would have liked a bit more speed (eg i65) to catch up with fast moving swells
Both the i76 and i65 are excellent wings and I think people gravitate to one or the other depending on riding style and goals.
Quick pros
i76 handles lulls better, handles loss of speed in gybes a bit better
i65 faster, jumpable
I think everyone should try both
Agree, foil downwinding is superfun in light winds - but goes next level in 20 to 30 knots, windswells go 1.5-2m and have a real kick ![]()
No argument from me - I only use 2 wings and super-stoked with both.
I prefer the 65 to sail powered-up (with bigger sails than we were using a year ago) - the 76 is easier to get going and gybes itself ![]()
The 65 is speedy, carves and turns like a demon - the 76 is amazing at both too.
Infinity 76, 10-20 knots, W105
Infinity 65, 15-35 knots, W105, FS87
That seals it - I'll have to give it a go :)
Azymuth eh - I wondered what your name was about!
Simon - Dutchies this summer !! ![]()
Yeh I think Dutch Inn this summer will be awesome.
Can see days where there will be 10-20 Windfoilers and even more Wingers all mixing it up. Bring on seabreeze's![]()