Hi to everyone, i have read and understand about differences between HA and LA foils. I own a LA foil, big surface and volume because I'm learning Wing, but I'm in doubt if a HA would be best for learning ( with similar surface and volume) because It has more glide (so more time for maneuvers). I also have the doubt about which would be better (LA and HA), with the same volume and surface, for light winds?
Suggestions and technical details welcome! Thanks!
Do you windsurf with a slalom board and carbon/g10 fin?
Do you like maneuvers, tricks, and ease of turning?
I use both. Low aspect glide/turn ease and hi aspect performance, speed and VMG.
I learned to wing on HA wings, no problem at all. I don't think the current offerings are true HA like would be used in racing, a bit dumbed down to make them user friendly.
They have more lift and less drag to a similar LA offering hence the higher speeds possible. I find gybing them so easy as they just keep gliding through a turn giving you heaps of time to gybe the wing before touching down. I put a mate on my 1240HA, he has only just started learning, can go both ways but barely holds his ground. He rode it just fine, not much difference to the 2000LA wing he was riding.
Thanks both.
LeeD, why is easier a LA foil? It's more stable?
Which one is best for light wind?
Thanks!
LA is more stable pitch control.
You can make HA stable with longer fuze, ut it will always be responsive.
This is always a tricky question, and above have covered the main things well. But in general terms I like to explain them like this,
HA - Have superior Lift to drag. Hence they will go faster for a given amount of drag. Drag adds stability. Speed adds reactiveness. HA foils can be less stable and react faster for a given situation. This is why is it sometimes recommended than HA's be more riders with experience (This is not essential obviously).
LA - Have superior stability and predictability for a given wing span. A narrow Wing span allows for easy manoeuvrability. If you wish to ride waves and stay connected more with the wave a LA foil will assist in keeping you close to the power source. As you accelerate away from the power source the higher drag slows you down by which time you have normally turned back towards the wave and continue to surf nearer to the power (A HA foil will continue to glide out in front of the wave much further before slowing, making your turns further out in front and somewhat riding away from the power source as when you're close to it you simply accelerate away from it very quickly). LA foils do not really get much recoil, and are far more receptive to pressure changes/inputs by the rider.
There is no wrong or right answer with going LA or HA. It comes down to what you are trying to achieve with your riding and your ability to achieve it. An good rider can surf a HA foil in the pocket and at high speeds. A lessor experienced rider will get bucked and kicked. But you put an experienced rider on a LA and a transitioning wave and they can get super tight in the pocket and do amazing things.
The kicker - Because of the ability to pump more efficiently, HA wings tend to win the debate once people are up to that level. Most people would likely have more fun on a LA in the waves and or Winging, but because they want pump efficiency, the HA will win. You can pump a LA wing, and we all used to. My best is 6 wave link up on a LA, but now with HA's, out technique has changed and when riding LA's I generally don't really bother for more than 1 or 2 link ups if at all, I keep it more about the turns.
I hope this along side the info above helps a little. The analogy above is good, or think of it like a Ferrari vs 4WD. Both can cross over each others terrain to a degree, but put in the right hands can do things in the intended genre' that the other can not.
Ride safe,
JB
