Had a thought yesterday while i was annoyed at how terrible my upwind wing angles were. Have manufacturers started experimenting with hybrid hard/inflatable wings? I've seen the older hard kitewings and they don't seem practical or desirable for winging. But it seems like a design with an inflatable strut in aluula with a leading edge of carbon tubes might be possible. With a design like that l, one could probably have one strut/handle system and several size leading edges and canopies. I'm curious if anyone has seen any prototypes. Wouldn't be a surf wing, but I would love to have a wing system in my quiver that had good upwind angles for more adventure style cruising and speed
I agree that a rigid wing would be an improvement in some area of the sport.
The main issues I see are that the current wings have a huge leading edge which would limit the top speed. Current wings are pretty fragile and are prone to bladder failure - and then being stranded out in the depths.
I've posted a link to Kai Lenny's vid of him trying to hit some high speeds using a non-conventional wing.
The drawback is that putting a similar designed wing together (to this prototype) will mean it might be complicated. It would obviously need to float. And having a rigid structure may cause problems if you hit it with yourself or your board. It probably wouldnt be as compact as the current bladder versions. But the other potential benefit I see is that if you stick your foil through the canopy, you just order in a new canopy, stretch it over the frame and away you go again. Cheap option to renew your wing.
www.google.com/search?q=kai+lenny+wingfoiling+spped&rlz=1C1GCEW_enAU1075AU1075&oq=kai+lenny+wingfoiling+spped&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAHSAQg3NzM5ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5ce67842,vid:UYu9JjoAHeU,st:0
I agree on the inflatable leading edge seeming to be the number one issue for efficiency. Hence my suggestion to use carbon tubes for that part. The strut with the handles can still be inflatable. That would definitely solve the floating part. Although sailing and windsurfing rigs made of carbon tubing float as well so that likely wouldn't be a problem
@miamiwngr what's the technique you are using while riding upwind? Are you holding the wing vertical, like a windsurf sail, the leading edge pressed tight against the rail of the board? Because even the ordinary wings are going upwind like crazy.
Double skinned wings are here for course racing or anyone else who wants improved VMG.
I think a logical progression from that will be finding a way to make the leading edge oval or wing shaped. Probably take some sort of drop stitch design or multiple bladders.
I would also ask if you are using a harness?
I think I'm holding the wing vertical. At least close to vertical. Hard to self assess without video though. I have definitely not been pressing the wing against the edge of the board so I will try that. Also have not been experimenting with a harness yet, which I know will help.
I've seen the double skinned wings. Interesting to see where that design goes with a few iterations. I'm no aeronautical engineer, but it still seems intuitive that the better solution to the large leading edge is to remove it as opposed to reduce its effect using double skin
Upwind angles are great. Fast foil, lean the mast vertical wing with a harness, and with a decent wing, like my current ozone flux or my old strikes you can scream upwind.
