83kg , wing mainly on fresh water and seem to be using my 6.2m way more than my 5m . Current board is 5ft 8 by 30 inches and 120L . Have to say I love it . What would I gain by going down to their 100L , 5ft 5 by 28 inch board over the one I have and would I actually lose more than I gain ? Don't want to swap for smaller then regret it if I lose light wind early foiling ability . Cheers
I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to say on this.
For my current skill set, I ordered an Axis Froth 5'8"x 28" and 120L. I'm 6'4", 225lbs and almost 53 years old. I don't have a lot of chances to chase wind, so I don't think I will ever get good enough to really see the benefits of going to a low volume board. In fact, I ordered the Axis Froth 6'8"x32" and 160 liters for SUP foiling, and wingfoiling on really light wind days. I prefer to have some volume under me until I get better.
I,m 96kg and with my full winter suit on closer to 100kg. Winter is coming in the netherlands and that means water temps getting closer to zero. I wing partly on the lakes and part on the northsea. The sea is rather consistent, but due the waves and wind direction not always suitable so 40% off the sesions are on fresh freaking cold water. I came from a Fanatic5.8 2021 with 110l and swapped this summer to my AK5.8 90l.
The board is awesome!.....but i can also Iiterally sink till my waist if its light and I slog into a big lul. No fun in the winter with temps around Zero Celcius so I bought last week the 2022 Fanatic 5.8x125l to pair it with (wich is a fair bit heavier). So both of my boards are 5.8, but with an 35l volume and some kg difference.
I tried it last weekend and it floats me fine, like a big stable platform but as soon as there a bit of wind I can plane faster with the lighter AK wich feels more maneuverable, nimble, quicker and easier to pump. I read everywhere that those straight tails are early planing gamechanger's, well it might be, but the way lighter AK beats it anytime there is a bit of wind, duck tail or not.
Anyway so for me its a bit of a choice what board to take: windy the AK is awesome and first choice. When gusty and need to be able to slog it will be the heavier but floaty 125l 5.8 fanatic.So whats good for you is very much depending on what you want to gain and to give up (or go like mer for a 2 board quiver :))..
Select to expand quotesteview said..
83kg , wing mainly on fresh water and seem to be using my 6.2m way more than my 5m . Current board is 5ft 8 by 30 inches and 120L . Have to say I love it . What would I gain by going down to their 100L , 5ft 5 by 28 inch board over the one I have and would I actually lose more than I gain ? Don't want to swap for smaller then regret it if I lose light wind early foiling ability . Cheers
Addressing your situation only (not guys looking to do back loops) ...yes going to the right size board for your weight, will gain you better low end and a more alive feeling from the board.
The right size being +10 to +15 liters over your weight. Over sizing a board is just heavy and needs a bigger wing ding to get the beast flying.
Hi, I'm 100kg, 6'2"" and 66. I started winging on my Jimmy Lewis 120l sup which I loved. Now on a 5'8 custom, 90l very flat bottom shape with no tail step and it is so much more fun especially in the surf.
While it's been in to have extra footsttrap inserted added I too out the 120l and it was awful. Would definitely recommend demoing a smaller board first, but twice if you can. The first time can be a bit of a handful and you will know the second time, go well.
I'm 90kg plus 5mm wetsuit in cold water. Mostly ride a Quatro 5'4" 90L and really find it a great compromise size for all conditions. I have a 5.3 PPC at 76L as well and it feels much more sensitive to inputs and carves a bit better, but it needs consistent wind to be fun. I sink to my knees if the wind shuts off and have to paddle it in rather than limping back standing as I can do on the 90L. I also have a 38L prone board that I've unsuccessfully tried twice in dying wind (surefire way to kill the wind is to bust out the prone board). The sinker boards seem fine for windier/warmer waters but could be a huge liability in the generally colder conditions I wing in locally on Vancouver Island. I've ridden the 90L comfortably in 35 knots+ and not just survived but had great fun.
Your approximate weight in litres seems like a good all-round size IMHO. Every step down yields incrementally more performance with incrementally more downsides in stability and user-friendliness. At 88kg a 100 L board will still get going quickly and is still a pretty big board, but it will offer more performance than your current board (maybe 25%) without really punishing you.
I agree that the happy place for most riders is litres = KG up to KG+10. Once you get L
All that being said, see the stinkbug start thread ... that seems to be rejuvenating interest in smaller boards, potentially making the water start achievable by mere mortals. It sure would be nice to wing my 4.6 40L surf foil board, with confidence that I will be able to fly it back to the beach 97% of the time without floundering . That potential remains to be seen ... I am not experimenting with that until we have more dependable and reliable summer winds. Maui this ain't.
Finally, I will add that I am a graduate of kite foiling, where there got to be a bragging rights competition about how small a board people could ride, eventually getting to the point of tiny pocket boards that couldn't float you paddling and were challenging to push through touch-downs. At the extreme, style pushed substance aside and it got a bit silly. Seems to me there may be a bit of this going on in winging too. In surf foiling, there's been a rebound, where some rippers have sized back up a little to boards that are paddle-able.
Agree above. You want to stand and dog along - plus 10. Although the good guys I know seem to be able to do this on body weight to litres board and one guy whose -5L to body weight. But he's been at it since say dot and is very accomplished both winging and sup foiling. But also we live in a very warm place in the world - even in winter comparatively.
the small sinker board thing . it's challenging but amazing when up and flying. No swing weight, yaw and pitch is adjusted intuitively and with ease, absolute connection to board and foil and pumping to link swell/waves is so easy. But there's a practical limit where it doesn't become fun anymore for sure. Infact I am currently going the board size up - even though I've got my 34L happening (and could probably use something even smaller) - to increase the fun/ difficulty balance towards to former.
even then realistically ya gonna need two boards if you plan on being out multiple times a week throughout the entire year which we do.
so on that basis as mentioned somewhere above id have a plus 10-15 board then get a board at a litreage/design that offers some challenge to where you skill set is and water / wind conditions.. For when conditions are right for it.
I am 76-78kg plus the wetty approx 80kg. Have switched from a 5'10" 102l board to a 5"0 90l board and that is working pretty well. It is short, light and has plenty volume for slogging or paddling home. I don't think I will go any smaller for my primary board as the benefits would be marginal.
I'll possibbly add a sinker around 40l for strong wind days when I get better. From what I've been reading I think that makes most sense.
Select to expand quoteDWF said..steview said..
83kg , wing mainly on fresh water and seem to be using my 6.2m way more than my 5m . Current board is 5ft 8 by 30 inches and 120L . Have to say I love it . What would I gain by going down to their 100L , 5ft 5 by 28 inch board over the one I have and would I actually lose more than I gain ? Don't want to swap for smaller then regret it if I lose light wind early foiling ability . Cheers
Addressing your situation only (not guys looking to do back loops) ...yes going to the right size board for your weight, will gain you better low end and a more alive feeling from the board.
The right size being +10 to +15 liters over your weight. Over sizing a board is just heavy and needs a bigger wing ding to get the beast flying.
Partly agree.
Based on my experience, skill and not so strong legs - different things for different people, me 76kg.
Super light wind I use a 7ft 6in x 28.5" Naish 2019 hover board (very flat dedicated foil board) with Axis 1050 foil wing. This board makes it easy for me to go from kneeling to standing, develops very good board speed and with a few pumps and away I go. Board speed, to foil, is important for foil wings towards higher aspect ratio.
12 to 15 knts plus 95l Fanatic with Axis 810 foil wing. Appropriate Duotone Slick and easy to get up from kneeling using the wind.
The 7ft 6in is much harder in medium to strong winds but doable.
I weigh 77-80kg. I started on 115L then went to 85L which I found an easier board. Just about floats me to slog if wind drops u off the foil. I also have a 65L which is my preferred board if wind is 20mph plus and consistent. If there are holes in the wind, a tough shore break or on a lake then I'm on my 85L.
Mike
Great points up above, There's a detrimental cool stigma attached to going smaller. I've seen it in every sport (surfing, windsurfing, SUP, Kiting) and of course.winging. It breaks my heart to see a kid on a too-short SB surfing because he thinks it s cool. Especially when he can't catch a wave and is light years away from mastering even the most basic skills. That's one example but it happens in all the sports. I'm 80kg's, and if it's a practice day, I love a 100-110 liter board. I can jump straight up to a surfing stance and go after a fall, no taking a knee ??that means I'll have more fun and take more attempts at something new. Yes, I love my smaller board, but it's not my favorite for learning something new.
Ask yourself these questions.
1. Do I make most of my jibes and tacks? If the answer is No, then make sure you have a board that makes it super easy to pop right back up and fall 20-500 more times till you get it. This also applies to learning any new trick, 10-30 less liters is not going to help you w your 360, duck jibes or jumps in the beginning.
2. Will You be going out in marginal winds much of the time? If the answer is Yes, then get a board w enough volume that you'll never worry about shlogging home. It's a reality here in Florida trust me. A lot of practice days are 8-12 G14. You'll be up on foil half the time, but at least you can make a go of it and progress and have some fun.
3. Do I want to SUP foil as well?
You can always get a smaller board when you're ready, for more filled in days and ready to pump longer and jump higher.
Hope this helps, Robby Naish commented on this topic at the AWSI as well.
Select to expand quoteShlogger said..
Great points up above, There's a detrimental cool stigma attached to going smaller. I've seen it in every sport (surfing, windsurfing, SUP, Kiting) and of course.winging. It breaks my heart to see a kid on a too-short SB surfing because he thinks it s cool. Especially when he can't catch a wave and is light years away from mastering even the most basic skills. That's one example but it happens in all the sports. I'm 80kg's, and if it's a practice day, I love a 100-110 liter board. I can jump straight up to a surfing stance and go after a fall, no taking a knee ??that means I'll have more fun and take more attempts at something new. Yes, I love my smaller board, but it's not my favorite for learning something new.
Ask yourself these questions.
1. Do I make most of my jibes and tacks? If the answer is No, then make sure you have a board that makes it super easy to pop right back up and fall 20-500 more times till you get it. This also applies to learning any new trick, 10-30 less liters is not going to help you w your 360, duck jibes or jumps in the beginning.
2. Will You be going out in marginal winds much of the time? If the answer is Yes, then get a board w enough volume that you'll never worry about shlogging home. It's a reality here in Florida trust me. A lot of practice days are 8-12 G14. You'll be up on foil half the time, but at least you can make a go of it and progress and have some fun.
3. Do I want to SUP foil as well?
You can always get a smaller board when you're ready, for more filled in days and ready to pump longer and jump higher.
Hope this helps, Robby Naish commented on this topic at the AWSI as well.
Those are some good points, Shlogger.
Your post really helped me in my decision.
I'm 92kg +6mm wetsuit and just destroyed my 120L board which I used now for a year and learned to foil on.
I wing mostly on a freshwater lake with gusty, often marginal wind and only few times a year in the surf.
I will go for a new 105 L Fanatic board to learn the tacks.
Tiny boards are overrated for older wingers. Young guns water starting tiny boards in Maui are unrelated to 50+ gentle folk mowing the lawn. Just found a super stable 99l board for my 105kg plus gear 58 yr old carcus that works a treat. Stable platform, light and mast track forward to reduce swing weight. I recommend demo as much as possible.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
I recommend demo as much as possible.
Agree, really really try to demo in all conditions. I'm say 87kg w wetsuit, riding both a 80 l and 105 l wing drifters. I'm thinking of switching to a 90 l board as I want a one board quiver - For me the 105 l board seems pointless for my intermediate skill level. The 80 l felt fantastic powered up, but sank to my knees on the second sesh, but given a breath of wind comes to the surface and slogs home (flat water). I will know what I finally think once I almost run out of wind in waves and if I have to prone paddle back when I might have made it back slogging on a 90 l. So unfortunately it seems like at least 3 demo sessions is what is required. I am hoping to borrow a 90 litre for a couple of weeks to really find out what I think. If I don't lose much playfulness and I can slog it home in waves with barely no wind that will be the board size for my one quiver set up. Its really hard to figure this out if you are trying to nail it. And then of course you get better too and change where and how you like to ride.
