Keen to hear some experience from FoilDrive owners about my question:
I am doing a lot of research on FoilDrive and trying to weigh up pros and cons for my local conditions.
I come from a background of windsurfing and have been wingfoiling for a few years and since this season, parawinging.
I currently own 3 windsurf boards and 3 foil boards and looking to scale down my quiver "massively". Can foilDrive help me do this?
I look at my use of windsurfing boards over the past year and my middle 83l is used 95% of the time for the good wave days. The other two just don't get much use, especially the 93l board- the conditions I would take this out overlap with foiling and I would rather go foiling in those conditions. So all good here - I think I can feel justified to sell off my two windsurf boards and still be able to maximise the enjoyment of windsurfing on the good Down-the-line wave days.
Foiling: I now use my mid-length 6'2 x88l for most of my needs including parawinging, but own a wingfoil board 70l and a downwind board 115l. If I were to buy a FoilDrive, I figured I could get rid of the Downwind board and the 70l board and just have one board to do it all. Primary goal: maximise time and training to downwind foil including having back-up security; secondary goals: pump practise on swell-less days. Tertiary goal: surf foil assist when in suitable locations (not many, but I would probably seek these conditions out more).
So to the question: for FoilDrive users, have you actually seen your quivers expand OR contract as a result of your purchase?
I find the foil drive very hard to use with a wing. Dealing with the remote and the power level on the trigger is just too much. I have not tried it with a parawing. For me FD is its own thing. I use it on days with no wind. I flat water pump or i catch residual wind swell. Some days I get lucky and catch real swell but those are rare in Chicago. It is a lot fun and gets me out on the water. I still prefer winging on a plus 15 knot day.
If your sole use is to be an assist for parawing, then get the slim unit and the 15cm cable. Axis is now selling an integrated carbon mast with mini pod for $2-$3K which reduces drag and increases ease of use tremendously. You can buy a Stringfellow mast adapter to match your preferred foil fuselage.
The use case for combining Para and Foildrive is much stronger than combining wing and Foildrive. Anyone with any pumping skills has no requirement for combining FD and wing, there is little advantage.But, parawing is different, as it's not really possible to pump unless your a skilled downwind rider on a large high aspect wing. The combination of FD and parawing has huge advantages for those mere mortals amongst us.
No more standing, wobbling waiting for that elusive gust, just pull the trigger and you're flying. Just need to keep your weight way forward while under motor.FD broadens the wind range of a parawing, rather than needing a 5mtr to get going then finding yourself overpowered once the apparent wind kicks in, you can get going on a 4mtr.The thin parawing bar makes holding the controller easy.You can still pump up as usual if the wind picks up and you don't need the FD.You can use smaller parawings and boards than you could without FD.With a very high pod, mine is at about 9cm you rarely dip the prop once you turn downwind.A great safety "get me home" if the wind dies.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..
The use case for combining Para and Foildrive is much stronger than combining wing and Foildrive. Anyone with any pumping skills has no requirement for combining FD and wing, there is little advantage.But, parawing is different, as it's not really possible to pump unless your a skilled downwind rider on a large high aspect wing. The combination of FD and parawing has huge advantages for those mere mortals amongst us.
No more standing, wobbling waiting for that elusive gust, just pull the trigger and you're flying. Just need to keep your weight way forward while under motor.FD broadens the wind range of a parawing, rather than needing a 5mtr to get going then finding yourself overpowered once the apparent wind kicks in, you can get going on a 4mtr.The thin parawing bar makes holding the controller easy.You can still pump up as usual if the wind picks up and you don't need the FD.You can use smaller parawings and boards than you could without FD.With a very high pod, mine is at about 9cm you rarely dip the prop once you turn downwind.A great safety "get me home" if the wind dies.
Thanks for your thoughts! Interesting and yes I can see the strong use case for Foil Drive with a parawing. Unless conditions are steady it is quite often a hit and miss session and /or time wasted.
Check out FLITELab AMP as another option. No remote to deal with and a clean mast. Works awesome for winging and Parawing ;-)
Select to expand quoteactivechris said..
Check out FLITELab AMP as another option. No remote to deal with and a clean mast. Works awesome for winging and Parawing ;-)
Flightlabs biggest board at 5'8 is too small for someone learning to parawing to use, they would really struggle.
If you have any previous wing experience it's actually quite easy on the 65L. I weigh 85kg and learnt to parawing on the 5'8. Knee start with parawing already up. Press boost button with long Acceleration set. Board comes to the surface as it builds speed. stand up, build more speed then kick it up on foil. Got going after 2 attempts. We are also in design for bigger boards atm.
Select to expand quoteactivechris said..
If you have any previous wing experience it's actually quite easy on the 65L. I weigh 85kg and learnt to parawing on the 5'8. Knee start with parawing already up. Press boost button with long Acceleration set. Board comes to the surface as it builds speed. stand up, build more speed then kick it up on foil. Got going after 2 attempts. We are also in design for bigger boards atm.
I disagree, I have both a mid length, same lts as body weight and a DW board, +10 lts body weight. I'm a very competent winger but the mid length is definitely harder to use.
I get your trying to boost sales of the Amp, but suggesting to beginner Parawingers that they can learn on a sinker board will just piss people off.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..activechris said..
If you have any previous wing experience it's actually quite easy on the 65L. I weigh 85kg and learnt to parawing on the 5'8. Knee start with parawing already up. Press boost button with long Acceleration set. Board comes to the surface as it builds speed. stand up, build more speed then kick it up on foil. Got going after 2 attempts. We are also in design for bigger boards atm.
I disagree, I have both a mid length, same lts as body weight and a DW board, +10 lts body weight. I'm a very competent winger but the mid length is definitely harder to use.
I get your trying to boost sales of the Amp, but suggesting to beginner Parawingers that they can learn on a sinker board will just piss people off.
I thought that FD and Flite had no advantage when using a wing or pwing. Then I watched a mate go out on a 4 2 ampjet board in very light conditions (using board for the first time). It was a total sinker for him at about 80kg. Bit of comedy at the start then straight up using a wing. Surprised me. Probably safer than using a FD. So there is potential there.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..activechris said..
If you have any previous wing experience it's actually quite easy on the 65L. I weigh 85kg and learnt to parawing on the 5'8. Knee start with parawing already up. Press boost button with long Acceleration set. Board comes to the surface as it builds speed. stand up, build more speed then kick it up on foil. Got going after 2 attempts. We are also in design for bigger boards atm.
I disagree, I have both a mid length, same lts as body weight and a DW board, +10 lts body weight. I'm a very competent winger but the mid length is definitely harder to use.
I get your trying to boost sales of the Amp, but suggesting to beginner Parawingers that they can learn on a sinker board will just piss people off.
Don't diss it until you try it. It is surprisingly easy with the slow acceleration. I agree a midlength is hard with no assist, no argument there. I wouldn't stand a chance even after several sessions on the Para. But the boost makes a huge difference.
The Foil drive basically eliminates the need for over sized boards and foils and dramatically speeds up the learning curve.
Select to expand quotePiros said..
The Foil drive basically eliminates the need for over sized boards and foils and dramatically speeds up the learning curve.
?si=CQDCcuGEjwZI8faF
Is this a light wind use case? I.e. in sufficient winds you wouldn't go for this FD+PW setup .. but just PW? I'm just trying to understand
Maybe was explained in the vid but watched it without sound.
Select to expand quoteMProject04 said..Piros said..
The Foil drive basically eliminates the need for over sized boards and foils and dramatically speeds up the learning curve.
?si=CQDCcuGEjwZI8faF
Is this a light wind use case? I.e. in sufficient winds you wouldn't go for this FD+PW setup .. but just PW? I'm just trying to understand
Maybe was explained in the vid but watched it without sound.
If you can fly the parawing you can generally get going with a FD fitted. The hardest part of para is getting going, you need plenty of wind to get flying. But FD gives you the speed to fly and gain apparent wind, you can then drop the controller and para as usual.
I fit my FD fitted mast every time now, the FD Slim is so light you don't notice it. Just means I can use one size smaller para than I could without FD and then the pack away is much easier.
Select to expand quoteairsail said..MProject04 said..Piros said..
The Foil drive basically eliminates the need for over sized boards and foils and dramatically speeds up the learning curve.
?si=CQDCcuGEjwZI8faF
Is this a light wind use case? I.e. in sufficient winds you wouldn't go for this FD+PW setup .. but just PW? I'm just trying to understand
Maybe was explained in the vid but watched it without sound.
If you can fly the parawing you can generally get going with a FD fitted. The hardest part of para is getting going, you need plenty of wind to get flying. But FD gives you the speed to fly and gain apparent wind, you can then drop the controller and para as usual.
I fit my FD fitted mast every time now, the FD Slim is so light you don't notice it. Just means I can use one size smaller para than I could without FD and then the pack away is much easier.
Would you recommend a FD Slim over a Max? All the FD sponsored/ambassadors seem to recommend the FD Max over the Slim if in doubt.
Select to expand quoteWindyBear said..airsail said..MProject04 said..Piros said..
The Foil drive basically eliminates the need for over sized boards and foils and dramatically speeds up the learning curve.
?si=CQDCcuGEjwZI8faF
Is this a light wind use case? I.e. in sufficient winds you wouldn't go for this FD+PW setup .. but just PW? I'm just trying to understand
Maybe was explained in the vid but watched it without sound.
If you can fly the parawing you can generally get going with a FD fitted. The hardest part of para is getting going, you need plenty of wind to get flying. But FD gives you the speed to fly and gain apparent wind, you can then drop the controller and para as usual.
I fit my FD fitted mast every time now, the FD Slim is so light you don't notice it. Just means I can use one size smaller para than I could without FD and then the pack away is much easier.
Would you recommend a FD Slim over a Max? All the FD sponsored/ambassadors seem to recommend the FD Max over the Slim if in doubt.
If your new to Foildrive I recommend the Max, it's super versatile and with the sports battery fitted it is still quite a lightweight system. The Slim is for surfers who want the lightest system, only using it for boosting onto a wave, no good for efoiling back out. But it does combine well with para and winging where your only using the boost to get flying.
I have both systems so use what is best suited on the day.
