About one year into my winging journey. I'm 75kg and started on an 85L (F One 5'5") board and now riding a 60L (Fanatic 4'8") board.
Briefly owned a 42L KT Drifter (4'10") and found that I could knee start it as it was a bit too difficult to sink (I'm thinking due to its length). I liked the board but found it a bit too long.
I'm looking for a board around 4'5" and have had a chance to try a few other small boards but really don't have the ability to demo many others before having to choose. My struggle is deciding on what to buy (for example in the Cabrinha Link 37L vs 44L or Fanatic Surf TE 35 vs 45L).
Any help?
Thanks!
Recommend the north swell. 38 or the 42litre. Both sink just fine. 38l is much harder to use as only 4'4.
How long did you ride the 85L before switching to the 60L? I weigh about the same as you and am thinking about ditching my 85 pretty soon.
Did you get much more enjoyment from riding a smaller board?
Select to expand quotelive2play said..
About one year into my winging journey. I'm 75kg and started on an 85L (F One 5'5") board and now riding a 60L (Fanatic 4'8") board.
Briefly owned a 42L KT Drifter (4'10") and found that I could knee start it as it was a bit too difficult to sink (I'm thinking due to its length). I liked the board but found it a bit too long.
I'm looking for a board around 4'5" and have had a chance to try a few other small boards but really don't have the ability to demo many others before having to choose. My struggle is deciding on what to buy (for example in the Cabrinha Link 37L vs 44L or Fanatic Surf TE 35 vs 45L).
Any help?
Thanks!
It may not be a question of length, rather a question of volume? For an easy sink...if it's required...about a 38L board(1/2 your weight)...everything bigger than that will make you float a bit...but 42 should have done the trick. Maybe the 42 Drifter is not a real 42L as well?
Hope it helps. I am 72 kg, started learning with a 80L, advanced to a 40 L 5'0'', and found it quite floaty for my weight. Now the 32 L seems at the sweet spot where it sinks under the water plenty better than my 40L.
Select to expand quoteStewbo said..
How long did you ride the 85L before switching to the 60L? I weigh about the same as you and am thinking about ditching my 85 pretty soon.
Did you get much more enjoyment from riding a smaller board?
I only rode the 85L board for 8 sessions before fully committing to the 60L. I have a lot of kite foiling experience so as soon as I was able to get up on foil, jibes and tacks came fast. I got a lot more enjoyment from the 60L as it has straps so I'm able to jump as well the overall dimensions and swing weight make it more maneuverable both on water and land.
I'd say before you downsize, make sure you can turn so that you aren't wasting unnecessary energy on having to water start often. As well, make sure that your pumping skills to get up on foil are decent.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Recommend the north swell. 38 or the 42litre. Both sink just fine. 38l is much harder to use as only 4'4.
I guess that's the real question, how to decide between a 38 or 42L board?!
In the same boat, keen to go towards a sinker but not sure of what I want and not really something anyone has demos for. Riding a 4'7 70L at 72kg, but also not sure how the smaller volume will impact the rest of my kit, as i like the small wing and foil (usually on 4m slick and HA725). Is there a big difference stepping down? Seems like a bit harder work strapless as well?
Select to expand quotelive2play said..eppo said..
Recommend the north swell. 38 or the 42litre. Both sink just fine. 38l is much harder to use as only 4'4.
I guess that's the real question, how to decide between a 38 or 42L board?!
You proning this or just winging ? If just winging go 42L. That extra length really helps. The 38L 4'4 is a bitch to stink bug and ive done it for a long time now.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
You proning this or just winging ? If just winging go 42L. That extra length really helps. The 38L 4'4 is a bitch to stink bug and ive done it for a long time now.
Just winging... thanks for the feedback.
Really interested in the Swell as I'm also riding the Sonar foil (currently HA850 until the smaller sizes become available).
I have a kt 4'8" 38L board. I knee start it. Its a bit too floaty to really sink. I've never used a pure sinker but I'm guessing I'd need a 30L board and plenty of surface area to lift me up to the surface with a little speed - not high on my list of gear to get. It's really annoying, haha.
I built my own 70l board that is about the same length and the same weight (9lbs) so no need to ever use it again! I just built a 4'1" prone board 6.5lbs 40L. No plans to wing it but it feels nonexistent when up and foiling.
What I'm saying is, look at the weights, it's critical to getting the small board benefits.
Other than being lighter and therefore easier to jump, what other benefits of a sinker. I'm 78kg, being winging for a bit over 2 years. Started on a 5'4" Wingdrifter 105ltr. I really like it but am intrigued about the number of guys using very low volume boards.
I predominantly sail in choppy bay conditions.
Oh, one other thing. The 105ltrs has been very handy on 2 occasions when my wing exploded and I had to paddle in.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
Everything is better . but there is a price to pay. Simple really.
Price as in cost of the board, or other?
Select to expand quoteSputnik11 said..
Price as in cost of the board, or other?
Price as in the smaller you go, the harder it is to start.
Select to expand quoteDTee said..Sputnik11 said..
Price as in cost of the board, or other?
Price as in the smaller you go, the harder it is to start.
ok - cool
Select to expand quoteDTee said..Sputnik11 said..
Price as in cost of the board, or other?
Price as in the smaller you go, the harder it is to start.
And the harder it is to sell.
Here are my thoughts.
Age - mid 30s, 183 cm, 77 kg - winging since August 2020
Home spot - Fresh water - lakes - 12-20 knts avg - but a few days of storms with 25-30 knts
Nearly always in a wetsuit, 3/2, 5/3 or up to 6/4/3 (7 mm mitts + 7 mm boots)
Strapless only
Did ride my current quiver in saltwater as well (Maui, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Columbia) from 10-40 knts, with wings ranging from 1.9m to 5.5m
Started on a board I shaped (first time shaping) as everything was backordered due to the pandemic's supply chain issues.
DIY - 5'5" x 25" - 110 L- shaped after a Fanatic Sky Wing V1 - used it for about 50 sessions? - learned with a SABFOIL W1100 - 2100 cm2 front wing
Takuma TK 75 - 5'4?x 24 5/16 - 75 L - 50 sessions? (1050-1300 cm2 front wings)
Takuma TK 40 - 4'4" x19 5/16 - 40 L (52% of bodyweight) - 50 sessions (1050-1450 cm2 front wings)
Current quiver (I'm a North ambassador hence why everything is North)
North Seek 4'8" x 23 - 58 L (75% of BW) - 20 sessions? (Got it for the girlfriend, 55 kg, to learn how to wing) - very rarely using it, very light winds or if the gf was using my 43 L.
North Swell 4'7" x 20 14 - 43 L (56% of BW) - 100 sessions (daily driver) (HA1050 for light wind, HA850 for anything else) - I can use the same size wings as local riders on their floaters. I used to rarely ride bigger than a 4.2 m even in light wind (12 knts), but since I go my hands on a Mode 5.5 m, that has changed due to how effortless it is to ride and the speed/upwind angle.
North Swell 4'1" x 19 1/2 - 33 L (43% of BW) - 5 sessions winging? Mostly my dockstarting board. Not suitable as a daily driver as I need to be very powered to bring the board to the surface to start pumping it. However, it became the gf's daily driver (60% of her BW).
I tried an Armstrong 4'10 - 39 L for about 5 sessions (51% of BW) while I still had my Takuma 4'4 - 40 L and the added length of the Armie made it much easier to start as the nose would rise to the surface earlier and allow the rest of the board to rise to the surface with less work and that was with HA725/925/1125, front wings which need higher speeds to start pumping the board)
Once I can bring a board from under water to the surface, 99% of the time I can get on foil. The limiting factor is usually bringing the board to the surface. I use a modified stink bug knee start as a crouching start requires more power to bring the board to the surface.
Based on the experience collected from 3 friends on sinkers, my gf and my own, I think that a sinker board around 50-55% of BW can become a daily driver without requiring to ride overpowered once on foil, that is, being able to use the same size wing as on a floater. Length of the board is a very important factor as well and given similar volumes, I'd opt for the longer board to facilitate waterstarts.
The gains from my 58 L to my 43 L are huge (same foil and same position in the tracks). Pumps with less effort, turns better, feels more nimble and obviously more easy to carry on/off the water and handle in white water/breaking waves.
Gains from 43 L to 33 L are not as huge and personally, I don't think they are worth having to ride an additional wing size (e.g. 5.5 m + 33 L vs 4.2 m + 43 L) in order to reliably be able to get going with the smaller board.
There are sessions when I'm trying new tricks during which I'll fall and restart 20-30 times in a 1h30-2h session with the 43 L and I don't mind falling as I know that I'll get back up on foil in <25-30 seconds.
I started prone foiling and I use the 43 L as well for that, so when I travel, it really is a one-board do-it-all.
Sometimes in light, light wind I have to pump like a madman as I didn't want to ride bigger than a 4.2, but that should change now with the addition of the Mode 5.5
Select to expand quoteTangur said..
Here are my thoughts.
Age - mid 30s, 183 cm, 77 kg - winging since August 2020
Home spot - Fresh water - lakes - 12-20 knts avg - but a few days of storms with 25-30 knts
Nearly always in a wetsuit, 3/2, 5/3 or up to 6/4/3 (7 mm mitts + 7 mm boots)
Strapless only
Did ride my current quiver in saltwater as well (Maui, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Columbia) from 10-40 knts, with wings ranging from 1.9m to 5.5m
Started on a board I shaped (first time shaping) as everything was backordered due to the pandemic's supply chain issues.
DIY - 5'5" x 25" - 110 L- shaped after a Fanatic Sky Wing V1 - used it for about 50 sessions? - learned with a SABFOIL W1100 - 2100 cm2 front wing
Takuma TK 75 - 5'4?x 24 5/16 - 75 L - 50 sessions? (1050-1300 cm2 front wings)
Takuma TK 40 - 4'4" x19 5/16 - 40 L (52% of bodyweight) - 50 sessions (1050-1450 cm2 front wings)
Current quiver (I'm a North ambassador hence why everything is North)
North Seek 4'8" x 23 - 58 L (75% of BW) - 20 sessions? (Got it for the girlfriend, 55 kg, to learn how to wing) - very rarely using it, very light winds or if the gf was using my 43 L.
North Swell 4'7" x 20 14 - 43 L (56% of BW) - 100 sessions (daily driver) (HA1050 for light wind, HA850 for anything else) - I can use the same size wings as local riders on their floaters. I used to rarely ride bigger than a 4.2 m even in light wind (12 knts), but since I go my hands on a Mode 5.5 m, that has changed due to how effortless it is to ride and the speed/upwind angle.
North Swell 4'1" x 19 1/2 - 33 L (43% of BW) - 5 sessions winging? Mostly my dockstarting board. Not suitable as a daily driver as I need to be very powered to bring the board to the surface to start pumping it. However, it became the gf's daily driver (60% of her BW).
I tried an Armstrong 4'10 - 39 L for about 5 sessions (51% of BW) while I still had my Takuma 4'4 - 40 L and the added length of the Armie made it much easier to start as the nose would rise to the surface earlier and allow the rest of the board to rise to the surface with less work and that was with HA725/925/1125, front wings which need higher speeds to start pumping the board)
Once I can bring a board from under water to the surface, 99% of the time I can get on foil. The limiting factor is usually bringing the board to the surface. I use a modified stink bug knee start as a crouching start requires more power to bring the board to the surface.
Based on the experience collected from 3 friends on sinkers, my gf and my own, I think that a sinker board around 50-55% of BW can become a daily driver without requiring to ride overpowered once on foil, that is, being able to use the same size wing as on a floater. Length of the board is a very important factor as well and given similar volumes, I'd opt for the longer board to facilitate waterstarts.
The gains from my 58 L to my 43 L are huge (same foil and same position in the tracks). Pumps with less effort, turns better, feels more nimble and obviously more easy to carry on/off the water and handle in white water/breaking waves.
Gains from 43 L to 33 L are not as huge and personally, I don't think they are worth having to ride an additional wing size (e.g. 5.5 m + 33 L vs 4.2 m + 43 L) in order to reliably be able to get going with the smaller board.
There are sessions when I'm trying new tricks during which I'll fall and restart 20-30 times in a 1h30-2h session with the 43 L and I don't mind falling as I know that I'll get back up on foil in
I started prone foiling and I use the 43 L as well for that, so when I travel, it really is a one-board do-it-all.
Sometimes in light, light wind I have to pump like a madman as I didn't want to ride bigger than a 4.2, but that should change now with the addition of the Mode 5.5
(43L, HA1050, 4.2m)
Winging - decently powered - 43 L
www.instagram.com/p/CoZmYDBLs6h/
Proning - 43 L
www.instagram.com/p/CnppvXNhnj5/
Dockstarting - 33 L
www.instagram.com/p/CmFg4dDsq4k/
Yeh i have found very smilar things you have mentioned above. 50-55 percent is about right but length as you said is important. I use the 38L 4'4
north swell and i wish it was a tad longer to help poke that nose up quicker and also to give you a little
more leeway on your starting balance point in the modified stink bug you mentioned (i kinda do the same).
Select to expand quoteTangur said..
North Swell 4'7" x 20 14 - 43 L (56% of BW) - 100 sessions (daily driver) (HA1050 for light wind, HA850 for anything else) - I can use the same size wings as local riders on their floaters. I used to rarely ride bigger than a 4.2 m even in light wind (12 knts), but since I go my hands on a Mode 5.5 m, that has changed due to how effortless it is to ride and the speed/upwind angle.
North Swell 4'1" x 19 1/2 - 33 L (43% of BW) - 5 sessions winging? Mostly my dockstarting board. Not suitable as a daily driver as I need to be very powered to bring the board to the surface to start pumping it. However, it became the gf's daily driver (60% of her BW).
Thanks for the awesome write up... exactly what I was looking for.
My daily driver foil has been the North Sonar HA850 too (which I love after 40 sessions), so it would pair well with the Swell as well!!
Just curious if you got a chance to spend any time on the in between 38L Swell?
As mentioned by Eppo, most likely headed towards the 43L
