New foils for The Struggle

Intermediate wing foiler here who is foil brained, but I continue to find foiling a real challenge, even 3 years in on inland lakes/reservoirs with crappy wind and a short season (just getting my jibes down, suck at pumping and foot switches).

I'm 59yo and 65kg, riding a 72L Omen Flux V1, I'm currently on Uni Progressions (mostly P170, but also have P140 and P200). I chose these foils because they have a reputation for being all around user friendly, with good low end (for my crappy wind). They seem to deliver that. Good...

I'm wondering what all the foil developments in the past few years might get me if I switched to new foils...most of the focus/marketing... and discussion on forums is about chasing high end performance, and yes, I'll take performance, like more glide and better efficiency and upwind ability, lower stall speed, etc. as long as that equates to making this sport easier for me. I'm just starting to learn to ride swell, not cranking turns in big surf, nor can I downwind yet of course...I just retired and will be spending most of this season in the Gorge, so I see this as the year to progress or move on...

What do you all see on the foil front as being worth an update (or at least a demo) for this scenario? What has made the most difference in your progression from struggling intermediate to...uh...struggling less?

your gear seems fine. as prev responder said: practice. for example, i've been winging for years now and still struggle with foot switches. why? cuz i almost never do them. once i'm on my preferred side, i just don't switch, so i don't practice them, so i don't get better. but in my local conditions, i've been forced to deal with shore break, rough seas, breaking waves, gusty winds, etc., and all this has forced me to become better. don't be discouraged, just keep going out and you'll naturally get better.

I have bought a lot of gear thinking it would help my progression. Maybe in some ways it did. But pretty minor percentages. I found I had to plan on flailing and failing to progress. I also have light and puffy winds where I sail and it seems like a hard won accomplishment to get on foil and cruise. Just mowing the lawn far enough to let my heart rate come back down seems necessary. When I scheduled ten foot swap attempts per session is when it came together. The wipeouts were budgeted and acceptable. More than ten and you're just beating a dead horse. Your senses, thoughts, and body come together and are more effective than cool new stuff.
That being said cool new stuff is being delivered on Monday.

As others have said, it's likely gear is not going to make a significant difference.
I've taught lots of people. So many foilers when they struggle look for a change in gear to make their progress better. It's rarely the problem unless they're on really old outdated gear or stuff that's way too advanced. Without knowning much about Uni gear, it sounds like others say that setup isn't bad.
That said, if you are struggling with foot switches, why is that? Do you get bucked off? Is your foot placement inconsistent? If you place your feet pretty well but are being thrown, then put on a bigger front foil, tail or a longer fuse to get more stability into the setup. It has made a huge difference to me. What are the local water conditions like? Is it choppy with confused swell? If so, that just escalates the difficulty.
I've been at this for 8 years now and still don't have tacks or pumping down pat. Still can't ride big swell consistently. But I love this sport and won't be giving up. Sometimes there are things you just need to grind away at. Time on water is the biggest winner here.
Hang in there.

based on this comment "just getting my jibes down, suck at pumping and foot switches"

We need to ignore the hype, and keep it real..

F4 Orcas.I say no. While the wing is wide and you would think this makes it extra stable in foot switches, the narrow tips offer less stability at lower speeds doing foot switches. Also less stability climbing back on the board, which you're likely doing a lot. It's also likely why it rolls so well into turns.

Code S series wings. More stable foot switches. Board stability strong from the foil. Can be ordered with long fuse to make progress easy. This would be an upgrade. Great wings to learn pumping, although not the same glide as the Orca. All still better than the Progression.

Please note, when you get into these foils that carry a lot of speed into jibes, people still not masters of the jibe, can struggle with the windwing skill needed. They sail into the windwing and body slam it. On the plus side, you will always sail away in the opposite direction with a lot speed, if you don't screw up the windwing handling.

I appreciate all the well intentioned coaching, and it is good to be reminded that I could be more focussed and consistent in practicing the things I struggle with and to keep putting in the time...but I really wanted to talk about foils...

Coincidentally, one of my bigger breakthroughs in learning to jibe was focussing my attention on my foil ("surf the foil" I tell myself) and that shift really cut down the number of times I either breached or got wiped out by a wave while jibing, and then it was suddenly no longer a challenge.

If nothing else, at least some of the language around a few new foils (e.g. from Hydrocraft and Omen) address making foiling easier/more approachable, in addition to or as a feature of the performance gains. Here is Matt from Hydrocraft from a thread on the Progression Project Forum:

"From our perspective, the magic of the Helix foil is how it pairs a very pitch-stable, easy-to-ride front wing with the efficiency gains of modern airfoil design and high-end construction.The focus with this setup was finding performance improvements that don't come at the cost of usability. Thinner mast, thinner fuselage, and cleaner connections with fewer seams and bolt heads. All aimed at reducing drag while maintaining stiffness.The Helix front wing's performance really comes from its pitch stability, roll in turns, and wide speed range. More than anything, it inspires confidence, which naturally pushes you to ride harder with more fluidity.The one component that adds a bit more spice is the Pivot 140 tail. It's more lively than what a true beginner might want, but paired with the front wing, it still feels very composed for intermediate to advanced riders.To put that into perspective, my girlfriend (about a year into foiling) and my 60-year-old mom are both riding the same foils setup as me. That definitely wasn't on my bingo card five years ago.Foils might not be making the same leaps they were five years ago, but they are getting smoother, more efficient, turning better, and easier to ride. We feel the Helix reflects that progression."

I have spent a lot of time testing the limits of different gears, and I can tell you from experience that the right equipment makes a massive difference in your progress. Even as a much heavier rider at 205 lbs on a 110L board, I found that cycling through various setups like AFS, Slingshot Phantasm and E1090, SAB BALZ 909, 969, Duotone Glide 2.0, and F-One, Mikes Lab taught me exactly how much gear matters. For my intermediate level, moving to specific setups like the Axis HPS 1050 or the Slingshot E1090 and PTM999 with 360 V stab made jibing and tacking significantly easier.Your mast is likely the invisible culprit holding you back. In choppy water or lake swell, a short mast is your worst enemy because it lacks a buffer zone. A longer mast between 85- 90cm gives you the vertical room to make mistakes. If you wobble during a foot switch on a short mast, you breach and crash, but on a long mast, you actually have time to recover. Furthermore, a longer mast provides better leverage to control the pitch and roll of the foil, which is essential for learning to pump and transition efficiently.The all-around friendly foils you are using simply have too much drag for where you want to go. For jibes and tacks, glide is everything. If a foil slows down the second you stop powered-up riding, you will sink mid-turn. Foils like the Axis HPS 1050 or the Slingshot PTM999 and PTM899 carry their speed through the arc, making transitions feel seamless. While those specific models are a bit older now, they prove the point that you should look for newer wings that offer even better glide. At 65kg, you do not need the brute force lift of a beginner foil; you need a wing that stays flying at lower speeds without stalling out during a foot switch. I am limited in the new models of various brands and this community would be very helpful for you to select best foil for you.Finally, do not overlook your wing. The connection to your power source is just as vital as the foil under the water. I found that wings with a rigid boom or high-end ergonomics, like the Duotone Slick or the NeilPryde Firefly, were the best for my progression. When you are trying to switch feet or hands during a jibe, hunting for a soft handle is a major distraction that kills your balance. A boom allows you to slide your hands to the exact position needed without looking, providing instant feedback and better power management in gusty, inconsistent wind.In summary, move to an 85cm or longer mast to change your experience in choppy water and switch to a high-aspect glide foil in the 900 to 1200 square centimeter range. Most importantly, try a wing with a boom. Progression isn't just about how much time you spend on the water; it is about having gear that doesn't punish your mistakes. Switch the equipment, and you will find those jibes finally start clicking.

I would give this podcast a listen. You're already on his boards. See if you agree with his philosophy on foils next. I was all ready to be offended because he keeps referring to his customer as a middle aged guy who get's out twice a week. Then I looked in the mirror and thought yeah you're right, no wonder I love your foils. (I'm only on the operator, have not tried the agent yet)

genericfoilingpod.com/archives/podcast/143-omen-foils-greg-falck