Prone Only
Usually ride 780HA and 980HA , swell dependent, 85kg give or take.
Tested MA 890 and 990
Pitch stability is awesome , and they turn on a dime , and you push thru turns much harder and found myself looking for the steep critical part of the wave, rather than burning off speed and nursing turns on the HA.
Pump was good enough to link a few waves (hi period swell) and get me where to I wanted to go - but overall less lift and pump as the HA's.
Purchased the 890.
Been keen to try the HAV2 880, so hopefully the MA causes some 2nd hand market movement :)
Select to expand quoteSonsaleta said..
I have the MA590 + 790. just awesome!
May I ask what you replaced with this combo? Or is it an addition to your quiver? And what will you be using these for?
I've been riding the 790 MA2 for winging, used it for 6 session so far ranging from a 35knot ,3m day with short period wind swell to light 13-17knot day with a 4.6m and overhead waves. I usually ride the 780HA and switch to the 680HA if the waves are big or fast.
Take off and stall speeds are similar to the 780HA but the 790 turns much better, every turn is tighter, faster and the added pitch stability means you have more confidence dropping down a steep face and bottom turning harder. My backside wave riding has gone up a level. So long as there is a wave with some face I will ride the 790.
If you ride gutless waves or lake bumps then stay with the HA they have way more glide and connect through sections without needing to pump. The MA glide is not terrible but you will need to pump allot more when wave energy is low.
With regard to sizing I don't agree with the Armie marketing to go up a size when buying the MA.
For me at 84Kg riding a 65L board the 790 MA is a sweet spot.
Select to expand quoteArthurAlston said..Sonsaleta said..
I have the MA590 + 790. just awesome!
May I ask what you replaced with this combo? Or is it an addition to your quiver? And what will you be using these for?
Wing.
I had HA780 + 480. better now in speed, control , surf. Rail to rail clearly better. Less physical to ride. More fun. Just at low speed ha have a little bit more glide. But al the rest better MA MK.
Thanks Sonsaleta and KB7 - in the past I've made the mistake of jumping to a new Armie foil model too soon and getting the wrong size. And I want to learn from that this time around.
I only wing - only using the 680, mostly waves (but of course flat if there are no waves). Love the 680. And was also a bit surprised to see the advice to go up a size. Sounds like a 690 might be a good option.
I tested the MA890 while parawinging in the Columbia River Gorge (USA) last week. I had been using the 780 and 880 and loved the 890. It pumped very well and had good glide (close to HA quality), but the way it ripped turns was the winner. I may go with the 590 for a tow foil smaller than my 680.
From conversations i've had and from reading in between the lines I think the one size up may apply to surf foiling but when under power - wing/tow - i'm seeing a lot of people say size for size works well.
I'm usually on an HA 880 (replaced an S1 1550 in Feb '25). Armie's marketing machine seems to aim the MA Mk II at gun wave and swell riders I think, but I can answer the OP from the perspective of a mid-60s, unco intermediate & more cautious winger (can gybe but not tack yet). FYI my weight's an 83 kg base, Armstrong Wing FG 90L, 60cm fuse. I've been dialling an MA Mk II 990 plus new Surf Mk II 170 stab for five+ sessions. I got the MA 990 as a size up based on the Armstrong advice. I hoped it would make our prevailing very gusty and choppy 14-24+ knot conditions easier to ride. First impressions are that it does exactly what it says on the tin. Feels initially pretty similar to the HA 880; takes off smoothly (at least with 5.3 or 6.1 in 16-20 knots). Compared to HA and S1, it cuts through steep, short period 0.5.-1.5m chop slop like a hot knife through butter rather than being a bit of a pogo stick. Doesn't mind tips etc. breaching, another big plus. Easy to control pitch; it's a much more stable platform to stand on. It likes a tight turn, unlike the HA which I feel needs to be cossetted around. Both heel and toe-side gybes feel way more controlled and tighter, less bucking. Toe-side ride much more controlled. Low stall and long glide - similar to HA880 setup, frankly. Faster by a few knots; I could push it more too. Watch says lower average heartrate (~20bpm) in similar sessions (I log them all) suggesting it's less work. I tried it with a speed 180 but the new surf 170 feels way better on it to me. While the more lively HA's still going to be better in, say, down-winding, or flat water with patchy low winds, for me the new MA is an amazing foil for moderate - strong breezes and chop / bumps. It's the foil I've been wanting since I started. I will get a smaller one once I get out onto the waves.
First sessions on the 890, and now selling all my other foils, just amazing stall speeds and go, loves to excellerate, and does not want to smash you out of the water like the HAs.
My only complaint, why did it take Armstrong so long to make a decent foil??
For my weight 84 kg, the 890 and 690 is all I need.
The HA is a very decent foil. The question should be how did they get the first MA to be what it was.
Mate of mine proning the 490 (he's better than the average bear) down margs - said it's the first time he could do a fully vertical re - entry. Was only able to get 2 links back to a set wave of average but hey it's a bloody 490.
been struggling using my HA 1180 with a foil assist. felt like lift was just too much and couldn't control it at times, but when using a smaller wing the foil assist couldn't get me up. tried the MA 1190, and those problems went away. turning didn't result in uncontrollable lift. the increase in stability was noticeable. haven't tried it winging yet but looking forward to it in the waves.
Select to expand quotebeached57 said..
been struggling using my HA 1180 with a foil assist. felt like lift was just too much and couldn't control it at times, but when using a smaller wing the foil assist couldn't get me up. tried the MA 1190, and those problems went away. turning didn't result in uncontrollable lift. the increase in stability was noticeable. haven't tried it winging yet but looking forward to it in the waves.
probably the same reason these Mas are so good for towing and in powerful waves. Pitch control and stability. What tails were you using with the 1180 . which is a massive wing with far too much span for powered foil assist.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
The HA is a very decent foil. The question should be how did they get the first MA to be what it was.
Mate of mine proning the 490 (he's better than the average bear) down margs - said it's the first time he could do a fully vertical re - entry. Was only able to get 2 links back to a set wave of average but hey it's a bloody 490.
Towed the new MA590 and it was ok. Keen to try that HA490 to get a bit more glide than the MA and generate a bit more push out of turns.
Select to expand quotebeached57 said..
been struggling using my HA 1180 with a foil assist. felt like lift was just too much and couldn't control it at times, but when using a smaller wing the foil assist couldn't get me up. tried the MA 1190, and those problems went away. turning didn't result in uncontrollable lift. the increase in stability was noticeable. haven't tried it winging yet but looking forward to it in the waves.
What do you weigh? Might give the MA2 a go with the FD. In only use the HA at the moment.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
What tails were you using with the 1180 . which is a massive wing with far too much span for powered foil assist.
Flow 235. Like I said earlier, i tried smaller front wings (e.g. HA 780, HS 1250) but my foil assist didn't have the power to get me on foil with those. I'm about 90 kgs. Using Omen 72L board.
Select to expand quoteMidAtlanticFoil said..
Anyone using the new MA's in the Gorge for parawing?
Several of the guys from BigWinds are riding them on the pwing. I would reach out to them.
I'm 69kg, and use the 780-680 for prone and winging. Which MA size should I get to have fun both in winging and prone?? Was thinking of 690-790.. but idk. Would be great to get some advice!!
I'm 69kg, and use the 780-680 for prone and winging. Which MA size should I get to have fun both in winging and prone?? Was thinking of 690-790.. but idk. Would be great to get some advice!!
i think if for both winging and prone - good choice with the 130 tail as well. A 590 would be awesome for big days and when windy / turbulent / waves when winging.
Select to expand quoteMidAtlanticFoil said..
Anyone using the new MA's in the Gorge for parawing?
890 & 690. Great for big lined-up days, but lacks the pump for other days.
Select to expand quotebepenteado said..
I'm 69kg, and use the 780-680 for prone and winging. Which MA size should I get to have fun both in winging and prone?? Was thinking of 690-790.. but idk. Would be great to get some advice!!
I'm almost the same weight (66kg) and the new MA 690 is my all conditions wing. Absolutely love it-I switched to Armstrong after demoing it for a day. I only ride in the gorge so I'm usually in strong wind (3m and 2.5m wings most common, 4m for occasional light days). I can't speak to prone foiling... On the Armstrong facebook group, a few people said the 690 rode much bigger than they expected. I also demoed the 790, but for me the 690 was much more fun. I ride it with the 120 dart, which is a huge improvement over the 140 dart once you get used to it.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
i think if for both winging and prone - good choice with the 130 tail as well. A 590 would be awesome for big days and when windy / turbulent / waves when winging.
what if you had to choose just one size both for prone and wing if you were me? thanks again.
Hi... looking for comparisons and recommendations of the new MA vs the original.... I'm using the original MA 800 for winging (mostly in waves) and I love it. Probably my favorite foil I've ever owned. I have an HA 780 that I used to really like, but I hardly ride it anymore because it just seems boring compared to the 800. I've heard all the knocks on the old MA (high stall speed, no pump or glide, etc.) and while I agree with the stall speed, I find the 800 pumps and glides fine if you keep your speed up and don't over pump it (stall angle). But I love it's speed, roll, and breach recovery. I regularly ride on the verge of breaching because I know if it pops out, it will just plug back in if I hang in there. So, that being said, I read and hear a lot of good things about the new MAs, and am thinking of upgrading but I don't want to LOSE any of the aspects that I like about the 800. It's not worth it to me to give up speed, roll, or breach recovery to gain in stall speed, pump/glide. I'm looking for input in this regard, and any recommendations as to which size new MA maps closest to the 800 in speed? It appears the 690 has a similar span to the 800 and I don't want a bigger span, so I am considering the 690 or possibly the 590.
Also, any recommendations on stab (for either the 800 or a new MA)? I currently use the 140, but thinking of changing to the 120. I've heard the 130 was slower than both of these?...
Thanks for any input.
hasn't lost any old ma qualities - just made them much much better all round. 690 is the magical size .
I have the 690,790 and 990 MA2 at 85Kg I'm almost exclusively wave riding. This is how my quiver stacks up.
990 - up to shoulder high waves for sup foiling, light wind winging <15 knots and parawinging up to 20knots.
790 - my daily driver on the wing and parawing 15-25knots in waist to overhead surf, super stable so much control and turns on a dime. Really fun setup with excellent low end stall.
690- my new favourite toy for powered winging over 20knots with waist high waves to as big as it gets in Sydney. This foil I think is closest to the old 800MA with better turning and a lower stall speed. It's surprisingly easy to ride.
These new MA2 make you ride fast my average moving speed over a typical 30- 40km session on 790 and 690 is 23- 25kph with tops speed 38-42kph where the 780 HA was 21-22kph and top out around mid to high 30kph.
I run the 170 tail which makes the setup very stable at high speed with good pump out of holes the 140 is okay but less so. I don't have a 130 but hear it's very balanced.
Do you run the 170 on all those MA sizes? I have it with the 890 and it is perfect but the 790 feels a little unbalanced.
Yes I run the 170 with all sizes no problem just add a blue or red shim and move the track position for balance which for me is slight positive front foot. It's the pumping ability around the waves that keeps me on the 170. A friend who has the 130 says pump allot less so I've not gone there.
