Forums > Wing Foiling General

Parawing: best board to learn

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Created by SlowlyButSurely 7 months ago, 20 Apr 2025
SlowlyButSurely
207 posts
20 Apr 2025 2:33PM
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Hello - recently got an Ozone Pocket Rocket 4.3. I typically ride Armstrong foils and Midlength 85L. I am 90kg. which board would you guys recommend to learn Parawing?

a thin long dw board or a 110-120L Midlength with straps?

thank you

ilboarder12
21 posts
20 Apr 2025 3:01PM
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I found the 116L Armie Dw board was a solid platform to sort out the takeoffs at 96kg. Downside of the longer board is the bridles would catch on the nose should the wing end up on its back in the water.

Best advice is be selective for strong wind days especially with a 3m on your first few sessions. Better overpowered than struggling in light wind.

or if competent on a skateboard, parawing skating really dialed in the handling for gybes, packdowns etc with minimal effort

SlowlyButSurely
207 posts
20 Apr 2025 3:40PM
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ilboarder12 said..
I found the 116L Armie Dw board was a solid platform to sort out the takeoffs at 96kg. Downside of the longer board is the bridles would catch on the nose should the wing end up on its back in the water.

Best advice is be selective for strong wind days especially with a 3m on your first few sessions. Better overpowered than struggling in light wind.

or if competent on a skateboard, parawing skating really dialed in the handling for gybes, packdowns etc with minimal effort


Excellent thank you

CH3MTR4IL5
WA, 902 posts
20 Apr 2025 6:16PM
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Are you getting another board anyway? I would use the board you have. You might need a little more to get going but it's not going to be a big deal.

If it's a narrower midlength it will be a little trickier but not too bad.

foilthegreats
761 posts
20 Apr 2025 7:48PM
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I think your current rig would work fine at least give it go.

Gradient
WA, 84 posts
21 Apr 2025 1:38AM
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Personally I think a DW board is way easier. When using a midlength you need quite a lot of power to get going which means once up you're really powered. I can start in about 12 knots with the 4.3 D-wing and DW board vs about 16 knots with midlength.

Gradient
WA, 84 posts
21 Apr 2025 1:38AM
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Personally I think a DW board is way easier. When using a midlength you need quite a lot of power to get going which means once up you're really powered. I can start in about 12 knots with the 4.3 D-wing and DW board vs about 16 knots with midlength.

MidAtlanticFoil
818 posts
21 Apr 2025 1:56AM
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Just posted about this on instagram.
www.instagram.com/reel/DIqzvlCuj8x/?igsh=MTdjenl2Y2RoZWJubQ==


At 67kgs, I have the 55L ML, an 85L and 98L DW board. I'm most comfortable on the ML. If you can get up and stay up, ML all the way. If it's choppy, the positive buoyancy of a bigger DW board can be more demanding balance wise. Just feeling every bump. The 82% volume board can ride under some of the chop and launch into action when you want by releasing the sunk tail. Also easier to point where you want. Longer DW boards will track. I often start on a port tack and end on a starboard tack when getting going, having let the board follow the swell energy and just gybing the wing mid attempt.

pp4
31 posts
2 May 2025 12:20PM
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SlowlyButSurely said..
Hello - recently got an Ozone Pocket Rocket 4.3. I typically ride Armstrong foils and Midlength 85L. I am 90kg. which board would you guys recommend to learn Parawing?

a thin long dw board or a 110-120L Midlength with straps?

thank you


I'm 79 kg, and I got the armstrong 85l midlength for parawing, based on some online videos. Honestly, this was the worst advice ever.
If I can use the 85 L comfortably, I can also use a 60-liter. Neutral buoyancy means you need a couple of pumps to bring it up, plus there is not much volume to push in light conditions.

My target now is more the 15 liters positive, so I'm looking for an 95L.

SlowlyButSurely
207 posts
2 May 2025 1:14PM
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pp4 said..

SlowlyButSurely said..
Hello - recently got an Ozone Pocket Rocket 4.3. I typically ride Armstrong foils and Midlength 85L. I am 90kg. which board would you guys recommend to learn Parawing?

a thin long dw board or a 110-120L Midlength with straps?

thank you



I'm 79 kg, and I got the armstrong 85l midlength for parawing, based on some online videos. Honestly, this was the worst advice ever.
If I can use the 85 L comfortably, I can also use a 60-liter. Neutral buoyancy means you need a couple of pumps to bring it up, plus there is not much volume to push in light conditions.

My target now is more the 15 liters positive, so I'm looking for an 95L.


yeah I have the ML85 and it is not a very stable platform while schlogging.
I need up getting a bigger ML (122L, 6'4") with straps

kiter63
51 posts
2 May 2025 8:49PM
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Select to expand quote
pp4 said..

SlowlyButSurely said..
Hello - recently got an Ozone Pocket Rocket 4.3. I typically ride Armstrong foils and Midlength 85L. I am 90kg. which board would you guys recommend to learn Parawing?

a thin long dw board or a 110-120L Midlength with straps?

thank you



I'm 79 kg, and I got the armstrong 85l midlength for parawing, based on some online videos. Honestly, this was the worst advice ever.
If I can use the 85 L comfortably, I can also use a 60-liter. Neutral buoyancy means you need a couple of pumps to bring it up, plus there is not much volume to push in light conditions.

My target now is more the 15 liters positive, so I'm looking for an 95L.


Following this thread.
80kg intermediate winger looking to dabble with the PW but my big board is a 70L Appleslice v3 and riding 850/1050 silks.

The +15 seems to make sense, especially after reading Greg's windrange info where he talks about the importance of an efficient shape so you can be in the middle of the PW range.

Greg is riding a 90L 6'x19" super efficient board which is a +13 for him. Custom I guess? Must be pretty thick at those dimensions.

I'm thinking of swapping my 70L for a bigger board for lighter winds and more appropriate for the PW but I don't want full on DW size.

What boards do you all recommend? I'm in the USA. Not against a custom but production would be ideal.

Tony

foilthegreats
761 posts
2 May 2025 11:09PM
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I'm 87kg without gear.

I learnt on KT Dradonfly 7' 19" 100L and still use as my light wind board. Maliko 4m now replaced with Ka'a 3.6m

Smaller DW boards are great because you can swell assist onto foil like a DW SUP rider paddles up. Is it unstable and tippy yes but once up on foil it rides like a much smaller high performance board.

Better wind I use a KT Super K 5'9" 19.5" 60L with Ka'a 2.9m or 3.6m

Big boards going to be easier to learn for sure but I think you'll grow out of them fast if you have decent abilities.

For my next better wind board I'm going to go with the Omen Emissary 5'6" 19.5" 55L with inserts.

kiter63
51 posts
3 May 2025 3:40AM
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Select to expand quote
foilthegreats said..
I'm 87kg without gear.

I learnt on KT Dradonfly 7' 19" 100L and still use as my light wind board. Maliko 4m now replaced with Ka'a 3.6m

Smaller DW boards are great because you can swell assist onto foil like a DW SUP rider paddles up. Is it unstable and tippy yes but once up on foil it rides like a much smaller high performance board.

Better wind I use a KT Super K 5'9" 19.5" 60L with Ka'a 2.9m or 3.6m

Big boards going to be easier to learn for sure but I think you'll grow out of them fast if you have decent abilities.

For my next better wind board I'm going to go with the Omen Emissary 5'6" 19.5" 55L with inserts.


That's funny ... my 5'6" Emissary (no inserts) was delivered 30 minutes ago.

Tony

airsail
QLD, 1535 posts
3 May 2025 7:30AM
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kiter63 said..

pp4 said..


SlowlyButSurely said..
Hello - recently got an Ozone Pocket Rocket 4.3. I typically ride Armstrong foils and Midlength 85L. I am 90kg. which board would you guys recommend to learn Parawing?

a thin long dw board or a 110-120L Midlength with straps?

thank you




I'm 79 kg, and I got the armstrong 85l midlength for parawing, based on some online videos. Honestly, this was the worst advice ever.
If I can use the 85 L comfortably, I can also use a 60-liter. Neutral buoyancy means you need a couple of pumps to bring it up, plus there is not much volume to push in light conditions.

My target now is more the 15 liters positive, so I'm looking for an 95L.



Following this thread.
80kg intermediate winger looking to dabble with the PW but my big board is a 70L Appleslice v3 and riding 850/1050 silks.

The +15 seems to make sense, especially after reading Greg's windrange info where he talks about the importance of an efficient shape so you can be in the middle of the PW range.

Greg is riding a 90L 6'x19" super efficient board which is a +13 for him. Custom I guess? Must be pretty thick at those dimensions.

I'm thinking of swapping my 70L for a bigger board for lighter winds and more appropriate for the PW but I don't want full on DW size.

What boards do you all recommend? I'm in the USA. Not against a custom but production would be ideal.

Tony


I'm 80kgs on the original Kalama Barracuda 92lts, excellent board, very tough and easy to parawing on. I doubt anything would get going earlier, very slippery through the water. My largest parawing is a 4mtr, gets me going in 12 knots.

eppo
WA, 9686 posts
3 May 2025 6:25AM
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Select to expand quote
SlowlyButSurely said..
Hello - recently got an Ozone Pocket Rocket 4.3. I typically ride Armstrong foils and Midlength 85L. I am 90kg. which board would you guys recommend to learn Parawing?

a thin long dw board or a 110-120L Midlength with straps?

thank you


you already have a good board !! I'd be using a 65Ml if i had one straight up at 75kg. Perfect width, planes quickly. The para **** wings generate stuff all power at their low end -

bobstx
10 posts
3 May 2025 6:59AM
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Select to expand quote
kiter63 said..


foilthegreats said..
I'm 87kg without gear.

I learnt on KT Dradonfly 7' 19" 100L and still use as my light wind board. Maliko 4m now replaced with Ka'a 3.6m

Smaller DW boards are great because you can swell assist onto foil like a DW SUP rider paddles up. Is it unstable and tippy yes but once up on foil it rides like a much smaller high performance board.

Better wind I use a KT Super K 5'9" 19.5" 60L with Ka'a 2.9m or 3.6m

Big boards going to be easier to learn for sure but I think you'll grow out of them fast if you have decent abilities.

For my next better wind board I'm going to go with the Omen Emissary 5'6" 19.5" 55L with inserts.




That's funny ... my 5'6" Emissary (no inserts) was delivered 30 minutes ago.

Tony



I have that same board and in love. But now it is going to make me buy a downwind board because I can use the emissary in almost everything I had been on a bigger board. But now I'm trying to figure out if a 6'7 narrow 90l emissary will work for parawing or I just get a big 8ft long downwind board. Not to hijack this thread but I use 55l emissary down to like 10 knots with a crappy 7m meter wing.



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"Parawing: best board to learn" started by SlowlyButSurely