We just got smashed over the weekend by the tail end of a cyclone here in NZ - winds were averaging 40kts with gusts of over 50kts. Proper windy. Sea state in the bay I was located wasn't too bad at all , certainly manageable, but the wind and esp the gusts made winging extremely challenging. I was getting worked on a 2.5m wing, needed something smaller. Keen to hear from anyone who has been out in similar conditions and been in control - especially keen to hear from anyone who has recommendations for a 2m wing that they really rate. There's a few manufacturers that go that small. I believe the Perth guys get the occasional massive blow, keen to hear from you guys as well, and anyone else who has experience with winging in these types of winds.
Fun to be in control when these occasional massive blows come along !
Cheers in advance.
I ride the Dart 2.5m in gale conditions (30-50kts) on Lake Ontario. It handles gusty conditions extremely well. Has great on/off power. I also wear a harness and it makes going upwind in these conditions much easier. Hopefully V2 they will offer a 2m.
Oh how good is it when it's that windy! I've a full quiver of Cabrinha Mantis V1 wings.. the 2m is my most used wing (in Ireland) this winter! I took my 2.5 out a few weeks ago just to use something else and was blown off the water.. came in and grabbed my 2m and the difference was night and day.. definitely a lot smaller and so effortlessly manageable..
. Percentage wise.. dropping from 2.5 to 2m is like dropping from 5 to 4.. ..
can get my 2m going in 30knots on a 33L board (I'm 68kg) and hold it down in up to 40knots comfortably and have done downwinders in 45knots + .. so good..
we've got a run of huge storms lined up for next 2 weeks in the N Atlantic .. frothing .. ( a bunch of flowers might've been a good visa investment this morning ) (!)
v1 Mantis should be available somewhere at clearance prices now v2 has been launched.. can't recommend highly enough ..
ENSIS has small wing and Balz using them whenever there is storm.
wingfoildaily.com/2021/05/18/ensis-score-wing-flips/
Oh how good is it when it's that windy! I've a full quiver of Cabrinha Mantis V1 wings.. the 2m is my most used wing (in Ireland) this winter! I took my 2.5 out a few weeks ago just to use something else and was blown off the water.. came in and grabbed my 2m and the difference was night and day.. definitely a lot smaller and so effortlessly manageable..
. Percentage wise.. dropping from 2.5 to 2m is like dropping from 5 to 4.. ..
can get my 2m going in 30knots on a 33L board (I'm 68kg) and hold it down in up to 40knots comfortably and have done downwinders in 45knots + .. so good..
we've got a run of huge storms lined up for next 2 weeks in the N Atlantic .. frothing .. ( a bunch of flowers might've been a good visa investment this morning ) (!)
v1 Mantis should be available somewhere at clearance prices now v2 has been launched.. can't recommend highly enough ..
Hey Smeee, whereabouts are you based in Ireland? There is a good gang of us winging over in Galway, couple of us mulling on smaller wings as well, its finally gotten windy these past few weeks and forecast is more of the same ![]()
Oh how good is it when it's that windy! I've a full quiver of Cabrinha Mantis V1 wings.. the 2m is my most used wing (in Ireland) this winter! I took my 2.5 out a few weeks ago just to use something else and was blown off the water.. came in and grabbed my 2m and the difference was night and day.. definitely a lot smaller and so effortlessly manageable..
. Percentage wise.. dropping from 2.5 to 2m is like dropping from 5 to 4.. ..
can get my 2m going in 30knots on a 33L board (I'm 68kg) and hold it down in up to 40knots comfortably and have done downwinders in 45knots + .. so good..
we've got a run of huge storms lined up for next 2 weeks in the N Atlantic .. frothing .. ( a bunch of flowers might've been a good visa investment this morning ) (!)
v1 Mantis should be available somewhere at clearance prices now v2 has been launched.. can't recommend highly enough ..
Hey Smeee, whereabouts are you based in Ireland? There is a good gang of us winging over in Galway, couple of us mulling on smaller wings as well, its finally gotten windy these past few weeks and forecast is more of the same ![]()
Hey Uisce..
Im down in Kerry.. ever growing band of us down here too..
I bet winging is the best ever in Galway.. those Silver Strand mush burgers are suddenly the new bundoran (!)
definitely need a sub 3m wing on the west coast for sure..
Hope to get up that way soon.. will DM you!
can get my 2m going in 30knots on a 33L board (I'm 68kg) and hold it down in up to 40knots comfortably and have done downwinders in 45knots + .. so good..
we've got a run of huge storms lined up for next 2 weeks in the N Atlantic .. frothing .. ( a bunch of flowers might've been a good visa investment this morning ) (!)
v1 Mantis should be available somewhere at clearance prices now v2 has been launched.. can't recommend highly enough ..
everything about this sounds amazing, yeww!
also epic vid marco
had a hectic downwinder on my 2m mantis / 899 today.. I stabbed the LE about 20minutes in and thought I was gonna be doing the deflate-downwinder the rest of the way ??
Everything is a bit chaotic doing downwind in 50 knots gusts.. I nose dived into back of the chop in front of the one I was riding and the wind picked board and foil up behind me and threw it at my wing..
luckily the bladder survived - the stress levels were peaking for a bit tho..
soo good .. legs are destroyed...
Yeeew


You must have a thick wetsuit, what kind of water temps are you dealing with this time of year?
Wearing a DaKine hooded cyclone 6/4 with 5mm boots.. but no gloves.. Water temp is around 9 degrees C but air was very mild for February .. I find since foiling came along I'm sweating most of the time..
or perhaps foiling has coincided with global warming ??