I am considering to switch to Axis, and wonder which front wing (and stab) to start with. The Axis lineup is very large and a bit confusing.
I currently use SB 2000 and 1300 wave foils. If the wind is above 15 knots, we often get a lot of steep and messy chop which simply kicks me out of the water (on an 82 cm mast) on the 2000; with the 1300, that's much less of an issue, at least under 25 knots wind. I'm 95 kg on a SB 115 l board with about 80 wing sessions so far. I can foil in a straight line and draw little squiggles into the chop, but tend to drop down quickly when trying to foil without wind pressure. I am currently stuck with mostly wet jibes, unless I have a (rare) flat water session. I sometimes get around to switch, but usually have lost so much speed that the foil becomes very unstable. My pumping is mediocre (at best), so I tend to use a relatively large hand wing (up to 6.5). About half of my sessions are in 14-19 knots wind, with the remainder evenly divided between 11-13 and 20+ knots. I tend to switch to wind foiling when it's light, so low end is currently not that important. Better glide to keep a bit more speed in jibes, however, is.
Thanks for any suggestions. Besides Axis, I'm also looking at Fanatic. Armstrong and Go foils are not in the mix for different, but firm, reasons.
Hi,
I started with a Starboard S-Type 2000 and switched to Axis about your skill level. Since light wind is a topic for me and with 90+kg pure muscle(*cough) I went with the BSC 1120 and 440 rear and instantly made progress. I then started downsizing using the black fuselage but kept the 1120 for the really light days.
If you have the opportunity, I'd try to test the HPS 1050 with the 400p or 375p rearwing. With your weight and the mentioned windrange, it could be the goto frontwing. You can use the black fuselage which allows downsizing(with the red you'd be limited) and you might get it in used condition for a good price. Once you get better, you can look at the ART range for more glide, but that's probably too early for now.
With Fanatic I don't have much experience, but they're certainly well build and by now also cover everything. In addition, at least here in Germany, you get 40% discount on the HA range which makes them a very very good offer.
Cheers
I'm 100 kg. I use the 1300 in light wind. I use the 1050 when the wind is about 14 knots and the water is very choppy. I use the 1201 when the wind is above 14 and not too choppy. The 1050 is a great all around HA foil that behaves well in choppy conditions. All three wings have great glide.
Good glide, but not too technical to pump up: I suggest the HPS series. HPS980 for your 14-19kts. For lower wind HPS1050. The 980 works for me (same weight as you) in 10-15, but the 1050 would be easier
1100 Spitfire or 1050 HPS if you can get a good deal on the 1050 second hand. Short fuselage and 400P or 375P stab. You won't believe the difference compared to S2000. If you can possibly stretch to 90 or 82cm carbon HM mast the whole experience is sweeter. Because you mention chop/waves I'd go Spitfire over HPS also way newer design and more fun.
I think an HPS would be a good introduction. They're very versatile foils. Probably the HPS 1050 paired with something like a 400 Progressive back. Or maybe the 425 Progressive back. I'm about 82kg and my light air foil is the HPS 980 with a 400p back.
The 1050 is one of the most forgiving and fun foils. I have put several of my friends on it and they love it.
Select to expand quoteJonathanC said..
1100 Spitfire or 1050 HPS if you can get a good deal on the 1050 second hand. Short fuselage and 400P or 375P stab. You won't believe the difference compared to S2000. If you can possibly stretch to 90 or 82cm carbon HM mast the whole experience is sweeter. Because you mention chop/waves I'd go Spitfire over HPS also way newer design and more fun.
Thanks to everyone for the feedback. Lots of suggestions to use the 1050 HPS, so this one stands out a bit since it suggests the Spitfire. To clarify, when I play a bit with the chop, it is very different from what better wingers do. They flag the wing, do big turns where they may need to switch which hands holds the wing, and so on. I may change directions by 45 or maybe 60 degrees back and forth, keeping both hands on the handles, and often keep power in the wing, or at least need it again after a couple of seconds.
The chop becomes more relevant when the wind picks up, and waves just pick me up and push me out of the water. At 18+ knots, the SB 2000 often become unmanageable (although that depends on wind direction and water state). The SB 1300 is a lot better until we get 25+ knots and/or very steep chop. I'm usually going slow, just fast enough for stable flight (top 10 sec speed on the 1300 is 16 knots). I'm just starting to get a bit more comfortably going faster in chop.
So for me right now, ease of use and "neutral" behavior in chop is much more important than being able to crank turns.
Select to expand quoteboardsurfr said..
Lots of suggestions to use the 1050 HPS, so this one stands out a bit since it suggests the Spitfire. To clarify, when I play a bit with the chop, it is very different from what better wingers do. They flag the wing, do big turns where they may need to switch which hands holds the wing, and so on. I may change directions by 45 or maybe 60 degrees back and forth, keeping both hands on the handles, and often keep power in the wing, or at least need it again after a couple of seconds.
We have light chop here. The waves are not fast enough to "tail" the wing behind so I have to hold on to the boom with one hand most of the time. 1050 is a very good and well-behaved foil in these conditions. Great fun in chop. Comfortable in "neutral" gliding mode. I would definitely recommend it. It should cover you from 10 to 15 knots.
I tried Spitfires and in our mild conditions, I am not sure I see a big difference compared to the HPSes.
With HPS 1050, I would also get a two-steps-down HPS 930 for 13 to 20+ knots.
And of course, an ART foil or two at a later stage is an absolute must. I am still waiting for the new ART Pros to see the difference compared to my 899 and 999. At the moment, my 999 covers me for 13 to 30+ knots no problem. 899 is great in 16+
In my experience, the Advanced Utra-short fuse + 375P combo works very well for all foils - 1050, 930 and the ARTs. I now have a skinny 50 stub and it is excellent, but the 375P works with the widest range of front foils.
Another vote for the HPS 1050 with 425 progressive stab, short black fuse, 82cm alu mast. I'm 82 kg, just now staying dry on most of my jibes after 60 sessions. I started on all the Slingshot i foils, and the 1050 is a gliding joy in comparison. Most days are 10-15 mph on 6.5 slick wing, dropping to 4.5 slick with winds 20+. I plan to add a smaller HPS for those 4.5 days.
A little hijack here.. I'm in my first year of winging, mainly flat water blasting, but I want to start riding swell. I have 999 for stronger wind, but wondering if a HPS880/830 would be better for swell? I'm not too worried about slashing hard turns yet, just wondering what will be easier to control the lift riding down the face?
Select to expand quoteStretchy said..
... just wondering what will be easier to control the lift riding down the face?
I think I found some statements which wings are more neutral for swell and waves on the Axis Foil Riders group on Facebook. I forgot the details, though, since I looked through many posts, and was not considering the foils they talked about.
A funny thing about this is the different experiences Nina and I have had. Nina, who rides swell like a pro on her Armstrong foils, has often commented that she needs to shift her weight forward to control the extra lift. I often experience the opposite - I have to through my weight on the back foot to not touch down. Puzzling! Angles are different, but the bigger difference is probably that her front wings pick up tons of speed, while mine have more drag and don't accelerate. She says she actually does not like the foot straps (that she put on for jumping) when riding stepper swell on the 725 HA, because she's want to put her foot further forward to control lift.
Select to expand quoteStretchy said..
A little hijack here.. I'm in my first year of winging, mainly flat water blasting, but I want to start riding swell. I have 999 for stronger wind, but wondering if a HPS880/830 would be better for swell? I'm not too worried about slashing hard turns yet, just wondering what will be easier to control the lift riding down the face?
I use the 999 and 799 (for both wing and kite) and felt that they were building up way too much front foot pressure with speed. Adding a -1 degree negative shim really balanced them out so they were a lot more neutral throughout the range.
I've heard different stabilizers can have the the same effect, but this worked extremely well for me. I have the 380 speed stab.
axisfoils.com/products/axis-foils-3d-printing-files-1-degree-rear-wing
Select to expand quoteJonesey32 said..Stretchy said..
A little hijack here.. I'm in my first year of winging, mainly flat water blasting, but I want to start riding swell. I have 999 for stronger wind, but wondering if a HPS880/830 would be better for swell? I'm not too worried about slashing hard turns yet, just wondering what will be easier to control the lift riding down the face?
I use the 999 and 799 (for both wing and kite) and felt that they were building up way too much front foot pressure with speed. Adding a -1 degree negative shim really balanced them out so they were a lot more neutral throughout the range.
I've heard different stabilizers can have the the same effect, but this worked extremely well for me. I have the 380 speed stab.
axisfoils.com/products/axis-foils-3d-printing-files-1-degree-rear-wing
Excellent, a negative shim will be a lot cheaper than buying another wing 
I haven't experienced excessive lift with my 999 yet, but I've only got to a bit over 20kt peak speed on flat water so far (also with 380 speed). I guess I still have the handbrake on!
