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FoilWays forum posts in last 60 days

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FoilWays

Reply in Topic: Advice please: Should I downsize yet? Also, Armstrong ML vs Sunova and # litres?

FoilWays

180 posts

20 Feb 2026 8:01am

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BWalnut said..

DrRog said..
Hey. Looking for some advice from the brains trust on my next board.

I'm 75kg. I wing on two Sunova boards; a 6'4" x 24" = 99.6L Aviator (as my go-to) and a 7'6"x20"=113L 2003 DW (for light wind or when I'm pretending to be able to downwind! lol). In terms of skill level, I can ride normal and goofy but my switches are crap, I can get more gybes than not (only in normal stance, both sides) in flat water on my S1 set up (1550 front, 300 stab) and 1350APF, but on my HAv2 1080 w/ 180 stab I manage less of them. My toe side is okay but nailing my switches and riding heel side would be better. Not tacks yet. My pumping game isn't great (I've relied mostly on speed over water to get up but have managed to pump through some short lulls). History of surfing so aim is to also ride waves and DW.

Question 1: At this stage, should I be looking at getting a board of 75L +/- 5L ? Or, should I just save my cash and dial in my gybes and switches before downsizing?

When I downsize, I've been thinking of getting a mid-length Sunova or Army. Army's are too expensive new-I could stretch to getting one used or a new or a new/used Sunova ML.

Question 2: Is there an appreciable difference between them?

Thanks guys.

In theory, if you were to get a smaller board, why would you be choosing to do so? What's your goal with that change?

Can you go out and spend an entire session just doing foot switches just to get over the hump? That's the best way to move on from that struggle IMO. Go out with no intention of surfing or having fun. Just do switches until you get tired and then come in and take a break before you go back out for your fun sesh.

I prefer Sunova, it would be hard to get me to change away from them since it's so affordable to have customs made. I disliked the raised portions of an Armstrong board and am so picky about my dims that I never cared for those boards. Plenty of people like both though.

I'll add to the foot switch learning curve. I did it without falling much. I did like a million foot switches while doing a tiny touchdown. Then one day I realized it taught me the right technique, and I started doing them while flying in a single session, and barely ever falling. That day I went from 0% to 75% in a single session. This approach still allows you to have fun, but the approach of spending an entire session falling to get them dialed be be good too. I do that for other tricks.

Reply in Topic: Board repair thoughts?

FoilWays

180 posts

13 Feb 2026 11:57pm

I know the feeling of a stupid ding. Real ones that happen while riding don't hurt as much. I don't normally ride with a board leash. The other day in treacherous conditions, I put one on. Given I'm not used to it, at one point, on land, I had it attached to my harness and walked away, and drug the board a few inches over gravel putting a bunch of scratches on the rails. It's fixed now, but dang.

Reply in Topic: "FRANK" New Para Wing Boards

FoilWays

180 posts

11 Feb 2026 10:16am

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covertswell said..

LucasUK said..
Anyone has got any real review of the production frank mini darts ?

I have a handful of sessions on a production 70L now. Mostly parawinging 2.4 and 3.6 ozone PR's and a few 3.6m wing sessions in our local bay. The board rips, I'm 80kg before a 5/4 wetsuit this time of year and coming off an armstrong 75l, I haven't missed the volume but I also haven't really needed to slog much so hard to say on that front. As soon as the parawing has a little bit of pull it's been easy to pump onto foil. I think that flatter tail releases really well and it's an easy board to stand on and wait for a good gust. You definitely notice having the volume shifted forward as it doesn't tend to bog the nose when pumping to engage the foil. Touch downs haven't been an issue and it's been easy to pump back out of the hole with both ha780/uha870. I'm a fan of the slight concave by the front foot and the flat deck pad. My board weighed in at 4.67kg/10.3lbs. The board bag is really nice, zips from the top and bottom are a sweet and fits the board well.

How have you found the stiffness and responsiveness? I have 2 Armie MLs (55 / 65) and that's one thing I love about those boards. They are on the heavy side, but they are stiff and super responsive. I come from Appletrees, which are even stiffer, so I notice these things.I'm been looking at an 80L or perhaps 70L Mini Dart, for my 85kg, for Parawing, but I want to make sure it's going to be stiff and responsive.

Reply in Topic: Board repair thoughts?

FoilWays

180 posts

11 Feb 2026 7:17am

Hi, I'll go against the post above. I don't think it's sucking in water. That looks like a bruise where the foam below got compressed slightly. Black rails show everything. I have a black rail Firewire, and they look cool but show everything!I'm obnoxious about aesthetics. So I would paint it to match at least. Otherwise it's an annoying repair because if there ANY delamination under there from the compression, you'd have to cut it out and re-laminate that area with carbon weave, coat a few times, hot coat, and paint. I doubt it'll keep getting worse, so at least sand it over a little and paint match black, then spray with matte clear to blend with the rest, so you won't have to look at it.

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