marc5 forum posts in last 60 days

I would also like to see some disclosure about conflicts of interest. Is the reviewer a team rider or ambassador, and was a price discount involved? I read Amazon reviews but completely ignore those where the reviewer received a free product. When I do an Amazon review I note that I paid full price and received no compensation for the reivew. I agree about video ride reviews, especially when the rider does not disclose weight, height, skill level, and other equipment used on the ride--often not much value. And most importantly, get to the point. Don't waste my time stretching your video to sell more ads. If you want to see perhaps the greatest video reviewer on the planet, check out Project Farm on youtube. He should be the model for a review of any product.

I'm revisiting this thread to answer my own question from last spring. I eventually bought a Gong Hipe Diamond 5'-10" 105L for my travel board--eight days in Gorge most summers. I got tired of driving from Ohio for 36 hours so I needed an airline board. I was lucky to purchase the board just before tariffs hit and it was a very good bargin.

I'm an intermediate winger--decent jiber but still learning to tack. I ride small waves reasonably well. I ride the Gong strapless with Axis HPS foils which seems like a good pair. No issues with foil placement. The board seems light and lively, and gets off the water plenty early.--pIenty stiff. i find myself using sort of a bounce method to pump the board. My other boards are an AK Nomad mid and my first board, a Fanatic Sky Wing. For the upcoming season I just got a Skybrid.

Overall I'm very happy with it--a good travel compromise. It packs down well into a Ride Engine "golf" bag with plenty of other gear including wings and a foil. And of course I never worry about dings.

After reading about a Maui outrigger canoe paddler who was rescued two miles offshore because his smart phone allowed his location to be broadcast, I'm thinking it may be time to get a smart watch. I'm in the Android universe, and it needs LTE/cell service. Does anyone have experience with such an Anroid phone. And are they also useful for speed measurements? Thanks

For those of you struggling with a visor, I really like my Tontron Removable Helmet Visor, easily applied with their adhesive strip and velcro. Amazon. I put it on my Pro-Tec Ace Wake helmet and it's a great combo. I pair it with basic sunglasses.

I had nearly 40 years of windsurfing before I started wingfoiling three years ago. It's magical. I'm never going back.

It's all about front foot pressure. Set up your foil so your front foot is in the proper location where it stays. Rear foot moves.

Forget stinkbug for now. If you need stinkbug as a newbie your board is too small. Start with a board that is stable enough to start on your knees. If you are serious about learning you'll be falling a lot and you shouldn't be wasting time trying to start a small board. And start with larger foils and work your way down. Online used gear markets are great.

In my case jibing was much easier to learn than switching feet. It's still the weakest part of my riding. Practice on land whenever you can. Footstraps are often recommended to learn the switch but I prefer to go strapless--foot or ankle injuries are a no-no for me.

My favorite online mentors: Lachie White, Alan Cadiz, Damien LeRoy, Kitefoil college. Watch watch watch. Practice wing handling on land on light days. Just like windsurfing, follow a good winger on the water and try to emulate.

It's a good idea to protect yourself from the foil as a newbie--lots of falls, right? Even a thin wetsuit helps avoid those leg cuts. Consider an impact/flotation vest and helmet.

Seems like almost all former windsurfers prefer a wing with a boom. Infinite number of handholds--easy to slide hand fore and aft.

Enjoy the ride!