Hello all! New guy here to this forum.

I'm currently building a Black Series Axis foil and could use some advise before ordering.

Background: 51 yr old, longtime kiter (Snow, dirtsurfer, buggy and 3 seasons Twin tipping)

Kites: Flysurfer Souls (ram air)

Weight: 160 lbs/72.5 kg

Foil experience: Beginner (2 sessions on borrowed gear). Able to get up on foil and ride both directions. No transitions or toeside riding yet.

Looking to foil in mostly low winds in flat/choppy water with some swell at times, no waves. Want something I can progress on.

Board: 2020 Slingshot Dwarfcraft Foilboard, 4' 6"

After talking with other riders, I have this Axis build in my cart:

HPS 650 Wing
380 Speed Rear Wing
Ultrashort 644mm Black Fuselage
600mm Aluminum Mast 19mm
19mm Doodad
19mm Baseplate
Screws/TefGel

Any recommendations? With my weight should I go with 16mm mast instead? And should I just go with Standard Fuselage to start if Ultrashort may be too "loose" for beginner.

Thanks! Really appreciate any feedback.

Hi Mar welcome to SB and to the Axis club.

I have a couple of thoughts on your selection - my opinion only but I've gone through lots of Axis gear.

I currently have a main setup as HPS700, crazy short black, 380 rear, 16mm x 75cm mast
I also have light wind/ slow cruisy setup as HPS930, ultra black, 380 rear, 19mm x 75cm mast
I also run a triton monowing on 16mm x 75cm axis mast.

All with pocket boards, which I recommend moving to once you are ready to progress there.

I think your selection is pretty solid however:
definitely don't need the 19mm mast for that setup and your weight as well. Go the 16mm and matching base/doodad. less drag.
The HPS650 is pretty small and less forgiving, will take more power. Unless you're after outright speed, the 700 is a more flexible size.

Also bear in mind the HPS aren't really aimed as beginner/easy wings, so if you are in doubt consider the BSC740 as a better all-rounder which still has great performance.. At first I found the HPS to be quite pitchy for example, sensitive after coming off larger more stable wings.

Thanks for the quick reply!

I'll definitely take a look at the HPS 700 and BSC 740.

And I'll switch to the 16mm mast.

Really appreciate the feedback.

I second the 740. I am 76kg and use it with 350p stab.

Hi MarTrench
Even though you are at the beginner stage I would go the 75cm mast as you will soon become frustrated breaching in the choppy water.

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DiverD said..
Hi MarTrench
Even though you are at the beginner stage I would go the 75cm mast as you will soon become frustrated breaching in the choppy water.

I agree. as long as the water's deep enough, the taller mast gives the advantages of much less cavitations /breaching of wings plus the extra height can be traded off into forward speed as you go through a gybe without touching down. At the cost of a very small reduction of lateral stability. When I progressed from 600mm to 900mm mast I didn't actually notice any reduction of stability. Also,the 16mm masts are incredibly stiff so I can't imagine you'd need to go 19mm.

Thanks for all the feedback - I'll check back in once I'm up and foiling with my new Axis setup!

After syncing up/receiving recommendations from Axis, I ordered and received my new foil setup:

BSC 810 Front Wing
400 Freeride Rear
Short Black Fuselage
450,600 (for shallow spots) and 900mm Aluminum masts

And my board is a Slingshot Dwarfcraft (4' 6").

I placed the mast base at farthest position towards back of board to start with and have one single footstrap in front.

Will check back in once I get some time over the foil!

Also - the screw kit came with a +1 degree shim. I setup without it since not sure if needed.

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MarTrench said..
Hello all! New guy here to this forum.

I'm currently building a Black Series Axis foil and could use some advise before ordering.

Background: 51 yr old, longtime kiter (Snow, dirtsurfer, buggy and 3 seasons Twin tipping)

Kites: Flysurfer Souls (ram air)

Weight: 160 lbs/72.5 kg

Foil experience: Beginner (2 sessions on borrowed gear). Able to get up on foil and ride both directions. No transitions or toeside riding yet.

Looking to foil in mostly low winds in flat/choppy water with some swell at times, no waves. Want something I can progress on.

Board: 2020 Slingshot Dwarfcraft Foilboard, 4' 6"

After talking with other riders, I have this Axis build in my cart:

HPS 650 Wing
380 Speed Rear Wing
Ultrashort 644mm Black Fuselage
600mm Aluminum Mast 19mm
19mm Doodad
19mm Baseplate
Screws/TefGel

Any recommendations? With my weight should I go with 16mm mast instead? And should I just go with Standard Fuselage to start if Ultrashort may be too "loose" for beginner.

Thanks! Really appreciate any feedback.

It seems your pretty sure about what you want. An all carbon foil is generally much nicer and could probably be bought second hand for the same or less than a new aluminum job.

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MarTrench said..
Also - the screw kit came with a +1 degree shim. I setup without it since not sure if needed.

I've never needed the shims but you can always try once familiar with your gear and see whether it feels better to you.

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snalberski said..
It seems your pretty sure about what you want. An all carbon foil is generally much nicer and could probably be bought second hand for the same or less than a new aluminum job.

Many "all carbon" rigs like Moses (SABfoil) actually run aly fuses which means the mast is the only point of difference.

Axis sells carbon masts however they're only 15% lighter at approx 10x the price. The alloy masts start from $100, although they require a baseplate and doodad. Alloy is stiffer and more impact resistant. Having a relatively inexpensive choice of mast lengths for learning and shallow use is great.

Looking towards progression, Axis have 3 ranges of front wings that work with the black fuse and a heap of tails. There is a really strong 2nd hand market with a lot of crossover with other foiling disciplines, so it's easy to mix n match to find the perfect setup for how you like to ride. By contrast many full carbon foils like J shapes etc give you a choice of 2 setups. They are great setups but have little to no capability for change or replacement of parts when they wear. When you grow out of it you have to sell the whole lot. Hence the cheap all carbon kits around.

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KBGhost said..

MarTrench said..
Also - the screw kit came with a +1 degree shim. I setup without it since not sure if needed.

I've never needed the shims but you can always try once familiar with your gear and see whether it feels better to you.

snalberski said..
It seems your pretty sure about what you want. An all carbon foil is generally much nicer and could probably be bought second hand for the same or less than a new aluminum job.

Hence the cheap all carbon kits around.

Having been foil boarding for 6 years I've
never met anyone with foil boarding experience who hasn't thought that full carbon fibre is not superior to aluminum.
Bearing that in mind and with all the "cheap carbon kits around" I can't think of a logical reason not to go with a second hand full carbon setup

I went with Axis since several local riders have recently switched over and we can now try out each others wings/masts.

I've been out 5 times so far and I'm really happy with my setup. Such a smooth ride

The fit/finish of the Axis foil is top notch. I ended up getting 3 masts (450, 600 & 900).

I'm not using any shims, and once I shifted the base plate all the way to the rear of the board, things went much better in controlling the lift.

I can only ride both directions and completed a couple successful heelside to toeside gybes.

I started with the shortest mast and I'm currently on the 600. Lots to learn!

Checking back in after ~10 sessions on the foil.

It's going well so far! I'm able to gybe now both ways and have been trying to foot switch on foil.

No major injuries so far.

I'm riding the 90cm mast now when deep enough.

It's crazy how little power is needed once up on foil and riding through chop is so smooth

Most sessions have been on a 8m Soul. I also have a 6m Peak 5 that I'll be trying soon.

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snalberski said..

KBGhost said..

MarTrench said..
Also - the screw kit came with a +1 degree shim. I setup without it since not sure if needed.

I've never needed the shims but you can always try once familiar with your gear and see whether it feels better to you.

snalberski said..
It seems your pretty sure about what you want. An all carbon foil is generally much nicer and could probably be bought second hand for the same or less than a new aluminum job.

Hence the cheap all carbon kits around.

Having been foil boarding for 6 years I've
never met anyone with foil boarding experience who hasn't thought that full carbon fibre is not superior to aluminum.
Bearing that in mind and with all the "cheap carbon kits around" I can't think of a logical reason not to go with a second hand full carbon setup

My alloy Naish setup has copped a flogging, some nasty damage to the front wing where I hit the reef at full speed. Looking at Axis cause there's been so much frothing. A mate has an Axis BSC 810 on alloy mast for me to try, but he has been talking up the superior performance of the carbon mast. But then he did mention cracks forming around the mast base.

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COL said..

snalberski said..

KBGhost said..

MarTrench said..
Also - the screw kit came with a +1 degree shim. I setup without it since not sure if needed.

I've never needed the shims but you can always try once familiar with your gear and see whether it feels better to you.

snalberski said..
It seems your pretty sure about what you want. An all carbon foil is generally much nicer and could probably be bought second hand for the same or less than a new aluminum job.

Hence the cheap all carbon kits around.

Having been foil boarding for 6 years I've
never met anyone with foil boarding experience who hasn't thought that full carbon fibre is not superior to aluminum.
Bearing that in mind and with all the "cheap carbon kits around" I can't think of a logical reason not to go with a second hand full carbon setup

My alloy Naish setup has copped a flogging, some nasty damage to the front wing where I hit the reef at full speed. Looking at Axis cause there's been so much frothing. A mate has an Axis BSC 810 on alloy mast for me to try, but he has been talking up the superior performance of the carbon mast. But then he did mention cracks forming around the mast base.

Hi Col
I remember you from way back and your skill level.
I have BCS 810 and 740. The 810 will be too big for you.

Checking back in - I've been out foiling with the BSC 810, 400 rear and 90cm mast as much as possible lately.

Note: I went with 19mm mast since I'll be wing foiling also.

Overall, I'm very happy with my Axis foil purchase. Seemed to be perfect for learning and I don't think I'll get bored with it anytime soon.

Most recent sessions have been with a 6m Peak 5. Now this is awesome!

The Peak is just so easy to fly and drifts like crazy. More fun than my 8m or 10m Souls (if enough wind)...

I want to add a 4m and 8m Peak 5 to my quiver next.