Disclaimer: I am a complete and utter dribbling kook, with that "I am the Water Boy" vacant wide eyed stare; when it comes to foil gear knowledge...and (was) not a great deal better on the water. So, this highly uninformative review is more about the fast progressive and stoke I have experienced since this Monday, on the new Axis foil/board combination (note at the time of writing it is Wednesday night after my third session).

Background: I had one session on a Liquid Force happy foil (did a major 8 month groin injury jumping in the Dongora chop, so sold it), and two sessions on a Konrad Versa foil (60cm mast) borrowed from Jason at Westoz / WA surf. Needless to say I wasn't foiling much and spent 95 percent of the time crashing at speed from height, punching, pissing and moaning (I do believe I even had a Rocky "ADRIAN!!" ) moment at one stage in the water; frustrated at my own dysfunctional impotent incompetence.

I was told it is hard to learn, but I was not prepared for this utterly despondent frustration.

Then suddenly I had a few successful 50-100m foil runs on the Konrad, so in true middle aged man kook form, I bought myself a spanking brand new Axis Surf/Sup foil (75cm mast) and a Minimal Volume (145cm - MV) Axis board from Jason. Jason recommended the smallest 680 wing so knowing ****e from clay, that is what I got.

What can I say about it? Well it has a beefed up mast and fuselage, all components are engineered with extreme precision piecing together seamlessly, the carbon wings are wonderfully crafted and.. Bahahahahahhaha, who I am kidding. .

It is super shiny and sparkles refracted red rainbows in the Sun.

So picking it up from the WA Surf / Westoz Demo day on Saturday at the Pond (wholly fck I counted 45 kites at one stage and apparently it had all settled down by then), this has been the summarised journey.

First session (Monday): Horrible wintery 12-23 knot WSW wind on my 8m rebel - I was desperate:

- Some Ventilated Crashes, but far less than on the other two foils.

- A few horror out of control speed run crashes (as the wind gusted above 20 and I'm a major kook).

- I went so far upwind it took me most the time just getting back. But a few 300m or so runs.

Realising I can get and stay up on the foil at much slower speeds without stalling, allowed the above crashes to be far more controlled.

Second session (Tuesday) (16-20) again on my 8m rebel - too much wind again but I'm was super keen:

- Ventilated a few times, but knew it was coming and fell in water with ease; saved most by applying front foot pressure.

- Out of control speed runs were mainly controlled. a few hard lessons from trying to push the speed beyond my capability.

- This time I really had to scratch my head on how to get back.with shallow water upwind and downwind of me, floating 1.5km out near Point Grey (that was just two tacks by the way!) I was extremely puzzled by this upwind dilemma. Had to ride the board on the surface for half the time trying to get back downwind to avoid downwind speed crashes.

Third session (Wednesday) (13-17) on 10m rebel and the whole reason I am writing this pointless and uninformative review:

- Not one ventilated or other crash. In-fact not one ventilation!

- Not one uncontrolled speed crash, and foiled carved downwind with ease (Had to keep an eye on my son learning his unhooked surface passes and hence crashing a lot).

- Apart from changing feet, the board and myself did not touch the water for a good hour!

- I could now foil with control!

I even started doing the foil pump thing, whilst riding at the kite. I started doing increasingly more aggressive S carves.

Eventually I had the stability and confidence to look around and admire the view. I started to feel the foil and the board became increasingly irrelevant. To top it off a dolphin came swimming alongside me (underwater)... freaked me out at first until I just relaxed ... what a buzz. I kind of felt as if I was the dolphin or some weird transcended ****e like that, gliding with no friction.

Going downwind also allowed me to start cranking the speed up and heel over - pointing at crazy angles upwind. What a rush! Not race foil fast, but damn well fast enough for me.

Take Away from this pointless gibberish:

- 3 days, 3 sessions in (and only one of these was ideal foiling conditions really) and I'm foiling the entire time except for changing direction (can go toe-side sort of, but switching feet..not yet).

- This cannot be due to my extraordinary kiting kinaesthetic skills; if anything it takes me a long time to learn any new skill to be honest. I am also no spring chicken and crashes, they bloody hurt now, especially the next day.

- The foil is super stable and intuitive which allowed for fast progression. I can't wait to hit the ocean and fine some swell next session.


But essentially the most important take-way is:

The new axis foil is Red, Shiny and it Sparkles - Glistening Red Refracted Beams of Gliding Joy.

Sounds like a great piece of gear Eppo , and very user friendly .

Certainly once you have got the foil in the air a few times you can build on it pretty quickly in my experience . And the down wind part of the learning curve is a buzz , expecially when you are in swell ... its pretty cool .

PM the big fella and get him onto it !

I learned on the same wing but with the old mast/fuse, great bit of kit.

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eddiemorgs said..
Sounds like a great piece of gear Eppo , and very user friendly .

Certainly once you have got the foil in the air a few times you can build on it pretty quickly in my experience . And the down wind part of the learning curve is a buzz , expecially when you are in swell ... its pretty cool .

PM the big fella and get him onto it !

Quite funny the first time you swing your kite to the side, slide down a wave at speed, and leave your kite behind.

Select to expand quote

eddiemorgs said..
Sounds like a great piece of gear Eppo , and very user friendly .

Certainly once you have got the foil in the air a few times you can build on it pretty quickly in my experience . And the down wind part of the learning curve is a buzz , expecially when you are in swell ... its pretty cool .

PM the big fella and get him onto it !

Will do

Good stuff Eppo. Glad you are having fun with it now. Sounds like you've picked it up quickly. Welcome to the world of loving yellow arrows.

Sweet. Sound like you are having a blast. Also by the look of the wind speeds and kite sizes you have been a bit too powered for your current level.

Try the 10m below 15 knots,
8m 13-18 knots
6m 18-24 knots

..... just waiting for the docs post now

Select to expand quote

eppo said..
..... just waiting for the docs post now

F**k you Eppo!, I had pretty much talked myself out of trying foiling for this summer, but I really want that nice red one now :(

Select to expand quote

Plummet said..
Sweet. Sound like you are having a blast. Also by the look of the wind speeds and kite sizes you have been a bit too powered for your current level.

Try the 10m below 15 knots,
8m 13-18 knots
6m 18-24 knots

How about if it's 12.5 knots? What do I do then?

Select to expand quote

Dave Whettingsteel said..

eppo said..
..... just waiting for the docs post now

F**k you Eppo!, I had pretty much talked myself out of trying foiling for this summer, but I really want that nice red one now :(

I'd wash it dave

Select to expand quote

eppo said..
Disclaimer: I am a complete and utter dribbling kook, with that "I am the Water Boy" vacant wide eyed stare; when it comes to foil gear knowledge...and (was) not a great deal better on the water. So, this highly uninformative review is more about the fast progressive and stoke I have experienced since this Monday, on the new Axis foil/board combination (note at the time of writing it is Wednesday night after my third session).

Background: I had one session on a Liquid Force happy foil (did a major 8 month groin injury jumping in the Dongora chop, so sold it), and two sessions on a Konrad Versa foil (60cm mast) borrowed from Jason at Westoz / WA surf. Needless to say I wasn't foiling much and spent 95 percent of the time crashing at speed from height, punching, pissing and moaning (I do believe I even had a Rocky "ADRIAN!!" ) moment at one stage in the water; frustrated at my own dysfunctional impotent incompetence.

I was told it is hard to learn, but I was not prepared for this utterly despondent frustration.

Then suddenly I had a few successful 50-100m foil runs on the Konrad, so in true middle aged man kook form, I bought myself a spanking brand new Axis Surf/Sup foil (75cm mast) and a Minimal Volume (145cm - MV) Axis board from Jason. Jason recommended the smallest 680 wing so knowing ****e from clay, that is what I got.

What can I say about it? Well it has a beefed up mast and fuselage, all components are engineered with extreme precision piecing together seamlessly, the carbon wings are wonderfully crafted and.. Bahahahahahhaha, who I am kidding. .

It is super shiny and sparkles refracted red rainbows in the Sun.

So picking it up from the WA Surf / Westoz Demo day on Saturday at the Pond (wholly fck I counted 45 kites at one stage and apparently it had all settled down by then), this has been the summarised journey.

First session (Monday): Horrible wintery 12-23 knot WSW wind on my 8m rebel - I was desperate:

- Some Ventilated Crashes, but far less than on the other two foils.

- A few horror out of control speed run crashes (as the wind gusted above 20 and I'm a major kook).

- I went so far upwind it took me most the time just getting back. But a few 300m or so runs.

Realising I can get and stay up on the foil at much slower speeds without stalling, allowed the above crashes to be far more controlled.

Second session (Tuesday) (16-20) again on my 8m rebel - too much wind again but I'm was super keen:

- Ventilated a few times, but knew it was coming and fell in water with ease; saved most by applying front foot pressure.

- Out of control speed runs were mainly controlled. a few hard lessons from trying to push the speed beyond my capability.

- This time I really had to scratch my head on how to get back.with shallow water upwind and downwind of me, floating 1.5km out near Point Grey (that was just two tacks by the way!) I was extremely puzzled by this upwind dilemma. Had to ride the board on the surface for half the time trying to get back downwind to avoid downwind speed crashes.

Third session (Wednesday) (13-17) on 10m rebel and the whole reason I am writing this pointless and uninformative review:

- Not one ventilated or other crash. In-fact not one ventilation!

- Not one uncontrolled speed crash, and foiled carved downwind with ease (Had to keep an eye on my son learning his unhooked surface passes and hence crashing a lot).

- Apart from changing feet, the board and myself did not touch the water for a good hour!

- I could now foil with control!

I even started doing the foil pump thing, whilst riding at the kite. I started doing increasingly more aggressive S carves.

Eventually I had the stability and confidence to look around and admire the view. I started to feel the foil and the board became increasingly irrelevant. To top it off a dolphin came swimming alongside me (underwater)... freaked me out at first until I just relaxed ... what a buzz. I kind of felt as if I was the dolphin or some weird transcended ****e like that, gliding with no friction.

Going downwind also allowed me to start cranking the speed up and heel over - pointing at crazy angles upwind. What a rush! Not race foil fast, but damn well fast enough for me.

Take Away from this pointless gibberish:

- 3 days, 3 sessions in (and only one of these was ideal foiling conditions really) and I'm foiling the entire time except for changing direction (can go toe-side sort of, but switching feet..not yet).

- This cannot be due to my extraordinary kiting kinaesthetic skills; if anything it takes me a long time to learn any new skill to be honest. I am also no spring chicken and crashes, they bloody hurt now, especially the next day.

- The foil is super stable and intuitive which allowed for fast progression. I can't wait to hit the ocean and fine some swell next session.


But essentially the most important take-way is:

The new axis foil is Red, Shiny and it Sparkles - Glistening Red Refracted Beams of Gliding Joy.

And you had it in every room of your house too!

Select to expand quote

Plummet said..
Sweet. Sound like you are having a blast. Also by the look of the wind speeds and kite sizes you have been a bit too powered for your current level.

Try the 10m below 15 knots,
8m 13-18 knots
6m 18-24 knots

Yeh I think the 10m session (the last one) was kind of mainly in that wind range...13-16 ish and it felt comfortable...

So yesterday afternoon, kept dropping to like 10-13 knots, maybe near 9 knots in the lulls and was on my 8m rebel.

I now see why foil guys want lightly built kites.

I was still able to foil and head upwind...but going downwind, it took all of my experience to keep the damn thing in the air. I had to race back to shore which is no easy feat in a shallow estuary with an incredibly low tide and my average foiling skill set.

*** plus all the crew were on the shore willing my kite to fall in the water for entertainment....***

So you don't need much of a kite hey to foil!!!

but that being said...its still gotta' stay in the damn air in those winds.



.....sorry dave, I'm afraid you will have to try it. That Sup break out right at horrocks into the channel is almost a perfect wave for this caper.

and yep get the red one, because it sparkles in the sun.

I remember when Eppo was cool ??

Select to expand quote

THE PIN PULLER said..
I remember when Eppo was cool ??

Nothing like being cool and watching.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Plummet said..
Sweet. Sound like you are having a blast. Also by the look of the wind speeds and kite sizes you have been a bit too powered for your current level.

Try the 10m below 15 knots,
8m 13-18 knots
6m 18-24 knots

Yeh I think the 10m session (the last one) was kind of mainly in that wind range...13-16 ish and it felt comfortable...

So yesterday afternoon, kept dropping to like 10-13 knots, maybe near 9 knots in the lulls and was on my 8m rebel.

I now see why foil guys want lightly built kites.

I was still able to foil and head upwind...but going downwind, it took all of my experience to keep the damn thing in the air. I had to race back to shore which is no easy feat in a shallow estuary with an incredibly low tide and my average foiling skill set.

*** plus all the crew were on the shore willing my kite to fall in the water for entertainment....***

So you don't need much of a kite hey to foil!!!

but that being said...its still gotta' stay in the damn air in those winds.



.....sorry dave, I'm afraid you will have to try it. That Sup break out right at horrocks into the channel is almost a perfect wave for this caper.

and yep get the red one, because it sparkles in the sun.

Yeah the Rebel is too darn heavy which makes it ****house for relaunching in light winds. Thats why i sold my one and went back to the old catalyst.

Its a lot easier to control speed on the foil when you are a bit undergunned. So lean on the side of caution until you can hold a mean edge. Then you can ramp the power back up. Too much kite initially is just going to send you into high speed death runs.

Select to expand quote

Plummet said..

eppo said..

Plummet said..
Sweet. Sound like you are having a blast. Also by the look of the wind speeds and kite sizes you have been a bit too powered for your current level.

Try the 10m below 15 knots,
8m 13-18 knots
6m 18-24 knots

Yeh I think the 10m session (the last one) was kind of mainly in that wind range...13-16 ish and it felt comfortable...

So yesterday afternoon, kept dropping to like 10-13 knots, maybe near 9 knots in the lulls and was on my 8m rebel.

I now see why foil guys want lightly built kites.

I was still able to foil and head upwind...but going downwind, it took all of my experience to keep the damn thing in the air. I had to race back to shore which is no easy feat in a shallow estuary with an incredibly low tide and my average foiling skill set.

*** plus all the crew were on the shore willing my kite to fall in the water for entertainment....***

So you don't need much of a kite hey to foil!!!

but that being said...its still gotta' stay in the damn air in those winds.



.....sorry dave, I'm afraid you will have to try it. That Sup break out right at horrocks into the channel is almost a perfect wave for this caper.

and yep get the red one, because it sparkles in the sun.

Yeah the Rebel is too darn heavy which makes it ****house for relaunching in light winds. Thats why i sold my one and went back to the old catalyst.

Its a lot easier to control speed on the foil when you are a bit undergunned. So lean on the side of caution until you can hold a mean edge. Then you can ramp the power back up. Too much kite initially is just going to send you into high speed death runs.

My son has the 2012 8m catalyst and a 2013 6m)...maybe I should use that more. I just hate the feel of that kite at the bar...but it will drift more and it is super light (which is why I got them to teach my son).

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Plummet said..

eppo said..

Plummet said..
Sweet. Sound like you are having a blast. Also by the look of the wind speeds and kite sizes you have been a bit too powered for your current level.

Try the 10m below 15 knots,
8m 13-18 knots
6m 18-24 knots

Yeh I think the 10m session (the last one) was kind of mainly in that wind range...13-16 ish and it felt comfortable...

So yesterday afternoon, kept dropping to like 10-13 knots, maybe near 9 knots in the lulls and was on my 8m rebel.

I now see why foil guys want lightly built kites.

I was still able to foil and head upwind...but going downwind, it took all of my experience to keep the damn thing in the air. I had to race back to shore which is no easy feat in a shallow estuary with an incredibly low tide and my average foiling skill set.

*** plus all the crew were on the shore willing my kite to fall in the water for entertainment....***

So you don't need much of a kite hey to foil!!!

but that being said...its still gotta' stay in the damn air in those winds.



.....sorry dave, I'm afraid you will have to try it. That Sup break out right at horrocks into the channel is almost a perfect wave for this caper.

and yep get the red one, because it sparkles in the sun.

Yeah the Rebel is too darn heavy which makes it ****house for relaunching in light winds. Thats why i sold my one and went back to the old catalyst.

Its a lot easier to control speed on the foil when you are a bit undergunned. So lean on the side of caution until you can hold a mean edge. Then you can ramp the power back up. Too much kite initially is just going to send you into high speed death runs.

My son has the 2012 8m catalyst and a 2013 6m)...maybe I should use that more. I just hate the feel of that kite at the bar...but it will drift more and it is super light (which is why I got them to teach my son).

riding same foil as you, I use the 9m Hyperlink in next to no breeze and have an 8m and 6m Alpha V1 coming. Can't see any point going bigger than the 9m Hyperlink no matter how light. Stoked that you like the board and foil!!

This is where they get you!!

It has often been said that having a foil is like having a lightwind kite and that you will save because you need less kites. But then you get into foiling and now you need kites for foiling and then you have to change up your other kites so the quiver works and that's how they get you!!

For you eppo you will need a kite that really works for foiling and for twin tip boosting and now you need a new quiver of fly surfer soul's and now you're really dropping some cash

Select to expand quote

eppo said..
.....sorry dave, I'm afraid you will have to try it. That Sup break out right at horrocks into the channel is almost a perfect wave for this caper.

and yep get the red one, because it sparkles in the sun.

Stop it!!!! I think I have to get one now....

Select to expand quote

Dave Whettingsteel said..

eppo said..
.....sorry dave, I'm afraid you will have to try it. That Sup break out right at horrocks into the channel is almost a perfect wave for this caper.

and yep get the red one, because it sparkles in the sun.

Stop it!!!! I think I have to get one now....

Infact that whole downwind stretch in that bay around the corner would be awesome. Those spilling swell waves would be perfect ??????

yeh not sure I'm ready Adrian for the whole hyperlink, alpha thingy just yet.

Foils sweet mate, although I've only ridden two before lol. Would t really know if it's good really. All I know is I went from crash city to no crash foiling in a bloody short time.

But like the my sexuality I'm a bit confused about the whole kite choice thingy right now.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Dave Whettingsteel said..

eppo said..
.....sorry dave, I'm afraid you will have to try it. That Sup break out right at horrocks into the channel is almost a perfect wave for this caper.

and yep get the red one, because it sparkles in the sun.

Stop it!!!! I think I have to get one now....

Infact that whole downwind stretch in that bay around the corner would be awesome. Those spilling swell waves would be perfect ??????

yeh not sure I'm ready Adrian for the whole hyperlink, alpha thingy just yet.

Foils sweet mate, although I've only ridden two before lol. Would t really know if it's good really. All I know is I went from crash city to no crash foiling in a bloody short time.

But like the my sexuality I'm a bit confused about the whole kite choice thingy right now.

You just what something that drifts well if you are going to be catching waves and carving about.

Haha I remember you calling us old men. Nice to see you are getting into it. Sold mine a while ago but probably getting back into it latest when back in Perth. Was going to say use a Reo (or the Monotone equivalent if you must). The old Cat will be ok too. Having something nifty and light and drifting with you will make a difference. And I got rid of the straps altogether. So much more freedom and helps moving those feet and sometimes just toes ever so slightly in the right spot. Enjoy mate. Hope to see you when we visit good old home over Chrissie/NY

Be good to catch up man for an Albany juggernaut.

Yeah. Boosting and foiling demands 2 different kites. Well sort off. The bigger higher aspect leis are **** because they are too heavy and don't relaunch in the lighter winds you take them out in. I'm talking sub 12 knot stuff. So you need to go for either light weight lie, 3 strut maximum, or a foil kite. The foil kite wont relaunch either in sub 10 knots, but it hangs in the air so much better than its heavier lei brother.

Once you get above non-relaunching winds then its not so bad having a heavier kite.
But to run with swells which is a lot of the fun with foiling you need to good downwinding beast.

So,,,,, The lighter 3 strutter becames more useful than the heavy 5 strut big air monster.

If you want to boost and foil swells on the same kite you have to pick the intermediate aspect do it all 3 strut lie.
I'm rolling with 8m enduro for my main stay kite. Set on the fastest turning setting I can get out of it. It does a sweet job of both foiling and jumping. But is a master at neither.

That said, Should you decide to boost big on the foil. Then yourl be cranking at normal kite sizes so you can run whatever boosting kite you want.

Select to expand quote

Plummet said..
Yeah. Boosting and foiling demands 2 different kites. Well sort off. The bigger higher aspect leis are **** because they are too heavy and don't relaunch in the lighter winds you take them out in. I'm talking sub 12 knot stuff. So you need to go for either light weight lie, 3 strut maximum, or a foil kite. The foil kite wont relaunch either in sub 10 knots, but it hangs in the air so much better than its heavier lei brother.

Once you get above non-relaunching winds then its not so bad having a heavier kite.
But to run with swells which is a lot of the fun with foiling you need to good downwinding beast.

So,,,,, The lighter 3 strutter becames more useful than the heavy 5 strut big air monster.

If you want to boost and foil swells on the same kite you have to pick the intermediate aspect do it all 3 strut lie.
I'm rolling with 8m enduro for my main stay kite. Set on the fastest turning setting I can get out of it. It does a sweet job of both foiling and jumping. But is a master at neither.

That said, Should you decide to boost big on the foil. Then yourl be cranking at normal kite sizes so you can run whatever boosting kite you want.

Foil kites relaunch fine in sub-10 knots, depending on conditions ... like being able to touch the bottom, or waves and surface shadow.
They may sit at the zenith fine but like any kite, if you can't park it off to one side in the sky, you're going to have issues riding.
And if you slack the lines on a foil, you've got a noodle mess snaking it's way to the water.
That is probably the primary reason I've switched to LEIs for foiling -- I can slack the kite and stall it then catch it and ride off, cos it holds it's shape on the way down.

I use my 10m 5-strut kite in sub-12 knot stuff all the time. I aim not to drop it -- especially when the wind has dropped and I'm desperately trying to get back to shore -- buthaven't had to swim in yet when I have. I've managed to relaunch mine when a 9m Bandit couldn't be ... yes anecdotes are all I've got
I'd be interested to see how much real-world benefit there would be in a kite that weighs a few hundred grams less.

Usefulness is all relative -- I think we might even start seeing surf and free-ride subcategories for kites aimed at foiling ...

Select to expand quote

RussKraut said..
Haha I remember you calling us old men.

Ohh busted

A week ago I had local who is an experienced kiter ask me about buying a foilboard with the idea of getting out in lighter wind.
The last few post are generally summarizing what I said to him...
the foilboard is only half (or maybe even less) of the equation- if you don't have a kite that will stay in the air or relaunch at 10 or 12 knots your in shtuck. The easier the kite the easier the foiling.

These jokers do a better job explaining the actual axis foil options than me.



Im under no illusion a light weight driftable kite is what you are ideally after (a generous local has offered for me to try his 7m cloud).

I am also aware that I won't be buying any new kites until the ones I have hold me back.

And right now this kook has that moronic simple loveable smile in his stupid watering iignorant eyes, as this thoughtless village idiot glides along merrily on his foil...

a lot of water under the bridge (foil) before I think about kites as well.

Sub 10/11 can wait, we live in WA FFS

Fair enough. I remember the village idiot stage. Good times.

Select to expand quote

Adrian Roper said..


riding same foil as you, I use the 9m Hyperlink in next to no breeze and have an 8m and 6m Alpha V1 coming. Can't see any point going bigger than the 9m Hyperlink no matter how light. Stoked that you like the board and foil!!

The point for having my 12m UL Hyperlink was demonstrated yesterday at my local . I arrived late. The wind had dropped to 13 knots. As I arrived ALL the non foiling twintipper regulars were packing up because of the drop in wind. They stood cross armed on the beach saying
'hurry up and set up we want to see what you can do in this wind'. I set up my JShapes freeride foilboard and 12m UL Hyperlink and headed for the water.
With the first dive I immediately popped up on the foil and flew at an impossible angle upwind. On the return to shore tack I dropped an 5m+ boost and proceeded to have an awesome session with the area all to myself. I think they got the point.