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PJ87 said..Hey
@Eppo, what's the main differences between the Armie HA and AFS Enduro ?
Well until i've ridden the 900 and 700 Enduro (hopefully soon) I can't make a definitive analysis as that is the sizes i am mainly on winging, prone and DW paddle. Plus the silk range towing to compared ti the MA.
Id say categorically the armie HA is the ultimate all rounder. It can be applied (given the right size - that is riding smaller than you'd ever think) to all the disciplines quite well. But the Enduro looks like it will excel and DW and def prone and the silk makes an excellent tow wing. More specific for their purpose. Cause let's face it armie need to fix that MA unless freestyle winging and cash like crazy wave riding is your thing.
But the bigger HA sizes are a little too slow and draggy - to me it lacks a really good bigger sized wing above 1000cm square. The 1100 enduro had far more glide - it was effortless in 12-13 knots whilst i was working much harder on the 980 HA in the same conditions. - i had to be really on my "reading the bumps" game.
Then there is the 14 aspect 750 ultra which the likes of Steely and Tom are frothing over (note advanced DW paddle riders).
I spoke to Richard (the AFS international sales guy and a ripping watermen) in the back of a van whilst doing a DW shuttle) and he said "we have designed these foils to be where foils will be in a. couple of years). I think that is pretty close to the truth.
Plus when the likes of Hilly take notice I tend to pay attention. Not many people know this but Hilly was the first in australia to take note and suggest armstrong well before it was a leading brand here. He's always onto it.
Looming forward to trying the KT range for that reason as well when my mate gets his in Jan hopefully.
I also think Armstrong lack a proper higher aspect tail for DW paddle. That HA 40 enduro tail is spectacular and turns so well.
The overall feel of both foils is very good - stiff but just enough built in flex unlike say Code which i found far too stiff from the get go - although they excel in DW paddling - never liked them on the prone or winging. The tuburcules def wash away the whitewater - bumpy swell effect as well. Gives great pitch stability and fluidity through that stuff.
Both brands are excellent just pros and cons like every brand.
But again this is from limited riding experience - although i've been with crew riding it in scores of sessions. But not myself. There is only so much gear available to try and lots of people want to try them st the moment!
Stay tuned for another vid on the 1100 enduro wingman and I have just about finished. It's a ripper.