Hi,
Interested in people's thoughts regarding optimum board design for downwinders - seems like it is still developing? One thing I have found is that short foilboards really lack paddle power and yaw a lot , so hard to get sufficient momentum to get up on the foil in small rolling swell conditions. I am 54 and so I don't see myself pumping for 10kms like Kai Lenny to get from A to B, or paddling a small board on the surface for hours either, would like some help from the gear if possible ! I have a Maliko 200 that I am hoping will suffice if the board can help a bit as well.

Its the medium / moderate conditions I would like to sort out , say 15 knots and some wind swell. If windier or larger swell I'm sure there would be enough power to get going.

There are some interesting looking boards coming out - the Signature Pegasus looks like it might have some improved paddle speed for instance ( anyone ridden one ?), and a high volume nose for surviving touchdowns.

Other thoughts ? Narrower width, rounded bottom ? Large bevels a la Takuma ZK? A shorter version of a raceboard ( which is what the Pegasus looks like)? Pointy nose? Tail rocker, no tail rocker , step tail / bevel ?

Sunova had a downwind foilboard on their website for ages ( the pink one) but it seems to have disappeared now - a low rockered parallel railed design. Never read any reviews on that either, but looked like an interesting design.

Thanks in advance for your input

Ok I have a few bit that might help here, you say you have a 200 wing have you done any DW aready? If not and you want to use a 200 wing in 15knots then forget it as that will be the main problem not the board.
Find a 280 and learn on that and that will help with the board you need.

When it comes to the board side of things the main thing is you are Stable so you can get good paddle strokes in. This is the key we all want to ride tiny boards as they do feel better once up on the foil but if you are wobbling around to much it will make it way harder.

We do alot of DW foiling and I use a 6'1 x 26 which is very stable but not for everyone and probably not the best learning board where as we have a 6'8 x 28 that is just super easy for people up to about 90kg.

Another option is crossover boards as you can leave the side fins In to help a bit at the start and we used these alot when learning and they worked fine only down side is the downwind boards just pop back of the water so easy if you touch down which does happen!

Getting up DW is not so much about board speed but more timing and technique. You will have some long slow paddles at the start trying to sort it out but in the long run it's all worth it.

You can checkout our boards here
http://www.onestanduppaddle.com/boards%20page/Foil

Great advise Jacko.. But you're a whippet with freakish skills..

I'm 6'4" and 100 kgs and I'm looking at the Naish Sup Hover 150.. with the XL wing.

It's 8' x 32" and 150 ltrs.. There's going to be a lot of no air time when learning and struggling to balance and paddle a tiny board would be enough to put me off learning.

Let us know what you end up getting and how it goes learning.

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DavidJohn said..
Great advise Jacko.. But you're a whippet with freakish skills..

I'm 6'4" and 100 kgs and I'm looking at the Naish Sup Hover 150.. with the XL wing.

It's 8' x 32" and 150 ltrs.. There's going to be a lot of no air time when learning and struggling to balance and paddle a tiny board would be enough to put me off learning.

Let us know what you end up getting and how it goes learning.

Yeah i weigh 77kg at the moment so a bit lighter.

It's all about suiting the right board and wing for what you want to do, the combo you have coming sounds ok for some wave stuff but at 100kg you probably will not be doing much DWing. I would say you might even want to get the L wing as well just so when in the surf and you start getting better you can ride the smaller wing as the bigger one you might get a little overpowered as the sell gets bigger.

We have Steveo here who is 90kg and uses the 6'8 no worries and for over the 100kg we make a 7'11 x 31 which will be a great learning foil board or board for the heavier rider.

I think you will be fine on the smaller board as the foil boards are super stable and really 8ft these days for a foil board is not that small and prob more on the larger side of things.

First few sessions will be tough and it is for everyone but just get through the first few hours and you will be sweet. Any questions as you learn mate feel free to ask away as always more than happy to share all the little things i have learned and am still learning!!