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Pacoo said..

pohaku said..

Pacoo said..

Pacoo said..

pohaku said..
7'8 is 18.5 at 92L

volume to weight- a lot depends on your overall foil ability, what discipline your mainly planning to use it on etc. but majority will be the 710 and 8'. Given you're using it for SUP and you currently ride a E3 and can downwind in the ocean I suggest up to 65kg the 7'8, 65-80kg 710, the 80-95 the 8'. Obviously if you know your ability and what your volumes are for other boards then you can ride smaller than these guidelines. If you're using it prone then the bigger = easier. Iv used the 8' downwind, sup surf, prone, flat water pop up. On flat water I can stand on one leg and paddle it around. Stability is fine but I'm a sup Foiler. Then a fit chick who would have been maybe 65kg but never SUPed before got on it and struggled at first then could paddle fine. So realistically there's no straight answer but if you know your weight, ability, discipline etc it might give you some insight to what one is for you. If your still unsure give me a call.

Great answer thanks!. I asked the European dealer for delivery times. Let's see what they say.

I just ordered a 8,0 over here in Europe, thanks for the support!. I'm still a bit concern about box position for Armstrong so I will appreciate any feedback there.

Awesome stoked for you! Run it forward in the box you'll be right. Or switch to Gofoil ;)

I do own some gofoil, but that's a different covensation.
i use Armstrong like 1,5 to 2 inches further forward than the v1.5 gofoil. Which is almost what it's available in the boxes in some pictures. But according to the v2 gofoil video these new mast goes 1,5 further back. So if mr Tomo uses the new mast the box may not be long enough.

Hi Pacoo,

Just some food for thought. If I prone with the rs850 and 14.5 tail the mast is well towards the back of the tracks. If i prone with the rs850 and the 12.5 tail the mast is only 1 cm from the front of the box so quite a difference in just one wing with different tails. I think you will find Tomo is nearly always on the 12.5 tail as most seem to be now and this changes the traditional reference that gofoil are at the back of the box and very front foot heavy.

With downwinding where we need our setup to be able to lift in such low power, the extremely low lift tail angle tunings of the prone armstrong crew aren't so relevant otherwise they will never paddle up in the bumps. This tells me the foil positioning wont be so different across the brands. Also i seem some uni and armstrong guys pushing their mast forward so far that it must stop the board from leaving the water with the excessive tail they create. I think the sport is so young that time will show some of the setups of even the well known riders made things more difficult instead of easier.

Select to expand quote

AnyBoard said..

Pacoo said..

pohaku said..

Pacoo said..

Pacoo said..

pohaku said..
7'8 is 18.5 at 92L

volume to weight- a lot depends on your overall foil ability, what discipline your mainly planning to use it on etc. but majority will be the 710 and 8'. Given you're using it for SUP and you currently ride a E3 and can downwind in the ocean I suggest up to 65kg the 7'8, 65-80kg 710, the 80-95 the 8'. Obviously if you know your ability and what your volumes are for other boards then you can ride smaller than these guidelines. If you're using it prone then the bigger = easier. Iv used the 8' downwind, sup surf, prone, flat water pop up. On flat water I can stand on one leg and paddle it around. Stability is fine but I'm a sup Foiler. Then a fit chick who would have been maybe 65kg but never SUPed before got on it and struggled at first then could paddle fine. So realistically there's no straight answer but if you know your weight, ability, discipline etc it might give you some insight to what one is for you. If your still unsure give me a call.

Great answer thanks!. I asked the European dealer for delivery times. Let's see what they say.

I just ordered a 8,0 over here in Europe, thanks for the support!. I'm still a bit concern about box position for Armstrong so I will appreciate any feedback there.

Awesome stoked for you! Run it forward in the box you'll be right. Or switch to Gofoil ;)

I do own some gofoil, but that's a different covensation.
i use Armstrong like 1,5 to 2 inches further forward than the v1.5 gofoil. Which is almost what it's available in the boxes in some pictures. But according to the v2 gofoil video these new mast goes 1,5 further back. So if mr Tomo uses the new mast the box may not be long enough.

Hi Pacoo,

Just some food for thought. If I prone with the rs850 and 14.5 tail the mast is well towards the back of the tracks. If i prone with the rs850 and the 12.5 tail the mast is only 1 cm from the front of the box so quite a difference in just one wing with different tails. I think you will find Tomo is nearly always on the 12.5 tail as most seem to be now and this changes the traditional reference that gofoil are at the back of the box and very front foot heavy.

With downwinding where we need our setup to be able to lift in such low power, the extremely low lift tail angle tunings of the prone armstrong crew aren't so relevant otherwise they will never paddle up in the bumps. This tells me the foil positioning wont be so different across the brands. Also i seem some uni and armstrong guys pushing their mast forward so far that it must stop the board from leaving the water with the excessive tail they create. I think the sport is so young that time will show some of the setups of even the well known riders made things more difficult instead of easier.

Thanks for the input. You are right about the tail influence. Lets see how it works when the board arrives.
Best

Select to expand quote

AnyBoard said..

Pacoo said..

pohaku said..

Pacoo said..

Pacoo said..

pohaku said..
7'8 is 18.5 at 92L

volume to weight- a lot depends on your overall foil ability, what discipline your mainly planning to use it on etc. but majority will be the 710 and 8'. Given you're using it for SUP and you currently ride a E3 and can downwind in the ocean I suggest up to 65kg the 7'8, 65-80kg 710, the 80-95 the 8'. Obviously if you know your ability and what your volumes are for other boards then you can ride smaller than these guidelines. If you're using it prone then the bigger = easier. Iv used the 8' downwind, sup surf, prone, flat water pop up. On flat water I can stand on one leg and paddle it around. Stability is fine but I'm a sup Foiler. Then a fit chick who would have been maybe 65kg but never SUPed before got on it and struggled at first then could paddle fine. So realistically there's no straight answer but if you know your weight, ability, discipline etc it might give you some insight to what one is for you. If your still unsure give me a call.

Great answer thanks!. I asked the European dealer for delivery times. Let's see what they say.

I just ordered a 8,0 over here in Europe, thanks for the support!. I'm still a bit concern about box position for Armstrong so I will appreciate any feedback there.

Awesome stoked for you! Run it forward in the box you'll be right. Or switch to Gofoil ;)

I do own some gofoil, but that's a different covensation.
i use Armstrong like 1,5 to 2 inches further forward than the v1.5 gofoil. Which is almost what it's available in the boxes in some pictures. But according to the v2 gofoil video these new mast goes 1,5 further back. So if mr Tomo uses the new mast the box may not be long enough.

Hi Pacoo,

Just some food for thought. If I prone with the rs850 and 14.5 tail the mast is well towards the back of the tracks. If i prone with the rs850 and the 12.5 tail the mast is only 1 cm from the front of the box so quite a difference in just one wing with different tails. I think you will find Tomo is nearly always on the 12.5 tail as most seem to be now and this changes the traditional reference that gofoil are at the back of the box and very front foot heavy.

With downwinding where we need our setup to be able to lift in such low power, the extremely low lift tail angle tunings of the prone armstrong crew aren't so relevant otherwise they will never paddle up in the bumps. This tells me the foil positioning wont be so different across the brands. Also i seem some uni and armstrong guys pushing their mast forward so far that it must stop the board from leaving the water with the excessive tail they create. I think the sport is so young that time will show some of the setups of even the well known riders made things more difficult instead of easier.

Short or long tails?

Select to expand quote

churry said..

AnyBoard said..

Pacoo said..

pohaku said..

Pacoo said..

Pacoo said..

pohaku said..
7'8 is 18.5 at 92L

volume to weight- a lot depends on your overall foil ability, what discipline your mainly planning to use it on etc. but majority will be the 710 and 8'. Given you're using it for SUP and you currently ride a E3 and can downwind in the ocean I suggest up to 65kg the 7'8, 65-80kg 710, the 80-95 the 8'. Obviously if you know your ability and what your volumes are for other boards then you can ride smaller than these guidelines. If you're using it prone then the bigger = easier. Iv used the 8' downwind, sup surf, prone, flat water pop up. On flat water I can stand on one leg and paddle it around. Stability is fine but I'm a sup Foiler. Then a fit chick who would have been maybe 65kg but never SUPed before got on it and struggled at first then could paddle fine. So realistically there's no straight answer but if you know your weight, ability, discipline etc it might give you some insight to what one is for you. If your still unsure give me a call.

Great answer thanks!. I asked the European dealer for delivery times. Let's see what they say.

I just ordered a 8,0 over here in Europe, thanks for the support!. I'm still a bit concern about box position for Armstrong so I will appreciate any feedback there.

Awesome stoked for you! Run it forward in the box you'll be right. Or switch to Gofoil ;)

I do own some gofoil, but that's a different covensation.
i use Armstrong like 1,5 to 2 inches further forward than the v1.5 gofoil. Which is almost what it's available in the boxes in some pictures. But according to the v2 gofoil video these new mast goes 1,5 further back. So if mr Tomo uses the new mast the box may not be long enough.

Hi Pacoo,

Just some food for thought. If I prone with the rs850 and 14.5 tail the mast is well towards the back of the tracks. If i prone with the rs850 and the 12.5 tail the mast is only 1 cm from the front of the box so quite a difference in just one wing with different tails. I think you will find Tomo is nearly always on the 12.5 tail as most seem to be now and this changes the traditional reference that gofoil are at the back of the box and very front foot heavy.

With downwinding where we need our setup to be able to lift in such low power, the extremely low lift tail angle tunings of the prone armstrong crew aren't so relevant otherwise they will never paddle up in the bumps. This tells me the foil positioning wont be so different across the brands. Also i seem some uni and armstrong guys pushing their mast forward so far that it must stop the board from leaving the water with the excessive tail they create. I think the sport is so young that time will show some of the setups of even the well known riders made things more difficult instead of easier.

Short or long tails?

My experience is all with the short tails.

Tomo seems to use the long 12.5 on his DW setup which likely has slightly less lift than the short.

Delivery is on Monday

Very happy with my 7'10" so far. Performs amazing in waves small or large. Paddled up the RS1300 and GT1400 in flatwater with relative ease (I'm a 85kg full grown human). Downwind Ocean testing still pending. DK has truely made something special in these boards.

I was up at the shop last week to see the new gear for the year and asked if any Barracudas were coming. As fate would have it, the van was on the way from the airport and I ended up with the first one off the truck.

I'm 85kg and new to downwind. Put in 1.5 years on the wing to learn to foil.

I was torn, part of me really wanted to size down the Barracuda and consider the 7'8" and to just skip the paddle and go straight to prone/hand paddling. However, I ended up going with the 8'0" to give myself as many options and as much help as possible in the learning process.

As someone who has been SUP surfing for a few years I personally found the board, with a 75cm mast below, to be quite easy to stand and balance on when in calm waters. It paddles fast both prone and of course, with a paddle. I even practiced flatwater prone pop ups (to my feet, not to the foil) and have had zero issues getting to my feet and riding the glide until the board comes to a stop. Even without the paddle in the water, I find balancing on the board quite manageable.

I've taken it out winging a few times to sort foil position and it's a game changer for winging. I'm ditching all my traditional wing boards now, haha. I just ride swell and the water start is so much easier on this board due to the length that I can't justify the short boards. Once it hits 20knots I can use a 2.5m wing so I'm completely happy with using a longer board to get me down onto the smallest wings.

Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to paddle it in waves or good swell yet. The current is ripping in the Columbia at the moment and even with the wind and swell pushing you, the current has you moving backwards! It will slow down and/or I'll make it to the ocean soon and I'm extremely excited to try this board out both prone and as a sup.

Hey Pacoo.
so I finally got my 7'10 kalama. It's been a long wait. I'm usually riding GoFoil and it works perfect right at back of the boxes. Yesterday I put my mates Armie Performance 795 setup on the board. We were doing flatwater paddle ups and riding wakes. Initial findings is the board works great with Armstrong. I put the foil at the front of the boxes initially. This felt wrong after first paddle up. Nose too high and too much lift. Pulled the foil back to maybe 3/4 forward and it felt balanced. Whatever Dave Kalama has done to keep swing weight out of the nose is working. I still need to test it in open ocean, but very happy with my 7'10.

Select to expand quote

baldy123 said..
Hey Pacoo.
so I finally got my 7'10 kalama. It's been a long wait. I'm usually riding GoFoil and it works perfect right at back of the boxes. Yesterday I put my mates Armie Performance 795 setup on the board. We were doing flatwater paddle ups and riding wakes. Initial findings is the board works great with Armstrong. I put the foil at the front of the boxes initially. This felt wrong after first paddle up. Nose too high and too much lift. Pulled the foil back to maybe 3/4 forward and it felt balanced. Whatever Dave Kalama has done to keep swing weight out of the nose is working. I still need to test it in open ocean, but very happy with my 7'10.

What front foil/tail was the Armstrong? I've held off upgrading due to being maxed forward on my current Kalama E3.

Select to expand quote

wanabxtrm said..

baldy123 said..
Hey Pacoo.
so I finally got my 7'10 kalama. It's been a long wait. I'm usually riding GoFoil and it works perfect right at back of the boxes. Yesterday I put my mates Armie Performance 795 setup on the board. We were doing flatwater paddle ups and riding wakes. Initial findings is the board works great with Armstrong. I put the foil at the front of the boxes initially. This felt wrong after first paddle up. Nose too high and too much lift. Pulled the foil back to maybe 3/4 forward and it felt balanced. Whatever Dave Kalama has done to keep swing weight out of the nose is working. I still need to test it in open ocean, but very happy with my 7'10.

What front foil/tail was the Armstrong? I've held off upgrading due to being maxed forward on my current Kalama E3.

Why do you need to be further forward? What foil and tail and shimming are you running?

Let's keep this about the Kalama Barracuda and not go down the Armstrong foil choice and shim selection rabbit hole. There must be another thread for that already. :) The Armstrong foil I briefly tried on the Cuda is something still in the development phase. It was a big one. But I think it rides the same box position as others in their lineup. I'm always keen to try any foil, flat water paddle ups and riding boat wakes provide a relatively consistent water medium to test different setups. If I can borrow a HA or MA over the next month I'll see how it feels and report my findings.

Back to the Barracuda. Where I think it may get some of its design characteristics is in the thin and low volume nose. On paper it is close to 8' but in the air it doesn't feel that way at all. It's like the nose of the board is there for waterline length and once up its gone. Virtually maybe look at at the board more like it is 7'0-7'2 and decide if the boxes are placed right for your foil. Just my initial impression. If I could only have a one board quiver right now it would be a 7'10 Cuda. You can seriously use this thing every day. Wind or no wind. Waves or no waves.

Select to expand quote

baldy123 said..
Let's keep this about the Kalama Barracuda and not go down the Armstrong foil choice and shim selection rabbit hole. There must be another thread for that already. :) The Armstrong foil I briefly tried on the Cuda is something still in the development phase. It was a big one. But I think it rides the same box position as others in their lineup. I'm always keen to try any foil, flat water paddle ups and riding boat wakes provide a relatively consistent water medium to test different setups. If I can borrow a HA or MA over the next month I'll see how it feels and report my findings.

Back to the Barracuda. Where I think it may get some of its design characteristics is in the thin and low volume nose. On paper it is close to 8' but in the air it doesn't feel that way at all. It's like the nose of the board is there for waterline length and once up its gone. Virtually maybe look at at the board more like it is 7'0-7'2 and decide if the boxes are placed right for your foil. Just my initial impression. If I could only have a one board quiver right now it would be a 7'10 Cuda. You can seriously use this thing every day. Wind or no wind. Waves or no waves.

Here's your paddle-ups yesterday, no wind or swell
Looks too easy

Tested the 7'10 Barracuda with a mates Axis setup today. Setup was 75HM/PNG1150/advanced fuse.
Flat water paddle ups only. Once up on foil it felt great at #1 on the tracks. Easy to pump around and well balanced.

Good news all sizes will be back in stock first week august

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baldy123 said..
Tested the 7'10 Barracuda with a mates Axis setup today. Setup was 75HM/PNG1150/advanced fuse.
Flat water paddle ups only. Once up on foil it felt great at #1 on the tracks. Easy to pump around and well balanced.

Hard to tell but that looks like it might have been with the Advanced fuse as well, do you know?

Kent.
yes that was the advanced fuse with the PNG1150 on the 7'10. I have recently tried a standard fuse with PNG1300 in the 8' Barracuda and that was at the back of the box also around the 1/2" Mark. Small track adjustments make a big difference to paddle ups on flatwater.

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pohaku said..

That's what it's all about folks , great video.......

?feature=share

Zero DW foil experience, never tried a flatwater paddle up. Just took delivery of 8-0 111L Barracuda and picked up a good del an Axis 1300 used hyped to try this out, start the journey toward hopefully- the dream of open ocean freedom. Let the humbling begin!.

At 95kg I wonder if more volume might make learning easier, but one was available and they were moving fast so grabbed it anyhow. Off to flatware tomorrow to give it a go. If that goes ok may follow it up with a prone session in small surf to feel out how the board pumps turns, foil placement. Any hot tips on day 1?

Select to expand quote

Holoholo said..
Zero DW foil experience, never tried a flatwater paddle up. Just took delivery of 8-0 111L Barracuda and picked up a good del an Axis 1300 used hyped to try this out, start the journey toward hopefully- the dream of open ocean freedom. Let the humbling begin!.

At 95kg I wonder if more volume might make learning easier, but one was available and they were moving fast so grabbed it anyhow. Off to flatware tomorrow to give it a go. If that goes ok may follow it up with a prone session in small surf to feel out how the board pumps turns, foil placement. Any hot tips on day 1?

I've used this setup. If you have the standard axis fuse try the back of the plate around 1/2" mark. The foil wants to be towards back in the box with the PNG1300. Enjoy.

Select to expand quote

baldy123 said..

Holoholo said..
Zero DW foil experience, never tried a flatwater paddle up. Just took delivery of 8-0 111L Barracuda and picked up a good del an Axis 1300 used hyped to try this out, start the journey toward hopefully- the dream of open ocean freedom. Let the humbling begin!.

At 95kg I wonder if more volume might make learning easier, but one was available and they were moving fast so grabbed it anyhow. Off to flatware tomorrow to give it a go. If that goes ok may follow it up with a prone session in small surf to feel out how the board pumps turns, foil placement. Any hot tips on day 1?

I've used this setup. If you have the standard axis fuse try the back of the plate around 1/2" mark. The foil wants to be towards back in the box with the PNG1300. Enjoy.

Have it rigged on a short, old style/not advanced fuse with 400P tail. I do own an old Ultra-short red as well. Day 1 slammed it all the way forward and didn't feel balanced, so your suggestion rings true. Have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how stable it is. I see 21" width and immediately think.... "ah geez I dunno." Rough moving water of course will be a different story, but in the harbor I was immediately relived that this is totally doable. Was some work balancing, but wasn't falling and began to adjust very quickly. That said, not remotely close to a flatwater popup. Llllllllllot of work to do there.

Thanks for the tip!

Select to expand quote

Holoholo said..

baldy123 said..

Holoholo said..
Zero DW foil experience, never tried a flatwater paddle up. Just took delivery of 8-0 111L Barracuda and picked up a good del an Axis 1300 used hyped to try this out, start the journey toward hopefully- the dream of open ocean freedom. Let the humbling begin!.

At 95kg I wonder if more volume might make learning easier, but one was available and they were moving fast so grabbed it anyhow. Off to flatware tomorrow to give it a go. If that goes ok may follow it up with a prone session in small surf to feel out how the board pumps turns, foil placement. Any hot tips on day 1?

I've used this setup. If you have the standard axis fuse try the back of the plate around 1/2" mark. The foil wants to be towards back in the box with the PNG1300. Enjoy.

Have it rigged on a short, old style/not advanced fuse with 400P tail. I do own an old Ultra-short red as well. Day 1 slammed it all the way forward and didn't feel balanced, so your suggestion rings true. Have to say I was pleasantly surprised at how stable it is. I see 21" width and immediately think.... "ah geez I dunno." Rough moving water of course will be a different story, but in the harbor I was immediately relived that this is totally doable. Was some work balancing, but wasn't falling and began to adjust very quickly. That said, not remotely close to a flatwater popup. Llllllllllot of work to do there.

Thanks for the tip!

It took me many months of training to get flat water paddle ups on demand. You are one step closer as you have the right gear. I'm 85kg and using the middle size 7'10 kalama now so you should be fine on the big one. Try your foil further back in the box and trust the kalama shape and board speed to get you flying not the foil. The 1300 has a lot of lift and you really need to be able to get on top of it with your front leg pump once it starts to lift. Keep us posted on your progress. Shorter masts will also help 70-75cm. Just don't hit your paddle on it.

Select to expand quote

BWalnut said..


I've taken it out winging a few times to sort foil position and it's a game changer for winging. I'm ditching all my traditional wing boards now, haha. I just ride swell and the water start is so much easier on this board due to the length that I can't justify the short boards. Once it hits 20knots I can use a 2.5m wing so I'm completely happy with using a longer board to get me down onto the smallest wings.

Ditching your wing boards for this? I can see the potential to break the 10 knot light wind barrier, but riding the 20-30 knot Gorge winds and large swell with 2 ft wind slop!? I guess you're essentially doing a downwinder with all the current you mentioned, but I would think a reach would be a nightmare...

Select to expand quote

Hwy1North said..

BWalnut said..


I've taken it out winging a few times to sort foil position and it's a game changer for winging. I'm ditching all my traditional wing boards now, haha. I just ride swell and the water start is so much easier on this board due to the length that I can't justify the short boards. Once it hits 20knots I can use a 2.5m wing so I'm completely happy with using a longer board to get me down onto the smallest wings.

Ditching your wing boards for this? I can see the potential to break the 10 knot light wind barrier, but riding the 20-30 knot Gorge winds and large swell with 2 ft wind slop!? I guess you're essentially doing a downwinder with all the current you mentioned, but I would think a reach would be a nightmare...

I just got back from the Gorge and winged my 8'4"X18" in heavy wind and macking swell at Hatchery a bunch and absolutely loved it. The length is a non issue for me. 9.5 lbs is part of the magic. The other part is the thin aerodynamic profile that slices through the wind arguably better than my 80L 5.0. My guess is that short fat barn door wingboards will phase out of fashion in the next couple years and be replaced by long skinny, light boards.

The 7'8" 92L is currently on a big sale fyi. Can anyone confirm these work alright with Armstrong's newer foils??

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MidAtlanticFoil said..
The 7'8" 92L is currently on a big sale fyi. Can anyone confirm these work alright with Armstrong's newer foils??

Not sure if this helps but I ride the 7'8" with gofoil and fone. My eagle 1090 and 790 seem ideal at the front of the box for DW and light wind wing. This results with my front foot smack in the middle of the strap inserts. For me learning DW it was a revelation to stability when i stood in this position as opposed to 2" further forward where my brain was telling me the center of buoyancy was.

Very controversial that is not debated enough. Just my experience.