Using a 2019 Naish large thrust on a 70cm mast at just under 70kg. Love it but Just wondering am I missing anything in terms of what the newer style foils offer? The thrust shape goes back 3 years now (to the maliko) but it seems perhaps they hit the nail on the head first time as I often see comments that its still one of the best for turns/surfing. However, I was there at the start of kitesurfing with a wipika 2 line and the advance in design over 3 years was incredible. Is there genuinely much of a performance increase with MFCs, lift, axis, neilpryde etc. or is there less of a rush to upgrade than there was in the early days of kites? I've not really tried anything else... except a kenalu for about 20 mins. Honest opinions very welcome.

I am not expert enough to knowledgeably comment on this, but I will anyway.

I started foiling under my kite back when Carafino was the only marketed option and this was considered freakish. Foiling took off when the racing community adopted it, using highly refined carbon rocket ships for maximum speed. Liquid Force released the first "fun" foil: cheaper aluminum mast/fuselage, low aspect, slow and easy. The kite foil world divided, as anything that wasn't a race foil was considered a POS that didn't work ... and then there was everyone else, showing that "fun" foiling could be achieved by literally taking an angle grinder to garbage plywood. Since then, the mainstream has taken over and freeride fun foiling, where turning and lower stall speeds are emphasized over speed, is by far dominating.

I see it pretty similar in the surf/sup foil community. My first was the Takuma V100 clone, at the time considered the biggest and easiest wing on the market. At 1200cm2 it is now medium size and while it's really easy to lift, it's someewhat extreme shovel shape makes it not optimal for faster gliding. But along with Naish, it was the only option that wasn't GoFoil $$$$. Now the market is inundated with mid-quality mid-price options, and from what I can see, they are all functionally adequate. The market seems to have matured and the styles that work seem somewhat standard. That's not to say there isn't annual innovation in product line: gull wings, steps, winglets, etc ... all ways to differentiate from the competition. But call me cynical, a lot of it seems like the fishing lure business: all the variations in colours and shapes are designed to catch fishermen not fish ... the commercial guys use the same old bi-color spoons that their grandfathers used....because they are simple and they work.

I expect a flood of responses that _____ is by far the best and maybe the only good option ... but I find most people invest themselves in the gear they have, master it, and then when they demo something different it feels weird and don't like it as much. So getting useful user reviews is tough. I am open to whatever, but I am currently on Slingshot ... stumbled into a package, works great, but most of all I really appreciate their dedicated interchangeability. One fuselage, one mast, works with all wings, from kite through to downwinding.

My two cents from a guy whose only ridden 1 foil and been doing it a year. I'm on a Naish 2017 L, with 2018 parts on it now, mast and rear stabilizer.

It seems like we are in the 2nd generation of foils currently. They all work and work pretty well. The 3rd generation is on the cusp of coming out, which to me looks like the high aspect wings. Signature Albatross, GoFoil prototype flat pump wing, Axis (is it the 900?). While I would like to ride a Lift 200 or an all carbon foil, I just don't see any reason to purchase more gear until that next generation of wing is readily available.

All foils feel different. Demo and you'll find some you like better than others.

Differences in the way different brands, roll, turn, carry speed when carving, handle high speed, etc all add up to finding your personal favorite.

Again, demo, it can surprise and delight. It's fun.

The main changes you are seeing now is aspect ratios plus longer and stiffer mast. Generation 1 foils were smaller low aspect ratio (fat) then the Generation 2 foils where much bigger and even more low aspect and now the Generation 3 are making higher aspect (thinner) high performance mid sized foils.

As riders abilities rose across the boards they demanded more performance from their foils. eg taking on bigger waves and steep drop take offs , handling much more speed and turning hard without blowing out. The sport is still so young and team riders all over the world are constantly testing and passing on feedback plus there are heap of new companies testing some pretty wild designs which will come out later this year . Although some of these are pretty weird.

To to answer your question " Am I missing out on anything " well yes and no. If you are still in your learning phase just cruising around having fun , all good but if are really pushing the boundaries you want at least slightly a longer stiffer mast it really does change a lot for the positive. What you will find with some of the other brands you mentioned compared to your Naish Large , is more acceralred Lift , more speed and turning ability at speed which in turn creates speed , plus easier pumping . Not all the brands are good at every aspect and the Naish is still a good wing and works great but overall you will feel the difference . Brands like Lift , MFC & Signature are targeted and the high end performance market and not for the beginners.

Many thanks for all your input. Food for thought definitely! I think that for now I'm just going to go round my foil and add as many shims as I can to reduce play and increase stiffness and see what comes in the next few months. Higher aspect neilpryde paired with the standard medium front sounds appealing. Also I'm sure Naish will have something coming. I've mentioned this before but I will struggle to give up the abracadabra system. Sounds ridiculous but I'm always short on time down the beach and often like to ride a couple of different boards... in the middle of a U.K. winter when your fingers are ice and shaking it definitely makes a difference

Hi mattllew. Where are you located in the UK? I'm down in Cornwall. Not many foiling here yet