About 11 months ago, I had switched from Takuma 980/1210 to the Lift 120. The Lift 120 felt like it turned just as well as the TK980, and I could pump the Lift 120 just as well as the TK1210. So the Lift 120 has been my go to foil.
A few months ago, I got a long fuselage adapter and KD Maui Boomerang tail for the Lift 120. My pumping improved and I was double dipping on almost every session. But then I seemed to have plateaued.
So 3 weeks ago, I put the KDMaui Boomerang tail on the Takuma 1210 and holy ****, my pumping improved quite a bit. My best pump out the back distance stayed about the same (just over 100yd), but I'm much more consistent. With the TK1210/Boomerang combo, I've been able to kick out over whitewater, recover my momentum and pump out to a 2nd wave. Before, with any foil setup, if I kicked out over white water, I couldn't get going again.
With the Lift 120, my cardio was preventing me from getting triples. With the TK1210/Boomerang, triples are now happening. Also with the Lift 120, I was usually running out of gas by the time I got to my 2nd wave that I didn't have my much energy for the connection turn. With the TK1210/Boomerang, I've got more energy to hit the connection turn harder.
One drawback for the TK1210/Boomerang is that for me, once it gets over CH or so, the takeoffs become more difficult compared to the Lift 120.
The other downside for the TK1210 is that on the two occasions that I've gotten smacked in the head by a foil and drawn blood, it was with the TK1210. Neither incident needed stitches.
The most recent incident got caught on the Surfline Rewind. I was pumping out for a connection turn, went for a roundhouse cutback, fell in front of my board, and the video showed the board continuing ON foil without me. The foil gave me a light tap above my left eyebrow. Just hard enough to draw blood and end the session.
The TK1210/Boomerang setup is now my daily driver. I'll switch to the Lift 120 on the bigger days. The Lift 120 will probably become my daily driver again once my pump cardio improves. I'm definitely getting a better leg workout with the TK1210.