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mikesids said..JB said..Matty took the Naish Wing Surfer out for a glide this morning in some pretty heavy conditions.
Please note: Do not go out in conditions that are above your ability and skill levels. Strong wind Foiling and Winging can be difficult.
Enjoy,
Ride safe,
JB
Hey JB,
Getting to grips with my Wing Surfer , have a couple of questions for you if that's OK - might be handy info for everyone. Have had some foiling runs after two goes so far (both quite windy). Pretty happy that I have been able to get up and foiling after only two sessions ( port tack only in session 1 , and long runs on both tacks second time out) - have previous kitefoil and Sup foil experience , but this is a pretty short learning curve compared to windsurfing, kitesurfing, and all forms of foiling which makes it pretty unique I reckon.
- my go-to hand positions are second one from the front and third from the back as I think you might be previously mentioned, seems to give the best balance overall. When you are at the wing's top end though, do you use different handles ( wider grip , or narrower grip ?).
- also do you change foil wings depending on the board size and wind strength? I have been learning on a 7'6 x 130L foil sup with the Axis 102 so far, what wing size would you use for the bottom end of the Wing Surfer, mid range , and top end? Do you use a smaller wing with a smaller board ( less mass for the foil to lift ?).
- finally , after using it for a bit now what do you reckon the comfortable top end is for the Wing Surfer ? ( I am 80kg). I am not talking survival conditions ( wing flapping like a sheet) , I am talking " windy but still in control" conditions.
Thanks a lot in advance. It is still so early in this whole thing that a lot of the information simply doesn't exist yet ( board size / foil wing size / hand held wing size / body weight combination) so we are relying a lot on those folk who have had the most experience.
Cheers
Hey Mike,
Good Q's.
- My goto handles are also the 2nd from the front and 3rd from the back. This is comfortable reaching for me. 8 - 20kn. Unwind if I am on a mission I move my front hand back to the 3rd from the front and when on the foil I lift my back arm higher and force the wing into the rail of the board "closing the gap" theoretically. Coming off the wind I will sometimes move my front hand to the front handle, but this is dependant on wind strength and speeds. Let's use F and B for ease of position explaination (ie. 2F is second from front and 3B is 3rd from Back). I have just Wing'd 4 days straight in some pretty gnarly conditions. Thursday I rode in the ocean in a strong Westerly, usual near dead lulls, but when the wind was on it was around 20-30+kn. I used the 2F and 3B for the entire session except some of the bigger gusts where I went 1F and 2B. Then I rode Friday on Narrabeen Lakes in ridiculous conditions, observations recorded gusts in the 40's while I was out (I had to sit these gusts out holding my gear to the water), but in the stronger gusts again I rode 1F and 2B. Saturday I did an awesome Upwind Wing then DW Foil in strong 20-30kn in Broken Bay. There I pretty much used 2F and 2B with the odd 1F in big gusts. Then Sunday I did the same run again but the wind was lighter using 2F and 2B all the time. So in general I find reaching and easy comfortable sailing I use 2F and 3B. When the grunt is on and I need more back hand I go 2F and 2B. If I am "racing" upwind, I go 3F and 3B. When I am getting smoked or baring away in strong winds, 1F and anywhere I can get my back hand. I hope this helps and not confuse. Everyone will be slightly different, but the way the wing balances shouldn't be far off what I find comfortable.
- Yes, I change foil wings all the time! Same sessions as above, I rode the WS1150 with 320 Stab on the Thursday and Friday. It was su0per windy and I was simply reaching and going "fast". The WS1150 wing is amazing at controlling lift and being easier to set altitude. The Sat and Sun as I was grunting upwind then packing down and Foiling DW, I used the massive JET 2450 and 450 Stab. Even though it was ridiculously windy, the gear was surprisingly easy to use. But coming back to real world, I prefer to use the JET 1650 (XL). This wing offers the best lift to speed ratio. I can get going in light winds and go fast in strong. The 2000 (XXL) is also good, but limiting in top end speed. I would use the 2000 if I know it not going to get above 12kn. I also change up the Stab, 320 if he wind is constant and I won't be pumping much, or 450 on the 2000 if it's light and holey.
- Apart from the conditions I have mentioned above, the Wing is in it's element from 12-20kn. I find I can get going in under 10kn and can survive in over 30kn, but for general pleasure cruising that 12-20kn is really where it is all at.
You mention board size, and this is also valid. I have tried a lot and there is advantages and disadvantages alike in length. For learning going a little longer and riding in more wind (15kn) will be easier than going short and trying to ride in 10kn. I really enjoy using the Hover SUP 120 which is 7'4' x 30" @ 120L. It's easy, fast and get up on the foil with ease without pumping. I do ride the Hover Foil 110 as my go to though, it's small enough that I can pump it up in nothing, it's what I like to SUP, I can set up the foil position to be neutral. The Hover Foil 95L is amazing on a good day, but I find the extra hassles of balance and stuffing around after a crash make it frustrating when everything is cactus. End of the day, using what you would comfortable use every day is good. It's probably where you are going to end up, maybe try bigger for your first session or 2, but really there is no need to buy a whole other board just to Wing on. The beauty is in the simplicity. One wing, one board, all conditions - Powered by Nature.
I hope this helps. I will post some stats from my UW/DW journey in a new post soon or check out our socials for the run down of how it all went as it was amazing and definitely a glimpse at the future for sure.
Ride safe,
JB
Seajuice
> 9 months ago, 19 Apr 2019
