I'm wondering what people think about using a freeride fin board for foiling. I'm a beginner but really would want a board that I could grow with. I don't want the easiest board to learn on if it means I'd want a new one a year later. The freeride board I'm thinking of would be a 116L JP Super Ride or Super Sport, but really it could be any free ride with around 110-120L, 68cm wide, probably 235 Cm long and foil ready.

Another idea would be a Slingshot Wizard 125L.

I hope to maximize TOW, use it for 10 knots to 18 knots. I'm not very interested in freestyle and I don't live near surf.

Thanks

I don't know anything about the JP, but in my opinion, the Slingshot Wizard 125 is the dominate board when paired with the Infinity 76 or 84 because it's easy, and it just works. Look around at who is successful and sticking to foiling, it's the guys who ride Slingshot.,

It got my attention, so I tried that setup. I was so impressed, I bought one. I have tried many boards and foils.

Magic Ride might be the best JP because width is needed to get you out in light winds.
Deep tuttle would be nice.
But if you really want to foil, get a big, floaty setup and you cannot outgrow it.

I use both a 71 cm slalom board and a 66 cm freeride board for foiling. the slalom board is quite a bit easier, and my go-to board. Tests often mention that wider boards (> 75 cm) make foiling a lot easier.

If you use a freeride board, getting the setup right can be an issue. Some freeride boards have the back strap more forward than foil boards, which can mean the front wing ends up to far back, and the entire setup does not work well. It still will foil, but likely require more wind, and be harder to control. I've written up some of the things I learned at boardsurfr.blogspot.com/2019/09/foil-setup-front-wing-placement.html

Hello muzylab,
I have been trying to teach myself foiling for a while now using A JP Excite freeride pro 125ltr. The only thing I have learn't is the bottom rocker is a real issue. When riding the angle of the foil in the water is the most important thing, with the freeride board the foil will not lift you out, due to the bottom curve (front to back) placing the foil at a less than ideal angle to the water flow, unless the speed is super high and then there is a whole set of different issues to deal with.
Look at a proper foil board or a wide slalom board, with these boards, the bottom shape is flatter when riding for speed.
I have bought a Naish Hover 142 and not looked back.
Trust me you will perfect the catapult before you foil on a freeride board. (without serious modifications.)
Good Luck.

1+ for 125 wizard

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itsREDMAN said..
Hello muzylab,
I have been trying to teach myself foiling for a while now using A JP Excite freeride pro 125ltr. The only thing I have learn't is the bottom rocker is a real issue. When riding the angle of the foil in the water is the most important thing, with the freeride board the foil will not lift you out, due to the bottom curve (front to back) placing the foil at a less than ideal angle to the water flow, unless the speed is super high and then there is a whole set of different issues to deal with.
Look at a proper foil board or a wide slalom board, with these boards, the bottom shape is flatter when riding for speed.
I have bought a Naish Hover 142 and not looked back.
Trust me you will perfect the catapult before you foil on a freeride board. (without serious modifications.)
Good Luck.

I doubt that the cause of your problems with the Excite ride is the rocker, which tends to be pretty small for freeride boards. But the positions for the back straps are pretty far forward of the fin, especially the center strap position. That puts the wing to far back relative to your stance, and kills lift. The Hover 142 has lots of adjustment options through the tracks and the multiple strap positions; you can actually have the back footstrap behind the mast, which would results in tons of lift (or, for Slingshot foils, the option to use the A or B position). All those adjustment options are a definite advantage over a freeride board with a foilbox instead of tracks.

Power plate for freeride boards to center the front wing between straps.

I am using a 165 JP Super Lightwind

Hi Muzylab

If you are looking at buying a new / or used board specific for foiling.
Then nothing will beat the Wizard 125L + Hoverglide setup.

This will take you from learning the easy way, and the setup never 'grows old or boring'.
You don't need to upgrade to a different set up when you get better. It will take you from 10-20 knots, no problem.
Everything is in the right position (track, strap position,, tuttlebox, deck shape, rockerline).

If you consider a windsurf board, then as mentioned a slalom board (with the flatter rocker) in +70cm and up, is the best choice.
Any old slalom board can be used. Lots of 'non Foil Ready' boards with normal tuttle box has been used, with good success. (but at your own risk)

I fully understand the layout of big $ for a foil specific board.
If you want max TOW and even more importantly max progressive learning curve, with a setup that you don't outgrow, then have a very good think about the 125L

I have been using the same setup for over a year and it never gets boring. Flat water / waves - 10-25 kts. I got full carbon foils, smaller boards, bigger boards, small wings, big wings etc. But I have to say I use the 125L + Hoverglide (76cm wing) 99% of the time,, and never changed a thing from the original settings.

Yes I do sell the products from here, so it could be seen as a bit of a 'sale pitch'. I don't 'care' to much, as I know the joy new foilers as experienced foilers get out of this combo (just like DWF mentioned)

Cheers
Jesper

I have been up to the Columbia river gorge a couple of times in the last month about a four hour drive. Lots of windsurf foiling two main groups of freeride foiling ,the sailworks crew riding Flyer sails and Moses carbon foils and custom boards from a local builder. Then the Slingshot crew on anything from 125 wizards to low volume 80 to 85 lit. waterstart only mini boards lots of guys n gals using the 76 infinity wing with small wave sails ,3.7 to 4.2 seems to be the go to size. Lots of fun to watch on any given day their might be 25+ windsurf foilboards on the water.
Anyway for me the 125 wizard 76 infinity just flat out works and seems to handle the abuse of learning ,the board can handle big overfoils without the nose getting smashed. Yea its a commitment to buy a foil only board but the only other board I own is a wave board.

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Sail Repair WA said..
Hi Muzylab

If you are looking at buying a new / or used board specific for foiling.
Then nothing will beat the Wizard 125L + Hoverglide setup.

This will take you from learning the easy way, and the setup never 'grows old or boring'.
You don't need to upgrade to a different set up when you get better. It will take you from 10-20 knots, no problem.
Everything is in the right position (track, strap position,, tuttlebox, deck shape, rockerline).

If you consider a windsurf board, then as mentioned a slalom board (with the flatter rocker) in +70cm and up, is the best choice.
Any old slalom board can be used. Lots of 'non Foil Ready' boards with normal tuttle box has been used, with good success. (but at your own risk)

I fully understand the layout of big $ for a foil specific board.
If you want max TOW and even more importantly max progressive learning curve, with a setup that you don't outgrow, then have a very good think about the 125L

I have been using the same setup for over a year and it never gets boring. Flat water / waves - 10-25 kts. I got full carbon foils, smaller boards, bigger boards, small wings, big wings etc. But I have to say I use the 125L + Hoverglide (76cm wing) 99% of the time,, and never changed a thing from the original settings.

Yes I do sell the products from here, so it could be seen as a bit of a 'sale pitch'. I don't 'care' to much, as I know the joy new foilers as experienced foilers get out of this combo (just like DWF mentioned)

Cheers
Jesper

This +1

I'm convinced about the Wizard 125 now. The next step is to convince me accountant, aka my spouse.

Thanks

Just FYI, the Sailworks crew on Moses are riding nearly identical wings as the Slingshot crew. Moses and Slingshot are connected in some way.

Really, the only people going another direction are racer type mindset foilers.

I switched to the moses 790 it's almost the same a little higher aspect 4.3 vs 3.7 same thing with the rear wing .
It's on a 101 ss ghost whisperer with the 900 fuselage,790 front and a 450 rear stabilizer.
It's hard to compare because of the different masts ones carbon and ones aluminum. Although the difference is night and day the 790 is looser but not squirrely and totally recoverable when it breaks free.
Got tired of the slingshot hype around the phantom. It's clear that moses is the king as they make the foils in house in Italy and the finished product is top shelf stuff.

As a side note I've heard all shots of different stories about the Moses SlingShot relationship. As a consumer I don't really care about Tit for Tat BS or social media hype. I'm looking for products that work and are available and Moses has done that for me.

Here's a link to the SS phantasm that someone posted on Iwindsurf...

Gwarn at the risk of going off topic does the Moses 790 fly earlier than the SS76?
Have you tried the infinity 84 wing? I wonder how the Moses compares to that for early take off.

I'm on a Naish Hover Micro and another +1 for dedicated foil boards. The Naish boards have good configuration options with tracks for the foils.

Question on the width of the stern. Do slalom boards usually have a narrow feed, despite the width of the board 80-85 cm? I have the isonic 127 stradboard. Although now they are making the same boards for slalom and foil, for example, a falcon fanatic. Who rolled on such a board? I will try in a week on the Foyle and on the isonics

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r0d said..
Gwarn at the risk of going off topic does the Moses 790 fly earlier than the SS76?
Have you tried the infinity 84 wing? I wonder how the Moses compares to that for early take off.

I'm on a Naish Hover Micro and another +1 for dedicated foil boards. The Naish boards have good configuration options with tracks for the foils.

About the same It's hard to tell as most of my foiling is do in 18+ mph winds so take off is fast as I sheet in. Yes I had a 84 butt sold it with the SS foils I had I ride the 790 and 683 Moses on a 101 and a 111 mast. I'm lucky as I sail the bay area so I get a lot a windy days so I don't really chase the light wind days. I'm blessed as this season of foiling I logged over 150 days and at least 300+ hours of foiling I'm sure as spring creeps up I'll change my tune and start hunting for wind. If I find the 790 to small for the lite days I'll order the 873 moses.

I haven't looked back since I got the Moses foils My Stoke Factor instantly went up with the new foils and masts. Also the taller masts make a huge difference for me in the highwinds and bigger swell it makes the ride easy and the craving much more fun.

Thanks Gwarn. That's interesting. I'm looking for a light wind set up that is faster and more stable than my Naish surf XL (which is not really designed for wind foiling).

rOd...don't know your weight, but have you considered the Naish KS-2 front wing of 600 sq cms.?
A few guys here are using front foils that size and go really fast needing just 1 meter or so bigger sails.
And, they're on sale around $222 US everywhere.

I suspect exact tail width to be much less important than plain overall width and stability.
Wide and stable for slogging to the wind and slogging in the holes or dying breeze.
Most hi wind foils are wide for that.

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Gwarn said..

r0d said..
Gwarn at the risk of going off topic does the Moses 790 fly earlier than the SS76?
Have you tried the infinity 84 wing? I wonder how the Moses compares to that for early take off.

I'm on a Naish Hover Micro and another +1 for dedicated foil boards. The Naish boards have good configuration options with tracks for the foils.

About the same It's hard to tell as most of my foiling is do in 18+ mph winds so take off is fast as I sheet in. Yes I had a 84 butt sold it with the SS foils I had I ride the 790 and 683 Moses on a 101 and a 111 mast. I'm lucky as I sail the bay area so I get a lot a windy days so I don't really chase the light wind days. I'm blessed as this season of foiling I logged over 150 days and at least 300+ hours of foiling I'm sure as spring creeps up I'll change my tune and start hunting for wind. If I find the 790 to small for the lite days I'll order the 873 moses.

I haven't looked back since I got the Moses foils My Stoke Factor instantly went up with the new foils and masts. Also the taller masts make a huge difference for me in the highwinds and bigger swell it makes the ride easy and the craving much more fun.

I just joined the club and bought a Moses 790 with the new 105 mast! It's coming this Tuesday and first day out will be Wednesday! Can't wait! I am a bit worried about the length of the mast, mostly because I want things to be EASY after struggling with the previous foil! but it sounds like it is the way to go in the San Francisco Bay Area ... Gwarn what do you think? 105 vs 85?

To add some more to Kdog's comments about the Gorge. Yes, you see a lot of Slingshot stuff there, including Tony himself.

The boards that the Sailworks guys are riding are the North Pacific foil boards custom made in Hood River. Now they are starting to get Roberts foil boards, too, into their inventory.

I bit the bullet and got a North Pacific 135 liter foil board for free-ride foiling. I use it with AFS-2 and LP foils, sails 5.0 to 7.0 (I weigh in at 190 pounds). And, holy cow, what a nice ride it is!!! The NorPac guys have uncannily put the footstraps into the inevitable BEST position for foiling. It is stupid-easy to use both front and back straps once you get it balanced for fore-and-aft position of the front wing between the feet.

You can see the NorPac 135 in this youtube:

I wonder is strap placement is tied or affected by foil span and how much sail power you apply..
Centered straps might not work well with 80+ cm wide foils, while surf foils might be awkward with straps set on rail of wide boards.

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LeeD said..
I wonder is strap placement is tied or affected by foil span and how much sail power you apply..
Centered straps might not work well with 80+ cm wide foils, while surf foils might be awkward with straps set on rail of wide boards.

My experience is that board width and hence strap width is almost entirely tied to sail sizing and how powered you are. Some foils lack the roll stability to be easy to control from the outboard edge of a +90cm board but it's a subtle thing.

My Naish foil is 65 wingspan.
Unless I'm way overpowered, it will not work in the footstraps using a Formula board.
Conversely, a 90 wingspan foil would be hard to ride with centered straps.

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LeeD said..
rOd...don't know your weight, but have you considered the Naish KS-2 front wing of 600 sq cms.?

LeeD. Thanks I haven't even seen that front wing before. I'm really after something that gives the same low end as the XL surf but is a bit faster.
I'm about 93kg and use the XL in 10knots gusting 14 with a 5.8 Ezzy (my biggest sail).

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LeeD said..
My Naish foil is 65 wingspan.
Unless I'm way overpowered, it will not work in the footstraps using a Formula board.
Conversely, a 90 wingspan foil would be hard to ride with centered straps.

I know quite a few guys riding 68cm slingshot H2s with formula boards, but they are doing it with +7m sails. Wingspan is secondary to sail size. Once you are under 5m centerline straps are much easier/more fun for me, enough so that I'm going to start foiling a Skate 109 during the windy season.

what is indicative weight for the freeride boards?

i k now they are a great bit of gear - bit i find them expensive and that doesn't include the foil !!

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duzzi said..

Gwarn said..

r0d said..
Gwarn at the risk of going off topic does the Moses 790 fly earlier than the SS76?
Have you tried the infinity 84 wing? I wonder how the Moses compares to that for early take off.

I'm on a Naish Hover Micro and another +1 for dedicated foil boards. The Naish boards have good configuration options with tracks for the foils.

About the same It's hard to tell as most of my foiling is do in 18+ mph winds so take off is fast as I sheet in. Yes I had a 84 butt sold it with the SS foils I had I ride the 790 and 683 Moses on a 101 and a 111 mast. I'm lucky as I sail the bay area so I get a lot a windy days so I don't really chase the light wind days. I'm blessed as this season of foiling I logged over 150 days and at least 300+ hours of foiling I'm sure as spring creeps up I'll change my tune and start hunting for wind. If I find the 790 to small for the lite days I'll order the 873 moses.

I haven't looked back since I got the Moses foils My Stoke Factor instantly went up with the new foils and masts. Also the taller masts make a huge difference for me in the highwinds and bigger swell it makes the ride easy and the craving much more fun.

I just joined the club and bought a Moses 790 with the new 105 mast! It's coming this Tuesday and first day out will be Wednesday! Can't wait! I am a bit worried about the length of the mast, mostly because I want things to be EASY after struggling with the previous foil! but it sounds like it is the way to go in the San Francisco Bay Area ... Gwarn what do you think? 105 vs 85?

Duzzi I think you made the right choice by ordering the 105 as time goes on you will like the taller mast especially if you start sailing Coyote Point and Crissy the 105 mast is the right one for the chop.