Would wing dinging on a Levitator work/be fun until i could get a wingding specific board?

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JonnyWindsurf said..
Would wing dinging on a Levitator work/be fun until i could get a wingding specific board?

I saw a video on YouTube that showed two guys learning on a Levitator. I don't know why it wouldn't work as a way to get used to the wing. Not an ideal board for the long-term, but i plan to use my Levitator 160 to learn and see how much I like it.

One thing is for sure, they have sold a heap of them! At least around my way. It does seem to be the suppers who are the early adopters. I can't really see it affecting the windfoil market at all.

Here's the video of the SS Levitator 150 being used with a wing.

this old vid needs updating to add wing dings:

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dejavu said..
Here's the video of the SS Levitator 150 being used with a wing.

Jeeze... spend a couple of minutes to take the straps off....

IMHO:
It a question of when to buy. When Aluula or similar material become widespread designs will change. We'll see a new model of Slingwing.
1) Bladder cloth will be Stronger: the bladders will be smaller and will take more PSI.
2) Smaller bladders results in decrease weight.
3) Less material to enclose the bladder.
4) Material is lighter than current cloth.
5) Less drag due to smaller bladder.
6) Change in wing design so a similar size wing will be lighter, more power, stiffer and $$$$+.

Next version Refinement:
1) placement of straps/handles,
2) addition of rope on strut (similar to Duotone) or a on the fly rope adjustment,
3) strengthening of wear points; harness line loops,
4) harness line loops for 1 handed flying (vs flagging).

Off course you could wait forever.

Image you have a 5-12 year old child/grandchildren.

Watersport Progression:
What would be an easy way to intro him/her into your sport.
Use an umbrella/paddle
Use a bigger umbrella.
Add a wing.
Add a foil.

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VCRWoody said..
IMHO:
It a question of when to buy. When Aluula or similar material become widespread designs will change. We'll see a new model of Slingwing.
1) Bladder cloth will be Stronger: the bladders will be smaller and will take more PSI.
2) Smaller bladders results in decrease weight.
3) Less material to enclose the bladder.
4) Material is lighter than current cloth.
5) Less drag due to smaller bladder.
6) Change in wing design so a similar size wing will be lighter, more power, stiffer and $$$$+.

Next version Refinement:
1) placement of straps/handles,
2) addition of rope on strut (similar to Duotone) or a on the fly rope adjustment,
3) strengthening of wear points; harness line loops,
4) harness line loops for 1 handed flying (vs flagging).

Off course you could wait forever.

The F-One Swing already complied with all but 1 of those points for the first version, with in addition being the lightest and most powerful wing on the market (can easily be sailed 1 size smaller than a Duotone, Slingshot v1 or Ozone no wonder its the best sold wing currently on the market). Key points are finely tuned handle positions, smaller leading edge / more cambered profile compared to competition, a bungy leash & harness hoops, combined with a "less = more" design principle of just not adding all those battens, 17 excess handles and other things which dont add anything. Only thing "missing" is the depower on the outhaul, but to be honest there is a lot of tuning possible by inflating harder or less hard, especially on a wing with a lot of built in camber (like the F-One Swing or also the Slingshot V2 as it seems from the pictures). As you inflate the wing less hard the profile becomes flatter when powered because of more twist in the tips, in practice having the same result. To be honest I dont feel like there is a need to inflate the wings any harder.

reefwarriors.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/wingy-dingy-thingy-vs-wwf-comparison/

Space / Wind Range / Simplicity all imply to me that wind wings will take off and I am planning on getting one soon.

SpaceI have a Honda Element so space should not be an issue but the truth is - it is.
If I travel to sail I need to bring my equipment and a camp. Kitesurfing requires 1 board, 3 sails. Windfoiling requires a much bigger board, 2 or 3 booms, 2 or 3 masts, 2/3 sails and the foil. If I did not have a full quiver from 8 years ago ( when I switched to kiting ) I would never have tried foil windsurfing. On my next trip I will only bring enough to sail in light winds than switch to kite or I may be on to wind wing by that time. Wind Range / SimplicityFrom what I read a 6.0 has a range of at least two sail sizes in windfoiling. On the lakes where I live I think it is a toss up between sail / wing but I have not tried the wing. I do know I look forward to less rigging. Some people are implying it is easier to get back up wind on a windfoil and I would generally agree but a lot of what I am seeing is you can put the wing down and paddle. Also, Naish has a place for a sup paddle on their wing - anyone tried that?

I'm about to take the plunge to try something different and learn another water skill windfoiling has been a real bonus in my life giving me some unbelievable seshes on the water with a great bunch of fellars but im dam sure there is some more great feelings with the wind wing just around the corner aswell. Just waiting for some gear to arrive

Hmmmm. No mast track yet.

Thanks for sharing. I think the price points they offer are interesting. Most windsurf brands obviously come the high end where a board cost Euro 2,500+ . I think it will be interesting to see how companies like Gong put pressure on the prices overall.

I'd definitely take an inflatable windfoil board if it was rigid enough. I know that Manta ha e tried to market one and Duo has foil boxes on their freeride semi-inflatables.

Foiling on an inflatable would be interesting, would like to try that one day.

I have windsurfed inflatable boards and I wasn't really blown away by it bouncing around and it gave a somewhat muted feedback underfoot, maybe the foil would give it a positive feeling? volume distribution would be a great advantage on a board so small.

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stroppo said..
I'm about to take the plunge to try something different and learn another water skill windfoiling has been a real bonus in my life giving me some unbelievable seshes on the water with a great bunch of fellars but im dam sure there is some more great feelings with the wind wing just around the corner aswell. Just waiting for some gear to arrive

Stroppo, what are you getting?

Hey Pacey I'm getting a 6.4 v2 wing and a 173ltr sup foil board

for everyone trying a wing that has come from a windsurfing background be prepared for the wing to feel awful compared to a modern windsurfing rig. Truly Awful.....
That is my impression after a few short goes on different wings. At this point in its development its a" No Thanks " from me

www.thefoilingmagazine.com/free-issue-28438/
Lots of WW and surf foil content

Why didn't Windfoiling and kitefoiling make it into Foiling Magazine?

If only we all could live on Maui.

While intriguing, Windfoiling seems better overall, more efficient, less wind needed to get on foil, Reef Warriors did a comparison and found WWF to be better, I'll keep my Windfoil, but will definitely give the wing thing a try if presented the opportunity.

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Dcharlton said..
While intriguing, Windfoiling seems better overall, more efficient, less wind needed to get on foil, Reef Warriors did a comparison and found WWF to be better, I'll keep my Windfoil, but will definitely give the wing thing a try if presented the opportunity.

Although, I have not tried the wingding, and don't really have plans too, they are getting very close to matching our ability to get on the foil in light air.

It roughly comes down to weight/(wing or sail pump power per sec x foil area/lift)

Their upwind angles are very good too.

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thedoor said..

Dcharlton said..
While intriguing, Windfoiling seems better overall, more efficient, less wind needed to get on foil, Reef Warriors did a comparison and found WWF to be better, I'll keep my Windfoil, but will definitely give the wing thing a try if presented the opportunity.

Although, I have not tried the wingding, and don't really have plans too, they are getting very close to matching our ability to get on the foil in light air.

It roughly comes down to weight/(wing or sail pump power per sec x foil area/lift)

Their upwind angles are very good too.

I strongly doubt the "less wind needed to get on a foil" part. That may be true for beginners, and perhaps older wings - the development is quite rapid. After 5 wing session, my wife now foils at least as consistent on her 4.2 F1 wing as I do on a 5.0. If she'd be using a sail, she'd also be on a 4.2. She has to be on a bigger foil (i84 so far instead of i76), but while she hates the larger foil in 15+ knots with a rig, she likes it with a wing. The weight of the wing is just ridiculous, even compared to a 4.2 m freestyle sail with the lightest 100% carbon components.

After a few years of trying to pump, my pumping still is a matter of luck. Change anything (sail, board, fin, foil), and the technique needs to be adjusted. I've only played around with the wind wing on shore, but pumping it seems 100% more intuitive. That's to be the same on the water, according to my wife. The wind range on the wing is much larger than for windsurfing, and larger than for freeride windfoiling. She's used the 4.2 in 13-25 knots already, and there's more room on both ends. With a rig, the comfort range for a 4.2 would probably be around 16-20 (with a wider range doable, but less fun). I've been quite skeptical of the wing in the past, but that has changed since seeing her and one other local guy on the wing.

Looks like it can be a lot of fun, too:
13-14 mph wind in the video with a 5.0.

I took the plunge and bought the Slingwing V2 in 6.4 and 4.4. Using them on my Slingshot Levitator for now. Lot's of fun!
I mainly did it because when the wind gets above 25mph I am too overpowered with a 3.8 sail. With the wing ding I am able to still use a 6.4 with winds gusting to 25 or slightly more. Anything stronger and I'd go to the 4.4. The range of a wing is crazy compared to wind foiling. My thoughts are that I'll wind foil until the wind reaches 20-25mph, then make the switch to wing foiling. As I get better I may start winging at lower wind speeds if my pumping skills get better.

P.S..... I ordered a Quatro wing drifter pro 6 footer for more dedicated wingfoiling.

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nimo1972 said..
for everyone trying a wing that has come from a windsurfing background be prepared for the wing to feel awful compared to a modern windsurfing rig. Truly Awful.....
That is my impression after a few short goes on different wings. At this point in its development its a" No Thanks " from me

Here's the thing -- you cannot start with a wing and assume you can use it like a windsurfing sail. I tried to do this and was humiliated (I have forty years of windsurfing experience). You've got to start by using the wing more like a kite. It won't take long until you can bring it down beside you while flying on foil -- wings like the Echo with a boom (or wings retrofitted with a boom) can be used more like a windsurfing sail once on foil. These things have a huge wind range and with practice feel natural -- muscle memory.

Wingfoiling is very, very addictive and each wing should include a warning and a number you can call in case you need help with your new addiction.

Had an Awesome session yesterday windfoiling on my H4 batwing cranking down swell and having a blast luffing the sail at times and just swell riding. I'm really psyched to see the wingfoilers as well but I'm just having too much fun windfoiling to try it.

DC

I went out yesterday and finally found the right place where the windsurfers/wingers mostly go instead of all the kiters. Looks like when you add up the windsurfers plus wingers, the kiters still outnumber by 2-3x here in FL.

It was about 50/50 wingers/windsurfers with a few newbies at both, and a few returning windsurfers. For me (<90kg), I was getting planing in the gusts with my 8.0 for quite a bit. One of the wingers told me he was on a 7.0, and that seemed like a pretty big wing. The wingers were staying pretty close to shore, though, and all the lawnmowing of the windsurfers was reaching way out to a sandbar and riding it back, for a long reach of several minutes depending on if you were fullspeed planing or not.

But, I have to admit that the younger, athletic looking wingers made me a bit jealous. They looked like they were pretty effortlessly foiling around me (when I still have yet to ride a foil with as much sail as I can throw at it), passing me, turning around me, when I was still subplaning on the fin, jumping, etc. I was battling with the waves when I cut closer to shore and sub planing, trying not to sink the nose or get pushed hard into the wind.

There was one guy out on a 6.6 windfoil and he said earlier in the day he could foil without pumping, but as the wind dropped off he wasn't so lucky.

I'm kind of torn. I really, really, want to get going in lightwind on a windsurf and I wish it were as easy as throwing my 9.5 on my board, slapping on the i76, but it wasn't. Not sure if I want to bother getting a huge front wing and matching stabilizer, or get a dedicated lightwind fin/foil board like a falcon or something else, or just try winging and turning it into an athletic pump fest on lightwind days.

BUT, I don't want winging to be the same struggle that windfoiling on lightwind days has been. Yet more kit to buy, and uncertainty if it'll be as enjoyable for what I want.

No clue, and also no real rush to make a decision to buy anything else right now as long as the wind keeps up for the fall/winter season.