What a buzz. Super-fun wave session with Simon and Jesper at the Artificial Reef.
Hooked into a couple of head high bombs - couldn't do much except backside S-turns as the wind was quite onshore, but what an amazing feeling flying down the face at 20 knots right on the edge of crashing
Also awesome fun downwinding the solid windswells on stbd tack.
Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with the crazy lift when turning down the faces?

Yeeew

NNW 15-20 knots - all on Slingshot Infinity 76 wings, Wizards, 5.3 Simmer wavesails

Looks like fun JJ. As I only have the 84wing I am getting used to the extra lift at speed in supfoil and windfoil mode. I find a lower boom works and tilting the rig forwards as you fly down the line helps alot.The Infinity wing does seem to reach a top speed/height and then it just stays there. I find they are really hard to over foil. I seem to get to a height/speed and it evens out but you feel on the edge of disaster but it hangs in there. It feels precarious but it works....most of the time

I have been loving sailing and supfoiling in the waves. Bring on the summer seabreezes

It really does start to come down to some oceanography and physics. Early in my career I was a weather fcster. With foiling I'm getting a chance to really live what was always on paper. The reality of the speed of a wind wave or a swell type wave becomes immediately apparent when you hit the max speed for a given foil. Choosing your foil is best equated to choosing your sail size in windsurfing. As a very general rule, I use my Naish Jet 2000 when I want to glide on large chop or knee to maybe thigh high swell. I switch down to my Naish Jet 1650 up to maybe thigh to groin...maybe if it's non-breaking swell..... waist. But any higher you need to go smaller.

I tried to hold the Jet 1650 down one day on a semi-breaking shoulder high wave...let's just say that the reality of traveling faster then 18 -20 knots became physically apparent. ;) I was hitting the very top end plus you have to throw in the face of the wave and foil angle of attack.

So the answer is....you just have to go smaller, especially if you want some control to carve. Both of the new foils are higher aspect and they have gained some top-end but lift is lift is lift. ;)

I'll have to lend you a race foil JJ, they still generate a lot of lift but top end speed is higher so you should have more control as you accelerate.

Cheers for the tips and offers

I could've used the TimeCode 68 wing yesterday which would've been more controllable on the wave but it was pretty light when we went out.

There seems to be more lift to deal with when flying at 20 knots down a steep wave compared with the same speed crosswind over chop.
Logic should say the lift should be equivalent, but my head says different
What do you think?

Two things.
One you have to obviously lean the board forward to ensure it stays level with the water so you don't launch out of front. This accelerates you as you are now free failing down the face. Increased speed / increased lift, same as flat water 20 knots but you are nose down.

Plus
On the front face of a wave the wave energy is on its way up. You are on the way down. The speed of the water rising up ( vertical component) adds additional lift for the same board speed ( horizontal) over the water.

The surf / sup foilers also notice the opposite effect pulling off a wave and going down the backside of the wave. Wave energy heading down, loss of apparent lift.

Are you still in the back foot strap JJ?

I had the same problem with lots of lift down the waves, but really had to place the back foot a lot more forward (out of the strap)
Think is is a bit to to with just commit to the extra speed / lift, and trust the foil not to take off with you :)

I'm sure the upcoming Infinity 65cm, will work great, as this is what it is developed for. Will be interesting to compare to your Timecode 68cm

Good points Darryl, cheers. I think I have point 1 covered.
Point 2 makes a lot of sense - I had a vague idea that might be the case, good to have it confirmed

Cheers Jesper, I feel naked without the straps. But I'll give it a go

Can't wait for my Infinity 65

I never did foiling, but I'm on my way to selling all the slalom gear for foiling(back problem and riding the big gear comes with to much to pay).

I will sail mostly on flat water but a few times a year I will travel where I could go wave sailing.

Is the Naish Hover Crossover make sens or it's too much oriented toward SUP and SUP foiling that the price is too much to pay in term of performance as a wind foil tool and I would be better with a Wizard 105 or 125 perhaps.

I will never put a bigger sail than 5.3 Taka, would like to sail i 10-18kts flat water and waves. If I can SUP it it's bonus, but I do own two SUP so not a must.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Feel free to suggest any brand, I just started to look a week ago, so I don't much about foiling.

All the brands work well, just decide on course slalom speed or freeride play...you decided second and all companies provide for your needs.
5.3 gets you in your wind range, but don't overlook smaller and bigger sails to extend your days.
I've only tried Naish and RRD, both work well.
Center main wing between feet.

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NordRoi said..
I never did foiling, but I'm on my way to selling all the slalom gear for foiling(back problem and riding the big gear comes with to much to pay).

I will sail mostly on flat water but a few times a year I will travel where I could go wave sailing.

Is the Naish Hover Crossover make sens or it's too much oriented toward SUP and SUP foiling that the price is too much to pay in term of performance as a wind foil tool and I would be better with a Wizard 105 or 125 perhaps.

I will never put a bigger sail than 5.3 Taka, would like to sail i 10-18kts flat water and waves. If I can SUP it it's bonus, but I do own two SUP so not a must.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Feel free to suggest any brand, I just started to look a week ago, so I don't much about foiling.

I use Starboard foils coz I'm more into the race/free race side of things, but from what I've seen and what I know from those who use them, Slingshot foils are very good because they are modular. This means you can buy lots of different wings to add on to the same mast and fuselage if you want to. So if you want to go fast you can have a foil that bolts on for that, or if you want to just go cruising around or surfing swells you can put on a wing that does that for you too. Have a look at their range and see what you think. :)

Thanks! Ok good point!!!

NP offers Flight and Glide.
Naish offers new hi aspect main wings in addition to ws-1
As does every other big company.

What is the difference between thehoover crossover, the hover 125 and the micro hover from naish in a point of view of windfoil? And WWF.

i understand the crossover could go as a Sup and I Sup.

Slingshot Time Code 68 - my favourite wing
Awesome in big winds and proper swells/waves - controllable accelerating on the wave face and secure when carving a big turn.
Definitely worth trying if you're out in tougher conditions and getting lifted on the Infinity 76.

SSW 12-27 knots, 1.5m swell
Wizard 105, Simmer Blacktip 5m

Braver than me JJ! Was a gusty day
I took the soft option, went to The Leeward side of Point Walter.




Had an awesome hour. Fully powered up on Wizard 105, Infinity 76 and Tricera 4.7 NEVER had so much fun on flat water!!

Hover crossover is strapless.
125 has more volume in the tail and in/out strap positioning.
Micro is a higher performance option to both Hovers..shorter..with in between volume.

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2keen said..
Braver than me JJ! Was a gusty day
I took the soft option, went to The Leeward side of Point Walter.




Had an awesome hour. Fully powered up on Wizard 105, Infinity 76 and Tricera 4.7 NEVER had so much fun on flat water!!

Simon - how did the 3 batten sail handle the super gusty wind?


Slingshot sail logo looks sweet

Thanks JJ
Yes sail look sweet
handles even better
I firmly believe Those 3 battern Simmers are the best sails for Freeride Foiling!!
Lightweight, heaps of power when you want it while at the same time easy to depower for downwind carving.
Not only that just picked up a 2019 5.0 Tricera for 25% off
SWEET

Update with today's top 5 frothy session with Simon
NNW 15-24 knots - great wind direction as the swell builds quickly.
Super-fun wave rides on both tacks.

Simmer 4.2m Tricera & 4m Blacktip
Infinity 76, Time Code 68



Coach Walter




Be cool to see other wave/downwinder windfoilers' tracks and pix of your home spots

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azymuth said..

Be cool to see other wave/downwinder windfoilers' tracks and pix of your home spots

Here's a couple locally from two of our front side wave foilers (Slingshot board, 76 wing on medium mast and Reef Warrior Top Gun 7ft custom with Gofoil wing), most other WWF around here are on Gofoils.

www.facebook.com/tomandinetravels/videos/487668558494428/

www.facebook.com/SOwindsurfer/videos/443919862887506/

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drlazone said..
Here's a couple locally from two of our front side wave foilers (Slingshot board, 76 wing on medium mast and Reef Warrior Top Gun 7ft custom with Gofoil wing), most other WWF around here are on Gofoils.

www.facebook.com/tomandinetravels/videos/487668558494428/

www.facebook.com/SOwindsurfer/videos/443919862887506/

Awesome thanks - nice videos
I've seen the Reef Warriors blog.
What's the exact location you sail on Lake Erie?

Love the second vid (SOwindsurfer)
took me a min to work out it was on a loop
thought it was a super fun wave with endless sections!!

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azymuth said..

drlazone said..
Here's a couple locally from two of our front side wave foilers (Slingshot board, 76 wing on medium mast and Reef Warrior Top Gun 7ft custom with Gofoil wing), most other WWF around here are on Gofoils.

www.facebook.com/tomandinetravels/videos/487668558494428/

www.facebook.com/SOwindsurfer/videos/443919862887506/

Awesome thanks - nice videos
I've seen the Reef Warriors blog.
What's the exact location you sail on Lake Erie?

First video is Sandbanks, lake Ontario
Second video is Sherkston, lake Erie

Waves on the Swan River - all you need is a nice 25-35 knot westerly

Time Code 68 wing with 3.7m Blacktip is so controllable, it was worth waiting for the bigger gusts when the windswells were over a metre to carve downwind at full speed. Awesome fun.

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drlazone said..

azymuth said..

Be cool to see other wave/downwinder windfoilers' tracks and pix of your home spots

Here's a couple locally from two of our front side wave foilers (Slingshot board, 76 wing on medium mast and Reef Warrior Top Gun 7ft custom with Gofoil wing), most other WWF around here are on Gofoils.

www.facebook.com/tomandinetravels/videos/487668558494428/

www.facebook.com/SOwindsurfer/videos/443919862887506/

What i find interessting is the different trimms they use, the first video has the foil far back in the classic windsurf position, whereas in the second video the foil sits far more forward in a position like for supfoiling.
What's better?

I for myself like the forward Position more because for riding the wave without sailpower it feels more natural to be in surfing foot position.

First video is with Slingshot board/foil hence the windsurfing type stand. He has tried the Reefwarrior board/Gofoil and does like that better for WWF.The Reefwarrior board/Gofoil set up is all WWF oriented, strapless, box forward, and they use it for both Supfoil (video on the blog/FB page) and WWF when enough wind (>8-10 knots).
The distance between foilbox and mast strap is much closer on the Reefwarrior board compared to Slingshot. Mind you if you foiling strapless, it doesn't matter as much.

Here you go JJ :) don't always need waves too carve. Today on the swan 10 to 12. Custom freeride board axxis foil 6.7 blade

^^^ Nice one Daz

Come and downwind with the Dutchies Downwinder Frothers (me, Simon, Jesper, Jonah, Mark, Peter, Tim, Mark, Greg, Andrew, Glen & Johnno) this summer
Expecting our number to double, perhaps triple.

We've got Wing, Prone and SUP foilers on the reef already when there's swell.

Yesterday we had 40+ surf skis go out in a group without issue - there's no end of space out the back to catch downwind runners

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DarrylG said..
Here you go JJ :) don't always need waves too carve. Today on the swan 10 to 12. Custom freeride board axxis foil 6.7 blade

Downwind carving on the ocean is ultimate fun in 20-30 knots with big grunty windswells - but it's surprisingly also huge fun downwinding in light winds grabbing all the energy available from little 1-2 feet runners

Forth alert...
I reckon everyone should downwind foiling give a go, it's kind of a fusion of windsurfing and SUP/surf ski downwinding


SW 10-15 knots, Blacktip 5.9, SS Infinity 76, Wizard 105

Thought I'd share a little video of JJ and Simon out there this afternoon. It was a little light and patchy early, but these two are next level with their skills.

Roll on summer!