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Which wind foil for learner

Created by ducati ducati  > 9 months ago, 15 Feb 2023
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ducati
ducati

QLD

474 posts

15 Feb 2023 7:48pm
What do you reckon might be a suitable windfoil and wing sizes for light winds 8-12kn and smaller sails 6-7.5 m
Not interested in speed only to get up on the foil and play around, me 80kg
Will only be using it in my JP Super lightwind board 235L x 92 W x 165Litres
segler
segler

WA

1658 posts

15 Feb 2023 11:34pm
At your weight you can't go wrong with the Slingshot Infinity 76 (or maybe the 84). Not expensive. There are used ones around so you can start your foiling at low cost while you figure out what you want in the future. Easy to learn on and ride. Forgiving. Not fast but fast enough.

I am fairly experienced, but I still ride the i76 in Florida (93 kg, 7.0 and 5.0 sails). No reason to change. Make sure you balance it (see below). It will make your learning curve MUCH shorter and more fun. Foil with friends who can help you get started.

The reason I emphasize balancing it is the the JP Super Lightwind 165 is a fin board, not a foil board. That means that the fin box is further aft than what you see with JP foil boards. You have to get the front wing somewhere at or near the mid point between your feet. The advantage of the Slingshot Infinity foils is that you can adjust the position of the front wing with their "switch fuselage." With a fin board you should try the C position. Then put the sail mast base at about 42" in front of the front fin screw. Start there. Have fun.
aeroegnr
aeroegnr

1747 posts

15 Feb 2023 11:39pm
Seconding the infinity 76. Learned on it and know plenty here that are still riding it years later and flying through their jibes, riding waves, going down pretty low in sail size when it picks up.
Paducah
Paducah

2792 posts

15 Feb 2023 11:53pm
For wing sizes and what it sounds like your expectations are 13-1700 cm2. Wings at the bottom of the range will require just a smidge more speed at takeoff but be less likely to be too lifty in gusts. There are a large variety of foils available and generally stuff from the last 2-3 years is solid. There's been a trend towards more efficient "mid-aspect" wings which take advantage of slightly more slippery shapes to create lift instead of simply thick, large foils.

The I76 mentioned above was one of the first wings to have both a decent amount of area and better shape; and helped a lot of people get going. A few of my friends also enjoyed the i84 which is a bit slower but more docile and flies a little earlier. imho, the biggest thing to consider with the SS Infinities is that there really isn't an upgrade path and you'd need to sell it if you decided to move to a bit more evolved wing set or better bits. As well, (again, my opinion based on accounts I've seen and read), the engineering is a bit dated so you'll have to mind the health of your screws, especially fuse to mast, to make sure everything remains intact.

Just a warning - 95% of us here all started with the notion, "I'll foil when the wind is light and..." With experience, you'll find your wind range on a given set of gear keeps on increasing and you'll find yourself choosing to foil more and more especially if your winds are gusty or variable.
Grantmac
Grantmac

2339 posts

16 Feb 2023 1:16am
Budget?
JonnoR
JonnoR

19 posts

16 Feb 2023 6:44am
Starboard Freeride 1100 package is hard to beat.
ducati
ducati

QLD

474 posts

16 Feb 2023 11:26am
Great advice guys thank you, was tossing up between the Slingshot i84 and the NP glide XL went with a used Slingshot Infinity 84
segler
segler

WA

1658 posts

17 Feb 2023 2:43am
Good choice.
California
California

23 posts

19 Feb 2023 12:01am
Jp super lightwind works really good on foil.
I started with this board an the rrd wh 85 flight alu foil.
Sails 9.0 and 7,8.

After a year i wonted something faster so moved to full carbon starboard racefoil with the 115 black fuselage. Wings 1000 and 800, 255 and 255-2.

Super in under 10kn wind also.
Fast take off with the jp also.
Only thing is that the jp has a flat nose compaired to a foilboard.
I sail on an inland lake so flat water, but if you get small waves the nose of the jp slw doesn't bounce back up like a foilboard so its easyer to catapult then because to nose bites the wave.

Now i foil a future fly flying camel 145, its take off is a bit fadter then the jp but almost no difference..

If you wont one good foilboard a also use it with fin a still have a good wind range the jp slw is perfect.

On fin it planes from 11kn and you can sail in strong winds on smaller fin with a 7,8 slalomsail.

I did 50km/u on fin on a lake with the jp.

berowne
berowne

NSW

1555 posts

20 Feb 2023 8:00am
F4 !
SA_AL
SA_AL

313 posts

20 Feb 2023 6:47am
F4 is an excellent foil as Berowne shows his outstanding rides for advanced riders. I actually bought F4 following him and very happy with my transition but I would recommend Slingshot i84 or even i99 for the beginning phase. These are slower low aspect foils and easier to learn foiling. Eventually you will likely switch to a faster high aspect foil like F4, Starboard IQ foil or other race foil.
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