Last week I sold the last of my (slappa) fin gear after not using it for about 18 months. Who's gone 100% foiling and why?

Well, if you can't windsurf, jump to foil full time.
Our area get's 16-22 knot breeze, or more, about 120 days a year. Good for 90 liter boards and 5 meter sails.

Lot of light wind days, 8-12 knots, could not windsurf that with a 9.0 sail (86 kg). But with an 8.0 sail flying from 8+. And when the wind is above 12 it is usually from the S and that means waves 1-3 foot, could plane in the wave trough, but bouncing around getting back out. Foiling just fly over them. And the other day, started out too strong, too big of waves for the windsurfers, when it dropped they got on the water for maybe 1/2 hr powered up, then it dropped and they started slogging half the time, then it dropped a little more and they were done, below 12 knots. In contrast, I was flying the whole time, when it dropped to 12 or less I switched out the front wing from the AFS F770 to F1080 and kept on flying with the same sail, Aerotech FreeSpeed 7.2.

For sure, foil dominates when breeze doesn't top 15 knots.
I get to windfoil about 40 days a season, but half with 4.0 or smaller.
That leaves about 100 days a year where 5.0 or smaller is right for slapper.

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swoosh said..
Last week I sold the last of my (slappa) fin gear after not using it for about 18 months. Who's gone 100% foiling and why?

The opposite. I am 100% windsurfing and enjoying the new slalom shapes enormously.

Might get on a foil again next season when I feel like practicing my hit-the-wall catapults and take home some fish.

. I haven't finned for two years but I refuse to sale my slappers. I have a 105 freeride that a friend of mine uses. I also have a 85l FSW that I tried once. Both boards and the few sails I have for them take little space and are not worth much so I will keep them. I hope this coming summer I will bring along the 85l board to the Gorge.
for me is a matter of location: inland lake with ligh/gusty wind. Only retirees can consistently use windsurf gear. It you are stuck to after 5 pm on weekdays and free only one day per weekend, foiling is the way to go. Unless, of course, you can drive 3hrs each way to look for wind.

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WillyWind said..
. I haven't finned for two years but I refuse to sale my slappers. I have a 105 freeride that I friend of mine uses it and a 85l FSW that tried to use once. Both boards and the few sails I have for them take little space and are. It worth much so I will keep them. I hope this coming summer I will bring along the 85l board to the Gorge.
for me is a matter of location: inland lake with ligh/gusty wind. Only retirees can consistently use windsurf gear. It you are stuck to after 5 pm on weekdays and free only one day per weekend, foiling is the way to go. Unless, of course, you can drive 3hrs each way to look for wind.

It is completely on track. Question: "Who's gone 100% foiling and why?" Answer: "I am not" (Because it is way more cumbersome, accident prone, and slower, than windsurfing for the conditions I sail in.)

And indeed when and where to windsurf vs windfoil (vs wingfoil) depends on location, wind and the pilot tastes. In the San Francisco Bay area, typical season breezes 15-22 knots, I have seen some people going 100% wingfoil, but very very few are left wind foiling at all. I count two, maybe three among my beach buddies.

30 years ago I learned to windsurf on longboards. Then I followed everyone else towards the silly sinkers, Then I quit windsurfing because I never got to sail and when I did I struggled on that tiny s**t. About 10 years ago the moths started to foil and I realized that foiling was finally coming to the general public. When I saw the windsurfing foils I knew that was my path to foiling. I got started with a 145 liter short board before I got a foil. After years away it was kinda fun for a couple sessions but I got bored quickly. I hated all the sail load required to keep the board planning. I also hated the slapping, it was hard on my body. And with my background in sailing boats I never could deal with how poorly short boards went upwind. So I only windsurf foil. I have no plans to ride a finned short board again but I am looking for a beginner longboard so I can teach and work on some flowstyle!

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duzzi said.And indeed when and where to windsurf vs windfoil (vs wingfoil) depends on location, wind and the pilot tastes. In the San Francisco Bay area, typical season breezes 15-22 knots, I have seen some people going 100% wingfoil, but very very few are left wind foiling at all. I count two, maybe three among my beach buddies.

Must be something in the water over there...
We have 40+ freeride/wave windfoilers in our group, quite a few out in the ocean in all winds (10-30 knots) and swells.
Above 20 knots the ocean comes alive, wind bumps everywhere - a giant foil park

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duzzi said..

It is completely on track. Question: "Who's gone 100% foiling and why?" Answer: "I am not" (Because it is way more cumbersome, accident prone, and slower, than windsurfing for the conditions I sail in.)

Duzzi,

who are you replying to? I NEVER said the thread was off track!

kidding, I said that but then I edited my post because I was wrong


Where I sail there are a ton of new wingers but only one windfoiler fully moved to winging. My guess is that many kiters made the transition and also new people picked up the sport. So I think most people decide what to do based on their local conditions.

I can also see few wingers bobbing around because of the lack of enough wind for their tiny gear at my sailing spot. I think we have already seen that pattern before.

I would rather wavesail, even relatively mushy windswell so long as it's breaking.

But next after that is foiling. I've basically quit any sort of freeride or B&J windsurfing.

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WillyWind said..

duzzi said..

It is completely on track. Question: "Who's gone 100% foiling and why?" Answer: "I am not" (Because it is way more cumbersome, accident prone, and slower, than windsurfing for the conditions I sail in.)

Duzzi,
who are you replying to? I NEVER said the thread was off track!
kidding, I said that but then I edited my post because I was wrong

Tricky move!

I think the great things about adding both windfoiling and wing foiling is that it increases the options. Add SUPing and you'll have a hard time trying to find time to any work.

Not yet, about 50% averaged over the last year. Although it's been nearly 70% for the last 6 months

I got my foil gear in 2020 after 42 years of windsurfing. Although I never planned on quitting windsurfing I have used my windsurf gear twice since then. I just love foiling - the ability to go upwind, downwind swell riding, more time on the water, smaller sails, easier on the body. The last time I windsurfed it felt awkward and slow going. Not sure I will ever do much windsurfing again unless it is in conditions where foiling does not work, which is unlikely because I sail from my house almost exclusively.

Have only foiled in the last few years unless at a vacation spot where the depth makes it impossible. I keep my fin gear for that one place and because I fantasize every couple of months going for a wave or slalom ride. I live too far from anywhere where a fin would be exciting on a regular basis.

No sense in preaching to the choir on the advantage of foil but, as mentioned elsewhere, it's easier to keep a board than sell it for practically nothing so I'm keeping them. Fortunately, I have room for them. Probably should ebay those Formula fins, though.

Sorry guys, not meant to ignite a foil vs fin debate, just stoked on foiling! For me foiling started in my head as a light wind only, but now days I actually things is more fun when its at least 15kts, and super fun when its 25kts, you just need the right gear! Just checked my records, and from my last 35 sails:
11 times on 3.3m
13 times on 4.0m
6 times on 4.8m
5 times on 6.0m

Foil wing sizes:
25 runs on the 1000cm2
5 on the 730cm2
5 on the 550cm2

The only downside really is a lot of the sailing spots being a bit shallow in SEQ. So much different foil stuff to try, getting keen to try winging and prone foiling soon! That said, I reckon given the right conditions, i.e. nuking seabreeze at corros, I'd still love a wave board, but just don't get those days and conditions here.

Sold my trusty 107 isonic last week, been sitting in the garage for over a year.
just kept a floaty board (129 manta) for those few days (like twice a year) when I drive up the bush to those magical shallow spots we have over here.

Using my foils sails with it, can't really say I see a difference except I'd forgotten how physical and tough on the joints slalom was !!!
One hour in 20 knts was plenty enough two days ago !

so for me it's 99% foil

2.5 years on foil, been on fin once in that time and now no longer own any slapper gear.

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swoosh said..
... For me foiling started in my head as a light wind only, but now days I actually things is more fun when its at least 15kts, and super fun when its 25kts, you just need the right gear!

So many times I see someone post here,"I'm interested in lightwind foiling in winds under 20. Over that and I'll be using my regular boards," and, I think: That's what so many of us said.

2+ years ago was my first foil ride. That season sold all the Formula, Slalom Gear. Invested in Foil Only Gear

When at home, it 100% windfoiling (Moses/RRD Pocket Rocket/Ezzy)
When I travel, its wingfoiling (inflatable board (Gong HiPE)

Next add-on is the twin BOOST fins. Getting too old for pumping and slogging to the wind line.

In 2017 I went hard-over into foiling and never looked back. Light wind, strong wind, all foiling. It works.

5+ year of foiling, slalom/ formula gear gone. Still have witchcraft custm wave board if good waves+ a wind>20kn, doesn't happen often but still fun.

No chop to ruin things when foiling. No more chop and no more slappering.

Only foiling now. Started windsurfing in 75'. My joints don't like getting jack hammered in short wavelength chop, like riding moguls on a snowboard . I can use way smaller sails, and the foiling sensation is really addictive. There's more finesse than strength required relative to finning IMO. As I age, I have more finesse than I do strength. More days on the water is also a big bonus.

And with foiling you can always drop down until you are just skipping off the top of waves, like windsurfing, but less stressful and for some reason it feels like I am going faster than when high up on the foil, even though you go faster higher up (to a point) due to less mast in the water.

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swoosh said..
Last week I sold the last of my (slappa) fin gear after not using it for about 18 months. Who's gone 100% foiling and why?

Yeah dude, I sold my slappa gear nearly two years ago now. 100% foil!
Slapping is fun when it's 25kts+, but we hardly ever get those conditions here. If I lived in Maui, I probably wouldn't need a foil. But I don't live in Maui...
I'd say my favorite things about foiling are:
- Gliding depowered downwind and riding wind swells
- Easy gybing
- Easy upwind

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Nikita said..

I'd say my favorite things about foiling are:
- Gliding depowered downwind and riding wind swells
- Easy gybing
- Easy upwind

you summed it upperfectly !!!!

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seanhogan said..

Nikita said..

I'd say my favorite things about foiling are:
- Gliding depowered downwind and riding wind swells
- Easy gybing
- Easy upwind

you summed it upperfectly !!!!

You forgot about the speed. :)))

I've foiling since July 2021. Started with a freeride foil in my 85 wide slalom board. Have not had a fin in that board since. Still been finning on smaller slalom and wave boards. I'm very hooked on the sensations of foiling and can easily imagine the sensations of foiling in 20+ knots as well and going all in on foiling.

I also recognise the point that foiling is easier on the body. That is another temptation with foling. On the other hand, one of the things I really like about finning is that it gives a proper workout when sailing powered up. Not nearly the same on a foil. That's one reason why I will try to resist the temptation of going 100% foiling, and keep finning in between. There are also days with occasional heavy seaweed at my location where the only option is a weed fin.

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Watatait said..
I've foiling since July 2021. Started with a freeride foil in my 85 wide slalom board. Have not had a fin in that board since. Still been finning on smaller slalom and wave boards. I'm very hooked on the sensations of foiling and can easily imagine the sensations of foiling in 20+ knots as well and going all in on foiling.

I also recognise the point that foiling is easier on the body. That is another temptation with foling. On the other hand, one of the things I really like about finning is that it gives a proper workout when sailing powered up. Not nearly the same on a foil. That's one reason why I will try to resist the temptation of going 100% foiling, and keep finning in between. There are also days with occasional heavy seaweed at my location where the only option is a weed fin.

the fact that foiling is less taxing allows me to fin and foil in same session which is cool. But those days are limited to our consistent summer thermal winds and we have some of the best windsurfing conditions in the world. So I imagine if I did not live here I would be 100% foil.