Select to expand quote

Twimby said..
What Spitfire would be closest to the 880?. Was going to get the 880 for dinging. I find the 930 too big in waves and need a 4m wind to get my 830 going. Thanks.

My guesstimate/impression from asking around, limited experience with the 900 is that both the 840 and 900 could easily replace, improve on the 880 in your quiver. Absolute ideal would depend on your weight, whether you want to prioritize speed/turning or glide/bottom end. In an Axis FB post, Adrian was asked about SF size comparison to 880, Adrian said for winging, either could work. I haven't personally been on the 840, but a pretty capable friend who is 85kg has and he loves it, sees it as a replacement for his 880, says bottom end as good if not easier to get up on than the 880 w/ big performance increase. I was considering both wings, had a chance to try and buy a demo 900... had a total blast- felt it was an upgrade with more range for me than the 880 and they were out of 840s. Sooo- instant gratification won the day, got off the water and said- I'll take it! If I was closer to weighing 80kg I think I may have waited to try an 840 before deciding.

Hopefully something in that helps or makes sense

i too am deliberating 900 vs 840 - im 87kg and ride 1050, 999 (mostly 999) and have a 930 i used to ride until i got the 999 then kinda fell out of fashion. i tried it again yesterday and its fine but a less exciting when its flat....feels easier, more predictable and bigger than the 999. im wondering if Sptifire 900 would be good, or actually too close to the 999 (and feel similar to 930) and that 840 would be better but my head is thinking something <90cm wide will be hard to start and need 20kts (typical conditions are 12-22kts - ldeally waves but and swell but also flat water in summer)

Another HPS 1050 winging fan gone to the Spitfires. I have tried the ART (999) and the PNG big wings (1300 and 1310) and didn't like any of them. The 1050 has always been really fun and predictable (and I have really liked the 930 in bigger swell) and I've been completely happy with it. But after three sessions in highly powered 3m and 5m and underpowered 4m, the SF 1100 has displaced the 1050. I liked the way the 1050 turns, but the 1100 is just smoother, especially jibing on swell. The 1100 adjusts to the up-and-down to go upwind in steep chop better than the HPS. The glide is better and it feels looser without being squirrely. It might be a little harder to pump onto foil in light winds (not sure) but if so, not by much - and like the 1050 it works for lightwind takeoffs with a combination of wing and foot pumps. Pumping downwind on swell is a little better than the 1050. I'm ~80kg using a 100 liter downwind board.

Recently tested 999 and SF 900 back to back. 999 was easier to get on foil has noticeable better glide and speed. 900 generally more easy going, easier to turn from edge to edge and handles choppy conditions better. I think Spitfire works best for steeper waves when you can get the speed up, something I expreienced a few times, but for my local conditions the glide of ART still beats the fun turns of the spitfire.

Had an interesting day on the water pretty powered up on a 5m fly, and Axis 1050 / 400, fairly choppy conditions, and as the wind picked up I decided to give my new SP960 a go. I am 92kgs so I decided to get this to replace the 980hps.
I haven't got a skinny rear for it so just used my 400p rear stab, first thing I noticed was the really progressive lift, and minimal need to pump to get it going, I didn't expect it to pick up as fast as it did, kinda expected to wallow a bit, I did push the mast a few inches further forward that my 1050hps and it seemed to be spot on. Definitely a lot faster, I did stall a few times on the gybes as I didn't find it glided through the turns as easily as the 1050 but this could be due to not having it set quite right and maybe the need to change the rear stab. But it's very loose and Playful. Any advice on the rear stab would be appreciated. definitely feel this will be a joy to handle in larger wind bumps and swell.

Select to expand quote

Driks said..
Honestly I don't see a spitfire outline in the fluid. I used the skinny 365/55 with HPS 1050 and 930 and I can say it's faster then the 400p and also feels more turntable. It's definitely thinner than the progressive.

Very interesting, I am with the 1050 and 880 and use the 425P for both as the 880 was bought cheap, but looking at the skinnies to see what I can do to progress. I think the Spitfire is more suited to prone surfing or riders that use the wing to get up on the surf line, for me more a traditional wing foiler, up on foil few turns catch some swell, I believe the HPS can't be beaten for that?

Select to expand quote

AGK7 said..
Another HPS 1050 winging fan gone to the Spitfires. I have tried the ART (999) and the PNG big wings (1300 and 1310) and didn't like any of them. The 1050 has always been really fun and predictable (and I have really liked the 930 in bigger swell) and I've been completely happy with it. But after three sessions in highly powered 3m and 5m and underpowered 4m, the SF 1100 has displaced the 1050. I liked the way the 1050 turns, but the 1100 is just smoother, especially jibing on swell. The 1100 adjusts to the up-and-down to go upwind in steep chop better than the HPS. The glide is better and it feels looser without being squirrely. It might be a little harder to pump onto foil in light winds (not sure) but if so, not by much - and like the 1050 it works for lightwind takeoffs with a combination of wing and foot pumps. Pumping downwind on swell is a little better than the 1050. I'm ~80kg using a 100 liter downwind board.

Nice to hear, what stab are you using?

The spitfire sounds like a great foil. Does anyone have any thoughts on how it may work for windfoiling in Great Lakes close period chop and waves?

Alternative view - I wing in choppy waters where the only waves we get are wind driven swell and currently have the HPS 1050/930/830 with a 400P tail and crazy short advance fuselage on an HM 90 mast.

I have now tried both the Spitfire 960 and 900 and handed them both back - yes they have a bit more glide when you are on a wave, off a wave I didn't feel they offered much if anything over the HPS, they feel slower than the equivalent sized HPS and are more sticky to get up out of the water, especially the 900 which felt way more sticky than the HPS 930. The 900 also dropped off foil earlier than the HPS 930, it can't foil at the lower speeds the HPS 930 can achieve. Much of the time when cruising on foil it felt draggy - I can't explain this but I kept feeling like I was towing weeds when foiling on the Spitfire 900, several times I got off to check my foil only to discover nothing. The HPS 930 feels alive and engaging, the Spitfire 900 felt very muted and not very engaging to ride - I kept thinking give it more of a chance, give it time to grow on you but three hours later I still felt the same.

I just found the Spitfire a perfectly OK foil and if it was all I could ride I'd probably be happy - but - nowhere near ground breaking enough to make me want to hand over money or move away from the HPS range.

Given a choice between the Spitfire 900 or 960 and the HPS 930 I'd take the HPS 930 every time.

Temper this with the conditions I sail in - we don't really get any sort of waves that the Spitfire is designed for - just wind blown swell, so it's probably just not the tool for the job at my spot.

I'm waiting on the new Art Pro range now as maybe this will offer a bit more of what I want - speed and glide, without being a roller coaster in chop or too stiff in the turns.

People asked for a non hype review - well I think mine probably counts as that, the Spitfire isn't what I'm looking for in a foil. Others opinions I'm sure will differ but it's definitely not for me.

Select to expand quote

Twimby said..
What Spitfire would be closest to the 880?. Was going to get the 880 for dinging. I find the 930 too big in waves and need a 4m wind to get my 830 going. Thanks.

I hear the 900 Spitty is a 'GAME CHANGER'

Well I can attest to it changing my riding style with my new approach to aggressive tip breaching turning. That may be game changing to someone like me who only rides HPS before. Don't really care for sharing the hype I expect there is tradeoffs in most foils unless someone has designed something spectacularly non productive. I noticed the spitfire 900 was a bit damp compared to my HPS 830, though not quite an apples to apples comparison with wing span.

The spitfire felt like it was kind of on suspension through the wind chop and traction through corners with tip out is novel. I felt confidence to ride high and funky and not drop out. Very fun to keep pushing it to find the limit. Slower to accelerate off the mark but still fast enough.
HPS more like riding on a solid stiff platform where you can feel the rise of every bump and (it might user based but) I have to actively trim board height over every bump to not breach and drop out. For example when doing a speed run up for a jump I would sometimes crash out.

I bought the 960 after testing the 900 and 1030.

Select to expand quote

MeonAsh said..
Alternative view - I wing in choppy waters where the only waves we get are wind driven swell and currently have the HPS 1050/930/830 with a 400P tail and crazy short advance fuselage on an HM 90 mast.

I have now tried both the Spitfire 960 and 900 and handed them both back - yes they have a bit more glide when you are on a wave, off a wave I didn't feel they offered much if anything over the HPS, they feel slower than the equivalent sized HPS and are more sticky to get up out of the water, especially the 900 which felt way more sticky than the HPS 930. The 900 also dropped off foil earlier than the HPS 930, it can't foil at the lower speeds the HPS 930 can achieve. Much of the time when cruising on foil it felt draggy - I can't explain this but I kept feeling like I was towing weeds when foiling on the Spitfire 900, several times I got off to check my foil only to discover nothing. The HPS 930 feels alive and engaging, the Spitfire 900 felt very muted and not very engaging to ride - I kept thinking give it more of a chance, give it time to grow on you but three hours later I still felt the same.

I just found the Spitfire a perfectly OK foil and if it was all I could ride I'd probably be happy - but - nowhere near ground breaking enough to make me want to hand over money or move away from the HPS range.

Given a choice between the Spitfire 900 or 960 and the HPS 930 I'd take the HPS 930 every time.

Temper this with the conditions I sail in - we don't really get any sort of waves that the Spitfire is designed for - just wind blown swell, so it's probably just not the tool for the job at my spot.

I'm waiting on the new Art Pro range now as maybe this will offer a bit more of what I want - speed and glide, without being a roller coaster in chop or too stiff in the turns.

People asked for a non hype review - well I think mine probably counts as that, the Spitfire isn't what I'm looking for in a foil. Others opinions I'm sure will differ but it's definitely not for me.

Thanks for the review. I am assuming that you rode the Spitty with that 400p? If so, that is probably why it felt draggy. The spitfires are a new breed of thin/slippery and need to be paired with a non-draggy tail. I run my 900 with a sillyshort advance and a kd Marlin 14" tail which is very thin and fast. I also ride on lake chop and absolutely love the 900. I used to have a bunch of hps wings including the 830. The 830 was my favorite hps of the lineup. I only rode it when powered up, otherwise it was a chore to get up and stay up. I feel that the 900 is better than the 830 in so many ways. Gets up easier, glides farther, can be ridden at a much larger range of speeds including very slow, is very intuitive in pushing hard carves, enables me to fly it closer to surface because it recovers so nicely on a breach, pumps way better. I think the 900 needs at least a 325p or smaller to unlock its performance potential, or a Marlin or a skinny. Just my opinion.

Select to expand quote

broVan said..

Thanks for the review. I am assuming that you rode the Spitty with that 400p? If so, that is probably why it felt draggy.

I also rode the HPS 930 on the 400P - so I would have to ask here if the Spitfire is a new breed and slippery, how come when using the same tail stab it feels more draggy than the HPS 930. This to me makes little sense. What you are in essence saying is that the Spitfire is more draggy and therefore needs a smaller tail to feel as free flowing as an HPS - fine if you want a really twitchy foil on a tiny tail stab - which in the choppy waters I ride in is not really what I want at all.

Select to expand quote

MeonAsh said..

broVan said..

Thanks for the review. I am assuming that you rode the Spitty with that 400p? If so, that is probably why it felt draggy.

I also rode the HPS 930 on the 400P - so I would have to ask here if the Spitfire is a new breed and slippery, how come when using the same tail stab it feels more draggy than the HPS 930. This to me makes little sense. What you are in essence saying is that the Spitfire is more draggy and therefore needs a smaller tail to feel as free flowing as an HPS - fine if you want a really twitchy foil on a tiny tail stab - which in the choppy waters I ride in is not really what I want at all.

Not my experience at all or my friends, but don't doubt what you say. I suspect it may be tuning but who knows? Hard to get a clear picture of a foil without having it out a few times and playing with things. I have wing-nuts on my mastbase which makes adjustments in the water super easy. I definitely had to move it around to get it feeling right. For myself at 95kg, the 900SF feels a lot better-came alive once I pushed the mast further forward in the boxes. I'd guess close to an inch further forward than I ride my 880/980 HPS.

Hi guys!
Any news from the spitfire front? Still thinking about replacement of the 1050. Maybe 1100 or 1030. But I am confused and have no test options. I am already at ultrashort advanced and skinny with the 1050 and it's pretty cool. But when I come from my 930 after wind is dropping it feels very slow and Sluggish. So I wondered if the 1100 will be much more lively!? Also thought about the 1030 instead but it is pretty near to the 930 with 13xx cm2! I weigh 95 and I am intermediate to advanced rider. Like to have faster runs with serval turns in between and downwind chope surfing. Thanx

Select to expand quote

Driks said..
Hi guys!
Any news from the spitfire front? Still thinking about replacement of the 1050. Maybe 1100 or 1030. But I am confused and have no test options. I am already at ultrashort advanced and skinny with the 1050 and it's pretty cool. But when I come from my 930 after wind is dropping it feels very slow and Sluggish. So I wondered if the 1100 will be much more lively!? Also thought about the 1030 instead but it is pretty near to the 930 with 13xx cm2! I weigh 95 and I am intermediate to advanced rider. Like to have faster runs with serval turns in between and downwind chope surfing. Thanx

I don't normally ride axis but had a go on a HM mast and 1100 spitfire in 20 mph winds .
it turns pretty well but it felt a bit slow and draggy to me compared to other wings I've tested recently I.e F one seven seas and a gong curve H .

Hi!
OK how was the setup? Skinny rear? What was ur gong setup?
Cheers

Select to expand quote

Driks said..
Hi!
OK how was the setup? Skinny rear? What was ur gong setup?
Cheers

Sorry I am not sure but I can check with the guys who lent me their gear when when I return from vacation and I will get all the info .

Select to expand quote

Driks said..
Hi guys!
Any news from the spitfire front? Still thinking about replacement of the 1050. Maybe 1100 or 1030. But I am confused and have no test options. I am already at ultrashort advanced and skinny with the 1050 and it's pretty cool. But when I come from my 930 after wind is dropping it feels very slow and Sluggish. So I wondered if the 1100 will be much more lively!? Also thought about the 1030 instead but it is pretty near to the 930 with 13xx cm2! I weigh 95 and I am intermediate to advanced rider. Like to have faster runs with serval turns in between and downwind chope surfing. Thanx

I'm riding a 1050hps and 960SF, haven't ridden an 1100SF but my wing buddy does as his one wing. It is slightly faster than my 1050 and has better glide and turns better. Better up wind too.
As expected the 960 is faster than both and turns great. Very easy to get up too, in fact I hardly ride the 1050 now as with a little pumping I can usually get on the foil on the 960 in anything above 14 knots. 85kg intermediate level.

Hey!
Thanx. I ordered the 1100 already to replace 1050. Later 960 to replace 930. But it's expensive shxx! Thought about Gong curve H again as it has similar program and data. But I was pissed once and left gong because of wobbling frontwings and breaking fuselage. Can not really go back.
Greetings

New Spitfire released
axisfoils.com/collections/spitfire/products/spitfire-1180

I got to demo the new 1180 on a 50L prone foil board using Foil Drive Assist+. I was wake thieving in Auckland harbour. I have the PNG1300 and ART Pro 1201 and HPS1050 to compare the Spitfire 1180 against and @85kegs.
The 1180 was harder to get up than the 1300 and 1201 especially when the battery was below 50%.
The turning of the 1180 is next level! I had a few "Oh Wow" moments as was linking front and back side turns with more of a surf style than ever before - this is how I want a big foil to turn! You can change the radius of the turn to match the wake/swell without losing speed- compared to the 1300 and 1201 which feel locked-into their turn.
I'm still learning to pump but I found the 1180 was smooth and predictable and had great glide. It's fast too and I got some big fast wake and was flying high and fast on the mast and again it was: stable, smooth, predictable and had great glide at speed.
I reluctantly had to hand it back to Mr Axis and demanded that he designs a bigger version that would give me more battery life as the 1180 is such a lovely foil. Apparently we need to watch this space...

Select to expand quote

Britfoil360 said..

Driks said..
Hi guys!
Any news from the spitfire front? Still thinking about replacement of the 1050. Maybe 1100 or 1030. But I am confused and have no test options. I am already at ultrashort advanced and skinny with the 1050 and it's pretty cool. But when I come from my 930 after wind is dropping it feels very slow and Sluggish. So I wondered if the 1100 will be much more lively!? Also thought about the 1030 instead but it is pretty near to the 930 with 13xx cm2! I weigh 95 and I am intermediate to advanced rider. Like to have faster runs with serval turns in between and downwind chope surfing. Thanx

I don't normally ride axis but had a go on a HM mast and 1100 spitfire in 20 mph winds .
it turns pretty well but it felt a bit slow and draggy to me compared to other wings I've tested recently I.e F one seven seas and a gong curve H .

1100 seems big for 20 knots tho.

Hi!
Serval times now I used the SF 900 in different conditions. What really surprised me was Surffoil with my 95kg in average French Atlantic conditions. Mainly waist high and pretty flat wave face. Some chest to shoulder. I thought it would be to small but it worked good. So I think I could choose smaller in steeper waves.
The other thing was 20 to 30 knots with an 2023 3.5 north nova lake like water body (Lagoon) behind the dunes. Wind chop ofc. That was pretty funny, felt fast (also compared to the 999), super turny with the biggest skinny and crazy short advanced +. At some point it felt like craving in powder with a snowboard. Good amount of front foot pressure. At the start I thought it's to much. The 999 felt very stable and locked in in same conditions.
Hope it helps others to make Decisions. Over all more turnable and breachable than the ART less glide nearly similar speed (ofc ART is faster). ART 999 got surface of 1030... SF 900 1080.

Anyone know the biggest spitfire that is ok for jumping I.e. doesn't have the not for jumping writing on it. Currently got a 840 and 1030 (light wind saviour) and consider ing the 960 or 900 to still enable jumping on the lighter days. The 840 is great but on gusty lakes a little more lift would be nice while still being able to jump.

Select to expand quote

Qtwind said..
Anyone know the biggest spitfire that is ok for jumping I.e. doesn't have the not for jumping writing on it. Currently got a 840 and 1030 (light wind saviour) and consider ing the 960 or 900 to still enable jumping on the lighter days. The 840 is great but on gusty lakes a little more lift would be nice while still being able to jump.

Pretty sure it's the 900

960 is the limit (960 is allowed)

Select to expand quote

Powis said..
960 is the limit (960 is allowed)

Nice, that makes it very versatile for sure.??