i thought these new wings (foils / planes) deserved their own thread

im an axis user but have to admit ive had my head turned quite a lot by the new Sk8 (and their mono bloc tails)...or their marketing!
From what ive read, they look like theyve taken the Eagle as their starting point, and removed the tips, rounded the ends a little and tweaked the plan shape (with a lower AR), and made it surfier.

Anyone used one - thats not an "ambassador" or impartial?

im pretty convinced the wing is gonna be good - my main doubts are actually

i) the fone masts locally dont have the most robust reputation among my local crew...at 90kg im concerned about this albeit i know new carbon masts are due v soon

ii) im not sure if it will work with my Fanatic 95 ie need to be v far fwd, and mean i cant use the straps. So then its not just buying a wing plane and mast - its buying a f-one board eg rocket -s, as well. So "scratching this Sk8 itch" is starting to get pretty expensive!

So maybe i stick to Axis (eg 999), get the Adv crazy fuse and carbon mast and pretend i didnt see the F-one advert...

The dealkiller on F-One is the m6 fuse>mast connection. This is definitely relevant to the question on durability at your weight. I haven't used Fone, but I've sheered m6 bolts on a similar connection and personally wouldn't buy a new setup that relied on m6.

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northy1 said..
i thought these new wings (foils / planes) deserved their own thread

im an axis user but have to admit ive had my head turned quite a lot by the new Sk8 (and their mono bloc tails)...or their marketing!
From what ive read, they look like theyve taken the Eagle as their starting point, and removed the tips, rounded the ends a little and tweaked the plan shape (with a lower AR), and made it surfier.

Anyone used one - thats not an "ambassador" or impartial?

im pretty convinced the wing is gonna be good - my main doubts are actually

i) the fone masts locally dont have the most robust reputation among my local crew...at 90kg im concerned about this albeit i know new carbon masts are due v soon

ii) im not sure if it will work with my Fanatic 95 ie need to be v far fwd, and mean i cant use the straps. So then its not just buying a wing plane and mast - its buying a f-one board eg rocket -s, as well. So "scratching this Sk8 itch" is starting to get pretty expensive!

So maybe i stick to Axis (eg 999), get the Adv crazy fuse and carbon mast and pretend i didnt see the F-one advert...

Fone is releasing 2 new versions of the mast.

As an ex Axis rider, the 999 doesn't turn at all , the Eagle kicks ART out of the park on every aspect for HA foils.

The sk8 looks really good but unless you're a prone surfer or winging in the pocket of waves, the Eagle is a better choice.

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Velocicraptor said..
The dealkiller on F-One is the m6 fuse>mast connection. This is definitely relevant to the question on durability at your weight. I haven't used Fone, but I've sheered m6 bolts on a similar connection and personally wouldn't buy a new setup that relied on m6.

It's probably not the m6 that was the fault..probably the designed of your foil company?So far I never seen m6 problem as you mentioned, there are many f-one users in the area and they jump on wingboard and so far nothing to report and one is at least 95-100kg. Knock on wood because I do use f-one.

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NordRoi said..

Velocicraptor said..
The dealkiller on F-One is the m6 fuse>mast connection. This is definitely relevant to the question on durability at your weight. I haven't used Fone, but I've sheered m6 bolts on a similar connection and personally wouldn't buy a new setup that relied on m6.

It's probably not the m6 that was the fault..probably the designed of your foil company?So far I never seen m6 problem as you mentioned, there are many f-one users in the area and they jump on wingboard and so far nothing to report and one is at least 95-100kg. Knock on wood because I do use f-one.

A local mate has bent 4 Alu blue masts - all replaced under warranty. But is moving to Axis as a result....90kg and doesnt jump. Hence my concern moving the other way (Axis to Fone).

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Alysum said..

northy1 said..
i thought these new wings (foils / planes) deserved their own thread

im an axis user but have to admit ive had my head turned quite a lot by the new Sk8 (and their mono bloc tails)...or their marketing!
From what ive read, they look like theyve taken the Eagle as their starting point, and removed the tips, rounded the ends a little and tweaked the plan shape (with a lower AR), and made it surfier.

Anyone used one - thats not an "ambassador" or impartial?

im pretty convinced the wing is gonna be good - my main doubts are actually

i) the fone masts locally dont have the most robust reputation among my local crew...at 90kg im concerned about this albeit i know new carbon masts are due v soon

ii) im not sure if it will work with my Fanatic 95 ie need to be v far fwd, and mean i cant use the straps. So then its not just buying a wing plane and mast - its buying a f-one board eg rocket -s, as well. So "scratching this Sk8 itch" is starting to get pretty expensive!

So maybe i stick to Axis (eg 999), get the Adv crazy fuse and carbon mast and pretend i didnt see the F-one advert...

Fone is releasing 2 new versions of the mast.

As an ex Axis rider, the 999 doesn't turn at all , the Eagle kicks ART out of the park on every aspect for HA foils.

The sk8 looks really good but unless you're a prone surfer or winging in the pocket of waves, the Eagle is a better choice.

I read a few comments about how the Eagle is so good!I got the impression that Sk8 was like a slightly detuned or more apt - re-purposed Eagle...not quite so glidey, not quite so fast - but better turning?? Sounds good!i think my concern with the Eagle are those tips...indeed there are people on Fbook and here cutting / sanding them away right?
Maybe fine blasting about recreationally in flat water....but if really pushing it hard racing, or in waves when things can easily go wrong (certainly if you are not a pro), they give me the shivers a bit...having said that i had tips on my 420 axis stab.

I have been winging on the sk8 750 for a week. I can't compare with Axis foils as I don't know them but I can compare with the eagle 790 that I have been riding for 8mths and takuma's kujira that I had prior to that.

I'm not an f-one rep but I do love the eagle 790 with c200 stabiliser. Perfect foil for my conditions (mediterranean wind swell). I bought the sk8 out of curiosity. The sk8 turns out to be quite different from the eagle.

Cons:
- Less glide than the eagle in straight lines. Not a huge difference but you can tell from the start.
- Sk8 is a fast foil but not quite as fast as the eagle. Or at least speed does not appear as effortless on the sk8.

Pros:
-Sk8 offers more roll support un turns. You can push a lot harder and do shorter turns compared to the eagle. That gives you so much speed and gets really addicitve... That also offsets the loss of glide.
- A lot more forgiving than the eagle when breaching or riding white water. In short turns you can sometime hear the tail cavitate without falling. No way i would still be standing on the eagle if something like that happenned.

I was really surprised how much fun I had winging waves on the sk8. I felt like I could push my limits further on the sk8. But then someone with better skills might be able to do just as well on the eagle.

Both foils seem very well built. Everything is stiff and locked in place. Also not sure if that qualify as pro or con but fuselage on the sk8 with 160 monobloc tail is 2cm shorter that eagle on xxxs fuse.

Regarding f-one aluminium mast i can add to previous comments as I did bend one a year ago. It was replaced under warranty by the shop. The new one was fine. I now ride on the HM 75 carbon mast.

Cheers.

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Etn said..
I have been winging on the sk8 750 for a week. I can't compare with Axis foils as I don't know them but I can compare with the eagle 790 that I have been riding for 8mths and takuma's kujira that I had prior to that.

I'm not an f-one rep but I do love the eagle 790 with c200 stabiliser. Perfect foil for my conditions (mediterranean wind swell). I bought the sk8 out of curiosity. The sk8 turns out to be quite different from the eagle.

Cons:
- Less glide than the eagle in straight lines. Not a huge difference but you can tell from the start.
- Sk8 is a fast foil but not quite as fast as the eagle. Or at least speed does not appear as effortless on the sk8.

Pros:
-Sk8 offers more roll support un turns. You can push a lot harder and do shorter turns compared to the eagle. That gives you so much speed and gets really addicitve... That also offsets the loss of glide.
- A lot more forgiving than the eagle when breaching or riding white water. In short turns you can sometime hear the tail cavitate without falling. No way i would still be standing on the eagle if something like that happenned.

I was really surprised how much fun I had winging waves on the sk8. I felt like I could push my limits further on the sk8. But then someone with better skills might be able to do just as well on the eagle.

Both foils seem very well built. Everything is stiff and locked in place. Also not sure if that qualify as pro or con but fuselage on the sk8 with 160 monobloc tail is 2cm shorter that eagle on xxxs fuse.

Regarding f-one aluminium mast i can add to previous comments as I did bend one a year ago. It was replaced under warranty by the shop. The new one was fine. I now ride on the HM 75 carbon mast.

Cheers.

Thanks very much for this insight. It's very informative.

I'm just wondering at this point how it pumps, especially compared to a one size smaller eagle.

Anyone here used it for prone that can comment?

Many thanks!!

Just heard that we'll be able to get our hands on some demo SK8 foils in Australia in the next week or two. They're physically in the country, and getting shipped out in the coming days. Personally interested in taking the 850, 950 and 1050 sizes out for a demo here in West Aus - have heard that 950 is a really slick prone foil. At 85kg, that 87cm span will likely make that one a real winner.

Brad: did you end up trying thr larger size sk8 foils?

I have the SK8 950 and have had 4 goes on it so far. I normally ride the SS1200, and the Eagle 990. I have ridden the SS1000 and was very impressed with it but as it is so close to the 950 specs thought I would wait for it.

The first time I rode the 950 was just after I bought it. The wind was 7 knots with gusts to 13 on Seabreeze but where I was would have been less. Normally I would not have bothered trying as it looked too small even for the SS1200, but decided to give it a go. There were a couple other wingers out but not on foil. Surprisingly I managed to get up and stay mostly on the foil. It needs board speed to get up, it felt a little twitchy with the new monobloc tail, felt fast, turns better than the eagle and has a very low stall speed. On occassion, with the wind being light, on the gybes I lost speed and the nose was lifting ready to stall but with a little gust she would right herself and keep flying. Coming in the only other foiler up was on Armstrong 2050.

Have also used in stronger wind it rides very well but they were not perfect conditions. I am hoping that this will be my main foil for the coming season. I prefer the mid aspect foils to the high aspect. It may not be as fast as my Eagle but it is pretty close.

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johndg said..
I have the SK8 950 and have had 4 goes on it so far. I normally ride the SS1200, and the Eagle 990. I have ridden the SS1000 and was very impressed with it but as it is so close to the 950 specs thought I would wait for it.

The first time I rode the 950 was just after I bought it. The wind was 7 knots with gusts to 13 on Seabreeze but where I was would have been less. Normally I would not have bothered trying as it looked too small even for the SS1200, but decided to give it a go. There were a couple other wingers out but not on foil. Surprisingly I managed to get up and stay mostly on the foil. It needs board speed to get up, it felt a little twitchy with the new monobloc tail, felt fast, turns better than the eagle and has a very low stall speed. On occassion, with the wind being light, on the gybes I lost speed and the nose was lifting ready to stall but with a little gust she would right herself and keep flying. Coming in the only other foiler up was on Armstrong 2050.

Have also used in stronger wind it rides very well but they were not perfect conditions. I am hoping that this will be my main foil for the coming season. I prefer the mid aspect foils to the high aspect. It may not be as fast as my Eagle but it is pretty close.

Compared to your ss1200 do you think the sk8 1050 could have the same light wind range ?
I wonder if i could get away with a one wing quiver sk8 1050 for prone foiling 30cm to 1m & wing foiling light and 23knots wind i know im probably day dreaming.

I have pretty much the exact same question as youdigsurf. I'm currently riding the ss1200, but looking for something faster where I can still get up in pretty much as light conditions as the sa1200.

Also, when do you still ride the eagle 990 instead of the sk8?

Sk8 vs eagle, two different foil. The sk8 turns a lot better.

one foil do it all would be the 1080, thick for great take off and still manage waves.

the eagle and sk8 are thinner and requires more wind to get up and foil.
so an alternative if you want a one foil do it all and a fast foil.take like a 950 or 850 sk8 and add wing to your quiver. If you get up and go with a 5.5 on your 1200, take a 950 or 850 and a 7-8m.

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miamiwngr said..
I have pretty much the exact same question as youdigsurf. I'm currently riding the ss1200, but looking for something faster where I can still get up in pretty much as light conditions as the sa1200.

Also, when do you still ride the eagle 990 instead of the sk8?

The new crops of 1050's do things I didn't think possible a year ago. My Omen 1050 replaced my SS1200, Eagle 1090 and 890
and it's essentially my one foil quiver after I sold my session saver Phantom 1480 when I realized I don't enjoy winging under 10 knots.
I have on backorder the SK8 1050 as a backup. 88-90+ kg on a 5.5M max wing and a sinker board.

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burchas said..

miamiwngr said..
I have pretty much the exact same question as youdigsurf. I'm currently riding the ss1200, but looking for something faster where I can still get up in pretty much as light conditions as the sa1200.

Also, when do you still ride the eagle 990 instead of the sk8?

The new crops of 1050's do things I didn't think possible a year ago. My Omen 1050 replaced my SS1200, Eagle 1090 and 890
and it's essentially my one foil quiver after I sold my session saver Phantom 1480 when I realized I don't enjoy winging under 10 knots.
I have on backorder the SK8 1050 as a backup. 88-90+ kg on a 5.5M max wing and a sinker board.

So you gonna compare the sk8 against your omen ?

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youdigsurf said..

burchas said..

miamiwngr said..
I have pretty much the exact same question as youdigsurf. I'm currently riding the ss1200, but looking for something faster where I can still get up in pretty much as light conditions as the sa1200.

Also, when do you still ride the eagle 990 instead of the sk8?

The new crops of 1050's do things I didn't think possible a year ago. My Omen 1050 replaced my SS1200, Eagle 1090 and 890
and it's essentially my one foil quiver after I sold my session saver Phantom 1480 when I realized I don't enjoy winging under 10 knots.
I have on backorder the SK8 1050 as a backup. 88-90+ kg on a 5.5M max wing and a sinker board.

So you gonna compare the sk8 against your omen ?

I certainly will. With the brief experience on both the SK8 and the Omen I was confident enough to jump on the Omen and sell all my
other F-one foils. I got a good deal on a SK8 1050 front wing so I jumped on it as I have other parts to build the plane and use it as a backup.

F-one is a great system but the Omen foil allowed me to cut down my quiver to one foil and focus more on my riding skills.
Past experiences thought me it is good to have a backup to fall back onto and I can't think about a better one than the SK8 1050.

What's an Omen 1050 ?

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johndg said..
I have the SK8 950 and have had 4 goes on it so far. I normally ride the SS1200, and the Eagle 990. I have ridden the SS1000 and was very impressed with it but as it is so close to the 950 specs thought I would wait for it.

Hi Johndg- Any more thoughts on the SK8 950 now that you've had it for a while? Especially in comparison to the Eagle 990. Do you still find the SK8 to be twitchy?
I like the idea of the monobloc tail and was thinking it would also pair well w/ an Eagle 990. But maybe it's too twitchy? Of course it depends on rider preference, but curious what your experience has been.

Axis riders curious/wanting the SK8 and concerned about the F One mast can always go this route: A doodad that converts an Axis All mast to F One. Is kinda speedy though.....

www.wingingwa.com.au/product-page/new-f-one-foil-adaptor-to-axis-ally-mast

It's in french you can turn on automatic translation, it's very interesting about the sk8, they said the sk8 is more accessible than a eagle, they started the outline of the sk8 by chopping the winglet on the eagle , but they noticed they were lacking of roll or rail to rail feeling so they tuned the sk8 to offer more maniability and roll.
the sk8 has a monobloc plane to improve the hydrodynamic some fence on the tail ( they said the fence improve maniability).

Maniability should be maneuverability!

The above post I have quickly watched in part and it is a good in depth story of the SK8.

Regarding how I am going with the 950, I still have not had a lot of use on it. The weather here has not been kind and I prefer the WA sea breeze summer conditions. I can say this will be my main winging foil in the summer. The SS1200 is my light wind foil but is still a good allrounder and I am very familiar with it. I ride it with the XXS fuse and the c200 tail. The SK8 950 came with the same setup but in the monobloc. Overall the fuse length is several inches shorter than the Seven Seas 1200, but I think the monobloc is an improvement.

At the moment I have been practicing with a downwind board getting up in flat water. Can't get up but I am improving using Axxis 1300 and GoFoil 2600 going between 7'6 23" board and 6'9" 26" board. Longer and skinnier has more glide. The interesting thing is that this has had an effect on my winging. I am more conscious of the foil and engaging it instead of relying mainly on the wing to get going. I think with good technique, foil size is not so important.

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johndg said..
Maniability should be maneuverability!

The above post I have quickly watched in part and it is a good in depth story of the SK8.

Regarding how I am going with the 950, I still have not had a lot of use on it. The weather here has not been kind and I prefer the WA sea breeze summer conditions. I can say this will be my main winging foil in the summer. The SS1200 is my light wind foil but is still a good allrounder and I am very familiar with it. I ride it with the XXS fuse and the c200 tail. The SK8 950 came with the same setup but in the monobloc. Overall the fuse length is several inches shorter than the Seven Seas 1200, but I think the monobloc is an improvement.

At the moment I have been practicing with a downwind board getting up in flat water. Can't get up but I am improving using Axxis 1300 and GoFoil 2600 going between 7'6 23" board and 6'9" 26" board. Longer and skinnier has more glide. The interesting thing is that this has had an effect on my winging. I am more conscious of the foil and engaging it instead of relying mainly on the wing to get going. I think with good technique, foil size is not so important.

Pardon my french . Yes monobloc offer a thinner tail with no screw , the stab is centered and not on top. I ride the the seven seas 1400 for my goto the range of use is hugeeee . I've seen somepeople riding micro wave on prone foil with the 950, too back you cant test it yet and tell us how it goes in winging.

First session on the SK8 last week in some small waves off SW Wales last week, absolutely blown away by it in comparison to Sab 800/1000..

I would be keen to try it on a DW style board for lighter winds..

Nice riding did you tried the onda from sab?

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youdigsurf said..
Nice riding did you tried the onda from sab?

Yes, I had the 945, 940 Onda and Blade 800/1000 and used the 799 a fair bit.. I think the Sab kit is good to a point but found they were slightly unpredictable in bigger swell/waves or turning really hard, it got to a point where i wouldn't push as hard as i wanted because i didn't know what it was going to do.

It could have been the mast was too thick or flexible causing cavitation (82 Surf) the Kraken may have been better but it would have been a big investment for possibly no return..