Hi all - I just started winging, after 4 years or so of wind foiling. I weigh 80 kilos or so, have a 5.0 wing, and generally ride in lighter air (10-20 knots), then switch to windsurf in stronger air). I have only done it half a dozen times at this point on an old 7'2" Foil SUP, but am very comfortable. Able to go upwind no problem, downwind okay, and a little wave riding. Not able to switch stance yet.

I'm looking to step up my game and am looking at the Fanatic Sky Wing. I think ultimately the 5'0" would be the right board for me, but am concerned that it may be too technical right now. The problem is the 5'4" is such a different shape and so much more volume! Anyone out there have experience with both that they can share?

I am 100kg and have the 5'4 and 5'8 ..... I use the 5'8 in lighter winds 10-12 knots because you spend a lot of time not on the foil.
I use the 5'0 once I am above 12 knots simply because it is more compact/lighter, less swing weight.

If you think your going to be mainly winging in 10 to 15, then go the board with more volume.

Awesome - thanks!

I'm the same weight, went the 95ltr Naish 5'4 perfect for all conditions. I use it in super choppy and windy with a 3.3 wing, and light with a 5.5wing. I would struggle on a smaller board.

I recommend that you buy both. Get the 5' 4' and use for a couple months till your comfortable with the 5' 0'. Then you can just give the 5'4' to one of your friends who is closer to 90kilos... That is... if you have any friends about that weight who want to get into foiling...hint...hint

DC

I'm about 82kg and have both the 5'0" and the 5'4". I'm a pretty decent winger (transitions are dialed in, can backwind, swell ride, foil through 360s, etc... I don't use straps or a harness) I ride the 5'0" 90% of the time, but it's windy here and I'm also 90% on a 4m wing. I can slog the 5'0", but if the wind drops too much, the board sinks and is harder to stand on. Getting going with the 5'0" in borderline wind is also harder as I need a longer sustained gust to first get the board to the surface and then pump it up on foil. In choppy/swelly water it is also harder to setup on the 5'0". The 5'4" gets going really easily and has good glide even in borderline conditions. I mostly use it w/ my 6m.

The 5'4" is a very good board, and if you have bigger variability in your wind and aren't able to do flying foot switches yet, I'd suggest the 5'4" as a better board. You'll expend a lot less energy setting up again if you fall learning a transition or learning to switch your feet. If I had one board to rule them all, it would be something w/ the bottom shape of the 5'4", the outline of the 5'0", and about 85l. 2022?

YMMV

I also windsurf when it's 4.4 or 4.0 or better.

just uploaded some clips to IG... check them out!

www.instagram.com/p/COgO2-6nvdC/

This is great, thanks! Very nice tack, too. Were those your Mambas?
Do you have any issues with the fact that the 5'4" doesn't have beveled rails, like the others?

DC - if you want to supplement the initial cost, I am sure we could make that happen ;-)

Take a look at the board in this video. Pretty close to the Fanatic 5' 4". There are reasons for this type of bottom and rail shape.

If you can't find the perfect size, I'd recommend 10 liters above bodyweight, you can consider a custom made.
Usually these boards aren't more expensive than a serial board in a comparable technology.
E. g. I ride a MOJO custom, shape like the Sky 5'4, but in a 5'8, 105 liters shape.
Full carbon sandwich, heavy duty construction, 7,6 kg

Select to expand quote

TetonTed said..
This is great, thanks! Very nice tack, too. Were those your Mambas?
Do you have any issues with the fact that the 5'4" doesn't have beveled rails, like the others?

Those are all Mamba 84s... one is mine and the others are for customers.

No issues with no bevels. I think the steeper bevels like on the 5'4" are better actually. The board is more stable. Board touches down fine as does the 5'0". If you touch down after breaching it's pretty much over anyway. Gentle touchdowns during transitions or whatever, I haven't felt huge differences b/w my boards. The high end custom boards being built here and guided by Mike Zajicek have tiny steep bevels forward and hard rails everywhere else. Where they differ from the Sky Wing (and most other boards) is the huge amounts of tail and nose rocker.... and they're sub 10lbs. Pretty interesting stuff and will be fun to look back a year later to see what design trends were just fads and what actually worked. I'm not a shaper, but I have some suspicions.

Also, consider the resale value of anything you buy right now. Supply is incredibly limited, and used boards are going for 80% of new here in SF Bay (don't know where you're located and if you have a secondary market). Sizing down after a month or couple months may not cost you that much assuming you can purchase a replacement. A buddy of mine bought my used Slingshot Outwit 5'10", used it for 6 months, sold it for what he paid for it (I sold it too cheap), and got a Sky Wing 5'0"

Other people have bought boards that were too small to learn on and traded boards w/ someone who wanted to transition down from a larger board.

YMMV

Not sure how Fanatic measure their boards but my 4'8 Sky Wing measured 4'6 nose to tail and the 5'0 measures 4'10. Not sure about the 5'4

Select to expand quote

Relapse said..
Not sure how Fanatic measure their boards but my 4'8 Sky Wing measured 4'6 nose to tail and the 5'0 measures 4'10. Not sure about the 5'4

I think they use the John Holmes standard 12 inch when measuring.

Select to expand quote

bigtone667 said..
I am 100kg and have the 5'4 and 5'8 ..... I use the 5'8 in lighter winds 10-12 knots because you spend a lot of time not on the foil.
I use the 5'0 once I am above 12 knots simply because it is more compact/lighter, less swing weight.

If you think your going to be mainly winging in 10 to 15, then go the board with more volume.

Hey,
im just figuring out my next board. Your a similar weight + 5kgDo you have a 5.0 also? Or just a 5.4?
trying to work out if a 75l would suit me as a 2nd board.


have a 5'8, which I use for lighter days. But want something for full time performance in 16kn +
any help would be great.