Ok, I would think a lot of people are wondering whether or not their interior light wind lake conditions (8-10mph) are actually doable for wingfoiling. Now I realize a 60-70kg pro/expert can probably wingfoil in very light wind conditions (as many videos seem to indicate), but that is not realistic for the majority of people.

So my question is, assuming a weight of 90-100kg, using a big foil (such as axis 1120 BSC) and a big wing (6 or 7m), what is the lowest wind speed can you expect to reasonably foil? Are there any bigger guys out there foiling in 8-10mph with no ocean waves/swell?

Thanks

No.
Just like car and motorcycle racing, surfing, windsurfing, and any sport short of sumo wrestling, it's disadvantaged to start at 220 lbs.
Accept you need 14+, use big gear, and your life will be easier.

I'm 100kg and with a big wing.. big foil.. and big board it's do'able for me in the 10-12 knot range and even lighter winds as long as there's the odd gust to get up on the foil.. I'm using a 7.2m wing in this vid.

The challenge for a big boned individual is just getting onto the foil. I can wing on an AXIS 1020 or 1300 with a 7m Duotone in 10knots easily once I am up. But having a good pumping technique becomes paramount in those conditions to get onto the foil.

Water conditions can help as well. Generally I have found it easier to pump onto the foil into wind swell.

I have also found it easier to pump onto the foil in light winds on my natural stance.

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bigtone667 said..
The challenge for a big boned individual is just getting onto the foil. I can wing on an AXIS 1020 or 1300 with a 7m Duotone in 10knots easily once I am up. But having a good pumping technique becomes paramount in those conditions to get onto the foil.

Water conditions can help as well. Generally I have found it easier to pump onto the foil into wind swell.

I have also found it easier to pump onto the foil in light winds on my natural stance.

Agree with that. @105kg my 6m Smik and 1250 foil gets me up from about 10 to 12knots. Smaller foils are more fun than bigger foils. Faster, handle swell and turn better than bigger foils. The better your technique the smaller you can go. Nothing beats a big foil to learn on.

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hilly said..

bigtone667 said..
The challenge for a big boned individual is just getting onto the foil. I can wing on an AXIS 1020 or 1300 with a 7m Duotone in 10knots easily once I am up. But having a good pumping technique becomes paramount in those conditions to get onto the foil.

Water conditions can help as well. Generally I have found it easier to pump onto the foil into wind swell.

I have also found it easier to pump onto the foil in light winds on my natural stance.

Agree with that. @105kg my 6m Smik and 1250 foil gets me up from about 10 to 12knots. Smaller foils are more fun than bigger foils. Faster, handle swell and turn better than bigger foils. The better your technique the smaller you can go. Nothing beats a big foil to learn on.

Interestingly, I have gone in the opposite direction, high aspect with as much area as I can find. I like glide.

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bigtone667 said..

hilly said..

bigtone667 said..
The challenge for a big boned individual is just getting onto the foil. I can wing on an AXIS 1020 or 1300 with a 7m Duotone in 10knots easily once I am up. But having a good pumping technique becomes paramount in those conditions to get onto the foil.

Water conditions can help as well. Generally I have found it easier to pump onto the foil into wind swell.

I have also found it easier to pump onto the foil in light winds on my natural stance.

Agree with that. @105kg my 6m Smik and 1250 foil gets me up from about 10 to 12knots. Smaller foils are more fun than bigger foils. Faster, handle swell and turn better than bigger foils. The better your technique the smaller you can go. Nothing beats a big foil to learn on.

Interestingly, I have gone in the opposite direction, high aspect with as much area as I can find. I like glide.

But no turning on a swell/wave. Maui wingers are using smaller and smaller wings and foils. Hopefully it will not go windsurfing path and kill the sport.

kdfoils.myshopify.com/blogs/foil-info/light-wind-winging

Select to expand quote

hilly said..

bigtone667 said..

hilly said..

bigtone667 said..
The challenge for a big boned individual is just getting onto the foil. I can wing on an AXIS 1020 or 1300 with a 7m Duotone in 10knots easily once I am up. But having a good pumping technique becomes paramount in those conditions to get onto the foil.

Water conditions can help as well. Generally I have found it easier to pump onto the foil into wind swell.

I have also found it easier to pump onto the foil in light winds on my natural stance.

Agree with that. @105kg my 6m Smik and 1250 foil gets me up from about 10 to 12knots. Smaller foils are more fun than bigger foils. Faster, handle swell and turn better than bigger foils. The better your technique the smaller you can go. Nothing beats a big foil to learn on.

Interestingly, I have gone in the opposite direction, high aspect with as much area as I can find. I like glide.

But no turning on a swell/wave. Maui wingers are using smaller and smaller wings and foils. Hopefully it will not go windsurfing path and kill the sport.

Light Wind Winging - KDFOILS (myshopify.com)

Fortunately lots of gear is made in less perfect locations taking into account lower wind conditions.

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hilly said..

bigtone667 said..

hilly said..

bigtone667 said..
The challenge for a big boned individual is just getting onto the foil. I can wing on an AXIS 1020 or 1300 with a 7m Duotone in 10knots easily once I am up. But having a good pumping technique becomes paramount in those conditions to get onto the foil.

Water conditions can help as well. Generally I have found it easier to pump onto the foil into wind swell.

I have also found it easier to pump onto the foil in light winds on my natural stance.

Agree with that. @105kg my 6m Smik and 1250 foil gets me up from about 10 to 12knots. Smaller foils are more fun than bigger foils. Faster, handle swell and turn better than bigger foils. The better your technique the smaller you can go. Nothing beats a big foil to learn on.

Interestingly, I have gone in the opposite direction, high aspect with as much area as I can find. I like glide.

But no turning on a swell/wave. Maui wingers are using smaller and smaller wings and foils. Hopefully it will not go windsurfing path and kill the sport.

kdfoils.myshopify.com/blogs/foil-info/light-wind-winging

if we are doing gear depending on what's happening in Maui then the sport is doomed. Luckily it seems that there are a few small pockets of winger not on Maui that are also having an effect on the sport. Hopefully this continues.

Yep agree. However using small foils and wings are rewarding in so many ways it is hard to go back to big foils and wings.

Great information and feedback. Thanks, this does give me some hope.

I'm going down to the Gorge tomorrow for my second attempt with wingfoiling. Should be 15-25 knots. I have an Axis 1120mm, 860mm, 75cm mast, 440 tail, and a 6.4m V2 SS.

Question, given my size (6'6", 98kg), if I find that I am over powered, is it best to drop down in foil size or wing size?

If I should go smaller on the foil, is dropping down from the 1120 to 860 a too large of a gap? Should I be going to a 970 BSC or a 1050 HPS instead?

Thanks again.

I weight X and I cannot judge for weight + or - my weight, but my theory is currently, a wing is not like windsurfing, if you weight 90Kg and I weight 70, a 5m will have similar upper range limite, it will become unstable around the same time and over a 90cm mast...the unstable wing kind'a affect both of us the same way. Faster or slower front wing could potentially change that upper limit of a wing.

Im 105kg and I'm using the Echo 7.0 and Gong Zuma 7'3" with 160 litres. Ive recently got the Gong Alleviator XXL which is 2800 cm2 and its blown me away how much its brought my light wind foiling into the 10mph range. I think I need 11-12mph to get up but once I'm up I cam keep going in 8-10 mph with effort and good technique.
I sail on an Estuary and we don't really get swell so most of the chop is a hinderance rather than a help.
So glad there is now a wide variety of kit that can bring the limits down for us larger dudes.

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rfh said..
Great information and feedback. Thanks, this does give me some hope.

I'm going down to the Gorge tomorrow for my second attempt with wingfoiling. Should be 15-25 knots. I have an Axis 1120mm, 860mm, 75cm mast, 440 tail, and a 6.4m V2 SS.

Question, given my size (6'6", 98kg), if I find that I am over powered, is it best to drop down in foil size or wing size?

If I should go smaller on the foil, is dropping down from the 1120 to 860 a too large of a gap? Should I be going to a 970 BSC or a 1050 HPS instead?

Thanks again.

Change your wing.

I use an AXIS 1300 in 10 to 40knots, but I will use a 2m wing in 40knots down to a 7m wing in 10kmots.

The foil type/size only really matters when you start to get into a style of riding (speed, carving, gliding, jumping).

Wow Bigtone, the 1300 must feel like a monster in that upper wind range!

I use my HA1800 foil in everything up to 20-30 knots and using my 2.8m wing.

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Jethrow said..
Wow Bigtone, the 1300 must feel like a monster in that upper wind range!

Not at all, I would describe the lift, turning, drag as exactly the same for me in 10 to 40 knots. Only thing I vary is wing size.

Horses for courses, the bigger foil would work on flat water. If you ride swell the smaller foil is a huge advantage, less breaches and you can turn. I prefer a bigger wing because the wind is fluky around the impact zone and sometimes you need to get out of Dodge. Expensive when you don't as I have found out many a time