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Wingman WA

Did a demo yesterday with a good rider in Perth that rides smik and F-one, he wanted too replace the smik 5mt as he wanted too get back upwind on some sessions better and as i have found the Smik just doesn't compare too the PPC, my concerns were that it might not be what he was after when he told me his issues, he bought 2 !!

Thanks to Jason for the demo, unfortunately my wallets now lighter for the experience .
I must admit when I first looked at the wing specs and chatted with Jason I wasn't really sure if there would be a spot in my quiver for these wings, but it was a good excuse to do a cut run, so went and gave them a go.
I think eppo's post from Jan 31 pretty much sums up how these wings go. Bullet proof construction, crazy amount of power on tap and ride really nicely flagged out were my first impressions. How a wing rides flagged out is really important for me as I spend a majority of my foil time downwinding and bascally use the wing to either get me on the foil or to get back up wind again and repeat. I've now done a tad over 60k's of downwinding over the last 3 days and the PPC's have performed great. They just seem to sit nicely while you get on and do your surfing thing.
Another preference I've had is to use the smallest size wing possible for the conditions, to make wing handling easier when flagged out. Due to the power available you can quite easily drop down in size. So the 4.8 rides like a 5 and the 3.8 like a 4 give or take.
So while I've been perfectly happy with my current wings, Smiks are everywhere (for good reason) and F-One have left me disillusioned with their Strike wing pricing (The swings are still a great wing btw). I also tend to gravitate towards niche or upcoming brands that can deliver the performance I'm after. PPC delivers, hence my change.
Drop wingman wa a message if you want to give one a demo.

The upwind ability of these wings has blown me away. I'm consistently pointing 6-7 degrees higher. This is a pic of my best angle yet.
Faster upwind means more time downwind.

Found the same. Upwind machine

Just did a Dw in some pretty
angry ocean today with some 25 knot plus gusts on a 3.8... ripped upwind when I found a wave to sit on for a while.

We put the Smik 6m on top of the PPC 5.8 and surprise surprise the PPC is bigger with a longer chord. PPC definitely has more power.

I get the impression the Smik is in reality a 5.5m. As the Unit 6m is much bigger than the 2 as well. Tricky to workout sizes and overlaps with a mix.

Thoughts?

Thoughts ... power is not just a function of proposed surface area. Overall planar shape, rigidity, flat versus more dihedral etc etc. creates a whole swag of pros and cons. But all three of those wings would have you out in very similar conditions so slight differences in overall area are irrelevant. That's my thoughts.

Smik 3.5 / PPC 3.8 / Ensis 5.2
The PPC and Ensis look equivalent but the Smik looks about 3m in comparison

Have Smik 4/5/6 and find no problems matching other brands wings of same m2 for speed and getting going. Even though I am 20kg heavier than everyone else.

The PPC wings look great but do you find you miss the Y handle? I like using them on my Konrad and Ozones overpowered upwind or just for changing how I'm gripping to help avoid fatigue in long sessions.

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Wingman WA said..
The ultimate wing boards are now available in limited sizes and numbers
...

The boards look very nice.

The handle is on the deck in the pictures. Is that how the final product is configured? Everybody else is putting the handle on the bottom.

They're quite a bit more expensive than at least one other brand that offers the same construction (moulded PVC/carbon).

Yeh we do a Full Molded PVC Sandwich Wind Wing Foil board range here in Australia for just over $2K but the difference might be that we just deal direct from our Gold Coast HQ for all of australia which just allows us to do better pricing for the customer as we have no importer. Every brand in every country is a little different.

www.oneoceansportsaustralia.com/shop/wind-wing-boards

Is the construction material used the only factor surely not ? Surely it is the shape both bottom and top, rail design, especially bottom surface design , volume distribution and how the process itself when using the material to actually construct the board.

I have no idea really but to say you have a cheaper board because it uses the same construction material and the reason for the cheaper price is due to your supply chain only, seems a tad simplistic.

Looks like PPC now has direct shipping to Australia and worldwide.

ppcfoiling.com/

I just got a 3.8m from WA Surf and it was within $10 of the price advertised on the PPC website and also included freight.

PPC are sweet wings. Just replaced by Armstrong 4.5 with the PPC 4.8. I overlaid my Smik 6 to the PPC, and they are identical in size!

Smik has a light and springy feeling and it gets me up with the 1850 in 10 knots. PPC feels a bit more solid. I like both.

Now, do I go for the PPC 5.8 for a even more powerful light wind sail?

And what should I look at, something that has more grunt and pump than my Ensis 2.5 but handles wind (above 25 knots) better than the Armstrong 3.5 (which is my favourite wing).

I'm after opinions on the PPC 2.8m for use in very strong winds. Say 30-40 knots with squalls and the odd lull after a squall.

Those are the conditions we had in Melbourne over the weekend. It was doable on 3m and 4m wings but our wings tended to flog a bit when the squalls came through. The waves were fun. The squalls were ... loud.

I'm looking for a simple, sturdy, reliable wing that will be comfortable in the upper wind range with some reserve in the top and bottom end to handle the inevitable gusts and lulls. The locally available wings on the market seem a bit limited in the smaller sizes.

I haven't tried the 2.8m ppc but I reckon it would go well in 30kts (I currently have the 3.8 and 4.8m ppcs). My current high wind wing is a 2.8m F1 swing (which is in the for sale section ). I've only had the conditions to use it the once so far, but it made winging in high winds fun. They feel and look ridiculously small but that also makes handling them a breeze. When depowered if they start to get in the way just give a flick of the wrist and they're out of the way again.
You just need to be a bit wary of the lulls though. I usually use a slightly bigger foil to make sure I can still get foiling when they come through.

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Gorgo said..
I'm after opinions on the PPC 2.8m for use in very strong winds. Say 30-40 knots with squalls and the odd lull after a squall.

Those are the conditions we had in Melbourne over the weekend. It was doable on 3m and 4m wings but our wings tended to flog a bit when the squalls came through. The waves were fun. The squalls were ... loud.

I'm looking for a simple, sturdy, reliable wing that will be comfortable in the upper wind range with some reserve in the top and bottom end to handle the inevitable gusts and lulls. The locally available wings on the market seem a bit limited in the smaller sizes.

Hi, I can attest to the qualities of the PPC 2.8 - we had a mega day in Auckland last Saturday. Averaging 30ish kts most of the day with gusts into the 40's at times. I spent most of the day on the 2.8 and it was great - it does offer a reservoir of grunt in the lulls ( prob down to 25kts) but also good top end. Really only got a bit frisky when the gusts hit the upper 30s or more. Super balanced riding swell. If you've used the 3.8 it is like it's little brother, still grunty but well balanced overall. I rate it. I'm 80 kg and was on the Axis 980 with 420 tail that day, on a 90L board. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the replies. I have just ordered the 2.8. The look and the design of the wing ticks all the boxes and I found it on sale at a very good price.

FWIW 4 out of 5 recent wing sessions have been in 30-40 knot winds. Hopefully I'll get more big winds to try my new toy.

I've used it in only 25 knots (not 30 plus) and it had plenty of top end left in it. It's grunty for its size. Let us know how you go.

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Gorgo said..
I'm after opinions on the PPC 2.8m for use in very strong winds. Say 30-40 knots with squalls and the odd lull after a squall.

Those are the conditions we had in Melbourne over the weekend. It was doable on 3m and 4m wings but our wings tended to flog a bit when the squalls came through. The waves were fun. The squalls were ... loud.

I'm looking for a simple, sturdy, reliable wing that will be comfortable in the upper wind range with some reserve in the top and bottom end to handle the inevitable gusts and lulls. The locally available wings on the market seem a bit limited in the smaller sizes.

F One Strike.
Had the 5m in 25kts and not a hint of back winding...

I used to own an A wing. Great eing indeed. But the Strike tops it IMHO...

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longboard said..
...
F One Strike.
Had the 5m in 25kts and not a hint of back winding...

I used to own an A wing. Great eing indeed. But the Strike tops it IMHO...

The PPC appeals to my aesthetic and design preferences. It looks very clean and simple and sturdy. The reviews and user comments are very positive.

It's also quite cheap on sale. The new price was only slightly more than the price of a used Strike. The Strike doesn't seem to be readily available in Australia.

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Gorgo said..

longboard said..
...
F One Strike.
Had the 5m in 25kts and not a hint of back winding...

I used to own an A wing. Great eing indeed. But the Strike tops it IMHO...

The PPC appeals to my aesthetic and design preferences. It looks very clean and simple and sturdy. The reviews and user comments are very positive.

It's also quite cheap on sale. The new price was only slightly more than the price of a used Strike. The Strike doesn't seem to be readily available in Australia.

Must admit I was on the fence with the PPC wing.
I only hear really good things about it - there's a good possibility that one may be in my future!

Wondering how the weight compares to the F One's...?

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Gorgo said..

longboard said..
...
F One Strike.
Had the 5m in 25kts and not a hint of back winding...

I used to own an A wing. Great eing indeed. But the Strike tops it IMHO...

The PPC appeals to my aesthetic and design preferences. It looks very clean and simple and sturdy. The reviews and user comments are very positive.

It's also quite cheap on sale. The new price was only slightly more than the price of a used Strike. The Strike doesn't seem to be readily available in Australia.

Are these "on sale " somewhere? If so post the details, I love a bargain

They were on sale at wasurf.com.au at about 20% off. They've sold out.

The PPC products are available on ebay. Not sure if the price is discounted much.

Try here
wingmanwa.square.site

Mmmmmmm very tempting!

I just got a 3.8 and took it out on Friday for the first time, gusting 40kts and was blown away by how well behaved, will be buying the 5.8 as well when I have saved enough pennies.

So far I have used Swingwing classic, Duotone Wing, Duotone Echo, Naish S25, and can say this is the pick of the bunch so far. Power on this 3.8 is pretty close to the 5m Duotone, but also handles big wind waaay better, and is way more stable.

The handles take some getting used to after a boom, but that will come, and I miss having windows... apparently I will get used to this.

Jesus 3.8 in 40 knots. Dude what do you weigh 150kg!!! Christ almighty.
I wouldn't say it has the same raw power as my 5m unit ... but power is far more direct and accessible and yeh well behaved in its upper range which is surprising given its ability to get you up And going with good technique at its lower end. Love the 3.8 size. Ideal.

windows ... bla. Only time I ever nearly had a crash was trying to look through the damn things on the unit and lost balanced near someone.

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eppo said..
Jesus 3.8 in 40 knots. Dude what do you weigh 150kg!!! Christ almighty.
I wouldn't say it has the same raw power as my 5m unit ... but power is far more direct and accessible and yeh well behaved in its upper range which is surprising given its ability to get you up And going with good technique at its lower end. Love the 3.8 size. Ideal.

windows ... bla. Only time I ever nearly had a crash was trying to look through the damn things on the unit and lost balanced near someone.

Well I am 105kg, so I'm not a lightweight. I have more weight than technique so usually I am holding down at least 1sqm more sail than other people in any wind sport.

That said, I was well overpowered and could probably have been on a 2.8, but the point is, even overpowered it was still very usable and didn't feel wildly out of control.