What do you think of the action - That first semi final was so sick!

Couple of observations from me -

1. the majority of riders throughout the comp seem to be riding back handed...cant all be goofy riders, can they - so whats the explanation?

2. i watched a lot of heats yesterday from the sick bed - and one thing that struck me was how the dlab unit seems so super stable (that the majority of duotone riders are using) ...but the standard unit based on this heat looks really uncontrollable when flagged out? Check heat 12 for a comparison

Paste this into YT link = ?feature=share&t=14828

i know Oceanbound on youtube reported the same.

3. the new fone wing looks super stable, no?

4. they are all on tiny gear - the local guy Wesley Brito looks a "normal" size (like 90kg plus) and he says he was on a 65 litre, and 750cm front wing

5. the kids are going to dominate this sport

Waaaaay above my level, but made me pumped to shift this cold, and get out and get some swell and waves!

commentator was saying they were on average 65L board, I wonder if it is an industry decision to report that...because board seemed to be more in the 45-50L?
I impressed on how girls charged!!! I'm also impressed how they shred that wave for a first event, way more than my expectation!!!

Hey!
Also watched it. Heat Hugo vs. Wesley was total crazy. Yes dlab very stable. Seems like the RRD goldwing flips over pretty easy!? Slingshot new wings looks baggy flappy to me.
Wtf I am 95 too and happy I can fly with 18 knots on a 1200 frontwing. Ponta 13,14,15 this afternoon following windy app!? Crazy to see whats possible.
Greetings

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northy1 said..
What do you think of the action - That first semi final was so sick!

Couple of observations from me -

1. the majority of riders throughout the comp seem to be riding back handed...cant all be goofy riders, can they - so whats the explanation?

2. i watched a lot of heats yesterday from the sick bed - and one thing that struck me was how the dlab unit seems so super stable (that the majority of duotone riders are using) ...but the standard unit based on this heat looks really uncontrollable when flagged out? Check heat 12 for a comparison

Paste this into YT link =

?feature=share&t=14828

i know Oceanbound on youtube reported the same.

3. the new fone wing looks super stable, no?

4. they are all on tiny gear - the local guy Wesley Brito looks a "normal" size (like 90kg plus) and he says he was on a 65 litre, and 750cm front wing

5. the kids are going to dominate this sport

Waaaaay above my level, but made me pumped to shift this cold, and get out and get some swell and waves!

Heat 9 the normal unit looks pretty good. I've been using the 3.5 & 4.5 v3 a lot and they are super good on wave, used 5.5 for 1st time last week and was super impressed felt as good flagged out as last years 5.5 dlab, couldn't afford the dlabs this year but if I could I would as if better than standard v3 units they are for sure best wing on market.
Wesley is 100kg and can get going on 65L board with 750 foil using 5m dlab in 15knts as it's flat water. As the wave at Ponta Preta is so fast any bigger foil would be unmanageable which is why lighter guys using 550s. You'll notice even the girls were struggling to get going sometimes on 5m wings and had to wait for a puff, no probs on flat water but they would need either more wing, board or foil to get going if was choppy

Hey!
OK it's clear that in big bombing waves u won't have more foil area under ur feet. But yes what I mean is u have to reach the peak with that little foils. Thats what impressed me.
So U don't think the normal unit it's more nervous? I am thinking to switch to this.
Greetings

Add... OK in heat 9 they say its not easy in light wind to get out on the wave with small setup. And the Italian guy struggled a lot once to get on foil.

Just wondering where are the aussie riders?
or the axis and armstrong riders

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Poida said..
Just wondering where are the aussie riders?
or the axis and armstrong riders

Never seen anyone on the GWA tour so far riding Armstrong or Axis, a part from when the tour was in NZ.
Then there was a bunch of locals on both those brands, but they were not pros.

I've seen some Axis riders on the wingfoil racing tour though.

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Poida said..
Just wondering where are the aussie riders?
or the axis and armstrong riders

Downwinding

Last years Dlab flagged heaps better than the std Unit so not surprised. Lighter wings generally flag better from what I've found.

Hated watching kit and competitors getting smashed but judges rewarded staying in the critical section. The top competitors seemed to still go deep but not get munched though. Tough watching Tituan's heart, the other guy risked it all on the winning wave, got the score then got smashed so bad he couldn't compete in the next heat so both athletes missed out. Didn't seem fair.

It's bad enough getting washed up on the rocks with just your surfboard, let alone board, foil and wing.!!