Last week we went on a family trip to Raglan, NZ where I met up with the Armstrong Foils crew and got to try the 1200 and 1600 wings. Here are my impressions of the foils and a little travel story. I will post a detailed interview with Armie Armstrong next week, cheers!
Nice! I was there a bazillion years ago, on my list for a middle age return. Your video reminds me of the fun to be had, foils and kites will up the fun factor x3 I reckon. Though a lot more gear to cart around than the single shortboard days. :-)
No shots of the beginning of rides -- or none I saw, as I flipped through the video. Short board with straps -- assume you were towing in?
Select to expand quotejuandesooka said..
Nice! I was there a bazillion years ago, on my list for a middle age return. Your video reminds me of the fun to be had, foils and kites will up the fun factor x3 I reckon. Though a lot more gear to cart around than the single shortboard days. :-)
No shots of the beginning of rides -- or none I saw, as I flipped through the video. Short board with straps -- assume you were towing in?
Glad you liked it.
I'm paddling into the waves and have the camera mounted by the paddle blade. The video is no good when paddling as the camera is partially underwater and jerky, so I always edit it out.
Select to expand quoteblueplanetsurf said..juandesooka said..
Nice! I was there a bazillion years ago, on my list for a middle age return. Your video reminds me of the fun to be had, foils and kites will up the fun factor x3 I reckon. Though a lot more gear to cart around than the single shortboard days. :-)
No shots of the beginning of rides -- or none I saw, as I flipped through the video. Short board with straps -- assume you were towing in?
Glad you liked it.
I'm paddling into the waves and have the camera mounted by the paddle blade. The video is no good when paddling as the camera is partially underwater and jerky, so I always edit it out.
that's a big oops....was watching it on my phone, tiny screen....now see it on my computer, "duh", there's the paddle shaft! :-)
Anyways, nice video, sure makes me look forward to getting back someday sooner than later.
Select to expand quotekitemantim said..
Hi
Will we have blue planet boards in NZ any time soon.
tim
Hi Tim,
We don't have a distributor in NZ yet but we offer free board shipping to Auckland airport by Hawaiian Air Cargo. Just check our website to see what's available and call or email us to place an order.
www.blueplanetsurf.com
Here is the full interview with Armie Armstrong, where we talk about the history of Armstrong Foils, the design, construction and features of the foils, issues with corrosion and why they use a titanium core in the fuselage, as well as tips for surf and downwind foiling, his experiences in the M2M and M2O races last year and the direction of the industry, and more, enjoy:
Looks like an F1 in foiling, a must have if you got it. Maybe oneday I'll buy the amrstrong toys. Thanks for the vid blueplanet.
Great interview. I think his tapered mast stiffness ideas and observation is a really good point.
Thanks for this video
I've already decided that my next foil will be an Armstrong, just need to wait for Armie to develop some more wing sizes.
I'm waiting for something between the 12 & 1600, similar size to NP Glide M / Axis 750 ??
Select to expand quotetoppleover said..
I've already decided that my next foil will be an Armstrong, just need to wait for Armie to develop some more wing sizes.
I'm waiting for something between the 12 & 1600, similar size to NP Glide M / Axis 750 ??
With you there. Just ordered the 1600 @ 100kg so hoping they bring out a 2000. The 2400 looks too big. Surf only no DW.
Select to expand quoteblueplanetsurf said..
Here is the full interview with Armie Armstrong, where we talk about the history of Armstrong Foils, the design, construction and features of the foils, issues with corrosion and why they use a titanium core in the fuselage, as well as tips for surf and downwind foiling, his experiences in the M2M and M2O races last year and the direction of the industry, and more, enjoy:
Awesome vid. Sold me on the product. As well as this one (Warning annoying speaker ahead)
I have the 800, 1200, 1600 and 2400. I'm 110kg. The 1600 is epic for surfing. I use the -0.5 shim. It's surfs unreal and could be used downwind. I've had a few glides dw on it but I'm a rookie with dw and have only been a few times. Mainly use it in the river mouth which is pretty much bump chasing. The 1200 is out of this world! Need to surf the pocket with it which is good for improving your skills????
The 1600 looks beautiful.
I am wary of the smaller wings. I think everyone was SLOW to work towards larger wings and it hurt the world. I currently will ride a GoFoil Iwa wing in virtually ALL surf sizes e.g. 3 ft face to 15+ foot faces. The small wings may get up and fly but once your out of the energy you're struggling to stay in flight. I am not wedded to GoFoil I am seeing a lot of potential in slimmer profile wings and the new high aspect wings.
These Armstrongs appear to be fantastic. The fuselage, the clean lines, the titanium parts. . . . There is just so much switching cost between brands and confidence to be built up. I would like to see some videos of them riding the bigger waves with the smaller wings.
Select to expand quoteBeasho said..
would like to see some videos of them riding the bigger waves with the smaller wings.
Like this one
Select to expand quoteBeasho said..
The 1600 looks beautiful.
I am wary of the smaller wings. I think everyone was SLOW to work towards larger wings and it hurt the world. I currently will ride a GoFoil Iwa wing in virtually ALL surf sizes e.g. 3 ft face to 15+ foot faces. The small wings may get up and fly but once your out of the energy you're struggling to stay in flight. I am not wedded to GoFoil I am seeing a lot of potential in slimmer profile wings and the new high aspect wings.
These Armstrongs appear to be fantastic. The fuselage, the clean lines, the titanium parts. . . . There is just so much switching cost between brands and confidence to be built up. I would like to see some videos of them riding the bigger waves with the smaller wings.
Yes Armie Armstrong put a lot of time an effort into his Foil Wing. I remember watching Armie on Maui, Armie was just frothing like a little grommet with ADHD after a glass of Red Cottee's Cordial; hahahaha, Armie was on a mission. I witnest Armie's very first Maliko run on the Armstrongfoil he just punishing himself had like 50 falls in the 15 kilometre Maliko Run that took Armie 2 hours to complete "What A Great Test Piolet" on that same day/same run Kai Lenny foils Maliko on his small prototype SUP foil - GoFoil wing does Maliko in 48 minutes with only 2 falls (on a very good Maliko Run on a 18ft Downwind SUP takes 60 minutes) the foils now are going under 38 minutes for a Maliko Run.
Armie Armstrong is a legend of a bloke BUT a f@#en Kiwi. The good thing is, he lives in his owen country and not Australia.
I will own a Armstrong Wing one day the design looks very good (BUT the masks has way too much flex in them like the GoFoil with the 200 wing - The NP mask dosen't flex which I think is The Best) I am lucky I'll get the mates rates discount when I buy the Armstrongfoil thanks Armie, Legend. You can stay at my place when you visit Australia just don't call me Bro OK Mate.
When I say "Big Wave" I should add "Un-Assisted."
I love Bertish's stoke but Laird was pulling into big waves on foils 20 years ago. Here is a shot I took of Haley Fiske off Pedro Point.
Haley is a nut and rides THE BIGGEST WAVES THAT CAN BE CAUGHT under your own power.
The day before was a legit Mavericks day but the wind kicked up out of the South. Buoys were 18ft @ 14 seconds. This wave sets up and then fades but gets nasty scary before it fades. Watching Haley is crazy, inspirational and terrifying. After I saw him catch a few further inside he said "I've been practicing." This was the day I learned that if the wave is big enough it is OK to fly into the flats because there will be enough contour and energy to get you back to the shoulder. He's on a 9 ft board with GoFoil IWA.
good to see big wave foilers.
I do like the armstrong foil, looks porn and so techinical and well made.
I got a second hand Armstrong 1600 and tried it for the first time today. My board has zero rocker where the foil mounts and it definitely felt like I was riding nose down which felt pretty awkward and led to plenty of crashes. Seems that on this board I will need to tilt the plate back a little to get it flying level. I could notice the movement in the longer carbon mast while paddling compared to the 650 NP alloy mast. Conditions were not ideal though.And I am no expert
Select to expand quotetomooh said..
I got a second hand Armstrong 1600 and tried it for the first time today. My board has zero rocker where the foil mounts and it definitely felt like I was riding nose down which felt pretty awkward and led to plenty of crashes. Seems that on this board I will need to tilt the plate back a little to get it flying level. I could notice the movement in the longer carbon mast while paddling compared to the 650 NP alloy mast. Conditions were not ideal though.And I am no expert
Pics? How long was the mast? Tuttle, plate adapter or integrated plate mount. Year?
Hi will try to put up pics tomorrow but around 780 mast with alloy plate mount. Mast leans forward in plate mount noticeably but is not adjustable. Seems like it would suit a mount position with some tail rocker. I think 2018 but possibly earlier.
Select to expand quotetomooh said..
Hi will try to put up pics tomorrow but around 780 mast with alloy plate mount. Mast leans forward in plate mount noticeably but is not adjustable. Seems like it would suit a mount position with some tail rocker. I think 2018 but possibly earlier.
Is it around the right way? Look at vid above that is the adapter mount.
Can't go the other way round think I will need to try a different board or wedge under front of plate
Select to expand quotetomooh said..
Can't go the other way round think I will need to try a different board or wedge under front of plate
Or adjust the angle of the tail wing with their shims. www.armstrongfoils.com/tail-trim-fairings/
