Thought that i would revive this old thread instead of starting a new one.
So I am a recent convert from Sup to Prone foil. I learned to foil on a sup. Due to the beach closures that we were having here in So Cal, I found a good deal on a slightly used prone board NSP 5'6 45l. It was easier to bike in with a smaller prone board vs my sup. To make matters more interesting I sold my sup and have another one on order. So i only have the prone now.
The good side is that after dedicating the last 15 or so sessions i am feeling comfortable catching and riding the smaller waves. It is really freeing riding a smaller board. I am toying with the idea of downsizing the prone board, just not sure what size to shoot for. I am 5'9 170lb and mid 50s.
Is there a target length that makes pumping back out easier to achieve? Or should i be able to do it on my current one and i just need to work on my skills? The 5'6 is comfortable to paddle around and gets me into a lot of waves. I still plan on sup foiling too when i get my new board, i just like the diversity.
Thanks for your thoughts
To pump, the sweet spot is between 4'2" - 4'6" is what I always hear. I ride a 4'8" and it's a touch to long, but good enough I'm not buying another board since I'd rather spend my money on wings.
Wow, fun to look back at this thread ... a lot of evolution in boards just in 2 short years! Sometimes forget how new this surf foil thing is.
Fatfish: I too have also mostly transitioned from SUP to surf foil, I still have the sup set up for the right day, but if it is surf foilable, that's my first choice always. Just so much more maneuverable and fun. I am on a 5' x 21 x 2.75, it floats me fine with a 5mm wetsuit. I am far from a pump monkey, just barely almost kinda on the verge of getting my first 2 for 1. It seems to pump pretty decent. I am guessing high 30s in volume? Prior board was a 5' x 20 x 3.5', way more floaty, really easy to paddle and take off, but also felt fairly chunky underfoot (45L ish?). In between is a copy of armstrong board, 4'9"x20x3, guessing low 30s. It is super fun once up and riding, but the paddling is killer ... good for about an hour, then the arms are noodled from moving the sinker. There's a trade off in board riding performance vs in ease of paddling and catching waves....have to find that happy place for you.
Also an interesting sidenote: our main foiling wave is a rivermouth, the water flows pretty strong in our winter surf season. Transitioning into spring, with less water flow, holy crap is it ever harder work paddling ... realized we are surf foiling a little conveyor belt. Add in fresh water vs salt water, plus surfing against a current, all sorts of variables added compared to regular surf spots. So maybe these variables also affect board choice. I wonder if we could get away with lower volume boards in summer (if there were any waves) - will have to test out the theory travelling someday. :-)
Hi fatfish, imo your 5'6 is a good size to learn the basics on but once your up & flying will hold your progression back.
Pumping back does seem easier on the shorter boards but it's still mainly the riders skill & using a good pump wing.
I'd recommend getting a board around 4'6 when you know your ready mate.
Select to expand quoteGorgo said..
I am curious about prone foiling. In my head I have this idea of needing to be a super surfer to get up on a tiny board with a foil on the bottom. I wonder if that is true.
I just read this morning this testimony: A guy that was a decent SUP foiler but didn't manage to surf foil a 4'5" SImmons-like board.
So a medium board with a foil can be MUCH easier to learn prone foiling than a tiny board. Even if you most probably want a tiny board later on.
"First time surf foiling on a 7'3".
In spite of my experience on various foil and surfboards, my attempts at prone surf Foiling have all been a failure (Gong Foils Allvator in M, L, Rise XXL, Curve XL).
Until this session on the 7'3" Carter! Incredible sensations from the first take-off, the position switch is perfectly smooth between the paddling and the flight, if the pop-up is successful then the take-off is natural, and you let yourself be carried, it's stable and soft, airy and smooth
Totally reassuring, it's a change from mini boards!
I'm going to progress on this shape for sure :)"
These Spacelab boards are interesting with silicon cush decking and pronounced arch bar.
www.instagram.com/p/CDSBf8SD3Xb/?igshid=pynkh4phstxs
Select to expand quoteAndyShwartz said..
These Spacelab boards are interesting with silicon cush decking and pronounced arch bar.
www.instagram.com/p/CDSBf8SD3Xb/?igshid=pynkh4phstxs
That is one ugly 7 footer 
Prone board looks good.
Select to expand quotehilly said..AndyShwartz said..
These Spacelab boards are interesting with silicon cush decking and pronounced arch bar.
www.instagram.com/p/CDSBf8SD3Xb/?igshid=pynkh4phstxs
That is one ugly 7 footer
Prone board looks good.
Yup the SUP is ugly.
I'm looking to buy my first prone board. I want something easy to paddle, catch waves dont care if I go straight. Any recommendations I'm 75kg.
I'm looking for something for a learner. If I didnt buy the Maliko 280 to wingding I would of given up. Please help! I'm in the 'dad bod" category and did find the namesake. Not sure...plus foil waves are not common here so not much.
rideengine.com.au/collections/foil-boards/products/dad-board-foil-surfboard-52
I learned to prone foil on a 5'6" x 21" x 3 " epoxy a buddy made. Don't know the exact volume. With the large surf foil from Cloud IX, it was more than enough buoyancy for my 90 kgs. What I didn't like was not being able to pump. This could have been due to the board size, dunno. The foil also didn't meet my expectations for winging. I hear the new versions have come a long way, but that's irrelevant as I sold it.
Select to expand quoteAndyShwartz said..hilly said..AndyShwartz said..
These Spacelab boards are interesting with silicon cush decking and pronounced arch bar.
www.instagram.com/p/CDSBf8SD3Xb/?igshid=pynkh4phstxs
That is one ugly 7 footer
Prone board looks good.
Yup the SUP is ugly.
I'm looking to buy my first prone board. I want something easy to paddle, catch waves dont care if I go straight. Any recommendations I'm 75kg.
I'm looking for something for a learner. If I didnt buy the Maliko 280 to wingding I would of given up. Please help! I'm in the 'dad bod" category and did find the namesake. Not sure...plus foil waves are not common here so not much.
rideengine.com.au/collections/foil-boards/products/dad-board-foil-surfboard-52
See Marty at Delta designs ask for one like Drew Beavis is riding.
Select to expand quotehilly said..AndyShwartz said..hilly said..AndyShwartz said..
These Spacelab boards are interesting with silicon cush decking and pronounced arch bar.
www.instagram.com/p/CDSBf8SD3Xb/?igshid=pynkh4phstxs
That is one ugly 7 footer
Prone board looks good.
Yup the SUP is ugly.
I'm looking to buy my first prone board. I want something easy to paddle, catch waves dont care if I go straight. Any recommendations I'm 75kg.
I'm looking for something for a learner. If I didnt buy the Maliko 280 to wingding I would of given up. Please help! I'm in the 'dad bod" category and did find the namesake. Not sure...plus foil waves are not common here so not much.
rideengine.com.au/collections/foil-boards/products/dad-board-foil-surfboard-52
See Marty at Delta designs ask for one like Drew Beavis is riding.
Thanks I will give him a call
Select to expand quotejuandesooka said..
Wow, fun to look back at this thread ... a lot of evolution in boards just in 2 short years! Sometimes forget how new this surf foil thing is.
Lots of changes in the last 2 years - you're probably asked by beachgoers (once they get past the 'no engine?') how long you've been foiling. Just recently had to change my answer from 'about a year' to 'a cupla years!'. How time flies and designs have changed!
Anyway - back to prone boards - I've had a few other foilers ask me about my boards, so thought I'd put them up after 6 months of testing since I'm super happy with how they've survived.
I wanted light boards - to me it makes a big difference in being able to pump, but still wanted lots of litreage for paddle in. I've shaped about 6 of my own boards from Sanctum EPS blanks, using their standard surfboard foam density ~30kg/m3, so a 40 litre shaped board already weighs 1.2kgs before a stringer, boxes or resin gets near it.
This year's solution has been using construction foam ~13kgs/m3. At that density the foam is so light you cant even bed a leggie plug in it, so solving the finbox anchor challenge was by using 2 half length stringers and bonding the boxes to the stringers and each other using a wood block. All glued into a solid girder structure using EpiGlue made in Aus by International. I was too cheap to use proper surfboard ply for the stringers - just hardware 3 ply. Main protection is the boards are almost 4" thick, volumes are 35l and 44l - both around 4'7 and 20" - you should be able to pick the floaty version. I've abandoned ship under 6' sets dozens of times, had a ferocious leggie pull, and popped up to an intact board and foil (Armstrong HS1550, 72m 60F 232)
Most of my homemade boards have sucked in water and become heavier since the light foam absorbs water, and my glassing is pretty basic. So for these last 2 boards, I talked with a great guy - John from www.sanded.com.au/ about how I can use this foam without it turning into a wet sponge in 12 months. The answer was the basalt cloth (and professional glassing...) - as the basalt fibres are way more impact resistant so won't leak with fractures from body impacts. From his website:
Basalt is a hard dense volcanic rock. It's an igneous rock formed through the rapid cooling and solidification of lava. Basalt fibre is produced in a continuous process using crushed basalt rock, the only raw material required for its manufacture. It provides a good compromise between glass (20% stronger) and carbon (Not as brittle)
Happy to answers any DMs if you want more details. I'll confess I had Sanctum run the foam through their shaping machine for $50, which is the best pineapple I've spent in a long time once you see your wife's reaction to EPS foam dust covering the house. Just don't waste as much time on BoardCAD as I did, when you realise 30 seconds of light sanding has fixed a rail problem you've just wasted a day on!
Really basic dead flat back half, and nose lift just by bringing the bottom up to the deck
In the high volume board I added about an inch of Vee in the nose to reduce stiction on pump splash downs - seems to work as I've bounced off the water with an overpump lots of times.
Just got my latest Amos Shapes HiFlyer, this one's 4'3 x 19.5 x 28L & has a little rocker through the tail...goes unreal
Great to see this thread is still going, since first started by Piros about 2 years ago.... I'm on my 3rd foil set & 5th board now lol.
Select to expand quotetoppleover said..
Just got my latest Amos Shapes HiFlyer, this one's 4'3 x 19.5 x 28L & has a little rocker through the tail...goes unreal
Great to see this thread is still going, since first started by Piros about 2 years ago.... I'm on my 3rd foil set & 5th board now lol.
Is that a full carbon vac bagged job ? Volume? weight ? Thinking my next next board could be an Amos
Select to expand quotekobo said..toppleover said..
Just got my latest Amos Shapes HiFlyer, this one's 4'3 x 19.5 x 28L & has a little rocker through the tail...goes unreal
Great to see this thread is still going, since first started by Piros about 2 years ago.... I'm on my 3rd foil set & 5th board now lol.
Is that a full carbon vac bagged job ? Volume? weight ? Thinking my next next board could be an Amos
Yeah mate, full carbon / vac bagged
28 L
Around 2.6kg (inc deck grip)
Select to expand quoteGashed said..
Sweet looking rig mate! 
Hey, thanks mate & it goes way better than it looks 
There's a bit of a wait to get one these days but definitely worth it.
Yeah it's amazing to look back on this post , I've gone from a 6-3 to a 4-4 and my mate Beau is now on a 3-4 . It's still changing to more a surf board shape and less litres , slightly longer at 4-6 sub 30 litres . It's still evolving so fast , watch this space exciting times .
Awesome thread - really helpful, thanks. I'm determined to make the transition from SUP to prone foiling and have been researching what size is best to learn on. I have a 4' Sunova prone board (32 ltrs) for dock starts and wake foiling, but obviously this is far from ideal for someone who has never prone surfed in his life - having said that my goal is to get to the stage where I can prone foil with the 4' Sunova. I was thinking to get the Sunova 4'11" (40 ltrs) prone board (same style as my 4') as this wouldn't be too bad to pump when flying, but from what you guys are saying maybe the 5'3 (43 lts) would be better to learn on. All these Sunova boards are 21" wide. Another option I like to look of is the Jimmy Lewis Superfly which is 5' (38 ltrs) and a bit narrower at 19". Am I right in thinking the narrow boards are harder to learn on? Maybe One boards have something suitable for me in their range? Any advise would be appreciated
Also keeping a keen eye on this, thanks for all the knowledge. Be really interested to hear what sorts of breaks / conditions people are choosing to prone foil over SUP.
Select to expand quoteDommo49 said..
Awesome thread - really helpful, thanks. I'm determined to make the transition from SUP to prone foiling and have been researching what size is best to learn on. I have a 4' Sunova prone board (32 ltrs) for dock starts and wake foiling, but obviously this is far from ideal for someone who has never prone surfed in his life - having said that my goal is to get to the stage where I can prone foil with the 4' Sunova. I was thinking to get the Sunova 4'11" (40 ltrs) prone board (same style as my 4') as this wouldn't be too bad to pump when flying, but from what you guys are saying maybe the 5'3 (43 lts) would be better to learn on. All these Sunova boards are 21" wide. Another option I like to look of is the Jimmy Lewis Superfly which is 5' (38 ltrs) and a bit narrower at 19". Am I right in thinking the narrow boards are harder to learn on? Maybe One boards have something suitable for me in their range? Any advise would be appreciated
Having never surfed before the 2 issues for you will be paddling and the take off, i.e getting to your feet. Stability and paddle power will be your friend. Once you are up you should find it easy going. For that reason my advice would be to use your wing board first until you get completely comfortable with paddling in, the take off and riding small waves. This may take a little while because you don't have a surfing background. A stack hat would also be a good idea until you get the take offs dialed in. The only down side to this approach is that pumping will be harder due to the increased swing weight, but it's only for the interim learning stage. Once you feel really comfortable with take offs on the big floaty board, then, as a 1st prone board, my advice would be to get something around 40 to 42L (say 4'8" to 5'0"). You won't go wrong with either a Sunova or an Amos, both great boards. You want the float to help with the paddling in. Hope that helps, p.s. I found your vids on pumping technique really helpful, so thanks very much for that. All the best, I'm sure you will slay it!
Select to expand quotePat WA 1965 said..Dommo49 said..
Awesome thread - really helpful, thanks. I'm determined to make the transition from SUP to prone foiling and have been researching what size is best to learn on. I have a 4' Sunova prone board (32 ltrs) for dock starts and wake foiling, but obviously this is far from ideal for someone who has never prone surfed in his life - having said that my goal is to get to the stage where I can prone foil with the 4' Sunova. I was thinking to get the Sunova 4'11" (40 ltrs) prone board (same style as my 4') as this wouldn't be too bad to pump when flying, but from what you guys are saying maybe the 5'3 (43 lts) would be better to learn on. All these Sunova boards are 21" wide. Another option I like to look of is the Jimmy Lewis Superfly which is 5' (38 ltrs) and a bit narrower at 19". Am I right in thinking the narrow boards are harder to learn on? Maybe One boards have something suitable for me in their range? Any advise would be appreciated
Having never surfed before the 2 issues for you will be paddling and the take off, i.e getting to your feet. Stability and paddle power will be your friend. Once you are up you should find it easy going. For that reason my advice would be to use your wing board first until you get completely comfortable with paddling in, the take off and riding small waves. This may take a little while because you don't have a surfing background. A stack hat would also be a good idea until you get the take offs dialed in. The only down side to this approach is that pumping will be harder due to the increased swing weight, but it's only for the interim learning stage. Once you feel really comfortable with take offs on the big floaty board, then, as a 1st prone board, my advice would be to get something around 40 to 42L (say 4'8" to 5'0"). You won't go wrong with either a Sunova or an Amos, both great boards. You want the float to help with the paddling in. Hope that helps, p.s. I found your vids on pumping technique really helpful, so thanks very much for that. All the best, I'm sure you will slay it!
Great advise, thanks
Do you have any thoughts about the width? 19" vs 21". Does it make a big difference or am I overthinking this?
Select to expand quoteDommo49 said..Pat WA 1965 said..Dommo49 said..
Awesome thread - really helpful, thanks. I'm determined to make the transition from SUP to prone foiling and have been researching what size is best to learn on. I have a 4' Sunova prone board (32 ltrs) for dock starts and wake foiling, but obviously this is far from ideal for someone who has never prone surfed in his life - having said that my goal is to get to the stage where I can prone foil with the 4' Sunova. I was thinking to get the Sunova 4'11" (40 ltrs) prone board (same style as my 4') as this wouldn't be too bad to pump when flying, but from what you guys are saying maybe the 5'3 (43 lts) would be better to learn on. All these Sunova boards are 21" wide. Another option I like to look of is the Jimmy Lewis Superfly which is 5' (38 ltrs) and a bit narrower at 19". Am I right in thinking the narrow boards are harder to learn on? Maybe One boards have something suitable for me in their range? Any advise would be appreciated
Having never surfed before the 2 issues for you will be paddling and the take off, i.e getting to your feet. Stability and paddle power will be your friend. Once you are up you should find it easy going. For that reason my advice would be to use your wing board first until you get completely comfortable with paddling in, the take off and riding small waves. This may take a little while because you don't have a surfing background. A stack hat would also be a good idea until you get the take offs dialed in. The only down side to this approach is that pumping will be harder due to the increased swing weight, but it's only for the interim learning stage. Once you feel really comfortable with take offs on the big floaty board, then, as a 1st prone board, my advice would be to get something around 40 to 42L (say 4'8" to 5'0"). You won't go wrong with either a Sunova or an Amos, both great boards. You want the float to help with the paddling in. Hope that helps, p.s. I found your vids on pumping technique really helpful, so thanks very much for that. All the best, I'm sure you will slay it!
Great advise, thanks
Do you have any thoughts about the width? 19" vs 21". Does it make a big difference or am I overthinking this?
If you go with a Sunova pilot just go with the standard dimensions. Dims of my Amos board are below. I am very happy with this. I left width to Amos to sort out. I think it's more important to keep the volume up for your 1st board. That will help you with the paddle in. I am 6'1" at 87 kegs.
I'm new to surf foiling (but not foiling .. did some time on race kite ones). 95kg and 6'2 . . I'm running a 5'2 Slingshot High Roller 39L, Axis 75cm x 19mm Mast, ultrashort fuse, 900 front, 370 stab.
I like it, very gentle rise. I'm not a fan if big lift wings.
I have had very little time on it but its an awesome set up for my weight. . .I'm sure as I get better the appeal of a super short board might kick in, but atm the 5'2 length paddles great has heaps of float and seems very well balanced on foil. I am progressively moving my mast forward as I get a bit better.
Great fun....HOOKED!!
Select to expand quoteskebstebamal said..
I'm new to surf foiling (but not foiling .. did some time on race kite ones). 95kg and 6'2 . . I'm running a 5'2 Slingshot High Roller 39L, Axis 75cm x 19mm Mast, ultrashort fuse, 900 front, 370 stab.
I like it, very gentle rise. I'm not a fan if big lift wings.
I have had very little time on it but its an awesome set up for my weight. . .I'm sure as I get better the appeal of a super short board might kick in, but atm the 5'2 length paddles great has heaps of float and seems very well balanced on foil. I am progressively moving my mast forward as I get a bit better.
Great fun....HOOKED!!
How much does the slingshot weigh?
I'm curious if any of you riding the 30 ltr 4ft boards paddle any further than the first row of whitewater? -If you can only ride such a small board because you pump out to the break!?
I'm totally new to foiling and jumped in full commitment. I bought a Takuma 1300 and 1600 carbon rig (thanks Piros for the review), a Takuma Wing Ride, shaped a Kalama like 6'5" sup at about 120 ltrs, and bought an Amundson 5'6" 42lts. I was going to learn to foil on the sup and WR, but the wind quit early, so I've been learning prone and sup together in small waves 1.5'-2.5 @ 18-20 sec. or thigh to chest that would not be fun to ride on a surf board without foil.
I've found I like prone better in that the 1300 wing works fine for me at 85kg and I can actually ride less powerful waves than I do the sup and the bigger wing. It's easier to turn the smaller rig and I can chip in and pump up to speed. Way less scary than dropping in! With the sup I can cover a lot of ground and ride waves offshore. But also, I can ride shallower reefs. Prone paddling the supposed 42 litr 5'6 isn't too bad, but it is underwater mostly. Sitting on it, I have to tip it nose down to keep the stab from hitting bottom as I am about belly button deep. To those not expert in surfing a short board, I cant imagine paddling in on any foil board like what the experts are using. Even with the 5'6" I'm kicking and paddling as hard as I can then popping up even quicker than I would surfing, and imediately pumping for lift. Ironically, it's that necessary pump to gain lift prone, that has allowed me to progress rapidly sup foiling as I can dump power on take off by lifting before the wave pushes me in. Although I still forget sometimes and try to surf in on the peak, get lifted and thrown out onto the flats. (May need to break that habit or get an impact vest.) I've caught a few waves on the sup, paddling prone, to go get my paddle, and it's a lot easier than the 5'6" prone board. To those looking to transition, probably a good reality check would be to try paddling a sup prone on the most mellow of waves.
Until I can pump the prone board a long way, I'll continue using the sup for the long paddles and offshore reefs. And my "bigger" prone board for smaller inside sand bar waves where I'm not shark bait or dragging on rock. Can't wait till I'm good enough to ride a 4' board and not have to paddle for every wave!
Really great advise on this thread and forum in general. Without it, I'd have been lost and probably stuck with crap gear. (Please don't tell me my gear is crap, that I need a smaller board, or the new "Humpback" wings... I'm sure in 6 months I'll convince myself of that.)
My board is 4'8" but it's only 31 liters. I've been riding it for two and a half years. Make some pretty long paddles on it. It's like paddling a boogie board at times, but it surfs real good.
www.instagram.com/p/CGoZpnEj0nS/
What is the effect of width of a prone foil board? Narrower should paddle faster but less stable during takeoff?? Is there an optimal width for a beginner prone paddler? What is too wide? Thanks
Select to expand quoteHdip said..
My board is 4'8" but it's only 31 liters. I've been riding it for two and a half years. Make some pretty long paddles on it. It's like paddling a boogie board at times, but it surfs real good.
www.instagram.com/p/CGoZpnEj0nS/
I agree & have also found that lower volume boards surf so much better than the same size board with higher volume.
Width you're shooting for 19 inches or thereabouts.
it makes a difference leaning the board over in turns.
