Hi, yesterday I could try the 6'10 (95L) Duotone Downwind Board. The foil was the 1305 aero glide SLS with 90cm mast and the P200 stab.
Wind conditions were quite bad, offshore, really gusty, anything from zero to 20kn short gusts, not the best test environment. Completely flat water, and I was using a 3.5m 2023 Unit. I am a 72kg high intermediate/high advanced rider.
So, the first feeling I got is how fast it is on the water. With the small wing even with almost no wind it really wanted to get going. A couple of downwind pumps when I felt a gust and the foil goes up. Even paddling back to the beach you can feel how fast it is.
Once you are up, the feeling is really different from a "normal" board. It's really narrow and it doesn't have footstraps, so I needed a little bit of time to find the proper foot placement. It is extremely sensitive to tilting, so if you are too aggressive in your turns it will flip over and the foil will come out of the water (had a bad crush trying to tack). It seems like you need to be very gentle in the turns, keeping a wider arc, at least until you get used to it. I was also told that with some small waves or swell it gets easier to ride than in flat water as the push of the wave will help driving the board. It makes sense to me :)
My feeling is that it can get you going in very marginal conditions without the need of a huge wing. In terms of fun, you will probably need some small waves or some small swell to get the best out of it.
I could only try for 20 minutes before the wind dropped to zero, but we should get a few test boards in a few weeks, so I will probably get more time on them :) I will add more comments here.
Thanks for the review!
Any more details as you rode the board more?
Wandering if anybody has clue as the compatibility of the board with Armstrong MA/APF foils
Thanks!
I have the Duotone135L board paired with an AXIS 1401 and skinny stab.
I was basically after the board for DW and winging. At 6'2" @ 110kg I needed both length, width and volume.
I can stand and paddle it around on flat water, so that is a start.
For winging, it is fantastic. I am able to get the board to do about 5 or 6 knots on the water just holding in the wing. If I bounce the board, it will just pop up (no wing pumping required).
I have no issues tacking or gybing and really do not notice much swing weight.
I am interested in waves/bumps and gliding, soI cannot see myself going back to a short/wide board or sinker. The DW maximises foil time.
Select to expand quotebigtone667 said..
I have the Duotone135L board paired with an AXIS 1401 and skinny stab.
I was basically after the board for DW and winging. At 6'2" @ 110kg I needed both length, width and volume.
I can stand and paddle it around on flat water, so that is a start.
For winging, it is fantastic. I am able to get the board to do about 5 or 6 knots on the water just holding in the wing. If I bounce the board, it will just pop up (no wing pumping required).
I have no issues tacking or gybing and really do not notice much swing weight.
I am interested in waves/bumps and gliding, soI cannot see myself going back to a short/wide board or sinker. The DW maximises foil time.
much appreciated thank you!
Select to expand quotebigtone667 said..
I have the Duotone135L board paired with an AXIS 1401 and skinny stab.
I was basically after the board for DW and winging. At 6'2" @ 110kg I needed both length, width and volume.
I can stand and paddle it around on flat water, so that is a start.
For winging, it is fantastic. I am able to get the board to do about 5 or 6 knots on the water just holding in the wing. If I bounce the board, it will just pop up (no wing pumping required).
I have no issues tacking or gybing and really do not notice much swing weight.
I am interested in waves/bumps and gliding, soI cannot see myself going back to a short/wide board or sinker. The DW maximises foil time.
Hey BT
How's things going.
Interested in picking up a used 2023-4 Duotone DE 7'8" 22.5 135Ltr for my small frame ??110 kgs on a good day.
Your thoughts for a fellow WA big dawg would be appreciated.
But as you mentioned above seems to cover most of my preferred aspects.
Have tried Amos ,Armstrong,Love my V2 big Cuda 130Ltr.
