Though my 8M wing has saved many sessions for me, i just don't enjoy riding with it that much. It's difficult to pump and to flag, and just overall cumbersome. My question is: how much bigger a board would i need to make my 6M wing my biggest? My current board is an Omen Flux 72L 5'7" and I'm about 88 kgs. So when my 8M needs replacing, i thought i'd rather just get a bigger board instead leaving my 6M wing as my biggest. I was thinking about something like the AFS Whitebird 6'8" 115L as I really don't want anything bigger (like one of those monster DWers). Is it reasonable that a 6m wing and a 115L board could work similar to an 8M and 72l board? (yes, i know board shapes matter as well as other factors, but trying to generalize if possible).
Hi
i have the whitebird 6.8 with also an 8m and a 6m( and i am 95 kg)
even though i am a late beginner, i ride mostly in light wind, and my pumping technique start to be ok and i can get going in 8-10 knots
i was going through the same thinking process as i used to have a big foil on top of my 8m, meaning a lot of pressure in the wing as you don't go very fast. having a CWC V2 as soon as the wind pikced up a bit , i had too much in my hands and was willing to get my 6m
however even with the whitebird i was able to use the 6m more often than before but you still need a bit of wind or some excellent pumping and even when you fly you need to have a good level to maintain the flight in jibe , toeside and other manouver etc. for me it is still my main difficulty
but i changed my mind after 2 changes in my setup
1. when i kept my 8m and reduced my foil. i was really going much faster and therefore the wing was not as heavy. the WB really helped me for this change. yes in the jibe you still need to support the wing but once you get used to it, it's ok. i was able to fly for 3 hours in a row. with a 6m i would have had to pump much harder and not sure i would have been able to fly as much
2. i was able to try the new ozone liteforce in 6.6 and then 7.7, i found it to be a game changer. it was so light and much more confortable when the wind piked up. and the profile was really difference from the CWC and i was getting almost all my jibes
new CWC V4
with a windsurf babckground and being tall and heavy, i'd rather have a bit of power and keep flying as much as possible. and reducing the foil was also a great way to gain some speed and flight
You don't mention what your biggest foil is. Here's my situation, I had a 7.5 with my Hipe 5'1" board and an 1900cm2 mid-aspect foil as my low wind setup. I bought a 7'6" Cruzader downwinder and the 7.5 hand wing became used less and less in favor of my 6.0, but I still used it now and then. More recently I bought a Sirus 156 XXL front foil wing and now the 7.5 is completely unnecessary, the 6.0 is lots. I sold the 7.5, but didn't get much for it as people are starting to figure out these big wings are unnecessary with the right board and foil underfoot. This big foil did more to make me want to get rid of the 7.5 hand wing than the downwind board ever did, and the downwind board helped my low end a lot. What I'm trying to say is your foil is just as important, if not more important than the downwind board. Combined a downwind board (and to a lesser extent a mid-length) and a big high-aspect foil offer astounding low-end performance. If I wasn't in to flatwater SUP paddle ups or learning to downwind SUP foil I think a board in the size range you're looking in to would be adequate for low wind as well as bit more nimble than a downwind board.
If you've ridden your 8m to the point where it needs replacing, you are most likely good enough to replace it with a bigger board or foil.
Get a bigger front foil, no need for a bigger board or wing. Go for a thin fast high aspect wing, not the thick draggy ones from years past. Then if you even want to get going in lighter, a downwind board is the answer, the guys at our local are now going when the kitefoils aren't, none are using big wings, 5mts max for efficient pumping.
The reality is that you cannot replace a 8m with a 6m, the physics are pretty obvious on this unless you are pumping the foil more than using the wing.
The reality is that you cannot replace a 8m with a 6m, the physics are pretty obvious on this unless you are pumping the foil more than using the wing.
my big front wing is the Armie 1850 HS (when it gets windy, i switch to the HA 780). So you guys think something like the HA 1180 would help me out of the 8m wing more so than, or in conjunction with, a bigger board?
Select to expand quotebeached57 said..
Though my 8M wing has saved many sessions for me, i just don't enjoy riding with it that much. It's difficult to pump and to flag, and just overall cumbersome. My question is: how much bigger a board would i need to make my 6M wing my biggest? My current board is an Omen Flux 72L 5'7" and I'm about 88 kgs. So when my 8M needs replacing, i thought i'd rather just get a bigger board instead leaving my 6M wing as my biggest. I was thinking about something like the AFS Whitebird 6'8" 115L as I really don't want anything bigger (like one of those monster DWers). Is it reasonable that a 6m wing and a 115L board could work similar to an 8M and 72l board? (yes, i know board shapes matter as well as other factors, but trying to generalize if possible).
To answer your question: yes.
But don't discount the 8' DW board. You won't need a bigger front wing and your 8m will be a 5.5m.
I am going the opposite way. For 3 years I used 7m wing and now I got mid length DW board Takoon Escape SW 6'8, F-one CWC 8m and Sabfoil grand piano w1250.
I am 183 cm, 78 kg. Mostly wingfoiling on the lakes (fresh water) with gusty / low wind conditions. In my case if there is not enough power in the wing it is very hard to get up (my pumping technique is not perfect). Also when on foil you still need a lot of pumping with legs and wing to keep on going through the wind holes.
I tried to downgrade with smaller board, foil and wing but it takes too much effort and as I am going older, possibly I am getting more lazy. I prefer relaxed driving than cardio workout.
Now I am waiting for the right conditions to try 8m wing with Sabfoil w1110. I hope it will be much more fun.
fully aligned with gencion
to complete my previous answer my big foil is a 1680 high aspect, still recent but not very technical and remain a bit thick compared to latest trend
i have never tried those super HA with super big wingspan, but i really wonder how it is like in terms of speed and manoeuvraibility ?
at this stage of my journey i prefer having a smaller foil and keep a big wing, especially the latest generation (CWC V4 or ozone elite) as their weight and profile have greatly improved in my opinion
but maybe the day i'll try one of these huge foils i'll change my mind
Select to expand quoteVenomguy said..
The reality is that you cannot replace a 8m with a 6m, the physics are pretty obvious on this unless you are pumping the foil more than using the wing.
or unless you replace the previous foil with a bigger, high-aspect foil.
Select to expand quoteNepso said..
fully aligned with gencion
to complete my previous answer my big foil is a 1680 high aspect, still recent but not very technical and remain a bit thick compared to latest trend
i have never tried those super HA with super big wingspan, but i really wonder how it is like in terms of speed and manoeuvraibility ?
at this stage of my journey i prefer having a smaller foil and keep a big wing, especially the latest generation (CWC V4 or ozone elite) as their weight and profile have greatly improved in my opinion
but maybe the day i'll try one of these huge foils i'll change my mind
You can't compare the old school large wings to the new offerings. I had a go on the old Naish HA1400, only needed one run to work out it was a dog, even had trouble gybing it.
Got the new Naish HA1440, what a dream to ride in light wind, just glides through tacks and gybes. I'm 80kgs on my 74lts board, if I can stand and balance with my 5mtr wing I can generally get foiling. Pumping the wing gets me forward speed, once the foil starts to lift the legs take over and your up and flying. Once your up these thin large wings accelerate and you get plenty of apparent wind in your wing, 10knots is no issue getting going.
