Aside from the Blue Planet interview and the FB group, there seems to be so little out there about Mikeslab stuff. That said, those who have them, tend to love them and when they come up used, they're gone in an instant.
If you have any first hand experience, please share what you're riding and what stands out to you?
Thanks!
yup. I've used 800 & 1100 regularly, and 1300 a few times. All with 96cm mast. I've also tried some older ones.
I'm waiting on my 825, which I hear is an upgrade on the 800 in all ways; particularly in surfy/turny feel. Apparently the 700 is amazing too, but I haven't tried it.
I have a shorter 86cm mast on order, but that's mostly just for shallow Hawaii reefs.
For the past couple weeks, I've only been on the 800 in all winds that I would wing with any foil (I'm huge: 198cm / 130kg).
What stands out?.. well sure, obviously they're fast, but there are other foils can go fast. The main thing I've found with ML gear is that it's just really precise and easy when you ARE going fast, so going fast becomes very pleasant and not some crazy uncontrollable feeling. That means you can rip swells and waves and push as hard as you want. Also, the gnarlier or sketchier the conditions, the more mikeslab stands out.
But that kinda also means that you're kinda always going fast. If you like that (I do) then they are amazing, and feel very composed yet active. If you want something to slowly pump around and get ideal slow-speed-stall-resistance in small wind chop to stay on a swell, I'd probably look for something else.
happy to answer any more specific Q's. There's not a lot of info out there.
they look like a work of art hey. amazing these niche genuis foil producers - so talented.
I have a few: 1300, 1150, 1100, 800 and 825 and are all amaising.
The glide is unreal, I mean it cuts through the water like no other foil. They are very thin.
They start early but you need to build speed before getting up on foil (like any high AR foil)
None of them makes any noice
Also they are VERY easy to ride
The 1150 stays up at lower speed
Only downsides: price, waiting time to get a new one and the glider is in one peace...
Alan Cadiz showings off his ML340cm2 race foil on his latest Patron video. Races in strong winds using a 6m. If speed doubles drag and lift goes up by 4x so reducing area is the only way to go fast.
Mikes lab seems to have this race market cornered.
The guys who ride Labs are so much faster it isn't funny. Not owning one is like when my kid asks me why I don't drive a Lambo.
Here's links to the rabbit hole.
www.instagram.com/ken_adgate/
www.facebook.com/groups/mikeslab/learning_content
yeh the way we ride and where we ride - can't see one of these foils lasting too long. but damn if ya wanna go fast and have a top quality ride . damn be hard to say no.
Select to expand quoteFrankieboy said..
I have a few: 1300, 1150, 1100, 800 and 825 and are all amaising.
The glide is unreal, I mean it cuts through the water like no other foil. They are very thin.
They start early but you need to build speed before getting up on foil (like any high AR foil)
None of them makes any noice
Also they are VERY easy to ride
The 1150 stays up at lower speed
Only downsides: price, waiting time to get a new one and the glider is in one peace...
Hi,
Foil speed performance is not only about Aspect Ratio. In fact, it's more important a thin profile (foil camber) and the designed Angle of Attack (AoA). AR are overlooked, because they obvious, are easy to check.
Many thanks to all of you. Alan C definitely moves on his. He's a pretty light weight guy (I'd bet around 60kg) so I'd wonder if someone with a few more pounds might do better on a size or two up as their "speed" foil.
I should also say... the board matters a LOT.
Particularly the tail rocker / box angle.
Obviously a board with a tuttle box is significant.
But importantly, you definitely want a board that rides a bit nose-up (or, with the mast raked back) with some tail rocker.
The foils are so fast that the drag on the mast/fuselage/etc causes them to pitch forwards at speed. So they balance well and natural at speed, and everything feels perfect.You're not going to be happy jamming a ML on the same board you're riding with some sort of old slow foil.
Select to expand quoteOahuwaterwalker said..
Many thanks to all of you. Alan C definitely moves on his. He's a pretty light weight guy (I'd bet around 60kg) so I'd wonder if someone with a few more pounds might do better on a size or two up as their "speed" foil.
I don't focus on racing so I ride a relatively large ML at 92kg. Since I got an 825 I think I found a unicorn that works in most freeriding conditions from light wind to medium size bumps and small waves. Probably too big for larger waves. If I focused on speed in powered conditions I would probably look at 540.
Select to expand quoteKyleT said..
I should also say... the board matters a LOT.
Particularly the tail rocker / box angle.
Obviously a board with a tuttle box is significant.
But importantly, you definitely want a board that rides a bit nose-up (or, with the mast raked back) with some tail rocker.
The foils are so fast that the drag on the mast/fuselage/etc causes them to pitch forwards at speed. So they balance well and natural at speed, and everything feels perfect.You're not going to be happy jamming a ML on the same board you're riding with some sort of old slow foil.
Is there a way to get the specs to share with a shaper? I'm thinking about asking Jimmy Lewis to shape something.
Select to expand quoteKyleT said..
I should also say... the board matters a LOT.
Particularly the tail rocker / box angle.
Obviously a board with a tuttle box is significant.
But importantly, you definitely want a board that rides a bit nose-up (or, with the mast raked back) with some tail rocker.
The foils are so fast that the drag on the mast/fuselage/etc causes them to pitch forwards at speed. So they balance well and natural at speed, and everything feels perfect.You're not going to be happy jamming a ML on the same board you're riding with some sort of old slow foil.
AFAIK, Chubanga dominates the pro races. It uses tracks.
I have a tuttle and a plate mast. I don't really feel the difference at my skill level...
Concerning rocker, I had a board with 0? tail rocker and used a 1,5? shim with great succes. This board was very very fast to plane but terrible with touchdowns.
I now have a 5'9 board with tuttle at 35cm from tail and 2? tail rocker. I wish I put it a bit more at the front, rider weight matters a lot in mast placement!
So my next board will be with plate again and moderate rocker.
Concerning foils, you will be fine with a 1150 if you like DW or 1300 if you want a surfier foil
They have similar lowend. To get going in 13 knots you willl need a DW bard that floats you. And a wing you can pump efficiently (not too big)
The ML700 is the best all-round foil I have ever tried, a delight that does everything well. Now waiting to try e? 825 and 340
Select to expand quoteOahuwaterwalker said..KyleT said..
I should also say... the board matters a LOT.
Particularly the tail rocker / box angle.
Obviously a board with a tuttle box is significant.
But importantly, you definitely want a board that rides a bit nose-up (or, with the mast raked back) with some tail rocker.
The foils are so fast that the drag on the mast/fuselage/etc causes them to pitch forwards at speed. So they balance well and natural at speed, and everything feels perfect.You're not going to be happy jamming a ML on the same board you're riding with some sort of old slow foil.
Is there a way to get the specs to share with a shaper? I'm thinking about asking Jimmy Lewis to shape something.
You can ask Mike himself. He has some specific ideas on what the boards need and the distances to the footstrap plugs. If he doesn't respond, one of the local shapers here, Ken Adgate, freely shared his rocker template with me. It's a couple years old but probably is a decent starting point.
Had some good fortune and found someone selling a ML specific board and ML600 with mast. I'll pick it up in 3 weeks and will report back after a few sessions.
Separately, does anyone know how you travel with the ML foils? I need to figure out a way to pack it so it will survive the airlines.
Select to expand quoteOahuwaterwalker said..
Had some good fortune and found someone selling a ML specific board and ML600 with mast. I'll pick it up in 3 weeks and will report back after a few sessions.
Separately, does anyone know how you travel with the ML foils? I need to figure out a way to pack it so it will survive the airlines.
Damn! That is lucky. You'll be stoked.
These foils are really something. Beyond the reported performance, Mike and Stef clearly have a penchant for aesthetics. I know that doesn't matter to everyone, but I'm certainly struck by it.
Been winging for a couple of years now and I recently moved from Axis to an ML700. I had high expectations for this foil and it has exceeded every one of them.
Managed to pick up an 800 along with the 600 and even though there's a lot of excitement about the 825 (haven't tried it), the 800 is a really nice foil. I haven't had either out in strong winds yet but in 10-20 I can comfortably cruise at 21 knots in choppy water.
Im definitely stoked on these!
Managed to pick up an 800 along with the 600 and even though there's a lot of excitement about the 825 (haven't tried it), the 800 is a really nice foil. I haven't had either out in strong winds yet but in 10-20 I can comfortably cruise at 21 knots in choppy water.
Im definitely stoked on these!
The ML journey continues. Found a 700 hoping to get out in some solid wind and swell this week. Will likely sell the 600 and replace it with a 340.
How much do you weigh and what are you finding your wind ranges to be on each of the ML foils you tried?
Select to expand quotejoller said..
How much do you weigh and what are you finding your wind ranges to be on each of the ML foils you tried?
I'm about 80kg, riding a 2 year old Ken Adgate board that's 4'7" by 22" and about 60l. Here's what I'm finding so far:
800 can get going in 10-12knots with a 5.5m wing and I've hit 25mph with sustained speeds around 22-24 mph in these conditions. I know this is an "older" ML design but it's a fantastic foil. Super fast, easy to ride and fun in smaller bumps.
700 needs just a little more wind or a larger wing than the 800.
600 needs 15 knots to get going.
This week we have some solid wind forecasted plus potentially 3-4 meter surf/swell. Also, I came up on the list for a 340 that arrives today. I plan to get some time in on the 700, 600, and 340. I'll report back.
Im riding Ezzy prototype wings that will be the V2 of the wing they released in January. They have a good balance of low and high end.
Select to expand quoteOahuwaterwalker said..
If you have any first hand experience, please share what you're riding and what stands out to you?
I have the ML 700 and Bullet 6, which I use for wingfoiling. I use a 102 mast (mostly for racing).
The overwhelming experience is speed, ease of use (really really easy) and a feeling of frictionless foiling.
I think I need about 10-13 knots to get the 700 to lift with a 6.8m wing, but then it will fly in much much less. The Bullet (550sqcm) needs more wind. but not loads. The foils go in much less wind than you would imagine for their size.
The 700 has a top speed of around 27knots (but hard to push it to that constantly). The Bullet I'm not sure about, a lot faster.
Both work fine at 25+ knots.
The 700 is really glidey (not far off my AFS Silk 1050). They are phenomenal foils and do have that 'secret sauce'. (love the Silk too!)
www.gps-wingfoiling.com/?mnu=user&val=442390&uid=26987
So this showed up... ML340 see AirPods case for perspective.
If I hadn't read from others how doable this foil was, I might have still not tried it. It is so tiny I couldn't even believe it would get going without 30 knots of wind. First session I was on a 60L board with a 5.5M Ezzy Flight wing in 12-20mph of wind and had no problem getting it on foil when a gust came through. Once up, it screams and is easier to ride than you would think. You do have to keep your board speed above 16mph (I tend to average around 19mph on sessions with this foil), but it goes really fast (my best so far is just shy of 24 knots for 10 seconds, but I can definitely go faster), has more glide than you would expect, and it is super fun in bigger waves. You can dive bomb sections that would normally have you backing out and it drops right in and holds with no fear of breaching. The weirdest thing is that, for overall fun, the 340 might be my favorite of the ML that I now have (340, 600, 700, 800). It also makes riding the 600 and 700 feel easy by comparison. Yesterday I had a 5 mile average speed of 20.4mph and best 500m of 25.2 mph with top speed of 27.6 mph. Crazy fun little foil. I've been a die hard wave foiler but these ML are making so that I get excited to just go fast during parts of the session. They do require some adjustment to style and timing for surf, but work all the same, especially the 700 and 340 (when surf is bigger).
