Select to expand quoteBullroarerTook said..leepasty said..
Little video here in the waves. www.instagram.com/reel/C9F_Esvo3iM/?igsh=MTV5ZTE3ODk2ZXdsYQ==
used it on flat water today will have the review on my YouTube in few days ??
Lee, at the risk of derailing the thread, what length Dakine harness line are you using there? I want to try those lines but have to order online. Thanks much.
It's the 28. They measure just the white loop so it's more like a 32 to the connection
leepasty: For winging would you consider the Skybrid 85L as the replacement to the wingboard Sky Style 85L? Sounds like initial test you are positive and heading in that direction. With the longer length does the board ride bigger for its size. Minimal swing weight? Unfortunately, I don't have the opportunity to test boards and rely more on reviews. At 80 kg looking for the one board quiver from 10-30 knots.
Select to expand quote
Ingenuity said..
leepasty: For winging would you consider the Skybrid 85L as the replacement to the wingboard Sky Style 85L? Sounds like initial test you are positive and heading in that direction. With the longer length does the board ride bigger for its size. Minimal swing weight? Unfortunately, I don't have the opportunity to test boards and rely more on reviews. At 80 kg looking for the one board quiver from 10-30 knots.
Yeah I replaced the style 5'1 with the 5'8 as my light wind board. you could prob go the 70L I'm 90kg. its about 25mph in the video and it worked great not as good as my 50L 5'1 I'd normally be on it n that wind but I wanted to test it out
Like the look of the Skybrid. After a light wind board. Tried the skinny 20"s but didn't feel the instability was worth it so like these are a little wider. I'm 90kg and intermediate. Tossing up for the extra couple of inches and pounds whether I just do the 6' at 115l. Assume it will give me even better light wind performance? Thoughts as to whether that is a good option or go with the 5'10" and 100l?
Select to expand quotePete2378 said..
Like the look of the Skybrid. After a light wind board. Tried the skinny 20"s but didn't feel the instability was worth it so like these are a little wider. I'm 90kg and intermediate. Tossing up for the extra couple of inches and pounds whether I just do the 6' at 115l. Assume it will give me even better light wind performance? Thoughts as to whether that is a good option or go with the 5'10" and 100l?
Not sure what your level is exactly but I recently switched to a 5'6 midlength board just under 20 inch wide. Took me a session or 2 to get used to it, but now it's as easy as my previous board, if not easier because it picks up speed instantly and stabilizes. Just start with a stinkbug method and 0 issues. Recently swapped back to my old board again just to see the difference back to back, and although that was quite an efficient shape already, it felt like a more stable but sticky slow barge now that I am used to the skinnier midlength. Kind of crazy as I hated that previous board so much in the beginning, as it felt so unstable coming of a bigger volume beginner board! And now being used to the new midlength it feels like a boring barge .
Anyways, point being: the 20'' you will get used to and the thinner the board, the better it will slice to the water and get you up and flying. And once flying, turns better too.
Select to expand quotePete2378 said..
Like the look of the Skybrid. After a light wind board. Tried the skinny 20"s but didn't feel the instability was worth it so like these are a little wider. I'm 90kg and intermediate. Tossing up for the extra couple of inches and pounds whether I just do the 6' at 115l. Assume it will give me even better light wind performance? Thoughts as to whether that is a good option or go with the 5'10" and 100l?
Choice should be based on how often you fall. Can you jibe and switch feet without falling? If so, then no reason to oversize a board.
Select to expand quotePete2378 said..
Like the look of the Skybrid. After a light wind board. Tried the skinny 20"s but didn't feel the instability was worth it so like these are a little wider. I'm 90kg and intermediate. Tossing up for the extra couple of inches and pounds whether I just do the 6' at 115l. Assume it will give me even better light wind performance? Thoughts as to whether that is a good option or go with the 5'10" and 100l?
I don't think you need the 6'0 unless you want to go under 10mph. I'm 90kg and can go in 10mph with Whizz 1000 5.5 unit dlab & 5'8 skybrid
Ok might go the 5'10". Could go 5'8" but lIke having a bit of buoyancy. Don't feel the extra size makes much difference when up on foil and foam is definitely your friend in lighter wind.. Seem too often to get stuck bobbing out there when the wind drops. I'll keep my 5'3" style for when windier. That is 95l. Had an 85l and went up a size. Didn't notice any difference when up on foil and definitely easier going when wind drops. suppose it comes down to what conditions you sail. Sydney gets plenty of marginal days.
Select to expand quotePete2378 said..
Ok might go the 5'10". Could go 5'8" but lIke having a bit of buoyancy. Don't feel the extra size makes much difference when up on foil and foam is definitely your friend in lighter wind.. Seem too often to get stuck bobbing out there when the wind drops. I'll keep my 5'3" style for when windier. That is 95l. Had an 85l and went up a size. Didn't notice any difference when up on foil and definitely easier going when wind drops. suppose it comes down to what conditions you sail. Sydney gets plenty of marginal days.
Bet you don't keep the style ??
Skybrids are are couple of inches wider than other brands' mid-lengths as they claim the increased ease-of-use outweighs the small decrease in light-wind take-off. Has anyone tried a range of boards and have a view on this?
Select to expand quoteleepasty said..Pete2378 said..
Ok might go the 5'10". Could go 5'8" but lIke having a bit of buoyancy. Don't feel the extra size makes much difference when up on foil and foam is definitely your friend in lighter wind.. Seem too often to get stuck bobbing out there when the wind drops. I'll keep my 5'3" style for when windier. That is 95l. Had an 85l and went up a size. Didn't notice any difference when up on foil and definitely easier going when wind drops. suppose it comes down to what conditions you sail. Sydney gets plenty of marginal days.
Bet you don't keep the style ??
I hope so ! :)
Select to expand quotepatronus said..
Skybrids are are couple of inches wider than other brands' mid-lengths as they claim the increased ease-of-use outweighs the small decrease in light-wind take-off. Has anyone tried a range of boards and have a view on this?
I think there could be merit to it. It's a bit like the sinker board revolution of windsurfing in the late 1980's where gear went from stuff that you could easily cruise around with in light winds to boards that required a lot of wind and didn't go upwind all that great (so just a BAFing all the time).
I got a 6'0" Gong Cruzader Diamond (100 liters) for this year and while it is floaty enough, it's also tippy (roll) and I'm finding my balance is kind of so-so for making taxi turns on it (which you do if the wind drops to below foiling) and it's been challenging in some other ways too. I went back to a 5'2" Sky Wing (85 liters) and it's actually easier in every respect and seems to pump up to foiling pretty easily too, so I'm really having doubts about the downwind board revolution right now. Is the added difficulty worth the potential light wind performance? I think it comes down to personal skill levels and in that sense, the Skybrids might be much more accessible while still being "fashionable".
Select to expand quoteJuriM said..
I got a 6'0" Gong Cruzader Diamond (100 liters) for this year and while it is floaty enough, it's also tippy (roll) and I'm finding my balance is kind of so-so for making taxi turns on it (which you do if the wind drops to below foiling) and it's been challenging in some other ways too. I went back to a 5'2" Sky Wing (85 liters) and it's actually easier in every respect and seems to pump up to foiling pretty easily too, so I'm really having doubts about the downwind board revolution right now. Is the added difficulty worth the potential light wind performance? I think it comes down to personal skill levels and in that sense, the Skybrids might be much more accessible while still being "fashionable".
i'm not sure there is much 'added difficulty' with the longer narrower boards as you get used to it pretty quickly, but i'd agree that the DW board thing is overblown. i have the Omen 5'7" 'mid length' and an Armstrong 7'2" DWer, and the difference between the two is very marginal. The only benefit of the DWer is that i haven't had to use my 8M hand wing in the light stuff but can instead use my 5.5m. So the question for me becomes: is the 8m wing a bigger or lessor pain in the ass than a 7'2" board? the jury is still out...
Select to expand quotePete2378 said..
Ok might go the 5'10". Could go 5'8" but lIke having a bit of buoyancy. Don't feel the extra size makes much difference when up on foil and foam is definitely your friend in lighter wind.. Seem too often to get stuck bobbing out there when the wind drops. I'll keep my 5'3" style for when windier. That is 95l. Had an 85l and went up a size. Didn't notice any difference when up on foil and definitely easier going when wind drops. suppose it comes down to what conditions you sail. Sydney gets plenty of marginal days.
I came from 5.3/95l 2024 Free and as the 5.10 feels much smaller on foil and much stabler pitch wise when in displacement mode I double Lee?s bet you won?t keep the Style. Mine was sold 3 days after the postman rang twice
Select to expand quotebeached57 said..JuriM said..
I got a 6'0" Gong Cruzader Diamond (100 liters) for this year and while it is floaty enough, it's also tippy (roll) and I'm finding my balance is kind of so-so for making taxi turns on it (which you do if the wind drops to below foiling) and it's been challenging in some other ways too. I went back to a 5'2" Sky Wing (85 liters) and it's actually easier in every respect and seems to pump up to foiling pretty easily too, so I'm really having doubts about the downwind board revolution right now. Is the added difficulty worth the potential light wind performance? I think it comes down to personal skill levels and in that sense, the Skybrids might be much more accessible while still being "fashionable".
i'm not sure there is much 'added difficulty' with the longer narrower boards as you get used to it pretty quickly, but i'd agree that the DW board thing is overblown. i have the Omen 5'7" 'mid length' and an Armstrong 7'2" DWer, and the difference between the two is very marginal. The only benefit of the DWer is that i haven't had to use my 8M hand wing in the light stuff but can instead use my 5.5m. So the question for me becomes: is the 8m wing a bigger or lessor pain in the ass than a 7'2" board? the jury is still out...
8m? I start to wonder in what conditions ppl tend to go out. My biggest wing is an 6m Dlab, I weigh 95kg and got a normal Wingboard (phazer 110l). Mostly on Inland lakes. With 8 to 10 knots groundwind and gust around 18 to 20 I start to have fun and can to Manoeuvres and try new stuff, have some speed runs. Everything below that is a struggle and just boring. Go straight ahead Adolf and nothing else. 
Just received my 5'6 skybrid. Was out in 10 knots on a 5 m. Its stable in my opinion but with new foil system (swapped from Armstrong) and new board and wrong strap placement I only managed to get up once. It catches speed quickly and floats my 75 ish kg well.
Select to expand quotehappysam said..
Just received my 5'6 skybrid. Was out in 10 knots on a 5 m. Its stable in my opinion but with new foil system (swapped from Armstrong) and new board and wrong strap placement I only managed to get up once. It catches speed quickly and floats my 75 ish kg well.
Should add that I was on a 90cm dlab and 850 carve and 5m slick v4. The slick isnt good in light winds I found. The 4.5 unit has better grunt. But unit is Quick
Select to expand quotebeached57 said..JuriM said..
I got a 6'0" Gong Cruzader Diamond (100 liters) for this year and while it is floaty enough, it's also tippy (roll) and I'm finding my balance is kind of so-so for making taxi turns on it (which you do if the wind drops to below foiling) and it's been challenging in some other ways too. I went back to a 5'2" Sky Wing (85 liters) and it's actually easier in every respect and seems to pump up to foiling pretty easily too, so I'm really having doubts about the downwind board revolution right now. Is the added difficulty worth the potential light wind performance? I think it comes down to personal skill levels and in that sense, the Skybrids might be much more accessible while still being "fashionable".
i'm not sure there is much 'added difficulty' with the longer narrower boards as you get used to it pretty quickly, but i'd agree that the DW board thing is overblown. i have the Omen 5'7" 'mid length' and an Armstrong 7'2" DWer, and the difference between the two is very marginal. The only benefit of the DWer is that i haven't had to use my 8M hand wing in the light stuff but can instead use my 5.5m. So the question for me becomes: is the 8m wing a bigger or lessor pain in the ass than a 7'2" board? the jury is still out...
With the massive improvements in gear I think we will less and less larger wing, eg those over 6mts. Mid length boards and larger area front wings that work and turn as well as smaller wings makes the big hand wings obsolete. Smaller hand wings pump better and are more manageable in the light stuff.
At 81kgs my largest hand wing is a 5mtr, but paired with a 1400sqcm front wing and 74lts 5'3 board I'm going in 9 knots.
I think these discussions are highly location specific and one big factor is max gust strength. Everybody has a different definition for light wind, and air density, water temperature, elevation, etc... alll play a factor. Luckily, where I live and sail, it's either windy or it's not... we don't have steady light wind in most spots... other people in other spots have different conditions. Personally, I find light wind winging to be really fun.
Have a few days on the Skybrid 5'6" 70l.... I think it's my daily driver and will replace the Sky Style 4'9" 65l. Someone asked me the other day if going to a midlength allows you to ride with less volume, and I thought it was the opposite. My midlenth boards let me ride with more volume without any penalty. I have the AFS Blackbird 6'2" x 21" @ 90l as well. My wife tried the Skybrid 5'6" the other day (she's a decent foiler can jibe, switch feet, ride swell) and she thought the extra length made it a very forgiving experience. she didn't have to set up in exactly the right spot to get going or to stand up. She always comments that the Fanatic/Duotone pads are her favorite which mirrors my experience.
I've ridden it so far with my Unit 3.0 and Unit D/LAB 3.5 with Silk 850 foil. Easy starts, and feels really balanced while flying. Feels awesome on the boat wakes, riding swell, and pumping despite being longer and a tiny bit heavier than my Sky Style 4'9". I think it's about 5" longer in front of the front foot and 4" longer in the tail.
Interestingly, this board feels narrower when setting up than my Blackbird 6'2" which is about the same width. I think the BB has that nice sunken deck, so it really settles into the water when kneeling, but both are easy to setup and get going.
I'm ~85kg right now, so the BB is near neutral and the Skybrid is -15.
foggy day clip of the 5'6"
www.instagram.com/p/C9z9gzNPx2n/
In my experience sunken decks add a huge amount of stability while also feeling more connected to the foil. I don't think I'd buy a board which had a flat deck again.
