I'm looking for a wing that has the grunt/lift of a 6m but the comfort of a 4m. Basically I'm in gusty lake conditions and the wind doesn't know what it wants to do. I need to get up on foil easily on my sinker board at around 15 knots but then not get overwhelmed by 25 knot gusts. Any recommendations for the one wing to rule them all? I heard good things about the 2024 Unit but man is it expensive at over $1250.
The wings i have had more than 20 sessions on:
Slingwing v3
North Nova
North Mode
North Mode Pro
F4 Mya
I am 90 kg, and wing in gusty fjords on the west coast of Norway. Usually I take a wing that is suitable for the lulls, and expect the wing to be able to deal with the gusts.
I do not like if a wing "gives in", flexes and let go of the power in the gusts. I have tried a few wings for just short sessions that is very soft, and that is certainly not to my liking.
Currently I have the Nova in 2.9, and the Mya in 4, 5 and 6.
The 4.0 can be used up to probably 40 knots. But it is a lot more comfortable with a 2.9??
Before i also had the Loft Pro 8.0, but have scaled down a bit to having the 6.0 as biggest.
If i should pick only one wing, with my 90kg, it would be the 5.0 or 4.0 Mya. Especially if price is a consideration. But I would say that all the wings mentioned above have a big wind range.
Gusts of 25 knots is for sure no problem with the 4.0. if it is just gusts, even the 6.0 would deal with it.
If it gets you going in 15 knots? Depends on your skill, weight, foil and board. Im not sure if i could do it with my 80l board and a 1000cm2 foil.
If the Mya 4.0 is the wing to rule them all? I dont know, i have not tried them all?? But in my far from objective opinion, I can recommend it.
Cheers,
Oyvind
I'm on this kit when pursuing low end:
87kg
85l 5'10" Sunova Carver
Cloud IX fs1150
Ocean Rodeo 4mAA
I find if the average is down to 10 knots (lulls down to 5-6 knots) that this is a very reliable kit for my skill level. I size down my wings really quickly when the wind picks up. So as soon as the average is 15 knots I go to my 3m and 20 knots is my 2.5m. As such, I don't have a ton of 25 knot days logged on my 4m, but I have one day where it was crazy winds, huge holes and lulls and then gusts to upper 20's and this wing did great in that.
Select to expand quoteJakeDawg69 said..
I need to get up on foil easily on my sinker board at around 15 knots but then not get overwhelmed by 25 knot
You probably don't want to hear this - if you want to get up easily in 15kts with a small wing, then don't use a sinker board. You can't have a small board, foil, and wing and expect to get going early. Something has to be upsized.
My 2023 4m Slick works nicely is 16 - 30kt (good at 25, but surviving at 30), but I use a board that is 20L more than my weight.
Ocean rodeo glide 5m. It measures more like a 4m and it's lighter than most 3m but 15 knots is easy for me on that wing with a sinker (80kg, 60l board) and it's fine in that wind range.
the ozone flux 5m would also work. Has a ton of high end to it but it feels a lot bigger than the OR.
probably good to know what you weigh.
Select to expand quoteNikita said..JakeDawg69 said..
I need to get up on foil easily on my sinker board at around 15 knots but then not get overwhelmed by 25 knot
You probably don't want to hear this - if you want to get up easily in 15kts with a small wing, then don't use a sinker board. You can't have a small board, foil, and wing and expect to get going early. Something has to be upsized.
My 2023 4m Slick works nicely is 16 - 30kt (good at 25, but surviving at 30), but I use a board that is 20L more than my weight.
Not really true with the Omen Flux 84L. I get up easily at 105kg with a 5m in 25 knots. It's a skinny board so as long as I have enough wind power to stand, I can get up on a 1200-1500 sq cm foil. The issue I have is that I'm in gusty conditions and then a 25 knots wind comes and the 5m is then way too much. So I'm in search of a 5m wing that has a wider wind range. My current 5m is a 2023 Duotone Slick SLS.
yeh board choice is more important. On wings though i've been impressed with the XPS wind range. Can be really pushed at its top limit and beyond. Low end isn't as good but then board choice comes into the equation. Because it's really stiff canopy and has a splash of dihedral for low end front you can get up very early on the right board.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..
yeh board choice is more important. On wings though i've been impressed with the XPS wind range. Can be really pushed at its top limit and beyond. Low end isn't as good but then board choice comes into the equation. Because it's really stiff canopy and has a splash of dihedral for low end front you can get up very early on the right board.
I only tried the 5.3 and thought it behaved very well, great in transition but felt large and the low end on a sinker board was very bad. On the other hand felt great overpowered. I would get the small ones, but the 5.3 would look somewhere else, no point having a large wing with poor low end, unless you are a light weight. 89kg here!
Select to expand quotebolocom said..eppo said..
yeh board choice is more important. On wings though i've been impressed with the XPS wind range. Can be really pushed at its top limit and beyond. Low end isn't as good but then board choice comes into the equation. Because it's really stiff canopy and has a splash of dihedral for low end front you can get up very early on the right board.
I only tried the 5.3 and thought it behaved very well, great in transition but felt large and the low end on a sinker board was very bad. On the other hand felt great overpowered. I would get the small ones, but the 5.3 would look somewhere else, no point having a large wing with poor low end, unless you are a light weight. 89kg here!
I feel with the new type of mid length boards with DW Tech built in low end access becomes less of an issue. The board does the work for you because low end design capability of a wing will be compromised at its top end. Think the whole equation is being shifted with the board tech.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..bolocom said..eppo said..
yeh board choice is more important. On wings though i've been impressed with the XPS wind range. Can be really pushed at its top limit and beyond. Low end isn't as good but then board choice comes into the equation. Because it's really stiff canopy and has a splash of dihedral for low end front you can get up very early on the right board.
I only tried the 5.3 and thought it behaved very well, great in transition but felt large and the low end on a sinker board was very bad. On the other hand felt great overpowered. I would get the small ones, but the 5.3 would look somewhere else, no point having a large wing with poor low end, unless you are a light weight. 89kg here!
I feel with the new type of mid length boards with DW Tech built in low end access becomes less of an issue. The board does the work for you because low end design capability of a wing will be compromised at its top end. Think the whole equation is being shifted with the board tech.
Agreed. OP originally said with a "sinker" board and I think we all consider that to be a lot shorter sized. Not too many people running mid length sinkers yet and that's an important detail to include when looking for gear.
Select to expand quoteeppo said..bolocom said..eppo said..
yeh board choice is more important. On wings though i've been impressed with the XPS wind range. Can be really pushed at its top limit and beyond. Low end isn't as good but then board choice comes into the equation. Because it's really stiff canopy and has a splash of dihedral for low end front you can get up very early on the right board.
I only tried the 5.3 and thought it behaved very well, great in transition but felt large and the low end on a sinker board was very bad. On the other hand felt great overpowered. I would get the small ones, but the 5.3 would look somewhere else, no point having a large wing with poor low end, unless you are a light weight. 89kg here!
I feel with the new type of mid length boards with DW Tech built in low end access becomes less of an issue. The board does the work for you because low end design capability of a wing will be compromised at its top end. Think the whole equation is being shifted with the board tech.
That's a good point, I ride a short freestyle sinker and prefer a more powerful wing for my 5m (larger I use) not worried about the top end, I rather go smaller as soon as I can. I have a 3 and 4 KTs and they are the opposite of the XPS, amazing low end, you can go smaller very soon, they handle great and I like them better for jumping but they have a threshold, when very overpowered they lose shape and become hard to ride. My current 5 is a Smik V3, somewhat in the middle, great wing but closer to my 4 than I would like.I will give it to my son and get a 5m KT. The problem with mixing brands.
Yeh even on sinkers like i used length of board was a factor. Too short and it takes a fair bit of effort to get that damn nose out and up over the water line - this was a 4'4. When i used a 4'6 with not that much volume it was noticeably easier. The whole game is getting that nose out the water - longer sinkers is the key - add in some bottom shape - be the go. But i can't be bothered with sinking anymore imo - I've gone much longer and narrower. Rather have fun than bust a poopa valve lol and man did i have my fair share of hairy moments well out at sea in isolated spots trying to get going when the wind dropped. Over all that.
