That's the new 2 piece trench/plug full cover. It completely fills all voids so doesn't fill with water and still gives minor adjustment on mast placement. Working on commercial version right now with Dale to fit all brands of mast , it was pretty well impossible to do the one piece full cover that I've been using . This works incredibly well , the starts are so easy now as you can see in the video .No wave assist or paddle strokes required on a 690 cm 2 that's pretty cool in my books.
I have the ML 6-9 x 22 x 100 litre it feels so light don't know the actual weight but I switched from a Sunova 6-3 Coaster to this and it's night and for stability and weight. I really like it can't fault it at all and just feels so good under arm. You get a good look at it in this video . There will a newer version but won't see them in stores in Aus until June July the size/specs & price will change.
My second session was inshore but it was cranking wind against full flood run out tide , didn't wear a leggie to reduce tangle risk and as I normally only ride really small foils so they don't travel much BUT I had on a monster Axis foil . First fall the board took off downwind self pumping and I was get sucked the opposite direction with the tide. If it wasn't for 20 years of waterpolo under my belt that board was gone, I had to ditch the Para and swim like hell . Got to the board and paddled to the Para before it sunk . Hopped on the board and reset , did exactly the same thing again next attempt Needless to say came in and put on a brand new coiled leggie which got immediately caught in the lines Got to love the Para. I've overcome this now by using and older coiled leggie which is a bit stretched and the lines don't hook on it , works perfect.
Piros said.. Another punishing session , this pre winter wind is just terrible BUT with every session I improve........slowly
Super hang on I watched this on the TV at home, Missus comes in, "ah is that the new thing you are trying?" yup, "looks hard" agree,"is he struggling?" nope, he is doing way better than me,"who is he?" Rob Von, the eternal grom, my hero
If the 780HA was a hard start I don't think the 770 UHA would be the pick . I'd be looking the 790 MA and with the 200 Surf then work your way down from there . The MA are by far the easiest to use over the whole spectrum, very balanced forgiving foils .
I have both the Code 770r & Armie 770 UHA. At a glance the physical outline of both these foils are pretty close but are far from the same as each other. In a nut shell the Code is quicker but has a much higher stall and can become a bit of a handfull at times until you put some time in on it. Code IMHO has the best stab selection on the market which really helps to tune them for stability , speed & starts. The UHA is super user friendly not as fast as the Code but you can run this thing on the surface and not breach , not a chance to do that with the Code. It also surfs pretty dam good with a super low stall. the Armie stabs are pretty limited but the 140 Dart suits the 770 really well. I have both brands and the Code is the first pick for a serious DW and the Armie if I want to just go out and enjoy myself. I talk mainly about the Armie in this video but I also show the Code in it as well.
The wind is F##king Sh!t , 12 to 20 SE to SW gust . As soon as I put the Para in the air it drops to 12 . I've had one good run this week . Been to the water everyday just to chug and a couple KM of reaches in gusty windballs. My highlight was when a gust hit me in the middle of gybe more from the west & the para went 360 around my body , I swapped hands behind my back and by some miracle foiled away laughing my head off in disbelief. Probably never pull that off again. It's currently 14 to 20 but all over the shop so fingers crossed however it's really cooled down fast , could be the beginning of the end for good wind , winter is coming in fast.
Finally got a solid 20+ today after work in flat water and finally hooked up . OMG what difference clean strong wind makes . I popped up instantly on the 3.5 switch and FMD the harness was just so good and comfortable I actually really enjoyed myself . Linked together a heap of gybes , still haven't stashed yet as I was just reaching and pointing up wind hard as I could but great day , just frothing and loving it .
Thanks Ian , I'm learning something new everyday in the Para world , now I know what the front and back of the bar is and yeah plenty of pain to come and looking forward to it
pitbulldoug said.. Rob your cracking it there you just need more wind by looks of video hard to say by visual ofcoarse but my rule of thumb go FD or supfoil if below 16/17 kts forget it PW,the PW fun starts at 18kts if you can try a axis minidart 90/100L cheat code if you ask me but I'm bit heavier than you Lol 100kgs +
Yeah I'm just grabbing what I can wind wise , I have picked a really bad time of year where I live to take up the Para so if it's over 15 I'm in the water for now anyway.
Pressure cuts are a different story , some of my worst foils scares aren't from being sliced it's from being hit by the foil tip and it spilts the tissue under the skin without slicing you open (eg:- Doing a taco and getting the foil tip in the torso) , at first it looks pretty minor but couple of days later it splits open . So in hindsight padding with give you more protection than a cut proof product.
I swapped my 4m Frigate for the Quest 3.5 & 4.5 unfortunately in that photo the wind only got to 10 to 14 and that's been it for wind since then . I chugged for an hour with the 4.5 . I got so so close a few times but just couldn't quite hold the launch . The Quest for me was way way easier to fly than the Frigate I could almost park it . Good example I could hold 2 Quest in one hand .
I've gone in head first . With great wind over Easter I did 4 days straight , can now get up both ways can sort of jibe . Last session logged 13km on foil (Calm water) can point well up wind and switch. I'm on a Frigate 4m & Sunova 6-3 x 21 x 94 L , I'm going to swap the board for a Axis mini Dart 6-4 x 20.5 x 100L it's over all just an easier board to stand/chug/start on ( I'm 87kg). Our wind is pretty sh!t here and I worked out pretty quickly having just one Para I will loose water time (and swear heaps more) due to the Para's small wind range. So my question is what to add to my quiver keep in mind this is for the fastest progression . I'll redo my kit including the board once I become a component Para winger. I'm thinking adding a F-One Quest 3 & 5m to my 4m Frigate . Appreciate you thoughts. Plus don't have a harness the new Manera looks the goods to me . Hopefully do first ocean DW this weekend.