WindMode forum posts in last 60 days

As a kite, wing and windfoiler, you have to consider that if the wind dies & the kite drops you're not floating / surfing back but swimming. As opposed to winging or windsurf foiling which allows you to get going again. I found my practical low-end kitefoiling with a 9m foilkite (ozone hyperlink) is about the same as I do with a 5.5m wing, and a 7m windsurfing sail gets me going in less because I dont have to be scared of not coming back.

Mark _australia said..
but yeah it’s not new and why did windsurfing have a brief phase of hollow boards and it didn’t last…?

Too expensive for the general public. The market for them was too small.

I had a Patrik Diethelm hollow slalomboard, and yes it was earlier to plane (given you're a good pumper), but that was about it compared to the regular version. I expect for hollow wing boards that to be the same. I think in terms of feel / swing weight the difference is marginal, especially once it becomes more windy and you can easily ride a compact board 30L ish under body weight.

I think 99% of riders dont really get the benefit out of the reduced weight anyway, as long as the average foiler with 20kgs less weight needs a 1m2 bigger wing and larger foil than me to get going in the same wind that 1kg difference really isnt going to help them.

If you do get most out of your gear right now then maybe the 1kg will make a difference for you, whether thats worth the premium thats upto the individual rider.

I will try one if F-One brings one out, but I dont think for me it will be worth it, especially since most of the hollow boards arent built to be jumped with.

Maybe "pivot" is a difficult term in the discussion. If by pivot we mean roll or pitch, then definately the front wing, you feel that when riding. If by pivot you mean yaw, not sure, i'd still say the front wing, but get the idea of the mast being the point of rotation as it would be quite draggy otherwise.

I th

northy1 said..
I was trying to order this board (carbon 70 model) but none available at the time...coming from 2 years on the prior rocket wing S 70 litre. But I have to admit I have had my head turned by the new Project Drag board in 72...looks very very exciting...albeit a bit longer than I was planning.

ps
A lot of local fone riders seem to be gravitating to the new freesurf for winging even if its more aimed at para? P

Free surf and free downwind boards have been available for longer, I think thats a big part of it. Rocket wing s only landed in europe a couple of weeks ago because of some manufacturing delays and logistics issues related to the unrest in the middle east. I might have considered the free surf if I were 50-60kgs, but then again a small size Wing S is probably also a killer board and would fit my style better.

You're not the first to mention the project drag in this context, which surprises me as these shapes almost cant be further apart. The project drag is a full displacement hull whereas this is a planing shape. I have to say it has interested me too though, the project drag board has something appealing to it when you look at it ;).