I'm moving toward higher aspect foils and trying to choose "correct" board. There is a lot of boards with different bottom shapes, some of them working better, some just OK, some not working well. My buddy who switched from last year model of some company (bevels) to this year Fanatic (hard rails) was shocked how much faster new board getting up. On other hand there is Kalama E3 with huge bevels and it seems to work fine according to reviewers. Here is the question: which shape works best for HA foils? Bevels or no bevels? Shorter or longer? Rocker or no rocker?

For wingning it's a cycle of progress, each iteration you...can contradict yourself. For example, first step on a beginner board, 6'6" will make anyone foil sooner. After a while a 5'5-5'10 will glide and unstick faster and bevel rail and big concave will make you recover better. After that, you enter in the HA...need less concave, less bottom shape and sharper rail to gain speed faster and still need lenght. After you master you HA...The shorter the less wet surface to a certain extend unstick faster and you don't need longer and narrow board, but very short and narrow etc. If you follow the trend of board during each version, that is representing the average level rider for each era and what was working best back then in my opinion.

Regarding bottom shapes , it seems to depend on what compromises you are prepared to make. Plus as usual with anything to do with board shapes there are a lot of BS marketing claims and voodoo floating around. Big concaves for instance are great for touchdowns but bad for early release.

Cutouts are BS for winging - a carryover from slalom windsurfing design. Starboard are particularly guilty of this , but they do have a strong windsurfing lineage. But it over complicates something which should be simple.

Sharp edges assist earlier release. I believe the Kalama v tail design probably has the easiest release , but maybe less kneeling or standing stability due to the sheer amount of volume that has been removed from the tail compared to a squarer more blocky design. So the question is - are you prepared to pay this price? Other benefits to the Kalama design are less contact with water surface when laying over in a turn .

I have three designs of board in my quiver currently , which has informed my opinions ( I'm 78kg and been winging for 2 1/2 years):

- Starboard 4'6 with cutouts at rear - removal of volume from the cutouts makes it more unstable for kneeling on than it needs to be

- 2 x ONE concave deck boards ( 5'3 and 5'10) with beveled tail and quite a rolled underside with large soft bevels. Good overall but lack of volume in tail can be a pain occasionally

- North Seek 2022 - short with very blocky tail with sharp edges, amazing secondary stability for standing - I guess as it is a very rectangular shape the full width is carried through more if the board, plus the full volume in the tail improves fore-aft stability. I use it for Sup foiling and very LW winging. It foils up very easily. I tried a mates Kalama E3 copy which was 7in longer and found it a lot less stable to stand on which I put down to the pin tail. For me this was a direct comparison between the two different designs. I'm preferring lots of volume in the tail currently, for early release plus overall stability.
I used to have a 5'2 inflatable and I could get that up on foil with around 3 pumps of the wing , even though people seem convinced that they won't release easily. Not the case for me. Touchdowns on the other hand were terrible.

I have been on ARTs since they came out and before that HPSs and the Armie HA1125 so have good experience with HA foils. LW winging is where you really find out the differences between various board and foil designs !

DWF said..
The Kalama influence is everywhere, in some form, in everyone's newest shapes. Even if the influence is very subtle.

Rocker is less sticky.

Avoid old looking shapes. If you see steps and notches run away.

Yep, more every day.

Freedom Nugget wingboard,
Gong Lethal model .. world champion board?
Takuma's latest I saw posted last today.
Like just about all DW boards now have a chined pintail ... looks like wing latest boards will soon too.

ActionSportsWA said..The bevels are more about giving a softer touch when you are mid turn and your rail touches the surface. Hard rails are not as good for this issue as they tend to bite and assist in crashing.

Second this, I have a Kalama E3 and it is amazing to turn. Rarely touches down due to the massive tail bevel; when it does hit the water you hardly notice it.

rgmacca said..


I'm more interested in getting a HPS foil going in the lightest of winds. how does the E3 work aim light wind conditions, does the shape promote board speed allowing you to get on foil quicker.

It depends on how small a HA foil you plan to ride. The kalama style wins in light wind for sure. Where the crossover to a narrow high speed planing board wins over the kalama, is for guys riding 500 to 600 sq cm racing foils. At this point, having a board that can reach a much "faster" planing speed before lift off, is better. Most people just need good speed from their boards, not really high speeds to lift off.

I think you're in the kalama style camp with HAs in light to moderate wind.

motogon said..
I'm moving toward higher aspect foils and trying to choose "correct" board. There is a lot of boards with different bottom shapes, some of them working better, some just OK, some not working well. My buddy who switched from last year model of some company (bevels) to this year Fanatic (hard rails) was shocked how much faster new board getting up. On other hand there is Kalama E3 with huge bevels and it seems to work fine according to reviewers. Here is the question: which shape works best for HA foils? Bevels or no bevels? Shorter or longer? Rocker or no rocker?

Motogon, If you can specify which HA foils you're moving towards you might get more focused answers.
HA foils characteristics differs from brand to brand, not all created equally. Some could be more sensitive to board design.

The conditions you ride in can play a key role in your choice of board and foil as well. Just a suggestion.

FoilWays said..
I think the bottom shape has a lot to do with where the board was mainly developed. I know that Sky lives on Maui, but he designed the latest boards with a more "broad" thinking. The canoe shape of the Kalama boards are definitely more "Maui" influenced... since it's a shape that works better in heavy chop and high wind. In a place like Maui, you really don't need a flat board that takes off easy.. because it's so windy there, you can take off on anything.

I have a Kalama and it is flat and takes off easy.
The image below shows how flat they are.

burchas said..

motogon said..
I'm moving toward higher aspect foils and trying to choose "correct" board. There is a lot of boards with different bottom shapes, some of them working better, some just OK, some not working well. My buddy who switched from last year model of some company (bevels) to this year Fanatic (hard rails) was shocked how much faster new board getting up. On other hand there is Kalama E3 with huge bevels and it seems to work fine according to reviewers. Here is the question: which shape works best for HA foils? Bevels or no bevels? Shorter or longer? Rocker or no rocker?

Motogon, If you can specify which HA foils you're moving towards you might get more focused answers.
HA foils characteristics differs from brand to brand, not all created equally. Some could be more sensitive to board design.

The conditions you ride in can play a key role in your choice of board and foil as well. Just a suggestion.

Go Foil. At this point RS1150. Thinking about RS1075 and may be RS850 for windy days.
Conditions: Most of the time flat water, sometimes very choppy (depends on wind and tide). Part time Maui.

motogon said..

burchas said..

motogon said..
I'm moving toward higher aspect foils and trying to choose "correct" board. There is a lot of boards with different bottom shapes, some of them working better, some just OK, some not working well. My buddy who switched from last year model of some company (bevels) to this year Fanatic (hard rails) was shocked how much faster new board getting up. On other hand there is Kalama E3 with huge bevels and it seems to work fine according to reviewers. Here is the question: which shape works best for HA foils? Bevels or no bevels? Shorter or longer? Rocker or no rocker?

Motogon, If you can specify which HA foils you're moving towards you might get more focused answers.
HA foils characteristics differs from brand to brand, not all created equally. Some could be more sensitive to board design.

The conditions you ride in can play a key role in your choice of board and foil as well. Just a suggestion.

Go Foil. At this point RS1150. Thinking about RS1075 and may be RS850 for windy days.
Conditions: Most of the time flat water, sometimes very choppy (depends on wind and tide). Part time Maui.

The good new is that these foils work great with everything. I foiled these on few custom boards, F-one, Kalama, Slingshot and Fanatics including the new Sky Style 4'11. If you pick the board that you feel comfortable with for the conditions you ride most, I believe you'll do just fine. The bad news, you have so many choices to go with. Me thinks that's a good problem to have.

HA thinner foils require more speed to activate. For a faster take off you would want a board that can generate speed throught the water even before planing stage. If there is enough wind or swell power, planing is ok and you get there eventually. If the conditions are ****sy, narrow and longer works the best. I have Kalama boards now and cannot say it enough.. the design works amazingly well.. but there are other brands models with similar characteristics