Seen good deals on these for light winds, but had a 5.3m mk3 and bottom end was poor - pull in and nothing happens, and pumping required going off the wind to fill the baggy canopy and still not much power.
Are mk4 significantly better bottom end, and how does it compare to others? Mych difference between 6m and 6.5m?

jonysan said..
Not as 'cool' or as technical looking as the Duotones, and North Modes! But the Mk4's are really well built, with as good a 'bottom end' as the Matador's, (which is like a tractor!) And with more wind range than the first version of the Matador LT. Worth buying,

Have you tried the 6m or larger?

patronus said..

jonysan said..
Not as 'cool' or as technical looking as the Duotones, and North Modes! But the Mk4's are really well built, with as good a 'bottom end' as the Matador's, (which is like a tractor!) And with more wind range than the first version of the Matador LT. Worth buying,

Have you tried the 6m or larger?

I have the Mk3 5.3m, 6m Matador LT and the Mk4 7.5m wings. The 7.5m is a very friendly wing for it's size and has plenty of grunt, yet can be ridden when it's 15kn as well.
When I was based in the UAE, the 7.5m was a session saver as it allowed me to get out at 8kn+. It has good long, firm handles that gives good response when pumping. A year on, and the canopy still remains pretty tight and holds a hell of a lot of air when full.

I rode the 6.5m and the 7.5m back to back before I bought my 7.5m. The 6.5m is also a good wing but the 7.5m gives more range, and I thought if I was going big, I'll go biggest. Used the 7.5m with the 1040 to 2140 foils as well.
Since I've been back in Australia, the 7.5m has let me get out on those light days when others with 6m wings are on the beach.

Originally skeptical about riding big wings, but now I reckon it's a valuable part of the quiver.

** agree with David John.... being a bit taller helps with starting as it keeps the wings tip a bit higher above the water. Once on foil, no worries.

** agree with David John.... being a bit taller helps with starting as it keeps the wings tip a bit higher above the water. Once on foil, no worries.

Being tall definitely helps but with good technique being tall is not necessary.. and even when up and foiling it's not all sweet because you need to remain high on the foil and not let your height drop..

You can see at the 3.22 mark in my vid after looking back at the stingray I accidentally let my hight drop and you can see my wing tip catch and drag almost causing me to drop off foil and crash..