Hi All, I have just uploaded the latest FOILERS Podcast episode. It was embargoed until today because they have just launched a new foil range. In this episode, we talked about where these foils fit into their product range, their product design philosophies, the history and evolution of AXIS and some considerations on the future of foiling. Enjoy.

Following a link to the episode on Spotify. You can also just search for FOILERS on your preferred podcasting platform.

spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/RaKpTB3tDMb.

You need to search within a Podcast platform.

ie. Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Goodpods, iHeart Radio, Overcast etc.

Cheers

Was so close to pulling the trigger on ART V2s (StandUp sold out pretty much straight away). Now I'll have to wait for the Fireball ride reports out of AWSI.

The Fireballs will be made of the same materials as the Ultra Carbon mast which is a tad expensive. Adrian mentioned they are targeted at the downwind race market with low drag fuselages and tiny rear wings.

I expect they won't be cheap and targeted at the racer, not the general recreational foiler.

Zasby said..
You need to search within a Podcast platform.

ie. Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Goodpods, iHeart Radio, Overcast etc.

Cheers

Hey Zasby. May be confusing but Google podcasts was a podcast platform, which has migrated/merged with their all encompassing YouTube music platform. The generic foiling podcast, wing life, Dave west are on there but I can't find you. May be of use to you as many people with youtube premium subscription can use the youtube music platform for free. Cheers

Adrian Roper ar 1.55.54 on Fireball wings

I just listened to the podcast & although was very interesting also left me with a sense of confusion.
What foil does someone progressing from the beginner stages buy? I'm two seasons in & trying to get my gybes nailed what foil would I buy? Are the (newish) spitfires now outdated? Why get a V2 when the next thing out is the fireball?
I applaud Adrian & the teams continual quest for the perfect foil, however as a guy who just wants to go out & have a good time it all goes a little bit over my head. A few beginners have asked my advice about which foil to get - in my head all I can think of is how easy it was when the HPS was the progressing choice.


One of the reasons I'm going down the Konrad route is simply because they have a big one & a little one & they're both reportedly good.

Axis has generally struggled to orient users. Example - their "all foils" contains none of their new foils. The SP660 is still listed
axisfoils.com/collections/front-wings?page=1

That aside, you should get a spitfire IMO, everything else is too advanced if you can't gybe yet.

Here is a simplification
* You are in 1, moving to 2, only worry about 3 once you are tired with 2 and know that you want more of something specific.
* Experiment with tails before changing front foils, they make a huge difference.

cornwallis said..
Axis has generally struggled to orient users. Example - their "all foils" contains none of their new foils. The SP660 is still listed
axisfoils.com/collections/front-wings?page=1

That aside, you should get a spitfire IMO, everything else is too advanced if you can't gybe yet.

Here is a simplification
* You are in 1, moving to 2, only worry about 3 once you are tired with 2 and know that you want more of something specific.
* Experiment with tails before changing front foils, they make a huge difference.

This is a great simplification but as another beginner I have the same confusion about the tails.

I'm only a season into the foiling journey having come from windsurfing to windfoiling and now winging. I've got a hybrid windfoil/winging board (JP FreeFoil) and an Axis foil setup with spitfire & HPS front wings and a progressive tail. As I progress on the foiling journey (and probably focusing more on winging than windfoiling) what kind of tails should I be downsizing to? They've got progressive, speed, skinny ranges plus others, in a ton of different sizes, and similar to the issue you note above, the "all rear wings" section doesn't contain the skinnies.

Looks like the Axis guys are a bit Hunted from the Competitors and the Costumers at the same time. When the Spitefires appear lot of ppl here said "we want something with more glide". I read Mr. Bennetts hate the SF because to draggy?! So they brought out the art v2? Better name would be Spitefire pro! Then I read about the LX from konrad and how much better they are compared to the axis foils because of there camber. Same time also read about the camber in outher foils and the benefits of it, like in the Sabfoil razor or Armstrong HA. Boom the other day the fireball came up. I don't know if there is really much correlation but I am a also feel overrun about all that and I ride axis for 3 years now. Last week I had a great session with the old v1 999 and I thought again if I really need more.

cornwallis said..

Very interesting poster. Is there a high res version of this?
I can spot at two additional sizes of ARTv2, a PNGv2 and of course the fireball.

I like Axis very much. Also was on Naish and Armstrong for about a year. There are a lot of foils in the Axis range. Some of the foils I do not know or understand but it is only because we do not have sheltered reef conditions or proper ocean swell for downwinding for example or decent launch spots for pure pumping on a lake or in a quiet bay.

Here is my take on the axis foils (75kg, 56 y.o, relatively fit thanks to 3 years of foiling, riding in cold choppy waters of Northern Europe):

PNG, BSC - no opinion as I never used them
HPS - all-rounders, beginner foils - proper all-rounders, 1050 is still hard to beat as it is still used for light wind sessions
ART - speed and glide - the only foils that for me justify the much hated term "game changer". they fully deserved the hype when they were initially released. 999 is still very much in use as a light wind foil (11 knots vs 7 knots of HPS 1050)
Spitfile - turns, wave riding - very nice for riding in the pocket of a small wave. SF turns well but I did not like SF as it was too slow for me compared to Arts, I do not think it replaces HPS either
ART PRO - speed and glide, replaces ARTs - by far my favorite foils, especially 1001. technical but very lively, fast, enjoyable. 1051 does not turn as well as 1001 but it is a safer choice in the beginning
ART V2 - turns, replaces SF - better SF for sure. Turns very nicely, faster than SF but not as fast as PRO. I use 939. Anything less than that is hard to get on foil, even harder than 1001, in my opinion and 1001 is a great fast foil that turns just as well.
Fireball - this I am not sure about yet, waiting for initial feedback. I hear they are for DownWinding, so probably not for me. Not sure.

My quiver (% of sessions):
HPS 1050 for 7-10 knots (10%) - 80 ltr board
ART 999 for 11-12 knots (10%) - 80 ltr board
ART PRO 1051 - 13+ knots in very messy conditions (20%) - 60 ltr board
ART PRO 1001 - 13+ knots in fast waves (40%) - 60 ltr board
ART V2 939 - wave riding in slower waves (20%) - 60 ltr board

Stabs
375P was my only stab for everything
with the release of skinnies, I now use 375P or 362/50 for larger foils and 358/35 for smaller ones (with -0.5 shim for extra speed)

Above is based on my personal experience. I do not know yet what the next foil from Axis will be or even what the Fireball is for, so I do not know what the design philosophy of Axis is. It does work for me though.

Hi!
Any reports about the fireballs yet? I got V1 999 and thought about smaller V2 or an Art Pro (1051, 1001). But now I saw Adrian saying the FB 1000 got the low end of the 1051 and the speed of the 951!? Sounds amazing!

That's true.... The degree between obsession and passion is narrow. Better than drinking alc all day long. HPS glides better than BSC, ART glides better than HPS and FB glides better than ART. At least u can start collecting stamps if u want. That's also expensive.

I have had very limited time on a 1070 Fb, SUP foil surf and dw only no winging, but haven't tried Art v2.

My take would probably be you would have to decide whether waveriding/turning (art v2) or downwind/glide/speed (FB) is your priority.

Fb turns pretty well but I assume the art v2 is still in front in that department and vice versa

Love my ART999 v1. It turns well, but better turning and less vulnerability to chop is still welcome. I don't want to lose speed as part of the deal though. So Is ART999v2 faster than v1?