borist wrote: ↑Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:15 pmdo WLX wings feel noticeably draggier? The other day I tried a big wing foil just to see if it would improve my low end as the wind was not enough for me to get required speed for take off on my Spitfire. The foil did foil up at lower speed but was creating so much drag I could not ride anyway. That made me wonder about XLW wings and whether I'll benefit from them enough to buy them.
The regular sized wings are pretty small compared to most wings and feel very low drag. They take some speed to get flying but once up accelerate quickly, with a slippery low drag feeling. I can get them up to 30 mph pretty easily in flattish water and am a average level foiler. They don't point upwind or hold the speed to windward as well as a race foil, but are meant for turning and playing not blasting upwind on a straight line.
The XLW have a bit more drag, and don't feel quite as slippery, but don't feel nearly as bad for drag as some beginner oriented foils I have tried. I would not call the XLW a draggy foil and I think it is fine for a foil that is made to turn and play .. I haven't used a GPS with them yet, but was probably going in the low 20s when letting it run.
My recommendation would be if you are over 180 lbs and ride in 10-15 knots mostly go for the XLW, if you less 180 or ride in 15-20 more then go for regular. I'm 220 lbs so based on my short ride with the XLW will probably use the XLW mostly, maybe just breaking out the regular when I feel like foiling with a small kite in bigger waves and higher winds.
I'm using the spitfire on an axis ride 48 board which is a nice combo, big enough for touchdown transitions for me but small enough to throw around and feel lively.
I also just got a axis alloy foil which is also very fun and easy to ride in lighter winds so will use that also, but thats another topic