Yes
R H
I have heard this kind of opinion ... and this kind of opinion:
I'm not sure how an alloy mast is less stiff than a carbon mast? Does this have more to do with the way the components mesh together than the actually stiffness of the mast? In any case, does lack of stiffness significantly detract from the foiling experience for the average user, especially in slower speed, carving oriented foiling? I can see that in racing, performance is likely to be effected by stiffness and hydro dynamic efficiency, but most people are not using foils for racing.bigcane wrote: I think what is missing from this conversation is the main point about carbon which is the stiffness of the mast. Once you have a bit of experience and then get to ride an UHM carbon low drag mast there is no going back.
Yes - this I get. My first experiences trying to foil were in onshore winds & at a shallow, wavy, sand- bar infested launch with a big, heavy board & alloy foil. I expended a lot of energy swimming the board into deeper water & then completely failed to maneuver the board & foil into position to water start. It was exhausting & demoralizing.Foil wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 8:22 pmthere is one occasion where carbon is so much better to have under your arm.
when your facing horrible mushy fast shore break in onshore winds.
most of us have been there.
That big breaking wave you can't get over that just gets a grip on your kit and lifts it over you, so that you are trying desperately to keep the whole lot from coming down of top of your head whilst being still aware your lines have gone slack and your kite might be about to fall with the resulting fight with the foil board to keep it clear of the next wave and your delicate bits, knowing your kite might just power back up about to cause all sorts of mayhem.
now with a super light full carbon foil set and carbon foil board you may have a chance to wressle it into submission, but the weight of some other kit which may be twice the weight or more then its harder to win, and the heavy kit can cut deeper, and hurt so much more, try kicking the wings under the water, carbon is bad enough but heavy kit hurts a lot more.