Contact   Imprint   Advertising   Guidelines

Equipment to progress after beginning stages

A forum dedicated to Hydrofoil riders
dimo79
Rare Poster
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:05 am
Weight: 70
Style: Freeride
Gear: Eleveight, Nomad
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby dimo79 » Sun Jan 09, 2022 3:54 pm

I am 70kg, 175cm. I started foiling on a Jet Track from Crazy Foil with the large wing (1125cm2) and the short mast (20”). After 4-5 sessions on the short mast I switched to the 26” mast. I can get consistent flights, slow myself down to go back to taxi, and feel comfortable with my balance over the swell. I am quite close to landing my first tack and jibe.

My biggest issue at the moment is that my mast is too short. I am at spot where the swell is pretty high and I could certainly use a longer mast. Since the Crazy Foil equipment range is very limited, I figured I might as well invest into something that will last me longer rather than just buying a longer mast from CF.

I would appreciate equipment suggestions from seasoned foilers. I am not into going fast/racing. What interests me more is riding the swell/waves, and the sexy transitions.

My board is a SlingShot Alien Air 4’8”. Budget is flexible.
Last edited by dimo79 on Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:04 am, edited 1 time in total.

airsail
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 687
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2009 8:57 am
Weight: 80kg
Local Beach: Queens Beach North, Queensland, Australia
Favorite Beaches: Queens North, I don’t travel much
Style: Foiling
Gear: Sonic 3 15mtr, Soul 10 mtr, BRM Clouds 8, 6.2, 4.8, 3.7
Lift, Naish and Levitaz foils
Carbonco and home build boards
Ozone and Duotone wings
Naish Hover 95 foilboard
Brand Affiliation: None
Location: Australia
Has thanked: 340 times
Been thanked: 168 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby airsail » Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:03 pm

With a flexible budget pick a brand which is available locally and others use. They have done the testing for you and you can normally borrow a wing to try before you buy. Also a brand with a wide range of wings and mast length is best to give you more options. I choose Naish as it’s got a good range of parts, relatively cheap and everything is interchangeable, no need for different fuselages and easy to get at my location.

We have rough conditions and the shortest mast I use is 95cm, much less breaching.

SolarSet
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 852
Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:30 am
Kiting since: 2017
Local Beach: Hel Peninsula
Gear: This & that
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 89 times
Been thanked: 177 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby SolarSet » Sun Jan 09, 2022 8:36 pm

I started learning foil last year and had my first mast 26’’ (60cm) for about first 6 sessions and it was waste of time, even on flat water it was easy to breach water with foil, once I move from 60cm to 90cm my comfort of flying improved a lot and I started to do gybes a while levitating. Buy longer must asap 26’’ limiting your learning a lot,
Can’t comment on gear, if you happy with current crazyfly foil maybe get compatible longer mast? Get complete new setup once you see where you want to go in foil switch to something else?
For surf like foiling riding swell people love Sabfoil Onda W633 I was eyeing this setup myself but end up buying Nobile Carbon Surf as it had great price during blackweek sale, yet to test it but I’m moving from very small Zeeko Blaster 700cm2 front wing hence flying with 1300cm must be a massive difference
These users thanked the author SolarSet for the post:
dimo79 (Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:03 am)
Rating: 3.03%

leeuwen
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 853
Joined: Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:16 pm
Kiting since: 2014
Local Beach: Anything in NL
Style: Foiling around
Gear: KauperXT 11M Falcon
Ocean Rodeo aluula roam 10m / HL Crave 8m/6m
Slingshot ghost 4M
Sabfoil 1350L,633,699,671/ 83-103 kraken mast / Groove Skate L + Radical / Sabfoil T35
Lieuwe Shotgun
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 84 times
Been thanked: 316 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby leeuwen » Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:45 am

Just to add a small note about mast length since it may sound counter intuitive:
A longer mast is more stable to ride so once you are at the level that you don't crash often I would recommend > 90cm.
I recently added a 101cm mast and its significantly more stable then my 90cm.
I assume its because its further away from the foil/pivot point. This makes that changes at the board level make for smaller angle changes at the foil.
I found that due to this e.g. foot switches became easier.
Note that it does start to get a bit sluggish at 100cm so for wave riding 90cm might be the best compromise ( I am sure more experienced wave riders can chime in here since I mostly foil on flat or small chop ).

Iridian
Medium Poster
Posts: 108
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2018 7:36 pm
Local Beach: Dewey, Assateague, OBX
Favorite Beaches: Mauritania
Style: Free Style
Gear: Slingshot, Crazyfly, RE, Ocean Rodeo, Liquid Force
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 7 times
Been thanked: 19 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby Iridian » Mon Jan 10, 2022 1:24 pm

If you are in the US, please consider my gong gaxy foil setup.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2412011

Gong galaxy makes high quality foils in France and has a good selection of compatible parts at a reasonable price.

dimo79
Rare Poster
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:05 am
Weight: 70
Style: Freeride
Gear: Eleveight, Nomad
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby dimo79 » Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:43 pm

leeuwen wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 10:45 am
Just to add a small note about mast length since it may sound counter intuitive:
A longer mast is more stable to ride so once you are at the level that you don't crash often I would recommend > 90cm.
I recently added a 101cm mast and its significantly more stable then my 90cm.
I assume its because its further away from the foil/pivot point. This makes that changes at the board level make for smaller angle changes at the foil.
I found that due to this e.g. foot switches became easier.
Note that it does start to get a bit sluggish at 100cm so for wave riding 90cm might be the best compromise ( I am sure more experienced wave riders can chime in here since I mostly foil on flat or small chop ).
Thanks. I will go for something between 90 to a 100cm.
SolarSet wrote: Can’t comment on gear, if you happy with current crazyfly foil maybe get compatible longer mast? Get complete new setup once you see where you want to go in foil switch to something else?
Crazy Foil (not the well known crazy fly :)) only offers a couple of different wings. While I can get a longer mast from them at $100, I feel like it might be better to invest that into a setup that will last longer and is more easily upgradable.

grigorib
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 4147
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:12 pm
Kiting since: 2009
Local Beach: OBX; Clinton Lake, IL; Lake Michigan; Hood River; La Ventana; Ocean Park, PR; SPI; Tawas, MI
Gear: Kites: Slingshot Rally 5/7/9/11m, Turbine 9/13m, SST 4/5m, UFO 3/5/7/9m, Flysurfer Speed4 10m standard, Flysurfer 2cool 6m, Peter Lynn Venom II ARC 16m

Boards: Spleene RIP 37, Flysurfer Radical6 138, Flysurfer Flydoor5 XL, Slingshot/Moses/RDB 70/90/101cm masts with 1200/860/800/730/600 kitefoil or 2200/1700/1400 wingfoil wings and 310/230/425 stabilizers, Naish MicroChip 80cm, 36" Woody, Slingshot Dwarfcraft Micro 100, MBS Comp 95x

For sale: Slingshot Turbine 9/13m, 20” Guardian bar, 1700 sq.cm wing/fuselage/stabilizer fitting Moses mast
.
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 461 times
Been thanked: 691 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby grigorib » Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:55 pm

I’ve been riding Lift foil since 2015 and Moses/Slingshot since 2017. While either of these are great choice I’d recommend RDB 730/310 with 90cm which is Moses-compatible and while suiting for your weight at 730 sq.cm wing area it also allows putting on ultimate lightwind or race wings. The 310 sq.cm stabilizer makes it very easy to progress. Once you’re ripping around - replace it with 230 sq.cm race stabilizer for more speed.
Above all - carbon is great, looks fine and rides smooth, besides being light to carry and travel with.

Im going on a trip in two days, bringing 101cm Moses mast, RDB 730 regular and 1200 lightwind wings plus Mosses 424 and RDB 310 stabilizers. Happy quiver.

If you have questions - let me know.

dimo79
Rare Poster
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:05 am
Weight: 70
Style: Freeride
Gear: Eleveight, Nomad
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby dimo79 » Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:56 am

grigorib wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:55 pm
I’ve been riding Lift foil since 2015 and Moses/Slingshot since 2017. While either of these are great choice I’d recommend RDB 730/310 with 90cm which is Moses-compatible and while suiting for your weight at 730 sq.cm wing area it also allows putting on ultimate lightwind or race wings. The 310 sq.cm stabilizer makes it very easy to progress. Once you’re ripping around - replace it with 230 sq.cm race stabilizer for more speed.
Above all - carbon is great, looks fine and rides smooth, besides being light to carry and travel with.

Im going on a trip in two days, bringing 101cm Moses mast, RDB 730 regular and 1200 lightwind wings plus Mosses 424 and RDB 310 stabilizers. Happy quiver.

If you have questions - let me know.
Thanks for the input. What makes RDB a better choice? It doesn't seem to be widely available where I am. Also, given most other foils for freeride/surf/carve seem to suggest around 1000cm2, do you think 730 is not too small?

grigorib
Very Frequent Poster
Posts: 4147
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:12 pm
Kiting since: 2009
Local Beach: OBX; Clinton Lake, IL; Lake Michigan; Hood River; La Ventana; Ocean Park, PR; SPI; Tawas, MI
Gear: Kites: Slingshot Rally 5/7/9/11m, Turbine 9/13m, SST 4/5m, UFO 3/5/7/9m, Flysurfer Speed4 10m standard, Flysurfer 2cool 6m, Peter Lynn Venom II ARC 16m

Boards: Spleene RIP 37, Flysurfer Radical6 138, Flysurfer Flydoor5 XL, Slingshot/Moses/RDB 70/90/101cm masts with 1200/860/800/730/600 kitefoil or 2200/1700/1400 wingfoil wings and 310/230/425 stabilizers, Naish MicroChip 80cm, 36" Woody, Slingshot Dwarfcraft Micro 100, MBS Comp 95x

For sale: Slingshot Turbine 9/13m, 20” Guardian bar, 1700 sq.cm wing/fuselage/stabilizer fitting Moses mast
.
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 461 times
Been thanked: 691 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby grigorib » Tue Jan 11, 2022 4:35 pm

dimo79 wrote:
Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:56 am
grigorib wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 8:55 pm
I’ve been riding Lift foil since 2015 and Moses/Slingshot since 2017. While either of these are great choice I’d recommend RDB 730/310 with 90cm which is Moses-compatible and while suiting for your weight at 730 sq.cm wing area it also allows putting on ultimate lightwind or race wings. The 310 sq.cm stabilizer makes it very easy to progress. Once you’re ripping around - replace it with 230 sq.cm race stabilizer for more speed.
Above all - carbon is great, looks fine and rides smooth, besides being light to carry and travel with.

Im going on a trip in two days, bringing 101cm Moses mast, RDB 730 regular and 1200 lightwind wings plus Mosses 424 and RDB 310 stabilizers. Happy quiver.

If you have questions - let me know.
Thanks for the input. What makes RDB a better choice? It doesn't seem to be widely available where I am. Also, given most other foils for freeride/surf/carve seem to suggest around 1000cm2, do you think 730 is not too small?
“Wing area is not everything” people say.
RDB 730 sq.cm is slightly thicker wing and for your weight it should be plenty. 1005 sq.cm of Mose 679 was a bit too much for me at 200+ lbs to enjoy and I went first to 770 sq.cm of Moses 695, then to 840 sq.cm of Moses 800 and ended up riding slightly thicker RDB 730 sq.cm as my main wing and 1200 sq.cm for lightwind (yet 1200 fits same fuselage)

I like RDB wings better - they ride great, they fit same fuselage be it race/freeride/lightwind wings and they fit Moses fuselages/masts so they became my wings of choice.

Not to mention that RDB kite wings mount on lightweight kite fuselage unlike heavy/bulky surf fuselages used for large wings

Where are you located?

dimo79
Rare Poster
Posts: 30
Joined: Sun Nov 08, 2020 6:05 am
Weight: 70
Style: Freeride
Gear: Eleveight, Nomad
Brand Affiliation: None
Has thanked: 8 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Equipment to progress after beginning stages

Postby dimo79 » Wed Jan 12, 2022 5:44 pm

I am roaming at the moment. Home base NW (Hood River), temporarily based in the Mediterranean (choppy water no swell) and in Cabarete (major swell) until the end of February :)


Return to “Hydrofoil”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 155 guests