Aluula Wings

[lewmt]

Anyone riding them yet? Is the lighter stiffer airframe a huge difference maker?

[juandesooka]

I am on the list for hybrid ones...but only the strut is aluula. I am quite interested too in hearing how the leading edge aluula compares. Sure makes sense on paper...so let's see it on the water.

[bragnouff]

Anyone riding them yet? Is the lighter stiffer airframe a huge difference maker?

Do they even exist?
Seen absolutely zero hint of their existence in my neck of the woods.
Same for aluula kites actually... Still a curiosity

[Dwight]

Is the canopy tejin? Because the canopy is what wears out first on wings

[juandesooka]

Yes they exist: https://oceanrodeo.ca/pages/wingsurfing
But whether they've actually made it out of a shipping container yet, I am not sure!

Canopy is teijin, so that remains a weak point -- as these wings do seem to have a magnetic attraction to foil tips. I think the aluula frame may make more difference in large sizes for light wind....easier pumping and stiffer frame. I will be quite curious to demo one when the bigger sizes arrive. If it opens up winging even a couple kts lower, that would be nice for playing in surf.

[Rickshawjimmy]

I heard from a rep recently that Teijin were in trouble due to demand and raw material shortages and were having to pump out lots of sub standard material to meet current demands. It'll be interesting to see if people notice a further drop in quality in equipment this year from the brands using Teijin.

[Pierrot]

Some hybrid aluula wings where being used in France at « mondial du vent ». I spotted a few on the videos.
So at least pro riders have received some.

[juandesooka]

here's my buddy on a prototype of the hybrid

[Dontsink]

I heard from a rep recently that Teijin were in trouble due to demand and raw material shortages and were having to pump out lots of sub standard material to meet current demands. It'll be interesting to see if people notice a further drop in quality in equipment this year from the brands using Teijin.

Yes i have!
Less than 15 sessions on a recently released wing,no waves,always in recommended pressure and below top wind range,no jumps or falls on top of the wing etc... and the Center of Pressure has shifted 10cm to the back.

This is a big problem because there is no handle combination that gives me a balanced pull on both hands

I would say it also feels slower and less able to point upwind but this is impossible to prove.

I will not mention the brand because i am in the process of claiming, got to give them a chance to do right.

But your comment about the ripstop quality fits right on...

[Matty V]

The quantity of material produced by tejin is vast for the sailing industry, kites/wings use maybe 5-8% of what they make

The issue is no one (brands) ordered enough so that’s why there is a shortage and production delays. they don’t just say ah f*** it Lets spend all the time and effort producing the cloth but make it badly.

The counter is that if a brand decides to use a lower specification cloth because there is some available that’s up to the brand not the manufacturer in this case tejin.


Brands are not about to change their product canopy material midway through a season just to produce more wings