First wing board size: must it be weight + 40?

[caps]

Hi all,

I'm venturing into the wing thing next week and had a question. I've kited for 15 years, kite foiled for 5 years and now ready to try some winging. I was able to recently get my 5.0 wing out with a sup and had a fun time cruising around a lake- staying upwind easily at the end of the first hour. We are flying to SPI in a couple weeks with wings, 1950 cm2 foil, and a 105 liter inflatable wing board. I'm 80kg and my wife is about 65kg. Is that board too small? Rentals there seem unlikely after a few phone calls. Traveling with a bigger board is difficult. The inflatable is obviously better for travel but am wondering if the 105liter board will end up making for a frustrating week for me. It's not the recommended first board size- weight in KG + 40 liter = 120 Liter. Is the weight + 40 perpetuated by the wing companies to sell more boards or is it a sound recommendation. Thoughts?

[Qiter]

With your foiling background, you will easily be OK on the board but I predict you will want to get a smaller one after less than 10 sessions-
It was the same for me (90kg). Started on a 98l board but after 5 sessions felt that I need a smaller one. I am an experienced kitefoiler so all the foiling specific stuff came easy (jibes, footswitches etc). As you realised when cruising with the SUP, the wing handling is fairly easy.
So I would recommend going with your 100l inflatable for the holiday to get into winging and then look out for a smaller board

[Boston kiter]

I would think inflatables would have more float than a hard board with the same volume.

[grigorib]

I started on +15 board. On 10th day I was steadily staying upwind both regular and toeside and flying through jibes.
After two more sessions I switched to -5 and it’s been challenging a bit but I got used to it pretty fast.

[Dontsink]

I would think inflatables would have more float than a hard board with the same volume.

"Float" is always Board Volume minus Board Weight, no matter what it is made of.

[bragnouff]

I would think inflatables would have more float than a hard board with the same volume.

Please explain your reasoning
while I go get the popcorn

[bragnouff]

duplicate

[fluidity]

Hi all,

I'm venturing into the wing thing next week and had a question. I've kited for 15 years, kite foiled for 5 years and now ready to try some winging. I was able to recently get my 5.0 wing out with a sup and had a fun time cruising around a lake- staying upwind easily at the end of the first hour. We are flying to SPI in a couple weeks with wings, 1950 cm2 foil, and a 105 liter inflatable wing board. I'm 80kg and my wife is about 65kg. Is that board too small? Rentals there seem unlikely after a few phone calls. Traveling with a bigger board is difficult. The inflatable is obviously better for travel but am wondering if the 105liter board will end up making for a frustrating week for me. It's not the recommended first board size- weight in KG + 40 liter = 120 Liter. Is the weight + 40 perpetuated by the wing companies to sell more boards or is it a sound recommendation. Thoughts?

You will be fine. with experience I can start maybe 50% of the time with my 103 litre 7.5 kg fanatic and my 115 kg, it is a bit of a mission. Flat water with wind and an adequately sized wing are just as important for learning to foil.

[Peter_Frank]

I would think inflatables would have more float than a hard board with the same volume.

"Float" is always Board Volume minus Board Weight, no matter what it is made of.

True, even if its filled with helium or something, float is still volume minus board weight.

Some hardboards are lighter than inflatables, and some are heavier (per volume) so no general rule.

Peter

[Peter_Frank]

Hi all,

I'm venturing into the wing thing next week and had a question. I've kited for 15 years, kite foiled for 5 years and now ready to try some winging. I was able to recently get my 5.0 wing out with a sup and had a fun time cruising around a lake- staying upwind easily at the end of the first hour. We are flying to SPI in a couple weeks with wings, 1950 cm2 foil, and a 105 liter inflatable wing board. I'm 80kg and my wife is about 65kg. Is that board too small? Rentals there seem unlikely after a few phone calls. Traveling with a bigger board is difficult. The inflatable is obviously better for travel but am wondering if the 105liter board will end up making for a frustrating week for me. It's not the recommended first board size- weight in KG + 40 liter = 120 Liter. Is the weight + 40 perpetuated by the wing companies to sell more boards or is it a sound recommendation. Thoughts?

Agree - you will be fine with the 105 litre for 80 kg as you have former experience.
Even if your wife is new into "surf", it is a good size for her too.

+40 is not something companies recommend to sell more boards, it is what users have found works the best, without being huge.
But this is for some who is not into kite or windsurf or foil, or those who want the easiest way to start.

There was a trend early, with really small boards - and the best guys have a normal sized board and a small board, but quite few.

Good and experienced riders tend to stick to something between -5 +10 litres as their "overall" board, around here now.

Problem is, you (most likely) still need to change down in size, even if you get a +25 litre board (the 105 you say was an option), as it works great also in more wind, but you will eventually go down further, at least a tad.
Advantage of the 105 is it wont get bulky too fast, can be used for a long time, some years most likely, till you find it a too big.

The length of the board means a lot when new, same volume but longer is a lot easier for firsttimers.
When experienced you usually want them shorter (but not too short).

Peter