The Naish Wing-Surfer

[ronnie]

[ronnie]

The #Slingwing overpowered.

[scottnorby]

Oh yeah guys...
This is most definitely happening.
Cheap enough to experiment with.
Don't really need lessons if you already foil..... that makes it much more accessible.
Apparently they are not going to be too expensive either.

May work on snow for kicks?
Mountainboard?
Onewheel with no motor?

Im curious to see where this all goes.
The foil bug is real.

[Toby]

Works already on snow since years...but no LEI

www.kitewing.com

Looks better with all inflatable though

[cglazier]

OK, the wing looks good. But what else does one need.
- How big a hydrofoil wing do you need? Would a 1200 cm wing be enough?
- How small a board can you use? (Most of us don't have big SUP hydrofoil boards.)

I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has tried the wing with a smaller hydrofoil wing and a smaller board.

CG

[tautologies]

Well, I would definitely consider trying this. I think it could potentially make waves that before wasn't as accessible with a kite more accessible. I can imagine this on days where the wind is offshore and you bring a paddle on your back. If you can't make it back then de-rig and paddle back home.
I dunno. I think it can create some opportunities. I guess we'll see.

[Seabizzle]

This is definitely interesting. I do however find it a bit surprising all the companies are developing them as it seems like such a niche item. It seems like the main application for this is to be used with a sup foil or to a lesser extent with a normal sup in the waves. This seems like a very niche market and not a great number of buyers out there.

From my basic reckoning this is used for-
Big board, normal water start not possible
Allows you to move around and get up wind
Can then be 100% depowered when riding waves or wind swell

Isn't it possible to totally luff the sail windsurfing?? How is this any advantage over a normal windsurfer??

The scenarios I can imagine it being good for could be

Going upwind then surfing wind swell downwind, don't have to worry about drifting and looping the kite

Riding waves at spots where kiting isn't suitable due to wind shadows and sketchy or offshore winds or no launching spots

A simple and safe sail that could fit into a small back pack and therefore more convenient than a windsurfing rig.

Also if you rode a kite wing as your main thing you would have biceps like swarschenegger!!

Overall I get the feeling a kite wing doesn't have significant advantages over more traditional kite or windsurfing equipment and that is why despite having been around for a long time they have never really taken off.

[Toby]

Naish states one of the advantages is that you don’t need to rig anything, just pump it up quickly and ready to go.

Riding waves at spots where kiting isn't suitable due to wind shadows

In a wind shadow this won’t work neither.

[ronnie]

Well, I would definitely consider trying this. I think it could potentially make waves that before wasn't as accessible with a kite more accessible. I can imagine this on days where the wind is offshore and you bring a paddle on your back. If you can't make it back then de-rig and paddle back home.
I dunno. I think it can create some opportunities. I guess we'll see.

You might not need to carry the paddle on your back.

[ronnie]

This is definitely interesting. I do however find it a bit surprising all the companies are developing them as it seems like such a niche item. It seems like the main application for this is to be used with a sup foil or to a lesser extent with a normal sup in the waves. This seems like a very niche market and not a great number of buyers out there.

From my basic reckoning this is used for-
Big board, normal water start not possible
Allows you to move around and get up wind
Can then be 100% depowered when riding waves or wind swell

Isn't it possible to totally luff the sail windsurfing?? How is this any advantage over a normal windsurfer??

The scenarios I can imagine it being good for could be

Going upwind then surfing wind swell downwind, don't have to worry about drifting and looping the kite

Riding waves at spots where kiting isn't suitable due to wind shadows and sketchy or offshore winds or no launching spots

A simple and safe sail that could fit into a small back pack and therefore more convenient than a windsurfing rig.

Also if you rode a kite wing as your main thing you would have biceps like swarschenegger!!

Overall I get the feeling a kite wing doesn't have significant advantages over more traditional kite or windsurfing equipment and that is why despite having been around for a long time they have never really taken off.

Yes - the sail can be luffed to ride downwind on the foil.


I expect a sail would be an advantage when going back upwind, but for downwind and manouvering, I think the wing would have the advantage.