Signature production version.
I'm gonna put my money on the physics working out that the lack of rigidity is detrimental to performance. And I mean performance as in racing. Hopefully I never have to watch these things race, but if that is a thing in 10 years, race wings will have a carbon rigid structure. Kind of like in kites where an inflatable is pretty good all around, but higher performance is attained by a foil with a fully supporting bridle system.OzBungy wrote: ↑Sat May 25, 2019 2:09 amI have to throw in a Ken Winner/North-now-Duotone rant. I fully accept that he produces fantastic gear. No question about that. Everybody else seems to find inflatable spars work just fine. Duotone have to make a kite wing with an aluminium boom. That's right up there with no-one-pump, 5-lines better than 4-lines and trailing edge battens and no plastic tubing on depower lines. We know they're going to persevere with the boom for a few years then come out with an inflatable one that's "way better than all the others".
it probably doesn't do better than any of those. but that's not the point. it just might find a niche not covered by any of those. for example, i hang out at a lake part of the year where i cannot do any of those, except cruise on a paddleboard. windsurfing isn't much fun there, kiting near impossible, no surf at all. this wing may change that. MAY. i don't know, but i'll keep an open mind.mr_daruman wrote: ↑Sat May 25, 2019 6:22 amWhat does these wings do anything better than other watersports? Jump? Upwind? Downwind? Surf? Speed? Freestyle? Cruise? Carve?
Correct!OzBungy wrote: ↑Sat May 25, 2019 8:11 amLighter, more compact and greater wind range than a sailboard sail. Easier "relaunch" and quicker setup than a kite. Less room on the beach and in the water than a kite. Easier self-rescue when coupled with a bigger board. Better depower, float and drift than a kite when on a wave.
I have actually used them. The boom allows you to have a range of power because you can adjust the end to make it flatter, or less flat, depending on conditions. I go 10 miles and sometimes the wind is less and I shorten the boom to get more wing power or extend it to make it flatter. Hang onto wet webbing for 10 miles or even less. When Jibing and using 1 hand, you know where the boom is, and no need to feel around to find a handle. Also control and pumping with a rigid boom is nice too.OzBungy wrote: ↑Sat May 25, 2019 2:09 am
I have to throw in a Ken Winner/North-now-Duotone rant. I fully accept that he produces fantastic gear. No question about that. Everybody else seems to find inflatable spars work just fine. Duotone have to make a kite wing with an aluminium boom. That's right up there with no-one-pump, 5-lines better than 4-lines and trailing edge battens and no plastic tubing on depower lines. We know they're going to persevere with the boom for a few years then come out with an inflatable one that's "way better than all the others".
Users browsing this forum: bohme, Peter_Frank and 39 guests