Forum for wing surfers
-
omg
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 862
- Joined: Sun Oct 31, 2004 2:58 pm
-
Has thanked:
155 times
-
Been thanked:
35 times
Postby omg » Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:00 pm
One more question on the wingfoiling; people are marketing the wingfoil as an ultimate solution for the really gusty conditions, ie. smaller lakes surrounded wih trees etc. but I’m wondering if it’s really true and how one would compare wings to say Peak4 4/5m kites which people also tell to have the best gust handling ability?
Thanks once again.
-
BWD
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 3849
- Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2003 3:37 am
-
Has thanked:
2 times
-
Been thanked:
81 times
Postby BWD » Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:42 pm
Kites are good for lulls because they can be sined or looped, sails are good for gusts (usually).
Wing is a type of sail.
-
bigtone667
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2015 7:24 am
- Kiting since: 2013
- Local Beach: Birdie Beach, Budgewoi Beach, Lakes Beach
- Favorite Beaches: Umina Beach, Birdies Beach, Lake Munmorah, Canton, The Swamp, Le Morne
- Style: surf, foiling, jumping, lawn mowing
- Gear: Kites: BRM Cloud D's, Duotone Rebels, Peaks
Wings: Cloud W1 2,3,4,5, Duotone DLAB Unit 4.5/5.5/6.5
Boards: Bit of everything
Foils: AXIS and Triton Foils
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
70 times
-
Been thanked:
55 times
Postby bigtone667 » Wed Mar 25, 2020 11:55 pm
Wingfoiling works super well in gusty conditions. Super easy to capture or release the wind.
Our conditions this summer have been pretty ordinary and the kiters have complained numerous times about the gusty conditions. I have winged in those same conditions and found them perfectly okay.
- These users thanked the author bigtone667 for the post:
- Slyde (Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:00 am)
-
drsurf
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 513
- Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 5:42 pm
- Kiting since: 2000
- Local Beach: NSW South Coast
- Gear: Too much too describe
- Brand Affiliation: Whatever I sell
-
Has thanked:
37 times
-
Been thanked:
268 times
-
Contact:
Postby drsurf » Thu Mar 26, 2020 2:27 am
omg wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:00 pm
One more question on the wingfoiling; people are marketing the wingfoil as an ultimate solution for the really gusty conditions, ie. smaller lakes surrounded wih trees etc. but I’m wondering if it’s really true and how one would compare wings to say Peak4 4/5m kites which people also tell to have the best gust handling ability?
Thanks once again.
There is no kite that compares to the Peak4 in gusty winds, especially if there are big lulls. You can keep the Peak4 in the air in 3 knots and gusts are easily handled with the instant depower of the Peak4. As has been mentioned you can sine the kite to gain more power and the kite can use a much higher column of air than a wingfoil taking advantage of stronger winds higher up. The Peak4 is also easier and safer to launch in difficult locations and easier and safer to land as well.
If the wind is consistently light the Peak4 can get you foiling when a wingfoil can't. I have used my Peak4 beside an experienced wingfoiler and I had a lot more fun. The wingfoiler then had a go of my Peak4 and Moses surf foil kit and couldn't believe how easy it was. He then started talking about getting rid of his wingfoil setup and getting a Peak4
-
kiteykitekite
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 271
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:41 pm
- Kiting since: 2020
- Gear: Core kites
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
56 times
-
Been thanked:
32 times
Postby kiteykitekite » Thu Mar 26, 2020 2:30 am
I just don't see how a wing will work well considering in really gusty winds there can be no or significantly less wind at rider height. I am talking right next to upwind obstacles, like houses or in amongst trees. You get a kite up 10 or more meters and it makes a huge difference. I wonder if the solution for these conditions is not 30-40m lines.
-
Slyde
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 220
- Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2003 1:00 am
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: New Zealand
-
Has thanked:
4 times
-
Been thanked:
14 times
Postby Slyde » Thu Mar 26, 2020 3:23 am
The point is that (on the assumption you are riding a wing board that will float you) with a wing if there is a massive lull, your means of propulsion doesnt end up in the drink, and if theres a massive gust its easier to control the power. No way would I want to kite in offshore conditions where I can see the sheets of gusty wind and lulls on the face of the water. But I will go out on a wing. But if you are good enough to ride a sinking wingboard than you lose that advantage (in the lulls anyway).Never seen a Peak but Im still guessing there are times when Peak riders look at the conditions and go "no way'. But its not an all or nothing thing. I have had sessions where I think my kiting buddies got a better time because the wind was better a few metres up and sessions where I was out for 2 hours of fun and the kiters came and left because it was rubbish kiting conditions. When its on I still prefer kitefoiling but overall the wing wins out in crappy conditions.
-
kiteykitekite
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 271
- Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2020 10:41 pm
- Kiting since: 2020
- Gear: Core kites
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
56 times
-
Been thanked:
32 times
Postby kiteykitekite » Thu Mar 26, 2020 3:53 am
Kites through lulls is no issue, you can just land on the water. Until I see a wing can do as or better on the water than a kite I wouldn't even consider them. Especially considering just the wing alone costs more than a hydrofoil+board+kite. To me it's another marketing gimmick for the greedy resellers. Add the expensive board as well, then why bother. It's bad enough breaking hydrofoils in proper waves.
-
mike dubs
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:28 am
- Local Beach: southend, whitstable, camber
- Favorite Beaches: west end of camber sands
- Style: Surf
- Gear: FireWire, BWS drifter, nobble skim board, 12/9/7 bandit 5's
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
11 times
Postby mike dubs » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:52 am
You can get a wing for way less than the cost of a kite.
-
mike dubs
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:28 am
- Local Beach: southend, whitstable, camber
- Favorite Beaches: west end of camber sands
- Style: Surf
- Gear: FireWire, BWS drifter, nobble skim board, 12/9/7 bandit 5's
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
11 times
Postby mike dubs » Thu Mar 26, 2020 9:54 am
Sounds to me like you’re not enjoying any of it , so just give up and do something else.
- These users thanked the author mike dubs for the post (total 2):
- Peter_Frank (Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:15 pm) • Slyde (Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:11 am)
-
gmb13
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1935
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 10:19 am
- Kiting since: 1998
- Local Beach: Flag Beach, Fuerteventura
- Style: Everything
- Gear: Indiana, Sailmon
- Brand Affiliation: Indiana, Sailmon
- Location: Fuerteventura
-
Has thanked:
36 times
-
Been thanked:
294 times
Postby gmb13 » Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:11 pm
omg wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 7:00 pm
One more question on the wingfoiling; people are marketing the wingfoil as an ultimate solution for the really gusty conditions, ie. smaller lakes surrounded wih trees etc. but I’m wondering if it’s really true and how one would compare wings to say Peak4 4/5m kites which people also tell to have the best gust handling ability?
Thanks once again.
I have been in a lot of places where the wind was so gusty and shifty (more than 45 degree changes) where a kite would basically just fold and fall out of the sky. Even a single skin cannot handle these type of conditions and will end up folding up and crashing. The wing however can deal with these conditions a lot better. Also you can pump through the shifts and holes without worrying about the wing. With a kite you always need to worry about keeping it in the air somehow and that limits the courses you can pump when the wind stops in a 10 second or more lull.
The fact that you do not have to relaunch a wing makes these type of conditions bearable where even a Peak4 will end up getting in the drink, and it is a pain to relaunch single skin kites out of the water even under normal conditions with long lines, but combine that with the massive shifts which blow the kite over it turns into a nightmare.
--
Gunnar
- These users thanked the author gmb13 for the post (total 6):
- Peter_Frank (Thu Mar 26, 2020 1:15 pm) • tomtom (Thu Mar 26, 2020 5:01 pm) • omg (Thu Mar 26, 2020 5:25 pm) • bigtone667 (Fri Mar 27, 2020 12:04 am) • Slyde (Fri Mar 27, 2020 5:11 am) • droffats (Sun Mar 29, 2020 12:07 am)
Return to “Wingsurfing”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: 20kts and 35 guests