Comparison of Axis Fireball 1000 vs Axis 1201
Same day, same run—4 miles downwind from Mavericks to Kelly Avenue in Half Moon Bay, CA. The Fireball 1000 was ridden by a pro, while I was on the 1201, struggling to keep up. The conditions were technical, with 7-foot swell at 8-second intervals.
Kyle, riding the Fireball 1000, was impressed by its speed and maneuverability, able to glide effortlessly at oblique angles without losing speed. Meanwhile, I had to continuously drop back to stay with the swell. Data showed the Fireball 1000 was about 40% faster over all distances measured.
What surprised me most was hitting 21 mph for 20 seconds on 8-second period swell—an impressive speed for unpowered foiling (aka no sail), typically achievable only with bigger waves or longer periods.
