Hi, I’m considering buying an Axis foil to start my DW sup foil journey. which foil would be best? I want to purchase something that will last me a long time, I don’t want to buy something that in 2months will be to slow or too big, I will rather suffer a bit more in the beginning. i have spoken with some friends and I right now my options are the new art 1201 or the hps1050.
@Yann, what’s your background in foiling and how much experience do you have?
I’ve been a reasonably competent winger for the last 2.5yrs learning up a steep curve. Moving to paddling has been a humbling experience. The balance on skinny boards has been fine even in chop but paddling up even the biggest axis foil (1310) has taken me 2 months of practice to the point I’m able to lift into foil and keep it going for a few pumps. I’ve also got the 1201 but haven’t even thought about paddling it up as from my wing experience I know it needs much more power and speed than I can generate at the moment.
i have been foiling for about 5 years, starting with kite, then prone and then wing for the last 3 years. no paddling experience. im in fairly good shape. i know I will struggle a lot in the beginning and im fine with that, but I don’t want it to be impossible.
1201 pro will DW most days here in Los Angeles. So, that one.
1201 is an impressive DW foil. Low stall speed and tons of glide and pump. I sup foil in smaller waves also for many multiples. It is a bit spanny so may take you a bit to adjust. Goes super though. I found 350 p tail excellent no shim. Then once you are going well on that try a skinny tail for a bit more speed. 362/50 goes well with it. No shim.
Thoughts on spitfire 1100? This was the most attractive to me for dw and sup wave riding based on youtube and reviews.
Adding another data point, I am around 150lbs and have been learning SUP DW on a 1201 with a 107L 7’7" board. Has been working well for me. I recently was able to borrow a friends PNG1300 and got to practice flatwater paddle up, after the second session on that I was able to flat water start it and has helped me dial in the paddle/pump technique that translated well to helping get the 1201 up in the more marginal bumps. I am still not able to get the 1201 up in flatwater though, I can get lifted on occasion but not to enough speed to avoid stall.
What tail does everyone use for the png1300 for learning to downwind?