New to foiling (surfing background). I did one tow behind ski lesson and one wing lesson. I was told I was picking it up quicker than most. Doing a foil drive lesson next week. I’m almost positive foil drive is the way I’m going to go. Now I have not purchased any gear yet and would love opinions from people who aren’t sponsored or sell a certain brand.
What foil brand would you go with? I’d rather not mix up with mast and foil brands. I want the best company to be able to build a solid quiver eventually and not feel the need to change.
For those that have foil drive, what board works well? I may look used and know bottom contours and connectivity issues make some boards not ideal. I’ll be prone surfing with foil drive. I think I’d like to be able to get on foil with no push and just the fd max, but smallest board to be able to do that.
I’m on Axis for FD, they have a huge range of suitable wings and are super competitive on price compared to other brands.
FD boards are getting thinner, no need for oversized prone boards anymore, 25-35lts and around 5’-5’4 for all conditions. Brands are slow to come to the party with these new style boards, I ride a custom.
I’ve been researching a lot and axis seems like a solid choice. Any specific recommendations on wing/mast to start on? Checking my local used market lately. The majek boards look nice as well
For boards, check out Amos Kruzer. Amos used to be hard to get outside of Australia, but now Dark Arts in Cali have partnered with Amos and are making their shapes for the US market.
Regarding Axis, it really depends on your budget. They offer one of the cheapest good alloy masts on the market, and the most expensive carbon mast. Most foilers will end up on the HM 75cm power carbon with Axis but you can start off heaps cheaper with the 19mm alloy mast.
As for wings, the Spitfires work great. Only use the black fuselage as most higher performance wings use this.
Do you overhang the mounting of the foil drive on the tail step, or go right to the edge? On the 36 mine overhangs a couple CM to get the mast placement I want. No problem with signal. Just curious if you go far enough forward that is all fits?
Curious, are you using foam in the tracks and can you paddle with the remote in your hand without losing connection? I don’t need foam and it’s rock solid on my KT. That’s my bar now as that’s how my KT Drifter F is and it is pvc sandwich with a plastic box. I find it hard to understand all the claims that carbon boards ‘work’. Usually it means you have to keep the remote on the deck until the board is out of the water.
So on my 27 liter disco I have no connection issues. Also and I know this sounds weird. I put the foam in the tracks because I used to not but then I could feel the water in my tracks. So the foam keeps the water out of there. I know. I know. I am a weirdo. Ever since I started using the foam I don’t feel it or hear it.
Here is a board where the foildrive max has been inset so its flush. That seems like it has to be a pretty big performance improvement for when transitioning from the foil. Wonder if more of this type of design will come onto the market.
Honestly I have a Portal TM19 and an Enigma 5’6 55L midlength which are both over $1K new but I am loving my 32L slingshot flying fish ($399 new) for foildrive. The bottom is super flat and perfect for FD as it works best with a flat planing surface.
I use my midlenngth and TM19 for prone foiling and my slingshot for foildrive - works great.
Also - if you have a surfing background I recommend prone foiling on days where conditions are good. I only FD when I can’t paddle into waves (higher tide, smaller swells). It’s 10x more fun without the weight of the battery.
I’ve been deep in the rabbit hole trying to figure out a first set up for FD.
I just finished a really fun season of wing foiling in SF.
It looks like they still have a 35L as well as the 32 for that sale price.
I’m 85kg and have never used a small / low volume board.
Do you think one of those would be ok to start out with?
Thanks!
I’m enjoying the jimmy Lewis superfly FD board. I’m 153lbs and can flat start it super super easy. I got the smallest stock one (I think it’s 4’7). I’m also running the 12cm cable now and the board skips off the water with FD without much sticking. Connection is good too. I did foam in tracks anyway, but much improved connection over the smaller majek I have (granted the majek sinks quite a bit more).
A friend of mine gave a 5’4 board to help me start my FD journey. Before that I was trying to use my old 4’8 prone, channelled bottomed board. This 5’4 was so easy to plane and get to my feet, so much easier than my shorter wider board. Turns out it is an older Jimmy Lewis Superfly!
