How does affect to a front wing of AR8 a stab of 9 or 11 AR?
In a Slingshot video they talk about an improvment in the Glide series with a flare tail (11ar). How could be affected a Fone Sk8 for example with the DW tail?
Thanks
2 Likes
Better glide, worse turn. Up until a point.
Good thread:
1 Like
It depends a lot on the sizes, designs, and what your goal is. I ride the Silks and this is what happens for me with tails like the Ultra Glide 41 and Mako Glide 120:
1050: Gains speed, glide, pump and top end. Way better at linking sections on downwind runs. The 1050 has enough span to not feel bad with these HA tails.
850: Turns the foil into an easier DW tool but IMO, ruins the surfy characteristics of this foil. I do not like any HA tail on this foil but if you were using the 850 as a one foil quiver I could see days with an HA tail being useful.
650: Great carry and increased resistance to stall speed. Turns are diminished but the 650 has so much roll that it overpowers the HA tails and can still be fun. Still, I prefer surf tails on this foil.
3 Likes
Adding my experience with my silks (8.0 AR like your wing)
If I am towing into rolling swell that never breaks on my 1050 Silk, the UG41 (13.7) is amazing. Obviously does not turn as well but for those conditions its perfect.
If waves are breaking and have power/speed, I always want to be on the Silk 132 (6.8) regardless of which size Silk front wing I am on. The silk 132 is unreal for 650/850/1050 - nothing feels smoother.
As a middle ground for days that are not huge, I actually have recently liked the Pure 145 a lot which is 8.4 AR (350mm span). At higher speeds it definitely locks in too much but for the average day it’s great. Much better low end and easier pumping / connecting waves.
So in short, here is how I choose:
Big / Fast / Powerful surf → AR 6.8 (Silk 132)
Average day → 8.4 AR or 6.8 AR (I go with the 8.4 if I want more low end + pump to connect waves)
Small Day / Towing into unbroken swell → 13.7 AR
3 Likes
It sucks that only a few brands sell small HA tails. What would be the best way to improve glide and speed on DW foils like Lift and Duotone?
It makes no sense to sell small 14-16 AR downwind wings only possibly paired with regular surf MA tails.
I get all the racers use branded custom tails but I guess its not easy for someone looking for a smaller HA tail to build a paper thin custom.
A comparison, though on flat water
130 (AR 10) = Top 20.5 kmh, Average 14.8kmh, 107 pumps per min
101 (AR 12.8) = Top 23.1kmh, Average 15.6kmh, 101 pumps per min
80 (AR 15) = Top 26.4kmh, Average 16.7kmh, 112 pumps per min