I’m using the 110XS downwind tail on the orca 800, and I really like it. You do have to be comfortable with the twitchy pitchy feeling of a small tail, but the efficiency and turning is very nice.
Anyone able to compare the Orca to the Armstrong UHA in terms of glide, low-end, speed and turnability? thanks
F4 has more of all four?
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i think there is some debate to that.
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Hi everyone! I recently started riding the F4 Orca with the AX 75cm mast, currently running the 685 and 800 with the 135S (DW) and 137XS (surf) tails. I really like Orca! But I’m wondering if I should get a bigger one.
A bit of background: I weigh 68kg (150 lbs) and my local spot is the SF Bay, where we typically get smaller bumps—usually around 2ft, maybe 3~4ft on a good day. I have about 2-3 years of winging experience, picked up the parawing last year, and I’m currently focusing on downwinding.
I’m currently struggling with the stash belt transition. On a really good day, I was able to collapse the wing, hold it in my hand, and ride a swell for about 2 minutes. However, I just don’t feel like I have enough “margin” (extra glide and stability) from the foil to actually take my focus off the ride and pack the wing into my belt. I’m wondering if this lack of margin is due to the foil size.
I’m trying to figure out if I should add a 900 or 1050 to my quiver to give me that extra time and support for our typical 2ft lighter days. The most popular DW foil around here is the Code 1075R, but most of those guys are heavier than me, so I’m guessing the 1050 Orca might be overkill for my weight. The 800 was amazing in 3ft swells over the weekend, but I’m not sure if it’ll be sufficient to help me practice stashing in our typical 2ft mush (or even in a good 3~4 ft days), or if the 900 is what I really need.
Has anyone around my weight tried these sizes in lower energy conditions? Any advice or thoughts would be hugely appreciated. Thanks!
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I’m a similar weight to you and my 800 is my ‘light wind’ / knee to waist high swell wing. I think you can probably make the 800 work, but it will take a bit of practice. Don’t be scared to put it away and ride till you fall and restart, that’s the best way to force yourself to learn and not rely on the PW - re-deploy at the first hint of danger. Once picking lines becomes second nature, it will be easier to stash, as it can be a bit like ‘patting your head and rubbing circles on your belly’ for the first year or so.
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I’m surprised you aren’t able to demo one there. Have you asked? might be the best way to decide.
I’m huge (at 6’6" 130kg the smallest foil I regularly ride is mikeslab 825 - but only winging), and so I ordered the Orca 900… arriving this week. I found so far the 1050 really only needed for basically flat water (though I haven’t used it much yet, to be fair), and the 800 is only for good conditions for me. I have both in my garage, but expect I’ll just use the 900.
Sounds like most normal-sized people get away with a 685/800 quiver and are very stoked, so I’m sure you just need to find your glide.
but there’s nothing wrong with adding another foil to the quiver to “buy talent” in the meantime. 
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WTB: Manta 750 if anyone has one they aren’t using
Thanks for the tips, @JudoChop and @FoilGraham ! Sounds like 800 should be sufficient for me.
@FoilGraham When you use 800 for light wind days, do people around you ride 1000-ish wing?
I have been too busy for my work this year, and I am not out on the water very frequently this year. So, I am hoping or wondering if 900 can accelerate my progress.
I asked for the demo of 900 and may have a chance to try it out this weekend. I’ll see how it goes!
I weigh 65kg and ride both the 800 and 685 in both ocean and limited fetch situations.
I find the 800 enough in almost all conditions but its hard to compare conditions with other foilers.
If we have say 12 knots but ocean length fetch then the 800 is a pretty big foil for my weight.
If we have 20 knots with only 10k of fetch then it is still a pretty big foil but if we have 15 knots and only 10k of fetch then you might want a 900 but with time an 800 works really well and still my preference.
12 knots and limited fetch makes the tinies bumps and if that is the target then maybe a 900 or 1050 could help with the journey.
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The 900 outsold the 800 and 1050 wings on launch. So seems to be a fan favorite.
Reports ( not to dim down the 800) say that it has a better low end but can go almost just as fast as the 800. So if you are in between the 2. And questioning yourself, 900 is a no brainer.
We have some if interested in either.
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Just a quick note to mention that I got out on the 635 manta in the surf this morning. The swell had some power so no problem getting out of the water and going super fast. At 95kg I wasn’t sure if it would work but it’s fantastic surfing foil. It was challenging to pump at my size but I figured it out and made a few connections.
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I found it to be twitchy at the lower end while dialed and locked at the top end. Super fun at speed but pretty typical for a smaller foil.
Great update from the dynamic duo, or triumphant trio:
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I’m blown away every day I ride this stuff
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any pics of the Piranha? WITHOUT the cover on :))
Dims?
Anyone use these exclusively for performance surf foil?
Need some pics of the whole rig including the new mast, sounds epic!
Tama on Oahu’s south shore is ripping on the Manta:
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any videos yet of the hammerhead ripping tiny waves? what would the hammerheads sizing compare to orca? do you just add 33% to the hammerhead (12ar to 16ar is 33%) and say that equals the orca? Would the effect be the same feeling as going from a 9.5ar code S (adding 35% and saying its equal to a 13ar code R). Because I love the orca/code R because they have the best glide, pump, efficiency, and low end. Not losing the low end is what made code R and the now the Orca the best glider. So is that all preserved with the hammerhead? Assuming you can still rip on tiny waist-shoulder sized waves on a hammerhead/