I’m looking to get a beginner dock start setup. I can occasionally link a 2 or 3-for-1 prone, but it’s inconsistent and not pretty. I do have access to a 2-2.5m long floating dock and am looking at my wing options. I’ve gotten familiar with the Axis offerings, but no Axis gear currently and not much interest in buying into it as a system outside of pump foiling.
I’m riding mostly borrowed gear right now and will be demoing brands for a new setup. If I’m not bought into any system yet, what other beginner dock start wing options are out there? Adding a single wing to a system is going to be similar or cheaper than buying a used Axis setup.
I’m open to any brand suggestions. My interests are prone and (future) DW. Ideally I could also ride the wing for micro prone, but not required. I’m going to demo Code soon, so been looking at their offerings. Is the 1540s a viable option as a beginner dock start wing or is it too small?
Where you are helps answer that question. If you’re buying into a system now, I’d recommend Code or KT. Other than that the world is your oyster. All brands have good foils now. Most have full lineups too and will have a dockstart foil for you.
I’m going to be demoing both Code and KT soon. KT doesn’t seem to have a dock start wing currently.
Atlas 1340 seems like a good option for people with experience, but I’m worried it will be a difficult wing to learn on. I’d be interested in hearing anyone’s input on this wing for dock starts.
Not sure what you mean by this. Do you mean with gear or my location?
I’m on Oahu and currently only own a 150 HAX. Not married to Lift though and am interested in trying other gear before settling into a system. Tried some other Lift gear so far but only really like the 150.
Any big & slow wing will work to learn. Once you learn it’s easy to then downsize a bit, depending on your skill & running space. One friend learned on a progression 200 (he rides for Uni), but it was hard! He’s also HIGHLY skilled obviously.
I learned on an old Cabrinha 2100 and axis 1150. Currently prefer axis 1300. Armstrong 1880 is great! Also, 2200 & 240 gofoil works okay. The slower the better. I’m 200lbs and my buddy is 150lbs. He can now land an Armstrong 880, but he’s basically running full speed. He learned on the Cab 2100sqcm.
Find some buddies you can share a setup with. That’s what we do. After a 3 minute run it takes 5-8 mins to recover, so trading off isn’t inconvenient
On Oahu. Kt or code. Remember kt numbers mean nothing. They’re 10% or so smaller than other brands. I would be shocked if dockstarting a big nomad was hard.
Have you tried these for dock starting? very interested in one of these , preferably one that I can also learn to Beach start with. my first dock start wing was the Omen operator 1050 but very rusty at the moment
Is your goal with dockstarting just to learn to pump better or are you actually looking to do it for fun on it’s own, and if so are you looking to dock start in to waves or flat water?
Since you are on Oahu I’d think you just want to learn to pump better. Sadly all the wings that are easy to learn to dock start on wont be much use in the swell you get there. The reality is that you’ll probably learn more of what you need to know just getting better at linking prone waves than dockstarting. Personally I would buy a KT Atlas 980 and focus on linking with it.
If you actually want to learn to dockstart then I suggest getting a specific foil for it, which means also a specific mast for it (in most cases). I would recommend the Gong Sirus 156 or 136 or maybe the new Gong Trail. Alternatively pick up a used PNG 1300.
I wouldn’t bother learning to dockstart on an older mid aspect foil if you are already linking waves prone. The sytle of pumping is a bit different than modern wings so better to stick to those. The PNG 1300 is the exception though as even though it’s old it’s 10 AR.
My goal is definitely not to pursue pump foiling. Even though I can link a couple waves occasionally, my technique needs work. I’m actually fairly good at peeling off and hopping waves, but my general pumping technique needs a lot of work. I’ve read posts here about people saying that’s exactly what dock starts will do, isolate the pump itself and just practice in a controlled environment.
The dock I have access too seems not bad, but not amazing, so I don’t want to under foil and expect good results. I borrowed a Lift 180 HAX to test, and while I could glide a fraction of a second on it, it seemed like my timing had to be perfect to pump as soon as my feet hit the board. I doubt I could learn on a wing of that size.
Sounds like a PNG 1300 might be the best route. Are you saying the 19mm aluminum mast won’t work because there’s no way I’m buying into an Axis HM mast just to learn how to dock start. I’m down to buy a new dock specific wing for a system I’m interested in for prone and DW, but if I’m gonna buy a whole kit just for dock starts, it better be the price of a good wing or less.
Dock starts are hard and take a ton of practice. It’s not going to come easy or quick (like anything in foiling) so be prepared to put in a lot of work.
You should be able to get that 180 going and that will translate more into pumping in the surf than a massive pump wing. No need to spend the money on another full setup.
That’s exactly how it is regardless of the foil setup
I do a lot of dock starting and can pump most wings anyone else can pump but I tried a Lift 220 before and I can tell you that thing needs a ton of speed and is very challenging to start, best I could do was like 3 pumps. Not sure if the 180 is much different but it’s hella small to try and learn on and I can’t imagine it being better than the 220.
Honestly you’ll have way more success just practicing your pump while prone linking with that foil than you will at the dock. I honestly don’t get the appeal for you to learn dock starts when you have the waves you have available (and aren’t interested in actually dock starting in the long run).
The hardest part about dockstarting is getting the speed needed to foil. That’s why the big wings are so much easier. You can get that speed from waves instead and keep to your 180 HAX. Just change your mindset from “surfing” to “use the waves to start pumping”.
If youre only gonna dockstart, axis 1300 is decent. But if you’re also gonna prone foil and dw, axis is gonna be trash. You want the code for sure, nothing pumps better in the surf and nothing is better for dw.
If you find old axis for cheap go for the 1150. The 1150 has a narrower wingspan which is much easier running next to a dock. The 1300 wingspan is so wide you have to be able to let the wingtip run under the dock as you run. If the dock doesn’t allow that, then you just have to static start and jump off the end. Much harder.
OK, sounds like I should only pursue this if a cheap 1150 or 1300 setup falls in my lap. Even tho I dont have much interest in dockstarts on its own, I think there’s a lot of fun to be had with beach starts, which adds a multiplier to the learning process.
I also dont actually own a 180 HAX, I just can borrow it occasionally. I only own a 150 HAX and will not be pursuing Axis or Uni for prone/DW.
Maybe just sit back and be patient for now and keep on proning. It would be nice to get the huge amount of focused reps that dockstarts provides is all.
I got into dockstarting and wake thieving to improve my prone game too, but to be honest, even though I could do it reasonably well, it didn’t translate to prone - I found the style of pump quite different with little surf wings and you’re heading out through the waves, rather than flat water. It doesn’t hurt of course, helping with balance, fitness and time on foil, but it wasn’t the magic bullet I was searching for.
I bloody love pumping out and stealing wakes though, it’s so much fun just cruising around at 8kts on a constant wave
