What is a good foil for the parawing upwind- glide and surf DW (and repeat over and over)? I have been using the evolution 155 but it is really prone to breaching and NOT recovering. I know it is a surf wing and it recovers in a turn but going straight, a wingtip out turns into a bummer for me. I know Uni is super dialed on surf wings and they do it well! But are there some foils that have that glide and are more windsport friendly?
If it’s just my technique that sucks feel free to say so!
It’s cheaper to improve than it is to get a another foil.
Hey Kai -
Haven’t tried the UNIs - but if looking for other brands, my experience on the PW been mostly with AFS Enduros and KT Altas/Nomads.
Enduros are a very well behaved and stable - also “silky” - foils, super clean and if you’re talking about wingtip breaches you’ll be just fine, recovering from a pitch breach (mid section breach) then it’ll depend a bit more on your skills and finesse, and this is pretty normal to happen on downwinds on whatever foil you’re, but enduros have a sweet pitch stability for being a high aspect foil 11AR and are super carvy as well, perhaps not a great low end as the UNIs I would guess, but top end speed control and glide and finesse is remarkable.
On the other hand I’m riding now KT ATLAS, I really like it’s match with parawinging since they have so much and good behaved low end that it’s actually a great match for taking off in parawing without being overpowered after you’re up on flight- also if you get the sizing right, then it’s great for carving simply cause you’re on a smaller foil and still can hold on the bumps or pump to connect when the speed drops. If conditions are spiced up with steeper bumps, then you can even go for the Nomad and get an even more surfy experience. Have in mind that usually the higher the AR might give you a little bit of upwind advantage. KT Atlas and Nomads might not feel as clean and dragless as the enduros, but the low end capabilitie and how well behaved is for carving, it just makes it a super friendly DW foil for just chill and carve, Enduros might be for DW a bit more technical but a faster cleaner experience.
For my normal longer runs I ride the Atlas 790 and for when the bumps are steeper and well aligned with kind of hood river alike bumps, then Nomad 700 or 830 it’s my call -
My Atlas 790 would be a 900 or even 1000 in comparison of low end -
Also that breach you mention, with such low end I’ve been able to save the ride from quite some breaches on the Atlas 790. I’m 70Kg by the way, and ride all my KT’s only with the CRISP Flex stab now.
Hope this helps.
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Thanks for the insight! I do hear great things about all those foils. Low end is a must around here to the Atlas might be a winner!
I’ll throw in a few more recommendations. I’ve spent the last year plus parawinging the Armie HA 1080/880 combo and had great success with those. They can handle breaches extremely well. They’ve got really good low end for their size as well. That being said, the 80cm mast can be challenging in steep swell upwind runs. Requires massive Ollie’s to keep the foil from breaching out the back.
Recently, I’ve added the F4 Orca 685 and Manta 635 to my quiver with the 11.6mm thick 85cm mast. The 685 is a straight unicorn of a foil. Could seriously be a one foil quiver for a guy my size (68 KGs with 5/4 plus gear). It has insane low end (same as 880 Armie I’d reckon - yet to do a back to back test) and it has a great top end. The best part is its playfulness when carving downwind. Just really dynamic and fast feeling.
Just had a first go on the Manta in some really groomed swell and it went super good as well, more stable through the carves, so i think it will be a ton of fun. Also felt great upwind.
The 85cm mast has been nice going upwind in Steep swell, but it has been a bit of a learning curve to keep high compared to years on the 80cm Armie mast.
Check the F4 here: F4 Foils – Foils, Boards & Wings for Windfoil, Wingfoil, Surf Foiling
(F4 nice enough to provide an Affiliate link, but I pay full price for my gear!)
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