I’m 93 kg, learning downwind and flatwater paddle-ups, and currently have an Evo 235. I haven’t yet managed a successful paddle-up. I’ve read that the Axis PNG 1300 v1 is highly recommended as a first foil for riders around my weight, and that the PNG 1300 v2 might be even better. For someone at my beginner stage, would switching to a PNG 1300 make paddle-ups significantly easier compared to my Evo 235? Is it worth making the change to accelerate my progression?
Stick with what u have, at first it seems impossible, once you crack the code paddle ups become easier and easier. IMO a slight smaller wing like the 205 will offer benefit for keeping up with the speed of the bumps, but I’d stick with what you have. I spend a ton of time downwinding light bay runs on the evo205 those bigger wings paddle up super easy and let u get away with murder.
Having just gone through the learning process this year I think larger wings above 1300sqcm that are easy to paddle up will hold you back as you progress and start riding bumps. I wouldn’t make any gear changes for a paddle up, you’ll be able to get that wing up, just keep chipping away. Timing is key, paddle with Riggs has a good video about hand placement and another about using your legs to engage the foil. Watch them on instagram or YouTube, you’ll get it. When I was starting it took me a good 10+ sessions before I got my first paddle up. 6 months and a lot of time later I can flat water the same wings I couldn’t paddle up in the bumps
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Also worth noting, don’t worry about flat water paddle ups, they’ll come naturally, 100x easier to paddle up in the bumps. Flatwater is a really difficult party trick that you’ll learn naturally in time
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Thanks Steve! One other question I had was regarding rear shims. I am currently using a 2 degree rear shim with the evo 235 since that is what feels best when winging and foil driving it. Should I drop to 0 degree in order to reduced drag?
FWIW, I also have a progression 200 that I could use as well.
Personal preference, but that seems like a lot too me. I’m only 80kg but only run 0 shim with the 205. 0 will speed it up a little bit too which will help the glide on a wing that size. The progression 200 is what I learned to paddle up and downwind on so you should be set for a while.
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Hi Steve, I also recently acquired the Evo 205 and have managed to paddle it up with some very hard work using a +1 shim, Progression 800 mast, medium fuse and 13.5 stab, do you think the 0 shim would make it easier?
The general answer here is absolutely yes, PNG 1300 will lift at walking speed, while the Evo is an intermediate foil that requires finesse. It is probably possible, but certainly much harder
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Personally I always felt like a + 1 was a lot on bigger wings like those but it’s really all preference, try it out and see what happens. IMO paddling up with heavier front foot pressure can be challenging as I’m trying to drive the nose down into the back of the bump in front of me, it’s easier for me with more neutral pressure, I don’t feel like I have to get over top of the foil. At the end of the day shimming may help but reps will get u there. Just keep going, work in technique and try new things, it’ll come around and you’ll be able to paddle that wing up in a few strokes before u know it
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I can’t speak to the Uni 235 at all, and I can’t flat water paddle up anything, but I do spend a lot of time doing very light wind pump ups with 4.2m parawing and can vouch for the 1300v2 and how easy it pumps up compared to other big wings (like 1401 and 1180). It is very forgiving and just lifts up on it’s own, and the low end is very low.
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How come you sold it? Sounds too good to give up…
Mostly because it still had high resale value. If it had replaced my 1401 for flat water pumping I would have kept it, but I didn’t like it in the flats.
I also bought a few KT Atlas wings that I want to move to, sadly I’ve only received one of them and there was an issue with it and / or the custom Axis mast KT fuse I bought so I haven’t really got on it yet, but I’m very keen to.
Once I see what kind of low end I can get out of the 1340 Atlas I might buy a 1400v2 for really light 9 knot sea breeze conditions with my 4.2m parawing. I don’t really want a bigger parawing because it doesn’t help you once you stow it so if I can’t make the 1340 work in those 15 cm bumps I’m sure I can just use the parawing to get up on foil with the 1400v2 and then treat it like pure pump foiling after once I’m up. 1400v2 also has a lot of potential to replace the 1401 for flat water.
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