I still ride my 110 liter Takuma board. Im 80kg so I got this board to start on with the intent of sizing down. I’m not a jumper. I like to sail far off the beach and carve swell all the way back. I usually foil solo and often in freezing temps so having a larger board to easily climb back on and quickly get back on foil is a must. I live in New Jersey so we usually get shitty chop waves with wind not really ground swell. I have tried 50liters (not really worth all the effort for me) and 75liter but I kinda like the leverage I get on wide span foils with my current boards extra swing weight. I would probably size down to 85 or 90 but I prone a lot more often and I would rather have a fresh new prone board.
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That’s interesting on the narrower board allowing you to ditch the straps. Not something I’d considered as I’ve stayed away from them for fear of the same thing!
I’ve found the trick for getting used to smaller boards is to start with taking them out in overpowered conditions. The smallest board I’ve tried winging is a prototype of our (Omen) 36L board. At first I was only riding it with my 4m when I should have been on my 3m. After a few sessions like this I’d wait for days when the wind was “between sizes” for me and I’d go for the bigger wing and small board. Gradually I built more efficiency and muscle memory to the point where I could get the 36L up in much lighter wind than I would have thought possible.
I think the key was fighting my urge to take the small board out lighter days and instead going out on my 60L and having fun when the conditions weren’t right for the 36. The Flux hull shape is dedicated to takeoff efficiency and reducing the energy required to transition the board from displacement to planning but I think the concept would apply to any small board.
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I’ve switched exclusively to my 45L FFB Nugget for winging, it’s just so much closer to feeling of prone foiling but with the freedom of a wing.
In light wind I just use an Axis 1010 foil (10-13knots). This wing has such a low stall speed that as soon as I get the boards nose above the waterline I can pump it up. The design of the nugget allows it to release very easy from the water and it has most of the volume in the nose so it wants to float up.
In any more wind I switch foils over to Unifoil.
5m wing 75kg
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I tried a FFB Dagger 7’5" in 8 MPH wind and didn’t get up. So the DW boards do have a limit. I just got a 60L Omen to try and be my light wind weapon! Of course there’s no wind on the forecast to speak of because I got a new board though. sigh
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I found the omen 48l significantly easier to get going for winging than a rocket wing s 42l and freedom foil techno 43l. Much more so than the +5l should matter. Looking forward to more windy days to get more time on it
Didn’t you previously have a 60L Appletree v2 (might be mixing it up)? If so, how did the 48L compare to that board in terms of takeoff and general handling? Im on the 60L v2 (I love most things about that board), and am considering the Omen Flux as a replacement, so its a familiar reference point for me.
Yes, i had the v2. I know a lot of people love that board, but i just never got it to work for me. I found it both hard to get going and not great to ride once on foil (always felt like i had too much lift even with the foil all the way back). I chalked it up to skills and conditions and ended up getting a used sky wing 75l. That was a great board, but i still felt like i would be able to ride more with a bigger board (it’s often light and flat where i ride) so i got the omen 84l. I’ve been riding that board a good amount and like it a lot. But it’s so easy to get going that i felt like i would enjoy having a smaller version as well. I wanted to try the 60l, but i talked to greg from omen and he said it would be too much overlap with the 84l and recommended the 48l. I was very skeptical but ended up trying it. Only had one session on it so far, but really like it. When I’ve ridden small boards in the past i always have the feeling that i end with too big of a wing once on foil, but i did not have that feeling with the flux 48l. It’s still early though, so we’ll see how it feels after a few more sessions. After getting some more experience i think some of my feelings with the slice v2 were because it has a different and much flatter design with less nose rocker than other boards i ride. I think using a base plate shim or a different foil might have compensated for that. In any case, both omen boards rode great right out of the box so no need to look back
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@miamiwngr I’m considering the 48L Flux (I’m 72kg) and just wondering about that tail. Do you wish it was more pulled in or do you ride the foil far back enough that it doesn’t matter?
how much do you weigh and how is it to get the board going? I’m assuming you can still kneestart at 48L.
@Gneve, regarding the tail shape / width. My experience, coming from a 24" wide board that had little taper toward the tail, the 21" 60L Flux with it’s chines has allowed significantly more clearance in bank angle and I have my Lift setup 2/3 of the way forward. 82cm mast is almost overkill for winging, could definitely go shorter.
Also thinking I might try a 48L next season as the 60L at my 90Kg (as I’ve mentioned), is so much easier to start than my previous 70L ‘pizza box’. Part of that ease I’d attribute to being able to sink the board more so less of my body is above the water while getting to the handles. The 70-85L range is actually harder for me. Outline shape of course makes a huge difference, extra length helps tremendously.
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I would be very interested in any reviews or feedback on these new boards.
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There’s a few Bennetts videos out there on the Sultan Wing that are amazing - but he could foil a baked potato and make it look great.
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6 1/8" thick is a bit absurd. Convinced they’ve gone way too narrow for a wing board. The volume has to come from somewhere and thickness is the last place I’d want to put it.
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Nice. Can you report on the built quality? Do you think that it behaves similarly to other traditional wing boards?
Im currently comfortable on my the rocket wing v3 50l but thinking about switching to a 45l and or a 50l nugget.
Thanks
I have the 45L nugget, possibly 100 sessions on it mixed prone and wing without jumping, including great proning this morning.
Build seems good, no real dings and I abuse it, box is still tight, board is pretty heavy so I assume it’s solid.
Shape overall is really nice, rides small and gets up easy despite being a sinker while winging. Nice mid-length prone style and paddles/catches waves well.
I really like it and would definitely get it now on sale if I was in the market for a board. If I could change anything about it I would make it lighter but I would basically keep the shape. The design and colors look really cool in real life also.
Let me know if you have any other questions, I have a lot of experience with this board LOL
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For a one board do it all…and let say min wind 12knts, I think you can go easily 65% your weight and if you go under 12 knts…you def need around 80% of your weight with traditional shape and inserts to jump. If jumping is not in the program, that is another topic and you can then use dw shape type of boards.
at 75kg, the rocket wing s 48L for me can be use at 12-13 knots and requires a LOT of a pumping action to get up and go on my 5.5 where the 60L is a walk in the park for my level and abilities. when you go under 65%…you need extra juice to pull out the board out of water…where 80% you are floating and as efficient as a 100% your weight. Weight in KG, 75kg - 75L = 100%
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I’m 77kg riding a 62.5L 4’8"x24" Appletree Jazz in all conditions on my second season. My first board was a 74L AK Compact (was lucky enough to get some time demoing bigger boards from an awesome shop in the early stages).
Now I’m realizing I want to add a second board for lighter stuff and probably could have gone even smaller than I did with the Jazz. For the second board I’m looking at the Sunova Carver or similar in custom sized around 85L and 5’5"-5’7" x 20"-21".
The jazz is a great all-around board but there are days and conditions when I want a little more float and quicker starts.
I am 76 kg. I started with 110L and moved all the way down to 36L. I now use a single 85L board for everything - racing and waves. I have a downwind 123L 7ft board but don’t use it for winging - for me getting up in 8 knots rather than 10 knots isn’t worth the hassle or cost.
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Great topic. Seems consensus is volume = minus 20L vs your body weight (eg 85kg = 65L) for 12 knots and above. This is true for advanced riders (technique/feel = efficiency). I’ll also add that front straps (or riding strapped) gives another dimension to your starts (more pump).