New Heights

A year is a very, very long time in a discipline as fast moving and dynamic as foiling. Not only have the foils and foil-specific products evolved considerably since our last test … but so, it seems, has the whole direction of travel! 2018 brought us our first PWA foiling champion and a foiling world championship open class, providing the test bed for the latest and greatest racing-oriented kit. There have been pioneers pushing the limits in foiling freestyle and wave riding … and as we go to print, it seems the World Sailing Council are reopening the debate about the potential for foiling to be adopted for the 2024 Olympics, to be decided after sea trials conducted towards the end of this year.

- Tris Best, Maurin Rottenwalter, Joe North & Dan Hallam

FINDINGS

History repeats itself time and again, in windsurfing as with every other walk in life. When a new design concept or direction is embraced, it’s only natural for the early adopters and innovators to push the boundaries and explore. Wind foiling is on that journey at the moment and the rate of progression is breathtaking. But there’s a big difference in the development process today. It demonstrates the maturity of the industry and is something that, we believe, every brand involved should be proud of. And it’s this: whilst there are the trailblazers careering down certain paths and challenging what is possible, the nucleus and focus chosen by all is the notion of making foiling more accessible and user-friendly. There is a much greater understanding demonstrated by all the brands involved in this test, producing equipment that is easy to set up and enjoy.

So what is the direction of travel in 2019? Where is it all going? Anyone remotely familiar with foil anatomy will acknowledge that the front wing is crucial and defines the performance range of the foil. For 2019, two-thirds of the lineup can be classed as low-aspect in shape, pushing early planing, low speed thresholds and ease of use. The driving influence is from development and progression in SUP and surf foiling, using large low aspect shovel-like front wing shapes, to generate lift and stability at low speeds to catch waves, unbroken swell lines or even the wake of a boat. These qualities and assets are instantly transferrable to windsurfing and what is more, they’re transferrable using largely the same front wings and foiling components. All that needs to change is the setup and foil geometry. It’s an exciting and liberating way forward; cross-pollination between water sports can only be a good thing.