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.
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.
Denne historien er fra Issue 387 - July 2019-utgaven av Windsurf.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 387 - July 2019-utgaven av Windsurf.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
New School
Slingshot’s windsurfing brand manager, Wyatt Miller, has noticed that kids are drawn to playing with wings and puts forward an interesting case as to why he thinks this could help entice them and others into windsurfing.
Changes
Wave sailor Flo Jung reflects on our changed world during his lockdown in Germany.
THE LAST WAVE
Lockdown stirred the creative juices of reader Björn Alfthan, who peers into the future to present a fictional story set in the wild waves of Norway, five years from now.
STILL IN THE GAME
After a horrific fracture in his leg from a crashed aerial in 2018, Alessio Stillrich is back! John Carter talks to the highflyer from Gran Canaria about his move to the Simmer team, recovering from injury and how he learned to windsurf in Gran Canaria!
MOVE ON UP - GET ON THE FRONT FOOT
This month we look at how our front foot weighting can affect and improve different aspects of our main windsurfing moves.
SOUTH' KIPA
Nik tweaking it over home waters.
A NEW NORMAL
On a trip to La Tranche-sur-Mer in France last year, Tris Best estimated over 80% of the windsurfers were foiling. This summer in Portland Harbour, foiling activity has increased dramatically too he reports. With the market offering plenty of choice to recreational windfoilers, our test team check out some of the latest foil offerings.
TACKING – THE SEQUEL
Having given you time to practice, Harty concludes his tacking series by critiquing various tacking options, including the carve tack, as well as offering solutions to common slip-ups.
‘NO VAPOUR TRAILS TO SCAR THE SKY' *
Realising we may be about to enter an extraordinary period in our lives, Harty decided to keep a windsurf-centric lockdown diary. Here are some of his choice excerpts.
REDEMPTION DAY!
Renowned for its windsurfing and variety of spots to sail at, Kimmerdige Bay is a wave sailing jewel on the south coast of England. Timo Mullen gives a guide to its shores while reflecting on why a recent session there was a reminder that there is no place like home!
