EVENT: NEUTRA 2023

New session for François, our GONG ambassador in Vendée who this time was able to test the Neutra 2023 he got during the Wing Tour 2023.

“Big blue skies and 18/20 regular knots before it dropped to test this superb wing. Because yes, it is superb and already on the beach, it seduces… A friend lent me his 55 liters board, because my board is at home. I am therefore in the low range for this test.

It is of course very light in hand, the wing seems very rigid and nothing flaps. Several friends try it on the beach and the wing makes a very good impression. Launching, 1st pumping to take off, and clearly, the pumping is not the same. The wing seems less powerful and small for its size. But nay, it’s the pumping technique that is different, and you have to pump up/down and not right/left or in rotation. Besides, Patrice’s video explains it very well. In short, I take off directly, do not rely on this feeling of less power. it has downright Watts.

“You feel this general tension”

Once in the air, I try heading directly into the wind. Where the current Neutra slows down when I want to go upwind too much. With this 2023, I instantly see the difference, I have a better heading and I accelerate!! That’s good, I even want to go racing with it.

The jibes are a formality, the tacks… powpowpoooow… you don’t feel anything, the Wing doesn’t move a centimeter. It’s even disconcerting on the first ones. Zero flap, no drag and excellent spin of the wing at the end of your turn. Great!

It makes you want to jump, but I don’t practice jumps… you feel this general tension and in particular this central strut which makes one with your hands. Nothing bends, the rear handle is extremely well placed and everything is intuitive in fact. You feel that it must send you very high indeed. Straightforward plug and play…

“Maximum neutrality in surfing”

In the freefly phase the magic works very very clearly. 200% neutrality. A block in the hand, no noise, no flap, no drag again. From this point I was thinking that this Neutra is a huge success and very different from the V2, which nevertheless already excelled in surfing. In the hands, it pulls a little more on the front hand but remains VERY balanced.

Super pleasant, and while you accelerate at the slightest gust, because it is indeed the case, the wing is stable in the hands, so nothing moves, I insist but it’s crazy! Maximum neutrality in surfing, dynamic, stable, powerful at the slightest gust but in total comfort, crazy heading, light and rigid, this Neutra 2023 has many advantages.

So yes, you have to adapt your pumping technique to take off, in the lower range of the wing (see video by Patrice Guénolé), but frankly, I found it very easy and in no way disturbing… but I know some may not like it. There’s no bounce effect like on the V2 when you pump, so it requires more precision and a different technique. For my part, 18/20 knots, 84kg, 55 liters, Fluid L-T and Fast 40, I was not disturbed for a single second.

A great success, and this wing promises great sessions.”