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FEEDBACK: HIPE NOTW 8’3

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SUP foil

13 march 2025 0

Giving a comparative review of the HIPE NOTW 8'3 inflatable versus the NOTW 8'8 EPS Pro, which Pierre is already familiar with in SUP foiling.

SUP foiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, with a HIPE NOTW.

Taking off before the wave breaks

“Had a short 1-hour session this morning on a clean, glassy 50/90 cm spot, packing some punch with occasional steep faces.

Right from the carry across the dune: so light!

Getting in and paddling out: To be honest, I don’t feel any more stable than the EPS Pro version, which is a bit disappointing… But I’m not losing any early lift—this thing takes off on a swell, and by the time the wave breaks, I’ve already been flying for a while.

I could SUP foil just like on the NOTW 8'8 with hardly any adjustment, except for dialing in the mast position. At first, I was too far forward, which made it tough to keep the foil stable on the first take-offs. I came back in, moved the mast back, and after that, everything clicked—balanced foot pressure and a nearly identical feel both on the water and in flight!”

A hassle-free inflatable board

“I was surprised at how easy it was to take off late—no nose dives, no sudden stalls, just full control.

One minor downside might be that the handling feels a bit less direct and precise. The foil response isn’t quite as immediate, but it’s close, and I didn’t always notice it. In fact, I even nailed better re-connections with this board than with the NOTW... Maybe it’s just a little less forgiving with foot placement, which could explain why my control felt off when I wasn’t perfectly positioned 🙅‍♂️?

Next session, I’ll try adding a rake shim—apparently, I was riding a bit nose-down, and I missed a few re-connections because of touch-downs.

Setup: V3 HM77/Curve XXL/Fluid L stab.

I had a blast with this no-fuss board (easy to store in the car, super light, indestructible, and affordable...).”

SUP foiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, with a HIPE NOTW.