FEEDBACK: THE HIPE 4’11 IN WING, KITE AND SURF FOILING!

The HIPE is more than a very practical board, it is also one of the most versatile in our range. In the larger sizes it’s great for getting into wing and SUP foiling. In its smallest version, the 4’8, it allows you to do waterstarts in wing foiling, to duck dive waves in a surf foiling and to be comfortable in a kite foiling.

Here is a feedback from Fred, 70kg, who tried these 3 disciplines with it’s bigger sister, the HIPE 4’11 for a 70kg size:

Surf foiler: Malo, team rider GONG, in HIPE 4’8.

Gear used:

65cm Mast;
Fast 40 Stab for kiting, Rise 45 Stab for surf foiling and wing foiling;
Curve M for low wind kiting and high wind wing foiling;
Curve L for surf foiling small to medium waves, and medium wind wing foiling;
Rise XXL for low wind wing foiling and surf foiling microscopic waves.

In wing foiling

Perfect. A little tiring if the sea is very rough and you often fall (intermediate level: first freeflies, a few jibes).

In surf foiling

No duckdive possible, not really a problem if you only surf in tiny conditions. Bubble on the deck due to footstrap screw inserts, bothersome at first, now I got used to it. Rowing: better than with a shortboard + possibility of rowing on your knees (less effective than with a Prone board but practical for seeing far and resting the neck). I’m a beginner so I didn’t do any pumping.

In kite foiling with a foil kite

Given the volume and width of the board, it’s not easy to put it on its rail to waterstart. So I always use it with the straps because without straps I wouldn’t be able to put it on the rail. I didn’t try to start on my knees like in a wing foiling. Maybe something to explore for strapless use?

In flight we feel a little inertia, but that’s fine. You have to adapt to the gear because with a 1100cm2 wing underneath the baord it goes up quickly, when you are used to a “normal” kite foil front wing. Plate set totally at the back end of the case. Seat harness because when the wind picks up you have to put all your weight in to hold it all together, and that’s why it’s much more comfortable with a seat harness than a waist one. In surfing, a waist harness would be better, but the seat harness is less annoying than I thought.

I use it with a foil kite that holds up in the air in a few knots, so when the wind drops, it’s possible to sail back sitting on the board and doing kiteloops. With a normal volume, not sure it would work as well.

I don’t think it takes off earlier than a 20L board, in kite foiling it’s the kite and the front wing that determine the low range. Unless perhaps you start on your knees like in a wing foiling to scratch a few knots?

Practical level

The hardest part is removing/refitting the straps. I use the straps in wing and kite foiling but not in surf foiling.

If you have several foil settings, not practical. Unless you only have two settings: you put the washers on either side of each setting and with the screwdriver either you put the nuts on one side or the other.

In summary

A board for 3 disciplines, it works. The advantage for me is the logistics, otherwise I would have 3 boards I think. Being always with the same board doesn’t help that much to get your bearings as the disciplines are so different in terms of support. Even in surfing the take off speeds are different for the 3 sports, and finally the surfing speed too.”