FEEDBACK: Ypra Surf-Freestyle

News
Wing

04 september 2024 1

In-depth feedback from Corentin, who had the chance to compare the Ypra Surf-Freestyle with the Ypra-S during the Ypra Test Tour.

Wingfoiler: Clément, GONG Team Rider, with a Neutra UPE Aramid X, Stunt FSP Pro, HM mast, Ypra Surf-Freestyle front wing and Freestyle stab.

An Improved Ypra-S in the Low End

Short Version:

“This is a front wing with incredible pop; it practically wants to fly out of the water. It shares similar characteristics with the Ypra-S but has a better low end, is more maneuverable, and features an integrated "cruise control." This results in a slight loss in glide and speed but a significant gain in control.”

The Rider, the Gear, and the Conditions

Long Version – “How to Fall Asleep to a Good Story”:

“First of all, many thanks to the GONG team, and especially to Anthony for the excellent organization. Opening up this type of test to “ordinary” customers (not just ambassadors) is a fantastic initiative and should be repeated! (Hint hint: please, please send me the V3).

Unfortunately, I lost my GoPro while surfing, and my friend's drone wouldn't cooperate, so you won't have the pleasure of admiring my triple backflips at 20 meters high. You'll have to settle for some photos from the beach instead.”

Some Basic Information:

Rider: “±77 kg, 42 years old, athletic, an experienced rider but not at an elite level. I occasionally participate in races and regattas, but my usual routine involves long cruises in freeride/freerace mode, depending on the conditions and gear. This includes long upwind rides with a harness, exploration, bursts of speed, and the occasional jump. I enjoy surfing with a committed, fast style and prefer using the wing to accelerate in maneuvers rather than pumping. For those familiar with the final: think Cash Berzolla style rather than Malo Guénolé at Dakhla last year (if only I had a hundredth of their skill level...). My primary gear for this test was the Ypra-S (sizes S, M, L).”

Gear:

The 4 sizes of Ypra Surf-Freestyle included in the package, from S to XL: 600/700/800/900, with the short titanium fuselage.
H44 and mainly H40 Veloce stabs (V2). Unfortunately, I couldn’t test the Freestyle stab as it was sold out.
Mast: HM85, 1.5° rake shim.
Wing: Neutra UPE 5.0 with rigid handles.

Board: HIPE Pro 2022 5’1 95L (my travel board).

Spot/conditions:

“I tested in the warm waters of Balagne, between Calvi and Ile Rousse. Conditions ranged from 10-16 knots to 16-24 knots, but unfortunately not the +30 knots I usually enjoy in Corsica. The weather was also quite unpredictable, with winds dropping off quickly. As a result, I had to give up plans for long downwinders but still managed a few excursions along the coast, notably in the Bay of Calvi and the famous beach break at Algajola. The wave conditions varied from small disorganized bumps to a solid 2-meter ground swell. My starting spot has a nice rocky slab at the end of the bay, offering a hollow swell that rarely breaks, which was plenty of fun!”

Impressions on Land and Water

On the beach:

“The finish is very nice, quite similar to the Ypra-S but positioned further back (see photos to compare the two in size M). The titanium fuselage is well-manufactured, and everything fits together perfectly; the screws turn smoothly.”

On the water:
“I tested these front wings in various conditions over several sessions. Here’s a “short” summary, but for those interested, I publish all my sessions on Strava, with my first-hand impressions (www.strava.com/athletes/5866018).”

First Strong Point : The Pop

“I'll start with the most striking feature: the pop. It’s quite simple—the first thing I noticed after 30 seconds of flight was this impulse to lift out of the water. And yes, it comes out of the water by itself and recovers flight easily when landing. I expected this but was still blown away. It's very intuitive across all sizes. It's ideal for expert freestylers, both for big airs and combos, but it also seems perfect for those wanting to get into freestyle and progress. An added bonus: with the front wing positioned further back, it's more centered under your feet, which results in better balance in flight. I imagine that the Freestyle stab, which is much shorter, might further enhance these qualities.”

Second Strong Point: Maneuverability

“The second strong point is maneuverability. I found the front wing to be very maneuverable across all sizes. You can really feel the front wing under your feet—it turns tightly with a "skateboard" feel and offers an incredible rail-to-rail experience. This is a must for surfing! You can really have fun connecting turns on a wave. The short fuselage contributes greatly to this sensation, providing direct feedback. There is a small adjustment period (especially for tacks), but you’ll quickly adapt.”

Third Strong Point: Increased Control

“The third strong point is control. The front wing is highly "predictable"—it does exactly what you command with great control. You’re much less likely to be caught off-guard than with the Ypra-S, whether doing a big bottom turn or going full speed. The sensation is unique during bursts of speed: the foil pushes upwards but never breaches, almost as if a computer is controlling the trim. Naturally, there's less glide—it’s a bit slower and less reactive—but in return, you gain a lot of control, allowing you to push harder and try new things. I almost never fell in the waves, whereas with the Ypra-S, I often took big hits when I didn’t properly handle the slope or speed changes. This difference is especially noticeable with smaller sizes. For example, with the S (600), even maneuvers as simple as a jibe, which can be tricky with the Ypra-S, are a "piece of cake" with the Surf-Freestyle. This is obviously due to the better low end of the Surf-Freestyle, but not only that.

If you’re interested, the Ypra-S requires more "anticipation" when surfing, whereas the Surf-Freestyle offers more "sensation”."

The Take-Off

“No miracles here—a Ypra is still a Ypra, and you need a minimum speed to take off (I was used to my Cruzader HIPE, and had to relearn the more energetic take-off of the Pro). It even takes off earlier, particularly in the smaller sizes. I found their take-off ranges to be quite similar. This means the S is not much harder to take off than the M, and the same applies to the L and XL. I had the impression that smaller sizes had less impact on speed, but that might just be my perception and could vary with a different board. For comparison, I think I can take off just as quickly with both models in size L, whereas in size S, I can clearly take off sooner with the Surf-Freestyle than with the Ypra-S. But once in flight, it’s a no-brainer: the Surf-Freestyle is much easier to keep in flight due to its better low end and greater tolerance for mistakes.

The only downside is the loss of glide. To put it in perspective, it’s still a Ypra and much better than an older Veloce, for instance. But it’s clearly not as efficient as the Ypra-S. The front wing saturates earlier, glides less, and generates less apparent wind. It’s not ideal for light wind conditions unless you’re ready to pump a lot. The same applies to downwinders—unless there’s a hollow swell or you can pump hard, you’ll quickly hit a limit. This is even truer for the larger sizes. So, this echoes my comment on take-off: the range of use is quite similar since the smaller sizes glide better than the larger ones, allowing you to maintain more speed for connecting bumps or generating apparent wind.”

Conclusion

“As you might have guessed, I preferred the feel of the S and M sizes much more than their larger counterparts. They are better suited to my size and riding style (even if my board was a bit too wide for the S, resulting in too many touchdowns in tight turns and tacks). I would recommend choosing the size based on your weight rather than purely on wind range (though wind range should still be considered). Personally, I’d be happy to use the smaller sizes again in strong winds and well-formed waves, but I’d opt for front wings with more glide in marginal conditions.”

Additional Comments/Considerations:

“They go upwind very efficiently, just not as fast as the Ypra-S.
The choice of the stab seems crucial. The Veloce H wasn’t the best choice; I found the wing particularly unstable with a stab that was too small. I like snapping on the top of the wave, then catching it again in the hollow, and with the right size, it was great. However, the H40 with the L skidded too much, even in jibes and less tight turns. I couldn’t compare it with other stabs, but I suspect these front wings are much more interesting with more powerful stabs like the Fluid H or, of course, the Freestyle stab.
The same applies to the foil’s position in the box—an improper position seems to have more impact than with the Ypra-S. Feel free to experiment; it really changes the feeling.

Well, thank you, and congratulations on reading all of this—you've definitely earned a nice session!”

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