GEAR: ARE YOU GOING FASTER WITH A LONGER MAST?

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Wing

24 may 2024 0

The length of your mast is a key factor to go fast in wing or kite foiling gear and we explain why.

If our new HM107 Team Series mast is significantly longer than the masts usually used in freestyle for example, it is no coincidence. Though physically speaking, your speed is essentially a function of the submerged part of your foil, it is what happens above the water which will determine your true performance, as explained by Patrice Guénolé, boss and shaper GONG, in response to this question asked on the GONG Galaxy group.

Are you going faster with a longer mast?

"Yes.

In reality, everything mentioned above is true. But for me, going fast is only possible if you have confidence. You have to separate a burst of speed from a 5km speed run, and even from a 500m run.

They are very different things.
We can accelerate very hard with a 85cm mast, but we will never have the confidence necessary to hold a long reach.

Going faster than others means:
- first make no mistakes
- then never open the wing
- finally set into a forward glide

In kiting the question of angle is crucial. This is a little less true in wing foiling where you can go very quickly without opposing with a strong counter-heel.

So yes, a tall mast will keep you away from problems.

Counterexample:

Going fast is above all a mental performance.
If speed scares you, you’ll never go fast even on the best equipment. On the other hand, you’ll certainly be very happy with the performance you reach. Or not !

Indeed, confidence is the key factor. Slow gear that you can control is often better than a rocket that freaks you out. Go full send, they say!!!!!!!”

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