GEAR: HOW TO COMPOSE YOUR QUIVER OF UPE ARAMID X WINGS?
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Here are our recommendations to compose your Team Series wings quiver depending on your conditions, your riding style and your board.
To cover light to strong wind conditions with UPE Aramid X wings, should you build a quiver including sizes 3, 4, and 5m² or 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5m²? A question that Patrice Guénolé, boss and shaper at GONG, answers for a 65kg wing foiler.
Wingfoiler: Malo and Clément, GONG team riders, with a Droid and Neutra UPE Aramid X.
“To choose the ideal Aramid X quiver based on your weight (65 kg) and to cover both strong and light wind conditions, here are some key points to consider:
- Your home spot
Depending on your location, wind conditions can vary greatly and influence your choice of sizes:
- High-wind regions (like the Mediterranean, particularly around the southern coast of France or the northwest of Spain): For instance, if you ride on spots regularly exposed to the Mistral or Tramontane, a smaller quiver including 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 would be a wise choice to have maneuverable options in strong winds.
- Moderate or light wind regions (like the northern Atlantic coast of France or the lakes in Switzerland): Here, you’ll need a slightly larger quiver (3, 4, 5)which will allow you to enjoy more sessions in moderate wind, with the ability to cover occasional light wind conditions.
- Degree of commitment
Your riding style is also a key factor: if you like to ride hard and aim to maximize power for sending committed maneuvers, a slightly larger quiver can help you gain traction and go higher, knowing that pros typically use a quiver around 3.5, 4.0, 4.5. This is relevant for freestyle but less so for waveriding, for example.
- Type of board
The choice of your board is essential in determining the size of your wings:
- Boards like the Cruzader, Mint, which glide easily: These boards generally require less power to take off, so a smaller quiver (e.g., 2.5, 3.5, 4.5) is often better suited to take advantage of the board’s natural glide without being overpowered.
- Boards with less glide, like the Stunt or the Lemon: For these boards, a quiver 0.5 m² larger (3, 4, 5) can provide better traction, especially in light wind or to get back up on the foil quickly.
To sum up:
- 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 is perfect if you regularly ride in very windy areas, or with boards that glide well, or if you're looking for maneuverability and control in strong winds.
- 3, 4, 5 will be a more versatile choice for covering moderate to light winds in spots where the wind is less consistent, or if you're using a board that requires more traction to take off and ride efficiently.
For a rider weighing 65kg, the first option seems the best with efficient board shapes and foils for light wind.”
