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GEAR: MAKING THE MOST OF LIGHT WIND CONDITIONS… BIGGER WING, BIGGER FOIL OR BOTH?

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Wing

06 december 2022 0

Many of you ask us how to make the most of light wind conditions ? Which really comes down to one question : Should I oversize my wing or oversize my foil ?

This choice depends on your size, the type of wind and especially your personal preferences. According to all these elements, one solution will have the edge.

Wing foiler: Malo, GONG team rider, with a SuperPower 2023 and a Lemon FSP Pro.

What are the pros and cons of having a larger wing?

- First and logical advantage:

Power! A larger wing equals more power at equivalent wind. You will need to pump less and your wing will allow you to move faster on the water to get your board off the ground as quickly as possible.

Another benefit that comes with this speed is stability. Keeping balance on a stationary board is as complicated as keeping balance on a stationary bike. Thanks to extra power, you will move forward more easily and the inertia will improve your stability. There’s nothing worse than being at a standstill with the chop putting you off balance… Once the board is moving forward, the balance is much easier to find.

Now let’s talk about cons…

As you can imagine: bulkiness! A large wing will have more wingspan and will be more restrictive, especially for small riders. This translates into more touchdowns in navigation (especially when pumping) which will stop you dead.

A downside on larger wings that we avoid at GONG thanks to the SuperPower! Indeed, we have designed a shape with a minimal wingspan to maintain maneuverability and comfort in maneuvers. For example, the wingspan of the SuperPower 7.5m² is almost identical to that of a Neutra 5m²!

The pros and cons of a larger foil?

Obviously, take offs are easier with a larger foil, but above all, those can be done with very limited speed. A large foil won’t need a lot of power to get you out of the water. Besides, it can keep you in the air for ages and get you through windholes. It will also help with stability, but this time in flight. A bigger foil will give you more support on almost all axes.

The downside is a foil that isn’t as dynamic as moderate size foil. It will be slower and have a larger curve radius.

Wing foiler: Titouan and Melvin, GONG staff, with the HIPE First and Front Wing Rise XL.

So, how to choose?

If you want to win a few knots in the low range or make your life easier on take offs, ask yourself what matters most:

Speed and sensations? In this case, choose a larger wing with your usual foil.

Lightness in navigation? Because you prefer to have less power in your arms and more ease under your feet. In this case, a bigger foil will be the solution.

Finally, if you want to win on all counts and make all your buddies jealous on the spot… Take both! A big foil, a big wing and the super light wind sessions are yours 😉