TECH HIGHLIGHT: THE LIGHTNESS OF THE 2025 HIPE!

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Wing

23 october 2025 0

Our 2025 inflatable wingboards are up to 2 kg lighter!

The HIPE, the first inflatable board on the market, remains the unbeatable benchmark for riders who want to combine performance, practicality, and compactness. In 2025, now available in dedicated ranges for both beginners and experienced riders, the board once again stands out with a weight reduction of 600 g to 2 kg, without compromising stiffness!

Wing foiler: Mathieu, GONG team rider, on a HIPE Perf with a Droid Boom 2025 wing.

Continuous Development

The HIPE range is a benchmark thanks to continuous evolution in its equipment, shapes, and technologies. Resting on its achievements isn’t part of GONG’s DNA. We are constantly seeking ways to enhance your experience on the water. Naturally, your board’s weight plays a key role, on the water, on land, and when traveling.

How did we do it?

How can you reduce weight without sacrificing the stiffness that defines this range? We tackled this challenge by improving several aspects of construction:

Careful selection of composite and PVC materials with optimized resistance and density.
Thermo-welded assembly of the dropstitch layers, consuming less glue and therefore less weight.
Optimized composite design of the ICS plate (to which your foil is attached) with a perfect distribution of materials.

Result: less weight, but zero compromise on stiffness and strength — tested using standards inspired directly from the aerospace industry.

This triple development effort for the 2025 range results in up to 2 kg lighter HIPE boards in Woven Fusion Light: HIPE Learn, HIPE Perf, HIPE Cruzader, HIPE Diamond, HIPE Lethal, and HIPE Stunt.

Woven Fusion Light:

Woven Dropstitch weave for enhanced matrix stiffness
Double-layer fusion PVC for extra shell rigidity
High-pressure inflation up to 20 psi, contributing to stiffness

The weight saving is around 800g on our Woven Light boards (single-layer deck and hull), such as the HIPE First and HIPE Freefly — still the lightest boards on the market.

Woven Light:

Woven Dropstitch weave for increased matrix stiffness
Single-layer PVC for lightness and comfor
Inflation up to 15 psi for perfect stiffness in strapless use

In practice

The difference in weight is considerable and immediately noticeable the moment you pick up the board. And when it’s time to fly, your equipment’s weight naturally becomes a decisive factor.

It’s a major performance advantage, offering better flotation and easier take-offs. The board is more responsive and enjoyable to maneuver. You experience much less inertia, gaining in control.

It’s also a big comfort gain on land, especially during learning sessions or when carrying your board upwind.

And finally, when every gram counts to keep your board bag within airline weight limits, this significant weight reduction is truly a blessing.

Wing foiler: Malo, GONG team rider, on a HIPE Stunt, Droid Aramid 2025, HM mast, Fluid foil, and Ypra Surf-Freestyle stabilizer.