Team Series

Team Series

Our Team Series wings are designed for the Pro team and the most demanding wingers. This series benefits from the most innovative materials like UPE and the latest shapes. They currently cover the Freestyle and Wave riding disciplines with the Droid UPE and the Neutra UPE.

The Team Series wings are constantly evolving based on the validation of shapes, constructions and new equipment by our team riders. There is no specific schedule other than innovating. As soon as progress is made, it goes into production. Materials, shapes, assemblies, etc.

The Team Series wings are the very best. Cutting-edge limited editions with innovations that will benefit the Perf Series during their annual update.

If you want to stay closely connected to the research and development of your sport, and if you want the exact replicas of the wings that win World Championship titles, then the Team Series wings are the perfect choice for you.

UPE Technology

As of now, our Team Series wings are constructed using UPE technology. The performance gain provided by UPE has allowed us to reduce the diameters of the leading edge and the central strut while keeping the wing 30% more rigid! It may seem like a small detail, but in reality, it’s a game-changer! By reducing the diameters while increasing rigidity, we win on all fronts: the wing becomes much more efficient. With a sleeker design, it offers better upwind performance, higher speeds, improved turning capabilities, and in surfing, it generates less drag, making the wing virtually disappear. The increased rigidity brings precision, resulting in a much crisper and more controlled feel, and during jumps, it’s a whole new world: the lift is significantly enhanced.

This high-end material used throughout the inflatable structure is composed of woven composite structure to achieve better resistance to stretching and tearing. UPE stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. It consists of ultra-long molecular chains that distribute the forces more effectively. UPE is much stronger and therefore lighter at the same level of resistance, allowing for reduced weight. For example, UPE fiber is 30 times stronger than polyester fiber! Additionally, it is highly resistant to abrasion, cuts, and UV rays.

UPE 200 is an ultra-high-end laminated polyethylene fiber with exceptional technical characteristics in terms of rigidity, weight, and pressure resistance, leading to an unprecedented level of performance.

We have been working on its integration into our wing range for over two years. It required a complete redesign of the wings, starting with the most basic but fundamental elements like the seams. Each seam was tested, modified, and reinforced if necessary, with visible or hidden elements. We conducted numerous tests on a traction bench, pressure resistance tests, and finally real-world testing for months on the water with our team riders. It has become essential for Malo Guénolé, who has been exclusively using UPE in competition for several months now.

The UPE 200 is also very light, saving more than 250g on a 5m² wing! It makes a real difference during navigation. Having less weight in the inflatable structure results in a phenomenal gain in responsiveness, coupled with the reduced diameters, creating an incredibly lively wing. And when you set the wing in neutral, whether in surfing or freeflying, it feels truly light.

Our ultra-innovative system of modular handles (3-in-1)

To make no concessions, the Droïd UPE and Neutra UPE are geared up with our innovative and super high-end rigid handle system. The responsiveness brought by these handles is just crazy: it’s super direct, no latency, no room for doubt! With the feeling of our rigid handles and the rigidity of the UPE, it is perfectly precise, you always know where you are to send hard with confidence.

These handles are fixed with two screws on US-nuts: the same as those of your foil! This allows you to switch from the new rigid handles to our new soft handles or boom with 3 turns of tightening key!!! It’s crazy.

A real innovation at the service of your preferences. You can adapt your wing to your level, to your feelings, and even to the type of session. For example, you can use the rigid handles for freestyle, the boom for speed runs and the textile handles for pure surfing.

The appearance of our system with rigid handles with this triple solution rigid handles / boom / soft handle makes it possible to vary the dynamics of the wing. Indeed, the boom takes up a very large part of the bending forces exerted on the central strut: the wing is more rigid, and the leech retains its tension and opens less.

The soft handles give a very different feeling: smooth and more secure. And rigid handles are the exact compromise between these two feelings. The handles are therefore not just another form of grip: they are a performance element that you can adjust with GONG! Thus the profile is even more effective in responding to your desires.

You can even mix the rigid and textile handles, or change them during the progression, or even according to the types of session: waves, freestyle, freeride etc… It’s very simple, very well finished, and really clever.

We offer a well thought-out system that leaves absolutely no play. It is perfectly rigid and impossible to untighten while sailing. No hook and loop, no rope, no fragile parts, no plastic parts that fail after a year, nothing that can ruin your session. On the contrary, our parts enclose the straps which encircle the entire central strut, as on wings with handles: total reliability proven for years. No risk of seeing the central strut torn off by the handle after a few months…

At GONG we put everything into our products. Our handles come from six different molds to meet the real needs of users:

• A front handle that sits perfectly in the hand without having to twist the wrist. It is a shorter handle because it must position your hand with great precision in relation to the center of effort. And the fore bend of this front handle is large enough to allow pistol grip in DW/freefly and surf. You thus keep some power that you can micro-adjust, and you eliminate the possible flaps which delay you. Very very practical when you know how to use it well.
• A long rear handle to control the power by the simple positioning of the hand. Its length also allows you to grab the wing in tricks with your eyes closed. This rigid rear handle is also closer to the strut to avoid riding with the rear elbow bent.

Droid UPE

Working on the rigidity at the heart of the wing with a progressive twisting of the tips is a major axis of development of the Droid UPE.

Thanks to the use of UPE 200, all the diameters of the structure of this new Droid have been reduced. However, it is 30% stiffer than the Dacron Droid. In other words it’s as stiff as it needs to be!!! This reduction makes the wing more efficient overall and allows you to gain on all angles to the wind, you go faster, it flies upwind, it is more reactive and lighter to steer.

The leading edge segmentation always includes a section for stiffness in its center. Short and of large diameter, it locks the dihedral and reinforces the connection between the central strut and the leading edge. It’s really super stiff, it accelerates hard and in the jumps you really go higher with control and precision.

The segmentation has also been modified to adapt the twist to the rigidity of the UPE and to make the curve of the leading edge more linear. This is a detail visible only to the most knowledgeable, but it is nevertheless what makes the wing more predictable and smooth in the high end.

This segmentation also allows a more harmonious angulation of the leading edge with a fluid outline curvature which limits flexion and refines the tips.

The tips have been twisted to limit drag and gain maneuverability with an ever lighter feeling in hands.

The tips have been opened to release the airflow to increase its rotational potential: the wing is never locked. We also have a very light riding feeling thanks to that. The tips are also rounded and set back to allow the wing to roll on the water during falls and tricky landings.

The tips can open slightly in gusty winds and on downwind sailing angles. It offers more comfort with relieved arms and it goes faster because the air is renewed in the wing. We have made dozens of prototypes to calibrate this twist because too much of it kills upwind and light wind performance. We have therefore precisely dosed the dynamic twist to maintain top performance in the low range and upwind.

The Droid UPE retains its central Z-shaped strut. Coupled with the rigid handles, it is quite simply the most efficient structure. The panel cutouts are perpendicular to the batten to make it much more resistant to high pressure and the first section maximizes its connection with the leading edge. The central third is studied so as not to bend between the hands and open the leech. This makes the wing more precise and powerful.

Finally the rear third of the central strut is sewn on the canopy without a draft panel. This increases the batten section around the back hand and gives it greater resistance to leeward bending. The central strut is twice as stiff, guaranteeing a constant shape in jumps or gusts. The rear hand acts directly on the leech thanks to a diagonal cut on the last section of the central strut. Thus the rear point of the rear handle is placed after the start of this wide cone, pulling on the rear hand closes the strut instead of letting it open on the classic struts. This reduces flapping and delivers an impressive power. The stiffness gained allows you to control the wing with great finesse and brings consistency in its behavior.

Compactness, maneuverability and rigidity are the key words of the Droid UPE.

The architecture of the Droid UPE centers its power for maximum maneuverability but it is slender towards the tips for fluidity. The curved leading edge and open tips add smoothness when entering the air. It appreciates almost all angles of attack and therefore functions in all directions. It’s a wing that pivots easily in the hands and even works clew first. Fabulous in freestyle for rotation and tricks!

With the Droid RH UPE, we want power, torque, so a pronounced draft of the sail. But we also want a good profile hold in strong winds, so the leech tensions and the stability of the draft are perfect.

Neutra UPE

Working on the rigidity at the heart of the wing with a progressive twisting of the tips is a major axis of development of the Neutra UPE.

Thanks to the use of UPE 200, all the diameters of the structure of this new Neutra have been reduced. However, it is 30% stiffer than the Dacron Neutra. In other words it’s as stiff as it needs to be!!! This reduction makes the wing more efficient overall and allows you to gain on all angles to the wind, you go faster, it flies upwind, it is more reactive and lighter to steer.

The leading edge segmentation always includes a section for stiffness in its center. Short and of large diameter, it locks the dihedral and reinforces the connection between the central strut and the leading edge. It’s really super stiff, it accelerates hard and in the jumps you really go higher with control and precision.

The segmentation has also been modified to adapt the twist to the rigidity of the UPE and to make the curve of the leading edge more linear. This is a detail visible only to the most knowledgeable, but it is nevertheless what makes the wing more predictable and smooth.

This segmentation also allows a more harmonious angulation of the leading edge with a fluid outline curvature which limits flexion and refines the tips.

The tips have been twisted to limit drag and gain maneuverability with an ever lighter feeling in hands.
Touchdowns with the tips are soft thanks to their very small surface, the reduction in the diameter of the tip segments and the twist which allows the wing to “roll” on the water on tricky landings. It’s an easy-to-pump wing that maximizes your success out of tricks.

The tips can open slightly in gusty winds and on downwind sailing angles. It offers more comfort with relieved arms and it goes faster because the air is renewed in the wing. We have made dozens of prototypes to calibrate this twist because too much of it kills upwind and light wind performance. We have therefore precisely dosed the dynamic twist to maintain top performance in the low range and upwind.

The Neutra UPE retains its central Z-shaped strut. Coupled with the rigid handles, it is quite simply the most efficient structure. The panel cutouts are perpendicular to the batten to make it much more resistant to high pressure and the first section maximizes its connection with the leading edge.

The central third is studied so as not to bend between the hands and open the leech. This makes the wing more precise and powerful. Finally the rear third of the central strut is sewn on the canopy without a draft panel. This increases the batten section around the back hand and gives it greater resistance to leeward bending. The central strut is twice as stiff, guaranteeing a constant shape in jumps or gusts. The rear hand acts directly on the leech thanks to a diagonal cut on the last section of the central strut. Thus the rear point of the rear handle is placed after the start of this wide cone, pulling on the rear hand closes the strut instead of letting it open on the classic struts. This reduces flapping and delivers an impressive power. The stiffness gained allows you to control the wing with great finesse and brings consistency in its behavior.

Dynamism and rigidity are the trademark of the Neutra UPE.
The architecture of the Neutra UPE centers its power for maximum maneuverability but slender at the tips for fluidity. The curved leading edge and open tips add smoothness when entering the air. It appreciates almost all angles of attack and therefore functions in all directions. It is a wing that pivots easily in the hands. Fabulous in wave riding for rotations, tricks and especially surfing!
With the Neutra RH UPE, we want finesse, precision and therefore a fairly thin profile, but we also want power and profile hold in strong winds, therefore perfect trailing edge tension and locked in draft.
Dynamism and rigidity are the trademark of the Neutra UPE.
The architecture of the Neutra UPE centers its power for maximum maneuverability but slender at the tips for fluidity. The curved leading edge and open tips add smoothness when entering the air. It appreciates almost all angles of attack and therefore functions in all directions. It is a wing that pivots easily in the hands. Fabulous in wave riding for rotations, tricks and especially surfing!
With the Neutra RH UPE, we want finesse, precision and therefore a fairly thin profile, but we also want power and profile hold in strong winds, therefore perfect trailing edge tension and locked in draft.

NOTICE OF VIGILANCE

For the Wings equipped with windows, to bring you more visibility and safety in your maneuvers, it is imperative that you roll it from the tips to the central strut, then fold it up, taking care not to pinch the PVC of the window. If you store your wet wing in its bag without drying it, there is a risk of color transfer between fabrics and PVC windows.

MAINTENANCE

1. Always inspect the condition of your Wing. Look for any holes or snags and get them fixed before they get worse.
2. Avoid rinsing your equipment with fresh water. The chlorine present in tap water can alter treatments applied to the surface of the Wing.
3. Take care not to allow water or sand to enter the Bladders during inflation/deflation.
4. Let your Wing dry in a flat position. If you hang your Wing to dry it, the bladder can move in the sheath and cause a fold, potentially causing a hernia/explosion during the next inflation. Never shake a deflated Wing.
5. Remove any excess sand before folding and storing.
6. Outside of your sessions, keep your Wing out of the sun and the moon.
7.  In case of a blown leading edge or strut, use your repair kit, or consult the site GONG-GALAXY.COM to order the replacement part.

HANDLING AND PRECAUTIONS FOR USE

1- When you move your inflated Wing, turn it extrado face down and avoid as much as possible to let the leading edge or the SPI touch on the ground.
2- Always put your Wing on a clean, unobstructed surface, without seashells, objects or plants that may cut or perforate.
3- Secure your Wing on the beach at all times (use your leash, sand, or a bag filled with sand).
4- Follow the inflation instructions. The risk of exploding the Wing is real, especially if handling it violently or in the waves.
5- Use your Wing equipped with a leash. The leash allows you not to lose your Wing in case of gusts, but it is not made to yank your Wing violently, especially in the waves.
6- Do not allow your Wing to get carried away by a wave, and if this happens, do not pull on the leash. The weight and power of the water is phenomenal, if you generate extra traction in the opposite direction, you increase the risk of tearing open your Wing.
7- Do not let the Wing get stuck on the water when you pump or when you launch. Do not bend it.
8- In case of fall in foil, do not fall on the Foil and do not let your Wing fall on it. A stab, or a front wing of foil will inevitably pierce your Wing.
9- Do not let a board equipped with a foil or fins, drag across your Wing. Failure to do so will definitely result in damage to the Wing.
10- When you need to pass the white water, keep the Wing out of the water 100% of the time. Never put your Wing in the waves, keep it in the air as much as possible. Hold the downwind handle and the front strap
11- Always inspect the condition of your Wing. Look for any holes or snags and get them fixed before they get worse.
12- Avoid rinsing your equipment with fresh water. The chlorine present in tap water can alter treatments applied to the surface of the Wing.
13- Take care not to allow water or sand to enter the Bladders during inflation/deflation.
14- Let your Wing dry in a flat position. If you hang your Wing to dry it, the bladder can move in the sheath and cause a fold, potentially causing a hernia/explosion during the next inflation. Never shake a deflated Wing.
15- Remove any excess sand before folding and storing.

16- Outside of your sessions, keep your Wing out of the sun and the moon.

17- In case of a blown leading edge or strut, use your repair kit, or consult the site

18- In case of fall in foil, do not fall on the Foil and do not let your Wing fall on it. A stab, or a front wing of foil will inevitably pierce your Wing.
19- Do not let a board equipped with a foil or fins, drag across your Wing. Failure to do so will definitely result in damage to the Wing.

19- When you need to pass the white water, keep the Wing out of the water 100% of the time. Never put your Wing in the waves, keep it in the air as much as possible. Hold the downwind handle and the front strap to get through the waves
20- Inspect your leash before and after each session and change it regularly. Even a small notch can lead to a break.
21- Your wing is an ultra-versatile product that could be used on land with skateboards, rollerblades, mountainboards, etc… It is not intended to be rubbed on hard or abrasive surfaces though. GONG SUP 1 cannot be held responsible for wear related to land use.

SAFETY AND COMMON WATER SENSE

1- You must check the wind range of your wing and adapt it to your actual and real abilities. Never underestimate the pulling force of your Wing. Even a beginner’s wing can develop a significant and non controllable pulling force by the user.
2- When practicing, be aware of weather forecasts. Avoid strong winds and do not sail if there are heavy gusts. Do not use your Wing with offshore winds unless you have a security back-up plan on the water.
3- The perfect conditions to practice are a crosswind against the shore and a steady 15-25 knots force.
4- For the first sessions, and when you do not yet read well wind ranges and forecasts: be alert on high wind range and do not sail if you do not have the adapted Wing. You take risks for you but also for your gear.
5- Use your Wing in a safe environment. Take the necessary time to learn how to handle the equipment under optimum safety conditions.
6- Do not overestimate your abilities. Make sure you are in a good physical condition and do not have medical contraindications. Misuse can cause serious injury or death to the practitioner or others.
7- Do not use your Wing in a shorebreak or waves that are too powerful.
8- When sailing, constantly check the water in front of you to avoid any collision or non-respect for the rules of priority at sea. Keep in mind that you are potentially dangerous for yourself and for others.
9- Be extremely careful if you sail with your Wing and a board equipped with a foil. GONG SUP 1 declines any responsibility in the event of damages caused by the improper use of the wing or by imprudence.
10- GONG strongly advises you to subscribe to an insurance covering the practice of Wing foil.
11- Equip yourself with protections: helmet, leash, impact vest… Too much is better than not enough!
12- The use of the Wing outside the marine environment is your responsibility (skate, ski, snow…)
13- The Wing is not a parachute or a hang glider!
14- When using your wing, always have common sense, respect nature, and try to help others with caution when they are in trouble.
15- All our wings are equipped with an identification label to fill in your details in accordance with the legislation in force.

This list of recommendations is not exhaustive and does not replace knowledge and a serious study of the rules of safety and navigation at sea. The foil in particular is a dangerous sport which cannot be improvised.

GENERAL RULES CONCERNING THE PRACTICE OF FOIL

For your safety, do not use this product until you have read and understood these warnings and instructions and, above all, follow them. The practice of Foil involves the risk of serious accidents. Improper handling of the Foil can result in cuts, serious injury or death to you or others.

• A FOIL SHOULD BE USED WITH ALL THE PRECAUTIONS THAT ARE COMMON IN SURFING, KITING, OR WING RIDING, in addition to those related to the Foil. Remember that the Foil is long, sharp, and can reach high speeds. Getting hit by a Foil, or hitting a third party can have dramatic consequences. These are not toys. GONG strongly recommends that you take a course for each of the Foil practices, in a school specializing in Foil learning, in order to be responsible and careful before using this product alone. Make sure you have insurance covering the practice of Foil. The manufacturers and suppliers of this product are not responsible for property damage or personal injury due to either simple or improper use, or excessive, competitive, or irresponsible use, of the product by the user.
• RESPECT THE RULES OF PRIORITY AND SAFETY. Find out about the local legislation in force concerning the practice of Foil sports on the spot you are targeting. When you practice, do not forget to keep a safe distance from all obstacles, other people and boats. Stay away from swimmers and other people, including your friends, even when you consider that you have reached a sufficient level to do so.
• USE THIS PRODUCT ONLY IF YOU ARE IN GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION AND CAN SWIM PROFICIANTLY. Don’t overestimate your strength: never go further than you can swim in the present and forecasted weather conditions. Swimming in the sea in a distress situation is much more difficult than swimming in a pool. Minors must not practice without the agreement and supervision of their legal guardian.
• KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE WEATHER FORECAST. It is up to you to make the decision to go out on the water or not, depending on the weather conditions observed and announced. Never Foil in stormy weather, in threatening or changing conditions.
• OBSERVE THE CURRENTS. TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE HEIGHT OF YOUR MAST: unlike surfing, SUP or Kitesurfing, it is imperative to start navigating on a body of water deep enough so that the Foil does not touch the bottom or hit a rocky area.

• PROTECT YOURSELF! You must wear a helmet, an impact vest and ideally thick booties and a wetsuit to practice this sport.