Wings - Perf Series

We’ve always had a pioneering spirit. But let’s be clear: we are not the pioneers of the wing itself, since the wing has existed since the 80s. It was even created in France, if I recall correctly. Those were the people who invented the wing and the technical concepts that form the foundation of what it is today.

However, GONG truly has a pioneering, trailblazing spirit when it comes to the wing, just as we always have. We are explorers, perfectionists, innovators. For one very simple reason: we go in the water absolutely every day. That’s all we do. We live for it. And so, we need the best tools to unleash the full potential of this sport and have fun winging.

So in reality, we are more of a driving force than pioneers, an accelerator of the 80s concept. And when we innovate, we never lock down our innovations, so that the sport can keep evolving. And that, to us, is essential.

At GONG, it’s above all about efficiency. The absolute efficiency of our products, proven in competition across all disciplines: waves, freestyle, slalom, race. Efficiency is really what drives everything.

But be careful: our vision of efficiency is not exclusive. For us, efficiency starts with making things easier. And once things become easier, everyone gets stronger. Whether you’re a beginner or a world champion, you need ease.

This ease is a major success factor: you get less tired, you feel more confident, you become more consistent. And that’s what competition is all about: it’s not about one isolated brilliant move, it’s about being above average, all the time. Success necessarily comes from the ease with which you can link moves, maneuvers, and trajectories.

And this ease is what defines comfort. Not just a “soft” or “gentle” comfort, but overall comfort: physical, technical, mental. What we aim for is that the rider has absolute confidence in their equipment. Having a wing that is ultra-stable, ultra-safe, ultra-efficient, and gives you the certainty of being the best version of yourself.

Comfort is also a source of enjoyment. And enjoyment is the foundation of passion. If everything is easier, clearer, smoother, then you enjoy it more, you ride better, longer, and progress faster.

That’s what guides our design choices: beyond measurable or timed performance, it’s efficiency in the service of ease, comfort, and confidence, and therefore performance for everyone, which in turn creates enjoyment and fuels passion.

I don’t know. I know what GONG is. I don’t know what other brands are deep down. I respect them, but I don’t interact with them much.

GONG, in any case, is an entity, a living being, a dream you live, a passionate community, a shared vision, more than just a brand born from marketing. GONG is the fruit of my life. It is my life, a life dedicated to my passions, dedicated to this. Our slogan Live For It represents 100% of our values. We live only for this. Me, I do only this.

Don’t get me wrong: I love almost everything. I’m passionate about hundreds of topics. I have a total passion for animals, nature, geography, social sciences, science in general, knowledge, infinite detail… I’m extremely curious and interested in everything. But in practice, I do just one single thing: I live for it.

You can imagine that such growth doesn’t come from nowhere. It’s the result of absolute passion. And all I do, quite simply, is invite people to live for it too. Whether they live for it at 1% or 200% like me doesn’t matter. What I want is for people to share the immense joy I feel when I get in the water to practice these passions.

Life isn’t always easy, we lack time, sometimes resources… My determination is to spread this passion to as many people as possible, as deeply as possible.

I’m not here to sell you gear at a good price. No. I’m here on this earth with the mission of giving you an incredible experience during those two free hours you might have next Saturday. I’ve been so lucky in my life that I feel I must share that luck with everyone who sees in it a source of joy and connection.

And since we Live For It, since the weather is always changing and we go everywhere, we embrace all sports to make the most of every place and every condition.

Of course, surfing is the foundation and the DNA of GONG. It’s rare to see a core, multisport brand, but I think this comes from the waterman generation. We all want to be in the water as much as possible. There’s nothing better than trying everything and spending time at it to progress. You can be “core” by being 100% involved in one sport, but also by being 100% committed to an environment. What matters is the culture that emerges from it, the perspective it gives you, the feeling of living something unique.

So we practice every imaginable sport in the ocean, lakes, rivers, anywhere there’s water. No matter the day, the conditions, the friends, the level.

Once you decide to live for it and to share it with others, you need to offer as many possibilities as possible. And each of them must be as complete and fulfilling as possible.

That’s GONG: Live For It.

Quite simply because there’s no stacking of margins. We are extremely efficient.

We buy overall at the same price as our competitors, give or take a few dollars. The factories, whichever they are, have roughly comparable costs. But we always choose the higher-quality factories, which are often the most expensive. We are very demanding, really very demanding.

The first reason is that we use our gear nonstop, so we want the very best.

The second reason is that we set up our production in factories that are often 100% dedicated to GONG. They use our technologies and our processes. So we want a perfect result, exactly as we expect it.

And since we sell directly, we can’t afford to deal with after-sales service issues on the other side of the world all the time. Paradoxically, because of their price positioning, our products must be ultra reliable. That’s why, for example, we were the first to make full sandwich wing boards. So to have an absurdly low after-sales rate (0.4% in 2025 on wings), we work with the best factories (very often our own factories) to ensure optimal quality.

So no, our wings are not cheaper because they are lower quality or because we buy them under shady conditions. It’s quite the opposite. I spend a huge amount of time in and with the factories. After 15 years they’ve become friends, people who share our drive to keep improving, people who are super motivated by the ideas that will take us further. As a result, the quality is there. It’s proven in World Cups, it’s proven by the thousands of units sold and used. Absolute perfection doesn’t exist, but our mindset is 100% quality, because we ride this gear every day. We live for it.

We are not opportunists. We’re not here to pretend, to do marketing or empty branding. We never said: hey, winging is trendy, let’s sell some. Never! We are riders talking to riders. And we want to bring more and more passionate people on board with us.

So why are our wings cheaper? It’s purely a matter of distribution. When we buy a wing for 100, we sell it for 200 + tax, roughly 250. In a classic distribution model, the brand buys it for 100, sells it to the distributor for 200, who sells it to the shop for 350–400, who sells it to the end customer for about double. In the end, the customer pays 600, 800, sometimes 1000 for the same product.

We, for a product bought at 100, sell it for 250. Competitors are between 600 and 1000. And when I say “the same product,” it’s strictly comparable in terms of components and material quality. Only the shapes differ mainly. And one thing needs to be said: our R&D costs are colossal. By unanimous opinion of our team riders, we are the brand that makes the most prototypes in the world. By far. No one makes as many prototypes as we do, whether for shapes, technologies, graphics, finishes, or durability. Because we want to make the best products out there, we give ourselves every possible means to do so.

So no, we are not “low cost.” We sell for less because we sell directly, with no middlemen. But we are among the brands that invest the most in quality and R&D. That’s why our wings are often world champions.

To really understand, you need to look at the range from the other direction. TEAM PRO are wings designed for professionals, competitors, and pilots who want to reach the highest level of performance. These wings define the pinnacle of innovation: everything that is most advanced, everything that represents the future, is found in TEAM PRO.

At the opposite end, PERF wings are extremely validated, safe, and intuitive. They are designed to be easy, ultra-reliable, and as effortless as possible. They are the perfect choice for flying without worrying, with full confidence.

In between, there are TEAM wings. They embody the best of both worlds: the innovation, technology, energy, and power of TEAM PRO, but also the gentleness, ease, and simplicity of PERF.

So, we can see this hierarchy as a crescendo of performance and power, alongside a decrescendo of comfort and simplicity:

• PERF: easy, gentle, safe.
• TEAM: a balanced mix of accessibility and performance.
• TEAM PRO: the sharpest, designed to push absolute limits.
  

And what’s important to understand is that you don’t need to be a world champion to fly a TEAM PRO. You just need to have world-champion-level expectations.

You can be a relaxed pilot, perfectly happy with a PERF that gets the job done safely and reliably.

Or you might want something rougher, more physical, more demanding on your arms, exactly what a competitor seeks: absolute efficiency to climb ever higher.

Most pilots, naturally, find their place in the middle with a TEAM.

It’s very simple: it’s a question of technology.

PERF wings are made from Dacron, a material that has been proven for decades. It’s strong, reliable, and extremely easy to repair, because Dacron is available everywhere in the world. If you get a stab or a tear, any sailmaker will be able to fix it. It’s the foundation, the standard material: robust and accessible.

Aramid is a step up. The leading edge and central batten are made from UPE Aramid, which is about twice as light as Dacron while being much stiffer. However, the canopy remains the same triple ripstop as PERF. This gives you lower weight and more responsiveness while keeping the tolerance and simplicity of a classic triple ripstop sail.

Aramid X takes things further: the canopy is now made from Code 95, an extremely rigid, strong, almost inextensible woven sailcloth. It’s still fabric, but one that barely deforms. The result is much more direct, lively, and precise handling.

Finally, Aramid CZ is the ultimate level. Here, it’s no longer a simple woven fabric but a laminate (the famous Code Zero). It’s completely inflexible, inextensible, and ultra-stiff. The shape doesn’t change, the profile is locked at 100%. This material is designed for pure performance, especially in racing and slalom, where every shift in wind must be converted into speed and upwind capability.

So here’s the logic:

• Dacron: simple, strong, easy, accessible.
• Aramid: lighter, stiffer, but keeps the tolerance of classic sailcloth.
• Aramid X: Code 95 canopy, maximum stiffness and precision in a woven fabric.
• Aramid CZ: laminate, absolute stiffness, race-level performance.

It’s a technological progression that also corresponds to a rise in performance demands and expectations.

Well, the most versatile and easiest is obviously the Plus. It’s the wing that does everything well, ticking all the boxes. It’s not very physical: it pulls, it delivers plenty of power, but it remains super simple. It’s an all-around wing for everyone, without any surprises.

But if we talk about versatility at a high performance level, that’s different. The Droid offers enormous versatility, but always with power. This wing is built for acceleration, relaunching, and solid pull. It drives forward, it pulls, and behind that, it can do everything: ride waves, race a World Cup slalom, win a freestyle world championship, and a slalom world championship… So here, we’re talking absolute versatility, but in performance mode. You jump, you turn, you go fast, it can do it all.

Then there’s the Neutra, which represents another kind of versatility. Its smoothness and finesse let you enjoy the best freeride sessions of your life. It glides, never pulls too hard, is agile, very smooth, but at the same time ultra-efficient. In freefly or wave riding, it almost becomes “invisible”: it disappears behind you when you want, fades in your hands when you ask, and pulls when you need it.

So in the end, the answer depends on what you mean by versatility:

• do everything simply and effortlessly, it’s the Plus.
• do everything with power and performance, it’s the Droid.
• do everything with finesse, fluidity, and smoothness, it’s the Neutra.
  

First of all, by reading this interview (laughs).

More seriously, I think people generally know right away where they should go. Of course, budget plays a role, but so does usage: how many hours, how many sessions per year, and with what expectations.

Some want ultra-specialized gear, even if they only go out five times a year. They want the absolute best, and good for them. Others prefer something simple, effective, and forgiving. It’s really a personal choice.

The key point is that there’s no wrong choice. You can’t really go wrong. On a foil or a board, you might make a small mistake, but it’s minimal. With a wing, honestly, you can’t say, “Oh, I bought the wrong one.”

There’s another very important point: at GONG, there’s very little depreciation. Our wings are already sold for two, three, or four times less than the competition. So losing 15–20% on resale is quite reasonable. It’s almost symbolic, a small courtesy, but overall you don’t lose much money. Maybe the equivalent of a year’s cinema budget for a movie lover.

Compare that with the typical competition: as soon as you leave the shop (I’ve worked in retail for 25 years), you’ve already lost 30% of the value. Put the gear in the water, it’s 50%. And on products costing €1,500, €2,000, or €3,000, that really hurts. At GONG, the money you lose if you resell your gear is very limited because our products are already priced fairly.

So how can you be sure to choose the right range? Follow your instinct, read our product sheets. You can’t go wrong. And even if you feel you didn’t pick the “best” option, it doesn’t matter, it’s very easy to switch.

It really depends on each person’s expectations and their rate of progression. Obviously, if you progress very quickly, you’ll want something that pulls harder, so you might move toward an Aramid.

But there are also many riders who are perfectly happy cruising for years with a PERF. A PERF in the waves is fantastic. In freefly, it’s great. In freeride, it’s excellent because it’s incredibly comfortable.

You need to understand that a PERF 2026 is almost at the level of an Aramid 2025. So yes, it doesn’t feel exactly the same, it’s not the same contact or sensation as an Aramid. But in terms of pure performance, they’re really very close. It’s extremely, extremely good.

So no, a PERF is not a “lower-tier” choice. It’s a highly accomplished wing that can accompany you for a long time without ever limiting your progression.

If we want to stay general, what we’re looking for in 2026 is absolute clarity in the feel.

• We want something extremely clear in the hands, direct, precise.
• We absolutely want to avoid having to over-canopy.
• We don’t want a soft, imprecise wing, or one that makes you zone out.
• We want wings that are razor-sharp, perfectly suited to their program.

The result is that we are capable of creating world champion-level machines. But not only that, we are also capable of creating world champions! Very few brands can say that, and we achieve it in a very short time. That’s what defines GONG: an absolute passion, the “Live For It” mindset, and therefore an enormous capacity for innovation, able to meet every need that comes from that passion. Everything flows naturally, it’s perfectly logical.

Specifically, between 2025 and 2026, it’s a crescendo in precision. We made a lot of deep, significant changes. Even in the design, subtle at first glance, but enormous in impact. Looking back just two years, it’s astonishing: the progress is phenomenal.

Today, the wings are beautiful. The form, the shape, the roundness, they all convey something strong: aggressiveness, simplicity, lightness, and technicality. It’s a concentrated expression of what matters most to us. My team has done an amazing job. Truly, it’s very beautiful.

First, you need to understand that it depends on the brand’s philosophy. Some are very focused on relaxed sailing, with products that let the wing self-regulate. I take the exact opposite approach: the wing should self-regulate less and deliver more precisely what you bought it for.

When you put a Droid in the water, you want a wing that smashes: powerful, pulling, catapulting. When you put a Neutra in the water, you want a wing that’s sharp, efficient, precise. When you put a Plus in the water, you want something that pops early, points upwind quickly, goes downwind, turns, jibes, in short, something extremely effective.

Twist always occurs to some degree. Under tension, with the wind, the wing inevitably deforms, and the tips tend to twist and open. The “problem” is when this base twist exists from the start. It creates a sort of propeller shape: the wind angle that’s optimal at the center is no longer optimal at the tips. The tips then try to realign the wing away from its core. Fully overpowered, it can be effective. But in normal conditions, or worse, underpowered, it’s disastrous: it creates micro-cavitations, the pull point is never clear, and you don’t know where to place your hands on the boom. You feel like you always need to move them back. It’s particularly unpleasant.

That’s why we eliminated the base twist. We also redesigned the tip curve, moving back the leading edge near the tip to achieve twist that is purely dynamic: it only occurs as a direct response to a gust, not as a permanent, softening factor.

The result: a wing that feels much cleaner in the hands. You no longer need to constantly move your hands on the boom, you know exactly where they should be. It’s clear, precise, and very enjoyable. The wind then does its work on the wing, but within a perfectly controlled framework.

It has always been our philosophy at GONG: we’ve never liked dihedral. For me, dihedral is a compensation, a way to mask a flaw rather than confront and solve it. It’s a way to escape, to avoid facing the real problem.

We like wings that are efficient. Wings where you don’t have to over-canopy, or use oversized boards or foils. We want efficiency. We want minimalist, high-performance gear that carries as little as possible. If I can ride a 700 foil instead of an 800 or 900, I’m happy. And this comes directly from the technical choices in the wing.

It’s true, dihedral can make things easier in certain situations: it “anchors” the wing in the air. But this comes at the cost of huge performance losses. That’s not our thing at all.

We’ve never been pro-dihedral, it’s just not our style. And I’ve pushed the concept to the extreme in R&D: I tested dihedrals at 90°. Honestly, the results were, let’s say, “disappointing” (laughs). And that’s great too: having the means to test everything, even the worst ideas. It creates a catalog of good and bad choices, a kind of design and feel dictionary, which we then use methodically and precisely. There’s nothing like clarifying a feeling to know where to go next.

So yes, our wings have a dihedral in the lower section, but it’s reduced to the absolute minimum. Essentially, it’s just the thickness of the profile. The canopy is flat. That’s enough to keep the wing perfectly tensioned, never flapping, and extremely rigid and efficient.

Most importantly, there’s no artificial compensation via dihedral, just like there’s none via base twist. These are artifices we’ve always refused.

It changes everything. The 2026 leading edge is much more precise, and it manages to be both firmer and livelier at the same time.

Aesthetically, it’s also nicer, rounder, more recessed, reflecting the fine mastery of the shape.

We have over-segmentation in the center of the wing, which completely stiffens the central area. The result: the wing doesn’t twist or bend. This is exactly what explains the high performance in freestyle or slalom: a rock-solid, perfectly stable center.

Next, we have fairly consistent segments along the rest of the leading edge to ensure homogeneous and predictable behavior.

Finally, near the tips, we apply strong re-segmentation. This is where it all comes together: this over-segmentation allows us to perfectly control the micro-twist of the wingtips, and therefore the tension of the trailing edge. We don’t want it to open too quickly. With this construction, twist remains limited under load, progressive, and fully controlled.

In the end, this results in a wing that is just as powerful at the core, always effective, but with clear, direct, precise sensations. Nothing slips away, everything is crystal clear in the hands. This is absolute efficiency, exactly what we aim for.

Absolutely, it’s obvious. From the very first jibes, the very first pumping, you feel the difference.

Someone who has never tried winging, who has never held a wing in their life, might not necessarily notice it. But someone with experience, who has ridden our previous wings or wings from other brands, will feel it immediately.

And especially if they’ve listened to what I just explained, they’ll seek out exactly these sensations, and they’ll find them right away. There’s no false promise: it’s exactly as I describe. You feel it instantly, from the very first minutes.

First, it’s important to note that this material is used on our Team and Team Pro wings. Historically, all our wings were made from Dacron. But at a certain stage of progression, this material showed its limits: it was no longer sufficient to meet the performance demands of our team riders.

Next, since we sell exclusively direct-to-consumer, we were unable to purchase Aluula, which is reserved for brands operating through traditional distribution networks. No problem, we looked for an alternative. After extensive testing, including Aluula on our wing shapes, we found that UPE Aramid combined all the qualities we were looking for.

This material has the same weight and lightness as Aluula, but with some interesting differences:

• it’s less rigid, which allows the wing to retain some “life.”
• it truly lasts, whereas other materials age quickly.

In practice, it’s extremely stiff under tension. Once pressurized, the wing holds its shape: it locks in and stays there. At the same time, we retain twist where we want it, thanks to the way the aramid fibers are oriented. We can control deformation instead of just enduring it or locking it completely. The wing stays comfortable and lively, giving a heavier, more controlled feel in the hands without being harsh.

In terms of strength, it’s impressive: UPE is partly made from Dyneema, which is extremely tear-resistant. Adding aramid locks the elongation, and a protective film provides waterproofing and UV protection. The result is:

• impact and cut resistance
• elongation resistance
• UV resistance.

Finally, it’s also an aesthetically pleasing material. We have it in white and black, and it could be produced in many other colors.

For me, UPE Aramid is truly a magical material. We’ve proven its performance and durability. It’s simply one of the best solutions available for making high-end, reliable, high-performance wings.

Code 95, also called Aramid X, is a woven sailcloth with much thicker and stronger yarns than a classic triple ripstop. These thick yarns create an ultra-strong mesh, giving the fabric exceptional resistance to deformation and much better long-term stability.

A triple ripstop is already very strong, but it’s still relatively stretchable. Under heavy impacts, like getting smashed by waves, it will deform. The good news is that it recovers its shape over time (often overnight, which is quite impressive). But in the moment, it stretches significantly.

With Code 95, this deformation is much more limited. It also recovers its shape, but it stretches far less. The result: the shape stays much more stable and consistent.

Regarding cut resistance, there’s not a huge difference: a sharp impact will damage any sailcloth, whether triple ripstop or Code 95. But it doesn’t propagate. The advantage of reinforced fabrics like Code 95 is precisely this anti-propagation effect. The fabric stays stable and doesn’t deform beyond the impact point.

On the water, Code 95 delivers a firm and consistent feel that boosts performance. The wing is very stiff, points high, and accelerates quickly. It’s exactly the kind of feel we love on a pro-level wing.

In summary, Aramid X (Code 95) is superior because it holds its shape far more firmly than triple ripstop: less elongation, more consistency, and greater precision over time.

Code Zero (Aramid CZ) is not exclusive to GONG, other brands use it as well, particularly in high-performance lightweight sails. But in wings, it’s still rare because it’s an extreme material.

Code Zero is a highly technical laminate: almost inextensible, ultra-rigid, and very light. It absorbs virtually no water, keeping the wing neutral and consistent even after hours on the water. The profile is completely locked, it doesn’t move.

However, this rigidity comes with a trade-off: the feel is very direct and sharp, almost brutal. That’s why we don’t use it for freestyle or wave riding, where more flexibility and tolerance are desired.

But for racing, slalom, aggressive freeride, or lightwind conditions, it’s exactly what’s needed. In these disciplines, this material is unbeatable because it literally transforms every gust of wind into speed and upwind performance without dilution.

No, it’s actually the opposite.

First, we need to clarify what we mean by “fragile.” If we’re talking about cuts, a stab, a sharp tear, almost all materials will tear in a similar way… except Aramid, thanks to UPE, which is much more cut-resistant (Dyneema fibers).

However, if we’re talking about aging over time, that’s a completely different story. The real issue with fabrics isn’t cuts, it’s elongation. Under constant stress, the fabric can stretch, even at the seams. This gradual elongation eventually leads to performance loss, flap, and even seam failure if you overinflate or aggressively ride in waves.

The stiffer the material, the less it deforms, and the better it retains its original shape over time. A fabric that doesn’t stretch keeps its shape, its profile, and trailing edge tension, remaining performant much longer.

So overall, the stiffer the material, the more durable it is. Modern materials like UPE Aramid, Code 95, and Code Zero do not make wings fragile, in fact, they increase their usable lifespan and maintain consistent performance over time.

Dacron is the softest and most forgiving. It does the work for you, absorbs gusts without ever being aggressive. It’s very easy to pump, highly accessible, and it smooths out a lot of mistakes.

Aramid X, on the other hand, is the exact opposite: lively, sharp, and precise. It’s in the realm of materials like Code Zero: extremely rigid, dynamic, and highly efficient constructions. Every movement is transmitted without any filter, with surgical precision.

In between, there’s Aramid. This is arguably the best compromise: an ultra-rigid inflatable structure thanks to UPE Aramid, but with a triple ripstop canopy that maintains some tolerance. The result is a blend of responsiveness and comfort, rigidity and flexibility. You get the best of both worlds: high performance, but with a touch of softness that inspires confidence.

Yes, absolutely. Weight directly affects responsiveness and liveliness, and therefore your reaction capability.

A heavier wing might feel slightly more tiring, but for a beginner, that’s not really the main factor. What truly tires you out at first is falling, getting back on the board, resetting your stance, and pumping again, not the weight of the wing itself.

However, for someone who already rides, weight becomes a key factor. A lighter wing feels immediately more precise, more agile, more responsive. It’s question-and-answer: you sheet in, it responds; you release, it disappears. Sailing becomes smoother, more enjoyable, and more efficient.

So yes, actual weight makes a real difference: the lighter it is, the livelier, more efficient, and more fun the ride.

Overall, everyone should be using a boom. Let’s be clear: handles provide far less precision, much less efficiency, less comfort, and they’re heavier.

The only reason we still offer handles is for transport. Some people want to store their wing in a small backpack rather than a long bag like a windsurf sail bag. In everyday life, that makes sense: a small bag fits easily in a car trunk, a large one doesn’t always. I completely understand that.

But on the water, whether for beginners, progressing, or even winning a world title, the boom is a thousand times more effective. There’s no comparison. It’s lighter, and most importantly, you can place your hands exactly where you want. We’ve even added tactile markers on our booms and visual markers on the battens so your hand position is always perfect. You can’t go wrong, it works exceptionally well.

By contrast, with handles, a beginner grabbing the first handle often has to overreach for the second… and falls in between. Not optimal. Handles are convenient for transport, but not for actual riding.

That’s why we still offer the handle option on PERF models. But for Aramid, Aramid X, or Aramid CZ wings, there’s no debate: it’s boom and nothing else. Performance first! We’ll never offer handles on these wings because it would contradict their high-performance purpose.

Honestly, I’m even considering phasing out handles entirely on PERF models by 2027. Frankly, they’re only useful for fitting the wing in a small bag, and the board won’t fit in the trunk either, so a proper bag solves the problem, as does our easily removable two-piece boom.

For me, everything should be boom. Handles are purely a practical compromise for transport.

Because there are plenty of people who simply don’t need it. So why add weight (even if it’s very reasonable) for those who won’t use it? That’s why it’s an option, not mandatory.

For example, I never use it myself. But we wanted to provide an intelligent solution for those who do. We designed a super smart assembly/disassembly system, tool-free, self-tightening, and extremely strong. My engineering team did an amazing job on it.

In reality, it concerns relatively few people: those who want to travel with a wing in a backpack, or those who insist on storing their wing in a small bag in the car trunk. But for them, it’s the perfect solution.

Yes, absolutely. It’s really simple. You just remove 4 screws from the handles using your foil’s Torx key, then install 2 screws on the boom.

Our booms and handles are not screwed directly into the wing, which means you can screw and unscrew endlessly without ever risking damage to the threads or the wing itself. Even if you make a mistake, everything can be changed in two minutes.

All connection parts are independent of the wing, so they can be replaced or repaired at will. It’s a unique, clever system built to last.

We went even further: the screws used to attach the boom to the straps are the same as those on your foils. So even on the other side of the world, without any GONG parts, you can use your foil screws (or even screws from another brand) to remove or install your boom.

The result: yes, it’s super easy to switch from handles to a boom. From 4 screws to 2 screws, with just a small spacer doing its job. Simple, reliable, and efficient.

It’s very simple: if you want to do Palau flips, ride one-handed, free yourself from all grip constraints, and fully open up the possibilities, then you need to switch to a boom.

For me, everyone should be on a boom. I’ll say it again: in my opinion, there’s no debate anymore. There may have been a debate until now, but in 2026, there won’t be. The boom is so clearly superior that it’s the obvious choice. Everyone will be on a boom.

Clearly, it’s the Plus. There’s no debate about it.

And if you absolutely want to start with a boom, then it’s the Droid Boom. It has a smaller wingspan, inflates very easily, and that’s what makes it suitable right from the first tacks.

So the ideal beginner wing is either the Plus in the PERF range, or the Droid Boom (100% boom) in the PERF range. They are easy, powerful, compact, and very simple. They inflate effortlessly, immediately point upwind, and hold their course. It’s just beautifully easy and efficient.

The answer is Droid but also Plus.

Both the Droid 100% Boom and the Plus allow you to progress really fast.

The difference is in the path they guide you toward:

• Plus clearly points you toward freeride: tacking, long sessions, sharing the water with friends, and just enjoying yourself. It’s the ideal wing for simple, fun, stable, and forgiving riding.
• Droid, on the other hand, naturally leans toward surf freestyle. Even if you’re a total beginner, you may already have a sensitivity or attraction to jumping, surfing, tricks, or nice jibes. The Droid is made for that: more maneuverable, compact, and lively, opening doors in this direction faster.
  

In short: Plus for freeride, Droid for surf freestyle. Both are excellent for progressing without feeling limited.

Clearly, it’s the Droid, especially the Droid SP in CZ, which has tons of power and is highly efficient.

If we’re talking about easy takeoff in lightwind, it’s the Droid.

The Plus is also decent: it takes off fairly easily thanks to its solid base of power and efficiency. But it’s the Droid in Aramid X or CZ that performs best for early lift in lightwind.

For pure performance in low wind, if you want to go fast, point upwind, ride downwind hard, and punch through lulls, then it’s the Pulse, a true race wing. It’s almost like a cambered sail with its double profile. However, it’s much more technical to launch: it uses large surface areas with a lot of wingspan, meaning the tips touch the water quickly. You need long masts to stay clear of the surface, create proper angles, and generate sufficient lift torque.

So, in summary:

• Droid = reference for early takeoff in lightwind
• Pulse = reference for pure performance, for going fast in marginal conditions

For pure waveriding, it’s the Neutra in all its technologies. The Neutra Aramid X is the most durable.

The Neutra is special because it “disappears” when you want it to. It stops pulling as soon as you ask, making it perfect for surf and freefly.

That said, in the waves, you might also want to pull off tricks, 360s, Palau flips, or big airs. That’s where the Droid shines. The Droid is a surf freestyle wing, its concept is exactly that: freestyle plus surf, ideal for sending tricks in the waves.

So, the ultimate wing depends on your approach:

• Neutra if you’re a pure surfer looking for a wing that disappears completely.
• Droid if you’re a surf freestyler wanting to mix surfing with aerial maneuvers.
  

The best, definitely, is the Droid Aramid X.

It offers the highest level of performance, durability, and efficiency, with a perfectly balanced feel. It’s absolutely flawless.

And it’s not just a promise: it’s the 2025 World Champion wing. So there’s no debate. The Droid Aramid X is simply the most high-performing wing in the world for freestyle and big air.

For racing, it’s the Pulse. With its ultra-efficient double profile, it’s formidable. This wing regularly stands on the podium in World Cup events. We developed, invented, and mastered this double profile concept, and today we know exactly how to get the maximum performance from it. It delivers upwind performance, VMG, pure speed, everything.

For slalom, the needs are different: you need a wing that’s extremely maneuverable for short tacks, tight maneuvers, and close competition. It has to be lively, forgiving, and powerful. That’s where the Droid Aramid CZ dominates. Remember, the Droid claimed the top three spots in the World Cup, unprecedented. Unbeatable.

If you want to do racing, you obviously need a Pulse. There’s no choice. If you want to point upwind extremely well and sail downwind fast, you need a double-profile wing. It’s essential.

For everything else, a single wing can perform very well. A Droid, a Plus, even a Neutra. But where it differs is in the feeling it gives you. One wing cannot cover all sensations.

• super soft in the hands, forgiving mistakes and smoothing the water, you need a Plus.
• sharp and precise, still efficient but not aggressive, you need a Neutra.
• pulls hard, catapults you, and remains ultra-maneuverable and powerful, then it’s a Droid.

So, can a single wing do everything? Yes.

Can it provide all sensations? No.

In my opinion, it’s more about targeting the sensations and progression you want rather than the program itself. Everyone has their own sensitivity, and there’s always a wing that will match your personal feel better than any other.

Of course, a Pulse is a particularly heavy wing, so in freefly it’s not ideal, and frankly, in my opinion, inefficient. You can use it, but you’d have to hold it by the pistol grip… so it’s not the best suited.

All the other wings, however, work really well for freefly. The lighter they are, the better. The slimmer they are, the better. The best option is the Neutra in Aramid or Aramid X: light, precise, and highly efficient.

But a Plus also works very well in freefly, and a Droid works perfectly too. Since it’s compact and very maneuverable, if it moves, you can instantly reposition it using the boom handle exactly where you want.

In reality, all wings are suitable for freefly. The key factors are:

1. so the wing disappears from your hands.
2. because eventually you need to get back. This isn’t about pure efficiency, it’s about enjoyment, sessions can last a long time, and it shouldn’t feel like a chore.

It’s simply that it has no real limits in versatility and efficiency. It’s not a wing restricted to your first ten hours of riding. You can sail for ten years with a Plus without reaching its limits. Maybe after ten years (and often much sooner) you’ll want a different feel, a more specialized wing. But in the meantime, it does everything well.

It’s extremely easy to sail, maneuver, and handle, both on land and in the water. It’s a super simple, functional, efficient, and effective wing. That’s what makes it more than just a school wing: it’s a complete, high-performing wing that supports the rider at any level.

Simply put, the Neutra is very sharp and precise. It doesn’t pull unnecessary air, and it doesn’t have a large volume. Its inflatable architecture is moderate, the draft is moderate, and the overall shape is slim and discreet. In practice, it’s a wing that delivers power when you want it, but can also disappear instantly when requested. That’s exactly what you need for surf or freefly: a wing that’s present on demand, yet fully unobtrusive when you just want to glide.

That’s why it’s the reference.

The technology then changes its character:

• Perf : nearly the performance of a 2025 Aramid, so very capable. Dacron remains a softer, more forgiving, and easier-to-handle material.
• Aramid Team Series : keeps the Perf canopy, so it retains softness in gusts and simplicity when pumping, but with an Aramid inflatable structure, extremely rigid.
• Aramid X Pro Team Series : Code 95 canopy combined with the Aramid structure. Here, the wing is ultra-rigid, super lively, and provides a very direct feel. Maximum performance at all levels.

Quite simply, the Droid is the most compact wing in the range. It has the shortest wingspan and the smallest overall size. It has a bit more boom, so it’s less rectangular, slightly squarer. In 2026, its outline became rounder, less oval.

Where a Neutra is like a long-distance car, slim and aerodynamic,the Droid is like a rally car: aggressive, accelerates fast, takes corners hard, with grip, maneuverability, and fun. That’s what makes it the queen of tricks and freestyle.

In 2026, its spin capacity is phenomenal. We’ve improved this massively, and the results speak for themselves: Benjamin crushed it as soon as he had this wing in his hands. It’s ultra-maneuverable, especially for precise repositioning. Its pop is deadly: the climb in the first seconds of a jump is much more efficient.

This is a wing that loves to turn, flip, and spin, it was born for this.

In freestyle, immediate re-launch is also crucial, because you often fall while attempting committed moves. Again, the Droid delivers: it has torque, it launches, it re-lifts instantly, and it’s easy to pump. This makes it highly performant for tricks, but also very reliable when you mess up.

Technology differences:

• Perf Dacron: the Droid stays cooler, softer, and more forgiving.
• Team Aramid: gains rigidity while keeping some tolerance.
• Team Pro Aramid X and Aramid CZ: a crescendo of stiffness and responsiveness. The shape becomes ultra-consistent with no parasitic tolerance. It’s very lively, precise, aggressive, and wild.

In short, the higher the technology, the more the Droid becomes an aggressive, explosive trick machine.

• Perf: accessible and playful.
• Aramid: combines rigidity and comfort.
• Aramid X: hardcore surf freestyle, no compromises.
• Aramid CZ: full speed

First, let’s be clear: it’s not “untouchable” in this program. There are other wing concepts that work very well and are currently ahead on some podiums. So we shouldn’t exaggerate.

However, the Pulse is much simpler, more economical, and above all easier to use. It offers an absolutely brilliant compromise: a wing that’s closer to a high-level windsurf sail than a paraglider. It’s extremely efficient while remaining relatively accessible in cost.

Above all, it’s super enjoyable to sail because it’s very solid and planted in the air. Unlike a foil wing with a box structure, it has much more bottom-end power. You can pump more easily, it has plenty of juice at low speeds, and it performs very well in the lower wind range.

So with the Pulse, you get a 100% race wing that reaches podiums not by chance, but because it has power, strong upwind performance, and great downwind drive. It’s a true race machine, with a unique balance of power, simplicity, and efficiency that remains unmatched today.

All sizes are detailed on the website, but to give an overview, the range goes from 2 m² to 9 m². This covers all wind conditions and rider weights, always ensuring optimal comfort and performance.

It’s important to note that sizing needs have changed a lot since the arrival of the Cruzader. We can now fly in almost no wind using pumping/freefly-oriented foils like the Veloce or Sirus. We’re talking 3–4–5 knots… At 6 knots, an experienced rider can take off easily. At 8 knots, anyone can fly. Interestingly, in these conditions, it’s often better to use a 4.5 or 5 m² wing than a 6, 7, or 8 m² wing.

Why? Large wings (6–8 m²) provide huge power once in flight, but they’re less efficient for pumping, harder to handle, tips touch the water more easily, speed tops out quickly, they’re less fun for maneuvers, take longer to inflate, are bulky, and more expensive. In today’s lightwind conditions, with the right foils, very large wings are rarely needed. With a Cruzader 4.5 or 5 m², you can take off in 3 pumping strokes at 6–8 knots, even at 110 kg, and flying is much more enjoyable.

Another key point on sizing: you shouldn’t have more than a 1 m² gap between wings. A 1.5 m² gap is too big, creating discontinuity in wind ranges. Going from a Droid 3.5 to a Droid 4.5 is already a significant jump. My personal quiver is simple: Droid 4.5 – 4 – 3.5. No bigger, no smaller. This covers me from 6 to 45 knots. If there are sustained winds above 50 knots, I might take a 3 m², but overall, three closely spaced sizes are enough for everything.

The trap is buying wings that are too far apart in size. Then you go from a wing where you’re underpowered to one where you don’t yet have enough lift. You end up waiting too long to switch, feeling uncomfortable, struggling, and not having fun. It slows down progression.

Today, the right choice is to prioritize closely spaced wings and adjust with boards and foils. Large gaps are a mistake of the past, those days are over.

The main difference is responsiveness. They use the same canopy fabric, but the inflatable structure is different.

• Perf : uses Dacron – solid, reliable, and forgiving. It smooths out mistakes like sudden gusts, imprecise positioning, or tricky weather. It’s very comfortable, soft, and easy to handle.
• Team : uses UPE Aramid – twice as light and five times as rigid. This allows higher inflation pressure and almost zero stretch in the material. The result is a wing that is sharper, more direct, more precise, lighter in hand, sleeker, and more agile. It keeps a bit of tolerance for pumping, so it’s still manageable, but it responds faster and more dynamically.
  

In short: the Perf soothes and absorbs, while the Team sharpens and reveals.

Yes, absolutely – and that’s exactly what we ask of them. These wings have power, they generate strong pull, and they deliver energy. We’re talking absolute performance here. They are lively, dynamic, and aggressive.

That doesn’t mean they’re unmanageable. It just means they’re more physical. On the other hand, because they are so powerful, you can often use a smaller size, which improves maneuverability, precision, and efficiency.

So yes, an Aramid X wing demands more from your arms (or a solid harness), but it returns much more in terms of efficiency and performance.

Clearly, a Neutra Perf. The least tiring wings are the Perf models because they do a lot of the work for you. Among them, the least tiring are the ones with a 100% boom: you can place your hands exactly where you want and adjust the harness hook on the boom tube precisely as you like, instead of being limited by fixed handles.

So, for a long session, the least tiring wing is a Perf. Then comes a Perf with boom, and finally a Neutra Perf with boom, which is the softest and most comfortable. The Plus is also very pleasant for long rides, but it has a bit more power, making it slightly less docile over very long sessions.

It’s important to clarify what we mean by “long session.”

• If it’s a long straight ride or prolonged flying time, the above applies perfectly.
• If it’s more like repeatedly falling and getting back up, then the least tiring wing is simply the easiest to keep flying, not necessarily the most comfortable once in the air. In that case, it would be a Droid with boom or a Plus, possibly a Droid Aramid (but not Aramid X, which is too physical). An Aramid wing keeps its energy for relaunching but doesn’t constantly tear your arms off once in the air.

Depending on your vision of a long session, the answers vary:

• For relaxed freeride on long runs, the Neutra Perf is ideal.
• For sessions with frequent falls, freestyle, or progression, the Droid Aramid with boom is perfect.
• For long-duration pure freeride with Aramid, the Neutra Aramid remains the most suitable, soft and easygoing.

The most precise and refined in the hands is probably an Aramid X, because it does not deform or stretch. Compared to the special case of the Droid Aramid CZ, which also does not deform, the Aramid X is thinner and less deep. The result is a cleaner, more direct feel.

Looking into the Aramid X models in detail:

• The Droid is the most precise. Its center of thrust is extremely clear, sharp, and well-defined in the hands. You know exactly where it pulls and how it responds.
• The Neutra, on the other hand, is the most refined. Its profile is subtler, its glide is very particular: smooth, never harsh, never abrupt. While keeping the rigidity of the Aramid X structure, it offers a soft, fluid feel that makes it a unique wing.

So for pure precision, it’s the Droid Aramid X.

For finesse of touch and smooth glide, it’s the Neutra Aramid X.

Absolutely, yes! The Droid is a perfect example: it’s very easy to sail underpowered with this wing. If you pair it with a board that glides really well, like a Cruzader or a Mint, and a foil with lots of glide, you can get airborne with almost nothing.

On our team, some staff members use no larger than a 4 m² wing, and yet the wind isn’t often strong. We’re talking about very light, almost minimal conditions. Even so, they sail with a 4 m² wing as their largest, on 900 foils.

So yes, you can sail underpowered very effectively, especially with a Droid. The feel will vary depending on the technology:

• in Aramid, you keep some tolerance and softness;
• in Aramid X, the feel is much more dynamic, explosive, and precise;
• in CZ, it’s extremely rigid and locked, perfect for those seeking absolute efficiency.

In all cases, the Droid allows underpowered sailing to be very effective.

Clearly, without a doubt, it’s the Droid. It’s the most compact, most condensed wing, and therefore the simplest to pump. Its efficiency in very light wind is phenomenal. Because it’s compact and unobtrusive, pumping is extremely precise, very dynamic, and it lifts off immediately.

The technology level also influences the feel.

• In Perf (Dacron), if you overborder a little while pumping, it doesn’t cavitate: the wing deforms slightly, follows the movement, and smooths out your errors. It’s easy and forgiving.
• In Team (Aramid), the contact becomes much more direct. If you pump incorrectly, it can cavitate, but once mastered, the efficiency is enormous without being overly difficult.
• In Team Pro (Aramid X), the wing becomes even more demanding: the fabric pardons nothing, it’s ultra dynamic and exacting, but in skilled hands, the performance is simply monstrous.
• In Team Pro (Aramid CZ), the wing enters an extreme level: the canopy is highly locked, efficiency is deadly, but usage requires very high technical skill. It’s uncompromising and reserved for advanced riders.

In short, for easy pumping and fast lift-off, the Droid remains unbeatable. Beyond that, it depends on what you’re looking for: the tolerance of a Perf, the rigid-yet-smooth balance of an Aramid, the explosive performance of an Aramid X, or the radical precision of an Aramid CZ.

Clearly, it’s the Droid Aramid X or the Droid Aramid CZ. From team feedback, the Aramid X tends to have a slight edge because it offers extra control and precision at the pop. You get carried less by the wing, which makes the lift-off much cleaner. The result is a higher, more controlled peak and, importantly, a perfectly managed descent.

This is all about micro-adjustments at this level, but for pure hangtime, these two versions of the Droid dominate.

The Plus comes with textile handles.

The Droid and Neutra Perf 100% Boom are delivered exclusively with a boom and can only be used with that system: classic prepreg boom, two-piece removable prepreg boom, or carbon prepreg boom.

For the Perf models, additional options are available: soft handles, textile handles, classic boom, two-piece removable boom, or carbon boom. All these configurations maintain a constant-diameter strut, thanks to the Z-strut system that makes this modularity possible.

Finally, all Team and Team Pro wings, whether in Aramid, Aramid X, or Aramid CZ, are exclusively compatible with a boom. These are 100% Boom models without exception, compatible with a classic prepreg boom, two-piece removable prepreg boom, or carbon prepreg boom.

Yes, absolutely. It only takes two or four screws depending on the model. They are exactly the same screws as those on your foil, so you use the same tool: super simple and easy. You can do it on the beach in any conditions. Most importantly, it doesn’t wear out. You can screw, unscrew, and rescrew indefinitely without risking damage to the wing. Even if you make a mistake, screw it in at an angle, or get sand in there, it’s not a problem. You just replace the small adaptation spacer, which costs almost nothing, and it’s good to go for years. It’s truly designed to be simple and durable.

In terms of safety, for example if the wing hits the board or if you accidentally hit your face with the handle, the textile handle has a big advantage because it absorbs impact. For everything else, the rigid carbon handles are clearly superior. Their opening and angulation are perfect, providing unmatched precision. The contact is also much more ergonomic thanks to the ovalized tube covered with ergonomic EVA that fits the hand perfectly. In contrast, the textile handles, even though we made them as comfortable as possible, need to remain firm and offer a certain grip so they don’t slip out of your hand. Over time, this makes them less comfortable.

Our downwind handle is not a rigid carbon or hard plastic type. This is intentional: we don’t want it to damage the board. So if it rubs or hits the board hard, there’s no harm, and if you accidentally hit your face, you won’t break your nose on the first impact.

It is semi-rigid, firm enough to pilot the wing in freefly, even during radical maneuvers. For example, Malo lands 360 airs with the wing completely neutral, and it works at stratospheric heights, so rigidity is not an issue in real use.

The same handle is used across all our models, regardless of the range. The difference lies in the attachment: we have a leading-edge sewing system that provides a lot of stability. The handle is rigid enough, but its attachment has calculated tolerance. If you press hard while falling, it won’t tear the leading edge. It flexes slightly, absorbing the impact and preventing breakage or explosion.

Yes, definitely. Being able to see downwind before committing to a maneuver is practical and often essential. It helps avoid hitting someone or something. This is particularly useful for beginners, for example with the Plus: when learning, you are so focused on what you’re doing that you sometimes forget what’s happening around you. Windows help raise awareness of your surroundings.

On intermediate models more performance-oriented, we try to remove the windows. Why? Because the material used for windows is heavier than standard sail fabric. When aiming for a lighter wing, every gram counts.

However, on CZ models, designed for slalom, we always include them. Here, it’s not optional; it’s a safety issue. When approaching a buoy at 35 knots and three meters from others, you absolutely need to know your position. It’s a matter of life or death, and it’s also mandatory in the rulebook. We don’t take risks: no way to crash at 30 knots due to lack of visibility.

There’s also a freeride/freerace audience that likes windows. People who want to tack with friends, as they did in kiteboarding, with a 360° view. For them, windows meet this need. They provide a nice, reassuring field of vision and help prevent accidents.

Yes, all of our wings are equipped with them. We systematically include small leash-style mounts for cameras. That way, if the camera comes off its main mount, you won’t lose it, unless the fall is really severe. It’s a small detail, but very important.

At GONG, we have a sharing mindset. We are a large community, and the more footage you capture, the happier we are. We want to encourage that, so we integrate these discreet mounts, which weigh nothing and don’t interfere with the ride.