For whom?
First for those looking for versatility in wing and SUP foiling.
Its role is to make your life easier and to do everything well. So a pro will probably find it too big and too gentle.
- In wing foiling, the Zuma is a super accessible board for a beginner, each size corresponding to a size or a desire for comfort. The extra long ones are for people who want versatility with SUP foiling, or for big riders.
- Accessible in SUP foiling by its volume, you must first of all know how to row straight on a classic SUP. The rest is just a matter of method and time in the water to progress, starting with small conditions.
In large volumes it is easy for SUP foiling, but in small sizes it will be necessary to be in good physical condition or to be light.
For what?
The Zuma is the compact but fluid board made to not struggle. Everything is done smoothly.
- In wing foiling, it’s really the easiest board in the world, without being an anvil. It is great for boosting your progress. Its length helps you to fly early.
- In SUP foiling, it is ideal for beginners and to progress up to very high performances. Its big advantage is to row quickly, perfect in Downwind for example, but also not to have to take-off late at each time.
What Size?
In wing foiling, you can take it very generously if you’re a beginner. And if you already have a good level, you will have to go for a limit volume following the same rule as in SUPFoil above.
In SUP foil, you absolutely must have a positive volume balance. Your weight plus the board’s weight must be less than the Board’s volume. Don’t hesitate to take some volume and width if you’re not sure of your supports.
You can gain enough volume to float, in the order of your weight + 30 = volume.
- Example: I weigh 80kg + 30 = 110L to float. This means that with a 6’3 of 105L I will manage, as long as I don’t start in SUP Foil. And if I want great comfort I will have to switch to the 6’6 of 120L.
How to choose the size of the board bag for my Wing Foil Board Zuma?
Understanding the GONG range?
The concept of each board of the range can be summed up very simply:
- HIPE First: the perfect inflatable board to learn wing foiling!
- HIPE Free Fly: the best of strapless on an inflatable foil board.
- HIPE Perf: the inflatable foil board with 95% of the performance of a rigid board, in an easy and scalable shape.
- HIPE Cruzader Strapless: the strapless inflatable board with 95% of the performance of a rigid board with an ultra specialized shape, ideal for light wind winging and chilled out SUP foiling.
- HIPE Cruzader strapped : the inflatable board with 95% of the performance of a rigid board with an ultra specialized shape, for the highest performance in light wind winging.
- HIPE Pro: the inflatable board with 95% of the performance of a rigid one with a shape dedicated to advanced foilers who want fluidity and maximum responsiveness!
- Mob 2taste: three sports in one board: SUP, SUP foiling and wing foiling.
- Zuma: the easy rigid board for SUP foiling and wing foiling, and with good performance.
- Lance: the compact Zuma, with great lateral stability, ideal for beginnings in wing foiling.
- Cruzader: fantastic in SUP downwinders, pumping on the flat, but also in light wind conditions in wing foiling.
- Flint: high performance in SUP foiling, great in wing foiling because it is simple and efficient in light wind.
- Kube: pure freestyle board. Minimum length for maximum rotation.
- Mint: compact without being too technical thanks to a perfect length and its round nose. Great performance in strapless too.
- Lemon: maximum reactivity and liveliness, while maintaining stability.
- Lethal: Absolute radicality among volume boards
Some will go for even more extreme with low volume boards like:
Which quiver?
The Zuma is really the easy to do and all-round Foil Board. So, it’s going to take up a very large part of your quiver.
You can of course complete it with a range of stand-up paddleboards without foil. And surfboards for those days when the waves are unsuitable for foil.
Which foil wings in Wing Foiling?
To learn and progress:
In the X-Over range: super easy and efficient foils from low speeds to progress smoothly:
- M for riders under 65kg and all wind speeds.
- L for riders under 75kg and wind under 35 knots.
- XL for riders under 85kg and wind under 25 knots.
- XXL for riders over 85kg and wind under 15 knots.
For more experienced riders:
In the Curve range: wings that love to draw pretty lines, with a smooth and eaaaaasy glide:
- S for those under 75kg or heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 85kg or heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in light conditions and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
- XXL for everyone in very light wind and the heavier riders in winds below 12 knots.
In the Fluid range: wings for a radical drive but easy and relatively fast:
- S for those under 75kg or heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 85kg or heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in light conditions and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
- XXL for everyone in very light wind and the heavier riders in winds below 12 knots.
In the Veloce range: fast wings that love curves, and still are easy at low speed:
- S for those under 75kg or heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 85kg or heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in light conditions and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
- XXL for everyone in very light wind and the heavier riders in winds below 12 knots.
In the Sirus range: wings with the ultimate aspect ratio to fly before everyone else in marginal conditions:
- L for those under 75kg in winds under 12 knots.
- XL for those under 85kg in winds under 8/10 knots or the heavier riders in winds under 15 knots.
- XXL for those under 95kg in winds under 6/8 knots or the bigger riders in winds less than 12 knots.
- 3XL for everyone in the very light wind and the bigger riders in winds under 10 knots.
For the pros:
The Curve H, Fluid H, Veloce H, Ypra or Ypra S ranges are very high performance and fast wings: remember that the H versions offer an insane glide for each of their specific use. The Ypra wings for instance are simply the wings of our pro team on the World Tour.
In the Curve H range: wings with a crazy glide that love to draw pretty lines, with a smooth and eaaaaasy glide:
- S for those under 75kg or heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 85kg or heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in light conditions and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
- XXL for everyone in very light wind and the heavier riders in winds below 12 knots.
In the Fluid H range: wings with a crazy glide for a radical drive but easy and relatively fast:
- S for those under 75kg or heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 85kg or heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in light conditions and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
- XXL for everyone in very light wind and the heavier riders in winds below 12 knots.
In the Veloce H range: fast wings with a crazy glide that love curves, and still are easy at low speed:
- S for those under 75kg or heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 85kg or heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in light conditions and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
- XXL for everyone in very light wind and the heavier riders in winds below 12 knots.
In the Ypra range: the racing wings par excellence intended to sail upwind and downwind, typically on a square or triangle racing course:
- XS for those under 55kg or the heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- S for those under 65kg or the heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 75kg or the heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and the heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in the light and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
In the Ypra S range for Slalom : racing wings with maximum curves / jibes, also great for Freestyle:
- XS for those under 55kg or the heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- S for those under 65kg or the heavier riders in winds above 20 knots.
- M for those under 75kg or the heavier riders in winds above 15 knots.
- L for everyone and the heavier riders in winds above 12 knots.
- XL for everyone in the light and the heavier riders in winds below 20 knots.
In the Sirus range: wings with the ultimate aspect ratio for marginal conditions:
- L for those under 75kg in winds under 12 knots.
- XL for those under 85kg in winds under 8/10 knots or the heavier riders in winds under 15 knots.
- XXL for those under 95kg in winds under 6/8 knots or the bigger riders in winds less than 12 knots.
- 3XL for everyone in the very light wind and the bigger riders in winds under 10 knots.
At this level, everyone can adapt their equipment to their needs. Just remember that the wingspan is a point to take into consideration when riding high aspect ratios. The glide is fabulous, but be careful not to sacrifice maneuverability and rail-to-rail precision by using large sizes if you are looking for a very reactive drive. This is why even the pros do not necessarily ride in high aspect ratios!
The size of the front wing and in particular its surface and its volume condition the speed/lift ratio. The smaller the wing, the faster you will go but the more uncomfortable you will be at low speeds. The bigger the wing, the earlier you will fly but you’ll be penalized in handling and top speed.
Which Stab?
The stabs have a major role. They determine the stability of the foil and help with its lift, but to the detriment of the maximum speed of the foil and its maneuverability if they are too large. The role of the stabilizer is to stabilize the foil but also to compensate for the natural tendency of the front wing to dive. So you must have a good balance of surfaces between your stab and your front wing. A 38 cm stab with an XXL wing will give a catastrophic result at high speed: the foil will dive at high speed because the stab will no longer be able to lift enough to counteract the nosediving torque of the front wing.
Remember that the stab must be proportional to the front wing. This is why we have named them S M L XL like the front wings so that you can pair them easily. Creating an imbalance brings no benefit except the illusion of better glide.
Thus the X-Over stabs are slower than the Fluid or Veloce stabs, but are much more lifty, and therefore effective at low speed or with a large front wing (for beginners for example). The Curve stab is at the border of these two worlds and the Freestyle stab is 100% dedicated to radical moves.
In the X-Over range: super easy and effective stabs from low speeds to progress smoothly:
- L 44 for those under 75kg and for everyone in winds above 15 knots.
- XL 48 for those over 75kg and for everyone in winds below 20 knots.
In the Curve range: very simple stabs that love beautiful curves, with a stable and smooth glide:
- S 36 for those under 65kg and for everyone in winds over 25 knots.
- M 39 for those under 75kg and for everyone in winds over 20 knots.
- L 43 for those under 85kg and for everyone in winds above 15 knots.
- XL 46 for those over 95kg and for everyone in winds of less than 20 knots.
In the Fluid H range: stabs with a crazy glide for a radical drive but easy and relatively fast:
- S 38 for those under 65kg and for everyone in winds over 25 knots.
- M 42 for those under 75kg and for everyone in winds above 18 knots.
- L 45 for those under 85kg and for everyone in winds above 12 knots.
- XL 47 for those over 95kg and for everyone in winds below 20 knots.
- XXL 49 for everyone in very light winds and bigger people in winds below 12 knots.
In the Veloce H range: the fast stabs dedicated to high speeds which are off your mind when riding:
- S 36 for those under 65kg and for everyone in winds over 25 knots.
- M 40 for those under 75kg and for everyone in winds above 20 knots.
- L 44 for those under 85kg and for everyone in winds above 15 knots.
- XL 47 for those over 95kg and for everyone in winds below 20 knots.
In the Freestyle range: stabs totally dedicated to tricks with a psycho pop and tight curves:
- S 39 for those under 65kg and for everyone in winds over 25 knots.
- M 41 for those under 75kg and for everyone in winds over 20 knots.
- L 44 for those under 85kg and for everyone in winds above 15 knots.
- XL 46 for those over 95kg and for everyone in winds of less than 20 knots.
Which foil mast?
In wing foiling
In other words, everything will be played out between 85cm and 100cm. You can find all our advice on choosing between these two lengths by clicking here.
In summary, for waves and freestyle, but also for beginners and progressing, an 85 mast is ideal. Simple to put in the water, an easy rail to rail, it’s perfect. A 90 cm mast and above is great for Racing by offering more margin at high speed, namely in choppy conditions, but isn’t as maneuverable. All our masts : here.
In SUP foiling
The 65cm aluminium Allvator V2 is perfect. If you are a pro, go for the 70 HM Carbon Mast: amazing.
Positioning of the foil?
For GONG foils, place the plate in the rear third when you start and in the center of the US rails when you progress. The Pros can position the foil even further towards the front for more lift and maneuverability.
The more you move it forward, the more the board will pitch nose-up. The more you move it backwards, the more the board nose-dives.
Be careful not to move it too far forward. We often tend not to let their back foot work, especially when we come from kite foiling. However, moving the foil back a little, forces more weight on the back foot and gives a more harmonious attitude and reduces effort.
How long is the paddle?
If you want to use the Flint in SUP foil you will need a paddle between your height -10cm and your height. The easiest and least traumatic for your back is to have a paddle at your height.
A long paddle relieves the physical exertion, especially in the lower back as you have to work yourself up at the take off. The effort is intense.
A short paddle gives more speed and less discomfort in the air. But it damages the back because we tend to row too much behind our feet, which forces on the lumbar vertebrae.
Which leash?
Take a 6′ of 7mm minimum diameter.
Check its condition before each session and change it every year. It is your lifejacket and the life insurance of the people in front of you.
Strap or Strapless?
Riding strapless is sexy because it makes you feel free. But quite honestly, it’s not the best for performance…
So, it’s up to you to see if sensation prevails over performance. On a Zuma, we’re clearly going to miss 50% of its potential without the straps.
With straps, you’ll have much more control and much less risk of getting the Foil flipping under your feet. In the waves, it’s obvious, you gain a lot with straps. You can recuperate from crazy situations just by pulling up on your feet.
Put your straps in a central position (3rd hole) for the front, and the same goes for the back strap if you still ride with the back strap.
If you want to be able to get the back foot out for transitions and surfing, put the back strap on the first hole.
How to place and adjust your straps?
Good to know:
1/ The Zuma is an easy board for foiling. You can cheat by taking a big volume but keep in mind that in SUP foiling it is still a small board that will be complicated in the chop. In wing foiling it’s totally fine because you have the wing to hold on to.
2/ The foil strongly stabilises a SUP when you are used to it. Do not compare the width of SUP boards without a foil with SUP boards with a foil. 5cm less are painless when having a foil under your board, except when there’s a strong backwash.
This reduced width is necessary to speed up these very small boards when rowing and for early take offs.
3/ When water covers the tail it stabilizes the board. Sometimes too much volume is worse than anything. This is very true in compact boards that tend to tilt over.
Fabien –
Super planche pour débuter, super glisse qui facilite bien les décollages
Martin –
J’ai une Zuma 6’0, c’est vraiment top pour débuter, c’est stable, la longueur permet une super glisse du coup ça décolle tout seul, en plus la nouvelle déco est vraiment belle sous les pieds !
Vraiment content de cette planche, je pense que je vais la garder longtemps ?