Wing Droid UPE Aramid

For whom?

The Droid UPE Aramid, due to its responsiveness and rigidity, is more suitable for advanced to expert riders. Its character is sportier and more physical than a Neutra. This agile wing is ideal for those who enjoy strong traction when sheeting in and have the appropriate physical conditioning. The effective pumping allows for underpowered riding while maintaining high performance.

For what?

Primarily designed for riders aiming to enhance their level in surf/freestyle, the Droid UPE Aramid exhibits great neutrality in surfing, making it perfect for throwing tricks in modern surfing. Additionally, it excels as a wing for Big-air records and slalom-type racing. It will be the top choice for those who appreciate an intense and spirited wing ?

What size?

Which Material ?

The choice of the type of material for the inflatable structure of your wing primarily depends on your program and ambitions.

If you prefer sailing leisurely in freeride during occasional outings, a Dacron inflatable structure will suffice. However, if you enjoy sporty, agile navigation and tricks, don’t hesitate! The UPE Aramid will provide undeniable advantages. The performance gap is significant. It goes faster, higher, and turns incredibly well.

Which quiver?

Ideal quiver for maximizing freestyle performance:

• Wing Board: Stunt FSP Pro 2024.
• Front Foil Wing: Ypra Surf-Freestyle or YPRA-S for versatility.
• Stabilizer: Freestyle.
• Mast: HM 85CM or 92CM for very choppy spots.

With or without a harness?

The Droid UPE Aramid is a powerful wing, so both options are valid. Some may prefer harness navigation to extend their session time, while others prioritize freedom of movement to engage in tricks. Team riders exclusively go without a harness in surf freestyle, but it depends on their physical condition and training.

If you choose to use a harness, it is easy to move your harness lines up or down the boom to find your sweet spot.

The Droid UPE Aramid is equipped with the most prestigious components in wingfoil:

• The Boom made of prepreg carbon wrapped around the boom in 4 directions to maximize its rigidity, it is the most high-end technology on the market! Its oval shape offers ideal ergonomics to be able to sail with this powerful wing without paralyzing the forearms.

• A downwind handle on the leading edge which allows the shocked wing to be manipulated on land as well as on the water. The handle has been reinforced to provide more control during freefly maneuvers.
• The inflation/deflation valves are directly connected to the hose of the pump (pump not supplied). No more incompatible or lost nozzle!
• The neoprene valve caps have been pierced to facilitate air evacuation when folding, even closed! And with the valve caps in the neoprene, it prevents damage to the canopy.
• The micro-slats at the trailing edge are ultra light for considerable weight savings.
• The wing is always supplied with its repair kit.
• To comply with sailing regulations, we have integrated a laminated label on the underside, close to the tip, to write down the owner’s personal information: name, first name, telephone number and address.
• The Droid UPE Aramid is supplied with a high-end bag whose dimensions will allow you to store the wing easily and without dismantling either the boom or the LDS slats by rolling the wing like a windsurf sail. It’s really practical and space-saving since it’s smaller than your board. The bag is equipped with 2 ventilation hatches that allow your wing to dry even in its bag.
• A small strap on each wingtip allows you to secure your GoPro leash to a Flymount: everything is planned for!

Delivery delay

We indicate a preparation and shipping time of 3 working days. In reality, the majority of orders are shipped within 24/48 hours.

The delivery time, i.e. delivery time of the package to your home, then depends on the delivery location and the carrier.

We work with reliable and efficient carriers. 99% of shipments go perfectly and quickly. In the case of the remaining 1%, rest assured that we will do what is necessary with the carrier.

Shipping fees

Unlike other sites, shipping costs are not hidden behind the price of our products. You know exactly what shipping costs you, and you are not disadvantaged if you choose to collect your order at our GONG Space Center.

Shipping costs are calculated based on the weight and volume of each package, and your delivery address.

Tracking your package

Delivery tracking is managed directly by the carriers to whom we have entrusted your packages. They will contact you by email or SMS to allow you to choose delivery methods and follow the route of your package.

Carriers

We work with the best transport societies to deliver to you throughout Europe and the world within very short deadlines. We chose them for their quality of service and their compliance with deadlines.

For mainland France, 80% of your orders arrive at their destination in less than 48 hours of processing.

For Europe, delivery times vary from 3 to 6 working days, depending on the country of destination.

For the rest of the world, delivery times depend on transit time and customs clearance time. This delay depends on customs and can last from a few days to a few weeks depending on the destination and seasonality.

Please note, transport time is added to preparation/shipping time. Two companies collaborate on your order (GONG and the carrier). Each one masters its activity and is committed to optimizing its deadlines so that you are delivered as quickly as possible and at a reasonable price.

Eco-responsible packaging

Preserving the environment is an absolute priority. This is why we do everything possible to reduce our ecological footprint.

The most important thing is to sell quality, durable products that will be repairable and will please you for a long time.

For our shipments, we use:

• Scotch craft paper.


• Final packaging in high-end cardboard.


• For rigid boards: Flexi-Hex, very high resistance ecological packaging.

This means:

• Reusable and recyclable packaging.


• An almost total reduction in single-use plastic.


• Maximum protection and impact resistance for rigid boards thanks to the innovative Flexi-Hex honeycomb design (35mm thick).

Receipt of your product

Upon delivery, check the condition of your package in the presence of the carrier. A complete explanation email on the procedure to follow will be sent to you when your order is shipped.

Despite our requirements and all the care we take in the packaging and protection of your product, transport hazards may occur, and your product may suffer more or less significant transport damage.

Note that the products are protected in their carton. If you have any doubts, simply refuse delivery and contact us.

To go and ask all possible questions about this product and read all user/rider feedback, click on the link below:
Know everything about the GONG WING DROID UPE ARAMID

Warning

You must read the detailed user manual completely before using your wing for the first time.

Be sure to have a full understanding of it. Wings can be dangerous depending on their size and the strength of the wind. You have to check the wind range of your wing so that it corresponds with conditions and your actual skill level.

For the first few sessions, never use your new wing in its high wind range. Use your wing in a secure environment. Take the necessary time to learn how to handle the equipment under optimum safety conditions. Never underestimate the traction power of your wing. Even a beginner’s wing can develop a pulling force of several hundred kilos depending on its size and the strength of the wind. Do not overestimate your abilities. Misuse can cause serious injury or death to the practitioner or others. Do not use your wing at sea in offshore winds. Use your wing equipped with a leash. Be careful to avoid any collision. Be extremely careful if you sail with your wing and a board equipped with a foil. The manufacturer declines all responsibility for damage or damage caused by improper use of the wing or carelessness of the user.

Dry your wing ?

Unless you end your session with a long ride in the sun and land on a pontoon, it’s rather rare to get out of the water with a completely dry wing. ? Note that there is no need to dry your wing if it is to be used regularly in salt water, as the salt protects the materials from mold.

If, however, for transport or storage reasons you want to dry them, you must absolutely avoid hanging the deflated wing by the handle on the leading edge. It’s however very practical but it is the best way to obtain a hernia on the central strut at the junction with the leading edge following the collapse of the bladder inside. The bladders are movable in the strut and the leading edge. So if you hang it up deflated to dry, the bladder can slip, or even crumple, in the strut sleeve.

So ideally, you dry your inflated wing in the shade, and at worst flat or at least with just the inflated central strut.

Find all our How to : Dry your wing

How to inflate your wing?

Inflating your wing while it is still rolled can cause movements and twists of the bladder which will have the effect of deforming the inflated wing or causing hernias. It is therefore essential to fully unfold your wing before inflating it using the inflation valve on the leading edge.

Generalities about the wing

The wing is a machine with an inflatable structure directly in the rider’s hands. Handgrips are used to control its flight and the power delivered.

The wing’s number one advantage is the absence of a mast rig. This allows you to switch from a horizontal windsurf-type traction to a vertical kite-type traction. The best of both worlds can be combined in total freedom.

Much less complicated than a kite and much lighter than a windsurfing sail, the wing lightens you to the zenith and accelerates in front of you.

The wing combines the advantages and moves of these two sports, and it gives even more with all the possibilities linked to neutrality in surfing, and the rotations under the wing and other offsets… the potential of moves is endless.

Ideal when combined with a Foil, it is much more reassuring than a kite and much more manoeuvrable than a windsurf sail.

The wing is by far the simplest support to learn how to foil, far ahead of all other sports. A great way to learn to foil afterwards in other sports.

It is the perfect machine:

• Compact, it fits in a car and is easy to fly.
• Lightweight, you can ride your Quiver without having a hard time.
• You can go in the water anywhere, except in the shorebreak.
• Very little sensitive to the quality of the wind. If it falls we return quietly.
• A potential in surfing and tricks almost infinite without a mast rig.
• High performance for a minimum of constraints.
• The attraction of novelty, it’s good to change sometimes.
• No major danger.
• Smile, smile and smile.

With its glide, you don’t have to overcast to have fun. In gusts of wind, its structure naturally absorbs excess power. The pros will be able to put on a harness to size up and boost performance. But amateurs will also find real relief in the harness. Contrary to popular belief, it’s the Wing that carries your arms, not the other way around. But after two hours without a harness, you have to admit that fatigue is there. Everyone is free to hold on with bare hands or to relieve themselves.

Ideal with a foil, it requires more air than a kite which will always have the advantage of pulling a lot from 4/5 knots. The wing will require between 10 and 15 knots to express itself on a Foil and will remain super easy even in 35 knots, even 50 knots, where the kite often rhymes with big risks.

It is great with a pure wing board, but also with multiple supports such as :

• SUP foil
• Surf foil
• Stand Up Paddle SUP (rigid or inflatable)
• Skate
• Rollerblade
• Mountain board
• Anything that slides on snow
• Etc.

The advantages of the wing are clearly identified: simplicity, compactness and lightness provide unequalled freedom of movement and ease of use. The wing is ready to fly in 1min chrono: no line to unroll, just two flexible slats to insert in their sheath, a few strokes and off you go.

The technology used to make the wings is very similar to that of our kitesurfing wings, but much stronger. Multiple reinforcements are present on the stress zones according to the different uses.

The shape of the wing is self-stabilizing. Don’t imagine orienting it by the force of your wrists like on a boom: it doesn’t work like that. You put your back hand down: the Wing will lay flat above your head. You put it up and the wing goes vertical. Easy! This is called umbrella or screen piloting. It is often said that the beginnings of the Wing are more like pole dancing than windsurfing. Indeed, you almost have to have the back hand vertically under the front hand when you are not flying, to keep the wing as an umbrella. This way you keep it away from the water, and you use its traction with the same angle as a kite to lighten up. So, think pole dance ;-))))))