Mid-Length Boards or Downwind Boards | Which Is Better for Wing Foiling?

[@toobmes]

Love my AK Nomad 7'x23' x 115L I bought from MACkiteboarding. Must have been their first as Jeff didn't even know they had it :). Intermediate rider weight 82kg on an inland lake. I've enjoyed it from light winds to days over 30mph. Most days using it with 1200cm^2 foil and 6m wing. Even took it to the Gorge for waist high swell--sweet. When the wind dropped I was the only one rocking! Keep these great videos coming. And give Nomad some love!

[@NicolasKaploun]

Thank you MacKiteboarding great video : on one side I am stocked with my brand new mid-length KT 104 liters super K for medium and "strong" wings / I am 89 kg . On the other side I am even more stoked with my downwind board / it'a 7.7' long KT Ginxu Dragonfly V1 , 110 Liters for my 89 kg weight. It is the perfect winging weapon : this summer I was able to take off very easily and fly very well for 60 wing cession days with only 8 to 11 knots of wind thanks to my downwind 110 liters Ginxu Dragon Fly . This type of downwind board is perfect for mediterranean winds / light wind conditions during summertime when the wind averages between 7 to 12 knots maximum ( or beyond). Long and narrow downwind wing-boards are much much easier to use than I thought even for intermediate riders . Surprisingly and conter intuitively you get a phenomenal stability and reactivity with lthe ong downwind boards due to their fast take off capabilities + their lightness . If I had to keep one board only I would definitively go for a downwinder / I don't jump / in my region 85% of windy days are light wind days. Also with long downwind boards you can play with small / medium but also big swells. My personal 2 cents of the summer : if you are intermediate or even advanced winger and if you go for a downwinder don't hesitate to take at least 15 to 25 liters above your weight, you will be able to wingfoil between 7 to 30 knots of winds and also start to paddle foil . Merci

[@MACkiteboarding]

Thanks for your thoughts! I'd love to get you on a 70L Super K for those days when you aren't riding your Dragonfly. Similar experience for higher winds/waves without all the additional thickness/ length.\-Tucker

[@jjmc4]

I'm a northern inland lake sailor. Often the water is near freezing.The wind will abandon you. I don't like swimming in freezing water even in a good suit. I'm all about adequate flotation. Get me back to shore. Floaty and long is good for sub planing pointing back home. I've had an eight foot DW board and an 85l mid length board. I recently got the Cabrinha Swift. It's Goldilocks for winging. Not paddling, not prone, not tow. Just winging. It's funny looking but pretty sweet.

[@eduardomello9460]

Great discussion, very enlightening! Greetings from Brazil!

[@MACkiteboarding]

Glad you enjoyed it! -Tucker

[@Tyler-ic5kw]

You started with people who have “mastered their beginner gear” on lakes with low wind. What about true beginners under the same conditions? Are you recommending downwind boards for beginners or would you recommend a mid length board? Or are you saying beginners should still start on the “nuggets,” which really isn’t an option for beginners on low wind lakes. Could you comment on beginner recommendations on low wind lakes? Thanks!

[@MACkiteboarding]

That's the conundrum for beginners in light winds for sure. Personally, I would say that if you cannot find wind over 14mph, then your only option would be a downwind board. In that situation I would suggest a larger volume and a model with more stability and width such as the AFS Whitebird, Naish Hover DW, and KT Dragonfly Surf. It may be a difficult balance at first but at least you'll have enough efficiency to build speed and liftoff. The Nuggets are easier to balance but it's not use if you can't build enough speed anyway. -Tucker

[@Tyler-ic5kw]

@@MACkiteboarding Thanks Tucker. That’s definitely the conundrum. I windsurf and skate, so I’m comfortable balancing on a board. I think a wider downwind board with good float would be the best option when paired with a high aspect foil as you suggest. Thanks!

[@richardbarclay9095]

Great video, great advice. 😃 I'm curemtly riding a 95L Chicken Nugget (love that term), and have been for sometime. I weigh 90kgs and I'm nailing most jibes in gusty, choppy conditions from 12ish lulls to 25knots... roughly, so pretty confident intermediate. I have decided to go with a one board quiver with an Armstrong ML 75/85L. I asume you'd say, go for the 75L which is cool. But my only concern is when the wind dies and I need to laydown and paddle back; will that board support my weight? The extra 10L with the 85L would maybe be good for those situations? I've seen videos with guys sitting on the 75L and they seem to sink a bit. Any advice would be very much appreciated. PS. I have winged on a 130L (8.6 x 19) Axis DW board and it was an awesome experience and was a lot of fun. The tippy narrow nature of DW boards can take a little getting used to, but they are more stable than you'd think.

[@MACkiteboarding]

hey Richard, We don't have much experience on the Arm Mid but from what I know about it, I would suggest sizing up if you want to ride in less than 15kn. -Tucker

[@sliekerstar]

Stoked for my new super K

[@nfinnigan]

Thanks for another great video and tips 👍

[@MACkiteboarding]

Glad you like them!

[@teddyuroskie72]

Not to mention that a hybrid ML makes a killer FoilDrive option💪🏻

[@MACkiteboarding]

Yessir it does! -Tucker

[@lewiss66]

As mr jeff said no more than 70L for a hybrid like the KT super K but different brands do not offer the same shape. I was thinking to the skybrid duotone . So considering this shape would it be good to size up like to 85L instead?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Give us a call to talk in more detail. The sizing is really dependent on model, rider, and conditions. I found I liked the 70L Skybrid best and I could get excellent low wind ability -Tucker

[@markusrapke7390]

Great Video. For me it has to be a ML. I am 85 kg, can do jybes, taks, ride some swell and basic jumps. still considering which one to buy. Armstrong ML 85L or Appleslice 80L or 90L. As you said to size down in general I even think about the 75L Armstrong? I have to say that on most days it's more like 12Knots 18 Gust. Damn the Armstrong looks cool, but it's so long? Are jumps possible? The slice is an eyecatcher as well. Thx

[@scp8412]

Armstrong 75L instead of 85 without a doubt! Appletrees are heavy and older in design, the ML takes off so easy you dont need all those liter's

[@MaurizioBigi]

I fly easely in all conditions, but i still don’t close jibes, do you think a mid lenght will help?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Generally the board isn't a huge influence on nailing jibes. You want a foil that will glide efficiently through the jibe but also isn't overly technical in turns or require more speed. That typically looks like a 6-8 aspect around 1000-1400 for most average size riders. The huge, thick, low AR foils are inefficient in glide and will decelerate and stall easily before you can complete the jibe. May also be your technique, be sure you are pulling hard on the back handle transiting into the jibe, toss it overhead and redirect your hands quickly. -Tucker

[@wsurfn]

If your higher wind board is a midlegth, are you stopping at weight in Kg minus 20?

[@MACkiteboarding]

Depends on the model, rider experience, riding style. For most riders, KG minus 20 works well in the majority of models. -Tucker

[@surfertbone4333]

I went from chicken nugget to french fry (From 4’6” 50 liter to 5’8” 78 liter mid length).

[@surfsurfer165]

Good video analysis,thanks guys but man..wash that tshirt please😂

[@MACkiteboarding]

Pitfalls of shooting videos after a team lunch. LOL I'm a slob, sorry -Tucker

[@Wingsurf]

It's not how long it is, it's how it moves 😂