Progressing off Your Beginner Wing Foil Board | KT Ginxu, Fanatic Sky, Cabrinha Code, North Seek.

If you're considering trading in your beginner wing foiling board for something smaller with more performance check out this video.
If you have any more questions please contact us or pop in sometime for a chat. Happy to Help
SHQ Boardsports
www.shq.com.au/
SHQ is a large retail store in Melbourne, Australia specializing is niche windsport and surfing equpiment.

[@stefanog9818]

Honestly, great video. For the first time I understood what to look in a board for my level. You guys went through all the relevant feature and trade-offs, which is something you rarely able to perceive from the manufacturers themselves. Awesome video. Thanks for posting it.

[@joemiller8029]

Thanks for the video. I would add that the designed has totally changed/transformed board volume. In the past I needed tons of wind to wing on my prone boards. But not anymore. Now one can ride a prone board w/a slightly bigger wing, giving the power needed for starts, with the fact that the overpowered wing can handle the conditions no problem where previously overpowered wings were just a beast. I think you will find people riding much smaller boards as the wings progress. I ride a windy spot, and at 70kg ride boards between 28L and 35L, and my light wind board is 40L. Wing design will revolutionize board size.

[@targadave]

Nice review! I live in North Carolina and will be traveling to Melbourne for Dec and Jan. Bringing my wing foil gear with me. I’ll definitely stop by the shop to get some insights on the best local riding spots and check out the gear😀

[@kshred3043]

Great tutorial. Very clear. Very helpful. Thanks. 👍

[@SHQ_boardsports]

Glad it was helpful!

[@martinomovies]

That was a great breakdown on board shapes. I weigh over 100kg and sail in fresh water in gusty conditions with lots of holes. I went from a 140L 6’7” Naish to a 125L 5’8” Fanatic. Definitely surprised on how much less stable the Fanatic was whilst knee starting or slogging but spot on about how fast it gets up on a puff of wind. Due to a board defect, I got to trade in the Fanatic for a Cabrinha Code 5’8” 118L. The Code is much more stable off foil even though it has less volume as it’s not as boxy and the nose is wider. However it doesn’t come up as quickly. But that’s the concession I need in a cold, choppy, gusty, fresh water Lake Michigan. Good job Cabrinha!

[@vhb4302]

I just purchased the 125 Fanatic 5’8” as a beginner. Will be winging in SW Florida once we start getting winds again. I weigh 170 lbs and wanted something with a little more volume but also stability. Would I be better off with a different brand Cabrinha or North and what volume ?

[@martinomovies]

@@vhb4302 you should get a 105 Fanatic. Florida doesn’t have the highest winds so you want the early release. Salt water is more buoyant so 30 liters over your weight should be fine for a beginner. Also you will likely lose a few pounds trying to learn. Get a big wing 6m for learning so that you are overpowered which will help with the balance. You will also need a 5m and a 4m wing eventually.

[@HandyCapito]

Hi, i live on Geneva Lake side, not much windy, and 95 Kg. I want to buy a Naish Hover 140L, but you are the 2nd one who says it not comes up quickly. I don’t know what to do, if I buy smaller I will may be spending to much time in water without fun. Cannot understand why Naish boards are so slow to go up.

[@Tobeon2]

What a good explanation... I guess I am staying with 112 liter Reedin Feather board (I weigh 75 kg) until I can tack. I can jibe with ease, but cannot tack yet.. 😕😑.. By the way, I am a subscriber now.. Thank you... 😍

[@dezeustre]

On the same boat (or board!). I'll wait to tack until I upgrade...

[@bennis123]

Wait until you can tack before going down to bodyweight size board?? I started with a board equal to my bodyweight and now one year later on the same size. Never had a problem to get up on foil, but still don't know how to tack ;)

[@surfertbone4333]

Great advice!

[@SHQ_boardsports]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@wsurfn]

excellent

[@franpinyol8500]

great video.

[@paulshapiro6119]

This video was great as I am shopping for my 3rd board. Too bad I am on the other side of the world from this great shop.

[@constantinosdrakakis897]

great video !!!!! well I am intermediate wing foiler 91 kgs on a 125 liters and I am wondering how it would be if I drop to 105 liters? Staying on knees or upright on the 105 liters board will my 91 kgs kind of sinking ? Generall speaking 10 liters above the weight of the rider does the board sinks when on your knees or standing with no air in the wing ?

[@raghuram2815]

@SHQ: great video, thanks. Question: Will the 118L Code board (the biggest in the range) work well for a 200 lbs beginner? To let you know my level, I've taken a couple of lessons in the Summer and also planning to practice Snow Winging this winter. So I won't be a complete newbie when I plan to use the board on water next Spring, though I'll be a newbie to riding a hydrofoil.

[@gregmaier5151]

No. Get a big used board for two months then the 118 will be good as second board. I’m your dimensions and went from a 135 to a 115.

[@svensshed1564]

Great video lads, I will be in to talk to you about a fat bastards board in the next week or so

[@andrewjamez]

Hi do you think a fanatic 5.5 97l would be OK for a 65kg windsurfer? Keeping in mind that I've been taking lessons and am just up and foiling with some control. Pumping seems to come naturally so bonus ...thanks

[@watertimetv]

I think the 97l would be a nice safe, easy size for you. You may want to consider the next size down too. The 97l may feel a bit too big after a few sessions. Have Fun!!

[@sergemann5951]

I went from Fanatic to KT. KT makes great shape bit man they are soooo fragile. I'm 2 weeks into using a 5' and its full of dings and cracks.

[@gregmaier5151]

I heard the new model is way beefier and reinforced.

[@sergemann5951]

@@gregmaier5151 great, no problem. Let me check my wallet after the first purchases. I hope the industry realizes how expensive and fragile the gears are.

[@vhb4302]

Very helpful video on the shapes and volumes for a second board. My weight is 72 Kg as a beginner senior rider in Florida. What size, volume and shape would be a good 1st board for me ? I’m close to purchasing a Fanatic 125 Liter 5’8”

[@ming00n]

My first 4 sessions were in a 120L Vincent, it will make your life a lot easier learning with a big board like that but you’ll out grow it pretty quick.

[@Bill-in-SF]

@@ming00n The video captures you saying that your first board was weight + 26, and "it was heaps of fun for about 200 sessions." OK, you actually used a 120 ltr for the first 4 sessions, but I'm fascinated that you used your 96 ltr for so long - everyone else seems to be bragging about how quickly they abandoned their larger boards. I'm a newbie who loves how forgiving my big beast is. I screw-up regularly, yet don't fall off that thing!

[@ming00n]

@@Bill-in-SF There we’re very few options for small wing boards when I started 2 year’s ago Bill, everyone was on small SUP foil boards which is what the 96L was. It was either a SUP foil board or Prone board back then. I would have dropped down earlier if there was something available but to be honest it was a blessing in disguise staying on the big board a bit longer. You can save a less than perfect transition with a bigger board which means less swimming and will give you more confidence. I jumped on a 95L Sky Wing recently and was surprised how manoeuvrable it was gybes and heel side tacks no worries. The trick is to move down in volume before you develop bad habits a big board can encourage

[@Bill-in-SF]

@@ming00n Thanks for your thoughtful response. I can see how my 120 ltr (weight +50!) is not forcing me to develop nuance! But after a miserable time trying to stand on weight+30 in my choppy local water, the +50 has put a smile on my face. I still have my original +30 board; sounds like I need to dust it off. Here's a related question: my kit is Armstrong, and the foil I've been riding is the HS1850. I bought a used HS1550 a few months ago, but haven't gotten it wet yet. Should my priority be shifting to the +30 board, or my smaller foil? (I expect that I'm not providing enough information. Snapshot - I'm riding in 20+mph winds w my 5m kite and loving the excitement, but I've not developed my tacking/jibing skills yet.) Thanks!

[@ming00n]

@@Bill-in-SF I’d stay with the 1850 until you’re gybing but definitely give the smaller board a go but if you’re not at least getting round to toeside done stress about sticking with the bigger board

[@gregmaier5151]

At a certain point it’s all weight dependent too. As a 200 lb rider I love it when a guy that weighs 140 comes up to tell me to get a dinky board. I’m like trying taping a 45 lb weight and two 10 lb weights to the deck then come back and talk to me. 🤣

[@gregmaier5151]

Start with a board right at your weight when you progress from a beginner board.

[@gregmaier5151]

Your weight in Kg. 90 kg, go 90L board or maybe 10 kg more if you will be wearing lots of rubber/booties and having larger wings.

[@dawntreader7079]

I own a Fanatic Sky Wing, and there is a reason I wish I didn't. They have a little ridge running down the center of the foam deck pad, and it is so hard on the chest and sternum it creates a bruise in a line. It's also rough on your knees when you are kneeling cross-board. It makes paddling in a prone position very painful, especially if you use the board every day. No one will borrow my board in any condition where you have to paddle even 50 yards. I'm totally unsatisfied but can't afford another board right now.

[@raghuram2815]

Thank you. Had been looking for a genuine review about the Sky Wing. Though I was more worried about the sloppyness with choppy water, seems like you brought up another important problem. Both of these are real concerns for someone like me who is still spending quite a bit of time (during lessons) on the board itself (not being up on the foil) on choppy inland waters.

[@gregmaier5151]

Yeah. Sold mine. Annoying ridge

[@kurt9497]

The center ridge was removed in the newer models. I have a 2023 Sky Wing 75L.

[@dawntreader7079]

@@kurt9497 I know- unfortunate for me. I have a kalama now, the fanatic sits unused in a shed, brand new. I'll never buy from a large board manufacturer again, especially fanatic. This sport is so new it has great small-business oriented manufacturers.