Why and when to get a wing foil sinker board

This video looks at the reasons why you might want to buy a sinker board and what skills you need to ride one. It also covers common mistakes learning to ride these boards and how to learn with the best outcomes.
I just would like to add here that this video is not recommending that you get a board that is -25L to your weight (as mine is). Everybody has different preferences, sea conditions and different rider weights. As always demo a few different sizes if you can and pick what works for you and where you foil.
Sinker Definition: Rider weight - 10
00:00 - Intro
00:33 - Main Introduction
00:51 - Swift-Foiling 60L NG board
01:47 - Video Outline
02:18 - Why get a sinker?
04:38 - What are the compromises?
06:08 - When to buy a sinker?
08:01 - Mistakes to avoid
09:26 - Outro
Equipment used in this video:
Swift-Foiling 60L NG board
Axis 90cm HM Carbon Mast
Axis HPS 930 front wing
Axis crazyshort advance fuselage
Axis 350 progress tail stabiliser
Duotone Unit 5m wing

[@wsurfn]

Spot on. I just got my 1st sinker. First attempt was in heavy onshore chop. It did not happen, exactly for the reason you gave. Second attempt was in a protected flat water spot. Success, and all the virtues you stated were true, including easier to sail. The responsiveness is pure and addicting. I can't wait to sail it again.

[@Wing-Tips]

haha nice - nothing worse than falling off a sinker for 30 minutes in onshore chop, guaranteed to invent new swear words.

[@adlbh]

Great video. Will help a ton of people! 🤙🏄 The sound track is the best!

[@Wing-Tips]

Thanks! 👍

[@dezeustre]

Super useful, thank you, I'm right at that stage where I gybe without falling both ways and i was wondering if I was ready for a smaller board... Now I know!

[@Wing-Tips]

Perfect - suggest learning the stink bug start on your current board so you have the motions nailed down before trying it on a smaller board.

[@thorstenpausch8056]

Nice. Great you mention onshore conditions. Nerve wrecking to get the fun board going 😂🙈

[@Wing-Tips]

My nerves will manage - my foils on the other hand .... foil wrecking

[@user-tm9ql4sn2x]

Best wing foiling channel on KZbin. 👍

[@Wing-Tips]

Wow, thanks!

[@slappyosis]

I learned on a 58L board and while it wasn't that hard it was exhausting and I ended up getting another sinker that sinks less just so I wouldn't get so tired (70L at 78 kg). I have developed a technique now that allows me to not stinkbug to get on my 70L board, but it requires having a wing with a middle handle (or handle that extends to the center). I just sit rodeo and then fly the wing with my right hand and use my left hand to pop to my knees. I also find it a bit odd you didn't include any water start footage in a video about sinkers. They are great once up and riding but getting there can be painful.

[@Wing-Tips]

In answer to your question, this isn't a technique video. It isn't designed to teach you how to start the board, just advise what skills you require. If I was doing a video on starting a sinker then that would be a dedicated video to that technique. The footage included was filmed with my back mounted camera....you cannot do a stink bug start whilst wearing a back pole mounted camera.

[@asquared01]

Thank you. Just wanted to add that I appreciate your content and the style of presentation.

[@Wing-Tips]

I appreciate that!

[@snowytom]

Thank you, great explanation!

[@Wing-Tips]

You are welcome!

[@blooskyy7]

Great analysis, your channel content is awesome

[@Wing-Tips]

Thankyou

[@dennissamui]

Great advice as always, exellent channel, Dennis from Thai islands

[@Wing-Tips]

Thanks 👍

[@martinomovies]

Great tips

[@Wing-Tips]

Glad you like them!

[@kountchev1]

True words

[@Wing-Tips]

Thanks

[@ricopo3522]

Very informative- thanks! Im a year in, 95kg on a 90L 5'-0 board. Jibes down, switches down, just now doing some toeside tacks. Most days local 20+ w/ chop. Wanting my first sinker but not quite sure about volume- the point where it's too close to surface out so small the juice ain't worth the squeeze. I'm thinking 70-75L.. but ?

[@Wing-Tips]

This is one of the discussion point you often come up against - which is some wingers like to sink the board entirely and stand on it in straps and then pump it to the surface to get going - I can tell you this is not at all easy and comes with even more compromises and you need to drop to -40L to be able to sink a board completely under you easily. For me I dropped -25L and this means the board has just enough volume to float a little bit under the surface if I kneel on it from the side (ie. avoiding having to do a full stink bug start). I did try a -35L board and that required a stink bug every time to get it going - it was not particularly harder to get going but that option to just climb on the side was gone - which I quite like as it's pretty fast to get up and get going where as the stink bug is more of a faff but useful when it's really choppy and kneeling on from the side gets tricky.

[@ricopo3522]

@@Wing-Tips thanks for getting back. So many variable factors to consider- local conditions, weight, equipment, ability... it's impossible to give universal foolproof advice I know. Sounds as though my intuition to go around 70L / -25 isn't far off though.

[@onquarter]

A sinker board can be a one board quiver if your other sport is prone foiling! It's also easier to travel with. But yeah, otherwise I agree will all your points.

[@Wing-Tips]

I should probably try prone foiling at some point, just no surf local to me that is easy to prone

[@lyndongriffiths6269]

Awesome video! May I ask where you got the longer mast tracks from? Thanks

[@Wing-Tips]

You can buy those direct from swift-foiling as they sell all the parts they use to build boards individually should you wish to build your own.

[@mm74forums7]

I never tried a sinker. I think one needs these boards if he/she jumps with acrobatic tricks. I am not at that level yet.

[@Wing-Tips]

They are not specifically for jumping or doing freestyle tricks. Whilst I can jump it's not the reason why I foil on a smaller board. You are correct in some respects in that a smaller board is a lot easier to control in the air as it's lighter - however- a lot of freestylers are now using slightly bigger volume boards as they want the board to pop up out of the water on landings for doing freestyle combos and very low volume boards don't help with that. The primary reason to ride smaller is you have better and faster contol of the foil and better feedback from it.

[@mm74forums7]

@@Wing-Tips Makes sense.

[@pupupoopface]

I love your channel! Will you make a video on mast length? I think the best length for winging is about 85cm, but the mast that I want only comes in 80, 90 (and 100). Which length of mast do you like to ride?

[@Wing-Tips]

If I was running different mast lengths then perhaps but where I ride it is notoriously choppy - so we all ride 90cm masts out of necessity.