VANCOUVER ISLAND WINDTALK • Windsurf foiling
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Windsurf foiling

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 8:46 pm
by more force 4
I started looking at windsurf foiling; yep, just like Marty says, this from another kiter/windsurfer: "the learning curve on a Windsurf foil is ten times easier than a kite foil and the crashes are way less violent"
https://reefwarriors.wordpress.com/2016 ... indsurfing

Might be a use for that old Tuttle boxed board gathering dust yet! http://www.windance.com/Kiteboard/Foil- ... ete/35250/

Anyone else tried one yet? I remember way back some people experimented with foils windsurfing and it was pretty much a bust, but these seem way better, probably thanks to all the kiting experimentation. I wonder, can you point anything like as high as you can with a kite???[/url]

And then there is this, if you have 5,000 pounds to spare. The description of sailing it didn't sound as appealing as the more simple foils, but they don't come with LED light bars for night sailing. https://boards.co.uk/equipment-tests/te ... ested.html

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 4:53 pm
by redbaron
I would be on board with learning the ways of the foil. It would work well at Kennedy Lake and possibly other lakes that get a light thermal.
Ideally it would be nice to find something affordable and can be used on a SUP as well, seeing how SUP foiling is creating some excitement on rolling swells that don't end up breaking and down winders.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 5:47 pm
by winddoctor
Sharesies on the cost??? :D

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 6:58 pm
by Jfish
Dave from Windance was testing them out last summer in the gorge. He said to Chris and I, "You wait, next year this is going to be the thing everyone is talking about." Looks like his words may prove prophetic.

I was hoping to demo from him this summer.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 7:19 pm
by nanmoo
DIY one from other boards. John Bridal built a pretty gnarly kite foil just through bolting a surfboard! Apparently a mast and foil alone are quite affordable. Add the board and it's daddy warbucks cash.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 8:51 pm
by Tsawwassen
redbaron wrote:I would be on board with learning the ways of the foil. It would work well at Kennedy Lake and possibly other lakes that get a light thermal.
I'm really interested in getting one to try on Okanagan Lake, especially after reading MartyD's post! There is a light thermal there in the morning but it's just not enough for windsurfing. I saw this at windance and thought I might try and put one on my 110L FSW board but a SUP would be great. Not sure if they have power box fins on SUPs though?

http://www.windance.com/Windsurf/Windsu ... ate/35287/

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2017 9:13 pm
by redbaron
That mounting plate looks pretty straight forward. I bet I could fab something similar that would connect on to a US box or the furthest back 2 FSC boxes to put it on a SUP. Might not be as tough as a Tuttle.... Could be worth a try.

As for a board BFD has an old 105L Roberts formula that should work.

Also. I would be excited to see the day people use inflatable boards with foils. :idea: if only I had the means to play around and develop such technology. :roll: Inflatable Foil Windsurfing is the future! :lol:

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:47 am
by skywalker
Can't wait to see these on the lake. This would make me want to get back into windsurfing.

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2017 9:00 pm
by tempy
Windoc, I am interested / curious. Regular tuttle option. I have a TS 260 bump and jump we can use!

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 8:56 am
by more force 4
WDoc, I'd pony up for sharing cost too. But the Winddance one, or maybe the French Horue? Anyone have time to search for a The English one looks cool and sounds interesting in terms of total newbies using it (easier to learn foiling than regular windsurfing) but I suspect a dog in terms of performance (the mast is too low to get above a lot of the chop and it needs lots of wind and doesn't like pumping the sail) and of course the price is way too high.

I think a pretty floaty board is going to be required to slog out to the wind or back if it dies. And definitely the tuttle, I am pretty sure a US box wouldn't stand up to the pressures - although I read about one foil that is interchangeable on SUP boards apparently, so maybe?? The SUP foiling looked very cool in the ability to pump the foil to stay foiling and connect waves.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 10:51 am
by MartyD
Hey Guys,

I was riding an LP windfoil and a starboard 110 Isonic.
I can likely arrange a demo weekend up at Nitinat when the season starts. Also get a hookup on LP foils, but they are manufactured in hood river and full carbon so will not be the cheapest option. I am not a great windsurfer and I got it really fast(I'm sure previous kitefoiling experience helped).
It is like a 747 compared to a fighter jet. The kitefoil is scary and twitchy, the windfoil is slow stable and not scary at all. I think we will be seeing more of them very soon! Likely a single session for any of you and you will be doing long foiling reaches. Another nice thing is not much force on the sail so I could ride unhooked 8)

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:25 am
by winddude
That'd be really friggin cool, been wanting to try one for a few years.

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:42 am
by more force 4
Marty, any comment about whether there is anything like the 'fighter jet' ability to point what seems like damn near straight upwind?

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:50 am
by letsflykites
Do you think you could kite on a windfall with a small kite perhaps? Would that take away some of the twitchiness?

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2017 11:58 am
by winddoctor
MartyD wrote:Hey Guys,

I was riding an LP windfoil and a starboard 110 Isonic.
I can likely arrange a demo weekend up at Nitinat when the season starts. Also get a hookup on LP foils, but they are manufactured in hood river and full carbon so will not be the cheapest option. I am not a great windsurfer and I got it really fast(I'm sure previous kitefoiling experience helped).
It is like a 747 compared to a fighter jet. The kitefoil is scary and twitchy, the windfoil is slow stable and not scary at all. I think we will be seeing more of them very soon! Likely a single session for any of you and you will be doing long foiling reaches. Another nice thing is not much force on the sail so I could ride unhooked 8)
I'm in on the demo! Sounds like a riot.