I still haven't purchased a DW board due to all the reasons you have listed. Too many options and only just dipping my toes into the DW scene. Just using my 96l wing board with Foil Drive for now until I gain more experience and knowledge to what board setup to purchase. You have opened my eyes to light wind DW to slowly and safely gain experience in this sport. Most people assume you need 25knts which is daunting for a beginner. I have never heard you mention that you are a bit bored of the light wind DW conditions and want bigger, better & faster. You seem very stoked in 15knts which is refreshing to see.

@downwind_drifter1040

Ай бұрын

Thanks for getting in touch 🤙🤙 I’m often still learning new things which keeps it interesting and fresh. I’ve enjoyed trying out different boards and look forward to trying different foils too. 15kts bay run style is super fun relaxed and surfy, 15kts ocean is also surfy and adventurous. 20kts is great 25kts feels intense 30kts is intense 35kts getting scary, I sometimes want a helmet I’d say get a board anyway and start the journey, it will be hard regardless of equipment unfortunately… start now, give it your focus and don’t give up. Something around 8ft-8’1/2, 19-21” and plenty of litres should get the job done. Start sup foiling and move forward from there!

@waynefinucane6957

Ай бұрын

@@downwind_drifter1040 You seem pretty happy with the current setup, the glide looks insane and you look super relaxed. As you say you could have gone the 1201 for this run. Have you thought about trying the 1180 with this latest setup (fuse, stab, mast) to see how it feels?

@downwind_drifter1040

Ай бұрын

@@waynefinucane6957 hoping to try it soon. I tried the 1180 again with the 55skinny and ultrashort and kinda hated it… a month ago it was one of my favourite setups. I think the silly and 35 will free it up though. It might also expand the range of the slightly smaller foils like the 1201 and 1100.

I'm your weight but much shorter and stalkier ... and not nearly as far on my DW journey, but have downsized boards to the 8'2", 16", 98L. Armstrong. Also have the 7'10" Barracuda (102L). First issue is being able to stand, then paddle, then paddle up. Seems your boards are 110-115L ... when I see you paddle up and compare it to me this volume seems to make significant difference - I'm working much harder. Just saying that volume has some play in paddle up ability ... but may impede surfiness while foiling. I can stand/paddle and flat water paddle up the Armstrong, but in the bumps I'm not finding it's narrowness a game changer so far like I expected. My guess is lower volume is why. I do wonder if it would be super corky to stand on at 16" if it was 110L? Lots of factors ...

@downwind_drifter1040

Ай бұрын

So many factors and something that I am also exploring and have gone through. I used to have a rule for surfing, I wouldn’t buy a board until I knew what I needed. Not what looked good or I wanted or was being promoted to me but knew from my own experiences the next step for me… I’d then go to the shop and go straight to what I was after. Often a bigger board than what was popular. I’d have a sales person come ask me if I needed help, as I was often looking at what would be considered a board that would identify me as a kook… they would then proceed to try and upsell me to “what I should be on” literage wise for my size… all I could hear was often either a young person, an expert rider and often young, or a salesperson repeating the data… They didn’t know me, or my journey. Neither do the companies selling the 3-4 boards in their latest release. I’ve found Downwinding to be a very personal journey. There are SO many factors going on. Even from just one session to the next, with everything seemingly being the same. I’d recommend following and adding to your own personal knowledge. It sounds to me like you already have a good understanding of what you likely need. You’re not surfing if your not foiling and if you are foiling, you’re not surfing if you’re worried to come off foil because you might not get back up. For you I’d consider your conditions and how you’ll be using the board (the Armstrong is likely for a pro to only just be able to get going in Hawaiian style bumps and then to surf them perhaps the Kalama too) If you’re still often riding short fetch and low wind days or under 20-25kts you don’t need a super narrow board. You want something to reliably get you up so that you can hone your skills. That’s not likely a sexy board just yet. 8-81/2ft 19-21” 110-130L is likely a working range If you’re still riding big foils a wide board is fine as you don’t need max forward speed to get up. My biggest gain for getting up (mostly big” foils) at the moment is going to a short fuse… it’s allowed me to use nearly any board to get foiling. Perhaps your most spanny foil might help with balance the current boards you have. Long post… hope it helps 🤙🤙 Let me know your thoughts and a bit more about your conditions and how your sessions are going. What foils are you using?

@militaryathlete1304

Ай бұрын

@@downwind_drifter1040 Copy all and thanks! On axis gear mostly ... but short fuselage. I'll get a shorter one and see if it makes a difference. I can flat water paddle up no problem, but am struggling with bumps.

@downwind_drifter1040

Ай бұрын

@@militaryathlete1304 get a silly short if you’re on black gear.

@militaryathlete1304

Ай бұрын

@@downwind_drifter1040 Will do!