72 JULY 2019
FREERIDE FOIL TEST
SUMMARY
There are some very diverse products on review here, appealing to a true
cross-section of the foiling audience. Let’s start with entry-level foiling and
the Fanatic Flow Foil / Stingray setup will take some beating. Their 2019
foil programme is poles apart from last year’s offering, with stability and pro-
gressive ease at its core, the Stringray providing the platform to compliment,
with its extended waterline for familiarity in take off. And as you progress
you can change the front wing to unlock more performance. Starboard have
taken a new direction in their SuperCruiser foil. Low aspect and with mass-
es of range and control, it was capable of partnering a real cross section of
board widths and sizes, venturing confidently into all conditions. The Foil
111 was a favourite amongst the team. Again, incredibly versatile, it could
be used for manoeuvre-oriented free-sailing, or loaded with a high aspect foil
for some high octane freerace foiling, its width in the tail providing comfort
and tangible reference to conventional sailing. Talking of performance, the
Tabou Air Ride has been a long time coming, but it has certainly been worth
the wait. Packing in 145 litres, it is easy and stable for first flights, with a
plethora of back footstrap options to suit all foiling abilities. Learn, progress
and enjoy ... the Air Ride has definite straight-line freerace potential, capable
of partnering long masts and high aspect foils without issue. The JP Hy-
drofoil 120 is of a similar ilk, with width and dome in the tail to cope with
loading 95 cm masts easily. It is however much more compact, verging on
no-nose in outline, so response and general alertness whilst sailing is much
higher. The Neil Pryde Wind Glide foil takes the manoeuvre-oriented path
much further. Supplied with a Powerbox, there are caveats to its use ... but
its whole premise is to unlock the excitement of foiling to a much wider
audience, capable of being used with the board many windsurfers already
have in their quiver. If you’ve had your taste of foiling and you’re ‘all in’ so to
speak, then the Slingshot setup could be for you. The brand is so committed
to the discipline that they even have their own online academy for guidance
and tips from their experienced crew. The FWind foil package reflects this
knowledge and expertise, and together with the Wizard board was such a
fun and playful pairing, having the whole team coming back for more. That
leaves the RRD Pocket Rocket and much improved foil. Small tweaks to its
makeup have transformed the WH Flight 85 into something that now has
both performance and range. There are lots of accessories available too for
customising it with different wings or fuselages for different wind conditions
or skills. But the attention grabber of the test has to be the Pocket Rocket.
Whilst capable of being used in a conventional (harness and footstrap)
manner, it asks entirely new questions of where wind foiling progression can
go and the doors it could open. It won’t be for everyone ... but our advice is
not to dismiss it before you’ve tried it for yourself.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
I’ve included our glossary of terms printed in last year’s foil test below, just
to reconfirm some explanations and make sure we don’t lose you when we
discuss the nuances between the foils by using unclear terminology.Early Lift - How early the foil will kick into action and elevate the board clear
of the water. Another really important consideration is where the lift comes
from - whether it is back-footed, front-footed or balanced between both feet.Directional Stability - A foil is in effect a big fin initially, but when in flight,
how directionally stable does it feel?Response - Whilst in flight, you’ll want to control your height through gusts
and lulls, on different sea states and during transitions. Response considers
your sense of control fore and aft.Flight Predictability - This is a biggie for everyone, from the novice to the
pro. How solid and comfortable the foil feels underfoot largely determines
how committed you can be and how much you can load it with power.
Which leads neatly onto...Speed - Does what it says on the tin, a pretty clear cut test parameter.Reaching Comfort - Most recreational sailors blast across the wind, from A
to B, and wish to do it for hours on end without a struggle. In powered to
overpowered conditions, it is actually one of the tougher points of sail, so how
do these foils fair?Pointing Ability - Just as we’re seeing in PWA foil racing, the beauty with
foiling is the ability to point, both upwind and off the wind. So what is the
non-reaching potential of each of these foils?Twitch - This term will be a new one for many and describes the potential ‘play’
in the foil. It deals with any unexplained bounce, jolt or hiccup in the flight - an
experience that momentarily rocks your confidence in control. It could be down
to a myriad of reasons, but ultimately is likely to boil down to foil stiffness.Manoeuvrability - Different to response, manoeuvrability deals with just
how playful and throw around you feel the foil is. Does it encourage you to
enter transitions in quick succession, or dread them?Ease of Assembly - Most of these foils come fully dismantled. Just how easy
is it to put them together and also how easy is it to locate them securely to
the bottom of a board?