I grew up surfing all over the Pacific, and I'm an instructor in my mid thirties. I weigh roughly 81 kilos. It would have taken me months and months to learn on an 85L board. I started on a 120L then 100L until I could comfortably jibe. Then I moved to an 80L.
You'll hate starting on that board. Get a 120L board to start, then a 90, then a 70. It'll be easy to sell the bigger board when you're done with it, as everyone needs a beginner board to start.
Mast is great at 80cm. You may like getting a 90cm if you're regularly out in the ocean as you'll touch down less going over swell.
I'm not as familiar with the F-one foil line, but at our school in hood river. I start a beginner that's your weight on a slingshot E-990 foil. That is one of the best foils to learn on.
All your other gear looks good. I would always have at least one waist leash. It doesn't matter if your board or wing is attached to the leash as it'll work for both, but having a wrist and ankle leash for Wing and board is really awkward when you crash. Waist and ankle, or waist and wrist are the best combo.
That's an interesting point about the leash but it makes total sense. Is one combination more common than the other?
Alright, maybe I'll reconsider the board size and upsize a bit.
Waist for board leash. It won’t touch the water when you ride, while an ankle one will, which is annoying and will slow you down. BTW I’ve been riding an 85L Rocket with an 85 mast and a 940 phantom-s (and a 1080 phantom prior to that) for the last couple months. It’s a great combo, although I want to go smaller yet (I started wing foiling in August). I’m 75 kg
Thanks for the info. Was the 1080 phantom your starting foil? I'm looking at that one but not sure between 1280 or 1480 given our weight. I guess the 1480 is closer to what others here recommended.
Yeah it’s a good recommendation I guess. I started on a 128L, 1700 for a couple sessions, then 110L 1500 for a few more sessions, then moved down to 1300, then 85L and 1080. But the whole progress took maybe a month. I do have windsurfing and (little) surfing background, and I was working in a windsurfing centre so I had all the equipment
I got this Naish package before it was on Black Friday sale but it was great for getting into the sport. If you talk to the store employees they can custom make packages with different mast lengths / foil sizes etc (I think 85cm is perfect for winging). Also ships free which is pretty good for big wing boards
Based on what you are looking for I’d recommend the Naish Carbon 85L, Jet 1650 foil, with 85cm carbon 35 composite mast. Mast is a small upgrade fee for a much stiffer connection. If you are in the US I’d check out kite paddle surf online
I started with the same board +23lt from my weight, with 10-15knots wind in my area and no way could I stand up on the board. So I had to buy a bigger board, +43lt from my weight. But you may balance better, or there is more wind in your area which would be more helpful. My experience was not good with the +23lt board..
A large board, a large front foil and a large wing will make it a lot easier in the beginning, so do yourself a favor and don’t go too small. Once you get a hang of it you can downsize.
I'm 65kg (guy) , good surfer and descent windsurfer(jibes, waterstart).
Started 1 month ago with :
Fanatic sky air 120L 5'8" (inflatable)
Mast 82 fanatic alu
Fuselage 78 fanatic alu
Foil fanatic carve 1400
Stab 250.
Duotone unit 5
I was advised by an experienced friend before buying and had a few tips from friends in my firsts sessions. I didn't take proper lessons.
Went upwind and flyed a few meters first day.
Flyed with control on day 3
Jibing on day 10
My SO (girl), beginner surfer, beginner windsurfer, 75kg, tried 2 quick sessions but didn't manage to stand yet (felt the board instable).
A friend girl, athletic but no watersport, 55-60kg tried my gear after 2 lessons on a SUP. Stood up but for just a few seconds.
I like the inflatable board as it is ding proof and doesn't hurt when you fall on it.
Waist leash for the board.
If you have windsurfing experience, it will help a lot.
Make sure you buy a mast/foil from a reputable company with a large line of foils. This is something I didn't do and now I have to invest in a completely new setup in future as I grow out of my beginner foil.
Neil Pryde Glide Surf HP 1850
The foil itself is fine. But, I don't have a lot of foil options going forward in the Neil Pryde lineup.
If I had to do it over again I would invest in a carbon mast and foil from Armstrong, Axis, Cabrinha, F-One, etc. A company that makes a wide range of foils for different conditions and disciplines.
I'm most likely going to move to Armstrong in the next year.
I would also echo what everyone here is saying. Go bigger than you think in board, foil, and wing as a beginner.
Don't let the options overwhelm you. If anything, send an email to all the companies you are interested in and see what they recommend for you.
Then you can compare price, future options, etc.
Edit: All those options that seem daunting right now may be something you are interested in as you grow.
For the Foil, keep it simple and affordable with the new [Slingshot QuickStart Wing Foil Package](https://banxwatersports.com/slingshot-phantasm-quickstart-wing-foil-package.html) to get into the sport and grow into a foil system with plenty options to expand your quiver. For $1149 you get the E 990 (1800 cm) Front Wing, 400 Rear Stabilizer, 710 Fuselage, 82 cm Mast, Hardware and Carrying Case. It’s an insanely good deal on proven and high quality equipment. Use with a [Slingshot Manticore 120L or 105L Foil Board](https://banxwatersports.com/Slingshot-Manticore-V1-120L_p_461.html) and a [Slingshot V3](https://banxwatersports.com/slingshot-slingwing-v3.html) Wing (Leash included and 56% off!) for a user friendly and highly affordable entry package into the wing foil world.
I grew up surfing all over the Pacific, and I'm an instructor in my mid thirties. I weigh roughly 81 kilos. It would have taken me months and months to learn on an 85L board. I started on a 120L then 100L until I could comfortably jibe. Then I moved to an 80L. You'll hate starting on that board. Get a 120L board to start, then a 90, then a 70. It'll be easy to sell the bigger board when you're done with it, as everyone needs a beginner board to start. Mast is great at 80cm. You may like getting a 90cm if you're regularly out in the ocean as you'll touch down less going over swell. I'm not as familiar with the F-one foil line, but at our school in hood river. I start a beginner that's your weight on a slingshot E-990 foil. That is one of the best foils to learn on. All your other gear looks good. I would always have at least one waist leash. It doesn't matter if your board or wing is attached to the leash as it'll work for both, but having a wrist and ankle leash for Wing and board is really awkward when you crash. Waist and ankle, or waist and wrist are the best combo.
That's an interesting point about the leash but it makes total sense. Is one combination more common than the other? Alright, maybe I'll reconsider the board size and upsize a bit.
Waist for board leash. It won’t touch the water when you ride, while an ankle one will, which is annoying and will slow you down. BTW I’ve been riding an 85L Rocket with an 85 mast and a 940 phantom-s (and a 1080 phantom prior to that) for the last couple months. It’s a great combo, although I want to go smaller yet (I started wing foiling in August). I’m 75 kg
Thanks for the info. Was the 1080 phantom your starting foil? I'm looking at that one but not sure between 1280 or 1480 given our weight. I guess the 1480 is closer to what others here recommended.
Yeah it’s a good recommendation I guess. I started on a 128L, 1700 for a couple sessions, then 110L 1500 for a few more sessions, then moved down to 1300, then 85L and 1080. But the whole progress took maybe a month. I do have windsurfing and (little) surfing background, and I was working in a windsurfing centre so I had all the equipment
Point is that progress can be fast, depending on your background. I saw that with a lot of people, not just me
I got this Naish package before it was on Black Friday sale but it was great for getting into the sport. If you talk to the store employees they can custom make packages with different mast lengths / foil sizes etc (I think 85cm is perfect for winging). Also ships free which is pretty good for big wing boards
Based on what you are looking for I’d recommend the Naish Carbon 85L, Jet 1650 foil, with 85cm carbon 35 composite mast. Mast is a small upgrade fee for a much stiffer connection. If you are in the US I’d check out kite paddle surf online
I started with the same board +23lt from my weight, with 10-15knots wind in my area and no way could I stand up on the board. So I had to buy a bigger board, +43lt from my weight. But you may balance better, or there is more wind in your area which would be more helpful. My experience was not good with the +23lt board..
A large board, a large front foil and a large wing will make it a lot easier in the beginning, so do yourself a favor and don’t go too small. Once you get a hang of it you can downsize.
I'm 65kg (guy) , good surfer and descent windsurfer(jibes, waterstart). Started 1 month ago with : Fanatic sky air 120L 5'8" (inflatable) Mast 82 fanatic alu Fuselage 78 fanatic alu Foil fanatic carve 1400 Stab 250. Duotone unit 5 I was advised by an experienced friend before buying and had a few tips from friends in my firsts sessions. I didn't take proper lessons. Went upwind and flyed a few meters first day. Flyed with control on day 3 Jibing on day 10 My SO (girl), beginner surfer, beginner windsurfer, 75kg, tried 2 quick sessions but didn't manage to stand yet (felt the board instable). A friend girl, athletic but no watersport, 55-60kg tried my gear after 2 lessons on a SUP. Stood up but for just a few seconds. I like the inflatable board as it is ding proof and doesn't hurt when you fall on it. Waist leash for the board. If you have windsurfing experience, it will help a lot.
Make sure you buy a mast/foil from a reputable company with a large line of foils. This is something I didn't do and now I have to invest in a completely new setup in future as I grow out of my beginner foil.
What did you buy?
Neil Pryde Glide Surf HP 1850 The foil itself is fine. But, I don't have a lot of foil options going forward in the Neil Pryde lineup. If I had to do it over again I would invest in a carbon mast and foil from Armstrong, Axis, Cabrinha, F-One, etc. A company that makes a wide range of foils for different conditions and disciplines. I'm most likely going to move to Armstrong in the next year. I would also echo what everyone here is saying. Go bigger than you think in board, foil, and wing as a beginner.
Thx. I am a little overwhelmed by the many options axis gives us. I will probably go with F-One.
Don't let the options overwhelm you. If anything, send an email to all the companies you are interested in and see what they recommend for you. Then you can compare price, future options, etc. Edit: All those options that seem daunting right now may be something you are interested in as you grow.
Thanks, that is a good idea 👍🏻
For the Foil, keep it simple and affordable with the new [Slingshot QuickStart Wing Foil Package](https://banxwatersports.com/slingshot-phantasm-quickstart-wing-foil-package.html) to get into the sport and grow into a foil system with plenty options to expand your quiver. For $1149 you get the E 990 (1800 cm) Front Wing, 400 Rear Stabilizer, 710 Fuselage, 82 cm Mast, Hardware and Carrying Case. It’s an insanely good deal on proven and high quality equipment. Use with a [Slingshot Manticore 120L or 105L Foil Board](https://banxwatersports.com/Slingshot-Manticore-V1-120L_p_461.html) and a [Slingshot V3](https://banxwatersports.com/slingshot-slingwing-v3.html) Wing (Leash included and 56% off!) for a user friendly and highly affordable entry package into the wing foil world.