Got an invite from Alex A to come down to Kanaha and give the DuoTone wing a shot earlier in the week. He let me try the 4m wing he got on the 5m.
I was on a loaner 6'0 SUP foil board lower left of photo, put on my Maliko200 front and Iwa tail. I've been frothing and trying the hand kite for weeks and it was good to sample what I've been seeing.
Now full disclosure, I'm nto a wind sport person, never tried anything other than sailing little katamaran in Mexico a couple times. So I have very minor understanding of which way to point the sail.
First get out in the water, on my knees, kite in the air it starts pulling me out. Wind gets stronger, I get going fast enough to put one foot down, then the next. Its abit foreign as to how to hold the kite but it naturally wants to grab the wind with arms extended.
Alex told me to "pump" the sail like you're rowing with both hands, so once I felt comforable I started and also pumping the board. Another gust of wind and I was up and foiling...
Now I've gone fast on waves before, but this was nuts. Just flying. Once you're up the resistance on your body lets go. Don't have to muscle it, its just finess at that point and you can relax.
SO I'm hooting and hollerin at myself and start to realize I'm headed out to sea fast and need to turn this thing around. So I attempt a jibe, get mostly pointed back towards land and I lose it. Down in the water, waaay outside, and gotta get back somehow. I'm goofy foot so headed out was a natural stance for me, heaeded in everything was backwards. So I opted to ride in on my butt as it was too difficult to get in otherwise.
Made it back towoards land, turned around and gave it another run out. STOCKED!
I ordered the F-One 4.2 and should be here in a couple weeks. I'm fortunate to know enough people here that have tried all of the top brands and a couple foilers I respect their optinions said the F-One is best for surfing...as it's light, it "fluff's" well etc. Didn't know much about wing shape but am coming to understand the benefits of the F-One more every time I research.