Can the Barbie and Ken Wingsurfing Dolls be far behind?
Meanwhile, back the French guy's video. It occurs to me that he might have a point about sitting around waiting for gusts. I think most of us go out on a summer day, try to get upwind a bit and then cruise around waiting for gusts. At a place like Old Fed it might make sense to go out and park on one of the islands, and when you see a gust coming launch and try to grab it. Could save a lot energy and probably wouldn't miss any actual flying time.
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Can the Barbie and Ken Wingsurfing Dolls be far behind?
Meanwhile, back the French guy's video. It occurs to me that he might have a point about sitting around waiting for gusts. I think most of us go out on a summer day, try to get upwind a bit and then cruise around waiting for gusts. At a place like Old Fed it might make sense to go out and park on one of the islands, and when you see a gust coming launch and try to grab it. Could save a lot energy and probably wouldn't miss any actual flying time.
If you are waiting out something longer cycled like letting the breeze fill in, that sounds like a good idea. Bring a beverage and snack. We had a long lull this summer and a bunch of us just jumped in the water, yakked and waited it out.
I missed the start of a race once at the LLSC, hanging out over by Aqualand because it was blowing 20+ and it was exhausting just trying to hang out on the water. Tough getting off the windward rocks without killing the fin and by the time I did, I was late.
Balz being Balz. Looks like he almost landed a back loop a few times? All this looks to be on fresh water, too. A glimpse of what our grand kids will be doing on Lanier some day
Matt Pritchard on the explosion of wings in Maui this summer. Two big take aways:
1) Kids love it and there were a bunch on the water.
2) Will it replace windsurfing? No, but it sure has its place and is a ton of fun
Seems like it is not that easy, but the question is whether it is easier than the regular method. Reminds me a bit of my aquaskipper dock launch. Wonder if something like this would work.
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
So two people might be able to do it. Need to be on a dock in side shore wind. First one guy holds the wing at one end of the dock. The other guy starts with the foil board at the other end of the dock and pushes it to the other end with enough force so that it stays above the water. The wing guy jumps on the board as it goes by and uses the wing to keep it propelled. Easy as pie right.......? What could possibly go wrong?
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I don't think that's Russian. No dashcam footage...
But seriously, imho, I think this has bigger implications for the kite world. Looked like he was using a pretty floaty board and big foil wing - he rode it on his knees before getting up. I think in the same conditions, he could have winged with a 5. I don't think many wingers will give up a 5 to deal with lines, bars, etc to go to a 7m2 kite. I could be wrong as I have zero experience in either. But, I do think there are kiters who will consider bigger foil boards/wings than they do currently. If they can foot pump their board a good thirty seconds, as long as the kite doesn't drop out of the sky, it'll mean a good bit less swimming.
Downside: I've seen how light Rogier can go with a 1000cm2 wing. Put him on a 2000cm2 wing and I'll be beside my self.
If you take the short line method and mix it with a foil and a race board (as shown earlier in this thread) - seems like a lot of kiters could be in business.
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
You nailed that one, Randy. Him on that 105l board seems like a winner. Easy to get on, if the wind flakes out, no biggie. I could see doing Lanier downwinders from West Bank on down as something super cool.
What pressure did he pump the wing?
(He mentions it what seems like 20 times)
Nice video and props to him for being more honest than most light air videos. Truer words have not been spoken
Yeah - that was one of the highlights of the video.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Powered up (her) and jumping vs less power (him) and surf riding
Can the Barbie and Ken Wingsurfing Dolls be far behind?
Meanwhile, back the French guy's video. It occurs to me that he might have a point about sitting around waiting for gusts. I think most of us go out on a summer day, try to get upwind a bit and then cruise around waiting for gusts. At a place like Old Fed it might make sense to go out and park on one of the islands, and when you see a gust coming launch and try to grab it. Could save a lot energy and probably wouldn't miss any actual flying time.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
If you are waiting out something longer cycled like letting the breeze fill in, that sounds like a good idea. Bring a beverage and snack. We had a long lull this summer and a bunch of us just jumped in the water, yakked and waited it out.
I missed the start of a race once at the LLSC, hanging out over by Aqualand because it was blowing 20+ and it was exhausting just trying to hang out on the water. Tough getting off the windward rocks without killing the fin and by the time I did, I was late.
Balz being Balz. Looks like he almost landed a back loop a few times? All this looks to be on fresh water, too. A glimpse of what our grand kids will be doing on Lanier some day
Matt Pritchard on the explosion of wings in Maui this summer. Two big take aways:
1) Kids love it and there were a bunch on the water.
2) Will it replace windsurfing? No, but it sure has its place and is a ton of fun
https://pritchardwindsurfing.com/pw2020/whats-with-all-the-wing-talk
Good comment about board length, mast position and swing weight. The long nose of a windfoil may be an advantage?
https://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Wind-Wings/Wingsurfing/Swing-weight-and-mast-position#10
One of many videos from the F-One SF Bay Grom wing festival
More here: https://bayareakitesurf.com/f-one-grom-wing-festival-vote-your-favorite-video/
Wingfoil beach start
https://www.instagram.com/p/CF_uj06jb8A/
Seems like it is not that easy, but the question is whether it is easier than the regular method. Reminds me a bit of my aquaskipper dock launch. Wonder if something like this would work.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
So two people might be able to do it. Need to be on a dock in side shore wind. First one guy holds the wing at one end of the dock. The other guy starts with the foil board at the other end of the dock and pushes it to the other end with enough force so that it stays above the water. The wing guy jumps on the board as it goes by and uses the wing to keep it propelled. Easy as pie right.......? What could possibly go wrong?

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Hello
Is this the beginning of the end of wingsurfing?
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I don't think that's Russian. No dashcam footage...
But seriously, imho, I think this has bigger implications for the kite world. Looked like he was using a pretty floaty board and big foil wing - he rode it on his knees before getting up. I think in the same conditions, he could have winged with a 5. I don't think many wingers will give up a 5 to deal with lines, bars, etc to go to a 7m2 kite. I could be wrong as I have zero experience in either. But, I do think there are kiters who will consider bigger foil boards/wings than they do currently. If they can foot pump their board a good thirty seconds, as long as the kite doesn't drop out of the sky, it'll mean a good bit less swimming.
Downside: I've seen how light Rogier can go with a 1000cm2 wing. Put him on a 2000cm2 wing and I'll be beside my self.
If you take the short line method and mix it with a foil and a race board (as shown earlier in this thread) - seems like a lot of kiters could be in business.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Actually, he already did almost the same thing with a snow kite and 2m lines.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
You nailed that one, Randy. Him on that 105l board seems like a winner. Easy to get on, if the wind flakes out, no biggie. I could see doing Lanier downwinders from West Bank on down as something super cool.
New way to wingfoil.
https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,36809.msg423887.html#msg423887
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
I'd like to see about 3 seconds later...
--- The Arrogant Jerk: Crabby and irritable since 1998.
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