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Hey brother - congrats on starting an awesome sport! Gong just released some gear that looks SO fantastic for beginners in inflatable... for your wing I'd probably take the Droid Perf in 6m, along with the 8'0 HIPE Learn - this board will be amazing for beginning on! Very innovative and although I haven't ridden it, I have ridden enough to think this will be incredible for you. Foil wise, no question, take any of the 85cm masts - if you are happy to spend a bit, take the HM86, if not then just take the V2 Aluminium mast system, and finally for the foil take the X-Over XXL in v2 along with the XL X-Over stab - perfect! The SUPERCOOL thing about the board is that you can ride is without the foil at first, but it has a great system to help keep you upwind. Just great.

I haven't tried it yet, no. But with what I can see, the most significant change is the slightly higher aspect ratio. I have no doubt that the canopy tension will be better as well. I'm still very happy with my 2023 version, and so the new one can only be better. I've heard that the upwind is better and the Vmax has improved with similar grunt. It's a great wing.

Hey there - you don't do it. Rather, you choose the character wanted by the stab.. for example, if you want a more surfy feel with more pop, you'll take the Fluid H stab, or Freestyle stab... if you want glide and more open carves with more speed, you'll take the Veloce H stabs...

Thank you Louise :-) glad you enjoyed it...

Hey there - I can't quite remember the wind conditions, but the board is a 105L GONG Hipe Pro, the wing is the Droid 6m from 2023, and the foil is the Veloce v2 1500cm with a Fluid H stab of 290cm. Hope that helps!

Hey buddy - I use the HM86, but that's only because I want one mast to use also with my big Sirus foil... if it was for wingfoil only, then I would probably be using either the HM85 or the HM92... having said that, the HM86 is fantastic as a wingfoil mast too, and I've ridden it past 40kph with no problems, so it's still a fast enough mast! The fuselage I use is the Pro Titanium now, although when I made this video I was on the Pro Aluminium. The Titanium is a little heavier, but lots of peace of mind, again with the larger Sirus foils.

Wind I don't recall - it certainly wasn't massive! The smaller board is 105L, the long board is 135L, I'm around 100kg here, and the foil is the Veloce v2 with 1500cm2.

In theory for sure. But with wing, the "sail" size is generally smaller, and therefore less powerful, and it lacks the direct connection with the board. So it's harder, and I've not seen it done at my spots.

Hi there... for me, the thing that helps most with the gybe when you are starting is TIME, and you get more time with more glide. Personally, IF you have to choose ONE stab in the GONG range, then I would recommend the Fluid H stabs. The Curve stab for sure gives more grip in the turn, but it's not likely when you are starting to gybe that you are looking for a lot of grip and drive from the stab - just time. The Veloce stab will give you even more time, but it is more sensitive to foot pressure, and therefore probably not so easy for beginning in the gybe.

Hey buddy… in that one I’m using the Fluid H47. I think for wing it could be a little bigger. But for a Curve XL you would do great with even a Fluid H45.

@@wingfoildiary Aloha , thanks for the answer . I made an type mistake . I am now on the big side . I have an curve 4xl . So I am in boubt about the stab . Fluid or sirus . Gong recommends a sirus 63 cm .

Hey buddy! The Fluid H47 but probably could do with a size up…

Thx. Glad to hear as i just ordered a sirus 56 stab. Think on this big foil i just want it stable and efficient. Tried with a fluid 42h stab, but that one stalls way before the wing. Happy ride man😘

Hey buddy… I wouldn’t ride that foil with the HIPE… for that money, a Cruzader will be much more of a game changer in terms of getting the launch. They are incredible.

Hey buddy… I’ve ridden the UPE Droid in 5.5… I have the Perf Droid in 6m… I weigh 100kg, am 183cm and I have also ridden the Curve XL v2… I’m very confident that at your weight, with that long Cruz, you will do very well with the 6m. Probably even also with the 5.5 but honestly, the size of the 6m is really no problem, but I just don’t think you need the 6.5… the 6 is still agile, even more so in UPE than my Perf. Enjoy!

@@wingfoildiary Thanks for the advice. I have a feeling that the 6m will be better for me and it is nice to get some confirmation. I have just placed an order for the 6m and added in a 5m for those days when it is in the mid teens.

Awesome! Enjoy!

Hey buddy… sorry for the late reply! My short board is the same as my weight - 105, and my downwind is 135

82 kg, and yeah, feel like other than the slight bend in the front handle I'd love the boom on the newest team boom only wings. Thanks!

Sorry for the late reply! Ah it’s a difficult question! But if you are not riding larger waves where you generate a lot of speed and need the wing to be “not there” behind you, then I think the Droid gives more. It has more grunt, more speed, and I believe that it does ride upwind better BUT it pulls harder and so overall needs more effort. If you’re looking for superchill the the Neutra is so great but if you want a bit of a little monster in the character, the Droid is great. My programme is similar to yours in that I have many light days and a mix of flat water and sea but with wind sweep rather than ground swell. For that I think the Droid… for sizes, even for the guys over 90kg I think that if you’re going UPE or Aramid, you don’t need more than 5.5… I have Perf in 6 but have ridden UPE and it has quite a bit more. For the other sizes, I don’t know what your top end is, but don’t take a gap more than 1m… hope that helps!!! Oh yes - the boom! Yes, I have ridden it and it is crazy stiff but so light. You cannot go wrong with that, really.

Haha, ah you’re 2 days late! I ordered a 5.5 Droid, 4.5 3.5 Neutra but was tempted to get a 4 Droid just to see what I liked better. I can still do that, just already struggling to wait 2 months!! I hear you’re advice, that’s sort of what I was thinking, but never know until you try!

Awesome!

Thanks bro!

Hey Dennis... generally it's more of a summer thing - we tend to get a bit more power during the winter. This set-up is so awesome on days when there's been zero all day in the summer, and then the evening brings a light sea breeze onto land. Then, wow, what a feeling to ride in those quiet conditions with almost nothing. Really beautiful.

Hey Olivier - I think it makes the character of the Veloce even more into this big fast lines type of riding, which I really like. I would like to try this extension with a smaller stab, too. However, it doesn't work so well with the Fluid stabs - but with the Veloce stabs, I really like it.

Honestly, I was skeptical when Patrice's touchy feely way of gauging the wing pressure came out, as at the time I was using a digital gauge, and figured that it was accurate. However, I learned the touchy feely method, and now I use only that. It works perfectly. Pump that UPE up until when you lean onto the wing, it only just creases a little. It will be stiff!

Buddy I've ridden the whole Curve range. You will find it crazy, but even for me, the M v2 is not difficult to get onto foil with a steady wind. So for you, I think you would be really good with the L. Absolutely brilliant foil!

You are right! :-) gotta work with whatever turns up on the session. I'd love to have had some bigger chop to demo it better, but that's what we got that day :-) hopefully it shows the technique well enough though!

hey buddy - that's awesome to read! Thanks for letting me know!

Mega - merci aussi :-)

Yes, I have seen a new version which is much slimmer... I don't mind the wrist leash at all, but the coiled ones are not my favourite.

Hey Paul - I use the FlyMount 130 - great piece of kit 🤙🏻

awesome - thanks!@@wingfoildiary

haha brilliant!

Im with you on that one.

Ah man that's brilliant! Dude I've been in love with Maine ever since I saw it in a National Geographic magazine as a kid... Still never been though!

Great spots here to ride waves and flat water! Bring your Gong and we can ride maybe next summer! Gong fan here too.

Thanks brother!

Hey buddy... firstly, if you can manage the HIPE in waves, then you are ready for a Cruz. Only take it 20 more litres than you would take a regular board. And if you are not Pro level, take one of the XL sizes - it is just a little more steady. It's never easy to stand up on such a narrow board, and that is why this technique is really important - then it becomes easy. With the Cruz, honestly most often I am riding the Veloce v2 XXL, but I am sure that I could ride smaller. But for me I like to use the Cruz to be able to use a smaller wing - so I keep a bit of size on the foil, and the slip of the Cruz lets me launch with a smaller wing. I use the Fluid H45 with this foil normally, although recently I start to use the Veloce H47, and it's more sensitive in pitch but the glide is ++... I do ride the same set-up on the HIPE Pro - in this video actually everything is with the Veloce v2 XXL, HM85 and Fluid H45 - the same on both boards. The mast setting in the foil tracks is also the same - for me the front edge of the mast foot at 4.5... No problem with compatibility - in GONG everything works together. Basically, if you take your same foil set-up, and wing, and set it up on a Cruz, you will launch in MUCH lighter conditions than before, because the board speed up SO easily. That's the best way to understand it - if you change nothing else than the board, suddenly you can ride in MUCH lighter conditions, because the launch comes so easy. The balance will come - learn this technique on your HIPE, and you'll adjust to the Cruz within a session. Enjoy man - it's the BEST single thing I've bought for wingfoil in terms of how many more days I've been able to ride and enjoy. If I had to have one board only, it would 100% be a Cruz.

Thank you very much for answer....waaah cruzader...one day it will be mine 😊 Enjoy !

The new Diamond looks brilliant. A really cool concept at the rear.

I've actually had a couple of days wingSUPsurfing too and it IS really fun especially when you bring waves into it!

Thanks buddy! Glad it helped!

Awesome - hope it helps 🤙🏻

Hey buddy… it’s a 7 with 135L for my 97kg… Wing pumping…. I found having rigid handles a big help but of course not a necessary. I like to think of the motion as: lean forward a bit to scoop air while lifting wing up and forward, scoop down and back whilst standing up again from your lean. Repeat. This tends to get the board oscillation going as well and that’s a bit part of this.

@@wingfoildiary ... after looking at this comment, i think my downwind board is a little undersized. Im attempting this on a 8'2" xt dragonfly 121 liters and Im 97 kg. feeling the horse throwing me at any moment. Ive only managed to get to my knees so far.

Ah that’s great man! Thanks for letting me know! Pass it on ;-)

Either works great! Thanks for watching :-)

Hi - yes - I used the FlyMount and the Insta Go2. Absolutely great system from both of them! Thanks for watching!

Hey DC - glad to hear it helped a bit! The bit about your rear foot 🦶 on its side is the key to getting up easily. Also, I think the front strap helps too…

Hey buddy - thanks for stopping by :-) it all depends on your spot really - how much swell and chop you have. The Cruz is a little more challenging in that, but once you have figured it out, it's no problem. The Lance is a fairly big board for your weight as an intermediate, and the Lance is a lovely stable board, so you will find that the Cruz will be quite a step! As long as your low wind spot has a fairly calm water state (which they usually do when the wind is low) then I'd say you'd be well happy with a Cruz 7XL at your weight... if you want to really be chilled, then the 7'6XL is not a huge board. I also was able to check out a 6'6XL the other day, and was struck by how much smaller the board looked for only a decrease of 10L. If you have zero intent of paddling it, I'd think about the 6'6XL... if you'd like something which gives you a shot at paddling it as a SUPfoil, and is a little more comfortable in wing, then take the 7XL as I have... let me know! It's a MEGA board.

​@@wingfoildiary Thank you very much! I'm pretty lucky and I have a lot of low chop spots around me, the other day I had a 25knts ON wind with 0 chop. If not the Cruzader maybe I will get a Mint, 105l maybe, as I want to challenge myself and get lower volume either way (-25L from current Lance), but I'm still not sure. If not the Cruzader what board would you suggest as next one?

I would take the Mint - I think you’re right!

@@wingfoildiary I've also seen your vid about the foils! After the x-over what would you suggest to get a better low end? I guess the curve?

If you’re already on X-Over v2 then Curve won’t improve your low end. Although they are so close in that, that it’s almost impossible to tell…. The Curve does give more speed and glide though, whilst still being super user friendly… What size and version of X-Over are you on?

Hey Jerome! Thank you brother! Good sessions 🤙🏻😎

These conditions are extremely technical. It really is like another sport in some ways 😊 firstly, make sure that after the mid-point of the gybe, turn very positively - remember it must tighten in the last phase. Secondly, keep the wing level so that you can rotate it without getting back winded. The Heineken gybe, basically. Finally, master the gybe with the Sirus and your technique will be on a whole new level - embrace the process, it will make you a much better rider! Enjoy learning buddy 😊 good sessions 😎

@@wingfoildiary I am a beginner 85kg wet. Doing wingfoiling no SUP. I have a standard beginner setup but want something that gives me a higher chance to get on foil in light wind. I just ordered a crusader 6'6 XL (7,0 XL is out of stock). Now I am thinking about the foil. Do you have any opinion on the Curve H 4XL. It was suggested as an easier to handle alternative to the Sirus XXL.

It's difficult to answer you without knowing what you're managing with what foil now... but the advice that the Curve H is easier than the Sirus is certainly true. You're up at the 145cm span with that Curve though, so I would say that you absolutely MUST have the HM86, or HM79 carbon mast, with the Ti fuselage. Those larger span wings are possible on the regular masts, but they are much harder to handle with a mast that moves around. But perhaps I can help with a better understanding of what the giant wings give you... they give you efficiency i.e. once you are up on foil you can stay there for longer with much less power in the wing. The launch efficacy in the light wind is really accomplished by the Cruzader, actually. You can be on a X-Over XXL and you'll launch that perhaps easier than the Curve H 4XL with a Cruz, but of course you won't have the same efficiency and glide once you're up. However, the really important point to understand, is that if you're not already gybing reliably, that giant high aspect set-up isn't going to be encouraging for you, because you WILL be riding faster than the wind, and then you're faced with a very technical gybe to deal with that. Riding on a slower foil like the X-Over will help you through learning those manoeuvres, and the Cruz will deliver more days that you can get onto foil, no doubt. Once you're gybing well, then go for a giant wing and then you've got the best of everything, with a good progression. With regard to the performance of those giant wings - bear in mind that even on my massive Sirus 186, I regularly exceed 25kmh on that thing in very light conditions - much much more than the prevailing wind speed. It's technical :-) Hope that helps!

@@wingfoildiary Thank you very much for this excellent answer. I am not jibing at all - still struggling with foiling in a straight line. My thought with a bigger foil was that it's supposed to stabilise the crusader while getting on foil - making take off easier. I will take your advice and use my existing F-One Phantom 1780 (similar to X-Over XL I think) with the crusader and see how that goes first. Thanks again!

My pleasure. The Cruz is stabilised by the keel effect of the mast even if the foil is relatively small. However, don’t under-estimate the X-Over… it’s a remarkable foil! Easy and can be fast IF you push it but man it’s SO easy and fun! At your stage if you’re thinking of getting into the Gong foil system, go with that 💯

Hey buddy! I think that my first advice is still right… everybody tries to find some way to make a short cut to learn wing without the big board, big foil, big wing stage. But this stage is so necessary. Then you can learn without spending all your time swimming 😊 Zuma plus XXL X-Over with X-Over H48 stab is really perfect.

Hey buddy - totally understand where you are coming from. I had the same process! Please send this to anyone who you think will benefit - that's the goal :-) I have several videos in the works which cover the simple stuff that we all learned the hard way, but could help others progress so much faster, so please share those to anyone you see on the beach who could benefit. Hopefully "WingFoilDiary" is easy to remember and pass along :-)

Hey buddy… when I run the v2 Veloce, v2 Curve, X-Over or Ypra S I have the front edge of the mast plate on 4.5… the Sirus I have it all the way forward at 7… this is more because I want to ride the board flatter on the water when starting the Sirus, and I tend to ride the Sirus with my back foot much further forward as it seems to facilitate pumping better for me. I’m in strapless as you can see, but I think my front foot tends to be in a similar place. Hope that helps.

Great! Hope it helps you out 🤙🏻😎

Love that camera… it’s filmed with the FlyMount 130… great system!

Dude! Thanks for watching my channel - I'm stoked that you're here, as your channel has been massively helpful to me :-) you have a great video on the same topic - actually you're the "you know who you are" guy I refer to in the intro! But yes, the corner bit really works better for me than laying flat on the board, especially for the new narrower boards. With regard to big swell, man, I must confess my spots are ALL about wind chop - we very rarely get proper swell, so I'll defer to your experience on that!

I’ll have to try your method maybe this afternoon. Your foot hook is cool. Sometimes if it works out I actually hook my toes around the back footstrap haha

Awesome! Hope it helps man - again, stoked to have you here brother! Thanks for all your help from your channel 🤙🏻😎

Thanks buddy!

Hey Henry! Thanks for the feedback - sounds like you're doing great! I do remember one really excellent description from @DamienLeroyTH-cam - Damien says get into a position as if you're about to wrestle! I think that's a great description of a solid wingfoil stance when you're learning the balance.

I've ridden the X-Over v2 XL even with the Fluid H45, for example - it's also good! The system works really well to give a path forward to make the transitions to more radical front wings easier. For example, I started riding my Ypra XLS with the Fluid H47 which made it very accessible in terms of launch and pitch stability. Then I transitioned to the Fluid H45, where it got a lot faster, and because my launch technique was already improved from the experience with the wing, I didn't notice a loss in launch. Now I ride it with the Veloce H47, which is far smaller than the other two, and it feels easy. But I remember the first time I rode this front wing with the Veloce H47 stab - it was not easy at all! Using the stabs, I progressed with much more pleasure to the point where now I can really enjoy the full performance of this radical front wing.

@@wingfoildiary i'd like to dockstart so slow curve stab would be ok?

Actually for pumping, you need the wing to be a little more free in pitch - you will get this with a less powerful stab... therefore I would suggest that you take a Fluid H stab for this. Don't take it too small though, and then you can use it for both wing and pump.

@@wingfoildiary u are right, i'll take the fluid 45

Hi just got veloce xxl with veloce H stab 47 and struggling to nail down my jibes in < 15knots. Not stable. Very touchy. I am 96 kg. Any better stab or just practice more ?