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IQ vs slalom foils?

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Created by MichiG A week ago, 9 Apr 2026
MichiG
5 posts
9 Apr 2026 3:48PM
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I have a question for the wind foiling professionals. At the moment I am on IQ Foil material (board and foil, with the 115 fuselage). This is perfect for me due to great lift, which can also bring 100kg of weight up easily. The downside is, that IQ is made for going upwind and downwind. At crosswind I am overpowered quickly, but actually I would prefer going crosswind most of the time. So I could switch to slalom material (Patrick, Phantom e.g.). These are made for crosswind as far as I heard, but they do not provide the same amount of lift, right? They are also much quicker, which I also do not really want - IQ foil speed Is enough for me. So what options do I have?? Maybe somebody could also explain the differences between IQ and slalom... I only know that the slalom boards are a bit smaller, and slalom wings are also smaller.

aeroegnr
1769 posts
9 Apr 2026 5:54PM
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The 115+ fuselage puts the front wing far forward, making it a lot harder to go crosswind comfortably.

Your kit should have the 95+ with it. Try it, but it is less stable due to it being a shorter fuselage. It'll be less powerful due to the front wing position.

You can also get the 105+ fuselage which has a less powerful front wing position but longer fuse so it's more stable than the 95+, which feels a lot better to me when i don't want to go hard upwind/downwind

nerdycross
325 posts
9 Apr 2026 7:05PM
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I have the Phantom iris x pro I use both 110 (course fuse) and the slalom fuselage both work real well cross wind and up wind and Broad reach I do adjust the stab shim depending on sea/wind and fuse I use. I can go cruising or if brave go for speed! My phantom is same as this at sailrepair
sailrepair.co.uk/product/phantom-iris-x-pro/

joe87879
60 posts
9 Apr 2026 9:39PM
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Does reaching with the 115+ in lightwind (<12kts) result in a more controllable ride vs heavier wind?

MichiG
5 posts
9 Apr 2026 11:17PM
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aeroegnr said..
The 115+ fuselage puts the front wing far forward, making it a lot harder to go crosswind comfortably.

Your kit should have the 95+ with it. Try it, but it is less stable due to it being a shorter fuselage. It'll be less powerful due to the front wing position.

You can also get the 105+ fuselage which has a less powerful front wing position but longer fuse so it's more stable than the 95+, which feels a lot better to me when i don't want to go hard upwind/downwind


Ok, interesting, didn't know about a 105+ fuselage. The 95+ I do not have since I bought a used gear set and it was not part.
So in the end it sounds a bit like shorter fuselage is better for crosswind, but provides less lift and stability. Going with less stability I guess I could learn, less lift is bad. So I would need maybe to increase wing size (front or back or both?) for more lift?
In terms of physics it is only the fuselage length which makes a foil an upwind/downwind foil?

MichiG
5 posts
9 Apr 2026 11:21PM
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joe87879 said..
Does reaching with the 115+ in lightwind (<12kts) result in a more controllable ride vs heavier wind?



Well, I don't know :-(
Due to weight, muscles and technique I do not fly at all with <12kts.

aeroegnr
1769 posts
9 Apr 2026 11:57PM
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MichiG said..

aeroegnr said..
The 115+ fuselage puts the front wing far forward, making it a lot harder to go crosswind comfortably.

Your kit should have the 95+ with it. Try it, but it is less stable due to it being a shorter fuselage. It'll be less powerful due to the front wing position.

You can also get the 105+ fuselage which has a less powerful front wing position but longer fuse so it's more stable than the 95+, which feels a lot better to me when i don't want to go hard upwind/downwind



Ok, interesting, didn't know about a 105+ fuselage. The 95+ I do not have since I bought a used gear set and it was not part.
So in the end it sounds a bit like shorter fuselage is better for crosswind, but provides less lift and stability. Going with less stability I guess I could learn, less lift is bad. So I would need maybe to increase wing size (front or back or both?) for more lift?
In terms of physics it is only the fuselage length which makes a foil an upwind/downwind foil?


Nah just use the 900 that came with it until you get more used to foiling, then make a decision on where you want to go. I've used the 900 on the 105+ on a lot of days where I just want a more relaxed foil when the weather allows me a 7.0, for instance.

In lighter winds you can also add more tail lift and move the mast base backwards.

WillyWind
592 posts
11 Apr 2026 12:04AM
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try to find the 105 fuselage for cross wind sailing.

Paducah
2822 posts
11 Apr 2026 2:00PM
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Am I the only one too lazy to switch fuses? Usually if I'm overpowered, I find someplace up or downwind to go for a while. The 105 just serves as ballast in the van. I guess I should get it out more often.

MichiG
5 posts
11 Apr 2026 5:54PM
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WillyWind said..
try to find the 105 fuselage for cross wind sailing.


Does not seem to be available anywhere :-(

The 105 plus would be compatible with the IQ material, the "evolution" fuselage not. It seems the 105 plus does only exist in theory...

MichiG
5 posts
11 Apr 2026 8:58PM
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Paducah said..
Am I the only one too lazy to switch fuses? Usually if I'm overpowered, I find someplace up or downwind to go for a while. The 105 just serves as ballast in the van. I guess I should get it out more often.


Or sell it to me ??

WillyWind
592 posts
12 Apr 2026 1:02AM
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I know. call every single shop that sells SB. Someone should have a demo collecting dust.

jusavina
QLD, 1503 posts
12 Apr 2026 1:25PM
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I'm going to ask the obvious but have you tried to reduced the stab angle?
Have you checked you sail trim (different from going upwind or downwind)?
And last, your front foot strap position. It's probably worth moving it forward and have a wider stance (more control) if you said you want to do more reaching.

I agree with the others about a shorter fuse as well. It makes life easier on the reach.

bel29
409 posts
14 Apr 2026 5:11AM
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adding to the 'obvious' list: try a smaller front wing. something in the 700 range is plenty for reaching at 10-12 knots; a few knots more for a 500. Much easier than a 900 wing, even with a shorter fuse.

WillyWind
592 posts
Wednesday , 15 Apr 2026 9:32PM
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Also, if you are not going for speed and want to just cruise around, rig a smaller sail.

seaanchor
74 posts
Thursday , 16 Apr 2026 4:50AM
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I agree with aeroegnr the 105+
Is the way to go if you want more control across wind i use mine quit abit if i know im not going to strugle to get up on foil

Paducah
2822 posts
Tuesday , 21 Apr 2026 11:40AM
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So, since the topic of the 105+ came up, for otherwise equivalent setup (sail, wing), how much shim angle change from going from 115+ to 105+ - say, I'm using +1.0 shim on IQ fuse.



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"IQ vs slalom foils?" started by MichiG