Axis 1099 winging dilema

I'd appreciate some guidance - i currently wing a Fanatic 95 using the Axis HPS 1050/930 (short/ultra short and 400 Prog tail) @ 90kg

And im looking for more glide in small waves and swell that the 930 gives me, that i typically take when its not super light ie on a 5m and 4m strike (on a proper wave the 930 is fine, but i think it lacks glide at my weight?)

So that naturaly leads me to the Axis ART range....But:
- At my weight/skill/age im concerned the 999 will be too small to get me going in the lighter stuff ie need a solid >18kts and i will find it freustrating
- But at the same time is the 1099 too wide to turn / work in less than flat or clean conditions?

I am sure the ARTs work amazing for flat conditions and down winders, and i can also see the ART range work well in waves for lighter riders (eg they use 699, 799, 899 and 999)....but do heavier people use the 1099 in chop, confused and wavey conditions in say <18 kts?

Maybe i just need to try experiment using the 1050 more when its not flat...or simply bite the bullet and buy the 1099 and see what all the fuss is?!

Cheers for any opinions from 1099 riders!Northy

Hey Northy, I have the ART999 and HPS 1050/980/880. I am still an intermediate level but I'm finding the ART999 a bit trickier to fly in choppy/wavey/wake/current/cross-chop conditions as you need good board speed and some water states can hinder that and you can't pump up on the foil so easily - so it can be energy sapping in some conditions if you fall in a lot like me. This is not a problem if you are nailing most of your gybes nor don't have cross-chop/wake to deal with. I have had some amazing glide/speed sessions on the ART999 but also some sessions where the 1050/980 was my choice - or changed back to those from the 999.
I'm loving the 1050 for glides in small swells on a 6.0 and 5.0. I asked the Adrian Roper, Axis designer, which was the 'easier' foil to get going in the light winds between the HPS1050 and ART1099 and he said the 1050 will be a bit easier - so in lighter/marginal conditions easier sounded good to me!

Axis needs a complete overhaul of the ART line, the disadvantages simply outweigh any glide advantage (for winging). The 1099 in particular needs a remarkable amount of speed to start and is voted most likely to put you in the water for no detectable reason These wings are just for professional level downwinding use.

Agreed Warwickl, it's just my opinion. I base it on having tried virtually every major brands high aspect kit. Axis was one of the first to market with 9.5+ AR wings but they've now become a bit dated (must be at least 18 months old ). They are just harder to ride well than most and guaranteed to get you wet more often. Won't be selling my masts though, looking forward to what they might do next.

Northy, you'd not notice any glide difference whatsoever between the 1050 and 1099 in real world conditions. Just that the 1099 is less user friendly.

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eppo said..

Thatspec said..
Axis needs a complete overhaul of the ART line, the disadvantages simply outweigh any glide advantage (for winging). The 1099 in particular needs a remarkable amount of speed to start and is voted most likely to put you in the water for no detectable reason These wings are just for professional level downwinding use.

Try a armstrong HA and get back to me. Your Art will seem a lot easier to use then.

I have also tested the newer HAs of other brands but still find my ART 1099/899 the easier ones (and I am not even into downwinding). But I found that stabs make a huge difference. For me (90kg) the 1099 with ultrashort and Prog 375 is my lightwind go to.......can pump it to foil with low board speed. With the 380 the turning and thighter carving improves a lot, but slightly more board speed needed to get up. And with 12knts+ i am on the 899

I ride all the Art wings and the 1099 is awesome and surprisingly easy to turn with advanced ultrashort fuse and smallish progressive stab, but I find despite being easier to get up on than say the 899, the 899 is actually easier in beach conditions to ride and tack etc. The 1099 takes a lot of skill and perhaps a hm mast in rough conditions but it's great for milking small wind chop and getting long flag out runs. Also great in the river to pump around on. So perfect introduction the the art series for those wanting to learn pumping and flagging the wing. Once you hop on a smaller art wing you'll find it easier to turn and go faster, getting up in light wind might be a tad harder but you'll get it easy enough. Long flag out runs might take a bit of time but as soon as the waves pick up a bit the 899 is great with its speed. So perhaps a 1099 to start with and then get an 899 to compliment later.

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northy1 said..
Thanks

Tried a 999 and loved it and reckon it would be a good pairing to my 1050 (and replace my 930)
Alternatively i could go nuclear and swap out to F-one as im hearing a lot of positive noises about the Eagle and Seven Seas with a new model coming out this year also.

Any new ART on the horizon?

I have both the 999 and 930, and you are right - there is a lot of overlap between them. The HPS cannot match the accelleration, upwind angle or glide of the ART, but it is so much more forgiving in my local messy swells and is fast enough. It's basically about choosing where to compromise.

Adrian answers a lot of questions on the Axis Riders FB group but doesn't generally give away much about new products. However I saw some protos that were sent to a team rider, and they were in ART style covers. I have no insider info tho. However, if you look at what Adrian and the team riders post about most often it seems to be ART wings. Personally I think Axis releasing a HPS V2 would be a better option for the average Joe. At the moment nothing in the Axis range really competes with a foil like the Cab H1000 or F-One Eagle 990.

I have HPS 1050/980/830 and Art 999. I tend to use the Art 999 for the same sessions I might use the 980 but mostly when it is a bit flatter and less choppy. If the chop is large or multiple directions then the art is a complete pig to use and you are better off on the HPS range.

What are the shortcomings of the HPS vs the Eagle etc?

I've finally got the ART 899 going somewhat consistently, and tempted for a downwind oriented HPS 1050 after spending some time on the 1099 and finding it pretty reliable but the low-end a bit high.