I'm looking forward to seeing what others have to say on this.
For my current skill set, I ordered an Axis Froth 5'8"x 28" and 120L. I'm 6'4", 225lbs and almost 53 years old. I don't have a lot of chances to chase wind, so I don't think I will ever get good enough to really see the benefits of going to a low volume board. In fact, I ordered the Axis Froth 6'8"x32" and 160 liters for SUP foiling, and wingfoiling on really light wind days. I prefer to have some volume under me until I get better.

steview said..
83kg , wing mainly on fresh water and seem to be using my 6.2m way more than my 5m . Current board is 5ft 8 by 30 inches and 120L . Have to say I love it . What would I gain by going down to their 100L , 5ft 5 by 28 inch board over the one I have and would I actually lose more than I gain ? Don't want to swap for smaller then regret it if I lose light wind early foiling ability . Cheers

Addressing your situation only (not guys looking to do back loops) ...yes going to the right size board for your weight, will gain you better low end and a more alive feeling from the board.

The right size being +10 to +15 liters over your weight. Over sizing a board is just heavy and needs a bigger wing ding to get the beast flying.

I'm 90kg plus 5mm wetsuit in cold water. Mostly ride a Quatro 5'4" 90L and really find it a great compromise size for all conditions. I have a 5.3 PPC at 76L as well and it feels much more sensitive to inputs and carves a bit better, but it needs consistent wind to be fun. I sink to my knees if the wind shuts off and have to paddle it in rather than limping back standing as I can do on the 90L. I also have a 38L prone board that I've unsuccessfully tried twice in dying wind (surefire way to kill the wind is to bust out the prone board). The sinker boards seem fine for windier/warmer waters but could be a huge liability in the generally colder conditions I wing in locally on Vancouver Island. I've ridden the 90L comfortably in 35 knots+ and not just survived but had great fun.

Your approximate weight in litres seems like a good all-round size IMHO. Every step down yields incrementally more performance with incrementally more downsides in stability and user-friendliness. At 88kg a 100 L board will still get going quickly and is still a pretty big board, but it will offer more performance than your current board (maybe 25%) without really punishing you.

Agree above. You want to stand and dog along - plus 10. Although the good guys I know seem to be able to do this on body weight to litres board and one guy whose -5L to body weight. But he's been at it since say dot and is very accomplished both winging and sup foiling. But also we live in a very warm place in the world - even in winter comparatively.

the small sinker board thing . it's challenging but amazing when up and flying. No swing weight, yaw and pitch is adjusted intuitively and with ease, absolute connection to board and foil and pumping to link swell/waves is so easy. But there's a practical limit where it doesn't become fun anymore for sure. Infact I am currently going the board size up - even though I've got my 34L happening (and could probably use something even smaller) - to increase the fun/ difficulty balance towards to former.


even then realistically ya gonna need two boards if you plan on being out multiple times a week throughout the entire year which we do.

so on that basis as mentioned somewhere above id have a plus 10-15 board then get a board at a litreage/design that offers some challenge to where you skill set is and water / wind conditions.. For when conditions are right for it.

DWF said..

steview said..
83kg , wing mainly on fresh water and seem to be using my 6.2m way more than my 5m . Current board is 5ft 8 by 30 inches and 120L . Have to say I love it . What would I gain by going down to their 100L , 5ft 5 by 28 inch board over the one I have and would I actually lose more than I gain ? Don't want to swap for smaller then regret it if I lose light wind early foiling ability . Cheers

Addressing your situation only (not guys looking to do back loops) ...yes going to the right size board for your weight, will gain you better low end and a more alive feeling from the board.

The right size being +10 to +15 liters over your weight. Over sizing a board is just heavy and needs a bigger wing ding to get the beast flying.

Partly agree.
Based on my experience, skill and not so strong legs - different things for different people, me 76kg.
Super light wind I use a 7ft 6in x 28.5" Naish 2019 hover board (very flat dedicated foil board) with Axis 1050 foil wing. This board makes it easy for me to go from kneeling to standing, develops very good board speed and with a few pumps and away I go. Board speed, to foil, is important for foil wings towards higher aspect ratio.
12 to 15 knts plus 95l Fanatic with Axis 810 foil wing. Appropriate Duotone Slick and easy to get up from kneeling using the wind.
The 7ft 6in is much harder in medium to strong winds but doable.

Great points up above, There's a detrimental cool stigma attached to going smaller. I've seen it in every sport (surfing, windsurfing, SUP, Kiting) and of course.winging. It breaks my heart to see a kid on a too-short SB surfing because he thinks it s cool. Especially when he can't catch a wave and is light years away from mastering even the most basic skills. That's one example but it happens in all the sports. I'm 80kg's, and if it's a practice day, I love a 100-110 liter board. I can jump straight up to a surfing stance and go after a fall, no taking a knee ??that means I'll have more fun and take more attempts at something new. Yes, I love my smaller board, but it's not my favorite for learning something new.

Ask yourself these questions.
1. Do I make most of my jibes and tacks? If the answer is No, then make sure you have a board that makes it super easy to pop right back up and fall 20-500 more times till you get it. This also applies to learning any new trick, 10-30 less liters is not going to help you w your 360, duck jibes or jumps in the beginning.
2. Will You be going out in marginal winds much of the time? If the answer is Yes, then get a board w enough volume that you'll never worry about shlogging home. It's a reality here in Florida trust me. A lot of practice days are 8-12 G14. You'll be up on foil half the time, but at least you can make a go of it and progress and have some fun.
3. Do I want to SUP foil as well?
You can always get a smaller board when you're ready, for more filled in days and ready to pump longer and jump higher.
Hope this helps, Robby Naish commented on this topic at the AWSI as well.

Tiny boards are overrated for older wingers. Young guns water starting tiny boards in Maui are unrelated to 50+ gentle folk mowing the lawn. Just found a super stable 99l board for my 105kg plus gear 58 yr old carcus that works a treat. Stable platform, light and mast track forward to reduce swing weight. I recommend demo as much as possible.