AFS is releasing some new tails this year:
The new ultra carve lineup
www.instagram.com/p/DTdWS1oDum8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
The ultra glide lineup got expanded to include a 39 and 43.
afs-foiling.com/fr/produit/ultra-glide/
I got my first spin on the ultra glide 39 today and was thrilled. FAST, loose, exciting high and low end. The only downside of these UHA tails is that I don't care for them as much on small surf foils. For the enduro 700+ and Silk 1050 though, exhilarating.
I've collected data on all my tails over the years and this new tail dethroned my other tails in a wide range of categories.
can you give us a little more on the tradeoffs with the other tails (Silk and Silk HA)? I'm generally not partial to the locked in feel of a span that big, but I'm sure it really unlocks the top end of the foils. Honestly they look kind of scary and I feel like I'd inevitably put a hole in my gear (or myself).
For sure, and I agree with you.
Of these tails I only still have the c9 157 and AFS 132
These are my measurements on the HA 38. It was too stiff/locked in for me. I sold it to someone learning to gybe and they loved it.
These are my notes on the Silk 132 tail, which has great roll but not so much for glide and the pump is really subtle.
TRADEOFFS
Roll:
Both the UG41 and UG39 are dramatically better than the HA 38. The forward swept design shortens the fuse length and the tips are significantly thinner which give a much more playful turn than the HA 38. I like the UG 41 best on 900+mm span foils and am excited to see if the UG 39 works well on the e700 since it made the e800 so much fun on day 1. Once you reach the Silk 850 and smaller, I think the Silk 132 tail is best for roll. I think the 132 can be too much pivot for some peoples taste when using it on the 900ish span foils and the UG smooths that out.
Pitch:
I need more time to test but felt like the UG39 was just the tiniest bit uncomfortable up winding against the current on a big east wind day with the e800. There's a lot of water moving over the foils in that scenario and I expect that in west winds or open ocean that might go away. As soon as I collapsed the parawing and headed downwind any pitch over sensitivity vanished.
Pump and Glide:
Easily the biggest benefit of the UG tails. The no drag experience of the super thin UHA design decreases the amount of pumping I ever have to do and speeds up a foil like the Silk 1050 to the point where it becomes a very effective DW choice. I didn't give the HA 38 a huge chance here and the Silk 132 just doesn't have the DW capability I need when the conditions are soft. I've ridden the Silk 1050 a bunch with the ug41 and its a longboard DW machine.
Safety:
It sucks to ride scared so if you are nervous about the UG tail shape I'd say avoid it. No doubt, if you fall on it you will pay for it. The U Carve looks more forgiving.
vs the U-Carve:
I haven't ridden any of these but it looks very similar to my Mako Glide 120 with 35cm span. That tail, again, did great with foil spans larger than the Silk 850 (e700 and larger) but once you reach those smaller span foils there doesn't seem to be any HA/UHA tail that I like on them. At the moment, I'm more excited about the low surface area and short chord gains vs the low span gains for these glide shaped tails.
UG Tails: Best with parawing in mind and foils starting at e700 and larger (877mm span and up).
Silk 132: Best with wing in mind and foils starting at s850 and smaller (824mm span and down).
Thanks! Ive got my eye on the U Carve 130 and 140. Probably some similarities to the Pure 145 that Im still getting the feel of.
I am interested in AFS for longer but I don't understand there Homepage. The last days it wasn't really possible to visit it. Also there is still just a French version!?
Agreed. The AFS website was marginal and then they started updating it and it became very bad. Hopefully they can get it fixed soon. My web browser translates it to English for me. Is there a German dealer near you that could help?
Not sure... I think nearest is Munich. I am interested in Enduros. Want to know how the perform compared with DT glide. And the big guy 1600 for pumping.
But I also Wanted to look at this HA Foils again and it was catastrophic.
I love the enduro 700/800. The 900 and larger have a bit more span than I like. I have the 1600 showing up any day to learn to dockstart on.
The website sucks (big time)I,m too close to 100kg 997 and growing in the winter) and have the Enduro 700-900-1100-1300-1600 (and a 850+1050 Silk and a PureHA1100.
).For wingfoil I really like all of them except the 1600, its too big span for that, for DW supfoil on the big dutch lakes and supfoil on the dutch coast I use mainly the 1600-1300. in atlantic coast 1100.
I have tried the Duotone foils and I would say the stiffness is similar with a bit better low end on the DT.If there is imo one thing that is a light con on the AFS , then it is the low end. Some brands like Armstrong you pick a size smaller, with AFS you pick in doubt the bigger size. Funnely the also turns way better and feel dragless. Its hard to discribe a different way but slippery through the water is as close as I come. When I tru other stuff I notice that some foils have better inititial lift but somehow the smaller sizes don,t translate in more maneuvrability or better speeds.
Jo... Thank you for big report. I am around 90. So u Think AFS Better turning and better speed. U think it is because of the Humpback whale design of the leading edge?
Select to expand quoteJeroensurf said..
with AFS you pick in doubt the bigger size. Funnely the also turns way better and feel dragless.
This is definitely a hard thing to describe with AFS but I touched on it a little bit in my Code/KT/AFS review recently. We see a ton of brands pushing for better low end and riding smaller size foils in the industry right now. I think that's been a goal because smaller foils tend to be more exciting to ride. (HA foil development didn't include turning for many brands). When you have great low end, you tend to have a grainy feel as you go faster due to the camber and other low end trickery. AFS seems to be a brand that has focused on making their foils stay fun, smooth, surfy, even when they are full sized and going fast.
Sounds cool. What do u guys think, size wise could be good to step into enduros? Advanced rider 90kg, winging/prone/DW. Is there one with great overlap? 1100,1000,900!?
Select to expand quoteDriks said..
Sounds cool. What do u guys think, size wise could be good to step into enduros? Advanced rider 90kg, winging/prone/DW. Is there one with great overlap? 1100,1000,900!?
Conditions? I ride in the Columbia River Gorge so my advice might not be as applicable. At 86kg my big foil is the Silk 1050 and then I drop to the Enduro 800. Ask Jeroensurf or Velocicraptor what fuse they like. Since I ride the shorter span foils I use the regular/long fuse. The bigger Enduros were better with the short fuse IMO.
Is there a US distributer for the Mako tails? An idea on the tariff situation between the US and France right now?
Select to expand quoteChuckWagonPNW said..
Is there a US distributer for the Mako tails? An idea on the tariff situation between the US and France right now?
Wingfoil pro center for the mako tails in the states. Nobody knows what is going on with tariffs. I've had stuff show up with zero fees and I've seen friends get stuff along with a $1000+ bill. Probably best to message kparts direct to hear if they have any feedback on tariff issues.
Select to expand quoteDriks said..
Not sure... I think nearest is Munich. I am interested in Enduros. Want to know how the perform compared with DT glide. And the big guy 1600 for pumping.
But I also Wanted to look at this HA Foils again and it was catastrophic.
Check out Freestyleworld.de The owner lives close to Mandichosee where you can test AFS gear.
Select to expand quoteDriks said..
Sounds cool. What do u guys think, size wise could be good to step into enduros? Advanced rider 90kg, winging/prone/DW. Is there one with great overlap? 1100,1000,900!?
I think it very much depends on where you surf and skill level. If I would bring my quiver back to 2 foils I could get away with the Silk1050 for wingfoil and an Enduro1300 for supfoil/DW (I don,t pronefoil).
