FREERIDE WINDFOILS TEST REVIEW 2024
FREERIDE WINDFOILS TEST REVIEW 2024
UNLOCK YOUR FULL FOILING POTENTIAL
TEST EDITOR: James Hardy // Second Testers: Catrin Williams // Photos: Otc // Location: Portland Harbour
OVERVIEW
We are all aware of how much foil development has developed in the last few years. Foiling is taking over the sailing and watersports world. If you haven’t heard of or seen foiling you have quite frankly been living under a rock for the last few years. From a handful of years ago, the number of wind-foil’s available has grown and the spectrum available has widened significantly from the previous ultra-speedy race specific, to a much more user-friendly product, which offers the thrills of foiling with minimal input from the rider. Materials, layup, wing design, cross-section shape, the list goes on, is all far more understood, while a lot of things has now been tried and tested, so the brands can really hone in on the characteristics they wish to offer. I am a huge foiling fan, and love to see which boundaries are being pushed and what the new thing is in foils. I like to think I can get really geeky when it comes to foils, but just when you think you have it all dialled in in your head, something new that’s sharper, or has increasingly sexier curves or shape comes along that sparks your interest. This is happening within the wind-foil, it’s just a smaller more niche section of our sport to appreciate on a wider scale. But I think we can all agree foiling is an exciting part of our sport and is more accessible than it’s ever been, which to me can only be a good thing.
The lineup might be small in this category, and if we exclude super race specific foils, there is a foil out there for you that will give you all the foiling thrills you are after in whatever wind-foiling form that takes. Tested in a mixture of full power punchy conditions, which most would regard as the very top end, to absolute champagne conditions where you wouldn’t ask for any more or any less. All were manageable, and of course each had their sweet spot in terms of relishing extra power or preferring to be sailed with just enough drive running though the foil.
So, digging into the Freeride Foil lineup, from Starboard the 2S Carbon 900 Foil, performs well in all areas. User friendly, a forgiving take off and generating smooth and stable lift the 2S Carbon 900 Foil can be pushed if needed, but equally it has the range to be sailed in a cruisy and relaxed manner. Duotone’s SLS Aero Free 1000 was the most playful of the trio, the SLS Aero Free craves being carved and played with to deliver a really freeing ride where tight radius turns or aggressive changes in direction are well within reach, while pushing into freestyle wouldn’t be out of its grasp. Lastly, we have the Hy-Foil Free FR from GUNSAILS, which was supplied with the 1050 and 1350 front wings. The Hy-Foil Free FR generates insane amounts of lift, you don’t need masses of speed or power to generate lift – it feels like floating on a cloud, so while it’s not the fastest, it certainly allows you to float through gybes with minimal finesse or technique, for the skilled it would allow us to easily unlock some whacky looking riding.
THE LINEUP
GUNSAILS HY-FOIL FREE FR – 1050 & 1350
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