Hi Juergen, no problem, yes hope to cu on the water too! indeed, I was also a Rhino user back in the day, lots of nice swimming behind the kite, but better than Wipika 2liner I learnt on. I just copy your original comments below so other people can benefit from reading if they had the same questions:
Hello Craig, I do share your local spots Walchensee and (mostly) Lake Garda The Tunnel. Coming from Moses Onda 633/Groove Skate, being 60+ of age and 80kg of weight - which if your latest Carbon Foils would you recommend for me to start winging ? I also wonder if 5.4 or 5.6 would suit me best. In my windsurf career ;-) I loved riding sinkers and am used to start ankles sub waterline. But of course prefer relaxed freeriding over stressed swimming out. Thanks !!
My answer in the other thread:
Carbon foil to start winging - 82 mast/78 fuselage, 1500 front wing should be ok as you have foil experience so you will not need the really big wings. Same for the boards, but I would rent or borrow a bigger one as foil experienced riders graduate super quick to smaller boards after the first Cpl of sessions usually - 80kg, long term the 5'2" should be the right size, I used 5'2/85 and 5'0"/75, if I'm honest when I'm a bit lazy, water is 3-4Β°, then it's nice to have the bigger board to get going and not have to pump/work too much...when it's windy like today, the 5'0". So for you, to start, I would go for 5'4", but again, best to learn on a bigger board first....5'6" I think would be ok to learn, but you may outgrow it quickly?
So to your questions above now:
- 5'4 will for sure take you further, def a bit small at first, but will be the better board long term.
- Unit or Slick is just a style choice, if you prefer a boom or handles. I like the lift and neutral feel of the Unit, but the Slick is also a great Freeride wing with the advantage of the boom. Slick 2.0 I think comes out in Autumn, still with boom, used the first ones and again a nice step forward.
- Considering you are already on the Moses smaller foils, I don't think you need bigger than 1750 max, still think 1500 could work and be your light wind foil long term. but if you want more lift at first, then go for 1750 and later 1250 so you have both. Experienced foilers do not need the 2000/2400, as they know how to pump the foils up...passive "planing" up onto the foil requires bigger areas or for super light winds..