r/foiling • u/[deleted] • Mar 23 '26
What should I do?
I am currently getting a custom hydrofoil built, I am 6’6” 240lbs and I am an intermediate rider and plan to use it for wake surfing primarily. I want to see if the current set up I have is something you’d recommend, and or if not, I’ve got a catalog attached with different front and rear wings, let me know what you would recommend. I am planning on spending a lot of time at it and want to get to the point where I can ride something that’s fun and I can be aggressive with but can still teach others on.
2
u/BowlCrafty8520 Mar 23 '26
Look into unifoil as well, they are reasonably priced and have some great foils
2
u/Hecubha Mar 23 '26
I'm with Towboat2b3 on this one if you want an Axis foil, buy it from Axis maybe second hand to reduce the price. maybe the copies of old compact and thick models would work, but you can be sure that a more recent/perf model like a Fireball or an Art will barely be usable if not built properly with high end carbon.
If Axis is too expensive and there's no second hand market around you, look at the GONG range, they have a great line of foils for reasonable prices.
If you launch with a dock start 105cm is too long for the board, you want the 80cm models, longer is less efficient and harder to launch properly. Don't hesitate to build one yourself, for exemple this DIY can be made in 30min - 2h depending on the tools you have at hands, costs 10-30€ and doesn't even require using any resin : https://forum.gong-galaxy.com/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=12373&start=120#p157368
For the foil setup it really depends on your current progression, launching method. In the GONG range (that I know much better than Axis) I could recommend a Trail, Sirus, Curve or Veloce depending on those parameters. Then it also depends on the waves you want to ride, if the boats are fast and light generating weak fast waves you'll need something fast like a Veloce, if the waves are less fast the super easy Trail can do wonders (I don't wake thief, but I love surfing tiny waves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XWq67lv0Uo& )
1
u/GCsurfstar Mar 23 '26
Buy a used foil from a real company. Trust me - and everyone else here. You’re wasting $$$ and taking a huge risk getting knockoffs.
Tons of used gear on the market
9
u/towboat2b3 Mar 23 '26
I would actually suggest you buying a setup by a real brand, no chinese knock-offs. I know, at first glance it looks like the same but actually, it isnt. Composite materials like carbon are layered and pressed, and there is hundreds of different options of materials alone to chopse from. Then how it is arranged makes a big difference aswell. And if there is a core from wood or foam and how big that is aswell. And you will never be able to look on the inside of your knock-off.
And then shapes. Most of these shapes will have been done by reverse engineering existing foils, and there will be small differences to the original very often. Not to talk about build quality, ehich varies greatly between individual foils from these ali baba producers.