Andalusia, a sunny region in the south of Spain, is a true paradise for water sports enthusiasts, especially wing foil. With its vast and diverse …
Choosing the right Surf Foil
Don’t have the right conditions to surf? Surf Foil is a water sport that will multiply your riding possibilities. Whatever the wave conditions, you will be able to have fun on an infinite number of spots. The practice of Surf-Foiling has exploded in recent years, and we understand why.
This water sport consists of lying down on a board with a foil, rowing and catching a wave, just like in surfing. Once on the wave, the speed generated by your foil will allow you to take off and fly over the water. Close your eyes and imagine yourself skiing or snowboarding on a 1m of powder! Feeling like a bird is the feeling of softness you will have.
Why take up Surf-Foil?
First of all, this sport has the undeniable advantage of allowing you to experience surfing when the waves are soft and do not break. It allows you to optimize low wave conditions, for example in summer when there is less swell and you can quickly get bored surfing on overcrowded spots. Surf-Foil is also a way to distance yourself from the surfers on the line-up. You can go and enjoy the spots with fewer people, and sail freely, without constraints. The other undeniable advantage compared to traditional surfing is that the Surf-Foil allows you to multiply the number of waves caught during a session. Check out this pumping video.
Indeed, it is possible to chain waves, accelerate, fly on soft areas, return to the peak with ease. A well-controlled pumping can make you go up and string together more than 6 waves in a row! This makes everything simpler and smoother. In your evolution you will find that Surf Foil is just as sporty a practice as surfing and turns out to be very interesting for cardio. It is also the stage to go downwind (in SurfFoil or SUPfoil) or in towed surfing with a foil.
How to choose the right SurfFoil pack?
Do you dream of surfing the swell, varying the playgrounds, far from the crowded waves? At SROKA Company, freeride surf-foil is one of our passions. Our goal is to share it with you, thanks to material that we enjoy developing and using ourselves, without being overpriced, through this article.
All our answers to the questions you may have when choosing your Foil!
How does a Foil work?
The operation of a foil is similar to that of an underwater plane thanks to fluid dynamics. The speed of movement generates a lift force and allows you to take off. Indeed, a lift force is created on the front wing and allows the foil to take off. The higher the speed of the foil, the more the foil is “pulled” upwards. This is when you need to put more pressure on the front leg (or decrease the size of the front fin). The rear wing acts as a stabilizer and balances the lift of the front wing in a way. Your weight acts as a balancing act between these two fins.
To find out everything about how a foil works, check out our article “How does a surf foil work?“.
Composition of a Surf Foil
The Foil is composed of a mast, attached perpendicular to the board and fuselage and two front and rear wings. The largest wing with a domed upper part is at the front, whose leading edge is rounded and quickly thickens, then tapered towards a thinner trailing edge. Finally, at the rear, there is the stabilizer, whose shape is similar to that of the front wing but inverted, with a reduced surface area and a different profile. The size of the stabilizer will determine the maneuverability and speed of your foil.
How to choose your foil according to your practice and level?
Each element of a foil can be selected and modified according to your needs.
To carve in Surf Foil, an L finow Aspect will spin very fast, but will be slower and less efficient than a Medium Aspect. Indeed, the latter will offer you the advantages of a fast foil, while having a lot of tolerance and forgiving of all mistakes. As for the High Aspect models, these can be interesting because they are more efficient at pumping.
Fins:
- If you are looking for accessibility, a Mid or Low Aspect model such as the S Foil Classic SROKA will be ideal for surf-foiling with versatility, stability and carving with ease, for all levels. This type of carving model allows you to make beautiful curves with the pumping technique.
- If you’re looking for performance, the High Aspect model will give you a better glide, with the same carving if you reduce the length of the fuselage. Pumping is easy and allows you to reconnect the waves without difficulty. However, it requires a little more technique.
As far as the stabilizer is concerned, the S-Foil is one of the best compromises between maneuverability and stability. We are working on a larger range, in order to make the Foil more playful and to increase the possibilities of sailing. (Available in 2021)
Would you like to learn more about the differences between a High Aspect and Low Aspect foil? Head to our article “What to choose between a Low Aspect and High Aspect Foil?“.
The mast:
The smaller your mast , the easier it will be to get started. Nevertheless, a longer mast will be more scalable over time.
- A 70cm mast is ideal for learning to foil. Its relatively short size will forgive all your positioning mistakes, and falls will be much less impressive.
- An 80cm mast is extremely versatile. It will allow you to evolve, pump, surf, and maneuver more efficiently.
- A 90cm mast is aimed at the most experienced sailors looking for more technical and intense sailing. (this size is recommended for Downwinders)
The fuselage:
How to choose your Surf Foil board?
There are Surf-Foil boards on the market of different sizes (from the 4’2 to the 5′). The bigger the size of your board, the easier it will be to paddle and go surffoil, but will make pumping more complicated (because there is more inertia).
At SROKA Company, we have developed a Foil Surfboard in 4’6 size which is the size for us goes everywhere. Indeed, it will be perfect for beginners but will also allow experienced riders to fly and pump easily. With a rounded nose, and a compact overall volume under the body when rowing, it is the perfect compromise to learn, progress and perform in all conditions. The deck of the board is slightly hollowed out to lower the center of gravity and increase your stability. In addition, it gives a perfect reference point for the positioning of the feet. In order to multiply the gliding speed and set off on waves that have not yet broken, the hull is designed with a double concave towards the front and a thin nose to facilitate the duck. The entire deck of the board is lined with pads for comfort and durability. In addition, our Fast Flyer 4’6 is multi-support, you can use it in WingFoil, Kitefoil and Wakefoil.
For 2021, we are going to offer you a 4’2 Surf-Foiling board for experienced surfers. It is imagined and designed to be more manoeuvrable and easier to pump. Its performance will make it more technical to use to catch waves, as it requires better placement on the wave. It will be like its big sister, multi-support.
We have put the best of French know-how at your service. Our boards are made in Brittany and tested by Bruno Sroka, founder of the brand, and his team. This technique of producing surf-oil boardsis more expensive but guarantees incomparable quality and durability.
The choice of foil according to the spot and the conditions
Pay attention to your choice of spot. Indeed, it will vary according to your foil. It is imperative to provide a safety margin with the bottom under the foil.
Check with the locals or analyze the body of water carefully. Waves that break very close to the shore will be more difficult to get up and out quickly. Waves away from the shore will be simpler and will allow you to optimize the surf time. Deprogram the way you think about your spot like in surfing. You don’t need a wave that breaks, you don’t need a big wave, look for all the waves that no one wants (soft, that break and reform, a ripple…).
The spot doesn’t need to have big wave conditions. This is the advantage of Surf-Foil: you can stand up on a wave with a gentle slope and less than 60 cm high. Depending on the spot, you can (if your technique allows it) to leave directly from the beach, and reach the peak with the pumping technique from the beach.
In any case, a spot that can be frequented will be the best option.
In short...
Choosing the right Surf-Foil pack will determine the way you foil. Our advice is therefore to take into account:
- The choice of foil: a classic front fin like on our S-Foil will be perfect for beginners or if you are looking for forgiveness and easy carving. Opt for a High Aspect foil if you are an experienced surf-foiler, if you are looking for performance and to reconnect the waves without difficulty while maximizing speed.
- The choice of mast: The smaller your mast is (70 cm), the easier it will be to get started. The ideal is to turn to a standard model (80 cm), which will be more scalable as you progress.
- The choice of fuselage: astandard fuselage will require fewer frequencies from the pumping. On the other hand, a short fuselage will require more frequency but will rotate better. The standard Sroka size of our fuselages is 680 mm.
- Choosing Your Board: A 4’6 Size Board Is Perfect for beginners while remaining versatile for experienced people who want to pump easily. A 4’2 size board will offer plenty of maneuverability for experienced surfers.
FIND ALL OUR TIPS FOR:
- Choosing between a High Aspect and Low Aspect foil
- Starting Wing Foil
- Choosing the right Wing Foil Pack
- Understanding how a foil works
- Choosing the right Kite Foil
Join our Facebook group Sroka SESSIONS, to share all your beautiful moments on the water! #BESROKA
If you still have questions about this, or for any other request, please do not hesitate to contact us !
Article you may be interested in
The 360 wing foil is a maneuver that allows you to start freestyle flat on the water. This trick, which involves making a complete turn …
Mauritius, known for its white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, is a dream destination for water sports enthusiasts. Among the popular activities that attract …
Wingfoiling is an emerging water sport that is gaining popularity due to its high accessibility. Whether you are young or old, wingfoiling is an activity …
