SROKA review: Hadrien Brunner tests the Wing Foil range

Hadrien Brunner is a youtuber known for the quality of his wing foil tests and reviews. In this new video, he reviews the entire range of Sroka wing foils and gives you his opinion as an experienced foiler.

"I like this approach that says that whatever the size and level, you will find the right shoe for you, with a starting chassis that is rigid, robust and reliable"

To carry out this test, Hadrien Brunner foiled in a variety of conditions in order to put the equipment to the test on different practices. Waves for surf foil, wind swell, chop and downwind for wingfoil. And finally, a dockstart session to compare the different fins and stabilizers as well as possible.
This test does not include Sroka wing wings which are being tested a second time.

Hadrien's opinion on the WINGFOIL Sroka equipment

S-Foil 950 High Aspect Speed

For Hadrien Brunner, the S-Foil 950 HA Speed makes performance more accessible. His opinion is that with this Sroka fin, it is possible to achieve high performance even without having an advanced level of foiling. The 950 Speed is, for Hadrian, a wing with a more liberated feeling, with a good glide, which is faster, more manoeuvrable and more responsive in manoeuvres.

“We have a high aspect with performance, but we also really focus on accessibility”

S-Foil 1190 High Aspect Speed

The first thing that surprised Hadrien Brunner was the
ultra-fast take-off
foiling, both in wing foil and surf foil. The 1190 High Aspect Speed fin has a good glide and is “Very easy to pump” (in wingfoil and surf foil) thanks to good support. According to his test, foiling doesn’t require you to have a front leg that is too anchored in the board. Having a fairly free front leg turns out to be nice for changing direction and carving.
The Lift is perfect for surfing, it has more lift, so it’s easier for taller riders.

Classic S-Foil 1250

Hadrien Brunner also tested the S-Foil Classique 1250 in Wing Foil. His opinion? With the 1250 winglet, take-off is anticipated, you leave even earlier than with the 1190 HA winglet. For him, the 1250 is more stable, more manoeuvrable and keeps a good speed. However, with this winglet, he found that the glide of flight was less (What is glide of flight?).

“On the classic S-Foils you are stuck, you keep this longitudinal stability, even in big conditions”.

Fast Flyer 4'6

For Hadrien, the ratio is very slender and the width is well in the center of the board, he finds that it has a very good balance at the waterstart. In addition “The board is relatively light, so with the foil we had a good glide, a good ability to pump”. Hadrien Brunner also liked the pads of the 4’6: “This big pad is great because you have grip everywhere.”

Sroka Air: the inflatable wing foil board

Hadrien Brunner is not in the habit of regularly sailing on inflatable wing foil boards. However, his opinion of the Sroka Air is positive. Although it starts a little later than a rigid board according to him, the inflatable has two big advantages: solidity and practicality. Indeed, as he says, it is a compact board that is easy to carry to the beach.

“I had fun, I had a blast”

He sees the inflatable wing foil board as a great family tool, very practical for traveling and offering great sensations. For him, the inflatable has this reassuring side in case of a fall, especially for children. With an inflatable board you can’t hurt yourself. In addition, it was very easy for him to transport the Sroka Air. It doesn’t take up space, doesn’t fear shocks and it could even be used to protect his rigid foil boards. In a Sroka board cover, it is possible to store three sails, a foil and a board.

Hadrien's opinion on the SURF FOIL Sroka equipment

1190 High Aspect Speed

Very free in curves
Nice to reconnect the waves
“The front wing is efficient, we generate speed when pumping, we are comfortable when we have to do a short shift to turn around on the wave and reconnect”

1190 High Aspect Lift

Thicker profile than the 1190 High Aspect Speed
More lift than the Speed, even at low speeds
“What’s going to be interesting is that if you’re not an expert, this wing is still good but it’s going to be more forgiving”

1750 Classic

Very high lift at low speeds
Interesting in changes of direction due to its compact profile
High roll tolerance: ideal for making up for pilot errors
Perfect for foil beginners

Hadrien Brunner’s advice for choosing your wing foil board

You shouldn’t want to go for a small board at all costs. “The day the wind drops and you have wind off, a bit messed up gusts, you can quickly find yourself in trouble and not enjoy your session. Whereas with a suitable board, you will stand out from the crowd and have fun throughout the session”. For example, if you are a beginner and you are hesitating between the Sky Rider 4’8 and the Sky Rider 5’2, it is preferable to go with the 5’2 (be careful that the board is adapted to your size). This way, you can have fun even when the conditions are not good.