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 …
How to choose your SROKA carbon foil?
The carbon mast is an essential part of a carbon foil, which influences the stability, control, maneuverability and speed of your wingfoil. Different characteristics are determined by the thickness, the chord of the mast, the hydrodynamic profile of the mast, the amount of carbon and the quality of the carbon fibers.
Therefore, choosing the right Carbon Foil will determine the overall performance of your foil. Based on this observation, SROKA offers two types of carbon masts: the 14mm and the 16mm. What are the differences between these two carbon masts and how to choose the carbon foil that suits you best?
What are the criteria we look for in a carbon foil mast?
The stiffness of a mast is determined by various parameters such as its thickness, chord (distance between the leading board and the trailing edge), the hydrodynamic profile and the quantity and quality of carbon applied in the mast.
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To go fast and have a crazy glide, you need a very thin mast with very little rope.
- To have a rigid mast, you need a thick mast, with a lot of rope, and a lot of carbon.
- To have a light mast, you need to put less carbon.
However, if you invest in a carbon mast that is very expensive, it is to obtain a real gain in performance. So why pay the price of a carbon foil to have the same performance as an aluminum mast? It doesn’t make sense!
Therefore, if you are interested in a carbon foil, you might as well invest in an excellent carbon mast with the best compromise between glide, rigidity and lightness and control.
Two opposing visions confront each other.
Option 1
To keep a mast rigid at a slightly more attractive price, we increase the chord of the mast and/or increase its thickness and decrease the amount of carbon and/or the quality of carbon in the mast. In our case, we made the choice to increase the thickness to 16mm and to decrease the amount of M40J high modulus fiber. This compromise allowed us to be as steep as the Elite carbon mast in 14 mm but with only 60% M40J (high modulus carbon)
Option 2
To search Maximum performance, you have to reduce the rope as much as possible, reduce the thickness as much as possible and to do this We need to increase the amount of carbon (140 layers of carbon in our 14mm Elite mast) and increase the quality of the carbon fibers by using high modulus carbon. (So the mast is 100% High Modulus M40 J).
The consequences of a thicker mast:
- Less speed
- Less glide
- may be less rigidity (depending on the quality of the fibers that have been put in the mast)
- Less manoeuvrability (due to increased rope)
- Less performance in general.
- The only gain will be a lighter foil weight
- A more attractive price
The consequences of a thinner and steeper mast:
- More glide and speed
- More Glide
- More responsiveness of the foil
- More control
- More Strength
- Can be used for breeding, freestyle, waves or cruising.
- More manoeuvrability, especially in curves
- Slightly higher mast weight as well as price
In short
The 14 mm Elite mast is one of the most efficient on the market thanks to its 100% high modulus M40J construction and 140 layers of carbon. It combines increased performance, optimal strength and appreciable thinness. Investing in this quality mast guarantees you long-lasting satisfaction, without having to change it to keep up with marketing trends. Buying a well-built 2000 euro mast will be more profitable than buying 2 1700 euro masts that promise you more stiffness than the previous model.
If, on the other hand, absolute performance is not your goal, the 16 mm 60% high modulus carbon mast will do the trick very well. It will give you stiffness, solidity and durability with a little less glide and speed compared to the Elite Carbon Mast in 14mm.
For whom and for what use?
The 14mm carbon mast is ideal for experienced riders looking for maximum performance and speed, control and handling. More particularly, the 14mm carbon mast is suitable for all foiling disciplines, but it particularly stands out in surfing, jumping, pumping, wing and downwind where glide and solidity are the most important elements. It is made with 100% M40J high modulus carbon. As a result, it offers greater rigidity than 16mm, both in bending and torsion. It is therefore recommended for freestyle, freesurfing, pumping, racing and freeride.
It’s ideal for riders looking for versatility and ease of use. The 16mm carbon mast is built with 60% high M40J modulus and is therefore suitable for freeride, freesurf, surffoil, pumping, supfoil… You will feel a clear difference with the Alu S-foil, in terms of glide, start and precision at a more affordable price. In comparison, you will save 15% less drag compared to the Aluminium S-foil.
In short The two SROKA carbon masts are quality products, which guarantee you a new wingfoil experience. The choice between 14mm and 16mm depends on your style and preference.
If you’re looking for glide and speed, go for the Elite 14mm.
If you prefer lightness and versatility, choose the 16mm.
Whatever you choose, you won’t be disappointed by the sensations your SROKA carbon mast will give you.
How to choose your fuselage?
Aluminum Fuselage: Enjoy Carbon Glide at a Soft Price
“Do you dream of sliding carbon masts but your budget is limited? Opt for our solid and reliable aluminum fuselage. It’s the perfect choice to discover carbon foils without breaking the bank.
Our aluminium fuselage is versatile: it fits our carbon masts and all our SROKA fins and stabilizers. It has the same shape as the Elite Carbon fuselage and it even offers a better glide than the aluminum fuselage of the S-foil range, thanks to a 10% reduction in drag at the mast/fuselage junction. It is suitable for all levels of practice.
In short, the aluminum fuselage allows you to:
- Glide with the fluidity of carbon masts, without breaking your budget.
- Enjoy sturdy, durable construction for versatile use.
- Combine our SROKA carbon masts, fins and stabilizers to your liking.
- Benefit from an improved profile for optimal performance, adapted to all levels of practice.”
Elite Carbon Fuselage: Carbon Performance Excellence
On the other hand, if you are a seasoned glider, looking for maximum performance and intense sensations and lightness, our Elite Carbon fuselage is the ideal choice. Sporting a high-end quality (built in 100% High Modulus for the Elite range) it is therefore designed for experienced riders who demand exceptional responsiveness and handling.
The Elite Carbon fuselage, compatible with our carbon masts as well as all our SROKA fins and stabilizers, stands out for its rigidity and lightness, which reduces inertia in movement. Able to offer you an unprecedented gliding experience, it weighs only 700 grams, making it a light and dynamic option.
Choosing the Elite Carbon fuselage means opting for:
- Industry-leading performance thanks to the responsiveness and handling offered by carbon.
- A lighter and stiffer construction for exceptional gliding sensations.
- Full compatibility with our SROKA carbon masts, fins and stabilizers.
- An option that doesn’t require rinsing after each session.
In the end, whether you choose the aluminium fuselage for its value for money or the Elite Carbon fuselage for its performance, you get the same exceptional gliding sensation in both cases.
Make your choice according to your needs, your level of practice and your desires, and make the most of your skiing experience with SROKA.
How to choose your front foil kite
The shape of a front wing is characterized by its length (wingspan), chord (the distance between the leading and trailing edges), thickness, and profile. The ratio of the span to the chord gives a measurement called elongation or Aspect ratio.
Generally speaking, the higher the aspect ratio, the larger the wingspan and the fewer chords the kite. At SROKA, this range is called HA for High Aspect ratio)On the other hand, the more generous the string, the smaller the span and the lower the aspect ratio.
A distinction must be made between low aspects ratio and medium-aspect ratio. The aspect ratio influences the radius of curvature of the foil, its ease of starting early, to control oneself in strong winds and its ability to glide.
At SROKA, we have not developed a wing with a low Aspect Ratio. All our beginner ranges, we have an AR.6 aspect ratio which is a medium aspect ratio.
Its moderate wingspan provides good glide, with excellent performance, maneuverability in surfing and ease of beginners. It’s the perfect compromise to evolve easily.
The Classic range for beginners is available in three sizes: 2000 cm2, 1750 cm2 and 1500 cm2.
The Control range is also a medium aspect ratio, but with faster profiles, thinner thicknesses that will guarantee you more speeds, glide and foil responsiveness. This range is for people who want an easy foil that can be controlled at any point of sail. It’s the perfect range for waves, free riding or anyone who isn’t looking for absolute Vmax.
It’s the perfect balance of handling, control and speed.
This range starts with the 1250 cm2, 950 cm2 and soon we will have the 820 and the 680 cm2 Control.
The HA range is defined by a high aspect ratio. The aspect ratio varies depending on the wing sizes. The 2000HA will have a rear aspect ratio of 9.8 which will allow you to glide with the least effort and the 670 cm2 will have an rear aspect ratio of 7.3 in order to reduce drag and accelerate more strongly.
The smaller you go, the more efficient and faster the front fenders will be while maintaining outstanding stability and accessibility.
How to choose your stabilizer
The stabilizer, also known as the rear fin, is a key element in stabilizing the foil. The bigger the stabilizer, the more stable the foil will be, but it also means that there will be more drag and therefore you will go slower. On the other hand, a smaller stabilizer will stabilize the whole thing less but will offer much more glide, because less drag and can also allow you to go faster. At Sroka, there are four types of stabilizers available: the 300cm², the easiest in the range, perfect for beginners or riders with large front fins; the 290 HA which will provide more stability, especially in pumping, but it will be less easy to use for beginners; the 240 cm², a compromise between stability and speed, adaptable with all the front fins, ideal for light wind and for people looking for comfort and speed while sailing; and the 180 cm², a speed weapon, with its ultra-thin profile, it will allow you to exceed your speed limits.
We have a small range of stabilizers because it is important to remember that the use of the adjustment wedges (to change the angle of the stabilizer) will allow you to adapt it even better to your sailing style and your size. This also reduces the number of stabilizers and thus meets all needs. For more information on how to adjust the outriggers with the corner wedges, you can click on this link.
We also have a range of foils in Aluminum. All our front fins are compatible on both ranges.
The choice of a carbon foil or an aluminium foil will be determined by price and level of performance. An aluminum mast will be thicker and generate more drag but will be very rigid. A carbon mast from the Elite range will be 30% thinner so there will be 30% less drag. It will bring a little more manoeuvrability, more speed, more glide. It is a high-performance mast that will allow you to reach 30 knots of speed.
For more information on the difference between the two ranges, go to this article.
If you still have questions about this, or for any other request, please do not hesitate to contact us !
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