Any reviews on the new North Speedster? Which board do you have?
I'm looking at it for a first foil. I know North didn't nail it with their first attempt, but the new carbon composite seems great and I'd prefer buy something that lasts rather than a cheap or beginner one.
I think the problem with buying something that lasts for a beginner is that it is hard to know what type of riding you want to ultimately do without some foiling experience. Many also beat up their foils while learning. I think it's best to get some experience on a cheaper beginner foil (hopefully used), then sell it and get the correct style foil for the long run. There are some really amazing foils out there for wave riding, or racing or freestyle but they are pretty specialized.
North speedster is rubbish imo. Of all the aluminum mast foils I have seen and I like the axis the best. Board shape good for learning with board still in water, foil easy to ride but still pretty slick though the water. Three mast combo, I rate starting on short mast 350-400mm riding board in the water with the foil carrying some of the load. Once you get board out the water with some control you have to move to the longer mast straight away as it's hard to ride short mast out of water (you keep surfacing). Most importantly get someone who is pretty good on foil to ride anything you purchase and tune before you get on. You can waste a lot of time learning on a poorly set up foil.
Also agree north speedster is rubbish. Bought one when first started out 4 months ago and all I got was cuts on legs from sharp wings. Could not get going due to high aspect front wing. Traded it in for naish kite a large sup foil an 50 and 90 mast. Tried large sup wing with 50 cm mast got up first go and in 1/2 hour was doing transitions and lovin it. On 90 blast now and lovin off Even more , 95% of my foiling is in the ocean across he road and large sup foil rocks. Not saying Naish is only option but having a set up that gives you options of masts and wings and cross over with kiting and Sup is the go. IMO.??
I know someone who has the speedster and learnt very quickly. I had a go on it and thought it was good.... it needed a little more speed than my JShapes to start flying and tracked a straight line more solidly/ directly .
I tried it with the cork ply board which worked fine but the new board with volume looks really nice and I wouldn't mind one myself. Coincidentally my friend learnt on the ply board then gave the volume board a go and preferred the ply, which is really about being comfortable with what you're used to. The only downside with the foil is that the material North use is not repairable if you get a chip or crack, but with appropriate care I can't see an issue (but never say never).
Cheers for the advice guys.
scotty100 are you able to surf and kite on the same foil? I've seen that cabrinha have a board they say you can run as a kitesurf board as well as a foil board. If i could actually surf it on days with no wind that'd be a huge plus, but I'm guessing you need a different foil for surfing as the speeds would be much lower than when you're being towed by a kite.
I agree with the above comments regarding what constitutes a good beginners foil. I've looked at the North Speedster. It looks really nice, but is very sharp. It also appears somewhat fragile to me. Fragility and learning to foil aren't a good combo. I can only comment on my Slingshot Hover Glide as it's the only foil I've tried. I found it very easy to learn on due to the short mast system and it's very stable once up on the foil. It's a medium aspect wing and flies at low speeds. It's also a strong foil that can take the knocks dished out by a beginner.
I think you will be better off on a mid aspect wing like a Zeeko Carver, Hover Glide or the Axis. The larger surf wings would also work well for learning, but these may be a bit too focussed in their application initially whereas the others will give more all round performance as you improve. Good luck with your search and have fun. It's truly addictive.
On the videos North plug the speedster as being virtually indestructible because its made out of the same stuff they make their fins out of. The North reps are throwing them at the ground and they seem fine, although there was an issue with the fuselages which North did a recall for.
I'm a big north fan (ride dices and a jamie) and they normally make good quality kit, but it seems slingshot and liquid force might be the way to go.
Another vote for Axis, the aluminum foil is just over 3kg and IIRC the foil and board are under 7kg. It's a good first foil -- no bad habits, tough and fast enough if that's your thing.
Mine will be up for sale when I get around to taking pictures, because after all this time, I've decided what I want to do is noodle around slowly floating on the swell, so I'm going for a big wing set up . . . I'd keep it, if I could, in case I feel a need for speed but the big wing is no slouch.
Yeah , we are not seeing much comment on this foil anywhere
A friend was up on the speedster foil with learner wedge in about 20 mins , and having long runs after about 45 mins .
That speaks for itself I guess
I learnt on jshapes freestyle and love it and the cruzer foil as well , but it was not easy
Had a small go on the speedster foil with the learner wedge and found it easy to ride . Very little front pressure needed . I didn't have any probs with cuts ... think that is just a function of learning
Found it tracked nicely
Found the cork board a good platform once going but missed a bit of volume when starting , as the board tends to sink a little when you tip it over to get your feet on it ... but I am used to the volume on the jshapes too ...
Would love a go on the speedster without the learner wedge to get a proper feel of the thing in comparison to the jshapes as i didn't really spend enough time to have a real opinion on it .
Any comment out there from someone who has spent a bit of time on this foil, and has some foiling experience ?
Disclaimer - i do work for a shop
I have ridden the North Speedster extensively. I have also ridden a KFA Mako a fair bit, Ridden numerous home made foils including my own, i owned a few of the Zheekos as well as the Naish foils. I have been foiling for 3 years.
As a comparison of all kite foils, the North Speedster is the best feeling foil out there. Its low end is really good and the only reason you would want a higher top end is if you were racing. It has amazing lateral stability which can be attributed to its winglets (upturned wings on each corner). It is amazing for carving and gives you complete control the entire time, whereas other foils would want to slide out on you especially when heading downwind when you are directly on top of the foil.
The only time foiling becomes dangerous, is when you become afraid of it. If youre landing on the foil it is usually because you are going too slow and allowing the foil to control you. So much of it is a fear thing that you need to get past!
With all of that said, i have been prone & SUP foiling for twelve months now. Because of this, my desire for a high top end speed has diminished and i ride surfing foils on my kite and much around on the small days in the surf. If you are a complete beginner with limited kite skills (and still insist on wanting to foil before you are ready) i suggest you get a surfing foil as they are nice and slow, stable, and easy.
The speedster is an awesome foil for its intended use and at an extremely good price point.
Axis and north same price give or take $50. Get two masts with axis, 60 and 90. It's a no brainer, axis easy winner. Disclaimer, what you buy doesn't effect me in any way, not in industry.
Of the four comments above who seem to have actually ridden the speedster, three are very positive and one very negative. Not a bad rate I suppose. Considering the price is so competitive and the 'wedge' assists learning, I reckon I'll pull the trigger.