Hi All,
Today I (85kg, late 40s) began my flatwater paddle up journey. I'm an advanced former windfoiler and current wingfoiler looking to see if I can make paddle ups happen on a 1900cm? mid-aspect foil (span = 105cm, AR 5.8, Gong Fluid XXL-T) with a 100cm long mast. Yep, 100cm long, the length is actually great for the Gorge and bay chop wingfoiling I am used to. My board is a Gong Hipe Cruzader 7'6" x 21", it seems just right so far. Would I be wasting my time trying to paddle up a 100cm mast? I assume it adds quite a bit of parasitic drag, but maybe once I am up it would give me more clearance for pumping. I know it pumps decently on swells in high winds with a smaller front wing. I am just trying to figure out if I would get better bang for my buck going down to an 85cm mast or moving to a bigger high aspect foil more suited to paddle ups like a bigger Gong Syrus that would also be decent for low wind wingfoiling. Ideally I would only replace one for starters. All feedback is welcome, thanks.
My advice would be to buy all the help you can get. Meaning get the shorter mast and the bigger HA foil. Getting up on flatwater is on the margins for most. Even after having mastered it on an 8'2 x 20 board and a 2080sqcm HA foil I really have to put everything into it if I don't do it for a regularly. I have also tried going down in foil and board length and it immediately gets harder. The longest mast I've tried is 82cm, I do not think 100cm is helping your cause other than with primary stability when standing still.
I run a 60cm mast on a 8'4" x 18" 108L barracuda proto with axis 1300 for super easy paddle ups. I have used my 90cm mast and it takes a handful more strokes and effort to get up but its way more fun once Im up. I usually go for easy 60cm and can do maybe 10 paddle ups until I'm gassed. Once up, I can pump for around 1.5 minutes best. I think a 100cm mast would make it harder than you need it to be. Just cut down an alu mast and re-tap. It will be your easy pump mast then when you figure it out, try the longer one. I don't know anything about the Gong mast stiffness but if its wobbly with a big foil, then you are working harder to make up for the efficiency loss. Sendit!
Besides having all the gear previously mentioned, this video is excellent strategy in that you paddle up some speed, then stand up. Also, of note, is Army's giant paddle.
Attempts at humor on forums can bomb...
At your age (late 40's) you've probably already found out that pumping a foil will quickly max out your heart. I learned in my early 50's and was shocked how I'd simply gass out and fall over while a younger and lighter person zoomed by. I just started winging on a GoFoil RS1150 and the 80cm V2 mast and while I'd normally say it's all technique/the rider, the pump frequency is much lower with a long climb and glide and I am now pumping around for a good 30 sec before I flatline. I'm really stoked as that will be plenty of time to pump out on a sup when/if the surf ever returns to Nor. Cal.
The point is, you need to all the help you can (equipment and fitness, as well as technique.) Not too many people on this forum are familiar with Gong. If I can't decide on gear, I look for a video of a rider my weight and age (Dave Kalama for me) and use gear similar to what he rides as a baseline.
Just work on technique as number one and then get good gear and flatwater paddle up are not that hard. Paddle does not really matter that much as long as it's not a cheap flexy crap paddle, blade size everone is saying go bigger but really it's not a huge deal and to be honest if your technique is not great then way more chance of shoulder injuries with an oversized blade that really is not needed. In the vid below my blade is 84sq and I get up in 6 strokes.
What wing you learn on makes a big difference as there are now a few out there that make flatwater starts easier. Just because it's a big wing does not mean it's good either.
Mast I use a 80cm or 84cm depending how people want to measure it and it works sweet. 100cm might be pushing it though.
Board length helps and going narrower heaps bit to long sucks as soon as you leave the water. Mine in the vid is 7'2.
I'm 47 and 78-80kg
Ang who is also on the vid below is just learning to pump up in the flat so you can see between the two of us technique is the main factor.
She is way lighter and in theory should get up way easier.
www.instagram.com/reel/CvjcbRlt9QD/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll update this thread once I've had more time on the water to figure things out!
Here's a link to a video talking about just how challenging flat water paddle ups can be:
