I finally took the plunge – First session on the Ozone Kites WASPv1!
Watch the full WASP video!
I have only done it once before on another brands wing but am surprised how easy it is to pick up.
DISCLAIMER: I have grown up doing wind sports – windsurfing since I was 8, and kiting since I was 13 and that background helps A LOT, but I do believe this is something anyone can just grab and go without much instruction.
For my first session I borrowed Keahi de Aboitiz‘s JPaustralia_sup SUP and used the Armstrongfoils 1600 wing as I figured I’d need all the help I could get with my first real try at “wing surfing?” I definitely needed the large board and wing as the wind was really gusty and pretty light. Probably 5-15knts at best and the majority of the time I was floating on the board or pumping to keep up on the foil and really only felt the potential of the wing in the gust. The biggest difficultly I had was getting used to riding a large SUP board on the foil as I only ever use a 4’2” at most.
Bottom line and honest opinion: FUN! Replacement for kiting or windsurfing? – NO WAY!
However if you don’t have any wind sports background, this is the easiest thing you could pick up and learn (cheapest too)
Where do I see the most potential for this new toy? 20-30knt downwinders where the wing will replace a paddle or jet ski as an assist. This truly has 100% de-power, something kite companies have claimed in kites for years (never being completely true) which opens up being able to ride directly into the wind and truly “surf” (or foil) the wave/swell.
